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<p>It was one of the great Super Bowls ever, a dramatic comeback win that cemented forever the legacies of Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.</p>
<p>No one could have predicted February's game could very well have been the NFL's last great defining moment.</p>
<p>A league that once seemed untouchable is under siege as the turbulent 2017 regular season draws to a close. A tsunami of troubles — some self-inflicted — have been washing over the NFL, and for the first time in a half century or so the league's warts are on prominent display.</p>
<p>The national anthem controversy has hurt far more than the league is willing to admit, reaching all the way into the White House. And despite measures taken to protect player brains, it's increasingly clear that there is little anyone can really do about concussions in a very violent sport.</p>
<p>Turn on the TV on any given Sunday and there are wide swatches of empty seats in stadiums in some cities. The television audience itself is down, though commissioner Roger Goodell says it is only off about 1 percent for the year.</p>
<p>There's infighting among owners that spilled out in a very public way over Goodell's new contract extension. And there's a good chance players won't be so docile when their 10-year deal expires after the 2020 season and demand guaranteed contracts like players get in almost every other sport.</p>
<p>Even the official pizza of the NFL seems to be in trouble. Papa John's founder John Schnatter blamed "poor leadership" by the NFL in dealing with the anthem controversy for a drop in recent quarterly profits, only to have the company apologize later on Twitter for saying the protests should have been stopped.</p>
<p>That the NFL is having issues isn't anything new. The league has had to deal with other controversies in recent years, ranging from Deflategate to the way it deals with domestic violence accusations against players.</p>
<p>But this seems different. These, for the most part, are systemic issues that seem immune to easy solutions.</p>
<p>Basketball great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was thinking along those lines recently when he wrote an op-ed piece predicting that the NBA would one day supplant the NFL as America's favorite sports league.</p>
<p>That might be a stretch, but the argument could be made that the very violence that made the league so attractive over the years may end up being part of its eventual undoing.</p>
<p>"A broken arm or cracked rib is one thing, the scars that prompt bragging rights, but widespread permanent brain damage that affects players for the rest of their lives is beyond entertainment," Abdul-Jabbar wrote in the Guardian. "There is nothing sexy about depression and dementia."</p>
<p>No there isn't, and because we're now more enlightened about that it's no longer entertaining to watch players slam head-on into each other. The conundrum facing the league, though, is that without the very violence that is the core of the game football loses much of its appeal.</p>
<p>That same violence is also to blame for short career spans, which makes it hard for fans to identify with individual players. While the NBA is built on its superstars, NFL teams for the most part consist of interchangeable players that the average fan wouldn't recognize if they saw them on the street.</p>
<p>The game itself is also unwatchable at times, with way too many stoppages to look at plays in ways never imagined when instant replay first came into existence. No one seems to know just what a catch is anymore, or what causes replay officials in New York to micromanage things not seen by the naked eye.</p>
<p>Still, the NFL continues to draw TV audiences other leagues can only dream of. The Super Bowl gets 100 million viewers, a Sunday night prime-time game might draw 20 million, and even the Thursday night games are for the most part competitive in the national ratings.</p>
<p>And while there are plenty of empty seats in some markets, there are still sign-up lists for season tickets in others.</p>
<p>Americans still like to get their fix of football, but for how long?</p>
<p>A year that began on a high note with Brady and the Patriots overcoming a 25-point deficit to win the first overtime Super Bowl comes to an end with the NFL at a crossroads. There are perilous times ahead as the league tries to find a new balance and retain its appeal while at the same time court a new generation of fans.</p>
<p>The NFL hasn't killed the golden goose, far from it. That showed when city leaders in Las Vegas agreed to raise $750 million in tourist taxes to bring the Raiders to town beginning with the 2020 season.</p>
<p>But the league can no longer afford to take fans for granted. It can no longer afford to alienate entire cities like San Diego, St. Louis and Oakland simply because there's more money to be made elsewhere.</p>
<p>There's a long way to go from the top of the mountain to wherever the NFL may end up 50 years from now.</p>
<p>But it sure seems like the downhill part of the journey has begun.</p>
<p>____</p>
<p>Tim Dahlberg is a national sports columnist for The Associated Press. Write to him at [email protected] or <a href="http://twitter.com/timdahlberg" type="external">http://twitter.com/timdahlberg</a></p>
<p>It was one of the great Super Bowls ever, a dramatic comeback win that cemented forever the legacies of Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.</p>
<p>No one could have predicted February's game could very well have been the NFL's last great defining moment.</p>
<p>A league that once seemed untouchable is under siege as the turbulent 2017 regular season draws to a close. A tsunami of troubles — some self-inflicted — have been washing over the NFL, and for the first time in a half century or so the league's warts are on prominent display.</p>
<p>The national anthem controversy has hurt far more than the league is willing to admit, reaching all the way into the White House. And despite measures taken to protect player brains, it's increasingly clear that there is little anyone can really do about concussions in a very violent sport.</p>
<p>Turn on the TV on any given Sunday and there are wide swatches of empty seats in stadiums in some cities. The television audience itself is down, though commissioner Roger Goodell says it is only off about 1 percent for the year.</p>
<p>There's infighting among owners that spilled out in a very public way over Goodell's new contract extension. And there's a good chance players won't be so docile when their 10-year deal expires after the 2020 season and demand guaranteed contracts like players get in almost every other sport.</p>
<p>Even the official pizza of the NFL seems to be in trouble. Papa John's founder John Schnatter blamed "poor leadership" by the NFL in dealing with the anthem controversy for a drop in recent quarterly profits, only to have the company apologize later on Twitter for saying the protests should have been stopped.</p>
<p>That the NFL is having issues isn't anything new. The league has had to deal with other controversies in recent years, ranging from Deflategate to the way it deals with domestic violence accusations against players.</p>
<p>But this seems different. These, for the most part, are systemic issues that seem immune to easy solutions.</p>
<p>Basketball great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was thinking along those lines recently when he wrote an op-ed piece predicting that the NBA would one day supplant the NFL as America's favorite sports league.</p>
<p>That might be a stretch, but the argument could be made that the very violence that made the league so attractive over the years may end up being part of its eventual undoing.</p>
<p>"A broken arm or cracked rib is one thing, the scars that prompt bragging rights, but widespread permanent brain damage that affects players for the rest of their lives is beyond entertainment," Abdul-Jabbar wrote in the Guardian. "There is nothing sexy about depression and dementia."</p>
<p>No there isn't, and because we're now more enlightened about that it's no longer entertaining to watch players slam head-on into each other. The conundrum facing the league, though, is that without the very violence that is the core of the game football loses much of its appeal.</p>
<p>That same violence is also to blame for short career spans, which makes it hard for fans to identify with individual players. While the NBA is built on its superstars, NFL teams for the most part consist of interchangeable players that the average fan wouldn't recognize if they saw them on the street.</p>
<p>The game itself is also unwatchable at times, with way too many stoppages to look at plays in ways never imagined when instant replay first came into existence. No one seems to know just what a catch is anymore, or what causes replay officials in New York to micromanage things not seen by the naked eye.</p>
<p>Still, the NFL continues to draw TV audiences other leagues can only dream of. The Super Bowl gets 100 million viewers, a Sunday night prime-time game might draw 20 million, and even the Thursday night games are for the most part competitive in the national ratings.</p>
<p>And while there are plenty of empty seats in some markets, there are still sign-up lists for season tickets in others.</p>
<p>Americans still like to get their fix of football, but for how long?</p>
<p>A year that began on a high note with Brady and the Patriots overcoming a 25-point deficit to win the first overtime Super Bowl comes to an end with the NFL at a crossroads. There are perilous times ahead as the league tries to find a new balance and retain its appeal while at the same time court a new generation of fans.</p>
<p>The NFL hasn't killed the golden goose, far from it. That showed when city leaders in Las Vegas agreed to raise $750 million in tourist taxes to bring the Raiders to town beginning with the 2020 season.</p>
<p>But the league can no longer afford to take fans for granted. It can no longer afford to alienate entire cities like San Diego, St. Louis and Oakland simply because there's more money to be made elsewhere.</p>
<p>There's a long way to go from the top of the mountain to wherever the NFL may end up 50 years from now.</p>
<p>But it sure seems like the downhill part of the journey has begun.</p>
<p>____</p>
<p>Tim Dahlberg is a national sports columnist for The Associated Press. Write to him at [email protected] or <a href="http://twitter.com/timdahlberg" type="external">http://twitter.com/timdahlberg</a></p>
| false | 2 |
one great super bowls ever dramatic comeback win cemented forever legacies tom brady new england patriots one could predicted februarys game could well nfls last great defining moment league seemed untouchable siege turbulent 2017 regular season draws close tsunami troubles selfinflicted washing nfl first time half century leagues warts prominent display national anthem controversy hurt far league willing admit reaching way white house despite measures taken protect player brains increasingly clear little anyone really concussions violent sport turn tv given sunday wide swatches empty seats stadiums cities television audience though commissioner roger goodell says 1 percent year theres infighting among owners spilled public way goodells new contract extension theres good chance players wont docile 10year deal expires 2020 season demand guaranteed contracts like players get almost every sport even official pizza nfl seems trouble papa johns founder john schnatter blamed poor leadership nfl dealing anthem controversy drop recent quarterly profits company apologize later twitter saying protests stopped nfl issues isnt anything new league deal controversies recent years ranging deflategate way deals domestic violence accusations players seems different part systemic issues seem immune easy solutions basketball great kareem abduljabbar thinking along lines recently wrote oped piece predicting nba would one day supplant nfl americas favorite sports league might stretch argument could made violence made league attractive years may end part eventual undoing broken arm cracked rib one thing scars prompt bragging rights widespread permanent brain damage affects players rest lives beyond entertainment abduljabbar wrote guardian nothing sexy depression dementia isnt enlightened longer entertaining watch players slam headon conundrum facing league though without violence core game football loses much appeal violence also blame short career spans makes hard fans identify individual players nba built superstars nfl teams part consist interchangeable players average fan wouldnt recognize saw street game also unwatchable times way many stoppages look plays ways never imagined instant replay first came existence one seems know catch anymore causes replay officials new york micromanage things seen naked eye still nfl continues draw tv audiences leagues dream super bowl gets 100 million viewers sunday night primetime game might draw 20 million even thursday night games part competitive national ratings plenty empty seats markets still signup lists season tickets others americans still like get fix football long year began high note brady patriots overcoming 25point deficit win first overtime super bowl comes end nfl crossroads perilous times ahead league tries find new balance retain appeal time court new generation fans nfl hasnt killed golden goose far showed city leaders las vegas agreed raise 750 million tourist taxes bring raiders town beginning 2020 season league longer afford take fans granted longer afford alienate entire cities like san diego st louis oakland simply theres money made elsewhere theres long way go top mountain wherever nfl may end 50 years sure seems like downhill part journey begun ____ tim dahlberg national sports columnist associated press write tdahlbergaporg httptwittercomtimdahlberg one great super bowls ever dramatic comeback win cemented forever legacies tom brady new england patriots one could predicted februarys game could well nfls last great defining moment league seemed untouchable siege turbulent 2017 regular season draws close tsunami troubles selfinflicted washing nfl first time half century leagues warts prominent display national anthem controversy hurt far league willing admit reaching way white house despite measures taken protect player brains increasingly clear little anyone really concussions violent sport turn tv given sunday wide swatches empty seats stadiums cities television audience though commissioner roger goodell says 1 percent year theres infighting among owners spilled public way goodells new contract extension theres good chance players wont docile 10year deal expires 2020 season demand guaranteed contracts like players get almost every sport even official pizza nfl seems trouble papa johns founder john schnatter blamed poor leadership nfl dealing anthem controversy drop recent quarterly profits company apologize later twitter saying protests stopped nfl issues isnt anything new league deal controversies recent years ranging deflategate way deals domestic violence accusations players seems different part systemic issues seem immune easy solutions basketball great kareem abduljabbar thinking along lines recently wrote oped piece predicting nba would one day supplant nfl americas favorite sports league might stretch argument could made violence made league attractive years may end part eventual undoing broken arm cracked rib one thing scars prompt bragging rights widespread permanent brain damage affects players rest lives beyond entertainment abduljabbar wrote guardian nothing sexy depression dementia isnt enlightened longer entertaining watch players slam headon conundrum facing league though without violence core game football loses much appeal violence also blame short career spans makes hard fans identify individual players nba built superstars nfl teams part consist interchangeable players average fan wouldnt recognize saw street game also unwatchable times way many stoppages look plays ways never imagined instant replay first came existence one seems know catch anymore causes replay officials new york micromanage things seen naked eye still nfl continues draw tv audiences leagues dream super bowl gets 100 million viewers sunday night primetime game might draw 20 million even thursday night games part competitive national ratings plenty empty seats markets still signup lists season tickets others americans still like get fix football long year began high note brady patriots overcoming 25point deficit win first overtime super bowl comes end nfl crossroads perilous times ahead league tries find new balance retain appeal time court new generation fans nfl hasnt killed golden goose far showed city leaders las vegas agreed raise 750 million tourist taxes bring raiders town beginning 2020 season league longer afford take fans granted longer afford alienate entire cities like san diego st louis oakland simply theres money made elsewhere theres long way go top mountain wherever nfl may end 50 years sure seems like downhill part journey begun ____ tim dahlberg national sports columnist associated press write tdahlbergaporg httptwittercomtimdahlberg
| 964 |
<p>WASHINGTON (AP) — After leading the Washington Wizards to their first overtime win of the season, John Wall remained frustrated that the late drama had been self-imposed.</p>
<p>Wall scored 17 of his 23 points in the second half and overtime, and tied a season high with 16 assists in the Wizards' 119-113 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday night.</p>
<p>Yet the perennial All-Star couldn't shake thoughts of his own performance, which also included eight turnovers, or that of a team that gave back a 23-point lead.</p>
<p>"The whole second half was just nasty for us, period," Wall said. "We have to do better. We have to do a lot better."</p>
<p>Washington has repeatedly struggled to close games at home this season. On Nov. 1, the Wizards lost 112-116 to Phoenix after holding a 22-point lead in the first half. On Nov. 25, they led by 17 in the fourth quarter before losing 108-105 to Portland.</p>
<p>They pulled this one out in overtime, when Wall hit two jumpers and contributed three assists while the Nets shot 1 for 8 from the floor.</p>
<p>"We've got an All-Star point guard. That helps, right?" Washington coach Scott Brooks said. "He made big plays, big shots down the stretch."</p>
<p>Bradley Beal scored 24 points and Kelly Oubre added 17 off the bench on 5-of-6 shooting.</p>
<p>Marcin Gortat had 16 points and 13 rebounds as the Wizards pulled to 2-2 on their five-game homestand and avoided being swept by the Nets in the season series.</p>
<p>Rondae Hollis-Jefferson scored 22 points for Brooklyn, which never led. Jarrett Allen added 16 points and DeMarre Carroll had 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Nets, who are winless in three overtime games</p>
<p>"You know, it's tough, all the close games," Allen said. "But I feel like every one of them has been a learning experience. There's little things we pick up from games that we've lost like this, and we just try to improve on them."</p>
<p>Beal gave Washington the lead for good on a jumper and followed with a 3-pointer, both off feeds by Wall, to make it 114-109. Then Wall hit a pair of contested jumpers to keep Washington's lead at five, the latter making it 118-113 with 17 seconds left in the extra period.</p>
<p>TIP-INS</p>
<p>Nets: Brooklyn fell to 2-7 in the second game of back-to-back sets. ... Brooklyn's starting five scored only 19 first-half points ... C Tyler Zeller (left hip) sat out for the first time since Nov. 14.</p>
<p>Wizards: Washington swept both ends of a back-to-back set for the first time this season. ... Wall received his fourth technical foul of the season during the third quarter. ... G Jodie Meeks returned to action after he was left out of Washington's rotation for the first time this season on Friday night.</p>
<p>THE BEAL DEAL</p>
<p>Beal has now scored 20 or more points in 10 consecutive games, his longest such stretch this season.</p>
<p>"Without my teammates, I wouldn't be able to have this streak," Beal said. "But I do take pride in being aggressive and being a scorer, and doing the best that I can."</p>
<p>ALMOST AMAZING</p>
<p>Brooklyn trailed 59-39 at halftime before closing within three in the third and tying it on a 16-5 run to end the fourth.</p>
<p>During that last stretch, Allen Crabbe hit two 3-pointers and fed Caris LeVert for a dunk that closed it to 105-104 with 1:45 remaining. The Nets missed their next three shots and turned it over twice, yet still tied it at 107-all on Quincy Acy's 3-pointer from the top of the arc with 9.1 seconds left.</p>
<p>UP NEXT</p>
<p>Nets: Host New York on Monday.</p>
<p>Wizards: Wrap a five-game homestand Monday against Milwaukee.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball</p>
<p>WASHINGTON (AP) — After leading the Washington Wizards to their first overtime win of the season, John Wall remained frustrated that the late drama had been self-imposed.</p>
<p>Wall scored 17 of his 23 points in the second half and overtime, and tied a season high with 16 assists in the Wizards' 119-113 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday night.</p>
<p>Yet the perennial All-Star couldn't shake thoughts of his own performance, which also included eight turnovers, or that of a team that gave back a 23-point lead.</p>
<p>"The whole second half was just nasty for us, period," Wall said. "We have to do better. We have to do a lot better."</p>
<p>Washington has repeatedly struggled to close games at home this season. On Nov. 1, the Wizards lost 112-116 to Phoenix after holding a 22-point lead in the first half. On Nov. 25, they led by 17 in the fourth quarter before losing 108-105 to Portland.</p>
<p>They pulled this one out in overtime, when Wall hit two jumpers and contributed three assists while the Nets shot 1 for 8 from the floor.</p>
<p>"We've got an All-Star point guard. That helps, right?" Washington coach Scott Brooks said. "He made big plays, big shots down the stretch."</p>
<p>Bradley Beal scored 24 points and Kelly Oubre added 17 off the bench on 5-of-6 shooting.</p>
<p>Marcin Gortat had 16 points and 13 rebounds as the Wizards pulled to 2-2 on their five-game homestand and avoided being swept by the Nets in the season series.</p>
<p>Rondae Hollis-Jefferson scored 22 points for Brooklyn, which never led. Jarrett Allen added 16 points and DeMarre Carroll had 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Nets, who are winless in three overtime games</p>
<p>"You know, it's tough, all the close games," Allen said. "But I feel like every one of them has been a learning experience. There's little things we pick up from games that we've lost like this, and we just try to improve on them."</p>
<p>Beal gave Washington the lead for good on a jumper and followed with a 3-pointer, both off feeds by Wall, to make it 114-109. Then Wall hit a pair of contested jumpers to keep Washington's lead at five, the latter making it 118-113 with 17 seconds left in the extra period.</p>
<p>TIP-INS</p>
<p>Nets: Brooklyn fell to 2-7 in the second game of back-to-back sets. ... Brooklyn's starting five scored only 19 first-half points ... C Tyler Zeller (left hip) sat out for the first time since Nov. 14.</p>
<p>Wizards: Washington swept both ends of a back-to-back set for the first time this season. ... Wall received his fourth technical foul of the season during the third quarter. ... G Jodie Meeks returned to action after he was left out of Washington's rotation for the first time this season on Friday night.</p>
<p>THE BEAL DEAL</p>
<p>Beal has now scored 20 or more points in 10 consecutive games, his longest such stretch this season.</p>
<p>"Without my teammates, I wouldn't be able to have this streak," Beal said. "But I do take pride in being aggressive and being a scorer, and doing the best that I can."</p>
<p>ALMOST AMAZING</p>
<p>Brooklyn trailed 59-39 at halftime before closing within three in the third and tying it on a 16-5 run to end the fourth.</p>
<p>During that last stretch, Allen Crabbe hit two 3-pointers and fed Caris LeVert for a dunk that closed it to 105-104 with 1:45 remaining. The Nets missed their next three shots and turned it over twice, yet still tied it at 107-all on Quincy Acy's 3-pointer from the top of the arc with 9.1 seconds left.</p>
<p>UP NEXT</p>
<p>Nets: Host New York on Monday.</p>
<p>Wizards: Wrap a five-game homestand Monday against Milwaukee.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball</p>
| false | 2 |
washington ap leading washington wizards first overtime win season john wall remained frustrated late drama selfimposed wall scored 17 23 points second half overtime tied season high 16 assists wizards 119113 victory brooklyn nets saturday night yet perennial allstar couldnt shake thoughts performance also included eight turnovers team gave back 23point lead whole second half nasty us period wall said better lot better washington repeatedly struggled close games home season nov 1 wizards lost 112116 phoenix holding 22point lead first half nov 25 led 17 fourth quarter losing 108105 portland pulled one overtime wall hit two jumpers contributed three assists nets shot 1 8 floor weve got allstar point guard helps right washington coach scott brooks said made big plays big shots stretch bradley beal scored 24 points kelly oubre added 17 bench 5of6 shooting marcin gortat 16 points 13 rebounds wizards pulled 22 fivegame homestand avoided swept nets season series rondae hollisjefferson scored 22 points brooklyn never led jarrett allen added 16 points demarre carroll 13 points 10 rebounds nets winless three overtime games know tough close games allen said feel like every one learning experience theres little things pick games weve lost like try improve beal gave washington lead good jumper followed 3pointer feeds wall make 114109 wall hit pair contested jumpers keep washingtons lead five latter making 118113 17 seconds left extra period tipins nets brooklyn fell 27 second game backtoback sets brooklyns starting five scored 19 firsthalf points c tyler zeller left hip sat first time since nov 14 wizards washington swept ends backtoback set first time season wall received fourth technical foul season third quarter g jodie meeks returned action left washingtons rotation first time season friday night beal deal beal scored 20 points 10 consecutive games longest stretch season without teammates wouldnt able streak beal said take pride aggressive scorer best almost amazing brooklyn trailed 5939 halftime closing within three third tying 165 run end fourth last stretch allen crabbe hit two 3pointers fed caris levert dunk closed 105104 145 remaining nets missed next three shots turned twice yet still tied 107all quincy acys 3pointer top arc 91 seconds left next nets host new york monday wizards wrap fivegame homestand monday milwaukee ___ ap nba httpsapnewscomtagnbabasketball washington ap leading washington wizards first overtime win season john wall remained frustrated late drama selfimposed wall scored 17 23 points second half overtime tied season high 16 assists wizards 119113 victory brooklyn nets saturday night yet perennial allstar couldnt shake thoughts performance also included eight turnovers team gave back 23point lead whole second half nasty us period wall said better lot better washington repeatedly struggled close games home season nov 1 wizards lost 112116 phoenix holding 22point lead first half nov 25 led 17 fourth quarter losing 108105 portland pulled one overtime wall hit two jumpers contributed three assists nets shot 1 8 floor weve got allstar point guard helps right washington coach scott brooks said made big plays big shots stretch bradley beal scored 24 points kelly oubre added 17 bench 5of6 shooting marcin gortat 16 points 13 rebounds wizards pulled 22 fivegame homestand avoided swept nets season series rondae hollisjefferson scored 22 points brooklyn never led jarrett allen added 16 points demarre carroll 13 points 10 rebounds nets winless three overtime games know tough close games allen said feel like every one learning experience theres little things pick games weve lost like try improve beal gave washington lead good jumper followed 3pointer feeds wall make 114109 wall hit pair contested jumpers keep washingtons lead five latter making 118113 17 seconds left extra period tipins nets brooklyn fell 27 second game backtoback sets brooklyns starting five scored 19 firsthalf points c tyler zeller left hip sat first time since nov 14 wizards washington swept ends backtoback set first time season wall received fourth technical foul season third quarter g jodie meeks returned action left washingtons rotation first time season friday night beal deal beal scored 20 points 10 consecutive games longest stretch season without teammates wouldnt able streak beal said take pride aggressive scorer best almost amazing brooklyn trailed 5939 halftime closing within three third tying 165 run end fourth last stretch allen crabbe hit two 3pointers fed caris levert dunk closed 105104 145 remaining nets missed next three shots turned twice yet still tied 107all quincy acys 3pointer top arc 91 seconds left next nets host new york monday wizards wrap fivegame homestand monday milwaukee ___ ap nba httpsapnewscomtagnbabasketball
| 744 |
<p>David Pastrnak scored twice in a three-point game and the Boston Bruins continued their incredible roll with a 4-1 victory over the Montreal Canadiens Saturday night in Montreal.</p>
<p>Torey Krug also collected three points in a one-goal, two-assist performance and goalie Tuukka Rask made 20 saves for the Bruins, who have put together a 12-0-4 since their last loss in regulation time on Dec. 14.</p>
<p>The Bruins took control of the game with a pair of goals less than two minutes apart late in the second period to erase a 1-0 deficit.</p>
<p>Pastrnak put the visitors on the board with a horrid goal for Montreal netminder Carey Price to surrender while his team’s playoff hopes are fading fast. Pastrnak sent the puck to the front of the net from the corner of the rink and it somehow slipped past Price, who appeared to have left his position early in anticipation of it being a pass to the slot.</p>
<p>Krug scored the eventual game-winner with a beautiful tally. While the Bruins were creating all kinds of chaos in the Montreal zone, Krug jumped down from his point position to take a feed from Pastrnak, after which he ripped a high shot home.</p>
<p>After Pastrnak notched his 20th goal of the season, Riley Nash rounded out the scoring with an empty-net goal. Brad Marchand had two assists and Patrice Bergeron added a helper to remain red hot, having collected nine goals and six assists in the last nine games.</p>
<p>After a scoreless first period, Max Pacioretty opened the scoring for the Canadiens, potting his seventh goal in as many games to the delight of the Bell Centre crowd. Paul Byron stripped Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy of the puck in the neutral zone to create an odd-man rush, then fed the Montreal captain with a perfect pass, and Pacioretty promptly rifled the puck past Rask. With his assist, Byron has now collected five points in four games.</p>
<p>Price stopped 23 shots for the Canadiens, who have just three wins in their last 12 games (3-7-2).</p>
<p>—Field Level Media</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Trump administration on Tuesday raised the stakes in a growing trade showdown with China, targeting 25 percent tariffs on some 1,300 industrial technology, transport and medical products to try to force changes in Beijing’s intellectual property practices.</p>
<p>The U.S. tariff unveiling, representing about $50 billion of estimated 2018 imports and aimed at dealing a setback to China’s efforts to upgrade its manufacturing base, drew an immediate condemnation from Beijing, along with a threat of retaliatory action.</p>
<p>China’s Ministry of Commerce said it “will soon take measure of equal intensity and scale against U.S. goods.”</p>
<p>“We have the confidence and ability to respond to any protectionist measures by the United States,” the ministry said in a statement quoted by the official Xinhua news agency.</p>
<p>The ministry did not reveal any specific countermeasures, but economists widely view imports of U.S. soybeans, aircraft and machinery as prime targets for trade retaliation.</p>
<p>The tariff list from the U.S. Trade Representative’s office followed China’s imposition of tariffs on $3 billion worth of U.S. fruits, nuts, pork and wine to protest new U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs imposed last month by U.S. President Donald Trump.</p> Related Coverage
<a href="/article/us-usa-trade-china-ministry/china-commerce-ministry-condemns-u-s-tariffs-will-take-countermeasures-idUSKCN1HA2XH" type="external">China commerce ministry condemns U.S. tariffs, will take countermeasures</a>
<a href="/article/us-usa-china-trade-embassy/china-slams-u-s-trade-action-to-retaliate-on-same-scale-strength-idUSKCN1HA2X7" type="external">China slams U.S. trade action, to retaliate on same scale, strength</a>
<a href="/article/us-usa-trade-china-almonds/california-wine-and-nut-growers-call-china-tariffs-a-blow-idUSKCN1HA2U1" type="external">California wine and nut growers call China tariffs a blow</a>
<p>The standoff between the world’s two largest economies has sparked market fears that they could spiral into a trade war that could crush global growth.</p>
<p>Asian share markets were mixed amid trade tension concerns, with Japan's Nikkei 225 <a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.N225" type="external">.N225</a> off 0.1 percent but Shanghai's main index <a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.SSEC" type="external">.SSEC</a> poised to open 0.3 percent higher.</p> MANY CONSUMER ELECTRONICS EXCLUDED
<p>The USTR list ranged from chemicals to light-emitting diodes to machine parts, but U.S. industry groups warned it would still hit supply chains that rely on Chinese components and would ultimately raise costs for consumers.</p>
<p>Many consumer electronics products such as cellphones made by Apple Inc. ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=AAPL.O" type="external">AAPL.O</a>) and laptops made by Dell were excluded, as were footwear and clothing, drawing a sigh of relief from retailers who had feared higher costs for American consumers.</p>
<p>But the USTR did include some key consumer products from China, including flat-panel television sets and motor vehicles, both electric and gasoline-powered with engines of 3 liters or less.</p>
<p>A Reuters analysis that compared listed products with 2017 Census Bureau import data showed $3.9 billion in flat-panel television imports, and $1.4 billion in vehicle imports from China.</p>
<p>Among vehicles likely to be hit with tariffs is General Motors Co’s ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=GM.N" type="external">GM.N</a>) Buick Envision sport-utility vehicle, which is assembled in China and sold in the United States. Volvo, owned by China’s Geely Motors, also exports Chinese-built vehicles to the United States.</p>
<p>More than 200 products on the list saw no U.S. imports last year, including large aircraft and communication satellites, while some categories were highly unlikely to ever be imported, such as artillery weapons.</p>
<p>Publication of the tariff lists starts a public comment and consultation period expected to last around two months, after which USTR said it would issue a “final determination” on the product list. It has scheduled a May 15 public hearing on the tariffs.</p>
<p>China ran a $375 billion goods trade surplus with the United States in 2017, a figure that Trump has demanded be cut by $100 billion.</p> ALGORITHM SHIELDS U.S. CONSUMERS
<p>USTR developed the tariff targets using a computer algorithm designed to choose products that would inflict maximum pain on Chinese exporters, but limit the damage to U.S. consumers.</p>
<p>A USTR official said the product list got an initial scrub by removing products identified as likely to cause disruptions to the U.S. economy and those that needed to be excluded for legal reasons.</p>
<p>“The remaining products were ranked according to the likely impact on U.S. consumers, based on available trade data involving alternative country sources for each product,” the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Reuters.</p>
<p>USTR said the China tariffs announced on Tuesday were proposed “in response to China’s policies that coerce American companies into transferring their technology and intellectual property to domestic Chinese enterprises.”</p> U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a joint news conference with Latvia's President Raimonds Vejonis, Estonia's President Kersti Kaljulaid and Lithuania's President Dalia Grybauskaite at the White House in Washington, U.S., April 3, 2018. REUTERS/Carlos Barria
<p>The agency added that such policies “bolster China’s stated intention of seizing economic leadership in advanced technology as set forth in its industrial plans.”</p>
<p>China has denied that its laws require technology transfers and has threatened to retaliate against any U.S. tariffs with trade sanctions of its own, with potential targets such as U.S. soybeans, aircraft or heavy equipment.</p> 2025 PROGRAM TARGETED
<p>A USTR official said the tariff list targeted products that benefit from China’s industrial policies, including the “Made in China 2025” program, which aims to replace advanced technology imports with domestic products and build a dominant position in future industries.</p>
<p>The state-led 2025 program targets 10 strategic industries: advanced information technology, robotics, aircraft, new energy vehicles, pharmaceuticals, electric power equipment, advanced materials, agricultural machinery, shipbuilding and marine engineering and advanced rail equipment.</p>
<p>Many products in those segments appear on the list, including antibiotics and industrial robots and aircraft parts.</p>
<a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.N225" type="external">Nikkei Inc</a> 21274.59 .N225 Nikkei Index -17.70 (-0.08%) .N225 .SSEC AAPL.O GM.N
<p>U.S. business groups reacted cautiously, saying they agreed with Trump’s efforts to stop the theft of U.S. intellectual property, but questioning whether tariffs were the right approach.</p>
<p>“Tariffs are one proposed response, but they are likely to create new challenges in the form of significant added costs for manufacturers and American consumers,” National Association of Manufacturers President Jay Timmons said in a statement.</p>
<p>U.S. Senator Marco Rubio said in a letter to Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin that he was glad to see “bold” action against China.</p>
<p>“These necessary actions constitute an important break with the appeasement of previous administrations, and provide an opportunity to chart a new course for America’s relationship with this strategic competitor,” Rubio wrote.</p>
<p>Reporting by David Lawder; Additional reporting by Jason Lange, Ginger Gibson, Steve Holland and David Chance in Washington; Editing by Peter Cooney</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>SAN BRUNO, Calif. (Reuters) - A woman opened fire with a handgun at YouTube’s headquarters near San Francisco on Tuesday, wounding three people before shooting herself dead as employees of the Silicon Valley tech company fled into the surrounding streets, authorities said.</p>
<p>Police did not identify the suspect or say what might have motivated the shooting at YouTube, a video-sharing service owned by Alphabet Inc’s Google which employs nearly 2,000 people at the San Bruno, California offices.</p>
<p>The woman approached an outdoor patio and dining courtyard on the campus around lunchtime and began to fire before entering the building, police said.</p>
<p>The San Jose Mercury News, citing a law enforcement source, said that she was targeting her boyfriend due to a domestic dispute.</p> Related Coverage
<a href="/article/us-california-youtube-shooting-ceos/tech-ceos-call-for-gun-control-following-youtube-shooting-idUSKCN1HB05T" type="external">Tech CEOs call for gun control following YouTube shooting</a>
<p>A U.S. government security official told Reuters there was no known connection to terrorism.</p>
<p>ABC News, citing unnamed law enforcement sources, said the suspect was 35 to 40 years old, and lived in Southern California, with no apparent connection to YouTube.</p>
<p>A YouTube product manager, Todd Sherman, described on Twitter hearing people running, first thinking it was an earthquake before he was told that a person had a gun.</p>
<p>“At that point every new person I saw was a potential shooter. Someone else said that the person shot out the back doors and then shot themselves,” Sherman said in a tweet.</p>
<p>“I looked down and saw blood drips on the floor and stairs. Peaked around for threats and then we headed downstairs and out the front,” Sherman said.</p>
<p>The shooting was the latest in a string of mass killings carried out in the United States in recent years. Most recently, the massacre of 17 people at a Florida high school has led to calls for tighter restrictions on gun ownership.</p>
<p>In a recording of a 911 call posted online by the Los Angeles Times, a dispatcher can be heard saying: “Shooter. Another party said they spotted someone with a gun. Suspect came from the back patio ... Again we have a report of a subject with a gun. They heard seven or eight shots being fired.”</p>
<p>Dozens of emergency vehicles quickly converged on the YouTube campus, and police could be seen on televised aerial video systematically frisking several employees leaving the area with their hands raised.</p>
<p>One of the victims, a 36-year-old man, was listed in critical condition at San Francisco General Hospital. A 32-year-old woman was listed in serious condition and a 27-year-old woman in fair condition. Authorities did not release names of the victims.</p>
<p>The three patients taken to San Francisco General Hospital were all awake, Dr. Andre Campbell, a trauma surgeon at the hospital, said at a news conference. All three people were victims of gunshot wounds, Campbell said, but none of them had undergone surgery. A fourth person was taken to a local hospital with an ankle injury from fleeing the scene.</p> Police officers and crime scene tape are seen at Youtube headquarters following an active shooter situation in San Bruno, California, U.S., April 3, 2018. REUTERS/Elijah Nouvelage
<p>YouTube Chief Executive Susan Wojcicki declined to comment to reporters as she left the building.</p>
<p>“It’s with great sadness that I tell you - based on the latest information - four people were injured in this horrific act of violence,” Google Chief Executive Sundar Pichai said in letter to employees that was posted on Twitter.</p>
<p>“I know a lot of you are in shock right now. Over the coming days, we will continue to provide support to help everyone in our Google family heal from this unimaginable tragedy,” he added.</p>
<p>In a separate tweet, Pichai said he and Wojcicki were “focused on supporting our employees &amp; the @YouTube community through this difficult time together.”</p> Slideshow (11 Images)
<p>President Donald Trump said on Twitter that he had been briefed on the shooting.</p>
<p>“Our thoughts and prayers are with everybody involved,” Trump tweeted. “Thank you to our phenomenal Law Enforcement Officers and First Responders that are currently on the scene.”</p>
<p>In response, Twitter Chief Executive Jack Dorsey tweeted: “We can’t keep being reactive to this, thinking and praying it won’t happen again at our schools, jobs, or our community spots. It’s beyond time to evolve our policies.”</p>
<p>Last month, YouTube announced it would ban content promoting the sale of guns and gun accessories as well as videos that teach how to make guns.</p>
<p>Female mass shooters are rare. A recent Washington Post analysis shows only three out of 150 U.S. shootings with more than four victims since 1966 were done by women. In 2015, a husband and wife killed 14 people in San Bernardino, California.</p>
<p>Additional reporting by Gina Cherelus in New York, Suzannah Gonzales in Chicago, Mark Hosenball in Washington, D.C.; Andrew Hay in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Alex Dobuzinskis and Dan Whitcomb in Los Angeles; Salvador Rodriguez, Heather Somerville, Noel Randewich, Stephen Nellis and Jeffrey Dastin in San Francisco; Writing by Dan Whitcomb; Editing by Peter Cooney and Lisa Shumaker</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Several Silicon Valley leaders called for increased gun control on Tuesday afternoon after a woman at the headquarters of YouTube shot and wounded three people before taking her own life.</p> Police officers and crime scene markers are seen at Youtube headquarters following an active shooter situation in San Bruno, California, U.S., April 3, 2018. REUTERS/Elijah Nouvelage
<p>Tech companies have largely avoided the topic of gun control in the United States, but they have previously pushed for progressive stances on other hot-topic issues, ranging from climate change to same-sex marriage and comprehensive immigration reform. At least three major chief executives took up gun control after the shooting.</p>
<p>“We can’t keep being reactive to this, thinking and praying it won’t happen again at our schools, jobs, or our community spots,” tweeted Twitter Inc and Square Inc CEO Jack Dorsey. “It’s beyond time to evolve our policies.”</p>
<p>Joining Dorsey were Uber Technologies Inc [UBER.UL] CEO Dara Khosrowshahi and Box Inc CEO Aaron Levie, who respectively sent tweets on Tuesday saying #EndGunViolence and #NeverAgain, two Twitter hashtags commonly used by proponents of gun control.</p>
<p>“On behalf of the team at @Uber, sending support to everyone @YouTube and @Google, and gratitude to the heroic first responders,” Khosrowshahi tweeted. “Another tragedy that should push us again to #EndGunViolence”</p>
<p>Emergency calls reporting gunfire in San Bruno, California, at the headquarters of Alphabet Inc’s YouTube began to pour in early Tuesday afternoon, according to the city of San Bruno. Authorities have not released the identities of the suspected shooter or the victims.</p>
<p>The tweets on Thursday could be an indication that Silicon Valley may soon weigh in on the epidemic of mass killings by firearms in the United States.</p>
<p>“Incredibly sad to see the YouTube shooting today,” Levie tweeted. “Our thoughts are with our Google friends and their families. #NeverAgain”</p>
<p>Sundar Pichai and Susan Wojcicki, the CEOs of Google and YouTube respectively, also issued statements on Tuesday while avoiding the topic of gun control.</p>
<p>“There are no words to describe how horrible it was to have an active shooter @YouTube today,” Wojcicki said. “Our deepest gratitude to law enforcement &amp; first responders for their rapid response. Our hearts go out to all those injured &amp; impacted today. We will come together to heal as a family.”</p>
<p>Other tech leaders expressed sympathy for the employees of YouTube on social media on Tuesday without referencing gun control. Those included Apple Inc CEO Tim Cook, Amazon.com Inc CEO Jeff Bezos, Salesforce.com Inc CEO Marc Benioff and Facebook Inc Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg.</p>
<p>“From everyone at Apple, we send our sympathy and support to the team at YouTube and Google, especially the victims and their families,” Cook said in a tweet.</p>
<p>Reporting by Salvador Rodriguez, editing by Peter Henderson and Lisa Shumaker</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>MATIAS ROMERO, Mexico (Reuters) - Mexican officials on Tuesday screened a dwindling group of hundreds of largely Central American migrants who are moving through Mexico toward the United States, seeking to break up the “caravan” that has drawn the ire of U.S. President Donald Trump.</p>
<p>Trump, doubling down on his tough stance against illegal immigration, has railed against those making their way from the Guatemala-Mexico border in the past 10 days.</p>
<p>Trump repeated threats to torpedo the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which underpins much of Mexico’s foreign trade, and said he wanted to send troops to the U.S. border to stop illegal immigrants until a long-promised border wall is built.</p>
<p>In response, the Mexican government has said the migrants are being vetted to determine whether they have a right to stay, or would be returned to their countries of origin.</p>
<p>Hundreds of men, women and children from Central America were stuck on Tuesday in the town of Matias Romero in the poor southern Mexican state of Oaxaca awaiting clarification of their legal status after officials began registering them.</p>
<p>Confused and frustrated by paperwork, many were uncertain what lay in store, and desperate for information.</p>
<p>“What was the point of all this then if they don’t let us stay?” Elizabeth Avalos, 23, a migrant from El Salvador who was traveling with two children, said angrily. “There’s no food, my children haven’t eaten since yesterday.”</p>
<p>Hundreds of people camped out overnight in a park near the town’s train station, with shoes and bags strewn about.</p>
<p>Jaime Alexander Variega, 35, sat alone in a patch of shade and cupped his head in his hands, weeping or praying, his feet still bearing lacerations from walking for four or five days straight through Guatemala from El Salvador.</p>
<p>“We’re not safe in El Salvador,” said the former security guard, his hat smeared in dirt, explaining he had left his home because of the threats from local gangs. “I know it’s difficult to get into the United States. But it’s not impossible.”</p>
<p>Around them, Mexican migration officials with notepads and pens took basic information from the migrants, asking for names, nationalities, dates of birth and proof of identity.</p>
<p>The caravan was organized by U.S-based advocacy group Pueblo Sin Fronteras, which seeks to draw attention to the rights of migrants and provide them with aid. The Mexican government says the caravan, which like others travels by road, rail and on foot, has been organized every year since 2010.</p>
<p>Honduran Carlos Ricardo Ellis Garcia clutched a handwritten list of names belonging to more than 100 people who joined the caravan in the southern border town of Tapachula, where it began on March 25, reaching a peak of around 1,500 people.</p>
<p>But by Tuesday the number was down to about 1,100, according to Pueblo Sin Fronteras spokeswoman Gina Garibo.</p>
<p>Many had broken off from the group, eager to move on more quickly, she said. Many others aimed to stay in Mexico because they had family ties there or planned to work, Garibo said.</p>
<p>“Now they’re separating these groups,” Ellis Garcia said, referring to an estimated 300 people who split from the caravan on Monday. “I don’t know what’s the deal, we have no answers.”</p> Central American migrants take a break from traveling in their caravan, as they journey to the U.S., in Matias Romero, Oaxaca, Mexico April 3, 2018. REUTERS/Henry Romero
<p>Advocacy groups told Reuters dozens of people left the caravan and traveled to the crime-ridden eastern state of Veracruz, where they were met by migration officials and police.</p>
<p>The government said on Monday evening around 400 people in the caravan had already been sent back to their home countries.</p>
<p>Geronimo Gutierrez, Mexico’s ambassador to the United States, told CNN that Mexican authorities were “looking at the status of the individuals so we can proceed either with a repatriation process” or offer humanitarian relief. That could include granting asylum or humanitarian visas.</p>
<p>Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala are among the most violent and impoverished countries in the Americas, prompting many people to leave in search of a better life.</p>
<p>Trump, who ran for office in 2016 on a platform to stem illegal immigrants from Mexico, said he had “told Mexico” he hoped it would halt the caravan.</p>
<p>The migrant caravan also poses a political problem for Mexico’s unpopular government in a presidential election year.</p> Slideshow (5 Images)
<p>President Enrique Pena Nieto is barred by law from seeking re-election in the July 1 vote, but the ruling party candidate is running third, well behind the front-runner.</p>
<p>The government does not want to be seen as kowtowing to threats by Trump, who is deeply unpopular in Mexico.</p>
<p>In a country where millions of people have friends or relatives who have migrated legally or illegally to the United States, many Mexicans harbor sympathy for the Central Americans.</p>
<p>Reporting by Delphine Schrank; Additional reporting by Lizbeth Diaz, Diego Ore and Daina Solomon; Editing by Dave Graham and Grant McCool</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
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david pastrnak scored twice threepoint game boston bruins continued incredible roll 41 victory montreal canadiens saturday night montreal torey krug also collected three points onegoal twoassist performance goalie tuukka rask made 20 saves bruins put together 1204 since last loss regulation time dec 14 bruins took control game pair goals less two minutes apart late second period erase 10 deficit pastrnak put visitors board horrid goal montreal netminder carey price surrender teams playoff hopes fading fast pastrnak sent puck front net corner rink somehow slipped past price appeared left position early anticipation pass slot krug scored eventual gamewinner beautiful tally bruins creating kinds chaos montreal zone krug jumped point position take feed pastrnak ripped high shot home pastrnak notched 20th goal season riley nash rounded scoring emptynet goal brad marchand two assists patrice bergeron added helper remain red hot collected nine goals six assists last nine games scoreless first period max pacioretty opened scoring canadiens potting seventh goal many games delight bell centre crowd paul byron stripped bruins defenseman charlie mcavoy puck neutral zone create oddman rush fed montreal captain perfect pass pacioretty promptly rifled puck past rask assist byron collected five points four games price stopped 23 shots canadiens three wins last 12 games 372 field level media standards thomson reuters trust principles washington reuters trump administration tuesday raised stakes growing trade showdown china targeting 25 percent tariffs 1300 industrial technology transport medical products try force changes beijings intellectual property practices us tariff unveiling representing 50 billion estimated 2018 imports aimed dealing setback chinas efforts upgrade manufacturing base drew immediate condemnation beijing along threat retaliatory action chinas ministry commerce said soon take measure equal intensity scale us goods confidence ability respond protectionist measures united states ministry said statement quoted official xinhua news agency ministry reveal specific countermeasures economists widely view imports us soybeans aircraft machinery prime targets trade retaliation tariff list us trade representatives office followed chinas imposition tariffs 3 billion worth us fruits nuts pork wine protest new us steel aluminum tariffs imposed last month us president donald trump related coverage china commerce ministry condemns us tariffs take countermeasures china slams us trade action retaliate scale strength california wine nut growers call china tariffs blow standoff worlds two largest economies sparked market fears could spiral trade war could crush global growth asian share markets mixed amid trade tension concerns japans nikkei 225 n225 01 percent shanghais main index ssec poised open 03 percent higher many consumer electronics excluded ustr list ranged chemicals lightemitting diodes machine parts us industry groups warned would still hit supply chains rely chinese components would ultimately raise costs consumers many consumer electronics products cellphones made apple inc aaplo laptops made dell excluded footwear clothing drawing sigh relief retailers feared higher costs american consumers ustr include key consumer products china including flatpanel television sets motor vehicles electric gasolinepowered engines 3 liters less reuters analysis compared listed products 2017 census bureau import data showed 39 billion flatpanel television imports 14 billion vehicle imports china among vehicles likely hit tariffs general motors cos gmn buick envision sportutility vehicle assembled china sold united states volvo owned chinas geely motors also exports chinesebuilt vehicles united states 200 products list saw us imports last year including large aircraft communication satellites categories highly unlikely ever imported artillery weapons publication tariff lists starts public comment consultation period expected last around two months ustr said would issue final determination product list scheduled may 15 public hearing tariffs china ran 375 billion goods trade surplus united states 2017 figure trump demanded cut 100 billion algorithm shields us consumers ustr developed tariff targets using computer algorithm designed choose products would inflict maximum pain chinese exporters limit damage us consumers ustr official said product list got initial scrub removing products identified likely cause disruptions us economy needed excluded legal reasons remaining products ranked according likely impact us consumers based available trade data involving alternative country sources product official spoke condition anonymity told reuters ustr said china tariffs announced tuesday proposed response chinas policies coerce american companies transferring technology intellectual property domestic chinese enterprises us president donald trump speaks joint news conference latvias president raimonds vejonis estonias president kersti kaljulaid lithuanias president dalia grybauskaite white house washington us april 3 2018 reuterscarlos barria agency added policies bolster chinas stated intention seizing economic leadership advanced technology set forth industrial plans china denied laws require technology transfers threatened retaliate us tariffs trade sanctions potential targets us soybeans aircraft heavy equipment 2025 program targeted ustr official said tariff list targeted products benefit chinas industrial policies including made china 2025 program aims replace advanced technology imports domestic products build dominant position future industries stateled 2025 program targets 10 strategic industries advanced information technology robotics aircraft new energy vehicles pharmaceuticals electric power equipment advanced materials agricultural machinery shipbuilding marine engineering advanced rail equipment many products segments appear list including antibiotics industrial robots aircraft parts nikkei inc 2127459 n225 nikkei index 1770 008 n225 ssec aaplo gmn us business groups reacted cautiously saying agreed trumps efforts stop theft us intellectual property questioning whether tariffs right approach tariffs one proposed response likely create new challenges form significant added costs manufacturers american consumers national association manufacturers president jay timmons said statement us senator marco rubio said letter lighthizer treasury secretary steven mnuchin glad see bold action china necessary actions constitute important break appeasement previous administrations provide opportunity chart new course americas relationship strategic competitor rubio wrote reporting david lawder additional reporting jason lange ginger gibson steve holland david chance washington editing peter cooney standards thomson reuters trust principles san bruno calif reuters woman opened fire handgun youtubes headquarters near san francisco tuesday wounding three people shooting dead employees silicon valley tech company fled surrounding streets authorities said police identify suspect say might motivated shooting youtube videosharing service owned alphabet incs google employs nearly 2000 people san bruno california offices woman approached outdoor patio dining courtyard campus around lunchtime began fire entering building police said san jose mercury news citing law enforcement source said targeting boyfriend due domestic dispute related coverage tech ceos call gun control following youtube shooting us government security official told reuters known connection terrorism abc news citing unnamed law enforcement sources said suspect 35 40 years old lived southern california apparent connection youtube youtube product manager todd sherman described twitter hearing people running first thinking earthquake told person gun point every new person saw potential shooter someone else said person shot back doors shot sherman said tweet looked saw blood drips floor stairs peaked around threats headed downstairs front sherman said shooting latest string mass killings carried united states recent years recently massacre 17 people florida high school led calls tighter restrictions gun ownership recording 911 call posted online los angeles times dispatcher heard saying shooter another party said spotted someone gun suspect came back patio report subject gun heard seven eight shots fired dozens emergency vehicles quickly converged youtube campus police could seen televised aerial video systematically frisking several employees leaving area hands raised one victims 36yearold man listed critical condition san francisco general hospital 32yearold woman listed serious condition 27yearold woman fair condition authorities release names victims three patients taken san francisco general hospital awake dr andre campbell trauma surgeon hospital said news conference three people victims gunshot wounds campbell said none undergone surgery fourth person taken local hospital ankle injury fleeing scene police officers crime scene tape seen youtube headquarters following active shooter situation san bruno california us april 3 2018 reuterselijah nouvelage youtube chief executive susan wojcicki declined comment reporters left building great sadness tell based latest information four people injured horrific act violence google chief executive sundar pichai said letter employees posted twitter know lot shock right coming days continue provide support help everyone google family heal unimaginable tragedy added separate tweet pichai said wojcicki focused supporting employees amp youtube community difficult time together slideshow 11 images president donald trump said twitter briefed shooting thoughts prayers everybody involved trump tweeted thank phenomenal law enforcement officers first responders currently scene response twitter chief executive jack dorsey tweeted cant keep reactive thinking praying wont happen schools jobs community spots beyond time evolve policies last month youtube announced would ban content promoting sale guns gun accessories well videos teach make guns female mass shooters rare recent washington post analysis shows three 150 us shootings four victims since 1966 done women 2015 husband wife killed 14 people san bernardino california additional reporting gina cherelus new york suzannah gonzales chicago mark hosenball washington dc andrew hay santa fe new mexico alex dobuzinskis dan whitcomb los angeles salvador rodriguez heather somerville noel randewich stephen nellis jeffrey dastin san francisco writing dan whitcomb editing peter cooney lisa shumaker standards thomson reuters trust principles san francisco reuters several silicon valley leaders called increased gun control tuesday afternoon woman headquarters youtube shot wounded three people taking life police officers crime scene markers seen youtube headquarters following active shooter situation san bruno california us april 3 2018 reuterselijah nouvelage tech companies largely avoided topic gun control united states previously pushed progressive stances hottopic issues ranging climate change samesex marriage comprehensive immigration reform least three major chief executives took gun control shooting cant keep reactive thinking praying wont happen schools jobs community spots tweeted twitter inc square inc ceo jack dorsey beyond time evolve policies joining dorsey uber technologies inc uberul ceo dara khosrowshahi box inc ceo aaron levie respectively sent tweets tuesday saying endgunviolence neveragain two twitter hashtags commonly used proponents gun control behalf team uber sending support everyone youtube google gratitude heroic first responders khosrowshahi tweeted another tragedy push us endgunviolence emergency calls reporting gunfire san bruno california headquarters alphabet incs youtube began pour early tuesday afternoon according city san bruno authorities released identities suspected shooter victims tweets thursday could indication silicon valley may soon weigh epidemic mass killings firearms united states incredibly sad see youtube shooting today levie tweeted thoughts google friends families neveragain sundar pichai susan wojcicki ceos google youtube respectively also issued statements tuesday avoiding topic gun control words describe horrible active shooter youtube today wojcicki said deepest gratitude law enforcement amp first responders rapid response hearts go injured amp impacted today come together heal family tech leaders expressed sympathy employees youtube social media tuesday without referencing gun control included apple inc ceo tim cook amazoncom inc ceo jeff bezos salesforcecom inc ceo marc benioff facebook inc chief operating officer sheryl sandberg everyone apple send sympathy support team youtube google especially victims families cook said tweet reporting salvador rodriguez editing peter henderson lisa shumaker standards thomson reuters trust principles matias romero mexico reuters mexican officials tuesday screened dwindling group hundreds largely central american migrants moving mexico toward united states seeking break caravan drawn ire us president donald trump trump doubling tough stance illegal immigration railed making way guatemalamexico border past 10 days trump repeated threats torpedo north american free trade agreement nafta underpins much mexicos foreign trade said wanted send troops us border stop illegal immigrants longpromised border wall built response mexican government said migrants vetted determine whether right stay would returned countries origin hundreds men women children central america stuck tuesday town matias romero poor southern mexican state oaxaca awaiting clarification legal status officials began registering confused frustrated paperwork many uncertain lay store desperate information point dont let us stay elizabeth avalos 23 migrant el salvador traveling two children said angrily theres food children havent eaten since yesterday hundreds people camped overnight park near towns train station shoes bags strewn jaime alexander variega 35 sat alone patch shade cupped head hands weeping praying feet still bearing lacerations walking four five days straight guatemala el salvador safe el salvador said former security guard hat smeared dirt explaining left home threats local gangs know difficult get united states impossible around mexican migration officials notepads pens took basic information migrants asking names nationalities dates birth proof identity caravan organized usbased advocacy group pueblo sin fronteras seeks draw attention rights migrants provide aid mexican government says caravan like others travels road rail foot organized every year since 2010 honduran carlos ricardo ellis garcia clutched handwritten list names belonging 100 people joined caravan southern border town tapachula began march 25 reaching peak around 1500 people tuesday number 1100 according pueblo sin fronteras spokeswoman gina garibo many broken group eager move quickly said many others aimed stay mexico family ties planned work garibo said theyre separating groups ellis garcia said referring estimated 300 people split caravan monday dont know whats deal answers central american migrants take break traveling caravan journey us matias romero oaxaca mexico april 3 2018 reutershenry romero advocacy groups told reuters dozens people left caravan traveled crimeridden eastern state veracruz met migration officials police government said monday evening around 400 people caravan already sent back home countries geronimo gutierrez mexicos ambassador united states told cnn mexican authorities looking status individuals proceed either repatriation process offer humanitarian relief could include granting asylum humanitarian visas honduras el salvador guatemala among violent impoverished countries americas prompting many people leave search better life trump ran office 2016 platform stem illegal immigrants mexico said told mexico hoped would halt caravan migrant caravan also poses political problem mexicos unpopular government presidential election year slideshow 5 images president enrique pena nieto barred law seeking reelection july 1 vote ruling party candidate running third well behind frontrunner government want seen kowtowing threats trump deeply unpopular mexico country millions people friends relatives migrated legally illegally united states many mexicans harbor sympathy central americans reporting delphine schrank additional reporting lizbeth diaz diego ore daina solomon editing dave graham grant mccool standards thomson reuters trust principles
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<p>Al's Morning Meeting reader Addie Bradshaw at WVVA, Bluefield, W. Va., sent me a note about how her state's legislature is trying to solve an issue I brought up in September 2003. There is a nationwide shortage of musicians who can/will play Taps at military funerals. This is no small issue since a <a href="http://www.buglesacrossamerica.org/welcome.php" type="external">half million veterans die</a> every year and we will continue to see that rate for at least another seven years.</p>
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<p><a href="http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Text_HTML/2005_SESSIONS/RS/BILLS/hb2014%20intr.htm" type="external">In West Virginia, the legislature has taken up a bill</a> that encourages school band departments at high schools, colleges and universities to train young people to learn to play "Taps." The bill will ensure that students who do perform at the services get community service credit. The students won't be allowed to miss too much schoolwork.</p>
<p>It is not my job to advocate that any legislative body act on any idea. But this just sounds like such a common sense and no cost solution that promotes cross-generation patriotism, respect for our senior veterans and after all, we would have young buglers who could do decades of service for veterans. I bet if you told a story about the West Virginia proposal and the shortage of players in your town, this idea would catch fire. The only downside I see to all of this would be if the buglers were being called out so much they were ignoring their school classes. If I am missing something here, drop a note into the feedback section of the column.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.buglesacrossamerica.org/welcome.php" type="external">A group called Buglers Across America</a> is also trying to address this problem <a href="http://www.tapsbugler.com/BuglersAcrossAmericaphotogallery.html" type="external">by signing up buglers</a>. Otherwise, veterans might have a boom box playing Taps at their funeral.</p>
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<p>Here is a story worth a local look. <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/02/21/MNGHUBERJ71.DTL" type="external">The San Francisco Chronicle</a> discovered:</p>
<p>Critics question whether Taser International's 263 police consultants, dubbed "master instructors,'' are making it clear to law enforcement agencies that they are working for the stun-gun maker or giving the impression that they represent their departments. Two months ago, a Minnesota officer quit after superiors found he had been moonlighting for Taser without their approval.</p>
<p>The story says:</p>
<p>Taser acknowledges using active-duty officers to promote its stun guns, a practice it says has helped drive sales.</p>
<p>The company noted in its latest annual report that the master instructors' "training sessions have led directly to the sale of Tasers to a number of police departments.''</p>
<p>Taser also has signed up about 1,000 police officers to provide a one-hour in-home training course to people who purchase a civilian stun-gun model, which the firm began marketing last fall.</p>
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<p>A seemingly small incident in D.C. touched off quite a controversy. It may have some local application too.</p>
<p>It seems that <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A42473-2005Feb21.html" type="external">the school system there allowed a public school cafeteria</a> to be used to spay, neuter and vaccinate hundreds of cats one weekend. Parents protested and demanded that the whole place be sanitized before kids used the cafeteria again.</p>
<p>What are your public schools used for after hours?</p>
<p>The other day I paid for a fast food lunch with my debit card.</p>
<p>Now you can use plastic for everything from soft drink machines to taxi cabs (I used my card for a cab ride in L.A. three weeks ago), and parking meters now accept credit cards. No purchase is too small a cording to a story in <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A45393-2005Feb22.html?referrer=email" type="external">The Washington Post</a>.</p>
<p>Talk to merchants who have to pay a fee every time a customer uses a card rather than cash for a purchase. The Post gave the example of a greeting card that costs $2.25 retail. If you purchased the card with a credit card, the retailer might pay 55 cents, or half their profits. A debit card might cost the retailer 35 to 45 cents.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0223/p01s02-usju.htm" type="external">The Christian Science Monitor</a> reported:</p>
<p>In an effort to reduce troubling rates of crime by former inmates, states are increasingly focusing attention on a crucial period of opportunity and risk&#160;-- supporting offenders as they re-enter life outside prison.</p>
<p>Massachusetts is the latest case in point, with leaders proposing that all felons be supported by supervision as they transition back into the state's towns and cities.</p>
<p>It joins a number of cities, and states from Rhode Island to Ohio, focusing on this re-entry phase at a time when hundreds of thousands of prisoners, many netted during the crack wars of the 1980s, are returning to society each year. According to national statistics, two-thirds of state prison inmates are re-arrested within three years of their release.</p>
<p>Now, even in crime-tough California, Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is emphasizing education, job training, and drug rehabilitation for prisoners in the state's $6.5 billion correctional system.</p>
<p>The story added:</p>
<p>Over 600,000 prisoners are released each year from the nation's correctional facilities, and the recidivism rate&#160;-- two-thirds -- has remained stable for 30 years.</p>
<p>With 2 million people behind bars and tight budgets making it impossible to keep building prisons, "more and more communities are realizing it's in their best interest to shepherd this transition so that communities can be safe," says Peggy Burke, a principal at the Center for Effective Public Policy, a Maryland think tank.</p>
<p>What is your city or state doing to help convicts transition into outside life?</p>
<p>How is it working?</p>
<p><a href="http://www.military.com/MilitaryReport/0,12914,MR_Airport_050214,00.html?ESRC=family.nl" type="external">I spotted this on Military.com.</a> It may affect how you cover some military departures and arrivals. When soldiers are leaving on charters or military arranged flights, the families of the soldiers may be allowed into the gate area now. It does not apply to commercial flights, but the story says some commercial airlines may make provisions to allow access. If the families are allowed at the gate and your cameras are stuck at security you could have a problem.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.fcc.gov/" type="external">The FCC is proposing fines</a> ranging from $20,000 to $25,000 for each of three San Diego TV stations&#160;that did not provide closed captioning for the hearing impaired during the 2003 wildfire coverage.</p>
<p>It is the first time the FCC has fined stations for not having captions.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20050223-2154-fcc-staff.html" type="external">The San Diego&#160;Union-Tribune</a> reported:</p>
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<p>"People with hearing disabilities have a right to the same timely emergency information as stations provide to their hearing audiences," FCC Chairman Michael Powell said in a <a href="http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-256935A1.doc" type="external">written statement</a>. "The commission remains committed to strong enforcement in this critical area."</p>
<p>A spokeswoman for the FCC's enforcement bureau declined further comment.</p>
<p>The FCC implemented a rule in 2000 requiring TV stations to broadcast emergency information in a visual format to people who are deaf or hard of hearing. An emergency includes hurricanes, earthquakes, discharges of toxic gases and widespread fires.</p>
<p>The stations are given the option of presenting the information using closed captions, in which the audio portion of a program is displayed as text, or in other formats such as crawls.</p>
<p>In the United States, all televisions manufactured after 1993 that have 13-inch or larger screens are required to be capable of displaying closed captions. An estimated 300,000 people in San Diego County have hearing impairments.&#160;</p>
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<p>We are always looking for your great ideas. <a href="" type="internal">Send Al</a> a few sentences and hot links.</p>
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<p>Editor's Note: Al's Morning Meeting is a compendium of ideas, edited story excerpts, and other materials from a variety of Web sites, as well as original concepts and analysis. When the information comes directly from another source, it will be attributed, and a link will be provided, whenever possible.</p>
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als morning meeting reader addie bradshaw wvva bluefield w va sent note states legislature trying solve issue brought september 2003 nationwide shortage musicians canwill play taps military funerals small issue since half million veterans die every year continue see rate least another seven years west virginia legislature taken bill encourages school band departments high schools colleges universities train young people learn play taps bill ensure students perform services get community service credit students wont allowed miss much schoolwork job advocate legislative body act idea sounds like common sense cost solution promotes crossgeneration patriotism respect senior veterans would young buglers could decades service veterans bet told story west virginia proposal shortage players town idea would catch fire downside see would buglers called much ignoring school classes missing something drop note feedback section column group called buglers across america also trying address problem signing buglers otherwise veterans might boom box playing taps funeral story worth local look san francisco chronicle discovered critics question whether taser internationals 263 police consultants dubbed master instructors making clear law enforcement agencies working stungun maker giving impression represent departments two months ago minnesota officer quit superiors found moonlighting taser without approval story says taser acknowledges using activeduty officers promote stun guns practice says helped drive sales company noted latest annual report master instructors training sessions led directly sale tasers number police departments taser also signed 1000 police officers provide onehour inhome training course people purchase civilian stungun model firm began marketing last fall seemingly small incident dc touched quite controversy may local application seems school system allowed public school cafeteria used spay neuter vaccinate hundreds cats one weekend parents protested demanded whole place sanitized kids used cafeteria public schools used hours day paid fast food lunch debit card use plastic everything soft drink machines taxi cabs used card cab ride la three weeks ago parking meters accept credit cards purchase small cording story washington post talk merchants pay fee every time customer uses card rather cash purchase post gave example greeting card costs 225 retail purchased card credit card retailer might pay 55 cents half profits debit card might cost retailer 35 45 cents christian science monitor reported effort reduce troubling rates crime former inmates states increasingly focusing attention crucial period opportunity risk160 supporting offenders reenter life outside prison massachusetts latest case point leaders proposing felons supported supervision transition back states towns cities joins number cities states rhode island ohio focusing reentry phase time hundreds thousands prisoners many netted crack wars 1980s returning society year according national statistics twothirds state prison inmates rearrested within three years release even crimetough california republican gov arnold schwarzenegger emphasizing education job training drug rehabilitation prisoners states 65 billion correctional system story added 600000 prisoners released year nations correctional facilities recidivism rate160 twothirds remained stable 30 years 2 million people behind bars tight budgets making impossible keep building prisons communities realizing best interest shepherd transition communities safe says peggy burke principal center effective public policy maryland think tank city state help convicts transition outside life working spotted militarycom may affect cover military departures arrivals soldiers leaving charters military arranged flights families soldiers may allowed gate area apply commercial flights story says commercial airlines may make provisions allow access families allowed gate cameras stuck security could problem fcc proposing fines ranging 20000 25000 three san diego tv stations160that provide closed captioning hearing impaired 2003 wildfire coverage first time fcc fined stations captions san diego160uniontribune reported people hearing disabilities right timely emergency information stations provide hearing audiences fcc chairman michael powell said written statement commission remains committed strong enforcement critical area spokeswoman fccs enforcement bureau declined comment fcc implemented rule 2000 requiring tv stations broadcast emergency information visual format people deaf hard hearing emergency includes hurricanes earthquakes discharges toxic gases widespread fires stations given option presenting information using closed captions audio portion program displayed text formats crawls united states televisions manufactured 1993 13inch larger screens required capable displaying closed captions estimated 300000 people san diego county hearing impairments160 always looking great ideas send al sentences hot links editors note als morning meeting compendium ideas edited story excerpts materials variety web sites well original concepts analysis information comes directly another source attributed link provided whenever possible
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<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>TOKYO (Reuters) - Asian shares pulled back on Wednesday as Wall Street was knocked hard on concerns about tighter regulations on the tech industry, denting a brief global equities recovery driven by hopes of easing fears of a trade war between China and the United States.</p> A man walks past an electronic stock quotation board outside a brokerage in Tokyo, Japan, February 9, 2018. REUTERS/Toru Hanai
<p>MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS fell 0.4 percent, with tech-heavy Korean shares <a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.KS11" type="external">.KS11</a> falling 1.0 percent. Japan's Nikkei <a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.N225" type="external">.N225</a> fell 2.1 percent.</p>
<p>On Wall Street, the S&amp;P 500 <a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.SPX" type="external">.SPX</a> lost 1.73 percent and the Nasdaq Composite <a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.IXIC" type="external">.IXIC</a> dropped 2.93 percent, making their fourth decline in five sessions.</p>
<p>The tech sector .SPLRCT were the worst hit as the industry came under more scrutiny, led by a 4.9 percent fall in Facebook ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=FB.O" type="external">FB.O</a>), which has been embroiled in a scandal over the use of data by political consultants.</p>
<p>Nvidia ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=NVDA.O" type="external">NVDA.O</a>) was another weak spot, falling 7.8 percent after the chipmaker temporarily suspended self-driving tests across the globe after an Uber Technologies Inc UBER.UL autonomous vehicle killed a woman.</p>
<p>“There is a sense that there will be more regulations on Facebook or FANG and that the cost of compliance will increase,” said Nobuhiko Kuramochi, chief strategist at Mizuho Securities.</p>
<p>Concerns about trade frictions between China and the United States also remain a drag even after reports of behind-the-scenes talks between Washington and Beijing spurred optimism that U.S. President Donald Trump’s protectionist shift is more about gaining leverage in trade talks than isolating the world’s biggest economy with tariff barriers.</p>
<p>In the currency market, the dollar changed hands at 105.39 yen <a href="/finance/currencies/quote?srcCurr=JPY&amp;destCurr=USD" type="external">JPY=</a>, not far from Monday's 16-1/2-month low of 104.56, as the Japanese currency was supported by the risk-averse mood.</p>
<p>The euro lost steam after soft euro zone economic data and comments from European Central Bank policymakers flagging low underlying inflation.</p>
<p>Economic sentiment in the 19-countries sharing the euro slipped for the third month in a row in March while bank lending slowed.</p>
<p>Erkki Liikanen, ECB Governing Council member, said that underlying inflation in the euro zone may remain lower than expected even if growth is robust, so the central bank needs to remain patient in removing stimulus.</p>
<a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.KS11" type="external">Korea Exchange</a> 2452.06 .KS11 Korea Stock Exchange +14.98 (+0.61%) .KS11 .N225 .SPX .IXIC FB.O
<p>Another member, Jozef Makuch from Slovakia, also struck a similarly cautious tone.</p>
<p>The euro <a href="/finance/currencies/quote?srcCurr=EUR&amp;destCurr=USD" type="external">EUR=</a> traded at $1.2407, off a three-week high of $1.24765 hit on Tuesday.</p>
<p>Germany’s 10-year Bund yield DE10YT=TWEB hit two-month low of 0.500 percent, having taken a downward shift since hitting a 1-1/2-year high of 0.795 percent in Feb. 15.</p>
<p>The 10-year U.S. Treasuries yield US10YT=RR also dropped to 2.770 percent, its lowest level in seven weeks. The two-year yield US2YT=RR stood at 2.270 percent.</p>
<p>Oil prices stepped back on a larger-than-expected rise in U.S. oil inventories data from industry group American Petroleum Institute (API) published late on Tuesday.</p>
<p>Brent crude futures LCOc1 traded 0.6 percent lower at $69.70 per barrel, off Monday’s high of $71.05, which was its highest since late January.</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>(Reuters) - A fatal crash and vehicle fire of a Tesla Inc Model X near Mountain View, California, last week has prompted a federal field investigation, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board said on Tuesday, sparking a big selloff in Tesla stock.</p> FILE PHOTO - The logo of Tesla is seen in Taipei, Taiwan on August 11, 2017. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu/File Photo
<p>Tesla tumbled 8.2 percent, or $25 a share, to close at $279.18, the lowest close in almost a year, after news of the investigation.</p>
<p>Late on Tuesday, Moody’s Investors Service downgraded Tesla’s credit rating to B3 from B2. Moody’s said the ratings “reflect the significant shortfall in the production rate of the company’s Model 3 electric vehicle.” It also “faces liquidity pressures due to its large negative free cash flow and the pending maturities of convertible bonds.”</p>
<p>Tesla shares fell another 2.6 percent in after-hours trading.</p>
<p>Tesla has $230 million in convertible bonds maturing in November 2018 and $920 million in March 2019.</p>
<p>Moody’s said its negative outlook for Tesla “reflects the likelihood that Tesla will have to undertake a large, near-term capital raise in order to refund maturing obligations and avoid a liquidity shortfall.”</p>
<p>Moody’s said Tesla is targeting weekly production of 2,500 Model 3 vehicles by the end of March, and 5,000 per week by the end of June, down from the company’s year-earlier production expectations of 5,000 per week by the end of 2017 and 10,000 by the end of 2018. Tesla plans to provide an update on Model 3 production next week.</p>
<p>Shares of chipmaker Nvidia Corp, which supplies Uber Technologies Inc [UBER.UL], Tesla, Volkswagen AG ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=VOWG_p.DE" type="external">VOWG_p.DE</a>) and other automakers, closed down 7.8 percent after it disclosed it suspended self-driving tests across the globe.</p> QUESTIONS ABOUT ACCIDENT
<p>In last week’s accident, it was unclear if Tesla’s automated control system was driving the car. The accident involved two other cars, the NTSB and police said. Tesla vehicles have a system called Autopilot that handles some driving tasks. The 38-year-old Tesla driver died at a nearby hospital shortly after the crash.</p>
<p>“We have been deeply saddened by this accident, and we have offered our full cooperation to the authorities as we work to establish the facts of the incident,” Tesla said in a statement.</p>
<p>Government scrutiny of the Palo Alto, California company is mounting. This is the second NTSB field investigation into a Tesla crash since January.</p>
<p>The California Highway Patrol said the electric-powered Tesla Model X crashed into a freeway divider on Friday and then was hit by a Mazda before colliding with an Audi.</p>
<a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=VOWG_p.DE" type="external">Volkswagen AG</a> 158.06 VOWG_p.DE Xetra +3.32 (+2.15%) VOWG_p.DE
<p>The Tesla’s lithium batteries caught fire, and emergency officials consulted company engineers before determining how to extinguish the battery fire and move the vehicle safely. NTSB said the issues being examined include the post-crash fire and removing the vehicle from the scene.</p>
<p>In January, the NTSB and U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration sent investigators to California to investigate the crash of a fire truck and a Tesla that apparently was traveling in semi-autonomous mode. The agencies have not disclosed any findings.</p>
<p>The NTSB can make safety recommendations but only NHTSA can order automakers to recall unsafe vehicles or fine automakers if they fail to remedy safety defects in a timely fashion. Before the agency can demand a recall, it must open a formal investigation, a step it has not yet taken.</p>
<p>Tesla’s Autopilot allows drivers under certain conditions to take their hands off the wheel for extended periods. Still, Tesla requires users to agree to keep their hands on the wheel “at all times” before they can use Autopilot.</p>
<p>The NTSB faulted Tesla in a prior fatal Autopilot crash.</p>
<p>In September, NTSB Chairman Robert Sumwalt said operational limitations in the Tesla Model S played a major role in a May 2016 crash in Florida that killed a driver using Autopilot. That crash raised questions about the safety of systems that can perform driving tasks for long stretches but cannot completely replace human drivers.</p>
<p>Tesla in September 2016 unveiled improvements to Autopilot, adding new limits on hands-off driving.</p>
<p>Reporting by David Shepardson; editing by Lisa Shumaker, David Gregorio and Cynthia Osterman</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York, California and other states vowed on Tuesday to stop the U.S. government from asking in the 2020 census whether people are citizens, arguing the question could stop immigrants from participating and skew the makeup of Congress.</p>
<p>The U.S. Census Bureau decided to include the citizenship question in the once-a-decade questionnaire, saying an accurate count of citizens would help protect minority rights under the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965, according to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross.</p>
<p>But liberal opponents feared that the decision would have the opposite effect. They said the move was designed to undercount immigrants, potentially reducing their representation in Congress and federal funding for local jurisdictions, which is determined by population.</p>
<p>“It is a scare tactic to try to scare Latinos and others from participating in the 2020 census,” Arturo Vargas, executive director of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund, told reporters.</p>
<p>Pending legal challenges from the states or an unlikely intervention from the Republican-controlled Congress, the citizenship question would appear in the decennial census for the first time since 1950.</p>
<p>New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said he would lead a multistate lawsuit to block the decision.</p>
<p>Separately, the State of California filed a lawsuit early Tuesday in federal court against the Commerce Department and the Census Bureau.</p>
<p>The commerce secretary, head of the federal department that runs the Census Bureau, said he authorized the question in response to a Justice Department letter arguing the citizenship question was vital to enforcement of the Voting Rights Act. <a href="https://bit.ly/2pIZlXr" type="external">bit.ly/2pIZlXr</a></p>
<p>Although a career staff member sent the Justice Department letter, it was conceived by John Gore, a political appointee who as a lawyer in private practice defended multiple Republican redistricting plans, according to emails obtained by ProPublica.</p>
<p>Last year, Gore was appointed by Attorney General Jeff Sessions as the head of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, where he reversed the legal challenge to a Texas law that the administration of former President Barack Obama alleged discriminated against minorities.</p> An attendee holds her new country's flag and her naturalization papers as she is sworn in during a U.S. citizenship ceremony in Los Angeles, U.S., July 18, 2017. REUTERS/Mike Blake
<p>Justice Department spokesman Devin O’Malley declined to comment on Gore’s involvement. But he said the department looked forward to defending the citizenship question, which he said was needed “to protect the right to vote and ensure free and fair elections for all Americans.”</p>
<p>Vanita Gupta, who ran the Civil Rights Division under the Obama administration, said she questioned the stated motives of President Donald Trump’s administration.</p>
<p>“The Sessions Justice Department is asking for this in the name of voting rights enforcement when it has shown time and time again a reluctance to enforce the Voting Rights Act,” Gupta told reporters.</p>
<p>Other critics said the inclusion of the question would disrupt years of planning that goes into the census. They said there was not enough time to put the question through the rigorous testing that census questions typically undergo to ensure an accurate count.</p>
<p>The U.S. Constitution mandates a census takes place every 10 years, counting every person in the United States.</p>
<p>It is used to determine the allocation to states of seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and to distribute billions of dollars in federal funds to local communities.</p>
<p>“It is facially constitutional to ask the question,” said</p>
<p>James Sample, a law professor at Hofstra University, “even though it is colossally dumb” because it was likely to reduce the number of people responding to the census.</p>
<p>The Trump administration could probably win a legal case, Sample said. But the challenges may succeed if an inaccurate count leads to a range of unconstitutional consequences,</p>
<p>including the unequal distribution of federal funds or potential violations of the “one-person-one-vote” principle, he said.</p>
<p>Reporting by Daniel Trotta, Sarah N. Lynch, Jonathan Stempel, and Eric Beech; Writing by Daniel Trotta; Editing by Frank McGurty and Cynthia Osterman</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>BEIJING/SEOUL (Reuters) - China said on Wednesday it won a pledge from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to denuclearize the Korean peninsula during a meeting with President Xi Jinping, who pledged in return that China would uphold its friendship with its isolated neighbour.</p>
<p>After two days of speculation, China announced on Wednesday that Kim had visited Beijing and met Xi during what the official Xinhua news agency called an unofficial visit from Sunday to Wednesday.</p>
<p>The trip was Kim’s first known journey abroad since he assumed power in 2011 and is believed by analysts to serve as preparation for upcoming summits with South Korea and the United States.</p>
<p>Beijing has traditionally been the closest ally of secretive North Korea, but ties have been frayed by North Korea’s pursuit of nuclear weapons and China’s backing of tough U.N. sanctions in response.</p>
<p>Xinhua cited Kim as telling Xi that the situation on the Korean peninsula is starting to improve because North Korea has taken the initiative to ease tensions and put forward proposals for peace talks.</p>
<p>“It is our consistent stand to be committed to denuclearization on the peninsula, in accordance with the will of late President Kim Il Sung and late General Secretary Kim Jong Il,” Kim Jong Un said, according to Xinhua.</p>
<p>North Korea is willing to talk with the United States and hold a summit between the two countries, he said.</p>
<p>“The issue of denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula can be resolved, if South Korea and the United States respond to our efforts with goodwill, create an atmosphere of peace and stability while taking progressive and synchronous measures for the realisation of peace,” Kim said.</p> North Korean leader Kim Jong Un shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping, in this still image taken from video released on March 28, 2018. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited China from Sunday to Wednesday on an unofficial visit, China's state news agency Xinhua reported on Wednesday. CCTV via Reuters TV
<p>Xi told Kim in return that both sides had stated repeatedly that their traditional friendship should be passed on and developed better.</p>
<p>“This is a strategic choice and the only right choice both sides have made based on history and reality, the international and regional structure and the general situation of China-North Korea ties. This should not and will not change because of any single event at a particular time,” Xi said.</p> Slideshow (21 Images)
<p>Xinhua published a photograph of Kim and Xi shaking hands in front of the flags of the two nations.</p>
<p>Speculation about a possible visit by Kim to Beijing was rife earlier this week after a train similar to the one used by Kim’s father was seen in the Chinese capital, along with heavy security and a large motorcade.</p>
<p>Kim was accompanied by his wife, Ri Sol Ju, Xinhua said.</p> Related Coverage
<a href="/article/us-northkorea-missiles-china-usa/china-briefs-trump-on-kim-jong-uns-visit-white-house-idUSKBN1H404V" type="external">China briefs Trump on Kim Jong Un's visit: White House</a>
<p>Xi had accepted an invitation from Kim to visit North Korea, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency said.</p>
<p>Improving ties between North Korea and China would be a positive sign before planned summits involving the two Koreas and the United States, a senior South Korean official said on Tuesday.</p>
<p>Kim Jong Un’s father, Kim Jong Il, met then-president Jiang Zemin in China in 2000 before a summit between the two Koreas in June that year. That visit was seen at the time as reaffirmation of close ties with Beijing.</p>
<p>Additional reporting by David Stanway in SHANGHAI; Writing by Lincoln Feast; Editing by Paul Tait</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
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thomson reuters trust principles tokyo reuters asian shares pulled back wednesday wall street knocked hard concerns tighter regulations tech industry denting brief global equities recovery driven hopes easing fears trade war china united states man walks past electronic stock quotation board outside brokerage tokyo japan february 9 2018 reuterstoru hanai mscis broadest index asiapacific shares outside japan miapj0000pus fell 04 percent techheavy korean shares ks11 falling 10 percent japans nikkei n225 fell 21 percent wall street sampp 500 spx lost 173 percent nasdaq composite ixic dropped 293 percent making fourth decline five sessions tech sector splrct worst hit industry came scrutiny led 49 percent fall facebook fbo embroiled scandal use data political consultants nvidia nvdao another weak spot falling 78 percent chipmaker temporarily suspended selfdriving tests across globe uber technologies inc uberul autonomous vehicle killed woman sense regulations facebook fang cost compliance increase said nobuhiko kuramochi chief strategist mizuho securities concerns trade frictions china united states also remain drag even reports behindthescenes talks washington beijing spurred optimism us president donald trumps protectionist shift gaining leverage trade talks isolating worlds biggest economy tariff barriers currency market dollar changed hands 10539 yen jpy far mondays 1612month low 10456 japanese currency supported riskaverse mood euro lost steam soft euro zone economic data comments european central bank policymakers flagging low underlying inflation economic sentiment 19countries sharing euro slipped third month row march bank lending slowed erkki liikanen ecb governing council member said underlying inflation euro zone may remain lower expected even growth robust central bank needs remain patient removing stimulus korea exchange 245206 ks11 korea stock exchange 1498 061 ks11 n225 spx ixic fbo another member jozef makuch slovakia also struck similarly cautious tone euro eur traded 12407 threeweek high 124765 hit tuesday germanys 10year bund yield de10yttweb hit twomonth low 0500 percent taken downward shift since hitting 112year high 0795 percent feb 15 10year us treasuries yield us10ytrr also dropped 2770 percent lowest level seven weeks twoyear yield us2ytrr stood 2270 percent oil prices stepped back largerthanexpected rise us oil inventories data industry group american petroleum institute api published late tuesday brent crude futures lcoc1 traded 06 percent lower 6970 per barrel mondays high 7105 highest since late january standards thomson reuters trust principles reuters fatal crash vehicle fire tesla inc model x near mountain view california last week prompted federal field investigation us national transportation safety board said tuesday sparking big selloff tesla stock file photo logo tesla seen taipei taiwan august 11 2017 reuterstyrone siufile photo tesla tumbled 82 percent 25 share close 27918 lowest close almost year news investigation late tuesday moodys investors service downgraded teslas credit rating b3 b2 moodys said ratings reflect significant shortfall production rate companys model 3 electric vehicle also faces liquidity pressures due large negative free cash flow pending maturities convertible bonds tesla shares fell another 26 percent afterhours trading tesla 230 million convertible bonds maturing november 2018 920 million march 2019 moodys said negative outlook tesla reflects likelihood tesla undertake large nearterm capital raise order refund maturing obligations avoid liquidity shortfall moodys said tesla targeting weekly production 2500 model 3 vehicles end march 5000 per week end june companys yearearlier production expectations 5000 per week end 2017 10000 end 2018 tesla plans provide update model 3 production next week shares chipmaker nvidia corp supplies uber technologies inc uberul tesla volkswagen ag vowg_pde automakers closed 78 percent disclosed suspended selfdriving tests across globe questions accident last weeks accident unclear teslas automated control system driving car accident involved two cars ntsb police said tesla vehicles system called autopilot handles driving tasks 38yearold tesla driver died nearby hospital shortly crash deeply saddened accident offered full cooperation authorities work establish facts incident tesla said statement government scrutiny palo alto california company mounting second ntsb field investigation tesla crash since january california highway patrol said electricpowered tesla model x crashed freeway divider friday hit mazda colliding audi volkswagen ag 15806 vowg_pde xetra 332 215 vowg_pde teslas lithium batteries caught fire emergency officials consulted company engineers determining extinguish battery fire move vehicle safely ntsb said issues examined include postcrash fire removing vehicle scene january ntsb us national highway traffic safety administration sent investigators california investigate crash fire truck tesla apparently traveling semiautonomous mode agencies disclosed findings ntsb make safety recommendations nhtsa order automakers recall unsafe vehicles fine automakers fail remedy safety defects timely fashion agency demand recall must open formal investigation step yet taken teslas autopilot allows drivers certain conditions take hands wheel extended periods still tesla requires users agree keep hands wheel times use autopilot ntsb faulted tesla prior fatal autopilot crash september ntsb chairman robert sumwalt said operational limitations tesla model played major role may 2016 crash florida killed driver using autopilot crash raised questions safety systems perform driving tasks long stretches completely replace human drivers tesla september 2016 unveiled improvements autopilot adding new limits handsoff driving reporting david shepardson editing lisa shumaker david gregorio cynthia osterman standards thomson reuters trust principles new york reuters new york california states vowed tuesday stop us government asking 2020 census whether people citizens arguing question could stop immigrants participating skew makeup congress us census bureau decided include citizenship question onceadecade questionnaire saying accurate count citizens would help protect minority rights landmark voting rights act 1965 according commerce secretary wilbur ross liberal opponents feared decision would opposite effect said move designed undercount immigrants potentially reducing representation congress federal funding local jurisdictions determined population scare tactic try scare latinos others participating 2020 census arturo vargas executive director national association latino elected appointed officials naleo educational fund told reporters pending legal challenges states unlikely intervention republicancontrolled congress citizenship question would appear decennial census first time since 1950 new york attorney general eric schneiderman said would lead multistate lawsuit block decision separately state california filed lawsuit early tuesday federal court commerce department census bureau commerce secretary head federal department runs census bureau said authorized question response justice department letter arguing citizenship question vital enforcement voting rights act bitly2pizlxr although career staff member sent justice department letter conceived john gore political appointee lawyer private practice defended multiple republican redistricting plans according emails obtained propublica last year gore appointed attorney general jeff sessions head justice departments civil rights division reversed legal challenge texas law administration former president barack obama alleged discriminated minorities attendee holds new countrys flag naturalization papers sworn us citizenship ceremony los angeles us july 18 2017 reutersmike blake justice department spokesman devin omalley declined comment gores involvement said department looked forward defending citizenship question said needed protect right vote ensure free fair elections americans vanita gupta ran civil rights division obama administration said questioned stated motives president donald trumps administration sessions justice department asking name voting rights enforcement shown time time reluctance enforce voting rights act gupta told reporters critics said inclusion question would disrupt years planning goes census said enough time put question rigorous testing census questions typically undergo ensure accurate count us constitution mandates census takes place every 10 years counting every person united states used determine allocation states seats us house representatives distribute billions dollars federal funds local communities facially constitutional ask question said james sample law professor hofstra university even though colossally dumb likely reduce number people responding census trump administration could probably win legal case sample said challenges may succeed inaccurate count leads range unconstitutional consequences including unequal distribution federal funds potential violations onepersononevote principle said reporting daniel trotta sarah n lynch jonathan stempel eric beech writing daniel trotta editing frank mcgurty cynthia osterman standards thomson reuters trust principles beijingseoul reuters china said wednesday pledge north korean leader kim jong un denuclearize korean peninsula meeting president xi jinping pledged return china would uphold friendship isolated neighbour two days speculation china announced wednesday kim visited beijing met xi official xinhua news agency called unofficial visit sunday wednesday trip kims first known journey abroad since assumed power 2011 believed analysts serve preparation upcoming summits south korea united states beijing traditionally closest ally secretive north korea ties frayed north koreas pursuit nuclear weapons chinas backing tough un sanctions response xinhua cited kim telling xi situation korean peninsula starting improve north korea taken initiative ease tensions put forward proposals peace talks consistent stand committed denuclearization peninsula accordance late president kim il sung late general secretary kim jong il kim jong un said according xinhua north korea willing talk united states hold summit two countries said issue denuclearization korean peninsula resolved south korea united states respond efforts goodwill create atmosphere peace stability taking progressive synchronous measures realisation peace kim said north korean leader kim jong un shakes hands chinese president xi jinping still image taken video released march 28 2018 north korean leader kim jong un visited china sunday wednesday unofficial visit chinas state news agency xinhua reported wednesday cctv via reuters tv xi told kim return sides stated repeatedly traditional friendship passed developed better strategic choice right choice sides made based history reality international regional structure general situation chinanorth korea ties change single event particular time xi said slideshow 21 images xinhua published photograph kim xi shaking hands front flags two nations speculation possible visit kim beijing rife earlier week train similar one used kims father seen chinese capital along heavy security large motorcade kim accompanied wife ri sol ju xinhua said related coverage china briefs trump kim jong uns visit white house xi accepted invitation kim visit north korea south koreas yonhap news agency said improving ties north korea china would positive sign planned summits involving two koreas united states senior south korean official said tuesday kim jong uns father kim jong il met thenpresident jiang zemin china 2000 summit two koreas june year visit seen time reaffirmation close ties beijing additional reporting david stanway shanghai writing lincoln feast editing paul tait standards thomson reuters trust principles
| 1,625 |
<p>KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Kentucky and Tennessee have taken different directions to reach similar points.</p>
<p>Tennessee has had a week off since rallying for a 45-42 overtime victory at South Carolina, a comeback that gave the Volunteers plenty of optimism heading into the stretch run. Kentucky has lost four straight games by an average margin of 23.5 points.</p>
<p>Yet the two teams head into Saturday’s matchup at Neyland Stadium with comparable records and identical goals. Kentucky (5-5, 2-5 SEC) and Tennessee (4-5, 1-4) are both seeking their first bowl bids since 2010.</p>
<p>“They’re fighting for the same thing that we’re fighting for,” Tennessee coach Butch Jones said.</p>
<p>Tennessee has won 28 of its past 29 meetings with Kentucky and enters Saturday’s game as a 7½-point favorite. The Vols have looked like a different team since Joshua Dobbs took over at quarterback.</p>
<p>Dobbs helped Tennessee erase much of a 24-0 deficit in a 34-20 loss to Alabama. He followed that up against South Carolina by becoming the first Tennessee player to throw for 300 yards and rush for 100 yards in the same game.</p>
<p>The recent surge has the Vols feeling bullish about their chances of reaching a bowl game.</p>
<p>“It’s going to be a great feeling when we get there,” Tennessee linebacker A.J. Johnson said.</p>
<p>While Tennessee must win two of its remaining three games to have a shot at a bowl bid, Kentucky can become bowl eligible merely by winning Saturday. The problem is that the Wildcats have been stuck on five wins for a month now.</p>
<p>In its past four games, Kentucky has lost 41-3 at LSU, 45-31 against Mississippi State, 20-10 at Missouri and 63-31 against Georgia.</p>
<p>“It’s very hard to swallow,” Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said. “I don’t care who you’re playing. Nobody likes defeat. I know our fans don’t. So it’s difficult, but it doesn’t get you down.”</p>
<p>The Wildcats say they haven’t lost faith in themselves.</p>
<p>“We have a strong senior group and the guys behind us know that we are going to come back and keep fighting,” Kentucky defensive tackle Mike Douglas said after the Georgia game. “There’s no give-up and if you give up, you might as well stay in Lexington when we travel on the road.”</p>
<p>While Kentucky is trying to remain upbeat, Tennessee must guard against a false sense of security. Jones made that point clear Monday by noting how Dobbs needed to improve his consistency in practice, even after the sophomore quarterback’s performance against South Carolina.</p>
<p>This marks the fourth straight year Tennessee has been 4-5 with a shot at earning a bowl bid by winning two of its remaining three games. Each of the past three years, the Vols have finished one win short.</p>
<p>“Last year, I believe we got satisfied at times,” Jones said. “There was nothing to be satisfied for. ... Now (that) we put ourselves in position for a postseason opportunity, go take advantage of it.”</p>
<p>NOTES: Jones said sophomore wide receiver Josh Smith would miss the rest of the season and take a medical redshirt due to a high ankle sprain. Smith, who has 10 catches for 135 yards and a touchdown, hasn’t played since getting hurt Sept. 13 at Oklahoma. ... Coleman Thomas, who has made five starts at right tackle, should return Saturday after missing two games with an ankle injury. But Jones said senior Jacob Gilliam would remain the starter at right tackle for a third straight game. ... Rap star Lil Jon visited Tennessee’s practice Sunday. Tennessee has played a remixed version of the Lil Jon song “Turn Down For What” when opposing offenses are in third-down situations at home games. “He said our coach is a cool cat,” Johnson said.</p>
<p>KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Kentucky and Tennessee have taken different directions to reach similar points.</p>
<p>Tennessee has had a week off since rallying for a 45-42 overtime victory at South Carolina, a comeback that gave the Volunteers plenty of optimism heading into the stretch run. Kentucky has lost four straight games by an average margin of 23.5 points.</p>
<p>Yet the two teams head into Saturday’s matchup at Neyland Stadium with comparable records and identical goals. Kentucky (5-5, 2-5 SEC) and Tennessee (4-5, 1-4) are both seeking their first bowl bids since 2010.</p>
<p>“They’re fighting for the same thing that we’re fighting for,” Tennessee coach Butch Jones said.</p>
<p>Tennessee has won 28 of its past 29 meetings with Kentucky and enters Saturday’s game as a 7½-point favorite. The Vols have looked like a different team since Joshua Dobbs took over at quarterback.</p>
<p>Dobbs helped Tennessee erase much of a 24-0 deficit in a 34-20 loss to Alabama. He followed that up against South Carolina by becoming the first Tennessee player to throw for 300 yards and rush for 100 yards in the same game.</p>
<p>The recent surge has the Vols feeling bullish about their chances of reaching a bowl game.</p>
<p>“It’s going to be a great feeling when we get there,” Tennessee linebacker A.J. Johnson said.</p>
<p>While Tennessee must win two of its remaining three games to have a shot at a bowl bid, Kentucky can become bowl eligible merely by winning Saturday. The problem is that the Wildcats have been stuck on five wins for a month now.</p>
<p>In its past four games, Kentucky has lost 41-3 at LSU, 45-31 against Mississippi State, 20-10 at Missouri and 63-31 against Georgia.</p>
<p>“It’s very hard to swallow,” Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said. “I don’t care who you’re playing. Nobody likes defeat. I know our fans don’t. So it’s difficult, but it doesn’t get you down.”</p>
<p>The Wildcats say they haven’t lost faith in themselves.</p>
<p>“We have a strong senior group and the guys behind us know that we are going to come back and keep fighting,” Kentucky defensive tackle Mike Douglas said after the Georgia game. “There’s no give-up and if you give up, you might as well stay in Lexington when we travel on the road.”</p>
<p>While Kentucky is trying to remain upbeat, Tennessee must guard against a false sense of security. Jones made that point clear Monday by noting how Dobbs needed to improve his consistency in practice, even after the sophomore quarterback’s performance against South Carolina.</p>
<p>This marks the fourth straight year Tennessee has been 4-5 with a shot at earning a bowl bid by winning two of its remaining three games. Each of the past three years, the Vols have finished one win short.</p>
<p>“Last year, I believe we got satisfied at times,” Jones said. “There was nothing to be satisfied for. ... Now (that) we put ourselves in position for a postseason opportunity, go take advantage of it.”</p>
<p>NOTES: Jones said sophomore wide receiver Josh Smith would miss the rest of the season and take a medical redshirt due to a high ankle sprain. Smith, who has 10 catches for 135 yards and a touchdown, hasn’t played since getting hurt Sept. 13 at Oklahoma. ... Coleman Thomas, who has made five starts at right tackle, should return Saturday after missing two games with an ankle injury. But Jones said senior Jacob Gilliam would remain the starter at right tackle for a third straight game. ... Rap star Lil Jon visited Tennessee’s practice Sunday. Tennessee has played a remixed version of the Lil Jon song “Turn Down For What” when opposing offenses are in third-down situations at home games. “He said our coach is a cool cat,” Johnson said.</p>
| false | 2 |
knoxville tenn ap kentucky tennessee taken different directions reach similar points tennessee week since rallying 4542 overtime victory south carolina comeback gave volunteers plenty optimism heading stretch run kentucky lost four straight games average margin 235 points yet two teams head saturdays matchup neyland stadium comparable records identical goals kentucky 55 25 sec tennessee 45 14 seeking first bowl bids since 2010 theyre fighting thing fighting tennessee coach butch jones said tennessee 28 past 29 meetings kentucky enters saturdays game 7½point favorite vols looked like different team since joshua dobbs took quarterback dobbs helped tennessee erase much 240 deficit 3420 loss alabama followed south carolina becoming first tennessee player throw 300 yards rush 100 yards game recent surge vols feeling bullish chances reaching bowl game going great feeling get tennessee linebacker aj johnson said tennessee must win two remaining three games shot bowl bid kentucky become bowl eligible merely winning saturday problem wildcats stuck five wins month past four games kentucky lost 413 lsu 4531 mississippi state 2010 missouri 6331 georgia hard swallow kentucky coach mark stoops said dont care youre playing nobody likes defeat know fans dont difficult doesnt get wildcats say havent lost faith strong senior group guys behind us know going come back keep fighting kentucky defensive tackle mike douglas said georgia game theres giveup give might well stay lexington travel road kentucky trying remain upbeat tennessee must guard false sense security jones made point clear monday noting dobbs needed improve consistency practice even sophomore quarterbacks performance south carolina marks fourth straight year tennessee 45 shot earning bowl bid winning two remaining three games past three years vols finished one win short last year believe got satisfied times jones said nothing satisfied put position postseason opportunity go take advantage notes jones said sophomore wide receiver josh smith would miss rest season take medical redshirt due high ankle sprain smith 10 catches 135 yards touchdown hasnt played since getting hurt sept 13 oklahoma coleman thomas made five starts right tackle return saturday missing two games ankle injury jones said senior jacob gilliam would remain starter right tackle third straight game rap star lil jon visited tennessees practice sunday tennessee played remixed version lil jon song turn opposing offenses thirddown situations home games said coach cool cat johnson said knoxville tenn ap kentucky tennessee taken different directions reach similar points tennessee week since rallying 4542 overtime victory south carolina comeback gave volunteers plenty optimism heading stretch run kentucky lost four straight games average margin 235 points yet two teams head saturdays matchup neyland stadium comparable records identical goals kentucky 55 25 sec tennessee 45 14 seeking first bowl bids since 2010 theyre fighting thing fighting tennessee coach butch jones said tennessee 28 past 29 meetings kentucky enters saturdays game 7½point favorite vols looked like different team since joshua dobbs took quarterback dobbs helped tennessee erase much 240 deficit 3420 loss alabama followed south carolina becoming first tennessee player throw 300 yards rush 100 yards game recent surge vols feeling bullish chances reaching bowl game going great feeling get tennessee linebacker aj johnson said tennessee must win two remaining three games shot bowl bid kentucky become bowl eligible merely winning saturday problem wildcats stuck five wins month past four games kentucky lost 413 lsu 4531 mississippi state 2010 missouri 6331 georgia hard swallow kentucky coach mark stoops said dont care youre playing nobody likes defeat know fans dont difficult doesnt get wildcats say havent lost faith strong senior group guys behind us know going come back keep fighting kentucky defensive tackle mike douglas said georgia game theres giveup give might well stay lexington travel road kentucky trying remain upbeat tennessee must guard false sense security jones made point clear monday noting dobbs needed improve consistency practice even sophomore quarterbacks performance south carolina marks fourth straight year tennessee 45 shot earning bowl bid winning two remaining three games past three years vols finished one win short last year believe got satisfied times jones said nothing satisfied put position postseason opportunity go take advantage notes jones said sophomore wide receiver josh smith would miss rest season take medical redshirt due high ankle sprain smith 10 catches 135 yards touchdown hasnt played since getting hurt sept 13 oklahoma coleman thomas made five starts right tackle return saturday missing two games ankle injury jones said senior jacob gilliam would remain starter right tackle third straight game rap star lil jon visited tennessees practice sunday tennessee played remixed version lil jon song turn opposing offenses thirddown situations home games said coach cool cat johnson said
| 760 |
<p>HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A gunman opened fire on law enforcement officers serving an arrest warrant inside a home before dawn Thursday, killing a deputy U.S. marshal before he was shot to death by police as he fled outside, authorities said.</p>
<p>Police were on the first floor handcuffing the woman they were seeking to arrest when 31-year-old Kevin Sturgis, of Philadelphia, began firing from the second floor, said U.S. Attorney Dave Freed. Sturgis was fatally shot as he later ran out the front door, again shooting at police, Freed said.</p>
<p>Deputy U.S. Marshal Christopher David Hill, 45, an Army veteran who has been with the service more than a decade, died of a gunshot wound to the chest, the county coroner said. Another member of the fugitive task force, York City Police Officer Kyle Pitts, also was hit by gunfire, but his injuries were not considered life-threatening.</p>
<p>Freed said there are indications a third officer may have been struck in his body armor but was not wounded.</p>
<p>“None of us has sufficient words to express our grief and sorrow,” Freed said.</p>
<p>Officials said a team of about seven showed up at the home of Shayla Lynette Towles Pierce, 30, around 6 a.m. to arrest her on a charge of making a terroristic threat with a weapon. They did not say what the relationship was between her and Sturgis.</p>
<p>A member of the U.S. Marshals Service was shot and killed early Thursday in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania while serving a warrant. Two other officers were also shot, including a police officer. Officials say there is no danger to the public. (Jan. 18)</p>
<p>Children also were at home at the time, Freed said. Pierce was jailed on $200,000 bail, and a public defender who had recently represented her in a separate case declined to comment. She did not appear to have a home phone listing.</p>
<p>Sturgis had active warrants in Philadelphia for not showing up to be sentenced on a gun charge and failing to appear at a probation violation hearing.</p>
<p>Hill and Pitts were removed from the back of the house during the confrontation after being shot.</p>
<p>Hill died at a hospital. Authorities said Pitts, a 10-year police veteran, required surgery but they did not further describe his injuries.</p>
<p>Freed, the federal prosecutor, said investigators are working to piece together the chaotic sequence of events.</p>
<p>Hill, who is survived by a wife and two children, served with the U.S. Army in Afghanistan before being hired by the marshal service in 2006.</p>
<p>U.S. Marshal Martin Pane said Hill belonged to an elite special operations group within the agency and took a lead role in the massive manhunt in the Poconos for fugitive Eric Frein in 2014. Frein was subsequently convicted and sentenced to death for killing a state trooper.</p>
<p>“Chris is just one of those guys that rises to the top,” Pane said. “Chris is the cream of the crop. He’s one of our best and ... you would probably not find a better tactical operator in the state of Pennsylvania.”</p>
<p>Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse said a city police officer wounded Sturgis during the exchange of gunfire.</p>
<p>“No words can adequately express the sadness we feel at this moment as we contemplate the loss of yet another law enforcement officer in the line of duty,” Papenfuse said.</p>
<p>In a statement issued from Washington, Attorney General Jeff Sessions described law enforcement as heartbroken over Hill’s death. He said the officer’s name should be recalled as a synonym for valor.</p>
<p>“Every day, deputy U.S. marshals make the people of this country safer by catching fugitives on the run, protecting our courthouses, our judges and witnesses at trial,” Sessions said. “They achieve these critical accomplishments at often heroic risk.”</p>
<p>Gov. Tom Wolf ordered state flags to fly at half-staff in Hill’s honor until his interment.</p>
<p>The shooting occurred less than 2 miles (3 kilometers) from the state Capitol in a working class neighborhood of duplexes, single-family homes and commercial buildings.</p>
<p>In late December, in an unrelated shooting near the scene of Hill’s murder, an Egyptian immigrant who had wounded a state trooper and shot at another officer was killed by police. He was believed to have acted alone.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Associated Press writer Marc Levy contributed to this report.</p>
<p>HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A gunman opened fire on law enforcement officers serving an arrest warrant inside a home before dawn Thursday, killing a deputy U.S. marshal before he was shot to death by police as he fled outside, authorities said.</p>
<p>Police were on the first floor handcuffing the woman they were seeking to arrest when 31-year-old Kevin Sturgis, of Philadelphia, began firing from the second floor, said U.S. Attorney Dave Freed. Sturgis was fatally shot as he later ran out the front door, again shooting at police, Freed said.</p>
<p>Deputy U.S. Marshal Christopher David Hill, 45, an Army veteran who has been with the service more than a decade, died of a gunshot wound to the chest, the county coroner said. Another member of the fugitive task force, York City Police Officer Kyle Pitts, also was hit by gunfire, but his injuries were not considered life-threatening.</p>
<p>Freed said there are indications a third officer may have been struck in his body armor but was not wounded.</p>
<p>“None of us has sufficient words to express our grief and sorrow,” Freed said.</p>
<p>Officials said a team of about seven showed up at the home of Shayla Lynette Towles Pierce, 30, around 6 a.m. to arrest her on a charge of making a terroristic threat with a weapon. They did not say what the relationship was between her and Sturgis.</p>
<p>A member of the U.S. Marshals Service was shot and killed early Thursday in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania while serving a warrant. Two other officers were also shot, including a police officer. Officials say there is no danger to the public. (Jan. 18)</p>
<p>Children also were at home at the time, Freed said. Pierce was jailed on $200,000 bail, and a public defender who had recently represented her in a separate case declined to comment. She did not appear to have a home phone listing.</p>
<p>Sturgis had active warrants in Philadelphia for not showing up to be sentenced on a gun charge and failing to appear at a probation violation hearing.</p>
<p>Hill and Pitts were removed from the back of the house during the confrontation after being shot.</p>
<p>Hill died at a hospital. Authorities said Pitts, a 10-year police veteran, required surgery but they did not further describe his injuries.</p>
<p>Freed, the federal prosecutor, said investigators are working to piece together the chaotic sequence of events.</p>
<p>Hill, who is survived by a wife and two children, served with the U.S. Army in Afghanistan before being hired by the marshal service in 2006.</p>
<p>U.S. Marshal Martin Pane said Hill belonged to an elite special operations group within the agency and took a lead role in the massive manhunt in the Poconos for fugitive Eric Frein in 2014. Frein was subsequently convicted and sentenced to death for killing a state trooper.</p>
<p>“Chris is just one of those guys that rises to the top,” Pane said. “Chris is the cream of the crop. He’s one of our best and ... you would probably not find a better tactical operator in the state of Pennsylvania.”</p>
<p>Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse said a city police officer wounded Sturgis during the exchange of gunfire.</p>
<p>“No words can adequately express the sadness we feel at this moment as we contemplate the loss of yet another law enforcement officer in the line of duty,” Papenfuse said.</p>
<p>In a statement issued from Washington, Attorney General Jeff Sessions described law enforcement as heartbroken over Hill’s death. He said the officer’s name should be recalled as a synonym for valor.</p>
<p>“Every day, deputy U.S. marshals make the people of this country safer by catching fugitives on the run, protecting our courthouses, our judges and witnesses at trial,” Sessions said. “They achieve these critical accomplishments at often heroic risk.”</p>
<p>Gov. Tom Wolf ordered state flags to fly at half-staff in Hill’s honor until his interment.</p>
<p>The shooting occurred less than 2 miles (3 kilometers) from the state Capitol in a working class neighborhood of duplexes, single-family homes and commercial buildings.</p>
<p>In late December, in an unrelated shooting near the scene of Hill’s murder, an Egyptian immigrant who had wounded a state trooper and shot at another officer was killed by police. He was believed to have acted alone.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Associated Press writer Marc Levy contributed to this report.</p>
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harrisburg pa ap gunman opened fire law enforcement officers serving arrest warrant inside home dawn thursday killing deputy us marshal shot death police fled outside authorities said police first floor handcuffing woman seeking arrest 31yearold kevin sturgis philadelphia began firing second floor said us attorney dave freed sturgis fatally shot later ran front door shooting police freed said deputy us marshal christopher david hill 45 army veteran service decade died gunshot wound chest county coroner said another member fugitive task force york city police officer kyle pitts also hit gunfire injuries considered lifethreatening freed said indications third officer may struck body armor wounded none us sufficient words express grief sorrow freed said officials said team seven showed home shayla lynette towles pierce 30 around 6 arrest charge making terroristic threat weapon say relationship sturgis member us marshals service shot killed early thursday harrisburg pennsylvania serving warrant two officers also shot including police officer officials say danger public jan 18 children also home time freed said pierce jailed 200000 bail public defender recently represented separate case declined comment appear home phone listing sturgis active warrants philadelphia showing sentenced gun charge failing appear probation violation hearing hill pitts removed back house confrontation shot hill died hospital authorities said pitts 10year police veteran required surgery describe injuries freed federal prosecutor said investigators working piece together chaotic sequence events hill survived wife two children served us army afghanistan hired marshal service 2006 us marshal martin pane said hill belonged elite special operations group within agency took lead role massive manhunt poconos fugitive eric frein 2014 frein subsequently convicted sentenced death killing state trooper chris one guys rises top pane said chris cream crop hes one best would probably find better tactical operator state pennsylvania harrisburg mayor eric papenfuse said city police officer wounded sturgis exchange gunfire words adequately express sadness feel moment contemplate loss yet another law enforcement officer line duty papenfuse said statement issued washington attorney general jeff sessions described law enforcement heartbroken hills death said officers name recalled synonym valor every day deputy us marshals make people country safer catching fugitives run protecting courthouses judges witnesses trial sessions said achieve critical accomplishments often heroic risk gov tom wolf ordered state flags fly halfstaff hills honor interment shooting occurred less 2 miles 3 kilometers state capitol working class neighborhood duplexes singlefamily homes commercial buildings late december unrelated shooting near scene hills murder egyptian immigrant wounded state trooper shot another officer killed police believed acted alone ___ associated press writer marc levy contributed report harrisburg pa ap gunman opened fire law enforcement officers serving arrest warrant inside home dawn thursday killing deputy us marshal shot death police fled outside authorities said police first floor handcuffing woman seeking arrest 31yearold kevin sturgis philadelphia began firing second floor said us attorney dave freed sturgis fatally shot later ran front door shooting police freed said deputy us marshal christopher david hill 45 army veteran service decade died gunshot wound chest county coroner said another member fugitive task force york city police officer kyle pitts also hit gunfire injuries considered lifethreatening freed said indications third officer may struck body armor wounded none us sufficient words express grief sorrow freed said officials said team seven showed home shayla lynette towles pierce 30 around 6 arrest charge making terroristic threat weapon say relationship sturgis member us marshals service shot killed early thursday harrisburg pennsylvania serving warrant two officers also shot including police officer officials say danger public jan 18 children also home time freed said pierce jailed 200000 bail public defender recently represented separate case declined comment appear home phone listing sturgis active warrants philadelphia showing sentenced gun charge failing appear probation violation hearing hill pitts removed back house confrontation shot hill died hospital authorities said pitts 10year police veteran required surgery describe injuries freed federal prosecutor said investigators working piece together chaotic sequence events hill survived wife two children served us army afghanistan hired marshal service 2006 us marshal martin pane said hill belonged elite special operations group within agency took lead role massive manhunt poconos fugitive eric frein 2014 frein subsequently convicted sentenced death killing state trooper chris one guys rises top pane said chris cream crop hes one best would probably find better tactical operator state pennsylvania harrisburg mayor eric papenfuse said city police officer wounded sturgis exchange gunfire words adequately express sadness feel moment contemplate loss yet another law enforcement officer line duty papenfuse said statement issued washington attorney general jeff sessions described law enforcement heartbroken hills death said officers name recalled synonym valor every day deputy us marshals make people country safer catching fugitives run protecting courthouses judges witnesses trial sessions said achieve critical accomplishments often heroic risk gov tom wolf ordered state flags fly halfstaff hills honor interment shooting occurred less 2 miles 3 kilometers state capitol working class neighborhood duplexes singlefamily homes commercial buildings late december unrelated shooting near scene hills murder egyptian immigrant wounded state trooper shot another officer killed police believed acted alone ___ associated press writer marc levy contributed report
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<p>NEW YORK (AP) — In a story Jan. 10 about department store chain Sears Holdings Corp. obtaining new financing, The Associated Press incorrectly quoted Jude Gorman, general counsel at Reorg, a research firm that follows distressed companies. Gorman referred to the “principal” question, not the “principled” question.</p>
<p>A corrected version of the story is below:</p>
<p>Sears raises $100M in new financing, eyes $200M in cost cuts</p>
<p>Sears is raising $100 million in new financing, will seek twice that from other sources, and will attempt $200 million in additional cost cuts this year</p>
<p>By ANNE D’INNOCENZIO and MICHELLE CHAPMAN</p>
<p>AP Business Writers</p>
<p>NEW YORK (AP) — Sears has secured more financing, and is eying more cost cutting, as the beleaguered retailer reported a big sales drop during the critical holiday season.</p>
<p>The company, which operates Sears and Kmart stores, said Wednesday that it secured $100 million in new financing, will seek twice that from other sources, and will attempt $200 million in additional cost cuts this year unrelated to store closings. It also warned that if the company’s efforts to complete these transactions are not fully successful, then the board will consider all other options to maximize the value of its assets.</p>
<p>Sears Holdings Corp., which said last week it’s closing more than 100 stores, said that during the November and December period, comparable-store sales tumbled by 16 percent to 17 percent. The metric — which measures sales in stores open at least a year — is a key indicator of retailer’s health.</p>
<p>Sears’ disastrous holiday sales mark a sharp contrast to the solid gains enjoyed by many of its department store peers such as Kohl’s, J.C. Penney and Macy’s.</p>
<p>Many retailers are enjoying the benefits of a stronger economy and lower unemployment. But they’re also seeing their efforts to spruce up their stores while expanding online services helping to boost their business. In comparison, Sears hasn’t kept up with the likes of Walmart, Best Buy and Home Depot in investing in its stores, with its shabby fleet its biggest albatross. Moreover, its peers like J.C. Penney are going after Sears’ core appliance business. Sears has been trying to increase cash reserves while it cuts costs, moves that seem more urgent after it raised doubts in a regulatory filing last March that it may not continue as a going concern. However, it insisted at the time that its actions to turn around the business should help reduce that risk.</p>
<p>The inability to revive sales has created tension with vendors who have grown apprehensive about payment. Sears, based in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, just outside of Chicago, has not reported an annual profit since 2011, and sales have been in decline for a decade. In a blog post published Wednesday, Chairman and CEO Edward Lampert says that while spats between itself and vendors have been “exaggerated by some in the media, various vendors and other providers to the company have taken or threatened actions that have had a major impact on our operations and liquidity.”</p>
<p>In fact, Sears announced in October that it will no longer sell Whirlpool appliances, ending a business relationship that dates back more than 100 years. That includes the larger appliances and small kitchen appliances of Whirlpool subsidiaries like Maytag, KitchenAid and Jenn-Air. It said Whirlpool was making demands that would’ve made it difficult to sell its appliances at a competitive price.</p>
<p>“I think the principal question is, is there any reason for Sears to exist in 2018?” said Jude Gorman, general counsel at Reorg, a research firm that follows distressed companies. “The answer is probably no.” But Reorg executives say a lot will depend on Lampert. His hedge fund has forwarded millions in funding to keep Sears open. Lampert said Wednesday that broader changes to the company’s capital structure and business model were required.</p>
<p>“While these actions have so far helped our company survive the so-called ‘Retail Apocalypse,’ many observers are not persuaded that Sears Holdings can be a viable competitor in the long term,” Lampert wrote in a blog post. “It is obvious that to overcome such skepticism and obtain the support of outside lenders and our vendor community - which is crucial to the success of any retailer - we need to undertake further measures.”</p>
<p>The goal, Lampert said, is to return Sears to profitability this year.</p>
<p>Shares rose 26 cents, or nearly 8 percent, to $3.39 in afternoon trading Wednesday.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Follow Anne D’Innocenzio: <a href="http://twitter.com/ADInnocenzio" type="external">http://twitter.com/ADInnocenzio</a></p>
<p>NEW YORK (AP) — In a story Jan. 10 about department store chain Sears Holdings Corp. obtaining new financing, The Associated Press incorrectly quoted Jude Gorman, general counsel at Reorg, a research firm that follows distressed companies. Gorman referred to the “principal” question, not the “principled” question.</p>
<p>A corrected version of the story is below:</p>
<p>Sears raises $100M in new financing, eyes $200M in cost cuts</p>
<p>Sears is raising $100 million in new financing, will seek twice that from other sources, and will attempt $200 million in additional cost cuts this year</p>
<p>By ANNE D’INNOCENZIO and MICHELLE CHAPMAN</p>
<p>AP Business Writers</p>
<p>NEW YORK (AP) — Sears has secured more financing, and is eying more cost cutting, as the beleaguered retailer reported a big sales drop during the critical holiday season.</p>
<p>The company, which operates Sears and Kmart stores, said Wednesday that it secured $100 million in new financing, will seek twice that from other sources, and will attempt $200 million in additional cost cuts this year unrelated to store closings. It also warned that if the company’s efforts to complete these transactions are not fully successful, then the board will consider all other options to maximize the value of its assets.</p>
<p>Sears Holdings Corp., which said last week it’s closing more than 100 stores, said that during the November and December period, comparable-store sales tumbled by 16 percent to 17 percent. The metric — which measures sales in stores open at least a year — is a key indicator of retailer’s health.</p>
<p>Sears’ disastrous holiday sales mark a sharp contrast to the solid gains enjoyed by many of its department store peers such as Kohl’s, J.C. Penney and Macy’s.</p>
<p>Many retailers are enjoying the benefits of a stronger economy and lower unemployment. But they’re also seeing their efforts to spruce up their stores while expanding online services helping to boost their business. In comparison, Sears hasn’t kept up with the likes of Walmart, Best Buy and Home Depot in investing in its stores, with its shabby fleet its biggest albatross. Moreover, its peers like J.C. Penney are going after Sears’ core appliance business. Sears has been trying to increase cash reserves while it cuts costs, moves that seem more urgent after it raised doubts in a regulatory filing last March that it may not continue as a going concern. However, it insisted at the time that its actions to turn around the business should help reduce that risk.</p>
<p>The inability to revive sales has created tension with vendors who have grown apprehensive about payment. Sears, based in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, just outside of Chicago, has not reported an annual profit since 2011, and sales have been in decline for a decade. In a blog post published Wednesday, Chairman and CEO Edward Lampert says that while spats between itself and vendors have been “exaggerated by some in the media, various vendors and other providers to the company have taken or threatened actions that have had a major impact on our operations and liquidity.”</p>
<p>In fact, Sears announced in October that it will no longer sell Whirlpool appliances, ending a business relationship that dates back more than 100 years. That includes the larger appliances and small kitchen appliances of Whirlpool subsidiaries like Maytag, KitchenAid and Jenn-Air. It said Whirlpool was making demands that would’ve made it difficult to sell its appliances at a competitive price.</p>
<p>“I think the principal question is, is there any reason for Sears to exist in 2018?” said Jude Gorman, general counsel at Reorg, a research firm that follows distressed companies. “The answer is probably no.” But Reorg executives say a lot will depend on Lampert. His hedge fund has forwarded millions in funding to keep Sears open. Lampert said Wednesday that broader changes to the company’s capital structure and business model were required.</p>
<p>“While these actions have so far helped our company survive the so-called ‘Retail Apocalypse,’ many observers are not persuaded that Sears Holdings can be a viable competitor in the long term,” Lampert wrote in a blog post. “It is obvious that to overcome such skepticism and obtain the support of outside lenders and our vendor community - which is crucial to the success of any retailer - we need to undertake further measures.”</p>
<p>The goal, Lampert said, is to return Sears to profitability this year.</p>
<p>Shares rose 26 cents, or nearly 8 percent, to $3.39 in afternoon trading Wednesday.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Follow Anne D’Innocenzio: <a href="http://twitter.com/ADInnocenzio" type="external">http://twitter.com/ADInnocenzio</a></p>
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new york ap story jan 10 department store chain sears holdings corp obtaining new financing associated press incorrectly quoted jude gorman general counsel reorg research firm follows distressed companies gorman referred principal question principled question corrected version story sears raises 100m new financing eyes 200m cost cuts sears raising 100 million new financing seek twice sources attempt 200 million additional cost cuts year anne dinnocenzio michelle chapman ap business writers new york ap sears secured financing eying cost cutting beleaguered retailer reported big sales drop critical holiday season company operates sears kmart stores said wednesday secured 100 million new financing seek twice sources attempt 200 million additional cost cuts year unrelated store closings also warned companys efforts complete transactions fully successful board consider options maximize value assets sears holdings corp said last week closing 100 stores said november december period comparablestore sales tumbled 16 percent 17 percent metric measures sales stores open least year key indicator retailers health sears disastrous holiday sales mark sharp contrast solid gains enjoyed many department store peers kohls jc penney macys many retailers enjoying benefits stronger economy lower unemployment theyre also seeing efforts spruce stores expanding online services helping boost business comparison sears hasnt kept likes walmart best buy home depot investing stores shabby fleet biggest albatross moreover peers like jc penney going sears core appliance business sears trying increase cash reserves cuts costs moves seem urgent raised doubts regulatory filing last march may continue going concern however insisted time actions turn around business help reduce risk inability revive sales created tension vendors grown apprehensive payment sears based hoffman estates illinois outside chicago reported annual profit since 2011 sales decline decade blog post published wednesday chairman ceo edward lampert says spats vendors exaggerated media various vendors providers company taken threatened actions major impact operations liquidity fact sears announced october longer sell whirlpool appliances ending business relationship dates back 100 years includes larger appliances small kitchen appliances whirlpool subsidiaries like maytag kitchenaid jennair said whirlpool making demands wouldve made difficult sell appliances competitive price think principal question reason sears exist 2018 said jude gorman general counsel reorg research firm follows distressed companies answer probably reorg executives say lot depend lampert hedge fund forwarded millions funding keep sears open lampert said wednesday broader changes companys capital structure business model required actions far helped company survive socalled retail apocalypse many observers persuaded sears holdings viable competitor long term lampert wrote blog post obvious overcome skepticism obtain support outside lenders vendor community crucial success retailer need undertake measures goal lampert said return sears profitability year shares rose 26 cents nearly 8 percent 339 afternoon trading wednesday ___ follow anne dinnocenzio httptwittercomadinnocenzio new york ap story jan 10 department store chain sears holdings corp obtaining new financing associated press incorrectly quoted jude gorman general counsel reorg research firm follows distressed companies gorman referred principal question principled question corrected version story sears raises 100m new financing eyes 200m cost cuts sears raising 100 million new financing seek twice sources attempt 200 million additional cost cuts year anne dinnocenzio michelle chapman ap business writers new york ap sears secured financing eying cost cutting beleaguered retailer reported big sales drop critical holiday season company operates sears kmart stores said wednesday secured 100 million new financing seek twice sources attempt 200 million additional cost cuts year unrelated store closings also warned companys efforts complete transactions fully successful board consider options maximize value assets sears holdings corp said last week closing 100 stores said november december period comparablestore sales tumbled 16 percent 17 percent metric measures sales stores open least year key indicator retailers health sears disastrous holiday sales mark sharp contrast solid gains enjoyed many department store peers kohls jc penney macys many retailers enjoying benefits stronger economy lower unemployment theyre also seeing efforts spruce stores expanding online services helping boost business comparison sears hasnt kept likes walmart best buy home depot investing stores shabby fleet biggest albatross moreover peers like jc penney going sears core appliance business sears trying increase cash reserves cuts costs moves seem urgent raised doubts regulatory filing last march may continue going concern however insisted time actions turn around business help reduce risk inability revive sales created tension vendors grown apprehensive payment sears based hoffman estates illinois outside chicago reported annual profit since 2011 sales decline decade blog post published wednesday chairman ceo edward lampert says spats vendors exaggerated media various vendors providers company taken threatened actions major impact operations liquidity fact sears announced october longer sell whirlpool appliances ending business relationship dates back 100 years includes larger appliances small kitchen appliances whirlpool subsidiaries like maytag kitchenaid jennair said whirlpool making demands wouldve made difficult sell appliances competitive price think principal question reason sears exist 2018 said jude gorman general counsel reorg research firm follows distressed companies answer probably reorg executives say lot depend lampert hedge fund forwarded millions funding keep sears open lampert said wednesday broader changes companys capital structure business model required actions far helped company survive socalled retail apocalypse many observers persuaded sears holdings viable competitor long term lampert wrote blog post obvious overcome skepticism obtain support outside lenders vendor community crucial success retailer need undertake measures goal lampert said return sears profitability year shares rose 26 cents nearly 8 percent 339 afternoon trading wednesday ___ follow anne dinnocenzio httptwittercomadinnocenzio
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<p>The pilots controlling the ship and the captains of the tugboats tethered to huge vessel opted to continue guiding it through the narrowed passageway, passing nerve-wrackingly close to the side of the locks to avoid running into the stuck door.</p>
<p>“These are things that shouldn’t happen,” tugboat captain Mauricio Perez said. “Sometimes the only thing we can do is pray.”</p>
<p>A little over seven months after authorities launched a much-ballyhooed, $5.25 billion canal expansion to accommodate many of the world’s largest cargo vessels, they have yet to fully work out a significant kink: With little margin for error, ships are still scraping the walls and prematurely wearing out defenses designed to protect both the vessels and the locks themselves.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>The Associated Press traveled on a recent voyage by a tugboat guiding the Ever Living through the canal’s Cocoli locks toward the Pacific Ocean. Along the way there were multiple places where the black rubber cushion defenses were visibly worn down, hanging into the water or missing entirely. In one spot a pile of dislodged bumpers sat on the side of the locks, apparently waiting to be hauled away.</p>
<p>Even before the canal opened in late June, tugboat pilots had expressed concern about what they said was insufficient training for maneuvers that are now required — and that are a radical departure from the previous system.</p>
<p>In the old locks, which are still in use, ships get tethered to powerful locomotives on both sides that keep them centered in the canal. In the new locks, that responsibility falls to the tugs, one tied to the bow and another to the stern.</p>
<p>Especially at first, pilots on the bridge of the cargo ships and tug operators would sometimes deliberately nudge up against the barriers as a way to properly align the vessels. That has lessened somewhat, but the battered bumpers are evidence that not all passages are smooth.</p>
<p>“The fears and dangers remain, although the boats are going through,” Perez said. “Throughout the entire maneuver, there are critical moments.”</p>
<p>The Panama Canal Authority attributed the malfunction of the lock door during the AP’s transit to a failure in a water-level sensor caused by vegetation and debris accumulated from neighboring Gatun Lake. It said the problem has been fixed.</p>
<p>According to the authority, between June and January there were only 15 incidents that resulted in damage to locks or ships, or about 2 percent of the 700 total transits through the new waterway. Officials say the first seven months have been a learning process but they are optimistic.</p>
<p>Manuel Benitez, deputy administrator of the canal, said it has been “pretty positive the way our people have been able to navigate that (learning) curve.”</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>And the incidents reported “have not been of a magnitude that could affect the operation of the locks,” he said. “The ships have not run aground; they continue their routes.”</p>
<p>Still, shipping companies have multimillion-dollar vessels at stake, and any delay due to an accident can cost them money. In perhaps the most serious incident involving the new waterway, a Chinese vessel struck a lock wall a few weeks after the June inauguration, gashing its hull and delaying its itinerary.</p>
<p>The Canal Authority declined to say how much money is being spent on repairing the new bumpers or whether such repairs have been forced ahead of schedule.</p>
<p>Captains who navigate the canal told AP the defenses were anticipated to last at least a couple of years before wearing out. Pilots have argued they should be replaced with a system of floating bumpers like those used in some European locks.</p>
<p>Authorities say they intend to continue to operate with the current system of defenses, though they don’t rule out changes as part of future upgrades.</p>
<p>“Thanks to the expertise of our practices, these incidents are happening less and less,” Benitez said.</p>
<p>Some experts say it’s still early to make a final judgment on the locks’ safety.</p>
<p>“It seems there is a consensus between authorities and captains to pay more attention (to) the issue of the defenses,” said Paul Bingham, vice president of the Boston-based Economic Development Research Group.</p>
<p>“I do not know if it is a design flaw or evidence of how the walls of the locks may need to be better protected,” he said via email. “It is possible that the operations of the tugs in controlling the vessels inside the lock chambers need to be improved as well.”</p>
<p>There have been notable improvements in operations. Average transit times have dropped to 2 1/2 to 3 hours, according to the tugboat pilots, compared with 4 hours when the locks first opened. With experience, captains have become more comfortable taking ships straight down the center of the locks, especially when weather conditions are favorable.</p>
<p>But it’s still a delicate operation.</p>
<p>As the 1,098-foot-long Ever Living maneuvered into the 1,400-foot lock chamber, sailors and dock workers tied the ship off right up against the walls to keep it in place while it awaited passage to the next level. The tight space left precious little room for the tugs ahead of and behind the vessel, and tug captains still fear their boats could be crushed against the walls if things get out of control during a squall or high winds.</p>
<p>“They are betting on our professionalism and on improvisation,” Perez said.</p>
<p>Captains also regret that no alignment wall was built at the Pacific entry to the Agua Clara locks, which would help with lining the vessels up and offer protection from strong currents. This is where the Chinese vessel had its accident.</p>
<p>“It is like threading the eye of a needle,” said pilot Alvaro Moreno.</p>
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pilots controlling ship captains tugboats tethered huge vessel opted continue guiding narrowed passageway passing nervewrackingly close side locks avoid running stuck door things shouldnt happen tugboat captain mauricio perez said sometimes thing pray little seven months authorities launched muchballyhooed 525 billion canal expansion accommodate many worlds largest cargo vessels yet fully work significant kink little margin error ships still scraping walls prematurely wearing defenses designed protect vessels locks advertisement associated press traveled recent voyage tugboat guiding ever living canals cocoli locks toward pacific ocean along way multiple places black rubber cushion defenses visibly worn hanging water missing entirely one spot pile dislodged bumpers sat side locks apparently waiting hauled away even canal opened late june tugboat pilots expressed concern said insufficient training maneuvers required radical departure previous system old locks still use ships get tethered powerful locomotives sides keep centered canal new locks responsibility falls tugs one tied bow another stern especially first pilots bridge cargo ships tug operators would sometimes deliberately nudge barriers way properly align vessels lessened somewhat battered bumpers evidence passages smooth fears dangers remain although boats going perez said throughout entire maneuver critical moments panama canal authority attributed malfunction lock door aps transit failure waterlevel sensor caused vegetation debris accumulated neighboring gatun lake said problem fixed according authority june january 15 incidents resulted damage locks ships 2 percent 700 total transits new waterway officials say first seven months learning process optimistic manuel benitez deputy administrator canal said pretty positive way people able navigate learning curve advertisement incidents reported magnitude could affect operation locks said ships run aground continue routes still shipping companies multimilliondollar vessels stake delay due accident cost money perhaps serious incident involving new waterway chinese vessel struck lock wall weeks june inauguration gashing hull delaying itinerary canal authority declined say much money spent repairing new bumpers whether repairs forced ahead schedule captains navigate canal told ap defenses anticipated last least couple years wearing pilots argued replaced system floating bumpers like used european locks authorities say intend continue operate current system defenses though dont rule changes part future upgrades thanks expertise practices incidents happening less less benitez said experts say still early make final judgment locks safety seems consensus authorities captains pay attention issue defenses said paul bingham vice president bostonbased economic development research group know design flaw evidence walls locks may need better protected said via email possible operations tugs controlling vessels inside lock chambers need improved well notable improvements operations average transit times dropped 2 12 3 hours according tugboat pilots compared 4 hours locks first opened experience captains become comfortable taking ships straight center locks especially weather conditions favorable still delicate operation 1098footlong ever living maneuvered 1400foot lock chamber sailors dock workers tied ship right walls keep place awaited passage next level tight space left precious little room tugs ahead behind vessel tug captains still fear boats could crushed walls things get control squall high winds betting professionalism improvisation perez said captains also regret alignment wall built pacific entry agua clara locks would help lining vessels offer protection strong currents chinese vessel accident like threading eye needle said pilot alvaro moreno
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<p>ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Millions of dollars being spent to fix New York City’s beleaguered public transit system are beginning to pay off, with subway service “starting to show better results,” the head of the Metropolitan Transportation told state lawmakers Thursday.</p>
<p>During nearly four hours of questioning at a state budget hearing on transportation spending, MTA Chairman Joseph Lhota assured Senate and Assembly members that an $836 million “subway action plan” launched last summer to fix the city’s subway system is improving service, although he admitted there still is plenty of work still to do.</p>
<p>“The MTA has to get its act together,” Lhota said. “I totally agree.”</p>
<p>The agency has come under withering criticism for its operation of a more than century-old transit system plagued by broken tracks, signal failures and overcrowding. That’s just a few of the problems that routinely crop up for the millions of people who ride the subways and trains in the five boroughs and suburban New York each day.</p>
<p>Commuters haven’t been shy about taking to social media when crammed in sweltering subway cars stuck in tunnels or jammed on station platforms waiting for overdue trains, something Lhota alluded to when asked how he plans to determine the improvement plans are working.</p>
<p>“To determine success, I would love to see Twitter feeds be a little more positive than they are,” he said.</p>
<p>Most of the grilling came from downstate lawmakers, although Republican Sen. Catharine Young, of upstate Olean, summed up criticism of the MTA’s record when she asked: “How can we ask people to give up their hard-earned money for repairs and expansion of the system when it looks like nobody’s watching the ship?”</p>
<p>Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s state budget plan includes $9.7 billion for the departments of transportation and Motor Vehicles, the Thruway Authority and the MTA.</p>
<p>A series of subway and commuter train crises last spring prompted the Democratic governor to declare a state of emergency for the city’s transit system after predicting riders faced a “summer of hell.” In June, Cuomo brought in Lhota for a second stint running the MTA.</p>
<p>Lhota also testified Thursday that while the subways are showing signs of stabilization, he wasn’t pleased with service problems on the Long Island Rail Road. Sen. Todd Kaminsky, a Long Island Democrat, told of an email he received from a constituent, a 30-year LIRR commuter, who said the train service was the worst he’d ever experienced.</p>
<p>“I am not happy with it,” Lhota said about the LIRR’s performance, and vowed to improve it.</p>
<p>The hearing came as Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, a fellow Democrat, continue to squabble over capital funding for the MTA and other matters regarding the transit system. De Blasio is expected to testify Feb. 5 in Albany at a state budget hearing on aid to local governments.</p>
<p>ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Millions of dollars being spent to fix New York City’s beleaguered public transit system are beginning to pay off, with subway service “starting to show better results,” the head of the Metropolitan Transportation told state lawmakers Thursday.</p>
<p>During nearly four hours of questioning at a state budget hearing on transportation spending, MTA Chairman Joseph Lhota assured Senate and Assembly members that an $836 million “subway action plan” launched last summer to fix the city’s subway system is improving service, although he admitted there still is plenty of work still to do.</p>
<p>“The MTA has to get its act together,” Lhota said. “I totally agree.”</p>
<p>The agency has come under withering criticism for its operation of a more than century-old transit system plagued by broken tracks, signal failures and overcrowding. That’s just a few of the problems that routinely crop up for the millions of people who ride the subways and trains in the five boroughs and suburban New York each day.</p>
<p>Commuters haven’t been shy about taking to social media when crammed in sweltering subway cars stuck in tunnels or jammed on station platforms waiting for overdue trains, something Lhota alluded to when asked how he plans to determine the improvement plans are working.</p>
<p>“To determine success, I would love to see Twitter feeds be a little more positive than they are,” he said.</p>
<p>Most of the grilling came from downstate lawmakers, although Republican Sen. Catharine Young, of upstate Olean, summed up criticism of the MTA’s record when she asked: “How can we ask people to give up their hard-earned money for repairs and expansion of the system when it looks like nobody’s watching the ship?”</p>
<p>Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s state budget plan includes $9.7 billion for the departments of transportation and Motor Vehicles, the Thruway Authority and the MTA.</p>
<p>A series of subway and commuter train crises last spring prompted the Democratic governor to declare a state of emergency for the city’s transit system after predicting riders faced a “summer of hell.” In June, Cuomo brought in Lhota for a second stint running the MTA.</p>
<p>Lhota also testified Thursday that while the subways are showing signs of stabilization, he wasn’t pleased with service problems on the Long Island Rail Road. Sen. Todd Kaminsky, a Long Island Democrat, told of an email he received from a constituent, a 30-year LIRR commuter, who said the train service was the worst he’d ever experienced.</p>
<p>“I am not happy with it,” Lhota said about the LIRR’s performance, and vowed to improve it.</p>
<p>The hearing came as Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, a fellow Democrat, continue to squabble over capital funding for the MTA and other matters regarding the transit system. De Blasio is expected to testify Feb. 5 in Albany at a state budget hearing on aid to local governments.</p>
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albany ny ap millions dollars spent fix new york citys beleaguered public transit system beginning pay subway service starting show better results head metropolitan transportation told state lawmakers thursday nearly four hours questioning state budget hearing transportation spending mta chairman joseph lhota assured senate assembly members 836 million subway action plan launched last summer fix citys subway system improving service although admitted still plenty work still mta get act together lhota said totally agree agency come withering criticism operation centuryold transit system plagued broken tracks signal failures overcrowding thats problems routinely crop millions people ride subways trains five boroughs suburban new york day commuters havent shy taking social media crammed sweltering subway cars stuck tunnels jammed station platforms waiting overdue trains something lhota alluded asked plans determine improvement plans working determine success would love see twitter feeds little positive said grilling came downstate lawmakers although republican sen catharine young upstate olean summed criticism mtas record asked ask people give hardearned money repairs expansion system looks like nobodys watching ship gov andrew cuomos state budget plan includes 97 billion departments transportation motor vehicles thruway authority mta series subway commuter train crises last spring prompted democratic governor declare state emergency citys transit system predicting riders faced summer hell june cuomo brought lhota second stint running mta lhota also testified thursday subways showing signs stabilization wasnt pleased service problems long island rail road sen todd kaminsky long island democrat told email received constituent 30year lirr commuter said train service worst hed ever experienced happy lhota said lirrs performance vowed improve hearing came cuomo new york city mayor bill de blasio fellow democrat continue squabble capital funding mta matters regarding transit system de blasio expected testify feb 5 albany state budget hearing aid local governments albany ny ap millions dollars spent fix new york citys beleaguered public transit system beginning pay subway service starting show better results head metropolitan transportation told state lawmakers thursday nearly four hours questioning state budget hearing transportation spending mta chairman joseph lhota assured senate assembly members 836 million subway action plan launched last summer fix citys subway system improving service although admitted still plenty work still mta get act together lhota said totally agree agency come withering criticism operation centuryold transit system plagued broken tracks signal failures overcrowding thats problems routinely crop millions people ride subways trains five boroughs suburban new york day commuters havent shy taking social media crammed sweltering subway cars stuck tunnels jammed station platforms waiting overdue trains something lhota alluded asked plans determine improvement plans working determine success would love see twitter feeds little positive said grilling came downstate lawmakers although republican sen catharine young upstate olean summed criticism mtas record asked ask people give hardearned money repairs expansion system looks like nobodys watching ship gov andrew cuomos state budget plan includes 97 billion departments transportation motor vehicles thruway authority mta series subway commuter train crises last spring prompted democratic governor declare state emergency citys transit system predicting riders faced summer hell june cuomo brought lhota second stint running mta lhota also testified thursday subways showing signs stabilization wasnt pleased service problems long island rail road sen todd kaminsky long island democrat told email received constituent 30year lirr commuter said train service worst hed ever experienced happy lhota said lirrs performance vowed improve hearing came cuomo new york city mayor bill de blasio fellow democrat continue squabble capital funding mta matters regarding transit system de blasio expected testify feb 5 albany state budget hearing aid local governments
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<p>Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Bryan Dominguez prepares to fire at a simulated suspect in an active-shooter scenario to demonstrate the function of the office’s new use-of-force simulator. The device will be used to instruct deputies on both technical and reasonable uses of different types of force. (Jim Thompson/Albuquerque Journal)</p>
<p>The Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office is rolling out a new tool designed to aid deputies in use-of-force situations, with the ultimate aim of allowing them to make and correct mistakes without any real-world consequences.</p>
<p>The sheriff’s office bought its $60,000 use-of-force simulator and installed it in an old storage room earlier this year to run both potential and current deputies through a variety of scenarios that gauge their ability to handle situations where they might have to shoot a gun, fire a Taser or deploy pepper spray against a suspect or suspects.</p>
<p>“It’s much better if you’re going to make a mistake to make a mistake in that room, instead of in real time on the street,” said Sheriff Doug Wood, “especially with the climate we in law enforcement are in at this time.”</p>
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<p>Deputies stand in the room, which is painted white, and face the simulator screen projected across an entire wall. Behind them, a supervisor at a computer selects the scenario and other variables for the deputy.</p>
<p>The use-of-force simulator, produced by Ti Training in Golden, Colo., offers video scenarios performed by actors, not animations, in a wide variety of common and not-so-common occurrences faced by law enforcement. Deputies are given modified weapons – including a firearm, Taser and pepper spray canister – to try to control the fast-moving situations.</p>
<p>Each scenario has one or more decision points – or “branches” – where deputies are evaluated on their reaction time, accuracy and the appropriateness of the force used. Almost all the scenarios allow deputies to shoot suspects, regardless of the situation, and the scenario will play out with the actor falling over dead or wounded, sometimes with movie-magic blood splatter.</p>
<p>The simulator also features a microphone, so some scenarios can change if the simulator picks up a deputy shouting at a simulated suspect in order to, say, calm them down or de-escalate a potentially violent situation.</p>
<p>SCSO Capt. Mike Traxler said that supervisors can then use the scenarios as teaching moments, even if the simulator itself doesn’t discourage the use of firearms in, for instance, a bar fight or in intervening in a beachside domestic dispute. The simulator system also comes loaded with additional instructional material, including Supreme Court cases that inform law enforcement’s use of force and other educational tools.</p>
<p>Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Lt. Keith Elder monitors a deputy as he navigates a scenario. Supervisors can change how a scenario rolls out and can use the tool to give a current or potential deputy feedback about their use of force. (Jim Thompson/Albuquerque Journal)</p>
<p>The sheriff’s office has not yet determined which of the 400-plus scenarios it will include in the curriculum for aspiring deputies or for regular training. It has been online for about a month but supervisors are still trying to figure out how it fits into their overall training regimen.</p>
<p>The scenarios are divided into categories for a variety of law enforcement officers and for the military, including active-shooter situations, robberies, schools, courthouses and for situations involving people on drugs or alcohol or suffering from mental illnesses.</p>
<p>The active-shooter category, which trains deputies to react swiftly and safely to situations involving one or more shooters who are threatening or injuring a number of people, contains 20 scenarios and there are additional active-shooter scenarios in some of the other categories, like those for courthouses or schools. There’s also an Old West-style quick-draw contest and an empty folder for “zombie” scenarios, though SCSO officials said those scenarios will not be included in the training.</p>
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<p>SCSO Lt. Keith Elder said deputies have to be prepared for active-shooter situations, even though they are extremely rare. He said the sheriff’s office will emphasize scenarios for routine traffic stops and other encounters.</p>
<p>“We’re going to train active shooters, but we’re not going to exclusively use active shooter,” Elder said, adding that there is a “distinct” possibility that such a situation could occur in Sandoval County.</p>
<p>A few deputies have already gone through the simulator, Elder and Traxler said, and they’ve often been surprised at the number of shots they fired when they do shoot at a simulated suspect. They ask deputies to guess how many times they pulled the trigger and they almost always guess low. They attribute that to the adrenaline-inducing, fast-paced situations where deputies are acting on reflex, calling it an “auditory blink.”</p>
<p>Wood said the tool will be extremely helpful in preventing lethal, and often incendiary, mistakes at a time when law enforcement is facing heavy scrutiny over use of force. In nearby Albuquerque, the police department is negotiating terms of a federally enforced consent decree aimed at eliminating excessive force and ensuring the police department thoroughly investigates itself.</p>
<p>Elder also mentioned ongoing unrest in Ferguson, Mo., where an officer shot and killed an unarmed 18-year-old man.</p>
<p>“I won’t say that Ferguson won’t happen here,” Elder said. “But realistically I think the officers are cognizant enough of their training to de-escalate before it gets to that point.” He and Sheriff Wood said the simulator will help them do just that.</p>
<p>A Sandoval sheriff’s deputy in August shot and injured a 17-year-old male Algodones resident. State Police later said the teen had been drinking and pointed a high-powered rifle at deputies when he was shot.</p>
<p>Sandoval County taxpayers did not pay for the simulator. It was bought through federal law enforcement protection funds and the old storage room was outfitted using money seized in criminal operations, Traxler said.</p>
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sandoval county sheriffs office sgt bryan dominguez prepares fire simulated suspect activeshooter scenario demonstrate function offices new useofforce simulator device used instruct deputies technical reasonable uses different types force jim thompsonalbuquerque journal sandoval county sheriffs office rolling new tool designed aid deputies useofforce situations ultimate aim allowing make correct mistakes without realworld consequences sheriffs office bought 60000 useofforce simulator installed old storage room earlier year run potential current deputies variety scenarios gauge ability handle situations might shoot gun fire taser deploy pepper spray suspect suspects much better youre going make mistake make mistake room instead real time street said sheriff doug wood especially climate law enforcement time advertisement deputies stand room painted white face simulator screen projected across entire wall behind supervisor computer selects scenario variables deputy useofforce simulator produced ti training golden colo offers video scenarios performed actors animations wide variety common notsocommon occurrences faced law enforcement deputies given modified weapons including firearm taser pepper spray canister try control fastmoving situations scenario one decision points branches deputies evaluated reaction time accuracy appropriateness force used almost scenarios allow deputies shoot suspects regardless situation scenario play actor falling dead wounded sometimes moviemagic blood splatter simulator also features microphone scenarios change simulator picks deputy shouting simulated suspect order say calm deescalate potentially violent situation scso capt mike traxler said supervisors use scenarios teaching moments even simulator doesnt discourage use firearms instance bar fight intervening beachside domestic dispute simulator system also comes loaded additional instructional material including supreme court cases inform law enforcements use force educational tools sandoval county sheriffs office spokesman lt keith elder monitors deputy navigates scenario supervisors change scenario rolls use tool give current potential deputy feedback use force jim thompsonalbuquerque journal sheriffs office yet determined 400plus scenarios include curriculum aspiring deputies regular training online month supervisors still trying figure fits overall training regimen scenarios divided categories variety law enforcement officers military including activeshooter situations robberies schools courthouses situations involving people drugs alcohol suffering mental illnesses activeshooter category trains deputies react swiftly safely situations involving one shooters threatening injuring number people contains 20 scenarios additional activeshooter scenarios categories like courthouses schools theres also old weststyle quickdraw contest empty folder zombie scenarios though scso officials said scenarios included training advertisement scso lt keith elder said deputies prepared activeshooter situations even though extremely rare said sheriffs office emphasize scenarios routine traffic stops encounters going train active shooters going exclusively use active shooter elder said adding distinct possibility situation could occur sandoval county deputies already gone simulator elder traxler said theyve often surprised number shots fired shoot simulated suspect ask deputies guess many times pulled trigger almost always guess low attribute adrenalineinducing fastpaced situations deputies acting reflex calling auditory blink wood said tool extremely helpful preventing lethal often incendiary mistakes time law enforcement facing heavy scrutiny use force nearby albuquerque police department negotiating terms federally enforced consent decree aimed eliminating excessive force ensuring police department thoroughly investigates elder also mentioned ongoing unrest ferguson mo officer shot killed unarmed 18yearold man wont say ferguson wont happen elder said realistically think officers cognizant enough training deescalate gets point sheriff wood said simulator help sandoval sheriffs deputy august shot injured 17yearold male algodones resident state police later said teen drinking pointed highpowered rifle deputies shot sandoval county taxpayers pay simulator bought federal law enforcement protection funds old storage room outfitted using money seized criminal operations traxler said
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<p>OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — Joe Flacco is already in playoff mode for the Baltimore Ravens, who hope to ride his hot streak well into January.</p>
<p>After missing the entire preseason with a back injury, Flacco threw 10 interceptions and only eight touchdown passes over the first nine games. At that point, Baltimore stood at 4-5 and seemed destined to miss the playoffs for a third straight year.</p>
<p>Since then, Flacco has tossed eight TD passes and been intercepted only twice. Baltimore is 5-1 over that span, and needs only to beat Cincinnati (6-9) on Sunday to earn an AFC wild-card berth.</p>
<p>“We’ve been working hard all year to get to the point where we are,” Flacco said Wednesday. “We feel we’re playing good football.”</p>
<p>Now in his 10th season, Flacco reached the playoffs in each of his first five years in the league. In the 2012 postseason, he threw for 1,140 yards and 11 touchdowns without being intercepted, capping the run with a 34-31 victory over San Francisco as Super Bowl MVP.</p>
<p>Flash forward to last Saturday, when Flacco ran onto the field against Indianapolis with the Ravens nursing a 16-13 lead. It wasn’t exactly a Super Bowl, but it was a game Baltimore had to win to maintain control of its playoff destiny.</p>
<p>Flacco deftly directed a 14-play, 75-yard drive, going 7 for 8 for with a <a href="http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2017122300/2017/REG16/colts@ravens" type="external">fourth-quarter touchdown pass</a> to Maxx Williams to cement a <a href="https://pro32.ap.org/article/ravens-beat-colts-23-16-edge-closer-playoff-berth" type="external">23-16 victory</a> .</p>
<p>“That was a sweet drive,” Flacco said. “We knew we had to put six points on the board right there in order to win.”</p>
<p>The Ravens have come to expect that from Flacco, especially at this time of year. He’s got a career record of 22-13 over the season’s final four games and is 15-5 at home in December.</p>
<p>His performance this season is particularly impressive, not just because he missed all that time with a back injury but because he’s been operating behind a tattered offensive line that lost Marshal Yanda, Alex Lewis and John Urschel in the early going.</p>
<p>Fortunately for Flacco, the offensive front has become a cohesive unit that is providing him excellent protection. Over the last five games, the Ravens have allowed only four sacks and Flacco has been intercepted only once.</p>
<p>“These guys are playing real good football at this point,” the quarterback said. “They’ve been working really hard at it all year long. It’s definitely exciting for me as a quarterback to see how well they’re playing.”</p>
<p>Whether the Ravens are fighting for a playoff spot or playing out the string in a disappointing season, you couldn’t tell by Flacco’s demeanor. He’s been through too many good games and poor outings to let emotion get the best of him.</p>
<p>“When I first came here last year, I said Joe is Joe Cool,” tight end Benjamin Watson said. “He doesn’t really go up, he doesn’t go down. He kind of stays very steady. That’s an attribute that allows him to survive the ups and downs.”</p>
<p>Flacco and the Ravens are looking for the 2017 regular season to end how it started — with a win over the Bengals. Content to let the Baltimore defense do the heavy lifting, Flacco returned from a quiet summer in September to complete only nine passes in a 20-0 rout.</p>
<p>“They beat us by 20, so obviously he did a decent job,” Cincinnati safety George Iloka said. “By the end of the year you should be better, your timing should be better. He looks sharper.”</p>
<p>Flacco trails only Tom Brady as the league’s winningest quarterback since 2008 (including postseason). Seeking his seventh career playoff appearance, Flacco — and the Ravens, for that matter — won’t think about January until the workload in December is done.</p>
<p>“I don’t think anybody in our locker room is looking ahead to January,” Watson said. “I haven’t been around here long enough to see January Joe other than from afar. I know January Joe is going to be awesome.”</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>For more NFL coverage: <a href="http://www.pro32.ap.org" type="external">http://www.pro32.ap.org</a> and <a href="http://www.twitter.com/AP_NFL" type="external">http://www.twitter.com/AP_NFL</a></p>
<p>OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — Joe Flacco is already in playoff mode for the Baltimore Ravens, who hope to ride his hot streak well into January.</p>
<p>After missing the entire preseason with a back injury, Flacco threw 10 interceptions and only eight touchdown passes over the first nine games. At that point, Baltimore stood at 4-5 and seemed destined to miss the playoffs for a third straight year.</p>
<p>Since then, Flacco has tossed eight TD passes and been intercepted only twice. Baltimore is 5-1 over that span, and needs only to beat Cincinnati (6-9) on Sunday to earn an AFC wild-card berth.</p>
<p>“We’ve been working hard all year to get to the point where we are,” Flacco said Wednesday. “We feel we’re playing good football.”</p>
<p>Now in his 10th season, Flacco reached the playoffs in each of his first five years in the league. In the 2012 postseason, he threw for 1,140 yards and 11 touchdowns without being intercepted, capping the run with a 34-31 victory over San Francisco as Super Bowl MVP.</p>
<p>Flash forward to last Saturday, when Flacco ran onto the field against Indianapolis with the Ravens nursing a 16-13 lead. It wasn’t exactly a Super Bowl, but it was a game Baltimore had to win to maintain control of its playoff destiny.</p>
<p>Flacco deftly directed a 14-play, 75-yard drive, going 7 for 8 for with a <a href="http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2017122300/2017/REG16/colts@ravens" type="external">fourth-quarter touchdown pass</a> to Maxx Williams to cement a <a href="https://pro32.ap.org/article/ravens-beat-colts-23-16-edge-closer-playoff-berth" type="external">23-16 victory</a> .</p>
<p>“That was a sweet drive,” Flacco said. “We knew we had to put six points on the board right there in order to win.”</p>
<p>The Ravens have come to expect that from Flacco, especially at this time of year. He’s got a career record of 22-13 over the season’s final four games and is 15-5 at home in December.</p>
<p>His performance this season is particularly impressive, not just because he missed all that time with a back injury but because he’s been operating behind a tattered offensive line that lost Marshal Yanda, Alex Lewis and John Urschel in the early going.</p>
<p>Fortunately for Flacco, the offensive front has become a cohesive unit that is providing him excellent protection. Over the last five games, the Ravens have allowed only four sacks and Flacco has been intercepted only once.</p>
<p>“These guys are playing real good football at this point,” the quarterback said. “They’ve been working really hard at it all year long. It’s definitely exciting for me as a quarterback to see how well they’re playing.”</p>
<p>Whether the Ravens are fighting for a playoff spot or playing out the string in a disappointing season, you couldn’t tell by Flacco’s demeanor. He’s been through too many good games and poor outings to let emotion get the best of him.</p>
<p>“When I first came here last year, I said Joe is Joe Cool,” tight end Benjamin Watson said. “He doesn’t really go up, he doesn’t go down. He kind of stays very steady. That’s an attribute that allows him to survive the ups and downs.”</p>
<p>Flacco and the Ravens are looking for the 2017 regular season to end how it started — with a win over the Bengals. Content to let the Baltimore defense do the heavy lifting, Flacco returned from a quiet summer in September to complete only nine passes in a 20-0 rout.</p>
<p>“They beat us by 20, so obviously he did a decent job,” Cincinnati safety George Iloka said. “By the end of the year you should be better, your timing should be better. He looks sharper.”</p>
<p>Flacco trails only Tom Brady as the league’s winningest quarterback since 2008 (including postseason). Seeking his seventh career playoff appearance, Flacco — and the Ravens, for that matter — won’t think about January until the workload in December is done.</p>
<p>“I don’t think anybody in our locker room is looking ahead to January,” Watson said. “I haven’t been around here long enough to see January Joe other than from afar. I know January Joe is going to be awesome.”</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>For more NFL coverage: <a href="http://www.pro32.ap.org" type="external">http://www.pro32.ap.org</a> and <a href="http://www.twitter.com/AP_NFL" type="external">http://www.twitter.com/AP_NFL</a></p>
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owings mills md ap joe flacco already playoff mode baltimore ravens hope ride hot streak well january missing entire preseason back injury flacco threw 10 interceptions eight touchdown passes first nine games point baltimore stood 45 seemed destined miss playoffs third straight year since flacco tossed eight td passes intercepted twice baltimore 51 span needs beat cincinnati 69 sunday earn afc wildcard berth weve working hard year get point flacco said wednesday feel playing good football 10th season flacco reached playoffs first five years league 2012 postseason threw 1140 yards 11 touchdowns without intercepted capping run 3431 victory san francisco super bowl mvp flash forward last saturday flacco ran onto field indianapolis ravens nursing 1613 lead wasnt exactly super bowl game baltimore win maintain control playoff destiny flacco deftly directed 14play 75yard drive going 7 8 fourthquarter touchdown pass maxx williams cement 2316 victory sweet drive flacco said knew put six points board right order win ravens come expect flacco especially time year hes got career record 2213 seasons final four games 155 home december performance season particularly impressive missed time back injury hes operating behind tattered offensive line lost marshal yanda alex lewis john urschel early going fortunately flacco offensive front become cohesive unit providing excellent protection last five games ravens allowed four sacks flacco intercepted guys playing real good football point quarterback said theyve working really hard year long definitely exciting quarterback see well theyre playing whether ravens fighting playoff spot playing string disappointing season couldnt tell flaccos demeanor hes many good games poor outings let emotion get best first came last year said joe joe cool tight end benjamin watson said doesnt really go doesnt go kind stays steady thats attribute allows survive ups downs flacco ravens looking 2017 regular season end started win bengals content let baltimore defense heavy lifting flacco returned quiet summer september complete nine passes 200 rout beat us 20 obviously decent job cincinnati safety george iloka said end year better timing better looks sharper flacco trails tom brady leagues winningest quarterback since 2008 including postseason seeking seventh career playoff appearance flacco ravens matter wont think january workload december done dont think anybody locker room looking ahead january watson said havent around long enough see january joe afar know january joe going awesome ___ nfl coverage httpwwwpro32aporg httpwwwtwittercomap_nfl owings mills md ap joe flacco already playoff mode baltimore ravens hope ride hot streak well january missing entire preseason back injury flacco threw 10 interceptions eight touchdown passes first nine games point baltimore stood 45 seemed destined miss playoffs third straight year since flacco tossed eight td passes intercepted twice baltimore 51 span needs beat cincinnati 69 sunday earn afc wildcard berth weve working hard year get point flacco said wednesday feel playing good football 10th season flacco reached playoffs first five years league 2012 postseason threw 1140 yards 11 touchdowns without intercepted capping run 3431 victory san francisco super bowl mvp flash forward last saturday flacco ran onto field indianapolis ravens nursing 1613 lead wasnt exactly super bowl game baltimore win maintain control playoff destiny flacco deftly directed 14play 75yard drive going 7 8 fourthquarter touchdown pass maxx williams cement 2316 victory sweet drive flacco said knew put six points board right order win ravens come expect flacco especially time year hes got career record 2213 seasons final four games 155 home december performance season particularly impressive missed time back injury hes operating behind tattered offensive line lost marshal yanda alex lewis john urschel early going fortunately flacco offensive front become cohesive unit providing excellent protection last five games ravens allowed four sacks flacco intercepted guys playing real good football point quarterback said theyve working really hard year long definitely exciting quarterback see well theyre playing whether ravens fighting playoff spot playing string disappointing season couldnt tell flaccos demeanor hes many good games poor outings let emotion get best first came last year said joe joe cool tight end benjamin watson said doesnt really go doesnt go kind stays steady thats attribute allows survive ups downs flacco ravens looking 2017 regular season end started win bengals content let baltimore defense heavy lifting flacco returned quiet summer september complete nine passes 200 rout beat us 20 obviously decent job cincinnati safety george iloka said end year better timing better looks sharper flacco trails tom brady leagues winningest quarterback since 2008 including postseason seeking seventh career playoff appearance flacco ravens matter wont think january workload december done dont think anybody locker room looking ahead january watson said havent around long enough see january joe afar know january joe going awesome ___ nfl coverage httpwwwpro32aporg httpwwwtwittercomap_nfl
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<p>The storm came ashore before dawn just west of Cameron, Louisiana, bringing maximum sustained winds near 45 mph (72 kph), the U.S. National Hurricane Center said. Harvey had lingered over Texas for days before meandering back into the Gulf of Mexico.</p>
<p>Forecasters said there was a risk of tornadoes across a large part of the South as Harvey trudged northeast toward northern Louisiana. The national Storm Prediction Center said a few tornadoes were expected to develop Wednesday in northeast Louisiana and across southern and central portions of Mississippi. Tornadoes would also be possible across parts of southern and central Alabama, near the eastern edge of Harvey’s rain bands. At least five tornadoes from Harvey have been confirmed so far in Louisiana, although they have caused little damage.</p>
<p>Another 1 to 3 inches (2.5 centimeters to 7.5 centimeters) of rain could fall in western Louisiana, with up to 6 inches (15 centimeters) in spots, with the heaviest rain inland.</p>
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<p>“We are starting to get down to the end of the tunnel of all this rain,” Meteorologist Roger Erickson said.</p>
<p>Harvey appeared to have produced little damage overnight in southwest Louisiana, where hundreds of people were rescued from floodwaters earlier this week, officials said. Harvey’s heaviest rains continued to stay west of Louisiana, just across the Sabine River in Texas. Lake Charles recorded less than 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) of rain overnight.</p>
<p>“We’re not out of the woods totally, but we’re looking much better,” Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Tony Mancuso said</p>
<p>The heaviest overnight rain bands also spared New Orleans, where sun broke through the clouds after daybreak and schools reopened Wednesday after closing a day earlier.</p>
<p>Mayor Mitch Landrieu had urged New Orleans residents to stay home Tuesday because of the threat of potential high water. Some neighborhoods flooded earlier this month during a deluge that exposed problems with the city’s pump and drainage system. On Tuesday, rains flooded a few of the city’s streets, but not to the same extent.</p>
<p>Erickson, the Lake Charles meteorologist, warned that some coastal rivers won’t be able to drain effectively because Harvey’s winds are pushing in storm surge, aggravating flooding in areas already drenched by more than 20 inches (51 centimeters) of rain. Gusts up to 40 mph (65 kph) are predicted for coastal areas, although Erickson said Harvey would weaken throughout the day.</p>
<p>Cameron Parish Administrator Ryan Bourriaque said storm surge apparently caused little damage along Louisiana’s southwestern coast, although some water remained on roadways in parts of the parish. He said officials are likely to consider lifting a mandatory evacuation order for the southern end of the parish once damage assessments are complete.</p>
<p>“We acknowledge that we are certainly much better off that we could have been at this point,” Bourriaque said.</p>
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<p>State offices in 28 parishes and most Baton Rouge area schools won’t open Wednesday in anticipation of possible severe weather. Gov. John Bel Edwards urged people to remain alert but said the state is responding well to less severe conditions in its own borders.</p>
<p>“You never know what Mother Nature is going to throw at us, but with the people in this room, I’m confident we can handle it,” he told local and state officials during a visit Tuesday to Lake Charles, which is near the Texas border.</p>
<p>Edwards said Louisiana also has offered to shelter storm victims from Texas. He said he expects Texas officials to decide within 48 hours whether to accept the offer.</p>
<p>Harvey’s devastating flooding brought back tough memories in New Orleans as Tuesday marked the 12th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Mayor Mitch Landrieu opened his Tuesday news conference with a moment of silence for Katrina victims and words of support for Harvey’s victims in Texas and southwest Louisiana.</p>
<p>“We’ve got to save our house,” New Orleans resident Israel Freeman said as he loaded sandbags for his mother’s home into his Cadillac. “She already went through Katrina. She built her house back up. We just had a flood about two, three weeks ago. She just recovered from that.”</p>
<p>Bradley Morris lives in a ground-level house in New Orleans and was “preparing for the worst.”</p>
<p>“There’s plenty of puddling and stuff already,” he said, “so I just assume that we’re probably going to get a taste of what we had a couple weeks ago.”</p>
<p>About 500 people were evacuated in southwest Louisiana’s most populous parish early Tuesday, as a heavy band of rain pushed waterways out of their banks, Calcasieu Parish spokesman Tom Hoefer said. He said as many as 5,000 parish residents were affected by the flooding, but not all of those people have flooded homes. Some are just cut off by flooded roads.</p>
<p>Family members and authorities in Texas have reported at least 18 deaths from the storm. No Harvey-related deaths were immediately reported in Louisiana, according to a spokesman for Edwards.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Kunzelman reported from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Associated Press writers Stacey Plaisance, Kevin McGill and Janet McConnaughey in New Orleans and Jeff Martin in Atlanta contributed to this report.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>For complete Harvey coverage, visit https://apnews.com/tag/HurricaneHarvey</p>
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storm came ashore dawn west cameron louisiana bringing maximum sustained winds near 45 mph 72 kph us national hurricane center said harvey lingered texas days meandering back gulf mexico forecasters said risk tornadoes across large part south harvey trudged northeast toward northern louisiana national storm prediction center said tornadoes expected develop wednesday northeast louisiana across southern central portions mississippi tornadoes would also possible across parts southern central alabama near eastern edge harveys rain bands least five tornadoes harvey confirmed far louisiana although caused little damage another 1 3 inches 25 centimeters 75 centimeters rain could fall western louisiana 6 inches 15 centimeters spots heaviest rain inland advertisement starting get end tunnel rain meteorologist roger erickson said harvey appeared produced little damage overnight southwest louisiana hundreds people rescued floodwaters earlier week officials said harveys heaviest rains continued stay west louisiana across sabine river texas lake charles recorded less 1 inch 25 centimeters rain overnight woods totally looking much better calcasieu parish sheriff tony mancuso said heaviest overnight rain bands also spared new orleans sun broke clouds daybreak schools reopened wednesday closing day earlier mayor mitch landrieu urged new orleans residents stay home tuesday threat potential high water neighborhoods flooded earlier month deluge exposed problems citys pump drainage system tuesday rains flooded citys streets extent erickson lake charles meteorologist warned coastal rivers wont able drain effectively harveys winds pushing storm surge aggravating flooding areas already drenched 20 inches 51 centimeters rain gusts 40 mph 65 kph predicted coastal areas although erickson said harvey would weaken throughout day cameron parish administrator ryan bourriaque said storm surge apparently caused little damage along louisianas southwestern coast although water remained roadways parts parish said officials likely consider lifting mandatory evacuation order southern end parish damage assessments complete acknowledge certainly much better could point bourriaque said advertisement state offices 28 parishes baton rouge area schools wont open wednesday anticipation possible severe weather gov john bel edwards urged people remain alert said state responding well less severe conditions borders never know mother nature going throw us people room im confident handle told local state officials visit tuesday lake charles near texas border edwards said louisiana also offered shelter storm victims texas said expects texas officials decide within 48 hours whether accept offer harveys devastating flooding brought back tough memories new orleans tuesday marked 12th anniversary hurricane katrina mayor mitch landrieu opened tuesday news conference moment silence katrina victims words support harveys victims texas southwest louisiana weve got save house new orleans resident israel freeman said loaded sandbags mothers home cadillac already went katrina built house back flood two three weeks ago recovered bradley morris lives groundlevel house new orleans preparing worst theres plenty puddling stuff already said assume probably going get taste couple weeks ago 500 people evacuated southwest louisianas populous parish early tuesday heavy band rain pushed waterways banks calcasieu parish spokesman tom hoefer said said many 5000 parish residents affected flooding people flooded homes cut flooded roads family members authorities texas reported least 18 deaths storm harveyrelated deaths immediately reported louisiana according spokesman edwards ___ kunzelman reported baton rouge louisiana associated press writers stacey plaisance kevin mcgill janet mcconnaughey new orleans jeff martin atlanta contributed report ___ complete harvey coverage visit httpsapnewscomtaghurricaneharvey
| 536 |
<p>COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Ohio Gov. John Kasich is expected to sign a bill stripping government money from Planned Parenthood, a move that might help him with conservatives who dominate the upcoming Republican presidential primary in South Carolina.</p>
<p>The legislation cleared the state legislature and was headed to Kasich on Wednesday, a day after the primary in New Hampshire, where a tough stance against Planned Parenthood might have been received with less enthusiasm by its many moderate Republican voters. Kasich finished second in the New Hampshire race behind Donald Trump but ahead of a group of mainstream GOP candidates who vied for moderate support.</p>
<p>No one is acknowledging whether the 2016 presidential calendar might have played a part in when Kasich would get the bill.</p>
<p>Republican Senate President Keith Faber told reporters Wednesday he believed South Carolinians would like the bill but that wasn't a consideration.</p>
<p>"I don't know that our timing has anything to do with that," Faber said. "We didn't even think of that, frankly."</p>
<p>The House gave its final approval Wednesday on a mostly party-line vote, with the bill's Democratic co-sponsor voting in favor and two Republicans voting against it.</p>
<p>The bill targets the roughly $1.3 million in grant funding that Planned Parenthood receives through Ohio's health department. The money, which is mostly federal, supports initiatives for HIV testing, breast and cervical cancer screenings, and prevention of violence against women.</p>
<p>The legislation would prohibit such funds from going to entities that perform or promote abortions, their affiliates and those that contract with an entity that performs abortions.</p>
<p>Kasich spent Wednesday campaigning in South Carolina, home of the South's first primary on Feb. 20. He had events scheduled there for Thursday and Friday.</p>
<p>Editorials in The (Toledo) Blade, the (Akron) Beacon Journal and The New York Times have called on the governor to veto the legislation - so has Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.</p>
<p>Kasich is unlikely to reject the bill.</p>
<p>During a town hall meeting in New Hampshire this past weekend, a voter in Concord asked Kasich whether he'd support federal funding for Planned Parenthood if it were part of a balanced budget. "We're not gonna fund it," he said during the exchange.</p>
<p>Ohio's legislation follows an outcry among abortion opponents around the country after the release of secretly recorded videos by activists alleging that Planned Parenthood sold fetal tissue to researchers for a profit in violation of federal law. Planned Parenthood has called the videos misleading and denied any wrongdoing, saying a handful of its clinics provided fetal tissue for research while receiving only permissible reimbursement for costs.</p>
<p>Three of Planned Parenthood's 28 locations in Ohio provide abortions. The organization has said it has no fetal tissue donation program in Ohio, where such donations are illegal.</p>
<p>Planned Parenthood is not named in the legislation. But the bill's backers have acknowledged the organization will be the most affected. They want the money to go to health centers and other providers that do not perform abortions</p>
<p>Stephanie Ranade Krider, executive director of Ohio Right to Life, called the passage a victory for the anti-abortion movement. "For a state like Ohio - it's a purple state - to be able to pass something like defunding Planned Parenthood, I think that gives hope to other states."</p>
<p>State and federal laws already prohibit taxpayer funds from being used to pay for abortions, except in cases of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother.</p>
<p>Planned Parenthood leaders have emphasized that should the bill become law, the organization's doors would remain open.</p>
<p>"This money is not going to change anything about the health care or abortion care that we provide to women in Ohio," said Stephanie Kight, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio. "These are community health programs that are being cut out and destroyed."</p>
<p>Kight's group announced later Wednesday it is targeting Kasich in online ads slated to appear on Facebook and news sites across Ohio.</p>
<p>COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Ohio Gov. John Kasich is expected to sign a bill stripping government money from Planned Parenthood, a move that might help him with conservatives who dominate the upcoming Republican presidential primary in South Carolina.</p>
<p>The legislation cleared the state legislature and was headed to Kasich on Wednesday, a day after the primary in New Hampshire, where a tough stance against Planned Parenthood might have been received with less enthusiasm by its many moderate Republican voters. Kasich finished second in the New Hampshire race behind Donald Trump but ahead of a group of mainstream GOP candidates who vied for moderate support.</p>
<p>No one is acknowledging whether the 2016 presidential calendar might have played a part in when Kasich would get the bill.</p>
<p>Republican Senate President Keith Faber told reporters Wednesday he believed South Carolinians would like the bill but that wasn't a consideration.</p>
<p>"I don't know that our timing has anything to do with that," Faber said. "We didn't even think of that, frankly."</p>
<p>The House gave its final approval Wednesday on a mostly party-line vote, with the bill's Democratic co-sponsor voting in favor and two Republicans voting against it.</p>
<p>The bill targets the roughly $1.3 million in grant funding that Planned Parenthood receives through Ohio's health department. The money, which is mostly federal, supports initiatives for HIV testing, breast and cervical cancer screenings, and prevention of violence against women.</p>
<p>The legislation would prohibit such funds from going to entities that perform or promote abortions, their affiliates and those that contract with an entity that performs abortions.</p>
<p>Kasich spent Wednesday campaigning in South Carolina, home of the South's first primary on Feb. 20. He had events scheduled there for Thursday and Friday.</p>
<p>Editorials in The (Toledo) Blade, the (Akron) Beacon Journal and The New York Times have called on the governor to veto the legislation - so has Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.</p>
<p>Kasich is unlikely to reject the bill.</p>
<p>During a town hall meeting in New Hampshire this past weekend, a voter in Concord asked Kasich whether he'd support federal funding for Planned Parenthood if it were part of a balanced budget. "We're not gonna fund it," he said during the exchange.</p>
<p>Ohio's legislation follows an outcry among abortion opponents around the country after the release of secretly recorded videos by activists alleging that Planned Parenthood sold fetal tissue to researchers for a profit in violation of federal law. Planned Parenthood has called the videos misleading and denied any wrongdoing, saying a handful of its clinics provided fetal tissue for research while receiving only permissible reimbursement for costs.</p>
<p>Three of Planned Parenthood's 28 locations in Ohio provide abortions. The organization has said it has no fetal tissue donation program in Ohio, where such donations are illegal.</p>
<p>Planned Parenthood is not named in the legislation. But the bill's backers have acknowledged the organization will be the most affected. They want the money to go to health centers and other providers that do not perform abortions</p>
<p>Stephanie Ranade Krider, executive director of Ohio Right to Life, called the passage a victory for the anti-abortion movement. "For a state like Ohio - it's a purple state - to be able to pass something like defunding Planned Parenthood, I think that gives hope to other states."</p>
<p>State and federal laws already prohibit taxpayer funds from being used to pay for abortions, except in cases of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother.</p>
<p>Planned Parenthood leaders have emphasized that should the bill become law, the organization's doors would remain open.</p>
<p>"This money is not going to change anything about the health care or abortion care that we provide to women in Ohio," said Stephanie Kight, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio. "These are community health programs that are being cut out and destroyed."</p>
<p>Kight's group announced later Wednesday it is targeting Kasich in online ads slated to appear on Facebook and news sites across Ohio.</p>
| false | 2 |
columbus ohio ap ohio gov john kasich expected sign bill stripping government money planned parenthood move might help conservatives dominate upcoming republican presidential primary south carolina legislation cleared state legislature headed kasich wednesday day primary new hampshire tough stance planned parenthood might received less enthusiasm many moderate republican voters kasich finished second new hampshire race behind donald trump ahead group mainstream gop candidates vied moderate support one acknowledging whether 2016 presidential calendar might played part kasich would get bill republican senate president keith faber told reporters wednesday believed south carolinians would like bill wasnt consideration dont know timing anything faber said didnt even think frankly house gave final approval wednesday mostly partyline vote bills democratic cosponsor voting favor two republicans voting bill targets roughly 13 million grant funding planned parenthood receives ohios health department money mostly federal supports initiatives hiv testing breast cervical cancer screenings prevention violence women legislation would prohibit funds going entities perform promote abortions affiliates contract entity performs abortions kasich spent wednesday campaigning south carolina home souths first primary feb 20 events scheduled thursday friday editorials toledo blade akron beacon journal new york times called governor veto legislation democratic presidential candidate hillary clinton kasich unlikely reject bill town hall meeting new hampshire past weekend voter concord asked kasich whether hed support federal funding planned parenthood part balanced budget gon na fund said exchange ohios legislation follows outcry among abortion opponents around country release secretly recorded videos activists alleging planned parenthood sold fetal tissue researchers profit violation federal law planned parenthood called videos misleading denied wrongdoing saying handful clinics provided fetal tissue research receiving permissible reimbursement costs three planned parenthoods 28 locations ohio provide abortions organization said fetal tissue donation program ohio donations illegal planned parenthood named legislation bills backers acknowledged organization affected want money go health centers providers perform abortions stephanie ranade krider executive director ohio right life called passage victory antiabortion movement state like ohio purple state able pass something like defunding planned parenthood think gives hope states state federal laws already prohibit taxpayer funds used pay abortions except cases rape incest save life mother planned parenthood leaders emphasized bill become law organizations doors would remain open money going change anything health care abortion care provide women ohio said stephanie kight president ceo planned parenthood advocates ohio community health programs cut destroyed kights group announced later wednesday targeting kasich online ads slated appear facebook news sites across ohio columbus ohio ap ohio gov john kasich expected sign bill stripping government money planned parenthood move might help conservatives dominate upcoming republican presidential primary south carolina legislation cleared state legislature headed kasich wednesday day primary new hampshire tough stance planned parenthood might received less enthusiasm many moderate republican voters kasich finished second new hampshire race behind donald trump ahead group mainstream gop candidates vied moderate support one acknowledging whether 2016 presidential calendar might played part kasich would get bill republican senate president keith faber told reporters wednesday believed south carolinians would like bill wasnt consideration dont know timing anything faber said didnt even think frankly house gave final approval wednesday mostly partyline vote bills democratic cosponsor voting favor two republicans voting bill targets roughly 13 million grant funding planned parenthood receives ohios health department money mostly federal supports initiatives hiv testing breast cervical cancer screenings prevention violence women legislation would prohibit funds going entities perform promote abortions affiliates contract entity performs abortions kasich spent wednesday campaigning south carolina home souths first primary feb 20 events scheduled thursday friday editorials toledo blade akron beacon journal new york times called governor veto legislation democratic presidential candidate hillary clinton kasich unlikely reject bill town hall meeting new hampshire past weekend voter concord asked kasich whether hed support federal funding planned parenthood part balanced budget gon na fund said exchange ohios legislation follows outcry among abortion opponents around country release secretly recorded videos activists alleging planned parenthood sold fetal tissue researchers profit violation federal law planned parenthood called videos misleading denied wrongdoing saying handful clinics provided fetal tissue research receiving permissible reimbursement costs three planned parenthoods 28 locations ohio provide abortions organization said fetal tissue donation program ohio donations illegal planned parenthood named legislation bills backers acknowledged organization affected want money go health centers providers perform abortions stephanie ranade krider executive director ohio right life called passage victory antiabortion movement state like ohio purple state able pass something like defunding planned parenthood think gives hope states state federal laws already prohibit taxpayer funds used pay abortions except cases rape incest save life mother planned parenthood leaders emphasized bill become law organizations doors would remain open money going change anything health care abortion care provide women ohio said stephanie kight president ceo planned parenthood advocates ohio community health programs cut destroyed kights group announced later wednesday targeting kasich online ads slated appear facebook news sites across ohio
| 804 |
<p>KAPALUA, Hawaii (AP) - Marc Leishman picked the wrong bar and wound up with the right girl.</p>
<p>He was a young Australian trying to make his way in American golf. That meant spending most of 2007 driving from one city to the next for Monday qualifiers on the PGA Tour's developmental circuit. He rolled into Williamsburg, Virginia, one weekend and decided to go for a beer.</p>
<p>"There weren't many people in the bar," he said, smiling at the memory. "It wasn't a great bar."</p>
<p>But he saw a young woman across the way, walked over to her and asked her where the best places were in town. They hit it off. And when Leishman missed out on qualifying for the tournament, he chose to stay in town because of Audrey Hills, a student at William &amp; Mary.</p>
<p>"I lived out of hotels," he said. "I'd be in a Motel 6 or a Super 8. You spend as little as possible. If you miss the qualifier, if it was a good town you'd stay there. If it was not a great town, you'd go to the next one and look for the party scene. I stayed there because of that first date."</p>
<p>They married three years later, and now she is a big part in his mission away from golf.</p>
<p>The Leishmans have started the "Begin Again Foundation," created to help families who are experiencing medical and life crises. They already have helped 700 families from a foundation that began when he nearly lost the girl he found in a bar.</p>
<p>Leishman was at the 2015 Masters when he left abruptly because his wife was hospitalized with toxic shock syndrome, acute respiratory distress syndrome and sepsis. She was put in a coma and managed to survive, and it was a long road back.</p>
<p>"We were lucky we were in a situation where the medical bills didn't break us," Leishman said. "It can break you as a family. And a lot of families don't have that. When you're going through something like that, you don't want to be thinking about money, you're thinking about your loved one."</p>
<p>A year after they started the foundation - <a href="http://www.beginagainfoundation.com" type="external">www.beginagainfoundation.com</a> - Leishman brought more attention to it through his own play.</p>
<p>He had one victory in 206 starts over eight years on the PGA Tour, and while 2017 was a special year for his victories at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the BMW Championship during the FedEx Cup playoffs, he also remembers it for the timing.</p>
<p>When he won at Bay Hill, his pregnant wife was there with his two sons. The BMW Championship was even more special.</p>
<p>September was "Sepsis Awareness Month," and Leishman thought about doing something at the TPC Boston until the country was consumed over relief efforts for Houston from Hurricane Harvey. So they waited two weeks for the BMW Championship, handing out ribbons for the players to wear on their caps. Everyone went along.</p>
<p>And then he opened with a 62 on his way to a wire-to-wire, five-shot victory.</p>
<p>It led to Leishman finishing at No. 6 in the FedEx Cup, a breakthrough for someone who had never finished better than 20th. And when the new year started, his two victories enabled him to reach a No. 12 ranking, the highest in the world for an Australian.</p>
<p>"To play like I did, to win the BMW with everyone wearing ribbons, it was impeccable timing," he said. "It raised awareness, not just for the foundation for us to raise money, but to get the word out there. People might not have heard of sepsis. And if you don't know the symptoms, you can't treat it."</p>
<p>His boys, ages 5 and 4, were with him at the BMW Championship along with their infant sister, Eva. And they have accompanied him to Hawaii, where he began his second Sentry Tournament of Champions by opening with a 67 for a one-shot lead after the opening round.</p>
<p>"Hopefully, I can keep it going and see where we end up Sunday night," he said.</p>
<p>His next target is to crack the top 10 in the world, perhaps even break through in a major. He came close in 2013 at the Masters when Adam Scott became the first Aussie in a green jacket. Not long after his wife was home from the hospital and headed for a recovery, he lost in a playoff in the 2015 British Open at St. Andrews.</p>
<p>For now, life has never been better.</p>
<p>Leishman is at Kapalua for the tournament reserved only for PGA Tour winners, and the foundation already has helped more than 700 families and is growing.</p>
<p>KAPALUA, Hawaii (AP) - Marc Leishman picked the wrong bar and wound up with the right girl.</p>
<p>He was a young Australian trying to make his way in American golf. That meant spending most of 2007 driving from one city to the next for Monday qualifiers on the PGA Tour's developmental circuit. He rolled into Williamsburg, Virginia, one weekend and decided to go for a beer.</p>
<p>"There weren't many people in the bar," he said, smiling at the memory. "It wasn't a great bar."</p>
<p>But he saw a young woman across the way, walked over to her and asked her where the best places were in town. They hit it off. And when Leishman missed out on qualifying for the tournament, he chose to stay in town because of Audrey Hills, a student at William &amp; Mary.</p>
<p>"I lived out of hotels," he said. "I'd be in a Motel 6 or a Super 8. You spend as little as possible. If you miss the qualifier, if it was a good town you'd stay there. If it was not a great town, you'd go to the next one and look for the party scene. I stayed there because of that first date."</p>
<p>They married three years later, and now she is a big part in his mission away from golf.</p>
<p>The Leishmans have started the "Begin Again Foundation," created to help families who are experiencing medical and life crises. They already have helped 700 families from a foundation that began when he nearly lost the girl he found in a bar.</p>
<p>Leishman was at the 2015 Masters when he left abruptly because his wife was hospitalized with toxic shock syndrome, acute respiratory distress syndrome and sepsis. She was put in a coma and managed to survive, and it was a long road back.</p>
<p>"We were lucky we were in a situation where the medical bills didn't break us," Leishman said. "It can break you as a family. And a lot of families don't have that. When you're going through something like that, you don't want to be thinking about money, you're thinking about your loved one."</p>
<p>A year after they started the foundation - <a href="http://www.beginagainfoundation.com" type="external">www.beginagainfoundation.com</a> - Leishman brought more attention to it through his own play.</p>
<p>He had one victory in 206 starts over eight years on the PGA Tour, and while 2017 was a special year for his victories at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the BMW Championship during the FedEx Cup playoffs, he also remembers it for the timing.</p>
<p>When he won at Bay Hill, his pregnant wife was there with his two sons. The BMW Championship was even more special.</p>
<p>September was "Sepsis Awareness Month," and Leishman thought about doing something at the TPC Boston until the country was consumed over relief efforts for Houston from Hurricane Harvey. So they waited two weeks for the BMW Championship, handing out ribbons for the players to wear on their caps. Everyone went along.</p>
<p>And then he opened with a 62 on his way to a wire-to-wire, five-shot victory.</p>
<p>It led to Leishman finishing at No. 6 in the FedEx Cup, a breakthrough for someone who had never finished better than 20th. And when the new year started, his two victories enabled him to reach a No. 12 ranking, the highest in the world for an Australian.</p>
<p>"To play like I did, to win the BMW with everyone wearing ribbons, it was impeccable timing," he said. "It raised awareness, not just for the foundation for us to raise money, but to get the word out there. People might not have heard of sepsis. And if you don't know the symptoms, you can't treat it."</p>
<p>His boys, ages 5 and 4, were with him at the BMW Championship along with their infant sister, Eva. And they have accompanied him to Hawaii, where he began his second Sentry Tournament of Champions by opening with a 67 for a one-shot lead after the opening round.</p>
<p>"Hopefully, I can keep it going and see where we end up Sunday night," he said.</p>
<p>His next target is to crack the top 10 in the world, perhaps even break through in a major. He came close in 2013 at the Masters when Adam Scott became the first Aussie in a green jacket. Not long after his wife was home from the hospital and headed for a recovery, he lost in a playoff in the 2015 British Open at St. Andrews.</p>
<p>For now, life has never been better.</p>
<p>Leishman is at Kapalua for the tournament reserved only for PGA Tour winners, and the foundation already has helped more than 700 families and is growing.</p>
| false | 2 |
kapalua hawaii ap marc leishman picked wrong bar wound right girl young australian trying make way american golf meant spending 2007 driving one city next monday qualifiers pga tours developmental circuit rolled williamsburg virginia one weekend decided go beer werent many people bar said smiling memory wasnt great bar saw young woman across way walked asked best places town hit leishman missed qualifying tournament chose stay town audrey hills student william amp mary lived hotels said id motel 6 super 8 spend little possible miss qualifier good town youd stay great town youd go next one look party scene stayed first date married three years later big part mission away golf leishmans started begin foundation created help families experiencing medical life crises already helped 700 families foundation began nearly lost girl found bar leishman 2015 masters left abruptly wife hospitalized toxic shock syndrome acute respiratory distress syndrome sepsis put coma managed survive long road back lucky situation medical bills didnt break us leishman said break family lot families dont youre going something like dont want thinking money youre thinking loved one year started foundation wwwbeginagainfoundationcom leishman brought attention play one victory 206 starts eight years pga tour 2017 special year victories arnold palmer invitational bmw championship fedex cup playoffs also remembers timing bay hill pregnant wife two sons bmw championship even special september sepsis awareness month leishman thought something tpc boston country consumed relief efforts houston hurricane harvey waited two weeks bmw championship handing ribbons players wear caps everyone went along opened 62 way wiretowire fiveshot victory led leishman finishing 6 fedex cup breakthrough someone never finished better 20th new year started two victories enabled reach 12 ranking highest world australian play like win bmw everyone wearing ribbons impeccable timing said raised awareness foundation us raise money get word people might heard sepsis dont know symptoms cant treat boys ages 5 4 bmw championship along infant sister eva accompanied hawaii began second sentry tournament champions opening 67 oneshot lead opening round hopefully keep going see end sunday night said next target crack top 10 world perhaps even break major came close 2013 masters adam scott became first aussie green jacket long wife home hospital headed recovery lost playoff 2015 british open st andrews life never better leishman kapalua tournament reserved pga tour winners foundation already helped 700 families growing kapalua hawaii ap marc leishman picked wrong bar wound right girl young australian trying make way american golf meant spending 2007 driving one city next monday qualifiers pga tours developmental circuit rolled williamsburg virginia one weekend decided go beer werent many people bar said smiling memory wasnt great bar saw young woman across way walked asked best places town hit leishman missed qualifying tournament chose stay town audrey hills student william amp mary lived hotels said id motel 6 super 8 spend little possible miss qualifier good town youd stay great town youd go next one look party scene stayed first date married three years later big part mission away golf leishmans started begin foundation created help families experiencing medical life crises already helped 700 families foundation began nearly lost girl found bar leishman 2015 masters left abruptly wife hospitalized toxic shock syndrome acute respiratory distress syndrome sepsis put coma managed survive long road back lucky situation medical bills didnt break us leishman said break family lot families dont youre going something like dont want thinking money youre thinking loved one year started foundation wwwbeginagainfoundationcom leishman brought attention play one victory 206 starts eight years pga tour 2017 special year victories arnold palmer invitational bmw championship fedex cup playoffs also remembers timing bay hill pregnant wife two sons bmw championship even special september sepsis awareness month leishman thought something tpc boston country consumed relief efforts houston hurricane harvey waited two weeks bmw championship handing ribbons players wear caps everyone went along opened 62 way wiretowire fiveshot victory led leishman finishing 6 fedex cup breakthrough someone never finished better 20th new year started two victories enabled reach 12 ranking highest world australian play like win bmw everyone wearing ribbons impeccable timing said raised awareness foundation us raise money get word people might heard sepsis dont know symptoms cant treat boys ages 5 4 bmw championship along infant sister eva accompanied hawaii began second sentry tournament champions opening 67 oneshot lead opening round hopefully keep going see end sunday night said next target crack top 10 world perhaps even break major came close 2013 masters adam scott became first aussie green jacket long wife home hospital headed recovery lost playoff 2015 british open st andrews life never better leishman kapalua tournament reserved pga tour winners foundation already helped 700 families growing
| 778 |
<p>NEW YORK (AP) — Marriott International will pay a $600,000 fine for jamming conference attendees’ own Wi-Fi networks at its Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, forcing them to pay hefty prices to use the hotel’s own connection.</p>
<p>Frequent travelers often carry personal Wi-Fi hotspots — tiny devices that can connect to the Internet via cell phone towers. For $50 a month, they can connect to the Internet on the move, often avoiding hefty fees charged by hotels, airports and conference facilities. Some people upgrade their wireless data plans to make their smartphones into hotspots.</p>
<p>Last year, a conference attendee at the Opryland hotel in Nashville, Tennessee — which is managed by Marriott — found that the hotel was jamming devices in its ballrooms and complained to the Federal Communications Commission. In the complaint, the guest noted that the same thing happened previously at another Gaylord property. The block didn’t affect Wi-Fi access in guest rooms.</p>
<p>While jamming personal Wi-Fi connections, Marriott was charging conference organizers and exhibitors between $250 and $1,000, per access point, to use the Gaylord’s Wi-Fi connection. The FCC declined to release the initial guest complaint except if requested under the Freedom of Information Act, a process that can often take weeks.</p>
<p>Marriott agreed to the fine and has instructed its hotels not to use the jamming technology in the way it was used at Opryland, according to the FCC. But the company on Friday defended the blocking of guests’ own Wi-Fi networks in the interest of network security. The company said it is legal to use FCC-approved technology to protect its Wi-Fi service against “rogue wireless hotspots that can cause degraded service, insidious cyber-attacks and identity theft,” adding that hospitals and universities employee similar jamming practices.</p>
<p>At the four Gaylord hotels in the U.S., Marriott today monitors for hotspots causing interference but does not automatically block such connections, said Harvey Kellman, a lawyer for the hotel company. Only a handful of Marriott’s 4,000 other hotels worldwide currently screen for hotspot interference.</p>
<p>Marriott said it encourages the FCC to change its rules “to eliminate the ongoing confusion” and “to assess the merits of its underlying policy.”</p>
<p>The government said people who purchase cellular data plans should be able to use them without fear that their personal connection will be blocked.</p>
<p>“It is unacceptable for any hotel to intentionally disable personal hotspots while also charging consumers and small businesses high fees to use the hotel’s own Wi-Fi network,” Travis LeBlanc, chief of the FCC’s enforcement bureau said in a statement. “This practice puts consumers in the untenable position of either paying twice for the same service or forgoing Internet access altogether.”</p>
<p>__</p>
<p>Scott Mayerowitz can be reached at <a href="http://twitter.com/GlobeTrotScott." type="external">http://twitter.com/GlobeTrotScott.</a></p>
<p>NEW YORK (AP) — Marriott International will pay a $600,000 fine for jamming conference attendees’ own Wi-Fi networks at its Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, forcing them to pay hefty prices to use the hotel’s own connection.</p>
<p>Frequent travelers often carry personal Wi-Fi hotspots — tiny devices that can connect to the Internet via cell phone towers. For $50 a month, they can connect to the Internet on the move, often avoiding hefty fees charged by hotels, airports and conference facilities. Some people upgrade their wireless data plans to make their smartphones into hotspots.</p>
<p>Last year, a conference attendee at the Opryland hotel in Nashville, Tennessee — which is managed by Marriott — found that the hotel was jamming devices in its ballrooms and complained to the Federal Communications Commission. In the complaint, the guest noted that the same thing happened previously at another Gaylord property. The block didn’t affect Wi-Fi access in guest rooms.</p>
<p>While jamming personal Wi-Fi connections, Marriott was charging conference organizers and exhibitors between $250 and $1,000, per access point, to use the Gaylord’s Wi-Fi connection. The FCC declined to release the initial guest complaint except if requested under the Freedom of Information Act, a process that can often take weeks.</p>
<p>Marriott agreed to the fine and has instructed its hotels not to use the jamming technology in the way it was used at Opryland, according to the FCC. But the company on Friday defended the blocking of guests’ own Wi-Fi networks in the interest of network security. The company said it is legal to use FCC-approved technology to protect its Wi-Fi service against “rogue wireless hotspots that can cause degraded service, insidious cyber-attacks and identity theft,” adding that hospitals and universities employee similar jamming practices.</p>
<p>At the four Gaylord hotels in the U.S., Marriott today monitors for hotspots causing interference but does not automatically block such connections, said Harvey Kellman, a lawyer for the hotel company. Only a handful of Marriott’s 4,000 other hotels worldwide currently screen for hotspot interference.</p>
<p>Marriott said it encourages the FCC to change its rules “to eliminate the ongoing confusion” and “to assess the merits of its underlying policy.”</p>
<p>The government said people who purchase cellular data plans should be able to use them without fear that their personal connection will be blocked.</p>
<p>“It is unacceptable for any hotel to intentionally disable personal hotspots while also charging consumers and small businesses high fees to use the hotel’s own Wi-Fi network,” Travis LeBlanc, chief of the FCC’s enforcement bureau said in a statement. “This practice puts consumers in the untenable position of either paying twice for the same service or forgoing Internet access altogether.”</p>
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<p>Scott Mayerowitz can be reached at <a href="http://twitter.com/GlobeTrotScott." type="external">http://twitter.com/GlobeTrotScott.</a></p>
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new york ap marriott international pay 600000 fine jamming conference attendees wifi networks gaylord opryland resort convention center forcing pay hefty prices use hotels connection frequent travelers often carry personal wifi hotspots tiny devices connect internet via cell phone towers 50 month connect internet move often avoiding hefty fees charged hotels airports conference facilities people upgrade wireless data plans make smartphones hotspots last year conference attendee opryland hotel nashville tennessee managed marriott found hotel jamming devices ballrooms complained federal communications commission complaint guest noted thing happened previously another gaylord property block didnt affect wifi access guest rooms jamming personal wifi connections marriott charging conference organizers exhibitors 250 1000 per access point use gaylords wifi connection fcc declined release initial guest complaint except requested freedom information act process often take weeks marriott agreed fine instructed hotels use jamming technology way used opryland according fcc company friday defended blocking guests wifi networks interest network security company said legal use fccapproved technology protect wifi service rogue wireless hotspots cause degraded service insidious cyberattacks identity theft adding hospitals universities employee similar jamming practices four gaylord hotels us marriott today monitors hotspots causing interference automatically block connections said harvey kellman lawyer hotel company handful marriotts 4000 hotels worldwide currently screen hotspot interference marriott said encourages fcc change rules eliminate ongoing confusion assess merits underlying policy government said people purchase cellular data plans able use without fear personal connection blocked unacceptable hotel intentionally disable personal hotspots also charging consumers small businesses high fees use hotels wifi network travis leblanc chief fccs enforcement bureau said statement practice puts consumers untenable position either paying twice service forgoing internet access altogether __ scott mayerowitz reached httptwittercomglobetrotscott new york ap marriott international pay 600000 fine jamming conference attendees wifi networks gaylord opryland resort convention center forcing pay hefty prices use hotels connection frequent travelers often carry personal wifi hotspots tiny devices connect internet via cell phone towers 50 month connect internet move often avoiding hefty fees charged hotels airports conference facilities people upgrade wireless data plans make smartphones hotspots last year conference attendee opryland hotel nashville tennessee managed marriott found hotel jamming devices ballrooms complained federal communications commission complaint guest noted thing happened previously another gaylord property block didnt affect wifi access guest rooms jamming personal wifi connections marriott charging conference organizers exhibitors 250 1000 per access point use gaylords wifi connection fcc declined release initial guest complaint except requested freedom information act process often take weeks marriott agreed fine instructed hotels use jamming technology way used opryland according fcc company friday defended blocking guests wifi networks interest network security company said legal use fccapproved technology protect wifi service rogue wireless hotspots cause degraded service insidious cyberattacks identity theft adding hospitals universities employee similar jamming practices four gaylord hotels us marriott today monitors hotspots causing interference automatically block connections said harvey kellman lawyer hotel company handful marriotts 4000 hotels worldwide currently screen hotspot interference marriott said encourages fcc change rules eliminate ongoing confusion assess merits underlying policy government said people purchase cellular data plans able use without fear personal connection blocked unacceptable hotel intentionally disable personal hotspots also charging consumers small businesses high fees use hotels wifi network travis leblanc chief fccs enforcement bureau said statement practice puts consumers untenable position either paying twice service forgoing internet access altogether __ scott mayerowitz reached httptwittercomglobetrotscott
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<p />
<p>Maureen McDonnell’s intense — even romantic — interest in Jonnie Williams Sr. helps explain why she let him pay for expensive shopping trips and vacations for her and her family while she promoted a nutritional supplement he was trying to sell, defense attorneys said during opening statements. She was not hatching a scheme with her husband to get rich by abusing the prestige of the governor’s office; rather, she was a woman in a broken marriage who craved attention.</p>
<p>“Jonnie Williams was larger than life to Maureen McDonnell,” said William Burck, Maureen McDonnell’s lead defense attorney. “But unlike the other man in her life, Jonnie Williams paid attention to Maureen McDonnell.”</p>
<p>And the governor, his defense attorneys said, was an honest public servant who promised Williams nothing of consequence. They said he would take the witness stand to proclaim his innocence even if that required him to lay bare his family’s troubles and discuss his wife’s dealings with another man.</p>
<p>Former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell leaves the federal courthouse in Richmond, Va., with his lawyer John L. Brownlee on the second day of his and wife Maureen’s corruption trial Tuesday. (Alexa Welch Edlund/Richmond Times-Dispatch/AP)</p>
<p>“Bob McDonnell is an innocent man,” said John Brownlee, one of his lead defense attorneys. He said that his client had intended only to promote a Virginia company and that the great lengths prosecutors had gone to prove otherwise — including flying to California to interview former presidential candidate Mitt Romney — had been unsuccessful.</p>
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<p>“Bob McDonnell eats Virginia ham. He drinks Virginia wine. And my guess is, if the man smoked, he’d smoke Virginia cigarettes,” Brownlee said.</p>
<p>The salacious assertions about the marriage on the trial’s first day of testimony previewed what is shaping up to be a deeply personal and emotional affair.</p>
<p>Later in the day, Cailin McDonnell Young, one of the McDonnells’ daughters, cried softly on the witness stand as a prosecutor showed photos from the young woman’s wedding. The prosecutor had highlighted various items and wedding services that others had paid for — including a catering bill eventually footed by Williams, engraved silver picture frames for guests that Young said were donated by state Del. David Ramadan, R-Loudoun, wedding rings, and a dress worth more than $1,000 that Young said she put only $43 toward.</p>
<p>Young said that, in retrospect, she regretted having accepted the items and wished that she and her husband had themselves paid for a “small, backyard” affair, as she insisted the two had always planned. “Our wedding now has this black cloud over it. . . . You can’t look back at it with a happy memory,” she said.</p>
<p>The catering bill was among the first gifts from Williams to the McDonnell family that are part of the corruption case. Young testified that Williams offered to pay for her reception after meeting her just once, for 10 to 15 minutes, after she ran into the businessman and his wife having dinner with her parents at the governor’s mansion. After receiving the gift, she said, she added the businessman to the guest list for the event.</p>
<p>Former Virginia first lady Maureen McDonnell, center, is flanked by daughters Rachel McDonnell, left, and Cailin Young, right, as they arrive at the federal courthouse in Richmond, Va,, on Monday, on the first day of jury selection in the corruption trial of former Gov. Bob McDonnell and his wife. (Joe Mahoney/The Associated Press)</p>
<p>In January, Robert and Maureen McDonnell were charged in a 14-count indictment with lending the prestige of the governor’s office to Williams and Star Scientific, a company he once ran, in return for more than $150,000 in cash, loans, vacations, golf outings and luxury goods.</p>
<p>Laying out prosecutors’ case against the couple, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Aber said Robert McDonnell afforded Williams — who she described as a “vitamin salesman” — unusual and official privileges in exchange for his largesse.</p>
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<p>Aber said McDonnell requested that a high-ranking health official meet with Williams on “less than 12 hours notice” and allowed Williams to invite doctors to a mansion event. She showed jurors a photo — which had been emailed by Maureen McDonnell — showing the governor tan and smiling behind the wheel of Williams’ Ferrari, its top down and the wind mussing his hair.</p>
<p>“Mr. McDonnell’s subordinates, those researchers, the citizens of Virginia, no one knew what was really going on,” Aber said.</p>
<p>Defense attorneys launched a vigorous and creative counterattack. They said that prosecutors must prove the McDonnells conspired together with Williams and that, because of the state of the couple’s marriage, such a conspiracy was impossible.</p>
<p>Burck said a former staff member had referred to Williams as Maureen McDonnell’s “favorite playmate,” and the defense attorney said some might view the relationship as “inappropriate.” He noted the pair exchanged 1,200 texts and phone calls during the period covered by the indictment.</p>
<p>The McDonnells, by contrast, were “barely on speaking terms,” he said.</p>
<p>Brownlee, Robert McDonnell’s defense attorney, said Maureen McDonnell told her husband that she “hated him” and complained in particular of not having enough money. He said Robert McDonnell would read aloud to jurors an intimate email in which he appealed to his wife to “help save the marriage.” But he said the plea “fell upon blind eyes and deaf ears” because the night it was received, Maureen McDonnell was “distracted with other interests.”</p>
<p>The couple’s problems “created a rift so wide that an outsider — in this case, another man — could invade and poison the marriage,” Brownlee said.</p>
<p>To be sure, defense attorneys have not asserted that Maureen McDonnell and Williams had a fully romantic or sexual relationship.</p>
<p>Burck said his client was suffering “collateral damage” from prosecutors’ pursuit of her husband; Brownlee, the former governor’s attorney, said both McDonnells — as well as the federal authorities who are prosecuting them — were victims of Williams, “the master manipulator.”</p>
<p>Attorneys for both the former governor and his wife aggressively attacked Williams’ credibility, saying that the account he provided to law enforcement officials had shifted several times and that he was testifying only because he was given immunity from prosecution. They said that investigators were probing a $10 million stock fraud in which Williams may have played a role and that he was lying about the McDonnells to avoid charges.</p>
<p>Aber, the prosecutor, acknowledged that Williams had lied at first to investigators — by asserting that he was a personal friend of the McDonnells’ and that his gifts came with no strings attached. But she said Williams was now telling the truth in exchange for immunity. She disputed the idea of some personal connection between Williams and Maureen McDonnell.</p>
<p>“This was always just a business relationship,” Aber said, “nothing more.”</p>
<p>She told the jurors that they would hear directly from Williams. “Mr. Williams is going to tell you that what he and the McDonnells were doing was wrong and that’s why he tried to hide it,” Aber said.</p>
<p>The defense case, as outlined Tuesday, contains other elements. Burck told jurors that Maureen McDonnell genuinely believed in Williams’s product, and in “nutraceuticals” generally, in part because of a breast cancer scare she had as a teenager. He also told jurors about Mary-Shea Sutherland, Maureen McDonnell’s former chief of staff, who he noted accepted gifts from Williams, helped Williams arrange a mansion event, and remains uncharged. He stressed that Maureen McDonnell, unlike Sutherland, was not a public official and could not be held accountable as such.</p>
<p>The attorneys questioned three prosecution witnesses Tuesday, and the judge told jurors to return at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday to continue hearing testimony from Williams’ longtime assistant.</p>
<p>Questioned on his way out of the courthouse about the harrowing day, Robert McDonnell said: “I love my children very much. I’m sorry they’re having to go through this.”</p>
<p>– – –</p>
<p>Washington Post staff writer Justin Jouvenal contributed to this report.</p>
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maureen mcdonnells intense even romantic interest jonnie williams sr helps explain let pay expensive shopping trips vacations family promoted nutritional supplement trying sell defense attorneys said opening statements hatching scheme husband get rich abusing prestige governors office rather woman broken marriage craved attention jonnie williams larger life maureen mcdonnell said william burck maureen mcdonnells lead defense attorney unlike man life jonnie williams paid attention maureen mcdonnell governor defense attorneys said honest public servant promised williams nothing consequence said would take witness stand proclaim innocence even required lay bare familys troubles discuss wifes dealings another man former virginia gov bob mcdonnell leaves federal courthouse richmond va lawyer john l brownlee second day wife maureens corruption trial tuesday alexa welch edlundrichmond timesdispatchap bob mcdonnell innocent man said john brownlee one lead defense attorneys said client intended promote virginia company great lengths prosecutors gone prove otherwise including flying california interview former presidential candidate mitt romney unsuccessful advertisement bob mcdonnell eats virginia ham drinks virginia wine guess man smoked hed smoke virginia cigarettes brownlee said salacious assertions marriage trials first day testimony previewed shaping deeply personal emotional affair later day cailin mcdonnell young one mcdonnells daughters cried softly witness stand prosecutor showed photos young womans wedding prosecutor highlighted various items wedding services others paid including catering bill eventually footed williams engraved silver picture frames guests young said donated state del david ramadan rloudoun wedding rings dress worth 1000 young said put 43 toward young said retrospect regretted accepted items wished husband paid small backyard affair insisted two always planned wedding black cloud cant look back happy memory said catering bill among first gifts williams mcdonnell family part corruption case young testified williams offered pay reception meeting 10 15 minutes ran businessman wife dinner parents governors mansion receiving gift said added businessman guest list event former virginia first lady maureen mcdonnell center flanked daughters rachel mcdonnell left cailin young right arrive federal courthouse richmond va monday first day jury selection corruption trial former gov bob mcdonnell wife joe mahoneythe associated press january robert maureen mcdonnell charged 14count indictment lending prestige governors office williams star scientific company ran return 150000 cash loans vacations golf outings luxury goods laying prosecutors case couple assistant us attorney jessica aber said robert mcdonnell afforded williams described vitamin salesman unusual official privileges exchange largesse advertisement aber said mcdonnell requested highranking health official meet williams less 12 hours notice allowed williams invite doctors mansion event showed jurors photo emailed maureen mcdonnell showing governor tan smiling behind wheel williams ferrari top wind mussing hair mr mcdonnells subordinates researchers citizens virginia one knew really going aber said defense attorneys launched vigorous creative counterattack said prosecutors must prove mcdonnells conspired together williams state couples marriage conspiracy impossible burck said former staff member referred williams maureen mcdonnells favorite playmate defense attorney said might view relationship inappropriate noted pair exchanged 1200 texts phone calls period covered indictment mcdonnells contrast barely speaking terms said brownlee robert mcdonnells defense attorney said maureen mcdonnell told husband hated complained particular enough money said robert mcdonnell would read aloud jurors intimate email appealed wife help save marriage said plea fell upon blind eyes deaf ears night received maureen mcdonnell distracted interests couples problems created rift wide outsider case another man could invade poison marriage brownlee said sure defense attorneys asserted maureen mcdonnell williams fully romantic sexual relationship burck said client suffering collateral damage prosecutors pursuit husband brownlee former governors attorney said mcdonnells well federal authorities prosecuting victims williams master manipulator attorneys former governor wife aggressively attacked williams credibility saying account provided law enforcement officials shifted several times testifying given immunity prosecution said investigators probing 10 million stock fraud williams may played role lying mcdonnells avoid charges aber prosecutor acknowledged williams lied first investigators asserting personal friend mcdonnells gifts came strings attached said williams telling truth exchange immunity disputed idea personal connection williams maureen mcdonnell always business relationship aber said nothing told jurors would hear directly williams mr williams going tell mcdonnells wrong thats tried hide aber said defense case outlined tuesday contains elements burck told jurors maureen mcdonnell genuinely believed williamss product nutraceuticals generally part breast cancer scare teenager also told jurors maryshea sutherland maureen mcdonnells former chief staff noted accepted gifts williams helped williams arrange mansion event remains uncharged stressed maureen mcdonnell unlike sutherland public official could held accountable attorneys questioned three prosecution witnesses tuesday judge told jurors return 930 wednesday continue hearing testimony williams longtime assistant questioned way courthouse harrowing day robert mcdonnell said love children much im sorry theyre go washington post staff writer justin jouvenal contributed report
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<p>As the political temperature in this election year rises, the public’s trust in government has fallen to historic lows. According to Gallup, in the 1960s more than 75% of Americans said they trusted the federal government “to do the right thing just about always” or “most of the time.” As of September 2011, asking the same question, CNN found only 15% of Americans agreed.</p>
<p>No doubt many factors contribute to this downward trend, not least the troubled economy. Nevertheless, it is striking that the decline of trust coincides with the rise of partisan polarization in government. Few scholars dispute that the degree of partisan polarization in the House and Senate today is greater than at any time in the past fifty years.</p>
<p>Once upon a time Congress had an influential center with Republicans and Democrats building coalitions on major policies. For example, with a Democratic President and Congress, half of House Republicans and 40% of Senate Republicans voted for the creation of Medicare in 1965. 82% of Senate Republicans and 80% of House Republicans voted for the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964, along with more than 60% of Democrats.</p>
<p>But as the parties have realigned based on ideology, the center has disappeared. Roll-call voting analysis shows that now the most conservative Democrat in Congress is more liberal than the most moderate Republican. The decline of the Blue Dog Democrats, Olympia Snowe’s announced departure, and Richard Lugar’s recent primary election defeat display the parties’ continuing ideological purification.</p>
<p>Although the center has disappeared from Congress, it has not disappeared from the public. According to the American National Election Studies and the General Social Survey, about 40% of the public consistently identifies itself as “moderate” or declines to label itself either liberal or conservative. Furthermore, Gallup finds that twice as many Americans say it is more important for political leaders to “compromise” than to “stick to their principles.” In other words, much of the public is looking for solutions, not ideological purity. The result is what political scientist Morris Fiorina calls a “disconnect.”</p>
<p>While the degree of disconnect is the subject of scholarly debate, two leading analysts, Pietro Nivola and William Galston, summarize the situation in Red and Blue Nation (2006): “Complex methodological debates…cloud the conclusions we feel confident about drawing from these data. Suffice it to say that there has not been a huge swing away from the center since the 1970s.” They add: “No knowledgeable observer doubts that the American public is less divided than the political agitators and vocal office-seekers who claim to represent it.”</p>
<p>Why would a high degree of partisan polarization in government contribute to a decline in trust by the public?</p>
<p>First is a problem of policy. In a strongly polarized Congress, legislative initiatives come from the poles rather than the center, practically guaranteeing distrust by adherents of the opposite pole and by moderates.</p>
<p>Second is a problem of process. Party leaders reward loyalty and punish working across party lines. Those who repeatedly transgress–like Democrats Evan Bayh, Joe Lieberman, and Ron Wyden and Republicans Robert Bennett, Olympia Snowe and Richard Lugar–are marginalized by party leadership and risk primary election challenges from a relatively small but fervent ideological base. Much of the public sees that the enforcement of orthodoxy blocks practical problem solving. It sees that attempts to combine ideas from both sides are discouraged. And it sees that true deliberation is sacrificed to party-line mantras (job-killing tax hikes vs. unfair tax breaks, etc.).</p>
<p>A third factor that generates distrust of government to “do the right thing” is the failure to do anything at all. Stalemate on big issues is the most prominent product of our highly polarized government. We face persistently low growth and high joblessness, historically high debt and deficits, and a deteriorating transportation infrastructure. Tax reform cries out for attention. Immigration and energy policy need action. Yet our elected representatives retreat behind partisan lines, as if only one side has all the answers. Most people know that is not the case anywhere in life and certainly not in Congress. The result is cynicism—and lack of trust.</p>
<p>The Holy Grail for a political party is to win a mandate—control of the presidency and both houses of Congress—with a sixty-vote majority in the Senate. But such a mandate will not solve the trust problem. More likely it will lead to overreach and reaction. This was the case in 2008 when the sweeping Democratic victory led to major legislation (health care reform, financial industry reform, stimulus spending) passed along party lines followed by the reversal of fortune in the 2010 elections. Republicans running Ohio and Wisconsin experienced the same reaction to overreach as a result of their 2010 “mandates.”</p>
<p>The only way to solve the trust problem is to provide incentives for a center to form again in Congress. Opportunities include electoral reforms (non-partisan redistricting, open primary elections, appointment of independents to electoral commissions) and reform of Congressional rules (to loosen the rigid grip of partisan leaders over the legislative process).</p>
<p>The center need not be a muddled middle. Rather, the center in Congress is positioned to produce a powerful blend of the best ideas from any source and thereby put conflict at the service of solutions rather than party advantage.</p>
<p>Jonathan Lippincott and his wife, Nancy Lippincott, teach a course called “The High Cost of Bipartisanship” at the University of Cincinnati’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, which led to his drafting this piece.</p>
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political temperature election year rises publics trust government fallen historic lows according gallup 1960s 75 americans said trusted federal government right thing always time september 2011 asking question cnn found 15 americans agreed doubt many factors contribute downward trend least troubled economy nevertheless striking decline trust coincides rise partisan polarization government scholars dispute degree partisan polarization house senate today greater time past fifty years upon time congress influential center republicans democrats building coalitions major policies example democratic president congress half house republicans 40 senate republicans voted creation medicare 1965 82 senate republicans 80 house republicans voted landmark civil rights act 1964 along 60 democrats parties realigned based ideology center disappeared rollcall voting analysis shows conservative democrat congress liberal moderate republican decline blue dog democrats olympia snowes announced departure richard lugars recent primary election defeat display parties continuing ideological purification although center disappeared congress disappeared public according american national election studies general social survey 40 public consistently identifies moderate declines label either liberal conservative furthermore gallup finds twice many americans say important political leaders compromise stick principles words much public looking solutions ideological purity result political scientist morris fiorina calls disconnect degree disconnect subject scholarly debate two leading analysts pietro nivola william galston summarize situation red blue nation 2006 complex methodological debatescloud conclusions feel confident drawing data suffice say huge swing away center since 1970s add knowledgeable observer doubts american public less divided political agitators vocal officeseekers claim represent would high degree partisan polarization government contribute decline trust public first problem policy strongly polarized congress legislative initiatives come poles rather center practically guaranteeing distrust adherents opposite pole moderates second problem process party leaders reward loyalty punish working across party lines repeatedly transgresslike democrats evan bayh joe lieberman ron wyden republicans robert bennett olympia snowe richard lugarare marginalized party leadership risk primary election challenges relatively small fervent ideological base much public sees enforcement orthodoxy blocks practical problem solving sees attempts combine ideas sides discouraged sees true deliberation sacrificed partyline mantras jobkilling tax hikes vs unfair tax breaks etc third factor generates distrust government right thing failure anything stalemate big issues prominent product highly polarized government face persistently low growth high joblessness historically high debt deficits deteriorating transportation infrastructure tax reform cries attention immigration energy policy need action yet elected representatives retreat behind partisan lines one side answers people know case anywhere life certainly congress result cynicismand lack trust holy grail political party win mandatecontrol presidency houses congresswith sixtyvote majority senate mandate solve trust problem likely lead overreach reaction case 2008 sweeping democratic victory led major legislation health care reform financial industry reform stimulus spending passed along party lines followed reversal fortune 2010 elections republicans running ohio wisconsin experienced reaction overreach result 2010 mandates way solve trust problem provide incentives center form congress opportunities include electoral reforms nonpartisan redistricting open primary elections appointment independents electoral commissions reform congressional rules loosen rigid grip partisan leaders legislative process center need muddled middle rather center congress positioned produce powerful blend best ideas source thereby put conflict service solutions rather party advantage jonathan lippincott wife nancy lippincott teach course called high cost bipartisanship university cincinnatis osher lifelong learning institute led drafting piece
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<p>WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump’s national security adviser and Russia’s ambassador to the U.S. have been in frequent contact in recent weeks, including on the day the Obama administration hit Moscow with sanctions in retaliation for election-related hacking, a senior U.S. official said Friday.</p>
<p>After initially denying that Michael Flynn and Ambassador Sergey Kislyak spoke Dec. 29, a Trump official said late Friday that the transition team was aware of one call on the day President Barack Obama imposed sanctions.</p>
<p>It’s not unusual for incoming administrations to have discussions with foreign governments before taking office. But repeated contacts just as Obama imposed sanctions would raise questions about whether Trump’s team discussed — or even helped shape — Russia’s response.</p>
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<p>Russian President Vladimir Putin unexpectedly did not retaliate against the U.S. for the move, a decision Trump quickly praised.</p>
<p>More broadly, Flynn’s contact with the Russian ambassador suggests the incoming administration has already begun to lay the groundwork for its promised closer relationship with Moscow. That effort appears to be moving ahead, even as many in Washington, including Republicans, have expressed outrage over intelligence officials’ assessment that Putin launched a hacking operation aimed at meddling in the U.S. election to benefit Trump.</p>
<p>In an interview published Friday evening by The Wall Street Journal, Trump said he might do away with Obama’s sanctions if Russia works with the U.S. on battling terrorists and achieving other goals.</p>
<p>“If Russia is really helping us, why would anybody have sanctions?” he asked.</p>
<p>During a news conference Wednesday, Trump highlighted his warmer rapport with the Russian leader.</p>
<p>“If Putin likes Donald Trump, I consider that an asset, not a liability, because we have a horrible relationship with Russia,” he said.</p>
<p>The sanctions targeted the GRU and FSB, leading Russian intelligence agencies that the U.S. said were involved in the hacking of the Democratic National Committee and other groups. The U.S. also kicked out 35 Russian diplomats who it said were actually intelligence operatives.</p>
<p>Trump has been willing to insert himself into major foreign policy issues during the transition, at times contradicting the current administration and diplomatic protocol.</p>
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<p>He accepted a call from Taiwan’s president, ignoring the longstanding “One China” policy that does not recognize the island’s sovereignty. Asked about that Friday by the Journal, he responded, “Everything is under negotiation.”</p>
<p>He also publicly urged the U.S. to veto a United Nations Security Council resolution condemning Israeli settlements, then slammed the Obama administration for abstaining and allowing the measure to pass.</p>
<p>Questions about Trump’s friendly posture toward Russia have deepened since the election, as he has dismissed U.S. intelligence agencies’ assertions about Russia’s role in the hacking of Democratic groups. In briefing Trump on their findings, intelligence officials also presented the president-elect with unsubstantiated claims that Russia had amassed compromising personal and financial allegations about him, according to a separate U.S. official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the official was not allowed to publicly discuss the matter.</p>
<p>The Senate Intelligence Committee announced late Friday that it would investigate possible contacts between Russia and people associated with U.S. political campaigns as part of a broader investigation into Moscow’s meddling in the 2016 presidential election.</p>
<p>Trump acknowledged for the first time this week that he accepts that Russia was behind the hacking. But he questioned whether officials were leaking information about their meetings with him, warning that would be a “tremendous blot” on their record.</p>
<p>Flynn’s own ties with Russia have worried some Republicans who are more skeptical of the Kremlin than Trump appears to be. After leaving his position as director of the Defense Intelligence Agency in 2014, Flynn made appearances on RT, a state-run Russian television network. In 2015, he was paid to attend an RT gala in Moscow, where he sat next to Putin.</p>
<p>As national security adviser, Flynn will work in the West Wing close to the Oval Office and will have frequent access to Trump. Unlike Trump’s nominees to lead the Pentagon, State Department and other national security agencies, Flynn’s post does not require Senate confirmation.</p>
<p>Flynn’s contacts with the Russian ambassador were first reported by Washington Post columnist David Ignatius. The U.S. official who spoke to The Associated Press was not authorized to confirm the contacts publicly and insisted on anonymity.</p>
<p>The Trump team’s account of Flynn’s contacts with the Russian envoy changed throughout the day Friday.</p>
<p>Trump spokesman Sean Spicer initially said there was one phone call between Flynn and Kislyak on Dec. 28, as well as a Christmas greeting via text messages over the holidays. He said sanctions were not part of the discussions.</p>
<p>Later Friday, a transition official said Flynn and Kislyak had spoken by phone on Dec. 29, following a text message from the ambassador the day before. During the call, the Russian ambassador invited U.S. officials to a conference on Syria later this month that is being held in Kazakhstan, according to the transition official, who was not authorized to publicly discuss the matter and insisted on anonymity.</p>
<p>The official also confirmed a phone call between the men earlier in December.</p>
<p>The U.S. official who spoke to the AP Friday described the contacts between Flynn and Kislyak as “very frequent.”</p>
<p>It’s unclear how U.S. officials became aware of the contacts between Flynn and Kislyak, who has served as Russia’s envoy to the U.S. since 2008. U.S. monitoring of Russian officials’ communication within the United States is known to be common.</p>
<p>Flynn has spoken with other foreign officials since Trump won the November election, as have incoming White House senior advisers Steve Bannon and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said he saw nothing inappropriate in Trump’s transition team contacting Russian or any other foreign officials.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>AP writers Jonathan Lemire in New York and Bradley Klapper in Washington contributed to this report.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Follow Julie Pace at <a href="http://twitter.com/jpaceDC" type="external">http://twitter.com/jpaceDC</a></p>
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washington presidentelect donald trumps national security adviser russias ambassador us frequent contact recent weeks including day obama administration hit moscow sanctions retaliation electionrelated hacking senior us official said friday initially denying michael flynn ambassador sergey kislyak spoke dec 29 trump official said late friday transition team aware one call day president barack obama imposed sanctions unusual incoming administrations discussions foreign governments taking office repeated contacts obama imposed sanctions would raise questions whether trumps team discussed even helped shape russias response advertisement russian president vladimir putin unexpectedly retaliate us move decision trump quickly praised broadly flynns contact russian ambassador suggests incoming administration already begun lay groundwork promised closer relationship moscow effort appears moving ahead even many washington including republicans expressed outrage intelligence officials assessment putin launched hacking operation aimed meddling us election benefit trump interview published friday evening wall street journal trump said might away obamas sanctions russia works us battling terrorists achieving goals russia really helping us would anybody sanctions asked news conference wednesday trump highlighted warmer rapport russian leader putin likes donald trump consider asset liability horrible relationship russia said sanctions targeted gru fsb leading russian intelligence agencies us said involved hacking democratic national committee groups us also kicked 35 russian diplomats said actually intelligence operatives trump willing insert major foreign policy issues transition times contradicting current administration diplomatic protocol advertisement accepted call taiwans president ignoring longstanding one china policy recognize islands sovereignty asked friday journal responded everything negotiation also publicly urged us veto united nations security council resolution condemning israeli settlements slammed obama administration abstaining allowing measure pass questions trumps friendly posture toward russia deepened since election dismissed us intelligence agencies assertions russias role hacking democratic groups briefing trump findings intelligence officials also presented presidentelect unsubstantiated claims russia amassed compromising personal financial allegations according separate us official spoke condition anonymity official allowed publicly discuss matter senate intelligence committee announced late friday would investigate possible contacts russia people associated us political campaigns part broader investigation moscows meddling 2016 presidential election trump acknowledged first time week accepts russia behind hacking questioned whether officials leaking information meetings warning would tremendous blot record flynns ties russia worried republicans skeptical kremlin trump appears leaving position director defense intelligence agency 2014 flynn made appearances rt staterun russian television network 2015 paid attend rt gala moscow sat next putin national security adviser flynn work west wing close oval office frequent access trump unlike trumps nominees lead pentagon state department national security agencies flynns post require senate confirmation flynns contacts russian ambassador first reported washington post columnist david ignatius us official spoke associated press authorized confirm contacts publicly insisted anonymity trump teams account flynns contacts russian envoy changed throughout day friday trump spokesman sean spicer initially said one phone call flynn kislyak dec 28 well christmas greeting via text messages holidays said sanctions part discussions later friday transition official said flynn kislyak spoken phone dec 29 following text message ambassador day call russian ambassador invited us officials conference syria later month held kazakhstan according transition official authorized publicly discuss matter insisted anonymity official also confirmed phone call men earlier december us official spoke ap friday described contacts flynn kislyak frequent unclear us officials became aware contacts flynn kislyak served russias envoy us since 2008 us monitoring russian officials communication within united states known common flynn spoken foreign officials since trump november election incoming white house senior advisers steve bannon jared kushner trumps soninlaw state department spokesman mark toner said saw nothing inappropriate trumps transition team contacting russian foreign officials ___ ap writers jonathan lemire new york bradley klapper washington contributed report ___ follow julie pace httptwittercomjpacedc
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<p>Albuquerque Police Department officers listen to speakers during the first of 10 community meetings to gather ideas on reforming the department Tuesday at the Convention Center in Downtown Albuquerque. (Adolphe Pierre-Louis/Albuquerque Journal)</p>
<p>Public discourse concerning the shootings by Albuquerque Police Department officers has been going on for years.</p>
<p>For a time, the discussion mainly involved relatives of those who were shot, some community activists and the local ACLU – although covered extensively by the news media.</p>
<p>But this serious problem started stretching over years and came to a head after the March 16 fatal shooting of James Boyd, a mentally ill and homeless man who was camping illegally in the Sandia foothills. A look at the fire damage in the Rio Grande bosque caused by illegal camping is enough to show that Boyd could not continue living in the tinder-dry foothills, but some of the police officers who responded were at minimum inept and at maximum criminal in their attempts to remove him.</p>
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<p>You might call Boyd’s killing the last straw, but in tribute to the use of video and audio recordings of police activities, it’s unlikely much would have happened were it not for the crystal-clear police helmet cam footage that documented the shooting and became a worldwide Internet phenomenon.</p>
<p>Since the Boyd shooting, the discussion has gone through stages, much like grief, ranging from uninhibited outrage (loud street protests to the takeover of a City Council meeting) to official, nonpublic negotiations toward a consent decree between the city and the Department of Justice (after the agency issued a report that accused APD of unconstitutional policing and abuse of force).</p>
<p>Now, the city is attempting to enter a third phase by organizing and formalizing the public discussion into something more productive and quantifiable than shouting down city councilors or standing silent before them.</p>
<p>The city of Albuquerque is spending $150,000 to conduct 10 community meetings – the first session was held Tuesday – coordinated by the city’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Office and its Office of Diversity and Human Rights and run by several independently contracted professional facilitators and mediators.</p>
<p>According to the city’s Sunshine Portal, it has standing two-year contracts with 10 facilitators, including the lead facilitator of this effort, Kathleen Oweegan.</p>
<p>Oweegan is the founder of Bridges of Peace in New Mexico and consults globally on conflict resolution. Her city contract is for work up to $40,000, including other issues. The University of New Mexico will be compiling the results of the community forums into a usable form.</p>
<p>The strategy for the meetings is to break whoever shows up into small groups for discussion followed by full-group meetings. The first of these meetings will be from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Oct. 27 at the North Domingo Baca Multigenerational Center, 7521 Carmel NE.</p>
<p>Mayor Richard Berry says the city hopes to use the combined results of these forums as well as other meetings with interest groups and the DOJ consent decree in an action plan for APD reform that city residents can get behind.</p>
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<p>And all these meetings and talk will mean nothing more than Kumbaya if they are not put together in a meaningful form.</p>
<p>But considering all the crowds and noise after the Boyd shooting, Tuesday’s introductory meeting was a disappointment.</p>
<p>Fewer than 100 people attended, and a large number of them – at least two dozen by my count – were APD brass in full uniform, which the mayor said demonstrated APD’s commitment to having a dialogue with the community and improving the department.</p>
<p>The officers were attentive during the meeting, didn’t appear to flinch when a few critical comments were made and stuck around after the night’s agenda to talk with anyone who wanted to.</p>
<p>So give them credit. They showed up.</p>
<p>But when you add in the facilitators, the mayor, Council President Ken Sanchez, Police Chief Gorden Eden, the journalists covering it and the city employees running the sound equipment and taking care of hospitality (coffee and cookies), it’s likely that half of the people had an employment or official reason for being there.</p>
<p>Most of the remaining people appeared to be late middle age and older and, if I may say so, white. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. Every city resident has the right – no, the responsibility – to take part in the reform of the Police Department. It’s good there are at least some people who want to become involved in serious dialogue.</p>
<p>In contrast, hundreds of local business men and women attended a panel discussion on APD organized by the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce just the day before. And they had to pay to attend this luncheon. Tuesday night, even Convention Center parking was free.</p>
<p>Police reform is an issue that begs for community input, and if the facilitators are worth their salt this series of meetings could play a role in the long, hard climb it will take to restore public confidence in the Police Department and eventually free APD from likely and expensive DOJ oversight.</p>
<p>But except for a few relatives of people who died in police shootings, this audience didn’t reflect the faces in the many photographs taken of the crowds protesting on the streets or in council meetings.</p>
<p>I guess shouting, carrying signs and being part of the crowd is a lot more fun than sitting down for meaningful and respectful dialogue.</p>
<p>But it isn’t very productive.</p>
<p>UpFront is a daily front-page news and opinion column. Comment directly to editorial page editor Dan Herrera at 823-3810 or <a href="" type="internal">[email protected]</a>. Go to <a href="" type="internal">ABQjournal.com/letters/new</a> to submit a letter to the editor.</p>
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albuquerque police department officers listen speakers first 10 community meetings gather ideas reforming department tuesday convention center downtown albuquerque adolphe pierrelouisalbuquerque journal public discourse concerning shootings albuquerque police department officers going years time discussion mainly involved relatives shot community activists local aclu although covered extensively news media serious problem started stretching years came head march 16 fatal shooting james boyd mentally ill homeless man camping illegally sandia foothills look fire damage rio grande bosque caused illegal camping enough show boyd could continue living tinderdry foothills police officers responded minimum inept maximum criminal attempts remove advertisement might call boyds killing last straw tribute use video audio recordings police activities unlikely much would happened crystalclear police helmet cam footage documented shooting became worldwide internet phenomenon since boyd shooting discussion gone stages much like grief ranging uninhibited outrage loud street protests takeover city council meeting official nonpublic negotiations toward consent decree city department justice agency issued report accused apd unconstitutional policing abuse force city attempting enter third phase organizing formalizing public discussion something productive quantifiable shouting city councilors standing silent city albuquerque spending 150000 conduct 10 community meetings first session held tuesday coordinated citys alternative dispute resolution office office diversity human rights run several independently contracted professional facilitators mediators according citys sunshine portal standing twoyear contracts 10 facilitators including lead facilitator effort kathleen oweegan oweegan founder bridges peace new mexico consults globally conflict resolution city contract work 40000 including issues university new mexico compiling results community forums usable form strategy meetings break whoever shows small groups discussion followed fullgroup meetings first meetings 6 pm 9 pm oct 27 north domingo baca multigenerational center 7521 carmel ne mayor richard berry says city hopes use combined results forums well meetings interest groups doj consent decree action plan apd reform city residents get behind advertisement meetings talk mean nothing kumbaya put together meaningful form considering crowds noise boyd shooting tuesdays introductory meeting disappointment fewer 100 people attended large number least two dozen count apd brass full uniform mayor said demonstrated apds commitment dialogue community improving department officers attentive meeting didnt appear flinch critical comments made stuck around nights agenda talk anyone wanted give credit showed add facilitators mayor council president ken sanchez police chief gorden eden journalists covering city employees running sound equipment taking care hospitality coffee cookies likely half people employment official reason remaining people appeared late middle age older may say white theres anything wrong every city resident right responsibility take part reform police department good least people want become involved serious dialogue contrast hundreds local business men women attended panel discussion apd organized greater albuquerque chamber commerce day pay attend luncheon tuesday night even convention center parking free police reform issue begs community input facilitators worth salt series meetings could play role long hard climb take restore public confidence police department eventually free apd likely expensive doj oversight except relatives people died police shootings audience didnt reflect faces many photographs taken crowds protesting streets council meetings guess shouting carrying signs part crowd lot fun sitting meaningful respectful dialogue isnt productive upfront daily frontpage news opinion column comment directly editorial page editor dan herrera 8233810 dherreraabqjournalcom go abqjournalcomlettersnew submit letter editor
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<p>WASHINGTON — The Environmental Protection Agency is touting cleanups at seven of the nation’s most polluted places as a signature accomplishment in the Trump administration’s effort to reduce the number of Superfund sites, even though records show the physical work was completed before President Donald Trump took office.</p>
<p>The agency earlier this week credited the leadership of EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt with tripling the number of sites fully or partially removed from the Superfund’s National Priorities List in 2017, compared with the two sites taken off in the Obama administration’s last year.</p>
<p>“We have made it a priority to get these sites cleaned up faster and in the right way,” said Pruitt.</p>
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<p>He said that, with the agency’s moves to create a task force and make those responsible for contamination pay for cleanup, “the Superfund program is carrying out the agency’s mission of protecting human health and the environment more every day.”</p>
<p>Cleanups of Superfund sites usually take decades, spanning presidential administrations. An analysis of EPA records by The Associated Press shows that overall the seven Superfund sites delisted last year fell short of the average pace set under both the administrations of Barack Obama and George W. Bush, even in their opening years.</p>
<p>All told, EPA averaged delisting more than 10 sites a year under the eight years Obama was in the White House. EPA under Bush delisted nearly 18 sites on average annually during his two terms.</p>
<p>Still, the EPA said Pruitt’s initiatives had resulted in “significant improvement.”</p>
<p>EPA declined Friday to provide details of procedural changes under Pruitt that led to the seven sites being delisted faster.</p>
<p>“In 2016, President Obama’s EPA cleaned up two Superfund sites, but rather than cherry-pick individual years, it would only be fair to judge us upon the completion of our tenure,” said Jahan Wilcox, an EPA spokesman. “Under Administrator Pruitt’s leadership, we’ve completed the cleanup of seven toxic land sites and this is just the beginning.”</p>
<p>Records show that construction work at all seven sites hyped by Pruitt’s EPA, such as removing soil or drilling wells to suck out contaminated groundwater, was completed years before Pruitt was confirmed as the agency’s chief in February. Removing sites from the list is a procedural step that occurs after monitoring data show that remaining levels of harmful contaminates meet cleanup targets, which were often set by EPA decades ago.</p>
<p>Further, entries in the U.S. Federal Register showed that EPA announced its move in 2016 to withdraw four of the seven sites — the Ellisville Site in Missouri, the Omaha Lead site in Nebraska, North Penn in Pennsylvania and the Perdido Groundwater Contamination site in Alabama. The planned deletions of two others, the Shpack Landfill in Massachusetts and the Mystery Bridge site in Wyoming, were announced prior to Pruitt’s May 22 directive establishing the Superfund task force.</p>
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<p>Notice of EPA’s intent to remove the last of the seven sites, Nutting Truck &amp; Caster Co. in Minnesota, was Aug. 21.</p>
<p>There are currently more than 1,300 Superfund sites on EPA’s National Priorities List at various stages in the cleanup process, and sites are routinely added to or deleted from the list each year. Sites are fully deleted after contamination is addressed across an entire property, often a former industrial site. Partial deletions occur when part of a larger site is cleaned up, but work remains to be completed on other sections.</p>
<p>Sites removed from the list are sometimes clean enough to be used for new housing or commercial development, though many still have levels of contamination that require deed restrictions on how the land can be used in the future.</p>
<p>Pruitt, a former Oklahoma attorney general who has moved to roll back dozens of EPA regulations intended to reduce future pollution, has said increasing the number of sites deleted from the priority list and cleared for redevelopment will be a focus of the agency under his watch. To lead his task force on the issue, Pruitt tapped Albert “Kell” Kelly, a former Oklahoma bank executive who now serves as a senior adviser at EPA, despite having no prior experience as an environmental regulator.</p>
<p>A former EPA official said the agency’s work was underway before Pruitt acted. “The agency was already doing what’s in the task force report,” said Phyllis Anderson, former associate director of the EPA division that manages Superfund cleanups. She retired in 2013 after 30 years at the agency, serving in Republican and Democratic administrations.</p>
<p>Records show the Bush administration’s higher count of delistings was largely the result of work EPA completed in the 1990s, when federal spending on Superfund cleanups was roughly twice what it is now.</p>
<p>President Donald Trump’s proposed 2018 budget seeks to cut the Superfund program by 30 percent, though Congress has not yet approved a budget for the year. Pruitt says he will accomplish more with less money through better management.</p>
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<p>Dearen reported from Gainesville, Florida.</p>
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<p>Follow Biesecker at <a href="http://twitter.com/mbieseck" type="external">http://twitter.com/mbieseck</a> and Dearen at <a href="http://www.twitter.com/JHDearen" type="external">http://www.twitter.com/JHDearen</a></p>
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washington environmental protection agency touting cleanups seven nations polluted places signature accomplishment trump administrations effort reduce number superfund sites even though records show physical work completed president donald trump took office agency earlier week credited leadership epa administrator scott pruitt tripling number sites fully partially removed superfunds national priorities list 2017 compared two sites taken obama administrations last year made priority get sites cleaned faster right way said pruitt advertisement said agencys moves create task force make responsible contamination pay cleanup superfund program carrying agencys mission protecting human health environment every day cleanups superfund sites usually take decades spanning presidential administrations analysis epa records associated press shows overall seven superfund sites delisted last year fell short average pace set administrations barack obama george w bush even opening years told epa averaged delisting 10 sites year eight years obama white house epa bush delisted nearly 18 sites average annually two terms still epa said pruitts initiatives resulted significant improvement epa declined friday provide details procedural changes pruitt led seven sites delisted faster 2016 president obamas epa cleaned two superfund sites rather cherrypick individual years would fair judge us upon completion tenure said jahan wilcox epa spokesman administrator pruitts leadership weve completed cleanup seven toxic land sites beginning records show construction work seven sites hyped pruitts epa removing soil drilling wells suck contaminated groundwater completed years pruitt confirmed agencys chief february removing sites list procedural step occurs monitoring data show remaining levels harmful contaminates meet cleanup targets often set epa decades ago entries us federal register showed epa announced move 2016 withdraw four seven sites ellisville site missouri omaha lead site nebraska north penn pennsylvania perdido groundwater contamination site alabama planned deletions two others shpack landfill massachusetts mystery bridge site wyoming announced prior pruitts may 22 directive establishing superfund task force advertisement notice epas intent remove last seven sites nutting truck amp caster co minnesota aug 21 currently 1300 superfund sites epas national priorities list various stages cleanup process sites routinely added deleted list year sites fully deleted contamination addressed across entire property often former industrial site partial deletions occur part larger site cleaned work remains completed sections sites removed list sometimes clean enough used new housing commercial development though many still levels contamination require deed restrictions land used future pruitt former oklahoma attorney general moved roll back dozens epa regulations intended reduce future pollution said increasing number sites deleted priority list cleared redevelopment focus agency watch lead task force issue pruitt tapped albert kell kelly former oklahoma bank executive serves senior adviser epa despite prior experience environmental regulator former epa official said agencys work underway pruitt acted agency already whats task force report said phyllis anderson former associate director epa division manages superfund cleanups retired 2013 30 years agency serving republican democratic administrations records show bush administrations higher count delistings largely result work epa completed 1990s federal spending superfund cleanups roughly twice president donald trumps proposed 2018 budget seeks cut superfund program 30 percent though congress yet approved budget year pruitt says accomplish less money better management ___ dearen reported gainesville florida ___ follow biesecker httptwittercommbieseck dearen httpwwwtwittercomjhdearen
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<p>SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A lawmaker who led Utah’s adoption of the strictest DUI threshold in the country said he wants to change the law next year to allow someone to fire a gun in self-defense even if their blood-alcohol level is above the new 0.05 limit.</p>
<p>Utah law now prohibits someone from carrying a dangerous weapon if their blood alcohol is above the legal limit, but Rep. Norm Thurston, R-Provo, said that even if someone’s been drinking they have a right to defend themselves.</p>
<p>Critics argue that if a person is considered intoxicated at 0.05 percent, they shouldn’t be allowed to fire a gun.</p>
<p>“If they can’t drive a car, they certainly can’t make a decision on whether it’s self-defense or not,” said Michele Corigliano, executive director Salt Lake Area Restaurant Association.</p>
<p>The strict new DUI threshold taking effect in late 2018 has already come under fire by hospitality and ski industry representatives who say it could target responsible drinkers after one alcoholic beverage.</p>
<p>Proponents of the 0.05 limit, including the National Transportation Safety Board, say people start to become impaired with a first drink and shouldn’t be driving, and the lower limit will discourage people from thinking they can drink up to a point and drive safely.</p>
<p>At a blood-alcohol content of 0.05 percent, a driver may have trouble steering and have a harder time coordinating, tracking moving objects and responding to emergencies, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.</p>
<p>The new law means a 160-pound man could be over the 0.05 limit after two drinks, while a 120-pound woman could exceed it after a single drink, according to data from the California Department of Motor Vehicles.</p>
<p>However, a number of factors, including how much a person has had to eat and how fast they’re drinking, can affect their blood alcohol levels.</p>
<p>Utah Gov. Gary Herbert signed the law this year despite the protests, but said he would call lawmakers into a special session to address unintended consequences and consider a tiered punishment.</p>
<p>But after lawmakers couldn’t come to an agreement on any changes, Herbert decided against calling them into a special session to change the law.</p>
<p>Thurston said he’s planning a handful of tweaks, including the exemption for using a weapon in self-defense, <a href="http://bit.ly/2BRfMVT" type="external">the Deseret News reported.</a></p>
<p>Thurston said he’s also considering changes to the law addressing provisional licenses, liability for establishments that serve alcohol and restrictions for those with new licenses.</p>
<p>Corigliano said the plan to allow “self-defense” for drinkers creates an exemption for “certain special interest groups.” She said her restaurant association would approve of a tiered punishment system making it a misdemeanor crime instead of a DUI to have a blood alcohol level between 0.05 percent and 0.08 percent.</p>
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<p>Information from: Deseret News, <a href="http://www.deseretnews.com" type="external" /> <a href="http://www.deseretnews.com" type="external">http://www.deseretnews.com</a></p>
<p>SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A lawmaker who led Utah’s adoption of the strictest DUI threshold in the country said he wants to change the law next year to allow someone to fire a gun in self-defense even if their blood-alcohol level is above the new 0.05 limit.</p>
<p>Utah law now prohibits someone from carrying a dangerous weapon if their blood alcohol is above the legal limit, but Rep. Norm Thurston, R-Provo, said that even if someone’s been drinking they have a right to defend themselves.</p>
<p>Critics argue that if a person is considered intoxicated at 0.05 percent, they shouldn’t be allowed to fire a gun.</p>
<p>“If they can’t drive a car, they certainly can’t make a decision on whether it’s self-defense or not,” said Michele Corigliano, executive director Salt Lake Area Restaurant Association.</p>
<p>The strict new DUI threshold taking effect in late 2018 has already come under fire by hospitality and ski industry representatives who say it could target responsible drinkers after one alcoholic beverage.</p>
<p>Proponents of the 0.05 limit, including the National Transportation Safety Board, say people start to become impaired with a first drink and shouldn’t be driving, and the lower limit will discourage people from thinking they can drink up to a point and drive safely.</p>
<p>At a blood-alcohol content of 0.05 percent, a driver may have trouble steering and have a harder time coordinating, tracking moving objects and responding to emergencies, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.</p>
<p>The new law means a 160-pound man could be over the 0.05 limit after two drinks, while a 120-pound woman could exceed it after a single drink, according to data from the California Department of Motor Vehicles.</p>
<p>However, a number of factors, including how much a person has had to eat and how fast they’re drinking, can affect their blood alcohol levels.</p>
<p>Utah Gov. Gary Herbert signed the law this year despite the protests, but said he would call lawmakers into a special session to address unintended consequences and consider a tiered punishment.</p>
<p>But after lawmakers couldn’t come to an agreement on any changes, Herbert decided against calling them into a special session to change the law.</p>
<p>Thurston said he’s planning a handful of tweaks, including the exemption for using a weapon in self-defense, <a href="http://bit.ly/2BRfMVT" type="external">the Deseret News reported.</a></p>
<p>Thurston said he’s also considering changes to the law addressing provisional licenses, liability for establishments that serve alcohol and restrictions for those with new licenses.</p>
<p>Corigliano said the plan to allow “self-defense” for drinkers creates an exemption for “certain special interest groups.” She said her restaurant association would approve of a tiered punishment system making it a misdemeanor crime instead of a DUI to have a blood alcohol level between 0.05 percent and 0.08 percent.</p>
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<p>Information from: Deseret News, <a href="http://www.deseretnews.com" type="external" /> <a href="http://www.deseretnews.com" type="external">http://www.deseretnews.com</a></p>
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salt lake city ap lawmaker led utahs adoption strictest dui threshold country said wants change law next year allow someone fire gun selfdefense even bloodalcohol level new 005 limit utah law prohibits someone carrying dangerous weapon blood alcohol legal limit rep norm thurston rprovo said even someones drinking right defend critics argue person considered intoxicated 005 percent shouldnt allowed fire gun cant drive car certainly cant make decision whether selfdefense said michele corigliano executive director salt lake area restaurant association strict new dui threshold taking effect late 2018 already come fire hospitality ski industry representatives say could target responsible drinkers one alcoholic beverage proponents 005 limit including national transportation safety board say people start become impaired first drink shouldnt driving lower limit discourage people thinking drink point drive safely bloodalcohol content 005 percent driver may trouble steering harder time coordinating tracking moving objects responding emergencies according national highway traffic safety administration new law means 160pound man could 005 limit two drinks 120pound woman could exceed single drink according data california department motor vehicles however number factors including much person eat fast theyre drinking affect blood alcohol levels utah gov gary herbert signed law year despite protests said would call lawmakers special session address unintended consequences consider tiered punishment lawmakers couldnt come agreement changes herbert decided calling special session change law thurston said hes planning handful tweaks including exemption using weapon selfdefense deseret news reported thurston said hes also considering changes law addressing provisional licenses liability establishments serve alcohol restrictions new licenses corigliano said plan allow selfdefense drinkers creates exemption certain special interest groups said restaurant association would approve tiered punishment system making misdemeanor crime instead dui blood alcohol level 005 percent 008 percent ___ information deseret news httpwwwdeseretnewscom salt lake city ap lawmaker led utahs adoption strictest dui threshold country said wants change law next year allow someone fire gun selfdefense even bloodalcohol level new 005 limit utah law prohibits someone carrying dangerous weapon blood alcohol legal limit rep norm thurston rprovo said even someones drinking right defend critics argue person considered intoxicated 005 percent shouldnt allowed fire gun cant drive car certainly cant make decision whether selfdefense said michele corigliano executive director salt lake area restaurant association strict new dui threshold taking effect late 2018 already come fire hospitality ski industry representatives say could target responsible drinkers one alcoholic beverage proponents 005 limit including national transportation safety board say people start become impaired first drink shouldnt driving lower limit discourage people thinking drink point drive safely bloodalcohol content 005 percent driver may trouble steering harder time coordinating tracking moving objects responding emergencies according national highway traffic safety administration new law means 160pound man could 005 limit two drinks 120pound woman could exceed single drink according data california department motor vehicles however number factors including much person eat fast theyre drinking affect blood alcohol levels utah gov gary herbert signed law year despite protests said would call lawmakers special session address unintended consequences consider tiered punishment lawmakers couldnt come agreement changes herbert decided calling special session change law thurston said hes planning handful tweaks including exemption using weapon selfdefense deseret news reported thurston said hes also considering changes law addressing provisional licenses liability establishments serve alcohol restrictions new licenses corigliano said plan allow selfdefense drinkers creates exemption certain special interest groups said restaurant association would approve tiered punishment system making misdemeanor crime instead dui blood alcohol level 005 percent 008 percent ___ information deseret news httpwwwdeseretnewscom
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<p>That’s the message federal health officials are trying to get out to elderly consumers confused by overlapping enrollment periods for Medicare and so-called “Obamacare.”</p>
<p>In this image made available by AARP, Wallace Cunningham, AARP South Carolina associate state director for multicultural outreach, presents a workshop on the Affordable Health Care Act on Sept. 7 in Bishopville, S.C.</p>
<p>Medicare beneficiaries don’t have to do anything differently and will continue to go to Medicare.gov to sign up for plans.</p>
<p>But advocates say many have been confused by a massive media blitz directing consumers to new online insurance exchanges set up as part of the federal health law. Many of the same insurance companies are offering coverage for Medicare and the exchanges.</p>
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<p>Medicare open enrollment starts Oct. 15 and closes Dec. 7, while enrollment for the new state exchanges for people 65 and under launches Oct. 1 and runs through March.</p>
<p>“Most seniors are not at all informed. Most seniors worry they’re going to lose their health coverage because of the law,” said Dr. Chris Lillis, a primary care physician in Fredericksburg, Virginia. “I try to speak truth from the exam room, but I think sometimes fear dominates.”</p>
<p>Next month, roughly 50 million Medicare beneficiaries will get a handbook in the mail with a prominent Q&amp;A that stresses Medicare benefits aren’t changing. Federal health officials also have updated their training for Medicare counselors, and are prepping their Medicare call center and website.</p>
<p>“We want to reassure Medicare beneficiaries that they are already covered, their benefits aren’t changing, and the marketplace doesn’t require them to do anything different,” said Julie Bataille, spokeswoman for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.</p>
<p>But she said call centers for the state exchanges are already fielding questions from Medicare recipients and rerouting them to the Medicare line.</p>
<p>Bob Roza attended several meetings trying to figure out exactly what the Affordable Care Act means for him and his 69-year-old wife Gail, who has diabetes.</p>
<p>“At that time, I didn’t know if Medicare would be secondary to some Affordable Care Act option. It was just a myriad of concerns and not knowing,” said the 72-year-old Roza, a retiree who lives in Oakdale, Calif., and is recovering from hip replacement surgery earlier this year.</p>
<p>He now knows that his Medicare coverage won’t change but says he’s now worried about the impact on the $614 a month he pays for Medicare supplemental insurance. Federal health officials said seniors will not be able to purchase Medicare supplemental insurance or Part D drug plans through the state exchanges.</p>
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<p>Jodi Reid, executive director of the California Alliance for Retired Americans, worries there hasn’t been enough outreach to seniors and that advocacy groups are spending the bulk of their advertising funds targeting those impacted by the exchange. Her organization, which represents nearly 1 million seniors in California, is putting together a one-page fact sheet to help dispel myths.</p>
<p>“Nothing has been done that I have seen to deal with the 4.4 million people in California who are on Medicare who are not going to be impacted the same way as the rest of us so it’s causing a lot of confusion,” she said.</p>
<p>AARP officials said they anticipate a spike in calls after the October launch date for the new state exchanges. To help clarify everything for seniors, the organization is holding various events around the country, such as a senior day next month at the state fair in Columbia, S.C.</p>
<p>Next month, the group is also hosting 21 telephone town halls, which will include hundreds of thousands of phone calls to seniors.</p>
<p>“Usually the marketing is just targeted to the Medicare beneficiary; this time it’s going to be spread out a little bit more. If they call the wrong places, we’re doing our very best to make sure they’re guided back to the correct place,” said Nicole Duritz, vice president of health education.</p>
<p>In Illinois, it’s not only seniors who are confused, but also the social workers who help them, said Erin Weir of AgeOptions, suburban Cook County’s lead agency on aging. The agency coordinates a statewide training program for groups that work with older adults.</p>
<p>During these trainings, Weir said, she’s repeatedly heard questions from social workers who think seniors will be able to sign up for Medicare programs on the new marketplace websites, even though they cannot.</p>
<p>“We’ve been focusing on people who are already on Medicare, calming them down and saying, ‘You don’t have to do anything, you’re fine,'” Weir said.</p>
<p>Advocates are warning of scams that may pop up alongside legitimate door-to-door outreach about the Affordable Care Act ramps up and advising seniors not to give out personal information.</p>
<p>Senior groups also are devoting resources to educating the 50- to 65-year-old group that is next in line for Medicare, a segment that could be greatly affected by the health reform.</p>
<p>Under the new law, insurers will have to offer more benefits in some cases and are restricted in how much they can charge older, sicker people. They’re also banned from turning away those with pre-existing conditions.</p>
<p>Anthony Wright, executive director of Health Access California, said many people nearing retirement age stand to benefit the most by the health care reform.</p>
<p>“They’re the ones most likely to have pre-existing conditions, most likely to be charged more because of their age and medical condition and very likely to be an early retiree,” he said.</p>
<p>Associated Press writer Carla K. Johnson in Chicago contributed to this report.</p>
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thats message federal health officials trying get elderly consumers confused overlapping enrollment periods medicare socalled obamacare image made available aarp wallace cunningham aarp south carolina associate state director multicultural outreach presents workshop affordable health care act sept 7 bishopville sc medicare beneficiaries dont anything differently continue go medicaregov sign plans advocates say many confused massive media blitz directing consumers new online insurance exchanges set part federal health law many insurance companies offering coverage medicare exchanges advertisement medicare open enrollment starts oct 15 closes dec 7 enrollment new state exchanges people 65 launches oct 1 runs march seniors informed seniors worry theyre going lose health coverage law said dr chris lillis primary care physician fredericksburg virginia try speak truth exam room think sometimes fear dominates next month roughly 50 million medicare beneficiaries get handbook mail prominent qampa stresses medicare benefits arent changing federal health officials also updated training medicare counselors prepping medicare call center website want reassure medicare beneficiaries already covered benefits arent changing marketplace doesnt require anything different said julie bataille spokeswoman centers medicare medicaid services said call centers state exchanges already fielding questions medicare recipients rerouting medicare line bob roza attended several meetings trying figure exactly affordable care act means 69yearold wife gail diabetes time didnt know medicare would secondary affordable care act option myriad concerns knowing said 72yearold roza retiree lives oakdale calif recovering hip replacement surgery earlier year knows medicare coverage wont change says hes worried impact 614 month pays medicare supplemental insurance federal health officials said seniors able purchase medicare supplemental insurance part drug plans state exchanges advertisement jodi reid executive director california alliance retired americans worries hasnt enough outreach seniors advocacy groups spending bulk advertising funds targeting impacted exchange organization represents nearly 1 million seniors california putting together onepage fact sheet help dispel myths nothing done seen deal 44 million people california medicare going impacted way rest us causing lot confusion said aarp officials said anticipate spike calls october launch date new state exchanges help clarify everything seniors organization holding various events around country senior day next month state fair columbia sc next month group also hosting 21 telephone town halls include hundreds thousands phone calls seniors usually marketing targeted medicare beneficiary time going spread little bit call wrong places best make sure theyre guided back correct place said nicole duritz vice president health education illinois seniors confused also social workers help said erin weir ageoptions suburban cook countys lead agency aging agency coordinates statewide training program groups work older adults trainings weir said shes repeatedly heard questions social workers think seniors able sign medicare programs new marketplace websites even though weve focusing people already medicare calming saying dont anything youre fine weir said advocates warning scams may pop alongside legitimate doortodoor outreach affordable care act ramps advising seniors give personal information senior groups also devoting resources educating 50 65yearold group next line medicare segment could greatly affected health reform new law insurers offer benefits cases restricted much charge older sicker people theyre also banned turning away preexisting conditions anthony wright executive director health access california said many people nearing retirement age stand benefit health care reform theyre ones likely preexisting conditions likely charged age medical condition likely early retiree said associated press writer carla k johnson chicago contributed report
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<p>The mosque, destroyed Wednesday night, would have been a symbolic prize in the fight for Iraq’s second-largest city. It was from a pulpit in that mosque that the extremists’ leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, declared a caliphate in the lands they had seized in Iraq and Syria in July 2014.</p>
<p>According to Iraqi officials, the destruction of the landmarks indicated that IS defenses are crumbling and the campaign to retake Mosul — launched more than eight months ago — is in its final stages.</p>
<p>“They knew that the battle had been decided in favor of the Iraqi forces and they knew that we were going to enter the mosque in only a few hours,” said Iraqi special forces Lt. Gen. Abdul-Wahab al-Saadi, adding that his troops were only 50 meters (yards) from the mosque site.</p>
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<p>“That’s why they exploded it,” he said.</p>
<p>Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi tweeted early Thursday that the mosque’s destruction was an admission by the militants that they are losing the fight, calling it a “formal declaration of their defeat.”</p>
<p>Inside western Mosul, residents were still reeling from the loss of the iconic structure that was blown up during the celebration of Laylat al Qadr, the holiest night of the year for Muslims.</p>
<p>The “Night of Power” commemorates when the Quran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad during the holy month of Ramadan, which is in its waning days. The minaret that leaned like Italy’s Tower of Pisa had stood in Mosul for more than 840 years and was known as al-Hadba.</p>
<p>“It is a shock, a real big shock,” Amir al-Jumaili, a professor at the Archaeology College in Mosul, told The Associated Press.</p>
<p>Mohammed Tariq al-Bayati recalled growing up next to the mosque.</p>
<p>“I was in my grandfather house. I remember we used to play under its shade,” al-Bayati said. After learning of its destruction, he said he felt like his childhood had also been demolished.</p>
<p>“It is the city’s icon, I can say that Mosul has died,” the longtime resident added.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>An IS statement posted online shortly after the destruction of the landmarks was reported by the Ministry of Defense blamed a U.S. airstrike.</p>
<p>A spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition rejected the claim. U.S. Army Col. Ryan Dillon told the AP that coalition planes “did not conduct strikes in that area at that time.”</p>
<p>IS fighters initially tried to destroy the minaret in July 2014, saying the structure contradicted their fundamentalist interpretation of Islam. Mosul residents converged on the area, however, and formed a human chain to protect it.</p>
<p>The destruction of the mosque and the leaning minaret is only the latest in a long series of priceless archaeological and cultural sites that the militants have ravaged across Iraq and Syria.</p>
<p>In addition to pillaging hundreds of treasures and artifacts, IS fighters have damaged or destroyed dozens of historic places, including the town of Palmyra in Syria, home to one of the Middle East’s most spectacular archaeological sites; the 2,000-year-old city of Hatra; and the nearly 3,000-year=old city of Nimrud in Iraq’s Euphrates River valley.</p>
<p>Earlier this month, Mosul residents reported IS fighters had begun sealing off the area around the al-Nuri Mosque. They said the militants ordered families to leave the area, likely in preparation for their final stand.</p>
<p>“This is a crime against the people of Mosul and all of Iraq, and is an example of why this brutal organization must be annihilated,” U.S. Maj. Gen. Joseph Martin, the commander of coalition ground forces in Iraq, said in a statement.</p>
<p>Patrick Martin, a research analyst with the Institute for the Study of War, suggested the move may have more to do with optics than a sign of an imminent defeat.</p>
<p>“This robs Iraqi security forces of a symbolic victory,” Martin said.</p>
<p>“Iraqi security forces capturing the building where ISIS announced the caliphate would have been a huge media win and message to Iraqis in general, so destroying the mosque robs them of that,” he added.</p>
<p>The destruction also feeds into the IS narrative that the United States and the coalition is inflicting massive destruction as they try to retake Mosul, Martin said.</p>
<p>The mosque sat at the heart of the Old City, the last IS stronghold in Mosul. Iraqi forces launched a push into the Old City earlier this week, but progress has been slow as the last militants there are holed up with an estimated 100,000 civilians, according to the United Nations.</p>
<p>The U.N. special envoy to Iraq, Jan Kubis, said the destruction “is a clear sign” of the IS group’s imminent collapse.</p>
<p>“This latest barbaric act of blowing up a historic Islamic site adds to the annals of Daesh’s crimes against Islamic, Iraqi and human civilization,” Kubis said in a statement, using another acronym for the group. “The destruction … shows their desperation and signals their end.”</p>
<p>While the destruction of the mosque demonstrates how much the security forces have achieved, Martin said, “we don’t want to lose sight of the fact that there is a lot more work to be done.” That’s a reference to the pockets of IS-held territory in Iraq and the work that lies ahead for government security forces to hold the terrain retaken from the extremists.</p>
<p>Formally launched in October, the fight for Mosul has displaced more than 850,000 people. While Iraqi forces have had periods of swift gains, combat inside the city has largely been grueling and deadly for both security forces and civilians.</p>
<p>Al-Jumaili, the archaeology professor, said he long feared the destruction of the mosque and minaret was inevitable.</p>
<p>“It was the last icon for the historic city of Mosul and a valuable symbol,” he said. “I am sure Mosul residents could not sleep last night.”</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Salaheddin reported from Baghdad. Associated Press writer Lolita Baldor in Washington contributed.</p>
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mosque destroyed wednesday night would symbolic prize fight iraqs secondlargest city pulpit mosque extremists leader abu bakr albaghdadi declared caliphate lands seized iraq syria july 2014 according iraqi officials destruction landmarks indicated defenses crumbling campaign retake mosul launched eight months ago final stages knew battle decided favor iraqi forces knew going enter mosque hours said iraqi special forces lt gen abdulwahab alsaadi adding troops 50 meters yards mosque site advertisement thats exploded said prime minister haider alabadi tweeted early thursday mosques destruction admission militants losing fight calling formal declaration defeat inside western mosul residents still reeling loss iconic structure blown celebration laylat al qadr holiest night year muslims night power commemorates quran revealed prophet muhammad holy month ramadan waning days minaret leaned like italys tower pisa stood mosul 840 years known alhadba shock real big shock amir aljumaili professor archaeology college mosul told associated press mohammed tariq albayati recalled growing next mosque grandfather house remember used play shade albayati said learning destruction said felt like childhood also demolished citys icon say mosul died longtime resident added advertisement statement posted online shortly destruction landmarks reported ministry defense blamed us airstrike spokesman usled coalition rejected claim us army col ryan dillon told ap coalition planes conduct strikes area time fighters initially tried destroy minaret july 2014 saying structure contradicted fundamentalist interpretation islam mosul residents converged area however formed human chain protect destruction mosque leaning minaret latest long series priceless archaeological cultural sites militants ravaged across iraq syria addition pillaging hundreds treasures artifacts fighters damaged destroyed dozens historic places including town palmyra syria home one middle easts spectacular archaeological sites 2000yearold city hatra nearly 3000yearold city nimrud iraqs euphrates river valley earlier month mosul residents reported fighters begun sealing area around alnuri mosque said militants ordered families leave area likely preparation final stand crime people mosul iraq example brutal organization must annihilated us maj gen joseph martin commander coalition ground forces iraq said statement patrick martin research analyst institute study war suggested move may optics sign imminent defeat robs iraqi security forces symbolic victory martin said iraqi security forces capturing building isis announced caliphate would huge media win message iraqis general destroying mosque robs added destruction also feeds narrative united states coalition inflicting massive destruction try retake mosul martin said mosque sat heart old city last stronghold mosul iraqi forces launched push old city earlier week progress slow last militants holed estimated 100000 civilians according united nations un special envoy iraq jan kubis said destruction clear sign groups imminent collapse latest barbaric act blowing historic islamic site adds annals daeshs crimes islamic iraqi human civilization kubis said statement using another acronym group destruction shows desperation signals end destruction mosque demonstrates much security forces achieved martin said dont want lose sight fact lot work done thats reference pockets isheld territory iraq work lies ahead government security forces hold terrain retaken extremists formally launched october fight mosul displaced 850000 people iraqi forces periods swift gains combat inside city largely grueling deadly security forces civilians aljumaili archaeology professor said long feared destruction mosque minaret inevitable last icon historic city mosul valuable symbol said sure mosul residents could sleep last night ___ salaheddin reported baghdad associated press writer lolita baldor washington contributed
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<p>TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) - An anti-graft body backed by the Organization of American States (OAS) on Wednesday accused the Honduran congress of blocking its investigations into a corruption racket that allegedly involves lawmakers and high-level officials.</p>
<p>The OAS Mission to Support the Fight Against Corruption and Impunity in Honduras (MACCIH), unveiled by the Central American nation’s President Juan Orlando Hernandez in 2015, said that a recently passed law will prevent the prosecutor’s office from investigating and charging dozens of possible suspects involved in a graft scheme.</p>
<p>“We don’t understand how it’s possible a law has been passed that seeks to maintain impunity and handicap the battle against corruption,” MACCIH’s Peruvian spokesman, Juan Jimenez, said at a news conference on Wednesday morning.</p>
<p>He added that the new legislation will affect “current and future” probes.</p>
<p>That argument gained steam in the afternoon, when a judge applied the law to acquit five Honduran lawmakers who had been accused of diverting public funds intended for social programs.</p>
<p>“In the morning we brought this up, and it’s happened just like we said,” Jimenez wrote in a Twitter post after the five were released from custody.</p>
<p>The case will now move to a fiscal tribunal.</p>
<p>Heide Fulton, the U.S. chargé d’affaires in Honduras, also decried the measure.</p>
<p>“This action is a monumental step backward in the fight against corruption. Congress must act now to right this dangerous wrong,” she wrote in a Twitter post.</p>
<p>Honduras has been roiled by deadly protests following a disputed Nov. 26 election, which the center-left opposition has accused Hernandez of stealing. The OAS comments reveal the many hurdles to overcome for the poor, graft-riddled country with one of the world’s highest murder rates.</p>
<p>MACCIH has been involved in helping the Honduran prosecutor’s office investigate a 2011-2015 embezzlement scheme that diverted 1.3 billion lempiras ($55 million) destined for social funds, allegedly with the help of more than 60 lawmakers and high-ranking officials.</p>
<p>Jimenez said allies of the president in Congress are among the suspects, adding that the new law would paralyze investigations for three years while the government’s financial authorities trace the diverted funds.</p>
<p>In response, the Congress said in a statement that Jimenez’s comments were “malicious,” adding that the law sought to encourage transparency.</p>
<p>The president’s office did not immediately respond to MACCIH’s comments.</p>
<p>Reporting by Gustavo Palencia; Writing by Gabriel Stargardter and Daina Beth Solomon; Editing by Lisa Shumaker and Cynthia Osterman</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Defense Secretary Jim Mattis defended U.S. military support to Saudi Arabian-led coalition forces in Yemen on Thursday as he explained a personal appeal to lawmakers who are considering whether to end Washington’s involvement in the devastating conflict.</p> FILE PHOTO: U.S. Defense Secretary&#160;James Mattis testifies about authorizations for the use of military force before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S. October 30, 2017. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo
<p>The Trump administration has been warning Saudi Arabia since last year that concern in Congress over the humanitarian situation in Yemen, including civil casualties in the war, could constrain U.S. assistance.</p>
<p>Since it began in 2015, the conflict has killed more than 10,000 people, displaced more than 2 million and driven Yemen –already the poorest country on the Arabian Peninsula – to the verge of widespread famine.</p>
<p>Mattis said the U.S. assistance, which includes limited intelligence support and refueling of coalition jets, was ultimately aimed at bringing the war toward a negotiated, U.N.-brokered resolution.</p>
<p>“We need to get this to a negotiated settlement, and we believe our policy right now is correct for doing this,” Mattis told reporters, as he flew back to Washington from the Middle East.</p>
<p>A bipartisan group of senators, Republican Mike Lee, independent Bernie Sanders and Democrat Chris Murphy, are attempting to take advantage of a provision in the 1973 war powers act that allows any senator to introduce a resolution on whether to withdraw U.S. armed forces from a conflict not authorized by Congress.</p>
<p>Their resolution would force Trump “to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities in or affecting the Republic of Yemen,” except operations against al Qaeda or associated forces. Those are authorized under a 2001 congressional authorization.</p>
<p>Their action is the latest salvo in an ongoing battle between the U.S. Congress and the White House over control of military conflicts.</p>
<p>In a March 14 letter to Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, and copied to other lawmakers, Mattis described the U.S. assistance as “non-combat support” focused on helping reduce the risk of civilian casualties.</p>
<p>“New restrictions on this limited U.S. military support could increase civilian casualties, jeopardize cooperation with our partners on counter-terrorism and reduce our influence with the Saudis - all of which would further exacerbate the situation and humanitarian crisis,” Mattis wrote.</p>
<p>Mattis also warned that a withdrawal would embolden the Iran-aligned Houthi rebels, who have fired missiles at Saudi Arabia and targeted commercial and military vessels off Yemen’scoast.</p>
<p>Lawmakers have argued for years that Congress has ceded too much authority over the military to the White House. Under the Constitution, Congress – not the president – has the authority to declare war.</p>
<p>But divisions over how much control they should exert over the president have stymied efforts to pass new war authorizations.</p>
<p>Reporting by Phil Stewart; Editing by Leslie Adler</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>RIYADH (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia will develop nuclear weapons if its arch-rival Iran does so, the kingdom’s crown prince said in remarks released on Thursday, raising the prospect of a nuclear arms race in a region already riven with conflict.</p> FILE PHOTO: The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman arrives at Lambeth Palace, London, Britain, March 8, 2018. REUTERS/Yui Mok/Pool
<p>“Saudi Arabia does not want to acquire any nuclear bomb, but without a doubt if Iran developed a nuclear bomb, we will follow suit as soon as possible,” Prince Mohammed bin Salman told CBS in an interview that will air in full on Sunday.</p>
<p>The Sunni Muslim kingdom has been at loggerheads with revolutionary Shi’ite Iran for decades. The countries have fought a long-running proxy war in the Middle East and beyond, backing rival sides in armed conflicts and political crises including in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen.</p>
<p>He downplayed Iran’s power during the interview, saying that Iran was far from being a rival to Saudi Arabia.</p>
<p>Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi reacted harshly, saying the Saudi crown prince was a “delusional naive person” who has no idea of politics, Iranian state TV reported on Thursday.</p>
<p>“He has no idea of politics apart from bitter talk that emanates from a lack of foresight ... His remarks do not deserve a response, because he is a delusional, naive person, who never talks, but with lies and bitterness,” Qasemi said.</p>
<p>Prince Mohammed, who also serves as Saudi defence minister, said last year that the kingdom would make sure any future struggle between the two countries “is waged in Iran”, prompting Iranian threats to hit back at most of Saudi Arabia except the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.</p>
<p>Riyadh has criticised the 2015 deal between world powers and Tehran under which economic sanctions on Iran were lifted in return for the Islamic Republic curbing its nuclear energy program. U.S. sanctions will resume unless President Donald Trump issues fresh “waivers” to suspend them on May 12.</p>
<p>The comments by Prince Mohammed, who at 32 is heir to the throne, also have implications for Israel, another U.S. ally which neither confirms nor denies the widespread assumption that it controls the Middle East’s only nuclear arsenal.</p>
<p>Israel has long argued that, should Iran develop nuclear weapons, it would trigger similar projects among the Persian power’s Arab rivals and further destabilise the region.</p>
<p>It has never joined the 1970 nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and has said it would consider inspections and controls under the NPT only if was at peace with its Arab neighbours and Iran.</p> CIVILIAN PROGRAMME
<p>Saudi Arabia is stepping up plans to develop a civilian nuclear energy capability as part of a reform plan led by Prince Mohammed to reduce the economy’s dependence on oil.</p>
<p>The world’s top oil exporter has previously said it wants nuclear technology only for peaceful uses but has left unclear whether it also wants to enrich uranium to produce nuclear fuel, a process which can also be used in the production of atomic weapons.</p>
<p>The United States, South Korea, Russia, France and China are bidding on a multi-billion dollar tender to build the country’s first two nuclear reactors.</p>
<p>Prince Mohammed’s comments, ahead of a trip to the United States next week, could impact the bid by a consortium that includes Toshiba-owned Westinghouse.</p>
<p>U.S. companies can usually transfer nuclear technology to another country only if the United States has signed an agreement with that country ruling out domestic uranium enrichment and the preprocessing of spent nuclear fuel — steps that can have military uses.</p>
<p>In previous talks, Saudi Arabia has refused to sign up to any agreement that would deprive it of the possibility of one day enriching uranium.</p>
<p>Reactors need uranium enriched to around five percent purity but the same technology in this process can also be used to enrich the heavy metal to a higher, weapons-grade level. This has been at the heart of Western and regional concerns over the nuclear work of Iran, Saudi Arabia’s arch-rival which enriches uranium domestically.</p>
<p>Riyadh approved a national policy for its atomic energy programme on Tuesday, including limiting all nuclear activities to peaceful purposes, within the limits defined by international treaties.</p>
<p>Reporting By Stephen Kalin, Parisa Hafezi, Editing by Hugh Lawson and William Maclean</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>NEW DELHI/SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Boeing Co, considered the frontrunner in the race to supply the Indian navy with new fighter jets, is now in contention for a much bigger $15 billion order after the government abruptly asked the air force to consider the twin-engine planes.</p> FILE PHOTO: A test pilot stands near a F/A-18 Super Hornet aircraft on display ahead of the "Aero India 2011" at Yelahanka air force station on the outskirts of Bangalore February 8, 2011. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo
<p>Until recently, Lockheed Martin Corp’s F-16 and Saab AB’s Gripen were in a two-horse race supply at least 100 single-engine jets to build up the Indian Air Force’s fast-depleting combat fleet.</p>
<p>Both had offered to build the planes in India in collaboration with local companies as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s drive to build a domestic industrial base and cut back on arms imports.</p>
<p>But last month the government asked the air force to open up the competition to twin-engine aircraft and to evaluate Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet, a defense ministry source said. That jet is a finalist for the Indian navy’s $8 billion to $9 billion contract for 57 fighters.</p>
<p>The defense ministry plans to within weeks issue a request for information (RFI), the first stage of a procurement process, for a fighter to be built in India. The competition will be open to both single and twin-engine jets, the official said, but both Lockheed and Saab said they had not been informed about the new requirements.</p>
<p>The latest change of heart is a major opportunity for Boeing, whose only foreign Super Hornet customer so far is the Royal Australian Air Force.</p>
<p>It also illustrates how dysfunctional the weapons procurement process and arms industry are in the world’s second-most-populous country. The need for new fighters has been known for nearly 15 years, but after many announcements, twists and turns, the country’s air force has only three-quarters of the aircraft it needs.</p>
<p>An indigenous light combat aircraft, the Tejas, is still not operational, 35 years after it was first proposed. &#160;</p>
<p>An Indian Air Force source said fighter procurement was urgent: the branch’s operational strength has fallen to just 33 squadrons, its weakest level in four decades, as it decommissions Soviet-era MiG-21s.</p>
<p>“The IAF wants the RFI issued within weeks and get the process started,” said the source, who declined to be identified because he was not authorized to speak to the media. “The problem is that government keeps shifting what it wants.”</p> A PRESSING NEED
<p>Over the next decade, 13 more squadrons will be retired as their aircraft age out of service, parliament’s standing committee on defense said in a December report.</p>
<p>The defense ministry declined to comment on the air force’s aircraft modernization program, saying it was not in a position to do so.</p>
<p>Lockheed, which had offered to shift its F-16 production line in Fort Worth, Texas, to India, said it had not been told of any change to the Indian plan for single-engine fighters.</p>
<p>“Our proposed F-16 partnership with India stands firm,” the company said in an email. Last year it picked Tata Advanced Systems as its local partner and said it was in talks with dozens of firms to build up the supplier network.</p>
<p>“The Government of India has not yet issued formal requirements but we are continuing to support government-to-government discussions and engage with Indian companies about F-16 industrial opportunities,” Lockheed said.</p>
<p>Sweden’s Saab was also caught off guard.</p>
<p>“We have seen the reports in the Indian media, but no new formal communication has been made to us regarding the fighter program,” said Rob Hewson, Saab Asia Pacific’s head of communications.</p>
<p>France’s Dassault Systemes SE’s Rafale, the Eurofighter Typhoon and Russian aircraft are also potential contenders under the new requirements, the air force source and industry analysts said.</p>
<p>Admiral Harry Harris, the head of U.S. Pacific Command, told the U.S. House Armed Services Committee last month that India was considering the stealthy F-35, among other options. But the Indian air force said no request had been made to Lockheed for even a briefing on the aircraft.</p>
<p>An order the size of India’s is rare. The only comparable opportunity for the Super Hornet is Canada’s request for 88 fighters, which could be worth as much as $14.6 billion.</p>
<p>The Indian air force competition has echoes of a 2007 tender for 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft, for which Dassault was selected for exclusive negotiations. But the talks quickly bogged down over local production and prices, and in the end, the government ordered just 36 Rafales in 2016 for $8.7 billion.</p> LOCAL FIGHTER
<p>The air force ideally would like a combination of lighter single-engine and twin-engine jets, as well as stealthy aircraft, but cannot afford such a range of foreign systems, analysts said.</p>
<p>A twin-engine foreign fighter would perhaps offer the best value while the Tejas finishes development, they said.</p>
<p>India’s annual defense capital procurement budget of $14 billion to $15 billion has to be spread over the army, navy, air force and the indigenous defense research organization. &#160;</p>
<p>“The operational costs are going up with increased manpower, higher wages and general inflation.&#160;Ministry of Defence doesn’t have the luxury to go for too many platforms despite the rapidly falling squadron strength of the air force,” said Amber Dubey, partner and India head of aerospace and defense at global consultancy KPMG.</p>
<p>Boeing India President Pratyush Kumar said the company was ready to respond to any request from the air force.</p>
<p>“We will follow the MoD’s lead on their process and will be responsive to their needs if we are asked to provide any information,” he said.</p>
<p>Kumar said Boeing was committed to building the planes in India and had offered to help with India’s plans to develop its own advanced medium combat aircraft.</p>
<p>But the experience with the Rafale contract has made experts skeptical that the latest tender will proceed as planned.</p>
<p>Richard A. Bitzinger, visiting senior fellow at Singapore’s S.Rajaratnam School of International Studies, said he did not expect a resolution in even the next two to three years.</p>
<p>“I am never surprised by what the Indians do when it comes to their procurement tenders. They are constantly changing the rules, changing their minds, and often even cancelling orders mid-way through,” he said.</p>
<p>“The Indians have a remarkable knack for snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.”</p>
<p>Reporting by Sanjeev Miglani and Jamie Freed; Editing by Gerry Doyle</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>ROME (Reuters) - The United Nations agency that helps Palestinian refugees said on Thursday it had received new cash pledges to enable it to keep working for a few more months, but warned its long-term outlook remains in doubt.</p> A Palestinian woman sits in her house at Shati refugee camp in Gaza City March 14, 2018. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem
<p>The U.N. Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) is looking to cover an estimated $446 million budget shortfall that was largely caused by President Donald Trump’s abrupt decision in January to effectively freeze U.S. aid to the Palestinians.</p>
<p>A donors’ conference in Rome drew promises from countries around the world of additional funds of some $100 million, leaving UNWRA with a uphill task to keep its core education, healthcare and food security services afloat.</p>
<p>“A very important first stop was reached today, but a long way is in front of us,” U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres told reporters after the meeting.</p>
<p>“If UNWRA did not exist, if its services were not provided, the security of the region would be undermined,” he added.</p>
<p>Washington donates about $350 million a year to UNRWA, which was founded in 1949 to aid Palestinian refugees, but so far this year has handed over $60 million. U.N. officials fear they might not receive any more from the United States in 2018.</p>
<p>Trump said in January the United States would only give aid if the Palestinians agreed to renew peace talks with Israel. The talks have been frozen since 2014, and with no negotiations in sight, envoys from around 70 countries and organizations met in Rome to discuss the funding crisis.</p>
<p>Going into the meeting, UNRWA Commissioner-General Pierre Krähenbühl had warned his organization would run out of funds in May. The new pledges gave the agency a bit more breathing room.</p>
<p>“It will last us a couple of months more into the middle or beginning of the summer,” he said. “We need to be optimistic.”</p> A Palestinian woman prepares food for cooking in her house at Shati refugee camp in Gaza City March 14, 2018. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem
<p>Among the countries that had offered more money were France, Qatar, Canada, Switzerland, Turkey, New Zealand, Norway, South Korea, Mexico, South Korea, Slovakia and India, he said, without giving any further details.</p> HUMANITARIAN CRISIS
<p>UNRWA operates in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, in Gaza, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan. It runs 710 schools, its doctors carry out a total 9 million consultancies a year and it feeds some 1.7 million people – mostly in the Gaza Strip.</p> Slideshow (5 Images)
<p>Palestinians say funding cuts would especially impact Gaza, an impoverished, Islamist-ruled enclave blockaded by Israel and Egypt where half of its 2 million population rely on humanitarian aid and where the jobless rate is 46 percent.</p>
<p>Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has voiced measured support for the U.S. fund cut, but also appeared to acknowledge it could leave Israel - which maintains tight restrictions on the movement of people and goods across the Gaza border – facing a potential humanitarian crisis on its doorstep.</p>
<p>A diplomat in Rome, who declined to be named, warned that UNRWA’s woes could persuade hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to try to come to Europe, possibly exacerbating the EU immigration crisis.</p>
<p>The United States has traditionally provided around 30 percent of UNRWA’s funding, helping to cement Washington’s predominant role as the chief negotiator between the Palestinians and Israelis.</p>
<p>Since taking office last year, Trump has keenly embraced Israel, delighting Netanyahu by pledging to move the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, angering Palestinians who want to share the city with the Israelis as their future capital.</p>
<p>By contrast, in a tweet in January, Trump accused the Palestinians of showing “no appreciation or respect” and criticized them for shunning peace talks.</p>
<p>The Palestinians have said negotiations are pointless until Israel halts building Jewish settlements on occupied territory. Netanyahu has said talks should resume without preconditions.</p>
<p>Reporting by Crispian Balmer; Editing by Mark Heinrich</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
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tegucigalpa reuters antigraft body backed organization american states oas wednesday accused honduran congress blocking investigations corruption racket allegedly involves lawmakers highlevel officials oas mission support fight corruption impunity honduras maccih unveiled central american nations president juan orlando hernandez 2015 said recently passed law prevent prosecutors office investigating charging dozens possible suspects involved graft scheme dont understand possible law passed seeks maintain impunity handicap battle corruption maccihs peruvian spokesman juan jimenez said news conference wednesday morning added new legislation affect current future probes argument gained steam afternoon judge applied law acquit five honduran lawmakers accused diverting public funds intended social programs morning brought happened like said jimenez wrote twitter post five released custody case move fiscal tribunal heide fulton us chargé daffaires honduras also decried measure action monumental step backward fight corruption congress must act right dangerous wrong wrote twitter post honduras roiled deadly protests following disputed nov 26 election centerleft opposition accused hernandez stealing oas comments reveal many hurdles overcome poor graftriddled country one worlds highest murder rates maccih involved helping honduran prosecutors office investigate 20112015 embezzlement scheme diverted 13 billion lempiras 55 million destined social funds allegedly help 60 lawmakers highranking officials jimenez said allies president congress among suspects adding new law would paralyze investigations three years governments financial authorities trace diverted funds response congress said statement jimenezs comments malicious adding law sought encourage transparency presidents office immediately respond maccihs comments reporting gustavo palencia writing gabriel stargardter daina beth solomon editing lisa shumaker cynthia osterman standards thomson reuters trust principles washington reuters defense secretary jim mattis defended us military support saudi arabianled coalition forces yemen thursday explained personal appeal lawmakers considering whether end washingtons involvement devastating conflict file photo us defense secretary160james mattis testifies authorizations use military force senate foreign relations committee capitol hill washington us october 30 2017 reutersjonathan ernstfile photo trump administration warning saudi arabia since last year concern congress humanitarian situation yemen including civil casualties war could constrain us assistance since began 2015 conflict killed 10000 people displaced 2 million driven yemen already poorest country arabian peninsula verge widespread famine mattis said us assistance includes limited intelligence support refueling coalition jets ultimately aimed bringing war toward negotiated unbrokered resolution need get negotiated settlement believe policy right correct mattis told reporters flew back washington middle east bipartisan group senators republican mike lee independent bernie sanders democrat chris murphy attempting take advantage provision 1973 war powers act allows senator introduce resolution whether withdraw us armed forces conflict authorized congress resolution would force trump remove united states armed forces hostilities affecting republic yemen except operations al qaeda associated forces authorized 2001 congressional authorization action latest salvo ongoing battle us congress white house control military conflicts march 14 letter senate majority leader mitch mcconnell copied lawmakers mattis described us assistance noncombat support focused helping reduce risk civilian casualties new restrictions limited us military support could increase civilian casualties jeopardize cooperation partners counterterrorism reduce influence saudis would exacerbate situation humanitarian crisis mattis wrote mattis also warned withdrawal would embolden iranaligned houthi rebels fired missiles saudi arabia targeted commercial military vessels yemenscoast lawmakers argued years congress ceded much authority military white house constitution congress president authority declare war divisions much control exert president stymied efforts pass new war authorizations reporting phil stewart editing leslie adler standards thomson reuters trust principles riyadh reuters saudi arabia develop nuclear weapons archrival iran kingdoms crown prince said remarks released thursday raising prospect nuclear arms race region already riven conflict file photo crown prince saudi arabia mohammed bin salman arrives lambeth palace london britain march 8 2018 reutersyui mokpool saudi arabia want acquire nuclear bomb without doubt iran developed nuclear bomb follow suit soon possible prince mohammed bin salman told cbs interview air full sunday sunni muslim kingdom loggerheads revolutionary shiite iran decades countries fought longrunning proxy war middle east beyond backing rival sides armed conflicts political crises including iraq syria lebanon yemen downplayed irans power interview saying iran far rival saudi arabia irans foreign ministry spokesman bahram qasemi reacted harshly saying saudi crown prince delusional naive person idea politics iranian state tv reported thursday idea politics apart bitter talk emanates lack foresight remarks deserve response delusional naive person never talks lies bitterness qasemi said prince mohammed also serves saudi defence minister said last year kingdom would make sure future struggle two countries waged iran prompting iranian threats hit back saudi arabia except holy cities mecca medina riyadh criticised 2015 deal world powers tehran economic sanctions iran lifted return islamic republic curbing nuclear energy program us sanctions resume unless president donald trump issues fresh waivers suspend may 12 comments prince mohammed 32 heir throne also implications israel another us ally neither confirms denies widespread assumption controls middle easts nuclear arsenal israel long argued iran develop nuclear weapons would trigger similar projects among persian powers arab rivals destabilise region never joined 1970 nuclear nonproliferation treaty npt said would consider inspections controls npt peace arab neighbours iran civilian programme saudi arabia stepping plans develop civilian nuclear energy capability part reform plan led prince mohammed reduce economys dependence oil worlds top oil exporter previously said wants nuclear technology peaceful uses left unclear whether also wants enrich uranium produce nuclear fuel process also used production atomic weapons united states south korea russia france china bidding multibillion dollar tender build countrys first two nuclear reactors prince mohammeds comments ahead trip united states next week could impact bid consortium includes toshibaowned westinghouse us companies usually transfer nuclear technology another country united states signed agreement country ruling domestic uranium enrichment preprocessing spent nuclear fuel steps military uses previous talks saudi arabia refused sign agreement would deprive possibility one day enriching uranium reactors need uranium enriched around five percent purity technology process also used enrich heavy metal higher weaponsgrade level heart western regional concerns nuclear work iran saudi arabias archrival enriches uranium domestically riyadh approved national policy atomic energy programme tuesday including limiting nuclear activities peaceful purposes within limits defined international treaties reporting stephen kalin parisa hafezi editing hugh lawson william maclean standards thomson reuters trust principles new delhisingapore reuters boeing co considered frontrunner race supply indian navy new fighter jets contention much bigger 15 billion order government abruptly asked air force consider twinengine planes file photo test pilot stands near fa18 super hornet aircraft display ahead aero india 2011 yelahanka air force station outskirts bangalore february 8 2011 reutersstringerfile photo recently lockheed martin corps f16 saab abs gripen twohorse race supply least 100 singleengine jets build indian air forces fastdepleting combat fleet offered build planes india collaboration local companies part prime minister narendra modis drive build domestic industrial base cut back arms imports last month government asked air force open competition twinengine aircraft evaluate boeings fa18 super hornet defense ministry source said jet finalist indian navys 8 billion 9 billion contract 57 fighters defense ministry plans within weeks issue request information rfi first stage procurement process fighter built india competition open single twinengine jets official said lockheed saab said informed new requirements latest change heart major opportunity boeing whose foreign super hornet customer far royal australian air force also illustrates dysfunctional weapons procurement process arms industry worlds secondmostpopulous country need new fighters known nearly 15 years many announcements twists turns countrys air force threequarters aircraft needs indigenous light combat aircraft tejas still operational 35 years first proposed 160 indian air force source said fighter procurement urgent branchs operational strength fallen 33 squadrons weakest level four decades decommissions sovietera mig21s iaf wants rfi issued within weeks get process started said source declined identified authorized speak media problem government keeps shifting wants pressing need next decade 13 squadrons retired aircraft age service parliaments standing committee defense said december report defense ministry declined comment air forces aircraft modernization program saying position lockheed offered shift f16 production line fort worth texas india said told change indian plan singleengine fighters proposed f16 partnership india stands firm company said email last year picked tata advanced systems local partner said talks dozens firms build supplier network government india yet issued formal requirements continuing support governmenttogovernment discussions engage indian companies f16 industrial opportunities lockheed said swedens saab also caught guard seen reports indian media new formal communication made us regarding fighter program said rob hewson saab asia pacifics head communications frances dassault systemes ses rafale eurofighter typhoon russian aircraft also potential contenders new requirements air force source industry analysts said admiral harry harris head us pacific command told us house armed services committee last month india considering stealthy f35 among options indian air force said request made lockheed even briefing aircraft order size indias rare comparable opportunity super hornet canadas request 88 fighters could worth much 146 billion indian air force competition echoes 2007 tender 126 medium multirole combat aircraft dassault selected exclusive negotiations talks quickly bogged local production prices end government ordered 36 rafales 2016 87 billion local fighter air force ideally would like combination lighter singleengine twinengine jets well stealthy aircraft afford range foreign systems analysts said twinengine foreign fighter would perhaps offer best value tejas finishes development said indias annual defense capital procurement budget 14 billion 15 billion spread army navy air force indigenous defense research organization 160 operational costs going increased manpower higher wages general inflation160ministry defence doesnt luxury go many platforms despite rapidly falling squadron strength air force said amber dubey partner india head aerospace defense global consultancy kpmg boeing india president pratyush kumar said company ready respond request air force follow mods lead process responsive needs asked provide information said kumar said boeing committed building planes india offered help indias plans develop advanced medium combat aircraft experience rafale contract made experts skeptical latest tender proceed planned richard bitzinger visiting senior fellow singapores srajaratnam school international studies said expect resolution even next two three years never surprised indians comes procurement tenders constantly changing rules changing minds often even cancelling orders midway said indians remarkable knack snatching defeat jaws victory reporting sanjeev miglani jamie freed editing gerry doyle standards thomson reuters trust principles rome reuters united nations agency helps palestinian refugees said thursday received new cash pledges enable keep working months warned longterm outlook remains doubt palestinian woman sits house shati refugee camp gaza city march 14 2018 reutersmohammed salem un relief works agency unrwa looking cover estimated 446 million budget shortfall largely caused president donald trumps abrupt decision january effectively freeze us aid palestinians donors conference rome drew promises countries around world additional funds 100 million leaving unwra uphill task keep core education healthcare food security services afloat important first stop reached today long way front us un secretary general antonio guterres told reporters meeting unwra exist services provided security region would undermined added washington donates 350 million year unrwa founded 1949 aid palestinian refugees far year handed 60 million un officials fear might receive united states 2018 trump said january united states would give aid palestinians agreed renew peace talks israel talks frozen since 2014 negotiations sight envoys around 70 countries organizations met rome discuss funding crisis going meeting unrwa commissionergeneral pierre krähenbühl warned organization would run funds may new pledges gave agency bit breathing room last us couple months middle beginning summer said need optimistic palestinian woman prepares food cooking house shati refugee camp gaza city march 14 2018 reutersmohammed salem among countries offered money france qatar canada switzerland turkey new zealand norway south korea mexico south korea slovakia india said without giving details humanitarian crisis unrwa operates israelioccupied west bank gaza syria lebanon jordan runs 710 schools doctors carry total 9 million consultancies year feeds 17 million people mostly gaza strip slideshow 5 images palestinians say funding cuts would especially impact gaza impoverished islamistruled enclave blockaded israel egypt half 2 million population rely humanitarian aid jobless rate 46 percent israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu voiced measured support us fund cut also appeared acknowledge could leave israel maintains tight restrictions movement people goods across gaza border facing potential humanitarian crisis doorstep diplomat rome declined named warned unrwas woes could persuade hundreds thousands palestinians try come europe possibly exacerbating eu immigration crisis united states traditionally provided around 30 percent unrwas funding helping cement washingtons predominant role chief negotiator palestinians israelis since taking office last year trump keenly embraced israel delighting netanyahu pledging move us embassy israel jerusalem angering palestinians want share city israelis future capital contrast tweet january trump accused palestinians showing appreciation respect criticized shunning peace talks palestinians said negotiations pointless israel halts building jewish settlements occupied territory netanyahu said talks resume without preconditions reporting crispian balmer editing mark heinrich standards thomson reuters trust principles
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<p>NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Riley LaChance spent a lot of time in the gym over the past week shooting free throws and working on his shot after missing three late in a <a href="https://collegebasketball.ap.org/article/no-21-kentucky-wildcats-win-2nd-straight-beats-vandy-74-67" type="external">loss to Kentucky.</a></p>
<p>The Vanderbilt senior got a chance at a bit of redemption Saturday afternoon and didn't miss.</p>
<p>LaChance hit two free throws with 2:01 left to put Vanderbilt ahead to stay, and the Commodores snapped a <a href="https://twitter.com/VandyMBB/status/954807204820942848" type="external">four-game skid</a> by beating LSU 77-71.</p>
<p>"He wishes he had shots back against Kentucky our last home game, and he has been in the gym," <a href="https://twitter.com/TeresaMWalker/status/954812745584660480" type="external">Vanderbilt coach Bryce Drew said of LaChance.</a> "He has been focused and mentally he's been in a really, really good place. And it was great to see him want the ball down the stretch and wanting to get to the free throw line."</p>
<p>The Commodores (7-12, 2-5 Southeastern Conference) watched a 16-point lead in the second half disappear as they played a second straight game without their second-leading scorer Matthew Fisher-Davis.</p>
<p>LSU took its only lead at 65-64 with 2:21 left on a bucket by Duop Reath. But LaChance hit his free throws as Vanderbilt finished the game 9 of 11 at the line. Freshman Saben Lee hit a jumper with 47.6 seconds left to pad the lead as he scored 10 of his 12 points in the final 6:48 to help Vandy pull out the win.</p>
<p>"If he can help us close out games like that, hopefully we can win a few more of these close ones," Drew said of Lee.</p>
<p>LaChance finished with 26 points. Jeff Roberson had 20 for Vanderbilt.</p>
<p>After missing the free throws against Kentucky, LaChance got some tips and worked in the gym. A career 84.2 percent shooter, he hit all six at the line against LSU.</p>
<p>"My teammates and coaches, they kept just preaching to me that they had confidence in me, so it was nice to make some plays at the end," LaChance said.</p>
<p>Reath finished with a career-high 31 points and had 13 rebounds for LSU (11-7, 2-4). Skylar Mays added 13. Tremont Waters, LSU's leading scorer averaging 16.3 points a game, was held to just seven with Lee guarding him.</p>
<p>"He took that challenge to heart and did a nice job on Tre and did a good job at keeping him out of the out of the paint best he could and keep him moving side to side instead of north-south," LSU coach Will Wade said.</p>
<p>LaChance capped a 12-2 run with his fourth 3-pointer, giving Vandy its biggest lead of the game at 46-30 with 16:54 left.</p>
<p>LSU whittled away at Vandy's lead and used an 8-0 run to pull within 56-54 on a bucket by Reath with 8:55 left to set up the thrilling finish.</p>
<p>The Tigers came in as the SEC's top-shooting team averaging 49.4 percent. But they couldn't have been much colder in the opening minutes as they missed seven of their first eight shots. They tied it up only once at 15, and the Commodores led 34-28 at halftime.</p>
<p>BIG PICTURE</p>
<p>LSU: The Tigers now have lost two straight with this their first SEC road loss. ... The Tigers didn't move the ball around much with just seven assists on 27 made baskets. ... The Tigers outrebounded Vandy 38-33.</p>
<p>Vanderbilt: The Commodores improved to 2-11 against teams in the NCAA Top 100 RPI. They also beat LSU at Memorial Gym for the first time since Feb. 8, 2012. ... Even with Reath dominating inside, the Commodores were outscored only 34-30 in the paint.</p>
<p>FISHER-DAVIS UPDATE</p>
<p>Drew said the senior guard, who hurt his right shoulder in the loss to Kentucky, and his parents will be meeting with doctors to go over test results to decide what's next.</p>
<p>UP NEXT</p>
<p>LSU: Hosts Texas A&amp;M on Tuesday night.</p>
<p>Vanderbilt: Visits Tennessee on Tuesday night.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>More AP college basketball: www.collegebasketball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Follow Teresa M. Walker at www.twitter.com/teresamwalker</p>
<p>NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Riley LaChance spent a lot of time in the gym over the past week shooting free throws and working on his shot after missing three late in a <a href="https://collegebasketball.ap.org/article/no-21-kentucky-wildcats-win-2nd-straight-beats-vandy-74-67" type="external">loss to Kentucky.</a></p>
<p>The Vanderbilt senior got a chance at a bit of redemption Saturday afternoon and didn't miss.</p>
<p>LaChance hit two free throws with 2:01 left to put Vanderbilt ahead to stay, and the Commodores snapped a <a href="https://twitter.com/VandyMBB/status/954807204820942848" type="external">four-game skid</a> by beating LSU 77-71.</p>
<p>"He wishes he had shots back against Kentucky our last home game, and he has been in the gym," <a href="https://twitter.com/TeresaMWalker/status/954812745584660480" type="external">Vanderbilt coach Bryce Drew said of LaChance.</a> "He has been focused and mentally he's been in a really, really good place. And it was great to see him want the ball down the stretch and wanting to get to the free throw line."</p>
<p>The Commodores (7-12, 2-5 Southeastern Conference) watched a 16-point lead in the second half disappear as they played a second straight game without their second-leading scorer Matthew Fisher-Davis.</p>
<p>LSU took its only lead at 65-64 with 2:21 left on a bucket by Duop Reath. But LaChance hit his free throws as Vanderbilt finished the game 9 of 11 at the line. Freshman Saben Lee hit a jumper with 47.6 seconds left to pad the lead as he scored 10 of his 12 points in the final 6:48 to help Vandy pull out the win.</p>
<p>"If he can help us close out games like that, hopefully we can win a few more of these close ones," Drew said of Lee.</p>
<p>LaChance finished with 26 points. Jeff Roberson had 20 for Vanderbilt.</p>
<p>After missing the free throws against Kentucky, LaChance got some tips and worked in the gym. A career 84.2 percent shooter, he hit all six at the line against LSU.</p>
<p>"My teammates and coaches, they kept just preaching to me that they had confidence in me, so it was nice to make some plays at the end," LaChance said.</p>
<p>Reath finished with a career-high 31 points and had 13 rebounds for LSU (11-7, 2-4). Skylar Mays added 13. Tremont Waters, LSU's leading scorer averaging 16.3 points a game, was held to just seven with Lee guarding him.</p>
<p>"He took that challenge to heart and did a nice job on Tre and did a good job at keeping him out of the out of the paint best he could and keep him moving side to side instead of north-south," LSU coach Will Wade said.</p>
<p>LaChance capped a 12-2 run with his fourth 3-pointer, giving Vandy its biggest lead of the game at 46-30 with 16:54 left.</p>
<p>LSU whittled away at Vandy's lead and used an 8-0 run to pull within 56-54 on a bucket by Reath with 8:55 left to set up the thrilling finish.</p>
<p>The Tigers came in as the SEC's top-shooting team averaging 49.4 percent. But they couldn't have been much colder in the opening minutes as they missed seven of their first eight shots. They tied it up only once at 15, and the Commodores led 34-28 at halftime.</p>
<p>BIG PICTURE</p>
<p>LSU: The Tigers now have lost two straight with this their first SEC road loss. ... The Tigers didn't move the ball around much with just seven assists on 27 made baskets. ... The Tigers outrebounded Vandy 38-33.</p>
<p>Vanderbilt: The Commodores improved to 2-11 against teams in the NCAA Top 100 RPI. They also beat LSU at Memorial Gym for the first time since Feb. 8, 2012. ... Even with Reath dominating inside, the Commodores were outscored only 34-30 in the paint.</p>
<p>FISHER-DAVIS UPDATE</p>
<p>Drew said the senior guard, who hurt his right shoulder in the loss to Kentucky, and his parents will be meeting with doctors to go over test results to decide what's next.</p>
<p>UP NEXT</p>
<p>LSU: Hosts Texas A&amp;M on Tuesday night.</p>
<p>Vanderbilt: Visits Tennessee on Tuesday night.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>More AP college basketball: www.collegebasketball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Follow Teresa M. Walker at www.twitter.com/teresamwalker</p>
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nashville tenn ap riley lachance spent lot time gym past week shooting free throws working shot missing three late loss kentucky vanderbilt senior got chance bit redemption saturday afternoon didnt miss lachance hit two free throws 201 left put vanderbilt ahead stay commodores snapped fourgame skid beating lsu 7771 wishes shots back kentucky last home game gym vanderbilt coach bryce drew said lachance focused mentally hes really really good place great see want ball stretch wanting get free throw line commodores 712 25 southeastern conference watched 16point lead second half disappear played second straight game without secondleading scorer matthew fisherdavis lsu took lead 6564 221 left bucket duop reath lachance hit free throws vanderbilt finished game 9 11 line freshman saben lee hit jumper 476 seconds left pad lead scored 10 12 points final 648 help vandy pull win help us close games like hopefully win close ones drew said lee lachance finished 26 points jeff roberson 20 vanderbilt missing free throws kentucky lachance got tips worked gym career 842 percent shooter hit six line lsu teammates coaches kept preaching confidence nice make plays end lachance said reath finished careerhigh 31 points 13 rebounds lsu 117 24 skylar mays added 13 tremont waters lsus leading scorer averaging 163 points game held seven lee guarding took challenge heart nice job tre good job keeping paint best could keep moving side side instead northsouth lsu coach wade said lachance capped 122 run fourth 3pointer giving vandy biggest lead game 4630 1654 left lsu whittled away vandys lead used 80 run pull within 5654 bucket reath 855 left set thrilling finish tigers came secs topshooting team averaging 494 percent couldnt much colder opening minutes missed seven first eight shots tied 15 commodores led 3428 halftime big picture lsu tigers lost two straight first sec road loss tigers didnt move ball around much seven assists 27 made baskets tigers outrebounded vandy 3833 vanderbilt commodores improved 211 teams ncaa top 100 rpi also beat lsu memorial gym first time since feb 8 2012 even reath dominating inside commodores outscored 3430 paint fisherdavis update drew said senior guard hurt right shoulder loss kentucky parents meeting doctors go test results decide whats next next lsu hosts texas aampm tuesday night vanderbilt visits tennessee tuesday night ___ ap college basketball wwwcollegebasketballaporg httpstwittercomap_top25 ___ follow teresa walker wwwtwittercomteresamwalker nashville tenn ap riley lachance spent lot time gym past week shooting free throws working shot missing three late loss kentucky vanderbilt senior got chance bit redemption saturday afternoon didnt miss lachance hit two free throws 201 left put vanderbilt ahead stay commodores snapped fourgame skid beating lsu 7771 wishes shots back kentucky last home game gym vanderbilt coach bryce drew said lachance focused mentally hes really really good place great see want ball stretch wanting get free throw line commodores 712 25 southeastern conference watched 16point lead second half disappear played second straight game without secondleading scorer matthew fisherdavis lsu took lead 6564 221 left bucket duop reath lachance hit free throws vanderbilt finished game 9 11 line freshman saben lee hit jumper 476 seconds left pad lead scored 10 12 points final 648 help vandy pull win help us close games like hopefully win close ones drew said lee lachance finished 26 points jeff roberson 20 vanderbilt missing free throws kentucky lachance got tips worked gym career 842 percent shooter hit six line lsu teammates coaches kept preaching confidence nice make plays end lachance said reath finished careerhigh 31 points 13 rebounds lsu 117 24 skylar mays added 13 tremont waters lsus leading scorer averaging 163 points game held seven lee guarding took challenge heart nice job tre good job keeping paint best could keep moving side side instead northsouth lsu coach wade said lachance capped 122 run fourth 3pointer giving vandy biggest lead game 4630 1654 left lsu whittled away vandys lead used 80 run pull within 5654 bucket reath 855 left set thrilling finish tigers came secs topshooting team averaging 494 percent couldnt much colder opening minutes missed seven first eight shots tied 15 commodores led 3428 halftime big picture lsu tigers lost two straight first sec road loss tigers didnt move ball around much seven assists 27 made baskets tigers outrebounded vandy 3833 vanderbilt commodores improved 211 teams ncaa top 100 rpi also beat lsu memorial gym first time since feb 8 2012 even reath dominating inside commodores outscored 3430 paint fisherdavis update drew said senior guard hurt right shoulder loss kentucky parents meeting doctors go test results decide whats next next lsu hosts texas aampm tuesday night vanderbilt visits tennessee tuesday night ___ ap college basketball wwwcollegebasketballaporg httpstwittercomap_top25 ___ follow teresa walker wwwtwittercomteresamwalker
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<p />
<p>— Hillary Clinton, in remarks at a campaign rally at Wayne State University, Detroit, Oct. 10, 2016</p>
<p>—</p>
<p>In the 2012 presidential race, President Barack Obama portrayed his Republican rival, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, as heartless because Romney had written an opinion article in November 2008 that was titled “Let Detroit Go Bankrupt.”</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Romney didn’t write the headline, and the phrase does not appear in the article. He made a more nuanced case for the auto companies refusing a government bailout and instead going through a managed bankruptcy. The companies ended up going through a managed bankruptcy – after getting nearly $80 billion in loans and other assistance from the Bush and Obama administrations. So Romney’s course was half-taken.</p>
<p>But the words of that op-ed hung around Romney’s neck like an albatross, contributing to his failure to carry either Michigan or Ohio in the election.</p>
<p>Now, Clinton is trying to suggest Trump was heartless about the auto industry’s plight, as well. Does she have a case? Our friends at FactCheck.org have highlighted this attack, but we thought it was important to take our own look.</p>
<p>—</p>
<p>One problem with fact-checking Trump’s statements on the issues is that he does so many interviews, and says so many contradictory things, that it is sometimes easy for Clinton to pick and choose various statements to create a narrative.</p>
<p>The Clinton campaign pointed to three statements by Trump.</p>
<p>One was an interview with Neil Cavuto on Fox News on Dec. 17, 2008, two days before then-President George W. Bush announced he would provide emergency funding to the auto industry because Congress was deadlocked on legislation.</p>
<p>“You just can’t just throw the money at the auto companies,” Trump said. “You have to get concessions, whether it is in bankruptcy or not in bankruptcy. And bankruptcy is not the worst thing. You would make a much better deal if they threw it into a chapter and they did DIP financing,” referring to debtor-in-possession financing. DIP financing, which places new debt ahead of existing debts, is what the U.S. government provided to Chrysler and General Motors when they went through their managed bankruptcies.</p>
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<p>The Clinton campaign also said Trump claimed the auto bailout was “not vital,” but it is clear from the full transcript that Trump is referring to $112 billion given to the AIG insurance company, not the auto industry.</p>
<p>The second statement was Trump speaking to the CBS Morning News on March 6, 2009: “The question is whether or not we should do it or let them just go bankrupt, let them negotiate from bankruptcy, which is really what should happen.”</p>
<p>Finally, Trump made a meandering comment about the auto bailout on Aug. 11, 2015, in which he tried to have it all ways.</p>
<p>“You could have let it go, and rebuild itself, through the free enterprise system,” Trump said. “You could have let it go bankrupt, frankly, and rebuild itself, and a lot of people think that’s the way it should have happened. Or you could have done it the way it went. I could have done it either way. Either way would have been acceptable. I think you would have wound up in the same place.”</p>
<p>This is where Clinton gets her “let it go” line. She makes it sound like that’s what Trump said at the time- when she was casting votes as a senator to support the auto industry. But actually that statement was made years later – and Trump is saying he could have supported any option.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, here’s what Trump said in 2008. He was remarkably consistent.</p>
<p>On Dec. 9, in an interview with Greta van Susteren on Fox News: “I think you have to try and save the companies, and I think you can easily save the companies.”</p>
<p>On Dec. 10, on CNBC: “You have to save the car industry in this country.”</p>
<p>On Dec. 17, in the full interview with Cavuto: “I think the government should stand behind them 100 percent. You cannot lose the auto companies. They are great. They make wonderful products.”</p>
<p>On Dec. 19, on CNN in an interview with Wolf Blitzer: “Absolutely, they should try and save the companies. You just can’t lose Chrysler, you can’t lose Ford, and you can’t lose General Motors.”</p>
<p>Often, Trump would tout his idea that the companies should pursue a bankruptcy route, using DIP financing. As he put it to Van Susteren: “I would really say, and I’ve used it over the years — not personally, but I’ve used it for different companies — you throw it into a chapter, you negotiate your deal, you make some new deals, you keep some deals the way they are, and you just make it better. You make it work.”</p>
<p>In some ways, this was similar to Romney’s position at the time. Many independent analysts have concluded this would not have worked in late 2008, simply because the credit markets were so frozen that a bankruptcy was not a viable option. But Trump also coupled his support of a bankruptcy option with strong expressions of support for some sort of government action.</p>
<p>Trump’s 2015 iteration – that the free enterprise system could also have saved the car industry – was simply not tenable, according to experts. (We should also note that Trump’s running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, as a member of Congress in 2008, adamantly opposed government aid for the auto companies.)</p>
<p>—</p>
<p>Clinton is creating an imaginary Trump here, claiming that Trump didn’t really care about the auto industry.</p>
<p>The record is clear that Trump in 2008 was supportive of rescuing the auto industry, saying the government should do everything it could to save it: “You just can’t lose Chrysler, you can’t lose Ford, and you can’t lose General Motors.” He touted DIP financing, but he was relatively agnostic about the preferred path.</p>
<p>Even in 2015, when Trump seemed more uncertain about the preferred option, he said “you could have done it the way it went.” Clinton twists his “let it go” comment out of context and pretends he said it in 2008.</p>
<p>clinton-factcheck</p>
| false | 2 |
hillary clinton remarks campaign rally wayne state university detroit oct 10 2016 2012 presidential race president barack obama portrayed republican rival former massachusetts governor mitt romney heartless romney written opinion article november 2008 titled let detroit go bankrupt advertisement romney didnt write headline phrase appear article made nuanced case auto companies refusing government bailout instead going managed bankruptcy companies ended going managed bankruptcy getting nearly 80 billion loans assistance bush obama administrations romneys course halftaken words oped hung around romneys neck like albatross contributing failure carry either michigan ohio election clinton trying suggest trump heartless auto industrys plight well case friends factcheckorg highlighted attack thought important take look one problem factchecking trumps statements issues many interviews says many contradictory things sometimes easy clinton pick choose various statements create narrative clinton campaign pointed three statements trump one interview neil cavuto fox news dec 17 2008 two days thenpresident george w bush announced would provide emergency funding auto industry congress deadlocked legislation cant throw money auto companies trump said get concessions whether bankruptcy bankruptcy bankruptcy worst thing would make much better deal threw chapter dip financing referring debtorinpossession financing dip financing places new debt ahead existing debts us government provided chrysler general motors went managed bankruptcies advertisement clinton campaign also said trump claimed auto bailout vital clear full transcript trump referring 112 billion given aig insurance company auto industry second statement trump speaking cbs morning news march 6 2009 question whether let go bankrupt let negotiate bankruptcy really happen finally trump made meandering comment auto bailout aug 11 2015 tried ways could let go rebuild free enterprise system trump said could let go bankrupt frankly rebuild lot people think thats way happened could done way went could done either way either way would acceptable think would wound place clinton gets let go line makes sound like thats trump said time casting votes senator support auto industry actually statement made years later trump saying could supported option meanwhile heres trump said 2008 remarkably consistent dec 9 interview greta van susteren fox news think try save companies think easily save companies dec 10 cnbc save car industry country dec 17 full interview cavuto think government stand behind 100 percent lose auto companies great make wonderful products dec 19 cnn interview wolf blitzer absolutely try save companies cant lose chrysler cant lose ford cant lose general motors often trump would tout idea companies pursue bankruptcy route using dip financing put van susteren would really say ive used years personally ive used different companies throw chapter negotiate deal make new deals keep deals way make better make work ways similar romneys position time many independent analysts concluded would worked late 2008 simply credit markets frozen bankruptcy viable option trump also coupled support bankruptcy option strong expressions support sort government action trumps 2015 iteration free enterprise system could also saved car industry simply tenable according experts also note trumps running mate indiana gov mike pence member congress 2008 adamantly opposed government aid auto companies clinton creating imaginary trump claiming trump didnt really care auto industry record clear trump 2008 supportive rescuing auto industry saying government everything could save cant lose chrysler cant lose ford cant lose general motors touted dip financing relatively agnostic preferred path even 2015 trump seemed uncertain preferred option said could done way went clinton twists let go comment context pretends said 2008 clintonfactcheck
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<p>UNM’s Cameron Bairstow, right, drives on Davidson’s Tyler Kalinoski on Sunday. Bairstow had a team-high 18 points. (Mic Smith/The Associated Press)</p>
<p>CHARLESTON, S.C. – Craig Neal knew his team was better than the Davidson Wildcats.</p>
<p>And while he suspected it would respond well Sunday to the gut-punch loss to Massachusetts on Thursday, there were still some butterflies before the game.</p>
<p>“I always thought they would bounce back, but until they really do, you don’t know,” Neal said Sunday afternoon.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Now he knows for sure.</p>
<p>Before a turnout listed at 1,137, the No. 19 New Mexico Lobos answered the bell Sunday with a 79-58 knockout punch of Davidson to take third place in the Charleston Classic in front of 1,137 fans in TD Arena.</p>
<p>The Lobos (4-1) jumped on the Wildcats early and often in the paint, with junior center Alex Kirk scoring 12 of the team’s first 18 points. The 7-footer from Los Alamos ended up with 16 points, 14 rebounds and three blocked shots, posting his fifth double-double in five games this season.</p>
<p>Davidson (1-5) played without leading scorer De’Mon Brooks due to a groin injury.</p>
<p>Lobo Cameron Bairstow again led the team in scoring with 18 points (he was 10-of-11 from the free throw line) to go along with seven rebounds and five assists.</p>
<p>“I thought they played awesome the whole tournament,” Neal said of his two big men, who combined to average 37 points, 17.7 rebounds and 5.3 blocked shots in three games of the Charleston Classic.</p>
<p>Davidson coach Bob McKillop, who coached Alex Kirk this summer for Team USA’s World University Games and watched Cameron Bairstow lead Australia to a win over Team USA in that tournament in Russia, agreed that the Lobos’ big men were simply too much for his team.</p>
<p>But he had a different take on who might have been the biggest difference maker.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>“The guy that maybe broke our back was Cullen Neal,” McKillop said of the Lobo freshman guard and coach’s son, who just a handful of games into this college career has already received heat from some fans who thought he was playing more minutes than his so-so statistics warranted.</p>
<p>“He came off the bench and hit a couple of timely and big 3s. Anytime we’d get in maybe a possession or two of cutting it to single digits, he made a big 3. I hope that Craig enjoys coaching Cullen because it looks like he is going to do wonderful things for him.”</p>
<p>In 14 minutes of playing time, Cullen Neal scored 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting, including 3-of-5 on 3-pointers to go along with two rebounds and two turnovers. UNM had a plus-10 scoring differential when he was on the court.</p>
<p>His minutes Sunday came often alongside starter Hugh Greenwood. In recent games, Greenwood had early foul trouble leading to Cullen Neal playing minutes in place of Greenwood rather than with him.</p>
<p>Said Craig Neal on Cullen Neal’s spark off the bench, “He played OK. I mean, he had a nice game.”</p>
<p>Greenwood, who did not commit a foul in the first half Sunday, finished with nine points, 10 rebounds and three assists. Senior Kendall Williams scored 12 points and had two assists.</p>
<p>It is never the four returning starters of Kirk, Bairstow, Williams and Greenwood that Craig Neal is worried about.</p>
<p>“I know what I’m going to get out of my four guys (returning starters),” Craig Neal said. “I just know that I’m going to get effort, I’m going to get heart, I know they care. And I think all our kids on our team care. They just haven’t been put into the fire yet.”</p>
<p>Friday’s loss to the Minutemen, one that could cost the Lobos their Top 25 national ranking when The Associated Press and USA Today Coaches polls are updated today, was that trial by fire for many of the Lobos newcomers, which include five new players and two sophomores playing significantly more minutes than a season ago.</p>
<p>Craig Neal said he was maybe most satisfied Sunday with his team improving defensively. While the absence of Brooks made it more difficult on Davidson to try to run any offense in the paint, the Lobos made it even harder on the Wildcats by consistently rotating and playing better help defense than in Friday’s loss to UMass.</p>
<p>“I really thought they bounced back and did a really nice job from a defensive standpoint,” Craig Neal said. “Playing with urgency and really trying to guard even though we did give up eight 3-pointers, and some open ones. But I thought we wanted to make them drivers and finish at the rim over our big guys.”</p>
<p>Davidson got 17 points from guard Brian Sullivan, but it took him 17 shots, including 4-of-11 3-pointers, to get there.</p>
<p>The Lobos also out-rebounded Davidson 48-28 and held the Wildcats to 35.6 percent shooting, including 8-of-29 3-point shooting (27.6 percent).</p>
<p>On the other end of the court, the Lobos showed the stroke from the free throw line they thought they’d have this season, hitting 16 of 19 free throws (84.2 percent).</p>
<p>LOBO LINKS: <a href="" type="internal">Geoff Grammer’s blog</a> | <a href="" type="internal">Schedule/Results</a> | <a href="" type="internal">Roster</a></p>
<p />
<p />
| false | 2 |
unms cameron bairstow right drives davidsons tyler kalinoski sunday bairstow teamhigh 18 points mic smiththe associated press charleston sc craig neal knew team better davidson wildcats suspected would respond well sunday gutpunch loss massachusetts thursday still butterflies game always thought would bounce back really dont know neal said sunday afternoon advertisement knows sure turnout listed 1137 19 new mexico lobos answered bell sunday 7958 knockout punch davidson take third place charleston classic front 1137 fans td arena lobos 41 jumped wildcats early often paint junior center alex kirk scoring 12 teams first 18 points 7footer los alamos ended 16 points 14 rebounds three blocked shots posting fifth doubledouble five games season davidson 15 played without leading scorer demon brooks due groin injury lobo cameron bairstow led team scoring 18 points 10of11 free throw line go along seven rebounds five assists thought played awesome whole tournament neal said two big men combined average 37 points 177 rebounds 53 blocked shots three games charleston classic davidson coach bob mckillop coached alex kirk summer team usas world university games watched cameron bairstow lead australia win team usa tournament russia agreed lobos big men simply much team different take might biggest difference maker advertisement guy maybe broke back cullen neal mckillop said lobo freshman guard coachs son handful games college career already received heat fans thought playing minutes soso statistics warranted came bench hit couple timely big 3s anytime wed get maybe possession two cutting single digits made big 3 hope craig enjoys coaching cullen looks like going wonderful things 14 minutes playing time cullen neal scored 15 points 6of9 shooting including 3of5 3pointers go along two rebounds two turnovers unm plus10 scoring differential court minutes sunday came often alongside starter hugh greenwood recent games greenwood early foul trouble leading cullen neal playing minutes place greenwood rather said craig neal cullen neals spark bench played ok mean nice game greenwood commit foul first half sunday finished nine points 10 rebounds three assists senior kendall williams scored 12 points two assists never four returning starters kirk bairstow williams greenwood craig neal worried know im going get four guys returning starters craig neal said know im going get effort im going get heart know care think kids team care havent put fire yet fridays loss minutemen one could cost lobos top 25 national ranking associated press usa today coaches polls updated today trial fire many lobos newcomers include five new players two sophomores playing significantly minutes season ago craig neal said maybe satisfied sunday team improving defensively absence brooks made difficult davidson try run offense paint lobos made even harder wildcats consistently rotating playing better help defense fridays loss umass really thought bounced back really nice job defensive standpoint craig neal said playing urgency really trying guard even though give eight 3pointers open ones thought wanted make drivers finish rim big guys davidson got 17 points guard brian sullivan took 17 shots including 4of11 3pointers get lobos also outrebounded davidson 4828 held wildcats 356 percent shooting including 8of29 3point shooting 276 percent end court lobos showed stroke free throw line thought theyd season hitting 16 19 free throws 842 percent lobo links geoff grammers blog scheduleresults roster
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<p>NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — State environmental regulators say it shouldn't cost ratepayers more money or take as long as the nation's largest public utility has estimated to complete a massive, court-ordered coal ash cleanup at a Tennessee power plant.</p>
<p>The state also believes the Tennessee Valley Authority might save money by following the court's order at Gallatin Fossil Plant. That's because the other option — leaving 11 million cubic yards (8 million cubic meters) of ash in unlined pits and putting a cap on them — could fail to stop pollution and require future cleanup, according to a consultant's analysis for the state obtained through a public records request.</p>
<p>The utility says it's taking steps to follow the court's cleanup requirement, even as it pushes to get the order struck down on appeal. The state has a separate, ongoing lawsuit against the Tennessee Valley Authority over pollution at Gallatin, about 40 miles (65 kilometers) from Nashville.</p>
<p>"Like the federal court, we have concerns that the coal ash pond is susceptible to sinkholes and currently leaking heavy metals into the groundwater," said Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation spokesman Eric Ward.</p>
<p>In August, a federal judge ordered the ash excavated and removed, saying it's leaking pollutants into the Cumberland River in violation of the Clean Water Act and poses risks while it remains where it is. But the judge said there was scant evidence of harm caused by the pollution so far.</p>
<p>The utility has contended capping the waste where it sits would be less expensive and avoid a possible larger spill from moving the ash. But capping the ash isn't an option under the court order.</p>
<p>The Department of Environment and Conversation says it is exploring the idea of digging up and dumping ash into a lined landfill at Gallatin.</p>
<p>The utility's timeline says it will take 24 years to move the ash to an onsite landfill. It wouldn't start moving the ash for at least 6 ½ years, including 4 ½ for permitting, according to a court filing by the Southern Environmental Law Center, which represents one of the environmental groups that sued the utility.</p>
<p>An affidavit by a state regulator says the Tennessee Valley Authority would only have to modify the permit for its current landfill to expand it, not seek a new permit; additionally, it likely wouldn't take 4½ years, considering processing the existing landfill's permit only took two years. The affidavit by state solid waste management regulator C. Jason Repsher also says the utility wouldn't have to wait to start storing dug-up coal ash in the landfill.</p>
<p>Utility spokesman Scott Brooks said choosing a landfill location, offsite or onsite, will be a "significant driver" of the timeline. Either solution requires a state permit, Brooks said.</p>
<p>"TVA remains committed to protecting human health and the environment in everything it does because it's the right thing to do, not based on narrow agendas," Brooks said.</p>
<p>The Southern Environmental Law Center has pointed to new water sampling as proof the utility needs to start moving ash as soon as possible.</p>
<p>A court filing by the environmental group says new data further show there is a significant underground river that allows pollution to flow from the coal ash ponds into the Cumberland River, including an arsenic level along the riverbank that exceeded state limits by more than 61 times.</p>
<p>Brooks, the utility spokesman, said available information indicates that contamination isn't leaving the plant site at levels harmful to people or the environment.</p>
<p>The utility also has warned that ratepayers, including about 9 million customers in parts of seven Southern states, would face higher rates. The utility initially said the project would cost $2 billion, but newer estimates factoring in an onsite landfill range below $1 billion.</p>
<p>The analysis prepared for the state says substantial rate increases shouldn't be necessary because the utility's annual costs would be very modest. The most they should have to increase, the analysis says, would be 1.6 cents per day — 0.3 percent of the average daily electric bill.</p>
<p>"The annual operating costs are small relative to TVA's operating budget and revenues, and TVA should be able to implement any of the options easily with no noticeable impact on the customer," the state document says.</p>
<p>Brooks said it's too early to speculate how the utility might cover cleanup costs, but almost all the utility's expenses are covered through rates.</p>
<p>NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — State environmental regulators say it shouldn't cost ratepayers more money or take as long as the nation's largest public utility has estimated to complete a massive, court-ordered coal ash cleanup at a Tennessee power plant.</p>
<p>The state also believes the Tennessee Valley Authority might save money by following the court's order at Gallatin Fossil Plant. That's because the other option — leaving 11 million cubic yards (8 million cubic meters) of ash in unlined pits and putting a cap on them — could fail to stop pollution and require future cleanup, according to a consultant's analysis for the state obtained through a public records request.</p>
<p>The utility says it's taking steps to follow the court's cleanup requirement, even as it pushes to get the order struck down on appeal. The state has a separate, ongoing lawsuit against the Tennessee Valley Authority over pollution at Gallatin, about 40 miles (65 kilometers) from Nashville.</p>
<p>"Like the federal court, we have concerns that the coal ash pond is susceptible to sinkholes and currently leaking heavy metals into the groundwater," said Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation spokesman Eric Ward.</p>
<p>In August, a federal judge ordered the ash excavated and removed, saying it's leaking pollutants into the Cumberland River in violation of the Clean Water Act and poses risks while it remains where it is. But the judge said there was scant evidence of harm caused by the pollution so far.</p>
<p>The utility has contended capping the waste where it sits would be less expensive and avoid a possible larger spill from moving the ash. But capping the ash isn't an option under the court order.</p>
<p>The Department of Environment and Conversation says it is exploring the idea of digging up and dumping ash into a lined landfill at Gallatin.</p>
<p>The utility's timeline says it will take 24 years to move the ash to an onsite landfill. It wouldn't start moving the ash for at least 6 ½ years, including 4 ½ for permitting, according to a court filing by the Southern Environmental Law Center, which represents one of the environmental groups that sued the utility.</p>
<p>An affidavit by a state regulator says the Tennessee Valley Authority would only have to modify the permit for its current landfill to expand it, not seek a new permit; additionally, it likely wouldn't take 4½ years, considering processing the existing landfill's permit only took two years. The affidavit by state solid waste management regulator C. Jason Repsher also says the utility wouldn't have to wait to start storing dug-up coal ash in the landfill.</p>
<p>Utility spokesman Scott Brooks said choosing a landfill location, offsite or onsite, will be a "significant driver" of the timeline. Either solution requires a state permit, Brooks said.</p>
<p>"TVA remains committed to protecting human health and the environment in everything it does because it's the right thing to do, not based on narrow agendas," Brooks said.</p>
<p>The Southern Environmental Law Center has pointed to new water sampling as proof the utility needs to start moving ash as soon as possible.</p>
<p>A court filing by the environmental group says new data further show there is a significant underground river that allows pollution to flow from the coal ash ponds into the Cumberland River, including an arsenic level along the riverbank that exceeded state limits by more than 61 times.</p>
<p>Brooks, the utility spokesman, said available information indicates that contamination isn't leaving the plant site at levels harmful to people or the environment.</p>
<p>The utility also has warned that ratepayers, including about 9 million customers in parts of seven Southern states, would face higher rates. The utility initially said the project would cost $2 billion, but newer estimates factoring in an onsite landfill range below $1 billion.</p>
<p>The analysis prepared for the state says substantial rate increases shouldn't be necessary because the utility's annual costs would be very modest. The most they should have to increase, the analysis says, would be 1.6 cents per day — 0.3 percent of the average daily electric bill.</p>
<p>"The annual operating costs are small relative to TVA's operating budget and revenues, and TVA should be able to implement any of the options easily with no noticeable impact on the customer," the state document says.</p>
<p>Brooks said it's too early to speculate how the utility might cover cleanup costs, but almost all the utility's expenses are covered through rates.</p>
| false | 2 |
nashville tenn ap state environmental regulators say shouldnt cost ratepayers money take long nations largest public utility estimated complete massive courtordered coal ash cleanup tennessee power plant state also believes tennessee valley authority might save money following courts order gallatin fossil plant thats option leaving 11 million cubic yards 8 million cubic meters ash unlined pits putting cap could fail stop pollution require future cleanup according consultants analysis state obtained public records request utility says taking steps follow courts cleanup requirement even pushes get order struck appeal state separate ongoing lawsuit tennessee valley authority pollution gallatin 40 miles 65 kilometers nashville like federal court concerns coal ash pond susceptible sinkholes currently leaking heavy metals groundwater said tennessee department environment conservation spokesman eric ward august federal judge ordered ash excavated removed saying leaking pollutants cumberland river violation clean water act poses risks remains judge said scant evidence harm caused pollution far utility contended capping waste sits would less expensive avoid possible larger spill moving ash capping ash isnt option court order department environment conversation says exploring idea digging dumping ash lined landfill gallatin utilitys timeline says take 24 years move ash onsite landfill wouldnt start moving ash least 6 ½ years including 4 ½ permitting according court filing southern environmental law center represents one environmental groups sued utility affidavit state regulator says tennessee valley authority would modify permit current landfill expand seek new permit additionally likely wouldnt take 4½ years considering processing existing landfills permit took two years affidavit state solid waste management regulator c jason repsher also says utility wouldnt wait start storing dugup coal ash landfill utility spokesman scott brooks said choosing landfill location offsite onsite significant driver timeline either solution requires state permit brooks said tva remains committed protecting human health environment everything right thing based narrow agendas brooks said southern environmental law center pointed new water sampling proof utility needs start moving ash soon possible court filing environmental group says new data show significant underground river allows pollution flow coal ash ponds cumberland river including arsenic level along riverbank exceeded state limits 61 times brooks utility spokesman said available information indicates contamination isnt leaving plant site levels harmful people environment utility also warned ratepayers including 9 million customers parts seven southern states would face higher rates utility initially said project would cost 2 billion newer estimates factoring onsite landfill range 1 billion analysis prepared state says substantial rate increases shouldnt necessary utilitys annual costs would modest increase analysis says would 16 cents per day 03 percent average daily electric bill annual operating costs small relative tvas operating budget revenues tva able implement options easily noticeable impact customer state document says brooks said early speculate utility might cover cleanup costs almost utilitys expenses covered rates nashville tenn ap state environmental regulators say shouldnt cost ratepayers money take long nations largest public utility estimated complete massive courtordered coal ash cleanup tennessee power plant state also believes tennessee valley authority might save money following courts order gallatin fossil plant thats option leaving 11 million cubic yards 8 million cubic meters ash unlined pits putting cap could fail stop pollution require future cleanup according consultants analysis state obtained public records request utility says taking steps follow courts cleanup requirement even pushes get order struck appeal state separate ongoing lawsuit tennessee valley authority pollution gallatin 40 miles 65 kilometers nashville like federal court concerns coal ash pond susceptible sinkholes currently leaking heavy metals groundwater said tennessee department environment conservation spokesman eric ward august federal judge ordered ash excavated removed saying leaking pollutants cumberland river violation clean water act poses risks remains judge said scant evidence harm caused pollution far utility contended capping waste sits would less expensive avoid possible larger spill moving ash capping ash isnt option court order department environment conversation says exploring idea digging dumping ash lined landfill gallatin utilitys timeline says take 24 years move ash onsite landfill wouldnt start moving ash least 6 ½ years including 4 ½ permitting according court filing southern environmental law center represents one environmental groups sued utility affidavit state regulator says tennessee valley authority would modify permit current landfill expand seek new permit additionally likely wouldnt take 4½ years considering processing existing landfills permit took two years affidavit state solid waste management regulator c jason repsher also says utility wouldnt wait start storing dugup coal ash landfill utility spokesman scott brooks said choosing landfill location offsite onsite significant driver timeline either solution requires state permit brooks said tva remains committed protecting human health environment everything right thing based narrow agendas brooks said southern environmental law center pointed new water sampling proof utility needs start moving ash soon possible court filing environmental group says new data show significant underground river allows pollution flow coal ash ponds cumberland river including arsenic level along riverbank exceeded state limits 61 times brooks utility spokesman said available information indicates contamination isnt leaving plant site levels harmful people environment utility also warned ratepayers including 9 million customers parts seven southern states would face higher rates utility initially said project would cost 2 billion newer estimates factoring onsite landfill range 1 billion analysis prepared state says substantial rate increases shouldnt necessary utilitys annual costs would modest increase analysis says would 16 cents per day 03 percent average daily electric bill annual operating costs small relative tvas operating budget revenues tva able implement options easily noticeable impact customer state document says brooks said early speculate utility might cover cleanup costs almost utilitys expenses covered rates
| 914 |
<p>Jan 23 (Reuters) - Madison Square Garden Co:</p>
<p>* MADISON SQUARE GARDEN CO - CO, PARKWHIZ ANNOUNCED A MARKETING PARTNERSHIP Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage:</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Hundreds of thousands of Americans are expected to rally nationwide on Saturday for tighter gun laws in “March For Our Lives” protests led by survivors of the Florida school massacre, which reiginited public anger over mass shootings.</p>
<p>Students from the Parkland, Florida, high school where 17 students and staff were killed on Feb. 14 will be among the 500,000 people organizers say could rally on Pennsylvania Avenue near the Capitol in Washington.</p>
<p>The protests orchestrated by survivors of the rampage at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School are aimed at breaking through a legislative gridlock that has long stymied efforts to tighten firearms controls. Mass shootings at American schools and colleges have become a regular occurrence.</p>
<p>“This issue is going to turn into the No. 1 issue in this country. I know that’s not only what I want, but I know it’s what you guys want,” Alfonso Calderon, a junior at the Florida school, told Washington students at a pre-march event on Thursday.</p>
<p>The Washington rally is among more than 800 events scheduled worldwide, with U.S. demonstrations set from San Clemente, California, to New York and Parkland, according to gun-control group Everytown For Gun Safety.</p>
<p>The teenage organizers have won kudos and cash from dozens of celebrities, with singer Ariana Grande and “Hamilton” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda among those performing in Washington.</p> Demonstrators gather as students and gun control advocates hold the "March for Our Lives" event demanding gun control after recent school shootings at a rally in Washington, U.S., March 24, 2018. REUTERS/Aaron P. Bernstein
<p>“Trainwreck” star Amy Schumer is set to appear at the Los Angeles rally. Actor George Clooney and his human rights attorney wife have donated $500,000 and said they would be at the Washington rally.</p>
<p>Organizers want Congress, many of whose members are up for re-election this year, to ban the sale of assault weapons like the one used in the Florida rampage and to tighten background checks for gun buyers. On the other side of the debate, gun rights advocates cite constitutional guarantees of the right to bear arms.</p> Slideshow (16 Images)
<p>On Friday, Republican President Donald Trump signed a $1.3 trillion spending bill that includes modest improvements to background checks for gun sales and grants to help schools prevent gun violence.</p>
<p>David Hogg, a senior at Stoneman Douglas, said the protests were a way for young Americans to show their opposition to the National Rifle Association, the powerful gun lobby.</p>
<p>“We’re asking people (to) put the USA over the NRA,” he said at the Thursday event in Washington.</p>
<p>An NRA spokeswoman said it had not taken a position on the protests.</p>
<p>Democrats and nonpartisan groups hope to register at least 25,000 first-time voters at the rallies, potentially a boost for Democrats, who generally favor stricter gun controls.</p>
<p>Reporting by Ian Simpson; editing by Colleen Jenkins and Jonathan Oatis</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>BEIJING (Reuters) - Apple Inc’s Chief Executive Tim Cook on Saturday called for “calm heads” and more open trade, amid rising fears of a trade war between the United States and China.</p> Apple Inc's Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook speaks at the China Development Forum in Beijing, China March 24, 2018. REUTERS/Stringer
<p>Trade tension between China and the United States flared this week when President Donald Trump unveiled plans on Thursday to slap tariffs on potentially up to $60 billion in Chinese goods.</p>
<p>China’s Commerce Ministry on Friday urged the United States to “pull back from the brink”, saying it was not afraid to engage in a trade war.</p>
<p>“I’m cognizant that in both the U.S. and China, there have been cases where everyone hasn’t benefited, where the benefit hasn’t been balanced,” Cook said.</p>
<p>Speaking at the annual China Development Forum in Beijing, Cook said he hoped “calm heads” would prevail.</p>
<p>The sparring has cast a spotlight on hardware makers such as Apple, which assemble the majority of their products in China for export to other countries. Electrical goods and tech are the largest U.S. import item from China.</p>
<p>In the past year, Apple and other foreign tech firms have grappled with a string of new regulatory requirements in China, including a controversial law requiring firms to house user data in data centers overseen by Chinese firms.</p>
<p>Last month, Apple officially moved to store keys for its iCloud data in China, provoking intense criticism from rights groups who say the decision makes it easier for Chinese officials to tap and collect private data.</p>
<p>Despite challenges, the company has sought to expand its services in China, its third-largest market, where roughly 1.8 million developers use its platform.</p>
<p>“My belief is that businesses should be engaged with governments in countries where they are doing business, whether they agree or disagree,” Cook said.</p>
<p>Cook has come to China several times in the past year, and was among executives who met Chinese President Xi Jinping last October.</p>
<p>“My belief is that one plus one equals three. The pie gets larger, working together,” Cook said.</p>
<p>Others attending the three-day forum include the chief executives of IBM Group , Google Inc and Qualcomm Inc.</p>
<p>Cook, who this year co-chaired the event, also attended last year when he called for China to increase trade and continue opening itself up to the world.</p>
<p>Reporting by Matthew Miller and Cate Cadell; editing by Richard Pullin and Clarence Fernandez</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>BEIJING (Reuters) - The response by China’s commerce ministry to the latest U.S trade measures is too weak, and should target U.S. soybeans, former Chinese finance minister Lou Jiwei said on Saturday.</p> FILE PHOTO: Soybeans are seen in a field waiting to be harvested in Minooka, Illinois, September 24, 2014. REUTERS/Jim Young/File Photo
<p>The commerce ministry on Friday unveiled a plan to levy additional duties on up to $3 billion of U.S. imports including fruit and wine, in response to U.S. import tariffs on steel and aluminum.</p>
<p>“I think the measures taken by China’s commerce ministry are relatively weak,” said Lou, currently chairman of the National Council for Social Security Fund (NCSSF).</p>
<p>“If I were in the government, I would probably hit soybeans first, then hit autos and airplanes. We cannot let other people profit at our expense.”</p> Lou Jiwei, chairman of the National Council for Social Security Fund (NCSSF), speaks at the China Development Forum in Beijing, China March 24, 2018. REUTERS/Stringer
<p>Lou was speaking at the annual China Development Forum in Beijing.</p>
<p>However, Lou also said a trade war is not good for either side.</p>
<p>“It’s like killing one thousand enemies and losing eight hundred of our own people,” he told reporters separately on the sidelines of the forum.</p>
<p>“We should try to resolve the problem.”</p>
<p>Reporting by Kevin Yao; writing by Ryan Woo; editing by Richard Pullin</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>BEIJING (Reuters) - The United States has flouted trade rules with an inquiry into intellectual property and China will defend its interests, Vice Premier Liu He told U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin in a telephone call on Saturday, Chinese state media reported.</p> FILE PHOTO: Containers are seen at the Yangshan Deep Water Port, part of the Shanghai Free Trade Zone, in Shanghai, China February 13, 2017. REUTERS/Aly Song
<p>The call between Mnuchin and Liu, a confidante of President Xi Jinping, was the highest-level contact between the two governments since U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans for tariffs on up to $60 billion of Chinese goods on Thursday.</p>
<p>The deepening rift has sent a chill through financial markets and the corporate world as investors predicted dire consequences for the global economy should trade barriers start going up.</p>
<p>Several U.S. chief executives attending a high-profile forum in Beijing on Saturday, including BlackRock Inc’s Larry Fink and Apple Inc’s Tim Cook, urged restraint.</p>
<p>In his call with Mnuchin, Liu, a Harvard-trained economist, said China still hoped both sides would remain “rational” and work together to keep trade relations stable, the official Xinhua news agency reported.</p>
<p>U.S. officials say an eight-month probe under the 1974 U.S. Trade Act has found that China engages in unfair trade practices by forcing American investors to turn over key technologies to Chinese firms.</p>
<p>However, Liu said the investigation report “violates international trade rules and is beneficial to neither Chinese interests, U.S. interests nor global interests”, Xinhua cited him as saying.</p>
<p>In a statement on its website, the office of the U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said it had filed a request - at the direction of Trump - for consultations with China at the World Trade Organization to address “discriminatory technology licensing agreements”.</p> Related Coverage
<a href="/article/us-usa-trade-china-apple/apples-tim-cook-calls-for-calm-heads-on-china-u-s-trade-idUSKBN1H005K" type="external">Apple's Tim Cook calls for calm heads on China, U.S. trade</a>
<a href="/article/us-usa-trade-china-wto/china-expresses-regret-at-u-s-move-to-file-wto-challenge-idUSKBN1H00AJ" type="external">China expresses regret at U.S. move to file WTO challenge</a>
<a href="/article/us-usa-trade-soybeans-china/china-should-target-u-s-soybeans-says-former-finance-minister-idUSKBN1H0053" type="external">China should target U.S. soybeans, says former finance minister</a>
<p>China’s commerce ministry expressed regret at the filing on Saturday, and said China had taken strong measures to protect the legal rights and interests of both domestic and foreign owners of intellectual property.</p> COUNTER MOVES
<p>During a visit to Washington in early March, Liu had requested Washington set up a new economic dialogue mechanism, identify a point person on China issues, and deliver a list of demands.</p>
<p>The Trump administration responded by telling China to immediately shave $100 billion off its record $375 billion trade surplus with the United States. Beijing told Washington that U.S. export restrictions on some high-tech products are to blame.</p>
<p>“China has already prepared, and has the strength, to defend its national interests,” Liu said on Saturday.</p>
<p>According to an editorial by China’s state-run Global Times, it was Mnuchin who called Liu.</p>
<p>Firing off a warning shot, China on Friday declared plans to levy additional duties on up to $3 billion of U.S. imports in response to U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum, imposed after a separate U.S. probe.</p>
<p>Zhang Zhaoxiang, senior vice president of China Minmetals Corp [CHMIN.UL], said that while the state-owned mining group’s steel exports to the U.S. are tiny, the impact could come indirectly.</p>
<p>“China’s direct exports to the U.S. are not big. But there will be some impact due to our exports via the United States or indirect exports,” Zhang told reporters on the sidelines of the China Development Forum in Beijing on Saturday.</p> FILE PHOTO: Chinese Vice Premier Liu He attends the news conference following the closing session of the National People's Congress (NPC), at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China March 20, 2018. REUTERS/Jason Lee
<p>Global Times said Beijing was only just beginning to look at means to retaliate.</p>
<p>“We believe it is only part of China’s countermeasures, and soybeans and other U.S. farm products will be targeted,” the widely-read tabloid said in a Saturday editorial.</p>
<p>Wei Jianguo, vice chairman of Beijing-based think tank China Centre for International Economic Exchanges, told China Daily that Beijing could impose tariffs on more U.S. products, and is considering a second and even third list of targets.</p>
<p>Possible items include aircraft and chips, Wei, a former vice commerce minister, told the newspaper, adding that tourism could be a possible target.</p> SOYBEANS, AUTOS, PLANES
<p>The commerce ministry’s response had so far been “relatively weak”, respected former Chinese finance minister Lou Jiwei said at the forum.</p> FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump holds a signed memorandum on intellectual property tariffs on high-tech goods from China, at the White House in Washington, U.S. March 22, 2018. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
<p>“If I were in the government, I would probably hit soybeans first, then hit autos and airplanes,” said Lou, currently chairman of the National Council for Social Security Fund.</p>
<p>U.S. farm groups have long feared that China, which imports more than third of all U.S. soybeans, could slow purchases of agricultural products, heaping more pain on the struggling U.S. farm sector.</p>
<p>U.S. agricultural exports to China stood at $19.6 billion last year, with soybean shipments accounting for $12.4 billion.</p>
<p>Chinese penalties on U.S. soybeans will especially hurt Iowa, a state that backed Trump in the 2016 presidential elections.</p>
<p>Boeing jets have also been often cited as a potential target by China.</p>
<p>China and the U.S. had benefited by globalization, Blackrock’s Larry Fink said at the forum.</p>
<p>“I believe that a dialogue – and maybe some adjustments in trade and trade policy – can be in order. It does not need to be done publicly; it can be done privately,” he said.</p>
<p>Apple’s Tim Cook called for “calm heads” amid the dispute.</p>
<p>The sparring has cast a spotlight on hardware makers such as Apple, which assemble the majority of their products in China for export to other countries.</p>
<p>Electrical goods and tech are the largest U.S. import item from China.</p>
<p>Some economists say higher U.S. tariffs will lead to higher costs and ultimately hurt U.S. consumers, while restrictions on Chinese investments could take away jobs in America.</p>
<p>“I don’t think local governments in the United States and President Trump hope to see U.S. workers losing their jobs,” Sun Yongcai, general manager at Chinese railway firm CRRS Corp, which has two U.S. production plants, said at the forum.</p>
<p>Reporting by Ryan Woo and Hallie Gu; additional reporting by Ben Blanchard, Kevin Yao, Matthew Miller and Cate Cadell; Editing by Richard Pullin</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
| false | 2 |
jan 23 reuters madison square garden co madison square garden co co parkwhiz announced marketing partnership source text eikon company coverage standards thomson reuters trust principles washington reuters hundreds thousands americans expected rally nationwide saturday tighter gun laws march lives protests led survivors florida school massacre reiginited public anger mass shootings students parkland florida high school 17 students staff killed feb 14 among 500000 people organizers say could rally pennsylvania avenue near capitol washington protests orchestrated survivors rampage marjory stoneman douglas high school aimed breaking legislative gridlock long stymied efforts tighten firearms controls mass shootings american schools colleges become regular occurrence issue going turn 1 issue country know thats want know guys want alfonso calderon junior florida school told washington students premarch event thursday washington rally among 800 events scheduled worldwide us demonstrations set san clemente california new york parkland according guncontrol group everytown gun safety teenage organizers kudos cash dozens celebrities singer ariana grande hamilton creator linmanuel miranda among performing washington demonstrators gather students gun control advocates hold march lives event demanding gun control recent school shootings rally washington us march 24 2018 reutersaaron p bernstein trainwreck star amy schumer set appear los angeles rally actor george clooney human rights attorney wife donated 500000 said would washington rally organizers want congress many whose members reelection year ban sale assault weapons like one used florida rampage tighten background checks gun buyers side debate gun rights advocates cite constitutional guarantees right bear arms slideshow 16 images friday republican president donald trump signed 13 trillion spending bill includes modest improvements background checks gun sales grants help schools prevent gun violence david hogg senior stoneman douglas said protests way young americans show opposition national rifle association powerful gun lobby asking people put usa nra said thursday event washington nra spokeswoman said taken position protests democrats nonpartisan groups hope register least 25000 firsttime voters rallies potentially boost democrats generally favor stricter gun controls reporting ian simpson editing colleen jenkins jonathan oatis standards thomson reuters trust principles beijing reuters apple incs chief executive tim cook saturday called calm heads open trade amid rising fears trade war united states china apple incs chief executive officer tim cook speaks china development forum beijing china march 24 2018 reutersstringer trade tension china united states flared week president donald trump unveiled plans thursday slap tariffs potentially 60 billion chinese goods chinas commerce ministry friday urged united states pull back brink saying afraid engage trade war im cognizant us china cases everyone hasnt benefited benefit hasnt balanced cook said speaking annual china development forum beijing cook said hoped calm heads would prevail sparring cast spotlight hardware makers apple assemble majority products china export countries electrical goods tech largest us import item china past year apple foreign tech firms grappled string new regulatory requirements china including controversial law requiring firms house user data data centers overseen chinese firms last month apple officially moved store keys icloud data china provoking intense criticism rights groups say decision makes easier chinese officials tap collect private data despite challenges company sought expand services china thirdlargest market roughly 18 million developers use platform belief businesses engaged governments countries business whether agree disagree cook said cook come china several times past year among executives met chinese president xi jinping last october belief one plus one equals three pie gets larger working together cook said others attending threeday forum include chief executives ibm group google inc qualcomm inc cook year cochaired event also attended last year called china increase trade continue opening world reporting matthew miller cate cadell editing richard pullin clarence fernandez standards thomson reuters trust principles beijing reuters response chinas commerce ministry latest us trade measures weak target us soybeans former chinese finance minister lou jiwei said saturday file photo soybeans seen field waiting harvested minooka illinois september 24 2014 reutersjim youngfile photo commerce ministry friday unveiled plan levy additional duties 3 billion us imports including fruit wine response us import tariffs steel aluminum think measures taken chinas commerce ministry relatively weak said lou currently chairman national council social security fund ncssf government would probably hit soybeans first hit autos airplanes let people profit expense lou jiwei chairman national council social security fund ncssf speaks china development forum beijing china march 24 2018 reutersstringer lou speaking annual china development forum beijing however lou also said trade war good either side like killing one thousand enemies losing eight hundred people told reporters separately sidelines forum try resolve problem reporting kevin yao writing ryan woo editing richard pullin standards thomson reuters trust principles beijing reuters united states flouted trade rules inquiry intellectual property china defend interests vice premier liu told us treasury secretary steven mnuchin telephone call saturday chinese state media reported file photo containers seen yangshan deep water port part shanghai free trade zone shanghai china february 13 2017 reutersaly song call mnuchin liu confidante president xi jinping highestlevel contact two governments since us president donald trump announced plans tariffs 60 billion chinese goods thursday deepening rift sent chill financial markets corporate world investors predicted dire consequences global economy trade barriers start going several us chief executives attending highprofile forum beijing saturday including blackrock incs larry fink apple incs tim cook urged restraint call mnuchin liu harvardtrained economist said china still hoped sides would remain rational work together keep trade relations stable official xinhua news agency reported us officials say eightmonth probe 1974 us trade act found china engages unfair trade practices forcing american investors turn key technologies chinese firms however liu said investigation report violates international trade rules beneficial neither chinese interests us interests global interests xinhua cited saying statement website office us trade representative robert lighthizer said filed request direction trump consultations china world trade organization address discriminatory technology licensing agreements related coverage apples tim cook calls calm heads china us trade china expresses regret us move file wto challenge china target us soybeans says former finance minister chinas commerce ministry expressed regret filing saturday said china taken strong measures protect legal rights interests domestic foreign owners intellectual property counter moves visit washington early march liu requested washington set new economic dialogue mechanism identify point person china issues deliver list demands trump administration responded telling china immediately shave 100 billion record 375 billion trade surplus united states beijing told washington us export restrictions hightech products blame china already prepared strength defend national interests liu said saturday according editorial chinas staterun global times mnuchin called liu firing warning shot china friday declared plans levy additional duties 3 billion us imports response us tariffs steel aluminum imposed separate us probe zhang zhaoxiang senior vice president china minmetals corp chminul said stateowned mining groups steel exports us tiny impact could come indirectly chinas direct exports us big impact due exports via united states indirect exports zhang told reporters sidelines china development forum beijing saturday file photo chinese vice premier liu attends news conference following closing session national peoples congress npc great hall people beijing china march 20 2018 reutersjason lee global times said beijing beginning look means retaliate believe part chinas countermeasures soybeans us farm products targeted widelyread tabloid said saturday editorial wei jianguo vice chairman beijingbased think tank china centre international economic exchanges told china daily beijing could impose tariffs us products considering second even third list targets possible items include aircraft chips wei former vice commerce minister told newspaper adding tourism could possible target soybeans autos planes commerce ministrys response far relatively weak respected former chinese finance minister lou jiwei said forum file photo us president donald trump holds signed memorandum intellectual property tariffs hightech goods china white house washington us march 22 2018 reutersjonathan ernst government would probably hit soybeans first hit autos airplanes said lou currently chairman national council social security fund us farm groups long feared china imports third us soybeans could slow purchases agricultural products heaping pain struggling us farm sector us agricultural exports china stood 196 billion last year soybean shipments accounting 124 billion chinese penalties us soybeans especially hurt iowa state backed trump 2016 presidential elections boeing jets also often cited potential target china china us benefited globalization blackrocks larry fink said forum believe dialogue maybe adjustments trade trade policy order need done publicly done privately said apples tim cook called calm heads amid dispute sparring cast spotlight hardware makers apple assemble majority products china export countries electrical goods tech largest us import item china economists say higher us tariffs lead higher costs ultimately hurt us consumers restrictions chinese investments could take away jobs america dont think local governments united states president trump hope see us workers losing jobs sun yongcai general manager chinese railway firm crrs corp two us production plants said forum reporting ryan woo hallie gu additional reporting ben blanchard kevin yao matthew miller cate cadell editing richard pullin standards thomson reuters trust principles
| 1,467 |
<p>YORK, Neb. (AP) — There isn't much Rod Matlock hasn't dabbled in within the walls of his shop. From cabinets to an airplane, and now his most recent venture, dulcimers, Matlock is not afraid to dive into any kind of wood working project.</p>
<p>In the late summer of 2016, he bought a canjo at a garage sale for $1.50, which started everything. Matlock had never seen one before, but thought it was a cool looking instrument.</p>
<p>After he brought the canjo home, his grandkids began taking an interest in playing it, so he taught himself how to play. Come Christmas, he decided to make his grandchildren canjos as presents.</p>
<p>It was only a matter of time before he began poking his nose into true dulcimers.</p>
<p>Matlock designs all of his projects on AutoCAD, which he taught himself how to use. To begin, he drew up the dulcimer project on his computer, and then he dove into building it, the <a href="http://www.yorknewstimes.com/news/the-dulcimer-man/article_1d33ee68-fa7e-11e7-bb12-5f00b00cab9d.html" type="external">York News-Times</a> reported.</p>
<p>Once he completed his first dulcimer about a year ago, he wasn't able to stop. Matlock has built 18 total dulcimers to date. He has sold some and given some away as gifts. This past Christmas, he gifted four of his nine grandchildren a hand crafted dulcimer.</p>
<p>"I can't stop building them," said Matlock, commenting on his love for the hobby.</p>
<p>A dulcimer is a fretted string instrument of the zither family. In the U.S., the instrument originated in the Appalachian region with the immigrant communities located in the mountains. There wasn't much money available, so the dulcimer grew popular because of its inexpensive design.</p>
<p>There are many different forms of dulcimer, which Matlock's collection demonstrates. He has gotten creative when it comes to the type of wood, shape, size, etc. Overall, the dulcimer is a quiet instrument, but Matlock finds it interesting to see how he can manipulate its sound by changing the construction variables, such as wood thickness.</p>
<p>He once ordered a dulcimer case off the internet, and then was shocked when it arrived as it was super tiny. Instead of sending it back, he built a dulcimer to fit the case. This smaller dulcimer creates a beautiful sound and is easy to travel with.</p>
<p>Matlock hopes to build an accordion dulcimer soon, which is essentially a double dulcimer going in opposite directions.</p>
<p>Not only did Matlock teach himself how to build the dulcimers, he has also taught himself and some of his grandchildren how to play them. This is a hobby he has enjoyed sharing with his family over the past year.</p>
<p>For Valentine's Day, he surprised his wife with flowers and a dulcimer tune while she was at work. He had not been playing the instrument very long, but he knew he wanted to do something extra special for her.</p>
<p>Matlock plays mainly hymns on the dulcimer. He practices playing every evening because he finds the sound tranquil.</p>
<p>"The good Lord just blessed me with a lot of talent," said Matlock. "This is my gospel."</p>
<p>Matlock and his wife have traveled all over the country, dulcimer in hand. After their daughter moved cross country to Virginia Beach, they decided to make the most of their trips to visit her by exploring along the way. They have visited all 50 states.</p>
<p>Matlock said he rarely leaves the house without one of his instruments because he never knows who he might meet. While traveling through Kentucky, he had the opportunity to meet a famous dulcimer builder, and even here in Nebraska, he has found lots of people interested in building the instruments or are already doing so themselves.</p>
<p>In his free time, Matlock gives presentations about building and playing his dulcimers. He was at Chance R with the Seratoma Club on Jan. 17 giving a demonstration.</p>
<p>Matlock's dulcimers can be found at Rod's Wood Craft in Thayer for anyone interested in picking up the hobby.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Information from: York News-Times, <a href="http://www.yorknewstimes.com" type="external">http://www.yorknewstimes.com</a></p>
<p>YORK, Neb. (AP) — There isn't much Rod Matlock hasn't dabbled in within the walls of his shop. From cabinets to an airplane, and now his most recent venture, dulcimers, Matlock is not afraid to dive into any kind of wood working project.</p>
<p>In the late summer of 2016, he bought a canjo at a garage sale for $1.50, which started everything. Matlock had never seen one before, but thought it was a cool looking instrument.</p>
<p>After he brought the canjo home, his grandkids began taking an interest in playing it, so he taught himself how to play. Come Christmas, he decided to make his grandchildren canjos as presents.</p>
<p>It was only a matter of time before he began poking his nose into true dulcimers.</p>
<p>Matlock designs all of his projects on AutoCAD, which he taught himself how to use. To begin, he drew up the dulcimer project on his computer, and then he dove into building it, the <a href="http://www.yorknewstimes.com/news/the-dulcimer-man/article_1d33ee68-fa7e-11e7-bb12-5f00b00cab9d.html" type="external">York News-Times</a> reported.</p>
<p>Once he completed his first dulcimer about a year ago, he wasn't able to stop. Matlock has built 18 total dulcimers to date. He has sold some and given some away as gifts. This past Christmas, he gifted four of his nine grandchildren a hand crafted dulcimer.</p>
<p>"I can't stop building them," said Matlock, commenting on his love for the hobby.</p>
<p>A dulcimer is a fretted string instrument of the zither family. In the U.S., the instrument originated in the Appalachian region with the immigrant communities located in the mountains. There wasn't much money available, so the dulcimer grew popular because of its inexpensive design.</p>
<p>There are many different forms of dulcimer, which Matlock's collection demonstrates. He has gotten creative when it comes to the type of wood, shape, size, etc. Overall, the dulcimer is a quiet instrument, but Matlock finds it interesting to see how he can manipulate its sound by changing the construction variables, such as wood thickness.</p>
<p>He once ordered a dulcimer case off the internet, and then was shocked when it arrived as it was super tiny. Instead of sending it back, he built a dulcimer to fit the case. This smaller dulcimer creates a beautiful sound and is easy to travel with.</p>
<p>Matlock hopes to build an accordion dulcimer soon, which is essentially a double dulcimer going in opposite directions.</p>
<p>Not only did Matlock teach himself how to build the dulcimers, he has also taught himself and some of his grandchildren how to play them. This is a hobby he has enjoyed sharing with his family over the past year.</p>
<p>For Valentine's Day, he surprised his wife with flowers and a dulcimer tune while she was at work. He had not been playing the instrument very long, but he knew he wanted to do something extra special for her.</p>
<p>Matlock plays mainly hymns on the dulcimer. He practices playing every evening because he finds the sound tranquil.</p>
<p>"The good Lord just blessed me with a lot of talent," said Matlock. "This is my gospel."</p>
<p>Matlock and his wife have traveled all over the country, dulcimer in hand. After their daughter moved cross country to Virginia Beach, they decided to make the most of their trips to visit her by exploring along the way. They have visited all 50 states.</p>
<p>Matlock said he rarely leaves the house without one of his instruments because he never knows who he might meet. While traveling through Kentucky, he had the opportunity to meet a famous dulcimer builder, and even here in Nebraska, he has found lots of people interested in building the instruments or are already doing so themselves.</p>
<p>In his free time, Matlock gives presentations about building and playing his dulcimers. He was at Chance R with the Seratoma Club on Jan. 17 giving a demonstration.</p>
<p>Matlock's dulcimers can be found at Rod's Wood Craft in Thayer for anyone interested in picking up the hobby.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Information from: York News-Times, <a href="http://www.yorknewstimes.com" type="external">http://www.yorknewstimes.com</a></p>
| false | 2 |
york neb ap isnt much rod matlock hasnt dabbled within walls shop cabinets airplane recent venture dulcimers matlock afraid dive kind wood working project late summer 2016 bought canjo garage sale 150 started everything matlock never seen one thought cool looking instrument brought canjo home grandkids began taking interest playing taught play come christmas decided make grandchildren canjos presents matter time began poking nose true dulcimers matlock designs projects autocad taught use begin drew dulcimer project computer dove building york newstimes reported completed first dulcimer year ago wasnt able stop matlock built 18 total dulcimers date sold given away gifts past christmas gifted four nine grandchildren hand crafted dulcimer cant stop building said matlock commenting love hobby dulcimer fretted string instrument zither family us instrument originated appalachian region immigrant communities located mountains wasnt much money available dulcimer grew popular inexpensive design many different forms dulcimer matlocks collection demonstrates gotten creative comes type wood shape size etc overall dulcimer quiet instrument matlock finds interesting see manipulate sound changing construction variables wood thickness ordered dulcimer case internet shocked arrived super tiny instead sending back built dulcimer fit case smaller dulcimer creates beautiful sound easy travel matlock hopes build accordion dulcimer soon essentially double dulcimer going opposite directions matlock teach build dulcimers also taught grandchildren play hobby enjoyed sharing family past year valentines day surprised wife flowers dulcimer tune work playing instrument long knew wanted something extra special matlock plays mainly hymns dulcimer practices playing every evening finds sound tranquil good lord blessed lot talent said matlock gospel matlock wife traveled country dulcimer hand daughter moved cross country virginia beach decided make trips visit exploring along way visited 50 states matlock said rarely leaves house without one instruments never knows might meet traveling kentucky opportunity meet famous dulcimer builder even nebraska found lots people interested building instruments already free time matlock gives presentations building playing dulcimers chance r seratoma club jan 17 giving demonstration matlocks dulcimers found rods wood craft thayer anyone interested picking hobby ___ information york newstimes httpwwwyorknewstimescom york neb ap isnt much rod matlock hasnt dabbled within walls shop cabinets airplane recent venture dulcimers matlock afraid dive kind wood working project late summer 2016 bought canjo garage sale 150 started everything matlock never seen one thought cool looking instrument brought canjo home grandkids began taking interest playing taught play come christmas decided make grandchildren canjos presents matter time began poking nose true dulcimers matlock designs projects autocad taught use begin drew dulcimer project computer dove building york newstimes reported completed first dulcimer year ago wasnt able stop matlock built 18 total dulcimers date sold given away gifts past christmas gifted four nine grandchildren hand crafted dulcimer cant stop building said matlock commenting love hobby dulcimer fretted string instrument zither family us instrument originated appalachian region immigrant communities located mountains wasnt much money available dulcimer grew popular inexpensive design many different forms dulcimer matlocks collection demonstrates gotten creative comes type wood shape size etc overall dulcimer quiet instrument matlock finds interesting see manipulate sound changing construction variables wood thickness ordered dulcimer case internet shocked arrived super tiny instead sending back built dulcimer fit case smaller dulcimer creates beautiful sound easy travel matlock hopes build accordion dulcimer soon essentially double dulcimer going opposite directions matlock teach build dulcimers also taught grandchildren play hobby enjoyed sharing family past year valentines day surprised wife flowers dulcimer tune work playing instrument long knew wanted something extra special matlock plays mainly hymns dulcimer practices playing every evening finds sound tranquil good lord blessed lot talent said matlock gospel matlock wife traveled country dulcimer hand daughter moved cross country virginia beach decided make trips visit exploring along way visited 50 states matlock said rarely leaves house without one instruments never knows might meet traveling kentucky opportunity meet famous dulcimer builder even nebraska found lots people interested building instruments already free time matlock gives presentations building playing dulcimers chance r seratoma club jan 17 giving demonstration matlocks dulcimers found rods wood craft thayer anyone interested picking hobby ___ information york newstimes httpwwwyorknewstimescom
| 674 |
<p>NEW YORK (AP) — Toronto’s big lead was lost, and its point guard was being carried off the court after a painful fall.</p>
<p>DeMar DeRozan made sure at least the game was won.</p>
<p>DeRozan scored 35 points, including a go-ahead three-point play with 26.1 seconds left in overtime, and the Raptors shook off a late injury to Kyle Lowry to beat the Brooklyn Nets 114-113 on Monday night.</p>
<p>The Raptors blew a 10-point lead in the final 4 1/2 minutes of regulation but recovered to beat Brooklyn for the 10th straight time and win its fifth in a row overall.</p>
<p>“We rely on Kyle for everything he does for us, to be the general out there on the court,” DeRozan said. “And it’s tough when he’s not out there but we got to figure it out.”</p>
<p>Lowry got hurt when he flipped backward over the Nets’ Quincy Acy while going for an offensive rebound in OT. He got up and went back down with what appeared to be pain in both his back and legs, so much so that teammates trying to carry him off the court had to stop because it appeared Lowry was hurting too much.</p>
<p>Lowry, who crashed hard into a cameraman behind the baseline earlier in the game, had X-rays and the Raptors said he had an acute back spasm and would be re-evaluated Tuesday.</p>
<p>“He reminds me a lot of Gary Payton, who threw his body around and he has to play that way to be effective,” Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. “And we love it when he does because he was in there, getting rebounds over their guards and he got clipped on that one and hopefully he’s OK.”</p>
<p>Lowry had 18 points and 11 assists for Toronto, and Jonas Valanciunas finished with 21 points and 13 rebounds.</p>
<p>Spencer Dinwiddie scored a career-high 31 points for the Nets, but his wild shot on a last drive went over the backboard. They have played a franchise-record five straight games decided by three or fewer points, the first NBA team to do that since San Antonio late in the 2012-13 season.</p>
<p>“If these close losses turn into wins, we’re close to .500 ball,” Dinwiddie said. “We’re looking at the playoffs. There’s a different morale, different vibe, instead of always coming in here feeling a certain way about whatever happened on the court.”</p>
<p>Lowry had a run of seven straight Toronto points to keep a comfortable lead for the Raptors most of the fourth quarter. But suddenly the Nets got hot from 3-point range, and eventually tied it at 107 on Allen Crabbe’s drive to the basket with 9.7 seconds remaining. Crabbe was hurt on the play and had to be helped off.</p>
<p>Brooklyn then got the first four points of OT and appeared in good shape when Lowry left, but couldn’t hold off DeRozan.</p>
<p>“We’re going to study it and figure out, ’Hey, how can we close these games out,’” Nets coach Kenny Atkinson said. “It’s the hardest thing to do in professional sports, is close out a game.”</p>
<p>TIP-INS</p>
<p>Raptors: Serge Ibaka finished with 11 points and 12 rebounds. ... The Raptors play Cleveland and Golden State in a three-night span later this week.</p>
<p>Nets: DeMarre Carroll was held out after injuring his right knee on the final possession of Brooklyn’s loss to Boston on Saturday, but Atkinson said the Nets were fortunate the injury wasn’t worse. The starting forward is day to day.</p>
<p>DEMAR-VELOUS</p>
<p>DeRozan won Eastern Conference player of the week honors for the third time this season after averaging an NBA-high 35.7 points in three games last week, highlighted by a franchise-record 52 points in a victory over Milwaukee on Jan. 1. DeRozan also won the award for the weeks of Nov. 13-18 and Dec. 18-24.</p>
<p>RUSSELL’S RECOVERY</p>
<p>D’Angelo Russell, who had left knee surgery and has been out nearly two months, practiced with the Nets’ G League affiliate Monday. Neither Russell nor Atkinson knew when the starting guard would be ready to play for the Nets, but Russell was just glad to take part in what he said was a tough first practice after missing the last 26 games.</p>
<p>“Like I said, just getting that sweat again is what I’ve been looking for,” Russell said.</p>
<p>UP NEXT</p>
<p>Raptors: Host Miami on Tuesday.</p>
<p>Nets: Host Detroit on Wednesday.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>For more NBA coverage: <a href="" type="internal" /> <a href="" type="internal">https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball</a></p>
<p>NEW YORK (AP) — Toronto’s big lead was lost, and its point guard was being carried off the court after a painful fall.</p>
<p>DeMar DeRozan made sure at least the game was won.</p>
<p>DeRozan scored 35 points, including a go-ahead three-point play with 26.1 seconds left in overtime, and the Raptors shook off a late injury to Kyle Lowry to beat the Brooklyn Nets 114-113 on Monday night.</p>
<p>The Raptors blew a 10-point lead in the final 4 1/2 minutes of regulation but recovered to beat Brooklyn for the 10th straight time and win its fifth in a row overall.</p>
<p>“We rely on Kyle for everything he does for us, to be the general out there on the court,” DeRozan said. “And it’s tough when he’s not out there but we got to figure it out.”</p>
<p>Lowry got hurt when he flipped backward over the Nets’ Quincy Acy while going for an offensive rebound in OT. He got up and went back down with what appeared to be pain in both his back and legs, so much so that teammates trying to carry him off the court had to stop because it appeared Lowry was hurting too much.</p>
<p>Lowry, who crashed hard into a cameraman behind the baseline earlier in the game, had X-rays and the Raptors said he had an acute back spasm and would be re-evaluated Tuesday.</p>
<p>“He reminds me a lot of Gary Payton, who threw his body around and he has to play that way to be effective,” Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. “And we love it when he does because he was in there, getting rebounds over their guards and he got clipped on that one and hopefully he’s OK.”</p>
<p>Lowry had 18 points and 11 assists for Toronto, and Jonas Valanciunas finished with 21 points and 13 rebounds.</p>
<p>Spencer Dinwiddie scored a career-high 31 points for the Nets, but his wild shot on a last drive went over the backboard. They have played a franchise-record five straight games decided by three or fewer points, the first NBA team to do that since San Antonio late in the 2012-13 season.</p>
<p>“If these close losses turn into wins, we’re close to .500 ball,” Dinwiddie said. “We’re looking at the playoffs. There’s a different morale, different vibe, instead of always coming in here feeling a certain way about whatever happened on the court.”</p>
<p>Lowry had a run of seven straight Toronto points to keep a comfortable lead for the Raptors most of the fourth quarter. But suddenly the Nets got hot from 3-point range, and eventually tied it at 107 on Allen Crabbe’s drive to the basket with 9.7 seconds remaining. Crabbe was hurt on the play and had to be helped off.</p>
<p>Brooklyn then got the first four points of OT and appeared in good shape when Lowry left, but couldn’t hold off DeRozan.</p>
<p>“We’re going to study it and figure out, ’Hey, how can we close these games out,’” Nets coach Kenny Atkinson said. “It’s the hardest thing to do in professional sports, is close out a game.”</p>
<p>TIP-INS</p>
<p>Raptors: Serge Ibaka finished with 11 points and 12 rebounds. ... The Raptors play Cleveland and Golden State in a three-night span later this week.</p>
<p>Nets: DeMarre Carroll was held out after injuring his right knee on the final possession of Brooklyn’s loss to Boston on Saturday, but Atkinson said the Nets were fortunate the injury wasn’t worse. The starting forward is day to day.</p>
<p>DEMAR-VELOUS</p>
<p>DeRozan won Eastern Conference player of the week honors for the third time this season after averaging an NBA-high 35.7 points in three games last week, highlighted by a franchise-record 52 points in a victory over Milwaukee on Jan. 1. DeRozan also won the award for the weeks of Nov. 13-18 and Dec. 18-24.</p>
<p>RUSSELL’S RECOVERY</p>
<p>D’Angelo Russell, who had left knee surgery and has been out nearly two months, practiced with the Nets’ G League affiliate Monday. Neither Russell nor Atkinson knew when the starting guard would be ready to play for the Nets, but Russell was just glad to take part in what he said was a tough first practice after missing the last 26 games.</p>
<p>“Like I said, just getting that sweat again is what I’ve been looking for,” Russell said.</p>
<p>UP NEXT</p>
<p>Raptors: Host Miami on Tuesday.</p>
<p>Nets: Host Detroit on Wednesday.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>For more NBA coverage: <a href="" type="internal" /> <a href="" type="internal">https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball</a></p>
| false | 2 |
new york ap torontos big lead lost point guard carried court painful fall demar derozan made sure least game derozan scored 35 points including goahead threepoint play 261 seconds left overtime raptors shook late injury kyle lowry beat brooklyn nets 114113 monday night raptors blew 10point lead final 4 12 minutes regulation recovered beat brooklyn 10th straight time win fifth row overall rely kyle everything us general court derozan said tough hes got figure lowry got hurt flipped backward nets quincy acy going offensive rebound ot got went back appeared pain back legs much teammates trying carry court stop appeared lowry hurting much lowry crashed hard cameraman behind baseline earlier game xrays raptors said acute back spasm would reevaluated tuesday reminds lot gary payton threw body around play way effective raptors coach dwane casey said love getting rebounds guards got clipped one hopefully hes ok lowry 18 points 11 assists toronto jonas valanciunas finished 21 points 13 rebounds spencer dinwiddie scored careerhigh 31 points nets wild shot last drive went backboard played franchiserecord five straight games decided three fewer points first nba team since san antonio late 201213 season close losses turn wins close 500 ball dinwiddie said looking playoffs theres different morale different vibe instead always coming feeling certain way whatever happened court lowry run seven straight toronto points keep comfortable lead raptors fourth quarter suddenly nets got hot 3point range eventually tied 107 allen crabbes drive basket 97 seconds remaining crabbe hurt play helped brooklyn got first four points ot appeared good shape lowry left couldnt hold derozan going study figure hey close games nets coach kenny atkinson said hardest thing professional sports close game tipins raptors serge ibaka finished 11 points 12 rebounds raptors play cleveland golden state threenight span later week nets demarre carroll held injuring right knee final possession brooklyns loss boston saturday atkinson said nets fortunate injury wasnt worse starting forward day day demarvelous derozan eastern conference player week honors third time season averaging nbahigh 357 points three games last week highlighted franchiserecord 52 points victory milwaukee jan 1 derozan also award weeks nov 1318 dec 1824 russells recovery dangelo russell left knee surgery nearly two months practiced nets g league affiliate monday neither russell atkinson knew starting guard would ready play nets russell glad take part said tough first practice missing last 26 games like said getting sweat ive looking russell said next raptors host miami tuesday nets host detroit wednesday ___ nba coverage httpsapnewscomtagnbabasketball new york ap torontos big lead lost point guard carried court painful fall demar derozan made sure least game derozan scored 35 points including goahead threepoint play 261 seconds left overtime raptors shook late injury kyle lowry beat brooklyn nets 114113 monday night raptors blew 10point lead final 4 12 minutes regulation recovered beat brooklyn 10th straight time win fifth row overall rely kyle everything us general court derozan said tough hes got figure lowry got hurt flipped backward nets quincy acy going offensive rebound ot got went back appeared pain back legs much teammates trying carry court stop appeared lowry hurting much lowry crashed hard cameraman behind baseline earlier game xrays raptors said acute back spasm would reevaluated tuesday reminds lot gary payton threw body around play way effective raptors coach dwane casey said love getting rebounds guards got clipped one hopefully hes ok lowry 18 points 11 assists toronto jonas valanciunas finished 21 points 13 rebounds spencer dinwiddie scored careerhigh 31 points nets wild shot last drive went backboard played franchiserecord five straight games decided three fewer points first nba team since san antonio late 201213 season close losses turn wins close 500 ball dinwiddie said looking playoffs theres different morale different vibe instead always coming feeling certain way whatever happened court lowry run seven straight toronto points keep comfortable lead raptors fourth quarter suddenly nets got hot 3point range eventually tied 107 allen crabbes drive basket 97 seconds remaining crabbe hurt play helped brooklyn got first four points ot appeared good shape lowry left couldnt hold derozan going study figure hey close games nets coach kenny atkinson said hardest thing professional sports close game tipins raptors serge ibaka finished 11 points 12 rebounds raptors play cleveland golden state threenight span later week nets demarre carroll held injuring right knee final possession brooklyns loss boston saturday atkinson said nets fortunate injury wasnt worse starting forward day day demarvelous derozan eastern conference player week honors third time season averaging nbahigh 357 points three games last week highlighted franchiserecord 52 points victory milwaukee jan 1 derozan also award weeks nov 1318 dec 1824 russells recovery dangelo russell left knee surgery nearly two months practiced nets g league affiliate monday neither russell atkinson knew starting guard would ready play nets russell glad take part said tough first practice missing last 26 games like said getting sweat ive looking russell said next raptors host miami tuesday nets host detroit wednesday ___ nba coverage httpsapnewscomtagnbabasketball
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<p />
<p>Plenty of people have tuned out after all the political jabber and website woes.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>But now is the time to tune back in, before it's too late.</p>
<p>The big deadline is coming March 31. By that day nearly everyone in the United States is required to be signed up for health insurance or risk paying a fine.</p>
<p>Here's what you need to know about this month's open enrollment countdown:</p>
<p>Already covered? No worries</p>
<p>A page on HealthCare.gov photographed Saturday includes a reminder that the last day of open enrollment for health insurance is March 31. The Obama administration is making a push to inform people about the deadline. (AP Photo/Jon Elswick)</p>
<p>Most people don't need to do anything. Even before the health care law passed in 2010, more than 8 out of 10 U.S. residents had coverage, usually through their workplace plans or the government's Medicare or Medicaid programs. Some have private policies that meet the law's requirements.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>If you're already covered that way, you meet the law's requirements.</p>
<p>Since October, about 4 million people have signed up for private plans through the new state and federal marketplaces, the Obama administration says, although it's not clear how many were already insured elsewhere. In addition, many poor adults now have Medicaid coverage for the first time through expansions of the program in about half the states.</p>
<p>Need coverage? It's crunch time</p>
<p>Chances are you'll hear more reminders about health care this month. The push is on to reach millions of uninsured people.</p>
<p>On Thursday, Obama will participate in a televised town hall aimed at reaching uninsured Hispanics, who make up nearly a third of all uninsured people nationally. The White House said the event is sponsored by a coalition of nonprofit groups and major Latino media outlets, and will be disseminated across broadcast stations, websites and social media.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Wooing Hispanics is a priority, but it's just one component of a broader effort by the administration, insurers, medical associations and nonprofit groups to get the word out and guide people through the sometimes-rocky enrollment process. They plan special events at colleges, libraries, churches and work sites.</p>
<p>Singing cats, dogs, parrots - even a goldfish - are promoting the message in TV and online spots from the Ad Council.</p>
<p>A big hurdle for the effort: As recently as last month, three-fourths of the uninsured didn't know there was a March 31 deadline, according to polling conducted for the Kaiser Family Foundation. Most said they didn't know much about the law and had an unfavorable opinion of it.</p>
<p>Plus, many worry they won't be able to afford the new plans.</p>
<p>The enrollment campaign is emphasizing that subsidies are available on a sliding scale to help low-income and middle-class households pay for their insurance.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>How to enroll? Start at HealthCare.gov or by calling 1-800-318-2596. Residents of states running their own marketplaces will be directed there; people in other states go through the federal exchange.</p>
<p>After March 31, many people won't be able to get subsidized coverage this year, even if they become seriously ill.</p>
<p>The next open enrollment period is set to begin Nov. 15, for coverage in 2015.</p>
<p>Deadline details</p>
<p>There are exceptions. The big one is the Medicaid program for the poor. People who meet the requirements can sign up anytime, with no deadline. Also, people remain eligible for Medicare whenever they turn 65.</p>
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<p>If you are insured now and lose your coverage during the year, by getting laid off from your job, for example, you can use an exchange to find a new policy then. People can sign up outside the open enrollment period in special situations such as having a baby or moving to another state.</p>
<p>You can choose to buy insurance outside the marketplaces and still benefit from consumer protections in the law.</p>
<p>People who do that wouldn't normally be eligible for premium subsidies. But the Obama administration says exceptions will be made for people whose attempts to buy marketplace insurance on time were stymied by continuing problems with some enrollment websites.</p>
<p>Millions of people won't get covered</p>
<p>Some 12 million people could gain health coverage this year because of the law, if congressional auditors' predictions don't prove overly optimistic.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Even so, tens of millions still would go without.</p>
<p>That's partly because of immigrants in the country illegally; they aren't eligible for marketplace policies.</p>
<p>Some of the uninsured will not find out about the program in time, will find it confusing or too costly, or will just procrastinate too long. Some feel confident of their health and prefer to risk going uninsured instead of paying premiums. Others are philosophically opposed to participating.</p>
<p>Figuring out just how many of the uninsured got coverage this year won't be easy because the numbers are fuzzy.</p>
<p>The administration's enrollment count includes people who already were insured and used the exchanges to find a better deal, or switched from private insurance to Medicaid, or already qualified for Medicaid before the changes.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Some who sign up will end up uninsured anyway, if they fail to pay their premiums.</p>
<p>The budget experts predict enrollment will grow in future years and by 2017 some 92 percent of legal residents too young for Medicare will have insurance.</p>
<p>But even then, about 30 million people in the United States would go uncovered.</p>
<p>Some are left out</p>
<p>A gap in the law means some low-income workers can't get help.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>The insurance marketplaces weren't designed to serve people whose low incomes qualify them for expanded Medicaid instead. But some states have declined to expand their Medicaid programs. That means that in those states, many poor people will get left out.</p>
<p>People who fall into the gap won't be penalized for failing to get covered.</p>
<p>The IRS is watching</p>
<p>The law says people who aren't covered in 2014 are liable for a fine. That amounts to $95 per uninsured person or approximately 1 percent of income, whichever is higher.</p>
<p>A year from now, the Internal Revenue Service will be asking taxpayers filing their forms for proof of insurance coverage. Insurance companies are supposed to provide that documentation to their customers.</p>
<p />
<p />
| false | 2 |
plenty people tuned political jabber website woes advertisement time tune back late big deadline coming march 31 day nearly everyone united states required signed health insurance risk paying fine heres need know months open enrollment countdown already covered worries page healthcaregov photographed saturday includes reminder last day open enrollment health insurance march 31 obama administration making push inform people deadline ap photojon elswick people dont need anything even health care law passed 2010 8 10 us residents coverage usually workplace plans governments medicare medicaid programs private policies meet laws requirements advertisement youre already covered way meet laws requirements since october 4 million people signed private plans new state federal marketplaces obama administration says although clear many already insured elsewhere addition many poor adults medicaid coverage first time expansions program half states need coverage crunch time chances youll hear reminders health care month push reach millions uninsured people thursday obama participate televised town hall aimed reaching uninsured hispanics make nearly third uninsured people nationally white house said event sponsored coalition nonprofit groups major latino media outlets disseminated across broadcast stations websites social media advertisement wooing hispanics priority one component broader effort administration insurers medical associations nonprofit groups get word guide people sometimesrocky enrollment process plan special events colleges libraries churches work sites singing cats dogs parrots even goldfish promoting message tv online spots ad council big hurdle effort recently last month threefourths uninsured didnt know march 31 deadline according polling conducted kaiser family foundation said didnt know much law unfavorable opinion plus many worry wont able afford new plans enrollment campaign emphasizing subsidies available sliding scale help lowincome middleclass households pay insurance advertisement enroll start healthcaregov calling 18003182596 residents states running marketplaces directed people states go federal exchange march 31 many people wont able get subsidized coverage year even become seriously ill next open enrollment period set begin nov 15 coverage 2015 deadline details exceptions big one medicaid program poor people meet requirements sign anytime deadline also people remain eligible medicare whenever turn 65 advertisement insured lose coverage year getting laid job example use exchange find new policy people sign outside open enrollment period special situations baby moving another state choose buy insurance outside marketplaces still benefit consumer protections law people wouldnt normally eligible premium subsidies obama administration says exceptions made people whose attempts buy marketplace insurance time stymied continuing problems enrollment websites millions people wont get covered 12 million people could gain health coverage year law congressional auditors predictions dont prove overly optimistic advertisement even tens millions still would go without thats partly immigrants country illegally arent eligible marketplace policies uninsured find program time find confusing costly procrastinate long feel confident health prefer risk going uninsured instead paying premiums others philosophically opposed participating figuring many uninsured got coverage year wont easy numbers fuzzy administrations enrollment count includes people already insured used exchanges find better deal switched private insurance medicaid already qualified medicaid changes advertisement sign end uninsured anyway fail pay premiums budget experts predict enrollment grow future years 2017 92 percent legal residents young medicare insurance even 30 million people united states would go uncovered left gap law means lowincome workers cant get help advertisement insurance marketplaces werent designed serve people whose low incomes qualify expanded medicaid instead states declined expand medicaid programs means states many poor people get left people fall gap wont penalized failing get covered irs watching law says people arent covered 2014 liable fine amounts 95 per uninsured person approximately 1 percent income whichever higher year internal revenue service asking taxpayers filing forms proof insurance coverage insurance companies supposed provide documentation customers
| 596 |
<p>Jan 23 (Reuters) - ARKAN AL KUWAIT REAL ESTATE COMPANY :</p>
<p>* SIGNS INTIAL AGREEMENT TO BUY PROPERTY WORTH 3.9 MILLION DINARS AT WEST ABU FUTAIRA Source: ( <a href="http://bit.ly/2G6Vbzh" type="external">bit.ly/2G6Vbzh</a>) Further company coverage: )</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>SINGAPORE/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Ride-hailing firm Uber Technologies Inc [UBER.UL] has agreed to sell its Southeast Asian business to bigger regional rival Grab, the firms said on Monday, marking the U.S. company’s second retreat from an Asian market.</p> A ComfortDelgro taxi passes Uber and Grab offices in Singapore March 26, 2018. REUTERS/Edgar Su
<p>The industry’s first big consolidation in Southeast Asia, home to about 640 million people, puts pressure on Indonesia’s Go-Jek, which is backed by Alphabet Inc’s ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=GOOGL.O" type="external">GOOGL.O</a>) Google and China’s Tencent Holdings Ltd ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=0700.HK" type="external">0700.HK</a>).</p>
<p>A shake-up in Asia’s fiercely competitive ride-hailing industry became likely earlier this year when Japan-based SoftBank Group Corp’s ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=9984.T" type="external">9984.T</a>) Vision Fund made a multi-billion dollar investment in Uber.</p>
<p>“It was really a very independent decision by both companies,” Grab President Ming Maa told Reuters, adding that SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son was “highly supportive”.</p>
<p>Uber will take a 27.5 percent stake in Singapore-based Grab and Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi will join Grab’s board. Grab was last valued at an estimated $6 billion.</p>
<p>“It will help us double down on our plans for growth as we invest heavily in our products and technology,” Khosrowshahi said in a statement.</p> Related Coverage
<a href="/article/us-uber-grab-strategy/grab-says-uber-deal-driven-independently-by-firms-has-softbank-support-idUSKBN1H20A8" type="external">Grab says Uber deal driven independently by firms, has SoftBank support</a>
<p>For Grab, the deal will help its meal-delivery service, which will now merge with Uber Eats, compete with Go-Jek, according to a person close to Grab.</p>
<p>Go-Jek is a dominant player in Indonesia, the region’s biggest economy, and has rapidly expanded beyond ride hailing to digital payments, food delivery, on-demand cleaning and massage.</p>
<p>“Go-Jek is such a different app, with different behaviors, it is something I can’t see Grab competing with well in Indonesia for a long time, like at least a year,” said Vinnie Lauria, partner at Southeast Asia’s Golden Gate Ventures.</p>
<p>Ride-hailing companies throughout Asia have relied heavily on discounts and promotions, driving down profit margins and increasing pressure for consolidation.</p>
<p>Uber, which is preparing for a potential initial public offering in 2019, lost $4.5 billion last year and is facing fierce competition as well as a regulatory crackdown in Europe.</p>
<p>Uber invested $700 million in its Southeast Asia business, less than the $2 billion it burned through in China before ceding its operations there to Didi.</p> Slideshow (5 Images) MORE CONSOLIDATION
<p>Uber anticipated making more deals with rivals, but said it had no plans to do another sale in which it consolidates its operations in exchange for a minority stake in a rival.</p>
<p>“It is fair to ask whether consolidation is now the strategy of the day, given this is the third deal of its kind ... The answer is no,” Khosrowshahi said in a note to employees that was shared with Reuters.</p>
<p>“One of the potential dangers of our global strategy is that we take on too many battles across too many fronts and with too many competitors.”</p>
<a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=GOOGL.O" type="external">Alphabet Inc</a> 1026.55 GOOGL.O Nasdaq +0.00 (+0.00%) GOOGL.O 0700.HK 9984.T
<p>A source familiar with Uber’s strategy said the company was going to step up its battle with Ola in India, another competitive and costly market where rivals have heavily subsidized rides in an effort to gain market share. Uber has close to 60 percent of the market there, by some estimates.</p>
<p>India accounts for more than 10 percent of Uber’s trips globally, but the company is not making money there yet.</p>
<p>“Southeast Asia was really difficult for Uber. In India, that competition is not across so many different fronts,” Lauria said.</p>
<p>Uber previously retreated from China and Russia under former CEO Travis Kalanick. The deal with Grab is the first operations sale by Khosrowshahi, who started in September.</p>
<p>Rajeev Misra, chief executive of SoftBank’s Vision Fund, had urged the company to focus less on Asia and more on profitable markets such as Latin America, according to a person familiar with the matter.</p>
<p>He saw opportunities for mergers and joint ventures between SoftBank-backed ride-hailing companies, particularly for collaborating on R&amp;D, but the investor would never get actively involved with management decisions, the person said.</p>
<p>SoftBank is also one of the main investors in other ride-hailing firms including China’s Didi Chuxing and India’s Ola.</p>
<p>Uber includes the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Latin America among its core markets – regions where it has more than 50 percent market share and is profitable or sees a path to profitability.</p>
<p>A Grab spokeswoman said all Uber employees in its Southeast Asia operations would be offered employment in Grab.</p>
<p>Reporting by Aradhana Aravindan in Singapore and Heather Somerville in San Francisco; Writing by Miyoung Kim; Editing by Edwina Gibbs and Stephen Coates</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An adult-film actress who claims she had sex with Donald Trump before he was president said on Sunday she had been threatened in 2011 while in a parking lot with her infant daughter to discourage her from discussing the relationship.</p>
<p>Stormy Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, told CBS News’ “60 Minutes” that she was on her way to a fitness class with her child when an unknown man approached her, according to a transcript of the interview released on Sunday.</p>
<p>“And a guy walked up on me and said to me, ‘Leave Trump alone. Forget the story.’ And then he leaned around and looked at my daughter and said, ‘That’s a beautiful little girl. It’d be a shame if something happened to her mom.’ And then he was gone,” Daniels said.</p>
<p>Daniels sued the president on March 6, stating Trump never signed an agreement for her to keep quiet about an “intimate” relationship between them.</p>
<p>White House aides did not respond immediately to requests for comment after the interview aired.</p>
<p>Trump did not respond to reporters’ shouted questions about whether he would watch the interview when he returned to the White House from Florida on Sunday evening.</p>
<p>Daniels’ appearance represented back-to-back trouble for Trump after an interview broadcast last week on CNN with former Playboy model Karen McDougal, who described a 10-month-long affair with Trump starting in 2006.</p>
<p>Trump would have been married to his wife, Melania, during both the alleged extramarital relationships. The first lady accompanied him this weekend to his Florida golf club. A White House spokeswoman said Melania stayed behind, as is her custom during their son’s school holiday.</p> NOT ATTRACTED
<p>Daniels told “60 Minutes” she and Trump had had sexual relations only once, but that she had seen him on other occasions and he had kept in touch with her.</p> Stormy Daniels, an adult film star and director whose real name is Stephanie Clifford is interviewed by Anderson Cooper of CBS News' 60 Minutes program in early March 2018, in a still image from video provided March 25, 2018. CBSNews/60 MINUTES/Handout via REUTERS.
<p>She said she was not attracted to Trump, who was 60 at the time. Daniels was 27 in 2006.</p>
<p>The White House has denied he had an affair with Daniels, although Trump’s lawyer Michael Cohen said he paid her $130,000 of his own money during the 2016 presidential election campaign.</p>
<p>The payment could pose a legal problem. Watchdog groups have filed complaints with the Department of Justice and Federal Election Commission, saying that it may have violated campaign finance law by exceeding the limit on the size of a contribution.</p> Slideshow (3 Images)
<p>Cohen, who has denied that there was an affair, has not explained why he made the payment or said whether Trump was aware of it.</p>
<p>After the interview screened, Cohen’s lawyer Brent Blakely wrote to Daniels’ attorney to say she made false and defamatory comments, “namely that he (Cohen) was responsible for an alleged thug who supposedly visited” and threatened her.</p>
<p>“In truth, Mr. Cohen had absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with any such person or incident, and does not even believe that any such person exists, or that such incident ever occurred,” Blakely said in the letter.</p>
<p>Daniels and her attorney would not discuss in the interview whether they had text messages or other materials that might verify her story.</p>
<p>She was asked why she repeatedly signed statements denying the relationship with Trump, and acknowledged that there could be questions about her credibility.</p>
<p>“I felt intimidated and ... honestly bullied. And I didn’t know what to do. And so I signed it,” Daniels said.</p>
<p>Asked why viewers could be confident now that she was telling the truth, she said: “Cause I have no reason to lie. I’m opening myself up for, you know, possible danger, and definitely a whole lot of s***,” she said.</p>
<p>Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Additional reporting by David Lawder, Sarah Lynch, Steve Holland and Jim Oliphant in WASHINGTON, and Karen Freifeld in NEW YORK; Editing by Caren Bohan, Grant McCool and Paul Tait</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>SYDNEY (Reuters) - Asian shares were hammered again on Monday as fears of a trade war between the United States and China took their toll, but the safe haven yen came off its highs and U.S. stock futures climbed as investors saw some light at the end of the tunnel.</p> People walk past an electronic board showing Japan's Nikkei average outside a brokerage at a business district in Tokyo, Japan August 9, 2017. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon
<p>Global markets were shaken when U.S. President Donald Trump moved to slap tariffs on Chinese goods, on top of import duties on steel and aluminum, prompting a defiant response from Beijing.</p>
<p>But E-Mini futures for the S&amp;P 500 .ESc1 brushed off the gloom on Monday to leap 0.6 percent on reports the United States and China have quietly started negotiating to improve U.S. access to Chinese markets.</p>
<p>The United States also agreed to exempt South Korea from steel tariffs, imposing instead a quota on steel imports as the two countries renegotiate their trade deal.</p>
<p>“If we do start to hear more favorable news from the U.S. administration and indeed from the Chinese side over the next few trading sessions, then we may see a sharp reversal of the recent moves in the market,” said Nick Twidale, chief operating officer at Rakuten Securities Australia.</p>
<p>The positive headlines were little consolation for Asian shares which were left nursing their wounds.</p>
<p>Japan's Nikkei <a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.N225" type="external">.N225</a> trimmed early losses but were still down 0.4 percent. Chinese shares declined about 1.7 percent. SSEC <a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.CSI300" type="external">.CSI300</a></p>
<p>MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS slipped 0.4 percent for its fourth consecutive day in the red.</p>
<p>The index is headed for its first quarterly decline since late 2016 as the risk of faster U.S. rate rises and a trade war spooked investors who had enjoyed a multi-year bull run.</p>
<p>South Korea's benchmark share index <a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.KS11" type="external">.KS11</a> rose 0.3 percent, one of only three markets in positive territory. "Protectionism remains a source of volatility and downside risk for equities," analysts at JPMorgan said in a note.</p>
<p>“Asia ex-Japan equity outperformance is in part a function of faster growth and capital inflows - both clearly at risk in a trade war.”</p>
<a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.N225" type="external">Nikkei Inc</a> 20766.1 .N225 Nikkei Index +148.24 (+0.72%) .N225 .CSI300 .KS11 IN SEARCH OF SAFETY
<p>In the uncertain global economic climate, investors looked to pile into the Japanese yen <a href="/finance/currencies/quote?srcCurr=JPY&amp;destCurr=USD" type="external">JPY=</a>, traditionally a safe haven asset thanks to the country's massive current account surplus.</p>
<p>Speculators added short dollar bets to their portfolios, taking the net short position to its highest in more than a year, according to calculations by Reuters and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission for the week to March 20.Short yen positions were cut to the smallest since November 2016.</p>
<p>By late Asian trade, the yen had eased slightly from near 16-month highs to 104.90 per dollar while the Australian and New Zealand dollars, a liquid proxy for China plays, staged a welcome rebound.</p>
<p>The Aussie <a href="/finance/currencies/quote?srcCurr=AUD&amp;destCurr=USD" type="external">AUD=</a> was up 0.3 percent while the kiwi <a href="/finance/currencies/quote?srcCurr=NZD&amp;destCurr=USD" type="external">NZD=</a> gained 0.6 percent.</p>
<p>The dollar index .DXY tracking the greenback against six other major currencies was near a one-month low at 89.423.</p>
<p>In commodities, international Brent crude futures LCOcv1 opened above $70 per barrel for the first time since January but the gains could not be sustained as the ongoing trade disputes weighed on global markets. [O/R]</p>
<p>Spot gold XAU= was flat at $1,346.8199 an ounce.</p>
<p>Reporting by Swati Pandey; Editing by Eric Meijer</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan’s first lady, Akie Abe, once known mainly for embracing progressive causes that put her at odds with her conservative spouse, is now in the hot seat as doubts revive about a murky land sale to a nationalist school to which she had ties.</p> FILE PHOTO - Akie Abe, wife of Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, speaks during an interview with Reuters at the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo September 4, 2014. REUTERS/Toru Hanai/File Photo
<p>The daughter of a confectionary magnate, Abe has tried to carve out a U.S.-style public “First Lady” role in a land where political wives typically stay in the shadows. But that approach comes with risks, acquaintances and experts say.</p>
<p>“Her ideas and those of other wives of prime ministers are different,” said Yu Toyonaga, head of a non-profit organization promoting organic rice, who has done volunteer work with Akie Abe. “Rather than being a woman who is ‘useful’ within a male-dominated society, she wants to interact ... as an autonomous person.”</p>
<p>Opposition parties are demanding she testify in parliament about her ties to Moritomo Gakuen, the nationalist school operator whose deeply discounted purchase of state-owned land is at the heart of a suspected cronyism scandal and possible cover-up that has sliced Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s support ratings.</p>
<p>The finance ministry admitted on March 12 that it had altered documents about the deal, including removing references to Akie Abe. Her husband has denied he or his wife intervened in the sale or that he ordered a cover-up.</p>
<p>The prime minister is opposed to her testifying, but 62 percent of respondents to a Nikkei business daily poll published on Monday said she should answer questions in parliament. The survey showed Abe’s support sank to 42 percent while those opposed to his cabinet jumped to 49 percent.</p>
<p>Akie Abe, 55, has made waves since her husband returned to office in 2012 for a second term with activities that include taking part in an LGBT rights parade, opposing nuclear power, and visiting protesters against a planned U.S. military facility on Okinawa - all positions that resonate with liberals.</p>
<p>She also runs a tiny organic restaurant and has spoken in favor of legalizing marijuana for medical use.</p> PARADOXICAL VIEWS
<p>Such progressive views won her the nickname “domestic opposition,” and helped soften Shinzo Abe’s own hawkish image.</p>
<p>Akie Abe has also, however, at times publicly aligned more closely with her husband’s conservative views.</p> FILE PHOTO - Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his wife Akie Abe visit a former home of Chiune Sugihara, a Jew-saving Japanese diplomat, in Kaunas, Lithuania January 14, 2018. REUTERS/Ints Kalnins/File Photo
<p>She has visited Tokyo’s Yasukuni Shrine for war dead, seen by China and South Korea as a symbol of Japan’s past militarism because it also honors World War Two leaders convicted as war criminals by an Allied tribunal.</p>
<p>Abe visited Yasukuni once in December 2013 but has since stayed away to avoid angering Beijing and Seoul.</p>
<p>Until the scandal broke last year, Akie Abe was set to become honorary principal of an elementary school that Moritomo Gakuen planned to open in western Japan on the discounted land. She also visited a kindergarten run by Moritomo whose curriculum had echoes of pre-war nationalist education centered on the emperor.</p> Slideshow (2 Images)
<p>Those who know Abe see nothing surprising in her holding seemingly paradoxical views. “She doesn’t act based on theory or logic, but from the heart,” said non-profit president Toyonaga.</p>
<p>Since the Moritomo scandal burst onto the political scene this month, she has not commented directly on the matter.</p>
<p>Akie Abe has been criticized for her seeming clueless about the situation in which she finds herself.</p>
<p>On the evening of March 9 - the day media reported police were investigating as a possible suicide the death of a finance official at the local bureau handling the land deal - Akie Abe attended a party hosted by a Japanese celebrity, according to a photo posted on the celebrity’s Instagram account, local media reported. The photo does not now appear on that Instagram feed.</p>
<p>Also on March 9, she posted on Facebook photos of herself smiling at an International Women’s Day art fair the previous day. Some comments posted in response called her “thoughtless” and a “murderer,” while other expressed support.</p>
<p>Some critics have suggested she should lay low now.</p>
<p>“Many people are fascinated by Mrs. Akie’s free-style life that doesn’t fit the mold of previous first ladies,” reporter Makiko Takita, a woman, wrote in the conservative Sankei newspaper.</p>
<p>“But now the administration is in a tight spot and her inappropriate words and actions are ... pulling the rug out from under it,” Takita added. “This is overstepping the bounds towards the prime minister’s wife, but wouldn’t it be a good idea to restrain your activities?”</p>
<p>reporting by Linda Sieg; Editing by Gerry Doyle</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
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jan 23 reuters arkan al kuwait real estate company signs intial agreement buy property worth 39 million dinars west abu futaira source bitly2g6vbzh company coverage standards thomson reuters trust principles singaporesan francisco reuters ridehailing firm uber technologies inc uberul agreed sell southeast asian business bigger regional rival grab firms said monday marking us companys second retreat asian market comfortdelgro taxi passes uber grab offices singapore march 26 2018 reutersedgar su industrys first big consolidation southeast asia home 640 million people puts pressure indonesias gojek backed alphabet incs googlo google chinas tencent holdings ltd 0700hk shakeup asias fiercely competitive ridehailing industry became likely earlier year japanbased softbank group corps 9984t vision fund made multibillion dollar investment uber really independent decision companies grab president ming maa told reuters adding softbank ceo masayoshi son highly supportive uber take 275 percent stake singaporebased grab uber ceo dara khosrowshahi join grabs board grab last valued estimated 6 billion help us double plans growth invest heavily products technology khosrowshahi said statement related coverage grab says uber deal driven independently firms softbank support grab deal help mealdelivery service merge uber eats compete gojek according person close grab gojek dominant player indonesia regions biggest economy rapidly expanded beyond ride hailing digital payments food delivery ondemand cleaning massage gojek different app different behaviors something cant see grab competing well indonesia long time like least year said vinnie lauria partner southeast asias golden gate ventures ridehailing companies throughout asia relied heavily discounts promotions driving profit margins increasing pressure consolidation uber preparing potential initial public offering 2019 lost 45 billion last year facing fierce competition well regulatory crackdown europe uber invested 700 million southeast asia business less 2 billion burned china ceding operations didi slideshow 5 images consolidation uber anticipated making deals rivals said plans another sale consolidates operations exchange minority stake rival fair ask whether consolidation strategy day given third deal kind answer khosrowshahi said note employees shared reuters one potential dangers global strategy take many battles across many fronts many competitors alphabet inc 102655 googlo nasdaq 000 000 googlo 0700hk 9984t source familiar ubers strategy said company going step battle ola india another competitive costly market rivals heavily subsidized rides effort gain market share uber close 60 percent market estimates india accounts 10 percent ubers trips globally company making money yet southeast asia really difficult uber india competition across many different fronts lauria said uber previously retreated china russia former ceo travis kalanick deal grab first operations sale khosrowshahi started september rajeev misra chief executive softbanks vision fund urged company focus less asia profitable markets latin america according person familiar matter saw opportunities mergers joint ventures softbankbacked ridehailing companies particularly collaborating rampd investor would never get actively involved management decisions person said softbank also one main investors ridehailing firms including chinas didi chuxing indias ola uber includes united states australia new zealand latin america among core markets regions 50 percent market share profitable sees path profitability grab spokeswoman said uber employees southeast asia operations would offered employment grab reporting aradhana aravindan singapore heather somerville san francisco writing miyoung kim editing edwina gibbs stephen coates standards thomson reuters trust principles washington reuters adultfilm actress claims sex donald trump president said sunday threatened 2011 parking lot infant daughter discourage discussing relationship stormy daniels whose real name stephanie clifford told cbs news 60 minutes way fitness class child unknown man approached according transcript interview released sunday guy walked said leave trump alone forget story leaned around looked daughter said thats beautiful little girl itd shame something happened mom gone daniels said daniels sued president march 6 stating trump never signed agreement keep quiet intimate relationship white house aides respond immediately requests comment interview aired trump respond reporters shouted questions whether would watch interview returned white house florida sunday evening daniels appearance represented backtoback trouble trump interview broadcast last week cnn former playboy model karen mcdougal described 10monthlong affair trump starting 2006 trump would married wife melania alleged extramarital relationships first lady accompanied weekend florida golf club white house spokeswoman said melania stayed behind custom sons school holiday attracted daniels told 60 minutes trump sexual relations seen occasions kept touch stormy daniels adult film star director whose real name stephanie clifford interviewed anderson cooper cbs news 60 minutes program early march 2018 still image video provided march 25 2018 cbsnews60 minuteshandout via reuters said attracted trump 60 time daniels 27 2006 white house denied affair daniels although trumps lawyer michael cohen said paid 130000 money 2016 presidential election campaign payment could pose legal problem watchdog groups filed complaints department justice federal election commission saying may violated campaign finance law exceeding limit size contribution slideshow 3 images cohen denied affair explained made payment said whether trump aware interview screened cohens lawyer brent blakely wrote daniels attorney say made false defamatory comments namely cohen responsible alleged thug supposedly visited threatened truth mr cohen absolutely nothing whatsoever person incident even believe person exists incident ever occurred blakely said letter daniels attorney would discuss interview whether text messages materials might verify story asked repeatedly signed statements denying relationship trump acknowledged could questions credibility felt intimidated honestly bullied didnt know signed daniels said asked viewers could confident telling truth said cause reason lie im opening know possible danger definitely whole lot said reporting patricia zengerle additional reporting david lawder sarah lynch steve holland jim oliphant washington karen freifeld new york editing caren bohan grant mccool paul tait standards thomson reuters trust principles sydney reuters asian shares hammered monday fears trade war united states china took toll safe yen came highs us stock futures climbed investors saw light end tunnel people walk past electronic board showing japans nikkei average outside brokerage business district tokyo japan august 9 2017 reuterskim kyunghoon global markets shaken us president donald trump moved slap tariffs chinese goods top import duties steel aluminum prompting defiant response beijing emini futures sampp 500 esc1 brushed gloom monday leap 06 percent reports united states china quietly started negotiating improve us access chinese markets united states also agreed exempt south korea steel tariffs imposing instead quota steel imports two countries renegotiate trade deal start hear favorable news us administration indeed chinese side next trading sessions may see sharp reversal recent moves market said nick twidale chief operating officer rakuten securities australia positive headlines little consolation asian shares left nursing wounds japans nikkei n225 trimmed early losses still 04 percent chinese shares declined 17 percent ssec csi300 mscis broadest index asiapacific shares outside japan miapj0000pus slipped 04 percent fourth consecutive day red index headed first quarterly decline since late 2016 risk faster us rate rises trade war spooked investors enjoyed multiyear bull run south koreas benchmark share index ks11 rose 03 percent one three markets positive territory protectionism remains source volatility downside risk equities analysts jpmorgan said note asia exjapan equity outperformance part function faster growth capital inflows clearly risk trade war nikkei inc 207661 n225 nikkei index 14824 072 n225 csi300 ks11 search safety uncertain global economic climate investors looked pile japanese yen jpy traditionally safe asset thanks countrys massive current account surplus speculators added short dollar bets portfolios taking net short position highest year according calculations reuters commodity futures trading commission week march 20short yen positions cut smallest since november 2016 late asian trade yen eased slightly near 16month highs 10490 per dollar australian new zealand dollars liquid proxy china plays staged welcome rebound aussie aud 03 percent kiwi nzd gained 06 percent dollar index dxy tracking greenback six major currencies near onemonth low 89423 commodities international brent crude futures lcocv1 opened 70 per barrel first time since january gains could sustained ongoing trade disputes weighed global markets spot gold xau flat 13468199 ounce reporting swati pandey editing eric meijer standards thomson reuters trust principles tokyo reuters japans first lady akie abe known mainly embracing progressive causes put odds conservative spouse hot seat doubts revive murky land sale nationalist school ties file photo akie abe wife japans prime minister shinzo abe speaks interview reuters prime ministers official residence tokyo september 4 2014 reuterstoru hanaifile photo daughter confectionary magnate abe tried carve usstyle public first lady role land political wives typically stay shadows approach comes risks acquaintances experts say ideas wives prime ministers different said yu toyonaga head nonprofit organization promoting organic rice done volunteer work akie abe rather woman useful within maledominated society wants interact autonomous person opposition parties demanding testify parliament ties moritomo gakuen nationalist school operator whose deeply discounted purchase stateowned land heart suspected cronyism scandal possible coverup sliced prime minister shinzo abes support ratings finance ministry admitted march 12 altered documents deal including removing references akie abe husband denied wife intervened sale ordered coverup prime minister opposed testifying 62 percent respondents nikkei business daily poll published monday said answer questions parliament survey showed abes support sank 42 percent opposed cabinet jumped 49 percent akie abe 55 made waves since husband returned office 2012 second term activities include taking part lgbt rights parade opposing nuclear power visiting protesters planned us military facility okinawa positions resonate liberals also runs tiny organic restaurant spoken favor legalizing marijuana medical use paradoxical views progressive views nickname domestic opposition helped soften shinzo abes hawkish image akie abe also however times publicly aligned closely husbands conservative views file photo japans prime minister shinzo abe wife akie abe visit former home chiune sugihara jewsaving japanese diplomat kaunas lithuania january 14 2018 reutersints kalninsfile photo visited tokyos yasukuni shrine war dead seen china south korea symbol japans past militarism also honors world war two leaders convicted war criminals allied tribunal abe visited yasukuni december 2013 since stayed away avoid angering beijing seoul scandal broke last year akie abe set become honorary principal elementary school moritomo gakuen planned open western japan discounted land also visited kindergarten run moritomo whose curriculum echoes prewar nationalist education centered emperor slideshow 2 images know abe see nothing surprising holding seemingly paradoxical views doesnt act based theory logic heart said nonprofit president toyonaga since moritomo scandal burst onto political scene month commented directly matter akie abe criticized seeming clueless situation finds evening march 9 day media reported police investigating possible suicide death finance official local bureau handling land deal akie abe attended party hosted japanese celebrity according photo posted celebritys instagram account local media reported photo appear instagram feed also march 9 posted facebook photos smiling international womens day art fair previous day comments posted response called thoughtless murderer expressed support critics suggested lay low many people fascinated mrs akies freestyle life doesnt fit mold previous first ladies reporter makiko takita woman wrote conservative sankei newspaper administration tight spot inappropriate words actions pulling rug takita added overstepping bounds towards prime ministers wife wouldnt good idea restrain activities reporting linda sieg editing gerry doyle standards thomson reuters trust principles
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<p>These are clothes confiscated in September by federal and local law enforcement agencies in the San Diego area. (U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of California)</p>
<p>BALTIMORE — They looked like any other shoppers browsing iPads and Apple Watches at the Apple Store in Towson, Md.</p>
<p>But a security guard saw something amiss in the behavior of the four men in the store at Towson Town Center. Two of them — one wearing a blue jogging outfit, the other dressed in black pants and shirt — were acting as lookouts, blocking the views of sales associates. The other two were scooping up display items and slipping them into their vests. Then they all headed for the exit.</p>
<p>They didn’t get far. They were stopped by security guards, and police arrested three. The men, all from the Eastern European nation of Georgia, had driven down from New York in a minivan, police and prosecutors say. Inside, they say, officers found dozens of Apple devices.</p>
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<p>The men were accused of stealing more than $1,500 worth of iPods and software. They were convicted last year of theft.</p>
<p>For retailers, simple shoplifting is an unavoidable cost of doing business. But now, industry analysts and law enforcement officials say, a greater threat is emerging: theft and fraud by highly organized criminal rings.</p>
<p>The high-stakes enterprises often operate across state lines. They might employ teams of “boosters” — often the homeless or the drug addicted — who go into stores to steal everything from laundry detergent and baby formula to designer clothes and diamonds. They fence stolen goods at pawn shops, kiosks, vans on the street and, increasingly, online auction sites.</p>
<p>And they’re becoming more brazen and more dangerous, analysts say, in some cases attacking store employees and even shoppers.</p>
<p>“We probably see organized retail crime incidents across our stores every day,” said Jim Cosseboom, manager of investigations and corporate asset protection for the supermarket operator Ahold USA, parent company of Giant, Food Lion and other chains.</p>
<p>“What they’re targeting is always shifting,” he says, from detergent to razor blades to seafood. But it’s anything “that can easily be sold for quick cash. …</p>
<p>“It’s a significant concern.”</p>
<p>Organized theft has surpassed internal theft to become the leading cause of retail loss, said Robert Moraca, vice president of loss prevention for the National Retail Federation. Analysts say the increase has been fueled by the opioid epidemic and by the growing understanding among criminals that theft can be quick, easy and profitable.</p>
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<p>In a well choreographed assault, Moraca says, thieves can clear shelves of thousands of dollars’ worth of goods in minutes.</p>
<p>“And that’s happening in multiples,” he says. “It’s not just a group that gets together and wants to steal. These are groups that already exist for criminal purposes,” such as drug trafficking and human trafficking.</p>
<p>“These are hardened criminals, and they get into organized retail crime because it’s extremely profitable.”</p>
<p>Individual retailers contacted by The Sun were reluctant to discuss details. But the National Retail Federation reported that organized crime cost retailers $30 billion last year. The group recently surveyed retailers on organized crime; all of the respondents said they had been victimized in the previous year. They said they were spending an average of $545,000 on employees dedicated to fighting organized crime, an all-time high.</p>
<p>Coordinated efforts between retailers, store security, law enforcement and prosecutors have helped, analysts say, as has the emergence of associations focused on fighting organized retail crime. The Mid-Atlantic Organized Retail Crime Alliance, which includes Maryland, brings together retailers, law enforcement, security and loss prevention officials to share data and intelligence on organized theft, robberies, counterfeiting, check and credit card fraud and other scams.</p>
<p>Thirty-four states have enacted laws against organized retail crime. Maryland has not. The Maryland Retailers Association wants legislation that would distinguish between organized retail theft and other types of theft.</p>
<p>“Being on the I-95 corridor, we are particularly susceptible to organized retail crime,” association President Cailey Locklair Tolle says. “Shoplifting in Maryland, both the instances of theft and the dollar amount that’s stolen every year, has steadily been on the rise, and part of it does have to do with organized retail crime.”</p>
<p>The group is concerned that the increase in the state threshold for felony theft from $1,000 to $1,500 last year will encourage more organized rings to operate in Maryland. The Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention looked at theft classifications last year and recommended that lawmakers begin to assess the impact of organized retail crime by developing a definition of the activity to include in Maryland Uniform Crime Reports.</p>
<p>The retailers group plans an informal meeting Monday in Annapolis with members of the Maryland State’s Attorney’s Association, law enforcement, loss prevention officials and lawmakers to start hashing out solutions. Current theft laws, Tolle argues, fail to address the unique nature of organized crime, with high-level criminals directing lower-level offenders to steal, stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of goods and often operating across county lines.</p>
<p>“We need to think about capturing these guys at the lower level to stop these cycles,” Tolle said. “People will say, ‘People are stealing because they are hungry. “That does happen. But we’d like to draw a line between non professional theft and (individual) theft.”</p>
<p>At Home Depot, employees are told to leave suspected shoplifters to trained security workers. A spokesman for the home improvement retailer says shoppers never should try to chase or stop a suspected thief.</p>
<p>“The individuals who are doing the shoplifting have become extremely dangerous, much more than anyone would think of a petty shoplifter doing,” spokesman Stephen Holmes says. He says assaults on security guards and asset protection personnel have become common.</p>
<p>“It can be the slightest thing that triggers that act of violence,” he says. “I just don’t think the average person realizes what’s going on.”</p>
<p>Twenty-two people were charged last month an alleged national ring accused of stealing $20 million worth of goods from malls across the country over a decade, including at least one store in Maryland.</p>
<p>Brandon Ramirez Salas, a 22-year-old from Mexico, and others are accused of trying to steal merchandise from the Hollister Co. store in Frederick’s Francis Scott Key Mall in October 2015. They planned to deliver the merchandise to another defendant in San Diego, prosecutors said in an indictment.</p>
<p>Prosecutors say the defendants, all from the San Diego area, formed crews of thieves who stole from stores throughout the United States and transported the goods for sale in Mexico.</p>
<p>Team leaders would scout stores and use cell phones and hand signals to direct other team members, prosecutors say. “Mules” would take merchandise from stores in “booster bags” — shopping bags with metallic linings designed to deflect sensors, prosecutors say. “Blockers” would prevent employees from seeing the theft by distracting them, using clothing to obstruct their view or physically restraining them, prosecutors say.</p>
<p>Prosecutors say one defendant knocked over an infant in its stroller and injured the father to avoid being arrested for a theft at a Hollister store in Schaumburg, Ill.. Another defendant drove a vehicle through a crowd while fleeing from a theft at a Hollister store in San Diego, they say.</p>
<p>At one suspect’s San Diego area home, prosecutors say, investigators found trash bags of new clothing, with merchandise tags and security devices still attached, from Victoria’s Secret, Hollister, Guess, Express, Abercrombie and Fitch and other stores, and brands such as Calvin Klein, Hurley, Armani, Adidas, Kenneth Cole and Puma.</p>
<p>Near the clothing, prosecutors say, investigators found piles of new Louis Vuitton shoes.</p>
<p>Federal prosecutors get involved in cases when criminals operate across state lines — hitting retailers at multiple locations — or when they commit federal crimes such as identity fraud.</p>
<p>Flipping schemes can also trigger federal involvement. One or more people will steal from one retailer, then exchange the goods at a different retailer. Because they don’t have a receipt, they ask for a merchandise exchange.</p>
<p>“Now they leave the store with merchandise and a receipt,” said Tamera L. Fine, chief of the asset forfeiture and money laundering group in the U.S. State’s Attorney’s Office in Baltimore. They can take the merchandise and receipt to another of the retailer’s locations, often in another state, for a return that’s credited to a debit card.</p>
<p>“We see people who over a period of a year may have charges to high-end retailers, Macy’s or Victoria’s Secret or Nieman’s … and they have returns of $65,000,” she said.</p>
<p>Criminals research return policies carefully, Fine said, and they often elude police by using fake IDs. It can be difficult to prove that returned merchandise was stolen in the first place.</p>
<p>“We see this activity all up and down the I-95 corridor,” she said. “We catch a fraction of this.”</p>
<p>A mother and daughter were charged recently with leading an organized retail theft ring that targeted JCPenney stores in Maryland and five other states.</p>
<p>Caroline Britt, 47, and her daughter Breanna Britt, 23, both of Irvington, N.J., were accused of shoplifting expensive cosmetics from Ulta and returning the products to JCPenney stores, netting about $107,000 over two years.</p>
<p>Caroline Britt pleaded guilty in New Jersey Superior Court in September to a charge of second-degree conspiracy. Breanna Britt pleaded guilty to third-degree shoplifting and agreed to cooperate in the prosecution of her mother.</p>
<p>In the Towson Apple Store case, at least one suspect had been flagged by the retailer as responsible for multiple thefts from several stores in the region over several months, police said. Police said the security guard recognized the four men from a BOLO — a Be On the Look Out message.</p>
<p>The case was investigated by Baltimore County Police’s organized retail crime team, which works to find and target rings that operate in the county by reviewing theft reports and analyzing trends.</p>
<p>More of that kind of attention is needed, retailers say.</p>
<p>“Shoplifting is something that businesses have been able to deal with and deal with it in the course of business,” said Cosseboom, of Ahold USA. “But organized retail crime is having a deeper impact. It’s a larger criminal enterprise.”</p>
<p>——</p>
<p>©2017 The Baltimore Sun</p>
<p>Visit The Baltimore Sun at <a href="http://www.baltimoresun.com" type="external">www.baltimoresun.com</a></p>
<p>Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.</p>
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clothes confiscated september federal local law enforcement agencies san diego area us attorneys office southern district california baltimore looked like shoppers browsing ipads apple watches apple store towson md security guard saw something amiss behavior four men store towson town center two one wearing blue jogging outfit dressed black pants shirt acting lookouts blocking views sales associates two scooping display items slipping vests headed exit didnt get far stopped security guards police arrested three men eastern european nation georgia driven new york minivan police prosecutors say inside say officers found dozens apple devices advertisement men accused stealing 1500 worth ipods software convicted last year theft retailers simple shoplifting unavoidable cost business industry analysts law enforcement officials say greater threat emerging theft fraud highly organized criminal rings highstakes enterprises often operate across state lines might employ teams boosters often homeless drug addicted go stores steal everything laundry detergent baby formula designer clothes diamonds fence stolen goods pawn shops kiosks vans street increasingly online auction sites theyre becoming brazen dangerous analysts say cases attacking store employees even shoppers probably see organized retail crime incidents across stores every day said jim cosseboom manager investigations corporate asset protection supermarket operator ahold usa parent company giant food lion chains theyre targeting always shifting says detergent razor blades seafood anything easily sold quick cash significant concern organized theft surpassed internal theft become leading cause retail loss said robert moraca vice president loss prevention national retail federation analysts say increase fueled opioid epidemic growing understanding among criminals theft quick easy profitable advertisement well choreographed assault moraca says thieves clear shelves thousands dollars worth goods minutes thats happening multiples says group gets together wants steal groups already exist criminal purposes drug trafficking human trafficking hardened criminals get organized retail crime extremely profitable individual retailers contacted sun reluctant discuss details national retail federation reported organized crime cost retailers 30 billion last year group recently surveyed retailers organized crime respondents said victimized previous year said spending average 545000 employees dedicated fighting organized crime alltime high coordinated efforts retailers store security law enforcement prosecutors helped analysts say emergence associations focused fighting organized retail crime midatlantic organized retail crime alliance includes maryland brings together retailers law enforcement security loss prevention officials share data intelligence organized theft robberies counterfeiting check credit card fraud scams thirtyfour states enacted laws organized retail crime maryland maryland retailers association wants legislation would distinguish organized retail theft types theft i95 corridor particularly susceptible organized retail crime association president cailey locklair tolle says shoplifting maryland instances theft dollar amount thats stolen every year steadily rise part organized retail crime group concerned increase state threshold felony theft 1000 1500 last year encourage organized rings operate maryland governors office crime control prevention looked theft classifications last year recommended lawmakers begin assess impact organized retail crime developing definition activity include maryland uniform crime reports retailers group plans informal meeting monday annapolis members maryland states attorneys association law enforcement loss prevention officials lawmakers start hashing solutions current theft laws tolle argues fail address unique nature organized crime highlevel criminals directing lowerlevel offenders steal stealing hundreds thousands dollars worth goods often operating across county lines need think capturing guys lower level stop cycles tolle said people say people stealing hungry happen wed like draw line non professional theft individual theft home depot employees told leave suspected shoplifters trained security workers spokesman home improvement retailer says shoppers never try chase stop suspected thief individuals shoplifting become extremely dangerous much anyone would think petty shoplifter spokesman stephen holmes says says assaults security guards asset protection personnel become common slightest thing triggers act violence says dont think average person realizes whats going twentytwo people charged last month alleged national ring accused stealing 20 million worth goods malls across country decade including least one store maryland brandon ramirez salas 22yearold mexico others accused trying steal merchandise hollister co store fredericks francis scott key mall october 2015 planned deliver merchandise another defendant san diego prosecutors said indictment prosecutors say defendants san diego area formed crews thieves stole stores throughout united states transported goods sale mexico team leaders would scout stores use cell phones hand signals direct team members prosecutors say mules would take merchandise stores booster bags shopping bags metallic linings designed deflect sensors prosecutors say blockers would prevent employees seeing theft distracting using clothing obstruct view physically restraining prosecutors say prosecutors say one defendant knocked infant stroller injured father avoid arrested theft hollister store schaumburg ill another defendant drove vehicle crowd fleeing theft hollister store san diego say one suspects san diego area home prosecutors say investigators found trash bags new clothing merchandise tags security devices still attached victorias secret hollister guess express abercrombie fitch stores brands calvin klein hurley armani adidas kenneth cole puma near clothing prosecutors say investigators found piles new louis vuitton shoes federal prosecutors get involved cases criminals operate across state lines hitting retailers multiple locations commit federal crimes identity fraud flipping schemes also trigger federal involvement one people steal one retailer exchange goods different retailer dont receipt ask merchandise exchange leave store merchandise receipt said tamera l fine chief asset forfeiture money laundering group us states attorneys office baltimore take merchandise receipt another retailers locations often another state return thats credited debit card see people period year may charges highend retailers macys victorias secret niemans returns 65000 said criminals research return policies carefully fine said often elude police using fake ids difficult prove returned merchandise stolen first place see activity i95 corridor said catch fraction mother daughter charged recently leading organized retail theft ring targeted jcpenney stores maryland five states caroline britt 47 daughter breanna britt 23 irvington nj accused shoplifting expensive cosmetics ulta returning products jcpenney stores netting 107000 two years caroline britt pleaded guilty new jersey superior court september charge seconddegree conspiracy breanna britt pleaded guilty thirddegree shoplifting agreed cooperate prosecution mother towson apple store case least one suspect flagged retailer responsible multiple thefts several stores region several months police said police said security guard recognized four men bolo look message case investigated baltimore county polices organized retail crime team works find target rings operate county reviewing theft reports analyzing trends kind attention needed retailers say shoplifting something businesses able deal deal course business said cosseboom ahold usa organized retail crime deeper impact larger criminal enterprise 2017 baltimore sun visit baltimore sun wwwbaltimoresuncom distributed tribune content agency llc 160
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<p>BASRA, Iraq (AP) - In his martyrdom, he has virtually become a new saint for Iraq's Shiites. His poster adorns shop windows, men and women wear his image as badges. Poems praise his valor. His sniper's rifle, with which he's said to have killed nearly 400 Islamic State group militants, is now enshrined in a museum in the holiest Shiite city.</p>
<p>Ali Jayad al-Salhi, an expert sniper in his early 60s and veteran of multiple wars, was killed in September in clashes with IS in northern Iraq. He then was vaulted into legend. Shiites around Iraq trade stories of how, out of piety, he left his home, wife, 10 children and 20 grandchildren to join a Shiite militia to fight in what he saw as a war between humanity and evil.</p>
<p>Al-Salhi is a powerful symbol in the religious, near messianic mystique that has grown up around Iraq's Shiite militias in tandem with their increasing political and military might after they helped defeat the Islamic State group. Known as the "Popular Mobilization Forces" or "Hashed" in Arabic, the militias have emerged from the war with the image of an almost holy force protecting the Shiite Muslim majority. That popular aura helps enshrine the Hashed as a major player in post-IS Iraq.</p>
<p>It's a stark contrast to how the Sunni Muslim minority views the fighters. The Hashed controls significant areas in northern and western Iraq seized back from IS, and they are accused of abuses against the Sunni population. Sunnis see the militias as a tool for Shiite powerhouse Iran to dominate Iraq.</p>
<p>The war against the Islamic State group left a divided legacy in Iraq. The Sunni community has been shattered, its cities wrecked, its population scattered and unsure of their future, with some 3 million people uprooted and mostly languishing in camps. Meanwhile, Shiites are riding on victory, having defeated a fanatical group that targeted their sect as heretics.</p>
<p>Many Shiites trumpet the Hashed militias as the champions bringing their community out of centuries of oppression and embodying a belief central to Shiism - that victory will come from martyrdom. The militiamen are seen as the successors to one of the faith's most revered figures, Imam Hussein, a grandson of the Prophet Muhammad who was killed in the 7th century by rival Muslims at Karbala, in what is now southern Iraq, in a battle that led to the Sunni-Shiite split.</p>
<p>Some even speak of the Hashed in apocalyptic terms, linking it to Imam Mahdi, a Shiite religious leader said to have vanished 1,100 years ago and expected to return, leading an army of the faithful to defeat evil in the world. The Hashed, supporters say, will be that army.</p>
<p>"When the time comes for the reappearance of Imam Mahdi, we will be ready and honored to be among his soldiers," Sajad al-Mubarkaa, head of the Hashed's Indoctrination Department, told The Associated Press at his Baghdad office.</p>
<p>He dismissed criticism that such talk emphasizes the sectarian nature of the force. "What harm could come from invoking the name of Imam Mahdi?" he said. "What harm could come if we are inspired by the sacrifice of Imam Hussein?"</p>
<p>The Hashed emerged out of a call in June 2014 by Iraq's top Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, for volunteers to join jihad against IS militants, who had overrun the northern city of Mosul and swept nearly to Baghdad and Shiite shrines farther south as the military and security forces collapsed. Tens of thousands heeded the call, enlisting in multiple militia factions, many of which existed for years and fought American forces in Iraq in the 2000s.</p>
<p>The Shiite-led government has rejected demands that the force now be disbanded, and parliament has given it legal status as part of the country's armed forces.</p>
<p>The whipping up of religious fervor around the militiamen is also part of an ongoing struggle for leadership of Iraq's Shiites between Iran and al-Sistani. Though Iranian-born, the aging al-Sistani has resisted Iran's doctrine of direct rule by clerics. Iraqi Shiites' deep devotion to him and nationalist sentiment have hindered Tehran's attempts to dominate the community.</p>
<p>That rivalry is played out within the Hashed. Three of its strongest brigades were directly created and bankrolled by the "Marjaiyah," the Shiite religious leadership that al-Sistani heads. Many of the others are backed by Iran.</p>
<p>Iranian-backed militias evoke connections with Imam Hussein and Imam Mahdi to gain legitimacy among the Shiite community. That forces supporters of al-Sistani, who has traditionally played down talk of Imam Mahdi's imminent return, to also join the apocalyptic and martyrdom narratives to compete with "the well-oiled propaganda machine of Iran and its proxies," said Philip Smyth, a researcher on Shiites at the Washington Institute for Middle East Policy. Ultimately, Iran is angling to ensure a pro-Tehran cleric succeeds al-Sistani, he said.</p>
<p>The result is a passionate mix of religious tradition and pop culture, poetry and song surrounding the Hashed.</p>
<p>"We will not stay speechless any longer," chants singer Muhanad al-Mowali, alluding to oppression of Shiites since Hussein's martyrdom. Another, Mahdi al-Aboodi, sings that he wishes the Hashed was at the battle of Karbala to fight on the side of Hussein. At a recent gathering of hundreds of Shiites in Karbala, a poet recited a verse telling Imam Mahdi he should not bother bringing an army with him when he returns because the Hashed was ready.</p>
<p>Supernatural stories are passed among Hashed supporters on social media. One video purports to be drone footage showing Imam Mahdi himself backing militiamen defending the shrine of Mahdi's father in the city of Samarra. In another story, a Hashed fighter says the imam came to him when he was mortally wounded, saving his life by washing his wounds and telling him, "I am by your side and will never abandon you."</p>
<p>One of al-Salhi's sons, Tayseer, says his father came to him in a dream the night he was killed, instructing him not to allow women to wear black, a reference to the belief that martyrs remain alive in the eyes of God and should not be mourned.</p>
<p>The Hashed has intensely publicized the deaths of its commanders, announcing their martyrdom on giant street posters in Baghdad, the mostly Shiite south and even Sunni majority areas taken back from IS.</p>
<p>Since his martyrdom, al-Salhi has been held up as the ideal pious Shiite.</p>
<p>Poems in his honor have been read to mournful crowds. Thousands showed up for his funeral in the holy city of Najaf, where he was laid to rest in the Valley of Peace, a vast Shiite cemetery near the shrine of Imam Ali, the Shiites' most revered figure. His rifle is on display at a museum near the shrine of Imam Hussein in Karbala.</p>
<p>Neighbors in al-Salhi's home district in the southern city of Basra decorate cars and homes with posters of him in military gear, rifle in hand, standing next to Shiite saints. His face appears on wristwatches for sale in the markets and on cakes in a bakery. One of Iraq's top sculptors, Ahmed al-Bahraini, has started work on a 6-meter (20-foot) bronze statue of al-Salhi for a main square in Basra.</p>
<p>A bear of a man with a long bushy salt-and-pepper beard, al-Salhi's real life has intertwined with the hagiography, making it difficult to confirm the stories told of him.</p>
<p>As a young man, he dabbled in boxing, athletics and horseback riding and swam in the Shatt al-Arab, the riverway where the Tigris and Euphrates meet, family say.</p>
<p>In the early 1970s, he graduated from an elite snipers' school in Belarus. During his career in the Iraqi army, he fought alongside Syrian forces in the Golan Heights against Israel in the 1973 Middle East war. A year later, he fought Kurdish separatists in Iraq's north. He is also a veteran of Iraq's 1980-88 war against Iran and lost a brother to Saddam Hussein's executioners in the 1991 Shiite uprising in southern Iraq.</p>
<p>His family and Hashed comrades tell of his intense piety. They say he took the Shiite tradition of travelling on foot to holy sites for pilgrimage to a punishing extreme: When other pilgrims rested at night, he walked all day and all night, only resting at his final destination. His son Tayseer said his father walked for 40 days to a shrine in Mashhad, Iran, nearly 800 miles (1,300 kilometers) from Basra.</p>
<p>In 2014, al-Salhi answered al-Sistani's call to fight IS and joined the Ali al-Akbar Brigade, one of the three created by the Marjaiyah. He didn't consult his family, Tayseer told the AP. "He said 'I am going and that's that.'"</p>
<p>The 33-year-old Tayseer spoke at the family's Basra home, where the walls of the reception room were hung with his father's relics - a Russian-made sniper rifle inside a glass box, along with a pistol and an ammunition belt, and a large portrait of al-Salhi in military fatigues.</p>
<p>Al-Salhi took part in the Hashed's biggest battles against IS, from Fallujah and Jurf el-Sakhr near Baghdad to Mosul in the north. Along the way, he became well known, appearing in television interviews that have since racked up hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube.</p>
<p>"Iraqis, we are here in the trenches on your behalf," he said in one interview. "For you, we fight to win freedom for the Iraqi people and for humanity. We want nothing from you except your prayers."</p>
<p>He took pride in his skill. He told of how a flying bird gave away the location of an IS sniper atop a date palm in a grove outside Baghdad. He often told of a duel with a female IS sniper known only by her codename, Umm Ahmed, overheard in IS radio messages. For an hour, they traded shots, each peeking out from hiding just enough to draw the other into firing.</p>
<p>"I finally killed her when I tricked her into thinking I was dead and she rose from her hiding place," he said, adding that he then killed two fighters trying to retrieve her body.</p>
<p>His commander at the Ali al-Akbar Brigade, Haidar Mukhtar, told the AP that on the day he died, al-Salhi was positioned hundreds of meters ahead of the rest of his battalion during an assault on an IS-held town near Kirkuk.</p>
<p>Al-Salhi picked off four IS fighters, bringing his kill tally to 384, Mukhtar said. But then he and two other snipers were surrounded by the militants and killed. He died on September 28, the 8th day of Muharram, a holy month in the Muslim calendar when Imam Hussein was also martyred.</p>
<p>Mukhtar retrieved a final relic of al-Salhi: The casing from the last bullet he fired, jammed in his rifle. "I have kept it as a souvenir."</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Hendawi reported from Cairo.</p>
<p>BASRA, Iraq (AP) - In his martyrdom, he has virtually become a new saint for Iraq's Shiites. His poster adorns shop windows, men and women wear his image as badges. Poems praise his valor. His sniper's rifle, with which he's said to have killed nearly 400 Islamic State group militants, is now enshrined in a museum in the holiest Shiite city.</p>
<p>Ali Jayad al-Salhi, an expert sniper in his early 60s and veteran of multiple wars, was killed in September in clashes with IS in northern Iraq. He then was vaulted into legend. Shiites around Iraq trade stories of how, out of piety, he left his home, wife, 10 children and 20 grandchildren to join a Shiite militia to fight in what he saw as a war between humanity and evil.</p>
<p>Al-Salhi is a powerful symbol in the religious, near messianic mystique that has grown up around Iraq's Shiite militias in tandem with their increasing political and military might after they helped defeat the Islamic State group. Known as the "Popular Mobilization Forces" or "Hashed" in Arabic, the militias have emerged from the war with the image of an almost holy force protecting the Shiite Muslim majority. That popular aura helps enshrine the Hashed as a major player in post-IS Iraq.</p>
<p>It's a stark contrast to how the Sunni Muslim minority views the fighters. The Hashed controls significant areas in northern and western Iraq seized back from IS, and they are accused of abuses against the Sunni population. Sunnis see the militias as a tool for Shiite powerhouse Iran to dominate Iraq.</p>
<p>The war against the Islamic State group left a divided legacy in Iraq. The Sunni community has been shattered, its cities wrecked, its population scattered and unsure of their future, with some 3 million people uprooted and mostly languishing in camps. Meanwhile, Shiites are riding on victory, having defeated a fanatical group that targeted their sect as heretics.</p>
<p>Many Shiites trumpet the Hashed militias as the champions bringing their community out of centuries of oppression and embodying a belief central to Shiism - that victory will come from martyrdom. The militiamen are seen as the successors to one of the faith's most revered figures, Imam Hussein, a grandson of the Prophet Muhammad who was killed in the 7th century by rival Muslims at Karbala, in what is now southern Iraq, in a battle that led to the Sunni-Shiite split.</p>
<p>Some even speak of the Hashed in apocalyptic terms, linking it to Imam Mahdi, a Shiite religious leader said to have vanished 1,100 years ago and expected to return, leading an army of the faithful to defeat evil in the world. The Hashed, supporters say, will be that army.</p>
<p>"When the time comes for the reappearance of Imam Mahdi, we will be ready and honored to be among his soldiers," Sajad al-Mubarkaa, head of the Hashed's Indoctrination Department, told The Associated Press at his Baghdad office.</p>
<p>He dismissed criticism that such talk emphasizes the sectarian nature of the force. "What harm could come from invoking the name of Imam Mahdi?" he said. "What harm could come if we are inspired by the sacrifice of Imam Hussein?"</p>
<p>The Hashed emerged out of a call in June 2014 by Iraq's top Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, for volunteers to join jihad against IS militants, who had overrun the northern city of Mosul and swept nearly to Baghdad and Shiite shrines farther south as the military and security forces collapsed. Tens of thousands heeded the call, enlisting in multiple militia factions, many of which existed for years and fought American forces in Iraq in the 2000s.</p>
<p>The Shiite-led government has rejected demands that the force now be disbanded, and parliament has given it legal status as part of the country's armed forces.</p>
<p>The whipping up of religious fervor around the militiamen is also part of an ongoing struggle for leadership of Iraq's Shiites between Iran and al-Sistani. Though Iranian-born, the aging al-Sistani has resisted Iran's doctrine of direct rule by clerics. Iraqi Shiites' deep devotion to him and nationalist sentiment have hindered Tehran's attempts to dominate the community.</p>
<p>That rivalry is played out within the Hashed. Three of its strongest brigades were directly created and bankrolled by the "Marjaiyah," the Shiite religious leadership that al-Sistani heads. Many of the others are backed by Iran.</p>
<p>Iranian-backed militias evoke connections with Imam Hussein and Imam Mahdi to gain legitimacy among the Shiite community. That forces supporters of al-Sistani, who has traditionally played down talk of Imam Mahdi's imminent return, to also join the apocalyptic and martyrdom narratives to compete with "the well-oiled propaganda machine of Iran and its proxies," said Philip Smyth, a researcher on Shiites at the Washington Institute for Middle East Policy. Ultimately, Iran is angling to ensure a pro-Tehran cleric succeeds al-Sistani, he said.</p>
<p>The result is a passionate mix of religious tradition and pop culture, poetry and song surrounding the Hashed.</p>
<p>"We will not stay speechless any longer," chants singer Muhanad al-Mowali, alluding to oppression of Shiites since Hussein's martyrdom. Another, Mahdi al-Aboodi, sings that he wishes the Hashed was at the battle of Karbala to fight on the side of Hussein. At a recent gathering of hundreds of Shiites in Karbala, a poet recited a verse telling Imam Mahdi he should not bother bringing an army with him when he returns because the Hashed was ready.</p>
<p>Supernatural stories are passed among Hashed supporters on social media. One video purports to be drone footage showing Imam Mahdi himself backing militiamen defending the shrine of Mahdi's father in the city of Samarra. In another story, a Hashed fighter says the imam came to him when he was mortally wounded, saving his life by washing his wounds and telling him, "I am by your side and will never abandon you."</p>
<p>One of al-Salhi's sons, Tayseer, says his father came to him in a dream the night he was killed, instructing him not to allow women to wear black, a reference to the belief that martyrs remain alive in the eyes of God and should not be mourned.</p>
<p>The Hashed has intensely publicized the deaths of its commanders, announcing their martyrdom on giant street posters in Baghdad, the mostly Shiite south and even Sunni majority areas taken back from IS.</p>
<p>Since his martyrdom, al-Salhi has been held up as the ideal pious Shiite.</p>
<p>Poems in his honor have been read to mournful crowds. Thousands showed up for his funeral in the holy city of Najaf, where he was laid to rest in the Valley of Peace, a vast Shiite cemetery near the shrine of Imam Ali, the Shiites' most revered figure. His rifle is on display at a museum near the shrine of Imam Hussein in Karbala.</p>
<p>Neighbors in al-Salhi's home district in the southern city of Basra decorate cars and homes with posters of him in military gear, rifle in hand, standing next to Shiite saints. His face appears on wristwatches for sale in the markets and on cakes in a bakery. One of Iraq's top sculptors, Ahmed al-Bahraini, has started work on a 6-meter (20-foot) bronze statue of al-Salhi for a main square in Basra.</p>
<p>A bear of a man with a long bushy salt-and-pepper beard, al-Salhi's real life has intertwined with the hagiography, making it difficult to confirm the stories told of him.</p>
<p>As a young man, he dabbled in boxing, athletics and horseback riding and swam in the Shatt al-Arab, the riverway where the Tigris and Euphrates meet, family say.</p>
<p>In the early 1970s, he graduated from an elite snipers' school in Belarus. During his career in the Iraqi army, he fought alongside Syrian forces in the Golan Heights against Israel in the 1973 Middle East war. A year later, he fought Kurdish separatists in Iraq's north. He is also a veteran of Iraq's 1980-88 war against Iran and lost a brother to Saddam Hussein's executioners in the 1991 Shiite uprising in southern Iraq.</p>
<p>His family and Hashed comrades tell of his intense piety. They say he took the Shiite tradition of travelling on foot to holy sites for pilgrimage to a punishing extreme: When other pilgrims rested at night, he walked all day and all night, only resting at his final destination. His son Tayseer said his father walked for 40 days to a shrine in Mashhad, Iran, nearly 800 miles (1,300 kilometers) from Basra.</p>
<p>In 2014, al-Salhi answered al-Sistani's call to fight IS and joined the Ali al-Akbar Brigade, one of the three created by the Marjaiyah. He didn't consult his family, Tayseer told the AP. "He said 'I am going and that's that.'"</p>
<p>The 33-year-old Tayseer spoke at the family's Basra home, where the walls of the reception room were hung with his father's relics - a Russian-made sniper rifle inside a glass box, along with a pistol and an ammunition belt, and a large portrait of al-Salhi in military fatigues.</p>
<p>Al-Salhi took part in the Hashed's biggest battles against IS, from Fallujah and Jurf el-Sakhr near Baghdad to Mosul in the north. Along the way, he became well known, appearing in television interviews that have since racked up hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube.</p>
<p>"Iraqis, we are here in the trenches on your behalf," he said in one interview. "For you, we fight to win freedom for the Iraqi people and for humanity. We want nothing from you except your prayers."</p>
<p>He took pride in his skill. He told of how a flying bird gave away the location of an IS sniper atop a date palm in a grove outside Baghdad. He often told of a duel with a female IS sniper known only by her codename, Umm Ahmed, overheard in IS radio messages. For an hour, they traded shots, each peeking out from hiding just enough to draw the other into firing.</p>
<p>"I finally killed her when I tricked her into thinking I was dead and she rose from her hiding place," he said, adding that he then killed two fighters trying to retrieve her body.</p>
<p>His commander at the Ali al-Akbar Brigade, Haidar Mukhtar, told the AP that on the day he died, al-Salhi was positioned hundreds of meters ahead of the rest of his battalion during an assault on an IS-held town near Kirkuk.</p>
<p>Al-Salhi picked off four IS fighters, bringing his kill tally to 384, Mukhtar said. But then he and two other snipers were surrounded by the militants and killed. He died on September 28, the 8th day of Muharram, a holy month in the Muslim calendar when Imam Hussein was also martyred.</p>
<p>Mukhtar retrieved a final relic of al-Salhi: The casing from the last bullet he fired, jammed in his rifle. "I have kept it as a souvenir."</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Hendawi reported from Cairo.</p>
| false | 2 |
basra iraq ap martyrdom virtually become new saint iraqs shiites poster adorns shop windows men women wear image badges poems praise valor snipers rifle hes said killed nearly 400 islamic state group militants enshrined museum holiest shiite city ali jayad alsalhi expert sniper early 60s veteran multiple wars killed september clashes northern iraq vaulted legend shiites around iraq trade stories piety left home wife 10 children 20 grandchildren join shiite militia fight saw war humanity evil alsalhi powerful symbol religious near messianic mystique grown around iraqs shiite militias tandem increasing political military might helped defeat islamic state group known popular mobilization forces hashed arabic militias emerged war image almost holy force protecting shiite muslim majority popular aura helps enshrine hashed major player postis iraq stark contrast sunni muslim minority views fighters hashed controls significant areas northern western iraq seized back accused abuses sunni population sunnis see militias tool shiite powerhouse iran dominate iraq war islamic state group left divided legacy iraq sunni community shattered cities wrecked population scattered unsure future 3 million people uprooted mostly languishing camps meanwhile shiites riding victory defeated fanatical group targeted sect heretics many shiites trumpet hashed militias champions bringing community centuries oppression embodying belief central shiism victory come martyrdom militiamen seen successors one faiths revered figures imam hussein grandson prophet muhammad killed 7th century rival muslims karbala southern iraq battle led sunnishiite split even speak hashed apocalyptic terms linking imam mahdi shiite religious leader said vanished 1100 years ago expected return leading army faithful defeat evil world hashed supporters say army time comes reappearance imam mahdi ready honored among soldiers sajad almubarkaa head hasheds indoctrination department told associated press baghdad office dismissed criticism talk emphasizes sectarian nature force harm could come invoking name imam mahdi said harm could come inspired sacrifice imam hussein hashed emerged call june 2014 iraqs top shiite cleric grand ayatollah ali alsistani volunteers join jihad militants overrun northern city mosul swept nearly baghdad shiite shrines farther south military security forces collapsed tens thousands heeded call enlisting multiple militia factions many existed years fought american forces iraq 2000s shiiteled government rejected demands force disbanded parliament given legal status part countrys armed forces whipping religious fervor around militiamen also part ongoing struggle leadership iraqs shiites iran alsistani though iranianborn aging alsistani resisted irans doctrine direct rule clerics iraqi shiites deep devotion nationalist sentiment hindered tehrans attempts dominate community rivalry played within hashed three strongest brigades directly created bankrolled marjaiyah shiite religious leadership alsistani heads many others backed iran iranianbacked militias evoke connections imam hussein imam mahdi gain legitimacy among shiite community forces supporters alsistani traditionally played talk imam mahdis imminent return also join apocalyptic martyrdom narratives compete welloiled propaganda machine iran proxies said philip smyth researcher shiites washington institute middle east policy ultimately iran angling ensure protehran cleric succeeds alsistani said result passionate mix religious tradition pop culture poetry song surrounding hashed stay speechless longer chants singer muhanad almowali alluding oppression shiites since husseins martyrdom another mahdi alaboodi sings wishes hashed battle karbala fight side hussein recent gathering hundreds shiites karbala poet recited verse telling imam mahdi bother bringing army returns hashed ready supernatural stories passed among hashed supporters social media one video purports drone footage showing imam mahdi backing militiamen defending shrine mahdis father city samarra another story hashed fighter says imam came mortally wounded saving life washing wounds telling side never abandon one alsalhis sons tayseer says father came dream night killed instructing allow women wear black reference belief martyrs remain alive eyes god mourned hashed intensely publicized deaths commanders announcing martyrdom giant street posters baghdad mostly shiite south even sunni majority areas taken back since martyrdom alsalhi held ideal pious shiite poems honor read mournful crowds thousands showed funeral holy city najaf laid rest valley peace vast shiite cemetery near shrine imam ali shiites revered figure rifle display museum near shrine imam hussein karbala neighbors alsalhis home district southern city basra decorate cars homes posters military gear rifle hand standing next shiite saints face appears wristwatches sale markets cakes bakery one iraqs top sculptors ahmed albahraini started work 6meter 20foot bronze statue alsalhi main square basra bear man long bushy saltandpepper beard alsalhis real life intertwined hagiography making difficult confirm stories told young man dabbled boxing athletics horseback riding swam shatt alarab riverway tigris euphrates meet family say early 1970s graduated elite snipers school belarus career iraqi army fought alongside syrian forces golan heights israel 1973 middle east war year later fought kurdish separatists iraqs north also veteran iraqs 198088 war iran lost brother saddam husseins executioners 1991 shiite uprising southern iraq family hashed comrades tell intense piety say took shiite tradition travelling foot holy sites pilgrimage punishing extreme pilgrims rested night walked day night resting final destination son tayseer said father walked 40 days shrine mashhad iran nearly 800 miles 1300 kilometers basra 2014 alsalhi answered alsistanis call fight joined ali alakbar brigade one three created marjaiyah didnt consult family tayseer told ap said going thats 33yearold tayseer spoke familys basra home walls reception room hung fathers relics russianmade sniper rifle inside glass box along pistol ammunition belt large portrait alsalhi military fatigues alsalhi took part hasheds biggest battles fallujah jurf elsakhr near baghdad mosul north along way became well known appearing television interviews since racked hundreds thousands views youtube iraqis trenches behalf said one interview fight win freedom iraqi people humanity want nothing except prayers took pride skill told flying bird gave away location sniper atop date palm grove outside baghdad often told duel female sniper known codename umm ahmed overheard radio messages hour traded shots peeking hiding enough draw firing finally killed tricked thinking dead rose hiding place said adding killed two fighters trying retrieve body commander ali alakbar brigade haidar mukhtar told ap day died alsalhi positioned hundreds meters ahead rest battalion assault isheld town near kirkuk alsalhi picked four fighters bringing kill tally 384 mukhtar said two snipers surrounded militants killed died september 28 8th day muharram holy month muslim calendar imam hussein also martyred mukhtar retrieved final relic alsalhi casing last bullet fired jammed rifle kept souvenir ___ hendawi reported cairo basra iraq ap martyrdom virtually become new saint iraqs shiites poster adorns shop windows men women wear image badges poems praise valor snipers rifle hes said killed nearly 400 islamic state group militants enshrined museum holiest shiite city ali jayad alsalhi expert sniper early 60s veteran multiple wars killed september clashes northern iraq vaulted legend shiites around iraq trade stories piety left home wife 10 children 20 grandchildren join shiite militia fight saw war humanity evil alsalhi powerful symbol religious near messianic mystique grown around iraqs shiite militias tandem increasing political military might helped defeat islamic state group known popular mobilization forces hashed arabic militias emerged war image almost holy force protecting shiite muslim majority popular aura helps enshrine hashed major player postis iraq stark contrast sunni muslim minority views fighters hashed controls significant areas northern western iraq seized back accused abuses sunni population sunnis see militias tool shiite powerhouse iran dominate iraq war islamic state group left divided legacy iraq sunni community shattered cities wrecked population scattered unsure future 3 million people uprooted mostly languishing camps meanwhile shiites riding victory defeated fanatical group targeted sect heretics many shiites trumpet hashed militias champions bringing community centuries oppression embodying belief central shiism victory come martyrdom militiamen seen successors one faiths revered figures imam hussein grandson prophet muhammad killed 7th century rival muslims karbala southern iraq battle led sunnishiite split even speak hashed apocalyptic terms linking imam mahdi shiite religious leader said vanished 1100 years ago expected return leading army faithful defeat evil world hashed supporters say army time comes reappearance imam mahdi ready honored among soldiers sajad almubarkaa head hasheds indoctrination department told associated press baghdad office dismissed criticism talk emphasizes sectarian nature force harm could come invoking name imam mahdi said harm could come inspired sacrifice imam hussein hashed emerged call june 2014 iraqs top shiite cleric grand ayatollah ali alsistani volunteers join jihad militants overrun northern city mosul swept nearly baghdad shiite shrines farther south military security forces collapsed tens thousands heeded call enlisting multiple militia factions many existed years fought american forces iraq 2000s shiiteled government rejected demands force disbanded parliament given legal status part countrys armed forces whipping religious fervor around militiamen also part ongoing struggle leadership iraqs shiites iran alsistani though iranianborn aging alsistani resisted irans doctrine direct rule clerics iraqi shiites deep devotion nationalist sentiment hindered tehrans attempts dominate community rivalry played within hashed three strongest brigades directly created bankrolled marjaiyah shiite religious leadership alsistani heads many others backed iran iranianbacked militias evoke connections imam hussein imam mahdi gain legitimacy among shiite community forces supporters alsistani traditionally played talk imam mahdis imminent return also join apocalyptic martyrdom narratives compete welloiled propaganda machine iran proxies said philip smyth researcher shiites washington institute middle east policy ultimately iran angling ensure protehran cleric succeeds alsistani said result passionate mix religious tradition pop culture poetry song surrounding hashed stay speechless longer chants singer muhanad almowali alluding oppression shiites since husseins martyrdom another mahdi alaboodi sings wishes hashed battle karbala fight side hussein recent gathering hundreds shiites karbala poet recited verse telling imam mahdi bother bringing army returns hashed ready supernatural stories passed among hashed supporters social media one video purports drone footage showing imam mahdi backing militiamen defending shrine mahdis father city samarra another story hashed fighter says imam came mortally wounded saving life washing wounds telling side never abandon one alsalhis sons tayseer says father came dream night killed instructing allow women wear black reference belief martyrs remain alive eyes god mourned hashed intensely publicized deaths commanders announcing martyrdom giant street posters baghdad mostly shiite south even sunni majority areas taken back since martyrdom alsalhi held ideal pious shiite poems honor read mournful crowds thousands showed funeral holy city najaf laid rest valley peace vast shiite cemetery near shrine imam ali shiites revered figure rifle display museum near shrine imam hussein karbala neighbors alsalhis home district southern city basra decorate cars homes posters military gear rifle hand standing next shiite saints face appears wristwatches sale markets cakes bakery one iraqs top sculptors ahmed albahraini started work 6meter 20foot bronze statue alsalhi main square basra bear man long bushy saltandpepper beard alsalhis real life intertwined hagiography making difficult confirm stories told young man dabbled boxing athletics horseback riding swam shatt alarab riverway tigris euphrates meet family say early 1970s graduated elite snipers school belarus career iraqi army fought alongside syrian forces golan heights israel 1973 middle east war year later fought kurdish separatists iraqs north also veteran iraqs 198088 war iran lost brother saddam husseins executioners 1991 shiite uprising southern iraq family hashed comrades tell intense piety say took shiite tradition travelling foot holy sites pilgrimage punishing extreme pilgrims rested night walked day night resting final destination son tayseer said father walked 40 days shrine mashhad iran nearly 800 miles 1300 kilometers basra 2014 alsalhi answered alsistanis call fight joined ali alakbar brigade one three created marjaiyah didnt consult family tayseer told ap said going thats 33yearold tayseer spoke familys basra home walls reception room hung fathers relics russianmade sniper rifle inside glass box along pistol ammunition belt large portrait alsalhi military fatigues alsalhi took part hasheds biggest battles fallujah jurf elsakhr near baghdad mosul north along way became well known appearing television interviews since racked hundreds thousands views youtube iraqis trenches behalf said one interview fight win freedom iraqi people humanity want nothing except prayers took pride skill told flying bird gave away location sniper atop date palm grove outside baghdad often told duel female sniper known codename umm ahmed overheard radio messages hour traded shots peeking hiding enough draw firing finally killed tricked thinking dead rose hiding place said adding killed two fighters trying retrieve body commander ali alakbar brigade haidar mukhtar told ap day died alsalhi positioned hundreds meters ahead rest battalion assault isheld town near kirkuk alsalhi picked four fighters bringing kill tally 384 mukhtar said two snipers surrounded militants killed died september 28 8th day muharram holy month muslim calendar imam hussein also martyred mukhtar retrieved final relic alsalhi casing last bullet fired jammed rifle kept souvenir ___ hendawi reported cairo
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<p>A third Raton city commissioner is being added to the Sept. 14 recall election ballot, The Raton Range reported.</p>
<p>State District Judge John Paternoster ruled Monday that 16 signatures should be reinstated to the petition seeking a recall election for Commissioner Joe Apache, the newspaper said. The 16 signatures increased the number of valid signatures on the petition to 215, which is six more than the 209 required to force a recall election for Apache.</p>
<p>The City Commission last month approved a Sept. 14 recall election for Mayor Jesse James Johnson and Mayor Pro Tem Chuck Henry, <a href="http://raton-range.com/clients/raton-range/judge-return-signatures-to-recall-petition-apache-to-join-johnson-henry-p517-1.htm" type="external">The Range</a> said. The City Clerk’s Office had determined in June that petitions had a sufficient number of valid signatures of Raton voters to force the recall election for Johnson and Henry.</p>
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<p>The 16 signatures in question on the recall petition for Apache had been purged by Deputy City Clerk Geneva Trujillo because the addresses listed on the petition by the signatories did not match the addresses on their voter registrations, according to the newspaper. City Attorney Ray Floershim had argued at a hearing Friday that although most had later updated their addresses on their voter registrations, the changes came too late after each had signed the petition and after the petition was submitted to the City Clerk’s Office on May 31.</p>
<p>The Range said that Paternoster ruled that to invalidate the signatures simply because of mismatching addresses was unreasonable and insufficient and contrary to law.</p>
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<p>Monday, 19 July 2010 13:23</p>
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<p>A special election will be held on Sept. 14 for Raton voters to determine whether two city commissioners should be recalled, The Raton Range reported.</p>
<p>Voters will be deciding whether to oust Mayor Jesse James Johnson and Mayor Pro Tem Chuck Henry, according to The Range.</p>
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<p>The City Commission approved the special election date Tuesday, the newspaper reported. Johnson is in his third term as a city commissioner, while Henry is in first term.</p>
<p>A third commissioner, Joe Apache, also has been the target of a recall effort. A petition seeking a recall election was 10 signatures short, but 16 people whose signatures were purged for address discrepancies went to court in a bid to have their signatures reinstated, The Range reported.</p>
<p>The newspaper said that on Thursday state District Judge John Paternoster issued an order requiring Raton Deputy City Clerk Geneva Trujillo to reinstate the 16 signatures within 10 days or show cause at a July 30 hearing why they should not be reinstated.</p>
<p>If the 16 signatures are restored to the petition, Apache is expected to be added to the Sept. 14 recall ballot, The Range said.</p>
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<p>Friday, 09 July 2010 15:49</p>
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<p>A state district judge is being asked by 15 Raton residents to order that their signatures be restored to a petition seeking a recall election of Raton City Commissioner Joe Apache, The Raton Range reported.</p>
<p>The petition has come up short of qualified signatures as determined by Deputy City Clerk Geneva Trujillo, but should 10 or more of the 15 signatures be reinstated, Apache would have to face a recall election, according to the newspaper.</p>
<p>Initially, Trujillo purged 102 signatures from the recall petition last month. That dropped the petition 20 signatures below the 209 qualified signatures of registered Raton voters needed to force a recall election, The Range reported.</p>
<p>The newspaper said Trujillo later reinstated 10 of the purged signatures after those people provided what Trujillo determined was adequate reasons for their signatures to be restored. But Trujillo denied requests from 24 other petition signers for their signatures to be restored and 15 of those people have gone to court asking a judge to order Trujillo to restore their signatures, according to The Range.</p>
<p>According to state law, if the court finds reason a signature should be reinstated and orders the reinstatement, Trujillo would have 10 days from receiving the order in which to restore the signature or show cause why it should not be restored, the newspaper reported.</p>
<p>Two city commissioners, Mayor Jesse James Johnson and Mayor Pro Tem Chuck Henry, already are facing a recall election that could take place in mid-August, according to The Range.</p>
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<p>Friday, 18 June 2010 15:39</p>
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<p>Raton voters will be going to the polls to determine whether two city commissioners should be recalled.</p>
<p>The Raton Range reports that the City Clerk’s Office has determined that petitions seeking the recall of Commissioner Jesse James Johnson, who is also mayor, and Commissioner Chuck Henry, who is also mayor pro tem, had a sufficient number of valid signatures of Raton voters to force the recall election.</p>
<p>The newspaper said it is likely the election will be held in August.</p>
<p>The recall petition effort involving a third commissioner, Joe Apache, fell short of the number of qualified voter signatures to force Apache to face a recall election, according to The Range.</p>
<p>The newspaper said that state law requires the signatures that were purged be posted and allows 10 days — through June 25 — for any person whose signature was purged to provide evidence to the Clerk’s Office why the signature was wrongfully purged. If 20 or more signatures are restored to the Apache petition, the commissioner could end up in the recall election.</p>
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third raton city commissioner added sept 14 recall election ballot raton range reported state district judge john paternoster ruled monday 16 signatures reinstated petition seeking recall election commissioner joe apache newspaper said 16 signatures increased number valid signatures petition 215 six 209 required force recall election apache city commission last month approved sept 14 recall election mayor jesse james johnson mayor pro tem chuck henry range said city clerks office determined june petitions sufficient number valid signatures raton voters force recall election johnson henry advertisement 16 signatures question recall petition apache purged deputy city clerk geneva trujillo addresses listed petition signatories match addresses voter registrations according newspaper city attorney ray floershim argued hearing friday although later updated addresses voter registrations changes came late signed petition petition submitted city clerks office may 31 range said paternoster ruled invalidate signatures simply mismatching addresses unreasonable insufficient contrary law 160 160 monday 19 july 2010 1323 160 special election held sept 14 raton voters determine whether two city commissioners recalled raton range reported voters deciding whether oust mayor jesse james johnson mayor pro tem chuck henry according range advertisement city commission approved special election date tuesday newspaper reported johnson third term city commissioner henry first term third commissioner joe apache also target recall effort petition seeking recall election 10 signatures short 16 people whose signatures purged address discrepancies went court bid signatures reinstated range reported newspaper said thursday state district judge john paternoster issued order requiring raton deputy city clerk geneva trujillo reinstate 16 signatures within 10 days show cause july 30 hearing reinstated 16 signatures restored petition apache expected added sept 14 recall ballot range said 160 160 friday 09 july 2010 1549 160 state district judge asked 15 raton residents order signatures restored petition seeking recall election raton city commissioner joe apache raton range reported petition come short qualified signatures determined deputy city clerk geneva trujillo 10 15 signatures reinstated apache would face recall election according newspaper initially trujillo purged 102 signatures recall petition last month dropped petition 20 signatures 209 qualified signatures registered raton voters needed force recall election range reported newspaper said trujillo later reinstated 10 purged signatures people provided trujillo determined adequate reasons signatures restored trujillo denied requests 24 petition signers signatures restored 15 people gone court asking judge order trujillo restore signatures according range according state law court finds reason signature reinstated orders reinstatement trujillo would 10 days receiving order restore signature show cause restored newspaper reported two city commissioners mayor jesse james johnson mayor pro tem chuck henry already facing recall election could take place midaugust according range 160 160 friday 18 june 2010 1539 160 raton voters going polls determine whether two city commissioners recalled raton range reports city clerks office determined petitions seeking recall commissioner jesse james johnson also mayor commissioner chuck henry also mayor pro tem sufficient number valid signatures raton voters force recall election newspaper said likely election held august recall petition effort involving third commissioner joe apache fell short number qualified voter signatures force apache face recall election according range newspaper said state law requires signatures purged posted allows 10 days june 25 person whose signature purged provide evidence clerks office signature wrongfully purged 20 signatures restored apache petition commissioner could end recall election 160 160
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<p>FILE - In this April 19, 2011 file photo, Fidel Castro, left, and Cuba's President Raul Castro talk during the 6th Communist Party Congress in Havana, Cuba. Some party members are calling for the April 2016 congress to be postponed to allow public debate about the government's plans to continue market-oriented reforms of Cuba's centrally controlled economy. (AP Photo/Javier Galeano, File)</p>
<p>HAVANA - Days after President Barack Obama's historic visit, the leaders of Cuba's Communist Party are under highly unusual public criticism from their own ranks for imposing new levels of secrecy on the future of social and economic reforms.</p>
<p>After months of simmering discontent, complaints among party members have become so heated that its official newspaper, Granma, addressed them in a lengthy front-page article Monday. It said the public dissatisfaction over the lack of open discussion before the upcoming Communist Party congress next month is "a sign of the democracy and public participation that are intrinsic characteristics of the socialism that we're constructing."</p>
<p>The article did little to calm many party members, some of whom are calling for the gathering to be postponed to allow public debate about the government's plans to continue market-oriented reforms for Cuba's centrally controlled economy.</p>
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<p>"The base of the party is angry, and rightly so," party member and noted intellectual Esteban Morales wrote in a blog post published before Obama's visit. "We've gone backward in terms of democracy in the party, because we've forgotten about the base, those who are fighting and confronting our problems on a daily basis."</p>
<p>Across the country, Cuba's ruling party is facing stiff challenges as it tries to govern an increasingly cynical and disenchanted population.</p>
<p>Struggling to feed their families with state salaries around $25 a month, many ordinary Cubans see their government as infuriatingly inefficient and unresponsive to the needs of average people. The open anger among prominent party members in the middle of sweeping socio-economic reforms and normalization with the United States hints at a deeper crisis of credibility for the party that has controlled virtually every aspect of public life in Cuba for more than a half century.</p>
<p>The article in Granma appeared less than a week after Obama won an enthusiastic response from many ordinary Cubans by calling for both an end to Cold War hostility and for more political and economic freedom on the island. The unsigned article shared the front page with Fidel Castro's sharply worded response to Obama, in which the 89-year-old father of Cuba's socialist system said, "My modest suggestion is that he reflect and doesn't try to develop theories about Cuban politics."</p>
<p>Many Cubans are skeptical of free-market capitalism, wary of American power and cannot envision a society without the free health care and education put in place by the 1959 revolution. Party member Francisco Rodriguez, a gay activist and journalist for a state newspaper, said Obama's nationally televised speech in Old Havana, his news conference with 84-year-old President Raul Castro and a presidential forum with Cuban entrepreneurs represented a sort of "capitalist evangelizing" that many party members dislike.</p>
<p>Rodriguez told The Associated Press that Obama's well-received addresses to the Cuban people had nonetheless increased pressure on the 700,000-member Communist Party to forge a more unified and credible vision of the future.</p>
<p>"Obama's visit requires us, going forward, to work on debating and defending our social consensus about the revolution," Rodriguez said.</p>
<p>While Cuba's non-elected leaders maintain tight control of the party and the broader system, the last party congress in 2011 was preceded by months of vigorous debate at party meetings about detailed documents laying out reforms that have shrunk the state bureaucracy and allowed a half million Cubans to start work in the private sector.</p>
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<p>In the run-up to the party congress scheduled to begin April 16, no documents have been made public, no debate has taken place and many of the party's best-known members remain in the dark about the next phase of Cuba's reforms.</p>
<p>Granma said 1,000 high-ranking party members have been reviewing key documents.</p>
<p>"My dissatisfaction is rooted in the lack of discussion of the central documents, secret to this day, as much among the organizations of the party base as the rest of the population," Rodriguez wrote in an open letter Sunday to Raul Castro, who is also the top Communist Party leader.</p>
<p>Under Castro's guidance, the 2011 party congress helped loosen state control of Cubans' economic options and some personal freedoms, moving the country toward more self-employment, greater freedom to travel and greater ability to sell personal cars and real estate. The Granma article argued that the months of debate before the approval of those reforms made a new round of public discussion unnecessary. It also acknowledged that only 21 percent of the reforms had been completed as planned.</p>
<p>The April 16-19 party congress "will allow us to define with greater precision the path that we must follow in order for our nation, sovereign and truly independent since Jan. 1, 1959, to construct a prosperous and sustainable socialism," the article said.</p>
<p>Rodriguez, who works closely with Castro's daughter Mariela, the director of the national Center for Sexual Education, said the Granma piece was unsatisfactory. He called for the Seventh Party Congress to be delayed, saying many fellow party members share his point of view.</p>
<p>In the days after the Granma article appeared about two dozen people, many identifying themselves as party members, posted lengthy comments on the paper's government-moderated website that criticized the article and the secrecy surrounding the upcoming party congress, which is widely seen as helping mark the transition of power from the aging men who led Cuba's revolution to a younger generation.</p>
<p>"It is one of the last congresses directed by the historic generation," wrote one poster identifying himself as Leandro. "This is, I think, a bad precedent for future leaders, who will feel like they have the right to have party congresses without popular participation."</p>
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<p>Andrea Rodriguez on Twitter: <a href="http://www.twitter.com/ARodriguezAP" type="external">www.twitter.com/ARodriguezAP</a></p>
<p>Michael Weissenstein on Twitter: <a href="http://www.twitter.com/mweissenstein" type="external">www.twitter.com/mweissenstein</a></p>
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file april 19 2011 file photo fidel castro left cubas president raul castro talk 6th communist party congress havana cuba party members calling april 2016 congress postponed allow public debate governments plans continue marketoriented reforms cubas centrally controlled economy ap photojavier galeano file havana days president barack obamas historic visit leaders cubas communist party highly unusual public criticism ranks imposing new levels secrecy future social economic reforms months simmering discontent complaints among party members become heated official newspaper granma addressed lengthy frontpage article monday said public dissatisfaction lack open discussion upcoming communist party congress next month sign democracy public participation intrinsic characteristics socialism constructing article little calm many party members calling gathering postponed allow public debate governments plans continue marketoriented reforms cubas centrally controlled economy advertisement base party angry rightly party member noted intellectual esteban morales wrote blog post published obamas visit weve gone backward terms democracy party weve forgotten base fighting confronting problems daily basis across country cubas ruling party facing stiff challenges tries govern increasingly cynical disenchanted population struggling feed families state salaries around 25 month many ordinary cubans see government infuriatingly inefficient unresponsive needs average people open anger among prominent party members middle sweeping socioeconomic reforms normalization united states hints deeper crisis credibility party controlled virtually every aspect public life cuba half century article granma appeared less week obama enthusiastic response many ordinary cubans calling end cold war hostility political economic freedom island unsigned article shared front page fidel castros sharply worded response obama 89yearold father cubas socialist system said modest suggestion reflect doesnt try develop theories cuban politics many cubans skeptical freemarket capitalism wary american power envision society without free health care education put place 1959 revolution party member francisco rodriguez gay activist journalist state newspaper said obamas nationally televised speech old havana news conference 84yearold president raul castro presidential forum cuban entrepreneurs represented sort capitalist evangelizing many party members dislike rodriguez told associated press obamas wellreceived addresses cuban people nonetheless increased pressure 700000member communist party forge unified credible vision future obamas visit requires us going forward work debating defending social consensus revolution rodriguez said cubas nonelected leaders maintain tight control party broader system last party congress 2011 preceded months vigorous debate party meetings detailed documents laying reforms shrunk state bureaucracy allowed half million cubans start work private sector advertisement runup party congress scheduled begin april 16 documents made public debate taken place many partys bestknown members remain dark next phase cubas reforms granma said 1000 highranking party members reviewing key documents dissatisfaction rooted lack discussion central documents secret day much among organizations party base rest population rodriguez wrote open letter sunday raul castro also top communist party leader castros guidance 2011 party congress helped loosen state control cubans economic options personal freedoms moving country toward selfemployment greater freedom travel greater ability sell personal cars real estate granma article argued months debate approval reforms made new round public discussion unnecessary also acknowledged 21 percent reforms completed planned april 1619 party congress allow us define greater precision path must follow order nation sovereign truly independent since jan 1 1959 construct prosperous sustainable socialism article said rodriguez works closely castros daughter mariela director national center sexual education said granma piece unsatisfactory called seventh party congress delayed saying many fellow party members share point view days granma article appeared two dozen people many identifying party members posted lengthy comments papers governmentmoderated website criticized article secrecy surrounding upcoming party congress widely seen helping mark transition power aging men led cubas revolution younger generation one last congresses directed historic generation wrote one poster identifying leandro think bad precedent future leaders feel like right party congresses without popular participation ___ andrea rodriguez twitter wwwtwittercomarodriguezap michael weissenstein twitter wwwtwittercommweissenstein
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<p>NEW YORK — On a sweltering Washington summer day, President Donald Trump’s motorcade pulled up to the Pentagon for a meeting largely billed as a briefing on the Afghanistan conflict and the fight against the Islamic State group.</p>
<p>There, in the windowless meeting room known as “The Tank”, Trump was to be briefed on the state of America’s longest-running war as he and his top aides plotted ways ahead. But, according to current and former U.S. officials familiar with the meeting, it was, in reality, about much more.</p>
<p>Trump’s national security team had become alarmed by the president’s frequent questioning about the value of a robust American presence around the world. When briefed on the diplomatic, military and intelligence posts, the new president would often cast doubt on the need for all the resources. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson organized the July 20 session to lay out the case for maintaining far-flung outposts — and to present it, using charts and maps, in a way the businessman-turned-politician would appreciate.</p>
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<p>The session was, in effect, American Power 101 and the student was the man working the levers. It was part of the ongoing education of a president who arrived at the White House with no experience in the military or government and brought with him advisers deeply skeptical of what they labeled the “globalist” worldview. In coordinated efforts and quiet conversations, some of Trump’s aides have worked for months to counter that view, hoping the president can be persuaded to maintain — if not expand — the American footprint and influence abroad.</p>
<p>The result of the meeting and other similar entreaties may start to become clear this week, as Trump heads to New York for his first address to the United Nations General Assembly. The annual gathering of world leaders will open amid serious concerns about Trump’s priorities, his support for the body he is addressing and a series of spiraling global crises.</p>
<p>Trump, who seized as his mantra “America First” and at times unnerved world leaders with his unpredictability, is expected to offer warmth to the United States’ allies and warnings to its adversaries, particularly North Korea and Iran. The president’s envoy to the global body suggested a presidential message that would focus on the basics on America’s role in the world.</p>
<p>“I personally think he slaps the right people, he hugs the right people, and he comes out with the U.S. being very strong in the end,” Ambassador Nikki Haley said.</p>
<p>In the weeks since the briefing in the Tank, Trump has split with top adviser Steve Bannon, the engine of many of his nationalist, isolationist policies. He threatened war with North Korea and agreed to send more U.S. troops to Afghanistan, abandoning his promise to withdraw quickly. Announcing the plan, Trump acknowledged the influence of his advisers.</p>
<p>“My original instinct was to pull out — and, historically, I like following my instincts,” he said. “But all my life I’ve heard that decisions are much different when you sit behind the desk in the Oval Office; in other words, when you’re President of the United States. So I studied Afghanistan in great detail and from every conceivable angle.”</p>
<p>On July 20, Trump, Bannon, then-White House chief of staff Reince Priebus, senior adviser Jared Kushner and others stepped from the presidential motorcade and filed down a corridor adorned with formal portraits of former joint chiefs chairmen and into Room 2E924, identified by a small, unobtrusive plaque as “The Tank,” to join Vice President Mike Pence, Mattis and Tillerson as well as a host of briefers.</p>
<p>Armed with charts, maps and diagrams, those briefers spent the next roughly 90 minutes explaining to Trump the critical importance of forward worldwide deployments of U.S. military, intelligence and diplomatic assets, according to two current officials and one former official familiar with the meeting. While the war in Afghanistan and against the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq were major topics, the stationing of U.S. personnel in Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America were also covered, said the officials who were not authorized to discuss details of the highly classified briefing and spoke on condition of anonymity.</p>
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<p>The officials said the purpose was to answer one of Trump’s most persistent questions of his national security aides: Why does the U.S. government need “so many people” abroad? As such, it was a comprehensive look at military bases, embassies and consulates, CIA stations and other intelligence posts, presented by experts sitting around a large conference table and in chairs lining the walls.</p>
<p>To be successful, Mattis and Tillerson decided they should use talking points and commentary with which they believed Trump would be most familiar: the role that the military, intelligence officers and diplomats play in making the world safe for American businesses, like The Trump Organization, to operate and expand abroad. American troops provide stability, diplomats push rule of law and anti-corruption measures and the intelligence community provides context and analysis that drive the first two, the briefers explained, according to the officials.</p>
<p>The implications of American retrenchment in an age of increasing international competition were also discussed, the officials said. One chart presented included two maps depicting the exponential growth of China’s presence in Africa over the past two decades and its impact on U.S. national security and private foreign investment, according to the officials.</p>
<p>Trump emerged and declared it a “very good meeting.”</p>
<p>As a student, Trump is known to be alternatively eager and easily distracted.</p>
<p>CIA chief Mike Pompeo has called Trump both an “avid” and “voracious” consumer of intelligence. Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, speaking just a day after the Pentagon meeting, told an audience at the Aspen Security Forum that Trump interrupted briefings so often that he and his team frequently needed to circle back to their main points multiple times.</p>
<p>“What we found is someone who has not been in government, not been in the intelligence business, not having relationship to that, but is asking an awful lot of questions and a lot of them were good questions,” he said.</p>
<p>White House aides have readied a crash course for Trump as he prepares for the General Assembly, in part necessitated because the president has delayed some of his preparations, choosing instead to focus on the federal government’s response to a pair of massive hurricanes and, to a lesser extent in recent days, his dealings with Democrats on immigration issues, according to the officials and advisers.</p>
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new york sweltering washington summer day president donald trumps motorcade pulled pentagon meeting largely billed briefing afghanistan conflict fight islamic state group windowless meeting room known tank trump briefed state americas longestrunning war top aides plotted ways ahead according current former us officials familiar meeting reality much trumps national security team become alarmed presidents frequent questioning value robust american presence around world briefed diplomatic military intelligence posts new president would often cast doubt need resources defense secretary jim mattis secretary state rex tillerson organized july 20 session lay case maintaining farflung outposts present using charts maps way businessmanturnedpolitician would appreciate advertisement session effect american power 101 student man working levers part ongoing education president arrived white house experience military government brought advisers deeply skeptical labeled globalist worldview coordinated efforts quiet conversations trumps aides worked months counter view hoping president persuaded maintain expand american footprint influence abroad result meeting similar entreaties may start become clear week trump heads new york first address united nations general assembly annual gathering world leaders open amid serious concerns trumps priorities support body addressing series spiraling global crises trump seized mantra america first times unnerved world leaders unpredictability expected offer warmth united states allies warnings adversaries particularly north korea iran presidents envoy global body suggested presidential message would focus basics americas role world personally think slaps right people hugs right people comes us strong end ambassador nikki haley said weeks since briefing tank trump split top adviser steve bannon engine many nationalist isolationist policies threatened war north korea agreed send us troops afghanistan abandoning promise withdraw quickly announcing plan trump acknowledged influence advisers original instinct pull historically like following instincts said life ive heard decisions much different sit behind desk oval office words youre president united states studied afghanistan great detail every conceivable angle july 20 trump bannon thenwhite house chief staff reince priebus senior adviser jared kushner others stepped presidential motorcade filed corridor adorned formal portraits former joint chiefs chairmen room 2e924 identified small unobtrusive plaque tank join vice president mike pence mattis tillerson well host briefers armed charts maps diagrams briefers spent next roughly 90 minutes explaining trump critical importance forward worldwide deployments us military intelligence diplomatic assets according two current officials one former official familiar meeting war afghanistan islamic state group syria iraq major topics stationing us personnel asia africa europe latin america also covered said officials authorized discuss details highly classified briefing spoke condition anonymity advertisement officials said purpose answer one trumps persistent questions national security aides us government need many people abroad comprehensive look military bases embassies consulates cia stations intelligence posts presented experts sitting around large conference table chairs lining walls successful mattis tillerson decided use talking points commentary believed trump would familiar role military intelligence officers diplomats play making world safe american businesses like trump organization operate expand abroad american troops provide stability diplomats push rule law anticorruption measures intelligence community provides context analysis drive first two briefers explained according officials implications american retrenchment age increasing international competition also discussed officials said one chart presented included two maps depicting exponential growth chinas presence africa past two decades impact us national security private foreign investment according officials trump emerged declared good meeting student trump known alternatively eager easily distracted cia chief mike pompeo called trump avid voracious consumer intelligence director national intelligence dan coats speaking day pentagon meeting told audience aspen security forum trump interrupted briefings often team frequently needed circle back main points multiple times found someone government intelligence business relationship asking awful lot questions lot good questions said white house aides readied crash course trump prepares general assembly part necessitated president delayed preparations choosing instead focus federal governments response pair massive hurricanes lesser extent recent days dealings democrats immigration issues according officials advisers
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<p />
<p>It was a fast start to what’s shaping up to be a short special session aimed at addressing New Mexico’s budget crisis.</p>
<p>But a confrontation over tax legislation is still on tap.</p>
<p>The House and Senate, in any case, each passed legislation Wednesday — the first day of the special session — that would restore funding for New Mexico colleges and universities and for the Legislature itself.</p>
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<p>Also heading to the governor’s desk is a proposal that involves borrowing money to help shore up the state’s basic operating fund.</p>
<p>Supporters say the two pieces of legislation should be enough to balance the budget, but could leave the state with perilously low cash reserves. Other revenue-raising measures are needed to further bolster reserves, they said.</p>
<p>But “we believe we’re in the black,” said Sen. John Arthur Smith, a Deming Democrat and chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.</p>
<p>More from ABQJournal.com</p>
<p>SANTA FE — It took just 20 minutes for this week's special session to erupt into a confrontation between lawmakers… continue reading »</p>
<p>Proposals to raise gasoline taxes, impose a gross receipts tax on internet sales and enact other revenue-raising measures were also moving through the Legislature on Wednesday, but without much Republican support. Democrats said they would further shore up state finances and build reserves to protect New Mexico’s credit rating.</p>
<p>But Martinez, a Republican in her second term, has vowed repeatedly to veto standalone tax increases. She says the state shouldn’t balance the budget by raising the cost of living for New Mexico families.</p>
<p>It made for a familiar atmosphere at the Roundhouse.</p>
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<p>Just as during the 60-day session that ended in March, top-ranking lawmakers and the Governor’s Office have been unable to strike a deal on how to pay for state government operations for the budget year starting July 1 and build adequate reserves.</p>
<p>“I think this budget is a great thing if we have the money to pay for it, and I don’t see that happening in this special session,” said Rep. Jason Harper, R-Rio Rancho, during debate Wednesday on the House floor.</p>
<p>After both chambers tried to override Martinez’s sweeping budget vetoes on higher education and the legislative branch, the House ultimately voted 46-20 to approve a bill restoring the vetoed funding — with nine Republicans voting with majority Democrats. The proposal later won support 37-4 in the Senate, picking up support from 11 of 15 Republicans and all 26 Democrats.</p>
<p>Susan Richards of Albuquerque participates in a Wednesday rally outside the Roundhouse in Santa Fe supporting restoring higher education funding. (Eddie Moore/Albuquerque Journal)</p>
<p>House members also voted 37-29 to pass a separate bill that would generate an estimated $100 million a year by imposing a tax on both online sales and nonprofit hospital services.</p>
<p>“We hope that (the governor) will sign some of our revenue suggestions, because it’s incredibly important we get our higher education funding back in place,” said Rep. Patricia Lundstrom, D-Gallup, chairwoman of the House Appropriations and Finance Committee.</p>
<p>Borrowing</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the Senate voted 38-3 to endorse a proposal that could raise an additional $100 million in one-time money for the general fund — partly by borrowing the money. It later won approval 64-0 in the House.</p>
<p>The complex bond transaction would essentially take the state’s capacity to borrow money to build big capital projects and convert it into cash to help boost reserves or pay operating expenses.</p>
<p>No one seemed to like the idea. But Republicans and Democrats alike said that the state’s financial crisis demanded action and that the Martinez administration had pushed for the move.</p>
<p>Paying back the money could take 10 to 20 years, senators said.</p>
<p>“It’s bad fiscal policy,” said Sen. John Sapien, D-Corrales. “It’ll end up being a parasite.”</p>
<p>Governor’s vetoes</p>
<p>The Senate also endorsed a package of tax increases on gasoline and vehicle purchases — but it faces almost certain opposition from the governor. Both proposals were part of a $350 million tax package the governor vetoed in April.</p>
<p>Martinez called lawmakers back to Santa Fe for the special session after vetoing all funding for legislative branch agencies and colleges and universities from a $6.1 billion budget bill passed in March.</p>
<p>She has touted an overhaul of the state’s gross receipts tax code — by eliminating exemptions and lowering the base rate — as a way to balance next year’s budget and eliminate “loopholes” in the tax system.</p>
<p>House Speaker Brian Egolf, D-Santa Fe, said earlier this week that the tax overhaul bill will not be voted on during the special session, due to concern over its potential impact and the fact it was still in the works until early this week and has not yet been publicly reviewed in its revised form.</p>
<p>However, the 430-page bill was introduced in the House late Wednesday and was scheduled for debate in a House panel today.</p>
<p>Egolf and other Democrats say they have already shown a willingness to compromise, by including several other provisions backed by Republicans in both their revenue and budget bills.</p>
<p>“We are moving quickly today, but all the things analyzed and considered were vetted in the 60-day session,” Egolf told reporters Wednesday.</p>
<p>Those items included more money for financial aid programs, $400,000 for a tax study and the creation of a “rainy-day” fund that would set aside money for budget-lean years when oil and natural gas prices are low.</p>
<p>If the fund had been in place since the 2006 budget year, it would have meant $627 million set aside in a separate fund over that period, according to a Department of Finance and Administration analysis.</p>
<p>And the tax study could pave the way for lawmakers to come back in September or October for another special session to take action.</p>
<p>‘Budgetary chicken’</p>
<p>The special session’s first day brought scores of protesters, lobbyists and Roundhouse insiders to the Capitol.</p>
<p>At one point Wednesday, university presidents and student leaders testified before a House budget committee about the impact of Martinez’s decision to line-item veto all proposed funding — roughly $744 million — for higher education institutions.</p>
<p>New Mexico State University President Garrey Carruthers, a Republican former governor, said that if the $190 million in vetoed funding for NMSU isn’t restored by July it would “essentially bankrupt” the university.</p>
<p>“We would not be able to operate programs,” Carruthers told members of the House Appropriations and Finance Committee.</p>
<p>Just five weeks remain until the start of the new budget year. Some lawmakers were quite blunt.</p>
<p>“We seem to be caught in this game of budgetary chicken, and you happen to be the pawns in the game,” Rep. Christine Trujillo, D-Albuquerque, told the university presidents.</p>
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fast start whats shaping short special session aimed addressing new mexicos budget crisis confrontation tax legislation still tap house senate case passed legislation wednesday first day special session would restore funding new mexico colleges universities legislature advertisement also heading governors desk proposal involves borrowing money help shore states basic operating fund supporters say two pieces legislation enough balance budget could leave state perilously low cash reserves revenueraising measures needed bolster reserves said believe black said sen john arthur smith deming democrat chairman senate finance committee abqjournalcom santa fe took 20 minutes weeks special session erupt confrontation lawmakers continue reading proposals raise gasoline taxes impose gross receipts tax internet sales enact revenueraising measures also moving legislature wednesday without much republican support democrats said would shore state finances build reserves protect new mexicos credit rating martinez republican second term vowed repeatedly veto standalone tax increases says state shouldnt balance budget raising cost living new mexico families made familiar atmosphere roundhouse advertisement 60day session ended march topranking lawmakers governors office unable strike deal pay state government operations budget year starting july 1 build adequate reserves think budget great thing money pay dont see happening special session said rep jason harper rrio rancho debate wednesday house floor chambers tried override martinezs sweeping budget vetoes higher education legislative branch house ultimately voted 4620 approve bill restoring vetoed funding nine republicans voting majority democrats proposal later support 374 senate picking support 11 15 republicans 26 democrats susan richards albuquerque participates wednesday rally outside roundhouse santa fe supporting restoring higher education funding eddie moorealbuquerque journal house members also voted 3729 pass separate bill would generate estimated 100 million year imposing tax online sales nonprofit hospital services hope governor sign revenue suggestions incredibly important get higher education funding back place said rep patricia lundstrom dgallup chairwoman house appropriations finance committee borrowing meanwhile senate voted 383 endorse proposal could raise additional 100 million onetime money general fund partly borrowing money later approval 640 house complex bond transaction would essentially take states capacity borrow money build big capital projects convert cash help boost reserves pay operating expenses one seemed like idea republicans democrats alike said states financial crisis demanded action martinez administration pushed move paying back money could take 10 20 years senators said bad fiscal policy said sen john sapien dcorrales itll end parasite governors vetoes senate also endorsed package tax increases gasoline vehicle purchases faces almost certain opposition governor proposals part 350 million tax package governor vetoed april martinez called lawmakers back santa fe special session vetoing funding legislative branch agencies colleges universities 61 billion budget bill passed march touted overhaul states gross receipts tax code eliminating exemptions lowering base rate way balance next years budget eliminate loopholes tax system house speaker brian egolf dsanta fe said earlier week tax overhaul bill voted special session due concern potential impact fact still works early week yet publicly reviewed revised form however 430page bill introduced house late wednesday scheduled debate house panel today egolf democrats say already shown willingness compromise including several provisions backed republicans revenue budget bills moving quickly today things analyzed considered vetted 60day session egolf told reporters wednesday items included money financial aid programs 400000 tax study creation rainyday fund would set aside money budgetlean years oil natural gas prices low fund place since 2006 budget year would meant 627 million set aside separate fund period according department finance administration analysis tax study could pave way lawmakers come back september october another special session take action budgetary chicken special sessions first day brought scores protesters lobbyists roundhouse insiders capitol one point wednesday university presidents student leaders testified house budget committee impact martinezs decision lineitem veto proposed funding roughly 744 million higher education institutions new mexico state university president garrey carruthers republican former governor said 190 million vetoed funding nmsu isnt restored july would essentially bankrupt university would able operate programs carruthers told members house appropriations finance committee five weeks remain start new budget year lawmakers quite blunt seem caught game budgetary chicken happen pawns game rep christine trujillo dalbuquerque told university presidents
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<p>(Reuters) - Spaniard Carlos Sainz was one stage away from winning the Dakar Rally on Friday but Peugeot’s hopes of a one-two finish in Argentina disappeared after reigning champion Stephane Peterhansel hit trouble.</p> Dakar Rally - 2018 Peru-Bolivia-Argentina Dakar rally - 40th Dakar Edition stage thirteen, San Juan to Cordoba - January 19, 2018. Carlos Sainz of Spain and co-pilot Lucas Cruz of Spain drive their Peugeot. REUTERS/Andres Stapff
<p>Sainz, father of the Renault Formula One driver of the same name, ended the penultimate 13th stage from San Juan to Cordoba with a lead of 46 minutes and 18 seconds over Toyota’s Nasser al-Attiyah.</p>
<p>With only 120km of timed special stage remaining around Cordoba, Sainz’s second Dakar victory looks assured in what will be a fitting farewell for Peugeot’s works team in their final appearance.</p>
<p>The Spaniard took no risks on Friday’s marathon 929km stage, which was dominated by al-Attiyah, who took his fourth stage win of this year’s rally. Sainz finished 19 minutes and 37 seconds behind the Qatari.</p>
<p>Peterhansel, a 13 times Dakar winner on bikes and cars, had started the day second overall but clipped a tree with his front left wheel on a bend that was hidden by a bump.</p>
<p>The impact broke a steering rod, with the support team carrying out repairs once he was out of the timed zone, and also left the Frenchman with a sprained thumb.</p>
<p>The delay meant he lost about an hour and fell behind al-Attiyah in the standings.</p>
<p>Toyota’s Dutch driver Bernhard ten Brinke retired with mechanical problems.</p>
<p>In the motorcycle category, Austrian KTM rider Matthias Walkner ended the day with a 22 minute lead over Argentina’s Kevin Benavides on a Honda.</p>
<p>Australian Toby Price, the 2016 winner, took his second successive stage win.</p>
<p>Reporting by Alan Baldwin in London, editing by Greg Stutchbury</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>(Reuters) - China on Wednesday hit back at U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan to impose tariffs on $50 billion of Chinese imports, proposing additional tariffs of 25 percent on 106 categories of U.S. goods, from soybeans to autos, chemicals and some kinds of aircraft.</p> FILE PHOTO: The GM logo is seen at the General Motors Warren Transmission Operations Plant in Warren, Michigan, U.S., October 26, 2015. REUTERS/Rebecca Cook/File Photo
<p>The trade tension brewing between the world’s two largest economies hit global markets, with shares of industrial companies with exposure to Chinese markets, such as Boeing Co and Deere &amp; Co, among the hardest hit.</p>
<p>The following are some of the possible winners and losers among U.S. companies and sectors:</p> AUTO COMPANIES:
<p>U.S. automaker General Motors Co urged the two countries to engage in constructive dialogue over trade. The company’s stock fell as much as 3 percent before reversing course to close nearly 3 percent higher.</p>
<p>GM rival Ford Motor Co also lost as much as 3 percent before rebounding to close 1.6 percent higher while electric carmaker Tesla Inc , which depends on China for 17 percent of its revenue, fell as much as 5.8 percent before retracing losses to end up over 7.2 percent. Shares of Fiat Chrysler fell as much as 3.4 percent before recovering to end up nearly 2 percent.</p>
<p>Ford said it encouraged both governments to work together to resolve issues.</p> FILE PHOTO: Boeing's logo is seen during the Japan Aerospace 2016 air show in Tokyo, Japan, October 12, 2016. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/File Photo BOEING &amp; INDUSTRIALS:
<p>Aircraft maker Boeing Co closed down 1 percent, weighing the most on the Dow Jones Industrial Average as documents from China’s Ministry of Commerce and the U.S. manufacturer showed the move would affect some older Boeing narrowbody models. It was not immediately clear how much the tariffs would impact its newer aircraft.</p>
<p>Boeing said it was assessing the situation while analysts from JP Morgan said the proposals from China looked to have been calibrated carefully to avoid a major impact on the planemaker.</p>
<p>Fellow Dow component 3M Co lost as much as 2.4 percent before rebounding to end 0.6 percent higher.</p>
<p>Farming equipment maker Deere lost nearly $10 per share at its lowest. The company urged the two countries to work toward a resolution to “limit uncertainty for farmers and avoid meaningful disruptions to agricultural trade.” The stock ended 2.9 percent lower at $148.57.</p> TECH MAJORS:
<p>The S&amp;P 500 technology sector, which has the biggest revenue exposure to China among the benchmark’s 11 major sectors, dipped 0.5 percent before rebounding to end 1.3 percent higher.</p>
<p>Chip stocks were among the worst-hit in the sector with Intel Corp and Nvidia Corp both falling before retracing losses to end narrowly higher. Broadcom Ltd ended the day nearly flat at $236.99. China’s position as an assembly hub for electronic devices makes it the biggest consumer of semiconductors.</p>
<p>Cisco Systems Inc closed slightly higher at $41.20, but said it was “analyzing the impact of these tariffs on Cisco and reviewing plans to minimize the impact on our business, our customers and our partners,” company spokeswoman Robyn Blum told Reuters.</p> WHISKEY
<p>Brown-Forman Corp, the maker of Jack Daniel’s whiskey, slipped about 1 percent before recovering to close up 1.3 percent to $54.71 after whiskey was singled out as the only spirit on which China planned to impose more tariffs.</p> FILE PHOTO: The Ford logo is seen at the New York Auto Show in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., March 29, 2018. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
<p>The Distilled Spirits Council, a U.S. industry group, asked the United States and China to reach a resolution without subjecting American whiskey to more tariffs, which it said would harm Chinese consumers, its hospitality sector and U.S. whiskey exporters. The Council also said U.S. whiskey accounted for nearly 70 percent of the total U.S. spirits exported to China, by value, in 2017.</p> COMMODITIES &amp; CHEMICALS
<p>DowDuPont Inc said its agriculture unit could be affected by the escalating conflict, warning of price declines for soybeans, and a negative impact on U.S. farmers. Shares closed up about 0.6 percent at $63.69.</p>
<p>Grain traders Archer Daniels Midland Co and Bunge Ltd, which trade U.S. soybeans in China, were both off as much as 1.5 percent. Archer Daniels recovered to add 1.8 percent to $43.90, and Bunge gained 2 percent to close at $75.64.</p>
<p>The American Chemistry Council (ACC) - which counts Exxon, Chevron, Monsanto and others as its members - urged the United States and China to come to an understanding. “Engaging in a trade war with one of our country’s most significant trading partners is not the answer,” said ACC Chief Executive Officer Cal Dooley.</p>
<p>Exxon closed 0.2 percent lower at $74.87, and Monsanto also fell 0.2 percent to $116.75. Chevron dipped 0.3 percent to $114.48.</p> WINNERS
<p>U.S. meat processor Tyson Foods Inc, meat exporter Hormel Foods Corp rose on the prospect of a drop in prices of soybean - a key feedstock - following higher Chinese tariffs on U.S. exports. Tyson closed up 2.3 percent at $71.54, and Hormel ended the day at $35.87, a gain of 4.8 percent.</p>
<p>(This version of the story deletes first half of Cisco statement from paragraph 13 after company said the outdated portion was provided to Reuters in error)</p>
<p>Reporting by Yashaswini Swamynathan in Bengaluru; Editing by Bernard Orr, Shounak Dasgupta and G Crosse</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>WASHINGTON/BEIJING (Reuters) - The United States voiced willingness on Wednesday to negotiate a resolution to an escalating trade fight with China after Beijing retaliated against proposed U.S. tariffs on $50 billion in Chinese goods by targeting key American imports, but the Chinese ambassador to Washington said it “takes two to tango.”</p>
<p>(Graphic: U.S. trade in goods with China - <a href="http://tmsnrt.rs/2GcOZIH" type="external">tmsnrt.rs/2GcOZIH</a>)</p>
<p>Just 11 hours after President Donald Trump’s administration proposed 25 percent tariffs on some 1,300 Chinese industrial, technology, transport and medical products, China shot back with a list of similar duties on major American imports including soybeans, planes, cars, beef and chemicals.</p>
<p>Beijing’s swift and forceful response raised the prospect of a quickly spiraling dispute between the world’s two economic superpowers that could harm the global economy.</p>
<p>(Graphic: U.S. imports from China - <a href="http://tmsnrt.rs/2FMsz1Q" type="external">tmsnrt.rs/2FMsz1Q</a>)</p>
<p>While Trump posted defiant messages on Twitter, his administration signaled possible wiggle room.</p> Related Coverage
<a href="/article/us-trade-winnersandlosers-factbox/factbox-u-s-winners-and-losers-from-trade-tit-for-tat-idUSKCN1HB2K0" type="external">Factbox: U.S. winners and losers from trade tit-for-tat</a>
<a href="/article/us-usa-trade-china-stocks/china-trade-retaliation-puts-stocks-of-u-s-exporters-in-spin-idUSKCN1HB1WL" type="external">China trade retaliation puts stocks of U.S. exporters in spin</a>
<a href="/article/us-usa-trade-china-diplomacy/china-envoy-says-prefers-to-resolve-trade-dispute-by-negotiation-idUSKCN1HB306" type="external">China envoy says prefers to resolve trade dispute by negotiation</a>
<p>Asked whether the U.S. tariffs announced on Tuesday may never go into effect and may be a negotiating tactic, Trump’s top economic adviser, Larry Kudlow, told reporters: “Yes, it’s possible. It’s part of the process.” He called the announcements by the two countries mere opening proposals.</p>
<p>Kudlow later told Fox News Channel: “I don’t think it’s a trade war. I think there is going to be intense negotiations on both sides.”</p>
<p>“I think we’re going to come to agreements,” he said, adding that “I believe that the Chinese will back down and will play ball.”</p>
<p>Cui Tiankai, China’s ambassador to the United States, held an hour-long meeting at the U.S. State Department in Washington with acting Secretary of State John Sullivan.</p>
<p>“Negotiation would still be our preference, but it takes two to tango. We will see what the U.S. will do,” the ambassador said afterward.</p>
<p>The trade actions will not be carried out immediately, so there may be room for maneuver. Publication of Washington’s list on Tuesday started a period of public comment and consultation expected to last around two months. The effective date of China’s moves depends on when the U.S. action takes effect.</p>
<p>If the two countries are unable to settle the dispute, a full-scale trade war could destabilize U.S.-Chinese commercial ties, an important component of the global economy.</p>
<p>China’s action rattled U.S. farmers, while shares in U.S. exporters of everything from planes to tractors were volatile.</p>
<p>After dropping at the outset of trading, Wall Street’s three major indexes staged a comeback to close about 1 percent higher as investors turned their focus to earnings and away from the trade fight.</p>
<p>White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said U.S. implementation of the tariffs would depend on China’s behavior.</p>
<p>“It’s going to be a couple months before tariffs on either side would go into effect and be implemented and we’re hopeful that China will do the right thing,” she told reporters.</p>
<p>“I would anticipate that if there are no changes to the behavior of China and they don’t stop the unfair trade practices, then we would move forward,” Sanders said.</p>
<p>Trump, who contends his predecessors served the United States badly in trade matters, wrote on Twitter: “We are not in a trade war with China that war was lost many years ago by the foolish, or incompetent, people who represented the U.S.”</p> POLITICAL DAMAGE
<p>While Washington targeted products that benefit from Chinese industrial policy - including its “Made in China 2025” initiative to replace advanced technology imports with domestic products in strategic industries such as advanced IT and robotics - Beijing appeared to offer a response intended to inflict political damage.</p>
<p>Washington’s list was filled with many obscure industrial items, but China’s struck at signature U.S. exports, including soybeans, frozen beef, cotton and other agricultural commodities produced in states from Iowa to Texas that voted for Trump in the 2016 presidential election.</p> Shipping containers at Pier J at the Port of Long Beach wait for processing in Long Beach, California, U.S., April 4, 2018. REUTERS/Bob Riha Jr.
<p>The list extends to tobacco and whiskey, both produced in states including Kentucky, home of U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, like Trump a Republican.</p>
<p>Trump said last month that “trade wars are good, and easy to win,” but key fellow Republicans expressed unease over the latest developments.</p>
<p>McConnell said he was nervous about the “growing trend in the administration to levy tariffs” that could become a “slippery slope,” while Senator Chuck Grassley, whose home state of Iowa is a major agricultural producer, said: “Farmers and ranchers shouldn’t be expected to bear the brunt of retaliation for the entire country.”</p>
<p>The possibility of an escalating U.S.-China trade war will result in “a bumpy ride” for the U.S. economy, said James Bullard, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.</p>
<p>China said its list of 25 percent additional tariffs on U.S. goods covered 106 items with a trade value matching the $50 billion targeted on Washington’s list.</p>
<p>U.S.-made goods that appear to face added tariffs in China include Tesla Inc electric cars, Ford Motor Co’s Lincoln auto models, Gulfstream jets made by General Dynamics Corp and Brown-Forman Corp’s Jack Daniel’s whiskey.</p> Slideshow (9 Images)
<p>Information technology products, from cellphones to personal computers, largely escaped the latest salvo of U.S.-China trade measures despite accounting for a significant portion of bilateral trade.</p>
<p>China ran a $375 billion goods trade surplus with the United States in 2017. Trump has demanded that the China cut the trade gap by $100 billion.</p>
<p>The U.S. move was aimed at forcing Beijing to address what Washington says is deeply entrenched theft of U.S. intellectual property and forced technology transfer from U.S. companies to Chinese competitors, charges Chinese officials deny.</p>
<p>The U.S. tariff list followed China’s imposition of tariffs on $3 billion worth of U.S. fruits, nuts, pork and wine to protest U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs imposed last month by Trump.</p>
<p>Reporting by David Lawder in Washington and Michael Martina in Beijing; Additional reporting by Lesley Wroughton, David Brunnstrom, Jason Lange, Ginger Gibson, Steve Holland, Jeff Mason, Makini Brice, Susan Heavey, David Chance and Lindsay Dunsmuir in Washington; Michael Martina, Cheng Fang, Ryan Woo, Ben Blanchard, Tony Munroe, Cate Cadell, Philip Wen, Dominique Patton, Josephine Mason and Stella Qiu in Beijing, Engen Tham in Shanghai and Brenda Goh in Shanghai, Tom Miles in Geneva and Michael Hogan in; Hamburg; Writing by Will Dunham; Editing by Steve Orlofsky and Peter Cooney</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea’s finance minister said on Thursday the trade tussle between the United States and China was being closely watched and that the country had prepared measures for various scenarios.</p> South Korean Finance Minister Kim Dong-yeon speaks during his inaugural ceremony in Sejong government complex in Sejong, South Korea, June 15, 2017. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji
<p>“There are unofficial talks going on between the two countries (the United States and China) regarding the trade issue and (South Korea) is closely watching how the situation is going to unfold,” Kim Dong-yeon told reporters on Thursday.</p>
<p>Kim also said there was no change to the ministry’s stance that it would take smoothing measures to stabilize foreign exchange markets in cases of sharp volatility.</p>
<p>South Korea, along with China, avoided the currency-manipulator label in twice-yearly U.S. Treasury report, but was kept on a currency “monitoring list”.</p>
<p>Reporting by Shinhyung Lee, Dahee Kim; Editing by Michael Perry</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico’s Senate issued a stern rebuke to U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday, urging its government to end cooperation with the United States on migration and security over Trump’s plans to deploy the National Guard along their shared border.</p> Border patrol agents track signs left by people who illegally crossed the border from Mexico into the U.S. in the Rio Grande Valley sector, near Falfurrias, Texas, U.S., April 4, 2018. REUTERS/Loren Elliott
<p>In a motion which passed the Senate floor unanimously, the lawmakers also condemned Trump’s aggressive rhetoric toward Mexico, describing the president’s decision this week to send troops to the border as “one more insult.”</p>
<p>“(Trump’s) conduct has been permanently and systematically, not only disrespectful, but insulting, based on prejudices and misinformation and making frequent use of threats and blackmail,” Laura Rojas, the head of the Senate’s foreign relations committee, said in support of the motion.</p>
<p>The Trump administration is working with four southwestern U.S. states to deploy the Guard troops, who will not be involved in law enforcement, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen has said.</p>
<p>The Mexican Senate’s resolution is non-binding and unlikely to trigger policy changes.</p>
<p>After the motion passed, the Mexican foreign ministry issued a statement saying it would maintain close contact with the U.S. Homeland Security Department about its plans for the border.</p>
<p>Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray discussed the situation with Nielsen, the ministry said.</p>
<p>“In all communications on the matter, Mexico’s government has informed the government of the United States that if the announced deployment of the National Guard turned into a militarization of the border, that would gravely damage the bilateral relationship,” it added.</p>
<p>The Trump administration’s announcement was also condemned by the front-runner to win the Mexican presidency in a July 1 election, leftist Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.</p>
<p>“No to the militarization of the border, no to the wall,” Lopez Obrador wrote in a post on Twitter. “Yes to mutual respect and cooperation for development.”</p>
<p>Jose Antonio Meade, the candidate of the ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party, urged candidates to stand together in denouncing the deployment of troops on the border.</p>
<p>“I call for all political forces to unanimously show our strongest condemnation of these types of aggressions,” he said in a statement.</p>
<p>Reporting by Julia Love; additional reporting by Dave Graham; Editing by Michael Perry and Clarence Fernandez</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
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reuters spaniard carlos sainz one stage away winning dakar rally friday peugeots hopes onetwo finish argentina disappeared reigning champion stephane peterhansel hit trouble dakar rally 2018 peruboliviaargentina dakar rally 40th dakar edition stage thirteen san juan cordoba january 19 2018 carlos sainz spain copilot lucas cruz spain drive peugeot reutersandres stapff sainz father renault formula one driver name ended penultimate 13th stage san juan cordoba lead 46 minutes 18 seconds toyotas nasser alattiyah 120km timed special stage remaining around cordoba sainzs second dakar victory looks assured fitting farewell peugeots works team final appearance spaniard took risks fridays marathon 929km stage dominated alattiyah took fourth stage win years rally sainz finished 19 minutes 37 seconds behind qatari peterhansel 13 times dakar winner bikes cars started day second overall clipped tree front left wheel bend hidden bump impact broke steering rod support team carrying repairs timed zone also left frenchman sprained thumb delay meant lost hour fell behind alattiyah standings toyotas dutch driver bernhard ten brinke retired mechanical problems motorcycle category austrian ktm rider matthias walkner ended day 22 minute lead argentinas kevin benavides honda australian toby price 2016 winner took second successive stage win reporting alan baldwin london editing greg stutchbury standards thomson reuters trust principles reuters china wednesday hit back us president donald trumps plan impose tariffs 50 billion chinese imports proposing additional tariffs 25 percent 106 categories us goods soybeans autos chemicals kinds aircraft file photo gm logo seen general motors warren transmission operations plant warren michigan us october 26 2015 reutersrebecca cookfile photo trade tension brewing worlds two largest economies hit global markets shares industrial companies exposure chinese markets boeing co deere amp co among hardest hit following possible winners losers among us companies sectors auto companies us automaker general motors co urged two countries engage constructive dialogue trade companys stock fell much 3 percent reversing course close nearly 3 percent higher gm rival ford motor co also lost much 3 percent rebounding close 16 percent higher electric carmaker tesla inc depends china 17 percent revenue fell much 58 percent retracing losses end 72 percent shares fiat chrysler fell much 34 percent recovering end nearly 2 percent ford said encouraged governments work together resolve issues file photo boeings logo seen japan aerospace 2016 air show tokyo japan october 12 2016 reuterskim kyunghoonfile photo boeing amp industrials aircraft maker boeing co closed 1 percent weighing dow jones industrial average documents chinas ministry commerce us manufacturer showed move would affect older boeing narrowbody models immediately clear much tariffs would impact newer aircraft boeing said assessing situation analysts jp morgan said proposals china looked calibrated carefully avoid major impact planemaker fellow dow component 3m co lost much 24 percent rebounding end 06 percent higher farming equipment maker deere lost nearly 10 per share lowest company urged two countries work toward resolution limit uncertainty farmers avoid meaningful disruptions agricultural trade stock ended 29 percent lower 14857 tech majors sampp 500 technology sector biggest revenue exposure china among benchmarks 11 major sectors dipped 05 percent rebounding end 13 percent higher chip stocks among worsthit sector intel corp nvidia corp falling retracing losses end narrowly higher broadcom ltd ended day nearly flat 23699 chinas position assembly hub electronic devices makes biggest consumer semiconductors cisco systems inc closed slightly higher 4120 said analyzing impact tariffs cisco reviewing plans minimize impact business customers partners company spokeswoman robyn blum told reuters whiskey brownforman corp maker jack daniels whiskey slipped 1 percent recovering close 13 percent 5471 whiskey singled spirit china planned impose tariffs file photo ford logo seen new york auto show manhattan borough new york city new york us march 29 2018 reutersshannon stapleton distilled spirits council us industry group asked united states china reach resolution without subjecting american whiskey tariffs said would harm chinese consumers hospitality sector us whiskey exporters council also said us whiskey accounted nearly 70 percent total us spirits exported china value 2017 commodities amp chemicals dowdupont inc said agriculture unit could affected escalating conflict warning price declines soybeans negative impact us farmers shares closed 06 percent 6369 grain traders archer daniels midland co bunge ltd trade us soybeans china much 15 percent archer daniels recovered add 18 percent 4390 bunge gained 2 percent close 7564 american chemistry council acc counts exxon chevron monsanto others members urged united states china come understanding engaging trade war one countrys significant trading partners answer said acc chief executive officer cal dooley exxon closed 02 percent lower 7487 monsanto also fell 02 percent 11675 chevron dipped 03 percent 11448 winners us meat processor tyson foods inc meat exporter hormel foods corp rose prospect drop prices soybean key feedstock following higher chinese tariffs us exports tyson closed 23 percent 7154 hormel ended day 3587 gain 48 percent version story deletes first half cisco statement paragraph 13 company said outdated portion provided reuters error reporting yashaswini swamynathan bengaluru editing bernard orr shounak dasgupta g crosse standards thomson reuters trust principles washingtonbeijing reuters united states voiced willingness wednesday negotiate resolution escalating trade fight china beijing retaliated proposed us tariffs 50 billion chinese goods targeting key american imports chinese ambassador washington said takes two tango graphic us trade goods china tmsnrtrs2gcozih 11 hours president donald trumps administration proposed 25 percent tariffs 1300 chinese industrial technology transport medical products china shot back list similar duties major american imports including soybeans planes cars beef chemicals beijings swift forceful response raised prospect quickly spiraling dispute worlds two economic superpowers could harm global economy graphic us imports china tmsnrtrs2fmsz1q trump posted defiant messages twitter administration signaled possible wiggle room related coverage factbox us winners losers trade titfortat china trade retaliation puts stocks us exporters spin china envoy says prefers resolve trade dispute negotiation asked whether us tariffs announced tuesday may never go effect may negotiating tactic trumps top economic adviser larry kudlow told reporters yes possible part process called announcements two countries mere opening proposals kudlow later told fox news channel dont think trade war think going intense negotiations sides think going come agreements said adding believe chinese back play ball cui tiankai chinas ambassador united states held hourlong meeting us state department washington acting secretary state john sullivan negotiation would still preference takes two tango see us ambassador said afterward trade actions carried immediately may room maneuver publication washingtons list tuesday started period public comment consultation expected last around two months effective date chinas moves depends us action takes effect two countries unable settle dispute fullscale trade war could destabilize uschinese commercial ties important component global economy chinas action rattled us farmers shares us exporters everything planes tractors volatile dropping outset trading wall streets three major indexes staged comeback close 1 percent higher investors turned focus earnings away trade fight white house spokeswoman sarah sanders said us implementation tariffs would depend chinas behavior going couple months tariffs either side would go effect implemented hopeful china right thing told reporters would anticipate changes behavior china dont stop unfair trade practices would move forward sanders said trump contends predecessors served united states badly trade matters wrote twitter trade war china war lost many years ago foolish incompetent people represented us political damage washington targeted products benefit chinese industrial policy including made china 2025 initiative replace advanced technology imports domestic products strategic industries advanced robotics beijing appeared offer response intended inflict political damage washingtons list filled many obscure industrial items chinas struck signature us exports including soybeans frozen beef cotton agricultural commodities produced states iowa texas voted trump 2016 presidential election shipping containers pier j port long beach wait processing long beach california us april 4 2018 reutersbob riha jr list extends tobacco whiskey produced states including kentucky home us senate majority leader mitch mcconnell like trump republican trump said last month trade wars good easy win key fellow republicans expressed unease latest developments mcconnell said nervous growing trend administration levy tariffs could become slippery slope senator chuck grassley whose home state iowa major agricultural producer said farmers ranchers shouldnt expected bear brunt retaliation entire country possibility escalating uschina trade war result bumpy ride us economy said james bullard president federal reserve bank st louis china said list 25 percent additional tariffs us goods covered 106 items trade value matching 50 billion targeted washingtons list usmade goods appear face added tariffs china include tesla inc electric cars ford motor cos lincoln auto models gulfstream jets made general dynamics corp brownforman corps jack daniels whiskey slideshow 9 images information technology products cellphones personal computers largely escaped latest salvo uschina trade measures despite accounting significant portion bilateral trade china ran 375 billion goods trade surplus united states 2017 trump demanded china cut trade gap 100 billion us move aimed forcing beijing address washington says deeply entrenched theft us intellectual property forced technology transfer us companies chinese competitors charges chinese officials deny us tariff list followed chinas imposition tariffs 3 billion worth us fruits nuts pork wine protest us steel aluminum tariffs imposed last month trump reporting david lawder washington michael martina beijing additional reporting lesley wroughton david brunnstrom jason lange ginger gibson steve holland jeff mason makini brice susan heavey david chance lindsay dunsmuir washington michael martina cheng fang ryan woo ben blanchard tony munroe cate cadell philip wen dominique patton josephine mason stella qiu beijing engen tham shanghai brenda goh shanghai tom miles geneva michael hogan hamburg writing dunham editing steve orlofsky peter cooney standards thomson reuters trust principles seoul reuters south koreas finance minister said thursday trade tussle united states china closely watched country prepared measures various scenarios south korean finance minister kim dongyeon speaks inaugural ceremony sejong government complex sejong south korea june 15 2017 reuterskim hongji unofficial talks going two countries united states china regarding trade issue south korea closely watching situation going unfold kim dongyeon told reporters thursday kim also said change ministrys stance would take smoothing measures stabilize foreign exchange markets cases sharp volatility south korea along china avoided currencymanipulator label twiceyearly us treasury report kept currency monitoring list reporting shinhyung lee dahee kim editing michael perry standards thomson reuters trust principles mexico city reuters mexicos senate issued stern rebuke us president donald trump wednesday urging government end cooperation united states migration security trumps plans deploy national guard along shared border border patrol agents track signs left people illegally crossed border mexico us rio grande valley sector near falfurrias texas us april 4 2018 reutersloren elliott motion passed senate floor unanimously lawmakers also condemned trumps aggressive rhetoric toward mexico describing presidents decision week send troops border one insult trumps conduct permanently systematically disrespectful insulting based prejudices misinformation making frequent use threats blackmail laura rojas head senates foreign relations committee said support motion trump administration working four southwestern us states deploy guard troops involved law enforcement homeland security secretary kirstjen nielsen said mexican senates resolution nonbinding unlikely trigger policy changes motion passed mexican foreign ministry issued statement saying would maintain close contact us homeland security department plans border mexican foreign minister luis videgaray discussed situation nielsen ministry said communications matter mexicos government informed government united states announced deployment national guard turned militarization border would gravely damage bilateral relationship added trump administrations announcement also condemned frontrunner win mexican presidency july 1 election leftist andres manuel lopez obrador militarization border wall lopez obrador wrote post twitter yes mutual respect cooperation development jose antonio meade candidate ruling institutional revolutionary party urged candidates stand together denouncing deployment troops border call political forces unanimously show strongest condemnation types aggressions said statement reporting julia love additional reporting dave graham editing michael perry clarence fernandez standards thomson reuters trust principles
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<p />
<p>George Case, Maxine Oglesby, Nellie McKinney and their classmates are notable not just for their longevity, but for being part of the graduating class that preceded the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor — and for being part of what journalist Tom Brokaw later coined “the Greatest Generation.”</p>
<p>Gathering at McKinney’s Northeast Heights home recently, they talked about who might attend the reunion and reminisced about their old alma mater.</p>
<p>The 1941 class had about 465 graduates. “We’re hoping for 18 and may have as many as 20 coming from Texas, Colorado, California, Wyoming and all around New Mexico,” says Case.</p>
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<p>The more the merrier. After all, “who knows how many reunions we got left in us,” he jokes. “I called a guy here a few years ago and he said, ‘You know, I don’t feel too good.’ One of my other friends said ‘Oh, he’ll tell you that every time as an excuse for not coming.’ Well, he showed us. He died before the next reunion.”</p>
<p>The AHS class of ’41 has held yearly reunions for the past eight or nine years, says McKinney. Before that the get-togethers were at five- or 10-year intervals. The trio of friends have been active in supporting and organizing the reunions along with other classmates.</p>
<p>For their 50th class reunion, Maxine Oglesby had a piñata made in the form of a bulldog, the Albuquerque High School mascot. The papier maché creation has been brought to every class reunion since then, she says. (Roberto E. Rosales/Albuquerque Journal)</p>
<p>Of course, the Albuquerque High School of their youth was a very different place, figuratively and physically. The school, then located at Broadway and Central Avenue, was originally built in 1914. Today, the building has been converted to upscale housing and is known as The Lofts at Albuquerque High. The school itself relocated to its current location on Odelia NE in 1974.</p>
<p>“I look back and I can still see us at school talking by the little well they installed in the patio area,” recalls McKinney, 90, who was Mary Nell Lancaster at the time, “Nellie” to her friends. “And I just loved the Friday afternoon sock hops held in the school cafeteria.”</p>
<p>School spirit is the strongest memory for Case, 91, who played guard and end on the football team. “We had big crowds for basketball and football games. Track was pretty good, too,” he says.</p>
<p>That school spirit extended to the relationships between students and teachers. “We respected our teachers and they were our friends,” says Oglesby, 89, known as Maxine Doty in high school. “In those days teachers would hug students; today they wouldn’t dare do that.”</p>
<p>Pre-World War II Albuquerque was also more quaint.</p>
<p>Oglesby fondly remembers a local eatery, Baxter’s Cafe, on the Downtown corner where the KiMo Theatre is located. “During the school week we’d hurry down there for lunch and spend a dime for a peanut butter sandwich and a glass of water, and then after school hurry back for a piece of their chocolate pie. Out of this world.”</p>
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<p>Downtown was the place to see and be seen on weekends. Young people would walk around and visit with friends. Sometimes they’d walk to the train station and the adjacent Alvarado Hotel, hoping to catch a glimpse of film stars and other celebrities during brief cross-country train stops.</p>
<p>More often, they encountered their favorite celebrities on the big screen. The KiMo, as well as the Sunshine, El Rey, Mesa, Chief and other movie houses served up the latest from Hollywood while providing jobs to high school kids who earned the princely sum of 25 cents to 35 cents an hour.</p>
<p>McKinney was working at the KiMo candy counter when she looked up one day to see famous Scripps Howard roving reporter, war correspondent and one-time Albuquerque resident Ernie Pyle.</p>
<p>“My eyes got wide and I said, ‘How do you do, Mr. Pyle. Welcome to the KiMo.’ Well, he bought a 10-cent candy bar and tipped me 25 cents. I’m sorry I didn’t keep that quarter, but I needed a hamburger.”</p>
<p>Nellie McKinney, 90, in the living room of her Northeast Heights home, looks at photos and memorabilia of her days as a student at Albuquerque High School, when she was Mary Nell Lancaster. To her friends, she was always “Nellie.” (Roberto E. Rosales/Albuquerque Journal)</p>
<p>Case was working as an usher at the Sunshine Theater when “Gone With the Wind” was playing. “A gal up in the balcony was crying so hard at the end of the show one day that I had to go up there and carry her down.”</p>
<p>Oglesby has a less-than-pleasant memory from her time as an “usherette” at the El Rey during the summer after graduation. “A nicely dressed black couple came in and sat a few rows down from the front. My boss came over and ordered me to go tell them to move to the last row. He wouldn’t do it himself but he made me do it and it broke my heart. I quit my job.” Her voice cracks as she acknowledges one of the ugly realities of the era.</p>
<p>If there is a single, defining moment of their generation, they point to the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941 — a day that lives in infamy and is seared into their collective memories. In the same way that people remember where they were when the 9-11 terrorist attacks occurred, or when President John Kennedy was shot, they recall their exact place in time when they heard the news signaling America’s formal entry into World War II.</p>
<p>“I was out with a date and we heard about it on the car radio,” says Oglesby. “His brother was in the military and stationed at Pearl Harbor. We were both in shock and he was, of course, extremely worried and didn’t know if his brother was dead or alive. It had just happened and nobody had information yet.”</p>
<p>The brother made it through the attack, but she later learned he was killed in combat in the South Pacific.</p>
<p>McKinney recalls she was “sick in bed at home with Dr. (William Randolph) Lovelace at my bedside” while the radio related the events unfolding in Hawaii. “Dr. Lovelace just sat there as if he’d been shocked with electricity and couldn’t move.”</p>
<p>Case and his father were returning from a goose hunting trip outside La Joya, N.M., when the news came on the car radio. “We were shocked and upset and knew right then there was no tomorrow as far as the war was concerned. We were in it. Completely involved.”</p>
<p>Case, who had been in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps at the University of New Mexico, volunteered for military duty in the Navy and served throughout the South Pacific.</p>
<p>In the years after the war, the three longtime friends each got married and had families of their own, but their lives continued to intertwine.</p>
<p>Case operated the Old Town Car Wash and later invested in real estate and a number of businesses. He and his late wife, Laural, were married 52 years when she died in 1998. They raised four girls, who were fast friends with the four boys McKinney and her husband, Bill, raised. Nellie and Bill McKinney worked at Sandia National Laboratories. They were married 58 years when Bill died in 2010. He, too, was an Albuquerque High School graduate.</p>
<p>Maxine’s late husband, also named Bill, was a career military man and later a banker. Maxine accompanied him when he was assigned to the American Embassy in Tokyo during the post-war years. They were married 56 years when he died in 1999. They raised four girls, three of whom share the same first names as Case’s children.</p>
<p>Case and Oglesby are now a couple, although they never dated in high school.</p>
<p>“Our spouses had been dead over a year and George called me one night and said let’s go for ice cream. My daughter from California was visiting so I brought her and we went to Dairy Queen. George was raising birds and he talked about that, and my daughter was breeding dogs and she talked about that, and I sat there ignored and ate a hot fudge sundae. That was our first date — chaperoned by my oldest daughter.”</p>
<p>McKinney looks thoughtfully at some old photos and high school memorabilia and smiles broadly. “We sure do go back quite a ways,” she says.</p>
<p>“I thank God I made it this long,” says Oglesby.</p>
<p>“You know,” says Case, “it’s been a pretty good life … so far.”</p>
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george case maxine oglesby nellie mckinney classmates notable longevity part graduating class preceded japanese bombing pearl harbor part journalist tom brokaw later coined greatest generation gathering mckinneys northeast heights home recently talked might attend reunion reminisced old alma mater 1941 class 465 graduates hoping 18 may many 20 coming texas colorado california wyoming around new mexico says case advertisement merrier knows many reunions got left us jokes called guy years ago said know dont feel good one friends said oh hell tell every time excuse coming well showed us died next reunion ahs class 41 held yearly reunions past eight nine years says mckinney gettogethers five 10year intervals trio friends active supporting organizing reunions along classmates 50th class reunion maxine oglesby piñata made form bulldog albuquerque high school mascot papier maché creation brought every class reunion since says roberto e rosalesalbuquerque journal course albuquerque high school youth different place figuratively physically school located broadway central avenue originally built 1914 today building converted upscale housing known lofts albuquerque high school relocated current location odelia ne 1974 look back still see us school talking little well installed patio area recalls mckinney 90 mary nell lancaster time nellie friends loved friday afternoon sock hops held school cafeteria school spirit strongest memory case 91 played guard end football team big crowds basketball football games track pretty good says school spirit extended relationships students teachers respected teachers friends says oglesby 89 known maxine doty high school days teachers would hug students today wouldnt dare preworld war ii albuquerque also quaint oglesby fondly remembers local eatery baxters cafe downtown corner kimo theatre located school week wed hurry lunch spend dime peanut butter sandwich glass water school hurry back piece chocolate pie world advertisement downtown place see seen weekends young people would walk around visit friends sometimes theyd walk train station adjacent alvarado hotel hoping catch glimpse film stars celebrities brief crosscountry train stops often encountered favorite celebrities big screen kimo well sunshine el rey mesa chief movie houses served latest hollywood providing jobs high school kids earned princely sum 25 cents 35 cents hour mckinney working kimo candy counter looked one day see famous scripps howard roving reporter war correspondent onetime albuquerque resident ernie pyle eyes got wide said mr pyle welcome kimo well bought 10cent candy bar tipped 25 cents im sorry didnt keep quarter needed hamburger nellie mckinney 90 living room northeast heights home looks photos memorabilia days student albuquerque high school mary nell lancaster friends always nellie roberto e rosalesalbuquerque journal case working usher sunshine theater gone wind playing gal balcony crying hard end show one day go carry oglesby lessthanpleasant memory time usherette el rey summer graduation nicely dressed black couple came sat rows front boss came ordered go tell move last row wouldnt made broke heart quit job voice cracks acknowledges one ugly realities era single defining moment generation point japanese bombing pearl harbor dec 7 1941 day lives infamy seared collective memories way people remember 911 terrorist attacks occurred president john kennedy shot recall exact place time heard news signaling americas formal entry world war ii date heard car radio says oglesby brother military stationed pearl harbor shock course extremely worried didnt know brother dead alive happened nobody information yet brother made attack later learned killed combat south pacific mckinney recalls sick bed home dr william randolph lovelace bedside radio related events unfolding hawaii dr lovelace sat hed shocked electricity couldnt move case father returning goose hunting trip outside la joya nm news came car radio shocked upset knew right tomorrow far war concerned completely involved case reserve officers training corps university new mexico volunteered military duty navy served throughout south pacific years war three longtime friends got married families lives continued intertwine case operated old town car wash later invested real estate number businesses late wife laural married 52 years died 1998 raised four girls fast friends four boys mckinney husband bill raised nellie bill mckinney worked sandia national laboratories married 58 years bill died 2010 albuquerque high school graduate maxines late husband also named bill career military man later banker maxine accompanied assigned american embassy tokyo postwar years married 56 years died 1999 raised four girls three share first names cases children case oglesby couple although never dated high school spouses dead year george called one night said lets go ice cream daughter california visiting brought went dairy queen george raising birds talked daughter breeding dogs talked sat ignored ate hot fudge sundae first date chaperoned oldest daughter mckinney looks thoughtfully old photos high school memorabilia smiles broadly sure go back quite ways says thank god made long says oglesby know says case pretty good life far
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<p>CENTURION, South Africa (AP) — After toiling for 2 1/2 sessions, India was suddenly on top in the second test as South Africa threw away wickets at the end of day one on Saturday.</p>
<p>Hashim Amla's run out on 82 started the late slide as South Africa went from the comfort of 246-3 to 269-6 in the last 10 overs before stumps.</p>
<p>Vernon Philander also ran himself out for 0. In between those two dismissals, Quinton de Kock was out first ball off spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.</p>
<p>Ashwin was India's best bowler with 3-90 as the seam attack struggled for most of the day on a surprisingly slow and lifeless pitch at SuperSport Park.</p>
<p>The late drama, though, and South Africa's careless end to the day gave India a way back into the test and possibly the three-match series after going 1-0 down in Cape Town and starting the game in Centurion on the back foot.</p>
<p>"I feel those wickets in the last session are a very valuable incentive for the team going into the second day," Ashwin said.</p>
<p>Opener Aiden Markram made 94 as South Africa put together partnerships of 85, 63 and 51 for the first three wickets to control most of the day.</p>
<p>That meant little, though, after Hardik Pandya swooped, turned and threw down the stumps at the non-striker's end to run out Amla and turn the day around.</p>
<p>Two balls later, de Kock edged Ashwin to India captain Virat Kohli at slip, with Kohli setting off on a vigorous celebration that took him right to the other end of the pitch.</p>
<p>Philander's run out in the next over came as he set off for a run as the ball looped into the air and dropped between three India fielders. South Africa captain Faf du Plessis was unmoved at the other end as Pandya, again, played a role in the run out by returning the ball to wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel with both South Africa batsmen at the other end.</p>
<p>"It's all part of the game. We've just got to remain nice and positive," Markram said.</p>
<p>Du Plessis held his team together until stumps and was 24 not out. Keshav Maharaj was with him on 10 not out but South Africa had only tailenders left to come on a pitch where they would have been targeting a score of 400 plus after that start.</p>
<p>With Markram going well, South Africa was 78-0 at lunch and 182-2 at tea after du Plessis won the toss and said it was an easy decision to bat first.</p>
<p>SuperSport Park was expected to be fast and bouncy and replicate the Cape Town pitch where India's batsmen struggled against the home quick bowlers and the top-ranked test team lost by 72 runs to fall behind in a series against its closest challenger in the rankings. The surface at SuperSport Park was nothing like that, however, with slow bowler Ashwin the one to profit on the opening day. He bowled 31 overs.</p>
<p>"I like to think I've kept us in the game. It could so easily have been a day where they ran away with it in the second session," Ashwin said. "I like to think I've been dogged."</p>
<p>Markram hit 15 fours but fell just short of a century on his home ground and where he grew up watching cricket, getting a thin edge behind to wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel off Ashwin as he poked at one outside the off stump.</p>
<p>Markram has two test centuries and two half-centuries in his first five tests and has been out in the 90s twice now in his first seven test innings.</p>
<p>"Massively disappointed," he said. "It was a nothing shot and I've still not got over it just yet."</p>
<p>Ashwin picked up opener Dean Elgar for 31 for the first breakthrough.</p>
<p>AB de Villiers was out for 20, played on to seamer Ishant Sharma.</p>
<p>Markram and then Amla played South Africa into a position of dominance, with Amla stroking 14 fours and appearing to be on the way to another century at a ground where he has his best record. He has four centuries and a double-century at Centurion and was on course to add to that when du Plessis called him through for a quick single and Pandya pounced brilliantly.</p>
<p>CENTURION, South Africa (AP) — After toiling for 2 1/2 sessions, India was suddenly on top in the second test as South Africa threw away wickets at the end of day one on Saturday.</p>
<p>Hashim Amla's run out on 82 started the late slide as South Africa went from the comfort of 246-3 to 269-6 in the last 10 overs before stumps.</p>
<p>Vernon Philander also ran himself out for 0. In between those two dismissals, Quinton de Kock was out first ball off spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.</p>
<p>Ashwin was India's best bowler with 3-90 as the seam attack struggled for most of the day on a surprisingly slow and lifeless pitch at SuperSport Park.</p>
<p>The late drama, though, and South Africa's careless end to the day gave India a way back into the test and possibly the three-match series after going 1-0 down in Cape Town and starting the game in Centurion on the back foot.</p>
<p>"I feel those wickets in the last session are a very valuable incentive for the team going into the second day," Ashwin said.</p>
<p>Opener Aiden Markram made 94 as South Africa put together partnerships of 85, 63 and 51 for the first three wickets to control most of the day.</p>
<p>That meant little, though, after Hardik Pandya swooped, turned and threw down the stumps at the non-striker's end to run out Amla and turn the day around.</p>
<p>Two balls later, de Kock edged Ashwin to India captain Virat Kohli at slip, with Kohli setting off on a vigorous celebration that took him right to the other end of the pitch.</p>
<p>Philander's run out in the next over came as he set off for a run as the ball looped into the air and dropped between three India fielders. South Africa captain Faf du Plessis was unmoved at the other end as Pandya, again, played a role in the run out by returning the ball to wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel with both South Africa batsmen at the other end.</p>
<p>"It's all part of the game. We've just got to remain nice and positive," Markram said.</p>
<p>Du Plessis held his team together until stumps and was 24 not out. Keshav Maharaj was with him on 10 not out but South Africa had only tailenders left to come on a pitch where they would have been targeting a score of 400 plus after that start.</p>
<p>With Markram going well, South Africa was 78-0 at lunch and 182-2 at tea after du Plessis won the toss and said it was an easy decision to bat first.</p>
<p>SuperSport Park was expected to be fast and bouncy and replicate the Cape Town pitch where India's batsmen struggled against the home quick bowlers and the top-ranked test team lost by 72 runs to fall behind in a series against its closest challenger in the rankings. The surface at SuperSport Park was nothing like that, however, with slow bowler Ashwin the one to profit on the opening day. He bowled 31 overs.</p>
<p>"I like to think I've kept us in the game. It could so easily have been a day where they ran away with it in the second session," Ashwin said. "I like to think I've been dogged."</p>
<p>Markram hit 15 fours but fell just short of a century on his home ground and where he grew up watching cricket, getting a thin edge behind to wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel off Ashwin as he poked at one outside the off stump.</p>
<p>Markram has two test centuries and two half-centuries in his first five tests and has been out in the 90s twice now in his first seven test innings.</p>
<p>"Massively disappointed," he said. "It was a nothing shot and I've still not got over it just yet."</p>
<p>Ashwin picked up opener Dean Elgar for 31 for the first breakthrough.</p>
<p>AB de Villiers was out for 20, played on to seamer Ishant Sharma.</p>
<p>Markram and then Amla played South Africa into a position of dominance, with Amla stroking 14 fours and appearing to be on the way to another century at a ground where he has his best record. He has four centuries and a double-century at Centurion and was on course to add to that when du Plessis called him through for a quick single and Pandya pounced brilliantly.</p>
| false | 2 |
centurion south africa ap toiling 2 12 sessions india suddenly top second test south africa threw away wickets end day one saturday hashim amlas run 82 started late slide south africa went comfort 2463 2696 last 10 overs stumps vernon philander also ran 0 two dismissals quinton de kock first ball spinner ravichandran ashwin ashwin indias best bowler 390 seam attack struggled day surprisingly slow lifeless pitch supersport park late drama though south africas careless end day gave india way back test possibly threematch series going 10 cape town starting game centurion back foot feel wickets last session valuable incentive team going second day ashwin said opener aiden markram made 94 south africa put together partnerships 85 63 51 first three wickets control day meant little though hardik pandya swooped turned threw stumps nonstrikers end run amla turn day around two balls later de kock edged ashwin india captain virat kohli slip kohli setting vigorous celebration took right end pitch philanders run next came set run ball looped air dropped three india fielders south africa captain faf du plessis unmoved end pandya played role run returning ball wicketkeeper parthiv patel south africa batsmen end part game weve got remain nice positive markram said du plessis held team together stumps 24 keshav maharaj 10 south africa tailenders left come pitch would targeting score 400 plus start markram going well south africa 780 lunch 1822 tea du plessis toss said easy decision bat first supersport park expected fast bouncy replicate cape town pitch indias batsmen struggled home quick bowlers topranked test team lost 72 runs fall behind series closest challenger rankings surface supersport park nothing like however slow bowler ashwin one profit opening day bowled 31 overs like think ive kept us game could easily day ran away second session ashwin said like think ive dogged markram hit 15 fours fell short century home ground grew watching cricket getting thin edge behind wicketkeeper parthiv patel ashwin poked one outside stump markram two test centuries two halfcenturies first five tests 90s twice first seven test innings massively disappointed said nothing shot ive still got yet ashwin picked opener dean elgar 31 first breakthrough ab de villiers 20 played seamer ishant sharma markram amla played south africa position dominance amla stroking 14 fours appearing way another century ground best record four centuries doublecentury centurion course add du plessis called quick single pandya pounced brilliantly centurion south africa ap toiling 2 12 sessions india suddenly top second test south africa threw away wickets end day one saturday hashim amlas run 82 started late slide south africa went comfort 2463 2696 last 10 overs stumps vernon philander also ran 0 two dismissals quinton de kock first ball spinner ravichandran ashwin ashwin indias best bowler 390 seam attack struggled day surprisingly slow lifeless pitch supersport park late drama though south africas careless end day gave india way back test possibly threematch series going 10 cape town starting game centurion back foot feel wickets last session valuable incentive team going second day ashwin said opener aiden markram made 94 south africa put together partnerships 85 63 51 first three wickets control day meant little though hardik pandya swooped turned threw stumps nonstrikers end run amla turn day around two balls later de kock edged ashwin india captain virat kohli slip kohli setting vigorous celebration took right end pitch philanders run next came set run ball looped air dropped three india fielders south africa captain faf du plessis unmoved end pandya played role run returning ball wicketkeeper parthiv patel south africa batsmen end part game weve got remain nice positive markram said du plessis held team together stumps 24 keshav maharaj 10 south africa tailenders left come pitch would targeting score 400 plus start markram going well south africa 780 lunch 1822 tea du plessis toss said easy decision bat first supersport park expected fast bouncy replicate cape town pitch indias batsmen struggled home quick bowlers topranked test team lost 72 runs fall behind series closest challenger rankings surface supersport park nothing like however slow bowler ashwin one profit opening day bowled 31 overs like think ive kept us game could easily day ran away second session ashwin said like think ive dogged markram hit 15 fours fell short century home ground grew watching cricket getting thin edge behind wicketkeeper parthiv patel ashwin poked one outside stump markram two test centuries two halfcenturies first five tests 90s twice first seven test innings massively disappointed said nothing shot ive still got yet ashwin picked opener dean elgar 31 first breakthrough ab de villiers 20 played seamer ishant sharma markram amla played south africa position dominance amla stroking 14 fours appearing way another century ground best record four centuries doublecentury centurion course add du plessis called quick single pandya pounced brilliantly
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<p />
<p>Gov. Susana Martinez led Attorney General Gary King by 9 percentage points in the first Journal Poll on the New Mexico governor’s race, hitting the coveted 50 percent mark before the fall campaign.</p>
<p>“It’s a comfortable lead, especially when you take into consideration the tremendous financial advantage the governor has,” said Brian Sanderoff, president of Research &amp; Polling Inc., which conducted the poll.</p>
<p>The Republican governor, who is seeking re-election to a second four-year term, led the two-term Democratic attorney general in most regions of the state, including the Albuquerque area, the poll found.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Overall, 50 percent of New Mexico voters surveyed in the Journal Poll said they planned to vote for Martinez and 41 percent said they would vote for King. Nine percent said they were undecided.</p>
<p>The low number of undecided voters with more than two months remaining before the Nov. 4 general election is likely due to the fact that both Martinez and King are familiar public figures, Sanderoff said.</p>
<p>“I think a lot of people have already made up their minds,” he said.</p>
<p>Ethnicity, party</p>
<p>King led in the poll among Hispanic voters, with 56 percent support, while more than one-third of those voters – 36 percent – said they would vote for Martinez, the nation’s first female Hispanic governor.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, roughly one out of every five Democratic voters polled said he or she would vote for the Republican incumbent, with 12 percent of Democrats remaining undecided. Fewer than 10 percent of Republican voters said they would vote for King.</p>
<p>Martinez led – 55 percent to 35 percent – among voters who decline to state a party affiliation, with those so-called independents making up a fast-growing segment of the state’s voting population.</p>
<p>Crossover support from Hispanic Democrats was a key factor in Martinez’s 2010 election victory, Sanderoff said, along with strong backing from Republican Party faithful.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Gender, geography</p>
<p>Martinez led in the Journal Poll among both male and female voters, though her support was stronger among men.</p>
<p>Fifty-four percent of male voters said they would vote for Martinez, compared with 40 percent for King. Forty-six percent of the female voters said they backed the incumbent, compared with 41 percent for King. <a href="" type="internal" /> <a href="" type="internal" /></p>
<p>Voters in all regions of the state but one were more likely to favor Martinez than King. The exception was the north-central area, a traditional Democratic stronghold that includes Santa Fe, Española and Taos, where King led the Republican governor 59 percent to 30 percent.</p>
<p>Martinez led King 50 percent to 43 percent in the Albuquerque area, while her strongest percentages statewide hit 61 percent in both the northwestern and eastside regions.</p>
<p>Money and odds</p>
<p>King, the son of the late Bruce King, who served three nonconsecutive terms as New Mexico governor, has struggled to keep up with Martinez in fundraising.</p>
<p>Although King has already made personal loans of more than $500,000 to his gubernatorial campaign, he reported having just $116,018 in his campaign war chest as of last month, compared with $4.3 million for Martinez.</p>
<p>Without a major infusion of cash, King could struggle to spread his campaign message, Sanderoff said.</p>
<p>“There’s some ammunition out there for Gary King,” Sanderoff said, referring to the state’s sluggish economy and employment levels. “But, as of yet, he’s been unsuccessful in tying those things to the governor.”</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the 50 percent backing level for Martinez is significant since that means King would likely have to peel off Martinez supporters and receive the votes of almost all undecided voters to defeat the incumbent governor, Sanderoff said.</p>
<p>He described the general election as an “uphill battle” for King, who won the Democratic gubernatorial nomination by receiving about 35 percent of the vote in a five-way primary election contest in June.</p>
<p>Developing themes</p>
<p>In campaign ads, Martinez has criticized King for past legislative votes, including a 1987 tax increase. She has also claimed King would, if elected, recycle the policies of her predecessor, Democratic Gov. Bill Richardson.</p>
<p>In return, King has blasted Martinez for the state’s low ranking on national child well-being studies. He has said that, if elected, he would increase the state’s minimum wage and seek to spend more of the state’s budget on public schools.</p>
<p>Poll methodology</p>
<p>The Journal Poll is based on a scientific, statewide sample of 606 voters who voted in the 2010 general election and said they were likely to vote again this year.</p>
<p>The poll was conducted Aug. 12-14. The full voter sample has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points. The margin of error grows for subsamples.</p>
<p>Research &amp; Polling Inc. generated a stratified random sample in which each New Mexico county received a representative proportion based on turnout patterns in the 2010 general election for governor.</p>
<p>When necessary, RPI weights the surveys to reflect the known distribution of age, gender and party affiliation, based on the 2010 election. Racial and ethnic proportions are based on RPI estimates of turnout patterns.</p>
<p>All interviews were conducted by live, professional interviewers, with multiple callbacks to households that did not initially answer the phone.</p>
<p>Both landlines (70 percent) and cellphone numbers (30 percent) of proven general election voters were used.</p>
<p>Voters who reported they are unlikely to vote in the coming election were screened out.</p>
<p />
<p />
| false | 2 |
gov susana martinez led attorney general gary king 9 percentage points first journal poll new mexico governors race hitting coveted 50 percent mark fall campaign comfortable lead especially take consideration tremendous financial advantage governor said brian sanderoff president research amp polling inc conducted poll republican governor seeking reelection second fouryear term led twoterm democratic attorney general regions state including albuquerque area poll found advertisement overall 50 percent new mexico voters surveyed journal poll said planned vote martinez 41 percent said would vote king nine percent said undecided low number undecided voters two months remaining nov 4 general election likely due fact martinez king familiar public figures sanderoff said think lot people already made minds said ethnicity party king led poll among hispanic voters 56 percent support onethird voters 36 percent said would vote martinez nations first female hispanic governor meanwhile roughly one every five democratic voters polled said would vote republican incumbent 12 percent democrats remaining undecided fewer 10 percent republican voters said would vote king martinez led 55 percent 35 percent among voters decline state party affiliation socalled independents making fastgrowing segment states voting population crossover support hispanic democrats key factor martinezs 2010 election victory sanderoff said along strong backing republican party faithful advertisement gender geography martinez led journal poll among male female voters though support stronger among men fiftyfour percent male voters said would vote martinez compared 40 percent king fortysix percent female voters said backed incumbent compared 41 percent king voters regions state one likely favor martinez king exception northcentral area traditional democratic stronghold includes santa fe española taos king led republican governor 59 percent 30 percent martinez led king 50 percent 43 percent albuquerque area strongest percentages statewide hit 61 percent northwestern eastside regions money odds king son late bruce king served three nonconsecutive terms new mexico governor struggled keep martinez fundraising although king already made personal loans 500000 gubernatorial campaign reported 116018 campaign war chest last month compared 43 million martinez without major infusion cash king could struggle spread campaign message sanderoff said theres ammunition gary king sanderoff said referring states sluggish economy employment levels yet hes unsuccessful tying things governor meanwhile 50 percent backing level martinez significant since means king would likely peel martinez supporters receive votes almost undecided voters defeat incumbent governor sanderoff said described general election uphill battle king democratic gubernatorial nomination receiving 35 percent vote fiveway primary election contest june developing themes campaign ads martinez criticized king past legislative votes including 1987 tax increase also claimed king would elected recycle policies predecessor democratic gov bill richardson return king blasted martinez states low ranking national child wellbeing studies said elected would increase states minimum wage seek spend states budget public schools poll methodology journal poll based scientific statewide sample 606 voters voted 2010 general election said likely vote year poll conducted aug 1214 full voter sample margin error plus minus 4 percentage points margin error grows subsamples research amp polling inc generated stratified random sample new mexico county received representative proportion based turnout patterns 2010 general election governor necessary rpi weights surveys reflect known distribution age gender party affiliation based 2010 election racial ethnic proportions based rpi estimates turnout patterns interviews conducted live professional interviewers multiple callbacks households initially answer phone landlines 70 percent cellphone numbers 30 percent proven general election voters used voters reported unlikely vote coming election screened
| 558 |
<p>WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States would be “putting people intentionally in harm’s way” if it sent diplomats back to Cuba, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson says in an Associated Press interview, even as a new FBI report casts doubt on the initial theory that Americans there have been hit by “sonic attacks.”</p>
<p>Following months of investigation and four FBI trips to Havana, an interim report from the bureau’s Operational Technology Division says the probe has uncovered no evidence that sound waves could have damaged the Americans’ health, the AP has learned. The report, dated Jan. 4, doesn’t address other theories and says the FBI will keep investigating until it can show there’s been no intentional harm.</p>
<p>Tillerson said he’s not convinced that what he calls the “deliberate attacks” are over. He defended his September decision to order most U.S. personnel and their relatives to leave Cuba and said he won’t reverse course until Cuba’s government assures they’ll be safe.</p>
<p>“I’d be intentionally putting them back in harm’s way. Why in the world would I do that when I have no means whatsoever to protect them?” Tillerson told the AP on Jan. 5. “I will push back on anybody who wants to force me to do that.”</p>
<p>“I still believe that the Cuban government, someone within the Cuban government can bring this to an end,” Tillerson added. Washington has never claimed Cuba perpetrated the attacks but has insisted the island’s communist-run government must know who did. Cuba adamantly denies both involvement and knowledge of any attacks.</p>
<p>Tensions over the issue are apparent in Congress, with critics of the Cuban government at odds with supporters of closer U.S. ties. And within the Trump administration, the CIA, whose spies were affected while working under diplomatic cover, has chafed at the lack of FBI progress, several officials have told the AP in recent months, while a few lawmakers briefed on the probe have questioned whether the FBI even agrees with the State Department that anyone was attacked.</p>
<p>The State Department has said previously the most recent “medically confirmed” case of an American being affected occurred Aug. 21. Tillerson didn’t cite any more recent incidents, but pointedly stressed he was “not sure they’ve ended.”</p>
<p>The AP has learned at least one additional embassy worker who reported similar symptoms since that date has been sent for medical testing. The symptoms were determined to be unrelated.</p>
<p>Tillerson’s comments and the FBI report illustrate how befuddled the U.S. still seems about the mystery in Havana, more than a year after embassy workers started reporting illnesses including hearing loss, vision problems and memory issues. Symptoms often followed unexplained sounds in diplomats’ homes that led investigators to suspect a futuristic sonic weapon. The U.S. has said 24 government workers were harmed. Canada has reported some of its diplomats were affected, too.</p>
<p>The FBI report, which hasn’t been released publicly, is the clearest sign to date of the U.S. ruling out the sonic weapon theory. The report says the FBI tested the hypothesis that air pressure waves via audible sound, infrasound or ultrasound could be used to clandestinely hurt Americans in Cuba, and found no evidence. Infrasound waves are below the range of human hearing. Ultrasound is above.</p>
<p>The FBI declined to comment Monday.</p>
<p>In October, the AP published a recording of the high-pitched chirping sound some diplomats heard. Officials cautioned then they weren’t sure whether the sound itself harmed Americans, or was perhaps the byproduct of something else that did. Last month, the AP reported doctors discovered brain abnormalities in patients who were being treated after returning from Cuba. But since the patients hadn’t been tested before working in Cuba, outside experts raised questions.</p>
<p>For Cuba and its U.S. supporters, frustration is growing about Washington’s aggressive response and lack of answers. In addition to pulling out all but “essential personnel,” the Trump administration last year expelled 15 Cuban diplomats and warned Americans to avoid the island. Havana sees those steps as harming U.S.-Cuba relations and damaging its critical tourism industry, all without any proof anyone was attacked.</p>
<p>By law, Tillerson must form an “accountability review board” after any serious injury to diplomats overseas. One highly publicized example was after four Americans were killed in Benghazi, Libya, in 2012.</p>
<p>Tillerson has signed off on the new review board, U.S. officials said. The State Department wouldn’t comment, saying it would announce any decision after Congress is notified.</p>
<p>That could come as early as Tuesday, when the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will hold a hearing about the “attacks on U.S. diplomats in Cuba.” Top officials from the State Department’s medical unit, Diplomatic Security and Western Hemisphere division will testify.</p>
<p>Over the weekend, Sen. Jeff Flake, a longtime proponent of closer U.S. ties to Cuba, said high-ranking Cuban officials told him that the FBI has found no evidence of attacks and that classified U.S. briefings left him with no reason to doubt Cuba’s account.</p>
<p>But Sen. Marco Rubio, a vocal critic of Cuba’s government, declared on Twitter it was a “documented FACT” that U.S. personnel were “victims of some sort of sophisticated attack” and U.S. officials briefed on the matter know that “full well.”</p>
<p>Yet other lawmakers briefed by Tillerson say they were discouraged the Trump administration couldn’t or wouldn’t answer basic questions on the investigation.</p>
<p>The FBI, which leads broader law enforcement cooperation with Cuba, insists it’s doing everything possible in a place where it has little or delayed access to suspected crime scenes.</p>
<p>Tillerson, in the AP interview, said he was satisfied with the U.S. response.</p>
<p>“I’ve met with the victims, I’ve met with their families,” Tillerson said. “I’m concerned about their health and wellbeing, and that trumps everything in my book.”</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Follow the AP’s coverage of the Cuba attacks at <a href="" type="internal">http://apnews.com/tag/CubaHealthMystery</a> .</p>
<p>WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States would be “putting people intentionally in harm’s way” if it sent diplomats back to Cuba, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson says in an Associated Press interview, even as a new FBI report casts doubt on the initial theory that Americans there have been hit by “sonic attacks.”</p>
<p>Following months of investigation and four FBI trips to Havana, an interim report from the bureau’s Operational Technology Division says the probe has uncovered no evidence that sound waves could have damaged the Americans’ health, the AP has learned. The report, dated Jan. 4, doesn’t address other theories and says the FBI will keep investigating until it can show there’s been no intentional harm.</p>
<p>Tillerson said he’s not convinced that what he calls the “deliberate attacks” are over. He defended his September decision to order most U.S. personnel and their relatives to leave Cuba and said he won’t reverse course until Cuba’s government assures they’ll be safe.</p>
<p>“I’d be intentionally putting them back in harm’s way. Why in the world would I do that when I have no means whatsoever to protect them?” Tillerson told the AP on Jan. 5. “I will push back on anybody who wants to force me to do that.”</p>
<p>“I still believe that the Cuban government, someone within the Cuban government can bring this to an end,” Tillerson added. Washington has never claimed Cuba perpetrated the attacks but has insisted the island’s communist-run government must know who did. Cuba adamantly denies both involvement and knowledge of any attacks.</p>
<p>Tensions over the issue are apparent in Congress, with critics of the Cuban government at odds with supporters of closer U.S. ties. And within the Trump administration, the CIA, whose spies were affected while working under diplomatic cover, has chafed at the lack of FBI progress, several officials have told the AP in recent months, while a few lawmakers briefed on the probe have questioned whether the FBI even agrees with the State Department that anyone was attacked.</p>
<p>The State Department has said previously the most recent “medically confirmed” case of an American being affected occurred Aug. 21. Tillerson didn’t cite any more recent incidents, but pointedly stressed he was “not sure they’ve ended.”</p>
<p>The AP has learned at least one additional embassy worker who reported similar symptoms since that date has been sent for medical testing. The symptoms were determined to be unrelated.</p>
<p>Tillerson’s comments and the FBI report illustrate how befuddled the U.S. still seems about the mystery in Havana, more than a year after embassy workers started reporting illnesses including hearing loss, vision problems and memory issues. Symptoms often followed unexplained sounds in diplomats’ homes that led investigators to suspect a futuristic sonic weapon. The U.S. has said 24 government workers were harmed. Canada has reported some of its diplomats were affected, too.</p>
<p>The FBI report, which hasn’t been released publicly, is the clearest sign to date of the U.S. ruling out the sonic weapon theory. The report says the FBI tested the hypothesis that air pressure waves via audible sound, infrasound or ultrasound could be used to clandestinely hurt Americans in Cuba, and found no evidence. Infrasound waves are below the range of human hearing. Ultrasound is above.</p>
<p>The FBI declined to comment Monday.</p>
<p>In October, the AP published a recording of the high-pitched chirping sound some diplomats heard. Officials cautioned then they weren’t sure whether the sound itself harmed Americans, or was perhaps the byproduct of something else that did. Last month, the AP reported doctors discovered brain abnormalities in patients who were being treated after returning from Cuba. But since the patients hadn’t been tested before working in Cuba, outside experts raised questions.</p>
<p>For Cuba and its U.S. supporters, frustration is growing about Washington’s aggressive response and lack of answers. In addition to pulling out all but “essential personnel,” the Trump administration last year expelled 15 Cuban diplomats and warned Americans to avoid the island. Havana sees those steps as harming U.S.-Cuba relations and damaging its critical tourism industry, all without any proof anyone was attacked.</p>
<p>By law, Tillerson must form an “accountability review board” after any serious injury to diplomats overseas. One highly publicized example was after four Americans were killed in Benghazi, Libya, in 2012.</p>
<p>Tillerson has signed off on the new review board, U.S. officials said. The State Department wouldn’t comment, saying it would announce any decision after Congress is notified.</p>
<p>That could come as early as Tuesday, when the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will hold a hearing about the “attacks on U.S. diplomats in Cuba.” Top officials from the State Department’s medical unit, Diplomatic Security and Western Hemisphere division will testify.</p>
<p>Over the weekend, Sen. Jeff Flake, a longtime proponent of closer U.S. ties to Cuba, said high-ranking Cuban officials told him that the FBI has found no evidence of attacks and that classified U.S. briefings left him with no reason to doubt Cuba’s account.</p>
<p>But Sen. Marco Rubio, a vocal critic of Cuba’s government, declared on Twitter it was a “documented FACT” that U.S. personnel were “victims of some sort of sophisticated attack” and U.S. officials briefed on the matter know that “full well.”</p>
<p>Yet other lawmakers briefed by Tillerson say they were discouraged the Trump administration couldn’t or wouldn’t answer basic questions on the investigation.</p>
<p>The FBI, which leads broader law enforcement cooperation with Cuba, insists it’s doing everything possible in a place where it has little or delayed access to suspected crime scenes.</p>
<p>Tillerson, in the AP interview, said he was satisfied with the U.S. response.</p>
<p>“I’ve met with the victims, I’ve met with their families,” Tillerson said. “I’m concerned about their health and wellbeing, and that trumps everything in my book.”</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Follow the AP’s coverage of the Cuba attacks at <a href="" type="internal">http://apnews.com/tag/CubaHealthMystery</a> .</p>
| false | 2 |
washington ap united states would putting people intentionally harms way sent diplomats back cuba secretary state rex tillerson says associated press interview even new fbi report casts doubt initial theory americans hit sonic attacks following months investigation four fbi trips havana interim report bureaus operational technology division says probe uncovered evidence sound waves could damaged americans health ap learned report dated jan 4 doesnt address theories says fbi keep investigating show theres intentional harm tillerson said hes convinced calls deliberate attacks defended september decision order us personnel relatives leave cuba said wont reverse course cubas government assures theyll safe id intentionally putting back harms way world would means whatsoever protect tillerson told ap jan 5 push back anybody wants force still believe cuban government someone within cuban government bring end tillerson added washington never claimed cuba perpetrated attacks insisted islands communistrun government must know cuba adamantly denies involvement knowledge attacks tensions issue apparent congress critics cuban government odds supporters closer us ties within trump administration cia whose spies affected working diplomatic cover chafed lack fbi progress several officials told ap recent months lawmakers briefed probe questioned whether fbi even agrees state department anyone attacked state department said previously recent medically confirmed case american affected occurred aug 21 tillerson didnt cite recent incidents pointedly stressed sure theyve ended ap learned least one additional embassy worker reported similar symptoms since date sent medical testing symptoms determined unrelated tillersons comments fbi report illustrate befuddled us still seems mystery havana year embassy workers started reporting illnesses including hearing loss vision problems memory issues symptoms often followed unexplained sounds diplomats homes led investigators suspect futuristic sonic weapon us said 24 government workers harmed canada reported diplomats affected fbi report hasnt released publicly clearest sign date us ruling sonic weapon theory report says fbi tested hypothesis air pressure waves via audible sound infrasound ultrasound could used clandestinely hurt americans cuba found evidence infrasound waves range human hearing ultrasound fbi declined comment monday october ap published recording highpitched chirping sound diplomats heard officials cautioned werent sure whether sound harmed americans perhaps byproduct something else last month ap reported doctors discovered brain abnormalities patients treated returning cuba since patients hadnt tested working cuba outside experts raised questions cuba us supporters frustration growing washingtons aggressive response lack answers addition pulling essential personnel trump administration last year expelled 15 cuban diplomats warned americans avoid island havana sees steps harming uscuba relations damaging critical tourism industry without proof anyone attacked law tillerson must form accountability review board serious injury diplomats overseas one highly publicized example four americans killed benghazi libya 2012 tillerson signed new review board us officials said state department wouldnt comment saying would announce decision congress notified could come early tuesday senate foreign relations committee hold hearing attacks us diplomats cuba top officials state departments medical unit diplomatic security western hemisphere division testify weekend sen jeff flake longtime proponent closer us ties cuba said highranking cuban officials told fbi found evidence attacks classified us briefings left reason doubt cubas account sen marco rubio vocal critic cubas government declared twitter documented fact us personnel victims sort sophisticated attack us officials briefed matter know full well yet lawmakers briefed tillerson say discouraged trump administration couldnt wouldnt answer basic questions investigation fbi leads broader law enforcement cooperation cuba insists everything possible place little delayed access suspected crime scenes tillerson ap interview said satisfied us response ive met victims ive met families tillerson said im concerned health wellbeing trumps everything book ___ follow aps coverage cuba attacks httpapnewscomtagcubahealthmystery washington ap united states would putting people intentionally harms way sent diplomats back cuba secretary state rex tillerson says associated press interview even new fbi report casts doubt initial theory americans hit sonic attacks following months investigation four fbi trips havana interim report bureaus operational technology division says probe uncovered evidence sound waves could damaged americans health ap learned report dated jan 4 doesnt address theories says fbi keep investigating show theres intentional harm tillerson said hes convinced calls deliberate attacks defended september decision order us personnel relatives leave cuba said wont reverse course cubas government assures theyll safe id intentionally putting back harms way world would means whatsoever protect tillerson told ap jan 5 push back anybody wants force still believe cuban government someone within cuban government bring end tillerson added washington never claimed cuba perpetrated attacks insisted islands communistrun government must know cuba adamantly denies involvement knowledge attacks tensions issue apparent congress critics cuban government odds supporters closer us ties within trump administration cia whose spies affected working diplomatic cover chafed lack fbi progress several officials told ap recent months lawmakers briefed probe questioned whether fbi even agrees state department anyone attacked state department said previously recent medically confirmed case american affected occurred aug 21 tillerson didnt cite recent incidents pointedly stressed sure theyve ended ap learned least one additional embassy worker reported similar symptoms since date sent medical testing symptoms determined unrelated tillersons comments fbi report illustrate befuddled us still seems mystery havana year embassy workers started reporting illnesses including hearing loss vision problems memory issues symptoms often followed unexplained sounds diplomats homes led investigators suspect futuristic sonic weapon us said 24 government workers harmed canada reported diplomats affected fbi report hasnt released publicly clearest sign date us ruling sonic weapon theory report says fbi tested hypothesis air pressure waves via audible sound infrasound ultrasound could used clandestinely hurt americans cuba found evidence infrasound waves range human hearing ultrasound fbi declined comment monday october ap published recording highpitched chirping sound diplomats heard officials cautioned werent sure whether sound harmed americans perhaps byproduct something else last month ap reported doctors discovered brain abnormalities patients treated returning cuba since patients hadnt tested working cuba outside experts raised questions cuba us supporters frustration growing washingtons aggressive response lack answers addition pulling essential personnel trump administration last year expelled 15 cuban diplomats warned americans avoid island havana sees steps harming uscuba relations damaging critical tourism industry without proof anyone attacked law tillerson must form accountability review board serious injury diplomats overseas one highly publicized example four americans killed benghazi libya 2012 tillerson signed new review board us officials said state department wouldnt comment saying would announce decision congress notified could come early tuesday senate foreign relations committee hold hearing attacks us diplomats cuba top officials state departments medical unit diplomatic security western hemisphere division testify weekend sen jeff flake longtime proponent closer us ties cuba said highranking cuban officials told fbi found evidence attacks classified us briefings left reason doubt cubas account sen marco rubio vocal critic cubas government declared twitter documented fact us personnel victims sort sophisticated attack us officials briefed matter know full well yet lawmakers briefed tillerson say discouraged trump administration couldnt wouldnt answer basic questions investigation fbi leads broader law enforcement cooperation cuba insists everything possible place little delayed access suspected crime scenes tillerson ap interview said satisfied us response ive met victims ive met families tillerson said im concerned health wellbeing trumps everything book ___ follow aps coverage cuba attacks httpapnewscomtagcubahealthmystery
| 1,170 |
<p>GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Wide receiver Michael Clark gave up basketball to chase his football dream in college.</p>
<p>The road led him all the way to Lambeau Field for his NFL debut Saturday night.</p>
<p>With injuries taking a toll on the Packers’ receiving corps, Clark could get more chances to make an impression on coach Mike McCarthy when Green Bay wraps up its season on Sunday against the Detroit Lions.</p>
<p>“It feels like I’ve been waiting forever for this to happen,” Clark said after practice Wednesday.</p>
<p>The 6-foot-6 Clark played in 12 college basketball games as a freshman in the 2014-15 season at St. Francis of Pennsylvania, a small school in the Northeast Conference. But football, a sport he hadn’t played since his freshman year in high school in Tampa, Florida, kept tugging at Clark.</p>
<p>So he gave up his basketball scholarship to play football and landed at Marshall. He got reacquainted with the sport while redshirting in 2015 before debuting in 2016 with 37 catches for 632 yards and four touchdowns.</p>
<p>With a year of eligibility remaining, Clark decided to take his sparse resume and turn pro. Clark went undrafted but landed with the Packers. With his size, Clark stood tall but he didn’t immediately stand out.</p>
<p>“It was foreign. Just words,” Clark said of the playbook. “All that stuff blew past me. I couldn’t keep up in meetings. Just found myself spacing out a lot. I couldn’t keep up at all.”</p>
<p>Once Clark caught up, his skill came to the forefront. He made some splash plays in training camp but failed to make the roster and toiled for most of the season on the practice squad. Clark was added to the active roster on Dec. 1 and played in his first game against the Vikings.</p>
<p>With star receiver Davante Adams inactive with a concussion and veteran receiver Jordy Nelson lost late in the first half with a shoulder injury, Clark wound up getting extensive playing time. He was targeted a team-high nine times, catching three for 36 yards. Quarterback Brett Hundley turned to Clark in key spots, with a pair of third-down passes and three more on fourth down.</p>
<p>“I’ve been with Brett since camp, building his confidence in me and making plays,” Clark said. “Everybody sees me making plays, so who wouldn’t want to throw it to me?”</p>
<p>With his size, Clark makes for an inviting target.</p>
<p>“Just a big dude,” Hundley said. “He’s just a good receiver. He’s been busting his butt for the past year and he’s developed every day, every week, and I cannot wait to see what he brings this week and what he turns into this year.”</p>
<p>Clark figures to play a key role this week against the Lions. Adams remains in the concussion protocol, and McCarthy said it will be tough for Nelson to return this week.</p>
<p>They were two of seven players not practicing on Wednesday, a list rounded out by receiver Geronimo Allison (illness), guard Jahri Evans (knee), running back Aaron Jones (knee), tight end Richard Rodgers (shoulder), outside linebacker Nick Perry (shoulder/ankle).</p>
<p>With so much talent potentially sidelined for Sunday, Clark might be line for more targets in Detroit. He’d like to use a strong performance as a starting point for next season.</p>
<p>“If you’re not confident in yourself, I wouldn’t be here,” Clark said. “Stuff like this doesn’t happen by accident. I had confidence in myself, I knew I could do it and that’s what I did.”</p>
<p>GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Wide receiver Michael Clark gave up basketball to chase his football dream in college.</p>
<p>The road led him all the way to Lambeau Field for his NFL debut Saturday night.</p>
<p>With injuries taking a toll on the Packers’ receiving corps, Clark could get more chances to make an impression on coach Mike McCarthy when Green Bay wraps up its season on Sunday against the Detroit Lions.</p>
<p>“It feels like I’ve been waiting forever for this to happen,” Clark said after practice Wednesday.</p>
<p>The 6-foot-6 Clark played in 12 college basketball games as a freshman in the 2014-15 season at St. Francis of Pennsylvania, a small school in the Northeast Conference. But football, a sport he hadn’t played since his freshman year in high school in Tampa, Florida, kept tugging at Clark.</p>
<p>So he gave up his basketball scholarship to play football and landed at Marshall. He got reacquainted with the sport while redshirting in 2015 before debuting in 2016 with 37 catches for 632 yards and four touchdowns.</p>
<p>With a year of eligibility remaining, Clark decided to take his sparse resume and turn pro. Clark went undrafted but landed with the Packers. With his size, Clark stood tall but he didn’t immediately stand out.</p>
<p>“It was foreign. Just words,” Clark said of the playbook. “All that stuff blew past me. I couldn’t keep up in meetings. Just found myself spacing out a lot. I couldn’t keep up at all.”</p>
<p>Once Clark caught up, his skill came to the forefront. He made some splash plays in training camp but failed to make the roster and toiled for most of the season on the practice squad. Clark was added to the active roster on Dec. 1 and played in his first game against the Vikings.</p>
<p>With star receiver Davante Adams inactive with a concussion and veteran receiver Jordy Nelson lost late in the first half with a shoulder injury, Clark wound up getting extensive playing time. He was targeted a team-high nine times, catching three for 36 yards. Quarterback Brett Hundley turned to Clark in key spots, with a pair of third-down passes and three more on fourth down.</p>
<p>“I’ve been with Brett since camp, building his confidence in me and making plays,” Clark said. “Everybody sees me making plays, so who wouldn’t want to throw it to me?”</p>
<p>With his size, Clark makes for an inviting target.</p>
<p>“Just a big dude,” Hundley said. “He’s just a good receiver. He’s been busting his butt for the past year and he’s developed every day, every week, and I cannot wait to see what he brings this week and what he turns into this year.”</p>
<p>Clark figures to play a key role this week against the Lions. Adams remains in the concussion protocol, and McCarthy said it will be tough for Nelson to return this week.</p>
<p>They were two of seven players not practicing on Wednesday, a list rounded out by receiver Geronimo Allison (illness), guard Jahri Evans (knee), running back Aaron Jones (knee), tight end Richard Rodgers (shoulder), outside linebacker Nick Perry (shoulder/ankle).</p>
<p>With so much talent potentially sidelined for Sunday, Clark might be line for more targets in Detroit. He’d like to use a strong performance as a starting point for next season.</p>
<p>“If you’re not confident in yourself, I wouldn’t be here,” Clark said. “Stuff like this doesn’t happen by accident. I had confidence in myself, I knew I could do it and that’s what I did.”</p>
| false | 2 |
green bay wis ap wide receiver michael clark gave basketball chase football dream college road led way lambeau field nfl debut saturday night injuries taking toll packers receiving corps clark could get chances make impression coach mike mccarthy green bay wraps season sunday detroit lions feels like ive waiting forever happen clark said practice wednesday 6foot6 clark played 12 college basketball games freshman 201415 season st francis pennsylvania small school northeast conference football sport hadnt played since freshman year high school tampa florida kept tugging clark gave basketball scholarship play football landed marshall got reacquainted sport redshirting 2015 debuting 2016 37 catches 632 yards four touchdowns year eligibility remaining clark decided take sparse resume turn pro clark went undrafted landed packers size clark stood tall didnt immediately stand foreign words clark said playbook stuff blew past couldnt keep meetings found spacing lot couldnt keep clark caught skill came forefront made splash plays training camp failed make roster toiled season practice squad clark added active roster dec 1 played first game vikings star receiver davante adams inactive concussion veteran receiver jordy nelson lost late first half shoulder injury clark wound getting extensive playing time targeted teamhigh nine times catching three 36 yards quarterback brett hundley turned clark key spots pair thirddown passes three fourth ive brett since camp building confidence making plays clark said everybody sees making plays wouldnt want throw size clark makes inviting target big dude hundley said hes good receiver hes busting butt past year hes developed every day every week wait see brings week turns year clark figures play key role week lions adams remains concussion protocol mccarthy said tough nelson return week two seven players practicing wednesday list rounded receiver geronimo allison illness guard jahri evans knee running back aaron jones knee tight end richard rodgers shoulder outside linebacker nick perry shoulderankle much talent potentially sidelined sunday clark might line targets detroit hed like use strong performance starting point next season youre confident wouldnt clark said stuff like doesnt happen accident confidence knew could thats green bay wis ap wide receiver michael clark gave basketball chase football dream college road led way lambeau field nfl debut saturday night injuries taking toll packers receiving corps clark could get chances make impression coach mike mccarthy green bay wraps season sunday detroit lions feels like ive waiting forever happen clark said practice wednesday 6foot6 clark played 12 college basketball games freshman 201415 season st francis pennsylvania small school northeast conference football sport hadnt played since freshman year high school tampa florida kept tugging clark gave basketball scholarship play football landed marshall got reacquainted sport redshirting 2015 debuting 2016 37 catches 632 yards four touchdowns year eligibility remaining clark decided take sparse resume turn pro clark went undrafted landed packers size clark stood tall didnt immediately stand foreign words clark said playbook stuff blew past couldnt keep meetings found spacing lot couldnt keep clark caught skill came forefront made splash plays training camp failed make roster toiled season practice squad clark added active roster dec 1 played first game vikings star receiver davante adams inactive concussion veteran receiver jordy nelson lost late first half shoulder injury clark wound getting extensive playing time targeted teamhigh nine times catching three 36 yards quarterback brett hundley turned clark key spots pair thirddown passes three fourth ive brett since camp building confidence making plays clark said everybody sees making plays wouldnt want throw size clark makes inviting target big dude hundley said hes good receiver hes busting butt past year hes developed every day every week wait see brings week turns year clark figures play key role week lions adams remains concussion protocol mccarthy said tough nelson return week two seven players practicing wednesday list rounded receiver geronimo allison illness guard jahri evans knee running back aaron jones knee tight end richard rodgers shoulder outside linebacker nick perry shoulderankle much talent potentially sidelined sunday clark might line targets detroit hed like use strong performance starting point next season youre confident wouldnt clark said stuff like doesnt happen accident confidence knew could thats
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<p>Jan 24 (Reuters) - Endo International Plc:</p>
<p>* ENDO AGREES TO FDA’S REQUEST TO SEEK TEMPORARY LITIGATION STAY</p>
<p>* ENDO INTERNATIONAL PLC - ‍AGREED TO REQUEST BY FDA TO SEEK TEMPORARY STAY OF LITIGATION INITIATED AGAINST FDA IN OCTOBER 2017 BY COMPANY’S SUBSIDIARIES​</p>
<p>* ENDO INTERNATIONAL PLC - HAS AGREED TO FDA’S PROPOSED LITIGATION STAY UNTIL MARCH 30, 2018 Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage:</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>EDINBURGH (Reuters) - - A legal attempt by anti-Brexit campaigners to establish that Britain could unilaterally reverse Brexit was given a boost on Tuesday by Scotland’s top court, which said it wants to examine the case in greater depth.</p> FILE PHOTO: A woman carries a British union flag design umbrella as she walks past the Houses of Parliament in London, Britain, April 26, 2017. REUTERS/Toby Melville
<p>The group behind the legal challenge, who include pro-EU Scottish lawmakers, want to show that Britain could stay in the European Union after all, if for example the Brexit negotiations resulted in an unfavorable deal.</p>
<p>The campaigners are ultimately seeking a formal opinion by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) asserting that Britain could reverse its decision to invoke Article 50 of the EU’s Lisbon Treaty, the formal step that kickstarted the Brexit process.</p>
<p>They argue that once the terms of Brexit have been negotiated, Britain’s sovereign parliament may well decide not to go ahead with it, so lawmakers need to know in advance if that is legally possible.</p>
<p>As things stand, there is no suggestion of a change of course over Brexit, which British voters backed by 52 to 48 percent in a June 2016 referendum. The ruling Conservative Party and main opposition Labour Party are both committed to Britain leaving the European Union.</p>
<p>The legal case, spearheaded by anti-Brexit campaigning lawyer Jolyon Maugham, had been rejected by a lower Scottish court.</p>
<p>On Tuesday, the Court of Session, Scotland’s highest court, rejected the earlier ruling, saying the case raised important issues and there should be a full hearing so all the arguments can be developed.</p>
<p>Once such a hearing has taken place, a decision will be made on whether the case should be referred to the ECJ.</p>
<p>If it ultimately requests the ECJ clarify the issue, the Luxembourg-based court will be “bound to reply to the questions asked,” the court said.</p>
<p>The petitioners argue that while there is no doubt that Britain could stop Brexit with the permission of the other 27 members, it should seek to establish a legal right to do so unilaterally whether the rest of the bloc likes it or not.</p>
<p>The British government argues that the question of whether it alone can stop Brexit is irrelevant, since the issue was decided by the 2016 referendum and there are no plans for a second referendum.</p>
<p>The petitioners have said they will go all the way to Britain’s Supreme Court if necessary.</p>
<p>Reporting by Elisabeth O'Leary; Editing by Estelle Shirbon</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>(Reuters) - A student who shot and critically wounded two fellow students at a Maryland high school on Tuesday morning, has died after exchanging gunfire with a campus security officer, the county sheriff said.</p> Emergency personnel and law enforcement officers stand outside Great Mills High School following a shooting on Tuesday morning in St. Mary's County, Maryland. REUTERS/Sait Serkan Gurbuz
<p>The school day had barely begun when the student, who has not been identified, shot a male student and a female student at Great Mills High School in St. Mary’s County before the campus security officer intervened, county Sheriff Timothy Cameron told NBC’s Washington affiliate.</p> Slideshow (2 Images)
<p>The two victims were in critical condition at hospitals.</p>
<p>The officer was not harmed, and the public school’s roughly 1,600 students were later escorted off campus by police, classroom by classroom, to reunite with their parents at another high school.</p>
<p>Reporting by Jonathan Allen and Gina Cherelus in New York; Editing by Scott Malone and Jonathan Oatis</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>NEW YORK, 2018 - Rising oil prices helped lift equity markets worldwide on Tuesday, while the U.S. dollar jumped ahead of a meeting of Federal Reserve policymakers, who are expected to go ahead with the first of at least three U.S. rate hikes this year.</p>
<p>U.S. technology stocks lagged broader markets, continuing a selloff sparked by reports of large-scale misuse of Facebook user data. Shares of Facebook Inc ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=FB.O" type="external">FB.O</a>) dipped nearly 5 percent in morning trading, continuing a slide that took nearly 7 percent off its share price on Monday. While stocks on Wall Street climbed, Facebook’s drop kept the gains in check.</p>
<p>The Dow Jones Industrial Average <a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.DJI" type="external">.DJI</a> rose 165.58 points, or 0.67 percent, to 24,776.49, the S&amp;P 500 <a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.SPX" type="external">.SPX</a> gained 5.78 points, or 0.21 percent, to 2,718.7 and the Nasdaq Composite <a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.IXIC" type="external">.IXIC</a> added 13.67 points, or 0.19 percent, to 7,357.91.</p>
<p>There were other tech-related problems, too. An accident involving an Uber test car UBER.UL on Monday which resulted in the first fatality involving a fully autonomous vehicle weighed on Silicon Valley sentiment.</p>
<p>Shares in European chipmakers also faced pressure, while Germany’s SAP ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=SAPG.DE" type="external">SAPG.DE</a>) declined 0.5 percent, hit by a knock-on effect from U.S. business software peer Oracle, whose quarterly revenue missed analysts’ estimates.</p>
<p>“There certainly are some stocks where valuations look somewhat stretched ... so we’re focusing our exposure within the technology sector on the cheaper end of the market,” Mike Bell, global market strategist at JPMorgan Asset Management, said.</p>
<p>“We’re a bit more cautious on the more expensive and some of the more popular names in the sector,” Bell added.</p> FOCUS ON THE DOLLAR
<p>The U.S. dollar climbed to a one-week high against the Japanese yen as traders limbered up for the start of a two-day Fed Reserve meeting.</p>
<p>With a quarter-point hike - its sixth since the Fed began raising interest rates in late 2015 - baked into market prices, major currencies were largely moving in ranges.</p> Slideshow (3 Images)
<p>“Euro/dollar is being buffeted by cross currents, especially as both central banks (Fed and the ECB) are normalizing policy but it needs an unexpected policy action to jolt markets,” said Neil Jones, Mizuho’s London head of currency hedge fund sales.</p>
<p>Markets expect at least two more U.S. rate hikes after Wednesday for the rest of the year, although analysts acknowledged that the central bank’s ‘dot plot’ could potentially point to as many as four.</p>
<p>The Fed bets kept long-term U.S. bond yields nudging higher with short-dated yields up too.</p>
<a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=FB.O" type="external">Facebook Inc</a> 164.5919 FB.O Nasdaq -7.97 (-4.62%) FB.O .DJI .SPX .IXIC SAPG.DE
<p>The yield on 10-year Treasuries was up at almost 2.89 percent US10YT=RR, 6 basis points below the four-year high of 2.957 percent touched a month ago. Two-year notes US2YT=RR hit a 9 1/2-year high of 2.33 percent.</p>
<p>Among the major commodities, oil prices jumped in line with the dollar as investors remained wary of growing crude supply although tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran provided some support.</p>
<p>U.S. crude CLcv1 rose 2.43 percent to $63.57 per barrel and Brent LCOcv1 was last at $67.55, up 2.27 percent.</p>
<p>The potential for a trade war cast a shadow over export currencies after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed steep tariffs on steel and aluminum. The government is expected to unveil up to $60 billion in new tariffs on Chinese imports by Friday.</p>
<p>U.S. businesses were alarmed, with several large U.S. retail companies, including Wal-Mart Inc ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=WMT.N" type="external">WMT.N</a>) and Target Corp ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=TGT.N" type="external">TGT.N</a>), on Monday urging Trump not to impose massive tariffs on goods imported from China.</p>
<p>The dollar index .DXY, tracking the greenback against a basket of major currencies, rose 0.48 percent, with the euro <a href="/finance/currencies/quote?srcCurr=EUR&amp;destCurr=USD" type="external">EUR=</a> down 0.41 percent to $1.2283.</p>
<p>The Japanese yen weakened 0.30 percent versus the greenback to 106.41 per dollar, while sterling <a href="/finance/currencies/quote?srcCurr=GBP&amp;destCurr=USD" type="external">GBP=</a> was at $1.4012, down 0.08 percent on the day.</p>
<p>Editing by Bernadette Baum</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>WASHINGTON/LONDON (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Trade Commission is investigating Facebook Inc over its use of personal data, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday, after a whistleblower said a political consultancy hired by Donald Trump improperly accessed information on 50 million Facebook users to sway public opinion.</p>
<p>Facebook shares dropped 4.7 percent, after falling almost 7 percent on Monday, as investors worried that the world’s largest social media network could face massive fines and that its dented reputation could scare off users and advertisers. The drop erased more than $20 billion from its market capitalization.</p>
<p>Shares of Snap Inc and Twitter Inc also fell.</p>
<p>U.S. and European lawmakers have demanded an explanation of how the consultancy, Cambridge Analytica, gained access to the data in 2014 and why Facebook failed to inform its users, raising broader industry questions about consumer privacy.</p>
<p>The probe by the FTC, the regulatory agency in charge of consumer protection, would look into whether Facebook allowed Cambridge Analytica to receive some Facebook user data in violation of its policies, said Bloomberg, citing a person familiar with the matter.</p>
<p>“We are aware of the issues that have been raised but cannot comment on whether we are investigating. We take any allegations of violations of our consent decrees very seriously as we did in 2012 in a privacy case involving Google,” an FTC spokesman said.</p>
<p>In 2011, Facebook settled complaints that it disregarded its users’ privacy, agreeing to set up measures to better protect its 800 million members’ data and FTC officials are now looking into whether Facebook violated the 2011 agreement, Bloomberg reported.</p>
<p>If the FTC finds Facebook violated terms of the consent decree, it has the power to fine the company thousands of dollars a day per violation.</p>
<p>Facebook was not immediately available to comment on the reported FTC probe.</p> PERSONAL INFORMATION
<p>In Britain, the Information Commission was seeking a warrant on Tuesday from a judge to search the offices of London-based Cambridge Analytica.</p> People walk past the building housing the offices of Cambridge Analytica in central London, Britain, March 20, 2018. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls
<p>On Tuesday people were seen carrying multiple plastic storage containers into and out of the building that houses Cambridge Analytica’s London office, among other companies. It was not clear which firm they were going to.</p>
<p>“We are looking at whether or not Facebook secured and safeguarded personal information on the platform and whether when they found out about the loss of the data they acted robustly and whether or not people were informed,” Elizabeth Denham, the head of the Information Commission told BBC Radio.</p>
<p>Created in 2013, Cambridge Analytica markets itself as a source of consumer research, targeted advertising and other data-related services to both political and corporate clients.</p>
<p>According to the New York Times, it was launched with $15 million in backing from billionaire Republican donor Robert Mercer and a name chosen by the-then future Trump White House adviser Steve Bannon.</p> Slideshow (6 Images)
<p>Facebook says the data were harvested by a British academic, Aleksandr Kogan, who created an app on the platform that was downloaded by 270,000 people, providing access not only to their own personal data but also their friends’.</p>
<p>Facebook said Kogan then violated its policies by passing the data to Cambridge Analytica. Facebook has since suspended both the consulting firm and SCL (Strategic Communication Laboratories), a government and military contractor.</p>
<p>Facebook said it had been told that the data were destroyed.</p>
<p>Kogan says he changed the terms and conditions of his personality-test app on Facebook from academic to commercial part way through the project, according to an email to Cambridge University colleagues obtained and cited by CNN.</p> Related Coverage
<a href="/article/us-facebook-cambridge-analytica-factbox/factbox-who-is-cambridge-analytica-and-what-did-it-do-idUSKBN1GW07F" type="external">Factbox: Who is Cambridge Analytica and what did it do?</a>
<a href="/article/us-facebook-cambridge-analytica-whitehou/white-house-welcomes-looks-into-reports-trumps-consultants-misused-facebook-data-official-idUSKBN1GW25V" type="external">White House welcomes looks into reports Trump's consultants misused Facebook data: official</a>
<a href="/article/us-facebook-cambridge-analytica-funds/index-provider-msci-says-it-is-reviewing-facebook-data-privacy-issue-idUSKBN1GW22H" type="external">Index provider MSCI says it is reviewing Facebook data privacy issue</a>
<p>Kogan says Facebook made no objection, but Facebook says it was not informed of the change, CNN reported. Kogan was not immediately reachable for comment.</p>
<p>“If this data still exists, it would be a grave violation of Facebook’s policies and an unacceptable violation of trust and the commitments these groups made,” Facebook said.</p>
<p>Cambridge Analytica has denied all the media claims and said it deleted the data after learning the information did not adhere to data protection rules.</p>
<p>“We are not alone in using data from social media sites to extract user information,” Cambridge Analytica said. “No Facebook data was used by our data science team in the 2016 presidential campaign.”</p>
<p>Reporting by Kate Holton and Paul Sandle in London, and David Shephardson and Susan Heavey in Washington; Writing by Susan Thomas, Editing by Nick Zieminski</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
| false | 2 |
jan 24 reuters endo international plc endo agrees fdas request seek temporary litigation stay endo international plc agreed request fda seek temporary stay litigation initiated fda october 2017 companys subsidiaries endo international plc agreed fdas proposed litigation stay march 30 2018 source text eikon company coverage standards thomson reuters trust principles edinburgh reuters legal attempt antibrexit campaigners establish britain could unilaterally reverse brexit given boost tuesday scotlands top court said wants examine case greater depth file photo woman carries british union flag design umbrella walks past houses parliament london britain april 26 2017 reuterstoby melville group behind legal challenge include proeu scottish lawmakers want show britain could stay european union example brexit negotiations resulted unfavorable deal campaigners ultimately seeking formal opinion european court justice ecj asserting britain could reverse decision invoke article 50 eus lisbon treaty formal step kickstarted brexit process argue terms brexit negotiated britains sovereign parliament may well decide go ahead lawmakers need know advance legally possible things stand suggestion change course brexit british voters backed 52 48 percent june 2016 referendum ruling conservative party main opposition labour party committed britain leaving european union legal case spearheaded antibrexit campaigning lawyer jolyon maugham rejected lower scottish court tuesday court session scotlands highest court rejected earlier ruling saying case raised important issues full hearing arguments developed hearing taken place decision made whether case referred ecj ultimately requests ecj clarify issue luxembourgbased court bound reply questions asked court said petitioners argue doubt britain could stop brexit permission 27 members seek establish legal right unilaterally whether rest bloc likes british government argues question whether alone stop brexit irrelevant since issue decided 2016 referendum plans second referendum petitioners said go way britains supreme court necessary reporting elisabeth oleary editing estelle shirbon standards thomson reuters trust principles reuters student shot critically wounded two fellow students maryland high school tuesday morning died exchanging gunfire campus security officer county sheriff said emergency personnel law enforcement officers stand outside great mills high school following shooting tuesday morning st marys county maryland reuterssait serkan gurbuz school day barely begun student identified shot male student female student great mills high school st marys county campus security officer intervened county sheriff timothy cameron told nbcs washington affiliate slideshow 2 images two victims critical condition hospitals officer harmed public schools roughly 1600 students later escorted campus police classroom classroom reunite parents another high school reporting jonathan allen gina cherelus new york editing scott malone jonathan oatis standards thomson reuters trust principles new york 2018 rising oil prices helped lift equity markets worldwide tuesday us dollar jumped ahead meeting federal reserve policymakers expected go ahead first least three us rate hikes year us technology stocks lagged broader markets continuing selloff sparked reports largescale misuse facebook user data shares facebook inc fbo dipped nearly 5 percent morning trading continuing slide took nearly 7 percent share price monday stocks wall street climbed facebooks drop kept gains check dow jones industrial average dji rose 16558 points 067 percent 2477649 sampp 500 spx gained 578 points 021 percent 27187 nasdaq composite ixic added 1367 points 019 percent 735791 techrelated problems accident involving uber test car uberul monday resulted first fatality involving fully autonomous vehicle weighed silicon valley sentiment shares european chipmakers also faced pressure germanys sap sapgde declined 05 percent hit knockon effect us business software peer oracle whose quarterly revenue missed analysts estimates certainly stocks valuations look somewhat stretched focusing exposure within technology sector cheaper end market mike bell global market strategist jpmorgan asset management said bit cautious expensive popular names sector bell added focus dollar us dollar climbed oneweek high japanese yen traders limbered start twoday fed reserve meeting quarterpoint hike sixth since fed began raising interest rates late 2015 baked market prices major currencies largely moving ranges slideshow 3 images eurodollar buffeted cross currents especially central banks fed ecb normalizing policy needs unexpected policy action jolt markets said neil jones mizuhos london head currency hedge fund sales markets expect least two us rate hikes wednesday rest year although analysts acknowledged central banks dot plot could potentially point many four fed bets kept longterm us bond yields nudging higher shortdated yields facebook inc 1645919 fbo nasdaq 797 462 fbo dji spx ixic sapgde yield 10year treasuries almost 289 percent us10ytrr 6 basis points fouryear high 2957 percent touched month ago twoyear notes us2ytrr hit 9 12year high 233 percent among major commodities oil prices jumped line dollar investors remained wary growing crude supply although tensions saudi arabia iran provided support us crude clcv1 rose 243 percent 6357 per barrel brent lcocv1 last 6755 227 percent potential trade war cast shadow export currencies us president donald trump imposed steep tariffs steel aluminum government expected unveil 60 billion new tariffs chinese imports friday us businesses alarmed several large us retail companies including walmart inc wmtn target corp tgtn monday urging trump impose massive tariffs goods imported china dollar index dxy tracking greenback basket major currencies rose 048 percent euro eur 041 percent 12283 japanese yen weakened 030 percent versus greenback 10641 per dollar sterling gbp 14012 008 percent day editing bernadette baum standards thomson reuters trust principles washingtonlondon reuters us federal trade commission investigating facebook inc use personal data bloomberg news reported tuesday whistleblower said political consultancy hired donald trump improperly accessed information 50 million facebook users sway public opinion facebook shares dropped 47 percent falling almost 7 percent monday investors worried worlds largest social media network could face massive fines dented reputation could scare users advertisers drop erased 20 billion market capitalization shares snap inc twitter inc also fell us european lawmakers demanded explanation consultancy cambridge analytica gained access data 2014 facebook failed inform users raising broader industry questions consumer privacy probe ftc regulatory agency charge consumer protection would look whether facebook allowed cambridge analytica receive facebook user data violation policies said bloomberg citing person familiar matter aware issues raised comment whether investigating take allegations violations consent decrees seriously 2012 privacy case involving google ftc spokesman said 2011 facebook settled complaints disregarded users privacy agreeing set measures better protect 800 million members data ftc officials looking whether facebook violated 2011 agreement bloomberg reported ftc finds facebook violated terms consent decree power fine company thousands dollars day per violation facebook immediately available comment reported ftc probe personal information britain information commission seeking warrant tuesday judge search offices londonbased cambridge analytica people walk past building housing offices cambridge analytica central london britain march 20 2018 reutershenry nicholls tuesday people seen carrying multiple plastic storage containers building houses cambridge analyticas london office among companies clear firm going looking whether facebook secured safeguarded personal information platform whether found loss data acted robustly whether people informed elizabeth denham head information commission told bbc radio created 2013 cambridge analytica markets source consumer research targeted advertising datarelated services political corporate clients according new york times launched 15 million backing billionaire republican donor robert mercer name chosen thethen future trump white house adviser steve bannon slideshow 6 images facebook says data harvested british academic aleksandr kogan created app platform downloaded 270000 people providing access personal data also friends facebook said kogan violated policies passing data cambridge analytica facebook since suspended consulting firm scl strategic communication laboratories government military contractor facebook said told data destroyed kogan says changed terms conditions personalitytest app facebook academic commercial part way project according email cambridge university colleagues obtained cited cnn related coverage factbox cambridge analytica white house welcomes looks reports trumps consultants misused facebook data official index provider msci says reviewing facebook data privacy issue kogan says facebook made objection facebook says informed change cnn reported kogan immediately reachable comment data still exists would grave violation facebooks policies unacceptable violation trust commitments groups made facebook said cambridge analytica denied media claims said deleted data learning information adhere data protection rules alone using data social media sites extract user information cambridge analytica said facebook data used data science team 2016 presidential campaign reporting kate holton paul sandle london david shephardson susan heavey washington writing susan thomas editing nick zieminski standards thomson reuters trust principles
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<p>This mass culling of billions of newborn chicks each year has upset not only animal welfare groups, but the egg industry itself has recognized a need to end the process. And that has fueled a quiet international race to develop technology to determine the gender of a chicken egg before it hatches, known as in-ovo sexing.</p>
<p>Male chicks are “macerated,” as the egg industry calls the slaughter, because according to the hard math of modern-day poultry farming, the males are useless: They cannot grow up to lay eggs, and they’re not the fast-growing breeds that are sold as meat.</p>
<p>Now a Texas-based company that sells eggs from pasture-raised hens has entered the race to make an industrial-scale sexing technology, saying it has developed a method that can be used the day eggs are laid. Vital Farms, whose eggs are carried by 5,000 stores nationwide, told The Washington Post this week that it hopes to make the technology, which it developed in partnership with the Israeli tech firm Novatrans, commercially available within a year.</p>
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<p>It says its technology would solve an animal welfare problem as well as a financial one for egg hatcheries, which under current methods spend money incubating eggs for 21 days and then sorting out by hand – and culling – the males that hatch from half of them. Male eggs could instead be sold on grocery shelves, Vital Farms chief executive Matt O’Hayer said.</p>
<p>The wide-scale adoption of in-ovo sexing technology would be another win for chickens, which have become some of the more the unlikely beneficiaries of the animal welfare movement. In recent years, animal rights activists have successfully pressured hundreds of U.S. and international companies into vowing to switch to using only cage-free eggs. That, in turn, has prompted the American egg industry to acknowledge that uncaged hens are the way of the future, although it says farmers – which must overhaul their systems – are not happy about it.</p>
<p>Given the labor and other costs involved, the egg industry has an incentive to stop killing male chicks. Momentum on the issue began to grow in 2014, when Unilever, which owns Hellman’s mayonnaise and other egg-using companies, committed to supporting in-ovo technology research and adopting it. The German government pledged to end male chick culling by 2017, though the country’s parliament later voted down a ban. Animal rights groups’ video investigations of culling methods – which sometimes involve gassing or suffocating chicks – also have become more common.</p>
<p>In contrast to its reluctant acquiescence to the cage-free movement, the U.S. egg industry fairly quickly signed onto supporting an end to chick culling. In June, United Egg Producers, which represents 95 percent of American egg farms, said in an announcement coordinated with the animal rights group the Humane League that it would end the culling by 2020 “or as soon as” the technology is “commercially available and economically feasible.”</p>
<p>“We are aware that there are a number of international research initiatives underway in this area, and we encourage the development of an alternative with the goal of eliminating the culling,” Chad Gregory, the president and chief executive of United Egg Producers, said in a statement in June.</p>
<p>Gregory was referring to a handful of ongoing efforts to develop in-ovo sexing technology. At least three initiatives have said they are less than two years away from launching their products.</p>
<p>Egg Farmers of Ontario, a Canadian trade body, told an international egg conference this year that it had patented a process to sort eggs by gender with 95 percent accuracy before incubation, and that it hoped to have a prototype ready by the end of 2016. Researchers at two German universities have said they are working on a method that involves poking a small hole in an eggshell and shining in an infrared light to determine in the first 72 hours of incubation whether it contains male or female chromosomes; they’ve said they expect it to be ready in 2017. A third method, being developed by Dutch start-up In Ovo, would run fluid from each egg through a mass spectrometer to determine the level of a biomarker that the company says can determine gender by the ninth day of incubation. The company has said it could have a working model by mid-2017.</p>
<p>Vital Farms’s work with Novatrans, however, had not been publicized until now. Paul Knepper, president of a subsidiary called Ovabrite that Vital Farms has launched to market its method, said it is different from other technologies in development because it does not involve puncturing the egg and is used on the day eggs are laid, keeping them viable for human consumption.</p>
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<p>Knepper said it traps an egg’s metabolic byproducts – which he described as volatile organic compounds “given off by an egg as it ‘breathes'” – that carry a distinct, measurable male or female signature. The two-second-per-egg process is carried out by a device that Knepper said is about the size of a boardroom table.</p>
<p>“You destroy a lot of the economics to the hatchery if you have to put the egg in the incubator at all,” Knepper said. “Whether or not you cull them before there’s a chick that can feel pain, there’s still waste.”</p>
<p>Paul Shapiro, who until recently was the Humane Society of the United States’ vice president for farm animal welfare, said he was “overjoyed” to hear of Vital Farms’s investment in the technology. Shapiro, now the organization’s vice president for policy, said as many as 65 percent of eggs laid to U.S. laying hens are wasted, because the half that are males end up killed, and as many as 15 percent are infertile.</p>
<p>“This is very promising, both because it can prevent the killing of male chicks but also because it can reduce the need for battery-caged hens,” he said, referring to the small, stacked cages most commonly used to house hens today. “If those eggs can enter the market, it reduces the demand on having battery-caged hens. This would be a win-win both for male chicks and for laying hens.”</p>
<p>Vital Farms, based in Austin, sources its eggs from 100 small farms that O’Hayer said are all located in the nation’s “pasture belt” – states from Georgia to Oklahoma that don’t have long periods of cold and allow chickens to roam outdoors year-round.</p>
<p>O’Hayer, a longtime entrepreneur, said he was astonished to learn about male chick culling in 2008, one year after starting his egg company. He spent years “trying to find a way to get homes for the male chicks,” he said, including by exploring exporting them to developing countries. None panned out, so he said he turned his focus to trying to “cut down on the animal welfare negative.” Vital Farms entered into an agreement with Novatrans in May, investing an amount he would not disclose but said was “significant.”</p>
<p>O’Hayer said he hopes the promise of adding billions more eggs to the market with the use of the new sexing technology, called TeraEgg, will encourage more egg farms to switch not just to cage-free systems, but to housing that gives hens even more space, like free-range or pasture-based.</p>
<p>“In theory, 50 percent of all hatchery technology is going to be idle in a few years,” he said. “So if you don’t get on board, you’re going to have a hard time staying in business.”</p>
<p>chicks-1stld-writethru</p>
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mass culling billions newborn chicks year upset animal welfare groups egg industry recognized need end process fueled quiet international race develop technology determine gender chicken egg hatches known inovo sexing male chicks macerated egg industry calls slaughter according hard math modernday poultry farming males useless grow lay eggs theyre fastgrowing breeds sold meat texasbased company sells eggs pastureraised hens entered race make industrialscale sexing technology saying developed method used day eggs laid vital farms whose eggs carried 5000 stores nationwide told washington post week hopes make technology developed partnership israeli tech firm novatrans commercially available within year advertisement says technology would solve animal welfare problem well financial one egg hatcheries current methods spend money incubating eggs 21 days sorting hand culling males hatch half male eggs could instead sold grocery shelves vital farms chief executive matt ohayer said widescale adoption inovo sexing technology would another win chickens become unlikely beneficiaries animal welfare movement recent years animal rights activists successfully pressured hundreds us international companies vowing switch using cagefree eggs turn prompted american egg industry acknowledge uncaged hens way future although says farmers must overhaul systems happy given labor costs involved egg industry incentive stop killing male chicks momentum issue began grow 2014 unilever owns hellmans mayonnaise eggusing companies committed supporting inovo technology research adopting german government pledged end male chick culling 2017 though countrys parliament later voted ban animal rights groups video investigations culling methods sometimes involve gassing suffocating chicks also become common contrast reluctant acquiescence cagefree movement us egg industry fairly quickly signed onto supporting end chick culling june united egg producers represents 95 percent american egg farms said announcement coordinated animal rights group humane league would end culling 2020 soon technology commercially available economically feasible aware number international research initiatives underway area encourage development alternative goal eliminating culling chad gregory president chief executive united egg producers said statement june gregory referring handful ongoing efforts develop inovo sexing technology least three initiatives said less two years away launching products egg farmers ontario canadian trade body told international egg conference year patented process sort eggs gender 95 percent accuracy incubation hoped prototype ready end 2016 researchers two german universities said working method involves poking small hole eggshell shining infrared light determine first 72 hours incubation whether contains male female chromosomes theyve said expect ready 2017 third method developed dutch startup ovo would run fluid egg mass spectrometer determine level biomarker company says determine gender ninth day incubation company said could working model mid2017 vital farmss work novatrans however publicized paul knepper president subsidiary called ovabrite vital farms launched market method said different technologies development involve puncturing egg used day eggs laid keeping viable human consumption advertisement knepper said traps eggs metabolic byproducts described volatile organic compounds given egg breathes carry distinct measurable male female signature twosecondperegg process carried device knepper said size boardroom table destroy lot economics hatchery put egg incubator knepper said whether cull theres chick feel pain theres still waste paul shapiro recently humane society united states vice president farm animal welfare said overjoyed hear vital farmss investment technology shapiro organizations vice president policy said many 65 percent eggs laid us laying hens wasted half males end killed many 15 percent infertile promising prevent killing male chicks also reduce need batterycaged hens said referring small stacked cages commonly used house hens today eggs enter market reduces demand batterycaged hens would winwin male chicks laying hens vital farms based austin sources eggs 100 small farms ohayer said located nations pasture belt states georgia oklahoma dont long periods cold allow chickens roam outdoors yearround ohayer longtime entrepreneur said astonished learn male chick culling 2008 one year starting egg company spent years trying find way get homes male chicks said including exploring exporting developing countries none panned said turned focus trying cut animal welfare negative vital farms entered agreement novatrans may investing amount would disclose said significant ohayer said hopes promise adding billions eggs market use new sexing technology called teraegg encourage egg farms switch cagefree systems housing gives hens even space like freerange pasturebased theory 50 percent hatchery technology going idle years said dont get board youre going hard time staying business chicks1stldwritethru
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<p>THE EDITORIAL SLANT evidenced by your use of the cartoon with two “stoned” parents making snow angels and neglecting their hungry child – compounded by your editorial statement – is so stupidly cliched and disingenuous it must be challenged.</p>
<p>Marijuana prohibition was born of lies and maintained by lies. The laws against cannabis were passed by racist fear mongering. They were wrong the day they were enacted, they have been wrong for over 80 years and they are wrong now.</p>
<p>All – and I mean all – of the problems with marijuana can be attributed to the effects of prohibition itself, not the effects of the plant. So much social and economic damage has been done in the name of this public policy shibboleth, it’s a travesty. Not one reason – none – used by the prohibitionists has ever held up to legitimate scientific scrutiny.</p>
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<p>If we wait, we’ll be another year into the human suffering from the disastrous effects these lies have caused in our society. No more. Our governor has already stated her position. Of course she doesn’t want to admit that she was part of a system that perpetrated these offenses. Nor does she want to go against her self-serving campaign contributors – be they greedy industrialists or misguided moralizers. Enough.</p>
<p>Every day, more and more discoveries are being made about this remarkable plant, one of, if not the most beneficial plant on Earth. Hyperbole? Not a bit. We are now in the era where those old lies are indefensible. Legalization is coming and the prohibitionist profiteers are simply lobbying for conditions that continue their ill-gotten gains.</p>
<p>STEVE WILSON</p>
<p>Albuquerque</p>
<p />
<p>Draw line on marijuana use</p>
<p>MY BELIEF IS that the proposal to legalize recreational use of marijuana is wrong.</p>
<p>My family has experienced, and continues to experience, severe substance abuse problems. The illegality of marijuana and other drugs has not prevented my family from obtaining these drugs and thereby compromising their health and productivity. One relative started with marijuana, but is now using heroin and cocaine. We are concerned that relative will also pursue meth. The relative has relinquished scholarships and has dropped out of college. Today, the relative is failing to pursue a meaningful life and is ruining his health.</p>
<p>The role of the federal and state governments under the U.S. Constitution is to provide for the common defense, security, and safety of America’s citizens. By legalizing such use of marijuana, the state Legislature would shirk its responsibility to protect the public safety and would be sending the message that societal integrity is unimportant.</p>
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<p>Legalizing the recreational use of marijuana would certainly save money on enforcement. However, the casualty costs to health and reduced productivity would far outweigh the costs of enforcement. Eventually, increased drug usage would compromise the country’s ability to provide for its own common defense and security.</p>
<p>Although the Constitution allows the people to pursue broad civil liberties, not all possible civil liberties are necessarily expedient. I believe that it is time to draw a line. That line might as well be in the New Mexico sand.</p>
<p>STAN FITCH</p>
<p>Sandia Park</p>
<p>Just adding to our problems</p>
<p>THE LEGALIZATION of marijuana will compound the problems that society is currently dealing with regarding driving under the influence. In the early 1920s, alcohol was legalized as a recreational drug – look where it’s at now.</p>
<p>I would like to suggest to the lawmakers of this state to consider having all politicians submit to a drug test once a week. They should also be subject to polygraph examinations just like ordinary residents of this great state.</p>
<p>I wonder how many elected politicians would fail the drug test. Makes you wonder – I hope so.</p>
<p>PAUL CANDELARIA</p>
<p>Los Lunas</p>
<p />
<p>Leave our constitution alone</p>
<p>SEN. GERALD ORTIZ y Pino’s proposal to use a constitutional amendment as a plebiscite on the issue of legalization of marijuana should give the Legislature and the citizenry pause.</p>
<p>From colonial times to the present day, state constitutions were meant to be charters wherein the citizens grant and limit the powers of government. Constitutions create public offices, setting their the terms and defining their relationships to each other, guarantee personal liberties and rights, and provide a framework for governmental structure. They are not intended nor should they be used as a vehicle for general lawmaking for several reasons, first and foremost of which is the difficulty to amend such an amendment in the event of a change of circumstance, error in its drafting or eventual application, or public mood.</p>
<p>The framers of the New Mexico constitution, unlike their Arizona brethren, chose not to include initiative, referendum, and recall in their final draft. President William Howard Taft, a respected jurist and constitutional law scholar, actually rejected Arizona’s first proposed constitution because it contained some of those provisions.</p>
<p>The senator’s obvious goal is an end run around a governor who would certainly veto, as is her constitutional prerogative, any regular legislation legalizing general marijuana use. Presumably, most of the supporters of legalization will be Democrats. The correct thing for them to do is see if they can actually pass a bill repealing the current criminal statutes and challenge the governor to veto it, thus making that action an issue in the upcoming gubernatorial election. That would be the proper way to test public sentiment, not with a constitutional amendment.</p>
<p>Amending a constitution is a difficult business at best, but even the outside chance that the legislature would propose such an amendment and refer it to the voters sets a dangerous precedent subject to repetition in the future that might embrace other issues best left to elected representatives and not to the voters.</p>
<p>STEVEN SUTTLE</p>
<p>Albuquerque</p>
<p />
<p>NM could profit from pot</p>
<p>I APPLAUD SEN. Ortiz y Pino in stepping up to legalize recreational marijuana! New Mexico needs to be one of the first and not the last to realize the war on drugs is futile! The governor’s stance on being against it because of her dislike for illegal drug use is bogus. The No. 1 drug pushers are doctors and their legally prescribed narcotics.</p>
<p>I do not understand how our governor, nor any other government official, can’t wrap their heads around the idea that making non-lethal drugs illegal only supports crime and violence. How many more people have to die for them to see the war on drugs is a huge failure?</p>
<p>Did they learn nothing from our history with the prohibition of alcohol? As long as our government keeps marijuana illegal, they will enforce the black market’s ability to highly profit from it, continue the senseless killing and the many lives destroyed by people being put in jail and unable to obtain employment because of pot use.</p>
<p>Now let’s discuss how we are missing out on a huge amount of revenue we could use for our schools. We are last among the states in education. Imagine how we could help out our pathetic school system, among other things, with the taxes we could collect from the sales of marijuana!</p>
<p>The amount of jobs it would create is also a plus – retail, contracting jobs, and electrical to run the dispensaries that sell and grow. The tourism department would gain big time. Legalizing marijuana is a huge asset for New Mexico to pull itself out of a recession.</p>
<p>For those that say pot smoking leads to harder drugs – not any more than alcohol does.</p>
<p>Hopefully, Sen. Ortiz y Pino can lead New Mexico into a smarter, more profitable future! I don’t know about everyone else, but I’m tired of hearing New Mexico is last in the economic recovery! I’m also extremely tired of government telling me what’s bad for me.</p>
<p>VICTORIA SADOFF</p>
<p>Rio Rancho</p>
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editorial slant evidenced use cartoon two stoned parents making snow angels neglecting hungry child compounded editorial statement stupidly cliched disingenuous must challenged marijuana prohibition born lies maintained lies laws cannabis passed racist fear mongering wrong day enacted wrong 80 years wrong mean problems marijuana attributed effects prohibition effects plant much social economic damage done name public policy shibboleth travesty one reason none used prohibitionists ever held legitimate scientific scrutiny advertisement wait well another year human suffering disastrous effects lies caused society governor already stated position course doesnt want admit part system perpetrated offenses want go selfserving campaign contributors greedy industrialists misguided moralizers enough every day discoveries made remarkable plant one beneficial plant earth hyperbole bit era old lies indefensible legalization coming prohibitionist profiteers simply lobbying conditions continue illgotten gains steve wilson albuquerque draw line marijuana use belief proposal legalize recreational use marijuana wrong family experienced continues experience severe substance abuse problems illegality marijuana drugs prevented family obtaining drugs thereby compromising health productivity one relative started marijuana using heroin cocaine concerned relative also pursue meth relative relinquished scholarships dropped college today relative failing pursue meaningful life ruining health role federal state governments us constitution provide common defense security safety americas citizens legalizing use marijuana state legislature would shirk responsibility protect public safety would sending message societal integrity unimportant advertisement legalizing recreational use marijuana would certainly save money enforcement however casualty costs health reduced productivity would far outweigh costs enforcement eventually increased drug usage would compromise countrys ability provide common defense security although constitution allows people pursue broad civil liberties possible civil liberties necessarily expedient believe time draw line line might well new mexico sand stan fitch sandia park adding problems legalization marijuana compound problems society currently dealing regarding driving influence early 1920s alcohol legalized recreational drug look would like suggest lawmakers state consider politicians submit drug test week also subject polygraph examinations like ordinary residents great state wonder many elected politicians would fail drug test makes wonder hope paul candelaria los lunas leave constitution alone sen gerald ortiz pinos proposal use constitutional amendment plebiscite issue legalization marijuana give legislature citizenry pause colonial times present day state constitutions meant charters wherein citizens grant limit powers government constitutions create public offices setting terms defining relationships guarantee personal liberties rights provide framework governmental structure intended used vehicle general lawmaking several reasons first foremost difficulty amend amendment event change circumstance error drafting eventual application public mood framers new mexico constitution unlike arizona brethren chose include initiative referendum recall final draft president william howard taft respected jurist constitutional law scholar actually rejected arizonas first proposed constitution contained provisions senators obvious goal end run around governor would certainly veto constitutional prerogative regular legislation legalizing general marijuana use presumably supporters legalization democrats correct thing see actually pass bill repealing current criminal statutes challenge governor veto thus making action issue upcoming gubernatorial election would proper way test public sentiment constitutional amendment amending constitution difficult business best even outside chance legislature would propose amendment refer voters sets dangerous precedent subject repetition future might embrace issues best left elected representatives voters steven suttle albuquerque nm could profit pot applaud sen ortiz pino stepping legalize recreational marijuana new mexico needs one first last realize war drugs futile governors stance dislike illegal drug use bogus 1 drug pushers doctors legally prescribed narcotics understand governor government official cant wrap heads around idea making nonlethal drugs illegal supports crime violence many people die see war drugs huge failure learn nothing history prohibition alcohol long government keeps marijuana illegal enforce black markets ability highly profit continue senseless killing many lives destroyed people put jail unable obtain employment pot use lets discuss missing huge amount revenue could use schools last among states education imagine could help pathetic school system among things taxes could collect sales marijuana amount jobs would create also plus retail contracting jobs electrical run dispensaries sell grow tourism department would gain big time legalizing marijuana huge asset new mexico pull recession say pot smoking leads harder drugs alcohol hopefully sen ortiz pino lead new mexico smarter profitable future dont know everyone else im tired hearing new mexico last economic recovery im also extremely tired government telling whats bad victoria sadoff rio rancho
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<p>RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina Republicans stripped the incoming Democratic governor of some of his authority on Friday and they were on the cusp of an even greater power grab, an extraordinary move that critics said flies in the face of voters.</p>
<p>Just last week, it appeared Republicans were ready to finally accept Democrats’ narrow win in a contentious governor’s race. As it turns out, they weren’t done fighting. In a surprise special session in the dying days of the old administration, some say the Republican-dominated legislature has thrown the government into total disarray, approving two bills aimed at emasculating incoming Gov. Roy Cooper’s administration. One of them was signed into law by the current governor.</p>
<p>Cooper, the current attorney general, has threatened to sue. And many in the state are accusing Republicans of letting sour grapes over losing the governor’s mansion turn into a legislative coup.</p>
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<p>“This was a pure power grab,” said retired school librarian Carolyn White, 62, a long-time demonstrator once arrested as part of the “Moral Monday” protests against GOP-led legislative policies. “I got arrested two years ago. Did it make any difference? No. But just like the civil rights movement, it’s forward together. You just have to keep going forward.”</p>
<p>The protesters were so loud that Senate and House cleared the galleries — a highly unusual move. More than 50 people were arrested this week, and as demonstrators were led away from the Legislative Building, some chanted “all political power comes from the people.” Those that remained behind could only watch the debate through glass windows or listen to it online.</p>
<p>Hundreds stomped their feet and yelled outside the gallery, causing several Republican lawmakers to note they were having trouble hearing during the debate. Democrats repeatedly stated their objections.</p>
<p>“The kindergartners are getting rowdy,” said Republican Rep. Dana Bumgardner.</p>
<p>He said Democrats were “creating out of thin air a talking point for the next election.”</p>
<p>Republican Gov. Pat McCrory, who lost to Cooper by about 10,000 votes, quickly signed into law a bill that merges the State Board of Elections and State Ethics Commission into one board comprised equally of Democrats and Republicans. The previous state elections board law would have allowed Cooper to put a majority of Democrats on the elections panel.</p>
<p>The law would also make elections for appellate court judgeships officially partisan again.</p>
<p>Another bill that received final legislative approval would force Cooper’s Cabinet choices to be subject to Senate confirmation and would allow Cooper to designate up to 425 state employees as his political appointees, compared to a cap of 1,500 for McCrory.</p>
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<p>Before adjourning, lawmakers also confirmed a salaried appointment to the state Industrial Commission for the wife of McCrory’s chief of staff. McCrory nominated her.</p>
<p>McCrory must decide whether to sign the second law passed by the General Assembly, a body that has repeatedly tugged him to the right even though he campaigned as a moderate in 2012 as Charlotte’s former mayor.</p>
<p>Republicans insist the legislation is simply adjusting the constitutional powers already granted to the General Assembly. Many provisions had been debated for years but had either gotten blocked or the Democratic viewpoint previously won out.</p>
<p>“There’s probably no better time than to deal with it in the present,” Republican Rep. Bert Jones said of the judicial elections provision.</p>
<p>Democrats said it was an attempt by the GOP to cling to power a week after the Republican incumbent conceded.</p>
<p>“I really fear that we have harmed our reputation and integrity this week,” said Rep. Billy Richardson, a Democrat.</p>
<p>Republicans gained power of both legislative chambers in 2010 for the first time in more than a century, and they have veto-proof majorities, holding 108 of 170 seats even though the state has been more closely divided in recent statewide and federal elections.</p>
<p>North Carolina is a presidential battleground state that Barack Obama won in 2008 by just over 14,000 votes. Four years later, Mitt Romney edged Obama by about 92,000 votes. Donald Trump won in November.</p>
<p>GOP legislators have been able to expand their majorities thanks to approving redistricting maps in 2011. But nearly 30 of those legislative districts were struck down last summer. A federal court has directed updated maps be approved by March 15.</p>
<p>Cooper ran on a platform of defeating Republicans’ agenda, saying he would work to repeal a law known as House Bill 2 that limits LGBT rights.</p>
<p>“Once more, the courts will have to clean up the mess the legislature made, but it won’t stop us from moving North Carolina forward,” Cooper said in a statement late Friday.</p>
<p>Republicans pointed to past sessions of the General Assembly, when it was dominated by Democrats. Democrats stripped the powers of the first and only GOP lieutenant governor of the 20th Century in the late 1980s. But Democrats said there’s been no such widespread effort to limit the power of an incoming executive before he took office in such a session.</p>
<p>Still, Republican House Speaker Tim Moore said, “just because you disagree with something doesn’t mean it’s unconstitutional.”</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Kinnard reported from Columbia, South Carolina. Follow her at <a href="http://twitter.com/MegKinnardAP" type="external">http://twitter.com/MegKinnardAP</a> and read more of her work at <a href="http://bigstory.ap.org/content/meg-kinnard/" type="external">http://bigstory.ap.org/content/meg-kinnard/</a></p>
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raleigh nc north carolina republicans stripped incoming democratic governor authority friday cusp even greater power grab extraordinary move critics said flies face voters last week appeared republicans ready finally accept democrats narrow win contentious governors race turns werent done fighting surprise special session dying days old administration say republicandominated legislature thrown government total disarray approving two bills aimed emasculating incoming gov roy coopers administration one signed law current governor cooper current attorney general threatened sue many state accusing republicans letting sour grapes losing governors mansion turn legislative coup advertisement pure power grab said retired school librarian carolyn white 62 longtime demonstrator arrested part moral monday protests gopled legislative policies got arrested two years ago make difference like civil rights movement forward together keep going forward protesters loud senate house cleared galleries highly unusual move 50 people arrested week demonstrators led away legislative building chanted political power comes people remained behind could watch debate glass windows listen online hundreds stomped feet yelled outside gallery causing several republican lawmakers note trouble hearing debate democrats repeatedly stated objections kindergartners getting rowdy said republican rep dana bumgardner said democrats creating thin air talking point next election republican gov pat mccrory lost cooper 10000 votes quickly signed law bill merges state board elections state ethics commission one board comprised equally democrats republicans previous state elections board law would allowed cooper put majority democrats elections panel law would also make elections appellate court judgeships officially partisan another bill received final legislative approval would force coopers cabinet choices subject senate confirmation would allow cooper designate 425 state employees political appointees compared cap 1500 mccrory advertisement adjourning lawmakers also confirmed salaried appointment state industrial commission wife mccrorys chief staff mccrory nominated mccrory must decide whether sign second law passed general assembly body repeatedly tugged right even though campaigned moderate 2012 charlottes former mayor republicans insist legislation simply adjusting constitutional powers already granted general assembly many provisions debated years either gotten blocked democratic viewpoint previously theres probably better time deal present republican rep bert jones said judicial elections provision democrats said attempt gop cling power week republican incumbent conceded really fear harmed reputation integrity week said rep billy richardson democrat republicans gained power legislative chambers 2010 first time century vetoproof majorities holding 108 170 seats even though state closely divided recent statewide federal elections north carolina presidential battleground state barack obama 2008 14000 votes four years later mitt romney edged obama 92000 votes donald trump november gop legislators able expand majorities thanks approving redistricting maps 2011 nearly 30 legislative districts struck last summer federal court directed updated maps approved march 15 cooper ran platform defeating republicans agenda saying would work repeal law known house bill 2 limits lgbt rights courts clean mess legislature made wont stop us moving north carolina forward cooper said statement late friday republicans pointed past sessions general assembly dominated democrats democrats stripped powers first gop lieutenant governor 20th century late 1980s democrats said theres widespread effort limit power incoming executive took office session still republican house speaker tim moore said disagree something doesnt mean unconstitutional ___ kinnard reported columbia south carolina follow httptwittercommegkinnardap read work httpbigstoryaporgcontentmegkinnard
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<p>8:25 p.m.</p>
<p>Forensic authorities in Colombia say they have so far identified 59 of the 71 people killed in Monday night’s plane crash and hope to finish their work Thursday.</p>
<p>Of those identified, 52 are Brazilian, five are Bolivian, one is Venezuelan and another is Paraguayan.</p>
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<p>Brazil’s air force has a Hercules cargo plane waiting in Medellin to return the bodies of the victims, which include most of Brazil’s Chapecoense soccer team.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>7:50 p.m.</p>
<p>The tribute to Brazil’s Chapecoense soccer team is in full swing in Medellin, Colombia.</p>
<p>Prior to the tribute’s start, fans of the local Atletico Nacional team dressed in white and shouted slogans in support of the Brazilian squad, which was on a plane that crashed outside the city. The Brazilians were supposed to have played Atletico Nacional in the finals of the Copa Sudamericana tournament Wednesday night.</p>
<p>A military band’s memorial tune as the stadium lights dimmed has brought tears to the faces of Atletico Nacional’s normally stern-faced players and everyone else in the nearly full 40,000-seat stadium.</p>
<p>Black Hawk helicopters that helped in the rescue operation that managed to pull six survivors from the wreckage performed a fly-over. Several first responders who were at the crash scene attended.</p>
<p>Brazilian Foreign Minister Jose Serra fought to hold back tears as he thanked fans for their show of solidarity. He told them: “It’s a light of hope when all of us are trying to understand what’s impossible to understand.”</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>6:10 p.m.</p>
<p>Colombians dressed in white are arriving at a soccer stadium in Medellin to pay tribute to a Brazilian team that was nearly wiped out in a plane crash outside the city.</p>
<p>Despite the tragic circumstances, the mood is surprisingly festive as fans of Medellin’s Atletico Nacional soccer club shout slogans in support of Brazil’s Chapecoense team. The Brazilian squad was supposed to have played the hometown team Wednesday night in the first round of the two-game finals of the Copa Sudamericana tournament.</p>
<p>Medellin’s mayor is in attendance and there is talk the event may also draw Brazilian Foreign Minister Jose Serra, who arrived in the city to oversee the repatriation of the bodies of the mostly Brazilian victims.</p>
<p>Atletico Nacional has proposed that the Copa Sudamericana title be awarded to its Brazilian rival in honor of the team and the soccer world’s loss.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>3:20 p.m.</p>
<p>The acting president of the Chapecoense soccer club says the team hopes to play its final game of the league season using primarily a youth team.</p>
<p>Nineteen of the club’s players were killed Monday in an air crash in Colombia. Three survived but are hospitalized in Colombia.</p>
<p>Speaking Wednesday to reporters, Ivan Tozzo says he was told to go ahead with the match by Marco Polo Del Nero, head of the Brazilian Football Confederation.</p>
<p>Tozzo quoted Del Nero as saying, “This game has to happen. There has to be a big ceremony.”</p>
<p>The Brazilian Football Confederation has called for seven days of mourning. The final round of top league matches in Brazil is set for Dec. 11.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>1:30 p.m.</p>
<p>The only Brazilian player in the NFL says he is “devastated” by the crash of a chartered plane carrying 77 people in Colombia.</p>
<p>Kansas City Chiefs kicker Cairo Santos says he recognized the names of many of the players for the soccer club Chapecoense who were aboard the plane. Many played for larger clubs earlier in their careers, including Flamengo, the team that Santos supports.</p>
<p>Chapecoense was headed to the first of two matches in the final of the Copa Sudamericana, the continent’s No. 2 club tournament. Santos called the team “a Cinderella story, a small club doing big things.”</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>12:40 p.m.</p>
<p>The pilot of a chartered plane with 77 people aboard told air traffic controllers he had run out of fuel moments before crashing into the Andes.</p>
<p>A recording from the air traffic tower leaked to W Radio shows the pilot of the British-built jet repeatedly requesting permission to land due to a “total electric failure” and lack of fuel.</p>
<p>A female controller can be heard giving instructions as the aircraft loses speed and altitude about 8 miles from the Medellin airport. Just before going silent the pilot says he’s flying at an altitude at 9,000 feet.</p>
<p>W Radio didn’t say how it obtained the recordings. But they would seem to confirm the account of a pilot on a nearby commercial flight.</p>
<p>Monday’s crash killed all but six of the people aboard, including most members of the Chapecoense soccer team from Brazil.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>7:30 a.m.</p>
<p>German Chancellor Angela Merkel says it was with great dismay that she learned about the tragic plane crash in Colombia.</p>
<p>The chancellor expressed her condolences Wednesday in a letter to Brazilian President Michel Temer, saying she wants to convey the sympathy of the German people.</p>
<p>Merkel expressed her sympathy for the families of the victims and sent best wishes for a speedy recovery of the survivors of the disaster.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>7 a.m.</p>
<p>Pope Francis has asked for prayers for victims of the plane crash in Colombia, noting the Brazilian people are mourning the loss of soccer players from the Chapecoense team.</p>
<p>He mentioned the tragedy while greeting Portuguese-speaking pilgrims at his public audience Wednesday at the Vatican.</p>
<p>The crash of the chartered aircraft late Monday in the Andes mountains claimed 71 lives.</p>
<p>Francis told the pilgrims that Italians were reminded of the 1949 Superga air crash that wiped out an Italian soccer team. Francis said, “I’d like to recall today the Brazilian people’s sorrow.” He urged prayers for the victims of these “harsh tragedies.”</p>
<p>In condolence telegrams to the local Colombia bishop and to the head of the Brazilian bishops conference, Francis expressed his solidarity and consolation to families of the dead and injured.</p>
| false | 2 |
825 pm forensic authorities colombia say far identified 59 71 people killed monday nights plane crash hope finish work thursday identified 52 brazilian five bolivian one venezuelan another paraguayan advertisement brazils air force hercules cargo plane waiting medellin return bodies victims include brazils chapecoense soccer team ___ 750 pm tribute brazils chapecoense soccer team full swing medellin colombia prior tributes start fans local atletico nacional team dressed white shouted slogans support brazilian squad plane crashed outside city brazilians supposed played atletico nacional finals copa sudamericana tournament wednesday night military bands memorial tune stadium lights dimmed brought tears faces atletico nacionals normally sternfaced players everyone else nearly full 40000seat stadium black hawk helicopters helped rescue operation managed pull six survivors wreckage performed flyover several first responders crash scene attended brazilian foreign minister jose serra fought hold back tears thanked fans show solidarity told light hope us trying understand whats impossible understand advertisement ___ 610 pm colombians dressed white arriving soccer stadium medellin pay tribute brazilian team nearly wiped plane crash outside city despite tragic circumstances mood surprisingly festive fans medellins atletico nacional soccer club shout slogans support brazils chapecoense team brazilian squad supposed played hometown team wednesday night first round twogame finals copa sudamericana tournament medellins mayor attendance talk event may also draw brazilian foreign minister jose serra arrived city oversee repatriation bodies mostly brazilian victims atletico nacional proposed copa sudamericana title awarded brazilian rival honor team soccer worlds loss ___ 320 pm acting president chapecoense soccer club says team hopes play final game league season using primarily youth team nineteen clubs players killed monday air crash colombia three survived hospitalized colombia speaking wednesday reporters ivan tozzo says told go ahead match marco polo del nero head brazilian football confederation tozzo quoted del nero saying game happen big ceremony brazilian football confederation called seven days mourning final round top league matches brazil set dec 11 ___ 130 pm brazilian player nfl says devastated crash chartered plane carrying 77 people colombia kansas city chiefs kicker cairo santos says recognized names many players soccer club chapecoense aboard plane many played larger clubs earlier careers including flamengo team santos supports chapecoense headed first two matches final copa sudamericana continents 2 club tournament santos called team cinderella story small club big things ___ 1240 pm pilot chartered plane 77 people aboard told air traffic controllers run fuel moments crashing andes recording air traffic tower leaked w radio shows pilot britishbuilt jet repeatedly requesting permission land due total electric failure lack fuel female controller heard giving instructions aircraft loses speed altitude 8 miles medellin airport going silent pilot says hes flying altitude 9000 feet w radio didnt say obtained recordings would seem confirm account pilot nearby commercial flight mondays crash killed six people aboard including members chapecoense soccer team brazil ___ 730 german chancellor angela merkel says great dismay learned tragic plane crash colombia chancellor expressed condolences wednesday letter brazilian president michel temer saying wants convey sympathy german people merkel expressed sympathy families victims sent best wishes speedy recovery survivors disaster ___ 7 pope francis asked prayers victims plane crash colombia noting brazilian people mourning loss soccer players chapecoense team mentioned tragedy greeting portuguesespeaking pilgrims public audience wednesday vatican crash chartered aircraft late monday andes mountains claimed 71 lives francis told pilgrims italians reminded 1949 superga air crash wiped italian soccer team francis said id like recall today brazilian peoples sorrow urged prayers victims harsh tragedies condolence telegrams local colombia bishop head brazilian bishops conference francis expressed solidarity consolation families dead injured
| 586 |
<p>NEW YORK (AP) — The NCAA Tournament's semifinals moved to cable for the first time in 2014, and viewership was down 11 percent from the season before.</p>
<p>Back on cable again last year, the result was the complete opposite: The two games averaged their largest audience in nearly two decades.</p>
<p>Now with the national championship game airing on cable for the first time Monday, the history in college basketball and other sports has been that when the matchups and story lines are appealing enough, fans will find the action no matter where it is.</p>
<p>This season, though, viewers haven't been as eager to tune into the games. The 2016 tournament lacks the star power and dominant team of a year ago, when Kentucky was two wins from an undefeated season and big-name big men Jahlil Okafor and Frank Kaminsky met in the final. The tourney's average audience is down 12 percent so far from 2015's huge numbers, suggesting that the title game viewership would likely slip significantly on any network. Especially since last year's final drew its largest audience in 18 years.</p>
<p>"It always comes down to which teams make it through, what story lines develop and how close the games are," CBS Sports Chairman Sean McManus said before the start of the tournament.</p>
<p>CBS and Turner agreed to a 14-year, $10.8 billion contract in 2010 to jointly televise the NCAA Tournament across four channels beginning in 2011, a format that has proved hugely popular. Part of the deal was that starting in 2016, the title game would alternate between CBS and TBS.</p>
<p>"It's been remarkable how the viewers and the fans have found the games," McManus said. "They understand if there's another good game going on better than the game they're watching, we'll navigate them to that game. So I don't think there's going to be any issue with the basketball fans knowing that the finals are on TBS, just like they know where the regional final (is)."</p>
<p>Cord-cutting — as customers have canceled cable subscriptions or switched to smaller packages — has widened the difference between the potential audience on CBS and TBS. TBS is in about 18 percent fewer households than CBS; when the two companies started broadcasting the tournament together in 2011, the gap was around 13 percent. The change amounts to approximately 6 million homes.</p>
<p>Sports fans tend to be more likely to have cable, though, and last year's semifinals proved TBS can still draw. Wisconsin's win over previously undefeated Kentucky attracted the most viewers for an NCAA semifinal in 19 years.</p>
<p>The previous season, the two matchups didn't have the same appeal: UConn-Florida, and another meeting between Kentucky and Wisconsin, but when the Wildcats weren't undefeated and the Badgers' stars were less well-known.</p>
<p>Viewership for Monday's final will likely be boosted by "Team Streams," additional broadcasts that air on TNT and truTV that cover the game from the perspective of each school. Simply airing the game on multiple networks — especially a widely watched one such as TNT — can add eyeballs. The large audiences on TNT the last two years for the semifinal "Team Streams" have suggested that some viewers are watching that telecast without realizing it's not the main one.</p>
<p>CBS and Turner share the revenue from the tournament regardless of which channel particular games appear on. Much of the appeal to Turner of the NCAA deal was exposure — and viewership — for its networks that wouldn't come otherwise. The company will compare its ratings more to other programs on TBS than previous championship games.</p>
<p>That's why even before the start of the tournament, Turner President David Levy could say: "There's a very big bounce in our company's step."</p>
<p>NEW YORK (AP) — The NCAA Tournament's semifinals moved to cable for the first time in 2014, and viewership was down 11 percent from the season before.</p>
<p>Back on cable again last year, the result was the complete opposite: The two games averaged their largest audience in nearly two decades.</p>
<p>Now with the national championship game airing on cable for the first time Monday, the history in college basketball and other sports has been that when the matchups and story lines are appealing enough, fans will find the action no matter where it is.</p>
<p>This season, though, viewers haven't been as eager to tune into the games. The 2016 tournament lacks the star power and dominant team of a year ago, when Kentucky was two wins from an undefeated season and big-name big men Jahlil Okafor and Frank Kaminsky met in the final. The tourney's average audience is down 12 percent so far from 2015's huge numbers, suggesting that the title game viewership would likely slip significantly on any network. Especially since last year's final drew its largest audience in 18 years.</p>
<p>"It always comes down to which teams make it through, what story lines develop and how close the games are," CBS Sports Chairman Sean McManus said before the start of the tournament.</p>
<p>CBS and Turner agreed to a 14-year, $10.8 billion contract in 2010 to jointly televise the NCAA Tournament across four channels beginning in 2011, a format that has proved hugely popular. Part of the deal was that starting in 2016, the title game would alternate between CBS and TBS.</p>
<p>"It's been remarkable how the viewers and the fans have found the games," McManus said. "They understand if there's another good game going on better than the game they're watching, we'll navigate them to that game. So I don't think there's going to be any issue with the basketball fans knowing that the finals are on TBS, just like they know where the regional final (is)."</p>
<p>Cord-cutting — as customers have canceled cable subscriptions or switched to smaller packages — has widened the difference between the potential audience on CBS and TBS. TBS is in about 18 percent fewer households than CBS; when the two companies started broadcasting the tournament together in 2011, the gap was around 13 percent. The change amounts to approximately 6 million homes.</p>
<p>Sports fans tend to be more likely to have cable, though, and last year's semifinals proved TBS can still draw. Wisconsin's win over previously undefeated Kentucky attracted the most viewers for an NCAA semifinal in 19 years.</p>
<p>The previous season, the two matchups didn't have the same appeal: UConn-Florida, and another meeting between Kentucky and Wisconsin, but when the Wildcats weren't undefeated and the Badgers' stars were less well-known.</p>
<p>Viewership for Monday's final will likely be boosted by "Team Streams," additional broadcasts that air on TNT and truTV that cover the game from the perspective of each school. Simply airing the game on multiple networks — especially a widely watched one such as TNT — can add eyeballs. The large audiences on TNT the last two years for the semifinal "Team Streams" have suggested that some viewers are watching that telecast without realizing it's not the main one.</p>
<p>CBS and Turner share the revenue from the tournament regardless of which channel particular games appear on. Much of the appeal to Turner of the NCAA deal was exposure — and viewership — for its networks that wouldn't come otherwise. The company will compare its ratings more to other programs on TBS than previous championship games.</p>
<p>That's why even before the start of the tournament, Turner President David Levy could say: "There's a very big bounce in our company's step."</p>
| false | 2 |
new york ap ncaa tournaments semifinals moved cable first time 2014 viewership 11 percent season back cable last year result complete opposite two games averaged largest audience nearly two decades national championship game airing cable first time monday history college basketball sports matchups story lines appealing enough fans find action matter season though viewers havent eager tune games 2016 tournament lacks star power dominant team year ago kentucky two wins undefeated season bigname big men jahlil okafor frank kaminsky met final tourneys average audience 12 percent far 2015s huge numbers suggesting title game viewership would likely slip significantly network especially since last years final drew largest audience 18 years always comes teams make story lines develop close games cbs sports chairman sean mcmanus said start tournament cbs turner agreed 14year 108 billion contract 2010 jointly televise ncaa tournament across four channels beginning 2011 format proved hugely popular part deal starting 2016 title game would alternate cbs tbs remarkable viewers fans found games mcmanus said understand theres another good game going better game theyre watching well navigate game dont think theres going issue basketball fans knowing finals tbs like know regional final cordcutting customers canceled cable subscriptions switched smaller packages widened difference potential audience cbs tbs tbs 18 percent fewer households cbs two companies started broadcasting tournament together 2011 gap around 13 percent change amounts approximately 6 million homes sports fans tend likely cable though last years semifinals proved tbs still draw wisconsins win previously undefeated kentucky attracted viewers ncaa semifinal 19 years previous season two matchups didnt appeal uconnflorida another meeting kentucky wisconsin wildcats werent undefeated badgers stars less wellknown viewership mondays final likely boosted team streams additional broadcasts air tnt trutv cover game perspective school simply airing game multiple networks especially widely watched one tnt add eyeballs large audiences tnt last two years semifinal team streams suggested viewers watching telecast without realizing main one cbs turner share revenue tournament regardless channel particular games appear much appeal turner ncaa deal exposure viewership networks wouldnt come otherwise company compare ratings programs tbs previous championship games thats even start tournament turner president david levy could say theres big bounce companys step new york ap ncaa tournaments semifinals moved cable first time 2014 viewership 11 percent season back cable last year result complete opposite two games averaged largest audience nearly two decades national championship game airing cable first time monday history college basketball sports matchups story lines appealing enough fans find action matter season though viewers havent eager tune games 2016 tournament lacks star power dominant team year ago kentucky two wins undefeated season bigname big men jahlil okafor frank kaminsky met final tourneys average audience 12 percent far 2015s huge numbers suggesting title game viewership would likely slip significantly network especially since last years final drew largest audience 18 years always comes teams make story lines develop close games cbs sports chairman sean mcmanus said start tournament cbs turner agreed 14year 108 billion contract 2010 jointly televise ncaa tournament across four channels beginning 2011 format proved hugely popular part deal starting 2016 title game would alternate cbs tbs remarkable viewers fans found games mcmanus said understand theres another good game going better game theyre watching well navigate game dont think theres going issue basketball fans knowing finals tbs like know regional final cordcutting customers canceled cable subscriptions switched smaller packages widened difference potential audience cbs tbs tbs 18 percent fewer households cbs two companies started broadcasting tournament together 2011 gap around 13 percent change amounts approximately 6 million homes sports fans tend likely cable though last years semifinals proved tbs still draw wisconsins win previously undefeated kentucky attracted viewers ncaa semifinal 19 years previous season two matchups didnt appeal uconnflorida another meeting kentucky wisconsin wildcats werent undefeated badgers stars less wellknown viewership mondays final likely boosted team streams additional broadcasts air tnt trutv cover game perspective school simply airing game multiple networks especially widely watched one tnt add eyeballs large audiences tnt last two years semifinal team streams suggested viewers watching telecast without realizing main one cbs turner share revenue tournament regardless channel particular games appear much appeal turner ncaa deal exposure viewership networks wouldnt come otherwise company compare ratings programs tbs previous championship games thats even start tournament turner president david levy could say theres big bounce companys step
| 718 |
<p>The theme of empowerment for women, visible in the sea of black outfits among Golden Globe attendees on Sunday, also played out in the themes, characters and actors honored by voters in the television category.</p>
<p>The Globes also took on a new role — home of reruns. Seven of the 11 television awards went to actors or programs that were honored with Emmys four months ago. An eighth winner, Aziz Ansari, won an Emmy in 2016.</p>
<p>HBO's "Big Little Lies" led the way with four television Golden Globes, just like the show did at the Emmys. Five Globes went to cable networks, five went to streaming services while NBC earned the lone honor for broadcast television.</p>
<p>The Globes set the tone immediately for its television awards, giving out its first three honors to actresses. All of them talked about Hollywood's responsibility to tell stories about strong women.</p>
<p>Elisabeth Moss, honored as best actress in a drama for her role in "The Handmaid's Tale," typified that response. Amazon's dystopian tale of a society where the few fertile women are put in service of powerful men also won the Globe for best drama. Moss, in her acceptance speech, quoted novelist Margaret Atwood, whose book provides the basis for the series.</p>
<p>"Margaret Atwood, this is for you, and for all of the women who came before you and after you who were brave enough to speak out about tolerance and injustice," she said.</p>
<p>Nicole Kidman beat out her co-star, Reese Witherspoon, as the winner for best actress in a limited series for "Big Little Lies," HBO's disturbing tale of suburban life in California. Witherspoon, one of the show's producers, spoke about women who had been silenced by harassment and abuse when "Big Little Lies" was honored as best limited series.</p>
<p>"Time is up," Witherspoon said. "We see you, we hear you and we will tell your stories."</p>
<p>Kidman plays Celeste Wright, a woman who is beaten by her husband. The actor who portrays her husband, Alexander Skarsgard, also won a Globe for supporting actor. Laura Dern won for supporting actress, and she referenced her role in dealing with an abused child.</p>
<p>"May we teach our children that speaking out without the fear of retribution is our culture's new North Star," Dern said.</p>
<p>The Globes have developed a reputation for often championing work before other awards shows or before it is widely known among the public. That's what made all of Sunday's repeats so unusual. Besides the awards for "Big Little Lies" and "The Handmaid's Tale," Sterling K. Brown of NBC's "This is Us" was a repeat winner from the Emmys.</p>
<p>Honors given to Amazon's "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" bucked that trend. Rachel Brosnahan won best comic actress for portraying a 1950s housewife who pursues a career in comedy, and the series won the Globe for best comedy.</p>
<p>One of Hollywood's quirkiest and most powerful female creators, Amy Sherman-Palladino, is behind the series. She thanked Amazon for its support.</p>
<p>"Every check cleared," she said. "We couldn't ask for a better partner."</p>
<p>Holding the flag for network television, Brown of NBC's "This is Us" won best actor in a drama. He said he was grateful to the series' creator for making a character specifically written for a black man.</p>
<p>"It makes it that much more difficult to dismiss me, or dismiss anybody who looks like me," Brown said.</p>
<p>Ewan McGregor of "Fargo" won the best supporting actor award for a limited series. He won a category stocked with heavyweight actors — Robert DeNiro, Jude Law, Geoffrey Rush and Kyle MacLachlan.</p>
<p>Despite his 2016 Emmy, Ansari seemed surprised to pick up the Globe for his role in Netflix's "Master of None" — or maybe that's further evidence that he's a good actor.</p>
<p>"I genuinely didn't think I was going to win because all of the web sites said I was going to lose," he said.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>For full coverage of awards season, visit: <a href="" type="internal">https://apnews.com/tag/AwardsSeason</a></p>
<p>The theme of empowerment for women, visible in the sea of black outfits among Golden Globe attendees on Sunday, also played out in the themes, characters and actors honored by voters in the television category.</p>
<p>The Globes also took on a new role — home of reruns. Seven of the 11 television awards went to actors or programs that were honored with Emmys four months ago. An eighth winner, Aziz Ansari, won an Emmy in 2016.</p>
<p>HBO's "Big Little Lies" led the way with four television Golden Globes, just like the show did at the Emmys. Five Globes went to cable networks, five went to streaming services while NBC earned the lone honor for broadcast television.</p>
<p>The Globes set the tone immediately for its television awards, giving out its first three honors to actresses. All of them talked about Hollywood's responsibility to tell stories about strong women.</p>
<p>Elisabeth Moss, honored as best actress in a drama for her role in "The Handmaid's Tale," typified that response. Amazon's dystopian tale of a society where the few fertile women are put in service of powerful men also won the Globe for best drama. Moss, in her acceptance speech, quoted novelist Margaret Atwood, whose book provides the basis for the series.</p>
<p>"Margaret Atwood, this is for you, and for all of the women who came before you and after you who were brave enough to speak out about tolerance and injustice," she said.</p>
<p>Nicole Kidman beat out her co-star, Reese Witherspoon, as the winner for best actress in a limited series for "Big Little Lies," HBO's disturbing tale of suburban life in California. Witherspoon, one of the show's producers, spoke about women who had been silenced by harassment and abuse when "Big Little Lies" was honored as best limited series.</p>
<p>"Time is up," Witherspoon said. "We see you, we hear you and we will tell your stories."</p>
<p>Kidman plays Celeste Wright, a woman who is beaten by her husband. The actor who portrays her husband, Alexander Skarsgard, also won a Globe for supporting actor. Laura Dern won for supporting actress, and she referenced her role in dealing with an abused child.</p>
<p>"May we teach our children that speaking out without the fear of retribution is our culture's new North Star," Dern said.</p>
<p>The Globes have developed a reputation for often championing work before other awards shows or before it is widely known among the public. That's what made all of Sunday's repeats so unusual. Besides the awards for "Big Little Lies" and "The Handmaid's Tale," Sterling K. Brown of NBC's "This is Us" was a repeat winner from the Emmys.</p>
<p>Honors given to Amazon's "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" bucked that trend. Rachel Brosnahan won best comic actress for portraying a 1950s housewife who pursues a career in comedy, and the series won the Globe for best comedy.</p>
<p>One of Hollywood's quirkiest and most powerful female creators, Amy Sherman-Palladino, is behind the series. She thanked Amazon for its support.</p>
<p>"Every check cleared," she said. "We couldn't ask for a better partner."</p>
<p>Holding the flag for network television, Brown of NBC's "This is Us" won best actor in a drama. He said he was grateful to the series' creator for making a character specifically written for a black man.</p>
<p>"It makes it that much more difficult to dismiss me, or dismiss anybody who looks like me," Brown said.</p>
<p>Ewan McGregor of "Fargo" won the best supporting actor award for a limited series. He won a category stocked with heavyweight actors — Robert DeNiro, Jude Law, Geoffrey Rush and Kyle MacLachlan.</p>
<p>Despite his 2016 Emmy, Ansari seemed surprised to pick up the Globe for his role in Netflix's "Master of None" — or maybe that's further evidence that he's a good actor.</p>
<p>"I genuinely didn't think I was going to win because all of the web sites said I was going to lose," he said.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>For full coverage of awards season, visit: <a href="" type="internal">https://apnews.com/tag/AwardsSeason</a></p>
| false | 2 |
theme empowerment women visible sea black outfits among golden globe attendees sunday also played themes characters actors honored voters television category globes also took new role home reruns seven 11 television awards went actors programs honored emmys four months ago eighth winner aziz ansari emmy 2016 hbos big little lies led way four television golden globes like show emmys five globes went cable networks five went streaming services nbc earned lone honor broadcast television globes set tone immediately television awards giving first three honors actresses talked hollywoods responsibility tell stories strong women elisabeth moss honored best actress drama role handmaids tale typified response amazons dystopian tale society fertile women put service powerful men also globe best drama moss acceptance speech quoted novelist margaret atwood whose book provides basis series margaret atwood women came brave enough speak tolerance injustice said nicole kidman beat costar reese witherspoon winner best actress limited series big little lies hbos disturbing tale suburban life california witherspoon one shows producers spoke women silenced harassment abuse big little lies honored best limited series time witherspoon said see hear tell stories kidman plays celeste wright woman beaten husband actor portrays husband alexander skarsgard also globe supporting actor laura dern supporting actress referenced role dealing abused child may teach children speaking without fear retribution cultures new north star dern said globes developed reputation often championing work awards shows widely known among public thats made sundays repeats unusual besides awards big little lies handmaids tale sterling k brown nbcs us repeat winner emmys honors given amazons marvelous mrs maisel bucked trend rachel brosnahan best comic actress portraying 1950s housewife pursues career comedy series globe best comedy one hollywoods quirkiest powerful female creators amy shermanpalladino behind series thanked amazon support every check cleared said couldnt ask better partner holding flag network television brown nbcs us best actor drama said grateful series creator making character specifically written black man makes much difficult dismiss dismiss anybody looks like brown said ewan mcgregor fargo best supporting actor award limited series category stocked heavyweight actors robert deniro jude law geoffrey rush kyle maclachlan despite 2016 emmy ansari seemed surprised pick globe role netflixs master none maybe thats evidence hes good actor genuinely didnt think going win web sites said going lose said ___ full coverage awards season visit httpsapnewscomtagawardsseason theme empowerment women visible sea black outfits among golden globe attendees sunday also played themes characters actors honored voters television category globes also took new role home reruns seven 11 television awards went actors programs honored emmys four months ago eighth winner aziz ansari emmy 2016 hbos big little lies led way four television golden globes like show emmys five globes went cable networks five went streaming services nbc earned lone honor broadcast television globes set tone immediately television awards giving first three honors actresses talked hollywoods responsibility tell stories strong women elisabeth moss honored best actress drama role handmaids tale typified response amazons dystopian tale society fertile women put service powerful men also globe best drama moss acceptance speech quoted novelist margaret atwood whose book provides basis series margaret atwood women came brave enough speak tolerance injustice said nicole kidman beat costar reese witherspoon winner best actress limited series big little lies hbos disturbing tale suburban life california witherspoon one shows producers spoke women silenced harassment abuse big little lies honored best limited series time witherspoon said see hear tell stories kidman plays celeste wright woman beaten husband actor portrays husband alexander skarsgard also globe supporting actor laura dern supporting actress referenced role dealing abused child may teach children speaking without fear retribution cultures new north star dern said globes developed reputation often championing work awards shows widely known among public thats made sundays repeats unusual besides awards big little lies handmaids tale sterling k brown nbcs us repeat winner emmys honors given amazons marvelous mrs maisel bucked trend rachel brosnahan best comic actress portraying 1950s housewife pursues career comedy series globe best comedy one hollywoods quirkiest powerful female creators amy shermanpalladino behind series thanked amazon support every check cleared said couldnt ask better partner holding flag network television brown nbcs us best actor drama said grateful series creator making character specifically written black man makes much difficult dismiss dismiss anybody looks like brown said ewan mcgregor fargo best supporting actor award limited series category stocked heavyweight actors robert deniro jude law geoffrey rush kyle maclachlan despite 2016 emmy ansari seemed surprised pick globe role netflixs master none maybe thats evidence hes good actor genuinely didnt think going win web sites said going lose said ___ full coverage awards season visit httpsapnewscomtagawardsseason
| 766 |
<p>(Adds detail on overnight lull in fighting)</p>
<p>By Hamid Shalizi and Akram Walizada</p>
<p>KABUL, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Gunmen attacked Kabul’s Intercontinental Hotel on Saturday, seizing hostages and exchanging gunfire with security forces as the building in the Afghan capital caught fire and residents and staff fled.</p>
<p>Hotel manager Ahmad Haris Nayab, who escaped unhurt, said the attackers had got into the main part of the hotel through a kitchen and people tried to get out amid bursts of gunfire.</p>
<p>Several people had been killed and at least six wounded in the raid, which came days after a U.S. embassy warning of possible attacks on hotels in Kabul, Nasrat Rahimi, an interior ministry spokesman, said. However, officials gave no other details on casualty numbers.</p>
<p>There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the latest in a long series of attacks which underlined the city’s precarious situation and the ability of militants to strike blows aimed at undermining confidence in the Western-backed government.</p>
<p>Officials said there were as many as four attackers and at least two of them had been killed as Afghan Special Forces cleared the first floor and moved up the building, battling the raiders, who appeared to have a large supply of hand grenades.</p>
<p>Hours after the attack began, firing appeared to ease as security forces settled in, waiting for dawn.</p>
<p>According to one witness, who did not want to be named, the attackers took some hotel staff and guests hostage. He said some foreigners were among the hotel guests but it was not clear what their nationality was.</p>
<p>The Intercontinental Hotel, located on a hilltop and heavily protected like most public buildings in Kabul, was previously attacked by Taliban fighters in 2011.</p>
<p>It is one of two main luxury hotels in the city and had been due to host an information technology conference on Sunday. More than 100 IT managers and engineers were on site when the attack took place, Ahmad Waheed, an official at the telecommunications ministry, said.</p> U.S. WARNING
<p>The attack came days after a United Nations Security Council visit to Kabul to allow senior representatives of member states to assess the situation in Afghanistan.</p>
<p>Many details of the incident were still unclear, but Interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish said a private company had taken over security about three weeks ago.</p>
<p>The U.S. embassy in Kabul had issued a warning to U.S. citizens on Thursday, saying, “We are aware of reports that extremist groups may be planning an attack against hotels in Kabul.”</p>
<p>The State Department said it was monitoring the situation and was in contact with Afghan authorities to determine whether any U.S. citizens had been affected.</p>
<p>Captain Tom Gresback, spokesman for the NATO-led Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan, said they were also watching closely but it was not clear whether international forces took part in suppressing the attack.</p>
<p>“Afghan National Defense and Security Forces are leading the response efforts. According to initial reports, no Resolute Support or (U.S. forces) members were injured in this incident,” he said in an emailed statement.</p>
<p>Although the NATO-led Resolute Support mission says the Taliban has come under pressure after the United States increased assistance to Afghan security forces and stepped up air strikes against insurgents, security remains precarious.</p>
<p>As pressure on the battlefield has increased, security officials have warned that the danger of attacks on high-profile targets in Kabul and other cities would increase.</p>
<p>After repeated attacks in Kabul, notably an incident last May in which a truck bomber killed at least 150 people outside the German embassy, security has been further tightened.</p>
<p>While it shares the same name, the hotel in Kabul is not part of InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), which issued a statement in 2011 saying that “the hotel Inter-continental in Kabul is not part of IHG and has not been since 1980”.</p>
<p>Additional reporting by Mirwais Harooni and David Brunnstrom in WASHINGTON; writing by James Mackenzie; editing by Alexander Smith</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>ANKARA/ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Three foreign powers who have shaped Syria’s civil war - Iran, Russia and Turkey - will discuss ways to wind down the fighting on Wednesday despite their involvement in rival military campaigns on the ground.</p>
<p>The leaders of the three countries will meet in Ankara for talks on a new constitution for Syria and increasing security in “de-escalation” zones across the country, Turkish officials say.</p>
<p>The Syria summit brings together two powers which have been President Bashar al-Assad’s most forceful supporters, Iran and Russia, with one of his strongest opponents, Turkey.</p>
<p>Cooperation between the rival camps raised hopes of stabilizing Syria after seven years of conflict in which 500,000 people have been killed and half the population displaced.</p>
<p>But the violence has raged on, highlighting strategic rifts between the three countries who, in the absence of decisive Western intervention, hold Syria’s fate largely in their hands.</p> Related Coverage
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<p>Syria’s army and Iran-backed militias, with Russian air power, have crushed insurgents near Damascus in eastern Ghouta - one of the four mooted “de-escalation zones”.</p>
<p>Turkey, which sharply criticized the Ghouta offensive, waged its own military operation to drive Kurdish YPG fighters from the northwestern Syrian region of Afrin. It has pledged to take the town of Tel Rifaat and push further east, angering Iran.</p>
<p>“Whatever the intentions are, Turkey’s moves in Syria, whether in Afrin, Tel Rifaat or any other part of Syria, should be halted as soon as possible,” a senior Iranian official said.</p>
<p>Iran has been Assad’s most supportive ally throughout the conflict. Iran-backed militias first helped his army stem rebel advances and, following Russia’s entry into the war in 2015, turn the tide decisively in Assad’s favor.</p>
<p>A Turkish official said Ankara will ask Moscow to press Assad to grant more humanitarian access in Ghouta, and to rein in air strikes on rebel-held areas. “We expect ... Russia to control the regime more,” the official told reporters this week.</p> RIFTS OVER ASSAD
<p>Ankara’s relations with Moscow collapsed in 2015 when Turkey shot down a Russian warplane but have recovered since then - to the concern of Turkey’s Western allies.</p>
<p>Turkey was one of the few NATO partners not to expel Russian diplomats in response to a nerve agent attack on a former Russian agent which Britain blamed on Moscow - an allegation which Turkey said was not proven.</p>
<p>Improved political ties have been reflected in Turkey’s agreement to buy a Russian missile defence system and plans for Russia’s ROSATOM to build Turkey’s first nuclear power plant.</p>
<p>Turkey has also expanded relations with Iran, exchanging visits by military chiefs of staff, although its deepening ties with Tehran and Moscow have not translated into broader agreement on Syria’s future.</p>
<p>Iran remains determined that Assad stay in power, while Russia is less committed to keeping him in office, a regional diplomat said. Turkey says Assad has lost legitimacy, although it no longer demands his immediate departure.</p>
<p>At a meeting in Russia two months ago, boycotted by the leadership of Syria’s opposition, delegates agreed to set up a committee to rewrite Syria’s constitution and called for democratic elections.</p>
<p>Turkey says Wednesday’s meeting will discuss setting up the constitutional committee, humanitarian issues and developments in Syria’s northern Idlib region, which is under the control of rival rebel factions and jihadi groups, and where Turkey has set up seven military observation posts.</p> Syrian and Russian soldiers are seen at a checkpoint near Wafideen camp in Damascus, Syria March 2, 2018. REUTERS/Omar Sanadiki
<p>“There are issues where all three countries have different policies in Syria,” another Turkish official said. “In this regard, an aim is to find middle ground and create policies to improve the current situation.”</p>
<p>Additional reporting by Orhan Coskun and Tulay Karadeniz in Ankara, Writing by Dominic Evans, Editing by Angus MacSwan</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>LONDON (Reuters) - The head of Britain’s military research center said on Tuesday it was unable yet to say whether the military-grade nerve agent that poisoned a Russian double-agent last month had been produced in Russia.</p> Police officers guard the cordoned off area around the home of former Russian intelligence officer Sergei Skripal in Salisbury, Britain, April 3, 2018. REUTERS/Hannah McKay
<p>“We were able to identify it as Novichok, to identify that it was military-grade nerve agent,” Gary Aitkenhead, chief executive of the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory at Porton Down in England, told Sky News.</p>
<p>“We have not identified the precise source, but we have provided the scientific info to government who have then used a number of other sources to piece together the conclusions you have come to.”</p>
<p>However, he confirmed the substance required “extremely sophisticated methods to create, something only in the capabilities of a state actor”.</p>
<p>He added: “we are continuing to work to help to provide additional information that might help us get closer to [the source] but we haven’t yet been able to do that.”</p>
<p>Moscow has denied being behind the attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the southern English city of Salisbury on March 4.</p>
<p>After the first known use of a military-grade nerve agent on European soil since World War Two, Britain blamed Russian President Vladimir Putin for the attempted murder, and the West has expelled around 130 Russian diplomats.</p>
<p>Armin Laschet, a conservative ally of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, said the comment raised questions about Britain’s drive to persuade allies to expel Russian diplomats.</p>
<p>“If one forces nearly all NATO countries into solidarity, shouldn’t one have certain evidence? Regardless of what one thinks about Russia, my study of international law taught me a different way to deal with other states,” Laschet, premier of the state of North Rhine-Westphlia, said on Twitter.</p>
<p>Aitkenhead said the British government had “other inputs” it could use to determine the origin of the nerve agent, some of them intelligence-based.</p>
<p>He reiterated that the substance could not have come from Porton Down.</p>
<p>Russia’s EU ambassador Vladimir Chizhov noted in an interview with the BBC last month that the British research lab is only eight miles (11 km) from Salisbury, insinuating that may have been the source.</p>
<p>A government spokesperson said on Tuesday: “We have been clear from the very beginning that our world leading experts at Porton Down identified the substance used in Salisbury as a Novichok, a military grade nerve agent.</p>
<p>“This is only one part of the intelligence picture. As the Prime Minister (Theresa May) has set out ... this includes our knowledge that within the last decade, Russia has investigated ways of delivering nerve agents probably for assassination – and as part of this program has produced and stockpiled small quantities of Novichoks; Russia’s record of conducting state-sponsored assassinations; and our assessment that Russia views former intelligence officers as targets.”</p>
<p>Skripal’s daughter Yulia is getting better after spending three weeks in critical condition due to the nerve toxin attack at her father’s home in Salisbury, the hospital where she is being treated said last Thursday.</p>
<p>Her father remained in a critical but stable condition.</p>
<p>Reporting by Andy Bruce; editing by Stephen Addison and Richard Balmforth</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>HONG KONG (Reuters) - Hong Kong’s once thriving pro-democracy movement, weighed down by growing pessimism among its supporters over China’s ever-increasing control in the city, is facing a crisis of confidence about its future.</p>
<p>As China tightens its grip on Hong Kong, pro-democracy parties have been hit by the sidelining of key leaders and have been losing ground to a well-organized pro-Beijing camp.</p>
<p>Those troubles hit home last month, when the democrats suffered an electoral setback in a key legislative by-election, winning only two of three seats they were expected to take easily.</p>
<p>Critically, many supporters stayed home – and some switched sides to protest what they said were the confrontational tactics of pro-democracy groups.</p>
<p>“The opposition always argues for the sake of argument,” said one democracy supporter who gave her name as Feng. In frustration, she&#160;cast her ballot for a pro-Beijing candidate in the March 11 elections.</p>
<p>“Confronting Beijing directly is not a good strategy,” the&#160;44-year-old government contractor said. “You have to go about it in softer ways.” She said she did not want her full name published because she works for the government.</p>
<p>That sort of shift by voters like Feng is worrying leaders of pro-democracy parties in Hong Kong who fear an eroding&#160;public mandate, which they see as their sole weapon to counter Beijing’s influence in the city.</p>
<p>“We have to make sure that our own people here in Hong Kong do not give up on us,” said Alvin Yeung, a barrister and head of the pro-democracy Civic Party.</p>
<p>Over the past decade, resentment has deepened toward China’s perceived growing encroachment on Hong Kong’s autonomy.</p>
<p>In 2014, protests by pro-democrats calling for a greater say in how Hong Kong’s leader was chosen engulfed large areas of the city for months. The collapse of those protests led to growing calls among young activists for independence.</p>
<p>The Chinese government has responded with an increasingly tougher line.</p>
<p>In 2016, it intervened in a Hong Kong court decision that removed pro-independence lawmakers from office for taking their oaths improperly – the action that led to the March by-elections. It has also deemed a Hong Kong train station to be under mainland authority.</p>
<p>On Tuesday, dozens of pro-Beijing groups took out advertisements in Hong Kong newspapers calling for the dismissal of a University of Hong Kong academic, Benny Tai, after he allegedly made comments advocating independence for China.</p>
<p>The growing reach of China’s security apparatus is also worrying many in Hong Kong after instances like the 2015 disappearance of several Hong Kong booksellers who later showed up in Chinese custody, as well as the mysterious disappearance of a mainland Chinese tycoon from a luxury hotel in 2017.</p>
<p>Hong Kong authorities, meanwhile, have proposed jail terms of up to three years for those mocking China’s national anthem, and there have been calls from pro-Beijing politicians for national security laws outlawing subversive acts against China.</p>
<p>The authorities have also started jailing protest leaders like Joshua Wong, a 21-year-old student.</p> FALLING TURNOUT
<p>The loss of the legislative seat last month was the first time that the pro-democracy camp had lost a head-to-head contest in a by-election, a significant defeat as it meant that the opposition failed to regain some veto powers.</p>
<p>The democrats will be vying for an additional two seats in by-elections whose dates have yet to be announced.</p>
<p>In addition to growing discontent over the democratic movement’s direction, some voters have expressed concerns about a lack of charismatic candidates, as well as public infighting within the democratic camp.</p>
<p>Ben Wong, a 45-year-old office worker, said he was only voting against the establishment when he cast his ballot for Edward Yiu, a democratic candidate with whom who he felt little affinity.</p>
<p>“I was voting in distaste,” he said. Yiu was the candidate who failed to take back his seat.</p>
<p>While by-elections generally attract fewer voters, pro-democracy parties saw their number of votes in the three contested districts fall 35 percent when compared to the full election two years ago. In contrast, the pro-Beijing camp saw votes drop 12 percent.</p>
<p>Crystal So, a 26-year-old&#160;club DJ, was one democracy supporter who said she did not bother to vote.</p>
<p>&#160;&#160;&#160; “I feel like Hong Kong is not a place to call home anymore,” So said in a text message. She added that some people her age were considering moving to other countries. The jailing of Wong, who she said was “doing the bravest things compared to a lot of us”, hit her particularly hard.</p>
<p>Wong, who is out on bail,&#160;told Reuters&#160;he believes Hong Kong will not be able to achieve genuine democracy in the short term. But he said it was important to defend Hong Kong’s core values.</p>
<p>“You need to build a foundation, so when the critical moment comes, you would have bargaining power,” Wong said of Hong Kong’s democratic movement.</p>
<p>For the democrats, the next big tests will be possible by-elections ahead of local district council elections in 2019 and Legislative Council elections in 2020.</p> FILE PHOTO: Pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong (L) urges people to vote for pro-democracy candidate Au Nok-hin (4th L) during a Legislative Council by-election in Hong Kong, China March 11, 2018. REUTERS/Bobby Yip/File Photo
<p>Joseph Cheng, a retired academic who advises the democrats, said he believes the moment has arrived for the camp to dive into “some serious soul searching”.</p>
<p>“Not only do we have our own troubles, but we face an opposition machine that is now exceptionally sophisticated,” he added.</p> CHINA’S SQUEEZE&#160;
<p>The pro-establishment camp is backed&#160;by the United Front, a Chinese Communist Party-linked group that mobilizes supporters through social groups and business associations,&#160;according to scholars and diplomats.</p>
<p>The democrats, by contrast, lack a clear central leadership to unite a broad spectrum of supporters.</p>
<p>Funding is also an issue for the pro-democracy parties. Jimmy Lai, the founder of the NextMedia group, remains a significant funder&#160;of the movement, which gets positive coverage in his mass market Apple Daily newspaper. Lai could not be reached for comment.</p>
<p>But they have struggled to raise money from other large companies, who may fear retribution from China, and&#160;rely on small donations from individuals.</p>
<p>Pro-Beijing parties, by contrast, have an easier time raising money.</p>
<p>The largest,&#160;the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong,&#160;in 2016 fetched HK$18.8 million ($2.40 million) from auctioning off calligraphy by the top Beijing official in Hong Kong, according to local media.</p> FILE PHOTO: Newly elected Vincent Cheng (front row 4th L) poses with other lawmakers at the Legislative Council in Hong Kong, China March 21, 2018. REUTERS/Bobby Yip/File Photo “THE POLITICAL GAME”
<p>When asked about the United Front’s influence, Regina Ip, a prominent pro-Beijing lawmaker, acknowledged that some supporters of her New People’s Party with roots in the mainland might talk to Chinese officials.</p>
<p>But Ip also stressed the hard work of her party, saying it mobilized about 1,000 volunteers to hit the streets and talk to voters face-to-face before the by-election.</p>
<p>“You cannot win by just flying a democracy flag,” Ip said. She said the pro-democracy parties were dependent “on their old tactics of just relying on the appeal of democracy or stirring up anger against the government.” She added: “Clearly these days these tactics are not good enough.”</p>
<p>Reporting by Venus Wu and James Pomfret; Additional reporting by Greg Torode, Pak Yiu; Editing by Philip McClellan</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>IXTEPEC, Mexico/EDINBURG, Texas (Reuters) - In some of the Mexican towns playing host to a “caravan” of more than 1,200 Central American migrants heading to the U.S. border, the welcome mat has been rolled out despite President Donald Trump’s call for Mexican authorities to stop them.</p>
<p>Local officials have offered lodging in town squares and empty warehouses or arranged transport for the migrants, participants in a journey organized by the immigrant advocacy group Pueblo Sin Fronteras. The officials have conscripted buses, cars, ambulances and police trucks. But the help may not be entirely altruistic.</p>
<p>“The authorities want us to leave their cities,” said Rodrigo Abeja, an organizer from Pueblo Sin Fronteras. “They’ve been helping us, in part to speed the massive group out of their jurisdictions.”</p>
<p>At some point this spring, the caravan’s 2,000-mile (3,200-km) journey that began at Tapachula near the Guatemalan border on March 25 will end at the U.S. border, where some of its members will apply for asylum, while others will attempt to sneak into the United States.</p>
<p>Abeja said there was a lot of pressure from authorities to stop the caravan “because of Donald Trump’s reaction.” The Mexican government issued a statement late on Monday saying it was committed to “legal and orderly” migration.</p>
<p>The government said the caravan had been taking place since 2010 and was largely made up of Central Americans entering Mexico who had not met the necessary legal requirements.</p>
<p>“For this reason, participants in this (caravan) are subject to an administrative migratory procedure, while 400 have already been repatriated to their countries of origin, in strict accordance with the law and respecting their human rights,” it said.</p>
<p>Those without permission to stay in Mexico or who had failed to request it through the proper channels could expect to be returned to their homelands, a government official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.</p> ‘DOING LITTLE’
<p>Trump railed on Twitter against the caravan on Monday, accusing Mexico of “doing very little, if not NOTHING” to stop the flow of immigrants crossing the U.S. border illegally. “They must stop the big drug and people flows, or I will stop their cash cow, NAFTA,” he concluded.</p>
<p>Mexico’s interior minister Alfonso Navarrete did not directly address the caravan, but he wrote on Twitter that he spoke to the U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen on Monday, and that the two had “agreed to analyze the best ways to attend to the flows of migrants in accordance with the laws of each country.”</p>
<p>Mexico must walk a delicate line with the United States because the countries are in the midst of renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) along with Canada.</p>
<p>At the same time, Mexican left-wing presidential candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has an 18-point lead ahead of the July 1 election, according to a poll published on Monday.</p>
<p>A Lopez Obrador victory could usher in a Mexican government less accommodating toward the United States on both trade and immigration issues.</p>
<p>Mexican Senator Angelica de la Pena, who presides over the Senate’s human rights commission, told Reuters that Mexico should protect migrants’ rights despite the pressure from Trump. &#160;</p>
<p>Former President Vicente Fox called for Mexican officials to take a stand against Trump’s attacks.&#160;Trump keeps “blackmailing, offending and denigrating Mexico and Mexicans,” he wrote on Twitter on Monday.</p>
<p>Under Mexican law, Central Americans who enter Mexico legally are generally allowed to move freely through the country, even if their goal is to cross illegally into the United States.</p> ‘WE’RE SUFFERING’
<p>Migrants in the caravan cite a variety of reasons for joining it. Its members are disproportionately from Honduras, which has high levels of violence and has been rocked by political upheaval in recent months following the re-election of U.S.-backed president, Juan Orlando Hernández, in an intensely disputed election.</p> Central American migrants participating in a caravan heading to the U.S. take a pause from their journey in Matias Romero, Oaxaca, Mexico April 2, 2018. REUTERS/Jose de Jesus Cortes
<p>Maria Elena Colindres Ortega, a member of the caravan and, until January, a member of Congress in Honduras, said she is fleeing the political upheaval at home. “We’ve had to live through a fraudulent electoral process,” she said. “We’re suffering a progressive militarization and lack of institutions, and ... they’re criminalizing those who protested.”</p>
<p>Colindres Ortega, who opposed the ruling party in Honduras, said she spiraled into debt after serving without pay for the last 18 months of her four-year term. She decided to head north after a fellow congressman from her party put out word on Facebook that a caravan of migrants was gathering in southern Mexico, leaving home with a small bag with necessities and photos of her children.</p>
<p>Pueblo Sin Fronteras has helped coordinate migrant caravans for the past several years, although previously they had a maximum of several hundred participants. During the journey members of the organization instruct the migrants about their rights.</p>
<p>“We accompany at least those who want to request asylum,” said Alex Mensing, Pueblo Sin Fronteras’ program director. “We help prepare them for the detention process and asylum process before they cross the border, because it’s so difficult for people to have success if they don’t have the information.”</p>
<p>Typically, Central Americans have not fared well with U.S. asylum claims, particularly those from Honduras. A Reuters analysis of immigration court data found that Hondurans who come before the court receive deportation orders in more than 83 percent of cases, the highest rate of any nationality. Hondurans also face deportation in Mexico, where immigration data shows that 5,000 Hondurans were deported from Mexico in February alone, the highest number since May 2016.</p>
<p>Manuel Padilla, chief of the border patrol’s Rio Grande Valley sector, one of the busiest crossing points on the U.S. Mexico border, said in an interview with Reuters that he worries the caravan could “generate interest for other groups to do the same thing,” but he was not terribly nervous about coping with the group currently traveling.</p>
<p>“Not to be flippant,” Padilla said, “but it’s similar numbers to what we are seeing every day pretty much.”</p> Slideshow (6 Images)
<p>(This version of the story corrects spelling to Manuel from Maunel in penultimate paragraph)</p>
<p>Reporting by Delphine Schrank and Mica Rosenberg; Additional reporting by Dave Graham, Lizbeth Diaz, Diego Ore and Daina Beth Solomon; Editing by Sue Horton, Lisa Shumaker and Paul Tait</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
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adds detail overnight lull fighting hamid shalizi akram walizada kabul jan 20 reuters gunmen attacked kabuls intercontinental hotel saturday seizing hostages exchanging gunfire security forces building afghan capital caught fire residents staff fled hotel manager ahmad haris nayab escaped unhurt said attackers got main part hotel kitchen people tried get amid bursts gunfire several people killed least six wounded raid came days us embassy warning possible attacks hotels kabul nasrat rahimi interior ministry spokesman said however officials gave details casualty numbers immediate claim responsibility latest long series attacks underlined citys precarious situation ability militants strike blows aimed undermining confidence westernbacked government officials said many four attackers least two killed afghan special forces cleared first floor moved building battling raiders appeared large supply hand grenades hours attack began firing appeared ease security forces settled waiting dawn according one witness want named attackers took hotel staff guests hostage said foreigners among hotel guests clear nationality intercontinental hotel located hilltop heavily protected like public buildings kabul previously attacked taliban fighters 2011 one two main luxury hotels city due host information technology conference sunday 100 managers engineers site attack took place ahmad waheed official telecommunications ministry said us warning attack came days united nations security council visit kabul allow senior representatives member states assess situation afghanistan many details incident still unclear interior ministry spokesman najib danish said private company taken security three weeks ago us embassy kabul issued warning us citizens thursday saying aware reports extremist groups may planning attack hotels kabul state department said monitoring situation contact afghan authorities determine whether us citizens affected captain tom gresback spokesman natoled resolute support mission afghanistan said also watching closely clear whether international forces took part suppressing attack afghan national defense security forces leading response efforts according initial reports resolute support us forces members injured incident said emailed statement although natoled resolute support mission says taliban come pressure united states increased assistance afghan security forces stepped air strikes insurgents security remains precarious pressure battlefield increased security officials warned danger attacks highprofile targets kabul cities would increase repeated attacks kabul notably incident last may truck bomber killed least 150 people outside german embassy security tightened shares name hotel kabul part intercontinental hotels group ihg issued statement 2011 saying hotel intercontinental kabul part ihg since 1980 additional reporting mirwais harooni david brunnstrom washington writing james mackenzie editing alexander smith standards thomson reuters trust principles ankaraistanbul reuters three foreign powers shaped syrias civil war iran russia turkey discuss ways wind fighting wednesday despite involvement rival military campaigns ground leaders three countries meet ankara talks new constitution syria increasing security deescalation zones across country turkish officials say syria summit brings together two powers president bashar alassads forceful supporters iran russia one strongest opponents turkey cooperation rival camps raised hopes stabilizing syria seven years conflict 500000 people killed half population displaced violence raged highlighting strategic rifts three countries absence decisive western intervention hold syrias fate largely hands related coverage us israel interfere syria says iran president syrias army iranbacked militias russian air power crushed insurgents near damascus eastern ghouta one four mooted deescalation zones turkey sharply criticized ghouta offensive waged military operation drive kurdish ypg fighters northwestern syrian region afrin pledged take town tel rifaat push east angering iran whatever intentions turkeys moves syria whether afrin tel rifaat part syria halted soon possible senior iranian official said iran assads supportive ally throughout conflict iranbacked militias first helped army stem rebel advances following russias entry war 2015 turn tide decisively assads favor turkish official said ankara ask moscow press assad grant humanitarian access ghouta rein air strikes rebelheld areas expect russia control regime official told reporters week rifts assad ankaras relations moscow collapsed 2015 turkey shot russian warplane recovered since concern turkeys western allies turkey one nato partners expel russian diplomats response nerve agent attack former russian agent britain blamed moscow allegation turkey said proven improved political ties reflected turkeys agreement buy russian missile defence system plans russias rosatom build turkeys first nuclear power plant turkey also expanded relations iran exchanging visits military chiefs staff although deepening ties tehran moscow translated broader agreement syrias future iran remains determined assad stay power russia less committed keeping office regional diplomat said turkey says assad lost legitimacy although longer demands immediate departure meeting russia two months ago boycotted leadership syrias opposition delegates agreed set committee rewrite syrias constitution called democratic elections turkey says wednesdays meeting discuss setting constitutional committee humanitarian issues developments syrias northern idlib region control rival rebel factions jihadi groups turkey set seven military observation posts syrian russian soldiers seen checkpoint near wafideen camp damascus syria march 2 2018 reutersomar sanadiki issues three countries different policies syria another turkish official said regard aim find middle ground create policies improve current situation additional reporting orhan coskun tulay karadeniz ankara writing dominic evans editing angus macswan standards thomson reuters trust principles london reuters head britains military research center said tuesday unable yet say whether militarygrade nerve agent poisoned russian doubleagent last month produced russia police officers guard cordoned area around home former russian intelligence officer sergei skripal salisbury britain april 3 2018 reutershannah mckay able identify novichok identify militarygrade nerve agent gary aitkenhead chief executive defence science technology laboratory porton england told sky news identified precise source provided scientific info government used number sources piece together conclusions come however confirmed substance required extremely sophisticated methods create something capabilities state actor added continuing work help provide additional information might help us get closer source havent yet able moscow denied behind attack sergei skripal daughter southern english city salisbury march 4 first known use militarygrade nerve agent european soil since world war two britain blamed russian president vladimir putin attempted murder west expelled around 130 russian diplomats armin laschet conservative ally german chancellor angela merkel said comment raised questions britains drive persuade allies expel russian diplomats one forces nearly nato countries solidarity shouldnt one certain evidence regardless one thinks russia study international law taught different way deal states laschet premier state north rhinewestphlia said twitter aitkenhead said british government inputs could use determine origin nerve agent intelligencebased reiterated substance could come porton russias eu ambassador vladimir chizhov noted interview bbc last month british research lab eight miles 11 km salisbury insinuating may source government spokesperson said tuesday clear beginning world leading experts porton identified substance used salisbury novichok military grade nerve agent one part intelligence picture prime minister theresa may set includes knowledge within last decade russia investigated ways delivering nerve agents probably assassination part program produced stockpiled small quantities novichoks russias record conducting statesponsored assassinations assessment russia views former intelligence officers targets skripals daughter yulia getting better spending three weeks critical condition due nerve toxin attack fathers home salisbury hospital treated said last thursday father remained critical stable condition reporting andy bruce editing stephen addison richard balmforth standards thomson reuters trust principles hong kong reuters hong kongs thriving prodemocracy movement weighed growing pessimism among supporters chinas everincreasing control city facing crisis confidence future china tightens grip hong kong prodemocracy parties hit sidelining key leaders losing ground wellorganized probeijing camp troubles hit home last month democrats suffered electoral setback key legislative byelection winning two three seats expected take easily critically many supporters stayed home switched sides protest said confrontational tactics prodemocracy groups opposition always argues sake argument said one democracy supporter gave name feng frustration she160cast ballot probeijing candidate march 11 elections confronting beijing directly good strategy the16044yearold government contractor said go softer ways said want full name published works government sort shift voters like feng worrying leaders prodemocracy parties hong kong fear eroding160public mandate see sole weapon counter beijings influence city make sure people hong kong give us said alvin yeung barrister head prodemocracy civic party past decade resentment deepened toward chinas perceived growing encroachment hong kongs autonomy 2014 protests prodemocrats calling greater say hong kongs leader chosen engulfed large areas city months collapse protests led growing calls among young activists independence chinese government responded increasingly tougher line 2016 intervened hong kong court decision removed proindependence lawmakers office taking oaths improperly action led march byelections also deemed hong kong train station mainland authority tuesday dozens probeijing groups took advertisements hong kong newspapers calling dismissal university hong kong academic benny tai allegedly made comments advocating independence china growing reach chinas security apparatus also worrying many hong kong instances like 2015 disappearance several hong kong booksellers later showed chinese custody well mysterious disappearance mainland chinese tycoon luxury hotel 2017 hong kong authorities meanwhile proposed jail terms three years mocking chinas national anthem calls probeijing politicians national security laws outlawing subversive acts china authorities also started jailing protest leaders like joshua wong 21yearold student falling turnout loss legislative seat last month first time prodemocracy camp lost headtohead contest byelection significant defeat meant opposition failed regain veto powers democrats vying additional two seats byelections whose dates yet announced addition growing discontent democratic movements direction voters expressed concerns lack charismatic candidates well public infighting within democratic camp ben wong 45yearold office worker said voting establishment cast ballot edward yiu democratic candidate felt little affinity voting distaste said yiu candidate failed take back seat byelections generally attract fewer voters prodemocracy parties saw number votes three contested districts fall 35 percent compared full election two years ago contrast probeijing camp saw votes drop 12 percent crystal 26yearold160club dj one democracy supporter said bother vote 160160160 feel like hong kong place call home anymore said text message added people age considering moving countries jailing wong said bravest things compared lot us hit particularly hard wong bail160told reuters160he believes hong kong able achieve genuine democracy short term said important defend hong kongs core values need build foundation critical moment comes would bargaining power wong said hong kongs democratic movement democrats next big tests possible byelections ahead local district council elections 2019 legislative council elections 2020 file photo prodemocracy activist joshua wong l urges people vote prodemocracy candidate au nokhin 4th l legislative council byelection hong kong china march 11 2018 reutersbobby yipfile photo joseph cheng retired academic advises democrats said believes moment arrived camp dive serious soul searching troubles face opposition machine exceptionally sophisticated added chinas squeeze160 proestablishment camp backed160by united front chinese communist partylinked group mobilizes supporters social groups business associations160according scholars diplomats democrats contrast lack clear central leadership unite broad spectrum supporters funding also issue prodemocracy parties jimmy lai founder nextmedia group remains significant funder160of movement gets positive coverage mass market apple daily newspaper lai could reached comment struggled raise money large companies may fear retribution china and160rely small donations individuals probeijing parties contrast easier time raising money largest160the democratic alliance betterment progress hong kong160in 2016 fetched hk188 million 240 million auctioning calligraphy top beijing official hong kong according local media file photo newly elected vincent cheng front row 4th l poses lawmakers legislative council hong kong china march 21 2018 reutersbobby yipfile photo political game asked united fronts influence regina ip prominent probeijing lawmaker acknowledged supporters new peoples party roots mainland might talk chinese officials ip also stressed hard work party saying mobilized 1000 volunteers hit streets talk voters facetoface byelection win flying democracy flag ip said said prodemocracy parties dependent old tactics relying appeal democracy stirring anger government added clearly days tactics good enough reporting venus wu james pomfret additional reporting greg torode pak yiu editing philip mcclellan standards thomson reuters trust principles ixtepec mexicoedinburg texas reuters mexican towns playing host caravan 1200 central american migrants heading us border welcome mat rolled despite president donald trumps call mexican authorities stop local officials offered lodging town squares empty warehouses arranged transport migrants participants journey organized immigrant advocacy group pueblo sin fronteras officials conscripted buses cars ambulances police trucks help may entirely altruistic authorities want us leave cities said rodrigo abeja organizer pueblo sin fronteras theyve helping us part speed massive group jurisdictions point spring caravans 2000mile 3200km journey began tapachula near guatemalan border march 25 end us border members apply asylum others attempt sneak united states abeja said lot pressure authorities stop caravan donald trumps reaction mexican government issued statement late monday saying committed legal orderly migration government said caravan taking place since 2010 largely made central americans entering mexico met necessary legal requirements reason participants caravan subject administrative migratory procedure 400 already repatriated countries origin strict accordance law respecting human rights said without permission stay mexico failed request proper channels could expect returned homelands government official said speaking condition anonymity little trump railed twitter caravan monday accusing mexico little nothing stop flow immigrants crossing us border illegally must stop big drug people flows stop cash cow nafta concluded mexicos interior minister alfonso navarrete directly address caravan wrote twitter spoke us homeland security secretary kirstjen nielsen monday two agreed analyze best ways attend flows migrants accordance laws country mexico must walk delicate line united states countries midst renegotiating north american free trade agreement nafta along canada time mexican leftwing presidential candidate andres manuel lopez obrador 18point lead ahead july 1 election according poll published monday lopez obrador victory could usher mexican government less accommodating toward united states trade immigration issues mexican senator angelica de la pena presides senates human rights commission told reuters mexico protect migrants rights despite pressure trump 160 former president vicente fox called mexican officials take stand trumps attacks160trump keeps blackmailing offending denigrating mexico mexicans wrote twitter monday mexican law central americans enter mexico legally generally allowed move freely country even goal cross illegally united states suffering migrants caravan cite variety reasons joining members disproportionately honduras high levels violence rocked political upheaval recent months following reelection usbacked president juan orlando hernández intensely disputed election central american migrants participating caravan heading us take pause journey matias romero oaxaca mexico april 2 2018 reutersjose de jesus cortes maria elena colindres ortega member caravan january member congress honduras said fleeing political upheaval home weve live fraudulent electoral process said suffering progressive militarization lack institutions theyre criminalizing protested colindres ortega opposed ruling party honduras said spiraled debt serving without pay last 18 months fouryear term decided head north fellow congressman party put word facebook caravan migrants gathering southern mexico leaving home small bag necessities photos children pueblo sin fronteras helped coordinate migrant caravans past several years although previously maximum several hundred participants journey members organization instruct migrants rights accompany least want request asylum said alex mensing pueblo sin fronteras program director help prepare detention process asylum process cross border difficult people success dont information typically central americans fared well us asylum claims particularly honduras reuters analysis immigration court data found hondurans come court receive deportation orders 83 percent cases highest rate nationality hondurans also face deportation mexico immigration data shows 5000 hondurans deported mexico february alone highest number since may 2016 manuel padilla chief border patrols rio grande valley sector one busiest crossing points us mexico border said interview reuters worries caravan could generate interest groups thing terribly nervous coping group currently traveling flippant padilla said similar numbers seeing every day pretty much slideshow 6 images version story corrects spelling manuel maunel penultimate paragraph reporting delphine schrank mica rosenberg additional reporting dave graham lizbeth diaz diego ore daina beth solomon editing sue horton lisa shumaker paul tait standards thomson reuters trust principles
| 2,519 |
<p>DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) — Ford made the wrong bet on small pickup trucks in 2011. It hopes to put things right — and win back customers — with the 2019 Ford Ranger.</p>
<p>Ford is unveiling the North American version of the Ranger on Sunday ahead of the Detroit auto show. It goes on sale next spring, eight years after Ford pulled it off the market in the U.S. and Canada.</p>
<p>Back then, the cheap but dependable Ranger was the best-selling truck of its size. But gas prices were high, demand was dwindling and the struggling company wanted to devote more resources to hybrids and to improving fuel economy in its full-size F-150 pickup. The company shuttered the 86-year-old Minnesota factory where the Ranger was made.</p>
<p>“It was politically correct to cast aside pickups at the time,” says Dave Sullivan, manager of product analysis for the market research firm AutoPacific. A rival small pickup, the Dodge Dakota, was pulled off the market the same year.</p>
<p>The Ford factory is still closed, but everything else has changed. Gas prices are low. Ford is profitable and has the cash to invest in new vehicles. And while the market for midsize trucks did get smaller after peaking in the mid-1990s, it never went away. Automakers sold 448,000 midsize pickups in the U.S. in 2016; that’s forecast to grow to 470,000 in 2019, according to the consulting company IHS Markit. The midsize Chevrolet Colorado and Toyota Tacoma both notched sales increases last year even though overall U.S. sales were down.</p>
<p>Ford has continued selling the Ranger abroad; it’s the best-selling pickup in Europe and New Zealand. But in the U.S., it thought buyers who needed to haul things occasionally would gravitate toward SUVs.</p>
<p>The company gradually realized there was still U.S. demand for a smaller, easy-to-maneuver pickup. So much demand, in fact, that GM shifted van production out of its Wentzville, Missouri, plant so it could make more midsize trucks.</p>
<p>Affordability was also an issue, says Todd Eckert, Ford’s truck marketing manager. As buyers add more features to full-size trucks, the average price of an F-Series pickup has crept past $45,000. By contrast, the Colorado starts at $20,200. Ford isn’t yet releasing pricing, but it will be competitive with other midsize trucks.</p>
<p>Ford will market the Ranger as a vehicle for urban adventurers. It has a terrain management system that automatically adjusts the transmission and vehicle controls for driving in snow, mud or sand. A new trail control feature maintains a set speed even on slow, bumpy trails.</p>
<p>The North American Ranger shares its underpinnings with the Ranger that’s on sale globally. But to meet U.S. safety standards and customer expectations, the frame was reinforced with high-strength steel. Steel bumpers were added in the front and rear to better resemble the F-150, which isn’t a big seller outside North America.</p>
<p>Under the hood is the same 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine that powers the Ford Mustang sports car. Ford says that will give the truck the power of a V6 engine with the fuel economy of a four-cylinder. It’s mated to a 10-speed transmission. Unlike the Tacoma, Ford won’t offer a manual transmission. Ford isn’t yet releasing horsepower, fuel economy, payload or towing capacity.</p>
<p>The Ranger will be offered in two-door or four-door configurations with a choice of a 5-foot or 6-foot bed. That will suit Dan MacLeod, 28, an insurance broker from Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, who wants room for car seats and a bed that will fit his hunting and fishing gear. MacLeod used to drive an F-150 and now he drives a GMC Yukon SUV, but he prefers Ford trucks and will buy a Ranger if he likes what he sees.</p>
<p>But other fans are already dismissing the new Ranger. Alex Orians, a sophomore at Xavier University who is originally from Canton, Ohio, owns a 1996 Ranger, but he doesn’t like the rounded styling of the new Ranger. Orians also suspects that while the Ranger has sentimental value for some drivers, most will prefer something more capable and comfortable.</p>
<p>“If I had the capital for a new pickup, an F-150 would be the first place I’d look,” Orians said.</p>
<p>Stephanie Brinley, a senior analyst with IHS, says as long as consumer confidence remains strong — and it was at a 17-year high in November — there will be a niche market for rugged trucks like the Ranger.</p>
<p>“It appeals to your ability to do whatever you want,” she said.</p>
<p>DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) — Ford made the wrong bet on small pickup trucks in 2011. It hopes to put things right — and win back customers — with the 2019 Ford Ranger.</p>
<p>Ford is unveiling the North American version of the Ranger on Sunday ahead of the Detroit auto show. It goes on sale next spring, eight years after Ford pulled it off the market in the U.S. and Canada.</p>
<p>Back then, the cheap but dependable Ranger was the best-selling truck of its size. But gas prices were high, demand was dwindling and the struggling company wanted to devote more resources to hybrids and to improving fuel economy in its full-size F-150 pickup. The company shuttered the 86-year-old Minnesota factory where the Ranger was made.</p>
<p>“It was politically correct to cast aside pickups at the time,” says Dave Sullivan, manager of product analysis for the market research firm AutoPacific. A rival small pickup, the Dodge Dakota, was pulled off the market the same year.</p>
<p>The Ford factory is still closed, but everything else has changed. Gas prices are low. Ford is profitable and has the cash to invest in new vehicles. And while the market for midsize trucks did get smaller after peaking in the mid-1990s, it never went away. Automakers sold 448,000 midsize pickups in the U.S. in 2016; that’s forecast to grow to 470,000 in 2019, according to the consulting company IHS Markit. The midsize Chevrolet Colorado and Toyota Tacoma both notched sales increases last year even though overall U.S. sales were down.</p>
<p>Ford has continued selling the Ranger abroad; it’s the best-selling pickup in Europe and New Zealand. But in the U.S., it thought buyers who needed to haul things occasionally would gravitate toward SUVs.</p>
<p>The company gradually realized there was still U.S. demand for a smaller, easy-to-maneuver pickup. So much demand, in fact, that GM shifted van production out of its Wentzville, Missouri, plant so it could make more midsize trucks.</p>
<p>Affordability was also an issue, says Todd Eckert, Ford’s truck marketing manager. As buyers add more features to full-size trucks, the average price of an F-Series pickup has crept past $45,000. By contrast, the Colorado starts at $20,200. Ford isn’t yet releasing pricing, but it will be competitive with other midsize trucks.</p>
<p>Ford will market the Ranger as a vehicle for urban adventurers. It has a terrain management system that automatically adjusts the transmission and vehicle controls for driving in snow, mud or sand. A new trail control feature maintains a set speed even on slow, bumpy trails.</p>
<p>The North American Ranger shares its underpinnings with the Ranger that’s on sale globally. But to meet U.S. safety standards and customer expectations, the frame was reinforced with high-strength steel. Steel bumpers were added in the front and rear to better resemble the F-150, which isn’t a big seller outside North America.</p>
<p>Under the hood is the same 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine that powers the Ford Mustang sports car. Ford says that will give the truck the power of a V6 engine with the fuel economy of a four-cylinder. It’s mated to a 10-speed transmission. Unlike the Tacoma, Ford won’t offer a manual transmission. Ford isn’t yet releasing horsepower, fuel economy, payload or towing capacity.</p>
<p>The Ranger will be offered in two-door or four-door configurations with a choice of a 5-foot or 6-foot bed. That will suit Dan MacLeod, 28, an insurance broker from Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, who wants room for car seats and a bed that will fit his hunting and fishing gear. MacLeod used to drive an F-150 and now he drives a GMC Yukon SUV, but he prefers Ford trucks and will buy a Ranger if he likes what he sees.</p>
<p>But other fans are already dismissing the new Ranger. Alex Orians, a sophomore at Xavier University who is originally from Canton, Ohio, owns a 1996 Ranger, but he doesn’t like the rounded styling of the new Ranger. Orians also suspects that while the Ranger has sentimental value for some drivers, most will prefer something more capable and comfortable.</p>
<p>“If I had the capital for a new pickup, an F-150 would be the first place I’d look,” Orians said.</p>
<p>Stephanie Brinley, a senior analyst with IHS, says as long as consumer confidence remains strong — and it was at a 17-year high in November — there will be a niche market for rugged trucks like the Ranger.</p>
<p>“It appeals to your ability to do whatever you want,” she said.</p>
| false | 2 |
dearborn mich ap ford made wrong bet small pickup trucks 2011 hopes put things right win back customers 2019 ford ranger ford unveiling north american version ranger sunday ahead detroit auto show goes sale next spring eight years ford pulled market us canada back cheap dependable ranger bestselling truck size gas prices high demand dwindling struggling company wanted devote resources hybrids improving fuel economy fullsize f150 pickup company shuttered 86yearold minnesota factory ranger made politically correct cast aside pickups time says dave sullivan manager product analysis market research firm autopacific rival small pickup dodge dakota pulled market year ford factory still closed everything else changed gas prices low ford profitable cash invest new vehicles market midsize trucks get smaller peaking mid1990s never went away automakers sold 448000 midsize pickups us 2016 thats forecast grow 470000 2019 according consulting company ihs markit midsize chevrolet colorado toyota tacoma notched sales increases last year even though overall us sales ford continued selling ranger abroad bestselling pickup europe new zealand us thought buyers needed haul things occasionally would gravitate toward suvs company gradually realized still us demand smaller easytomaneuver pickup much demand fact gm shifted van production wentzville missouri plant could make midsize trucks affordability also issue says todd eckert fords truck marketing manager buyers add features fullsize trucks average price fseries pickup crept past 45000 contrast colorado starts 20200 ford isnt yet releasing pricing competitive midsize trucks ford market ranger vehicle urban adventurers terrain management system automatically adjusts transmission vehicle controls driving snow mud sand new trail control feature maintains set speed even slow bumpy trails north american ranger shares underpinnings ranger thats sale globally meet us safety standards customer expectations frame reinforced highstrength steel steel bumpers added front rear better resemble f150 isnt big seller outside north america hood 23liter ecoboost fourcylinder engine powers ford mustang sports car ford says give truck power v6 engine fuel economy fourcylinder mated 10speed transmission unlike tacoma ford wont offer manual transmission ford isnt yet releasing horsepower fuel economy payload towing capacity ranger offered twodoor fourdoor configurations choice 5foot 6foot bed suit dan macleod 28 insurance broker menomonee falls wisconsin wants room car seats bed fit hunting fishing gear macleod used drive f150 drives gmc yukon suv prefers ford trucks buy ranger likes sees fans already dismissing new ranger alex orians sophomore xavier university originally canton ohio owns 1996 ranger doesnt like rounded styling new ranger orians also suspects ranger sentimental value drivers prefer something capable comfortable capital new pickup f150 would first place id look orians said stephanie brinley senior analyst ihs says long consumer confidence remains strong 17year high november niche market rugged trucks like ranger appeals ability whatever want said dearborn mich ap ford made wrong bet small pickup trucks 2011 hopes put things right win back customers 2019 ford ranger ford unveiling north american version ranger sunday ahead detroit auto show goes sale next spring eight years ford pulled market us canada back cheap dependable ranger bestselling truck size gas prices high demand dwindling struggling company wanted devote resources hybrids improving fuel economy fullsize f150 pickup company shuttered 86yearold minnesota factory ranger made politically correct cast aside pickups time says dave sullivan manager product analysis market research firm autopacific rival small pickup dodge dakota pulled market year ford factory still closed everything else changed gas prices low ford profitable cash invest new vehicles market midsize trucks get smaller peaking mid1990s never went away automakers sold 448000 midsize pickups us 2016 thats forecast grow 470000 2019 according consulting company ihs markit midsize chevrolet colorado toyota tacoma notched sales increases last year even though overall us sales ford continued selling ranger abroad bestselling pickup europe new zealand us thought buyers needed haul things occasionally would gravitate toward suvs company gradually realized still us demand smaller easytomaneuver pickup much demand fact gm shifted van production wentzville missouri plant could make midsize trucks affordability also issue says todd eckert fords truck marketing manager buyers add features fullsize trucks average price fseries pickup crept past 45000 contrast colorado starts 20200 ford isnt yet releasing pricing competitive midsize trucks ford market ranger vehicle urban adventurers terrain management system automatically adjusts transmission vehicle controls driving snow mud sand new trail control feature maintains set speed even slow bumpy trails north american ranger shares underpinnings ranger thats sale globally meet us safety standards customer expectations frame reinforced highstrength steel steel bumpers added front rear better resemble f150 isnt big seller outside north america hood 23liter ecoboost fourcylinder engine powers ford mustang sports car ford says give truck power v6 engine fuel economy fourcylinder mated 10speed transmission unlike tacoma ford wont offer manual transmission ford isnt yet releasing horsepower fuel economy payload towing capacity ranger offered twodoor fourdoor configurations choice 5foot 6foot bed suit dan macleod 28 insurance broker menomonee falls wisconsin wants room car seats bed fit hunting fishing gear macleod used drive f150 drives gmc yukon suv prefers ford trucks buy ranger likes sees fans already dismissing new ranger alex orians sophomore xavier university originally canton ohio owns 1996 ranger doesnt like rounded styling new ranger orians also suspects ranger sentimental value drivers prefer something capable comfortable capital new pickup f150 would first place id look orians said stephanie brinley senior analyst ihs says long consumer confidence remains strong 17year high november niche market rugged trucks like ranger appeals ability whatever want said
| 894 |
<p>GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — To play his position well, Green Bay's Sam Shields knows looking back is never a good thing.</p>
<p>Sure enough, the Packers' top cornerback has refused to play back the video clips of a controversial non-catch by Dallas receiver Dez Bryant with Shields in coverage during Green Bay's playoff win last January.</p>
<p>"Nah, I never went back on that catch," Shields said. "I always forget things and move to the next. That's been my motto since I got here."</p>
<p>Not quite a shutdown cornerback, Shields relishes opportunities to face top receivers. There's another one coming his way Sunday, when Bryant and the Cowboys return to Lambeau Field.</p>
<p>"You've got to take advantage of them," Shields said.</p>
<p>Packers coach Mike McCarthy had high praise this week for just how well Shields, a first-time Pro Bowl selection in 2014, is doing his job in his sixth NFL season.</p>
<p>"I think Sam's playing probably the best football of his career," McCarthy said.</p>
<p>Shields, who turned 28 on Tuesday, is tied for the team lead with two interceptions, ranks second with 11 pass breakups and also has been productive as a tackler after missing time in early November with a shoulder injury. His knack for clamping down on the opponent's No. 1 wideout has been significant for the NFC North-leading Packers (8-4).</p>
<p>"Sam likes the challenge, and he's confident in his ability to cover one-on-one," Green Bay defensive coordinator Dom Capers said. "So he's always excited, I think, when he's locked up one-on-one because he feels that he can win."</p>
<p>The latest proof came in the Packers' 27-23 comeback win on the road against the Detroit Lions on Dec. 3.</p>
<p>Lions star receiver Calvin Johnson was targeted eight times but had only three catches for 44 yards. One of those receptions came on an incredible 17-yard touchdown catch along the sideline, as Johnson somehow kept both feet inbounds while tightly covered by Shields.</p>
<p>"To me, the catches, you don't want him to get it, but I did a hell of a job on him," Shields said. "There were some plays he made - that's Calvin Johnson - but I think I did a hell of a job guarding him."</p>
<p>Shields has no interest in being labeled a shutdown corner. The converted college receiver, who signed with the Packers as an undrafted free agent out of Miami in 2010, says he still has much to hone at his position.</p>
<p>Yet, Shields is looking forward to his rematch with Bryant on Sunday.</p>
<p>Eleven months ago, Bryant outjumped Shields for a spectacular catch near the sideline on fourth down. But when Bryant fell to the ground at the Packers' 1-yard line, the football came out of his hands.</p>
<p>The officials' ruling of a completed 31-yard catch was overturned by replay review, giving the ball back to the Packers. They ran out the last 4 minutes, 6 seconds to secure their 26-21 comeback win in the divisional round of the playoffs.</p>
<p>Shields has no interest in rehashing the play when he matches up with Bryant again.</p>
<p>"The last couple times we played against each other, there's never been any words," Shields said. "He's quiet, and I'm quiet, and we just play football. I don't think we'll talk about it."</p>
<p>NOTES: McCarthy said C Corey Linsley, who reinjured his ankle in the last game, will be hard-pressed to play Sunday. Linsley hasn't practiced this week and is doubtful on the injury report. JC Tretter started in place of an injured Linsley in the Thanksgiving night loss to Chicago. . RT Bryan Bulaga (ankle), LB Nick Perry (shoulder) and rookie WR Ty Montgomery (ankle), who has missed the last six games, are questionable. LT David Bakhtiari (knee) and RG T.J. Lang (shoulder) are probable. Lang didn't play at Detroit.</p>
<p>GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — To play his position well, Green Bay's Sam Shields knows looking back is never a good thing.</p>
<p>Sure enough, the Packers' top cornerback has refused to play back the video clips of a controversial non-catch by Dallas receiver Dez Bryant with Shields in coverage during Green Bay's playoff win last January.</p>
<p>"Nah, I never went back on that catch," Shields said. "I always forget things and move to the next. That's been my motto since I got here."</p>
<p>Not quite a shutdown cornerback, Shields relishes opportunities to face top receivers. There's another one coming his way Sunday, when Bryant and the Cowboys return to Lambeau Field.</p>
<p>"You've got to take advantage of them," Shields said.</p>
<p>Packers coach Mike McCarthy had high praise this week for just how well Shields, a first-time Pro Bowl selection in 2014, is doing his job in his sixth NFL season.</p>
<p>"I think Sam's playing probably the best football of his career," McCarthy said.</p>
<p>Shields, who turned 28 on Tuesday, is tied for the team lead with two interceptions, ranks second with 11 pass breakups and also has been productive as a tackler after missing time in early November with a shoulder injury. His knack for clamping down on the opponent's No. 1 wideout has been significant for the NFC North-leading Packers (8-4).</p>
<p>"Sam likes the challenge, and he's confident in his ability to cover one-on-one," Green Bay defensive coordinator Dom Capers said. "So he's always excited, I think, when he's locked up one-on-one because he feels that he can win."</p>
<p>The latest proof came in the Packers' 27-23 comeback win on the road against the Detroit Lions on Dec. 3.</p>
<p>Lions star receiver Calvin Johnson was targeted eight times but had only three catches for 44 yards. One of those receptions came on an incredible 17-yard touchdown catch along the sideline, as Johnson somehow kept both feet inbounds while tightly covered by Shields.</p>
<p>"To me, the catches, you don't want him to get it, but I did a hell of a job on him," Shields said. "There were some plays he made - that's Calvin Johnson - but I think I did a hell of a job guarding him."</p>
<p>Shields has no interest in being labeled a shutdown corner. The converted college receiver, who signed with the Packers as an undrafted free agent out of Miami in 2010, says he still has much to hone at his position.</p>
<p>Yet, Shields is looking forward to his rematch with Bryant on Sunday.</p>
<p>Eleven months ago, Bryant outjumped Shields for a spectacular catch near the sideline on fourth down. But when Bryant fell to the ground at the Packers' 1-yard line, the football came out of his hands.</p>
<p>The officials' ruling of a completed 31-yard catch was overturned by replay review, giving the ball back to the Packers. They ran out the last 4 minutes, 6 seconds to secure their 26-21 comeback win in the divisional round of the playoffs.</p>
<p>Shields has no interest in rehashing the play when he matches up with Bryant again.</p>
<p>"The last couple times we played against each other, there's never been any words," Shields said. "He's quiet, and I'm quiet, and we just play football. I don't think we'll talk about it."</p>
<p>NOTES: McCarthy said C Corey Linsley, who reinjured his ankle in the last game, will be hard-pressed to play Sunday. Linsley hasn't practiced this week and is doubtful on the injury report. JC Tretter started in place of an injured Linsley in the Thanksgiving night loss to Chicago. . RT Bryan Bulaga (ankle), LB Nick Perry (shoulder) and rookie WR Ty Montgomery (ankle), who has missed the last six games, are questionable. LT David Bakhtiari (knee) and RG T.J. Lang (shoulder) are probable. Lang didn't play at Detroit.</p>
| false | 2 |
green bay wis ap play position well green bays sam shields knows looking back never good thing sure enough packers top cornerback refused play back video clips controversial noncatch dallas receiver dez bryant shields coverage green bays playoff win last january nah never went back catch shields said always forget things move next thats motto since got quite shutdown cornerback shields relishes opportunities face top receivers theres another one coming way sunday bryant cowboys return lambeau field youve got take advantage shields said packers coach mike mccarthy high praise week well shields firsttime pro bowl selection 2014 job sixth nfl season think sams playing probably best football career mccarthy said shields turned 28 tuesday tied team lead two interceptions ranks second 11 pass breakups also productive tackler missing time early november shoulder injury knack clamping opponents 1 wideout significant nfc northleading packers 84 sam likes challenge hes confident ability cover oneonone green bay defensive coordinator dom capers said hes always excited think hes locked oneonone feels win latest proof came packers 2723 comeback win road detroit lions dec 3 lions star receiver calvin johnson targeted eight times three catches 44 yards one receptions came incredible 17yard touchdown catch along sideline johnson somehow kept feet inbounds tightly covered shields catches dont want get hell job shields said plays made thats calvin johnson think hell job guarding shields interest labeled shutdown corner converted college receiver signed packers undrafted free agent miami 2010 says still much hone position yet shields looking forward rematch bryant sunday eleven months ago bryant outjumped shields spectacular catch near sideline fourth bryant fell ground packers 1yard line football came hands officials ruling completed 31yard catch overturned replay review giving ball back packers ran last 4 minutes 6 seconds secure 2621 comeback win divisional round playoffs shields interest rehashing play matches bryant last couple times played theres never words shields said hes quiet im quiet play football dont think well talk notes mccarthy said c corey linsley reinjured ankle last game hardpressed play sunday linsley hasnt practiced week doubtful injury report jc tretter started place injured linsley thanksgiving night loss chicago rt bryan bulaga ankle lb nick perry shoulder rookie wr ty montgomery ankle missed last six games questionable lt david bakhtiari knee rg tj lang shoulder probable lang didnt play detroit green bay wis ap play position well green bays sam shields knows looking back never good thing sure enough packers top cornerback refused play back video clips controversial noncatch dallas receiver dez bryant shields coverage green bays playoff win last january nah never went back catch shields said always forget things move next thats motto since got quite shutdown cornerback shields relishes opportunities face top receivers theres another one coming way sunday bryant cowboys return lambeau field youve got take advantage shields said packers coach mike mccarthy high praise week well shields firsttime pro bowl selection 2014 job sixth nfl season think sams playing probably best football career mccarthy said shields turned 28 tuesday tied team lead two interceptions ranks second 11 pass breakups also productive tackler missing time early november shoulder injury knack clamping opponents 1 wideout significant nfc northleading packers 84 sam likes challenge hes confident ability cover oneonone green bay defensive coordinator dom capers said hes always excited think hes locked oneonone feels win latest proof came packers 2723 comeback win road detroit lions dec 3 lions star receiver calvin johnson targeted eight times three catches 44 yards one receptions came incredible 17yard touchdown catch along sideline johnson somehow kept feet inbounds tightly covered shields catches dont want get hell job shields said plays made thats calvin johnson think hell job guarding shields interest labeled shutdown corner converted college receiver signed packers undrafted free agent miami 2010 says still much hone position yet shields looking forward rematch bryant sunday eleven months ago bryant outjumped shields spectacular catch near sideline fourth bryant fell ground packers 1yard line football came hands officials ruling completed 31yard catch overturned replay review giving ball back packers ran last 4 minutes 6 seconds secure 2621 comeback win divisional round playoffs shields interest rehashing play matches bryant last couple times played theres never words shields said hes quiet im quiet play football dont think well talk notes mccarthy said c corey linsley reinjured ankle last game hardpressed play sunday linsley hasnt practiced week doubtful injury report jc tretter started place injured linsley thanksgiving night loss chicago rt bryan bulaga ankle lb nick perry shoulder rookie wr ty montgomery ankle missed last six games questionable lt david bakhtiari knee rg tj lang shoulder probable lang didnt play detroit
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<p><a href="http://poynteronline.org/column.asp?id=2&amp;aid=72674" type="external">Not long ago, I told you about a new study of firefighter deaths</a> that showed more firemen died last year driving to and from emergency scenes than actually died fighting fire.</p>
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<p><a href="http://www.nbc4.com/news/3922622/detail.html" type="external">WRC-TV in Washington, D.C., used that study to launch a story</a> about what dangers emergency workers face racing to help people.</p>
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<p>A News4 miniature camera mounted in an ambulance showed the dangers facing ambulance drivers and their crews. The video shows a car cutting in front of the ambulance on Rockville Pike and it doesn't move out of the way for 16 seconds, slowing the response time.</p>
<p>There are more dangers ahead for the paramedic team. A red light at an intersection may look safe on the right side of the video, but a car appears out of nowhere, cutting the ambulance off and leaving the driver shaking his head, grateful there was no collision.</p>
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<p>Montgomery County paramedic Deb Farkas wasn't so lucky. Her ambulance was hit at an intersection. She was injured along with her crew. It wasn't her fault. "But the most important thing is that it delayed the response to the person who initially called 911," Farkas said.</p>
<p>Farkas focused her frustration into something positive. She designed a program that appears on the county website called " <a href="http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/apps/dfrs/news/press/DisplayInfo.cfm?ItemID=31" type="external">Hear us, see us, clear for us</a>." It's designed to teach drivers the law.</p>
<p>"What they need to do is pull to the closest curb, and bear in mind if there's one piece of equipment coming, there could well be a second. Check for other vehicles," Farkas said.</p>
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<p><a href="http://www.law.com/jsp/nlj/articles/article2.jsp" type="external">The National Law Journal</a> says courts are telling lawyers to stop using religious arguments and quoting scripture to juries in closing arguments.</p>
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<p>While both sides have quoted scripture to juries in the past, prosecutors say they are the ones who usually get called on it. They say that their comments are especially scrutinized in death penalty cases, which often get challenged on grounds of prosecutorial misconduct. "The belief of many of us is that there are many judges out there just looking for an excuse to overturn these capital cases," said Oregon prosecutor Joshua Marquis, who chairs the Capital Litigation Committee for the National District Attorneys Association.</p>
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<p>The National Law Journal story said:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.lawschool.cornell.edu/faculty/faculty_bios/blume.html" type="external">Cornell Law School Professor John Blume</a>, who has researched litigation involving prosecutors' religious remarks, noted that there is no law on the books banning the use of religious arguments. However, he noted, prosecutors are now more cautious about using such tactics because there have been several judicial opinions on the topic in the last five years, all of them condemning biblical arguments. "I think there certainly is increasing recognition that these types of comments are inconsistent with the law and can be very prejudicial," said Blume. According to Blume, between 1985 and 2000, there were nearly 100 reported capital cases involving challenges to a prosecutor's religious remarks. He expects more litigation in this area, largely because some prosecutors in different parts of the country can still get away with quoting scripture in capital cases.</p>
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<p>The story gave this example:</p>
<p>Texas prosecutor John Kimbrough, the district attorney in Orange County, noted that biblical arguments can go both ways. For example, several years ago he prosecuted a capital case where a defense attorney convinced a jury not to give his client the death penalty after preaching biblical themes like mercy and the story of Cain and Abel. "I think it probably saved the guy's life ...&#160;It was effective, and it was a fair argument," said Kimbrough, who noted that lawyers in Texas have few speech restrictions.</p>
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<p>I spotted this <a href="http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,FL_scouts_111604,00.html?ESRC=dod.nl" type="external">AP story posted on Military.com</a>:</p>
<p>The Pentagon has agreed to warn military bases worldwide not to directly sponsor Boy Scout troops, partially resolving claims that the government has engaged in religious discrimination by supporting a group that requires members to believe in God.</p>
<p>The settlement is part of a series of legal challenges in recent years over how closely the government should be aligned with the Boy Scouts of America, a venerable organization that boasts a membership of more than 3.2 million members.</p>
<p>Civil liberties advocates have set their sights on the organization's policies because the group bans openly gay scout leaders and compels members to swear an oath of duty to God. The ACLU believes that direct government sponsorship of such a program amounts to discrimination.</p>
<p>Right now, fully one-third of all American age 65 or older do not engage in even leisure-time activities. If we don't get moving soon, we are going to have big problems. <a href="http://www.miahonline.org/press/content/11.22.04_SOA_Report.pdf" type="external">You can go to this website and see, state by state, how you are doing when it comes to health and aging</a>&#160;(go to page 25-28). The study, by Merck Institute of Aging and Health, says only 35 percent&#160;of senior men and only 25 percent&#160;of women age 65 and older get the recommended 30 minutes of moderate physical activity each day.</p>
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<p>By 2030, one out of five Americans, or 71 million people, will be 65 years and older. It is a demographic tidal wave.</p>
<p>The study adds:</p>
<p>Beginning in 2012, nearly 10,000 Americans will turn 65 every day, and by 2030, 20 percent&#160;of the population will have passed their 65th birthday. The aging of America, however, is more than a matter of numbers. The average 75-year-old has three chronic conditions and uses five different prescription drugs; older patients also have unique health care challenges and different medical needs than younger adults. Unfortunately, America's health care workforce lacks the training to provide appropriate care at the present time, and it is wholly unprepared for the coming senior boom. There are far too few health care providers specifically trained in geriatrics; moreover, there is a gap between what many primary care providers know, and what they need to know, to optimally treat older patients.</p>
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<p>We are always looking for your great ideas. <a href="" type="internal">Send Al</a> a few sentences and hot links.</p>
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<p>Editor's Note: Al's Morning Meeting is a compendium of ideas, edited story excerpts, and other materials from a variety of websites, as well as original concepts and analysis. When the information comes directly from another source, it will be attributed, and a link will be provided, whenever possible.</p>
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long ago told new study firefighter deaths showed firemen died last year driving emergency scenes actually died fighting fire wrctv washington dc used study launch story dangers emergency workers face racing help people news4 miniature camera mounted ambulance showed dangers facing ambulance drivers crews video shows car cutting front ambulance rockville pike doesnt move way 16 seconds slowing response time dangers ahead paramedic team red light intersection may look safe right side video car appears nowhere cutting ambulance leaving driver shaking head grateful collision montgomery county paramedic deb farkas wasnt lucky ambulance hit intersection injured along crew wasnt fault important thing delayed response person initially called 911 farkas said farkas focused frustration something positive designed program appears county website called hear us see us clear us designed teach drivers law need pull closest curb bear mind theres one piece equipment coming could well second check vehicles farkas said national law journal says courts telling lawyers stop using religious arguments quoting scripture juries closing arguments sides quoted scripture juries past prosecutors say ones usually get called say comments especially scrutinized death penalty cases often get challenged grounds prosecutorial misconduct belief many us many judges looking excuse overturn capital cases said oregon prosecutor joshua marquis chairs capital litigation committee national district attorneys association national law journal story said cornell law school professor john blume researched litigation involving prosecutors religious remarks noted law books banning use religious arguments however noted prosecutors cautious using tactics several judicial opinions topic last five years condemning biblical arguments think certainly increasing recognition types comments inconsistent law prejudicial said blume according blume 1985 2000 nearly 100 reported capital cases involving challenges prosecutors religious remarks expects litigation area largely prosecutors different parts country still get away quoting scripture capital cases story gave example texas prosecutor john kimbrough district attorney orange county noted biblical arguments go ways example several years ago prosecuted capital case defense attorney convinced jury give client death penalty preaching biblical themes like mercy story cain abel think probably saved guys life 160it effective fair argument said kimbrough noted lawyers texas speech restrictions spotted ap story posted militarycom pentagon agreed warn military bases worldwide directly sponsor boy scout troops partially resolving claims government engaged religious discrimination supporting group requires members believe god settlement part series legal challenges recent years closely government aligned boy scouts america venerable organization boasts membership 32 million members civil liberties advocates set sights organizations policies group bans openly gay scout leaders compels members swear oath duty god aclu believes direct government sponsorship program amounts discrimination right fully onethird american age 65 older engage even leisuretime activities dont get moving soon going big problems go website see state state comes health aging160go page 2528 study merck institute aging health says 35 percent160of senior men 25 percent160of women age 65 older get recommended 30 minutes moderate physical activity day 2030 one five americans 71 million people 65 years older demographic tidal wave study adds beginning 2012 nearly 10000 americans turn 65 every day 2030 20 percent160of population passed 65th birthday aging america however matter numbers average 75yearold three chronic conditions uses five different prescription drugs older patients also unique health care challenges different medical needs younger adults unfortunately americas health care workforce lacks training provide appropriate care present time wholly unprepared coming senior boom far health care providers specifically trained geriatrics moreover gap many primary care providers know need know optimally treat older patients always looking great ideas send al sentences hot links editors note als morning meeting compendium ideas edited story excerpts materials variety websites well original concepts analysis information comes directly another source attributed link provided whenever possible
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<p>SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Upon matching Digger Phelps, Notre Dame coach Mike Brey made light of his quest to pass the Irish coaching great.</p>
<p>But he added in all seriousness that he does want the chase behind him so he and his players can fully concentrate on the Atlantic Coast Conference title chase in front of them.</p>
<p>"Full-time security will be with me now for 24 hours a day," Brey deadpanned after he tied Phelps' Fighting Irish men's basketball wins record at 393 with his team's 68-59 victory over Georgia Tech on Saturday to open conference play.</p>
<p>Bonzie Colson scored 22 points and matched his career high with 17 rebounds as the Irish bounced back from a five-point halftime deficit for the win.</p>
<p>Brey improved to 393-190 in his 18th season at ND. Phelps went 393-197 over 20 seasons from 1971-1991.</p>
<p>"(When) I got the job in 2000, I was hoping I'd be good enough to not get fired," Brey said. "To be able to coach at this very special place for 18 years has been awesome."</p>
<p>The Irish (11-3) scored the first eight points of the second half to take a 31-28 lead.</p>
<p>The Yellow Jackets (6-7) had only one more lead after that, 32-31, as Notre Dame steadily pulled away. A 10-1 run gave ND its largest advantage at 55-41 with six minutes to go.</p>
<p>Also scoring in double figures for the Irish was Martinas Geben with 12 points. Rex Pflueger scored 11, and Matt Farrell and T.J. Gibbs 10 apiece.</p>
<p>Pflueger also dealt a game-high six assists, while Geben flushed in three slams over the final nine minutes of the game.</p>
<p>Josh Okogie paced Tech with 16 points. Tadric Jackson added 15 points, while Jose Alvarado and Ben Lammers each scored 11.</p>
<p>Lammers also collected 12 rebounds, but the 6-foot-10 senior was a woeful 5 of 18 from the field on a day that both teams largely struggled against the other side's zone.</p>
<p>"We need Ben Lammers to play better," Tech coach Josh Pastner said. "There's just no gray there. If he plays really well, we're going to have a great chance to win the game. If he doesn't, it's just going to be hard for us. That's how we've predicated our system and our schemes — around him — and we just couldn't get it going."</p>
<p>Each team, going mostly against zone defense, finished just 23 of 60 from the field (ND with seven 3-pointers and Tech with six), but the Irish were 15 of 18 from the foul line compared to the Yellow Jackets' 7 of 18.</p>
<p>Notre Dame dominated in second-chance points at 16-0 and finished with a 30-18 advantage on points in the paint.</p>
<p>HALFTIME CHAT</p>
<p>The Irish outscored the Jackets 45-31 in the second half in response to their 28-23 deficit at the break.</p>
<p>"Bonzie and Matt were fabulous," Brey said of his players easing the tension in the locker room. "I heard them before I got in there. It was, 'Relax. There's 20 more minutes.' It was very good. Matty and Bonz are really good in those situations. Bonzie especially has been great."</p>
<p>Notre Dame continued a trend of typically being better in the second half.</p>
<p>"It's kind of what we've done, not only this year, but I'll take it," Brey said. "I'll keep trying to help us in the first half, but I don't want to screw up the second half."</p>
<p>QUIET BENCHES</p>
<p>Notre Dame got just three points from its bench over 26 combined minutes, while Tech used just two players off its bench. One of them, Tadric Jackson, did score 15 points.</p>
<p>"I like what they gave us," Brey insisted of his four backups. "Still searching a little bit, but I wanted to give them all a chance to feel an ACC game. But, of course, when it got to that 11, 12-minute mark in the second half, it's 'OK, the main dudes gotta finish this thing,' (plus) when we play zone, it's not as exhausting."</p>
<p>For the Jackets, freshman Moses Wright did not play at all after appearing in each of the first 12 games. He's averaging 4.8 points and 3.8 rebounds over 17.5 minutes.</p>
<p>"I wasn't happy with Moses in practice the last two days," Pastner said, "so it's a learning experience for him. Moses is going to be good, but you have to practice at a high level or you're not going to play."</p>
<p>BIG PICTURE</p>
<p>Notre Dame: The Irish have won three straight since their overtime loss to Indiana as they try to scale their way back into the national rankings. They'll easily have that opportunity playing in the ACC.</p>
<p>Georgia Tech: The Yellow Jackets have lost six of their last eight, with all eight games being played against unranked teams.</p>
<p>UP NEXT</p>
<p>Notre Dame: The Irish play a second straight home game to start the ACC season when North Carolina State visits Wednesday.</p>
<p>Georgia Tech: The Jackets play their ACC home opener Wednesday against No. 15 Miami.</p>
<p>SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Upon matching Digger Phelps, Notre Dame coach Mike Brey made light of his quest to pass the Irish coaching great.</p>
<p>But he added in all seriousness that he does want the chase behind him so he and his players can fully concentrate on the Atlantic Coast Conference title chase in front of them.</p>
<p>"Full-time security will be with me now for 24 hours a day," Brey deadpanned after he tied Phelps' Fighting Irish men's basketball wins record at 393 with his team's 68-59 victory over Georgia Tech on Saturday to open conference play.</p>
<p>Bonzie Colson scored 22 points and matched his career high with 17 rebounds as the Irish bounced back from a five-point halftime deficit for the win.</p>
<p>Brey improved to 393-190 in his 18th season at ND. Phelps went 393-197 over 20 seasons from 1971-1991.</p>
<p>"(When) I got the job in 2000, I was hoping I'd be good enough to not get fired," Brey said. "To be able to coach at this very special place for 18 years has been awesome."</p>
<p>The Irish (11-3) scored the first eight points of the second half to take a 31-28 lead.</p>
<p>The Yellow Jackets (6-7) had only one more lead after that, 32-31, as Notre Dame steadily pulled away. A 10-1 run gave ND its largest advantage at 55-41 with six minutes to go.</p>
<p>Also scoring in double figures for the Irish was Martinas Geben with 12 points. Rex Pflueger scored 11, and Matt Farrell and T.J. Gibbs 10 apiece.</p>
<p>Pflueger also dealt a game-high six assists, while Geben flushed in three slams over the final nine minutes of the game.</p>
<p>Josh Okogie paced Tech with 16 points. Tadric Jackson added 15 points, while Jose Alvarado and Ben Lammers each scored 11.</p>
<p>Lammers also collected 12 rebounds, but the 6-foot-10 senior was a woeful 5 of 18 from the field on a day that both teams largely struggled against the other side's zone.</p>
<p>"We need Ben Lammers to play better," Tech coach Josh Pastner said. "There's just no gray there. If he plays really well, we're going to have a great chance to win the game. If he doesn't, it's just going to be hard for us. That's how we've predicated our system and our schemes — around him — and we just couldn't get it going."</p>
<p>Each team, going mostly against zone defense, finished just 23 of 60 from the field (ND with seven 3-pointers and Tech with six), but the Irish were 15 of 18 from the foul line compared to the Yellow Jackets' 7 of 18.</p>
<p>Notre Dame dominated in second-chance points at 16-0 and finished with a 30-18 advantage on points in the paint.</p>
<p>HALFTIME CHAT</p>
<p>The Irish outscored the Jackets 45-31 in the second half in response to their 28-23 deficit at the break.</p>
<p>"Bonzie and Matt were fabulous," Brey said of his players easing the tension in the locker room. "I heard them before I got in there. It was, 'Relax. There's 20 more minutes.' It was very good. Matty and Bonz are really good in those situations. Bonzie especially has been great."</p>
<p>Notre Dame continued a trend of typically being better in the second half.</p>
<p>"It's kind of what we've done, not only this year, but I'll take it," Brey said. "I'll keep trying to help us in the first half, but I don't want to screw up the second half."</p>
<p>QUIET BENCHES</p>
<p>Notre Dame got just three points from its bench over 26 combined minutes, while Tech used just two players off its bench. One of them, Tadric Jackson, did score 15 points.</p>
<p>"I like what they gave us," Brey insisted of his four backups. "Still searching a little bit, but I wanted to give them all a chance to feel an ACC game. But, of course, when it got to that 11, 12-minute mark in the second half, it's 'OK, the main dudes gotta finish this thing,' (plus) when we play zone, it's not as exhausting."</p>
<p>For the Jackets, freshman Moses Wright did not play at all after appearing in each of the first 12 games. He's averaging 4.8 points and 3.8 rebounds over 17.5 minutes.</p>
<p>"I wasn't happy with Moses in practice the last two days," Pastner said, "so it's a learning experience for him. Moses is going to be good, but you have to practice at a high level or you're not going to play."</p>
<p>BIG PICTURE</p>
<p>Notre Dame: The Irish have won three straight since their overtime loss to Indiana as they try to scale their way back into the national rankings. They'll easily have that opportunity playing in the ACC.</p>
<p>Georgia Tech: The Yellow Jackets have lost six of their last eight, with all eight games being played against unranked teams.</p>
<p>UP NEXT</p>
<p>Notre Dame: The Irish play a second straight home game to start the ACC season when North Carolina State visits Wednesday.</p>
<p>Georgia Tech: The Jackets play their ACC home opener Wednesday against No. 15 Miami.</p>
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south bend ind ap upon matching digger phelps notre dame coach mike brey made light quest pass irish coaching great added seriousness want chase behind players fully concentrate atlantic coast conference title chase front fulltime security 24 hours day brey deadpanned tied phelps fighting irish mens basketball wins record 393 teams 6859 victory georgia tech saturday open conference play bonzie colson scored 22 points matched career high 17 rebounds irish bounced back fivepoint halftime deficit win brey improved 393190 18th season nd phelps went 393197 20 seasons 19711991 got job 2000 hoping id good enough get fired brey said able coach special place 18 years awesome irish 113 scored first eight points second half take 3128 lead yellow jackets 67 one lead 3231 notre dame steadily pulled away 101 run gave nd largest advantage 5541 six minutes go also scoring double figures irish martinas geben 12 points rex pflueger scored 11 matt farrell tj gibbs 10 apiece pflueger also dealt gamehigh six assists geben flushed three slams final nine minutes game josh okogie paced tech 16 points tadric jackson added 15 points jose alvarado ben lammers scored 11 lammers also collected 12 rebounds 6foot10 senior woeful 5 18 field day teams largely struggled sides zone need ben lammers play better tech coach josh pastner said theres gray plays really well going great chance win game doesnt going hard us thats weve predicated system schemes around couldnt get going team going mostly zone defense finished 23 60 field nd seven 3pointers tech six irish 15 18 foul line compared yellow jackets 7 18 notre dame dominated secondchance points 160 finished 3018 advantage points paint halftime chat irish outscored jackets 4531 second half response 2823 deficit break bonzie matt fabulous brey said players easing tension locker room heard got relax theres 20 minutes good matty bonz really good situations bonzie especially great notre dame continued trend typically better second half kind weve done year ill take brey said ill keep trying help us first half dont want screw second half quiet benches notre dame got three points bench 26 combined minutes tech used two players bench one tadric jackson score 15 points like gave us brey insisted four backups still searching little bit wanted give chance feel acc game course got 11 12minute mark second half ok main dudes got ta finish thing plus play zone exhausting jackets freshman moses wright play appearing first 12 games hes averaging 48 points 38 rebounds 175 minutes wasnt happy moses practice last two days pastner said learning experience moses going good practice high level youre going play big picture notre dame irish three straight since overtime loss indiana try scale way back national rankings theyll easily opportunity playing acc georgia tech yellow jackets lost six last eight eight games played unranked teams next notre dame irish play second straight home game start acc season north carolina state visits wednesday georgia tech jackets play acc home opener wednesday 15 miami south bend ind ap upon matching digger phelps notre dame coach mike brey made light quest pass irish coaching great added seriousness want chase behind players fully concentrate atlantic coast conference title chase front fulltime security 24 hours day brey deadpanned tied phelps fighting irish mens basketball wins record 393 teams 6859 victory georgia tech saturday open conference play bonzie colson scored 22 points matched career high 17 rebounds irish bounced back fivepoint halftime deficit win brey improved 393190 18th season nd phelps went 393197 20 seasons 19711991 got job 2000 hoping id good enough get fired brey said able coach special place 18 years awesome irish 113 scored first eight points second half take 3128 lead yellow jackets 67 one lead 3231 notre dame steadily pulled away 101 run gave nd largest advantage 5541 six minutes go also scoring double figures irish martinas geben 12 points rex pflueger scored 11 matt farrell tj gibbs 10 apiece pflueger also dealt gamehigh six assists geben flushed three slams final nine minutes game josh okogie paced tech 16 points tadric jackson added 15 points jose alvarado ben lammers scored 11 lammers also collected 12 rebounds 6foot10 senior woeful 5 18 field day teams largely struggled sides zone need ben lammers play better tech coach josh pastner said theres gray plays really well going great chance win game doesnt going hard us thats weve predicated system schemes around couldnt get going team going mostly zone defense finished 23 60 field nd seven 3pointers tech six irish 15 18 foul line compared yellow jackets 7 18 notre dame dominated secondchance points 160 finished 3018 advantage points paint halftime chat irish outscored jackets 4531 second half response 2823 deficit break bonzie matt fabulous brey said players easing tension locker room heard got relax theres 20 minutes good matty bonz really good situations bonzie especially great notre dame continued trend typically better second half kind weve done year ill take brey said ill keep trying help us first half dont want screw second half quiet benches notre dame got three points bench 26 combined minutes tech used two players bench one tadric jackson score 15 points like gave us brey insisted four backups still searching little bit wanted give chance feel acc game course got 11 12minute mark second half ok main dudes got ta finish thing plus play zone exhausting jackets freshman moses wright play appearing first 12 games hes averaging 48 points 38 rebounds 175 minutes wasnt happy moses practice last two days pastner said learning experience moses going good practice high level youre going play big picture notre dame irish three straight since overtime loss indiana try scale way back national rankings theyll easily opportunity playing acc georgia tech yellow jackets lost six last eight eight games played unranked teams next notre dame irish play second straight home game start acc season north carolina state visits wednesday georgia tech jackets play acc home opener wednesday 15 miami
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<p>Several decades ago, in 1964, unsuccessful Republican candidate Barry Goldwater defiantly declared that “extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice, and moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.” For better or worse, the phrase has since gone down in conservative history as an article of faith, and in political history as one of the most impolitic and out-of-touch statements ever made by a professional politician. Yet in 2010, this “Goldwater doctrine” appears to have come full circle to be received as electorally savvy wisdom by a populace that appears both infuriated by the overpromising and underperforming Obama administration.&#160; One need not be a political junkie to see this, as even neophytes will admit that the most compelling evidence of a Goldwaterite resurgence in American politics is the insurgent Tea Party.&#160;</p>
<p>Commentators, both hostile and friendly, have by turns assailed and celebrated the Tea Party for being something completely new. While it is certainly new that a group celebrating this philosophy could achieve so much success in one election cycle, the Tea Party’s chosen candidates, platform, rhetoric and general philosophy tell an entirely different story about its origins from the vaguely neo-Perotista image painted by media sources. In most cases, the comparison between Goldwater and the Tea Party is noncontroversial. However, one quite controversial point should be made: like Goldwater, opponents of the Tea Party exult in claiming that the group not only has no solutions to offer, but is vague in the extreme about what it sees as problems with American society. In other words, many believe that the Tea Party is not only an answer to a question no one asked, but to a question no one even heard or understood – philosophically adrift and ideologically confused.</p>
<p>This is partially a communications failure on the Tea Party’s side, but also partially a failure of inquisitiveness on the part of its critics. To use two more (representative) quotes from Goldwater-era figures, Lionel Trilling once noted that “conservatives express themselves only in irritable mental gestures that seem to resemble ideas,” while William F. Buckley was fond of observing that “liberals claim to want to give a hearing to other views, but then are shocked and offended to discover that there are other views.” Both are problems with the modern coverage of the Tea Party.</p>
<p>However, contra the first claim, the Tea Party does have an ideology, albeit one that is based in schools of thought which are almost completely alien to modern American culture – in other words, a counter-cultural ideology. Specifically, the group’s diagnosis of American society is based around the notion that much of American government as we have come to know it is anti-Constitutional, and anti-Constitutional as the term would have been used prior to the advent of sociological jurisprudence in the mid 20th century. The Tea Party’s understanding of the Constitution, it can thus be said, stops at Joseph Story, views the legal realism of Oliver Wendell Holmes with suspicion, and regards the “evolving” view of jurists such as Earl Warren as not only incoherent, but anathema. In answer to the bewildered questions of figures such as Jon Stewart, who have accused the group of misappropriating the Constitution in an overly exclusionary way, the Tea Party would probably reply that the point of a legal document, especially one as vital as the Constitution, is to exclude incorrect interpretations, an anti-relativistic philosophy that flies in the face of much modern legal and moral dogma.</p>
<p>And speaking of morality, one can’t underestimate the oddity which more “mainstream” writers ascribe to the Tea Party’s understanding of the relationship between religion and public life. Perhaps the best example of this attitude comes in the incredulous and mocking reactions to Christine O’Donnell’s questioning the notion that “Separation of Church and State” is in the Constitution, when in fact those exact words do not appear anywhere – they are from a letter by Thomas Jefferson whose relevance to Constitutional scholarship is hotly debated across several generations of scholars. But, the real argument against O’Donnell has matured over the past few days, with people taking issue not just with her substantive Constitutional claim, but with the general normative implication that America is not, and should not be, a secular country. This, too, comes from a school of thought that has been forgotten, with O’Donnell probably influenced <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Christian-Character-Institutions-United-States/dp/0915815702" type="external">by the late 19th century massive tract</a> “The Christian Life and Character of the Civil Institutions of the United States” by Benjamin Morris. This book recently became vogue again in conservative circles despite being out of print for over 100 years, but if you were to turn back the clock those 100 years, you would probably find that the work itself would have been conventional wisdom. The book itself is worth a long read by anyone with an interest in the relationship between secularism and the American state, and without passing judgment on its thesis, it can certainly be called a wholly American influence on O’Donnell’s thought, albeit one whose advanced age makes it seem foreign.</p>
<p>And then there is the elephant in the room – the Tea Party’s view of race relations. Here the waters have been muddied substantially both by the Tea Party’s nervy (some would say excessively nervy) critique of Civil Rights legislation on Constitutional grounds, with observers claiming that this critique exposes racial animus. Yet, the Tea Party’s critique of these institutions is not only consistent with the idea that Civil Rights legislation has been effective, but also with the intentions of the framers of that legislation, and, indeed, with previous Civil Rights Acts.</p>
<p>To begin with, contrary to the distortions of figures such as Rachel Maddow, even the most radically libertarian of Tea Party candidates have no doubts about the moral justification of 60’s era Civil Rights legislation. However, even the original gaffe that Rand Paul made posed a more sophisticated question than this – namely, assuming the bill was morally necessary at the time, is it necessary now? Here Paul is quite definitely in the policy mainstream, even if the policy question is politically inconvenient for his party. For instance, it has been raised by prominent Civil Rights scholar Abigail Thernstrom, who has called bills such as the 1965 Voting Rights Act an obstacle to Civil Rights because of the possibility for its controversial Title 5 to be used for the purposes of racial gerrymandering. This provision, as well as several of the other Constitutionally controversial measures in both the Voting Rights Act and the 1964 Civil Rights Act, were arguably intended as emergency measures for the purpose of ending segregation, to be repealed at a later date. The question of whether they should be repealed now is, at bare minimum, a debate worth having, and to attack Paul, or any Tea Party candidate, as un-American simply for raising the question is more an evidence of a paucity of imagination on the part of critics than genuine extremism on the Tea Party’s part.</p>
<p>In sum, while the Tea Party has been accused of wanting to “repeal the 20th century,” this is neither fair, nor accurate. Rather, the Tea Party stands for a proposition that the 20th century should not be read as repealing the rest of American history, and that if the 21st century is to be as profitable and prosperous for America, all facets of that history must be included.</p>
| false | 2 |
several decades ago 1964 unsuccessful republican candidate barry goldwater defiantly declared extremism defense liberty vice moderation pursuit justice virtue better worse phrase since gone conservative history article faith political history one impolitic outoftouch statements ever made professional politician yet 2010 goldwater doctrine appears come full circle received electorally savvy wisdom populace appears infuriated overpromising underperforming obama administration160 one need political junkie see even neophytes admit compelling evidence goldwaterite resurgence american politics insurgent tea party160 commentators hostile friendly turns assailed celebrated tea party something completely new certainly new group celebrating philosophy could achieve much success one election cycle tea partys chosen candidates platform rhetoric general philosophy tell entirely different story origins vaguely neoperotista image painted media sources cases comparison goldwater tea party noncontroversial however one quite controversial point made like goldwater opponents tea party exult claiming group solutions offer vague extreme sees problems american society words many believe tea party answer question one asked question one even heard understood philosophically adrift ideologically confused partially communications failure tea partys side also partially failure inquisitiveness part critics use two representative quotes goldwaterera figures lionel trilling noted conservatives express irritable mental gestures seem resemble ideas william f buckley fond observing liberals claim want give hearing views shocked offended discover views problems modern coverage tea party however contra first claim tea party ideology albeit one based schools thought almost completely alien modern american culture words countercultural ideology specifically groups diagnosis american society based around notion much american government come know anticonstitutional anticonstitutional term would used prior advent sociological jurisprudence mid 20th century tea partys understanding constitution thus said stops joseph story views legal realism oliver wendell holmes suspicion regards evolving view jurists earl warren incoherent anathema answer bewildered questions figures jon stewart accused group misappropriating constitution overly exclusionary way tea party would probably reply point legal document especially one vital constitution exclude incorrect interpretations antirelativistic philosophy flies face much modern legal moral dogma speaking morality one cant underestimate oddity mainstream writers ascribe tea partys understanding relationship religion public life perhaps best example attitude comes incredulous mocking reactions christine odonnells questioning notion separation church state constitution fact exact words appear anywhere letter thomas jefferson whose relevance constitutional scholarship hotly debated across several generations scholars real argument odonnell matured past days people taking issue substantive constitutional claim general normative implication america secular country comes school thought forgotten odonnell probably influenced late 19th century massive tract christian life character civil institutions united states benjamin morris book recently became vogue conservative circles despite print 100 years turn back clock 100 years would probably find work would conventional wisdom book worth long read anyone interest relationship secularism american state without passing judgment thesis certainly called wholly american influence odonnells thought albeit one whose advanced age makes seem foreign elephant room tea partys view race relations waters muddied substantially tea partys nervy would say excessively nervy critique civil rights legislation constitutional grounds observers claiming critique exposes racial animus yet tea partys critique institutions consistent idea civil rights legislation effective also intentions framers legislation indeed previous civil rights acts begin contrary distortions figures rachel maddow even radically libertarian tea party candidates doubts moral justification 60s era civil rights legislation however even original gaffe rand paul made posed sophisticated question namely assuming bill morally necessary time necessary paul quite definitely policy mainstream even policy question politically inconvenient party instance raised prominent civil rights scholar abigail thernstrom called bills 1965 voting rights act obstacle civil rights possibility controversial title 5 used purposes racial gerrymandering provision well several constitutionally controversial measures voting rights act 1964 civil rights act arguably intended emergency measures purpose ending segregation repealed later date question whether repealed bare minimum debate worth attack paul tea party candidate unamerican simply raising question evidence paucity imagination part critics genuine extremism tea partys part sum tea party accused wanting repeal 20th century neither fair accurate rather tea party stands proposition 20th century read repealing rest american history 21st century profitable prosperous america facets history must included
| 661 |
<p>PITTSBURGH (AP) — Andrew McCutchen didn't run from the challenge in Pittsburgh, he embraced it. A rising star on a franchise mired in two decades of losing, McCutchen bet on the Pirates in the spring of 2012 by signing a six-year contract, gambling that he could become one of the game's best while helping the city reconnect with a team it had long since abandoned.</p>
<p>It paid off for all involved.</p>
<p>The dynamic, charismatic outfielder became an MVP while ushering in a renaissance. Five All-Star games. Three playoff appearances. A ballpark packed with fans wearing his No. 22. Everything McCutchen and owner Bob Nutting talked about on that sun-dappled Florida day six years ago came to fruition.</p>
<p>And on Monday, it all came to an end.</p>
<p>Facing the certainty that they couldn't re-sign McCutchen when he hit free agency next winter, the Pirates traded him to the San Francisco Giants in exchange for right-hander Kyle Crick, minor league outfielder Bryan Reynolds and $500,000 in international signing bonus allocation. The Pirates also will send $2.5 million to the Giants to cover part of McCutchen's $14.75 million salary.</p>
<p>General manager Neal Huntington broke the news to McCutchen with a phone call Monday that closed a remarkable but also remarkably brief chapter for a player Nutting said he wanted to make a "Pirate for life" before what the organization considers the economic truths of the sport set in.</p>
<p>"In a perfect world, that would have been a great result for Pittsburgh, a great result for Andrew," Nutting said. "I think the realities of the game, the realities of baseball right now don't allow that to be possible."</p>
<p>The 31-year-old McCutchen, the 2013 NL MVP, became the second star jettisoned by Pittsburgh in three days. Ace Gerrit Cole was traded to Houston on Saturday.</p>
<p>Nutting called the deal that sent McCutchen to the Giants "a very emotionally challenging decision" but a move Huntington stressed was the right one.</p>
<p>"The players that we currently have on this roster, the players we have on the horizon, the players we've acquired in the two trades will play meaningful roles in the next Pittsburgh Pirates playoff team," Huntington said.</p>
<p>Fueled by McCutchen's daily brilliance and aided by Cole's arrival in 2013 to help anchor the starting rotation, Pittsburgh ended a two-decade postseason drought in 2013 and made three straight playoff appearances before falling to 78-83 in 2016 and 75-87 last year.</p>
<p>McCutchen, perhaps the franchise's most popular player since Hall of Famer Willie Stargell, did little to shy away from his role. When the team moved him to right field last winter, he talked openly about following in the footsteps of Roberto Clemente. He and his wife Maria welcomed their first child in December, a boy named Steel.</p>
<p>"Pittsburgh.My Home.My Fans.My City," McCutchen tweeted. "You will 4ever be in my heart."</p>
<p>McCutchen added: "Now...I'm a Giant! Ive always enjoyed watching the success of the @SFGiants and I look foward to being apart of more this season. Can't wait to meet my new teammates and fans. This is just the beginning."</p>
<p>While Huntington said the Pirates had "informal" talks with McCutchen about an extension, they believed his asking price on the open market would be something they couldn't match if they wanted to surround McCutchen with competitive talent.</p>
<p>"It became clear it was going to be very hard for us to meet what he deserves and build a championship ballclub around him," Huntington said.</p>
<p>That won't be an issue in San Francisco. The Giants, who have won three titles this decade, are coming off a forgettable 2017 in which they lost 98 games. They've attacked a lukewarm market aggressively, adding third baseman Evan Longoria from Tampa Bay in December.</p>
<p>"It's no secret that we were looking to further add run production to our lineup," said Brian Sabean, Giants executive vice president of baseball operations. "Anytime you have the opportunity to bring aboard someone with such a track record, you have to jump on it."</p>
<p>McCutchen may take over in center from Denard Span, who was traded to the Rays in the Longoria deal, or he could slide to an outfield corner. San Francisco wanted more production from the outfield after a last-place season in the NL West.</p>
<p>The durable McCutchen has played at least 153 games in each of the past three seasons for the Pirates, batting .279 with 28 home runs and 88 RBIs in 156 games in 2017.</p>
<p>Crick, 25, had a 3.06 ERA, 28 strikeouts in 32 1/3 innings and a .191 opponents' batting average last year in his first big league season, allowing three of 21 inherited runners to score. Reynolds, a 22-year-old switch-hitter, batted .312 with 26 doubles, nine triples, 10 homers and 63 RBIs as Class A San Jose. He was a second-round pick in 2016.</p>
<p>Huntington shied away from using the word "rebuild," stressing he believes the road back to contention isn't some far off destination, but more immediate, even if it's not in 2018.</p>
<p>"We have talented players that are also really good people," Huntington said. "Sounds also like a lot of players that aren't here anymore."</p>
<p>One in particular.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>AP Baseball Writer Janie McCauley in San Francisco contributed to this report.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>More AP baseball: <a href="" type="internal">https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball</a></p>
<p>PITTSBURGH (AP) — Andrew McCutchen didn't run from the challenge in Pittsburgh, he embraced it. A rising star on a franchise mired in two decades of losing, McCutchen bet on the Pirates in the spring of 2012 by signing a six-year contract, gambling that he could become one of the game's best while helping the city reconnect with a team it had long since abandoned.</p>
<p>It paid off for all involved.</p>
<p>The dynamic, charismatic outfielder became an MVP while ushering in a renaissance. Five All-Star games. Three playoff appearances. A ballpark packed with fans wearing his No. 22. Everything McCutchen and owner Bob Nutting talked about on that sun-dappled Florida day six years ago came to fruition.</p>
<p>And on Monday, it all came to an end.</p>
<p>Facing the certainty that they couldn't re-sign McCutchen when he hit free agency next winter, the Pirates traded him to the San Francisco Giants in exchange for right-hander Kyle Crick, minor league outfielder Bryan Reynolds and $500,000 in international signing bonus allocation. The Pirates also will send $2.5 million to the Giants to cover part of McCutchen's $14.75 million salary.</p>
<p>General manager Neal Huntington broke the news to McCutchen with a phone call Monday that closed a remarkable but also remarkably brief chapter for a player Nutting said he wanted to make a "Pirate for life" before what the organization considers the economic truths of the sport set in.</p>
<p>"In a perfect world, that would have been a great result for Pittsburgh, a great result for Andrew," Nutting said. "I think the realities of the game, the realities of baseball right now don't allow that to be possible."</p>
<p>The 31-year-old McCutchen, the 2013 NL MVP, became the second star jettisoned by Pittsburgh in three days. Ace Gerrit Cole was traded to Houston on Saturday.</p>
<p>Nutting called the deal that sent McCutchen to the Giants "a very emotionally challenging decision" but a move Huntington stressed was the right one.</p>
<p>"The players that we currently have on this roster, the players we have on the horizon, the players we've acquired in the two trades will play meaningful roles in the next Pittsburgh Pirates playoff team," Huntington said.</p>
<p>Fueled by McCutchen's daily brilliance and aided by Cole's arrival in 2013 to help anchor the starting rotation, Pittsburgh ended a two-decade postseason drought in 2013 and made three straight playoff appearances before falling to 78-83 in 2016 and 75-87 last year.</p>
<p>McCutchen, perhaps the franchise's most popular player since Hall of Famer Willie Stargell, did little to shy away from his role. When the team moved him to right field last winter, he talked openly about following in the footsteps of Roberto Clemente. He and his wife Maria welcomed their first child in December, a boy named Steel.</p>
<p>"Pittsburgh.My Home.My Fans.My City," McCutchen tweeted. "You will 4ever be in my heart."</p>
<p>McCutchen added: "Now...I'm a Giant! Ive always enjoyed watching the success of the @SFGiants and I look foward to being apart of more this season. Can't wait to meet my new teammates and fans. This is just the beginning."</p>
<p>While Huntington said the Pirates had "informal" talks with McCutchen about an extension, they believed his asking price on the open market would be something they couldn't match if they wanted to surround McCutchen with competitive talent.</p>
<p>"It became clear it was going to be very hard for us to meet what he deserves and build a championship ballclub around him," Huntington said.</p>
<p>That won't be an issue in San Francisco. The Giants, who have won three titles this decade, are coming off a forgettable 2017 in which they lost 98 games. They've attacked a lukewarm market aggressively, adding third baseman Evan Longoria from Tampa Bay in December.</p>
<p>"It's no secret that we were looking to further add run production to our lineup," said Brian Sabean, Giants executive vice president of baseball operations. "Anytime you have the opportunity to bring aboard someone with such a track record, you have to jump on it."</p>
<p>McCutchen may take over in center from Denard Span, who was traded to the Rays in the Longoria deal, or he could slide to an outfield corner. San Francisco wanted more production from the outfield after a last-place season in the NL West.</p>
<p>The durable McCutchen has played at least 153 games in each of the past three seasons for the Pirates, batting .279 with 28 home runs and 88 RBIs in 156 games in 2017.</p>
<p>Crick, 25, had a 3.06 ERA, 28 strikeouts in 32 1/3 innings and a .191 opponents' batting average last year in his first big league season, allowing three of 21 inherited runners to score. Reynolds, a 22-year-old switch-hitter, batted .312 with 26 doubles, nine triples, 10 homers and 63 RBIs as Class A San Jose. He was a second-round pick in 2016.</p>
<p>Huntington shied away from using the word "rebuild," stressing he believes the road back to contention isn't some far off destination, but more immediate, even if it's not in 2018.</p>
<p>"We have talented players that are also really good people," Huntington said. "Sounds also like a lot of players that aren't here anymore."</p>
<p>One in particular.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>AP Baseball Writer Janie McCauley in San Francisco contributed to this report.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>More AP baseball: <a href="" type="internal">https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball</a></p>
| false | 2 |
pittsburgh ap andrew mccutchen didnt run challenge pittsburgh embraced rising star franchise mired two decades losing mccutchen bet pirates spring 2012 signing sixyear contract gambling could become one games best helping city reconnect team long since abandoned paid involved dynamic charismatic outfielder became mvp ushering renaissance five allstar games three playoff appearances ballpark packed fans wearing 22 everything mccutchen owner bob nutting talked sundappled florida day six years ago came fruition monday came end facing certainty couldnt resign mccutchen hit free agency next winter pirates traded san francisco giants exchange righthander kyle crick minor league outfielder bryan reynolds 500000 international signing bonus allocation pirates also send 25 million giants cover part mccutchens 1475 million salary general manager neal huntington broke news mccutchen phone call monday closed remarkable also remarkably brief chapter player nutting said wanted make pirate life organization considers economic truths sport set perfect world would great result pittsburgh great result andrew nutting said think realities game realities baseball right dont allow possible 31yearold mccutchen 2013 nl mvp became second star jettisoned pittsburgh three days ace gerrit cole traded houston saturday nutting called deal sent mccutchen giants emotionally challenging decision move huntington stressed right one players currently roster players horizon players weve acquired two trades play meaningful roles next pittsburgh pirates playoff team huntington said fueled mccutchens daily brilliance aided coles arrival 2013 help anchor starting rotation pittsburgh ended twodecade postseason drought 2013 made three straight playoff appearances falling 7883 2016 7587 last year mccutchen perhaps franchises popular player since hall famer willie stargell little shy away role team moved right field last winter talked openly following footsteps roberto clemente wife maria welcomed first child december boy named steel pittsburghmy homemy fansmy city mccutchen tweeted 4ever heart mccutchen added nowim giant ive always enjoyed watching success sfgiants look foward apart season cant wait meet new teammates fans beginning huntington said pirates informal talks mccutchen extension believed asking price open market would something couldnt match wanted surround mccutchen competitive talent became clear going hard us meet deserves build championship ballclub around huntington said wont issue san francisco giants three titles decade coming forgettable 2017 lost 98 games theyve attacked lukewarm market aggressively adding third baseman evan longoria tampa bay december secret looking add run production lineup said brian sabean giants executive vice president baseball operations anytime opportunity bring aboard someone track record jump mccutchen may take center denard span traded rays longoria deal could slide outfield corner san francisco wanted production outfield lastplace season nl west durable mccutchen played least 153 games past three seasons pirates batting 279 28 home runs 88 rbis 156 games 2017 crick 25 306 era 28 strikeouts 32 13 innings 191 opponents batting average last year first big league season allowing three 21 inherited runners score reynolds 22yearold switchhitter batted 312 26 doubles nine triples 10 homers 63 rbis class san jose secondround pick 2016 huntington shied away using word rebuild stressing believes road back contention isnt far destination immediate even 2018 talented players also really good people huntington said sounds also like lot players arent anymore one particular ___ ap baseball writer janie mccauley san francisco contributed report ___ ap baseball httpsapnewscomtagmlbbaseball pittsburgh ap andrew mccutchen didnt run challenge pittsburgh embraced rising star franchise mired two decades losing mccutchen bet pirates spring 2012 signing sixyear contract gambling could become one games best helping city reconnect team long since abandoned paid involved dynamic charismatic outfielder became mvp ushering renaissance five allstar games three playoff appearances ballpark packed fans wearing 22 everything mccutchen owner bob nutting talked sundappled florida day six years ago came fruition monday came end facing certainty couldnt resign mccutchen hit free agency next winter pirates traded san francisco giants exchange righthander kyle crick minor league outfielder bryan reynolds 500000 international signing bonus allocation pirates also send 25 million giants cover part mccutchens 1475 million salary general manager neal huntington broke news mccutchen phone call monday closed remarkable also remarkably brief chapter player nutting said wanted make pirate life organization considers economic truths sport set perfect world would great result pittsburgh great result andrew nutting said think realities game realities baseball right dont allow possible 31yearold mccutchen 2013 nl mvp became second star jettisoned pittsburgh three days ace gerrit cole traded houston saturday nutting called deal sent mccutchen giants emotionally challenging decision move huntington stressed right one players currently roster players horizon players weve acquired two trades play meaningful roles next pittsburgh pirates playoff team huntington said fueled mccutchens daily brilliance aided coles arrival 2013 help anchor starting rotation pittsburgh ended twodecade postseason drought 2013 made three straight playoff appearances falling 7883 2016 7587 last year mccutchen perhaps franchises popular player since hall famer willie stargell little shy away role team moved right field last winter talked openly following footsteps roberto clemente wife maria welcomed first child december boy named steel pittsburghmy homemy fansmy city mccutchen tweeted 4ever heart mccutchen added nowim giant ive always enjoyed watching success sfgiants look foward apart season cant wait meet new teammates fans beginning huntington said pirates informal talks mccutchen extension believed asking price open market would something couldnt match wanted surround mccutchen competitive talent became clear going hard us meet deserves build championship ballclub around huntington said wont issue san francisco giants three titles decade coming forgettable 2017 lost 98 games theyve attacked lukewarm market aggressively adding third baseman evan longoria tampa bay december secret looking add run production lineup said brian sabean giants executive vice president baseball operations anytime opportunity bring aboard someone track record jump mccutchen may take center denard span traded rays longoria deal could slide outfield corner san francisco wanted production outfield lastplace season nl west durable mccutchen played least 153 games past three seasons pirates batting 279 28 home runs 88 rbis 156 games 2017 crick 25 306 era 28 strikeouts 32 13 innings 191 opponents batting average last year first big league season allowing three 21 inherited runners score reynolds 22yearold switchhitter batted 312 26 doubles nine triples 10 homers 63 rbis class san jose secondround pick 2016 huntington shied away using word rebuild stressing believes road back contention isnt far destination immediate even 2018 talented players also really good people huntington said sounds also like lot players arent anymore one particular ___ ap baseball writer janie mccauley san francisco contributed report ___ ap baseball httpsapnewscomtagmlbbaseball
| 1,056 |
<p>RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — James Neal and Jonathan Marchessault scored to help the Vegas Golden Knights beat the Carolina Hurricanes 5-1 on Sunday night, giving the expansion franchise the best record in the NHL.</p>
<p>The Golden Knights are 31-11-4, good for 66 points. That's one ahead of Tampa Bay, which had the night off.</p>
<p>Colin Miller had a goal and two assists, and Marc-Andre Fleury made 27 saves for Vegas. The Golden Knights finished 2-1-1 on this road trip, including a 4-1 win Thursday at the Lightning.</p>
<p>Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and Brendan Leipsic also scored for Vegas, which avenged a 3-2 shootout loss to Carolina in December. Neal got his 21st goal of the season, and Marchessault had his 17th.</p>
<p>SHARKS 6, DUCKS 2</p>
<p>ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Mikkel Boedker had two goals and an assist, Joe Thornton had a goal and an assist, and San Jose beat Anaheim.</p>
<p>Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Kevin Labanc and Melker Karlsson also scored for the Sharks, who have won five of six. Aaron Dell stopped 33 shots.</p>
<p>Rickard Rakell and Ryan Getzlaf scored for Anaheim. John Gibson stopped only 17 of 22 shots and was replaced after giving up his fifth goal. Anaheim had a four-game home winning streak snapped.</p>
<p>Four goals came in the third period.</p>
<p>KINGS 4, RANGERS 2</p>
<p>LOS ANGELES (AP) — Tanner Pearson, Michael Amadio and Jake Muzzin each scored on the power play and Los Angeles snapped its six-game skid.</p>
<p>Jonathan Quick made 21 saves for the Kings while ending his personal five-game losing skid. Trevor Lewis added an empty-net goal with 17.8 seconds remaining.</p>
<p>David Desharnais had a power-play goal and Jimmy Vesey also scored for the Rangers, who have dropped four straight on the road. Henrik Lundqvist made 26 saves</p>
<p>FLYERS 2, CAPITALS 1, OT</p>
<p>WASHINGTON (AP) — Travis Konecny scored 27 seconds into overtime, and surging Philadelphia beat Washington.</p>
<p>Konecny found space in the middle of the offensive zone and his shot deflected off Washington's T.J. Oshie and past Braden Holtby for his eighth of the season.</p>
<p>Michael Raffl also scored for Philadelphia, and Brian Elliott had 27 saves. The Flyers have won three in a row and seven of eight to move into playoff position in the Eastern Conference.</p>
<p>Washington has dropped three in a row. Alex Ovechkin scored his NHL-best 29th goal, and Holtby made 21 stops.</p>
<p>JETS 1, CANUCKS 0</p>
<p>WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — Connor Hellebuyck made 29 saves for his fourth shutout of the season, and Winnipeg beat Vancover to extend its home winning streak to six games.</p>
<p>Patrik Laine scored his team-leading 21st goal in the first period.</p>
<p>Hellebuyck picked up his 25th win for the Jets, who moved into first place in the Central Division, one point ahead of idle Nashville.</p>
<p>Anders Nilsson stopped 35 shots for the Canucks, who had lost 5-2 to Edmonton the night before. It was Nilsson's sixth straight loss.</p>
<p>RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — James Neal and Jonathan Marchessault scored to help the Vegas Golden Knights beat the Carolina Hurricanes 5-1 on Sunday night, giving the expansion franchise the best record in the NHL.</p>
<p>The Golden Knights are 31-11-4, good for 66 points. That's one ahead of Tampa Bay, which had the night off.</p>
<p>Colin Miller had a goal and two assists, and Marc-Andre Fleury made 27 saves for Vegas. The Golden Knights finished 2-1-1 on this road trip, including a 4-1 win Thursday at the Lightning.</p>
<p>Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and Brendan Leipsic also scored for Vegas, which avenged a 3-2 shootout loss to Carolina in December. Neal got his 21st goal of the season, and Marchessault had his 17th.</p>
<p>SHARKS 6, DUCKS 2</p>
<p>ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Mikkel Boedker had two goals and an assist, Joe Thornton had a goal and an assist, and San Jose beat Anaheim.</p>
<p>Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Kevin Labanc and Melker Karlsson also scored for the Sharks, who have won five of six. Aaron Dell stopped 33 shots.</p>
<p>Rickard Rakell and Ryan Getzlaf scored for Anaheim. John Gibson stopped only 17 of 22 shots and was replaced after giving up his fifth goal. Anaheim had a four-game home winning streak snapped.</p>
<p>Four goals came in the third period.</p>
<p>KINGS 4, RANGERS 2</p>
<p>LOS ANGELES (AP) — Tanner Pearson, Michael Amadio and Jake Muzzin each scored on the power play and Los Angeles snapped its six-game skid.</p>
<p>Jonathan Quick made 21 saves for the Kings while ending his personal five-game losing skid. Trevor Lewis added an empty-net goal with 17.8 seconds remaining.</p>
<p>David Desharnais had a power-play goal and Jimmy Vesey also scored for the Rangers, who have dropped four straight on the road. Henrik Lundqvist made 26 saves</p>
<p>FLYERS 2, CAPITALS 1, OT</p>
<p>WASHINGTON (AP) — Travis Konecny scored 27 seconds into overtime, and surging Philadelphia beat Washington.</p>
<p>Konecny found space in the middle of the offensive zone and his shot deflected off Washington's T.J. Oshie and past Braden Holtby for his eighth of the season.</p>
<p>Michael Raffl also scored for Philadelphia, and Brian Elliott had 27 saves. The Flyers have won three in a row and seven of eight to move into playoff position in the Eastern Conference.</p>
<p>Washington has dropped three in a row. Alex Ovechkin scored his NHL-best 29th goal, and Holtby made 21 stops.</p>
<p>JETS 1, CANUCKS 0</p>
<p>WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — Connor Hellebuyck made 29 saves for his fourth shutout of the season, and Winnipeg beat Vancover to extend its home winning streak to six games.</p>
<p>Patrik Laine scored his team-leading 21st goal in the first period.</p>
<p>Hellebuyck picked up his 25th win for the Jets, who moved into first place in the Central Division, one point ahead of idle Nashville.</p>
<p>Anders Nilsson stopped 35 shots for the Canucks, who had lost 5-2 to Edmonton the night before. It was Nilsson's sixth straight loss.</p>
| false | 2 |
raleigh nc ap james neal jonathan marchessault scored help vegas golden knights beat carolina hurricanes 51 sunday night giving expansion franchise best record nhl golden knights 31114 good 66 points thats one ahead tampa bay night colin miller goal two assists marcandre fleury made 27 saves vegas golden knights finished 211 road trip including 41 win thursday lightning pierreedouard bellemare brendan leipsic also scored vegas avenged 32 shootout loss carolina december neal got 21st goal season marchessault 17th sharks 6 ducks 2 anaheim calif ap mikkel boedker two goals assist joe thornton goal assist san jose beat anaheim marcedouard vlasic kevin labanc melker karlsson also scored sharks five six aaron dell stopped 33 shots rickard rakell ryan getzlaf scored anaheim john gibson stopped 17 22 shots replaced giving fifth goal anaheim fourgame home winning streak snapped four goals came third period kings 4 rangers 2 los angeles ap tanner pearson michael amadio jake muzzin scored power play los angeles snapped sixgame skid jonathan quick made 21 saves kings ending personal fivegame losing skid trevor lewis added emptynet goal 178 seconds remaining david desharnais powerplay goal jimmy vesey also scored rangers dropped four straight road henrik lundqvist made 26 saves flyers 2 capitals 1 ot washington ap travis konecny scored 27 seconds overtime surging philadelphia beat washington konecny found space middle offensive zone shot deflected washingtons tj oshie past braden holtby eighth season michael raffl also scored philadelphia brian elliott 27 saves flyers three row seven eight move playoff position eastern conference washington dropped three row alex ovechkin scored nhlbest 29th goal holtby made 21 stops jets 1 canucks 0 winnipeg manitoba ap connor hellebuyck made 29 saves fourth shutout season winnipeg beat vancover extend home winning streak six games patrik laine scored teamleading 21st goal first period hellebuyck picked 25th win jets moved first place central division one point ahead idle nashville anders nilsson stopped 35 shots canucks lost 52 edmonton night nilssons sixth straight loss raleigh nc ap james neal jonathan marchessault scored help vegas golden knights beat carolina hurricanes 51 sunday night giving expansion franchise best record nhl golden knights 31114 good 66 points thats one ahead tampa bay night colin miller goal two assists marcandre fleury made 27 saves vegas golden knights finished 211 road trip including 41 win thursday lightning pierreedouard bellemare brendan leipsic also scored vegas avenged 32 shootout loss carolina december neal got 21st goal season marchessault 17th sharks 6 ducks 2 anaheim calif ap mikkel boedker two goals assist joe thornton goal assist san jose beat anaheim marcedouard vlasic kevin labanc melker karlsson also scored sharks five six aaron dell stopped 33 shots rickard rakell ryan getzlaf scored anaheim john gibson stopped 17 22 shots replaced giving fifth goal anaheim fourgame home winning streak snapped four goals came third period kings 4 rangers 2 los angeles ap tanner pearson michael amadio jake muzzin scored power play los angeles snapped sixgame skid jonathan quick made 21 saves kings ending personal fivegame losing skid trevor lewis added emptynet goal 178 seconds remaining david desharnais powerplay goal jimmy vesey also scored rangers dropped four straight road henrik lundqvist made 26 saves flyers 2 capitals 1 ot washington ap travis konecny scored 27 seconds overtime surging philadelphia beat washington konecny found space middle offensive zone shot deflected washingtons tj oshie past braden holtby eighth season michael raffl also scored philadelphia brian elliott 27 saves flyers three row seven eight move playoff position eastern conference washington dropped three row alex ovechkin scored nhlbest 29th goal holtby made 21 stops jets 1 canucks 0 winnipeg manitoba ap connor hellebuyck made 29 saves fourth shutout season winnipeg beat vancover extend home winning streak six games patrik laine scored teamleading 21st goal first period hellebuyck picked 25th win jets moved first place central division one point ahead idle nashville anders nilsson stopped 35 shots canucks lost 52 edmonton night nilssons sixth straight loss
| 652 |
<p>(Corrects headline to say the court has started observation proceedings, not received application for the company’s bankruptcy.)</p>
<p>Jan 24 (Reuters) - Cheboksary Aggregate Works:</p>
<p>* COURT RECEIVES VEB APPLICATION FOR COMPANY BANKRUPTCY AND STARTS OBSERVATION PROCEEDINGS Source text: <a href="http://bit.ly/2FQXJ4q" type="external">bit.ly/2FQXJ4q</a></p>
<p>Further company coverage: (Gdynia Newsroom)</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Commission proposed rules on Wednesday to make digital companies pay their fair share of tax, with U.S. tech giants such as Google ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=GOOGL.O" type="external">GOOGL.O</a>), Facebook ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=FB.O" type="external">FB.O</a>) and Amazon ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=AMZN.O" type="external">AMZN.O</a>) set to foot a large chunk of the bill.</p> European Economic and Financial Affairs Commissioner Pierre Moscovici holds a news conference at the EU Commission's headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, March 21, 2018. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir
<p>Under the Commission’s plan, companies with significant digital revenues in Europe will pay a 3 percent tax on their turnover on various online services in the European Union, bringing in an estimated 5 billion euros ($6.1 billion).</p>
<p>If backed by EU states and lawmakers, whose support is far from certain, the tax would apply to large firms with annual worldwide revenue above 750 million euros ($920.9 million) annual “taxable” EU revenues above 50 million euros.</p>
<p>The tax, designed as a short-term measure before the EU finds a way to tax profits based on where they do business, could also encompass other high-profile U.S. firms such as Airbnb and Uber [UBER.UL].</p>
<p>It is designed to apply to activities in which users play a role in value creation - whether via online advertising, such as in search engines or social media, via online trading or in the sale of data about users.</p>
<p>The legislation comes as the United States unsettles Europe with its own tax reform and the threat of a trade war along with reports that Facebook user data was accessed by a consultancy to help President Donald Trump win the 2016 election.</p>
<p>EU antitrust authorities have also been busy investigating the business practices of Amazon, Google and Apple, leading to accusations, which the Commission denies, that it is targeting Silicon Valley.</p> DEEP DIVISIONS
<p>The Commission said that top digital firms, whose average revenue growth of 14 percent far exceeded that of other multinationals, faced an effective tax rate of 9.5 percent, less than half the level of traditional companies.</p>
<p>The proposals require backing from the European Parliament and the 28 EU countries, but they are divided on the issue. EU tax reforms need the backing of all member states to become law.</p> Slideshow (3 Images)
<p>Large EU states have accused the tech firms of paying too little tax in the bloc by routing some of their profits to low-tax member states such as Ireland and Luxembourg.</p>
<p>U.S. tech companies themselves have said they are paying tax in line with national and international laws and, in some cases, that the tax should be paid in the United States on profits repatriated there.</p>
<p>The proposal is to tax companies according to where their digital users are based.</p>
<p>A senior EU diplomatic predicted it would be hard to push through the legislation, among the most important for the bloc, because of deep divisions between larger countries set to gain more tax income and smaller ones set to lose.</p>
<a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=GOOGL.O" type="external">Alphabet Inc</a> 1095.8 GOOGL.O Nasdaq +0.00 (+0.00%) GOOGL.O FB.O AMZN.O
<p>Smaller countries also fear becoming less attractive to multinational firms.</p>
<p>Ireland has warned that the proposals risk merely re-slicing the tax cake, rather than actually taxing more. Some countries also believe that smaller companies should also face a bill.</p>
<p>Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis said that the EU would prefer globally agreed rules, but that the amount of profits currently going untaxed was unacceptable.</p>
<p>The tax would to apply to online advertising sales, which would bring in companies such as Google and Facebook, to platforms offering services such as interaction with other users or online sales and to those selling data generated from users.</p>
<p>The tax would be collected in countries where the users are located.</p>
<p>Tech industry groups have complained that it is wrong to tax revenues as that would unduly hit companies, such as Amazon, with thinner margins.</p>
<p>($1 = 0.8145 euros)</p>
<p>Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop; Additional reporting by Alastair Macdonald; Editing by Alison Williams</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>KABUL (Reuters) - A suicide bomber blew himself up near a Shi’ite shrine in Kabul on Wednesday, killing at least 29 people and wounding dozens, officials said, as the Afghan capital celebrated the Nawruz holiday marking the start of the Persian new year.</p>
<p>The explosion underlined the threat to the city from militant attacks, despite government promises to tighten security in the wake of an attack in January that killed around 100 people.</p>
<p>Militant group Islamic State, which has claimed several previous attacks on Shi’ite targets, claimed responsibility, its Amaq news agency said. The Taliban issued a statement denying any connection.</p>
<p>Kabul had been on alert for attacks over the Nawruz holiday but the bomber was still able to detonate his explosives as people were leaving the Kart-e Sakhi shrine, in a heavily Shi’ite area in the west of the city.</p>
<p>“When the explosion took place, I fell to the ground and I saw many people on the ground around me,” said Ramazan, who was wounded in the blast at the shrine, near the city’s main university.</p> An Afghan man inspects the site of a suicide attack in Kabul, Afghanistan March 21, 2018. REUTERS/Omar Sobhani
<p>Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danesh said the bomber had apparently intended to reach the shrine, which was attacked during a Shi’ite festival in October 2016, but had been prevented from getting closer by police checkpoints.</p>
<p>“We had our security in place in and around the shrine,” he said. “All the casualties were young people who were either passing by on the road or gathering to enjoy Nawruz.”</p> Slideshow (11 Images)
<p>Dr Waheed Majroh, a spokesman for the ministry of public health, said 29 people were confirmed dead with 52 wounded being treated in hospitals in the city. Women and children were among the casualties, he said.</p>
<p>Nawruz, an ancient Persian celebration of the start of spring, is widely celebrated in many parts of Afghanistan but has also faced opposition from some fundamentalist Muslims, who say it is un-Islamic.</p>
<p>The seemingly endless attacks have undermined support for the government of President Ashraf Ghani, who offered last month to hold peace talks with Taliban insurgents fighting to drive out international forces and reimpose their version of strict Islamic law.</p>
<p>The Taliban have so far shown little sign of accepting the offer of talks with the Western-backed government, which they consider an illegitimate, foreign-imposed regime, although they have offered to talk to the United States.</p>
<p>Additional reporting by Mohammad Aziz and Omar Fahmy in CAIRO; Writing by James Mackenzie; Editing by Nick Macfie and Clarence Fernandez</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>MOSUL, Iraq (Reuters) - For residents of the Old City, returning to Mosul is an exercise in trying to forget.</p> Moayad stands in front of the market stall where he sells second-hand jeans in al-Nabi market in the east Mosul, Iraq, January 11, 2018. REUTERS/Raya Jalabi
<p>Its streets bear the scars of the horrors they survived – either living under Islamic State’s (IS) draconian rule or during nine months of brutal fighting, as the U.S.-led coalition battled to recapture the city from the jihadists.</p>
<p>“This corner is where Daesh whipped my sons for talking out of turn,” said Um Abdullah, using the Arabic acronym for Islamic State, walking around the neighborhood she returned to in January. “And this corner is where they killed my father for trying to stop them.”</p>
<p>The spot was meters away from her home in the Bab al-Jadeed district. Though the front door had been blown off its hinges, the house remained standing unlike most others on the street. Where there were once 40 families living, there are now only three.</p>
<p>Um Abdullah says she returned reluctantly to the area, which has no electricity and no running water, because conditions were nevertheless better than the refugee camp where she had lived before.</p>
<p>A few streets away, Um Russil said she had also recently returned to the area, where her husband had been wounded in an air strike.</p>
<p>“Some of our neighbors don’t want to return – they say they are scarred by what they went through and can’t come back,” she said. “But we had to come back ... we had no choice.”</p>
<p>Prior to the move back, Um Russil had been living in the eastern part of Mosul, Islamic State’s main base in Iraq which suffered heavy damage from bombing and fighting.</p> FORCED UNDERGROUND
<p>Many residents of the Old City were among the last to leave Mosul. As the fighting intensified in the spring of 2017, the militants retreated further inwards, to the densely packed buildings of the historic quarter. They took over entire homes, turning them into makeshift bases, forcing families underground.</p>
<p>“We lived for three months in the cellar, before they liberated our areas on July 7,” said Moayad, 45.</p>
<p>He was forced to live - along with his mother, his children and grandchildren - in his small, windowless basement by Russian-speaking Islamic State fighters who took over his home in the Zanjili district last spring.</p>
<p>“They had everything they needed,” said Moayad, who declined to give his full name. He added that without clean drinking water or food to eat, his family survived on flour mixed with saline water he stole from IS fighters’ medical kits.</p>
<p>He was jaundiced and starving when Iraqi security forces cleared his street and evacuated civilians who had been living under intense shelling for months.</p>
<p>It wasn’t always like this. When Islamic State first came to the city, they were mostly welcomed by the predominantly Sunni residents, some of whom – at least at first – were sympathetic to their cause.</p>
<p>“Nothing really changed at first,” said Moayad, a market trader who sells second hand clothes. “We could still move around, go to the market, walk in the streets and everyone would greet each other and chit-chat, even the new people in their strange clothes.”</p>
<p>Many residents were relieved to gain reprieve from the Shi’ite-led government forces that they say treated them badly, and happier still to get a break from car bombs that had dominated since al Qaeda, Islamic State’s predecessor, fomented a years-long insurgency.</p> CLEAN STREETS AND BRUTALITY
<p>Islamic State quickly set about building the apparatus of its so-called caliphate, including establishing a new local government. Some of the city’s employees left Mosul, current municipality head Abdelsattar al-Hibbu told Reuters.</p>
<p>But most stayed and were either forced to work for or willingly joined the new regime.</p>
<p>The militants ensured streets were cleaned and roads were paved. Some residents said the Islamic State’s administration, run by a French-Morrocan jihadi, was more efficient than the previous regime. The militants subsidized services and food for some of the city’s poor.</p>
<p>But they also imposed a system of oppressive religious taxes and issued a series of decrees covering all aspects of public and private life. Punishments ranged from chopped hands to beheadings, a spectrum of unfettered violence which turned many initial supporters away.</p>
<p>“You lived in constant fear of getting in trouble with the religious police or a senior fighter walking by,” said Moayad, who said crimes could be as small as smoking to wearing the wrong clothing.</p>
<p>As the war began and later intensified, residents of the Old City were prevented from leaving, serving as human shields for the dwindling numbers of IS fighters.</p>
<p>“They killed four people who tried to escape the neighborhood right outside my house,” said Moayad, recalling the scene.</p>
<p>“And they did it publicly to scare people into staying. We weren’t allowed to remove the bodies until they started decomposing, to scare us.”</p>
<p>Editing by Cassell Bryan-Low</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>MOSUL, Iraq (Reuters) - Perched atop a mound of rubble, Abdelsattar al-Hibbu surveyed what remained of his second-floor office: twisted iron and centuries-old stone reduced to dust by an airstrike.</p> FILE PHOTO - Abdelsattar al-Hibbu, municipality chief of Mosul, speaks during an interview with Reuters in Mosul, Iraq, January 9, 2018. REUTERS/Ari Jalal
<p>“I used to look out at the river from my window,” Hibbu said wistfully, recalling how the nine-month battle that defeated Islamic State militants in Mosul last year destroyed tens of thousands of buildings. “Now look at it.”</p>
<p>Hibbu is the municipality chief of Mosul and faces the titanic task of rebuilding Iraq’s second largest city from the ruins of war. It is a mega-project that could take years and require billions of dollars – yet his administration is strapped for cash.</p>
<p>“What are we supposed to do, dig money out of the ground?” asked Hibbu, a tall, broad man in his mid-forties who is fond of recounting his city’s storied past as a center of culture and learning.</p>
<p>His daily struggles reflect the challenges facing a city seen as vital to efforts to stabilize Iraq. Once home to about two million inhabitants, Mosul now has an estimated 700,000 of its population displaced and needs at least $2 billion of reconstruction, according to federal government estimates. Before the war it had an administrative budget of $80 million a year; now it doesn’t know how to pay its bills.</p>
<p>In mid-January Hibbu told Reuters he didn’t have a budget for 2018 yet, but that the city needed $75 million just to maintain basic services. He thought he might get $10 million from the Ministry of the Municipalities and Public Works, a federal government agency in Baghdad that oversees municipal governments. Nor is he expecting much from the provincial government, which once provided Mosul with about $60 million a year. It’s in disarray after the governor was suspended in an investigation into alleged corruption and the torturing of journalists. The governor denies any wrongdoing.</p>
<p>What scares Hibbu and Western officials is that the devastation and lack of help may reignite old sectarian grievances.</p>
<p>Mosul’s predominantly Sunni population had for years complained they were marginalized by the Shi’ite-led central government, treated like second class citizens and deprived of decent jobs and senior positions in the security forces. Those resentments led many of Mosul’s Sunnis to welcome Islamic State when it captured the city in 2014 and called for war against Iraq’s majority Shi’ites.</p>
<p>Hibbu, a Sunni himself, wants to avoid conditions that could enable a new group of militants to exploit frustration with the central government and pose another security threat.</p>
<p>“If Baghdad doesn’t properly invest in the reconstruction of Mosul, we could get something worse” than Islamic State, said Hibbu. “This lack of foresight is going to have very negative consequences.”</p>
<p>Lise Grande, until recently the U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq who oversaw the U.N.’s stabilization program tasked with servicing immediate humanitarian needs, takes a similar view. “If we don’t stabilize these areas quickly, violent extremism might emerge again, and the gains against ISIL (Islamic State) could be lost,” she told Reuters.</p> Related Coverage
<a href="/article/us-iraq-mosul-official-scene/bloody-scenes-of-life-under-is-haunt-mosul-returnees-idUSKBN1GX1AL" type="external">Bloody scenes of life under IS haunt Mosul returnees</a>
<a href="/article/us-iraq-mosul-official-help/international-help-for-iraq-idUSKBN1GX19I" type="external">International help for Iraq</a>
<p>The Baghdad government did not respond to Reuters requests for comment on the reconstruction of Mosul and the festering tensions.</p>
<p>For Hibbu, it’s an uphill struggle. People show up at his office at all hours making endless demands. State employees who have not been paid in months. City workers who need more vehicles to clear the garbage that is piling up. Factory officials desperate for fuel. Even a shepherd seeking help to transport his animals through the city center.</p>
<p>Many people in the city feel abandoned. Some areas are dotted with dirt-covered women and children, scouring the rubble for scrap metal they can sell. At one rubbish dump in December, an elderly woman rooted through a pile of fetid garbage for anything salvageable. “At least under Daesh” - an Arabic acronym for Islamic State - “we were treated better and weren’t reduced to picking garbage,” she said.</p> DESERTED BAZAARS
<p>Hibbu portrays himself as a wheeler-dealer who can handle just about anything after a career as a municipality official that began 17 years ago under Saddam Hussein. During the subsequent al-Qaeda insurgency, local officials, including him, were targeted. Hibbu faced three assassination attempts and still feels pain from the wounds. Two bullets are still lodged in his lower back, he said.</p>
<p>He works an average of 18 hours a day, often sleeping on a mattress he keeps in his office, and the stress sometimes gets to him. One moment he has guests in his office and charms them over glasses of sweet tea, the next he yells down the telephone at employees or argues with people lobbying for help.</p>
<p>The Tigris River, which flows through the city, is a demarcation line in the task of reconstruction. To the east, which escaped the worst of the fighting, much of life has returned to normal: Markets are busy, classrooms are full and traffic is constant.</p>
<p>The picture is much bleaker to the west, where militants drew the advancing forces into door-to-door combat in the Old City, a warren of narrow streets dating back centuries. Officials estimate that 40,000 homes were destroyed in West Mosul. Civilian life has only just begun to trickle in once more.</p>
<p>According to Hibbu, of the 200,000 residents of the Old City, only 1,000 families have returned – or roughly 5,000 people. Many of those displaced are still living in refugee camps or have piled into East Mosul, putting additional strain on already stretched infrastructure.</p>
<p>The United Nations estimates there are 10 million tons of rubble in Mosul overall, and the Old City’s streets are still knee-deep with debris. Children’s clothes, university textbooks and human remains are scattered between mangled doorways and sheets of corrugated iron, the detritus of life in a city half-destroyed.</p>
<p>Taller buildings, home to snipers and makeshift bomb factories during the battle, are heaps of collapsed concrete. The bazaars have been turned inside out, their scorched or dust-coated contents strewn outside pummeled shops that once sold everything from CDs to saffron and second-hand clocks.</p> FILE PHOTO - Abdelsattar al-Hibbu, municipality chief of Mosul, is seen in Mosul, Iraq, January 9, 2018. REUTERS/Ari Jalal
<p>Massive cranes are perched in the main square, clearing rubble and bullet-pocked cars, and knocking down unstable structures. Men sweep dust and pick up trash.</p>
<p>“Every month we advance about 100 meters into the Old City,” Hibbu said of rubble-clearing efforts there, walking through the bazaars one morning in mid-January. “It’s slow going, but that’s all we can do with the resources we have right now.”</p>
<p>To help places such as Mosul, the Baghdad government set up a body called ReFAATO – The Reconstruction Fund for Areas Affected by Terroristic Operations. Fadhel Abdel Amir, an adviser to the Ministry of Municipalities, which is a partner in ReFAATO, said the fund was allocated $400 million last year in the federal budget. But only $120 million was actually transferred to the fund - and that money was for all liberated areas of Iraq, not just Mosul, Abdel Amir said.</p>
<p>According to Hibbu, Mosul received the equivalent of just $252,000 from ReFAATO for 2017. “That’s about what we need to spend every hour,” Hibbu said, frustrated. “It’s not fair on the people of Mosul.” The central government in Baghdad declined to comment.</p>
<p>Hibbu says the municipality currently has 1,500 employees but needs 10,000. Much of its machinery was stolen or destroyed by Islamic State. About 970 machines, worth some $350 million, were taken or wrecked, he says, and the city has been left with only two specialized bulldozers small enough for clearing residential side streets.</p>
<p>To survive, the city has been racking up debts and relying on the patience of workers. The municipality owes $7 million to contractors and workers it hired in 2017, Hibbu said. “We’re four months late paying the salaries of our laborers.”</p>
<p>Fuel supplies are also short. On Mosul’s outskirts is a plant making asphalt vital for reconstruction. Its manager, Wafar Younis Zanoon, said the plant needs 5,000 liters of fuel per day but secures only 3,000 liters about twice a week. “We have to close three days a week,” he said.</p>
<p>It is people like Um Russil, a mother of two, who came back to her home in the Bab al Jadeed neighborhood of the Old City in October, that Hibbu needs to reassure. The municipal chief was eager to show that her street and nearby ones had been cleared of rubble. But there was no water or electricity anywhere in the neighborhood.</p> Slideshow (18 Images)
<p>Um Russil asked Hibbu to speed up the delivery of basic services to her and three other families who have returned to her street. “I’m too embarrassed to ask anything from you,” she said as she pulled at her dirt-covered dress. “But our lives were destroyed by Daesh … Right now, we just need running water.” Hibbu, clad in a smart suit, instructed a deputy from his 20-person entourage to look into the delay.</p>
<p>Some barely scratch a living as they suffer quietly in half-demolished homes. On a typical day before the war, a trader named Moayad, who declined to give his full name, used to earn $10 a day selling used jeans. Now, he says he can hardly make $1 a week.</p>
<p>“How am I ever going to make any money to rebuild my home?” he asked on a cold day in mid-January. His eldest son was killed in an airstrike during the war, leaving him to take care of his son’s wife and five children.</p>
<p>He said he had to borrow $25 from his sister just to buy a tarpaulin and some cement blocks to shelter his extended family of 13. He fears that even if aid money does arrive, it will not reach people like him.</p>
<p>“The best solution would be if the international donors and the coalition gave money directly to us, to residents, to rebuild our own homes and our own city,” said Moayad. “Because you know the second the money goes into government hands, we’re never going to see a dinar.”</p> “NOT A WISE CHOICE”
<p>Early this year, the central government and Mosul officials approved a plan intended to ameliorate sectarian tensions and police the city more effectively. The federal police and the powerful Shi’ite militias that have been providing security since the city’s liberation on July 10 were supposed to be phased out in favor of an army unit led by Najm al-Jabouri, a popular general from a large Sunni tribe.</p>
<p>Iraqi and Western officials had agreed to this arrangement to help displaced Sunni civilians feel safe enough to move back to the city. The Shi’ite militias were accused throughout the war of extra-judicial killings of Sunnis suspected of backing Islamic State. However, the plan has been indefinitely delayed, according to military and government sources, due to an increase in violence across liberated areas.</p>
<p>Sectarian tensions are still evident in the city. In January, members of Iranian-backed Shi’ite militias and the federal police held up posters of Iranian revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in a main Mosul square.</p>
<p>“That was not a wise choice,” an outraged Hibbu said. “We gave a lot of martyrs fighting Iran during the Iran-Iraq war, and now they’re putting up pictures of Khomeini!”</p>
<p>The challenges of creating sectarian harmony were also evident on the outskirts of Mosul. Sh’ite militiamen who stood guard along a road leading to a garbage dump said they and many other militiamen have no intention of leaving the city.</p>
<p>“I am just concerned with security,” one of the men, Jameel Khodr, who was holding an AK-47, told Reuters. Like other militiamen, he was determined that the militias keep control of as much of the area as possible. “We have enough weapons. We have machineguns. Rocket-propelled grenades.”</p>
<p>As Hibbu strives to bridge divisions and rebuild the city, he is under no illusions about the difficulties.</p>
<p>“Iraq is truthfully a divided country. The people are divided, though officially, we’re not divided,” he said as he sat in his office, pensive at the start of what he knew would be a long day. He even wondered whether Mosul and the surrounding areas should split away from Baghdad and become autonomous.</p>
<p>“Everyone should be helping reconstruct the liberated areas. Because in Iraq, we endured terrorists from around the world.” He listed various countries that played a part in his city’s ruin, from Iran to the United States. “They all ended up in Mosul, where the coalition waged war against them and destroyed Mosul.”</p>
<p>Reporting by Raya Jalabi and Michael Georgy. Additional reporting by Ahmed Rasheed in Baghdad. Editing By Richard Woods</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
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corrects headline say court started observation proceedings received application companys bankruptcy jan 24 reuters cheboksary aggregate works court receives veb application company bankruptcy starts observation proceedings source text bitly2fqxj4q company coverage gdynia newsroom standards thomson reuters trust principles brussels reuters european commission proposed rules wednesday make digital companies pay fair share tax us tech giants google googlo facebook fbo amazon amzno set foot large chunk bill european economic financial affairs commissioner pierre moscovici holds news conference eu commissions headquarters brussels belgium march 21 2018 reutersfrancois lenoir commissions plan companies significant digital revenues europe pay 3 percent tax turnover various online services european union bringing estimated 5 billion euros 61 billion backed eu states lawmakers whose support far certain tax would apply large firms annual worldwide revenue 750 million euros 9209 million annual taxable eu revenues 50 million euros tax designed shortterm measure eu finds way tax profits based business could also encompass highprofile us firms airbnb uber uberul designed apply activities users play role value creation whether via online advertising search engines social media via online trading sale data users legislation comes united states unsettles europe tax reform threat trade war along reports facebook user data accessed consultancy help president donald trump win 2016 election eu antitrust authorities also busy investigating business practices amazon google apple leading accusations commission denies targeting silicon valley deep divisions commission said top digital firms whose average revenue growth 14 percent far exceeded multinationals faced effective tax rate 95 percent less half level traditional companies proposals require backing european parliament 28 eu countries divided issue eu tax reforms need backing member states become law slideshow 3 images large eu states accused tech firms paying little tax bloc routing profits lowtax member states ireland luxembourg us tech companies said paying tax line national international laws cases tax paid united states profits repatriated proposal tax companies according digital users based senior eu diplomatic predicted would hard push legislation among important bloc deep divisions larger countries set gain tax income smaller ones set lose alphabet inc 10958 googlo nasdaq 000 000 googlo fbo amzno smaller countries also fear becoming less attractive multinational firms ireland warned proposals risk merely reslicing tax cake rather actually taxing countries also believe smaller companies also face bill commission vice president valdis dombrovskis said eu would prefer globally agreed rules amount profits currently going untaxed unacceptable tax would apply online advertising sales would bring companies google facebook platforms offering services interaction users online sales selling data generated users tax would collected countries users located tech industry groups complained wrong tax revenues would unduly hit companies amazon thinner margins 1 08145 euros reporting philip blenkinsop additional reporting alastair macdonald editing alison williams standards thomson reuters trust principles kabul reuters suicide bomber blew near shiite shrine kabul wednesday killing least 29 people wounding dozens officials said afghan capital celebrated nawruz holiday marking start persian new year explosion underlined threat city militant attacks despite government promises tighten security wake attack january killed around 100 people militant group islamic state claimed several previous attacks shiite targets claimed responsibility amaq news agency said taliban issued statement denying connection kabul alert attacks nawruz holiday bomber still able detonate explosives people leaving karte sakhi shrine heavily shiite area west city explosion took place fell ground saw many people ground around said ramazan wounded blast shrine near citys main university afghan man inspects site suicide attack kabul afghanistan march 21 2018 reutersomar sobhani interior ministry spokesman najib danesh said bomber apparently intended reach shrine attacked shiite festival october 2016 prevented getting closer police checkpoints security place around shrine said casualties young people either passing road gathering enjoy nawruz slideshow 11 images dr waheed majroh spokesman ministry public health said 29 people confirmed dead 52 wounded treated hospitals city women children among casualties said nawruz ancient persian celebration start spring widely celebrated many parts afghanistan also faced opposition fundamentalist muslims say unislamic seemingly endless attacks undermined support government president ashraf ghani offered last month hold peace talks taliban insurgents fighting drive international forces reimpose version strict islamic law taliban far shown little sign accepting offer talks westernbacked government consider illegitimate foreignimposed regime although offered talk united states additional reporting mohammad aziz omar fahmy cairo writing james mackenzie editing nick macfie clarence fernandez standards thomson reuters trust principles mosul iraq reuters residents old city returning mosul exercise trying forget moayad stands front market stall sells secondhand jeans alnabi market east mosul iraq january 11 2018 reutersraya jalabi streets bear scars horrors survived either living islamic states draconian rule nine months brutal fighting usled coalition battled recapture city jihadists corner daesh whipped sons talking turn said um abdullah using arabic acronym islamic state walking around neighborhood returned january corner killed father trying stop spot meters away home bab aljadeed district though front door blown hinges house remained standing unlike others street 40 families living three um abdullah says returned reluctantly area electricity running water conditions nevertheless better refugee camp lived streets away um russil said also recently returned area husband wounded air strike neighbors dont want return say scarred went cant come back said come back choice prior move back um russil living eastern part mosul islamic states main base iraq suffered heavy damage bombing fighting forced underground many residents old city among last leave mosul fighting intensified spring 2017 militants retreated inwards densely packed buildings historic quarter took entire homes turning makeshift bases forcing families underground lived three months cellar liberated areas july 7 said moayad 45 forced live along mother children grandchildren small windowless basement russianspeaking islamic state fighters took home zanjili district last spring everything needed said moayad declined give full name added without clean drinking water food eat family survived flour mixed saline water stole fighters medical kits jaundiced starving iraqi security forces cleared street evacuated civilians living intense shelling months wasnt always like islamic state first came city mostly welcomed predominantly sunni residents least first sympathetic cause nothing really changed first said moayad market trader sells second hand clothes could still move around go market walk streets everyone would greet chitchat even new people strange clothes many residents relieved gain reprieve shiiteled government forces say treated badly happier still get break car bombs dominated since al qaeda islamic states predecessor fomented yearslong insurgency clean streets brutality islamic state quickly set building apparatus socalled caliphate including establishing new local government citys employees left mosul current municipality head abdelsattar alhibbu told reuters stayed either forced work willingly joined new regime militants ensured streets cleaned roads paved residents said islamic states administration run frenchmorrocan jihadi efficient previous regime militants subsidized services food citys poor also imposed system oppressive religious taxes issued series decrees covering aspects public private life punishments ranged chopped hands beheadings spectrum unfettered violence turned many initial supporters away lived constant fear getting trouble religious police senior fighter walking said moayad said crimes could small smoking wearing wrong clothing war began later intensified residents old city prevented leaving serving human shields dwindling numbers fighters killed four people tried escape neighborhood right outside house said moayad recalling scene publicly scare people staying werent allowed remove bodies started decomposing scare us editing cassell bryanlow standards thomson reuters trust principles mosul iraq reuters perched atop mound rubble abdelsattar alhibbu surveyed remained secondfloor office twisted iron centuriesold stone reduced dust airstrike file photo abdelsattar alhibbu municipality chief mosul speaks interview reuters mosul iraq january 9 2018 reutersari jalal used look river window hibbu said wistfully recalling ninemonth battle defeated islamic state militants mosul last year destroyed tens thousands buildings look hibbu municipality chief mosul faces titanic task rebuilding iraqs second largest city ruins war megaproject could take years require billions dollars yet administration strapped cash supposed dig money ground asked hibbu tall broad man midforties fond recounting citys storied past center culture learning daily struggles reflect challenges facing city seen vital efforts stabilize iraq home two million inhabitants mosul estimated 700000 population displaced needs least 2 billion reconstruction according federal government estimates war administrative budget 80 million year doesnt know pay bills midjanuary hibbu told reuters didnt budget 2018 yet city needed 75 million maintain basic services thought might get 10 million ministry municipalities public works federal government agency baghdad oversees municipal governments expecting much provincial government provided mosul 60 million year disarray governor suspended investigation alleged corruption torturing journalists governor denies wrongdoing scares hibbu western officials devastation lack help may reignite old sectarian grievances mosuls predominantly sunni population years complained marginalized shiiteled central government treated like second class citizens deprived decent jobs senior positions security forces resentments led many mosuls sunnis welcome islamic state captured city 2014 called war iraqs majority shiites hibbu sunni wants avoid conditions could enable new group militants exploit frustration central government pose another security threat baghdad doesnt properly invest reconstruction mosul could get something worse islamic state said hibbu lack foresight going negative consequences lise grande recently un humanitarian coordinator iraq oversaw uns stabilization program tasked servicing immediate humanitarian needs takes similar view dont stabilize areas quickly violent extremism might emerge gains isil islamic state could lost told reuters related coverage bloody scenes life haunt mosul returnees international help iraq baghdad government respond reuters requests comment reconstruction mosul festering tensions hibbu uphill struggle people show office hours making endless demands state employees paid months city workers need vehicles clear garbage piling factory officials desperate fuel even shepherd seeking help transport animals city center many people city feel abandoned areas dotted dirtcovered women children scouring rubble scrap metal sell one rubbish dump december elderly woman rooted pile fetid garbage anything salvageable least daesh arabic acronym islamic state treated better werent reduced picking garbage said deserted bazaars hibbu portrays wheelerdealer handle anything career municipality official began 17 years ago saddam hussein subsequent alqaeda insurgency local officials including targeted hibbu faced three assassination attempts still feels pain wounds two bullets still lodged lower back said works average 18 hours day often sleeping mattress keeps office stress sometimes gets one moment guests office charms glasses sweet tea next yells telephone employees argues people lobbying help tigris river flows city demarcation line task reconstruction east escaped worst fighting much life returned normal markets busy classrooms full traffic constant picture much bleaker west militants drew advancing forces doortodoor combat old city warren narrow streets dating back centuries officials estimate 40000 homes destroyed west mosul civilian life begun trickle according hibbu 200000 residents old city 1000 families returned roughly 5000 people many displaced still living refugee camps piled east mosul putting additional strain already stretched infrastructure united nations estimates 10 million tons rubble mosul overall old citys streets still kneedeep debris childrens clothes university textbooks human remains scattered mangled doorways sheets corrugated iron detritus life city halfdestroyed taller buildings home snipers makeshift bomb factories battle heaps collapsed concrete bazaars turned inside scorched dustcoated contents strewn outside pummeled shops sold everything cds saffron secondhand clocks file photo abdelsattar alhibbu municipality chief mosul seen mosul iraq january 9 2018 reutersari jalal massive cranes perched main square clearing rubble bulletpocked cars knocking unstable structures men sweep dust pick trash every month advance 100 meters old city hibbu said rubbleclearing efforts walking bazaars one morning midjanuary slow going thats resources right help places mosul baghdad government set body called refaato reconstruction fund areas affected terroristic operations fadhel abdel amir adviser ministry municipalities partner refaato said fund allocated 400 million last year federal budget 120 million actually transferred fund money liberated areas iraq mosul abdel amir said according hibbu mosul received equivalent 252000 refaato 2017 thats need spend every hour hibbu said frustrated fair people mosul central government baghdad declined comment hibbu says municipality currently 1500 employees needs 10000 much machinery stolen destroyed islamic state 970 machines worth 350 million taken wrecked says city left two specialized bulldozers small enough clearing residential side streets survive city racking debts relying patience workers municipality owes 7 million contractors workers hired 2017 hibbu said four months late paying salaries laborers fuel supplies also short mosuls outskirts plant making asphalt vital reconstruction manager wafar younis zanoon said plant needs 5000 liters fuel per day secures 3000 liters twice week close three days week said people like um russil mother two came back home bab al jadeed neighborhood old city october hibbu needs reassure municipal chief eager show street nearby ones cleared rubble water electricity anywhere neighborhood slideshow 18 images um russil asked hibbu speed delivery basic services three families returned street im embarrassed ask anything said pulled dirtcovered dress lives destroyed daesh right need running water hibbu clad smart suit instructed deputy 20person entourage look delay barely scratch living suffer quietly halfdemolished homes typical day war trader named moayad declined give full name used earn 10 day selling used jeans says hardly make 1 week ever going make money rebuild home asked cold day midjanuary eldest son killed airstrike war leaving take care sons wife five children said borrow 25 sister buy tarpaulin cement blocks shelter extended family 13 fears even aid money arrive reach people like best solution would international donors coalition gave money directly us residents rebuild homes city said moayad know second money goes government hands never going see dinar wise choice early year central government mosul officials approved plan intended ameliorate sectarian tensions police city effectively federal police powerful shiite militias providing security since citys liberation july 10 supposed phased favor army unit led najm aljabouri popular general large sunni tribe iraqi western officials agreed arrangement help displaced sunni civilians feel safe enough move back city shiite militias accused throughout war extrajudicial killings sunnis suspected backing islamic state however plan indefinitely delayed according military government sources due increase violence across liberated areas sectarian tensions still evident city january members iranianbacked shiite militias federal police held posters iranian revolutionary leader ayatollah ruhollah khomeini main mosul square wise choice outraged hibbu said gave lot martyrs fighting iran iraniraq war theyre putting pictures khomeini challenges creating sectarian harmony also evident outskirts mosul shite militiamen stood guard along road leading garbage dump said many militiamen intention leaving city concerned security one men jameel khodr holding ak47 told reuters like militiamen determined militias keep control much area possible enough weapons machineguns rocketpropelled grenades hibbu strives bridge divisions rebuild city illusions difficulties iraq truthfully divided country people divided though officially divided said sat office pensive start knew would long day even wondered whether mosul surrounding areas split away baghdad become autonomous everyone helping reconstruct liberated areas iraq endured terrorists around world listed various countries played part citys ruin iran united states ended mosul coalition waged war destroyed mosul reporting raya jalabi michael georgy additional reporting ahmed rasheed baghdad editing richard woods standards thomson reuters trust principles
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<p>The three Democratic presidential candidates made misleading claims on health care, energy and guns.</p>
<p>The Democrats <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/01/17/the-4th-democratic-debate-transcript-annotated-who-said-what-and-what-it-meant/" type="external">met&#160;in Charleston, South Carolina, for the debate</a>, broadcast by NBC.</p>
<p>In a lengthy back-and-forth between Sanders and Clinton over his health care plan, Sanders said he wasn’t going to “tear up the Affordable Care Act” but instead “move on top of that” to a single-payer, universal health care system. But his plan actually calls for replacing current forms of insurance, including private insurance and Medicaid, with a new universal plan administered by the federal government.</p>
<p>Here’s that exchange:</p>
<p>Clinton: Now, there are things we can do to improve it, but to tear it up and start over again, pushing our country back into that kind of a contentious debate, I think is the wrong direction.</p>
<p>Sanders: It is — it is absolutely inaccurate. …&#160;No one is tearing this up, we’re going to go forward.&#160;…&#160;We’re not going to tear up the Affordable Care Act. I helped write it. But we are going to move on top of that to a Medicaid-for-all system.</p>
<p>Sanders’ has referred to his plan as Medicare for all, not Medicaid. The last bill he introduced on the matter was the&#160; <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-bill/1782/text" type="external">American Health Security Act of 2013</a>, but hours before the debate, his campaign <a href="https://berniesanders.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Medicare-for-All.pdf" type="external">released a new plan</a>, which says it would be “federally administered,” not state-based as the 2013 bill proposed.</p>
<p>Either way, the plan calls for a new universal health care system in which everyone would have health coverage, paid for with tax dollars, not insurance premiums. Insurance as we know it would change to&#160;“a single, public insurance system,” as the plan says. “As a patient, all you need to do is go to the doctor and show your insurance card,” says Sanders’ plan. “Bernie’s plan means no more copays, no more deductibles and no more fighting with insurance companies when they fail to pay for charges.”</p>
<p>Sanders claimed that “we’re not going to tear up the Affordable Care Act,” but actually his plan would replace the ACA. There would be no more private insurance marketplaces&#160;with tax credits and subsidies,&#160;or a Medicaid expansion. Instead, everyone would have the same, public insurance.</p>
<p>Clinton’s remarks may have left the impression that Sanders would get rid of the ACA first, and then try to replace it, but that’s not how it would likely be done.</p>
<p>Sanders went on to claim that his plan would “lower the cost of health care for middle class families by 5,000 bucks.” That’s based on <a href="https://berniesanders.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/friedman-memo-1.pdf" type="external">an estimate done for the campaign</a> that would pertain specifically to a family of four with employer-sponsored insurance earning $50,000 a year.</p>
<p>Gerald Friedman, an economics professor at the&#160;University of Massachusetts at Amherst, did the analysis,&#160;which says our family of four paid&#160;$4,955 in insurance premiums through an employer, the average paid by employees for a family plan in 2015, <a href="http://kff.org/health-costs/report/2015-employer-health-benefits-survey/" type="external">according to the Kaiser Family Foundation</a>. Plus, the analysis figures the family paid $1,318 in deductibles, the average for single plans with deductibles in 2015.</p>
<p>If the family paid that much in deductibles out of pocket, the total yearly expense would be $6,273. Under Sanders’ plan, this family would only pay a 2.2 percent tax — which he calls a “premium” — of $466 on taxable income. (That’s assuming a standard deduction and personal exemption totaling $28,800 for our hypothetical family.)</p>
<p>Of course, some families with employer-sponsored insurance pay less than the average employee contribution, and some have lower deductibles or don’t spend enough out of pocket to reach the full deductible. Their potential savings would be less. Others pay more for their current premiums and would have higher estimated savings.</p>
<p>Employers may have different reactions to the new plan as well. They no longer would pay toward insurance premiums, but instead would pay a 6.2 percent payroll tax for all employees to help fund the public insurance system. They could pass along that cost to their employees.</p>
<p>The rest of the money for Sanders’ plan comes largely from taxing those earning more than $250,000 a year, through higher marginal tax rates (as high as 52 percent on income over $10 million), taxing capital gains the same as&#160;income from wages, limiting deductions and increasing the estate tax.</p>
<p>On health care, Clinton said costs were “the lowest they’ve been in 50 years.” That’s the rate of growth in health care spending — costs have continued to go up, not down, but they have been growing at historically low rates.</p>
<p>Clinton:&#160;We now have driven costs down to the lowest they’ve been in 50 years. Now we’ve got to get individual costs down. That’s what I’m planning to do.</p>
<p>President Obama <a href="" type="internal">also boasted of the low rate of growth in health care spending</a> in his State of the Union address on Jan. 12,&#160;as he has done several times in the past. Clinton flubbed the talking point, saying that the costs were the lowest, not the rate of growth.</p>
<p>From 2009 to 2012, total national health care spending grew&#160;at rates around 4 percent per year.&#160;The journal <a href="http://content.healthaffairs.org/content/31/1/208.abstract" type="external">Health Affairs noted</a> in 2012 that the growth rates were the lowest since the Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services&#160;started compiling the National Health Expenditure Accounts data in 1960. The growth rate even went as low as 2.9 percent in 2013, before rising to 5.3 percent for 2014&#160;( <a href="http://www.cms.gov/Research-Statistics-Data-and-Systems/Statistics-Trends-and-Reports/NationalHealthExpendData/Downloads/Tables.zip" type="external">see Table 1</a>).</p>
<p>Clinton said that “we now have driven costs down,” but economists say the cause of the slowdown was mainly the economy — not the actions of politicians or the Affordable Care Act.&#160;A <a href="http://kff.org/health-costs/issue-brief/assessing-the-effects-of-the-economy-on-the-recent-slowdown-in-health-spending-2/" type="external">2013 analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation</a> said that “much of the decline in health spending growth in recent years was fully expected given what was happening more broadly in the economy.” And in 2014, CMS’ experts <a href="http://content.healthaffairs.org/content/33/1/67.abstract?=right" type="external">said</a>&#160;the ACA’s impact had been “minimal.”</p>
<p>O’Malley gave President Obama too much credit when he said he “made us more energy independent.”</p>
<p>It is true, as we’ve <a href="" type="internal">reported periodically</a>, that the U.S. is producing more oil domestically and importing less from abroad during Obama’s time in office. The <a href="http://www.eia.gov/forecasts/steo/query/index.cfm?periodType=QUARTERLY&amp;startYear=2008&amp;endYear=2015&amp;formulas=x13x4x78x8x7xg" type="external">U.S. Energy Information Administration</a> estimates net U.S. imports of petroleum in the last three months of 2015 were 62 percent lower than in the three months before Obama first took office.</p>
<p>And in the first 11 months of last year, the U.S. <a href="http://www.eia.gov/totalenergy/data/monthly/pdf/sec3_7.pdf" type="external">imported only 24.3 percent</a> of the petroleum and refined products that it consumed — down sharply from 57 percent in 2008.</p>
<p>But as we’ve also reported often, the U.S. oil boom is due mainly to advances in drilling technology rather than to any change in government policy. The decline in dependency on imports actually began in 2006, after peaking at 60.3 percent the year before.</p>
<p>O’Malley’s broader point was that “to move us to a 100 percent clean, electric energy grid by 2050” would require more than Obama’s energy policy.</p>
<p><a href="https://martinomalley.com/climate/agenda/" type="external">O’Malley proposes</a> a federal cap on carbon emissions, higher royalties and emissions fees for fossil fuel companies currently drilling on federal lands, and expanded Environmental Protection Agency&#160;regulations to curb emissions from large sources beyond electric power plants, among other things.</p>
<p>In answering a question about police shootings of young black men, Clinton said, “One out of three&#160;African American men may well end up going to prison. That’s the statistic.”</p>
<p>But that statistic is outdated — a 2003 projection based on 2001 incarceration rate data. And since then, the incarceration rate for black males has declined.</p>
<p>The Clinton campaign did not get back to us when we asked for the source of her claim. However, she is likely&#160;referring to a <a href="http://sentencingproject.org/doc/publications/rd_ICCPR%20Race%20and%20Justice%20Shadow%20Report.pdf" type="external">2013 report</a> by the <a href="http://www.sentencingproject.org/template/index.cfm" type="external">Sentencing Project</a> that said, “If current trends continue, one of every three black American males born today can expect to go to prison in his lifetime, as can one of every six Latino males — compared to one of every seventeen white males.”</p>
<p>That report generated stories such as <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/04/racial-disparities-criminal-justice_n_4045144.html" type="external">one in the Huffington Post</a> that carried the headline, “1 In 3 Black Males Will Go To Prison In Their Lifetime, Report Warns.”</p>
<p>But the Sentencing Project, which advocates for “ <a href="http://www.sentencingproject.org/template/page.cfm?id=2" type="external">reforms in sentencing policy</a>,” did not produce that 1-in-3&#160;estimate. It was taken word for word from a <a href="http://sentencingproject.org/doc/publications/Prison%20Journal%20-%20racial%20disparity.pdf" type="external">2011 report</a> called “Addressing Racial Disparities in Incarceration.”&#160;And that 2011 report based its estimate on <a href="http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/piusp01.pdf" type="external">an August 2003 report</a> by the Bureau of Justice Statistics.</p>
<p>The BJS report projected that 32.2 percent of black males born in 2001 “are&#160;expected to go to prison during their lifetime, if current incarceration rates remain unchanged.”</p>
<p>But the incarceration rate for black males has changed. In fact, it has declined since 2001.</p>
<p>The Bureau of Justice Statistics annually produces reports on incarceration rates by race. The&#160;incarceration rate for black males was 3,535 per 100,000, or 3.5 percent, in 2001. ( <a href="http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/p01.pdf" type="external">See Table 16</a>.) The most recent report put that figure at 2,724 per 100,000 black males, or 2.7 percent, in 2014. ( <a href="http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/p14.pdf" type="external">See Table 10.</a>)</p>
<p>This is not to discount Clinton’s larger point that black males are overrepresented in state and federal prisons.</p>
<p>The latest BJS report said, “On December 31, 2014, black males had higher&#160;imprisonment rates than prisoners of other races or Hispanic&#160;origin within every age group. Imprisonment rates for black&#160;males were 3.8 to 10.5 times greater at each age group than white males and 1.4 to 3.1 times greater than rates for Hispanic&#160;males.”</p>
<p>But the 1-in-3 statistic that she passed off as a fact is outdated and is not based on current incarceration rates.</p>
<p>Clinton said Sanders once called President Obama “weak” and “disappointing” and “publicly sought someone to run in a primary against [him]” while Sanders responded that he needed &#160;to “set the record right” that he “worked as hard as I could to see that [Obama] was reelected.” As is the case in many political exchanges, some context is needed.</p>
<p>In 2011, Sanders did voice some support for a contested primary for Obama, as a means to push the president further to the left, but there is no evidence he actively sought out an opposition candidate. Sanders&#160;ultimately publicly supported Obama’s reelection campaign.</p>
<p>The issue of Sanders’ allegiance to Obama arose during a debate discussion about differences between the two Democratic candidates on the best way to regulate Wall Street.</p>
<p>“Well, there’s no daylight on the basic premise that there should be no bank too big to fail and no individual too powerful to jail. We agree on that,” Clinton said. “But where we disagree is the comments that Sen. Sanders has made that don’t just affect me, I can take that, but he’s criticized President Obama for taking donations from Wall Street, and President Obama has led our country out of the great recession.</p>
<p>“Sen. Sanders called him weak, disappointing,” Clinton said. “He even, in 2011, publicly sought someone to run in a primary against President Obama. Now, I personally believe that President Obama’s work to push through the&#160;Dodd-Frank bill and then to sign it was one of the most important regulatory schemes we’ve had since the 1930s. So I’m going to defend Dodd-Frank and I’m going to defend President Obama for taking on Wall Street, taking on the financial industry and getting results.”</p>
<p>Asked to respond, Sanders said, “First of all, set the record right. In 2006 when I ran for the Senate, Sen. Barack Obama was kind enough to campaign for me. [In] 2008, I did my best to see that he was elected and in 2012, I worked as hard as I could to see that he was reelected. He and I are friends. We’ve worked together on many issues. We have some differences of opinion.”</p>
<p>The comments in question from Sanders came during a&#160;July 22, 2011, appearance on the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8N8E1v7E58" type="external">Thom Hartmann radio program</a>, and we&#160; <a href="" type="internal">first wrote</a> about them when they were raised by O’Malley in the Nov. 6 MSNBC Democratic forum.</p>
<p>Although Sanders&#160; <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20081014133439/http://thehill.com/endorsements-2008.html" type="external">endorsed</a> and supported Obama in the 2008 general election,&#160;Sanders had several public disagreements with Obama during the president’s first term, with Sanders arguing that the president&#160;was too willing to cut deals with Republicans. Notably, in 2010, Sanders&#160; <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/10/AR2010121005431.html" type="external">railed for more than eight hours</a> on the Senate floor against a deal brokered between Obama and Republicans that extended the Bush tax cuts. He also criticized Obama for backing off <a href="http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/obameter/promise/44/lift-the-payroll-tax-cap-on-earnings-above-25000/" type="external">a promise</a>&#160;to lift the payroll tax cap on earnings above $250,000 in order to ensure the long-term health of Social Security.</p>
<p>So when a caller to the Hartmann program asked&#160;how the country could get “back on track” with a government that “quit[s] running the country like a for-profit machine,” Sanders took aim at Obama’s policies that Sanders said wavered from the progressive agenda he laid out during his 2008 campaign.</p>
<p>Sanders, July 22, 2011: Let me just suggest this. I think that there are millions of Americans who are deeply disappointed in the president, who believe that with regard to Social Security and a number of other issues, he said one thing as a candidate and is doing something very much else as a president, who cannot believe how weak he has been — for whatever reason — in negotiating with Republicans, and there’s deep disappointment. So my suggestion is, I think, you know one of the reasons the president has been able to move so far to the right is that there is no primary opposition to him. And I think it would do this country a good deal of service if people started thinking about candidates out there to begin contrasting what is a progressive agenda as opposed to what Obama is doing.</p>
<p>The next caller then followed up, asking, “Who out there would you suggest? Who are you talking to? Are you encouraging anyone?”</p>
<p>Sanders, July 22, 2011: At this point, I have not, but I am now giving thought to doing it. You know the names out there as well as I do. And I think the American people have got to be engaged, it’s not just me or anybody else here in Washington. There are a lot of smart, honest progressive people who I think can be good presidents. And I think one of the reasons President Obama has moved as far to the right as he has, is he thinks he can go all the way and no one will stand up to him. So, Tim, I don’t want to tell you more than that, but this is an issue we are beginning to talk about a little bit.</p>
<p>The following month, Sanders was asked in a <a href="http://www.c-span.org/video/?301027-1/newsmakers-senator-bernie-sanders&amp;start=2" type="external">C-SPAN interview</a> if he had someone in mind for a primary challenge to Obama, and what he thought that might accomplish (starting at the 23:20 mark):</p>
<p>Sanders, Aug. 12, 2011: I don’t know of anybody in mind, but I’m sure that there are serious and smart people out there who can do it. Here’s the point: If you’re asking me, do I think at the end of the day that Barack Obama is going to be the Democratic candidate for president in 2012? I do. But do I believe that it is a good idea for our democracy, and for the Democratic Party — and I speak, by the way, as an independent — that people start asking the president some hard questions about why he said one thing during his previous campaign and is doing another thing today on Social Security, on Medicare? I think it is important that that discussion take place.</p>
<p>By early 2012, however, Sanders was publicly supporting Obama’s reelection. As <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cPNtDb_pAU" type="external">an introductory speaker</a>before Obama took the podium at a campaign event at the University of Vermont, Sanders described 2012 as “a campaign of huge consequences” and pledged to do “everything we can to reelect Barack Obama as president of the United States.”</p>
<p>In <a href="http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1205/16/sitroom.01.html" type="external">a May 16, 2012, interview on CNN</a>, host Wolf Blitzer asked where Sanders was on Obama, given that “last time we spoke, your endorsement of the president was lukewarm.”</p>
<p>Sanders responded that Republican Mitt Romney was “George Bush reincarnated” and said, “So if people liked the Bush economic policy, you’re going to like Romney. I thought the Bush economic policy was a disaster. … So I think Obama is by far the preferable candidate. Is Obama doing everything I want, absolutely not, and among other things he has not been as strong as he should standing up to Wall Street.”</p>
<p>So in one sense, Clinton was right that Sanders called Obama’s policies “weak” and “disappointing,” and Sanders&#160;did voice support for a primary challenge to Obama. But there’s no evidence he actually actively recruited anyone to oppose Obama. And ultimately, Sanders campaigned for Obama’s reelection.</p>
<p>Clinton claimed that Sanders “voted to let guns go onto the Amtrak,” and that “he&#160;voted for immunity [for]&#160;gun makers and sellers.” She added, “There is no other industry in America that was given the total pass that the gun makers and dealers were.”</p>
<p>Sanders did vote to allow guns on Amtrak trains, but in checked baggage only. And separate legislation he voted for didn’t give a “total pass” to gun makers and dealers from civil lawsuits.</p>
<p>On Sept. 16, 2009, Sanders <a href="http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111&amp;session=1&amp;vote=00279" type="external">voted in favor of an amendment</a> to a transportation appropriations bill that restored the right of Amtrak passengers to transport guns in checked baggage. Doing so had been prohibited since the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.congress.gov/crec/2009/09/14/CREC-2009-09-14-pt1-PgS9332-2.pdf" type="external">amendment allowed</a> passengers traveling to and from Amtrak stations with checked baggage service to place an unloaded firearm in a checked bag if the passenger provided advance notice that he or she&#160;would be traveling with a firearm and if that firearm was stored in a locked, hard-sided container to which only the passenger had the key or combination. The amendment also said passengers would be allowed to place ammunition for a small firearm inside the checked bag if the ammunition was stored securely in a box made of fiber, wood or metal, or other packaging used to transport small amounts of ammunition.</p>
<p>But Amtrak does not allow travelers to have firearms or ammunition physically on them while traveling or in their carry-on baggage. Amtrak also says that only its employees have access to the area of the train where checked bags are stored (see page 4 of a <a href="http://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/755/360/FirearmsInCheckedBaggage061010.pdf" type="external">2010 document explaining</a> the Amtrak Checked Firearms Program).</p>
<p>Sanders also <a href="https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/109-2005/h534" type="external">voted in favor of&#160;the</a> Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act of 2005, which&#160; <a href="https://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42871.pdf" type="external">provided some protections</a> for licensed manufacturers, dealers, sellers of firearms or ammunition, and trade associations from civil lawsuits resulting from the misuse of firearms or ammunition. But gun makers and dealers did not receive a “total pass,” as Clinton claimed.</p>
<p>As the <a href="https://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42871.pdf" type="external">Congressional Research Service pointed out in a 2012 report</a>, the legislation included six exceptions where civil suits could still be brought, including cases in which&#160;a firearm seller acted with negligence, cases involving the transfer of a firearm with the knowledge that it would be used to commit a crime, and cases in which&#160;manufacturers and sellers marketed or sold a firearm in violation of state or federal law.</p>
<p>We should note that Sanders <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/01/16/sanders-announces-support-for-legislation-that-would-repeal-immunity-for-gun-dealers/" type="external">now says that he would support legislation</a> that has been proposed that would&#160;take away the protections for licensed firearm manufacturers and dealers that were included in the 2005 bill he supported.</p>
<p>— by Eugene Kiely, Brooks Jackson, Lori Robertson, Robert Farley and D’Angelo Gore</p>
<p>Sanders, Bernie. <a href="https://berniesanders.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Medicare-for-All.pdf" type="external">Medicare for All: Leaving No One Behind</a>. Jan 2016.</p>
<p>Friedman, Gerald. Memo to Bernie Sander’s campaign.&#160; <a href="https://berniesanders.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/friedman-memo-1.pdf" type="external">United States can afford single payer health care program</a>. 1 Jan 2016.</p>
<p>Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services, Office of the Actuary, National Health Statistics Group. <a href="http://www.cms.gov/Research-Statistics-Data-and-Systems/Statistics-Trends-and-Reports/NationalHealthExpendData/Downloads/Tables.zip" type="external">Table 1: National Health Expenditures, Aggregate and Per Capita Amounts, Annual Percentage Change and Percent Distribution, Selected Calendar Years, 1960-2014</a>. Accessed 13 Jan 2016.</p>
<p>Martin, Anne et. al. “ <a href="http://content.healthaffairs.org/content/31/1/208.abstract" type="external">Growth In US Health Spending Remained Slow In 2010; Health Share Of Gross Domestic Product Was Unchanged From 2009</a>.” Health Affairs. Jan 2012.</p>
<p>Kaiser Family Foundation. “ <a href="http://kff.org/health-costs/issue-brief/assessing-the-effects-of-the-economy-on-the-recent-slowdown-in-health-spending-2/" type="external">Assessing the Effects of the Economy on the Recent Slowdown in Health Spending</a>.” 22 Apr 2013.</p>
<p>Martin, Anne et. al. “ <a href="http://content.healthaffairs.org/content/33/1/67.abstract?=right" type="external">National Health Spending In 2012: Rate Of Health Spending Growth Remained Low For The Fourth Consecutive Year</a>.” Health Affairs. Jan 2014.</p>
<p>U.S. Energy Information Administration. “ <a href="http://www.eia.gov/forecasts/steo/query/index.cfm?periodType=QUARTERLY&amp;startYear=2008&amp;endYear=2015&amp;formulas=x13x4x78x8x7xg" type="external">U.S. Crude Oil Production</a>.” Short Term Energy Outlook. 12 Jan 2016. Data extracted 12 Jan 2016.</p>
<p>U.S. Energy Information Administration. “ <a href="http://www.eia.gov/totalenergy/data/monthly/pdf/sec3_7.pdf" type="external">Table 3.3a. Monthly Energy Review</a>.” 23 Dec 2015.</p>
<p>O’Malley for President. “ <a href="https://martinomalley.com/climate/agenda/" type="external">A Jobs Agenda for Our Renewable Energy Future</a>” Undated, accessed 18 Jan 2016.</p>
<p>“ <a href="http://sentencingproject.org/doc/publications/rd_ICCPR%20Race%20and%20Justice%20Shadow%20Report.pdf" type="external">Report of The Sentencing Project to the United Nations Human Rights Committee</a>.” The Sentencing Project. Aug 2013.</p>
<p>Mauer, Marc. “ <a href="http://tpj.sagepub.com/content/91/3_suppl/87S.abstract" type="external">Addressing Racial Disparities in Incarceration</a>.” The Prison Journal. Sep 2011.</p>
<p>Knafo, Saki.&#160;“ <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/04/racial-disparities-criminal-justice_n_4045144.html" type="external">1 In 3 Black Males Will Go To Prison In Their Lifetime, Report Warns</a>.” Huffington Post. 4 Oct 2013.</p>
<p>Bonczar, Thomas P. “ <a href="http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/piusp01.pdf" type="external">Prevalence of Imprisonment in&#160;the U.S. Population, 1974-2001</a>.” Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics. Aug 2003.</p>
<p>Harrison, Paige and Allen J. Beck, PhD. “ <a href="http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/p01.pdf" type="external">Prisoners in 2001</a>.”&#160;Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics. Jul 2002.</p>
<p>Carson, E. Ann. “ <a href="http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/p14.pdf" type="external">Prisoners in 2014</a>.” Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics. Sep 2015.</p>
<p>FactCheck.org. “ <a href="" type="internal">FactChecking the MSNBC Democratic Forum</a>.” 9 Nov 2015.</p>
<p>FactCheck.org. “FactChecking the Third Democratic Debate.” 20 Dec 2015.</p>
<p>Chu, Vivian. “ <a href="https://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42871.pdf" type="external">The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act: An Overview of Limiting Tort Liability of Gun Manufacturers</a>.” Congressional Research Service. 20 Dec 2012.</p>
<p>Wagner, John. “ <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/01/16/sanders-announces-support-for-legislation-that-would-repeal-immunity-for-gun-dealers/" type="external">Sanders announces support for legislation that would repeal immunity for gun dealers</a>.” Washington Post. 16 Jan 2015.</p>
<p>YouTube.com. “A Primary Challenger For Obama?” <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8N8E1v7E58" type="external">Thom Hartmann Show</a>. Interview with Sen. Bernie Sanders. YouTube.com. 22 Jul 2011.</p>
<p>PolitiFact. Obammeter Promise: “ <a href="http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/obameter/promise/44/lift-the-payroll-tax-cap-on-earnings-above-25000/" type="external">Lift the payroll tax cap on earnings above $250,000</a>.” Last updated 30 Apr 2012.</p>
<p>CSPAN. “ <a href="http://www.c-span.org/video/?301027-1/newsmakers-senator-bernie-sanders&amp;start=2" type="external">Newsmakers with Senator Bernie Sanders</a>.” 12 Aug 2011.</p>
<p>YouTube.com. Video: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cPNtDb_pAU" type="external">Bernie&#160;</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cPNtDb_pAU" type="external">Sanders Speaking at University of Vermont Rally for Obama</a>. 30 Mar 2012.</p>
<p>CNN The Situation Room. Transcript: <a href="http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1205/16/sitroom.01.html" type="external">Interview with Bernie Sanders</a>. 16 May 2012.</p>
<p>Kane, Paul and Sonmez, Felicia. “ <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/10/AR2010121005431.html" type="external">Sen. Bernie Sanders speaks for 8 hours against tax cuts, while Congressional Black Caucus joins opposition</a>.” Washington Post. 11 Dec 2010.</p>
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three democratic presidential candidates made misleading claims health care energy guns democrats met160in charleston south carolina debate broadcast nbc lengthy backandforth sanders clinton health care plan sanders said wasnt going tear affordable care act instead move top singlepayer universal health care system plan actually calls replacing current forms insurance including private insurance medicaid new universal plan administered federal government heres exchange clinton things improve tear start pushing country back kind contentious debate think wrong direction sanders absolutely inaccurate 160no one tearing going go forward160160were going tear affordable care act helped write going move top medicaidforall system sanders referred plan medicare medicaid last bill introduced matter the160 american health security act 2013 hours debate campaign released new plan says would federally administered statebased 2013 bill proposed either way plan calls new universal health care system everyone would health coverage paid tax dollars insurance premiums insurance know would change to160a single public insurance system plan says patient need go doctor show insurance card says sanders plan bernies plan means copays deductibles fighting insurance companies fail pay charges sanders claimed going tear affordable care act actually plan would replace aca would private insurance marketplaces160with tax credits subsidies160or medicaid expansion instead everyone would public insurance clintons remarks may left impression sanders would get rid aca first try replace thats would likely done sanders went claim plan would lower cost health care middle class families 5000 bucks thats based estimate done campaign would pertain specifically family four employersponsored insurance earning 50000 year gerald friedman economics professor the160university massachusetts amherst analysis160which says family four paid1604955 insurance premiums employer average paid employees family plan 2015 according kaiser family foundation plus analysis figures family paid 1318 deductibles average single plans deductibles 2015 family paid much deductibles pocket total yearly expense would 6273 sanders plan family would pay 22 percent tax calls premium 466 taxable income thats assuming standard deduction personal exemption totaling 28800 hypothetical family course families employersponsored insurance pay less average employee contribution lower deductibles dont spend enough pocket reach full deductible potential savings would less others pay current premiums would higher estimated savings employers may different reactions new plan well longer would pay toward insurance premiums instead would pay 62 percent payroll tax employees help fund public insurance system could pass along cost employees rest money sanders plan comes largely taxing earning 250000 year higher marginal tax rates high 52 percent income 10 million taxing capital gains as160income wages limiting deductions increasing estate tax health care clinton said costs lowest theyve 50 years thats rate growth health care spending costs continued go growing historically low rates clinton160we driven costs lowest theyve 50 years weve got get individual costs thats im planning president obama also boasted low rate growth health care spending state union address jan 12160as done several times past clinton flubbed talking point saying costs lowest rate growth 2009 2012 total national health care spending grew160at rates around 4 percent per year160the journal health affairs noted 2012 growth rates lowest since centers medicare amp medicaid services160started compiling national health expenditure accounts data 1960 growth rate even went low 29 percent 2013 rising 53 percent 2014160 see table 1 clinton said driven costs economists say cause slowdown mainly economy actions politicians affordable care act160a 2013 analysis kaiser family foundation said much decline health spending growth recent years fully expected given happening broadly economy 2014 cms experts said160the acas impact minimal omalley gave president obama much credit said made us energy independent true weve reported periodically us producing oil domestically importing less abroad obamas time office us energy information administration estimates net us imports petroleum last three months 2015 62 percent lower three months obama first took office first 11 months last year us imported 243 percent petroleum refined products consumed sharply 57 percent 2008 weve also reported often us oil boom due mainly advances drilling technology rather change government policy decline dependency imports actually began 2006 peaking 603 percent year omalleys broader point move us 100 percent clean electric energy grid 2050 would require obamas energy policy omalley proposes federal cap carbon emissions higher royalties emissions fees fossil fuel companies currently drilling federal lands expanded environmental protection agency160regulations curb emissions large sources beyond electric power plants among things answering question police shootings young black men clinton said one three160african american men may well end going prison thats statistic statistic outdated 2003 projection based 2001 incarceration rate data since incarceration rate black males declined clinton campaign get back us asked source claim however likely160referring 2013 report sentencing project said current trends continue one every three black american males born today expect go prison lifetime one every six latino males compared one every seventeen white males report generated stories one huffington post carried headline 1 3 black males go prison lifetime report warns sentencing project advocates reforms sentencing policy produce 1in3160estimate taken word word 2011 report called addressing racial disparities incarceration160and 2011 report based estimate august 2003 report bureau justice statistics bjs report projected 322 percent black males born 2001 are160expected go prison lifetime current incarceration rates remain unchanged incarceration rate black males changed fact declined since 2001 bureau justice statistics annually produces reports incarceration rates race the160incarceration rate black males 3535 per 100000 35 percent 2001 see table 16 recent report put figure 2724 per 100000 black males 27 percent 2014 see table 10 discount clintons larger point black males overrepresented state federal prisons latest bjs report said december 31 2014 black males higher160imprisonment rates prisoners races hispanic160origin within every age group imprisonment rates black160males 38 105 times greater age group white males 14 31 times greater rates hispanic160males 1in3 statistic passed fact outdated based current incarceration rates clinton said sanders called president obama weak disappointing publicly sought someone run primary sanders responded needed 160to set record right worked hard could see obama reelected case many political exchanges context needed 2011 sanders voice support contested primary obama means push president left evidence actively sought opposition candidate sanders160ultimately publicly supported obamas reelection campaign issue sanders allegiance obama arose debate discussion differences two democratic candidates best way regulate wall street well theres daylight basic premise bank big fail individual powerful jail agree clinton said disagree comments sen sanders made dont affect take hes criticized president obama taking donations wall street president obama led country great recession sen sanders called weak disappointing clinton said even 2011 publicly sought someone run primary president obama personally believe president obamas work push the160doddfrank bill sign one important regulatory schemes weve since 1930s im going defend doddfrank im going defend president obama taking wall street taking financial industry getting results asked respond sanders said first set record right 2006 ran senate sen barack obama kind enough campaign 2008 best see elected 2012 worked hard could see reelected friends weve worked together many issues differences opinion comments question sanders came a160july 22 2011 appearance thom hartmann radio program we160 first wrote raised omalley nov 6 msnbc democratic forum although sanders160 endorsed supported obama 2008 general election160sanders several public disagreements obama presidents first term sanders arguing president160was willing cut deals republicans notably 2010 sanders160 railed eight hours senate floor deal brokered obama republicans extended bush tax cuts also criticized obama backing promise160to lift payroll tax cap earnings 250000 order ensure longterm health social security caller hartmann program asked160how country could get back track government quits running country like forprofit machine sanders took aim obamas policies sanders said wavered progressive agenda laid 2008 campaign sanders july 22 2011 let suggest think millions americans deeply disappointed president believe regard social security number issues said one thing candidate something much else president believe weak whatever reason negotiating republicans theres deep disappointment suggestion think know one reasons president able move far right primary opposition think would country good deal service people started thinking candidates begin contrasting progressive agenda opposed obama next caller followed asking would suggest talking encouraging anyone sanders july 22 2011 point giving thought know names well think american people got engaged anybody else washington lot smart honest progressive people think good presidents think one reasons president obama moved far right thinks go way one stand tim dont want tell issue beginning talk little bit following month sanders asked cspan interview someone mind primary challenge obama thought might accomplish starting 2320 mark sanders aug 12 2011 dont know anybody mind im sure serious smart people heres point youre asking think end day barack obama going democratic candidate president 2012 believe good idea democracy democratic party speak way independent people start asking president hard questions said one thing previous campaign another thing today social security medicare think important discussion take place early 2012 however sanders publicly supporting obamas reelection introductory speakerbefore obama took podium campaign event university vermont sanders described 2012 campaign huge consequences pledged everything reelect barack obama president united states may 16 2012 interview cnn host wolf blitzer asked sanders obama given last time spoke endorsement president lukewarm sanders responded republican mitt romney george bush reincarnated said people liked bush economic policy youre going like romney thought bush economic policy disaster think obama far preferable candidate obama everything want absolutely among things strong standing wall street one sense clinton right sanders called obamas policies weak disappointing sanders160did voice support primary challenge obama theres evidence actually actively recruited anyone oppose obama ultimately sanders campaigned obamas reelection clinton claimed sanders voted let guns go onto amtrak he160voted immunity for160gun makers sellers added industry america given total pass gun makers dealers sanders vote allow guns amtrak trains checked baggage separate legislation voted didnt give total pass gun makers dealers civil lawsuits sept 16 2009 sanders voted favor amendment transportation appropriations bill restored right amtrak passengers transport guns checked baggage prohibited since terrorist attacks sept 11 2001 amendment allowed passengers traveling amtrak stations checked baggage service place unloaded firearm checked bag passenger provided advance notice she160would traveling firearm firearm stored locked hardsided container passenger key combination amendment also said passengers would allowed place ammunition small firearm inside checked bag ammunition stored securely box made fiber wood metal packaging used transport small amounts ammunition amtrak allow travelers firearms ammunition physically traveling carryon baggage amtrak also says employees access area train checked bags stored see page 4 2010 document explaining amtrak checked firearms program sanders also voted favor of160the protection lawful commerce arms act 2005 which160 provided protections licensed manufacturers dealers sellers firearms ammunition trade associations civil lawsuits resulting misuse firearms ammunition gun makers dealers receive total pass clinton claimed congressional research service pointed 2012 report legislation included six exceptions civil suits could still brought including cases which160a firearm seller acted negligence cases involving transfer firearm knowledge would used commit crime cases which160manufacturers sellers marketed sold firearm violation state federal law note sanders says would support legislation proposed would160take away protections licensed firearm manufacturers dealers included 2005 bill supported eugene kiely brooks jackson lori robertson robert farley dangelo gore sanders bernie medicare leaving one behind jan 2016 friedman gerald memo bernie sanders campaign160 united states afford single payer health care program 1 jan 2016 centers medicare amp medicaid services office actuary national health statistics group table 1 national health expenditures aggregate per capita amounts annual percentage change percent distribution selected calendar years 19602014 accessed 13 jan 2016 martin anne et al growth us health spending remained slow 2010 health share gross domestic product unchanged 2009 health affairs jan 2012 kaiser family foundation assessing effects economy recent slowdown health spending 22 apr 2013 martin anne et al national health spending 2012 rate health spending growth remained low fourth consecutive year health affairs jan 2014 us energy information administration us crude oil production short term energy outlook 12 jan 2016 data extracted 12 jan 2016 us energy information administration table 33a monthly energy review 23 dec 2015 omalley president jobs agenda renewable energy future undated accessed 18 jan 2016 report sentencing project united nations human rights committee sentencing project aug 2013 mauer marc addressing racial disparities incarceration prison journal sep 2011 knafo saki160 1 3 black males go prison lifetime report warns huffington post 4 oct 2013 bonczar thomas p prevalence imprisonment in160the us population 19742001 department justice bureau justice statistics aug 2003 harrison paige allen j beck phd prisoners 2001160department justice bureau justice statistics jul 2002 carson e ann prisoners 2014 department justice bureau justice statistics sep 2015 factcheckorg factchecking msnbc democratic forum 9 nov 2015 factcheckorg factchecking third democratic debate 20 dec 2015 chu vivian protection lawful commerce arms act overview limiting tort liability gun manufacturers congressional research service 20 dec 2012 wagner john sanders announces support legislation would repeal immunity gun dealers washington post 16 jan 2015 youtubecom primary challenger obama thom hartmann show interview sen bernie sanders youtubecom 22 jul 2011 politifact obammeter promise lift payroll tax cap earnings 250000 last updated 30 apr 2012 cspan newsmakers senator bernie sanders 12 aug 2011 youtubecom video bernie160 sanders speaking university vermont rally obama 30 mar 2012 cnn situation room transcript interview bernie sanders 16 may 2012 kane paul sonmez felicia sen bernie sanders speaks 8 hours tax cuts congressional black caucus joins opposition washington post 11 dec 2010
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<p>(Reuters) - U.S. stocks advanced on Monday as each of Wall Street’s main scored records in the wake of a deal by U.S. senators to end the federal government shutdown.</p>
<p>Legislation to renew federal funding to the government cleared a procedural hurdle in the Senate and was expected soon to pass votes in the Senate and House of Representatives, allowing government to re-open through Feb 8.</p>
<p>“You would think something like the threat of a government shutdown or an actual government shutdown would serve as a catalyst to spook some weaker holders out of the market,” said Eric Marshall, portfolio manager and director of research at Hodges Capital Management in Dallas, Texas.</p>
<p>“That hasn’t happened, which speaks to underlying strength of what we’re seeing right now in equity markets.”</p>
<p>Earnings growth of 12.4 percent is expected for the quarter, according to Thomson Reuters data. Of the 55 companies in the S&amp;P 500 that have reported earnings through Monday morning, 80 percent have topped expectations, well above the 72 percent beat rate for the past four quarters.</p>
<p>The Dow Jones Industrial Average <a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.DJI" type="external">.DJI</a> rose 142.88 points, or 0.55 percent, to 26,214.6, the S&amp;P 500 <a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.SPX" type="external">.SPX</a> gained 22.67 points, or 0.81 percent, to 2,832.97 and the Nasdaq Composite <a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.IXIC" type="external">.IXIC</a> added 71.65 points, or 0.98 percent, to 7,408.03.</p>
<p>Halliburton Co ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=HAL.N" type="external">HAL.N</a>) climbed 6.40 percent after posting a much bigger-than-expected quarterly profit in the fourth quarter, benefiting from a shale-driven surge in U.S. oil production.</p>
<p>The Nasdaq biotech index .NBI rose 3.15 percent to notch its best day since June 21 after a flurry of merger activity in the sector with French drugmaker Sanofi ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=SASY.PA" type="external">SASY.PA</a>) and U.S.-based Celgene ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=CELG.O" type="external">CELG.O</a>) splurging a combined total of more than $20 billion.</p>
<p>Shares in U.S. hemophilia specialist Bioverativ BIVV.O soared 61.89 percent after Sanofi agreed to buy the company for $11.6 billion.</p>
<p>Juno Therapeutics JUNO.O jumped 26.83 percent after Celgene agreed to buy the biotech for about $9 billion in cash.</p> FILE PHOTO: Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange shortly after the opening bell in New York, U.S., January 12, 2018. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson
<p>In other M&amp;A news, AIG ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=AIG.N" type="external">AIG.N</a>) said it would buy reinsurer Validus Holdings ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=VR.N" type="external">VR.N</a>) for $5.56 billion, sending the target’s shares up 44.03 percent.</p>
<p>Industrial stocks were one of the few laggards, as woes continued for General Electric ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=GE.N" type="external">GE.N</a>), down 0.55 after BofA-Merrill Lynch downgraded its stock. GE fell below $16 for the first time since 2011 and is down nearly 8 percent for the year.</p>
<p>Shares of Netflix Inc ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=NFLX.O" type="external">NFLX.O</a>), a major contributor to the recent stock rally, closed up 3.23 percent ahead of its quarterly results and added to gains in extended trading after its quarterly numbers were released.</p>
<p>Advancing issues outnumbered declining ones on the NYSE by a 1.70-to-1 ratio; on Nasdaq, a 1.38-to-1 ratio favored advancers.</p>
<a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.DJI" type="external">Dow Jones &amp; Company Inc</a> 23848.42 .DJI Dow Jones Indexes -9.29 (-0.04%) .DJI .SPX .IXIC HAL.N SASY.PA
<p>The S&amp;P 500 posted 123 new 52-week highs and 3 new lows; the Nasdaq Composite recorded 202 new highs and 16 new lows.</p>
<p>Volume on U.S. exchanges was 6.56 billion shares, above the 6.34 billion average for the full session over the last 20 trading days.</p>
<p>Additional reporting by Caroline Valetkevitch; Editing by Nick Zieminski</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices fell about 1 percent on Wednesday after data showed U.S. crude inventories unexpectedly rose 1.6 million barrels last week, weighing on market sentiment.</p> FILE PHOTO: An oil well pump jack is seen at an oil field supply yard near Denver, Colorado, U.S., February 2, 2015. REUTERS/Rick Wilking/File Photo
<p>Brent June crude futures LCOc2 settled 70 cents lower at $68.76 per barrel, while the front month May contract LCOc1, which expires on Thursday, fell 58 cents, or 0.8 percent, to settle at $69.53 a barrel.</p>
<p>West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude CLc1 futures for May delivery fell 87 cents to $64.38 a barrel, a 1.3-percent loss.</p>
<p>U.S. crude stockpiles USOILC=ECI rose as net imports USOICI=ECI soared by 1.1 million barrels per day, according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.</p>
<p>Stocks at the Cushing, Oklahoma, delivery hub for U.S crude futures USOICC=ECI also rose 1.8 million barrels, EIA said.</p>
<p>“Oil supplies at Cushing, Oklahoma are starting to replenish, which is bearish for prices, but they have a long way to go to near normal levels of supply,” said John Kilduff, partner at energy hedge fund Again Capital LLC in New York.</p>
<p>U.S. crude production also inched up last week to fresh record high at 10.433 million bpd. Output has risen by nearly 25 percent in the last two years to over 10 million bpd C-OUT-T-EIA, taking it past top exporter Saudi Arabia and within reach of the biggest producer, Russia, which pumps around 11 million bpd.</p>
<p>U.S. crude’s discount to Brent WTCLc1-LCOc1 widened to as much as $5.22, the biggest since Jan. 24.</p>
<p>“Costs in the U.S. are getting to be a little bit less expensive to drill and that’s one of the aspects that is potentially driving the spread between Brent and WTI,” Mark Watkins, a regional investment strategist at U.S. Bank Wealth Management said from Salt Lake City, Utah.</p>
<p>Average breakeven prices to drill a new well in the U.S. range from $47 to $55 per barrel depending on the region, according to a Wednesday survey from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.</p>
<p>Brent prices have risen in seven out of the last nine months and have increased by more than 4 percent so far this year. Prices have also had three consecutive quarters of gains, the longest stretch since late 2010 and early 2011, after production curbs led by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries since last year.</p>
<p>Wednesday’s price falls came despite Saudi Arabia saying it was working with Russia on a long-term pact that could extend controls over world crude supplies by major exporters for many years.</p>
<p>Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told Reuters on Tuesday that Riyadh and Moscow were considering greatly extending the short-term alliance on oil curbs that began in January 2017 after a crash in crude prices, with a partnership to manage supplies potentially growing “to a 10-to-20-year agreement.”</p>
<p>Additional reporting by Amanda Cooper in London and Henning Gloystein in Singapore; editing by Marguerita Choy</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wall Street closed lower after a rocky session on Wednesday as gains in consumer staples and healthcare were offset by a sharp drop in Amazon shares and a continuing slide in technology stocks.</p>
<p>All three major U.S. indexes ended the day in negative territory following Tuesday’s late-session tech-driven sell-off following Monday’s rally as traders moved to defensive stocks after recent weeks’ heightened volatility.</p>
<p>“People should expect what’s happening given the kind of volatility we’ve seen as well as the fact that we’re kind of in a news vacuum prior to quarterly earnings,” Chuck Carlson, chief executive at Horizon Investment Services in Hammond, Indiana, said. “It’s a market that’s really looking for the next leadership.”</p>
<p>The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 9.29 points, or 0.04 percent, to 23,848.42, the S&amp;P 500 lost 7.62 points, or 0.29 percent, to 2,605 and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 59.58 points, or 0.85 percent, to 6,949.23.</p>
<p>Online retailer Amazon.com was down as much as 6.7 percent, losing more than $53 billion in market value after a report that President Donald Trump indicated he wanted to rein in the company. The stock later pared its loses to end the day down 4.4 percent.</p>
<p>Shares of automaker Tesla slumped 7.7 percent, extending recent losses, following a credit downgrade and news that officials are investigating a fatal crash and fire in California.</p>
<p>Countering those losses were gains for consumer staples, real estate, telecom, and healthcare.</p>
<p>The S&amp;P Energy index posted the biggest loss of the 11 major S&amp;P sectors, ending 1.99 percent lower as crude prices fell after data showed a surprise build in U.S. stocks.</p>
<p>The markets shrugged off a report from the U.S. Commerce Department that the U.S. economy slowed less than previously reported in the fourth quarter as consumer spending grew at its fastest quarterly pace in three years. GDP expanded at a 2.9 percent annual rate in the last three months of 2017, ahead of the previously reported 2.5 percent.</p>
<p>Strong economic data could invite a more hawkish approach by the U.S. Federal Reserve this year with respect to further interest rate hikes.</p> Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange shortly after the opening bell in New York, U.S., March 19, 2018. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson
<p>“I’m not surprised by the economic data,” said Carlson. “But the market right now is looking past that from a valuation standpoint.”</p>
<p>Stocks had jumped earlier in the week as trade war fears ebbed following comments from officials in the United States and China that implied the world’s two largest economies would renegotiate tariffs and trade imbalances.</p>
<p>China is expected to announce a list of tariffs on U.S. imports in retaliation against the expected tariff proposals from the U.S. on Chinese goods.</p>
<p>Advancing issues outnumbered declining ones on the NYSE by a 1.12-to-1 ratio; on Nasdaq, a 1.22-to-1 ratio favored decliners.</p> A woman passes by the Nasdaq Market Site in Times Square in New York City, U.S., February 7, 2018. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid
<p>Volume on U.S. exchanges was 6.96 billion shares, compared to the 7.36 billion average for the full session over the last 20 trading days.</p>
<p>Reporting by Stephen Culp; Editing by Nick Zieminski and Susan Thomas</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>(This version of the March 27 story corrects to “Minneapolis” from “Helena, Montana” in paragraph 3)</p>
<p>By Sruthi Shankar and Sweta Singh</p>
<p>(Reuters) - The S&amp;P 500 and the Dow rose on Tuesday, led by gains in industrial and consumer staple shares, while weakness in technology stocks dragged down the Nasdaq.</p>
<p>Stocks have been volatile in the session after the main U.S. indexes notched their best day in 2-1/2 years on Monday on waning concerns of a trade war between the United States and China.</p>
<p>“Right now, the biggest driver in the market seems to be around the trade news and it is looking more like some of these tariff discussions are negotiations rather than strong protectionist measures,” said Lisa Erickson, head of traditional investments at U.S. Bank Wealth Management in Minneapolis.</p>
<p>“But there’s going to be continued volatility in the short term and a lot of it will depend on how the fundamental news flow comes out.”</p>
<p>U.S. stocks suffered their worst declines of the year last week after President Donald Trump moved to impose tariffs on Chinese imports of up to $60 billion.</p>
<p>But the sentiment has improved after reports that the countries were willing to renegotiate tariffs and trade imbalances.</p>
<p>At 13:00 p.m. ET, the Dow Jones Industrial Average <a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.DJI" type="external">.DJI</a> was up 0.67 percent at 24,365.61 and the S&amp;P 500 <a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.SPX" type="external">.SPX</a> rose 0.29 percent to 2,666.16.</p>
<p>The Nasdaq Composite <a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.IXIC" type="external">.IXIC</a> fell 0.33 percent at 7,196.70.</p> Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, U.S., March 26, 2018. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid
<p>Facebook ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=FB.O" type="external">FB.O</a>) dropped 2.3 percent as it continued to be weighed down by data privacy issues. The company faces an investigation by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission to explain how it allowed data of 50 million users get into the hands of a political consultancy.</p>
<p>“Tech and FANG are still trying to figure out what the way forward is, and the market is dealing with the aftermath of a massive rally. It’s hard to maintain that kind of momentum,” said Michael Antonelli, managing director, institutional sales trading at Robert W. Baird in Milwaukee.</p>
<p>Another weak spot in the tech space was Nvidia ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=NVDA.O" type="external">NVDA.O</a>), which fell 2.8 percent after the company temporarily suspended self-driving tests across the globe.</p>
<p>Tesla ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=TSLA.O" type="external">TSLA.O</a>) shares dropped nearly 4 percent after the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board opened a field investigation of a fatal Tesla crash and major vehicle fire near Mountain View, California, last week.</p>
<a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.DJI" type="external">Dow Jones &amp; Company Inc</a> 23848.42 .DJI Dow Jones Indexes -9.29 (-0.04%) .DJI .SPX .IXIC FB.O NVDA.O
<p>Twitter ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=TWTR.N" type="external">TWTR.N</a>) fell more than 7 percent after short-seller Citron Research said it was short on the stock, adding that the company was “most vulnerable” to privacy regulations.</p>
<p>Advancing issues outnumbered decliners on the NYSE for a 1.38-to-1 ratio and for a 1.20-to-1 ratio on the Nasdaq.</p>
<p>Reporting by Sruthi Shankar and Sweta Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
| false | 2 |
reuters us stocks advanced monday wall streets main scored records wake deal us senators end federal government shutdown legislation renew federal funding government cleared procedural hurdle senate expected soon pass votes senate house representatives allowing government reopen feb 8 would think something like threat government shutdown actual government shutdown would serve catalyst spook weaker holders market said eric marshall portfolio manager director research hodges capital management dallas texas hasnt happened speaks underlying strength seeing right equity markets earnings growth 124 percent expected quarter according thomson reuters data 55 companies sampp 500 reported earnings monday morning 80 percent topped expectations well 72 percent beat rate past four quarters dow jones industrial average dji rose 14288 points 055 percent 262146 sampp 500 spx gained 2267 points 081 percent 283297 nasdaq composite ixic added 7165 points 098 percent 740803 halliburton co haln climbed 640 percent posting much biggerthanexpected quarterly profit fourth quarter benefiting shaledriven surge us oil production nasdaq biotech index nbi rose 315 percent notch best day since june 21 flurry merger activity sector french drugmaker sanofi sasypa usbased celgene celgo splurging combined total 20 billion shares us hemophilia specialist bioverativ bivvo soared 6189 percent sanofi agreed buy company 116 billion juno therapeutics junoo jumped 2683 percent celgene agreed buy biotech 9 billion cash file photo traders work floor new york stock exchange shortly opening bell new york us january 12 2018 reuterslucas jackson mampa news aig aign said would buy reinsurer validus holdings vrn 556 billion sending targets shares 4403 percent industrial stocks one laggards woes continued general electric gen 055 bofamerrill lynch downgraded stock ge fell 16 first time since 2011 nearly 8 percent year shares netflix inc nflxo major contributor recent stock rally closed 323 percent ahead quarterly results added gains extended trading quarterly numbers released advancing issues outnumbered declining ones nyse 170to1 ratio nasdaq 138to1 ratio favored advancers dow jones amp company inc 2384842 dji dow jones indexes 929 004 dji spx ixic haln sasypa sampp 500 posted 123 new 52week highs 3 new lows nasdaq composite recorded 202 new highs 16 new lows volume us exchanges 656 billion shares 634 billion average full session last 20 trading days additional reporting caroline valetkevitch editing nick zieminski standards thomson reuters trust principles new york reuters oil prices fell 1 percent wednesday data showed us crude inventories unexpectedly rose 16 million barrels last week weighing market sentiment file photo oil well pump jack seen oil field supply yard near denver colorado us february 2 2015 reutersrick wilkingfile photo brent june crude futures lcoc2 settled 70 cents lower 6876 per barrel front month may contract lcoc1 expires thursday fell 58 cents 08 percent settle 6953 barrel west texas intermediate wti crude clc1 futures may delivery fell 87 cents 6438 barrel 13percent loss us crude stockpiles usoilceci rose net imports usoicieci soared 11 million barrels per day according data us energy information administration stocks cushing oklahoma delivery hub us crude futures usoicceci also rose 18 million barrels eia said oil supplies cushing oklahoma starting replenish bearish prices long way go near normal levels supply said john kilduff partner energy hedge fund capital llc new york us crude production also inched last week fresh record high 10433 million bpd output risen nearly 25 percent last two years 10 million bpd coutteia taking past top exporter saudi arabia within reach biggest producer russia pumps around 11 million bpd us crudes discount brent wtclc1lcoc1 widened much 522 biggest since jan 24 costs us getting little bit less expensive drill thats one aspects potentially driving spread brent wti mark watkins regional investment strategist us bank wealth management said salt lake city utah average breakeven prices drill new well us range 47 55 per barrel depending region according wednesday survey federal reserve bank dallas brent prices risen seven last nine months increased 4 percent far year prices also three consecutive quarters gains longest stretch since late 2010 early 2011 production curbs led organization petroleum exporting countries since last year wednesdays price falls came despite saudi arabia saying working russia longterm pact could extend controls world crude supplies major exporters many years saudi crown prince mohammed bin salman told reuters tuesday riyadh moscow considering greatly extending shortterm alliance oil curbs began january 2017 crash crude prices partnership manage supplies potentially growing 10to20year agreement additional reporting amanda cooper london henning gloystein singapore editing marguerita choy standards thomson reuters trust principles new york reuters wall street closed lower rocky session wednesday gains consumer staples healthcare offset sharp drop amazon shares continuing slide technology stocks three major us indexes ended day negative territory following tuesdays latesession techdriven selloff following mondays rally traders moved defensive stocks recent weeks heightened volatility people expect whats happening given kind volatility weve seen well fact kind news vacuum prior quarterly earnings chuck carlson chief executive horizon investment services hammond indiana said market thats really looking next leadership dow jones industrial average fell 929 points 004 percent 2384842 sampp 500 lost 762 points 029 percent 2605 nasdaq composite dropped 5958 points 085 percent 694923 online retailer amazoncom much 67 percent losing 53 billion market value report president donald trump indicated wanted rein company stock later pared loses end day 44 percent shares automaker tesla slumped 77 percent extending recent losses following credit downgrade news officials investigating fatal crash fire california countering losses gains consumer staples real estate telecom healthcare sampp energy index posted biggest loss 11 major sampp sectors ending 199 percent lower crude prices fell data showed surprise build us stocks markets shrugged report us commerce department us economy slowed less previously reported fourth quarter consumer spending grew fastest quarterly pace three years gdp expanded 29 percent annual rate last three months 2017 ahead previously reported 25 percent strong economic data could invite hawkish approach us federal reserve year respect interest rate hikes traders work floor new york stock exchange shortly opening bell new york us march 19 2018 reuterslucas jackson im surprised economic data said carlson market right looking past valuation standpoint stocks jumped earlier week trade war fears ebbed following comments officials united states china implied worlds two largest economies would renegotiate tariffs trade imbalances china expected announce list tariffs us imports retaliation expected tariff proposals us chinese goods advancing issues outnumbered declining ones nyse 112to1 ratio nasdaq 122to1 ratio favored decliners woman passes nasdaq market site times square new york city us february 7 2018 reutersbrendan mcdermid volume us exchanges 696 billion shares compared 736 billion average full session last 20 trading days reporting stephen culp editing nick zieminski susan thomas standards thomson reuters trust principles version march 27 story corrects minneapolis helena montana paragraph 3 sruthi shankar sweta singh reuters sampp 500 dow rose tuesday led gains industrial consumer staple shares weakness technology stocks dragged nasdaq stocks volatile session main us indexes notched best day 212 years monday waning concerns trade war united states china right biggest driver market seems around trade news looking like tariff discussions negotiations rather strong protectionist measures said lisa erickson head traditional investments us bank wealth management minneapolis theres going continued volatility short term lot depend fundamental news flow comes us stocks suffered worst declines year last week president donald trump moved impose tariffs chinese imports 60 billion sentiment improved reports countries willing renegotiate tariffs trade imbalances 1300 pm et dow jones industrial average dji 067 percent 2436561 sampp 500 spx rose 029 percent 266616 nasdaq composite ixic fell 033 percent 719670 traders work floor new york stock exchange nyse new york us march 26 2018 reutersbrendan mcdermid facebook fbo dropped 23 percent continued weighed data privacy issues company faces investigation us federal trade commission explain allowed data 50 million users get hands political consultancy tech fang still trying figure way forward market dealing aftermath massive rally hard maintain kind momentum said michael antonelli managing director institutional sales trading robert w baird milwaukee another weak spot tech space nvidia nvdao fell 28 percent company temporarily suspended selfdriving tests across globe tesla tslao shares dropped nearly 4 percent us national transportation safety board opened field investigation fatal tesla crash major vehicle fire near mountain view california last week dow jones amp company inc 2384842 dji dow jones indexes 929 004 dji spx ixic fbo nvdao twitter twtrn fell 7 percent shortseller citron research said short stock adding company vulnerable privacy regulations advancing issues outnumbered decliners nyse 138to1 ratio 120to1 ratio nasdaq reporting sruthi shankar sweta singh bengaluru editing anil dsilva standards thomson reuters trust principles
| 1,407 |
<p>Jan 23 (Reuters) - RNB RETAIL AND BRANDS AB (PUBL) :</p>
<p>* INCREASED SALES AND POSITIVEEARNINGS PERFORMANCE IN DECEMBER</p>
<p>* ‍TOTAL SALES FOR ALL COMPARABLE STORES IN RNB DEVELOPED POSITIVELY IN DECEMBER 2017 BY + 2.1%</p>
<p>* SAYS ‍POSITIVE SALES GROWTH FOR RNB IMPLIED THAT OPERATING PROFIT, EBIT, WAS ALSO BETTER IN DECEMBER​ Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: (Gdynia Newsroom)</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The leading U.S. consumer protection regulator and attorneys representing 37 states stepped up pressure on Facebook Inc ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=FB.O" type="external">FB.O</a>) on Monday to explain how the social network allowed data of 50 million users get into the hands of a political consultancy.</p>
<p>The U.S. Federal Trade Commission took the unusual step of announcing that it had opened an investigation into the company - which it generally only does in cases of great public interest - citing media reports that raise what it called “substantial concerns about the privacy practices of Facebook.”</p>
<p>On the same day, a bipartisan coalition of 37 state attorneys wrote to Facebook, demanding to know more about the company’s role in the manipulation of users’ data by the consultancy, Cambridge Analytica, which used it to target U.S. and British voters in close-run elections.</p>
<p>“These revelations raise many serious questions concerning Facebook’s policies and practices, and the processes in place to ensure they are followed,” the letter said. “We need to know that users can trust Facebook. With the information we have now, our trust has been broken.”</p>
<p>Facebook shares fell as much as 6.5 percent, briefly dipping below $150 for the first time since July 2017, before recovering the day’s losses to close up 0.4 percent at $160.06.</p>
<p>The shares are still down 13 percent since March 16, when Facebook first acknowledged that user data had been improperly channeled to Cambridge Analytica. The company has lost more than $70 billion in market value since then.</p>
<p>The recovery in Facebook’s stock on Monday may have been due to investors taking advantage of the lower stock price and the belief that the latest regulatory scrutiny may not ultimately hurt the company’s relative long-term growth prospects, Wall Street analysts said.</p>
<p>The FTC investigation is looking at more than whether Facebook violated a 2011 consent order it reached with the FTC over its privacy practices, a person briefed on the matter told Reuters.</p>
<p>If the FTC finds Facebook violated terms of the consent decree, it has the power to fine it thousands of dollars a day per violation, which could add up to billions of dollars.</p>
<p>“We remain strongly committed to protecting people’s information,” Facebook Deputy Chief Privacy Officer Rob Sherman said in a statement on Monday. “We appreciate the opportunity to answer questions the FTC may have.”</p> ALL APOLOGIES
<p>Lawmakers in the United States and Europe continue to pressure Facebook and Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg to explain the company’s privacy practices.</p>
<p>The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee said on Monday it had invited Zuckerberg and the CEOs of Alphabet Inc ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=GOOGL.O" type="external">GOOGL.O</a>) and Twitter Inc ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=TWTR.N" type="external">TWTR.N</a>) to testify at an April 10 hearing on data privacy.</p> Slideshow (3 Images)
<p>The U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee and U.S. Senate Commerce Committee have already formally asked Zuckerberg to appear at a congressional hearing.</p>
<p>“Facebook’s failure to protect confidential user information likely violated specific legally binding commitments, but also basic norms and standards,” said U.S. Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee.</p>
<p>In Europe, the European Union Justice Commissioner asked Facebook if the company is “absolutely certain” that the Cambridge Analytica incident could not be repeated.</p>
<p>Zuckerberg apologized last week for the mistakes the company had made and he promised to restrict developers’ access to user information as part of a plan to protect privacy. He also said sorry in full-page advertisements in British and U.S. newspapers.</p>
<a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=FB.O" type="external">Facebook Inc</a> 160.06 FB.O Nasdaq +0.67 (+0.42%) FB.O GOOGL.O TWTR.N CBKG.DE
<p>“The was a breach of trust, and I’m sorry we didn’t do more at the time,” Zuckerberg said in the ads. “We are now taking steps to make sure this doesn’t happen again.”</p> ‘FUTURE REGULATION’
<p>His apologies have failed to quell discontent. Germany’s justice minister said Facebook’s promises were not enough.</p>
<p>“In future we will have to regulate companies like Facebook much more strictly,” Katarina Barley said after talks to which she summoned Facebook executives including European public affairs chief Richard Allan.</p>
<p>Advertisers and users are also unhappy.</p>
<p>U.S. auto parts retailer Pep Boys suspended all advertising on Facebook on Monday while wireless speaker maker Sonos said in a blog post it will remove advertising from Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Alphabet’s YouTube for one week.</p>
<p>Internet company Mozilla Corp, Germany’s second-largest bank Commerzbank AG ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=CBKG.DE" type="external">CBKG.DE</a>) and British advertising group ISBA all suspended advertising on Facebook last week.</p>
<p>Opinion polls published on Sunday in the United States and Germany cast doubt over the trust people have in Facebook.</p> Related Coverage
<a href="/article/us-usa-facebook-congress/facebook-ceo-among-those-invited-to-testify-at-u-s-senate-hearing-idUSKBN1H22E1" type="external">Facebook CEO among those invited to testify at U.S. Senate hearing</a>
<a href="/article/us-facebook-cambridge-analytica-eu-lette/eu-presses-facebook-on-sharing-of-user-data-idUSKBN1H22DM" type="external">EU presses Facebook on sharing of user data</a>
<a href="/article/us-facebook-cambridge-analytica-germany/facebook-must-face-tighter-rules-tougher-penalties-german-minister-idUSKBN1H21WK" type="external">Facebook must face tighter rules, tougher penalties: German minister</a>
<p>Fewer than half of Americans trust Facebook to obey U.S. privacy laws, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Sunday, while a survey published by Bild am Sonntag, Germany’s largest-selling Sunday paper, found 60 percent of Germans fear that Facebook and other social networks are having a negative impact on democracy.</p>
<p>Reporting by David Shepardson; Writing by Bill Rigby; Editing by Susan Thomas</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>LONDON/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States said on Monday it would expel 60 Russian diplomats, joining governments across Europe in punishing the Kremlin for a nerve agent attack on a former Russian spy in Britain that they have blamed on Moscow.</p>
<p>It was the strongest action that U.S. President Donald Trump had taken against Russia since coming to office. He has been criticized by Democrats and members of his own Republican Party for failing to be tough enough on Russia over U.S. allegations of Russian meddling in the U.S. electoral system including the 2016 presidential campaign.</p>
<p>British Prime Minister Theresa May, welcoming the show of solidarity, said 18 countries had announced plans to expel Russian officials. Those included 14 European Union countries. In total, 100 Russian diplomats were being removed, the biggest Western expulsion of Russian diplomats since the height of the Cold War.</p>
<p>British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said on Twitter that Monday’s “extraordinary international response by our allies stands in history as the largest collective expulsion of Russian intelligence officers ever and will help defend our shared security.”</p>
<p>May said the coordinated measures sent the “strongest signal to Russia that it cannot continue to flout international law.”</p>
<p>Britain had evidence Russia has investigated ways of distributing nerve agents for assassinations, May told parliament.</p>
<p>Russia’s Foreign Ministry called the expulsions a “provocative gesture.” The Kremlin spokesman said the West was making a “mistake” and that President Vladimir Putin would make a final decision about Russia’s response.</p>
<p>Moscow has denied being behind the attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the southern English city of Salisbury. Skripal, 66, and Yulia Skripal, 33, were found unconscious on a public bench in a shopping center on March 4 and remain critically ill in hospital.</p>
<p>“We assess that more than 130 people in Salisbury could have been potentially exposed to this nerve agent,” May said.</p>
<p>Monday’s wave of expulsions followed EU leaders saying last week that evidence presented by May of Russian involvement in the attack was a solid basis for further action.</p>
<p>The staff expelled by Washington includes 12 people identified by the United States as intelligence officers from Russia’s mission to the United Nations headquarters in New York. They were involved in activities outside their official capacity and an abuse of their privileges of residence, U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley said.</p>
<p>Russian U.N. ambassador Vassily Nebenzia called it “a very unfortunate, very unfriendly move.”</p>
<p>Trump also ordered the closure of the Russian consulate in Seattle because of its proximity to a U.S. submarine base and planemaker and defense contractor Boeing Co, a senior U.S. official said. Seattle was a hub of Russian cyber espionage, both political and commercial, according to two U.S. intelligence officials.</p>
<p>The administration officials said “well over 100 intelligence officers” operated in the United States, and Washington’s action cuts 60 of them.</p> An official consul van is pictured outside the building housing the Consulate General of Russia in downtown Seattle, Washington, U.S., March 26, 2018. REUTERS/Lindsey Wasson ONE WEEK TO LEAVE
<p>The envoys and their families have been given a week to leave the United States, according to one U.S. official.</p>
<p>Trump, who before he took office in January last year promised warmer ties with Putin, last week congratulated the Russian leader on his re-election, drawing criticism from Republicans and Democrats alike. Trump said the two leaders had made tentative plans to meet in the “not too distant future.”</p>
<p>He did not bring up the poisoning attack in his phone call with Putin.</p>
<p>Trump himself was silent on Monday on Twitter, where he often comments about his policy decisions. But the White House later said it would like to have a “cooperative relationship” with Russia.</p>
<p>“The president wants to work with the Russians but their actions sometimes don’t allow that to happen,” White House spokesman Raj Shah told a news briefing. “The poisoning in the U.K. that has kind of led to today’s announcement was a very brazen action. It was a reckless action.”</p> Slideshow (7 Images)
<p>U.S. lawmakers largely welcomed Trump’s move on Monday.</p>
<p>Washington had already imposed sanctions on Russian citizens and firms for U.S. election meddling and cyber attacks but put off targeting oligarchs and government officials close to Putin.</p>
<p>“Punishing diplomats is not a direct threat to Putin’s power or money. Further, our previous efforts to kick out diplomats has done little to change Kremlin behavior,” said former CIA officer John Sipher, who served in Moscow and ran the agency’s Russia operations.</p>
<p>U.S. officials said the scale of the expulsions was based not only on the expansion of Russian espionage in the United States, but also on its increasing focus on critical infrastructure targets such as electrical grids, financial networks, transportation and healthcare.</p>
<p>Trump has been criticized in the United States for doing too little to punish Russia for the election meddling and other actions, and U.S. Special Counsel Robert Mueller is looking into whether Trump’s campaign colluded with the Russians, something he denies. Moscow denies interference in the campaign.</p> Related Coverage
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<a href="/article/us-britain-russia-johnson/britains-johnson-expulsions-show-international-frustration-with-russia-idUSKBN1H22TR" type="external">Britain's Johnson: expulsions show international frustration with Russia</a>
<a href="/article/us-britain-russia-eu/eu-foreign-ministers-report-back-on-possible-further-measures-against-russia-uk-idUSKBN1H229U" type="external">EU foreign ministers report back on possible further measures against Russia: UK</a>
<p>Skripal’s poisoning, which Britain said employed the Soviet-era military-grade nerve agent Novichok, is the first known offensive use of a nerve toxin in Europe since World War Two.</p>
<p>The Foreign Ministry said “powerful forces” in the United States and Britain were behind the attack, RIA Novosti agency reported.</p>
<p>European Council President Donald Tusk said further measures could be taken in the coming weeks and months. Russia said it would respond in kind.</p>
<p>“The response will be symmetrical. We will work on it in the coming days and will respond to every country in turn,” the RIA news agency cited an unnamed Foreign Ministry source as saying.</p>
<p>The Kremlin has accused Britain of whipping up an anti-Russia campaign and has sought to cast doubt on the British analysis that Moscow was responsible. Russia has already ordered 23 British diplomats out of the country after Britain expelled 23 Russian diplomats.</p>
<p>Reporting by Michael Holden and Elizabeth Piper in London, John Irish in Paris, Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber, Vladimir Soldatkin and Christian Lowe in Moscow, Alissa de Carbonnel in Bulgaria, David Ljunggren in Ottawa, Johan Sennero in Stockholm, David Mardiste in Tallinn; Roberta Rampton, John Walcott, Warren Strobel, Patricia Zengerle, Matt Spetalnick and Mark Hosenball in Washington; Michelle Nichols at the United Nations; Writing by Guy Falconbridge and Yara Bayoumy; Editing by Kevin Liffey, Frances Kerry; and Grant McCool</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>(Reuters) - The European Commission pressed Facebook ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=FB.O" type="external">FB.O</a>) on Monday over whether EU citizens’ data were among those improperly harvested by a British political consultancy, after the U.S. regulator said it was investigating the firm’s privacy practices.</p> A 3D-printed Facebook logo is seen in front of the logo of the European Union in this picture illustration made in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina on May 15, 2015. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic
<p>That piled yet more pressure on a firm that has lost more than $100 billion in market value in the last 10 days.</p>
<p>Facebook shares fell more than 5 percent on Monday after the U.S. consumer protection regulator made public its investigation of how the social network allowed data of 50 million users to get into the hands of Cambridge Analytica.</p>
<p>Facebook executives have apologized after reports emerged that Cambridge Analytica had used personal data to target U.S. voters.</p>
<p>“Have any data of EU citizens been affected by the recent scandal?” EU Justice Commissioner Vera Jourova wrote in a letter to Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg, seen by Reuters. “If this is the case, how do you intend to inform the authorities and users about it?”</p>
<p>Jourova said that statements by Facebook executives had not alleviated her concerns.</p>
<p>“This is particularly disappointing given our efforts to build a relationship based on trust with you and your colleagues ... this trust is now diminished.”</p>
<p>A Facebook spokeswoman said the company remained strongly committed to protecting people’s information and appreciated “the opportunity to explain what we know and will respond to the questions that the Commissioner has asked”.</p>
<p>Jourova asked Sandberg whether she was certain that a similar situation could “not be repeated today” and if she thought stricter rules were needed for platforms “like those that exist for traditional media”.</p>
<p>“As Mark Zuckerberg said this week, we are working hard to tackle past abuse, prevent future abuse and give people more prominent controls,” the Facebook spokeswoman said.</p>
<a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=FB.O" type="external">Facebook Inc</a> 160.06 FB.O Nasdaq +0.67 (+0.42%) FB.O
<p>Germany’s justice minister called for stricter rules for Facebook after meeting with company executives on Monday who said around 1 percent of 300,000 users of a personality quiz whose results were later fed into Cambridge Analytica’s voter-targeting algorithms were in Europe.</p>
<p>Jourova said she wanted a reply to her letter within two weeks.</p>
<p>The Cambridge Analytica scandal emerged only a few months before a landmark EU data protection law comes into force under which companies found to be in breach could be fined up to 4 percent of global turnover.</p>
<p>Any eventual sanctions for Facebook will fall under the current privacy regulations, and so would be much lower.</p>
<p>Britain’s data watchdog is taking the lead in investigating Facebook and Cambridge Analytica from the European side, and Jourova said she expected the social network to cooperate fully with European data protection authorities.</p>
<p>Reporting by Julia Fioretti; Editing by Andrew Roche and David Evans</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>LONDON (Reuters) - Following are diplomatic measures announced against Russia by the United States, Canada, several EU countries and Ukraine in response to the poisoning of a former Russian double agent with military-grade nerve agent in the English town of Salisbury.</p>
<p>BRITAIN - Expelled 23 Russians alleged to have worked as spies under diplomatic cover. Promised to freeze any Russian state assets that “may be used to threaten the life or property of UK nationals or residents”.</p>
<p>UNITED STATES - Expelling 60 Russians, including 12 intelligence officers from Russia’s mission to U.N. headquarters in New York. Closing Russian consulate in Seattle.</p>
<p>CANADA - Expelling four Russians alleged to have worked as spies or interfered in Canadian affairs under diplomatic cover. Denying three applications for Russian diplomatic staff.</p>
<p>UKRAINE - Expelling 13 Russian diplomats</p>
<p>FRANCE - Expelling four diplomats</p>
<p>GERMANY - Expelling four diplomats</p>
<p>POLAND - Expelling four diplomats</p>
<p>LITHUANIA - Expelling three diplomats</p>
<p>CZECH REPUBLIC - Expelling three diplomats</p>
<p>ITALY - Expelling two diplomats</p>
<p>NETHERLANDS - Expelling two diplomats</p>
<p>SPAIN - Expelling two diplomats</p>
<p>ALBANIA - Expelling two diplomats</p>
<p>DENMARK - Expelling two diplomats</p>
<p>HUNGARY - Expelling one diplomat</p>
<p>MACEDONIA - Expelling one diplomat</p>
<p>SWEDEN - Expelling one diplomat</p>
<p>NORWAY - Expelling one diplomat</p>
<p>LATVIA - Expelling one diplomat</p>
<p>ESTONIA - Expelling one diplomat</p>
<p>FINLAND - Expelling one diplomat</p>
<p>ROMANIA - Expelling one diplomat</p>
<p>CROATIA - Expelling one diplomat</p> RUSSIAN RESPONSE:
<p>BRITAIN - Russia has expelled 23 British diplomats and closed the British consulate in St Petersburg and the British Council cultural body.</p>
<p>OTHERS - Moscow will expel at least 60 staff from U.S. diplomatic missions in Russia, RIA news agency quoted Russian senator Vladimir Dzhabarov as saying.</p>
<p>RIA also quoted an unnamed Foreign Ministry source as saying: “The response will be symmetrical. We will work on it in the coming days and will respond to every country in turn.”</p>
<p>Compiled by Kevin Liffey; Editing by Gareth Jones</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
| false | 2 |
jan 23 reuters rnb retail brands ab publ increased sales positiveearnings performance december total sales comparable stores rnb developed positively december 2017 21 says positive sales growth rnb implied operating profit ebit also better december source text eikon company coverage gdynia newsroom standards thomson reuters trust principles washington reuters leading us consumer protection regulator attorneys representing 37 states stepped pressure facebook inc fbo monday explain social network allowed data 50 million users get hands political consultancy us federal trade commission took unusual step announcing opened investigation company generally cases great public interest citing media reports raise called substantial concerns privacy practices facebook day bipartisan coalition 37 state attorneys wrote facebook demanding know companys role manipulation users data consultancy cambridge analytica used target us british voters closerun elections revelations raise many serious questions concerning facebooks policies practices processes place ensure followed letter said need know users trust facebook information trust broken facebook shares fell much 65 percent briefly dipping 150 first time since july 2017 recovering days losses close 04 percent 16006 shares still 13 percent since march 16 facebook first acknowledged user data improperly channeled cambridge analytica company lost 70 billion market value since recovery facebooks stock monday may due investors taking advantage lower stock price belief latest regulatory scrutiny may ultimately hurt companys relative longterm growth prospects wall street analysts said ftc investigation looking whether facebook violated 2011 consent order reached ftc privacy practices person briefed matter told reuters ftc finds facebook violated terms consent decree power fine thousands dollars day per violation could add billions dollars remain strongly committed protecting peoples information facebook deputy chief privacy officer rob sherman said statement monday appreciate opportunity answer questions ftc may apologies lawmakers united states europe continue pressure facebook chief executive mark zuckerberg explain companys privacy practices us senate judiciary committee said monday invited zuckerberg ceos alphabet inc googlo twitter inc twtrn testify april 10 hearing data privacy slideshow 3 images us house energy commerce committee us senate commerce committee already formally asked zuckerberg appear congressional hearing facebooks failure protect confidential user information likely violated specific legally binding commitments also basic norms standards said us democratic senator richard blumenthal member senate commerce science transportation committee europe european union justice commissioner asked facebook company absolutely certain cambridge analytica incident could repeated zuckerberg apologized last week mistakes company made promised restrict developers access user information part plan protect privacy also said sorry fullpage advertisements british us newspapers facebook inc 16006 fbo nasdaq 067 042 fbo googlo twtrn cbkgde breach trust im sorry didnt time zuckerberg said ads taking steps make sure doesnt happen future regulation apologies failed quell discontent germanys justice minister said facebooks promises enough future regulate companies like facebook much strictly katarina barley said talks summoned facebook executives including european public affairs chief richard allan advertisers users also unhappy us auto parts retailer pep boys suspended advertising facebook monday wireless speaker maker sonos said blog post remove advertising facebook instagram twitter alphabets youtube one week internet company mozilla corp germanys secondlargest bank commerzbank ag cbkgde british advertising group isba suspended advertising facebook last week opinion polls published sunday united states germany cast doubt trust people facebook related coverage facebook ceo among invited testify us senate hearing eu presses facebook sharing user data facebook must face tighter rules tougher penalties german minister fewer half americans trust facebook obey us privacy laws according reutersipsos poll released sunday survey published bild sonntag germanys largestselling sunday paper found 60 percent germans fear facebook social networks negative impact democracy reporting david shepardson writing bill rigby editing susan thomas standards thomson reuters trust principles londonwashington reuters united states said monday would expel 60 russian diplomats joining governments across europe punishing kremlin nerve agent attack former russian spy britain blamed moscow strongest action us president donald trump taken russia since coming office criticized democrats members republican party failing tough enough russia us allegations russian meddling us electoral system including 2016 presidential campaign british prime minister theresa may welcoming show solidarity said 18 countries announced plans expel russian officials included 14 european union countries total 100 russian diplomats removed biggest western expulsion russian diplomats since height cold war british foreign secretary boris johnson said twitter mondays extraordinary international response allies stands history largest collective expulsion russian intelligence officers ever help defend shared security may said coordinated measures sent strongest signal russia continue flout international law britain evidence russia investigated ways distributing nerve agents assassinations may told parliament russias foreign ministry called expulsions provocative gesture kremlin spokesman said west making mistake president vladimir putin would make final decision russias response moscow denied behind attack sergei skripal daughter southern english city salisbury skripal 66 yulia skripal 33 found unconscious public bench shopping center march 4 remain critically ill hospital assess 130 people salisbury could potentially exposed nerve agent may said mondays wave expulsions followed eu leaders saying last week evidence presented may russian involvement attack solid basis action staff expelled washington includes 12 people identified united states intelligence officers russias mission united nations headquarters new york involved activities outside official capacity abuse privileges residence us ambassador nikki haley said russian un ambassador vassily nebenzia called unfortunate unfriendly move trump also ordered closure russian consulate seattle proximity us submarine base planemaker defense contractor boeing co senior us official said seattle hub russian cyber espionage political commercial according two us intelligence officials administration officials said well 100 intelligence officers operated united states washingtons action cuts 60 official consul van pictured outside building housing consulate general russia downtown seattle washington us march 26 2018 reuterslindsey wasson one week leave envoys families given week leave united states according one us official trump took office january last year promised warmer ties putin last week congratulated russian leader reelection drawing criticism republicans democrats alike trump said two leaders made tentative plans meet distant future bring poisoning attack phone call putin trump silent monday twitter often comments policy decisions white house later said would like cooperative relationship russia president wants work russians actions sometimes dont allow happen white house spokesman raj shah told news briefing poisoning uk kind led todays announcement brazen action reckless action slideshow 7 images us lawmakers largely welcomed trumps move monday washington already imposed sanctions russian citizens firms us election meddling cyber attacks put targeting oligarchs government officials close putin punishing diplomats direct threat putins power money previous efforts kick diplomats done little change kremlin behavior said former cia officer john sipher served moscow ran agencys russia operations us officials said scale expulsions based expansion russian espionage united states also increasing focus critical infrastructure targets electrical grids financial networks transportation healthcare trump criticized united states little punish russia election meddling actions us special counsel robert mueller looking whether trumps campaign colluded russians something denies moscow denies interference campaign related coverage diplomatic moves russia nerve gas attack britains johnson expulsions show international frustration russia eu foreign ministers report back possible measures russia uk skripals poisoning britain said employed sovietera militarygrade nerve agent novichok first known offensive use nerve toxin europe since world war two foreign ministry said powerful forces united states britain behind attack ria novosti agency reported european council president donald tusk said measures could taken coming weeks months russia said would respond kind response symmetrical work coming days respond every country turn ria news agency cited unnamed foreign ministry source saying kremlin accused britain whipping antirussia campaign sought cast doubt british analysis moscow responsible russia already ordered 23 british diplomats country britain expelled 23 russian diplomats reporting michael holden elizabeth piper london john irish paris gabrielle tetraultfarber vladimir soldatkin christian lowe moscow alissa de carbonnel bulgaria david ljunggren ottawa johan sennero stockholm david mardiste tallinn roberta rampton john walcott warren strobel patricia zengerle matt spetalnick mark hosenball washington michelle nichols united nations writing guy falconbridge yara bayoumy editing kevin liffey frances kerry grant mccool standards thomson reuters trust principles reuters european commission pressed facebook fbo monday whether eu citizens data among improperly harvested british political consultancy us regulator said investigating firms privacy practices 3dprinted facebook logo seen front logo european union picture illustration made zenica bosnia herzegovina may 15 2015 reutersdado ruvic piled yet pressure firm lost 100 billion market value last 10 days facebook shares fell 5 percent monday us consumer protection regulator made public investigation social network allowed data 50 million users get hands cambridge analytica facebook executives apologized reports emerged cambridge analytica used personal data target us voters data eu citizens affected recent scandal eu justice commissioner vera jourova wrote letter facebook chief operating officer sheryl sandberg seen reuters case intend inform authorities users jourova said statements facebook executives alleviated concerns particularly disappointing given efforts build relationship based trust colleagues trust diminished facebook spokeswoman said company remained strongly committed protecting peoples information appreciated opportunity explain know respond questions commissioner asked jourova asked sandberg whether certain similar situation could repeated today thought stricter rules needed platforms like exist traditional media mark zuckerberg said week working hard tackle past abuse prevent future abuse give people prominent controls facebook spokeswoman said facebook inc 16006 fbo nasdaq 067 042 fbo germanys justice minister called stricter rules facebook meeting company executives monday said around 1 percent 300000 users personality quiz whose results later fed cambridge analyticas votertargeting algorithms europe jourova said wanted reply letter within two weeks cambridge analytica scandal emerged months landmark eu data protection law comes force companies found breach could fined 4 percent global turnover eventual sanctions facebook fall current privacy regulations would much lower britains data watchdog taking lead investigating facebook cambridge analytica european side jourova said expected social network cooperate fully european data protection authorities reporting julia fioretti editing andrew roche david evans standards thomson reuters trust principles london reuters following diplomatic measures announced russia united states canada several eu countries ukraine response poisoning former russian double agent militarygrade nerve agent english town salisbury britain expelled 23 russians alleged worked spies diplomatic cover promised freeze russian state assets may used threaten life property uk nationals residents united states expelling 60 russians including 12 intelligence officers russias mission un headquarters new york closing russian consulate seattle canada expelling four russians alleged worked spies interfered canadian affairs diplomatic cover denying three applications russian diplomatic staff ukraine expelling 13 russian diplomats france expelling four diplomats germany expelling four diplomats poland expelling four diplomats lithuania expelling three diplomats czech republic expelling three diplomats italy expelling two diplomats netherlands expelling two diplomats spain expelling two diplomats albania expelling two diplomats denmark expelling two diplomats hungary expelling one diplomat macedonia expelling one diplomat sweden expelling one diplomat norway expelling one diplomat latvia expelling one diplomat estonia expelling one diplomat finland expelling one diplomat romania expelling one diplomat croatia expelling one diplomat russian response britain russia expelled 23 british diplomats closed british consulate st petersburg british council cultural body others moscow expel least 60 staff us diplomatic missions russia ria news agency quoted russian senator vladimir dzhabarov saying ria also quoted unnamed foreign ministry source saying response symmetrical work coming days respond every country turn compiled kevin liffey editing gareth jones standards thomson reuters trust principles
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<p>BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Concerned about soaring health care costs, Idaho on Wednesday revealed a plan that will allow insurance companies to sell cheap policies that ditch key provisions of the Affordable Care Act.</p>
<p>It's believed to be the first state to take formal steps without prior federal approval for creating policies that do not comply with the Obama-era health care law. Health care experts say the move is legally dubious, a concern supported by internal records obtained by The Associated Press.</p>
<p>Idaho Department of Insurance Director Dean Cameron said the move is necessary to make cheaper plans available to more people. Otherwise, he said he fears the state's individual health insurance marketplace will eventually collapse as healthy residents choose to go uninsured rather than pay for expensive plans that comply with the federal law.</p>
<p>"There are other states that have been talking about it, but we may be out in front," Cameron said. "They may look to follow us should be we successful."</p>
<p>Many states have seen annual double-digit increases in health insurance premium costs. That is expected to continue — and perhaps get worse — under the recently signed Republican tax plan.</p>
<p>The new tax law ended the Affordable Care Act provision that required people to buy health insurance or pay a tax penalty. Without the threat of a penalty, health care experts predict that younger and healthier people will go without policies. That will leave sicker patients in the marketplaces, forcing insurers to raise costs.</p>
<p>The Idaho plan would make it possible for insurance companies to offer cheaper plans that might be more attractive to people who have to buy their own insurance and do not benefit from the federal premium subsides offered under the Affordable Care Act. The catch is that those plans would be skimpier.</p>
<p>Cameron on Wednesday offered details of the plan that was first announced by Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter, a Republican, earlier this month.</p>
<p>Under Idaho's guidelines, insurers can offer plans that deny coverage for pre-existing conditions for up to 12 months unless the customer had continuous prior coverage. Insurers would no longer be required to cover pediatric dental or vision care, and though they would have to offer at least one plan with maternity and newborn coverage, other plans could exclude those benefits.</p>
<p>Insurance carriers can also charge people more based on where they live, their health history and their age, under the new Idaho rules. Insurers can cap their own costs at $1 million a year per individual, and can charge customers separate out-of-pocket maximums for different services. In other words, a customer could have a $7,000 out-of-pocket annual maximum for prescription drugs, another for doctor visits and another for hospitalization or mental health care.</p>
<p>Insurers offering such plans in Idaho still would have to offer policies that comply with the federal health care law for those who want them, Cameron said.</p>
<p>The guidelines raised concerns for some organizations. Lupe Wissel, AARP's Idaho director, said in a statement that allowing insurance carriers to charge older customers as much as five times more than others for premiums amounts to an age tax.</p>
<p>And Mistie Tolman, Idaho legislative director of Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii, called the new guidelines "a direct attack on women of all ages."</p>
<p>"The move has been considered 'legally dubious' and follows a pattern in the state by elected officials who introduce policies that are harmful and unconstitutional and necessitate costly legal battles," she said in a statement.</p>
<p>Whether the state can legally follow through on its proposal is an open question.</p>
<p>Robert Laszewski, a health policy consultant, doesn't think Idaho's approach can stand up in court, even if federal oversight agencies decide to let it move forward. The Affordable Care Act is the law of the land, he said, and has been upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court.</p>
<p>"They might even get a federal waiver, but the problem is the state's going to get taken to court by Obamacare advocates. The Trump administration can look the other way, but courts can't look the other way," Laszewski said. "The bottom line is federal law pre-empts state law ... state standards can only apply when they are more demanding than the federal standards."</p>
<p>The risk for insurers also could be high, according to some of the more than 60 pages of emails, draft executive orders and other documents from the Idaho Department of Insurance that were obtained by the AP through a public records request.</p>
<p>In one email, Cameron said Idaho will not penalize carriers for offering plans that don't comply with federal law, but the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services can penalize insurance providers as much as $100 per insured, per day.</p>
<p>"The only other penalty is the feds could declare that we (Idaho DOI) are not enforcing the individual market requirements and therefore attempt to take away our regulatory authority on the individual market," Cameron wrote. "Of course we would strongly fight that in court."</p>
<p>The documents show Cameron is preparing for just such a fight. He said his department is working with "a myriad of attorneys to put us in the most defensible position."</p>
<p>Cameron told the AP on Tuesday he is hopeful the agencies in President Donald Trump's administration will not be sticklers for rules that Trump is working to overturn, saying Idaho's approach is careful, creative and innovative.</p>
<p>"I'm not even afraid if it needs to be litigated, though that's not my preferred course," Cameron said. "The real question is, when does the federal agency act — if they act at all."</p>
<p>BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Concerned about soaring health care costs, Idaho on Wednesday revealed a plan that will allow insurance companies to sell cheap policies that ditch key provisions of the Affordable Care Act.</p>
<p>It's believed to be the first state to take formal steps without prior federal approval for creating policies that do not comply with the Obama-era health care law. Health care experts say the move is legally dubious, a concern supported by internal records obtained by The Associated Press.</p>
<p>Idaho Department of Insurance Director Dean Cameron said the move is necessary to make cheaper plans available to more people. Otherwise, he said he fears the state's individual health insurance marketplace will eventually collapse as healthy residents choose to go uninsured rather than pay for expensive plans that comply with the federal law.</p>
<p>"There are other states that have been talking about it, but we may be out in front," Cameron said. "They may look to follow us should be we successful."</p>
<p>Many states have seen annual double-digit increases in health insurance premium costs. That is expected to continue — and perhaps get worse — under the recently signed Republican tax plan.</p>
<p>The new tax law ended the Affordable Care Act provision that required people to buy health insurance or pay a tax penalty. Without the threat of a penalty, health care experts predict that younger and healthier people will go without policies. That will leave sicker patients in the marketplaces, forcing insurers to raise costs.</p>
<p>The Idaho plan would make it possible for insurance companies to offer cheaper plans that might be more attractive to people who have to buy their own insurance and do not benefit from the federal premium subsides offered under the Affordable Care Act. The catch is that those plans would be skimpier.</p>
<p>Cameron on Wednesday offered details of the plan that was first announced by Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter, a Republican, earlier this month.</p>
<p>Under Idaho's guidelines, insurers can offer plans that deny coverage for pre-existing conditions for up to 12 months unless the customer had continuous prior coverage. Insurers would no longer be required to cover pediatric dental or vision care, and though they would have to offer at least one plan with maternity and newborn coverage, other plans could exclude those benefits.</p>
<p>Insurance carriers can also charge people more based on where they live, their health history and their age, under the new Idaho rules. Insurers can cap their own costs at $1 million a year per individual, and can charge customers separate out-of-pocket maximums for different services. In other words, a customer could have a $7,000 out-of-pocket annual maximum for prescription drugs, another for doctor visits and another for hospitalization or mental health care.</p>
<p>Insurers offering such plans in Idaho still would have to offer policies that comply with the federal health care law for those who want them, Cameron said.</p>
<p>The guidelines raised concerns for some organizations. Lupe Wissel, AARP's Idaho director, said in a statement that allowing insurance carriers to charge older customers as much as five times more than others for premiums amounts to an age tax.</p>
<p>And Mistie Tolman, Idaho legislative director of Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii, called the new guidelines "a direct attack on women of all ages."</p>
<p>"The move has been considered 'legally dubious' and follows a pattern in the state by elected officials who introduce policies that are harmful and unconstitutional and necessitate costly legal battles," she said in a statement.</p>
<p>Whether the state can legally follow through on its proposal is an open question.</p>
<p>Robert Laszewski, a health policy consultant, doesn't think Idaho's approach can stand up in court, even if federal oversight agencies decide to let it move forward. The Affordable Care Act is the law of the land, he said, and has been upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court.</p>
<p>"They might even get a federal waiver, but the problem is the state's going to get taken to court by Obamacare advocates. The Trump administration can look the other way, but courts can't look the other way," Laszewski said. "The bottom line is federal law pre-empts state law ... state standards can only apply when they are more demanding than the federal standards."</p>
<p>The risk for insurers also could be high, according to some of the more than 60 pages of emails, draft executive orders and other documents from the Idaho Department of Insurance that were obtained by the AP through a public records request.</p>
<p>In one email, Cameron said Idaho will not penalize carriers for offering plans that don't comply with federal law, but the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services can penalize insurance providers as much as $100 per insured, per day.</p>
<p>"The only other penalty is the feds could declare that we (Idaho DOI) are not enforcing the individual market requirements and therefore attempt to take away our regulatory authority on the individual market," Cameron wrote. "Of course we would strongly fight that in court."</p>
<p>The documents show Cameron is preparing for just such a fight. He said his department is working with "a myriad of attorneys to put us in the most defensible position."</p>
<p>Cameron told the AP on Tuesday he is hopeful the agencies in President Donald Trump's administration will not be sticklers for rules that Trump is working to overturn, saying Idaho's approach is careful, creative and innovative.</p>
<p>"I'm not even afraid if it needs to be litigated, though that's not my preferred course," Cameron said. "The real question is, when does the federal agency act — if they act at all."</p>
| false | 2 |
boise idaho ap concerned soaring health care costs idaho wednesday revealed plan allow insurance companies sell cheap policies ditch key provisions affordable care act believed first state take formal steps without prior federal approval creating policies comply obamaera health care law health care experts say move legally dubious concern supported internal records obtained associated press idaho department insurance director dean cameron said move necessary make cheaper plans available people otherwise said fears states individual health insurance marketplace eventually collapse healthy residents choose go uninsured rather pay expensive plans comply federal law states talking may front cameron said may look follow us successful many states seen annual doubledigit increases health insurance premium costs expected continue perhaps get worse recently signed republican tax plan new tax law ended affordable care act provision required people buy health insurance pay tax penalty without threat penalty health care experts predict younger healthier people go without policies leave sicker patients marketplaces forcing insurers raise costs idaho plan would make possible insurance companies offer cheaper plans might attractive people buy insurance benefit federal premium subsides offered affordable care act catch plans would skimpier cameron wednesday offered details plan first announced gov cl butch otter republican earlier month idahos guidelines insurers offer plans deny coverage preexisting conditions 12 months unless customer continuous prior coverage insurers would longer required cover pediatric dental vision care though would offer least one plan maternity newborn coverage plans could exclude benefits insurance carriers also charge people based live health history age new idaho rules insurers cap costs 1 million year per individual charge customers separate outofpocket maximums different services words customer could 7000 outofpocket annual maximum prescription drugs another doctor visits another hospitalization mental health care insurers offering plans idaho still would offer policies comply federal health care law want cameron said guidelines raised concerns organizations lupe wissel aarps idaho director said statement allowing insurance carriers charge older customers much five times others premiums amounts age tax mistie tolman idaho legislative director planned parenthood votes northwest hawaii called new guidelines direct attack women ages move considered legally dubious follows pattern state elected officials introduce policies harmful unconstitutional necessitate costly legal battles said statement whether state legally follow proposal open question robert laszewski health policy consultant doesnt think idahos approach stand court even federal oversight agencies decide let move forward affordable care act law land said upheld us supreme court might even get federal waiver problem states going get taken court obamacare advocates trump administration look way courts cant look way laszewski said bottom line federal law preempts state law state standards apply demanding federal standards risk insurers also could high according 60 pages emails draft executive orders documents idaho department insurance obtained ap public records request one email cameron said idaho penalize carriers offering plans dont comply federal law federal centers medicare medicaid services penalize insurance providers much 100 per insured per day penalty feds could declare idaho doi enforcing individual market requirements therefore attempt take away regulatory authority individual market cameron wrote course would strongly fight court documents show cameron preparing fight said department working myriad attorneys put us defensible position cameron told ap tuesday hopeful agencies president donald trumps administration sticklers rules trump working overturn saying idahos approach careful creative innovative im even afraid needs litigated though thats preferred course cameron said real question federal agency act act boise idaho ap concerned soaring health care costs idaho wednesday revealed plan allow insurance companies sell cheap policies ditch key provisions affordable care act believed first state take formal steps without prior federal approval creating policies comply obamaera health care law health care experts say move legally dubious concern supported internal records obtained associated press idaho department insurance director dean cameron said move necessary make cheaper plans available people otherwise said fears states individual health insurance marketplace eventually collapse healthy residents choose go uninsured rather pay expensive plans comply federal law states talking may front cameron said may look follow us successful many states seen annual doubledigit increases health insurance premium costs expected continue perhaps get worse recently signed republican tax plan new tax law ended affordable care act provision required people buy health insurance pay tax penalty without threat penalty health care experts predict younger healthier people go without policies leave sicker patients marketplaces forcing insurers raise costs idaho plan would make possible insurance companies offer cheaper plans might attractive people buy insurance benefit federal premium subsides offered affordable care act catch plans would skimpier cameron wednesday offered details plan first announced gov cl butch otter republican earlier month idahos guidelines insurers offer plans deny coverage preexisting conditions 12 months unless customer continuous prior coverage insurers would longer required cover pediatric dental vision care though would offer least one plan maternity newborn coverage plans could exclude benefits insurance carriers also charge people based live health history age new idaho rules insurers cap costs 1 million year per individual charge customers separate outofpocket maximums different services words customer could 7000 outofpocket annual maximum prescription drugs another doctor visits another hospitalization mental health care insurers offering plans idaho still would offer policies comply federal health care law want cameron said guidelines raised concerns organizations lupe wissel aarps idaho director said statement allowing insurance carriers charge older customers much five times others premiums amounts age tax mistie tolman idaho legislative director planned parenthood votes northwest hawaii called new guidelines direct attack women ages move considered legally dubious follows pattern state elected officials introduce policies harmful unconstitutional necessitate costly legal battles said statement whether state legally follow proposal open question robert laszewski health policy consultant doesnt think idahos approach stand court even federal oversight agencies decide let move forward affordable care act law land said upheld us supreme court might even get federal waiver problem states going get taken court obamacare advocates trump administration look way courts cant look way laszewski said bottom line federal law preempts state law state standards apply demanding federal standards risk insurers also could high according 60 pages emails draft executive orders documents idaho department insurance obtained ap public records request one email cameron said idaho penalize carriers offering plans dont comply federal law federal centers medicare medicaid services penalize insurance providers much 100 per insured per day penalty feds could declare idaho doi enforcing individual market requirements therefore attempt take away regulatory authority individual market cameron wrote course would strongly fight court documents show cameron preparing fight said department working myriad attorneys put us defensible position cameron told ap tuesday hopeful agencies president donald trumps administration sticklers rules trump working overturn saying idahos approach careful creative innovative im even afraid needs litigated though thats preferred course cameron said real question federal agency act act
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<p>The pop star leads the 2017 Grammys with nine nominations, including bids for album of the year with “Lemonade,” and song and record of the year with “Formation.” The singer, who already has 20 Grammys and is the most nominated woman in Grammy history with 62 nods over the course of her career, is also the first artist to earn nominations in the pop, rock, R&amp;B and rap categories in the same year.</p>
<p>Behind Beyonce are Drake, Rihanna and Kanye West, who scored eight nominations each.</p>
<p>Like Beyonce, Adele is also nominated for album, record and song of the year. For album of the year, “Lemonade” and “25” — which has sold 10 million copies in a year — will compete against Drake’s multi-hit “Views,” Justin Bieber’s redemption album “Purpose” and surprise nominee “A Sailor’s Guide to Earth,” the third album from respected and rebellious country singer Sturgill Simpson.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Beyonce’s “Formation” and Adele’s “Hello” are up against Rihanna and Drake’s “Work,” twenty one pilots’ “Stressed Out” and Lukas Graham’s “7 Years” for record of the year. “7 Years” is also up for song of the year — a songwriter’s award — battling Bieber’s “Love Yourself,” co-written with Ed Sheeran, Mike Posner’s “I Took a Pill In Ibiza,” as well as Beyonce and Adele’s songs.</p>
<p>Beyonce’s nine nominations include best rock performance (“Don’t Hurt Yourself” with Jack White), pop solo performance (“Hold Up”), rap/sung performance (“Freedom” with Kendrick Lamar) and urban contemporary album (“Lemonade”).</p>
<p>“Artists are feeling emboldened and courageous and just wanting to step out of the predictable boundaries of what they have done. Of course, (Beyonce) is the poster child for that,” Recording Academy CEO and President Neil Portnow said in an interview with The Associated Press.</p>
<p>Adele, who has five nominations, is up for best pop vocal album (“25”) and pop solo performance (“Hello.”) The Grammys will be presented in Los Angeles on Feb. 12, 2017.</p>
<p>David Bowie, who died from cancer in January, earned four nominations for his final album “Blackstar,” including best rock performance, rock song, alternative music album and engineered album, non-classical.</p>
<p>“I think this is beyond sort of the sympathy vote, because sometimes you’ll see those kinds of things happen just ’cause people feel sorry about it. But listen to (his) album — it’s quite extraordinary,” Portnow said of Bowie.</p>
<p>This year the Recording Academy allowed streaming-only recordings — released on paid-subscription platforms like Spotify, Apple Music and Tidal but not for sale on iTunes — to be eligible for nominations, giving Chance the Rapper a fair chance. The breakout performer scored seven nominations including best new artist, pitting him against country singers Maren Morris and Kelsea Ballerini; singer-rapper Anderson Paak; and pop-EDM duo the Chainsmokers, whose recent hits include “Closer” and “Don’t Let Me Down.”</p>
<p>Chance the Rapper earned three nominations for best rap song: His hit, “No Problem,” is nominated, and he has writing credit on the Kanye West songs “Famous” and “Ultralight Beam.” West will compete with himself in three categories: best rap song, rap performance and rap/sung performance.</p>
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<p>Chance’s “Coloring Book” and West’s “The Life of Pablo” are nominated for best rap album along with Drake’s “Views,” De La Soul’s “And the Anonymous Nobody,” DJ Khaled’s “Major Key” and Schoolboy Q’s “Blank Face LP.”</p>
<p>Simpson, who had been nominated for best Americana album at the 2015 Grammys, also sees his nine-track album nominated for best country album. Simpson was in a bit of controversy this year when he posted on Facebook that the Academy of Country Music Awards should not have created an award named after Merle Haggard when he felt they never showed true love to the country outlaw, who died this year. He closed his long post saying: “(Expletive) this town. I’m moving.”</p>
<p>Simpson’s album is up against Loretta Lynn’s “Full Circle,” Keith Urban’s “Ripcord,” Morris’ “Hero” and Brandy Clark’s “Big Day In a Small Town.”</p>
<p>Lori McKenna, who won a Grammy this year for co-writing Little Big Town’s “Girl Crush,” is nominated for best country song for penning Tim McGraw’s “Humble and Kind.” She also scored nominations for best Americana album, American Roots performance and American Roots song for her own work.</p>
<p>Acts tying McKenna and Bowie for four nominations include Bieber, Morris, Kirk Franklin, engineer Tom Coyne, and producer-songwriters Max Martin, Greg Kurstin, Benny Blanco and Mike Dean. Tyler Joseph, the lead vocalist of twenty one pilots and the duo’s main songwriter, scored five nominations for “Stressed Out” (record of the year, pop duo/group performance) and “Heathens” (best rock song, rock performance and song written for visual media); twenty one pilots, which includes drummer Josh Dun, earned three nods.</p>
<p>Some well-known acts scored their first Grammy nominations Tuesday, including Solange, Blink-182 and Demi Lovato, who will compete against Adele, Bieber, Sia and Ariana Grande for best pop vocal album.</p>
<p>Amy Schumer earned two nominations, including best spoken word album and comedy album. Deceased nominees include Joey Feek of the duo Joey + Rory (best gospel roots album for “Hymns”).</p>
<p>About 13,000 Recording Academy members voted in the 84 Grammy categories from 22,000 submissions. Songs and albums released from Oct. 1, 2015 through Sept. 30 were eligible for nomination.</p>
<p>______</p>
<p>Online:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.grammy.com" type="external">http://www.grammy.com</a></p>
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pop star leads 2017 grammys nine nominations including bids album year lemonade song record year formation singer already 20 grammys nominated woman grammy history 62 nods course career also first artist earn nominations pop rock rampb rap categories year behind beyonce drake rihanna kanye west scored eight nominations like beyonce adele also nominated album record song year album year lemonade 25 sold 10 million copies year compete drakes multihit views justin biebers redemption album purpose surprise nominee sailors guide earth third album respected rebellious country singer sturgill simpson advertisement beyonces formation adeles hello rihanna drakes work twenty one pilots stressed lukas grahams 7 years record year 7 years also song year songwriters award battling biebers love cowritten ed sheeran mike posners took pill ibiza well beyonce adeles songs beyonces nine nominations include best rock performance dont hurt jack white pop solo performance hold rapsung performance freedom kendrick lamar urban contemporary album lemonade artists feeling emboldened courageous wanting step predictable boundaries done course beyonce poster child recording academy ceo president neil portnow said interview associated press adele five nominations best pop vocal album 25 pop solo performance hello grammys presented los angeles feb 12 2017 david bowie died cancer january earned four nominations final album blackstar including best rock performance rock song alternative music album engineered album nonclassical think beyond sort sympathy vote sometimes youll see kinds things happen cause people feel sorry listen album quite extraordinary portnow said bowie year recording academy allowed streamingonly recordings released paidsubscription platforms like spotify apple music tidal sale itunes eligible nominations giving chance rapper fair chance breakout performer scored seven nominations including best new artist pitting country singers maren morris kelsea ballerini singerrapper anderson paak popedm duo chainsmokers whose recent hits include closer dont let chance rapper earned three nominations best rap song hit problem nominated writing credit kanye west songs famous ultralight beam west compete three categories best rap song rap performance rapsung performance advertisement chances coloring book wests life pablo nominated best rap album along drakes views de la souls anonymous nobody dj khaleds major key schoolboy qs blank face lp simpson nominated best americana album 2015 grammys also sees ninetrack album nominated best country album simpson bit controversy year posted facebook academy country music awards created award named merle haggard felt never showed true love country outlaw died year closed long post saying expletive town im moving simpsons album loretta lynns full circle keith urbans ripcord morris hero brandy clarks big day small town lori mckenna grammy year cowriting little big towns girl crush nominated best country song penning tim mcgraws humble kind also scored nominations best americana album american roots performance american roots song work acts tying mckenna bowie four nominations include bieber morris kirk franklin engineer tom coyne producersongwriters max martin greg kurstin benny blanco mike dean tyler joseph lead vocalist twenty one pilots duos main songwriter scored five nominations stressed record year pop duogroup performance heathens best rock song rock performance song written visual media twenty one pilots includes drummer josh dun earned three nods wellknown acts scored first grammy nominations tuesday including solange blink182 demi lovato compete adele bieber sia ariana grande best pop vocal album amy schumer earned two nominations including best spoken word album comedy album deceased nominees include joey feek duo joey rory best gospel roots album hymns 13000 recording academy members voted 84 grammy categories 22000 submissions songs albums released oct 1 2015 sept 30 eligible nomination ______ online httpwwwgrammycom
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<p />
<p>In November and December, traditionally a slow period for films, the state will see 10 productions in various stages of the filming process – pre-production, principal photography or post-production.</p>
<p>“We’re as busy as we’ve ever been,” said Nick Maniatis, New Mexico Film Office director.</p>
<p>Those 10 productions – three movies and seven television shows – translate into more than 13,000 part-time and full-time jobs.</p>
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<p>And many of the productions are repeat customers.</p>
<p>For instance, “Soldado,” the sequel to the Oscar-nominated film “Sicario,” recently began filming in the Duke City.</p>
<p>The same is true for television shows. Sony Pictures is producing the third season of “Better Call Saul,” the spin-off of the five-season blockbuster “Breaking Bad.”</p>
<p>NBC Universal recreated a street scene to use for its highly anticipated show, “Midnight, Texas.” (Roberto E. Rosales/Journal)</p>
<p>And NBC Universal, which is responsible for “In Plain Sight” and “The Night Shift,” is in the middle of production on the highly anticipated freshman series “Midnight, Texas.”</p>
<p>Maniatis said the surge is due to a combination of factors.</p>
<p>“The productions are comfortable with our program and know how it works,” he said. “They know how good our crew is and how good our facilities are. It’s a win all around.”</p>
<p>The influx of films may also be tied to other states tinkering with their incentive packages.</p>
<p>Louisiana, which has been a force in the film industry, has suffered a downturn since mid-2015. Legislators there passed a law aimed to control ballooning costs for its generous incentive program and eventually placed a yearly cap of $180 million on payouts to film companies.</p>
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<p>While the cap remains much higher than New Mexico’s, just the uncertainty of lawmakers discussing changes can dampen film interest, said Maniatis.</p>
<p>The budget for “Soldado” budget is estimated around $30 million and it is expected to take three months to film here.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, one week of filming a TV production funnels $1 million into the community, according to the Albuquerque Film Office.</p>
<p>A single episode usually takes eight days to shoot. Newer shows pour even more money into the production through startup costs. And the state’s film incentives – a 30 percent tax rebate on all New Mexico goods and services, and a $50 million cap on incentives – remains one of the most stable in the country.</p>
<p>“Louisiana is dealing with what we saw in 2011,” Maniatis said, referring to New Mexico lawmakers’ discussion and eventual altering of incentives. “When you start to make changes, film companies take notice. It will take them (Louisiana) two or three years to recover. We may be reaping some of the benefit of the fallout.”</p>
<p>Thousands of workers</p>
<p>Albuquerque Studios currently has all of its studios in use. The entire state is seeing an influx of TV and film productions. (Roberto E. Rosales/Journal)</p>
<p>Since Oct. 31, the NM Film Office has announced the productions “Midnight, Texas,” “Soldado,” “Get Shorty” and “Monsters of God.”</p>
<p>Those four productions alone will hire a total 7,400 background actors and employ 1,064 crew members.</p>
<p>This is in addition to the current productions “Better Call Saul,” “Cliffs of Freedom” and “Godless,” which are hiring 3,150 background actors and 580 crew members.</p>
<p>Maniatis said it helps that each production is at a different point in the process.</p>
<p>“Some of the productions will pick up many of the crew members once they’re done. It’s designed to keep New Mexicans working.”</p>
<p>The film office keeps track of all the productions in the state and those coming.</p>
<p>“We work with those that are interested in coming here,” he said. “It’s like putting together a puzzle. We will have to ask productions to push two weeks until another project is done. We help create jobs and, in my estimation, that’s our most important mission.”</p>
<p>Full house</p>
<p>Albuquerque Studios has had one of its busiest years and all nine stages are full.</p>
<p>Matt Rauchberg, senior vice president for business development at Albuquerque Studios, said all the state’s studios basically are busy.</p>
<p>“Santa Fe (Studios) is full. Garson (Studios) is full,” he said. “I-25 Studios has a production coming in,” Rauchberg says.</p>
<p>NBC Universal spent about $2. 5 million on building a set in the back lot of Albuquerque Studios for “Midnight, Texas.” (Roberto E. Rosales/Journal)</p>
<p>One of the exciting things for Rauchberg is the new back lot that “Midnight, Texas” built on the property.</p>
<p>Just behind studios 6 and 7, NBC Universal spent $2.5 million building a Western street for the TV series.</p>
<p>“The buildings continue to demonstrate how we are building our infrastructure and facilities,” Rauchberg said. “We’ll have tremendous interior sets and a modern Western street. It’s an asset.”</p>
<p>Rauchberg pointed to improved production talent, as well.</p>
<p>“We have spent 10 years building skilled crew and some of the best sound stages,” he said. “We couldn’t do this volume of high-end TV without the skilled crew.”</p>
<p>No sign of slowdown</p>
<p>Maniatis doesn’t see any signs of slowing down.</p>
<p>He and his staff are constantly looking for new productions to lure to New Mexico.</p>
<p>“We have a lot of interest in the state and we’ve been putting out a lot of great work,” he said. “We will also go after a show. I wanted to get ‘Westworld’ on HBO and I tried to bring Stephen King’s ‘The Dark Tower’ here. Those didn’t work out, but we’re trying.”</p>
<p>Maniatis’ goal is to bring film projects to the entire state.</p>
<p>“When ‘Batman v Superman’ went to Deming, I was thrilled,” he said. “Recently, ‘Hostiles’ went up to Farmington. I met with people in Gallup on how to get productions there. Albuquerque and Santa Fe will always get their fair share. I am trying to spread it around.”</p>
<p>The state is coming off a second record year for the film industry.</p>
<p>In fiscal year 2016, which ended July 1, the direct spend into the state economy reached $387 million.</p>
<p>That’s up from fiscal year 2015’s record high of $288 million.</p>
<p>Maniatis hopes there will be another record for fiscal year 2017.</p>
<p>“The whole industry is about creating jobs,” he said. “This is one of the biggest job creators in the state. And it’s growing.”</p>
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november december traditionally slow period films state see 10 productions various stages filming process preproduction principal photography postproduction busy weve ever said nick maniatis new mexico film office director 10 productions three movies seven television shows translate 13000 parttime fulltime jobs advertisement many productions repeat customers instance soldado sequel oscarnominated film sicario recently began filming duke city true television shows sony pictures producing third season better call saul spinoff fiveseason blockbuster breaking bad nbc universal recreated street scene use highly anticipated show midnight texas roberto e rosalesjournal nbc universal responsible plain sight night shift middle production highly anticipated freshman series midnight texas maniatis said surge due combination factors productions comfortable program know works said know good crew good facilities win around influx films may also tied states tinkering incentive packages louisiana force film industry suffered downturn since mid2015 legislators passed law aimed control ballooning costs generous incentive program eventually placed yearly cap 180 million payouts film companies advertisement cap remains much higher new mexicos uncertainty lawmakers discussing changes dampen film interest said maniatis budget soldado budget estimated around 30 million expected take three months film meanwhile one week filming tv production funnels 1 million community according albuquerque film office single episode usually takes eight days shoot newer shows pour even money production startup costs states film incentives 30 percent tax rebate new mexico goods services 50 million cap incentives remains one stable country louisiana dealing saw 2011 maniatis said referring new mexico lawmakers discussion eventual altering incentives start make changes film companies take notice take louisiana two three years recover may reaping benefit fallout thousands workers albuquerque studios currently studios use entire state seeing influx tv film productions roberto e rosalesjournal since oct 31 nm film office announced productions midnight texas soldado get shorty monsters god four productions alone hire total 7400 background actors employ 1064 crew members addition current productions better call saul cliffs freedom godless hiring 3150 background actors 580 crew members maniatis said helps production different point process productions pick many crew members theyre done designed keep new mexicans working film office keeps track productions state coming work interested coming said like putting together puzzle ask productions push two weeks another project done help create jobs estimation thats important mission full house albuquerque studios one busiest years nine stages full matt rauchberg senior vice president business development albuquerque studios said states studios basically busy santa fe studios full garson studios full said i25 studios production coming rauchberg says nbc universal spent 2 5 million building set back lot albuquerque studios midnight texas roberto e rosalesjournal one exciting things rauchberg new back lot midnight texas built property behind studios 6 7 nbc universal spent 25 million building western street tv series buildings continue demonstrate building infrastructure facilities rauchberg said well tremendous interior sets modern western street asset rauchberg pointed improved production talent well spent 10 years building skilled crew best sound stages said couldnt volume highend tv without skilled crew sign slowdown maniatis doesnt see signs slowing staff constantly looking new productions lure new mexico lot interest state weve putting lot great work said also go show wanted get westworld hbo tried bring stephen kings dark tower didnt work trying maniatis goal bring film projects entire state batman v superman went deming thrilled said recently hostiles went farmington met people gallup get productions albuquerque santa fe always get fair share trying spread around state coming second record year film industry fiscal year 2016 ended july 1 direct spend state economy reached 387 million thats fiscal year 2015s record high 288 million maniatis hopes another record fiscal year 2017 whole industry creating jobs said one biggest job creators state growing
| 611 |
<p>Jan 19 (Reuters) - Japan Lifeline Co Ltd :</p>
<p>* Says 4,000 units of its 2nd series options were exercised to 800,000 shares of its common stock at 2,254 yen per share, on Jan. 19</p>
<p>Source text in Japanese: <a href="https://goo.gl/UsJrvu" type="external">goo.gl/UsJrvu</a></p>
<p>Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>BUDAPEST, Hungary (Reuters) - Most polling stations closed and the vote count began in Hungary’s election on Sunday, after a very high turnout that could threaten Viktor Orban’s parliamentary majority.</p> Hungarian women, wearing traditional costumes, fill their ballot papers at a polling station during Hungarian parliamentary elections in Veresegyhaz, Hungary April 8, 2018. REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo
<p>Following an acrimonious campaign in which the rightwing nationalist prime minister projected himself as a savior of Hungary’s Christian culture against Muslim migration into Europe, all opinion polls had put his Fidesz party well ahead.</p>
<p>A strong victory could embolden him to put more muscle into a Central European alliance against the European Union’s migration policies. Orban, Hungary’s longest-serving post-communist premier, opposes deeper integration of the bloc.</p>
<p>Interim data at 1630 GMT showed voter turnout at 68.13 percent, exceeding final turnout in the past three elections.</p>
<p>A high turnout in a 2002 vote consigned Orban to eight years of opposition. In contrast, the turnout was only 61.7 percent in the last election, in 2014, which gave him a massive victory.</p>
<p>Orban’s opponents were cheered by the enthusiasm of Hungarians to vote.</p> Related Coverage
<a href="/article/us-hungary-election-majority/hungarys-fidesz-unlikely-to-win-two-thirds-majority-lawmaker-idUSKBN1HF0UZ" type="external">Hungary's Fidesz unlikely to win two-thirds majority: lawmaker</a>
<a href="/article/us-hungary-election-turnout/interim-turnout-in-hungarys-election-hits-68-13-percent-idUSKBN1HF0FA" type="external">Interim turnout in Hungary's election hits 68.13 percent</a>
<p>“We are convinced that high turnout definitely reflects ... that people want a change in government,” Socialist spokeswoman Bernadett Budai was quoted as saying by national news agency MTI.</p>
<p>Fidesz lawmaker Gergely Gulyas told private broadcaster ATV his party was unlikely to retain its two-thirds parliamentary majority.</p>
<p>“A two-thirds victory is possible if neither side loses more than 10 districts and there is a difference of at least 20 percent between the winner and the runner-up,” Gulyas said.</p>
<p>“I consider this unlikely. I think this is outside the category of reality.”</p>
<p>Voters were no longer allowed to join queues at polling stations from 1700 GMT, but those already in line were being allowed to cast their ballots, meaning voting could continue for hours more at the busiest stations.</p>
<p>In central London, emigre Hungarians queued for hundreds of meters in the rain to vote, some waiting for more than two hours.</p>
<p>Some pollsters said voter turnout above 70 percent could signal that the opposition was mobilizing supporters efficiently, and might even deprive Fidesz of its parliamentary majority.</p>
<p>“High turnout means, most probably, less mandates for Fidesz than in the previous term,” said Peter Kreko, director of think tank Political Capital.</p>
<p>But he added that since all parties, including Fidesz, had mobilized intensively, it did not necessarily mean Orban was threatened with defeat.</p>
<p>Orban has far-right admirers across Europe who like his tough line on migrants and a landslide win would show that his single-issue campaign, arguing that migration poses a security threat, had paid off.</p> A woman casts her ballot during Hungarian parliamentary election in Gyongyos, Hungary, April 8, 2018. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger MIGRATION “LIKE RUST”
<p>Critics say Orban has put Hungary on an increasingly authoritarian path and his stance on immigration has fueled xenophobia.</p>
<p>After casting his vote in a wealthy district of Budapest, he said: “From here I will go and take part in mobilizing voters ... I am asking everyone to take part in the election.”</p>
<p>Asked by journalists if he was fighting the European Union, Orban said: “The EU is not in Brussels. The EU is in Berlin, in Budapest, in Prague and in Bucharest.”</p>
<p>He reiterated he would stand up for Hungary’s interests and said Hungary was a loyal member of international organizations.</p>
<p>“We love our country and we are fighting for our country,” he said.</p>
<p>A strong win for Orban would boost other right-wing nationalists in Central Europe, in Poland and in neighboring Austria, and expose cracks in the 28-nation EU.</p>
<p>While Fidesz led all opinion polls before the vote, there is a small chance that the fragmented opposition could strip Fidesz of its parliamentary majority if voters frustrated with Orban’s policies choose tactical voting in the 106 constituencies.</p>
<p>The strongest opposition party is the formerly far-right Jobbik, which has recast its image as a more moderate nationalist force. It has been campaigning on an anti-corruption agenda and urged higher wages to lure back hundreds of thousands of Hungarians who have left Hungary for western Europe.</p>
<p>Clad in a green jacket and white shirt, Jobbik leader Gabor Vona, 39, arrived to vote in the eastern city of Gyongyos, his home town and the district where he is likely to win a seat.</p>
<p>“Everyone should go to vote because this election determines Hungary’s course not for four years but for two generations at least,” he told reporters. “Emigration may or may not define Hungary, and I would prefer that it does not.”</p>
<p>The EU has struggled to respond as Orban’s government has, in the view of its critics, used its two landslide victories in 2010 and 2014 to erode democratic checks and balances. It has curbed the powers of the constitutional court, increased control of the media and appointed loyalists to key positions.</p> Slideshow (11 Images)
<p>Orban is credited with keeping the budget deficit under control, reducing unemployment and some of Hungary’s debt, and putting its economy on a growth track.</p>
<p>On Friday, at his closing campaign rally, he vowed to protect his nation from Muslim migrants, saying: “Migration is like rust that slowly but surely would consume Hungary.”</p> OUTSIDE CHANCE OF SURPRISE
<p>The anti-immigrant campaign has gone down well with many of the roughly two million core voters of Fidesz.</p>
<p>“My little daughter must be my primary concern, to make her future safe. Safety is first,” said Julia Scharle, 27, holding her child outside the polling station where Orban cast his vote. She would not reveal her voting preference.</p>
<p>In March the government gave pre-election handouts to millions of families and pensioners.</p>
<p>A poll by Zavecz research institute published on Friday showed Fidesz had 46 percent support among decided voters, while Jobbik had 19 percent. The Socialists came in third with 14 percent. Voter turnout was estimated between 64 and 68 percent.</p>
<p>However, one-third of voters were undecided.</p>
<p>In 2014, Fidesz won a two-thirds majority in the 199-seat parliament with 133 seats.</p>
<p>If Orban wins again, he is expected to continue his economic policies, with income tax cuts and incentives to boost growth.</p>
<p>His business allies are expected to expand their economic domains. Businessmen close to Fidesz have acquired stakes in major industries like banking, energy, construction and tourism, profiting from EU funds.</p>
<p>“Only a dramatic outcome of the election would force a significant shift in the direction of policymaking,” Barclays said in a note.</p>
<p>Writing by Krisztina Than; additional reporting by Simon Dawson; editing by Janet Lawrence and Andrew Roche</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Hungary ruling Fidesz party is unlikely to win a two-thirds parliamentary majority, Fidesz’s parliamentary group leader Gergely Gulyas told private broadcaster ATV after Sunday’s election produced a higher-than-expected turnout.</p> Votes are counted in Hungarian parliamentary election, at the polling station in Budapest, Hungary, April 8, 2018. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger
<p>“Theoretically everything is still possible as we don’t know the data yet ... but in Hungary a two-thirds victory is possible if neither side loses more than 10 districts and there is a difference of at least 20 percent between the winner and the runner-up,” Gulyas said.</p>
<p>“I consider this unlikely. I think this is outside the category of reality.”</p>
<p>Reporting by Gergely Szakacs and Krisztina Than. Editing by Jane Merriman</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran’s Foreign Ministry said on Sunday reports of a gas attack in Syria were not based on facts and were an “an excuse” by the United States and Western countries to take military action against Damascus, the official Iranian news agency IRNA reported.</p>
<p>“Such claims and allegations by the Americans and some Western countries point to a new plot against the Syrian government and people, and are an excuse to take military action against them,” IRNA reported foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi as saying.</p>
<p>The news agency also quoted Qasemi as saying that the reports of the gas attack “do not match facts.”</p>
<p>Iran has been Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s most supportive ally against insurgents throughout the conflict. Iran-backed militias first helped his army stem rebel advances and, following Russia’s entry into the war in 2015, turn the tide decisively in Assad’s favor.</p> The mysterious Russian airlift helping Syria's Assad
<p>In a meeting with military commanders on Sunday, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei expressed confidence that enemies would fail in any confrontation with Iran.</p>
<p>“Despite all the conspiracies ... of the enemies, the power of the Islamic system will increase day by day,” IRNA quoted Khamenei as saying.</p>
<p>Reporting by Dubai newsroom. Editing by Jane Merriman</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>BEIRUT/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday there would be a “big price to pay” after medical aid groups reported dozens of people were killed by poison gas in a besieged rebel-held town in Syria.</p>
<p>As international officials worked to try to confirm the chemical attack which happened late on Saturday in the town of Douma, Trump took the rare step of directly criticizing Russian President Vladimir Putin in connection with the incident.</p>
<p>The Syrian state denied government forces had launched any chemical attack and Russia, President Bashar al-Assad’s most powerful ally, called the reports bogus.</p>
<p>“Many dead, including women and children, in mindless CHEMICAL attack in Syria. Area of atrocity is in lockdown and encircled by Syrian Army, making it completely inaccessible to outside world. President Putin, Russia and Iran are responsible for backing Animal Assad. Big price to pay,” Trump wrote on Twitter.</p>
<p>The White House declined to clarify what consequences Trump had in mind. Last year, the United States launched a cruise missile strike on a Syrian air base days after a sarin gas attack in northwestern Syria blamed on Assad.</p>
<p>The Russian Foreign Ministry warned against any military action on the basis of “invented and fabricated excuses”, saying this could lead to severe consequences.</p>
<p>A joint statement by the medical relief organization Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS) and the civil defense service, which operates in rebel-held areas, said 49 people had died in the attack. Others put the toll even higher.</p> Related Coverage
<a href="/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-un/u-n-security-council-expected-to-meet-monday-on-syria-attack-diplomats-idUSKBN1HF0TU" type="external">U.N. Security Council expected to meet Monday on Syria attack: diplomats</a>
<a href="/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-ghouta-iran/iran-says-syria-gas-attack-reports-excuse-for-military-action-idUSKBN1HF0R2" type="external">Iran says Syria gas attack reports 'excuse' for military action</a>
<a href="/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-gouta-eu/eu-calls-for-response-to-yet-another-chemical-attack-in-syria-idUSKBN1HF0PQ" type="external">EU calls for response to 'yet another chemical attack' in Syria</a>
<p>The United Nations Security Council is likely to meet Monday afternoon on the chemical attack at the request of the United States and eight other members, diplomats said.</p> ‘HORRIBLE’ IMAGES
<p>Last week Trump said he wanted to pull U.S. troops out of Syria, though his advisers have urged him to wait to ensure Islamic State militants are defeated and to prevent Assad’s ally Iran from gaining a foothold there.</p>
<p>There are about 2,000 U.S. troops on the ground in the country working to help fight Islamic State militants.</p>
<p>A top Trump security aide said on Sunday the United States would not rule out launching another missile attack. “I wouldn’t take anything off the table,” said Tom Bossert, the White House Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Adviser, in an interview on ABC’s “This Week.”</p>
<p>“We are looking into the attack at this point,” he said, adding that the photos of the incident are “horrible.”</p>
<p>In one video shared by activists, the bodies of around a dozen children, women and men, some with foam at the mouth, were seen. “Douma city, April 7 ... there is a strong smell here,” a voice can be heard saying.</p>
<p>Reuters could not independently verify the reports.</p>
<p>One factor in Trump’s decision to bomb Syria last year was the television images of dead children.</p>
<p>Trump will be joined at the White House on Monday by John Bolton, who takes over as White House national security adviser.</p>
<p>Trump has shaken up his core national security team in the past two weeks, replacing national security adviser H.R. McMaster and firing Rex Tillerson as secretary of state.</p>
<p>Bolton, a hard-charging former UN ambassador, praised Trump’s missile response last year, though he has generally focused more on Iran as a bigger national security threat.</p>
<p>Trump was set on Monday to talk with senior military leadership at a previously scheduled meeting at the White House.</p>
<p>U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis had warned in March during a trip to Oman that chlorine attacks would be “very unwise,” saying Trump had “full political maneuver room” to respond, though he stopped short of threatening retaliation.</p> SHELTERING IN BASEMENTS
<p>The Syrian Observatory monitoring group said it could not confirm whether chemical weapons had been used in the attack on Saturday. Observatory Director Rami Abdulrahman said 11 people had died in Douma as a result of suffocation caused by heavy bombardment.</p>
<p>Medical relief organization SAMS said a chlorine bomb hit Douma hospital, killing six people, and a second attack with “mixed agents”, including nerve agents, had hit a nearby building.</p>
<p>Basel Termanini, the U.S.-based vice president of SAMS, which operates medical facilities and supports medics in Syria, told Reuters another 35 people had been killed at a nearby apartment building, most of them women and children.</p>
<p>The joint statement from SAMS and the civil defense said medical centers had taken in more than 500 people suffering breathing difficulties, frothing from the mouth and smelling of chlorine.</p>
<p>Tawfik Chamaa, a Geneva-based Syrian doctor with the Syria-focused Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations (UOSSM), a network of Syrian doctors, said 150 people were confirmed dead and the number was growing. “The majority were civilians, women and children trapped in underground shelters,” he told Reuters.</p>
<p>Douma is in the eastern Ghouta region near Damascus. Assad has won back control of nearly all of eastern Ghouta from rebel groups in a Russian-backed military campaign that began in February, leaving just Douma in rebel hands.</p>
<p>The Ghouta offensive has been one of the deadliest in Syria’s seven-year-long war, killing more than 1,600 civilians, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.</p>
<p>Taking Douma would seal Assad’s biggest victory since 2016, and underline his unassailable position in the war that has killed hundreds of thousands of people since it mushroomed from protests against his rule in 2011.</p>
<p>Reporting by Dahlia Nehme and Tom Perry in Beirut, Mustafa Hashem in Cairo, Roberta Rampton, John Walcott, Mark Hosenball, Michelle Price and Sarah Lynch in Washington, Michelle Nichols in New York, Suleiman al-Khalidi in Amman, Stephanie Nebehay in Geneva, Anthony Deutsch in Amstersdam, John Irish in Paris, and Polina Ivanova in Moscow; Writing by Tom Perry and Roberta Rampton; Editing by Adrian Croft and James Dalgleish</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
| false | 2 |
jan 19 reuters japan lifeline co ltd says 4000 units 2nd series options exercised 800000 shares common stock 2254 yen per share jan 19 source text japanese googlusjrvu company coverage beijing headline news standards thomson reuters trust principles budapest hungary reuters polling stations closed vote count began hungarys election sunday high turnout could threaten viktor orbans parliamentary majority hungarian women wearing traditional costumes fill ballot papers polling station hungarian parliamentary elections veresegyhaz hungary april 8 2018 reutersbernadett szabo following acrimonious campaign rightwing nationalist prime minister projected savior hungarys christian culture muslim migration europe opinion polls put fidesz party well ahead strong victory could embolden put muscle central european alliance european unions migration policies orban hungarys longestserving postcommunist premier opposes deeper integration bloc interim data 1630 gmt showed voter turnout 6813 percent exceeding final turnout past three elections high turnout 2002 vote consigned orban eight years opposition contrast turnout 617 percent last election 2014 gave massive victory orbans opponents cheered enthusiasm hungarians vote related coverage hungarys fidesz unlikely win twothirds majority lawmaker interim turnout hungarys election hits 6813 percent convinced high turnout definitely reflects people want change government socialist spokeswoman bernadett budai quoted saying national news agency mti fidesz lawmaker gergely gulyas told private broadcaster atv party unlikely retain twothirds parliamentary majority twothirds victory possible neither side loses 10 districts difference least 20 percent winner runnerup gulyas said consider unlikely think outside category reality voters longer allowed join queues polling stations 1700 gmt already line allowed cast ballots meaning voting could continue hours busiest stations central london emigre hungarians queued hundreds meters rain vote waiting two hours pollsters said voter turnout 70 percent could signal opposition mobilizing supporters efficiently might even deprive fidesz parliamentary majority high turnout means probably less mandates fidesz previous term said peter kreko director think tank political capital added since parties including fidesz mobilized intensively necessarily mean orban threatened defeat orban farright admirers across europe like tough line migrants landslide win would show singleissue campaign arguing migration poses security threat paid woman casts ballot hungarian parliamentary election gyongyos hungary april 8 2018 reutersleonhard foeger migration like rust critics say orban put hungary increasingly authoritarian path stance immigration fueled xenophobia casting vote wealthy district budapest said go take part mobilizing voters asking everyone take part election asked journalists fighting european union orban said eu brussels eu berlin budapest prague bucharest reiterated would stand hungarys interests said hungary loyal member international organizations love country fighting country said strong win orban would boost rightwing nationalists central europe poland neighboring austria expose cracks 28nation eu fidesz led opinion polls vote small chance fragmented opposition could strip fidesz parliamentary majority voters frustrated orbans policies choose tactical voting 106 constituencies strongest opposition party formerly farright jobbik recast image moderate nationalist force campaigning anticorruption agenda urged higher wages lure back hundreds thousands hungarians left hungary western europe clad green jacket white shirt jobbik leader gabor vona 39 arrived vote eastern city gyongyos home town district likely win seat everyone go vote election determines hungarys course four years two generations least told reporters emigration may may define hungary would prefer eu struggled respond orbans government view critics used two landslide victories 2010 2014 erode democratic checks balances curbed powers constitutional court increased control media appointed loyalists key positions slideshow 11 images orban credited keeping budget deficit control reducing unemployment hungarys debt putting economy growth track friday closing campaign rally vowed protect nation muslim migrants saying migration like rust slowly surely would consume hungary outside chance surprise antiimmigrant campaign gone well many roughly two million core voters fidesz little daughter must primary concern make future safe safety first said julia scharle 27 holding child outside polling station orban cast vote would reveal voting preference march government gave preelection handouts millions families pensioners poll zavecz research institute published friday showed fidesz 46 percent support among decided voters jobbik 19 percent socialists came third 14 percent voter turnout estimated 64 68 percent however onethird voters undecided 2014 fidesz twothirds majority 199seat parliament 133 seats orban wins expected continue economic policies income tax cuts incentives boost growth business allies expected expand economic domains businessmen close fidesz acquired stakes major industries like banking energy construction tourism profiting eu funds dramatic outcome election would force significant shift direction policymaking barclays said note writing krisztina additional reporting simon dawson editing janet lawrence andrew roche standards thomson reuters trust principles budapest reuters hungary ruling fidesz party unlikely win twothirds parliamentary majority fideszs parliamentary group leader gergely gulyas told private broadcaster atv sundays election produced higherthanexpected turnout votes counted hungarian parliamentary election polling station budapest hungary april 8 2018 reutersleonhard foeger theoretically everything still possible dont know data yet hungary twothirds victory possible neither side loses 10 districts difference least 20 percent winner runnerup gulyas said consider unlikely think outside category reality reporting gergely szakacs krisztina editing jane merriman standards thomson reuters trust principles dubai reuters irans foreign ministry said sunday reports gas attack syria based facts excuse united states western countries take military action damascus official iranian news agency irna reported claims allegations americans western countries point new plot syrian government people excuse take military action irna reported foreign ministry spokesman bahram qasemi saying news agency also quoted qasemi saying reports gas attack match facts iran syrian president bashar alassads supportive ally insurgents throughout conflict iranbacked militias first helped army stem rebel advances following russias entry war 2015 turn tide decisively assads favor mysterious russian airlift helping syrias assad meeting military commanders sunday iranian supreme leader ayatollah ali khamenei expressed confidence enemies would fail confrontation iran despite conspiracies enemies power islamic system increase day day irna quoted khamenei saying reporting dubai newsroom editing jane merriman standards thomson reuters trust principles beirutwashington reuters us president donald trump said sunday would big price pay medical aid groups reported dozens people killed poison gas besieged rebelheld town syria international officials worked try confirm chemical attack happened late saturday town douma trump took rare step directly criticizing russian president vladimir putin connection incident syrian state denied government forces launched chemical attack russia president bashar alassads powerful ally called reports bogus many dead including women children mindless chemical attack syria area atrocity lockdown encircled syrian army making completely inaccessible outside world president putin russia iran responsible backing animal assad big price pay trump wrote twitter white house declined clarify consequences trump mind last year united states launched cruise missile strike syrian air base days sarin gas attack northwestern syria blamed assad russian foreign ministry warned military action basis invented fabricated excuses saying could lead severe consequences joint statement medical relief organization syrian american medical society sams civil defense service operates rebelheld areas said 49 people died attack others put toll even higher related coverage un security council expected meet monday syria attack diplomats iran says syria gas attack reports excuse military action eu calls response yet another chemical attack syria united nations security council likely meet monday afternoon chemical attack request united states eight members diplomats said horrible images last week trump said wanted pull us troops syria though advisers urged wait ensure islamic state militants defeated prevent assads ally iran gaining foothold 2000 us troops ground country working help fight islamic state militants top trump security aide said sunday united states would rule launching another missile attack wouldnt take anything table said tom bossert white house homeland security counterterrorism adviser interview abcs week looking attack point said adding photos incident horrible one video shared activists bodies around dozen children women men foam mouth seen douma city april 7 strong smell voice heard saying reuters could independently verify reports one factor trumps decision bomb syria last year television images dead children trump joined white house monday john bolton takes white house national security adviser trump shaken core national security team past two weeks replacing national security adviser hr mcmaster firing rex tillerson secretary state bolton hardcharging former un ambassador praised trumps missile response last year though generally focused iran bigger national security threat trump set monday talk senior military leadership previously scheduled meeting white house us defense secretary jim mattis warned march trip oman chlorine attacks would unwise saying trump full political maneuver room respond though stopped short threatening retaliation sheltering basements syrian observatory monitoring group said could confirm whether chemical weapons used attack saturday observatory director rami abdulrahman said 11 people died douma result suffocation caused heavy bombardment medical relief organization sams said chlorine bomb hit douma hospital killing six people second attack mixed agents including nerve agents hit nearby building basel termanini usbased vice president sams operates medical facilities supports medics syria told reuters another 35 people killed nearby apartment building women children joint statement sams civil defense said medical centers taken 500 people suffering breathing difficulties frothing mouth smelling chlorine tawfik chamaa genevabased syrian doctor syriafocused union medical care relief organizations uossm network syrian doctors said 150 people confirmed dead number growing majority civilians women children trapped underground shelters told reuters douma eastern ghouta region near damascus assad back control nearly eastern ghouta rebel groups russianbacked military campaign began february leaving douma rebel hands ghouta offensive one deadliest syrias sevenyearlong war killing 1600 civilians according syrian observatory human rights taking douma would seal assads biggest victory since 2016 underline unassailable position war killed hundreds thousands people since mushroomed protests rule 2011 reporting dahlia nehme tom perry beirut mustafa hashem cairo roberta rampton john walcott mark hosenball michelle price sarah lynch washington michelle nichols new york suleiman alkhalidi amman stephanie nebehay geneva anthony deutsch amstersdam john irish paris polina ivanova moscow writing tom perry roberta rampton editing adrian croft james dalgleish standards thomson reuters trust principles
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<p>FAYETTEVILLE, W.Va. (AP) - It was "far and away" the coldest year yet for the Fayette Station Polar Plunge, but the well-below-freezing temperatures didn't stop a couple dozen locals from taking part in the New Year's Day tradition.</p>
<p>After drying himself as best as he could, a fifth-year participant stood by the water's edge in a puffy lime green jacket. Water from the river had crystalized in his thick beard.</p>
<p>"It's a great way to start the new year," said 36-year-old Brad Scott of Fayetteville. "There's something about the plunge that's just kind of like washing off last year, shaking it all off."</p>
<p>Temperatures hovered around 15 degrees during the icy plunge, where Scott and others had to use shovels to break away enough ice to clear a section for the plungers.</p>
<p>"I think this is the first year below freezing," he said. "It's the first year we had to break the ice. We would not be stopped."</p>
<p>Another longtime participant, Jenna Weatherford, agreed that the cold conditions wouldn't stop her.</p>
<p>Wearing only a bikini, 15-year-old Jenna made the plunge - a tradition her boating family has been doing for years.</p>
<p>"The colder it gets, the less you want to wear," she explained. "That way you can strip it off and get into warm clothes faster."</p>
<p>Kathy Zerkle, the hostess of the event, has been participating since the inception of the polar plunge roughly 10 years ago.</p>
<p>Although she didn't start the tradition, she did keep it going after the original organizer relocated.</p>
<p>"It's just for fun," Zerkle said. "It's not for money. It's not for a cause. It's just a way for us to do something on New Year's Day that's kind of special."</p>
<p>Hot chocolate and peppermint schnapps were available for attendees after the event, along with propane space heaters to warm up.</p>
<p>"This is absolutely the coldest year we've ever had, by a long shot," she noted.</p>
<p>The word-of-mouth event has grown each year, especially with the help of social media in the past several years.</p>
<p>Zerkle said she was especially surprised at this year's turnout, as fewer people have shown up in the past for warmer weather.</p>
<p>In addition to the plungers, another couple dozen spectators and supporters watched from the banks.</p>
<p>Mary Stone and Jack Kinsey, who heard about the event on Facebook, decided to watch the polar plunge before going on their annual hike on the first day of the new year.</p>
<p>The Gauley Bridge residents said the participants were brave, but crazy.</p>
<p>"I fell in a river trout fishing this time about a year ago," Kinsey said. "I know how cold that water is."</p>
<p>Just in front of Stone and Kinsey stood first-time plungers Brett and Jimmy Garris.</p>
<p>The nervous father-son duo was wrapped in blankets - Brett with a multi-colored crocheted blanket and his dad with a plush WVU one. The two wore shorts, short-sleeve T-shirts and tennis shoes.</p>
<p>"I'm terrified," Brett said as he handed his blanket to a spectator. "I just thought it was the best way to bring in the new year, southern West Virginia style."</p>
<p>They, too, heard about the event on Facebook and thought it would be something fun to do together.</p>
<p>"It's nice I get to do it with my son," Jimmy said. "But this may be the first and only time."</p>
<p>As they came scrambling back ashore, Jimmy responded with a resounding, "No!" that he would not be participating next year.</p>
<p>As for Brett, who had chunks of ice in his hair, he said his participation next year is "highly doubtful."</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Information from: The Register-Herald, <a href="http://www.register-herald.com" type="external" /> <a href="http://www.register-herald.com" type="external">http://www.register-herald.com</a></p>
<p>FAYETTEVILLE, W.Va. (AP) - It was "far and away" the coldest year yet for the Fayette Station Polar Plunge, but the well-below-freezing temperatures didn't stop a couple dozen locals from taking part in the New Year's Day tradition.</p>
<p>After drying himself as best as he could, a fifth-year participant stood by the water's edge in a puffy lime green jacket. Water from the river had crystalized in his thick beard.</p>
<p>"It's a great way to start the new year," said 36-year-old Brad Scott of Fayetteville. "There's something about the plunge that's just kind of like washing off last year, shaking it all off."</p>
<p>Temperatures hovered around 15 degrees during the icy plunge, where Scott and others had to use shovels to break away enough ice to clear a section for the plungers.</p>
<p>"I think this is the first year below freezing," he said. "It's the first year we had to break the ice. We would not be stopped."</p>
<p>Another longtime participant, Jenna Weatherford, agreed that the cold conditions wouldn't stop her.</p>
<p>Wearing only a bikini, 15-year-old Jenna made the plunge - a tradition her boating family has been doing for years.</p>
<p>"The colder it gets, the less you want to wear," she explained. "That way you can strip it off and get into warm clothes faster."</p>
<p>Kathy Zerkle, the hostess of the event, has been participating since the inception of the polar plunge roughly 10 years ago.</p>
<p>Although she didn't start the tradition, she did keep it going after the original organizer relocated.</p>
<p>"It's just for fun," Zerkle said. "It's not for money. It's not for a cause. It's just a way for us to do something on New Year's Day that's kind of special."</p>
<p>Hot chocolate and peppermint schnapps were available for attendees after the event, along with propane space heaters to warm up.</p>
<p>"This is absolutely the coldest year we've ever had, by a long shot," she noted.</p>
<p>The word-of-mouth event has grown each year, especially with the help of social media in the past several years.</p>
<p>Zerkle said she was especially surprised at this year's turnout, as fewer people have shown up in the past for warmer weather.</p>
<p>In addition to the plungers, another couple dozen spectators and supporters watched from the banks.</p>
<p>Mary Stone and Jack Kinsey, who heard about the event on Facebook, decided to watch the polar plunge before going on their annual hike on the first day of the new year.</p>
<p>The Gauley Bridge residents said the participants were brave, but crazy.</p>
<p>"I fell in a river trout fishing this time about a year ago," Kinsey said. "I know how cold that water is."</p>
<p>Just in front of Stone and Kinsey stood first-time plungers Brett and Jimmy Garris.</p>
<p>The nervous father-son duo was wrapped in blankets - Brett with a multi-colored crocheted blanket and his dad with a plush WVU one. The two wore shorts, short-sleeve T-shirts and tennis shoes.</p>
<p>"I'm terrified," Brett said as he handed his blanket to a spectator. "I just thought it was the best way to bring in the new year, southern West Virginia style."</p>
<p>They, too, heard about the event on Facebook and thought it would be something fun to do together.</p>
<p>"It's nice I get to do it with my son," Jimmy said. "But this may be the first and only time."</p>
<p>As they came scrambling back ashore, Jimmy responded with a resounding, "No!" that he would not be participating next year.</p>
<p>As for Brett, who had chunks of ice in his hair, he said his participation next year is "highly doubtful."</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Information from: The Register-Herald, <a href="http://www.register-herald.com" type="external" /> <a href="http://www.register-herald.com" type="external">http://www.register-herald.com</a></p>
| false | 2 |
fayetteville wva ap far away coldest year yet fayette station polar plunge wellbelowfreezing temperatures didnt stop couple dozen locals taking part new years day tradition drying best could fifthyear participant stood waters edge puffy lime green jacket water river crystalized thick beard great way start new year said 36yearold brad scott fayetteville theres something plunge thats kind like washing last year shaking temperatures hovered around 15 degrees icy plunge scott others use shovels break away enough ice clear section plungers think first year freezing said first year break ice would stopped another longtime participant jenna weatherford agreed cold conditions wouldnt stop wearing bikini 15yearold jenna made plunge tradition boating family years colder gets less want wear explained way strip get warm clothes faster kathy zerkle hostess event participating since inception polar plunge roughly 10 years ago although didnt start tradition keep going original organizer relocated fun zerkle said money cause way us something new years day thats kind special hot chocolate peppermint schnapps available attendees event along propane space heaters warm absolutely coldest year weve ever long shot noted wordofmouth event grown year especially help social media past several years zerkle said especially surprised years turnout fewer people shown past warmer weather addition plungers another couple dozen spectators supporters watched banks mary stone jack kinsey heard event facebook decided watch polar plunge going annual hike first day new year gauley bridge residents said participants brave crazy fell river trout fishing time year ago kinsey said know cold water front stone kinsey stood firsttime plungers brett jimmy garris nervous fatherson duo wrapped blankets brett multicolored crocheted blanket dad plush wvu one two wore shorts shortsleeve tshirts tennis shoes im terrified brett said handed blanket spectator thought best way bring new year southern west virginia style heard event facebook thought would something fun together nice get son jimmy said may first time came scrambling back ashore jimmy responded resounding would participating next year brett chunks ice hair said participation next year highly doubtful ___ information registerherald httpwwwregisterheraldcom fayetteville wva ap far away coldest year yet fayette station polar plunge wellbelowfreezing temperatures didnt stop couple dozen locals taking part new years day tradition drying best could fifthyear participant stood waters edge puffy lime green jacket water river crystalized thick beard great way start new year said 36yearold brad scott fayetteville theres something plunge thats kind like washing last year shaking temperatures hovered around 15 degrees icy plunge scott others use shovels break away enough ice clear section plungers think first year freezing said first year break ice would stopped another longtime participant jenna weatherford agreed cold conditions wouldnt stop wearing bikini 15yearold jenna made plunge tradition boating family years colder gets less want wear explained way strip get warm clothes faster kathy zerkle hostess event participating since inception polar plunge roughly 10 years ago although didnt start tradition keep going original organizer relocated fun zerkle said money cause way us something new years day thats kind special hot chocolate peppermint schnapps available attendees event along propane space heaters warm absolutely coldest year weve ever long shot noted wordofmouth event grown year especially help social media past several years zerkle said especially surprised years turnout fewer people shown past warmer weather addition plungers another couple dozen spectators supporters watched banks mary stone jack kinsey heard event facebook decided watch polar plunge going annual hike first day new year gauley bridge residents said participants brave crazy fell river trout fishing time year ago kinsey said know cold water front stone kinsey stood firsttime plungers brett jimmy garris nervous fatherson duo wrapped blankets brett multicolored crocheted blanket dad plush wvu one two wore shorts shortsleeve tshirts tennis shoes im terrified brett said handed blanket spectator thought best way bring new year southern west virginia style heard event facebook thought would something fun together nice get son jimmy said may first time came scrambling back ashore jimmy responded resounding would participating next year brett chunks ice hair said participation next year highly doubtful ___ information registerherald httpwwwregisterheraldcom
| 670 |
<p>EAST HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Landon Donovan set U.S. national team and Major League Soccer records for goals and assists, scored in a signature stoppage-time moment that lifted America to a first-place finish in a World Cup group for the first time in 80 years and won five MLS titles — with a sixth still possible.</p>
<p>Jurgen Klinsmann was hoping for more.</p>
<p>“I think it could have gone even further than that,” the U.S. coach said Thursday, a day before Donovan plays his 157th and final match for the national team in an exhibition against Ecuador.</p>
<p>Donovan burst into the soccer spotlight at the 1999 FIFA Under-17 World Championship, when the U.S. finished fourth and he won the Golden Ball as top player. He made the roster for the 2000 Sydney Olympics and, with his hair dyed blond, scored against Mexico in his national team debut at the Los Angeles Coliseum on Oct. 25, 2000.</p>
<p>Now 32 and struggling to find motivation in recent years, Donovan announced in August this will be his final season, a decision he revealed three months after Klinsmann left the forward off his World Cup roster. On Friday night, the U.S. Soccer Federation will honor Donovan with one final international game, celebrating the career of a player whose initials are noted in the promotional materials to bookend the word “LegenD.”</p>
<p>“He has been the poster boy of the game, for MLS certainly, through that long stretch of time,” Klinsmann said during a news conference at Rentschler Field. “He raised the awareness of the game to new dimensions far before maybe a David Beckham came into the league.”</p>
<p>In international appearances by Americans, Donovan trails only Cobi Jones (164). His 57 goals are well ahead of second-place Clint Dempsey (39) and his 58 assists are more than double the total of Jones, who is second with 22.</p>
<p>But his resume also includes two failed stints in Germany with Bayer Leverkusen (1999-01 and 2004-05) and an unimpressive loan spell with Klinsmann’s Bayern Munich team in 2009. Donovan did enjoy success during winter loans to Everton in 2010 and 2012.</p>
<p>“As a coach, you always want to see a player that drives for his 100 percent,” Klinsmann said. “I wished in a certain way, ah, he could have done a bit more here and a bit more there.”</p>
<p>Klinsmann refused to second-guess his decision to cut Donovan, which deprived the player of what would have been a fourth World Cup trip. Donovan and Klinsmann appeared to have tension in their relationship following Donovan’s decision to take a four-month sabbatical from soccer that ended in March 2013.</p>
<p>“In that moment in May, the picture for us was very clear and we were 100 percent behind the decision that we made,” Klinsmann said.</p>
<p>With the Los Angeles Galaxy in the late stages of the MLS season, Donovan remained in California to train with his club Thursday, then was to join up with the U.S. team in the evening. He will captain the U.S. on Friday, play the first 30 minutes and return to the Galaxy for Sunday’s game at Dallas.</p>
<p>Still shuttling between club and country after all these years.</p>
<p>In his absence, his national team mates were left to discuss Donovan’s impact. Jozy Altidore said he will always remember a February 2008 conversation with Donovan in Houston on the eve of Altidore’s first game against Mexico.</p>
<p>“Don’t worry about the people in the stands. Have fun. You’re here for a reason,” Altidore recalled Donovan saying. “He just gave me so much confidence.”</p>
<p>Goalkeeper Brad Guzan thought back to the stoppage-time goal against Algeria in South Africa four years, which ranks among the great moments in American soccer history. Guzan was most impressed by “the way he handled an entire country on his back, in terms of helping the sport grow, his performance in big moments that meant a lot for the sport in the this country.”</p>
<p>Donovan and Guzan are the only players over 30 on a youthful U.S. roster as the Americans play their second game in the four-year cycle leading to the 2018 World Cup.</p>
<p>“The way he just handled everything I think was very unique,” Guzan said. “I don’t know if anyone else will ever have that opportunity because he was the first to do it.”</p>
<p>EAST HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Landon Donovan set U.S. national team and Major League Soccer records for goals and assists, scored in a signature stoppage-time moment that lifted America to a first-place finish in a World Cup group for the first time in 80 years and won five MLS titles — with a sixth still possible.</p>
<p>Jurgen Klinsmann was hoping for more.</p>
<p>“I think it could have gone even further than that,” the U.S. coach said Thursday, a day before Donovan plays his 157th and final match for the national team in an exhibition against Ecuador.</p>
<p>Donovan burst into the soccer spotlight at the 1999 FIFA Under-17 World Championship, when the U.S. finished fourth and he won the Golden Ball as top player. He made the roster for the 2000 Sydney Olympics and, with his hair dyed blond, scored against Mexico in his national team debut at the Los Angeles Coliseum on Oct. 25, 2000.</p>
<p>Now 32 and struggling to find motivation in recent years, Donovan announced in August this will be his final season, a decision he revealed three months after Klinsmann left the forward off his World Cup roster. On Friday night, the U.S. Soccer Federation will honor Donovan with one final international game, celebrating the career of a player whose initials are noted in the promotional materials to bookend the word “LegenD.”</p>
<p>“He has been the poster boy of the game, for MLS certainly, through that long stretch of time,” Klinsmann said during a news conference at Rentschler Field. “He raised the awareness of the game to new dimensions far before maybe a David Beckham came into the league.”</p>
<p>In international appearances by Americans, Donovan trails only Cobi Jones (164). His 57 goals are well ahead of second-place Clint Dempsey (39) and his 58 assists are more than double the total of Jones, who is second with 22.</p>
<p>But his resume also includes two failed stints in Germany with Bayer Leverkusen (1999-01 and 2004-05) and an unimpressive loan spell with Klinsmann’s Bayern Munich team in 2009. Donovan did enjoy success during winter loans to Everton in 2010 and 2012.</p>
<p>“As a coach, you always want to see a player that drives for his 100 percent,” Klinsmann said. “I wished in a certain way, ah, he could have done a bit more here and a bit more there.”</p>
<p>Klinsmann refused to second-guess his decision to cut Donovan, which deprived the player of what would have been a fourth World Cup trip. Donovan and Klinsmann appeared to have tension in their relationship following Donovan’s decision to take a four-month sabbatical from soccer that ended in March 2013.</p>
<p>“In that moment in May, the picture for us was very clear and we were 100 percent behind the decision that we made,” Klinsmann said.</p>
<p>With the Los Angeles Galaxy in the late stages of the MLS season, Donovan remained in California to train with his club Thursday, then was to join up with the U.S. team in the evening. He will captain the U.S. on Friday, play the first 30 minutes and return to the Galaxy for Sunday’s game at Dallas.</p>
<p>Still shuttling between club and country after all these years.</p>
<p>In his absence, his national team mates were left to discuss Donovan’s impact. Jozy Altidore said he will always remember a February 2008 conversation with Donovan in Houston on the eve of Altidore’s first game against Mexico.</p>
<p>“Don’t worry about the people in the stands. Have fun. You’re here for a reason,” Altidore recalled Donovan saying. “He just gave me so much confidence.”</p>
<p>Goalkeeper Brad Guzan thought back to the stoppage-time goal against Algeria in South Africa four years, which ranks among the great moments in American soccer history. Guzan was most impressed by “the way he handled an entire country on his back, in terms of helping the sport grow, his performance in big moments that meant a lot for the sport in the this country.”</p>
<p>Donovan and Guzan are the only players over 30 on a youthful U.S. roster as the Americans play their second game in the four-year cycle leading to the 2018 World Cup.</p>
<p>“The way he just handled everything I think was very unique,” Guzan said. “I don’t know if anyone else will ever have that opportunity because he was the first to do it.”</p>
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east hartford conn ap landon donovan set us national team major league soccer records goals assists scored signature stoppagetime moment lifted america firstplace finish world cup group first time 80 years five mls titles sixth still possible jurgen klinsmann hoping think could gone even us coach said thursday day donovan plays 157th final match national team exhibition ecuador donovan burst soccer spotlight 1999 fifa under17 world championship us finished fourth golden ball top player made roster 2000 sydney olympics hair dyed blond scored mexico national team debut los angeles coliseum oct 25 2000 32 struggling find motivation recent years donovan announced august final season decision revealed three months klinsmann left forward world cup roster friday night us soccer federation honor donovan one final international game celebrating career player whose initials noted promotional materials bookend word legend poster boy game mls certainly long stretch time klinsmann said news conference rentschler field raised awareness game new dimensions far maybe david beckham came league international appearances americans donovan trails cobi jones 164 57 goals well ahead secondplace clint dempsey 39 58 assists double total jones second 22 resume also includes two failed stints germany bayer leverkusen 199901 200405 unimpressive loan spell klinsmanns bayern munich team 2009 donovan enjoy success winter loans everton 2010 2012 coach always want see player drives 100 percent klinsmann said wished certain way ah could done bit bit klinsmann refused secondguess decision cut donovan deprived player would fourth world cup trip donovan klinsmann appeared tension relationship following donovans decision take fourmonth sabbatical soccer ended march 2013 moment may picture us clear 100 percent behind decision made klinsmann said los angeles galaxy late stages mls season donovan remained california train club thursday join us team evening captain us friday play first 30 minutes return galaxy sundays game dallas still shuttling club country years absence national team mates left discuss donovans impact jozy altidore said always remember february 2008 conversation donovan houston eve altidores first game mexico dont worry people stands fun youre reason altidore recalled donovan saying gave much confidence goalkeeper brad guzan thought back stoppagetime goal algeria south africa four years ranks among great moments american soccer history guzan impressed way handled entire country back terms helping sport grow performance big moments meant lot sport country donovan guzan players 30 youthful us roster americans play second game fouryear cycle leading 2018 world cup way handled everything think unique guzan said dont know anyone else ever opportunity first east hartford conn ap landon donovan set us national team major league soccer records goals assists scored signature stoppagetime moment lifted america firstplace finish world cup group first time 80 years five mls titles sixth still possible jurgen klinsmann hoping think could gone even us coach said thursday day donovan plays 157th final match national team exhibition ecuador donovan burst soccer spotlight 1999 fifa under17 world championship us finished fourth golden ball top player made roster 2000 sydney olympics hair dyed blond scored mexico national team debut los angeles coliseum oct 25 2000 32 struggling find motivation recent years donovan announced august final season decision revealed three months klinsmann left forward world cup roster friday night us soccer federation honor donovan one final international game celebrating career player whose initials noted promotional materials bookend word legend poster boy game mls certainly long stretch time klinsmann said news conference rentschler field raised awareness game new dimensions far maybe david beckham came league international appearances americans donovan trails cobi jones 164 57 goals well ahead secondplace clint dempsey 39 58 assists double total jones second 22 resume also includes two failed stints germany bayer leverkusen 199901 200405 unimpressive loan spell klinsmanns bayern munich team 2009 donovan enjoy success winter loans everton 2010 2012 coach always want see player drives 100 percent klinsmann said wished certain way ah could done bit bit klinsmann refused secondguess decision cut donovan deprived player would fourth world cup trip donovan klinsmann appeared tension relationship following donovans decision take fourmonth sabbatical soccer ended march 2013 moment may picture us clear 100 percent behind decision made klinsmann said los angeles galaxy late stages mls season donovan remained california train club thursday join us team evening captain us friday play first 30 minutes return galaxy sundays game dallas still shuttling club country years absence national team mates left discuss donovans impact jozy altidore said always remember february 2008 conversation donovan houston eve altidores first game mexico dont worry people stands fun youre reason altidore recalled donovan saying gave much confidence goalkeeper brad guzan thought back stoppagetime goal algeria south africa four years ranks among great moments american soccer history guzan impressed way handled entire country back terms helping sport grow performance big moments meant lot sport country donovan guzan players 30 youthful us roster americans play second game fouryear cycle leading 2018 world cup way handled everything think unique guzan said dont know anyone else ever opportunity first
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<p>MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Donald Trump’s habit of slapping down Mexico is feeding nationalist sentiment in the country’s presidential election campaign, prompting contenders to defy him and strengthening the hand of the frontrunner, who is courting the anti-establishment vote.</p> FILE PHOTO: Mexican presidential candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador of the National Regeneration Movement (MORENA) speaks during the presentation of his shadow cabinet for the July 2018 presidential election, in Mexico City, Mexico December 14, 2017. REUTERS/Edgard Garrido/File Photo
<p>In the past week, the three top contenders for the July election have all said Mexico will not pay for the wall the U.S. president wants to build on the U.S. southern border. None has made the point more forcefully than Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, a veteran leftist leading the opinion polls.</p>
<p>A victory for Lopez Obrador, who was runner-up in 2006 and 2012, could usher in a more distant and confrontational relationship between the two nations as he promises to lessen Mexico’s economic dependence on foreign powers.</p>
<p>That dependence is strongest with the United States: Mexico sends about 80 percent of its exports to its northern neighbor and the United States has traditionally been the source of the bulk of foreign direct investment. Under Trump, however, Mexican views of the United States have soured.</p>
<p>“Without being disrespectful, we’re going to put him in his place,” Lopez Obrador said of Trump on Thursday in the Gulf of Mexico port of Veracruz, the scene of a notorious national humiliation when U.S. forces occupied it in 1914.</p>
<p>Earlier that day, Trump told his Twitter followers that Mexico was “rated the number one most dangerous country in the world.” Although violence is rising in Mexico, its murder rate remains well below that of several Latin American countries, data compiled by the United Nations and the World Bank show.</p>
<p>Lopez Obrador, who said earlier this month he would put an end to what he called puppet governments in Mexico taking instructions “from abroad,” promised to hit back against Trump’s barbs and tell the American “what I think” on Twitter.</p>
<p>A December survey by polling firm Parametria gave Lopez Obrador an 11 percentage point lead, while another last week by Mitofsky gave him a three point advantage, but growing.</p> Ricardo Anaya, presidential pre-candidate for the National Action Party (PAN), who leads a left-right coalition, addresses supporters during a rally in Huixquilucan, on the outskirts of Mexico City, Mexico in Mexico City, Mexico January 20, 2018. REUTERS/Daniel Becerril
<p>Since taking office a year ago, Trump has often expressed negative views of Mexico, blaming it for drugs entering the United States, criticizing U.S. companies with operations south of the border, and insisting Mexico will pay for the wall he wants to stop illegal immigration. He has threatened to tie payment to the terms under which the two neighbors trade by reworking or canceling the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).</p>
<p>Each time, President Enrique Pena Nieto’s government has pushed back.</p>
<p>This week presidential hopeful Ricardo Anaya of the conservative National Action Party (PAN), who heads a left-right coalition, and the ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party’s (PRI) contender, Jose Antonio Meade, also weighed in.</p>
<p>“Mexico will NOT under any circumstances pay for that wall,” Meade said on Twitter on the day Lopez Obrador was in Veracruz.</p>
<p>Few issues unite Mexicans more than dislike of Trump, who kicked off his presidential bid in 2015 by accusing the country of sending rapists and drug runners across the U.S. border.</p>
<p>Jorge Buendia of pollster Buendia &amp; Laredo said Trump had made it advantageous for Mexican politicians to criticize him, and that it would be “very costly” for the next president to extend the hand of friendship towards his government.</p>
<p>“So it’s only a matter of time before there are much more critical proposals about Trump and U.S. relations,” he said.</p>
<p>The most obvious beneficiary of opposition to Trump, at least initially, would be Lopez Obrador, Buendia said.</p> ‘ANGER AMONG MEXICANS’
<p>A study published last week featuring data from the Pew Research Center and Buendia &amp; Laredo showed that since Trump entered presidential politics, the image of the United States has deteriorated sharply in Mexico.</p> FILE PHOTO: Jose Antonio Meade, presidential pre-candidate for the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), looks on during a political event in Mexico City, Mexico January 14, 2018. REUTERS/Daniel Becerril/File Photo
<p>In 2015, 66 percent of Mexicans held a favorable view of the United States and 29 percent an unfavorable opinion, it showed. By October 2017, 65 percent of Mexicans had an unfavorable view of the United States and only 30 percent a positive one.</p>
<p>Heriberto Galindo, a former PRI congressman and ex-consul general of Mexico in Chicago, said Trump would end up unifying the rhetoric of all the presidential candidates against him.</p>
<p>“I’m not saying we’re heading for war with the United States, because Mexico is pacifist,” he said. “But President Donald Trump is causing a lot of anger among Mexicans ... and a negative attitude towards the United States, which is not helpful, beneficial or healthy, least of all with a neighboring country.”</p>
<p>Anti-Trump feeling is only likely to intensify if the president follows through on threats to dump NAFTA, which underpins much of Mexico’s trade, if it is not reworked to better favor U.S. interests. Negotiators hold another round of talks this week to try to overhaul the deal.</p>
<p>Agustin Barrios Gomez, a former federal congressman and head of Fundacion Imagen Mexico, a group dedicated to promoting Mexico’s image abroad, argued Lopez Obrador does not even need to sharpen his rhetoric to benefit from Trump, because he has no credible rivals to oppose his nationalist arguments.</p>
<p>Both Meade and Anaya represent parties that defended closer economic integration and cooperation with the United States and are the only ones to have held power, Barrios Gomez noted.</p>
<p>Now Trump’s hostility has shattered that model, he added.</p>
<p>“The feeling’s there: you trusted these guys (the United States), and they turned on you like the left have been saying for God knows how long,” he said. “And that plays to Andres Manuel’s strengths because he doesn’t have to say anything.”</p>
<p>Reporting by Dave Graham; Editing by Frances Kerry</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>(Reuters) - The Nasdaq Composite index was sharply lower on Wednesday, dragged down by losses in Amazon and tech heavyweights such as Apple and Intel.</p> A woman passes by the Nasdaq Market Site in Times Square in New York City, U.S., February 7, 2018. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid
<p>Amazon fell more than 5 percent after reports that President Donald Trump was looking to target the company by changing its tax treatment.</p>
<p>Apple dropped about 1 percent after Goldman Sachs analyst cut sales estimate for iPhone for March and June quarters, citing weak demand.</p>
<p>Intel was down 3.7 percent and weighed the most on the S&amp;P tech index.</p>
<p>“Tech and discretionary stocks have been strong. Those are two sectors that are up year-to-date and what we’re seeing is profit-taking in the quarter-end,” said Michael O’Rourke, Chief Market Strategist, Jonestrading, Greenwich, Connecticut.</p>
<p>Facebook’s shares rose marginally after days of losses that wiped out more than $100 billion in market value.</p>
<p>The social network said it was giving users more control over their privacy by making data management easier and redesigning the settings menu, following a global outcry over data privacy issues at the company.</p>
<p>At 11:46 a.m. ET (1346 GMT) the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 21.57 points, or 0.09 percent. The S&amp;P 500 was off 1.81 points, or 0.07 percent and the Nasdaq Composite was down 39.67 points, or 0.57 percent.</p>
<p>The main indexes were on track to record their worst month since January 2016, hurt by fears of a trade war between the United States and China as well as rising U.S. interest rates.</p>
<p>Comments from top officials of the two countries had given a sense that they would negotiate over President Donald Trump’s move to impose tariffs on Chinese goods.</p>
<p>However, China’s state-run Global Times reported on Wednesday that the country was expected to soon announce a list of retaliatory tariffs on U.S. exports.</p>
<p>Tesla dropped more than 7 percent after the U.S. government said it would investigate a fatal crash and vehicle fire of a Model X in California.</p>
<p>Lululemon Athletica surged more than 11 percent after the Canadian athletic apparel maker posted a surprisingly strong fourth-quarter profit and forecast further growth in the first quarter.</p>
<p>Advancing issues outnumbered decliners on the NYSE by 1,472 to 1,316. On the Nasdaq, 1,528 issues fell and 1,272 advanced.</p>
<p>The S&amp;P 500 index showed no new 52-week highs and 7 new lows, while the Nasdaq recorded 13 new highs and 92 new lows.</p>
<p>Reporting by Sruthi Shankar in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - To Wall Street money managers who make bets for a living, U.S. President Donald Trump’s aggressive stance against China on trade looks like a high-stakes poker hand - but they believe they can play it for all it’s worth.</p> FILE PHOTO: A labourer works on coils of steel wire at a steel wholesale market in Beijing, China, January 17, 2012. REUTERS/Soo Hoo Zheyang/File Photo
<p>Fears that Trump could set off a trade conflict have roiled Wall Street since March 1, when the president announced plans to impose tariffs on imported steel and aluminum, risking retaliation from major trade partners like China, Europe and neighboring Canada.</p>
<p>It’s been a roller coaster ride, with markets slumping after Trump last Friday moved to impose up to $60 billion in tariffs on some Chinese imports and China declared plans to retaliate with duties of up to $3 billion of U.S. imports even as it urged the United States to “pull back from the brink.”</p>
<p>China’s willingness to negotiate spurred a rebound on Monday, though jitters in the tech sector drove markets back down on Tuesday.</p> FILE PHOTO: Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, U.S., March 26, 2018. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid
<p>Investors remain concerned about a trade war between the world’s two largest economies, but some big players are sanguine about their prospects to make money even as they try and dissect Trump’s strategy on trade.</p>
<p>The former celebrity businessman on March 2 tweeted, “trade wars are good, and easy to win,” shocking economists who cite evidence that trade wars in the past have been destructive to economies involved.</p>
<p>“Other administrations have gone to trading partners like China and asked for a fairer deal, only to get a cigar put out on their forehead,” said Steve Chiavarone, a portfolio manager at Federated Investors. “I suspect Trump’s bucking of norms is absolutely part of his negotiating tactics.”</p>
<p>Chiavarone and others said they remain confident the S&amp;P 500 will rise significantly this year.</p>
<p>“So far you are talking about small amounts of tariffs in niche sectors,” said Phil Blancato, head of Ladenburg Thalmann Asset Management in New York. “For anyone who is looking for an opportunity to enter the market here at better valuations, this is it.”</p> FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump, surrounded by business leaders and administration officials, prepares to sign a memorandum on intellectual property tariffs on high-tech goods from China, at the White House in Washington, U.S. March 22, 2018. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst THE ART OF THE DEAL
<p>“He has shown himself to act aggressively, quickly and unilaterally, and that’s brought China to the negotiating table,” said Ben Phillips, chief investment officer of EventShares exchange traded funds. “I truly think they are worried about him taking unilateral action and harming China’s economy.”</p>
<p>Fears of a trade war, which could hurt U.S. multinationals and dull the benefits of deep corporate tax cuts enacted this year, have helped push the S&amp;P 500 down nearly 4 percent since the end of February.</p>
<p>The Trump administration has demanded that China immediately cut its $375 billion trade surplus with the United States by $100 billion, a position seen by some as an opening tactic in a long negotiation.</p>
<p>China could respond to U.S. measures with a range of tariffs aimed at U.S. multinationals, or even farmers in rural regions who helped Trump win the 2016 presidential election.</p>
<p>Trump’s bellicose stance with U.S. trade partners reflects a negotiating style outlined in his 1987 book, “Trump: The Art of the Deal,” said Oliver Pursche, chief market strategist at Bruderman Asset Management in New York.</p>
<p>“You propose something horrific, and then when you pull back what you want is not as painful as feared,” Pursche said. “The problem is the other side isn’t dumb. Eventually, they’re going to figure that out.”</p>
<p>Reporting by Noel Randewich, additional reporting by April Joyner and Trevor Hunnicutt in New York; Editing by Alden Bentley</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Supreme Court justices on Wednesday appeared conflicted over what to do — if anything — to rein in politicians who draw state electoral maps with the aim of entrenching their party in power in a closely watched case from Maryland over the practice known as partisan gerrymandering.</p>
<p>The nine justices heard an hour of arguments in a challenge by Republican voters to a U.S. House of Representatives district in Maryland drawn by Democratic state legislators. The voters, who have the backing of Republican Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, are appealing a lower court ruling rejecting their challenge.</p>
<p>The justices appeared to struggle to find a way to resolve the issue. Several acknowledged problems with the way Democrats drew the Maryland district.</p>
<p>Based on questions they asked, the justices seemed no closer to answering the major question now before them in this case and in a similar one involving Wisconsin — whether courts should be able to intervene to curb the manipulation of electoral district boundaries purely to favor one party over another.</p>
<p>On Oct. 3, the court, which has a 5-4 conservative majority, seemed similarly unsure on how to proceed when it heard arguments in a challenge by Democratic voters to Republican-drawn legislative districts statewide in Wisconsin, and has not yet issued a ruling.</p>
<p>Stephen Breyer, one of the four liberal justices, suggested that the court put off deciding the cases and instead hear another round of arguments in its next term, starting in October, along with another case from North Carolina.</p>
<p>Partisan gerrymandering, he said, “seems like a pretty clear violation of the Constitution in some form” but the problem is finding a “practical remedy” that would avoid forcing federal judges to decide a huge number of highly politicized cases.</p>
<p>In the Maryland case, there appeared little dispute on the bench that the congressional district’s lines were indeed drawn with partisan intent.</p> ‘TOO MUCH’
<p>Liberal Justice Elena Kagan agreed with Breyer about the problem of deciding how much partisan line-drawing is too much, but, she said: “This case is too much.”</p>
<p>“How much more evidence of partisan intent could we need?” Kagan added.</p>
<p>Conservative Justice Anthony Kennedy, a potential key vote in the case, raised concerns about a ruling so soon before the 2018 mid-term election in November that would “upset settled expectation” but also indicated there was evidence of partisan intent.</p>
<p>The rulings in the Maryland and Wisconsin cases, due by the end of June, could alter the U.S. political landscape, either by imposing limits on partisan gerrymandering or by allowing it even in its most extreme forms.</p>
<p>The Supreme Court for decades has been willing to invalidate state electoral maps due to racial discrimination but never those created just for partisan advantage.</p>
<p>Both parties over the years have engaged in partisan gerrymandering. Democrats have said partisan gerrymandering by Republicans in such states as Wisconsin and Pennsylvania has helped President Donald Trump’s party maintain control of the U.S. House of Representatives and various state legislatures.</p>
<p>Republican voters sued Maryland after the Democratic-led legislature in 2011 redrew the boundaries of the state’s Sixth District in a way that removed Republican-leaning areas and added Democratic-leaning areas. Maryland’s map led to Democrat John Delaney beating incumbent Republican Roscoe Bartlett to take the district in 2012.</p> People gather on the plaza in front of the Supreme court before oral arguments on Benisek v. Lamone, a redistricting case on whether Democratic lawmakers in Maryland unlawfully drew a congressional district in a way that would prevent a Republican candidate from winning, in Washington, U.S., March 28, 2018. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts
<p>At the time, Maryland also had a Democratic governor, Martin O’Malley. Current Governor Hogan’s election victory in 2014 illustrated Republican strength statewide. But Republicans currently hold just one of Maryland’s eight congressional seats because of the way the electoral boundaries are drawn.</p>
<p>The question before the Supreme Court is whether Maryland’s electoral map violated the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment guarantee of free speech. The novel legal theory pursued by the challengers is that Republican voters were retaliated against by Democrats based on their political views.</p>
<p>In a 2004 ruling in another case, Kennedy, who sometimes sides with the liberal justices in major rulings, parted with his conservative colleagues to suggest that if partisan gerrymandering went too far courts might have to step in if a “workable standard” could be found.</p>
<p>Conservative Justice Samuel Alito on Wednesday told the attorney for the Republican plaintiffs he did not think their challenge under the First Amendment was a workable standard. “I don’t see how any legislature would ever be able to redistrict,” Alito said.</p>
<p>The Wisconsin challengers presented a different argument, that the Republican-drawn map violated the First Amendment right to freedom of expression and association and the 14th Amendment guarantee of equal protection under the law because of the extent to which it marginalized Democratic voters.</p>
<p>Gerrymandered electoral maps often concentrate voters who tend to favor the minority party into a small number of districts to dilute their statewide clout and distribute the rest of those voters in other districts in numbers too small to be a majority.</p> Slideshow (6 Images)
<p>Legislative districts are redrawn nationwide every decade to reflect population changes after the national census. Redistricting in most states is done by the party in power, though some states in the interest of fairness assign the task to independent commissions.</p>
<p>Reporting by Lawrence Hurley; Additional reporting by Andrew Chung; Editing by Will Dunham</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
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mexico city reuters donald trumps habit slapping mexico feeding nationalist sentiment countrys presidential election campaign prompting contenders defy strengthening hand frontrunner courting antiestablishment vote file photo mexican presidential candidate andres manuel lopez obrador national regeneration movement morena speaks presentation shadow cabinet july 2018 presidential election mexico city mexico december 14 2017 reutersedgard garridofile photo past week three top contenders july election said mexico pay wall us president wants build us southern border none made point forcefully andres manuel lopez obrador veteran leftist leading opinion polls victory lopez obrador runnerup 2006 2012 could usher distant confrontational relationship two nations promises lessen mexicos economic dependence foreign powers dependence strongest united states mexico sends 80 percent exports northern neighbor united states traditionally source bulk foreign direct investment trump however mexican views united states soured without disrespectful going put place lopez obrador said trump thursday gulf mexico port veracruz scene notorious national humiliation us forces occupied 1914 earlier day trump told twitter followers mexico rated number one dangerous country world although violence rising mexico murder rate remains well several latin american countries data compiled united nations world bank show lopez obrador said earlier month would put end called puppet governments mexico taking instructions abroad promised hit back trumps barbs tell american think twitter december survey polling firm parametria gave lopez obrador 11 percentage point lead another last week mitofsky gave three point advantage growing ricardo anaya presidential precandidate national action party pan leads leftright coalition addresses supporters rally huixquilucan outskirts mexico city mexico mexico city mexico january 20 2018 reutersdaniel becerril since taking office year ago trump often expressed negative views mexico blaming drugs entering united states criticizing us companies operations south border insisting mexico pay wall wants stop illegal immigration threatened tie payment terms two neighbors trade reworking canceling north american free trade agreement nafta time president enrique pena nietos government pushed back week presidential hopeful ricardo anaya conservative national action party pan heads leftright coalition ruling institutional revolutionary partys pri contender jose antonio meade also weighed mexico circumstances pay wall meade said twitter day lopez obrador veracruz issues unite mexicans dislike trump kicked presidential bid 2015 accusing country sending rapists drug runners across us border jorge buendia pollster buendia amp laredo said trump made advantageous mexican politicians criticize would costly next president extend hand friendship towards government matter time much critical proposals trump us relations said obvious beneficiary opposition trump least initially would lopez obrador buendia said anger among mexicans study published last week featuring data pew research center buendia amp laredo showed since trump entered presidential politics image united states deteriorated sharply mexico file photo jose antonio meade presidential precandidate institutional revolutionary party pri looks political event mexico city mexico january 14 2018 reutersdaniel becerrilfile photo 2015 66 percent mexicans held favorable view united states 29 percent unfavorable opinion showed october 2017 65 percent mexicans unfavorable view united states 30 percent positive one heriberto galindo former pri congressman exconsul general mexico chicago said trump would end unifying rhetoric presidential candidates im saying heading war united states mexico pacifist said president donald trump causing lot anger among mexicans negative attitude towards united states helpful beneficial healthy least neighboring country antitrump feeling likely intensify president follows threats dump nafta underpins much mexicos trade reworked better favor us interests negotiators hold another round talks week try overhaul deal agustin barrios gomez former federal congressman head fundacion imagen mexico group dedicated promoting mexicos image abroad argued lopez obrador even need sharpen rhetoric benefit trump credible rivals oppose nationalist arguments meade anaya represent parties defended closer economic integration cooperation united states ones held power barrios gomez noted trumps hostility shattered model added feelings trusted guys united states turned like left saying god knows long said plays andres manuels strengths doesnt say anything reporting dave graham editing frances kerry standards thomson reuters trust principles reuters nasdaq composite index sharply lower wednesday dragged losses amazon tech heavyweights apple intel woman passes nasdaq market site times square new york city us february 7 2018 reutersbrendan mcdermid amazon fell 5 percent reports president donald trump looking target company changing tax treatment apple dropped 1 percent goldman sachs analyst cut sales estimate iphone march june quarters citing weak demand intel 37 percent weighed sampp tech index tech discretionary stocks strong two sectors yeartodate seeing profittaking quarterend said michael orourke chief market strategist jonestrading greenwich connecticut facebooks shares rose marginally days losses wiped 100 billion market value social network said giving users control privacy making data management easier redesigning settings menu following global outcry data privacy issues company 1146 et 1346 gmt dow jones industrial average 2157 points 009 percent sampp 500 181 points 007 percent nasdaq composite 3967 points 057 percent main indexes track record worst month since january 2016 hurt fears trade war united states china well rising us interest rates comments top officials two countries given sense would negotiate president donald trumps move impose tariffs chinese goods however chinas staterun global times reported wednesday country expected soon announce list retaliatory tariffs us exports tesla dropped 7 percent us government said would investigate fatal crash vehicle fire model x california lululemon athletica surged 11 percent canadian athletic apparel maker posted surprisingly strong fourthquarter profit forecast growth first quarter advancing issues outnumbered decliners nyse 1472 1316 nasdaq 1528 issues fell 1272 advanced sampp 500 index showed new 52week highs 7 new lows nasdaq recorded 13 new highs 92 new lows reporting sruthi shankar bengaluru editing anil dsilva standards thomson reuters trust principles san francisco reuters wall street money managers make bets living us president donald trumps aggressive stance china trade looks like highstakes poker hand believe play worth file photo labourer works coils steel wire steel wholesale market beijing china january 17 2012 reuterssoo hoo zheyangfile photo fears trump could set trade conflict roiled wall street since march 1 president announced plans impose tariffs imported steel aluminum risking retaliation major trade partners like china europe neighboring canada roller coaster ride markets slumping trump last friday moved impose 60 billion tariffs chinese imports china declared plans retaliate duties 3 billion us imports even urged united states pull back brink chinas willingness negotiate spurred rebound monday though jitters tech sector drove markets back tuesday file photo traders work floor new york stock exchange nyse new york us march 26 2018 reutersbrendan mcdermid investors remain concerned trade war worlds two largest economies big players sanguine prospects make money even try dissect trumps strategy trade former celebrity businessman march 2 tweeted trade wars good easy win shocking economists cite evidence trade wars past destructive economies involved administrations gone trading partners like china asked fairer deal get cigar put forehead said steve chiavarone portfolio manager federated investors suspect trumps bucking norms absolutely part negotiating tactics chiavarone others said remain confident sampp 500 rise significantly year far talking small amounts tariffs niche sectors said phil blancato head ladenburg thalmann asset management new york anyone looking opportunity enter market better valuations file photo us president donald trump surrounded business leaders administration officials prepares sign memorandum intellectual property tariffs hightech goods china white house washington us march 22 2018 reutersjonathan ernst art deal shown act aggressively quickly unilaterally thats brought china negotiating table said ben phillips chief investment officer eventshares exchange traded funds truly think worried taking unilateral action harming chinas economy fears trade war could hurt us multinationals dull benefits deep corporate tax cuts enacted year helped push sampp 500 nearly 4 percent since end february trump administration demanded china immediately cut 375 billion trade surplus united states 100 billion position seen opening tactic long negotiation china could respond us measures range tariffs aimed us multinationals even farmers rural regions helped trump win 2016 presidential election trumps bellicose stance us trade partners reflects negotiating style outlined 1987 book trump art deal said oliver pursche chief market strategist bruderman asset management new york propose something horrific pull back want painful feared pursche said problem side isnt dumb eventually theyre going figure reporting noel randewich additional reporting april joyner trevor hunnicutt new york editing alden bentley standards thomson reuters trust principles washington reuters us supreme court justices wednesday appeared conflicted anything rein politicians draw state electoral maps aim entrenching party power closely watched case maryland practice known partisan gerrymandering nine justices heard hour arguments challenge republican voters us house representatives district maryland drawn democratic state legislators voters backing republican maryland governor larry hogan appealing lower court ruling rejecting challenge justices appeared struggle find way resolve issue several acknowledged problems way democrats drew maryland district based questions asked justices seemed closer answering major question case similar one involving wisconsin whether courts able intervene curb manipulation electoral district boundaries purely favor one party another oct 3 court 54 conservative majority seemed similarly unsure proceed heard arguments challenge democratic voters republicandrawn legislative districts statewide wisconsin yet issued ruling stephen breyer one four liberal justices suggested court put deciding cases instead hear another round arguments next term starting october along another case north carolina partisan gerrymandering said seems like pretty clear violation constitution form problem finding practical remedy would avoid forcing federal judges decide huge number highly politicized cases maryland case appeared little dispute bench congressional districts lines indeed drawn partisan intent much liberal justice elena kagan agreed breyer problem deciding much partisan linedrawing much said case much much evidence partisan intent could need kagan added conservative justice anthony kennedy potential key vote case raised concerns ruling soon 2018 midterm election november would upset settled expectation also indicated evidence partisan intent rulings maryland wisconsin cases due end june could alter us political landscape either imposing limits partisan gerrymandering allowing even extreme forms supreme court decades willing invalidate state electoral maps due racial discrimination never created partisan advantage parties years engaged partisan gerrymandering democrats said partisan gerrymandering republicans states wisconsin pennsylvania helped president donald trumps party maintain control us house representatives various state legislatures republican voters sued maryland democraticled legislature 2011 redrew boundaries states sixth district way removed republicanleaning areas added democraticleaning areas marylands map led democrat john delaney beating incumbent republican roscoe bartlett take district 2012 people gather plaza front supreme court oral arguments benisek v lamone redistricting case whether democratic lawmakers maryland unlawfully drew congressional district way would prevent republican candidate winning washington us march 28 2018 reutersjoshua roberts time maryland also democratic governor martin omalley current governor hogans election victory 2014 illustrated republican strength statewide republicans currently hold one marylands eight congressional seats way electoral boundaries drawn question supreme court whether marylands electoral map violated us constitutions first amendment guarantee free speech novel legal theory pursued challengers republican voters retaliated democrats based political views 2004 ruling another case kennedy sometimes sides liberal justices major rulings parted conservative colleagues suggest partisan gerrymandering went far courts might step workable standard could found conservative justice samuel alito wednesday told attorney republican plaintiffs think challenge first amendment workable standard dont see legislature would ever able redistrict alito said wisconsin challengers presented different argument republicandrawn map violated first amendment right freedom expression association 14th amendment guarantee equal protection law extent marginalized democratic voters gerrymandered electoral maps often concentrate voters tend favor minority party small number districts dilute statewide clout distribute rest voters districts numbers small majority slideshow 6 images legislative districts redrawn nationwide every decade reflect population changes national census redistricting states done party power though states interest fairness assign task independent commissions reporting lawrence hurley additional reporting andrew chung editing dunham standards thomson reuters trust principles
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<p>LONDON, Jan 24 (IFR) - Standard Chartered has hired Lucy Taylor-Smith as global head of strategy, based in Singapore.</p>
<p>Taylor-Smith will join the British bank from Manulife Asia where she was chief strategy officer and chairman of the board for Manulife Singapore.</p>
<p>She will join Standard Chartered on April 30 and report to Andy Halford, chief financial officer. She will join his management team and be responsible for developing and delivering the bank’s strategy.</p>
<p>Before Manulife, Taylor-Smith was chief strategy officer for Prudential Corporation Asia, based in Hong Kong. She also spent 13 years with UBS advising companies on strategy and corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, equity and debt capital markets, and became executive director of corporate broking. (Reporting by Steve Slater)</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>NANTERRE, France (Reuters) - France’s former president Nicolas Sarkozy was questioned for a second day on Wednesday by police investigating allegations that his 2007 election campaign received funding from the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.</p>
<p>After a full day’s grilling on Tuesday, Sarkozy, who served as president from 2007 to 2012 and remains an influential figure on the French right, was allowed to spend the night at home before his interrogation resumed in Nanterre, west of Paris.</p>
<p>It is the second major investigation for Sarkozy, who is also facing charges of illicit campaign spending overruns during his failed re-election bid in 2012.</p>
<p>The current questioning relates to accusations made by a Franco-Lebanese businessman, Ziad Takieddine, who says he helped funnel 5 million euros ($6 million) from Gaddafi’s intelligence chief to Sarkozy’s campaign chief ahead of the 2007 election.</p>
<p>Neither Sarkozy nor his lead lawyer have commented publicly since the 63-year-old first answered the police summons on Tuesday. Sarkozy has in the past dismissed the allegations as “grotesque” and described them as a “manipulation”.</p>
<p>The inquiry began in 2013, after investigative website Mediapart published Takieddine’s allegations.</p>
<p>In an interview with Lebanon’s L’Orient du Jour newspaper published on Tuesday, Takieddine said he acted as an intermediary between France and Libya during the time that Sarkozy served as interior minister, before his election bid.</p> Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy leaves the judiciary police offices in Nanterre, near Paris, France, March 21, 2018. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe
<p>Five months after Sarkozy was elected president, Gaddafi visited him in Paris. It was the eccentric Libyan leader’s first state visit to a Western capital in decades, and he pitched a Bedouin-style tent near the Elysee Palace.</p>
<p>Later, Sarkozy became one of the chief advocates of the NATO-led campaign against Gaddafi that resulted in the dictator’s overthrow and killing by rebels in 2011.</p> Slideshow (3 Images)
<p>In France, investigators can interrogate people for up to 48 hours, after which they must release them or notify them that they are being put under formal investigation, which signals serious suspicion but does not automatically lead to trial.</p>
<p>It was not immediately clear when Sarkozy might know his fate, given that his questioners are free to stop the clock for breaks, sleep or longer timeouts between question-and-answer sessions before their 48-hour limit is up.</p>
<p>Sarkozy, once branded a “bling-bling” president, has been dogged for years by political scandals, but none has led to a conviction.</p>
<p>He is not the first French president to be questioned by police after leaving office.</p>
<p>His predecessor, Jacques Chirac, was convicted in 2011, after his retirement, of misusing public funds to keep allies in phantom jobs. He was the first French head of state to be convicted of a crime since Nazi collaborator Marshall Philippe Petain in 1945.</p>
<p>Reporting by Benoit Tessier and Paris bureau; Writing by Brian Love; Editing by Matthias Blamont and Gareth Jones</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>(Reuters) - FedEx Corp ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=FDX.N" type="external">FDX.N</a>) said on Wednesday “key evidence” it provided to law enforcement officials led to the identification of the Texas bombing suspect, according to an internal FedEx memo seen by Reuters.</p> Law enforcement personnel investigate the surroundings of a house linked to the bomber in Pflugerville, Texas, U.S., March 21, 2018. REUTERS/Loren Elliott
<p>The man accused of carrying out a three-week bombing spree that killed two people in Texas before blowing himself up as police closed in on him was a 23-year-old unemployed man from suburban Austin, authorities said.</p>
<p>“FedEx was able to provide law enforcement with key evidence leading to the identification of the suspect responsible for the bombing because of our advanced security capabilities and the vigilance of our team members,” FedEx Chief Operations Officer David Bronczek said in the memo.</p>
<p>Separately, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has reached out to package handling companies to remind carriers about established protocols for handling suspicious packages and mail safety, FBI spokeswoman Lindsay Ram said by email.</p>
<p>“The FBI continues to advise the public to remain vigilant and not touch, move or handle any suspicious packages or unknown packages and to call law enforcement when they believe they have received a suspicious package,” Ram said.</p>
<p>FedEx was screening every package at the Texas facility where a parcel exploded on Tuesday, and will also X-ray entire trailers of packages at its sorting facility outside Austin, as well as those originating from or sent to the Austin area, a FedEx manager said.</p>
<p>The FedEx employee was not authorized to speak on the record. The source does not work at the sorting facility but was briefed on the situation.</p>
<p>Packages will likely be delayed by a day or two at the facility, and FedEx was re-routing thousands of other packages to its hub in Houston each day through the end of the week to avoid further delays, the employee said.</p>
<p>FedEx spokesman Jim McCluskey declined to comment on package screening and on the evidence FedEx provided authorities.</p>
<p>FedEx and other package delivery companies collect a vast amount of data on packages in their systems, such as the location where the package was picked up by the driver and the time.</p>
<a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=FDX.N" type="external">FedEx Corp</a> 249.02 FDX.N New York Stock Exchange -2.97 (-1.18%) FDX.N
<p>The industry delivers around 40 million parcels in the United States each day and checking a large portion of that volume on a regular basis would paralyze operations and increase costs, said Satish Jindel, a founder of the delivery company that became FedEx Ground and now president of ShipMatrix, which tracks on-time shipments.</p>
<p>“It would shut the economy down,” Jindel said.</p>
<p>Like FedEx, UPS shipping terms and conditions allow employees to open and inspect packages.</p>
<p>The FedEx employee said in-bound international shipments are screened by x-ray or bomb-sniffing dogs, though it is possible the Texas blast could lead to more security measures domestically.</p>
<p>UPS spokesman Glenn Zaccara said the world’s largest package delivery company constantly evaluates and adjusts its security measures, but does not discuss them in order to maintain their effectiveness.</p>
<p>Reporting by Eric M. Johnson; Additional reporting by Mark Hosenball in Washington; Editing by Bernadette Baum and Lisa Shumaker</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>PFLUGERVILLE, Texas (Reuters) - The man accused of carrying out a three-week bombing spree that killed two people in Texas before blowing himself up as police closed in on him was a 23-year-old unemployed man from suburban Austin, authorities said on Wednesday.</p>
<p>Federal prosecutors said on Wednesday they had charged Mark Conditt of Pflugerville, Texas, with unlawful possession and transfer of a destructive device prior to his death on the side of a highway.</p>
<p>In addition to killing two, the bombings that began on March 2 injured at least five people and left Austin, a fast-growing city of 1 million people, on edge as the bomber moved from parcels left on doorsteps to one activated by a trip wire to at least two sent via FedEx.</p>
<p>Police tracked Conditt to a hotel about 20 miles (32 km) north of Austin and were following his vehicle when he pulled to the side of the road and detonated a device, killing himself, Austin Police Chief Brian Manley told reporters near the scene.</p>
<p>“The suspect is deceased and has significant injuries from a blast that occurred from detonating a bomb inside his vehicle,” Manley told reporters.</p>
<p>Police began searching Conditt’s house in Pflugerville, though Texas Governor Greg Abbott said it would be a time-consuming process as they were worried it could be booby-trapped, the Austin American-Statesman newspaper reported.</p>
<p>Pflugerville police earlier ordered the evacuation of homes in a five-block radius around the house where Conditt lived with two roommates. Police were questioning the roommates but did not regard them as suspects, Abbott told Fox News.</p>
<p>Law enforcement officials warned area residents to remain cautious, saying they did not know if the bomber had left other devices.</p>
<p>Conditt did not leave a suicide note or any other documents explaining the reason for the bombings, the American-Statesman quoted Abbott as saying.</p>
<p>Conditt had lived with his parents, William and Danene Conditt, until 2017, when he moved into a house about a mile (1.6 km) away, public records showed.</p>
<p>In 2013 Danene Conditt posted a photo of a man she referred to as Mark on Facebook and said she home-schooled her children.</p> Slideshow (19 Images)
<p>“I officially graduated Mark from High School on Friday. 1 down, 3 to go. He has 30 hrs of college credit too, but he’s thinking of taking some time to figure out what he wants to do ... maybe a mission trip,” she said in the photo caption.</p>
<p>Conditt’s aunt released a statement on behalf of the family, CNN reported.</p>
<p>“We are devastated and broken at the news that our family could be involved in such an awful way,” the network quoted the statement as saying. “We had no idea of the darkness that Mark must have been in.” Reuters could not reach family members.</p>
<a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=FDX.N" type="external">FedEx Corp</a> 249.02 FDX.N New York Stock Exchange -2.97 (-1.18%) FDX.N ‘PARTYING PRETTY LATE’
<p>Jay Schulze, a 42-year-old network engineer, said he lived a few houses away from the bombing suspect, who with his friends would relax late at night.</p>
<p>“They would be out in back playing music and partying pretty late,” Schulze said.</p>
<p>While jogging on Tuesday night, Schulze noticed a heavy police presence in the area, with drones flying overhead. He said he was stopped briefly by a person who he thought was an FBI agent.</p>
<p>Manley said Conditt was believed to be responsible for six bombs around Austin and in Schertz, near San Antonio, including one that did not explode.</p>
<p>The first three were parcel bombs dropped off in front of homes in the Austin area. A fourth went off on Sunday night, apparently detonated with a trip wire around Austin, and a fifth exploded inside a FedEx Corp ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=FDX.N" type="external">FDX.N</a>) facility in Schertz on Tuesday.</p>
<p>FedEx officials provided “key evidence” that led to the suspect’s identification, the company told employees in an internal memo seen by Reuters on Wednesday.</p> Related Coverage
<a href="/article/us-texas-blast-fbi/fbi-asks-delivery-companies-to-be-more-careful-handling-suspicious-packages-idUSKBN1GX2XB" type="external">FBI asks delivery companies to be more careful handling suspicious packages</a>
<a href="/article/us-texas-blast-fedex/fedex-evidence-helped-identify-texas-bombing-suspect-memo-idUSKBN1GX2AR" type="external">FedEx evidence helped identify Texas bombing suspect: memo</a>
<p>The first two bombs killed Anthony Stephan House, 39, and Draylen Mason, 17. The fact that both men were black raised fears they were part of a hate crime, but investigators said the blasts that came later seemed to target more random victims.</p>
<p>Reporting by Jonathan Herskovitz; Additional reporting by Jim Forsyth in San Antonio, Texas, Collen Jenkins in Winstom-Salem, North Carolina, Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee and Jonathan Allen and Gina Cherelus in New York; Writing by Scott Malone; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe and Rosalba O'Brien</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Facebook Inc ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=FB.O" type="external">FB.O</a>) Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg said on Wednesday that the social media company made mistakes that allowed data about users to end up with the analytics firm Cambridge Analytica and said the company would make changes.</p> FILE PHOTO - Facebook Founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg speaks on stage during the annual Facebook F8 developers conference in San Jose, California, U.S., April 18, 2017. REUTERS/Stephen Lam
<a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=FB.O" type="external">Facebook Inc</a> 169.39 FB.O Nasdaq +1.24 (+0.74%) FB.O Slideshow (2 Images)
<p>Zuckerberg, in his first comments since the company disclosed on Friday the misuse of personal data, said in a post on Facebook that the company “made mistakes, there’s more to do, and we need to step up and do it.”</p>
<p>Reporting by David Ingram; Editing by Toni Reinhold</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
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london jan 24 ifr standard chartered hired lucy taylorsmith global head strategy based singapore taylorsmith join british bank manulife asia chief strategy officer chairman board manulife singapore join standard chartered april 30 report andy halford chief financial officer join management team responsible developing delivering banks strategy manulife taylorsmith chief strategy officer prudential corporation asia based hong kong also spent 13 years ubs advising companies strategy corporate transactions including mergers acquisitions equity debt capital markets became executive director corporate broking reporting steve slater standards thomson reuters trust principles nanterre france reuters frances former president nicolas sarkozy questioned second day wednesday police investigating allegations 2007 election campaign received funding late libyan leader muammar gaddafi full days grilling tuesday sarkozy served president 2007 2012 remains influential figure french right allowed spend night home interrogation resumed nanterre west paris second major investigation sarkozy also facing charges illicit campaign spending overruns failed reelection bid 2012 current questioning relates accusations made francolebanese businessman ziad takieddine says helped funnel 5 million euros 6 million gaddafis intelligence chief sarkozys campaign chief ahead 2007 election neither sarkozy lead lawyer commented publicly since 63yearold first answered police summons tuesday sarkozy past dismissed allegations grotesque described manipulation inquiry began 2013 investigative website mediapart published takieddines allegations interview lebanons lorient du jour newspaper published tuesday takieddine said acted intermediary france libya time sarkozy served interior minister election bid former french president nicolas sarkozy leaves judiciary police offices nanterre near paris france march 21 2018 reutersstephane mahe five months sarkozy elected president gaddafi visited paris eccentric libyan leaders first state visit western capital decades pitched bedouinstyle tent near elysee palace later sarkozy became one chief advocates natoled campaign gaddafi resulted dictators overthrow killing rebels 2011 slideshow 3 images france investigators interrogate people 48 hours must release notify put formal investigation signals serious suspicion automatically lead trial immediately clear sarkozy might know fate given questioners free stop clock breaks sleep longer timeouts questionandanswer sessions 48hour limit sarkozy branded blingbling president dogged years political scandals none led conviction first french president questioned police leaving office predecessor jacques chirac convicted 2011 retirement misusing public funds keep allies phantom jobs first french head state convicted crime since nazi collaborator marshall philippe petain 1945 reporting benoit tessier paris bureau writing brian love editing matthias blamont gareth jones standards thomson reuters trust principles reuters fedex corp fdxn said wednesday key evidence provided law enforcement officials led identification texas bombing suspect according internal fedex memo seen reuters law enforcement personnel investigate surroundings house linked bomber pflugerville texas us march 21 2018 reutersloren elliott man accused carrying threeweek bombing spree killed two people texas blowing police closed 23yearold unemployed man suburban austin authorities said fedex able provide law enforcement key evidence leading identification suspect responsible bombing advanced security capabilities vigilance team members fedex chief operations officer david bronczek said memo separately federal bureau investigation reached package handling companies remind carriers established protocols handling suspicious packages mail safety fbi spokeswoman lindsay ram said email fbi continues advise public remain vigilant touch move handle suspicious packages unknown packages call law enforcement believe received suspicious package ram said fedex screening every package texas facility parcel exploded tuesday also xray entire trailers packages sorting facility outside austin well originating sent austin area fedex manager said fedex employee authorized speak record source work sorting facility briefed situation packages likely delayed day two facility fedex rerouting thousands packages hub houston day end week avoid delays employee said fedex spokesman jim mccluskey declined comment package screening evidence fedex provided authorities fedex package delivery companies collect vast amount data packages systems location package picked driver time fedex corp 24902 fdxn new york stock exchange 297 118 fdxn industry delivers around 40 million parcels united states day checking large portion volume regular basis would paralyze operations increase costs said satish jindel founder delivery company became fedex ground president shipmatrix tracks ontime shipments would shut economy jindel said like fedex ups shipping terms conditions allow employees open inspect packages fedex employee said inbound international shipments screened xray bombsniffing dogs though possible texas blast could lead security measures domestically ups spokesman glenn zaccara said worlds largest package delivery company constantly evaluates adjusts security measures discuss order maintain effectiveness reporting eric johnson additional reporting mark hosenball washington editing bernadette baum lisa shumaker standards thomson reuters trust principles pflugerville texas reuters man accused carrying threeweek bombing spree killed two people texas blowing police closed 23yearold unemployed man suburban austin authorities said wednesday federal prosecutors said wednesday charged mark conditt pflugerville texas unlawful possession transfer destructive device prior death side highway addition killing two bombings began march 2 injured least five people left austin fastgrowing city 1 million people edge bomber moved parcels left doorsteps one activated trip wire least two sent via fedex police tracked conditt hotel 20 miles 32 km north austin following vehicle pulled side road detonated device killing austin police chief brian manley told reporters near scene suspect deceased significant injuries blast occurred detonating bomb inside vehicle manley told reporters police began searching conditts house pflugerville though texas governor greg abbott said would timeconsuming process worried could boobytrapped austin americanstatesman newspaper reported pflugerville police earlier ordered evacuation homes fiveblock radius around house conditt lived two roommates police questioning roommates regard suspects abbott told fox news law enforcement officials warned area residents remain cautious saying know bomber left devices conditt leave suicide note documents explaining reason bombings americanstatesman quoted abbott saying conditt lived parents william danene conditt 2017 moved house mile 16 km away public records showed 2013 danene conditt posted photo man referred mark facebook said homeschooled children slideshow 19 images officially graduated mark high school friday 1 3 go 30 hrs college credit hes thinking taking time figure wants maybe mission trip said photo caption conditts aunt released statement behalf family cnn reported devastated broken news family could involved awful way network quoted statement saying idea darkness mark must reuters could reach family members fedex corp 24902 fdxn new york stock exchange 297 118 fdxn partying pretty late jay schulze 42yearold network engineer said lived houses away bombing suspect friends would relax late night would back playing music partying pretty late schulze said jogging tuesday night schulze noticed heavy police presence area drones flying overhead said stopped briefly person thought fbi agent manley said conditt believed responsible six bombs around austin schertz near san antonio including one explode first three parcel bombs dropped front homes austin area fourth went sunday night apparently detonated trip wire around austin fifth exploded inside fedex corp fdxn facility schertz tuesday fedex officials provided key evidence led suspects identification company told employees internal memo seen reuters wednesday related coverage fbi asks delivery companies careful handling suspicious packages fedex evidence helped identify texas bombing suspect memo first two bombs killed anthony stephan house 39 draylen mason 17 fact men black raised fears part hate crime investigators said blasts came later seemed target random victims reporting jonathan herskovitz additional reporting jim forsyth san antonio texas collen jenkins winstomsalem north carolina brendan obrien milwaukee jonathan allen gina cherelus new york writing scott malone editing jeffrey benkoe rosalba obrien standards thomson reuters trust principles san francisco reuters facebook inc fbo chief executive mark zuckerberg said wednesday social media company made mistakes allowed data users end analytics firm cambridge analytica said company would make changes file photo facebook founder ceo mark zuckerberg speaks stage annual facebook f8 developers conference san jose california us april 18 2017 reutersstephen lam facebook inc 16939 fbo nasdaq 124 074 fbo slideshow 2 images zuckerberg first comments since company disclosed friday misuse personal data said post facebook company made mistakes theres need step reporting david ingram editing toni reinhold standards thomson reuters trust principles
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<p>CAMBRIDGE, England--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan 15, 2018--Bango (AIM: BGO), the leading mobile payments company, has expanded the use of its platform to provide resale and bundling technology to Amazon, enabling customers to sign-up to Amazon Prime in India through resellers that offer product bundles.</p>
<p>India’s largest mobile network operator, Bharti Airtel, is the first to make Amazon Prime available as part of a bundled package offered to its customers. Eligible customers can activate the offer through the Airtel TV app, entitling them to enjoy the benefits of a free one-year Amazon Prime membership.</p>
<p>The Bango Platform ensures that the moment the customer accepts the service it becomes active and they receive uninterrupted access for as long as they continue to subscribe. This launch represents a new application of the Bango Platform to enable reselling at scale.</p>
<p>“Bango partners have identified another way to meet customer needs for instant, uninterrupted access to the best content and services. Bundles and resale are a natural business model extension for merchants wanting to increase customer reach”, commented Ray Anderson, CEO, Bango. “ This launch highlights the versatility of the Bango Platform and strength of relationships that have seen Bango take partners into new territories, for new types of goods and services, through one, standard platform.”</p>
<p>This launch follows the successful launch of Direct Carrier Billing (DCB) for Amazon retail customers in Japan (June 2017), which then expanded to customers of Amazon Prime and Prime Student membership programmes (November 2017).</p>
<p>About Bango</p>
<p>Bango is the standard platform chosen by leading global stores to deliver mobile payments to everyone. As the next billion consumers adopt their first smartphone and look for universal payment methods, Bango will be there to unlock the world of apps, video, music, games and other content that brings those smartphones to life. Global stores plugging into the Bango Platform include Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN), Google (NASDAQ: GOOG), Samsung (005930: Korea SE) and Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT). Bango also partners with leading payment providers around the world to drive new users and revenues through its industry-leading mobile payment solutions. For more information, visit <a href="http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bango.com&amp;esheet=51743098&amp;newsitemid=20180115005265&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=www.bango.com&amp;index=1&amp;md5=2c80458b4b1b4868b5f00c7931e1cdbc" type="external">www.bango.com</a>.</p>
<p />
<p />
<p>View source version on businesswire.com: <a href="http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180115005265/en/" type="external" /> <a href="http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180115005265/en/" type="external">http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180115005265/en/</a></p>
<p>CONTACT: Media contact</p>
<p>Bango</p>
<p>Anil Malhotra, CMO</p>
<p>[email protected]</p>
<p>Tel: +44 7710 480 377</p>
<p>KEYWORD: UNITED KINGDOM EUROPE ASIA PACIFIC INDIA</p>
<p>INDUSTRY KEYWORD: ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY ONLINE RETAIL INTERNET NETWORKS TELECOMMUNICATIONS MOBILE/WIRELESS PROFESSIONAL SERVICES BANKING RETAIL ONLINE</p>
<p>SOURCE: Bango</p>
<p>Copyright Business Wire 2018.</p>
<p>PUB: 01/15/2018 07:28 AM/DISC: 01/15/2018 07:28 AM</p>
<p><a href="http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180115005265/en" type="external">http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180115005265/en</a></p>
<p>CAMBRIDGE, England--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan 15, 2018--Bango (AIM: BGO), the leading mobile payments company, has expanded the use of its platform to provide resale and bundling technology to Amazon, enabling customers to sign-up to Amazon Prime in India through resellers that offer product bundles.</p>
<p>India’s largest mobile network operator, Bharti Airtel, is the first to make Amazon Prime available as part of a bundled package offered to its customers. Eligible customers can activate the offer through the Airtel TV app, entitling them to enjoy the benefits of a free one-year Amazon Prime membership.</p>
<p>The Bango Platform ensures that the moment the customer accepts the service it becomes active and they receive uninterrupted access for as long as they continue to subscribe. This launch represents a new application of the Bango Platform to enable reselling at scale.</p>
<p>“Bango partners have identified another way to meet customer needs for instant, uninterrupted access to the best content and services. Bundles and resale are a natural business model extension for merchants wanting to increase customer reach”, commented Ray Anderson, CEO, Bango. “ This launch highlights the versatility of the Bango Platform and strength of relationships that have seen Bango take partners into new territories, for new types of goods and services, through one, standard platform.”</p>
<p>This launch follows the successful launch of Direct Carrier Billing (DCB) for Amazon retail customers in Japan (June 2017), which then expanded to customers of Amazon Prime and Prime Student membership programmes (November 2017).</p>
<p>About Bango</p>
<p>Bango is the standard platform chosen by leading global stores to deliver mobile payments to everyone. As the next billion consumers adopt their first smartphone and look for universal payment methods, Bango will be there to unlock the world of apps, video, music, games and other content that brings those smartphones to life. Global stores plugging into the Bango Platform include Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN), Google (NASDAQ: GOOG), Samsung (005930: Korea SE) and Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT). Bango also partners with leading payment providers around the world to drive new users and revenues through its industry-leading mobile payment solutions. For more information, visit <a href="http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bango.com&amp;esheet=51743098&amp;newsitemid=20180115005265&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=www.bango.com&amp;index=1&amp;md5=2c80458b4b1b4868b5f00c7931e1cdbc" type="external">www.bango.com</a>.</p>
<p />
<p />
<p>View source version on businesswire.com: <a href="http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180115005265/en/" type="external" /> <a href="http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180115005265/en/" type="external">http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180115005265/en/</a></p>
<p>CONTACT: Media contact</p>
<p>Bango</p>
<p>Anil Malhotra, CMO</p>
<p>[email protected]</p>
<p>Tel: +44 7710 480 377</p>
<p>KEYWORD: UNITED KINGDOM EUROPE ASIA PACIFIC INDIA</p>
<p>INDUSTRY KEYWORD: ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY ONLINE RETAIL INTERNET NETWORKS TELECOMMUNICATIONS MOBILE/WIRELESS PROFESSIONAL SERVICES BANKING RETAIL ONLINE</p>
<p>SOURCE: Bango</p>
<p>Copyright Business Wire 2018.</p>
<p>PUB: 01/15/2018 07:28 AM/DISC: 01/15/2018 07:28 AM</p>
<p><a href="http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180115005265/en" type="external">http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180115005265/en</a></p>
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cambridge englandbusiness wirejan 15 2018bango aim bgo leading mobile payments company expanded use platform provide resale bundling technology amazon enabling customers signup amazon prime india resellers offer product bundles indias largest mobile network operator bharti airtel first make amazon prime available part bundled package offered customers eligible customers activate offer airtel tv app entitling enjoy benefits free oneyear amazon prime membership bango platform ensures moment customer accepts service becomes active receive uninterrupted access long continue subscribe launch represents new application bango platform enable reselling scale bango partners identified another way meet customer needs instant uninterrupted access best content services bundles resale natural business model extension merchants wanting increase customer reach commented ray anderson ceo bango launch highlights versatility bango platform strength relationships seen bango take partners new territories new types goods services one standard platform launch follows successful launch direct carrier billing dcb amazon retail customers japan june 2017 expanded customers amazon prime prime student membership programmes november 2017 bango bango standard platform chosen leading global stores deliver mobile payments everyone next billion consumers adopt first smartphone look universal payment methods bango unlock world apps video music games content brings smartphones life global stores plugging bango platform include amazon nasdaq amzn google nasdaq goog samsung 005930 korea se microsoft nasdaq msft bango also partners leading payment providers around world drive new users revenues industryleading mobile payment solutions information visit wwwbangocom view source version businesswirecom httpwwwbusinesswirecomnewshome20180115005265en contact media contact bango anil malhotra cmo anilbangocom tel 44 7710 480 377 keyword united kingdom europe asia pacific india industry keyword entertainment technology online retail internet networks telecommunications mobilewireless professional services banking retail online source bango copyright business wire 2018 pub 01152018 0728 amdisc 01152018 0728 httpwwwbusinesswirecomnewshome20180115005265en cambridge englandbusiness wirejan 15 2018bango aim bgo leading mobile payments company expanded use platform provide resale bundling technology amazon enabling customers signup amazon prime india resellers offer product bundles indias largest mobile network operator bharti airtel first make amazon prime available part bundled package offered customers eligible customers activate offer airtel tv app entitling enjoy benefits free oneyear amazon prime membership bango platform ensures moment customer accepts service becomes active receive uninterrupted access long continue subscribe launch represents new application bango platform enable reselling scale bango partners identified another way meet customer needs instant uninterrupted access best content services bundles resale natural business model extension merchants wanting increase customer reach commented ray anderson ceo bango launch highlights versatility bango platform strength relationships seen bango take partners new territories new types goods services one standard platform launch follows successful launch direct carrier billing dcb amazon retail customers japan june 2017 expanded customers amazon prime prime student membership programmes november 2017 bango bango standard platform chosen leading global stores deliver mobile payments everyone next billion consumers adopt first smartphone look universal payment methods bango unlock world apps video music games content brings smartphones life global stores plugging bango platform include amazon nasdaq amzn google nasdaq goog samsung 005930 korea se microsoft nasdaq msft bango also partners leading payment providers around world drive new users revenues industryleading mobile payment solutions information visit wwwbangocom view source version businesswirecom httpwwwbusinesswirecomnewshome20180115005265en contact media contact bango anil malhotra cmo anilbangocom tel 44 7710 480 377 keyword united kingdom europe asia pacific india industry keyword entertainment technology online retail internet networks telecommunications mobilewireless professional services banking retail online source bango copyright business wire 2018 pub 01152018 0728 amdisc 01152018 0728 httpwwwbusinesswirecomnewshome20180115005265en
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<p>GEYER GOES BACK-TO-BACK-TO-BACK — It was after one of the first tournaments of the season that Cory Geyer finally internalized what folks have been telling him all along. “Stop only worrying about wins and losses, and just have fun,” Geyer said.</p>
<p>And since then, the ’Topper senior’s change of perspective has resulted in a 33-4 record, a potential first or second seed in next weekend’s Class 4A state tournament at 160 pounds, his third-straight district title, and most importantly of all, he said, a second-straight team title.</p>
<p>Capital High’s Isaiah Anaya, front, wrestles Santa Fe High’s Alex George to win the 138-lb. district 2-4A title Saturday.</p>
<p>“I honestly thought Capital had it — it was close,” Geyer said. “So when I found out we won, I was surprised. And that has been the theme for us all year long, all month long, all week long: Win another district title.”</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>As for his third individual district title, Geyer wasn’t quite as surprised.</p>
<p>“I came in here just thinking that this was my last shot at another district title — and my only shot to do it as a senior. That was the only thing on my mind all day,” Geyer said. “So during my match with Florian (Castillo), what I was thinking was, ‘This is it.’”Geyer and Castillo faced each other last weekend in Los Alamos, with the’Topper senior edging out the Sundevil in overtime. But this time around, Geyer wouldn’t need the extra period. In fact, all he would only need was 2 minutes, 42 seconds — that was how long it took for Geyer to record his second pin of the district meet.</p>
<p>So what’s next for Geyer? “Personally, I would like to go out with a bang — I want to be a state champ,” he said.</p>
<p>However, in order to do that, he will most likely have to beat the wrestler who helped change his perspective on the mat, Wyatt Hardy of Piedra Vista.</p>
<p>“He’s the only person in 4A to beat me, and after that match, it did change my mentality to just having fun and not worrying about who I wrestle,” he said. “So while I am looking forward to a rematch with him, I’m not going have that on my mind, festering. I’m just going to go for it and see what happens.”</p>
<p>Other district champs for Los Alamos included 132-pounder Chandler Lauritzen; Lane Saunders, at 152; Arnaldo Ortiz, 170; and Diego Madrid, 220.</p>
<p>ANAYA, SALVIDREZ AMONG JAGS’ TOP FINISHERS: Childhood friends turned high school rivals on the mat; the matchup between Capital’s Isaiah Anaya and Santa Fe’s Alex George was one of the most anticipated of the district tournament. And if the pairs’ initial matchup of the season was any indication of things to come — Anaya earned a 4-2 decision at the Cardinal Classic — Saturday’s bout between the two would come down to the wire as well.</p>
<p>Anaya, however, had other plans.</p>
<p>Capital High’s Ernesto Salvidrez reacts after pinning Bernalillo’s Luke Lucero to win the 145-lb. district 2-4A wrestling title Saturday</p>
<p>“This time, I wanted to open up more and try new stuff — I just wanted to see what I could do better this time,” he said.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>It worked.</p>
<p>Anaya racked up a 10-0 lead by the opening minute of the third period, cruising to a 11-5 decision to improve his record to 27-0. Now the Jaguar standout has his sights set on some unfinished business. “What’s motivated me this year is remembering last year when I took second at state,” he said. “But no one is going to take ( the state title) from me this year. That’s why I keep pushing myself.”</p>
<p>Another state-title hopeful for Capital is sophomore Ernesto Salvidrez. And like Anaya, Salvidrez also finished second at state last year. But this season, the Jaguar 145-pounder has dispatched the competition at an alarming rate, amassing a 31-0 record including earning two pins Saturday to defend his district title.</p>
<p>But while Salvidrez continues to make it look easy on the mat, it really hasn’t been, he said, at least not since suffering a partial tear in his medial collateral ligament two weeks ago at Robertson. But Salvidrez said he’s passed the first test.</p>
<p>“My knee feels like there’s nothing wrong — it’s just getting used to wearing the brace to protect it,” he said. “I actually thought it would be harder to come back — I was afraid my season was done. But I’ve been practicing good and I didn’t feel any pain today.”</p>
<p>Now standing in the way of Salvidrez’s quest for a second state title in three years — he earned a state title as an eighth-grader — is the same wrestler he faced when he sustained the injury, Belen’s Wyatt Robinson.</p>
<p>“I’m ready, focused and determined,” he said. “This week, I’ll be watching film from our match. I’m going to do whatever I have to do to beat him again.”</p>
<p>Salvidrez pinned Robinson late in the third period of their initial matchup.</p>
<p>Los Alamos’ Cory Geyer, top, pins Española Valley’s Florian Castillo to win the 160-lb. district 2-4A title Saturday.</p>
<p>Other district champs for Capital included Jose Tapia at 106 pounds and Gilbert Mancha, 126.</p>
<p>DEMONS, DEVILS FINISH STRONG: The rebuilding Sundevils and Demons finished with two district champions apiece. For Española Valley, James Vigil pinned Jonathan Anaya of Capital in the first period to claim the 120-pound district title, and teammate Santiago Quintana pinned Bernalilloi’s Josiah Candelaria in the third period (4:31) to earn top honors at 195 pounds. For the Demons, 182-pounder Jonah Schmelz pinned Los Alamos’ Brian Geyer in the third period (4:29), and 113-pounder Adrian George earned a first-period pin (1:29) of the Sundevils’ Lorenzo Montoya.</p>
<p>For additional results, visit the Northern Exposure blog at <a href="journalnorth.com" type="external">journalnorth.com</a></p>
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geyer goes backtobacktoback one first tournaments season cory geyer finally internalized folks telling along stop worrying wins losses fun geyer said since topper seniors change perspective resulted 334 record potential first second seed next weekends class 4a state tournament 160 pounds thirdstraight district title importantly said secondstraight team title capital highs isaiah anaya front wrestles santa fe highs alex george win 138lb district 24a title saturday honestly thought capital close geyer said found surprised theme us year long month long week long win another district title advertisement third individual district title geyer wasnt quite surprised came thinking last shot another district title shot senior thing mind day geyer said match florian castillo thinking itgeyer castillo faced last weekend los alamos thetopper senior edging sundevil overtime time around geyer wouldnt need extra period fact would need 2 minutes 42 seconds long took geyer record second pin district meet whats next geyer personally would like go bang want state champ said however order likely beat wrestler helped change perspective mat wyatt hardy piedra vista hes person 4a beat match change mentality fun worrying wrestle said looking forward rematch im going mind festering im going go see happens district champs los alamos included 132pounder chandler lauritzen lane saunders 152 arnaldo ortiz 170 diego madrid 220 anaya salvidrez among jags top finishers childhood friends turned high school rivals mat matchup capitals isaiah anaya santa fes alex george one anticipated district tournament pairs initial matchup season indication things come anaya earned 42 decision cardinal classic saturdays bout two would come wire well anaya however plans capital highs ernesto salvidrez reacts pinning bernalillos luke lucero win 145lb district 24a wrestling title saturday time wanted open try new stuff wanted see could better time said advertisement worked anaya racked 100 lead opening minute third period cruising 115 decision improve record 270 jaguar standout sights set unfinished business whats motivated year remembering last year took second state said one going take state title year thats keep pushing another statetitle hopeful capital sophomore ernesto salvidrez like anaya salvidrez also finished second state last year season jaguar 145pounder dispatched competition alarming rate amassing 310 record including earning two pins saturday defend district title salvidrez continues make look easy mat really hasnt said least since suffering partial tear medial collateral ligament two weeks ago robertson salvidrez said hes passed first test knee feels like theres nothing wrong getting used wearing brace protect said actually thought would harder come back afraid season done ive practicing good didnt feel pain today standing way salvidrezs quest second state title three years earned state title eighthgrader wrestler faced sustained injury belens wyatt robinson im ready focused determined said week ill watching film match im going whatever beat salvidrez pinned robinson late third period initial matchup los alamos cory geyer top pins española valleys florian castillo win 160lb district 24a title saturday district champs capital included jose tapia 106 pounds gilbert mancha 126 demons devils finish strong rebuilding sundevils demons finished two district champions apiece española valley james vigil pinned jonathan anaya capital first period claim 120pound district title teammate santiago quintana pinned bernalillois josiah candelaria third period 431 earn top honors 195 pounds demons 182pounder jonah schmelz pinned los alamos brian geyer third period 429 113pounder adrian george earned firstperiod pin 129 sundevils lorenzo montoya additional results visit northern exposure blog journalnorthcom
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<p>OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Even when Stephen Curry isn’t at his best he can still be downright brilliant.</p>
<p>Curry scored 32 points and dished out nine assists in another superb performance during his sensational recent stretch, and the Golden State Warriors beat the Nuggets 124-114 on Monday night to avenge an ugly home loss to Denver in late December.</p>
<p>“When you’ve got a guy as talented as Steph, he is who he is,” teammate David West said. “The rest of us sort of understand and expect him to do what he’s going to do.”</p>
<p>Klay Thompson scored 19 on his bobbblehead night while Draymond Green added a season-high 23 points and 10 assists in the defending NBA champions’ fifth straight victory on a night when Kevin Durant sat out his third consecutive game with a strained right calf.</p>
<p>Nikola Jokic had his first triple-double of the season with 22 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists as four players scored 20 points or more for the Nuggets, who were coming off a 106-98 loss at Sacramento on Saturday.</p>
<p>In his 12th 30-point game of the season, Curry hit a long 3-pointer with 56.1 seconds left in the third and the Warriors led 93-81 going into the final quarter after the Nuggets had fought back to tie it midway through the period.</p>
<p>“I didn’t think he played that well, but this is Steph Curry. On a night when he’s not maybe at his best, he’s still dominating the game in parts,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “He hit the big shots during that stretch.”</p>
<p>Curry shot 9 for 17 overall, including 5 of 10 from 3-point territory.</p>
<p>The two-time MVP has scored 29 or more points in seven straight games. In four games before Monday, he was averaging 36 points, six rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.3 steals in 31.8 minutes since returning from an 11-game absence due to a sprained right ankle.</p>
<p>The Western Conference player of the week for last week, Curry strained his left knee in the first half, headed to the locker room to have it taped and then returned.</p>
<p>West contributed 10 points, scoring in double figures for a third straight game to go with six rebounds and four assists while becoming the 127th player in NBA history to play in 1,000 regular-season games.</p>
<p>“It looks like his 100th game, the way he’s moving out there,” Thompson said.</p>
<p>Said Kerr: “David West is playing like he’s 25 years old.”</p>
<p>Thompson made his initial four shots and Green scored eight quick points, connecting on his first three field goal attempts. He handed out five assists as Golden State raced ahead 27-20 — a far cry from the Warriors’ previous performance in a 96-81 loss to Denver at Oracle Arena on Dec. 23.</p>
<p>The Warriors shot 3 for 27 in that game from 3-point range but topped that with four 3s in the first quarter Monday and finished 13 for 30 from deep.</p>
<p>Thompson’s 3-pointer with 4:10 left in the third made it 78-71 after Denver had tied the game 89-all at the 6:57 mark of the period.</p>
<p>The Nuggets held the Warriors to a season-low scoring performance here last time that snapped their 11-game winning streak. Golden State has won seven of eight since.</p>
<p>Denver got 22 points from Gary Harris, and 21 apiece from Jamal Murray and Trey Lyles.</p>
<p>“Even when there were times where it looked like the game was getting out of hand, our guys never let go of the rope,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “We never quit working. We forced them to bring their starters back in. We forced them to finish that game out.”</p>
<p>DURANT UPDATE</p>
<p>Kerr said Durant “didn’t feel quite right” after going through shootaround earlier in the day.</p>
<p>“We’re all on the same page that until he feels right, he’s not going to play,” Kerr said. “Hopefully the next couple of days he’ll clear that hurdle and be ready to go.”</p>
<p>GREEN FINED</p>
<p>Green was fined $25,000 by the NBA for publicly criticizing the league’s officiating in comments after Golden State’s 121-105 win against the Clippers on Saturday.</p>
<p>TIP-INS</p>
<p>Nuggets: Denver limited its turnovers to 11 after committing a season-high 26 at Sacramento two days earlier that led to 40 Kings points. ... Denver is 3-11 on the road vs. Western Conference teams.</p>
<p>Warriors: Andre Iguodala hit his first 3-pointer in nine games he’s played since Dec. 18, snapping an 0-for-12 funk from deep when he made one in the first. ... Golden State rookie Jordan Bell took a hard fall in the second quarter and moved gingerly afterward. ... Newly crowned U.S. figure skating national champion and Olympian Nathan Chen attended the game, watched Curry’s warmup and was set to meet him afterward.</p>
<p>UP NEXT</p>
<p>Nuggets: Host the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday.</p>
<p>Warriors: Host the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday seeking a 13th consecutive victory in the rivalry.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>For more NBA coverage: <a href="" type="internal" /> <a href="" type="internal">https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball</a></p>
<p>OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Even when Stephen Curry isn’t at his best he can still be downright brilliant.</p>
<p>Curry scored 32 points and dished out nine assists in another superb performance during his sensational recent stretch, and the Golden State Warriors beat the Nuggets 124-114 on Monday night to avenge an ugly home loss to Denver in late December.</p>
<p>“When you’ve got a guy as talented as Steph, he is who he is,” teammate David West said. “The rest of us sort of understand and expect him to do what he’s going to do.”</p>
<p>Klay Thompson scored 19 on his bobbblehead night while Draymond Green added a season-high 23 points and 10 assists in the defending NBA champions’ fifth straight victory on a night when Kevin Durant sat out his third consecutive game with a strained right calf.</p>
<p>Nikola Jokic had his first triple-double of the season with 22 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists as four players scored 20 points or more for the Nuggets, who were coming off a 106-98 loss at Sacramento on Saturday.</p>
<p>In his 12th 30-point game of the season, Curry hit a long 3-pointer with 56.1 seconds left in the third and the Warriors led 93-81 going into the final quarter after the Nuggets had fought back to tie it midway through the period.</p>
<p>“I didn’t think he played that well, but this is Steph Curry. On a night when he’s not maybe at his best, he’s still dominating the game in parts,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “He hit the big shots during that stretch.”</p>
<p>Curry shot 9 for 17 overall, including 5 of 10 from 3-point territory.</p>
<p>The two-time MVP has scored 29 or more points in seven straight games. In four games before Monday, he was averaging 36 points, six rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.3 steals in 31.8 minutes since returning from an 11-game absence due to a sprained right ankle.</p>
<p>The Western Conference player of the week for last week, Curry strained his left knee in the first half, headed to the locker room to have it taped and then returned.</p>
<p>West contributed 10 points, scoring in double figures for a third straight game to go with six rebounds and four assists while becoming the 127th player in NBA history to play in 1,000 regular-season games.</p>
<p>“It looks like his 100th game, the way he’s moving out there,” Thompson said.</p>
<p>Said Kerr: “David West is playing like he’s 25 years old.”</p>
<p>Thompson made his initial four shots and Green scored eight quick points, connecting on his first three field goal attempts. He handed out five assists as Golden State raced ahead 27-20 — a far cry from the Warriors’ previous performance in a 96-81 loss to Denver at Oracle Arena on Dec. 23.</p>
<p>The Warriors shot 3 for 27 in that game from 3-point range but topped that with four 3s in the first quarter Monday and finished 13 for 30 from deep.</p>
<p>Thompson’s 3-pointer with 4:10 left in the third made it 78-71 after Denver had tied the game 89-all at the 6:57 mark of the period.</p>
<p>The Nuggets held the Warriors to a season-low scoring performance here last time that snapped their 11-game winning streak. Golden State has won seven of eight since.</p>
<p>Denver got 22 points from Gary Harris, and 21 apiece from Jamal Murray and Trey Lyles.</p>
<p>“Even when there were times where it looked like the game was getting out of hand, our guys never let go of the rope,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “We never quit working. We forced them to bring their starters back in. We forced them to finish that game out.”</p>
<p>DURANT UPDATE</p>
<p>Kerr said Durant “didn’t feel quite right” after going through shootaround earlier in the day.</p>
<p>“We’re all on the same page that until he feels right, he’s not going to play,” Kerr said. “Hopefully the next couple of days he’ll clear that hurdle and be ready to go.”</p>
<p>GREEN FINED</p>
<p>Green was fined $25,000 by the NBA for publicly criticizing the league’s officiating in comments after Golden State’s 121-105 win against the Clippers on Saturday.</p>
<p>TIP-INS</p>
<p>Nuggets: Denver limited its turnovers to 11 after committing a season-high 26 at Sacramento two days earlier that led to 40 Kings points. ... Denver is 3-11 on the road vs. Western Conference teams.</p>
<p>Warriors: Andre Iguodala hit his first 3-pointer in nine games he’s played since Dec. 18, snapping an 0-for-12 funk from deep when he made one in the first. ... Golden State rookie Jordan Bell took a hard fall in the second quarter and moved gingerly afterward. ... Newly crowned U.S. figure skating national champion and Olympian Nathan Chen attended the game, watched Curry’s warmup and was set to meet him afterward.</p>
<p>UP NEXT</p>
<p>Nuggets: Host the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday.</p>
<p>Warriors: Host the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday seeking a 13th consecutive victory in the rivalry.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>For more NBA coverage: <a href="" type="internal" /> <a href="" type="internal">https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball</a></p>
| false | 2 |
oakland calif ap even stephen curry isnt best still downright brilliant curry scored 32 points dished nine assists another superb performance sensational recent stretch golden state warriors beat nuggets 124114 monday night avenge ugly home loss denver late december youve got guy talented steph teammate david west said rest us sort understand expect hes going klay thompson scored 19 bobbblehead night draymond green added seasonhigh 23 points 10 assists defending nba champions fifth straight victory night kevin durant sat third consecutive game strained right calf nikola jokic first tripledouble season 22 points 12 rebounds 11 assists four players scored 20 points nuggets coming 10698 loss sacramento saturday 12th 30point game season curry hit long 3pointer 561 seconds left third warriors led 9381 going final quarter nuggets fought back tie midway period didnt think played well steph curry night hes maybe best hes still dominating game parts warriors coach steve kerr said hit big shots stretch curry shot 9 17 overall including 5 10 3point territory twotime mvp scored 29 points seven straight games four games monday averaging 36 points six rebounds 48 assists 13 steals 318 minutes since returning 11game absence due sprained right ankle western conference player week last week curry strained left knee first half headed locker room taped returned west contributed 10 points scoring double figures third straight game go six rebounds four assists becoming 127th player nba history play 1000 regularseason games looks like 100th game way hes moving thompson said said kerr david west playing like hes 25 years old thompson made initial four shots green scored eight quick points connecting first three field goal attempts handed five assists golden state raced ahead 2720 far cry warriors previous performance 9681 loss denver oracle arena dec 23 warriors shot 3 27 game 3point range topped four 3s first quarter monday finished 13 30 deep thompsons 3pointer 410 left third made 7871 denver tied game 89all 657 mark period nuggets held warriors seasonlow scoring performance last time snapped 11game winning streak golden state seven eight since denver got 22 points gary harris 21 apiece jamal murray trey lyles even times looked like game getting hand guys never let go rope nuggets coach michael malone said never quit working forced bring starters back forced finish game durant update kerr said durant didnt feel quite right going shootaround earlier day page feels right hes going play kerr said hopefully next couple days hell clear hurdle ready go green fined green fined 25000 nba publicly criticizing leagues officiating comments golden states 121105 win clippers saturday tipins nuggets denver limited turnovers 11 committing seasonhigh 26 sacramento two days earlier led 40 kings points denver 311 road vs western conference teams warriors andre iguodala hit first 3pointer nine games hes played since dec 18 snapping 0for12 funk deep made one first golden state rookie jordan bell took hard fall second quarter moved gingerly afterward newly crowned us figure skating national champion olympian nathan chen attended game watched currys warmup set meet afterward next nuggets host atlanta hawks wednesday warriors host los angeles clippers wednesday seeking 13th consecutive victory rivalry ___ nba coverage httpsapnewscomtagnbabasketball oakland calif ap even stephen curry isnt best still downright brilliant curry scored 32 points dished nine assists another superb performance sensational recent stretch golden state warriors beat nuggets 124114 monday night avenge ugly home loss denver late december youve got guy talented steph teammate david west said rest us sort understand expect hes going klay thompson scored 19 bobbblehead night draymond green added seasonhigh 23 points 10 assists defending nba champions fifth straight victory night kevin durant sat third consecutive game strained right calf nikola jokic first tripledouble season 22 points 12 rebounds 11 assists four players scored 20 points nuggets coming 10698 loss sacramento saturday 12th 30point game season curry hit long 3pointer 561 seconds left third warriors led 9381 going final quarter nuggets fought back tie midway period didnt think played well steph curry night hes maybe best hes still dominating game parts warriors coach steve kerr said hit big shots stretch curry shot 9 17 overall including 5 10 3point territory twotime mvp scored 29 points seven straight games four games monday averaging 36 points six rebounds 48 assists 13 steals 318 minutes since returning 11game absence due sprained right ankle western conference player week last week curry strained left knee first half headed locker room taped returned west contributed 10 points scoring double figures third straight game go six rebounds four assists becoming 127th player nba history play 1000 regularseason games looks like 100th game way hes moving thompson said said kerr david west playing like hes 25 years old thompson made initial four shots green scored eight quick points connecting first three field goal attempts handed five assists golden state raced ahead 2720 far cry warriors previous performance 9681 loss denver oracle arena dec 23 warriors shot 3 27 game 3point range topped four 3s first quarter monday finished 13 30 deep thompsons 3pointer 410 left third made 7871 denver tied game 89all 657 mark period nuggets held warriors seasonlow scoring performance last time snapped 11game winning streak golden state seven eight since denver got 22 points gary harris 21 apiece jamal murray trey lyles even times looked like game getting hand guys never let go rope nuggets coach michael malone said never quit working forced bring starters back forced finish game durant update kerr said durant didnt feel quite right going shootaround earlier day page feels right hes going play kerr said hopefully next couple days hell clear hurdle ready go green fined green fined 25000 nba publicly criticizing leagues officiating comments golden states 121105 win clippers saturday tipins nuggets denver limited turnovers 11 committing seasonhigh 26 sacramento two days earlier led 40 kings points denver 311 road vs western conference teams warriors andre iguodala hit first 3pointer nine games hes played since dec 18 snapping 0for12 funk deep made one first golden state rookie jordan bell took hard fall second quarter moved gingerly afterward newly crowned us figure skating national champion olympian nathan chen attended game watched currys warmup set meet afterward next nuggets host atlanta hawks wednesday warriors host los angeles clippers wednesday seeking 13th consecutive victory rivalry ___ nba coverage httpsapnewscomtagnbabasketball
| 1,042 |
<p>Adair Co. 94, Nelson Co. 78</p>
<p>Barbourville 88, Oneida Baptist 81</p>
<p>Belfry 76, Magoffin Co. 64</p>
<p>Boone Co. 65, Cooper 63, 2OT</p>
<p>Boyd Co. 76, Ashland Blazer 72</p>
<p>Boyle Co. 77, Garrard Co. 61</p>
<p>Breathitt Co. 77, Jackson City 51</p>
<p>Bullitt Central 57, Lou. Southern 55</p>
<p>Campbell Co. 84, Scott 73</p>
<p>Collins 100, Lou. Valley 94, OT</p>
<p>Conner 57, Ryle 46</p>
<p>Corbin 81, Knox Central 67</p>
<p>Cordia 95, June Buchanan 55</p>
<p>Dawson Springs 83, Fort Campbell 72</p>
<p>East Carter 66, Greenup Co. 57</p>
<p>East Jessamine 97, Thomas Nelson 45</p>
<p>Grayson Co. 56, Butler Co. 41</p>
<p>Harlan Co. 68, Bell Co. 55</p>
<p>Lou. Ballard 77, Lou. Eastern 48</p>
<p>Lou. Butler 73, Lou. Iroquois 72</p>
<p>Lou. DeSales 82, Bullitt East 78</p>
<p>Lou. Doss 83, Lou. Western 70</p>
<p>Lou. Fairdale 57, Lou. Pleasure Ridge Park 56</p>
<p>Lou. Fern Creek 49, Lou. Jeffersontown 38</p>
<p>Lou. Seneca 79, Lou. Atherton 56</p>
<p>Lou. St. Xavier 63, Lou. Male 54</p>
<p>Lou. Trinity 62, Lou. Waggener 45</p>
<p>Lou. Walden 71, Burgin 62</p>
<p>Madison Central 68, Lincoln Co. 39</p>
<p>Mason Co. 70, Ripley-Union-Lewis-Huntington, Ohio 67</p>
<p>McCracken County 39, Marshall Co. 35</p>
<p>Mercer Co. 80, West Jessamine 73</p>
<p>Middlesboro 49, Pineville 39</p>
<p>Montgomery Co. 53, Bourbon Co. 50</p>
<p>Nicholas Co. 59, Bracken Co. 46</p>
<p>North Laurel 75, Jackson Co. 56</p>
<p>North Oldham 75, Shelby Co. 54</p>
<p>Owensboro Catholic 61, Apollo 58</p>
<p>Powell Co. 84, Wolfe Co. 72</p>
<p>Robertson County 73, Augusta 59</p>
<p>Simon Kenton 62, Grant Co. 34</p>
<p>South Warren 67, Russell Co. 60</p>
<p>Southwestern 71, McCreary Central 64, OT</p>
<p>St. Patrick 69, Fleming Co. 56</p>
<p>Warren Central 71, Greenwood 60</p>
<p>Adair Co. 94, Nelson Co. 78</p>
<p>Barbourville 88, Oneida Baptist 81</p>
<p>Belfry 76, Magoffin Co. 64</p>
<p>Boone Co. 65, Cooper 63, 2OT</p>
<p>Boyd Co. 76, Ashland Blazer 72</p>
<p>Boyle Co. 77, Garrard Co. 61</p>
<p>Breathitt Co. 77, Jackson City 51</p>
<p>Bullitt Central 57, Lou. Southern 55</p>
<p>Campbell Co. 84, Scott 73</p>
<p>Collins 100, Lou. Valley 94, OT</p>
<p>Conner 57, Ryle 46</p>
<p>Corbin 81, Knox Central 67</p>
<p>Cordia 95, June Buchanan 55</p>
<p>Dawson Springs 83, Fort Campbell 72</p>
<p>East Carter 66, Greenup Co. 57</p>
<p>East Jessamine 97, Thomas Nelson 45</p>
<p>Grayson Co. 56, Butler Co. 41</p>
<p>Harlan Co. 68, Bell Co. 55</p>
<p>Lou. Ballard 77, Lou. Eastern 48</p>
<p>Lou. Butler 73, Lou. Iroquois 72</p>
<p>Lou. DeSales 82, Bullitt East 78</p>
<p>Lou. Doss 83, Lou. Western 70</p>
<p>Lou. Fairdale 57, Lou. Pleasure Ridge Park 56</p>
<p>Lou. Fern Creek 49, Lou. Jeffersontown 38</p>
<p>Lou. Seneca 79, Lou. Atherton 56</p>
<p>Lou. St. Xavier 63, Lou. Male 54</p>
<p>Lou. Trinity 62, Lou. Waggener 45</p>
<p>Lou. Walden 71, Burgin 62</p>
<p>Madison Central 68, Lincoln Co. 39</p>
<p>Mason Co. 70, Ripley-Union-Lewis-Huntington, Ohio 67</p>
<p>McCracken County 39, Marshall Co. 35</p>
<p>Mercer Co. 80, West Jessamine 73</p>
<p>Middlesboro 49, Pineville 39</p>
<p>Montgomery Co. 53, Bourbon Co. 50</p>
<p>Nicholas Co. 59, Bracken Co. 46</p>
<p>North Laurel 75, Jackson Co. 56</p>
<p>North Oldham 75, Shelby Co. 54</p>
<p>Owensboro Catholic 61, Apollo 58</p>
<p>Powell Co. 84, Wolfe Co. 72</p>
<p>Robertson County 73, Augusta 59</p>
<p>Simon Kenton 62, Grant Co. 34</p>
<p>South Warren 67, Russell Co. 60</p>
<p>Southwestern 71, McCreary Central 64, OT</p>
<p>St. Patrick 69, Fleming Co. 56</p>
<p>Warren Central 71, Greenwood 60</p>
| false | 2 |
adair co 94 nelson co 78 barbourville 88 oneida baptist 81 belfry 76 magoffin co 64 boone co 65 cooper 63 2ot boyd co 76 ashland blazer 72 boyle co 77 garrard co 61 breathitt co 77 jackson city 51 bullitt central 57 lou southern 55 campbell co 84 scott 73 collins 100 lou valley 94 ot conner 57 ryle 46 corbin 81 knox central 67 cordia 95 june buchanan 55 dawson springs 83 fort campbell 72 east carter 66 greenup co 57 east jessamine 97 thomas nelson 45 grayson co 56 butler co 41 harlan co 68 bell co 55 lou ballard 77 lou eastern 48 lou butler 73 lou iroquois 72 lou desales 82 bullitt east 78 lou doss 83 lou western 70 lou fairdale 57 lou pleasure ridge park 56 lou fern creek 49 lou jeffersontown 38 lou seneca 79 lou atherton 56 lou st xavier 63 lou male 54 lou trinity 62 lou waggener 45 lou walden 71 burgin 62 madison central 68 lincoln co 39 mason co 70 ripleyunionlewishuntington ohio 67 mccracken county 39 marshall co 35 mercer co 80 west jessamine 73 middlesboro 49 pineville 39 montgomery co 53 bourbon co 50 nicholas co 59 bracken co 46 north laurel 75 jackson co 56 north oldham 75 shelby co 54 owensboro catholic 61 apollo 58 powell co 84 wolfe co 72 robertson county 73 augusta 59 simon kenton 62 grant co 34 south warren 67 russell co 60 southwestern 71 mccreary central 64 ot st patrick 69 fleming co 56 warren central 71 greenwood 60 adair co 94 nelson co 78 barbourville 88 oneida baptist 81 belfry 76 magoffin co 64 boone co 65 cooper 63 2ot boyd co 76 ashland blazer 72 boyle co 77 garrard co 61 breathitt co 77 jackson city 51 bullitt central 57 lou southern 55 campbell co 84 scott 73 collins 100 lou valley 94 ot conner 57 ryle 46 corbin 81 knox central 67 cordia 95 june buchanan 55 dawson springs 83 fort campbell 72 east carter 66 greenup co 57 east jessamine 97 thomas nelson 45 grayson co 56 butler co 41 harlan co 68 bell co 55 lou ballard 77 lou eastern 48 lou butler 73 lou iroquois 72 lou desales 82 bullitt east 78 lou doss 83 lou western 70 lou fairdale 57 lou pleasure ridge park 56 lou fern creek 49 lou jeffersontown 38 lou seneca 79 lou atherton 56 lou st xavier 63 lou male 54 lou trinity 62 lou waggener 45 lou walden 71 burgin 62 madison central 68 lincoln co 39 mason co 70 ripleyunionlewishuntington ohio 67 mccracken county 39 marshall co 35 mercer co 80 west jessamine 73 middlesboro 49 pineville 39 montgomery co 53 bourbon co 50 nicholas co 59 bracken co 46 north laurel 75 jackson co 56 north oldham 75 shelby co 54 owensboro catholic 61 apollo 58 powell co 84 wolfe co 72 robertson county 73 augusta 59 simon kenton 62 grant co 34 south warren 67 russell co 60 southwestern 71 mccreary central 64 ot st patrick 69 fleming co 56 warren central 71 greenwood 60
| 522 |
<p>JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Jack Del Rio and Chuck Pagano are already out. Todd Bowles, Adam Gase and Dirk Koetter are coming back.</p>
<p>Ben McAdoo is long gone.</p>
<p>The fate of several other NFL coaches could be determined in the next few days, maybe even the next few hours.</p>
<p>It’s shaping up to be another “Black Monday” for the league. There have been at least six coaching changes every year since 2011, a streak that is expected to continue in 2018.</p>
<p>Here’s a look at the teams considering moves, including those that already have made them:</p>
<p>ARIZONA: Bruce Arians <a href="https://pro32.ap.org/article/dawson-kicks-cardinals-past-seahawks-26-24" type="external">declined to announce a decision</a> on his future following a 26-22 victory at Seattle. There has been mounting speculation for weeks that Arians will leave the Cardinals (8-8) at end the end of the season. He was emotional and spoke with pride about his team’s performance in the finale, which included winning a third straight game in Seattle.</p>
<p>“I’m not going to drag it out because it’s not fair to people if I do decide,” Arians said.</p>
<p>CHICAGO: John Fox <a href="https://pro32.ap.org/article/vikings-get-13-3-playoff-bye-beating-bears-23-10" type="external">refused to address his future</a> following a lackluster loss at Minnesota. He left the podium after a brief and terse postgame news conference.</p>
<p>Fox is 14-34 in three seasons with the Bears (5-11). In his latest — and maybe last — loss, Chicago didn’t cross midfield until the fourth quarter and totaled only 30 yards rushing. The Bears were penalized 10 times for 116 yards and were 1 of 14 on third and fourth downs.</p>
<p>CINCINNATI: Is Marvin Lewis <a href="https://pro32.ap.org/article/bengals-coach-lewis-i-want-coach-team" type="external">really walking away</a> after 15 seasons and 125 wins?</p>
<p>“I don’t know that,” Lewis said after his Bengals stunned Baltimore 31-27. “We’ll see. There are decisions to be made. First, it would be ownership.”</p>
<p>Lewis is scheduled to meet with owner Mike Brown to discuss his future.</p>
<p>“Yes, I want to coach this team,” Lewis said. Asked if he would return if Brown asks him back, Lewis replied: “It’s more complicated than that.”</p>
<p>DENVER: Vance Joseph’s team lost eight times by double digits and endured an eight-game losing streak — the franchise’s longest in 50 years — in a 5-11 season. Joseph will <a href="https://pro32.ap.org/article/mahomes-leads-chiefs-past-broncos-27-24-1st-start" type="external">meet with general manager John Elway</a> to discuss his future Monday.</p>
<p>“I want to be here,” Joseph said following a 27-24 loss to Kansas City. “It’s a football team that’s close. We have to make some adjustments in some places, but our football team all year has not stopped working. That was fun to see, even tonight. It’s been a hard year, but everyone kept fighting. I want to be here to fix it.”</p>
<p>DETROIT: Jim Caldwell gave the Lions (9-7) consecutive winning seasons for the first time since 1995. It <a href="https://pro32.ap.org/article/lions-beat-packers-35-11-and-caldwell-stays-calm-collected" type="external">might not be enough</a> to save his job. Caldwell is 36-28 in four years and has two playoff postseason appearances.</p>
<p>“I’m not done yet,” Caldwell said after a 35-11 win against Green Bay.</p>
<p>HOUSTON: Bill O’Brien’s first losing record (4-12) in four years hardly seems like a fire-able offense, especially considering season-ending injuries to dynamic quarterback Deshaun Watson and star pass rushers J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus. But O’Brien is 31-33 with the Texans and reportedly doesn’t get along with general manager Rick Smith, who announced after the finale that he’s <a href="https://pro32.ap.org/article/texans-gm-taking-leave-absence-wife-battles-cancer" type="external">taking a leave of absence</a> to help his wife, who is battling breast cancer. O’Brien has one year remaining on his contract and likely will get a chance to see what he can do in a full season with Watson.</p>
<p>INDIANAPOLIS: <a href="https://pro32.ap.org/article/colts-fire-pagano-after-beating-texans-22-13-finale" type="external">Pagano was fired Sunday</a> , two hours after the Colts beat Houston in the finale. Indianapolis missed the playoffs each of the last three years, the first time that’s happened since a seven-year drought from 1988 to 1994. The next coach surely will want to know more about the health and future of quarterback Andrew Luck.</p>
<p>OAKLAND: <a href="https://pro32.ap.org/article/raiders-fire-coach-jack-del-rio-after-6-10-season" type="external">Del Rio was fired Sunday</a> following a 30-10 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers that capped a 6-10 season. Del Rio signed a four-year contract extension last February after Oakland ended a 13-year playoff drought with a 12-win season. The Raiders followed that successful campaign with a disappointing one. ESPN reported that the Raiders want to bring back former coach Jon Gruden.</p>
<p>NEW YORK GIANTS: McAdoo was the <a href="https://pro32.ap.org/article/reeling-giants-fire-coach-mcadoo-gm-reese-after-10th-loss" type="external">first coach fired in 2017</a> , let go Dec. 4 after a 2-10 start. His 28 games were the fewest for a Giants coach since 1930. New general manager Dave Gettleman, who replaced Jerry Reese, already has started cleaning house. Gettleman and the next coach will have to decide <a href="https://pro32.ap.org/article/giants-close-dismal-season-18-10-win-over-washington" type="external">what to do with Eli Manning</a> .</p>
<p>“This is where I want to play,” Manning said. “This is like my family, the New York Giants has been. Hopefully they feel the same way and we can make that work out.”</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>For more NFL coverage: <a href="http://www.pro32.ap.org" type="external" /> <a href="http://www.pro32.ap.org" type="external">http://www.pro32.ap.org</a> and <a href="http://www.twitter.com/AP_NFL" type="external" /> <a href="http://www.twitter.com/AP_NFL" type="external">http://www.twitter.com/AP_NFL</a></p>
<p>JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Jack Del Rio and Chuck Pagano are already out. Todd Bowles, Adam Gase and Dirk Koetter are coming back.</p>
<p>Ben McAdoo is long gone.</p>
<p>The fate of several other NFL coaches could be determined in the next few days, maybe even the next few hours.</p>
<p>It’s shaping up to be another “Black Monday” for the league. There have been at least six coaching changes every year since 2011, a streak that is expected to continue in 2018.</p>
<p>Here’s a look at the teams considering moves, including those that already have made them:</p>
<p>ARIZONA: Bruce Arians <a href="https://pro32.ap.org/article/dawson-kicks-cardinals-past-seahawks-26-24" type="external">declined to announce a decision</a> on his future following a 26-22 victory at Seattle. There has been mounting speculation for weeks that Arians will leave the Cardinals (8-8) at end the end of the season. He was emotional and spoke with pride about his team’s performance in the finale, which included winning a third straight game in Seattle.</p>
<p>“I’m not going to drag it out because it’s not fair to people if I do decide,” Arians said.</p>
<p>CHICAGO: John Fox <a href="https://pro32.ap.org/article/vikings-get-13-3-playoff-bye-beating-bears-23-10" type="external">refused to address his future</a> following a lackluster loss at Minnesota. He left the podium after a brief and terse postgame news conference.</p>
<p>Fox is 14-34 in three seasons with the Bears (5-11). In his latest — and maybe last — loss, Chicago didn’t cross midfield until the fourth quarter and totaled only 30 yards rushing. The Bears were penalized 10 times for 116 yards and were 1 of 14 on third and fourth downs.</p>
<p>CINCINNATI: Is Marvin Lewis <a href="https://pro32.ap.org/article/bengals-coach-lewis-i-want-coach-team" type="external">really walking away</a> after 15 seasons and 125 wins?</p>
<p>“I don’t know that,” Lewis said after his Bengals stunned Baltimore 31-27. “We’ll see. There are decisions to be made. First, it would be ownership.”</p>
<p>Lewis is scheduled to meet with owner Mike Brown to discuss his future.</p>
<p>“Yes, I want to coach this team,” Lewis said. Asked if he would return if Brown asks him back, Lewis replied: “It’s more complicated than that.”</p>
<p>DENVER: Vance Joseph’s team lost eight times by double digits and endured an eight-game losing streak — the franchise’s longest in 50 years — in a 5-11 season. Joseph will <a href="https://pro32.ap.org/article/mahomes-leads-chiefs-past-broncos-27-24-1st-start" type="external">meet with general manager John Elway</a> to discuss his future Monday.</p>
<p>“I want to be here,” Joseph said following a 27-24 loss to Kansas City. “It’s a football team that’s close. We have to make some adjustments in some places, but our football team all year has not stopped working. That was fun to see, even tonight. It’s been a hard year, but everyone kept fighting. I want to be here to fix it.”</p>
<p>DETROIT: Jim Caldwell gave the Lions (9-7) consecutive winning seasons for the first time since 1995. It <a href="https://pro32.ap.org/article/lions-beat-packers-35-11-and-caldwell-stays-calm-collected" type="external">might not be enough</a> to save his job. Caldwell is 36-28 in four years and has two playoff postseason appearances.</p>
<p>“I’m not done yet,” Caldwell said after a 35-11 win against Green Bay.</p>
<p>HOUSTON: Bill O’Brien’s first losing record (4-12) in four years hardly seems like a fire-able offense, especially considering season-ending injuries to dynamic quarterback Deshaun Watson and star pass rushers J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus. But O’Brien is 31-33 with the Texans and reportedly doesn’t get along with general manager Rick Smith, who announced after the finale that he’s <a href="https://pro32.ap.org/article/texans-gm-taking-leave-absence-wife-battles-cancer" type="external">taking a leave of absence</a> to help his wife, who is battling breast cancer. O’Brien has one year remaining on his contract and likely will get a chance to see what he can do in a full season with Watson.</p>
<p>INDIANAPOLIS: <a href="https://pro32.ap.org/article/colts-fire-pagano-after-beating-texans-22-13-finale" type="external">Pagano was fired Sunday</a> , two hours after the Colts beat Houston in the finale. Indianapolis missed the playoffs each of the last three years, the first time that’s happened since a seven-year drought from 1988 to 1994. The next coach surely will want to know more about the health and future of quarterback Andrew Luck.</p>
<p>OAKLAND: <a href="https://pro32.ap.org/article/raiders-fire-coach-jack-del-rio-after-6-10-season" type="external">Del Rio was fired Sunday</a> following a 30-10 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers that capped a 6-10 season. Del Rio signed a four-year contract extension last February after Oakland ended a 13-year playoff drought with a 12-win season. The Raiders followed that successful campaign with a disappointing one. ESPN reported that the Raiders want to bring back former coach Jon Gruden.</p>
<p>NEW YORK GIANTS: McAdoo was the <a href="https://pro32.ap.org/article/reeling-giants-fire-coach-mcadoo-gm-reese-after-10th-loss" type="external">first coach fired in 2017</a> , let go Dec. 4 after a 2-10 start. His 28 games were the fewest for a Giants coach since 1930. New general manager Dave Gettleman, who replaced Jerry Reese, already has started cleaning house. Gettleman and the next coach will have to decide <a href="https://pro32.ap.org/article/giants-close-dismal-season-18-10-win-over-washington" type="external">what to do with Eli Manning</a> .</p>
<p>“This is where I want to play,” Manning said. “This is like my family, the New York Giants has been. Hopefully they feel the same way and we can make that work out.”</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>For more NFL coverage: <a href="http://www.pro32.ap.org" type="external" /> <a href="http://www.pro32.ap.org" type="external">http://www.pro32.ap.org</a> and <a href="http://www.twitter.com/AP_NFL" type="external" /> <a href="http://www.twitter.com/AP_NFL" type="external">http://www.twitter.com/AP_NFL</a></p>
| false | 2 |
jacksonville fla ap jack del rio chuck pagano already todd bowles adam gase dirk koetter coming back ben mcadoo long gone fate several nfl coaches could determined next days maybe even next hours shaping another black monday league least six coaching changes every year since 2011 streak expected continue 2018 heres look teams considering moves including already made arizona bruce arians declined announce decision future following 2622 victory seattle mounting speculation weeks arians leave cardinals 88 end end season emotional spoke pride teams performance finale included winning third straight game seattle im going drag fair people decide arians said chicago john fox refused address future following lackluster loss minnesota left podium brief terse postgame news conference fox 1434 three seasons bears 511 latest maybe last loss chicago didnt cross midfield fourth quarter totaled 30 yards rushing bears penalized 10 times 116 yards 1 14 third fourth downs cincinnati marvin lewis really walking away 15 seasons 125 wins dont know lewis said bengals stunned baltimore 3127 well see decisions made first would ownership lewis scheduled meet owner mike brown discuss future yes want coach team lewis said asked would return brown asks back lewis replied complicated denver vance josephs team lost eight times double digits endured eightgame losing streak franchises longest 50 years 511 season joseph meet general manager john elway discuss future monday want joseph said following 2724 loss kansas city football team thats close make adjustments places football team year stopped working fun see even tonight hard year everyone kept fighting want fix detroit jim caldwell gave lions 97 consecutive winning seasons first time since 1995 might enough save job caldwell 3628 four years two playoff postseason appearances im done yet caldwell said 3511 win green bay houston bill obriens first losing record 412 four years hardly seems like fireable offense especially considering seasonending injuries dynamic quarterback deshaun watson star pass rushers jj watt whitney mercilus obrien 3133 texans reportedly doesnt get along general manager rick smith announced finale hes taking leave absence help wife battling breast cancer obrien one year remaining contract likely get chance see full season watson indianapolis pagano fired sunday two hours colts beat houston finale indianapolis missed playoffs last three years first time thats happened since sevenyear drought 1988 1994 next coach surely want know health future quarterback andrew luck oakland del rio fired sunday following 3010 loss los angeles chargers capped 610 season del rio signed fouryear contract extension last february oakland ended 13year playoff drought 12win season raiders followed successful campaign disappointing one espn reported raiders want bring back former coach jon gruden new york giants mcadoo first coach fired 2017 let go dec 4 210 start 28 games fewest giants coach since 1930 new general manager dave gettleman replaced jerry reese already started cleaning house gettleman next coach decide eli manning want play manning said like family new york giants hopefully feel way make work ___ nfl coverage httpwwwpro32aporg httpwwwtwittercomap_nfl jacksonville fla ap jack del rio chuck pagano already todd bowles adam gase dirk koetter coming back ben mcadoo long gone fate several nfl coaches could determined next days maybe even next hours shaping another black monday league least six coaching changes every year since 2011 streak expected continue 2018 heres look teams considering moves including already made arizona bruce arians declined announce decision future following 2622 victory seattle mounting speculation weeks arians leave cardinals 88 end end season emotional spoke pride teams performance finale included winning third straight game seattle im going drag fair people decide arians said chicago john fox refused address future following lackluster loss minnesota left podium brief terse postgame news conference fox 1434 three seasons bears 511 latest maybe last loss chicago didnt cross midfield fourth quarter totaled 30 yards rushing bears penalized 10 times 116 yards 1 14 third fourth downs cincinnati marvin lewis really walking away 15 seasons 125 wins dont know lewis said bengals stunned baltimore 3127 well see decisions made first would ownership lewis scheduled meet owner mike brown discuss future yes want coach team lewis said asked would return brown asks back lewis replied complicated denver vance josephs team lost eight times double digits endured eightgame losing streak franchises longest 50 years 511 season joseph meet general manager john elway discuss future monday want joseph said following 2724 loss kansas city football team thats close make adjustments places football team year stopped working fun see even tonight hard year everyone kept fighting want fix detroit jim caldwell gave lions 97 consecutive winning seasons first time since 1995 might enough save job caldwell 3628 four years two playoff postseason appearances im done yet caldwell said 3511 win green bay houston bill obriens first losing record 412 four years hardly seems like fireable offense especially considering seasonending injuries dynamic quarterback deshaun watson star pass rushers jj watt whitney mercilus obrien 3133 texans reportedly doesnt get along general manager rick smith announced finale hes taking leave absence help wife battling breast cancer obrien one year remaining contract likely get chance see full season watson indianapolis pagano fired sunday two hours colts beat houston finale indianapolis missed playoffs last three years first time thats happened since sevenyear drought 1988 1994 next coach surely want know health future quarterback andrew luck oakland del rio fired sunday following 3010 loss los angeles chargers capped 610 season del rio signed fouryear contract extension last february oakland ended 13year playoff drought 12win season raiders followed successful campaign disappointing one espn reported raiders want bring back former coach jon gruden new york giants mcadoo first coach fired 2017 let go dec 4 210 start 28 games fewest giants coach since 1930 new general manager dave gettleman replaced jerry reese already started cleaning house gettleman next coach decide eli manning want play manning said like family new york giants hopefully feel way make work ___ nfl coverage httpwwwpro32aporg httpwwwtwittercomap_nfl
| 978 |
<p>WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress has again failed to approve long-term funds for a popular program that provides health insurance for nearly 9 million low-income children, leaving each party blaming the other for Christmas-season gridlock and states scrambling to decide how to parcel out dwindling money.</p>
<p>Lawmakers scurrying to leave the Capitol for the holidays approved a short-term patch Thursday designed to keep state programs operating through March, though some Republicans said federal officials think the money would run out by early February. The money was part of a bill averting a weekend federal shutdown. Congress had approved a previous stopgap solution for the children's health program that was about to expire.</p>
<p>Democrats and Republicans agree that finances for the Children's Health Insurance Program should be renewed for five years, but they've clashed over how to pay for it. And while few think Congress would blunder into letting the money completely lapse — which no lawmaker would care to defend with elections approaching — an effort to provide long-term money collapsed as leaders punted a bunch of unresolved issues until early next year.</p>
<p>"What GOP is obsessed with: Ramming through tax cuts for the rich and powerful," tweeted Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., referring to the $1.5 trillion tax bill Congress approved this week. "What GOP completely ignores: Extending #CHIP - health care for our children."</p>
<p>"We would love to pass it. They won't let us," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said in an interview, asserting that Democrats had blocked a multiyear extension.</p>
<p>As the issue slipped into next year, the two top senators on the issue — Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, and top committee Democrat Ron Wyden of Oregon — issued a statement promising to seek a five-year extension soon.</p>
<p>"We will be vigilant to ensure this program isn't subject to repeated short-term fixes and constantly looming deadlines — families across the nation deserve better," they said.</p>
<p>With no long-term funding agreement imminent, growing numbers of states have begun edging toward depleting their federal funds and commencing steps to cope with that. According to a survey the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation conducted in November and released this month, 14 states were planning to end or phase out coverage for children, including five by the end of January.</p>
<p>A separate study by Georgetown University's Center for Children and Families estimated that without the money from Thursday's short-term extension, 25 states would run out of money by the end of January, with 1.9 million children potentially losing coverage.</p>
<p>It remained uncertain how those states and others would react to the latest infusion of federal money.</p>
<p>But Alabama recently warned it would stop registering new beneficiaries on Jan. 1 and halt the entire program a month later. Connecticut cautioned it would stop supporting families after Jan. 31, and Colorado has sent letters to recipients warning that their coverage may be canceled.</p>
<p>"We're just hoping Congress does the right thing and doesn't put politics in front of people's health, in front of children's health, in front of pregnant women's health," said Colorado Lt. Gov. Donna Lynne, a Democrat.</p>
<p>Although Congress has stepped in and provided eleventh-hour money twice in recent months, the will-they-or-won't-they drama has put pressure on state officials about how to respond. They say they need lead time to keep recipients abreast about the status of their assistance and to adjust their programs if there's a chance state allotments might change.</p>
<p>Kelly Haight, spokeswoman for North Carolina's health department, said the state's 220,000 children receiving assistance under the program "will not experience any interruption in benefits at this time" because the state had enough money for the beginning of 2018. She said officials were "considering all our options" for possibly losing federal funds.</p>
<p>Federal taxpayers paid about $16 billion for the program last year, with states adding a smaller share, according to government figures. The program is aimed at children from families with incomes too high to qualify for Medicaid, the health insurance program.</p>
<p>The House approved GOP legislation in November extending the health insurance program's federal money for five years. Most Democrats voted no, saying they opposed plans to finance the extension in part by cutting a public health program created under President Barack Obama's 2010 health care law.</p>
<p>The Senate Finance Committee easily approved its own five-year measure in October, but that bill lacked offsetting savings to pay for the extra money. One Democratic aide said top lawmakers of both parties had subsequently quietly agreed to a package of savings.</p>
<p>But as Congress rushed Thursday to pass short-term pending legislation preventing a weekend federal shutdown and leave town for the holidays, unsettled disputes over health care, immigration and other issues fell by the wayside for lawmakers to address next year.</p>
<p>Instead, the short-term bill includes $2.9 billion for states to use for children's health plus authority for federal officials to continue distributing unspent program money to states running short.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Associated Press writers Kevin Freking in Washington; Gillian Flaccus in Portland, Oregon; Kyle Potter in St. Paul, Minnesota; Jonathan Drew in Durham, North Carolina; and Susan Haigh in Hartford, Connecticut, contributed to this report.</p>
<p>WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress has again failed to approve long-term funds for a popular program that provides health insurance for nearly 9 million low-income children, leaving each party blaming the other for Christmas-season gridlock and states scrambling to decide how to parcel out dwindling money.</p>
<p>Lawmakers scurrying to leave the Capitol for the holidays approved a short-term patch Thursday designed to keep state programs operating through March, though some Republicans said federal officials think the money would run out by early February. The money was part of a bill averting a weekend federal shutdown. Congress had approved a previous stopgap solution for the children's health program that was about to expire.</p>
<p>Democrats and Republicans agree that finances for the Children's Health Insurance Program should be renewed for five years, but they've clashed over how to pay for it. And while few think Congress would blunder into letting the money completely lapse — which no lawmaker would care to defend with elections approaching — an effort to provide long-term money collapsed as leaders punted a bunch of unresolved issues until early next year.</p>
<p>"What GOP is obsessed with: Ramming through tax cuts for the rich and powerful," tweeted Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., referring to the $1.5 trillion tax bill Congress approved this week. "What GOP completely ignores: Extending #CHIP - health care for our children."</p>
<p>"We would love to pass it. They won't let us," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said in an interview, asserting that Democrats had blocked a multiyear extension.</p>
<p>As the issue slipped into next year, the two top senators on the issue — Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, and top committee Democrat Ron Wyden of Oregon — issued a statement promising to seek a five-year extension soon.</p>
<p>"We will be vigilant to ensure this program isn't subject to repeated short-term fixes and constantly looming deadlines — families across the nation deserve better," they said.</p>
<p>With no long-term funding agreement imminent, growing numbers of states have begun edging toward depleting their federal funds and commencing steps to cope with that. According to a survey the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation conducted in November and released this month, 14 states were planning to end or phase out coverage for children, including five by the end of January.</p>
<p>A separate study by Georgetown University's Center for Children and Families estimated that without the money from Thursday's short-term extension, 25 states would run out of money by the end of January, with 1.9 million children potentially losing coverage.</p>
<p>It remained uncertain how those states and others would react to the latest infusion of federal money.</p>
<p>But Alabama recently warned it would stop registering new beneficiaries on Jan. 1 and halt the entire program a month later. Connecticut cautioned it would stop supporting families after Jan. 31, and Colorado has sent letters to recipients warning that their coverage may be canceled.</p>
<p>"We're just hoping Congress does the right thing and doesn't put politics in front of people's health, in front of children's health, in front of pregnant women's health," said Colorado Lt. Gov. Donna Lynne, a Democrat.</p>
<p>Although Congress has stepped in and provided eleventh-hour money twice in recent months, the will-they-or-won't-they drama has put pressure on state officials about how to respond. They say they need lead time to keep recipients abreast about the status of their assistance and to adjust their programs if there's a chance state allotments might change.</p>
<p>Kelly Haight, spokeswoman for North Carolina's health department, said the state's 220,000 children receiving assistance under the program "will not experience any interruption in benefits at this time" because the state had enough money for the beginning of 2018. She said officials were "considering all our options" for possibly losing federal funds.</p>
<p>Federal taxpayers paid about $16 billion for the program last year, with states adding a smaller share, according to government figures. The program is aimed at children from families with incomes too high to qualify for Medicaid, the health insurance program.</p>
<p>The House approved GOP legislation in November extending the health insurance program's federal money for five years. Most Democrats voted no, saying they opposed plans to finance the extension in part by cutting a public health program created under President Barack Obama's 2010 health care law.</p>
<p>The Senate Finance Committee easily approved its own five-year measure in October, but that bill lacked offsetting savings to pay for the extra money. One Democratic aide said top lawmakers of both parties had subsequently quietly agreed to a package of savings.</p>
<p>But as Congress rushed Thursday to pass short-term pending legislation preventing a weekend federal shutdown and leave town for the holidays, unsettled disputes over health care, immigration and other issues fell by the wayside for lawmakers to address next year.</p>
<p>Instead, the short-term bill includes $2.9 billion for states to use for children's health plus authority for federal officials to continue distributing unspent program money to states running short.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Associated Press writers Kevin Freking in Washington; Gillian Flaccus in Portland, Oregon; Kyle Potter in St. Paul, Minnesota; Jonathan Drew in Durham, North Carolina; and Susan Haigh in Hartford, Connecticut, contributed to this report.</p>
| false | 2 |
washington ap congress failed approve longterm funds popular program provides health insurance nearly 9 million lowincome children leaving party blaming christmasseason gridlock states scrambling decide parcel dwindling money lawmakers scurrying leave capitol holidays approved shortterm patch thursday designed keep state programs operating march though republicans said federal officials think money would run early february money part bill averting weekend federal shutdown congress approved previous stopgap solution childrens health program expire democrats republicans agree finances childrens health insurance program renewed five years theyve clashed pay think congress would blunder letting money completely lapse lawmaker would care defend elections approaching effort provide longterm money collapsed leaders punted bunch unresolved issues early next year gop obsessed ramming tax cuts rich powerful tweeted sen jeff merkley dore referring 15 trillion tax bill congress approved week gop completely ignores extending chip health care children would love pass wont let us senate majority leader mitch mcconnell rky said interview asserting democrats blocked multiyear extension issue slipped next year two top senators issue senate finance committee chairman orrin hatch rutah top committee democrat ron wyden oregon issued statement promising seek fiveyear extension soon vigilant ensure program isnt subject repeated shortterm fixes constantly looming deadlines families across nation deserve better said longterm funding agreement imminent growing numbers states begun edging toward depleting federal funds commencing steps cope according survey nonpartisan kaiser family foundation conducted november released month 14 states planning end phase coverage children including five end january separate study georgetown universitys center children families estimated without money thursdays shortterm extension 25 states would run money end january 19 million children potentially losing coverage remained uncertain states others would react latest infusion federal money alabama recently warned would stop registering new beneficiaries jan 1 halt entire program month later connecticut cautioned would stop supporting families jan 31 colorado sent letters recipients warning coverage may canceled hoping congress right thing doesnt put politics front peoples health front childrens health front pregnant womens health said colorado lt gov donna lynne democrat although congress stepped provided eleventhhour money twice recent months willtheyorwontthey drama put pressure state officials respond say need lead time keep recipients abreast status assistance adjust programs theres chance state allotments might change kelly haight spokeswoman north carolinas health department said states 220000 children receiving assistance program experience interruption benefits time state enough money beginning 2018 said officials considering options possibly losing federal funds federal taxpayers paid 16 billion program last year states adding smaller share according government figures program aimed children families incomes high qualify medicaid health insurance program house approved gop legislation november extending health insurance programs federal money five years democrats voted saying opposed plans finance extension part cutting public health program created president barack obamas 2010 health care law senate finance committee easily approved fiveyear measure october bill lacked offsetting savings pay extra money one democratic aide said top lawmakers parties subsequently quietly agreed package savings congress rushed thursday pass shortterm pending legislation preventing weekend federal shutdown leave town holidays unsettled disputes health care immigration issues fell wayside lawmakers address next year instead shortterm bill includes 29 billion states use childrens health plus authority federal officials continue distributing unspent program money states running short ___ associated press writers kevin freking washington gillian flaccus portland oregon kyle potter st paul minnesota jonathan drew durham north carolina susan haigh hartford connecticut contributed report washington ap congress failed approve longterm funds popular program provides health insurance nearly 9 million lowincome children leaving party blaming christmasseason gridlock states scrambling decide parcel dwindling money lawmakers scurrying leave capitol holidays approved shortterm patch thursday designed keep state programs operating march though republicans said federal officials think money would run early february money part bill averting weekend federal shutdown congress approved previous stopgap solution childrens health program expire democrats republicans agree finances childrens health insurance program renewed five years theyve clashed pay think congress would blunder letting money completely lapse lawmaker would care defend elections approaching effort provide longterm money collapsed leaders punted bunch unresolved issues early next year gop obsessed ramming tax cuts rich powerful tweeted sen jeff merkley dore referring 15 trillion tax bill congress approved week gop completely ignores extending chip health care children would love pass wont let us senate majority leader mitch mcconnell rky said interview asserting democrats blocked multiyear extension issue slipped next year two top senators issue senate finance committee chairman orrin hatch rutah top committee democrat ron wyden oregon issued statement promising seek fiveyear extension soon vigilant ensure program isnt subject repeated shortterm fixes constantly looming deadlines families across nation deserve better said longterm funding agreement imminent growing numbers states begun edging toward depleting federal funds commencing steps cope according survey nonpartisan kaiser family foundation conducted november released month 14 states planning end phase coverage children including five end january separate study georgetown universitys center children families estimated without money thursdays shortterm extension 25 states would run money end january 19 million children potentially losing coverage remained uncertain states others would react latest infusion federal money alabama recently warned would stop registering new beneficiaries jan 1 halt entire program month later connecticut cautioned would stop supporting families jan 31 colorado sent letters recipients warning coverage may canceled hoping congress right thing doesnt put politics front peoples health front childrens health front pregnant womens health said colorado lt gov donna lynne democrat although congress stepped provided eleventhhour money twice recent months willtheyorwontthey drama put pressure state officials respond say need lead time keep recipients abreast status assistance adjust programs theres chance state allotments might change kelly haight spokeswoman north carolinas health department said states 220000 children receiving assistance program experience interruption benefits time state enough money beginning 2018 said officials considering options possibly losing federal funds federal taxpayers paid 16 billion program last year states adding smaller share according government figures program aimed children families incomes high qualify medicaid health insurance program house approved gop legislation november extending health insurance programs federal money five years democrats voted saying opposed plans finance extension part cutting public health program created president barack obamas 2010 health care law senate finance committee easily approved fiveyear measure october bill lacked offsetting savings pay extra money one democratic aide said top lawmakers parties subsequently quietly agreed package savings congress rushed thursday pass shortterm pending legislation preventing weekend federal shutdown leave town holidays unsettled disputes health care immigration issues fell wayside lawmakers address next year instead shortterm bill includes 29 billion states use childrens health plus authority federal officials continue distributing unspent program money states running short ___ associated press writers kevin freking washington gillian flaccus portland oregon kyle potter st paul minnesota jonathan drew durham north carolina susan haigh hartford connecticut contributed report
| 1,112 |
<p>COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Desperate for a bounce-back victory, Maryland got what it was looking for against a weary Minnesota squad stuck in the middle of an unwanted road trip.</p>
<p>Kevin Huerter scored 19 points, Anthony Cowan Jr. had a career-high 10 assists and the Terrapins used a strong second half to notch a 77-66 victory Thursday night.</p>
<p>Michal Cekovsky delivered 10 of his 17 points during an 18-2 run that gave the Terrapins a 50-34 lead against the Golden Gophers, who could not summon the energy to make a comeback.</p>
<p>"Great win for us," Maryland coach Mark Turgeon said. "We did a lot of great things. We shared the ball, we're getting better and we responded. We were mentally tough tonight, especially in the second half."</p>
<p>Coming off an agonizing defeat at Michigan in which they blew a 10-point halftime lead, the Terps (15-6, 4-4 Big Ten) shot a sizzling 68 percent in the second half and led by as many as 17 points.</p>
<p>Cowan did his part by distributing the ball and scoring all 15 of his points over the final 12 minutes, one of four starters to finish in double figures.</p>
<p>"We were just really good offensively," Turgeon said.</p>
<p>Jordan Murphy had 19 points and 14 rebounds for Minnesota, his nation-leading 19th double-double of the season. The Golden Gophers are in the middle of a stretch of three games over six days, concluding with a matchup against No. 22 Ohio State in New York on Saturday afternoon for a game that was originally scheduled to be played in Minnesota.</p>
<p>"The Big Ten is not doing us any favors. Play Thursday night at 8:30 and have to fly to New York and have to play at noon (Saturday)," coach Richard Pitino said. "Lose a home game there. It's not fair, but oh well."</p>
<p>Minnesota (14-7, 3-5) finished 23 for 64 (36 percent) from the floor and made only three baskets in the opening 10 minutes of the second half.</p>
<p>"We just weren't making shots," Pitino said. "Very, very difficult to win right now."</p>
<p>The Golden Gophers were without injured guard Amir Coffey (shoulder), who missed his fifth straight game, and senior center Reggie Lynch, who's been suspended since Jan. 5.</p>
<p>Minnesota led 32-29 before Huerter hit a 3-pointer to spark the decisive run. The 7-foot-1 Cekovsky followed with the first of his five dunks in a span of just over 5 minutes, most of them on alley-oop passes from his guards.</p>
<p>With Huerter leading the way, Maryland made 10 of its first 12 field-goal tries after halftime.</p>
<p>In the first half, the Terrapins trailed 16-10 before Huerter scored eight points in a 13-0 run. It was 29-21 before Minnesota rattled off seven straight points to end the half.</p>
<p>BIG PICTURE</p>
<p>Minnesota: The Golden Gophers can be forgiven for their recent slump, given that they're missing two of their best players. But they can't afford to feel sorry for themselves if they want to survive this stretch that features one home game from Jan. 15 to Feb. 3.</p>
<p>Maryland: The Terrapins desperately needed this victory after losing three of four. Now at .500 in the conference after beating a depleted Minnesota squad, Maryland can regroup during a stretch in which it plays just one game over the next nine days.</p>
<p>ROAD WARRIORS</p>
<p>Pitino made it clear that he wasn't happy about playing three Big Ten games in six days, the first time Minnesota has been forced to do so since 1991.</p>
<p>"We've been on the road since Sunday," he said. "We haven't been able to practice and tonight we have to fly to New York as well. Just got to make it work."</p>
<p>UP NEXT</p>
<p>Minnesota: Matchup with Ohio State is part of the third annual "Super Saturday — College Hoops &amp; Hockey" at Madison Square Garden, which also features the Golden Gophers against Michigan State on the ice.</p>
<p>Maryland: Seeks to end a three-game road skid on Tuesday night at Indiana.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>More AP college basketball at www.collegebasketball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25.</p>
<p>COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Desperate for a bounce-back victory, Maryland got what it was looking for against a weary Minnesota squad stuck in the middle of an unwanted road trip.</p>
<p>Kevin Huerter scored 19 points, Anthony Cowan Jr. had a career-high 10 assists and the Terrapins used a strong second half to notch a 77-66 victory Thursday night.</p>
<p>Michal Cekovsky delivered 10 of his 17 points during an 18-2 run that gave the Terrapins a 50-34 lead against the Golden Gophers, who could not summon the energy to make a comeback.</p>
<p>"Great win for us," Maryland coach Mark Turgeon said. "We did a lot of great things. We shared the ball, we're getting better and we responded. We were mentally tough tonight, especially in the second half."</p>
<p>Coming off an agonizing defeat at Michigan in which they blew a 10-point halftime lead, the Terps (15-6, 4-4 Big Ten) shot a sizzling 68 percent in the second half and led by as many as 17 points.</p>
<p>Cowan did his part by distributing the ball and scoring all 15 of his points over the final 12 minutes, one of four starters to finish in double figures.</p>
<p>"We were just really good offensively," Turgeon said.</p>
<p>Jordan Murphy had 19 points and 14 rebounds for Minnesota, his nation-leading 19th double-double of the season. The Golden Gophers are in the middle of a stretch of three games over six days, concluding with a matchup against No. 22 Ohio State in New York on Saturday afternoon for a game that was originally scheduled to be played in Minnesota.</p>
<p>"The Big Ten is not doing us any favors. Play Thursday night at 8:30 and have to fly to New York and have to play at noon (Saturday)," coach Richard Pitino said. "Lose a home game there. It's not fair, but oh well."</p>
<p>Minnesota (14-7, 3-5) finished 23 for 64 (36 percent) from the floor and made only three baskets in the opening 10 minutes of the second half.</p>
<p>"We just weren't making shots," Pitino said. "Very, very difficult to win right now."</p>
<p>The Golden Gophers were without injured guard Amir Coffey (shoulder), who missed his fifth straight game, and senior center Reggie Lynch, who's been suspended since Jan. 5.</p>
<p>Minnesota led 32-29 before Huerter hit a 3-pointer to spark the decisive run. The 7-foot-1 Cekovsky followed with the first of his five dunks in a span of just over 5 minutes, most of them on alley-oop passes from his guards.</p>
<p>With Huerter leading the way, Maryland made 10 of its first 12 field-goal tries after halftime.</p>
<p>In the first half, the Terrapins trailed 16-10 before Huerter scored eight points in a 13-0 run. It was 29-21 before Minnesota rattled off seven straight points to end the half.</p>
<p>BIG PICTURE</p>
<p>Minnesota: The Golden Gophers can be forgiven for their recent slump, given that they're missing two of their best players. But they can't afford to feel sorry for themselves if they want to survive this stretch that features one home game from Jan. 15 to Feb. 3.</p>
<p>Maryland: The Terrapins desperately needed this victory after losing three of four. Now at .500 in the conference after beating a depleted Minnesota squad, Maryland can regroup during a stretch in which it plays just one game over the next nine days.</p>
<p>ROAD WARRIORS</p>
<p>Pitino made it clear that he wasn't happy about playing three Big Ten games in six days, the first time Minnesota has been forced to do so since 1991.</p>
<p>"We've been on the road since Sunday," he said. "We haven't been able to practice and tonight we have to fly to New York as well. Just got to make it work."</p>
<p>UP NEXT</p>
<p>Minnesota: Matchup with Ohio State is part of the third annual "Super Saturday — College Hoops &amp; Hockey" at Madison Square Garden, which also features the Golden Gophers against Michigan State on the ice.</p>
<p>Maryland: Seeks to end a three-game road skid on Tuesday night at Indiana.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>More AP college basketball at www.collegebasketball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25.</p>
| false | 2 |
college park md ap desperate bounceback victory maryland got looking weary minnesota squad stuck middle unwanted road trip kevin huerter scored 19 points anthony cowan jr careerhigh 10 assists terrapins used strong second half notch 7766 victory thursday night michal cekovsky delivered 10 17 points 182 run gave terrapins 5034 lead golden gophers could summon energy make comeback great win us maryland coach mark turgeon said lot great things shared ball getting better responded mentally tough tonight especially second half coming agonizing defeat michigan blew 10point halftime lead terps 156 44 big ten shot sizzling 68 percent second half led many 17 points cowan part distributing ball scoring 15 points final 12 minutes one four starters finish double figures really good offensively turgeon said jordan murphy 19 points 14 rebounds minnesota nationleading 19th doubledouble season golden gophers middle stretch three games six days concluding matchup 22 ohio state new york saturday afternoon game originally scheduled played minnesota big ten us favors play thursday night 830 fly new york play noon saturday coach richard pitino said lose home game fair oh well minnesota 147 35 finished 23 64 36 percent floor made three baskets opening 10 minutes second half werent making shots pitino said difficult win right golden gophers without injured guard amir coffey shoulder missed fifth straight game senior center reggie lynch whos suspended since jan 5 minnesota led 3229 huerter hit 3pointer spark decisive run 7foot1 cekovsky followed first five dunks span 5 minutes alleyoop passes guards huerter leading way maryland made 10 first 12 fieldgoal tries halftime first half terrapins trailed 1610 huerter scored eight points 130 run 2921 minnesota rattled seven straight points end half big picture minnesota golden gophers forgiven recent slump given theyre missing two best players cant afford feel sorry want survive stretch features one home game jan 15 feb 3 maryland terrapins desperately needed victory losing three four 500 conference beating depleted minnesota squad maryland regroup stretch plays one game next nine days road warriors pitino made clear wasnt happy playing three big ten games six days first time minnesota forced since 1991 weve road since sunday said havent able practice tonight fly new york well got make work next minnesota matchup ohio state part third annual super saturday college hoops amp hockey madison square garden also features golden gophers michigan state ice maryland seeks end threegame road skid tuesday night indiana ___ ap college basketball wwwcollegebasketballaporg httpstwittercomap_top25 college park md ap desperate bounceback victory maryland got looking weary minnesota squad stuck middle unwanted road trip kevin huerter scored 19 points anthony cowan jr careerhigh 10 assists terrapins used strong second half notch 7766 victory thursday night michal cekovsky delivered 10 17 points 182 run gave terrapins 5034 lead golden gophers could summon energy make comeback great win us maryland coach mark turgeon said lot great things shared ball getting better responded mentally tough tonight especially second half coming agonizing defeat michigan blew 10point halftime lead terps 156 44 big ten shot sizzling 68 percent second half led many 17 points cowan part distributing ball scoring 15 points final 12 minutes one four starters finish double figures really good offensively turgeon said jordan murphy 19 points 14 rebounds minnesota nationleading 19th doubledouble season golden gophers middle stretch three games six days concluding matchup 22 ohio state new york saturday afternoon game originally scheduled played minnesota big ten us favors play thursday night 830 fly new york play noon saturday coach richard pitino said lose home game fair oh well minnesota 147 35 finished 23 64 36 percent floor made three baskets opening 10 minutes second half werent making shots pitino said difficult win right golden gophers without injured guard amir coffey shoulder missed fifth straight game senior center reggie lynch whos suspended since jan 5 minnesota led 3229 huerter hit 3pointer spark decisive run 7foot1 cekovsky followed first five dunks span 5 minutes alleyoop passes guards huerter leading way maryland made 10 first 12 fieldgoal tries halftime first half terrapins trailed 1610 huerter scored eight points 130 run 2921 minnesota rattled seven straight points end half big picture minnesota golden gophers forgiven recent slump given theyre missing two best players cant afford feel sorry want survive stretch features one home game jan 15 feb 3 maryland terrapins desperately needed victory losing three four 500 conference beating depleted minnesota squad maryland regroup stretch plays one game next nine days road warriors pitino made clear wasnt happy playing three big ten games six days first time minnesota forced since 1991 weve road since sunday said havent able practice tonight fly new york well got make work next minnesota matchup ohio state part third annual super saturday college hoops amp hockey madison square garden also features golden gophers michigan state ice maryland seeks end threegame road skid tuesday night indiana ___ ap college basketball wwwcollegebasketballaporg httpstwittercomap_top25
| 810 |
<p>EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Mark Dantonio and Michigan State clearly have their swagger back.</p>
<p>Long before the 18th-ranked Spartans routed 21st-ranked Washington State 42-17 in <a href="" type="internal">the Holiday Bowl</a> on Thursday night, they had already proven their dismal 2016 was an aberration. That 3-9 season was a blemish, no doubt, but Michigan State rebounded in a big way in 2017, going 10-3 with a young team that now seems poised to make a run at a Big Ten title next year.</p>
<p>"I think the biggest thing you learn as a young person or as a coach or anybody, is to get up after you've been knocked down," Dantonio said after Thursday's game, his 100th win as Michigan State's coach. "Whether you're in a corporation or whether you're in a sport, or whether you're a coach, the ability to stand up and continue to persevere when things don't look so well for you. Our football team did that. We came in with a mindset this year and came in with the goals."</p>
<p>Not much was expected of this year's Spartans. If they could return to the postseason and avoid the type of <a href="" type="internal">off-field problems</a> that damaged the program's reputation the previous offseason, that would be a step in the right direction. Anything more than that seemed like a stretch.</p>
<p>But by midseason, the Spartans were back in the Big Ten title race, and although those hopes fell apart in a blowout loss at Ohio State in November, Michigan State still has a lot to be pleased with. The Spartans won at Michigan in October, beating their biggest rival for the eighth time in 10 years. They also beat Penn State in early November, and the bowl victory was the most lopsided in program history.</p>
<p>"We can build off momentum that this game brings us, and with a lot of young guys, a lot of work to be done and a lot of potential to be reached," quarterback Brian Lewerke said.</p>
<p>The Spartans are only two years removed from their appearance in the College Football Playoff. Their terrible 2016 record raised concerns that the program might be sliding back, leaving Ohio State, Penn State and Michigan as the main title threats within the division — but now, Michigan State clearly belongs in that category again heading into 2018.</p>
<p>Lewerke still has two years of eligibility left, and junior running back LJ Scott indicated in a Fox Sports 1 postgame interview that he'd be returning to East Lansing next season. In the bowl, only one offensive starter — lineman Brian Allen — and two on defense — lineman Demetrius Cooper and linebacker Chris Frey — were seniors.</p>
<p>Now it's reasonable for the Spartans to dream big again — the way they've done for so much of Dantonio's tenure.</p>
<p>"We take ours one at a time. So first one is winning the East, and then the Big Ten championship," receiver Felton Davis said. "And then put ourselves into a position to win the national championship."</p>
<p>Michigan State's nonconference schedule next year includes a trip to Arizona State, but the Spartans will be at home for crucial Big Ten matchups with Michigan and Ohio State, and that should only boost expectations even more. After a year of doubt and discontent, Michigan State has reasserted itself.</p>
<p>"I would like to say we're back, but 2018 is around the corner. So you can't say that because you've got to start proving yourself all over again," Dantonio said. "But this was as great of a football season that I have had as a coach because of where we came from and what we were able to accomplish."</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and <a href="https://twitter.com/AP_Top25" type="external">https://twitter.com/AP_Top25</a> .</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Follow Noah Trister at <a href="http://www.Twitter.com/noahtrister" type="external">www.Twitter.com/noahtrister</a></p>
<p>EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Mark Dantonio and Michigan State clearly have their swagger back.</p>
<p>Long before the 18th-ranked Spartans routed 21st-ranked Washington State 42-17 in <a href="" type="internal">the Holiday Bowl</a> on Thursday night, they had already proven their dismal 2016 was an aberration. That 3-9 season was a blemish, no doubt, but Michigan State rebounded in a big way in 2017, going 10-3 with a young team that now seems poised to make a run at a Big Ten title next year.</p>
<p>"I think the biggest thing you learn as a young person or as a coach or anybody, is to get up after you've been knocked down," Dantonio said after Thursday's game, his 100th win as Michigan State's coach. "Whether you're in a corporation or whether you're in a sport, or whether you're a coach, the ability to stand up and continue to persevere when things don't look so well for you. Our football team did that. We came in with a mindset this year and came in with the goals."</p>
<p>Not much was expected of this year's Spartans. If they could return to the postseason and avoid the type of <a href="" type="internal">off-field problems</a> that damaged the program's reputation the previous offseason, that would be a step in the right direction. Anything more than that seemed like a stretch.</p>
<p>But by midseason, the Spartans were back in the Big Ten title race, and although those hopes fell apart in a blowout loss at Ohio State in November, Michigan State still has a lot to be pleased with. The Spartans won at Michigan in October, beating their biggest rival for the eighth time in 10 years. They also beat Penn State in early November, and the bowl victory was the most lopsided in program history.</p>
<p>"We can build off momentum that this game brings us, and with a lot of young guys, a lot of work to be done and a lot of potential to be reached," quarterback Brian Lewerke said.</p>
<p>The Spartans are only two years removed from their appearance in the College Football Playoff. Their terrible 2016 record raised concerns that the program might be sliding back, leaving Ohio State, Penn State and Michigan as the main title threats within the division — but now, Michigan State clearly belongs in that category again heading into 2018.</p>
<p>Lewerke still has two years of eligibility left, and junior running back LJ Scott indicated in a Fox Sports 1 postgame interview that he'd be returning to East Lansing next season. In the bowl, only one offensive starter — lineman Brian Allen — and two on defense — lineman Demetrius Cooper and linebacker Chris Frey — were seniors.</p>
<p>Now it's reasonable for the Spartans to dream big again — the way they've done for so much of Dantonio's tenure.</p>
<p>"We take ours one at a time. So first one is winning the East, and then the Big Ten championship," receiver Felton Davis said. "And then put ourselves into a position to win the national championship."</p>
<p>Michigan State's nonconference schedule next year includes a trip to Arizona State, but the Spartans will be at home for crucial Big Ten matchups with Michigan and Ohio State, and that should only boost expectations even more. After a year of doubt and discontent, Michigan State has reasserted itself.</p>
<p>"I would like to say we're back, but 2018 is around the corner. So you can't say that because you've got to start proving yourself all over again," Dantonio said. "But this was as great of a football season that I have had as a coach because of where we came from and what we were able to accomplish."</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and <a href="https://twitter.com/AP_Top25" type="external">https://twitter.com/AP_Top25</a> .</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Follow Noah Trister at <a href="http://www.Twitter.com/noahtrister" type="external">www.Twitter.com/noahtrister</a></p>
| false | 2 |
east lansing mich ap mark dantonio michigan state clearly swagger back long 18thranked spartans routed 21stranked washington state 4217 holiday bowl thursday night already proven dismal 2016 aberration 39 season blemish doubt michigan state rebounded big way 2017 going 103 young team seems poised make run big ten title next year think biggest thing learn young person coach anybody get youve knocked dantonio said thursdays game 100th win michigan states coach whether youre corporation whether youre sport whether youre coach ability stand continue persevere things dont look well football team came mindset year came goals much expected years spartans could return postseason avoid type offfield problems damaged programs reputation previous offseason would step right direction anything seemed like stretch midseason spartans back big ten title race although hopes fell apart blowout loss ohio state november michigan state still lot pleased spartans michigan october beating biggest rival eighth time 10 years also beat penn state early november bowl victory lopsided program history build momentum game brings us lot young guys lot work done lot potential reached quarterback brian lewerke said spartans two years removed appearance college football playoff terrible 2016 record raised concerns program might sliding back leaving ohio state penn state michigan main title threats within division michigan state clearly belongs category heading 2018 lewerke still two years eligibility left junior running back lj scott indicated fox sports 1 postgame interview hed returning east lansing next season bowl one offensive starter lineman brian allen two defense lineman demetrius cooper linebacker chris frey seniors reasonable spartans dream big way theyve done much dantonios tenure take one time first one winning east big ten championship receiver felton davis said put position win national championship michigan states nonconference schedule next year includes trip arizona state spartans home crucial big ten matchups michigan ohio state boost expectations even year doubt discontent michigan state reasserted would like say back 2018 around corner cant say youve got start proving dantonio said great football season coach came able accomplish ___ ap college football wwwcollegefootballaporg httpstwittercomap_top25 ___ follow noah trister wwwtwittercomnoahtrister east lansing mich ap mark dantonio michigan state clearly swagger back long 18thranked spartans routed 21stranked washington state 4217 holiday bowl thursday night already proven dismal 2016 aberration 39 season blemish doubt michigan state rebounded big way 2017 going 103 young team seems poised make run big ten title next year think biggest thing learn young person coach anybody get youve knocked dantonio said thursdays game 100th win michigan states coach whether youre corporation whether youre sport whether youre coach ability stand continue persevere things dont look well football team came mindset year came goals much expected years spartans could return postseason avoid type offfield problems damaged programs reputation previous offseason would step right direction anything seemed like stretch midseason spartans back big ten title race although hopes fell apart blowout loss ohio state november michigan state still lot pleased spartans michigan october beating biggest rival eighth time 10 years also beat penn state early november bowl victory lopsided program history build momentum game brings us lot young guys lot work done lot potential reached quarterback brian lewerke said spartans two years removed appearance college football playoff terrible 2016 record raised concerns program might sliding back leaving ohio state penn state michigan main title threats within division michigan state clearly belongs category heading 2018 lewerke still two years eligibility left junior running back lj scott indicated fox sports 1 postgame interview hed returning east lansing next season bowl one offensive starter lineman brian allen two defense lineman demetrius cooper linebacker chris frey seniors reasonable spartans dream big way theyve done much dantonios tenure take one time first one winning east big ten championship receiver felton davis said put position win national championship michigan states nonconference schedule next year includes trip arizona state spartans home crucial big ten matchups michigan ohio state boost expectations even year doubt discontent michigan state reasserted would like say back 2018 around corner cant say youve got start proving dantonio said great football season coach came able accomplish ___ ap college football wwwcollegefootballaporg httpstwittercomap_top25 ___ follow noah trister wwwtwittercomnoahtrister
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<p>SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — An Aeromexico passenger jet was ordered to abort a landing at San Francisco International Airport as it descended toward a runway occupied by another commercial jet, the third close call at the busy airport in six months, officials said Thursday.</p>
<p>Aeromexico Flight 668 from Mexico City had been cleared to land Tuesday and it was about a mile (1.6 kilometers) from the airport when controllers saw the aircraft was lined up for a runway occupied by a Virgin America Airbus A320 jet waiting to take off for Kona, Hawaii, Ian Gregor, Federal Aviation Administration spokesman, said in an email.</p>
<p>The tower ordered the Aeromexico Boeing 737 jet to circle around.</p>
<p>"Aeromexico 668 go around!" an air traffic controller is heard saying on audio recordings, the Mercury News in San Jose, California, reported.</p>
<p>The pilot quickly acknowledges the request to abort the landing: "Aeromexico 668 going around."</p>
<p>The 11:45 a.m. event happened after the Aeromexico jet was cleared on Runway 28R the airport, which is parallel to Runway 28L. The R stands for right and the L stands for left, Gregor said.</p>
<p>Crew on the Aeromexico jet were "cleared to land on Runway 28R, and correctly read back that clearance. When the plane was about a mile from the airport, air traffic controllers noticed the aircraft was lined up for Runway 28L and instructed the crew to execute a missed approach," Gregor said.</p>
<p>The plane later safely landed, Gregor said. He said the FAA has opened an investigation.</p>
<p>Pilots and safety experts said air traffic controllers did a good job when they quickly redirected the Aeromexico jet at an airport that many pilots say is notoriously difficult to land at. The runways are close together and unlike at other major airports, planes landing and taking off often share the same runways.</p>
<p>"I would not say there's cause for alarm," said retired airline captain and aviation safety expert John Cox. "The tower, air traffic control, did a very good job, they sent the Aeromexico flight around."</p>
<p>Longtime American Airlines pilot Chris Manno said "it seems a pilot got left and right wrong in their head," Manno said. "The good news is the controller recognized it and the system worked."</p>
<p>An Air Canada flight crew landed in October on one of the airport's runways despite repeated warnings to abort because a controller believed another airplane had not left the area yet.</p>
<p>In July, an Air Canada jet with 140 people on board nearly landed on one of the airport's taxiways where four planes were waiting to take off, prompting the FAA to issue new rules for nighttime landings and control tower staffing at the airport.</p>
<p>"The third incident in six months, it does raise an eyebrow," said Doug Moss, an aviation consultant and airline pilot. "All three incidents were caused by different reasons, but in general the San Francisco airport is somewhat problematic, in that there's a lot of traffic in and out of there, and there's not enough runways, the runways they do have are not separated laterally enough."</p>
<p>He said officials have pushed for years to expand the airport, but there is significant community opposition.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Associated Press writer Juliet Williams also contributed to this report.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>This story has been corrected to show that the airport officials confirmed the incident Thursday, not Wednesday.</p>
<p>SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — An Aeromexico passenger jet was ordered to abort a landing at San Francisco International Airport as it descended toward a runway occupied by another commercial jet, the third close call at the busy airport in six months, officials said Thursday.</p>
<p>Aeromexico Flight 668 from Mexico City had been cleared to land Tuesday and it was about a mile (1.6 kilometers) from the airport when controllers saw the aircraft was lined up for a runway occupied by a Virgin America Airbus A320 jet waiting to take off for Kona, Hawaii, Ian Gregor, Federal Aviation Administration spokesman, said in an email.</p>
<p>The tower ordered the Aeromexico Boeing 737 jet to circle around.</p>
<p>"Aeromexico 668 go around!" an air traffic controller is heard saying on audio recordings, the Mercury News in San Jose, California, reported.</p>
<p>The pilot quickly acknowledges the request to abort the landing: "Aeromexico 668 going around."</p>
<p>The 11:45 a.m. event happened after the Aeromexico jet was cleared on Runway 28R the airport, which is parallel to Runway 28L. The R stands for right and the L stands for left, Gregor said.</p>
<p>Crew on the Aeromexico jet were "cleared to land on Runway 28R, and correctly read back that clearance. When the plane was about a mile from the airport, air traffic controllers noticed the aircraft was lined up for Runway 28L and instructed the crew to execute a missed approach," Gregor said.</p>
<p>The plane later safely landed, Gregor said. He said the FAA has opened an investigation.</p>
<p>Pilots and safety experts said air traffic controllers did a good job when they quickly redirected the Aeromexico jet at an airport that many pilots say is notoriously difficult to land at. The runways are close together and unlike at other major airports, planes landing and taking off often share the same runways.</p>
<p>"I would not say there's cause for alarm," said retired airline captain and aviation safety expert John Cox. "The tower, air traffic control, did a very good job, they sent the Aeromexico flight around."</p>
<p>Longtime American Airlines pilot Chris Manno said "it seems a pilot got left and right wrong in their head," Manno said. "The good news is the controller recognized it and the system worked."</p>
<p>An Air Canada flight crew landed in October on one of the airport's runways despite repeated warnings to abort because a controller believed another airplane had not left the area yet.</p>
<p>In July, an Air Canada jet with 140 people on board nearly landed on one of the airport's taxiways where four planes were waiting to take off, prompting the FAA to issue new rules for nighttime landings and control tower staffing at the airport.</p>
<p>"The third incident in six months, it does raise an eyebrow," said Doug Moss, an aviation consultant and airline pilot. "All three incidents were caused by different reasons, but in general the San Francisco airport is somewhat problematic, in that there's a lot of traffic in and out of there, and there's not enough runways, the runways they do have are not separated laterally enough."</p>
<p>He said officials have pushed for years to expand the airport, but there is significant community opposition.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Associated Press writer Juliet Williams also contributed to this report.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>This story has been corrected to show that the airport officials confirmed the incident Thursday, not Wednesday.</p>
| false | 2 |
san francisco ap aeromexico passenger jet ordered abort landing san francisco international airport descended toward runway occupied another commercial jet third close call busy airport six months officials said thursday aeromexico flight 668 mexico city cleared land tuesday mile 16 kilometers airport controllers saw aircraft lined runway occupied virgin america airbus a320 jet waiting take kona hawaii ian gregor federal aviation administration spokesman said email tower ordered aeromexico boeing 737 jet circle around aeromexico 668 go around air traffic controller heard saying audio recordings mercury news san jose california reported pilot quickly acknowledges request abort landing aeromexico 668 going around 1145 event happened aeromexico jet cleared runway 28r airport parallel runway 28l r stands right l stands left gregor said crew aeromexico jet cleared land runway 28r correctly read back clearance plane mile airport air traffic controllers noticed aircraft lined runway 28l instructed crew execute missed approach gregor said plane later safely landed gregor said said faa opened investigation pilots safety experts said air traffic controllers good job quickly redirected aeromexico jet airport many pilots say notoriously difficult land runways close together unlike major airports planes landing taking often share runways would say theres cause alarm said retired airline captain aviation safety expert john cox tower air traffic control good job sent aeromexico flight around longtime american airlines pilot chris manno said seems pilot got left right wrong head manno said good news controller recognized system worked air canada flight crew landed october one airports runways despite repeated warnings abort controller believed another airplane left area yet july air canada jet 140 people board nearly landed one airports taxiways four planes waiting take prompting faa issue new rules nighttime landings control tower staffing airport third incident six months raise eyebrow said doug moss aviation consultant airline pilot three incidents caused different reasons general san francisco airport somewhat problematic theres lot traffic theres enough runways runways separated laterally enough said officials pushed years expand airport significant community opposition ___ associated press writer juliet williams also contributed report ___ story corrected show airport officials confirmed incident thursday wednesday san francisco ap aeromexico passenger jet ordered abort landing san francisco international airport descended toward runway occupied another commercial jet third close call busy airport six months officials said thursday aeromexico flight 668 mexico city cleared land tuesday mile 16 kilometers airport controllers saw aircraft lined runway occupied virgin america airbus a320 jet waiting take kona hawaii ian gregor federal aviation administration spokesman said email tower ordered aeromexico boeing 737 jet circle around aeromexico 668 go around air traffic controller heard saying audio recordings mercury news san jose california reported pilot quickly acknowledges request abort landing aeromexico 668 going around 1145 event happened aeromexico jet cleared runway 28r airport parallel runway 28l r stands right l stands left gregor said crew aeromexico jet cleared land runway 28r correctly read back clearance plane mile airport air traffic controllers noticed aircraft lined runway 28l instructed crew execute missed approach gregor said plane later safely landed gregor said said faa opened investigation pilots safety experts said air traffic controllers good job quickly redirected aeromexico jet airport many pilots say notoriously difficult land runways close together unlike major airports planes landing taking often share runways would say theres cause alarm said retired airline captain aviation safety expert john cox tower air traffic control good job sent aeromexico flight around longtime american airlines pilot chris manno said seems pilot got left right wrong head manno said good news controller recognized system worked air canada flight crew landed october one airports runways despite repeated warnings abort controller believed another airplane left area yet july air canada jet 140 people board nearly landed one airports taxiways four planes waiting take prompting faa issue new rules nighttime landings control tower staffing airport third incident six months raise eyebrow said doug moss aviation consultant airline pilot three incidents caused different reasons general san francisco airport somewhat problematic theres lot traffic theres enough runways runways separated laterally enough said officials pushed years expand airport significant community opposition ___ associated press writer juliet williams also contributed report ___ story corrected show airport officials confirmed incident thursday wednesday
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<p />
<p>New Mexico state historian Rick Hendricks says it works for him.</p>
<p>Hendricks says he admires the courage of previous generations of New Mexicans every week as he drives I-25 south to his permanent home in Las Cruces. That route parallels El Camino Real de Tierro Adentro, a trail that explorers, traders and settlers traveled from Mexico City to Santa Fe from 1598 to 1881.</p>
<p>"I'm tracing the Camino Real every week," he says. "I've been out on the trail itself, of course. It's a marvel to me that people would undertake those journeys on foot, wagon and horseback. You would be leaving home, knowing you would be gone for more than a year and knowing that you may not survive and still you would undertake that journey, leaving your family in Santa Fe or Mexico City. I think about it all the time."</p>
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<p>Those travelers faced many challenges along their journey, including the sand dunes near the ghost town of San Marcial.</p>
<p>They had to unhitch their wagons and drag them up the sand dunes and then reattach their animals before they could continue. "And then they had to repeat over and over again. That kind of human endurance is unfathomable for the modern world."</p>
<p>He says it also amazes him to think that every surviving artifact from a silk handkerchief to a china sugar bowl had to travel like that to get to Santa Fe. "All culture traveled that way. People moved their technology, their ideas and their material goods along that human highway."</p>
<p>Hendricks is the keynote speaker at "All Trails Lead to Santa Fe," a conference of three trail associations that represent the Camino Real, the Santa Fe Trail and the Old Spanish Trail. All are designated National Historic Trails.</p>
<p>The Santa Fe Trail, active from 1821 and 1880, was 1,203 miles long, linking Missouri and the eastern United States to the New Mexico territory after Mexican independence from Spain in 1821.</p>
<p>The Old Spanish Trail is more than 2,700 miles of mule pack train trails connecting New Mexico to California from 1829 until 1848. The conference, open to the public with admission, serves up trail lore with field trips, dramatic historic performances, lectures and interactive panel presentations.</p>
<p>Hendricks says Santa Fe connected all the trails: "In the Southwest, travelers over its historic trails enjoyed all the advantages that the trails offered for moving through a formidable landscape."</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>History comes to life</p>
<p>Actress and singer VanAnn Moore of Valencia County explains her excitement when she finds a rut along N.M. 47 that bears evidence of travelers along the Camino Real: "You cross the trail all the time. I can be a rut nut, but it's the human lives that transversed those trails that matter. Nothing is more fascinating to me than the truth. Nothing is more fascinating to me than real life."</p>
<p>Singer and actor VanAnn Moore will present her one-woman show about the life of trail pioneer Mamie Bernard Aguirre, who lived from 1844 to 1906, at the "All Trails Lead to Santa Fe" conference Sept. 17-20. Moore's performance is Friday in the New Mexico History Museum. Her 6 p.m. performance will be broadcast in the lobby, available for visitors to watch. (Courtesy of VanAnn Moore)</p>
<p>Moore, who has created performances about many historic women, created a show about Mamie Bernard Aguirre, who lived from 1844 to 1906. Mamie traveled the Santa Fe Trail from her home in Missouri at least five times and down the Camino Real to be with her husband, Epifanio Aguirre, 1834-1870. Aguirre was a Mexican merchant, who knew Mamie's father, a Methodist minister and businessman.</p>
<p>Although she spoke no Spanish and he knew little English, they married in 1862 during the Civil War and had three sons.</p>
<p>After she had her first child, the couple went to Las Cruces where Aguirre's extended family lived and he operated his trading company, Moore says. Epifanio died during a stagecoach attack as the couple traveled to Tucson in 1870.</p>
<p>"She was determined to learn Spanish and dovetailed her life into his. She was a very young widow and became an independent woman." Aguirre took her boys back to her family for a while after Epifanio died. Travel was so dangerous that she traveled to California and took a ship to San Francisco and then rode the train to Missouri.</p>
<p>But soon she and her family came back to New Mexico and Arizona. She became a teacher in some of the first public schools in Arizona and later was the first woman professor at the University of Arizona, teaching Spanish language and history, before she died in a train accident in California in 1906.</p>
<p>Moore says she's developed her performance by delving into Annette Gray's biography of Aguirre, "Journey of the Heart," original materials and interviewing Aguirre's relatives, who still live in the Tucson area. They have a silver tea service that Epifanio gave Mamie as a wedding present. Mamie's stories were preserved in her journals of the trails.</p>
<p>"Mamie was cheerful, curious and courageous," Moore says. "She had the courage to live her life fully."</p>
<p>A National Historic Trail marker of the El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro on North Edith marks the route from Santa Fe to Mexico City as it winds through Albuquerque. (Jim Thompson/Albuquerque Journal)</p>
<p>Field trips</p>
<p>Other trail enthusiasts will bring the trails to life on field trips that trace the trails around and through Santa Fe on full-day tours Thursday and half-day field trips scheduled throughout the rest of the conference.</p>
<p>Hal Jackson of Placitas, an author and retired geography professor, will lead tours of the Santa Fe Trail. He and his wife, Beverly Jackson, have traveled the trail that explorer and trader, Josiah Gregg, made famous in his 1843 book, "Commerce of the Prairies."</p>
<p>Highlights of the field trip include stopping at the Civil War sites in Apache Canyon and Glorieta and the early trading village San Miguel del Vado. "For some of us, just being able to stand in a spot where something important happened gives us a sense of connection to it."</p>
<p>Jack Pritchett, who lives in California and is an Old Spanish Trail preservationist, will speak after Hendricks on Sept. 18. The Old Spanish Trail was a pack mule trail that had many branches and moved woolen goods and eventually families to California via Arizona, Colorado and Utah. The traders returned to New Mexico with livestock.</p>
<p>Pritchett says when he finds the tracks of the trail, he feels like he travels in time: "That was 170 years ago, but I can still look around and not see anything of the 21st century. I am able to vicariously experience what the Mexican traders experienced. I want to protect that so others in the future can go back there and see and experience that, too."</p>
<p />
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new mexico state historian rick hendricks says works hendricks says admires courage previous generations new mexicans every week drives i25 south permanent home las cruces route parallels el camino real de tierro adentro trail explorers traders settlers traveled mexico city santa fe 1598 1881 im tracing camino real every week says ive trail course marvel people would undertake journeys foot wagon horseback would leaving home knowing would gone year knowing may survive still would undertake journey leaving family santa fe mexico city think time advertisement travelers faced many challenges along journey including sand dunes near ghost town san marcial unhitch wagons drag sand dunes reattach animals could continue repeat kind human endurance unfathomable modern world says also amazes think every surviving artifact silk handkerchief china sugar bowl travel like get santa fe culture traveled way people moved technology ideas material goods along human highway hendricks keynote speaker trails lead santa fe conference three trail associations represent camino real santa fe trail old spanish trail designated national historic trails santa fe trail active 1821 1880 1203 miles long linking missouri eastern united states new mexico territory mexican independence spain 1821 old spanish trail 2700 miles mule pack train trails connecting new mexico california 1829 1848 conference open public admission serves trail lore field trips dramatic historic performances lectures interactive panel presentations hendricks says santa fe connected trails southwest travelers historic trails enjoyed advantages trails offered moving formidable landscape advertisement history comes life actress singer vanann moore valencia county explains excitement finds rut along nm 47 bears evidence travelers along camino real cross trail time rut nut human lives transversed trails matter nothing fascinating truth nothing fascinating real life singer actor vanann moore present onewoman show life trail pioneer mamie bernard aguirre lived 1844 1906 trails lead santa fe conference sept 1720 moores performance friday new mexico history museum 6 pm performance broadcast lobby available visitors watch courtesy vanann moore moore created performances many historic women created show mamie bernard aguirre lived 1844 1906 mamie traveled santa fe trail home missouri least five times camino real husband epifanio aguirre 18341870 aguirre mexican merchant knew mamies father methodist minister businessman although spoke spanish knew little english married 1862 civil war three sons first child couple went las cruces aguirres extended family lived operated trading company moore says epifanio died stagecoach attack couple traveled tucson 1870 determined learn spanish dovetailed life young widow became independent woman aguirre took boys back family epifanio died travel dangerous traveled california took ship san francisco rode train missouri soon family came back new mexico arizona became teacher first public schools arizona later first woman professor university arizona teaching spanish language history died train accident california 1906 moore says shes developed performance delving annette grays biography aguirre journey heart original materials interviewing aguirres relatives still live tucson area silver tea service epifanio gave mamie wedding present mamies stories preserved journals trails mamie cheerful curious courageous moore says courage live life fully national historic trail marker el camino real de tierra adentro north edith marks route santa fe mexico city winds albuquerque jim thompsonalbuquerque journal field trips trail enthusiasts bring trails life field trips trace trails around santa fe fullday tours thursday halfday field trips scheduled throughout rest conference hal jackson placitas author retired geography professor lead tours santa fe trail wife beverly jackson traveled trail explorer trader josiah gregg made famous 1843 book commerce prairies highlights field trip include stopping civil war sites apache canyon glorieta early trading village san miguel del vado us able stand spot something important happened gives us sense connection jack pritchett lives california old spanish trail preservationist speak hendricks sept 18 old spanish trail pack mule trail many branches moved woolen goods eventually families california via arizona colorado utah traders returned new mexico livestock pritchett says finds tracks trail feels like travels time 170 years ago still look around see anything 21st century able vicariously experience mexican traders experienced want protect others future go back see experience
| 663 |
<p>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — December is summer in Antarctica, but on the mountaintops where a team of scientists is studying plants from one of the warmest periods in Earth's history, daily high temperatures average about minus-30 degrees.</p>
<p>You read that correctly. Scientists, many from the University of Kansas, are collecting evidence of warm weather plants in a climate so cold it wouldn't register on a household thermometer.</p>
<p>That's because Antarctica holds some of the world's largest deposits of plant fossils from the Permian and Triassic period. Temperatures during the Permian were far colder than during the Triassic, so plants that adapted through the mass extinction in between could hold clues to how life survives climate change, said Carla Harper, a National Science Foundation postdoctoral fellow in paleobotany at KU.</p>
<p>"That's exactly what we're going through today," she said. "If we can see how those plants adapted, it might give us clues to how plants on earth, in general, adapt to climate change."</p>
<p><a href="http://cjonline.com/news/local/2017-12-21/kansas-fossil-hunters-brave-antarctica-rare-plants" type="external">The Topeka Capital-Journal reports</a> that Antarctica may sound like a miserable place to search for rocks, but Harper, who collected fossils in Antarctica on a similar trip in 2014 and stayed in Kansas this year, said she disagrees. She described the trip as "a blast" and "a dream."</p>
<p>"I loved it and I wish I could go back," she said, noting that the journey does take some adjusting. "It's obviously winter here, but then you get to New Zealand where it's summertime and you're wearing shorts. Then it's off to Antarctica where it's worse than full-blown winter. It's a lot."</p>
<p>At the team's Shackleton base camp, temperatures are a more tolerable 10 to 20 degrees, Harper said. It's no warmer than a balmy 35 degrees at McMurdo Station, where helicopters and gear are stored.</p>
<p>"It's considered warmer," Harper said of the Shackleton camp, built in a valley.</p>
<p>The team has been in Antarctica since November and will return in mid-January. Led by Rudolph "Rudy" Serbet, the collections manager in paleobotany at KU's Biodiversity Institute and Natural History Museum, the group includes researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and was funded with a National Science Foundation grant. They've collected more than 3,000 pounds of material to be analyzed this spring, Harper said. Many of those fossils could be new species.</p>
<p>"(Serbet) was super excited, because at one location they found lots of plants they've never seen before," she said. "It's pretty phenomenal. That's one of the best things about our job — you can make new discoveries."</p>
<p>Though the team has collected a lot of samples, finding fossils in the coveted Permian/Triassic border is difficult because such rocks are rare in most parts of the world, she said, but Antarctic deposits, especially around the receding Shackleton Glacier, remain undisturbed. The continent also offers better compression fossils, which show the outline of the plant and a type of fossilized peat, like fossilized wood, which gives scientists an understanding of the plant's structure.</p>
<p>The samples will likely arrive at KU, the country's largest repository for Antarctica plant fossils, sometime in April.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Information from: The Topeka (Kan.) Capital-Journal, <a href="http://www.cjonline.com" type="external">http://www.cjonline.com</a></p>
<p>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — December is summer in Antarctica, but on the mountaintops where a team of scientists is studying plants from one of the warmest periods in Earth's history, daily high temperatures average about minus-30 degrees.</p>
<p>You read that correctly. Scientists, many from the University of Kansas, are collecting evidence of warm weather plants in a climate so cold it wouldn't register on a household thermometer.</p>
<p>That's because Antarctica holds some of the world's largest deposits of plant fossils from the Permian and Triassic period. Temperatures during the Permian were far colder than during the Triassic, so plants that adapted through the mass extinction in between could hold clues to how life survives climate change, said Carla Harper, a National Science Foundation postdoctoral fellow in paleobotany at KU.</p>
<p>"That's exactly what we're going through today," she said. "If we can see how those plants adapted, it might give us clues to how plants on earth, in general, adapt to climate change."</p>
<p><a href="http://cjonline.com/news/local/2017-12-21/kansas-fossil-hunters-brave-antarctica-rare-plants" type="external">The Topeka Capital-Journal reports</a> that Antarctica may sound like a miserable place to search for rocks, but Harper, who collected fossils in Antarctica on a similar trip in 2014 and stayed in Kansas this year, said she disagrees. She described the trip as "a blast" and "a dream."</p>
<p>"I loved it and I wish I could go back," she said, noting that the journey does take some adjusting. "It's obviously winter here, but then you get to New Zealand where it's summertime and you're wearing shorts. Then it's off to Antarctica where it's worse than full-blown winter. It's a lot."</p>
<p>At the team's Shackleton base camp, temperatures are a more tolerable 10 to 20 degrees, Harper said. It's no warmer than a balmy 35 degrees at McMurdo Station, where helicopters and gear are stored.</p>
<p>"It's considered warmer," Harper said of the Shackleton camp, built in a valley.</p>
<p>The team has been in Antarctica since November and will return in mid-January. Led by Rudolph "Rudy" Serbet, the collections manager in paleobotany at KU's Biodiversity Institute and Natural History Museum, the group includes researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and was funded with a National Science Foundation grant. They've collected more than 3,000 pounds of material to be analyzed this spring, Harper said. Many of those fossils could be new species.</p>
<p>"(Serbet) was super excited, because at one location they found lots of plants they've never seen before," she said. "It's pretty phenomenal. That's one of the best things about our job — you can make new discoveries."</p>
<p>Though the team has collected a lot of samples, finding fossils in the coveted Permian/Triassic border is difficult because such rocks are rare in most parts of the world, she said, but Antarctic deposits, especially around the receding Shackleton Glacier, remain undisturbed. The continent also offers better compression fossils, which show the outline of the plant and a type of fossilized peat, like fossilized wood, which gives scientists an understanding of the plant's structure.</p>
<p>The samples will likely arrive at KU, the country's largest repository for Antarctica plant fossils, sometime in April.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Information from: The Topeka (Kan.) Capital-Journal, <a href="http://www.cjonline.com" type="external">http://www.cjonline.com</a></p>
| false | 2 |
topeka kan ap december summer antarctica mountaintops team scientists studying plants one warmest periods earths history daily high temperatures average minus30 degrees read correctly scientists many university kansas collecting evidence warm weather plants climate cold wouldnt register household thermometer thats antarctica holds worlds largest deposits plant fossils permian triassic period temperatures permian far colder triassic plants adapted mass extinction could hold clues life survives climate change said carla harper national science foundation postdoctoral fellow paleobotany ku thats exactly going today said see plants adapted might give us clues plants earth general adapt climate change topeka capitaljournal reports antarctica may sound like miserable place search rocks harper collected fossils antarctica similar trip 2014 stayed kansas year said disagrees described trip blast dream loved wish could go back said noting journey take adjusting obviously winter get new zealand summertime youre wearing shorts antarctica worse fullblown winter lot teams shackleton base camp temperatures tolerable 10 20 degrees harper said warmer balmy 35 degrees mcmurdo station helicopters gear stored considered warmer harper said shackleton camp built valley team antarctica since november return midjanuary led rudolph rudy serbet collections manager paleobotany kus biodiversity institute natural history museum group includes researchers university wisconsinmilwaukee funded national science foundation grant theyve collected 3000 pounds material analyzed spring harper said many fossils could new species serbet super excited one location found lots plants theyve never seen said pretty phenomenal thats one best things job make new discoveries though team collected lot samples finding fossils coveted permiantriassic border difficult rocks rare parts world said antarctic deposits especially around receding shackleton glacier remain undisturbed continent also offers better compression fossils show outline plant type fossilized peat like fossilized wood gives scientists understanding plants structure samples likely arrive ku countrys largest repository antarctica plant fossils sometime april ___ information topeka kan capitaljournal httpwwwcjonlinecom topeka kan ap december summer antarctica mountaintops team scientists studying plants one warmest periods earths history daily high temperatures average minus30 degrees read correctly scientists many university kansas collecting evidence warm weather plants climate cold wouldnt register household thermometer thats antarctica holds worlds largest deposits plant fossils permian triassic period temperatures permian far colder triassic plants adapted mass extinction could hold clues life survives climate change said carla harper national science foundation postdoctoral fellow paleobotany ku thats exactly going today said see plants adapted might give us clues plants earth general adapt climate change topeka capitaljournal reports antarctica may sound like miserable place search rocks harper collected fossils antarctica similar trip 2014 stayed kansas year said disagrees described trip blast dream loved wish could go back said noting journey take adjusting obviously winter get new zealand summertime youre wearing shorts antarctica worse fullblown winter lot teams shackleton base camp temperatures tolerable 10 20 degrees harper said warmer balmy 35 degrees mcmurdo station helicopters gear stored considered warmer harper said shackleton camp built valley team antarctica since november return midjanuary led rudolph rudy serbet collections manager paleobotany kus biodiversity institute natural history museum group includes researchers university wisconsinmilwaukee funded national science foundation grant theyve collected 3000 pounds material analyzed spring harper said many fossils could new species serbet super excited one location found lots plants theyve never seen said pretty phenomenal thats one best things job make new discoveries though team collected lot samples finding fossils coveted permiantriassic border difficult rocks rare parts world said antarctic deposits especially around receding shackleton glacier remain undisturbed continent also offers better compression fossils show outline plant type fossilized peat like fossilized wood gives scientists understanding plants structure samples likely arrive ku countrys largest repository antarctica plant fossils sometime april ___ information topeka kan capitaljournal httpwwwcjonlinecom
| 602 |
<p>WASHINGTON (AP) — You wouldn't know it from President Donald Trump's rhetoric, but the tax overhaul coming into effect is heavily tilted to the rich. It also leaves "Obamacare" in place, despite his assertion that the tax plan repeals the health care law. Nothing about the plan provides the fuel to achieve economic growth at the levels he's predicted.</p>
<p>Trump's penchant for exaggeration and sometimes pure fiction has clouded the realities of the overhaul as it has shaped up over months. As for Democrats, you wouldn't know to hear them talk that middle-class people are getting a tax cut out of the deal, too.</p>
<p>A look at remarks made Wednesday and earlier about the tax plan Trump will shortly sign into law.</p>
<p>TRUMP: "It's the largest tax cut in the history of our country." — remarks Wednesday.</p>
<p>THE FACTS: It isn't. For months Trump has refused to recognize larger tax cuts in history, of which there have been many, or to grant that other presidents have enacted big tax cuts since Ronald Reagan in the 1980s.</p>
<p>An October analysis by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget found that it would be the eighth biggest since 1918. As a percentage of the total economy, Reagan's 1981 cut is the biggest followed by the 1945 rollback of taxes that financed World War II. Trump's plan is also smaller than cuts in 1948, 1964 and 1921, and probably in other years.</p>
<p>Valued at $1.5 trillion over 10 years, the plan is indeed large and expensive. But it's much smaller than originally intended. Back in the spring, it was shaping up as a $5.5 trillion package. Even then it would have only been the third largest since 1940 as a share of gross domestic product.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE: "You're delivering on that middle-class miracle." — to Trump at a Cabinet meeting Wednesday.</p>
<p>THE FACTS: Modest doesn't make for a miracle. Pence's praise to the boss reflects Trump's assertion that "it's a tax bill for the middle class," as he put it earlier and many times, but average people are not the prime beneficiaries of the tax cuts. Aside from businesses, rich people get the most.</p>
<p>The nonpartisan Tax Policy Center estimates the biggest benefit of the new law will go to households making $308,000 to $733,000. Households making over that should get a tax cut worth 3.4 percent of their after-tax income. For the richest 0.1 percent (making over $3.4 million), the tax cut should be worth 2.7 percent of their after-tax income. For middle-income earners: 1.6 percent, the center estimates.</p>
<p>Moreover, only high-income people would get a meaningful tax cut after 2025, when nearly all of the plan's individual income tax provisions are due to expire.</p>
<p>Republicans argue that the middle class will also see benefits from the business tax cuts, in the form of more jobs and higher wages.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>DEMOCRATIC SEN. CHARLES SCHUMER: "Their bill increases taxes on lots of middle-class people. ... According to the Tax Policy Center, the top one percent of earners in our country gets 83 percent of the benefits." — remarks Tuesday.</p>
<p>THE FACTS: The tax cuts are not nearly as lopsided as many Democrats are portraying them. Almost all of the middle class would initially pay less in taxes.</p>
<p>For the next eight years, the vast majority of middle-class taxpayers — those earning between $49,000 and $86,000 — will receive a tax cut, albeit a small one. In 2018, nine-tenths of the middle class will get a cut, according to the Tax Policy Center. In 2025, 87 percent will. The tax cut won't be very big: just $930 next year for the middle one-fifth of taxpayers, the center's analysis concludes. For those paid twice a month, that's about $40 a paycheck.</p>
<p>Schumer and other Democrats are basing their assertions on the fact that nearly all personal tax cuts expire after 2025, which would result in a slight tax increase for about two-thirds of the middle class by 2027. The top 1 percent would still get a cut that year.</p>
<p>Only in 2027 do the wealthiest taxpayers get 83 percent of the benefit, as Schumer says. In 2018, roughly 21 percent of the tax cut's benefits go to the richest 1 percent, a much smaller figure, though still a disproportionate share. Just 11 percent will go to the middle one-fifth.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>REP. NANCY PELOSI, House Democratic leader: "86 million middle class families get a tax hike." — tweet Wednesday.</p>
<p>THE FACTS: She's ignoring all the middle class tax cuts before 2027; that year, taxes will be slightly higher for the middle class unless the cuts are extended.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>TRUMP on his tax legislation: "Obamacare has been repealed in this bill." — remarks Wednesday.</p>
<p>THE FACTS: It hasn't. The tax plan ends fines for people who don't carry health insurance. That's a major change but far from the dismantling of the law.</p>
<p>Other marquee components of Obama's law remain, such as the Medicaid expansion serving low-income adults, protections that shield people with pre-existing medical conditions from being denied coverage or charged higher premiums, income-based subsidies for consumers buying individual health insurance policies, the requirement that insurers cover "essential" health benefits, and the mandate that larger employers provide coverage to their workers or face fines.</p>
<p>Also, the tax bill doesn't repeal fines for uninsured individuals until the start of 2019, meaning the "individual mandate" is still in force for next year unless the administration acts to waive the penalties.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>TRUMP: "When the individual mandate is being repealed, that means Obamacare is being repealed because they get their money from the individual mandate." — remarks Wednesday.</p>
<p>THE FACTS: This is also wrong. The fines on people who don't carry health insurance only provide a small fraction of the financing for the program. Most of the money comes from higher taxes on upper-income people, cuts in Medicare payments to service providers, and other tax increases.</p>
<p>The Congressional Budget Office estimated that fines from uninsured people would total $3 billion this year, while the government's cost for the coverage provided under the health law would total about $117 billion.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>TRUMP: "So we're at 3.3 percent GDP. I see no reason why we don't go to 4 percent, 5 percent and even 6 percent." Speaks of GDP "getting up to 4, 5, and even 6 percent, because I think that's possible." — Cabinet meeting last week.</p>
<p>THE FACTS: There are no signs the economy is capable of delivering a phenomenal and rarely achieved growth rate in the order of 6 percent, or 5 or even 4. Federal Reserve officials and most mainstream economists expect economic growth to hew closer to 2 percent. The economy last cleared the 6 percent hurdle in 1984 and only for that fleeting year, at 7.3 percent. This was a different time, when baby boomers were at prime working ages, instead of today when they're starting to retire. The Federal Reserve had boosted growth by steadily slashing a key interest rate from its 1981 peak of 20 percent, while the Fed today is slowly increasing the same rate. Also, the national debt was much lower.</p>
<p>Trump's tax cuts are forecast to max out at roughly $280 billion in 2019, says Congress' Joint Committee on Taxation. Yet to generate growth of 6 percent, those cuts would have to spur a massive $1.2 trillion gain to the gross domestic product. No administration analysis emerged to show how this could be possible.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>HOUSE SPEAKER PAUL RYAN: "We are making things so simple that you can do your taxes on a form the size of a postcard." — remarks when the tax bill came out Nov. 2.</p>
<p>THE FACTS: Don't count on it. Few accountants would agree that simplification has been achieved. The combination of temporary provisions, partial elimination of deductions and other loopholes, and differing tax rates for business income and wages in the new law has, if anything, added further complications.</p>
<p>Some middle-class taxpayers may see simpler returns because the standard deduction has doubled in size, to $24,000 for a married couple. Some families will probably stop taking deductions for things like mortgage interest as a result, making their tax returns easier to file. But people who give heavily to charity, for example, will still have to run through their receipts to see if they're better off with the standard deduction or itemization.</p>
<p>Many business owners and upper-income taxpayers are faced with a host of new complexities: Should high-paid employees try to reclassify their salaries as business income, which will now be subject to a lower tax rate? If so, what will they do in eight years, when the lower rate on business income is set to expire? Are they losing their deduction for state and local taxes, which can be worth tens of thousands of dollars for wealthier taxpayers? Many will, but it may not matter if they paid the alternative minimum tax in previous years, which overrode those deductions.</p>
<p>These types of questions will keep accountants busy for months, if not longer.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>TRUMP on the tax plan: "So there's a great spirit for it, people want to see it." — Fox Business interview in October.</p>
<p>THE FACTS: Polling doesn't find that spirit.</p>
<p>In an NBC-Wall Street Journal poll this week, 41 percent said the tax plan is a bad idea, 24 percent said it was good. That's a deterioration in support over two months.</p>
<p>A Quinnipiac University poll this month found that registered voters, convinced that the benefits will flow mainly to corporations and the wealthy, oppose the plan 55 percent to 26 percent.</p>
<p>In a Gallup poll in September, just 2 percent of respondents named taxes as the country's most important problem. Dissatisfaction with government, race relations and immigration were among the issues at the forefront.</p>
<p>An April survey by the Pew Research Center found that 54 percent Americans say they pay about the right amount in taxes, while 40 percent say they pay more than their fair share.</p>
<p>The president's plan will cut the corporate tax rate to 21 percent from 35 percent. An April Gallup poll found that two-thirds of Americans think corporations pay too little in taxes.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Associated Press writers Josh Boak and Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar contributed to this report.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Find AP Fact Checks at https://apnews.com/tag/APFactCheck</p>
<p>WASHINGTON (AP) — You wouldn't know it from President Donald Trump's rhetoric, but the tax overhaul coming into effect is heavily tilted to the rich. It also leaves "Obamacare" in place, despite his assertion that the tax plan repeals the health care law. Nothing about the plan provides the fuel to achieve economic growth at the levels he's predicted.</p>
<p>Trump's penchant for exaggeration and sometimes pure fiction has clouded the realities of the overhaul as it has shaped up over months. As for Democrats, you wouldn't know to hear them talk that middle-class people are getting a tax cut out of the deal, too.</p>
<p>A look at remarks made Wednesday and earlier about the tax plan Trump will shortly sign into law.</p>
<p>TRUMP: "It's the largest tax cut in the history of our country." — remarks Wednesday.</p>
<p>THE FACTS: It isn't. For months Trump has refused to recognize larger tax cuts in history, of which there have been many, or to grant that other presidents have enacted big tax cuts since Ronald Reagan in the 1980s.</p>
<p>An October analysis by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget found that it would be the eighth biggest since 1918. As a percentage of the total economy, Reagan's 1981 cut is the biggest followed by the 1945 rollback of taxes that financed World War II. Trump's plan is also smaller than cuts in 1948, 1964 and 1921, and probably in other years.</p>
<p>Valued at $1.5 trillion over 10 years, the plan is indeed large and expensive. But it's much smaller than originally intended. Back in the spring, it was shaping up as a $5.5 trillion package. Even then it would have only been the third largest since 1940 as a share of gross domestic product.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE: "You're delivering on that middle-class miracle." — to Trump at a Cabinet meeting Wednesday.</p>
<p>THE FACTS: Modest doesn't make for a miracle. Pence's praise to the boss reflects Trump's assertion that "it's a tax bill for the middle class," as he put it earlier and many times, but average people are not the prime beneficiaries of the tax cuts. Aside from businesses, rich people get the most.</p>
<p>The nonpartisan Tax Policy Center estimates the biggest benefit of the new law will go to households making $308,000 to $733,000. Households making over that should get a tax cut worth 3.4 percent of their after-tax income. For the richest 0.1 percent (making over $3.4 million), the tax cut should be worth 2.7 percent of their after-tax income. For middle-income earners: 1.6 percent, the center estimates.</p>
<p>Moreover, only high-income people would get a meaningful tax cut after 2025, when nearly all of the plan's individual income tax provisions are due to expire.</p>
<p>Republicans argue that the middle class will also see benefits from the business tax cuts, in the form of more jobs and higher wages.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>DEMOCRATIC SEN. CHARLES SCHUMER: "Their bill increases taxes on lots of middle-class people. ... According to the Tax Policy Center, the top one percent of earners in our country gets 83 percent of the benefits." — remarks Tuesday.</p>
<p>THE FACTS: The tax cuts are not nearly as lopsided as many Democrats are portraying them. Almost all of the middle class would initially pay less in taxes.</p>
<p>For the next eight years, the vast majority of middle-class taxpayers — those earning between $49,000 and $86,000 — will receive a tax cut, albeit a small one. In 2018, nine-tenths of the middle class will get a cut, according to the Tax Policy Center. In 2025, 87 percent will. The tax cut won't be very big: just $930 next year for the middle one-fifth of taxpayers, the center's analysis concludes. For those paid twice a month, that's about $40 a paycheck.</p>
<p>Schumer and other Democrats are basing their assertions on the fact that nearly all personal tax cuts expire after 2025, which would result in a slight tax increase for about two-thirds of the middle class by 2027. The top 1 percent would still get a cut that year.</p>
<p>Only in 2027 do the wealthiest taxpayers get 83 percent of the benefit, as Schumer says. In 2018, roughly 21 percent of the tax cut's benefits go to the richest 1 percent, a much smaller figure, though still a disproportionate share. Just 11 percent will go to the middle one-fifth.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>REP. NANCY PELOSI, House Democratic leader: "86 million middle class families get a tax hike." — tweet Wednesday.</p>
<p>THE FACTS: She's ignoring all the middle class tax cuts before 2027; that year, taxes will be slightly higher for the middle class unless the cuts are extended.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>TRUMP on his tax legislation: "Obamacare has been repealed in this bill." — remarks Wednesday.</p>
<p>THE FACTS: It hasn't. The tax plan ends fines for people who don't carry health insurance. That's a major change but far from the dismantling of the law.</p>
<p>Other marquee components of Obama's law remain, such as the Medicaid expansion serving low-income adults, protections that shield people with pre-existing medical conditions from being denied coverage or charged higher premiums, income-based subsidies for consumers buying individual health insurance policies, the requirement that insurers cover "essential" health benefits, and the mandate that larger employers provide coverage to their workers or face fines.</p>
<p>Also, the tax bill doesn't repeal fines for uninsured individuals until the start of 2019, meaning the "individual mandate" is still in force for next year unless the administration acts to waive the penalties.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>TRUMP: "When the individual mandate is being repealed, that means Obamacare is being repealed because they get their money from the individual mandate." — remarks Wednesday.</p>
<p>THE FACTS: This is also wrong. The fines on people who don't carry health insurance only provide a small fraction of the financing for the program. Most of the money comes from higher taxes on upper-income people, cuts in Medicare payments to service providers, and other tax increases.</p>
<p>The Congressional Budget Office estimated that fines from uninsured people would total $3 billion this year, while the government's cost for the coverage provided under the health law would total about $117 billion.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>TRUMP: "So we're at 3.3 percent GDP. I see no reason why we don't go to 4 percent, 5 percent and even 6 percent." Speaks of GDP "getting up to 4, 5, and even 6 percent, because I think that's possible." — Cabinet meeting last week.</p>
<p>THE FACTS: There are no signs the economy is capable of delivering a phenomenal and rarely achieved growth rate in the order of 6 percent, or 5 or even 4. Federal Reserve officials and most mainstream economists expect economic growth to hew closer to 2 percent. The economy last cleared the 6 percent hurdle in 1984 and only for that fleeting year, at 7.3 percent. This was a different time, when baby boomers were at prime working ages, instead of today when they're starting to retire. The Federal Reserve had boosted growth by steadily slashing a key interest rate from its 1981 peak of 20 percent, while the Fed today is slowly increasing the same rate. Also, the national debt was much lower.</p>
<p>Trump's tax cuts are forecast to max out at roughly $280 billion in 2019, says Congress' Joint Committee on Taxation. Yet to generate growth of 6 percent, those cuts would have to spur a massive $1.2 trillion gain to the gross domestic product. No administration analysis emerged to show how this could be possible.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>HOUSE SPEAKER PAUL RYAN: "We are making things so simple that you can do your taxes on a form the size of a postcard." — remarks when the tax bill came out Nov. 2.</p>
<p>THE FACTS: Don't count on it. Few accountants would agree that simplification has been achieved. The combination of temporary provisions, partial elimination of deductions and other loopholes, and differing tax rates for business income and wages in the new law has, if anything, added further complications.</p>
<p>Some middle-class taxpayers may see simpler returns because the standard deduction has doubled in size, to $24,000 for a married couple. Some families will probably stop taking deductions for things like mortgage interest as a result, making their tax returns easier to file. But people who give heavily to charity, for example, will still have to run through their receipts to see if they're better off with the standard deduction or itemization.</p>
<p>Many business owners and upper-income taxpayers are faced with a host of new complexities: Should high-paid employees try to reclassify their salaries as business income, which will now be subject to a lower tax rate? If so, what will they do in eight years, when the lower rate on business income is set to expire? Are they losing their deduction for state and local taxes, which can be worth tens of thousands of dollars for wealthier taxpayers? Many will, but it may not matter if they paid the alternative minimum tax in previous years, which overrode those deductions.</p>
<p>These types of questions will keep accountants busy for months, if not longer.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>TRUMP on the tax plan: "So there's a great spirit for it, people want to see it." — Fox Business interview in October.</p>
<p>THE FACTS: Polling doesn't find that spirit.</p>
<p>In an NBC-Wall Street Journal poll this week, 41 percent said the tax plan is a bad idea, 24 percent said it was good. That's a deterioration in support over two months.</p>
<p>A Quinnipiac University poll this month found that registered voters, convinced that the benefits will flow mainly to corporations and the wealthy, oppose the plan 55 percent to 26 percent.</p>
<p>In a Gallup poll in September, just 2 percent of respondents named taxes as the country's most important problem. Dissatisfaction with government, race relations and immigration were among the issues at the forefront.</p>
<p>An April survey by the Pew Research Center found that 54 percent Americans say they pay about the right amount in taxes, while 40 percent say they pay more than their fair share.</p>
<p>The president's plan will cut the corporate tax rate to 21 percent from 35 percent. An April Gallup poll found that two-thirds of Americans think corporations pay too little in taxes.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Associated Press writers Josh Boak and Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar contributed to this report.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Find AP Fact Checks at https://apnews.com/tag/APFactCheck</p>
| false | 2 |
washington ap wouldnt know president donald trumps rhetoric tax overhaul coming effect heavily tilted rich also leaves obamacare place despite assertion tax plan repeals health care law nothing plan provides fuel achieve economic growth levels hes predicted trumps penchant exaggeration sometimes pure fiction clouded realities overhaul shaped months democrats wouldnt know hear talk middleclass people getting tax cut deal look remarks made wednesday earlier tax plan trump shortly sign law trump largest tax cut history country remarks wednesday facts isnt months trump refused recognize larger tax cuts history many grant presidents enacted big tax cuts since ronald reagan 1980s october analysis committee responsible federal budget found would eighth biggest since 1918 percentage total economy reagans 1981 cut biggest followed 1945 rollback taxes financed world war ii trumps plan also smaller cuts 1948 1964 1921 probably years valued 15 trillion 10 years plan indeed large expensive much smaller originally intended back spring shaping 55 trillion package even would third largest since 1940 share gross domestic product ___ vice president mike pence youre delivering middleclass miracle trump cabinet meeting wednesday facts modest doesnt make miracle pences praise boss reflects trumps assertion tax bill middle class put earlier many times average people prime beneficiaries tax cuts aside businesses rich people get nonpartisan tax policy center estimates biggest benefit new law go households making 308000 733000 households making get tax cut worth 34 percent aftertax income richest 01 percent making 34 million tax cut worth 27 percent aftertax income middleincome earners 16 percent center estimates moreover highincome people would get meaningful tax cut 2025 nearly plans individual income tax provisions due expire republicans argue middle class also see benefits business tax cuts form jobs higher wages ___ democratic sen charles schumer bill increases taxes lots middleclass people according tax policy center top one percent earners country gets 83 percent benefits remarks tuesday facts tax cuts nearly lopsided many democrats portraying almost middle class would initially pay less taxes next eight years vast majority middleclass taxpayers earning 49000 86000 receive tax cut albeit small one 2018 ninetenths middle class get cut according tax policy center 2025 87 percent tax cut wont big 930 next year middle onefifth taxpayers centers analysis concludes paid twice month thats 40 paycheck schumer democrats basing assertions fact nearly personal tax cuts expire 2025 would result slight tax increase twothirds middle class 2027 top 1 percent would still get cut year 2027 wealthiest taxpayers get 83 percent benefit schumer says 2018 roughly 21 percent tax cuts benefits go richest 1 percent much smaller figure though still disproportionate share 11 percent go middle onefifth ___ rep nancy pelosi house democratic leader 86 million middle class families get tax hike tweet wednesday facts shes ignoring middle class tax cuts 2027 year taxes slightly higher middle class unless cuts extended ___ trump tax legislation obamacare repealed bill remarks wednesday facts hasnt tax plan ends fines people dont carry health insurance thats major change far dismantling law marquee components obamas law remain medicaid expansion serving lowincome adults protections shield people preexisting medical conditions denied coverage charged higher premiums incomebased subsidies consumers buying individual health insurance policies requirement insurers cover essential health benefits mandate larger employers provide coverage workers face fines also tax bill doesnt repeal fines uninsured individuals start 2019 meaning individual mandate still force next year unless administration acts waive penalties ___ trump individual mandate repealed means obamacare repealed get money individual mandate remarks wednesday facts also wrong fines people dont carry health insurance provide small fraction financing program money comes higher taxes upperincome people cuts medicare payments service providers tax increases congressional budget office estimated fines uninsured people would total 3 billion year governments cost coverage provided health law would total 117 billion ___ trump 33 percent gdp see reason dont go 4 percent 5 percent even 6 percent speaks gdp getting 4 5 even 6 percent think thats possible cabinet meeting last week facts signs economy capable delivering phenomenal rarely achieved growth rate order 6 percent 5 even 4 federal reserve officials mainstream economists expect economic growth hew closer 2 percent economy last cleared 6 percent hurdle 1984 fleeting year 73 percent different time baby boomers prime working ages instead today theyre starting retire federal reserve boosted growth steadily slashing key interest rate 1981 peak 20 percent fed today slowly increasing rate also national debt much lower trumps tax cuts forecast max roughly 280 billion 2019 says congress joint committee taxation yet generate growth 6 percent cuts would spur massive 12 trillion gain gross domestic product administration analysis emerged show could possible ___ house speaker paul ryan making things simple taxes form size postcard remarks tax bill came nov 2 facts dont count accountants would agree simplification achieved combination temporary provisions partial elimination deductions loopholes differing tax rates business income wages new law anything added complications middleclass taxpayers may see simpler returns standard deduction doubled size 24000 married couple families probably stop taking deductions things like mortgage interest result making tax returns easier file people give heavily charity example still run receipts see theyre better standard deduction itemization many business owners upperincome taxpayers faced host new complexities highpaid employees try reclassify salaries business income subject lower tax rate eight years lower rate business income set expire losing deduction state local taxes worth tens thousands dollars wealthier taxpayers many may matter paid alternative minimum tax previous years overrode deductions types questions keep accountants busy months longer ___ trump tax plan theres great spirit people want see fox business interview october facts polling doesnt find spirit nbcwall street journal poll week 41 percent said tax plan bad idea 24 percent said good thats deterioration support two months quinnipiac university poll month found registered voters convinced benefits flow mainly corporations wealthy oppose plan 55 percent 26 percent gallup poll september 2 percent respondents named taxes countrys important problem dissatisfaction government race relations immigration among issues forefront april survey pew research center found 54 percent americans say pay right amount taxes 40 percent say pay fair share presidents plan cut corporate tax rate 21 percent 35 percent april gallup poll found twothirds americans think corporations pay little taxes ___ associated press writers josh boak ricardo alonsozaldivar contributed report ___ find ap fact checks httpsapnewscomtagapfactcheck washington ap wouldnt know president donald trumps rhetoric tax overhaul coming effect heavily tilted rich also leaves obamacare place despite assertion tax plan repeals health care law nothing plan provides fuel achieve economic growth levels hes predicted trumps penchant exaggeration sometimes pure fiction clouded realities overhaul shaped months democrats wouldnt know hear talk middleclass people getting tax cut deal look remarks made wednesday earlier tax plan trump shortly sign law trump largest tax cut history country remarks wednesday facts isnt months trump refused recognize larger tax cuts history many grant presidents enacted big tax cuts since ronald reagan 1980s october analysis committee responsible federal budget found would eighth biggest since 1918 percentage total economy reagans 1981 cut biggest followed 1945 rollback taxes financed world war ii trumps plan also smaller cuts 1948 1964 1921 probably years valued 15 trillion 10 years plan indeed large expensive much smaller originally intended back spring shaping 55 trillion package even would third largest since 1940 share gross domestic product ___ vice president mike pence youre delivering middleclass miracle trump cabinet meeting wednesday facts modest doesnt make miracle pences praise boss reflects trumps assertion tax bill middle class put earlier many times average people prime beneficiaries tax cuts aside businesses rich people get nonpartisan tax policy center estimates biggest benefit new law go households making 308000 733000 households making get tax cut worth 34 percent aftertax income richest 01 percent making 34 million tax cut worth 27 percent aftertax income middleincome earners 16 percent center estimates moreover highincome people would get meaningful tax cut 2025 nearly plans individual income tax provisions due expire republicans argue middle class also see benefits business tax cuts form jobs higher wages ___ democratic sen charles schumer bill increases taxes lots middleclass people according tax policy center top one percent earners country gets 83 percent benefits remarks tuesday facts tax cuts nearly lopsided many democrats portraying almost middle class would initially pay less taxes next eight years vast majority middleclass taxpayers earning 49000 86000 receive tax cut albeit small one 2018 ninetenths middle class get cut according tax policy center 2025 87 percent tax cut wont big 930 next year middle onefifth taxpayers centers analysis concludes paid twice month thats 40 paycheck schumer democrats basing assertions fact nearly personal tax cuts expire 2025 would result slight tax increase twothirds middle class 2027 top 1 percent would still get cut year 2027 wealthiest taxpayers get 83 percent benefit schumer says 2018 roughly 21 percent tax cuts benefits go richest 1 percent much smaller figure though still disproportionate share 11 percent go middle onefifth ___ rep nancy pelosi house democratic leader 86 million middle class families get tax hike tweet wednesday facts shes ignoring middle class tax cuts 2027 year taxes slightly higher middle class unless cuts extended ___ trump tax legislation obamacare repealed bill remarks wednesday facts hasnt tax plan ends fines people dont carry health insurance thats major change far dismantling law marquee components obamas law remain medicaid expansion serving lowincome adults protections shield people preexisting medical conditions denied coverage charged higher premiums incomebased subsidies consumers buying individual health insurance policies requirement insurers cover essential health benefits mandate larger employers provide coverage workers face fines also tax bill doesnt repeal fines uninsured individuals start 2019 meaning individual mandate still force next year unless administration acts waive penalties ___ trump individual mandate repealed means obamacare repealed get money individual mandate remarks wednesday facts also wrong fines people dont carry health insurance provide small fraction financing program money comes higher taxes upperincome people cuts medicare payments service providers tax increases congressional budget office estimated fines uninsured people would total 3 billion year governments cost coverage provided health law would total 117 billion ___ trump 33 percent gdp see reason dont go 4 percent 5 percent even 6 percent speaks gdp getting 4 5 even 6 percent think thats possible cabinet meeting last week facts signs economy capable delivering phenomenal rarely achieved growth rate order 6 percent 5 even 4 federal reserve officials mainstream economists expect economic growth hew closer 2 percent economy last cleared 6 percent hurdle 1984 fleeting year 73 percent different time baby boomers prime working ages instead today theyre starting retire federal reserve boosted growth steadily slashing key interest rate 1981 peak 20 percent fed today slowly increasing rate also national debt much lower trumps tax cuts forecast max roughly 280 billion 2019 says congress joint committee taxation yet generate growth 6 percent cuts would spur massive 12 trillion gain gross domestic product administration analysis emerged show could possible ___ house speaker paul ryan making things simple taxes form size postcard remarks tax bill came nov 2 facts dont count accountants would agree simplification achieved combination temporary provisions partial elimination deductions loopholes differing tax rates business income wages new law anything added complications middleclass taxpayers may see simpler returns standard deduction doubled size 24000 married couple families probably stop taking deductions things like mortgage interest result making tax returns easier file people give heavily charity example still run receipts see theyre better standard deduction itemization many business owners upperincome taxpayers faced host new complexities highpaid employees try reclassify salaries business income subject lower tax rate eight years lower rate business income set expire losing deduction state local taxes worth tens thousands dollars wealthier taxpayers many may matter paid alternative minimum tax previous years overrode deductions types questions keep accountants busy months longer ___ trump tax plan theres great spirit people want see fox business interview october facts polling doesnt find spirit nbcwall street journal poll week 41 percent said tax plan bad idea 24 percent said good thats deterioration support two months quinnipiac university poll month found registered voters convinced benefits flow mainly corporations wealthy oppose plan 55 percent 26 percent gallup poll september 2 percent respondents named taxes countrys important problem dissatisfaction government race relations immigration among issues forefront april survey pew research center found 54 percent americans say pay right amount taxes 40 percent say pay fair share presidents plan cut corporate tax rate 21 percent 35 percent april gallup poll found twothirds americans think corporations pay little taxes ___ associated press writers josh boak ricardo alonsozaldivar contributed report ___ find ap fact checks httpsapnewscomtagapfactcheck
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<p>Jan 22 (Reuters) - Compass Group Plc:</p> * US TAX REFORM
<p>* ‍PRELIMINARY VIEW IS THAT WE EXPECT GROUP’S EFFECTIVE TAX RATE TO BE REDUCED FROM 26.5% TO AROUND 24%,​</p>
<p>* ‍SEES GROUP’S CASH TAX RATE TO BETWEEN 19% - 22%, IN YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2018.​</p>
<p>* ‍NEW LAW WILL REQUIRE US TO REVALUE NET DEFERRED TAX ASSET RECOGNISED ON OUR US BALANCE SHEET BEFORE 30 SEPTEMBER 2018​</p> * ‍DO NOT EXPECT NEW LAW TO BE MATERIAL.​
<p>* ‍UNCERTAINTY AROUND INTERACTION BETWEEN NEW FEDERAL TAX LEGISLATION AND TAX LEGISLATION AT STATE LEVEL WHICH COULD ALSO HAVE AN IMPACT.​ Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage:</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his wife, Ri Sol Ju, were among the hundreds in Pyongyang on Sunday watching South Korean K-pop singers perform in the North for the first time in more than a decade as tensions between the two countries thaw.</p> North Korean leader Kim Jong Un meets South Korean K-pop singers in this photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang April 2, 2018. KCNA/via Reuters
<p>It was the first time a North Korean leader had attended a South Korean performance in the capital. Kim was seen clapping in tune to some of the songs and later took photographs with the performers after the show.</p>
<p>“Our dear leader comrade said his heart swelled and he was moved by the sight of his people deepen their understanding of South Korean popular culture and cheer with sincerity,” said the North’s state media.</p>
<p>The North Korean audience clapped, cheered, sang along to some of the songs and later presented the South Korean performers with flower bouquets.</p> North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his wife Ri Sol Ju watch South Korean K-pop singers perform in a concert under the title "Spring is Coming" at the Pyongyang Taekwondo Hall in North Korea in this photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang April 2, 2018. KCNA/via Reuters
<p>“(Kim Jong Un) showed much interest during the show and asked questions about the songs and lyrics,” Culture Minister Do Jong-whan told reporters after the show.</p>
<p>Sunday’s concert was held under the title “Spring is Coming” at the East Pyongyang Grand Theater, performed by an elite lineup of South Korean artists including veteran vocalists Cho Yong-pil, Lee Sun-hee, rock star Yoon Do-hyun, singer Baek Ji-young as well as K-pop girl band Red Velvet.</p>
<p>Like the concert title, the performance had brought a “spring of peace” to the two Koreas, Kim Jong Un was also cited as saying by the North’s central news agency, and expressed wishes for a “prosperous autumn”.</p>
<p>The North Korean leader’s face was slightly flushed in a group photograph with the performers distributed by North Korean state media, while in another, he was seen directly addressing members of Red Velvet, which commands more than 4.6 million followers on Instagram.</p> THAW
<p>Sunday’s two-hour concert in Pyongyang, along with a separate taekwondo performance earlier in the day, came as South Korea’s engagement with North Korea has continued to grow since Kim expressed his willingness for more contact between the two countries.</p> Slideshow (5 Images)
<p>Athletes from North and South Korea marched under a unified peninsula flag at the opening ceremony at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in February and the significant thaw in the inter-Korean relations has led them to set a date for their first summit in more than a decade on April 27.</p>
<p>The two Koreas are technically still at war after the 1950-1953 conflict ended with a ceasefire rather than a peace agreement.</p>
<p>The South Korean delegation included artists, concert staff, taekwondo demonstrators, reporters and government officials. They traveled to Pyongyang on Saturday in a reciprocal cultural visit after North Korea sent performers to the South in February, the South’s Culture Ministry said.</p>
<p>In addition to the concert, a team of South Korean taekwondo demonstrators performed on Sunday at the Pyongyang Taekwondo Hall, drawing more than 2,300 North Koreans, including Choe Hwi, chairman of the National Sports Guidance Committee.</p>
<p>Seohyun, a female vocalist and actress currently with South Korean girl group Girls’ Generation, sang a North Korean pop song called “Blue Willow Tree”. She had performed with the North’s Samjiyon Orchestra in Seoul in February.</p>
<p>Cho Yong-pil, a 68-year-old singer, sang a string of hits including “The Cafe in the Winter”, “Short Hair” and “Let’s Go on a Trip”. Cho held a solo concert in Pyongyang in 2005 - the last concert by a South Korean artist in the North before Sunday’s performance.</p>
<p>The same South Korean singers will hold a joint concert with North Korean performers on Tuesday at the Ryukyung Chung Ju Yung Gymnasium, a joint project between the North and South named after Hyundai Group [HYGR.UL] billionaire founder Chung Ju-yung who had long advocated inter-Korean cultural and economic exchange.</p>
<p>Kim Jong Un had been planning to attend the Tuesday performance but decided to watch Sunday’s show due to “political schedules”, KCNA and South Korean officials there said.</p>
<p>Reporting by Heekyong Yang and Christine Kim; Editing by Louise Heavens and Peter Cooney</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>WASHINGTON/IXTEPEC, Mexico (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Sunday that there will be no deal to legalize the status of young adult immigrants called Dreamers and he said the U.S.-Mexico border is becoming more dangerous.</p>
<p>After tweeting a “Happy Easter” message on Twitter, he said: “Border Patrol Agents are not allowed to properly do their job at the Border because of ridiculous liberal (Democrat) laws like Catch &amp; Release. Getting more dangerous.</p>
<p>“‘Caravans’ coming. Republicans must go to Nuclear Option to pass tough laws NOW. NO MORE DACA DEAL!” he wrote, adding a threat to kill the North American Free Trade Agreement which is being renegotiated with Mexico and Canada.</p>
<p>DACA, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, is a program created in 2012 under Democratic former President Barack Obama that Trump sought to rescind last autumn.</p>
<p>Designed for people brought to the United States as children by parents who were undocumented immigrants, the program shielded them from deportation and gave them work permits.</p>
<p>Trump had said he was open to a deal with congressional Democrats who want to protect DACA in exchange for funding to build a U.S.-Mexico border wall, a campaign trail promise.</p>
<p>He insisted during his 2016 White House run that Mexico would pay for the wall, something the Mexican government has repeatedly rejected.</p>
<p>Mexico’s presidential front-runner, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, launched his campaign close to the border on Sunday demanding respect for Mexicans and signaling he may take a harder line toward Trump if he wins the July 1 election.</p>
<p>“Mexico and its people will not be the piñata of any foreign government,” Lopez Obrador said in a speech in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, which borders El Paso, Texas. “It’s not with walls or use of force that you resolve social problems.”</p>
<p>Whether Trump will stick to his guns on DACA is unclear. Trump last month threatened to veto a spending bill because it did not address the fate of Dreamers and did not fully fund his border wall but he ultimately signed the bill.</p>
<p>In the months after Trump took office, apprehensions of illegal crossers along the U.S.- Mexico border dropped from more than 42,400 arrests in January 2017 to a low of around 15,700 in April, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data. Since then, the number of arrests has risen and in the first months of 2018 was above Obama administration levels.</p>
<p>“Mexico has got to help us at the border,” the president, who is spending Easter at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, told reporters on his way into an Easter church service. “A lot of people are coming in because they want to take advantage of DACA. They had a great chance. The Democrats blew it.”</p> MIGRANT CARAVAN
<p>Trump’s DACA tweets came after a report on the Fox New Channel’s Fox &amp; Friends program, one of his favorites, that a “caravan” of mostly Honduran migrants was crossing Mexico and headed to the United States, “either illegally or by asking for asylum.”</p>
<p>More than 1,000 would-be migrants have passed through Mexico’s southern states of Chiapas and Oaxaca in recent days in a so-called “refugee caravan” organized by U.S.-based immigrant advocacy group Pueblo Sin Fronteras.</p>
<p>In the town of Ixtepec, more than 1,500 men, women and children from Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala waited in a sweltering warehouse on Saturday, mattresses rolled and bags packed, as local authorities and immigration officials from Mexico’s federal government organized 15 buses to take them to their next stop on the long journey north.</p>
<p>By traveling together, the immigrants hope to protect themselves from the crime and extortion that makes the route through Mexico dangerous. They say some but not all of them will seek asylum if they reach the United States.</p>
<p>Gina Garibo, a member of Pueblo Sin Fronteras traveling with the migrants, said the group would hold a meeting to discuss Trump’s statements on Sunday and stressed that the caravan’s aim was to protect vulnerable people.</p>
<p>“The main people here are fleeing criminal violence, political violence, in their country and this allows us to save lives,” she said in response to Trump’s comments.</p>
<p>A guest on Sunday’s Fox &amp; Friends show, Brandon Judd, head of the National Border Patrol Council union, said illegal immigrants benefit from the “catch and release” program that Trump referenced in his tweet. Under it, they can be freed while awaiting court hearings if detained in the United States.</p>
<p>If recent border crossers do not claim asylum, they can usually be deported quickly. But if they say they fear targeted violence or persecution in their home countries, they can begin the long process of petitioning for asylum in immigration court.</p>
<p>Trump said on Twitter on Sunday that Mexico is doing “very little, if not NOTHING,” to stop the flow of people across the southern border. “They must stop the big drug and people flows, or I will stop their cash cow, NAFTA. NEED WALL!”</p> U.S. President Donald Trump arrives at Palm Beach International Airport, Florida, U.S. for the Easter weekend at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach March 29, 2018. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas
<p>Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray said the United States and Mexico work together on migration every day.</p>
<p>“An inaccurate news report should not serve to question this strong cooperation. Upholding human dignity and rights is not at odds with the rule of law. Happy Easter,” he said in a tweet.</p>
<p>Mexico deported some 80,000 people in 2017, down from about 160,000 in 2016, official statistics show. The vast majority were from Central American nations. The drop reflects fewer Central Americans crossing the country last year.</p>
<p>Reporting by Valerie Volcovici in Washington and Delphine Schrank in Ixtepec, Mexico; Additional reporting by by Steve Holland in West Palm Beach, Mica Rosenberg in New York, David Lawder in Washington and Lizbeth Diaz in Ciudad Juarez; Editing by Steve Orlofsky and Daniel Wallis</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>BEIJING (Reuters) - China has slapped extra tariffs of up to 25 percent on 128 U.S. products including frozen pork, as well as on wine and certain fruits and nuts, in response to U.S. duties on imports of aluminum and steel, China’s finance ministry said.</p> FILE PHOTO: A butcher cuts a piece of pork at a market in Beijing, China, March 25, 2016. REUTERS/Jason Lee/File Photo
<p>The list of tariffs, to take effect on Monday, was released late on Sunday and matches a list of potential tariffs on up to $3 billion in U.S. goods published by China on March 23.</p>
<p>China has imposed the tariffs amid escalating trade tension between Beijing and Washington.</p>
<p>U.S. President Donald Trump is preparing to impose tariffs of more than $50 billion on Chinese goods intended to punish Beijing over U.S. allegations that China systematically misappropriated American intellectual property.</p>
<p>China has repeatedly promised to open its economy further, but many foreign companies continue to complain of unfair treatment. China warned the United States on Thursday not to open a Pandora’s Box and spark a flurry of protectionist practices across the globe.</p>
<p>Reporting by Ben Blanchard and Tony Munroe; Editing by Eric Meijer</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China’s Tiangong-1 space station is forecast to re-enter the earth’s atmosphere over a remote part of the South Atlantic between 8:11 a.m. and 9:33 a.m. (0011-0133 GMT) on Monday, the country’s space authority said.</p> FILE PHOTO: A model of the Tiangong-1 space lab module (L), the Shenzhou-9 manned spacecraft (R) and three Chinese astronauts is displayed during a news conference at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, in Gansu province, China June 15, 2012. REUTERS/Jason Lee/File Photo
<p>The craft is expected to re-enter in an area around 19.4 degrees west, 10.2 degrees south, the authority said on its website, giving it a position southwest of the tiny British South Atlantic island of Ascension.</p>
<p>Beijing said on Friday it was unlikely any large pieces would reach the ground.</p>
<p>The 10.4-metre-long (34.1-foot) Tiangong-1, or “Heavenly Palace 1”, was launched in 2011 to carry out docking and orbit experiments as part of China’s ambitious space program, which aims to place a permanent station in orbit by 2023.</p>
<p>It was originally planned to be decommissioned in 2013 but its mission was repeatedly extended.</p>
<p>China had said its re-entry would occur in late 2017 but that process was delayed, leading some experts to suggest the space laboratory is out of control.</p>
<p>The Chinese tabloid Global Times said on Monday worldwide media hype about the re-entry reflected overseas “envy” of China’s space industry.</p>
<p>“It’s normal for spacecraft to re-enter the atmosphere, yet Tiangong-1 received so much attention partly because some Western countries are trying to hype and sling mud at China’s fast-growing aerospace industry,” it said.</p>
<p>Reporting by David Stanway and Wang Jing; Additional reporting by Ben Blanchard in BEIJING; Editing by Paul Tait</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
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jan 22 reuters compass group plc us tax reform preliminary view expect groups effective tax rate reduced 265 around 24 sees groups cash tax rate 19 22 year ended 30 september 2018 new law require us revalue net deferred tax asset recognised us balance sheet 30 september 2018 expect new law material uncertainty around interaction new federal tax legislation tax legislation state level could also impact source text eikon company coverage standards thomson reuters trust principles seoul reuters north korean leader kim jong un wife ri sol ju among hundreds pyongyang sunday watching south korean kpop singers perform north first time decade tensions two countries thaw north korean leader kim jong un meets south korean kpop singers photo released north koreas korean central news agency kcna pyongyang april 2 2018 kcnavia reuters first time north korean leader attended south korean performance capital kim seen clapping tune songs later took photographs performers show dear leader comrade said heart swelled moved sight people deepen understanding south korean popular culture cheer sincerity said norths state media north korean audience clapped cheered sang along songs later presented south korean performers flower bouquets north korean leader kim jong un wife ri sol ju watch south korean kpop singers perform concert title spring coming pyongyang taekwondo hall north korea photo released north koreas korean central news agency kcna pyongyang april 2 2018 kcnavia reuters kim jong un showed much interest show asked questions songs lyrics culture minister jongwhan told reporters show sundays concert held title spring coming east pyongyang grand theater performed elite lineup south korean artists including veteran vocalists cho yongpil lee sunhee rock star yoon dohyun singer baek jiyoung well kpop girl band red velvet like concert title performance brought spring peace two koreas kim jong un also cited saying norths central news agency expressed wishes prosperous autumn north korean leaders face slightly flushed group photograph performers distributed north korean state media another seen directly addressing members red velvet commands 46 million followers instagram thaw sundays twohour concert pyongyang along separate taekwondo performance earlier day came south koreas engagement north korea continued grow since kim expressed willingness contact two countries slideshow 5 images athletes north south korea marched unified peninsula flag opening ceremony pyeongchang winter olympics february significant thaw interkorean relations led set date first summit decade april 27 two koreas technically still war 19501953 conflict ended ceasefire rather peace agreement south korean delegation included artists concert staff taekwondo demonstrators reporters government officials traveled pyongyang saturday reciprocal cultural visit north korea sent performers south february souths culture ministry said addition concert team south korean taekwondo demonstrators performed sunday pyongyang taekwondo hall drawing 2300 north koreans including choe hwi chairman national sports guidance committee seohyun female vocalist actress currently south korean girl group girls generation sang north korean pop song called blue willow tree performed norths samjiyon orchestra seoul february cho yongpil 68yearold singer sang string hits including cafe winter short hair lets go trip cho held solo concert pyongyang 2005 last concert south korean artist north sundays performance south korean singers hold joint concert north korean performers tuesday ryukyung chung ju yung gymnasium joint project north south named hyundai group hygrul billionaire founder chung juyung long advocated interkorean cultural economic exchange kim jong un planning attend tuesday performance decided watch sundays show due political schedules kcna south korean officials said reporting heekyong yang christine kim editing louise heavens peter cooney standards thomson reuters trust principles washingtonixtepec mexico reuters president donald trump said sunday deal legalize status young adult immigrants called dreamers said usmexico border becoming dangerous tweeting happy easter message twitter said border patrol agents allowed properly job border ridiculous liberal democrat laws like catch amp release getting dangerous caravans coming republicans must go nuclear option pass tough laws daca deal wrote adding threat kill north american free trade agreement renegotiated mexico canada daca deferred action childhood arrivals program created 2012 democratic former president barack obama trump sought rescind last autumn designed people brought united states children parents undocumented immigrants program shielded deportation gave work permits trump said open deal congressional democrats want protect daca exchange funding build usmexico border wall campaign trail promise insisted 2016 white house run mexico would pay wall something mexican government repeatedly rejected mexicos presidential frontrunner andres manuel lopez obrador launched campaign close border sunday demanding respect mexicans signaling may take harder line toward trump wins july 1 election mexico people piñata foreign government lopez obrador said speech ciudad juarez mexico borders el paso texas walls use force resolve social problems whether trump stick guns daca unclear trump last month threatened veto spending bill address fate dreamers fully fund border wall ultimately signed bill months trump took office apprehensions illegal crossers along us mexico border dropped 42400 arrests january 2017 low around 15700 april according us customs border protection data since number arrests risen first months 2018 obama administration levels mexico got help us border president spending easter maralago resort florida told reporters way easter church service lot people coming want take advantage daca great chance democrats blew migrant caravan trumps daca tweets came report fox new channels fox amp friends program one favorites caravan mostly honduran migrants crossing mexico headed united states either illegally asking asylum 1000 wouldbe migrants passed mexicos southern states chiapas oaxaca recent days socalled refugee caravan organized usbased immigrant advocacy group pueblo sin fronteras town ixtepec 1500 men women children honduras el salvador guatemala waited sweltering warehouse saturday mattresses rolled bags packed local authorities immigration officials mexicos federal government organized 15 buses take next stop long journey north traveling together immigrants hope protect crime extortion makes route mexico dangerous say seek asylum reach united states gina garibo member pueblo sin fronteras traveling migrants said group would hold meeting discuss trumps statements sunday stressed caravans aim protect vulnerable people main people fleeing criminal violence political violence country allows us save lives said response trumps comments guest sundays fox amp friends show brandon judd head national border patrol council union said illegal immigrants benefit catch release program trump referenced tweet freed awaiting court hearings detained united states recent border crossers claim asylum usually deported quickly say fear targeted violence persecution home countries begin long process petitioning asylum immigration court trump said twitter sunday mexico little nothing stop flow people across southern border must stop big drug people flows stop cash cow nafta need wall us president donald trump arrives palm beach international airport florida us easter weekend maralago palm beach march 29 2018 reutersyuri gripas mexican foreign minister luis videgaray said united states mexico work together migration every day inaccurate news report serve question strong cooperation upholding human dignity rights odds rule law happy easter said tweet mexico deported 80000 people 2017 160000 2016 official statistics show vast majority central american nations drop reflects fewer central americans crossing country last year reporting valerie volcovici washington delphine schrank ixtepec mexico additional reporting steve holland west palm beach mica rosenberg new york david lawder washington lizbeth diaz ciudad juarez editing steve orlofsky daniel wallis standards thomson reuters trust principles beijing reuters china slapped extra tariffs 25 percent 128 us products including frozen pork well wine certain fruits nuts response us duties imports aluminum steel chinas finance ministry said file photo butcher cuts piece pork market beijing china march 25 2016 reutersjason leefile photo list tariffs take effect monday released late sunday matches list potential tariffs 3 billion us goods published china march 23 china imposed tariffs amid escalating trade tension beijing washington us president donald trump preparing impose tariffs 50 billion chinese goods intended punish beijing us allegations china systematically misappropriated american intellectual property china repeatedly promised open economy many foreign companies continue complain unfair treatment china warned united states thursday open pandoras box spark flurry protectionist practices across globe reporting ben blanchard tony munroe editing eric meijer standards thomson reuters trust principles shanghai reuters chinas tiangong1 space station forecast reenter earths atmosphere remote part south atlantic 811 933 00110133 gmt monday countrys space authority said file photo model tiangong1 space lab module l shenzhou9 manned spacecraft r three chinese astronauts displayed news conference jiuquan satellite launch center gansu province china june 15 2012 reutersjason leefile photo craft expected reenter area around 194 degrees west 102 degrees south authority said website giving position southwest tiny british south atlantic island ascension beijing said friday unlikely large pieces would reach ground 104metrelong 341foot tiangong1 heavenly palace 1 launched 2011 carry docking orbit experiments part chinas ambitious space program aims place permanent station orbit 2023 originally planned decommissioned 2013 mission repeatedly extended china said reentry would occur late 2017 process delayed leading experts suggest space laboratory control chinese tabloid global times said monday worldwide media hype reentry reflected overseas envy chinas space industry normal spacecraft reenter atmosphere yet tiangong1 received much attention partly western countries trying hype sling mud chinas fastgrowing aerospace industry said reporting david stanway wang jing additional reporting ben blanchard beijing editing paul tait standards thomson reuters trust principles
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<p>In two memos dated Feb. 20 and posted to the Department of Homeland Security website, Secretary John Kelly said the government will target any unauthorized immigrant suspected of, charged with or convicted of a criminal offense – and not limit enforcement to violent criminals and unlawful border crossers, as has been the case in recent years.</p>
<p>“Criminal aliens have demonstrated their disregard for the rule of law and pose a threat to persons residing in the United States,” Kelly said in the memo. Crossing the border illegally itself is a federal crime. Overstaying a visa is a civil offense.</p>
<p>The memo also prioritizes those who have misrepresented themselves to a government agency, abused public benefits programs or are judged by immigration authorities to pose a risk to public safety or national security.</p>
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<p>“It could put millions of undocumented people here at risk,” said Maureen Meyer, senior associate for migrant rights at the Washington Office on Latin America, a think tank that advocates for immigrant rights. “It will likely separate families, particularly families of mixed immigration status. Anybody here without the right papers could be fair game.”</p>
<p>A spokesman for Gov. Susana Martinez, a Republican, said the governor “has always said we need to strengthen our border, and that includes enforcing federal law.”</p>
<p>Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., slammed the new guidelines, saying they “amount to a plan to begin mass deportations” and are “unrealistic, inhumane, bad for the economy and an extremely inefficient use of already thin resources.”</p>
<p>‘Dreamers’ exempt</p>
<p>Exempted from the new enforcement priorities are those young immigrants known as “dreamers” who were protected by an executive order by then-President Barack Obama known as the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA.</p>
<p>More than 10,500 New Mexicans are protected under the program, and nearly 750,000 immigrants are covered by DACA nationwide.</p>
<p>President Donald Trump vowed to make tougher immigration enforcement a keystone of his administration. Kelly’s two memos serve as practical guidelines to the president’s recent executive orders on border security and immigration.</p>
<p>DHS officials, speaking anonymously in a call with reporters, sought to calm fears on Tuesday.</p>
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<p>“We do not need a sense of panic in the communities,” an official told The Washington Post. “We do not have the personnel, time or resources to go into communities and round up people and do all kinds of mass throwing folks on buses. This is not intended to produce mass roundups, mass deportations.”</p>
<p>But Vicki Gaubeca, executive director of the ACLU’s Regional Center for Border Rights in Las Cruces, said, “I’m not sure how they can say that and allay the concerns of the public. Because the potential for that is there (in the new guidance). What kind of protections are they putting in place, instead of just words? If they want to allay fears, they should be very clear what those protections are.”</p>
<p>Local cooperation</p>
<p>In a provision that is likely to generate significant debate from Santa Fe to Las Cruces, Kelly directed federal agencies to partner with local law enforcement to authorize “qualified officers … to perform the functions of an immigration officer.”</p>
<p>Counties statewide have for several years strictly limited local law enforcement’s ability to work with federal immigration authorities, in part because of legal liabilities associated with doing so as well as to encourage undocumented residents to report crimes.</p>
<p>Police, sheriff’s deputies and jails in New Mexico often cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement concerning individuals who are felons or are charged with violent or serious crimes, including drug trafficking. But most local agencies restrict their officers from inquiring about immigration status during routine stops.</p>
<p>Another provision in the memos authorizes the use of “expedited removal” nationwide – a practice previously restricted to a zone within 100 miles of the border, which doesn’t include Albuquerque.</p>
<p>Under expedited removal, immigration officers may remove “without further hearing or review” any immigrant who they determine to be “inadmissable” under U.S. law.</p>
<p>U.S. Border Patrol apprehended more than 408,000 unlawful immigrants near the Southwest border in fiscal 2016, up 23 percent from the prior year but well below the million-plus apprehensions of a decade ago.</p>
<p>Illegal immigration, especially from Mexico, has plummeted over the past 10 years.</p>
<p>More often, migrants are arriving at the Southwest border from Central America, Brazil and other countries. Many of them are fleeing extreme violence and poverty and have made claims of “credible fear,” a precursor to applying for asylum.</p>
<p>The memos keep policies in place to interview recent arrivals for “credible fear” but also tighten guidance on who can be released into the country while awaiting a court hearing. Most immigrants will be detained, according to the memos.</p>
<p>Increased detention</p>
<p>The memos state that “lawful detention of aliens … is the most efficient means by which to enforce the immigration laws at our borders.”</p>
<p>Department of Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly has issued sweeping new guidance on immigration that broadens the government’s ability to detain and deport undocumented immigrants. (Screenshot of the doument signed by John Kelly)</p>
<p>“Policies that facilitate the release of removable aliens apprehended at and between the ports of entry, which allow them to abscond and fail to appear at their removal hearings, undermine the border security mission,” the memo says. “Such policies, collectively referred to as ‘catch-and-release,’ shall end.”</p>
<p>New Mexico has at least three detention facilities specifically designated to hold undocumented immigrants, one each in Torrance, Cibola and Otero counties. Together the facilities include at least 2,000 beds.</p>
<p>Additionally, the U.S. Marshals contract on behalf of other federal agencies for detention space in Hidalgo, Luna and Doña Ana county jails on the border; many detainees there are recent border crossers who are charged with felony illegal entry or re-entry and are awaiting sentencing at federal court in Las Cruces.</p>
<p>“The message has been made clear that the new policies are detention-centric,” said Olsi Vrapi, an Albuquerque immigration attorney. “We are seeing in practice already that our clients who would have gotten bond three weeks ago are now being denied bond.”</p>
<p>The memo hinges the expanded detention authority on the government’s establishing new detention centers and a plan with the Department of Justice to “surge the deployment of immigration judges and asylum officers.”</p>
<p>The nation’s immigration courts are overwhelmed with a backlog of more than 534,000 pending cases, according to the memo.</p>
<p>Supporting the effort</p>
<p>“I think that the restoration of serious no-nonsense immigration enforcement is the only thing that is going to make it possible for immigration reform in the future,” said Jessica Vaughan, director for policy studies at the Center for Immigration Studies, a think tank that advocates stricter immigration enforcement. “The main reason that amnesty proposals failed in the past is because people didn’t have any faith that the laws were going to be enforced.”</p>
<p>Deportations by ICE reached a peak during the Obama administration, with nearly 410,000 in fiscal 2008.</p>
<p>Nearly 3 million unauthorized immigrants were removed by ICE during the Obama years, although the pace slowed considerably during the last two years of his administration.</p>
<p>To facilitate increased enforcement, Kelly’s memos authorize ICE to hire 10,000 new officers and Border Patrol to hire 5,000 new agents.</p>
<p>Kelly also echoes Trump’s executive order by calling for the immediate “planning, design, construction and maintenance of a wall” at the southern border.</p>
<p>The memos do not specify how much implementing the new policies will cost or how DHS intends to pay for its expanded enforcement plans.</p>
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| false | 2 |
two memos dated feb 20 posted department homeland security website secretary john kelly said government target unauthorized immigrant suspected charged convicted criminal offense limit enforcement violent criminals unlawful border crossers case recent years criminal aliens demonstrated disregard rule law pose threat persons residing united states kelly said memo crossing border illegally federal crime overstaying visa civil offense memo also prioritizes misrepresented government agency abused public benefits programs judged immigration authorities pose risk public safety national security advertisement could put millions undocumented people risk said maureen meyer senior associate migrant rights washington office latin america think tank advocates immigrant rights likely separate families particularly families mixed immigration status anybody without right papers could fair game spokesman gov susana martinez republican said governor always said need strengthen border includes enforcing federal law sen tom udall dnm slammed new guidelines saying amount plan begin mass deportations unrealistic inhumane bad economy extremely inefficient use already thin resources dreamers exempt exempted new enforcement priorities young immigrants known dreamers protected executive order thenpresident barack obama known deferred action childhood arrivals daca 10500 new mexicans protected program nearly 750000 immigrants covered daca nationwide president donald trump vowed make tougher immigration enforcement keystone administration kellys two memos serve practical guidelines presidents recent executive orders border security immigration dhs officials speaking anonymously call reporters sought calm fears tuesday advertisement need sense panic communities official told washington post personnel time resources go communities round people kinds mass throwing folks buses intended produce mass roundups mass deportations vicki gaubeca executive director aclus regional center border rights las cruces said im sure say allay concerns public potential new guidance kind protections putting place instead words want allay fears clear protections local cooperation provision likely generate significant debate santa fe las cruces kelly directed federal agencies partner local law enforcement authorize qualified officers perform functions immigration officer counties statewide several years strictly limited local law enforcements ability work federal immigration authorities part legal liabilities associated well encourage undocumented residents report crimes police sheriffs deputies jails new mexico often cooperate us immigration customs enforcement concerning individuals felons charged violent serious crimes including drug trafficking local agencies restrict officers inquiring immigration status routine stops another provision memos authorizes use expedited removal nationwide practice previously restricted zone within 100 miles border doesnt include albuquerque expedited removal immigration officers may remove without hearing review immigrant determine inadmissable us law us border patrol apprehended 408000 unlawful immigrants near southwest border fiscal 2016 23 percent prior year well millionplus apprehensions decade ago illegal immigration especially mexico plummeted past 10 years often migrants arriving southwest border central america brazil countries many fleeing extreme violence poverty made claims credible fear precursor applying asylum memos keep policies place interview recent arrivals credible fear also tighten guidance released country awaiting court hearing immigrants detained according memos increased detention memos state lawful detention aliens efficient means enforce immigration laws borders department homeland security secretary john kelly issued sweeping new guidance immigration broadens governments ability detain deport undocumented immigrants screenshot doument signed john kelly policies facilitate release removable aliens apprehended ports entry allow abscond fail appear removal hearings undermine border security mission memo says policies collectively referred catchandrelease shall end new mexico least three detention facilities specifically designated hold undocumented immigrants one torrance cibola otero counties together facilities include least 2000 beds additionally us marshals contract behalf federal agencies detention space hidalgo luna doña ana county jails border many detainees recent border crossers charged felony illegal entry reentry awaiting sentencing federal court las cruces message made clear new policies detentioncentric said olsi vrapi albuquerque immigration attorney seeing practice already clients would gotten bond three weeks ago denied bond memo hinges expanded detention authority governments establishing new detention centers plan department justice surge deployment immigration judges asylum officers nations immigration courts overwhelmed backlog 534000 pending cases according memo supporting effort think restoration serious nononsense immigration enforcement thing going make possible immigration reform future said jessica vaughan director policy studies center immigration studies think tank advocates stricter immigration enforcement main reason amnesty proposals failed past people didnt faith laws going enforced deportations ice reached peak obama administration nearly 410000 fiscal 2008 nearly 3 million unauthorized immigrants removed ice obama years although pace slowed considerably last two years administration facilitate increased enforcement kellys memos authorize ice hire 10000 new officers border patrol hire 5000 new agents kelly also echoes trumps executive order calling immediate planning design construction maintenance wall southern border memos specify much implementing new policies cost dhs intends pay expanded enforcement plans
| 746 |
<p>WASHINGTON (AP) — A bipartisan agreement among a handful of senators to prevent deportation of hundreds of thousands of young immigrants includes a pathway to citizenship that would take up to 12 years.</p>
<p>The Associated Press on Saturday obtained details of the deal that includes $1.6 billion for structures including a wall for border security.</p>
<p>The agreement between three Republican and three Democratic senators would prevent deportation of hundreds of thousands of so-called Dreamers, who were brought to this country as children and are here illegally.</p>
<p>President Donald Trump and some GOP congressional leaders have said the bipartisan deal is insufficient. Its proponents — led by Sens. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. — say they are continuing to round up supporters in hopes of building momentum for their plan.</p>
<p>Political battle lines intensified following Trump's vulgar description of African nations and derogatory comments about Haiti at a White House meeting last Thursday, and its fate is uncertain.</p>
<p>A showdown was expected by Friday, the deadline for Congress approving a spending bill to prevent a government shutdown the following day. Some Democrats are threatening to withhold needed votes for the budget measure unless there's an immigration accord.</p>
<p>Some details of the bipartisan Senate compromise:</p>
<p>DREAMERS</p>
<p>Twelve-year pathway to citizenship. Can be reduced by up to two years for time in U.S. under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, the Obama-era initiative Trump wants to terminate.</p>
<p>Once Dreamers become citizens, they would not be able to sponsor their parents to also become citizens. Parents would qualify for three-year work permits, which could be renewed repeatedly.</p>
<p>BORDER SECURITY</p>
<p>$1.6 billion for designing and building structures including a wall. That's the same amount Trump requested for this year to build or replace 74 miles of fencing in Texas and California.</p>
<p>Additional $1.1 billion surveillance technology, retaining and relocating Border Patrol agents.</p>
<p>Other steps including body cameras, rescue beacons, more investigators for Border Patrol.</p>
<p>VISA LOTTERY</p>
<p>Lottery distributes up to 50,000 for visas annually to people from countries that send few immigrants to the U.S. It is a major entry way for people from African nations.</p>
<p>Instead, half those visas would go to people from "priority countries" with low rates of immigration to the U.S. Priority to applicants under a "merit-based" system. Documents did not define what those terms mean.</p>
<p>Other half of the visas would go to people currently receiving temporary protected status. It gives several hundred thousand people from countries struggling with natural disasters or armed conflicts the right to live and work in the U.S. Trump has curtailed it for people from El Salvador, Haiti, Sudan and Nicaragua.</p>
<p>WASHINGTON (AP) — A bipartisan agreement among a handful of senators to prevent deportation of hundreds of thousands of young immigrants includes a pathway to citizenship that would take up to 12 years.</p>
<p>The Associated Press on Saturday obtained details of the deal that includes $1.6 billion for structures including a wall for border security.</p>
<p>The agreement between three Republican and three Democratic senators would prevent deportation of hundreds of thousands of so-called Dreamers, who were brought to this country as children and are here illegally.</p>
<p>President Donald Trump and some GOP congressional leaders have said the bipartisan deal is insufficient. Its proponents — led by Sens. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. — say they are continuing to round up supporters in hopes of building momentum for their plan.</p>
<p>Political battle lines intensified following Trump's vulgar description of African nations and derogatory comments about Haiti at a White House meeting last Thursday, and its fate is uncertain.</p>
<p>A showdown was expected by Friday, the deadline for Congress approving a spending bill to prevent a government shutdown the following day. Some Democrats are threatening to withhold needed votes for the budget measure unless there's an immigration accord.</p>
<p>Some details of the bipartisan Senate compromise:</p>
<p>DREAMERS</p>
<p>Twelve-year pathway to citizenship. Can be reduced by up to two years for time in U.S. under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, the Obama-era initiative Trump wants to terminate.</p>
<p>Once Dreamers become citizens, they would not be able to sponsor their parents to also become citizens. Parents would qualify for three-year work permits, which could be renewed repeatedly.</p>
<p>BORDER SECURITY</p>
<p>$1.6 billion for designing and building structures including a wall. That's the same amount Trump requested for this year to build or replace 74 miles of fencing in Texas and California.</p>
<p>Additional $1.1 billion surveillance technology, retaining and relocating Border Patrol agents.</p>
<p>Other steps including body cameras, rescue beacons, more investigators for Border Patrol.</p>
<p>VISA LOTTERY</p>
<p>Lottery distributes up to 50,000 for visas annually to people from countries that send few immigrants to the U.S. It is a major entry way for people from African nations.</p>
<p>Instead, half those visas would go to people from "priority countries" with low rates of immigration to the U.S. Priority to applicants under a "merit-based" system. Documents did not define what those terms mean.</p>
<p>Other half of the visas would go to people currently receiving temporary protected status. It gives several hundred thousand people from countries struggling with natural disasters or armed conflicts the right to live and work in the U.S. Trump has curtailed it for people from El Salvador, Haiti, Sudan and Nicaragua.</p>
| false | 2 |
washington ap bipartisan agreement among handful senators prevent deportation hundreds thousands young immigrants includes pathway citizenship would take 12 years associated press saturday obtained details deal includes 16 billion structures including wall border security agreement three republican three democratic senators would prevent deportation hundreds thousands socalled dreamers brought country children illegally president donald trump gop congressional leaders said bipartisan deal insufficient proponents led sens dick durbin dill lindsey graham rsc say continuing round supporters hopes building momentum plan political battle lines intensified following trumps vulgar description african nations derogatory comments haiti white house meeting last thursday fate uncertain showdown expected friday deadline congress approving spending bill prevent government shutdown following day democrats threatening withhold needed votes budget measure unless theres immigration accord details bipartisan senate compromise dreamers twelveyear pathway citizenship reduced two years time us deferred action childhood arrivals program obamaera initiative trump wants terminate dreamers become citizens would able sponsor parents also become citizens parents would qualify threeyear work permits could renewed repeatedly border security 16 billion designing building structures including wall thats amount trump requested year build replace 74 miles fencing texas california additional 11 billion surveillance technology retaining relocating border patrol agents steps including body cameras rescue beacons investigators border patrol visa lottery lottery distributes 50000 visas annually people countries send immigrants us major entry way people african nations instead half visas would go people priority countries low rates immigration us priority applicants meritbased system documents define terms mean half visas would go people currently receiving temporary protected status gives several hundred thousand people countries struggling natural disasters armed conflicts right live work us trump curtailed people el salvador haiti sudan nicaragua washington ap bipartisan agreement among handful senators prevent deportation hundreds thousands young immigrants includes pathway citizenship would take 12 years associated press saturday obtained details deal includes 16 billion structures including wall border security agreement three republican three democratic senators would prevent deportation hundreds thousands socalled dreamers brought country children illegally president donald trump gop congressional leaders said bipartisan deal insufficient proponents led sens dick durbin dill lindsey graham rsc say continuing round supporters hopes building momentum plan political battle lines intensified following trumps vulgar description african nations derogatory comments haiti white house meeting last thursday fate uncertain showdown expected friday deadline congress approving spending bill prevent government shutdown following day democrats threatening withhold needed votes budget measure unless theres immigration accord details bipartisan senate compromise dreamers twelveyear pathway citizenship reduced two years time us deferred action childhood arrivals program obamaera initiative trump wants terminate dreamers become citizens would able sponsor parents also become citizens parents would qualify threeyear work permits could renewed repeatedly border security 16 billion designing building structures including wall thats amount trump requested year build replace 74 miles fencing texas california additional 11 billion surveillance technology retaining relocating border patrol agents steps including body cameras rescue beacons investigators border patrol visa lottery lottery distributes 50000 visas annually people countries send immigrants us major entry way people african nations instead half visas would go people priority countries low rates immigration us priority applicants meritbased system documents define terms mean half visas would go people currently receiving temporary protected status gives several hundred thousand people countries struggling natural disasters armed conflicts right live work us trump curtailed people el salvador haiti sudan nicaragua
| 550 |
<p>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on President Donald Trump (all times local):</p>
<p>9:10 p.m.</p>
<p>President Donald Trump's Homeland Security secretary is the latest GOP official to offer an inconclusive version of a meeting in which Trump is said to have used vulgar remarks that have been criticized as racist.</p>
<p>Kirstjen Nielsen testified at a congressional hearing that she "did not hear" Trump use a certain vulgarity to describe African countries. She didn't "dispute the president was using tough language."</p>
<p>New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker told Nielsen, "Your silence and your amnesia is complicity."</p>
<p>Administration officials and lawmakers spent the holiday weekend debating the precise presidential vulgarity used, and moved to cast last Thursday's White House meeting as a salty affair, with expletives flying in all directions.</p>
<p>The White House says Trump has no intention of apologizing.</p>
<p>__</p>
<p>1:50 p.m.</p>
<p>Sen. Lindsey Graham is blaming President Donald Trump's staff for the president's about-face on immigration that appeared to scuttle a compromise deal to protect from deportation young people brought to the U.S. as children and living here illegally.</p>
<p>In a hearing Tuesday, Graham said Trump had reversed course, expressing openness on an immigration deal early last Thursday, only to reject it hours later.</p>
<p>Graham says, "I think somebody on his staff gave him really bad advice between 10 o'clock to 12 o'clock on Thursday."</p>
<p>The South Carolina Republican says White House chief of staff John Kelly is "a fine man, but he's part of the staff."</p>
<p>Trump met Thursday with Graham and other key lawmakers, including Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin. Durbin says Trump used a vulgarity disparaging African countries.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>1:10 p.m.</p>
<p>Democratic Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey is harshly criticizing the Homeland Security secretary for saying she can't recall President Donald Trump using a certain vulgarity to describe African countries.</p>
<p>DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen told the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday that she couldn't remember the president using the word ascribed to him.</p>
<p>Booker says the words attributed to Trump cast a shadow over millions of Americans from those countries. He says the president's language can fester and give license to bigotry and hate in the country.</p>
<p>He tells Nielsen: "Your silence and your amnesia is complicit."</p>
<p>Nielsen says the department is going after the threat of white supremacy.</p>
<p>She says: "I would just like to say I do clearly abhor violence in all of its forms."</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>12:50 p.m.</p>
<p>President Donald Trump says he wants immigrants to come to the U.S. from "everywhere," despite having said behind closed doors that he'd prefer more immigrants from countries like Norway and not Africa.</p>
<p>Trump was responding to questions as he met with Kazakhstan's president Nursultan Nazarbayev (nur-sul-TAHN' nah-sar-BAH'-yev) at the White House on Tuesday.</p>
<p>Trump said: "We want 'em to come in from everywhere, everywhere."</p>
<p>Trump was meeting with lawmakers about a potential deal on immigration last week when he questioned why the U.S. should admit more people from Africa and Haiti. Trump also expressed a preference for immigrants from countries like Norway, which is overwhelmingly white.</p>
<p>That's according to Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin, who attended, and others who were briefed on the conversation but were not authorized to describe it publicly.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>11:30 a.m.</p>
<p>The secretary of the Homeland Security Department is testifying under oath that she "did not hear" President Donald Trump use a certain vulgarity to describe African countries. But she says she doesn't "dispute the president was using tough language."</p>
<p>Trump has been accused of using the word "shithole" to describe African countries during an Oval Office meeting Thursday with a bipartisan group of six senators, according to people briefed on the conversation.</p>
<p>DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen is testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., asked her specifically if she heard the vulgarity used or a "substantially similar word" to describe certain countries.</p>
<p>Nielsen says the conversation was impassioned and the president was using tough language. She says "others in the room were also using tough language."</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>This item has been corrected to show that Nielsen is secretary of DHS, not HHS.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>10:40 a.m.</p>
<p>Democratic Sen. Richard Durbin is standing by his description of last week's White House immigration meeting at which he and others have said President Donald Trump described African nations with a profanity.</p>
<p>Asked Tuesday about Trump and some Republicans challenging his honesty, Durbin tells reporters, "Politics ain't beanbag. I understand that. But I'll tell you this: I stand by every word I said about what was said and what happened."</p>
<p>The Illinois Democrat says he and a handful of other senators who crafted a bipartisan immigration deal are working to win over additional supporters.</p>
<p>Trump and some Republicans have said the senators' agreement is insufficient.</p>
<p>Durbin says he wants Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to let the Senate debate the immigration measure this week as lawmakers try figuring out by Friday how to avoid a government shutdown.</p>
<p>__</p>
<p>9:15 a.m.</p>
<p>White House press secretary Sarah Sanders says President Donald Trump is "not going to apologize for trying to fix our immigration system," as the fall-out continues from Trump's reported use of a vulgarity to describe some African countries.</p>
<p>Sanders tells reporters that Trump "hasn't said he didn't use strong language" in the meeting with bipartisan in the heated immigration debate last week. He was said to have used "shithole" to describe some nations in Africa.</p>
<p>Responding to Democrats' assertions that Trump's comments were "racist," Sanders calls the claim "outrageous," citing their previous embrace of Trump. She said: "Why did NBC give him a show for a decade on TV. Why did Chuck Schumer and all of his colleagues come and beg Donald Trump for money?"</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>12:30 a.m.</p>
<p>President Donald Trump tweets that Sen. Dick Durbin misrepresented what he had said about African nations and Haiti and, in the process, undermined the trust needed to make a deal.</p>
<p>Several people who were at the meeting last week or familiar with the discussions, said Trump disparaged those countries in vulgar, racially tinged terms.</p>
<p>Without explicitly denying using the vulgarity, Trump on Monday lashed out at the Democratic senator, who said Trump uttered it on several occasions.</p>
<p>Durbin said Monday the White House should release whatever recording it might have of the meeting.</p>
<p>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on President Donald Trump (all times local):</p>
<p>9:10 p.m.</p>
<p>President Donald Trump's Homeland Security secretary is the latest GOP official to offer an inconclusive version of a meeting in which Trump is said to have used vulgar remarks that have been criticized as racist.</p>
<p>Kirstjen Nielsen testified at a congressional hearing that she "did not hear" Trump use a certain vulgarity to describe African countries. She didn't "dispute the president was using tough language."</p>
<p>New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker told Nielsen, "Your silence and your amnesia is complicity."</p>
<p>Administration officials and lawmakers spent the holiday weekend debating the precise presidential vulgarity used, and moved to cast last Thursday's White House meeting as a salty affair, with expletives flying in all directions.</p>
<p>The White House says Trump has no intention of apologizing.</p>
<p>__</p>
<p>1:50 p.m.</p>
<p>Sen. Lindsey Graham is blaming President Donald Trump's staff for the president's about-face on immigration that appeared to scuttle a compromise deal to protect from deportation young people brought to the U.S. as children and living here illegally.</p>
<p>In a hearing Tuesday, Graham said Trump had reversed course, expressing openness on an immigration deal early last Thursday, only to reject it hours later.</p>
<p>Graham says, "I think somebody on his staff gave him really bad advice between 10 o'clock to 12 o'clock on Thursday."</p>
<p>The South Carolina Republican says White House chief of staff John Kelly is "a fine man, but he's part of the staff."</p>
<p>Trump met Thursday with Graham and other key lawmakers, including Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin. Durbin says Trump used a vulgarity disparaging African countries.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>1:10 p.m.</p>
<p>Democratic Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey is harshly criticizing the Homeland Security secretary for saying she can't recall President Donald Trump using a certain vulgarity to describe African countries.</p>
<p>DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen told the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday that she couldn't remember the president using the word ascribed to him.</p>
<p>Booker says the words attributed to Trump cast a shadow over millions of Americans from those countries. He says the president's language can fester and give license to bigotry and hate in the country.</p>
<p>He tells Nielsen: "Your silence and your amnesia is complicit."</p>
<p>Nielsen says the department is going after the threat of white supremacy.</p>
<p>She says: "I would just like to say I do clearly abhor violence in all of its forms."</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>12:50 p.m.</p>
<p>President Donald Trump says he wants immigrants to come to the U.S. from "everywhere," despite having said behind closed doors that he'd prefer more immigrants from countries like Norway and not Africa.</p>
<p>Trump was responding to questions as he met with Kazakhstan's president Nursultan Nazarbayev (nur-sul-TAHN' nah-sar-BAH'-yev) at the White House on Tuesday.</p>
<p>Trump said: "We want 'em to come in from everywhere, everywhere."</p>
<p>Trump was meeting with lawmakers about a potential deal on immigration last week when he questioned why the U.S. should admit more people from Africa and Haiti. Trump also expressed a preference for immigrants from countries like Norway, which is overwhelmingly white.</p>
<p>That's according to Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin, who attended, and others who were briefed on the conversation but were not authorized to describe it publicly.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>11:30 a.m.</p>
<p>The secretary of the Homeland Security Department is testifying under oath that she "did not hear" President Donald Trump use a certain vulgarity to describe African countries. But she says she doesn't "dispute the president was using tough language."</p>
<p>Trump has been accused of using the word "shithole" to describe African countries during an Oval Office meeting Thursday with a bipartisan group of six senators, according to people briefed on the conversation.</p>
<p>DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen is testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., asked her specifically if she heard the vulgarity used or a "substantially similar word" to describe certain countries.</p>
<p>Nielsen says the conversation was impassioned and the president was using tough language. She says "others in the room were also using tough language."</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>This item has been corrected to show that Nielsen is secretary of DHS, not HHS.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>10:40 a.m.</p>
<p>Democratic Sen. Richard Durbin is standing by his description of last week's White House immigration meeting at which he and others have said President Donald Trump described African nations with a profanity.</p>
<p>Asked Tuesday about Trump and some Republicans challenging his honesty, Durbin tells reporters, "Politics ain't beanbag. I understand that. But I'll tell you this: I stand by every word I said about what was said and what happened."</p>
<p>The Illinois Democrat says he and a handful of other senators who crafted a bipartisan immigration deal are working to win over additional supporters.</p>
<p>Trump and some Republicans have said the senators' agreement is insufficient.</p>
<p>Durbin says he wants Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to let the Senate debate the immigration measure this week as lawmakers try figuring out by Friday how to avoid a government shutdown.</p>
<p>__</p>
<p>9:15 a.m.</p>
<p>White House press secretary Sarah Sanders says President Donald Trump is "not going to apologize for trying to fix our immigration system," as the fall-out continues from Trump's reported use of a vulgarity to describe some African countries.</p>
<p>Sanders tells reporters that Trump "hasn't said he didn't use strong language" in the meeting with bipartisan in the heated immigration debate last week. He was said to have used "shithole" to describe some nations in Africa.</p>
<p>Responding to Democrats' assertions that Trump's comments were "racist," Sanders calls the claim "outrageous," citing their previous embrace of Trump. She said: "Why did NBC give him a show for a decade on TV. Why did Chuck Schumer and all of his colleagues come and beg Donald Trump for money?"</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>12:30 a.m.</p>
<p>President Donald Trump tweets that Sen. Dick Durbin misrepresented what he had said about African nations and Haiti and, in the process, undermined the trust needed to make a deal.</p>
<p>Several people who were at the meeting last week or familiar with the discussions, said Trump disparaged those countries in vulgar, racially tinged terms.</p>
<p>Without explicitly denying using the vulgarity, Trump on Monday lashed out at the Democratic senator, who said Trump uttered it on several occasions.</p>
<p>Durbin said Monday the White House should release whatever recording it might have of the meeting.</p>
| false | 2 |
washington ap latest president donald trump times local 910 pm president donald trumps homeland security secretary latest gop official offer inconclusive version meeting trump said used vulgar remarks criticized racist kirstjen nielsen testified congressional hearing hear trump use certain vulgarity describe african countries didnt dispute president using tough language new jersey sen cory booker told nielsen silence amnesia complicity administration officials lawmakers spent holiday weekend debating precise presidential vulgarity used moved cast last thursdays white house meeting salty affair expletives flying directions white house says trump intention apologizing __ 150 pm sen lindsey graham blaming president donald trumps staff presidents aboutface immigration appeared scuttle compromise deal protect deportation young people brought us children living illegally hearing tuesday graham said trump reversed course expressing openness immigration deal early last thursday reject hours later graham says think somebody staff gave really bad advice 10 oclock 12 oclock thursday south carolina republican says white house chief staff john kelly fine man hes part staff trump met thursday graham key lawmakers including democratic sen dick durbin durbin says trump used vulgarity disparaging african countries ___ 110 pm democratic sen cory booker new jersey harshly criticizing homeland security secretary saying cant recall president donald trump using certain vulgarity describe african countries dhs secretary kirstjen nielsen told senate judiciary committee tuesday couldnt remember president using word ascribed booker says words attributed trump cast shadow millions americans countries says presidents language fester give license bigotry hate country tells nielsen silence amnesia complicit nielsen says department going threat white supremacy says would like say clearly abhor violence forms ___ 1250 pm president donald trump says wants immigrants come us everywhere despite said behind closed doors hed prefer immigrants countries like norway africa trump responding questions met kazakhstans president nursultan nazarbayev nursultahn nahsarbahyev white house tuesday trump said want em come everywhere everywhere trump meeting lawmakers potential deal immigration last week questioned us admit people africa haiti trump also expressed preference immigrants countries like norway overwhelmingly white thats according democratic sen dick durbin attended others briefed conversation authorized describe publicly ___ 1130 secretary homeland security department testifying oath hear president donald trump use certain vulgarity describe african countries says doesnt dispute president using tough language trump accused using word shithole describe african countries oval office meeting thursday bipartisan group six senators according people briefed conversation dhs secretary kirstjen nielsen testifying senate judiciary committee sen patrick leahy dvt asked specifically heard vulgarity used substantially similar word describe certain countries nielsen says conversation impassioned president using tough language says others room also using tough language ___ item corrected show nielsen secretary dhs hhs ___ 1040 democratic sen richard durbin standing description last weeks white house immigration meeting others said president donald trump described african nations profanity asked tuesday trump republicans challenging honesty durbin tells reporters politics aint beanbag understand ill tell stand every word said said happened illinois democrat says handful senators crafted bipartisan immigration deal working win additional supporters trump republicans said senators agreement insufficient durbin says wants senate majority leader mitch mcconnell let senate debate immigration measure week lawmakers try figuring friday avoid government shutdown __ 915 white house press secretary sarah sanders says president donald trump going apologize trying fix immigration system fallout continues trumps reported use vulgarity describe african countries sanders tells reporters trump hasnt said didnt use strong language meeting bipartisan heated immigration debate last week said used shithole describe nations africa responding democrats assertions trumps comments racist sanders calls claim outrageous citing previous embrace trump said nbc give show decade tv chuck schumer colleagues come beg donald trump money ___ 1230 president donald trump tweets sen dick durbin misrepresented said african nations haiti process undermined trust needed make deal several people meeting last week familiar discussions said trump disparaged countries vulgar racially tinged terms without explicitly denying using vulgarity trump monday lashed democratic senator said trump uttered several occasions durbin said monday white house release whatever recording might meeting washington ap latest president donald trump times local 910 pm president donald trumps homeland security secretary latest gop official offer inconclusive version meeting trump said used vulgar remarks criticized racist kirstjen nielsen testified congressional hearing hear trump use certain vulgarity describe african countries didnt dispute president using tough language new jersey sen cory booker told nielsen silence amnesia complicity administration officials lawmakers spent holiday weekend debating precise presidential vulgarity used moved cast last thursdays white house meeting salty affair expletives flying directions white house says trump intention apologizing __ 150 pm sen lindsey graham blaming president donald trumps staff presidents aboutface immigration appeared scuttle compromise deal protect deportation young people brought us children living illegally hearing tuesday graham said trump reversed course expressing openness immigration deal early last thursday reject hours later graham says think somebody staff gave really bad advice 10 oclock 12 oclock thursday south carolina republican says white house chief staff john kelly fine man hes part staff trump met thursday graham key lawmakers including democratic sen dick durbin durbin says trump used vulgarity disparaging african countries ___ 110 pm democratic sen cory booker new jersey harshly criticizing homeland security secretary saying cant recall president donald trump using certain vulgarity describe african countries dhs secretary kirstjen nielsen told senate judiciary committee tuesday couldnt remember president using word ascribed booker says words attributed trump cast shadow millions americans countries says presidents language fester give license bigotry hate country tells nielsen silence amnesia complicit nielsen says department going threat white supremacy says would like say clearly abhor violence forms ___ 1250 pm president donald trump says wants immigrants come us everywhere despite said behind closed doors hed prefer immigrants countries like norway africa trump responding questions met kazakhstans president nursultan nazarbayev nursultahn nahsarbahyev white house tuesday trump said want em come everywhere everywhere trump meeting lawmakers potential deal immigration last week questioned us admit people africa haiti trump also expressed preference immigrants countries like norway overwhelmingly white thats according democratic sen dick durbin attended others briefed conversation authorized describe publicly ___ 1130 secretary homeland security department testifying oath hear president donald trump use certain vulgarity describe african countries says doesnt dispute president using tough language trump accused using word shithole describe african countries oval office meeting thursday bipartisan group six senators according people briefed conversation dhs secretary kirstjen nielsen testifying senate judiciary committee sen patrick leahy dvt asked specifically heard vulgarity used substantially similar word describe certain countries nielsen says conversation impassioned president using tough language says others room also using tough language ___ item corrected show nielsen secretary dhs hhs ___ 1040 democratic sen richard durbin standing description last weeks white house immigration meeting others said president donald trump described african nations profanity asked tuesday trump republicans challenging honesty durbin tells reporters politics aint beanbag understand ill tell stand every word said said happened illinois democrat says handful senators crafted bipartisan immigration deal working win additional supporters trump republicans said senators agreement insufficient durbin says wants senate majority leader mitch mcconnell let senate debate immigration measure week lawmakers try figuring friday avoid government shutdown __ 915 white house press secretary sarah sanders says president donald trump going apologize trying fix immigration system fallout continues trumps reported use vulgarity describe african countries sanders tells reporters trump hasnt said didnt use strong language meeting bipartisan heated immigration debate last week said used shithole describe nations africa responding democrats assertions trumps comments racist sanders calls claim outrageous citing previous embrace trump said nbc give show decade tv chuck schumer colleagues come beg donald trump money ___ 1230 president donald trump tweets sen dick durbin misrepresented said african nations haiti process undermined trust needed make deal several people meeting last week familiar discussions said trump disparaged countries vulgar racially tinged terms without explicitly denying using vulgarity trump monday lashed democratic senator said trump uttered several occasions durbin said monday white house release whatever recording might meeting
| 1,308 |
<p>Leftovers! Some folks love them, others happily scrape them into the trash. Me, I’m on the love team. Leftovers speak to me. I’d always rather start a meal with a fridge full of tasty bits of this and that than have to confront a blank canvas of raw ingredients. This recipe tackles one particular challenge: how to repurpose leftover cooked chops, steaks, or roasts.</p>
<p>The answer? Turn them into burgers. “Wait a minute,” you say. “They’ve already been cooked once. Won’t they be dry as dust if you turn them into burgers and cook them again?” Nope, not if you combine the leftover meat with some moist ingredients, such as the spinach and feta cheese listed here.</p>
<p>For Spinach and Feta Burgers with Cucumber Yogurt Sauce, start with 12 ounces of cooked meat — pork, beef or lamb — trimmed of excess fat and any sinew. Cut the meat into cubes roughly 1 inch per side, then pulse in a food processor to chop it to burger consistency. (Be careful not to leave your finger on the pulse button for too long; you don’t want to end up with baby food.) Add the moist ingredients, along with an egg and a bit of panko to bind it all up. If you’re no fan of spinach and feta, you can substitute other cooked (and finely chopped) vegetables and/or cheese.</p>
<p>If you have time, make the burgers early in the day and chill them for a few hours before cooking. This will help them to hold their shape. If you don’t have the time, don’t worry. Just take care to turn them gently as they cook.</p>
<p>One last note: The sauce is a wonderful complement, but you’re welcome to lose it if it doesn’t appeal to you. The burgers are plenty tasty without it.</p>
<p>This recipe’s true miracle is transforming a mere 12 ounces of meat into six full dinner portions, allowing you to save money as well as food. And the new dish is so different from the original that no one will pipe up to say, “What, leftovers again!?”</p>
<p>Spinach and Feta Burgers with Cucumber Yogurt Sauce</p>
<p>Start to finish: 50 minutes (30 hands on)</p>
<p>For the sauce:</p>
<p>A 6-inch piece of English cucumber (the long, thin kind)</p>
<p>Kosher salt</p>
<p>1 cup plain Greek yogurt</p>
<p>1 teaspoon minced garlic</p>
<p>For the burgers:</p>
<p>3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided</p>
<p>5 ounces baby spinach</p>
<p>Kosher salt</p>
<p>1 teaspoon minced garlic</p>
<p>1/4 teaspoon hot pepper flakes, optional</p>
<p>1 large egg</p>
<p>12 ounces trimmed cooked lamb or pork chop meat or cooked steak, or leftover roast meat</p>
<p>3 ounces coarsely crumbled feta cheese</p>
<p>3/4 cup panko bread crumbs</p>
<p>6 pita halves</p>
<p>Shredded romaine lettuce and sliced tomatoes for garnish</p>
<p>Make the sauce: Peel, halve lengthwise and seed the cucumber. Coarsely shred it and in a medium bowl toss it with a pinch of salt. Let the cucumber stand for 10 minutes and then add the yogurt, garlic, additional salt to taste; stir well.</p>
<p>In a large nonstick skillet heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over medium-high heat until hot. Add the spinach and a pinch of salt and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the garlic and hot pepper flakes, if using, and cook, stirring, until all of the spinach is wilted, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a shallow bowl and cool to room temperature in the refrigerator. Wipe out and reserve the skillet.</p>
<p>In a food processor, process the egg until it is lightly beaten. Cut the lamb into 1-inch pieces and add it to the food processor. Pulse 6 to 8 times or until the meat is chopped into medium-fine pieces. Add the feta, cooled spinach mixture and 1/4 cup of the bread crumbs and pulse two or three times or until just mixed.</p>
<p>Shape the mixture into six burgers. Spread out the remaining bread crumbs in a soup or pie plate. Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil in the reserved large skillet over medium heat until hot. Dip the burgers into the crumbs to coat them lightly on all sides; shake off any excess crumbs. Add the burgers to the skillet and cook until golden and heated through, about 3 minutes a side.</p>
<p>Transfer the burgers to the pita halves and spoon some of the sauce over each burger. Garnish with the lettuce and tomatoes. Makes 6 servings.</p>
<p>Nutritional information per serving: 331 calories; 141 calories from fat; 16 g fat (6 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 50 mg cholesterol; 593 mg sodium; 26 g carbohydrates; 2 g fiber; 2 g sugar; 19 g protein.</p>
<p>___________________</p>
<p>EDITOR’S NOTE: Sara Moulton is host of public television’s “Sara’s Weeknight Meals.” She was executive chef at Gourmet magazine for nearly 25 years and spent a decade hosting several Food Network shows including “Cooking Live.” Her latest cookbook is “HomeCooking 101.”</p>
<p>Leftovers! Some folks love them, others happily scrape them into the trash. Me, I’m on the love team. Leftovers speak to me. I’d always rather start a meal with a fridge full of tasty bits of this and that than have to confront a blank canvas of raw ingredients. This recipe tackles one particular challenge: how to repurpose leftover cooked chops, steaks, or roasts.</p>
<p>The answer? Turn them into burgers. “Wait a minute,” you say. “They’ve already been cooked once. Won’t they be dry as dust if you turn them into burgers and cook them again?” Nope, not if you combine the leftover meat with some moist ingredients, such as the spinach and feta cheese listed here.</p>
<p>For Spinach and Feta Burgers with Cucumber Yogurt Sauce, start with 12 ounces of cooked meat — pork, beef or lamb — trimmed of excess fat and any sinew. Cut the meat into cubes roughly 1 inch per side, then pulse in a food processor to chop it to burger consistency. (Be careful not to leave your finger on the pulse button for too long; you don’t want to end up with baby food.) Add the moist ingredients, along with an egg and a bit of panko to bind it all up. If you’re no fan of spinach and feta, you can substitute other cooked (and finely chopped) vegetables and/or cheese.</p>
<p>If you have time, make the burgers early in the day and chill them for a few hours before cooking. This will help them to hold their shape. If you don’t have the time, don’t worry. Just take care to turn them gently as they cook.</p>
<p>One last note: The sauce is a wonderful complement, but you’re welcome to lose it if it doesn’t appeal to you. The burgers are plenty tasty without it.</p>
<p>This recipe’s true miracle is transforming a mere 12 ounces of meat into six full dinner portions, allowing you to save money as well as food. And the new dish is so different from the original that no one will pipe up to say, “What, leftovers again!?”</p>
<p>Spinach and Feta Burgers with Cucumber Yogurt Sauce</p>
<p>Start to finish: 50 minutes (30 hands on)</p>
<p>For the sauce:</p>
<p>A 6-inch piece of English cucumber (the long, thin kind)</p>
<p>Kosher salt</p>
<p>1 cup plain Greek yogurt</p>
<p>1 teaspoon minced garlic</p>
<p>For the burgers:</p>
<p>3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided</p>
<p>5 ounces baby spinach</p>
<p>Kosher salt</p>
<p>1 teaspoon minced garlic</p>
<p>1/4 teaspoon hot pepper flakes, optional</p>
<p>1 large egg</p>
<p>12 ounces trimmed cooked lamb or pork chop meat or cooked steak, or leftover roast meat</p>
<p>3 ounces coarsely crumbled feta cheese</p>
<p>3/4 cup panko bread crumbs</p>
<p>6 pita halves</p>
<p>Shredded romaine lettuce and sliced tomatoes for garnish</p>
<p>Make the sauce: Peel, halve lengthwise and seed the cucumber. Coarsely shred it and in a medium bowl toss it with a pinch of salt. Let the cucumber stand for 10 minutes and then add the yogurt, garlic, additional salt to taste; stir well.</p>
<p>In a large nonstick skillet heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over medium-high heat until hot. Add the spinach and a pinch of salt and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the garlic and hot pepper flakes, if using, and cook, stirring, until all of the spinach is wilted, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a shallow bowl and cool to room temperature in the refrigerator. Wipe out and reserve the skillet.</p>
<p>In a food processor, process the egg until it is lightly beaten. Cut the lamb into 1-inch pieces and add it to the food processor. Pulse 6 to 8 times or until the meat is chopped into medium-fine pieces. Add the feta, cooled spinach mixture and 1/4 cup of the bread crumbs and pulse two or three times or until just mixed.</p>
<p>Shape the mixture into six burgers. Spread out the remaining bread crumbs in a soup or pie plate. Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil in the reserved large skillet over medium heat until hot. Dip the burgers into the crumbs to coat them lightly on all sides; shake off any excess crumbs. Add the burgers to the skillet and cook until golden and heated through, about 3 minutes a side.</p>
<p>Transfer the burgers to the pita halves and spoon some of the sauce over each burger. Garnish with the lettuce and tomatoes. Makes 6 servings.</p>
<p>Nutritional information per serving: 331 calories; 141 calories from fat; 16 g fat (6 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 50 mg cholesterol; 593 mg sodium; 26 g carbohydrates; 2 g fiber; 2 g sugar; 19 g protein.</p>
<p>___________________</p>
<p>EDITOR’S NOTE: Sara Moulton is host of public television’s “Sara’s Weeknight Meals.” She was executive chef at Gourmet magazine for nearly 25 years and spent a decade hosting several Food Network shows including “Cooking Live.” Her latest cookbook is “HomeCooking 101.”</p>
| false | 2 |
leftovers folks love others happily scrape trash im love team leftovers speak id always rather start meal fridge full tasty bits confront blank canvas raw ingredients recipe tackles one particular challenge repurpose leftover cooked chops steaks roasts answer turn burgers wait minute say theyve already cooked wont dry dust turn burgers cook nope combine leftover meat moist ingredients spinach feta cheese listed spinach feta burgers cucumber yogurt sauce start 12 ounces cooked meat pork beef lamb trimmed excess fat sinew cut meat cubes roughly 1 inch per side pulse food processor chop burger consistency careful leave finger pulse button long dont want end baby food add moist ingredients along egg bit panko bind youre fan spinach feta substitute cooked finely chopped vegetables andor cheese time make burgers early day chill hours cooking help hold shape dont time dont worry take care turn gently cook one last note sauce wonderful complement youre welcome lose doesnt appeal burgers plenty tasty without recipes true miracle transforming mere 12 ounces meat six full dinner portions allowing save money well food new dish different original one pipe say leftovers spinach feta burgers cucumber yogurt sauce start finish 50 minutes 30 hands sauce 6inch piece english cucumber long thin kind kosher salt 1 cup plain greek yogurt 1 teaspoon minced garlic burgers 3 tablespoons extravirgin olive oil divided 5 ounces baby spinach kosher salt 1 teaspoon minced garlic 14 teaspoon hot pepper flakes optional 1 large egg 12 ounces trimmed cooked lamb pork chop meat cooked steak leftover roast meat 3 ounces coarsely crumbled feta cheese 34 cup panko bread crumbs 6 pita halves shredded romaine lettuce sliced tomatoes garnish make sauce peel halve lengthwise seed cucumber coarsely shred medium bowl toss pinch salt let cucumber stand 10 minutes add yogurt garlic additional salt taste stir well large nonstick skillet heat 1 tablespoon oil mediumhigh heat hot add spinach pinch salt cook stirring 1 minute add garlic hot pepper flakes using cook stirring spinach wilted 1 12 2 minutes transfer mixture shallow bowl cool room temperature refrigerator wipe reserve skillet food processor process egg lightly beaten cut lamb 1inch pieces add food processor pulse 6 8 times meat chopped mediumfine pieces add feta cooled spinach mixture 14 cup bread crumbs pulse two three times mixed shape mixture six burgers spread remaining bread crumbs soup pie plate heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil reserved large skillet medium heat hot dip burgers crumbs coat lightly sides shake excess crumbs add burgers skillet cook golden heated 3 minutes side transfer burgers pita halves spoon sauce burger garnish lettuce tomatoes makes 6 servings nutritional information per serving 331 calories 141 calories fat 16 g fat 6 g saturated 0 g trans fats 50 mg cholesterol 593 mg sodium 26 g carbohydrates 2 g fiber 2 g sugar 19 g protein ___________________ editors note sara moulton host public televisions saras weeknight meals executive chef gourmet magazine nearly 25 years spent decade hosting several food network shows including cooking live latest cookbook homecooking 101 leftovers folks love others happily scrape trash im love team leftovers speak id always rather start meal fridge full tasty bits confront blank canvas raw ingredients recipe tackles one particular challenge repurpose leftover cooked chops steaks roasts answer turn burgers wait minute say theyve already cooked wont dry dust turn burgers cook nope combine leftover meat moist ingredients spinach feta cheese listed spinach feta burgers cucumber yogurt sauce start 12 ounces cooked meat pork beef lamb trimmed excess fat sinew cut meat cubes roughly 1 inch per side pulse food processor chop burger consistency careful leave finger pulse button long dont want end baby food add moist ingredients along egg bit panko bind youre fan spinach feta substitute cooked finely chopped vegetables andor cheese time make burgers early day chill hours cooking help hold shape dont time dont worry take care turn gently cook one last note sauce wonderful complement youre welcome lose doesnt appeal burgers plenty tasty without recipes true miracle transforming mere 12 ounces meat six full dinner portions allowing save money well food new dish different original one pipe say leftovers spinach feta burgers cucumber yogurt sauce start finish 50 minutes 30 hands sauce 6inch piece english cucumber long thin kind kosher salt 1 cup plain greek yogurt 1 teaspoon minced garlic burgers 3 tablespoons extravirgin olive oil divided 5 ounces baby spinach kosher salt 1 teaspoon minced garlic 14 teaspoon hot pepper flakes optional 1 large egg 12 ounces trimmed cooked lamb pork chop meat cooked steak leftover roast meat 3 ounces coarsely crumbled feta cheese 34 cup panko bread crumbs 6 pita halves shredded romaine lettuce sliced tomatoes garnish make sauce peel halve lengthwise seed cucumber coarsely shred medium bowl toss pinch salt let cucumber stand 10 minutes add yogurt garlic additional salt taste stir well large nonstick skillet heat 1 tablespoon oil mediumhigh heat hot add spinach pinch salt cook stirring 1 minute add garlic hot pepper flakes using cook stirring spinach wilted 1 12 2 minutes transfer mixture shallow bowl cool room temperature refrigerator wipe reserve skillet food processor process egg lightly beaten cut lamb 1inch pieces add food processor pulse 6 8 times meat chopped mediumfine pieces add feta cooled spinach mixture 14 cup bread crumbs pulse two three times mixed shape mixture six burgers spread remaining bread crumbs soup pie plate heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil reserved large skillet medium heat hot dip burgers crumbs coat lightly sides shake excess crumbs add burgers skillet cook golden heated 3 minutes side transfer burgers pita halves spoon sauce burger garnish lettuce tomatoes makes 6 servings nutritional information per serving 331 calories 141 calories fat 16 g fat 6 g saturated 0 g trans fats 50 mg cholesterol 593 mg sodium 26 g carbohydrates 2 g fiber 2 g sugar 19 g protein ___________________ editors note sara moulton host public televisions saras weeknight meals executive chef gourmet magazine nearly 25 years spent decade hosting several food network shows including cooking live latest cookbook homecooking 101
| 1,002 |
<p>(Adds Chevron comment)</p>
<p>ABUJA, Jan 24 (Reuters) - Nigeria will hold an investigation into alleged corruption involving the state oil firm’s long-awaited Brass LNG project, including questions over the use of government funds.</p>
<p>The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation’s (NNPC) liquefied natural gas project has been stuck in the planning stages for more than a decade, with some Western partners having pulled out because of tough operating conditions and an unfavourable investment environment.</p>
<p>Nigeria’s Senate, the West African nation’s upper legislative house, voted on Wednesday to launch the investigation of Brass LNG and its banking records, the Senate motion document showed.</p>
<p>A spokesman for NNPC said the company has not received an invitation from the Senate regarding the investigation, declining to provide further comment.</p>
<p>The Brass LNG company was originally set up in 2003, with NNPC owning 49 percent and affiliates of Conoco Phillips , ENI and Chevron each holding 17 percent, according to the Senate motion, citing corporate records.</p>
<p>Chevron pulled out of the project in 2006 and no longer has an interest, a company spokeswoman said. Conoco Phillips has also dropped out of the project.</p>
<p>In 2008 Total said that it had taken a stake in Brass LNG, without specifying the size.</p>
<p>A spokeswoman for ENI declined to provide immediate comment. Total and Conoco Phillips did not respond immediately to emails seeking comment.</p>
<p>According to the Senate motion, while Brass LNG’s bank account was intended to be held by the Central Bank of Nigeria, corporate records show it is with Keystone Bank.</p>
<p>The Senate documents said that the most recent deposit into the account was $648 million in September 2016 and that it currently holds $137 million. It did not provide detail on the discrepancy between the September 2016 deposit and the current balance.</p>
<p>A Senate committee will examine investments into Brass LNG, returns for the federal government, whether due process was followed and the signatories to the bank account. It is due to report back in four weeks.</p>
<p>Adding to challenges faced by investors, the Brass LNG project, which was to have annual capacity of 10 million tonnes, also suffered from a lack of dedicated gas reserves to underpin 20-year supply deals. (Reporting by Camillus Eboh; Additional reporting by Oleg Vukmanovic in London; Writing by Paul Carsten; Editing by David Goodman)</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>AUSTIN/SCHERTZ, Texas (Reuters) - A package bomb blew up at a FedEx Corp distribution center near San Antonio on Tuesday, officials said, and the FBI was investigating whether it was linked to a series of four homemade bombs that hit the Texas capital of Austin this month.</p>
<p>Officials did not say if the latest incident was the work of what Austin police believe could be a serial bomber responsible for the four earlier devices that killed two people and injured four others.</p>
<p>The blast at the FedEx facility in Schertz was the fifth in the state in the last 18 days. If it is linked to the others, it would be the first outside the Austin area and the first that involves a commercial parcel service.</p>
<p>Police discovered another package at the same location that they believe is also loaded with an explosive device, San Antonio Police Chief Bill McManus told reporters.</p>
<p>“There was one other package that we believe was also loaded with an explosive device that they are looking at right now,” McManus told reporters in Schertz, which is about 20 miles northeast of San Antonio.</p> An officer with Schertz Police Department holds a FedEx truck from entering the scene of a blast at a FedEx facility in Schertz, Texas, U.S., March 20, 2018. REUTERS/Sergio Flores
<p>The blast knocked a female employee off her feet and may have caused a concussion, McManus said. Federal officials on the scene said she had ringing in her ears and was treated and released.</p>
<p>The package, filled with nails and metal shrapnel, exploded shortly after midnight local time at the facility, about 65 miles south of Austin, the San Antonio Fire Department said on Twitter.</p> Slideshow (10 Images)
<p>The company described it as a FedEx Ground sorting facility. About 75 people were working at the facility at the time, fire officials said.</p>
<p>The individual or people behind the bombings are likely to be highly skilled and methodical, said Fred Burton, chief security officer for Stratfor, a private intelligence and security consulting firm based in Austin.</p> Related Coverage
<a href="/article/us-texas-blast-whitehouse/no-known-link-to-terrorism-in-texas-bombings-white-house-idUSKBN1GW293" type="external">No known link to terrorism in Texas bombings: White House</a>
<p>“This is a race against time to find him before he bombs again,” Burton said.</p>
<p>The bombings in Austin did not appear to be linked to terrorism, White House spokesman Sarah Sanders said on Twitter on Tuesday.</p>
<p>Additional reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee and Lisa Lambert in Washington; Writing by Scott Malone and Daniel Trotta; Editing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg and Jeffrey Benkoe</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>NEW YORK/CHICAGO (Reuters) - U.S. film and TV studio The Weinstein Company, whose ex-Chairman Harvey Weinstein has been accused of sexual harassment and assault, filed for bankruptcy on Monday and said it was ending all non-disclosure agreements that may have silenced some women.</p>
<p>The filing in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware follows accusations by more than 70 women against the company’s co-founder, Harvey Weinstein, who was one of Hollywood’s most influential men, of sexual misconduct, including rape. Weinstein has denied having non-consensual sex with anyone.</p>
<p>The women who spoke out against Weinstein spurred a national movement against sexual harassment, with victims sharing their stories on social media and labeling them under the hashtag #MeToo.</p>
<p>Texas private equity firm Lantern Capital agreed to buy Weinstein Company out of bankruptcy for $310 million. The firm's offer, saving the studio from winding down its business, will be subject to higher and better bids in a court-supervised auction scheduled for May 2. <a href="http://bit.ly/2prGdNm" type="external">bit.ly/2prGdNm</a></p>
<p>The deadline for other bids is April 30.</p>
<p>Lantern had been a potential investor in former Obama administration official Maria Contreras-Sweet’s bid for the studio, which was ultimately terminated.</p>
<p>The Weinstein Company’s bankruptcy will halt victim’s lawsuits against the company and any sexual misconduct claims would likely only be compensated after secured creditors are paid in full. Maria Contreras-Sweet’s bid for the studio included a $80-90 million compensation fund that would supplement any insurance payouts victims would receive.</p>
<p>The Weinstein Company, which has won 28 Academy Awards, owns a film library of 277 feature films that have generated over $2 billion in aggregate box office receipts worldwide.</p>
<p>Yet the company said in court papers it has lost about 25 percent of its workforce and many of its long time business partners since October 2017, when accusations against Harvey Weinstein became public.</p>
<p>“It is an understatement to say that the last six months have been trying for the company,” Chief Restructuring Officer Robert Del Genio said in court papers.</p> FILE PHOTO - Harvey Weinstein speaks at the UBS 40th Annual Global Media and Communications Conference in New York, December 5, 2012. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri
<p>As part of the bankruptcy filing, the Weinstein Company said it released anyone “who suffered or witnessed any form of sexual misconduct by Harvey Weinstein” from nondisclosure agreements.</p>
<p>“Since October, it has been reported that Harvey Weinstein used non-disclosure agreements as a secret weapon to silence his accusers. Effective immediately, those ‘agreements’ end,” the company said in an emailed statement.</p>
<p>In February, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman sued The Weinstein Company, Harvey Weinstein and his brother Bob Weinstein, alleging that Harvey Weinstein sexually harassed employees and the company failed to respond. Bob Weinstein co-founded the company and is the co-chairman.</p>
<p>“This is a watershed moment for efforts to address the corrosive effects of sexual misconduct in the workplace,” Schneiderman said in a statement after the company’s announcement on Monday.</p>
<p>In its filing, the Weinstein Company listed $500 million to $1 billion in both liabilities and assets.</p>
<p>The studio has spent months looking for a buyer or investor. Before the deal with Contreras-Sweet’s group failed, The Weinstein Company had tried securing rescue financing from other investors.</p>
<p>Lions Gate Entertainment Corp had made an earlier offer for some of the company’s assets, as had Qatar-owned film company Miramax, which was founded by Harvey Weinstein and Bob Weinstein. Both could be among potential bidders in the auction.</p>
<p>Movie producer Killer Content also said bankruptcy would be the best option for the company, and that it may be interested in the studio’s assets in a bankruptcy auction.</p>
<p>The Weinstein Company also won commitments from its bank lenders for a $25 million bankruptcy loan.</p>
<p>Launched in October 2005, the studio produced and distributed critically acclaimed hits including “The King’s Speech” and “Silver Linings Playbook,” as well as TV series such as long-running fashion reality competition “Project Runway.”</p>
<p>Reporting by Jessica DiNapoli in New York, Tracy Rucinski in Chicago and Ismail Shakil in Bengaluru; Editing by Marguerita Choy</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>(Reuters) - A student who shot and critically wounded two fellow students at a Maryland high school on Tuesday morning, died after exchanging gunfire with a campus security officer, the county sheriff said.</p> Law enforcement motorcade is seen near the Great Mills High School following a shooting on Tuesday morning in St. Mary's County, Maryland, U.S., March 20, 2018. REUTERS/Sait Serkan Gurbuz
<p>The school day had barely begun when the student, who has not been identified, shot a male student and a female student at Great Mills High School in St. Mary’s County before the campus security officer intervened, county Sheriff Timothy Cameron told a news conference.</p>
<p>“Our school resource officer who was stationed inside the school was alerted to the event and the shots being fired,” Cameron said. “He pursued the shooter, engaged the shooter; during that engagement he fired a round at the shooter. Simultaneously, the shooter fired a round as well.”</p>
<p>The officer was not harmed, the sheriff said.</p>
<p>The latest in a long string of deadly shootings at U.S. schools and universities took place a little more than a month after 17 students and educators were shot dead at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.</p>
<p>That attack sparked a new student movement against gun violence, including a national school walkout last week that Great Mills students participated in. It occurred just days before a planned Saturday march in Washington calling for new restrictions on guns.</p>
<p>Parkland students and Great Mills students exchanged supportive messages on Twitter following Tuesday’s shooting.</p>
<p>“We are here for you, students of Great Mills, together we can stop this from ever happening again,” Emma Gonzalez, a senior at Stoneman Douglas High School who survived last month’s rampage, wrote on Twitter.</p>
<p>A 14-year-old male student, whom the sheriff had earlier said was in critical condition, was in good condition after treatment at MedStar St Mary’s Hospital, according to hospital officials. A 16-year-old female student, who also had been in critical condition, was stabilized and transferred to another hospital, they said.</p> Law enforcement vehicles are seen outside the Great Mills High School following a shooting on Tuesday morning in St. Mary's County, Maryland, U.S., March 20, 2018. REUTERS/Sait Serkan Gurbuz
<p>The shooter used a handgun in the attack, the sheriff said. He was confirmed deceased at 10:41 a.m. ET after being taken to a hospital.</p>
<p>Cameron said investigators would determine whether the shooter died of a wound from the school resource officer’s gun or in some other way.</p>
<p>The public school’s roughly 1,600 students were later escorted off campus by police, classroom by classroom, to reunite with their parents at another high school.</p> Slideshow (6 Images)
<p>Police investigated rumors that someone was threatening to shoot people at the school last month, BayNet, a Maryland news outlet, reported on Feb. 21. The threats were unsubstantiated, but security was increased at the school, the principal said, according to BayNet.</p>
<p>It was unclear whether those rumors had any connection with Tuesday’s violence.</p>
<p>“I’m not aware of anything, but again we’re gonna go back and come through that as well as anybody involved (and) their social media posts,” Cameron said in response to questions about the report.</p>
<p>An armed school resource officer had also been on the campus of Stoneman Douglas at the time of the shooting there, and came under criticism for failing to stop the gunman, who was armed with an AR-15 assault-style rifle. The officer, who resigned, said he had not been sure where the gunfire was coming from.</p>
<p>U.S. President Donald Trump and the National Rifle Association have proposed arming teachers to combat the threat of school shootings, while gun safety advocates have demanded a ban on semiautomatic rifles, among other laws.</p>
<p>The Maryland school is in Great Mills, a community about 70 miles (110 km) south of Washington.</p>
<p>“You never think it’ll be your school and then it is,” Mollie Davis, who identified herself as a student at the school, wrote on Twitter. “Great Mills is a wonderful school and somewhere I am proud to go. Why us?”</p>
<p>Reporting by Jonathan Allen and Gina Cherelus in New York; writing by Joseph Ax; editing by Scott Malone and Jonathan Oatis</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The spate of bombings in the Texas capital of Austin have no known links to terrorism, White House spokesman Sarah Sanders said on Tuesday.</p> Schertz Police block off Doerr Lane near the scene of a blast at a FedEx facility in Schertz, Texas, U.S., March 20, 2018. REUTERS/Sergio Flores
<p>“We are committed to bringing perpetrators of these heinous acts to justice. There is no apparent nexus to terrorism at this time,” Sanders said in a Twitter post.</p>
<p>A package bomb blew up at a FedEx Corp distribution center near San Antonio on Tuesday, officials said, and the FBI was investigating whether it was linked to a series of four homemade bombs in Austin.</p>
<p>Reporting by Doina Chiacu; editing by Jonathan Oatis</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
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adds chevron comment abuja jan 24 reuters nigeria hold investigation alleged corruption involving state oil firms longawaited brass lng project including questions use government funds nigerian national petroleum corporations nnpc liquefied natural gas project stuck planning stages decade western partners pulled tough operating conditions unfavourable investment environment nigerias senate west african nations upper legislative house voted wednesday launch investigation brass lng banking records senate motion document showed spokesman nnpc said company received invitation senate regarding investigation declining provide comment brass lng company originally set 2003 nnpc owning 49 percent affiliates conoco phillips eni chevron holding 17 percent according senate motion citing corporate records chevron pulled project 2006 longer interest company spokeswoman said conoco phillips also dropped project 2008 total said taken stake brass lng without specifying size spokeswoman eni declined provide immediate comment total conoco phillips respond immediately emails seeking comment according senate motion brass lngs bank account intended held central bank nigeria corporate records show keystone bank senate documents said recent deposit account 648 million september 2016 currently holds 137 million provide detail discrepancy september 2016 deposit current balance senate committee examine investments brass lng returns federal government whether due process followed signatories bank account due report back four weeks adding challenges faced investors brass lng project annual capacity 10 million tonnes also suffered lack dedicated gas reserves underpin 20year supply deals reporting camillus eboh additional reporting oleg vukmanovic london writing paul carsten editing david goodman standards thomson reuters trust principles austinschertz texas reuters package bomb blew fedex corp distribution center near san antonio tuesday officials said fbi investigating whether linked series four homemade bombs hit texas capital austin month officials say latest incident work austin police believe could serial bomber responsible four earlier devices killed two people injured four others blast fedex facility schertz fifth state last 18 days linked others would first outside austin area first involves commercial parcel service police discovered another package location believe also loaded explosive device san antonio police chief bill mcmanus told reporters one package believe also loaded explosive device looking right mcmanus told reporters schertz 20 miles northeast san antonio officer schertz police department holds fedex truck entering scene blast fedex facility schertz texas us march 20 2018 reuterssergio flores blast knocked female employee feet may caused concussion mcmanus said federal officials scene said ringing ears treated released package filled nails metal shrapnel exploded shortly midnight local time facility 65 miles south austin san antonio fire department said twitter slideshow 10 images company described fedex ground sorting facility 75 people working facility time fire officials said individual people behind bombings likely highly skilled methodical said fred burton chief security officer stratfor private intelligence security consulting firm based austin related coverage known link terrorism texas bombings white house race time find bombs burton said bombings austin appear linked terrorism white house spokesman sarah sanders said twitter tuesday additional reporting brendan obrien milwaukee lisa lambert washington writing scott malone daniel trotta editing matthew mpoke bigg jeffrey benkoe standards thomson reuters trust principles new yorkchicago reuters us film tv studio weinstein company whose exchairman harvey weinstein accused sexual harassment assault filed bankruptcy monday said ending nondisclosure agreements may silenced women filing us bankruptcy court delaware follows accusations 70 women companys cofounder harvey weinstein one hollywoods influential men sexual misconduct including rape weinstein denied nonconsensual sex anyone women spoke weinstein spurred national movement sexual harassment victims sharing stories social media labeling hashtag metoo texas private equity firm lantern capital agreed buy weinstein company bankruptcy 310 million firms offer saving studio winding business subject higher better bids courtsupervised auction scheduled may 2 bitly2prgdnm deadline bids april 30 lantern potential investor former obama administration official maria contrerassweets bid studio ultimately terminated weinstein companys bankruptcy halt victims lawsuits company sexual misconduct claims would likely compensated secured creditors paid full maria contrerassweets bid studio included 8090 million compensation fund would supplement insurance payouts victims would receive weinstein company 28 academy awards owns film library 277 feature films generated 2 billion aggregate box office receipts worldwide yet company said court papers lost 25 percent workforce many long time business partners since october 2017 accusations harvey weinstein became public understatement say last six months trying company chief restructuring officer robert del genio said court papers file photo harvey weinstein speaks ubs 40th annual global media communications conference new york december 5 2012 reuterscarlo allegri part bankruptcy filing weinstein company said released anyone suffered witnessed form sexual misconduct harvey weinstein nondisclosure agreements since october reported harvey weinstein used nondisclosure agreements secret weapon silence accusers effective immediately agreements end company said emailed statement february new york attorney general eric schneiderman sued weinstein company harvey weinstein brother bob weinstein alleging harvey weinstein sexually harassed employees company failed respond bob weinstein cofounded company cochairman watershed moment efforts address corrosive effects sexual misconduct workplace schneiderman said statement companys announcement monday filing weinstein company listed 500 million 1 billion liabilities assets studio spent months looking buyer investor deal contrerassweets group failed weinstein company tried securing rescue financing investors lions gate entertainment corp made earlier offer companys assets qatarowned film company miramax founded harvey weinstein bob weinstein could among potential bidders auction movie producer killer content also said bankruptcy would best option company may interested studios assets bankruptcy auction weinstein company also commitments bank lenders 25 million bankruptcy loan launched october 2005 studio produced distributed critically acclaimed hits including kings speech silver linings playbook well tv series longrunning fashion reality competition project runway reporting jessica dinapoli new york tracy rucinski chicago ismail shakil bengaluru editing marguerita choy standards thomson reuters trust principles reuters student shot critically wounded two fellow students maryland high school tuesday morning died exchanging gunfire campus security officer county sheriff said law enforcement motorcade seen near great mills high school following shooting tuesday morning st marys county maryland us march 20 2018 reuterssait serkan gurbuz school day barely begun student identified shot male student female student great mills high school st marys county campus security officer intervened county sheriff timothy cameron told news conference school resource officer stationed inside school alerted event shots fired cameron said pursued shooter engaged shooter engagement fired round shooter simultaneously shooter fired round well officer harmed sheriff said latest long string deadly shootings us schools universities took place little month 17 students educators shot dead marjory stoneman douglas high school parkland florida attack sparked new student movement gun violence including national school walkout last week great mills students participated occurred days planned saturday march washington calling new restrictions guns parkland students great mills students exchanged supportive messages twitter following tuesdays shooting students great mills together stop ever happening emma gonzalez senior stoneman douglas high school survived last months rampage wrote twitter 14yearold male student sheriff earlier said critical condition good condition treatment medstar st marys hospital according hospital officials 16yearold female student also critical condition stabilized transferred another hospital said law enforcement vehicles seen outside great mills high school following shooting tuesday morning st marys county maryland us march 20 2018 reuterssait serkan gurbuz shooter used handgun attack sheriff said confirmed deceased 1041 et taken hospital cameron said investigators would determine whether shooter died wound school resource officers gun way public schools roughly 1600 students later escorted campus police classroom classroom reunite parents another high school slideshow 6 images police investigated rumors someone threatening shoot people school last month baynet maryland news outlet reported feb 21 threats unsubstantiated security increased school principal said according baynet unclear whether rumors connection tuesdays violence im aware anything gon na go back come well anybody involved social media posts cameron said response questions report armed school resource officer also campus stoneman douglas time shooting came criticism failing stop gunman armed ar15 assaultstyle rifle officer resigned said sure gunfire coming us president donald trump national rifle association proposed arming teachers combat threat school shootings gun safety advocates demanded ban semiautomatic rifles among laws maryland school great mills community 70 miles 110 km south washington never think itll school mollie davis identified student school wrote twitter great mills wonderful school somewhere proud go us reporting jonathan allen gina cherelus new york writing joseph ax editing scott malone jonathan oatis standards thomson reuters trust principles washington reuters spate bombings texas capital austin known links terrorism white house spokesman sarah sanders said tuesday schertz police block doerr lane near scene blast fedex facility schertz texas us march 20 2018 reuterssergio flores committed bringing perpetrators heinous acts justice apparent nexus terrorism time sanders said twitter post package bomb blew fedex corp distribution center near san antonio tuesday officials said fbi investigating whether linked series four homemade bombs austin reporting doina chiacu editing jonathan oatis standards thomson reuters trust principles
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<p>CHICAGO (AP) — The Minnesota Wild overcame a shaky start for a timely victory against a division rival.</p>
<p>Ryan Suter gave Minnesota the lead on a 4-on-4 early in the third period, Devan Dubnyk made 34 saves and the Wild held off the Chicago Blackhawks 2-1 on Wednesday night to end a two-game slide.</p>
<p>Jonas Brodin scored in the second period for Minnesota (23-17-4). The Wild pulled two points ahead of Chicago (21-16-6) in the tight Central Division and tussle for playoff spots in the Western Conference.</p>
<p>The Wild were outshot 14-5 in the first period — and lucky to trail just 1-0.</p>
<p>"The first period was terrible," Suter said. "We weren't skating, no energy, turning a lot of pucks over, and they were playing in our end."</p>
<p>Following the opening frame, coach Bruce Boudreau told his players to get a grip on the game, and they responded.</p>
<p>"You saw the first period," Boudreau said. "(The Blackhawks) probably had the puck 15 minutes in our zone, it was embarrassing. Being within one goal is amazing."</p>
<p>"To (the Wild's) credit, I thought in the second and third period, they really buckled down and played really hard."</p>
<p>Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook, a healthy scratch in Chicago's 8-2 victory in Ottawa on Tuesday night, was back in the lineup and celebrated with his first goal since opening night.</p>
<p>But that's all the Blackhawks could muster.</p>
<p>"We had some OK zone time, but we really weren't connecting on passes," said Patrick Kane, who was held off the scoresheet after posting a career-high five points at Ottawa. "(The Wild) did a good job intercepting plays we were looking for, so it a little bit of different club were going up against.</p>
<p>"A bit frustrating when you get something going. You want to build off that and we didn't do it."</p>
<p>The Blackhawks were 0-for-3 on the power play — including wasting a chance late in the third period — after going 4-for-6 with the advantage against the Senators.</p>
<p>Chicago's Anton Forsberg made 25 saves in his third straight start. Corey Crawford, the Blackhawks No. 1 goalie, missed his seventh game with an upper-body injury and hasn't resumed skating. There's no timetable for his return.</p>
<p>Blackhawks defenseman Jan Rutta left early in the third, then returned late in the period, after taking an illegal hit to the head from Minnesota's Marcus Foligno.</p>
<p>Both teams played their second games in two nights. Minnesota lost 3-2 in overtime at home to Calgary on Tuesday night.</p>
<p>The Blackhawks acquired winger Anthony Duclair and defenseman Adam Clendening from Arizona before the game in a trade for right wing Richard Panik and minor league forward Laurent Dauphin.</p>
<p>Getting the speedy 22-year-old Duclair is another step for Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman as he tries to shake up and add quickness to a perennial contender that's looked sluggish at times this season while fighting to maintain a playoff position.</p>
<p>The talented but inconsistent Duclair has nine goals and six assists in 33 games this season, scoring in each of his last two games after reports surfaced that he had asked for a trade.</p>
<p>NOTES: Entering Wednesday, the 32-year-old Seabrook had just one goal and 10 assists in 41 games and had often looked sluggish. Coach Joel Quenneville said he's "looking for a little bit more from (Seabrook) ... whether it's defending, quickness or offensively." ... Kane, Chicago's leading scorer, and Minnesota C Eric Staal were named Wednesday to the NHL All-Star Game. ... Minnesota RW Nino Niederreiter missed his second game with a lower-body injury. He is expected to be out until the Wild returns from their bye week on Jan. 20. ... Chicago had seven defensemen its lineup. ... Blackhawks C Nick Schmaltz played his 100th NHL game.</p>
<p>UP NEXT</p>
<p>Wild: Host Winnipeg on Saturday night.</p>
<p>Blackhawks: Host Winnipeg on Friday night.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>More AP hockey: https://apnews.com/tag/NHLhockey</p>
<p>CHICAGO (AP) — The Minnesota Wild overcame a shaky start for a timely victory against a division rival.</p>
<p>Ryan Suter gave Minnesota the lead on a 4-on-4 early in the third period, Devan Dubnyk made 34 saves and the Wild held off the Chicago Blackhawks 2-1 on Wednesday night to end a two-game slide.</p>
<p>Jonas Brodin scored in the second period for Minnesota (23-17-4). The Wild pulled two points ahead of Chicago (21-16-6) in the tight Central Division and tussle for playoff spots in the Western Conference.</p>
<p>The Wild were outshot 14-5 in the first period — and lucky to trail just 1-0.</p>
<p>"The first period was terrible," Suter said. "We weren't skating, no energy, turning a lot of pucks over, and they were playing in our end."</p>
<p>Following the opening frame, coach Bruce Boudreau told his players to get a grip on the game, and they responded.</p>
<p>"You saw the first period," Boudreau said. "(The Blackhawks) probably had the puck 15 minutes in our zone, it was embarrassing. Being within one goal is amazing."</p>
<p>"To (the Wild's) credit, I thought in the second and third period, they really buckled down and played really hard."</p>
<p>Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook, a healthy scratch in Chicago's 8-2 victory in Ottawa on Tuesday night, was back in the lineup and celebrated with his first goal since opening night.</p>
<p>But that's all the Blackhawks could muster.</p>
<p>"We had some OK zone time, but we really weren't connecting on passes," said Patrick Kane, who was held off the scoresheet after posting a career-high five points at Ottawa. "(The Wild) did a good job intercepting plays we were looking for, so it a little bit of different club were going up against.</p>
<p>"A bit frustrating when you get something going. You want to build off that and we didn't do it."</p>
<p>The Blackhawks were 0-for-3 on the power play — including wasting a chance late in the third period — after going 4-for-6 with the advantage against the Senators.</p>
<p>Chicago's Anton Forsberg made 25 saves in his third straight start. Corey Crawford, the Blackhawks No. 1 goalie, missed his seventh game with an upper-body injury and hasn't resumed skating. There's no timetable for his return.</p>
<p>Blackhawks defenseman Jan Rutta left early in the third, then returned late in the period, after taking an illegal hit to the head from Minnesota's Marcus Foligno.</p>
<p>Both teams played their second games in two nights. Minnesota lost 3-2 in overtime at home to Calgary on Tuesday night.</p>
<p>The Blackhawks acquired winger Anthony Duclair and defenseman Adam Clendening from Arizona before the game in a trade for right wing Richard Panik and minor league forward Laurent Dauphin.</p>
<p>Getting the speedy 22-year-old Duclair is another step for Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman as he tries to shake up and add quickness to a perennial contender that's looked sluggish at times this season while fighting to maintain a playoff position.</p>
<p>The talented but inconsistent Duclair has nine goals and six assists in 33 games this season, scoring in each of his last two games after reports surfaced that he had asked for a trade.</p>
<p>NOTES: Entering Wednesday, the 32-year-old Seabrook had just one goal and 10 assists in 41 games and had often looked sluggish. Coach Joel Quenneville said he's "looking for a little bit more from (Seabrook) ... whether it's defending, quickness or offensively." ... Kane, Chicago's leading scorer, and Minnesota C Eric Staal were named Wednesday to the NHL All-Star Game. ... Minnesota RW Nino Niederreiter missed his second game with a lower-body injury. He is expected to be out until the Wild returns from their bye week on Jan. 20. ... Chicago had seven defensemen its lineup. ... Blackhawks C Nick Schmaltz played his 100th NHL game.</p>
<p>UP NEXT</p>
<p>Wild: Host Winnipeg on Saturday night.</p>
<p>Blackhawks: Host Winnipeg on Friday night.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>More AP hockey: https://apnews.com/tag/NHLhockey</p>
| false | 2 |
chicago ap minnesota wild overcame shaky start timely victory division rival ryan suter gave minnesota lead 4on4 early third period devan dubnyk made 34 saves wild held chicago blackhawks 21 wednesday night end twogame slide jonas brodin scored second period minnesota 23174 wild pulled two points ahead chicago 21166 tight central division tussle playoff spots western conference wild outshot 145 first period lucky trail 10 first period terrible suter said werent skating energy turning lot pucks playing end following opening frame coach bruce boudreau told players get grip game responded saw first period boudreau said blackhawks probably puck 15 minutes zone embarrassing within one goal amazing wilds credit thought second third period really buckled played really hard blackhawks defenseman brent seabrook healthy scratch chicagos 82 victory ottawa tuesday night back lineup celebrated first goal since opening night thats blackhawks could muster ok zone time really werent connecting passes said patrick kane held scoresheet posting careerhigh five points ottawa wild good job intercepting plays looking little bit different club going bit frustrating get something going want build didnt blackhawks 0for3 power play including wasting chance late third period going 4for6 advantage senators chicagos anton forsberg made 25 saves third straight start corey crawford blackhawks 1 goalie missed seventh game upperbody injury hasnt resumed skating theres timetable return blackhawks defenseman jan rutta left early third returned late period taking illegal hit head minnesotas marcus foligno teams played second games two nights minnesota lost 32 overtime home calgary tuesday night blackhawks acquired winger anthony duclair defenseman adam clendening arizona game trade right wing richard panik minor league forward laurent dauphin getting speedy 22yearold duclair another step blackhawks gm stan bowman tries shake add quickness perennial contender thats looked sluggish times season fighting maintain playoff position talented inconsistent duclair nine goals six assists 33 games season scoring last two games reports surfaced asked trade notes entering wednesday 32yearold seabrook one goal 10 assists 41 games often looked sluggish coach joel quenneville said hes looking little bit seabrook whether defending quickness offensively kane chicagos leading scorer minnesota c eric staal named wednesday nhl allstar game minnesota rw nino niederreiter missed second game lowerbody injury expected wild returns bye week jan 20 chicago seven defensemen lineup blackhawks c nick schmaltz played 100th nhl game next wild host winnipeg saturday night blackhawks host winnipeg friday night ___ ap hockey httpsapnewscomtagnhlhockey chicago ap minnesota wild overcame shaky start timely victory division rival ryan suter gave minnesota lead 4on4 early third period devan dubnyk made 34 saves wild held chicago blackhawks 21 wednesday night end twogame slide jonas brodin scored second period minnesota 23174 wild pulled two points ahead chicago 21166 tight central division tussle playoff spots western conference wild outshot 145 first period lucky trail 10 first period terrible suter said werent skating energy turning lot pucks playing end following opening frame coach bruce boudreau told players get grip game responded saw first period boudreau said blackhawks probably puck 15 minutes zone embarrassing within one goal amazing wilds credit thought second third period really buckled played really hard blackhawks defenseman brent seabrook healthy scratch chicagos 82 victory ottawa tuesday night back lineup celebrated first goal since opening night thats blackhawks could muster ok zone time really werent connecting passes said patrick kane held scoresheet posting careerhigh five points ottawa wild good job intercepting plays looking little bit different club going bit frustrating get something going want build didnt blackhawks 0for3 power play including wasting chance late third period going 4for6 advantage senators chicagos anton forsberg made 25 saves third straight start corey crawford blackhawks 1 goalie missed seventh game upperbody injury hasnt resumed skating theres timetable return blackhawks defenseman jan rutta left early third returned late period taking illegal hit head minnesotas marcus foligno teams played second games two nights minnesota lost 32 overtime home calgary tuesday night blackhawks acquired winger anthony duclair defenseman adam clendening arizona game trade right wing richard panik minor league forward laurent dauphin getting speedy 22yearold duclair another step blackhawks gm stan bowman tries shake add quickness perennial contender thats looked sluggish times season fighting maintain playoff position talented inconsistent duclair nine goals six assists 33 games season scoring last two games reports surfaced asked trade notes entering wednesday 32yearold seabrook one goal 10 assists 41 games often looked sluggish coach joel quenneville said hes looking little bit seabrook whether defending quickness offensively kane chicagos leading scorer minnesota c eric staal named wednesday nhl allstar game minnesota rw nino niederreiter missed second game lowerbody injury expected wild returns bye week jan 20 chicago seven defensemen lineup blackhawks c nick schmaltz played 100th nhl game next wild host winnipeg saturday night blackhawks host winnipeg friday night ___ ap hockey httpsapnewscomtagnhlhockey
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<p>NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — The terrorist group behind the takeover of a Nairobi mall claimed today that the Kenyan government assault team carried out “a demolition” of the building, burying 137 hostages in rubble. A government spokesman denied the claim and said Kenyan forces were clearing all rooms, firing as they moved and encountering no one.</p>
<p>In a series of tweets from a Twitter account believed to be genuine, al-Shabab also said that “having failed to defeat the mujahideen inside the mall, the Kenyan govt disseminated chemical gases to end the siege.”</p>
<p>Kenyan government spokesman Manoah Esipisu told The Associated Press that no chemical weapons were used — including tear gas — and that the collapse of floors in the mall was caused by a fire set by the terrorists and that the official civilian death toll remains 61.</p>
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<p>“Al-Shabab is known for wild allegations and there is absolutely no truth to what they’re saying,” he said. But officials said the death count will likely rise. Estimates varied between only a few bodies to dozens of bodies possibly still inside the mall.</p>
<p>Photos and video of the damage showed the mall’s top level parking lot collapsed in the middle of the building. That brought the second level down onto the ground floor on top of at least eight civilians and one or more attackers, said Esipisu.</p>
<p>The United States Ambassador to Kenya says U.S. experts are helping Kenyan forces search for bodies and evidence in the collapsed mall that Islamic terrorists held for four days.</p>
<p>Robert F. Godec said in a statement today that the U.S. is providing technical support and equipment to Kenyan security forces and medical responders.</p>
<p>Godec said, at the request of the Kenyan government, the U.S. is assisting the investigation to bring the attack’s organizers and perpetrators to justice.</p>
<p>Kenyan forensic experts — aided by American FBI agents and Israeli specialists — are working to reconstruct what happened in the attack, said Esipisu, speaking at the mall scene today. British forensic experts are also expected.</p>
<p>In another development, a British man was arrested in Kenya following the terrorist attack, Britain’s Foreign Office said.</p>
<p>British officials are ready to provide assistance to the man, the agency said in a statement Wednesday. Officials would not provide his name or details. He is believed to be in his 30s. Britain’s Daily Mail newspaper said he was arrested Monday as he tried to board a flight from Nairobi to Turkey with a bruised face and while acting suspiciously.</p>
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<p>Kenyan officials have said that 11 suspects in total have been arrested in connection with the attack, including at least seven at the airport. They are being questioned about the attack, said the government spokesman.</p>
<p>The International Criminal Court in the Hague has said it is prepared to work with Kenya to bring the attackers to justice.</p>
<p>Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said in a statement that while Kenya has primary jurisdiction in the slaying of civilians in the Westgate Mall, the atrocity could also fall under the court’s jurisdiction.</p>
<p>The Westgate Mall, which was popular with foreign residents of the capital as well as tourists and wealthy Kenyans, is now being treated as a crime scene and the Kenyan military has handed over control of the building to the police.</p>
<p>President Uhuru Kenyatta told the nation Tuesday night that the terrorists had been defeated and declared three days of national mourning beginning today.</p>
<p>Early this morning, occasional gunshots could still be heard from the mall. Esipisu said they were from Kenyan forces going room to room in the large Westgate Mall, firing protectively before entering unknown territory.</p>
<p>“During sanitization once you take control of the place if you go to a room where you haven’t visited before you shoot first to make sure you aren’t walking into an ambush,” he said. “But there hasn’t been any gunfire from the terrorists for more than 36 hours.”</p>
<p>The attack claimed by Somali militant group al-Shabab killed at least 61 civilians, six security officers and five extremists, the president said.</p>
<p>Another 175 people were injured, including more than 60 who remain hospitalized.</p>
<p>Fears persisted that some of the attackers could still be alive and loose inside the rubble of the mall, a vast complex that had shops for retailers like Bose, Nike and Adidas, as well as banks, restaurants and a casino.</p>
<p>A high-ranking security official involved in the investigations said it would take time to search the whole mall before declaring that the terrorist threat had been crushed. That official insisted on anonymity in order to discuss information not publicly disclosed.</p>
<p>Al-Shabab, whose name means “The Youth” in Arabic, first began threatening Kenya with a major terror attack in late 2011, after Kenya sent troops into Somalia following a spate of kidnappings of Westerners inside Kenya.</p>
<p>The al-Shabab extremists stormed the mall on Saturday, throwing grenades and firing on civilians.</p>
<p>The group used Twitter to say that Somalis have been suffering at the hands of Kenyan military operations in Kenya, and the mall attack was revenge.</p>
<p>“You could have avoided all this and lived your lives with relative safety,” the group Tweeted Tuesday. “Remove your forces from our country and peace will come.”</p>
<p>The militants specifically targeted non-Muslims, and at least 18 foreigners were among the dead, including six Britons, as well as citizens from France, Canada, the Netherlands, Australia, Peru, India, Ghana, South Africa and China. Five Americans were among the wounded.</p>
<p>The mall attack was the deadliest terrorist attack in Kenya since the 1998 al-Qaida truck bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, which killed more than 200 people.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Associated Press writer Tom Odula contributed to this story.</p>
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nairobi kenya ap terrorist group behind takeover nairobi mall claimed today kenyan government assault team carried demolition building burying 137 hostages rubble government spokesman denied claim said kenyan forces clearing rooms firing moved encountering one series tweets twitter account believed genuine alshabab also said failed defeat mujahideen inside mall kenyan govt disseminated chemical gases end siege kenyan government spokesman manoah esipisu told associated press chemical weapons used including tear gas collapse floors mall caused fire set terrorists official civilian death toll remains 61 advertisement alshabab known wild allegations absolutely truth theyre saying said officials said death count likely rise estimates varied bodies dozens bodies possibly still inside mall photos video damage showed malls top level parking lot collapsed middle building brought second level onto ground floor top least eight civilians one attackers said esipisu united states ambassador kenya says us experts helping kenyan forces search bodies evidence collapsed mall islamic terrorists held four days robert f godec said statement today us providing technical support equipment kenyan security forces medical responders godec said request kenyan government us assisting investigation bring attacks organizers perpetrators justice kenyan forensic experts aided american fbi agents israeli specialists working reconstruct happened attack said esipisu speaking mall scene today british forensic experts also expected another development british man arrested kenya following terrorist attack britains foreign office said british officials ready provide assistance man agency said statement wednesday officials would provide name details believed 30s britains daily mail newspaper said arrested monday tried board flight nairobi turkey bruised face acting suspiciously advertisement kenyan officials said 11 suspects total arrested connection attack including least seven airport questioned attack said government spokesman international criminal court hague said prepared work kenya bring attackers justice prosecutor fatou bensouda said statement kenya primary jurisdiction slaying civilians westgate mall atrocity could also fall courts jurisdiction westgate mall popular foreign residents capital well tourists wealthy kenyans treated crime scene kenyan military handed control building police president uhuru kenyatta told nation tuesday night terrorists defeated declared three days national mourning beginning today early morning occasional gunshots could still heard mall esipisu said kenyan forces going room room large westgate mall firing protectively entering unknown territory sanitization take control place go room havent visited shoot first make sure arent walking ambush said hasnt gunfire terrorists 36 hours attack claimed somali militant group alshabab killed least 61 civilians six security officers five extremists president said another 175 people injured including 60 remain hospitalized fears persisted attackers could still alive loose inside rubble mall vast complex shops retailers like bose nike adidas well banks restaurants casino highranking security official involved investigations said would take time search whole mall declaring terrorist threat crushed official insisted anonymity order discuss information publicly disclosed alshabab whose name means youth arabic first began threatening kenya major terror attack late 2011 kenya sent troops somalia following spate kidnappings westerners inside kenya alshabab extremists stormed mall saturday throwing grenades firing civilians group used twitter say somalis suffering hands kenyan military operations kenya mall attack revenge could avoided lived lives relative safety group tweeted tuesday remove forces country peace come militants specifically targeted nonmuslims least 18 foreigners among dead including six britons well citizens france canada netherlands australia peru india ghana south africa china five americans among wounded mall attack deadliest terrorist attack kenya since 1998 alqaida truck bombing us embassy nairobi killed 200 people ___ associated press writer tom odula contributed story
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<p>GENEVA (AP) — A FIFA investigation linked a referee accused of match-fixing a World Cup qualifier in 2016 to "numerous publicly documented scandals" in the previous six years.</p>
<p>FIFA investigators said Joseph Lamptey of Ghana had "a history of being suspended for poor performances" before being banned for life and typically awarded more penalties than other African referees of his grade.</p>
<p>A common match-fixing tactic is for referees to award penalty kicks after non-existent fouls or handball incidents to help betting syndicates cash in bets on the number of goals scored.</p>
<p>"This conduct — and its repeated occurrence — establishes a clear and consistent pattern behavior for matches refereed by Mr. Lamptey," investigators wrote in a document published by FIFA on Monday.</p>
<p>Still, Lamptey remained eligible for World Cup qualifying duty on FIFA's international list requiring annual approval, and also by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and Ghana's soccer federation.</p>
<p>FIFA did not immediately respond to questions about how Lamptey came to be selected for the South Africa-Senegal qualifier in November 2016.</p>
<p>Portugal's 2-2 draw in Gabon in a 2012 friendly, which included three penalties scored, was among six games identified as suspicious that Lamptey handled before the game that ended his career.</p>
<p>His decisions in South Africa's 2-1 win — helping the home team score twice late in the first half — led FIFA to ban him for life and order a replay.</p>
<p>Lamptey's history is detailed in evidence to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, whose detailed verdict to explain why it dismissed his appeal last August has now been published by FIFA.</p>
<p>"This CAS decision underlines FIFA's commitment to protecting the integrity of football and its zero-tolerance policy on match manipulation," FIFA said in a statement.</p>
<p>However, suspicions about Lamptey's conduct dated back to African club matches organized by CAF in 2010, Portugal's visit to Libreville without Cristiano Ronaldo in 2012, and a September 2016 qualifier for the African Cup of Nations, in which Cameroon beat Gambia 2-0, the FIFA investigation concluded.</p>
<p>Footage of the Portugal game shows that, at 1-1 close to halftime, Lamptey initially awarded a goal to Gabon despite the ball never even touching the goal-line before it was grabbed by the goalkeeper. Portugal captain Pepe urged the referee to consult his assistant before the goal was disallowed.</p>
<p>"Mr. Lamptey displayed specific conduct and actions on the pitch which were anticipated on the international betting markets by bettors which seemed to hold prior knowledge of goal given by Mr. Lamptey," the FIFA investigative report said.</p>
<p>In his final international game, Lamptey helped South Africa's goals from a penalty awarded for a non-existent handball, and after the Senegal defense was unbalanced by him allowing a free kick to be taken quickly and far from where the foul was committed.</p>
<p>The referee's lawyers argued at CAS that he made innocent mistakes, however betting monitoring experts detailed how the pattern of wagers was suspicious.</p>
<p>From the 12th minute until South Africa scored in the 43rd, the odds for at least three goals to be scored "failed to increase as logically expected."</p>
<p>Senegal won the replayed game 2-0 in November, and eventually qualified to play at the World Cup in Russia.</p>
<p>GENEVA (AP) — A FIFA investigation linked a referee accused of match-fixing a World Cup qualifier in 2016 to "numerous publicly documented scandals" in the previous six years.</p>
<p>FIFA investigators said Joseph Lamptey of Ghana had "a history of being suspended for poor performances" before being banned for life and typically awarded more penalties than other African referees of his grade.</p>
<p>A common match-fixing tactic is for referees to award penalty kicks after non-existent fouls or handball incidents to help betting syndicates cash in bets on the number of goals scored.</p>
<p>"This conduct — and its repeated occurrence — establishes a clear and consistent pattern behavior for matches refereed by Mr. Lamptey," investigators wrote in a document published by FIFA on Monday.</p>
<p>Still, Lamptey remained eligible for World Cup qualifying duty on FIFA's international list requiring annual approval, and also by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and Ghana's soccer federation.</p>
<p>FIFA did not immediately respond to questions about how Lamptey came to be selected for the South Africa-Senegal qualifier in November 2016.</p>
<p>Portugal's 2-2 draw in Gabon in a 2012 friendly, which included three penalties scored, was among six games identified as suspicious that Lamptey handled before the game that ended his career.</p>
<p>His decisions in South Africa's 2-1 win — helping the home team score twice late in the first half — led FIFA to ban him for life and order a replay.</p>
<p>Lamptey's history is detailed in evidence to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, whose detailed verdict to explain why it dismissed his appeal last August has now been published by FIFA.</p>
<p>"This CAS decision underlines FIFA's commitment to protecting the integrity of football and its zero-tolerance policy on match manipulation," FIFA said in a statement.</p>
<p>However, suspicions about Lamptey's conduct dated back to African club matches organized by CAF in 2010, Portugal's visit to Libreville without Cristiano Ronaldo in 2012, and a September 2016 qualifier for the African Cup of Nations, in which Cameroon beat Gambia 2-0, the FIFA investigation concluded.</p>
<p>Footage of the Portugal game shows that, at 1-1 close to halftime, Lamptey initially awarded a goal to Gabon despite the ball never even touching the goal-line before it was grabbed by the goalkeeper. Portugal captain Pepe urged the referee to consult his assistant before the goal was disallowed.</p>
<p>"Mr. Lamptey displayed specific conduct and actions on the pitch which were anticipated on the international betting markets by bettors which seemed to hold prior knowledge of goal given by Mr. Lamptey," the FIFA investigative report said.</p>
<p>In his final international game, Lamptey helped South Africa's goals from a penalty awarded for a non-existent handball, and after the Senegal defense was unbalanced by him allowing a free kick to be taken quickly and far from where the foul was committed.</p>
<p>The referee's lawyers argued at CAS that he made innocent mistakes, however betting monitoring experts detailed how the pattern of wagers was suspicious.</p>
<p>From the 12th minute until South Africa scored in the 43rd, the odds for at least three goals to be scored "failed to increase as logically expected."</p>
<p>Senegal won the replayed game 2-0 in November, and eventually qualified to play at the World Cup in Russia.</p>
| false | 2 |
geneva ap fifa investigation linked referee accused matchfixing world cup qualifier 2016 numerous publicly documented scandals previous six years fifa investigators said joseph lamptey ghana history suspended poor performances banned life typically awarded penalties african referees grade common matchfixing tactic referees award penalty kicks nonexistent fouls handball incidents help betting syndicates cash bets number goals scored conduct repeated occurrence establishes clear consistent pattern behavior matches refereed mr lamptey investigators wrote document published fifa monday still lamptey remained eligible world cup qualifying duty fifas international list requiring annual approval also confederation african football caf ghanas soccer federation fifa immediately respond questions lamptey came selected south africasenegal qualifier november 2016 portugals 22 draw gabon 2012 friendly included three penalties scored among six games identified suspicious lamptey handled game ended career decisions south africas 21 win helping home team score twice late first half led fifa ban life order replay lampteys history detailed evidence court arbitration sport whose detailed verdict explain dismissed appeal last august published fifa cas decision underlines fifas commitment protecting integrity football zerotolerance policy match manipulation fifa said statement however suspicions lampteys conduct dated back african club matches organized caf 2010 portugals visit libreville without cristiano ronaldo 2012 september 2016 qualifier african cup nations cameroon beat gambia 20 fifa investigation concluded footage portugal game shows 11 close halftime lamptey initially awarded goal gabon despite ball never even touching goalline grabbed goalkeeper portugal captain pepe urged referee consult assistant goal disallowed mr lamptey displayed specific conduct actions pitch anticipated international betting markets bettors seemed hold prior knowledge goal given mr lamptey fifa investigative report said final international game lamptey helped south africas goals penalty awarded nonexistent handball senegal defense unbalanced allowing free kick taken quickly far foul committed referees lawyers argued cas made innocent mistakes however betting monitoring experts detailed pattern wagers suspicious 12th minute south africa scored 43rd odds least three goals scored failed increase logically expected senegal replayed game 20 november eventually qualified play world cup russia geneva ap fifa investigation linked referee accused matchfixing world cup qualifier 2016 numerous publicly documented scandals previous six years fifa investigators said joseph lamptey ghana history suspended poor performances banned life typically awarded penalties african referees grade common matchfixing tactic referees award penalty kicks nonexistent fouls handball incidents help betting syndicates cash bets number goals scored conduct repeated occurrence establishes clear consistent pattern behavior matches refereed mr lamptey investigators wrote document published fifa monday still lamptey remained eligible world cup qualifying duty fifas international list requiring annual approval also confederation african football caf ghanas soccer federation fifa immediately respond questions lamptey came selected south africasenegal qualifier november 2016 portugals 22 draw gabon 2012 friendly included three penalties scored among six games identified suspicious lamptey handled game ended career decisions south africas 21 win helping home team score twice late first half led fifa ban life order replay lampteys history detailed evidence court arbitration sport whose detailed verdict explain dismissed appeal last august published fifa cas decision underlines fifas commitment protecting integrity football zerotolerance policy match manipulation fifa said statement however suspicions lampteys conduct dated back african club matches organized caf 2010 portugals visit libreville without cristiano ronaldo 2012 september 2016 qualifier african cup nations cameroon beat gambia 20 fifa investigation concluded footage portugal game shows 11 close halftime lamptey initially awarded goal gabon despite ball never even touching goalline grabbed goalkeeper portugal captain pepe urged referee consult assistant goal disallowed mr lamptey displayed specific conduct actions pitch anticipated international betting markets bettors seemed hold prior knowledge goal given mr lamptey fifa investigative report said final international game lamptey helped south africas goals penalty awarded nonexistent handball senegal defense unbalanced allowing free kick taken quickly far foul committed referees lawyers argued cas made innocent mistakes however betting monitoring experts detailed pattern wagers suspicious 12th minute south africa scored 43rd odds least three goals scored failed increase logically expected senegal replayed game 20 november eventually qualified play world cup russia
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<p />
<p>Six months on the job, DeVos is no less divisive.</p>
<p>Critics see her as hostile to public education and indifferent to civil rights, citing her impassioned push for school choice and her signing off on the repeal of some protections for LGBT students.</p>
<p>Conservatives wish she had been less polarizing and more effective in promoting her agenda, noting that the department’s budget requests are stalled in Congress and no tangible school choice plan has emerged.</p>
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<p>DeVos is undeterred.</p>
<p>“We have seen decades of top-down mandated approaches that protect a system at the expense of individual students,” DeVos told The Associated Press. “I am for individual students. I want each of them to have an opportunity to go to a school that works for them.”</p>
<p>In her first comprehensive sit-down interview with a national media outlet since taking office, DeVos touched on some of the most pressing issues in K-12 and higher education.</p>
<p>She said Washington has a role to “set a tone” and encourage states to adopt choice programs without enacting “a big new federal program that’s going to require a lot of administration.” At the same time, she confirmed that a federal tax-credit voucher program was under consideration as part of a tax overhaul. “It’s certainly part of our discussion,” DeVos said.</p>
<p>DeVos, 59, appeared confident, but reserved during the 30-minute interview last week in her office, where photographs of her children and grandchildren and drawings and letters from young students are prominent. Large windows overlook the Capitol. Across the street, visitors lined up outside the National Air and Space Museum, which DeVos toured this year with Ivanka Trump to promote science and engineering among girls.</p>
<p>DeVos defended her decision to rewrite Obama-era rules intended to protect students against being deceived by vocational nondegree programs, saying that “the last administration really stepped much more heavily into areas that it should not.”</p>
<p>Liberals accuse DeVos of looking out for the interests of for-profit schools, and they point to Trump University, the president’s for-profit school that was sued for fraud. Supporters say the Obama regulations unfairly targeted for-profits and failed to track students’ long-term careers.</p>
<p>The decision by the departments of Education and Justice to roll back rules allowing transgender students to use school restrooms of their choice enraged civil rights advocates, who said already vulnerable children could face even more harassment and bullying. Conservatives saw DeVos fulfilling a promise to return control over education issues to states, cities, school districts and parents.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>“We really believe that states are the best laboratories of democracy on many fronts,” DeVos said.</p>
<p>On the issue of school choice, DeVos was resolute. Another major flashpoint: charter schools, which are publicly funded but usually independently operated, and voucher programs that help families cover tuition at private schools. They’re often criticized for a lack of transparency, and studies about their effectiveness have produced mixed results. DeVos disagrees.</p>
<p>“I think the first line of accountability is frankly with the parents,” she said. “When parents are choosing school they are proactively making that choice.”</p>
<p>For DeVos, who spent more than two decades promoting charter schools in her home state of Michigan, the closure of some low-performing charters was evidence of accountability. “At the same time, there have been zero traditional public schools closed in Michigan for performance and I think that’s a problem,” she said.</p>
<p>DeVos got off to a rocky start in the Trump Cabinet.</p>
<p>She was satirized for some of her gaffes during the confirmation hearing, such as saying that guns are needed in schools to protect students from grizzly bears. Teacher unions accused her of seeking to privatize public education. Parents and teachers jammed Congress phone lines to oppose her nomination.</p>
<p>It took Vice President Mike Pence’s historic vote — the first by a vice president to break a 50-50 tie on a Cabinet nomination — to secure her position after two Republican senators defected.</p>
<p>DeVos is still sometimes met with protesters at public events, and her security detail has been bolstered at an additional cost of $7.8 million.</p>
<p>But DeVos isn’t retreating.</p>
<p>She actively advocates for school choice, once comparing education to ride-sharing services such as Uber and Lyft, and saying that parents, like riders, need options. Of the 17 K-12 schools that she has visited so far, only seven were traditional public schools. DeVos didn’t attend public school herself or send her children to a public school.</p>
<p>Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, said in a recent speech that DeVos was a “public school denier” and quipped that DeVos can start talking about school choice even in reply to a simple greeting.</p>
<p>Conservatives say she may have oversold.</p>
<p>“She has made things harder for herself by acting as the secretary for school choice instead of the secretary of education,” said Mike Petrilli, president of the conservative Thomas B. Fordham Institute. “She has missed the opportunity to make it clear that she wants to see all schools succeed.”</p>
<p>Moderates are upset.</p>
<p>“I have feared that in trying to rush in with a simplified notion of choice — that she will love charters to death,” said Robin Lake, director of the Center on Reinventing Public Education, a pro-charter group. “At this point, six months in, I don’t see any evidence that we are farther along on helping with achievement, equity, with moving the country forward.”</p>
<p>Asked to name some of the strengths of public schools that she has observed in her job, DeVos said only that she is “a very strong supporter of public schools.”</p>
<p>“But we also need to encourage schools, public schools that are doing a great job to not rest on their laurels but to continue to improve because unless you’re constantly oriented around continuous improvement and excellence we know that there’s going to be reversion to something less than that,” she added.</p>
<p>DeVos’ proposal of a $9 billion, or 13.5 percent, cut to the education budget angered the left, but also drew criticism from top Republicans. The $20 billion school choice program that President Donald Trump promised during his campaign has so far failed to materialize. Last month, the House rejected his administration’s plans for a $250 million private voucher program and a $1 billion in public school choice.</p>
<p>Petrilli said that was partly due to DeVos’ divisive rhetoric and problems filling senior positions at the department, as well as controversies plaguing the White House. “Anyone in her position would be having a difficult time because of her boss,” Petrilli said.</p>
<p>What grade should appear on DeVos’ report card after her first six months in office?</p>
<p>“A very incomplete,” said Patrick McGuinn, a professor of political science and education at Drew University.</p>
| false | 2 |
six months job devos less divisive critics see hostile public education indifferent civil rights citing impassioned push school choice signing repeal protections lgbt students conservatives wish less polarizing effective promoting agenda noting departments budget requests stalled congress tangible school choice plan emerged advertisement devos undeterred seen decades topdown mandated approaches protect system expense individual students devos told associated press individual students want opportunity go school works first comprehensive sitdown interview national media outlet since taking office devos touched pressing issues k12 higher education said washington role set tone encourage states adopt choice programs without enacting big new federal program thats going require lot administration time confirmed federal taxcredit voucher program consideration part tax overhaul certainly part discussion devos said devos 59 appeared confident reserved 30minute interview last week office photographs children grandchildren drawings letters young students prominent large windows overlook capitol across street visitors lined outside national air space museum devos toured year ivanka trump promote science engineering among girls devos defended decision rewrite obamaera rules intended protect students deceived vocational nondegree programs saying last administration really stepped much heavily areas liberals accuse devos looking interests forprofit schools point trump university presidents forprofit school sued fraud supporters say obama regulations unfairly targeted forprofits failed track students longterm careers decision departments education justice roll back rules allowing transgender students use school restrooms choice enraged civil rights advocates said already vulnerable children could face even harassment bullying conservatives saw devos fulfilling promise return control education issues states cities school districts parents advertisement really believe states best laboratories democracy many fronts devos said issue school choice devos resolute another major flashpoint charter schools publicly funded usually independently operated voucher programs help families cover tuition private schools theyre often criticized lack transparency studies effectiveness produced mixed results devos disagrees think first line accountability frankly parents said parents choosing school proactively making choice devos spent two decades promoting charter schools home state michigan closure lowperforming charters evidence accountability time zero traditional public schools closed michigan performance think thats problem said devos got rocky start trump cabinet satirized gaffes confirmation hearing saying guns needed schools protect students grizzly bears teacher unions accused seeking privatize public education parents teachers jammed congress phone lines oppose nomination took vice president mike pences historic vote first vice president break 5050 tie cabinet nomination secure position two republican senators defected devos still sometimes met protesters public events security detail bolstered additional cost 78 million devos isnt retreating actively advocates school choice comparing education ridesharing services uber lyft saying parents like riders need options 17 k12 schools visited far seven traditional public schools devos didnt attend public school send children public school randi weingarten president american federation teachers said recent speech devos public school denier quipped devos start talking school choice even reply simple greeting conservatives say may oversold made things harder acting secretary school choice instead secretary education said mike petrilli president conservative thomas b fordham institute missed opportunity make clear wants see schools succeed moderates upset feared trying rush simplified notion choice love charters death said robin lake director center reinventing public education procharter group point six months dont see evidence farther along helping achievement equity moving country forward asked name strengths public schools observed job devos said strong supporter public schools also need encourage schools public schools great job rest laurels continue improve unless youre constantly oriented around continuous improvement excellence know theres going reversion something less added devos proposal 9 billion 135 percent cut education budget angered left also drew criticism top republicans 20 billion school choice program president donald trump promised campaign far failed materialize last month house rejected administrations plans 250 million private voucher program 1 billion public school choice petrilli said partly due devos divisive rhetoric problems filling senior positions department well controversies plaguing white house anyone position would difficult time boss petrilli said grade appear devos report card first six months office incomplete said patrick mcguinn professor political science education drew university
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<p>RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) — American Kate Hamad doesn't dare leave Ramallah, fearing trouble, even deportation, if stopped at an Israeli checkpoint on the outskirts of the autonomous Palestinian city in the West Bank.</p>
<p>Israel rejected her request for a visa renewal three months ago, she said, even though her Palestinian husband and their three youngest children have West Bank residency. She appealed, but hasn't heard back. "You really feel trapped and you really feel scared," said the 32-year-old from Grimes, Iowa.</p>
<p>Hamad is among a growing number of foreigners in the West Bank who are having Israeli visa problems, according to Palestinian officials and Israeli lawyers.</p>
<p>They said that over the past year, Israel has made it harder for those with ties to Palestinians to stay in the West Bank on spouse or work visas, harming families, universities and even a school teaching Western classical music to Palestinian children.</p>
<p>COGAT, a branch of the Israeli Defense Ministry, denied it has adopted tougher rules, saying visa applications are judged on a case-by-case basis. It did not respond to requests to provide statistics.</p>
<p>The underlying problem for foreigners is that the Palestinian self-rule government, which administers 38 percent of the West Bank, does not have the authority to grant them residency without approval by Israel.</p>
<p>As a result, thousands of people are in limbo, with residency applications often ignored or rejected, leaving them only with the option of seeking temporary visas from Israel.</p>
<p>"You are always just a visitor, and you are left begging for your status," said California native Morgan Cooper, 36, who recently had her spouse visa extended for six months.</p>
<p>The reported surge of visa troubles comes at a time when hopes for a negotiated solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict seem to have dissipated.</p>
<p>The Palestinians seek a state in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem, lands Israel captured in 1967, but the most recent negotiations broke down four years ago due to deep disagreements over key issues. Continued Israeli settlement expansion, along with an internal Palestinian political split between pragmatists and militants, have pushed a partition deal even further out of reach.</p>
<p>Last month, U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital prompted Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to slam the door on more than two decades of intermittent negotiations, as long the U.S. remains the sole mediator.</p>
<p>Over the years, residency permits for foreign spouses of Palestinians have become a bargaining chip, with Israel at times agreeing to certain quotas and freezing requests in periods of crisis.</p>
<p>About 25,000 applications are still pending, out of a total of 65,000 submitted since the mid-1990s, said Walid Wahdan of the Palestinian Civil Affairs Department.</p>
<p>He said his department has largely stopped submitting "family reunification" requests, arguing that Israel refuses to receive them.</p>
<p>COGAT said it can't rule on applications it doesn't receive — but did not say how many it approved.</p>
<p>Leora Bechor, an Israeli immigration lawyer, said that in place of residency permits, those married to Palestinians were typically granted one-year renewable spouse visas in recent years. Since late 2016, there has been anecdotal evidence of more visa rejections or visas issued for shorter periods, she said.</p>
<p>She said Israel's policies violate international standards, including the right of families to live together and that an American married to an Israeli would be granted residency rights.</p>
<p>Palestinians and their foreign spouses are often presented with impossible choices — separation, emigration or life in the West Bank without legal status. Some of the foreigners said they were also told that on a spouse visa, they are not allowed to do paid work for Palestinian companies or organizations.</p>
<p>"We believe the underlying reason is one of demographics, of 'let's create a situation where Palestinians are forced to leave,'" said Bechor.</p>
<p>Visa applications are typically collected by Wahdan's department and by the Palestinian Interior Ministry and sent to a COGAT branch near Ramallah for a decision.</p>
<p>The Palestinian Interior Ministry, which mainly deals with spouse visas, said it submitted 2,220 applications to Israel last year, with 247 rejected. Wahdan's office, which mostly deals with work visas, said 40 out of 250 were rejected.</p>
<p>Neither department provided comparison figures for previous years.</p>
<p>The Hamad family moved to Ramallah last June after selling their house in New Orleans, so the children could get to know their Palestinian relatives.</p>
<p>Kate Hamad's husband, an electrical engineer who spends much of his time in the U.S. on business, had previously been able to pass on his West Bank residency rights to their three children, but not to his wife and her older daughter.</p>
<p>Kate Hamad said that in October, Israel rejected her visa, on grounds that her husband wasn't in the West Bank at the time her application was being processed. She said she learned of the reason from Palestinian officials who translated a note from Hebrew on her rejection slip.</p>
<p>The family only has bad options, she said.</p>
<p>Her husband can't afford to quit his job, she said, and even if he did so in order to live full-time in the West Bank, there's no guarantee she would get a visa.</p>
<p>She is also afraid to leave, for fear of being denied future entry. "That's not an option, since my husband's entire family is here," Hamad said.</p>
<p>Hamad said she feels discriminated against, compared to other Americans in the area. Jewish Americans, including those in Israeli settlements in the West Bank, are instantly eligible for Israeli citizenship under Israel's "law of return" for diaspora Jews.</p>
<p>The U.S. Consulate in Jerusalem said the State Department closely follows issues relating to treatment of U.S. citizens abroad and works with the host government to ensure fair treatment.</p>
<p>"We are aware of this issue, and while we cannot comment on private immigration or legal matters, we take it seriously," the consulate said.</p>
<p>Educational institutions have also been hit hard.</p>
<p>The Edward Said National Conservatory of Music said six of about 20 foreign teachers have visa problems, with two denied re-entry by Israel. Director Suhail Khoury said others expect difficulties as visas expire in coming months.</p>
<p>Echoing others, he said the visa process appears murky, with shifting rules and lack of consistency. "It's chaos," he said.</p>
<p>The school, with a total teaching staff of 77, offers Western and Arabic classical music courses to about 2,000 Palestinian students, and the foreign teachers are often irreplaceable, he said. "It's basically threatening the whole educational system," he said.</p>
<p>At the West Bank's Bir Zeit University, 15 foreign teachers face visa problems, including department heads, said spokeswoman Tina Rafidi.</p>
<p>The Arab American University in the town of Jenin lost the dean of its business faculty and a veteran English language professor when their visa extensions were denied last year, said deputy president Zaki Saleh. "We were seeking more foreign teachers but know that the hope is very slim," he said.</p>
<p>Activists have revived the "Right to Enter Campaign," created more than a decade ago to fight similar troubles, and urged their diplomatic missions to exert pressure on Israel.</p>
<p>Palestinian-American businessman Sam Bahour, a veteran activist, said the problem is political, not technical.</p>
<p>"This aggression is clearly a renewed approach to put pressure on the community with (the) intent ... to get people to leave the country," he said.</p>
<p>__</p>
<p>Online:</p>
<p>http://www.righttoenter.ps/</p>
<p>RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) — American Kate Hamad doesn't dare leave Ramallah, fearing trouble, even deportation, if stopped at an Israeli checkpoint on the outskirts of the autonomous Palestinian city in the West Bank.</p>
<p>Israel rejected her request for a visa renewal three months ago, she said, even though her Palestinian husband and their three youngest children have West Bank residency. She appealed, but hasn't heard back. "You really feel trapped and you really feel scared," said the 32-year-old from Grimes, Iowa.</p>
<p>Hamad is among a growing number of foreigners in the West Bank who are having Israeli visa problems, according to Palestinian officials and Israeli lawyers.</p>
<p>They said that over the past year, Israel has made it harder for those with ties to Palestinians to stay in the West Bank on spouse or work visas, harming families, universities and even a school teaching Western classical music to Palestinian children.</p>
<p>COGAT, a branch of the Israeli Defense Ministry, denied it has adopted tougher rules, saying visa applications are judged on a case-by-case basis. It did not respond to requests to provide statistics.</p>
<p>The underlying problem for foreigners is that the Palestinian self-rule government, which administers 38 percent of the West Bank, does not have the authority to grant them residency without approval by Israel.</p>
<p>As a result, thousands of people are in limbo, with residency applications often ignored or rejected, leaving them only with the option of seeking temporary visas from Israel.</p>
<p>"You are always just a visitor, and you are left begging for your status," said California native Morgan Cooper, 36, who recently had her spouse visa extended for six months.</p>
<p>The reported surge of visa troubles comes at a time when hopes for a negotiated solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict seem to have dissipated.</p>
<p>The Palestinians seek a state in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem, lands Israel captured in 1967, but the most recent negotiations broke down four years ago due to deep disagreements over key issues. Continued Israeli settlement expansion, along with an internal Palestinian political split between pragmatists and militants, have pushed a partition deal even further out of reach.</p>
<p>Last month, U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital prompted Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to slam the door on more than two decades of intermittent negotiations, as long the U.S. remains the sole mediator.</p>
<p>Over the years, residency permits for foreign spouses of Palestinians have become a bargaining chip, with Israel at times agreeing to certain quotas and freezing requests in periods of crisis.</p>
<p>About 25,000 applications are still pending, out of a total of 65,000 submitted since the mid-1990s, said Walid Wahdan of the Palestinian Civil Affairs Department.</p>
<p>He said his department has largely stopped submitting "family reunification" requests, arguing that Israel refuses to receive them.</p>
<p>COGAT said it can't rule on applications it doesn't receive — but did not say how many it approved.</p>
<p>Leora Bechor, an Israeli immigration lawyer, said that in place of residency permits, those married to Palestinians were typically granted one-year renewable spouse visas in recent years. Since late 2016, there has been anecdotal evidence of more visa rejections or visas issued for shorter periods, she said.</p>
<p>She said Israel's policies violate international standards, including the right of families to live together and that an American married to an Israeli would be granted residency rights.</p>
<p>Palestinians and their foreign spouses are often presented with impossible choices — separation, emigration or life in the West Bank without legal status. Some of the foreigners said they were also told that on a spouse visa, they are not allowed to do paid work for Palestinian companies or organizations.</p>
<p>"We believe the underlying reason is one of demographics, of 'let's create a situation where Palestinians are forced to leave,'" said Bechor.</p>
<p>Visa applications are typically collected by Wahdan's department and by the Palestinian Interior Ministry and sent to a COGAT branch near Ramallah for a decision.</p>
<p>The Palestinian Interior Ministry, which mainly deals with spouse visas, said it submitted 2,220 applications to Israel last year, with 247 rejected. Wahdan's office, which mostly deals with work visas, said 40 out of 250 were rejected.</p>
<p>Neither department provided comparison figures for previous years.</p>
<p>The Hamad family moved to Ramallah last June after selling their house in New Orleans, so the children could get to know their Palestinian relatives.</p>
<p>Kate Hamad's husband, an electrical engineer who spends much of his time in the U.S. on business, had previously been able to pass on his West Bank residency rights to their three children, but not to his wife and her older daughter.</p>
<p>Kate Hamad said that in October, Israel rejected her visa, on grounds that her husband wasn't in the West Bank at the time her application was being processed. She said she learned of the reason from Palestinian officials who translated a note from Hebrew on her rejection slip.</p>
<p>The family only has bad options, she said.</p>
<p>Her husband can't afford to quit his job, she said, and even if he did so in order to live full-time in the West Bank, there's no guarantee she would get a visa.</p>
<p>She is also afraid to leave, for fear of being denied future entry. "That's not an option, since my husband's entire family is here," Hamad said.</p>
<p>Hamad said she feels discriminated against, compared to other Americans in the area. Jewish Americans, including those in Israeli settlements in the West Bank, are instantly eligible for Israeli citizenship under Israel's "law of return" for diaspora Jews.</p>
<p>The U.S. Consulate in Jerusalem said the State Department closely follows issues relating to treatment of U.S. citizens abroad and works with the host government to ensure fair treatment.</p>
<p>"We are aware of this issue, and while we cannot comment on private immigration or legal matters, we take it seriously," the consulate said.</p>
<p>Educational institutions have also been hit hard.</p>
<p>The Edward Said National Conservatory of Music said six of about 20 foreign teachers have visa problems, with two denied re-entry by Israel. Director Suhail Khoury said others expect difficulties as visas expire in coming months.</p>
<p>Echoing others, he said the visa process appears murky, with shifting rules and lack of consistency. "It's chaos," he said.</p>
<p>The school, with a total teaching staff of 77, offers Western and Arabic classical music courses to about 2,000 Palestinian students, and the foreign teachers are often irreplaceable, he said. "It's basically threatening the whole educational system," he said.</p>
<p>At the West Bank's Bir Zeit University, 15 foreign teachers face visa problems, including department heads, said spokeswoman Tina Rafidi.</p>
<p>The Arab American University in the town of Jenin lost the dean of its business faculty and a veteran English language professor when their visa extensions were denied last year, said deputy president Zaki Saleh. "We were seeking more foreign teachers but know that the hope is very slim," he said.</p>
<p>Activists have revived the "Right to Enter Campaign," created more than a decade ago to fight similar troubles, and urged their diplomatic missions to exert pressure on Israel.</p>
<p>Palestinian-American businessman Sam Bahour, a veteran activist, said the problem is political, not technical.</p>
<p>"This aggression is clearly a renewed approach to put pressure on the community with (the) intent ... to get people to leave the country," he said.</p>
<p>__</p>
<p>Online:</p>
<p>http://www.righttoenter.ps/</p>
| false | 2 |
ramallah west bank ap american kate hamad doesnt dare leave ramallah fearing trouble even deportation stopped israeli checkpoint outskirts autonomous palestinian city west bank israel rejected request visa renewal three months ago said even though palestinian husband three youngest children west bank residency appealed hasnt heard back really feel trapped really feel scared said 32yearold grimes iowa hamad among growing number foreigners west bank israeli visa problems according palestinian officials israeli lawyers said past year israel made harder ties palestinians stay west bank spouse work visas harming families universities even school teaching western classical music palestinian children cogat branch israeli defense ministry denied adopted tougher rules saying visa applications judged casebycase basis respond requests provide statistics underlying problem foreigners palestinian selfrule government administers 38 percent west bank authority grant residency without approval israel result thousands people limbo residency applications often ignored rejected leaving option seeking temporary visas israel always visitor left begging status said california native morgan cooper 36 recently spouse visa extended six months reported surge visa troubles comes time hopes negotiated solution israelipalestinian conflict seem dissipated palestinians seek state west bank gaza strip east jerusalem lands israel captured 1967 recent negotiations broke four years ago due deep disagreements key issues continued israeli settlement expansion along internal palestinian political split pragmatists militants pushed partition deal even reach last month us recognition jerusalem israels capital prompted palestinian president mahmoud abbas slam door two decades intermittent negotiations long us remains sole mediator years residency permits foreign spouses palestinians become bargaining chip israel times agreeing certain quotas freezing requests periods crisis 25000 applications still pending total 65000 submitted since mid1990s said walid wahdan palestinian civil affairs department said department largely stopped submitting family reunification requests arguing israel refuses receive cogat said cant rule applications doesnt receive say many approved leora bechor israeli immigration lawyer said place residency permits married palestinians typically granted oneyear renewable spouse visas recent years since late 2016 anecdotal evidence visa rejections visas issued shorter periods said said israels policies violate international standards including right families live together american married israeli would granted residency rights palestinians foreign spouses often presented impossible choices separation emigration life west bank without legal status foreigners said also told spouse visa allowed paid work palestinian companies organizations believe underlying reason one demographics lets create situation palestinians forced leave said bechor visa applications typically collected wahdans department palestinian interior ministry sent cogat branch near ramallah decision palestinian interior ministry mainly deals spouse visas said submitted 2220 applications israel last year 247 rejected wahdans office mostly deals work visas said 40 250 rejected neither department provided comparison figures previous years hamad family moved ramallah last june selling house new orleans children could get know palestinian relatives kate hamads husband electrical engineer spends much time us business previously able pass west bank residency rights three children wife older daughter kate hamad said october israel rejected visa grounds husband wasnt west bank time application processed said learned reason palestinian officials translated note hebrew rejection slip family bad options said husband cant afford quit job said even order live fulltime west bank theres guarantee would get visa also afraid leave fear denied future entry thats option since husbands entire family hamad said hamad said feels discriminated compared americans area jewish americans including israeli settlements west bank instantly eligible israeli citizenship israels law return diaspora jews us consulate jerusalem said state department closely follows issues relating treatment us citizens abroad works host government ensure fair treatment aware issue comment private immigration legal matters take seriously consulate said educational institutions also hit hard edward said national conservatory music said six 20 foreign teachers visa problems two denied reentry israel director suhail khoury said others expect difficulties visas expire coming months echoing others said visa process appears murky shifting rules lack consistency chaos said school total teaching staff 77 offers western arabic classical music courses 2000 palestinian students foreign teachers often irreplaceable said basically threatening whole educational system said west banks bir zeit university 15 foreign teachers face visa problems including department heads said spokeswoman tina rafidi arab american university town jenin lost dean business faculty veteran english language professor visa extensions denied last year said deputy president zaki saleh seeking foreign teachers know hope slim said activists revived right enter campaign created decade ago fight similar troubles urged diplomatic missions exert pressure israel palestinianamerican businessman sam bahour veteran activist said problem political technical aggression clearly renewed approach put pressure community intent get people leave country said __ online httpwwwrighttoenterps ramallah west bank ap american kate hamad doesnt dare leave ramallah fearing trouble even deportation stopped israeli checkpoint outskirts autonomous palestinian city west bank israel rejected request visa renewal three months ago said even though palestinian husband three youngest children west bank residency appealed hasnt heard back really feel trapped really feel scared said 32yearold grimes iowa hamad among growing number foreigners west bank israeli visa problems according palestinian officials israeli lawyers said past year israel made harder ties palestinians stay west bank spouse work visas harming families universities even school teaching western classical music palestinian children cogat branch israeli defense ministry denied adopted tougher rules saying visa applications judged casebycase basis respond requests provide statistics underlying problem foreigners palestinian selfrule government administers 38 percent west bank authority grant residency without approval israel result thousands people limbo residency applications often ignored rejected leaving option seeking temporary visas israel always visitor left begging status said california native morgan cooper 36 recently spouse visa extended six months reported surge visa troubles comes time hopes negotiated solution israelipalestinian conflict seem dissipated palestinians seek state west bank gaza strip east jerusalem lands israel captured 1967 recent negotiations broke four years ago due deep disagreements key issues continued israeli settlement expansion along internal palestinian political split pragmatists militants pushed partition deal even reach last month us recognition jerusalem israels capital prompted palestinian president mahmoud abbas slam door two decades intermittent negotiations long us remains sole mediator years residency permits foreign spouses palestinians become bargaining chip israel times agreeing certain quotas freezing requests periods crisis 25000 applications still pending total 65000 submitted since mid1990s said walid wahdan palestinian civil affairs department said department largely stopped submitting family reunification requests arguing israel refuses receive cogat said cant rule applications doesnt receive say many approved leora bechor israeli immigration lawyer said place residency permits married palestinians typically granted oneyear renewable spouse visas recent years since late 2016 anecdotal evidence visa rejections visas issued shorter periods said said israels policies violate international standards including right families live together american married israeli would granted residency rights palestinians foreign spouses often presented impossible choices separation emigration life west bank without legal status foreigners said also told spouse visa allowed paid work palestinian companies organizations believe underlying reason one demographics lets create situation palestinians forced leave said bechor visa applications typically collected wahdans department palestinian interior ministry sent cogat branch near ramallah decision palestinian interior ministry mainly deals spouse visas said submitted 2220 applications israel last year 247 rejected wahdans office mostly deals work visas said 40 250 rejected neither department provided comparison figures previous years hamad family moved ramallah last june selling house new orleans children could get know palestinian relatives kate hamads husband electrical engineer spends much time us business previously able pass west bank residency rights three children wife older daughter kate hamad said october israel rejected visa grounds husband wasnt west bank time application processed said learned reason palestinian officials translated note hebrew rejection slip family bad options said husband cant afford quit job said even order live fulltime west bank theres guarantee would get visa also afraid leave fear denied future entry thats option since husbands entire family hamad said hamad said feels discriminated compared americans area jewish americans including israeli settlements west bank instantly eligible israeli citizenship israels law return diaspora jews us consulate jerusalem said state department closely follows issues relating treatment us citizens abroad works host government ensure fair treatment aware issue comment private immigration legal matters take seriously consulate said educational institutions also hit hard edward said national conservatory music said six 20 foreign teachers visa problems two denied reentry israel director suhail khoury said others expect difficulties visas expire coming months echoing others said visa process appears murky shifting rules lack consistency chaos said school total teaching staff 77 offers western arabic classical music courses 2000 palestinian students foreign teachers often irreplaceable said basically threatening whole educational system said west banks bir zeit university 15 foreign teachers face visa problems including department heads said spokeswoman tina rafidi arab american university town jenin lost dean business faculty veteran english language professor visa extensions denied last year said deputy president zaki saleh seeking foreign teachers know hope slim said activists revived right enter campaign created decade ago fight similar troubles urged diplomatic missions exert pressure israel palestinianamerican businessman sam bahour veteran activist said problem political technical aggression clearly renewed approach put pressure community intent get people leave country said __ online httpwwwrighttoenterps
| 1,496 |
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<p>In his previous role as Oklahoma’s attorney general, the Environmental Protection Agency’s new administrator regularly huddled with fossil fuel firms and electric utilities about how to combat federal environmental regulations and spoke to conservative political groups about what they called government “overreach,” according to thousands of pages of emails released Wednesday.</p>
<p>“The newly released emails reveal a close and friendly relationship between Scott Pruitt’s office and the fossil fuel industry, with frequent meetings, calls, dinners and other events,” said Nick Surgey, research director for the Center for Media and Democracy, which has sued to compel the release of the emails.</p>
<p>The emails highlight an often-chummy relationship between Pruitt’s office and Devon Energy, a major oil and gas exploration and production company based in Oklahoma City. The correspondence makes clear that top officials at the company met often with Pruitt or people who worked for him. Devon representatives also helped draft — and redraft — letters for Pruitt to sign and send to federal officials in an effort to stave off new regulations.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>“Any suggestions?” a deputy solicitor general in Pruitt’s office wrote to a Devon executive in early May 2013, including a draft of a letter the office was planning to send to the EPA regarding proposed regulations of methane emissions.</p>
<p>“Here you go,” the executive, Bill Whitsitt replied. “Please note that you could use just the red changes, or both red and blue (the latter being some further improvements from one of our experts) or none.”</p>
<p>“I sent the letter today,” the deputy solicitor general wrote the following day. “Thanks for all your help on this.”</p>
<p>The emails show that Pruitt and his office were in touch with a network of ultra-conservative groups, many of which in the past have received backing from billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch, the libertarian owners of Koch Industries, a major oil company. The documents detail not only how Pruitt’s office at times coordinated with industry officials to fight unwanted regulations from Washington, but also how he was a highly sought-after speaker at conferences and other gatherings for groups such as the American Legislative Exchange Council, which works with corporate interests and state legislators to shape key pieces of legislation.</p>
<p>In one example, Pruitt was a speaker at an ALEC conference on May 3, 2013, in Oklahoma City. He was part of a panel called, “Embracing American Energy Opportunities: From Wellheads to Pipelines.” The event also featured a reception at the Petroleum Club and a luncheon sponsored by Koch Industries.</p>
<p>The Oklahoma attorney general’s office handed over the batch of emails — nearly 7,000 pages in all — this week in order to meet a deadline set by a judge who ordered the documents’ release following more than two years of effort by CMD, a liberal watchdog organization. The group had sued to compel the state to release the documents under public records laws.</p>
<p>Though the emails show Pruitt’s ties with a wide range of fossil fuel interests and conservative political groups, they show a particularly close relationship with Devon Energy, a major oil and gas exploration and production company based in Oklahoma City. Much of the correspondence revolves around arranging speaking engagements, obtaining contact information for people at the federal Office of Management and Budget and coordinating letter-writing efforts.</p>
<p>At one point, Pruitt’s then-chief of staff, Melissa Houston, wrote in a Jan. 9, 2013, email to Whitsitt, Devon’s vice president for public affairs: “You are so amazingly helpful!!! Thank you so much!!!”</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>In another email chain on March 21, 2013, Whitsitt wrote to Pruitt’s office offering a draft of a letter that state attorneys general might sign and send to the then-acting EPA administrator regarding limits on methane emissions. Devon, which has substantial shale gas and shale oil drilling operations, would have been affected by the rule.</p>
<p>“Attached is a potential first-cut draft of a letter a (bipartisan if possible?) group of AGs might send to the acting EPA administrator and some others in the Administration in response to the NE states’ notice of intent to sue for more E&amp;P emission regulation,” Whitsitt wrote. “It would be a shot across the bow, warning EPA not to not go down a negotiated-rulemaking or wink-at-a sue-and-settle tee-up process.”</p>
<p>The company vice president gave strategic advice, too. “If sent, I’d suggest that it be made public, at least to the Hill and to policy community publications,” he wrote. “It seems to me this would also be a logical outgrowth of the fossil energy AGs meeting and could be powerful with a number of signers. It is also the kind of thing that in the future could be run through the clearinghouse we discussed. Please let me know what you and General Pruitt think, or if we can help further.”</p>
<p>That same month, Whitsitt also offered a draft of a letter for Pruitt to sign about the federal Bureau of Land Management’s revised proposal of a rule on hydraulic fracturing, a drilling technique that has helped U.S. companies like Devon sharply expand output and profits. Following up on his conversations with Pruitt, Whitsitt suggested a meeting “or perhaps more efficient, a conference call” with OMB officials.</p>
<p>“The attached draft letter (or something like it that Scott if comfortable talking from and sending to the acting director to whom the letter is addressed) could be the basis for the meeting or call,” he wrote.</p>
<p>Pruitt’s chief of staff replied: “Thanks Bill – we will take a look and start working on a draft.”</p>
<p>In a Nov. 8, 2013, email, Pruitt’s chief of staff, Melissa McLawhorn Houston, asked the Devon VP of public and government affairs, Allen Wright, to take her, her sons and her father to see Devon Tower, a skyscraper in downtown Oklahoma City. Wright asked a colleague to escort her and her family to “50” — apparently the top of the 50-story tower.</p>
<p>In another case, Pruitt received a thankful email from Stuart Solomon, the president and chief operating officer of the Public Service Company of Oklahoma, a utility that’s part of the larger power company American Electric Power. The email came as the company hailed a 2014 decision by the EPA to back off of an attempt to impose a federal plan on Oklahoma for its compliance with the agency’s regional haze rule, and instead accept a plan offered by the state. Pruitt had sued the EPA over its federal plan – which, according to a press release from Solomon’s company, “would have cost the utility and its customers about $650 million more in additional near-term investments than the state plan.”</p>
<p>“Scott, I wanted to tell you personally how much I appreciate your efforts to pave the way for a state solution to meeting the RHR challenge,” said Solomon. “Your lawsuit against EPA, and your encouragement of our efforts to settle this issue in a way that benefits the state, were instrumental in giving us the time and the opportunity to develop a revised state plan.”</p>
<p>Pruitt’s close ties to Devon Energy were first highlighted in 2014 by the New York Times, which reported that a letter ostensibly written by the attorney general alleging that the EPA overestimated air pollution from natural gas drilling was actually written by the company’s attorneys. “That’s actually called representative government in my view of the world,” Pruitt later said of the letter.</p>
<p>The emails’ release comes just days after Pruitt was confirmed as the EPA’s new leader. Senate Democrats and environmental groups made a last-minute push to delay his confirmation vote last week, contending that lawmakers – and the public – ought to be able to review his correspondence with industry officials before putting him in charge of safeguarding the nation’s environment. Republicans forged ahead anyway, and Pruitt was confirmed by a 52-to-46 vote.</p>
<p>In a statement Tuesday, the Oklahoma attorney general’s office said it “went above and beyond what is required under the Open Records Act and produced thousands of additional documents that, but for the Court’s order, would typically be considered records” outside the scope of the act. “This broad disclosure should provide affirmation that, despite politically motivated allegations, the Office of the Attorney General remains fully committed to the letter and spirit of the Open Records Act,” spokesman Lincoln Ferguson said.</p>
<p>Pruitt’s office at EPA did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.</p>
<p>In an email, Devon Energy spokesman John Porretto said the company’s engagement with Pruitt during his time as attorney general was “consistent – and proportionate – with our commitment to engage in conversations with policymakers on a broad range of matters that promote jobs, economic growth and a robust domestic energy sector.” He added: “We have a clear obligation to our shareholders and others to be involved in these discussions related to job growth, economic growth and domestic energy. … It would be indefensible for us to not be engaged in these important issues.”</p>
<p>Environmental groups on Wednesday were quick to criticize Pruitt, arguing that the emails showed once again his penchant for putting the interests of industry over the health of ordinary citizens.</p>
<p>“This is Scott Pruitt’s mission statement: attack environmental safeguards, protect industrial polluters and let the public pay the price,” Rhea Suh, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council, said in a statement. “These emails tell us that he’s in league with the very industries we’ve now entrusted him to police. He so deeply imbedded himself with energy companies that they described Pruitt and his allies as ‘fossil energy AGs,’ a badge of dishonor for a public guardian if ever there were one.”</p>
<p>The Oklahoma attorney general’s office withheld some documents as exempted or privileged and has asked Judge Aletia Haynes Timmons to review whether they should be released, according to the Center for Media and Democracy. Timmons also ordered Pruitt’s former office to hand over records related to five outstanding records requests by early next week.</p>
<p>After unsuccessfully seeking the release of Pruitt’s correspondence with fossil-fuel representatives under public records laws, the center filed suit over his refusal to turn over the documents and requested the expedited hearing that led to Timmons’s order on Thursday. In her ruling, the judge said there had been “an abject failure to provide prompt and reasonable access to documents requested.”</p>
<p>Pruitt sued the EPA more than a dozen times during the Obama administration, challenging the agency’s authority to regulate toxic mercury pollution, smog, carbon emissions from power plants and the quality of wetlands and other waters. During his tenure in Oklahoma, he dismantled a specialized environmental protection unit that had existed under his Democratic predecessor and established a “federalism unit” to combat what he called “unwarranted regulation and systematic overreach” by Washington.</p>
<p>These moves earned him widespread opposition from environmental activists but praise from fellow Republicans and industry representatives, who saw him as a friend to businesses and a staunch opponent of federal regulations they called unnecessary and burdensome.</p>
<p>On Tuesday, Pruitt addressed EPA employees for the first time as their new boss. He spoke of stepping back from the aggressive regulations of recent years and said there need not be a contradiction between environmental protection and energy production or job creation.</p>
<p>“We as an agency and we as a nation can be both pro-energy and jobs and pro-environment,” he said. “We don’t have to choose between the two.”</p>
<p>—</p>
<p>The Washington Post’s Chris Mooney and Juliet Eilperin contributed to this report.</p>
<p>—</p>
<p>Link to Pruitt emails: <a href="http://www.exposedbycmd.org/Scott-Pruitt-Missing-Emails" type="external">http://www.exposedbycmd.org/Scott-Pruitt-Missing-Emails</a></p>
| false | 2 |
previous role oklahomas attorney general environmental protection agencys new administrator regularly huddled fossil fuel firms electric utilities combat federal environmental regulations spoke conservative political groups called government overreach according thousands pages emails released wednesday newly released emails reveal close friendly relationship scott pruitts office fossil fuel industry frequent meetings calls dinners events said nick surgey research director center media democracy sued compel release emails emails highlight oftenchummy relationship pruitts office devon energy major oil gas exploration production company based oklahoma city correspondence makes clear top officials company met often pruitt people worked devon representatives also helped draft redraft letters pruitt sign send federal officials effort stave new regulations advertisement suggestions deputy solicitor general pruitts office wrote devon executive early may 2013 including draft letter office planning send epa regarding proposed regulations methane emissions go executive bill whitsitt replied please note could use red changes red blue latter improvements one experts none sent letter today deputy solicitor general wrote following day thanks help emails show pruitt office touch network ultraconservative groups many past received backing billionaire brothers charles david koch libertarian owners koch industries major oil company documents detail pruitts office times coordinated industry officials fight unwanted regulations washington also highly soughtafter speaker conferences gatherings groups american legislative exchange council works corporate interests state legislators shape key pieces legislation one example pruitt speaker alec conference may 3 2013 oklahoma city part panel called embracing american energy opportunities wellheads pipelines event also featured reception petroleum club luncheon sponsored koch industries oklahoma attorney generals office handed batch emails nearly 7000 pages week order meet deadline set judge ordered documents release following two years effort cmd liberal watchdog organization group sued compel state release documents public records laws though emails show pruitts ties wide range fossil fuel interests conservative political groups show particularly close relationship devon energy major oil gas exploration production company based oklahoma city much correspondence revolves around arranging speaking engagements obtaining contact information people federal office management budget coordinating letterwriting efforts one point pruitts thenchief staff melissa houston wrote jan 9 2013 email whitsitt devons vice president public affairs amazingly helpful thank much advertisement another email chain march 21 2013 whitsitt wrote pruitts office offering draft letter state attorneys general might sign send thenacting epa administrator regarding limits methane emissions devon substantial shale gas shale oil drilling operations would affected rule attached potential firstcut draft letter bipartisan possible group ags might send acting epa administrator others administration response ne states notice intent sue eampp emission regulation whitsitt wrote would shot across bow warning epa go negotiatedrulemaking winkata sueandsettle teeup process company vice president gave strategic advice sent id suggest made public least hill policy community publications wrote seems would also logical outgrowth fossil energy ags meeting could powerful number signers also kind thing future could run clearinghouse discussed please let know general pruitt think help month whitsitt also offered draft letter pruitt sign federal bureau land managements revised proposal rule hydraulic fracturing drilling technique helped us companies like devon sharply expand output profits following conversations pruitt whitsitt suggested meeting perhaps efficient conference call omb officials attached draft letter something like scott comfortable talking sending acting director letter addressed could basis meeting call wrote pruitts chief staff replied thanks bill take look start working draft nov 8 2013 email pruitts chief staff melissa mclawhorn houston asked devon vp public government affairs allen wright take sons father see devon tower skyscraper downtown oklahoma city wright asked colleague escort family 50 apparently top 50story tower another case pruitt received thankful email stuart solomon president chief operating officer public service company oklahoma utility thats part larger power company american electric power email came company hailed 2014 decision epa back attempt impose federal plan oklahoma compliance agencys regional haze rule instead accept plan offered state pruitt sued epa federal plan according press release solomons company would cost utility customers 650 million additional nearterm investments state plan scott wanted tell personally much appreciate efforts pave way state solution meeting rhr challenge said solomon lawsuit epa encouragement efforts settle issue way benefits state instrumental giving us time opportunity develop revised state plan pruitts close ties devon energy first highlighted 2014 new york times reported letter ostensibly written attorney general alleging epa overestimated air pollution natural gas drilling actually written companys attorneys thats actually called representative government view world pruitt later said letter emails release comes days pruitt confirmed epas new leader senate democrats environmental groups made lastminute push delay confirmation vote last week contending lawmakers public ought able review correspondence industry officials putting charge safeguarding nations environment republicans forged ahead anyway pruitt confirmed 52to46 vote statement tuesday oklahoma attorney generals office said went beyond required open records act produced thousands additional documents courts order would typically considered records outside scope act broad disclosure provide affirmation despite politically motivated allegations office attorney general remains fully committed letter spirit open records act spokesman lincoln ferguson said pruitts office epa immediately respond request comment wednesday email devon energy spokesman john porretto said companys engagement pruitt time attorney general consistent proportionate commitment engage conversations policymakers broad range matters promote jobs economic growth robust domestic energy sector added clear obligation shareholders others involved discussions related job growth economic growth domestic energy would indefensible us engaged important issues environmental groups wednesday quick criticize pruitt arguing emails showed penchant putting interests industry health ordinary citizens scott pruitts mission statement attack environmental safeguards protect industrial polluters let public pay price rhea suh president natural resources defense council said statement emails tell us hes league industries weve entrusted police deeply imbedded energy companies described pruitt allies fossil energy ags badge dishonor public guardian ever one oklahoma attorney generals office withheld documents exempted privileged asked judge aletia haynes timmons review whether released according center media democracy timmons also ordered pruitts former office hand records related five outstanding records requests early next week unsuccessfully seeking release pruitts correspondence fossilfuel representatives public records laws center filed suit refusal turn documents requested expedited hearing led timmonss order thursday ruling judge said abject failure provide prompt reasonable access documents requested pruitt sued epa dozen times obama administration challenging agencys authority regulate toxic mercury pollution smog carbon emissions power plants quality wetlands waters tenure oklahoma dismantled specialized environmental protection unit existed democratic predecessor established federalism unit combat called unwarranted regulation systematic overreach washington moves earned widespread opposition environmental activists praise fellow republicans industry representatives saw friend businesses staunch opponent federal regulations called unnecessary burdensome tuesday pruitt addressed epa employees first time new boss spoke stepping back aggressive regulations recent years said need contradiction environmental protection energy production job creation agency nation proenergy jobs proenvironment said dont choose two washington posts chris mooney juliet eilperin contributed report link pruitt emails httpwwwexposedbycmdorgscottpruittmissingemails
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<p>MADRID (AP) — Spain's prime minister said Friday he intends to convene Catalonia's new parliament on Jan. 17 and hopes the restive region's next government won't renew the push for independence that fueled a serious political crisis.</p>
<p>Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy set the date just over a week after a regional parliamentary election resulted in the separatist parties he hoped to keep out of power again winning the most seats and in turn a good chance to lead the next Catalan government.</p>
<p>At the opening session, the parliament typically chooses a house speaker, who then calls on a candidate to try to form a government in the following days.</p>
<p>Rajoy ordered the Dec. 21 election under constitutional powers he invoked in October to dissolve the previous parliament after it voted to declare Catalonia an independent republic. He also removed the region's pro-independence president and his Cabinet.</p>
<p>Governing Catalonia will remain in the hands of Spanish authorities until a new president and Cabinet are chosen. Rajoy has not ruled out seizing control of the region again, if necessary.</p>
<p>While the anti-secession Ciutadans (Citizens) collected the most votes of any single party, the prime minister's hope that the separatists would suffer a stinging rebuke at the polls went unfulfilled.</p>
<p>It remains to be seen if the secessionist parties, which won 70 of the regional parliament's 135 seats, will be able to form a government. Eight of their deputies elected last week are either in flight from justice or jailed in Spain while being investigated for alleged rebellion over the independence declaration.</p>
<p>They include former Catalan President Carles Puigdemont, who fled to Belgium after Rajoy ousted him from office and risks being arrested if he returns to Spain. The former vice president of Catalonia, Oriol Junqueras, is in jail outside Madrid.</p>
<p>Puigdemont's and Junqueras' parties are negotiating which of them to put forward for the regional presidency; the selected candidate must be present at a session of parliament, which presents obvious obstacles for both men.</p>
<p>Unless the status of the eight elected deputies changes or they cede their seats to other party members, the bloc risks losing the opportunity to take office again and fresh elections may be called.</p>
<p>The three pro-independence parties were united in the previous parliament, but disagreements have arisen amid the fallout from the move to break away from Spain and the central government's takeover of Catalonia's affairs.</p>
<p>Rajoy said 2017 saw Spain continue to thrive economically but had been a "very difficult year" because of the Catalan crisis. He said he hoped the next Catalan government would refrain from acting outside the law and would be capable of working for all Catalans and with the rest of Spain.</p>
<p>He called speculation that Puigdemont might be voted in again as Catalan president while remaining abroad "absurd."</p>
<p>MADRID (AP) — Spain's prime minister said Friday he intends to convene Catalonia's new parliament on Jan. 17 and hopes the restive region's next government won't renew the push for independence that fueled a serious political crisis.</p>
<p>Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy set the date just over a week after a regional parliamentary election resulted in the separatist parties he hoped to keep out of power again winning the most seats and in turn a good chance to lead the next Catalan government.</p>
<p>At the opening session, the parliament typically chooses a house speaker, who then calls on a candidate to try to form a government in the following days.</p>
<p>Rajoy ordered the Dec. 21 election under constitutional powers he invoked in October to dissolve the previous parliament after it voted to declare Catalonia an independent republic. He also removed the region's pro-independence president and his Cabinet.</p>
<p>Governing Catalonia will remain in the hands of Spanish authorities until a new president and Cabinet are chosen. Rajoy has not ruled out seizing control of the region again, if necessary.</p>
<p>While the anti-secession Ciutadans (Citizens) collected the most votes of any single party, the prime minister's hope that the separatists would suffer a stinging rebuke at the polls went unfulfilled.</p>
<p>It remains to be seen if the secessionist parties, which won 70 of the regional parliament's 135 seats, will be able to form a government. Eight of their deputies elected last week are either in flight from justice or jailed in Spain while being investigated for alleged rebellion over the independence declaration.</p>
<p>They include former Catalan President Carles Puigdemont, who fled to Belgium after Rajoy ousted him from office and risks being arrested if he returns to Spain. The former vice president of Catalonia, Oriol Junqueras, is in jail outside Madrid.</p>
<p>Puigdemont's and Junqueras' parties are negotiating which of them to put forward for the regional presidency; the selected candidate must be present at a session of parliament, which presents obvious obstacles for both men.</p>
<p>Unless the status of the eight elected deputies changes or they cede their seats to other party members, the bloc risks losing the opportunity to take office again and fresh elections may be called.</p>
<p>The three pro-independence parties were united in the previous parliament, but disagreements have arisen amid the fallout from the move to break away from Spain and the central government's takeover of Catalonia's affairs.</p>
<p>Rajoy said 2017 saw Spain continue to thrive economically but had been a "very difficult year" because of the Catalan crisis. He said he hoped the next Catalan government would refrain from acting outside the law and would be capable of working for all Catalans and with the rest of Spain.</p>
<p>He called speculation that Puigdemont might be voted in again as Catalan president while remaining abroad "absurd."</p>
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madrid ap spains prime minister said friday intends convene catalonias new parliament jan 17 hopes restive regions next government wont renew push independence fueled serious political crisis prime minister mariano rajoy set date week regional parliamentary election resulted separatist parties hoped keep power winning seats turn good chance lead next catalan government opening session parliament typically chooses house speaker calls candidate try form government following days rajoy ordered dec 21 election constitutional powers invoked october dissolve previous parliament voted declare catalonia independent republic also removed regions proindependence president cabinet governing catalonia remain hands spanish authorities new president cabinet chosen rajoy ruled seizing control region necessary antisecession ciutadans citizens collected votes single party prime ministers hope separatists would suffer stinging rebuke polls went unfulfilled remains seen secessionist parties 70 regional parliaments 135 seats able form government eight deputies elected last week either flight justice jailed spain investigated alleged rebellion independence declaration include former catalan president carles puigdemont fled belgium rajoy ousted office risks arrested returns spain former vice president catalonia oriol junqueras jail outside madrid puigdemonts junqueras parties negotiating put forward regional presidency selected candidate must present session parliament presents obvious obstacles men unless status eight elected deputies changes cede seats party members bloc risks losing opportunity take office fresh elections may called three proindependence parties united previous parliament disagreements arisen amid fallout move break away spain central governments takeover catalonias affairs rajoy said 2017 saw spain continue thrive economically difficult year catalan crisis said hoped next catalan government would refrain acting outside law would capable working catalans rest spain called speculation puigdemont might voted catalan president remaining abroad absurd madrid ap spains prime minister said friday intends convene catalonias new parliament jan 17 hopes restive regions next government wont renew push independence fueled serious political crisis prime minister mariano rajoy set date week regional parliamentary election resulted separatist parties hoped keep power winning seats turn good chance lead next catalan government opening session parliament typically chooses house speaker calls candidate try form government following days rajoy ordered dec 21 election constitutional powers invoked october dissolve previous parliament voted declare catalonia independent republic also removed regions proindependence president cabinet governing catalonia remain hands spanish authorities new president cabinet chosen rajoy ruled seizing control region necessary antisecession ciutadans citizens collected votes single party prime ministers hope separatists would suffer stinging rebuke polls went unfulfilled remains seen secessionist parties 70 regional parliaments 135 seats able form government eight deputies elected last week either flight justice jailed spain investigated alleged rebellion independence declaration include former catalan president carles puigdemont fled belgium rajoy ousted office risks arrested returns spain former vice president catalonia oriol junqueras jail outside madrid puigdemonts junqueras parties negotiating put forward regional presidency selected candidate must present session parliament presents obvious obstacles men unless status eight elected deputies changes cede seats party members bloc risks losing opportunity take office fresh elections may called three proindependence parties united previous parliament disagreements arisen amid fallout move break away spain central governments takeover catalonias affairs rajoy said 2017 saw spain continue thrive economically difficult year catalan crisis said hoped next catalan government would refrain acting outside law would capable working catalans rest spain called speculation puigdemont might voted catalan president remaining abroad absurd
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<p>City Council President Dan Lewis says Albuquerque needs a new police chief in the wake of a federal investigation into the department and other controversy that has “engulfed and tarnished” the reputation of APD.</p>
<p>In a Journal interview Wednesday, Lewis said Chief Ray Schultz is a good, hard-working man who can make some changes, “but he cannot change the negative perception that this mess has left behind.”</p>
<p>At least one other councilor, Isaac Benton, also said it’s time for a new chief. Lewis is a Republican, Benton a Democrat.</p>
<p>LEWIS: Calls Schultz a good, hard-working man</p>
<p>Councilor Trudy Jones expressed support for the chief. Five other councilors didn’t return telephone calls Wednesday, and Councilor Roxanna Meyers said she didn’t have an immediate comment.</p>
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<p>“We have to rebuild the morale and reputation of APD and the trust of the people that they serve,” Lewis said. “We don’t have to complicate this. Albuquerque needs a new police chief.”</p>
<p>Mayor Richard Berry, a Republican, was traveling and unavailable for comment, a spokeswoman said.</p>
<p>Schultz, in a written statement, said he is proud of the work performed by the men and women of the department and proud to wear the same badge and uniform.</p>
<p>“All I can say is that I continue to work hard for the citizens of Albuquerque each and every day,” he said. “I have dedicated most of my adult working life to the Albuquerque Police Department, often giving up personal and family time in order to meet the around the clock demands of being a police chief in a major metropolitan police department.”</p>
<p>Schultz was first appointed chief by then-Mayor Martin Chávez in 2005, and Berry kept him on after taking office in 2009.</p>
<p>APD’s problems have been the focus of intense scrutiny for more than 2 1/2 years.</p>
<p>Among the issues: City police have shot at 28 men since 2010, striking 25 and killing 18; several officers have been fired over use of force incidents, while others have not; other types of misconduct including offensive comments posted on social networking websites that netted lesser punishments; a union scandal involving potentially misspent dues money; and millions of dollars in taxpayer money spent on defending police officers and paying people who have sued APD.</p>
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<p>The chief’s supporters say he has made Albuquerque a leader in the deployment of technology to fight crime and improve public safety. The city, for example, opened a video command center recently that uses live camera feeds to provide real-time information to officers in the field.</p>
<p>Jones, a Republican, said Schultz “has brought us a long ways” during his tenure.</p>
<p>“This chief has added huge technological expertise to APD,” Jones said. Some of his efforts are “obviously being studied and copied by police departments all over the country.”</p>
<p>Benton’s evaluation was far less positive. He said the council may discuss a no-confidence vote and that, regardless, it’s “absolutely” time for a new chief.</p>
<p>“It’s nothing personal,” Benton said. “We’ve had two administrations with nothing but problems, and the only consistent thread there is Ray Schultz.”</p>
<p>Lewis said he had “no comment” on whether Schultz should voluntarily step down or if the mayor ought to force him out.</p>
<p>Schultz is part of the Berry administration and isn’t hired or fired by the council.</p>
<p>Jones said the mayor controls the job, and “it’s not my position to tell the mayor how to handle that.”</p>
<p>Meyers, a Republican, said she couldn’t comment in detail until she had time to consider the issue more carefully. “It’s an important topic,” she said</p>
<p>Meeting councilors</p>
<p>Schultz said he and other officers have met with some councilors to try to address their concerns.</p>
<p>“Both myself and my staff have met with some members of City Council in order to continue to improve relations and operations between the department and community,” Schultz said. “This has been and continues to be our number one goal.”</p>
<p>He added that he would “hope that Councilor Lewis could someday make time to speak with me about his concerns, ideas and suggestions.”</p>
<p>Lewis said he’s always been open to talking to the chief and did so late Wednesday.</p>
<p>SCHULTZ: Says he continues to work hard</p>
<p>Schultz, a graduate of the FBI National Academy in Virginia, has been a keynote speaker at conferences on topics such as collaboration between police and the business community. He is also a member of the Police Executive Research Forum, known as PERF, a national group of law-enforcement executives that studies trends in police work and often does studies for agencies.</p>
<p>But his department has also faced intense criticism, partly over the shootings. Tearful family members and activists speak repeatedly at City Council meetings about the shootings. They also call for Schultz to be fired.</p>
<p>In November, the U.S. Department of Justice announced a top-to-bottom investigation into whether APD has a pattern of violating people’s civil rights, specifically through officers’ use of force, and whether department brass sufficiently polices officers.</p>
<p>Two state District Court judges have ruled in civil court that APD shootings were unlawful. In June 2011, Judge Theresa Baca issued a scathing opinion saying, in part, that the department’s training is “designed to result in the unreasonable use of deadly force.”</p>
<p>And Judge Shannon Bacon last month ruled that an officer’s shooting of an Iraq war veteran who was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder was excessive force as a matter of law. A jury trial in that shooting is continuing this week.</p>
<p>Berry and Schultz point out that since May 2011, APD has made more than 60 changes. About 40 of those came after the city paid PERF, a national law enforcement think tank of which Schultz is a prominent member, $60,000 to review its use-of-force policies. Among the group’s recommendations APD has implemented was that a supervisor be sent to potentially volatile scenes to slow them down.</p>
<p>And the chief himself ordered nearly 20 more changes to department policies, including requiring all officers to record every citizen encounter on a lapel-mounted camera.</p>
<p>Union troubles</p>
<p>The head of the police union concurred with Lewis and Benton.</p>
<p>“Based on our survey, yes, the officers are asking for a change,” Greg Weber, president of the Albuquerque Police Officers’ Association, said in a telephone interview, adding that he wasn’t sure Lewis and the union shared the same concerns about Schultz. “But our survey, which has largely been ignored by the administration, speaks for itself.”</p>
<p>Two weeks before the Justice Department announced its investigation of APD in November, the APOA released some of the results of the survey conducted for the union by a private company.</p>
<p>About 450 officers responded, nearly half the force. Fifty percent said Mayor Richard Berry should fire Schultz; 80 percent said they disapproved of Schultz’s leadership of the department; and all but three officers said morale at APD was low.</p>
<p>The chief pointed to the 93 percent of officers who responded by saying that they wanted Berry to honor pay raises that were agreed upon when Martin Chávez was mayor. Schultz said that response was evidence that officers’ negative impressions of his job performance and department morale were “about money.”</p>
<p>Berry said the city simply couldn’t afford the raises Chávez had agreed to. — This article appeared on page A1 of the Albuquerque Journal</p>
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city council president dan lewis says albuquerque needs new police chief wake federal investigation department controversy engulfed tarnished reputation apd journal interview wednesday lewis said chief ray schultz good hardworking man make changes change negative perception mess left behind least one councilor isaac benton also said time new chief lewis republican benton democrat lewis calls schultz good hardworking man councilor trudy jones expressed support chief five councilors didnt return telephone calls wednesday councilor roxanna meyers said didnt immediate comment advertisement rebuild morale reputation apd trust people serve lewis said dont complicate albuquerque needs new police chief mayor richard berry republican traveling unavailable comment spokeswoman said schultz written statement said proud work performed men women department proud wear badge uniform say continue work hard citizens albuquerque every day said dedicated adult working life albuquerque police department often giving personal family time order meet around clock demands police chief major metropolitan police department schultz first appointed chief thenmayor martin chávez 2005 berry kept taking office 2009 apds problems focus intense scrutiny 2 12 years among issues city police shot 28 men since 2010 striking 25 killing 18 several officers fired use force incidents others types misconduct including offensive comments posted social networking websites netted lesser punishments union scandal involving potentially misspent dues money millions dollars taxpayer money spent defending police officers paying people sued apd advertisement chiefs supporters say made albuquerque leader deployment technology fight crime improve public safety city example opened video command center recently uses live camera feeds provide realtime information officers field jones republican said schultz brought us long ways tenure chief added huge technological expertise apd jones said efforts obviously studied copied police departments country bentons evaluation far less positive said council may discuss noconfidence vote regardless absolutely time new chief nothing personal benton said weve two administrations nothing problems consistent thread ray schultz lewis said comment whether schultz voluntarily step mayor ought force schultz part berry administration isnt hired fired council jones said mayor controls job position tell mayor handle meyers republican said couldnt comment detail time consider issue carefully important topic said meeting councilors schultz said officers met councilors try address concerns staff met members city council order continue improve relations operations department community schultz said continues number one goal added would hope councilor lewis could someday make time speak concerns ideas suggestions lewis said hes always open talking chief late wednesday schultz says continues work hard schultz graduate fbi national academy virginia keynote speaker conferences topics collaboration police business community also member police executive research forum known perf national group lawenforcement executives studies trends police work often studies agencies department also faced intense criticism partly shootings tearful family members activists speak repeatedly city council meetings shootings also call schultz fired november us department justice announced toptobottom investigation whether apd pattern violating peoples civil rights specifically officers use force whether department brass sufficiently polices officers two state district court judges ruled civil court apd shootings unlawful june 2011 judge theresa baca issued scathing opinion saying part departments training designed result unreasonable use deadly force judge shannon bacon last month ruled officers shooting iraq war veteran suffering posttraumatic stress disorder excessive force matter law jury trial shooting continuing week berry schultz point since may 2011 apd made 60 changes 40 came city paid perf national law enforcement think tank schultz prominent member 60000 review useofforce policies among groups recommendations apd implemented supervisor sent potentially volatile scenes slow chief ordered nearly 20 changes department policies including requiring officers record every citizen encounter lapelmounted camera union troubles head police union concurred lewis benton based survey yes officers asking change greg weber president albuquerque police officers association said telephone interview adding wasnt sure lewis union shared concerns schultz survey largely ignored administration speaks two weeks justice department announced investigation apd november apoa released results survey conducted union private company 450 officers responded nearly half force fifty percent said mayor richard berry fire schultz 80 percent said disapproved schultzs leadership department three officers said morale apd low chief pointed 93 percent officers responded saying wanted berry honor pay raises agreed upon martin chávez mayor schultz said response evidence officers negative impressions job performance department morale money berry said city simply couldnt afford raises chávez agreed article appeared page a1 albuquerque journal
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<p>Spicer’s comment at Tuesday’s briefing that Adolf Hitler, unlike Syria’s Bashar al-Assad, “didn’t even sink to using chemical weapons” shocked reporters, inflamed social media and led to a calls for him to step down as President Trump’s spokesman.</p>
<p>But Spicer seems unlikely to be on the way out, for several reasons.</p>
<p>For one, Spicer began multiple rounds of public apologies and self-flaggelation that tamped down some of the outrage about his gaffe, which came at the start of the Jewish holiday of Passover. His contrition tour began with a CNN interview on Tuesday and continued through Wednesday, with a scheduled stop on Fox News’s “O’Reilly Factor,” an odd choice given the controversy swirling around host Bill O’Reilly. (O’Reilly left for an abrupt two-week vacation and wasn’t scheduled to host his program on Wednesday.)</p>
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<p>Spicer has plenty of critics in the press room – reporters privately grumble about his belittling and badgering of them during briefings – but he has powerful allies inside the White House. Since being named Trump’s press secretary, he has built a strong rapport with the president, insiders say. Another ally: Chief of staff Reince Priebus, who worked with Spicer at the Republican National Committee and championed his White House appointment.</p>
<p>Trump, who sometimes watches Spicer’s televised briefings from the Oval Office and occasionally slips him notes mid-briefing, has shown dogged loyalty to many of his embattled lieutenants, especially in the face of Democratic criticism.</p>
<p>Indeed, several Democrats, including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, called on Trump to fire Spicer or for Spicer to resign in the wake of the Hitler comment – suggestions likely to strengthen Spicer with Trump rather than hurt him.</p>
<p>Trump may also have a practical reason for keeping his press secretary on the job: There’s no clear successor to Spicer in the White House’s press operation.</p>
<p>There was no briefing scheduled on Wednesday, giving Spicer a breather from the press room.</p>
<p>His tenure as press secretary got off to what might be charitably called a rocky start when he ripped the news media’s reporting on the size of Trump’s inaugural crowd a day after the event. He made a number of mistaken statements in support of the overall claim, which Trump seemed to be obsessed with.</p>
<p>Since then, Spicer has adopted a combative stance, often debating with reporters rather than giving a direct reply.</p>
<p>Not a good look, some reporters suggest.</p>
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<p>“Look, the relationship between any press secretary and the press corps is strained,” said Peter Baker, the chief White House reporter for The New York Times. “If it’s not, it probably means one of us isn’t doing our job right. But it can be professional and civil even if it’s adversarial, and history shows that when it degenerates into open hostility, it doesn’t actually serve the White House well.”</p>
<p>Baker, who has dealt with 11 press secretaries in his years covering the White House, added, “Anyone can make a mistake under the pressure of the podium, and when you do, the best thing to do is fix it and apologize promptly, which Sean did. The bigger issue, the more fundamental issue is whether there’s a basic respect for the role of the independent media. That’s a question that hasn’t been answered yet.”</p>
<p>Some reporters draw a distinction between the private Spicer, who can be friendly, accommodating and professional, and the man at the White House podium. Spicer is a familiar figure among reporters, having worked with them at the RNC and in government roles before that.</p>
<p>The Spicer who resembles a Melissa McCarthy parody, however, is largely a creation of the demands placed on him by Trump, they say.</p>
<p>“He is genuinely well-liked in the press room,” said John Gizzi, the chief White House correspondent for Newsmax. “He has survived clashes and harsh words with those who cover him because they like and forgive him.”</p>
<p>Spicer’s relationship with journalists has been strained, Gizzi said, because he’s the spokesman “for a president who is controversial with and distant from [many] of those who cover him.”</p>
<p>Another veteran White House reporter, who asked not to be identified, was sympathetic, to a point.</p>
<p>“My sense is that Spicer is in a terrible situation, given the demands of a mercurial boss who watches him perform almost daily and thinks he himself could do a better job as spokesman,” he said. “But in public he has to adopt the tough-guy attitude” that mirrors Trump’s campaign and the notion that he is disrupting traditional Washington.</p>
<p>Alexis Simendinger, a veteran White House reporter for RealClear Politics, said Trump’s press team, away from the TV cameras, can be more forthcoming and easier to deal with than President Barack Obama’s team, which she described as “cocky, controlling, punitive, and in many ways the least transparent of the staffs I’ve covered going back a ways.”</p>
<p>Simendinger, whose reporting career spans 14 presidential press secretaries, doesn’t know how long Spicer will stay around. But she doesn’t expect it to be very long.</p>
<p>“It’s a tough job with high turnover,” she said. “There is nothing about this president or this White House that would suggest Sean’s longevity would surpass his predecessors’ tenures, and his fortunes may be tied to others inside the West Wing. When presidents are unhappy with policy, politics, or lack of momentum, they tend to seek staff changes to try to recover.”</p>
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spicers comment tuesdays briefing adolf hitler unlike syrias bashar alassad didnt even sink using chemical weapons shocked reporters inflamed social media led calls step president trumps spokesman spicer seems unlikely way several reasons one spicer began multiple rounds public apologies selfflaggelation tamped outrage gaffe came start jewish holiday passover contrition tour began cnn interview tuesday continued wednesday scheduled stop fox newss oreilly factor odd choice given controversy swirling around host bill oreilly oreilly left abrupt twoweek vacation wasnt scheduled host program wednesday advertisement spicer plenty critics press room reporters privately grumble belittling badgering briefings powerful allies inside white house since named trumps press secretary built strong rapport president insiders say another ally chief staff reince priebus worked spicer republican national committee championed white house appointment trump sometimes watches spicers televised briefings oval office occasionally slips notes midbriefing shown dogged loyalty many embattled lieutenants especially face democratic criticism indeed several democrats including house minority leader nancy pelosi called trump fire spicer spicer resign wake hitler comment suggestions likely strengthen spicer trump rather hurt trump may also practical reason keeping press secretary job theres clear successor spicer white houses press operation briefing scheduled wednesday giving spicer breather press room tenure press secretary got might charitably called rocky start ripped news medias reporting size trumps inaugural crowd day event made number mistaken statements support overall claim trump seemed obsessed since spicer adopted combative stance often debating reporters rather giving direct reply good look reporters suggest advertisement look relationship press secretary press corps strained said peter baker chief white house reporter new york times probably means one us isnt job right professional civil even adversarial history shows degenerates open hostility doesnt actually serve white house well baker dealt 11 press secretaries years covering white house added anyone make mistake pressure podium best thing fix apologize promptly sean bigger issue fundamental issue whether theres basic respect role independent media thats question hasnt answered yet reporters draw distinction private spicer friendly accommodating professional man white house podium spicer familiar figure among reporters worked rnc government roles spicer resembles melissa mccarthy parody however largely creation demands placed trump say genuinely wellliked press room said john gizzi chief white house correspondent newsmax survived clashes harsh words cover like forgive spicers relationship journalists strained gizzi said hes spokesman president controversial distant many cover another veteran white house reporter asked identified sympathetic point sense spicer terrible situation given demands mercurial boss watches perform almost daily thinks could better job spokesman said public adopt toughguy attitude mirrors trumps campaign notion disrupting traditional washington alexis simendinger veteran white house reporter realclear politics said trumps press team away tv cameras forthcoming easier deal president barack obamas team described cocky controlling punitive many ways least transparent staffs ive covered going back ways simendinger whose reporting career spans 14 presidential press secretaries doesnt know long spicer stay around doesnt expect long tough job high turnover said nothing president white house would suggest seans longevity would surpass predecessors tenures fortunes may tied others inside west wing presidents unhappy policy politics lack momentum tend seek staff changes try recover
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