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<p>If the extraordinary energy that was on display across the country is effectively channeled into electoral politics, some of the long-term demographic trends that Trump’s victory obscured will accelerate. He could be the last Republican elected president for a long time.</p>
<p>But a new protest movement could also upend the Democratic establishment, just like the tea party movement did eight years ago. With the president viewed as illegitimate by so many progressive activists, even small compromises will be viewed as apostasy. This could fuel nasty primary challenges, without a president in the White House to stop them, and prompt a lurch to the left that would make it harder to topple Trump in 2020.</p>
<p>FOR REPUBLICANS, THE CAUTIONARY TALE OF PROPOSITION 187:</p>
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<p>The protests foreshadowed the long-term damage that Trump might be inflicting on the Republican brand. I found myself wondering what percentage of people in the streets hadn’t voted in 2016 and whether they will in 2020. Both statistics are important but unknowable.</p>
<p>Trump is a reactionary figure, but the long arc of American history bends toward reform. With his pledge to “make America great again,” the septuagenarian president tapped into nostalgia for a bygone era among fellow baby boomers. But the “good old days” were not so good for lots of folks, including but not limited to women, gays, Latinos and African Americans.</p>
<p>Every time Trump did something like attack Judge Gonzalo Curiel, which House Speaker Paul Ryan called the textbook definition of a racist comment, I raised the specter of Proposition 187 in this space. California Republican Gov. Pete Wilson embraced a ballot measure to deny all public services, including education and health care, to undocumented immigrants. The idea was to adopt a wedge issue that would gin up the base and woo disgruntled independents as the state struggled to fight its way out of the post-Cold War recession. Wilson ran ads with footage of Mexicans running across the border. “They keep coming,” a narrator said ominously. The campaign to push the ballot initiative was called “Save Our State,” as in SOS.</p>
<p>What a lot of people forget about Prop 187 is that the gambit worked – in the short-term. Republicans cleaned up in that election, though the measure was quickly blocked by a federal court. But while Wilson won the battle, Republicans lost the war. The GOP candidate for president carried California in nine of the 10 presidential elections before 1992. Democrats have won handily in all six elections since Prop 187.</p>
<p>Significantly, Prop 187 didn’t just alienate a generation of Latinos, galvanizing them to register to vote and get engaged in the political process. It also repelled moderate suburban whites who wanted no part of nativism and xenophobia. To be sure, correlation is not causation. There were demographic trends that were making the state bluer before the measure passed, but it supercharged them.</p>
<p>Latinos were not inevitably going to become a lynchpin of the Democratic coalition. Just compare California to Texas, where George W. Bush proved during his gubernatorial bids around the same time that a conservative can make inroads with the community.</p>
<p>National conservative leaders warned publicly in 1994 that what Wilson was doing would hurt the whole party in the long term, just as they did when Trump launched his campaign by declaring that many Mexican immigrants are rapists, criminals and drug traffickers. “He’s scapegoating, damn it, and he should stop doing it,” Bill Bennett, who had been Ronald Reagan’s Education secretary, said of Wilson at the time.</p>
<p>While Trump won the election in the Rust Belt, he was weaker than past Republicans in the Sunbelt. Mitt Romney carried Arizona by nine points in 2012, for example, but Trump only won by 3.6 percent. It’s hard to imagine the Grand Canyon State not being in play next time. And don’t forget that a shift of fewer than 100,000 votes would have tipped Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan to Hillary Clinton. It’s not like he can count on a realignment working to his advantage.</p>
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<p>One small but telling illustration of how little the Trump administration actually cares about expanding his coalition:The Spanish-language version of Whitehouse.gov no longer exists. You get a 404 error if you try to visit.</p>
<p>FOR DEMOCRATS, A CAUTIONARY TALE IN THE TEA PARTY MOVEMENT:</p>
<p>Right now, the Democratic coalition is united in opposition to Trump. But the edifice could begin to show cracks as issues like Obamacare replacement and infrastructure spending come to the forefront.</p>
<p>While a lot of establishment leaders – like John Kerry – came out for the Women’s March, it was revealing that the leading candidates for DNC chair were instead courting deep-pocketed donors at a conference put on by David Brock in Florida. That they were not out in the streets, standing in solidarity, didn’t go unnoticed among some grassroots leaders.</p>
<p>The Democratic establishment is giddy right now about all the new enthusiasm, but veteran organizers warn that it will be harder than it looks to channel it toward sustained engagement in the political arena. “Saturday’s marches, which featured speeches from many leading Democrats, were not explicitly Democratic events,” The Washington Post’s Dave Weigel and Jenna Portnoy note. “Melissa Byrne, a candidate for DNC vice chairman, said that the crowds . . . will encourage even more people to become activists. But having organized for Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign and for the Occupy D.C. movement, she saw how the new activists would be tested even if the rallies grew in size. ‘People are going to get frustrated, because you want your wins to come quickly,’ she said. ‘For people who are new to this, it takes a while to get that.'”</p>
<p>After the governor’s races in Virginia and New Jersey this fall, next year’s biggest battles in the midterm elections will play out on deeply-red terrain. There are just two clearly at-risk GOP senators up for reelection, in Nevada and Arizona. Jeff Flake, the Arizona senator, is more worried about getting toppled during the primary by a challenger who has the endorsement of President Trump than losing in the general election. Few GOP senators have separated themselves more from Trump.</p>
<p>To be sure, something that made Saturday so special was how many marches took place in red states and small towns where Trump dominated. The Post’s Jose DelReal notes that sizable crowds gathered in places like Wichita, Kansas, rural towns in Virginia, and throughout the South: “In Anchorage, thousands of protesters gathered despite an unforgiving snowstorm and 10-degree temperatures, holding signs with slogans such as ‘My body. My rights. My choice.’ Farther north, in Fairbanks, thousands were undeterred by the extreme temperature, which approached minus-20 degrees. At the same time, thousands marched outside the Idaho Statehouse in Boise as snow fell over them.”</p>
<p>But party leaders could quickly lose control of the energy, if they don’t play their cards right. Take Nevada. The smartest operatives on both sides agree that Sen. Dean Heller is the most vulnerable GOP incumbent on the ballot next year. But what happens if the Democratic Party – now that Harry Reid has ridden off into the sunset – nominates its own Sharron Angle, who subsequently blows a totally winnable race? People like Angle and Christine O’Donnell only got oxygen in the 2010 primaries because the tea party movement turned on the governing class.</p>
<p>Furthermore, Trump’s success as a first-time candidate will embolden an array of celebrities and billionaires to consider coming out of the woodwork. Keep an eye on Mark Zuckerberg, Howard Schultz and Mark Cuban. They’d try to run as outsiders and use their fortunes to tap into this activist energy. It could lead to a very messy battle over what it means to be a Democrat.</p>
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extraordinary energy display across country effectively channeled electoral politics longterm demographic trends trumps victory obscured accelerate could last republican elected president long time new protest movement could also upend democratic establishment like tea party movement eight years ago president viewed illegitimate many progressive activists even small compromises viewed apostasy could fuel nasty primary challenges without president white house stop prompt lurch left would make harder topple trump 2020 republicans cautionary tale proposition 187 advertisement protests foreshadowed longterm damage trump might inflicting republican brand found wondering percentage people streets hadnt voted 2016 whether 2020 statistics important unknowable trump reactionary figure long arc american history bends toward reform pledge make america great septuagenarian president tapped nostalgia bygone era among fellow baby boomers good old days good lots folks including limited women gays latinos african americans every time trump something like attack judge gonzalo curiel house speaker paul ryan called textbook definition racist comment raised specter proposition 187 space california republican gov pete wilson embraced ballot measure deny public services including education health care undocumented immigrants idea adopt wedge issue would gin base woo disgruntled independents state struggled fight way postcold war recession wilson ran ads footage mexicans running across border keep coming narrator said ominously campaign push ballot initiative called save state sos lot people forget prop 187 gambit worked shortterm republicans cleaned election though measure quickly blocked federal court wilson battle republicans lost war gop candidate president carried california nine 10 presidential elections 1992 democrats handily six elections since prop 187 significantly prop 187 didnt alienate generation latinos galvanizing register vote get engaged political process also repelled moderate suburban whites wanted part nativism xenophobia sure correlation causation demographic trends making state bluer measure passed supercharged latinos inevitably going become lynchpin democratic coalition compare california texas george w bush proved gubernatorial bids around time conservative make inroads community national conservative leaders warned publicly 1994 wilson would hurt whole party long term trump launched campaign declaring many mexican immigrants rapists criminals drug traffickers hes scapegoating damn stop bill bennett ronald reagans education secretary said wilson time trump election rust belt weaker past republicans sunbelt mitt romney carried arizona nine points 2012 example trump 36 percent hard imagine grand canyon state play next time dont forget shift fewer 100000 votes would tipped pennsylvania wisconsin michigan hillary clinton like count realignment working advantage advertisement one small telling illustration little trump administration actually cares expanding coalitionthe spanishlanguage version whitehousegov longer exists get 404 error try visit democrats cautionary tale tea party movement right democratic coalition united opposition trump edifice could begin show cracks issues like obamacare replacement infrastructure spending come forefront lot establishment leaders like john kerry came womens march revealing leading candidates dnc chair instead courting deeppocketed donors conference put david brock florida streets standing solidarity didnt go unnoticed among grassroots leaders democratic establishment giddy right new enthusiasm veteran organizers warn harder looks channel toward sustained engagement political arena saturdays marches featured speeches many leading democrats explicitly democratic events washington posts dave weigel jenna portnoy note melissa byrne candidate dnc vice chairman said crowds encourage even people become activists organized barack obamas 2008 campaign occupy dc movement saw new activists would tested even rallies grew size people going get frustrated want wins come quickly said people new takes get governors races virginia new jersey fall next years biggest battles midterm elections play deeplyred terrain two clearly atrisk gop senators reelection nevada arizona jeff flake arizona senator worried getting toppled primary challenger endorsement president trump losing general election gop senators separated trump sure something made saturday special many marches took place red states small towns trump dominated posts jose delreal notes sizable crowds gathered places like wichita kansas rural towns virginia throughout south anchorage thousands protesters gathered despite unforgiving snowstorm 10degree temperatures holding signs slogans body rights choice farther north fairbanks thousands undeterred extreme temperature approached minus20 degrees time thousands marched outside idaho statehouse boise snow fell party leaders could quickly lose control energy dont play cards right take nevada smartest operatives sides agree sen dean heller vulnerable gop incumbent ballot next year happens democratic party harry reid ridden sunset nominates sharron angle subsequently blows totally winnable race people like angle christine odonnell got oxygen 2010 primaries tea party movement turned governing class furthermore trumps success firsttime candidate embolden array celebrities billionaires consider coming woodwork keep eye mark zuckerberg howard schultz mark cuban theyd try run outsiders use fortunes tap activist energy could lead messy battle means democrat
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<p>“Bida Hi/Opposite Views, Northeast, Navajo Tract Houses and Uranium Tailings Southwest, Shiprock, New Mexico” 1990 is a chromogenic print by Patrick Nagatani. (Courtesy of the artist)</p>
<p>SANTA FE, N.M. — In an era when seemingly every city of substance hosts a biennial, SITE Santa Fe has taken a left turn on red to reshape the format.</p>
<p>“SITElines.2014: Unsettled Landscapes” debuts Thursday with a focus on contemporary artists across the Americas. The triad of themes – landscape, territory and trade – explores the interconnections between depictions of the land, movement across it and the resulting impact upon it.</p>
<p>The first of a three-part series, “Unsettled Landscapes” features 45 artists and collaboratives from 16 countries. The exhibition includes 13 new commissions, large-scale works and off-site projects.</p>
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<p>“I think it was both time for SITE Santa Fe and for the field in general for a different look,” said Irene Hofmann, SITE Phillips director and chief curator. “A certain kind of art started to appear that was more spectacle-driven.”</p>
<p>When SITE opened 20 years ago, it boasted the only biennial in the country. Today these periodic extravaganzas have sprouted everywhere from Denver to Dakar, with more than 100 across the globe.</p>
<p>By focusing on art solely from the Western Hemisphere, SITE has broadened rather than narrowed the concept, Hofmann said. Linked exhibitions will continue in 2016 and 2018, organized by different curatorial teams.</p>
<p>“This is not a one-off,” she said. “This is a long-term project. We have half the world as our point of exploration and research.”</p>
<p>Instead of focusing on a single star curator, the event boasts four in Hofmann, SITE special projects curator Janet Dees; Candice Hopkins, an assistant curator of indigenous art at the National Gallery of Canada; and Lucía Sanromán, an independent curator from Mexico City.</p>
<p>Five satellite curators weigh in from Spain, Colombia, Venezuela, Argentina and Newfoundland. These multiple voices have introduced new artists to the project, Hofmann said.</p>
<p>Sculptor Miler Lagos of Bogotá, Colombia, stood in the middle of stacks of newspapers neatly piled halfway up a SITE Santa Fe gallery wall. Others rested in specifically constructed wooden frames.</p>
<p>The artist will carve, slice and burn the stacks of newsprint into the form of a ceiba tree, a large tropical species arcing a spreading canopy across parts of Central and South America. For Lagos, the tree is an expression of time, knowledge and the exquisiteness of nature’s design.</p>
<p>“Fluxus” is a high-definition video in a framed monitor by Gianfranco Foschino. (Courtesy of the artist and Michael Strum Gallery, Stuttgart, Germany)</p>
<p>“I started doing this because I was thinking of images from history,” Lagos said, ” – like Albrecht Dürer woodcuts have been printed for centuries. The images have jumped from paper to paper.”</p>
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<p>According to legend, the ceiba tree is central to the mythology of the ancient Tikuna people of the Brazilian rainforest. A massive specimen once towered over the land centered across the current borders of Peru and Colombia, its dense foliage thick enough to hide the people from sunlight.</p>
<p>To escape its perpetual shadow, two brothers invited all the forest animals to fell the great tree. As it crashed, its massive trunk, branches and leaves formed the Amazon.</p>
<p>Lagos’ “The Great Tree, 2014” will stand more than 14 feet high in a massive paper sculpture carved from more than four tons of recycled newspapers. The sanders and routers he uses char and scar the edges, giving them a distinctly wood-and-bark-like color, texture and smell.</p>
<p>“The newspaper is like the rings of a tree,” he said. “It’s a document of the people of its time.”</p>
<p>Albuquerque’s Patrick Nagatani has created a compelling body of photographic work for more than three decades, much of it centered on atomic issues in “Nuclear Enchantment,” 1988-93. His photographs grapple with issues such as the contamination of land and water and the power gap between mining companies and Native Americans.</p>
<p>The three key photographs culled from the 40-piece “Nuclear Enchantment” include “Uranium Tailings, Anaconda Minerals Corporation, Laguna Pueblo Reservation, New Mexico, 1990”; “Bida Hi/Opposite Views, Northeast, Navajo Tract Homes and Uranium Tailings Southwest, Shiprock, New Mexico, 1990” and “Contaminated Radioactive Sediment Mortandad Canyon, Los Alamos National Laboratory, New Mexico, 1990.”</p>
<p>The works emphasize the impact of uranium mining and radiation on the land.</p>
<p>In the “Shiprock” image, Nagatani spray-painted the radioactive tailings lime green for emphasis behind a cluster of Navajo tract homes.</p>
<p>Kent Monkman’s installation as part of “SITElines.2014” is a mixed-media piece entitled “Bete Noir.” (Courtesy of the artist and Sargent’s Daughters Gallery, New York)</p>
<p>The photographer continues his excavation today by organizing an exhibition by the Atomic Photographers Guild in the only Japanese bank to survive the Hiroshima bombing. The 2015 show will mark the 70th anniversary of the attack.</p>
<p>Santa Fe’s Jamison Chas Banks (Cherokee/Cayuga-Seneca) is creating a commissioned installation investigating the relationship between the Louisiana Purchase, Napoleon’s exile, the exile of the Cherokee in Oklahoma and his own family history.</p>
<p>Banks has created a fictional baseball game between the “Exiles” and the “Purchasers” in a metaphor for contested territory.</p>
<p>“Return of the Ashes, Vol. 1” is the first chapter in a larger project he hopes will culminate in a film.</p>
<p>In 1803, Napoleon sold the Louisiana Territory to the United States, including what is now Oklahoma. Napoleon died in exile in 1821. In 1830 the U.S. Congress passed the Indian Removal Act, instigating the exile of the Cherokee, among other Native tribes.</p>
<p>One of Banks’ ancestors walked the notorious “Trail of Tears” as a child. Government troops forced the Cherokee people to walk more than 1,000 miles from their south Georgia and Florida homeland to Oklahoma in 1838. Many died of exposure, disease and starvation.</p>
<p>Details from an installation depicting a fictional baseball game entitled “Retour des Cendres Vol. 1 (Return of the Ashes)” by Jamison Chas Banks at SITE Santa Fe. (Courtesy of the artist)</p>
<p>The baseball theme is just as personal. Both of Banks’ grandparents were forced to attend Indian boarding schools.</p>
<p>“There was a lot of indoctrination and brain-washing,” he said. “But on a positive note, my grandfather actually learned to play baseball at the boarding school. He made his living at it; he was semi-professional. He actually gained a bit of identity from losing a lot of identity.”</p>
<p>The installation will feature a life-sized reproduction of a green scoreboard from the 1960 TV show “Home Run Derby.”</p>
<p>Banks changed the name to “Run Home Derby” in a nod to children who ran away from boarding schools. There’s even a baseball inscribed with Napoleon’s signature presented as an artifact.</p>
<p>“There was a family story that (my grandfather) played ball with Mickey Mantle,” Banks said. “They were from the same little town. The whole installation is my gift to my grandfather as an impoverished child.”</p>
<p>Details from an installation depicting a fictional baseball game entitled “Retour des Cendres Vol. 1 (Return of the Ashes)” by Jamison Chas Banks at SITE Santa Fe. (Courtesy of the artist)</p>
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bida hiopposite views northeast navajo tract houses uranium tailings southwest shiprock new mexico 1990 chromogenic print patrick nagatani courtesy artist santa fe nm era seemingly every city substance hosts biennial site santa fe taken left turn red reshape format sitelines2014 unsettled landscapes debuts thursday focus contemporary artists across americas triad themes landscape territory trade explores interconnections depictions land movement across resulting impact upon first threepart series unsettled landscapes features 45 artists collaboratives 16 countries exhibition includes 13 new commissions largescale works offsite projects advertisement think time site santa fe field general different look said irene hofmann site phillips director chief curator certain kind art started appear spectacledriven site opened 20 years ago boasted biennial country today periodic extravaganzas sprouted everywhere denver dakar 100 across globe focusing art solely western hemisphere site broadened rather narrowed concept hofmann said linked exhibitions continue 2016 2018 organized different curatorial teams oneoff said longterm project half world point exploration research instead focusing single star curator event boasts four hofmann site special projects curator janet dees candice hopkins assistant curator indigenous art national gallery canada lucía sanromán independent curator mexico city five satellite curators weigh spain colombia venezuela argentina newfoundland multiple voices introduced new artists project hofmann said sculptor miler lagos bogotá colombia stood middle stacks newspapers neatly piled halfway site santa fe gallery wall others rested specifically constructed wooden frames artist carve slice burn stacks newsprint form ceiba tree large tropical species arcing spreading canopy across parts central south america lagos tree expression time knowledge exquisiteness natures design fluxus highdefinition video framed monitor gianfranco foschino courtesy artist michael strum gallery stuttgart germany started thinking images history lagos said like albrecht dürer woodcuts printed centuries images jumped paper paper advertisement according legend ceiba tree central mythology ancient tikuna people brazilian rainforest massive specimen towered land centered across current borders peru colombia dense foliage thick enough hide people sunlight escape perpetual shadow two brothers invited forest animals fell great tree crashed massive trunk branches leaves formed amazon lagos great tree 2014 stand 14 feet high massive paper sculpture carved four tons recycled newspapers sanders routers uses char scar edges giving distinctly woodandbarklike color texture smell newspaper like rings tree said document people time albuquerques patrick nagatani created compelling body photographic work three decades much centered atomic issues nuclear enchantment 198893 photographs grapple issues contamination land water power gap mining companies native americans three key photographs culled 40piece nuclear enchantment include uranium tailings anaconda minerals corporation laguna pueblo reservation new mexico 1990 bida hiopposite views northeast navajo tract homes uranium tailings southwest shiprock new mexico 1990 contaminated radioactive sediment mortandad canyon los alamos national laboratory new mexico 1990 works emphasize impact uranium mining radiation land shiprock image nagatani spraypainted radioactive tailings lime green emphasis behind cluster navajo tract homes kent monkmans installation part sitelines2014 mixedmedia piece entitled bete noir courtesy artist sargents daughters gallery new york photographer continues excavation today organizing exhibition atomic photographers guild japanese bank survive hiroshima bombing 2015 show mark 70th anniversary attack santa fes jamison chas banks cherokeecayugaseneca creating commissioned installation investigating relationship louisiana purchase napoleons exile exile cherokee oklahoma family history banks created fictional baseball game exiles purchasers metaphor contested territory return ashes vol 1 first chapter larger project hopes culminate film 1803 napoleon sold louisiana territory united states including oklahoma napoleon died exile 1821 1830 us congress passed indian removal act instigating exile cherokee among native tribes one banks ancestors walked notorious trail tears child government troops forced cherokee people walk 1000 miles south georgia florida homeland oklahoma 1838 many died exposure disease starvation details installation depicting fictional baseball game entitled retour des cendres vol 1 return ashes jamison chas banks site santa fe courtesy artist baseball theme personal banks grandparents forced attend indian boarding schools lot indoctrination brainwashing said positive note grandfather actually learned play baseball boarding school made living semiprofessional actually gained bit identity losing lot identity installation feature lifesized reproduction green scoreboard 1960 tv show home run derby banks changed name run home derby nod children ran away boarding schools theres even baseball inscribed napoleons signature presented artifact family story grandfather played ball mickey mantle banks said little town whole installation gift grandfather impoverished child details installation depicting fictional baseball game entitled retour des cendres vol 1 return ashes jamison chas banks site santa fe courtesy artist
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<p>KENEMA, Sierra Leone (AP) — Something didn't smell right.</p>
<p>As a worker at Kenema Government Hospital mixed a batch of chlorine on a broiling August day, he noticed it didn't have its typically strong, bleach-like odor. Concerned, he turned to a consultant with the World Health Organization, who tested the disinfectant and found barely any active ingredient.</p>
<p>"I was deeply shocked," the consultant, Jerome Souquet, wrote in an email to his boss in Freetown, Sierra Leone's capital. Souquet said the consequences of using the ineffective chlorine "could be catastrophic, and cause immediate infection of all the staff."</p>
<p>Questionable chlorine was just one of a toxic mix of avoidable problems faced by Ebola responders in Kenema last summer as the outbreak was spiking. Weak leadership, shoddy supplies and infighting exacerbated a chaotic situation at a critical front in the battle against the virus, an Associated Press investigation has found. More than 40 health workers died in Kenema — a devastating loss in the fight to control an epidemic that has claimed more than 11,000 lives.</p>
<p>In March, AP reported that senior officials at WHO's Geneva headquarters resisted calls to declare Ebola an international health emergency — the equivalent of an SOS signal — on political and economic grounds. But newly obtained documents, recordings of conference calls and interviews with key players on the ground show that even after the alarm was raised, WHO and others struggled to put together a decisive response.</p>
<p>The World Health Organization's Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan — whose U.N. agency is charged with leading the fight against global outbreaks — demanded the dispatch of vehicles and equipment, but penny-pinching meant only a trickle of cash made its way to frustrated responders. Supplies were so scarce that body bags — which protect aid workers from exposure to the highly contagious corpses — ran out. Confusion delayed the construction of a new treatment clinic.</p>
<p>Experts say the fumbling cost lives across West Africa.</p>
<p>"There's no question that a better and earlier response from WHO could have resulted in thousands and thousands of fewer deaths than we saw," said Dr. Irwin Redlener, director of the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University in New York.</p>
<p>The situation at Kenema hospital last summer was horrific. Blood-drenched patients lay in agony in understaffed wards as the dead cluttered the hallways. Health workers sweltered through grueling shifts despite attacks from locals who threatened to burn the building down, convinced doctors and nurses were spreading the disease deliberately.</p>
<p>Meanwhile WHO was "paralyzed," according to Joseph Fair, an American disease expert who was in Freetown advising the Sierra Leone government. In interviews with AP, he described "death by conference call" as health officials argued about things like whether to order more ambulances and the proper color of body bags.</p>
<p>Two months ago, a WHO-commissioned panel criticized the organization's leadership but did not mention the logistical problems, infighting or other details uncovered by AP. The report called for accountability, but did not name a single person or department responsible for the failures. The evaluation concluded that "WHO was reported to be respected for its technical work in the three (Ebola-affected) countries."</p>
<p>"WE ARE AT RISK OF VERY POOR PERCEPTION"</p>
<p>Kenema, a diamond town whose potholed roads turn to red sludge in the rainy season, was a microcosm of the messy response across West Africa as Ebola raged out of control last year. Identified in the West African forest in early 2014, the virus appeared to abate in May before surging back, killing hundreds in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia throughout June and July before belatedly triggering an international emergency in August. Officials estimate the outbreak won't be stopped before the end of 2015.</p>
<p>One of Sierra Leone's largest cities, Kenema's proximity to Guinea's forest region and its decent road link to Freetown made it a key seeding point as the virus spread across the region. It was identified as one of two priority areas in an urgent July 24 message sent by WHO's Chan to her senior staff.</p>
<p>"Transportation, PPE (personal protective equipment) and other equipment must (be) provided," she wrote in the email.</p>
<p>That did not quite happen.</p>
<p>Staffers were so strapped for safety gear that nurse Donnell Tholley said they sometimes resorted to ill-fitting gloves to protect their hands and stray plastic packaging instead of heavy-duty footwear.</p>
<p>And then there was the chlorine.</p>
<p>In Kenema, the disinfectant was made from powder kept in 10- or 25- kilogram (20- to 50-pound) drums in the hospital's storeroom. The powder was mixed with water in several stages to make chlorine solution for washing hands and sterilizing surfaces. Many aid organizations in West Africa — like Doctors Without Borders, which had a facility in nearby Kailahun — imported the powder. WHO decided to use chlorine from the government's own supplies in Freetown.</p>
<p>That proved to be a mistake.</p>
<p>By the time Souquet wrote his Aug. 20 email, it was the second time in several days the hospital had been left with defective chlorine.</p>
<p>Drums were repeatedly found with tags ripped off, expiration dates obscured or marked by evidence of tampering. Hospital porter Juma Musa described his horror at opening a batch of chlorine powder in July to find that it had expired more than a year earlier.</p>
<p>While in that case Musa said he stopped the spoiled chlorine from being used, other porters told AP they could not rule out that bad batches slipped through. The problem badly rattled staff at a time when many already were abandoning their posts.</p>
<p>"We were in a war zone and the chlorine was the only thing that was giving us courage to come closer to patients," Musa said.</p>
<p>Kenema Government Hospital, an outdoor campus of aging buildings connected by gravel pathways, had enough problems as it was.</p>
<p>The nurses' station was perilously close to an area where Ebola patients were held, with only a flimsy barrier to separate them. Triage was virtually non-existent, and patients — many of them children — were shuffled to the Ebola ward bearing "slips of paper containing incomprehensible abbreviations or incomplete histories," according to an Aug. 7 status report drafted by Tulane University's John Schieffelin and Shevin Jacob of the University of Washington. Maxon Kobba, a nurse there, said that as many as 20 patients could die in one night.</p>
<p>"Some would cry, 'I want to die! I want to die!' because they were in so much pain," he said.</p>
<p>Walking into the hospital made for "the shock of my life," U.S. health official Austin Demby told Sierra Leone expatriates in an Aug. 16 conference call, a recording of which was obtained by AP. He described seeing dead bodies "just laying all over the place" and a "complete breakdown" in management.</p>
<p>"I'm not for blaming anybody for anything, but WHO could really spend a little bit more time on Kenema," Demby said on the call.</p>
<p>Others complained about WHO leadership, too. When the Red Cross offered to build an Ebola treatment center to deal with the crush of patients in Kenema, it was held up because no one in Sierra Leone's government or WHO could tell them where to build it.</p>
<p>"The instructions keep changing and nobody seems to take leadership," Red Cross official Panu Saaristo said in an Aug. 4 email to WHO's Ian Norton, who acknowledged that the issue was serious.</p>
<p>"We are at risk of very poor perception by the public when we send in IFRC (the Red Cross) then block their ability to care for patients," Norton wrote in a follow-up message sent to colleagues.</p>
<p>The government in Freetown eventually insisted that the Red Cross set up 12 kilometers (8 miles) out of town. Amanda McClelland, a senior Red Cross Ebola advisor in Sierra Leone, argued against the decision.</p>
<p>"I was trying to hold my ground (until) the president of the country called me," she told the AP. "And he said, 'Well, you can build there or you can go home.'"</p>
<p>The Red Cross gave in and spent about a week fighting to clear the rural site with a single bulldozer in the driving rain before an expert said the land was unusable. The clinic was eventually built several miles away and opened in September 2014 — after the outbreak had peaked, McClelland said.</p>
<p>Outside the hospital's main entrance, the health workers who died are memorialized in a large black marble monument etched with their names and the dates of their deaths. Fading fliers with photos and messages of love remain taped to the cement walls in each ward. The toll of the dead became so overwhelming a new cemetery was opened, behind the Red Cross clinic, the graves marked with numbers instead of names.</p>
<p>Sierra Leone has lost more health workers than any other country affected by the virus, recording 221 of 513 overall deaths.</p>
<p>"EVEN BUYING BUCKETS WAS DIFFICULT"</p>
<p>Emails reviewed by AP put many of the complaints over WHO leadership at the feet of Jacob Mufunda, the WHO Representative in Sierra Leone. WHO Representatives, known as WRs, are supposed to reinforce poor nations' health systems and prod local officials to action, but AP found little evidence Mufunda did either.</p>
<p>Meetings scheduled to last a single hour routinely stretched to three or even five hours with "lots of endless talk" and "no decision taken," WHO Ebola coordinator Philippe Barboza complained in an Aug. 8 email to Mufunda.</p>
<p>Fair, who was with the U.S. epidemic research firm Metabiota Inc. before working as a government adviser, recalled an interminable conference call in which officials spent "a good 45 minutes discussing the cultural sensitivities of having a black body bag versus a blue or white one." The cultural issues were real — black body bags were seen as sinister — but Fair said he was upset "that we were spending this much time discussing the color of body bags when we don't have any."</p>
<p>Requests to fix critical problems like the hospital's shaky generator regularly went unfulfilled by Mufunda's office, leaving WHO technicians to cover thousands of dollars' worth of expenses out of their own pockets, according to two WHO employees on the ground at the time. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk without the U.N. agency's permission.</p>
<p>Lionel Larcin, a Doctors Without Borders water and sanitation expert sent to Kenema in early August, described sitting on the plane to Africa "reading the newspaper about millions of dollars being sent to fight the virus." But when he asked for protective boots, he was shocked to find WHO staffers dipping into their daily allowances to pay for them.</p>
<p>"Even buying buckets was difficult," he said.</p>
<p>A missive from WHO chief Chan obtained by AP laid out the scale of the problem, not just in Kenema but across West Africa. The Aug. 3 email to Mufunda and other senior WHO staffers said logistics experts were receiving only a couple hundred dollars a week to cover $1,000 or even $10,000 worth of expenditures — a problem that had been festering for four months. Chan warned that WHO needed to respond efficiently if it was to retain its leadership.</p>
<p>"I expect all colleagues especially our WRs to facilitate experts and staff to do their field work and not to post barriers because business as usual does not work during crisis."</p>
<p>Mufunda, who was reassigned to run WHO's office in Mozambique shortly thereafter, did not return messages from AP seeking comment.</p>
<p>Dr. Bruce Aylward, WHO's top Ebola official, disputed that the mistakes uncovered by AP worsened the epidemic. He said swapping posts was common in emergencies and that Mufunda and other WHO representatives in Guinea and Liberia "took the outbreak very, very seriously and were deeply concerned."</p>
<p>"Now, their ability to scale the response and manage the response the way it needed to be done — they may not have had that experience or that expertise," Aylward said.</p>
<p>In addition to struggles with the government, WHO also was wrestling over the reins with Metabiota, the epidemic research company. The San Francisco-based firm had been charged with reinforcing Sierra Leone's response, but emails obtained by AP alleged that the company was instead undermining the U.N. agency's authority by drawing up response plans without WHO's knowledge.</p>
<p>"Since weeks now Metabiota staff are doing their level best to systematically bypass and marginalise (the) WHO role," wrote Barboza, the Ebola coordinator.</p>
<p>Barboza said the relationship with Metabiota was verging on "open conflict," and recommended pulling all epidemiological staff from Kenema. He warned that the feud was holding up 1 million euros in funding from donors skeptical that WHO had control over the situation.</p>
<p>"That comes as a surprise to me," said Metabiota CEO Nathan Wolfe in an interview Friday. "Most of the feedback has been that we worked very well with WHO."</p>
<p>In follow-up emails Saturday, Metabiota said it had looked into the matter and said the conflict was an "individual disagreement between a Metabiota consultant and an individual at the WHO that we resolved."</p>
<p>Reached by AP, Barboza declined to comment on the emails. Fair said he could not comment on the issue, which emerged after he left the company.</p>
<p>The response also was complicated by other problems.</p>
<p>Emails obtained by AP show a WHO data expert accusing Sierra Leonean officials of fiddling with her Ebola figures to make them match their government's count, presumably to avoid having their numbers contradicted by the U.N. One Kenema government lab worker was even accused of accepting bribes in order to fake Ebola test results, a practice that risked sending infected people back into the community.</p>
<p>Then there was the matter of sheer indifference.</p>
<p>Amid a shortage of body bags, Fair said he spent about 12 hours calling numerous government officials in Freetown, in an attempt to guide a shipment of body bags through customs. By 11 p.m., after dozens of calls, he threatened to have the uncooperative airport customs officer fired unless the body bags were released.</p>
<p>Eventually, some 100 bags were piled into a car. In a 4 a.m. email to Barboza, Fair told AP, he begged the police superintendent to let the driver through a checkpoint so the bags could arrive overnight but said the superintendent slept through the driver's calls. Stuck at the checkpoint, the driver napped in his car until he got authorization to leave the following morning.</p>
<p>"This was at a point when we had about 20 bodies lying outside," Fair said. What are patients supposed to think, he asked, when they see "these bodies of people who were very recently next to them in the clinic, outside, with no dignity whatsoever, in the rain?"</p>
<p>"DISORGANIZED AND LATE TO THE PARTY"</p>
<p>The problems that hamstrung the Ebola response have prompted soul-searching at WHO and across the public health community. The WHO-commissioned review was one of no fewer than five different inquiries set up to evaluate the world's bungled response.</p>
<p>"WHO does not have a culture of rapid decision-making and tends to adopt a reactive, rather than a proactive, approach to emergencies," WHO's 28-page report said. It went on to say: "There seems to have been a hope that the crisis could be managed by good diplomacy rather than by scaling up emergency action."</p>
<p>WHO has vowed to overhaul its emergency response system, but has not censured any senior officials who oversaw its Ebola efforts. They remain employed by the agency, except for its Africa director, who retired after serving out his term.</p>
<p>Aylward, the WHO official, said he believes fear and resistance from locals were more powerful drivers of the epidemic than any mistakes by WHO or anyone else.</p>
<p>Dr. Brima Kargbo, Sierra Leone's chief medical officer, defended the government's response to the crisis and said that the greatest setbacks were caused by community resistance.</p>
<p>"To me I don't think there is anything different from what we are supposed to do as a government," he said of any lessons learned from the outbreak.</p>
<p>Redlener, the disaster preparedness expert, said he doesn't think things will be much different the next time a global health crisis strikes, namely because the top WHO leaders remain in place.</p>
<p>"We've already seen what the old leadership at WHO has been able to do, so I don't know why we would expect them to be able to right themselves," he said.</p>
<p>Redlener said that while nearly every response to a major emergency is flawed, WHO's level of dysfunction during Ebola was exceptional, noting that the agency wasn't just stretched for cash, as many have suggested.</p>
<p>"By the time WHO got in there, they were disorganized and late to the party," he said. "When WHO failed to provide that leadership, it was demoralizing for the other agencies and for the rest of the world."</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Cheng and Satter reported from London and Paris. Associated Press writers Jamey Keaten in Geneva and Lisa Leff in San Francisco contributed to this report.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Online:</p>
<p>Maria Cheng can be reached at: https://twitter.com/mylcheng</p>
<p>Raphael Satter can be reached at: http://raphae.li</p>
<p>Krista Larson can be reached at: https://twitter.com/klarsonafrica</p>
<p>Lisa Leff can be reached at: https://twitter.com/scoopscout</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>WHO's Ebola emails: —http://apne.ws/1P9KpWt</p>
<p>KENEMA, Sierra Leone (AP) — Something didn't smell right.</p>
<p>As a worker at Kenema Government Hospital mixed a batch of chlorine on a broiling August day, he noticed it didn't have its typically strong, bleach-like odor. Concerned, he turned to a consultant with the World Health Organization, who tested the disinfectant and found barely any active ingredient.</p>
<p>"I was deeply shocked," the consultant, Jerome Souquet, wrote in an email to his boss in Freetown, Sierra Leone's capital. Souquet said the consequences of using the ineffective chlorine "could be catastrophic, and cause immediate infection of all the staff."</p>
<p>Questionable chlorine was just one of a toxic mix of avoidable problems faced by Ebola responders in Kenema last summer as the outbreak was spiking. Weak leadership, shoddy supplies and infighting exacerbated a chaotic situation at a critical front in the battle against the virus, an Associated Press investigation has found. More than 40 health workers died in Kenema — a devastating loss in the fight to control an epidemic that has claimed more than 11,000 lives.</p>
<p>In March, AP reported that senior officials at WHO's Geneva headquarters resisted calls to declare Ebola an international health emergency — the equivalent of an SOS signal — on political and economic grounds. But newly obtained documents, recordings of conference calls and interviews with key players on the ground show that even after the alarm was raised, WHO and others struggled to put together a decisive response.</p>
<p>The World Health Organization's Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan — whose U.N. agency is charged with leading the fight against global outbreaks — demanded the dispatch of vehicles and equipment, but penny-pinching meant only a trickle of cash made its way to frustrated responders. Supplies were so scarce that body bags — which protect aid workers from exposure to the highly contagious corpses — ran out. Confusion delayed the construction of a new treatment clinic.</p>
<p>Experts say the fumbling cost lives across West Africa.</p>
<p>"There's no question that a better and earlier response from WHO could have resulted in thousands and thousands of fewer deaths than we saw," said Dr. Irwin Redlener, director of the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University in New York.</p>
<p>The situation at Kenema hospital last summer was horrific. Blood-drenched patients lay in agony in understaffed wards as the dead cluttered the hallways. Health workers sweltered through grueling shifts despite attacks from locals who threatened to burn the building down, convinced doctors and nurses were spreading the disease deliberately.</p>
<p>Meanwhile WHO was "paralyzed," according to Joseph Fair, an American disease expert who was in Freetown advising the Sierra Leone government. In interviews with AP, he described "death by conference call" as health officials argued about things like whether to order more ambulances and the proper color of body bags.</p>
<p>Two months ago, a WHO-commissioned panel criticized the organization's leadership but did not mention the logistical problems, infighting or other details uncovered by AP. The report called for accountability, but did not name a single person or department responsible for the failures. The evaluation concluded that "WHO was reported to be respected for its technical work in the three (Ebola-affected) countries."</p>
<p>"WE ARE AT RISK OF VERY POOR PERCEPTION"</p>
<p>Kenema, a diamond town whose potholed roads turn to red sludge in the rainy season, was a microcosm of the messy response across West Africa as Ebola raged out of control last year. Identified in the West African forest in early 2014, the virus appeared to abate in May before surging back, killing hundreds in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia throughout June and July before belatedly triggering an international emergency in August. Officials estimate the outbreak won't be stopped before the end of 2015.</p>
<p>One of Sierra Leone's largest cities, Kenema's proximity to Guinea's forest region and its decent road link to Freetown made it a key seeding point as the virus spread across the region. It was identified as one of two priority areas in an urgent July 24 message sent by WHO's Chan to her senior staff.</p>
<p>"Transportation, PPE (personal protective equipment) and other equipment must (be) provided," she wrote in the email.</p>
<p>That did not quite happen.</p>
<p>Staffers were so strapped for safety gear that nurse Donnell Tholley said they sometimes resorted to ill-fitting gloves to protect their hands and stray plastic packaging instead of heavy-duty footwear.</p>
<p>And then there was the chlorine.</p>
<p>In Kenema, the disinfectant was made from powder kept in 10- or 25- kilogram (20- to 50-pound) drums in the hospital's storeroom. The powder was mixed with water in several stages to make chlorine solution for washing hands and sterilizing surfaces. Many aid organizations in West Africa — like Doctors Without Borders, which had a facility in nearby Kailahun — imported the powder. WHO decided to use chlorine from the government's own supplies in Freetown.</p>
<p>That proved to be a mistake.</p>
<p>By the time Souquet wrote his Aug. 20 email, it was the second time in several days the hospital had been left with defective chlorine.</p>
<p>Drums were repeatedly found with tags ripped off, expiration dates obscured or marked by evidence of tampering. Hospital porter Juma Musa described his horror at opening a batch of chlorine powder in July to find that it had expired more than a year earlier.</p>
<p>While in that case Musa said he stopped the spoiled chlorine from being used, other porters told AP they could not rule out that bad batches slipped through. The problem badly rattled staff at a time when many already were abandoning their posts.</p>
<p>"We were in a war zone and the chlorine was the only thing that was giving us courage to come closer to patients," Musa said.</p>
<p>Kenema Government Hospital, an outdoor campus of aging buildings connected by gravel pathways, had enough problems as it was.</p>
<p>The nurses' station was perilously close to an area where Ebola patients were held, with only a flimsy barrier to separate them. Triage was virtually non-existent, and patients — many of them children — were shuffled to the Ebola ward bearing "slips of paper containing incomprehensible abbreviations or incomplete histories," according to an Aug. 7 status report drafted by Tulane University's John Schieffelin and Shevin Jacob of the University of Washington. Maxon Kobba, a nurse there, said that as many as 20 patients could die in one night.</p>
<p>"Some would cry, 'I want to die! I want to die!' because they were in so much pain," he said.</p>
<p>Walking into the hospital made for "the shock of my life," U.S. health official Austin Demby told Sierra Leone expatriates in an Aug. 16 conference call, a recording of which was obtained by AP. He described seeing dead bodies "just laying all over the place" and a "complete breakdown" in management.</p>
<p>"I'm not for blaming anybody for anything, but WHO could really spend a little bit more time on Kenema," Demby said on the call.</p>
<p>Others complained about WHO leadership, too. When the Red Cross offered to build an Ebola treatment center to deal with the crush of patients in Kenema, it was held up because no one in Sierra Leone's government or WHO could tell them where to build it.</p>
<p>"The instructions keep changing and nobody seems to take leadership," Red Cross official Panu Saaristo said in an Aug. 4 email to WHO's Ian Norton, who acknowledged that the issue was serious.</p>
<p>"We are at risk of very poor perception by the public when we send in IFRC (the Red Cross) then block their ability to care for patients," Norton wrote in a follow-up message sent to colleagues.</p>
<p>The government in Freetown eventually insisted that the Red Cross set up 12 kilometers (8 miles) out of town. Amanda McClelland, a senior Red Cross Ebola advisor in Sierra Leone, argued against the decision.</p>
<p>"I was trying to hold my ground (until) the president of the country called me," she told the AP. "And he said, 'Well, you can build there or you can go home.'"</p>
<p>The Red Cross gave in and spent about a week fighting to clear the rural site with a single bulldozer in the driving rain before an expert said the land was unusable. The clinic was eventually built several miles away and opened in September 2014 — after the outbreak had peaked, McClelland said.</p>
<p>Outside the hospital's main entrance, the health workers who died are memorialized in a large black marble monument etched with their names and the dates of their deaths. Fading fliers with photos and messages of love remain taped to the cement walls in each ward. The toll of the dead became so overwhelming a new cemetery was opened, behind the Red Cross clinic, the graves marked with numbers instead of names.</p>
<p>Sierra Leone has lost more health workers than any other country affected by the virus, recording 221 of 513 overall deaths.</p>
<p>"EVEN BUYING BUCKETS WAS DIFFICULT"</p>
<p>Emails reviewed by AP put many of the complaints over WHO leadership at the feet of Jacob Mufunda, the WHO Representative in Sierra Leone. WHO Representatives, known as WRs, are supposed to reinforce poor nations' health systems and prod local officials to action, but AP found little evidence Mufunda did either.</p>
<p>Meetings scheduled to last a single hour routinely stretched to three or even five hours with "lots of endless talk" and "no decision taken," WHO Ebola coordinator Philippe Barboza complained in an Aug. 8 email to Mufunda.</p>
<p>Fair, who was with the U.S. epidemic research firm Metabiota Inc. before working as a government adviser, recalled an interminable conference call in which officials spent "a good 45 minutes discussing the cultural sensitivities of having a black body bag versus a blue or white one." The cultural issues were real — black body bags were seen as sinister — but Fair said he was upset "that we were spending this much time discussing the color of body bags when we don't have any."</p>
<p>Requests to fix critical problems like the hospital's shaky generator regularly went unfulfilled by Mufunda's office, leaving WHO technicians to cover thousands of dollars' worth of expenses out of their own pockets, according to two WHO employees on the ground at the time. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk without the U.N. agency's permission.</p>
<p>Lionel Larcin, a Doctors Without Borders water and sanitation expert sent to Kenema in early August, described sitting on the plane to Africa "reading the newspaper about millions of dollars being sent to fight the virus." But when he asked for protective boots, he was shocked to find WHO staffers dipping into their daily allowances to pay for them.</p>
<p>"Even buying buckets was difficult," he said.</p>
<p>A missive from WHO chief Chan obtained by AP laid out the scale of the problem, not just in Kenema but across West Africa. The Aug. 3 email to Mufunda and other senior WHO staffers said logistics experts were receiving only a couple hundred dollars a week to cover $1,000 or even $10,000 worth of expenditures — a problem that had been festering for four months. Chan warned that WHO needed to respond efficiently if it was to retain its leadership.</p>
<p>"I expect all colleagues especially our WRs to facilitate experts and staff to do their field work and not to post barriers because business as usual does not work during crisis."</p>
<p>Mufunda, who was reassigned to run WHO's office in Mozambique shortly thereafter, did not return messages from AP seeking comment.</p>
<p>Dr. Bruce Aylward, WHO's top Ebola official, disputed that the mistakes uncovered by AP worsened the epidemic. He said swapping posts was common in emergencies and that Mufunda and other WHO representatives in Guinea and Liberia "took the outbreak very, very seriously and were deeply concerned."</p>
<p>"Now, their ability to scale the response and manage the response the way it needed to be done — they may not have had that experience or that expertise," Aylward said.</p>
<p>In addition to struggles with the government, WHO also was wrestling over the reins with Metabiota, the epidemic research company. The San Francisco-based firm had been charged with reinforcing Sierra Leone's response, but emails obtained by AP alleged that the company was instead undermining the U.N. agency's authority by drawing up response plans without WHO's knowledge.</p>
<p>"Since weeks now Metabiota staff are doing their level best to systematically bypass and marginalise (the) WHO role," wrote Barboza, the Ebola coordinator.</p>
<p>Barboza said the relationship with Metabiota was verging on "open conflict," and recommended pulling all epidemiological staff from Kenema. He warned that the feud was holding up 1 million euros in funding from donors skeptical that WHO had control over the situation.</p>
<p>"That comes as a surprise to me," said Metabiota CEO Nathan Wolfe in an interview Friday. "Most of the feedback has been that we worked very well with WHO."</p>
<p>In follow-up emails Saturday, Metabiota said it had looked into the matter and said the conflict was an "individual disagreement between a Metabiota consultant and an individual at the WHO that we resolved."</p>
<p>Reached by AP, Barboza declined to comment on the emails. Fair said he could not comment on the issue, which emerged after he left the company.</p>
<p>The response also was complicated by other problems.</p>
<p>Emails obtained by AP show a WHO data expert accusing Sierra Leonean officials of fiddling with her Ebola figures to make them match their government's count, presumably to avoid having their numbers contradicted by the U.N. One Kenema government lab worker was even accused of accepting bribes in order to fake Ebola test results, a practice that risked sending infected people back into the community.</p>
<p>Then there was the matter of sheer indifference.</p>
<p>Amid a shortage of body bags, Fair said he spent about 12 hours calling numerous government officials in Freetown, in an attempt to guide a shipment of body bags through customs. By 11 p.m., after dozens of calls, he threatened to have the uncooperative airport customs officer fired unless the body bags were released.</p>
<p>Eventually, some 100 bags were piled into a car. In a 4 a.m. email to Barboza, Fair told AP, he begged the police superintendent to let the driver through a checkpoint so the bags could arrive overnight but said the superintendent slept through the driver's calls. Stuck at the checkpoint, the driver napped in his car until he got authorization to leave the following morning.</p>
<p>"This was at a point when we had about 20 bodies lying outside," Fair said. What are patients supposed to think, he asked, when they see "these bodies of people who were very recently next to them in the clinic, outside, with no dignity whatsoever, in the rain?"</p>
<p>"DISORGANIZED AND LATE TO THE PARTY"</p>
<p>The problems that hamstrung the Ebola response have prompted soul-searching at WHO and across the public health community. The WHO-commissioned review was one of no fewer than five different inquiries set up to evaluate the world's bungled response.</p>
<p>"WHO does not have a culture of rapid decision-making and tends to adopt a reactive, rather than a proactive, approach to emergencies," WHO's 28-page report said. It went on to say: "There seems to have been a hope that the crisis could be managed by good diplomacy rather than by scaling up emergency action."</p>
<p>WHO has vowed to overhaul its emergency response system, but has not censured any senior officials who oversaw its Ebola efforts. They remain employed by the agency, except for its Africa director, who retired after serving out his term.</p>
<p>Aylward, the WHO official, said he believes fear and resistance from locals were more powerful drivers of the epidemic than any mistakes by WHO or anyone else.</p>
<p>Dr. Brima Kargbo, Sierra Leone's chief medical officer, defended the government's response to the crisis and said that the greatest setbacks were caused by community resistance.</p>
<p>"To me I don't think there is anything different from what we are supposed to do as a government," he said of any lessons learned from the outbreak.</p>
<p>Redlener, the disaster preparedness expert, said he doesn't think things will be much different the next time a global health crisis strikes, namely because the top WHO leaders remain in place.</p>
<p>"We've already seen what the old leadership at WHO has been able to do, so I don't know why we would expect them to be able to right themselves," he said.</p>
<p>Redlener said that while nearly every response to a major emergency is flawed, WHO's level of dysfunction during Ebola was exceptional, noting that the agency wasn't just stretched for cash, as many have suggested.</p>
<p>"By the time WHO got in there, they were disorganized and late to the party," he said. "When WHO failed to provide that leadership, it was demoralizing for the other agencies and for the rest of the world."</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Cheng and Satter reported from London and Paris. Associated Press writers Jamey Keaten in Geneva and Lisa Leff in San Francisco contributed to this report.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Online:</p>
<p>Maria Cheng can be reached at: https://twitter.com/mylcheng</p>
<p>Raphael Satter can be reached at: http://raphae.li</p>
<p>Krista Larson can be reached at: https://twitter.com/klarsonafrica</p>
<p>Lisa Leff can be reached at: https://twitter.com/scoopscout</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>WHO's Ebola emails: —http://apne.ws/1P9KpWt</p>
| false | 2 |
kenema sierra leone ap something didnt smell right worker kenema government hospital mixed batch chlorine broiling august day noticed didnt typically strong bleachlike odor concerned turned consultant world health organization tested disinfectant found barely active ingredient deeply shocked consultant jerome souquet wrote email boss freetown sierra leones capital souquet said consequences using ineffective chlorine could catastrophic cause immediate infection staff questionable chlorine one toxic mix avoidable problems faced ebola responders kenema last summer outbreak spiking weak leadership shoddy supplies infighting exacerbated chaotic situation critical front battle virus associated press investigation found 40 health workers died kenema devastating loss fight control epidemic claimed 11000 lives march ap reported senior officials whos geneva headquarters resisted calls declare ebola international health emergency equivalent sos signal political economic grounds newly obtained documents recordings conference calls interviews key players ground show even alarm raised others struggled put together decisive response world health organizations directorgeneral dr margaret chan whose un agency charged leading fight global outbreaks demanded dispatch vehicles equipment pennypinching meant trickle cash made way frustrated responders supplies scarce body bags protect aid workers exposure highly contagious corpses ran confusion delayed construction new treatment clinic experts say fumbling cost lives across west africa theres question better earlier response could resulted thousands thousands fewer deaths saw said dr irwin redlener director national center disaster preparedness columbia university new york situation kenema hospital last summer horrific blooddrenched patients lay agony understaffed wards dead cluttered hallways health workers sweltered grueling shifts despite attacks locals threatened burn building convinced doctors nurses spreading disease deliberately meanwhile paralyzed according joseph fair american disease expert freetown advising sierra leone government interviews ap described death conference call health officials argued things like whether order ambulances proper color body bags two months ago whocommissioned panel criticized organizations leadership mention logistical problems infighting details uncovered ap report called accountability name single person department responsible failures evaluation concluded reported respected technical work three ebolaaffected countries risk poor perception kenema diamond town whose potholed roads turn red sludge rainy season microcosm messy response across west africa ebola raged control last year identified west african forest early 2014 virus appeared abate may surging back killing hundreds guinea sierra leone liberia throughout june july belatedly triggering international emergency august officials estimate outbreak wont stopped end 2015 one sierra leones largest cities kenemas proximity guineas forest region decent road link freetown made key seeding point virus spread across region identified one two priority areas urgent july 24 message sent whos chan senior staff transportation ppe personal protective equipment equipment must provided wrote email quite happen staffers strapped safety gear nurse donnell tholley said sometimes resorted illfitting gloves protect hands stray plastic packaging instead heavyduty footwear chlorine kenema disinfectant made powder kept 10 25 kilogram 20 50pound drums hospitals storeroom powder mixed water several stages make chlorine solution washing hands sterilizing surfaces many aid organizations west africa like doctors without borders facility nearby kailahun imported powder decided use chlorine governments supplies freetown proved mistake time souquet wrote aug 20 email second time several days hospital left defective chlorine drums repeatedly found tags ripped expiration dates obscured marked evidence tampering hospital porter juma musa described horror opening batch chlorine powder july find expired year earlier case musa said stopped spoiled chlorine used porters told ap could rule bad batches slipped problem badly rattled staff time many already abandoning posts war zone chlorine thing giving us courage come closer patients musa said kenema government hospital outdoor campus aging buildings connected gravel pathways enough problems nurses station perilously close area ebola patients held flimsy barrier separate triage virtually nonexistent patients many children shuffled ebola ward bearing slips paper containing incomprehensible abbreviations incomplete histories according aug 7 status report drafted tulane universitys john schieffelin shevin jacob university washington maxon kobba nurse said many 20 patients could die one night would cry want die want die much pain said walking hospital made shock life us health official austin demby told sierra leone expatriates aug 16 conference call recording obtained ap described seeing dead bodies laying place complete breakdown management im blaming anybody anything could really spend little bit time kenema demby said call others complained leadership red cross offered build ebola treatment center deal crush patients kenema held one sierra leones government could tell build instructions keep changing nobody seems take leadership red cross official panu saaristo said aug 4 email whos ian norton acknowledged issue serious risk poor perception public send ifrc red cross block ability care patients norton wrote followup message sent colleagues government freetown eventually insisted red cross set 12 kilometers 8 miles town amanda mcclelland senior red cross ebola advisor sierra leone argued decision trying hold ground president country called told ap said well build go home red cross gave spent week fighting clear rural site single bulldozer driving rain expert said land unusable clinic eventually built several miles away opened september 2014 outbreak peaked mcclelland said outside hospitals main entrance health workers died memorialized large black marble monument etched names dates deaths fading fliers photos messages love remain taped cement walls ward toll dead became overwhelming new cemetery opened behind red cross clinic graves marked numbers instead names sierra leone lost health workers country affected virus recording 221 513 overall deaths even buying buckets difficult emails reviewed ap put many complaints leadership feet jacob mufunda representative sierra leone representatives known wrs supposed reinforce poor nations health systems prod local officials action ap found little evidence mufunda either meetings scheduled last single hour routinely stretched three even five hours lots endless talk decision taken ebola coordinator philippe barboza complained aug 8 email mufunda fair us epidemic research firm metabiota inc working government adviser recalled interminable conference call officials spent good 45 minutes discussing cultural sensitivities black body bag versus blue white one cultural issues real black body bags seen sinister fair said upset spending much time discussing color body bags dont requests fix critical problems like hospitals shaky generator regularly went unfulfilled mufundas office leaving technicians cover thousands dollars worth expenses pockets according two employees ground time spoke condition anonymity authorized talk without un agencys permission lionel larcin doctors without borders water sanitation expert sent kenema early august described sitting plane africa reading newspaper millions dollars sent fight virus asked protective boots shocked find staffers dipping daily allowances pay even buying buckets difficult said missive chief chan obtained ap laid scale problem kenema across west africa aug 3 email mufunda senior staffers said logistics experts receiving couple hundred dollars week cover 1000 even 10000 worth expenditures problem festering four months chan warned needed respond efficiently retain leadership expect colleagues especially wrs facilitate experts staff field work post barriers business usual work crisis mufunda reassigned run whos office mozambique shortly thereafter return messages ap seeking comment dr bruce aylward whos top ebola official disputed mistakes uncovered ap worsened epidemic said swapping posts common emergencies mufunda representatives guinea liberia took outbreak seriously deeply concerned ability scale response manage response way needed done may experience expertise aylward said addition struggles government also wrestling reins metabiota epidemic research company san franciscobased firm charged reinforcing sierra leones response emails obtained ap alleged company instead undermining un agencys authority drawing response plans without whos knowledge since weeks metabiota staff level best systematically bypass marginalise role wrote barboza ebola coordinator barboza said relationship metabiota verging open conflict recommended pulling epidemiological staff kenema warned feud holding 1 million euros funding donors skeptical control situation comes surprise said metabiota ceo nathan wolfe interview friday feedback worked well followup emails saturday metabiota said looked matter said conflict individual disagreement metabiota consultant individual resolved reached ap barboza declined comment emails fair said could comment issue emerged left company response also complicated problems emails obtained ap show data expert accusing sierra leonean officials fiddling ebola figures make match governments count presumably avoid numbers contradicted un one kenema government lab worker even accused accepting bribes order fake ebola test results practice risked sending infected people back community matter sheer indifference amid shortage body bags fair said spent 12 hours calling numerous government officials freetown attempt guide shipment body bags customs 11 pm dozens calls threatened uncooperative airport customs officer fired unless body bags released eventually 100 bags piled car 4 email barboza fair told ap begged police superintendent let driver checkpoint bags could arrive overnight said superintendent slept drivers calls stuck checkpoint driver napped car got authorization leave following morning point 20 bodies lying outside fair said patients supposed think asked see bodies people recently next clinic outside dignity whatsoever rain disorganized late party problems hamstrung ebola response prompted soulsearching across public health community whocommissioned review one fewer five different inquiries set evaluate worlds bungled response culture rapid decisionmaking tends adopt reactive rather proactive approach emergencies whos 28page report said went say seems hope crisis could managed good diplomacy rather scaling emergency action vowed overhaul emergency response system censured senior officials oversaw ebola efforts remain employed agency except africa director retired serving term aylward official said believes fear resistance locals powerful drivers epidemic mistakes anyone else dr brima kargbo sierra leones chief medical officer defended governments response crisis said greatest setbacks caused community resistance dont think anything different supposed government said lessons learned outbreak redlener disaster preparedness expert said doesnt think things much different next time global health crisis strikes namely top leaders remain place weve already seen old leadership able dont know would expect able right said redlener said nearly every response major emergency flawed whos level dysfunction ebola exceptional noting agency wasnt stretched cash many suggested time got disorganized late party said failed provide leadership demoralizing agencies rest world ___ cheng satter reported london paris associated press writers jamey keaten geneva lisa leff san francisco contributed report ___ online maria cheng reached httpstwittercommylcheng raphael satter reached httpraphaeli krista larson reached httpstwittercomklarsonafrica lisa leff reached httpstwittercomscoopscout ___ whos ebola emails httpapnews1p9kpwt kenema sierra leone ap something didnt smell right worker kenema government hospital mixed batch chlorine broiling august day noticed didnt typically strong bleachlike odor concerned turned consultant world health organization tested disinfectant found barely active ingredient deeply shocked consultant jerome souquet wrote email boss freetown sierra leones capital souquet said consequences using ineffective chlorine could catastrophic cause immediate infection staff questionable chlorine one toxic mix avoidable problems faced ebola responders kenema last summer outbreak spiking weak leadership shoddy supplies infighting exacerbated chaotic situation critical front battle virus associated press investigation found 40 health workers died kenema devastating loss fight control epidemic claimed 11000 lives march ap reported senior officials whos geneva headquarters resisted calls declare ebola international health emergency equivalent sos signal political economic grounds newly obtained documents recordings conference calls interviews key players ground show even alarm raised others struggled put together decisive response world health organizations directorgeneral dr margaret chan whose un agency charged leading fight global outbreaks demanded dispatch vehicles equipment pennypinching meant trickle cash made way frustrated responders supplies scarce body bags protect aid workers exposure highly contagious corpses ran confusion delayed construction new treatment clinic experts say fumbling cost lives across west africa theres question better earlier response could resulted thousands thousands fewer deaths saw said dr irwin redlener director national center disaster preparedness columbia university new york situation kenema hospital last summer horrific blooddrenched patients lay agony understaffed wards dead cluttered hallways health workers sweltered grueling shifts despite attacks locals threatened burn building convinced doctors nurses spreading disease deliberately meanwhile paralyzed according joseph fair american disease expert freetown advising sierra leone government interviews ap described death conference call health officials argued things like whether order ambulances proper color body bags two months ago whocommissioned panel criticized organizations leadership mention logistical problems infighting details uncovered ap report called accountability name single person department responsible failures evaluation concluded reported respected technical work three ebolaaffected countries risk poor perception kenema diamond town whose potholed roads turn red sludge rainy season microcosm messy response across west africa ebola raged control last year identified west african forest early 2014 virus appeared abate may surging back killing hundreds guinea sierra leone liberia throughout june july belatedly triggering international emergency august officials estimate outbreak wont stopped end 2015 one sierra leones largest cities kenemas proximity guineas forest region decent road link freetown made key seeding point virus spread across region identified one two priority areas urgent july 24 message sent whos chan senior staff transportation ppe personal protective equipment equipment must provided wrote email quite happen staffers strapped safety gear nurse donnell tholley said sometimes resorted illfitting gloves protect hands stray plastic packaging instead heavyduty footwear chlorine kenema disinfectant made powder kept 10 25 kilogram 20 50pound drums hospitals storeroom powder mixed water several stages make chlorine solution washing hands sterilizing surfaces many aid organizations west africa like doctors without borders facility nearby kailahun imported powder decided use chlorine governments supplies freetown proved mistake time souquet wrote aug 20 email second time several days hospital left defective chlorine drums repeatedly found tags ripped expiration dates obscured marked evidence tampering hospital porter juma musa described horror opening batch chlorine powder july find expired year earlier case musa said stopped spoiled chlorine used porters told ap could rule bad batches slipped problem badly rattled staff time many already abandoning posts war zone chlorine thing giving us courage come closer patients musa said kenema government hospital outdoor campus aging buildings connected gravel pathways enough problems nurses station perilously close area ebola patients held flimsy barrier separate triage virtually nonexistent patients many children shuffled ebola ward bearing slips paper containing incomprehensible abbreviations incomplete histories according aug 7 status report drafted tulane universitys john schieffelin shevin jacob university washington maxon kobba nurse said many 20 patients could die one night would cry want die want die much pain said walking hospital made shock life us health official austin demby told sierra leone expatriates aug 16 conference call recording obtained ap described seeing dead bodies laying place complete breakdown management im blaming anybody anything could really spend little bit time kenema demby said call others complained leadership red cross offered build ebola treatment center deal crush patients kenema held one sierra leones government could tell build instructions keep changing nobody seems take leadership red cross official panu saaristo said aug 4 email whos ian norton acknowledged issue serious risk poor perception public send ifrc red cross block ability care patients norton wrote followup message sent colleagues government freetown eventually insisted red cross set 12 kilometers 8 miles town amanda mcclelland senior red cross ebola advisor sierra leone argued decision trying hold ground president country called told ap said well build go home red cross gave spent week fighting clear rural site single bulldozer driving rain expert said land unusable clinic eventually built several miles away opened september 2014 outbreak peaked mcclelland said outside hospitals main entrance health workers died memorialized large black marble monument etched names dates deaths fading fliers photos messages love remain taped cement walls ward toll dead became overwhelming new cemetery opened behind red cross clinic graves marked numbers instead names sierra leone lost health workers country affected virus recording 221 513 overall deaths even buying buckets difficult emails reviewed ap put many complaints leadership feet jacob mufunda representative sierra leone representatives known wrs supposed reinforce poor nations health systems prod local officials action ap found little evidence mufunda either meetings scheduled last single hour routinely stretched three even five hours lots endless talk decision taken ebola coordinator philippe barboza complained aug 8 email mufunda fair us epidemic research firm metabiota inc working government adviser recalled interminable conference call officials spent good 45 minutes discussing cultural sensitivities black body bag versus blue white one cultural issues real black body bags seen sinister fair said upset spending much time discussing color body bags dont requests fix critical problems like hospitals shaky generator regularly went unfulfilled mufundas office leaving technicians cover thousands dollars worth expenses pockets according two employees ground time spoke condition anonymity authorized talk without un agencys permission lionel larcin doctors without borders water sanitation expert sent kenema early august described sitting plane africa reading newspaper millions dollars sent fight virus asked protective boots shocked find staffers dipping daily allowances pay even buying buckets difficult said missive chief chan obtained ap laid scale problem kenema across west africa aug 3 email mufunda senior staffers said logistics experts receiving couple hundred dollars week cover 1000 even 10000 worth expenditures problem festering four months chan warned needed respond efficiently retain leadership expect colleagues especially wrs facilitate experts staff field work post barriers business usual work crisis mufunda reassigned run whos office mozambique shortly thereafter return messages ap seeking comment dr bruce aylward whos top ebola official disputed mistakes uncovered ap worsened epidemic said swapping posts common emergencies mufunda representatives guinea liberia took outbreak seriously deeply concerned ability scale response manage response way needed done may experience expertise aylward said addition struggles government also wrestling reins metabiota epidemic research company san franciscobased firm charged reinforcing sierra leones response emails obtained ap alleged company instead undermining un agencys authority drawing response plans without whos knowledge since weeks metabiota staff level best systematically bypass marginalise role wrote barboza ebola coordinator barboza said relationship metabiota verging open conflict recommended pulling epidemiological staff kenema warned feud holding 1 million euros funding donors skeptical control situation comes surprise said metabiota ceo nathan wolfe interview friday feedback worked well followup emails saturday metabiota said looked matter said conflict individual disagreement metabiota consultant individual resolved reached ap barboza declined comment emails fair said could comment issue emerged left company response also complicated problems emails obtained ap show data expert accusing sierra leonean officials fiddling ebola figures make match governments count presumably avoid numbers contradicted un one kenema government lab worker even accused accepting bribes order fake ebola test results practice risked sending infected people back community matter sheer indifference amid shortage body bags fair said spent 12 hours calling numerous government officials freetown attempt guide shipment body bags customs 11 pm dozens calls threatened uncooperative airport customs officer fired unless body bags released eventually 100 bags piled car 4 email barboza fair told ap begged police superintendent let driver checkpoint bags could arrive overnight said superintendent slept drivers calls stuck checkpoint driver napped car got authorization leave following morning point 20 bodies lying outside fair said patients supposed think asked see bodies people recently next clinic outside dignity whatsoever rain disorganized late party problems hamstrung ebola response prompted soulsearching across public health community whocommissioned review one fewer five different inquiries set evaluate worlds bungled response culture rapid decisionmaking tends adopt reactive rather proactive approach emergencies whos 28page report said went say seems hope crisis could managed good diplomacy rather scaling emergency action vowed overhaul emergency response system censured senior officials oversaw ebola efforts remain employed agency except africa director retired serving term aylward official said believes fear resistance locals powerful drivers epidemic mistakes anyone else dr brima kargbo sierra leones chief medical officer defended governments response crisis said greatest setbacks caused community resistance dont think anything different supposed government said lessons learned outbreak redlener disaster preparedness expert said doesnt think things much different next time global health crisis strikes namely top leaders remain place weve already seen old leadership able dont know would expect able right said redlener said nearly every response major emergency flawed whos level dysfunction ebola exceptional noting agency wasnt stretched cash many suggested time got disorganized late party said failed provide leadership demoralizing agencies rest world ___ cheng satter reported london paris associated press writers jamey keaten geneva lisa leff san francisco contributed report ___ online maria cheng reached httpstwittercommylcheng raphael satter reached httpraphaeli krista larson reached httpstwittercomklarsonafrica lisa leff reached httpstwittercomscoopscout ___ whos ebola emails httpapnews1p9kpwt
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<p>OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — In an unusual legal twist, a federal judge decided Monday that a billion-dollar, class-action lawsuit over Apple's iPods should continue, even though she also disqualified the last remaining plaintiff named in a case that has been on trial since last week.</p>
<p>U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers scolded Marianna Rosen and her attorneys on Monday for not providing more complete information about the iPods Rosen had purchased. That came after Apple lawyers successfully argued that the devices purchased by Rosen were not among those affected by the lawsuit.</p>
<p>But the judge also rejected Apple's argument that the case should be dismissed because it's too late to name a new plaintiff. She ordered the attorneys suing Apple to identify a new person, by Tuesday, who can serve as a lead plaintiff.</p>
<p>Both sides estimate about 8 million people bought iPods that are potentially affected by the lawsuit, which focuses on Apple's use of restrictive software that prevented iPods from playing music purchased from competitors of Apple's iTunes store. The plaintiffs say that amounted to unfair competition and that Apple was able to sell iPods at inflated prices because the software froze makers of competing devices out of the market.</p>
<p>While the plaintiffs argue the overcharges amounted to $350 million, Apple could be ordered to pay triple that amount if the jury finds it violated federal antitrust rules.</p>
<p>While the plaintiffs' lawyers represent the entire class of 8 million, class-action rules say the suit must identify at least one person as a "named plaintiff" who suffered the losses or injuries alleged in the case. Rosen had previously said she purchased several iPods that qualified, but Apple attorneys produced evidence that those devices either had the wrong software or were purchased outside the time frame of the lawsuit. A series of pretrial rulings had narrowed the case to covering just 19 months between September 2006 and March 2009.</p>
<p>Late last week, Rosen and her attorneys said she had purchased two other iPods in 2008. But Apple lawyers produced records that showed they were purchased with a credit card issued to the law firm of Rosen's husband. Apple attorney William Isaacson argued that meant she was not legally the purchaser.</p>
<p>Judge Rogers ruled late Monday that Rosen's purchases are "inadequate" to represent the whole class. And the judge showed impatience at having to deal with the question after jurors had already heard a week of testimony.</p>
<p>"I am troubled," the judge said, citing Rosen's failure to adequately account for her iPod purchases and "the failure of plaintiffs' counsel themselves to investigate sufficiently." But the judge said she has an obligation to the "millions of absent class members" to let the case continue if another lead plaintiff can be identified.</p>
<p>Two other plaintiffs had earlier withdrawn because their iPods were not covered by the lawsuit.</p>
<p>Plaintiffs' attorney Bonny Sweeney said her office has heard from a number of volunteers since the issue made headlines last week. "There are plaintiffs who stand willing and ready to step in and we will have them in court tomorrow," she told the judge.</p>
<p>The judge curtly ordered Sweeney to give the candidates' names to Apple's lawyers Monday night, so Apple can have a chance to review whether they are eligible.</p>
<p>Apple lawyers insisted Monday they weren't happy about discovering the glitch. Although he argued in court briefs that the suit would have to be dismissed, Isaacson told the judge Monday, "We want to win this case on the merits." Outside court, he told reporters the issue may eventually be decided by a court of appeal.</p>
<p>When asked whether Apple plans to investigate the qualifications of any new plaintiff, Isaacson answered with one word: "Completely."</p>
<p>OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — In an unusual legal twist, a federal judge decided Monday that a billion-dollar, class-action lawsuit over Apple's iPods should continue, even though she also disqualified the last remaining plaintiff named in a case that has been on trial since last week.</p>
<p>U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers scolded Marianna Rosen and her attorneys on Monday for not providing more complete information about the iPods Rosen had purchased. That came after Apple lawyers successfully argued that the devices purchased by Rosen were not among those affected by the lawsuit.</p>
<p>But the judge also rejected Apple's argument that the case should be dismissed because it's too late to name a new plaintiff. She ordered the attorneys suing Apple to identify a new person, by Tuesday, who can serve as a lead plaintiff.</p>
<p>Both sides estimate about 8 million people bought iPods that are potentially affected by the lawsuit, which focuses on Apple's use of restrictive software that prevented iPods from playing music purchased from competitors of Apple's iTunes store. The plaintiffs say that amounted to unfair competition and that Apple was able to sell iPods at inflated prices because the software froze makers of competing devices out of the market.</p>
<p>While the plaintiffs argue the overcharges amounted to $350 million, Apple could be ordered to pay triple that amount if the jury finds it violated federal antitrust rules.</p>
<p>While the plaintiffs' lawyers represent the entire class of 8 million, class-action rules say the suit must identify at least one person as a "named plaintiff" who suffered the losses or injuries alleged in the case. Rosen had previously said she purchased several iPods that qualified, but Apple attorneys produced evidence that those devices either had the wrong software or were purchased outside the time frame of the lawsuit. A series of pretrial rulings had narrowed the case to covering just 19 months between September 2006 and March 2009.</p>
<p>Late last week, Rosen and her attorneys said she had purchased two other iPods in 2008. But Apple lawyers produced records that showed they were purchased with a credit card issued to the law firm of Rosen's husband. Apple attorney William Isaacson argued that meant she was not legally the purchaser.</p>
<p>Judge Rogers ruled late Monday that Rosen's purchases are "inadequate" to represent the whole class. And the judge showed impatience at having to deal with the question after jurors had already heard a week of testimony.</p>
<p>"I am troubled," the judge said, citing Rosen's failure to adequately account for her iPod purchases and "the failure of plaintiffs' counsel themselves to investigate sufficiently." But the judge said she has an obligation to the "millions of absent class members" to let the case continue if another lead plaintiff can be identified.</p>
<p>Two other plaintiffs had earlier withdrawn because their iPods were not covered by the lawsuit.</p>
<p>Plaintiffs' attorney Bonny Sweeney said her office has heard from a number of volunteers since the issue made headlines last week. "There are plaintiffs who stand willing and ready to step in and we will have them in court tomorrow," she told the judge.</p>
<p>The judge curtly ordered Sweeney to give the candidates' names to Apple's lawyers Monday night, so Apple can have a chance to review whether they are eligible.</p>
<p>Apple lawyers insisted Monday they weren't happy about discovering the glitch. Although he argued in court briefs that the suit would have to be dismissed, Isaacson told the judge Monday, "We want to win this case on the merits." Outside court, he told reporters the issue may eventually be decided by a court of appeal.</p>
<p>When asked whether Apple plans to investigate the qualifications of any new plaintiff, Isaacson answered with one word: "Completely."</p>
| false | 2 |
oakland calif ap unusual legal twist federal judge decided monday billiondollar classaction lawsuit apples ipods continue even though also disqualified last remaining plaintiff named case trial since last week us district judge yvonne gonzalez rogers scolded marianna rosen attorneys monday providing complete information ipods rosen purchased came apple lawyers successfully argued devices purchased rosen among affected lawsuit judge also rejected apples argument case dismissed late name new plaintiff ordered attorneys suing apple identify new person tuesday serve lead plaintiff sides estimate 8 million people bought ipods potentially affected lawsuit focuses apples use restrictive software prevented ipods playing music purchased competitors apples itunes store plaintiffs say amounted unfair competition apple able sell ipods inflated prices software froze makers competing devices market plaintiffs argue overcharges amounted 350 million apple could ordered pay triple amount jury finds violated federal antitrust rules plaintiffs lawyers represent entire class 8 million classaction rules say suit must identify least one person named plaintiff suffered losses injuries alleged case rosen previously said purchased several ipods qualified apple attorneys produced evidence devices either wrong software purchased outside time frame lawsuit series pretrial rulings narrowed case covering 19 months september 2006 march 2009 late last week rosen attorneys said purchased two ipods 2008 apple lawyers produced records showed purchased credit card issued law firm rosens husband apple attorney william isaacson argued meant legally purchaser judge rogers ruled late monday rosens purchases inadequate represent whole class judge showed impatience deal question jurors already heard week testimony troubled judge said citing rosens failure adequately account ipod purchases failure plaintiffs counsel investigate sufficiently judge said obligation millions absent class members let case continue another lead plaintiff identified two plaintiffs earlier withdrawn ipods covered lawsuit plaintiffs attorney bonny sweeney said office heard number volunteers since issue made headlines last week plaintiffs stand willing ready step court tomorrow told judge judge curtly ordered sweeney give candidates names apples lawyers monday night apple chance review whether eligible apple lawyers insisted monday werent happy discovering glitch although argued court briefs suit would dismissed isaacson told judge monday want win case merits outside court told reporters issue may eventually decided court appeal asked whether apple plans investigate qualifications new plaintiff isaacson answered one word completely oakland calif ap unusual legal twist federal judge decided monday billiondollar classaction lawsuit apples ipods continue even though also disqualified last remaining plaintiff named case trial since last week us district judge yvonne gonzalez rogers scolded marianna rosen attorneys monday providing complete information ipods rosen purchased came apple lawyers successfully argued devices purchased rosen among affected lawsuit judge also rejected apples argument case dismissed late name new plaintiff ordered attorneys suing apple identify new person tuesday serve lead plaintiff sides estimate 8 million people bought ipods potentially affected lawsuit focuses apples use restrictive software prevented ipods playing music purchased competitors apples itunes store plaintiffs say amounted unfair competition apple able sell ipods inflated prices software froze makers competing devices market plaintiffs argue overcharges amounted 350 million apple could ordered pay triple amount jury finds violated federal antitrust rules plaintiffs lawyers represent entire class 8 million classaction rules say suit must identify least one person named plaintiff suffered losses injuries alleged case rosen previously said purchased several ipods qualified apple attorneys produced evidence devices either wrong software purchased outside time frame lawsuit series pretrial rulings narrowed case covering 19 months september 2006 march 2009 late last week rosen attorneys said purchased two ipods 2008 apple lawyers produced records showed purchased credit card issued law firm rosens husband apple attorney william isaacson argued meant legally purchaser judge rogers ruled late monday rosens purchases inadequate represent whole class judge showed impatience deal question jurors already heard week testimony troubled judge said citing rosens failure adequately account ipod purchases failure plaintiffs counsel investigate sufficiently judge said obligation millions absent class members let case continue another lead plaintiff identified two plaintiffs earlier withdrawn ipods covered lawsuit plaintiffs attorney bonny sweeney said office heard number volunteers since issue made headlines last week plaintiffs stand willing ready step court tomorrow told judge judge curtly ordered sweeney give candidates names apples lawyers monday night apple chance review whether eligible apple lawyers insisted monday werent happy discovering glitch although argued court briefs suit would dismissed isaacson told judge monday want win case merits outside court told reporters issue may eventually decided court appeal asked whether apple plans investigate qualifications new plaintiff isaacson answered one word completely
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<p>This image from evidence gathered by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service during its investigation of Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Darren Yazzie, and obtained by The Associated Press, shows a message written by his victim on a bedroom wall. Yazzie was convicted in January 2015 of rape of a child and sentenced to 17 years confinement. (Naval Criminal Investigative Service via AP)</p>
<p>WASHINGTON - Child sex offenders are the largest category of inmates in U.S. military prisons, yet a full accounting of their crimes and how much time they're actually locked up for is shielded by an opaque system of justice, an Associated Press investigation has found.</p>
<p>Of the 1,233 inmates confined in the military's prison network, 61 percent were convicted of sex crimes, according to the latest available data, obtained through the federal open records law. Children were the victims in over half of those cases.</p>
<p>Since the beginning of this year alone, service members victimized children in 133 out of 301 sex crime convictions, with charges ranging from rape to distributing child pornography.</p>
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<p>Child sex assaults in the military have received scant attention in Washington, where Congress and the Defense Department have focused largely on preventing and prosecuting adult-on-adult sex crimes.</p>
<p>Daniel E. DeSmit, a Marine Corps chief warrant officer, spent at least $36,000 viewing and producing child pornography over the span of six years. In emails examined by Navy criminal investigators, DeSmit described his preference for sex with prepubescent girls as "the best experience."</p>
<p>A military judge in January found DeSmit, 44, guilty of a litany of sex offenses and sentenced him to 144 years behind bars. But he'll serve just a fraction of that. In an undisclosed pretrial agreement, the Marine Corps slashed his prison term to 20 years. When the AP asked for the investigative report into DeSmit's case, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service rejected the Freedom of Information Act request on privacy grounds. The report was released only after the AP appealed.</p>
<p>The military justice system operates independently of state and federal criminal courts. The U.S. Constitution mandates a presumption of openness in civilian courts - trials are open to the public, as are court filings, including motions and transcripts, with exceptions for documents that have been sealed. Anyone can walk into a county or U.S. courthouse and ask to read a case file, on demand, without providing a reason. That openness is designed to provide accountability.</p>
<p>But visibility into military trials is minimal. Court records are released only after many Freedom of Information Act requests, appeals and fees, and often months of waiting. While military trials are technically "open," as are civilian trials, they take place on military bases, which are closed to the public.</p>
<p>"I can sit at my computer in New Haven and find out what was filed five minutes ago in a case in federal district court in Seattle," said Eugene Fidell, a former Coast Guard judge advocate who teaches military justice at Yale Law School. "But to get copies of motions filed last week in a general court-martial at Fort Lewis would take months if not years, while the Freedom of Information Act wheels ground along."</p>
<p>Under military law, children are defined as "any person who has not attained the age of 16 years." Victims aged 16 and 17 are counted as adults, which is consistent with age-of-consent laws in most states.</p>
<p>Asked why the biggest group of inmates is behind bars for sex crimes against kids, Defense Department officials said judges and juries view these crimes as intolerable and are more likely to impose harsher prison terms. They also said military prosecutors pursue verdicts in cases their civilian counterparts would never take to court - and the confinement numbers reflect that commitment.</p>
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<p>Air Force Col. Chuck Killion, director of the Air Force judiciary, said that since 2008 the Air Force has secured convictions in 199 out of 223 child sexual assault cases - an 89 percent rate.</p>
<p>"It's not as if there are child sex crimes being swept under the rug somewhere," Killion said. "We simply don't do that."</p>
<p>But the Defense Department does not make it easy for the public to learn about child sex cases. After DeSmit's conviction in January, the Marine Corps summed it up in two sentences.</p>
<p>"At a General Court-Martial at Okinawa, Japan, Chief Warrant Officer 4 D. E. DeSmit was convicted by a military judge alone of conspiracy to commit sexual assault and rape of children, aggravated sexual abuse of a child, sexual abuse of a child, and possession of child pornography. The military judge sentenced the accused to 144 years of confinement, a reprimand, and dismissal," a summary of the court-martial released by the Marine Corps reads.</p>
<p>And that's all the service would have said publicly, had the AP not pressed for more information, including NCIS's 198-page investigation of the allegations against DeSmit.</p>
<p>The most significant detail missing from the Marine Corps' brief public summary was the pretrial agreement. DeSmit had struck a deal with the military, according to court records. He pleaded guilty to 18 counts, including conspiracy to commit rape of a child. His prison sentence was limited to 20 years, not 144 as the Marine Corps had said publicly.</p>
<p>And he will do even less time if he is eventually paroled. In the military justice system, DeSmit is eligible to be considered for release from prison after serving one-third of his term.</p>
<p>DeSmit is one of dozens of sex offenders who have benefited from pretrial deals, according to the AP's analysis of the summarized results of courts-martial released by the military services. Since the beginning of July alone, 31 soldiers, sailors and Marines were convicted of sex crimes against children. Twenty of those cases had pretrial agreements.</p>
<p>____</p>
<p>Associated Press writers Jim Gomez in Manila, Philippines, Julie Watson in San Diego, and researcher Monika Mathur in Washington contributed to this report.</p>
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image evidence gathered naval criminal investigative service investigation navy petty officer 1st class darren yazzie obtained associated press shows message written victim bedroom wall yazzie convicted january 2015 rape child sentenced 17 years confinement naval criminal investigative service via ap washington child sex offenders largest category inmates us military prisons yet full accounting crimes much time theyre actually locked shielded opaque system justice associated press investigation found 1233 inmates confined militarys prison network 61 percent convicted sex crimes according latest available data obtained federal open records law children victims half cases since beginning year alone service members victimized children 133 301 sex crime convictions charges ranging rape distributing child pornography advertisement child sex assaults military received scant attention washington congress defense department focused largely preventing prosecuting adultonadult sex crimes daniel e desmit marine corps chief warrant officer spent least 36000 viewing producing child pornography span six years emails examined navy criminal investigators desmit described preference sex prepubescent girls best experience military judge january found desmit 44 guilty litany sex offenses sentenced 144 years behind bars hell serve fraction undisclosed pretrial agreement marine corps slashed prison term 20 years ap asked investigative report desmits case naval criminal investigative service rejected freedom information act request privacy grounds report released ap appealed military justice system operates independently state federal criminal courts us constitution mandates presumption openness civilian courts trials open public court filings including motions transcripts exceptions documents sealed anyone walk county us courthouse ask read case file demand without providing reason openness designed provide accountability visibility military trials minimal court records released many freedom information act requests appeals fees often months waiting military trials technically open civilian trials take place military bases closed public sit computer new find filed five minutes ago case federal district court seattle said eugene fidell former coast guard judge advocate teaches military justice yale law school get copies motions filed last week general courtmartial fort lewis would take months years freedom information act wheels ground along military law children defined person attained age 16 years victims aged 16 17 counted adults consistent ageofconsent laws states asked biggest group inmates behind bars sex crimes kids defense department officials said judges juries view crimes intolerable likely impose harsher prison terms also said military prosecutors pursue verdicts cases civilian counterparts would never take court confinement numbers reflect commitment advertisement air force col chuck killion director air force judiciary said since 2008 air force secured convictions 199 223 child sexual assault cases 89 percent rate child sex crimes swept rug somewhere killion said simply dont defense department make easy public learn child sex cases desmits conviction january marine corps summed two sentences general courtmartial okinawa japan chief warrant officer 4 e desmit convicted military judge alone conspiracy commit sexual assault rape children aggravated sexual abuse child sexual abuse child possession child pornography military judge sentenced accused 144 years confinement reprimand dismissal summary courtmartial released marine corps reads thats service would said publicly ap pressed information including nciss 198page investigation allegations desmit significant detail missing marine corps brief public summary pretrial agreement desmit struck deal military according court records pleaded guilty 18 counts including conspiracy commit rape child prison sentence limited 20 years 144 marine corps said publicly even less time eventually paroled military justice system desmit eligible considered release prison serving onethird term desmit one dozens sex offenders benefited pretrial deals according aps analysis summarized results courtsmartial released military services since beginning july alone 31 soldiers sailors marines convicted sex crimes children twenty cases pretrial agreements ____ associated press writers jim gomez manila philippines julie watson san diego researcher monika mathur washington contributed report
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<p>SEATTLE — Legal challenges against President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban mounted Thursday as Washington state said it would renew its request to block the executive order and a judge granted Oregon’s request to join the case.</p>
<p>The events happened a day after Hawaii launched its own lawsuit, and Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson said New York state also asked to join his state’s legal effort. Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey said the state is joining fellow states in challenging the revised travel ban.</p>
<p>Washington was the first state to sue over the original ban, which resulted in Judge James Robart in Seattle halting its implementation around the country. Ferguson said the state would ask Robart to rule that his temporary restraining order against the first ban applies to Trump’s revised action.</p>
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<p>“My message to President Trump is — not so fast,” Ferguson told reporters. “After spending more than a month to fix a broken order that he rushed out the door, the President’s new order reinstates several of the same provisions and has the same illegal motivations as the original.”</p>
<p>Robart on Thursday granted Oregon’s request to join Washington and Minnesota in the case opposing the travel ban.</p>
<p>Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum said the executive order has hurt Oregon, its residents, employers, agencies, educational institutions, health care system and economy.</p>
<p>Trump’s revised ban bars new visas for people from six predominantly Muslim countries: Somalia, Iran, Syria, Sudan, Libya and Yemen. It also temporarily shuts down the U.S. refugee program.</p>
<p>Unlike the initial order, the new one says current visa holders won’t be affected, and removes language that would give priority to religious minorities.</p>
<p>Hawaii Attorney General Douglas Chin said that the state could not stay silent on Trump’s travel ban because of Hawaii’s unique culture and history. Hawaii depends heavily on tourism, and the revised ban would hurt the state’s economy, he said.</p>
<p>The courts need to hear “that there’s a state where ethnic diversity is the norm, where people are welcomed with aloha and respect,” Chin said.</p>
<p>He noted that the new travel ban order comes just after the 75th anniversary of the Feb. 19, 1942, executive order by President Franklin Roosevelt that sent Japanese Americans were sent to internment camps during World War II. That order was put in place after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Hawaii had an internment camp.</p>
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<p>Ferguson said it’s not the government, but the court, that gets to decide whether the revised order is different enough that it would not be covered by previous temporary restraining order.</p>
<p>“It cannot be a game of whack-a-mole for the court,” he said.</p>
<p>White House spokesman Sean Spicer said Thursday the administration believed the revised travel ban will stand up to legal scrutiny.</p>
<p>“We feel very confident with how that was crafted and the input that was given,” Spicer said.</p>
<p>Ferguson said he was pleased that attorneys general from New York and Oregon had sought to take part in the legal action.</p>
<p>“We have a strong case and they are willing to join our efforts,” he said of his fellow Democrats. New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman in a statement called the executive order “a Muslim ban by another name.”</p>
<p>Other states that have filed briefs supporting Washington’s initial lawsuit include California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia.</p>
<p>In his initial lawsuit Ferguson said the original ban was unconstitutional and hurt the state’s businesses and universities.</p>
<p>A federal appellate court later upheld a temporary restraining order issued against the first travel ban.</p>
<p>The Trump administration says the old order will be revoked once the new one goes into effect on March 16.</p>
<p>In filing a lawsuit Wednesday night, Hawaii said the revised order would harm its Muslim population, tourism and foreign students</p>
<p>Attorneys for Hawaii filed the lawsuit against the U.S. government in federal court in Honolulu. The state had previously sued over Trump’s initial travel ban, but that lawsuit was put on hold while other cases played out across the country.</p>
<p>Hawaii’s complaint says it is suing to protect its residents, businesses and schools, as well as its “sovereignty against illegal actions of President Donald J. Trump and the federal government.”</p>
<p>Imam Ismail Elshikh of the Muslim Association of Hawaii is a plaintiff in the state’s challenge. The ban will prevent his Syrian mother-in-law from visiting him, he said.</p>
<p>The mam is a U.S. citizen, has rights and would be prevented from seeing his mother-in-law, Chin said. The mother-in-law is awaiting approval of a visa to see her relatives in Hawaii.</p>
<p>The woman and others have become victims because of the ban’s “standardless set of waivers and exceptions that weren’t set by Congress,” Chin said.</p>
<p>Hawaii’s lawsuit challenging the travel ban focuses on damage to the state’s economy and mainly tourism. Chin says the tourism angle is unique because the state relies heavily on visitors and Hawaii officials have a right to defend the economy.</p>
<p>He said people may fear traveling even within Hawaii because they would be forced to encounter a federal agent every time they get on a plane to visit a neighboring island.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Sinco Kelleher reported from Honolulu. Associated Press writers Tarek Hamada in Phoenix and Gene Johnson in Seattle contributed to this report.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>This version corrects the spelling of Robart on the first reference.</p>
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seattle legal challenges president donald trumps revised travel ban mounted thursday washington state said would renew request block executive order judge granted oregons request join case events happened day hawaii launched lawsuit washington state attorney general bob ferguson said new york state also asked join states legal effort massachusetts attorney general maura healey said state joining fellow states challenging revised travel ban washington first state sue original ban resulted judge james robart seattle halting implementation around country ferguson said state would ask robart rule temporary restraining order first ban applies trumps revised action advertisement message president trump fast ferguson told reporters spending month fix broken order rushed door presidents new order reinstates several provisions illegal motivations original robart thursday granted oregons request join washington minnesota case opposing travel ban oregon attorney general ellen rosenblum said executive order hurt oregon residents employers agencies educational institutions health care system economy trumps revised ban bars new visas people six predominantly muslim countries somalia iran syria sudan libya yemen also temporarily shuts us refugee program unlike initial order new one says current visa holders wont affected removes language would give priority religious minorities hawaii attorney general douglas chin said state could stay silent trumps travel ban hawaiis unique culture history hawaii depends heavily tourism revised ban would hurt states economy said courts need hear theres state ethnic diversity norm people welcomed aloha respect chin said noted new travel ban order comes 75th anniversary feb 19 1942 executive order president franklin roosevelt sent japanese americans sent internment camps world war ii order put place japanese attack pearl harbor hawaii internment camp advertisement ferguson said government court gets decide whether revised order different enough would covered previous temporary restraining order game whackamole court said white house spokesman sean spicer said thursday administration believed revised travel ban stand legal scrutiny feel confident crafted input given spicer said ferguson said pleased attorneys general new york oregon sought take part legal action strong case willing join efforts said fellow democrats new york attorney general eric schneiderman statement called executive order muslim ban another name states filed briefs supporting washingtons initial lawsuit include california connecticut delaware illinois iowa maine maryland new mexico pennsylvania rhode island vermont virginia initial lawsuit ferguson said original ban unconstitutional hurt states businesses universities federal appellate court later upheld temporary restraining order issued first travel ban trump administration says old order revoked new one goes effect march 16 filing lawsuit wednesday night hawaii said revised order would harm muslim population tourism foreign students attorneys hawaii filed lawsuit us government federal court honolulu state previously sued trumps initial travel ban lawsuit put hold cases played across country hawaiis complaint says suing protect residents businesses schools well sovereignty illegal actions president donald j trump federal government imam ismail elshikh muslim association hawaii plaintiff states challenge ban prevent syrian motherinlaw visiting said mam us citizen rights would prevented seeing motherinlaw chin said motherinlaw awaiting approval visa see relatives hawaii woman others become victims bans standardless set waivers exceptions werent set congress chin said hawaiis lawsuit challenging travel ban focuses damage states economy mainly tourism chin says tourism angle unique state relies heavily visitors hawaii officials right defend economy said people may fear traveling even within hawaii would forced encounter federal agent every time get plane visit neighboring island ___ sinco kelleher reported honolulu associated press writers tarek hamada phoenix gene johnson seattle contributed report ___ version corrects spelling robart first reference
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<p>Weary officials lifted a daylong order that had kept residents in their homes, saying it was fruitless to keep an entire city locked down. Then one man emerged from his home and noticed blood on the pleasure boat parked in his backyard. He lifted the tarp and found the wounded 19-year-old college student known the world over as Suspect No. 2.</p>
<p>Soon after that, the 24-hour drama that paralyzed a city and transfixed a nation was over.</p>
<p>Dzhokhar Tsarnaev’s capture touched off raucous celebrations in and around Boston, with chants of “USA, USA” as residents flooded the streets in relief and jubilation after four tense days since twin explosions ripped through the marathon’s crowd at the finish line, killing three people and wounding more than 180.</p>
<p />
<p>The 19-year-old — whose older brother and alleged accomplice was killed earlier Friday morning in a wild shootout in suburban Boston — was in serious condition Saturday at a hospital protected by armed guards, and he was unable to be questioned to determine his motives. U.S. officials said a special interrogation team for high-value suspects would question him without reading him his Miranda rights, invoking a rare public safety exception triggered by the need to protect police and the public from immediate danger.</p>
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<p>President Barack Obama said there are many unanswered questions about the Boston bombings, including whether the two men had help from others. He urged people not to rush judgment about their motivations.</p>
<p>Dzhokhar and his brother, 26-year-old Tamerlan Tsarnaev, were identified by authorities and relatives as ethnic Chechens from southern Russia who had been in the U.S. for about a decade and were believed to be living in Cambridge, just outside Boston. Tamerlan Tsarnaev died early in the day of gunshot wounds and a possible blast injury. He was run over by his younger brother in a car as he lay wounded, according to investigators.</p>
<p>During a long night of violence Thursday and into Friday, the brothers killed an MIT police officer, severely wounded another lawman during a gun battle and hurled explosives at police in a desperate getaway attempt, authorities said.</p>
<p>Late Friday, less than an hour after authorities lifted the lockdown, they tracked down the younger man holed up in the boat, weakened by a gunshot wound after fleeing on foot from the overnight shootout with police that left 200 spent rounds behind.</p>
<p>The resident who spotted Dzhokhar Tsarnaev in his boat in his Watertown yard called police, who tried to persuade the suspect to get out of the boat, said Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis.</p>
<p>“He was not communicative,” Davis said.</p>
<p>Instead, he said, there was an exchange of gunfire — the final volley of one of the biggest manhunts in American history.</p>
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<p>The violent endgame unfolded just a day after the FBI released surveillance-camera images of two young men suspected of planting the pressure-cooker explosives at the marathon’s finish line, an attack that put the nation on edge for the week.</p>
<p>Watertown residents who had been told Friday morning to stay inside behind locked doors poured out of their homes and lined the streets to cheer police vehicles as they rolled away from the scene.</p>
<p>Celebratory bells rang from a church tower. Teenagers waved American flags. Drivers honked. Every time an emergency vehicle went by, people cheered loudly.</p>
<p>“They finally caught the jerk,” said nurse Cindy Boyle. “It was scary. It was tense.”</p>
<p>Police said three other people were taken into custody for questioning at an off-campus housing complex at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth where the younger man may have lived.</p>
<p>“Tonight, our family applauds the entire law enforcement community for a job well done, and trust that our justice system will now do its job,” said the family of 8-year-old Martin Richard, who died in the bombing.</p>
<p>Queries cascaded in after authorities released the surveillance-camera photos — the FBI website was overwhelmed with 300,000 hits per minute — but what role those played in the overnight clash was unclear. State police spokesman Dave Procopio said police realized they were dealing with the bombing suspects based on what the two men told a carjacking victim during their night of crime.</p>
<p>The search by thousands of law enforcement officers all but shut down the Boston area for much of the day. Officials halted all mass transit, including Amtrak trains to New York, advised businesses not to open and warned close to 1 million people in the city and some of its suburbs to unlock their doors only for uniformed police.</p>
<p>Around midday, the suspects’ uncle, Ruslan Tsarni of Montgomery Village, Md., pleaded on television: “Dzhokhar, if you are alive, turn yourself in and ask for forgiveness.”</p>
<p>Until the younger man’s capture, it was looking like a grim day for police. As night fell, they announced that they were scaling back the hunt and lifting the stay-indoors order across the region because they had come up empty-handed.</p>
<p>But then the break came and within a couple of hours, the search was over. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was captured about a mile from the site of the shootout that killed his brother.</p>
<p>A neighbor described how heavily armed police stormed by her window not long after the lockdown was lifted — the rapid gunfire left her huddled on the bathroom floor on top of her young son.</p>
<p>“I was just waiting for bullets to just start flying everywhere,” Deanna Finn said.</p>
<p>When at last the gunfire died away and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was taken from the neighborhood in an ambulance, an officer gave Finn a cheery thumbs-up.</p>
<p>“To see the look on his face, he was very, very happy, so that made me very, very happy,” she said.</p>
<p>Authorities said the man dubbed Suspect No. 1 — the one in sunglasses and a dark baseball cap in the surveillance-camera pictures — was Tamerlan Tsarnaev, while Suspect No. 2, the one in a white baseball cap worn backward, was his younger brother.</p>
<p>Chechnya, where the Tsarnaev family has roots, has been the scene of two wars between Russian forces and separatists since 1994, in which tens of thousands were killed in heavy Russian bombing. That spawned an Islamic insurgency that has carried out deadly bombings in Russia and the region, although not in the West.</p>
<p>The older brother had strong political views about the United States, said Albrecht Ammon, 18, a downstairs-apartment neighbor in Cambridge. Ammon quoted Tsarnaev as saying that the U.S. uses the Bible as “an excuse for invading other countries.”</p>
<p>Also, the FBI interviewed the older brother at the request of a foreign government in 2011, and nothing derogatory was found, according to a federal law enforcement official who was not authorized to discuss the case publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.</p>
<p>The official did not identify the foreign country or say why it made the request.</p>
<p>Exactly how the long night of crime began was unclear. But police said the brothers carjacked a man in a Mercedes-Benz in Cambridge, just across the Charles River from Boston, then released him unharmed at a gas station.</p>
<p>They also shot to death a Massachusetts Institute of Technology police officer, 26-year-old Sean Collier, while he was responding to a report of a disturbance, investigators said.</p>
<p>The search for the Mercedes led to a chase that ended in Watertown, where authorities said the suspects threw explosive devices from the car and exchanged gunfire with police. A transit police officer, 33-year-old Richard Donohue, was shot and critically wounded, authorities said.</p>
<p>Dzhokhar Tsarnaev ran over his already wounded brother as he fled, according to two law enforcement officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the investigation. At some point, he abandoned his car and ran away on foot.</p>
<p>The brothers had built an arsenal of pipe bombs, grenades and improvised explosive devices and used some of the weapons in trying to make their getaway, said Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger, D-Md., a member of the House Intelligence Committee.</p>
<p>Watertown resident Kayla Dipaolo said she was woken up overnight by gunfire and a large explosion that sounded “like it was right next to my head … and shook the whole house.”</p>
<p>“It was very scary,” she said. “There are two bullet holes in the side of my house, and by the front door there is another.”</p>
<p>Tamerlan Tsarnaev had studied accounting as a part-time student at Bunker Hill Community College in Boston for three semesters from 2006 to 2008, the school said. He was married with a young daughter.</p>
<p>Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was registered as a student at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. Students said he was on campus this week after the Boston Marathon bombing. The campus closed down Friday along with colleges around the Boston area, and it remained closed Saturday as law enforcement continued investigating.</p>
<p>The men’s father, Anzor Tsarnaev, said in a telephone interview with the AP from the Russian city of Makhachkala that his younger son, Dzhokhar, is “a true angel.” He said his son was studying medicine.</p>
<p>“He is such an intelligent boy,” the father said. “We expected him to come on holidays here.”</p>
<p>A man who said he knew Dzhokhar Tsarnaev and Krystle Campbell, the 29-year-old restaurant manager killed in Monday’s bombing, said he was glad Dzhokhar had survived.</p>
<p>“I didn’t want to lose more than one friend,” Marvin Salazar said.</p>
<p>“Why Jahar?” he asked, using Tsarnaev’s nickname. “I want to know answers. That’s the most important thing. And I think I speak for almost all America. Why the Boston Marathon? Why this year? Why Jahar?”</p>
<p>Two years ago, the city of Cambridge awarded Dzhokhar Tsarnaev a $2,500 scholarship. At the time, he was a senior at Cambridge Rindge &amp; Latin School, a highly regarded public school whose alumni include Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and NBA Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing.</p>
<p>Tsarni, the men’s uncle, said the brothers traveled here together from Russia. He called his nephews “losers” and said they had struggled to settle in the U.S. and ended up “thereby just hating everyone.”</p>
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weary officials lifted daylong order kept residents homes saying fruitless keep entire city locked one man emerged home noticed blood pleasure boat parked backyard lifted tarp found wounded 19yearold college student known world suspect 2 soon 24hour drama paralyzed city transfixed nation dzhokhar tsarnaevs capture touched raucous celebrations around boston chants usa usa residents flooded streets relief jubilation four tense days since twin explosions ripped marathons crowd finish line killing three people wounding 180 19yearold whose older brother alleged accomplice killed earlier friday morning wild shootout suburban boston serious condition saturday hospital protected armed guards unable questioned determine motives us officials said special interrogation team highvalue suspects would question without reading miranda rights invoking rare public safety exception triggered need protect police public immediate danger advertisement president barack obama said many unanswered questions boston bombings including whether two men help others urged people rush judgment motivations dzhokhar brother 26yearold tamerlan tsarnaev identified authorities relatives ethnic chechens southern russia us decade believed living cambridge outside boston tamerlan tsarnaev died early day gunshot wounds possible blast injury run younger brother car lay wounded according investigators long night violence thursday friday brothers killed mit police officer severely wounded another lawman gun battle hurled explosives police desperate getaway attempt authorities said late friday less hour authorities lifted lockdown tracked younger man holed boat weakened gunshot wound fleeing foot overnight shootout police left 200 spent rounds behind resident spotted dzhokhar tsarnaev boat watertown yard called police tried persuade suspect get boat said boston police commissioner ed davis communicative davis said instead said exchange gunfire final volley one biggest manhunts american history advertisement violent endgame unfolded day fbi released surveillancecamera images two young men suspected planting pressurecooker explosives marathons finish line attack put nation edge week watertown residents told friday morning stay inside behind locked doors poured homes lined streets cheer police vehicles rolled away scene celebratory bells rang church tower teenagers waved american flags drivers honked every time emergency vehicle went people cheered loudly finally caught jerk said nurse cindy boyle scary tense police said three people taken custody questioning offcampus housing complex university massachusetts dartmouth younger man may lived tonight family applauds entire law enforcement community job well done trust justice system job said family 8yearold martin richard died bombing queries cascaded authorities released surveillancecamera photos fbi website overwhelmed 300000 hits per minute role played overnight clash unclear state police spokesman dave procopio said police realized dealing bombing suspects based two men told carjacking victim night crime search thousands law enforcement officers shut boston area much day officials halted mass transit including amtrak trains new york advised businesses open warned close 1 million people city suburbs unlock doors uniformed police around midday suspects uncle ruslan tsarni montgomery village md pleaded television dzhokhar alive turn ask forgiveness younger mans capture looking like grim day police night fell announced scaling back hunt lifting stayindoors order across region come emptyhanded break came within couple hours search dzhokhar tsarnaev captured mile site shootout killed brother neighbor described heavily armed police stormed window long lockdown lifted rapid gunfire left huddled bathroom floor top young son waiting bullets start flying everywhere deanna finn said last gunfire died away dzhokhar tsarnaev taken neighborhood ambulance officer gave finn cheery thumbsup see look face happy made happy said authorities said man dubbed suspect 1 one sunglasses dark baseball cap surveillancecamera pictures tamerlan tsarnaev suspect 2 one white baseball cap worn backward younger brother chechnya tsarnaev family roots scene two wars russian forces separatists since 1994 tens thousands killed heavy russian bombing spawned islamic insurgency carried deadly bombings russia region although west older brother strong political views united states said albrecht ammon 18 downstairsapartment neighbor cambridge ammon quoted tsarnaev saying us uses bible excuse invading countries also fbi interviewed older brother request foreign government 2011 nothing derogatory found according federal law enforcement official authorized discuss case publicly spoke condition anonymity official identify foreign country say made request exactly long night crime began unclear police said brothers carjacked man mercedesbenz cambridge across charles river boston released unharmed gas station also shot death massachusetts institute technology police officer 26yearold sean collier responding report disturbance investigators said search mercedes led chase ended watertown authorities said suspects threw explosive devices car exchanged gunfire police transit police officer 33yearold richard donohue shot critically wounded authorities said dzhokhar tsarnaev ran already wounded brother fled according two law enforcement officials spoke condition anonymity authorized discuss investigation point abandoned car ran away foot brothers built arsenal pipe bombs grenades improvised explosive devices used weapons trying make getaway said rep dutch ruppersberger dmd member house intelligence committee watertown resident kayla dipaolo said woken overnight gunfire large explosion sounded like right next head shook whole house scary said two bullet holes side house front door another tamerlan tsarnaev studied accounting parttime student bunker hill community college boston three semesters 2006 2008 school said married young daughter dzhokhar tsarnaev registered student university massachusetts dartmouth students said campus week boston marathon bombing campus closed friday along colleges around boston area remained closed saturday law enforcement continued investigating mens father anzor tsarnaev said telephone interview ap russian city makhachkala younger son dzhokhar true angel said son studying medicine intelligent boy father said expected come holidays man said knew dzhokhar tsarnaev krystle campbell 29yearold restaurant manager killed mondays bombing said glad dzhokhar survived didnt want lose one friend marvin salazar said jahar asked using tsarnaevs nickname want know answers thats important thing think speak almost america boston marathon year jahar two years ago city cambridge awarded dzhokhar tsarnaev 2500 scholarship time senior cambridge rindge amp latin school highly regarded public school whose alumni include matt damon ben affleck nba hall famer patrick ewing tsarni mens uncle said brothers traveled together russia called nephews losers said struggled settle us ended thereby hating everyone
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<p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The phones at U.S. sexual assault hotlines have been ringing in record numbers as the #MeToo social movement spurs victims to reach out for help, sending organizations scrambling to keep up.</p> Volunteers on the National Sexual Assault Hotline work both over the phone and via web chat at the offices of the U.S.'s largest anti-sexual violence organization, the Rape Abuse Incest National Network, in Washington, U.S., January 12, 2018. REUTERS/James Lawler Duggan
<p>Calls spiked when the movement began in October, with people waiting up to three hours to talk to someone at the country's largest one, the National Sexual Assault Hotline.</p>
<p>The number of calls to the hotline operated by the Rape, Abuse &amp; Incest National Network (RAINN) surged 25 percent in November from a year earlier, and another 30 percent in December, according to RAINN. Its 209,480 total calls in 2017 were the most for any year since its founding in 1993.</p> Volunteers on the National Sexual Assault Hotline work both over the phone and via web chat at the offices of the U.S.'s largest anti-sexual violence organization, the Rape Abuse Incest National Network, in Washington, U.S., January 12, 2018. REUTERS/James Lawler Duggan
<p>Last fall, actress Alyssa Milano of the television show "Charmed" asked women who had been sexually assaulted or harassed to post "Me Too" in response to allegations made against movie mogul Harvey Weinstein.</p>
<p>Weinstein, accused of sexual abuse by dozens of women, has denied having nonconsensual sexual contact with anyone. Reuters has not been able to independently confirm the accusations.</p>
<p>At the national hotline's call center, the lights that workers flip on to indicate they are on the phone never seemed to turn off, said Celia Gamboa, a manager at the national hotline. The chat app most callers prefer was flooded with messages, she said. The #MeToo movement almost always came up.</p> Slideshow (2 Images)
<p>"It wasn't just a one-time thing," Gamboa said. "We're just going to continue to see that type of flow into the future."</p>
<p>RAINN added 40 employees to its staff of 200 and stepped up volunteer recruiting, said CEO Scott Berkowitz. That has helped chip away at the wait times, he said.</p>
<p>Elsewhere, Network for Victim Recovery of D.C. saw a spike in calls about sexual harassment. Executive Director Bridgette Stumpf said that unfortunately, the center can often only recommend private attorneys for people whose harassment did not include violence, adding such help may be too expensive for many victims.</p>
<p>The DC Rape Crisis Center now sees an average of 70 people a week seeking legal, physical or psychological help, up from 30 to 40 before #MeToo, said Executive Director Indira Henard. It also saw a bump in donations last fall following the #MeToo postings.</p>
<p>"It is for the record books," Henard said. "I don't believe there has ever been a time in our history when we talked about sexual violence and its impact this way."</p>
<p>Reporting by Lisa Lambert; Editing by Scott Malone and David Gregorio</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>SINGAPORE/PARIS (Reuters) - Global airlines began inspecting some Boeing 737 engines on Wednesday as an investigation gathered pace into an explosion which killed a passenger on a Southwest Airlines flight in the first fatal U.S. airline accident in almost a decade.</p>
<p>European regulators earlier this month ordered checks following lengthy analysis of a similar non-fatal incident at Southwest two years ago but investigators warn it is too early to say whether the two problems are linked.</p>
<p>Southwest Flight 1380 made an emergency landing in Philadelphia on Tuesday after an engine ripped apart mid-air, shattering a window on the 737 and nearly sucking out a passenger. One of 144 passengers died.</p>
<p>French accident investigators said on Wednesday they were sending a team to assist the investigation led by the Washington-based National Transportation Safety Board because the engine was developed by a French-U.S. joint venture, CFM International.</p>
<p>France's Safran, which co-produces the engines along with General Electric, will also provide technical support, a spokesman for the BEA air accident agency added.</p>
<p>Safran shares reversed earlier slight losses to close up 0.5 percent in line with the market.</p>
<p>All recent Boeing 737s are powered by engines from CFM, a workhorse of the global airlines that has logged more than 350 million hours of safe travel but some of which were also being examined after the 2016 accident.</p>
<p>CFM says there are more than 8,000 of its CFM56-7B engines in operation on Boeing 737 passenger jets.</p> METAL FATIGUE
<p>Although no cause has been ruled out, the first fatal U.S. airline accident since 2009 is expected to focus attention on the role of metal fatigue in engine accidents, which are rare.</p>
<p>An early review of Tuesday's failed Southwest engine found preliminary evidence of metal fatigue where a fan blade had broken off, Robert Sumwalt, chairman of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), told reporters on Tuesday.</p>
<p>In August 2016, a Southwest flight made a safe emergency landing in Pensacola, Florida, after a fan blade separated from the same type of engine, and debris ripped a foot-long hole above the left wing. There too, investigators cited signs of metal fatigue.</p>
<p>"We are very concerned," the NTSB's Sumwalt said, referring to the overall challenge of detecting slow-developing metal fatigue.</p>
<p>"There needs to be proper inspection mechanisms in place to check for this before there's a catastrophic event."</p>
<p>Completing the latest investigation will take about 12-15 months, he said.</p> ENGINE CHECKS
<p>Southwest said it was speeding up inspections of all related engines, which it expected to complete within 30 days.</p>
<p>A person with knowledge of the situation said the airline was not inspecting all of its CFM56 engines, instead focusing on older ones - some 400 to 600 in total.</p>
<p>Investigators said on Tuesday they would be examining maintenance records of the airline, which operates one of the world's largest 737 fleets and has a strong safety record.</p>
<p>The 2016 incident prompted the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to propose ultrasonic inspections of similar fan blades and their replacement if needed.</p>
<p>Sumwalt said the NTSB would review whether the engines involved in Tuesday's incident might have been subject to that directive, which is not yet finalised.</p>
<p>European regulators, meanwhile, this month began requiring an inspection by early next year following a bulletin to airlines issued by CFM itself after the 2016 incident.</p>
<p>A person familiar with the matter said U.S. regulators were close to finalizing a similar rule.</p>
<p>Korean Air Lines Co Ltd said it planned to carry out voluntary inspections of engines used on its entire 737 fleet by November.</p>
<p>About 20-30 percent of its 35 Boeing 737 jets use the same type of fan blade as the one on the Southwest jet.</p>
<p>Japan Airlines said two 737 jets in its fleet had engines with affected fan blades and inspections were due to be completed on Wednesday.</p>
<p>Ireland's Ryanair, Europe's largest 737 operator, said fewer than 70 of its 440 planes were fitted with identical CFM56-7B engines and that all had been inspected.</p>
<p>In Canada, WestJet Airlines said it planned to accelerate inspections of certain fan blades, while in Dubai, budget carrier flydubai said it had implemented the European directive ahead of the deadline.</p> U.S. NTSB investigators are on scene examining damage to the engine of the Southwest Airlines plane in this image released from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S., April 17, 2018. NTSB/Handout via REUTERS
<p>The U.S. FAA has estimated that checks would require two hours per inspection.</p>
<p>Not all airlines operating 737s are affected.</p>
<p>Reporting by Jamie Freed in Singapore and Tim Hepher in Paris; Additional reporting by Jeffrey Dastin, David Shepardson, Joyce Lee, Sam Nussey, Byron Kaye, Alwyn Scott and Victoria Bryan; editing by Jason Neely and Adrian Croft</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Internal Revenue Service said it would give taxpayers an additional day to file their 2017 returns after computer problems prevented some people from filing or paying their taxes ahead of Tuesday's midnight deadline.</p>
<p>"Taxpayers do not need to do anything to receive this extra time," the IRS said in a statement announcing the extension.</p>
<p>The agency said its processing systems were now back online.</p>
<p>Earlier, the agency said several systems were hit with the computer glitch, including one that handles some returns filed electronically and another that accepts online tax payments using a bank account.</p>
<p>The IRS said it believed the problem was a hardware issue and "not other factors."</p>
<p>It was not clear how many taxpayers might have been affected, but the agency said it received 5 million tax returns on the final day of filing season last year.</p>
<p>"This is the busiest tax day of the year, and the IRS apologizes for the inconvenience this system issue caused for taxpayers," acting IRS Commissioner David Kautter said in a statement.</p> A general view of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) building in Washington May 27, 2015. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
<p>The agency said taxpayers should continue to file their taxes as normal on Tuesday evening - whether electronically or on paper.</p>
<p>Taxpayers could also ask for six-month extensions, as President Donald Trump did. The White House said on Tuesday that Trump, because of the complexity of his tax returns, would file his by Oct. 15.</p>
<p>Reporting by Eric Beech; Editing by Diane Craft and Chris Reese</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Starbucks Corp ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=SBUX.O" type="external">SBUX.O</a>) turned to long-time leader Howard Schultz on Wednesday to make the case that the U.S. coffee chain accused of racial profiling is committed to offering a "safe space" to customers despite the arrest of two black men in one of its Philadelphia cafes.</p>
<p>Closing 8,000 company-owned cafes on the afternoon of May 29 "to do significant training with our people is just the beginning of what we will do to transform the way we do business and educate our people on unconscious bias," Schultz, Starbucks' co-founder and executive chairman, told CBS This Morning.</p>
<p>He joined CEO Kevin Johnson and other executives for a meeting with Philadelphia clergy and community leaders later in the day.</p>
<p>Schultz's appearance on Wednesday marked his return to the limelight after stepping down as CEO last year. Daily management has been left to Johnson, who lacks his predecessor's experience with social issues and damage control.</p>
<p>"Howard always comes back when they're in trouble," said Robert Passikoff, president of consultancy Brand Keys, referring to Schultz's 2008 return as CEO during the financial crisis.</p>
<p>Starbucks, which prides itself on diversity and inclusiveness, is at the center of a social media storm prompted by a Philadelphia cafe manager's decision to call police on the two men, who had not made a purchase and were waiting on a friend. They were released without charges.</p>
<p>Video of the Philadelphia arrests spawned protests and calls for boycotts at the chain whose U.S. traffic has flattened in recent years because of intense competition.</p> Slideshow (3 Images)
<p>"Race is a very difficult subject to discuss. We learned that three years ago," said Schultz. He was referring to the backlash from Starbucks? 2015 "Race Together" campaign, which aimed to start a conversation on race relations in the wake of high-profile police shootings of several unarmed black men.</p>
<p>Hugh Taft-Morales, president of the national leaders council of the non-profit American Ethical Union, called on the company to help create a "new wave of justice" during the meeting with Schultz and other executives.</p>
<p>Wedbush analyst Nick Setyan said closing 8,000 stores for training on May 29 could result in $5 million to $7 million in lost sales.</p>
<a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=SBUX.O" type="external">Starbucks Corp</a> 59.5 SBUX.O Nasdaq -0.33 (-0.55%) SBUX.O
<p>Starbucks has directed cafe employees to welcome customers, protesters and people who are "visiting for any reason," according to a Monday memo viewed by Reuters, which in particular directed employees to let anyone use restrooms. &#160;&#160;</p>
<p>Reporting by Lisa Baertlein in Los Angeles; Editing by Richard Chang</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>NEW YORK (Reuters) - Federal prosecutors and lawyers for President Donald Trump's personal attorney Michael Cohen have asked a judge to consider several candidates to review whether documents seized from Cohen in FBI raids are protected by attorney-client privilege.</p> U.S. President Donald Trump's personal lawyer Michael Cohen leaves federal court in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., April 16, 2018. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson
<p>While maintaining that their own internal "taint team" could identify such materials, prosecutors proposed on Wednesday that U.S. District Judge Kimba Wood appoint one of three former federal magistrate judges in Manhattan as an independent special master, if she decides one is needed for the task.</p>
<p>Cohen's lawyers, who prefer that a special master review the materials before prosecutors see them, proposed four former federal prosecutors in Manhattan as candidates late on Tuesday.</p>
<p>A lawyer for Trump had argued on Monday that the president deserved first access. Wood denied that request, though Trump's lawyers will get to see materials related to him. The judge has not decided whether to appoint a special master.</p>
<p>Wood's decision on who gets to review boxes, hard drives and electronic equipment taken in the April 9 raid of Cohen's home, office and hotel room will bear on how much prosecutors might learn about Cohen's dealings with clients.</p>
<p>Cohen's lawyers have said those clients include Republican donor Elliott Broidy and conservative Fox News commentator and Trump supporter Sean Hannity.</p>
<p>Many were caught by surprise on Monday when one of Cohen's lawyers revealed Hannity's identity in court. Fox declared its "full support" for Hannity on Tuesday. [nL1N1RT17Q]</p>
<p>The FBI raid was conducted partly on a referral by the Office of Special Counsel Robert Mueller, whose probe of possible collusion between Trump's 2016 presidential campaign and Russia may also threaten Trump's presidency.</p>
<p>Prosecutors proposed the former judges James Francis, Theodore Katz and Frank Maas as special master candidates.</p>
<p>The candidates proposed by Cohen's lawyers were Bart Schwartz, chairman of Guidepost Solutions LLC, and three law firm partners: Joan McPhee of Ropes &amp; Gray, Tai Park of Park Jensen Bennett, and George Canellos of Milbank, Tweed, Hadley &amp; McCloy.</p>
<p>&#160;&#160;&#160; Schwartz previously oversaw insider trading compliance procedures by billionaire Steven A. Cohen's Point72 Asset Management. Canellos is a former co-director of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's enforcement division.</p>
<p>Prosecutors said they expect to begin giving Cohen access to seized materials by April 27, and said both sides would like a May 25 hearing on whether a special master is needed.</p>
<p>Attorney-client privilege shields communications between a lawyer and a client. [nL1N1RN147]</p>
<p>Wood on Monday said a special master "might have a role" to help ensure a "perception of fairness."</p>
<p>Prosecutors revealed last week they have been conducting a criminal investigation into Cohen, largely over his "personal business dealings." [nL1N1RQ0R5]</p>
<p>Cohen has admitted paying $130,000 to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, before the 2016 election to secure her silence about a sexual relationship she said she had with Trump. Daniels has sued to end her nondisclosure agreement.</p>
<p>Prosecutors are investigating Cohen for possible bank and tax fraud, possible campaign law violations in connection with the payment to Daniels, and perhaps other matters related to Trump's campaign, a person familiar with the probe has said.</p>
<p>The case is Cohen v U.S., U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 18-mj-03161.</p>
<p>Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Will Dunham</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
| false | 2 |
washington reuters phones us sexual assault hotlines ringing record numbers metoo social movement spurs victims reach help sending organizations scrambling keep volunteers national sexual assault hotline work phone via web chat offices uss largest antisexual violence organization rape abuse incest national network washington us january 12 2018 reutersjames lawler duggan calls spiked movement began october people waiting three hours talk someone countrys largest one national sexual assault hotline number calls hotline operated rape abuse amp incest national network rainn surged 25 percent november year earlier another 30 percent december according rainn 209480 total calls 2017 year since founding 1993 volunteers national sexual assault hotline work phone via web chat offices uss largest antisexual violence organization rape abuse incest national network washington us january 12 2018 reutersjames lawler duggan last fall actress alyssa milano television show charmed asked women sexually assaulted harassed post response allegations made movie mogul harvey weinstein weinstein accused sexual abuse dozens women denied nonconsensual sexual contact anyone reuters able independently confirm accusations national hotlines call center lights workers flip indicate phone never seemed turn said celia gamboa manager national hotline chat app callers prefer flooded messages said metoo movement almost always came slideshow 2 images wasnt onetime thing gamboa said going continue see type flow future rainn added 40 employees staff 200 stepped volunteer recruiting said ceo scott berkowitz helped chip away wait times said elsewhere network victim recovery dc saw spike calls sexual harassment executive director bridgette stumpf said unfortunately center often recommend private attorneys people whose harassment include violence adding help may expensive many victims dc rape crisis center sees average 70 people week seeking legal physical psychological help 30 40 metoo said executive director indira henard also saw bump donations last fall following metoo postings record books henard said dont believe ever time history talked sexual violence impact way reporting lisa lambert editing scott malone david gregorio standards thomson reuters trust principles singaporeparis reuters global airlines began inspecting boeing 737 engines wednesday investigation gathered pace explosion killed passenger southwest airlines flight first fatal us airline accident almost decade european regulators earlier month ordered checks following lengthy analysis similar nonfatal incident southwest two years ago investigators warn early say whether two problems linked southwest flight 1380 made emergency landing philadelphia tuesday engine ripped apart midair shattering window 737 nearly sucking passenger one 144 passengers died french accident investigators said wednesday sending team assist investigation led washingtonbased national transportation safety board engine developed frenchus joint venture cfm international frances safran coproduces engines along general electric also provide technical support spokesman bea air accident agency added safran shares reversed earlier slight losses close 05 percent line market recent boeing 737s powered engines cfm workhorse global airlines logged 350 million hours safe travel also examined 2016 accident cfm says 8000 cfm567b engines operation boeing 737 passenger jets metal fatigue although cause ruled first fatal us airline accident since 2009 expected focus attention role metal fatigue engine accidents rare early review tuesdays failed southwest engine found preliminary evidence metal fatigue fan blade broken robert sumwalt chairman us national transportation safety board ntsb told reporters tuesday august 2016 southwest flight made safe emergency landing pensacola florida fan blade separated type engine debris ripped footlong hole left wing investigators cited signs metal fatigue concerned ntsbs sumwalt said referring overall challenge detecting slowdeveloping metal fatigue needs proper inspection mechanisms place check theres catastrophic event completing latest investigation take 1215 months said engine checks southwest said speeding inspections related engines expected complete within 30 days person knowledge situation said airline inspecting cfm56 engines instead focusing older ones 400 600 total investigators said tuesday would examining maintenance records airline operates one worlds largest 737 fleets strong safety record 2016 incident prompted us federal aviation administration faa propose ultrasonic inspections similar fan blades replacement needed sumwalt said ntsb would review whether engines involved tuesdays incident might subject directive yet finalised european regulators meanwhile month began requiring inspection early next year following bulletin airlines issued cfm 2016 incident person familiar matter said us regulators close finalizing similar rule korean air lines co ltd said planned carry voluntary inspections engines used entire 737 fleet november 2030 percent 35 boeing 737 jets use type fan blade one southwest jet japan airlines said two 737 jets fleet engines affected fan blades inspections due completed wednesday irelands ryanair europes largest 737 operator said fewer 70 440 planes fitted identical cfm567b engines inspected canada westjet airlines said planned accelerate inspections certain fan blades dubai budget carrier flydubai said implemented european directive ahead deadline us ntsb investigators scene examining damage engine southwest airlines plane image released philadelphia pennsylvania us april 17 2018 ntsbhandout via reuters us faa estimated checks would require two hours per inspection airlines operating 737s affected reporting jamie freed singapore tim hepher paris additional reporting jeffrey dastin david shepardson joyce lee sam nussey byron kaye alwyn scott victoria bryan editing jason neely adrian croft standards thomson reuters trust principles washington reuters us internal revenue service said would give taxpayers additional day file 2017 returns computer problems prevented people filing paying taxes ahead tuesdays midnight deadline taxpayers need anything receive extra time irs said statement announcing extension agency said processing systems back online earlier agency said several systems hit computer glitch including one handles returns filed electronically another accepts online tax payments using bank account irs said believed problem hardware issue factors clear many taxpayers might affected agency said received 5 million tax returns final day filing season last year busiest tax day year irs apologizes inconvenience system issue caused taxpayers acting irs commissioner david kautter said statement general view us internal revenue service irs building washington may 27 2015 reutersjonathan ernst agency said taxpayers continue file taxes normal tuesday evening whether electronically paper taxpayers could also ask sixmonth extensions president donald trump white house said tuesday trump complexity tax returns would file oct 15 reporting eric beech editing diane craft chris reese standards thomson reuters trust principles los angeles reuters starbucks corp sbuxo turned longtime leader howard schultz wednesday make case us coffee chain accused racial profiling committed offering safe space customers despite arrest two black men one philadelphia cafes closing 8000 companyowned cafes afternoon may 29 significant training people beginning transform way business educate people unconscious bias schultz starbucks cofounder executive chairman told cbs morning joined ceo kevin johnson executives meeting philadelphia clergy community leaders later day schultzs appearance wednesday marked return limelight stepping ceo last year daily management left johnson lacks predecessors experience social issues damage control howard always comes back theyre trouble said robert passikoff president consultancy brand keys referring schultzs 2008 return ceo financial crisis starbucks prides diversity inclusiveness center social media storm prompted philadelphia cafe managers decision call police two men made purchase waiting friend released without charges video philadelphia arrests spawned protests calls boycotts chain whose us traffic flattened recent years intense competition slideshow 3 images race difficult subject discuss learned three years ago said schultz referring backlash starbucks 2015 race together campaign aimed start conversation race relations wake highprofile police shootings several unarmed black men hugh taftmorales president national leaders council nonprofit american ethical union called company help create new wave justice meeting schultz executives wedbush analyst nick setyan said closing 8000 stores training may 29 could result 5 million 7 million lost sales starbucks corp 595 sbuxo nasdaq 033 055 sbuxo starbucks directed cafe employees welcome customers protesters people visiting reason according monday memo viewed reuters particular directed employees let anyone use restrooms 160160 reporting lisa baertlein los angeles editing richard chang standards thomson reuters trust principles new york reuters federal prosecutors lawyers president donald trumps personal attorney michael cohen asked judge consider several candidates review whether documents seized cohen fbi raids protected attorneyclient privilege us president donald trumps personal lawyer michael cohen leaves federal court manhattan borough new york city new york us april 16 2018 reuterslucas jackson maintaining internal taint team could identify materials prosecutors proposed wednesday us district judge kimba wood appoint one three former federal magistrate judges manhattan independent special master decides one needed task cohens lawyers prefer special master review materials prosecutors see proposed four former federal prosecutors manhattan candidates late tuesday lawyer trump argued monday president deserved first access wood denied request though trumps lawyers get see materials related judge decided whether appoint special master woods decision gets review boxes hard drives electronic equipment taken april 9 raid cohens home office hotel room bear much prosecutors might learn cohens dealings clients cohens lawyers said clients include republican donor elliott broidy conservative fox news commentator trump supporter sean hannity many caught surprise monday one cohens lawyers revealed hannitys identity court fox declared full support hannity tuesday nl1n1rt17q fbi raid conducted partly referral office special counsel robert mueller whose probe possible collusion trumps 2016 presidential campaign russia may also threaten trumps presidency prosecutors proposed former judges james francis theodore katz frank maas special master candidates candidates proposed cohens lawyers bart schwartz chairman guidepost solutions llc three law firm partners joan mcphee ropes amp gray tai park park jensen bennett george canellos milbank tweed hadley amp mccloy 160160160 schwartz previously oversaw insider trading compliance procedures billionaire steven cohens point72 asset management canellos former codirector us securities exchange commissions enforcement division prosecutors said expect begin giving cohen access seized materials april 27 said sides would like may 25 hearing whether special master needed attorneyclient privilege shields communications lawyer client nl1n1rn147 wood monday said special master might role help ensure perception fairness prosecutors revealed last week conducting criminal investigation cohen largely personal business dealings nl1n1rq0r5 cohen admitted paying 130000 adult film actress stormy daniels whose real name stephanie clifford 2016 election secure silence sexual relationship said trump daniels sued end nondisclosure agreement prosecutors investigating cohen possible bank tax fraud possible campaign law violations connection payment daniels perhaps matters related trumps campaign person familiar probe said case cohen v us us district court southern district new york 18mj03161 reporting jonathan stempel new york editing dunham standards thomson reuters trust principles
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<p>Jan 25 (Reuters) - STMICROELECTRONICS NV:</p>
<p>* CARLO BOZOTTI’S SUCCESSION PLAN ANNOUNCED AT STMICROELECTRONICS</p>
<p>* DEPUTY CEO JEAN-MARC CHERY PROPOSED AS SOLE MEMBER OF THE MANAGING BOARD 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 United States on Thursday took its most notable action against Russia since Donald Trump became president, slapping sanctions on a group of Russian individuals and entities, including Moscow’s intelligence services, for meddling in the 2016 U.S. election and malicious cyber attacks.</p> FILE PHOTO: U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin discusses the Trump administration's tax reform proposal in the White House briefing room in Washington, U.S, April 26, 2017. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File photo
<p>Under pressure to act, the administration still deferred making a move targeting Russian government officials and oligarchs, those closest to Russian President Vladimir Putin.</p>
<p>Thursday’s announcement marked the first time that the U.S. government stated publicly that Russia had attempted to break into the American energy grid, which U.S. security officials have longed warned may be vulnerable to debilitating cyber attacks from hostile adversaries.</p>
<p>Trump has faced fierce criticism in the United States for doing too little to punish Russia for the election meddling and other actions, and a special counsel is looking into whether Trump’s campaign colluded with the Russians, an allegation the president denies.</p>
<p>Combined with the United States joining Britain in blaming Moscow for poisoning a former Russian spy in southern England, the actions represented another plunge in U.S.-Russian relations despite Trump’s stated desire for improved ties.</p> Related Coverage
<a href="/article/us-usa-russia-sanctions-energygrid/trump-administration-blames-russia-for-cyber-attacks-targeting-energy-grid-idUSKCN1GR2G3" type="external">Trump administration blames Russia for cyber attacks targeting energy grid</a>
<a href="/article/us-usa-russia-sanctions-prigozhin/russian-businessman-prigozhin-dismisses-new-u-s-sanctions-ria-idUSKCN1GR2G7" type="external">Russian businessman Prigozhin dismisses new U.S. sanctions: RIA</a>
<a href="/article/us-usa-russia-sanctions-retaliation/russia-to-retaliate-against-new-u-s-sanctions-ifax-cites-deputy-minister-idUSKCN1GR28C" type="external">Russia to retaliate against new U.S sanctions: Ifax cites deputy minister</a>
<p>“The administration is confronting and countering malign Russian cyber activity, including their attempted interference in U.S. elections, destructive cyber-attacks, and intrusions targeting critical infrastructure,” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in announcing the new sanctions.</p>
<p>Trump has frequently questioned a January 2017 finding by U.S. intelligence agencies that Russia interfered in the 2016 campaign using hacking and propaganda in an effort eventually aimed at tilting the race in Trump’s favor. Russia denies interfering in the election.</p>
<p>But Mnuchin was unequivocal in saying that Thursday’s Treasury action “counters Russia’s continuing destabilizing activities, ranging from interference in the 2016 election to conducting destructive cyber-attacks.”</p>
<p>A senior administration official told Reuters that Trump, who campaigned on warmer ties with Putin, has grown exasperated with Russian activity.</p>
<p>The Treasury Department aimed the sanctions at 19 Russian individuals and five groups. Sixteen of the Russian individuals and entities sanctioned were indicted on Feb. 16 as part of Mueller’s criminal investigation. While Trump has frequently called the Russia probe a “witch hunt,” the new sanctions appear to affirm Mueller’s investigative strategy.</p>
<p>Trump told reporters during a White House event with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar that “it certainly looks like the Russians were behind” the use of a nerve agent to attack Sergei Skripal, a former Russian double agent in England. Trump called it “something that should never, ever happen, and we’re taking it very seriously, as I think are many others.”</p> FILE PHOTO: Voters cast their votes during the U.S. presidential election in Elyria, Ohio, U.S. November 8, 2016. REUTERS/Aaron Josefczyk/File Photo
<p>Russian government hackers since at least March 2016 “have also targeted U.S. government entities and multiple U.S. critical infrastructure sectors, including the energy, nuclear, commercial facilities, water, aviation, and critical manufacturing sectors,” a Treasury Department statement said.</p>
<p>A senior administration told reporters on a conference call that Russian actors infiltrated parts of the U.S. energy sector.</p>
<p>“We were able to identify where they were located within those business systems and remove them from those business systems,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.</p> ‘DESTABILIZING ACTIVITIES’
<p>Mnuchin said there would be additional sanctions against Russian government officials and oligarchs “for their destabilizing activities.” Mnuchin did not give a time frame for those sanctions, which he said would sever the individuals’ access to the U.S. financial system.</p>
<p>The new sanctions also include Russian intelligence services, the Federal Security Service (FSB) and Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU), and six individuals working on behalf of the GRU.</p>
<p>Thursday’s action blocks all property of those targeted that is subject to U.S. jurisdiction and prohibits American citizens from engaging in transactions with them.</p>
<p>The Treasury Department said the sanctions were also meant to counter destructive cyber attacks including the NotPetya attack that cost billions of dollars in damage across Europe, Asia and the United States. The United States and Britain last month attributed that attack to the Russian military.</p>
<p>Mueller’s indictment stated that Russians adopted false online personas to push divisive messages, traveled to the United States to collect intelligence and staged political rallies while posing as Americans.</p>
<p>Both Republicans and Democrats in the U.S. Congress, which nearly unanimously passed a new sanctions bill against Russia last summer, had criticized Trump for not punishing Moscow. The Trump administration in January did not announce sanctions against Russia, for now, under the new law.</p>
<p>Republican Ed Royce, chairman of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, welcomed the new sanctions as an important step. “But more must be done,” Royce said in a statement, promising that his committee would “keep pushing to counter Russian aggression.”</p>
<p>The Treasury Department said it would keep pressure on Russia for its ongoing efforts to destabilize Ukraine and occupy the Crimea region, as well as corruption and human rights abuses.</p>
<p>Reporting by Steve Holland and Doina Chiacu; Additional reporting by Warren Strobel and James Oliphant; Editing by Will Dunham</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>NEW YORK (Reuters) - In 2014, as Jonathan Rubin and Ian Laird considered investing in the booming U.S. cannabis industry, they hit a problem: How to value pot start-ups with little verified data on the price of the weed itself?</p> FILE PHOTO: Employees prepare recreational marijuana orders for customers at the MedMen store in West Hollywood, California, U.S., January 2, 2018. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo
<p>While a smoker may know the going retail price for “Strawberry Diesel” or “Buddha’s Sister”, the sector’s wholesale tier still operates much like a black market because of ongoing federal prohibition, despite legalizations in 30 U.S. states and Washington D.C. since the 1990s.</p>
<p>That left Rubin and Laird puzzled on the investment value of a dispensary, a weed farm or a factory making pot-infused candy. The problem spawned a different investment: The founding of New Leaf Data Services LLC, a Stamford, Conn.-based wholesale price data service that fields reporters to take on the steep challenge of cataloguing going rates.</p>
<p>Started three years ago, New Leaf now publishes weekly benchmark spot prices and forecasts on wholesale indoor-, outdoor-, and greenhouse-grown marijuana for 17 regions with legalization laws.</p>
<p>New Leaf makes money from about 350 pot proprietors and other subscribers who buy reports and custom analytics. It has raised money from investors who want exposure to the cannabis sector without the risk of breaking federal law.</p>
<p>The model is roughly based on S&amp;P Global Platts, a firm where Rubin once worked that researches and publishes wholesale prices for crude oil, fuel and other commodities such as metals or agricultural crops.</p>
<p>The task is much harder for pot, and New Leaf’s experience stalking prices sheds light on the murky trade of what might be the fastest-growing U.S. commodity, sold legally and illegally for untold billions of dollars.</p>
<p>Cannabis firms still deal almost exclusively in cash to avoid a paper trail or because they have almost no access to banks and financial services. Because it’s illegal to transport the drug across state lines, prices and available products vary widely in different regions based on whether a state has both medical and recreational markets and the number of licensed dispensaries and producers.</p>
<p>Last week, spot prices for flower in Alaska were $5,496 per lb, while prices in Colorado and Oregon fell to historic lows of $1,008 and $1,166, respectively, according to New Leaf.</p>
<p>(For a graphic on state marijuana laws and price differences, see: <a href="http://tmsnrt.rs/2AFalvZ" type="external">tmsnrt.rs/2AFalvZ</a> )</p>
<p>Legal pot prices are also impacted by supply and demand fluctuations in the illegal market, and the spread between the two can vary.</p>
<p>In California, regulated market prices are more than $1,000 per lb, whereas prices for illegal weed can be as low as $500 per lb, estimated Scott Davies, a California cultivator. Legal market marijuana tends to be more expensive because supplies are more restricted and because it is taxed.</p>
<p>“Consider each state to be a different country when it comes to their laws, amount of licenses issued, what the qualifying conditions are for entry into their medical program, as well as what the political climate and current illicit market looks like,” said Nic Easley, one of New Leaf’s market consultants.</p>
<p>Easley, a disabled veteran of the U.S. Air Force, said he moved to Colorado in 2006 to use cannabis to ease the pain of injuries. He’s one of New Leaf’s team of a dozen price experts who chase down their market data and intelligence through a network of commercial players and cannabis industry groups, such as the Oregon Retailers of Cannabis Association (ORCA). The data suppliers agree to submit weekly prices anonymously and, in exchange, get discounted subscriptions or other services.</p> LEGAL BUT UNDERGROUND
<p>A multi-billion dollar cannabis industry has developed despite federal prohibition, but many executives, farmers and employees are still wary of federal prosecution.</p> FILE PHOTO: A billboard advertising marijuana in advance of the upcoming legalization of recreational marijuana in San Francisco, California, U.S., December 29, 2017. REUTERS/Jim Christie/File Photo
<p>Davies, a farmer in Humboldt County, California - a region renowned for its premium cannabis – said growers have historically done and still do handshake deals with counterparts vouched for by shared acquaintances. Davies sells directly to dispensaries, essentially relying on the rumor mill to set prices.</p>
<p>“It’s all been word-of-mouth, through people we know and trust who are established players,” he said.</p>
<p>But the market in California - which recently legalized recreational use - is evolving rapidly and becoming more like a traditional industry, with buyers and sellers now sometimes meeting at industry events, Davies said.</p>
<p>Market transparency has seen a boost from heightened regulations as authorities in states like Oregon rolled out legal recreational markets, said Casey Houlihan, head of ORCA.</p>
<p>Under the new rules in that state, dispensaries must purchase cannabis from registered producers, who are required to track their sales and report them to the government. Previously, dispensaries could buy more liberally through a medical marijuana program.</p>
<p>The data New Leaf collects is still fairly rough, and the marijuana market has nothing like national benchmark prices or futures contracts common to other legal commodities trades. There’s no real way for businesses to hedge, and price-setting remains largely guesswork, said Josh Richman, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Franklin BioScience, which grows cannabis and manufactures branded products, such as mints, in Colorado, Nevada and Pennsylvania.</p> FILE PHOTO: Different strains of marijuana are seen for sale at Harborside, one of California's largest and oldest dispensaries of medical marijuana, on the first day of legalized recreational marijuana in Oakland, California, U.S., January 1, 2018. REUTERS/Elijah Nouvelage/File Photo
<p>“There isn’t something where I can sell long or short,” he said.</p> BLUE DREAM, GREEN CRACK AND GORILLA GLUE
<p>The retail market is somewhat more transparent, and a pricing service called BDS Analytics runs an online database of more than 140,000 types of pot and pot products. BDS sells pricing and popularity data to retail shop owners.</p>
<p>Roy Bingham, who co-founded BDS Analytics in 2015, is a veteran of the finance and consultancy industries.</p>
<p>“We knew this data is really invaluable for the retail business,” Bingham said. “There are people in this industry who have been in supply chains at Walmart, GNC and other mainstream operations.”</p>
<p>His firm collects point-of-sale data from retailers and lists the details for products such as “Blue Dream” and “Green Crack”.</p>
<p>Joseph Hopkins, co-owner of a dispensary called The Greener Side in Eugene, Oregon, uses the data to deal with suppliers.</p>
<p>“When vendors come in and say they have x, y, z products, I can go back and look at whatever the going rate is for that product,” he said.</p>
<p>Still, the metrics are imperfect. State regulators increasingly perform quality tests to ensure safety, but no one checks to make sure that what someone is selling as “Green Crack” really matches weed branded under the same name elsewhere.</p>
<p>The data show variations in demand for various brand among regions. For example, Blue Dream has reigned as the most popular strain for flower in Colorado and Washington since 2014. But in Oregon, tokers favor a strain known as GG - formerly “Gorilla Glue,” until its purveyors got sued by the makers of the actual glue by the same name.</p>
<p>(This version of the story is refiled to fix typo in the first paragraph.)</p>
<p>Reporting by Chris Prentice; Editing by Simon Webb and Brian Thevenot</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>LONDON (Reuters) - Opponents of President Vladimir Putin used graffiti on Thursday to take an ironic swipe at Russia over the nerve toxin attack on a former double agent.</p> Graffiti sprayed on the pavement near the entrance to the Russian embassy and ambassador's residence in London, Britain, March 15, 2018. REUTERS/Hannah McKay
<p>Britain and Russia have been trading public insults over the use of a Soviet-era nerve agent called Novichok to strike down former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in the English city of Salisbury.</p>
<p>“Dine at the Russian Embassy,” read the white graffiti stenciled onto the pavement near the Russian embassy in London. “Pasta Polonium / Sarin Spaghetti / &amp; Novichokolate / Who knows what we Putin”</p> Slideshow (2 Images)
<p>In response to the attack, Britain has given 23 Russians who it said were spies working under diplomatic cover at the London embassy a week to leave. Russia denies any role in the poisoning and has vowed to retaliate against Britain for the expulsions.</p>
<p>In 2006, green tea laced with radioactive polonium-210 was used to murder ex-KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko, a critic of the Kremlin, in London.</p>
<p>A British inquiry said Putin had probably approved the murder of Litvinenko, though Russia denied any involvement.</p>
<p>Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge; Editing by Kevin Liffey</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>LONDON (Reuters) - Britain, the United States, Germany and France jointly called on Russia on Thursday to explain a military-grade nerve toxin attack in England on a former Russian double agent, which they said threatened Western security.</p>
<p>After the first known offensive use of such a weapon on European soil since World War Two, Britain has pinned the blame on Moscow and given 23 Russians who it said were spies working under diplomatic cover at the London embassy a week to leave.</p>
<p>Moscow has denied any involvement in the poisoning. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused London of behaving in a “boorish” way and suggested this was partly due to the problems Britain faces over its planned exit from the European Union next year.</p>
<p>Russia has refused Britain’s demands to explain how Novichok, a nerve agent first developed by the Soviet military, was used to strike down Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in the southern English city of Salisbury.</p>
<p>“We call on Russia to address all questions related to the attack,” U.S. President Donald Trump, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Theresa May said in their joint statement.</p>
<p>“It is an assault on UK sovereignty,” the leaders said. “It threatens the security of us all.”</p>
<p>While the statement signals a more coordinated response from Britain’s closest allies, it lacked any details about specific measures the West would take if Russia failed to comply.</p> BREACH OF CONVENTION
<p>The Western leaders said the use of the toxin was a clear breach of the Chemical Weapons Convention and international law.</p>
<p>They called on Russia to provide a complete disclosure of the Novichok program to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in The Hague.</p>
<p>Russia has repeatedly asked Britain to supply a sample of the nerve agent. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said neither Russia nor the Soviet Union had run a program to develop Novichok.</p>
<p>Separately, Washington on Thursday slapped sanctions on two of Russia’s biggest intelligence agencies, the Federal Security Service (FSB) and the GRU military intelligence service, in response to Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election and malicious cyber attacks.</p> Security cameras are seen, and a flag flies outside the consular section of Russia's embassy in London, Britain, March 15, 2018. REUTERS/Hannah McKay
<p>Skripal, a former colonel in the GRU who betrayed dozens of Russian agents to British intelligence, and his daughter have been critically ill since March 4, when they were found unconscious on a bench in Salisbury, an elegant cathedral city.</p>
<p>A British policeman who was also poisoned when he went to help them is in a serious but stable condition.</p>
<p>May has directly accused President Vladimir Putin, poised to win a fourth term in an election on Sunday, of being behind the attack. In Washington, Trump said: “It looks like the Russians were behind it.”</p> Slideshow (10 Images) LOST INFLUENCE
<p>Putin, who took over as Kremlin chief from Boris Yeltsin on the last day of 1999, has tried to claw back some of the clout that Moscow lost when the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. He says the West has repeatedly tried to undermine Russia.</p>
<p>Lavrov said Russia would respond “very soon” to Britain’s decision to expel 23 Russian diplomats. Putin discussed relations with Britain at a meeting of Russia’s Security Council.</p>
<p>Skripal, who was turned by Britain’s MI6 agency while serving in Spain, was arrested in Moscow in 2004 and convicted in 2006 of treason. But in 2010 he was given refuge in Britain after being exchanged for Russian spies.</p>
<p>May on Thursday visited Salisbury, a normally sedate city where police investigators in chemical protection suits and the army have been collecting evidence of the poisoning.</p> Related Coverage
<a href="/article/us-britain-russia-may-salisbury/uk-pm-may-visits-city-where-russian-double-agent-was-poisoned-idUSKCN1GR1TH" type="external">UK PM May visits city where Russian double agent was poisoned</a>
<a href="/article/us-britian-russia-france/after-hesitancy-france-backs-britain-over-russian-role-in-attack-idUSKCN1GR144" type="external">After hesitancy, France backs Britain over Russian role in attack</a>
<a href="/article/us-britain-russia-moscow-reaction/russia-calls-british-pms-allegations-over-poisoning-insane-idUSKCN1GR0XC" type="external">Russia calls British PM's allegations over poisoning 'insane'</a>
<p>NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Britain could count on NATO’s solidarity, but that it had not invoked the alliance’s mutual defense clause.</p>
<p>In London, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson defended the government’s response and suggested the authorities might also go after assets held in Britain by Russians close to Putin, though he gave no specific details.</p>
<p>Lavrov suggested that the poisoning might have motivated by a desire to complicate Russia’s hosting of this summer’s soccer World Cup.</p>
<p>In a sign of just how tense relations have become, British Defence Secretary said: “Russia should go away, it should shut up.”</p>
<p>Additional reporting by Elizabeth Piper, Michael Holden, Elisabeth O'Leary and Costas Pitas in London and Edinburgh, William James in Salisbury, England; Robin Emmott in Brussels; Denis Pinchuk and Andrew Osborn in Moscow; and Steve Holland, James Oliphant and Doina Chiacu in Washington; Writing by Guy Faulconbridge; editing by Gareth Jones</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
| false | 2 |
jan 25 reuters stmicroelectronics nv carlo bozottis succession plan announced stmicroelectronics deputy ceo jeanmarc chery proposed sole member managing board source text eikon company coverage gdynia newsroom standards thomson reuters trust principles washington reuters united states thursday took notable action russia since donald trump became president slapping sanctions group russian individuals entities including moscows intelligence services meddling 2016 us election malicious cyber attacks file photo us secretary treasury steven mnuchin discusses trump administrations tax reform proposal white house briefing room washington us april 26 2017 reuterscarlos barriafile photo pressure act administration still deferred making move targeting russian government officials oligarchs closest russian president vladimir putin thursdays announcement marked first time us government stated publicly russia attempted break american energy grid us security officials longed warned may vulnerable debilitating cyber attacks hostile adversaries trump faced fierce criticism united states little punish russia election meddling actions special counsel looking whether trumps campaign colluded russians allegation president denies combined united states joining britain blaming moscow poisoning former russian spy southern england actions represented another plunge usrussian relations despite trumps stated desire improved ties related coverage trump administration blames russia cyber attacks targeting energy grid russian businessman prigozhin dismisses new us sanctions ria russia retaliate new us sanctions ifax cites deputy minister administration confronting countering malign russian cyber activity including attempted interference us elections destructive cyberattacks intrusions targeting critical infrastructure treasury secretary steven mnuchin said announcing new sanctions trump frequently questioned january 2017 finding us intelligence agencies russia interfered 2016 campaign using hacking propaganda effort eventually aimed tilting race trumps favor russia denies interfering election mnuchin unequivocal saying thursdays treasury action counters russias continuing destabilizing activities ranging interference 2016 election conducting destructive cyberattacks senior administration official told reuters trump campaigned warmer ties putin grown exasperated russian activity treasury department aimed sanctions 19 russian individuals five groups sixteen russian individuals entities sanctioned indicted feb 16 part muellers criminal investigation trump frequently called russia probe witch hunt new sanctions appear affirm muellers investigative strategy trump told reporters white house event irish prime minister leo varadkar certainly looks like russians behind use nerve agent attack sergei skripal former russian double agent england trump called something never ever happen taking seriously think many others file photo voters cast votes us presidential election elyria ohio us november 8 2016 reutersaaron josefczykfile photo russian government hackers since least march 2016 also targeted us government entities multiple us critical infrastructure sectors including energy nuclear commercial facilities water aviation critical manufacturing sectors treasury department statement said senior administration told reporters conference call russian actors infiltrated parts us energy sector able identify located within business systems remove business systems official said speaking condition anonymity destabilizing activities mnuchin said would additional sanctions russian government officials oligarchs destabilizing activities mnuchin give time frame sanctions said would sever individuals access us financial system new sanctions also include russian intelligence services federal security service fsb main intelligence directorate gru six individuals working behalf gru thursdays action blocks property targeted subject us jurisdiction prohibits american citizens engaging transactions treasury department said sanctions also meant counter destructive cyber attacks including notpetya attack cost billions dollars damage across europe asia united states united states britain last month attributed attack russian military muellers indictment stated russians adopted false online personas push divisive messages traveled united states collect intelligence staged political rallies posing americans republicans democrats us congress nearly unanimously passed new sanctions bill russia last summer criticized trump punishing moscow trump administration january announce sanctions russia new law republican ed royce chairman house representatives foreign affairs committee welcomed new sanctions important step must done royce said statement promising committee would keep pushing counter russian aggression treasury department said would keep pressure russia ongoing efforts destabilize ukraine occupy crimea region well corruption human rights abuses reporting steve holland doina chiacu additional reporting warren strobel james oliphant editing dunham standards thomson reuters trust principles new york reuters 2014 jonathan rubin ian laird considered investing booming us cannabis industry hit problem value pot startups little verified data price weed file photo employees prepare recreational marijuana orders customers medmen store west hollywood california us january 2 2018 reuterslucy nicholsonfile photo smoker may know going retail price strawberry diesel buddhas sister sectors wholesale tier still operates much like black market ongoing federal prohibition despite legalizations 30 us states washington dc since 1990s left rubin laird puzzled investment value dispensary weed farm factory making potinfused candy problem spawned different investment founding new leaf data services llc stamford connbased wholesale price data service fields reporters take steep challenge cataloguing going rates started three years ago new leaf publishes weekly benchmark spot prices forecasts wholesale indoor outdoor greenhousegrown marijuana 17 regions legalization laws new leaf makes money 350 pot proprietors subscribers buy reports custom analytics raised money investors want exposure cannabis sector without risk breaking federal law model roughly based sampp global platts firm rubin worked researches publishes wholesale prices crude oil fuel commodities metals agricultural crops task much harder pot new leafs experience stalking prices sheds light murky trade might fastestgrowing us commodity sold legally illegally untold billions dollars cannabis firms still deal almost exclusively cash avoid paper trail almost access banks financial services illegal transport drug across state lines prices available products vary widely different regions based whether state medical recreational markets number licensed dispensaries producers last week spot prices flower alaska 5496 per lb prices colorado oregon fell historic lows 1008 1166 respectively according new leaf graphic state marijuana laws price differences see tmsnrtrs2afalvz legal pot prices also impacted supply demand fluctuations illegal market spread two vary california regulated market prices 1000 per lb whereas prices illegal weed low 500 per lb estimated scott davies california cultivator legal market marijuana tends expensive supplies restricted taxed consider state different country comes laws amount licenses issued qualifying conditions entry medical program well political climate current illicit market looks like said nic easley one new leafs market consultants easley disabled veteran us air force said moved colorado 2006 use cannabis ease pain injuries hes one new leafs team dozen price experts chase market data intelligence network commercial players cannabis industry groups oregon retailers cannabis association orca data suppliers agree submit weekly prices anonymously exchange get discounted subscriptions services legal underground multibillion dollar cannabis industry developed despite federal prohibition many executives farmers employees still wary federal prosecution file photo billboard advertising marijuana advance upcoming legalization recreational marijuana san francisco california us december 29 2017 reutersjim christiefile photo davies farmer humboldt county california region renowned premium cannabis said growers historically done still handshake deals counterparts vouched shared acquaintances davies sells directly dispensaries essentially relying rumor mill set prices wordofmouth people know trust established players said market california recently legalized recreational use evolving rapidly becoming like traditional industry buyers sellers sometimes meeting industry events davies said market transparency seen boost heightened regulations authorities states like oregon rolled legal recreational markets said casey houlihan head orca new rules state dispensaries must purchase cannabis registered producers required track sales report government previously dispensaries could buy liberally medical marijuana program data new leaf collects still fairly rough marijuana market nothing like national benchmark prices futures contracts common legal commodities trades theres real way businesses hedge pricesetting remains largely guesswork said josh richman senior vice president sales marketing franklin bioscience grows cannabis manufactures branded products mints colorado nevada pennsylvania file photo different strains marijuana seen sale harborside one californias largest oldest dispensaries medical marijuana first day legalized recreational marijuana oakland california us january 1 2018 reuterselijah nouvelagefile photo isnt something sell long short said blue dream green crack gorilla glue retail market somewhat transparent pricing service called bds analytics runs online database 140000 types pot pot products bds sells pricing popularity data retail shop owners roy bingham cofounded bds analytics 2015 veteran finance consultancy industries knew data really invaluable retail business bingham said people industry supply chains walmart gnc mainstream operations firm collects pointofsale data retailers lists details products blue dream green crack joseph hopkins coowner dispensary called greener side eugene oregon uses data deal suppliers vendors come say x z products go back look whatever going rate product said still metrics imperfect state regulators increasingly perform quality tests ensure safety one checks make sure someone selling green crack really matches weed branded name elsewhere data show variations demand various brand among regions example blue dream reigned popular strain flower colorado washington since 2014 oregon tokers favor strain known gg formerly gorilla glue purveyors got sued makers actual glue name version story refiled fix typo first paragraph reporting chris prentice editing simon webb brian thevenot standards thomson reuters trust principles london reuters opponents president vladimir putin used graffiti thursday take ironic swipe russia nerve toxin attack former double agent graffiti sprayed pavement near entrance russian embassy ambassadors residence london britain march 15 2018 reutershannah mckay britain russia trading public insults use sovietera nerve agent called novichok strike former russian double agent sergei skripal daughter yulia english city salisbury dine russian embassy read white graffiti stenciled onto pavement near russian embassy london pasta polonium sarin spaghetti amp novichokolate knows putin slideshow 2 images response attack britain given 23 russians said spies working diplomatic cover london embassy week leave russia denies role poisoning vowed retaliate britain expulsions 2006 green tea laced radioactive polonium210 used murder exkgb agent alexander litvinenko critic kremlin london british inquiry said putin probably approved murder litvinenko though russia denied involvement reporting guy faulconbridge editing kevin liffey standards thomson reuters trust principles london reuters britain united states germany france jointly called russia thursday explain militarygrade nerve toxin attack england former russian double agent said threatened western security first known offensive use weapon european soil since world war two britain pinned blame moscow given 23 russians said spies working diplomatic cover london embassy week leave moscow denied involvement poisoning foreign minister sergei lavrov accused london behaving boorish way suggested partly due problems britain faces planned exit european union next year russia refused britains demands explain novichok nerve agent first developed soviet military used strike sergei skripal daughter yulia southern english city salisbury call russia address questions related attack us president donald trump german chancellor angela merkel french president emmanuel macron british prime minister theresa may said joint statement assault uk sovereignty leaders said threatens security us statement signals coordinated response britains closest allies lacked details specific measures west would take russia failed comply breach convention western leaders said use toxin clear breach chemical weapons convention international law called russia provide complete disclosure novichok program organisation prohibition chemical weapons opcw hague russia repeatedly asked britain supply sample nerve agent deputy foreign minister sergei ryabkov said neither russia soviet union run program develop novichok separately washington thursday slapped sanctions two russias biggest intelligence agencies federal security service fsb gru military intelligence service response russian meddling 2016 presidential election malicious cyber attacks security cameras seen flag flies outside consular section russias embassy london britain march 15 2018 reutershannah mckay skripal former colonel gru betrayed dozens russian agents british intelligence daughter critically ill since march 4 found unconscious bench salisbury elegant cathedral city british policeman also poisoned went help serious stable condition may directly accused president vladimir putin poised win fourth term election sunday behind attack washington trump said looks like russians behind slideshow 10 images lost influence putin took kremlin chief boris yeltsin last day 1999 tried claw back clout moscow lost soviet union collapsed 1991 says west repeatedly tried undermine russia lavrov said russia would respond soon britains decision expel 23 russian diplomats putin discussed relations britain meeting russias security council skripal turned britains mi6 agency serving spain arrested moscow 2004 convicted 2006 treason 2010 given refuge britain exchanged russian spies may thursday visited salisbury normally sedate city police investigators chemical protection suits army collecting evidence poisoning related coverage uk pm may visits city russian double agent poisoned hesitancy france backs britain russian role attack russia calls british pms allegations poisoning insane nato secretarygeneral jens stoltenberg said britain could count natos solidarity invoked alliances mutual defense clause london foreign secretary boris johnson defended governments response suggested authorities might also go assets held britain russians close putin though gave specific details lavrov suggested poisoning might motivated desire complicate russias hosting summers soccer world cup sign tense relations become british defence secretary said russia go away shut additional reporting elizabeth piper michael holden elisabeth oleary costas pitas london edinburgh william james salisbury england robin emmott brussels denis pinchuk andrew osborn moscow steve holland james oliphant doina chiacu washington writing guy faulconbridge editing gareth jones standards thomson reuters trust principles
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<p>WASHINGTON (AP) — In bountiful tweets and self-praise, President Donald Trump plays up "tremendous progress" in improving care for veterans in his first year. His claims fall short of reality.</p>
<p>Trump's initiatives have yet to show meaningful impact, and his campaign promises of expanding access to doctors and adding mental health specialists are unfulfilled.</p>
<p>Several of the 2017 accomplishments highlighted in a Trump tweet this week are largely symbolic — proclamations routinely signed by presidents or initiatives that haven't taken full effect or were later acknowledged by the Department of Veterans Affairs to be largely unneeded. In the meantime, wait times for veterans seeking treatment at VA medical centers haven't improved much, as Congress remains deadlocked over a long-term fix aimed at expanding access to doctors, in part due to rising costs.</p>
<p>The VA also admits it fell short of adding 1,000 new mental health professionals last year, even after Trump singled out mental health as especially in need of attention during the campaign and pledged a hiring surge.</p>
<p>Trump speaks often about his commitment to veterans, a group that backed him by nearly 2-to-1 over Democrat Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election.</p>
<p>A look at his rhetoric on veterans and White House statements marking his first year in office:</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>TRUMP: "We will not rest until all of America's GREAT VETERANS can receive the care they so richly deserve. Tremendous progress has been made in a short period of time." — tweet Tuesday, with an Instagram video describing eight accomplishments that show Trump is "fighting for our veterans."</p>
<p />
<p>THE FACTS: The video with catchy music overstates the impact of these steps.</p>
<p>Of the eight achievements cited, two are ceremonial proclamations recognizing National Veterans and Military Families Month and National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.</p>
<p>Two are pieces of legislation that extended the troubled Veterans Choice program on a temporary basis. This became necessary because the Trump administration repeatedly miscalculated the amount of taxpayer dollars available to pay for care from private doctors outside the VA system when veterans had to endure long waits for treatment at VA medical centers. The department's poor budget planning caught lawmakers off guard.</p>
<p>A fifth claim involves "telehealth," a step letting doctors practice medicine across state lines using digital technology. Announced in August, it has yet to take full effect because a proposed VA regulation hasn't been completed. The VA wants authority to practice across state lines to come from legislation, not a regulation. On Wednesday, the Senate approved a telehealth measure that now goes to the House.</p>
<p>A sixth claim refers to legislation that streamlines the appeals process for disability compensation claims within the VA. This step has had limited impact so far because it applies to new disability claims, not the 470,000 pending claims.</p>
<p>The other two initiatives mentioned make it easier for the VA to discipline employees. The department has pointed to more than 1,300 employees who have been fired under Trump's watch. Because their infractions are not detailed in public documents, the impact on veterans' care is not fully known.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>TRUMP: "The VA was a mess." Before, "you couldn't fire anybody at the VA, if they were sadists, if they were horrible people. ... Now we look at them, they're no good — we say, 'You're fired. Get out of here.'" — Dec. 8 rally in Pensacola, Florida.</p>
<p>THE FACTS: It's wrong to say VA employees were never fired before Trump took office. In fact, more were fired in President Barack Obama's last budget year than in Trump's first.</p>
<p>In fiscal 2017, covering Obama's last three months and Trump's first nine months, 2,061 VA employees were removed for discipline or performance. About 1,419 firings took place since January 2017, when Trump took office, to present. That's down from 2,662 in the previous fiscal year, according to Office of Personnel Management information on the agency's data archive FedScope.</p>
<p>However, it's true that it often took longer for terminations to become final under an appeals process that has been shortened under Trump. Because a new accountability law making it easier to fire VA employees did not take effect until late June 2017, about 500 of the firings last year occurred under the former appeals system, which remains in place at other federal agencies. The new law shortens the length of time to challenge a disciplinary action and lowers the burden of proof needed to fire VA employees.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>TRUMP: "Why would smart voters want to put Democrats in Congress in 2018 Election ... People are much better off now not to mention ISIS, VA ..." — Dec. 31 tweet.</p>
<p>THE FACTS: He's entitled to his politics, but the tweet masks the fact that each veterans' bill signed into law by Trump won approval with strong support from Democrats as well as Republicans.</p>
<p>House Democrats did block one VA Choice emergency funding bill after major veterans groups complained it focused too much on private care without also investing in core VA programs. The bill was revised to add the money, was overwhelmingly approved and was signed by Trump on Aug. 12.</p>
<p>The bipartisan display began with David Shulkin, a holdover from the Obama administration confirmed unanimously by the Senate to serve as VA secretary in February. Trump calls Shulkin the "100-to-nothing man" because of that vote, since he is the only Trump Cabinet member to achieve that.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>WHITE HOUSE: "Secretary Shulkin has expanded access to urgent mental health care to former service members with other-than-honorable discharges." — Nov. 9 press release.</p>
<p>THE FACTS: This claim glosses over VA's difficulty in hiring mental health professionals and providing counseling support to higher-risk veterans, due in part to a tightening VA budget. Trump cited mental health care as a top priority for fixing VA during the presidential campaign and pledged a hiring surge. But the VA only netted about 258 new personnel as of late November, far below the 1,000 additional mental-health specialists it had targeted for 2017.</p>
<p>In March, Shulkin announced an initiative to expand urgent mental health care to those with other-than-honorable discharges with much fanfare, but soon after, he revealed he wouldn't be asking Congress for additional money to pay for it. The program provides mostly emergency care, something that had been offered already to any veteran, not preventive services.</p>
<p>To reduce suicide rates, VA is seeking to establish "telehealth" hubs in rural areas to provide veterans with mental health assistance. It has launched a new predictive model to analyze veterans' health records to identify those at risk. Roughly 20 veterans take their lives each day.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>WHITE HOUSE: "President Trump signed the VA Choice and Quality Employment Act of 2017 to authorize $2.1 billion in additional funds for the Veterans Choice Program." — Dec. 22 press release.</p>
<p>THE FACTS: The money was quickly used up. Weeks after Congress approved the $2.1 billion in emergency funding to keep the VA Choice private-care program running, the VA acknowledged in September the program would again run out of money earlier than expected. The VA asked Congress to approve a long-term fix to its VA Choice program that could cost as much as $54 billion over five years, but divided lawmakers in December decided instead to approve another stopgap measure of $2.1 billion, punting the bigger issues until later.</p>
<p>The delay means that a larger overhaul of VA Choice — which Shulkin says will help significantly reduce wait times at VA medical centers — isn't likely to be fully implemented until 2019 or later.</p>
<p>The VA Choice program was put in place after a 2014 wait-time scandal that was discovered at the Phoenix VA hospital and elsewhere throughout the country. Veterans waited weeks or months for appointments while phony records covered up the lengthy waits. The program allows veterans to go to private doctors if they endure long waits for VA appointments, but it has suffered extended wait times of its own.</p>
<p>Last year, Shulkin said veterans were waiting more than 60 days for new appointments in about 30 VA locations nationwide.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Associated Press writer Calvin Woodward contributed to this report.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Find AP Fact Checks at http://apne.ws/2kbx8bd</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Follow Hope Yen on Twitter at https://twitter.com/hopeyen1</p>
<p>WASHINGTON (AP) — In bountiful tweets and self-praise, President Donald Trump plays up "tremendous progress" in improving care for veterans in his first year. His claims fall short of reality.</p>
<p>Trump's initiatives have yet to show meaningful impact, and his campaign promises of expanding access to doctors and adding mental health specialists are unfulfilled.</p>
<p>Several of the 2017 accomplishments highlighted in a Trump tweet this week are largely symbolic — proclamations routinely signed by presidents or initiatives that haven't taken full effect or were later acknowledged by the Department of Veterans Affairs to be largely unneeded. In the meantime, wait times for veterans seeking treatment at VA medical centers haven't improved much, as Congress remains deadlocked over a long-term fix aimed at expanding access to doctors, in part due to rising costs.</p>
<p>The VA also admits it fell short of adding 1,000 new mental health professionals last year, even after Trump singled out mental health as especially in need of attention during the campaign and pledged a hiring surge.</p>
<p>Trump speaks often about his commitment to veterans, a group that backed him by nearly 2-to-1 over Democrat Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election.</p>
<p>A look at his rhetoric on veterans and White House statements marking his first year in office:</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>TRUMP: "We will not rest until all of America's GREAT VETERANS can receive the care they so richly deserve. Tremendous progress has been made in a short period of time." — tweet Tuesday, with an Instagram video describing eight accomplishments that show Trump is "fighting for our veterans."</p>
<p />
<p>THE FACTS: The video with catchy music overstates the impact of these steps.</p>
<p>Of the eight achievements cited, two are ceremonial proclamations recognizing National Veterans and Military Families Month and National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.</p>
<p>Two are pieces of legislation that extended the troubled Veterans Choice program on a temporary basis. This became necessary because the Trump administration repeatedly miscalculated the amount of taxpayer dollars available to pay for care from private doctors outside the VA system when veterans had to endure long waits for treatment at VA medical centers. The department's poor budget planning caught lawmakers off guard.</p>
<p>A fifth claim involves "telehealth," a step letting doctors practice medicine across state lines using digital technology. Announced in August, it has yet to take full effect because a proposed VA regulation hasn't been completed. The VA wants authority to practice across state lines to come from legislation, not a regulation. On Wednesday, the Senate approved a telehealth measure that now goes to the House.</p>
<p>A sixth claim refers to legislation that streamlines the appeals process for disability compensation claims within the VA. This step has had limited impact so far because it applies to new disability claims, not the 470,000 pending claims.</p>
<p>The other two initiatives mentioned make it easier for the VA to discipline employees. The department has pointed to more than 1,300 employees who have been fired under Trump's watch. Because their infractions are not detailed in public documents, the impact on veterans' care is not fully known.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>TRUMP: "The VA was a mess." Before, "you couldn't fire anybody at the VA, if they were sadists, if they were horrible people. ... Now we look at them, they're no good — we say, 'You're fired. Get out of here.'" — Dec. 8 rally in Pensacola, Florida.</p>
<p>THE FACTS: It's wrong to say VA employees were never fired before Trump took office. In fact, more were fired in President Barack Obama's last budget year than in Trump's first.</p>
<p>In fiscal 2017, covering Obama's last three months and Trump's first nine months, 2,061 VA employees were removed for discipline or performance. About 1,419 firings took place since January 2017, when Trump took office, to present. That's down from 2,662 in the previous fiscal year, according to Office of Personnel Management information on the agency's data archive FedScope.</p>
<p>However, it's true that it often took longer for terminations to become final under an appeals process that has been shortened under Trump. Because a new accountability law making it easier to fire VA employees did not take effect until late June 2017, about 500 of the firings last year occurred under the former appeals system, which remains in place at other federal agencies. The new law shortens the length of time to challenge a disciplinary action and lowers the burden of proof needed to fire VA employees.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>TRUMP: "Why would smart voters want to put Democrats in Congress in 2018 Election ... People are much better off now not to mention ISIS, VA ..." — Dec. 31 tweet.</p>
<p>THE FACTS: He's entitled to his politics, but the tweet masks the fact that each veterans' bill signed into law by Trump won approval with strong support from Democrats as well as Republicans.</p>
<p>House Democrats did block one VA Choice emergency funding bill after major veterans groups complained it focused too much on private care without also investing in core VA programs. The bill was revised to add the money, was overwhelmingly approved and was signed by Trump on Aug. 12.</p>
<p>The bipartisan display began with David Shulkin, a holdover from the Obama administration confirmed unanimously by the Senate to serve as VA secretary in February. Trump calls Shulkin the "100-to-nothing man" because of that vote, since he is the only Trump Cabinet member to achieve that.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>WHITE HOUSE: "Secretary Shulkin has expanded access to urgent mental health care to former service members with other-than-honorable discharges." — Nov. 9 press release.</p>
<p>THE FACTS: This claim glosses over VA's difficulty in hiring mental health professionals and providing counseling support to higher-risk veterans, due in part to a tightening VA budget. Trump cited mental health care as a top priority for fixing VA during the presidential campaign and pledged a hiring surge. But the VA only netted about 258 new personnel as of late November, far below the 1,000 additional mental-health specialists it had targeted for 2017.</p>
<p>In March, Shulkin announced an initiative to expand urgent mental health care to those with other-than-honorable discharges with much fanfare, but soon after, he revealed he wouldn't be asking Congress for additional money to pay for it. The program provides mostly emergency care, something that had been offered already to any veteran, not preventive services.</p>
<p>To reduce suicide rates, VA is seeking to establish "telehealth" hubs in rural areas to provide veterans with mental health assistance. It has launched a new predictive model to analyze veterans' health records to identify those at risk. Roughly 20 veterans take their lives each day.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>WHITE HOUSE: "President Trump signed the VA Choice and Quality Employment Act of 2017 to authorize $2.1 billion in additional funds for the Veterans Choice Program." — Dec. 22 press release.</p>
<p>THE FACTS: The money was quickly used up. Weeks after Congress approved the $2.1 billion in emergency funding to keep the VA Choice private-care program running, the VA acknowledged in September the program would again run out of money earlier than expected. The VA asked Congress to approve a long-term fix to its VA Choice program that could cost as much as $54 billion over five years, but divided lawmakers in December decided instead to approve another stopgap measure of $2.1 billion, punting the bigger issues until later.</p>
<p>The delay means that a larger overhaul of VA Choice — which Shulkin says will help significantly reduce wait times at VA medical centers — isn't likely to be fully implemented until 2019 or later.</p>
<p>The VA Choice program was put in place after a 2014 wait-time scandal that was discovered at the Phoenix VA hospital and elsewhere throughout the country. Veterans waited weeks or months for appointments while phony records covered up the lengthy waits. The program allows veterans to go to private doctors if they endure long waits for VA appointments, but it has suffered extended wait times of its own.</p>
<p>Last year, Shulkin said veterans were waiting more than 60 days for new appointments in about 30 VA locations nationwide.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Associated Press writer Calvin Woodward contributed to this report.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Find AP Fact Checks at http://apne.ws/2kbx8bd</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Follow Hope Yen on Twitter at https://twitter.com/hopeyen1</p>
| false | 2 |
washington ap bountiful tweets selfpraise president donald trump plays tremendous progress improving care veterans first year claims fall short reality trumps initiatives yet show meaningful impact campaign promises expanding access doctors adding mental health specialists unfulfilled several 2017 accomplishments highlighted trump tweet week largely symbolic proclamations routinely signed presidents initiatives havent taken full effect later acknowledged department veterans affairs largely unneeded meantime wait times veterans seeking treatment va medical centers havent improved much congress remains deadlocked longterm fix aimed expanding access doctors part due rising costs va also admits fell short adding 1000 new mental health professionals last year even trump singled mental health especially need attention campaign pledged hiring surge trump speaks often commitment veterans group backed nearly 2to1 democrat hillary clinton 2016 election look rhetoric veterans white house statements marking first year office ___ trump rest americas great veterans receive care richly deserve tremendous progress made short period time tweet tuesday instagram video describing eight accomplishments show trump fighting veterans facts video catchy music overstates impact steps eight achievements cited two ceremonial proclamations recognizing national veterans military families month national pearl harbor remembrance day two pieces legislation extended troubled veterans choice program temporary basis became necessary trump administration repeatedly miscalculated amount taxpayer dollars available pay care private doctors outside va system veterans endure long waits treatment va medical centers departments poor budget planning caught lawmakers guard fifth claim involves telehealth step letting doctors practice medicine across state lines using digital technology announced august yet take full effect proposed va regulation hasnt completed va wants authority practice across state lines come legislation regulation wednesday senate approved telehealth measure goes house sixth claim refers legislation streamlines appeals process disability compensation claims within va step limited impact far applies new disability claims 470000 pending claims two initiatives mentioned make easier va discipline employees department pointed 1300 employees fired trumps watch infractions detailed public documents impact veterans care fully known ___ trump va mess couldnt fire anybody va sadists horrible people look theyre good say youre fired get dec 8 rally pensacola florida facts wrong say va employees never fired trump took office fact fired president barack obamas last budget year trumps first fiscal 2017 covering obamas last three months trumps first nine months 2061 va employees removed discipline performance 1419 firings took place since january 2017 trump took office present thats 2662 previous fiscal year according office personnel management information agencys data archive fedscope however true often took longer terminations become final appeals process shortened trump new accountability law making easier fire va employees take effect late june 2017 500 firings last year occurred former appeals system remains place federal agencies new law shortens length time challenge disciplinary action lowers burden proof needed fire va employees ___ trump would smart voters want put democrats congress 2018 election people much better mention isis va dec 31 tweet facts hes entitled politics tweet masks fact veterans bill signed law trump approval strong support democrats well republicans house democrats block one va choice emergency funding bill major veterans groups complained focused much private care without also investing core va programs bill revised add money overwhelmingly approved signed trump aug 12 bipartisan display began david shulkin holdover obama administration confirmed unanimously senate serve va secretary february trump calls shulkin 100tonothing man vote since trump cabinet member achieve ___ white house secretary shulkin expanded access urgent mental health care former service members otherthanhonorable discharges nov 9 press release facts claim glosses vas difficulty hiring mental health professionals providing counseling support higherrisk veterans due part tightening va budget trump cited mental health care top priority fixing va presidential campaign pledged hiring surge va netted 258 new personnel late november far 1000 additional mentalhealth specialists targeted 2017 march shulkin announced initiative expand urgent mental health care otherthanhonorable discharges much fanfare soon revealed wouldnt asking congress additional money pay program provides mostly emergency care something offered already veteran preventive services reduce suicide rates va seeking establish telehealth hubs rural areas provide veterans mental health assistance launched new predictive model analyze veterans health records identify risk roughly 20 veterans take lives day ___ white house president trump signed va choice quality employment act 2017 authorize 21 billion additional funds veterans choice program dec 22 press release facts money quickly used weeks congress approved 21 billion emergency funding keep va choice privatecare program running va acknowledged september program would run money earlier expected va asked congress approve longterm fix va choice program could cost much 54 billion five years divided lawmakers december decided instead approve another stopgap measure 21 billion punting bigger issues later delay means larger overhaul va choice shulkin says help significantly reduce wait times va medical centers isnt likely fully implemented 2019 later va choice program put place 2014 waittime scandal discovered phoenix va hospital elsewhere throughout country veterans waited weeks months appointments phony records covered lengthy waits program allows veterans go private doctors endure long waits va appointments suffered extended wait times last year shulkin said veterans waiting 60 days new appointments 30 va locations nationwide ___ associated press writer calvin woodward contributed report ___ find ap fact checks httpapnews2kbx8bd ___ follow hope yen twitter httpstwittercomhopeyen1 washington ap bountiful tweets selfpraise president donald trump plays tremendous progress improving care veterans first year claims fall short reality trumps initiatives yet show meaningful impact campaign promises expanding access doctors adding mental health specialists unfulfilled several 2017 accomplishments highlighted trump tweet week largely symbolic proclamations routinely signed presidents initiatives havent taken full effect later acknowledged department veterans affairs largely unneeded meantime wait times veterans seeking treatment va medical centers havent improved much congress remains deadlocked longterm fix aimed expanding access doctors part due rising costs va also admits fell short adding 1000 new mental health professionals last year even trump singled mental health especially need attention campaign pledged hiring surge trump speaks often commitment veterans group backed nearly 2to1 democrat hillary clinton 2016 election look rhetoric veterans white house statements marking first year office ___ trump rest americas great veterans receive care richly deserve tremendous progress made short period time tweet tuesday instagram video describing eight accomplishments show trump fighting veterans facts video catchy music overstates impact steps eight achievements cited two ceremonial proclamations recognizing national veterans military families month national pearl harbor remembrance day two pieces legislation extended troubled veterans choice program temporary basis became necessary trump administration repeatedly miscalculated amount taxpayer dollars available pay care private doctors outside va system veterans endure long waits treatment va medical centers departments poor budget planning caught lawmakers guard fifth claim involves telehealth step letting doctors practice medicine across state lines using digital technology announced august yet take full effect proposed va regulation hasnt completed va wants authority practice across state lines come legislation regulation wednesday senate approved telehealth measure goes house sixth claim refers legislation streamlines appeals process disability compensation claims within va step limited impact far applies new disability claims 470000 pending claims two initiatives mentioned make easier va discipline employees department pointed 1300 employees fired trumps watch infractions detailed public documents impact veterans care fully known ___ trump va mess couldnt fire anybody va sadists horrible people look theyre good say youre fired get dec 8 rally pensacola florida facts wrong say va employees never fired trump took office fact fired president barack obamas last budget year trumps first fiscal 2017 covering obamas last three months trumps first nine months 2061 va employees removed discipline performance 1419 firings took place since january 2017 trump took office present thats 2662 previous fiscal year according office personnel management information agencys data archive fedscope however true often took longer terminations become final appeals process shortened trump new accountability law making easier fire va employees take effect late june 2017 500 firings last year occurred former appeals system remains place federal agencies new law shortens length time challenge disciplinary action lowers burden proof needed fire va employees ___ trump would smart voters want put democrats congress 2018 election people much better mention isis va dec 31 tweet facts hes entitled politics tweet masks fact veterans bill signed law trump approval strong support democrats well republicans house democrats block one va choice emergency funding bill major veterans groups complained focused much private care without also investing core va programs bill revised add money overwhelmingly approved signed trump aug 12 bipartisan display began david shulkin holdover obama administration confirmed unanimously senate serve va secretary february trump calls shulkin 100tonothing man vote since trump cabinet member achieve ___ white house secretary shulkin expanded access urgent mental health care former service members otherthanhonorable discharges nov 9 press release facts claim glosses vas difficulty hiring mental health professionals providing counseling support higherrisk veterans due part tightening va budget trump cited mental health care top priority fixing va presidential campaign pledged hiring surge va netted 258 new personnel late november far 1000 additional mentalhealth specialists targeted 2017 march shulkin announced initiative expand urgent mental health care otherthanhonorable discharges much fanfare soon revealed wouldnt asking congress additional money pay program provides mostly emergency care something offered already veteran preventive services reduce suicide rates va seeking establish telehealth hubs rural areas provide veterans mental health assistance launched new predictive model analyze veterans health records identify risk roughly 20 veterans take lives day ___ white house president trump signed va choice quality employment act 2017 authorize 21 billion additional funds veterans choice program dec 22 press release facts money quickly used weeks congress approved 21 billion emergency funding keep va choice privatecare program running va acknowledged september program would run money earlier expected va asked congress approve longterm fix va choice program could cost much 54 billion five years divided lawmakers december decided instead approve another stopgap measure 21 billion punting bigger issues later delay means larger overhaul va choice shulkin says help significantly reduce wait times va medical centers isnt likely fully implemented 2019 later va choice program put place 2014 waittime scandal discovered phoenix va hospital elsewhere throughout country veterans waited weeks months appointments phony records covered lengthy waits program allows veterans go private doctors endure long waits va appointments suffered extended wait times last year shulkin said veterans waiting 60 days new appointments 30 va locations nationwide ___ associated press writer calvin woodward contributed report ___ find ap fact checks httpapnews2kbx8bd ___ follow hope yen twitter httpstwittercomhopeyen1
| 1,718 |
<p>ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Sometimes at practice, a few honeybees will buzz around the Denver Broncos' Gatorade bottles.</p>
<p>That wasn't always the case. But when the team more than doubled the landscape at its headquarters, Brooks Dodson, the club's director of sports turf and grounds, noticed something: Flowers weren't growing.</p>
<p>It was time to draft a swarm of new players.</p>
<p>"I just noticed there wasn't a lot of bees on our property," Dodson said.</p>
<p>A friend in the same line of work in a Denver suburb mentioned that he had met a couple of beekeepers.</p>
<p>So Dodson visited Joe and Debbie Komperda. The beekeepers, whose business card reads "Bee Happy," were eager to help out their beloved Broncos by building them a bee yard north of their indoor practice facility about 100 yards from the practice fields.</p>
<p>Debbie Komperda built four beehives, each painted orange and blue and each unique so the bees know which home is theirs.</p>
<p>It's believed the Broncos are the first professional sports team to serve as beehive hosts.</p>
<p>Joe Komperda said it's a win-win: the Broncos get the benefits of hosting hives while the honeybees get a chance to thrive at a time when so many colonies are inexplicably dying, a phenomenon known as colony collapse disorder.</p>
<p>"There's a lot of people who want to make sure that we can support the bees," Joe Komperda said. "And the Broncos being a good corporate citizen and looking out for the environment, when they realized that their flowers weren't doing well and they needed more bees ... we were able to come up with an agreement that the Broncos will be a hive host."</p>
<p>Between 20,000 (winter) and 100,000 (summer) bees now buzz around the four beehives. They pollinate plants as they gather nectar and pollen from a 3-mile radius, and they generally stay away from the players except for the occasional visitors drawn to the Gatorade bottles.</p>
<p>"So that's why there's bees at practice all the time," linebacker Todd Davis said, laughing. "That explains a lot."</p>
<p>Another benefit is that <a href="https://twitter.com/arniestapleton/status/946765451345797120" type="external">some of the honey the Komperdas harvest gets used by the team's chefs in the Broncos cafeteria</a> .</p>
<p>"That's really cool," Davis said. "It's kind of like that farm-to-table aspect. I think that's really cool having fresh honey here."</p>
<p>The Komperdas maintain the hives and take care of the bees year-round.</p>
<p>"We try to keep them well and try to make sure that they're out there pollinating flowers," Joe Komperda said. "And while they're not pollinating crops, so to speak, right here, they're still making a difference to the environment."</p>
<p>The hives have thrived.</p>
<p>"The flowers are doing much better," Joe Komperda said. "Of course, this whole area is planted very well. ... What that's done is because it's irrigated, planted, the bees had nectar all summer long. In other places where we had bees the bees didn't do much honey producing because there wasn't the capability to do that. It wasn't wet enough. There weren't enough flowers. But around here the bees thrived."</p>
<p>Even in Colorado's cold winter.</p>
<p>"Although people think that honey is for us as a sweet desert and something great, actually it's the way that he bees survive the winter," Joe Komperda said. "The bees actually get together in a cluster, a ball about the size of a soccer ball and they shiver and shiver and shiver and they keep the temperature inside that hive between 75 and 95 degrees the entire winter.</p>
<p>"The queen is in the center of that cluster so that they can keep her warm and make sure she's going to survive. And the bees in general survive that way. As the bees on the outside get cold, they move into the inside just like the penguins do. And they constantly move and they use that honey so that they can burn calories and keep it warm."</p>
<p>And the Broncos get to enjoy the extra honey that's harvested.</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>___</p>
<p>Follow Arnie Melendrez Stapleton on Twitter: <a href="http://twitter.com/arniestapleton" type="external">http://twitter.com/arniestapleton</a></p>
<p>ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Sometimes at practice, a few honeybees will buzz around the Denver Broncos' Gatorade bottles.</p>
<p>That wasn't always the case. But when the team more than doubled the landscape at its headquarters, Brooks Dodson, the club's director of sports turf and grounds, noticed something: Flowers weren't growing.</p>
<p>It was time to draft a swarm of new players.</p>
<p>"I just noticed there wasn't a lot of bees on our property," Dodson said.</p>
<p>A friend in the same line of work in a Denver suburb mentioned that he had met a couple of beekeepers.</p>
<p>So Dodson visited Joe and Debbie Komperda. The beekeepers, whose business card reads "Bee Happy," were eager to help out their beloved Broncos by building them a bee yard north of their indoor practice facility about 100 yards from the practice fields.</p>
<p>Debbie Komperda built four beehives, each painted orange and blue and each unique so the bees know which home is theirs.</p>
<p>It's believed the Broncos are the first professional sports team to serve as beehive hosts.</p>
<p>Joe Komperda said it's a win-win: the Broncos get the benefits of hosting hives while the honeybees get a chance to thrive at a time when so many colonies are inexplicably dying, a phenomenon known as colony collapse disorder.</p>
<p>"There's a lot of people who want to make sure that we can support the bees," Joe Komperda said. "And the Broncos being a good corporate citizen and looking out for the environment, when they realized that their flowers weren't doing well and they needed more bees ... we were able to come up with an agreement that the Broncos will be a hive host."</p>
<p>Between 20,000 (winter) and 100,000 (summer) bees now buzz around the four beehives. They pollinate plants as they gather nectar and pollen from a 3-mile radius, and they generally stay away from the players except for the occasional visitors drawn to the Gatorade bottles.</p>
<p>"So that's why there's bees at practice all the time," linebacker Todd Davis said, laughing. "That explains a lot."</p>
<p>Another benefit is that <a href="https://twitter.com/arniestapleton/status/946765451345797120" type="external">some of the honey the Komperdas harvest gets used by the team's chefs in the Broncos cafeteria</a> .</p>
<p>"That's really cool," Davis said. "It's kind of like that farm-to-table aspect. I think that's really cool having fresh honey here."</p>
<p>The Komperdas maintain the hives and take care of the bees year-round.</p>
<p>"We try to keep them well and try to make sure that they're out there pollinating flowers," Joe Komperda said. "And while they're not pollinating crops, so to speak, right here, they're still making a difference to the environment."</p>
<p>The hives have thrived.</p>
<p>"The flowers are doing much better," Joe Komperda said. "Of course, this whole area is planted very well. ... What that's done is because it's irrigated, planted, the bees had nectar all summer long. In other places where we had bees the bees didn't do much honey producing because there wasn't the capability to do that. It wasn't wet enough. There weren't enough flowers. But around here the bees thrived."</p>
<p>Even in Colorado's cold winter.</p>
<p>"Although people think that honey is for us as a sweet desert and something great, actually it's the way that he bees survive the winter," Joe Komperda said. "The bees actually get together in a cluster, a ball about the size of a soccer ball and they shiver and shiver and shiver and they keep the temperature inside that hive between 75 and 95 degrees the entire winter.</p>
<p>"The queen is in the center of that cluster so that they can keep her warm and make sure she's going to survive. And the bees in general survive that way. As the bees on the outside get cold, they move into the inside just like the penguins do. And they constantly move and they use that honey so that they can burn calories and keep it warm."</p>
<p>And the Broncos get to enjoy the extra honey that's harvested.</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>___</p>
<p>Follow Arnie Melendrez Stapleton on Twitter: <a href="http://twitter.com/arniestapleton" type="external">http://twitter.com/arniestapleton</a></p>
| false | 2 |
englewood colo ap sometimes practice honeybees buzz around denver broncos gatorade bottles wasnt always case team doubled landscape headquarters brooks dodson clubs director sports turf grounds noticed something flowers werent growing time draft swarm new players noticed wasnt lot bees property dodson said friend line work denver suburb mentioned met couple beekeepers dodson visited joe debbie komperda beekeepers whose business card reads bee happy eager help beloved broncos building bee yard north indoor practice facility 100 yards practice fields debbie komperda built four beehives painted orange blue unique bees know home believed broncos first professional sports team serve beehive hosts joe komperda said winwin broncos get benefits hosting hives honeybees get chance thrive time many colonies inexplicably dying phenomenon known colony collapse disorder theres lot people want make sure support bees joe komperda said broncos good corporate citizen looking environment realized flowers werent well needed bees able come agreement broncos hive host 20000 winter 100000 summer bees buzz around four beehives pollinate plants gather nectar pollen 3mile radius generally stay away players except occasional visitors drawn gatorade bottles thats theres bees practice time linebacker todd davis said laughing explains lot another benefit honey komperdas harvest gets used teams chefs broncos cafeteria thats really cool davis said kind like farmtotable aspect think thats really cool fresh honey komperdas maintain hives take care bees yearround try keep well try make sure theyre pollinating flowers joe komperda said theyre pollinating crops speak right theyre still making difference environment hives thrived flowers much better joe komperda said course whole area planted well thats done irrigated planted bees nectar summer long places bees bees didnt much honey producing wasnt capability wasnt wet enough werent enough flowers around bees thrived even colorados cold winter although people think honey us sweet desert something great actually way bees survive winter joe komperda said bees actually get together cluster ball size soccer ball shiver shiver shiver keep temperature inside hive 75 95 degrees entire winter queen center cluster keep warm make sure shes going survive bees general survive way bees outside get cold move inside like penguins constantly move use honey burn calories keep warm broncos get enjoy extra honey thats harvested ___ nfl coverage httpwwwpro32aporg httpwwwtwittercomap_nfl ___ follow arnie melendrez stapleton twitter httptwittercomarniestapleton englewood colo ap sometimes practice honeybees buzz around denver broncos gatorade bottles wasnt always case team doubled landscape headquarters brooks dodson clubs director sports turf grounds noticed something flowers werent growing time draft swarm new players noticed wasnt lot bees property dodson said friend line work denver suburb mentioned met couple beekeepers dodson visited joe debbie komperda beekeepers whose business card reads bee happy eager help beloved broncos building bee yard north indoor practice facility 100 yards practice fields debbie komperda built four beehives painted orange blue unique bees know home believed broncos first professional sports team serve beehive hosts joe komperda said winwin broncos get benefits hosting hives honeybees get chance thrive time many colonies inexplicably dying phenomenon known colony collapse disorder theres lot people want make sure support bees joe komperda said broncos good corporate citizen looking environment realized flowers werent well needed bees able come agreement broncos hive host 20000 winter 100000 summer bees buzz around four beehives pollinate plants gather nectar pollen 3mile radius generally stay away players except occasional visitors drawn gatorade bottles thats theres bees practice time linebacker todd davis said laughing explains lot another benefit honey komperdas harvest gets used teams chefs broncos cafeteria thats really cool davis said kind like farmtotable aspect think thats really cool fresh honey komperdas maintain hives take care bees yearround try keep well try make sure theyre pollinating flowers joe komperda said theyre pollinating crops speak right theyre still making difference environment hives thrived flowers much better joe komperda said course whole area planted well thats done irrigated planted bees nectar summer long places bees bees didnt much honey producing wasnt capability wasnt wet enough werent enough flowers around bees thrived even colorados cold winter although people think honey us sweet desert something great actually way bees survive winter joe komperda said bees actually get together cluster ball size soccer ball shiver shiver shiver keep temperature inside hive 75 95 degrees entire winter queen center cluster keep warm make sure shes going survive bees general survive way bees outside get cold move inside like penguins constantly move use honey burn calories keep warm broncos get enjoy extra honey thats harvested ___ nfl coverage httpwwwpro32aporg httpwwwtwittercomap_nfl ___ follow arnie melendrez stapleton twitter httptwittercomarniestapleton
| 750 |
<p>WASHINGTON (AP) — For only the second time since 9/11, America's defense secretary didn't visit U.S. troops in a war zone during December, breaking a long-standing tradition of personally and publicly thanking service members in combat who are separated from their families during the holiday season.</p>
<p>Pentagon boss Jim Mattis, who spent more than four decades in the Marine Corps and deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, made a five-day trip through the Middle East in early December. He stopped in Kuwait and Pakistan — countries adjacent to Iraq and Afghanistan — but didn't cross the borders to see troops at war in either country. Last week, he visited troops in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and at military bases in Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina, wishing them holiday cheer.</p>
<p>It has been 15 years since a U.S. defense chief didn't travel to a war zone during the festive season. And the only time a holiday visit was skipped since Americans began fighting in Afghanistan was in December 2002. That year, then-Secretary Donald Rumsfeld went to a command post in Qatar that would be used a few months later to coordinate the launch of the Iraq war.</p>
<p>Asked recently why he wasn't going to Iraq or Afghanistan, Mattis said he didn't want to discuss his travel. "I carry out my duties to the best of my ability," said Mattis, who visited Iraq and Afghanistan earlier this year.</p>
<p>Dana White, his chief spokeswoman, said the secretary "wanted the troops to enjoy their holiday uninterrupted. He is keenly aware of the logistical challenges of a senior leader visit, especially in a war zone."</p>
<p>Defense secretary trips historically have been aimed at boosting troop morale, letting service members know that senior leaders and the U.S. public recognize their sacrifice. And generals who have chaired the Joint Chiefs of Staff have routinely done their own December trips to war zones, taking celebrities on their flights as part of a USO entertainment tour.</p>
<p>It is less of a tradition for U.S. presidents to make December visits to conflict zones. Such trips require much greater logistical and security planning.</p>
<p>President George W. Bush visited Afghanistan twice and Iraq four times, including a secret Thanksgiving voyage to Baghdad in 2003 and a trip to both nations' capitals in December 2008. President Barack Obama flew to Iraq once as commander in chief and four times to Afghanistan. Only a December 2010 trip came during the holidays.</p>
<p>President Donald Trump hasn't yet gone to the war front, but Vice President Mike Pence flew to Afghanistan last week.</p>
<p>Less than three months after U.S. troops invaded Afghanistan, Rumsfeld flew into Bagram Air Base under extraordinarily high security, telling service members the World Trade Center "is still burning as we sit here, they're still bringing bodies out."</p>
<p>He said he made the trip to talk face-to-face with "real people who are doing real things that are part of our plan."</p>
<p>In two subsequent years, Rumsfeld went to Afghanistan and Iraq on Christmas Eve, mingling with troops and donning an apron to serve them holiday dinner. He fielded questions or complaints, too. In one such December troop talk, when a soldier asked Rumsfeld why troops went into battle in Iraq badly equipped, the secretary gave a now-famous response: "You go to the war with the Army you have ... not the Army you might want or wish to have at a later time."</p>
<p>Rumsfeld's successor, Robert Gates, maintained the tradition, traveling to the war zone around the holidays during each of his five years in office. His first trip was on Dec. 20, 2006, two days after taking the job.</p>
<p>Like his predecessor, Gates ended his troop talks with the traditional lineup for handshakes, photos and the much-desired commemorative coin. The coins — different for each secretary or military commander and emblazoned with their names or unit designs — are ceremonial gifts that young service members embrace. Many collect them or use them to get free drinks in bars. One game stipulates the service member with the highest-ranking coin wins.</p>
<p>Secretaries Leon Panetta, Chuck Hagel and Ash Carter followed suit, trailed by a military aide carrying the coins that they often handed out to hundreds after each event.</p>
<p>"Christmastime's coming up and from our family to your families, thank you," Carter, Obama's final Pentagon boss, told troops in Afghanistan during a December 2015 visit. "You're not with them, you're here. We don't take that for granted."</p>
<p>Mattis rarely gives public troop talks, in any season. Usually he meets privately with small groups of service members. And he has declined to hand out coins.</p>
<p>While the December visits often have been promoted as a way to thank troops, they have sometimes brought a special Christmas gift.</p>
<p>In 2010, Gates gave four soldiers a ride home from Afghanistan on his military plane. Beyond the faster, more comfortable flight, they got a one-night layover in the luxurious Emirates Palace hotel in Abu Dhabi, where Gates stopped to meet local leaders.</p>
<p>"The next time you're in touch with your families, I hope you'd let them know, whether it's email or a phone call or whatever, just pass along to them my personal thanks to them for their support to you and their patience with all of us," he told troops at Forward Operating Base Howz-e-Madad, Afghanistan, that December.</p>
<p>WASHINGTON (AP) — For only the second time since 9/11, America's defense secretary didn't visit U.S. troops in a war zone during December, breaking a long-standing tradition of personally and publicly thanking service members in combat who are separated from their families during the holiday season.</p>
<p>Pentagon boss Jim Mattis, who spent more than four decades in the Marine Corps and deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, made a five-day trip through the Middle East in early December. He stopped in Kuwait and Pakistan — countries adjacent to Iraq and Afghanistan — but didn't cross the borders to see troops at war in either country. Last week, he visited troops in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and at military bases in Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina, wishing them holiday cheer.</p>
<p>It has been 15 years since a U.S. defense chief didn't travel to a war zone during the festive season. And the only time a holiday visit was skipped since Americans began fighting in Afghanistan was in December 2002. That year, then-Secretary Donald Rumsfeld went to a command post in Qatar that would be used a few months later to coordinate the launch of the Iraq war.</p>
<p>Asked recently why he wasn't going to Iraq or Afghanistan, Mattis said he didn't want to discuss his travel. "I carry out my duties to the best of my ability," said Mattis, who visited Iraq and Afghanistan earlier this year.</p>
<p>Dana White, his chief spokeswoman, said the secretary "wanted the troops to enjoy their holiday uninterrupted. He is keenly aware of the logistical challenges of a senior leader visit, especially in a war zone."</p>
<p>Defense secretary trips historically have been aimed at boosting troop morale, letting service members know that senior leaders and the U.S. public recognize their sacrifice. And generals who have chaired the Joint Chiefs of Staff have routinely done their own December trips to war zones, taking celebrities on their flights as part of a USO entertainment tour.</p>
<p>It is less of a tradition for U.S. presidents to make December visits to conflict zones. Such trips require much greater logistical and security planning.</p>
<p>President George W. Bush visited Afghanistan twice and Iraq four times, including a secret Thanksgiving voyage to Baghdad in 2003 and a trip to both nations' capitals in December 2008. President Barack Obama flew to Iraq once as commander in chief and four times to Afghanistan. Only a December 2010 trip came during the holidays.</p>
<p>President Donald Trump hasn't yet gone to the war front, but Vice President Mike Pence flew to Afghanistan last week.</p>
<p>Less than three months after U.S. troops invaded Afghanistan, Rumsfeld flew into Bagram Air Base under extraordinarily high security, telling service members the World Trade Center "is still burning as we sit here, they're still bringing bodies out."</p>
<p>He said he made the trip to talk face-to-face with "real people who are doing real things that are part of our plan."</p>
<p>In two subsequent years, Rumsfeld went to Afghanistan and Iraq on Christmas Eve, mingling with troops and donning an apron to serve them holiday dinner. He fielded questions or complaints, too. In one such December troop talk, when a soldier asked Rumsfeld why troops went into battle in Iraq badly equipped, the secretary gave a now-famous response: "You go to the war with the Army you have ... not the Army you might want or wish to have at a later time."</p>
<p>Rumsfeld's successor, Robert Gates, maintained the tradition, traveling to the war zone around the holidays during each of his five years in office. His first trip was on Dec. 20, 2006, two days after taking the job.</p>
<p>Like his predecessor, Gates ended his troop talks with the traditional lineup for handshakes, photos and the much-desired commemorative coin. The coins — different for each secretary or military commander and emblazoned with their names or unit designs — are ceremonial gifts that young service members embrace. Many collect them or use them to get free drinks in bars. One game stipulates the service member with the highest-ranking coin wins.</p>
<p>Secretaries Leon Panetta, Chuck Hagel and Ash Carter followed suit, trailed by a military aide carrying the coins that they often handed out to hundreds after each event.</p>
<p>"Christmastime's coming up and from our family to your families, thank you," Carter, Obama's final Pentagon boss, told troops in Afghanistan during a December 2015 visit. "You're not with them, you're here. We don't take that for granted."</p>
<p>Mattis rarely gives public troop talks, in any season. Usually he meets privately with small groups of service members. And he has declined to hand out coins.</p>
<p>While the December visits often have been promoted as a way to thank troops, they have sometimes brought a special Christmas gift.</p>
<p>In 2010, Gates gave four soldiers a ride home from Afghanistan on his military plane. Beyond the faster, more comfortable flight, they got a one-night layover in the luxurious Emirates Palace hotel in Abu Dhabi, where Gates stopped to meet local leaders.</p>
<p>"The next time you're in touch with your families, I hope you'd let them know, whether it's email or a phone call or whatever, just pass along to them my personal thanks to them for their support to you and their patience with all of us," he told troops at Forward Operating Base Howz-e-Madad, Afghanistan, that December.</p>
| false | 2 |
washington ap second time since 911 americas defense secretary didnt visit us troops war zone december breaking longstanding tradition personally publicly thanking service members combat separated families holiday season pentagon boss jim mattis spent four decades marine corps deployed iraq afghanistan made fiveday trip middle east early december stopped kuwait pakistan countries adjacent iraq afghanistan didnt cross borders see troops war either country last week visited troops guantanamo bay cuba military bases florida north carolina south carolina wishing holiday cheer 15 years since us defense chief didnt travel war zone festive season time holiday visit skipped since americans began fighting afghanistan december 2002 year thensecretary donald rumsfeld went command post qatar would used months later coordinate launch iraq war asked recently wasnt going iraq afghanistan mattis said didnt want discuss travel carry duties best ability said mattis visited iraq afghanistan earlier year dana white chief spokeswoman said secretary wanted troops enjoy holiday uninterrupted keenly aware logistical challenges senior leader visit especially war zone defense secretary trips historically aimed boosting troop morale letting service members know senior leaders us public recognize sacrifice generals chaired joint chiefs staff routinely done december trips war zones taking celebrities flights part uso entertainment tour less tradition us presidents make december visits conflict zones trips require much greater logistical security planning president george w bush visited afghanistan twice iraq four times including secret thanksgiving voyage baghdad 2003 trip nations capitals december 2008 president barack obama flew iraq commander chief four times afghanistan december 2010 trip came holidays president donald trump hasnt yet gone war front vice president mike pence flew afghanistan last week less three months us troops invaded afghanistan rumsfeld flew bagram air base extraordinarily high security telling service members world trade center still burning sit theyre still bringing bodies said made trip talk facetoface real people real things part plan two subsequent years rumsfeld went afghanistan iraq christmas eve mingling troops donning apron serve holiday dinner fielded questions complaints one december troop talk soldier asked rumsfeld troops went battle iraq badly equipped secretary gave nowfamous response go war army army might want wish later time rumsfelds successor robert gates maintained tradition traveling war zone around holidays five years office first trip dec 20 2006 two days taking job like predecessor gates ended troop talks traditional lineup handshakes photos muchdesired commemorative coin coins different secretary military commander emblazoned names unit designs ceremonial gifts young service members embrace many collect use get free drinks bars one game stipulates service member highestranking coin wins secretaries leon panetta chuck hagel ash carter followed suit trailed military aide carrying coins often handed hundreds event christmastimes coming family families thank carter obamas final pentagon boss told troops afghanistan december 2015 visit youre youre dont take granted mattis rarely gives public troop talks season usually meets privately small groups service members declined hand coins december visits often promoted way thank troops sometimes brought special christmas gift 2010 gates gave four soldiers ride home afghanistan military plane beyond faster comfortable flight got onenight layover luxurious emirates palace hotel abu dhabi gates stopped meet local leaders next time youre touch families hope youd let know whether email phone call whatever pass along personal thanks support patience us told troops forward operating base howzemadad afghanistan december washington ap second time since 911 americas defense secretary didnt visit us troops war zone december breaking longstanding tradition personally publicly thanking service members combat separated families holiday season pentagon boss jim mattis spent four decades marine corps deployed iraq afghanistan made fiveday trip middle east early december stopped kuwait pakistan countries adjacent iraq afghanistan didnt cross borders see troops war either country last week visited troops guantanamo bay cuba military bases florida north carolina south carolina wishing holiday cheer 15 years since us defense chief didnt travel war zone festive season time holiday visit skipped since americans began fighting afghanistan december 2002 year thensecretary donald rumsfeld went command post qatar would used months later coordinate launch iraq war asked recently wasnt going iraq afghanistan mattis said didnt want discuss travel carry duties best ability said mattis visited iraq afghanistan earlier year dana white chief spokeswoman said secretary wanted troops enjoy holiday uninterrupted keenly aware logistical challenges senior leader visit especially war zone defense secretary trips historically aimed boosting troop morale letting service members know senior leaders us public recognize sacrifice generals chaired joint chiefs staff routinely done december trips war zones taking celebrities flights part uso entertainment tour less tradition us presidents make december visits conflict zones trips require much greater logistical security planning president george w bush visited afghanistan twice iraq four times including secret thanksgiving voyage baghdad 2003 trip nations capitals december 2008 president barack obama flew iraq commander chief four times afghanistan december 2010 trip came holidays president donald trump hasnt yet gone war front vice president mike pence flew afghanistan last week less three months us troops invaded afghanistan rumsfeld flew bagram air base extraordinarily high security telling service members world trade center still burning sit theyre still bringing bodies said made trip talk facetoface real people real things part plan two subsequent years rumsfeld went afghanistan iraq christmas eve mingling troops donning apron serve holiday dinner fielded questions complaints one december troop talk soldier asked rumsfeld troops went battle iraq badly equipped secretary gave nowfamous response go war army army might want wish later time rumsfelds successor robert gates maintained tradition traveling war zone around holidays five years office first trip dec 20 2006 two days taking job like predecessor gates ended troop talks traditional lineup handshakes photos muchdesired commemorative coin coins different secretary military commander emblazoned names unit designs ceremonial gifts young service members embrace many collect use get free drinks bars one game stipulates service member highestranking coin wins secretaries leon panetta chuck hagel ash carter followed suit trailed military aide carrying coins often handed hundreds event christmastimes coming family families thank carter obamas final pentagon boss told troops afghanistan december 2015 visit youre youre dont take granted mattis rarely gives public troop talks season usually meets privately small groups service members declined hand coins december visits often promoted way thank troops sometimes brought special christmas gift 2010 gates gave four soldiers ride home afghanistan military plane beyond faster comfortable flight got onenight layover luxurious emirates palace hotel abu dhabi gates stopped meet local leaders next time youre touch families hope youd let know whether email phone call whatever pass along personal thanks support patience us told troops forward operating base howzemadad afghanistan december
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<p>Playwright David Adjmi’s Fair Use battle started on June 6, 2012 when the world premiere of his new play “3C” opened off-Broadway. An intellectual property law firm served him with a cease and desist order, claiming that his play violated the copyright of Three’s Company, the1970s TV sitcom it was satirically mocking.&#160;&#160;Under that pressure and without the money to go to court, Adjmi’s representative agreed to shut down the play forever at the end of its limited run on July 14.</p>
<p>Now the community of New York theatrical writers is coming to Adjmi’s defense, most recently in a <a href="http://www.dramatistsguild.com/eventseducation/latestmedia.aspx" type="external">statemen</a>t July 23 from the Dramatists Guild of America, which supports Adjmi’s right to have his play performed and promises assistance with his legal entanglement.&#160;&#160;Signed by Guild president Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Pippin, and others), the statement concludes that by defending Adjmi, “we demonstrate that culture is too important to be controlled solely by the corporations that claim to own it.”</p>
<p>Focusing on Adjmi’s First Amendment rights under the Constitution, a Guild representative pointed out that “the right of&#160;authors to make fair comment on pre-existing work (whether through parody or other forms of fair use) is a First Amendment safety valve in&#160;the copyright law, and one we wholeheartedly support, as do the courts.”</p>
<p>For Adjmi, 38, “3C” was his third New York production and his third dark comedy, but it was the first to view the world through the distorting prism of a parody of&#160;a TV sitcom.&#160;&#160;His choice was “Three’s Company,” which ran on ABC (1977-1984) and was itself a version of the British sitcom, “Man About The House.”&#160;&#160;&#160;The core premise of the frothy “ <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three's_Company" type="external">Three’s Company</a>” was a straight man pretending to be gay in order to get the landlord to allow him to share an apartment with two women.</p>
<p>Despite the potential in its premise, “Three’s Company” never pretended to be serious about sexual mores, homosexuality, or any other contemporary cultural issue.&#160;&#160;In Adjmi’s “3C,” the premise is the same but with a Shakespearean twist – the man pretending to be gay is actually gay, giving his send-up of TV froth a sharper edge to go with its black comedy.&#160;&#160;&#160;While lampooning the slapstick thinness of sitcoms, the characters in “3C” also moved on into darker areas “as issues of sexuality, mental stability, suicide and the true meaning of happiness are explored through the characters’ angst-ridden dialogue and emotional outbursts,” <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/06/david-adjmi-3c_n_1654139.html" type="external">as one critic put it</a>.</p>
<p>The producers’ promotion description of “3C” was similar:&#160;&#160;“The war in Vietnam is over and Brad, an ex-serviceman, lands in L.A. to start a new life. When he winds up trashed in Connie and Linda’s kitchen after a wild night of partying, the three strike a deal for an arrangement that has hilarious and devastating consequences for everyone.&#160; Inspired by 1970s sitcoms, 1950s existentialist comedy, Chekhov and Disco anthems,&#160; <a href="http://www.3ctheplay.com/about/" type="external">3C</a> is a terrifying yet&#160;amusing&#160;look at a culture that likes to amuse itself, even as it teeters on the brink of ruin.”</p>
<p>Different as these two treatments of similar premises may be, it wasn’t enough for Donald Taffner, Jr., president of DLT Entertainment, owner of the “Three’s Company” copyright.&#160;Taffner, the son of one of the original producers of “Three’s Company,” said his company was “very protective of the overall brand” of “Three’s Company,” not only because it continues to earn royalties in re-runs, but because the company is also exploring the possibility of a stage version that would tap into the recent vogue for theatre pieces such as parodies of&#160;The Silence of the Lambs, Twilight,&#160;or&#160;Harry Potter,&#160;as well as the straight up production of&#160; <a href="http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-06-13/entertainment/os-brady-bunch-breakthrough-20120611_1_breakthrough-theatre-glee-star-abc" type="external">The Real Live Brady Bunch</a>,&#160;premiered on stage in 1991 and still in production around the country.</p>
<p>In defense of the “Three’s Company” brand, DLT Entertainment had their intellectual property attorneys, Kenner and Kenner of lower Broadway near Wall Street, send a cease and desist letter to the three producers of “3C” – Piece by Piece Productions, Rising Phoenix Repertory, and Rattlestick Playwrights Theatre, where the play was performed and, according to the producers, played to sold out houses.</p>
<p>While the cease and desist letter has not been made public, reports from the parties indicate that it claimed that Adjmi infringed on DLT’s copyright by using 17 elements of “Three’s Company” in his play, including overlaps in characters and plot elements.&#160;&#160; <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/18/theater/threes-company-lawyers-object-to-the-play-3c.html" type="external">One complaint</a> was that a character in both works was blonde, sexy, and the daughter of a minister.</p>
<p>Adjmi’s initial reaction to the letter, after six sleepless nights, was to preserve his emotional and financial capital, so he allowed his agent to tell DLT than Adjmi would now produce the play or publish the script once its five-week run was over.&#160;This would effectively extinguish the play’s existence.&#160;&#160;But Adjmi did not sign any agreement or accept any compensation.</p>
<p>As news of Adjmi’s predicament spread through the New York theatre community, he received lots of conflicting advice.&#160;&#160;But much of that advice was to fight the lawyers and preserve his play’s future.&#160;&#160;&#160;Among the more outspoken on the issue has been playwright Jon Robin Baitz, a Pulitzer Prize finalist for “Other Desert Cities,” who told the N.Y. Times:&#160;&#160;“The fact that the lawyers for the long-gone show ‘Three’s Company’ have nothing better to do, aside from billing hours like truffle pigs, that attempt to bully an off-Broadway playwright of modest means is an affront of the most base kind.”</p>
<p>As far as the legal issue goes – whether “3C” is parody and therefore constitutionally protected speech as the Supreme Court has held – Baitz was emphatic that the play is “clearly and patently and unremittingly parody.”&#160;&#160;But Baitz is not a lawyer, and while some lawyers tentatively agree with his conclusion, DLT’s lawyers <a href="http://www.playbill.com/news/article/168181-3C-Playwright-David-Adjmi-Comes-Under-Fire-From-Threes-Company-Lawyers" type="external">clearly do not</a>.&#160;&#160;But at this stage it’s not clear how determined they are to defend their position in court.</p>
<p>About a week ago, Baitz released an open letter signed by other theatrical notables calling for a fight:&#160;&#160;“That an Off-Broadway playwright should be bullied by a Wall Street law firm over a long-gone TV show, is, in and of itself, worthy of parody, but in fact, this should be taken seriously enough to merit raising our voices in support of Adjmi and his play, which Kenyon &amp; Kenyon is insisting be placed in a drawer and never published or performed again. Whether one appreciates the work or not is immaterial; the principle at stake here is a basic one. Specious and spurious legal bullying of artists should be vigorously opposed, and that opposition must begin first and foremost with all of us in the New York Theatre community.”</p>
<p>More than <a href="http://www.theawl.com/2012/07/a-letter-from-the-theater-community-regarding-david-adjmis-3-c" type="external">45 people</a> signed this letter, including Tony Kushner, Andre Bishop, Stephen Sondheim, Martha Plimpton, Terence McNally, Joe Mantello, Kenneth Lonergan, John Patrick Hanley, and John Guare, as well as the New Dramatists organization and such leading theatre companies as Lincoln Center, Steppenwolf, and New York Theatre Workshop.</p>
<p>Yesterday the Dramatists Guild of America joined Adjmi’s defense with this statement:</p>
<p>We of the Dramatists Guild of America wholeheartedly support playwright David Adjmi&#160;who has been facing pressure to silence his play “3C”.&#160; His work is a darkly comic parody of the sitcom “Three’s Company”, intended to critique the show and the social mores underlying it. &#160;The copyright owners of that work have written a “cease and desist” letter, which would, in effect, require him to stick the play in a drawer forever.&#160; But works of parody are protected under the fair use doctrine of copyright law, because such works serve as valuable social criticism.&#160; Corporate interests may prefer not to have their properties targeted for mockery, but artists have the right to do so, regardless of the best bullying tactics that corporate profits can buy.&#160; And more than having the right to do so, artists have an obligation to critique the vestments of our culture.&#160; So we stand with Mr. Adjmi, and are in discussions with him to see what assistance he might require. &#160;We hope others will show their support for David as well. Because, by so doing, we demonstrate that culture is too important to be controlled solely by the corporations that claim to own it.</p>
<p>The issue of whether parody infringes copyright is now new, but copyright holders have no incentive to let it go.&#160;&#160;In 1988, the U.S. Supreme Court decided 8-0 in favor of parody in the case of&#160; <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hustler_Magazine_v._Falwell" type="external">Hustler Magazine, Inc. v. Falwell</a>&#160;(485 U.S. 46), reversing a jury verdict of $150,000 in damages to Rev. Jerry Falwell, who had sued for libel, invasion or privacy, and intentional infliction of emotional distress by Hustler’s parody ad published in 1983.</p>
<p>In another unanimous decision in 1994, the Supreme Court <a href="http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/92-1292.ZS.html" type="external">ruled</a> 9-0 that, while 2 Live Crew’s 1989 parody of Roy Orbison’s 1964 song “Pretty Woman” might not deserve a “high rank” as art, that was irrelevant to its essential nature as parody that falls within the “fair use” section of the Copyright Act of 1976.&#160;&#160;Again the case,&#160;&#160;Campbell, aka Skywalker, et al. v. Acuff Rose Music, Inc., reversed the rulings of a lower court.</p>
<p>These things don’t always wind up in court.&#160;&#160;Gypsy Productions of Palmdale, California, has been producing sitcom-based murder mysteries as part of a Murder Mystery Dinner Theater series.&#160;Other producers work the same vein, creating murder mysteries based on “The Addams Family,” “The Golden Girls,” and even “A Very Brady Murder.”</p>
<p>But last year, in New Jersey, things got rougher when the nonprofit Theater League of Clifton was performing “The Last Cruise of the SS Minnow,” based on the sitcom “Gilligan’s Island.”&#160;&#160;&#160;Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., co-owner of the rights to “Gilligan,” wrote a letter to the theater, demanding that the theater “not continue or repeat the use of our properties after the final show” of its run.</p>
<p>The script in this case was from Gypsy Productions, where Roxanne Diesel also got a letter from Warner demanding that she “immediately discontinue use of this script.”&#160;&#160;Ms Diesel says she worked out an amicable settlement with Warner, <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303745304576361763281915264.html" type="external">agreeing to</a> certain tweaks of the script and being careful to identify the work as parody.</p>
<p>The laws governing the Fair use Doctrine are vague and need to be clearer. And satire certainly needs to be protected.</p>
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playwright david adjmis fair use battle started june 6 2012 world premiere new play 3c opened offbroadway intellectual property law firm served cease desist order claiming play violated copyright threes company the1970s tv sitcom satirically mocking160160under pressure without money go court adjmis representative agreed shut play forever end limited run july 14 community new york theatrical writers coming adjmis defense recently statement july 23 dramatists guild america supports adjmis right play performed promises assistance legal entanglement160160signed guild president stephen schwartz wicked pippin others statement concludes defending adjmi demonstrate culture important controlled solely corporations claim focusing adjmis first amendment rights constitution guild representative pointed right of160authors make fair comment preexisting work whether parody forms fair use first amendment safety valve in160the copyright law one wholeheartedly support courts adjmi 38 3c third new york production third dark comedy first view world distorting prism parody of160a tv sitcom160160his choice threes company ran abc 19771984 version british sitcom man house160160160the core premise frothy threes company straight man pretending gay order get landlord allow share apartment two women despite potential premise threes company never pretended serious sexual mores homosexuality contemporary cultural issue160160in adjmis 3c premise shakespearean twist man pretending gay actually gay giving sendup tv froth sharper edge go black comedy160160160while lampooning slapstick thinness sitcoms characters 3c also moved darker areas issues sexuality mental stability suicide true meaning happiness explored characters angstridden dialogue emotional outbursts one critic put producers promotion description 3c similar160160the war vietnam brad exserviceman lands la start new life winds trashed connie lindas kitchen wild night partying three strike deal arrangement hilarious devastating consequences everyone160 inspired 1970s sitcoms 1950s existentialist comedy chekhov disco anthems160 3c terrifying yet160amusing160look culture likes amuse even teeters brink ruin different two treatments similar premises may wasnt enough donald taffner jr president dlt entertainment owner threes company copyright160taffner son one original producers threes company said company protective overall brand threes company continues earn royalties reruns company also exploring possibility stage version would tap recent vogue theatre pieces parodies of160the silence lambs twilight160or160harry potter160as well straight production of160 real live brady bunch160premiered stage 1991 still production around country defense threes company brand dlt entertainment intellectual property attorneys kenner kenner lower broadway near wall street send cease desist letter three producers 3c piece piece productions rising phoenix repertory rattlestick playwrights theatre play performed according producers played sold houses cease desist letter made public reports parties indicate claimed adjmi infringed dlts copyright using 17 elements threes company play including overlaps characters plot elements160160 one complaint character works blonde sexy daughter minister adjmis initial reaction letter six sleepless nights preserve emotional financial capital allowed agent tell dlt adjmi would produce play publish script fiveweek run over160this would effectively extinguish plays existence160160but adjmi sign agreement accept compensation news adjmis predicament spread new york theatre community received lots conflicting advice160160but much advice fight lawyers preserve plays future160160160among outspoken issue playwright jon robin baitz pulitzer prize finalist desert cities told ny times160160the fact lawyers longgone show threes company nothing better aside billing hours like truffle pigs attempt bully offbroadway playwright modest means affront base kind far legal issue goes whether 3c parody therefore constitutionally protected speech supreme court held baitz emphatic play clearly patently unremittingly parody160160but baitz lawyer lawyers tentatively agree conclusion dlts lawyers clearly not160160but stage clear determined defend position court week ago baitz released open letter signed theatrical notables calling fight160160that offbroadway playwright bullied wall street law firm longgone tv show worthy parody fact taken seriously enough merit raising voices support adjmi play kenyon amp kenyon insisting placed drawer never published performed whether one appreciates work immaterial principle stake basic one specious spurious legal bullying artists vigorously opposed opposition must begin first foremost us new york theatre community 45 people signed letter including tony kushner andre bishop stephen sondheim martha plimpton terence mcnally joe mantello kenneth lonergan john patrick hanley john guare well new dramatists organization leading theatre companies lincoln center steppenwolf new york theatre workshop yesterday dramatists guild america joined adjmis defense statement dramatists guild america wholeheartedly support playwright david adjmi160who facing pressure silence play 3c160 work darkly comic parody sitcom threes company intended critique show social mores underlying 160the copyright owners work written cease desist letter would effect require stick play drawer forever160 works parody protected fair use doctrine copyright law works serve valuable social criticism160 corporate interests may prefer properties targeted mockery artists right regardless best bullying tactics corporate profits buy160 right artists obligation critique vestments culture160 stand mr adjmi discussions see assistance might require 160we hope others show support david well demonstrate culture important controlled solely corporations claim issue whether parody infringes copyright new copyright holders incentive let go160160in 1988 us supreme court decided 80 favor parody case of160 hustler magazine inc v falwell160485 us 46 reversing jury verdict 150000 damages rev jerry falwell sued libel invasion privacy intentional infliction emotional distress hustlers parody ad published 1983 another unanimous decision 1994 supreme court ruled 90 2 live crews 1989 parody roy orbisons 1964 song pretty woman might deserve high rank art irrelevant essential nature parody falls within fair use section copyright act 1976160160again case160160campbell aka skywalker et al v acuff rose music inc reversed rulings lower court things dont always wind court160160gypsy productions palmdale california producing sitcombased murder mysteries part murder mystery dinner theater series160other producers work vein creating murder mysteries based addams family golden girls even brady murder last year new jersey things got rougher nonprofit theater league clifton performing last cruise ss minnow based sitcom gilligans island160160160warner bros entertainment inc coowner rights gilligan wrote letter theater demanding theater continue repeat use properties final show run script case gypsy productions roxanne diesel also got letter warner demanding immediately discontinue use script160160ms diesel says worked amicable settlement warner agreeing certain tweaks script careful identify work parody laws governing fair use doctrine vague need clearer satire certainly needs protected
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<p>Editor’s note: If you have topics you’d like addressed, see the contact information at the end. Or email questions to <a href="" type="internal">[email protected]</a>.</p>
<p>When we are truly committed to expanding our knowledge and deepening the meaning and outcome of our actions, we periodically realize that, yet again, change is necessary. Developing wisdom requires constant re-evaluation of established patterns, and there is no better season for making changes and fostering growth and wisdom, than spring.</p>
<p>As a registered dietitian, I have been on the whole grain and plant-based diet bandwagon for years. As a nutrition student, I spent countless hours in bread aisles scrutinizing ingredient lists and comparing fiber contents. I am on a continual quest to find new ways of incorporating whole grains and other beneficial foods into a balanced diet for myself and for my clients.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Just when I thought I had whole grains all figured out, I found out that it is not enough to simply eat them regularly. The next level is to secure the most nutritional benefit out of these and other nutrient-rich foods.</p>
<p>Eating whole grains, beans/legumes, nuts and seeds in their sprouted form, is the optimal way to consume these foods, in order to get the most nutrients from them.</p>
<p>Why? Sprouting brings about an enzymatic reaction that breaks down the outer protective barrier of grains, legumes, nuts and seeds. That protective barrier is meant to keep pests away, as well as to safeguard the unborn plant until conditions are right for germination.</p>
<p>Germination produces many enzymes, which can be beneficial to our digestive systems, reducing the need to make as many of our own enzymes for digestion. The enzymes produced also break down phytic acid, an “anti-nutrient” that is known to block the absorption of calcium, magnesium, copper and zinc, from un-germinated whole grains, legumes (including soy), nuts and seeds. Vitamin and mineral content increase dramatically with sprouting, especially that of the B vitamins, carotenes (pre-vitamin A) and vitamin C.</p>
<p>In fact, sprouting seeds on long voyages is how the ancient Chinese sailors kept themselves from getting scurvy.</p>
<p>Sprouting whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds may seem like one more thing to add to your perpetually expanding list of things to do, but for those whose priority is optimal nourishment and health, this is an undertaking worth the time and effort.</p>
<p>Easy ways to get your sprouts are to eat sprouted grain bread and use sprouted grain flours for baking. Home sprouting is an option as well, and can be quite fun, easy and economical.</p>
<p>The hardest part is gathering the materials, which is really not hard at all. All that is needed are quart-sized Mason jars with a round of cut aluminum window screen to replace the solid insert.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Often, one can find the screen material for free from scraps at local hardware stores. Sprouting jars and kits may also be found at local health food stores, such as Natural Grocers.</p>
<p>Here is an easy guide to sprouting:</p>
<p><a href="http://sage.abqjournalfit.com/2013/04/24/sprouting-increases-nutritional-benefits/sprouting/" type="external" /></p>
<p>Fill one-third of the jar with a seed/grain and cover the seeds with water. Let them sit overnight. In the morning, with the screened lid on, pour off the water and rinse well. Invert the jar and let it sit at an angle to drain and allow air to circulate.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Rinse the seeds every few hours, or at least twice daily. In one to four days, the sprouts will be ready. Rinse well, shake out excess moisture and replace the screen insert with the solid insert. Store in the refrigerator, and steam lightly before adding to salads.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Add raw sprouted seeds/grains to soups and casseroles, because this will expose them to enough heat to kill bacteria and neutralize irritating substances, which in nature keep grazing animals from eating the tender shoots. This is a very clever way for plants to continue their species. That said, it benefits us to work around plants’ ingenious protective mechanisms.</p>
<p>Most seeds and grains sprout easily – wheat, barley, dried beans, radish seeds, onion seeds, chia seeds, chickpeas, shelled peanuts and almonds. To shell almonds, soak them overnight.</p>
<p>The next day, squeeze them individually between the index finger and thumb, and they pop right out of the skin. Or, just buy them raw and skinless. Hulled pumpkin and sunflower seeds sprout nicely as well.</p>
<p>According to Sally Fallon, author of “Nourishing Traditions,” avoid eating alfalfa sprouts because of a harmful substance metabolized during sprouting, which diminishes with plant maturity.</p>
<p>A note about food safety: As with any produce consumed raw or lightly cooked, such as salad greens and spinach, there is a risk of food-borne illness. According to <a href="http://www.foodsafety.gov" type="external">www.foodsafety.gov</a>, since 1996, there have been 30 reported cases of food-borne illness associated with raw and lightly cooked sprouts.</p>
<p>For healthy individuals with strong immunity and a good balance of beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract, raw or lightly cooked sprouts are less likely to cause a problem. For those with compromised immune systems, it is best to avoid sprouts that are not thoroughly cooked, or avoid them altogether.</p>
<p>From a nutritional standpoint, sprouting is a worthwhile endeavor. It is also not a major risk for healthy individuals who employ good food safety practices. To the contrary, it is a sure-fire way to maximize the nutrient value of foods. Sprouting is also a great way to involve kids with food preparation and simultaneously teach them about nature and nutrition.</p>
<p>Happy spring, and happy sprouting!</p>
<p>Angie King-Nosseir is an integrative registered dietitian in private practice. She also works as a health coach with Albuquerque-based corporate wellness company, Nuvita.</p>
<p>Send general questions to Carolyn Flynn, Food Editor, P.O. Drawer J, Albuquerque, NM 87103, or email it to <a href="" type="internal">[email protected]</a>. We can’t answer medical questions.</p>
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editors note topics youd like addressed see contact information end email questions sageabqjournalcom truly committed expanding knowledge deepening meaning outcome actions periodically realize yet change necessary developing wisdom requires constant reevaluation established patterns better season making changes fostering growth wisdom spring registered dietitian whole grain plantbased diet bandwagon years nutrition student spent countless hours bread aisles scrutinizing ingredient lists comparing fiber contents continual quest find new ways incorporating whole grains beneficial foods balanced diet clients advertisement thought whole grains figured found enough simply eat regularly next level secure nutritional benefit nutrientrich foods eating whole grains beanslegumes nuts seeds sprouted form optimal way consume foods order get nutrients sprouting brings enzymatic reaction breaks outer protective barrier grains legumes nuts seeds protective barrier meant keep pests away well safeguard unborn plant conditions right germination germination produces many enzymes beneficial digestive systems reducing need make many enzymes digestion enzymes produced also break phytic acid antinutrient known block absorption calcium magnesium copper zinc ungerminated whole grains legumes including soy nuts seeds vitamin mineral content increase dramatically sprouting especially b vitamins carotenes previtamin vitamin c fact sprouting seeds long voyages ancient chinese sailors kept getting scurvy sprouting whole grains legumes nuts seeds may seem like one thing add perpetually expanding list things whose priority optimal nourishment health undertaking worth time effort easy ways get sprouts eat sprouted grain bread use sprouted grain flours baking home sprouting option well quite fun easy economical hardest part gathering materials really hard needed quartsized mason jars round cut aluminum window screen replace solid insert advertisement often one find screen material free scraps local hardware stores sprouting jars kits may also found local health food stores natural grocers easy guide sprouting fill onethird jar seedgrain cover seeds water let sit overnight morning screened lid pour water rinse well invert jar let sit angle drain allow air circulate 160 160 rinse seeds every hours least twice daily one four days sprouts ready rinse well shake excess moisture replace screen insert solid insert store refrigerator steam lightly adding salads 160 add raw sprouted seedsgrains soups casseroles expose enough heat kill bacteria neutralize irritating substances nature keep grazing animals eating tender shoots clever way plants continue species said benefits us work around plants ingenious protective mechanisms seeds grains sprout easily wheat barley dried beans radish seeds onion seeds chia seeds chickpeas shelled peanuts almonds shell almonds soak overnight next day squeeze individually index finger thumb pop right skin buy raw skinless hulled pumpkin sunflower seeds sprout nicely well according sally fallon author nourishing traditions avoid eating alfalfa sprouts harmful substance metabolized sprouting diminishes plant maturity note food safety produce consumed raw lightly cooked salad greens spinach risk foodborne illness according wwwfoodsafetygov since 1996 30 reported cases foodborne illness associated raw lightly cooked sprouts healthy individuals strong immunity good balance beneficial bacteria digestive tract raw lightly cooked sprouts less likely cause problem compromised immune systems best avoid sprouts thoroughly cooked avoid altogether nutritional standpoint sprouting worthwhile endeavor also major risk healthy individuals employ good food safety practices contrary surefire way maximize nutrient value foods sprouting also great way involve kids food preparation simultaneously teach nature nutrition happy spring happy sprouting angie kingnosseir integrative registered dietitian private practice also works health coach albuquerquebased corporate wellness company nuvita send general questions carolyn flynn food editor po drawer j albuquerque nm 87103 email cflynnabqjournalcom cant answer medical questions
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<p>In this Tuesday, July 8, 2014 photo, Mark Ahlemann, center, passes out papers to participants during a during a breakfast networking session hosted by Gray Hair Management at a restaurant in Elk Grove Village, Ill. By continuing to draw a paycheck, older workers pay taxes and that ought to reduce the budgetary pressures on younger generations, Gary Burtless, a senior economics fellow at the Brookings Institution, concluded in a 2013 paper. But in a sluggish recovery where job gains have not kept pace with population growth, the persistence of older workers has actually hurt younger generations (AP Photo/Matt Marton)</p>
<p>WASHINGTON — Out of a seemingly hollow recovery from the Great Recession, a more durable if still slow-growing U.S. economy has emerged.</p>
<p>That conclusion, one held by a growing number of economists, might surprise many people. After all, in the five years since the recession officially ended, Americans’ pay has basically stagnated. Millions remain unemployed or have abandoned their job searches. Economic growth is merely plodding along.</p>
<p>Yet as the economy has slowly healed, analysts say it has replaced some critical weaknesses with newfound strengths. Among the trends:</p>
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<p>— Fewer people are piling up credit card debt or taking on risky mortgages. This should make growth more sustainable and avoid a cycle of extreme booms and busts.</p>
<p>— Banks are more profitable and holding additional cash to help protect against a repeat of the 2008 market meltdown.</p>
<p>— More workers hold advanced degrees. Education typically leads to higher wages and greater job security, reducing the likelihood of unemployment.</p>
<p>— Inflation is under control. Runaway price increases would be destructive. Low inflation can lay a foundation for growth.</p>
<p>— Millions who have reached retirement age are staying on the job. This lessens the economic drag from retiring baby boomers and helps sustain consumer spending.</p>
<p>Over the long run, such trends could help produce a sturdier economy, one less prone to the kind of runaway growth that often ends in a steep and sudden slump.</p>
<p>The downside? At least in the short term, these same trends have prevented the economy from accelerating. When consumers borrow and spend less freely, for example, they restrain growth.</p>
<p>And when people seek to work longer or become more educated, often there aren’t enough jobs for all of them, at least not right away. People with advanced degrees can often find lower-paying jobs that don’t require much education. But when they do, they tend to push some people with only a high school education into unemployment.</p>
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<p>One of the most striking trends in the recovery has been an aversion to personal debt. A typical U.S. household owes $7,122 in credit card debt, $1,618 less than at the start of the recession, according to analysis of New York Federal Reserve data by the firm Nerd Wallet. (After factoring in inflation, the balance is $2,900 lower.)</p>
<p>Kevin Quigley, a massage therapist, found that by the time the recession struck, his card balance had ballooned to as much as $35,000. The 33-year old from University City, Missouri ascribed that to “thinking that I needed a lot of things.”</p>
<p>Beginning in 2010, he consolidated his card debt and reduced it by $300 a month until it disappeared.</p>
<p>“Peace of mind became more important to me than stuff,” Quigley said.</p>
<p>Two primary factors explain the decline in card debt: Lending standards were tightened, and consumers “just kind of froze in place,” said Jelena Ewart, general manager of credit cards and banking at Nerd Wallet.</p>
<p>The American Bankers Association says card debt as a share of people’s income has reached its lowest level in more than a decade. People increasingly pay off balances each month. And just 2.44 percent of card accounts are delinquent, compared with the 15-year average of 3.82 percent.</p>
<p>Researchers at the Cleveland Fed found that after adjusting for inflation, debt from mortgage and auto loans remains below pre-recession levels. Applications for credit by “deep subprime” borrowers — those most at risk of defaulting — have dropped 36 percent from pre-recession highs.</p>
<p>Because people are taking on less debt, they’re also spending less. That phenomenon has slowed growth because consumers fuel most of the U.S. economy.</p>
<p>Consumer spending has risen just 10.8 percent during the five-year recovery — the smallest increase among expansions in the last 55 years, said Carl Tannenbaum, chief economist at Northern Trust.</p>
<p>But after the frugality of the past half-decade, money that once went to repaying credit cards can now be spent in ways that boost growth.</p>
<p>“There are some families who can contemplate vacations for the first time in a while, who can contemplate replacing their jalopies,” Tannenbaum said.</p>
<p>Declining debt loads have coincided with stronger cash buffers that banks have built up to protect against possible losses. More than 30 percent of banks were unprofitable in 2009, a share that sank to 7.28 percent through the first three months of 2014, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.</p>
<p>Fed Chair Janet Yellen has said she no longer sees a “systemic threat” from over-extended banks.</p>
<p>Inflation has also been running below the Fed’s 2 percent target. Not only have consumers enjoyed relatively stable prices, but the Fed has been able to stimulate growth by holding interest rates down without risking any immediate threat of igniting inflation.</p>
<p>Americans have also used the recovery to return to school. The share of adults with advanced degrees jumped to 11.7 percent from 9.9 percent in 2007, according to the Census Bureau. During the recovery, the number of Americans with a college degree surpassed the number with only a high school diploma for the first time.</p>
<p>The unemployment rate for college graduates is 3.3 percent vs. 5.8 percent for high school graduates and 9.1 percent for high school dropouts. Someone with a master’s degree earns on average $69,108 a year, more than double what someone with only a high school diploma earns.</p>
<p>Over time, more people with advanced degrees should put a greater percentage of Americans into better-paying skilled jobs. For now, though, some educated Americans have moved into jobs requiring only a high school degree and left many of those without degrees jobless. Just 54 of high school graduates are employed, compared with 60 percent before the recession.</p>
<p>A similar development has occurred as workers have delayed retirement. The proportion of Americans older than 65 who are working has risen to 22.7 percent from roughly 20 percent during the recession.</p>
<p>These older workers tend to be better educated, so they command higher pay than the broader population, Gary Burtless, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, has concluded. And by continuing to draw a paycheck, they pay taxes, which should ease the budgetary pressures on younger generations.</p>
<p>Still, the rising proportion of older workers has kept some younger workers from receiving promotions or being hired.</p>
<p>“For lot of folks in their 20s and 30s looking to get established in their careers, it does represent a hardship,” Burtless said.</p>
<p>That hardship should gradually diminish on the strength of continued job growth. Employers have added more than 200,000 jobs a month for five straight months — the best such stretch since the late 1990s.</p>
<p>“If the economy gets close to its full employment potential, it’s a great thing,” Burtless said.</p>
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tuesday july 8 2014 photo mark ahlemann center passes papers participants breakfast networking session hosted gray hair management restaurant elk grove village ill continuing draw paycheck older workers pay taxes ought reduce budgetary pressures younger generations gary burtless senior economics fellow brookings institution concluded 2013 paper sluggish recovery job gains kept pace population growth persistence older workers actually hurt younger generations ap photomatt marton washington seemingly hollow recovery great recession durable still slowgrowing us economy emerged conclusion one held growing number economists might surprise many people five years since recession officially ended americans pay basically stagnated millions remain unemployed abandoned job searches economic growth merely plodding along yet economy slowly healed analysts say replaced critical weaknesses newfound strengths among trends advertisement fewer people piling credit card debt taking risky mortgages make growth sustainable avoid cycle extreme booms busts banks profitable holding additional cash help protect repeat 2008 market meltdown workers hold advanced degrees education typically leads higher wages greater job security reducing likelihood unemployment inflation control runaway price increases would destructive low inflation lay foundation growth millions reached retirement age staying job lessens economic drag retiring baby boomers helps sustain consumer spending long run trends could help produce sturdier economy one less prone kind runaway growth often ends steep sudden slump downside least short term trends prevented economy accelerating consumers borrow spend less freely example restrain growth people seek work longer become educated often arent enough jobs least right away people advanced degrees often find lowerpaying jobs dont require much education tend push people high school education unemployment advertisement one striking trends recovery aversion personal debt typical us household owes 7122 credit card debt 1618 less start recession according analysis new york federal reserve data firm nerd wallet factoring inflation balance 2900 lower kevin quigley massage therapist found time recession struck card balance ballooned much 35000 33year old university city missouri ascribed thinking needed lot things beginning 2010 consolidated card debt reduced 300 month disappeared peace mind became important stuff quigley said two primary factors explain decline card debt lending standards tightened consumers kind froze place said jelena ewart general manager credit cards banking nerd wallet american bankers association says card debt share peoples income reached lowest level decade people increasingly pay balances month 244 percent card accounts delinquent compared 15year average 382 percent researchers cleveland fed found adjusting inflation debt mortgage auto loans remains prerecession levels applications credit deep subprime borrowers risk defaulting dropped 36 percent prerecession highs people taking less debt theyre also spending less phenomenon slowed growth consumers fuel us economy consumer spending risen 108 percent fiveyear recovery smallest increase among expansions last 55 years said carl tannenbaum chief economist northern trust frugality past halfdecade money went repaying credit cards spent ways boost growth families contemplate vacations first time contemplate replacing jalopies tannenbaum said declining debt loads coincided stronger cash buffers banks built protect possible losses 30 percent banks unprofitable 2009 share sank 728 percent first three months 2014 according federal deposit insurance corporation fed chair janet yellen said longer sees systemic threat overextended banks inflation also running feds 2 percent target consumers enjoyed relatively stable prices fed able stimulate growth holding interest rates without risking immediate threat igniting inflation americans also used recovery return school share adults advanced degrees jumped 117 percent 99 percent 2007 according census bureau recovery number americans college degree surpassed number high school diploma first time unemployment rate college graduates 33 percent vs 58 percent high school graduates 91 percent high school dropouts someone masters degree earns average 69108 year double someone high school diploma earns time people advanced degrees put greater percentage americans betterpaying skilled jobs though educated americans moved jobs requiring high school degree left many without degrees jobless 54 high school graduates employed compared 60 percent recession similar development occurred workers delayed retirement proportion americans older 65 working risen 227 percent roughly 20 percent recession older workers tend better educated command higher pay broader population gary burtless senior fellow brookings institution concluded continuing draw paycheck pay taxes ease budgetary pressures younger generations still rising proportion older workers kept younger workers receiving promotions hired lot folks 20s 30s looking get established careers represent hardship burtless said hardship gradually diminish strength continued job growth employers added 200000 jobs month five straight months best stretch since late 1990s economy gets close full employment potential great thing burtless said
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<p>MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The Latest on Friday at the Australian Open (all times local):</p>
<p>12:15 a.m.</p>
<p>After saving two match points and trailing 5-1 in the third set in her last match, there were no real dramas in the third round for Caroline Wozniacki.</p>
<p>The second-seeded Wozniacki beat Kiki Bertens 6-4, 6-3 to advance to a fourth-round match against Magdalena Rybarikova.</p>
<p>Wozniacki had to save four break points while serving for the match on Friday but clinched it on her fourth match point when Bertens' return of serve went long.</p>
<p>On Wednesday, Wozniacki won the last six games of her match with Jana Fett in the second round.</p>
<p>The former No. 1 Wozniacki is one of four players here who could overtake top-seeded Simona Halep for the No 1. ranking at the end of the Australian Open.</p>
<p>_____</p>
<p>11:15 p.m.</p>
<p>French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko is out of the Australian Open, beaten 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 by Anett Kontaveit in the third round at Melbourne Park.</p>
<p>Ostapenko won six out of seven games after an injury timeout following the first set to have her left thigh strapped.</p>
<p>In the third set, Kontaveit broke Ostapenko's service in the seventh game, held and then broke again in the ninth to end the match.</p>
<p>It continued Ostapenko's poor start to the season since hiring a new coach, Australian David Taylor. She lost in the first round at tournaments in Shenzhen and Sydney.</p>
<p>_____</p>
<p>10:50 p.m.</p>
<p>Marin Cilic has reached the fourth round of the Australian Open for the first time in seven years with a 7-6 (4), 6-3, 7-6 (4) win over Ryan Harrison.</p>
<p>The sixth-seeded Cilic made the round of 16 at Melbourne Park for four straight years from 2008-11, including a run to the semifinals in 2010, but hasn't returned since.</p>
<p>Cilic had 53 winners in the match, including 16 aces, and won 26 of 29 points at net.</p>
<p>Cilic next faces 10th-seeded Pablo Carreno Busta for a spot in the quarterfinals.</p>
<p>____</p>
<p>10:30 p.m.</p>
<p>Nick Kyrgios won the last five points of the tiebreaker to beat 2008 finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 7-6 (5), 4-6, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (5) and remain with a chance of providing a first Australian male singles winner of the Australian Open in 42 years.</p>
<p>Trailing 5-2 in the tiebreaker, Kyrgios went on a roll as Tsonga appeared to struggle with a knee issue.</p>
<p>Kyrgios is the last of nine Australian male players left in the singles draw. Mark Edmondson was the last Australian to win his national championship in 1976, although Lleyton Hewitt came close, losing the 2005 final to Marat Safin.</p>
<p>The 17th-seeded Kyrgios will play third-seeded Grigor Dimitrov in the fourth round. Dimitrov beat Andrey Rublev in four sets earlier Friday.</p>
<p>_____</p>
<p>9:35 p.m.</p>
<p>Ivo Karlovic may have lost his third-round match at the Australian Open against Andreas Seppi, but he's still accomplishing new feats — at nearly 39 years old.</p>
<p>The big-serving 2.11 meter (6-foot-11) Croatian player smacked 50 aces in back-to-back matches for the first time in his career, hitting 53 in his five-set, second-round win over Yuichi Sugita and another 52 in Friday's five-set loss to Seppi.</p>
<p>Karlovic fell just short of becoming the oldest player to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam since Jimmy Connors' run to the U.S. Open semifinals in 1991.</p>
<p>How does he keep doing it? Karlovic says it's simple: He hits the gym, lifts weights and runs.</p>
<p>"I always say that it's about the fitness level," he says. "I don't feel any weaker than when I was 28."</p>
<p>Karlovic's ranking has slid from No. 21 to No. 89 in the past year, but if he can keep it high enough to continue playing in ATP-level events, he could see himself sticking around for several more years.</p>
<p>"I think I can still do upsets here and there, so I like it still," he said.</p>
<p>____</p>
<p>9:05 p.m.</p>
<p>Top-seeded Rafael Nadal is through to the fourth round at Melbourne Park, beating Damir Dzumhur 6-1, 6-3, 6-1 in a night match at Margaret Court Arena.</p>
<p>Nadal, who lost the 2017 final here to Roger Federer, is attempting to win the Australian Open for the second time — the first was in 2009 — and add to his 16 major titles, second only among men to Federer's 19.</p>
<p>In the round of 16 on Sunday, the Spanish lefthander will play Diego Schwartzman, who beat Alexandr Dolgopolov in four sets earlier Friday.</p>
<p>_____</p>
<p>8:50 p.m.</p>
<p>Will Smith made his Grand Slam debut on Friday night, taking a seat at Rod Laver Arena for a third-round Australian Open match between local hope Nick Kyrgios and 2008 finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.</p>
<p>The actor briefly met Tsonga before the players walked onto the court.</p>
<p>"Really a great guy. Really sweet. Love his energy," Smith told former player Jim Courier in an interview aired on the Seven Network. "Happy being here watching these guys play."</p>
<p>Smith has spent 10 days in Australia taking a break before starting work on a movie.</p>
<p>"This is the first time at the Open — this is my first Slam," said Smith, who planned to watch top-ranked Rafael Nadal on nearby Margaret Court Arena but decided to stick around on the main show court.</p>
<p>He is the second Hollywood personality at the Australian Open this week. Will Ferrell appeared in the crowd over the first few days, doing an on-court interview with Roger Federer.</p>
<p>_____</p>
<p>7:55 p.m.</p>
<p>Andreas Seppi overcame Ivo Karlovic and the Croatian's 52 aces to advance to the fourth round with a 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-7 (3), 6-7 (5), 9-7 win that spanned 3 hours, 51 minutes.</p>
<p>The 33-year-old Seppi clinched the match with a break of the 38-year-old Karlovic's service, only his second break of nine attempts during the match. Seppi saved both break points against him.</p>
<p>Seppi plays Kyle Edmund of Britain in the fourth round. Edmund also had a five-set win Friday, beating Nikoloz Basilashvili in 3 hours, 34 minutes.</p>
<p>_____</p>
<p>6:10 p.m.</p>
<p>Third-seeded Grigor Dimitrov has advanced to the fourth round at Melbourne Park, beating Andrey Rublev 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 in a Rod Laver Arena match which concluded the day session on the main show court.</p>
<p>After beating qualifiers in his first two matches, Dimitrov had a much more difficult time against the 30th-seeded Rublev. Serving for the match, Dimitrov faced a break point before advancing on his first match point, clinching it with a winner off a Rublev drop shot.</p>
<p>Dimitrov will next play the winner of Friday night's match on Rod Laver between local hope Nick Kyrgios and 2008 finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the round of 16.</p>
<p>_____</p>
<p>4:40 p.m.</p>
<p>Coco Vandeweghe has been hit with the largest fine of the 2018 Australian Open so far — a $10,000 penalty for unsporting conduct for screaming an obscenity at her first-round opponent, Timea Babos.</p>
<p>Vandeweghe said after the match that she was irritated by what she described as excessive celebrating by her Hungarian opponent during their match.</p>
<p>The 10th-seeded Vandeweghe was assessed a code violation for the obscenity and delay of game for insisting on eating a banana during a changeover, getting docked a point in the second set of her 7-6 (4), 6-2 loss.</p>
<p>Borna Coric has received the largest fine thus far in the men's draw — $5,000 for shattering his racket during his first-round loss to John Millman.</p>
<p>____</p>
<p>3:05 p.m.</p>
<p>The worst of the extremely hot temperatures appears to be over at Melbourne Park.</p>
<p>The forecast high of 42 Celsius (108 Fahrenheit) was never quite reached, with the temperature hitting 40.3 C (104.5 F) before a weather change came through that cooled things off, somewhat.</p>
<p>Within an hour, the temperature had starting dropping. At 3 p.m. it was 35.6 C (96 F).</p>
<p>Alize Cornet took a medical timeout and had her pulse and blood pressure checked during her match with Elise Mertens when the French player complained of shortness of breath.</p>
<p>But after being iced down by a trainer, she continued her match.</p>
<p>____</p>
<p>2:45 p.m.</p>
<p>Elina Svitolina has ended 15-year-old Marta Kostyuk's strong run at Melbourne Park.</p>
<p>The fourth-seeded Svitolina beat her fellow Ukrainian 6-2, 6-2 on Rod Laver Arena to advance to the fourth round.</p>
<p>Kostyuk, who had nine double faults Friday, including on match point, received entry into qualifying because of her junior girls' victory last year at the Australian Open. She won all three qualifying matches, then her first two in the main draw.</p>
<p>Her win over Peng Shuai in the first round made her the youngest player to win a main-draw match at the Australian Open since Martina Hingis in 1996.</p>
<p>Kostyuk entered the tournament ranked No. 521. A Women's Tennis Association official said Friday her ranking should improve to around 250 because of her performance at Melbourne Park.</p>
<p>_____</p>
<p>1:30 p.m.</p>
<p>Petra Martic celebrated her 27th birthday with a 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 win over Luksika Kumkhum to advance to the fourth round at Melbourne Park.</p>
<p>The Croatian player will take on Elise Mertens or Alize Cornet in the final 16. Luksika had beaten Belinda Bencic in the second round after Bencic defeated Venus Williams in the first.</p>
<p>On Thursday, 2016 champion Angelique Kerber celebrated her 30th birthday with a second-round win over Donna Vekic.</p>
<p>_____</p>
<p>12:55 p.m.</p>
<p>Qualifier Denisa Allertova became the first player to advance to the fourth round of the Australian Open after defeating Magda Linette 6-1, 6-4 at Margaret Court Arena.</p>
<p>Allertova will next play either fourth-seeded Elina Svitolina or 15-year-old Marta Kostyuk.</p>
<p>By 1 p.m., temperatures had risen to 39 Celsius (102 Fahrenheit) , three degrees higher than at the start of play two hours earlier , but still under the forecast high of 42 C (108 F).</p>
<p>_____</p>
<p>11:20 a.m.</p>
<p>Melbourne Park was expected to be scorching on Friday, with temperatures reaching 42 Celsius (108 Fahrenheit) for the fifth day of the Australian Open.</p>
<p>While top-seeded Rafael Nadal, Nick Kyrgios and Caroline Wozniacki were among those scheduled to play their third-round matches, tournament officials were expected to keep a close eye on the rising temperatures. When play began at 11 a.m., it was already 35 C (95 F).</p>
<p>On Thursday, officials were criticized when play continued after the temperature reached 40 C (104 F), and several players, including Gael Monfils, complained it should have been stopped.</p>
<p>The tournament has an Extreme Heat Policy which goes into effect when the air temperature exceeds 40 Celsius and the wet-bulb reading, which takes into account other factors such as humidity, is more than 32.5 C (91 F).</p>
<p>When both those temperatures are exceeded, matches on outside courts are supposed to be suspended and the roofs closed on all three main stadiums — Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena and Hisense Arena.</p>
<p>_____</p>
<p>More AP coverage: www.apnews.com/tag/AustralianOpen</p>
<p>MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The Latest on Friday at the Australian Open (all times local):</p>
<p>12:15 a.m.</p>
<p>After saving two match points and trailing 5-1 in the third set in her last match, there were no real dramas in the third round for Caroline Wozniacki.</p>
<p>The second-seeded Wozniacki beat Kiki Bertens 6-4, 6-3 to advance to a fourth-round match against Magdalena Rybarikova.</p>
<p>Wozniacki had to save four break points while serving for the match on Friday but clinched it on her fourth match point when Bertens' return of serve went long.</p>
<p>On Wednesday, Wozniacki won the last six games of her match with Jana Fett in the second round.</p>
<p>The former No. 1 Wozniacki is one of four players here who could overtake top-seeded Simona Halep for the No 1. ranking at the end of the Australian Open.</p>
<p>_____</p>
<p>11:15 p.m.</p>
<p>French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko is out of the Australian Open, beaten 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 by Anett Kontaveit in the third round at Melbourne Park.</p>
<p>Ostapenko won six out of seven games after an injury timeout following the first set to have her left thigh strapped.</p>
<p>In the third set, Kontaveit broke Ostapenko's service in the seventh game, held and then broke again in the ninth to end the match.</p>
<p>It continued Ostapenko's poor start to the season since hiring a new coach, Australian David Taylor. She lost in the first round at tournaments in Shenzhen and Sydney.</p>
<p>_____</p>
<p>10:50 p.m.</p>
<p>Marin Cilic has reached the fourth round of the Australian Open for the first time in seven years with a 7-6 (4), 6-3, 7-6 (4) win over Ryan Harrison.</p>
<p>The sixth-seeded Cilic made the round of 16 at Melbourne Park for four straight years from 2008-11, including a run to the semifinals in 2010, but hasn't returned since.</p>
<p>Cilic had 53 winners in the match, including 16 aces, and won 26 of 29 points at net.</p>
<p>Cilic next faces 10th-seeded Pablo Carreno Busta for a spot in the quarterfinals.</p>
<p>____</p>
<p>10:30 p.m.</p>
<p>Nick Kyrgios won the last five points of the tiebreaker to beat 2008 finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 7-6 (5), 4-6, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (5) and remain with a chance of providing a first Australian male singles winner of the Australian Open in 42 years.</p>
<p>Trailing 5-2 in the tiebreaker, Kyrgios went on a roll as Tsonga appeared to struggle with a knee issue.</p>
<p>Kyrgios is the last of nine Australian male players left in the singles draw. Mark Edmondson was the last Australian to win his national championship in 1976, although Lleyton Hewitt came close, losing the 2005 final to Marat Safin.</p>
<p>The 17th-seeded Kyrgios will play third-seeded Grigor Dimitrov in the fourth round. Dimitrov beat Andrey Rublev in four sets earlier Friday.</p>
<p>_____</p>
<p>9:35 p.m.</p>
<p>Ivo Karlovic may have lost his third-round match at the Australian Open against Andreas Seppi, but he's still accomplishing new feats — at nearly 39 years old.</p>
<p>The big-serving 2.11 meter (6-foot-11) Croatian player smacked 50 aces in back-to-back matches for the first time in his career, hitting 53 in his five-set, second-round win over Yuichi Sugita and another 52 in Friday's five-set loss to Seppi.</p>
<p>Karlovic fell just short of becoming the oldest player to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam since Jimmy Connors' run to the U.S. Open semifinals in 1991.</p>
<p>How does he keep doing it? Karlovic says it's simple: He hits the gym, lifts weights and runs.</p>
<p>"I always say that it's about the fitness level," he says. "I don't feel any weaker than when I was 28."</p>
<p>Karlovic's ranking has slid from No. 21 to No. 89 in the past year, but if he can keep it high enough to continue playing in ATP-level events, he could see himself sticking around for several more years.</p>
<p>"I think I can still do upsets here and there, so I like it still," he said.</p>
<p>____</p>
<p>9:05 p.m.</p>
<p>Top-seeded Rafael Nadal is through to the fourth round at Melbourne Park, beating Damir Dzumhur 6-1, 6-3, 6-1 in a night match at Margaret Court Arena.</p>
<p>Nadal, who lost the 2017 final here to Roger Federer, is attempting to win the Australian Open for the second time — the first was in 2009 — and add to his 16 major titles, second only among men to Federer's 19.</p>
<p>In the round of 16 on Sunday, the Spanish lefthander will play Diego Schwartzman, who beat Alexandr Dolgopolov in four sets earlier Friday.</p>
<p>_____</p>
<p>8:50 p.m.</p>
<p>Will Smith made his Grand Slam debut on Friday night, taking a seat at Rod Laver Arena for a third-round Australian Open match between local hope Nick Kyrgios and 2008 finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.</p>
<p>The actor briefly met Tsonga before the players walked onto the court.</p>
<p>"Really a great guy. Really sweet. Love his energy," Smith told former player Jim Courier in an interview aired on the Seven Network. "Happy being here watching these guys play."</p>
<p>Smith has spent 10 days in Australia taking a break before starting work on a movie.</p>
<p>"This is the first time at the Open — this is my first Slam," said Smith, who planned to watch top-ranked Rafael Nadal on nearby Margaret Court Arena but decided to stick around on the main show court.</p>
<p>He is the second Hollywood personality at the Australian Open this week. Will Ferrell appeared in the crowd over the first few days, doing an on-court interview with Roger Federer.</p>
<p>_____</p>
<p>7:55 p.m.</p>
<p>Andreas Seppi overcame Ivo Karlovic and the Croatian's 52 aces to advance to the fourth round with a 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-7 (3), 6-7 (5), 9-7 win that spanned 3 hours, 51 minutes.</p>
<p>The 33-year-old Seppi clinched the match with a break of the 38-year-old Karlovic's service, only his second break of nine attempts during the match. Seppi saved both break points against him.</p>
<p>Seppi plays Kyle Edmund of Britain in the fourth round. Edmund also had a five-set win Friday, beating Nikoloz Basilashvili in 3 hours, 34 minutes.</p>
<p>_____</p>
<p>6:10 p.m.</p>
<p>Third-seeded Grigor Dimitrov has advanced to the fourth round at Melbourne Park, beating Andrey Rublev 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 in a Rod Laver Arena match which concluded the day session on the main show court.</p>
<p>After beating qualifiers in his first two matches, Dimitrov had a much more difficult time against the 30th-seeded Rublev. Serving for the match, Dimitrov faced a break point before advancing on his first match point, clinching it with a winner off a Rublev drop shot.</p>
<p>Dimitrov will next play the winner of Friday night's match on Rod Laver between local hope Nick Kyrgios and 2008 finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the round of 16.</p>
<p>_____</p>
<p>4:40 p.m.</p>
<p>Coco Vandeweghe has been hit with the largest fine of the 2018 Australian Open so far — a $10,000 penalty for unsporting conduct for screaming an obscenity at her first-round opponent, Timea Babos.</p>
<p>Vandeweghe said after the match that she was irritated by what she described as excessive celebrating by her Hungarian opponent during their match.</p>
<p>The 10th-seeded Vandeweghe was assessed a code violation for the obscenity and delay of game for insisting on eating a banana during a changeover, getting docked a point in the second set of her 7-6 (4), 6-2 loss.</p>
<p>Borna Coric has received the largest fine thus far in the men's draw — $5,000 for shattering his racket during his first-round loss to John Millman.</p>
<p>____</p>
<p>3:05 p.m.</p>
<p>The worst of the extremely hot temperatures appears to be over at Melbourne Park.</p>
<p>The forecast high of 42 Celsius (108 Fahrenheit) was never quite reached, with the temperature hitting 40.3 C (104.5 F) before a weather change came through that cooled things off, somewhat.</p>
<p>Within an hour, the temperature had starting dropping. At 3 p.m. it was 35.6 C (96 F).</p>
<p>Alize Cornet took a medical timeout and had her pulse and blood pressure checked during her match with Elise Mertens when the French player complained of shortness of breath.</p>
<p>But after being iced down by a trainer, she continued her match.</p>
<p>____</p>
<p>2:45 p.m.</p>
<p>Elina Svitolina has ended 15-year-old Marta Kostyuk's strong run at Melbourne Park.</p>
<p>The fourth-seeded Svitolina beat her fellow Ukrainian 6-2, 6-2 on Rod Laver Arena to advance to the fourth round.</p>
<p>Kostyuk, who had nine double faults Friday, including on match point, received entry into qualifying because of her junior girls' victory last year at the Australian Open. She won all three qualifying matches, then her first two in the main draw.</p>
<p>Her win over Peng Shuai in the first round made her the youngest player to win a main-draw match at the Australian Open since Martina Hingis in 1996.</p>
<p>Kostyuk entered the tournament ranked No. 521. A Women's Tennis Association official said Friday her ranking should improve to around 250 because of her performance at Melbourne Park.</p>
<p>_____</p>
<p>1:30 p.m.</p>
<p>Petra Martic celebrated her 27th birthday with a 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 win over Luksika Kumkhum to advance to the fourth round at Melbourne Park.</p>
<p>The Croatian player will take on Elise Mertens or Alize Cornet in the final 16. Luksika had beaten Belinda Bencic in the second round after Bencic defeated Venus Williams in the first.</p>
<p>On Thursday, 2016 champion Angelique Kerber celebrated her 30th birthday with a second-round win over Donna Vekic.</p>
<p>_____</p>
<p>12:55 p.m.</p>
<p>Qualifier Denisa Allertova became the first player to advance to the fourth round of the Australian Open after defeating Magda Linette 6-1, 6-4 at Margaret Court Arena.</p>
<p>Allertova will next play either fourth-seeded Elina Svitolina or 15-year-old Marta Kostyuk.</p>
<p>By 1 p.m., temperatures had risen to 39 Celsius (102 Fahrenheit) , three degrees higher than at the start of play two hours earlier , but still under the forecast high of 42 C (108 F).</p>
<p>_____</p>
<p>11:20 a.m.</p>
<p>Melbourne Park was expected to be scorching on Friday, with temperatures reaching 42 Celsius (108 Fahrenheit) for the fifth day of the Australian Open.</p>
<p>While top-seeded Rafael Nadal, Nick Kyrgios and Caroline Wozniacki were among those scheduled to play their third-round matches, tournament officials were expected to keep a close eye on the rising temperatures. When play began at 11 a.m., it was already 35 C (95 F).</p>
<p>On Thursday, officials were criticized when play continued after the temperature reached 40 C (104 F), and several players, including Gael Monfils, complained it should have been stopped.</p>
<p>The tournament has an Extreme Heat Policy which goes into effect when the air temperature exceeds 40 Celsius and the wet-bulb reading, which takes into account other factors such as humidity, is more than 32.5 C (91 F).</p>
<p>When both those temperatures are exceeded, matches on outside courts are supposed to be suspended and the roofs closed on all three main stadiums — Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena and Hisense Arena.</p>
<p>_____</p>
<p>More AP coverage: www.apnews.com/tag/AustralianOpen</p>
| false | 2 |
melbourne australia ap latest friday australian open times local 1215 saving two match points trailing 51 third set last match real dramas third round caroline wozniacki secondseeded wozniacki beat kiki bertens 64 63 advance fourthround match magdalena rybarikova wozniacki save four break points serving match friday clinched fourth match point bertens return serve went long wednesday wozniacki last six games match jana fett second round former 1 wozniacki one four players could overtake topseeded simona halep 1 ranking end australian open _____ 1115 pm french open champion jelena ostapenko australian open beaten 63 16 63 anett kontaveit third round melbourne park ostapenko six seven games injury timeout following first set left thigh strapped third set kontaveit broke ostapenkos service seventh game held broke ninth end match continued ostapenkos poor start season since hiring new coach australian david taylor lost first round tournaments shenzhen sydney _____ 1050 pm marin cilic reached fourth round australian open first time seven years 76 4 63 76 4 win ryan harrison sixthseeded cilic made round 16 melbourne park four straight years 200811 including run semifinals 2010 hasnt returned since cilic 53 winners match including 16 aces 26 29 points net cilic next faces 10thseeded pablo carreno busta spot quarterfinals ____ 1030 pm nick kyrgios last five points tiebreaker beat 2008 finalist jowilfried tsonga 76 5 46 76 6 76 5 remain chance providing first australian male singles winner australian open 42 years trailing 52 tiebreaker kyrgios went roll tsonga appeared struggle knee issue kyrgios last nine australian male players left singles draw mark edmondson last australian win national championship 1976 although lleyton hewitt came close losing 2005 final marat safin 17thseeded kyrgios play thirdseeded grigor dimitrov fourth round dimitrov beat andrey rublev four sets earlier friday _____ 935 pm ivo karlovic may lost thirdround match australian open andreas seppi hes still accomplishing new feats nearly 39 years old bigserving 211 meter 6foot11 croatian player smacked 50 aces backtoback matches first time career hitting 53 fiveset secondround win yuichi sugita another 52 fridays fiveset loss seppi karlovic fell short becoming oldest player reach fourth round grand slam since jimmy connors run us open semifinals 1991 keep karlovic says simple hits gym lifts weights runs always say fitness level says dont feel weaker 28 karlovics ranking slid 21 89 past year keep high enough continue playing atplevel events could see sticking around several years think still upsets like still said ____ 905 pm topseeded rafael nadal fourth round melbourne park beating damir dzumhur 61 63 61 night match margaret court arena nadal lost 2017 final roger federer attempting win australian open second time first 2009 add 16 major titles second among men federers 19 round 16 sunday spanish lefthander play diego schwartzman beat alexandr dolgopolov four sets earlier friday _____ 850 pm smith made grand slam debut friday night taking seat rod laver arena thirdround australian open match local hope nick kyrgios 2008 finalist jowilfried tsonga actor briefly met tsonga players walked onto court really great guy really sweet love energy smith told former player jim courier interview aired seven network happy watching guys play smith spent 10 days australia taking break starting work movie first time open first slam said smith planned watch topranked rafael nadal nearby margaret court arena decided stick around main show court second hollywood personality australian open week ferrell appeared crowd first days oncourt interview roger federer _____ 755 pm andreas seppi overcame ivo karlovic croatians 52 aces advance fourth round 63 76 4 67 3 67 5 97 win spanned 3 hours 51 minutes 33yearold seppi clinched match break 38yearold karlovics service second break nine attempts match seppi saved break points seppi plays kyle edmund britain fourth round edmund also fiveset win friday beating nikoloz basilashvili 3 hours 34 minutes _____ 610 pm thirdseeded grigor dimitrov advanced fourth round melbourne park beating andrey rublev 63 46 64 64 rod laver arena match concluded day session main show court beating qualifiers first two matches dimitrov much difficult time 30thseeded rublev serving match dimitrov faced break point advancing first match point clinching winner rublev drop shot dimitrov next play winner friday nights match rod laver local hope nick kyrgios 2008 finalist jowilfried tsonga round 16 _____ 440 pm coco vandeweghe hit largest fine 2018 australian open far 10000 penalty unsporting conduct screaming obscenity firstround opponent timea babos vandeweghe said match irritated described excessive celebrating hungarian opponent match 10thseeded vandeweghe assessed code violation obscenity delay game insisting eating banana changeover getting docked point second set 76 4 62 loss borna coric received largest fine thus far mens draw 5000 shattering racket firstround loss john millman ____ 305 pm worst extremely hot temperatures appears melbourne park forecast high 42 celsius 108 fahrenheit never quite reached temperature hitting 403 c 1045 f weather change came cooled things somewhat within hour temperature starting dropping 3 pm 356 c 96 f alize cornet took medical timeout pulse blood pressure checked match elise mertens french player complained shortness breath iced trainer continued match ____ 245 pm elina svitolina ended 15yearold marta kostyuks strong run melbourne park fourthseeded svitolina beat fellow ukrainian 62 62 rod laver arena advance fourth round kostyuk nine double faults friday including match point received entry qualifying junior girls victory last year australian open three qualifying matches first two main draw win peng shuai first round made youngest player win maindraw match australian open since martina hingis 1996 kostyuk entered tournament ranked 521 womens tennis association official said friday ranking improve around 250 performance melbourne park _____ 130 pm petra martic celebrated 27th birthday 63 36 75 win luksika kumkhum advance fourth round melbourne park croatian player take elise mertens alize cornet final 16 luksika beaten belinda bencic second round bencic defeated venus williams first thursday 2016 champion angelique kerber celebrated 30th birthday secondround win donna vekic _____ 1255 pm qualifier denisa allertova became first player advance fourth round australian open defeating magda linette 61 64 margaret court arena allertova next play either fourthseeded elina svitolina 15yearold marta kostyuk 1 pm temperatures risen 39 celsius 102 fahrenheit three degrees higher start play two hours earlier still forecast high 42 c 108 f _____ 1120 melbourne park expected scorching friday temperatures reaching 42 celsius 108 fahrenheit fifth day australian open topseeded rafael nadal nick kyrgios caroline wozniacki among scheduled play thirdround matches tournament officials expected keep close eye rising temperatures play began 11 already 35 c 95 f thursday officials criticized play continued temperature reached 40 c 104 f several players including gael monfils complained stopped tournament extreme heat policy goes effect air temperature exceeds 40 celsius wetbulb reading takes account factors humidity 325 c 91 f temperatures exceeded matches outside courts supposed suspended roofs closed three main stadiums rod laver arena margaret court arena hisense arena _____ ap coverage wwwapnewscomtagaustralianopen melbourne australia ap latest friday australian open times local 1215 saving two match points trailing 51 third set last match real dramas third round caroline wozniacki secondseeded wozniacki beat kiki bertens 64 63 advance fourthround match magdalena rybarikova wozniacki save four break points serving match friday clinched fourth match point bertens return serve went long wednesday wozniacki last six games match jana fett second round former 1 wozniacki one four players could overtake topseeded simona halep 1 ranking end australian open _____ 1115 pm french open champion jelena ostapenko australian open beaten 63 16 63 anett kontaveit third round melbourne park ostapenko six seven games injury timeout following first set left thigh strapped third set kontaveit broke ostapenkos service seventh game held broke ninth end match continued ostapenkos poor start season since hiring new coach australian david taylor lost first round tournaments shenzhen sydney _____ 1050 pm marin cilic reached fourth round australian open first time seven years 76 4 63 76 4 win ryan harrison sixthseeded cilic made round 16 melbourne park four straight years 200811 including run semifinals 2010 hasnt returned since cilic 53 winners match including 16 aces 26 29 points net cilic next faces 10thseeded pablo carreno busta spot quarterfinals ____ 1030 pm nick kyrgios last five points tiebreaker beat 2008 finalist jowilfried tsonga 76 5 46 76 6 76 5 remain chance providing first australian male singles winner australian open 42 years trailing 52 tiebreaker kyrgios went roll tsonga appeared struggle knee issue kyrgios last nine australian male players left singles draw mark edmondson last australian win national championship 1976 although lleyton hewitt came close losing 2005 final marat safin 17thseeded kyrgios play thirdseeded grigor dimitrov fourth round dimitrov beat andrey rublev four sets earlier friday _____ 935 pm ivo karlovic may lost thirdround match australian open andreas seppi hes still accomplishing new feats nearly 39 years old bigserving 211 meter 6foot11 croatian player smacked 50 aces backtoback matches first time career hitting 53 fiveset secondround win yuichi sugita another 52 fridays fiveset loss seppi karlovic fell short becoming oldest player reach fourth round grand slam since jimmy connors run us open semifinals 1991 keep karlovic says simple hits gym lifts weights runs always say fitness level says dont feel weaker 28 karlovics ranking slid 21 89 past year keep high enough continue playing atplevel events could see sticking around several years think still upsets like still said ____ 905 pm topseeded rafael nadal fourth round melbourne park beating damir dzumhur 61 63 61 night match margaret court arena nadal lost 2017 final roger federer attempting win australian open second time first 2009 add 16 major titles second among men federers 19 round 16 sunday spanish lefthander play diego schwartzman beat alexandr dolgopolov four sets earlier friday _____ 850 pm smith made grand slam debut friday night taking seat rod laver arena thirdround australian open match local hope nick kyrgios 2008 finalist jowilfried tsonga actor briefly met tsonga players walked onto court really great guy really sweet love energy smith told former player jim courier interview aired seven network happy watching guys play smith spent 10 days australia taking break starting work movie first time open first slam said smith planned watch topranked rafael nadal nearby margaret court arena decided stick around main show court second hollywood personality australian open week ferrell appeared crowd first days oncourt interview roger federer _____ 755 pm andreas seppi overcame ivo karlovic croatians 52 aces advance fourth round 63 76 4 67 3 67 5 97 win spanned 3 hours 51 minutes 33yearold seppi clinched match break 38yearold karlovics service second break nine attempts match seppi saved break points seppi plays kyle edmund britain fourth round edmund also fiveset win friday beating nikoloz basilashvili 3 hours 34 minutes _____ 610 pm thirdseeded grigor dimitrov advanced fourth round melbourne park beating andrey rublev 63 46 64 64 rod laver arena match concluded day session main show court beating qualifiers first two matches dimitrov much difficult time 30thseeded rublev serving match dimitrov faced break point advancing first match point clinching winner rublev drop shot dimitrov next play winner friday nights match rod laver local hope nick kyrgios 2008 finalist jowilfried tsonga round 16 _____ 440 pm coco vandeweghe hit largest fine 2018 australian open far 10000 penalty unsporting conduct screaming obscenity firstround opponent timea babos vandeweghe said match irritated described excessive celebrating hungarian opponent match 10thseeded vandeweghe assessed code violation obscenity delay game insisting eating banana changeover getting docked point second set 76 4 62 loss borna coric received largest fine thus far mens draw 5000 shattering racket firstround loss john millman ____ 305 pm worst extremely hot temperatures appears melbourne park forecast high 42 celsius 108 fahrenheit never quite reached temperature hitting 403 c 1045 f weather change came cooled things somewhat within hour temperature starting dropping 3 pm 356 c 96 f alize cornet took medical timeout pulse blood pressure checked match elise mertens french player complained shortness breath iced trainer continued match ____ 245 pm elina svitolina ended 15yearold marta kostyuks strong run melbourne park fourthseeded svitolina beat fellow ukrainian 62 62 rod laver arena advance fourth round kostyuk nine double faults friday including match point received entry qualifying junior girls victory last year australian open three qualifying matches first two main draw win peng shuai first round made youngest player win maindraw match australian open since martina hingis 1996 kostyuk entered tournament ranked 521 womens tennis association official said friday ranking improve around 250 performance melbourne park _____ 130 pm petra martic celebrated 27th birthday 63 36 75 win luksika kumkhum advance fourth round melbourne park croatian player take elise mertens alize cornet final 16 luksika beaten belinda bencic second round bencic defeated venus williams first thursday 2016 champion angelique kerber celebrated 30th birthday secondround win donna vekic _____ 1255 pm qualifier denisa allertova became first player advance fourth round australian open defeating magda linette 61 64 margaret court arena allertova next play either fourthseeded elina svitolina 15yearold marta kostyuk 1 pm temperatures risen 39 celsius 102 fahrenheit three degrees higher start play two hours earlier still forecast high 42 c 108 f _____ 1120 melbourne park expected scorching friday temperatures reaching 42 celsius 108 fahrenheit fifth day australian open topseeded rafael nadal nick kyrgios caroline wozniacki among scheduled play thirdround matches tournament officials expected keep close eye rising temperatures play began 11 already 35 c 95 f thursday officials criticized play continued temperature reached 40 c 104 f several players including gael monfils complained stopped tournament extreme heat policy goes effect air temperature exceeds 40 celsius wetbulb reading takes account factors humidity 325 c 91 f temperatures exceeded matches outside courts supposed suspended roofs closed three main stadiums rod laver arena margaret court arena hisense arena _____ ap coverage wwwapnewscomtagaustralianopen
| 2,268 |
<p>WASHINGTON (AP) — Like Roy Moore before him, President Donald Trump has denied he knows or ever met women who have accused him of unwanted sexual advances. That denial is no more plausible than what people heard from the defeated Alabama Senate candidate.</p>
<p>Trump's tweet on the subject is at odds with the record — photos included — and was just one in a series of questionable statements he made over the past week on a variety of subjects.</p>
<p>A look at a sampling:</p>
<p>TRUMP: "Despite thousands of hours wasted and many millions of dollars spent, the Democrats have been unable to show any collusion with Russia - so now they are moving on to the false accusations and fabricated stories of women who I don't know and/or have never met. FAKE NEWS!" — Tuesday.</p>
<p>THE FACTS: There's no question he met and knew accusers, whatever the truth of the allegations. Two were contestants on "The Apprentice," the show he hosted. Another woman was a People magazine journalist who interviewed him. Another was a would-be business partner with whom he posed for a photo. Another was a Miss Finland who appeared on David Letterman's former late-night TV show with him and has a photo of the two of them. Also: a porn actress and director who shows up in a photo with him, and a former Fox News host who had lunch with him.</p>
<p>Trump spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders, trying to clarify, said Trump was referring only to the three women who discussed their accounts Monday at a news conference and on TV, but that was not what Trump's tweet said.</p>
<p>Of those three, one was a Miss USA contestant when Trump was running the pageant and another worked at Trump Tower. Neither circumstance, by itself, proves that Trump met them. But no one has refuted their accounts or the account of the third woman, who said Trump groped her when they were seat-mates on a flight in the 1980s. More than a dozen women have alleged inappropriate behavior by Trump. He has denied all allegations of sexual misconduct.</p>
<p>In his Alabama Senate campaign, Moore likewise denied knowing his accusers in the face of firm evidence he knew at least some.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>TRUMP: "There is absolutely no collusion. That has been proven. ... So now even the Democrats admit there's no collusion. There is no collusion — that's it."</p>
<p>THE FACTS: Nothing has been proved. It's true that collusion between the 2016 Trump campaign and Russians has not been established, as far as is publicly known. It's not true that collusion has been ruled out, by Democrats or others. The most they've said is that they have not seen firm evidence of it so far. It can't be ruled out because Russia's interference in the election and the Trump team's contacts with Russians are still under criminal investigation by the special counsel and the subject of continuing congressional inquiries. "That's it" is premature.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>TRUMP: "Instead of adding costs, as so many others have done, and other countries, frankly, are doing in many cases, and it's hurting them, for the first time in decades, we achieved regulatory savings." — White House event Thursday on cutting regulations.</p>
<p>THE FACTS: There's incomplete accounting behind that claim. Trump and his administration are adding up savings from the regulations that have been withdrawn through September and omitting the economic benefit that those rules provided.</p>
<p>All federal rules are supposed to have some economic benefit. Rules that are meant to clean up streams have a cost to industry, the government or both but also an anticipated benefit to local businesses from increased tourism, for example. The government has yardsticks to measure such gains. For one, it attaches a value to a human life. The Transportation Department, for example, set that value at $9.6 million in 2016.</p>
<p>So a rule that protects health, the environment or public safety and is projected to save lives as a result can be credited with an economic gain of $9.6 million or so per person saved. It's an imprecise measure but one baked into cost-benefit calculations that are used in federal rule-making. Other economic benefits are looked at, too, such as whether a regulation will save consumers money or reduce how much sick leave employees need to take.</p>
<p>The administration contends that it has completed 67 deregulatory actions and three regulatory actions through the end of September that will result in a cost savings of $570 million a year. But that figure does not include the offsetting of benefits that will now be missed because those rules are gone. The White House Office of Management and Budget confirmed that foregone benefits from retracted or modified rules are not part of that calculation.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>TRUMP: "You remember how bad we were doing when I first took over. There was a big difference. And we were going down. This country was going economically down." — deregulation event Thursday.</p>
<p>THE FACTS: Not really. It's true that growth cooled in 2016, but other measures showed improvement or held steady in President Barack Obama's final year. For example, hourly wages perked up in 2016, increasing 2.9 percent in December 2016 from a year earlier. Wage growth has since slipped to a 2.5 percent annual pace.</p>
<p>According to the Census Bureau, median household income rose at a healthy clip in 2016 for the second year in a row, finally matching its 1999 peak. The economy expanded just 1.5 percent in 2016, down from 2.9 percent in 2015. Consumers and businesses are more optimistic after Trump's election, and that is probably accelerating growth this year. But the economy was not collapsing or heading to recession in 2016.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>TRUMP: "We're lifting restrictions on American energy, and we've ended the war on coal. We have clean coal, beautiful, clean coal, another source of energy." — deregulation event Thursday.</p>
<p>THE FACTS: If that implies a dramatic turnaround, it's misleading. Coal production and jobs have staged a slight comeback under Trump but are still far below levels of just a few years ago.</p>
<p>Trump has lifted some regulations on coal mines implemented by Obama. But the industry is still struggling to compete with natural gas, which has become much cheaper because fracking techniques have greatly increased U.S. gas production. Coal production is on track this year to top last year's output, according to the Energy Information Administration. But based on current trends, it will probably still be below 2015's level and as much as 20 percent below 2011's output.</p>
<p>Coal mining companies have added 1,200 jobs since Trump's inauguration, but there are still 7,600 fewer such jobs than just two years ago.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Associated Press writers Joan Lowy, Christopher S. Rugaber and Josh Boak contributed to this report.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Find AP Fact Checks at <a href="" type="internal">https://apnews.com/tag/APFactCheck</a></p>
<p>WASHINGTON (AP) — Like Roy Moore before him, President Donald Trump has denied he knows or ever met women who have accused him of unwanted sexual advances. That denial is no more plausible than what people heard from the defeated Alabama Senate candidate.</p>
<p>Trump's tweet on the subject is at odds with the record — photos included — and was just one in a series of questionable statements he made over the past week on a variety of subjects.</p>
<p>A look at a sampling:</p>
<p>TRUMP: "Despite thousands of hours wasted and many millions of dollars spent, the Democrats have been unable to show any collusion with Russia - so now they are moving on to the false accusations and fabricated stories of women who I don't know and/or have never met. FAKE NEWS!" — Tuesday.</p>
<p>THE FACTS: There's no question he met and knew accusers, whatever the truth of the allegations. Two were contestants on "The Apprentice," the show he hosted. Another woman was a People magazine journalist who interviewed him. Another was a would-be business partner with whom he posed for a photo. Another was a Miss Finland who appeared on David Letterman's former late-night TV show with him and has a photo of the two of them. Also: a porn actress and director who shows up in a photo with him, and a former Fox News host who had lunch with him.</p>
<p>Trump spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders, trying to clarify, said Trump was referring only to the three women who discussed their accounts Monday at a news conference and on TV, but that was not what Trump's tweet said.</p>
<p>Of those three, one was a Miss USA contestant when Trump was running the pageant and another worked at Trump Tower. Neither circumstance, by itself, proves that Trump met them. But no one has refuted their accounts or the account of the third woman, who said Trump groped her when they were seat-mates on a flight in the 1980s. More than a dozen women have alleged inappropriate behavior by Trump. He has denied all allegations of sexual misconduct.</p>
<p>In his Alabama Senate campaign, Moore likewise denied knowing his accusers in the face of firm evidence he knew at least some.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>TRUMP: "There is absolutely no collusion. That has been proven. ... So now even the Democrats admit there's no collusion. There is no collusion — that's it."</p>
<p>THE FACTS: Nothing has been proved. It's true that collusion between the 2016 Trump campaign and Russians has not been established, as far as is publicly known. It's not true that collusion has been ruled out, by Democrats or others. The most they've said is that they have not seen firm evidence of it so far. It can't be ruled out because Russia's interference in the election and the Trump team's contacts with Russians are still under criminal investigation by the special counsel and the subject of continuing congressional inquiries. "That's it" is premature.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>TRUMP: "Instead of adding costs, as so many others have done, and other countries, frankly, are doing in many cases, and it's hurting them, for the first time in decades, we achieved regulatory savings." — White House event Thursday on cutting regulations.</p>
<p>THE FACTS: There's incomplete accounting behind that claim. Trump and his administration are adding up savings from the regulations that have been withdrawn through September and omitting the economic benefit that those rules provided.</p>
<p>All federal rules are supposed to have some economic benefit. Rules that are meant to clean up streams have a cost to industry, the government or both but also an anticipated benefit to local businesses from increased tourism, for example. The government has yardsticks to measure such gains. For one, it attaches a value to a human life. The Transportation Department, for example, set that value at $9.6 million in 2016.</p>
<p>So a rule that protects health, the environment or public safety and is projected to save lives as a result can be credited with an economic gain of $9.6 million or so per person saved. It's an imprecise measure but one baked into cost-benefit calculations that are used in federal rule-making. Other economic benefits are looked at, too, such as whether a regulation will save consumers money or reduce how much sick leave employees need to take.</p>
<p>The administration contends that it has completed 67 deregulatory actions and three regulatory actions through the end of September that will result in a cost savings of $570 million a year. But that figure does not include the offsetting of benefits that will now be missed because those rules are gone. The White House Office of Management and Budget confirmed that foregone benefits from retracted or modified rules are not part of that calculation.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>TRUMP: "You remember how bad we were doing when I first took over. There was a big difference. And we were going down. This country was going economically down." — deregulation event Thursday.</p>
<p>THE FACTS: Not really. It's true that growth cooled in 2016, but other measures showed improvement or held steady in President Barack Obama's final year. For example, hourly wages perked up in 2016, increasing 2.9 percent in December 2016 from a year earlier. Wage growth has since slipped to a 2.5 percent annual pace.</p>
<p>According to the Census Bureau, median household income rose at a healthy clip in 2016 for the second year in a row, finally matching its 1999 peak. The economy expanded just 1.5 percent in 2016, down from 2.9 percent in 2015. Consumers and businesses are more optimistic after Trump's election, and that is probably accelerating growth this year. But the economy was not collapsing or heading to recession in 2016.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>TRUMP: "We're lifting restrictions on American energy, and we've ended the war on coal. We have clean coal, beautiful, clean coal, another source of energy." — deregulation event Thursday.</p>
<p>THE FACTS: If that implies a dramatic turnaround, it's misleading. Coal production and jobs have staged a slight comeback under Trump but are still far below levels of just a few years ago.</p>
<p>Trump has lifted some regulations on coal mines implemented by Obama. But the industry is still struggling to compete with natural gas, which has become much cheaper because fracking techniques have greatly increased U.S. gas production. Coal production is on track this year to top last year's output, according to the Energy Information Administration. But based on current trends, it will probably still be below 2015's level and as much as 20 percent below 2011's output.</p>
<p>Coal mining companies have added 1,200 jobs since Trump's inauguration, but there are still 7,600 fewer such jobs than just two years ago.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Associated Press writers Joan Lowy, Christopher S. Rugaber and Josh Boak contributed to this report.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Find AP Fact Checks at <a href="" type="internal">https://apnews.com/tag/APFactCheck</a></p>
| false | 2 |
washington ap like roy moore president donald trump denied knows ever met women accused unwanted sexual advances denial plausible people heard defeated alabama senate candidate trumps tweet subject odds record photos included one series questionable statements made past week variety subjects look sampling trump despite thousands hours wasted many millions dollars spent democrats unable show collusion russia moving false accusations fabricated stories women dont know andor never met fake news tuesday facts theres question met knew accusers whatever truth allegations two contestants apprentice show hosted another woman people magazine journalist interviewed another wouldbe business partner posed photo another miss finland appeared david lettermans former latenight tv show photo two also porn actress director shows photo former fox news host lunch trump spokeswoman sarah huckabee sanders trying clarify said trump referring three women discussed accounts monday news conference tv trumps tweet said three one miss usa contestant trump running pageant another worked trump tower neither circumstance proves trump met one refuted accounts account third woman said trump groped seatmates flight 1980s dozen women alleged inappropriate behavior trump denied allegations sexual misconduct alabama senate campaign moore likewise denied knowing accusers face firm evidence knew least ___ trump absolutely collusion proven even democrats admit theres collusion collusion thats facts nothing proved true collusion 2016 trump campaign russians established far publicly known true collusion ruled democrats others theyve said seen firm evidence far cant ruled russias interference election trump teams contacts russians still criminal investigation special counsel subject continuing congressional inquiries thats premature ___ trump instead adding costs many others done countries frankly many cases hurting first time decades achieved regulatory savings white house event thursday cutting regulations facts theres incomplete accounting behind claim trump administration adding savings regulations withdrawn september omitting economic benefit rules provided federal rules supposed economic benefit rules meant clean streams cost industry government also anticipated benefit local businesses increased tourism example government yardsticks measure gains one attaches value human life transportation department example set value 96 million 2016 rule protects health environment public safety projected save lives result credited economic gain 96 million per person saved imprecise measure one baked costbenefit calculations used federal rulemaking economic benefits looked whether regulation save consumers money reduce much sick leave employees need take administration contends completed 67 deregulatory actions three regulatory actions end september result cost savings 570 million year figure include offsetting benefits missed rules gone white house office management budget confirmed foregone benefits retracted modified rules part calculation ___ trump remember bad first took big difference going country going economically deregulation event thursday facts really true growth cooled 2016 measures showed improvement held steady president barack obamas final year example hourly wages perked 2016 increasing 29 percent december 2016 year earlier wage growth since slipped 25 percent annual pace according census bureau median household income rose healthy clip 2016 second year row finally matching 1999 peak economy expanded 15 percent 2016 29 percent 2015 consumers businesses optimistic trumps election probably accelerating growth year economy collapsing heading recession 2016 ___ trump lifting restrictions american energy weve ended war coal clean coal beautiful clean coal another source energy deregulation event thursday facts implies dramatic turnaround misleading coal production jobs staged slight comeback trump still far levels years ago trump lifted regulations coal mines implemented obama industry still struggling compete natural gas become much cheaper fracking techniques greatly increased us gas production coal production track year top last years output according energy information administration based current trends probably still 2015s level much 20 percent 2011s output coal mining companies added 1200 jobs since trumps inauguration still 7600 fewer jobs two years ago ___ associated press writers joan lowy christopher rugaber josh boak contributed report ___ find ap fact checks httpsapnewscomtagapfactcheck washington ap like roy moore president donald trump denied knows ever met women accused unwanted sexual advances denial plausible people heard defeated alabama senate candidate trumps tweet subject odds record photos included one series questionable statements made past week variety subjects look sampling trump despite thousands hours wasted many millions dollars spent democrats unable show collusion russia moving false accusations fabricated stories women dont know andor never met fake news tuesday facts theres question met knew accusers whatever truth allegations two contestants apprentice show hosted another woman people magazine journalist interviewed another wouldbe business partner posed photo another miss finland appeared david lettermans former latenight tv show photo two also porn actress director shows photo former fox news host lunch trump spokeswoman sarah huckabee sanders trying clarify said trump referring three women discussed accounts monday news conference tv trumps tweet said three one miss usa contestant trump running pageant another worked trump tower neither circumstance proves trump met one refuted accounts account third woman said trump groped seatmates flight 1980s dozen women alleged inappropriate behavior trump denied allegations sexual misconduct alabama senate campaign moore likewise denied knowing accusers face firm evidence knew least ___ trump absolutely collusion proven even democrats admit theres collusion collusion thats facts nothing proved true collusion 2016 trump campaign russians established far publicly known true collusion ruled democrats others theyve said seen firm evidence far cant ruled russias interference election trump teams contacts russians still criminal investigation special counsel subject continuing congressional inquiries thats premature ___ trump instead adding costs many others done countries frankly many cases hurting first time decades achieved regulatory savings white house event thursday cutting regulations facts theres incomplete accounting behind claim trump administration adding savings regulations withdrawn september omitting economic benefit rules provided federal rules supposed economic benefit rules meant clean streams cost industry government also anticipated benefit local businesses increased tourism example government yardsticks measure gains one attaches value human life transportation department example set value 96 million 2016 rule protects health environment public safety projected save lives result credited economic gain 96 million per person saved imprecise measure one baked costbenefit calculations used federal rulemaking economic benefits looked whether regulation save consumers money reduce much sick leave employees need take administration contends completed 67 deregulatory actions three regulatory actions end september result cost savings 570 million year figure include offsetting benefits missed rules gone white house office management budget confirmed foregone benefits retracted modified rules part calculation ___ trump remember bad first took big difference going country going economically deregulation event thursday facts really true growth cooled 2016 measures showed improvement held steady president barack obamas final year example hourly wages perked 2016 increasing 29 percent december 2016 year earlier wage growth since slipped 25 percent annual pace according census bureau median household income rose healthy clip 2016 second year row finally matching 1999 peak economy expanded 15 percent 2016 29 percent 2015 consumers businesses optimistic trumps election probably accelerating growth year economy collapsing heading recession 2016 ___ trump lifting restrictions american energy weve ended war coal clean coal beautiful clean coal another source energy deregulation event thursday facts implies dramatic turnaround misleading coal production jobs staged slight comeback trump still far levels years ago trump lifted regulations coal mines implemented obama industry still struggling compete natural gas become much cheaper fracking techniques greatly increased us gas production coal production track year top last years output according energy information administration based current trends probably still 2015s level much 20 percent 2011s output coal mining companies added 1200 jobs since trumps inauguration still 7600 fewer jobs two years ago ___ associated press writers joan lowy christopher rugaber josh boak contributed report ___ find ap fact checks httpsapnewscomtagapfactcheck
| 1,234 |
<p>DENVER (AP) — Colorado lawmakers started their new legislative session Wednesday amid tension over unresolved sexual misconduct allegations against some of their colleagues, including one case in which a female lawmaker maintains she felt threatened after rejecting the sexual advances of a fellow Democratic lawmaker.</p>
<p>In the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives, many Democrats, especially women, wore black — as many actors did at this week's Golden Globe Awards — to show support for Rep. Faith Winter, who filed a formal complaint against Rep. Steve Lebsock in November. While lawmakers often bring their children to join them for the first day of the session, Winter invited two other women who have accused Lebsock of harassment to join her in the House.</p>
<p>Outside the Capitol, about a dozen protesters greeted arriving lawmakers, lobbyists and aides — holding signs with slogans like "Time's Up! Step Down Steve."</p>
<p>Lebsock, who denies the allegations and is running for state treasurer, was present — two days after providing his colleagues copies of a 28-page document defending himself.</p>
<p>He stoically answered, "Here" during roll call. And he stood briefly, then sat back down again, as fellow Democrats gave rousing applause as House Speaker Crisanta Duran declared, "there is no place for harassment, hate speech or discrimination in this chamber."</p>
<p>The session began under a cloud of tension after harassment complaints were filed last fall against Lebsock, Democratic Rep. Paul Rosenthal and an undisclosed number of other lawmakers. Leaders of both chambers are formally reviewing the Legislature's workplace harassment policy — as have several statehouses across the country.</p>
<p>In the Republican-controlled Senate, President Kevin Grantham called for "creating a welcoming and respectful workplace environment" and declared that "I don't think anybody here is of the belief that the status quo is working, or that action shouldn't be taken."</p>
<p>The issue virtually overshadowed other priorities laid out Wednesday by Colorado legislative leaders for the 2018 session, including funding roads and schools, addressing the opioid crisis and tackling a superheated housing market that has limited affordable housing options for many state residents.</p>
<p>Winter alleges that Lebsock acted aggressively toward her when she turned down his sexual advances during an end-of-session party in 2016. She said he grabbed her elbow and that she felt threatened.</p>
<p>Duran, also a Democrat, removed Lebsock from a committee chairmanship and called on him to resign after Winter filed her complaint. Gov. John Hickenlooper, a Democrat, and others called on Lebsock to step down. Meanwhile, Democratic state Rep. Matt Gray has said he plans to introduce a resolution to force Lebsock to give up his position.</p>
<p>In response to that possibility, Lebsock placed his document rebutting the allegations in the mailboxes of all state representatives on Monday.</p>
<p>He said House leaders told him on Dec. 14 to not release the confidential complaint Winter filed against him even though his accusers have been allowed to talk publicly. He also said that investigators still have not contacted him.</p>
<p>Lebsock said he has heard that a small number of Democrats and others began a "whisper campaign" to discredit him and hurt his candidacy for state treasurer. He also insinuated the party was lining up behind Winter in her bid to win a state Senate seat this November that could challenge the narrow Republican majority in that chamber.</p>
<p>Previously, Lebsock released the results of polygraph tests he said proves that he is telling the truth. Without admitting misconduct, he also apologized to Winter and two other women who allege harassment, former lobbyist Holly Tarry and former legislative aide Cassie Tanner, for causing them pain.</p>
<p>The national sexual misconduct scandal was unfolding when a number of complaints were filed at Colorado's statehouse following reports on the Lebsock allegations by Rocky Mountain Community Radio.</p>
<p>State lawmakers are barred under their own rules from discussing even the existence of a complaint under current state legislative procedures.</p>
<p>A harassment complaint against Democratic Rep. Paul Rosenthal was dismissed on Jan. 4. Rosenthal had been accused of harassment by a political activist in 2012. The complaint was dismissed apparently because the alleged incident happened before Rosenthal was elected to his post.</p>
<p>In her opening speech, Duran said a Capitol culture that allows workplace harassment must change.</p>
<p>"Let our actions show that the intolerable will be tolerated no more," she said.</p>
<p>Republican House Minority Leader Patrick Neville said he welcomed reforms to workplace harassment policy but also insisted that those accused must be provided due process, echoing calls from other GOP leaders.</p>
<p>"I perfectly understand and share a sense of outrage when we hear stories of bad behavior," he said. "But when accusations appear where the law is made, we must observe due process so that we fairly and objectively handle complaints and workplace issues."</p>
<p>DENVER (AP) — Colorado lawmakers started their new legislative session Wednesday amid tension over unresolved sexual misconduct allegations against some of their colleagues, including one case in which a female lawmaker maintains she felt threatened after rejecting the sexual advances of a fellow Democratic lawmaker.</p>
<p>In the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives, many Democrats, especially women, wore black — as many actors did at this week's Golden Globe Awards — to show support for Rep. Faith Winter, who filed a formal complaint against Rep. Steve Lebsock in November. While lawmakers often bring their children to join them for the first day of the session, Winter invited two other women who have accused Lebsock of harassment to join her in the House.</p>
<p>Outside the Capitol, about a dozen protesters greeted arriving lawmakers, lobbyists and aides — holding signs with slogans like "Time's Up! Step Down Steve."</p>
<p>Lebsock, who denies the allegations and is running for state treasurer, was present — two days after providing his colleagues copies of a 28-page document defending himself.</p>
<p>He stoically answered, "Here" during roll call. And he stood briefly, then sat back down again, as fellow Democrats gave rousing applause as House Speaker Crisanta Duran declared, "there is no place for harassment, hate speech or discrimination in this chamber."</p>
<p>The session began under a cloud of tension after harassment complaints were filed last fall against Lebsock, Democratic Rep. Paul Rosenthal and an undisclosed number of other lawmakers. Leaders of both chambers are formally reviewing the Legislature's workplace harassment policy — as have several statehouses across the country.</p>
<p>In the Republican-controlled Senate, President Kevin Grantham called for "creating a welcoming and respectful workplace environment" and declared that "I don't think anybody here is of the belief that the status quo is working, or that action shouldn't be taken."</p>
<p>The issue virtually overshadowed other priorities laid out Wednesday by Colorado legislative leaders for the 2018 session, including funding roads and schools, addressing the opioid crisis and tackling a superheated housing market that has limited affordable housing options for many state residents.</p>
<p>Winter alleges that Lebsock acted aggressively toward her when she turned down his sexual advances during an end-of-session party in 2016. She said he grabbed her elbow and that she felt threatened.</p>
<p>Duran, also a Democrat, removed Lebsock from a committee chairmanship and called on him to resign after Winter filed her complaint. Gov. John Hickenlooper, a Democrat, and others called on Lebsock to step down. Meanwhile, Democratic state Rep. Matt Gray has said he plans to introduce a resolution to force Lebsock to give up his position.</p>
<p>In response to that possibility, Lebsock placed his document rebutting the allegations in the mailboxes of all state representatives on Monday.</p>
<p>He said House leaders told him on Dec. 14 to not release the confidential complaint Winter filed against him even though his accusers have been allowed to talk publicly. He also said that investigators still have not contacted him.</p>
<p>Lebsock said he has heard that a small number of Democrats and others began a "whisper campaign" to discredit him and hurt his candidacy for state treasurer. He also insinuated the party was lining up behind Winter in her bid to win a state Senate seat this November that could challenge the narrow Republican majority in that chamber.</p>
<p>Previously, Lebsock released the results of polygraph tests he said proves that he is telling the truth. Without admitting misconduct, he also apologized to Winter and two other women who allege harassment, former lobbyist Holly Tarry and former legislative aide Cassie Tanner, for causing them pain.</p>
<p>The national sexual misconduct scandal was unfolding when a number of complaints were filed at Colorado's statehouse following reports on the Lebsock allegations by Rocky Mountain Community Radio.</p>
<p>State lawmakers are barred under their own rules from discussing even the existence of a complaint under current state legislative procedures.</p>
<p>A harassment complaint against Democratic Rep. Paul Rosenthal was dismissed on Jan. 4. Rosenthal had been accused of harassment by a political activist in 2012. The complaint was dismissed apparently because the alleged incident happened before Rosenthal was elected to his post.</p>
<p>In her opening speech, Duran said a Capitol culture that allows workplace harassment must change.</p>
<p>"Let our actions show that the intolerable will be tolerated no more," she said.</p>
<p>Republican House Minority Leader Patrick Neville said he welcomed reforms to workplace harassment policy but also insisted that those accused must be provided due process, echoing calls from other GOP leaders.</p>
<p>"I perfectly understand and share a sense of outrage when we hear stories of bad behavior," he said. "But when accusations appear where the law is made, we must observe due process so that we fairly and objectively handle complaints and workplace issues."</p>
| false | 2 |
denver ap colorado lawmakers started new legislative session wednesday amid tension unresolved sexual misconduct allegations colleagues including one case female lawmaker maintains felt threatened rejecting sexual advances fellow democratic lawmaker democratcontrolled house representatives many democrats especially women wore black many actors weeks golden globe awards show support rep faith winter filed formal complaint rep steve lebsock november lawmakers often bring children join first day session winter invited two women accused lebsock harassment join house outside capitol dozen protesters greeted arriving lawmakers lobbyists aides holding signs slogans like times step steve lebsock denies allegations running state treasurer present two days providing colleagues copies 28page document defending stoically answered roll call stood briefly sat back fellow democrats gave rousing applause house speaker crisanta duran declared place harassment hate speech discrimination chamber session began cloud tension harassment complaints filed last fall lebsock democratic rep paul rosenthal undisclosed number lawmakers leaders chambers formally reviewing legislatures workplace harassment policy several statehouses across country republicancontrolled senate president kevin grantham called creating welcoming respectful workplace environment declared dont think anybody belief status quo working action shouldnt taken issue virtually overshadowed priorities laid wednesday colorado legislative leaders 2018 session including funding roads schools addressing opioid crisis tackling superheated housing market limited affordable housing options many state residents winter alleges lebsock acted aggressively toward turned sexual advances endofsession party 2016 said grabbed elbow felt threatened duran also democrat removed lebsock committee chairmanship called resign winter filed complaint gov john hickenlooper democrat others called lebsock step meanwhile democratic state rep matt gray said plans introduce resolution force lebsock give position response possibility lebsock placed document rebutting allegations mailboxes state representatives monday said house leaders told dec 14 release confidential complaint winter filed even though accusers allowed talk publicly also said investigators still contacted lebsock said heard small number democrats others began whisper campaign discredit hurt candidacy state treasurer also insinuated party lining behind winter bid win state senate seat november could challenge narrow republican majority chamber previously lebsock released results polygraph tests said proves telling truth without admitting misconduct also apologized winter two women allege harassment former lobbyist holly tarry former legislative aide cassie tanner causing pain national sexual misconduct scandal unfolding number complaints filed colorados statehouse following reports lebsock allegations rocky mountain community radio state lawmakers barred rules discussing even existence complaint current state legislative procedures harassment complaint democratic rep paul rosenthal dismissed jan 4 rosenthal accused harassment political activist 2012 complaint dismissed apparently alleged incident happened rosenthal elected post opening speech duran said capitol culture allows workplace harassment must change let actions show intolerable tolerated said republican house minority leader patrick neville said welcomed reforms workplace harassment policy also insisted accused must provided due process echoing calls gop leaders perfectly understand share sense outrage hear stories bad behavior said accusations appear law made must observe due process fairly objectively handle complaints workplace issues denver ap colorado lawmakers started new legislative session wednesday amid tension unresolved sexual misconduct allegations colleagues including one case female lawmaker maintains felt threatened rejecting sexual advances fellow democratic lawmaker democratcontrolled house representatives many democrats especially women wore black many actors weeks golden globe awards show support rep faith winter filed formal complaint rep steve lebsock november lawmakers often bring children join first day session winter invited two women accused lebsock harassment join house outside capitol dozen protesters greeted arriving lawmakers lobbyists aides holding signs slogans like times step steve lebsock denies allegations running state treasurer present two days providing colleagues copies 28page document defending stoically answered roll call stood briefly sat back fellow democrats gave rousing applause house speaker crisanta duran declared place harassment hate speech discrimination chamber session began cloud tension harassment complaints filed last fall lebsock democratic rep paul rosenthal undisclosed number lawmakers leaders chambers formally reviewing legislatures workplace harassment policy several statehouses across country republicancontrolled senate president kevin grantham called creating welcoming respectful workplace environment declared dont think anybody belief status quo working action shouldnt taken issue virtually overshadowed priorities laid wednesday colorado legislative leaders 2018 session including funding roads schools addressing opioid crisis tackling superheated housing market limited affordable housing options many state residents winter alleges lebsock acted aggressively toward turned sexual advances endofsession party 2016 said grabbed elbow felt threatened duran also democrat removed lebsock committee chairmanship called resign winter filed complaint gov john hickenlooper democrat others called lebsock step meanwhile democratic state rep matt gray said plans introduce resolution force lebsock give position response possibility lebsock placed document rebutting allegations mailboxes state representatives monday said house leaders told dec 14 release confidential complaint winter filed even though accusers allowed talk publicly also said investigators still contacted lebsock said heard small number democrats others began whisper campaign discredit hurt candidacy state treasurer also insinuated party lining behind winter bid win state senate seat november could challenge narrow republican majority chamber previously lebsock released results polygraph tests said proves telling truth without admitting misconduct also apologized winter two women allege harassment former lobbyist holly tarry former legislative aide cassie tanner causing pain national sexual misconduct scandal unfolding number complaints filed colorados statehouse following reports lebsock allegations rocky mountain community radio state lawmakers barred rules discussing even existence complaint current state legislative procedures harassment complaint democratic rep paul rosenthal dismissed jan 4 rosenthal accused harassment political activist 2012 complaint dismissed apparently alleged incident happened rosenthal elected post opening speech duran said capitol culture allows workplace harassment must change let actions show intolerable tolerated said republican house minority leader patrick neville said welcomed reforms workplace harassment policy also insisted accused must provided due process echoing calls gop leaders perfectly understand share sense outrage hear stories bad behavior said accusations appear law made must observe due process fairly objectively handle complaints workplace issues
| 950 |
<p>(Reuters) - General Electric’s oilfield services company Baker Hughes ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=BHGE.N" type="external">BHGE.N</a>) reported fourth-quarter revenue on Wednesday that beat analyst estimates and profit that modestly exceeded forecasts as growing U.S. oil production spurred demand for its products.</p> FILE PHOTO - Idle oil equipment is seen in a Baker Hughes yard in Williston, North Dakota April 30, 2016. Picture taken April 30, 2016. REUTERS/Andrew Cullen/File Photo
<p>General Electric ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=GE.N" type="external">GE.N</a>) and Baker Hughes closed a merger of their oilfield services businesses in July, and Wednesday’s report was the second combined earnings release for the newly formed company.</p>
<p>Like rivals Schlumberger ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=SLB.N" type="external">SLB.N</a>) and Halliburton ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=HAL.N" type="external">HAL.N</a>), the company is benefiting from a rise in global oil prices and greater activity as an industry recovery spreads from North America to international markets.</p>
<p>GE’s Baker Hughes reported revenue of $5.76 billion in the fourth quarter, up 7 percent sequentially but down 3 percent from a year ago on a combined basis. Analysts had expected revenue of $5.61 billion, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.</p>
<p>Excluding items, Baker Hughes earned 15 cents per share, beating analysts’ average estimate by 1 cent.</p>
<p>Shares sank nearly 5 percent to $34.05 in morning trading.</p>
<p>“Early indications of customer capital spending in 2018 are encouraging,” Chief Executive Lorenzo Simonelli said in prepared remarks, adding that international activity was “stabilizing.”</p>
<p>Wall Street analysts broadly viewed the fourth-quarter results as a metric for the new company’s future performance.</p>
<p>This is “currently more about baselining the company’s operations than quarterly earnings prints vs. market expectations,” analysts from investment firm Tudor Pickering Holt wrote in a note on Wednesday, but added it was “good to see no huge surprises.”</p>
<p>The fate of the new company was thrown into question in November after General Electric said it was considering exiting the oilfield services business in an effort to refocus the conglomerate.</p>
<p>Under the merger agreement, such an exit could not occur until mid-2019 without special approval.</p>
<p>On Wednesday, Simonelli reiterated that Baker Hughes was on track to achieve the $700 million in synergies expected from the merger this year.</p>
<a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=BHGE.N" type="external">Baker Hughes A GE Co</a> 29.85 BHGE.N New York Stock Exchange -0.72 (-2.36%) BHGE.N GE.N SLB.N HAL.N
<p>He said that under current commercial agreements, the company would still have access to certain General Electric technology and products despite a potential breakup.</p>
<p>Parent company General Electric on Wednesday posted a $10 billion fourth-quarter loss and 5-percent drop in revenue.</p>
<p>Revenue from its Baker Hughes’ oilfield services business were $2.77 billion on a combined basis, up 10 percent. Gains in the segment come as the U.S. rig count is up about 35 percent in 2018. [RIG/U]</p>
<p>Meanwhile, revenue in oilfield equipment fell 21 percent year-over-year, while those in its turbomachinery and process solutions business fell 14 percent amid a dearth of new LNG activity.</p>
<p>The company said it included a benefit of $132 million in its tax expenses as a result of U.S. tax reforms.</p>
<p>On a per-share basis, Baker Hughes posted a loss of 7 cents.</p>
<p>Reporting by Yashaswini Swamynathan in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva and Bernadette Baum</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>(Reuters) - Salesforce.com Inc ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=CRM.N" type="external">CRM.N</a>) said on Tuesday it would buy U.S. software maker MuleSoft Inc ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=MULE.N" type="external">MULE.N</a>) for about $5.90 billion in a cash-and-stock deal, illustrating CEO Marc Benioff’s push to bolster the company’s cloud-based portfolio with new technology.</p> FILE PHOTO - The Salesforce logo is pictured on a building in San Francisco, California, U.S. October 12, 2016. REUTERS/Lily Jamali
<p>MuleSoft shareholders would get $36 in cash and 0.0711 of a Salesforce share, or $44.89 per share, representing a premium of 36 percent to Mulesoft’s Monday close.</p>
<p>MuleSoft shares were up 5 percent in extended trading after rising 27 percent during the day. Salesforce shares were down more than 2 percent after the bell.</p>
<p>Including debt, the deal was valued at $6.5 billion, the companies said in a joint statement.</p>
<p>“It is really a natural fit for Salesforce to own Mule,” Steve Koenig, analyst at Wedbush Securities said.</p>
<p>“Salesforce usually helps customers move to the cloud and digitally transform their business that often starts with CRM, so having Mule helps eliminate friction as customers transform their business and to provide a more complete solution,” he said.</p>
<p>MuleSoft listed on the New York Stock Exchange on March 17 last year at $17 apiece. It closed up 40 percent on the first day of trading, giving it a market value of nearly $3 billion.</p>
<p>Salesforce Ventures, the company’s venture capital arm, led a $128 million funding round in MuleSoft in 2015.</p>
<a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=CRM.N" type="external">Salesforce.com Inc</a> 125.12 CRM.N New York Stock Exchange +0.14 (+0.11%) CRM.N MULE.N ORCL.N KO.N MCD.N
<p>Salesforce holds more than 18 percent of the global customer relationship management software market, followed by Oracle Corp ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=ORCL.N" type="external">ORCL.N</a>) with 9.4 percent, according to 2016 figures provided by research firm IDC.</p>
<p>MuleSoft makes software that provides enterprises with tools to automatically integrate various applications, devices and disparate data to help businesses networks run faster. It counts Coca-Cola Co ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=KO.N" type="external">KO.N</a>), McDonald’s Corp ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=MCD.N" type="external">MCD.N</a>), Salesforce and Spotify ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=SPOT.N" type="external">SPOT.N</a>) among its customers.</p>
<p>Reuters had reported about the deal earlier on Tuesday.</p>
<p>BofA Merrill Lynch is Salesforce’s financial adviser and Goldman Sachs advised MuleSoft.</p>
<p>Reporting by Supantha Mukherjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil prices rose on Wednesday, lifted by tensions in the Middle East and healthy demand, although rising U.S. output continued to weigh on markets.</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>U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures CLc1 were at $63.80 a barrel at 0230 GMT, up 26 cents, or 0.4 percent, from their previous close.</p>
<p>Brent crude futures LCOc1 were at $67.71 per barrel, up 29 cents, or 0.4 percent.</p>
<p>Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Tuesday arrived in Washington for a state visit, raising speculation the United States could reimpose sanctions on Iran, following rewnewed criticism of the 2015 nuclear deal.</p>
<p>“The presence of the Saudi Crown Prince... in Washington and his clear agenda to ramp up pressure on Iran, has for me, been the key driver... of oil, which rose strongly,” said Greg McKenna, chief market strategist at futures brokerage AxiTrader.</p>
<p>Analysts also pointed to the nomination of Mike Pompeo as new U.S. Secretary of State as a risk to oil markets, given he fiercely opposed the 2015 pact as a member of Congress.</p>
<p>“The nomination of Mike Pompeo for U.S. Secretary of State ... raises the likelihood of oil trade disruptions,” U.S. bank Citi said in a note.</p>
<p>Should the United States reimpose sanctions against Iran, energy consultancy FGE said that would likely result in a 250,000 to 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) drop in its exports by year-end.</p>
<p>Analysts also pointed to healthy economic growth and a weak dollar as oil price drivers.</p>
<p>In a sign of healthy demand, U.S. crude stocks fell by 2.7 million barrels in the week ended March 16 to 425.3 million, the American Petroleum Institute said on Tuesday.</p>
<p>“The global economy is humming, and robust demand solidly underpins commodity prices,” said Norbert Ruecker, head of macro and commodity Research at Swiss bank Julius Baer.</p>
<p>Despite this, he said seasonally low demand at the end of the northern hemisphere winter season meant he had “a rather cautious near-term outlook on commodities.”</p>
<p>Looming over oil markets has been surging U.S. crude production C-OUT-T-EIA, which has risen by more than a fifth since mid-2016, to 10.38 million bpd, overtaking top exporter Saudi Arabia and putting the United States within reach of Russia’s 11 million bpd.</p>
<p>Still, some U.S. producers are holding back expansion in order to prevent a price crash.</p>
<p>“Larger players are holding back capital expenditures in an attempt to avoid past mistakes,” said consultancy FGE.</p>
<p>Reporting by Henning Gloystein; editing by Richard Pullin</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>SYDNEY (Reuters) - A hush settled over financial markets on Wednesday as investors anticipated a quarter point hike in the Federal Reserve’s policy rate and awaited guidance on how many more to expect this year, while trade war fears kept export nations’ currencies on edge.</p> FILE PHOTO: A man looks at 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 added 0.4 percent after four straight days of losses, tracking overnight gains on Wall Street.</p>
<p>Chinese shares were buoyant with Hong Kong's Hang Seng index <a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.HSI" type="external">.HSI</a> gaining 1.3 percent. Australian and Korean <a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.KS11" type="external">.KS11</a> stocks were up marginally.</p>
<p>The market is convinced the Fed will announce a quarter point hike at 1800 GMT, but are less sure if it will signal three or four for the year as a whole.</p>
<p>“A significant weighting toward four hikes this year may well cause both equity and bond markets to sell off,” Jonathan Sheridan, analyst at FIIG Securities in Sydney, said.</p>
<p>“The concerns here are that the Fed overshoots with raising rates into a faltering economy,” Sheridan added.</p>
<p>“If this opinion takes hold then we may well see falling longer term rates and a flatter yield curve, and it would also be negative for equities as it increases the chances of a recession.”</p>
<p>The Fed has raised rates five times since it began tightening policy in late 2015. Yet the dollar has not really responded, ending 2017 down about 10 percent against a basket of currencies. .DXY</p>
<p>“We remind readers that every single FOMC rate hike this cycle has been a ‘dovish hike’ and the USD has declined on the day(s) post the rise,” Richard Grace, chief currency strategist at Commonwealth Bank of Australia wrote in a note to clients.</p>
<p>On Wednesday, the dollar index held near three-week highs around at 90.35. Against the Japanese yen <a href="/finance/currencies/quote?srcCurr=JPY&amp;destCurr=USD" type="external">JPY=</a>, the greenback hovered near a one-week top at 106.5.</p>
<p>(GRAPHIC: Developed market currencies against the Dollar - <a href="http://reut.rs/2FYAg0X" type="external">reut.rs/2FYAg0X</a>)</p> TRADE WAR FEARS
<p>Another major overhang for financial markets is the specter of a global trade war.</p>
<p>U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to unveil up to $60 billion in import duties on Chinese goods by Friday. The move comes after Trump imposed tariffs on imported steel and aluminum earlier this month.</p>
<p>Investors are worried Trump’s actions could escalate into a full-blown trade war if China and other countries retaliate with similar or harsher measures, threatening global growth.</p>
<p>To add to these concerns, a meeting of finance ministers and central banks of the world’s 20 biggest economies this week failed to diffuse the threat.</p>
<p>The so-called G20 agreed only to stand by an ambiguous declaration on trade from 2017 and “recognized” the need for more “dialogue and actions”.</p>
<a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.HSI" type="external">Hang Seng Indexes Co Ltd</a> 31925.67 .HSI Hong Kong Stock +375.74 (+1.19%) .HSI .KS11
<p>The currencies of export-heavy nations such as the Australian, New Zealand and Canadian dollars were on the defensive after being knocked down to multi-month lows.</p>
<p>The Aussie <a href="/finance/currencies/quote?srcCurr=AUD&amp;destCurr=USD" type="external">AUD=D4</a> fell to a three-month trough of $0.7679 overnight while the kiwi dollar <a href="/finance/currencies/quote?srcCurr=NZD&amp;destCurr=USD" type="external">NZD=D4</a> hit the lowest since early January. The Canadian dollar <a href="/finance/currencies/quote?srcCurr=CAD&amp;destCurr=USD" type="external">CAD=D4</a> held at $1.3029 from Monday's low of $1.3124, a level not seen since mid-2017.</p>
<p>Equity analysts have also turned increasingly downbeat.</p>
<p>“Cracks in the bull case are starting to emerge,” said Michael Hartnett, chief investment strategist at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, citing the bank’s March fund manager survey.</p>
<p>“The threat of a trade war returns to the top of the list of tail risks most commonly cited by investors, followed by inflation and a slowdown in global growth,” he added.</p>
<p>“Investors have yet to act on these fears, however, as rates and earnings are keeping the bulls bullish.”</p>
<p>Among major commodities, oil prices were lifted by tensions in the Middle East and healthy demand. [O/R]</p>
<p>U.S. crude CLcv1 rose 20 cents to $63.74 per barrel. Brent LCOcv1 gained 22 cents to $67.64.</p>
<p>Spot gold climbed 0.1 percent to $1,312.81 an ounce XAU=.</p>
<p>Reporting by Swati Pandey; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>NEW YORK/CHICAGO (Reuters) - The Weinstein Company’s bankruptcy filing will not protect ex-Chairman Harvey Weinstein, who has been accused of sexual harassment and assault, an attorney for the studio told U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Mary Walrath on Tuesday.</p>
<p>“We are not here to protect Harvey Weinstein,” attorney Paul Zumbro said. “(The Weinstein Company) filing for bankruptcy relief in no way affects anyone’s ability to pursue civil or criminal claims against Harvey Weinstein.”</p>
<p>Weinstein, who co-founded the company with his brother Bob and once was one of Hollywood’s most influential men, has been accused of sexual misconduct including rape by more than 70 women. He has denied having non-consensual sex with anyone. It has been unclear how his alleged victims would be treated in a potential bankruptcy filing.</p>
<p>The Weinstein Company filed for bankruptcy late Monday after it spent months looking for a buyer or investor. Texas private equity firm Lantern Capital agreed to buy the Company out of bankruptcy for $310 million, setting the floor for other bidders in a court-supervised auction scheduled for later this spring.</p>
<p>The bankruptcy will halt victim’s lawsuits against the company and any sexual misconduct claims would likely be compensated only after secured creditors are paid in full. A failed offer for the studio from former Obama administration official Maria Contreras-Sweet included an $80 million to $90 million compensation fund that would supplement any insurance payouts victims would receive.</p>
<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> 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>In court Tuesday, the film studio also received approval to tap some of its bankruptcy loan to make payroll for its remaining employees.</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 longtime 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>
<p>The studio has spent months looking for a buyer or investor. Before the deal with Contreras-Sweet failed, the 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>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 and Leslie Adler</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
| false | 2 |
reuters general electrics oilfield services company baker hughes bhgen reported fourthquarter revenue wednesday beat analyst estimates profit modestly exceeded forecasts growing us oil production spurred demand products file photo idle oil equipment seen baker hughes yard williston north dakota april 30 2016 picture taken april 30 2016 reutersandrew cullenfile photo general electric gen baker hughes closed merger oilfield services businesses july wednesdays report second combined earnings release newly formed company like rivals schlumberger slbn halliburton haln company benefiting rise global oil prices greater activity industry recovery spreads north america international markets ges baker hughes reported revenue 576 billion fourth quarter 7 percent sequentially 3 percent year ago combined basis analysts expected revenue 561 billion according thomson reuters ibes excluding items baker hughes earned 15 cents per share beating analysts average estimate 1 cent shares sank nearly 5 percent 3405 morning trading early indications customer capital spending 2018 encouraging chief executive lorenzo simonelli said prepared remarks adding international activity stabilizing wall street analysts broadly viewed fourthquarter results metric new companys future performance currently baselining companys operations quarterly earnings prints vs market expectations analysts investment firm tudor pickering holt wrote note wednesday added good see huge surprises fate new company thrown question november general electric said considering exiting oilfield services business effort refocus conglomerate merger agreement exit could occur mid2019 without special approval wednesday simonelli reiterated baker hughes track achieve 700 million synergies expected merger year baker hughes ge co 2985 bhgen new york stock exchange 072 236 bhgen gen slbn haln said current commercial agreements company would still access certain general electric technology products despite potential breakup parent company general electric wednesday posted 10 billion fourthquarter loss 5percent drop revenue revenue baker hughes oilfield services business 277 billion combined basis 10 percent gains segment come us rig count 35 percent 2018 rigu meanwhile revenue oilfield equipment fell 21 percent yearoveryear turbomachinery process solutions business fell 14 percent amid dearth new lng activity company said included benefit 132 million tax expenses result us tax reforms pershare basis baker hughes posted loss 7 cents reporting yashaswini swamynathan bengaluru editing anil dsilva bernadette baum standards thomson reuters trust principles reuters salesforcecom inc crmn said tuesday would buy us software maker mulesoft inc mulen 590 billion cashandstock deal illustrating ceo marc benioffs push bolster companys cloudbased portfolio new technology file photo salesforce logo pictured building san francisco california us october 12 2016 reuterslily jamali mulesoft shareholders would get 36 cash 00711 salesforce share 4489 per share representing premium 36 percent mulesofts monday close mulesoft shares 5 percent extended trading rising 27 percent day salesforce shares 2 percent bell including debt deal valued 65 billion companies said joint statement really natural fit salesforce mule steve koenig analyst wedbush securities said salesforce usually helps customers move cloud digitally transform business often starts crm mule helps eliminate friction customers transform business provide complete solution said mulesoft listed new york stock exchange march 17 last year 17 apiece closed 40 percent first day trading giving market value nearly 3 billion salesforce ventures companys venture capital arm led 128 million funding round mulesoft 2015 salesforcecom inc 12512 crmn new york stock exchange 014 011 crmn mulen orcln kon mcdn salesforce holds 18 percent global customer relationship management software market followed oracle corp orcln 94 percent according 2016 figures provided research firm idc mulesoft makes software provides enterprises tools automatically integrate various applications devices disparate data help businesses networks run faster counts cocacola co kon mcdonalds corp mcdn salesforce spotify spotn among customers reuters reported deal earlier tuesday bofa merrill lynch salesforces financial adviser goldman sachs advised mulesoft reporting supantha mukherjee bengaluru editing shounak dasgupta standards thomson reuters trust principles singapore reuters oil prices rose wednesday lifted tensions middle east healthy demand although rising us output continued weigh markets file photo oil well pump jack seen oil field supply yard near denver colorado us february 2 2015 reutersrick wilkingfile photo us west texas intermediate wti crude futures clc1 6380 barrel 0230 gmt 26 cents 04 percent previous close brent crude futures lcoc1 6771 per barrel 29 cents 04 percent saudi arabias crown prince mohammed bin salman tuesday arrived washington state visit raising speculation united states could reimpose sanctions iran following rewnewed criticism 2015 nuclear deal presence saudi crown prince washington clear agenda ramp pressure iran key driver oil rose strongly said greg mckenna chief market strategist futures brokerage axitrader analysts also pointed nomination mike pompeo new us secretary state risk oil markets given fiercely opposed 2015 pact member congress nomination mike pompeo us secretary state raises likelihood oil trade disruptions us bank citi said note united states reimpose sanctions iran energy consultancy fge said would likely result 250000 500000 barrels per day bpd drop exports yearend analysts also pointed healthy economic growth weak dollar oil price drivers sign healthy demand us crude stocks fell 27 million barrels week ended march 16 4253 million american petroleum institute said tuesday global economy humming robust demand solidly underpins commodity prices said norbert ruecker head macro commodity research swiss bank julius baer despite said seasonally low demand end northern hemisphere winter season meant rather cautious nearterm outlook commodities looming oil markets surging us crude production coutteia risen fifth since mid2016 1038 million bpd overtaking top exporter saudi arabia putting united states within reach russias 11 million bpd still us producers holding back expansion order prevent price crash larger players holding back capital expenditures attempt avoid past mistakes said consultancy fge reporting henning gloystein editing richard pullin standards thomson reuters trust principles sydney reuters hush settled financial markets wednesday investors anticipated quarter point hike federal reserves policy rate awaited guidance many expect year trade war fears kept export nations currencies edge file photo man looks electronic stock quotation board outside brokerage tokyo japan february 9 2018 reuterstoru hanai mscis broadest index asiapacific shares outside japan miapj0000pus added 04 percent four straight days losses tracking overnight gains wall street chinese shares buoyant hong kongs hang seng index hsi gaining 13 percent australian korean ks11 stocks marginally market convinced fed announce quarter point hike 1800 gmt less sure signal three four year whole significant weighting toward four hikes year may well cause equity bond markets sell jonathan sheridan analyst fiig securities sydney said concerns fed overshoots raising rates faltering economy sheridan added opinion takes hold may well see falling longer term rates flatter yield curve would also negative equities increases chances recession fed raised rates five times since began tightening policy late 2015 yet dollar really responded ending 2017 10 percent basket currencies dxy remind readers every single fomc rate hike cycle dovish hike usd declined days post rise richard grace chief currency strategist commonwealth bank australia wrote note clients wednesday dollar index held near threeweek highs around 9035 japanese yen jpy greenback hovered near oneweek top 1065 graphic developed market currencies dollar reutrs2fyag0x trade war fears another major overhang financial markets specter global trade war us president donald trump expected unveil 60 billion import duties chinese goods friday move comes trump imposed tariffs imported steel aluminum earlier month investors worried trumps actions could escalate fullblown trade war china countries retaliate similar harsher measures threatening global growth add concerns meeting finance ministers central banks worlds 20 biggest economies week failed diffuse threat socalled g20 agreed stand ambiguous declaration trade 2017 recognized need dialogue actions hang seng indexes co ltd 3192567 hsi hong kong stock 37574 119 hsi ks11 currencies exportheavy nations australian new zealand canadian dollars defensive knocked multimonth lows aussie audd4 fell threemonth trough 07679 overnight kiwi dollar nzdd4 hit lowest since early january canadian dollar cadd4 held 13029 mondays low 13124 level seen since mid2017 equity analysts also turned increasingly downbeat cracks bull case starting emerge said michael hartnett chief investment strategist bank america merrill lynch citing banks march fund manager survey threat trade war returns top list tail risks commonly cited investors followed inflation slowdown global growth added investors yet act fears however rates earnings keeping bulls bullish among major commodities oil prices lifted tensions middle east healthy demand us crude clcv1 rose 20 cents 6374 per barrel brent lcocv1 gained 22 cents 6764 spot gold climbed 01 percent 131281 ounce xau reporting swati pandey editing simon cameronmoore standards thomson reuters trust principles new yorkchicago reuters weinstein companys bankruptcy filing protect exchairman harvey weinstein accused sexual harassment assault attorney studio told us bankruptcy court judge mary walrath tuesday protect harvey weinstein attorney paul zumbro said weinstein company filing bankruptcy relief way affects anyones ability pursue civil criminal claims harvey weinstein weinstein cofounded company brother bob one hollywoods influential men accused sexual misconduct including rape 70 women denied nonconsensual sex anyone unclear alleged victims would treated potential bankruptcy filing weinstein company filed bankruptcy late monday spent months looking buyer investor texas private equity firm lantern capital agreed buy company bankruptcy 310 million setting floor bidders courtsupervised auction scheduled later spring bankruptcy halt victims lawsuits company sexual misconduct claims would likely compensated secured creditors paid full failed offer studio former obama administration official maria contrerassweet included 80 million 90 million compensation fund would supplement insurance payouts victims would receive 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 file photo harvey weinstein speaks ubs 40th annual global media communications conference new york december 5 2012 reuterscarlo allegri court tuesday film studio also received approval tap bankruptcy loan make payroll remaining employees 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 longtime 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 studio spent months looking buyer investor deal contrerassweet failed 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 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 leslie adler standards thomson reuters trust principles
| 1,738 |
<p>FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — Grand Canyon officials have reduced waste by banning disposable plastic water bottles and installing water stations for visitors.</p>
<p>But a new problem sprung up: Elk are helping themselves to water at the stations by lifting spring-loaded levers with their noses.</p>
<p>Now, officials plan to elk-proof the stations to outsmart the animals, conserve water and protect visitors from aggressive behavior by the animals.</p>
<p>They are experimenting with a cage around the spouts at one water station and will change the way it's turned on.</p>
<p>"They got a little aggressive about it," chief resource manager Martha Hahn said. "They were pretty protective of that water and wanting to get it first."</p>
<p>About a dozen of the filling stations are set up throughout the park, but the elk favor one at South Kaibab Trail because it allows them to easily duck back into the woods.</p>
<p>The elk don't always back down when visitors approach. Instead, they take a firm stance, particularly when protecting calves or during fall rutting season.</p>
<p>Flagstaff resident Ian Tong was hiking rim to rim at the canyon with three other people in 2012 when they saw an elk guarding the water station at South Kaibab Trail.</p>
<p>The elk tried to intimidate the group by making clicking sounds with its mouth and following them on either side of the filling station, he said.</p>
<p>"It definitely was a 'go away' kind of thing," Tong said Tuesday. "She wasn't wanting to share."</p>
<p>Still, he said elk encounters are part of experiencing nature and he saw no problem with them at the watering stations.</p>
<p>The elk haven't hurt anyone at the stations, but the animals have charged at wildlife biologists trying to disperse herds with as many as 20 elk by staring them down and shooting them with paintball and water guns, wildlife biologist Brandon Holton said.</p>
<p>"Some move, some don't," he said. "Sometimes when you shoot them with water guns, they open their mouth."</p>
<p>For now, the water station at South Kaibab Trail is on winter mode, which means it operates through a button rather than the lever.</p>
<p>The elk haven't figured that one out yet but they do drink water left on the ground after tourists use the stations.</p>
<p>Hahn said a retrofit should be in place soon to deter the elk and discourage people from cleaning up at the watering station.</p>
<p>If the new design works, it will be used at the rest of the stations that were installed in 2011.</p>
<p>The park stopped the sale of disposable water bottles the following year. The containers once made up 20 percent of the park's waste and 30 percent of its recyclables.</p>
<p>Just recently, the elk were also made unwelcome at the lawns of hotels and lodges when nonnative grass was removed. The once lush lawns will be replaced with native vegetation that is abundant throughout the park, so elk don't frequent one area over another.</p>
<p>"They were terribly disappointed and decided that wasn't a good area anymore, so they're pretty much gone," Hahn said about elk grazing on the lawns.</p>
<p>FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — Grand Canyon officials have reduced waste by banning disposable plastic water bottles and installing water stations for visitors.</p>
<p>But a new problem sprung up: Elk are helping themselves to water at the stations by lifting spring-loaded levers with their noses.</p>
<p>Now, officials plan to elk-proof the stations to outsmart the animals, conserve water and protect visitors from aggressive behavior by the animals.</p>
<p>They are experimenting with a cage around the spouts at one water station and will change the way it's turned on.</p>
<p>"They got a little aggressive about it," chief resource manager Martha Hahn said. "They were pretty protective of that water and wanting to get it first."</p>
<p>About a dozen of the filling stations are set up throughout the park, but the elk favor one at South Kaibab Trail because it allows them to easily duck back into the woods.</p>
<p>The elk don't always back down when visitors approach. Instead, they take a firm stance, particularly when protecting calves or during fall rutting season.</p>
<p>Flagstaff resident Ian Tong was hiking rim to rim at the canyon with three other people in 2012 when they saw an elk guarding the water station at South Kaibab Trail.</p>
<p>The elk tried to intimidate the group by making clicking sounds with its mouth and following them on either side of the filling station, he said.</p>
<p>"It definitely was a 'go away' kind of thing," Tong said Tuesday. "She wasn't wanting to share."</p>
<p>Still, he said elk encounters are part of experiencing nature and he saw no problem with them at the watering stations.</p>
<p>The elk haven't hurt anyone at the stations, but the animals have charged at wildlife biologists trying to disperse herds with as many as 20 elk by staring them down and shooting them with paintball and water guns, wildlife biologist Brandon Holton said.</p>
<p>"Some move, some don't," he said. "Sometimes when you shoot them with water guns, they open their mouth."</p>
<p>For now, the water station at South Kaibab Trail is on winter mode, which means it operates through a button rather than the lever.</p>
<p>The elk haven't figured that one out yet but they do drink water left on the ground after tourists use the stations.</p>
<p>Hahn said a retrofit should be in place soon to deter the elk and discourage people from cleaning up at the watering station.</p>
<p>If the new design works, it will be used at the rest of the stations that were installed in 2011.</p>
<p>The park stopped the sale of disposable water bottles the following year. The containers once made up 20 percent of the park's waste and 30 percent of its recyclables.</p>
<p>Just recently, the elk were also made unwelcome at the lawns of hotels and lodges when nonnative grass was removed. The once lush lawns will be replaced with native vegetation that is abundant throughout the park, so elk don't frequent one area over another.</p>
<p>"They were terribly disappointed and decided that wasn't a good area anymore, so they're pretty much gone," Hahn said about elk grazing on the lawns.</p>
| false | 2 |
flagstaff ariz ap grand canyon officials reduced waste banning disposable plastic water bottles installing water stations visitors new problem sprung elk helping water stations lifting springloaded levers noses officials plan elkproof stations outsmart animals conserve water protect visitors aggressive behavior animals experimenting cage around spouts one water station change way turned got little aggressive chief resource manager martha hahn said pretty protective water wanting get first dozen filling stations set throughout park elk favor one south kaibab trail allows easily duck back woods elk dont always back visitors approach instead take firm stance particularly protecting calves fall rutting season flagstaff resident ian tong hiking rim rim canyon three people 2012 saw elk guarding water station south kaibab trail elk tried intimidate group making clicking sounds mouth following either side filling station said definitely go away kind thing tong said tuesday wasnt wanting share still said elk encounters part experiencing nature saw problem watering stations elk havent hurt anyone stations animals charged wildlife biologists trying disperse herds many 20 elk staring shooting paintball water guns wildlife biologist brandon holton said move dont said sometimes shoot water guns open mouth water station south kaibab trail winter mode means operates button rather lever elk havent figured one yet drink water left ground tourists use stations hahn said retrofit place soon deter elk discourage people cleaning watering station new design works used rest stations installed 2011 park stopped sale disposable water bottles following year containers made 20 percent parks waste 30 percent recyclables recently elk also made unwelcome lawns hotels lodges nonnative grass removed lush lawns replaced native vegetation abundant throughout park elk dont frequent one area another terribly disappointed decided wasnt good area anymore theyre pretty much gone hahn said elk grazing lawns flagstaff ariz ap grand canyon officials reduced waste banning disposable plastic water bottles installing water stations visitors new problem sprung elk helping water stations lifting springloaded levers noses officials plan elkproof stations outsmart animals conserve water protect visitors aggressive behavior animals experimenting cage around spouts one water station change way turned got little aggressive chief resource manager martha hahn said pretty protective water wanting get first dozen filling stations set throughout park elk favor one south kaibab trail allows easily duck back woods elk dont always back visitors approach instead take firm stance particularly protecting calves fall rutting season flagstaff resident ian tong hiking rim rim canyon three people 2012 saw elk guarding water station south kaibab trail elk tried intimidate group making clicking sounds mouth following either side filling station said definitely go away kind thing tong said tuesday wasnt wanting share still said elk encounters part experiencing nature saw problem watering stations elk havent hurt anyone stations animals charged wildlife biologists trying disperse herds many 20 elk staring shooting paintball water guns wildlife biologist brandon holton said move dont said sometimes shoot water guns open mouth water station south kaibab trail winter mode means operates button rather lever elk havent figured one yet drink water left ground tourists use stations hahn said retrofit place soon deter elk discourage people cleaning watering station new design works used rest stations installed 2011 park stopped sale disposable water bottles following year containers made 20 percent parks waste 30 percent recyclables recently elk also made unwelcome lawns hotels lodges nonnative grass removed lush lawns replaced native vegetation abundant throughout park elk dont frequent one area another terribly disappointed decided wasnt good area anymore theyre pretty much gone hahn said elk grazing lawns
| 580 |
<p>(Reuters) - Briton Ross Fisher and Belgian Thomas Pieters shared the lead after Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship third round on Saturday, with four-times major winner Rory McIlroy trailing by a shot.</p> Golf - European Tour - Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship - Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Abu Dhabi, UAE - January 20, 2018 - Belgium's Thomas Pieters plays a shot. REUTERS/Satish Kumar
<p>Fisher carded a seven-under-par 65 while Pieters returned a 67 to stand at 17-under for the tournament.</p>
<p>Irishman McIlroy, playing in his first event since October, shot up the leaderboard into third spot with a couple of late birdies for a 65 to stay in the hunt at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club.</p>
<p>Asked what he needed to do to make his return a winning one, McIlroy, who has slipped to 11th in the world rankings, said: “Just go out and try and shoot the best score I possibly can. I felt really comfortable, really relaxed out there”.</p> Golf - European Tour - Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship - Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Abu Dhabi, UAE - January 20, 2018 - Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy plays a shot. REUTERS/Satish Kumar
<p>Overnight leader Pieters needed four birdies on the front nine to stay ahead even as Briton Matt Fitzpatrick worked his way through the field. However, both players failed to replicate their form on the back nine, allowing Fisher to move ahead.</p>
<p>“It was another good day,” Fisher said. “Obviously great fun getting out with Thomas, third day in a row, a lot of fun, a lot of banter. Just trying to hang on, felt like I played solid.</p>
<p>“Fingers crossed, we’ll be paired again tomorrow, because it’s been three fun, exciting days... We’ll go out there tomorrow and hopefully have more fun.”</p>
<p>Pieters was happy despite not firing on the greens. “I think I played pretty good today,” he said. “I missed a lot of putts today. Made a couple birdies early, which settled me down.</p>
<p>“The back nine, I played good. But, yeah, I couldn’t really make a putt. Hit one really close on 16 and 17, 18, pretty disappointing. I didn’t hit many good shots there but it’s still nice to make a par on the last after the mess I made.”</p>
<p>Fitzpatrick, who shot a 63 to stand two off the pace at 15 under, was level in fourth place with holder Tommy Fleetwood.</p>
<p>Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; editing by Ken Ferris</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>BEIJING/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - China hit back quickly on Wednesday against the Trump administration’s plans to impose tariffs on $50 billion in Chinese goods, retaliating with a list of similar duties on key U.S. imports including soybeans, planes, cars, beef and chemicals.</p>
<p>The speed with which the trade struggle between Washington and Beijing is ratcheting up – China took less than 11 hours to respond with its own measures – led to a sharp selloff in global stock markets and commodities. [MKTS/GLOB]</p>
<p>U.S. President Donald Trump, who has long charged that his predecessors served the United States badly in trade matters, rejected the notion that the tit-for-tat moves amounted to a trade war between the world’s two economic superpowers.</p>
<p>“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.,” Trump wrote in a post on Twitter early on Wednesday.</p>
<p>Because the actions will not be carried out immediately, there may be room for maneuver. Publication of Washington’s list starts 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>U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said in an interview with CNBC that it would not be surprising if the U.S. and China trade actions led to negotiations, although he would not speculate on when this might happen.</p>
<p>Investors were wondering, nonetheless, how far one of the worst trade disputes in many years could escalate.</p>
<p>“The assumption was China would not respond too aggressively and avoid escalating tensions. China’s response is a surprise for some people,” said Julian Evans-Pritchard, senior China economist at Capital Economics, noting that neither side had yet called for enforcement of the tariffs.</p>
<p>“It’s more of a game of brinkmanship, making it clear what the cost would be, in the hopes that both sides can come to agreement and none of these tariffs will come into force,” said Evans-Pritchard.</p> Related Coverage
<a href="/article/us-usa-trade-china-economist/trade-tension-may-pare-u-s-growth-0-1-0-2-percent-point-moodys-analytics-economist-idUSKCN1HB1SR" type="external">Trade tension may pare U.S. growth 0.1-0.2 percent point: Moody's Analytics economist</a>
<a href="/article/us-usa-trade-china-ross/u-s-commerce-chief-ross-trade-talks-likely-with-china-idUSKCN1HB1KP" type="external">U.S. Commerce chief Ross: trade talks likely with China</a>
<a href="/article/us-usa-trade-china-oecd/u-s-china-trade-tariff-tensions-very-worrisome-oecd-idUSKCN1HB1H1" type="external">U.S.-China trade tariff tensions 'very worrisome': OECD</a>
<p>U.S.-made goods that appear to face added tariffs in China based, on an analysis of Beijing’s list, 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>
<p>Unlike Washington’s list, which was filled with many obscure industrial items, China’s list strikes at signature U.S. exports, including soybeans, frozen beef, cotton and other key agricultural commodities produced in states from Iowa to Texas that voted for Trump in the 2016 presidential election.</p>
<p>“China is also trying to weaken our will by targeting certain segments of our economy,” White House trade adviser Peter Navarro said in an interview with National Public Radio.</p>
<p>“But let’s remember: we buy five times more goods than they buy from us. They have a lot more to lose in any escalation in this matter.”</p> POLITICAL TARGETS
<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’s appears aimed at inflicting political damage.</p>
<p>Tobacco and whiskey, for example, are both on Beijing’s list and are produced in states including Kentucky, home of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.</p>
<p>Beijing’s list of 25 percent additional tariffs on U.S. goods covers 106 items with a trade value matching the $50 billion targeted on Washington’s list, China’s commerce and finance ministries said.</p>
<p>“This is a real game changer and moves the trade dispute away from symbolism to measures which would really hurt U.S agricultural exports,” said Commerzbank commodities analyst Carsten Fritsch.</p>
<p>China’s tariff list covers aircraft that would likely include older models such as Boeing Co’s workhorse 737 narrowbody jet, but not newer models like the 737 MAX or its larger planes.</p>
<p>A Beijing-based spokesman for Boeing, the largest single U.S. exporter to China, declined to comment.</p>
<p>Beijing’s announcement triggered heavy selling in global financial markets, with U.S. stock futures sliding 1.5 percent and U.S. soybean futures plunging nearly 5 percent and on track for their biggest fall since July 2016. The dollar briefly extended early losses, while China’s yuan skidded in offshore trade.</p> RAPID RESPONSE
<p>Hours earlier, the U.S. government unveiled a detailed breakdown of some 1,300 Chinese industrial, transport and medical goods that could be subject to 25 percent duties, ranging from light-emitting diodes to machine parts.</p>
<p>The U.S. move, broadly flagged last month, is 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>Foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said China had shown sincerity in wanting to resolve the dispute through negotiations.</p>
<p>“But the best opportunities for resolving the issues through dialogue and negotiations have been repeatedly missed by the U.S. side,” he told a regular briefing on Wednesday.</p>
<p>The tariff list from the office of U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer 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> WILL CONSUMERS PAY?
<p>Many consumer electronics products such as cellphones made by Apple Inc and laptops made by Dell were excluded from the U.S. list, as were footwear and clothing, drawing a sigh of relief from retailers who had feared higher costs for American consumers.</p>
<p>A U.S. industry source said the list was somewhat unexpected in that it largely exempts major consumer grade technology products, one of China’s major export categories to the U.S.</p>
<p>“The tech industry will feel like overall it dodged a bullet,” the source said, but added that traditional industrial goods manufacturers, along with pharmaceuticals and medical device firms, could suffer.</p>
<p>Many U.S. business groups support Trump’s efforts to stop the theft of U.S. intellectual property but have questioned whether tariffs are the right approach. They warn that disruptions to supply chains that rely on Chinese components will ultimately raise costs for consumers.</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> FILE PHOTO: A worker takes a sample from an incoming truckload of soybeans at Peterson Farms Seed facility in Fargo, North Dakota, U.S., December 6, 2017. REUTERS/Dan Koeck/File Photo 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 damage to U.S. consumers.</p>
<p>A USTR official said the 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>Many products in those segments appear on the list, including antibiotics and industrial robots and aircraft parts.</p>
<p>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 TV imports, and $1.4 billion in vehicle imports from China.</p>
<p>USTR has scheduled a May 15 public hearing on the tariffs, which were announced as the result of an investigation under Section 301 of the 1974 U.S. Trade Act.</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>
<p>(For a graphic on 'U.S. imports from China' click <a href="http://tmsnrt.rs/2FMsz1Q" type="external">tmsnrt.rs/2FMsz1Q</a>)</p> Slideshow (6 Images)
<p>(For a graphic on 'U.S. trade in goods with China' click <a href="http://tmsnrt.rs/2GcOZIH" type="external">tmsnrt.rs/2GcOZIH</a>)</p>
<p>Reporting by David Lawder, Jason Lange, Ginger Gibson, Steve Holland, Makini Brice, Susan Heavey and David Chance in WASHINGTON; Michael Martina, Cheng Fang, Ryan Woo, Ben Blanchard, Tony Munroe, Cate Cadell, Philip Wen, Dominique Patton and Josephine Mason in BEIJING and Engen Tham in SHANGHAI; Additional reporting Brenda Goh in Shanghai, Stella Qiu in Beijing, Tom Miles in Geneva and Michael Hogan in Hamburg; Editing by Kim Coghill and Alex Richardson</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent tariffs and retaliation from other nations, in particular China, may reduce domestic economic growth by 0.1 to 0.2 percentage point over the next 12 months, Moody’s Analytics’ chief economist Mark Zandi said on Wednesday.</p>
<p>“It will put a dent in that growth,” Zandi told reporters on a conference call. “The impact on the economy will be small.”</p>
<p>Zandi cautioned if tension escalates, the drag on U.S. gross domestic product will grow.</p>
<p>Reporting by Richard Leong; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said on Wednesday he expects trade actions between the United States and China will likely lead to a negotiated deal, but that it was unclear whether such talks would happen by the end of May or later.</p> FILE PHOTO: U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross speaks about new tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber from the White House in Washington, DC, U.S., April 25, 2017. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo
<p>“It wouldn’t be surprising at all if the net outcome of all this is some sort of a negotiation,” Ross said in an interview with CNBC. “It’s very difficult to put a specific time denomination on negotiations that are as complex as these.”</p>
<p>Ross’ comments come after China slapped retaliatory duties on a number of American products earlier on Wednesday in response to Trump’s planned tariffs on Chinese goods, rattling global financial markets.</p>
<p>“I’m frankly a little surprised that Wall Street was so surprised by it. This has been telegraphed for days and weeks,” Ross said.</p>
<p>U.S. President Donald Trump earlier Wednesday stood by his administration’s actions, tweeting: “We are not in a trade war with China.”</p>
<p>Ross echoed those sentiments, telling CNBC that China’s response was “relatively proportionate to the tariffs that we put on based on the intellectual property.”</p>
<p>He added that he also expected other countries to start “coalescing against China” over its trade practices.</p>
<p>Reporting by Susan Heavey and Makini Brice; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia long saw Donald Trump as the wild card in its strategy to improve relations with the United States.</p> FILE PHOTO: Russia's President Vladimir Putin talks to U.S. President Donald Trump during their bilateral meeting at the G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany July 7, 2017. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo
<p>But 14 months after he became U.S. president, Moscow is close to viewing him as a busted flush, unable to enact his pledge for better ties.</p>
<p>Trump reluctantly signed off on new sanctions against Moscow last summer over allegations of Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Last week he backed the expulsion of 60 Russian diplomats and the closure of Russia’s Seattle consulate over the poisoning of an ex-Russian agent in Britain.</p>
<p>After betting the farm on Trump, Russia has seen relations with the West sink so low that there is talk of a new Cold War. President Vladimir Putin’s options for a change of strategy, banking less on Trump and his ability to sway those around him on Russia, is severely limited as he prepares for a new term.</p>
<p>One option being explored is to try to widen splits in the West by courting France and Germany. Another is to draw closer to China and India. But the relationship with Washington is still seen in Moscow as central to Russian foreign policy.</p>
<p>“Washington has become fixated with the fight against a non-existent, so-called Russian threat,” Sergei Naryshkin, Russia’s foreign intelligence agency chief, said on Wednesday.</p>
<p>“This has reached such proportions and acquired such absurd characteristics that it’s possible to speak of a return to the dark times of the Cold War.”</p>
<p>Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said earlier this week that the standoff was worse than during the Cold War between East and West after World War Two.</p>
<p>“...Then some kind of rules and appearances were kept up. Now, as I see it, our Western partners ... have cast aside all proprieties,” Lavrov said.</p>
<p>The Cold War saw the Soviet Union square off against the United States, with the threat of nuclear war hanging over the world until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.</p>
<p>But the standoff was kept under control by arms treaties, superpower summits and both proscribed and informal rules of engagement.</p>
<p>The new standoff, raw and unpredictable, has been likened to a “fight without rules” by Konstantin Kosachev, head of the upper house of Russian parliament’s foreign affairs committee.</p>
<p>The risk of miscommunication, miscalculation and sudden escalation into a hot war is higher than during the original Cold War, he says.</p> ARCH HAWKS
<p>Trump’s appointment of Mike Pompeo and John Bolton, whom Moscow regards as arch Russia hawks, to key foreign policy posts last month has further soured the mood in Moscow, say analysts and people close to Russian decision makers.</p>
<p>When it comes to the United States, these sources say Moscow is not willing to change course, make concessions or launch new initiatives.</p>
<p>Russia will therefore continue to engage only if and when the United States is ready to do so, and, if faced with more hostile action - such as further diplomatic expulsions - will respond in kind, the people close to decision makers say.</p>
<p>“All we can do is keep the doors open for negotiation and wait and see what will happen. That’s the predominant view,” said Andrey Kortunov, head of a think-tank close to the Russian Foreign Ministry.</p>
<p>In particular, Moscow is keeping the door open to a possible summit between Trump and Putin, an idea floated by Trump, and is also keen for U.S.-Russia talks on strategic nuclear stability to avoid a costly arms race.</p>
<p>But its baseline scenario is a downward spiral in ties.</p>
<p>“Washington is the standard bearer of a new Cold War,” Fyodor Lukyanov, a foreign policy expert close to the Kremlin, wrote in government daily Rossiyskaya Gazeta after last week’s U.S. diplomatic expulsions.</p>
<p>“There’s no point in hoping for an improvement in ties or any progress in any area for the foreseeable future,” said Lukyanov, who has warned the Russian elite to brace for sweeping Iran-style financial sanctions.</p>
<p>EASTWARDS, FRANCO-GERMAN PIVOT</p>
<p>While better ties with the United States are seen as a remote possibility, improved relations with France and Germany are seen as “more interesting opportunities for political investment,” said Kortunov.</p>
<p>Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov praised France’s “constructive position” after Paris confirmed French President Emmanuel Macron would still visit Russia in May despite tensions. Alexei Pushkov, a senator specializing in foreign policy, has lauded German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s decision to back Russia’s proposed Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.</p>
<p>The planned pipeline will connect Germany and Russia, despite concerns from other EU nations who fear it will harm the bloc’s energy security.</p>
<p>Lukyanov said Moscow should look to beef up ties with Beijing and Delhi as they had “freedom to maneuver” on the world stage and were not vulnerable to Western pressure on Russia.</p>
<p>Moscow believes the only wild card it has with Washington is Trump who, in Russian eyes, appears to have been playing a game of good cop bad cop, offering Russia a glimmer of hope, while Congress and his administration read Russia the riot act.</p>
<p>Russia casts Trump as a hostage of the U.S. political establishment who it accuses of reducing his room for maneuver by boxing him in with the special investigation into his associates’ possible collusion with Moscow and what Russia says are false allegations it meddled in U.S. politics.</p>
<p>Its disappointment with Trump has unfolded in stages.</p>
<p>Trump’s decision to launch a missile strike against a Syrian air base, drop a large bomb in Afghanistan in an attack on Islamic militants and stick with Obama-era policies over Russia’s annexation of the Crimea region from Ukraine, and, until recently, his tough talk on North Korea, went down badly in Moscow.</p>
<p>And initial euphoria over his victory gave way to dismay last summer when the man they hoped would end U.S. sanctions reluctantly reinforced the penalties.</p>
<p>His decision to back the expulsion of 60 Russian diplomats over the Skripal affair was a new inflection point.</p>
<p>“Increasingly, diplomacy is becoming irrelevant in Russian-U.S. relations,” Dmitri Trenin, a former colonel in the Russian army and director of the Carnegie Moscow Center, said of the move.</p>
<p>“It seems to be the time to hit/retaliate/prepare for a fight.”</p>
<p>Trump’s approval of the expulsions was seen as a bad omen for his relationship with Putin by an online Russian newspaper viewed as close to the Russian presidential administration.</p>
<p>“If 14 months after taking office Trump has not won himself freedom of maneuver, it’s very hard to count on him getting it in what’s left of his presidential time,” wrote Vzglyad.</p>
<p>Trump’s congratulatory phone call to Putin after the Russian leader’s re-election, his talk of a U.S.-Russia summit in the same call, and his statement on Tuesday saying it would be “a great thing” if he had a “very good relationship” with Putin have provided small shards of hope to Moscow.</p>
<p>“In theory, one can imagine that if President Trump somehow clears himself of the allegations of collusion with Russia .. he might get out of the cage and exercise a little bit more autonomy in rebuilding this relationship,” said Kortunov, the think-tank head close to the Foreign Ministry.</p>
<p>“But these hopes are very slim.”</p>
<p>Editing by Timothy Heritage</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
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reuters briton ross fisher belgian thomas pieters shared lead abu dhabi hsbc championship third round saturday fourtimes major winner rory mcilroy trailing shot golf european tour abu dhabi hsbc championship abu dhabi golf club abu dhabi uae january 20 2018 belgiums thomas pieters plays shot reuterssatish kumar fisher carded sevenunderpar 65 pieters returned 67 stand 17under tournament irishman mcilroy playing first event since october shot leaderboard third spot couple late birdies 65 stay hunt abu dhabi golf club asked needed make return winning one mcilroy slipped 11th world rankings said go try shoot best score possibly felt really comfortable really relaxed golf european tour abu dhabi hsbc championship abu dhabi golf club abu dhabi uae january 20 2018 northern irelands rory mcilroy plays shot reuterssatish kumar overnight leader pieters needed four birdies front nine stay ahead even briton matt fitzpatrick worked way field however players failed replicate form back nine allowing fisher move ahead another good day fisher said obviously great fun getting thomas third day row lot fun lot banter trying hang felt like played solid fingers crossed well paired tomorrow three fun exciting days well go tomorrow hopefully fun pieters happy despite firing greens think played pretty good today said missed lot putts today made couple birdies early settled back nine played good yeah couldnt really make putt hit one really close 16 17 18 pretty disappointing didnt hit many good shots still nice make par last mess made fitzpatrick shot 63 stand two pace 15 level fourth place holder tommy fleetwood reporting shrivathsa sridhar bengaluru editing ken ferris standards thomson reuters trust principles beijingwashington reuters china hit back quickly wednesday trump administrations plans impose tariffs 50 billion chinese goods retaliating list similar duties key us imports including soybeans planes cars beef chemicals speed trade struggle washington beijing ratcheting china took less 11 hours respond measures led sharp selloff global stock markets commodities mktsglob us president donald trump long charged predecessors served united states badly trade matters rejected notion titfortat moves amounted trade war worlds two economic superpowers trade war china war lost many years ago foolish incompetent people represented us trump wrote post twitter early wednesday actions carried immediately may room maneuver publication washingtons list starts period public comment consultation expected last around two months effective date chinas moves depends us action takes effect us commerce secretary wilbur ross said interview cnbc would surprising us china trade actions led negotiations although would speculate might happen investors wondering nonetheless far one worst trade disputes many years could escalate assumption china would respond aggressively avoid escalating tensions chinas response surprise people said julian evanspritchard senior china economist capital economics noting neither side yet called enforcement tariffs game brinkmanship making clear cost would hopes sides come agreement none tariffs come force said evanspritchard related coverage trade tension may pare us growth 0102 percent point moodys analytics economist us commerce chief ross trade talks likely china uschina trade tariff tensions worrisome oecd usmade goods appear face added tariffs china based analysis beijings list include tesla inc electric cars ford motor cos lincoln auto models gulfstream jets made general dynamics corp brownforman corps jack daniels whiskey unlike washingtons list filled many obscure industrial items chinas list strikes signature us exports including soybeans frozen beef cotton key agricultural commodities produced states iowa texas voted trump 2016 presidential election china also trying weaken targeting certain segments economy white house trade adviser peter navarro said interview national public radio lets remember buy five times goods buy us lot lose escalation matter political targets washington targeted products benefit chinese industrial policy including made china 2025 initiative replace advanced technology imports domestic products strategic industries advanced robotics beijings appears aimed inflicting political damage tobacco whiskey example beijings list produced states including kentucky home senate majority leader mitch mcconnell beijings list 25 percent additional tariffs us goods covers 106 items trade value matching 50 billion targeted washingtons list chinas commerce finance ministries said real game changer moves trade dispute away symbolism measures would really hurt us agricultural exports said commerzbank commodities analyst carsten fritsch chinas tariff list covers aircraft would likely include older models boeing cos workhorse 737 narrowbody jet newer models like 737 max larger planes beijingbased spokesman boeing largest single us exporter china declined comment beijings announcement triggered heavy selling global financial markets us stock futures sliding 15 percent us soybean futures plunging nearly 5 percent track biggest fall since july 2016 dollar briefly extended early losses chinas yuan skidded offshore trade rapid response hours earlier us government unveiled detailed breakdown 1300 chinese industrial transport medical goods could subject 25 percent duties ranging lightemitting diodes machine parts us move broadly flagged last month aimed forcing beijing address washington says deeply entrenched theft us intellectual property forced technology transfer us companies chinese competitors charges chinese officials deny foreign ministry spokesman geng shuang said china shown sincerity wanting resolve dispute negotiations best opportunities resolving issues dialogue negotiations repeatedly missed us side told regular briefing wednesday tariff list office us trade representative robert lighthizer followed chinas imposition tariffs 3 billion worth us fruits nuts pork wine protest us steel aluminum tariffs imposed last month trump consumers pay many consumer electronics products cellphones made apple inc laptops made dell excluded us list footwear clothing drawing sigh relief retailers feared higher costs american consumers us industry source said list somewhat unexpected largely exempts major consumer grade technology products one chinas major export categories us tech industry feel like overall dodged bullet source said added traditional industrial goods manufacturers along pharmaceuticals medical device firms could suffer many us business groups support trumps efforts stop theft us intellectual property questioned whether tariffs right approach warn disruptions supply chains rely chinese components ultimately raise costs consumers tariffs one proposed response likely create new challenges form significant added costs manufacturers american consumers national association manufacturers president jay timmons said statement file photo worker takes sample incoming truckload soybeans peterson farms seed facility fargo north dakota us december 6 2017 reutersdan koeckfile photo 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 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 many products segments appear list including antibiotics industrial robots aircraft parts 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 tv imports 14 billion vehicle imports china ustr scheduled may 15 public hearing tariffs announced result investigation section 301 1974 us trade act china ran 375 billion goods trade surplus united states 2017 figure trump demanded cut 100 billion graphic us imports china click tmsnrtrs2fmsz1q slideshow 6 images graphic us trade goods china click tmsnrtrs2gcozih reporting david lawder jason lange ginger gibson steve holland makini brice susan heavey david chance washington michael martina cheng fang ryan woo ben blanchard tony munroe cate cadell philip wen dominique patton josephine mason beijing engen tham shanghai additional reporting brenda goh shanghai stella qiu beijing tom miles geneva michael hogan hamburg editing kim coghill alex richardson standards thomson reuters trust principles new york reuters us president donald trumps recent tariffs retaliation nations particular china may reduce domestic economic growth 01 02 percentage point next 12 months moodys analytics chief economist mark zandi said wednesday put dent growth zandi told reporters conference call impact economy small zandi cautioned tension escalates drag us gross domestic product grow reporting richard leong editing chizu nomiyama standards thomson reuters trust principles washington reuters us commerce secretary wilbur ross said wednesday expects trade actions united states china likely lead negotiated deal unclear whether talks would happen end may later file photo us commerce secretary wilbur ross speaks new tariffs canadian softwood lumber white house washington dc us april 25 2017 reuterskevin lamarquefile photo wouldnt surprising net outcome sort negotiation ross said interview cnbc difficult put specific time denomination negotiations complex ross comments come china slapped retaliatory duties number american products earlier wednesday response trumps planned tariffs chinese goods rattling global financial markets im frankly little surprised wall street surprised telegraphed days weeks ross said us president donald trump earlier wednesday stood administrations actions tweeting trade war china ross echoed sentiments telling cnbc chinas response relatively proportionate tariffs put based intellectual property added also expected countries start coalescing china trade practices reporting susan heavey makini brice editing jeffrey benkoe standards thomson reuters trust principles moscow reuters russia long saw donald trump wild card strategy improve relations united states file photo russias president vladimir putin talks us president donald trump bilateral meeting g20 summit hamburg germany july 7 2017 reuterscarlos barriafile photo 14 months became us president moscow close viewing busted flush unable enact pledge better ties trump reluctantly signed new sanctions moscow last summer allegations russian meddling 2016 us presidential election last week backed expulsion 60 russian diplomats closure russias seattle consulate poisoning exrussian agent britain betting farm trump russia seen relations west sink low talk new cold war president vladimir putins options change strategy banking less trump ability sway around russia severely limited prepares new term one option explored try widen splits west courting france germany another draw closer china india relationship washington still seen moscow central russian foreign policy washington become fixated fight nonexistent socalled russian threat sergei naryshkin russias foreign intelligence agency chief said wednesday reached proportions acquired absurd characteristics possible speak return dark times cold war russian foreign minister sergei lavrov said earlier week standoff worse cold war east west world war two kind rules appearances kept see western partners cast aside proprieties lavrov said cold war saw soviet union square united states threat nuclear war hanging world collapse soviet union 1991 standoff kept control arms treaties superpower summits proscribed informal rules engagement new standoff raw unpredictable likened fight without rules konstantin kosachev head upper house russian parliaments foreign affairs committee risk miscommunication miscalculation sudden escalation hot war higher original cold war says arch hawks trumps appointment mike pompeo john bolton moscow regards arch russia hawks key foreign policy posts last month soured mood moscow say analysts people close russian decision makers comes united states sources say moscow willing change course make concessions launch new initiatives russia therefore continue engage united states ready faced hostile action diplomatic expulsions respond kind people close decision makers say keep doors open negotiation wait see happen thats predominant view said andrey kortunov head thinktank close russian foreign ministry particular moscow keeping door open possible summit trump putin idea floated trump also keen usrussia talks strategic nuclear stability avoid costly arms race baseline scenario downward spiral ties washington standard bearer new cold war fyodor lukyanov foreign policy expert close kremlin wrote government daily rossiyskaya gazeta last weeks us diplomatic expulsions theres point hoping improvement ties progress area foreseeable future said lukyanov warned russian elite brace sweeping iranstyle financial sanctions eastwards francogerman pivot better ties united states seen remote possibility improved relations france germany seen interesting opportunities political investment said kortunov kremlin spokesman dmitry peskov praised frances constructive position paris confirmed french president emmanuel macron would still visit russia may despite tensions alexei pushkov senator specializing foreign policy lauded german chancellor angela merkels decision back russias proposed nord stream 2 gas pipeline planned pipeline connect germany russia despite concerns eu nations fear harm blocs energy security lukyanov said moscow look beef ties beijing delhi freedom maneuver world stage vulnerable western pressure russia moscow believes wild card washington trump russian eyes appears playing game good cop bad cop offering russia glimmer hope congress administration read russia riot act russia casts trump hostage us political establishment accuses reducing room maneuver boxing special investigation associates possible collusion moscow russia says false allegations meddled us politics disappointment trump unfolded stages trumps decision launch missile strike syrian air base drop large bomb afghanistan attack islamic militants stick obamaera policies russias annexation crimea region ukraine recently tough talk north korea went badly moscow initial euphoria victory gave way dismay last summer man hoped would end us sanctions reluctantly reinforced penalties decision back expulsion 60 russian diplomats skripal affair new inflection point increasingly diplomacy becoming irrelevant russianus relations dmitri trenin former colonel russian army director carnegie moscow center said move seems time hitretaliateprepare fight trumps approval expulsions seen bad omen relationship putin online russian newspaper viewed close russian presidential administration 14 months taking office trump freedom maneuver hard count getting whats left presidential time wrote vzglyad trumps congratulatory phone call putin russian leaders reelection talk usrussia summit call statement tuesday saying would great thing good relationship putin provided small shards hope moscow theory one imagine president trump somehow clears allegations collusion russia might get cage exercise little bit autonomy rebuilding relationship said kortunov thinktank head close foreign ministry hopes slim editing timothy heritage standards thomson reuters trust principles
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<p>WASHINGTON – The Trump administration sought to block former acting attorney general Sally Yates from testifying in the House investigation of possible links between Russian officials and Donald Trump’s campaign, according to letters provided to The Washington Post. The effort to keep Yates from testifying has further angered Democrats, who have accused Republicans of trying to damage the inquiry.</p>
<p>According to the letters, the Justice Department notified Yates earlier this month that the administration considers her possible testimony – including on the firing of former national security adviser Michael Flynn for his contacts with the Russian ambassador – to be off-limits in a congressional hearing because the topics are covered by attorney-client privilege or the presidential communication privilege.</p>
<p>The issue of Yates’ testimony adds to the political controversy surrounding the House Intelligence Committee’s investigation of Russian meddling in last year’s election and any possible coordination between Trump associates and Moscow.</p>
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<p>David O’Neil, an attorney for Yates, met at the Justice Department to discuss the issue with government officials on Thursday. At the meeting, O’Neil presented a letter in which he said the Justice Department had “advised” him that Yates’ official communications on issues of interest to the House panel are “client confidences” that cannot be disclosed without written consent. O’Neil challenged that interpretation as “overbroad” in the letter.</p>
<p>The following day, in a letter to O’Neil, the Justice Department responded with another objection: that Yates’s communications with the White House are probably covered by “presidential communications privilege,” and referred him to the White House.</p>
<p>A Justice Department spokeswoman declined to comment.</p>
<p>O’Neil then wrote to White House Counsel Donald McGahn, saying that he believed any privilege had been waived as a result of past White House statements and that Yates planned to testify unless he heard back from McGahn.</p>
<p>But that same day, the hearing, which also would have included former CIA director John Brennan and former director of national intelligence James Clapper, was canceled by the House Intelligence Committee’s chairman, Rep. Devin Nunes , R-Calif., and any White House decision on Yates’s testimony became moot.</p>
<p>In his Tuesday briefing, press secretary Sean Spicer said that the White House did not weigh in on whether Yates could testify. “To suggest in any way, shape or form that we stood in the way of that is 100 percent false,” he said.</p>
<p>Nunes has said he canceled the hearing to first hear from FBI Director James Comey in a classified setting. That session was also canceled.</p>
<p>Democrats charge that Nunes has aligned himself too closely with the White House to conduct an independent probe.</p>
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<p>“You see the unraveling of this committee happening overnight for no good reason,” said Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Calif., a committee member. “We have a responsibility to do this investigation.”</p>
<p>O’Neil’s meeting at the Justice Department and the exchange of letters came to light as the House GOP leadership continued to stand by Nunes. House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., rejected demands that Nunes recuse himself. Nunes said Tuesday that he had no plans to step aside.</p>
<p>Yates was the deputy attorney general in the final years of the Obama administration and served as the acting attorney general in the first days of the Trump administration.</p>
<p>Trump fired Yates in January after she ordered Justice Department lawyers not to defend his first immigration order temporarily banning entry to the United States for citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries and refugees from around the world.</p>
<p>As acting attorney general, Yates played a key part in the investigation surrounding Flynn, who was ousted after revelations that he had discussed sanctions with the Russian ambassador to the United States.</p>
<p>Yates and Brennan had made clear to government officials by Thursday that their testimony to the committee would probably contradict some statements that White House officials had made, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity.</p>
<p>O’Neil and Ken Wainstein, a lawyer for Brennan, declined to comment.</p>
<p>During his press briefing Tuesday, Spicer said of Yates: “I hope she testifies. I look forward to it.”</p>
<p>Spicer said the White House did not seek to have the House hearing canceled.</p>
<p>Rep. Adam Schiff , Calif., the ranking Democrat on the Intelligence Committee, said the panel was aware that Yates “sought permission to testify from the White House. Whether the White House’s desire to avoid a public claim of executive privilege to keep her from providing the full truth on what happened contributed to the decision to cancel today’s hearing, we do not know. But we would urge that the open hearing be rescheduled without delay and that Ms. Yates be permitted to testify freely and openly.”</p>
<p>In January, Yates warned McGahn that statements White House officials, including Vice President Pence, had made about Flynn’s contact with the ambassador were incorrect and could therefore expose the national security adviser to future blackmail by the Russians.</p>
<p>In his March 23 letter – addressed to acting assistant attorney general Samuel Ramer – O’Neil noted that Yates was willing to testify and that she would avoid discussing classified information and details that could compromise investigations. The correspondence was later shared with the House Intelligence Committee.</p>
<p>O’Neil went on to memorialize the government’s position:</p>
<p>“The Department of Justice has advised that it believes there are further constraints on the testimony Ms. Yates may provide at the [House Intelligence Committee] hearing. Generally, we understand that the department takes the position that all information Ms. Yates received or actions she took in her capacity as Deputy Attorney General and acting Attorney General are client confidences that she may not disclose absent written consent of the department,” he wrote.</p>
<p>O’Neil continued: “We believe that the department’s position in this regard is overbroad, incorrect, and inconsistent with the department’s historical approach to the congressional testimony of current and former officials.</p>
<p>“In particular, we believe that Ms. Yates should not be obligated to refuse to provide non-classified facts about the department’s notification to the White House of concerns about the conduct of a senior official. Requiring Ms. Yates to refuse to provide such information is particularly untenable given that multiple senior administration officials have publicly described the same events.”</p>
<p>The following day, Scott Schools, a senior Justice Department lawyer, replied to O’Neil, writing that Yates’ conversations with the White House “are likely covered by the presidential communications privilege and possibly the deliberative process privilege. The president owns those privileges. Therefore, to the extent Ms. Yates needs consent to disclose the details of those communications to [the intelligence panel], she needs to consult with the White House. She need not obtain separate consent from the department.”</p>
<p>That letter, in essence, marked Justice Department officials backing away from their earlier strictures, saying that although they thought executive privilege probably applied to Yates’s discussions, that was a conversation she would have to have with lawyers at the White House.</p>
<p>In response, O’Neil sent a letter Friday to McGahn, the White House counsel, saying that any claim of privilege “has been waived as a result of the multiple public comments of current senior White House officials describing the January 2017 communications. Nevertheless, I am advising the White House of Ms. Yates’ intention to provide information.”</p>
<p>He closed the letter by saying that if he did not hear back from the White House by 10 a.m. Monday, he would assume that it “does not exert executive privilege over these matters with respect to the hearings or other settings.”</p>
<p>The cancellation of the hearing made O’Neil’s deadline moot, although Spicer said the lack of a response to the lawyer’s letter showed the administration had no problem with Yates testifying.</p>
<p>—</p>
<p>Karoun Demirjian contributed to this report.</p>
<p>—</p>
<p>VIDEO:</p>
<p>The Trump administration sought to stop former acting attorney general Sally Yates from testifying before the House Intelligence Committee about links between the Trump campaign and Russian officials. (Video: Jenny Starrs/Photo: Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)</p>
<p>— <a href="http://wapo.st/2kMh2o8" type="external">http://wapo.st/2kMh2o8</a></p>
<p>—</p>
<p />
| false | 2 |
washington trump administration sought block former acting attorney general sally yates testifying house investigation possible links russian officials donald trumps campaign according letters provided washington post effort keep yates testifying angered democrats accused republicans trying damage inquiry according letters justice department notified yates earlier month administration considers possible testimony including firing former national security adviser michael flynn contacts russian ambassador offlimits congressional hearing topics covered attorneyclient privilege presidential communication privilege issue yates testimony adds political controversy surrounding house intelligence committees investigation russian meddling last years election possible coordination trump associates moscow advertisement david oneil attorney yates met justice department discuss issue government officials thursday meeting oneil presented letter said justice department advised yates official communications issues interest house panel client confidences disclosed without written consent oneil challenged interpretation overbroad letter following day letter oneil justice department responded another objection yatess communications white house probably covered presidential communications privilege referred white house justice department spokeswoman declined comment oneil wrote white house counsel donald mcgahn saying believed privilege waived result past white house statements yates planned testify unless heard back mcgahn day hearing also would included former cia director john brennan former director national intelligence james clapper canceled house intelligence committees chairman rep devin nunes rcalif white house decision yatess testimony became moot tuesday briefing press secretary sean spicer said white house weigh whether yates could testify suggest way shape form stood way 100 percent false said nunes said canceled hearing first hear fbi director james comey classified setting session also canceled democrats charge nunes aligned closely white house conduct independent probe advertisement see unraveling committee happening overnight good reason said rep jackie speier dcalif committee member responsibility investigation oneils meeting justice department exchange letters came light house gop leadership continued stand nunes house speaker paul ryan rwis rejected demands nunes recuse nunes said tuesday plans step aside yates deputy attorney general final years obama administration served acting attorney general first days trump administration trump fired yates january ordered justice department lawyers defend first immigration order temporarily banning entry united states citizens seven muslimmajority countries refugees around world acting attorney general yates played key part investigation surrounding flynn ousted revelations discussed sanctions russian ambassador united states yates brennan made clear government officials thursday testimony committee would probably contradict statements white house officials made according person familiar matter spoke condition anonymity oneil ken wainstein lawyer brennan declined comment press briefing tuesday spicer said yates hope testifies look forward spicer said white house seek house hearing canceled rep adam schiff calif ranking democrat intelligence committee said panel aware yates sought permission testify white house whether white houses desire avoid public claim executive privilege keep providing full truth happened contributed decision cancel todays hearing know would urge open hearing rescheduled without delay ms yates permitted testify freely openly january yates warned mcgahn statements white house officials including vice president pence made flynns contact ambassador incorrect could therefore expose national security adviser future blackmail russians march 23 letter addressed acting assistant attorney general samuel ramer oneil noted yates willing testify would avoid discussing classified information details could compromise investigations correspondence later shared house intelligence committee oneil went memorialize governments position department justice advised believes constraints testimony ms yates may provide house intelligence committee hearing generally understand department takes position information ms yates received actions took capacity deputy attorney general acting attorney general client confidences may disclose absent written consent department wrote oneil continued believe departments position regard overbroad incorrect inconsistent departments historical approach congressional testimony current former officials particular believe ms yates obligated refuse provide nonclassified facts departments notification white house concerns conduct senior official requiring ms yates refuse provide information particularly untenable given multiple senior administration officials publicly described events following day scott schools senior justice department lawyer replied oneil writing yates conversations white house likely covered presidential communications privilege possibly deliberative process privilege president owns privileges therefore extent ms yates needs consent disclose details communications intelligence panel needs consult white house need obtain separate consent department letter essence marked justice department officials backing away earlier strictures saying although thought executive privilege probably applied yatess discussions conversation would lawyers white house response oneil sent letter friday mcgahn white house counsel saying claim privilege waived result multiple public comments current senior white house officials describing january 2017 communications nevertheless advising white house ms yates intention provide information closed letter saying hear back white house 10 monday would assume exert executive privilege matters respect hearings settings cancellation hearing made oneils deadline moot although spicer said lack response lawyers letter showed administration problem yates testifying karoun demirjian contributed report video trump administration sought stop former acting attorney general sally yates testifying house intelligence committee links trump campaign russian officials video jenny starrsphoto jabin botsfordthe washington post httpwapost2kmh2o8
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<p>CHICAGO (AP) — The Toronto Maple Leafs found themselves in yet another tight game. William Nylander found a way to make sure they got two points this time.</p>
<p>Nylander scored on a penalty shot 6 seconds into overtime to lift the Maple Leafs to a 3-2 win over the sagging Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night.</p>
<p>Nylander was awarded the attempt after he broke in alone on Jeff Glass from the opening faceoff in the extra period, but was hooked from behind by Chicago's Duncan Keith. Nylander scored the game-winner and his 10th goal by faking Glass and then burying a high backhander to send the Blackhawks to their fourth straight defeat.</p>
<p>"I thought I needed to throw a little harder fake on him so he'd bite," Nylander said. "I went to the backhand on the two previous breakaways. Third time's the lucky charm."</p>
<p>Nylander was stopped by Glass with 4:02 left in the third period when he pounced on Jordan Oesterle's turnover and cut in alone.</p>
<p>"I've had breakaways in the previous games and hadn't scored," Nylander said. "So it's nice to score on one."</p>
<p>Eight of Toronto's last nine games have been decided by one goal, including three overtime losses and one in regulation. In the Maple Leafs' 4-2 loss to Colorado on Monday, the Avalanche's Gabriel Landeskog finished the scoring with a late empty-netter.</p>
<p>"That's the way it is every night," said Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock, whose team won for second time in seven games. "I still think we can play way better."</p>
<p>Toronto's Nazem Kadri connected for his 15th goal, a power-play score that snapped a seven-game scoring drought and was just his second goal in 20 games. Mitch Marner also scored for the Maple Leafs.</p>
<p>Brent Seabrook and Nick Schmaltz scored power-play goals for Chicago, which snapped an 0-for-16 drought with the man advantage. Schmaltz's goal, at 7:55 of the third period, tied it at 2.</p>
<p>Seabrook's first-period score was the Blackhawks' first power-play goal at home since Dec. 8 against Buffalo, ending a span of 33 failed chances over 10 games.</p>
<p>Chicago coach Joel Quenneville sounded almost more wistful than disappointed about how his team lost this one.</p>
<p>"We had one (a hooking from behind) that was called a two-minute minor," Quenneville said. "I don't know what's more advantageous: a power-play with a 4-on-3 or a penalty shot."</p>
<p>Toronto's Frederik Andersen made 34 saves, including some tough chances as Chicago battled for a second straight game following several soft efforts. Glass finished with 33 stops.</p>
<p>Seabrook's power-play goal opened the scoring 5:29 in. His shot from the top of the right circle deflected off the stick of Toronto's Leo Komarov and flipped past Andersen.</p>
<p>Marner was credited with tying it 1-all with 3:23 left in the first to cap a scramble in the Chicago zone. After Glass made a couple of tough saves, Jake Gardiner's shot from the top of the left circle struck Marner in traffic and deflected in.</p>
<p>Andersen came up with the sharper stops in the scoreless second. He made a glove save on Anthony Duclair from the slot at 1:33, then a pair of close-in rapid-fire saves on Patrick Sharp and Ryan Hartman midway through the period.</p>
<p>Kadri put Toronto ahead 2-1 with a power-play goal at 4:58 of the third. He connected from the right edge of the crease when he one-timed in a pinpoint, cross-ice feed from Tyler Bozak.</p>
<p>Schmaltz's goal 2:57 later tied it at 2 and withstood a video review. From a goalmouth scrum, Schmaltz fired in a loose puck from the right side of the crease and with Andersen down. The puck crossed the goal line just before Chicago's Artem Anisimov tumbled over the Toronto goalie.</p>
<p>NOTES: Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said Corey Crawford (upper-body) is making progress but can't predict when his No. 1 goalie will return. Crawford hasn't been on the ice since being pulled in the first period at New Jersey on Dec. 23, but has resumed working out with the team and may travel with the Blackhawks on a trip following the All-Star break. "When we get him on the ice we'll learn more," Quenneville said. "Playing might be a little distant." ... Maple Leafs D Morgan Rielly missed his third game with an upper-body injury and D Nikita Zaitsev missed his 16th with a lower-body injury. Reilly is expected back after the All-Star break. ... Maple Leafs RW Kasperi Kapanen, recalled from the Toronto Marlies of the AHL on Wednesday was in the lineup, but D Rinat Valiev, recalled from the Marlies on Tuesday, was not. ... Connor Carrick, a 23-year-old native of Orland Park, Illinois, started for the Maple Leafs and skated before a contingent of family and friends.</p>
<p>UP NEXT</p>
<p>Maple Leafs: At the Dallas Stars on Thursday night</p>
<p>Blackhawks: At the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday night.</p>
<p>CHICAGO (AP) — The Toronto Maple Leafs found themselves in yet another tight game. William Nylander found a way to make sure they got two points this time.</p>
<p>Nylander scored on a penalty shot 6 seconds into overtime to lift the Maple Leafs to a 3-2 win over the sagging Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night.</p>
<p>Nylander was awarded the attempt after he broke in alone on Jeff Glass from the opening faceoff in the extra period, but was hooked from behind by Chicago's Duncan Keith. Nylander scored the game-winner and his 10th goal by faking Glass and then burying a high backhander to send the Blackhawks to their fourth straight defeat.</p>
<p>"I thought I needed to throw a little harder fake on him so he'd bite," Nylander said. "I went to the backhand on the two previous breakaways. Third time's the lucky charm."</p>
<p>Nylander was stopped by Glass with 4:02 left in the third period when he pounced on Jordan Oesterle's turnover and cut in alone.</p>
<p>"I've had breakaways in the previous games and hadn't scored," Nylander said. "So it's nice to score on one."</p>
<p>Eight of Toronto's last nine games have been decided by one goal, including three overtime losses and one in regulation. In the Maple Leafs' 4-2 loss to Colorado on Monday, the Avalanche's Gabriel Landeskog finished the scoring with a late empty-netter.</p>
<p>"That's the way it is every night," said Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock, whose team won for second time in seven games. "I still think we can play way better."</p>
<p>Toronto's Nazem Kadri connected for his 15th goal, a power-play score that snapped a seven-game scoring drought and was just his second goal in 20 games. Mitch Marner also scored for the Maple Leafs.</p>
<p>Brent Seabrook and Nick Schmaltz scored power-play goals for Chicago, which snapped an 0-for-16 drought with the man advantage. Schmaltz's goal, at 7:55 of the third period, tied it at 2.</p>
<p>Seabrook's first-period score was the Blackhawks' first power-play goal at home since Dec. 8 against Buffalo, ending a span of 33 failed chances over 10 games.</p>
<p>Chicago coach Joel Quenneville sounded almost more wistful than disappointed about how his team lost this one.</p>
<p>"We had one (a hooking from behind) that was called a two-minute minor," Quenneville said. "I don't know what's more advantageous: a power-play with a 4-on-3 or a penalty shot."</p>
<p>Toronto's Frederik Andersen made 34 saves, including some tough chances as Chicago battled for a second straight game following several soft efforts. Glass finished with 33 stops.</p>
<p>Seabrook's power-play goal opened the scoring 5:29 in. His shot from the top of the right circle deflected off the stick of Toronto's Leo Komarov and flipped past Andersen.</p>
<p>Marner was credited with tying it 1-all with 3:23 left in the first to cap a scramble in the Chicago zone. After Glass made a couple of tough saves, Jake Gardiner's shot from the top of the left circle struck Marner in traffic and deflected in.</p>
<p>Andersen came up with the sharper stops in the scoreless second. He made a glove save on Anthony Duclair from the slot at 1:33, then a pair of close-in rapid-fire saves on Patrick Sharp and Ryan Hartman midway through the period.</p>
<p>Kadri put Toronto ahead 2-1 with a power-play goal at 4:58 of the third. He connected from the right edge of the crease when he one-timed in a pinpoint, cross-ice feed from Tyler Bozak.</p>
<p>Schmaltz's goal 2:57 later tied it at 2 and withstood a video review. From a goalmouth scrum, Schmaltz fired in a loose puck from the right side of the crease and with Andersen down. The puck crossed the goal line just before Chicago's Artem Anisimov tumbled over the Toronto goalie.</p>
<p>NOTES: Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said Corey Crawford (upper-body) is making progress but can't predict when his No. 1 goalie will return. Crawford hasn't been on the ice since being pulled in the first period at New Jersey on Dec. 23, but has resumed working out with the team and may travel with the Blackhawks on a trip following the All-Star break. "When we get him on the ice we'll learn more," Quenneville said. "Playing might be a little distant." ... Maple Leafs D Morgan Rielly missed his third game with an upper-body injury and D Nikita Zaitsev missed his 16th with a lower-body injury. Reilly is expected back after the All-Star break. ... Maple Leafs RW Kasperi Kapanen, recalled from the Toronto Marlies of the AHL on Wednesday was in the lineup, but D Rinat Valiev, recalled from the Marlies on Tuesday, was not. ... Connor Carrick, a 23-year-old native of Orland Park, Illinois, started for the Maple Leafs and skated before a contingent of family and friends.</p>
<p>UP NEXT</p>
<p>Maple Leafs: At the Dallas Stars on Thursday night</p>
<p>Blackhawks: At the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday night.</p>
| false | 2 |
chicago ap toronto maple leafs found yet another tight game william nylander found way make sure got two points time nylander scored penalty shot 6 seconds overtime lift maple leafs 32 win sagging chicago blackhawks wednesday night nylander awarded attempt broke alone jeff glass opening faceoff extra period hooked behind chicagos duncan keith nylander scored gamewinner 10th goal faking glass burying high backhander send blackhawks fourth straight defeat thought needed throw little harder fake hed bite nylander said went backhand two previous breakaways third times lucky charm nylander stopped glass 402 left third period pounced jordan oesterles turnover cut alone ive breakaways previous games hadnt scored nylander said nice score one eight torontos last nine games decided one goal including three overtime losses one regulation maple leafs 42 loss colorado monday avalanches gabriel landeskog finished scoring late emptynetter thats way every night said maple leafs coach mike babcock whose team second time seven games still think play way better torontos nazem kadri connected 15th goal powerplay score snapped sevengame scoring drought second goal 20 games mitch marner also scored maple leafs brent seabrook nick schmaltz scored powerplay goals chicago snapped 0for16 drought man advantage schmaltzs goal 755 third period tied 2 seabrooks firstperiod score blackhawks first powerplay goal home since dec 8 buffalo ending span 33 failed chances 10 games chicago coach joel quenneville sounded almost wistful disappointed team lost one one hooking behind called twominute minor quenneville said dont know whats advantageous powerplay 4on3 penalty shot torontos frederik andersen made 34 saves including tough chances chicago battled second straight game following several soft efforts glass finished 33 stops seabrooks powerplay goal opened scoring 529 shot top right circle deflected stick torontos leo komarov flipped past andersen marner credited tying 1all 323 left first cap scramble chicago zone glass made couple tough saves jake gardiners shot top left circle struck marner traffic deflected andersen came sharper stops scoreless second made glove save anthony duclair slot 133 pair closein rapidfire saves patrick sharp ryan hartman midway period kadri put toronto ahead 21 powerplay goal 458 third connected right edge crease onetimed pinpoint crossice feed tyler bozak schmaltzs goal 257 later tied 2 withstood video review goalmouth scrum schmaltz fired loose puck right side crease andersen puck crossed goal line chicagos artem anisimov tumbled toronto goalie notes blackhawks coach joel quenneville said corey crawford upperbody making progress cant predict 1 goalie return crawford hasnt ice since pulled first period new jersey dec 23 resumed working team may travel blackhawks trip following allstar break get ice well learn quenneville said playing might little distant maple leafs morgan rielly missed third game upperbody injury nikita zaitsev missed 16th lowerbody injury reilly expected back allstar break maple leafs rw kasperi kapanen recalled toronto marlies ahl wednesday lineup rinat valiev recalled marlies tuesday connor carrick 23yearold native orland park illinois started maple leafs skated contingent family friends next maple leafs dallas stars thursday night blackhawks detroit red wings thursday night chicago ap toronto maple leafs found yet another tight game william nylander found way make sure got two points time nylander scored penalty shot 6 seconds overtime lift maple leafs 32 win sagging chicago blackhawks wednesday night nylander awarded attempt broke alone jeff glass opening faceoff extra period hooked behind chicagos duncan keith nylander scored gamewinner 10th goal faking glass burying high backhander send blackhawks fourth straight defeat thought needed throw little harder fake hed bite nylander said went backhand two previous breakaways third times lucky charm nylander stopped glass 402 left third period pounced jordan oesterles turnover cut alone ive breakaways previous games hadnt scored nylander said nice score one eight torontos last nine games decided one goal including three overtime losses one regulation maple leafs 42 loss colorado monday avalanches gabriel landeskog finished scoring late emptynetter thats way every night said maple leafs coach mike babcock whose team second time seven games still think play way better torontos nazem kadri connected 15th goal powerplay score snapped sevengame scoring drought second goal 20 games mitch marner also scored maple leafs brent seabrook nick schmaltz scored powerplay goals chicago snapped 0for16 drought man advantage schmaltzs goal 755 third period tied 2 seabrooks firstperiod score blackhawks first powerplay goal home since dec 8 buffalo ending span 33 failed chances 10 games chicago coach joel quenneville sounded almost wistful disappointed team lost one one hooking behind called twominute minor quenneville said dont know whats advantageous powerplay 4on3 penalty shot torontos frederik andersen made 34 saves including tough chances chicago battled second straight game following several soft efforts glass finished 33 stops seabrooks powerplay goal opened scoring 529 shot top right circle deflected stick torontos leo komarov flipped past andersen marner credited tying 1all 323 left first cap scramble chicago zone glass made couple tough saves jake gardiners shot top left circle struck marner traffic deflected andersen came sharper stops scoreless second made glove save anthony duclair slot 133 pair closein rapidfire saves patrick sharp ryan hartman midway period kadri put toronto ahead 21 powerplay goal 458 third connected right edge crease onetimed pinpoint crossice feed tyler bozak schmaltzs goal 257 later tied 2 withstood video review goalmouth scrum schmaltz fired loose puck right side crease andersen puck crossed goal line chicagos artem anisimov tumbled toronto goalie notes blackhawks coach joel quenneville said corey crawford upperbody making progress cant predict 1 goalie return crawford hasnt ice since pulled first period new jersey dec 23 resumed working team may travel blackhawks trip following allstar break get ice well learn quenneville said playing might little distant maple leafs morgan rielly missed third game upperbody injury nikita zaitsev missed 16th lowerbody injury reilly expected back allstar break maple leafs rw kasperi kapanen recalled toronto marlies ahl wednesday lineup rinat valiev recalled marlies tuesday connor carrick 23yearold native orland park illinois started maple leafs skated contingent family friends next maple leafs dallas stars thursday night blackhawks detroit red wings thursday night
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<p>WASHINGTON — For years after the Great Recession ended, investors fretted — sometimes panicked — over the prospect that the Federal Reserve might begin to raise interest rates from record lows.</p>
<p>Now? The Fed seems all but sure to raise rates Wednesday for the third time in 15 months and to signal more hikes probably coming. And the response from investors has been something akin to a yawn.</p>
<p>Wall Street appears too busy extending the stock market rally that began with President Donald Trump’s election in November, cheered by the prospect of tax cuts, an easing of regulations and higher spending for infrastructure to worry about a rate hike.</p>
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<p>Fed watchers, it seems, are more buoyed by expectations for a vigorous economy than worried about whether slightly higher rates might slow growth.</p>
<p>When Chair Janet Yellen and several other Fed officials separately suggested earlier this month that the economy was sturdy enough to withstand a modest raising of loan rates, investors quickly raised their estimate of the probability of a rate hike at the Fed’s meeting this week from around 20 percent to 80 percent.</p>
<p>After Friday’s robust February jobs report — 235,000 added jobs, solid pay gains and a dip in the unemployment rate to 4.7 percent — the likelihood has grown to 95 percent, according to the CME Group, which tracks investor expectations of Fed actions.</p>
<p>Yet no one seems very concerned.</p>
<p>“We’re just at a different place now than in 2013 when there was a lot of angst and uncertainty about the economy’s prospects,” said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics. “Now, the fundamentals of the economy are much better. We are close to full employment and investors feel more comfortable about where we are.”</p>
<p>In light of Friday’s jobs report, optimism about Trump’s economic program and other signs that growth may pick up, some economists said they were raising their forecast for the number of rate increases this year from three to perhaps four.</p>
<p>“I think a March rate hike is a fait accompli,” said Sung Won Sohn, an economics professor at California State University, Channel Islands, who expects four rate increases in 2017. “The more important question is: How many more hikes they will give us for the balance of the year?”</p>
<p>If the Fed is no longer unsettling investors with the hint of a forthcoming rate increase, it marks quite a change from the anxiety that prevailed after 2008, when the central bank cut its key rate to a record low and kept it there for seven years. During those years, any slight shift in sentiment about when the Fed might begin raising rates — a step that would lead eventually to higher loan rates for consumers and businesses — was enough to move global markets.</p>
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<p>In 2013, then-Chairman Ben Bernanke sent markets into a panic merely by mentioning that the Fed was contemplating slowing the pace of its bond purchases, which it was using then to keep long-term borrowing rates low.</p>
<p>But now, the economy is widely considered sturdy enough to handle modestly higher loan rates. The unemployment rate, at 4.7 percent, is below the 4.8 percent level the Fed has deemed an indication of full employment. And inflation, which had stayed undesirably low for years, is edging near the 2 percent annual rate that the Fed views as optimal.</p>
<p>And while the broadest gauge of the economy’s health — the gross domestic product — remains well below levels associated with a healthy economy, many analysts say they’re optimistic that Trump’s proposed tax cuts, infrastructure spending increases and deregulation may accelerate growth. Those proposals have lifted the confidence of business executives and offset concerns that investors might otherwise have had about the effects of Fed rate increases.</p>
<p>Yet for the same reason, some caution that if Trump’s program fails to survive Congress intact, concerns will arise that the president’s plans won’t deliver much economic punch. Investors may start to fret about how steadily higher Fed rates will raise the cost of borrowing and slow spending by consumers and businesses.</p>
<p>The Fed typically raises rates to prevent an economy from overheating and inflation from rising too high. But throughout the Fed’s history, its efforts to control inflation have sometimes gone too far — slowing borrowing and spending so much as to trigger a recession. Already, the current expansion, which officially began in June 2009, is the third-longest in the post-World War II period.</p>
<p>The Fed’s benchmark rate, after modest increases in December 2015 and December 2016, now stands at a range of 0.5 percent to 0.75 percent, still quite low by historical standards. But if the Fed ends up raising rates three or four times this year and follows up with three additional hikes in 2018, its benchmark rate would be left at a level that might start to dampen economic activity.</p>
<p>“The Fed is really just normalizing rates now and not tightening credit,” said David Jones, chief economist at DMJ Advisors. “But if the Fed hikes three or four times this year, by next year, the rate increases will start to bite and investors might start to worry about whether the Fed’s credit tightening could get in the way of Trump’s stimulus program.”</p>
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<p>Animated explainer:</p>
<p><a href="http://bit.ly/2nlGO0K" type="external">http://bit.ly/2nlGO0K</a></p>
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washington years great recession ended investors fretted sometimes panicked prospect federal reserve might begin raise interest rates record lows fed seems sure raise rates wednesday third time 15 months signal hikes probably coming response investors something akin yawn wall street appears busy extending stock market rally began president donald trumps election november cheered prospect tax cuts easing regulations higher spending infrastructure worry rate hike advertisement fed watchers seems buoyed expectations vigorous economy worried whether slightly higher rates might slow growth chair janet yellen several fed officials separately suggested earlier month economy sturdy enough withstand modest raising loan rates investors quickly raised estimate probability rate hike feds meeting week around 20 percent 80 percent fridays robust february jobs report 235000 added jobs solid pay gains dip unemployment rate 47 percent likelihood grown 95 percent according cme group tracks investor expectations fed actions yet one seems concerned different place 2013 lot angst uncertainty economys prospects said mark zandi chief economist moodys analytics fundamentals economy much better close full employment investors feel comfortable light fridays jobs report optimism trumps economic program signs growth may pick economists said raising forecast number rate increases year three perhaps four think march rate hike fait accompli said sung sohn economics professor california state university channel islands expects four rate increases 2017 important question many hikes give us balance year fed longer unsettling investors hint forthcoming rate increase marks quite change anxiety prevailed 2008 central bank cut key rate record low kept seven years years slight shift sentiment fed might begin raising rates step would lead eventually higher loan rates consumers businesses enough move global markets advertisement 2013 thenchairman ben bernanke sent markets panic merely mentioning fed contemplating slowing pace bond purchases using keep longterm borrowing rates low economy widely considered sturdy enough handle modestly higher loan rates unemployment rate 47 percent 48 percent level fed deemed indication full employment inflation stayed undesirably low years edging near 2 percent annual rate fed views optimal broadest gauge economys health gross domestic product remains well levels associated healthy economy many analysts say theyre optimistic trumps proposed tax cuts infrastructure spending increases deregulation may accelerate growth proposals lifted confidence business executives offset concerns investors might otherwise effects fed rate increases yet reason caution trumps program fails survive congress intact concerns arise presidents plans wont deliver much economic punch investors may start fret steadily higher fed rates raise cost borrowing slow spending consumers businesses fed typically raises rates prevent economy overheating inflation rising high throughout feds history efforts control inflation sometimes gone far slowing borrowing spending much trigger recession already current expansion officially began june 2009 thirdlongest postworld war ii period feds benchmark rate modest increases december 2015 december 2016 stands range 05 percent 075 percent still quite low historical standards fed ends raising rates three four times year follows three additional hikes 2018 benchmark rate would left level might start dampen economic activity fed really normalizing rates tightening credit said david jones chief economist dmj advisors fed hikes three four times year next year rate increases start bite investors might start worry whether feds credit tightening could get way trumps stimulus program ___ animated explainer httpbitly2nlgo0k
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<p>In 2011, the police department switched from a four-days-a-week/10-hours-a-day schedule to five days a week/eight hours a day. The police union has fought the change.</p>
<p>Police Chief Ray Rael told the city’s Finance Committee on Monday that he suspects some of the usage behind a 30 percent uptick in the sick leave police officers took during the 2012-2013 fiscal year is intentional.</p>
<p>“I honestly have to question why the numbers would increase so suddenly. If there’s a pattern over the years that there’s a certain amount of leave and all of a sudden there’s an increase, it makes me wonder as to what the motivation is,” Rael told the Journal after the meeting.</p>
<p>“I think it would clearly be to skew the numbers and slant the argument toward ‘We need to get back to the four-tens,'” he said.</p>
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<p>Rael told the Journal he plans to compare recent sick leave usage with patterns from previous years, perhaps among individual officers. If a problem is detected, Rael said he’ll “seek remedies.”</p>
<p>Rael’s comments earned the admonishment of City Councilor Chris Rivera. Rivera said he was “a little taken aback” that Rael would accuse people of falsely calling in sick. Rivera added that he would venture to say that officers wouldn’t do that because it would create more work for their colleagues.</p>
<p>“I can’t believe that type of statement would be made here,” Rivera said.</p>
<p>Councilor Carmichael Dominguez told Rael he was making a serious claim.</p>
<p>Rael was on the defensive for much of the Finance Committee’s discussion on the subject. He contends that the five-eights schedule has allowed him to be more efficient and proactive with his officers’ time, spend less money on overtime and improve Santa Fe’s dismal property crime rate.</p>
<p>Rael said the five-eights shifts are used by the majority of police departments in New Mexico and around the country. In New Mexico, for instance, the only departments to use four-10s are Las Cruces and Albuquerque, and Albuquerque only uses four-10s for graveyard shifts, he said.</p>
<p>Police union president Adam Gallegos said that Rael’s presentation was a sham. “Don’t be a fool,” he warned Finance Committee members.</p>
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<p>Gallegos promised the committee a packet detailing the union’s own calculations and statistics, saying it should be available by the committee’s next meeting in about two weeks.</p>
<p>Gallegos said Rael’s numbers are skewed. He said that, among other things, overtime costs have gone down for reasons including that the police department now assigns fewer officers to special events.</p>
<p>Gallegos said that going back to a four-10s schedule would boost recruitment and is better for officers’ quality of life. He and others have previously argued that the five-eights schedule hurts recruitment efforts and causes fatigue.</p>
<p>The union asked for a return to the four-10s schedule during contract negotiations this month, but the city turned down the request.</p>
<p>The role the shifts might play in recruiting and retaining officers struck a particular nerve with some city councilors. Councilor Patti Bushee noted that officer vacancies are a continual problem for Santa Fe.</p>
<p>Rivera said he talked last week with a former Santa Fe police officer who left the department because of the shift changes, and the department’s recent scaling back of the distance officers can use their work cars to commute to and from work.</p>
<p>“We can’t ignore what the officers are saying,” Rivera said. “We have to deal with quality of life issues and I’m hearing from officers that this is a quality of life issue.”</p>
<p>Councilor Bill Dimas said morale is also an issue and morale needs to be considered as the city looks closer into the shift dilemma.</p>
<p>Rael said the police department has 11 vacancies but that there are several potential officers in the pipeline. He said he’s optimistic enough about the prospects that he’s withdrawn a proposed $3 million recruitment and retention plan to bring more officers to the department that was tabled at last week’s Public Safety Committee meeting.</p>
<p>• Also on Monday, the city’s Finance Committee started what could be an ongoing conversation about raises at the city. The discussion was initiated after recent media reports about the sometimes large raises given to non-union managers and other employees over the past two years.</p>
<p>Councilors said that it was obvious why some of the raises have been granted. For instance, one employee saw an increase in pay after a promotion landed him the job of running two city departments. City staff said many of the promotions actually resulted in the city saving money because one employee is now doing multiple jobs.</p>
<p>But councilors also said they want more information about why other employees saw a pay bump at a time when most employees have seen minimal pay increases. Dominguez pondered the possibility of bringing back a scheme whereby the council approved the filling of vacant positions. He also said the council should have a say in how money saved by workers filling multiple roles is spent.</p>
<p>Bushee said she’s frustrated that she learned about many of the raises from newspaper reports. Bushee said it’s disheartening for many hard-working city workers to hear about other employees getting pay bumps when Santa Fe’s across-the-board pay increases have been minimal or nonexistent over the past few years.</p>
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2011 police department switched fourdaysaweek10hoursaday schedule five days weekeight hours day police union fought change police chief ray rael told citys finance committee monday suspects usage behind 30 percent uptick sick leave police officers took 20122013 fiscal year intentional honestly question numbers would increase suddenly theres pattern years theres certain amount leave sudden theres increase makes wonder motivation rael told journal meeting think would clearly skew numbers slant argument toward need get back fourtens said advertisement rael told journal plans compare recent sick leave usage patterns previous years perhaps among individual officers problem detected rael said hell seek remedies raels comments earned admonishment city councilor chris rivera rivera said little taken aback rael would accuse people falsely calling sick rivera added would venture say officers wouldnt would create work colleagues cant believe type statement would made rivera said councilor carmichael dominguez told rael making serious claim rael defensive much finance committees discussion subject contends fiveeights schedule allowed efficient proactive officers time spend less money overtime improve santa fes dismal property crime rate rael said fiveeights shifts used majority police departments new mexico around country new mexico instance departments use four10s las cruces albuquerque albuquerque uses four10s graveyard shifts said police union president adam gallegos said raels presentation sham dont fool warned finance committee members advertisement gallegos promised committee packet detailing unions calculations statistics saying available committees next meeting two weeks gallegos said raels numbers skewed said among things overtime costs gone reasons including police department assigns fewer officers special events gallegos said going back four10s schedule would boost recruitment better officers quality life others previously argued fiveeights schedule hurts recruitment efforts causes fatigue union asked return four10s schedule contract negotiations month city turned request role shifts might play recruiting retaining officers struck particular nerve city councilors councilor patti bushee noted officer vacancies continual problem santa fe rivera said talked last week former santa fe police officer left department shift changes departments recent scaling back distance officers use work cars commute work cant ignore officers saying rivera said deal quality life issues im hearing officers quality life issue councilor bill dimas said morale also issue morale needs considered city looks closer shift dilemma rael said police department 11 vacancies several potential officers pipeline said hes optimistic enough prospects hes withdrawn proposed 3 million recruitment retention plan bring officers department tabled last weeks public safety committee meeting also monday citys finance committee started could ongoing conversation raises city discussion initiated recent media reports sometimes large raises given nonunion managers employees past two years councilors said obvious raises granted instance one employee saw increase pay promotion landed job running two city departments city staff said many promotions actually resulted city saving money one employee multiple jobs councilors also said want information employees saw pay bump time employees seen minimal pay increases dominguez pondered possibility bringing back scheme whereby council approved filling vacant positions also said council say money saved workers filling multiple roles spent bushee said shes frustrated learned many raises newspaper reports bushee said disheartening many hardworking city workers hear employees getting pay bumps santa fes acrosstheboard pay increases minimal nonexistent past years
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<p>The choices will grow more difficult in the coming weeks, as high-profile sequels and more Oscar contenders arrive on the big screen. There’s something for everyone: “The Hobbit” and “Hunger Games” sagas continue, Will Ferrell becomes Ron Burgundy once again, and “Black Nativity” and “Frozen” light up the holidays with songs.</p>
<p>Read on for movie releases worth your time this holiday season.</p>
<p>“The Book Thief” (PG-13): Nazi Germany is the setting for this drama about an orphan named Liesel (Sophie Nelisse), whose new foster parents (the great Geoffrey Rush and Emily Watson) secretly harbor a Jewish refugee. The taut and bittersweet story is based on the best-selling 2006 novel by Markus Zusak.</p>
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<p>“The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” (PG-13): Jennifer Lawrence returns as Katniss Everdeen, the plucky heroine from Suzanne Collins’ dystopian trilogy of young adult novels. This second installment picks up where the first film left off. Just after Katniss and one of her two love interests, Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson), win the kids-only gladiator-like bloodbath that is the Hunger Games, they find themselves being carefully monitored by Big Brother. Philip Seymour Hoffman and Jena Malone join the first film’s already starry cast.</p>
<p>“Delivery Man” (PG-13): Vince Vaughn plays it fairly straight in this English-language adaptation of the Canadian film “Starbuck.” His character, David Wozniak, is a listless middle-age guy who finds out that a trip to the sperm bank in his younger years resulted in 533 offspring. Worse, they’re trying to uncover his identity. When he sets out to covertly find out who his sons and daughters are, he winds up helping them and – ta-da! – finding purpose in his life.</p>
<p>“Nebraska” (R): You can almost smell the alcohol emanating from the pores of an utterly disheveled Bruce Dern in this black-and-white drama, which earned the prolific actor an award for his performance at Cannes earlier this year. Director Alexander Payne’s first film since winning an Academy Award for “The Descendants” follows an aging boozer (Dern) who’s convinced he won $1 million and drags his son along as he travels from Montana to Nebraska to claim his dubious prize. Also noteworthy: The son is played by Saturday Night Live alum Will Forte in an uncharacteristically serious role.</p>
<p>“Black Nativity” (PG): The rousing Langston Hughes musical, filled with gospel renditions of Christmas carols, gets the big-screen treatment with an impressive lineup of players, including Forest Whitaker, Angela Bassett and powerful vocalist Jennifer Hudson. Relative newcomer Jacob Latimore plays Langston, a Baltimore teen whose mom (Hudson) ships him to Harlem to spend Christmas with her estranged parents, including her stern minister father.</p>
<p>“Frozen” (PG): Winter is coming. And it’s going to be animated. In Disney’s next musical adventure, Anna (Kristen Bell) sets off in search of her exiled sister, the Snow Queen (Tony-winning Broadway luminary Idina Menzel), who has a King Midas-like touch – only everything she rests a hand on turns to ice. “The Lion King” (1994) was the last Disney musical to produce truly memorable tunes, but there are high hopes for the songs penned by three-time Tony winner Robert Lopez and his wife, Kristen Anderson-Lopez, a Drama Desk Award winner.</p>
<p>“The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” (not yet rated): Ben Stiller makes his directorial debut, and it looks like he’s channeling Michel Gondry with a side of Wes Anderson. Stiller plays the title character – loosely based on James Thurber’s New Yorker short story – a milquetoast guy who frequently escapes into an imaginary world where he’s a triumphant hero and ladies man.</p>
<p>“Oldboy” (R): Ten years ago South Korean director Chan-wook Park gained stateside recognition for his hyper-violent movie about a man who is inexplicably kidnapped and imprisoned for decades, then set free without explanation. Now, the movie is getting an English-language makeover. Spike Lee directs Josh Brolin as the recently liberated protagonist, who goes looking for vengeance and winds up with plenty of blood on his hands.</p>
<p>“Philomena” (R): Stephen Frears, Academy Award-nominated director of “The Queen,” helmed this heartwarmer about a jaded journalist who reluctantly takes an assignment to cover a woman’s search for her son, who was taken from her 50 years earlier. Judi Dench plays the preternaturally friendly profile subject, and Steve Coogan is her less empathetic foil.</p>
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<p>“The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” (not yet rated): Behold the second installment of Peter Jackson’s trilogy of movies based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s novel. This time, Bilbo (Martin Freeman), along with Gandalf (Ian McKellen) and the dwarves, soldier on, avoiding the dangers of wood elves and massive arachnids before arriving at Lonely Mountain, the home of the menacing treasure-hoarding dragon, Smaug.</p>
<p>“American Hustle” (not yet rated): Writer-director David O. Russell convenes the stars of two of his most acclaimed films – Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence from “Silver Linings Playbook” and Christian Bale and Amy Adams from “The Fighter” – for this tale, inspired by the Abscam scandal, of con artists working undercover for the FBI in the late 1970s and early ’80s. Adams and Bale play petty criminals recruited by a federal agent (Cooper) to infiltrate a group of lawbreakers that includes a city mayor.</p>
<p>“Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues” (not yet rated): Everyone’s favorite misinformed newscaster, Ron Burgundy (Will Ferrell), is back on the big screen alongside his idiotic sidekicks. The sequel finds the still-mustachioed Burgundy leaving San Diego to break into the 24-hour news business in New York City, where he will no doubt offend any women, gay people and minorities he meets.</p>
<p>“Saving Mr. Banks” (PG-13): Fresh off the critical and box office success of “Captain Phillips,” Tom Hanks embodies another real-life character, Walt Disney. Emma Thompson plays P.L. Travers, the prim, protective author of “Mary Poppins,” and the one thing standing between Disney and a promise he made to his daughters: that he’d turn the tale of a flying nanny into a motion picture.</p>
<p>“Inside Llewyn Davis” (R): This is the latest from the Coen Brothers, which is all some people need to know before flocking to the theater. The film, which premiered at Cannes, is being hailed as among the filmmakers’ best work. The funny-sad story was inspired in part by musician Dave Van Ronk’s life and follows folk musician Llewyn Davis (Oscar Isaac) in the early 1960s as he navigates the harsh realities of trying to make it as a singer-songwriter in New York City.</p>
<p>“Labor Day” (PG-13): Jason Reitman, the director behind “Up in the Air” and “Juno,” directs this movie based on the novel by Joyce Maynard. Kate Winslet plays an exhausted single mom who helps an escaped convict (Josh Brolin) and finds herself held hostage in her own home – at least until she falls for her captor.</p>
<p>“Grudge Match” (PG-13): Sylvester Stallone is treading familiar territory with yet another boxing film. At least this time he’s found a different character. Sly plays Razor, an aging former champion lured out of retirement with a publicity stunt that pits him against his longtime nemesis, the Kid (Robert De Niro).</p>
<p>“August: Osage County” (R): Nothing says Christmas like a healthy dose of family dysfunction, and the screen adaptation of Tracy Letts’ play is here to conjure up blocked-out memories. Meryl Streep plays Violet Weston, a recently widowed matriarch whose relatives come to visit for her husband’s funeral (the star-studded cast includes Julia Roberts, Ewan McGregor and Dermot Mulroney, among others). But Violet’s mean streak and penchant for asking uncomfortable questions doesn’t do much to ease the pain.</p>
<p>“Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom” (PG-13): Early word is that Idris Elba, who plays South African dissident-turned-president Nelson Mandela, gives an Oscar-worthy performance (if the field weren’t so crowded this year). As the title suggests, the sweeping biopic covers Mandela’s early life, his 27-year imprisonment and his unimaginable triumph.</p>
<p>“The Wolf of Wall Street” (not yet rated): The frequently collaborating duo of director Martin Scorsese and actor Leonardo DiCaprio brings to life the memoirs of ex-con Jordan Belfort. DiCaprio plays the trader who enjoyed the excesses of the 1990s financial industry a bit too excessively.</p>
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choices grow difficult coming weeks highprofile sequels oscar contenders arrive big screen theres something everyone hobbit hunger games sagas continue ferrell becomes ron burgundy black nativity frozen light holidays songs read movie releases worth time holiday season book thief pg13 nazi germany setting drama orphan named liesel sophie nelisse whose new foster parents great geoffrey rush emily watson secretly harbor jewish refugee taut bittersweet story based bestselling 2006 novel markus zusak advertisement hunger games catching fire pg13 jennifer lawrence returns katniss everdeen plucky heroine suzanne collins dystopian trilogy young adult novels second installment picks first film left katniss one two love interests peeta mellark josh hutcherson win kidsonly gladiatorlike bloodbath hunger games find carefully monitored big brother philip seymour hoffman jena malone join first films already starry cast delivery man pg13 vince vaughn plays fairly straight englishlanguage adaptation canadian film starbuck character david wozniak listless middleage guy finds trip sperm bank younger years resulted 533 offspring worse theyre trying uncover identity sets covertly find sons daughters winds helping tada finding purpose life nebraska r almost smell alcohol emanating pores utterly disheveled bruce dern blackandwhite drama earned prolific actor award performance cannes earlier year director alexander paynes first film since winning academy award descendants follows aging boozer dern whos convinced 1 million drags son along travels montana nebraska claim dubious prize also noteworthy son played saturday night live alum forte uncharacteristically serious role black nativity pg rousing langston hughes musical filled gospel renditions christmas carols gets bigscreen treatment impressive lineup players including forest whitaker angela bassett powerful vocalist jennifer hudson relative newcomer jacob latimore plays langston baltimore teen whose mom hudson ships harlem spend christmas estranged parents including stern minister father frozen pg winter coming going animated disneys next musical adventure anna kristen bell sets search exiled sister snow queen tonywinning broadway luminary idina menzel king midaslike touch everything rests hand turns ice lion king 1994 last disney musical produce truly memorable tunes high hopes songs penned threetime tony winner robert lopez wife kristen andersonlopez drama desk award winner secret life walter mitty yet rated ben stiller makes directorial debut looks like hes channeling michel gondry side wes anderson stiller plays title character loosely based james thurbers new yorker short story milquetoast guy frequently escapes imaginary world hes triumphant hero ladies man oldboy r ten years ago south korean director chanwook park gained stateside recognition hyperviolent movie man inexplicably kidnapped imprisoned decades set free without explanation movie getting englishlanguage makeover spike lee directs josh brolin recently liberated protagonist goes looking vengeance winds plenty blood hands philomena r stephen frears academy awardnominated director queen helmed heartwarmer jaded journalist reluctantly takes assignment cover womans search son taken 50 years earlier judi dench plays preternaturally friendly profile subject steve coogan less empathetic foil advertisement hobbit desolation smaug yet rated behold second installment peter jacksons trilogy movies based jrr tolkiens novel time bilbo martin freeman along gandalf ian mckellen dwarves soldier avoiding dangers wood elves massive arachnids arriving lonely mountain home menacing treasurehoarding dragon smaug american hustle yet rated writerdirector david russell convenes stars two acclaimed films bradley cooper jennifer lawrence silver linings playbook christian bale amy adams fighter tale inspired abscam scandal con artists working undercover fbi late 1970s early 80s adams bale play petty criminals recruited federal agent cooper infiltrate group lawbreakers includes city mayor anchorman 2 legend continues yet rated everyones favorite misinformed newscaster ron burgundy ferrell back big screen alongside idiotic sidekicks sequel finds stillmustachioed burgundy leaving san diego break 24hour news business new york city doubt offend women gay people minorities meets saving mr banks pg13 fresh critical box office success captain phillips tom hanks embodies another reallife character walt disney emma thompson plays pl travers prim protective author mary poppins one thing standing disney promise made daughters hed turn tale flying nanny motion picture inside llewyn davis r latest coen brothers people need know flocking theater film premiered cannes hailed among filmmakers best work funnysad story inspired part musician dave van ronks life follows folk musician llewyn davis oscar isaac early 1960s navigates harsh realities trying make singersongwriter new york city labor day pg13 jason reitman director behind air juno directs movie based novel joyce maynard kate winslet plays exhausted single mom helps escaped convict josh brolin finds held hostage home least falls captor grudge match pg13 sylvester stallone treading familiar territory yet another boxing film least time hes found different character sly plays razor aging former champion lured retirement publicity stunt pits longtime nemesis kid robert de niro august osage county r nothing says christmas like healthy dose family dysfunction screen adaptation tracy letts play conjure blockedout memories meryl streep plays violet weston recently widowed matriarch whose relatives come visit husbands funeral starstudded cast includes julia roberts ewan mcgregor dermot mulroney among others violets mean streak penchant asking uncomfortable questions doesnt much ease pain mandela long walk freedom pg13 early word idris elba plays south african dissidentturnedpresident nelson mandela gives oscarworthy performance field werent crowded year title suggests sweeping biopic covers mandelas early life 27year imprisonment unimaginable triumph wolf wall street yet rated frequently collaborating duo director martin scorsese actor leonardo dicaprio brings life memoirs excon jordan belfort dicaprio plays trader enjoyed excesses 1990s financial industry bit excessively
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<p>LOS ANGELES (AP) — When a 17-year-old girl jumped out a window from the house where her parents allegedly starved and tortured their 13 children, she broke a silence that had likely lasted years.</p>
<p>It’s not clear why the teenager waited so long to act, but psychiatrists say such behavior is not uncommon even in cases of extreme deprivation.</p>
<p>Most people would recognize milder forms of the same inaction that is a coping mechanism, whether it’s failing to speak out against off-color jokes, enduring sexual harassment or staying in an awful marriage, said Dr. Bruce Perry.</p>
<p>“This happens all the time. The number of individuals who would immediately respond to an opportunity where they could get away is very small compared to the number of people who would have that paralysis and insecurity and confusion about what to do,” said Perry, a psychiatrist and senior fellow at The ChildTrauma Academy in Houston.</p>
<p>The vulnerable girl might have been shamed, beaten or threatened with violence and only after many missed opportunities did she probably work up the courage to act, Perry said.</p>
<p>“It’s pretty remarkable that she’d do that,” he said. “The power that must have been exerted to keep an entire family like that for so long must have been pretty sophisticated.”</p>
<p>In one of many surreal details that emerged in the investigation, the 13 children who were held captive in their home took part of their parents wedding renewal in a Las Vegas chapel with an Elvis Presley impersonator. (Jan. 17)</p>
<p>David Turpin, 56, and his wife, Louise Turpin, 49, were arrested Sunday after authorities found the malnourished children in their home in suburban Perris, 60 miles southeast of Los Angeles. They were jailed on $9 million bail each and are expected to appear Thursday in Riverside County Superior Court on charges that could include torture and child endangerment, authorities said.</p>
<p>Investigators at the home Wednesday removed dozens of boxes, what appeared to be two safes and pieces of a bed frame.</p>
<p>Some siblings were shackled to furniture in the foul-smelling four-bedroom home that looked perfectly normal from the outside.</p>
<p>The couples’ children — ages 2 to 29 — were so emaciated the older ones still looked like children. Authorities thought the 17-year-old daughter who called 911 was only 10 when they found her.</p>
<p>Until the girl fled with photographic evidence, it appears no one, neither neighbors nor public officials, knew anything about what was happening inside.</p>
<p>The Turpins have lived in two Riverside County communities since moving to California in 2011, and police said they were never called to either home, nor were any reports fielded by child protective services.</p>
<p>In Hill County, Texas, where they lived previously, the sheriff’s office received a call from a neighbor complaining that a pig belonging to the Turpins escaped from a pen and ate 55 pounds of his dog food.</p>
<p>In another report, David Turpin said that the family’s dog had bitten their 4-year-old daughter on the face. He told police he took the girl to a hospital for stitches and the dog to a veterinarian to be put down, according to records obtained by The Associated Press.</p>
<p>It’s not clear what motivated the Turpins to live a secluded life with their large brood or what went on in the house. Parents convicted in similar cases exerted control over their children though intimidation, psychological and physical coercion, and frequently possessed their own belief system.</p>
<p>“They develop a kind of cultish doomsday type of religion where the father becomes this mythical leader and the mother and children’s duty is to serve the father,” attorney Ambrosio Rodriguez said.</p>
<p>Rodriguez was a longtime Riverside County prosecutor who sent Jessica Banks, a pastor and mother, to prison for life for beating, starving and drugging her five adopted daughters, who were kept locked in her garage.</p>
<p>The Turpin children appeared to be cut off from the outside world, despite taking trips to Disneyland and Las Vegas, where the parents renewed wedding vows in a service presided over by an Elvis impersonator.</p>
<p>“They weren’t allowed to watch TV. They weren’t allowed to have friends over — the normal things that kids do,” the children’s aunt, Teresa Robinette, told NBC’s “Today” show.</p>
<p>Individuals held under such conditions often become so physically and emotionally weak “that they are unable to free themselves, even if an opportunity arises,” said Dr. Allen Keller, who runs the Bellevue-NYU Center for Survivors of Torture in New York. “The abuser has basically taken complete control of them. It is a state of severe helplessness.”</p>
<p>Many victims of abuse suffer from severe depression, anxiety, nightmares and are easily startled in public.</p>
<p>The children were educated in the home. No state agency regulates or oversees private schools in California, but they are subject to an annual inspection by the state or local fire marshal.</p>
<p>The city could find no records of fire inspections, Perris Assistant City Clerk Judy Haughney said in response to a public records request by AP. City Fire Marshal Dave Martinez did not return repeated phone messages seeking comment.</p>
<p>Home schooling can further isolate children, denying them social interactions with peers who aren’t their siblings and also giving the parents the ability to teach whatever they want.</p>
<p>Perry, who led a team of therapists that interviewed most of the surviving children from the Branch Davidian cult in Waco, Texas, said that one 5-year-old could recite whole books of the Bible but could not identify circles and squares.</p>
<p>Other groups have succeeded in keeping their behavior secret by enlisting older children in the rearing and indoctrinating of the younger ones. If older siblings participated in the abuse, they would be less likely to call police.</p>
<p>“I’ve seen this movie before,” Rodriguez said. “It’s going to get more creepy and make our skin crawl. And at the end of it, we’re all going to be asking the same question: ‘How did this happen in front of us and no one noticed?’”</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Associated Press Writer Emily Schmall in Rio Vista, Texas, contributed to this report.</p>
<p>LOS ANGELES (AP) — When a 17-year-old girl jumped out a window from the house where her parents allegedly starved and tortured their 13 children, she broke a silence that had likely lasted years.</p>
<p>It’s not clear why the teenager waited so long to act, but psychiatrists say such behavior is not uncommon even in cases of extreme deprivation.</p>
<p>Most people would recognize milder forms of the same inaction that is a coping mechanism, whether it’s failing to speak out against off-color jokes, enduring sexual harassment or staying in an awful marriage, said Dr. Bruce Perry.</p>
<p>“This happens all the time. The number of individuals who would immediately respond to an opportunity where they could get away is very small compared to the number of people who would have that paralysis and insecurity and confusion about what to do,” said Perry, a psychiatrist and senior fellow at The ChildTrauma Academy in Houston.</p>
<p>The vulnerable girl might have been shamed, beaten or threatened with violence and only after many missed opportunities did she probably work up the courage to act, Perry said.</p>
<p>“It’s pretty remarkable that she’d do that,” he said. “The power that must have been exerted to keep an entire family like that for so long must have been pretty sophisticated.”</p>
<p>In one of many surreal details that emerged in the investigation, the 13 children who were held captive in their home took part of their parents wedding renewal in a Las Vegas chapel with an Elvis Presley impersonator. (Jan. 17)</p>
<p>David Turpin, 56, and his wife, Louise Turpin, 49, were arrested Sunday after authorities found the malnourished children in their home in suburban Perris, 60 miles southeast of Los Angeles. They were jailed on $9 million bail each and are expected to appear Thursday in Riverside County Superior Court on charges that could include torture and child endangerment, authorities said.</p>
<p>Investigators at the home Wednesday removed dozens of boxes, what appeared to be two safes and pieces of a bed frame.</p>
<p>Some siblings were shackled to furniture in the foul-smelling four-bedroom home that looked perfectly normal from the outside.</p>
<p>The couples’ children — ages 2 to 29 — were so emaciated the older ones still looked like children. Authorities thought the 17-year-old daughter who called 911 was only 10 when they found her.</p>
<p>Until the girl fled with photographic evidence, it appears no one, neither neighbors nor public officials, knew anything about what was happening inside.</p>
<p>The Turpins have lived in two Riverside County communities since moving to California in 2011, and police said they were never called to either home, nor were any reports fielded by child protective services.</p>
<p>In Hill County, Texas, where they lived previously, the sheriff’s office received a call from a neighbor complaining that a pig belonging to the Turpins escaped from a pen and ate 55 pounds of his dog food.</p>
<p>In another report, David Turpin said that the family’s dog had bitten their 4-year-old daughter on the face. He told police he took the girl to a hospital for stitches and the dog to a veterinarian to be put down, according to records obtained by The Associated Press.</p>
<p>It’s not clear what motivated the Turpins to live a secluded life with their large brood or what went on in the house. Parents convicted in similar cases exerted control over their children though intimidation, psychological and physical coercion, and frequently possessed their own belief system.</p>
<p>“They develop a kind of cultish doomsday type of religion where the father becomes this mythical leader and the mother and children’s duty is to serve the father,” attorney Ambrosio Rodriguez said.</p>
<p>Rodriguez was a longtime Riverside County prosecutor who sent Jessica Banks, a pastor and mother, to prison for life for beating, starving and drugging her five adopted daughters, who were kept locked in her garage.</p>
<p>The Turpin children appeared to be cut off from the outside world, despite taking trips to Disneyland and Las Vegas, where the parents renewed wedding vows in a service presided over by an Elvis impersonator.</p>
<p>“They weren’t allowed to watch TV. They weren’t allowed to have friends over — the normal things that kids do,” the children’s aunt, Teresa Robinette, told NBC’s “Today” show.</p>
<p>Individuals held under such conditions often become so physically and emotionally weak “that they are unable to free themselves, even if an opportunity arises,” said Dr. Allen Keller, who runs the Bellevue-NYU Center for Survivors of Torture in New York. “The abuser has basically taken complete control of them. It is a state of severe helplessness.”</p>
<p>Many victims of abuse suffer from severe depression, anxiety, nightmares and are easily startled in public.</p>
<p>The children were educated in the home. No state agency regulates or oversees private schools in California, but they are subject to an annual inspection by the state or local fire marshal.</p>
<p>The city could find no records of fire inspections, Perris Assistant City Clerk Judy Haughney said in response to a public records request by AP. City Fire Marshal Dave Martinez did not return repeated phone messages seeking comment.</p>
<p>Home schooling can further isolate children, denying them social interactions with peers who aren’t their siblings and also giving the parents the ability to teach whatever they want.</p>
<p>Perry, who led a team of therapists that interviewed most of the surviving children from the Branch Davidian cult in Waco, Texas, said that one 5-year-old could recite whole books of the Bible but could not identify circles and squares.</p>
<p>Other groups have succeeded in keeping their behavior secret by enlisting older children in the rearing and indoctrinating of the younger ones. If older siblings participated in the abuse, they would be less likely to call police.</p>
<p>“I’ve seen this movie before,” Rodriguez said. “It’s going to get more creepy and make our skin crawl. And at the end of it, we’re all going to be asking the same question: ‘How did this happen in front of us and no one noticed?’”</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Associated Press Writer Emily Schmall in Rio Vista, Texas, contributed to this report.</p>
| false | 2 |
los angeles ap 17yearold girl jumped window house parents allegedly starved tortured 13 children broke silence likely lasted years clear teenager waited long act psychiatrists say behavior uncommon even cases extreme deprivation people would recognize milder forms inaction coping mechanism whether failing speak offcolor jokes enduring sexual harassment staying awful marriage said dr bruce perry happens time number individuals would immediately respond opportunity could get away small compared number people would paralysis insecurity confusion said perry psychiatrist senior fellow childtrauma academy houston vulnerable girl might shamed beaten threatened violence many missed opportunities probably work courage act perry said pretty remarkable shed said power must exerted keep entire family like long must pretty sophisticated one many surreal details emerged investigation 13 children held captive home took part parents wedding renewal las vegas chapel elvis presley impersonator jan 17 david turpin 56 wife louise turpin 49 arrested sunday authorities found malnourished children home suburban perris 60 miles southeast los angeles jailed 9 million bail expected appear thursday riverside county superior court charges could include torture child endangerment authorities said investigators home wednesday removed dozens boxes appeared two safes pieces bed frame siblings shackled furniture foulsmelling fourbedroom home looked perfectly normal outside couples children ages 2 29 emaciated older ones still looked like children authorities thought 17yearold daughter called 911 10 found girl fled photographic evidence appears one neither neighbors public officials knew anything happening inside turpins lived two riverside county communities since moving california 2011 police said never called either home reports fielded child protective services hill county texas lived previously sheriffs office received call neighbor complaining pig belonging turpins escaped pen ate 55 pounds dog food another report david turpin said familys dog bitten 4yearold daughter face told police took girl hospital stitches dog veterinarian put according records obtained associated press clear motivated turpins live secluded life large brood went house parents convicted similar cases exerted control children though intimidation psychological physical coercion frequently possessed belief system develop kind cultish doomsday type religion father becomes mythical leader mother childrens duty serve father attorney ambrosio rodriguez said rodriguez longtime riverside county prosecutor sent jessica banks pastor mother prison life beating starving drugging five adopted daughters kept locked garage turpin children appeared cut outside world despite taking trips disneyland las vegas parents renewed wedding vows service presided elvis impersonator werent allowed watch tv werent allowed friends normal things kids childrens aunt teresa robinette told nbcs today show individuals held conditions often become physically emotionally weak unable free even opportunity arises said dr allen keller runs bellevuenyu center survivors torture new york abuser basically taken complete control state severe helplessness many victims abuse suffer severe depression anxiety nightmares easily startled public children educated home state agency regulates oversees private schools california subject annual inspection state local fire marshal city could find records fire inspections perris assistant city clerk judy haughney said response public records request ap city fire marshal dave martinez return repeated phone messages seeking comment home schooling isolate children denying social interactions peers arent siblings also giving parents ability teach whatever want perry led team therapists interviewed surviving children branch davidian cult waco texas said one 5yearold could recite whole books bible could identify circles squares groups succeeded keeping behavior secret enlisting older children rearing indoctrinating younger ones older siblings participated abuse would less likely call police ive seen movie rodriguez said going get creepy make skin crawl end going asking question happen front us one noticed ___ associated press writer emily schmall rio vista texas contributed report los angeles ap 17yearold girl jumped window house parents allegedly starved tortured 13 children broke silence likely lasted years clear teenager waited long act psychiatrists say behavior uncommon even cases extreme deprivation people would recognize milder forms inaction coping mechanism whether failing speak offcolor jokes enduring sexual harassment staying awful marriage said dr bruce perry happens time number individuals would immediately respond opportunity could get away small compared number people would paralysis insecurity confusion said perry psychiatrist senior fellow childtrauma academy houston vulnerable girl might shamed beaten threatened violence many missed opportunities probably work courage act perry said pretty remarkable shed said power must exerted keep entire family like long must pretty sophisticated one many surreal details emerged investigation 13 children held captive home took part parents wedding renewal las vegas chapel elvis presley impersonator jan 17 david turpin 56 wife louise turpin 49 arrested sunday authorities found malnourished children home suburban perris 60 miles southeast los angeles jailed 9 million bail expected appear thursday riverside county superior court charges could include torture child endangerment authorities said investigators home wednesday removed dozens boxes appeared two safes pieces bed frame siblings shackled furniture foulsmelling fourbedroom home looked perfectly normal outside couples children ages 2 29 emaciated older ones still looked like children authorities thought 17yearold daughter called 911 10 found girl fled photographic evidence appears one neither neighbors public officials knew anything happening inside turpins lived two riverside county communities since moving california 2011 police said never called either home reports fielded child protective services hill county texas lived previously sheriffs office received call neighbor complaining pig belonging turpins escaped pen ate 55 pounds dog food another report david turpin said familys dog bitten 4yearold daughter face told police took girl hospital stitches dog veterinarian put according records obtained associated press clear motivated turpins live secluded life large brood went house parents convicted similar cases exerted control children though intimidation psychological physical coercion frequently possessed belief system develop kind cultish doomsday type religion father becomes mythical leader mother childrens duty serve father attorney ambrosio rodriguez said rodriguez longtime riverside county prosecutor sent jessica banks pastor mother prison life beating starving drugging five adopted daughters kept locked garage turpin children appeared cut outside world despite taking trips disneyland las vegas parents renewed wedding vows service presided elvis impersonator werent allowed watch tv werent allowed friends normal things kids childrens aunt teresa robinette told nbcs today show individuals held conditions often become physically emotionally weak unable free even opportunity arises said dr allen keller runs bellevuenyu center survivors torture new york abuser basically taken complete control state severe helplessness many victims abuse suffer severe depression anxiety nightmares easily startled public children educated home state agency regulates oversees private schools california subject annual inspection state local fire marshal city could find records fire inspections perris assistant city clerk judy haughney said response public records request ap city fire marshal dave martinez return repeated phone messages seeking comment home schooling isolate children denying social interactions peers arent siblings also giving parents ability teach whatever want perry led team therapists interviewed surviving children branch davidian cult waco texas said one 5yearold could recite whole books bible could identify circles squares groups succeeded keeping behavior secret enlisting older children rearing indoctrinating younger ones older siblings participated abuse would less likely call police ive seen movie rodriguez said going get creepy make skin crawl end going asking question happen front us one noticed ___ associated press writer emily schmall rio vista texas contributed report
| 1,172 |
<p>LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Washington Huskies have wasted no time showing the Pac-12 Conference they've made big strides under first-year coach Mike Hopkins.</p>
<p>Noah Dickerson scored 17 points and grabbed seven rebounds to lead Washington to its first conference road win in almost two years, an 88-81 victory over Southern California in a conference opener for both teams on Friday night.</p>
<p>"It means a lot," Dickerson said of the road win. "It means as a team we're growing and we're learning coach's new system and we're playing like we're supposed to play. This is big because we're just getting to know each other."</p>
<p>Jaylen Nowell and Dominic Green each added 16 points as The Huskies (11-3) put five players in double figures, shot a season-high 67 percent and snapped a 14-game game conference losing streak. Matisse Thybulle chipped in 14 points and Sam Timmins 10 for Washington.</p>
<p>Despite the off-the-charts offensive shooting percentage, Hopkins was most impressed by his players holding Southern Cal to just 3-for-20 on 3-point shots.</p>
<p>"They're one of the best offensive teams that I've seen, and I've watched them a lot," Hopkins said. "They have talented players, and we just wanted to take away the 3-point shot. They're so potent they've got guys coming off the bench doing it."</p>
<p>Instead it was the Huskies who couldn't miss. Washington made 18-of-29 shots in the first half (62 percent) and 19-of-26 in the second.</p>
<p>"Our defense was just terrible," said Southern Cal Coach Andy Enfield. "We allowed them to score against our zone in the first half, so we switched to man-to-man in the second half, and our man defense was worse.</p>
<p>"Even though we didn't play good defense, we missed a lot of wide open threes — four or five times in transition when we could have made it a one-possession game. We just could not get that key basket," Enfield said.</p>
<p>Washington's inside game got the Southern California big men in foul trouble early to snap a six-game losing streak against Southern California, and evened its record to 2-2 away from home.</p>
<p>"Once they pick up that first and second foul, they don't want to pick up a third," said Dickerson. "They get timid, and that allows me to do what I have to do."</p>
<p>Chimezie Metu scored 26 points and Bennie Boatwright added 24 as Southern California (9-5) lost a conference home opener for the first time in four years. With his 26 points, Metu eclipsed 1,000 points in his Trojan career.</p>
<p>Down 19-9 early, the Huskies took control inside and outscored the Trojans 32-16 until halftime, taking a 41-35 lead on Nahziah Carter's driving layup with four seconds left in the first half.</p>
<p>Washington got the Trojans' big men in foul trouble early, with center Chimezie Metu and forward Nick Rakocevic each picking up two fouls in the opening 11:07. Rakocevic picked up his third 2:05 into the second half, and Southern California struggled to control Washington inside most of the rest of the way.</p>
<p>The Huskies used an 11-4 run to take control late, opening a 64-52 lead on Nowell's layup with 9:00 to play. The Trojans never got closer than 86-79 the rest of the way.</p>
<p>BIG PICTURE</p>
<p>Washington: The Huskies, who went 0-9 in conference road games a year ago, open their Pac-12 schedule this season with three consecutive road games. The Huskies had lost 14 consecutive conference road games since Jan. 28, 2016 when they defeated UCLA at Pauley Pavilion 86-84.</p>
<p>Southern California: The crowd at the Galen Center was sparse, as the game tipped off with the No. 8 Southern California football team playing in the second half of the Cotton Bowl against No. 5 Ohio State. The Cotton Bowl feed was displayed on the overhead scoreboard during timeouts and throughout halftime.</p>
<p>UP NEXT:</p>
<p>Washington: The Huskies resume their conference schedule Sunday night against UCLA at Pauley Pavilion.</p>
<p>Southern California: The Trojans play host to Washington State on Sunday night.</p>
<p>LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Washington Huskies have wasted no time showing the Pac-12 Conference they've made big strides under first-year coach Mike Hopkins.</p>
<p>Noah Dickerson scored 17 points and grabbed seven rebounds to lead Washington to its first conference road win in almost two years, an 88-81 victory over Southern California in a conference opener for both teams on Friday night.</p>
<p>"It means a lot," Dickerson said of the road win. "It means as a team we're growing and we're learning coach's new system and we're playing like we're supposed to play. This is big because we're just getting to know each other."</p>
<p>Jaylen Nowell and Dominic Green each added 16 points as The Huskies (11-3) put five players in double figures, shot a season-high 67 percent and snapped a 14-game game conference losing streak. Matisse Thybulle chipped in 14 points and Sam Timmins 10 for Washington.</p>
<p>Despite the off-the-charts offensive shooting percentage, Hopkins was most impressed by his players holding Southern Cal to just 3-for-20 on 3-point shots.</p>
<p>"They're one of the best offensive teams that I've seen, and I've watched them a lot," Hopkins said. "They have talented players, and we just wanted to take away the 3-point shot. They're so potent they've got guys coming off the bench doing it."</p>
<p>Instead it was the Huskies who couldn't miss. Washington made 18-of-29 shots in the first half (62 percent) and 19-of-26 in the second.</p>
<p>"Our defense was just terrible," said Southern Cal Coach Andy Enfield. "We allowed them to score against our zone in the first half, so we switched to man-to-man in the second half, and our man defense was worse.</p>
<p>"Even though we didn't play good defense, we missed a lot of wide open threes — four or five times in transition when we could have made it a one-possession game. We just could not get that key basket," Enfield said.</p>
<p>Washington's inside game got the Southern California big men in foul trouble early to snap a six-game losing streak against Southern California, and evened its record to 2-2 away from home.</p>
<p>"Once they pick up that first and second foul, they don't want to pick up a third," said Dickerson. "They get timid, and that allows me to do what I have to do."</p>
<p>Chimezie Metu scored 26 points and Bennie Boatwright added 24 as Southern California (9-5) lost a conference home opener for the first time in four years. With his 26 points, Metu eclipsed 1,000 points in his Trojan career.</p>
<p>Down 19-9 early, the Huskies took control inside and outscored the Trojans 32-16 until halftime, taking a 41-35 lead on Nahziah Carter's driving layup with four seconds left in the first half.</p>
<p>Washington got the Trojans' big men in foul trouble early, with center Chimezie Metu and forward Nick Rakocevic each picking up two fouls in the opening 11:07. Rakocevic picked up his third 2:05 into the second half, and Southern California struggled to control Washington inside most of the rest of the way.</p>
<p>The Huskies used an 11-4 run to take control late, opening a 64-52 lead on Nowell's layup with 9:00 to play. The Trojans never got closer than 86-79 the rest of the way.</p>
<p>BIG PICTURE</p>
<p>Washington: The Huskies, who went 0-9 in conference road games a year ago, open their Pac-12 schedule this season with three consecutive road games. The Huskies had lost 14 consecutive conference road games since Jan. 28, 2016 when they defeated UCLA at Pauley Pavilion 86-84.</p>
<p>Southern California: The crowd at the Galen Center was sparse, as the game tipped off with the No. 8 Southern California football team playing in the second half of the Cotton Bowl against No. 5 Ohio State. The Cotton Bowl feed was displayed on the overhead scoreboard during timeouts and throughout halftime.</p>
<p>UP NEXT:</p>
<p>Washington: The Huskies resume their conference schedule Sunday night against UCLA at Pauley Pavilion.</p>
<p>Southern California: The Trojans play host to Washington State on Sunday night.</p>
| false | 2 |
los angeles ap washington huskies wasted time showing pac12 conference theyve made big strides firstyear coach mike hopkins noah dickerson scored 17 points grabbed seven rebounds lead washington first conference road win almost two years 8881 victory southern california conference opener teams friday night means lot dickerson said road win means team growing learning coachs new system playing like supposed play big getting know jaylen nowell dominic green added 16 points huskies 113 put five players double figures shot seasonhigh 67 percent snapped 14game game conference losing streak matisse thybulle chipped 14 points sam timmins 10 washington despite offthecharts offensive shooting percentage hopkins impressed players holding southern cal 3for20 3point shots theyre one best offensive teams ive seen ive watched lot hopkins said talented players wanted take away 3point shot theyre potent theyve got guys coming bench instead huskies couldnt miss washington made 18of29 shots first half 62 percent 19of26 second defense terrible said southern cal coach andy enfield allowed score zone first half switched mantoman second half man defense worse even though didnt play good defense missed lot wide open threes four five times transition could made onepossession game could get key basket enfield said washingtons inside game got southern california big men foul trouble early snap sixgame losing streak southern california evened record 22 away home pick first second foul dont want pick third said dickerson get timid allows chimezie metu scored 26 points bennie boatwright added 24 southern california 95 lost conference home opener first time four years 26 points metu eclipsed 1000 points trojan career 199 early huskies took control inside outscored trojans 3216 halftime taking 4135 lead nahziah carters driving layup four seconds left first half washington got trojans big men foul trouble early center chimezie metu forward nick rakocevic picking two fouls opening 1107 rakocevic picked third 205 second half southern california struggled control washington inside rest way huskies used 114 run take control late opening 6452 lead nowells layup 900 play trojans never got closer 8679 rest way big picture washington huskies went 09 conference road games year ago open pac12 schedule season three consecutive road games huskies lost 14 consecutive conference road games since jan 28 2016 defeated ucla pauley pavilion 8684 southern california crowd galen center sparse game tipped 8 southern california football team playing second half cotton bowl 5 ohio state cotton bowl feed displayed overhead scoreboard timeouts throughout halftime next washington huskies resume conference schedule sunday night ucla pauley pavilion southern california trojans play host washington state sunday night los angeles ap washington huskies wasted time showing pac12 conference theyve made big strides firstyear coach mike hopkins noah dickerson scored 17 points grabbed seven rebounds lead washington first conference road win almost two years 8881 victory southern california conference opener teams friday night means lot dickerson said road win means team growing learning coachs new system playing like supposed play big getting know jaylen nowell dominic green added 16 points huskies 113 put five players double figures shot seasonhigh 67 percent snapped 14game game conference losing streak matisse thybulle chipped 14 points sam timmins 10 washington despite offthecharts offensive shooting percentage hopkins impressed players holding southern cal 3for20 3point shots theyre one best offensive teams ive seen ive watched lot hopkins said talented players wanted take away 3point shot theyre potent theyve got guys coming bench instead huskies couldnt miss washington made 18of29 shots first half 62 percent 19of26 second defense terrible said southern cal coach andy enfield allowed score zone first half switched mantoman second half man defense worse even though didnt play good defense missed lot wide open threes four five times transition could made onepossession game could get key basket enfield said washingtons inside game got southern california big men foul trouble early snap sixgame losing streak southern california evened record 22 away home pick first second foul dont want pick third said dickerson get timid allows chimezie metu scored 26 points bennie boatwright added 24 southern california 95 lost conference home opener first time four years 26 points metu eclipsed 1000 points trojan career 199 early huskies took control inside outscored trojans 3216 halftime taking 4135 lead nahziah carters driving layup four seconds left first half washington got trojans big men foul trouble early center chimezie metu forward nick rakocevic picking two fouls opening 1107 rakocevic picked third 205 second half southern california struggled control washington inside rest way huskies used 114 run take control late opening 6452 lead nowells layup 900 play trojans never got closer 8679 rest way big picture washington huskies went 09 conference road games year ago open pac12 schedule season three consecutive road games huskies lost 14 consecutive conference road games since jan 28 2016 defeated ucla pauley pavilion 8684 southern california crowd galen center sparse game tipped 8 southern california football team playing second half cotton bowl 5 ohio state cotton bowl feed displayed overhead scoreboard timeouts throughout halftime next washington huskies resume conference schedule sunday night ucla pauley pavilion southern california trojans play host washington state sunday night
| 840 |
<p>ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece’s new government is “radically opposed” to the privatization of certain businesses, particularly in the energy and infrastructure sectors, a senior cabinet minister said Wednesday as reforms talks with creditors were due to begin.</p>
<p>Selling state-owned enterprises is one of the actions Greece has been asked to take to raise funds and reduce debt in exchange for rescue loans from the eurozone and International Monetary Fund.</p>
<p>Talks between Greece and its creditors began on a technical level in Brussels on Wednesday to cement a series of reforms Athens must implement in order to get the remaining bailout funds released and avoid bankruptcy.</p>
<p>“We are radically opposed to the privatization, particularly of the strategic sectors and businesses of our economy, and primarily in the sector of infrastructure and energy,” said Panagiotis Lafazanis, the energy and environment minister and a government hardliner, at a conference in Athens.</p>
<p>Lafazanis added that “honestly, I haven’t understood why for some schools of thought, privatizations have become synonymous with reforms.”</p>
<p>He argued that what he called the “neoliberal deregulation in the energy market, which occurred particularly during the recent (bailout) years with the insistence of the (European) Commission and the troika” had prolonged and exacerbated Greece’s financial crisis and energy poverty in the country.</p>
<p>“Troika” refers to the Commission, International Monetary Fund and European Central Bank, who together oversee the 240 billion euro rescue loans Greece began receiving in 2010.</p>
<p>The word “troika” got a bad name in Greece after mid-level officials from those institutions would visit Greece to carry out debt inspections. The new government has refused to deal with those officials, saying they are not welcome in Greece. On Wednesday, it said the team of lower-level technical experts with whom Greek officials would be negotiating on reforms would now be known as the ‘Brussels Group.’</p>
<p>Greece’s new radical left government, voted in on Jan. 25 on promises to abolish budget austerity measures, has pledged not to take any unilateral action without consulting its European creditors and those overseeing the country’s bailout, and to adhere to a series of policy reforms.</p>
<p>It made the pledges in February in return for a four-month extension to the European part of its bailout, which was to have expired at the end of February.</p>
<p>But some ministers and party members have insisted the governing Syriza party’s pre-election promises must be adhered to.</p>
<p>Lafazanis has frequently repeated his opposition to privatizations. Last month, he said the privatization of the country’s power grid and power utility, DEH, would be halted as final binding bids had not yet been submitted.</p>
<p>In his speech Wednesday, Lafazanis said his country wanted diverse energy sources but would not be dependent on “any large power and of any coalition of countries.”</p>
<p>“Greece is too small a country to remain a type of dependent ‘troikan’ economic protectorate ... with the status of an energy banana republic.”</p>
<p>ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece’s new government is “radically opposed” to the privatization of certain businesses, particularly in the energy and infrastructure sectors, a senior cabinet minister said Wednesday as reforms talks with creditors were due to begin.</p>
<p>Selling state-owned enterprises is one of the actions Greece has been asked to take to raise funds and reduce debt in exchange for rescue loans from the eurozone and International Monetary Fund.</p>
<p>Talks between Greece and its creditors began on a technical level in Brussels on Wednesday to cement a series of reforms Athens must implement in order to get the remaining bailout funds released and avoid bankruptcy.</p>
<p>“We are radically opposed to the privatization, particularly of the strategic sectors and businesses of our economy, and primarily in the sector of infrastructure and energy,” said Panagiotis Lafazanis, the energy and environment minister and a government hardliner, at a conference in Athens.</p>
<p>Lafazanis added that “honestly, I haven’t understood why for some schools of thought, privatizations have become synonymous with reforms.”</p>
<p>He argued that what he called the “neoliberal deregulation in the energy market, which occurred particularly during the recent (bailout) years with the insistence of the (European) Commission and the troika” had prolonged and exacerbated Greece’s financial crisis and energy poverty in the country.</p>
<p>“Troika” refers to the Commission, International Monetary Fund and European Central Bank, who together oversee the 240 billion euro rescue loans Greece began receiving in 2010.</p>
<p>The word “troika” got a bad name in Greece after mid-level officials from those institutions would visit Greece to carry out debt inspections. The new government has refused to deal with those officials, saying they are not welcome in Greece. On Wednesday, it said the team of lower-level technical experts with whom Greek officials would be negotiating on reforms would now be known as the ‘Brussels Group.’</p>
<p>Greece’s new radical left government, voted in on Jan. 25 on promises to abolish budget austerity measures, has pledged not to take any unilateral action without consulting its European creditors and those overseeing the country’s bailout, and to adhere to a series of policy reforms.</p>
<p>It made the pledges in February in return for a four-month extension to the European part of its bailout, which was to have expired at the end of February.</p>
<p>But some ministers and party members have insisted the governing Syriza party’s pre-election promises must be adhered to.</p>
<p>Lafazanis has frequently repeated his opposition to privatizations. Last month, he said the privatization of the country’s power grid and power utility, DEH, would be halted as final binding bids had not yet been submitted.</p>
<p>In his speech Wednesday, Lafazanis said his country wanted diverse energy sources but would not be dependent on “any large power and of any coalition of countries.”</p>
<p>“Greece is too small a country to remain a type of dependent ‘troikan’ economic protectorate ... with the status of an energy banana republic.”</p>
| false | 2 |
athens greece ap greeces new government radically opposed privatization certain businesses particularly energy infrastructure sectors senior cabinet minister said wednesday reforms talks creditors due begin selling stateowned enterprises one actions greece asked take raise funds reduce debt exchange rescue loans eurozone international monetary fund talks greece creditors began technical level brussels wednesday cement series reforms athens must implement order get remaining bailout funds released avoid bankruptcy radically opposed privatization particularly strategic sectors businesses economy primarily sector infrastructure energy said panagiotis lafazanis energy environment minister government hardliner conference athens lafazanis added honestly havent understood schools thought privatizations become synonymous reforms argued called neoliberal deregulation energy market occurred particularly recent bailout years insistence european commission troika prolonged exacerbated greeces financial crisis energy poverty country troika refers commission international monetary fund european central bank together oversee 240 billion euro rescue loans greece began receiving 2010 word troika got bad name greece midlevel officials institutions would visit greece carry debt inspections new government refused deal officials saying welcome greece wednesday said team lowerlevel technical experts greek officials would negotiating reforms would known brussels group greeces new radical left government voted jan 25 promises abolish budget austerity measures pledged take unilateral action without consulting european creditors overseeing countrys bailout adhere series policy reforms made pledges february return fourmonth extension european part bailout expired end february ministers party members insisted governing syriza partys preelection promises must adhered lafazanis frequently repeated opposition privatizations last month said privatization countrys power grid power utility deh would halted final binding bids yet submitted speech wednesday lafazanis said country wanted diverse energy sources would dependent large power coalition countries greece small country remain type dependent troikan economic protectorate status energy banana republic athens greece ap greeces new government radically opposed privatization certain businesses particularly energy infrastructure sectors senior cabinet minister said wednesday reforms talks creditors due begin selling stateowned enterprises one actions greece asked take raise funds reduce debt exchange rescue loans eurozone international monetary fund talks greece creditors began technical level brussels wednesday cement series reforms athens must implement order get remaining bailout funds released avoid bankruptcy radically opposed privatization particularly strategic sectors businesses economy primarily sector infrastructure energy said panagiotis lafazanis energy environment minister government hardliner conference athens lafazanis added honestly havent understood schools thought privatizations become synonymous reforms argued called neoliberal deregulation energy market occurred particularly recent bailout years insistence european commission troika prolonged exacerbated greeces financial crisis energy poverty country troika refers commission international monetary fund european central bank together oversee 240 billion euro rescue loans greece began receiving 2010 word troika got bad name greece midlevel officials institutions would visit greece carry debt inspections new government refused deal officials saying welcome greece wednesday said team lowerlevel technical experts greek officials would negotiating reforms would known brussels group greeces new radical left government voted jan 25 promises abolish budget austerity measures pledged take unilateral action without consulting european creditors overseeing countrys bailout adhere series policy reforms made pledges february return fourmonth extension european part bailout expired end february ministers party members insisted governing syriza partys preelection promises must adhered lafazanis frequently repeated opposition privatizations last month said privatization countrys power grid power utility deh would halted final binding bids yet submitted speech wednesday lafazanis said country wanted diverse energy sources would dependent large power coalition countries greece small country remain type dependent troikan economic protectorate status energy banana republic
| 562 |
<p>Felipe Rodriguez says he thought he was hallucinating when an eagle snatched his sister's little white dog from her yard, flapped its massive wings and disappeared over the trees.</p>
<p>Did he really just see that?</p>
<p>He had. Zoey the 8-pound bichon frise was gone, taken by a hungry raptor Tuesday afternoon not 50 feet from his sister's house on the banks of the Lehigh River in Pennsylvania, Rodriguez said.</p>
<p>"It seemed like something from the 'Wizard of Oz,'" he told The Associated Press on Wednesday. "I'm a city boy. This doesn't happen in my world."</p>
<p>Even more astonishing: Zoey would live to bark the tale.</p>
<p>More on that later. But first, let it be said that eagles are quite capable of taking a small dog or a cat.</p>
<p>"It has been documented before, but not that often," said Laurie Goodrich, a biologist at nearby Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, a ridgetop preserve that annually records tens of thousands of migrating hawks, eagles and falcons.</p>
<p>With food scarce and waterways freezing up, raptors are "looking a little more widely and taking advantage of whatever might be out there," she said.</p>
<p>Rodriguez said he was by himself at his sister's home in Bowmanstown, about 80 miles (128 kilometers) north of Philadelphia, and Zoey was playing in the fenced yard when he heard a loud screech, hurried to the door and looked out.</p>
<p>"The bird was holding onto the dog. There was flapping of wings and then it was gone," said Rodriguez, a 50-year-old healthcare executive visiting from Chicago.</p>
<p>He drove around the neighborhood looking for the 7-year-old bichon, to no avail. Rodriguez assumed Zoey was gone for good.</p>
<p>His sister and her family were devastated when they found out.</p>
<p>"I did nothing but cry all day," Monica Newhard said.</p>
<p>Newhard said it's not unusual to see eagles, given her home's proximity to the river. She also suspected they occasionally grabbed one of the rabbits that lived under her shed. But it didn't occur to Newhard that any of her four dogs would be in danger.</p>
<p>Heartbroken, she and her husband scoured the woods for Zoey's body. Little did they know their bitty bichon would be found later that afternoon - a full four miles away.</p>
<p>Zoey's rescuer was Christina Hartman, 51, who said she was driving on a snow-covered back road when she spotted a furry white lump ahead and pulled over to investigate.</p>
<p>"I notice this little frozen dog, icicles hanging from all over. It could hardly move," Hartman said.</p>
<p>She scooped up the whimpering pooch, wrapped her in a blanket and took her home, feeding the dog two bowls of chicken-and-rice soup. Gradually, the bichon warmed up and began to show some spunk. Hartman noticed several small wounds on the back of her neck, and the dog walked with a limp. She had no collar.</p>
<p>"This dog belongs to a family, and I'm gonna find out who owns it," Hartman told herself.</p>
<p>It didn't take long. She spotted Newhard's public Facebook post Wednesday morning - Newhard had uploaded a photo of Zoey - and made an excited call.</p>
<p>"I said, 'It's a miracle! I have your dog!'"</p>
<p>Zoey had bruises and a few missing patches of fur. It's not clear how far the eagle might have carried the dog, but Rodriguez said he can't believe Zoey survived.</p>
<p>"She is not really herself, but she is getting lots of love," his sister, Newhard, texted the AP late Wednesday. "She doesn't want to go out. ... I really can't blame her."</p>
<p>Felipe Rodriguez says he thought he was hallucinating when an eagle snatched his sister's little white dog from her yard, flapped its massive wings and disappeared over the trees.</p>
<p>Did he really just see that?</p>
<p>He had. Zoey the 8-pound bichon frise was gone, taken by a hungry raptor Tuesday afternoon not 50 feet from his sister's house on the banks of the Lehigh River in Pennsylvania, Rodriguez said.</p>
<p>"It seemed like something from the 'Wizard of Oz,'" he told The Associated Press on Wednesday. "I'm a city boy. This doesn't happen in my world."</p>
<p>Even more astonishing: Zoey would live to bark the tale.</p>
<p>More on that later. But first, let it be said that eagles are quite capable of taking a small dog or a cat.</p>
<p>"It has been documented before, but not that often," said Laurie Goodrich, a biologist at nearby Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, a ridgetop preserve that annually records tens of thousands of migrating hawks, eagles and falcons.</p>
<p>With food scarce and waterways freezing up, raptors are "looking a little more widely and taking advantage of whatever might be out there," she said.</p>
<p>Rodriguez said he was by himself at his sister's home in Bowmanstown, about 80 miles (128 kilometers) north of Philadelphia, and Zoey was playing in the fenced yard when he heard a loud screech, hurried to the door and looked out.</p>
<p>"The bird was holding onto the dog. There was flapping of wings and then it was gone," said Rodriguez, a 50-year-old healthcare executive visiting from Chicago.</p>
<p>He drove around the neighborhood looking for the 7-year-old bichon, to no avail. Rodriguez assumed Zoey was gone for good.</p>
<p>His sister and her family were devastated when they found out.</p>
<p>"I did nothing but cry all day," Monica Newhard said.</p>
<p>Newhard said it's not unusual to see eagles, given her home's proximity to the river. She also suspected they occasionally grabbed one of the rabbits that lived under her shed. But it didn't occur to Newhard that any of her four dogs would be in danger.</p>
<p>Heartbroken, she and her husband scoured the woods for Zoey's body. Little did they know their bitty bichon would be found later that afternoon - a full four miles away.</p>
<p>Zoey's rescuer was Christina Hartman, 51, who said she was driving on a snow-covered back road when she spotted a furry white lump ahead and pulled over to investigate.</p>
<p>"I notice this little frozen dog, icicles hanging from all over. It could hardly move," Hartman said.</p>
<p>She scooped up the whimpering pooch, wrapped her in a blanket and took her home, feeding the dog two bowls of chicken-and-rice soup. Gradually, the bichon warmed up and began to show some spunk. Hartman noticed several small wounds on the back of her neck, and the dog walked with a limp. She had no collar.</p>
<p>"This dog belongs to a family, and I'm gonna find out who owns it," Hartman told herself.</p>
<p>It didn't take long. She spotted Newhard's public Facebook post Wednesday morning - Newhard had uploaded a photo of Zoey - and made an excited call.</p>
<p>"I said, 'It's a miracle! I have your dog!'"</p>
<p>Zoey had bruises and a few missing patches of fur. It's not clear how far the eagle might have carried the dog, but Rodriguez said he can't believe Zoey survived.</p>
<p>"She is not really herself, but she is getting lots of love," his sister, Newhard, texted the AP late Wednesday. "She doesn't want to go out. ... I really can't blame her."</p>
| false | 2 |
felipe rodriguez says thought hallucinating eagle snatched sisters little white dog yard flapped massive wings disappeared trees really see zoey 8pound bichon frise gone taken hungry raptor tuesday afternoon 50 feet sisters house banks lehigh river pennsylvania rodriguez said seemed like something wizard oz told associated press wednesday im city boy doesnt happen world even astonishing zoey would live bark tale later first let said eagles quite capable taking small dog cat documented often said laurie goodrich biologist nearby hawk mountain sanctuary ridgetop preserve annually records tens thousands migrating hawks eagles falcons food scarce waterways freezing raptors looking little widely taking advantage whatever might said rodriguez said sisters home bowmanstown 80 miles 128 kilometers north philadelphia zoey playing fenced yard heard loud screech hurried door looked bird holding onto dog flapping wings gone said rodriguez 50yearold healthcare executive visiting chicago drove around neighborhood looking 7yearold bichon avail rodriguez assumed zoey gone good sister family devastated found nothing cry day monica newhard said newhard said unusual see eagles given homes proximity river also suspected occasionally grabbed one rabbits lived shed didnt occur newhard four dogs would danger heartbroken husband scoured woods zoeys body little know bitty bichon would found later afternoon full four miles away zoeys rescuer christina hartman 51 said driving snowcovered back road spotted furry white lump ahead pulled investigate notice little frozen dog icicles hanging could hardly move hartman said scooped whimpering pooch wrapped blanket took home feeding dog two bowls chickenandrice soup gradually bichon warmed began show spunk hartman noticed several small wounds back neck dog walked limp collar dog belongs family im gon na find owns hartman told didnt take long spotted newhards public facebook post wednesday morning newhard uploaded photo zoey made excited call said miracle dog zoey bruises missing patches fur clear far eagle might carried dog rodriguez said cant believe zoey survived really getting lots love sister newhard texted ap late wednesday doesnt want go really cant blame felipe rodriguez says thought hallucinating eagle snatched sisters little white dog yard flapped massive wings disappeared trees really see zoey 8pound bichon frise gone taken hungry raptor tuesday afternoon 50 feet sisters house banks lehigh river pennsylvania rodriguez said seemed like something wizard oz told associated press wednesday im city boy doesnt happen world even astonishing zoey would live bark tale later first let said eagles quite capable taking small dog cat documented often said laurie goodrich biologist nearby hawk mountain sanctuary ridgetop preserve annually records tens thousands migrating hawks eagles falcons food scarce waterways freezing raptors looking little widely taking advantage whatever might said rodriguez said sisters home bowmanstown 80 miles 128 kilometers north philadelphia zoey playing fenced yard heard loud screech hurried door looked bird holding onto dog flapping wings gone said rodriguez 50yearold healthcare executive visiting chicago drove around neighborhood looking 7yearold bichon avail rodriguez assumed zoey gone good sister family devastated found nothing cry day monica newhard said newhard said unusual see eagles given homes proximity river also suspected occasionally grabbed one rabbits lived shed didnt occur newhard four dogs would danger heartbroken husband scoured woods zoeys body little know bitty bichon would found later afternoon full four miles away zoeys rescuer christina hartman 51 said driving snowcovered back road spotted furry white lump ahead pulled investigate notice little frozen dog icicles hanging could hardly move hartman said scooped whimpering pooch wrapped blanket took home feeding dog two bowls chickenandrice soup gradually bichon warmed began show spunk hartman noticed several small wounds back neck dog walked limp collar dog belongs family im gon na find owns hartman told didnt take long spotted newhards public facebook post wednesday morning newhard uploaded photo zoey made excited call said miracle dog zoey bruises missing patches fur clear far eagle might carried dog rodriguez said cant believe zoey survived really getting lots love sister newhard texted ap late wednesday doesnt want go really cant blame
| 650 |
<p>Jan 23 (Reuters) - Caring Pharmacy Group Bhd:</p>
<p>* QTRLY NET PROFIT 4.3 MILLION RGT VERSUS 2.8 MILLION RGT ‍​</p>
<p>* QTRLY REVENUE 123.4 MILLION RGT VERSUS 113.9 MILLION RGT ‍​ Source text: ( <a href="http://bit.ly/2DsVGlw" type="external">bit.ly/2DsVGlw</a>) Further company coverage:</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 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, as well as Ukraine, Canada and Albania. In total, Monday’s announcements affected more than 100 Russian diplomats - the biggest Western expulsion of Russian diplomats since the height of the Cold War.</p>
<p>British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson tweeted 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 “clearly demonstrate that we all stand shoulder to shoulder in sending the strongest signal to Russia that it cannot continue to flout international law”.</p>
<p>Russia’s Foreign Ministry called the actions a “provocative gesture”. The Kremlin spokesman said the West’s response was a “mistake” and that Russian 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 on March 4. Skripal, 66, and his 33-year-old daughter Yulia were found unconscious on a public bench in a shopping centre, and remain critically ill in hospital.</p>
<p>Monday’s wave of expulsions came after EU leaders said 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 the United States included 12 intelligence officers from Russia’s mission to the United Nations headquarters in New York, a senior administration official told reporters. Trump also ordered the closure of the Russian consulate in Seattle.</p>
<p>“To the Russian government we say: when you attack our friends, you will face serious consequences,” one of the U.S. officials briefing reporters said, speaking on condition of anonymity.</p>
<p>The individuals concerned and their families have been given a week to leave the United States, according to the 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>U.S. lawmakers largely welcomed Trump’s move on Monday.</p>
<p>The closure of the Russian consulate in Seattle was due to its proximity to a U.S. submarine base and planemaker and defense contractor Boeing, a senior administration official said. Seattle was a hub of Russian cyber espionage, both political and commercial, according to two U.S. intelligence officials.</p> People depart the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the United Nations in Manhattan on Monday. REUTERS/Mike Segar
<p>The UN mission in New York was also a major center for Russian financial spying and recruiting, the officials said. The New York operations included money laundering and other financial crimes in addition to espionage on U.S. and UN targets, they said.</p>
<p>All the Russians picked for expulsion from the United States have been identified as intelligence officers, according to U.S. officials familiar with the expulsions.</p>
<p>“The last time that the United States expelled so many Russian spies was when the Reagan administration ordered 55 Soviet diplomats out of the country in 1986,” said Angela Stent, director of the Center for Eurasian, Russian and East European Studies at Georgetown University.</p>
<p>“This U.S. solidarity with Britain and other European allies after the Skripal poisoning is unprecedented in the post-Soviet era and highlights the continuing downward spiral of Russia’s relations with the West,” she said. &#160;</p>
<p>The 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> Slideshow (2 Images)
<p>Skripal’s poisoning, alleged to have 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> RUSSIA PROMISES ‘SYMMETRICAL’ RESPONSE
<p>European Council President Donald Tusk said further measures could be taken in the coming weeks and months. Mexico said it reserved the right to expel diplomats.</p>
<p>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> Related Coverage
<a href="/article/us-britain-russia-expulsions-factbox/factbox-diplomatic-moves-against-russia-after-nerve-gas-attack-idUSKBN1H21VA" type="external">Factbox: Diplomatic moves against Russia after nerve gas attack</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>
<a href="/article/us-britain-russia-moscow-response/moscow-says-on-diplomat-expulsions-we-will-react-idUSKBN1H21XF" type="external">Moscow says on diplomat expulsions: we will react</a>
<p>The Russian embassy in the United States asked Twitter followers to vote what U.S. consulates they would close in Russia, if they could decide. Besides the embassy in Moscow, the United States has three consulate generals in Russia.</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>Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova suggested in a post on Facebook that the EU’s expression of support for Britain was misguided given that it would be leaving the bloc next year.</p>
<p>A British court has said Skripal and his daughter may have suffered brain damage, while a policeman who went to help them has also indicated that he has suffered lasting damage to his health.</p>
<p>British Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson hailed the support for Britain during a visit on Monday to Estonia. Britain has troops there as part of a NATO mission to deter any Russian aggression following its seizure of Ukraine’s Crimea in 2014.</p>
<p>Reporting by 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, John Walcott, Warren Strobel, Patricia Zengerle and Mark Hosenball in Washington; Writing by Yara Bayoumy; Editing by Guy Faulconbridge, Kevin Liffey and Frances Kerry</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.</p>
<p>“I regret that Facebook’s official statements, including those of CEO Zuckerberg, have not alleviated my concerns,” Jourova wrote.</p>
<a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=FB.O" type="external">Facebook Inc</a> 155.0 FB.O Nasdaq -4.39 (-2.75%) FB.O
<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>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>Jourova said she wanted a reply to her letter within two weeks.</p>
<p>Reporting by Julia Fioretti; editing by Andrew Roche</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Facebook Inc ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=FB.O" type="external">FB.O</a>) shares fell as much as 6.5 percent on Monday after the main U.S. consumer protection regulator said it was investigating how the social network allowed data of 50 million users to get into the hands of a political consultancy.</p> A figurine is seen in front of the Facebook logo in this illustration taken, March 20, 2018. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic
<p>Scrutiny by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, which generally confirms the existence of an investigation only in cases of significant public interest, adds to pressure from lawmakers in the United States and Europe for Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg to explain how his company handles user data.</p>
<p>Facebook shares briefly dipped below $150 on Monday for the first time since July 2017, before recouping some losses. They were down 3.1 percent at $154.37 in afternoon trading.</p>
<p>At the day’s session low the company had lost $100 billion in market value since March 17, when newspapers first reported that Facebook member data was improperly used by consultants Cambridge Analytica to target U.S. and British voters in close-run elections.</p>
<p>“FTC takes very seriously recent press reports raising substantial concerns about the privacy practices of Facebook,” the regulator said in a statement. “Today, the FTC is confirming that it has an open non-public investigation into these practices.”</p>
<p>The investigation is broader than looking into 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> Related Coverage
<a href="/article/us-usa-facebook-congress/facebook-ceo-among-those-invited-to-testify-at-senate-hearing-idUSKBN1H22E1" type="external">Facebook CEO among those invited to testify at 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>“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>
<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> ALL APOLOGIES
<p>The FTC’s move to make its probe public comes as lawmakers in the United States and Europe put more pressure on Facebook and Zuckerberg to explain the company’s privacy practices.</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>The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee said on Monday it had invited the CEOs of Facebook, 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 (2 Images)
<p>A bipartisan coalition of 37 state attorneys general also wrote to Facebook on Monday, demanding to know about the company’s role in the manipulation of users’ data by Cambridge Analytica and its policies and procedures for protecting private data.</p>
<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>Earlier in the day 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> 155.0 FB.O Nasdaq -4.39 (-2.75%) 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 consumer electronics company Sonos said in a blog post it will remove advertising for its speakers 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>
<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>MADRID/BERLIN (Reuters) - A German court said on Monday it was likely to take several days to decide whether to extradite former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont to Spain to face rebellion charges over the region’s campaign for independence.</p>
<p>But despite a night of protests across Catalonia in which dozens of people were hurt in clashes with police, Puigedemont’s arrest on Sunday in northern Germany leaves the independence movement weaker than it has been in years. Almost its entire leadership is now either behind bars ahead of trial or in exile.</p>
<p>Puigdemont, who fled Spain five months ago for Belgium after Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy dismissed his regional administration and imposed direct rule from Madrid, faces charges of rebellion that could lead to 25 years in prison.</p>
<p>Most analysts believe Catalonia will stay marred by political turmoil until a new regional election can usher in a stable government, but they doubt it will lead to more serious unrest on the streets of Barcelona and other Catalan cities.</p>
<p>On Sunday night, a demonstration in Barcelona against Puigdemont’s arrest by tens of thousands of Catalans tipped over into clashes with police.</p>
<p>Outside the central government offices, riot police beat flag-waving protesters back with batons, leaving several with blood streaming down their foreheads.</p>
<p>About 100 people were hurt across the region, including 23 members of the Mossos d’Escuadra police force, and nine people were arrested, authorities said.</p>
<p>The protests followed a Spanish Supreme Court ruling on Friday that 25 Catalan leaders, including Puigdemont, would be tried for rebellion, embezzlement or disobeying the state relating to a referendum held in Catalonia last October that called for it to separate from Spain.</p>
<p>The Madrid government deemed the referendum, which was widely boycotted by opponents of independence, illegal and took over direct rule of the wealthy northeastern region following a symbolic declaration of independence by the Catalan parliament.</p>
<p>The court on Friday also reactivated international arrest warrants for four other politicians who went into self-imposed exile last year. Puigdemont and fellow separatists have all denied any wrongdoing.</p>
<p>Five separatist leaders, including the latest candidate to become regional president, Jordi Turull, were ordered jailed pending their trial. The Catalan parliament’s failure last week to vote in Turull as president started a two-month countdown to elect a new leader before a regional election is triggered.</p>
<p>The forceful action by the government and courts appeared to be bringing a close to what had been one of Spain’s worst political crises since the return of democracy in the 1970s.</p>
<p>“Looks like the separatist movement is falling apart,” Kepler Cheuvreux analyst Adrian Zunzunegui said in a note on Monday. “We expect a few more months of uncertainty, and most likely new elections to be called then.”</p> A cameraman films a banner in front of the prison in Neumuenster, Germany, March 26, 2018. REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer
<p>Another election could swing the government either way, with separatist sympathies still simmering across Catalonia, though polls have shown support sharply down in recent months.</p> “FALLING APART”
<p>Puigdemont was due to appear before a regional court in the northern German town of Neumuenster where a judge is expected to decide whether he will remain in custody.</p>
<p>Another court, the Higher Regional Court in the town of Schleswig, will be responsible for deciding whether to grant Spain’s extradition request. The court is unlikely to make a final decision on Puigdemont’s extradition before Easter, a spokeswoman for the state prosecutor office said.</p>
<p>Puigdemont, who has been living in Brussels since leaving Spain, does not plan to apply for political asylum in Germany, his lawyer Jaume Alonso-Cuevillas told Catalan radio.</p> Slideshow (12 Images)
<p>He had entered Germany from Denmark on Friday after leaving Finland, where he had attended a conference and was caught off-guard by the Spanish Supreme Court’s unexpected decision to reactivate his arrest warrant.</p>
<p>The 55-year-old former journalist is unlikely to find much support among German politicians who have largely backed Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s crackdown on Catalan separatism.</p>
<p>A German government spokesman said on Monday the case was being handled according to German laws and European arrest warrant provisions, and that the Catalan question could only be resolved within the framework of Spanish law.</p>
<p>Elmar Brok, a German member of the European Parliament and ally of Chancellor Angela Merkel, said Puigdemont had “clearly violated Spanish law and the Spanish constitution”.</p> Related Coverage
<a href="/article/us-spain-politics-catalonia-germany-cust/german-court-keeps-exiled-catalan-leader-puigdemont-in-custody-prosecutor-idUSKBN1H22IL" type="external">German court keeps exiled Catalan leader Puigdemont in custody: prosecutor</a>
<a href="/article/us-spain-politics-catalonia-scotland/ex-catalan-minister-will-fight-extradition-to-spain-from-scotland-lawyer-idUSKBN1H219S" type="external">Ex-Catalan minister will fight extradition to Spain from Scotland: lawyer</a>
<p>European governments, some of whom face separatist movements of their own, have generally been supportive of the Spanish government.</p>
<p>The Scottish government, which advocates independence from the United Kingdom, said it would co-operate with Madrid over a request to extradite former Catalan education minister Clara Ponsati, although it still believed Catalans had the right to self-determination.</p>
<p>Ponsati’s lawyer said on Monday she would contest her extradition and called it “political persecution”.</p>
<p>The drawn-out crisis has also hit Catalonia’s economy and caused a business flight. But rating agency Standard &amp; Poor’s last Friday upgraded its rating for Spain, reflecting a positive outlook for the economy and limited impact from Catalonia.</p>
<p>Spanish bond yields were at close to 15-month lows on Monday morning.</p>
<p>Additional reporting by Emma Pinedo in Madrid, Elisabeth O'Leary in London and Paul Carrel and Thorsten Severin in Berlin; Editing by Mark Bendeich</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
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jan 23 reuters caring pharmacy group bhd qtrly net profit 43 million rgt versus 28 million rgt qtrly revenue 1234 million rgt versus 1139 million rgt source text bitly2dsvglw company coverage 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 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 well ukraine canada albania total mondays announcements affected 100 russian diplomats biggest western expulsion russian diplomats since height cold war british foreign secretary boris johnson tweeted mondays extraordinary international response allies stands history largest collective expulsion russian intelligence officers ever help defend shared security may said coordinated measures clearly demonstrate stand shoulder shoulder sending strongest signal russia continue flout international law russias foreign ministry called actions provocative gesture kremlin spokesman said wests response mistake russian president vladimir putin would make final decision russias response moscow denied behind attack sergei skripal daughter southern english city salisbury march 4 skripal 66 33yearold daughter yulia found unconscious public bench shopping centre remain critically ill hospital mondays wave expulsions came eu leaders said last week evidence presented may russian involvement attack solid basis action staff expelled united states included 12 intelligence officers russias mission united nations headquarters new york senior administration official told reporters trump also ordered closure russian consulate seattle russian government say attack friends face serious consequences one us officials briefing reporters said speaking condition anonymity individuals concerned families given week leave united states according 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 us lawmakers largely welcomed trumps move monday closure russian consulate seattle due proximity us submarine base planemaker defense contractor boeing senior administration official said seattle hub russian cyber espionage political commercial according two us intelligence officials people depart permanent mission russian federation united nations manhattan monday reutersmike segar un mission new york also major center russian financial spying recruiting officials said new york operations included money laundering financial crimes addition espionage us un targets said russians picked expulsion united states identified intelligence officers according us officials familiar expulsions last time united states expelled many russian spies reagan administration ordered 55 soviet diplomats country 1986 said angela stent director center eurasian russian east european studies georgetown university us solidarity britain european allies skripal poisoning unprecedented postsoviet era highlights continuing downward spiral russias relations west said 160 us officials said scale expulsions based expansion russian espionage united states also increasing focus critical infrastructure targets electrical grids financial networks transportation healthcare slideshow 2 images skripals poisoning alleged employed sovietera militarygrade nerve agent novichok first known offensive use nerve toxin europe since world war two russia promises symmetrical response european council president donald tusk said measures could taken coming weeks months mexico said reserved right expel diplomats russia said would respond kind response symmetrical work coming days respond every country turn ria news agency cited unnamed foreign ministry source saying related coverage factbox diplomatic moves russia nerve gas attack eu foreign ministers report back possible measures russia uk moscow says diplomat expulsions react russian embassy united states asked twitter followers vote us consulates would close russia could decide besides embassy moscow united states three consulate generals russia 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 russian foreign ministry spokeswoman maria zakharova suggested post facebook eus expression support britain misguided given would leaving bloc next year british court said skripal daughter may suffered brain damage policeman went help also indicated suffered lasting damage health british defence secretary gavin williamson hailed support britain visit monday estonia britain troops part nato mission deter russian aggression following seizure ukraines crimea 2014 reporting 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 john walcott warren strobel patricia zengerle mark hosenball washington writing yara bayoumy editing guy faulconbridge kevin liffey frances kerry 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 regret facebooks official statements including ceo zuckerberg alleviated concerns jourova wrote facebook inc 1550 fbo nasdaq 439 275 fbo particularly disappointing given efforts build relationship based trust colleagues trust diminished jourova asked sandberg whether certain similar situation could repeated today thought stricter rules needed platforms like exist traditional media jourova said wanted reply letter within two weeks reporting julia fioretti editing andrew roche standards thomson reuters trust principles washington reuters facebook inc fbo shares fell much 65 percent monday main us consumer protection regulator said investigating social network allowed data 50 million users get hands political consultancy figurine seen front facebook logo illustration taken march 20 2018 reutersdado ruvic scrutiny us federal trade commission generally confirms existence investigation cases significant public interest adds pressure lawmakers united states europe facebook chief executive mark zuckerberg explain company handles user data facebook shares briefly dipped 150 monday first time since july 2017 recouping losses 31 percent 15437 afternoon trading days session low company lost 100 billion market value since march 17 newspapers first reported facebook member data improperly used consultants cambridge analytica target us british voters closerun elections ftc takes seriously recent press reports raising substantial concerns privacy practices facebook regulator said statement today ftc confirming open nonpublic investigation practices investigation broader looking whether facebook violated 2011 consent order reached ftc privacy practices person briefed matter told reuters related coverage facebook ceo among invited testify senate hearing eu presses facebook sharing user data facebook must face tighter rules tougher penalties german minister remain strongly committed protecting peoples information facebook deputy chief privacy officer rob sherman said statement monday appreciate opportunity answer questions ftc may ftc finds facebook violated terms consent decree power fine thousands dollars day per violation could add billions dollars apologies ftcs move make probe public comes lawmakers united states europe put pressure facebook zuckerberg explain companys privacy practices 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 us senate judiciary committee said monday invited ceos facebook alphabet inc googlo twitter inc twtrn testify april 10 hearing data privacy slideshow 2 images bipartisan coalition 37 state attorneys general also wrote facebook monday demanding know companys role manipulation users data cambridge analytica policies procedures protecting private data us house energy commerce committee us senate commerce committee already formally asked zuckerberg appear congressional hearing earlier day 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 1550 fbo nasdaq 439 275 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 consumer electronics company sonos said blog post remove advertising speakers 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 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 madridberlin reuters german court said monday likely take several days decide whether extradite former catalan president carles puigdemont spain face rebellion charges regions campaign independence despite night protests across catalonia dozens people hurt clashes police puigedemonts arrest sunday northern germany leaves independence movement weaker years almost entire leadership either behind bars ahead trial exile puigdemont fled spain five months ago belgium spanish prime minister mariano rajoy dismissed regional administration imposed direct rule madrid faces charges rebellion could lead 25 years prison analysts believe catalonia stay marred political turmoil new regional election usher stable government doubt lead serious unrest streets barcelona catalan cities sunday night demonstration barcelona puigdemonts arrest tens thousands catalans tipped clashes police outside central government offices riot police beat flagwaving protesters back batons leaving several blood streaming foreheads 100 people hurt across region including 23 members mossos descuadra police force nine people arrested authorities said protests followed spanish supreme court ruling friday 25 catalan leaders including puigdemont would tried rebellion embezzlement disobeying state relating referendum held catalonia last october called separate spain madrid government deemed referendum widely boycotted opponents independence illegal took direct rule wealthy northeastern region following symbolic declaration independence catalan parliament court friday also reactivated international arrest warrants four politicians went selfimposed exile last year puigdemont fellow separatists denied wrongdoing five separatist leaders including latest candidate become regional president jordi turull ordered jailed pending trial catalan parliaments failure last week vote turull president started twomonth countdown elect new leader regional election triggered forceful action government courts appeared bringing close one spains worst political crises since return democracy 1970s looks like separatist movement falling apart kepler cheuvreux analyst adrian zunzunegui said note monday expect months uncertainty likely new elections called cameraman films banner front prison neumuenster germany march 26 2018 reutersfabian bimmer another election could swing government either way separatist sympathies still simmering across catalonia though polls shown support sharply recent months falling apart puigdemont due appear regional court northern german town neumuenster judge expected decide whether remain custody another court higher regional court town schleswig responsible deciding whether grant spains extradition request court unlikely make final decision puigdemonts extradition easter spokeswoman state prosecutor office said puigdemont living brussels since leaving spain plan apply political asylum germany lawyer jaume alonsocuevillas told catalan radio slideshow 12 images entered germany denmark friday leaving finland attended conference caught offguard spanish supreme courts unexpected decision reactivate arrest warrant 55yearold former journalist unlikely find much support among german politicians largely backed spanish prime minister mariano rajoys crackdown catalan separatism german government spokesman said monday case handled according german laws european arrest warrant provisions catalan question could resolved within framework spanish law elmar brok german member european parliament ally chancellor angela merkel said puigdemont clearly violated spanish law spanish constitution related coverage german court keeps exiled catalan leader puigdemont custody prosecutor excatalan minister fight extradition spain scotland lawyer european governments face separatist movements generally supportive spanish government scottish government advocates independence united kingdom said would cooperate madrid request extradite former catalan education minister clara ponsati although still believed catalans right selfdetermination ponsatis lawyer said monday would contest extradition called political persecution drawnout crisis also hit catalonias economy caused business flight rating agency standard amp poors last friday upgraded rating spain reflecting positive outlook economy limited impact catalonia spanish bond yields close 15month lows monday morning additional reporting emma pinedo madrid elisabeth oleary london paul carrel thorsten severin berlin editing mark bendeich standards thomson reuters trust principles
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<p>Jan 22 (Reuters) - BESIKTAS FUTBOL:</p>
<p>* REPORTED ON FRIDAY Q2 2017 NET LOSS OF 6.7 MILLION LIRA VERSUS NET LOSS OF 13.4 MILLION LIRA YEAR AGO</p>
<p>* Q2 2017 REVENUE OF 232.0 MILLION LIRA VERSUS 131.7 MILLION LIRA YEAR AGO</p>
<p>Source text for Eikon:</p>
<p>Further company coverage: (Gdynia Newsroom)</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 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>The 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’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) said it was suspending its obligations to the World Trade Organization (WTO) to reduce tariffs on 120 U.S. goods, including fruit. The tariffs on those products will be raised by an extra 15 percent.</p>
<p>Eight other products, including pork, will now be subject to additional tariffs of 25 percent, it said, with the measures effective from April 2.</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>“China’s suspension of its tariff concessions is a legitimate action adopted under WTO rules to safeguard China’s interests,” the Chinese finance ministry said.</p>
<p>China has imposed the additional tariffs amid escalating trade tensions between Beijing and Washington, sparking fears of a full-blown trade spat between the world’s two biggest economies.</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. accusations that China systematically misappropriated American intellectual property - allegations Beijing denies.</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>In a statement published on Monday morning, MOFCOM said the United States had “seriously violated” the principles of non-discrimination enshrined in World Trade Organization rules, and had also damaged China’s interests.</p>
<p>“China’s suspension of some of its obligations to the United States is its legitimate right as a member of the World Trade Organization,” it said, adding that differences between the world’s two largest economies should be resolved through dialogue and negotiation.</p>
<p>Reporting by Ben Blanchard and Tony Munroe; Additional reporting by David Stanway in SHANGHAI and Stella Qiu in BEIJING; Editing by Eric Meijer &amp; Shri Navaratnam</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China’s Tiangong-1 space station re-entered the earth’s atmosphere and burnt up over the middle of the South Pacific on Monday, the Chinese 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 re-entered the atmosphere around 8:15 a.m. Beijing time (0015GMT) and the “vast majority” of it had burnt up upon re-entry, the authority said in a brief statement on its website.</p>
<p>It had said shortly before that it was expected to re-enter off the Brazilian coast in the South Atlantic near the cities of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.</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 was 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>
<p>TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese manufacturing activity expanded at a slightly slower pace in March, revised data from a survey showed on Monday, as growth in new orders and output moderated slightly though the economy overall remained in solid shape.</p> FILE PHOTO - A worker cycles near a factory at the Keihin industrial zone in Kawasaki, Japan February 17, 2016. REUTERS/Toru Hanai/File Photo
<p>The Final Markit/Nikkei Japan Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) fell to 53.1 in March on a seasonally adjusted basis, slightly below a preliminary 53.2 and below a final 54.1 in February.</p>
<p>The headline reading fell for the second consecutive month, but remained above the 50 threshold that separates contraction from expansion for the 19th executive month.</p>
<p>“Latest survey data presented a second successive decline in the Manufacturing PMI for Japan,” said Joe Hayes, economist at IHS Markit, which compiles the survey.</p>
<p>“That said, the overall picture remains upbeat. The reading of 53.1 still indicates a fairly solid pace of improvement in business conditions.”</p>
<p>The final index for new orders was 53.1, below the preliminary reading of 53.2 and down from 54.7 in the previous month.</p>
<p>The new export orders index was unchanged from the advance estimate at 52.5, but down compared with a final 54.1 in February.</p>
<p>Japan’s economy has expanded for eight consecutive quarters, the longest uninterrupted streak since a 12-quarter run of growth during the mid-to-late 1980s boom.</p>
<p>Some economists have cautioned that the pace of growth could moderate this year because consumer spending may ebb slightly, even though strong exports performance of Japan Inc. continues to underpin the world’s third-biggest economy.</p>
<p>Reporting by Stanley White; Editing by Shri Navaratnam</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese business sentiment worsened for the first time in two years in the three months to March, a closely watched central bank survey showed on Monday, as rising raw material and labor costs weigh on an otherwise steady economic recovery.</p> FILE PHOTO: A Japanese flag flutters atop the Bank of Japan building under construction in Tokyo, Japan, September 21, 2017. REUTERS/Toru Hanai/File Photo
<p>A strong yen and simmering fears of a trade war, triggered by U.S. President Donald Trump’s move to impose tariffs on Chinese goods, could further undermine corporate morale if threats of retaliation escalate, analysts say.</p>
<p>But few analysts expect the economic recovery to falter as business confidence remains at a decade-high level and companies plan to increase capital expenditure.</p>
<p>“Yen gains since late January has eroded manufacturers’ sentiment but solid global economic fundamentals helped offset the pain. Overall, you can say that business confidence held firm,” said Yuichiro Nagai, an economist at Barclays Securities.</p>
<p>“Fears of a global trade war have had a limited impact on business sentiment so far. But depending on development of U.S. trade policy, protectionism could weigh on the outlook.”</p> Related Coverage
<a href="/article/us-japan-economy-pmi/japan-march-final-manufacturing-pmi-cools-slightly-overall-economy-still-solid-idUSKCN1H901Y" type="external">Japan March final manufacturing PMI cools slightly, overall economy still solid</a>
<p>An index measuring big manufacturers’ confidence fell by 2 points to plus 24 in March, the Bank of Japan’s quarterly “tankan” survey showed, roughly matching a median market forecast of plus 25.</p>
<p>Non-manufacturers’ sentiment worsened by 2 points to plus 23 against a median forecast of plus 24, deteriorating for the first time in six quarters.</p>
<p>Both big manufacturers and non-manufacturers forecast business conditions to sour three months ahead, the tankan showed, reflecting looming uncertainty over the fallout from Trump’s trade policy and a strong yen.</p>
<p>Big manufacturers expect the dollar to move around 109.66 yen on average during the year that began in April, well above current levels around 106 yen.</p>
<p>This means that if yen gains persist, manufacturers may be forced to slash their optimistic profit forecasts - a worrying sign for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s efforts to spur growth with reflationist policies.</p>
<p>Labour shortages also weighed on sentiment, as the economic recovery and a dwindling working-age population push the jobless rate to a near 25-year low.</p>
<p>A tankan index measuring capacity constraints showed that companies saw the job market at its tightest since 1991.</p>
<p>Some firms in the construction, restaurant and hotel industries complained that labor shortages were taking a toll on their businesses, a BOJ official briefing reporters on the data said.</p>
<p>Among manufacturers, basic materials firms such as those selling steel, nonferrous metals and textile goods saw sentiment hurt by rising raw material costs, the official said.</p>
<p>Still, big firms plan to raise their capital spending by 2.3 percent in the current financial year from April, versus the median estimate for a 0.6 percent gain, the tankan showed.</p>
<p>Global markets were shaken last month when Trump moved to impose tariffs on Chinese goods and Beijing retaliated, but fears of a full-blown trade war have eased on hopes that negotiations can bring a compromise.</p>
<p>Japanese policymakers fret that a strong yen and trade frictions could deal a heavy blow to the export-reliant economy, which has benefited from solid global demand.</p>
<p>Japan’s economy has grown for eight straight quarters, its longest continuous expansion since the 1980s bubble economy, moving Abe’s revival plan a step closer to vanquishing decades of stagnation.</p>
<p>But slow wage growth and companies’ reluctance to raise prices have kept inflation well below the Bank of Japan’s elusive 2 percent target.</p>
<p>The tankan’s sentiment indexes are derived by subtracting the number of respondents who say conditions are poor from those who say they are good. A positive reading means optimists outnumber pessimists.</p>
<p>Reporting by Leika Kihara; Editing by Sam Holmes and Eric Meijer</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
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jan 22 reuters besiktas futbol reported friday q2 2017 net loss 67 million lira versus net loss 134 million lira year ago q2 2017 revenue 2320 million lira versus 1317 million lira year ago source text eikon company coverage gdynia newsroom 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 labourer works coils steel wire steel wholesale market beijing china january 17 2012 reuterssoo hoo zheyangfile photo tariffs take effect monday released late sunday matches list potential tariffs 3 billion us goods published china march 23 chinas ministry commerce mofcom said suspending obligations world trade organization wto reduce tariffs 120 us goods including fruit tariffs products raised extra 15 percent eight products including pork subject additional tariffs 25 percent said measures effective april 2 file photo butcher cuts piece pork market beijing china march 25 2016 reutersjason leefile photo chinas suspension tariff concessions legitimate action adopted wto rules safeguard chinas interests chinese finance ministry said china imposed additional tariffs amid escalating trade tensions beijing washington sparking fears fullblown trade spat worlds two biggest economies us president donald trump preparing impose tariffs 50 billion chinese goods intended punish beijing us accusations china systematically misappropriated american intellectual property allegations beijing denies 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 statement published monday morning mofcom said united states seriously violated principles nondiscrimination enshrined world trade organization rules also damaged chinas interests chinas suspension obligations united states legitimate right member world trade organization said adding differences worlds two largest economies resolved dialogue negotiation reporting ben blanchard tony munroe additional reporting david stanway shanghai stella qiu beijing editing eric meijer amp shri navaratnam standards thomson reuters trust principles shanghai reuters chinas tiangong1 space station reentered earths atmosphere burnt middle south pacific monday chinese 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 reentered atmosphere around 815 beijing time 0015gmt vast majority burnt upon reentry authority said brief statement website said shortly expected reenter brazilian coast south atlantic near cities sao paulo rio de janeiro 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 tokyo reuters japanese manufacturing activity expanded slightly slower pace march revised data survey showed monday growth new orders output moderated slightly though economy overall remained solid shape file photo worker cycles near factory keihin industrial zone kawasaki japan february 17 2016 reuterstoru hanaifile photo final markitnikkei japan manufacturing purchasing managers index pmi fell 531 march seasonally adjusted basis slightly preliminary 532 final 541 february headline reading fell second consecutive month remained 50 threshold separates contraction expansion 19th executive month latest survey data presented second successive decline manufacturing pmi japan said joe hayes economist ihs markit compiles survey said overall picture remains upbeat reading 531 still indicates fairly solid pace improvement business conditions final index new orders 531 preliminary reading 532 547 previous month new export orders index unchanged advance estimate 525 compared final 541 february japans economy expanded eight consecutive quarters longest uninterrupted streak since 12quarter run growth midtolate 1980s boom economists cautioned pace growth could moderate year consumer spending may ebb slightly even though strong exports performance japan inc continues underpin worlds thirdbiggest economy reporting stanley white editing shri navaratnam standards thomson reuters trust principles tokyo reuters japanese business sentiment worsened first time two years three months march closely watched central bank survey showed monday rising raw material labor costs weigh otherwise steady economic recovery file photo japanese flag flutters atop bank japan building construction tokyo japan september 21 2017 reuterstoru hanaifile photo strong yen simmering fears trade war triggered us president donald trumps move impose tariffs chinese goods could undermine corporate morale threats retaliation escalate analysts say analysts expect economic recovery falter business confidence remains decadehigh level companies plan increase capital expenditure yen gains since late january eroded manufacturers sentiment solid global economic fundamentals helped offset pain overall say business confidence held firm said yuichiro nagai economist barclays securities fears global trade war limited impact business sentiment far depending development us trade policy protectionism could weigh outlook related coverage japan march final manufacturing pmi cools slightly overall economy still solid index measuring big manufacturers confidence fell 2 points plus 24 march bank japans quarterly tankan survey showed roughly matching median market forecast plus 25 nonmanufacturers sentiment worsened 2 points plus 23 median forecast plus 24 deteriorating first time six quarters big manufacturers nonmanufacturers forecast business conditions sour three months ahead tankan showed reflecting looming uncertainty fallout trumps trade policy strong yen big manufacturers expect dollar move around 10966 yen average year began april well current levels around 106 yen means yen gains persist manufacturers may forced slash optimistic profit forecasts worrying sign prime minister shinzo abes efforts spur growth reflationist policies labour shortages also weighed sentiment economic recovery dwindling workingage population push jobless rate near 25year low tankan index measuring capacity constraints showed companies saw job market tightest since 1991 firms construction restaurant hotel industries complained labor shortages taking toll businesses boj official briefing reporters data said among manufacturers basic materials firms selling steel nonferrous metals textile goods saw sentiment hurt rising raw material costs official said still big firms plan raise capital spending 23 percent current financial year april versus median estimate 06 percent gain tankan showed global markets shaken last month trump moved impose tariffs chinese goods beijing retaliated fears fullblown trade war eased hopes negotiations bring compromise japanese policymakers fret strong yen trade frictions could deal heavy blow exportreliant economy benefited solid global demand japans economy grown eight straight quarters longest continuous expansion since 1980s bubble economy moving abes revival plan step closer vanquishing decades stagnation slow wage growth companies reluctance raise prices kept inflation well bank japans elusive 2 percent target tankans sentiment indexes derived subtracting number respondents say conditions poor say good positive reading means optimists outnumber pessimists reporting leika kihara editing sam holmes eric meijer standards thomson reuters trust principles
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<p>MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian second-largest lender VTB ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=VTBR.MM" type="external">VTBR.MM</a>) will consider acquiring mid-sized Vozrozhdenie bank ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=VZRZ.MM" type="external">VZRZ.MM</a>), VTB head Andrei Kostin said, according to Russian news agencies on Wednesday.</p>
<p>Russia’s banking sector is under intense scrutiny after the central bank was forced to bail out three of the country’s largest private lenders in the second half of 2017.</p>
<p>Market participants have since speculated about a possible buyer for Vozrozhdenie, Russia’s 36th largest lender by assets. Vozrozhdenie was previously controlled by private bank Promsvyazbank, which the central bank rescued in December.</p>
<p>Kostin told reporters at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, that the senior management of state-run VTB would consider acquiring Vozrozhdenie after their return to Moscow.</p>
<p>“We don’t know yet, our retail department says there might be some interest there. But we can’t see the situation with Vozrozhdenie clearly, we have never looked at or analyzed this bank,” Kostin was quoted as saying by Interfax.</p>
<p>“We don’t know if there are other bidders. After returning from Davos, we will now probably work on this and take a look.”</p>
<p>Vozrozhdenie declined to comment.</p>
<a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=VTBR.MM" type="external">Bank VTB PAO</a> 0.054 VTBR.MM Moscow Interbank Currency Exchange +0.00 (+0.19%) VTBR.MM VZRZ.MM
<p>A source close to Vozrozhdenie management told Reuters that VTB had shown interest in buying the mid-sized bank, but there had been no meaningful talks yet.</p>
<p>The source said about 10 banks and companies were also interested in buying a share in Vozrozhdenie or taking it over.</p>
<p>Vozrozhdenie’s shares on the Moscow Exchange jumped more than 10 percent on reports of Kostin’s comments and traded up 8 percent at 547 roubles ($9.70) per a share as of 0817 GMT.</p>
<p>($1 = 56.3717 roubles)</p>
<p>Reporting by Maria Kiselyova and Tatiana Voronova; Writing by Jack Stubbs; Editing by Andrey Ostroukh and Edmund Blair</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>BRUSSELS (Reuters) - German conglomerate Bayer won EU antitrust approval on Wednesday for its $62.5 billion buy of U.S. peer Monsanto, the latest in a trio of mega mergers that will reshape the agrochemicals industry.</p>
<p>The tie-up is set to create a company with control of more than a quarter of the world’s seed and pesticides market.</p>
<p>Driven by shifting weather patterns, competition in grain exports and a faltering global farm economy, Dow and Dupont, and ChemChina and Syngenta had earlier led a wave of consolidation in the sector.</p>
<p>Both deals secured EU approval only after the companies offered substantial asset sales to boost rivals.</p>
<p>Environmental and farming groups have opposed all three deals, worried about their power and their advantage in digital farming data, which can tell farmers how and when to till, sow, spray, fertilize and pick crops based on algorithms.</p>
<p>The European Commission said Bayer addressed its concerns with its offer to sell a swathe of assets to boost rival BASF, confirming a Reuters story on Feb. 28.</p>
<p>“Our decision ensures that there will be effective competition and innovation in seeds, pesticides and digital agriculture markets also after this merger,” European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said in a statement.</p>
<p>“In particular, we have made sure that the number of global players actively competing in these markets stays the same.”</p>
<p>Vestager said the Commission, which received more than a million petitions concerning the deal, had been thorough by examining more than 2,000 different product markets and 2.7 million internal documents to produce a 1,285-page ruling.</p>
<p>The U.S. Justice Department, which is also reviewing the merger, said in a statement on its website that it would press on with its review and that the market in the two regions was quite different.</p> European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager holds a news conference at the EU Commission's headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, March 21, 2018. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir
<p>“While genetically modified seeds are largely prohibited in Europe, they are widely used throughout the United States,” the department noted. “The Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice continues to examine the effects of the proposed transaction on American farmers and consumers.”</p>
<p>China has given conditional approval to the Bayer and Monsanto deal, which has won a green light in Brazil. It is currently being reviewed by Russian antitrust authorities too.</p>
<p>Australia said on Thursday it would not oppose the deal following the divestment commitment.</p> Slideshow (3 Images)
<p>Bayer has already reached a deal to sell certain seed and herbicide assets for 5.9 billion euros ($7.2 billion) to BASF and to give it a license to its global digital farming data. It will also divest its vegetable seeds business to BASF.</p>
<p>The Commission is due to rule on the BASF deal by April 16.</p>
<p>Online campaigns group Avaaz criticized the EU approval.</p> Related Coverage
<a href="/article/us-monsanto-m-a-bayer-usa/u-s-says-it-is-still-reviewing-bayers-planned-monsanto-acquisition-idUSKBN1GX2HZ" type="external">U.S. says it is still reviewing Bayer's planned Monsanto acquisition</a>
<p>“This is a marriage made in hell. The Commission ignored a million people who called on them to block this deal, and caved in to lobbying to create a mega-corporation which will dominate our food supply,” Avaaz legal director Nick Flynn said.</p>
<p>U.S.-incorporated Avaaz, funded by its members, is active in climate change, poverty, conflict and corruption issues.</p>
<p>The Greens grouping in the European Parliament echoed the sentiment, saying smaller players in the agriculture industry needed to be helped too.</p>
<p>“The agriculture industry is already far too concentrated, giving a handful of massive firms a stranglehold on food production. Merging two of the biggest players only makes a bad situation worse,” Greens spokesman Bart Staes said.</p>
<p>Reporting by Foo Yun Chee with additional reporting by Diane Bartz in Washington; editing by Robin Emmott, David Evans and Cynthia Osterman</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil hit a six-week high on Wednesday, closing in on a 3-year peak set in late January, on a surprise decline in U.S. inventories, strong compliance on OPEC production cuts, and persistent concern related to the Iran nuclear deal.</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 crude futures LCOc1 rose $2.05, or 3 percent, to settle at $69.47, nearly a 7-week high.</p>
<p>U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures CLc1 gained $1.63, or 2.6 percent, to settle at $65.17, their highest since Feb. 2.</p>
<p>Those increases put both benchmarks into technically overbought territory for the first time since January, and boosted the premium of the Brent front-month over WTI to its highest since the start of February WTCLc1-LCOc1.</p>
<p>Data released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) on Wednesday morning showed a surprise 2.6 million barrel draw in crude inventories. Analysts had expected a 2.5 million barrel build.</p>
<p>(GRAPHIC: Russia vs Saudi vs U.S. oil production - <a href="http://reut.rs/2G7AK80" type="external">reut.rs/2G7AK80</a>)</p>
<p>“A few things happened,” said Jim Ritterbusch, president of Ritterbusch and Associates, referring to the EIA data.</p>
<p>“Crude imports dropped by half a million barrels per day, that contributed to the draw. We saw refinery runs increase more than expected by around 400,000 barrels per day so that ate up a lot of crude. And exports were up slightly,” he said.</p>
<p>Oil also got a boost after the U.S. Federal Reserve raised interest rates on Wednesday and forecast at least two more hikes for 2018.</p>
<p>“On the back end of the Fed meeting, the dollar is getting under pressure, and that is going to work as a reverse correlation to crude oil prices,” said Bob Yawger, director of energy futures at Mizuho in New York.</p>
<p>A falling dollar .DXY versus a basket of other currencies makes commodities cheaper for holders of other currencies since they have to spend less to buy the same amount of the commodity.</p>
<p>The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) said on Wednesday its members and allies achieved record compliance in February to their deal to cut global supplies, lifting the market.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, concerns that the United States could reimpose sanctions on Iran loom.</p>
<p>Energy consultancy FGE said new U.S. sanctions on Iran could result in a 250,000 to 500,000 bpd drop in its exports by year-end, compared with crude exports of roughly 2.0 million to 2.2 million bpd since early 2016, when sanctions were lifted.</p>
<p>“Even though you do see signs that the market is lax on the physical side, do you go aggressively bearish when you have the potential for something happening between the U.S. and Iran?”</p>
<p>Bearish concerns have largely been fueld by surging U.S. crude output.</p>
<p>Wednesday’s EIA data, in addition to showing inventory draws, also showed that weekly crude output had hit an all-time high.</p>
<p>“So far, the market is sort of ignoring the increase in production,” said Ritterbusch.</p>
<p>“We now have production above 10.4 million bpd and it’s going to keep rising; and the market is eventually going to have to reckon with that,” he said.</p>
<p>Additional reporting by Amanda Cooper in London and Henning Gloystein in Singapore; editing by Louise Heavens and Phil Berlowitz</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Reserve raised interest rates on Wednesday and forecast at least two more hikes for 2018, highlighting its growing confidence that tax cuts and government spending will boost the economy and inflation and spur more aggressive future tightening.</p>
<p>In its first policy meeting under new Fed chief Jerome Powell, the U.S. central bank indicated that inflation should finally move higher after years below its 2 percent target and that the economy had recently gained momentum.</p>
<p>The Fed also raised the estimated longer-term “neutral” rate, the level at which monetary policy neither boosts nor slows the economy, a touch, in a sign the current gradual rate hike cycle could go on longer than previously thought.</p>
<p>“The economic outlook has strengthened in recent months,” the Fed said in a statement at the end of a two-day meeting in which it lifted its benchmark overnight lending rate by a quarter of a percentage point to a range of 1.50 percent to 1.75 percent.</p>
<p>Powell, who took over from former Fed chief Janet Yellen in early February, said the central bank was staying on a path of gradual rate increases but needed to be on guard against inflation.</p>
<p>“We are trying to take the middle ground here,” Powell said in a press conference after the end of the policy meeting, adding that there were no signs the economy was on the cusp of accelerating inflation.</p>
<p>The rate hike was widely expected. All 104 economists polled by Reuters from March 5-13 said the Fed would increase borrowing costs this week.</p>
<p>U.S. stocks rose after the policy statement before paring gains to close lower. U.S. Treasury yields fell and then recovered. The dollar .DXY recorded its steepest one-day loss in nearly two months against a basket of currencies.</p>
<p>“The guidance in terms of the future rate hikes is a touch more hawkish than originally expected. 2019 looks like we’re going to get a faster pace of rate hikes,” said Matt Miskin, market strategist at John Hancock Investments.</p>
<p>“This a new Fed chairman starting with a bit of a hawkish tone as he takes leadership.”</p> Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell speaks at a news conference following the Federal Open Market Committee meetings in Washington, U.S., March 21, 2018. REUTERS/Aaron P. Bernstein CONFIDENCE IN THE ECONOMY
<p>The rate hike was the latest step away from years of stimulating the world’s largest economy in the wake of the 2007-2009 financial crisis and recession. The Fed tightened policy three times last year.</p>
<p>The combination of $1.8 trillion in expected fiscal stimulus from the Trump administration and recent hints of price and wage pressures had prompted some Fed officials to speculate more Americans could be drawn into an already tight labor market.</p>
<p>Some even worried inflation could rise well above the Fed’s target if the economy got too hot.</p> Slideshow (6 Images)
<p>Policymakers were largely split on Wednesday as to whether a total of three or four rate hikes would be needed this year. They predicted rates would rise three times next year and two times in 2020, a further indication of their view that the economy is on solid footing.</p>
<p>“The Fed seems to be gaining confidence,” said Brian Coulton, an economist at Fitch Rating in London.</p>
<p>Fed policymakers projected U.S. economic growth of 2.7 percent in 2018, an increase from the 2.5 percent forecast in December, and also marked up growth for next year. The Fed’s preferred measure of inflation was expected to end 2018 at 1.9 percent, unchanged from the previous forecast, but it is seen rising a bit above the target next year.</p>
<p>The U.S. unemployment rate by the end of 2018 is expected to edge down to 3.8 percent, indicating the Fed sees more room for the labor market to run. Fed officials predicted the longer-run rate would settle at 4.5 percent, slightly lower than the forecast from December.</p> Related Coverage
<a href="/article/us-usa-fed-powell/powell-sets-record-for-shortest-quarterly-news-conference-by-fed-chair-idUSKBN1GX38N" type="external">Powell sets record for shortest quarterly news conference by Fed chair</a>
<a href="/article/us-usa-fed-taxation/as-trump-stimulus-fades-fed-sees-tight-monetary-policy-on-the-horizon-idUSKBN1GX36H" type="external">As Trump stimulus fades, Fed sees tight monetary policy on the horizon</a>
<a href="/article/us-usa-fed-fomc-text/fomc-statement-from-march-20-21-meeting-idUSKBN1GX2OJ" type="external">FOMC statement from March 20-21 meeting</a>
<p>U.S. joblessness stood at 4.1 percent last month.</p>
<p>While recent home sales and retail spending data have been on the weak side, the overall economic picture has brightened after growth accelerated to 2.3 percent last year.</p>
<p>Before the meeting, analysts were split over whether the Fed, which is wary of an early misstep under its new leadership, would raise policy tightening expectations until more price pressures are clearly evident. There are also looming outside risks to the economy such as a possible global trade war.</p>
<p>“This is a new risk (that) had been probably a low-profile risk, but which has become ... a more prominent risk to the outlook,” Powell said, adding, however, that the trade tensions had not affected the Fed’s expectations for the economy.</p>
<p>Reporting by Jonathan Spicer and Jason Lange in Washington; Additional reporting by Daniel Bases in New York and Ann Saphir in San Francisco; Editing by Paul Simao</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>(Reuters) - U.S. media company Meredith Corp ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=MDP.N" type="external">MDP.N</a>) said on Wednesday it cut about 200 jobs and would lay off another 1,000 as it streamlines its operations following the completion of its Time Inc acquisition.</p> A stack of new issues of Time magazine is seen in a photo illustration taken at a book store in Toronto, Ontario, Canada March 21, 2018. REUTERS/Chris Helgren
<p>Meredith also said it had decided to explore a sale of Time, Sports Illustrated, Fortune and Money magazines after a review.</p>
<p>The move to sell the brands illustrates how Meredith sees some of Time’s titles that attract primarily a male readership as not playing to its core strength in women’s magazines.</p>
<p>Meredith, which owns lifestyle magazines such as Better Homes &amp; Gardens and Family Circle, agreed to buy Time Inc in a $1.84 billion all-cash deal backed by conservative billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch.</p>
<p>Reuters reported last week about the company’s plan to sell the Time Inc brands.</p>
<p>“There are guys who would like to own these marquee brands and are probably gonna pay more than what Meredith paid to acquire them,” said Daniel Kurnos, an analyst with Benchmark Co.</p>
<p>The company last month said it would sell Time Inc’s UK arm to private equity firm Epiris Fund II.</p>
<a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=MDP.N" type="external">Meredith Corp</a> 53.8 MDP.N New York Stock Exchange +0.00 (+0.00%) MDP.N GOOGL.O FB.O
<p>The media company said the job cuts were part of a plan to achieve annual savings in the $400 million to $500 million range from the Time Inc acquisition, which closed in January.</p>
<p>The company has notified about 200 employees, while the around 1,000 more positions will be eliminated over the next 10 months.</p>
<p>Meredith needs to be more aggressive to reach its cost-cut targets and will likely have to lay off a lot more, said Craig Huber, an analyst with Huber Research Partners.</p>
<p>With its roots in traditional publishing, Meredith has been facing a fierce competitive online race against internet giants such as Alphabet Inc’s ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=GOOGL.O" type="external">GOOGL.O</a>) Google and Facebook Inc ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=FB.O" type="external">FB.O</a>) for consumer eyeballs and advertising dollars.</p>
<p>Reporting by Laharee Chatterjee and Supantha Mukherjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta and Sriraj Kalluvila</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
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moscow reuters russian secondlargest lender vtb vtbrmm consider acquiring midsized vozrozhdenie bank vzrzmm vtb head andrei kostin said according russian news agencies wednesday russias banking sector intense scrutiny central bank forced bail three countrys largest private lenders second half 2017 market participants since speculated possible buyer vozrozhdenie russias 36th largest lender assets vozrozhdenie previously controlled private bank promsvyazbank central bank rescued december kostin told reporters world economic forum davos switzerland senior management staterun vtb would consider acquiring vozrozhdenie return moscow dont know yet retail department says might interest cant see situation vozrozhdenie clearly never looked analyzed bank kostin quoted saying interfax dont know bidders returning davos probably work take look vozrozhdenie declined comment bank vtb pao 0054 vtbrmm moscow interbank currency exchange 000 019 vtbrmm vzrzmm source close vozrozhdenie management told reuters vtb shown interest buying midsized bank meaningful talks yet source said 10 banks companies also interested buying share vozrozhdenie taking vozrozhdenies shares moscow exchange jumped 10 percent reports kostins comments traded 8 percent 547 roubles 970 per share 0817 gmt 1 563717 roubles reporting maria kiselyova tatiana voronova writing jack stubbs editing andrey ostroukh edmund blair standards thomson reuters trust principles brussels reuters german conglomerate bayer eu antitrust approval wednesday 625 billion buy us peer monsanto latest trio mega mergers reshape agrochemicals industry tieup set create company control quarter worlds seed pesticides market driven shifting weather patterns competition grain exports faltering global farm economy dow dupont chemchina syngenta earlier led wave consolidation sector deals secured eu approval companies offered substantial asset sales boost rivals environmental farming groups opposed three deals worried power advantage digital farming data tell farmers till sow spray fertilize pick crops based algorithms european commission said bayer addressed concerns offer sell swathe assets boost rival basf confirming reuters story feb 28 decision ensures effective competition innovation seeds pesticides digital agriculture markets also merger european competition commissioner margrethe vestager said statement particular made sure number global players actively competing markets stays vestager said commission received million petitions concerning deal thorough examining 2000 different product markets 27 million internal documents produce 1285page ruling us justice department also reviewing merger said statement website would press review market two regions quite different european competition commissioner margrethe vestager holds news conference eu commissions headquarters brussels belgium march 21 2018 reutersfrancois lenoir genetically modified seeds largely prohibited europe widely used throughout united states department noted antitrust division department justice continues examine effects proposed transaction american farmers consumers china given conditional approval bayer monsanto deal green light brazil currently reviewed russian antitrust authorities australia said thursday would oppose deal following divestment commitment slideshow 3 images bayer already reached deal sell certain seed herbicide assets 59 billion euros 72 billion basf give license global digital farming data also divest vegetable seeds business basf commission due rule basf deal april 16 online campaigns group avaaz criticized eu approval related coverage us says still reviewing bayers planned monsanto acquisition marriage made hell commission ignored million people called block deal caved lobbying create megacorporation dominate food supply avaaz legal director nick flynn said usincorporated avaaz funded members active climate change poverty conflict corruption issues greens grouping european parliament echoed sentiment saying smaller players agriculture industry needed helped agriculture industry already far concentrated giving handful massive firms stranglehold food production merging two biggest players makes bad situation worse greens spokesman bart staes said reporting foo yun chee additional reporting diane bartz washington editing robin emmott david evans cynthia osterman standards thomson reuters trust principles new york reuters oil hit sixweek high wednesday closing 3year peak set late january surprise decline us inventories strong compliance opec production cuts persistent concern related iran nuclear deal file photo oil well pump jack seen oil field supply yard near denver colorado us february 2 2015 reutersrick wilkingfile photo brent crude futures lcoc1 rose 205 3 percent settle 6947 nearly 7week high us west texas intermediate wti crude futures clc1 gained 163 26 percent settle 6517 highest since feb 2 increases put benchmarks technically overbought territory first time since january boosted premium brent frontmonth wti highest since start february wtclc1lcoc1 data released us energy information administration eia wednesday morning showed surprise 26 million barrel draw crude inventories analysts expected 25 million barrel build graphic russia vs saudi vs us oil production reutrs2g7ak80 things happened said jim ritterbusch president ritterbusch associates referring eia data crude imports dropped half million barrels per day contributed draw saw refinery runs increase expected around 400000 barrels per day ate lot crude exports slightly said oil also got boost us federal reserve raised interest rates wednesday forecast least two hikes 2018 back end fed meeting dollar getting pressure going work reverse correlation crude oil prices said bob yawger director energy futures mizuho new york falling dollar dxy versus basket currencies makes commodities cheaper holders currencies since spend less buy amount commodity organization petroleum exporting countries opec said wednesday members allies achieved record compliance february deal cut global supplies lifting market meanwhile concerns united states could reimpose sanctions iran loom energy consultancy fge said new us sanctions iran could result 250000 500000 bpd drop exports yearend compared crude exports roughly 20 million 22 million bpd since early 2016 sanctions lifted even though see signs market lax physical side go aggressively bearish potential something happening us iran bearish concerns largely fueld surging us crude output wednesdays eia data addition showing inventory draws also showed weekly crude output hit alltime high far market sort ignoring increase production said ritterbusch production 104 million bpd going keep rising market eventually going reckon said additional reporting amanda cooper london henning gloystein singapore editing louise heavens phil berlowitz standards thomson reuters trust principles washington reuters us federal reserve raised interest rates wednesday forecast least two hikes 2018 highlighting growing confidence tax cuts government spending boost economy inflation spur aggressive future tightening first policy meeting new fed chief jerome powell us central bank indicated inflation finally move higher years 2 percent target economy recently gained momentum fed also raised estimated longerterm neutral rate level monetary policy neither boosts slows economy touch sign current gradual rate hike cycle could go longer previously thought economic outlook strengthened recent months fed said statement end twoday meeting lifted benchmark overnight lending rate quarter percentage point range 150 percent 175 percent powell took former fed chief janet yellen early february said central bank staying path gradual rate increases needed guard inflation trying take middle ground powell said press conference end policy meeting adding signs economy cusp accelerating inflation rate hike widely expected 104 economists polled reuters march 513 said fed would increase borrowing costs week us stocks rose policy statement paring gains close lower us treasury yields fell recovered dollar dxy recorded steepest oneday loss nearly two months basket currencies guidance terms future rate hikes touch hawkish originally expected 2019 looks like going get faster pace rate hikes said matt miskin market strategist john hancock investments new fed chairman starting bit hawkish tone takes leadership federal reserve chairman jerome powell speaks news conference following federal open market committee meetings washington us march 21 2018 reutersaaron p bernstein confidence economy rate hike latest step away years stimulating worlds largest economy wake 20072009 financial crisis recession fed tightened policy three times last year combination 18 trillion expected fiscal stimulus trump administration recent hints price wage pressures prompted fed officials speculate americans could drawn already tight labor market even worried inflation could rise well feds target economy got hot slideshow 6 images policymakers largely split wednesday whether total three four rate hikes would needed year predicted rates would rise three times next year two times 2020 indication view economy solid footing fed seems gaining confidence said brian coulton economist fitch rating london fed policymakers projected us economic growth 27 percent 2018 increase 25 percent forecast december also marked growth next year feds preferred measure inflation expected end 2018 19 percent unchanged previous forecast seen rising bit target next year us unemployment rate end 2018 expected edge 38 percent indicating fed sees room labor market run fed officials predicted longerrun rate would settle 45 percent slightly lower forecast december related coverage powell sets record shortest quarterly news conference fed chair trump stimulus fades fed sees tight monetary policy horizon fomc statement march 2021 meeting us joblessness stood 41 percent last month recent home sales retail spending data weak side overall economic picture brightened growth accelerated 23 percent last year meeting analysts split whether fed wary early misstep new leadership would raise policy tightening expectations price pressures clearly evident also looming outside risks economy possible global trade war new risk probably lowprofile risk become prominent risk outlook powell said adding however trade tensions affected feds expectations economy reporting jonathan spicer jason lange washington additional reporting daniel bases new york ann saphir san francisco editing paul simao standards thomson reuters trust principles reuters us media company meredith corp mdpn said wednesday cut 200 jobs would lay another 1000 streamlines operations following completion time inc acquisition stack new issues time magazine seen photo illustration taken book store toronto ontario canada march 21 2018 reuterschris helgren meredith also said decided explore sale time sports illustrated fortune money magazines review move sell brands illustrates meredith sees times titles attract primarily male readership playing core strength womens magazines meredith owns lifestyle magazines better homes amp gardens family circle agreed buy time inc 184 billion allcash deal backed conservative billionaire brothers charles david koch reuters reported last week companys plan sell time inc brands guys would like marquee brands probably gon na pay meredith paid acquire said daniel kurnos analyst benchmark co company last month said would sell time incs uk arm private equity firm epiris fund ii meredith corp 538 mdpn new york stock exchange 000 000 mdpn googlo fbo media company said job cuts part plan achieve annual savings 400 million 500 million range time inc acquisition closed january company notified 200 employees around 1000 positions eliminated next 10 months meredith needs aggressive reach costcut targets likely lay lot said craig huber analyst huber research partners roots traditional publishing meredith facing fierce competitive online race internet giants alphabet incs googlo google facebook inc fbo consumer eyeballs advertising dollars reporting laharee chatterjee supantha mukherjee bengaluru editing shounak dasgupta sriraj kalluvila standards thomson reuters trust principles
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<p>ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Closer Alex Colome and All-Star designated hitter/outfielder Corey Dickerson are among seven players who agreed to one-year contracts with the Tampa Bay Rays, avoiding salary arbitration.</p>
<p>Infielders Matt Duffy and Brad Miller, outfielder Steven Souza, Jr., catcher Jesus Sucre and relief pitcher Dan Jennings also reached terms before Friday's deadline for players and teams to exchange proposed salaries for next season.</p>
<p>Pitcher Jake Odorizzi and shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria are Tampa Bay's only arbitration-eligible players who didn't agree to deals. Odorizzi's case set to be settled by an arbiter for the second straight winter.</p>
<p>The 27-year-old right-hander won his arbitration case last February, receiving a raise from $520,700 to $4.1 million. He went 10-8 with a 4.14 ERA in 28 starts last season.</p>
<p>This time, Odorizzi is seeking $6.3 million while the Rays are offering $6.05 million.</p>
<p>Hechavarria, acquired in a trade from Miami in June, is asking for $5.9 million after making $4.35 million last season. He played solid defense while batting .257 with seven homers and 24 RBIs after the joining the Rays, who are offering $5.35 million for 2018.</p>
<p>Colome, an AL All-Star for the first time two years ago, received a whopping raise from $547,900 to $5.3 million after going 2-3 with a 3.24 ERA and a major league-leading 47 saves in 2017. He's the first pitcher in franchise history to lead the majors in saves, finishing with six more than the nearest contender.</p>
<p>Dickerson, meanwhile, was bumped up to $5.95 million after batting .282 with a career-best 27 homers last season, when he made $3.025 million and was the starting designated hitter for the AL in the all-star game.</p>
<p>The left-handed hitting slugger also posted career highs for games played (150), runs (84), hits (166), extra-base hits (64), total bases (288) and multihit games (51) in 2017.</p>
<p>Duffy will earn $930,000 — up from $545,300 a year ago, when he missed the entire season while recovering from Achilles surgery. He's appeared in just 21 games since being acquired in a trade that sent pitcher Matt Moore to the San Francisco Giants in August 2016. In addition to his salary, Duffy can earn $70,000 in bonuses based on plate appearances: $10,000 each for 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 375 and 400.</p>
<p>Miller hit a career-low .201 with nine homers and 40 RBIs in 110 games last season, a big drop from 2016, when he batted .243 with a career-best 30 homers and 81 RBIs in his first season in Tampa Bay.</p>
<p>Miller's salary climbs from $3.575 million to $4.5 million for 2018.</p>
<p>Souza, 28, is coming off the best season of his career after hitting .239 with personal bests of 148 games, 78 runs, 125 hits, 21 doubles, 30 home runs, 78 RBI, 84 walks and 16 stolen bases. He'll make $3.55 million this year, up from $546,700, and he can earn a $25,000 bonus for 500 plate appearances.</p>
<p>Jennings' salary increases from $1.4 million to $2.375 million. He pitched well after being obtained last summer in a trade from the Chicago White Sox, finishing 3-1 with a 3.45 ERA in a combined 77 appearances for the two teams.</p>
<p>Sucre made $630,000 in 2017, his first full season in the majors. The 29-year-old catcher hit .256 with seven homers and 29 RBIs in 62 games and received a raise to $925,000.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>More AP baseball: <a href="" type="internal">https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball</a></p>
<p>ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Closer Alex Colome and All-Star designated hitter/outfielder Corey Dickerson are among seven players who agreed to one-year contracts with the Tampa Bay Rays, avoiding salary arbitration.</p>
<p>Infielders Matt Duffy and Brad Miller, outfielder Steven Souza, Jr., catcher Jesus Sucre and relief pitcher Dan Jennings also reached terms before Friday's deadline for players and teams to exchange proposed salaries for next season.</p>
<p>Pitcher Jake Odorizzi and shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria are Tampa Bay's only arbitration-eligible players who didn't agree to deals. Odorizzi's case set to be settled by an arbiter for the second straight winter.</p>
<p>The 27-year-old right-hander won his arbitration case last February, receiving a raise from $520,700 to $4.1 million. He went 10-8 with a 4.14 ERA in 28 starts last season.</p>
<p>This time, Odorizzi is seeking $6.3 million while the Rays are offering $6.05 million.</p>
<p>Hechavarria, acquired in a trade from Miami in June, is asking for $5.9 million after making $4.35 million last season. He played solid defense while batting .257 with seven homers and 24 RBIs after the joining the Rays, who are offering $5.35 million for 2018.</p>
<p>Colome, an AL All-Star for the first time two years ago, received a whopping raise from $547,900 to $5.3 million after going 2-3 with a 3.24 ERA and a major league-leading 47 saves in 2017. He's the first pitcher in franchise history to lead the majors in saves, finishing with six more than the nearest contender.</p>
<p>Dickerson, meanwhile, was bumped up to $5.95 million after batting .282 with a career-best 27 homers last season, when he made $3.025 million and was the starting designated hitter for the AL in the all-star game.</p>
<p>The left-handed hitting slugger also posted career highs for games played (150), runs (84), hits (166), extra-base hits (64), total bases (288) and multihit games (51) in 2017.</p>
<p>Duffy will earn $930,000 — up from $545,300 a year ago, when he missed the entire season while recovering from Achilles surgery. He's appeared in just 21 games since being acquired in a trade that sent pitcher Matt Moore to the San Francisco Giants in August 2016. In addition to his salary, Duffy can earn $70,000 in bonuses based on plate appearances: $10,000 each for 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 375 and 400.</p>
<p>Miller hit a career-low .201 with nine homers and 40 RBIs in 110 games last season, a big drop from 2016, when he batted .243 with a career-best 30 homers and 81 RBIs in his first season in Tampa Bay.</p>
<p>Miller's salary climbs from $3.575 million to $4.5 million for 2018.</p>
<p>Souza, 28, is coming off the best season of his career after hitting .239 with personal bests of 148 games, 78 runs, 125 hits, 21 doubles, 30 home runs, 78 RBI, 84 walks and 16 stolen bases. He'll make $3.55 million this year, up from $546,700, and he can earn a $25,000 bonus for 500 plate appearances.</p>
<p>Jennings' salary increases from $1.4 million to $2.375 million. He pitched well after being obtained last summer in a trade from the Chicago White Sox, finishing 3-1 with a 3.45 ERA in a combined 77 appearances for the two teams.</p>
<p>Sucre made $630,000 in 2017, his first full season in the majors. The 29-year-old catcher hit .256 with seven homers and 29 RBIs in 62 games and received a raise to $925,000.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>More AP baseball: <a href="" type="internal">https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball</a></p>
| false | 2 |
st petersburg fla ap closer alex colome allstar designated hitteroutfielder corey dickerson among seven players agreed oneyear contracts tampa bay rays avoiding salary arbitration infielders matt duffy brad miller outfielder steven souza jr catcher jesus sucre relief pitcher dan jennings also reached terms fridays deadline players teams exchange proposed salaries next season pitcher jake odorizzi shortstop adeiny hechavarria tampa bays arbitrationeligible players didnt agree deals odorizzis case set settled arbiter second straight winter 27yearold righthander arbitration case last february receiving raise 520700 41 million went 108 414 era 28 starts last season time odorizzi seeking 63 million rays offering 605 million hechavarria acquired trade miami june asking 59 million making 435 million last season played solid defense batting 257 seven homers 24 rbis joining rays offering 535 million 2018 colome al allstar first time two years ago received whopping raise 547900 53 million going 23 324 era major leagueleading 47 saves 2017 hes first pitcher franchise history lead majors saves finishing six nearest contender dickerson meanwhile bumped 595 million batting 282 careerbest 27 homers last season made 3025 million starting designated hitter al allstar game lefthanded hitting slugger also posted career highs games played 150 runs 84 hits 166 extrabase hits 64 total bases 288 multihit games 51 2017 duffy earn 930000 545300 year ago missed entire season recovering achilles surgery hes appeared 21 games since acquired trade sent pitcher matt moore san francisco giants august 2016 addition salary duffy earn 70000 bonuses based plate appearances 10000 150 200 250 300 350 375 400 miller hit careerlow 201 nine homers 40 rbis 110 games last season big drop 2016 batted 243 careerbest 30 homers 81 rbis first season tampa bay millers salary climbs 3575 million 45 million 2018 souza 28 coming best season career hitting 239 personal bests 148 games 78 runs 125 hits 21 doubles 30 home runs 78 rbi 84 walks 16 stolen bases hell make 355 million year 546700 earn 25000 bonus 500 plate appearances jennings salary increases 14 million 2375 million pitched well obtained last summer trade chicago white sox finishing 31 345 era combined 77 appearances two teams sucre made 630000 2017 first full season majors 29yearold catcher hit 256 seven homers 29 rbis 62 games received raise 925000 ___ ap baseball httpsapnewscomtagmlbbaseball st petersburg fla ap closer alex colome allstar designated hitteroutfielder corey dickerson among seven players agreed oneyear contracts tampa bay rays avoiding salary arbitration infielders matt duffy brad miller outfielder steven souza jr catcher jesus sucre relief pitcher dan jennings also reached terms fridays deadline players teams exchange proposed salaries next season pitcher jake odorizzi shortstop adeiny hechavarria tampa bays arbitrationeligible players didnt agree deals odorizzis case set settled arbiter second straight winter 27yearold righthander arbitration case last february receiving raise 520700 41 million went 108 414 era 28 starts last season time odorizzi seeking 63 million rays offering 605 million hechavarria acquired trade miami june asking 59 million making 435 million last season played solid defense batting 257 seven homers 24 rbis joining rays offering 535 million 2018 colome al allstar first time two years ago received whopping raise 547900 53 million going 23 324 era major leagueleading 47 saves 2017 hes first pitcher franchise history lead majors saves finishing six nearest contender dickerson meanwhile bumped 595 million batting 282 careerbest 27 homers last season made 3025 million starting designated hitter al allstar game lefthanded hitting slugger also posted career highs games played 150 runs 84 hits 166 extrabase hits 64 total bases 288 multihit games 51 2017 duffy earn 930000 545300 year ago missed entire season recovering achilles surgery hes appeared 21 games since acquired trade sent pitcher matt moore san francisco giants august 2016 addition salary duffy earn 70000 bonuses based plate appearances 10000 150 200 250 300 350 375 400 miller hit careerlow 201 nine homers 40 rbis 110 games last season big drop 2016 batted 243 careerbest 30 homers 81 rbis first season tampa bay millers salary climbs 3575 million 45 million 2018 souza 28 coming best season career hitting 239 personal bests 148 games 78 runs 125 hits 21 doubles 30 home runs 78 rbi 84 walks 16 stolen bases hell make 355 million year 546700 earn 25000 bonus 500 plate appearances jennings salary increases 14 million 2375 million pitched well obtained last summer trade chicago white sox finishing 31 345 era combined 77 appearances two teams sucre made 630000 2017 first full season majors 29yearold catcher hit 256 seven homers 29 rbis 62 games received raise 925000 ___ ap baseball httpsapnewscomtagmlbbaseball
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<p />
<p>They had begun turning up in cities all over the Philippines ever since President Rodrigo Duterte launched a controversial war on drugs this year — so many that one local newspaper had to create a “Kill List” just to keep track.</p>
<p>Dealers and addicts were being shot by police or slain by unidentified gunmen in mysterious, gangland-style murders. Their bodies ended up dumped on highways in the rain, curled in pools of blood in the slums. Some were found tied up, with masking tape plastered across their faces. Some were draped with cardboard signs that warned, “I’m a pusher. Don’t Be Like Me.”</p>
<p>With each new death, Betchie imagined losing the man she had loved for a decade — a proud father of three who was also an addict.</p>
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<p>“We talked about it a lot,” she said. “I told him, ‘Please don’t go out at night.'”</p>
<p>“Don’t worry,” Marcelo always told her. “It’s gonna’ be OK.”</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>MARCH 15: “When I become president, I’ll order the police and the military to find these people and kill them. The funeral parlors will be packed.”</p>
<p>— Duterte at a rally in the northern city of Lingayen, detailing plans to fight the drug trade.</p>
<p>____</p>
<p>THE LURE OF SHABU</p>
<p>Marcelo’s addiction began when he was working as a driver in the eastern province of Bicol. And all it took was one hit.</p>
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<p>A colleague introduced him to a potent methamphetamine known in the Philippines as “shabu,” saying it helped him stay awake at night. The drug was ubiquitous and easy to get. It could also be smoked, snorted, or injected for as little as one dollar.</p>
<p>When the couple moved to Manila last year, hoping for better work prospects, they settled in a busy central district called Las Pinas. Marcelo found a new job driving a “tricycle” — a rickshaw with a motorcycle attached that is used as a taxi. He earned about $10 per day ferrying customers around the city, just enough to support their two boys, ages 6 and 7, and a newborn baby girl.</p>
<p>He also found a new group of friends who were into shabu, and his year-old drug habit did not let up.</p>
<p>Shortly after Marcelo arrived, a police officer caught him with methamphetamines. But there would be no jail time or court case to face, no drug rehabilitation program to go through.</p>
<p>Marcelo bribed the officer to destroy his case file and let him go.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>MAY 7: “All of you who are into drugs, you sons of bitches, I will really kill you. I have no patience, I have no middle ground.”</p>
<p>— Duterte on the final day of campaigning for presidential elections.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>THE PUNISHER</p>
<p>Duterte called it a life-or-death threat to the nation, and the nation believed him.</p>
<p>The Philippines was at risk of becoming a “narco state,” he said. And a weary electorate, exasperated by decades of crime and corruption, agreed.</p>
<p>Something had to be done.</p>
<p>It didn’t matter that statistics from the government’s Dangerous Drugs Board showed the estimated rate of methamphetamine use had dropped from 6.7 million in 2004 to 1.7 million today. It didn’t matter that this rate — an estimated 2 percent of Filipinos — was no higher than that of other countries like the United States or Australia in recent years, according to United Nations figures. It didn’t matter that drug wars mounted in countries like Thailand or Colombia or America had miserably failed.</p>
<p>What mattered was that drugs were still a problem, and this was a cause the nation could rally around.</p>
<p>With prisons already crowded and a justice system so broken that drug cases could take a decade, Duterte argued successfully for another, quicker way. It was modeled in part on a brutal anti-crime campaign he spearheaded while mayor of the southern city of Davao, where he rode a Harley-Davidson and cultivated a New Sheriff in Town image that earned him nicknames like “Duterte Harry” and “The Punisher.”</p>
<p>The campaign was fought not just by state security forces, but by motorcycle-riding assassins known as the “Davao Death Squads” who massacred more than 1,000 people. Human Rights Watch says the grim wave of extrajudicial killing was directed by active duty police and former officers. Only a handful of perpetrators were convicted.</p>
<p>After Duterte was sworn into office June 30, he directed police to launch a massive new anti-drug operation nationwide.</p>
<p>It was called “Double Barrel.”</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>JUNE 30: “They say that my methods are unorthodox and verge on the illegal … The fight will be relentless and it will be sustained.”</p>
<p>— Duterte speaking about the impending drug war during his inauguration speech.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>‘PLEASE DON’T GO OUT AT NIGHT’</p>
<p>In Marcelo’s neighborhood, the mood shifted quickly.</p>
<p>While security forces carried out raids and rounded up drug suspects, police drew up “watch-lists” of suspected addicts and dealers, aided by local officials, civil society leaders and vigilant residents.</p>
<p>Drug suspects were called out. Just a couple hundred meters (yards) from Marcelo’s home, residents demanded authorities evict a couple they accused of selling drugs. On July 12, the pair was found murdered in their rickshaw, where they had apparently tried to spend the night after being chased from their house, according to Filipino media.</p>
<p>On July 18, another body turned up in Las Pinas, this time of a man with his neck slashed, found beside a placard labeling him an addict and a thief.</p>
<p>By then, Marcelo’s mother, Betty Soriano, had decided to start accompanying her son on his nightly tricycle shifts. The family believed he would be safer, and her presence would discourage him from spending time with the drug users he always ran across.</p>
<p>Marcelo then made his wife an extraordinary promise: He was quitting shabu. It had become too dangerous.</p>
<p>Betchie felt he had to do more, and convinced him to work day shifts. But the competition was too tough, the money too little, and Marcelo reverted to working nights. He told Betchie she didn’t have to worry “because I’m not using drugs anymore.”</p>
<p>At one point, a government official approached Marcelo at his tricycle stand, and told him he needed to turn himself in, a process called “surrendering” that has drawn about 700,000 drug users so far. Most have been released after acknowledging their crimes, giving up the names of others involved in the narcotics trade, and pledging never to use again.</p>
<p>Marcelo waved the man off, saying it wasn’t necessary. He had already quit.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>AUG. 6: “My order is shoot to kill you. I don’t care about human rights, you better believe me.”</p>
<p>— Duterte warning drug dealers during a press conference in Davao City after visiting a police officer who had been shot in the chest.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>AN UNPRECENTED SURGE OF KILLINGS</p>
<p>The police statistics show an astounding rise in the number of drug suspects shot dead by security forces: just 68 in the first half of the year, compared to 1,578 since Duterte took office.</p>
<p>Vigilantes, though, appear to have killed significantly more: as many as 2,151 murders police have either linked to the drug trade or classified as “unexplained.” At least 864 of them were carried out by motorcycle-riding gunmen — a favored tactic employed by vigilantes against drug suspects.</p>
<p>Jose Luis Martin “Chito” Gascon, director of the independent Commission on Human Rights, described them as extrajudicial killings, and said the phenomenon has plagued the country at least since late dictator Ferdinand Marcos was ousted in a “people power” revolt in 1986.</p>
<p>The latest upsurge is “unprecedented,” he said, “because of the scale, the large number … over a fairly short period of time.”</p>
<p>There is no shortage of theories about who the vigilantes are: drug syndicates killing their own, rogue police offing informants, state-sponsored death squads like the ones in Davao.</p>
<p>Regardless, human rights groups say Duterte bears much of the blame. In nationally televised speeches and press conferences he has repeatedly encouraged both the police and the public to eliminate drug suspects, dismissing the need for due process. The rhetoric is ironic in a country that banned the death penalty a decade ago, and it has left many aghast.</p>
<p>“What I don’t understand is, how can — it boggles my mind — how can you actually propose that to address the problem of injustice, you perpetuate more injustice?” Gascon said.</p>
<p>One reason may be that many Filipinos feel there is no other way to fight drugs beyond brute force. Another may be that Duterte’s campaign has had an immediate effect. Police say crime has fallen in some areas by nearly half, and neighborhoods once overrun with drug dealers are safer than they’ve been in years.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>AUG. 26:</p>
<p>“I’d like to be frank with you, are they (drug users) humans? What is your definition of a human being? Tell me.”</p>
<p>— Duterte addressing soldiers at an army camp on Aug. 26.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>GUNSHOTS IN THE DARK</p>
<p>On the night of Sept. 5, Marcelo parked his rickshaw at a small roadside kiosk, where he had stopped to buy essentials for the morning — coffee for his family, chocolate drinking powder for his kids.</p>
<p>When Malvin Balingatan, who worked at the shop, leaned forward to hand him change, shots rang out, according to a copy of the police report obtained by The Associated Press.</p>
<p>It was 10:05 p.m.</p>
<p>As Balingatan ducked out of the way, he caught a glimpse of the killers receding into the darkness: two men in black on a motorcycle, helmets covering their faces.</p>
<p>Marcelo managed to run 10 or 15 meters (yards) to the corner, where more shots were fired before he collapsed on the pavement.</p>
<p>His mother, who had dutifully accompanied him that night and was cowering in the back of the tricycle, screamed out.</p>
<p>“My son! My son!”</p>
<p>At their family home, a five-minute walk away, Soriano broke the news to Betchie. Marcelo’s children appeared, woken by the chaos and the crying.</p>
<p>“Where’s Daddy?” one of them asked. “Where’s Daddy?”</p>
<p>“He’s gone,” Betchie replied, tears streaming down her cheeks.</p>
<p>By the time Betchie got to the scene, Marcelo — her Marcelo — was sprawled face-down in a pool of blood, his body lit by a halo of light from a bank of television cameras.</p>
<p>A crowd had gathered, held back just behind a strip of yellow police tape that blocked the road. They stared silently at Marcelo’s closed eyes, the blood stain on the back of his yellow shirt, the 13 numbered signs investigators had placed in the road beside each spent bullet.</p>
<p>Just beside Marcelo’s limp fingertips was a small translucent packet of white methamphetamines.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>SEPT. 5: “Everybody has a terrible record of extrajudicial killings. Why make an issue about fighting crime?”</p>
<p>— Duterte at a press briefing in Davao City.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>‘WE DON’T WANT ANY TROUBLE’</p>
<p>Three days after the shooting, Betchie’s boys are home playing video games on a cellphone beside the open casket that holds Marcelo.</p>
<p>Betchie is thinking about their life together. She is trying not to cry.</p>
<p>“I keep wondering what will happen to me, to my children,” she says, explaining that her 39-year-old husband was their family’s sole breadwinner. “All we can do now is pray.”</p>
<p>Her mother-in-law insists the drugs found at Marcelo’s fingertips weren’t his — and weren’t there when he died. She doesn’t know who put them there, or why.</p>
<p>Everything he had been holding — the coffee, the chocolate powder — had scattered across the ground when the first shots rang out. If he was running for his life, how could he have held on to shabu, she asks, but dropped the rest?</p>
<p>She won’t bring it up with the police, though, because “we don’t want any trouble,” she says. “What’s the point? What for?”</p>
<p>There is a certain shame that hangs over the families of slain drug users here, and most don’t know where to turn for help. Few trust the country’s notoriously corrupt police. Pointing fingers at killers who are still at large would also carry great risk.</p>
<p>Betchie says she still hopes they find who did this. But her voice is tinged with resignation. She is looking down, eyes half closed.</p>
<p>The vast majority of vigilante murders in the Philippines remain unsolved, and police say this case is no different. They have no leads.</p>
<p>Outside on the street, Marcelo’s rickshaw is parked on the curb, empty and quiet. A pair of red and blue wrist bands are wrapped around its headlight and speedometer, propaganda from the election campaign.</p>
<p>Each is inscribed with seven white letters: D U T E R T E.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>AP journalists Teresa Cerojano and Aaron Favila contributed to this report.</p>
| false | 2 |
begun turning cities philippines ever since president rodrigo duterte launched controversial war drugs year many one local newspaper create kill list keep track dealers addicts shot police slain unidentified gunmen mysterious ganglandstyle murders bodies ended dumped highways rain curled pools blood slums found tied masking tape plastered across faces draped cardboard signs warned im pusher dont like new death betchie imagined losing man loved decade proud father three also addict advertisement talked lot said told please dont go night dont worry marcelo always told gon na ok ___ march 15 become president ill order police military find people kill funeral parlors packed duterte rally northern city lingayen detailing plans fight drug trade ____ lure shabu marcelos addiction began working driver eastern province bicol took one hit advertisement colleague introduced potent methamphetamine known philippines shabu saying helped stay awake night drug ubiquitous easy get could also smoked snorted injected little one dollar couple moved manila last year hoping better work prospects settled busy central district called las pinas marcelo found new job driving tricycle rickshaw motorcycle attached used taxi earned 10 per day ferrying customers around city enough support two boys ages 6 7 newborn baby girl also found new group friends shabu yearold drug habit let shortly marcelo arrived police officer caught methamphetamines would jail time court case face drug rehabilitation program go marcelo bribed officer destroy case file let go ___ may 7 drugs sons bitches really kill patience middle ground duterte final day campaigning presidential elections ___ punisher duterte called lifeordeath threat nation nation believed philippines risk becoming narco state said weary electorate exasperated decades crime corruption agreed something done didnt matter statistics governments dangerous drugs board showed estimated rate methamphetamine use dropped 67 million 2004 17 million today didnt matter rate estimated 2 percent filipinos higher countries like united states australia recent years according united nations figures didnt matter drug wars mounted countries like thailand colombia america miserably failed mattered drugs still problem cause nation could rally around prisons already crowded justice system broken drug cases could take decade duterte argued successfully another quicker way modeled part brutal anticrime campaign spearheaded mayor southern city davao rode harleydavidson cultivated new sheriff town image earned nicknames like duterte harry punisher campaign fought state security forces motorcycleriding assassins known davao death squads massacred 1000 people human rights watch says grim wave extrajudicial killing directed active duty police former officers handful perpetrators convicted duterte sworn office june 30 directed police launch massive new antidrug operation nationwide called double barrel ___ june 30 say methods unorthodox verge illegal fight relentless sustained duterte speaking impending drug war inauguration speech ___ please dont go night marcelos neighborhood mood shifted quickly security forces carried raids rounded drug suspects police drew watchlists suspected addicts dealers aided local officials civil society leaders vigilant residents drug suspects called couple hundred meters yards marcelos home residents demanded authorities evict couple accused selling drugs july 12 pair found murdered rickshaw apparently tried spend night chased house according filipino media july 18 another body turned las pinas time man neck slashed found beside placard labeling addict thief marcelos mother betty soriano decided start accompanying son nightly tricycle shifts family believed would safer presence would discourage spending time drug users always ran across marcelo made wife extraordinary promise quitting shabu become dangerous betchie felt convinced work day shifts competition tough money little marcelo reverted working nights told betchie didnt worry im using drugs anymore one point government official approached marcelo tricycle stand told needed turn process called surrendering drawn 700000 drug users far released acknowledging crimes giving names others involved narcotics trade pledging never use marcelo waved man saying wasnt necessary already quit ___ aug 6 order shoot kill dont care human rights better believe duterte warning drug dealers press conference davao city visiting police officer shot chest ___ unprecented surge killings police statistics show astounding rise number drug suspects shot dead security forces 68 first half year compared 1578 since duterte took office vigilantes though appear killed significantly many 2151 murders police either linked drug trade classified unexplained least 864 carried motorcycleriding gunmen favored tactic employed vigilantes drug suspects jose luis martin chito gascon director independent commission human rights described extrajudicial killings said phenomenon plagued country least since late dictator ferdinand marcos ousted people power revolt 1986 latest upsurge unprecedented said scale large number fairly short period time shortage theories vigilantes drug syndicates killing rogue police offing informants statesponsored death squads like ones davao regardless human rights groups say duterte bears much blame nationally televised speeches press conferences repeatedly encouraged police public eliminate drug suspects dismissing need due process rhetoric ironic country banned death penalty decade ago left many aghast dont understand boggles mind actually propose address problem injustice perpetuate injustice gascon said one reason may many filipinos feel way fight drugs beyond brute force another may dutertes campaign immediate effect police say crime fallen areas nearly half neighborhoods overrun drug dealers safer theyve years ___ aug 26 id like frank drug users humans definition human tell duterte addressing soldiers army camp aug 26 ___ gunshots dark night sept 5 marcelo parked rickshaw small roadside kiosk stopped buy essentials morning coffee family chocolate drinking powder kids malvin balingatan worked shop leaned forward hand change shots rang according copy police report obtained associated press 1005 pm balingatan ducked way caught glimpse killers receding darkness two men black motorcycle helmets covering faces marcelo managed run 10 15 meters yards corner shots fired collapsed pavement mother dutifully accompanied night cowering back tricycle screamed son son family home fiveminute walk away soriano broke news betchie marcelos children appeared woken chaos crying wheres daddy one asked wheres daddy hes gone betchie replied tears streaming cheeks time betchie got scene marcelo marcelo sprawled facedown pool blood body lit halo light bank television cameras crowd gathered held back behind strip yellow police tape blocked road stared silently marcelos closed eyes blood stain back yellow shirt 13 numbered signs investigators placed road beside spent bullet beside marcelos limp fingertips small translucent packet white methamphetamines ___ sept 5 everybody terrible record extrajudicial killings make issue fighting crime duterte press briefing davao city ___ dont want trouble three days shooting betchies boys home playing video games cellphone beside open casket holds marcelo betchie thinking life together trying cry keep wondering happen children says explaining 39yearold husband familys sole breadwinner pray motherinlaw insists drugs found marcelos fingertips werent werent died doesnt know put everything holding coffee chocolate powder scattered across ground first shots rang running life could held shabu asks dropped rest wont bring police though dont want trouble says whats point certain shame hangs families slain drug users dont know turn help trust countrys notoriously corrupt police pointing fingers killers still large would also carry great risk betchie says still hopes find voice tinged resignation looking eyes half closed vast majority vigilante murders philippines remain unsolved police say case different leads outside street marcelos rickshaw parked curb empty quiet pair red blue wrist bands wrapped around headlight speedometer propaganda election campaign inscribed seven white letters u e r e ___ ap journalists teresa cerojano aaron favila contributed report
| 1,187 |
<p>CINCINNATI (AP) — The Cincinnati Bengals and their coach, Marvin Lewis, don't like major changes.</p>
<p>Neither does Teryl Austin, which makes him a good fit as the team's new defensive coordinator.</p>
<p>"We wanted to stay within our structure," Lewis said Thursday during Austin's introductory news conference. "With the personnel we have returning, we didn't have to make drastic changes. We didn't want the players to have to re-learn the wheel."</p>
<p>Austin, 52, spent the past four seasons as Detroit's defensive coordinator, but his future was in doubt after the <a href="https://pro32.ap.org/article/lions-fire-coach-jim-caldwell-after-missing-playoffs" type="external">Lions fired coach Jim Caldwell</a> last week. He inherits a defense that was 18th in the NFL in total defense and produced 14 takeaways this past season. The Lions finished ninth in total defense with 32 takeaways.</p>
<p>"It's more about the players than us," said Austin, who replaces Paul Guenther. "We wanted to keep things similar, terminology-wise. We'll make some changes, but nothing drastic."</p>
<p>Lewis said, "He has ties to a lot of people on our staff here."</p>
<p>Guenther left Cincinnati after spending 13 seasons with the Bengals, the last four as defensive coordinator, for the same job with the Oakland Raiders.</p>
<p>Austin, who interviewed for Detroit's coaching vacancy last week, preferred joining a team that he felt didn't need a lot of work.</p>
<p>"One thing I wanted was to go somewhere and not have to overhaul things," he said. "The Bengals have good personnel. We'll try to do what they were doing, but just do it better. There's good talent here. Every year, you try to add to that talent. My job is to make sure they perform on the field.</p>
<p>"We're going to try to play on (the opponent's) side of the line of scrimmage and play without fear — physical and strong. We're not going to sit back and let the other teams dictate what we do."</p>
<p>That includes forcing turnovers, he said.</p>
<p>"It's like anything you coach," Austin said. "You get what you emphasize."</p>
<p>In 2014, the Lions became the ninth team in NFL history to finish the season allowing fewer than 70 yards rushing per game. Detroit lost Ndamukong Suh off that team and slipped defensively after that.</p>
<p>Austin previously was a secondary coach for the Baltimore Ravens and also has coached defensive backs for the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks.</p>
<p>Lewis, who was <a href="https://pro32.ap.org/article/more-same-bengals-stick-marvin-lewis" type="external">brought back by the Bengals</a> after a 7-9 season, has sent five assistants on to NFL head coaching jobs, but Austin said that wasn't part of his decision-making process.</p>
<p>"I think the bigger selling point is the chance to work with some quality people and a quality team," he said. "The other stuff can take care of itself."</p>
<p>Lewis added, "Hopefully, he'll have great success immediately and he has that opportunity."</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>CINCINNATI (AP) — The Cincinnati Bengals and their coach, Marvin Lewis, don't like major changes.</p>
<p>Neither does Teryl Austin, which makes him a good fit as the team's new defensive coordinator.</p>
<p>"We wanted to stay within our structure," Lewis said Thursday during Austin's introductory news conference. "With the personnel we have returning, we didn't have to make drastic changes. We didn't want the players to have to re-learn the wheel."</p>
<p>Austin, 52, spent the past four seasons as Detroit's defensive coordinator, but his future was in doubt after the <a href="https://pro32.ap.org/article/lions-fire-coach-jim-caldwell-after-missing-playoffs" type="external">Lions fired coach Jim Caldwell</a> last week. He inherits a defense that was 18th in the NFL in total defense and produced 14 takeaways this past season. The Lions finished ninth in total defense with 32 takeaways.</p>
<p>"It's more about the players than us," said Austin, who replaces Paul Guenther. "We wanted to keep things similar, terminology-wise. We'll make some changes, but nothing drastic."</p>
<p>Lewis said, "He has ties to a lot of people on our staff here."</p>
<p>Guenther left Cincinnati after spending 13 seasons with the Bengals, the last four as defensive coordinator, for the same job with the Oakland Raiders.</p>
<p>Austin, who interviewed for Detroit's coaching vacancy last week, preferred joining a team that he felt didn't need a lot of work.</p>
<p>"One thing I wanted was to go somewhere and not have to overhaul things," he said. "The Bengals have good personnel. We'll try to do what they were doing, but just do it better. There's good talent here. Every year, you try to add to that talent. My job is to make sure they perform on the field.</p>
<p>"We're going to try to play on (the opponent's) side of the line of scrimmage and play without fear — physical and strong. We're not going to sit back and let the other teams dictate what we do."</p>
<p>That includes forcing turnovers, he said.</p>
<p>"It's like anything you coach," Austin said. "You get what you emphasize."</p>
<p>In 2014, the Lions became the ninth team in NFL history to finish the season allowing fewer than 70 yards rushing per game. Detroit lost Ndamukong Suh off that team and slipped defensively after that.</p>
<p>Austin previously was a secondary coach for the Baltimore Ravens and also has coached defensive backs for the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks.</p>
<p>Lewis, who was <a href="https://pro32.ap.org/article/more-same-bengals-stick-marvin-lewis" type="external">brought back by the Bengals</a> after a 7-9 season, has sent five assistants on to NFL head coaching jobs, but Austin said that wasn't part of his decision-making process.</p>
<p>"I think the bigger selling point is the chance to work with some quality people and a quality team," he said. "The other stuff can take care of itself."</p>
<p>Lewis added, "Hopefully, he'll have great success immediately and he has that opportunity."</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>
| false | 2 |
cincinnati ap cincinnati bengals coach marvin lewis dont like major changes neither teryl austin makes good fit teams new defensive coordinator wanted stay within structure lewis said thursday austins introductory news conference personnel returning didnt make drastic changes didnt want players relearn wheel austin 52 spent past four seasons detroits defensive coordinator future doubt lions fired coach jim caldwell last week inherits defense 18th nfl total defense produced 14 takeaways past season lions finished ninth total defense 32 takeaways players us said austin replaces paul guenther wanted keep things similar terminologywise well make changes nothing drastic lewis said ties lot people staff guenther left cincinnati spending 13 seasons bengals last four defensive coordinator job oakland raiders austin interviewed detroits coaching vacancy last week preferred joining team felt didnt need lot work one thing wanted go somewhere overhaul things said bengals good personnel well try better theres good talent every year try add talent job make sure perform field going try play opponents side line scrimmage play without fear physical strong going sit back let teams dictate includes forcing turnovers said like anything coach austin said get emphasize 2014 lions became ninth team nfl history finish season allowing fewer 70 yards rushing per game detroit lost ndamukong suh team slipped defensively austin previously secondary coach baltimore ravens also coached defensive backs arizona cardinals seattle seahawks lewis brought back bengals 79 season sent five assistants nfl head coaching jobs austin said wasnt part decisionmaking process think bigger selling point chance work quality people quality team said stuff take care lewis added hopefully hell great success immediately opportunity ___ nfl coverage httpwwwpro32aporg httpwwwtwittercomap_nfl cincinnati ap cincinnati bengals coach marvin lewis dont like major changes neither teryl austin makes good fit teams new defensive coordinator wanted stay within structure lewis said thursday austins introductory news conference personnel returning didnt make drastic changes didnt want players relearn wheel austin 52 spent past four seasons detroits defensive coordinator future doubt lions fired coach jim caldwell last week inherits defense 18th nfl total defense produced 14 takeaways past season lions finished ninth total defense 32 takeaways players us said austin replaces paul guenther wanted keep things similar terminologywise well make changes nothing drastic lewis said ties lot people staff guenther left cincinnati spending 13 seasons bengals last four defensive coordinator job oakland raiders austin interviewed detroits coaching vacancy last week preferred joining team felt didnt need lot work one thing wanted go somewhere overhaul things said bengals good personnel well try better theres good talent every year try add talent job make sure perform field going try play opponents side line scrimmage play without fear physical strong going sit back let teams dictate includes forcing turnovers said like anything coach austin said get emphasize 2014 lions became ninth team nfl history finish season allowing fewer 70 yards rushing per game detroit lost ndamukong suh team slipped defensively austin previously secondary coach baltimore ravens also coached defensive backs arizona cardinals seattle seahawks lewis brought back bengals 79 season sent five assistants nfl head coaching jobs austin said wasnt part decisionmaking process think bigger selling point chance work quality people quality team said stuff take care lewis added hopefully hell great success immediately opportunity ___ nfl coverage httpwwwpro32aporg httpwwwtwittercomap_nfl
| 540 |
<p>The Republican presidential candidates met Sunday evening in Florida for a forum hosted by the Spanish-language media company Univision Communications. We found a few missteps in what the candidates had to say to Spanish-speaking voters:</p>
<p>Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado, who has built his campaign on stopping illegal immigration, boycotted the Dec. 9 debate at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Fla., because it was being broadcast in Spanish. The rest of the pack, whom Tancredo accused of “pandering” to Spanish-speaking voters, attended: Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee, Duncan Hunter, John McCain, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney and Fred Thompson.</p>
<p>Former Arkansas Gov. Huckabee hypothesized about the motivations of the 47 million people in the nation without health insurance, making some wild leaps in the process:</p>
<p>Huckabee: Of those 47 million, one-third don’t have it because they are self-insured. Another one-third don’t have it because they think they’re healthy and invincible. There is one-third that don’t have it because they can’t afford it.</p>
<p>We asked Huckabee’s campaign how he knew that a third of uninsured people “think they’re healthy and invincible,” but we’ve received no response. We can find no studies or reports that support his statement about the self-perceived invincibility of the uninsured. It’s a bit easier to measure how many people turn down available insurance, without speculating on motives: The National Academies <a href="http://www.issues.org/18.2/realnumbers.html" type="external">report</a> that “only 4 percent of all workers ages 18 to 44 (roughly 3 million people) are uninsured because they decline available workplace health insurance, and many do so because they cannot afford the cost.” The Academies do acknowledge that young adults, age 19 to 34, are more likely to be uninsured than other groups, but offer other reasons besides a sense of invulnerability: They are more likely to be new at their jobs and ineligible for employer-sponsored coverage. Nor do young people make up the bulk of uninsured adults – the majority (61 percent) are over 30.</p>
<p>We also judge that Huckabee errs in claiming that only one-third of individuals who lack insurance do so because they can’t afford it. About two-thirds of the uninsured are considered low-income families (that is, they have an income below 200 percent of the federal poverty level), <a href="http://kff.org/uninsured/upload/1420_09.pdf" type="external">according</a> to the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured. Huckabee would be correct to say that a third of the nonelderly uninsured (36 percent) are living below the poverty level, but it would be a stretch to assume that only those with incomes below federal poverty guidelines would be unable to afford insurance. The Kaiser Commission reports that the average annual health-policy premium for a family of four was $12,106 this year. That would consume about 30 percent of total income for a family that’s at 200 percent of the poverty level.</p>
<p>Huckabee’s claim that one-third of the uninsured are self-insured is a meaningless statement. In fact, anyone without health insurance must rely on their own resources to pay medical bills. That’s what being self-insured means.</p>
<p />
<p>Romney: And I found a way to do that without requiring raising taxes, without a government mandate, without a government takeover. Instead, I didn’t want to have a – when I said government mandate, I meant employer mandate. … [Individuals] that couldn’t afford them, we helped them buy their policies. … It cost us no more money to help people buy insurance policies that they could afford than it was costing us before, handing out free care.</p>
<p>Massachusetts may not call its rules for employers a “mandate,” but the state health care plan includes several “obligations” or “requirements,” as the state <a href="http://www.mahealthconnector.org/portal/site/connector/menuitem.50596a4574af0ace505da95c0ce08041/?fiShown=default" type="external">dubs</a> them, for employers, along with fees for noncompliance. Michael Widmer, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation and a participant in state discussions before the health care law was enacted, says the requirements for employers are much narrower than those for individuals, who indeed, according to the state, face a “mandate” to get health insurance. But is a “requirement” a “mandate”? You be the judge: Under the state <a href="http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=hictopic&amp;L=2&amp;L0=Home&amp;L1=Employer+Handbook&amp;sid=Qhic" type="external">plan</a>, employers with more than 10 full-time employees must pay at least 33 percent of employee premium costs or have a group health plan in which at least 25 percent of workers participate. Those that fail to do so must pay a fee of $295 per full-time employee per year. Employers must also have an insurance plan that meets regulations set forth by a state agency overseeing the implementation of the health care law and that allows employees to pay for coverage with pre-tax dollars. If not, the employer will pay another fee. A proposal for a stricter requirement with a sizable payroll-tax penalty failed in the Massachusetts Legislature.</p>
<p>Individuals in the state must have health insurance. If not, they’ll lose their personal exemption on state income taxes in 2007 – a penalty of $219 – and face a higher penalty, of up to half the cost of a monthly insurance premium, in 2008. Some individuals who have low incomes or financial hardships can get an exemption from this “ <a href="http://www.mahealthconnector.org/portal/site/connector/template.PAGE/menuitem.55b6e23ac6627f40dbef6f47d7468a0c/?javax.portlet.tpst=ab2ef98d75886742e902ac100ce08041&amp;javax.portlet.prp_ab2ef98d75886742e902ac100ce08041_viewID=MY_PORTAL_VIEW&amp;javax.portlet.begCacheTok=com.vignette.cachetoken&amp;javax.portlet.endCacheTok=com.vignette.cachetoken" type="external">mandate</a>.”</p>
<p>As for the cost of the program, Romney can’t yet make the claim that it has been completely paid for with the state’s “free care” money – funds used to pay for emergency health care for the uninsured. The Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation estimated that the state would need an extra $200 million each year for 2007, 2008 and 2009 to finance the health care plan. Widmer says the latest numbers show that shortfall may be $150 million in 2008, a gap created as more people enrolled in subsidized care than anticipated. That shortfall, however, is a projection, and a Boston Globe <a href="http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/11/18/success_could_put_health_plan_in_the_red/?page=1" type="external">article</a> on the budget gap said some money could be shifted from the free care fund, if there is money in that fund to do so. Additional dollars for Massachusetts’ plan came from a Medicaid waiver granted by the federal government, which is set to expire in 2009. The Massachusetts government is negotiating with federal officials to renew that waiver, says Widmer.</p>
<p>Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani was wrong when he said that “we have a weakening K-12, including for Hispanic students.” Just the opposite is true. Nationally, all four 2007 scores for the <a href="http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/" type="external">Nat</a> <a href="http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/" type="external">ional Assessment of Education Progress</a> tests for Hispanics were higher than the 2005 scores, and all but one were higher than at any time since 1992. (The only score that wasn’t at its highest level was for 8th grade reading, which was tied with the record score in 2002.) Tests for all U.S. students in 2007 were higher than in 2005.</p>
<p>– by Lori Robertson, with Brooks Jackson, Viveca Novak, Justin Bank and Jess Henig</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Presidential Forum Transcript</a>. Transcript. Univision Communications. 7 Dec 2009.</p>
<p>Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured. “ <a href="http://kff.org/uninsured/upload/1420_09.pdf" type="external">The Uninsured and Their Access to Health Care</a>,” Oct. 2007.</p>
<p>Snyder, Lynn Page. “ <a href="http://www.issues.org/18.2/realnumbers.html" type="external">The Uninsured: Myths and Realities</a>.” Issues in Science and Technology, Winter 2001.</p>
<p>State of Massachusetts. Commonwealth Connector. “ <a href="http://www.mahealthconnector.org/portal/site/connector/template.PAGE/menuitem.55b6e23ac6627f40dbef6f47d7468a0c/?javax.portlet.tpst=ab2ef98d75886742e902ac100ce08041&amp;javax.portlet.prp_ab2ef98d75886742e902ac100ce08041_viewID=MY_PORTAL_VIEW&amp;javax.portlet.begCacheTok=com.vignette.cachetoken&amp;javax.portlet.endCacheTok=com.vignette.cachetoken" type="external">Find Insurance: Individuals &amp; Families</a>,” 10 Dec. 2007.</p>
<p>State of Massachusetts. Commonwealth Connector. “ <a href="http://www.mahealthconnector.org/portal/site/connector/menuitem.26c01aac2120f4ce505da95c0ce08041/" type="external">Find Insurance: Employers</a>,” 10 Dec. 2007.</p>
<p>State of Massachusetts. Commonwealth Connector. “ <a href="http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=hictopic&amp;L=2&amp;L0=Home&amp;L1=Employer+Handbook&amp;sid=Qhic" type="external">The Employer Handbook</a>,” Updated 1 May 2007. 10 Dec. 2007.</p>
<p>Dembner, Alice. “ <a href="http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/11/18/success_could_put_health_plan_in_the_red/?page=1" type="external">Success could put health plan in the red</a>.” The Boston Globe, 18 Nov. 2007.</p>
| false | 2 |
republican presidential candidates met sunday evening florida forum hosted spanishlanguage media company univision communications found missteps candidates say spanishspeaking voters rep tom tancredo colorado built campaign stopping illegal immigration boycotted dec 9 debate university miami coral gables fla broadcast spanish rest pack tancredo accused pandering spanishspeaking voters attended rudy giuliani mike huckabee duncan hunter john mccain ron paul mitt romney fred thompson former arkansas gov huckabee hypothesized motivations 47 million people nation without health insurance making wild leaps process huckabee 47 million onethird dont selfinsured another onethird dont think theyre healthy invincible onethird dont cant afford asked huckabees campaign knew third uninsured people think theyre healthy invincible weve received response find studies reports support statement selfperceived invincibility uninsured bit easier measure many people turn available insurance without speculating motives national academies report 4 percent workers ages 18 44 roughly 3 million people uninsured decline available workplace health insurance many afford cost academies acknowledge young adults age 19 34 likely uninsured groups offer reasons besides sense invulnerability likely new jobs ineligible employersponsored coverage young people make bulk uninsured adults majority 61 percent 30 also judge huckabee errs claiming onethird individuals lack insurance cant afford twothirds uninsured considered lowincome families income 200 percent federal poverty level according kaiser commission medicaid uninsured huckabee would correct say third nonelderly uninsured 36 percent living poverty level would stretch assume incomes federal poverty guidelines would unable afford insurance kaiser commission reports average annual healthpolicy premium family four 12106 year would consume 30 percent total income family thats 200 percent poverty level huckabees claim onethird uninsured selfinsured meaningless statement fact anyone without health insurance must rely resources pay medical bills thats selfinsured means romney found way without requiring raising taxes without government mandate without government takeover instead didnt want said government mandate meant employer mandate individuals couldnt afford helped buy policies cost us money help people buy insurance policies could afford costing us handing free care massachusetts may call rules employers mandate state health care plan includes several obligations requirements state dubs employers along fees noncompliance michael widmer president massachusetts taxpayers foundation participant state discussions health care law enacted says requirements employers much narrower individuals indeed according state face mandate get health insurance requirement mandate judge state plan employers 10 fulltime employees must pay least 33 percent employee premium costs group health plan least 25 percent workers participate fail must pay fee 295 per fulltime employee per year employers must also insurance plan meets regulations set forth state agency overseeing implementation health care law allows employees pay coverage pretax dollars employer pay another fee proposal stricter requirement sizable payrolltax penalty failed massachusetts legislature individuals state must health insurance theyll lose personal exemption state income taxes 2007 penalty 219 face higher penalty half cost monthly insurance premium 2008 individuals low incomes financial hardships get exemption mandate cost program romney cant yet make claim completely paid states free care money funds used pay emergency health care uninsured massachusetts taxpayers foundation estimated state would need extra 200 million year 2007 2008 2009 finance health care plan widmer says latest numbers show shortfall may 150 million 2008 gap created people enrolled subsidized care anticipated shortfall however projection boston globe article budget gap said money could shifted free care fund money fund additional dollars massachusetts plan came medicaid waiver granted federal government set expire 2009 massachusetts government negotiating federal officials renew waiver says widmer former new york mayor rudy giuliani wrong said weakening k12 including hispanic students opposite true nationally four 2007 scores nat ional assessment education progress tests hispanics higher 2005 scores one higher time since 1992 score wasnt highest level 8th grade reading tied record score 2002 tests us students 2007 higher 2005 lori robertson brooks jackson viveca novak justin bank jess henig presidential forum transcript transcript univision communications 7 dec 2009 kaiser commission medicaid uninsured uninsured access health care oct 2007 snyder lynn page uninsured myths realities issues science technology winter 2001 state massachusetts commonwealth connector find insurance individuals amp families 10 dec 2007 state massachusetts commonwealth connector find insurance employers 10 dec 2007 state massachusetts commonwealth connector employer handbook updated 1 may 2007 10 dec 2007 dembner alice success could put health plan red boston globe 18 nov 2007
| 701 |
<p>ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Out of the way, Canada. Brady Tkachuk and the Americans are just fine when it comes to handling snow and ice.</p>
<p>Tkachuk and Kieffer Bellows found plenty enough traction on a snow-covered rink to score shootout goals and cap the United States' 4-3 victory over Canada on Friday in international hockey's first outdoor game at a junior world championships.</p>
<p>Much like they did the similar two times against Canada at the world junior hockey championship, the defending gold-medal-winning Americans overcame a two-goal deficit by scoring twice in a span of 34 seconds in the third period.</p>
<p>"It just made it better with the snow coming down and the fans' excitement. You could definitely feel it," Tkachuk said of a game played with snow persistently falling from the opening faceoff. "We knew we were taking it to them in the second and third period and Coach was saying, if one goes in, two go in."</p>
<p>A snowball effect, perhaps. And it happened in front of a world junior tournament record crowd of 44,592 — some going shirtless in celebrating the bitter elements — at the NFL Buffalo Bills' home, New Era Field.</p>
<p>The Americans (1-1-1) showed resolve in not only beating their cross-border rivals, but overcoming the disappointment of a 3-2 loss to Slovakia on Thursday.</p>
<p>"That talks a lot about our group and the locker room and how close we are as a family," Bellows said. "There was never a doubt in the whole entire locker room or on the bench at any point."</p>
<p>Tkachuk and Ron Perunovich scored in the third period, while Casey Mittlestadt had three assists to take over the tournament lead with six points (two goals, four assists). Bellows scored his tournament leading fourth goal, and goalie Jake Oettinger stopped 19 shots through overtime and all four he faced in the shootout.</p>
<p>Boris Katchouk, Cale Makar and Dillon Dube scored for Canada (2-0-1), which has lost four straight meeting to the Americans. It was a familiar and disappointing result for goalie Carter Hart, who was also lost the championship game to the U.S. in January.</p>
<p>"Last year doesn't matter at all," said Hart, who stopped 32 shots through overtime Friday. "Tomorrow, we get the chance to finish in first place, so that's what on our mind's now."</p>
<p>By earning a point for the shootout loss, Canada still has the edge in the Group A standings in being two points ahead of the Americans. The Canadians can clinch top spot with a win in their preliminary round finale against Denmark (0-3) on Saturday.</p>
<p>In the only other tournament game, St. Louis Blues draft pick Klim Kostin scored twice in leading Russia (2-1) to a 5-2 win over Belarus (0-3). Russia clinched a Group B berth in the quarterfinal round Tuesday. Belarus closes the preliminary round against the Czech Republic on Saturday and is in jeopardy of finishing last in five-team Group B standings.</p>
<p>Bellows scored on the Americans' first shootout chance by snapping a shot through Hart's legs. Then Tkachuk scored by firing a shot in the top right corner.</p>
<p>Down 3-1, Perunovich cut the lead to 3-2 from the slot by capping a give-and-go passing play with Mittelstadt with 13:51 left. Mittlestadt, the Buffalo Sabres' first-round pick, then set up Tkachuk in front for the tying goal by gathering a loose puck behind the net after Canadian defenseman Kale Clague lost his stick.</p>
<p>The Americans drew upon last year's win over Canada, in which they trailed 4-2.</p>
<p>"Just believing you're never out of the game. We had a lot of hockey left to be played," U.S. defenseman Adam Fox said. "Last year, it was a very similar thing. Some guys who are returning had that experience to tell guys this year that, 'You know, we're not down and out.'"</p>
<p>It was a familiar feeling of disappointment for Canada.</p>
<p>"Yeah, it's a tough pill to swallow once again losing to the Americans in the shootout," forward Michael McLeod said. "The only good thing is that this is round robin."</p>
<p>The crowd on Friday appeared evenly split with American and Canadian fans, many of whom spent much of the game standing. As night fell, a red glow emanated from the middle section of the stadium, where rows of heaters hang above the seats.</p>
<p>Flurries began falling during the pre-game national anthems, and the snow fell harder as the game progressed. It began falling so heavily that the surface had to be shoveled at each commercial break starting late in the second period. Work crews filled several wheelbarrows full of snow, which were dumped onto a pile that grew to about seven feet behind the east end of the rink.</p>
<p>Oettinger had an opportunity to take time to enjoy the atmosphere.</p>
<p>"Yeah, I did see the shirtless guy on the Jumbotron. Yeah, I took a look a couple of times," Oettinger said with a smile. "A really fun win, but now we've got to put it behind us."</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Eds: This story has been corrected to show this was international hockey's first outdoor game at a junior world championships.</p>
<p>ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Out of the way, Canada. Brady Tkachuk and the Americans are just fine when it comes to handling snow and ice.</p>
<p>Tkachuk and Kieffer Bellows found plenty enough traction on a snow-covered rink to score shootout goals and cap the United States' 4-3 victory over Canada on Friday in international hockey's first outdoor game at a junior world championships.</p>
<p>Much like they did the similar two times against Canada at the world junior hockey championship, the defending gold-medal-winning Americans overcame a two-goal deficit by scoring twice in a span of 34 seconds in the third period.</p>
<p>"It just made it better with the snow coming down and the fans' excitement. You could definitely feel it," Tkachuk said of a game played with snow persistently falling from the opening faceoff. "We knew we were taking it to them in the second and third period and Coach was saying, if one goes in, two go in."</p>
<p>A snowball effect, perhaps. And it happened in front of a world junior tournament record crowd of 44,592 — some going shirtless in celebrating the bitter elements — at the NFL Buffalo Bills' home, New Era Field.</p>
<p>The Americans (1-1-1) showed resolve in not only beating their cross-border rivals, but overcoming the disappointment of a 3-2 loss to Slovakia on Thursday.</p>
<p>"That talks a lot about our group and the locker room and how close we are as a family," Bellows said. "There was never a doubt in the whole entire locker room or on the bench at any point."</p>
<p>Tkachuk and Ron Perunovich scored in the third period, while Casey Mittlestadt had three assists to take over the tournament lead with six points (two goals, four assists). Bellows scored his tournament leading fourth goal, and goalie Jake Oettinger stopped 19 shots through overtime and all four he faced in the shootout.</p>
<p>Boris Katchouk, Cale Makar and Dillon Dube scored for Canada (2-0-1), which has lost four straight meeting to the Americans. It was a familiar and disappointing result for goalie Carter Hart, who was also lost the championship game to the U.S. in January.</p>
<p>"Last year doesn't matter at all," said Hart, who stopped 32 shots through overtime Friday. "Tomorrow, we get the chance to finish in first place, so that's what on our mind's now."</p>
<p>By earning a point for the shootout loss, Canada still has the edge in the Group A standings in being two points ahead of the Americans. The Canadians can clinch top spot with a win in their preliminary round finale against Denmark (0-3) on Saturday.</p>
<p>In the only other tournament game, St. Louis Blues draft pick Klim Kostin scored twice in leading Russia (2-1) to a 5-2 win over Belarus (0-3). Russia clinched a Group B berth in the quarterfinal round Tuesday. Belarus closes the preliminary round against the Czech Republic on Saturday and is in jeopardy of finishing last in five-team Group B standings.</p>
<p>Bellows scored on the Americans' first shootout chance by snapping a shot through Hart's legs. Then Tkachuk scored by firing a shot in the top right corner.</p>
<p>Down 3-1, Perunovich cut the lead to 3-2 from the slot by capping a give-and-go passing play with Mittelstadt with 13:51 left. Mittlestadt, the Buffalo Sabres' first-round pick, then set up Tkachuk in front for the tying goal by gathering a loose puck behind the net after Canadian defenseman Kale Clague lost his stick.</p>
<p>The Americans drew upon last year's win over Canada, in which they trailed 4-2.</p>
<p>"Just believing you're never out of the game. We had a lot of hockey left to be played," U.S. defenseman Adam Fox said. "Last year, it was a very similar thing. Some guys who are returning had that experience to tell guys this year that, 'You know, we're not down and out.'"</p>
<p>It was a familiar feeling of disappointment for Canada.</p>
<p>"Yeah, it's a tough pill to swallow once again losing to the Americans in the shootout," forward Michael McLeod said. "The only good thing is that this is round robin."</p>
<p>The crowd on Friday appeared evenly split with American and Canadian fans, many of whom spent much of the game standing. As night fell, a red glow emanated from the middle section of the stadium, where rows of heaters hang above the seats.</p>
<p>Flurries began falling during the pre-game national anthems, and the snow fell harder as the game progressed. It began falling so heavily that the surface had to be shoveled at each commercial break starting late in the second period. Work crews filled several wheelbarrows full of snow, which were dumped onto a pile that grew to about seven feet behind the east end of the rink.</p>
<p>Oettinger had an opportunity to take time to enjoy the atmosphere.</p>
<p>"Yeah, I did see the shirtless guy on the Jumbotron. Yeah, I took a look a couple of times," Oettinger said with a smile. "A really fun win, but now we've got to put it behind us."</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Eds: This story has been corrected to show this was international hockey's first outdoor game at a junior world championships.</p>
| false | 2 |
orchard park ny ap way canada brady tkachuk americans fine comes handling snow ice tkachuk kieffer bellows found plenty enough traction snowcovered rink score shootout goals cap united states 43 victory canada friday international hockeys first outdoor game junior world championships much like similar two times canada world junior hockey championship defending goldmedalwinning americans overcame twogoal deficit scoring twice span 34 seconds third period made better snow coming fans excitement could definitely feel tkachuk said game played snow persistently falling opening faceoff knew taking second third period coach saying one goes two go snowball effect perhaps happened front world junior tournament record crowd 44592 going shirtless celebrating bitter elements nfl buffalo bills home new era field americans 111 showed resolve beating crossborder rivals overcoming disappointment 32 loss slovakia thursday talks lot group locker room close family bellows said never doubt whole entire locker room bench point tkachuk ron perunovich scored third period casey mittlestadt three assists take tournament lead six points two goals four assists bellows scored tournament leading fourth goal goalie jake oettinger stopped 19 shots overtime four faced shootout boris katchouk cale makar dillon dube scored canada 201 lost four straight meeting americans familiar disappointing result goalie carter hart also lost championship game us january last year doesnt matter said hart stopped 32 shots overtime friday tomorrow get chance finish first place thats minds earning point shootout loss canada still edge group standings two points ahead americans canadians clinch top spot win preliminary round finale denmark 03 saturday tournament game st louis blues draft pick klim kostin scored twice leading russia 21 52 win belarus 03 russia clinched group b berth quarterfinal round tuesday belarus closes preliminary round czech republic saturday jeopardy finishing last fiveteam group b standings bellows scored americans first shootout chance snapping shot harts legs tkachuk scored firing shot top right corner 31 perunovich cut lead 32 slot capping giveandgo passing play mittelstadt 1351 left mittlestadt buffalo sabres firstround pick set tkachuk front tying goal gathering loose puck behind net canadian defenseman kale clague lost stick americans drew upon last years win canada trailed 42 believing youre never game lot hockey left played us defenseman adam fox said last year similar thing guys returning experience tell guys year know familiar feeling disappointment canada yeah tough pill swallow losing americans shootout forward michael mcleod said good thing round robin crowd friday appeared evenly split american canadian fans many spent much game standing night fell red glow emanated middle section stadium rows heaters hang seats flurries began falling pregame national anthems snow fell harder game progressed began falling heavily surface shoveled commercial break starting late second period work crews filled several wheelbarrows full snow dumped onto pile grew seven feet behind east end rink oettinger opportunity take time enjoy atmosphere yeah see shirtless guy jumbotron yeah took look couple times oettinger said smile really fun win weve got put behind us ___ eds story corrected show international hockeys first outdoor game junior world championships orchard park ny ap way canada brady tkachuk americans fine comes handling snow ice tkachuk kieffer bellows found plenty enough traction snowcovered rink score shootout goals cap united states 43 victory canada friday international hockeys first outdoor game junior world championships much like similar two times canada world junior hockey championship defending goldmedalwinning americans overcame twogoal deficit scoring twice span 34 seconds third period made better snow coming fans excitement could definitely feel tkachuk said game played snow persistently falling opening faceoff knew taking second third period coach saying one goes two go snowball effect perhaps happened front world junior tournament record crowd 44592 going shirtless celebrating bitter elements nfl buffalo bills home new era field americans 111 showed resolve beating crossborder rivals overcoming disappointment 32 loss slovakia thursday talks lot group locker room close family bellows said never doubt whole entire locker room bench point tkachuk ron perunovich scored third period casey mittlestadt three assists take tournament lead six points two goals four assists bellows scored tournament leading fourth goal goalie jake oettinger stopped 19 shots overtime four faced shootout boris katchouk cale makar dillon dube scored canada 201 lost four straight meeting americans familiar disappointing result goalie carter hart also lost championship game us january last year doesnt matter said hart stopped 32 shots overtime friday tomorrow get chance finish first place thats minds earning point shootout loss canada still edge group standings two points ahead americans canadians clinch top spot win preliminary round finale denmark 03 saturday tournament game st louis blues draft pick klim kostin scored twice leading russia 21 52 win belarus 03 russia clinched group b berth quarterfinal round tuesday belarus closes preliminary round czech republic saturday jeopardy finishing last fiveteam group b standings bellows scored americans first shootout chance snapping shot harts legs tkachuk scored firing shot top right corner 31 perunovich cut lead 32 slot capping giveandgo passing play mittelstadt 1351 left mittlestadt buffalo sabres firstround pick set tkachuk front tying goal gathering loose puck behind net canadian defenseman kale clague lost stick americans drew upon last years win canada trailed 42 believing youre never game lot hockey left played us defenseman adam fox said last year similar thing guys returning experience tell guys year know familiar feeling disappointment canada yeah tough pill swallow losing americans shootout forward michael mcleod said good thing round robin crowd friday appeared evenly split american canadian fans many spent much game standing night fell red glow emanated middle section stadium rows heaters hang seats flurries began falling pregame national anthems snow fell harder game progressed began falling heavily surface shoveled commercial break starting late second period work crews filled several wheelbarrows full snow dumped onto pile grew seven feet behind east end rink oettinger opportunity take time enjoy atmosphere yeah see shirtless guy jumbotron yeah took look couple times oettinger said smile really fun win weve got put behind us ___ eds story corrected show international hockeys first outdoor game junior world championships
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<p />
<p>Chinese police had descended on the monk’s home five times in December, fingerprinting his parents and forcing them to sign documents guaranteeing his return.</p>
<p>But the monk and his family were determined to see the Dalai Lama speak at Bodh Gaya, the Indian city that many consider the birthplace of Buddhism. So they defied Chinese authorities and continued their journey, risking imprisonment, harsh questioning or loss of identity cards when they return home.</p>
<p>“I’m very worried,” the monk said on a chilly evening, sitting in a tent not far from a teaching ground where thousands have gathered each day since Jan. 3 to pray, meditate and hear their religious leader. “If we are put in prison, they will interrogate us: ‘Why did you go to India?’ This can be very dangerous.”</p>
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<p>Authorities from the Tibetan government in exile say the Chinese government barred an estimated 7,000 Tibetan pilgrims from attending this month’s 10-day gathering in India, an unprecedented move that further erodes the rights of 6 million people who live in the Tibetan region of China. It was also a fresh reminder that the Chinese are threatening to control the selection of the next Dalai Lama after the eventual demise of the renowned religious leader, who is now 81.</p>
<p>“It’s tragic,” said Lobsang Sangay, the head of Tibet’s government in exile in India. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime trip for Tibetans, like Muslims going to Mecca. It’s a sad commentary on the Chinese claim to have religious freedom – or any kind of freedom in Tibet.”</p>
<p>The Dalai Lama told reporters that the move was “unfortunate.”</p>
<p>China has denied threatening pilgrims or blocking their departures, but local authorities in Tibet declared this ritual gathering, called the Kalachakra, illegal in 2012, the last time it was held in Bodh Gaya. Most of the 7,000 had already traveled legally to India and were forced to return early. Only 300 remain.</p>
<p>“The government by no means threatened them to return, although the government does not encourage them to attend the ritual,” Xu Zhitao, an official with the Communist Party’s Central Committee, told the Global Times, a tabloid associated with the party newspaper.</p>
<p>Since unrest broke out across the Tibetan plateau in 2008, the Chinese government has enacted sweeping measures that have curtailed freedom of expression, notably by prioritizing Chinese over the Tibetan language in schools, posting police in monasteries and increasing surveillance.</p>
<p>Activists say China’s Communist Party seeks to break the connection between Tibetans and their revered leader to ensure compliance with ambitious party objectives in Tibet, a region rich in mineral and water resources.</p>
<p>“What we’re seeing is new,” said Kate Saunders, of the International Campaign for Tibet. “It’s a systematic attempt to prevent Tibetans from having any access at all to the Dalai Lama.”</p>
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<p>An estimated 10,000 Tibetans attended the last such gathering in Bodh Gaya in 2012, but many were jailed or detained for “reeducation” in military camps when they returned, Saunders said.</p>
<p>Around 200,000 maroon- and saffron-robed monks and nuns and Buddhist devotees from around the world – including American actor Richard Gere – converged on the town in eastern India for days of chanting and lessons on Buddhist thought. As darkness descended, many of them performed prostrations and encircled the ancient stupa next to the tree – a descendant of the original – where the Buddha is believed to have attained enlightenment.</p>
<p>Since the Dalai Lama escaped over the mountains from Tibet to India in 1959, Indian governments have treated him as an honored guest in Dharamsala, a hill town in northern India, but they long kept him at arm’s length to avoid offending the Chinese. Now, that may be changing.</p>
<p>The Dalai Lama appeared prominently at an event with India’s president in Delhi last month. And Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made preserving India’s ancient heritage a priority, becoming the first prime minister in decades to visit Bodh Gaya.</p>
<p>“I don’t believe it’s a fundamental shift of position, but certainly what you’re seeing is trending towards perhaps a less self-conscious expression of our sentiments and our support for the Tibetan cultural identity and the high standing the Dalai Lama enjoys here in India,” said Nirupama Menon Rao, a former foreign secretary and ambassador to China.</p>
<p>The support is key, as the Tibetan exile community faces uncertain times. The Dalai Lama has said that when he dies, he may choose not to be reincarnated, as Buddhist belief holds, or that he could come back as a woman. But China has signaled it will control the search for the next Dalai Lama by anointing its own Panchen Lama, another important religious figure in Tibetan Buddhism.</p>
<p>Some of the attendees said they are worried it will be the last such ceremony the Dalai Lama will perform. The octogenarian moves and speaks more slowly now, and he had to be helped to the elaborate throne on the dais by two monks.</p>
<p>“He can’t go into top gear anymore,” said Gaden Tashi, a Tibetan from Kathmandu. “But he keeps saying he’s happy and healthy.”</p>
<p>One young Tibetan-language tutor who made the risky journey from China recalled that when he first unrolled his prayer mat at Bodh Gaya and got his first glimpse of the Dalai Lama, “I couldn’t control myself; I thought it was a dream.”</p>
<p>The tutor, 29, arrived Jan. 3, weeks after his trip began in a small village in the Tibetan area of Amdo. He paid a guide to take him to Kathmandu, where he then received legal papers from the Indian Embassy to make the pilgrimage.</p>
<p>Almost immediately, he said, frightening messages began appearing on his WeChat, China’s popular social media platform. He said police sent a warning through his parents that he should return by Jan. 3, the day the Kalachakra would begin. His mother cried and begged him to come home soon. Others sent photos of pilgrims who were met at the airport only to have their passports sliced into pieces by police.</p>
<p>He now feels he cannot return to China, but he believes his sacrifice has been worth it.</p>
<p>“Every Tibetan has a dream – to meet the Dalai Lama,” he said. “I told my parents I have no regret, even if I die.”</p>
<p>—</p>
<p>The Washington Post’s Luna Lin in Beijing and Swati Gupta in New Delhi contributed to this report.</p>
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chinese police descended monks home five times december fingerprinting parents forcing sign documents guaranteeing return monk family determined see dalai lama speak bodh gaya indian city many consider birthplace buddhism defied chinese authorities continued journey risking imprisonment harsh questioning loss identity cards return home im worried monk said chilly evening sitting tent far teaching ground thousands gathered day since jan 3 pray meditate hear religious leader put prison interrogate us go india dangerous advertisement authorities tibetan government exile say chinese government barred estimated 7000 tibetan pilgrims attending months 10day gathering india unprecedented move erodes rights 6 million people live tibetan region china also fresh reminder chinese threatening control selection next dalai lama eventual demise renowned religious leader 81 tragic said lobsang sangay head tibets government exile india onceinalifetime trip tibetans like muslims going mecca sad commentary chinese claim religious freedom kind freedom tibet dalai lama told reporters move unfortunate china denied threatening pilgrims blocking departures local authorities tibet declared ritual gathering called kalachakra illegal 2012 last time held bodh gaya 7000 already traveled legally india forced return early 300 remain government means threatened return although government encourage attend ritual xu zhitao official communist partys central committee told global times tabloid associated party newspaper since unrest broke across tibetan plateau 2008 chinese government enacted sweeping measures curtailed freedom expression notably prioritizing chinese tibetan language schools posting police monasteries increasing surveillance activists say chinas communist party seeks break connection tibetans revered leader ensure compliance ambitious party objectives tibet region rich mineral water resources seeing new said kate saunders international campaign tibet systematic attempt prevent tibetans access dalai lama advertisement estimated 10000 tibetans attended last gathering bodh gaya 2012 many jailed detained reeducation military camps returned saunders said around 200000 maroon saffronrobed monks nuns buddhist devotees around world including american actor richard gere converged town eastern india days chanting lessons buddhist thought darkness descended many performed prostrations encircled ancient stupa next tree descendant original buddha believed attained enlightenment since dalai lama escaped mountains tibet india 1959 indian governments treated honored guest dharamsala hill town northern india long kept arms length avoid offending chinese may changing dalai lama appeared prominently event indias president delhi last month prime minister narendra modi made preserving indias ancient heritage priority becoming first prime minister decades visit bodh gaya dont believe fundamental shift position certainly youre seeing trending towards perhaps less selfconscious expression sentiments support tibetan cultural identity high standing dalai lama enjoys india said nirupama menon rao former foreign secretary ambassador china support key tibetan exile community faces uncertain times dalai lama said dies may choose reincarnated buddhist belief holds could come back woman china signaled control search next dalai lama anointing panchen lama another important religious figure tibetan buddhism attendees said worried last ceremony dalai lama perform octogenarian moves speaks slowly helped elaborate throne dais two monks cant go top gear anymore said gaden tashi tibetan kathmandu keeps saying hes happy healthy one young tibetanlanguage tutor made risky journey china recalled first unrolled prayer mat bodh gaya got first glimpse dalai lama couldnt control thought dream tutor 29 arrived jan 3 weeks trip began small village tibetan area amdo paid guide take kathmandu received legal papers indian embassy make pilgrimage almost immediately said frightening messages began appearing wechat chinas popular social media platform said police sent warning parents return jan 3 day kalachakra would begin mother cried begged come home soon others sent photos pilgrims met airport passports sliced pieces police feels return china believes sacrifice worth every tibetan dream meet dalai lama said told parents regret even die washington posts luna lin beijing swati gupta new delhi contributed report
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<p>GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Winning eight of its last nine games has Florida ranked again, back in the Top 25 poll for the first time in more than a month.</p>
<p>Staying there might require beating South Carolina in a rematch from last year’s Elite Eight.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://collegebasketball.ap.org/poll" type="external">20th-ranked</a> Gators host the Gamecocks on Wednesday night and expect to hand their hands full trying to slow down physical forward Chris Silva, who leads the Southeastern Conference in free throws attempted (167) and made (123).</p>
<p>“That guy is a monster,” Florida coach Mike White said Tuesday. “He’s one of my favorite players to watch in college basketball. He’s something else. ... No one plays harder in college basketball.”</p>
<p>The Gators (14-5, 6-1 SEC) have help on the way, just not in time to defend Silva.</p>
<p>Center John Egbunu is trying to work his way back from a knee injury sustained last February, but there’s no timetable for his return.</p>
<p>Egbunu began non-contact practice last week, but felt some soreness in his other knee Monday. White said Egbunu was “probably overcompensating, so who knows how long this process will be of acclimation for him.”</p>
<p>“You just never know,” White added. “I don’t think we can (say), ‘John is going to be back for this game and this is what he’s going to give us.’ I don’t think we can bank on any of that. It’s going to be some practices and evaluations, and then it’s going to be a few minutes in a game and evaluate from there.</p>
<p>“In all due respect to John — I’d love him to be back as much as anyone out there at 100 percent — but thinking about that right now is taking the focus off where it should be.”</p>
<p>Egbunu, a fifth-year senior, missed the final 10 games of last season after <a href="https://collegebasketball.ap.org/article/injured-florida-c-egbunu-test-waters-nba-draft" type="external">tearing the anterior cruciate ligament</a> in his left knee at Auburn. The 6-foot-11 Nigerian averaged 7.8 points and a team-leading 6.6 rebounds in 2016-17.</p>
<p>Florida also continues to play without freshmen Chase Johnson (concussion) and Isaiah Stokes (knee).</p>
<p>White will get 6-11 center Gorjok Gak (concussion) back against South Carolina (12-7, 3-4).</p>
<p>Florida has <a href="https://collegebasketball.ap.org/article/no-22-florida-would-see-big-jump-defense" type="external">been able to overcome all the front-court injuries</a> with improved play from point guard Chris Chiozza, shooting guard Egor Koulechov and big men Kevarrius Hayes and Keith Stone.</p>
<p>Chiozza has 57 assists and just 10 turnovers in his last nine games. Koulechov leads the team in scoring in league play and has really picked up the slack on the glass, getting eight or more rebounds in six of the last seven games. Hayes has 40 blocked shots and has started contributing on the offensive end. Stone has scored in double figures in five of the last six games.</p>
<p>White credited Hayes and Stone for making the most progress.</p>
<p>“They’ve been great for a month, they have,” he said. “They still have stuff they’ve got to work on, just like I do and everyone else on our team. But, boy, have they gotten better since October, both of those guys. ... But yeah, the way that we’ve all rallied and mustered up some ugly wins, this team was not capable of in October. So, proud, but a lot of work to do of course, and a huge one” against South Carolina.</p>
<p>The Gamecocks won the last meeting 77-70 to advance to the Final Four. They are a much different team this time around.</p>
<p>So are the Gators, especially in the last month.</p>
<p>“I feel like we are doing a lot of good things right now,” guard Jalen Hudson said. “We need to continue, continue getting better. I feel like we have a good thing going right now.”</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>More AP college basketball: <a href="http://www.collegebasketball.ap.org" type="external">www.collegebasketball.ap.org</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/AP_Top25" type="external" /> <a href="https://twitter.com/AP_Top25" type="external">https://twitter.com/AP_Top25</a></p>
<p>GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Winning eight of its last nine games has Florida ranked again, back in the Top 25 poll for the first time in more than a month.</p>
<p>Staying there might require beating South Carolina in a rematch from last year’s Elite Eight.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://collegebasketball.ap.org/poll" type="external">20th-ranked</a> Gators host the Gamecocks on Wednesday night and expect to hand their hands full trying to slow down physical forward Chris Silva, who leads the Southeastern Conference in free throws attempted (167) and made (123).</p>
<p>“That guy is a monster,” Florida coach Mike White said Tuesday. “He’s one of my favorite players to watch in college basketball. He’s something else. ... No one plays harder in college basketball.”</p>
<p>The Gators (14-5, 6-1 SEC) have help on the way, just not in time to defend Silva.</p>
<p>Center John Egbunu is trying to work his way back from a knee injury sustained last February, but there’s no timetable for his return.</p>
<p>Egbunu began non-contact practice last week, but felt some soreness in his other knee Monday. White said Egbunu was “probably overcompensating, so who knows how long this process will be of acclimation for him.”</p>
<p>“You just never know,” White added. “I don’t think we can (say), ‘John is going to be back for this game and this is what he’s going to give us.’ I don’t think we can bank on any of that. It’s going to be some practices and evaluations, and then it’s going to be a few minutes in a game and evaluate from there.</p>
<p>“In all due respect to John — I’d love him to be back as much as anyone out there at 100 percent — but thinking about that right now is taking the focus off where it should be.”</p>
<p>Egbunu, a fifth-year senior, missed the final 10 games of last season after <a href="https://collegebasketball.ap.org/article/injured-florida-c-egbunu-test-waters-nba-draft" type="external">tearing the anterior cruciate ligament</a> in his left knee at Auburn. The 6-foot-11 Nigerian averaged 7.8 points and a team-leading 6.6 rebounds in 2016-17.</p>
<p>Florida also continues to play without freshmen Chase Johnson (concussion) and Isaiah Stokes (knee).</p>
<p>White will get 6-11 center Gorjok Gak (concussion) back against South Carolina (12-7, 3-4).</p>
<p>Florida has <a href="https://collegebasketball.ap.org/article/no-22-florida-would-see-big-jump-defense" type="external">been able to overcome all the front-court injuries</a> with improved play from point guard Chris Chiozza, shooting guard Egor Koulechov and big men Kevarrius Hayes and Keith Stone.</p>
<p>Chiozza has 57 assists and just 10 turnovers in his last nine games. Koulechov leads the team in scoring in league play and has really picked up the slack on the glass, getting eight or more rebounds in six of the last seven games. Hayes has 40 blocked shots and has started contributing on the offensive end. Stone has scored in double figures in five of the last six games.</p>
<p>White credited Hayes and Stone for making the most progress.</p>
<p>“They’ve been great for a month, they have,” he said. “They still have stuff they’ve got to work on, just like I do and everyone else on our team. But, boy, have they gotten better since October, both of those guys. ... But yeah, the way that we’ve all rallied and mustered up some ugly wins, this team was not capable of in October. So, proud, but a lot of work to do of course, and a huge one” against South Carolina.</p>
<p>The Gamecocks won the last meeting 77-70 to advance to the Final Four. They are a much different team this time around.</p>
<p>So are the Gators, especially in the last month.</p>
<p>“I feel like we are doing a lot of good things right now,” guard Jalen Hudson said. “We need to continue, continue getting better. I feel like we have a good thing going right now.”</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>More AP college basketball: <a href="http://www.collegebasketball.ap.org" type="external">www.collegebasketball.ap.org</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/AP_Top25" type="external" /> <a href="https://twitter.com/AP_Top25" type="external">https://twitter.com/AP_Top25</a></p>
| false | 2 |
gainesville fla ap winning eight last nine games florida ranked back top 25 poll first time month staying might require beating south carolina rematch last years elite eight 20thranked gators host gamecocks wednesday night expect hand hands full trying slow physical forward chris silva leads southeastern conference free throws attempted 167 made 123 guy monster florida coach mike white said tuesday hes one favorite players watch college basketball hes something else one plays harder college basketball gators 145 61 sec help way time defend silva center john egbunu trying work way back knee injury sustained last february theres timetable return egbunu began noncontact practice last week felt soreness knee monday white said egbunu probably overcompensating knows long process acclimation never know white added dont think say john going back game hes going give us dont think bank going practices evaluations going minutes game evaluate due respect john id love back much anyone 100 percent thinking right taking focus egbunu fifthyear senior missed final 10 games last season tearing anterior cruciate ligament left knee auburn 6foot11 nigerian averaged 78 points teamleading 66 rebounds 201617 florida also continues play without freshmen chase johnson concussion isaiah stokes knee white get 611 center gorjok gak concussion back south carolina 127 34 florida able overcome frontcourt injuries improved play point guard chris chiozza shooting guard egor koulechov big men kevarrius hayes keith stone chiozza 57 assists 10 turnovers last nine games koulechov leads team scoring league play really picked slack glass getting eight rebounds six last seven games hayes 40 blocked shots started contributing offensive end stone scored double figures five last six games white credited hayes stone making progress theyve great month said still stuff theyve got work like everyone else team boy gotten better since october guys yeah way weve rallied mustered ugly wins team capable october proud lot work course huge one south carolina gamecocks last meeting 7770 advance final four much different team time around gators especially last month feel like lot good things right guard jalen hudson said need continue continue getting better feel like good thing going right ___ ap college basketball wwwcollegebasketballaporg httpstwittercomap_top25 gainesville fla ap winning eight last nine games florida ranked back top 25 poll first time month staying might require beating south carolina rematch last years elite eight 20thranked gators host gamecocks wednesday night expect hand hands full trying slow physical forward chris silva leads southeastern conference free throws attempted 167 made 123 guy monster florida coach mike white said tuesday hes one favorite players watch college basketball hes something else one plays harder college basketball gators 145 61 sec help way time defend silva center john egbunu trying work way back knee injury sustained last february theres timetable return egbunu began noncontact practice last week felt soreness knee monday white said egbunu probably overcompensating knows long process acclimation never know white added dont think say john going back game hes going give us dont think bank going practices evaluations going minutes game evaluate due respect john id love back much anyone 100 percent thinking right taking focus egbunu fifthyear senior missed final 10 games last season tearing anterior cruciate ligament left knee auburn 6foot11 nigerian averaged 78 points teamleading 66 rebounds 201617 florida also continues play without freshmen chase johnson concussion isaiah stokes knee white get 611 center gorjok gak concussion back south carolina 127 34 florida able overcome frontcourt injuries improved play point guard chris chiozza shooting guard egor koulechov big men kevarrius hayes keith stone chiozza 57 assists 10 turnovers last nine games koulechov leads team scoring league play really picked slack glass getting eight rebounds six last seven games hayes 40 blocked shots started contributing offensive end stone scored double figures five last six games white credited hayes stone making progress theyve great month said still stuff theyve got work like everyone else team boy gotten better since october guys yeah way weve rallied mustered ugly wins team capable october proud lot work course huge one south carolina gamecocks last meeting 7770 advance final four much different team time around gators especially last month feel like lot good things right guard jalen hudson said need continue continue getting better feel like good thing going right ___ ap college basketball wwwcollegebasketballaporg httpstwittercomap_top25
| 710 |
<p>BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Apple’s ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=AAPL.O" type="external">AAPL.O</a>) announcement that it will pay $38 billion in U.S. tax on its overseas cash will not reduce the $16 billion tax bill the company owes Ireland following a European Union ruling, the EU’s executive said on Thursday.</p> A 3D printed Apple logo is seen in front of a displayed Irish flag in this illustration taken September 2, 2016. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
<p>“Nothing has changed,” a spokesman for the European Commission said, with regards to its 2016 ruling that Apple received illegal state aid in Ireland through sweetheart tax deals with the government.</p>
<p>At the time of the ruling, the Commission said the amount Apple would have to pay to Ireland could be reduced if other countries found the company should have recorded its sales there instead of Ireland, or if its European subsidiaries were to pay more tax to the U.S. parent company.</p>
<p>However, Apple’s announcement on Wednesday that it would pay about $38 billion in one-time U.S. tax payments on its overseas cash do not fit either of these criteria.</p>
<a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=AAPL.O" type="external">Apple Inc</a> 174.73 AAPL.O Nasdaq +0.59 (+0.34%) AAPL.O
<p>“The Commission’s 2016 state aid decision found that, over many years, tax rulings issued by Ireland had allowed Apple to pay less tax on profits recorded in Ireland than other companies subject to (the) same national taxation laws. This gave Apple an illegal advantage in breach of EU state aid rules, which must now be recovered by Ireland - nothing has changed in that regard,” said the Commission spokesman.</p>
<p>The Commission ordered Apple to pay Ireland up to 13 billion euros ($16 billion) in August 2016 and has since taken Dublin to court over its delays in recovering the money.</p>
<p>A spokesman for the Irish finance ministry also said it had no indication the U.S. tax payment would affect its recovery of the money.</p>
<p>“Ireland has an obligation to recover (money) that is binding under EU law. Changes to U.S. legislation do not alter such an obligation,” the spokesman said.</p>
<p>Apple on Wednesday unveiled a $30 billion U.S. investment plan and said it would pay about $38 billion in foreign cash taxes.</p>
<p>It is unclear whether Apple will be able to offset the Irish tax bill against the 15.5 percent U.S. tax on offshore tax piles.</p>
<p>Additional reporting by Padraic Halpin in Dublin; Editing by Mark Potter and Elaine Hardcastle</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>WASHINGTON/BEIRUT (Reuters) - U.S., British and French forces launched air strikes on Syria in response to a suspected poison gas attack that killed dozens of people, aiming to degrade its chemical weapons capabilities in the biggest intervention yet in the conflict by Western powers.</p>
<p>U.S. President Donald Trump announced the military action from the White House, saying the three allies had “marshalled their righteous power against barbarism and brutality.”</p>
<p>As he spoke, explosions rocked Damascus.</p>
<p>British Prime Minister Theresa May described the strike as “limited and targeted” and said she had authorized the British action after intelligence indicated Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government was responsible for an attack using chemical weapons in Douma last Saturday.</p>
<p>French President Emmanuel Macron said the strikes had been limited so far to Syria’s chemical weapons facilities.</p>
<p>With more than 100 missiles fired from ships and manned aircraft, the allies struck three of Syria’s main chemical weapons facilities, U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Joseph Dunford said.</p>
<p>The targets included a Syrian center in the greater Damascus area for the research, development, production and testing of chemical and biological weaponry as well as a chemical weapons storage facility near the city of Homs. A third target, also near Homs, contained both a chemical weapons equipment storage facility and a command post.</p>
<p>Mattis called the strikes a “one time shot,” but Trump raised the prospect of further strikes if Assad’s government again used chemical weapons.</p> Related Coverage
<a href="/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-russia/russia-likely-to-call-u-n-meeting-over-syria-attack-russian-lawmaker-idUSKBN1HL075" type="external">Russia likely to call U.N. meeting over Syria attack: Russian lawmaker</a>
<a href="/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-israel/israel-says-u-s-led-strikes-have-enforced-syria-red-line-idUSKBN1HL0A4" type="external">Israel says U.S.-led strikes have enforced Syria red line</a>
<a href="/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-explosions/western-attack-struck-syrian-research-center-other-targets-idUSKBN1HL02U" type="external">Western attack struck Syrian research center, other targets</a>
<p>“We are prepared to sustain this response until the Syrian regime stops its use of prohibited chemical agents,” the U.S. president said in a televised address.</p>
<p>The Syrian conflict pits a complex myriad of parties against each other, with Russia and Iran giving Assad military and political help while fractured opposition forces have had varying levels of support at different times from the West, Arab states and Turkey.</p>
<p>The strikes risked raising tensions in an already combustible region, but appeared designed not to trigger a military response from Russia and Iran.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, Assad’s government and Russia responded angrily.</p>
<p>“Again, we are being threatened. We warned that such actions will not be left without consequences,” Anatoly Antonov, Russia’s ambassador to the United States, said on Twitter.</p>
<p>Syrian state media said the attack would fail and called it a “flagrant violation of international law.”</p>
<p>Russia was likely to call for a meeting of the United Nations Security Council to discuss the air strikes, lawmaker Vladimir Dzhabarov, the deputy head of Russia’s foreign affairs committee, was quoted by the RIA news agency as saying.</p>
<p>The strikes seemed unlikely to have much impact on the balance of power in Syria’s seven-year-old civil war, in which Assad’s government has steadily gained the upper hand against armed opponents since Russia intervened in 2015.</p> ‘ABSORBED THE STRIKE’
<p>At least six loud explosions were heard in Damascus and smoke was seen rising over the city, a Reuters witness said. A second witness said the Barzah district of Damascus had been hit in the strikes. Barzah is the location of a major Syrian scientific research center.</p>
<p>A senior official in a regional alliance that backs Damascus told Reuters the Syrian government and its allies had “absorbed” the attack, and that targeted sites were evacuated days ago thanks to a warning from Russia.</p>
<p>Iran’s Foreign Ministry condemned the U.S.-led attacks and said Washington and its allies would bear responsibility for the consequences in the region and beyond, state media reported.</p>
<p>State-controlled Syrian TV said Syrian air defenses shot down 13 missiles fired in the attack. The Russian defense ministry said none of the rockets launched had entered zones where Russian air defense systems are protecting military facilities in Tartus and Hmeimim.</p>
<p>The combined U.S., British and French assault appeared more intense than a similar strike Trump ordered almost exactly a year ago against a Syrian air base in retaliation for an earlier chemical weapons attack that Washington attributed to Assad.</p>
<p>At a Pentagon briefing, Dunford said the air strikes on Saturday were planned to minimize the risk of casualties among Russia’s forces in Syria.</p>
<p>May said the missile strike was designed to minimize any civilian casualties and was not an attempt to change the Syrian government. Britain’s defense ministry said initial indications were that the precision weapons and meticulous target planning had “resulted in a successful attack”.</p>
<p>Mattis acknowledged that the United States conducted the air strikes only with conclusive evidence that chlorine gas was used in the April 7 attack in Syria. Evidence that the nerve agent sarin also was used is inconclusive, he said.</p>
<p>Allegations of Assad’s chlorine use are frequent in Syria’s conflict, raising questions about whether Washington had lowered the threshold for military action in Syria by now deciding to strike after a chlorine gas attack.</p>
<p>Mattis, who U.S. officials said had earlier warned in internal debates that too large an attack would risk confrontation with Russia, described the strikes as a one-off to dissuade Assad from “doing this again.”</p>
<p>But a U.S. official familiar with the military planning said there could be more air strikes if the intelligence indicates that Assad has not stopped manufacturing, importing, storing or using chemical weapons, including weaponized chlorine.</p>
<p>The official acknowledged that could require a more sustained U.S. air and naval presence in the region, as well as intensified satellite and other surveillance of Syria.</p> A missile is seen crossing over Damascus, Syria April 14, 2018. SANA/Handout via REUTERS TRUMP STILL WANTS TO EXIT SYRIA
<p>Trump has been leery of U.S. military involvement in the Middle East, and is eager to withdraw roughly 2,000 troops who are in Syria as part of the battle against Islamic State militants.</p>
<p>The air strikes, however, risk dragging the United States further into Syria’s civil war, particularly if Russia, Iran and Assad opt to retaliate.</p>
<p>“America does not seek an indefinite presence in Syria, under no circumstances,” Trump said in his eight-minute address.</p>
<p>“The purpose of our actions tonight is to establish a strong deterrent against the production, spread and use of chemical weapons,” he said.</p>
<p>The U.S. president, who has tried to build good relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, had sharply critical words for Russia and Iran over their support of Assad.</p>
<p>“To Iran and to Russia, I ask, what kind of a nation wants to be associated with the mass murder of innocent men, women and children?” Trump said.</p>
<p>Last year, the United States fired 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles from the guided missile destroyers USS Porter and the USS Ross that struck the Shayrat air base.</p>
<p>The targets of that strike included Syrian aircraft, aircraft shelters, petroleum and logistical storage facilities, ammunition supply bunkers, air defense systems and radar. At the time, the Pentagon said that a fifth of Syria’s operational aircraft were either damaged or destroyed.</p> Slideshow (11 Images)
<p>The U.S.-led attack on Syria will be seen as limited if it is now over and there is no second round of strikes, said a senior official in the regional alliance that has supported Assad in the Syrian war.</p>
<p>“If it is finished, and there is no second round, it will be considered limited,” the official told Reuters.</p>
<p>Reporting by Steve Holland and Tom Perry; Additional reporting by Phil Stewart, Tim Ahmann, Eric Beech, Lesley Wroughton, Lucia Mutikani, Idrees Ali, Patricia Zengerle, Matt Spetalnick and John Walcott in Washington; Samia Nakhoul, Tom Perry, Laila Bassam Ellen Francis in Beirut; Michael Holden and Guy Faulconbridge in London; and Jean-Baptiste Vey, Geert de Clerq and Matthias Blamont in Paris; Polina Ivanova in Moscow; Writing by Yara Bayoumy, Warren Strobel and Nick Tattersall; Editing by Kieran Murray, Clive McKeef, Robert Birsel and Mike Collett-White</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Theresa May said on Saturday she had authorized British forces to conduct precision air-launched cruise missile strikes on Syria to degrade its chemical weapons capability, saying there was no alternative to military action.</p>
<p>Four Royal Air Force Tornado jets using Storm Shadow missiles had taken part in the attack on a military facility near Homs where it was assessed Syria had stockpiled chemicals, Britain’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) said.</p>
<p>Britain joined the United States and France in what May cast as a “limited and targeted” strike after intelligence indicated Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government was responsible for an attack using chemical weapons in Douma last Saturday.</p>
<p>May said the missile strike was designed to minimize any civilian casualties and was not an attempt to change the Syrian government.</p>
<p>“This is not about intervening in a civil war. It is not about regime change,” May said in a statement.</p>
<p>Britain’s defense ministry said initial indications were that the precision weapons and meticulous target planning had “resulted in a successful attack”.</p>
<p>May said Britain and the West had an obligation to deter both Assad and others from using chemical weapons after the poison gas attack in Douma near Damascus killed up to 75 people including children.</p>
<p>May added Britain and its allies had sought to use every diplomatic means to stop the use of chemical weapons, but had been repeatedly thwarted, citing a Russian veto of an independent investigation into the Douma attack at the U.N. Security Council this week.</p>
<p>“So there is no practicable alternative to the use of force to degrade and deter the use of chemical weapons by the Syrian regime,” she said.</p>
<p>The Western missile strikes demonstrate the volatile nature of the Syrian civil war, which started in March 2011 as an anti-Assad uprising but is now a proxy conflict involving a number of world and regional powers and a myriad of insurgent groups.</p>
<p>U.S. President Donald Trump said he was prepared to sustain the response until the government of Assad stopped its use of chemical weapons.</p>
<p>Russia, which intervened in the war in 2015 to back Assad, has denied there was a chemical attack and has accused Britain of helping to stage the Douma incident to stoke anti-Russian hysteria.</p> CHEMICAL WEAPONS TARGETS
<p>Britain’s defense ministry said “very careful scientific analysis” had been applied to maximize the destruction of stockpiled chemicals while minimizing any risk of contamination to surrounding areas.</p>
<p>“The facility which was struck is located some distance from any known concentrations of civilian habitation, reducing yet further any such risk,” the MoD said in a statement.</p>
<p>May said while the strike was targeted at Syria, it sent a message to anyone who used chemical weapons. Britain has accused Russia of being behind last month’s nerve agent attack on former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury, southern England, a charge Moscow has rejected.</p> Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May tours Alexander Stadium in Birmingham, April 11, 2018. Christopher Furlong/Pool via Reuters
<p>“This is the first time as prime minister that I have had to take the decision to commit our armed forces in combat – and it is not a decision I have taken lightly,” she said.</p>
<p>“I have done so because I judge this action to be in Britain’s national interest. We cannot allow the use of chemical weapons to become normalized – within Syria, on the streets of the UK, or anywhere else in our world.”</p>
<p>Many politicians in Britain, including some in May’s own Conservative Party, had called for parliament to be recalled from a break to give authority to any military strike.</p>
<p>Former Prime Minister David Cameron lost a parliamentary vote on air strikes against Assad’s forces in 2013 when 30 Conservative lawmakers voted against action, with many Britons wary of entering another conflict after intervention in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya failed to bring stability to the region.</p>
<p>May is not obliged to win parliament’s approval before ordering military action, but a non-binding constitutional convention to do so has been established since a 2003 vote on joining the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.</p>
<p>A YouGov poll for The Times newspaper this week indicated that only a fifth of voters believed that Britain should launch attacks on Syrian military targets and more than two-fifths opposed action.</p> A plane lands on RAF Akrotiri, a military base Britain maintains on Cyprus, April 14, 2018. REUTERS/Yiannis Kourtoglou
<p>Opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn had said Britain should press for an independent U.N.-led investigation into the suspected chemical attack in Douma rather than wait for instructions from Trump on how to proceed.</p>
<p>Former Labour foreign secretary David Miliband, now head of humanitarian relief group the International Rescue Committee, said military action needed to be part of a wider political strategy.</p>
<p>“Bombing cannot substitute for diplomacy,” he said.</p>
<p>Reporting by Michael Holden and Guy Faulconbridge; editing by Richard Pullin</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>PARIS (Reuters) - French Mirage and Rafale fighter jets were involved in air strikes on Syria together with four frigate warships, a presidency source said on Saturday.</p> A French fighter jet prepares to land on RAF Akrotiri, a military base Britain maintains on Cyprus, April 14, 2018. REUTERS/Yiannis Kourtoglou
<p>This included an air defense frigate, three multi-mission frigates, Mirage 2000 jets, Rafale, AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) and support and supply assistance, the source said.</p>
<p>The strikes were aimed at a research center and two production sites, the source said.</p>
<p>The air strikes are over but the military is ready to act upon request, the source said.</p>
<p>Reporting by Jean-Baptiste Vey and Marine Pennetier; writing by Ingrid Melander; editing by Matthias Blamont and Jason Neely</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>BEIRUT (Reuters) - Western air strikes on Syria will not diminish the army’s resolve to press the fight against all remaining militants in the country, the military said in a televised statement on Saturday.</p>
<p>The United States, Britain and France struck Syrian military targets before dawn over a suspected gas attack last week, which Western powers blamed on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his allies.</p>
<p>The army said nearly 110 missiles hit targets in the capital Damascus and other territory, and air defense systems brought most of them down.</p>
<p>“Such attacks will not deter our armed forces and allied forces from persisting to crush what is left of the armed terrorist groups,” the military said.</p>
<p>Damascus with key allies Russia and Iran, have lambasted reports of the suspected gas attack as bogus. The Syrian government has accused Washington of seeking to use it as a pretext for attacking.</p>
<p>The foreign ministry said earlier on Saturday that the U.S.-led strikes would only “lead to inflaming tensions in the world” and threaten international security.</p>
<p>“The barbaric aggression ...will not affect in any way the determination and insistence of the Syrian people and their heroic armed forces,” state media cited an official source in the ministry as saying.</p>
<p>Reporting by Ellen Francis; editing by Robert Birsel and Jason Neely</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
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brussels reuters apples aaplo announcement pay 38 billion us tax overseas cash reduce 16 billion tax bill company owes ireland following european union ruling eus executive said thursday 3d printed apple logo seen front displayed irish flag illustration taken september 2 2016 reutersdado ruvicillustrationfile photo nothing changed spokesman european commission said regards 2016 ruling apple received illegal state aid ireland sweetheart tax deals government time ruling commission said amount apple would pay ireland could reduced countries found company recorded sales instead ireland european subsidiaries pay tax us parent company however apples announcement wednesday would pay 38 billion onetime us tax payments overseas cash fit either criteria apple inc 17473 aaplo nasdaq 059 034 aaplo commissions 2016 state aid decision found many years tax rulings issued ireland allowed apple pay less tax profits recorded ireland companies subject national taxation laws gave apple illegal advantage breach eu state aid rules must recovered ireland nothing changed regard said commission spokesman commission ordered apple pay ireland 13 billion euros 16 billion august 2016 since taken dublin court delays recovering money spokesman irish finance ministry also said indication us tax payment would affect recovery money ireland obligation recover money binding eu law changes us legislation alter obligation spokesman said apple wednesday unveiled 30 billion us investment plan said would pay 38 billion foreign cash taxes unclear whether apple able offset irish tax bill 155 percent us tax offshore tax piles additional reporting padraic halpin dublin editing mark potter elaine hardcastle standards thomson reuters trust principles washingtonbeirut reuters us british french forces launched air strikes syria response suspected poison gas attack killed dozens people aiming degrade chemical weapons capabilities biggest intervention yet conflict western powers us president donald trump announced military action white house saying three allies marshalled righteous power barbarism brutality spoke explosions rocked damascus british prime minister theresa may described strike limited targeted said authorized british action intelligence indicated syrian president bashar alassads government responsible attack using chemical weapons douma last saturday french president emmanuel macron said strikes limited far syrias chemical weapons facilities 100 missiles fired ships manned aircraft allies struck three syrias main chemical weapons facilities us defense secretary jim mattis joint chiefs staff chairman general joseph dunford said targets included syrian center greater damascus area research development production testing chemical biological weaponry well chemical weapons storage facility near city homs third target also near homs contained chemical weapons equipment storage facility command post mattis called strikes one time shot trump raised prospect strikes assads government used chemical weapons related coverage russia likely call un meeting syria attack russian lawmaker israel says usled strikes enforced syria red line western attack struck syrian research center targets prepared sustain response syrian regime stops use prohibited chemical agents us president said televised address syrian conflict pits complex myriad parties russia iran giving assad military political help fractured opposition forces varying levels support different times west arab states turkey strikes risked raising tensions already combustible region appeared designed trigger military response russia iran nevertheless assads government russia responded angrily threatened warned actions left without consequences anatoly antonov russias ambassador united states said twitter syrian state media said attack would fail called flagrant violation international law russia likely call meeting united nations security council discuss air strikes lawmaker vladimir dzhabarov deputy head russias foreign affairs committee quoted ria news agency saying strikes seemed unlikely much impact balance power syrias sevenyearold civil war assads government steadily gained upper hand armed opponents since russia intervened 2015 absorbed strike least six loud explosions heard damascus smoke seen rising city reuters witness said second witness said barzah district damascus hit strikes barzah location major syrian scientific research center senior official regional alliance backs damascus told reuters syrian government allies absorbed attack targeted sites evacuated days ago thanks warning russia irans foreign ministry condemned usled attacks said washington allies would bear responsibility consequences region beyond state media reported statecontrolled syrian tv said syrian air defenses shot 13 missiles fired attack russian defense ministry said none rockets launched entered zones russian air defense systems protecting military facilities tartus hmeimim combined us british french assault appeared intense similar strike trump ordered almost exactly year ago syrian air base retaliation earlier chemical weapons attack washington attributed assad pentagon briefing dunford said air strikes saturday planned minimize risk casualties among russias forces syria may said missile strike designed minimize civilian casualties attempt change syrian government britains defense ministry said initial indications precision weapons meticulous target planning resulted successful attack mattis acknowledged united states conducted air strikes conclusive evidence chlorine gas used april 7 attack syria evidence nerve agent sarin also used inconclusive said allegations assads chlorine use frequent syrias conflict raising questions whether washington lowered threshold military action syria deciding strike chlorine gas attack mattis us officials said earlier warned internal debates large attack would risk confrontation russia described strikes oneoff dissuade assad us official familiar military planning said could air strikes intelligence indicates assad stopped manufacturing importing storing using chemical weapons including weaponized chlorine official acknowledged could require sustained us air naval presence region well intensified satellite surveillance syria missile seen crossing damascus syria april 14 2018 sanahandout via reuters trump still wants exit syria trump leery us military involvement middle east eager withdraw roughly 2000 troops syria part battle islamic state militants air strikes however risk dragging united states syrias civil war particularly russia iran assad opt retaliate america seek indefinite presence syria circumstances trump said eightminute address purpose actions tonight establish strong deterrent production spread use chemical weapons said us president tried build good relations russian president vladimir putin sharply critical words russia iran support assad iran russia ask kind nation wants associated mass murder innocent men women children trump said last year united states fired 59 tomahawk cruise missiles guided missile destroyers uss porter uss ross struck shayrat air base targets strike included syrian aircraft aircraft shelters petroleum logistical storage facilities ammunition supply bunkers air defense systems radar time pentagon said fifth syrias operational aircraft either damaged destroyed slideshow 11 images usled attack syria seen limited second round strikes said senior official regional alliance supported assad syrian war finished second round considered limited official told reuters reporting steve holland tom perry additional reporting phil stewart tim ahmann eric beech lesley wroughton lucia mutikani idrees ali patricia zengerle matt spetalnick john walcott washington samia nakhoul tom perry laila bassam ellen francis beirut michael holden guy faulconbridge london jeanbaptiste vey geert de clerq matthias blamont paris polina ivanova moscow writing yara bayoumy warren strobel nick tattersall editing kieran murray clive mckeef robert birsel mike collettwhite standards thomson reuters trust principles london reuters british prime minister theresa may said saturday authorized british forces conduct precision airlaunched cruise missile strikes syria degrade chemical weapons capability saying alternative military action four royal air force tornado jets using storm shadow missiles taken part attack military facility near homs assessed syria stockpiled chemicals britains ministry defence mod said britain joined united states france may cast limited targeted strike intelligence indicated syrian president bashar alassads government responsible attack using chemical weapons douma last saturday may said missile strike designed minimize civilian casualties attempt change syrian government intervening civil war regime change may said statement britains defense ministry said initial indications precision weapons meticulous target planning resulted successful attack may said britain west obligation deter assad others using chemical weapons poison gas attack douma near damascus killed 75 people including children may added britain allies sought use every diplomatic means stop use chemical weapons repeatedly thwarted citing russian veto independent investigation douma attack un security council week practicable alternative use force degrade deter use chemical weapons syrian regime said western missile strikes demonstrate volatile nature syrian civil war started march 2011 antiassad uprising proxy conflict involving number world regional powers myriad insurgent groups us president donald trump said prepared sustain response government assad stopped use chemical weapons russia intervened war 2015 back assad denied chemical attack accused britain helping stage douma incident stoke antirussian hysteria chemical weapons targets britains defense ministry said careful scientific analysis applied maximize destruction stockpiled chemicals minimizing risk contamination surrounding areas facility struck located distance known concentrations civilian habitation reducing yet risk mod said statement may said strike targeted syria sent message anyone used chemical weapons britain accused russia behind last months nerve agent attack former russian spy sergei skripal daughter salisbury southern england charge moscow rejected britains prime minister theresa may tours alexander stadium birmingham april 11 2018 christopher furlongpool via reuters first time prime minister take decision commit armed forces combat decision taken lightly said done judge action britains national interest allow use chemical weapons become normalized within syria streets uk anywhere else world many politicians britain including mays conservative party called parliament recalled break give authority military strike former prime minister david cameron lost parliamentary vote air strikes assads forces 2013 30 conservative lawmakers voted action many britons wary entering another conflict intervention iraq afghanistan libya failed bring stability region may obliged win parliaments approval ordering military action nonbinding constitutional convention established since 2003 vote joining usled invasion iraq yougov poll times newspaper week indicated fifth voters believed britain launch attacks syrian military targets twofifths opposed action plane lands raf akrotiri military base britain maintains cyprus april 14 2018 reutersyiannis kourtoglou opposition labour leader jeremy corbyn said britain press independent unled investigation suspected chemical attack douma rather wait instructions trump proceed former labour foreign secretary david miliband head humanitarian relief group international rescue committee said military action needed part wider political strategy bombing substitute diplomacy said reporting michael holden guy faulconbridge editing richard pullin standards thomson reuters trust principles paris reuters french mirage rafale fighter jets involved air strikes syria together four frigate warships presidency source said saturday french fighter jet prepares land raf akrotiri military base britain maintains cyprus april 14 2018 reutersyiannis kourtoglou included air defense frigate three multimission frigates mirage 2000 jets rafale awacs airborne warning control system support supply assistance source said strikes aimed research center two production sites source said air strikes military ready act upon request source said reporting jeanbaptiste vey marine pennetier writing ingrid melander editing matthias blamont jason neely standards thomson reuters trust principles beirut reuters western air strikes syria diminish armys resolve press fight remaining militants country military said televised statement saturday united states britain france struck syrian military targets dawn suspected gas attack last week western powers blamed syrian president bashar alassad allies army said nearly 110 missiles hit targets capital damascus territory air defense systems brought attacks deter armed forces allied forces persisting crush left armed terrorist groups military said damascus key allies russia iran lambasted reports suspected gas attack bogus syrian government accused washington seeking use pretext attacking foreign ministry said earlier saturday usled strikes would lead inflaming tensions world threaten international security barbaric aggression affect way determination insistence syrian people heroic armed forces state media cited official source ministry saying reporting ellen francis editing robert birsel jason neely standards thomson reuters trust principles
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<p>(Reuters) - ADT Inc, a provider of security monitoring services, said on Thursday that its initial public offering was priced at $14 per share, below the expected range of $17 to $19.</p>
<p>The 105 million share offering raised about $1.47 billion, the company said.</p>
<p>Even at the lower valuation, the IPO is likely one of the largest in the first part of 2018.</p>
<p>The company’s stock is expected to debut on Friday on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “ADT”.</p>
<p>ADT is backed by private equity firm Apollo Global Management LLC, which will own 84.87 percent of common equity after the offering.</p>
<p>ADT, which has about 7.2 million customers, makes security monitoring devices such as surveillance cameras and burglary alarms, apart from home automation products including digital door locks and thermostats.</p>
<p>Handling about 15 million alarms annually, the company is the largest player in the residential monitored security industry with about 30 percent market share in the United States and Canada. However, it faces growing competition from monitoring apps that work directly on smartphones and other personal devices.</p>
<p>The company reported revenue of $3.21 billion for the nine months ended Sept. 30, up 69 percent from the same period a year earlier.</p>
<p>More than 90 percent of ADT’s revenue comes from recurring monthly payments under customer contract terms that are generally three to five years in length, the company said in its IPO filing.</p>
<p>Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, Barclays, Deutsche Bank Securities and RBC Capital Markets were among top underwriters to the offering.</p>
<p>Reporting by Nikhil Subba in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>(Reuters) - Genuine Parts Co ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=GPC.N" type="external">GPC.N</a>) said on Thursday it would spin off its wholesale distribution business S.P. Richards and merge it with Essendant ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=ESND.O" type="external">ESND.O</a>) in a tax-free transaction for shareholders, as it focuses on its industrial and auto parts businesses.</p>
<p>The combined company will have more products and resources, giving its customers - mainly independent dealers - a one-stop shop as they grapple with intense competition from e-commerce giant Amazon.com Inc ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=AMZN.O" type="external">AMZN.O</a>) and big-box stores.</p>
<p>“This combination of our customer centric companies creates a stronger partner to support those dealers and help them to be more competitive with all the other options available to customers in the industry,” Essendant Chief Executive Officer Ric Phillips said on a call with analysts.</p>
<p>Essendant’s shares jumped 18 percent to $10.00, while those of Genuine Parts were up about 1 percent at $90.17 in morning trading.</p>
<p>Illinois-based Essendant is a wholesale distributor of workplace items including janitorial supplies, while Atlanta, Georgia-based S.P. Richards distributes products ranging from office furniture to school supplies.</p>
<p>The combined entity will be called Essendant and headed by Phillips. S.P. Richards CEO Rick Toppin will become chief operating officer of the new company. Essendant had a market capitalization of about $323.5 million as of Wednesday’s close.</p>
<p>Genuine Parts, one of the leading U.S. car parts distributors, said the deal implied a valuation of about $680 million for S.P. Richards.</p>
<a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=GPC.N" type="external">Genuine Parts Co</a> 90.13 GPC.N New York Stock Exchange +0.47 (+0.52%) GPC.N ESND.O AMZN.O
<p>Genuine Parts will get $347 million in cash and its shareholders 51 percent of the newly-formed combined company. Structured as a Reverse Morris Trust deal, the transaction will be tax-free for the companies’ shareholders.</p>
<p>The company has been evaluating options for the S.P. Richards business, which has been pressured by weak demand for office supplies.</p>
<p>Essendant has also been hit as large customers source products directly from manufacturers. Its net sales declined 6.2 percent to $5.04 billion in 2017, while adjusted profit fell more than 50 percent.</p>
<p>Genuine Parts has been focusing on its auto parts and industrial businesses. Last year, the company completed a deal to buy London-based Alliance Automotive Group and took a stake in Australia’s Inenco Group.</p>
<p>Citigroup Global Markets Inc was the financial adviser for Essendant, while J.P. Morgan advised Genuine Parts.</p>
<p>Reporting by Arunima Banerjee in Bengaluru; editing by Patrick Graham and Saumyadeb Chakrabarty</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wall Street led stocks higher globally on Thursday, more than offsetting declines in Asia, as an expected strong earnings season took front seat after U.S. President Donald Trump cast doubt over the timing of his threatened strike on Syria.</p> Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange shortly after the opening bell in New York, U.S., April 12, 2018. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson
<p>The risk of clashes between Western powers and Russia in Syria over an alleged chemical attack eased somewhat as Trump reworded his Wednesday threat that missiles “will be coming” while taunting Russia for supporting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.</p>
<p>Trump wrote on Thursday that an attack on Syria “could be very soon or not so soon at all.” Later, he said decisions will be made “fairly soon.”</p>
<p>Investors turned their focus to U.S. corporate earnings as BlackRock ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=BLK.N" type="external">BLK.N</a>), the world’s largest asset manager, reported quarterly profit above Wall Street estimates with its shares up 1.5 percent.</p>
<p>BlackRock’s results boosted bank shares .SPXBK, which were the largest gainers on Thursday, likely on bets that increased exchange traded funds trading will benefit their bottom lines. Higher U.S. Treasury yields also gave banks support.</p>
<p>Analysts expect quarterly profit for U.S. benchmark S&amp;P 500 index companies to rise 18.4 percent from a year ago, the biggest gain in seven years, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.</p>
<p>“We’re hearing less talk of firing missiles and less talk of trade war. Earnings are coming up and expectations are high,” said Michael Antonelli, managing director of institutional sales trading at Robert W. Baird in Milwaukee. The stock market, he said, is “returning to normal.”</p>
<p>The Dow Jones Industrial Average <a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.DJI" type="external">.DJI</a> rose 293.6 points, or 1.21 percent, to 24,483.05, the S&amp;P 500 <a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.SPX" type="external">.SPX</a> gained 21.8 points, or 0.83 percent, to 2,663.99 and the Nasdaq Composite <a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.IXIC" type="external">.IXIC</a> added 71.22 points, or 1.01 percent, to 7,140.25.</p>
<p>The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index <a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.FTEU3" type="external">.FTEU3</a> rose 0.67 percent and MSCI's gauge of stocks across the globe .MIWD00000PUS gained 0.37 percent.</p>
<p>Emerging market stocks rose 0.11 percent. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS closed 0.27 percent lower, while Japan's Nikkei <a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.N225" type="external">.N225</a> lost 0.12 percent.</p>
<p>The higher risk appetite as geopolitical tensions eased boosted U.S. Treasury yields. The safe-haven Japanese yen also fell.</p>
<p>“There is less immediate concern about military strikes or action in Syria,” said Jim Vogel, interest rates strategist at FTN Financial in Memphis.</p>
<p>“It doesn’t move it to the back-burner, but it allows you to look around and trade other things and that gives room for rates to rise just a little bit from their sort of cramped or compressed levels,” he said.</p>
<p>Benchmark 10-year Treasury notes US10YT=RR last fell 14/32 in price to yield 2.8413 percent, from 2.79 percent late on Wednesday.</p>
<p>The 30-year bond US30YT=RR last fell 26/32 in price to yield 3.0455 percent, from 3.005 percent late on Wednesday.</p>
<p>Oil prices fell initially as geopolitical concerns eased somewhat, but later rose, supported partly by shrinking global oil inventories.</p> The German share price index, DAX board, is seen at the stock exchange in Frankfurt, Germany, March 21, 2018. REUTERS/Tilman Blasshofer
<p>OPEC Secretary-General Mohammad Barkindo told Reuters in New Delhi the global oil glut has effectively shrunk by nine-tenths since the start of 2017.</p>
<p>“We have seen an accelerated shrinkage of stocks in storage from unparalleled highs of about 400 million barrels to about 43 million above the five-year average,” Barkindo said.</p>
<p>U.S. crude CLc1 rose 0.43 percent to $67.11 per barrel and Brent LCOcv1 was last at $72.09, up 0.04 percent on the day.</p>
<p>Both are at levels not seen since 2014.</p>
<p>(GRAPHIC: Middle East tensions drive crude prices - <a href="https://reut.rs/2ILpqMy" type="external">reut.rs/2ILpqMy</a>)</p>
<a href="https://reut.rs/2ILpqMy" type="external" />
<p>The U.S. dollar index .DXY was on track to snap a four-day losing streak as it rose 0.21 percent, with the euro <a href="/finance/currencies/quote?srcCurr=EUR&amp;destCurr=USD" type="external">EUR=</a> down 0.3 percent to $1.2328.</p>
<a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=BLK.N" type="external">BlackRock Inc</a> 533.01 BLK.N New York Stock Exchange +7.70 (+1.47%) BLK.N .DJI .SPX .IXIC .FTEU3
<p>“It’s a reversal of the safe-haven trade that lifted the yen and the Swiss franc earlier in the week,” said Karl Schamotta, director of global product and market strategy at Cambridge Global Payments in Toronto.</p>
<p>The Japanese yen weakened 0.43 percent versus the greenback at 107.27 per dollar, while the dollar was up 0.48 percent against the Swiss franc <a href="/finance/currencies/quote?srcCurr=CHF&amp;destCurr=USD" type="external">CHF=</a>.</p>
<p>Sterling <a href="/finance/currencies/quote?srcCurr=GBP&amp;destCurr=USD" type="external">GBP=</a> was last trading at $1.4227, up 0.36 percent on the day.</p>
<p>Safe-haven gold XAU= fell from an 11-week high as the dollar edged higher and investors booked profits.</p>
<p>Spot gold XAU= dropped 1.3 percent to $1,335.06 an ounce. U.S. gold futures GCc1 fell 1.61 percent to $1,334.60 an ounce.</p>
<p>Copper CMCU3 lost 1.86 percent to $6,821.00 a ton.</p>
<p>Reporting by Rodrigo Campos, April Joyner, Chuck Mikolajczak, Saqib Iqbal Ahmed and Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss in New York; Editing by Nick Zieminski and Dan Grebler</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks climbed on Thursday as investors anticipated a strong earnings season and as U.S. President Donald Trump’s suggestion that a military strike on Syria may not be imminent ratcheted down geopolitical worries.</p>
<p>The S&amp;P 500 has now recouped nearly all its losses from earlier this year.</p>
<p>Trump said in a tweet on Thursday that a possible attack on Syria could occur “very soon or not so soon at all,” easing fears of confrontation with Russia.</p>
<p>That lifted U.S. Treasury yields US10YT=RR, leading to a 1.8 percent increase in financial stocks .SPSY, which had the biggest percentage advance among the S&amp;P’s 11 major sectors.</p>
<p>The technology sector .SPLRCT rose 1.3 percent, adding the most gains to the S&amp;P.</p>
<p>“We’re hearing less talk of firing missiles and less talk of trade war,” said Michael Antonelli, managing director of institutional sales trading at Robert W. Baird in Milwaukee. “Earnings are coming up and expectations are high.”</p>
<p>Strong quarterly results from BlackRock Inc ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=BLK.N" type="external">BLK.N</a>) and Delta Air Lines Inc ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=DAL.N" type="external">DAL.N</a>) added to the sanguine mood.</p>
<p>Delta topped profit estimates, sending its shares 2.9 percent higher and boosting other airline stocks.</p>
<p>BlackRock gained 1.5 percent after the asset manager’s quarterly profit rose more than expected.</p>
<p>The earnings season begins in earnest on Friday with reports from JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=JPM.N" type="external">JPM.N</a>), Citigroup Inc ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=C.N" type="external">C.N</a>) and Wells Fargo &amp; Co ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=WFC.N" type="external">WFC.N</a>).</p> Slideshow (3 Images)
<p>Analysts expect quarterly profit for S&amp;P 500 companies to rise 18.4 percent from a year ago, in what would be the biggest gain in seven years, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.</p>
<p>“People are looking forward to earnings season,” said Tracie McMillion, head of global asset allocation strategy at Wells Fargo Investment Institute in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. “Market participants are not wanting to miss out if (earnings are) as good as the forecasts say they will be.”</p>
<p>The Dow Jones Industrial Average <a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.DJI" type="external">.DJI</a> rose 293.6 points, or 1.21 percent, to 24,483.05, the S&amp;P 500 <a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.SPX" type="external">.SPX</a> gained 21.8 points, or 0.83 percent, to 2,663.99, and the Nasdaq Composite <a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.IXIC" type="external">.IXIC</a> added 71.22 points, or 1.01 percent, to 7,140.25.</p>
<p>Investor sentiment was also boosted by the weekly U.S. initial jobless claims report, which pointed to sustained labor market strength.</p>
<a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=BLK.N" type="external">BlackRock Inc</a> 533.01 BLK.N New York Stock Exchange +7.70 (+1.47%) BLK.N DAL.N JPM.N C.N WFC.N
<p>Facebook Inc ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=FB.O" type="external">FB.O</a>) was a notable laggard among technology stocks, falling 1.5 percent following a 5.3 percent gain over the past two days when Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg testified before Congress on the social network’s data security.</p>
<p>Bed Bath &amp; Beyond Inc ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=BBBY.O" type="external">BBBY.O</a>) shares dived 20.0 percent after the company’s full-year profit forecast missed estimates.</p>
<p>Advancing issues outnumbered decliners on the NYSE for a 1.20-to-1 ratio and on the Nasdaq, for a 1.84-to-1 ratio.</p>
<p>Volume on U.S. exchanges was 6.12 billion shares, compared to the 7.27 billion average for the full session over the last 20 trading days.</p>
<p>Additional reporting by Sruthi Shankar in Bengaluru and Chuck Mikolajczak in New York; Editing by Nick Zieminski and Leslie Adler</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>LONDON/NEW DELHI (Reuters) - The global oil stocks surplus is close to evaporating, OPEC said on Thursday, citing healthy energy demand and its own supply cuts while revising up its forecast for production from rivals who have benefited from higher oil prices.</p> A flag with the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) logo is seen during a meeting of OPEC and non-OPEC producing countries in Vienna, Austria September 22, 2017. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger
<p>U.S. shale oil output has been booming over the past year since OPEC reduced its own production in tandem with Russia to prop up global oil prices.</p>
<p>But as oil production collapsed in OPEC member Venezuela and is still facing hiccups in countries such as Libya and Angola, the oil exporters’ group is still producing below its targets meaning the world needs to use stocks to meet rising demand.</p>
<p>The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries said in its monthly report oil stocks in the developed world reversed a rise in January to fall by 17.4 million barrels in February to 2.854 billion barrels, around 43 million barrels above the latest five-year average.</p>
<p>“We have achieved an over 150 percent conformity level,” OPEC Secretary-General Mohammad Barkindo told Reuters in New Delhi, referring to OPEC’s commitments under the supply-cutting pact. He said the glut has effectively shrunk by nine-tenths since the start of 2017.</p>
<p>“We have seen an accelerated shrinkage of stocks in storage from unparalleled highs of about 400 million barrels to about 43 million above the five-year average,” Barkindo said.</p>
<p>Stock levels are now 207 million barrels below their level in February 2017, with crude stocks in a surplus of 55 million barrels and product stocks in a deficit of 12 million.</p>
<p>“Looking forward, a healthy global economic forecast for 2018, positive car sales data in recent months, stronger 2018 yea-on-year U.S. product consumption in January and potentially tighter global product markets are expected to boost gasoline and distillates demand ...,” OPEC said.</p>
<p>“High conformity levels observed by OPEC and non-OPEC producing countries ... should further enhance market stability and support crude and product markets in the months ahead.”</p>
<p>The 14-member, Vienna-based producer group said its collective output, according to secondary sources, fell 201,000 bpd to 31.96 million bpd in March from February, driven by declines in Angola, Algeria, Venezuela, Saudi Arabia and Libya.</p>
<p>The figure is below the 32.6 million bpd that OPEC sees as demand for its crude for the whole of 2018.</p>
<p>OPEC, Russia and several other non-OPEC producers began to cut supply in January 2017. The pact runs until the end of the year and OPEC meets in Vienna in June to decide on its next course of action.</p> THIRD YEAR OF CUTS
<p>OPEC’s leader Saudi Arabia has said it would like the pact to be extended into 2019.</p>
<p>“There is growing confidence that the declaration of cooperation will be extended beyond 2018,” Barkindo told Reuters. “Russia will continue to play a leading role.”</p>
<p>On Thursday, OPEC also revised its forecast for supply growth from its rivals, non-OPEC, which is now forecast to grow by a further 80,000 barrels per day this year to 1.71 million bpd, driven largely by higher-than-anticipated growth in the first quarter in the United States and the former Soviet Union.</p>
<p>At the same time, it increased its forecast for global oil demand growth for this year by 30,000 bpd to 1.63 million bpd.</p>
<p>“This mainly reflects the positive momentum in the OECD in the 1Q18 on the back of better-than-expected data, and supported by development in industrial activities, colder-than-anticipated weather and strong mining activities in the OECD Americas and the OECD Asia Pacific,” it said in the monthly market report.</p>
<p>Production in the United Arab Emirates posted the largest month-on-month increase, according to the secondary sources, rising by around 45,000 bpd in March to 2.86 million bpd.</p>
<p>OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia told the group it pumped 9.907 million bpd in March, 28,000 bpd below its February level.</p>
<p>Venezuela reported production of 1.509 million bpd in March, 77,000 bpd below the level it reported in February.</p>
<p>Reporting by Ahmad Ghaddar; Editing by Dale Hudson and David Evans</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
| false | 2 |
reuters adt inc provider security monitoring services said thursday initial public offering priced 14 per share expected range 17 19 105 million share offering raised 147 billion company said even lower valuation ipo likely one largest first part 2018 companys stock expected debut friday new york stock exchange symbol adt adt backed private equity firm apollo global management llc 8487 percent common equity offering adt 72 million customers makes security monitoring devices surveillance cameras burglary alarms apart home automation products including digital door locks thermostats handling 15 million alarms annually company largest player residential monitored security industry 30 percent market share united states canada however faces growing competition monitoring apps work directly smartphones personal devices company reported revenue 321 billion nine months ended sept 30 69 percent period year earlier 90 percent adts revenue comes recurring monthly payments customer contract terms generally three five years length company said ipo filing morgan stanley goldman sachs barclays deutsche bank securities rbc capital markets among top underwriters offering reporting nikhil subba bengaluru editing maju samuel standards thomson reuters trust principles reuters genuine parts co gpcn said thursday would spin wholesale distribution business sp richards merge essendant esndo taxfree transaction shareholders focuses industrial auto parts businesses combined company products resources giving customers mainly independent dealers onestop shop grapple intense competition ecommerce giant amazoncom inc amzno bigbox stores combination customer centric companies creates stronger partner support dealers help competitive options available customers industry essendant chief executive officer ric phillips said call analysts essendants shares jumped 18 percent 1000 genuine parts 1 percent 9017 morning trading illinoisbased essendant wholesale distributor workplace items including janitorial supplies atlanta georgiabased sp richards distributes products ranging office furniture school supplies combined entity called essendant headed phillips sp richards ceo rick toppin become chief operating officer new company essendant market capitalization 3235 million wednesdays close genuine parts one leading us car parts distributors said deal implied valuation 680 million sp richards genuine parts co 9013 gpcn new york stock exchange 047 052 gpcn esndo amzno genuine parts get 347 million cash shareholders 51 percent newlyformed combined company structured reverse morris trust deal transaction taxfree companies shareholders company evaluating options sp richards business pressured weak demand office supplies essendant also hit large customers source products directly manufacturers net sales declined 62 percent 504 billion 2017 adjusted profit fell 50 percent genuine parts focusing auto parts industrial businesses last year company completed deal buy londonbased alliance automotive group took stake australias inenco group citigroup global markets inc financial adviser essendant jp morgan advised genuine parts reporting arunima banerjee bengaluru editing patrick graham saumyadeb chakrabarty standards thomson reuters trust principles new york reuters wall street led stocks higher globally thursday offsetting declines asia expected strong earnings season took front seat us president donald trump cast doubt timing threatened strike syria traders work floor new york stock exchange shortly opening bell new york us april 12 2018 reuterslucas jackson risk clashes western powers russia syria alleged chemical attack eased somewhat trump reworded wednesday threat missiles coming taunting russia supporting syrian president bashar alassad trump wrote thursday attack syria could soon soon later said decisions made fairly soon investors turned focus us corporate earnings blackrock blkn worlds largest asset manager reported quarterly profit wall street estimates shares 15 percent blackrocks results boosted bank shares spxbk largest gainers thursday likely bets increased exchange traded funds trading benefit bottom lines higher us treasury yields also gave banks support analysts expect quarterly profit us benchmark sampp 500 index companies rise 184 percent year ago biggest gain seven years according thomson reuters ibes hearing less talk firing missiles less talk trade war earnings coming expectations high said michael antonelli managing director institutional sales trading robert w baird milwaukee stock market said returning normal dow jones industrial average dji rose 2936 points 121 percent 2448305 sampp 500 spx gained 218 points 083 percent 266399 nasdaq composite ixic added 7122 points 101 percent 714025 paneuropean ftseurofirst 300 index fteu3 rose 067 percent mscis gauge stocks across globe miwd00000pus gained 037 percent emerging market stocks rose 011 percent mscis broadest index asiapacific shares outside japan miapj0000pus closed 027 percent lower japans nikkei n225 lost 012 percent higher risk appetite geopolitical tensions eased boosted us treasury yields safehaven japanese yen also fell less immediate concern military strikes action syria said jim vogel interest rates strategist ftn financial memphis doesnt move backburner allows look around trade things gives room rates rise little bit sort cramped compressed levels said benchmark 10year treasury notes us10ytrr last fell 1432 price yield 28413 percent 279 percent late wednesday 30year bond us30ytrr last fell 2632 price yield 30455 percent 3005 percent late wednesday oil prices fell initially geopolitical concerns eased somewhat later rose supported partly shrinking global oil inventories german share price index dax board seen stock exchange frankfurt germany march 21 2018 reuterstilman blasshofer opec secretarygeneral mohammad barkindo told reuters new delhi global oil glut effectively shrunk ninetenths since start 2017 seen accelerated shrinkage stocks storage unparalleled highs 400 million barrels 43 million fiveyear average barkindo said us crude clc1 rose 043 percent 6711 per barrel brent lcocv1 last 7209 004 percent day levels seen since 2014 graphic middle east tensions drive crude prices reutrs2ilpqmy us dollar index dxy track snap fourday losing streak rose 021 percent euro eur 03 percent 12328 blackrock inc 53301 blkn new york stock exchange 770 147 blkn dji spx ixic fteu3 reversal safehaven trade lifted yen swiss franc earlier week said karl schamotta director global product market strategy cambridge global payments toronto japanese yen weakened 043 percent versus greenback 10727 per dollar dollar 048 percent swiss franc chf sterling gbp last trading 14227 036 percent day safehaven gold xau fell 11week high dollar edged higher investors booked profits spot gold xau dropped 13 percent 133506 ounce us gold futures gcc1 fell 161 percent 133460 ounce copper cmcu3 lost 186 percent 682100 ton reporting rodrigo campos april joyner chuck mikolajczak saqib iqbal ahmed gertrude chavezdreyfuss new york editing nick zieminski dan grebler standards thomson reuters trust principles new york reuters us stocks climbed thursday investors anticipated strong earnings season us president donald trumps suggestion military strike syria may imminent ratcheted geopolitical worries sampp 500 recouped nearly losses earlier year trump said tweet thursday possible attack syria could occur soon soon easing fears confrontation russia lifted us treasury yields us10ytrr leading 18 percent increase financial stocks spsy biggest percentage advance among sampps 11 major sectors technology sector splrct rose 13 percent adding gains sampp hearing less talk firing missiles less talk trade war said michael antonelli managing director institutional sales trading robert w baird milwaukee earnings coming expectations high strong quarterly results blackrock inc blkn delta air lines inc daln added sanguine mood delta topped profit estimates sending shares 29 percent higher boosting airline stocks blackrock gained 15 percent asset managers quarterly profit rose expected earnings season begins earnest friday reports jpmorgan chase amp co jpmn citigroup inc cn wells fargo amp co wfcn slideshow 3 images analysts expect quarterly profit sampp 500 companies rise 184 percent year ago would biggest gain seven years according thomson reuters ibes people looking forward earnings season said tracie mcmillion head global asset allocation strategy wells fargo investment institute winstonsalem north carolina market participants wanting miss earnings good forecasts say dow jones industrial average dji rose 2936 points 121 percent 2448305 sampp 500 spx gained 218 points 083 percent 266399 nasdaq composite ixic added 7122 points 101 percent 714025 investor sentiment also boosted weekly us initial jobless claims report pointed sustained labor market strength blackrock inc 53301 blkn new york stock exchange 770 147 blkn daln jpmn cn wfcn facebook inc fbo notable laggard among technology stocks falling 15 percent following 53 percent gain past two days chief executive mark zuckerberg testified congress social networks data security bed bath amp beyond inc bbbyo shares dived 200 percent companys fullyear profit forecast missed estimates advancing issues outnumbered decliners nyse 120to1 ratio nasdaq 184to1 ratio volume us exchanges 612 billion shares compared 727 billion average full session last 20 trading days additional reporting sruthi shankar bengaluru chuck mikolajczak new york editing nick zieminski leslie adler standards thomson reuters trust principles londonnew delhi reuters global oil stocks surplus close evaporating opec said thursday citing healthy energy demand supply cuts revising forecast production rivals benefited higher oil prices flag organization petroleum exporting countries opec logo seen meeting opec nonopec producing countries vienna austria september 22 2017 reutersleonhard foeger us shale oil output booming past year since opec reduced production tandem russia prop global oil prices oil production collapsed opec member venezuela still facing hiccups countries libya angola oil exporters group still producing targets meaning world needs use stocks meet rising demand organization petroleum exporting countries said monthly report oil stocks developed world reversed rise january fall 174 million barrels february 2854 billion barrels around 43 million barrels latest fiveyear average achieved 150 percent conformity level opec secretarygeneral mohammad barkindo told reuters new delhi referring opecs commitments supplycutting pact said glut effectively shrunk ninetenths since start 2017 seen accelerated shrinkage stocks storage unparalleled highs 400 million barrels 43 million fiveyear average barkindo said stock levels 207 million barrels level february 2017 crude stocks surplus 55 million barrels product stocks deficit 12 million looking forward healthy global economic forecast 2018 positive car sales data recent months stronger 2018 yeaonyear us product consumption january potentially tighter global product markets expected boost gasoline distillates demand opec said high conformity levels observed opec nonopec producing countries enhance market stability support crude product markets months ahead 14member viennabased producer group said collective output according secondary sources fell 201000 bpd 3196 million bpd march february driven declines angola algeria venezuela saudi arabia libya figure 326 million bpd opec sees demand crude whole 2018 opec russia several nonopec producers began cut supply january 2017 pact runs end year opec meets vienna june decide next course action third year cuts opecs leader saudi arabia said would like pact extended 2019 growing confidence declaration cooperation extended beyond 2018 barkindo told reuters russia continue play leading role thursday opec also revised forecast supply growth rivals nonopec forecast grow 80000 barrels per day year 171 million bpd driven largely higherthananticipated growth first quarter united states former soviet union time increased forecast global oil demand growth year 30000 bpd 163 million bpd mainly reflects positive momentum oecd 1q18 back betterthanexpected data supported development industrial activities colderthananticipated weather strong mining activities oecd americas oecd asia pacific said monthly market report production united arab emirates posted largest monthonmonth increase according secondary sources rising around 45000 bpd march 286 million bpd opec kingpin saudi arabia told group pumped 9907 million bpd march 28000 bpd february level venezuela reported production 1509 million bpd march 77000 bpd level reported february reporting ahmad ghaddar editing dale hudson david evans standards thomson reuters trust principles
| 1,802 |
<p>NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Alongside Nashville’s famous row of honky-tonk bars and nightclubs, a new island-inspired sound is emerging in Music City thanks to a Grammy-winning ambassador for reggae music.</p>
<p>Morgan Heritage started in the early ’90s as a sibling band whose father is Jamaican reggae singer Denroy Morgan. Brothers Peter “Peetah,” Memmalatel “Mr. Mojo” and Roy “Gramps” Morgan were raised in Massachusetts, but added a Southern touch to their latest album, “Avrakedabra,” which was partially recorded in Nashville and is nominated for a Grammy for best reggae album.</p>
<p>Singer Roy “Gramps” Morgan has made Tennessee his home for five years, after being encouraged to visit the city by their Grammy-winning producer Shannon Sanders, who has worked with India.Arie, John Legend and Jonny Lang.</p>
<p>“Coming to Nashville has changed my life,” Morgan told The Associated Press. “Just being among the best songwriters. I remember going to a session with Keith Urban and just watching him. The musicianship, that’s what kills. That’s what we grew up on as a family.”</p>
<p>A new island-inspired sound is emerging in Nashville, Tennessee, thanks to a Grammy-winning ambassador for reggae music.&#160;Morgan Heritage started in the ’90s as a sibling band whose father is Jamaican reggae singer Denroy Morgan. The siblings added a Southern touch to their latest Grammy-nominated album, “Avrakedabra,” which was partially recorded in Nashville, where band member Roy “Gramps” Morgan lives. (Jan. 10)</p>
<p>Historically there is a long connection between country music and reggae music. Morgan said that Jamaicans could pick up powerful short wave radio stations from the United States playing artists like Jim Reeves and Patsy Cline, and they also idolized Western films that also featured a lot of traditional country songs. His mother used to play Dolly Parton and Randy Travis, alongside Jamaican artists Toots and the Maytals.</p>
<p>“If you follow reggae music and country music, it’s a lot of storytelling,” Morgan said. “In reggae we tell the story of people suffering.”</p>
<p>Now Morgan is trying to introduce Nashville to reggae. He hosted a regular rooftop reggae party last summer at Acme Feed and Seed, a popular downtown music venue and club, and served as DJ for a local radio station where he spun reggae records and talked about his musical influences. This is all part of his efforts to keep the genre sounding fresh.</p>
<p>“We cannot afford for our genre to be stagnant,” Morgan said. “You have reggae from Canada, Germany, Italy, California and right here in America, right here in Nashville, Tennessee.”</p>
<p>Sanders said he felt an immediate kinship to Morgan Heritage, given that they also grew up listening to American rock ‘n’ roll, soul, R&amp;B and gospel.</p>
<p>“He was able to make reggae make sense to me in a lot of ways,” Sanders said. “I started getting deeper and deeper into it, since knowing him.”</p>
<p>The band’s previous album, “Strictly Roots,” won the Grammy for best reggae album in 2016, and since the win, they’ve had to keep up an ambitious international touring schedule. The siblings staying on Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean when they came up with a song called “One Family.”</p>
<p>Morgan said he immediately thought about reaching out to collaborate with another reggae family, Ziggy and Stephen Marley, sons of reggae icon Bob Marley.</p>
<p>“It was a message to let the world know no matter where you come from, what walk of life you come from, we’re all one family,” Morgan said. “Just have faith in me and I will have faith in you.”</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Online: http:// <a href="http://www.morganheritagemusic.com" type="external">www.morganheritagemusic.com</a></p>
<p>__</p>
<p>Follow Kristin M. Hall at Twitter.com/kmhall</p>
<p>NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Alongside Nashville’s famous row of honky-tonk bars and nightclubs, a new island-inspired sound is emerging in Music City thanks to a Grammy-winning ambassador for reggae music.</p>
<p>Morgan Heritage started in the early ’90s as a sibling band whose father is Jamaican reggae singer Denroy Morgan. Brothers Peter “Peetah,” Memmalatel “Mr. Mojo” and Roy “Gramps” Morgan were raised in Massachusetts, but added a Southern touch to their latest album, “Avrakedabra,” which was partially recorded in Nashville and is nominated for a Grammy for best reggae album.</p>
<p>Singer Roy “Gramps” Morgan has made Tennessee his home for five years, after being encouraged to visit the city by their Grammy-winning producer Shannon Sanders, who has worked with India.Arie, John Legend and Jonny Lang.</p>
<p>“Coming to Nashville has changed my life,” Morgan told The Associated Press. “Just being among the best songwriters. I remember going to a session with Keith Urban and just watching him. The musicianship, that’s what kills. That’s what we grew up on as a family.”</p>
<p>A new island-inspired sound is emerging in Nashville, Tennessee, thanks to a Grammy-winning ambassador for reggae music.&#160;Morgan Heritage started in the ’90s as a sibling band whose father is Jamaican reggae singer Denroy Morgan. The siblings added a Southern touch to their latest Grammy-nominated album, “Avrakedabra,” which was partially recorded in Nashville, where band member Roy “Gramps” Morgan lives. (Jan. 10)</p>
<p>Historically there is a long connection between country music and reggae music. Morgan said that Jamaicans could pick up powerful short wave radio stations from the United States playing artists like Jim Reeves and Patsy Cline, and they also idolized Western films that also featured a lot of traditional country songs. His mother used to play Dolly Parton and Randy Travis, alongside Jamaican artists Toots and the Maytals.</p>
<p>“If you follow reggae music and country music, it’s a lot of storytelling,” Morgan said. “In reggae we tell the story of people suffering.”</p>
<p>Now Morgan is trying to introduce Nashville to reggae. He hosted a regular rooftop reggae party last summer at Acme Feed and Seed, a popular downtown music venue and club, and served as DJ for a local radio station where he spun reggae records and talked about his musical influences. This is all part of his efforts to keep the genre sounding fresh.</p>
<p>“We cannot afford for our genre to be stagnant,” Morgan said. “You have reggae from Canada, Germany, Italy, California and right here in America, right here in Nashville, Tennessee.”</p>
<p>Sanders said he felt an immediate kinship to Morgan Heritage, given that they also grew up listening to American rock ‘n’ roll, soul, R&amp;B and gospel.</p>
<p>“He was able to make reggae make sense to me in a lot of ways,” Sanders said. “I started getting deeper and deeper into it, since knowing him.”</p>
<p>The band’s previous album, “Strictly Roots,” won the Grammy for best reggae album in 2016, and since the win, they’ve had to keep up an ambitious international touring schedule. The siblings staying on Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean when they came up with a song called “One Family.”</p>
<p>Morgan said he immediately thought about reaching out to collaborate with another reggae family, Ziggy and Stephen Marley, sons of reggae icon Bob Marley.</p>
<p>“It was a message to let the world know no matter where you come from, what walk of life you come from, we’re all one family,” Morgan said. “Just have faith in me and I will have faith in you.”</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Online: http:// <a href="http://www.morganheritagemusic.com" type="external">www.morganheritagemusic.com</a></p>
<p>__</p>
<p>Follow Kristin M. Hall at Twitter.com/kmhall</p>
| false | 2 |
nashville tenn ap alongside nashvilles famous row honkytonk bars nightclubs new islandinspired sound emerging music city thanks grammywinning ambassador reggae music morgan heritage started early 90s sibling band whose father jamaican reggae singer denroy morgan brothers peter peetah memmalatel mr mojo roy gramps morgan raised massachusetts added southern touch latest album avrakedabra partially recorded nashville nominated grammy best reggae album singer roy gramps morgan made tennessee home five years encouraged visit city grammywinning producer shannon sanders worked indiaarie john legend jonny lang coming nashville changed life morgan told associated press among best songwriters remember going session keith urban watching musicianship thats kills thats grew family new islandinspired sound emerging nashville tennessee thanks grammywinning ambassador reggae music160morgan heritage started 90s sibling band whose father jamaican reggae singer denroy morgan siblings added southern touch latest grammynominated album avrakedabra partially recorded nashville band member roy gramps morgan lives jan 10 historically long connection country music reggae music morgan said jamaicans could pick powerful short wave radio stations united states playing artists like jim reeves patsy cline also idolized western films also featured lot traditional country songs mother used play dolly parton randy travis alongside jamaican artists toots maytals follow reggae music country music lot storytelling morgan said reggae tell story people suffering morgan trying introduce nashville reggae hosted regular rooftop reggae party last summer acme feed seed popular downtown music venue club served dj local radio station spun reggae records talked musical influences part efforts keep genre sounding fresh afford genre stagnant morgan said reggae canada germany italy california right america right nashville tennessee sanders said felt immediate kinship morgan heritage given also grew listening american rock n roll soul rampb gospel able make reggae make sense lot ways sanders said started getting deeper deeper since knowing bands previous album strictly roots grammy best reggae album 2016 since win theyve keep ambitious international touring schedule siblings staying reunion island indian ocean came song called one family morgan said immediately thought reaching collaborate another reggae family ziggy stephen marley sons reggae icon bob marley message let world know matter come walk life come one family morgan said faith faith ___ online http wwwmorganheritagemusiccom __ follow kristin hall twittercomkmhall nashville tenn ap alongside nashvilles famous row honkytonk bars nightclubs new islandinspired sound emerging music city thanks grammywinning ambassador reggae music morgan heritage started early 90s sibling band whose father jamaican reggae singer denroy morgan brothers peter peetah memmalatel mr mojo roy gramps morgan raised massachusetts added southern touch latest album avrakedabra partially recorded nashville nominated grammy best reggae album singer roy gramps morgan made tennessee home five years encouraged visit city grammywinning producer shannon sanders worked indiaarie john legend jonny lang coming nashville changed life morgan told associated press among best songwriters remember going session keith urban watching musicianship thats kills thats grew family new islandinspired sound emerging nashville tennessee thanks grammywinning ambassador reggae music160morgan heritage started 90s sibling band whose father jamaican reggae singer denroy morgan siblings added southern touch latest grammynominated album avrakedabra partially recorded nashville band member roy gramps morgan lives jan 10 historically long connection country music reggae music morgan said jamaicans could pick powerful short wave radio stations united states playing artists like jim reeves patsy cline also idolized western films also featured lot traditional country songs mother used play dolly parton randy travis alongside jamaican artists toots maytals follow reggae music country music lot storytelling morgan said reggae tell story people suffering morgan trying introduce nashville reggae hosted regular rooftop reggae party last summer acme feed seed popular downtown music venue club served dj local radio station spun reggae records talked musical influences part efforts keep genre sounding fresh afford genre stagnant morgan said reggae canada germany italy california right america right nashville tennessee sanders said felt immediate kinship morgan heritage given also grew listening american rock n roll soul rampb gospel able make reggae make sense lot ways sanders said started getting deeper deeper since knowing bands previous album strictly roots grammy best reggae album 2016 since win theyve keep ambitious international touring schedule siblings staying reunion island indian ocean came song called one family morgan said immediately thought reaching collaborate another reggae family ziggy stephen marley sons reggae icon bob marley message let world know matter come walk life come one family morgan said faith faith ___ online http wwwmorganheritagemusiccom __ follow kristin hall twittercomkmhall
| 728 |
<p>HUNTSVILLE, Texas (AP) — Texas carried out the nation’s first execution of 2018 Thursday evening, giving lethal injection to a man who became known as Houston’s “Tourniquet Killer” because of his signature murder technique on four female victims.</p>
<p>Anthony Allen Shore was put to death for one of those slayings, the 1992 killing of a 21-year-old woman whose body was dumped in the drive-thru of a Houston Dairy Queen.</p>
<p>In his final statement, Shore, 55, was apologetic and his voice cracked with emotion.</p>
<p>“No amount of words or apology could ever undo what I’ve done,” Shore said while strapped to the death chamber gurney. “I wish I could undo the past, but it is what it is.”</p>
<p>As the lethal dose of pentobarbital began, Shore said the drug burned. “Oooh-ee! I can feel that,” he said before slipping into unconsciousness.</p>
<p>He was pronounced dead 13 minutes later at 6:28 p.m. CST.</p>
<p>“Anthony Allen Shore’s reign of terror is officially over,” Andy Kahan, the city of Houston crime victims’ advocate, said, speaking for the families of Shore’s victims. “There’s a reason we have the death penalty in the state of Texas and Anthony Shore is on the top of the list. This has been a long, arduous journey that has taken over 20 years for victims’ families.”</p>
<p>Shore’s lawyers argued in appeals he suffered brain damage early in life that went undiscovered by his trial attorneys and affected Shore’s decision to disregard their advice when he told his trial judge he wanted the death penalty. A federal appeals court last year turned down his appeal, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to review his case and the six-member Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles unanimously rejected a clemency petition.</p>
<p>Shore’s attorneys said his appeals were exhausted. They filed no last-minute attempts to try to halt his execution.</p>
<p>In 1998, Shore received eight years’ probation and became a registered sex offender for sexually assaulting two relatives. Five years later, Shore was arrested for the 1992 slaying of Maria del Carmen Estrada after a tiny particle recovered from under her fingernail was matched to his DNA.</p>
<p>“I didn’t set out to kill her,” he told police in a taped interview played at his 2004 trial. “That was not my intent. But it got out of hand.”</p>
<p>Estrada was walking to work around 6:30 a.m. on April 16, 1992, when he she accepted a ride from him. The former tow truck driver, phone company repairman and part-time musician blamed his actions on “voices in my head that I was going to have her, regardless, to possess her in some way.”</p>
<p>He also confessed to killing three others, a 9-year-old and two teenagers. All four of his victims were Hispanic and at least three had been raped. Jurors also heard from three women who testified he raped them.</p>
<p>Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg, who as an assistant prosecutor worked the then-unsolved Estrada case, said crime scene photos showed Estrada was tortured and had suffered as a stick was used to tighten a cord around her neck.</p>
<p>“I know this case, I know his work and the death penalty is appropriate,” she said. “A jury in this case gave Shore death. ... I think he’s reached the end of the road and now it’s up to government to complete the job.”</p>
<p>Besides Estrada, Shore confessed to the slayings of Laurie Tremblay, 15, found beside a trash bin outside a Houston restaurant in 1986; Diana Rebollar, 9, abducted while walking to a neighborhood grocery store in 1994; and Dana Sanchez, 16, who disappeared in 1995 while hitchhiking to her boyfriend’s home in Houston.</p>
<p>Sanchez’s body was found after a caller to a Houston TV station provided directions on where to find it. Police believe Shore was the caller.</p>
<p>Shore’s execution originally was set for last October but was delayed for an investigation after another Texas death row inmate concocted a scheme to get Shore to take responsibility for his crimes.</p>
<p>In 2017, 23 convicted killers were put to death in the U.S., seven of them in Texas, more than another state. Three more inmates are scheduled to die in Texas in the coming weeks.</p>
<p>HUNTSVILLE, Texas (AP) — Texas carried out the nation’s first execution of 2018 Thursday evening, giving lethal injection to a man who became known as Houston’s “Tourniquet Killer” because of his signature murder technique on four female victims.</p>
<p>Anthony Allen Shore was put to death for one of those slayings, the 1992 killing of a 21-year-old woman whose body was dumped in the drive-thru of a Houston Dairy Queen.</p>
<p>In his final statement, Shore, 55, was apologetic and his voice cracked with emotion.</p>
<p>“No amount of words or apology could ever undo what I’ve done,” Shore said while strapped to the death chamber gurney. “I wish I could undo the past, but it is what it is.”</p>
<p>As the lethal dose of pentobarbital began, Shore said the drug burned. “Oooh-ee! I can feel that,” he said before slipping into unconsciousness.</p>
<p>He was pronounced dead 13 minutes later at 6:28 p.m. CST.</p>
<p>“Anthony Allen Shore’s reign of terror is officially over,” Andy Kahan, the city of Houston crime victims’ advocate, said, speaking for the families of Shore’s victims. “There’s a reason we have the death penalty in the state of Texas and Anthony Shore is on the top of the list. This has been a long, arduous journey that has taken over 20 years for victims’ families.”</p>
<p>Shore’s lawyers argued in appeals he suffered brain damage early in life that went undiscovered by his trial attorneys and affected Shore’s decision to disregard their advice when he told his trial judge he wanted the death penalty. A federal appeals court last year turned down his appeal, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to review his case and the six-member Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles unanimously rejected a clemency petition.</p>
<p>Shore’s attorneys said his appeals were exhausted. They filed no last-minute attempts to try to halt his execution.</p>
<p>In 1998, Shore received eight years’ probation and became a registered sex offender for sexually assaulting two relatives. Five years later, Shore was arrested for the 1992 slaying of Maria del Carmen Estrada after a tiny particle recovered from under her fingernail was matched to his DNA.</p>
<p>“I didn’t set out to kill her,” he told police in a taped interview played at his 2004 trial. “That was not my intent. But it got out of hand.”</p>
<p>Estrada was walking to work around 6:30 a.m. on April 16, 1992, when he she accepted a ride from him. The former tow truck driver, phone company repairman and part-time musician blamed his actions on “voices in my head that I was going to have her, regardless, to possess her in some way.”</p>
<p>He also confessed to killing three others, a 9-year-old and two teenagers. All four of his victims were Hispanic and at least three had been raped. Jurors also heard from three women who testified he raped them.</p>
<p>Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg, who as an assistant prosecutor worked the then-unsolved Estrada case, said crime scene photos showed Estrada was tortured and had suffered as a stick was used to tighten a cord around her neck.</p>
<p>“I know this case, I know his work and the death penalty is appropriate,” she said. “A jury in this case gave Shore death. ... I think he’s reached the end of the road and now it’s up to government to complete the job.”</p>
<p>Besides Estrada, Shore confessed to the slayings of Laurie Tremblay, 15, found beside a trash bin outside a Houston restaurant in 1986; Diana Rebollar, 9, abducted while walking to a neighborhood grocery store in 1994; and Dana Sanchez, 16, who disappeared in 1995 while hitchhiking to her boyfriend’s home in Houston.</p>
<p>Sanchez’s body was found after a caller to a Houston TV station provided directions on where to find it. Police believe Shore was the caller.</p>
<p>Shore’s execution originally was set for last October but was delayed for an investigation after another Texas death row inmate concocted a scheme to get Shore to take responsibility for his crimes.</p>
<p>In 2017, 23 convicted killers were put to death in the U.S., seven of them in Texas, more than another state. Three more inmates are scheduled to die in Texas in the coming weeks.</p>
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huntsville texas ap texas carried nations first execution 2018 thursday evening giving lethal injection man became known houstons tourniquet killer signature murder technique four female victims anthony allen shore put death one slayings 1992 killing 21yearold woman whose body dumped drivethru houston dairy queen final statement shore 55 apologetic voice cracked emotion amount words apology could ever undo ive done shore said strapped death chamber gurney wish could undo past lethal dose pentobarbital began shore said drug burned ooohee feel said slipping unconsciousness pronounced dead 13 minutes later 628 pm cst anthony allen shores reign terror officially andy kahan city houston crime victims advocate said speaking families shores victims theres reason death penalty state texas anthony shore top list long arduous journey taken 20 years victims families shores lawyers argued appeals suffered brain damage early life went undiscovered trial attorneys affected shores decision disregard advice told trial judge wanted death penalty federal appeals court last year turned appeal us supreme court refused review case sixmember texas board pardons paroles unanimously rejected clemency petition shores attorneys said appeals exhausted filed lastminute attempts try halt execution 1998 shore received eight years probation became registered sex offender sexually assaulting two relatives five years later shore arrested 1992 slaying maria del carmen estrada tiny particle recovered fingernail matched dna didnt set kill told police taped interview played 2004 trial intent got hand estrada walking work around 630 april 16 1992 accepted ride former tow truck driver phone company repairman parttime musician blamed actions voices head going regardless possess way also confessed killing three others 9yearold two teenagers four victims hispanic least three raped jurors also heard three women testified raped harris county district attorney kim ogg assistant prosecutor worked thenunsolved estrada case said crime scene photos showed estrada tortured suffered stick used tighten cord around neck know case know work death penalty appropriate said jury case gave shore death think hes reached end road government complete job besides estrada shore confessed slayings laurie tremblay 15 found beside trash bin outside houston restaurant 1986 diana rebollar 9 abducted walking neighborhood grocery store 1994 dana sanchez 16 disappeared 1995 hitchhiking boyfriends home houston sanchezs body found caller houston tv station provided directions find police believe shore caller shores execution originally set last october delayed investigation another texas death row inmate concocted scheme get shore take responsibility crimes 2017 23 convicted killers put death us seven texas another state three inmates scheduled die texas coming weeks huntsville texas ap texas carried nations first execution 2018 thursday evening giving lethal injection man became known houstons tourniquet killer signature murder technique four female victims anthony allen shore put death one slayings 1992 killing 21yearold woman whose body dumped drivethru houston dairy queen final statement shore 55 apologetic voice cracked emotion amount words apology could ever undo ive done shore said strapped death chamber gurney wish could undo past lethal dose pentobarbital began shore said drug burned ooohee feel said slipping unconsciousness pronounced dead 13 minutes later 628 pm cst anthony allen shores reign terror officially andy kahan city houston crime victims advocate said speaking families shores victims theres reason death penalty state texas anthony shore top list long arduous journey taken 20 years victims families shores lawyers argued appeals suffered brain damage early life went undiscovered trial attorneys affected shores decision disregard advice told trial judge wanted death penalty federal appeals court last year turned appeal us supreme court refused review case sixmember texas board pardons paroles unanimously rejected clemency petition shores attorneys said appeals exhausted filed lastminute attempts try halt execution 1998 shore received eight years probation became registered sex offender sexually assaulting two relatives five years later shore arrested 1992 slaying maria del carmen estrada tiny particle recovered fingernail matched dna didnt set kill told police taped interview played 2004 trial intent got hand estrada walking work around 630 april 16 1992 accepted ride former tow truck driver phone company repairman parttime musician blamed actions voices head going regardless possess way also confessed killing three others 9yearold two teenagers four victims hispanic least three raped jurors also heard three women testified raped harris county district attorney kim ogg assistant prosecutor worked thenunsolved estrada case said crime scene photos showed estrada tortured suffered stick used tighten cord around neck know case know work death penalty appropriate said jury case gave shore death think hes reached end road government complete job besides estrada shore confessed slayings laurie tremblay 15 found beside trash bin outside houston restaurant 1986 diana rebollar 9 abducted walking neighborhood grocery store 1994 dana sanchez 16 disappeared 1995 hitchhiking boyfriends home houston sanchezs body found caller houston tv station provided directions find police believe shore caller shores execution originally set last october delayed investigation another texas death row inmate concocted scheme get shore take responsibility crimes 2017 23 convicted killers put death us seven texas another state three inmates scheduled die texas coming weeks
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<p />
<p>Albuquerque had the 22nd-lowest cost among 29 western cities to operate a 500,000-square-foot distribution center served by rail, according to a recent study by The Boyd Co., which provides third-party site selection services.</p>
<p>The comparatively low cost could make Albuquerque a contender for large companies looking for a place to put an intermodal facility — meaning served by the different transportation modes of train, truck and sometimes even cargo plane — John Boyd Jr. told the Journal during a recent visit to Albuquerque.</p>
<p>“This is a very cost-sensitive industry,” he said.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Albuquerque is served by Fort Worth-based BNSF Railway, formerly the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway, which has an intermodal facility in the South Valley and a major inspection, maintenance and fueling rail yard in Belen to serve trains on its major east-west transcontinental corridor.</p>
<p>The metro area isn’t usually thought of as a potential distribution hub due to its geographic isolation and relatively small population, thus making the Boyd Co. study’s inclusion of Albuquerque rather unusual, said Jim Smith of CBRE, a commercial real-estate services firm.</p>
<p>“I think it’s neat we’re in the conversation. It’s good publicity,” he said. “We’ll have to see how it all works out.”</p>
<p>In the Boyd Co. study, Albuquerque’s cost to operate a 500,000-square-foot distribution center was about $16.5 million a year, lowest in the Southwest. In addition to being 20 percent lower than Los Angeles, it was 10 percent lower than Phoenix, 6 percent lower than Denver and 4 percent lower than Las Vegas, Nev.</p>
<p>Albuquerque did well in four out of the five expense categories in the study. Among the 22 U.S. cities in the study — the other seven are in Canada — Albuquerque had the second-lowest labor cost, third-lowest amortization cost and fifth-lowest costs in both the electric power and tax categories.</p>
<p>The comparatively low amortization cost surprised local brokers in the industrial real-estate market because it estimated the cost to finance the hypothetical distribution center’s land, building and equipment costs over 25 years at a low interest rate.</p>
<p>Raw industrial-zoned land is comparatively expensive in Albuquerque, as a rule, while the state’s 7 percent gross-receipts tax on construction serves to make building projects more expensive than elsewhere, said both Smith and Keith Meyer of NAI Maestas &amp; Ward.</p>
<p>Albuquerque lost ground in the “shipping cost” category, where it had the second-highest annual cost after Union Pacific-served Tucson, according to the Boyd Co. study. The shipping category represents the estimated cost to get freight by rail from the source to the hypothetical distribution center’s loading dock.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>The size of the hypothetical distribution center, at 500,000 square feet, would be out of character for Albuquerque, which has a relatively undersized industrial real-estate market. Ken Schaefer of Colliers Internationl said the two largest warehouses in the metro are just over 350,000 square feet.</p>
<p>The potential for such a large intermodal distribution center in Albuquerque stems from what John Boyd described as a looming change in the freight shipping pattern.</p>
<p>The current prevailing pattern is a latitudinal movement of freight, from east-to-west or west-to-east. For example, Asian imports arrive at West Coast ports then get shipped east by rail to inland intermodal facilities, where they are transferred to trucks for the final leg of the journey.</p>
<p>Boyd said several factors play into the potential for change to a longitudinal, from south-to-north or north-to-south, movement of freight:</p>
<p>⋄&#160; The country’s two busiest ports, Los Angeles and Long Beach, are functioning near capacity. Expansion of those ports would be expensive and likely to be challenged on environmental grounds. In addition, Boyd said California’s tendency to overregulate industry drives up shipping costs.</p>
<p>⋄&#160; The current expansion of the Panama Canal, expected to be completed in 2014 or 2015, will enable larger container ships to bypass congested West Coast ports for alternatives like Houston or Savannah, Ga.</p>
<p>⋄&#160; Mexico, which has gone through a massive restructuring and privatization of its port system, offers an alternative to West Coast ports.</p>
<p>The Port of Lazaro Cardenas is connected to the East Coast by the KCS Railway, formerly Kansas City Southern. The Port of Manzanillo was a top 10 port for container traffic in North America in 2011, according to the American Association of Port Authorities. Both ports have seen big jumps in usage.</p>
<p>The Albuquerque metro’s strategic location at a crossroads of railroad tracks not far from the border with Mexico could attract attention from logistics providers, Boyd said. The longitudinal shift in shipping patterns likely would provide the impetus.</p>
<p>The shift could be signaled by an increase in truck traffic through Albuquerque on north/south Interstate 25, Meyer said. “If you drive I-25 right now, you don’t see a lot of trucks,” he added. “On I-40, you’ll see a ton of trucks.”</p>
<p>The north/south railroad tracks that pass through Albuquerque don’t see a lot of freight trains, noted Jim Wible of NAI Maestas &amp; Ward. BNSF sold the stretch of tracks from Belen to Lamy, near Santa Fe, to the state in 2005. The Rail Runner Express, a commuter rail service, now has priority on that stretch.</p>
<p>BNSF and New Mexico recently canceled the state’s previously agreed-to purchase of the tracks from Lamy to the Colorado state line, Wible said. The cancellation could be a sign that the north/south tracks may one day see a revival of freight traffic, he said.</p>
<p>The recession was hard on the freight-shipping industry, forcing it to look at ways to develop economies of scale.</p>
<p>“For many shippers, improving the bottom line on the cost side of the ledger is far easier than on the revenue side,” says the Boyd Co. study.</p>
<p>Over-the-road trucking costs are expected to increase by about 5.6 percent in 2013, the study says. The upward pressure on costs stems not only from fuel prices, but also from driver wages and health-care coverage as well as equipment upgrades.</p>
<p>The Boyd Co. is counseling its warehousing clients to locate their regional distribution centers as close to rail access as possible. The idea is to reduce dependence on trucking and increase use of cheaper rail service.</p>
<p>“Compared to over-the-road shipping, rail moves one ton of freight on average 405 miles on a single gallon of gas,” the study says. “This is the equivalent of your SUV getting 250 miles to the gallon.”</p>
<p>One driver of Boyd Co.’s rail-use advocacy is the “branding value” of operating a business in a green-friendly manner, Boyd said. In shipping, that means low CO2 emissions.</p>
<p>“The EPA estimates that railroads account for less than 10 percent of all transportation-related CO2 emissions,” he said. “It also alleviates highway congestion.</p>
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albuquerque 22ndlowest cost among 29 western cities operate 500000squarefoot distribution center served rail according recent study boyd co provides thirdparty site selection services comparatively low cost could make albuquerque contender large companies looking place put intermodal facility meaning served different transportation modes train truck sometimes even cargo plane john boyd jr told journal recent visit albuquerque costsensitive industry said advertisement albuquerque served fort worthbased bnsf railway formerly burlington northern santa fe railway intermodal facility south valley major inspection maintenance fueling rail yard belen serve trains major eastwest transcontinental corridor metro area isnt usually thought potential distribution hub due geographic isolation relatively small population thus making boyd co studys inclusion albuquerque rather unusual said jim smith cbre commercial realestate services firm think neat conversation good publicity said well see works boyd co study albuquerques cost operate 500000squarefoot distribution center 165 million year lowest southwest addition 20 percent lower los angeles 10 percent lower phoenix 6 percent lower denver 4 percent lower las vegas nev albuquerque well four five expense categories study among 22 us cities study seven canada albuquerque secondlowest labor cost thirdlowest amortization cost fifthlowest costs electric power tax categories comparatively low amortization cost surprised local brokers industrial realestate market estimated cost finance hypothetical distribution centers land building equipment costs 25 years low interest rate raw industrialzoned land comparatively expensive albuquerque rule states 7 percent grossreceipts tax construction serves make building projects expensive elsewhere said smith keith meyer nai maestas amp ward albuquerque lost ground shipping cost category secondhighest annual cost union pacificserved tucson according boyd co study shipping category represents estimated cost get freight rail source hypothetical distribution centers loading dock advertisement size hypothetical distribution center 500000 square feet would character albuquerque relatively undersized industrial realestate market ken schaefer colliers internationl said two largest warehouses metro 350000 square feet potential large intermodal distribution center albuquerque stems john boyd described looming change freight shipping pattern current prevailing pattern latitudinal movement freight easttowest westtoeast example asian imports arrive west coast ports get shipped east rail inland intermodal facilities transferred trucks final leg journey boyd said several factors play potential change longitudinal southtonorth northtosouth movement freight 160 countrys two busiest ports los angeles long beach functioning near capacity expansion ports would expensive likely challenged environmental grounds addition boyd said californias tendency overregulate industry drives shipping costs 160 current expansion panama canal expected completed 2014 2015 enable larger container ships bypass congested west coast ports alternatives like houston savannah ga 160 mexico gone massive restructuring privatization port system offers alternative west coast ports port lazaro cardenas connected east coast kcs railway formerly kansas city southern port manzanillo top 10 port container traffic north america 2011 according american association port authorities ports seen big jumps usage albuquerque metros strategic location crossroads railroad tracks far border mexico could attract attention logistics providers boyd said longitudinal shift shipping patterns likely would provide impetus shift could signaled increase truck traffic albuquerque northsouth interstate 25 meyer said drive i25 right dont see lot trucks added i40 youll see ton trucks northsouth railroad tracks pass albuquerque dont see lot freight trains noted jim wible nai maestas amp ward bnsf sold stretch tracks belen lamy near santa fe state 2005 rail runner express commuter rail service priority stretch bnsf new mexico recently canceled states previously agreedto purchase tracks lamy colorado state line wible said cancellation could sign northsouth tracks may one day see revival freight traffic said recession hard freightshipping industry forcing look ways develop economies scale many shippers improving bottom line cost side ledger far easier revenue side says boyd co study overtheroad trucking costs expected increase 56 percent 2013 study says upward pressure costs stems fuel prices also driver wages healthcare coverage well equipment upgrades boyd co counseling warehousing clients locate regional distribution centers close rail access possible idea reduce dependence trucking increase use cheaper rail service compared overtheroad shipping rail moves one ton freight average 405 miles single gallon gas study says equivalent suv getting 250 miles gallon one driver boyd cos railuse advocacy branding value operating business greenfriendly manner boyd said shipping means low co2 emissions epa estimates railroads account less 10 percent transportationrelated co2 emissions said also alleviates highway congestion
| 695 |
<p>BERLIN (Reuters) - Deutsche Telekom is planning to split its IT services and consulting business T-Systems into two separate units in a bid to halt a slide in earnings, a spokesman for Deutsche Telekom said, confirming a newspaper report.</p> FILE PHOTO: Deutsche Telekom logo is seen during preparations at the CeBit computer fair, which will open its doors to the public on March 20, at the fairground in Hanover, Germany, March 19, 2017. REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer/File Photo
<p>The move will have advantages for T-Systems’ customers and the company itself as the two units would be closer to their respective markets and would be more flexible, he said, without providing further details.</p>
<p>German daily Handelsblatt earlier reported that T-Systems’ new head, Adel Al-Saleh, had presented plans to managers on Monday to create one unit focused on classical IT outsourcing and another responsible for the rest of the company’s business.</p>
<p>American turnaround specialist Al-Saleh replaced Reinhard Clemens at the helm of T-Systems earlier this month, after Deutsche Telekom booked a 1.2 billion-euro ($1.5 billion)impairment charge against goodwill at T-Systems for the third quarter. [nL8N1MK281][nL8N1NF103]</p>
<p>Executives have admitted they were slow to anticipate a shift in IT services to a low-cost cloud-subscription revenue model.</p>
<p>Reporting by Nadine Schimroszik; Writing by Maria Sheahan; Editing by Georgina Prodhan</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - KPMG South Africa is reviewing work done by its partners in the wake of the resignation of two partners who faced disciplinary charges, its chief executive said on Sunday, another setback for the firm whose work is under scrutiny by authorities.</p> FILE PHOTO: The offices of auditors KMPG are seen in Cape Town, South Africa, September 19, 2017. Picture taken September 19, 2017. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings
<p>CEO Nhlamulo Dlomu said the resignation of partners Sipho Malaba and Dumi Tshuma on Friday after facing disciplinary charges over failure to disclose financial interests in VBS Mutual Bank, is a reminder of how much more needs to be done to “reaffirm the public’s trust in KPMG”.</p>
<p>She said the charges stemmed from the partners giving misleading information on loans they had from VBS.</p>
<p>Small lender VBS was in March placed under curatorship by the South African Reserve Bank because of liquidity issues.</p>
<p>“We will look at the last two years. We’re looking at least 200 files and looking at big, medium size and smaller clients,” Dlomu told reporters.</p>
<p>“In essence what we’re doing is we’re opening ourselves up to proper and detailed scrutiny.”</p>
<p>KPMG sacked its South African leadership in September last year after it found work done for companies owned by the Gupta family, a trio of businessmen with close ties to former President Jacob Zuma, “fell considerably short” of its standards. The Guptas have consistently denied wrong-doing.</p>
<a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=SAPG.DE" type="external">SAP SE</a> 87.97 SAPG.DE Xetra +0.23 (+0.26%) SAPG.DE
<p>The latest review will be in addition to other internal and external reviews that have been carried out since last September to date.</p>
<p>“The purpose of this new program is to assess the commitment to quality and professionalism of our engagement teams,” KPMG said in a statement.</p>
<p>The company also said it has started an expanded process of integrity and background checks of all partners and their spouses, which will be coordinated by KPMG International.</p>
<p>Additional non-executives on the board will be appointed to ensure independent scrutiny, it said.</p>
<p>South Africa’s companies registry office said in January it was pursuing criminal complaints against KPMG, as well as SAP ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=SAPG.DE" type="external">SAPG.DE</a>) and McKinsey, on suspicion that business they conducted with the Guptas broke the companies act.</p>
<p>A number of companies have since dropped KPMG as their auditor. Dlomu said clients who have dropped the firm are less than 10 percent of KPMG’s client book.</p>
<p>Reporting by Nqobile Dludla, editing by David Evans</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>LONDON (Reuters) - Gold and oil will extend their gains on Monday, albeit modestly, when the markets open for the first time since Western powers launched a missile attack on Syria but equities and bonds are unlikely to suffer big losses unless the West strikes again or Russia retaliates.</p> FILE PHOTO: A Syrian firefighter is seen inside the destroyed Scientific Research Centre in Damascus, Syria April 14, 2018. REUTERS/Omar Sanadiki
<p>“The newsflow is actually better than what it looked like at one point during last week as the strike was surgical, followed by a pullback. Reports show a lot of care was taken not to hit Russian targets, which is a good sign and the market should take heart from that,” said Salman Ahmed, chief investment strategist at Lombard Odier investment managers in London.</p>
<p>Gold has benefited in recent days as a safe-haven asset amid a U.S.-China trade dispute and the escalating conflict in Syria, which also pushed oil above $70 per barrel due to concerns about a spike in Middle Eastern tensions.</p>
<p>World stocks wobbled last week but still ended with the best weekly gain in over a month, as investors await potentially healthy U.S. company earnings.</p>
<p>Despite heightened geo-political risks, the impact on so-called safe-haven assets has been short-lived and modest - while the yen rose initially on fears of a Syrian strike, it ended near seven-week lows to the dollar last week.</p>
<p>On Saturday, U.S., French and British missile attacks struck at the heart of Syria’s chemical weapons program in retaliation for a suspected poison gas attack a week ago, although the assault appeared unlikely to halt Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s progress in the seven-year-old civil war.</p>
<p>For map of Syrian strikes <a href="https://tmsnrt.rs/2EKgAMN" type="external">tmsnrt.rs/2EKgAMN</a></p>
<p>The bombing, denounced by Damascus and its allies as an illegal act of aggression, was the biggest intervention by Western countries against Assad and his powerful ally Russia.</p>
<p>But the three countries said the strikes were limited to Syria’s chemical weapons capabilities and not aimed at toppling Assad or intervening in the civil war.</p>
<p>Naeem Aslam, chief market analyst at Think Markets, said gold was poised to gain on Monday but the rally wouldn’t be very steep: “The focus will be on the counter-reaction from Russia.”</p>
<p>Gold, often used as a store of value in times of political and economic uncertainty, could rally towards $1,400 per ounce after two consecutive weeks of gains.</p>
<p>“If we do break above $1,365 that next week we would be very bullish,” said Aslam.</p>
<p>Others were less convinced of the market’s ability to gain much further ground.</p> FILE PHOTO: Syrians wave Iranian, Russian and Syrian flags during a protest against U.S.-led air strikes in Damascus, Syria April 14, 2018. REUTERS/Omar Sanadiki
<p>“I think the strikes were well targeted, and as such gold market impact will be minimal as it will be hard to justify a major retaliation,” said a trader at a leading bullion bank.</p>
<p>Tokyo will be the first major market to open on Monday and the yen will likely strengthen to the dollar, but not beyond 106.50, said Itsuo Toshima, market analyst at Toshima &amp; Associates adding that he didn’t expect stocks traders to take sharp moves tomorrow.</p>
<p>“The first attack was within expectations and was already priced in the market ... However, if there is second round of strikes, that is not in line with expectations. So that should prompt a sharp risk-off move in markets. Stocks will plunge, the yen and the oil prices will surge,” he added.</p>
<p>Frank Benzimra, head of global markets for Asia Pacific at Societe Generale Corporate and Investment Banking, also said stocks were set to plunge only in case of new strikes by Western powers.</p>
<p>In case of such an escalation, energy-related assets should outperform Asia markets, oil would rally further, the yen would spike and Japan’s domestic defensive stocks would outperform international stocks.</p>
<p>“For the stress on Asia equity markets to be sustainable we would need to have oil prices spiking to such a level that fundamental concerns, i.e. higher inflation and risks on growth, return to the market,” he said.</p>
<p>Amrita Sen from Energy Aspects said that despite Middle Eastern tensions and looming new U.S. sanctions on Iran, she believed oil has outperformed most expectations this year and may have rallied too far too fast.</p>
<p>“We are likely to get a sell-off this week as the extent of the Syrian strikes have been muted and, in general, calmer nerves prevail in Washington,” she said.</p>
<p>Reporting by Vidya Ranganathan, Sujata Rao, Jan Harvey and Dmitry Zhdannikov; Writing by Dmitry Zhdannikov; editing by David Evans</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>(Reuters) - Proxy adviser Institutional Shareholder Services on Saturday recommended investors vote against the re-election of five Equifax Inc ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=EFX.N" type="external">EFX.N</a>) directors who served on the company’s audit and technology committees prior to a 2017 data breach.</p> Credit reporting company Equifax Inc. corporate offices are pictured in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., September 8, 2017. REUTERS/Tami Chappell
<p>The Atlanta-based consumer credit company last fall said hackers had stolen personally identifiable information of U.S., British and Canadian consumers, including names, Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses, driver’s license and credit card numbers. Over time, Equifax has increased the number affected to more than 147 million people.</p>
<p>ISS said in a report to shareholders sent to Reuters by a spokesman that the company’s reputation and shareholder value had been damaged by the extent of the breach and the company’s slow response to it, placing a cloud over the company.</p>
<p>In response, it recommended against voting for directors Mark L. Feidler, G. Thomas Hough, John A. McKinley, Elane B. Stock and Mark B. Templeton, who served on the two committees with relevant oversight duties. It recommended votes in support of the remaining five director candidates at the company, including Siri S. Marshall, head of the governance committee.</p>
<a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=EFX.N" type="external">Equifax Inc</a> 116.0 EFX.N New York Stock Exchange -0.91 (-0.78%) EFX.N
<p>An Equifax spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the recommendations.</p>
<p>Equifax has said breach-related costs could reach $439 million through year-end, potentially making it the most costly U.S. hack yet disclosed. The company has lost 19 percent of its market value since the massive cybertheft was disclosed. Its shares traded at $116 on Friday. [L2N1QK1Q1]</p>
<p>The credit reporting company is facing 100s of lawsuits by consumers, financial institutions and even the city of Chicago relating to the cybersecurity breach. The company disputes the claims and has said it intends to defend against them.</p>
<p>ISS also recommended “cautionary support” for the company’s say-on-pay resolution, noting the compensation committee’s decision to not pay annual incentives, steps to adjust incentive metrics and strengthen clawback provisions. However, it said there are ongoing questions about former Chief Executive Richard F. Smith’s pay and “the issue warrants continued monitoring.”</p>
<p>It also recommended a vote in favor of a shareholder resolution seeking a report on political contributions by the company, saying holders would benefit from more disclosure of the company’s political spending, payments to trade groups, its management of related risks.</p>
<p>The company’s annual general meeting is scheduled for May 3.</p>
<p>Reporting by Gary McWilliams; Editing by Alistair Bell</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>LONDON (Reuters) - Martin Sorrell, who built WPP into the world’s biggest advertising agency through 33 years of dealmaking, quit on Saturday after an allegation of personal misconduct.</p>
<p>The departure of the CEO who built a two-man outfit into one of Britain’s biggest companies with 200,000 staff in 112 countries leaves WPP without a boss at a pivotal time for the industry and when the group is under great strain.</p>
<p>WPP stunned the market last week when it said it had appointed lawyers to investigate alleged misconduct by Sorrell. He denied the allegations but in a letter to WPP staff published late on Saturday he said the “current disruption” was “putting too much unnecessary pressure on the business”.</p>
<p>He said he had decided that “in your interest, in the interest of our clients, in the interest of all shareowners, both big and small, and in the interest of all our other stakeholders, it is best for me to step aside”.</p>
<p>Chairman Roberto Quarta will become executive chairman until a new chief executive is found, while Mark Read, a WPP digital executive, and Andrew Scott, chief operating officer, Europe, have been appointed as joint chief operating officers.</p>
<p>Read, who previously sat on WPP’s main board, is well regarded in the industry while Scott was involved in its acquisition strategy and was not involved with clients.</p>
<p>The company will consider internal and external candidates for the top job in a process that could take several months.</p>
<p>“Obviously I am sad to leave WPP after 33 years,” Sorrell said in a statement. “It has been a passion, focus and source of energy for so long. However, I believe it is in the best interests of the business if I step down now.”</p>
<p>WPP said the investigation, which regarded financial impropriety, had concluded. It made no further comment but repeated a previous statement that the allegation did not involve amounts that were material to the company.</p>
<p>A source close to Sorrell said he had been unhappy with how the investigation was handled, leaving him uncertain whether he could work with the board again.</p>
<p>Analysts have speculated that the sprawling group, which was being restructured after a year of lower spending from some clients, could now sell off some assets if led by different management.</p> PASSION AND FOCUS
<p>The longest-serving CEO on the FTSE 100 blue chip index, Sorrell built WPP into one of Britain’s biggest companies by three decades of relentless dealmaking. He is one of the most high profile, and best paid, executives in the country.</p>
<p>In his time the group expanded to own top creative agencies including J. Walter Thompson and Young &amp; Rubicam, as well as media planners and buyers, market-research firms and public relations groups such as Finsbury.</p>
<p>Present in 112 countries, WPP serves clients including Ford, Unilever, P&amp;G and a string of major corporations around the world.</p>
<p>It largely outperformed its peers Omnicom, Publicis and IPG in the years that followed the financial crisis as the group pitched aggressively for new work. But it has been hit in the last 18 months by a downturn in spending from consumer goods groups Unilever and P&amp;G, and the loss of some big accounts.</p> FILE PHOTO: Sir Martin Sorrell, Chief Executive Officer of WPP, attends the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, January 23, 2018. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo
<p>The migration of advertising online and the encroachment into market research of consultancies such as Accenture have compounded the pressures. Its shares are down around 30 percent this year.</p>
<p>The company said Sorrell would be available to assist with the transition, and the man synonymous with the British marketing group told the staff they would come through this difficult time.</p>
<p>“As a founder, I can say that WPP is not just a matter of life or death, it was, is and will be more important than that,” Sorrell said. “Good fortune and Godspeed to all of you. Now back to the future.”</p>
<p>Reporting by Kate Holton; Editing by Kevin Liffey, Alistair Bell and Daniel Wallis</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
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berlin reuters deutsche telekom planning split services consulting business tsystems two separate units bid halt slide earnings spokesman deutsche telekom said confirming newspaper report file photo deutsche telekom logo seen preparations cebit computer fair open doors public march 20 fairground hanover germany march 19 2017 reutersfabian bimmerfile photo move advantages tsystems customers company two units would closer respective markets would flexible said without providing details german daily handelsblatt earlier reported tsystems new head adel alsaleh presented plans managers monday create one unit focused classical outsourcing another responsible rest companys business american turnaround specialist alsaleh replaced reinhard clemens helm tsystems earlier month deutsche telekom booked 12 billioneuro 15 billionimpairment charge goodwill tsystems third quarter nl8n1mk281nl8n1nf103 executives admitted slow anticipate shift services lowcost cloudsubscription revenue model reporting nadine schimroszik writing maria sheahan editing georgina prodhan standards thomson reuters trust principles johannesburg reuters kpmg south africa reviewing work done partners wake resignation two partners faced disciplinary charges chief executive said sunday another setback firm whose work scrutiny authorities file photo offices auditors kmpg seen cape town south africa september 19 2017 picture taken september 19 2017 reutersmike hutchings ceo nhlamulo dlomu said resignation partners sipho malaba dumi tshuma friday facing disciplinary charges failure disclose financial interests vbs mutual bank reminder much needs done reaffirm publics trust kpmg said charges stemmed partners giving misleading information loans vbs small lender vbs march placed curatorship south african reserve bank liquidity issues look last two years looking least 200 files looking big medium size smaller clients dlomu told reporters essence opening proper detailed scrutiny kpmg sacked south african leadership september last year found work done companies owned gupta family trio businessmen close ties former president jacob zuma fell considerably short standards guptas consistently denied wrongdoing sap se 8797 sapgde xetra 023 026 sapgde latest review addition internal external reviews carried since last september date purpose new program assess commitment quality professionalism engagement teams kpmg said statement company also said started expanded process integrity background checks partners spouses coordinated kpmg international additional nonexecutives board appointed ensure independent scrutiny said south africas companies registry office said january pursuing criminal complaints kpmg well sap sapgde mckinsey suspicion business conducted guptas broke companies act number companies since dropped kpmg auditor dlomu said clients dropped firm less 10 percent kpmgs client book reporting nqobile dludla editing david evans standards thomson reuters trust principles london reuters gold oil extend gains monday albeit modestly markets open first time since western powers launched missile attack syria equities bonds unlikely suffer big losses unless west strikes russia retaliates file photo syrian firefighter seen inside destroyed scientific research centre damascus syria april 14 2018 reutersomar sanadiki newsflow actually better looked like one point last week strike surgical followed pullback reports show lot care taken hit russian targets good sign market take heart said salman ahmed chief investment strategist lombard odier investment managers london gold benefited recent days safehaven asset amid uschina trade dispute escalating conflict syria also pushed oil 70 per barrel due concerns spike middle eastern tensions world stocks wobbled last week still ended best weekly gain month investors await potentially healthy us company earnings despite heightened geopolitical risks impact socalled safehaven assets shortlived modest yen rose initially fears syrian strike ended near sevenweek lows dollar last week saturday us french british missile attacks struck heart syrias chemical weapons program retaliation suspected poison gas attack week ago although assault appeared unlikely halt syrian president bashar alassads progress sevenyearold civil war map syrian strikes tmsnrtrs2ekgamn bombing denounced damascus allies illegal act aggression biggest intervention western countries assad powerful ally russia three countries said strikes limited syrias chemical weapons capabilities aimed toppling assad intervening civil war naeem aslam chief market analyst think markets said gold poised gain monday rally wouldnt steep focus counterreaction russia gold often used store value times political economic uncertainty could rally towards 1400 per ounce two consecutive weeks gains break 1365 next week would bullish said aslam others less convinced markets ability gain much ground file photo syrians wave iranian russian syrian flags protest usled air strikes damascus syria april 14 2018 reutersomar sanadiki think strikes well targeted gold market impact minimal hard justify major retaliation said trader leading bullion bank tokyo first major market open monday yen likely strengthen dollar beyond 10650 said itsuo toshima market analyst toshima amp associates adding didnt expect stocks traders take sharp moves tomorrow first attack within expectations already priced market however second round strikes line expectations prompt sharp riskoff move markets stocks plunge yen oil prices surge added frank benzimra head global markets asia pacific societe generale corporate investment banking also said stocks set plunge case new strikes western powers case escalation energyrelated assets outperform asia markets oil would rally yen would spike japans domestic defensive stocks would outperform international stocks stress asia equity markets sustainable would need oil prices spiking level fundamental concerns ie higher inflation risks growth return market said amrita sen energy aspects said despite middle eastern tensions looming new us sanctions iran believed oil outperformed expectations year may rallied far fast likely get selloff week extent syrian strikes muted general calmer nerves prevail washington said reporting vidya ranganathan sujata rao jan harvey dmitry zhdannikov writing dmitry zhdannikov editing david evans standards thomson reuters trust principles reuters proxy adviser institutional shareholder services saturday recommended investors vote reelection five equifax inc efxn directors served companys audit technology committees prior 2017 data breach credit reporting company equifax inc corporate offices pictured atlanta georgia us september 8 2017 reuterstami chappell atlantabased consumer credit company last fall said hackers stolen personally identifiable information us british canadian consumers including names social security numbers birth dates addresses drivers license credit card numbers time equifax increased number affected 147 million people iss said report shareholders sent reuters spokesman companys reputation shareholder value damaged extent breach companys slow response placing cloud company response recommended voting directors mark l feidler g thomas hough john mckinley elane b stock mark b templeton served two committees relevant oversight duties recommended votes support remaining five director candidates company including siri marshall head governance committee equifax inc 1160 efxn new york stock exchange 091 078 efxn equifax spokeswoman immediately respond request comment recommendations equifax said breachrelated costs could reach 439 million yearend potentially making costly us hack yet disclosed company lost 19 percent market value since massive cybertheft disclosed shares traded 116 friday l2n1qk1q1 credit reporting company facing 100s lawsuits consumers financial institutions even city chicago relating cybersecurity breach company disputes claims said intends defend iss also recommended cautionary support companys sayonpay resolution noting compensation committees decision pay annual incentives steps adjust incentive metrics strengthen clawback provisions however said ongoing questions former chief executive richard f smiths pay issue warrants continued monitoring also recommended vote favor shareholder resolution seeking report political contributions company saying holders would benefit disclosure companys political spending payments trade groups management related risks companys annual general meeting scheduled may 3 reporting gary mcwilliams editing alistair bell standards thomson reuters trust principles london reuters martin sorrell built wpp worlds biggest advertising agency 33 years dealmaking quit saturday allegation personal misconduct departure ceo built twoman outfit one britains biggest companies 200000 staff 112 countries leaves wpp without boss pivotal time industry group great strain wpp stunned market last week said appointed lawyers investigate alleged misconduct sorrell denied allegations letter wpp staff published late saturday said current disruption putting much unnecessary pressure business said decided interest interest clients interest shareowners big small interest stakeholders best step aside chairman roberto quarta become executive chairman new chief executive found mark read wpp digital executive andrew scott chief operating officer europe appointed joint chief operating officers read previously sat wpps main board well regarded industry scott involved acquisition strategy involved clients company consider internal external candidates top job process could take several months obviously sad leave wpp 33 years sorrell said statement passion focus source energy long however believe best interests business step wpp said investigation regarded financial impropriety concluded made comment repeated previous statement allegation involve amounts material company source close sorrell said unhappy investigation handled leaving uncertain whether could work board analysts speculated sprawling group restructured year lower spending clients could sell assets led different management passion focus longestserving ceo ftse 100 blue chip index sorrell built wpp one britains biggest companies three decades relentless dealmaking one high profile best paid executives country time group expanded top creative agencies including j walter thompson young amp rubicam well media planners buyers marketresearch firms public relations groups finsbury present 112 countries wpp serves clients including ford unilever pampg string major corporations around world largely outperformed peers omnicom publicis ipg years followed financial crisis group pitched aggressively new work hit last 18 months downturn spending consumer goods groups unilever pampg loss big accounts file photo sir martin sorrell chief executive officer wpp attends world economic forum wef annual meeting davos switzerland january 23 2018 reutersdenis balibousefile photo migration advertising online encroachment market research consultancies accenture compounded pressures shares around 30 percent year company said sorrell would available assist transition man synonymous british marketing group told staff would come difficult time founder say wpp matter life death important sorrell said good fortune godspeed back future reporting kate holton editing kevin liffey alistair bell daniel wallis standards thomson reuters trust principles
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<p>Should David Bloom, the father of three young daughters, have been in Baghdad in the first place?&#160; Should any journalist with dependents volunteer for an assignment in harm's way?&#160; My purpose in asking this question is not to speak ill of the dead.&#160; Though David Bloom was not a hero to me -– the word suffers the deflation of overuse -– he was a champion.&#160; <a href="" type="internal">According to his colleagues</a> and competitors, Bloom was wired for story, energized and ambitious, in mid-flight of a meteoric career as a broadcast journalist.&#160; <a href="http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/apr2003/nf2003047_8783_db071.htm" type="external">Even a battlefield medic, alarmed by Bloom's condition, could not get the warrior reporter to evacuate</a>.</p>
<p>"He was unstoppable," testified his NBC colleague Tim Russert. "You would have to chain him to the desk."</p>
<p>"This was going to be his war," said CNN correspondent Walter Rodgers. "He was going to make his mark. He knew he was going to elbow the rest of us out of the way."</p>
<p>"He was one of the most competitive and aggressive journalists I've ever met," said NBC News President Neil Shapiro. "He was a rising star here."</p>
<p>So when the war broke, there was no way to keep David Bloom off the front lines, even with three young daughters back home. "I want a piece of this war," he told his boss early on.&#160;We thus inherit a tough truth to consider: that Bloom's sense of duty to country and profession has left his children fatherless.</p>
<p>Was it worth it?</p>
<p>Only Bloom's family can answer that question, and only with the benefit of time and circumstance. But as someone who cares deeply for journalists and their families, I feel compelled to ask it.&#160;Perhaps Bloom's legacy to his children, even in death, will be more beneficial than that of the living and breathing editors or news directors, whose work obsessions make them physically or emotionally absent to the family over decades.</p>
<p>And maybe there's a larger question lurking here:&#160;Is journalism, as a way of life, good for the children of journalists?</p>
<p>Before I advance some tentative answers, let me concede that the dangers of work have been used to unjustly limit women to their traditional roles as the nurturers of children.&#160;"If it had been a woman journalist, with children, who died in the war, the questions about her career choices and 'fitness' as a mother would have come in the first 24 hours," argues Marjie Lundstrom, a columnist and senior editor at the Sacramento Bee.</p>
<p>It's true that being a reporter is a hell of a lot less dangerous and stressful than being a soldier, a police officer, or a firefighter. No one would argue that members of dangerous professions should remain childless.</p>
<p>But here's the difference:&#160;the families of the 'danger professions' understand, from the get-go, that a father or mother may be killed in the line of duty.&#160;That does not make the loss of these workers any less painful, as we saw in agonizing repetition after Sept. 11.&#160;But the soldier who chooses not to follow orders into battle, or the firefighter who chooses not to enter the burning building, may be derelict. Journalists, too, can ignore their duty, but not because they refuse to stand before enemy fire, or choose not to carry their camera up into a collapsing skyscraper.</p>
<p>David Bloom did not have to ride atop a tank recovery vehicle through the Iraqi desert.&#160;He chose to do that.&#160;Had he not been there, someone else would have brought us the news.&#160;Had he not been there, his future as a broadcast journalist would have remained secure.&#160;Had he not been there, his family would still have benefited from the privileges of affluence. Then why did he go?&#160; Why did all the embedded journalists choose to go?</p>
<p>To answer requires a machine that can x-ray the soul of those who are wired for story.&#160;The most idealistic interpretation is that the journalists who went to Iraq had some sense that they were going to be telling one of the most important stories of their generation, that they would become the eyes and ears of the American people.&#160;In other words, they were compelled by a sense of democratic mission.</p>
<p>But let's not kid ourselves. When it comes to the big story, duty is often mixed with ambition. The embedded reporters hoped they would be treated like champions upon their return, that their war experience could be a rung on the ladder to better assignments in their own shops, or to better jobs with higher salaries in bigger cities.</p>
<p>It is the same mixed motivation faced by the military officer who knows that fighting the big war can make a military career:&#160; Duty. Honor. Promotion. The journalist too earns stripes by following the big story, and that's what David Bloom was doing.&#160; The discussion among journalists gets more heated when I raise questions about the future of David Bloom's children, twin girls who are nine, and another daughter who is three. At a funeral Mass in St. Patrick's Cathedral, Bloom was eulogized as a devoted family man. His brother, John, quoted an e-mail Bloom sent his wife hours before his death by pulmonary embolism:&#160;"I'm supposedly at the peak of professional success and I could frankly [not] care less.&#160;In the scheme of things it matters little compared to my relationships with you and the girls and Jesus."</p>
<p>Many ambitious journalists will understand the tug of war between career and family. I discussed this conflict with one prize-winning reporter who is married to another. Her husband craved access to the front lines in Iraq, but the couple has a young child.&#160;The woman knew why her husband wanted to go, but was angry at him for not governing his ambition with the family's long-term interests.</p>
<p>Another journalist, a training editor, told me stories about the conflicts felt by top reporters recruited to be foreign correspondents, on how candidates would tearfully decline great assignments to Jerusalem or Johannesburg, reluctant to put themselves or their families in harm's way.</p>
<p>These stories reminded me of my own similar moral predicament. I had been invited to teach in South Africa shortly after the first democratic elections there on April 27, 1994.&#160;I have a photograph on my wall that continues to inspire me, the serpentine lines of black South Africans waiting to vote for the first time.</p>
<p>There were bombings in Johannesburg leading up to the elections, and I remember my three daughters pleading with me not to go.&#160;I reassured them that I would be safe, but I had my own qualms.&#160;I admit now that I am wired to teach, and the idea of working with writing teachers in a new democracy overcame any sense that I would be at physical risk.&#160;In retrospect, it was a life-changing experience that I would seek again.</p>
<p>So there you have it, my impolite questions brought on by the death of David Bloom -– and my misgivings about asking them.&#160;I was present when Abe Rosenthal, the former executive editor of The New York Times, was asked if he thought the reporting of a story was ever worth the sacrifice of a life.&#160;"No story is worth a little finger," he said, to everyone's surprise.</p>
<p>And then there's Ernie Pyle.&#160; The Babe Ruth of journalism, Pyle has been invoked time and again in recent days to debate the role of the journalist on the battlefield.&#160; Pyle became an American hero -– he remains one -– for giving his life in WW II to bring the stories of common soldiers back to the homefront.&#160;But we now know this about old Ernie.&#160;According to James Tobin's biography, Pyle had an excruciating marriage marked by depression, alcoholism, and sexual dysfunction. He may have become a foreign correspondent out of a sense of duty, but the decision also happened to advance his career and provided him an escape hatch from deep personal suffering.</p>
<p>Thank goodness, we can never know the full mysteries of the human heart.&#160;But consider this: during the Vietnam era, when soldiers were conscripted, you could get a draft deferment if you were the father of young children.&#160;If the army recognizes the stake the family has in the life of a parent, why shouldn't we journalists, in times of war, pay more attention to it?</p>
<p>Choosing to go to war may require courage on the part of the reporter.&#160;So does staying home for the sake of the children.&#160;&#160;</p>
<p>[ <a href="" type="internal">How would you resolve the personal struggle of deciding whether to accept a dangerous assignment?</a> ]</p>
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david bloom father three young daughters baghdad first place160 journalist dependents volunteer assignment harms way160 purpose asking question speak ill dead160 though david bloom hero word suffers deflation overuse champion160 according colleagues competitors bloom wired story energized ambitious midflight meteoric career broadcast journalist160 even battlefield medic alarmed blooms condition could get warrior reporter evacuate unstoppable testified nbc colleague tim russert would chain desk going war said cnn correspondent walter rodgers going make mark knew going elbow rest us way one competitive aggressive journalists ive ever met said nbc news president neil shapiro rising star war broke way keep david bloom front lines even three young daughters back home want piece war told boss early on160we thus inherit tough truth consider blooms sense duty country profession left children fatherless worth blooms family answer question benefit time circumstance someone cares deeply journalists families feel compelled ask it160perhaps blooms legacy children even death beneficial living breathing editors news directors whose work obsessions make physically emotionally absent family decades maybe theres larger question lurking here160is journalism way life good children journalists advance tentative answers let concede dangers work used unjustly limit women traditional roles nurturers children160if woman journalist children died war questions career choices fitness mother would come first 24 hours argues marjie lundstrom columnist senior editor sacramento bee true reporter hell lot less dangerous stressful soldier police officer firefighter one would argue members dangerous professions remain childless heres difference160the families danger professions understand getgo father mother may killed line duty160that make loss workers less painful saw agonizing repetition sept 11160but soldier chooses follow orders battle firefighter chooses enter burning building may derelict journalists ignore duty refuse stand enemy fire choose carry camera collapsing skyscraper david bloom ride atop tank recovery vehicle iraqi desert160he chose that160had someone else would brought us news160had future broadcast journalist would remained secure160had family would still benefited privileges affluence go160 embedded journalists choose go answer requires machine xray soul wired story160the idealistic interpretation journalists went iraq sense going telling one important stories generation would become eyes ears american people160in words compelled sense democratic mission lets kid comes big story duty often mixed ambition embedded reporters hoped would treated like champions upon return war experience could rung ladder better assignments shops better jobs higher salaries bigger cities mixed motivation faced military officer knows fighting big war make military career160 duty honor promotion journalist earns stripes following big story thats david bloom doing160 discussion among journalists gets heated raise questions future david blooms children twin girls nine another daughter three funeral mass st patricks cathedral bloom eulogized devoted family man brother john quoted email bloom sent wife hours death pulmonary embolism160im supposedly peak professional success could frankly care less160in scheme things matters little compared relationships girls jesus many ambitious journalists understand tug war career family discussed conflict one prizewinning reporter married another husband craved access front lines iraq couple young child160the woman knew husband wanted go angry governing ambition familys longterm interests another journalist training editor told stories conflicts felt top reporters recruited foreign correspondents candidates would tearfully decline great assignments jerusalem johannesburg reluctant put families harms way stories reminded similar moral predicament invited teach south africa shortly first democratic elections april 27 1994160i photograph wall continues inspire serpentine lines black south africans waiting vote first time bombings johannesburg leading elections remember three daughters pleading go160i reassured would safe qualms160i admit wired teach idea working writing teachers new democracy overcame sense would physical risk160in retrospect lifechanging experience would seek impolite questions brought death david bloom misgivings asking them160i present abe rosenthal former executive editor new york times asked thought reporting story ever worth sacrifice life160no story worth little finger said everyones surprise theres ernie pyle160 babe ruth journalism pyle invoked time recent days debate role journalist battlefield160 pyle became american hero remains one giving life ww ii bring stories common soldiers back homefront160but know old ernie160according james tobins biography pyle excruciating marriage marked depression alcoholism sexual dysfunction may become foreign correspondent sense duty decision also happened advance career provided escape hatch deep personal suffering thank goodness never know full mysteries human heart160but consider vietnam era soldiers conscripted could get draft deferment father young children160if army recognizes stake family life parent shouldnt journalists times war pay attention choosing go war may require courage part reporter160so staying home sake children160160 would resolve personal struggle deciding whether accept dangerous assignment
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<p>Oprah Winfrey earned multiple standing ovations at Sunday’s Golden Globes as she accepted the Cecil B. DeMille Award with a moving speech referencing civil rights and the #MeToo movement, declaring that the reign of abusive men was coming to an end: “Their time is up!”</p>
<p>The OWN founder, former talk show host, actress, film and TV producer and humanitarian became the first black woman to be given the award, which was presented in Beverly Hills, California. She spoke about the feelings she had as a young girl watching Sidney Poitier win the best-actor Oscar in 1964 and likened the pride she felt watching Poitier, the first black man to win that trophy, to the impact she hoped she could have on young women today.</p>
<p>“His tie was white and of course his skin was black and I had never seen a black man being celebrated like that,” Winfrey said.</p>
<p>As her longtime partner Stedman Graham watched from the audience, she told the story of a black woman from Alabama named Recy Taylor, who died at the age of 97 on Dec. 28, 2017, and her fight for justice after her rape by six white men in 1944.</p>
<p>She expressed gratitude for Taylor and all the women who were silenced when they spoke out about powerful men, the women who worked in factories, farms, as domestic workers and in academia, whose names will never be known.</p>
<p>“For too long, women have not been heard or believed if they dared to speak their truth to the power of those men,” Winfrey said.</p>
<p>“But their time is up! Their time is up! Their time is up!” she shouted to a standing ovation. The phrase also referenced the “Time’s Up” initiative led by women in Hollywood and others to combat sexual misconduct; that was at the center of the message actresses sent by wearing mainly black at the Globes on Sunday night.</p>
<p>Winfrey said while there was no justice for Taylor, whose attackers were never prosecuted, her truth lived on in the work of civil rights icon Rosa Parks, an ACLU investigator on Taylor’s case.</p>
<p>(Paul Drinkwater/NBC via AP)</p>
<p>“It was somewhere in Rosa Parks’ heart almost 11 years later when she made the decision to stay seated on that bus in Montgomery,” Winfrey said. “And it’s here with every woman who chooses to say, ‘Me too’ and every man, every man who chooses to listen.”</p>
<p>Winfrey, who got her start in television journalism, also thanked the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which gives out the Golden Globes.</p>
<p>“We all know that the press is under siege these days, but we also know that it is the insatiable dedication to uncovering the absolute truth that keeps us from turning a blind eye to corruption and to injustice, to tyrants and victims and secrets and lies,” Winfrey said.</p>
<p>She ended on a hopeful note saying “a new day was on the horizon” because of people, some of whom were in the Golden Globes audience, who will “take us to the time when nobody ever has to say ‘me too’ again.”</p>
<p>On Twitter the celebrity reaction was swift and in full support:</p>
<p>“Oprah cometh,” tweeted actress Amber Tamblyn, while musician Pharrell Williams called her the greatest of all time.</p>
<p>“Let me tell you this room is still vibrating like electricity from that speech,” Ava DuVernay tweeted.</p>
<p>Oprah Winfrey earned multiple standing ovations at Sunday’s Golden Globes as she accepted the Cecil B. DeMille Award with a moving speech referencing civil rights and the #MeToo movement, declaring that the reign of abusive men was coming to an end: “Their time is up!”</p>
<p>The OWN founder, former talk show host, actress, film and TV producer and humanitarian became the first black woman to be given the award, which was presented in Beverly Hills, California. She spoke about the feelings she had as a young girl watching Sidney Poitier win the best-actor Oscar in 1964 and likened the pride she felt watching Poitier, the first black man to win that trophy, to the impact she hoped she could have on young women today.</p>
<p>“His tie was white and of course his skin was black and I had never seen a black man being celebrated like that,” Winfrey said.</p>
<p>As her longtime partner Stedman Graham watched from the audience, she told the story of a black woman from Alabama named Recy Taylor, who died at the age of 97 on Dec. 28, 2017, and her fight for justice after her rape by six white men in 1944.</p>
<p>She expressed gratitude for Taylor and all the women who were silenced when they spoke out about powerful men, the women who worked in factories, farms, as domestic workers and in academia, whose names will never be known.</p>
<p>“For too long, women have not been heard or believed if they dared to speak their truth to the power of those men,” Winfrey said.</p>
<p>“But their time is up! Their time is up! Their time is up!” she shouted to a standing ovation. The phrase also referenced the “Time’s Up” initiative led by women in Hollywood and others to combat sexual misconduct; that was at the center of the message actresses sent by wearing mainly black at the Globes on Sunday night.</p>
<p>Winfrey said while there was no justice for Taylor, whose attackers were never prosecuted, her truth lived on in the work of civil rights icon Rosa Parks, an ACLU investigator on Taylor’s case.</p>
<p>(Paul Drinkwater/NBC via AP)</p>
<p>“It was somewhere in Rosa Parks’ heart almost 11 years later when she made the decision to stay seated on that bus in Montgomery,” Winfrey said. “And it’s here with every woman who chooses to say, ‘Me too’ and every man, every man who chooses to listen.”</p>
<p>Winfrey, who got her start in television journalism, also thanked the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which gives out the Golden Globes.</p>
<p>“We all know that the press is under siege these days, but we also know that it is the insatiable dedication to uncovering the absolute truth that keeps us from turning a blind eye to corruption and to injustice, to tyrants and victims and secrets and lies,” Winfrey said.</p>
<p>She ended on a hopeful note saying “a new day was on the horizon” because of people, some of whom were in the Golden Globes audience, who will “take us to the time when nobody ever has to say ‘me too’ again.”</p>
<p>On Twitter the celebrity reaction was swift and in full support:</p>
<p>“Oprah cometh,” tweeted actress Amber Tamblyn, while musician Pharrell Williams called her the greatest of all time.</p>
<p>“Let me tell you this room is still vibrating like electricity from that speech,” Ava DuVernay tweeted.</p>
| false | 2 |
oprah winfrey earned multiple standing ovations sundays golden globes accepted cecil b demille award moving speech referencing civil rights metoo movement declaring reign abusive men coming end time founder former talk show host actress film tv producer humanitarian became first black woman given award presented beverly hills california spoke feelings young girl watching sidney poitier win bestactor oscar 1964 likened pride felt watching poitier first black man win trophy impact hoped could young women today tie white course skin black never seen black man celebrated like winfrey said longtime partner stedman graham watched audience told story black woman alabama named recy taylor died age 97 dec 28 2017 fight justice rape six white men 1944 expressed gratitude taylor women silenced spoke powerful men women worked factories farms domestic workers academia whose names never known long women heard believed dared speak truth power men winfrey said time time time shouted standing ovation phrase also referenced times initiative led women hollywood others combat sexual misconduct center message actresses sent wearing mainly black globes sunday night winfrey said justice taylor whose attackers never prosecuted truth lived work civil rights icon rosa parks aclu investigator taylors case paul drinkwaternbc via ap somewhere rosa parks heart almost 11 years later made decision stay seated bus montgomery winfrey said every woman chooses say every man every man chooses listen winfrey got start television journalism also thanked hollywood foreign press association gives golden globes know press siege days also know insatiable dedication uncovering absolute truth keeps us turning blind eye corruption injustice tyrants victims secrets lies winfrey said ended hopeful note saying new day horizon people golden globes audience take us time nobody ever say twitter celebrity reaction swift full support oprah cometh tweeted actress amber tamblyn musician pharrell williams called greatest time let tell room still vibrating like electricity speech ava duvernay tweeted oprah winfrey earned multiple standing ovations sundays golden globes accepted cecil b demille award moving speech referencing civil rights metoo movement declaring reign abusive men coming end time founder former talk show host actress film tv producer humanitarian became first black woman given award presented beverly hills california spoke feelings young girl watching sidney poitier win bestactor oscar 1964 likened pride felt watching poitier first black man win trophy impact hoped could young women today tie white course skin black never seen black man celebrated like winfrey said longtime partner stedman graham watched audience told story black woman alabama named recy taylor died age 97 dec 28 2017 fight justice rape six white men 1944 expressed gratitude taylor women silenced spoke powerful men women worked factories farms domestic workers academia whose names never known long women heard believed dared speak truth power men winfrey said time time time shouted standing ovation phrase also referenced times initiative led women hollywood others combat sexual misconduct center message actresses sent wearing mainly black globes sunday night winfrey said justice taylor whose attackers never prosecuted truth lived work civil rights icon rosa parks aclu investigator taylors case paul drinkwaternbc via ap somewhere rosa parks heart almost 11 years later made decision stay seated bus montgomery winfrey said every woman chooses say every man every man chooses listen winfrey got start television journalism also thanked hollywood foreign press association gives golden globes know press siege days also know insatiable dedication uncovering absolute truth keeps us turning blind eye corruption injustice tyrants victims secrets lies winfrey said ended hopeful note saying new day horizon people golden globes audience take us time nobody ever say twitter celebrity reaction swift full support oprah cometh tweeted actress amber tamblyn musician pharrell williams called greatest time let tell room still vibrating like electricity speech ava duvernay tweeted
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<p />
<p>On that note, let’s get this out of the way: Why do all you people hate Journey? What did their rock anthems ever do to you? It’s not like they broke up the Beatles.</p>
<p>I asked Journey guitarist Neal Schon this question. It was clear we have different Facebook friends. He told me he heard only love.</p>
<p>“We’re selling out everywhere we’ve been playing,” he said. “If there was so much hatred, we wouldn’t be selling tickets.”</p>
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<p>So as we prepare to celebrate Journey — and sorry, kids, but slap on “Infinity” with a clear mind and just try to deny its brilliance — Yes, ELO, Tupac, Pearl Jam and Joan Baez as the latest inductees, we should remember that all awards are legit and deserved when the right people get them and when they don’t, there’s a cabal of backstabbing insiders hell bent on dismissing great art. (At least that’s how writing contests have usually worked for me.) There should be debate and passion and bitterness, and not just from Jon Bon Jovi, who contends that “two (f—-)” are keeping his band out, even when the title of their biggest record, “Slippery When Wet,” was inspired by a visit to a strip club and the original cover (nixed, thankfully, by the record label) was an almost headless torso modeling a pair of bazongas in a torn t-shirt.</p>
<p>The question, for me, is how long the Hall can continue without serious changes. Namely, we are running out of geezers. What do you do when your nominees are no longer popular? Check the numbers. Green Day’s No. 1 album, “Revolution Radio,” sold just 90,000 copies when it debuted earlier this year. “American Idiot” sold 267,000 copies when it hit No. 1 in 2004. By 2021, you’ll be able to land in the top-10 by handing out a few thumb drives outside the local Shop &amp; Save.</p>
<p>There simply aren’t enough eligible rock heroes around to keep the inductees list growing.That is going to force the Hall to lower the bar for what constitutes a Hall of Famer, letting in critical faves like the Meat Puppets and Television as well as Bachman-Turner Overdrive. Some of you will be pleased, particularly the MC5-agitators on my feed. But I’m not sure how this will play in the Barclays Center during the induction ceremony. Maybe it’s time to remove the 25-year wait for eligibility so Wayne Kramer can be on the same bill as Beyonce, for example, who can’t be nominated until 2028.</p>
<p>To understand all of this better, I called Chris Molanphy, the pop critic and chart analyst for Slate and Pitchfork. He’s an expert at this stuff and, as an added bonus, is one of the thousand-or-so folks who vote for nominated artists. He said my geezer theory had to be refined.</p>
<p>“Are we running out of acts? No. in fact, it’s getting worse year after year. What we are running out of are centrist, undeniable, white guitar acts. That’s what we’re going to run out of and it’s going to get worse.”</p>
<p>By that, he means the supply is going to dry up.</p>
<p>“And then you’re going to have to ask, is Creed going to be nominated? Nickelback?”</p>
<p>That gets to the heart of the problem, which is the way the Hall now works. It is the disconnect between the elite, nominating committee – the cabal of perhaps a few dozen insiders including Springsteen manager Jon Landau, Questlove and Metallica manager Cliff Bernstein – and the larger, voting body that Molanphy is part of. There are other critics in that larger group but they’re far outnumbered by artists and industry figures. Steven Tyler votes. So does Clive Davis.</p>
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<p>So you get the discriminating/snooty nominators – who push Chic forward 11 times and watch helplessly as the group is nixed by the popular vote. The cabal only begrudgingly seems to bring forward Chicago, Journey and Steve Miller as candidates. All make it on the first try.</p>
<p>Molanphy, for the record, had an o-Fer year. He voted for Chic, Kraftwerk, Depeche Mode, Janet Jackson and The Cars.</p>
<p>“This is going to continue to be a problem as the Hall moves into the ’90s,” he says. “That’s why Pearl Jam became eligible. Rage will become eligible. Soundgarden. They’re going to have one more good wave of really straight-up-the-middle, meat-and-potatoes rock acts. And then by the time they get to the late ’90s – does Moby get nominated? The Chemical Brothers? Daft Punk? – you’re going to see fewer and fewer meat-and-potatoes rock acts that are incontrovertible.”</p>
<p>I say let the debates continue. It was frankly a relief, after the endless political scrolls, to find people arguing about what really matters. Whether King Crimson or Yes should have been voted in. Schon was also up for a healthy discussion.</p>
<p>“Roxy Music,” he says. “I’ve always been a fan. MC5. I saw them when I was a kid and barely playing guitar and I thought it was the loudest, nastiest music I ever heard in my life. They all should have gotten in about four decades or so ago.”</p>
<p>Tim Sommer, in another passsionate take in the Observer, ticked off the list of groups he can’t believe are still on the outside. Poor Joan Baez, who as far as I can tell has never toured with Bruford, Wakeman or Howe, suddenly was a lightning rod. I mean, is she rock?</p>
<p>Industry vet Danny Goldberg argued that she deserved induction because of her social conscience, namely adding a “moral political component to mass appeal musical culture.” Bill Janovitz, the writer and Buffalo Tom front man, wasn’t buying, particularly if you don’t include MC5. “This is just mostly white baby boomers who grew up reading Rolling Stone deeming who is worthy of being singled out for the honor of being included in “THE” HOF,” he wrote.</p>
<p>For now, we can eagerly await the induction in April. Last year, we got Steve Miller turning into the angry space cowboy. This year, we can wonder how Nile Rodgers will reference Chic when he receives singular recognition and they were, once again, rejected. Does Steve Perry join his former band to belt out “Open Arms”? Schon said he would love to play with Perry again and tried to reach him after the vote, but hasn’t heard back. (A Perry representative said he isn’t doing interviews.)</p>
<p>These are important questions and at least put off the real dilemma. That will come in 2022. Creed is eligible.</p>
<p>rockhall-comment</p>
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note lets get way people hate journey rock anthems ever like broke beatles asked journey guitarist neal schon question clear different facebook friends told heard love selling everywhere weve playing said much hatred wouldnt selling tickets advertisement prepare celebrate journey sorry kids slap infinity clear mind try deny brilliance yes elo tupac pearl jam joan baez latest inductees remember awards legit deserved right people get dont theres cabal backstabbing insiders hell bent dismissing great art least thats writing contests usually worked debate passion bitterness jon bon jovi contends two f keeping band even title biggest record slippery wet inspired visit strip club original cover nixed thankfully record label almost headless torso modeling pair bazongas torn tshirt question long hall continue without serious changes namely running geezers nominees longer popular check numbers green days 1 album revolution radio sold 90000 copies debuted earlier year american idiot sold 267000 copies hit 1 2004 2021 youll able land top10 handing thumb drives outside local shop amp save simply arent enough eligible rock heroes around keep inductees list growingthat going force hall lower bar constitutes hall famer letting critical faves like meat puppets television well bachmanturner overdrive pleased particularly mc5agitators feed im sure play barclays center induction ceremony maybe time remove 25year wait eligibility wayne kramer bill beyonce example cant nominated 2028 understand better called chris molanphy pop critic chart analyst slate pitchfork hes expert stuff added bonus one thousandorso folks vote nominated artists said geezer theory refined running acts fact getting worse year year running centrist undeniable white guitar acts thats going run going get worse means supply going dry youre going ask creed going nominated nickelback gets heart problem way hall works disconnect elite nominating committee cabal perhaps dozen insiders including springsteen manager jon landau questlove metallica manager cliff bernstein larger voting body molanphy part critics larger group theyre far outnumbered artists industry figures steven tyler votes clive davis advertisement get discriminatingsnooty nominators push chic forward 11 times watch helplessly group nixed popular vote cabal begrudgingly seems bring forward chicago journey steve miller candidates make first try molanphy record ofer year voted chic kraftwerk depeche mode janet jackson cars going continue problem hall moves 90s says thats pearl jam became eligible rage become eligible soundgarden theyre going one good wave really straightupthemiddle meatandpotatoes rock acts time get late 90s moby get nominated chemical brothers daft punk youre going see fewer fewer meatandpotatoes rock acts incontrovertible say let debates continue frankly relief endless political scrolls find people arguing really matters whether king crimson yes voted schon also healthy discussion roxy music says ive always fan mc5 saw kid barely playing guitar thought loudest nastiest music ever heard life gotten four decades ago tim sommer another passsionate take observer ticked list groups cant believe still outside poor joan baez far tell never toured bruford wakeman howe suddenly lightning rod mean rock industry vet danny goldberg argued deserved induction social conscience namely adding moral political component mass appeal musical culture bill janovitz writer buffalo tom front man wasnt buying particularly dont include mc5 mostly white baby boomers grew reading rolling stone deeming worthy singled honor included hof wrote eagerly await induction april last year got steve miller turning angry space cowboy year wonder nile rodgers reference chic receives singular recognition rejected steve perry join former band belt open arms schon said would love play perry tried reach vote hasnt heard back perry representative said isnt interviews important questions least put real dilemma come 2022 creed eligible rockhallcomment
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<p>PARIS — I am, therefore I’m paid.</p>
<p>The radical notion that governments should hand out free money to everyone — rich and poor, those who work and those who don’t — is slowly but surely gaining ground in Europe. Yes, you read that right: a guaranteed monthly living allowance, no strings attached.</p>
<p>In France, two of the seven candidates vying to represent the ruling Socialist Party in this year’s presidential election are promising modest but regular stipends to all French adults. A limited test is already underway in Finland, with other experiments planned elsewhere, including in the United States.</p>
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<p>Called “universal income” by some, “universal basic income” or just “basic income” by others, the idea has been floated in various guises since at least the mid-19th century. After decades on the fringes of intellectual debate, it became more mainstream in 2016, with Switzerland holding a referendum — and overwhelmingly rejecting — a proposed basic income of around $2,500 per month.</p>
<p>“An incredible year,” says Philippe Van Parijs, a founder of the Basic Income Earth Network that lobbies for such payments. “There has been more written and said on basic income than in the whole history of mankind.”</p>
<p>But before you write a resignation letter to your boss in anticipation of never needing to work again, be warned: there are multiple questions, including how to finance such schemes. Here is a look at the issues:</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>WHY THE MOUNTING INTEREST?</p>
<p>In a word, robots. With automated systems and machines increasingly replacing human workers, France could lose 3 million jobs by 2025, says Benoit Hamon, a former education minister campaigning for the French presidency on a promise of gradually introducing no-strings-attached payments for all. As work becomes scarcer, a modest but regular guaranteed income would stop people from fearing the future and free up their time for family, the needy and themselves, he argues.</p>
<p>It could also encourage people to take risks, start businesses and try new activities without the risk of losing welfare benefits.</p>
<p>The other pro-basic income candidate for the Socialist Party presidential ticket is outsider Jean-Luc Bennahmias. Like Hamon, the former European Parliament lawmaker argues that it is pointless to expect the return of economic boom times, with jobs for all.</p>
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<p>“Growth at two, three, four or five percent in western countries: it’s finished,” he said in a televised debate last week. “We have to speak the truth.”</p>
<p>Outside research backs up their arguments. An Oxford University study in 2015 estimated nearly half of the American workforce is at risk of automation.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>PUT TO THE TEST</p>
<p>Finland’s small-scale, two-year trial that started Jan. 1 aims to answer a frequent question from basic income opponents: With a guaranteed 560 euros ($600) a month, will the 2,000 human guinea pigs — drawn randomly from Finland’s unemployed — just laze around?</p>
<p>Budget constraints and opposition from multiple quarters stymied ambitions for a broader test, says Olli Kangas from the Finnish government agency KELA, which is responsible for the country’s social benefits.</p>
<p>“It’s a pretty watered down version,” he said in a telephone interview. “We had to make a huge number of compromises.”</p>
<p>Still, he argues that such studies are essential in helping societies prepare for changed labor markets of the future.</p>
<p>“I’m not saying that basic income is the solution,” he said. “I’m just saying that it’s a solution that we have to think about.”</p>
<p>In the Netherlands, the city of Utrecht this year plans to trial no-strings welfare payments that will also allow test groups to work on the side if they choose — again, in part, to study the effect on their motivation to find work.</p>
<p>To prepare for “a world where technology replaces existing jobs and basic income becomes necessary,” Silicon Valley startup financier Y Combinator says it plans a pilot study in Oakland, California, paying recipients an unconditional income because “we want to see how people experience that freedom.”</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>THE COST</p>
<p>Obviously, expensive. Hamon proposes the gradual introduction of basic income schemes in France, starting with 600 euros ($640) per month for the nation’s poor and 18-25-year-olds before scaling up payments to 750 euros ($800) for all adults — for a total estimated annual cost of 400 billion euros ($425 billion).</p>
<p>Part of the cost could be financed by taxing goods and services produced by automated systems and machines, he says. Opponents argue that doing so would simply prompt companies to move robots elsewhere, out of reach of French tax collectors.</p>
<p>Doing away with housing, family, poverty and unemployment benefits could free up more than 100 billion euros ($106 billion) to fold into a replacement basic income scheme.</p>
<p>There’d also be less red tape, saving money that way, too, but switching to basic income would still require new taxes, a 2016 Senate report said.</p>
<p>It estimated that paying everyone 500 to 1,000 euros ($530-$1,100) per month would cost 300 billion to 700 billion euros ($745 billion-$320 billion) annually. It recommended starting with three-year pilot schemes with trials involving 20,000-30,000 people.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>THE CONS</p>
<p>Costs aside, opponents argue that guaranteed incomes would promote laziness and devalue the concept of work. Hamon’s opponents for the Socialist presidential ticket dispute as false his argument that jobs for humans are growing scarcer.</p>
<p>Ultimately, to see the light of day, basic income schemes will need political champions, said Van Parijs.</p>
<p>“We need radical ideas as targets and then we need clever tinkering to move in that direction,” he said.</p>
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paris therefore im paid radical notion governments hand free money everyone rich poor work dont slowly surely gaining ground europe yes read right guaranteed monthly living allowance strings attached france two seven candidates vying represent ruling socialist party years presidential election promising modest regular stipends french adults limited test already underway finland experiments planned elsewhere including united states advertisement called universal income universal basic income basic income others idea floated various guises since least mid19th century decades fringes intellectual debate became mainstream 2016 switzerland holding referendum overwhelmingly rejecting proposed basic income around 2500 per month incredible year says philippe van parijs founder basic income earth network lobbies payments written said basic income whole history mankind write resignation letter boss anticipation never needing work warned multiple questions including finance schemes look issues ___ mounting interest word robots automated systems machines increasingly replacing human workers france could lose 3 million jobs 2025 says benoit hamon former education minister campaigning french presidency promise gradually introducing nostringsattached payments work becomes scarcer modest regular guaranteed income would stop people fearing future free time family needy argues could also encourage people take risks start businesses try new activities without risk losing welfare benefits probasic income candidate socialist party presidential ticket outsider jeanluc bennahmias like hamon former european parliament lawmaker argues pointless expect return economic boom times jobs advertisement growth two three four five percent western countries finished said televised debate last week speak truth outside research backs arguments oxford university study 2015 estimated nearly half american workforce risk automation ___ put test finlands smallscale twoyear trial started jan 1 aims answer frequent question basic income opponents guaranteed 560 euros 600 month 2000 human guinea pigs drawn randomly finlands unemployed laze around budget constraints opposition multiple quarters stymied ambitions broader test says olli kangas finnish government agency kela responsible countrys social benefits pretty watered version said telephone interview make huge number compromises still argues studies essential helping societies prepare changed labor markets future im saying basic income solution said im saying solution think netherlands city utrecht year plans trial nostrings welfare payments also allow test groups work side choose part study effect motivation find work prepare world technology replaces existing jobs basic income becomes necessary silicon valley startup financier combinator says plans pilot study oakland california paying recipients unconditional income want see people experience freedom ___ cost obviously expensive hamon proposes gradual introduction basic income schemes france starting 600 euros 640 per month nations poor 1825yearolds scaling payments 750 euros 800 adults total estimated annual cost 400 billion euros 425 billion part cost could financed taxing goods services produced automated systems machines says opponents argue would simply prompt companies move robots elsewhere reach french tax collectors away housing family poverty unemployment benefits could free 100 billion euros 106 billion fold replacement basic income scheme thered also less red tape saving money way switching basic income would still require new taxes 2016 senate report said estimated paying everyone 500 1000 euros 5301100 per month would cost 300 billion 700 billion euros 745 billion320 billion annually recommended starting threeyear pilot schemes trials involving 2000030000 people ___ cons costs aside opponents argue guaranteed incomes would promote laziness devalue concept work hamons opponents socialist presidential ticket dispute false argument jobs humans growing scarcer ultimately see light day basic income schemes need political champions said van parijs need radical ideas targets need clever tinkering move direction said
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<p>LOS ANGELES (AP) — Computers across the world were locked up Friday and users' files held for ransom when dozens of countries were hit in a cyber-extortion attack that targeted hospitals, companies and government agencies.</p>
<p>Here's a look at how malware and ransomware work and what people can do if they fall victim to attacks.</p>
<p>WHAT IS MALWARE AND RANSOMWARE?</p>
<p>Malware is a general term that refers to software that's harmful to your computer, said John Villasenor, a professor at the University of California, Los Angeles. Ransomware is a type of malware that essentially takes over a computer and prevents users from accessing data on the computer until a ransom is paid, he said.</p>
<p>HOW DOES YOUR COMPUTER BECOME INFECTED WITH RANSOMWARE?</p>
<p>In most cases, the software infects computers through links or attachments in malicious messages known as phishing emails.</p>
<p>"The age-old advice is to never click on a link in an email," said Jerome Segura, a senior malware intelligence researcher at Malwarebytes, a San Jose-based company that has released anti-ransomware software. "The idea is to try to trick the victim into running a malicious piece of code."</p>
<p>The software is usually hidden within links or attachments in emails. Once the user clicks on the link or opens the document, their computer is infected and the software takes over.</p>
<p>BUT HOW DOES IT WORK?</p>
<p>"Ransomware, like the name suggests, is when your files are held for ransom," said Peter Reiher, an adjunct professor at UCLA who specializes in computer science and cybersecurity. "It finds all of your files and encrypts them and then leaves you a message. If you want to decrypt them, you have to pay."</p>
<p>The ransomware encrypts data on the computer using an encryption key that only the attacker knows. If the ransom isn't paid, the data is often lost forever.</p>
<p>When the ransomware takes over a computer, the attackers are pretty explicit in their demands, Segura said. In most cases, they change the wallpaper of the computer and give specific instructions telling the user how to pay to recover their files. Most attackers demand between $300 and $500 to remove the malicious ransomware; the price can double if the amount isn't paid within 24 hours.</p>
<p>Law enforcement officials have discouraged people from paying these ransoms.</p>
<p>HOW CAN PEOPLE PREVENT ATTACKS LIKE THIS?</p>
<p>The first step is being cautious, experts say. But Villasenor said there is "no perfect solution" to the problem.</p>
<p>Users should regularly back up their data and ensure that security updates are installed on your computer as soon as they are released. Up-to-date backups make it possible to restore files without paying a ransom.</p>
<p>Friday's attack exploited vulnerabilities in some versions of Microsoft Windows. Microsoft has released software patches for the security holes, although not everyone has installed those updates.</p>
<p>"If your software is not patched, you can exploit that user. Anyone who applied the patch that Microsoft released likely wasn't affected by this," Reiher said.</p>
<p>Users should also look for malicious email messages that often masquerade as emails from companies or people you regularly interact with online. It's important to avoid clicking on links or opening attachments in those messages, since they could unleash malware, Villasenor said.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Follow Michael Balsamo on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MikeBalsamo1</p>
<p>LOS ANGELES (AP) — Computers across the world were locked up Friday and users' files held for ransom when dozens of countries were hit in a cyber-extortion attack that targeted hospitals, companies and government agencies.</p>
<p>Here's a look at how malware and ransomware work and what people can do if they fall victim to attacks.</p>
<p>WHAT IS MALWARE AND RANSOMWARE?</p>
<p>Malware is a general term that refers to software that's harmful to your computer, said John Villasenor, a professor at the University of California, Los Angeles. Ransomware is a type of malware that essentially takes over a computer and prevents users from accessing data on the computer until a ransom is paid, he said.</p>
<p>HOW DOES YOUR COMPUTER BECOME INFECTED WITH RANSOMWARE?</p>
<p>In most cases, the software infects computers through links or attachments in malicious messages known as phishing emails.</p>
<p>"The age-old advice is to never click on a link in an email," said Jerome Segura, a senior malware intelligence researcher at Malwarebytes, a San Jose-based company that has released anti-ransomware software. "The idea is to try to trick the victim into running a malicious piece of code."</p>
<p>The software is usually hidden within links or attachments in emails. Once the user clicks on the link or opens the document, their computer is infected and the software takes over.</p>
<p>BUT HOW DOES IT WORK?</p>
<p>"Ransomware, like the name suggests, is when your files are held for ransom," said Peter Reiher, an adjunct professor at UCLA who specializes in computer science and cybersecurity. "It finds all of your files and encrypts them and then leaves you a message. If you want to decrypt them, you have to pay."</p>
<p>The ransomware encrypts data on the computer using an encryption key that only the attacker knows. If the ransom isn't paid, the data is often lost forever.</p>
<p>When the ransomware takes over a computer, the attackers are pretty explicit in their demands, Segura said. In most cases, they change the wallpaper of the computer and give specific instructions telling the user how to pay to recover their files. Most attackers demand between $300 and $500 to remove the malicious ransomware; the price can double if the amount isn't paid within 24 hours.</p>
<p>Law enforcement officials have discouraged people from paying these ransoms.</p>
<p>HOW CAN PEOPLE PREVENT ATTACKS LIKE THIS?</p>
<p>The first step is being cautious, experts say. But Villasenor said there is "no perfect solution" to the problem.</p>
<p>Users should regularly back up their data and ensure that security updates are installed on your computer as soon as they are released. Up-to-date backups make it possible to restore files without paying a ransom.</p>
<p>Friday's attack exploited vulnerabilities in some versions of Microsoft Windows. Microsoft has released software patches for the security holes, although not everyone has installed those updates.</p>
<p>"If your software is not patched, you can exploit that user. Anyone who applied the patch that Microsoft released likely wasn't affected by this," Reiher said.</p>
<p>Users should also look for malicious email messages that often masquerade as emails from companies or people you regularly interact with online. It's important to avoid clicking on links or opening attachments in those messages, since they could unleash malware, Villasenor said.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Follow Michael Balsamo on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MikeBalsamo1</p>
| false | 2 |
los angeles ap computers across world locked friday users files held ransom dozens countries hit cyberextortion attack targeted hospitals companies government agencies heres look malware ransomware work people fall victim attacks malware ransomware malware general term refers software thats harmful computer said john villasenor professor university california los angeles ransomware type malware essentially takes computer prevents users accessing data computer ransom paid said computer become infected ransomware cases software infects computers links attachments malicious messages known phishing emails ageold advice never click link email said jerome segura senior malware intelligence researcher malwarebytes san josebased company released antiransomware software idea try trick victim running malicious piece code software usually hidden within links attachments emails user clicks link opens document computer infected software takes work ransomware like name suggests files held ransom said peter reiher adjunct professor ucla specializes computer science cybersecurity finds files encrypts leaves message want decrypt pay ransomware encrypts data computer using encryption key attacker knows ransom isnt paid data often lost forever ransomware takes computer attackers pretty explicit demands segura said cases change wallpaper computer give specific instructions telling user pay recover files attackers demand 300 500 remove malicious ransomware price double amount isnt paid within 24 hours law enforcement officials discouraged people paying ransoms people prevent attacks like first step cautious experts say villasenor said perfect solution problem users regularly back data ensure security updates installed computer soon released uptodate backups make possible restore files without paying ransom fridays attack exploited vulnerabilities versions microsoft windows microsoft released software patches security holes although everyone installed updates software patched exploit user anyone applied patch microsoft released likely wasnt affected reiher said users also look malicious email messages often masquerade emails companies people regularly interact online important avoid clicking links opening attachments messages since could unleash malware villasenor said ___ follow michael balsamo twitter httpstwittercommikebalsamo1 los angeles ap computers across world locked friday users files held ransom dozens countries hit cyberextortion attack targeted hospitals companies government agencies heres look malware ransomware work people fall victim attacks malware ransomware malware general term refers software thats harmful computer said john villasenor professor university california los angeles ransomware type malware essentially takes computer prevents users accessing data computer ransom paid said computer become infected ransomware cases software infects computers links attachments malicious messages known phishing emails ageold advice never click link email said jerome segura senior malware intelligence researcher malwarebytes san josebased company released antiransomware software idea try trick victim running malicious piece code software usually hidden within links attachments emails user clicks link opens document computer infected software takes work ransomware like name suggests files held ransom said peter reiher adjunct professor ucla specializes computer science cybersecurity finds files encrypts leaves message want decrypt pay ransomware encrypts data computer using encryption key attacker knows ransom isnt paid data often lost forever ransomware takes computer attackers pretty explicit demands segura said cases change wallpaper computer give specific instructions telling user pay recover files attackers demand 300 500 remove malicious ransomware price double amount isnt paid within 24 hours law enforcement officials discouraged people paying ransoms people prevent attacks like first step cautious experts say villasenor said perfect solution problem users regularly back data ensure security updates installed computer soon released uptodate backups make possible restore files without paying ransom fridays attack exploited vulnerabilities versions microsoft windows microsoft released software patches security holes although everyone installed updates software patched exploit user anyone applied patch microsoft released likely wasnt affected reiher said users also look malicious email messages often masquerade emails companies people regularly interact online important avoid clicking links opening attachments messages since could unleash malware villasenor said ___ follow michael balsamo twitter httpstwittercommikebalsamo1
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<p>Jan 24 (Reuters) - Changshu Automotive Trim Co Ltd :</p>
<p>* SAYS IT AND CONTROLLING SHAREHOLDER PLAN TO BUY 20 PERCENT STAKE IN CHANGCHUN FAWSN GROUP CO FOR 550 MILLION YUAN ($86.17 million) Source text in Chinese: <a href="http://bit.ly/2n7QJHP" type="external">bit.ly/2n7QJHP</a> Further company coverage: ($1 = 6.3825 Chinese yuan renminbi) (Reporting by Hong Kong newsroom)</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>TEMPE, Ariz./SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Police in Arizona on Wednesday released a short video of a fatal collision between an Uber self-driving vehicle and a pedestrian, as investigators probe the accident that has put new focus on the safety of autonomous vehicles.</p>
<p>The video, taken from inside the Volvo XC90 sport utility vehicle that Uber has used for testing, shows the vehicle driving along a dark road when an image of a woman walking a bicycle across the road suddenly appears in the headlights.</p>
<p>The woman, Elaine Herzberg, 49, later died from her injuries.</p>
<p>Police have released few details about the accident that occurred on Sunday night in Tempe, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix, while the SUV was driving in autonomous mode. Uber suspended its self-driving testing in North America after the incident and federal safety regulators are conducting their own probe.</p>
<p>Fall-out from the accident could stall the development and testing of self-driving vehicles, which are designed to perform far better than human drivers and sharply reduce the number of motor vehicle fatalities that occur each year.</p>
<p>The video shows the vehicle traveling in the right-hand lane of a divided four-lane roadway. The vehicle’s headlights illuminate a woman directly in front of it who is crossing the SUV’s lane with her bike. The woman appears to be jaywalking as she is not in a crosswalk.</p>
<p>A photo released by safety regulators on Tuesday showed that the impact occurred on the right side of the vehicle.</p>
<p>The footage also shows a view of the vehicle’s interior and the driver at the wheel. The driver appears to be looking down, and not at the road, for two periods of about five seconds each. Just before the video stops, the driver looks upward toward the road and suddenly looks shocked.</p>
<p>“The video is disturbing and heartbreaking to watch, and our thoughts continue to be with Elaine’s loved ones,” Uber said in a statement. “Our cars remain grounded, and we’re assisting local, state and federal authorities in any way we can.”</p>
<p>The video is likely to be a key part of investigations of Uber’s self-driving car technology and whether it was ready for testing on public roads.</p>
<p>Although the exact specifics of Uber’s technology are not known, self-driving cars typically use a combination of sensors, including radar and light-based Lidar, to identify objects around the vehicle, including potential obstacles coming into range. While cameras do not perform well in the dark, radar and Lidar can work at night.</p>
<p>One question on regulators’ minds will be why the sensors did not pick up on the presence of Herzberg, who would ostensibly have already crossed three lanes of traffic before arriving in the path of the Uber vehicle.</p> Slideshow (3 Images)
<p>One self-driving car expert, Bryant Walker Smith, said his first impression was of “outrage” viewing the video.</p>
<p>“Although this video isn’t the full picture, it strongly suggests a failure by Uber’s automated driving system and a lack of due care by Uber’s driver (and by the victim),” said Smith, a professor of law at the University of South Carolina.</p>
<p>Another autonomous driving expert agreed with Smith’s assessment.</p>
<p>“The sensors should have detected the pedestrian in this case; the cameras were likely useless but both the radars and the Lidar must have picked up the pedestrian,” said Raj Rajkumar, a professor at Carnegie Mellon.</p>
<a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=GOOGL.O" type="external">Alphabet Inc</a> 1094.0 GOOGL.O Nasdaq -1.80 (-0.16%) GOOGL.O GM.N
<p>“Though no information is available, one would have to conclude based on this video alone, that there are problems in the Uber vehicle software that need to be rectified,” he said.</p>
<p>Uber did not immediately respond to a request for comment on its systems.</p> OVERSIGHT?
<p>The video is likely to renew calls for more oversight in a nascent industry that lacks standardized testing or safety definitions. Lawmakers have had to juggle the need to encourage innovations that promise to dramatically improve safety on roads with current public safety concerns.</p>
<p>Companies including Uber, Alphabet’s Waymo ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=GOOGL.O" type="external">GOOGL.O</a>) and General Motors’s Cruise Automation ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=GM.N" type="external">GM.N</a>) have been testing their self-driving technology in Arizona, which has welcomed the industry with a lighter regulatory touch than in states like California, for example.</p>
<p>On Tuesday, Arizona transportation officials said they saw no immediate need to tighten rules on the testing of self-driving cars in the state.</p>
<p>Although some within the self-driving industry have suggested agreeing testing and safety standards for autonomous technology, there has been no concerted effort to do so.</p>
<p>Timothy Carone, an associate teaching professor at Notre Dame University’s Mendoza College of Business whose research specialties include artificial intelligence and autonomous systems, said the question is whether Uber did enough testing before sending robot cars out onto streets alongside humans.</p>
<p>“Did they jump the gun?” he said. “If their testing is found to be inefficient, that cannot be allowed to happen again because these systems have to be ready for road tests.”</p>
<p>Additional reporting by Paul Lienert and Nick Carey in Detroit; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien, Peter Cooney and Cynthia Osterman</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>NEW YORK (Reuters) - Airlines canceled thousands of flights in the U.S. Northeast on Wednesday as a swirl of strong winds, snow, sleet and ice from the fourth major storm this month crippled the region.</p> Travellers check updated information about their canceled flights at the Ronald Reagan National airport during a snowstorm in Washington, U.S., March 21, 2018. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas
<p>Airlines scrapped more than 4,400 flights within, to or from the United States, according to flight tracking website FlightAware, and more than 3,000 other U.S. flights were delayed as the latest “nor’easter” dumped snow and ice on New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Washington.</p>
<p>The cancellations piled on to thousands more canceled flights due to an unrelenting series of late-winter storms.</p>
<p>In addition to creating headaches for passengers, these storms can rack up millions of dollars in costs for airlines, as carriers reallocate aircraft and crew, and swallow the cost of passengers who don’t re-book travel.</p> Delta flight monitor shows cancelled flights at LaGuardia Airport in New York, U.S., March 21, 2018. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
<p>“This has been a much harsher late winter than we’ve seen for quite some time. It does have an impact on carriers’ bottom lines,” CFRA Research analyst Jim Corridore said.</p>
<p>While the full financial impact of the storms was not yet known, Corridore said accurate weather forecasts helped carriers quickly move planes and crew as well as plan for resuming normal operations.</p> Slideshow (4 Images)
<p>“There is a small silver lining in that it does help load factors and yields,” he said, noting that passengers from canceled flights often help fill later flights that would have otherwise sat empty.</p>
<p>U.S. carriers are offering change-fee waivers from flights in the affected regions, including from New York’s three major airports, Philadelphia International and Boston Logan International.</p>
<p>LaGuardia Airport in New York City said on Twitter on Wednesday afternoon that airlines had canceled all remaining flights at the facility for the rest of the day.</p>
<p>Additional reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis in Los Angeles and Bernie Woodall in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Editing by James Dalgleish and Sandra Maler</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. East’s fourth major snowstorm this month brought heavy snow on Wednesday, snarling flights and commuter travel, closing schools and triggering emergency declarations in several states.</p>
<p>The storm will have passed over the Northeast by dawn Thursday. By then, it will have dumped 8 inches of snow on Philadelphia, 12 inches on New York City, and 17 inches over northern Maryland and southern Pennsylvania, said Weather Prediction Center meteorologist Marc Chenard.</p>
<p>The storm faded as it reached New England, which received less snow than had been forecast, Chenard said.</p>
<p>The wintry blast on the second day of spring was dubbed “four’easter” by some media outlets because it struck after three previous storms this month. Those nor’easters left nine dead and more than 2 million homes and businesses without power.</p>
<p>While he offered no guarantees, Chenard told Reuters: “At this point, I would say there is a good chance this is the last” Northeast snowstorm for March.</p>
<p>New York state Governor Andrew Cuomo declared local emergencies for New York City and five nearby counties.</p>
<p>Schools in the largest U.S. school district in New York City will reopen on Thursday after being shut on Wednesday, city officials said.</p>
<p>“Don’t go out unless you absolutely have to go out,” New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said on Twitter on Wednesday. Murphy on Tuesday declared a state of emergency as crews cleared roadways and transit bus service was suspended statewide.</p>
<p>Murphy said at least one death was caused by the storm in a traffic crash, NJ.com reported, and the New York Daily News reported that a woman was killed on Long Island in another traffic accident.</p>
<p>Delaware Governor John Carney also declared a state of emergency for Wednesday.</p> Bicycles covered by snow are seen a snowstorm in Washington, U.S., March 21, 2018. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas
<p>Throughout the East Coast, many other buses and trains, including some Greyhound bus and Amtrak rail routes, that millions of people rely on to commute to and from work and school also canceled service on Wednesday.</p>
<p>With many commuters staying home, New York City’s normally bustling Times Square was sedate.</p>
<p>“We’re not going to let the snow get in the way of our snow day,” said Cheryl Mandelbaum, 30, an elementary school teacher who was taking pictures with a friend, another teacher who had the day off.</p> Slideshow (31 Images)
<p>Several inches of snowfall in Washington and its suburbs forced the closure of federal government offices, according to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. The office also said federal agencies told workers to arrive two hours later than usual on Thursday, work remotely or take the day off.</p>
<p>Washington schools were also closed, and children in Philadelphia, parts of New Jersey and Pittsburgh also enjoyed a snow day. In Boston, students were told to trudge to school.</p>
<p>The National Weather Service said that farther inland, snow also blanketed parts of Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky.</p> Related Coverage
<a href="/article/us-usa-weather-flights/fourth-u-s-northeast-storm-in-march-snarls-air-traffic-idUSKBN1GX2F0" type="external">Fourth U.S. Northeast storm in March snarls air traffic</a>
<p>Airlines scrapped 4,444 flights within, into and out of the United States, according to flight tracking website FlightAware, and 3,206 U.S. flights were delayed.</p>
<p>As the storm ends for the Northeast on Thursday morning, parts of coastal California will be poised for possible mudslides.</p>
<p>About 25,000 people were under mandatory evacuation orders in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, Santa Barbara officials said on Wednesday night. The evacuations are called mainly in hillside areas burned by winter wildfires and where in January 21 people were killed in mudslides.</p>
<p>No one had been hurt by Wednesday night, said Kelly Hoover of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, who added that heavy rains were expected from 5 to 11 a.m. on Thursday.</p>
<p>Additional reporting by Alana Wise and Scott DiSavino in New York, Bernadette Baum in Montclair, New Jersey, Suzannah Gonzales in Chicago, Keith Coffman in Denver, Eric Walsh in Washington and Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee; Additional reporting and writing by Bernie Woodall in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Editing by Jonathan Oatis and Himani Sarkar</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Facebook Inc Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg apologized on Wednesday for mistakes his company made in how it handled data belonging to 50 million of its users and promised tougher steps to restrict developers’ access to such information.</p>
<p>The world’s largest social media network is facing growing government scrutiny in Europe and the United States about a whistleblower’s allegations that London-based political consultancy Cambridge Analytica improperly accessed user information to build profiles on American voters that were later used to help elect U.S. President Donald Trump in 2016.</p>
<p>“This was a major breach of trust. I’m really sorry this happened. We have a basic responsibility to protect people’s data,” Zuckerberg said in an interview with CNN, breaking a public silence since the scandal erupted at the weekend.</p>
<p>Zuckerberg said in a post on Facebook the company "made mistakes, there's more to do, and we need to step up and do it." ( <a href="http://bit.ly/2DHAlUJ" type="external">bit.ly/2DHAlUJ</a>)</p>
<p>He said the social network planned to conduct an investigation of thousands of apps that have used Facebook’s platform, restrict developer access to data, and give members a tool that lets them to disable access to their Facebook data more easily.</p>
<p>His plans did not represent a big reduction of advertisers’ ability to use Facebook data, which is the company’s lifeblood.</p>
<p>Zuckerberg said he was open to additional government regulation and happy to testify before the U.S. Congress if he was the right person.</p>
<p>“I’m not sure we shouldn’t be regulated,” he told CNN. “I actually think the question is more what is the right regulation rather than yes or no, should it be regulated? ... People should know who is buying the ads that they see on Facebook.”</p>
<p>Zuckerberg said Facebook was committed to stopping interference in the U.S. midterm election in November and elections in India and Brazil.</p> INVESTOR FEARS
<p>Facebook shares pared gains on Wednesday after Zuckerberg’s post, closing up 0.7 percent. The company has lost more than $45 billion of its stock market value over the past three days on investor fears that any failure by big tech firms to protect personal data could deter advertisers and users and invite tougher regulation.</p>
<p>Zuckerberg told the New York Times in an interview published on Wednesday he had not seen a “meaningful number of people” deleting their accounts over the scandal.</p>
<p>Facebook representatives, including Deputy Chief Privacy Officer Rob Sherman, met U.S. congressional staff for nearly two hours on Wednesday and planned to continue meetings on Capitol Hill on Thursday. Facebook was unable to answer many questions, two aides who attended the briefing said.</p> Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg speaks during the Alumni Exercises following the 366th Commencement Exercises at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S., May 25, 2017. REUTERS/Brian Snyder
<p>Zuckerberg told the website Recode that fixes to protect users' data would cost "many millions of dollars." ( <a href="http://bit.ly/2IJbYJS" type="external">bit.ly/2IJbYJS</a>)</p>
<p>The whistleblower who launched the scandal, Christopher Wylie, formerly of Cambridge Analytica, said on Twitter he had accepted invitations to testify before U.S. and UK lawmakers.</p>
<p>The German government said Facebook must explain whether the personal data of the country’s 30 million users were protected from unlawful use by third parties, according to a report in the Funke group of German regional newspapers.</p> Slideshow (5 Images) ‘SCAPEGOAT’
<p>On Tuesday, the board of Cambridge Analytica suspended its Chief Executive Alexander Nix, who was caught in a secret recording boasting that his company played a decisive role in Trump’s victory.</p>
<p>However, the academic who provided the data disputed that on Wednesday.</p>
<p>“I think what Cambridge Analytica has tried to sell is magic, and they’ve made claims that this is incredibly accurate and it tells you everything there is to tell about you. But I think the reality is it’s not that,” psychologist Aleksandr Kogan, an academic at Cambridge University, told the BBC in an interview.</p>
<p>Kogan, who gathered the data by running a survey app on Facebook, also said he was being made a scapegoat by Facebook and Cambridge Analytica. Both companies have blamed Kogan for alleged data misuse.</p> Related Coverage
<a href="/article/us-facebook-cambridge-analytica-leave-eu/what-are-the-links-between-cambridge-analytica-and-a-brexit-campaign-group-idUSKBN1GX2IO" type="external">What are the links between Cambridge Analytica and a Brexit campaign group?</a>
<a href="/article/us-facebook-cambridge-analytica-germany/germany-summons-facebook-over-user-data-safety-concerns-report-idUSKBN1GY006" type="external">Germany summons Facebook over user data safety concerns: report</a>
<a href="/article/us-facebook-cambridge-analytica-brazil/brazil-prosecutors-open-investigation-into-cambridge-analytica-idUSKBN1GX35A" type="external">Brazil prosecutors open investigation into Cambridge Analytica</a>
<p>Only 300,000 Facebook users responded to Kogan’s quiz, but that gave the researcher access to those people’s Facebook friends as well, who had not agreed to share information, producing details on 50 million users.</p>
<p>Facebook has said it subsequently made changes that prevent people from sharing data about friends and maintains that no breach occurred because the original users gave permission. Critics say that it essentially was a breach because data of unsuspecting friends was taken.</p>
<p>Analysts have raised concerns that the incident will reduce user engagement with Facebook, potentially lessening its clout with advertisers. Three Wall Street brokerages cut their price targets.</p>
<p>“Investors now have to consider whether or not the company will conclude that it has grown in a manner that has proven to be untenable,” said Pivotal Research Group analyst Brian Wieser.</p>
<p>The company has risen more than 550 percent in value in the past five years.</p>
<p>Reporting by David Ingram; Additional reporting by Dustin Volz and David Shepardson in WASHINGTON and Kate Holton in LONDON; Writing by Susan Thomas; Editing by Bill Rigby, Lisa Shumaker and Paul Tait</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
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jan 24 reuters changshu automotive trim co ltd says controlling shareholder plan buy 20 percent stake changchun fawsn group co 550 million yuan 8617 million source text chinese bitly2n7qjhp company coverage 1 63825 chinese yuan renminbi reporting hong kong newsroom standards thomson reuters trust principles tempe arizsan francisco reuters police arizona wednesday released short video fatal collision uber selfdriving vehicle pedestrian investigators probe accident put new focus safety autonomous vehicles video taken inside volvo xc90 sport utility vehicle uber used testing shows vehicle driving along dark road image woman walking bicycle across road suddenly appears headlights woman elaine herzberg 49 later died injuries police released details accident occurred sunday night tempe arizona suburb phoenix suv driving autonomous mode uber suspended selfdriving testing north america incident federal safety regulators conducting probe fallout accident could stall development testing selfdriving vehicles designed perform far better human drivers sharply reduce number motor vehicle fatalities occur year video shows vehicle traveling righthand lane divided fourlane roadway vehicles headlights illuminate woman directly front crossing suvs lane bike woman appears jaywalking crosswalk photo released safety regulators tuesday showed impact occurred right side vehicle footage also shows view vehicles interior driver wheel driver appears looking road two periods five seconds video stops driver looks upward toward road suddenly looks shocked video disturbing heartbreaking watch thoughts continue elaines loved ones uber said statement cars remain grounded assisting local state federal authorities way video likely key part investigations ubers selfdriving car technology whether ready testing public roads although exact specifics ubers technology known selfdriving cars typically use combination sensors including radar lightbased lidar identify objects around vehicle including potential obstacles coming range cameras perform well dark radar lidar work night one question regulators minds sensors pick presence herzberg would ostensibly already crossed three lanes traffic arriving path uber vehicle slideshow 3 images one selfdriving car expert bryant walker smith said first impression outrage viewing video although video isnt full picture strongly suggests failure ubers automated driving system lack due care ubers driver victim said smith professor law university south carolina another autonomous driving expert agreed smiths assessment sensors detected pedestrian case cameras likely useless radars lidar must picked pedestrian said raj rajkumar professor carnegie mellon alphabet inc 10940 googlo nasdaq 180 016 googlo gmn though information available one would conclude based video alone problems uber vehicle software need rectified said uber immediately respond request comment systems oversight video likely renew calls oversight nascent industry lacks standardized testing safety definitions lawmakers juggle need encourage innovations promise dramatically improve safety roads current public safety concerns companies including uber alphabets waymo googlo general motorss cruise automation gmn testing selfdriving technology arizona welcomed industry lighter regulatory touch states like california example tuesday arizona transportation officials said saw immediate need tighten rules testing selfdriving cars state although within selfdriving industry suggested agreeing testing safety standards autonomous technology concerted effort timothy carone associate teaching professor notre dame universitys mendoza college business whose research specialties include artificial intelligence autonomous systems said question whether uber enough testing sending robot cars onto streets alongside humans jump gun said testing found inefficient allowed happen systems ready road tests additional reporting paul lienert nick carey detroit editing rosalba obrien peter cooney cynthia osterman standards thomson reuters trust principles new york reuters airlines canceled thousands flights us northeast wednesday swirl strong winds snow sleet ice fourth major storm month crippled region travellers check updated information canceled flights ronald reagan national airport snowstorm washington us march 21 2018 reutersyuri gripas airlines scrapped 4400 flights within united states according flight tracking website flightaware 3000 us flights delayed latest noreaster dumped snow ice new york boston philadelphia washington cancellations piled thousands canceled flights due unrelenting series latewinter storms addition creating headaches passengers storms rack millions dollars costs airlines carriers reallocate aircraft crew swallow cost passengers dont rebook travel delta flight monitor shows cancelled flights laguardia airport new york us march 21 2018 reutersshannon stapleton much harsher late winter weve seen quite time impact carriers bottom lines cfra research analyst jim corridore said full financial impact storms yet known corridore said accurate weather forecasts helped carriers quickly move planes crew well plan resuming normal operations slideshow 4 images small silver lining help load factors yields said noting passengers canceled flights often help fill later flights would otherwise sat empty us carriers offering changefee waivers flights affected regions including new yorks three major airports philadelphia international boston logan international laguardia airport new york city said twitter wednesday afternoon airlines canceled remaining flights facility rest day additional reporting alex dobuzinskis los angeles bernie woodall fort lauderdale fla editing james dalgleish sandra maler standards thomson reuters trust principles new york reuters us easts fourth major snowstorm month brought heavy snow wednesday snarling flights commuter travel closing schools triggering emergency declarations several states storm passed northeast dawn thursday dumped 8 inches snow philadelphia 12 inches new york city 17 inches northern maryland southern pennsylvania said weather prediction center meteorologist marc chenard storm faded reached new england received less snow forecast chenard said wintry blast second day spring dubbed foureaster media outlets struck three previous storms month noreasters left nine dead 2 million homes businesses without power offered guarantees chenard told reuters point would say good chance last northeast snowstorm march new york state governor andrew cuomo declared local emergencies new york city five nearby counties schools largest us school district new york city reopen thursday shut wednesday city officials said dont go unless absolutely go new jersey governor phil murphy said twitter wednesday murphy tuesday declared state emergency crews cleared roadways transit bus service suspended statewide murphy said least one death caused storm traffic crash njcom reported new york daily news reported woman killed long island another traffic accident delaware governor john carney also declared state emergency wednesday bicycles covered snow seen snowstorm washington us march 21 2018 reutersyuri gripas throughout east coast many buses trains including greyhound bus amtrak rail routes millions people rely commute work school also canceled service wednesday many commuters staying home new york citys normally bustling times square sedate going let snow get way snow day said cheryl mandelbaum 30 elementary school teacher taking pictures friend another teacher day slideshow 31 images several inches snowfall washington suburbs forced closure federal government offices according us office personnel management office also said federal agencies told workers arrive two hours later usual thursday work remotely take day washington schools also closed children philadelphia parts new jersey pittsburgh also enjoyed snow day boston students told trudge school national weather service said farther inland snow also blanketed parts ohio indiana kentucky related coverage fourth us northeast storm march snarls air traffic airlines scrapped 4444 flights within united states according flight tracking website flightaware 3206 us flights delayed storm ends northeast thursday morning parts coastal california poised possible mudslides 25000 people mandatory evacuation orders santa barbara ventura counties santa barbara officials said wednesday night evacuations called mainly hillside areas burned winter wildfires january 21 people killed mudslides one hurt wednesday night said kelly hoover santa barbara county sheriffs office added heavy rains expected 5 11 thursday additional reporting alana wise scott disavino new york bernadette baum montclair new jersey suzannah gonzales chicago keith coffman denver eric walsh washington brendan obrien milwaukee additional reporting writing bernie woodall fort lauderdale fla editing jonathan oatis himani sarkar standards thomson reuters trust principles san francisco reuters facebook inc chief executive mark zuckerberg apologized wednesday mistakes company made handled data belonging 50 million users promised tougher steps restrict developers access information worlds largest social media network facing growing government scrutiny europe united states whistleblowers allegations londonbased political consultancy cambridge analytica improperly accessed user information build profiles american voters later used help elect us president donald trump 2016 major breach trust im really sorry happened basic responsibility protect peoples data zuckerberg said interview cnn breaking public silence since scandal erupted weekend zuckerberg said post facebook company made mistakes theres need step bitly2dhaluj said social network planned conduct investigation thousands apps used facebooks platform restrict developer access data give members tool lets disable access facebook data easily plans represent big reduction advertisers ability use facebook data companys lifeblood zuckerberg said open additional government regulation happy testify us congress right person im sure shouldnt regulated told cnn actually think question right regulation rather yes regulated people know buying ads see facebook zuckerberg said facebook committed stopping interference us midterm election november elections india brazil investor fears facebook shares pared gains wednesday zuckerbergs post closing 07 percent company lost 45 billion stock market value past three days investor fears failure big tech firms protect personal data could deter advertisers users invite tougher regulation zuckerberg told new york times interview published wednesday seen meaningful number people deleting accounts scandal facebook representatives including deputy chief privacy officer rob sherman met us congressional staff nearly two hours wednesday planned continue meetings capitol hill thursday facebook unable answer many questions two aides attended briefing said facebook founder mark zuckerberg speaks alumni exercises following 366th commencement exercises harvard university cambridge massachusetts us may 25 2017 reutersbrian snyder zuckerberg told website recode fixes protect users data would cost many millions dollars bitly2ijbyjs whistleblower launched scandal christopher wylie formerly cambridge analytica said twitter accepted invitations testify us uk lawmakers german government said facebook must explain whether personal data countrys 30 million users protected unlawful use third parties according report funke group german regional newspapers slideshow 5 images scapegoat tuesday board cambridge analytica suspended chief executive alexander nix caught secret recording boasting company played decisive role trumps victory however academic provided data disputed wednesday think cambridge analytica tried sell magic theyve made claims incredibly accurate tells everything tell think reality psychologist aleksandr kogan academic cambridge university told bbc interview kogan gathered data running survey app facebook also said made scapegoat facebook cambridge analytica companies blamed kogan alleged data misuse related coverage links cambridge analytica brexit campaign group germany summons facebook user data safety concerns report brazil prosecutors open investigation cambridge analytica 300000 facebook users responded kogans quiz gave researcher access peoples facebook friends well agreed share information producing details 50 million users facebook said subsequently made changes prevent people sharing data friends maintains breach occurred original users gave permission critics say essentially breach data unsuspecting friends taken analysts raised concerns incident reduce user engagement facebook potentially lessening clout advertisers three wall street brokerages cut price targets investors consider whether company conclude grown manner proven untenable said pivotal research group analyst brian wieser company risen 550 percent value past five years reporting david ingram additional reporting dustin volz david shepardson washington kate holton london writing susan thomas editing bill rigby lisa shumaker paul tait standards thomson reuters trust principles
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<p />
<p>Americans who already have coverage and aren’t looking for any more government help are blaming the law for their rising premiums and deductibles.</p>
<p>Those are the 85 percent of Americans that the White House says don’t have to be worried about the president’s historic push to expand coverage for the uninsured. Overall 3 in 4 say the rollout of coverage for the uninsured has gone poorly as health care remains a politically charged issue going into next year’s midterm congressional elections.</p>
<p>In the survey, nearly half of those with job-based or other private coverage say their policies will be changing next year — mostly for the worse. Nearly 4 in 5 (77 percent) blame the changes on the Affordable Care Act, even though the trend toward leaner coverage predates the law’s passage.</p>
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<p>Sixty-nine percent say their premiums will be going up, while 59 percent say annual deductibles or copayments are increasing.</p>
<p>Only 21 percent of those with private coverage said their plan is expanding to cover more types of medical care, though coverage of preventive care at no charge to the patient has been required by the law for the past couple of years.</p>
<p>Fourteen percent said coverage for spouses is being restricted or eliminated, and 11 percent said their plan is being discontinued.</p>
<p>“Rightly or wrongly, people with private insurance looking at next year are really worried about what is going to happen,” said Robert Blendon, a professor at the Harvard School of Public Health, who tracks public opinion on health care issues. “The website is not the whole story.”</p>
<p>Employers trying to control their health insurance bills have been shifting costs to workers for years, but now those changes are blamed increasingly on “Obamacare” instead of the economy or insurance companies.</p>
<p>Political leanings seemed to affect perceptions of eroding coverage, with larger majorities of Republicans and independents saying their coverage will be affected.</p>
<p>The White House had hoped that the Oct. 1 launch of open enrollment season for the uninsured would become a teaching moment, a showcase of the president’s philosophy that government can help smooth out the rough edges of life in the modern economy for working people.</p>
<p>Instead, the dysfunctional website became a parable for Republicans and others skeptical of government.</p>
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<p>At the same time, a cresting wave of cancellation notices hit millions who buy their policy directly from an insurer. That undercut one of Obama’s central promises — that you can keep the coverage you have if you like it. The White House never clearly communicated the many caveats to that promise.</p>
<p>Disapproval of Obama’s handling of health care topped 60 percent in the poll.</p>
<p>With the website working better and enrollments picking up, Democrats are hoping negative impressions will quickly fade in the rearview mirror. The poll found that Democrats still have an edge over Republicans, by 32 percent to 22 percent, when it comes to whom the public trusts to handle health care.</p>
<p>But other potential bumps are just ahead for Obama’s law.</p>
<p>It is unclear whether everyone who wants and needs coverage by Jan. 1 will be able to get it through the new online insurance markets. Some people who have to switch plans because their policies were canceled may find that their new insurance covers different drugs, or that they have to look for other doctors.</p>
<p>In the poll, taken just after the revamped federal website was unveiled, 11 percent of Americans said they or someone in their household had tried to sign up for health insurance in the new marketplaces.</p>
<p>Sixty-two percent of those said they or the person in their household ran into problems. About one-fourth of all who tried managed to enroll. Half said they were not able to buy insurance, and the remaining quarter said they weren’t sure.</p>
<p>Phyllis Dessel, 63, of Reading, Pa., believes she is finally enrolled after 50 attempts online. The retired social worker, a political independent, currently has her own private insurance.</p>
<p>When Dessel described her experience, she jokingly asked, “Do you mind if I cry?”</p>
<p>Thanks to tax credits available under the law, she was able to save about $100 a month on the monthly premium for her new coverage. But she had to switch carriers because staying with her current insurer would have cost more than she was willing to pay. She hasn’t gotten an invoice yet from her new insurance company.</p>
<p>The premiums she found on the new insurance marketplace were “not at all” what she expected, said Dessel. “They were much, much higher.”</p>
<p>A supporter of Obama’s overhaul, she believes changes are needed to make the coverage more affordable.</p>
<p>“I think with a lot of amendments or updates, it could be very, very helpful and beneficial,” said Dessel. “I know a lot of people who don’t have insurance. My hairdresser, my plumber don’t have insurance, and they’re not going to get it if it’s not affordable.”</p>
<p>The AP-GfK Poll was conducted Dec. 5-9 and involved online interviews with 1,367 adults. The survey has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points for all respondents.</p>
<p>The survey was conducted using KnowledgePanel, a probability-based Internet panel designed to be representative of the U.S. population. Respondents to the survey were first selected randomly using phone or mail survey methods and were later interviewed online. People selected for KnowledgePanel who didn’t otherwise have access to the Internet were provided with the ability to access the Internet at no cost to them.</p>
<p>——</p>
<p>AP News Survey Specialist Dennis Junius and Associated Press writer Stacy A. Anderson contributed to this report.</p>
<p>——</p>
<p>Online:</p>
<p>AP-GfK Poll: <a href="http://www.ap-gfkpoll.com" type="external">http://www.ap-gfkpoll.com</a></p>
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americans already coverage arent looking government help blaming law rising premiums deductibles 85 percent americans white house says dont worried presidents historic push expand coverage uninsured overall 3 4 say rollout coverage uninsured gone poorly health care remains politically charged issue going next years midterm congressional elections survey nearly half jobbased private coverage say policies changing next year mostly worse nearly 4 5 77 percent blame changes affordable care act even though trend toward leaner coverage predates laws passage advertisement sixtynine percent say premiums going 59 percent say annual deductibles copayments increasing 21 percent private coverage said plan expanding cover types medical care though coverage preventive care charge patient required law past couple years fourteen percent said coverage spouses restricted eliminated 11 percent said plan discontinued rightly wrongly people private insurance looking next year really worried going happen said robert blendon professor harvard school public health tracks public opinion health care issues website whole story employers trying control health insurance bills shifting costs workers years changes blamed increasingly obamacare instead economy insurance companies political leanings seemed affect perceptions eroding coverage larger majorities republicans independents saying coverage affected white house hoped oct 1 launch open enrollment season uninsured would become teaching moment showcase presidents philosophy government help smooth rough edges life modern economy working people instead dysfunctional website became parable republicans others skeptical government advertisement time cresting wave cancellation notices hit millions buy policy directly insurer undercut one obamas central promises keep coverage like white house never clearly communicated many caveats promise disapproval obamas handling health care topped 60 percent poll website working better enrollments picking democrats hoping negative impressions quickly fade rearview mirror poll found democrats still edge republicans 32 percent 22 percent comes public trusts handle health care potential bumps ahead obamas law unclear whether everyone wants needs coverage jan 1 able get new online insurance markets people switch plans policies canceled may find new insurance covers different drugs look doctors poll taken revamped federal website unveiled 11 percent americans said someone household tried sign health insurance new marketplaces sixtytwo percent said person household ran problems onefourth tried managed enroll half said able buy insurance remaining quarter said werent sure phyllis dessel 63 reading pa believes finally enrolled 50 attempts online retired social worker political independent currently private insurance dessel described experience jokingly asked mind cry thanks tax credits available law able save 100 month monthly premium new coverage switch carriers staying current insurer would cost willing pay hasnt gotten invoice yet new insurance company premiums found new insurance marketplace expected said dessel much much higher supporter obamas overhaul believes changes needed make coverage affordable think lot amendments updates could helpful beneficial said dessel know lot people dont insurance hairdresser plumber dont insurance theyre going get affordable apgfk poll conducted dec 59 involved online interviews 1367 adults survey margin sampling error plus minus 35 percentage points respondents survey conducted using knowledgepanel probabilitybased internet panel designed representative us population respondents survey first selected randomly using phone mail survey methods later interviewed online people selected knowledgepanel didnt otherwise access internet provided ability access internet cost ap news survey specialist dennis junius associated press writer stacy anderson contributed report online apgfk poll httpwwwapgfkpollcom
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<p>INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — NCAA President Mark Emmert intends to act swiftly and decisively to clean up college basketball.</p>
<p>When it happens, he expects everyone in the governing body to jump on board.</p>
<p>With an independent commission looking into alleged corruption in the sport, Emmert used his annual state of the association speech Thursday to ask everyone in attendance to help him turn the commission's recommendations into actual rules by the start of next season.</p>
<p>"They (the commission) are going to bring forth a report in April and we have to act on it," he said just a few blocks away from the governing body's headquarters in Indianapolis. "We've got to hear what they have to say, we have to digest it and we have to act. We have to have those changes in place by tip-off of next year."</p>
<p>If the transition actually happens, it would be a vast departure from the NCAA's typically glacial pace.</p>
<p>Emmert and others have talked about speeding up the process before. This time sounds different.</p>
<p>G.P. "Bud" Peterson, the board's chairman and president of Georgia Tech, has already prepped his committee and the Division I Council to move quickly after the commission issues its report on April 25. The Council will then be asked to present formal proposals that will be voted on at the board's regularly scheduled meeting in early August.</p>
<p>Those approved would likely take effect before season openers now tabbed for Nov. 6 after the Council voted Wednesday to move up the start date by three days.</p>
<p>"We have spent a considerable amount of time walking through that (plan) this week because it is a little unusual," Peterson said.</p>
<p>The comments come as an FBI investigation into alleged corruption continues.</p>
<p>Ten men — including a top Adidas executive and four college assistant coaches — were charged in September with using hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes to steer players to certain schools.</p>
<p>"Right now, there are some things we just have to get on with. We have to say, 'Yep, we're going to deal with it,'" Emmert said. "What we see with that FBI investigation is Exhibit A. A coach allegedly takes a bribe to steer a young man to a financial adviser who is going to bilk him out of money. It's disgusting. It's wrong. We know it's not widespread like people assumed it was. But when we don't respond appropriately, it makes everyone's jobs harder.</p>
<p>"People don't want words. They want to see actions."</p>
<p>There's no indication yet of what changes are under consideration.</p>
<p>Emmert outlined areas the committee is looking into: the relationships with professional basketball, shoe companies and agents, as well as summer basketball and enforcement.</p>
<p>Since former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was named chairwoman of the Commission On Basketball in mid-October, Emmert said the 14-member committee has been meeting at least monthly, usually by telephone. But neither he nor Peterson has been briefed by the committee on what it has found.</p>
<p>Emmert acknowledged the commission has interviewed NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, NBA Players Association executive director Michele Roberts, members of the NCAA's Committee on Infractions and even NCAA staff members. The committee is also expected to interview summer league and AAU basketball officials.</p>
<p>In the meantime, the Board of Governors isn't waiting around.</p>
<p>On Thursday, it approved setting aside $10 million in reserves to help schools implement this year's changes and $2.5 million annually beginning in 2019-20 for any additional new rules.</p>
<p>"I don't know what the cost is going to be, but I do know that there's going to be a cost," Peterson said.</p>
<p>Wading through the NCAA's usual legislative process also would come with a cost: a tainted reputation.</p>
<p>Emmert even alluded to it during his prepared remarks, noting that polls showed continuing declines in the trust of institutions ranging from Congress to the media to higher education and even college sports.</p>
<p>So, he told the crowd, the NCAA can't waste any more time.</p>
<p>"The dilemma for us, here, as we try to deal with the challenges and issues of college sports are that we tend to feel like we're being picked on or someone's taking shots at us or it's not us, it's that other school," Emmert said. "It's a little too convenient. It's a little too easy. The reality is some of the criticism is justified. Some of the criticism has a kernel of truth in it even if we don't like it. And we have to look that straight in the eye."</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>More AP college basketball: <a href="https://collegebasketball.ap.org" type="external">https://collegebasketball.ap.org</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/AP_Top25" type="external">https://twitter.com/AP_Top25</a></p>
<p>INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — NCAA President Mark Emmert intends to act swiftly and decisively to clean up college basketball.</p>
<p>When it happens, he expects everyone in the governing body to jump on board.</p>
<p>With an independent commission looking into alleged corruption in the sport, Emmert used his annual state of the association speech Thursday to ask everyone in attendance to help him turn the commission's recommendations into actual rules by the start of next season.</p>
<p>"They (the commission) are going to bring forth a report in April and we have to act on it," he said just a few blocks away from the governing body's headquarters in Indianapolis. "We've got to hear what they have to say, we have to digest it and we have to act. We have to have those changes in place by tip-off of next year."</p>
<p>If the transition actually happens, it would be a vast departure from the NCAA's typically glacial pace.</p>
<p>Emmert and others have talked about speeding up the process before. This time sounds different.</p>
<p>G.P. "Bud" Peterson, the board's chairman and president of Georgia Tech, has already prepped his committee and the Division I Council to move quickly after the commission issues its report on April 25. The Council will then be asked to present formal proposals that will be voted on at the board's regularly scheduled meeting in early August.</p>
<p>Those approved would likely take effect before season openers now tabbed for Nov. 6 after the Council voted Wednesday to move up the start date by three days.</p>
<p>"We have spent a considerable amount of time walking through that (plan) this week because it is a little unusual," Peterson said.</p>
<p>The comments come as an FBI investigation into alleged corruption continues.</p>
<p>Ten men — including a top Adidas executive and four college assistant coaches — were charged in September with using hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes to steer players to certain schools.</p>
<p>"Right now, there are some things we just have to get on with. We have to say, 'Yep, we're going to deal with it,'" Emmert said. "What we see with that FBI investigation is Exhibit A. A coach allegedly takes a bribe to steer a young man to a financial adviser who is going to bilk him out of money. It's disgusting. It's wrong. We know it's not widespread like people assumed it was. But when we don't respond appropriately, it makes everyone's jobs harder.</p>
<p>"People don't want words. They want to see actions."</p>
<p>There's no indication yet of what changes are under consideration.</p>
<p>Emmert outlined areas the committee is looking into: the relationships with professional basketball, shoe companies and agents, as well as summer basketball and enforcement.</p>
<p>Since former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was named chairwoman of the Commission On Basketball in mid-October, Emmert said the 14-member committee has been meeting at least monthly, usually by telephone. But neither he nor Peterson has been briefed by the committee on what it has found.</p>
<p>Emmert acknowledged the commission has interviewed NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, NBA Players Association executive director Michele Roberts, members of the NCAA's Committee on Infractions and even NCAA staff members. The committee is also expected to interview summer league and AAU basketball officials.</p>
<p>In the meantime, the Board of Governors isn't waiting around.</p>
<p>On Thursday, it approved setting aside $10 million in reserves to help schools implement this year's changes and $2.5 million annually beginning in 2019-20 for any additional new rules.</p>
<p>"I don't know what the cost is going to be, but I do know that there's going to be a cost," Peterson said.</p>
<p>Wading through the NCAA's usual legislative process also would come with a cost: a tainted reputation.</p>
<p>Emmert even alluded to it during his prepared remarks, noting that polls showed continuing declines in the trust of institutions ranging from Congress to the media to higher education and even college sports.</p>
<p>So, he told the crowd, the NCAA can't waste any more time.</p>
<p>"The dilemma for us, here, as we try to deal with the challenges and issues of college sports are that we tend to feel like we're being picked on or someone's taking shots at us or it's not us, it's that other school," Emmert said. "It's a little too convenient. It's a little too easy. The reality is some of the criticism is justified. Some of the criticism has a kernel of truth in it even if we don't like it. And we have to look that straight in the eye."</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>More AP college basketball: <a href="https://collegebasketball.ap.org" type="external">https://collegebasketball.ap.org</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/AP_Top25" type="external">https://twitter.com/AP_Top25</a></p>
| false | 2 |
indianapolis ap ncaa president mark emmert intends act swiftly decisively clean college basketball happens expects everyone governing body jump board independent commission looking alleged corruption sport emmert used annual state association speech thursday ask everyone attendance help turn commissions recommendations actual rules start next season commission going bring forth report april act said blocks away governing bodys headquarters indianapolis weve got hear say digest act changes place tipoff next year transition actually happens would vast departure ncaas typically glacial pace emmert others talked speeding process time sounds different gp bud peterson boards chairman president georgia tech already prepped committee division council move quickly commission issues report april 25 council asked present formal proposals voted boards regularly scheduled meeting early august approved would likely take effect season openers tabbed nov 6 council voted wednesday move start date three days spent considerable amount time walking plan week little unusual peterson said comments come fbi investigation alleged corruption continues ten men including top adidas executive four college assistant coaches charged september using hundreds thousands dollars bribes steer players certain schools right things get say yep going deal emmert said see fbi investigation exhibit coach allegedly takes bribe steer young man financial adviser going bilk money disgusting wrong know widespread like people assumed dont respond appropriately makes everyones jobs harder people dont want words want see actions theres indication yet changes consideration emmert outlined areas committee looking relationships professional basketball shoe companies agents well summer basketball enforcement since former secretary state condoleezza rice named chairwoman commission basketball midoctober emmert said 14member committee meeting least monthly usually telephone neither peterson briefed committee found emmert acknowledged commission interviewed nba commissioner adam silver nba players association executive director michele roberts members ncaas committee infractions even ncaa staff members committee also expected interview summer league aau basketball officials meantime board governors isnt waiting around thursday approved setting aside 10 million reserves help schools implement years changes 25 million annually beginning 201920 additional new rules dont know cost going know theres going cost peterson said wading ncaas usual legislative process also would come cost tainted reputation emmert even alluded prepared remarks noting polls showed continuing declines trust institutions ranging congress media higher education even college sports told crowd ncaa cant waste time dilemma us try deal challenges issues college sports tend feel like picked someones taking shots us us school emmert said little convenient little easy reality criticism justified criticism kernel truth even dont like look straight eye ___ ap college basketball httpscollegebasketballaporg httpstwittercomap_top25 indianapolis ap ncaa president mark emmert intends act swiftly decisively clean college basketball happens expects everyone governing body jump board independent commission looking alleged corruption sport emmert used annual state association speech thursday ask everyone attendance help turn commissions recommendations actual rules start next season commission going bring forth report april act said blocks away governing bodys headquarters indianapolis weve got hear say digest act changes place tipoff next year transition actually happens would vast departure ncaas typically glacial pace emmert others talked speeding process time sounds different gp bud peterson boards chairman president georgia tech already prepped committee division council move quickly commission issues report april 25 council asked present formal proposals voted boards regularly scheduled meeting early august approved would likely take effect season openers tabbed nov 6 council voted wednesday move start date three days spent considerable amount time walking plan week little unusual peterson said comments come fbi investigation alleged corruption continues ten men including top adidas executive four college assistant coaches charged september using hundreds thousands dollars bribes steer players certain schools right things get say yep going deal emmert said see fbi investigation exhibit coach allegedly takes bribe steer young man financial adviser going bilk money disgusting wrong know widespread like people assumed dont respond appropriately makes everyones jobs harder people dont want words want see actions theres indication yet changes consideration emmert outlined areas committee looking relationships professional basketball shoe companies agents well summer basketball enforcement since former secretary state condoleezza rice named chairwoman commission basketball midoctober emmert said 14member committee meeting least monthly usually telephone neither peterson briefed committee found emmert acknowledged commission interviewed nba commissioner adam silver nba players association executive director michele roberts members ncaas committee infractions even ncaa staff members committee also expected interview summer league aau basketball officials meantime board governors isnt waiting around thursday approved setting aside 10 million reserves help schools implement years changes 25 million annually beginning 201920 additional new rules dont know cost going know theres going cost peterson said wading ncaas usual legislative process also would come cost tainted reputation emmert even alluded prepared remarks noting polls showed continuing declines trust institutions ranging congress media higher education even college sports told crowd ncaa cant waste time dilemma us try deal challenges issues college sports tend feel like picked someones taking shots us us school emmert said little convenient little easy reality criticism justified criticism kernel truth even dont like look straight eye ___ ap college basketball httpscollegebasketballaporg httpstwittercomap_top25
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<p>“Everlast” is a 2011-12 mixed-media piece by Jeffrey Gibson.</p>
<p>ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Artists transcend cultural stereotypes by mixing contemporary techniques and Native heritage</p>
<p>The paint-splattered “Everlast” punching bag dangles the tin cones of traditional Great Lakes jingle dresses accented by beaded and tasseled rosettes.</p>
<p>Jeffrey Gibson’s work weaves the classical training of London’s Royal College of Art with the beaded whimsies of turn-of-the-century Niagara Falls.</p>
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<p>The East Coast and Canadian artists in “Changing Hands: Art Without Reservation 3” mix contemporary techniques, materials and sensibilities with echoes of their Native heritage. Their work transcends the buckskin and braids stereotype so endemic in the dominant culture’s perception of Native American artists, curator Ellen Taubman said.</p>
<p>The Museum of Contemporary Native Arts exhibition completes the trilogy that began with a focus on Southwestern artists in its first iteration and on the Pacific Northwest, West Coast, Alaska and Hawaii in its second. All 80 objects traveled from New York’s Museum of Art and Design, organized by Taubman.</p>
<p>“I’m trying to change the way people consider and look at Native art,” she said. Contemporary Native American art is rarely included under the broad umbrella that comprises contemporary art in general, she added.</p>
<p>“A good number of (the artists) id not use their Native American background” during the bulk of their career, Taubman continued. “They went back and incorporated (it) into what they were already making.”</p>
<p>Gibson’s extensive résumé includes a one-man show at the National Academy of Art, with gallery representation in both London and New York. He sought out Native bead workers to create “Everlast,” (2011-12) incorporating what he learned into his artwork.</p>
<p>“Phoenix” is a 2012 handmade paper, archival board, ink and wood assemblage by Alan Michelson.</p>
<p>“His work has the heart of indigenous art,” Taubman said.</p>
<p>“He started to dismantle his canvasses and wash them and re-use them,” she continued. “The imagery of ‘Everlast’ speaks to the Native American idea. I think it really does transcend that stereotypical idea of what Native American should be.”</p>
<p>Carla Hemlock is a self-taught quilter who layers her work with cultural references to both the past and present. “Tribute to the Mohawk Ironworkers” (2008), on loan from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian, features a line of construction workers gathered across a girder above the New York City skyline. Some cradle their lunch boxes; others appear deep in conversation. Sequins double as both rivets and windows. The piece was inspired by an iconic photograph of ironworkers perched high above the Manhattan streets.</p>
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<p>“I understand what it is to watch your loved ones walk out the door to walk the steel,” Hemlock said in an artist’s statement. “Your thoughts are consumed with them coming home safely and sometimes they don’t.”</p>
<p>“Re: Appropriating the Wheel” is a 2012 mixed-media sculpture with found objects and audio by Jordan Bennett.</p>
<p>Her husband, now an artist, is a former ironworker.</p>
<p>The star flickering above the men represents those who were lost, she added.</p>
<p>Jordan Bennett’s “Re: Appropriating the Wheel” (2012) is politically nuanced, combining both a bicycle wheel with a dreamcatcher dangling multicolored feathers on a stool. It’s also a take on Marcel Duchamp’s “Bicycle Wheel” of 1913. Duchamp created the piece to stir questions about what is and isn’t art.</p>
<p>A multidisciplinary artist, Bennett graduated from Sir Wilfred Grenfell College in Newfoundland, Canada and has completed a number of artistic residencies in Banff, Alberta and Winnipeg, Canada.</p>
<p>“When I first saw Duchamp’s ‘readymade,’ I was floored,” Bennett wrote in his artist’s statement. “I felt very connected to the work. The idea for this piece is to make it ‘Indian.'”</p>
<p>The chair could be reserved for elders at a powwow, he continued. Bennett wove the wheel with moose sinew to create a dreamcatcher’s web, but one with cheap “Made in China” feathers. Its audio components include the sounds of a bike running over Coke cans.</p>
<p>“Like Duchamp’s ‘readymade,’ my work is assembled from simple objects, explores simple emotions and researches creativity,” he wrote.</p>
<p>Alan Michelson’s “Phoenix” (2012) resembles a newspaper-shrouded log cabin. The artist based the piece on the Georgia print shop where the Cherokee Phoenix was published. Beginning in 1828, it was the first newspaper produced by a Native American nation and the first in a Native language.</p>
<p>In Michelson’s piece, the text describes events leading up to the forced relocation of the tribe to what is now Oklahoma. The Cherokee had successfully “adapted” to white ways, with large, prosperous farms, a written constitution, judicial system and police force. They had exhausted every legal and political means to keep their land.</p>
<p>The unauthorized Treaty of New Echota in 1835 comprises the roof of Michelson’s model. It provided the basis for the U.S. Army’s forced march of some 12,000 tribal members at gunpoint. As many as one-quarter of the people died. Today the Cherokee Phoenix still publishes, available on both the Internet and on iPhone.</p>
<p>Michelson studied at Columbia University and earned his bachelor’s degree from Tufts University and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. He is the recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts Visual Artists Fellowship. His work is in the permanent collections of numerous museums, including the National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario; the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian and the Art Institute of Chicago.</p>
<p>“Why is it that this artwork isn’t seen in the broader world?” Taubman asked. “It’s something I struggle with. We need to have more exhibitions that are broadly based.</p>
<p>“Many of these artists you wouldn’t see at Indian Market.”</p>
<p>“Tribute to the Mohawk Ironworkers” is a 2008 mixed-media quilt by Carla Hemlock. (Courtesy of the National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Institute, Washington, D.C.)</p>
| false | 2 |
everlast 201112 mixedmedia piece jeffrey gibson albuquerque nm artists transcend cultural stereotypes mixing contemporary techniques native heritage paintsplattered everlast punching bag dangles tin cones traditional great lakes jingle dresses accented beaded tasseled rosettes jeffrey gibsons work weaves classical training londons royal college art beaded whimsies turnofthecentury niagara falls advertisement east coast canadian artists changing hands art without reservation 3 mix contemporary techniques materials sensibilities echoes native heritage work transcends buckskin braids stereotype endemic dominant cultures perception native american artists curator ellen taubman said museum contemporary native arts exhibition completes trilogy began focus southwestern artists first iteration pacific northwest west coast alaska hawaii second 80 objects traveled new yorks museum art design organized taubman im trying change way people consider look native art said contemporary native american art rarely included broad umbrella comprises contemporary art general added good number artists id use native american background bulk career taubman continued went back incorporated already making gibsons extensive résumé includes oneman show national academy art gallery representation london new york sought native bead workers create everlast 201112 incorporating learned artwork phoenix 2012 handmade paper archival board ink wood assemblage alan michelson work heart indigenous art taubman said started dismantle canvasses wash reuse continued imagery everlast speaks native american idea think really transcend stereotypical idea native american carla hemlock selftaught quilter layers work cultural references past present tribute mohawk ironworkers 2008 loan smithsonians national museum american indian features line construction workers gathered across girder new york city skyline cradle lunch boxes others appear deep conversation sequins double rivets windows piece inspired iconic photograph ironworkers perched high manhattan streets advertisement understand watch loved ones walk door walk steel hemlock said artists statement thoughts consumed coming home safely sometimes dont appropriating wheel 2012 mixedmedia sculpture found objects audio jordan bennett husband artist former ironworker star flickering men represents lost added jordan bennetts appropriating wheel 2012 politically nuanced combining bicycle wheel dreamcatcher dangling multicolored feathers stool also take marcel duchamps bicycle wheel 1913 duchamp created piece stir questions isnt art multidisciplinary artist bennett graduated sir wilfred grenfell college newfoundland canada completed number artistic residencies banff alberta winnipeg canada first saw duchamps readymade floored bennett wrote artists statement felt connected work idea piece make indian chair could reserved elders powwow continued bennett wove wheel moose sinew create dreamcatchers web one cheap made china feathers audio components include sounds bike running coke cans like duchamps readymade work assembled simple objects explores simple emotions researches creativity wrote alan michelsons phoenix 2012 resembles newspapershrouded log cabin artist based piece georgia print shop cherokee phoenix published beginning 1828 first newspaper produced native american nation first native language michelsons piece text describes events leading forced relocation tribe oklahoma cherokee successfully adapted white ways large prosperous farms written constitution judicial system police force exhausted every legal political means keep land unauthorized treaty new echota 1835 comprises roof michelsons model provided basis us armys forced march 12000 tribal members gunpoint many onequarter people died today cherokee phoenix still publishes available internet iphone michelson studied columbia university earned bachelors degree tufts university school museum fine arts boston recipient national endowment arts visual artists fellowship work permanent collections numerous museums including national gallery canada ottawa ontario smithsonians national museum american indian art institute chicago artwork isnt seen broader world taubman asked something struggle need exhibitions broadly based many artists wouldnt see indian market tribute mohawk ironworkers 2008 mixedmedia quilt carla hemlock courtesy national museum american indian smithsonian institute washington dc
| 573 |
<p>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Friday delivered an ultimatum to America’s European allies to fix the “terrible flaws” in the Iran nuclear deal, or he’ll pull the U.S. out in a few months’ time.</p>
<p>Trump made the threat as he extended waivers of key economic sanctions on Iran, keeping the accord alive at least for now. But his explicit warning to Europe that the deal must be fixed by the time the next sanctions waivers are due in the spring creates a high-stakes diplomatic deadline that will be difficult to meet.</p>
<p>“This is a last chance,” Trump warned in a statement that outlined several tough new rules on Iran. “In the absence of such an agreement, the United States will not again waive sanctions in order to stay in the Iran nuclear deal.”</p>
<p>Trump’s declaration puts great pressure on Britain, France and Germany, the European signatories to nuclear pact with Iran. Trump wants them to help the U.S. devise a new agreement designed to prevent Iran from escalating nuclear activity again next decade, as permitted under the 2015 arrangement reached by President Barack Obama.</p>
<p>Iran has said it’s not interested in any renegotiation and would almost certainly view a side agreement between the U.S. and Europe as a violation of the deal. The Europeans, meanwhile, have said they are willing to discuss the matter with the U.S. but have shown little enthusiasm with Trump’s hard line.</p>
<p>Iranian Foreign Minister Mohamed Javad Zarif accused Trump of “maliciously violating” the nuclear deal.</p>
<p>“Trump’s policy (and) today’s announcement amount to desperate attempts to undermine a solid multilateral agreement,” Zarif tweeted shortly after Trump’s statement. “Rather than repeating tired rhetoric, US must bring itself into full compliance — just like Iran.”</p>
<p>The sanctions Trump had to waive Friday dealt with Iran’s central bank. These penalties largely cut Iran out of the international financial system, until they were suspended by Obama under the nuclear deal. Trump is also waiving other U.S. penalties covered by the agreement, including on Iran’s oil and gas sectors, which were up for renewal next week.</p>
<p>Trump will next have to deal with these decisions in mid-May.</p>
<p>He paired Friday’s concession with other, targeted sanctions on Iran for human rights abuses and ballistic missile development. The Treasury Department’s action hits 14 Iranian officials and companies and businessmen from Iran, China and Malaysia, freezing any assets they have in the U.S. and banning Americans from doing business with them.</p>
<p>Those hit by the sanctions include: Iranian judiciary chief Sadegh Amoli Larijani; the Rajaee Shahr Prison and its director, Gholamreza Ziaei; the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Electronic Warfare and Cyber Defense Organization; Iran’s Supreme Council of Cyberspace and National Cyberspace Center; Malaysia-based Green Wave Telecommunication and its Iranian director Morteza Razavi; and the Iran Helicopter Support and Renewal Company and Iran Aircraft Industries.</p>
<p>In his lengthy statement, Trump said the U.S. would work with European partners to remove the nuclear deal’s so-called “sunset clauses,” which allow Iran to gradually resume advanced atomic activity.</p>
<p>“Today, I am waiving the application of certain nuclear sanctions, but only in order to secure our European allies’ agreement to fix the terrible flaws of the Iran nuclear deal,” Trump said.</p>
<p>“If at any time I judge that such an agreement is not within reach, I will withdraw from the deal immediately,” he added. “No one should doubt my word.”</p>
<p>The decision had been expected since earlier this week. Officials, congressional aides and outside administration advisers said had the president would likely extend the sanctions waivers, citing progress in amending U.S. legislation that governs Washington’s participation in the deal. One aspect of the law that Trump has particularly bristled at is having to give Iran a “thumbs up” every few months by acknowledging that it is meeting its nuclear requirements.</p>
<p>In his statement Friday, Trump said he remained open to revising the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act, or INARA. He said he would only sign it if an Iranian refusal to allow U.N. inspectors to visit sites triggered an automatic re-imposition of U.S. sanctions. He said Iran’s restraint on long-range ballistic missile programs also must be linked to sanctions relief.</p>
<p>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Friday delivered an ultimatum to America’s European allies to fix the “terrible flaws” in the Iran nuclear deal, or he’ll pull the U.S. out in a few months’ time.</p>
<p>Trump made the threat as he extended waivers of key economic sanctions on Iran, keeping the accord alive at least for now. But his explicit warning to Europe that the deal must be fixed by the time the next sanctions waivers are due in the spring creates a high-stakes diplomatic deadline that will be difficult to meet.</p>
<p>“This is a last chance,” Trump warned in a statement that outlined several tough new rules on Iran. “In the absence of such an agreement, the United States will not again waive sanctions in order to stay in the Iran nuclear deal.”</p>
<p>Trump’s declaration puts great pressure on Britain, France and Germany, the European signatories to nuclear pact with Iran. Trump wants them to help the U.S. devise a new agreement designed to prevent Iran from escalating nuclear activity again next decade, as permitted under the 2015 arrangement reached by President Barack Obama.</p>
<p>Iran has said it’s not interested in any renegotiation and would almost certainly view a side agreement between the U.S. and Europe as a violation of the deal. The Europeans, meanwhile, have said they are willing to discuss the matter with the U.S. but have shown little enthusiasm with Trump’s hard line.</p>
<p>Iranian Foreign Minister Mohamed Javad Zarif accused Trump of “maliciously violating” the nuclear deal.</p>
<p>“Trump’s policy (and) today’s announcement amount to desperate attempts to undermine a solid multilateral agreement,” Zarif tweeted shortly after Trump’s statement. “Rather than repeating tired rhetoric, US must bring itself into full compliance — just like Iran.”</p>
<p>The sanctions Trump had to waive Friday dealt with Iran’s central bank. These penalties largely cut Iran out of the international financial system, until they were suspended by Obama under the nuclear deal. Trump is also waiving other U.S. penalties covered by the agreement, including on Iran’s oil and gas sectors, which were up for renewal next week.</p>
<p>Trump will next have to deal with these decisions in mid-May.</p>
<p>He paired Friday’s concession with other, targeted sanctions on Iran for human rights abuses and ballistic missile development. The Treasury Department’s action hits 14 Iranian officials and companies and businessmen from Iran, China and Malaysia, freezing any assets they have in the U.S. and banning Americans from doing business with them.</p>
<p>Those hit by the sanctions include: Iranian judiciary chief Sadegh Amoli Larijani; the Rajaee Shahr Prison and its director, Gholamreza Ziaei; the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Electronic Warfare and Cyber Defense Organization; Iran’s Supreme Council of Cyberspace and National Cyberspace Center; Malaysia-based Green Wave Telecommunication and its Iranian director Morteza Razavi; and the Iran Helicopter Support and Renewal Company and Iran Aircraft Industries.</p>
<p>In his lengthy statement, Trump said the U.S. would work with European partners to remove the nuclear deal’s so-called “sunset clauses,” which allow Iran to gradually resume advanced atomic activity.</p>
<p>“Today, I am waiving the application of certain nuclear sanctions, but only in order to secure our European allies’ agreement to fix the terrible flaws of the Iran nuclear deal,” Trump said.</p>
<p>“If at any time I judge that such an agreement is not within reach, I will withdraw from the deal immediately,” he added. “No one should doubt my word.”</p>
<p>The decision had been expected since earlier this week. Officials, congressional aides and outside administration advisers said had the president would likely extend the sanctions waivers, citing progress in amending U.S. legislation that governs Washington’s participation in the deal. One aspect of the law that Trump has particularly bristled at is having to give Iran a “thumbs up” every few months by acknowledging that it is meeting its nuclear requirements.</p>
<p>In his statement Friday, Trump said he remained open to revising the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act, or INARA. He said he would only sign it if an Iranian refusal to allow U.N. inspectors to visit sites triggered an automatic re-imposition of U.S. sanctions. He said Iran’s restraint on long-range ballistic missile programs also must be linked to sanctions relief.</p>
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washington ap president donald trump friday delivered ultimatum americas european allies fix terrible flaws iran nuclear deal hell pull us months time trump made threat extended waivers key economic sanctions iran keeping accord alive least explicit warning europe deal must fixed time next sanctions waivers due spring creates highstakes diplomatic deadline difficult meet last chance trump warned statement outlined several tough new rules iran absence agreement united states waive sanctions order stay iran nuclear deal trumps declaration puts great pressure britain france germany european signatories nuclear pact iran trump wants help us devise new agreement designed prevent iran escalating nuclear activity next decade permitted 2015 arrangement reached president barack obama iran said interested renegotiation would almost certainly view side agreement us europe violation deal europeans meanwhile said willing discuss matter us shown little enthusiasm trumps hard line iranian foreign minister mohamed javad zarif accused trump maliciously violating nuclear deal trumps policy todays announcement amount desperate attempts undermine solid multilateral agreement zarif tweeted shortly trumps statement rather repeating tired rhetoric us must bring full compliance like iran sanctions trump waive friday dealt irans central bank penalties largely cut iran international financial system suspended obama nuclear deal trump also waiving us penalties covered agreement including irans oil gas sectors renewal next week trump next deal decisions midmay paired fridays concession targeted sanctions iran human rights abuses ballistic missile development treasury departments action hits 14 iranian officials companies businessmen iran china malaysia freezing assets us banning americans business hit sanctions include iranian judiciary chief sadegh amoli larijani rajaee shahr prison director gholamreza ziaei islamic revolutionary guard corps electronic warfare cyber defense organization irans supreme council cyberspace national cyberspace center malaysiabased green wave telecommunication iranian director morteza razavi iran helicopter support renewal company iran aircraft industries lengthy statement trump said us would work european partners remove nuclear deals socalled sunset clauses allow iran gradually resume advanced atomic activity today waiving application certain nuclear sanctions order secure european allies agreement fix terrible flaws iran nuclear deal trump said time judge agreement within reach withdraw deal immediately added one doubt word decision expected since earlier week officials congressional aides outside administration advisers said president would likely extend sanctions waivers citing progress amending us legislation governs washingtons participation deal one aspect law trump particularly bristled give iran thumbs every months acknowledging meeting nuclear requirements statement friday trump said remained open revising iran nuclear agreement review act inara said would sign iranian refusal allow un inspectors visit sites triggered automatic reimposition us sanctions said irans restraint longrange ballistic missile programs also must linked sanctions relief washington ap president donald trump friday delivered ultimatum americas european allies fix terrible flaws iran nuclear deal hell pull us months time trump made threat extended waivers key economic sanctions iran keeping accord alive least explicit warning europe deal must fixed time next sanctions waivers due spring creates highstakes diplomatic deadline difficult meet last chance trump warned statement outlined several tough new rules iran absence agreement united states waive sanctions order stay iran nuclear deal trumps declaration puts great pressure britain france germany european signatories nuclear pact iran trump wants help us devise new agreement designed prevent iran escalating nuclear activity next decade permitted 2015 arrangement reached president barack obama iran said interested renegotiation would almost certainly view side agreement us europe violation deal europeans meanwhile said willing discuss matter us shown little enthusiasm trumps hard line iranian foreign minister mohamed javad zarif accused trump maliciously violating nuclear deal trumps policy todays announcement amount desperate attempts undermine solid multilateral agreement zarif tweeted shortly trumps statement rather repeating tired rhetoric us must bring full compliance like iran sanctions trump waive friday dealt irans central bank penalties largely cut iran international financial system suspended obama nuclear deal trump also waiving us penalties covered agreement including irans oil gas sectors renewal next week trump next deal decisions midmay paired fridays concession targeted sanctions iran human rights abuses ballistic missile development treasury departments action hits 14 iranian officials companies businessmen iran china malaysia freezing assets us banning americans business hit sanctions include iranian judiciary chief sadegh amoli larijani rajaee shahr prison director gholamreza ziaei islamic revolutionary guard corps electronic warfare cyber defense organization irans supreme council cyberspace national cyberspace center malaysiabased green wave telecommunication iranian director morteza razavi iran helicopter support renewal company iran aircraft industries lengthy statement trump said us would work european partners remove nuclear deals socalled sunset clauses allow iran gradually resume advanced atomic activity today waiving application certain nuclear sanctions order secure european allies agreement fix terrible flaws iran nuclear deal trump said time judge agreement within reach withdraw deal immediately added one doubt word decision expected since earlier week officials congressional aides outside administration advisers said president would likely extend sanctions waivers citing progress amending us legislation governs washingtons participation deal one aspect law trump particularly bristled give iran thumbs every months acknowledging meeting nuclear requirements statement friday trump said remained open revising iran nuclear agreement review act inara said would sign iranian refusal allow un inspectors visit sites triggered automatic reimposition us sanctions said irans restraint longrange ballistic missile programs also must linked sanctions relief
| 854 |
<p>NEW ORLEANS (AP) — People seeking money for losses from the 2010 BP oil spill rushed to file claims online or lined up outside Gulf Coast claims offices Monday as a midnight filing deadline loomed.</p>
<p>Claims are being filed for compensation under the terms of a 2012 settlement that plaintiffs' lawyers struck with BP.</p>
<p>Patrick Juneau, the attorney appointed by a federal court to oversee the claims process, said there was a "substantial increase" in filings Monday. He said it would take days to arrive at a final figure, noting that claims also were being filed by mail and would be accepted as long as they were postmarked June 8.</p>
<p>At a claims office at a strip mall in the New Orleans suburb of Metairie, more than a dozen people were inside and more than two-dozen others lined up outside Monday morning to file a claim or seek information.</p>
<p>Shirley Taylor, of Jefferson, said she waited until the final day to file a claim because she has had to help take care of her husband, who is in a nursing home.</p>
<p>She estimated she would pull in 70 to 80 pounds of fish a month for them to eat before the spill. She was hoping for compensation but had no idea whether she would qualify or how much she might be eligible for.</p>
<p>"It got slow. We had been good, then all of a sudden you'd see that black stuff, that oil coming in," she said.</p>
<p>Some said they only recently learned about the process despite news coverage and other publicity.</p>
<p>"I just found out about it Friday," said George Torlage of Metairie, an instructor in car repair at a local community college, who also planned a subsistence fishing claim.</p>
<p>In a recent interview, Juneau said more than 328,000 claims had been filed as of the middle of last week. He was expecting the last-minute rush.</p>
<p>Claims offices in Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana and Texas were to be open until midnight.</p>
<p>As of mid-April, more than $5 billion in claims had been paid out, according to Juneau's office.</p>
<p>The spill began when the Deepwater Horizon offshore drilling rig exploded in flames April 20, 2010, killing 11 workers and spewing oil from the sea floor for 87 days.</p>
<p>The 2012 settlement was hailed by all involved when it was signed, but soon became the subject of contention over its interpretation by the district court in New Orleans and by Juneau. BP said payments were being made to some entities whose losses weren't caused by the spill.</p>
<p>Courts rejected that argument. BP, meanwhile, has undertaken an advertising campaign, including full-page newspaper ads, to warn against filing fraudulent claims. "From payday to prison time," read the headline on one such ad.</p>
<p>In 2012, BP estimated it would pay roughly $7.8 billion to resolve claims under the settlement. BP later said it couldn't give a reliable estimate for the deal's total cost. In its first-quarter earnings report for 2015, BP said it could estimate at least a $10.3 billion cost. But it stressed that there was no way of knowing how many claims would be filed by the deadline and that the total cost would likely be significantly higher.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Online:</p>
<p>Deepwater Horizon claims center:</p>
<p>http://www.deepwaterhorizoneconomicsettlement.com/index.php</p>
<p>NEW ORLEANS (AP) — People seeking money for losses from the 2010 BP oil spill rushed to file claims online or lined up outside Gulf Coast claims offices Monday as a midnight filing deadline loomed.</p>
<p>Claims are being filed for compensation under the terms of a 2012 settlement that plaintiffs' lawyers struck with BP.</p>
<p>Patrick Juneau, the attorney appointed by a federal court to oversee the claims process, said there was a "substantial increase" in filings Monday. He said it would take days to arrive at a final figure, noting that claims also were being filed by mail and would be accepted as long as they were postmarked June 8.</p>
<p>At a claims office at a strip mall in the New Orleans suburb of Metairie, more than a dozen people were inside and more than two-dozen others lined up outside Monday morning to file a claim or seek information.</p>
<p>Shirley Taylor, of Jefferson, said she waited until the final day to file a claim because she has had to help take care of her husband, who is in a nursing home.</p>
<p>She estimated she would pull in 70 to 80 pounds of fish a month for them to eat before the spill. She was hoping for compensation but had no idea whether she would qualify or how much she might be eligible for.</p>
<p>"It got slow. We had been good, then all of a sudden you'd see that black stuff, that oil coming in," she said.</p>
<p>Some said they only recently learned about the process despite news coverage and other publicity.</p>
<p>"I just found out about it Friday," said George Torlage of Metairie, an instructor in car repair at a local community college, who also planned a subsistence fishing claim.</p>
<p>In a recent interview, Juneau said more than 328,000 claims had been filed as of the middle of last week. He was expecting the last-minute rush.</p>
<p>Claims offices in Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana and Texas were to be open until midnight.</p>
<p>As of mid-April, more than $5 billion in claims had been paid out, according to Juneau's office.</p>
<p>The spill began when the Deepwater Horizon offshore drilling rig exploded in flames April 20, 2010, killing 11 workers and spewing oil from the sea floor for 87 days.</p>
<p>The 2012 settlement was hailed by all involved when it was signed, but soon became the subject of contention over its interpretation by the district court in New Orleans and by Juneau. BP said payments were being made to some entities whose losses weren't caused by the spill.</p>
<p>Courts rejected that argument. BP, meanwhile, has undertaken an advertising campaign, including full-page newspaper ads, to warn against filing fraudulent claims. "From payday to prison time," read the headline on one such ad.</p>
<p>In 2012, BP estimated it would pay roughly $7.8 billion to resolve claims under the settlement. BP later said it couldn't give a reliable estimate for the deal's total cost. In its first-quarter earnings report for 2015, BP said it could estimate at least a $10.3 billion cost. But it stressed that there was no way of knowing how many claims would be filed by the deadline and that the total cost would likely be significantly higher.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Online:</p>
<p>Deepwater Horizon claims center:</p>
<p>http://www.deepwaterhorizoneconomicsettlement.com/index.php</p>
| false | 2 |
new orleans ap people seeking money losses 2010 bp oil spill rushed file claims online lined outside gulf coast claims offices monday midnight filing deadline loomed claims filed compensation terms 2012 settlement plaintiffs lawyers struck bp patrick juneau attorney appointed federal court oversee claims process said substantial increase filings monday said would take days arrive final figure noting claims also filed mail would accepted long postmarked june 8 claims office strip mall new orleans suburb metairie dozen people inside twodozen others lined outside monday morning file claim seek information shirley taylor jefferson said waited final day file claim help take care husband nursing home estimated would pull 70 80 pounds fish month eat spill hoping compensation idea whether would qualify much might eligible got slow good sudden youd see black stuff oil coming said said recently learned process despite news coverage publicity found friday said george torlage metairie instructor car repair local community college also planned subsistence fishing claim recent interview juneau said 328000 claims filed middle last week expecting lastminute rush claims offices florida mississippi alabama louisiana texas open midnight midapril 5 billion claims paid according juneaus office spill began deepwater horizon offshore drilling rig exploded flames april 20 2010 killing 11 workers spewing oil sea floor 87 days 2012 settlement hailed involved signed soon became subject contention interpretation district court new orleans juneau bp said payments made entities whose losses werent caused spill courts rejected argument bp meanwhile undertaken advertising campaign including fullpage newspaper ads warn filing fraudulent claims payday prison time read headline one ad 2012 bp estimated would pay roughly 78 billion resolve claims settlement bp later said couldnt give reliable estimate deals total cost firstquarter earnings report 2015 bp said could estimate least 103 billion cost stressed way knowing many claims would filed deadline total cost would likely significantly higher ___ online deepwater horizon claims center httpwwwdeepwaterhorizoneconomicsettlementcomindexphp new orleans ap people seeking money losses 2010 bp oil spill rushed file claims online lined outside gulf coast claims offices monday midnight filing deadline loomed claims filed compensation terms 2012 settlement plaintiffs lawyers struck bp patrick juneau attorney appointed federal court oversee claims process said substantial increase filings monday said would take days arrive final figure noting claims also filed mail would accepted long postmarked june 8 claims office strip mall new orleans suburb metairie dozen people inside twodozen others lined outside monday morning file claim seek information shirley taylor jefferson said waited final day file claim help take care husband nursing home estimated would pull 70 80 pounds fish month eat spill hoping compensation idea whether would qualify much might eligible got slow good sudden youd see black stuff oil coming said said recently learned process despite news coverage publicity found friday said george torlage metairie instructor car repair local community college also planned subsistence fishing claim recent interview juneau said 328000 claims filed middle last week expecting lastminute rush claims offices florida mississippi alabama louisiana texas open midnight midapril 5 billion claims paid according juneaus office spill began deepwater horizon offshore drilling rig exploded flames april 20 2010 killing 11 workers spewing oil sea floor 87 days 2012 settlement hailed involved signed soon became subject contention interpretation district court new orleans juneau bp said payments made entities whose losses werent caused spill courts rejected argument bp meanwhile undertaken advertising campaign including fullpage newspaper ads warn filing fraudulent claims payday prison time read headline one ad 2012 bp estimated would pay roughly 78 billion resolve claims settlement bp later said couldnt give reliable estimate deals total cost firstquarter earnings report 2015 bp said could estimate least 103 billion cost stressed way knowing many claims would filed deadline total cost would likely significantly higher ___ online deepwater horizon claims center httpwwwdeepwaterhorizoneconomicsettlementcomindexphp
| 624 |
<p>CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela's chief prosecutor ordered the arrest of the former head of the state oil company Thursday, accusing him of bankrupting the downtrodden country's primary source of income.</p>
<p>Officials also announced that Venezuela is expelling the Spanish ambassador, a move that further isolates the Latin American nation from the international community.</p>
<p>Rafael Ramirez, the former head of the PDVSA state oil company, is wanted on suspicion of money laundering and embezzlement, Attorney General Tarek William Saab said.</p>
<p>Ramirez recently resigned as Venezuela's ambassador at the United Nations after falling out with Venezuela's socialist president, Nicolas Maduro.</p>
<p>Saab said he is preparing to ask the international police agency Interpol to issue a "red alert" for Ramirez's arrest. He called Ramirez the "father of corruption" at the oil company.</p>
<p>"You used to make millionaires of your family members," Saab said on state television. "Mr. Ramirez, we inform you that you are cited by this ministry."</p>
<p>Venezuela sits atop the world largest oil reserves, but production levels have crashed along with the economy in a deepening crisis after nearly two decades of mismanagement under socialist rule. The country is beset by hyperinflation and shortages of food and medicine.</p>
<p>Ramirez's associates have been a target of the Saab-led crackdown on corruption at the troubled PDVSA that began late last year. Dozens of officials have been arrested, including two former oil ministers and Ramirez's cousin, Diego Salazar.</p>
<p>Salazar is jailed on suspicion of helping siphon off $1.6 billion to banks in the European principality of Andorra.</p>
<p>Ramirez, who ran PDVSA for more than a decade, resigned from his three-year U.N. post in early December on orders from Maduro. Both were close to the late President Hugo Chavez, but their rivalry became apparent last year when Ramirez began publishing articles critical of Maduro.</p>
<p>Ramirez has denied taking part in any corruption scheme and has not made his whereabouts public after leaving New York. On Sunday, he published an article asking Maduro for safe passage to challenge him in primaries for the presidential election this year as a candidate of the socialist ruling party.</p>
<p>The national constituent assembly has approved holding the presidential election by the end of April — drawing broad international condemnation for setting the vote months ahead of when it has traditionally taken place.</p>
<p>The United States will not recognize the results of Venezuela's "snap" presidential election if it is held, U.S. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said, adding that the vote would be "neither free nor fair."</p>
<p>Two senior State Department officials say all economic tools are available to the U.S. to increase the pressure on Venezuela, including the possibility of new sanctions.</p>
<p>In yet another criminal case, Saab said he is opening an investigation into Tomas Guanipa, a member of the opposition-controlled National Assembly. Without providing any details, Saab said Guanipa is suspected of inciting violence during anti-government protests last year that resulted in more than 120 dead.</p>
<p>Earlier in the day, Minister of Foreign Affairs Jorge Arreaza announced that Venezuela was declaring Spanish Ambassador Jesus Silva Fernandez persona non grata.</p>
<p>Arreaza accused Spain of "imperialist and supremacist" meddling in its affairs.</p>
<p>The action came days after Spain and the other countries in the European Union imposed economic and travel sanctions on seven senior Venezuelan officials accused of human rights abuses or breaching the rule of law.</p>
<p>Venezuela was once a Spanish colony and Spain remains a major trading partner for the region. Many Venezuelans have fled to Spain during their country's deepening crisis.</p>
<p>Venezuela in December expelled top diplomats from Canada and Brazil on similar grounds.</p>
<p>Spanish Foreign Minister Alfonso Dastis said his country would respond with "proportionate reciprocal measures." He said a range of possibilities would be discussed at the Spanish government's weekly Cabinet meeting Friday.</p>
<p>CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela's chief prosecutor ordered the arrest of the former head of the state oil company Thursday, accusing him of bankrupting the downtrodden country's primary source of income.</p>
<p>Officials also announced that Venezuela is expelling the Spanish ambassador, a move that further isolates the Latin American nation from the international community.</p>
<p>Rafael Ramirez, the former head of the PDVSA state oil company, is wanted on suspicion of money laundering and embezzlement, Attorney General Tarek William Saab said.</p>
<p>Ramirez recently resigned as Venezuela's ambassador at the United Nations after falling out with Venezuela's socialist president, Nicolas Maduro.</p>
<p>Saab said he is preparing to ask the international police agency Interpol to issue a "red alert" for Ramirez's arrest. He called Ramirez the "father of corruption" at the oil company.</p>
<p>"You used to make millionaires of your family members," Saab said on state television. "Mr. Ramirez, we inform you that you are cited by this ministry."</p>
<p>Venezuela sits atop the world largest oil reserves, but production levels have crashed along with the economy in a deepening crisis after nearly two decades of mismanagement under socialist rule. The country is beset by hyperinflation and shortages of food and medicine.</p>
<p>Ramirez's associates have been a target of the Saab-led crackdown on corruption at the troubled PDVSA that began late last year. Dozens of officials have been arrested, including two former oil ministers and Ramirez's cousin, Diego Salazar.</p>
<p>Salazar is jailed on suspicion of helping siphon off $1.6 billion to banks in the European principality of Andorra.</p>
<p>Ramirez, who ran PDVSA for more than a decade, resigned from his three-year U.N. post in early December on orders from Maduro. Both were close to the late President Hugo Chavez, but their rivalry became apparent last year when Ramirez began publishing articles critical of Maduro.</p>
<p>Ramirez has denied taking part in any corruption scheme and has not made his whereabouts public after leaving New York. On Sunday, he published an article asking Maduro for safe passage to challenge him in primaries for the presidential election this year as a candidate of the socialist ruling party.</p>
<p>The national constituent assembly has approved holding the presidential election by the end of April — drawing broad international condemnation for setting the vote months ahead of when it has traditionally taken place.</p>
<p>The United States will not recognize the results of Venezuela's "snap" presidential election if it is held, U.S. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said, adding that the vote would be "neither free nor fair."</p>
<p>Two senior State Department officials say all economic tools are available to the U.S. to increase the pressure on Venezuela, including the possibility of new sanctions.</p>
<p>In yet another criminal case, Saab said he is opening an investigation into Tomas Guanipa, a member of the opposition-controlled National Assembly. Without providing any details, Saab said Guanipa is suspected of inciting violence during anti-government protests last year that resulted in more than 120 dead.</p>
<p>Earlier in the day, Minister of Foreign Affairs Jorge Arreaza announced that Venezuela was declaring Spanish Ambassador Jesus Silva Fernandez persona non grata.</p>
<p>Arreaza accused Spain of "imperialist and supremacist" meddling in its affairs.</p>
<p>The action came days after Spain and the other countries in the European Union imposed economic and travel sanctions on seven senior Venezuelan officials accused of human rights abuses or breaching the rule of law.</p>
<p>Venezuela was once a Spanish colony and Spain remains a major trading partner for the region. Many Venezuelans have fled to Spain during their country's deepening crisis.</p>
<p>Venezuela in December expelled top diplomats from Canada and Brazil on similar grounds.</p>
<p>Spanish Foreign Minister Alfonso Dastis said his country would respond with "proportionate reciprocal measures." He said a range of possibilities would be discussed at the Spanish government's weekly Cabinet meeting Friday.</p>
| false | 2 |
caracas venezuela ap venezuelas chief prosecutor ordered arrest former head state oil company thursday accusing bankrupting downtrodden countrys primary source income officials also announced venezuela expelling spanish ambassador move isolates latin american nation international community rafael ramirez former head pdvsa state oil company wanted suspicion money laundering embezzlement attorney general tarek william saab said ramirez recently resigned venezuelas ambassador united nations falling venezuelas socialist president nicolas maduro saab said preparing ask international police agency interpol issue red alert ramirezs arrest called ramirez father corruption oil company used make millionaires family members saab said state television mr ramirez inform cited ministry venezuela sits atop world largest oil reserves production levels crashed along economy deepening crisis nearly two decades mismanagement socialist rule country beset hyperinflation shortages food medicine ramirezs associates target saabled crackdown corruption troubled pdvsa began late last year dozens officials arrested including two former oil ministers ramirezs cousin diego salazar salazar jailed suspicion helping siphon 16 billion banks european principality andorra ramirez ran pdvsa decade resigned threeyear un post early december orders maduro close late president hugo chavez rivalry became apparent last year ramirez began publishing articles critical maduro ramirez denied taking part corruption scheme made whereabouts public leaving new york sunday published article asking maduro safe passage challenge primaries presidential election year candidate socialist ruling party national constituent assembly approved holding presidential election end april drawing broad international condemnation setting vote months ahead traditionally taken place united states recognize results venezuelas snap presidential election held us state department spokeswoman heather nauert said adding vote would neither free fair two senior state department officials say economic tools available us increase pressure venezuela including possibility new sanctions yet another criminal case saab said opening investigation tomas guanipa member oppositioncontrolled national assembly without providing details saab said guanipa suspected inciting violence antigovernment protests last year resulted 120 dead earlier day minister foreign affairs jorge arreaza announced venezuela declaring spanish ambassador jesus silva fernandez persona non grata arreaza accused spain imperialist supremacist meddling affairs action came days spain countries european union imposed economic travel sanctions seven senior venezuelan officials accused human rights abuses breaching rule law venezuela spanish colony spain remains major trading partner region many venezuelans fled spain countrys deepening crisis venezuela december expelled top diplomats canada brazil similar grounds spanish foreign minister alfonso dastis said country would respond proportionate reciprocal measures said range possibilities would discussed spanish governments weekly cabinet meeting friday caracas venezuela ap venezuelas chief prosecutor ordered arrest former head state oil company thursday accusing bankrupting downtrodden countrys primary source income officials also announced venezuela expelling spanish ambassador move isolates latin american nation international community rafael ramirez former head pdvsa state oil company wanted suspicion money laundering embezzlement attorney general tarek william saab said ramirez recently resigned venezuelas ambassador united nations falling venezuelas socialist president nicolas maduro saab said preparing ask international police agency interpol issue red alert ramirezs arrest called ramirez father corruption oil company used make millionaires family members saab said state television mr ramirez inform cited ministry venezuela sits atop world largest oil reserves production levels crashed along economy deepening crisis nearly two decades mismanagement socialist rule country beset hyperinflation shortages food medicine ramirezs associates target saabled crackdown corruption troubled pdvsa began late last year dozens officials arrested including two former oil ministers ramirezs cousin diego salazar salazar jailed suspicion helping siphon 16 billion banks european principality andorra ramirez ran pdvsa decade resigned threeyear un post early december orders maduro close late president hugo chavez rivalry became apparent last year ramirez began publishing articles critical maduro ramirez denied taking part corruption scheme made whereabouts public leaving new york sunday published article asking maduro safe passage challenge primaries presidential election year candidate socialist ruling party national constituent assembly approved holding presidential election end april drawing broad international condemnation setting vote months ahead traditionally taken place united states recognize results venezuelas snap presidential election held us state department spokeswoman heather nauert said adding vote would neither free fair two senior state department officials say economic tools available us increase pressure venezuela including possibility new sanctions yet another criminal case saab said opening investigation tomas guanipa member oppositioncontrolled national assembly without providing details saab said guanipa suspected inciting violence antigovernment protests last year resulted 120 dead earlier day minister foreign affairs jorge arreaza announced venezuela declaring spanish ambassador jesus silva fernandez persona non grata arreaza accused spain imperialist supremacist meddling affairs action came days spain countries european union imposed economic travel sanctions seven senior venezuelan officials accused human rights abuses breaching rule law venezuela spanish colony spain remains major trading partner region many venezuelans fled spain countrys deepening crisis venezuela december expelled top diplomats canada brazil similar grounds spanish foreign minister alfonso dastis said country would respond proportionate reciprocal measures said range possibilities would discussed spanish governments weekly cabinet meeting friday
| 802 |
<p>The Associated Press will hand out its individual NFL awards on the night before the Super Bowl in Minneapolis. Until then, here are some off-the-beaten track honors to consider.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>BEST GAME: Patriots 27, Steelers 24. It was ballyhooed for weeks, and in most ways it lived up to the billing. Seesaw contest matching the AFC’s best teams (by far), filled with big plays and controversy — don’t ask Steelers fans about the “catch rule.”</p>
<p>That Pittsburgh nearly won without Antonio Brown, probably the NFL’s best player, was a testament to the Steelers’ grit. But Ben Roethlisberger throwing an interception in the end zone at the end could be the most damaging play for one team.</p>
<p>Runners-up: Seahawks 41, Texans 38; Raiders 31, Chiefs 30.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>WORST GAME: Lots of candidates here. You would think the Browns, at 0-15, would have a lock, but their main stinker is a runner-up to Buffalo’s 9-3 loss to Carolina in Week 2. Even the game’s broadcasters seemed to be yawning their way through the “action.”</p>
<p>Runners-up: Titans 12, Browns 9, which at least had some cachet because it went to overtime; Bears 33, Bengals 27, when Cincinnati didn’t show up; Broncos 23, Jets 0, when New York didn’t show up.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>BEST GAME SCENE (special award): <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMJox-O9H0c" type="external">Buffalo’s home win in the snow vs. Indianapolis</a> . Punts landing and sticking in the snow. The inability to see across the field because the snow fell so hard. Little semblance of a passing game. More than 2 inches of snow crusting the field. And a fan base that celebrated by making snowmen in the stands.</p>
<p>Give us more of that!</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>BEST PLAY OF THE YEAR: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_obxWdohlCk" type="external">Tyreek Hill vs. Cowboys.</a> The Kansas City receiver, as dangerous as anyone in the league when he has the ball, took a short pass from Alex Smith at the end of the first half and weaved through pretty much the entire Dallas defense to somehow beat the prevent D for a touchdown.</p>
<p>Runners-up: <a href="http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/0ap3000000897989/Falcons-vs-Saints-highlights-Week-16" type="external">Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore’s interception</a> vs. the Falcons in Week 16. If you recall Julian Edelman’s sensational grab in the Super Bowl in February, also victimizing Atlanta, this one was similarly magical.</p>
<p>And don’t forget — how could you if you saw it? — DeAndre Hopkins tapping the ball with his right hand to himself over a Pittsburgh defender in the end zone, then grabbing the ball with the left hand as he barely came down inbounds.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>WORST PLAY OF THE YEAR: Seattle opted against a 35-yard field goal attempt by Blair Walsh at the end of the first half against Atlanta, even though the kick would have pulled the Seahawks within 24-20. Instead, holder Jon Ryan completed a shovel pass to tight end Luke Willson, but Grady Jarrett read the play and tackled Willson for a 4-yard loss.</p>
<p>The Seahawks lost the game, giving the Falcons a key tiebreaker edge for a playoff berth.</p>
<p>Runners-up: <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSSports/status/912022516188745729" type="external">Marcus Cooper’s showboating</a> at the end of a blocked kick that should have been a touchdown, turned into a touchback. Leon Lett II.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>BEST COACHING MOVE: In a victory that set them up for a superb season, the Eagles positioned unheralded kicker Jake Elliott, new to the team, for a potential winning field goal. Doug Pederson showed faith in the rookie, who nailed a 61-yarder for the first of nine consecutive wins.</p>
<p>Runners-up: Mike Zimmer sticking with Case Keenum as his quarterback; coaches who entrusted their running game to rookies.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>WORST COACHING MOVE: Has to be a tie here, though one move cost a coach his job.</p>
<p>Ben McAdoo benched Giants icon Eli Manning and somehow management was on board. The backlash was loud and nasty, and a week later, it was McAdoo who was out as coach. Manning was back behind center, too.</p>
<p>At the Chargers in November, Bills coach Sean McDermott benched starting QB Tyrod Taylor in favor of rookie Nate Peterman. The kid was in way too deep: Peterman threw five interceptions in the first half. IN THE FIRST HALF!</p>
<p>Runner-up: Denver’s Vance Joseph insisting on sticking with Isaiah McKenzie as his punt returner. Results included fumbling six times, including a punt for a safety against Miami.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>MOST IMPROVED PLAYER (OFFENSE): <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiuDthCADhk" type="external">Adam Thielen, Vikings.</a> The Minnesota State product began his breakout last season. This year, he’s moved into the elite level peopled by the likes of Antonio Brown and Julio Jones.</p>
<p>Runners-up: QBs Carson Wentz, Eagles, Case Keenum, Vikings, and Jared Goff, Rams; RB Alex Collins, Ravens; WRs Nelson Agholor, Eagles, and Robby Anderson, Jets.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>MOST IMPROVED PLAYER (DEFENSE): <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wUPV1AuXLk" type="external">DeMarcus Lawrence, Cowboys.</a> Dallas has pegged him as its next great pass rusher, and he came through in style this season with 14½ sacks. He’s the kind of player to build a defensive line around.</p>
<p>Runners-up: Jaguars DE Yannick Ngakoue, who somehow didn’t get voted to the Pro Bowl; teammate CB Jalen Ramsey; Titans safety Kevin Byard, also a non-Pro Bowler.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT (PLAYER): Amari Cooper topped 1,000 yards receiving in his first two seasons with the Raiders and appeared poised for a breakout season. But the drops that plagued Cooper early in his career returned, and outside of a 210-yard game against Kansas City in October, Cooper provided little.</p>
<p>Runner-up: Texans linebacker Brian Cushing for yet another suspension (10 games) for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancers policy.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>BIGGEST SURPRISE (TEAM): Take your choice among these 2016 tailenders that soared: Eagles, Rams, Jaguars, Saints. We’ll go with Jacksonville, where a culture change was needed as well as an improved roster and better performances. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4AjlI49loQ" type="external">The Jags got all of that</a> .</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT (TEAM): So many, but <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqBMb-VunlU" type="external">the Giants,</a> uh, top this list. After making the playoffs under first-year coach Ben McAdoo, led by a staunch defense, they turned into a sieve. Too much tumult, and soon they were contending for a super-high draft choice, McAdoo and GM Jerry Reese were canned.</p>
<p>Runners-up: Raiders, Buccaneers, Packers, Cowboys, Broncos.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>BEST PLAY-BY-PLAY ANNOUNCER: Splitting this into two sections, TV and radio.</p>
<p>With the always-prepared and often-opinionated (but fairly) Mike Tirico back in a pretty regular gig on NBC, he grabs this honor once more. Tirico is the epitome of a professional play-by-play man and a rare voice who brings some journalistic chops to the job.</p>
<p>Our radio voice, also an oft-repeater, is Kevin Harlan. He also does CBS games on Sunday, but his work on Monday nights is perfection. Driving in your car, listening on your mobile device, whatever — Harlan is the man.</p>
<p>Runners-up: Ian Eagle (CBS), Spero Dedes (CBS), Sean McDonough (ESPN), Kenny Albert (Fox).</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>BEST ANALYST: Another repeater. Hall of Fame wide receiver James Lofton, now ensconced at CBS, brings humor and insight to the role. Few former players present as well-rounded an analysis, and even when Lofton seems headed on a tangent, he brings the viewers right back where they want to be.</p>
<p>Runners-up: Troy Aikman (Fox), Rich Gannon (CBS), Dan Fouts (CBS), Tony Romo (CBS).</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>The Associated Press will hand out its individual NFL awards on the night before the Super Bowl in Minneapolis. Until then, here are some off-the-beaten track honors to consider.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>BEST GAME: Patriots 27, Steelers 24. It was ballyhooed for weeks, and in most ways it lived up to the billing. Seesaw contest matching the AFC’s best teams (by far), filled with big plays and controversy — don’t ask Steelers fans about the “catch rule.”</p>
<p>That Pittsburgh nearly won without Antonio Brown, probably the NFL’s best player, was a testament to the Steelers’ grit. But Ben Roethlisberger throwing an interception in the end zone at the end could be the most damaging play for one team.</p>
<p>Runners-up: Seahawks 41, Texans 38; Raiders 31, Chiefs 30.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>WORST GAME: Lots of candidates here. You would think the Browns, at 0-15, would have a lock, but their main stinker is a runner-up to Buffalo’s 9-3 loss to Carolina in Week 2. Even the game’s broadcasters seemed to be yawning their way through the “action.”</p>
<p>Runners-up: Titans 12, Browns 9, which at least had some cachet because it went to overtime; Bears 33, Bengals 27, when Cincinnati didn’t show up; Broncos 23, Jets 0, when New York didn’t show up.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>BEST GAME SCENE (special award): <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMJox-O9H0c" type="external">Buffalo’s home win in the snow vs. Indianapolis</a> . Punts landing and sticking in the snow. The inability to see across the field because the snow fell so hard. Little semblance of a passing game. More than 2 inches of snow crusting the field. And a fan base that celebrated by making snowmen in the stands.</p>
<p>Give us more of that!</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>BEST PLAY OF THE YEAR: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_obxWdohlCk" type="external">Tyreek Hill vs. Cowboys.</a> The Kansas City receiver, as dangerous as anyone in the league when he has the ball, took a short pass from Alex Smith at the end of the first half and weaved through pretty much the entire Dallas defense to somehow beat the prevent D for a touchdown.</p>
<p>Runners-up: <a href="http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/0ap3000000897989/Falcons-vs-Saints-highlights-Week-16" type="external">Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore’s interception</a> vs. the Falcons in Week 16. If you recall Julian Edelman’s sensational grab in the Super Bowl in February, also victimizing Atlanta, this one was similarly magical.</p>
<p>And don’t forget — how could you if you saw it? — DeAndre Hopkins tapping the ball with his right hand to himself over a Pittsburgh defender in the end zone, then grabbing the ball with the left hand as he barely came down inbounds.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>WORST PLAY OF THE YEAR: Seattle opted against a 35-yard field goal attempt by Blair Walsh at the end of the first half against Atlanta, even though the kick would have pulled the Seahawks within 24-20. Instead, holder Jon Ryan completed a shovel pass to tight end Luke Willson, but Grady Jarrett read the play and tackled Willson for a 4-yard loss.</p>
<p>The Seahawks lost the game, giving the Falcons a key tiebreaker edge for a playoff berth.</p>
<p>Runners-up: <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSSports/status/912022516188745729" type="external">Marcus Cooper’s showboating</a> at the end of a blocked kick that should have been a touchdown, turned into a touchback. Leon Lett II.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>BEST COACHING MOVE: In a victory that set them up for a superb season, the Eagles positioned unheralded kicker Jake Elliott, new to the team, for a potential winning field goal. Doug Pederson showed faith in the rookie, who nailed a 61-yarder for the first of nine consecutive wins.</p>
<p>Runners-up: Mike Zimmer sticking with Case Keenum as his quarterback; coaches who entrusted their running game to rookies.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>WORST COACHING MOVE: Has to be a tie here, though one move cost a coach his job.</p>
<p>Ben McAdoo benched Giants icon Eli Manning and somehow management was on board. The backlash was loud and nasty, and a week later, it was McAdoo who was out as coach. Manning was back behind center, too.</p>
<p>At the Chargers in November, Bills coach Sean McDermott benched starting QB Tyrod Taylor in favor of rookie Nate Peterman. The kid was in way too deep: Peterman threw five interceptions in the first half. IN THE FIRST HALF!</p>
<p>Runner-up: Denver’s Vance Joseph insisting on sticking with Isaiah McKenzie as his punt returner. Results included fumbling six times, including a punt for a safety against Miami.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>MOST IMPROVED PLAYER (OFFENSE): <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiuDthCADhk" type="external">Adam Thielen, Vikings.</a> The Minnesota State product began his breakout last season. This year, he’s moved into the elite level peopled by the likes of Antonio Brown and Julio Jones.</p>
<p>Runners-up: QBs Carson Wentz, Eagles, Case Keenum, Vikings, and Jared Goff, Rams; RB Alex Collins, Ravens; WRs Nelson Agholor, Eagles, and Robby Anderson, Jets.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>MOST IMPROVED PLAYER (DEFENSE): <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wUPV1AuXLk" type="external">DeMarcus Lawrence, Cowboys.</a> Dallas has pegged him as its next great pass rusher, and he came through in style this season with 14½ sacks. He’s the kind of player to build a defensive line around.</p>
<p>Runners-up: Jaguars DE Yannick Ngakoue, who somehow didn’t get voted to the Pro Bowl; teammate CB Jalen Ramsey; Titans safety Kevin Byard, also a non-Pro Bowler.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT (PLAYER): Amari Cooper topped 1,000 yards receiving in his first two seasons with the Raiders and appeared poised for a breakout season. But the drops that plagued Cooper early in his career returned, and outside of a 210-yard game against Kansas City in October, Cooper provided little.</p>
<p>Runner-up: Texans linebacker Brian Cushing for yet another suspension (10 games) for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancers policy.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>BIGGEST SURPRISE (TEAM): Take your choice among these 2016 tailenders that soared: Eagles, Rams, Jaguars, Saints. We’ll go with Jacksonville, where a culture change was needed as well as an improved roster and better performances. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4AjlI49loQ" type="external">The Jags got all of that</a> .</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT (TEAM): So many, but <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqBMb-VunlU" type="external">the Giants,</a> uh, top this list. After making the playoffs under first-year coach Ben McAdoo, led by a staunch defense, they turned into a sieve. Too much tumult, and soon they were contending for a super-high draft choice, McAdoo and GM Jerry Reese were canned.</p>
<p>Runners-up: Raiders, Buccaneers, Packers, Cowboys, Broncos.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>BEST PLAY-BY-PLAY ANNOUNCER: Splitting this into two sections, TV and radio.</p>
<p>With the always-prepared and often-opinionated (but fairly) Mike Tirico back in a pretty regular gig on NBC, he grabs this honor once more. Tirico is the epitome of a professional play-by-play man and a rare voice who brings some journalistic chops to the job.</p>
<p>Our radio voice, also an oft-repeater, is Kevin Harlan. He also does CBS games on Sunday, but his work on Monday nights is perfection. Driving in your car, listening on your mobile device, whatever — Harlan is the man.</p>
<p>Runners-up: Ian Eagle (CBS), Spero Dedes (CBS), Sean McDonough (ESPN), Kenny Albert (Fox).</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>BEST ANALYST: Another repeater. Hall of Fame wide receiver James Lofton, now ensconced at CBS, brings humor and insight to the role. Few former players present as well-rounded an analysis, and even when Lofton seems headed on a tangent, he brings the viewers right back where they want to be.</p>
<p>Runners-up: Troy Aikman (Fox), Rich Gannon (CBS), Dan Fouts (CBS), Tony Romo (CBS).</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 |
associated press hand individual nfl awards night super bowl minneapolis offthebeaten track honors consider ___ best game patriots 27 steelers 24 ballyhooed weeks ways lived billing seesaw contest matching afcs best teams far filled big plays controversy dont ask steelers fans catch rule pittsburgh nearly without antonio brown probably nfls best player testament steelers grit ben roethlisberger throwing interception end zone end could damaging play one team runnersup seahawks 41 texans 38 raiders 31 chiefs 30 ___ worst game lots candidates would think browns 015 would lock main stinker runnerup buffalos 93 loss carolina week 2 even games broadcasters seemed yawning way action runnersup titans 12 browns 9 least cachet went overtime bears 33 bengals 27 cincinnati didnt show broncos 23 jets 0 new york didnt show ___ best game scene special award buffalos home win snow vs indianapolis punts landing sticking snow inability see across field snow fell hard little semblance passing game 2 inches snow crusting field fan base celebrated making snowmen stands give us ___ best play year tyreek hill vs cowboys kansas city receiver dangerous anyone league ball took short pass alex smith end first half weaved pretty much entire dallas defense somehow beat prevent touchdown runnersup saints cornerback marshon lattimores interception vs falcons week 16 recall julian edelmans sensational grab super bowl february also victimizing atlanta one similarly magical dont forget could saw deandre hopkins tapping ball right hand pittsburgh defender end zone grabbing ball left hand barely came inbounds ___ worst play year seattle opted 35yard field goal attempt blair walsh end first half atlanta even though kick would pulled seahawks within 2420 instead holder jon ryan completed shovel pass tight end luke willson grady jarrett read play tackled willson 4yard loss seahawks lost game giving falcons key tiebreaker edge playoff berth runnersup marcus coopers showboating end blocked kick touchdown turned touchback leon lett ii ___ best coaching move victory set superb season eagles positioned unheralded kicker jake elliott new team potential winning field goal doug pederson showed faith rookie nailed 61yarder first nine consecutive wins runnersup mike zimmer sticking case keenum quarterback coaches entrusted running game rookies ___ worst coaching move tie though one move cost coach job ben mcadoo benched giants icon eli manning somehow management board backlash loud nasty week later mcadoo coach manning back behind center chargers november bills coach sean mcdermott benched starting qb tyrod taylor favor rookie nate peterman kid way deep peterman threw five interceptions first half first half runnerup denvers vance joseph insisting sticking isaiah mckenzie punt returner results included fumbling six times including punt safety miami ___ improved player offense adam thielen vikings minnesota state product began breakout last season year hes moved elite level peopled likes antonio brown julio jones runnersup qbs carson wentz eagles case keenum vikings jared goff rams rb alex collins ravens wrs nelson agholor eagles robby anderson jets ___ improved player defense demarcus lawrence cowboys dallas pegged next great pass rusher came style season 14½ sacks hes kind player build defensive line around runnersup jaguars de yannick ngakoue somehow didnt get voted pro bowl teammate cb jalen ramsey titans safety kevin byard also nonpro bowler ___ biggest disappointment player amari cooper topped 1000 yards receiving first two seasons raiders appeared poised breakout season drops plagued cooper early career returned outside 210yard game kansas city october cooper provided little runnerup texans linebacker brian cushing yet another suspension 10 games violating nfls performanceenhancers policy ___ biggest surprise team take choice among 2016 tailenders soared eagles rams jaguars saints well go jacksonville culture change needed well improved roster better performances jags got ___ biggest disappointment team many giants uh top list making playoffs firstyear coach ben mcadoo led staunch defense turned sieve much tumult soon contending superhigh draft choice mcadoo gm jerry reese canned runnersup raiders buccaneers packers cowboys broncos ___ best playbyplay announcer splitting two sections tv radio alwaysprepared oftenopinionated fairly mike tirico back pretty regular gig nbc grabs honor tirico epitome professional playbyplay man rare voice brings journalistic chops job radio voice also oftrepeater kevin harlan also cbs games sunday work monday nights perfection driving car listening mobile device whatever harlan man runnersup ian eagle cbs spero dedes cbs sean mcdonough espn kenny albert fox ___ best analyst another repeater hall fame wide receiver james lofton ensconced cbs brings humor insight role former players present wellrounded analysis even lofton seems headed tangent brings viewers right back want runnersup troy aikman fox rich gannon cbs dan fouts cbs tony romo cbs ___ nfl coverage httpwwwpro32aporg httpwwwtwittercomap_nfl associated press hand individual nfl awards night super bowl minneapolis offthebeaten track honors consider ___ best game patriots 27 steelers 24 ballyhooed weeks ways lived billing seesaw contest matching afcs best teams far filled big plays controversy dont ask steelers fans catch rule pittsburgh nearly without antonio brown probably nfls best player testament steelers grit ben roethlisberger throwing interception end zone end could damaging play one team runnersup seahawks 41 texans 38 raiders 31 chiefs 30 ___ worst game lots candidates would think browns 015 would lock main stinker runnerup buffalos 93 loss carolina week 2 even games broadcasters seemed yawning way action runnersup titans 12 browns 9 least cachet went overtime bears 33 bengals 27 cincinnati didnt show broncos 23 jets 0 new york didnt show ___ best game scene special award buffalos home win snow vs indianapolis punts landing sticking snow inability see across field snow fell hard little semblance passing game 2 inches snow crusting field fan base celebrated making snowmen stands give us ___ best play year tyreek hill vs cowboys kansas city receiver dangerous anyone league ball took short pass alex smith end first half weaved pretty much entire dallas defense somehow beat prevent touchdown runnersup saints cornerback marshon lattimores interception vs falcons week 16 recall julian edelmans sensational grab super bowl february also victimizing atlanta one similarly magical dont forget could saw deandre hopkins tapping ball right hand pittsburgh defender end zone grabbing ball left hand barely came inbounds ___ worst play year seattle opted 35yard field goal attempt blair walsh end first half atlanta even though kick would pulled seahawks within 2420 instead holder jon ryan completed shovel pass tight end luke willson grady jarrett read play tackled willson 4yard loss seahawks lost game giving falcons key tiebreaker edge playoff berth runnersup marcus coopers showboating end blocked kick touchdown turned touchback leon lett ii ___ best coaching move victory set superb season eagles positioned unheralded kicker jake elliott new team potential winning field goal doug pederson showed faith rookie nailed 61yarder first nine consecutive wins runnersup mike zimmer sticking case keenum quarterback coaches entrusted running game rookies ___ worst coaching move tie though one move cost coach job ben mcadoo benched giants icon eli manning somehow management board backlash loud nasty week later mcadoo coach manning back behind center chargers november bills coach sean mcdermott benched starting qb tyrod taylor favor rookie nate peterman kid way deep peterman threw five interceptions first half first half runnerup denvers vance joseph insisting sticking isaiah mckenzie punt returner results included fumbling six times including punt safety miami ___ improved player offense adam thielen vikings minnesota state product began breakout last season year hes moved elite level peopled likes antonio brown julio jones runnersup qbs carson wentz eagles case keenum vikings jared goff rams rb alex collins ravens wrs nelson agholor eagles robby anderson jets ___ improved player defense demarcus lawrence cowboys dallas pegged next great pass rusher came style season 14½ sacks hes kind player build defensive line around runnersup jaguars de yannick ngakoue somehow didnt get voted pro bowl teammate cb jalen ramsey titans safety kevin byard also nonpro bowler ___ biggest disappointment player amari cooper topped 1000 yards receiving first two seasons raiders appeared poised breakout season drops plagued cooper early career returned outside 210yard game kansas city october cooper provided little runnerup texans linebacker brian cushing yet another suspension 10 games violating nfls performanceenhancers policy ___ biggest surprise team take choice among 2016 tailenders soared eagles rams jaguars saints well go jacksonville culture change needed well improved roster better performances jags got ___ biggest disappointment team many giants uh top list making playoffs firstyear coach ben mcadoo led staunch defense turned sieve much tumult soon contending superhigh draft choice mcadoo gm jerry reese canned runnersup raiders buccaneers packers cowboys broncos ___ best playbyplay announcer splitting two sections tv radio alwaysprepared oftenopinionated fairly mike tirico back pretty regular gig nbc grabs honor tirico epitome professional playbyplay man rare voice brings journalistic chops job radio voice also oftrepeater kevin harlan also cbs games sunday work monday nights perfection driving car listening mobile device whatever harlan man runnersup ian eagle cbs spero dedes cbs sean mcdonough espn kenny albert fox ___ best analyst another repeater hall fame wide receiver james lofton ensconced cbs brings humor insight role former players present wellrounded analysis even lofton seems headed tangent brings viewers right back want runnersup troy aikman fox rich gannon cbs dan fouts cbs tony romo cbs ___ nfl coverage httpwwwpro32aporg httpwwwtwittercomap_nfl
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<p />
<p>If Abraham Lincoln relied on a team of rivals, Trump would command a team of “killer” CEOs. He cast himself as a gifted manager who could rewrite flawed trade deals, bridge gaps between Democrats and Republicans, work financial magic on the tax code and restore prosperity to devastated factory towns.</p>
<p>Yet 100 days into Trump’s presidency, the businessman-as-president has struggled to apply his experience as a real estate and entertainment mogul to the Herculean task of governing the world’s most powerful nation.</p>
<p>Asked to assess his tenure so far, management experts point to a stream of missteps that run counter to the clarity, discipline and consistency of message typical of the best executives. Blustery speeches have given way to fuzzy policies that have weakened the president’s negotiating hand on such complex challenges as revamping taxes and health insurance.</p>
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<p>Trump’s actions on immigration have been blocked or tangled up in court battles. He has yet to fill countless senior government jobs. Having failed to pass any major legislation, Trump has instead resorted to signing a torrent of executive orders — an impulse more typical of a manager directing subordinates than a president building partnerships.</p>
<p>The administration has declared the 100-day mark an arbitrary deadline. But leading CEOs often work under even tighter schedules: Investors gauge their performance each quarter — every 90 days. John Challenger, CEO of the executive recruiting firm Challenger, Gray &amp; Christmas, notes that new chief executives typically face pressure to achieve victories in their first 90 days. Such milestones tend to draw potential critics to their side and establish authority, he said.</p>
<p>“They don’t have to be big wins –they can be early wins as you look for ways to show you’ve had an impact,” Challenger said. “This administration has had a hard time demonstrating, showing that.”</p>
<p>White House aides point out that Trump will have signed 32 executive orders by Friday, the most of any president in his first 100 days since World War II. But the actions produced by those orders fall well short of the bold promises he made as a candidate. Several of the executive orders are merely requests for studies — on financial regulations, environmental rules and trade policies. They suggest that the administration is still figuring out how government works and how to tame a rambunctious and independent-minded Congress, even one led, like the White House, by Republicans.</p>
<p>Trump still likes to bask in the glow of corporate America. Almost weekly, he has met with major chief executives at the White House for input on policy and photo-ops. Yet few around him know their way around government.</p>
<p>For secretary of state, Trump chose Rex Tillerson, the former chief executive of Exxon Mobil. For Commerce secretary, his pick was Wilbur Ross, a billionaire investor. For Treasury, it was Steve Mnuchin, a Wall Street executive turned movie producer. And as his top economic adviser, Trump tapped Gary Cohn, formerly Goldman Sachs’ No. 2 executive.</p>
<p>Like Trump, none of them had any political experience.</p>
<p>“It’s the blind leading the blind,” said Henry Mintzberg, a management expert at McGill University. “You need to get people who can think for themselves but also have a deep understanding of the issues. Drop this silly idea that government can be run like a business.”</p>
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<p>In an interview last week with The Associated Press, Trump appeared to concede that a president cannot manage successfully with solely a bottom-line corporate mentality.</p>
<p>“Here, everything, pretty much everything you do in government, involves heart, whereas in business, most things don’t involve heart,” he said. “In fact, in business you’re actually better off without it.”</p>
<p>Some in his Cabinet have portrayed their shift from the private sector as a natural move that bestows its own advantages.</p>
<p>“A lot of the things I learned in business carried over to this job,” Treasury Secretary Mnuchin said Wednesday. “A lot of it is about consensus building and teamwork.”</p>
<p>Trump, of course, needs support from Congress’ independently elected lawmakers to pass laws and from foreign leaders to forge global alliances — responsibilities that can be more delicate than negotiating with business partners who stand to profit from cutting a deal.</p>
<p>Since becoming president, Trump has retreated from some of his audacious campaign promises. He now hails the NATO alliance as important, having previously labeled it obsolete. He backed away from labeling China as a currency manipulator and now casts Beijing as a likely ally in defusing a nuclear North Korea.</p>
<p>These changes display a certain openness to change in response to circumstances, said Kathleen O’Connor, a professor at Cornell University’s business school with an expertise in negotiating strategies.</p>
<p>Yet Trump has adopted so many contradictory stances as to make it hard to engender trust with lawmakers. He pushed an aggressive timeline for replacing President Barack Obama’s health care law, scrapped the plan once it failed to receive enough support from House Republicans and then tried to revive it this week while also unveiling his principles on a tax overhaul, trying to stop a government shutdown and issuing duties on Canadian lumber.</p>
<p>“He seems to lack some clarity with what he wants,” O’Connor said. “It’s hard to take that reputation to the bargaining table because you don’t know if you’re going to get the same guy two days in a row.”</p>
<p>Richard Box, a retired professor at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, in 1999 wrote a major academic article about running government as a business. He suggests that the administration must make longer-term investments in policies and ideas to cultivate support with voters and lawmakers, rather than assume it can cut deals as one might for a TV show or condo tower.</p>
<p>Business leaders “sometimes come to (government) positions thinking it’s just a matter of the sort of command-and-control they are accustomed to in their companies,” Box said. “They soon find that government is much more complicated than this and it takes a different skill set to make things happen.”</p>
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abraham lincoln relied team rivals trump would command team killer ceos cast gifted manager could rewrite flawed trade deals bridge gaps democrats republicans work financial magic tax code restore prosperity devastated factory towns yet 100 days trumps presidency businessmanaspresident struggled apply experience real estate entertainment mogul herculean task governing worlds powerful nation asked assess tenure far management experts point stream missteps run counter clarity discipline consistency message typical best executives blustery speeches given way fuzzy policies weakened presidents negotiating hand complex challenges revamping taxes health insurance advertisement trumps actions immigration blocked tangled court battles yet fill countless senior government jobs failed pass major legislation trump instead resorted signing torrent executive orders impulse typical manager directing subordinates president building partnerships administration declared 100day mark arbitrary deadline leading ceos often work even tighter schedules investors gauge performance quarter every 90 days john challenger ceo executive recruiting firm challenger gray amp christmas notes new chief executives typically face pressure achieve victories first 90 days milestones tend draw potential critics side establish authority said dont big wins early wins look ways show youve impact challenger said administration hard time demonstrating showing white house aides point trump signed 32 executive orders friday president first 100 days since world war ii actions produced orders fall well short bold promises made candidate several executive orders merely requests studies financial regulations environmental rules trade policies suggest administration still figuring government works tame rambunctious independentminded congress even one led like white house republicans trump still likes bask glow corporate america almost weekly met major chief executives white house input policy photoops yet around know way around government secretary state trump chose rex tillerson former chief executive exxon mobil commerce secretary pick wilbur ross billionaire investor treasury steve mnuchin wall street executive turned movie producer top economic adviser trump tapped gary cohn formerly goldman sachs 2 executive like trump none political experience blind leading blind said henry mintzberg management expert mcgill university need get people think also deep understanding issues drop silly idea government run like business advertisement interview last week associated press trump appeared concede president manage successfully solely bottomline corporate mentality everything pretty much everything government involves heart whereas business things dont involve heart said fact business youre actually better without cabinet portrayed shift private sector natural move bestows advantages lot things learned business carried job treasury secretary mnuchin said wednesday lot consensus building teamwork trump course needs support congress independently elected lawmakers pass laws foreign leaders forge global alliances responsibilities delicate negotiating business partners stand profit cutting deal since becoming president trump retreated audacious campaign promises hails nato alliance important previously labeled obsolete backed away labeling china currency manipulator casts beijing likely ally defusing nuclear north korea changes display certain openness change response circumstances said kathleen oconnor professor cornell universitys business school expertise negotiating strategies yet trump adopted many contradictory stances make hard engender trust lawmakers pushed aggressive timeline replacing president barack obamas health care law scrapped plan failed receive enough support house republicans tried revive week also unveiling principles tax overhaul trying stop government shutdown issuing duties canadian lumber seems lack clarity wants oconnor said hard take reputation bargaining table dont know youre going get guy two days row richard box retired professor university nebraska omaha 1999 wrote major academic article running government business suggests administration must make longerterm investments policies ideas cultivate support voters lawmakers rather assume cut deals one might tv show condo tower business leaders sometimes come government positions thinking matter sort commandandcontrol accustomed companies box said soon find government much complicated takes different skill set make things happen
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<p>“ <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sw7RElt-SvE" type="external">Paddington 2</a> ” is that rare creation that somehow improves on its already charming predecessor.</p>
<p>Maybe it’s the addition of Hugh Grant as a lunatic faded star desperate for some cash to get his one man show going, Brendan Gleeson as a moody prison chef named Knuckles McGinty, a totally random dance routine during the credits, or just the sheer earnestness of it all but “Paddington 2” is a total delight.</p>
<p>Paul King returns as director and co-writer for the sequel which finds Paddington (voiced again by Ben Whishaw) living happily with the Brown family, Mary (Sally Hawkins), Henry (Hugh Bonneville), Jonathan (Samuel Joslin), Judy (Madeleine Harris) and Mrs. Bird (Julie Walters). Paddington, through his Pollyanna positivity and Emily Post politeness, has turned their little candy-colored neighborhood, Windsor Gardens, into a friendly paradise.</p>
<p>Paddington gets a mission when he spots a London pop-up book at an antique store that he thinks would be perfect to buy his Aunt Lucy (voiced by Imelda Staunton), who is still in Peru and has always dreamed of going to London (pretty thoughtful for an anthropomorphized bear). But, it’s expensive and he needs to get a job in order to afford it. It’s an easy set up for some hijinks as he tries and fails at a few things. In a film that feels so effortless, this is a rare snag that’s a little forced and chaotic. Thankfully it’s all building to something better, which is not coincidentally related to the arrival of Hugh Grant.</p>
<p>At a fair, Paddington meets the actor Phoenix Buchanan (Grant), who was once a star and has now been reduced to doing dog food commercials and takes an unusual interest in the pop-up book Paddington mentions he’s saving up for. One night Paddington notices a strange man breaking into the antique store that houses the coveted pop-up book, attempts to stop it and wrongly ends up in prison.</p>
<p>Pretty dark for a Paddington movie, sure, but King keeps it light and positive (this is perhaps the brightest and cleanest prison you’ve ever seen on screen). And Paddington quickly charms his fellow inmates and the grouchy chef who doesn’t know that Knuckles begins with a K and not an N.</p>
<p>Grant seems to be having the most fun he’s had in years on screen as the overly theatrical villain, who debates his devious plans out loud with a room full of costumed mannequins that he also provides the voices for (Hamlet and Scrooge among them). And there are some wonderfully fun digs at the egotism of actors throughout, including when Mrs. Bird explains that actors are “some of the most evil, devious people on the planet.”</p>
<p>Sally Hawkins also gets a nice spotlight as the eager-to-believe matriarch who is compelling enough to make you really trust that she’s possibly gotten a lead from a newsstand parrot about who framed Paddington.</p>
<p>Is it too lame to get wrapped up in the messages in a kid’s film? “Paddington 2” has a lot of worthy ones — the importance of kindness, family, and, heck, even saving money to get a thoughtful gift for someone who means something to you.</p>
<p>It is a cheerful, sweet movie, where there is no problem that a lovingly made marmalade sandwich won’t fix, and it’ll be sure to leave kids and adults smiling and even wiping a few tears away at the end.</p>
<p>“Paddington,” a Warner Bros. release, is rated PG by the Motion Picture Association of America for “some action and mild rude humor.” Running time: 103 minutes. Three and a half stars out of four.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>MPAA Definition of PG: Parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Follow AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr on Twitter: <a href="http://www.twitter.com/ldbahr" type="external">www.twitter.com/ldbahr</a></p>
<p>“ <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sw7RElt-SvE" type="external">Paddington 2</a> ” is that rare creation that somehow improves on its already charming predecessor.</p>
<p>Maybe it’s the addition of Hugh Grant as a lunatic faded star desperate for some cash to get his one man show going, Brendan Gleeson as a moody prison chef named Knuckles McGinty, a totally random dance routine during the credits, or just the sheer earnestness of it all but “Paddington 2” is a total delight.</p>
<p>Paul King returns as director and co-writer for the sequel which finds Paddington (voiced again by Ben Whishaw) living happily with the Brown family, Mary (Sally Hawkins), Henry (Hugh Bonneville), Jonathan (Samuel Joslin), Judy (Madeleine Harris) and Mrs. Bird (Julie Walters). Paddington, through his Pollyanna positivity and Emily Post politeness, has turned their little candy-colored neighborhood, Windsor Gardens, into a friendly paradise.</p>
<p>Paddington gets a mission when he spots a London pop-up book at an antique store that he thinks would be perfect to buy his Aunt Lucy (voiced by Imelda Staunton), who is still in Peru and has always dreamed of going to London (pretty thoughtful for an anthropomorphized bear). But, it’s expensive and he needs to get a job in order to afford it. It’s an easy set up for some hijinks as he tries and fails at a few things. In a film that feels so effortless, this is a rare snag that’s a little forced and chaotic. Thankfully it’s all building to something better, which is not coincidentally related to the arrival of Hugh Grant.</p>
<p>At a fair, Paddington meets the actor Phoenix Buchanan (Grant), who was once a star and has now been reduced to doing dog food commercials and takes an unusual interest in the pop-up book Paddington mentions he’s saving up for. One night Paddington notices a strange man breaking into the antique store that houses the coveted pop-up book, attempts to stop it and wrongly ends up in prison.</p>
<p>Pretty dark for a Paddington movie, sure, but King keeps it light and positive (this is perhaps the brightest and cleanest prison you’ve ever seen on screen). And Paddington quickly charms his fellow inmates and the grouchy chef who doesn’t know that Knuckles begins with a K and not an N.</p>
<p>Grant seems to be having the most fun he’s had in years on screen as the overly theatrical villain, who debates his devious plans out loud with a room full of costumed mannequins that he also provides the voices for (Hamlet and Scrooge among them). And there are some wonderfully fun digs at the egotism of actors throughout, including when Mrs. Bird explains that actors are “some of the most evil, devious people on the planet.”</p>
<p>Sally Hawkins also gets a nice spotlight as the eager-to-believe matriarch who is compelling enough to make you really trust that she’s possibly gotten a lead from a newsstand parrot about who framed Paddington.</p>
<p>Is it too lame to get wrapped up in the messages in a kid’s film? “Paddington 2” has a lot of worthy ones — the importance of kindness, family, and, heck, even saving money to get a thoughtful gift for someone who means something to you.</p>
<p>It is a cheerful, sweet movie, where there is no problem that a lovingly made marmalade sandwich won’t fix, and it’ll be sure to leave kids and adults smiling and even wiping a few tears away at the end.</p>
<p>“Paddington,” a Warner Bros. release, is rated PG by the Motion Picture Association of America for “some action and mild rude humor.” Running time: 103 minutes. Three and a half stars out of four.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>MPAA Definition of PG: Parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Follow AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr on Twitter: <a href="http://www.twitter.com/ldbahr" type="external">www.twitter.com/ldbahr</a></p>
| false | 2 |
paddington 2 rare creation somehow improves already charming predecessor maybe addition hugh grant lunatic faded star desperate cash get one man show going brendan gleeson moody prison chef named knuckles mcginty totally random dance routine credits sheer earnestness paddington 2 total delight paul king returns director cowriter sequel finds paddington voiced ben whishaw living happily brown family mary sally hawkins henry hugh bonneville jonathan samuel joslin judy madeleine harris mrs bird julie walters paddington pollyanna positivity emily post politeness turned little candycolored neighborhood windsor gardens friendly paradise paddington gets mission spots london popup book antique store thinks would perfect buy aunt lucy voiced imelda staunton still peru always dreamed going london pretty thoughtful anthropomorphized bear expensive needs get job order afford easy set hijinks tries fails things film feels effortless rare snag thats little forced chaotic thankfully building something better coincidentally related arrival hugh grant fair paddington meets actor phoenix buchanan grant star reduced dog food commercials takes unusual interest popup book paddington mentions hes saving one night paddington notices strange man breaking antique store houses coveted popup book attempts stop wrongly ends prison pretty dark paddington movie sure king keeps light positive perhaps brightest cleanest prison youve ever seen screen paddington quickly charms fellow inmates grouchy chef doesnt know knuckles begins k n grant seems fun hes years screen overly theatrical villain debates devious plans loud room full costumed mannequins also provides voices hamlet scrooge among wonderfully fun digs egotism actors throughout including mrs bird explains actors evil devious people planet sally hawkins also gets nice spotlight eagertobelieve matriarch compelling enough make really trust shes possibly gotten lead newsstand parrot framed paddington lame get wrapped messages kids film paddington 2 lot worthy ones importance kindness family heck even saving money get thoughtful gift someone means something cheerful sweet movie problem lovingly made marmalade sandwich wont fix itll sure leave kids adults smiling even wiping tears away end paddington warner bros release rated pg motion picture association america action mild rude humor running time 103 minutes three half stars four ___ mpaa definition pg parental guidance suggested material may suitable children ___ follow ap film writer lindsey bahr twitter wwwtwittercomldbahr paddington 2 rare creation somehow improves already charming predecessor maybe addition hugh grant lunatic faded star desperate cash get one man show going brendan gleeson moody prison chef named knuckles mcginty totally random dance routine credits sheer earnestness paddington 2 total delight paul king returns director cowriter sequel finds paddington voiced ben whishaw living happily brown family mary sally hawkins henry hugh bonneville jonathan samuel joslin judy madeleine harris mrs bird julie walters paddington pollyanna positivity emily post politeness turned little candycolored neighborhood windsor gardens friendly paradise paddington gets mission spots london popup book antique store thinks would perfect buy aunt lucy voiced imelda staunton still peru always dreamed going london pretty thoughtful anthropomorphized bear expensive needs get job order afford easy set hijinks tries fails things film feels effortless rare snag thats little forced chaotic thankfully building something better coincidentally related arrival hugh grant fair paddington meets actor phoenix buchanan grant star reduced dog food commercials takes unusual interest popup book paddington mentions hes saving one night paddington notices strange man breaking antique store houses coveted popup book attempts stop wrongly ends prison pretty dark paddington movie sure king keeps light positive perhaps brightest cleanest prison youve ever seen screen paddington quickly charms fellow inmates grouchy chef doesnt know knuckles begins k n grant seems fun hes years screen overly theatrical villain debates devious plans loud room full costumed mannequins also provides voices hamlet scrooge among wonderfully fun digs egotism actors throughout including mrs bird explains actors evil devious people planet sally hawkins also gets nice spotlight eagertobelieve matriarch compelling enough make really trust shes possibly gotten lead newsstand parrot framed paddington lame get wrapped messages kids film paddington 2 lot worthy ones importance kindness family heck even saving money get thoughtful gift someone means something cheerful sweet movie problem lovingly made marmalade sandwich wont fix itll sure leave kids adults smiling even wiping tears away end paddington warner bros release rated pg motion picture association america action mild rude humor running time 103 minutes three half stars four ___ mpaa definition pg parental guidance suggested material may suitable children ___ follow ap film writer lindsey bahr twitter wwwtwittercomldbahr
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<p>A new gate, forcing the redirection of pedestrian traffic, is the center of debate among Old Town merchants. It was added two weeks before Balloon Fiesta. (Adolphe Pierre-Louis/Albuquerque Journal)</p>
<p>We like our Old Town old.</p>
<p>We like it charming and quaint and adobe-veneered, a nostalgic reflection of the way we were some 300 years ago, only now with indoor plumbing, asphalt parking lots and “Breaking Bad” T-shirts.</p>
<p>Things change slowly in Old Town. Strict covenants require building owners to maintain that centuries-old look.</p>
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<p>Which is perhaps why on a recent Saturday morning, folks were shocked to find a brand new wooden gate blocking what had been an arched, stuccoed entryway to the eastern edge of Old Town.</p>
<p>The gate, made of 6-foot dog-eared pine pickets screwed to a metal truss and bolted shut with a Master lock, was so new it still smelled of the lumber mill.</p>
<p>It blocked pedestrian flow from a large, 258-space parking lot south of the Albuquerque Museum at 19th Street NW into a smaller, 130-space lot and then on into the heart of Old Town. With the entrance blocked, visitors coming from the 19th Street entrance have to use a walkway a short distance south.</p>
<p>Few knew at first who was responsible for this new gate or why it had been put up Sept. 20, two weeks before the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Old Town’s busiest season.</p>
<p>But many were unhappy with this new thing.</p>
<p>Some left notes tacked to the gate to show their displeasure: “Open this gate.”</p>
<p>“How do handicap people get through this??”</p>
<p>And this: “Mean people suck. You are mean to block the way.”</p>
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<p>To the merchants in the Poco Apoco Patio, it wasn’t just mean, it was sabotage.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" />The blocked entry had been the closest from the 19th Street entrance to Poco Apoco, a small plaza of shops, art galleries and restaurants tucked on the northwestern corner of the smaller parking lot.</p>
<p>Now, those visitors had to enter through an archway farther south, next to the shops at Plaza Hacienda and the Backstreet Grill, which in June reopened in its bigger, remodeled digs.</p>
<p>As it turns out, the new gate was the handiwork of the owners of Plaza Hacienda and the Backstreet Grill, identified as members of the Richard Chavez family and Joyce Battaglia. State records list Battaglia as an agent using the name Old Town Plaza LLC.</p>
<p>Poco Apoco folks went nearly apoplectic. They complained that the new gate was born of an old feud between the Chavez family and the Nick Garcia family, which owns Poco Apoco.</p>
<p>Some blamed the gate on an ongoing rivalry between Backstreet Grill and Poco Apoco’s Quesadilla Grille, both which claim to serve the best street taco.</p>
<p>They complained it would hurt business and the image of Old Town as a welcoming place.</p>
<p>They called it “Gategate.”</p>
<p>Several merchants contacted the media, complained on social media, called City Hall. A petition circulated among the Old Town merchants voicing concern garnered 37 signatures, and not just among the merchants of Poco Apoco.</p>
<p>By Sunday, though, Poco Apoco merchants said they were told by the Garcias to stop talking about the matter. Gategate, like the gate itself, was bad for business.</p>
<p>The Garcia family could not be reached for comment.</p>
<p>One person still willing to talk was Blake DuPree, assets manager for the Plaza Hacienda/Backstreet/Old Town Plaza LLC folks. DuPree dismissed the notion that the new gate was the result of old rivalries or a ploy to lure visitors to Plaza Hacienda merchants.</p>
<p>It was, he said, just good business, a precautionary measure and their right since the wall is on their property.</p>
<p>“It redirects traffic onto a safer route,” DuPree said. “It was a no-brainer. It decreases liability and any business owner would do the same.”</p>
<p>DuPree said the owners believe the north entrance was a hazard because it forced pedestrians to walk through the middle of the smaller parking lot – which they also happen to own – rather than walk along the southern edge of the lot as pedestrians do now.</p>
<p>But DuPree could not provide evidence of crashes or injuries that have occurred in the lot, which is accessible by vehicle only through a narrow road. Nor could he explain how the gate makes it safer for visitors who now have to diagonally cross the parking lot from the south entrance to get to the northwest Poco Apoco.</p>
<p>“Their main access is San Felipe, which is a main artery into Old Town,” he said of the Poco Apoco shops. “So to say we’re eliminating access is essentially a myth.”</p>
<p>DuPree also said the plan for the gate was approved by the city’s Landmarks and Urban Conservation Commission.</p>
<p>Still, the gate is not an open and shut case. On Tuesday, the city announced its legal department is looking into the Gategate complaints.</p>
<p>Suzanne Lubar, city planning department director, explained that the city built the wall in the late 1980s using Urban Enhancement Trust Funds. An easement was granted by the property owners to the city to “enhance aesthetically and functionally the pedestrian approach from the City’s 19th Street parking lot to the Old Town Plaza.”</p>
<p>Lubar confirmed that city commission approved plans for the gate in 2012, but under the agreement such “improvements” to the wall were to keep the easement area open to use by the general public at all times, other than for routine maintenance and repairs.</p>
<p>The matter has been referred to the City Attorney’s Office for evaluation, she said.</p>
<p>In the meantime, Old Town is open for business, a lot friendlier than Gategate might suggest, its quirky charm as old as adobe.</p>
<p>UpFront is a daily front-page news and opinion column. Comment directly to Joline at 823-3603, <a href="" type="internal">[email protected]</a> or follow her on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/jolinegkg" type="external">@jolinegkg</a>. Go to <a href="" type="internal">ABQjournal.com/letters/new</a> to submit a letter to the editor.</p>
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new gate forcing redirection pedestrian traffic center debate among old town merchants added two weeks balloon fiesta adolphe pierrelouisalbuquerque journal like old town old like charming quaint adobeveneered nostalgic reflection way 300 years ago indoor plumbing asphalt parking lots breaking bad tshirts things change slowly old town strict covenants require building owners maintain centuriesold look advertisement perhaps recent saturday morning folks shocked find brand new wooden gate blocking arched stuccoed entryway eastern edge old town gate made 6foot dogeared pine pickets screwed metal truss bolted shut master lock new still smelled lumber mill blocked pedestrian flow large 258space parking lot south albuquerque museum 19th street nw smaller 130space lot heart old town entrance blocked visitors coming 19th street entrance use walkway short distance south knew first responsible new gate put sept 20 two weeks albuquerque international balloon fiesta old towns busiest season many unhappy new thing left notes tacked gate show displeasure open gate handicap people get mean people suck mean block way advertisement merchants poco apoco patio wasnt mean sabotage blocked entry closest 19th street entrance poco apoco small plaza shops art galleries restaurants tucked northwestern corner smaller parking lot visitors enter archway farther south next shops plaza hacienda backstreet grill june reopened bigger remodeled digs turns new gate handiwork owners plaza hacienda backstreet grill identified members richard chavez family joyce battaglia state records list battaglia agent using name old town plaza llc poco apoco folks went nearly apoplectic complained new gate born old feud chavez family nick garcia family owns poco apoco blamed gate ongoing rivalry backstreet grill poco apocos quesadilla grille claim serve best street taco complained would hurt business image old town welcoming place called gategate several merchants contacted media complained social media called city hall petition circulated among old town merchants voicing concern garnered 37 signatures among merchants poco apoco sunday though poco apoco merchants said told garcias stop talking matter gategate like gate bad business garcia family could reached comment one person still willing talk blake dupree assets manager plaza haciendabackstreetold town plaza llc folks dupree dismissed notion new gate result old rivalries ploy lure visitors plaza hacienda merchants said good business precautionary measure right since wall property redirects traffic onto safer route dupree said nobrainer decreases liability business owner would dupree said owners believe north entrance hazard forced pedestrians walk middle smaller parking lot also happen rather walk along southern edge lot pedestrians dupree could provide evidence crashes injuries occurred lot accessible vehicle narrow road could explain gate makes safer visitors diagonally cross parking lot south entrance get northwest poco apoco main access san felipe main artery old town said poco apoco shops say eliminating access essentially myth dupree also said plan gate approved citys landmarks urban conservation commission still gate open shut case tuesday city announced legal department looking gategate complaints suzanne lubar city planning department director explained city built wall late 1980s using urban enhancement trust funds easement granted property owners city enhance aesthetically functionally pedestrian approach citys 19th street parking lot old town plaza lubar confirmed city commission approved plans gate 2012 agreement improvements wall keep easement area open use general public times routine maintenance repairs matter referred city attorneys office evaluation said meantime old town open business lot friendlier gategate might suggest quirky charm old adobe upfront daily frontpage news opinion column comment directly joline 8233603 jkruegerabqjournalcom follow twitter jolinegkg go abqjournalcomlettersnew submit letter editor
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<p>Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum combined for 57 points to lead the Portland Trail Blazers past the Dallas Mavericks 117-108 Saturday night at Moda Center.</p>
<p>Lillard scored 31 points and doled out nine assists and McCollum added 26 points as the Trail Blazers (25-21) won their third straight game and sixth in a row at home.</p>
<p>Wesley Matthews led Dallas (15-31) with 23 points while Dirk Nowitzki and Dennis Smith Jr. each chipped in 21.</p>
<p>Lillard made his first nine shots from the field - seven of them 3-pointers. He finished 10-for-15 from the field and 7-for-9 from 3-point range.</p>
<p>Portland shot .523 from the field, sinking 18 of 36 3-point tries.</p>
<p>Lillard had 18 points at halftime on 6-for-6 shooting, including 4-of-4 on 3-pointers, as Portland mounted a 62-45 halftime lead. McCollum had 13 points and Evan Turner 12 for the Blazers, who shot .571 in the half.</p>
<p>Dallas opened the second half with an 11-2 spurt that closed the gap to 64-56. Matthews buried back-to-back 3s to close the gap to 74-69. Portland responded with a 14-2 run to go ahead 88-71. The Blazers carried a 91-79 lead into the final period.</p>
<p>Smith’s 3 cut Portland’s advantage to 95-87 with 9:29 remaining. Nowitzki’s layup cut it to 100-93, but Shabazz Napier knocked down a trey to make it 103-93 with 6:10 left.</p>
<p>Dallas got to within 107-100 on a pair of J.J. Barea baskets. Turner’s jumper made it 109-100 with 3:01 to play.</p>
<p>Matthews scored on a banker to trim the difference to 113-106 with 1:03 to go. Smith scored on a driving layup to close the gap to 113-108 with 47.5 seconds left. Ed Davis’ dunk sealed the verdict for Portland with 17.1 ticks on the clock.</p>
<p>Portland sank 4 of 6 attempts from 3-point range in the first four minutes to spring ahead 16-9. The Blazers, with Lillard providing 13 points, extended the difference to 33-20 after one quarter.</p>
<p>The Blazers stoked their edge to 57-39 advantage late in the second quarter. The margin was 17 points at intermission.</p>
<p>—Field Level Media</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>(Reuters) - A rematch between Kazakhstan’s world middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin and Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez scheduled for May 5 has been canceled following the Mexican’s positive test for the banned substance Clenbuterol, fight promoters said on Tuesday.</p> FILE PHOTO: Middleweight boxer Canelo Alvarez of Mexico and WBC/WBA/IBF middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin of Kazakhstan pose during a news conference at MGM Grand hotel and casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S., September 13, 2017. REUTERS/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus/File Photo
<p>Alvarez, who blamed contaminated beef that he consumed in Mexico for the test result, withdrew from the fight after being temporarily suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission less than two weeks ago for failing the test.</p>
<p>The commission will hold a hearing on the case on April 18.</p>
<p>Clenbuterol is sometimes illicitly mixed into livestock feed to make meat leaner.</p>
<p>The boxers fought to a controversial draw in their middleweight world title bout in Las Vegas in September, with each getting the nod from one judge while the third declared it a tie, ramping up anticipation for a rematch.</p>
<p>Golovkin still intends to fight on May 5 in Las Vegas against a yet-to-be determined opponent, Tom Loeffler of GGG Promotions said.</p>
<p>Golovkin, who holds the WBA, WBC, IBF and IBO belts, is unbeaten with a 37-0-1 record, while Alvarez is 49-1-2, with his only loss coming against Floyd Mayweather in 2013.</p>
<p>Reporting by Rory Carroll; Editing by Ken Ferris</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>Much was made of Villanova’s balanced, prolific scoring as the Wildcats mowed down one opponent after another in one of the most dominant runs through an NCAA Tournament in years.</p>
<p>Lurking in the shadows was a highly underrated defense, one that turned around Monday night’s national championship game with Michigan.</p>
<p>Allowing the Wolverines to make just 43.6 percent of their field-goal attempts and just 3 of 23 tries from 3-point range, the top-seeded Wildcats notched their second title in three years with a 79-62 verdict at the Alamodome in San Antonio.</p>
<p>In becoming the first team since North Carolina nine years ago to win every tournament game by double figures, Villanova (36-4) got a game-high 31 points from sixth man Donte DiVincenzo and 19 from Mikal Bridges.</p>
<p>Yet even DiVincenzo, the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player who steamrolled Michigan with a run of 10 straight points late in the first half and another burst of nine straight points in the second half, pointed to his defense as the most satisfying factor.</p>
<p>“The blocked shots, definitely,” he said when asked if scoring 31 points or rejecting a pair of shots pleased him more. “I pride myself on defense and bringing energy to this team.”</p>
<p>The Wildcats’ versatility and ability to play positionless basketball on offense also translates to the defensive end. Almost everyone in the Villanova rotation can guard multiple positions, allowing the team to switch screens if needed, and most of the player are quick enough to deny opponents their favorite spots.</p>
<p>Michigan (33-8) was able to execute its offense well enough for the first 10 minutes, leading on Moritz Wagner and Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman to grab a 21-16 lead just over 12 minutes into the game. However, when Villanova started cutting off driving lanes and forcing the Wolverines to settle for jumpers, the game changed.</p>
<p>“They obviously played the drive better, and I turned it over a couple of times,” Wagner said. “You have to give them credit. They’re a really good team defensively and when they play like that, they’re tough to beat.”</p>
<p>DiVincenzo’s outburst made beating Villanova just about impossible. The Big East Conference’s Sixth Man of the Year scored 10 of his 18 first-half points in a span of just 2:55, keying a 23-7 spurt that turned a seven-point deficit into a 37-28 halftime lead.</p> Apr 2, 2018; San Antonio, TX, USA; Villanova Wildcats guard Jalen Brunson (1) celebrates with the National Championship trophy after beating the Michigan Wolverines in the championship game of the 2018 men's Final Four at Alamodome. Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
<p>Canning 3-pointers, scoring off the dribble and even drilling one long jumper over two defenders, DiVincenzo put Michigan in a hole it wasn’t about to escape.</p>
<p>“We needed to play better,” Wolverines coach John Beilein said, “but even if we had played at our best, it would have been very difficult to win with what DiVincenzo (was doing).”</p>
<p>Wagner scored to start the second half, but the Wildcats weren’t about to let suspense enter the equation. Continuing to string stops together while regaining rhythm offensively, they hit Michigan with a 14-3 run that Bridges capped with a 3-pointer for a 51-33 lead with 14:36 left.</p>
<p>The Wolverines kept working but couldn’t get closer than 12 for the game’s remainder. DiVincenzo peeled off nine straight points in a 2:39 stretch, finishing it with a 3-pointer with 7:57 on the clock to make it 62-44.</p> Slideshow (11 Images)
<p>Fittingly, it was DiVincenzo who dribbled out the final 10 seconds, flinging the ball toward the ceiling of the cavernous football stadium as his teammates mobbed him.</p>
<p>“We grind every single day in practice,” he said. “To experience this is a dream come true.”</p>
<p>Abdur-Rahkman paced Michigan with 23 points and Wagner contributed 16, but their best efforts just weren’t enough to hold off Villanova.</p>
<p>“I can’t put this into words,” Brunson said. “This is spectacular.”</p>
<p>Field Level Media</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>(Reuters) - Seven cities, or joint-bidding cities have expressed interest in hosting the 2026 Winter Olympics, the International Olympic Committee said on Tuesday.</p> The International Olympic Committee (IOC) headquarters is pictured on the day of an Executive Board meeting on sanctions for Russian athletes in Lausanne, Switzerland December 5, 2017. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse
<p>Canada’s Calgary, Austria’s Graz, Swedish capital Stockholm, Sion in Switzerland, Turkey’s Erzurum, Japan’s Sapporo and an Italian bid involving Cortina d’Ampezzo, Milan and Turin are all in the initial process.</p>
<p>There is considerable Olympic experience in the field with Calgary having hosted the 1988 Winter Games and Sapporo having staged the 1972 edition. Cortina is also a former host, having organized the 1956 Winter Olympics as is Turin in 2006.</p>
<p>Stockholm has hosted summer Games but despite repeated attempts, has failed to land the winter Olympics. It last bid briefly for 2022 but pulled out mid-race.</p>
<p>The cities will now enter a dialogue stage until October when the IOC will invite an unspecified number of them to take part in the one-year candidature phase.</p>
<p>The IOC has overhauled the bidding process for Games after a sharp slump in interest from potential hosts in recent years, cutting costs for bid cities and slashing the campaign time in half.</p>
<p>“I warmly welcome the National Olympic Committees’ and cities’ interest in hosting the Olympic Winter Games,” said IOC President Thomas Bach in a statement.</p>
<p>“The IOC has turned the page with regard to Olympic candidatures. Our goal is not just to have a record number of candidates, but ultimately it is to select the best city to stage the best Olympic Winter Games for the best athletes of the world.”</p>
<p>The IOC has also simplified the seven-year preparation for Games organizers, reducing costs, upping the IOC’s contribution and allowing host cities more flexibility in planning for the Olympics and the post-Games use of facilities.</p>
<p>It will elect the winning 2026 bid at its session in Milan in September, 2019 but some cities, including Sion, will need to hold referendums first.</p>
<p>“In a city where we have a referendum we welcome the public consultation,” Olympic Games Executive Director Christophe Dubi told reporters. “A project of this size has an impact, hopefully a positive one, on the life of cities for a long time.”</p>
<p>The IOC said there had already been interest for 2030, from the United States Olympic Committee among others.</p>
<p>The 2022 Winter Games will be held in Beijing after four other cities dropped out of the bid race for fear of soaring costs and size of the Olympics, leaving the Chinese capital and Kazakhstan’s Almaty as the only candidates.</p>
<p>More cities dropped out of the 2024 Summer Olympics race with the IOC opting to award them directly to Paris and in turn give Los Angeles, which had also bid for 2024, the 2028 Games.</p>
<p>Reporting by Karolos Grohmann, editing by Ed Osmond and Christian Radnedge</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - Tiger Woods has not competed at the U.S. Masters since 2015 but that did not stop the four-times champion from sending a warning shot to his rivals on Tuesday that echoed through the tall pines that line Augusta National.</p> Tiger Woods of the U.S. stands near his golf bag during the second day of practice for the 2018 Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, U.S. April 3, 2018. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
<p>Woods, who has missed three of the previous four Masters due to back problems, called himself a “walking miracle” and said he is feeling the best he has in “seven, eight years” heading into Thursday’s opening round.</p>
<p>“I feel great. I feel like I’ve really put a lot of pieces together,” Woods, who won the most recent of his 14 major titles in 2008, said during his pre-Masters news conference.</p>
<p>“We have worked on what body parts to get stronger, what body parts need to be more limber, and I feel fantastic. It’s just a matter of now going out there and competing and playing and posting numbers.”</p> Related Coverage
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<p>The 42-year-old former world number one has enjoyed an on-course renaissance this year that few expected given the spinal fusion procedure he had last April that left him sidelined for the better part of a year.</p>
<p>Woods, who said it was only after playing an exhibition last December that he felt he would be able to compete in the year’s first major, has since shown flashes of the form that helped him earn a staggering 79 PGA Tour wins.</p>
<p>“It’s been a tough road. I’ve described a little bit of it, the pain of just sitting there and the amount of times that I’ve fallen because my leg didn’t work or I just had to lay on the ground for extended periods of time. Those are some really dark, dark times,” said Woods.</p>
<p>“The reason why I say I’m a walking miracle is that I don’t know if&#160;— I don’t know if anyone who has had a lower back fusion that can swing the club as fast as I can swing it. That’s incredible.”</p>
<p>Stamping his authority as a four-times Masters winner, Woods said that while he hopes to play his best golf this week he felt he could slip into a Green Jacket on Sunday evening even if he is not firing on all cylinders.</p>
<p>“This is a tournament I think that where experience does help a lot. I mean, I have played here and I’ve won here not playing my absolute best, but there’s got to be a certain part of my game that’s on,” said Woods.</p>
<p>“I think that this tournament really helps with having the experience and really understanding how to play this particular golf course.”</p>
<p>Woods is one of the favorites to triumph this week in a wide-open field and the debate about where a possible victory for him would rank in the annals of sporting comebacks has already begun.</p>
<p>For his part, Woods said he has plenty of work still to do before entertaining that discussion but did tip his hat to golfing great Ben Hogan, who came back from a head-on collision with a bus in 1949 to win the U.S. Open the following year.</p>
<p>“I think that one of the greatest comebacks in all of sport is the gentleman who won here, Mr. Hogan,” said Woods, who plays the first two rounds alongside Australian Marc Leishman and Englishman Tommy Fleetwood.</p>
<p>“I mean, he got hit by a bus and came back and won major championships.”</p>
<p>Editing by Toby Davis</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
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damian lillard cj mccollum combined 57 points lead portland trail blazers past dallas mavericks 117108 saturday night moda center lillard scored 31 points doled nine assists mccollum added 26 points trail blazers 2521 third straight game sixth row home wesley matthews led dallas 1531 23 points dirk nowitzki dennis smith jr chipped 21 lillard made first nine shots field seven 3pointers finished 10for15 field 7for9 3point range portland shot 523 field sinking 18 36 3point tries lillard 18 points halftime 6for6 shooting including 4of4 3pointers portland mounted 6245 halftime lead mccollum 13 points evan turner 12 blazers shot 571 half dallas opened second half 112 spurt closed gap 6456 matthews buried backtoback 3s close gap 7469 portland responded 142 run go ahead 8871 blazers carried 9179 lead final period smiths 3 cut portlands advantage 9587 929 remaining nowitzkis layup cut 10093 shabazz napier knocked trey make 10393 610 left dallas got within 107100 pair jj barea baskets turners jumper made 109100 301 play matthews scored banker trim difference 113106 103 go smith scored driving layup close gap 113108 475 seconds left ed davis dunk sealed verdict portland 171 ticks clock portland sank 4 6 attempts 3point range first four minutes spring ahead 169 blazers lillard providing 13 points extended difference 3320 one quarter blazers stoked edge 5739 advantage late second quarter margin 17 points intermission field level media standards thomson reuters trust principles reuters rematch kazakhstans world middleweight champion gennady golovkin saul canelo alvarez scheduled may 5 canceled following mexicans positive test banned substance clenbuterol fight promoters said tuesday file photo middleweight boxer canelo alvarez mexico wbcwbaibf middleweight champion gennady golovkin kazakhstan pose news conference mgm grand hotel casino las vegas nevada us september 13 2017 reuterslas vegas sunsteve marcusfile photo alvarez blamed contaminated beef consumed mexico test result withdrew fight temporarily suspended nevada state athletic commission less two weeks ago failing test commission hold hearing case april 18 clenbuterol sometimes illicitly mixed livestock feed make meat leaner boxers fought controversial draw middleweight world title bout las vegas september getting nod one judge third declared tie ramping anticipation rematch golovkin still intends fight may 5 las vegas yettobe determined opponent tom loeffler ggg promotions said golovkin holds wba wbc ibf ibo belts unbeaten 3701 record alvarez 4912 loss coming floyd mayweather 2013 reporting rory carroll editing ken ferris standards thomson reuters trust principles much made villanovas balanced prolific scoring wildcats mowed one opponent another one dominant runs ncaa tournament years lurking shadows highly underrated defense one turned around monday nights national championship game michigan allowing wolverines make 436 percent fieldgoal attempts 3 23 tries 3point range topseeded wildcats notched second title three years 7962 verdict alamodome san antonio becoming first team since north carolina nine years ago win every tournament game double figures villanova 364 got gamehigh 31 points sixth man donte divincenzo 19 mikal bridges yet even divincenzo final fours outstanding player steamrolled michigan run 10 straight points late first half another burst nine straight points second half pointed defense satisfying factor blocked shots definitely said asked scoring 31 points rejecting pair shots pleased pride defense bringing energy team wildcats versatility ability play positionless basketball offense also translates defensive end almost everyone villanova rotation guard multiple positions allowing team switch screens needed player quick enough deny opponents favorite spots michigan 338 able execute offense well enough first 10 minutes leading moritz wagner muhammadali abdurrahkman grab 2116 lead 12 minutes game however villanova started cutting driving lanes forcing wolverines settle jumpers game changed obviously played drive better turned couple times wagner said give credit theyre really good team defensively play like theyre tough beat divincenzos outburst made beating villanova impossible big east conferences sixth man year scored 10 18 firsthalf points span 255 keying 237 spurt turned sevenpoint deficit 3728 halftime lead apr 2 2018 san antonio tx usa villanova wildcats guard jalen brunson 1 celebrates national championship trophy beating michigan wolverines championship game 2018 mens final four alamodome bob donnanusa today sports canning 3pointers scoring dribble even drilling one long jumper two defenders divincenzo put michigan hole wasnt escape needed play better wolverines coach john beilein said even played best would difficult win divincenzo wagner scored start second half wildcats werent let suspense enter equation continuing string stops together regaining rhythm offensively hit michigan 143 run bridges capped 3pointer 5133 lead 1436 left wolverines kept working couldnt get closer 12 games remainder divincenzo peeled nine straight points 239 stretch finishing 3pointer 757 clock make 6244 slideshow 11 images fittingly divincenzo dribbled final 10 seconds flinging ball toward ceiling cavernous football stadium teammates mobbed grind every single day practice said experience dream come true abdurrahkman paced michigan 23 points wagner contributed 16 best efforts werent enough hold villanova cant put words brunson said spectacular field level media standards thomson reuters trust principles reuters seven cities jointbidding cities expressed interest hosting 2026 winter olympics international olympic committee said tuesday international olympic committee ioc headquarters pictured day executive board meeting sanctions russian athletes lausanne switzerland december 5 2017 reutersdenis balibouse canadas calgary austrias graz swedish capital stockholm sion switzerland turkeys erzurum japans sapporo italian bid involving cortina dampezzo milan turin initial process considerable olympic experience field calgary hosted 1988 winter games sapporo staged 1972 edition cortina also former host organized 1956 winter olympics turin 2006 stockholm hosted summer games despite repeated attempts failed land winter olympics last bid briefly 2022 pulled midrace cities enter dialogue stage october ioc invite unspecified number take part oneyear candidature phase ioc overhauled bidding process games sharp slump interest potential hosts recent years cutting costs bid cities slashing campaign time half warmly welcome national olympic committees cities interest hosting olympic winter games said ioc president thomas bach statement ioc turned page regard olympic candidatures goal record number candidates ultimately select best city stage best olympic winter games best athletes world ioc also simplified sevenyear preparation games organizers reducing costs upping iocs contribution allowing host cities flexibility planning olympics postgames use facilities elect winning 2026 bid session milan september 2019 cities including sion need hold referendums first city referendum welcome public consultation olympic games executive director christophe dubi told reporters project size impact hopefully positive one life cities long time ioc said already interest 2030 united states olympic committee among others 2022 winter games held beijing four cities dropped bid race fear soaring costs size olympics leaving chinese capital kazakhstans almaty candidates cities dropped 2024 summer olympics race ioc opting award directly paris turn give los angeles also bid 2024 2028 games reporting karolos grohmann editing ed osmond christian radnedge standards thomson reuters trust principles augusta georgia reuters tiger woods competed us masters since 2015 stop fourtimes champion sending warning shot rivals tuesday echoed tall pines line augusta national tiger woods us stands near golf bag second day practice 2018 masters golf tournament augusta national golf club augusta georgia us april 3 2018 reutersjonathan ernst woods missed three previous four masters due back problems called walking miracle said feeling best seven eight years heading thursdays opening round feel great feel like ive really put lot pieces together woods recent 14 major titles 2008 said premasters news conference worked body parts get stronger body parts need limber feel fantastic matter going competing playing posting numbers related coverage woods poised hog spotlight masters opening round johnson plans play safe eve masters spieth longer panic putting masters beckons 42yearold former world number one enjoyed oncourse renaissance year expected given spinal fusion procedure last april left sidelined better part year woods said playing exhibition last december felt would able compete years first major since shown flashes form helped earn staggering 79 pga tour wins tough road ive described little bit pain sitting amount times ive fallen leg didnt work lay ground extended periods time really dark dark times said woods reason say im walking miracle dont know if160 dont know anyone lower back fusion swing club fast swing thats incredible stamping authority fourtimes masters winner woods said hopes play best golf week felt could slip green jacket sunday evening even firing cylinders tournament think experience help lot mean played ive playing absolute best theres got certain part game thats said woods think tournament really helps experience really understanding play particular golf course woods one favorites triumph week wideopen field debate possible victory would rank annals sporting comebacks already begun part woods said plenty work still entertaining discussion tip hat golfing great ben hogan came back headon collision bus 1949 win us open following year think one greatest comebacks sport gentleman mr hogan said woods plays first two rounds alongside australian marc leishman englishman tommy fleetwood mean got hit bus came back major championships editing toby davis standards thomson reuters trust principles
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<p>TEHRAN, Iran — Protests across Iran saw their most violent night as “armed protesters” tried to overrun military bases and police stations before security forces repelled them, killing 10 people, Iranian state television said Monday.</p>
<p>The demonstrations, the largest to strike Iran since its disputed 2009 presidential election, have seen five days of unrest across the country and a death toll of at least 13 with the slaying of a police officer announced late Monday.</p>
<p>The protests began Thursday in Mashhad over Iran’s weak economy and a jump in food prices and have expanded to several cities, with some protesters chanting against the government and the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Hundreds of people have been arrested.</p>
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<p>Iranian state television aired footage of a ransacked private bank, broken windows, overturned cars and a firetruck that appeared to have been set ablaze. It said 10 people were killed by security forces during clashes Sunday night.</p>
<p>“Some armed protesters tried to take over some police stations and military bases but faced serious resistance from security forces,” state TV said.</p>
<p>In a later report, state TV said killed six people were killed in the western town of Tuyserkan, 295 kilometers (185 miles) southwest of Tehran, and three in the town of Shahinshahr, 315 kilometers (195 miles) south of Tehran. It did not say where the 10th person was killed.</p>
<p>Earlier Monday, the semi-official ILNA news agency quoted Hedayatollah Khademi, a representative for the town of Izeh, as saying two people died there Sunday night. He said the cause of death wasn’t immediately known, though authorities later described one of the deaths as the result of a personal dispute.</p>
<p>Late Monday, Iran’s semi-official Mehr news agency said an assailant using a hunting rifle killed a policeman and wounded three other officers during a demonstration in the central city of Najafabad, about 320 kilometers (200 miles) south of Tehran. The slaying marked the first security force member to be killed in the unrest.</p>
<p>Two protesters also were killed during clashes late Saturday in Doroud, some 325 kilometers (200 miles) southwest of Tehran in Lorestan province, authorities have said.</p>
<p>On Sunday, Iran blocked access to Instagram and the popular messaging app Telegram used by activists to organize.</p>
<p>President Hassan Rouhani acknowledged the public’s anger over the Islamic Republic’s flagging economy, though he and others warned that the government wouldn’t hesitate to crack down on those it considers lawbreakers.</p>
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<p>That was echoed Monday by judiciary chief Ayatollah Sadegh Larijani, who urged authorities to confront rioters, state TV reported.</p>
<p>“I demand all prosecutors across the country to get involved and the approach should be strong,” he said.</p>
<p>Rouhani also stressed Monday that Iran “has seen many similar events and passed them easily.”</p>
<p>U.S. President Donald Trump, who has been tweeting in support of the protesters, continued into the New Year, describing Iran as “failing at every level despite the terrible deal made with them by the Obama Administration.”</p>
<p>“The great Iranian people have been repressed for many years,” he wrote. “They are hungry for food &amp; for freedom. Along with human rights, the wealth of Iran is being looted. TIME FOR CHANGE!”</p>
<p>While some have shared Trump’s tweets, many in Iran distrust him because he has refused to re-certify the nuclear deal and his travel bans have blocked Iranians from getting U.S. visas.</p>
<p>Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling the protesters “brave” and “heroic,” said in a video posted to YouTube on Monday that the protesters sought freedom, justice and “the basic liberties that have been denied to them for decades.”</p>
<p>He criticized the Iranian regime’s response to the protests and also chided European governments for watching “in silence” as the protests turn violent.</p>
<p>British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson issued a statement late Monday saying “there should be meaningful debate about the legitimate and important issues the protesters are raising and we look to the Iranian authorities to permit this.”</p>
<p>“We regret the loss of life that has occurred in the protests in Iran, and call on all concerned to refrain from violence and for international obligations on human rights to be observed,” he said.</p>
<p>German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel also said in a statement that “after the confrontation of the past days it is all the more important for all sides to refrain from violent action.” Both countries were part of the 2015 nuclear deal.</p>
<p>Iran’s economy has improved since the nuclear deal, which saw Iran agree to limit its enrichment of uranium in exchange for the end of some international sanctions. Tehran now sells its oil on the global market and has signed deals to purchase tens of billions of dollars’ worth of Western aircraft.</p>
<p>That improvement has not reached the average Iranian, however. Unemployment remains high, and official inflation has crept up to 10 percent again. A recent increase in egg and poultry prices by as much as 40 percent, which the government has blamed on a cull over avian flu fears, appears to have been the spark for the economic protests.</p>
<p>While the protests have sparked clashes, Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard and its affiliates have not intervened as they have in other unauthorized demonstrations since the 2009 election.</p>
<p>It wasn’t immediately clear if the Guard would change its posture given the reported attacks on police stations and military bases. In Tehran on Monday, streets were calm, though a heavy police presence was noticeable.</p>
<p>Brig. Gen. Massoud Jazayeri , the Guard commander and deputy chief of staff for Iran’s military, said Monday that Trump’s support of the protesters “indicates planning by the U.S. for launching a new sedition in Iran.”</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Associated Press writer Nasser Karimi reported this story in Tehran and AP writer Jon Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates.</p>
| false | 2 |
tehran iran protests across iran saw violent night armed protesters tried overrun military bases police stations security forces repelled killing 10 people iranian state television said monday demonstrations largest strike iran since disputed 2009 presidential election seen five days unrest across country death toll least 13 slaying police officer announced late monday protests began thursday mashhad irans weak economy jump food prices expanded several cities protesters chanting government supreme leader ayatollah ali khamenei hundreds people arrested advertisement iranian state television aired footage ransacked private bank broken windows overturned cars firetruck appeared set ablaze said 10 people killed security forces clashes sunday night armed protesters tried take police stations military bases faced serious resistance security forces state tv said later report state tv said killed six people killed western town tuyserkan 295 kilometers 185 miles southwest tehran three town shahinshahr 315 kilometers 195 miles south tehran say 10th person killed earlier monday semiofficial ilna news agency quoted hedayatollah khademi representative town izeh saying two people died sunday night said cause death wasnt immediately known though authorities later described one deaths result personal dispute late monday irans semiofficial mehr news agency said assailant using hunting rifle killed policeman wounded three officers demonstration central city najafabad 320 kilometers 200 miles south tehran slaying marked first security force member killed unrest two protesters also killed clashes late saturday doroud 325 kilometers 200 miles southwest tehran lorestan province authorities said sunday iran blocked access instagram popular messaging app telegram used activists organize president hassan rouhani acknowledged publics anger islamic republics flagging economy though others warned government wouldnt hesitate crack considers lawbreakers advertisement echoed monday judiciary chief ayatollah sadegh larijani urged authorities confront rioters state tv reported demand prosecutors across country get involved approach strong said rouhani also stressed monday iran seen many similar events passed easily us president donald trump tweeting support protesters continued new year describing iran failing every level despite terrible deal made obama administration great iranian people repressed many years wrote hungry food amp freedom along human rights wealth iran looted time change shared trumps tweets many iran distrust refused recertify nuclear deal travel bans blocked iranians getting us visas israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu calling protesters brave heroic said video posted youtube monday protesters sought freedom justice basic liberties denied decades criticized iranian regimes response protests also chided european governments watching silence protests turn violent british foreign secretary boris johnson issued statement late monday saying meaningful debate legitimate important issues protesters raising look iranian authorities permit regret loss life occurred protests iran call concerned refrain violence international obligations human rights observed said german foreign minister sigmar gabriel also said statement confrontation past days important sides refrain violent action countries part 2015 nuclear deal irans economy improved since nuclear deal saw iran agree limit enrichment uranium exchange end international sanctions tehran sells oil global market signed deals purchase tens billions dollars worth western aircraft improvement reached average iranian however unemployment remains high official inflation crept 10 percent recent increase egg poultry prices much 40 percent government blamed cull avian flu fears appears spark economic protests protests sparked clashes irans paramilitary revolutionary guard affiliates intervened unauthorized demonstrations since 2009 election wasnt immediately clear guard would change posture given reported attacks police stations military bases tehran monday streets calm though heavy police presence noticeable brig gen massoud jazayeri guard commander deputy chief staff irans military said monday trumps support protesters indicates planning us launching new sedition iran ___ associated press writer nasser karimi reported story tehran ap writer jon gambrell reported dubai united arab emirates
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<p>JERUSALEM — Weeks ahead of the expected completion of a U.N. database of companies that operate in Israel’s West Bank settlements, Israel and the Trump Administration are working feverishly to prevent its publication.</p>
<p>While Israel is usually quick to brush off U.N. criticism, officials say they are taking the so-called “blacklist” seriously, fearing its publication could have devastating consequences by driving companies away, deterring others from coming and prompting investors to dump shares of Israeli firms. Dozens of major Israeli companies, as well as multinationals that do business in Israel, are expected to appear on the list.</p>
<p>“We will do everything we can to ensure that this list does not see the light of day,” Israel’s U.N. ambassador, Danny Danon, told The Associated Press.</p>
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<p>The U.N.’s top human rights body, the Human Rights Council, ordered the compilation of the database in March 2016, calling on U.N. rights chief Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein to “investigate the implications of the Israeli settlements on Palestinians.”</p>
<p>The international community overwhelmingly considers the settlements, built on occupied land claimed by the Palestinians for a future state, to be illegal. Israel rejects such claims, citing the land’s strategic and religious significance, and says the matter should be resolved in negotiations.</p>
<p>Israeli officials say that about 100 local companies that operate in the West Bank and east Jerusalem have received warning letters that they will be on the list. In addition, some 50 international companies, mostly American and European, also have been warned.</p>
<p>The companies have not been publicly identified, but one official said they include Israeli banks, supermarkets, restaurant chains, bus lines and security firms, as well as international giants that provide equipment or services used to build or maintain settlements. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the matter with the media.</p>
<p>The only company to confirm receiving a warning letter has been Bezeq, Israel’s national telephone company. Bezeq’s chief executive, Stella Handler, posted a copy of the letter sent by Zeid’s office in September on her Facebook page. It accused Bezeq of using West Bank land for infrastructure, providing phone and Internet services to settlements and operating sales offices in the West Bank and east Jerusalem.</p>
<p>Handler angrily wrote that Bezeq provides service to all customers, regardless of race or where they live.</p>
<p>“The council’s bias against Israel is so extreme that it has lost all relevance in the world,” she wrote. “We will not cooperate with a move that is all in all anti-Israeli propaganda.”</p>
<p>But hours later, Handler removed the post, saying she had done so at the request of the government. The Israeli official confirmed the government has asked companies not to speak about the issue. Bezeq declined comment.</p>
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<p>Israel has long accused the United Nations, and particularly the rights council, of being biased against it.</p>
<p>Israel is the only country that faces an examination of its rights record at each of the council’s three sessions each year. Some 70 resolutions, or about quarter of the council’s country-specific resolutions, have been aimed at Israel. That is nearly triple the number for the second-place country: Syria, where hundreds of thousands have been killed in a devastating six-year civil war.</p>
<p>Israeli leaders and many non-governmental groups also complain that some of the world’s worst violators of human rights, including Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, Congo and Cuba, sit on the council.</p>
<p>Some Western diplomats have said the database could set a harmful precedent by blurring the line between business and human rights on issues that are better left to trade policy than the Geneva council.</p>
<p>Israel seems to have little leverage over the council. But its campaign has received a big boost from the United States. The Trump administration has taken a tough line against the U.N., demanding reforms and in October, withdrawing from the cultural agency UNESCO because of alleged anti-Israel bias.</p>
<p>In a speech to the council last June, U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley railed against its makeup and demanded that Israel be removed as a permanent fixture on its agenda. She also hinted that the U.S. could quit the council.</p>
<p>The upcoming release of the database could test that commitment. It has triggered a quiet, but high-stakes effort by Israel and the U.S. to try to block its release.</p>
<p>“We just view that type of blacklist as counterproductive,” State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said recently.</p>
<p>Danon, the Israeli ambassador, accused the council of unfairly targeting Israel at a time of conflict throughout the world, saying it amounted to a “blacklist” of Jewish companies and those who do business with the Jewish state.</p>
<p>He also said it would turn the rights council into “the world’s biggest promoter of BDS,” an acronym for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement — a grassroots international boycott movement against Israel. Most of the companies linked to the blacklist are frequent targets of the BDS movement.</p>
<p>“What kind of message will this send?” Dannon said.</p>
<p>But Nabil Shaath, a senior Palestinian official, said the list is an “important step” moving from verbal condemnation to practical action against the settlements. He expressed hope that it would lead companies to stop doing business with the settlements and even lead to sanctions against those that continue.</p>
<p>The original resolution calling for the list stipulates only that the council’s high commissioner is requested “to transmit the data therein in the form of a report” to the council.</p>
<p>To that end, Israel and its allies have been encouraging the council to leave the list out and submit only a basic, broad-strokes report that doesn’t name names, according to several U.N. diplomats familiar with the discussions. The diplomats were not authorized to comment publicly and demanded anonymity.</p>
<p>The pressure campaign has shown some signs of success. After an earlier delay, Zeid’s office said the release of the “report” has been pushed back again, from December to early next year.</p>
<p>For now, it does not appear that the list’s publication would be the direct trigger that leads the U.S. to quit the council. Haley’s office said it is focused on implementing reforms on the council, though publication of the list could make U.S. participation “less likely.”</p>
<p>Eugene Kontorovich, the director of international law at the Kohelet Policy Forum, a conservative think tank in Jerusalem, said he was “deeply skeptical” the report will not be published and said the Israeli government would be better off trying to discredit the report ahead of time. “I think it’s important for people to understand how bad this is,” he said.</p>
<p>The resolution, he warned, would cause “reputational harm” to companies and put “a cloud over business in Israel.” Although nonbinding, he said it could be used as a basis for future legal action. “The goal of this is to cause problems for Israel,” he said.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Lederman reported from Washington, and Keaten reported from Geneva.</p>
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jerusalem weeks ahead expected completion un database companies operate israels west bank settlements israel trump administration working feverishly prevent publication israel usually quick brush un criticism officials say taking socalled blacklist seriously fearing publication could devastating consequences driving companies away deterring others coming prompting investors dump shares israeli firms dozens major israeli companies well multinationals business israel expected appear list everything ensure list see light day israels un ambassador danny danon told associated press advertisement uns top human rights body human rights council ordered compilation database march 2016 calling un rights chief zeid raad alhussein investigate implications israeli settlements palestinians international community overwhelmingly considers settlements built occupied land claimed palestinians future state illegal israel rejects claims citing lands strategic religious significance says matter resolved negotiations israeli officials say 100 local companies operate west bank east jerusalem received warning letters list addition 50 international companies mostly american european also warned companies publicly identified one official said include israeli banks supermarkets restaurant chains bus lines security firms well international giants provide equipment services used build maintain settlements spoke condition anonymity authorized discuss matter media company confirm receiving warning letter bezeq israels national telephone company bezeqs chief executive stella handler posted copy letter sent zeids office september facebook page accused bezeq using west bank land infrastructure providing phone internet services settlements operating sales offices west bank east jerusalem handler angrily wrote bezeq provides service customers regardless race live councils bias israel extreme lost relevance world wrote cooperate move antiisraeli propaganda hours later handler removed post saying done request government israeli official confirmed government asked companies speak issue bezeq declined comment advertisement israel long accused united nations particularly rights council biased israel country faces examination rights record councils three sessions year 70 resolutions quarter councils countryspecific resolutions aimed israel nearly triple number secondplace country syria hundreds thousands killed devastating sixyear civil war israeli leaders many nongovernmental groups also complain worlds worst violators human rights including venezuela saudi arabia congo cuba sit council western diplomats said database could set harmful precedent blurring line business human rights issues better left trade policy geneva council israel seems little leverage council campaign received big boost united states trump administration taken tough line un demanding reforms october withdrawing cultural agency unesco alleged antiisrael bias speech council last june us ambassador nikki haley railed makeup demanded israel removed permanent fixture agenda also hinted us could quit council upcoming release database could test commitment triggered quiet highstakes effort israel us try block release view type blacklist counterproductive state department spokeswoman heather nauert said recently danon israeli ambassador accused council unfairly targeting israel time conflict throughout world saying amounted blacklist jewish companies business jewish state also said would turn rights council worlds biggest promoter bds acronym boycott divestment sanctions movement grassroots international boycott movement israel companies linked blacklist frequent targets bds movement kind message send dannon said nabil shaath senior palestinian official said list important step moving verbal condemnation practical action settlements expressed hope would lead companies stop business settlements even lead sanctions continue original resolution calling list stipulates councils high commissioner requested transmit data therein form report council end israel allies encouraging council leave list submit basic broadstrokes report doesnt name names according several un diplomats familiar discussions diplomats authorized comment publicly demanded anonymity pressure campaign shown signs success earlier delay zeids office said release report pushed back december early next year appear lists publication would direct trigger leads us quit council haleys office said focused implementing reforms council though publication list could make us participation less likely eugene kontorovich director international law kohelet policy forum conservative think tank jerusalem said deeply skeptical report published said israeli government would better trying discredit report ahead time think important people understand bad said resolution warned would cause reputational harm companies put cloud business israel although nonbinding said could used basis future legal action goal cause problems israel said ___ lederman reported washington keaten reported geneva
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<p>Jan 18 (Reuters) - Tapestry Inc:</p>
<p>* STOCK EXCHANGE HAS APPROVED WITHDRAWAL OF LISTING OF HDRS ON STOCK EXCHANGE</p>
<p>* WITHDRAWAL OF LISTING OF HDRS FROM STOCK EXCHANGE TO BECOME EFFECTIVE AT 9:00 A.M. (HONG KONG TIME) ON MARCH 2, 2018</p>
<p>* DEALINGS IN HDRS ON STOCK EXCHANGE TO CEASE AT 4:00 P.M. (HONG KONG TIME) ON JAN. 30, 2018</p>
<p>* STOCK EXCHANGE HAS APPROVED WITHDRAWAL OF LISTING OF HDRS ON HK STOCK EXCHANGE EFFECTIVE 2 MARCH 2018 Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: ([email protected])</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>(Reuters) - Two multi-billion dollar takeovers of semiconductor makers are being stalled by Chinese regulatory reviews amid rising U.S.-China trade tensions, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday, citing people familiar with the matter.</p> FILE PHOTO: A sign on the Qualcomm campus is seen in San Diego, California, U.S. November 6, 2017. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo
<p>Qualcomm Inc’s ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=QCOM.O" type="external">QCOM.O</a>) proposed $44 billion purchase of Dutch chip maker NXP Semiconductors NV ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=NXPI.O" type="external">NXPI.O</a>) could be at risk due to the delayed review. China is the only country that has not yet signed off on the deal, or on Toshiba Corp’s ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=6502.T" type="external">6502.T</a>) planned $19 billion sale of its chip unit to a Bain Capital consortium, according to the newspaper.</p> Slideshow (2 Images)
<p>Qualcomm’s merger agreement with NXP was extended for a second time in January, giving the two until to April 25, although the parties could decide to extend the deadline.</p>
<a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=QCOM.O" type="external">Qualcomm Inc</a> 55.73 QCOM.O Nasdaq +0.53 (+0.96%) QCOM.O NXPI.O 6502.T
<p>China’s Vice President, Wang Qishan, last month assured Qualcomm Chief Executive Steve Mollenkopf that the review would not be affected by politics, the newspaper said.</p>
<p>Qualcomm and Toshiba did not immediately respond to requests for comment.</p>
<p>In a move to force China to lower its $375 billion trade surplus with the U.S., the Trump administration this month unveiled tariffs representing about $50 billion on Chinese technology, transport and medical products, drawing an immediate threat of retaliatory action from Beijing.</p>
<p>At the same time, China pledged to further open the country’s economy and lower import tariffs on certain products, moves it said were unrelated to the trade spat.</p>
<p>Reporting by Gary McWilliams; editing by Diane Craft</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>(This version of the April 13th story corrects title of Scott Morris as senior fellow of Center for Global Development)</p>
<p>By David Lawder</p>
<p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Trump administration is expected to support a $13 billion capital increase for the World Bank in a deal that will reform the development bank’s lending rules and increase China’s shareholding, three people close to the matter said on Friday.</p>
<p>U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin is expected to lend his support for the plan at next week’s World Bank and International Monetary Fund spring meetings, the sources said. But the deal will need an endorsement from the World Bank’s shareholders and approval from its board of directors.</p>
<p>“Barring unforeseen challenges, there will be a capital increase,” one of the sources told Reuters.</p>
<p>U.S. backing for the capital increase was first reported by the Financial Times.</p>
<p>The Trump administration was initially skeptical of the World Bank’s long-running effort to boost its capital, proposing major cuts to multilateral development banks last year.</p>
<p>U.S. Treasury Undersecretary David Malpass has long criticized multilateral development banks for contributing to the build-up of debt in poor countries, and has chided the World Bank’s lending to higher income countries such as China, saying they should “graduate” to non-concessional loans.</p>
<p>“When the World Bank does not graduate these countries, less funding is available to reach countries with greater development needs and there is an excess burden placed on shareholder capital,” Malpass, who heads international affairs at the Treasury, said in congressional testimony last year.</p>
<p>The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the plan has not been formally announced, said it would include reforms that would raise financing costs for higher-income countries.</p>
<p>Scott Morris, a former Treasury official who now is a senior fellow at the Center for Global Development, said the capital increase deal is a victory for World Bank President Jim Yong Kim, an Obama administration nominee who has cultivated a relationship with the Trump administration, launching a women’s empowerment fund in cooperation with President Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka.</p>
<p>Morris said the increase in shareholding for China “reflects reality of the global economy” with China’s growing economic clout. But it is unclear how Mnuchin will characterize the shift given Trump’s threats to impose steep tariffs on Chinese goods over China’s intellectual property practices, he added.</p>
<p>Under terms of the deal, according to the sources familiar with it, China’s shareholding in the World Bank would rise to about six percent from 4.68 percent currently. China would still be in third place behind the United States and Japan.</p>
<p>About $7.5 billion of the capital increase would go to the World Bank’s main concessional lending arm, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, with $5.5 billion going to the International Finance Corp, the group’s private sector lending arm.</p>
<p>A U.S. Treasury spokesman declined to comment, while a World Bank spokesman could not immediately be reached for comment.</p>
<p>Additional reporting by Lucia Mutikani; Editing by Leslie Adler</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>(Reuters) - Proxy adviser Institutional Shareholder Services on Saturday recommended investors vote against the re-election of five Equifax Inc ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=EFX.N" type="external">EFX.N</a>) directors who served on the company’s audit and technology committees prior to a 2017 data breach.</p> Credit reporting company Equifax Inc. corporate offices are pictured in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., September 8, 2017. REUTERS/Tami Chappell
<p>The Atlanta-based consumer credit company last fall said hackers had stolen personally identifiable information of U.S., British and Canadian consumers, including names, Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses, driver’s license and credit card numbers. Over time, Equifax has increased the number affected to more than 147 million people.</p>
<p>ISS said in a report to shareholders sent to Reuters by a spokesman that the company’s reputation and shareholder value had been damaged by the extent of the breach and the company’s slow response to it, placing a cloud over the company.</p>
<p>In response, it recommended against voting for directors Mark L. Feidler, G. Thomas Hough, John A. McKinley, Elane B. Stock and Mark B. Templeton, who served on the two committees with relevant oversight duties. It recommended votes in support of the remaining five director candidates at the company, including Siri S. Marshall, head of the governance committee.</p>
<a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=EFX.N" type="external">Equifax Inc</a> 116.0 EFX.N New York Stock Exchange -0.91 (-0.78%) EFX.N
<p>An Equifax spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the recommendations.</p>
<p>Equifax has said breach-related costs could reach $439 million through year-end, potentially making it the most costly U.S. hack yet disclosed. The company has lost 19 percent of its market value since the massive cybertheft was disclosed. Its shares traded at $116 on Friday. [L2N1QK1Q1]</p>
<p>The credit reporting company is facing 100s of lawsuits by consumers, financial institutions and even the city of Chicago relating to the cybersecurity breach. The company disputes the claims and has said it intends to defend against them.</p>
<p>ISS also recommended “cautionary support” for the company’s say-on-pay resolution, noting the compensation committee’s decision to not pay annual incentives, steps to adjust incentive metrics and strengthen clawback provisions. However, it said there are ongoing questions about former Chief Executive Richard F. Smith’s pay and “the issue warrants continued monitoring.”</p>
<p>It also recommended a vote in favor of a shareholder resolution seeking a report on political contributions by the company, saying holders would benefit from more disclosure of the company’s political spending, payments to trade groups, its management of related risks.</p>
<p>The company’s annual general meeting is scheduled for May 3.</p>
<p>Reporting by Gary McWilliams; Editing by Alistair Bell</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>CARACAS (Reuters) - President Nicolas Maduro has decreed extra powers to his oil czar Manuel Quevedo to try and halt sliding crude output in crisis-hit Venezuela, which has sunk to its lowest level since the 1950s.</p> FILE PHOTO: Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro gestures during a TV show with National Constituent Assembly member Diosdado Cabello in Caracas, Venezuela April 11, 2018. Miraflores Palace/Handout via REUTERS
<p>Struggling with a deep economic recession, failed socialist policies, debt default, and U.S. financial sanctions, Venezuela’s crude production slipped to 1.586 million barrels per day in February, according to OPEC.</p>
<p>Maduro’s decree, seen by Reuters, gives Quevedo, a major general, powers to “create, annul or modify” deals involving state energy company PDVSA and its subsidiaries. The oil minister is also head of PDVSA.</p>
<p>It was not immediately clear what that might mean for PDVSA’s joint ventures. But Quevedo met late on Friday with some foreign partners including representatives of Total ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=TOTF.PA" type="external">TOTF.PA</a>), Statoil ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=STL.OL" type="external">STL.OL</a>), Chevron ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=CVX.N" type="external">CVX.N</a>), Rosneft ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=ROSN.MM" type="external">ROSN.MM</a>) and China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC).</p> FILE PHOTO: Venezuela's Oil Minister and President of the Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA Manuel Quevedo attends the event launching the new Venezuelan cryptocurrency "Petro" in Caracas, Venezuela February 20, 2018. REUTERS/Marco Bello
<p>In a statement, PDVSA said the new measure would enable a reorganization of operations and minimization of bureaucracy.</p>
<p>“We are going to work with PDVSA to implement the measures and increase production,” Rosneft representative Pavel Kamenets was quoted as saying in the PDVSA statement.</p>
<a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=TOTF.PA" type="external">Total SA</a> 48.6 TOTF.PA Paris Stock Exchange -0.29 (-0.60%) TOTF.PA STL.OL CVX.N ROSN.MM
<p>The decree creates a “special regime” in the sector until Dec. 31, with the possibility of a year’s extension. “The Oil Minister will be able to ... establish norms and special contract procedures for products, assets and services,” it said.</p>
<p>One clause ordered all specialized personnel, on national or international assignments, to return to original workplaces.</p>
<p>Socialist leader Maduro has promised a vast anti-corruption purge to cleanse the oil industry of “mafias”.</p>
<p>At least 70 executives have been detained in recent months, panicking PDVSA workers, depriving the industry of much of its top brass and stalling decision-making in the company overseeing the world’s biggest crude reserves, insiders have said.</p>
<p>The opposition dismisses the probe as a power struggle within government, noting that the industry has been under tight control of the Socialist Party since early in former president Hugo Chavez’s 14-year rule.</p>
<p>Reporting by Deisy Buitrago; Writing by Andrew Cawthorne; Editing by David Gregorio</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
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jan 18 reuters tapestry inc stock exchange approved withdrawal listing hdrs stock exchange withdrawal listing hdrs stock exchange become effective 900 hong kong time march 2 2018 dealings hdrs stock exchange cease 400 pm hong kong time jan 30 2018 stock exchange approved withdrawal listing hdrs hk stock exchange effective 2 march 2018 source text eikon company coverage bangalorenewsroomthomsonreuterscom standards thomson reuters trust principles reuters two multibillion dollar takeovers semiconductor makers stalled chinese regulatory reviews amid rising uschina trade tensions wall street journal reported saturday citing people familiar matter file photo sign qualcomm campus seen san diego california us november 6 2017 reutersmike blakefile photo qualcomm incs qcomo proposed 44 billion purchase dutch chip maker nxp semiconductors nv nxpio could risk due delayed review china country yet signed deal toshiba corps 6502t planned 19 billion sale chip unit bain capital consortium according newspaper slideshow 2 images qualcomms merger agreement nxp extended second time january giving two april 25 although parties could decide extend deadline qualcomm inc 5573 qcomo nasdaq 053 096 qcomo nxpio 6502t chinas vice president wang qishan last month assured qualcomm chief executive steve mollenkopf review would affected politics newspaper said qualcomm toshiba immediately respond requests comment move force china lower 375 billion trade surplus us trump administration month unveiled tariffs representing 50 billion chinese technology transport medical products drawing immediate threat retaliatory action beijing time china pledged open countrys economy lower import tariffs certain products moves said unrelated trade spat reporting gary mcwilliams editing diane craft standards thomson reuters trust principles version april 13th story corrects title scott morris senior fellow center global development david lawder washington reuters trump administration expected support 13 billion capital increase world bank deal reform development banks lending rules increase chinas shareholding three people close matter said friday us treasury secretary steven mnuchin expected lend support plan next weeks world bank international monetary fund spring meetings sources said deal need endorsement world banks shareholders approval board directors barring unforeseen challenges capital increase one sources told reuters us backing capital increase first reported financial times trump administration initially skeptical world banks longrunning effort boost capital proposing major cuts multilateral development banks last year us treasury undersecretary david malpass long criticized multilateral development banks contributing buildup debt poor countries chided world banks lending higher income countries china saying graduate nonconcessional loans world bank graduate countries less funding available reach countries greater development needs excess burden placed shareholder capital malpass heads international affairs treasury said congressional testimony last year sources spoke condition anonymity plan formally announced said would include reforms would raise financing costs higherincome countries scott morris former treasury official senior fellow center global development said capital increase deal victory world bank president jim yong kim obama administration nominee cultivated relationship trump administration launching womens empowerment fund cooperation president donald trumps daughter ivanka morris said increase shareholding china reflects reality global economy chinas growing economic clout unclear mnuchin characterize shift given trumps threats impose steep tariffs chinese goods chinas intellectual property practices added terms deal according sources familiar chinas shareholding world bank would rise six percent 468 percent currently china would still third place behind united states japan 75 billion capital increase would go world banks main concessional lending arm international bank reconstruction development 55 billion going international finance corp groups private sector lending arm us treasury spokesman declined comment world bank spokesman could immediately reached comment additional reporting lucia mutikani editing leslie adler standards thomson reuters trust principles reuters proxy adviser institutional shareholder services saturday recommended investors vote reelection five equifax inc efxn directors served companys audit technology committees prior 2017 data breach credit reporting company equifax inc corporate offices pictured atlanta georgia us september 8 2017 reuterstami chappell atlantabased consumer credit company last fall said hackers stolen personally identifiable information us british canadian consumers including names social security numbers birth dates addresses drivers license credit card numbers time equifax increased number affected 147 million people iss said report shareholders sent reuters spokesman companys reputation shareholder value damaged extent breach companys slow response placing cloud company response recommended voting directors mark l feidler g thomas hough john mckinley elane b stock mark b templeton served two committees relevant oversight duties recommended votes support remaining five director candidates company including siri marshall head governance committee equifax inc 1160 efxn new york stock exchange 091 078 efxn equifax spokeswoman immediately respond request comment recommendations equifax said breachrelated costs could reach 439 million yearend potentially making costly us hack yet disclosed company lost 19 percent market value since massive cybertheft disclosed shares traded 116 friday l2n1qk1q1 credit reporting company facing 100s lawsuits consumers financial institutions even city chicago relating cybersecurity breach company disputes claims said intends defend iss also recommended cautionary support companys sayonpay resolution noting compensation committees decision pay annual incentives steps adjust incentive metrics strengthen clawback provisions however said ongoing questions former chief executive richard f smiths pay issue warrants continued monitoring also recommended vote favor shareholder resolution seeking report political contributions company saying holders would benefit disclosure companys political spending payments trade groups management related risks companys annual general meeting scheduled may 3 reporting gary mcwilliams editing alistair bell standards thomson reuters trust principles caracas reuters president nicolas maduro decreed extra powers oil czar manuel quevedo try halt sliding crude output crisishit venezuela sunk lowest level since 1950s file photo venezuelas president nicolas maduro gestures tv show national constituent assembly member diosdado cabello caracas venezuela april 11 2018 miraflores palacehandout via reuters struggling deep economic recession failed socialist policies debt default us financial sanctions venezuelas crude production slipped 1586 million barrels per day february according opec maduros decree seen reuters gives quevedo major general powers create annul modify deals involving state energy company pdvsa subsidiaries oil minister also head pdvsa immediately clear might mean pdvsas joint ventures quevedo met late friday foreign partners including representatives total totfpa statoil stlol chevron cvxn rosneft rosnmm china national petroleum corp cnpc file photo venezuelas oil minister president venezuelan state oil company pdvsa manuel quevedo attends event launching new venezuelan cryptocurrency petro caracas venezuela february 20 2018 reutersmarco bello statement pdvsa said new measure would enable reorganization operations minimization bureaucracy going work pdvsa implement measures increase production rosneft representative pavel kamenets quoted saying pdvsa statement total sa 486 totfpa paris stock exchange 029 060 totfpa stlol cvxn rosnmm decree creates special regime sector dec 31 possibility years extension oil minister able establish norms special contract procedures products assets services said one clause ordered specialized personnel national international assignments return original workplaces socialist leader maduro promised vast anticorruption purge cleanse oil industry mafias least 70 executives detained recent months panicking pdvsa workers depriving industry much top brass stalling decisionmaking company overseeing worlds biggest crude reserves insiders said opposition dismisses probe power struggle within government noting industry tight control socialist party since early former president hugo chavezs 14year rule reporting deisy buitrago writing andrew cawthorne editing david gregorio standards thomson reuters trust principles
| 1,154 |
<p>Jan 22 (Reuters) - Timberland Bancorp Inc:</p>
<p>* TIMBERLAND BANCORP EARNINGS PER SHARE INCREASES 12% TO $0.48 FOR FIRST FISCAL QUARTER OF 2018</p> * Q1 EARNINGS PER SHARE $0.48
<p>* ‍BOARD OF DIRECTORS ALSO ANNOUNCED AN 18% INCREASE IN QUARTERLY CASH DIVIDEND TO SHAREHOLDERS TO $0.13 PER COMMON SHARE​</p>
<p>* TIMBERLAND BANCORP - QTRLY ‍NET INTEREST INCOME FOR CURRENT QUARTER INCREASED 13% TO $9.43 MILLION FROM $8.31 MILLION FOR COMPARABLE QUARTER ONE YEAR AGO​ Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage:</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>BEIJING/SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has pledged to denuclearize and meet U.S. officials, China said on Wednesday after an historic meeting with President Xi Jinping, who promised China would uphold its friendship with its isolated neighbor.</p>
<p>After two days of speculation, China and North Korea both confirmed that Kim had visited Beijing and met Xi during what China’s Foreign Ministry called an unofficial visit to China from Sunday to Wednesday.</p>
<p>The China visit was Kim’s first known trip outside North Korea 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>North Korea’s KCNA news agency made no mention of Kim’s pledge to denuclearize, or his anticipated meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump that is planned for some time in May.</p>
<p>Beijing has traditionally been the closest ally of secretive North Korea, but ties have been frayed by Pyongyang’s pursuit of nuclear weapons and China’s backing of tough U.N. sanctions in response.</p>
<p>China’s Foreign Ministry cited Kim in a lengthy statement as telling Xi that the situation on the Korean peninsula was starting to improve because North Korea had taken the initiative to ease tensions and put forward proposals for peace talks.</p> Related Coverage
<a href="/article/us-northkorea-missiles-japan-abe/japan-pm-abe-likely-to-meet-president-trump-on-april-18-source-idUSKBN1H400M" type="external">Japan PM Abe likely to meet President Trump on April 18: source</a>
<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 the statement.</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 realization of peace,” Kim said.</p> ‘NUCLEAR UMBRELLA’
<p>Kim Jong Un’s predecessors, grandfather Kim Il Sung and father Kim Jong Il, both publicly promised not to pursue nuclear weapons but secretly continued to develop the programs, culminating in the North’s first nuclear test in 2006 under Kim Jong Il.</p>
<p>The North had said in past failed talks aimed at dismantling its nuclear program that it could consider giving up its arsenal if the United States removed its troops from South Korea and withdrew its so-called nuclear umbrella of deterrence from South Korea and Japan.</p>
<p>Many analysts and former negotiators believe this still constitutes North Korea’s stance on denuclearization of the Korean peninsula and remain deeply skeptical Kim is willing to give up the nuclear weapons his family has been developing for decades.</p>
<p>At first wrapped in secrecy, the announcement of Kim Jong Un’s visit soon became the third-most discussed topic on China’s Twitter-like Weibo microblogging site, although many state media outlets blocked their comments sections.</p>
<p>Widely read Chinese state-run newspaper the Global Times praised the meeting as proving naysayers about Beijing-Pyongyang relations wrong.</p>
<p>“China and North Korea maintaining their friendly relations provides a positive force for the whole region and promotes strategic stability in northeast Asia,” it said in an editorial.</p>
<p>Billed as an unofficial trip, Kim’s appearance in Beijing contained almost all the trappings of a state visit, complete with an honor guard and banquet at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People.</p>
<p>Kim and Xi also met at the Diaoyutai State Guest House, where Kim Il Sung planted a tree in 1959 that still stands.</p>
<p>State television showed pictures of the two men chatting amiably and Kim’s wife, Ri Sol Ju, getting an equally warm welcome from Xi’s wife, Peng Liyuan.</p> TRUMP BRIEFED
<p>China briefed Trump on Kim’s visit and the communication included a personal message from Xi to Trump, the White House said in a statement.</p>
<p>“The United States remains in close contact with our allies South Korea and Japan. We see this development as further evidence that our campaign of maximum pressure is creating the appropriate atmosphere for dialogue with North Korea,” the statement said.</p> North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and wife Ri Sol Ju, and Chinese President Xi Jinping and wife Peng Liyuan toast each other, as Kim Jong Un paid an unofficial visit to Beijing, China, in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang March 28, 2018. KCNA/via Reuters
<p>A top Chinese diplomat, Politburo member Yang Jiechi, will brief officials, including President Moon Jae-in, in Seoul on Thursday about Xi’s meeting with Kim Jong Un, according to the presidential office in Seoul.</p>
<p>Kim told a banquet hosted by Xi the visit was intended to “maintain our great friendship and continue and develop our bilateral ties at a time of rapid developments on the Korean peninsula”, according to KCNA.</p>
<p>Xi had accepted an invitation “with pleasure” from him to visit North Korea, KCNA said.</p>
<p>However, China’s statement made no mention of Xi accepting an invitation, saying only that Xi pledged to keep frequent contacts with Kim through the exchange of visits and sending special envoys and letters to each other.</p>
<p>China had largely sat on the sidelines as Pyongyang improved its relations with Seoul, prompting worry in Beijing that it was no longer a central player in the North Korean issue, reinforced by Trump’s subsequent announcement of his proposed meeting with Kim Jong Un in May.</p>
<p>“China is North Korea’s lifeline, so the notion, from a Chinese perspective, that Kim Jong Un could have had these other two meetings before meeting with Xi Jinping, I think the Chinese just thought that is not going to happen,” said Paul Haenle, director of the Carnegie–Tsinghua Center in Beijing and the former White House representative to North Korea denuclearization talks from 2007-2009.</p> Slideshow (17 Images)
<p>Improving ties between North Korea and China would be a positive sign before the planned summits involving the two Koreas and the United States, a senior South Korean official said on Tuesday.</p>
<p>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>Speculation about a possible visit by Kim Jong Un to Beijing was rife earlier this week after a train similar to the one used by his father was seen in the Chinese capital, along with heavy security and a large motorcade.</p>
<p>The secrecy around the visit was not unusual. The later visits of Kim Jong Il to China were only announced by both countries once he had left the country.</p>
<p>(This story has been refiled to fix wording of quote in paragraph 26)</p>
<p>Additional reporting by Christine Kim and Soyoung Kim in SEOUL, David Stanway and John Ruwitch in SHANGHAI and Ayesha Rascoe in WASHINGTON, Writing by Lincoln Feast; Editing by Paul Tait</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: Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, U.S., March 26, 2018. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid
<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>
<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>TOKYO (Reuters) - Asian shares fell on Wednesday after Wall Street was knocked hard by concerns about tighter controls on the tech industry, denting a brief global equities recovery driven by hopes that the risk of a U.S.-China trade war was easing.</p> FILE PHOTO: A man walks past an electronic stock quotation board outside a brokerage in Tokyo, Japan, February 9, 2018. REUTERS/Toru Hanai
<p>They extended losses further after China’s state-run Global Times reported China will soon announce a list of retaliatory tariffs on United States exports to China.</p>
<p>MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS fell 1.5 percent, turning red for the week, led by information technology shares .MIAPJIT00PUS, such as Tencent ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=0700.HK" type="external">0700.HK</a>). Japan's Nikkei <a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.N225" type="external">.N225</a> fell 1.3 percent.</p>
<p>U.S S&amp;P500 mini futures ESc1 fell 0.4 percent in Asia, a day after 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 the benchmark indexes' fourth decline in five sessions.[.N]</p>
<p>The info tech sector .SPLRCT was the worst hit with a fall of 3.5 percent, as investors expect tighter control on the industry following a furor over use of Facebook ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=FB.O" type="external">FB.O</a>) data by political consultants.</p>
<p>Facebook fell 4.9 percent on Tuesday, taking its losses to almost 18 percent since March 16, when the firm first acknowledged the problem. Twitter ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=TWTR.N" type="external">TWTR.N</a>) fell 12 percent while Google parent Alphabet ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=GOOGL.O" type="external">GOOGL.O</a>) fell 4.5 percent.</p>
<p>Another weak spot was Nvidia ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=NVDA.O" type="external">NVDA.O</a>), which fell 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>Investors rotated out of the tech sector, which had long outperformed the market on hopes of new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and internet of things (IoT).</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>The so-called FANG quartet of tech stocks, which includes Facebook, Amazon.com ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=AMZN.O" type="external">AMZN.O</a>), Netflix ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=NFLX.O" type="external">NFLX.O</a>) and Alphabet, has been a darling of many investors.</p>
<p>European stock futures point to lower openings for European stocks, with futures for Germany's Dax FDXc1 <a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.GDAXI" type="external">.GDAXI</a> and France's Cac FCEc1 <a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.FCHI" type="external">.FCHI</a> down 0.9 percent and those for Britain's FTSE FFIc1 <a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.FTSE" type="external">.FTSE</a> falling 0.7 percent.</p>
<p>The report that Beijing plans to announce retaliatory tariffs against the U.S. President Donald Trump’s plans for tariffs on up to $60 billion of Chinese goods rekindled worries about a Sino-U.S. trade war.</p>
<p>While the market remains highly vulnerable to news headline like this, recent reports of behind-the-scenes talks between Washington and Beijing spurred some optimism.</p>
<p>“It would be in China’s interest to pursue trade rather than taking retaliatory actions. So eventually, they are likely to avert a trade war and strike a deal that will please (U.S. President Donald) Trump and increase trade,” said Hiroshi Watanabe, economist at Sony Financial Holdings.</p>
<p>“The market is still nervous, and there’s a feeling you never know what Trump will do. But excessive wariness is likely to gradually wane,” he added.</p>
<p>In the currency market, the dollar changed hands at 105.51 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>
<a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=0700.HK" type="external">Tencent Holdings Ltd</a> 415.8 0700.HK Hong Kong Stock -16.40 (-3.79%) 0700.HK .SPX .IXIC FB.O TWTR.N
<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, an 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>
<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 $1.2415, having lost steam after it rose to $1.24765 the previous day.</p>
<p>Germany’s 10-year Bund yield DE10YT=TWEB also hit a two-month low below 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 dropped to 2.770 percent, its lowest level in seven weeks. The two-year yield US2YT=RR stood at 2.270 percent.</p>
<p>“In short, markets had priced in policy normalization by the world’s central banks too much,” said Tohru Yamamoto, chief fixed income strategist at Daiwa Securities.</p>
<p>Oil prices stepped back as a report of increasing U.S. crude inventories from industry group American Petroleum Institute (API) surprised many traders.</p>
<p>U.S. WTI crude futures CLc1 dropped 0.8 percent to $64.72 while Brent crude futures LCOc1 traded 0.7 percent lower at $69.62 per barrel, off Monday’s high of $71.05, which was its highest since late January.</p>
<p>Editing by Kim Coghill and Sam Holmes</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
| false | 2 |
jan 22 reuters timberland bancorp inc timberland bancorp earnings per share increases 12 048 first fiscal quarter 2018 q1 earnings per share 048 board directors also announced 18 increase quarterly cash dividend shareholders 013 per common share timberland bancorp qtrly net interest income current quarter increased 13 943 million 831 million comparable quarter one year ago source text eikon company coverage standards thomson reuters trust principles beijingseoul reuters north korean leader kim jong un pledged denuclearize meet us officials china said wednesday historic meeting president xi jinping promised china would uphold friendship isolated neighbor two days speculation china north korea confirmed kim visited beijing met xi chinas foreign ministry called unofficial visit china sunday wednesday china visit kims first known trip outside north korea since assumed power 2011 believed analysts serve preparation upcoming summits south korea united states north koreas kcna news agency made mention kims pledge denuclearize anticipated meeting us president donald trump planned time may beijing traditionally closest ally secretive north korea ties frayed pyongyangs pursuit nuclear weapons chinas backing tough un sanctions response chinas foreign ministry cited kim lengthy statement telling xi situation korean peninsula starting improve north korea taken initiative ease tensions put forward proposals peace talks related coverage japan pm abe likely meet president trump april 18 source consistent stand committed denuclearization peninsula accordance late president kim il sung late general secretary kim jong il kim jong un said according statement 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 realization peace kim said nuclear umbrella kim jong uns predecessors grandfather kim il sung father kim jong il publicly promised pursue nuclear weapons secretly continued develop programs culminating norths first nuclear test 2006 kim jong il north said past failed talks aimed dismantling nuclear program could consider giving arsenal united states removed troops south korea withdrew socalled nuclear umbrella deterrence south korea japan many analysts former negotiators believe still constitutes north koreas stance denuclearization korean peninsula remain deeply skeptical kim willing give nuclear weapons family developing decades first wrapped secrecy announcement kim jong uns visit soon became thirdmost discussed topic chinas twitterlike weibo microblogging site although many state media outlets blocked comments sections widely read chinese staterun newspaper global times praised meeting proving naysayers beijingpyongyang relations wrong china north korea maintaining friendly relations provides positive force whole region promotes strategic stability northeast asia said editorial billed unofficial trip kims appearance beijing contained almost trappings state visit complete honor guard banquet beijings great hall people kim xi also met diaoyutai state guest house kim il sung planted tree 1959 still stands state television showed pictures two men chatting amiably kims wife ri sol ju getting equally warm welcome xis wife peng liyuan trump briefed china briefed trump kims visit communication included personal message xi trump white house said statement united states remains close contact allies south korea japan see development evidence campaign maximum pressure creating appropriate atmosphere dialogue north korea statement said north korean leader kim jong un wife ri sol ju chinese president xi jinping wife peng liyuan toast kim jong un paid unofficial visit beijing china undated photo released north koreas korean central news agency kcna pyongyang march 28 2018 kcnavia reuters top chinese diplomat politburo member yang jiechi brief officials including president moon jaein seoul thursday xis meeting kim jong un according presidential office seoul kim told banquet hosted xi visit intended maintain great friendship continue develop bilateral ties time rapid developments korean peninsula according kcna xi accepted invitation pleasure visit north korea kcna said however chinas statement made mention xi accepting invitation saying xi pledged keep frequent contacts kim exchange visits sending special envoys letters china largely sat sidelines pyongyang improved relations seoul prompting worry beijing longer central player north korean issue reinforced trumps subsequent announcement proposed meeting kim jong un may china north koreas lifeline notion chinese perspective kim jong un could two meetings meeting xi jinping think chinese thought going happen said paul haenle director carnegietsinghua center beijing former white house representative north korea denuclearization talks 20072009 slideshow 17 images improving ties north korea china would positive sign planned summits involving two koreas united states senior south korean official said tuesday kim jong il met thenpresident jiang zemin china 2000 summit two koreas june year visit seen time reaffirmation close ties beijing speculation possible visit kim jong un beijing rife earlier week train similar one used father seen chinese capital along heavy security large motorcade secrecy around visit unusual later visits kim jong il china announced countries left country story refiled fix wording quote paragraph 26 additional reporting christine kim soyoung kim seoul david stanway john ruwitch shanghai ayesha rascoe washington writing lincoln feast editing paul tait 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 traders work floor new york stock exchange nyse new york us march 26 2018 reutersbrendan mcdermid 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 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 tokyo reuters asian shares fell wednesday wall street knocked hard concerns tighter controls tech industry denting brief global equities recovery driven hopes risk uschina trade war easing file photo man walks past electronic stock quotation board outside brokerage tokyo japan february 9 2018 reuterstoru hanai extended losses chinas staterun global times reported china soon announce list retaliatory tariffs united states exports china mscis broadest index asiapacific shares outside japan miapj0000pus fell 15 percent turning red week led information technology shares miapjit00pus tencent 0700hk japans nikkei n225 fell 13 percent us sampp500 mini futures esc1 fell 04 percent asia day sampp 500 spx lost 173 percent nasdaq composite ixic dropped 293 percent making benchmark indexes fourth decline five sessionsn info tech sector splrct worst hit fall 35 percent investors expect tighter control industry following furor use facebook fbo data political consultants facebook fell 49 percent tuesday taking losses almost 18 percent since march 16 firm first acknowledged problem twitter twtrn fell 12 percent google parent alphabet googlo fell 45 percent another weak spot nvidia nvdao fell 78 percent chipmaker temporarily suspended selfdriving tests across globe uber technologies inc uberul autonomous vehicle killed woman investors rotated tech sector long outperformed market hopes new technologies artificial intelligence ai internet things iot sense regulations facebook fang cost compliance increase said nobuhiko kuramochi chief strategist mizuho securities socalled fang quartet tech stocks includes facebook amazoncom amzno netflix nflxo alphabet darling many investors european stock futures point lower openings european stocks futures germanys dax fdxc1 gdaxi frances cac fcec1 fchi 09 percent britains ftse ffic1 ftse falling 07 percent report beijing plans announce retaliatory tariffs us president donald trumps plans tariffs 60 billion chinese goods rekindled worries sinous trade war market remains highly vulnerable news headline like recent reports behindthescenes talks washington beijing spurred optimism would chinas interest pursue trade rather taking retaliatory actions eventually likely avert trade war strike deal please us president donald trump increase trade said hiroshi watanabe economist sony financial holdings market still nervous theres feeling never know trump excessive wariness likely gradually wane added currency market dollar changed hands 10551 yen jpy far mondays 1612month low 10456 japanese currency supported riskaverse mood tencent holdings ltd 4158 0700hk hong kong stock 1640 379 0700hk spx ixic fbo twtrn 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 another member jozef makuch slovakia also struck similarly cautious tone euro eur traded 12415 lost steam rose 124765 previous day germanys 10year bund yield de10yttweb also hit twomonth low 0500 percent taken downward shift since hitting 112year high 0795 percent feb 15 10year us treasuries yield us10ytrr dropped 2770 percent lowest level seven weeks twoyear yield us2ytrr stood 2270 percent short markets priced policy normalization worlds central banks much said tohru yamamoto chief fixed income strategist daiwa securities oil prices stepped back report increasing us crude inventories industry group american petroleum institute api surprised many traders us wti crude futures clc1 dropped 08 percent 6472 brent crude futures lcoc1 traded 07 percent lower 6962 per barrel mondays high 7105 highest since late january editing kim coghill sam holmes standards thomson reuters trust principles
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<p><a href="" type="internal">MAN WHO FEARS THE TASMANIAN DEVIL CLAIMS FATHER-IN-LAW USED TOUPEE TO SCARE HIM</a></p>
<p>NEW YORK (AP) — A New York City man who says he has a fear of the Tasmanian Devil claims his father-in-law repeatedly scared him with a toupee that looks like the cartoon character.</p>
<p>The New York Post reports Yunes Doleh was arrested in November for violating a restraining order filed by his son-in-law, Mazen Dayem. The 36-year-old says Doleh terrorized him at a funeral by waving the hair piece and snarling.</p>
<p>The Staten Island man says he’s had a fear of the Tasmanian Devil his entire life. Dayem claims his father-in-law has taken advantage of his phobia since 2013. Dayem filed a restraining order in September following an altercation with Doleh at a restaurant.</p>
<p>An attorney for Doleh labeled the case a “family dispute.”</p>
<p>Doleh faces charges of criminal contempt and aggravated harassment.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">MISSOURI TRIES FOR WORLD’S LARGEST CHRISTMAS STOCKING RECORD</a></p>
<p>SEDALIA, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri city has unveiled a Christmas stocking it hopes will make the cut for the world’s largest.</p>
<p>Sedalia’s red-and-white stocking was officially measured Tuesday as 177 feet tall for entry to Guinness World Records, the Sedalia Democrat reported . The city is trying to beat a record set by the Italian city of Carrara in 2011.</p>
<p>The Missouri city’s stocking is almost 10 feet longer. It’s so large that with a few more inches, it would not have fit in the Missouri State Fair arena, where it was unveiled. It’s 72 feet wide and weighs a whopping 820 pounds.</p>
<p>CORRECTS SPELLING OF COOKE, NOT COOK - In this Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017 photo, volunteers help roll roll up a giant Christmas stocking after having it measured hoping it will make the cut for the world’s largest in Sedalia, Mo. Sedalia’s red-and-white stocking was officially measured as 177 feet tall for entry to the Guinness World Records. The city is trying to beat a record set by the Italian city of Carrara in 2011. The Missouri city’s stocking is almost 10 feet (3.05 meters) longer. It’s so large that with a few more inches, it would not have fit in the Missouri State Fair arena where it was unveiled. (Nicole Cooke/Sedalia Democrat via AP)</p>
<p>It’s so tall that Sedalia doesn’t have a building that’s high enough to hang it from, Mayor Stephen Galliher said.</p>
<p>Sedalia radio show host Charlie Thomas came up with the idea for the giant stocking as a way to promote Community Santa, a local program that gives presents to children during the holidays. He expects verification of the record to take about 12 weeks.</p>
<p>Members of a church sewing group started working on the stocking in early October. About two dozen children helped unroll the stocking for its unveiling, which drew applause from a crowd of roughly 200 people as Christmas music blasted in the arena.</p>
<p>The stocking also drew praise from U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri, who called it a “Christmas miracle.”</p>
<p>“Sedalia’s tight-knit community and its abundance of Christmas spirit has made Missouri quite proud of this massive holiday feat,” McCaskill said in a written statement.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">WOMAN ACCUSED OF SHOPLIFTING DURING SHOP WITH A COP HOLIDAY EVENT</a></p>
<p>FRAMINGHAM, Mass. (AP) — A homeless woman has been accused of trying to steal more than $1,000 in goods from a Massachusetts Target store during a Shop with a Cop holiday event attended by dozens of police officers.</p>
<p>The Boston Globe reports Melissa Allen was stopped as she tried to leave the store with the unpaid merchandise Tuesday. There were more than 50 Framingham police officers in the store as part of a charity event for children sponsored by their department.</p>
<p>Police say Allen had a bin filled with items she tried to steal, including clothing, accessories and home goods.</p>
<p>Allen was charged with larceny over $250 and resisting arrest. She was arraigned Wednesday.</p>
<p>WBZ-TV reports Allen’s lawyer said she’s living with a friend, has no money and wants to go to rehab.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">OH MY GANJA!: MARIJUANA AFICIONADOS ROLL 100-FOOT-LONG JOINT</a></p>
<p>WORCESTER, Mass. (AP) — Massachusetts marijuana aficionados have rolled a 100-foot-long joint.</p>
<p>The effort was led by Boston-based cannabis club and advocacy group Beantown Greentown during an exhibition of pro-marijuana vendors and supporters at the DCU Center in Worcester on Saturday.</p>
<p>They perfected a secret rolling technique using 1,000 grams (35.27 ounces) of their own pot trimmings.</p>
<p>The Telegram &amp; Gazette reports that people crowded around to take selfies when the final product was displayed Saturday. Thousands of people attended the exhibition.</p>
<p>The newspaper says 55-year-old Denise Fournier, of Gardner, Massachusetts, asked the question on everybody’s mind: “When are you going to light it up?”</p>
<p>Massachusetts last year voted to legalize the possession and consumption of marijuana. A Cannabis Control Commission is writing regulations to govern the sale of cannabis.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">ELDERLY COUPLE SAYS 60 POUNDS OF POT WAS FOR PRESENTS</a></p>
<p>YORK, Neb. (AP) — An elderly couple who was arrested in Nebraska with 60 pounds of marijuana in their truck told officers that the drugs were meant to be Christmas presents.</p>
<p>The York News-Times reports the couple were arrested Tuesday by the York County Sheriff’s Department after they were stopped for a traffic violation.</p>
<p>Officers found the bags of marijuana in the Toyota Tacoma driven by the 80-year-old man and 83-year-old woman. They said they were driving from California to Vermont.</p>
<p>The couple was being held in York County jail on suspicion of felony drug charges.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">COLORADO MAN ARRESTED AFTER OFFERING WEED FOR SHERIFF’S SUV</a></p>
<p>COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — A Colorado man landed in jail after offering to trade illegal homegrown marijuana for an SUV listed on Craigslist — a vehicle that happened to be owned by a sheriff.</p>
<p>The Gazette reports that Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell recently received a text from a 39-year-old Vail man offering to buy his SUV.</p>
<p>The man sent photos of the product, and Mikesell says he showed the texts to detectives. A meet up was scheduled in Woodland Park in late November.</p>
<p>The man and a 41-year-old woman arrived for the swap and were arrested. Authorities say they found about 4 pounds of illegal marijuana in the duo’s car.</p>
<p>The man and woman were charged with possession with intent to sell.</p>
<p>Mikesell says he won’t relist the SUV on Craigslist.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">PARENTS GIVE EDUCATORS WINE FOR ‘TEACHING A KID LIKE MINE’</a></p>
<p>KETTERING, Ohio (AP) — Saying their son’s teachers deserve more than a coffee mug for Christmas, an Ohio couple decided to give them bottles of wine with the child’s picture on the label.</p>
<p>Beavercreek resident Mary Sommers tells the Dayton Daily News she doubted the teachers needed any more mugs, but, she joked, “who doesn’t need a glass of wine after teaching a kid like mine?”</p>
<p>She and her husband, Paul, gave the wine to the teachers at their son Jake’s school in Kettering. In addition to a picture of Jake’s smiling face, the labels carry a message that says, “Our child might be the reason you drink so enjoy this bottle on us!”</p>
<p>The gifts drew widespread attention after the couple’s older son posted about them on Twitter .</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">POLICE SAY WOMAN STABBED ROOMMATE DURING ARGUMENT OVER CANDY</a></p>
<p>READING, Pa. (AP) — Authorities say a Pennsylvania woman stabbed her roommate during a dispute over candy.</p>
<p>Police in Reading say charges against 54-year-old Tracy Mitchell include aggravated assault and reckless endangerment.</p>
<p>According to a police affidavit, the victim claims Mitchell was holding a pocket knife in one hand and a picture frame in the other as they argued in their apartment early Monday morning. She says Mitchell tried to strike her with the picture frame as they both fell to the floor.</p>
<p>The woman says she tried to hold Mitchell on the ground, but Mitchell stabbed her once in the leg. Mitchell left the apartment shortly afterward.</p>
<p>The Reading Eagle reported Mitchell was taken to prison on $1,000 bail. It was unclear Tuesday if she had retained an attorney.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">NORTH CAROLINA RESIDENTS COMPLAIN OF CAT URINE SMELL</a></p>
<p>WILMINGTON, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina environmental officials are trying to discover the cause of a cat urine smell in a coastal city where residents say the odor is overwhelming on some days.</p>
<p>The StarNews of Wilmington reports more than a dozen residents alerted the state Department of Environmental Quality on Nov. 25 because the smell was so bad.</p>
<p>DEQ officials are investigating several industries as a source. Brad Newland of the state Division of Air Quality’s office in Wilmington says it’s possible that all those industries are causing the smell.</p>
<p>The odor isn’t new. Newland was part of a team that studied it in the 1990s.</p>
<p>Residents should call to report smells. Newland says investigators should be alerted immediately because it’s difficult to find a cause once the odor has dissipated.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">WHAT’S THE SMELL? TOWN RESIDENTS FIND ROTTING MOOSE PARTS</a></p>
<p>ARGYLE, N.Y. (AP) — Residents of a rural upstate New York town have found the source of a powerful stench plaguing them this fall: hundreds of pounds of rotting moose meat dumped along a road.</p>
<p>The Post-Star of Glens Falls reports someone had discarded parts of a moose carcass over an embankment in the town of Argyle, near the Vermont border, 40 miles northeast of Albany.</p>
<p>Residents found a moose’s head, hoofs, pelt and other parts strewn around the area.</p>
<p>State Department of Environmental Conservation officers investigated and determined the remains were dumped by an Argyle man who had legally shot a 665-pound bull moose in northern Vermont earlier this fall during the state’s moose hunting season.</p>
<p>The department ticketed him for unlawful disposal of solid waste.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">MISSISSIPPI BOY DIALS 911 TO SAY GRINCH STEALING CHRISTMAS</a></p>
<p>BYRAM, Miss. (AP) — A 5-year-old Mississippi boy called 911 to report that the Grinch was trying to steal Christmas.</p>
<p>The Clarion Ledger reports that it happened Saturday in the Jackson suburb of Byram. An officer went to TyLon Pittman’s home to assure him that the green creature wouldn’t take anyone’s gifts.</p>
<p>TyLon had been watching videos online when he became alarmed about the Grinch. He told his mom, Teresa Pittman, that he dialed 911, but she says she didn’t quite believe him until an officer knocked on the door.</p>
<p>The officer, Lauren Develle, says she grew up loving the character created by children’s author Dr. Seuss.</p>
<p>TyLon says has a plan in case the Grinch does appear: he says he will wrestle him and hold him until the police show up.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">VOICE OF A GROCERY STORE ANGEL: SHOPPERS GET OPERATIC TREAT</a></p>
<p>WATERTOWN, Mass. (AP) — A Massachusetts grocery store employee has surprised shoppers with his operatic renditions of popular Christmas music.</p>
<p>Tony Russo, owner of Russo’s Market in Watertown, tells The Boston Globe he had no idea Guilherme Assuncao could sing when the 23-year-old volunteered to sound check equipment Friday night for an upcoming weekend performance.</p>
<p>His voice shocked his co-workers, and Assuncao was invited back to the stage to perform for shoppers. One woman who visited the store Saturday says everyone stopped what they were doing when they heard Assuncao sing.</p>
<p>One video of him performing “O Holy Night” has since garnered more than 56,000 views on Facebook.</p>
<p>Assuncao moved from Brazil to the U.S. in 2015 to attend school. While he hasn’t performed in years, Assuncao says “music is my life.”</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">ROME’S CHRISTMAS TREE ‘MANGY’ NEEDLED FOR HEAVY SHEDDING</a></p>
<p>ROME (AP) — Rome’s official Christmas tree is shedding needles so quickly it has become a jolly joke for city residents.</p>
<p>The 21-meter- (70-foot-) high tree, which was lit up on Dec. 8, started dropping needles at a fast clip as soon as it was hoisted into the middle of bustling Rome’s main square, Piazza Venezia.</p>
<p>Romans have dubbed the tree “The Mangy One.” They’re also needling Rome’s mayor about the forlorn-looking specimen, which cost 48,000 euros ($57,000) to transport from South Tyrol, an Italian Alpine region.</p>
<p>The city said Tuesday it is investigating why the tree is ailing.</p>
<p>Despite the tree’s 600 silver-colored decorative balls, the half-bare branches lend the square a forlorn rather than festive look.</p>
<p>Critics note that across town, the Vatican’s Christmas tree, from Poland, appears healthy.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">POTTY-MOUTHED EX-NBA PLAYER RANTS ABOUT STOLEN TOILET</a></p>
<p>DALLAS (AP) — A former NBA player has taken to Twitter to complain that a toilet was among the items stolen from his Dallas home during a burglary.</p>
<p>Thirty-three-year-old Charlie Villanueva, a former first-round pick who most recently played with the Dallas Mavericks, posted a photo of the space in his bathroom where his toilet once stood.</p>
<p>In a series of sometimes potty-mouthed tweets , Villanueva says his home appliances also were taken during the burglary Tuesday.</p>
<p>The former Detroit Piston described the episode as “mind blowing,” saying he’s “in shock.”</p>
<p>Villanueva criticized police for a slow response to his burglary report, saying he called four times about the purloined toilet.</p>
<p>Another Twitter user created the handle “Stolen Toilet” and responded to one of his tweets by asking: “Charlie are u looking for me?”</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">BUBBLE NUPTIALS: COUPLE GET HITCHED UNDERWATER IN FLORIDA</a></p>
<p>KEY LARGO, Fla. (AP) — After a four-year courtship, a British Army sergeant and a former diving instructor have married underwater in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.</p>
<p>The couple used an underwater tablet Thursday to exchange wedding vows beside Molasses Reef off Key Largo.</p>
<p>In 2013, Thomas Mould, of Leicester, England, traveled on an Army adventure training dive trip to the Amoray Dive Resort in the Keys, where Sandra Hyde worked as an instructor.</p>
<p>The couple connected. Hyde traveled to Leicester a few times, and he visited her in the states.</p>
<p>They decided to marry and planned a summer wedding in an old English church but then decided an underwater wedding in the Keys would not only be more appropriate, but more cost-effective.</p>
<p>The couple is honeymooning in the Keys, before returning to live in England.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">ALL 1,694 RESIDENTS OF US TOWN BECOMING SCOTTISH LANDOWNERS</a></p>
<p>SCOTLAND, Conn. (AP) — Residents of the rural town of Scotland, Connecticut, are becoming lords and ladies in the United Kingdom country of the same name.</p>
<p>The Scottish land preservation company Highland Titles said Tuesday it’s gifting all 1,694 residents 1 square foot (0.09 square meters) of land on its nature reserve in Glencoe Wood, Scotland. The residents will get courtesy titles of Lord or Lady of Glencoe and instructions on how to visit their plots.</p>
<p>The company sells forest land ranging from 1 square foot (0.09 square meters) to 1,000 square feet (93 square meters) so they can’t be developed.</p>
<p>Scotland First Selectman Dan Syme says the Connecticut town was settled by a Scotsman named Isaac Magoon in 1700 and celebrates that heritage by hosting an annual Highland Festival.</p>
<p>Highland Titles says residents have to call Town Hall to claim their free plots.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">OFFICER CRAWLS ACROSS PARTIALLY FROZEN POND TO RESCUE DOG</a></p>
<p>HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP, N.J. (AP) — A New Jersey police officer crawled across a partially frozen pond to save a dog that had fallen through the ice and couldn’t crawl out.</p>
<p>Hopewell Officer Robert Voorhees made the rescue Friday night. It was recorded by an officer’s body camera.</p>
<p>Voorhees fastened himself to a rope and made his way to the edge of the pond. The dog, named Nisel, swam toward the officer who grabbed her by the collar.</p>
<p>Voorhees and the dog were then pulled to safety by other officers. The animal wasn’t seriously injured. She warmed up and reunited with her owner, who repeatedly thanked and hugged the officer.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">NOT FAKE NEWS: ‘WHATEVER’ TOPS ANNOYING WORD LIST, LITERALLY</a></p>
<p>POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. (AP) — The shoulder-shrugging reply “whatever” continues to annoy Americans more than other words or phrases, but “fake news” is coming on strong.</p>
<p>The annual Marist College poll of most annoying words and phrases found “whatever” topping the list for the ninth straight year. It was the pick of one third of poll respondents, who were given five choices.</p>
<p>The recent addition “fake news” was slightly ahead of “no offense, but” for second place, 23 percent to 20 percent. About one in 10 found “literally” to be most grating, as did a similar number for “you know what I mean.”</p>
<p>The telephone survey of 1,074 adults conducted Nov. 6-9 has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">HOLES-IN-ONE NOT SO FUN: CHARITY STUCK WITH FAN PAYOUTS</a></p>
<p>CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Most golfers like short par 3s, but West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice probably wishes No. 18 at the Greenbrier Classic in 2015 was a little longer — 33 yards longer to be exact.</p>
<p>In 2015, Justice’s charity promised fans at the 18th hole $100 for the first hole-in-one and $500 for the second in 2015. Professionals George McNeill and Justin Thomas aced the 137-yard hole, forcing the charity to give almost $200,000 to fans around the green.</p>
<p>The charity took out an insurance policy on the payouts, but a federal appeals court says the policy only covered holes at least 170 yards long.</p>
<p>Old White Charities Inc. accused the insurer of breach of contract for not covering the payout, but the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected that claim.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">MAN WHO FEARS THE TASMANIAN DEVIL CLAIMS FATHER-IN-LAW USED TOUPEE TO SCARE HIM</a></p>
<p>NEW YORK (AP) — A New York City man who says he has a fear of the Tasmanian Devil claims his father-in-law repeatedly scared him with a toupee that looks like the cartoon character.</p>
<p>The New York Post reports Yunes Doleh was arrested in November for violating a restraining order filed by his son-in-law, Mazen Dayem. The 36-year-old says Doleh terrorized him at a funeral by waving the hair piece and snarling.</p>
<p>The Staten Island man says he’s had a fear of the Tasmanian Devil his entire life. Dayem claims his father-in-law has taken advantage of his phobia since 2013. Dayem filed a restraining order in September following an altercation with Doleh at a restaurant.</p>
<p>An attorney for Doleh labeled the case a “family dispute.”</p>
<p>Doleh faces charges of criminal contempt and aggravated harassment.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">MISSOURI TRIES FOR WORLD’S LARGEST CHRISTMAS STOCKING RECORD</a></p>
<p>SEDALIA, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri city has unveiled a Christmas stocking it hopes will make the cut for the world’s largest.</p>
<p>Sedalia’s red-and-white stocking was officially measured Tuesday as 177 feet tall for entry to Guinness World Records, the Sedalia Democrat reported . The city is trying to beat a record set by the Italian city of Carrara in 2011.</p>
<p>The Missouri city’s stocking is almost 10 feet longer. It’s so large that with a few more inches, it would not have fit in the Missouri State Fair arena, where it was unveiled. It’s 72 feet wide and weighs a whopping 820 pounds.</p>
<p>CORRECTS SPELLING OF COOKE, NOT COOK - In this Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017 photo, volunteers help roll roll up a giant Christmas stocking after having it measured hoping it will make the cut for the world’s largest in Sedalia, Mo. Sedalia’s red-and-white stocking was officially measured as 177 feet tall for entry to the Guinness World Records. The city is trying to beat a record set by the Italian city of Carrara in 2011. The Missouri city’s stocking is almost 10 feet (3.05 meters) longer. It’s so large that with a few more inches, it would not have fit in the Missouri State Fair arena where it was unveiled. (Nicole Cooke/Sedalia Democrat via AP)</p>
<p>It’s so tall that Sedalia doesn’t have a building that’s high enough to hang it from, Mayor Stephen Galliher said.</p>
<p>Sedalia radio show host Charlie Thomas came up with the idea for the giant stocking as a way to promote Community Santa, a local program that gives presents to children during the holidays. He expects verification of the record to take about 12 weeks.</p>
<p>Members of a church sewing group started working on the stocking in early October. About two dozen children helped unroll the stocking for its unveiling, which drew applause from a crowd of roughly 200 people as Christmas music blasted in the arena.</p>
<p>The stocking also drew praise from U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri, who called it a “Christmas miracle.”</p>
<p>“Sedalia’s tight-knit community and its abundance of Christmas spirit has made Missouri quite proud of this massive holiday feat,” McCaskill said in a written statement.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">WOMAN ACCUSED OF SHOPLIFTING DURING SHOP WITH A COP HOLIDAY EVENT</a></p>
<p>FRAMINGHAM, Mass. (AP) — A homeless woman has been accused of trying to steal more than $1,000 in goods from a Massachusetts Target store during a Shop with a Cop holiday event attended by dozens of police officers.</p>
<p>The Boston Globe reports Melissa Allen was stopped as she tried to leave the store with the unpaid merchandise Tuesday. There were more than 50 Framingham police officers in the store as part of a charity event for children sponsored by their department.</p>
<p>Police say Allen had a bin filled with items she tried to steal, including clothing, accessories and home goods.</p>
<p>Allen was charged with larceny over $250 and resisting arrest. She was arraigned Wednesday.</p>
<p>WBZ-TV reports Allen’s lawyer said she’s living with a friend, has no money and wants to go to rehab.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">OH MY GANJA!: MARIJUANA AFICIONADOS ROLL 100-FOOT-LONG JOINT</a></p>
<p>WORCESTER, Mass. (AP) — Massachusetts marijuana aficionados have rolled a 100-foot-long joint.</p>
<p>The effort was led by Boston-based cannabis club and advocacy group Beantown Greentown during an exhibition of pro-marijuana vendors and supporters at the DCU Center in Worcester on Saturday.</p>
<p>They perfected a secret rolling technique using 1,000 grams (35.27 ounces) of their own pot trimmings.</p>
<p>The Telegram &amp; Gazette reports that people crowded around to take selfies when the final product was displayed Saturday. Thousands of people attended the exhibition.</p>
<p>The newspaper says 55-year-old Denise Fournier, of Gardner, Massachusetts, asked the question on everybody’s mind: “When are you going to light it up?”</p>
<p>Massachusetts last year voted to legalize the possession and consumption of marijuana. A Cannabis Control Commission is writing regulations to govern the sale of cannabis.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">ELDERLY COUPLE SAYS 60 POUNDS OF POT WAS FOR PRESENTS</a></p>
<p>YORK, Neb. (AP) — An elderly couple who was arrested in Nebraska with 60 pounds of marijuana in their truck told officers that the drugs were meant to be Christmas presents.</p>
<p>The York News-Times reports the couple were arrested Tuesday by the York County Sheriff’s Department after they were stopped for a traffic violation.</p>
<p>Officers found the bags of marijuana in the Toyota Tacoma driven by the 80-year-old man and 83-year-old woman. They said they were driving from California to Vermont.</p>
<p>The couple was being held in York County jail on suspicion of felony drug charges.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">COLORADO MAN ARRESTED AFTER OFFERING WEED FOR SHERIFF’S SUV</a></p>
<p>COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — A Colorado man landed in jail after offering to trade illegal homegrown marijuana for an SUV listed on Craigslist — a vehicle that happened to be owned by a sheriff.</p>
<p>The Gazette reports that Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell recently received a text from a 39-year-old Vail man offering to buy his SUV.</p>
<p>The man sent photos of the product, and Mikesell says he showed the texts to detectives. A meet up was scheduled in Woodland Park in late November.</p>
<p>The man and a 41-year-old woman arrived for the swap and were arrested. Authorities say they found about 4 pounds of illegal marijuana in the duo’s car.</p>
<p>The man and woman were charged with possession with intent to sell.</p>
<p>Mikesell says he won’t relist the SUV on Craigslist.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">PARENTS GIVE EDUCATORS WINE FOR ‘TEACHING A KID LIKE MINE’</a></p>
<p>KETTERING, Ohio (AP) — Saying their son’s teachers deserve more than a coffee mug for Christmas, an Ohio couple decided to give them bottles of wine with the child’s picture on the label.</p>
<p>Beavercreek resident Mary Sommers tells the Dayton Daily News she doubted the teachers needed any more mugs, but, she joked, “who doesn’t need a glass of wine after teaching a kid like mine?”</p>
<p>She and her husband, Paul, gave the wine to the teachers at their son Jake’s school in Kettering. In addition to a picture of Jake’s smiling face, the labels carry a message that says, “Our child might be the reason you drink so enjoy this bottle on us!”</p>
<p>The gifts drew widespread attention after the couple’s older son posted about them on Twitter .</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">POLICE SAY WOMAN STABBED ROOMMATE DURING ARGUMENT OVER CANDY</a></p>
<p>READING, Pa. (AP) — Authorities say a Pennsylvania woman stabbed her roommate during a dispute over candy.</p>
<p>Police in Reading say charges against 54-year-old Tracy Mitchell include aggravated assault and reckless endangerment.</p>
<p>According to a police affidavit, the victim claims Mitchell was holding a pocket knife in one hand and a picture frame in the other as they argued in their apartment early Monday morning. She says Mitchell tried to strike her with the picture frame as they both fell to the floor.</p>
<p>The woman says she tried to hold Mitchell on the ground, but Mitchell stabbed her once in the leg. Mitchell left the apartment shortly afterward.</p>
<p>The Reading Eagle reported Mitchell was taken to prison on $1,000 bail. It was unclear Tuesday if she had retained an attorney.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">NORTH CAROLINA RESIDENTS COMPLAIN OF CAT URINE SMELL</a></p>
<p>WILMINGTON, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina environmental officials are trying to discover the cause of a cat urine smell in a coastal city where residents say the odor is overwhelming on some days.</p>
<p>The StarNews of Wilmington reports more than a dozen residents alerted the state Department of Environmental Quality on Nov. 25 because the smell was so bad.</p>
<p>DEQ officials are investigating several industries as a source. Brad Newland of the state Division of Air Quality’s office in Wilmington says it’s possible that all those industries are causing the smell.</p>
<p>The odor isn’t new. Newland was part of a team that studied it in the 1990s.</p>
<p>Residents should call to report smells. Newland says investigators should be alerted immediately because it’s difficult to find a cause once the odor has dissipated.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">WHAT’S THE SMELL? TOWN RESIDENTS FIND ROTTING MOOSE PARTS</a></p>
<p>ARGYLE, N.Y. (AP) — Residents of a rural upstate New York town have found the source of a powerful stench plaguing them this fall: hundreds of pounds of rotting moose meat dumped along a road.</p>
<p>The Post-Star of Glens Falls reports someone had discarded parts of a moose carcass over an embankment in the town of Argyle, near the Vermont border, 40 miles northeast of Albany.</p>
<p>Residents found a moose’s head, hoofs, pelt and other parts strewn around the area.</p>
<p>State Department of Environmental Conservation officers investigated and determined the remains were dumped by an Argyle man who had legally shot a 665-pound bull moose in northern Vermont earlier this fall during the state’s moose hunting season.</p>
<p>The department ticketed him for unlawful disposal of solid waste.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">MISSISSIPPI BOY DIALS 911 TO SAY GRINCH STEALING CHRISTMAS</a></p>
<p>BYRAM, Miss. (AP) — A 5-year-old Mississippi boy called 911 to report that the Grinch was trying to steal Christmas.</p>
<p>The Clarion Ledger reports that it happened Saturday in the Jackson suburb of Byram. An officer went to TyLon Pittman’s home to assure him that the green creature wouldn’t take anyone’s gifts.</p>
<p>TyLon had been watching videos online when he became alarmed about the Grinch. He told his mom, Teresa Pittman, that he dialed 911, but she says she didn’t quite believe him until an officer knocked on the door.</p>
<p>The officer, Lauren Develle, says she grew up loving the character created by children’s author Dr. Seuss.</p>
<p>TyLon says has a plan in case the Grinch does appear: he says he will wrestle him and hold him until the police show up.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">VOICE OF A GROCERY STORE ANGEL: SHOPPERS GET OPERATIC TREAT</a></p>
<p>WATERTOWN, Mass. (AP) — A Massachusetts grocery store employee has surprised shoppers with his operatic renditions of popular Christmas music.</p>
<p>Tony Russo, owner of Russo’s Market in Watertown, tells The Boston Globe he had no idea Guilherme Assuncao could sing when the 23-year-old volunteered to sound check equipment Friday night for an upcoming weekend performance.</p>
<p>His voice shocked his co-workers, and Assuncao was invited back to the stage to perform for shoppers. One woman who visited the store Saturday says everyone stopped what they were doing when they heard Assuncao sing.</p>
<p>One video of him performing “O Holy Night” has since garnered more than 56,000 views on Facebook.</p>
<p>Assuncao moved from Brazil to the U.S. in 2015 to attend school. While he hasn’t performed in years, Assuncao says “music is my life.”</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">ROME’S CHRISTMAS TREE ‘MANGY’ NEEDLED FOR HEAVY SHEDDING</a></p>
<p>ROME (AP) — Rome’s official Christmas tree is shedding needles so quickly it has become a jolly joke for city residents.</p>
<p>The 21-meter- (70-foot-) high tree, which was lit up on Dec. 8, started dropping needles at a fast clip as soon as it was hoisted into the middle of bustling Rome’s main square, Piazza Venezia.</p>
<p>Romans have dubbed the tree “The Mangy One.” They’re also needling Rome’s mayor about the forlorn-looking specimen, which cost 48,000 euros ($57,000) to transport from South Tyrol, an Italian Alpine region.</p>
<p>The city said Tuesday it is investigating why the tree is ailing.</p>
<p>Despite the tree’s 600 silver-colored decorative balls, the half-bare branches lend the square a forlorn rather than festive look.</p>
<p>Critics note that across town, the Vatican’s Christmas tree, from Poland, appears healthy.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">POTTY-MOUTHED EX-NBA PLAYER RANTS ABOUT STOLEN TOILET</a></p>
<p>DALLAS (AP) — A former NBA player has taken to Twitter to complain that a toilet was among the items stolen from his Dallas home during a burglary.</p>
<p>Thirty-three-year-old Charlie Villanueva, a former first-round pick who most recently played with the Dallas Mavericks, posted a photo of the space in his bathroom where his toilet once stood.</p>
<p>In a series of sometimes potty-mouthed tweets , Villanueva says his home appliances also were taken during the burglary Tuesday.</p>
<p>The former Detroit Piston described the episode as “mind blowing,” saying he’s “in shock.”</p>
<p>Villanueva criticized police for a slow response to his burglary report, saying he called four times about the purloined toilet.</p>
<p>Another Twitter user created the handle “Stolen Toilet” and responded to one of his tweets by asking: “Charlie are u looking for me?”</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">BUBBLE NUPTIALS: COUPLE GET HITCHED UNDERWATER IN FLORIDA</a></p>
<p>KEY LARGO, Fla. (AP) — After a four-year courtship, a British Army sergeant and a former diving instructor have married underwater in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.</p>
<p>The couple used an underwater tablet Thursday to exchange wedding vows beside Molasses Reef off Key Largo.</p>
<p>In 2013, Thomas Mould, of Leicester, England, traveled on an Army adventure training dive trip to the Amoray Dive Resort in the Keys, where Sandra Hyde worked as an instructor.</p>
<p>The couple connected. Hyde traveled to Leicester a few times, and he visited her in the states.</p>
<p>They decided to marry and planned a summer wedding in an old English church but then decided an underwater wedding in the Keys would not only be more appropriate, but more cost-effective.</p>
<p>The couple is honeymooning in the Keys, before returning to live in England.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">ALL 1,694 RESIDENTS OF US TOWN BECOMING SCOTTISH LANDOWNERS</a></p>
<p>SCOTLAND, Conn. (AP) — Residents of the rural town of Scotland, Connecticut, are becoming lords and ladies in the United Kingdom country of the same name.</p>
<p>The Scottish land preservation company Highland Titles said Tuesday it’s gifting all 1,694 residents 1 square foot (0.09 square meters) of land on its nature reserve in Glencoe Wood, Scotland. The residents will get courtesy titles of Lord or Lady of Glencoe and instructions on how to visit their plots.</p>
<p>The company sells forest land ranging from 1 square foot (0.09 square meters) to 1,000 square feet (93 square meters) so they can’t be developed.</p>
<p>Scotland First Selectman Dan Syme says the Connecticut town was settled by a Scotsman named Isaac Magoon in 1700 and celebrates that heritage by hosting an annual Highland Festival.</p>
<p>Highland Titles says residents have to call Town Hall to claim their free plots.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">OFFICER CRAWLS ACROSS PARTIALLY FROZEN POND TO RESCUE DOG</a></p>
<p>HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP, N.J. (AP) — A New Jersey police officer crawled across a partially frozen pond to save a dog that had fallen through the ice and couldn’t crawl out.</p>
<p>Hopewell Officer Robert Voorhees made the rescue Friday night. It was recorded by an officer’s body camera.</p>
<p>Voorhees fastened himself to a rope and made his way to the edge of the pond. The dog, named Nisel, swam toward the officer who grabbed her by the collar.</p>
<p>Voorhees and the dog were then pulled to safety by other officers. The animal wasn’t seriously injured. She warmed up and reunited with her owner, who repeatedly thanked and hugged the officer.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">NOT FAKE NEWS: ‘WHATEVER’ TOPS ANNOYING WORD LIST, LITERALLY</a></p>
<p>POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. (AP) — The shoulder-shrugging reply “whatever” continues to annoy Americans more than other words or phrases, but “fake news” is coming on strong.</p>
<p>The annual Marist College poll of most annoying words and phrases found “whatever” topping the list for the ninth straight year. It was the pick of one third of poll respondents, who were given five choices.</p>
<p>The recent addition “fake news” was slightly ahead of “no offense, but” for second place, 23 percent to 20 percent. About one in 10 found “literally” to be most grating, as did a similar number for “you know what I mean.”</p>
<p>The telephone survey of 1,074 adults conducted Nov. 6-9 has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">HOLES-IN-ONE NOT SO FUN: CHARITY STUCK WITH FAN PAYOUTS</a></p>
<p>CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Most golfers like short par 3s, but West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice probably wishes No. 18 at the Greenbrier Classic in 2015 was a little longer — 33 yards longer to be exact.</p>
<p>In 2015, Justice’s charity promised fans at the 18th hole $100 for the first hole-in-one and $500 for the second in 2015. Professionals George McNeill and Justin Thomas aced the 137-yard hole, forcing the charity to give almost $200,000 to fans around the green.</p>
<p>The charity took out an insurance policy on the payouts, but a federal appeals court says the policy only covered holes at least 170 yards long.</p>
<p>Old White Charities Inc. accused the insurer of breach of contract for not covering the payout, but the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected that claim.</p>
| false | 2 |
man fears tasmanian devil claims fatherinlaw used toupee scare new york ap new york city man says fear tasmanian devil claims fatherinlaw repeatedly scared toupee looks like cartoon character new york post reports yunes doleh arrested november violating restraining order filed soninlaw mazen dayem 36yearold says doleh terrorized funeral waving hair piece snarling staten island man says hes fear tasmanian devil entire life dayem claims fatherinlaw taken advantage phobia since 2013 dayem filed restraining order september following altercation doleh restaurant attorney doleh labeled case family dispute doleh faces charges criminal contempt aggravated harassment missouri tries worlds largest christmas stocking record sedalia mo ap missouri city unveiled christmas stocking hopes make cut worlds largest sedalias redandwhite stocking officially measured tuesday 177 feet tall entry guinness world records sedalia democrat reported city trying beat record set italian city carrara 2011 missouri citys stocking almost 10 feet longer large inches would fit missouri state fair arena unveiled 72 feet wide weighs whopping 820 pounds corrects spelling cooke cook tuesday dec 19 2017 photo volunteers help roll roll giant christmas stocking measured hoping make cut worlds largest sedalia mo sedalias redandwhite stocking officially measured 177 feet tall entry guinness world records city trying beat record set italian city carrara 2011 missouri citys stocking almost 10 feet 305 meters longer large inches would fit missouri state fair arena unveiled nicole cookesedalia democrat via ap tall sedalia doesnt building thats high enough hang mayor stephen galliher said sedalia radio show host charlie thomas came idea giant stocking way promote community santa local program gives presents children holidays expects verification record take 12 weeks members church sewing group started working stocking early october two dozen children helped unroll stocking unveiling drew applause crowd roughly 200 people christmas music blasted arena stocking also drew praise us sen claire mccaskill missouri called christmas miracle sedalias tightknit community abundance christmas spirit made missouri quite proud massive holiday feat mccaskill said written statement woman accused shoplifting shop cop holiday event framingham mass ap homeless woman accused trying steal 1000 goods massachusetts target store shop cop holiday event attended dozens police officers boston globe reports melissa allen stopped tried leave store unpaid merchandise tuesday 50 framingham police officers store part charity event children sponsored department police say allen bin filled items tried steal including clothing accessories home goods allen charged larceny 250 resisting arrest arraigned wednesday wbztv reports allens lawyer said shes living friend money wants go rehab oh ganja marijuana aficionados roll 100footlong joint worcester mass ap massachusetts marijuana aficionados rolled 100footlong joint effort led bostonbased cannabis club advocacy group beantown greentown exhibition promarijuana vendors supporters dcu center worcester saturday perfected secret rolling technique using 1000 grams 3527 ounces pot trimmings telegram amp gazette reports people crowded around take selfies final product displayed saturday thousands people attended exhibition newspaper says 55yearold denise fournier gardner massachusetts asked question everybodys mind going light massachusetts last year voted legalize possession consumption marijuana cannabis control commission writing regulations govern sale cannabis elderly couple says 60 pounds pot presents york neb ap elderly couple arrested nebraska 60 pounds marijuana truck told officers drugs meant christmas presents york newstimes reports couple arrested tuesday york county sheriffs department stopped traffic violation officers found bags marijuana toyota tacoma driven 80yearold man 83yearold woman said driving california vermont couple held york county jail suspicion felony drug charges colorado man arrested offering weed sheriffs suv colorado springs colo ap colorado man landed jail offering trade illegal homegrown marijuana suv listed craigslist vehicle happened owned sheriff gazette reports teller county sheriff jason mikesell recently received text 39yearold vail man offering buy suv man sent photos product mikesell says showed texts detectives meet scheduled woodland park late november man 41yearold woman arrived swap arrested authorities say found 4 pounds illegal marijuana duos car man woman charged possession intent sell mikesell says wont relist suv craigslist parents give educators wine teaching kid like mine kettering ohio ap saying sons teachers deserve coffee mug christmas ohio couple decided give bottles wine childs picture label beavercreek resident mary sommers tells dayton daily news doubted teachers needed mugs joked doesnt need glass wine teaching kid like mine husband paul gave wine teachers son jakes school kettering addition picture jakes smiling face labels carry message says child might reason drink enjoy bottle us gifts drew widespread attention couples older son posted twitter police say woman stabbed roommate argument candy reading pa ap authorities say pennsylvania woman stabbed roommate dispute candy police reading say charges 54yearold tracy mitchell include aggravated assault reckless endangerment according police affidavit victim claims mitchell holding pocket knife one hand picture frame argued apartment early monday morning says mitchell tried strike picture frame fell floor woman says tried hold mitchell ground mitchell stabbed leg mitchell left apartment shortly afterward reading eagle reported mitchell taken prison 1000 bail unclear tuesday retained attorney north carolina residents complain cat urine smell wilmington nc ap north carolina environmental officials trying discover cause cat urine smell coastal city residents say odor overwhelming days starnews wilmington reports dozen residents alerted state department environmental quality nov 25 smell bad deq officials investigating several industries source brad newland state division air qualitys office wilmington says possible industries causing smell odor isnt new newland part team studied 1990s residents call report smells newland says investigators alerted immediately difficult find cause odor dissipated whats smell town residents find rotting moose parts argyle ny ap residents rural upstate new york town found source powerful stench plaguing fall hundreds pounds rotting moose meat dumped along road poststar glens falls reports someone discarded parts moose carcass embankment town argyle near vermont border 40 miles northeast albany residents found mooses head hoofs pelt parts strewn around area state department environmental conservation officers investigated determined remains dumped argyle man legally shot 665pound bull moose northern vermont earlier fall states moose hunting season department ticketed unlawful disposal solid waste mississippi boy dials 911 say grinch stealing christmas byram miss ap 5yearold mississippi boy called 911 report grinch trying steal christmas clarion ledger reports happened saturday jackson suburb byram officer went tylon pittmans home assure green creature wouldnt take anyones gifts tylon watching videos online became alarmed grinch told mom teresa pittman dialed 911 says didnt quite believe officer knocked door officer lauren develle says grew loving character created childrens author dr seuss tylon says plan case grinch appear says wrestle hold police show voice grocery store angel shoppers get operatic treat watertown mass ap massachusetts grocery store employee surprised shoppers operatic renditions popular christmas music tony russo owner russos market watertown tells boston globe idea guilherme assuncao could sing 23yearold volunteered sound check equipment friday night upcoming weekend performance voice shocked coworkers assuncao invited back stage perform shoppers one woman visited store saturday says everyone stopped heard assuncao sing one video performing holy night since garnered 56000 views facebook assuncao moved brazil us 2015 attend school hasnt performed years assuncao says music life romes christmas tree mangy needled heavy shedding rome ap romes official christmas tree shedding needles quickly become jolly joke city residents 21meter 70foot high tree lit dec 8 started dropping needles fast clip soon hoisted middle bustling romes main square piazza venezia romans dubbed tree mangy one theyre also needling romes mayor forlornlooking specimen cost 48000 euros 57000 transport south tyrol italian alpine region city said tuesday investigating tree ailing despite trees 600 silvercolored decorative balls halfbare branches lend square forlorn rather festive look critics note across town vaticans christmas tree poland appears healthy pottymouthed exnba player rants stolen toilet dallas ap former nba player taken twitter complain toilet among items stolen dallas home burglary thirtythreeyearold charlie villanueva former firstround pick recently played dallas mavericks posted photo space bathroom toilet stood series sometimes pottymouthed tweets villanueva says home appliances also taken burglary tuesday former detroit piston described episode mind blowing saying hes shock villanueva criticized police slow response burglary report saying called four times purloined toilet another twitter user created handle stolen toilet responded one tweets asking charlie u looking bubble nuptials couple get hitched underwater florida key largo fla ap fouryear courtship british army sergeant former diving instructor married underwater florida keys national marine sanctuary couple used underwater tablet thursday exchange wedding vows beside molasses reef key largo 2013 thomas mould leicester england traveled army adventure training dive trip amoray dive resort keys sandra hyde worked instructor couple connected hyde traveled leicester times visited states decided marry planned summer wedding old english church decided underwater wedding keys would appropriate costeffective couple honeymooning keys returning live england 1694 residents us town becoming scottish landowners scotland conn ap residents rural town scotland connecticut becoming lords ladies united kingdom country name scottish land preservation company highland titles said tuesday gifting 1694 residents 1 square foot 009 square meters land nature reserve glencoe wood scotland residents get courtesy titles lord lady glencoe instructions visit plots company sells forest land ranging 1 square foot 009 square meters 1000 square feet 93 square meters cant developed scotland first selectman dan syme says connecticut town settled scotsman named isaac magoon 1700 celebrates heritage hosting annual highland festival highland titles says residents call town hall claim free plots officer crawls across partially frozen pond rescue dog hopewell township nj ap new jersey police officer crawled across partially frozen pond save dog fallen ice couldnt crawl hopewell officer robert voorhees made rescue friday night recorded officers body camera voorhees fastened rope made way edge pond dog named nisel swam toward officer grabbed collar voorhees dog pulled safety officers animal wasnt seriously injured warmed reunited owner repeatedly thanked hugged officer fake news whatever tops annoying word list literally poughkeepsie ny ap shouldershrugging reply whatever continues annoy americans words phrases fake news coming strong annual marist college poll annoying words phrases found whatever topping list ninth straight year pick one third poll respondents given five choices recent addition fake news slightly ahead offense second place 23 percent 20 percent one 10 found literally grating similar number know mean telephone survey 1074 adults conducted nov 69 margin error plus minus 3 percentage points holesinone fun charity stuck fan payouts charleston wva ap golfers like short par 3s west virginia gov jim justice probably wishes 18 greenbrier classic 2015 little longer 33 yards longer exact 2015 justices charity promised fans 18th hole 100 first holeinone 500 second 2015 professionals george mcneill justin thomas aced 137yard hole forcing charity give almost 200000 fans around green charity took insurance policy payouts federal appeals court says policy covered holes least 170 yards long old white charities inc accused insurer breach contract covering payout 4th us circuit court appeals rejected claim man fears tasmanian devil claims fatherinlaw used toupee scare new york ap new york city man says fear tasmanian devil claims fatherinlaw repeatedly scared toupee looks like cartoon character new york post reports yunes doleh arrested november violating restraining order filed soninlaw mazen dayem 36yearold says doleh terrorized funeral waving hair piece snarling staten island man says hes fear tasmanian devil entire life dayem claims fatherinlaw taken advantage phobia since 2013 dayem filed restraining order september following altercation doleh restaurant attorney doleh labeled case family dispute doleh faces charges criminal contempt aggravated harassment missouri tries worlds largest christmas stocking record sedalia mo ap missouri city unveiled christmas stocking hopes make cut worlds largest sedalias redandwhite stocking officially measured tuesday 177 feet tall entry guinness world records sedalia democrat reported city trying beat record set italian city carrara 2011 missouri citys stocking almost 10 feet longer large inches would fit missouri state fair arena unveiled 72 feet wide weighs whopping 820 pounds corrects spelling cooke cook tuesday dec 19 2017 photo volunteers help roll roll giant christmas stocking measured hoping make cut worlds largest sedalia mo sedalias redandwhite stocking officially measured 177 feet tall entry guinness world records city trying beat record set italian city carrara 2011 missouri citys stocking almost 10 feet 305 meters longer large inches would fit missouri state fair arena unveiled nicole cookesedalia democrat via ap tall sedalia doesnt building thats high enough hang mayor stephen galliher said sedalia radio show host charlie thomas came idea giant stocking way promote community santa local program gives presents children holidays expects verification record take 12 weeks members church sewing group started working stocking early october two dozen children helped unroll stocking unveiling drew applause crowd roughly 200 people christmas music blasted arena stocking also drew praise us sen claire mccaskill missouri called christmas miracle sedalias tightknit community abundance christmas spirit made missouri quite proud massive holiday feat mccaskill said written statement woman accused shoplifting shop cop holiday event framingham mass ap homeless woman accused trying steal 1000 goods massachusetts target store shop cop holiday event attended dozens police officers boston globe reports melissa allen stopped tried leave store unpaid merchandise tuesday 50 framingham police officers store part charity event children sponsored department police say allen bin filled items tried steal including clothing accessories home goods allen charged larceny 250 resisting arrest arraigned wednesday wbztv reports allens lawyer said shes living friend money wants go rehab oh ganja marijuana aficionados roll 100footlong joint worcester mass ap massachusetts marijuana aficionados rolled 100footlong joint effort led bostonbased cannabis club advocacy group beantown greentown exhibition promarijuana vendors supporters dcu center worcester saturday perfected secret rolling technique using 1000 grams 3527 ounces pot trimmings telegram amp gazette reports people crowded around take selfies final product displayed saturday thousands people attended exhibition newspaper says 55yearold denise fournier gardner massachusetts asked question everybodys mind going light massachusetts last year voted legalize possession consumption marijuana cannabis control commission writing regulations govern sale cannabis elderly couple says 60 pounds pot presents york neb ap elderly couple arrested nebraska 60 pounds marijuana truck told officers drugs meant christmas presents york newstimes reports couple arrested tuesday york county sheriffs department stopped traffic violation officers found bags marijuana toyota tacoma driven 80yearold man 83yearold woman said driving california vermont couple held york county jail suspicion felony drug charges colorado man arrested offering weed sheriffs suv colorado springs colo ap colorado man landed jail offering trade illegal homegrown marijuana suv listed craigslist vehicle happened owned sheriff gazette reports teller county sheriff jason mikesell recently received text 39yearold vail man offering buy suv man sent photos product mikesell says showed texts detectives meet scheduled woodland park late november man 41yearold woman arrived swap arrested authorities say found 4 pounds illegal marijuana duos car man woman charged possession intent sell mikesell says wont relist suv craigslist parents give educators wine teaching kid like mine kettering ohio ap saying sons teachers deserve coffee mug christmas ohio couple decided give bottles wine childs picture label beavercreek resident mary sommers tells dayton daily news doubted teachers needed mugs joked doesnt need glass wine teaching kid like mine husband paul gave wine teachers son jakes school kettering addition picture jakes smiling face labels carry message says child might reason drink enjoy bottle us gifts drew widespread attention couples older son posted twitter police say woman stabbed roommate argument candy reading pa ap authorities say pennsylvania woman stabbed roommate dispute candy police reading say charges 54yearold tracy mitchell include aggravated assault reckless endangerment according police affidavit victim claims mitchell holding pocket knife one hand picture frame argued apartment early monday morning says mitchell tried strike picture frame fell floor woman says tried hold mitchell ground mitchell stabbed leg mitchell left apartment shortly afterward reading eagle reported mitchell taken prison 1000 bail unclear tuesday retained attorney north carolina residents complain cat urine smell wilmington nc ap north carolina environmental officials trying discover cause cat urine smell coastal city residents say odor overwhelming days starnews wilmington reports dozen residents alerted state department environmental quality nov 25 smell bad deq officials investigating several industries source brad newland state division air qualitys office wilmington says possible industries causing smell odor isnt new newland part team studied 1990s residents call report smells newland says investigators alerted immediately difficult find cause odor dissipated whats smell town residents find rotting moose parts argyle ny ap residents rural upstate new york town found source powerful stench plaguing fall hundreds pounds rotting moose meat dumped along road poststar glens falls reports someone discarded parts moose carcass embankment town argyle near vermont border 40 miles northeast albany residents found mooses head hoofs pelt parts strewn around area state department environmental conservation officers investigated determined remains dumped argyle man legally shot 665pound bull moose northern vermont earlier fall states moose hunting season department ticketed unlawful disposal solid waste mississippi boy dials 911 say grinch stealing christmas byram miss ap 5yearold mississippi boy called 911 report grinch trying steal christmas clarion ledger reports happened saturday jackson suburb byram officer went tylon pittmans home assure green creature wouldnt take anyones gifts tylon watching videos online became alarmed grinch told mom teresa pittman dialed 911 says didnt quite believe officer knocked door officer lauren develle says grew loving character created childrens author dr seuss tylon says plan case grinch appear says wrestle hold police show voice grocery store angel shoppers get operatic treat watertown mass ap massachusetts grocery store employee surprised shoppers operatic renditions popular christmas music tony russo owner russos market watertown tells boston globe idea guilherme assuncao could sing 23yearold volunteered sound check equipment friday night upcoming weekend performance voice shocked coworkers assuncao invited back stage perform shoppers one woman visited store saturday says everyone stopped heard assuncao sing one video performing holy night since garnered 56000 views facebook assuncao moved brazil us 2015 attend school hasnt performed years assuncao says music life romes christmas tree mangy needled heavy shedding rome ap romes official christmas tree shedding needles quickly become jolly joke city residents 21meter 70foot high tree lit dec 8 started dropping needles fast clip soon hoisted middle bustling romes main square piazza venezia romans dubbed tree mangy one theyre also needling romes mayor forlornlooking specimen cost 48000 euros 57000 transport south tyrol italian alpine region city said tuesday investigating tree ailing despite trees 600 silvercolored decorative balls halfbare branches lend square forlorn rather festive look critics note across town vaticans christmas tree poland appears healthy pottymouthed exnba player rants stolen toilet dallas ap former nba player taken twitter complain toilet among items stolen dallas home burglary thirtythreeyearold charlie villanueva former firstround pick recently played dallas mavericks posted photo space bathroom toilet stood series sometimes pottymouthed tweets villanueva says home appliances also taken burglary tuesday former detroit piston described episode mind blowing saying hes shock villanueva criticized police slow response burglary report saying called four times purloined toilet another twitter user created handle stolen toilet responded one tweets asking charlie u looking bubble nuptials couple get hitched underwater florida key largo fla ap fouryear courtship british army sergeant former diving instructor married underwater florida keys national marine sanctuary couple used underwater tablet thursday exchange wedding vows beside molasses reef key largo 2013 thomas mould leicester england traveled army adventure training dive trip amoray dive resort keys sandra hyde worked instructor couple connected hyde traveled leicester times visited states decided marry planned summer wedding old english church decided underwater wedding keys would appropriate costeffective couple honeymooning keys returning live england 1694 residents us town becoming scottish landowners scotland conn ap residents rural town scotland connecticut becoming lords ladies united kingdom country name scottish land preservation company highland titles said tuesday gifting 1694 residents 1 square foot 009 square meters land nature reserve glencoe wood scotland residents get courtesy titles lord lady glencoe instructions visit plots company sells forest land ranging 1 square foot 009 square meters 1000 square feet 93 square meters cant developed scotland first selectman dan syme says connecticut town settled scotsman named isaac magoon 1700 celebrates heritage hosting annual highland festival highland titles says residents call town hall claim free plots officer crawls across partially frozen pond rescue dog hopewell township nj ap new jersey police officer crawled across partially frozen pond save dog fallen ice couldnt crawl hopewell officer robert voorhees made rescue friday night recorded officers body camera voorhees fastened rope made way edge pond dog named nisel swam toward officer grabbed collar voorhees dog pulled safety officers animal wasnt seriously injured warmed reunited owner repeatedly thanked hugged officer fake news whatever tops annoying word list literally poughkeepsie ny ap shouldershrugging reply whatever continues annoy americans words phrases fake news coming strong annual marist college poll annoying words phrases found whatever topping list ninth straight year pick one third poll respondents given five choices recent addition fake news slightly ahead offense second place 23 percent 20 percent one 10 found literally grating similar number know mean telephone survey 1074 adults conducted nov 69 margin error plus minus 3 percentage points holesinone fun charity stuck fan payouts charleston wva ap golfers like short par 3s west virginia gov jim justice probably wishes 18 greenbrier classic 2015 little longer 33 yards longer exact 2015 justices charity promised fans 18th hole 100 first holeinone 500 second 2015 professionals george mcneill justin thomas aced 137yard hole forcing charity give almost 200000 fans around green charity took insurance policy payouts federal appeals court says policy covered holes least 170 yards long old white charities inc accused insurer breach contract covering payout 4th us circuit court appeals rejected claim
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<p>NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wall Street rose on Friday, led by gains in consumer stocks, even as a possible government shutdown loomed.</p>
<p>The S&amp;P 500 and the Nasdaq hit record closing highs, while the Dow ended the day higher after trading in a narrow range.</p>
<p>Nike Inc ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=NKE.N" type="external">NKE.N</a>), Philip Morris International Inc ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=PM.N" type="external">PM.N</a>) and Home Depot Inc ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=HD.N" type="external">HD.N</a>) rose between 1.5 percent and 4.8 percent on upbeat analyst expectations, helping to boost the S&amp;P 500. Conversely, losses in International Business Machines Corp ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=IBM.N" type="external">IBM.N</a>) and American Express ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=AXP.N" type="external">AXP.N</a>) capped gains on the Dow.</p>
<p>The Dow Jones Industrial Average <a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.DJI" type="external">.DJI</a> rose 53.91 points, or 0.21 percent, to close at 26,071.72, the S&amp;P 500 <a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.SPX" type="external">.SPX</a> gained 12.27 points, or 0.44 percent, to 2,810.3 and the Nasdaq Composite <a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.IXIC" type="external">.IXIC</a> added 40.33 points, or 0.55 percent, to 7,336.38.</p>
<p>For the week, the Dow rose 1.04 percent, the S&amp;P 500 added 0.86 percent and the Nasdaq gained 1.04 percent.</p>
<p>Nine of the 11 major S&amp;P sectors were higher, led by a 1.1 percent gain in the consumer staples index .SPLRCS and a 0.9 percent rise in consumer discretionary stocks .SPLRCD.</p>
<p>A disappointing full-year profit forecast from IBM pushed its shares down 4.0 percent, the biggest single-day loss since July.</p> FILE PHOTO: Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, (NYSE) in New York, U.S., January 8, 2018. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid
<p>American Express slipped 1.8 percent after posting its first quarterly loss in 26 years and suspending share buybacks for the next six months.</p>
<p>“The market has a few jitters as the result of a potential shutdown,” said Kevin Miller, chief executive of E-Valuator Funds in Bloomington, Minnesota. “From a longer-term perspective, corporate earnings are still strong, and we’re about to engage in the benefits of tax reform.”</p>
<p>The U.S. Senate was racing to avert a shutdown ahead of a midnight deadline on the spending measure amid lingering disagreements between Democrats and Republicans. Negotiations continued on Friday after Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer met with President Donald Trump at the White House to address the impasse.</p>
<a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=NKE.N" type="external">Nike Inc</a> 69.16 NKE.N New York Stock Exchange +0.74 (+1.08%) NKE.N PM.N HD.N IBM.N AXP.N
<p>Advancing issues outnumbered declining ones on the NYSE by a 1.98-to-1 ratio; on Nasdaq, a 2.51-to-1 ratio favored advancers.</p>
<p>The S&amp;P 500 posted 105 new 52-week highs and nine new lows; the Nasdaq Composite recorded 171 new highs and 30 new lows.</p>
<p>Volume on U.S. exchanges was 6.82 billion shares, compared to the 6.32 billion average over the last 20 trading days.</p>
<p>Additional reporting by Sruthi Shankar in Bengaluru; Editing by Leslie Adler and James Dalgleish</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. trade deficit increased to a near 9-1/2-year high in February as both exports and imports rose to record highs, but the shortfall with China narrowed sharply.</p> Shipping containers are being loaded onto Xin Da Yang Zhou ship from Shanghai, China at Pier J at the Port of Long Beach in Long Beach, California, U.S., April 4, 2018. REUTERS/Bob Riha Jr.
<p>The Commerce Department said on Thursday the trade gap rose 1.6 percent to $57.6 billion. That was the highest level since October 2008 and followed a slightly downwardly revised $56.7 billion shortfall in January.</p>
<p>The deficit has now risen for six straight months. The goods trade deficit was the highest since July 2008 and the surplus on services was the lowest since December 2012.</p>
<p>Economists polled by Reuters had forecast the trade gap widening to $56.8 billion in February from a previously reported $56.6 billion in the prior month.</p>
<p>Part of the rise in the trade deficit in February reflected commodity price increases. The politically sensitive goods trade deficit with China fell 18.6 percent to $29.3 billion. The deficit with Mexico surged 46.6 percent in February.</p>
<p>News of the worsening trade deficit comes as the United States and China are embroiled in tit-for-tat tariffs which have rattled global financial markets.</p>
<p>President Donald Trump’s administration on Tuesday targeted 25 percent tariffs on some 1,300 Chinese industrial technology, transport and medical products, to force changes in Beijing’s intellectual property practices. China swiftly retaliated on Wednesday with a list of similar duties on key American imports including soybeans, planes, cars, beef and chemicals</p>
<p>Trump, who claims the United States is being taken advantage of by its trading partners, has already imposed broad tariffs on imported solar panels and large washing machines. He has also slapped 25 percent import duties on steel and 10 percent on aluminum.</p>
<p>When adjusted for inflation, the trade deficit slipped to $69.11 billion from $69.96 billion in January. The so-called real trade deficit is above the fourth-quarter average of $66.81 billion.</p>
<p>This suggests trade would subtract from first-quarter gross domestic product. Trade sliced 1.16 percentage point from fourth-quarter GDP growth. The economy grew at a 2.9 percent annualized rate during that period.</p>
<p>In February, exports of goods increased 2.3 percent to $137.2 billion, boosted by shipments of industrial materials and supplies as well as sales of motor vehicles and engines. Exports to China were unchanged in February.</p>
<p>Goods imports jumped 1.6 percent to $214.2 billion in February, lifted by imports of food, industrial materials and supplies, and capital goods.</p>
<p>Imports of services rose to a record $47.8 billion from $46.8 billion in January, likely boosted by royalties and broadcast license fees related to the Winter Olympics.</p>
<p>Imports from China declined 14.7 percent in February.</p>
<p>Reporting by Lucia Mutikani; Editing by Andrea Ricci [email protected]; 1 202 898 8315; Reuters Messaging: [email protected]</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>LONDON (Reuters) - World stocks edged higher on Thursday as investors responded to signs of an easing of Sino-U.S. trade tensions by dipping back into riskier assets.</p> The DAX (German stock index) logo is seen at the stock exchange in Frankfurt, Germany, March 23, 2018. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach
<p>The MSCI world equity index .MIWD00000PUS, which tracks shares in 47 countries, climbed 0.5 percent, while shares in Europe jumped 1.7 percent to a two-week high.</p>
<p>Cyclical sectors including basic resources .SXPP, autos .SXAP and banks .SX7P, hit particularly hard over the past two sessions in Europe, led gains.</p>
<p>Sentiment was lifted as Washington expressed a willingness to negotiate, after proposed U.S. tariffs on $50 billion of Chinese goods prompted swift retaliation from Beijing.</p>
<p>U.S. S&amp;P 500 mini futures ESc1 rose 0.4 percent, leaving Wall Street poised to build on Wednesday’s rebound.</p>
<p>The dollar .DXY also drew support, hitting a two-week high of 90.34 against a basket of major currencies and rising against the safe-haven yen to 107.02 yen <a href="/finance/currencies/quote?srcCurr=JPY&amp;destCurr=USD" type="external">JPY=</a>.</p>
<p>The euro <a href="/finance/currencies/quote?srcCurr=EUR&amp;destCurr=USD" type="external">EUR=</a> dipped slightly to $1.2264.</p>
<p>Proposed 25 percent U.S. tariffs on some 1,300 industrial technology, transport and medical products from China will be subject to a consultation period expected to last around two months.</p>
<p>“I think that the substance of trade restrictions and their real impact will be far less than the headlines,” said Jeffery Becker, Chairman and CEO at Jennison Associates in New York.</p>
<p>“U.S. and Chinese cross-border trade has grown significantly over the last decade and economic inter-dependence runs very deep, deeper than the actual trade numbers.”</p>
<p>Asian stocks also benefited, with MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS up 0.6 percent, a day after it hit its lowest in almost two months.</p>
<p>Japan's Nikkei <a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.N225" type="external">.N225</a> ended 1.5 percent higher. Markets in mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan were closed for the Tomb Sweeping Day holiday on Thursday.</p>
<p>Many suspect Washington will likely back down on some fronts after Beijing threatened tariffs on soybeans, the top U.S. agricultural export to China.</p>
<p>That is considered one of the most powerful weapons in Beijing’s trade arsenal given the potential impact on Iowa and other farming states that backed Donald Trump in the presidential election.</p>
<p>U.S. soybeans Sc1 and corn Cc1 regained ground on Thursday, following losses of around 2 percent the previous day.</p>
<a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.N225" type="external">Nikkei Inc</a> 21645.42 .N225 Nikkei Index +325.87 (+1.53%) .N225 NOT SO RISKY?
<p>Some observers argue that the global economy is currently running so well that it could cope with the impact of the proposed tariffs, which cover a fraction of world trade.</p>
<p>“We’ve had a few months now where markets have really been going sideways and progressively lower, but at the same time has data really rolled over? The answer is no,” Geoffrey Yu, head of the UK investment office at UBS Wealth Management, said.</p>
<p>“The underlying economy is actually chugging along which will increase the scope for upside surprises on the corporate front, on the economic front and at some point markets will have to catch up to that.”</p>
<p>U.S. data on Wednesday underscored the prevailing bullish view on the economy. Private payrolls increased solidly in March as hiring rose across the board, boding well for Friday’s jobs data.</p>
<p>A correction since January has driven share price valuations down from record levels, attracting bargain hunters.</p>
<p>MSCI ACWI .MIWD00000PUS traded at 14.77 times its forward earnings, the lowest in more than two years.</p>
<p>Oil prices gave up earlier gains to trade in negative territory, with U.S. crude futures CLc1 at $63.24 per barrel.</p>
<p>Bond markets were hit by the recovery in equities as demand for safe-haven assets ebbed. The yield on the German 10-year DE10YT=RR touched a one-week high of 0.538 percent, while U.S. treasury yields US10YT=RR were at 2.821 percent.</p>
<p>Reporting by Kit Rees, Additional reporting by Hideyuki Sano in Tokyo; editing by John Stonestreet</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>(Reuters) - Facebook ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=FB.O" type="external">FB.O</a>), Amazon ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=AMZN.O" type="external">AMZN.O</a>) and industrial stocks helped Wall Street extend its recovery on Thursday as fears over a trade war between the United States and China eased.</p> Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange shortly after the opening bell in New York, U.S., April 4, 2018. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson
<p>Technology stocks, which have taken a beating in the past three weeks, were higher.</p>
<p>Facebook, Amazon, Alphabet ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=GOOGL.O" type="external">GOOGL.O</a>), Netflix ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=NFLX.O" type="external">NFLX.O</a>) - collectively known as the “FANG” group - were up between 0.8 percent and 2.6 percent.</p>
<p>Shares of Boeing ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=BA.N" type="external">BA.N</a>), Caterpillar ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=CAT.N" type="external">CAT.N</a>) - hit the most on Wednesday after China retaliated with $50 billion in tariffs on U.S. goods such as soybeans, autos, chemicals and some types of aircraft - also rose more than 1 percent.</p>
<p>At 9:41 a.m. ET, the Dow Jones Industrial Average <a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.DJI" type="external">.DJI</a> was up 0.57 percent at 24,403.74. The S&amp;P 500 <a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.SPX" type="external">.SPX</a> rose 0.37 percent to 2,654.55 and the Nasdaq Composite <a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.IXIC" type="external">.IXIC</a> gained 0.55 percent to 7,080.71.</p>
<p>The Dow bounced back from a 500 point drop on Wednesday after President Donald Trump’s top economic adviser Larry Kudlow said the administration was involved in a “negotiation” with China rather than a trade war.</p>
<p>“The bounce on Wednesday was really quite impressive, especially as there was not much of a catalyst for the turnaround given that neither the U.S. or China is backing down on tariffs and negotiations were always going to take place in the background,” Craig Erlam, senior market analyst at Oanda said in a note.</p>
<a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=FB.O" type="external">Facebook Inc</a> 158.86 FB.O Nasdaq +3.76 (+2.42%) FB.O AMZN.O GOOGL.O NFLX.O BA.N
<p>Investors also took comfort from the fact that the effective date of China’s move depended on when the U.S. action took effect, providing room for maneuver.</p>
<p>Economic data on Thursday showed that the U.S. trade deficit increased to a near 9-1/2-year high in February, but the shortfall with China narrowed sharply.</p>
<p>While exports to China were unchanged in February, imports from the country declined 14.7 percent.</p>
<p>Facebook shares were up about 3 percent after Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg said the company had not seen “any meaningful impact” on usage or ad sales since the data privacy scandal.</p>
<p>Wells Fargo ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=WFC.N" type="external">WFC.N</a>) rose 1 percent and Citigroup ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=C.N" type="external">C.N</a>) gained 1.5 percent following upgrades by UBS.</p>
<p>Advanced Micro Devices ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=AMD.O" type="external">AMD.O</a>) jumped 3.4 percent after Stifel upgraded to “buy”, while Micron Technology ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=MU.O" type="external">MU.O</a>) fell 3.7 percent after UBS started with a “sell” rating.</p>
<p>Advancing issues outnumbered decliners on the NYSE for a 2.25-to-1 ratio and for a 2.01-to-1 ratio on the Nasdaq.</p>
<p>Reporting by Sruthi Shankar in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>NEW YORK (Reuters) - It took China just 11 hours to retaliate against the United States for proposing tariffs on some 1,300 Chinese products, but Chinese officials are holding back on taking aim at their largest American import: government debt.</p>
<p>In a tit-for-tat response to the Trump administration’s plan for 25 percent duties on $50 billion of Chinese imports, China hit back with its own list of similar duties on key American imports including soybeans, planes, cars, beef and chemicals. But officials signaled no interest for now in bringing their vast holdings of U.S. Treasuries to the fight.</p>
<p>China held around $1.17 trillion of Treasuries as of the end of January, making it the largest of America's foreign creditors and the No. 2 overall owner of U.S. government bonds after the Federal Reserve. Any move by China to chop its Treasury portfolio could inflict significant harm on U.S. finances and global investors, driving bond yields higher and making it more costly to finance the federal government.(Graphic: Top U.S. trade partners &amp; foreign holders of Treasuries - <a href="http://reut.rs/2CUqQB0" type="external">reut.rs/2CUqQB0</a>)</p>
<a href="http://reut.rs/2CUqQB0" type="external" />
<p>Jeffrey Gundlach, the chief executive of DoubleLine Capital LP, said China can use its Treasury holdings as leverage, but only if they keep holding them.</p>
<p>“It is more effective as a threat. If they sell, they have no threat,” said Gundlach, known as Wall Street’s Bond King.</p>
<p>“It would only escalate the situation and eliminate their leverage.”</p>
<p>Prices on benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury notes slipped on Wednesday, giving back earlier gains on the trade news. Their yield edged up to about 2.81 percent Wednesday afternoon.</p>
<p>China’s Treasury holdings have dipped in recent months, declining by about $30 billion from $1.20 trillion last August, and they are down about 11 percent from their record high above $1.3 trillion in late 2013, according to U.S government data. In all, foreign governments own $4 trillion, or more than a quarter, of the $14.7 trillion in Treasury securities outstanding.</p>
<p>Asked by a reporter on Wednesday if China would reduce its U.S. Treasury holdings in retaliation, Vice Finance Minister Zhu Guangyao reiterated China’s long-standing policy regarding its foreign exchange reserves, saying it is a responsible investor and that it will safeguard their value.</p>
<p>China’s foreign exchange reserves, the world’s largest, stood at about $3.13 trillion at the end of February, with roughly a third of it held in Treasuries.</p>
<p>“If they wanted to pull the nuclear switch, if they committed to dumping Treasuries, it would have an immediate and temporary impact on money markets in the United States,” said Jeff Klingelhofer, a portfolio manager who oversees more than $6 billion at Thornburg Investment Management Inc. “But I think it is a bigger hit to the sustainability of what they’re trying to accomplish.”</p>
<p>Brad Setser, senior fellow for international economics&#160;at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, said China can sell Treasuries and buy lower-yielding European or Japanese debt.</p>
<p>But the effect would likely be to strengthen the yuan against the dollar, weakening the relative desirability of its exports, analysts said. The sale could also tank the value of the Treasuries China retains, with nothing to show for the aggression.</p>
<p>More likely, if China wanted to turn up the heat it would let the yuan depreciate against the U.S. dollar, according to CFR’s Setser, a move that could kneecap the Trump administration’s goal of jump-starting U.S. manufacturing. The yuan weakened by about 0.25 percent on Wednesday but remains near its strongest in two and a half years.</p>
<p>Even if the likelihood of a change in Chinese policy regarding its Treasuries portfolio remains low, investors are sensitive to the risk any big shift would pose to world financial markets, where Treasuries are a global benchmark asset.</p>
<p>A January report that China might halt its purchases of Treasuries forced yields higher, but China disputed the news and said it was only diversifying its foreign exchange reserves to safeguard their value.</p>
<p>Reporting by Kate Duguid and Trevor Hunnicutt; Additional reporting by Jennifer Ablan; Editing by Dan Burns and James Dalgleish</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
| false | 2 |
new york reuters wall street rose friday led gains consumer stocks even possible government shutdown loomed sampp 500 nasdaq hit record closing highs dow ended day higher trading narrow range nike inc nken philip morris international inc pmn home depot inc hdn rose 15 percent 48 percent upbeat analyst expectations helping boost sampp 500 conversely losses international business machines corp ibmn american express axpn capped gains dow dow jones industrial average dji rose 5391 points 021 percent close 2607172 sampp 500 spx gained 1227 points 044 percent 28103 nasdaq composite ixic added 4033 points 055 percent 733638 week dow rose 104 percent sampp 500 added 086 percent nasdaq gained 104 percent nine 11 major sampp sectors higher led 11 percent gain consumer staples index splrcs 09 percent rise consumer discretionary stocks splrcd disappointing fullyear profit forecast ibm pushed shares 40 percent biggest singleday loss since july file photo traders work floor new york stock exchange nyse new york us january 8 2018 reutersbrendan mcdermid american express slipped 18 percent posting first quarterly loss 26 years suspending share buybacks next six months market jitters result potential shutdown said kevin miller chief executive evaluator funds bloomington minnesota longerterm perspective corporate earnings still strong engage benefits tax reform us senate racing avert shutdown ahead midnight deadline spending measure amid lingering disagreements democrats republicans negotiations continued friday senate democratic leader chuck schumer met president donald trump white house address impasse nike inc 6916 nken new york stock exchange 074 108 nken pmn hdn ibmn axpn advancing issues outnumbered declining ones nyse 198to1 ratio nasdaq 251to1 ratio favored advancers sampp 500 posted 105 new 52week highs nine new lows nasdaq composite recorded 171 new highs 30 new lows volume us exchanges 682 billion shares compared 632 billion average last 20 trading days additional reporting sruthi shankar bengaluru editing leslie adler james dalgleish standards thomson reuters trust principles washington reuters us trade deficit increased near 912year high february exports imports rose record highs shortfall china narrowed sharply shipping containers loaded onto xin da yang zhou ship shanghai china pier j port long beach long beach california us april 4 2018 reutersbob riha jr commerce department said thursday trade gap rose 16 percent 576 billion highest level since october 2008 followed slightly downwardly revised 567 billion shortfall january deficit risen six straight months goods trade deficit highest since july 2008 surplus services lowest since december 2012 economists polled reuters forecast trade gap widening 568 billion february previously reported 566 billion prior month part rise trade deficit february reflected commodity price increases politically sensitive goods trade deficit china fell 186 percent 293 billion deficit mexico surged 466 percent february news worsening trade deficit comes united states china embroiled titfortat tariffs rattled global financial markets president donald trumps administration tuesday targeted 25 percent tariffs 1300 chinese industrial technology transport medical products force changes beijings intellectual property practices china swiftly retaliated wednesday list similar duties key american imports including soybeans planes cars beef chemicals trump claims united states taken advantage trading partners already imposed broad tariffs imported solar panels large washing machines also slapped 25 percent import duties steel 10 percent aluminum adjusted inflation trade deficit slipped 6911 billion 6996 billion january socalled real trade deficit fourthquarter average 6681 billion suggests trade would subtract firstquarter gross domestic product trade sliced 116 percentage point fourthquarter gdp growth economy grew 29 percent annualized rate period february exports goods increased 23 percent 1372 billion boosted shipments industrial materials supplies well sales motor vehicles engines exports china unchanged february goods imports jumped 16 percent 2142 billion february lifted imports food industrial materials supplies capital goods imports services rose record 478 billion 468 billion january likely boosted royalties broadcast license fees related winter olympics imports china declined 147 percent february reporting lucia mutikani editing andrea ricci luciamutikanithomsonreuterscom 1 202 898 8315 reuters messaging luciamutikanithomsonreuterscomreutersnet standards thomson reuters trust principles london reuters world stocks edged higher thursday investors responded signs easing sinous trade tensions dipping back riskier assets dax german stock index logo seen stock exchange frankfurt germany march 23 2018 reuterskai pfaffenbach msci world equity index miwd00000pus tracks shares 47 countries climbed 05 percent shares europe jumped 17 percent twoweek high cyclical sectors including basic resources sxpp autos sxap banks sx7p hit particularly hard past two sessions europe led gains sentiment lifted washington expressed willingness negotiate proposed us tariffs 50 billion chinese goods prompted swift retaliation beijing us sampp 500 mini futures esc1 rose 04 percent leaving wall street poised build wednesdays rebound dollar dxy also drew support hitting twoweek high 9034 basket major currencies rising safehaven yen 10702 yen jpy euro eur dipped slightly 12264 proposed 25 percent us tariffs 1300 industrial technology transport medical products china subject consultation period expected last around two months think substance trade restrictions real impact far less headlines said jeffery becker chairman ceo jennison associates new york us chinese crossborder trade grown significantly last decade economic interdependence runs deep deeper actual trade numbers asian stocks also benefited mscis broadest index asiapacific shares outside japan miapj0000pus 06 percent day hit lowest almost two months japans nikkei n225 ended 15 percent higher markets mainland china hong kong taiwan closed tomb sweeping day holiday thursday many suspect washington likely back fronts beijing threatened tariffs soybeans top us agricultural export china considered one powerful weapons beijings trade arsenal given potential impact iowa farming states backed donald trump presidential election us soybeans sc1 corn cc1 regained ground thursday following losses around 2 percent previous day nikkei inc 2164542 n225 nikkei index 32587 153 n225 risky observers argue global economy currently running well could cope impact proposed tariffs cover fraction world trade weve months markets really going sideways progressively lower time data really rolled answer geoffrey yu head uk investment office ubs wealth management said underlying economy actually chugging along increase scope upside surprises corporate front economic front point markets catch us data wednesday underscored prevailing bullish view economy private payrolls increased solidly march hiring rose across board boding well fridays jobs data correction since january driven share price valuations record levels attracting bargain hunters msci acwi miwd00000pus traded 1477 times forward earnings lowest two years oil prices gave earlier gains trade negative territory us crude futures clc1 6324 per barrel bond markets hit recovery equities demand safehaven assets ebbed yield german 10year de10ytrr touched oneweek high 0538 percent us treasury yields us10ytrr 2821 percent reporting kit rees additional reporting hideyuki sano tokyo editing john stonestreet standards thomson reuters trust principles reuters facebook fbo amazon amzno industrial stocks helped wall street extend recovery thursday fears trade war united states china eased traders work floor new york stock exchange shortly opening bell new york us april 4 2018 reuterslucas jackson technology stocks taken beating past three weeks higher facebook amazon alphabet googlo netflix nflxo collectively known fang group 08 percent 26 percent shares boeing ban caterpillar catn hit wednesday china retaliated 50 billion tariffs us goods soybeans autos chemicals types aircraft also rose 1 percent 941 et dow jones industrial average dji 057 percent 2440374 sampp 500 spx rose 037 percent 265455 nasdaq composite ixic gained 055 percent 708071 dow bounced back 500 point drop wednesday president donald trumps top economic adviser larry kudlow said administration involved negotiation china rather trade war bounce wednesday really quite impressive especially much catalyst turnaround given neither us china backing tariffs negotiations always going take place background craig erlam senior market analyst oanda said note facebook inc 15886 fbo nasdaq 376 242 fbo amzno googlo nflxo ban investors also took comfort fact effective date chinas move depended us action took effect providing room maneuver economic data thursday showed us trade deficit increased near 912year high february shortfall china narrowed sharply exports china unchanged february imports country declined 147 percent facebook shares 3 percent chief executive mark zuckerberg said company seen meaningful impact usage ad sales since data privacy scandal wells fargo wfcn rose 1 percent citigroup cn gained 15 percent following upgrades ubs advanced micro devices amdo jumped 34 percent stifel upgraded buy micron technology muo fell 37 percent ubs started sell rating advancing issues outnumbered decliners nyse 225to1 ratio 201to1 ratio nasdaq reporting sruthi shankar bengaluru editing sriraj kalluvila standards thomson reuters trust principles new york reuters took china 11 hours retaliate united states proposing tariffs 1300 chinese products chinese officials holding back taking aim largest american import government debt titfortat response trump administrations plan 25 percent duties 50 billion chinese imports china hit back list similar duties key american imports including soybeans planes cars beef chemicals officials signaled interest bringing vast holdings us treasuries fight china held around 117 trillion treasuries end january making largest americas foreign creditors 2 overall owner us government bonds federal reserve move china chop treasury portfolio could inflict significant harm us finances global investors driving bond yields higher making costly finance federal governmentgraphic top us trade partners amp foreign holders treasuries reutrs2cuqqb0 jeffrey gundlach chief executive doubleline capital lp said china use treasury holdings leverage keep holding effective threat sell threat said gundlach known wall streets bond king would escalate situation eliminate leverage prices benchmark 10year us treasury notes slipped wednesday giving back earlier gains trade news yield edged 281 percent wednesday afternoon chinas treasury holdings dipped recent months declining 30 billion 120 trillion last august 11 percent record high 13 trillion late 2013 according us government data foreign governments 4 trillion quarter 147 trillion treasury securities outstanding asked reporter wednesday china would reduce us treasury holdings retaliation vice finance minister zhu guangyao reiterated chinas longstanding policy regarding foreign exchange reserves saying responsible investor safeguard value chinas foreign exchange reserves worlds largest stood 313 trillion end february roughly third held treasuries wanted pull nuclear switch committed dumping treasuries would immediate temporary impact money markets united states said jeff klingelhofer portfolio manager oversees 6 billion thornburg investment management inc think bigger hit sustainability theyre trying accomplish brad setser senior fellow international economics160at council foreign relations new york said china sell treasuries buy loweryielding european japanese debt effect would likely strengthen yuan dollar weakening relative desirability exports analysts said sale could also tank value treasuries china retains nothing show aggression likely china wanted turn heat would let yuan depreciate us dollar according cfrs setser move could kneecap trump administrations goal jumpstarting us manufacturing yuan weakened 025 percent wednesday remains near strongest two half years even likelihood change chinese policy regarding treasuries portfolio remains low investors sensitive risk big shift would pose world financial markets treasuries global benchmark asset january report china might halt purchases treasuries forced yields higher china disputed news said diversifying foreign exchange reserves safeguard value reporting kate duguid trevor hunnicutt additional reporting jennifer ablan editing dan burns james dalgleish standards thomson reuters trust principles
| 1,783 |
<p>T-Mobile is one of a number of retail outlets that have found a home at the Las Estancias development near Coors and Rio Bravo SW. (Adolphe Pierre-Louis/Albuquerque Journal)</p>
<p>ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Las Estancias, the massive mixed-used commercial development in the South Valley, is expecting to welcome more newcomers this year.</p>
<p>Once considered an underserved trade area in need of retail, medical, entertainment, banks and other business services, Las Estancias so far has generated 150,000 square feet of new construction at the site near Rio Bravo and Coors SW. There are currently 14 retailers providing more than 300 jobs, according to the office of County Commissioner Steven Michael Quezada. And more jobs are on the horizon with other tenants in various stages of development.</p>
<p>Randall Parish, a broker with NAI Maestas &amp; Ward who represents Las Estancias, told the Journal that a name brand anchor has signed a letter of intent for at least an additional 20,000 square feet of space.</p>
<p>Shopping center representatives also are negotiating leases with three national chains, and have already inked deals with regional names like Dion’s Pizza, Sushi King, New Mexico Bank &amp; Trust, Nusenda, and Lovelace and Presbyterian health systems, which have either opened for business or will very soon.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Las Estancias could have as much as 550,000 square feet of retail and dozens of businesses at full build-out on the 80-acre site. Parish estimated it would be complete in two to three years.</p>
<p>Target area for development</p>
<p>The Starbucks at Las Estancias near Coors and Rio Bravo SW is one of the most popular tenants at the new development. (Adolphe Pierre-Louis/Albuquerque Journal)</p>
<p>The shopping center sits in a trade area with 140,000 people living within a five-mile radius. But compared to extremely active trade areas like Uptown and Cottonwood, there is a dearth of retail in the South Valley submarket – an area that stretches east to Interstate 25 and is bounded on the north by Bridge east of the river and by Central west of the river. That area today has 9 square feet of retail space per person compared to the city average of 45 square feet per person.</p>
<p>The upshot: Many South Valley residents have been driving miles to get to some of their favorite eateries and retailers.</p>
<p>“Just the fact that there is a movie theater is amazing. It’s a bummer to leave the area,” Quezada said. “And Starbucks, they said they would never open in the South Valley. It’s just a sign that things are changing here.”</p>
<p>Starbucks opened at the shopping center earlier this year; Carmike Cinemas opened a movie theater there in 2015.</p>
<p>Quezada, a lifelong resident of the South Valley, is excited about what Las Estancias means for his community.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>“You know (South Valley residents) actually do eat. You know? We do buy clothes,” says Quezada. “We deserve the same services that other areas of town get.”</p>
<p>According to a trade area analysis, homeownership within three miles of Las Estancias is 13.5 percent higher than the national average, creating more expendable income for DIYers looking to do home fix-up projects or keeping their cars on the road longer.</p>
<p>The South Valley “is one of our client’s target areas” for retail expansion, said Jeff Martinez, a broker with the Allen Sigmon Real Estate Group, who represents NAPA Auto Parts.</p>
<p>NAPA is eyeing retail centers like Las Estancias, among others on the West Side, Martinez said.</p>
<p>Steadily adding tenants</p>
<p>A Walmart Supercenter adjacent to Las Estancias was the first big-box pioneer to open up in the South Valley, lighting the fuse for more commercial activity when it opened a decade ago, Parish said. Its arrival caught the eyes of Albuquerque developers Steve Maestas and Mike Mechenbier, the investors behind Las Estancias.</p>
<p>But by the time Las Estancias was approved for development in 2008, the recession had begun and some retailers that had signed on quickly called off plans. One was Mervyn’s, which has since gone out of business.</p>
<p>It took until 2013 for Las Estancias to finally broke ground, and it has been steadily adding tenants, such as Carmike Cinemas, the first such movie theater in the South Valley in many years and the second IMAX theater in Albuquerque.</p>
<p>Some of the restaurants that have since opened are hoping to catch moviegoers wanting to grab a bite to eat before or after the shows at the 12-screen cinema, said Parish.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" />The Walmart near Las Estancias has 10,000-plus shoppers each week, generating nearly $90 million in annual sales, according to Parish. Noncompeting businesses, such as speciality retailers, are eager for spillover from that, said Parish. Once a specific category of retailer comes to an area – a cellphone provider, for instance – others are sure to follow. “The dominoes start to fall,” with competitors vying for business space and a piece of the retail action, Parish said.</p>
<p>Local retailers and restaurants, he said, are also a large part of the overall plan for Las Estancias.</p>
<p>“The area has really grown over the last 10 years,” Dion’s CEO Mark Herman told the Journal. “And the community around the store has been very supportive.”</p>
<p>He said sales at the Las Estancias location are better than expected.</p>
<p>Another plan for sustained success at Las Estancias is adapting to the changing retail landscape. That means offering a more experiential location rather than a center purely designed for retail.</p>
<p>The IMAX theater is part of that. Another is a large community space in the middle of the development that Parish said could be used for community events ranging from car shows to flea markets and “anything that the community wants.”</p>
<p>He said there will most likely also be space for “micro-retailers” – small local businesses that might not have the capital to rent one of the suites. “If you are a small chocolatier in the South Valley, or you make homemade breads, or you are a local folk artist, these are spaces that are affordable,” Parish said.</p>
<p>The rent for these boxes will be in the hundreds rather than the thousands.</p>
<p>“You can be in the middle of a major retail area. You can be at a hub with large national retailers. So far as I know, this will be the only shopping center in Albuquerque that offers that,” he said.</p>
<p>Much-needed health care</p>
<p>Health care tenants have also been lining up.</p>
<p>Lovelace Medical Group is leasing space in a building that also includes a newly opened physical therapy clinic. (Adolphe Pierre-Louis/Albuquerque Journal)</p>
<p>Lovelace Medical Group said it recently opened in the center as part of an effort to beef up access to primary care providers in the South Valley.</p>
<p>“We are thrilled,” site manager Jackie Sanchez said about the new clinic. “This has been a long time coming, and we’re so happy to finally have it open and meet the needs of the community.”</p>
<p>Lovelace is leasing 9,000 square feet of space in a 16,000-square-foot freestanding building built by Wilger Construction that also includes a newly opened physical therapy clinic.</p>
<p>Donald Sanchez, owner of Paradigm Physical Therapy, is enthusiastic about business prospects at Las Estancias. Paradigm soon will take over a 4,500-square-foot space next to the Lovelace clinic, its fourth location in central New Mexico.</p>
<p>“We will break 50 employees (companywide) with this location,” said Sanchez, adding that six to eight full-time staffers will be working at the new location.</p>
<p>The Hartman + Majewski Design Group designed the Lovelace space, which includes a spacious reception area, eight primary care and five obstetrical exam rooms, an ultrasound room, an on-site lab and two draw stations. The clinic cost more than $1 million to build.</p>
<p>The Rio at Las Estancias, a long-term care and rehabilitation center, opened in 2014. The development has drawn several other medical and health-related businesses. (Adolphe Pierre-Louis/Albuquerque Journal)</p>
<p>Presbyterian’s clinic on Isleta Boulevard has outgrown its current location and will move to 3630 Las Estancias to better meet the needs of existing patients and future ones, said Dr. Angela Gallegos-Macias, medical director of Presbyterian Medical Group on Isleta. Construction on the new clinic could begin this summer, she said, with opening by fall 2018.</p>
<p>The health care tenant mix also includes The Rio at Las Estancias, a 65,000-square-foot long-term care and rehabilitation center, which opened in 2014.</p>
<p>And Parish expects interest from dental clinics, chiropractors and opticians.</p>
<p />
| false | 2 |
tmobile one number retail outlets found home las estancias development near coors rio bravo sw adolphe pierrelouisalbuquerque journal albuquerque nm las estancias massive mixedused commercial development south valley expecting welcome newcomers year considered underserved trade area need retail medical entertainment banks business services las estancias far generated 150000 square feet new construction site near rio bravo coors sw currently 14 retailers providing 300 jobs according office county commissioner steven michael quezada jobs horizon tenants various stages development randall parish broker nai maestas amp ward represents las estancias told journal name brand anchor signed letter intent least additional 20000 square feet space shopping center representatives also negotiating leases three national chains already inked deals regional names like dions pizza sushi king new mexico bank amp trust nusenda lovelace presbyterian health systems either opened business soon advertisement las estancias could much 550000 square feet retail dozens businesses full buildout 80acre site parish estimated would complete two three years target area development starbucks las estancias near coors rio bravo sw one popular tenants new development adolphe pierrelouisalbuquerque journal shopping center sits trade area 140000 people living within fivemile radius compared extremely active trade areas like uptown cottonwood dearth retail south valley submarket area stretches east interstate 25 bounded north bridge east river central west river area today 9 square feet retail space per person compared city average 45 square feet per person upshot many south valley residents driving miles get favorite eateries retailers fact movie theater amazing bummer leave area quezada said starbucks said would never open south valley sign things changing starbucks opened shopping center earlier year carmike cinemas opened movie theater 2015 quezada lifelong resident south valley excited las estancias means community advertisement know south valley residents actually eat know buy clothes says quezada deserve services areas town get according trade area analysis homeownership within three miles las estancias 135 percent higher national average creating expendable income diyers looking home fixup projects keeping cars road longer south valley one clients target areas retail expansion said jeff martinez broker allen sigmon real estate group represents napa auto parts napa eyeing retail centers like las estancias among others west side martinez said steadily adding tenants walmart supercenter adjacent las estancias first bigbox pioneer open south valley lighting fuse commercial activity opened decade ago parish said arrival caught eyes albuquerque developers steve maestas mike mechenbier investors behind las estancias time las estancias approved development 2008 recession begun retailers signed quickly called plans one mervyns since gone business took 2013 las estancias finally broke ground steadily adding tenants carmike cinemas first movie theater south valley many years second imax theater albuquerque restaurants since opened hoping catch moviegoers wanting grab bite eat shows 12screen cinema said parish walmart near las estancias 10000plus shoppers week generating nearly 90 million annual sales according parish noncompeting businesses speciality retailers eager spillover said parish specific category retailer comes area cellphone provider instance others sure follow dominoes start fall competitors vying business space piece retail action parish said local retailers restaurants said also large part overall plan las estancias area really grown last 10 years dions ceo mark herman told journal community around store supportive said sales las estancias location better expected another plan sustained success las estancias adapting changing retail landscape means offering experiential location rather center purely designed retail imax theater part another large community space middle development parish said could used community events ranging car shows flea markets anything community wants said likely also space microretailers small local businesses might capital rent one suites small chocolatier south valley make homemade breads local folk artist spaces affordable parish said rent boxes hundreds rather thousands middle major retail area hub large national retailers far know shopping center albuquerque offers said muchneeded health care health care tenants also lining lovelace medical group leasing space building also includes newly opened physical therapy clinic adolphe pierrelouisalbuquerque journal lovelace medical group said recently opened center part effort beef access primary care providers south valley thrilled site manager jackie sanchez said new clinic long time coming happy finally open meet needs community lovelace leasing 9000 square feet space 16000squarefoot freestanding building built wilger construction also includes newly opened physical therapy clinic donald sanchez owner paradigm physical therapy enthusiastic business prospects las estancias paradigm soon take 4500squarefoot space next lovelace clinic fourth location central new mexico break 50 employees companywide location said sanchez adding six eight fulltime staffers working new location hartman majewski design group designed lovelace space includes spacious reception area eight primary care five obstetrical exam rooms ultrasound room onsite lab two draw stations clinic cost 1 million build rio las estancias longterm care rehabilitation center opened 2014 development drawn several medical healthrelated businesses adolphe pierrelouisalbuquerque journal presbyterians clinic isleta boulevard outgrown current location move 3630 las estancias better meet needs existing patients future ones said dr angela gallegosmacias medical director presbyterian medical group isleta construction new clinic could begin summer said opening fall 2018 health care tenant mix also includes rio las estancias 65000squarefoot longterm care rehabilitation center opened 2014 parish expects interest dental clinics chiropractors opticians
| 844 |
<p>CASTELBUONO, Sicily (AP) — Our first grueling, knee-killing, bumbling and comically great olive season finally feels like it is over.</p>
<p>We are rich in a new way: More than 70 liters of dark green, corpulent and peppery olive oil has been produced, and is ready to pour onto salads, bread, pasta, fish.</p>
<p>During the summer, my wife and I were gloomy. There was the prospect of not having any oil for a second disappointing year. We moved to the Madonie mountains in north-central Sicily in no small part to enjoy making oil from some 40 trees on the country property we purchased.</p>
<p>But disastrous drought and extreme heat hit Sicily and Italy hard. Between April and the start of October, only 7 inches of rain fell into our rain gauge.</p>
<p>"Due to the drought, there could have been the problem that the olives wouldn't have produced any fruit," said Francesco Raimondo, an oil maker who runs a mill in Castelbuono that his grandfather started in 1955.</p>
<p>He spoke on a late December morning, the smell of crushed olives still hanging in the air inside the mill, though the picking season was all but over. In November, the olive presses had been clanking and whirring, and crates and bags heavy with olives were hauled in by farm trucks, atop tiny Fiat cars and in the backs of cars.</p>
<p>Still, production, Raimondo said, was off by half.</p>
<p>"This was supposed to be a good year, full. But the plants went into stress due to the drought," he said.</p>
<p>When we arrived in September 2016, we'd looked forward to picking olives. But that first harvest was destroyed by the olive fruit fly.</p>
<p>Now the enemy was heat, drought and scirocco winds.</p>
<p>Wells ran dry and gardens were limp lifeless places. At the plumber's shop, pumps were bought and old ones fixed. Fountains were shut off. Even household water was rationed. Bees buzzed in throngs — and died in throngs — at the few pools of water.</p>
<p>Finally, in October, as though out of nowhere, plump, black olive fruit appeared. And then more and more.</p>
<p>It's customary in Italy to wait until after the Day of the Dead to start harvesting olives. So we waited.</p>
<p>We live on a hillside in a farming valley with a good variety of olive trees. Some are huge and centuries-old, while others are smaller and younger. We also have almond trees, ashes, a large prickly pear patch, a few pear trees and two empty fields once covered in grape vines.</p>
<p>On Nov. 7, we took our nets, rakes, crates and saws down to the first tree. We had made a crude map, and given trees names taken from the Greek and Georgian alphabets.</p>
<p>We started with Mu — a nice, full-bodied younger tree with a healthy number of olives. Its good exposure to sun and breezes helped it thrive.</p>
<p>Off to work we went. We first picked up fallen olives, which can be used as salted table olives. Then, we attacked the "olive jungle," as I called our unruly trees left for years without a good pruning.</p>
<p>In the Madonie mountains, olives are picked mostly by hand, due largely to the landscape of steep hills and mountain slopes. Many families make oil just for domestic needs. We did the same.</p>
<p>Our initiation was anything but easy.</p>
<p>To pick olives, you first lay down large, nylon nets. Then, using rakes, clappers, poles or your hands, you strip olive branches of their fruit. After a tree is done, you pick up the net and collect the olives in it.</p>
<p>Simple enough, right? Not so fast.</p>
<p>Nets got stuck on our uncut grass and wild plants. We slipped, and occasionally fell. We twisted and turned and tried every possible position to get our heavy-duty construction ladder into trees. We struggled to get olives that were entangled in "secco," a thick dry web of branches in each of our uncultivated trees.</p>
<p>And on it went for an entire month.</p>
<p>The days grew colder. Work was interrupted by rain. Sore, we got up in the morning and trudged off in rubber boots to attack another tree.</p>
<p>We stood high in the trees, got poked in the eyes by the secco, talked for hours and worked in silence for even longer; we admired dawns and dusks, worked with friends, and watched with satisfaction as the first olive oil was made at the mill; we climbed onto massive tree limbs and worried about falling; we killed our backs with long rakes and wondered why in the world we were going to so much effort for a few olives dangling high up there out of reach.</p>
<p>And we ate voraciously, to satisfy our work appetite.</p>
<p>We picked our trees, and those of friendly neighbors who live away in Palermo; and we ended our season picking other friends' olives under the shadows of Pizzo Carbonara, the massive alpine mountain that overlooks Castelbuono.</p>
<p>Back at the oil mill, in late December, an oil producer named Enzo Biundo chatted with the mill owner, Raimondo.</p>
<p>"This is called courageous agriculture," Biundo said about harvesting olives in the Madonie.</p>
<p>He shrugged. For him, the year had been "scarso," disappointing. He got few olives from some 1,000 trees he planted six years ago.</p>
<p>As for us, we were happy with our harvest.</p>
<p>"I now have two favorite seasons: picking wild asparagus under our olive trees in the spring and picking olives in the fall," my wife said with a smile.</p>
<p>The season isn't quite over. A few olives still hang on the trees, and they can be turned into table olives. And a few trees still haven't been mapped and named.</p>
<p>CASTELBUONO, Sicily (AP) — Our first grueling, knee-killing, bumbling and comically great olive season finally feels like it is over.</p>
<p>We are rich in a new way: More than 70 liters of dark green, corpulent and peppery olive oil has been produced, and is ready to pour onto salads, bread, pasta, fish.</p>
<p>During the summer, my wife and I were gloomy. There was the prospect of not having any oil for a second disappointing year. We moved to the Madonie mountains in north-central Sicily in no small part to enjoy making oil from some 40 trees on the country property we purchased.</p>
<p>But disastrous drought and extreme heat hit Sicily and Italy hard. Between April and the start of October, only 7 inches of rain fell into our rain gauge.</p>
<p>"Due to the drought, there could have been the problem that the olives wouldn't have produced any fruit," said Francesco Raimondo, an oil maker who runs a mill in Castelbuono that his grandfather started in 1955.</p>
<p>He spoke on a late December morning, the smell of crushed olives still hanging in the air inside the mill, though the picking season was all but over. In November, the olive presses had been clanking and whirring, and crates and bags heavy with olives were hauled in by farm trucks, atop tiny Fiat cars and in the backs of cars.</p>
<p>Still, production, Raimondo said, was off by half.</p>
<p>"This was supposed to be a good year, full. But the plants went into stress due to the drought," he said.</p>
<p>When we arrived in September 2016, we'd looked forward to picking olives. But that first harvest was destroyed by the olive fruit fly.</p>
<p>Now the enemy was heat, drought and scirocco winds.</p>
<p>Wells ran dry and gardens were limp lifeless places. At the plumber's shop, pumps were bought and old ones fixed. Fountains were shut off. Even household water was rationed. Bees buzzed in throngs — and died in throngs — at the few pools of water.</p>
<p>Finally, in October, as though out of nowhere, plump, black olive fruit appeared. And then more and more.</p>
<p>It's customary in Italy to wait until after the Day of the Dead to start harvesting olives. So we waited.</p>
<p>We live on a hillside in a farming valley with a good variety of olive trees. Some are huge and centuries-old, while others are smaller and younger. We also have almond trees, ashes, a large prickly pear patch, a few pear trees and two empty fields once covered in grape vines.</p>
<p>On Nov. 7, we took our nets, rakes, crates and saws down to the first tree. We had made a crude map, and given trees names taken from the Greek and Georgian alphabets.</p>
<p>We started with Mu — a nice, full-bodied younger tree with a healthy number of olives. Its good exposure to sun and breezes helped it thrive.</p>
<p>Off to work we went. We first picked up fallen olives, which can be used as salted table olives. Then, we attacked the "olive jungle," as I called our unruly trees left for years without a good pruning.</p>
<p>In the Madonie mountains, olives are picked mostly by hand, due largely to the landscape of steep hills and mountain slopes. Many families make oil just for domestic needs. We did the same.</p>
<p>Our initiation was anything but easy.</p>
<p>To pick olives, you first lay down large, nylon nets. Then, using rakes, clappers, poles or your hands, you strip olive branches of their fruit. After a tree is done, you pick up the net and collect the olives in it.</p>
<p>Simple enough, right? Not so fast.</p>
<p>Nets got stuck on our uncut grass and wild plants. We slipped, and occasionally fell. We twisted and turned and tried every possible position to get our heavy-duty construction ladder into trees. We struggled to get olives that were entangled in "secco," a thick dry web of branches in each of our uncultivated trees.</p>
<p>And on it went for an entire month.</p>
<p>The days grew colder. Work was interrupted by rain. Sore, we got up in the morning and trudged off in rubber boots to attack another tree.</p>
<p>We stood high in the trees, got poked in the eyes by the secco, talked for hours and worked in silence for even longer; we admired dawns and dusks, worked with friends, and watched with satisfaction as the first olive oil was made at the mill; we climbed onto massive tree limbs and worried about falling; we killed our backs with long rakes and wondered why in the world we were going to so much effort for a few olives dangling high up there out of reach.</p>
<p>And we ate voraciously, to satisfy our work appetite.</p>
<p>We picked our trees, and those of friendly neighbors who live away in Palermo; and we ended our season picking other friends' olives under the shadows of Pizzo Carbonara, the massive alpine mountain that overlooks Castelbuono.</p>
<p>Back at the oil mill, in late December, an oil producer named Enzo Biundo chatted with the mill owner, Raimondo.</p>
<p>"This is called courageous agriculture," Biundo said about harvesting olives in the Madonie.</p>
<p>He shrugged. For him, the year had been "scarso," disappointing. He got few olives from some 1,000 trees he planted six years ago.</p>
<p>As for us, we were happy with our harvest.</p>
<p>"I now have two favorite seasons: picking wild asparagus under our olive trees in the spring and picking olives in the fall," my wife said with a smile.</p>
<p>The season isn't quite over. A few olives still hang on the trees, and they can be turned into table olives. And a few trees still haven't been mapped and named.</p>
| false | 2 |
castelbuono sicily ap first grueling kneekilling bumbling comically great olive season finally feels like rich new way 70 liters dark green corpulent peppery olive oil produced ready pour onto salads bread pasta fish summer wife gloomy prospect oil second disappointing year moved madonie mountains northcentral sicily small part enjoy making oil 40 trees country property purchased disastrous drought extreme heat hit sicily italy hard april start october 7 inches rain fell rain gauge due drought could problem olives wouldnt produced fruit said francesco raimondo oil maker runs mill castelbuono grandfather started 1955 spoke late december morning smell crushed olives still hanging air inside mill though picking season november olive presses clanking whirring crates bags heavy olives hauled farm trucks atop tiny fiat cars backs cars still production raimondo said half supposed good year full plants went stress due drought said arrived september 2016 wed looked forward picking olives first harvest destroyed olive fruit fly enemy heat drought scirocco winds wells ran dry gardens limp lifeless places plumbers shop pumps bought old ones fixed fountains shut even household water rationed bees buzzed throngs died throngs pools water finally october though nowhere plump black olive fruit appeared customary italy wait day dead start harvesting olives waited live hillside farming valley good variety olive trees huge centuriesold others smaller younger also almond trees ashes large prickly pear patch pear trees two empty fields covered grape vines nov 7 took nets rakes crates saws first tree made crude map given trees names taken greek georgian alphabets started mu nice fullbodied younger tree healthy number olives good exposure sun breezes helped thrive work went first picked fallen olives used salted table olives attacked olive jungle called unruly trees left years without good pruning madonie mountains olives picked mostly hand due largely landscape steep hills mountain slopes many families make oil domestic needs initiation anything easy pick olives first lay large nylon nets using rakes clappers poles hands strip olive branches fruit tree done pick net collect olives simple enough right fast nets got stuck uncut grass wild plants slipped occasionally fell twisted turned tried every possible position get heavyduty construction ladder trees struggled get olives entangled secco thick dry web branches uncultivated trees went entire month days grew colder work interrupted rain sore got morning trudged rubber boots attack another tree stood high trees got poked eyes secco talked hours worked silence even longer admired dawns dusks worked friends watched satisfaction first olive oil made mill climbed onto massive tree limbs worried falling killed backs long rakes wondered world going much effort olives dangling high reach ate voraciously satisfy work appetite picked trees friendly neighbors live away palermo ended season picking friends olives shadows pizzo carbonara massive alpine mountain overlooks castelbuono back oil mill late december oil producer named enzo biundo chatted mill owner raimondo called courageous agriculture biundo said harvesting olives madonie shrugged year scarso disappointing got olives 1000 trees planted six years ago us happy harvest two favorite seasons picking wild asparagus olive trees spring picking olives fall wife said smile season isnt quite olives still hang trees turned table olives trees still havent mapped named castelbuono sicily ap first grueling kneekilling bumbling comically great olive season finally feels like rich new way 70 liters dark green corpulent peppery olive oil produced ready pour onto salads bread pasta fish summer wife gloomy prospect oil second disappointing year moved madonie mountains northcentral sicily small part enjoy making oil 40 trees country property purchased disastrous drought extreme heat hit sicily italy hard april start october 7 inches rain fell rain gauge due drought could problem olives wouldnt produced fruit said francesco raimondo oil maker runs mill castelbuono grandfather started 1955 spoke late december morning smell crushed olives still hanging air inside mill though picking season november olive presses clanking whirring crates bags heavy olives hauled farm trucks atop tiny fiat cars backs cars still production raimondo said half supposed good year full plants went stress due drought said arrived september 2016 wed looked forward picking olives first harvest destroyed olive fruit fly enemy heat drought scirocco winds wells ran dry gardens limp lifeless places plumbers shop pumps bought old ones fixed fountains shut even household water rationed bees buzzed throngs died throngs pools water finally october though nowhere plump black olive fruit appeared customary italy wait day dead start harvesting olives waited live hillside farming valley good variety olive trees huge centuriesold others smaller younger also almond trees ashes large prickly pear patch pear trees two empty fields covered grape vines nov 7 took nets rakes crates saws first tree made crude map given trees names taken greek georgian alphabets started mu nice fullbodied younger tree healthy number olives good exposure sun breezes helped thrive work went first picked fallen olives used salted table olives attacked olive jungle called unruly trees left years without good pruning madonie mountains olives picked mostly hand due largely landscape steep hills mountain slopes many families make oil domestic needs initiation anything easy pick olives first lay large nylon nets using rakes clappers poles hands strip olive branches fruit tree done pick net collect olives simple enough right fast nets got stuck uncut grass wild plants slipped occasionally fell twisted turned tried every possible position get heavyduty construction ladder trees struggled get olives entangled secco thick dry web branches uncultivated trees went entire month days grew colder work interrupted rain sore got morning trudged rubber boots attack another tree stood high trees got poked eyes secco talked hours worked silence even longer admired dawns dusks worked friends watched satisfaction first olive oil made mill climbed onto massive tree limbs worried falling killed backs long rakes wondered world going much effort olives dangling high reach ate voraciously satisfy work appetite picked trees friendly neighbors live away palermo ended season picking friends olives shadows pizzo carbonara massive alpine mountain overlooks castelbuono back oil mill late december oil producer named enzo biundo chatted mill owner raimondo called courageous agriculture biundo said harvesting olives madonie shrugged year scarso disappointing got olives 1000 trees planted six years ago us happy harvest two favorite seasons picking wild asparagus olive trees spring picking olives fall wife said smile season isnt quite olives still hang trees turned table olives trees still havent mapped named
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<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>LONDON (Reuters) - GlaxoSmithKline ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=GSK.L" type="external">GSK.L</a>) has quit the race to buy Pfizer’s ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=PFE.N" type="external">PFE.N</a>) consumer healthcare business, endangering an auction the U.S. drugmaker hoped would bring in as much as $20 billion.</p> FILE PHOTO: The Pfizer logo is seen at their world headquarters in New York, U.S., April 28, 2014. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo
<p>It was not immediately clear whether there were other offers for the business, which includes Advil painkillers and Centrum vitamins, following this week’s deadline for binding bids.</p>
<p>GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), which announced its withdrawal on Friday, was seen as the frontrunner to buy the assets after Reckitt Benckiser ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=RB.L" type="external">RB.L</a>) left the race late on Wednesday. Johnson &amp; Johnson ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=JNJ.N" type="external">JNJ.N</a>) stepped away from the auction in January.</p>
<p>A source familiar with the matter said GSK declined to make a final bid for the assets in the end.</p>
<p>“While we will continue to review opportunities that may accelerate our strategy, they must meet our criteria for returns and not compromise our priorities for capital allocation,” GSK Chief Executive Emma Walmsley said in a statement.</p>
<p>GSK shares rose nearly 4 percent, as investors’ concerns about a potential dividend cut eased.</p>
<p>Pfizer said on Friday it continued to evaluate potential alternatives for the business, which include a spin-off, sale or other transaction, as well as retaining it.</p>
<p>“We have not yet made a decision, but continue to expect to make one in 2018,” a spokesman said.</p>
<p>Sources familiar with the matter said on Thursday it was possible there were other bids. On Friday, a source said that if not, Pfizer could try to tap private equity funds.</p>
<p>Pfizer is the world’s fifth-largest player in consumer health with 2.5 percent of a market bolstered by aging populations and growing interest in health and wellness.</p>
<p>The business, which also includes Chapstick lip balm and Caltrate supplements, is seen as attractive but has come to market at a bad time. GSK and Reckitt are under shareholder pressure to exercise financial discipline, while other potential suitors, such as Bayer ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=BAYGn.DE" type="external">BAYGn.DE</a>) and Sanofi ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=SASY.PA" type="external">SASY.PA</a>) are busy with other projects.</p>
<p>What is more, the global consumer health market has slowed, from 4-6 percent like-for-like sales growth to 0-3 percent growth, Morgan Stanley analysts said in December. Major players in the over-the-counter market have been grappling with pricing pressure stoked by online players such as Amazon ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=AMZN.O" type="external">AMZN.O</a>) and private label competitors.</p>
<p>Pfizer’s hope of fetching around $20 billion translated to a multiple of about 20 times the unit’s core earnings, according to Bernstein analysts, in line with past deals in the sector during faster growing times.</p>
<p>Differences in price expectations also hobbled German drugmaker Merck KGaA’s ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=MRCG.DE" type="external">MRCG.DE</a>) attempts to sell its consumer products unit, where a price tag of up to 4 billion euros ($5 billion) deterred initial suitors such as Nestle ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=NESN.S" type="external">NESN.S</a>), Perrigo ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=PRGO.N" type="external">PRGO.N</a>) and a private-equity consortium.</p>
<a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=GSK.L" type="external">GlaxoSmithKline PLC</a> 1320.6 GSK.L London Stock Exchange +46.80 (+3.67%) GSK.L PFE.N RB.L JNJ.N BAYGn.DE
<p>Reckitt’s early interest in the Merck assets also waned as the Pfizer auction gained momentum.</p> SPLIT OPINION
<p>Buying the Pfizer business would have been the boldest move to date for Walmsley, who took over at GSK last April. But the wisdom of a deal split opinion among investors, with some worried about the risk to the company’s dividend.</p>
<p>Acquiring additional consumer health assets at a reasonable price could have been a fairly safe way to boost earnings, since scale is key in over-the-counter remedies, but it could have distracted from fixing GSK’s core pharma division.</p>
<p>That is a particular headache for Walmsley - a consumer products veteran who worked for 17 years at L’Oreal ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=OREP.PA" type="external">OREP.PA</a>) - since she has her work cut out to persuade the market she is the right person to lead Britain’s top pharmaceuticals company.</p>
<p>Last month, in a bid to reassure investors, she spelt out that her first priority was improving performance in prescription drugs, followed by dividend payments and only after that acquisitions.</p>
<p>The overhaul of the drugs business, which has produced fewer blockbuster medicines than rivals in recent years, is underway in both the commercial and research fields.</p>
<p>GSK runs its consumer healthcare business via a joint venture with Novartis ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=NOVN.S" type="external">NOVN.S</a>), which complicates any acquisitions. Novartis has the right to sell down its 36.5 percent stake, valued at around $10 billion, from this month, although it has previously indicated it is in no rush to do so.</p>
<p>Additional reporting by Paul Sandle and Ben Hirschler; Editing by David Goodman and Mark Potter</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>PARIS (Reuters) - There are two victims in a hostage taking at a supermarket in Trebes southern France, the mayor of the town said on Friday as La Depeche du midi newspaper reported one person was dead.</p> Police are seen at the scene of a hostage situation in a supermarket in Trebes, Aude, France March 23, 2018 in this picture obtained from a social media video. LA VIE A TREBES/via REUTERS
<p>The condition of the two victims was not immediately known.</p>
<p>Mayor Eric Ménassi told BFM TV that the hostage taker was now alone with one police officer in the supermarket and all other hostages had been freed.</p>
<p>Prime Minister Edouard Philippe described the situation, which investigators are treating as terrorism, as “very serious” and Interior Minister Gerard Collomb is heading to the site, his ministry said.</p>
<p>Reporting by John Irish and Bate Felix, writing by Leigh Thomas; editing by John Irish</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>LONDON (Reuters) - The threat of a global trade war sent stock markets sliding and investors rushing for the safety of currencies like the yen and government bonds on Friday, after U.S. President Donald Trump announced tariffs on up to $60 billion of Chinese goods.</p> The German share price index, DAX board, is seen at the stock exchange in Frankfurt, Germany, March 21, 2018. REUTERS/Tilman Blasshofer
<p>Another bruising week for stocks .MIWD00000PUS has left global equity markets heading for their first quarterly loss since early 2016 after a spike in volatility, nervousness about rising inflation and the specter of a trade war spooked investors enjoying a multi-year bull run.</p>
<p>European stocks fell at the open, with Germany's Dax <a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.GDAXI" type="external">.GDAXI</a> down 1.6 percent, the French CAC 40 <a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.FCHI" type="external">.FCHI</a> 1.5 percent lower and Britain's FTSE 100 <a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.FTSE" type="external">.FTSE</a> 0.6 percent in the red.</p>
<p>That followed large falls in the U.S., with the S&amp;P 500 <a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.SPX" type="external">.SPX</a> shedding 2.5 percent, and overnight in Asia, where the Japanese Nikkei 225 <a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.N225" type="external">.N225</a> was the biggest loser slumping 4.5 percent.</p>
<p>The MSCI World Index, down 3.4 percent since Monday, is on course for its worst week since early February when a spike in volatility sent markets into a tailspin.</p>
<p>Trump signed a presidential memorandum on Thursday that could impose tariffs on up to $60 billion of imports from China, although the measures have a 30-day consultation period.</p>
<p>China urged the United States to “pull back from the brink”, but investors fear Trump’s tariffs are leading the world’s two largest economies into a trade war with potentially dire consequences for the global economy.</p>
<p>China disclosed its own plans on Friday to impose tariffs on up to $3 billion of U.S. imports in retaliation against the U.S. tariffs on Chinese steel and aluminum products.</p>
<p>“The equity markets are getting clobbered, which is not that surprising with fears of a trade war breaking out,” said Paul Fage, a TD Securities emerging markets strategist.</p>
<p>With investors seeking out safer assets, many jumped into government bond markets in Europe and the United States.</p>
<p>U.S. 10-year Treasury yields US10YT=RR, which fell almost 8 basis points on Thursday, were set for their biggest two-week fall since September. In Europe, benchmark issuer Germany’s 10-year bond yield hovered close to 10-week lows struck a day earlier at around 0.52 percent DE10YT=RR and was on track for its biggest two-week drop since August, down 13 basis points.</p> FLIGHT TO YEN
<p>Many investors also turned to the yen, a currency likely to benefit from a full-fledged trade war. The Japanese currency gained 0.3 percent against the dollar to 104.95 <a href="/finance/currencies/quote?srcCurr=JPY&amp;destCurr=USD" type="external">JPY=</a> yen, the first time it has been below 105 since November 2016.</p>
<p>The Swiss franc, another currency bought in times of market uncertainty, rose 0.2 percent versus the dollar <a href="/finance/currencies/quote?srcCurr=CHF&amp;destCurr=USD" type="external">CHF=</a>, although it remained flat against the euro EURCHF=.</p>
<p>The dollar .DXY fell 0.2 percent against a basket of currencies.</p>
<p>“The FX market itself isn’t sure, and its reaction to risk-off and lower bond yields across the board is to buy the yen and the Swiss franc,” Kit Juckes, an FX strategist at Societe Generale, wrote in a daily note.</p>
<a href="/finance/markets/index?symbol=.GDAXI" type="external">Deutsche Boerse AG</a> 12100.08 .GDAXI Xetra -209.07 (-1.70%) .GDAXI .FCHI .FTSE .SPX .N225
<p>In commodity markets, oil prices recouped overnight losses after Saudi Arabia said that OPEC and Russian-led production curbs introduced in 2017 will need to be extended into 2019.</p>
<p>U.S. crude futures CLc1 were up 0.3 percent at $64.48 per barrel after losing 1.3 percent on Thursday and Brent rose 0.45 percent to $69.22 before giving up most of those gains LCOc1.</p>
<p>Safe-haven spot gold XAU= rose more than one percent to $1,342 an ounce, its highest since Feb. 20. [GOL/]</p>
<p>Copper and iron prices both fell, as investors bet demand for the metals would suffer in a trade war. MET/L DCIOcv1.</p>
<p>Daniel Lockyer, senior fund manager at Hawksmoor Investment Management, said financial markets had got ahead of themselves and were failing to price in the risk a number of factors could trigger a sell-off.</p>
<p>“It’s not that we thought trade wars would cause the market to fall, it’s that there was too much optimism priced into stock markets,” he said.</p>
<p>Elsewhere, South Africa's rand <a href="/finance/currencies/quote?srcCurr=ZAR&amp;destCurr=USD" type="external">ZAR=D3</a> firmed 0.4 percent and was set to end the week up around 1.5 percent ahead of a decision by Moody's on the fate of South Africa's last remaining investment grade credit rating.</p>
<p>For Reuters Live Markets blog on European and UK stock markets open a news window on Reuters Eikon by pressing F9 and type in ‘Live Markets’ in the search bar</p>
<p>Additional reporting by Dhara Ranasinghe, Helen Reid and Marc Jones in London, editing by Larry King and Jane Merriman</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>(Reuters) - The Kentucky Senate overwhelmingly approved legislation on Thursday to ban a common abortion procedure once the patient reaches her 11th week of pregnancy, in what would amount to one of the strictest abortion limits yet in the United States.</p> FILE PHOTO: Republican Governor Matt Bevin of Kentucky speaks during the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in National Harbor, Maryland, U.S., February 23, 2017. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts
<p>The Senate voted 31-5 in favor of the measure, which now goes back to the state’s House of Representatives for final approval of changes to a version of the bill it passed 71-11 vote on March 12. Both bodies are controlled by Republicans.</p>
<p>The procedure in question, called dilation and evacuation, accounts for 16 percent of all abortions performed in Kentucky. It is primarily for pregnancies in the second trimester.</p>
<p>The House and Senate are in recess until March 27.</p>
<p>On Monday, Mississippi’s governor signed into law the most restrictive abortion measure enacted in the United States, which bans any type of procedure once pregnancies reach 15 weeks.</p>
<p>But on Tuesday, a U.S. federal judge blocked the law from taking effect for 10 days, pending legal arguments over whether the injunction should remain in effect while the overall case remains under judicial review.</p>
<p>The Kentucky and Mississippi measures both allow medical emergency procedures that otherwise would be prohibited.</p>
<p>Representatives for Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin, a Republican who has described himself as “100 percent pro-life,” could not be reached immediately for comment.</p>
<p>Since last year, when Republicans won control of the Kentucky House for the first time since 1921, the state’s legislature has passed several measures to restrict access to abortion, including banning any type of abortion after the 20th week of pregnancy.</p>
<p>Representative Addia Wuchner, a Republican, tweeted after a state Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, that her bill protects “unborn children in Kentucky from intentional bodily dismemberment”.</p>
<p>But critics say that the bill will almost certainly face a legal challenge. Last year, a similar measure passed by Texas lawmakers was struck down by a federal judge.</p>
<p>Similar bans in other states including Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas and Oklahoma have also been struck down by courts.</p>
<p>“Kentucky can’t afford doomed legislation created out of willful ignorance,” Marcie Crim, executive director of the Kentucky Health Justice Network, said on Twitter. “We need every dime of our money to go towards real improvements, not grandstanding.”</p>
<p>While dilation and evacuation is used in most second-trimester abortions, nearly 90 percent of all abortions are performed in the first trimester, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a research group that supports abortion rights.</p>
<p>Reporting by Steve Bittenbender in Louisville, Kentucky; Editing by Bernie Woodall and Richard Borsuk</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
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thomson reuters trust principles london reuters glaxosmithkline gskl quit race buy pfizers pfen consumer healthcare business endangering auction us drugmaker hoped would bring much 20 billion file photo pfizer logo seen world headquarters new york us april 28 2014 reutersandrew kellyfile photo immediately clear whether offers business includes advil painkillers centrum vitamins following weeks deadline binding bids glaxosmithkline gsk announced withdrawal friday seen frontrunner buy assets reckitt benckiser rbl left race late wednesday johnson amp johnson jnjn stepped away auction january source familiar matter said gsk declined make final bid assets end continue review opportunities may accelerate strategy must meet criteria returns compromise priorities capital allocation gsk chief executive emma walmsley said statement gsk shares rose nearly 4 percent investors concerns potential dividend cut eased pfizer said friday continued evaluate potential alternatives business include spinoff sale transaction well retaining yet made decision continue expect make one 2018 spokesman said sources familiar matter said thursday possible bids friday source said pfizer could try tap private equity funds pfizer worlds fifthlargest player consumer health 25 percent market bolstered aging populations growing interest health wellness business also includes chapstick lip balm caltrate supplements seen attractive come market bad time gsk reckitt shareholder pressure exercise financial discipline potential suitors bayer baygnde sanofi sasypa busy projects global consumer health market slowed 46 percent likeforlike sales growth 03 percent growth morgan stanley analysts said december major players overthecounter market grappling pricing pressure stoked online players amazon amzno private label competitors pfizers hope fetching around 20 billion translated multiple 20 times units core earnings according bernstein analysts line past deals sector faster growing times differences price expectations also hobbled german drugmaker merck kgaas mrcgde attempts sell consumer products unit price tag 4 billion euros 5 billion deterred initial suitors nestle nesns perrigo prgon privateequity consortium glaxosmithkline plc 13206 gskl london stock exchange 4680 367 gskl pfen rbl jnjn baygnde reckitts early interest merck assets also waned pfizer auction gained momentum split opinion buying pfizer business would boldest move date walmsley took gsk last april wisdom deal split opinion among investors worried risk companys dividend acquiring additional consumer health assets reasonable price could fairly safe way boost earnings since scale key overthecounter remedies could distracted fixing gsks core pharma division particular headache walmsley consumer products veteran worked 17 years loreal oreppa since work cut persuade market right person lead britains top pharmaceuticals company last month bid reassure investors spelt first priority improving performance prescription drugs followed dividend payments acquisitions overhaul drugs business produced fewer blockbuster medicines rivals recent years underway commercial research fields gsk runs consumer healthcare business via joint venture novartis novns complicates acquisitions novartis right sell 365 percent stake valued around 10 billion month although previously indicated rush additional reporting paul sandle ben hirschler editing david goodman mark potter standards thomson reuters trust principles paris reuters two victims hostage taking supermarket trebes southern france mayor town said friday la depeche du midi newspaper reported one person dead police seen scene hostage situation supermarket trebes aude france march 23 2018 picture obtained social media video la vie trebesvia reuters condition two victims immediately known mayor eric ménassi told bfm tv hostage taker alone one police officer supermarket hostages freed prime minister edouard philippe described situation investigators treating terrorism serious interior minister gerard collomb heading site ministry said reporting john irish bate felix writing leigh thomas editing john irish standards thomson reuters trust principles london reuters threat global trade war sent stock markets sliding investors rushing safety currencies like yen government bonds friday us president donald trump announced tariffs 60 billion chinese goods german share price index dax board seen stock exchange frankfurt germany march 21 2018 reuterstilman blasshofer another bruising week stocks miwd00000pus left global equity markets heading first quarterly loss since early 2016 spike volatility nervousness rising inflation specter trade war spooked investors enjoying multiyear bull run european stocks fell open germanys dax gdaxi 16 percent french cac 40 fchi 15 percent lower britains ftse 100 ftse 06 percent red followed large falls us sampp 500 spx shedding 25 percent overnight asia japanese nikkei 225 n225 biggest loser slumping 45 percent msci world index 34 percent since monday course worst week since early february spike volatility sent markets tailspin trump signed presidential memorandum thursday could impose tariffs 60 billion imports china although measures 30day consultation period china urged united states pull back brink investors fear trumps tariffs leading worlds two largest economies trade war potentially dire consequences global economy china disclosed plans friday impose tariffs 3 billion us imports retaliation us tariffs chinese steel aluminum products equity markets getting clobbered surprising fears trade war breaking said paul fage td securities emerging markets strategist investors seeking safer assets many jumped government bond markets europe united states us 10year treasury yields us10ytrr fell almost 8 basis points thursday set biggest twoweek fall since september europe benchmark issuer germanys 10year bond yield hovered close 10week lows struck day earlier around 052 percent de10ytrr track biggest twoweek drop since august 13 basis points flight yen many investors also turned yen currency likely benefit fullfledged trade war japanese currency gained 03 percent dollar 10495 jpy yen first time 105 since november 2016 swiss franc another currency bought times market uncertainty rose 02 percent versus dollar chf although remained flat euro eurchf dollar dxy fell 02 percent basket currencies fx market isnt sure reaction riskoff lower bond yields across board buy yen swiss franc kit juckes fx strategist societe generale wrote daily note deutsche boerse ag 1210008 gdaxi xetra 20907 170 gdaxi fchi ftse spx n225 commodity markets oil prices recouped overnight losses saudi arabia said opec russianled production curbs introduced 2017 need extended 2019 us crude futures clc1 03 percent 6448 per barrel losing 13 percent thursday brent rose 045 percent 6922 giving gains lcoc1 safehaven spot gold xau rose one percent 1342 ounce highest since feb 20 gol copper iron prices fell investors bet demand metals would suffer trade war metl dciocv1 daniel lockyer senior fund manager hawksmoor investment management said financial markets got ahead failing price risk number factors could trigger selloff thought trade wars would cause market fall much optimism priced stock markets said elsewhere south africas rand zard3 firmed 04 percent set end week around 15 percent ahead decision moodys fate south africas last remaining investment grade credit rating reuters live markets blog european uk stock markets open news window reuters eikon pressing f9 type live markets search bar additional reporting dhara ranasinghe helen reid marc jones london editing larry king jane merriman standards thomson reuters trust principles reuters kentucky senate overwhelmingly approved legislation thursday ban common abortion procedure patient reaches 11th week pregnancy would amount one strictest abortion limits yet united states file photo republican governor matt bevin kentucky speaks conservative political action conference cpac national harbor maryland us february 23 2017 reutersjoshua roberts senate voted 315 favor measure goes back states house representatives final approval changes version bill passed 7111 vote march 12 bodies controlled republicans procedure question called dilation evacuation accounts 16 percent abortions performed kentucky primarily pregnancies second trimester house senate recess march 27 monday mississippis governor signed law restrictive abortion measure enacted united states bans type procedure pregnancies reach 15 weeks tuesday us federal judge blocked law taking effect 10 days pending legal arguments whether injunction remain effect overall case remains judicial review kentucky mississippi measures allow medical emergency procedures otherwise would prohibited representatives kentucky governor matt bevin republican described 100 percent prolife could reached immediately comment since last year republicans control kentucky house first time since 1921 states legislature passed several measures restrict access abortion including banning type abortion 20th week pregnancy representative addia wuchner republican tweeted state senate judiciary committee hearing bill protects unborn children kentucky intentional bodily dismemberment critics say bill almost certainly face legal challenge last year similar measure passed texas lawmakers struck federal judge similar bans states including alabama arkansas kansas oklahoma also struck courts kentucky cant afford doomed legislation created willful ignorance marcie crim executive director kentucky health justice network said twitter need every dime money go towards real improvements grandstanding dilation evacuation used secondtrimester abortions nearly 90 percent abortions performed first trimester according guttmacher institute research group supports abortion rights reporting steve bittenbender louisville kentucky editing bernie woodall richard borsuk standards thomson reuters trust principles
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<p>TARPON SPRINGS, Fla. — Anthony Stansbury propped his rusty bike against a live oak tree and cast his fishing line into the rushing waters of Florida’s Anclote River.</p>
<p>When he bought a house down the street last year, Stansbury says he wasn’t told that his slice of paradise had a hidden problem. The neighborhood is adjacent to the Stauffer Chemical Co. Superfund site, a former chemical manufacturing plant that is on the list of the nation’s most polluted places. That 130-acre lot on the river’s edge is also located in a flood zone.</p>
<p>“Me and my kids fish here a couple times a week. Everyone who lives on this coast right here, they fish on this water daily,” said the 39-year-old father of three.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Stansbury is among nearly 2 million people in the U.S. who live within a mile of 327 Superfund sites in areas prone to flooding or vulnerable to sea-level rise caused by climate change, according to an Associated Press analysis of flood zone maps, census data and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency records.</p>
<p>This year’s historic hurricane season exposed a little-known public health threat: Highly polluted sites that can be inundated by floodwaters, potentially spreading toxic contamination.</p>
<p>In Houston, more than a dozen Superfund sites were flooded by Hurricane Harvey, with breaches reported at two. In the Southeast and Puerto Rico, Superfund sites were battered by driving rains and winds from Irma and Maria.</p>
<p>The vulnerable sites highlighted by AP’s review are scattered across the nation, but Florida, New Jersey and California have the most, and the most people living near them. They are in largely low-income, heavily minority neighborhoods, the data show.</p>
<p>Many of the 327 sites have had at least some work done to help mitigate the threat to public health, including fencing them off and covering them in plastic sheeting to help keep out rain water.</p>
<p>The Obama administration assessed some of these at-risk places and planned to gird them from harsher weather and rising seas. EPA’s 2014 Climate Adaptation Plan said prolonged flooding at low-lying Superfund sites could cause extensive erosion, carrying away contaminants as waters recede.</p>
<p>President Donald Trump, however, has called climate change a hoax, and his administration has worked to remove references from federal reports and websites linking carbon emissions to the warming planet.</p>
<p>“Site managers had started reviewing climate and environmental trends for each Superfund site, including the potential for flooding,” said Phyllis Anderson, who worked for 30 years as an EPA attorney and associate director of the division that manages Superfund cleanups until her retirement in 2013. “The current administration appears to be trying to erase these efforts in their climate change denials, which is a shame.”</p>
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<p>EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt has said he intends to focus on cleaning up Superfund sites, and he appointed a task force that developed a list of sites considered the highest priority. The Stauffer site in Florida is not on it.</p>
<p>Like Trump, Pruitt rejects the consensus of climate scientists that man-made carbon emissions are driving global warming. His task force’s 34-page report makes no mention of the flood risk to Superfund sites from stronger storms or rising seas, but eight of the 21 sites on EPA’s priority list are in areas of flood risk.</p>
<p>Despite EPA’s announced emphasis on expediting cleanups, the Trump administration’s proposed spending plan for the current 2018 fiscal year seeks to slash Superfund program funding by nearly one-third. Congress has not yet approved new spending plans for the fiscal year, which began Oct. 1.</p>
<p>Pruitt’s office declined to comment this week on the key findings of AP’s analysis or why the agency appears to no longer recognize an increasing flood risk to toxic sites posed by the changing climate.</p>
<p>However, Jahan Wilcox, an EPA spokesman, said, “Despite fear-mongering from the Associated Press, not a single dollar has actually been eliminated, as Congress still hasn’t passed a budget.”</p>
<p>Many flood-prone Superfund sites identified through AP’s analysis are located in low-lying, densely populated urban areas. In New Jersey, several polluted sites have more than 50,000 people living within one mile.</p>
<p>In Hoboken, across the Hudson River from New York City, the site of a former manufacturing plant for mercury vapor lamps sits within a mile of almost 100,000 residents, including 7,000 children under 5.</p>
<p>The Martin Aaron Inc. Superfund site is in the heart of Camden’s Waterfront South, a low-income neighborhood of crumbling row houses and industrial facilities stretching along the Delaware River.</p>
<p>The 2.5-acre lot, which takes up most of a city block, has been home to a succession of factories dating back to 1886 that included a leather tannery. The air around the fenced site hangs heavy with the nose-stinging odor of solvents. Testing found that soil and groundwater under the site contained a witch’s brew of highly toxic chemicals, including PCBs and pesticides.</p>
<p>Earlier this month, workers used heavy machinery to remove contaminated soil and to pump polluted water from deep underground. Long range plans approved by EPA call for eventually covering the land and restricting its future use.</p>
<p>Just around the corner, Mark Skinner and his niece Cherise Skinner pushed her 1-year-old son in a stroller in front of their rented row house. Mark Skinner shrugged when asked about the work at the former industrial site.</p>
<p>“It’s really contaminated, there’s a lot of stuff in the ground, but I don’t know what all it is,” said Skinner, 53, who works at a nearby scrap metal yard and has lived in Waterfront South since he was a teenager.</p>
<p>Foul-smelling water filled the streets there during Superstorm Sandy in 2012, flooding many basements, long-time residents said. Census data show about 17,250 people live within a mile of the Martin Aaron site — 58 percent are black and 36 percent are Latino.</p>
<p>Across the nation, more than 800,000 homes are located near flood-prone toxic sites. Houses are at risk of contamination if intense flooding brings water into them, and many more people could be affected if the contamination seeps into the ground, finding its way into drinking water.</p>
<p>Mustafa Ali, who resigned in March as EPA’s senior adviser and assistant associate administrator for environmental justice, said it’s no accident that many of the nation’s most polluted sites are also located in some of the poorest neighborhoods.</p>
<p>“We place the things that are most dangerous in sacrifice zones, which in many instances are communities of color where we haven’t placed as much value on their lives,” said Ali, who worked at EPA for 24 years.</p>
<p>The Stauffer site in Florida is a scrubby green field along the Anclote River, ringed on its other three sides by chain-link fences with “No Trespassing” signs. Testing showed the 130-acre lot’s soils were contaminated with radium, the long-banned pesticide DDT, arsenic, lead and other pollutants that over the years have fouled the area’s groundwater and the river.</p>
<p>Environmental regulators say the site now poses no threat to people or the environment because the current owner, the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, paid to treat contaminated soils, and cover the pollution with a “cap” of clean earth and grass. Still, residential development and use of groundwater on the site are prohibited because of the legacy pollution.</p>
<p>Covering toxic waste is often a cheaper option than completely removing the pollutants, but the installations are not always as long-lasting as the chemicals buried beneath them, said Jeff Cunningham, a civil engineering professor at the University of South Florida.</p>
<p>“As a long-term strategy, capping only works if the contaminants degrade to safe levels before the capping system eventually fails. What if it takes centuries for some of these contaminants to degrade to safe levels?” Cunningham said.</p>
<p>Damage to a protective cap from storm-fueled flooding has already occurred at least once this year.</p>
<p>In October, the EPA said dioxins from the San Jacinto River Waste Pits Superfund site near Houston were released after the cap was damaged by Harvey-related flooding. Tests afterward measured the toxins at 2,300 times the level that would normally trigger a new cleanup. Pruitt has since ordered an accelerated cleanup of the site.</p>
<p>Seventy-six-year-old Tony Leisner has lived near Florida’s Stauffer chemical site all his life. He told the AP he is seeing damage to docks and riverside properties from the ever-rising waters in the neighborhood, and is concerned about what more flooding could mean for the Superfund lot. Although monitoring wells do test local groundwater for contamination from the site, some in Leisner’s neighborhood said they’re fearful enough to drink only bottled water.</p>
<p>The Anclote River is listed as an “impaired waterway” because it fails to meet state clean water criteria, though how much of that is due to the Stauffer site’s legacy is unclear. The state has issued a warning about eating bass out of the river, but there are no signs at the popular fishing spot warning anglers even though tests show heightened levels of mercury in fish.</p>
<p>Leisner said barrels of chemicals at the Stauffer site self-ignited while crews were working. He said he’s disappointed neither the company nor EPA removed the pollutants, especially since rising waters are already threatening the neighborhood.</p>
<p>“Burying things rarely helps. And if you’ve got a chemical that is that toxic … I think you need to find a way to reuse, recycle and remove (it), to a place where it’s not going to contaminate groundwater,” he said.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Associated Press environmental writer Michael Biesecker reported from Camden, New Jersey. Reporter Tamara Lush contributed from Tarpon Springs.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Follow Jason Dearen at <a href="http://twitter.com/JHDearen" type="external">http://twitter.com/JHDearen</a> and Biesecker at <a href="http://twitter.com/mbieseck" type="external">http://twitter.com/mbieseck</a></p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Online: Previous AP Superfund-site-risk stories at: https://apnews.com/tag/ToxicSites</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>This story has been corrected to correct the black population figure for Camden, New Jersey, area near Superfund site to 58 percent, from 65.</p>
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tarpon springs fla anthony stansbury propped rusty bike live oak tree cast fishing line rushing waters floridas anclote river bought house street last year stansbury says wasnt told slice paradise hidden problem neighborhood adjacent stauffer chemical co superfund site former chemical manufacturing plant list nations polluted places 130acre lot rivers edge also located flood zone kids fish couple times week everyone lives coast right fish water daily said 39yearold father three advertisement stansbury among nearly 2 million people us live within mile 327 superfund sites areas prone flooding vulnerable sealevel rise caused climate change according associated press analysis flood zone maps census data us environmental protection agency records years historic hurricane season exposed littleknown public health threat highly polluted sites inundated floodwaters potentially spreading toxic contamination houston dozen superfund sites flooded hurricane harvey breaches reported two southeast puerto rico superfund sites battered driving rains winds irma maria vulnerable sites highlighted aps review scattered across nation florida new jersey california people living near largely lowincome heavily minority neighborhoods data show many 327 sites least work done help mitigate threat public health including fencing covering plastic sheeting help keep rain water obama administration assessed atrisk places planned gird harsher weather rising seas epas 2014 climate adaptation plan said prolonged flooding lowlying superfund sites could cause extensive erosion carrying away contaminants waters recede president donald trump however called climate change hoax administration worked remove references federal reports websites linking carbon emissions warming planet site managers started reviewing climate environmental trends superfund site including potential flooding said phyllis anderson worked 30 years epa attorney associate director division manages superfund cleanups retirement 2013 current administration appears trying erase efforts climate change denials shame advertisement epa administrator scott pruitt said intends focus cleaning superfund sites appointed task force developed list sites considered highest priority stauffer site florida like trump pruitt rejects consensus climate scientists manmade carbon emissions driving global warming task forces 34page report makes mention flood risk superfund sites stronger storms rising seas eight 21 sites epas priority list areas flood risk despite epas announced emphasis expediting cleanups trump administrations proposed spending plan current 2018 fiscal year seeks slash superfund program funding nearly onethird congress yet approved new spending plans fiscal year began oct 1 pruitts office declined comment week key findings aps analysis agency appears longer recognize increasing flood risk toxic sites posed changing climate however jahan wilcox epa spokesman said despite fearmongering associated press single dollar actually eliminated congress still hasnt passed budget many floodprone superfund sites identified aps analysis located lowlying densely populated urban areas new jersey several polluted sites 50000 people living within one mile hoboken across hudson river new york city site former manufacturing plant mercury vapor lamps sits within mile almost 100000 residents including 7000 children 5 martin aaron inc superfund site heart camdens waterfront south lowincome neighborhood crumbling row houses industrial facilities stretching along delaware river 25acre lot takes city block home succession factories dating back 1886 included leather tannery air around fenced site hangs heavy nosestinging odor solvents testing found soil groundwater site contained witchs brew highly toxic chemicals including pcbs pesticides earlier month workers used heavy machinery remove contaminated soil pump polluted water deep underground long range plans approved epa call eventually covering land restricting future use around corner mark skinner niece cherise skinner pushed 1yearold son stroller front rented row house mark skinner shrugged asked work former industrial site really contaminated theres lot stuff ground dont know said skinner 53 works nearby scrap metal yard lived waterfront south since teenager foulsmelling water filled streets superstorm sandy 2012 flooding many basements longtime residents said census data show 17250 people live within mile martin aaron site 58 percent black 36 percent latino across nation 800000 homes located near floodprone toxic sites houses risk contamination intense flooding brings water many people could affected contamination seeps ground finding way drinking water mustafa ali resigned march epas senior adviser assistant associate administrator environmental justice said accident many nations polluted sites also located poorest neighborhoods place things dangerous sacrifice zones many instances communities color havent placed much value lives said ali worked epa 24 years stauffer site florida scrubby green field along anclote river ringed three sides chainlink fences trespassing signs testing showed 130acre lots soils contaminated radium longbanned pesticide ddt arsenic lead pollutants years fouled areas groundwater river environmental regulators say site poses threat people environment current owner pharmaceutical company astrazeneca paid treat contaminated soils cover pollution cap clean earth grass still residential development use groundwater site prohibited legacy pollution covering toxic waste often cheaper option completely removing pollutants installations always longlasting chemicals buried beneath said jeff cunningham civil engineering professor university south florida longterm strategy capping works contaminants degrade safe levels capping system eventually fails takes centuries contaminants degrade safe levels cunningham said damage protective cap stormfueled flooding already occurred least year october epa said dioxins san jacinto river waste pits superfund site near houston released cap damaged harveyrelated flooding tests afterward measured toxins 2300 times level would normally trigger new cleanup pruitt since ordered accelerated cleanup site seventysixyearold tony leisner lived near floridas stauffer chemical site life told ap seeing damage docks riverside properties everrising waters neighborhood concerned flooding could mean superfund lot although monitoring wells test local groundwater contamination site leisners neighborhood said theyre fearful enough drink bottled water anclote river listed impaired waterway fails meet state clean water criteria though much due stauffer sites legacy unclear state issued warning eating bass river signs popular fishing spot warning anglers even though tests show heightened levels mercury fish leisner said barrels chemicals stauffer site selfignited crews working said hes disappointed neither company epa removed pollutants especially since rising waters already threatening neighborhood burying things rarely helps youve got chemical toxic think need find way reuse recycle remove place going contaminate groundwater said ___ associated press environmental writer michael biesecker reported camden new jersey reporter tamara lush contributed tarpon springs ___ follow jason dearen httptwittercomjhdearen biesecker httptwittercommbieseck ___ online previous ap superfundsiterisk stories httpsapnewscomtagtoxicsites ___ story corrected correct black population figure camden new jersey area near superfund site 58 percent 65
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<p>TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Lightning have a pretty good idea of where they'd likely be without Ben Bishop, and it's not in the NHL's Eastern Conference finals.</p>
<p>The league's tallest goaltender is making a name for himself, answering questions about how far he can carry his team with one stellar performance after another in the playoffs.</p>
<p>The 6-foot-7 Bishop won a personal-best and franchise-record 40 games in helping the Lightning to the best regular season in club history. Now, he's showing he has what it takes to not only hold his own, but thrive against hockey's elite on the game's biggest stage.</p>
<p>"It's just a byproduct of what we've watched for two years," coach Jon Cooper said Thursday before his team boarded a plane for New York, where Tampa Bay opens the best of seven conference finals against Henrik Lundqvist and the Rangers on Saturday.</p>
<p>"We didn't get to watch him play in the playoffs last year because he was hurt. But the only reason we were in the playoffs — well, I shouldn't say the only reason, but a big reason — was because of Ben," Cooper added. "I think this year, we needed Ben. But we didn't need him as much as we did the year before. But to get where we are today, through two playoff rounds, we've really needed him."</p>
<p>With Bishop out with a bad back, the Lightning were swept by Montreal in the opening round a year ago. Any lingering doubts about whether he could have made a difference in that series are being dispelled.</p>
<p>Since allowing three goals on 14 shots to lose his playoff debut against Detroit last month, Bishop has been superb in leading Tampa Bay past the Red Wings and Canadiens to reach the conference finals.</p>
<p>He won Games 6 and 7 to help the Lightning overcome a 3-2 series deficit against Detroit and young goaltender Petr Mzarek.</p>
<p>Tampa Bay eliminated Montreal in six games, with Bishop outperforming league MVP candidate Carey Price in the clincher.</p>
<p>"I feel like I've been pretty consistent," Bishop said. "I don't think I've played better or worse in any game, to be honest."</p>
<p>Cooper agreed.</p>
<p>"When the pressure is at its highest is when he has stood the tallest," the coach said. "You look at the four teams left, you'll probably say that about all the goaltenders. They've maybe had their struggles in the series, but at the biggest moments, they became the biggest stars."</p>
<p>Lundqvist and the Rangers stand between the Lightning and the franchise's second-ever trip to the Stanley Cup final.</p>
<p>Tampa Bay went 3-0 against New York during the regular season, outscoring the Rangers 15-7. The Lightning have won five of six games between the teams over the past two seasons.</p>
<p>Bishop's teammates expect him to play well.</p>
<p>"Bish has been our backbone all year," forward Ryan Callahan said.</p>
<p>"Coming into the playoffs, people were questioning him because he'd never been in the playoffs before, but I think he answered that pretty quickly," Callahan added. "The way he's played, the way he's performed, his calmness on and off the ice, it's been impressive to watch."</p>
<p>Bishop, meanwhile, stressed it's Lightning vs. Rangers, not a personal battle between him against Lundqvist to determine how he stacks up against one of the league's top goaltenders.</p>
<p>"I don't think you go out there and try to prove that, but it's always fun to play against the best," the goalie said.</p>
<p>"They're a really good team, obviously," Bishop added. "They're first in the conference for a reason. They have great goaltending, strong defense. ... It's going to be a tough challenge. It should be a lot of fun."</p>
<p>TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Lightning have a pretty good idea of where they'd likely be without Ben Bishop, and it's not in the NHL's Eastern Conference finals.</p>
<p>The league's tallest goaltender is making a name for himself, answering questions about how far he can carry his team with one stellar performance after another in the playoffs.</p>
<p>The 6-foot-7 Bishop won a personal-best and franchise-record 40 games in helping the Lightning to the best regular season in club history. Now, he's showing he has what it takes to not only hold his own, but thrive against hockey's elite on the game's biggest stage.</p>
<p>"It's just a byproduct of what we've watched for two years," coach Jon Cooper said Thursday before his team boarded a plane for New York, where Tampa Bay opens the best of seven conference finals against Henrik Lundqvist and the Rangers on Saturday.</p>
<p>"We didn't get to watch him play in the playoffs last year because he was hurt. But the only reason we were in the playoffs — well, I shouldn't say the only reason, but a big reason — was because of Ben," Cooper added. "I think this year, we needed Ben. But we didn't need him as much as we did the year before. But to get where we are today, through two playoff rounds, we've really needed him."</p>
<p>With Bishop out with a bad back, the Lightning were swept by Montreal in the opening round a year ago. Any lingering doubts about whether he could have made a difference in that series are being dispelled.</p>
<p>Since allowing three goals on 14 shots to lose his playoff debut against Detroit last month, Bishop has been superb in leading Tampa Bay past the Red Wings and Canadiens to reach the conference finals.</p>
<p>He won Games 6 and 7 to help the Lightning overcome a 3-2 series deficit against Detroit and young goaltender Petr Mzarek.</p>
<p>Tampa Bay eliminated Montreal in six games, with Bishop outperforming league MVP candidate Carey Price in the clincher.</p>
<p>"I feel like I've been pretty consistent," Bishop said. "I don't think I've played better or worse in any game, to be honest."</p>
<p>Cooper agreed.</p>
<p>"When the pressure is at its highest is when he has stood the tallest," the coach said. "You look at the four teams left, you'll probably say that about all the goaltenders. They've maybe had their struggles in the series, but at the biggest moments, they became the biggest stars."</p>
<p>Lundqvist and the Rangers stand between the Lightning and the franchise's second-ever trip to the Stanley Cup final.</p>
<p>Tampa Bay went 3-0 against New York during the regular season, outscoring the Rangers 15-7. The Lightning have won five of six games between the teams over the past two seasons.</p>
<p>Bishop's teammates expect him to play well.</p>
<p>"Bish has been our backbone all year," forward Ryan Callahan said.</p>
<p>"Coming into the playoffs, people were questioning him because he'd never been in the playoffs before, but I think he answered that pretty quickly," Callahan added. "The way he's played, the way he's performed, his calmness on and off the ice, it's been impressive to watch."</p>
<p>Bishop, meanwhile, stressed it's Lightning vs. Rangers, not a personal battle between him against Lundqvist to determine how he stacks up against one of the league's top goaltenders.</p>
<p>"I don't think you go out there and try to prove that, but it's always fun to play against the best," the goalie said.</p>
<p>"They're a really good team, obviously," Bishop added. "They're first in the conference for a reason. They have great goaltending, strong defense. ... It's going to be a tough challenge. It should be a lot of fun."</p>
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tampa fla ap tampa bay lightning pretty good idea theyd likely without ben bishop nhls eastern conference finals leagues tallest goaltender making name answering questions far carry team one stellar performance another playoffs 6foot7 bishop personalbest franchiserecord 40 games helping lightning best regular season club history hes showing takes hold thrive hockeys elite games biggest stage byproduct weve watched two years coach jon cooper said thursday team boarded plane new york tampa bay opens best seven conference finals henrik lundqvist rangers saturday didnt get watch play playoffs last year hurt reason playoffs well shouldnt say reason big reason ben cooper added think year needed ben didnt need much year get today two playoff rounds weve really needed bishop bad back lightning swept montreal opening round year ago lingering doubts whether could made difference series dispelled since allowing three goals 14 shots lose playoff debut detroit last month bishop superb leading tampa bay past red wings canadiens reach conference finals games 6 7 help lightning overcome 32 series deficit detroit young goaltender petr mzarek tampa bay eliminated montreal six games bishop outperforming league mvp candidate carey price clincher feel like ive pretty consistent bishop said dont think ive played better worse game honest cooper agreed pressure highest stood tallest coach said look four teams left youll probably say goaltenders theyve maybe struggles series biggest moments became biggest stars lundqvist rangers stand lightning franchises secondever trip stanley cup final tampa bay went 30 new york regular season outscoring rangers 157 lightning five six games teams past two seasons bishops teammates expect play well bish backbone year forward ryan callahan said coming playoffs people questioning hed never playoffs think answered pretty quickly callahan added way hes played way hes performed calmness ice impressive watch bishop meanwhile stressed lightning vs rangers personal battle lundqvist determine stacks one leagues top goaltenders dont think go try prove always fun play best goalie said theyre really good team obviously bishop added theyre first conference reason great goaltending strong defense going tough challenge lot fun tampa fla ap tampa bay lightning pretty good idea theyd likely without ben bishop nhls eastern conference finals leagues tallest goaltender making name answering questions far carry team one stellar performance another playoffs 6foot7 bishop personalbest franchiserecord 40 games helping lightning best regular season club history hes showing takes hold thrive hockeys elite games biggest stage byproduct weve watched two years coach jon cooper said thursday team boarded plane new york tampa bay opens best seven conference finals henrik lundqvist rangers saturday didnt get watch play playoffs last year hurt reason playoffs well shouldnt say reason big reason ben cooper added think year needed ben didnt need much year get today two playoff rounds weve really needed bishop bad back lightning swept montreal opening round year ago lingering doubts whether could made difference series dispelled since allowing three goals 14 shots lose playoff debut detroit last month bishop superb leading tampa bay past red wings canadiens reach conference finals games 6 7 help lightning overcome 32 series deficit detroit young goaltender petr mzarek tampa bay eliminated montreal six games bishop outperforming league mvp candidate carey price clincher feel like ive pretty consistent bishop said dont think ive played better worse game honest cooper agreed pressure highest stood tallest coach said look four teams left youll probably say goaltenders theyve maybe struggles series biggest moments became biggest stars lundqvist rangers stand lightning franchises secondever trip stanley cup final tampa bay went 30 new york regular season outscoring rangers 157 lightning five six games teams past two seasons bishops teammates expect play well bish backbone year forward ryan callahan said coming playoffs people questioning hed never playoffs think answered pretty quickly callahan added way hes played way hes performed calmness ice impressive watch bishop meanwhile stressed lightning vs rangers personal battle lundqvist determine stacks one leagues top goaltenders dont think go try prove always fun play best goalie said theyre really good team obviously bishop added theyre first conference reason great goaltending strong defense going tough challenge lot fun
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<p />
<p>On Saturday night, No. 8 seed Bernalillo (15-13) pulled away in the fourth quarter and advanced to the Class 4A state quarterfinals by turning back visiting No. 9 seed Socorro 51-33.</p>
<p>The Spartans, once 5-12, have won 10 of their past 11 games. They meet four-time defending state champion Hope Christian on Wednesday at the Santa Ana Star Center.</p>
<p>This is Bernalillo’s first season in this classification.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>“When we got into district, we got some people healthy and we got some people eligible that weren’t eligible,” said Bernalillo coach Terry Darnell. “That made us a more complete team.”</p>
<p>Socorro won the battle of tempo, turning the contest into a grind-it-out affair. But the visiting Warriors never whittled the deficit to fewer than six points in the second half while finishing 9-for-39 (23 percent) from the field.</p>
<p>“As simple as it sounds, the team that puts it in the hoop more wins games,” said Socorro first-year coach Ernie Lopez. “You have to hit shots to win tournament games.”</p>
<p>Bernalillo sophomore Reyes Herrera led all scorers with 14 points, but it was the Spartans’ two-headed center – Noah Leyba and Solomon Fragua – that came up big in the final stanza to stem the Warriors’ rally.</p>
<p>Leyba hit a baby hook shot early in the fourth, and then he drove for a layup on his team’s next possession for a hoop-and-harm three-point play.</p>
<p>With Leyba on the bench, Fragua quashed a Socorro 7-0 run that had the visitors within 38-32. The 6-foot-7 post put back a Herrera miss for an easy two, and then pulled off his own traditional three-point play that extended his team’s lead back to 43-32 with 3:06 left.</p>
<p>“We had a little bit of size on them, so those three-point plays (from our big men) really helped us out,” Darnell said.</p>
<p>Socorro (18-11) was led by Wesley Mauldin’s nine points.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>As for the Spartans, Darnell hopes his team can pull off the shocker next week when his team faces the Huskies.</p>
<p>“Whether it’s the quarterfinals or the finals, you still have to beat Hope (Christian),” he said. “Our mentality is to go out and do our best, and see what happens.”</p>
<p>– Patrick Newell</p>
<p>No. 1 HOPE CHRISTIAN 71, No. 16 HATCH VALLEY 25: At Hope, 12 Huskies got into the scoring column as they routed the Bears and opened up their quest for a fifth consecutive state championship.</p>
<p>Senior guard Marcus Medina had a team-best 12 points for Hope Christian (23-5).</p>
<p>Forward Nelson Longmire added 10 points for the Huskies, who outscored Hatch Valley 44-12 in the middle two quarters.</p>
<p>Hope did not face Bernalillo in the regular season.</p>
<p>ALSO: No. 4 Robertson beat No. 13 Sandia Prep 81-56 on Saturday, as the Cardinals advance to the quarterfinals, where they will face nemesis West Las Vegas late Wednesday night at the Star Center. The fifth-seeded Dons routed No. 12 Ruidoso, 82-50.</p>
<p>No. 3 Silver, Moriarty, No. 7 St. Michael’s and No. 2 Portales all won their first-round contests; the Pintos are the surprise team left in the field, as a No. 11 seed. They routed No. 6 Pojoaque Valley 66-32 on Saturday and will face the Colts on Wednesday morning in the quarterfinals at the Star Center.</p>
<p>Class 5A</p>
<p>(5) BELEN 67, (12) LOVINGTON 59: In Belen, the Eagles continued to defy adversity and advanced to the state quarterfinals by getting past the pesky Wildcats, who made the game seem close throughout with their pressure defense.</p>
<p>Belen (21-7) shot an incredible 40 free throws, making 27 as the two teams combined to commit 37 fouls in the second half and 48 total in the game. By contrast, Lovington (13-15) shot 29 freebies and sank 15.</p>
<p>The Eagles assembled an 11-0 run midway through the second quarter to take a 24-9 lead.</p>
<p>Lovington trailed 24-14 at halftime then fell behind 30-15 with 6:09 left in the third quarter as Belen got a quick six-point surge.</p>
<p>From there, the Wildcats kept up the pressure. After an 8-0 run cut the deficit back down to 32-24 with 4:41 left in the third quarter, it looked like Lovington would seize the initiative, but Belen withstood every run and kept the lead hovering at eight points the rest of the way.</p>
<p>With the win, Belen is now 3-1 under interim head coach Pablo Gabaldon, who took over after former head coach Patrick Mondragon was placed on unpaid administrative leave by the Belen Schools after being charged last month with criminal sexual contact with a 17-year-old girl.</p>
<p>(6) LOS LUNAS 50, (11) GRANTS 45: In Los Lunas, the Tigers faced down the district rival Pirates with what coach Travis Julian called the team’s “best defensive effort of the season” to advance to the quarterfinals for the fifth season in a row.</p>
<p>Sophomore forward A.J. Garcia scored a game-high 18 points to lead Los Lunas (23-5) while senior Hunter Wisneski scored 15, hitting three critical 3-pointers in the second half to keep Grants (16-11) at bay.</p>
<p>The Pirates were led by Matt Vail, who scored a team-high 15 points. Fellow senior Michael Anzures added 11 points, including a shot in the fourth quarter that cut the Tiger lead to four at 47-43.</p>
<p>Los Lunas faces Farmington in Wednesday’s quarterfinals.</p>
<p>– Kenn Rodriguez</p>
<p>ALSO: Del Norte’s boys authored one of the more shocking upsets of the first weekend, as the 13th-seeded Knights knocked out defending state champion Española Valley, 63-56. The Sundevils were hindered throughout by poor free-throw shooting.</p>
<p>The Knights face Belen in the quarterfinals on Wednesday at the Pit.</p>
<p>No. 7 Alamogordo avenged a regular-season loss to St. Pius and downed the 10th-seeded Sartans 60-50.</p>
<p>Classes 2A, 1A</p>
<p>Menaul, seeded No. 6 in 2A, defeated To’Hajiilee 70-51. Danny Serrano led the Panthers (24-6) with 28 points.</p>
<p>From 1A, No. 10 seed Floyd came to Albuquerque and upset No. 7 Evangel Christian, 45-31.</p>
<p>Class 5A — First Round Boxes</p>
<p>No. 5 BELEN 67, No. 12 LOVINGTON 59</p>
<p>LOVINGTON (13-15) Pablo Aguilera 2, Aaron Lujan 5, Isaiah Hinson 6, Sergio Sanchez, Gage Sandoval 19, Isaiah Brown 8, Alijah Ballard 8, Matt Salazar 4, Arturo Carrasco 4. 20-FG 15-29-FT 59</p>
<p>BELEN (21-7) Nick Trujillo 21, Justin Evans 4, Garrett Gallegos 14, Gabe Chavirra 12, Mateo Tapia 2, Matthew Padilla 10, Ryan Garcia 4. 17-FG 27-40-FT 67</p>
<p>Lovington&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160; 7&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; 7&#160; 17&#160; 28—59</p>
<p>Belen&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;13&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160; 11&#160; 19&#160; 24—67</p>
<p>3-Point FG: L 5 (Sandoval 3, Lujan, Sanchez), B 6 (Gallegos 3, Trujillo 2, Chavirra). Team Fouls: L 26; B 24. Fouled out: L, Ballard; G, Chavira.</p>
<p>No. 6 LOS LUNAS 50, No. 11 GRANTS 45</p>
<p>GRANTS (16-11) Michael Anzures 11, Matt Vail 15, Damiel Molares 5, Tyler Hickman 2, Koby Garcia 6, Greg Harris 6. 17-FG 5-6-FT 45</p>
<p>LOS LUNAS (24-5) Hunter Wisneski 15, Isaic Romero 4, Nick Gaerlan 1, Devon Heybourne 2, A.J. Garcia 18, Zanen Zeller 4, Kayden Walker-Gabaldon 6. 20-FG 7-10-FT 50</p>
<p>Grants&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160; 5&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160; 12&#160; 14&#160; 14—45</p>
<p>Los Lunas&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;10&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160; 12&#160; 16&#160; 12—50</p>
<p>3-Point FG: G 6 (Chavez 3, Griego, Bachman,); LL 3 (Wisneski 3). Team Fouls: G 2; LL 11. Fouled out: G, Harris. Tech Fouls: G, Harris.</p>
<p>Class 4A — First Round Boxes</p>
<p>No. 1 Hope Christian 71, No. 16 Hatch Valley 25</p>
<p>HATCH VALLEY (12-17) Jojan Machuca 1, Seth Rios 5, Isaiah Tellez 3, Darren Garay 10, Juan Chairez 6. Totals 10-FG 3-8-FT 25.</p>
<p>HOPE CHRISTIAN (23-5) JJ Ortiz 6, Marcus Medina 12, Isaiah Dockery 4, John Trejo 3, Lucas Jaramillo 5, Nelson Longmire 10, Cole Yearout 7, Christian Martinez 3, Preston Ulibarri 9, Chris Ward 3, Troy Phillips 3, Collin Evans 6. Totals 25-FG 17-28-FT 71.</p>
<p>Hatch Valley&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; 10 &#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160; 4&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; 8&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; 3—25</p>
<p>Hope Christian &#160;&#160; &#160;15&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160; 26&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160; 18&#160;&#160; 12—71</p>
<p>3-Point FG: HV 2 (Rios, Tellez); HC 4 (Jaramillo, Martinez, Ullibarri, Phillips). Team Fouls: HV 23; HC 10. Tech.: HV, Tellez.</p>
<p>No. 7 St. Michael’s 59, No. 10 Wingate 48</p>
<p>WINGATE (15-13) Trevor Morgan 16, Brandon Belone 14, Manuelito Chee 12, Leon Alnozo 2, Sheldon Lee 2, Joshua Holiday 2. Totals 18-FG 5-9-FT 48.</p>
<p>ST. MICHAEL’S (15-14)&#160; Jevon Montoya 18, Thomas Pacheco 16, Curtis Rogers 9, Anotnio Gabaldon 9, Adam Tupler 4, Esteban Alcaraz 2, Dominic Morgan 1. Totals 20-FG 13-17-FT 59.</p>
<p>Wingate&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; 7 &#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160; 9&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160; 15&#160;&#160; 17—48</p>
<p>St. Michaels&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160; 19&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160; 23&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; 8&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; 9—59</p>
<p>3-Point FG: W 7 (Belone 2, Morgan 4, Chee); SM 6 (Rogers, Pacheco 3, Montoya 2). Team Fouls: W 18; SM 13.</p>
<p>No. 8 BERNALILLO 51, No. 9 SOCORRO 33</p>
<p>SOCORRO (18-11):&#160; Ryan Botko 5, Marquez Perez 7, Wesley Mauldin 9, Tyler Greenwood 6, Damian Townsend 6.&#160; FG-9, FT 12-20 33</p>
<p>BERNALILLO (15-13): Reyes Herrera 14, Isiah Chavez 4, Tyrese Coriz 4, Fernando Villegas 2, Brandon Warren 4, Luis Villegas 5, Solomon Fragua 7, Noah Leyba 11. FG-17, 15-18 51</p>
<p>Socorro&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160; 7&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; 9&#160; 9&#160;&#160;&#160; 8—33</p>
<p>Bernalillo&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;11&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160; 13&#160; 9&#160; 18—51</p>
<p>3-point goals:&#160; B 2 (Herrera, L. Villegas); S 3 (Mauldin 2, Botko). Team fouls:&#160; B, 17; S, 16.&#160; Fouled out:&#160; B, Fragua, L. Villegas.</p>
<p>Class 2A — First Round Boxes</p>
<p>Menaul 70, To’hajiilee 51</p>
<p>To’hajiilee&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160; 6&#160; 16&#160; 11&#160; 18—51</p>
<p>Menaul&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;10&#160; 27&#160; 14&#160; 19—70</p>
<p>Leading Scorers: T, Trevor Platero 12; M, Kyrie Hu 12, Michael Ou 14, Danny Serrano 28. Rec.: M 24-6; T 20-9.</p>
<p />
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saturday night 8 seed bernalillo 1513 pulled away fourth quarter advanced class 4a state quarterfinals turning back visiting 9 seed socorro 5133 spartans 512 10 past 11 games meet fourtime defending state champion hope christian wednesday santa ana star center bernalillos first season classification advertisement got district got people healthy got people eligible werent eligible said bernalillo coach terry darnell made us complete team socorro battle tempo turning contest grinditout affair visiting warriors never whittled deficit fewer six points second half finishing 9for39 23 percent field simple sounds team puts hoop wins games said socorro firstyear coach ernie lopez hit shots win tournament games bernalillo sophomore reyes herrera led scorers 14 points spartans twoheaded center noah leyba solomon fragua came big final stanza stem warriors rally leyba hit baby hook shot early fourth drove layup teams next possession hoopandharm threepoint play leyba bench fragua quashed socorro 70 run visitors within 3832 6foot7 post put back herrera miss easy two pulled traditional threepoint play extended teams lead back 4332 306 left little bit size threepoint plays big men really helped us darnell said socorro 1811 led wesley mauldins nine points advertisement spartans darnell hopes team pull shocker next week team faces huskies whether quarterfinals finals still beat hope christian said mentality go best see happens patrick newell 1 hope christian 71 16 hatch valley 25 hope 12 huskies got scoring column routed bears opened quest fifth consecutive state championship senior guard marcus medina teambest 12 points hope christian 235 forward nelson longmire added 10 points huskies outscored hatch valley 4412 middle two quarters hope face bernalillo regular season also 4 robertson beat 13 sandia prep 8156 saturday cardinals advance quarterfinals face nemesis west las vegas late wednesday night star center fifthseeded dons routed 12 ruidoso 8250 3 silver moriarty 7 st michaels 2 portales firstround contests pintos surprise team left field 11 seed routed 6 pojoaque valley 6632 saturday face colts wednesday morning quarterfinals star center class 5a 5 belen 67 12 lovington 59 belen eagles continued defy adversity advanced state quarterfinals getting past pesky wildcats made game seem close throughout pressure defense belen 217 shot incredible 40 free throws making 27 two teams combined commit 37 fouls second half 48 total game contrast lovington 1315 shot 29 freebies sank 15 eagles assembled 110 run midway second quarter take 249 lead lovington trailed 2414 halftime fell behind 3015 609 left third quarter belen got quick sixpoint surge wildcats kept pressure 80 run cut deficit back 3224 441 left third quarter looked like lovington would seize initiative belen withstood every run kept lead hovering eight points rest way win belen 31 interim head coach pablo gabaldon took former head coach patrick mondragon placed unpaid administrative leave belen schools charged last month criminal sexual contact 17yearold girl 6 los lunas 50 11 grants 45 los lunas tigers faced district rival pirates coach travis julian called teams best defensive effort season advance quarterfinals fifth season row sophomore forward aj garcia scored gamehigh 18 points lead los lunas 235 senior hunter wisneski scored 15 hitting three critical 3pointers second half keep grants 1611 bay pirates led matt vail scored teamhigh 15 points fellow senior michael anzures added 11 points including shot fourth quarter cut tiger lead four 4743 los lunas faces farmington wednesdays quarterfinals kenn rodriguez also del nortes boys authored one shocking upsets first weekend 13thseeded knights knocked defending state champion española valley 6356 sundevils hindered throughout poor freethrow shooting knights face belen quarterfinals wednesday pit 7 alamogordo avenged regularseason loss st pius downed 10thseeded sartans 6050 classes 2a 1a menaul seeded 6 2a defeated tohajiilee 7051 danny serrano led panthers 246 28 points 1a 10 seed floyd came albuquerque upset 7 evangel christian 4531 class 5a first round boxes 5 belen 67 12 lovington 59 lovington 1315 pablo aguilera 2 aaron lujan 5 isaiah hinson 6 sergio sanchez gage sandoval 19 isaiah brown 8 alijah ballard 8 matt salazar 4 arturo carrasco 4 20fg 1529ft 59 belen 217 nick trujillo 21 justin evans 4 garrett gallegos 14 gabe chavirra 12 mateo tapia 2 matthew padilla 10 ryan garcia 4 17fg 2740ft 67 lovington160160 160160160 160160 7160160 160160160160 7160 17160 2859 belen160160 160160160 16013160160 160160 11160 19160 2467 3point fg l 5 sandoval 3 lujan sanchez b 6 gallegos 3 trujillo 2 chavirra team fouls l 26 b 24 fouled l ballard g chavira 6 los lunas 50 11 grants 45 grants 1611 michael anzures 11 matt vail 15 damiel molares 5 tyler hickman 2 koby garcia 6 greg harris 6 17fg 56ft 45 los lunas 245 hunter wisneski 15 isaic romero 4 nick gaerlan 1 devon heybourne 2 aj garcia 18 zanen zeller 4 kayden walkergabaldon 6 20fg 710ft 50 grants160160 160160160 160160 5160160 160160 12160 14160 1445 los lunas160160 160160160 16010160160 160160 12160 16160 1250 3point fg g 6 chavez 3 griego bachman 3 wisneski 3 team fouls g 2 11 fouled g harris tech fouls g harris class 4a first round boxes 1 hope christian 71 16 hatch valley 25 hatch valley 1217 jojan machuca 1 seth rios 5 isaiah tellez 3 darren garay 10 juan chairez 6 totals 10fg 38ft 25 hope christian 235 jj ortiz 6 marcus medina 12 isaiah dockery 4 john trejo 3 lucas jaramillo 5 nelson longmire 10 cole yearout 7 christian martinez 3 preston ulibarri 9 chris ward 3 troy phillips 3 collin evans 6 totals 25fg 1728ft 71 hatch valley160160 160160160160160 10 160160160 160160160 4160160 160160160160160 8160160160160 325 hope christian 160160 16015160160 160160160 26160160 160160160 18160160 1271 3point fg hv 2 rios tellez hc 4 jaramillo martinez ullibarri phillips team fouls hv 23 hc 10 tech hv tellez 7 st michaels 59 10 wingate 48 wingate 1513 trevor morgan 16 brandon belone 14 manuelito chee 12 leon alnozo 2 sheldon lee 2 joshua holiday 2 totals 18fg 59ft 48 st michaels 1514160 jevon montoya 18 thomas pacheco 16 curtis rogers 9 anotnio gabaldon 9 adam tupler 4 esteban alcaraz 2 dominic morgan 1 totals 20fg 1317ft 59 wingate160160 160160160160160160160160160160160 7 160160160 160160160 9160160 160160160 15160160 1748 st michaels160160 160160 19160160 160160160 23160160 160160160160160 8160160160160 959 3point fg w 7 belone 2 morgan 4 chee sm 6 rogers pacheco 3 montoya 2 team fouls w 18 sm 13 8 bernalillo 51 9 socorro 33 socorro 1811160 ryan botko 5 marquez perez 7 wesley mauldin 9 tyler greenwood 6 damian townsend 6160 fg9 ft 1220 33 bernalillo 1513 reyes herrera 14 isiah chavez 4 tyrese coriz 4 fernando villegas 2 brandon warren 4 luis villegas 5 solomon fragua 7 noah leyba 11 fg17 1518 51 socorro160160 160160160 160160 7160160 160160160160 9160 9160160160 833 bernalillo160160 160160160 16011160160 160160 13160 9160 1851 3point goals160 b 2 herrera l villegas 3 mauldin 2 botko team fouls160 b 17 16160 fouled out160 b fragua l villegas class 2a first round boxes menaul 70 tohajiilee 51 tohajiilee160160 160160160 160160 6160 16160 11160 1851 menaul160160 160160160 16010160 27160 14160 1970 leading scorers trevor platero 12 kyrie hu 12 michael ou 14 danny serrano 28 rec 246 209
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<p>Authorities say a boy opened fire with a gun at a rural Kentucky high school Tuesday, fatally shooting two students and wounding several others. Here’s a look at some recent U.S. school shootings, and some of the deadliest of years past:</p>
<p>— Dec. 7, 2017: Two students at Aztec High School in New Mexico were killed by a gunman disguised as a student. Police said the shooter later killed himself.</p>
<p>— Sept. 13, 2017: A 15-year-old boy was killed at Freeman High School in Rockford, Washington, and three female students were wounded when authorities say another 15-year-old boy opened fire with a handgun. A suspect was arrested.</p>
<p>— April 10, 2017: A gunman opened fire in the special education classroom of his estranged wife at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino, California, killing her and an 8-year-old boy, and wounding another child. The gunman then fatally shot himself.</p>
<p>— Sept. 28, 2016: A 6-year-old boy was fatally shot on the playground of Townville Elementary School in South Carolina by a 14-year-old boy who had just killed his father, authorities said. Another child and a teacher were struck by bullets but survived. The teen was charged with murder.</p>
<p>— Sept 8, 2016: A 14-year-old girl died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after shooting and wounding another female student at Alpine High School in West Texas.</p>
<p>— Dec. 14, 2012. A 20-year-old gunman killed 20 first-grade children and six educators inside Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, and then killed himself. He also fatally shot his mother before entering the school.</p>
<p>Feb. 27, 2012: Three students were killed and two wounded in a shooting that started in a school cafeteria in Chardon, Ohio, as students waited for buses to other schools. Police charged a suspect, 17 at the time, as an adult.</p>
<p>— April 16, 2007: Twenty-three-year-old Seung-Hui Cho fatally shot 32 people in a dorm and a classroom at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, and then killed himself.</p>
<p>— April 20, 1999: Students Eric Harris, 18, and Dylan Klebold, 17, opened fire at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, killing 12 classmates and a teacher and wounding 26 others before killing themselves in the school’s library.</p>
<p>— Dec. 1, 1997: Three students were killed and five wounded at a high school in West Paducah, Kentucky. Michael Carneal, then 14, later pleaded guilty but mentally ill to murder and is serving life in prison.</p>
<p>Authorities say a boy opened fire with a gun at a rural Kentucky high school Tuesday, fatally shooting two students and wounding several others. Here’s a look at some recent U.S. school shootings, and some of the deadliest of years past:</p>
<p>— Dec. 7, 2017: Two students at Aztec High School in New Mexico were killed by a gunman disguised as a student. Police said the shooter later killed himself.</p>
<p>— Sept. 13, 2017: A 15-year-old boy was killed at Freeman High School in Rockford, Washington, and three female students were wounded when authorities say another 15-year-old boy opened fire with a handgun. A suspect was arrested.</p>
<p>— April 10, 2017: A gunman opened fire in the special education classroom of his estranged wife at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino, California, killing her and an 8-year-old boy, and wounding another child. The gunman then fatally shot himself.</p>
<p>— Sept. 28, 2016: A 6-year-old boy was fatally shot on the playground of Townville Elementary School in South Carolina by a 14-year-old boy who had just killed his father, authorities said. Another child and a teacher were struck by bullets but survived. The teen was charged with murder.</p>
<p>— Sept 8, 2016: A 14-year-old girl died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after shooting and wounding another female student at Alpine High School in West Texas.</p>
<p>— Dec. 14, 2012. A 20-year-old gunman killed 20 first-grade children and six educators inside Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, and then killed himself. He also fatally shot his mother before entering the school.</p>
<p>Feb. 27, 2012: Three students were killed and two wounded in a shooting that started in a school cafeteria in Chardon, Ohio, as students waited for buses to other schools. Police charged a suspect, 17 at the time, as an adult.</p>
<p>— April 16, 2007: Twenty-three-year-old Seung-Hui Cho fatally shot 32 people in a dorm and a classroom at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, and then killed himself.</p>
<p>— April 20, 1999: Students Eric Harris, 18, and Dylan Klebold, 17, opened fire at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, killing 12 classmates and a teacher and wounding 26 others before killing themselves in the school’s library.</p>
<p>— Dec. 1, 1997: Three students were killed and five wounded at a high school in West Paducah, Kentucky. Michael Carneal, then 14, later pleaded guilty but mentally ill to murder and is serving life in prison.</p>
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authorities say boy opened fire gun rural kentucky high school tuesday fatally shooting two students wounding several others heres look recent us school shootings deadliest years past dec 7 2017 two students aztec high school new mexico killed gunman disguised student police said shooter later killed sept 13 2017 15yearold boy killed freeman high school rockford washington three female students wounded authorities say another 15yearold boy opened fire handgun suspect arrested april 10 2017 gunman opened fire special education classroom estranged wife north park elementary school san bernardino california killing 8yearold boy wounding another child gunman fatally shot sept 28 2016 6yearold boy fatally shot playground townville elementary school south carolina 14yearold boy killed father authorities said another child teacher struck bullets survived teen charged murder sept 8 2016 14yearold girl died selfinflicted gunshot wound shooting wounding another female student alpine high school west texas dec 14 2012 20yearold gunman killed 20 firstgrade children six educators inside sandy hook elementary school newtown connecticut killed also fatally shot mother entering school feb 27 2012 three students killed two wounded shooting started school cafeteria chardon ohio students waited buses schools police charged suspect 17 time adult april 16 2007 twentythreeyearold seunghui cho fatally shot 32 people dorm classroom virginia tech blacksburg killed april 20 1999 students eric harris 18 dylan klebold 17 opened fire columbine high school littleton colorado killing 12 classmates teacher wounding 26 others killing schools library dec 1 1997 three students killed five wounded high school west paducah kentucky michael carneal 14 later pleaded guilty mentally ill murder serving life prison authorities say boy opened fire gun rural kentucky high school tuesday fatally shooting two students wounding several others heres look recent us school shootings deadliest years past dec 7 2017 two students aztec high school new mexico killed gunman disguised student police said shooter later killed sept 13 2017 15yearold boy killed freeman high school rockford washington three female students wounded authorities say another 15yearold boy opened fire handgun suspect arrested april 10 2017 gunman opened fire special education classroom estranged wife north park elementary school san bernardino california killing 8yearold boy wounding another child gunman fatally shot sept 28 2016 6yearold boy fatally shot playground townville elementary school south carolina 14yearold boy killed father authorities said another child teacher struck bullets survived teen charged murder sept 8 2016 14yearold girl died selfinflicted gunshot wound shooting wounding another female student alpine high school west texas dec 14 2012 20yearold gunman killed 20 firstgrade children six educators inside sandy hook elementary school newtown connecticut killed also fatally shot mother entering school feb 27 2012 three students killed two wounded shooting started school cafeteria chardon ohio students waited buses schools police charged suspect 17 time adult april 16 2007 twentythreeyearold seunghui cho fatally shot 32 people dorm classroom virginia tech blacksburg killed april 20 1999 students eric harris 18 dylan klebold 17 opened fire columbine high school littleton colorado killing 12 classmates teacher wounding 26 others killing schools library dec 1 1997 three students killed five wounded high school west paducah kentucky michael carneal 14 later pleaded guilty mentally ill murder serving life prison
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<p />
<p>Some ordered New Mexican Sandwiches — filled with green chile chicken enchiladas and bacon — at the Green Chile Paddy Wagon.</p>
<p>The New Mexico Pecan Company did stiff business at its gift shop on the plaza. Across Calle Principal, underneath the New Mexico Pecan Company tent, an employee handed out samples of the company’s nuts, while Stephanie Bustamantes, owner of Galaxia Café, touted her company’s locally-roasted beans.</p>
<p>“We’re selling right next to pecans, all year long,” Bustamantes said. “This festival is bound to be a success. “This festival is destined to be a success. It’s got rides, samples of free food, the best food trucks that I’ve ever seen — it’s going to be a hit.”</p>
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<p>Early in the festival, Bustamante said the experience has been “wonderful.”</p>
<p>“The response has been huge, for certain,” she said. “I like it because these are small family farms, constantly growing, and this allows us to interact with those people we’re trying to reach. The internet allows us to reach so many people, but these kinds of festivals allow us to showcase our best pecan pies, showcase the best of what the local farmers can provide.”</p>
<p>Saturday’s kickoff avoided the forecast of nearly two inches of rainfall in Las Cruces. The festival provided the opportunity to showcase more than just the Mesilla Valley’s pecans.</p>
<p>“Many of the stores here on the plaza offer local goods, like pecans from Salopek Orchards, seven days a week,” Bustamante said. “A lot of people don’t know they can always come and pick up their favorite treats here, and they’re open seven days a week.”</p>
<p>Sumer Nolan, of Las Cruces, said she brought her kids out for the festival.</p>
<p>“We came out for the rides, and for the petting zoo,” Nolan said. “The turnout could be a little better, but I kind of like that it’s not.”</p>
<p>Nolan said she’s happy Las Cruces is celebrating one of the region’s largest agricultural exports.</p>
<p>“That we were not doing it before now is odd,” she said. “I’m surprised it took this long to do a pecan festival. I think that what Heather Salopek and Heather Hume put together for this is a great idea.”</p>
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<p>Amanda Collier, owner of 360 Events and the festival treasurer, said Hume and Salopek were instrumental in bringing the festival together.</p>
<p>“They came together and started talking about our pecan industry in New Mexico, and how it needs some support,” Collier said. “Our community needs to be educated on how great our pecan industry is. We have to shed some light on what it’s done for New Mexico. This nut should be celebrated.”</p>
<p>Planning for the festival began in the spring, Collier said.</p>
<p>“We partnered with the Town of Mesilla, to bring business here — and here we are,” Collier said. “Most of our vendors are New Mexico-made products. We’re very happy with the turnout. I think, for an inaugural event, this is a huge success already.”</p>
<p>In the late afternoon shadow of San Albino, husbands and wives sampled New Mexico wines and micro-brews in the beer tent.</p>
<p>“We hope that the weather cooperates,” Collier said. “We’ve got a great night of entertainment lined up for tonight — the Zack Willard Band, Cowboy Dave and Border Avenue — with our VIP experience. For just $40, you get stage-side seats, hors d’oeuvres, a T-shirt, a glass, and your own bar back there.”</p>
<p>Collier said the event could not have been possible without the support of sponsors.</p>
<p>“We just want to thank all of our sponsors who gave us a shot with this event,” Collier said. “We went all in, and we’re so happy that the community came out and celebrated with us.”</p>
<p>Governor Susana Martinez proclaimed October Pecan Month in New Mexico. The proclamation was announced Saturday morning before the event’s kickoff.</p>
<p>“It’s officially Pecan Month in New Mexico,” Collier said.</p>
<p>The festival kicked off with the Pecan Pie Bake Off judging.</p>
<p>“We had 16 entries,” Collier said. “We had three winners on the commercial front–so that’s restaurants and business owners. And we had three winners for individuals. Two of the three were children — who won first- and second-place. One was about eight years old and the other might have been 12. The fact that we have future chefs entering is amazing.”</p>
<p>Audrey Yerxa attended the festival with her seven-year-old twins, Waylon and Marley.</p>
<p>“I called a gentleman a few days ago for an estimate for screens on our windows, and he said, ‘Oh yeah, there’s a big pecan festival happening that day,” she said. “It was the first I’d heard of it.”</p>
<p>The Yerxas, who live within a few blocks of the plaza, rode bikes.</p>
<p>“We decided to come down and check it out,” Yerxa said. “I think it’s incredible. I’ve never seen a stage like this in our plaza. My kids almost talked me into bringing our dog, but I said no.”</p>
<p>The Yerxas have lived in New Mexico for five years, but in Mesilla for two.</p>
<p>“We went to a bunch of farmers’ markets in California — and this is probably going to sound super-snobby — but the farmers’ markets here are more like crafts fairs,” Yerxa said. “We just wish there was a lot more locally-grown produce.”</p>
<p>A bystander, overhearing the conversation, pointed out the nearby Fresh food truck, which offers locally-sourced foods.</p>
<p>“My husband and I are huge foodies, and we love to experiment,” Yerxa said. “When we can go somewhere and try something new, we love it. That is just over the moon for us.”</p>
<p>Damien Willis may be reached at 575-541-5468, [email protected] or @damienwillis on Twitter.</p>
<p>——</p>
<p>©2016 the Las Cruces Sun-News (Las Cruces, N.M.)</p>
<p>Visit the Las Cruces Sun-News (Las Cruces, N.M.) at <a href="http://www.lcsun-news.com" type="external">www.lcsun-news.com</a></p>
<p>Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.</p>
<p>_____</p>
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ordered new mexican sandwiches filled green chile chicken enchiladas bacon green chile paddy wagon new mexico pecan company stiff business gift shop plaza across calle principal underneath new mexico pecan company tent employee handed samples companys nuts stephanie bustamantes owner galaxia café touted companys locallyroasted beans selling right next pecans year long bustamantes said festival bound success festival destined success got rides samples free food best food trucks ive ever seen going hit advertisement early festival bustamante said experience wonderful response huge certain said like small family farms constantly growing allows us interact people trying reach internet allows us reach many people kinds festivals allow us showcase best pecan pies showcase best local farmers provide saturdays kickoff avoided forecast nearly two inches rainfall las cruces festival provided opportunity showcase mesilla valleys pecans many stores plaza offer local goods like pecans salopek orchards seven days week bustamante said lot people dont know always come pick favorite treats theyre open seven days week sumer nolan las cruces said brought kids festival came rides petting zoo nolan said turnout could little better kind like nolan said shes happy las cruces celebrating one regions largest agricultural exports odd said im surprised took long pecan festival think heather salopek heather hume put together great idea advertisement amanda collier owner 360 events festival treasurer said hume salopek instrumental bringing festival together came together started talking pecan industry new mexico needs support collier said community needs educated great pecan industry shed light done new mexico nut celebrated planning festival began spring collier said partnered town mesilla bring business collier said vendors new mexicomade products happy turnout think inaugural event huge success already late afternoon shadow san albino husbands wives sampled new mexico wines microbrews beer tent hope weather cooperates collier said weve got great night entertainment lined tonight zack willard band cowboy dave border avenue vip experience 40 get stageside seats hors doeuvres tshirt glass bar back collier said event could possible without support sponsors want thank sponsors gave us shot event collier said went happy community came celebrated us governor susana martinez proclaimed october pecan month new mexico proclamation announced saturday morning events kickoff officially pecan month new mexico collier said festival kicked pecan pie bake judging 16 entries collier said three winners commercial frontso thats restaurants business owners three winners individuals two three children first secondplace one eight years old might 12 fact future chefs entering amazing audrey yerxa attended festival sevenyearold twins waylon marley called gentleman days ago estimate screens windows said oh yeah theres big pecan festival happening day said first id heard yerxas live within blocks plaza rode bikes decided come check yerxa said think incredible ive never seen stage like plaza kids almost talked bringing dog said yerxas lived new mexico five years mesilla two went bunch farmers markets california probably going sound supersnobby farmers markets like crafts fairs yerxa said wish lot locallygrown produce bystander overhearing conversation pointed nearby fresh food truck offers locallysourced foods husband huge foodies love experiment yerxa said go somewhere try something new love moon us damien willis may reached 5755415468 dawillislcsunnewscom damienwillis twitter 2016 las cruces sunnews las cruces nm visit las cruces sunnews las cruces nm wwwlcsunnewscom distributed tribune content agency llc _____
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<p>NEW YORK — A bad back prevented Roger Federer from getting ready for the U.S. Open the way he prefers to prepare for a Grand Slam tournament. And it’s showed so far.</p>
<p>Federer blamed a lack of proper practice after making an uncharacteristic 68 unforced errors and being forced to go five sets again before coming back to edge a cramping Mikhail Youzhny 1-6, 7-6 (3), 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 on Thursday in Arthur Ashe Stadium.</p>
<p>It is the first time the 36-year-old Federer has played five-setters in both the first and second rounds at a major tournament.</p>
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<p>“I knew I was going to maybe struggle early on. Maybe I struggled more than I would have liked to. But I’m still in the draw, which gives me a chance. I still believe I’m going to pick up my game and become just more consistent because I’m not playing all that bad,” Federer said. “It’s just that I’m going a bit up and down in waves throughout the match.”</p>
<p>Given that Federer entered the day with a 16-0 career record against Youzhny and a 16-0 mark in the U.S. Open’s second round, one might have thought that their match would be a mismatch.</p>
<p>Think again.</p>
<p>“He’s also a real man who plays tennis,” Youzhny noted. “He’s not a god.”</p>
<p>Well, OK, that’s true. But remember: Federer did not drop a single set en route to his record eighth Wimbledon championship in July. And that he is 37-3 with five titles, including two at majors to raise his record total to 19.</p>
<p>Second on that list, with 15, is No. 1-seeded Rafael Nadal, who trailed by a set and a break before figuring things out and beating 121st-ranked Taro Daniel of Japan 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 in Ashe at night. That followed 20th-seeded American CoCo Vandeweghe’s 7-6 (6), 6-2 victory over Ons Jabeur of Tunisia under the lights.</p>
<p>What already was a wide-open women’s bracket became more so when 2004 U.S. Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova was upset by 116th-ranked Kurumi Nara of Japan 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. The No. 8-seeded Kuznetsova’s exit means five of the top eight women are already gone.</p>
<p>Two other seeded women lost to Americans in the afternoon: Shelby Rogers edged No. 25 Daria Gavrilova 7-6 (6), 4-6, 7-6 (5) in a tournament-record 3 hours, 33 minutes, and Jennifer Brady eliminated No. 23 Barbora Strycova 6-1, 6-1.</p>
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<p>A couple of seeded men departed, too: No. 7 Grigor Dimitrov and No. 15 Tomas Berdych, the 2010 Wimbledon runner-up.</p>
<p>The No. 3-seeded Federer won five consecutive U.S. Open championships from 2004-08 and also was the runner-up twice, including two years ago. But he missed last year’s tournament while taking off the second half of the season to let his back and surgically repaired left knee fully heal.</p>
<p>That back, an off-and-on issue for years, flared up again while Federer was losing in the final of the Montreal Masters in August. He didn’t get to fully work on returns or serves, in particular, as the U.S. Open approached. That lack of training and the resulting lack of timing — rather than pain from his back — is what Federer said caused him problems Tuesday night in the first round against 19-year-old American Frances Tiafoe and again against Youzhny, a former top-10 player who reached the 2006 and 2010 U.S. Open semifinals but is now ranked 101st.</p>
<p>“I’m pretty confident that I’m only going to get better from here. That’s a good thing,” Federer said. “Because I’ve played a lot, I definitely found some rhythm now.”</p>
<p>He did falter repeatedly Thursday, though.</p>
<p>Federer let a lead slip away in the second set and got broken while serving for it at 5-4.</p>
<p>“He helped me to come back,” Youzhny said.</p>
<p>Federer stumbled again while serving for the fourth set at 5-3, but responded to a break there by breaking right back.</p>
<p>Still, Federer’s unforced errors continued to mount in the fifth set — 11 in the first four games alone, including a badly shanked forehand on his first break point at 2-1, a netted backhand on his second, and a long forehand to let Youzhny hold there. Eventually, Federer nosed ahead, aided by the considerable dip in the 35-year-old Youzhny’s level of play.</p>
<p>While Federer played his first-round match Tuesday under the roof in Ashe, Youzhny’s opener was postponed until Wednesday because of rain, and he blamed that for his fatigue. His legs started cramping late in the third set Thursday and then reached other parts of his body, even his fingers, by the end. That made it hard to move forward or to jump normally while serving.</p>
<p>At 1-all in the deciding set, Youzhny collapsed to the court, grabbing at his right leg after whiffing on an attempted swat at Federer’s lob. Youzhny stayed down for a few moments, then grimaced and limped around for the rest of that game.</p>
<p>Afterward, Youzhny chuckled at the mention of having lost all 17 matches against Federer, even leaning back in his chair and joking about how he would have completed the upset if Grand Slam rules were different: “I beat him in three sets now — but we played five sets. But come on, if we played three sets, I already beat him!”</p>
<p>Federer, naturally, preferred to look at matters from a different perspective.</p>
<p>“I find my way,” he said. “I don’t panic.”</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Follow Howard Fendrich on Twitter at <a href="http://twitter.com/HowardFendrich" type="external">http://twitter.com/HowardFendrich</a></p>
<p>___</p>
<p>More AP tennis coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/apf-Tennis</p>
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new york bad back prevented roger federer getting ready us open way prefers prepare grand slam tournament showed far federer blamed lack proper practice making uncharacteristic 68 unforced errors forced go five sets coming back edge cramping mikhail youzhny 16 76 3 64 46 62 thursday arthur ashe stadium first time 36yearold federer played fivesetters first second rounds major tournament advertisement knew going maybe struggle early maybe struggled would liked im still draw gives chance still believe im going pick game become consistent im playing bad federer said im going bit waves throughout match given federer entered day 160 career record youzhny 160 mark us opens second round one might thought match would mismatch think hes also real man plays tennis youzhny noted hes god well ok thats true remember federer drop single set en route record eighth wimbledon championship july 373 five titles including two majors raise record total 19 second list 15 1seeded rafael nadal trailed set break figuring things beating 121stranked taro daniel japan 46 63 62 62 ashe night followed 20thseeded american coco vandeweghes 76 6 62 victory ons jabeur tunisia lights already wideopen womens bracket became 2004 us open champion svetlana kuznetsova upset 116thranked kurumi nara japan 63 36 63 8seeded kuznetsovas exit means five top eight women already gone two seeded women lost americans afternoon shelby rogers edged 25 daria gavrilova 76 6 46 76 5 tournamentrecord 3 hours 33 minutes jennifer brady eliminated 23 barbora strycova 61 61 advertisement couple seeded men departed 7 grigor dimitrov 15 tomas berdych 2010 wimbledon runnerup 3seeded federer five consecutive us open championships 200408 also runnerup twice including two years ago missed last years tournament taking second half season let back surgically repaired left knee fully heal back offandon issue years flared federer losing final montreal masters august didnt get fully work returns serves particular us open approached lack training resulting lack timing rather pain back federer said caused problems tuesday night first round 19yearold american frances tiafoe youzhny former top10 player reached 2006 2010 us open semifinals ranked 101st im pretty confident im going get better thats good thing federer said ive played lot definitely found rhythm falter repeatedly thursday though federer let lead slip away second set got broken serving 54 helped come back youzhny said federer stumbled serving fourth set 53 responded break breaking right back still federers unforced errors continued mount fifth set 11 first four games alone including badly shanked forehand first break point 21 netted backhand second long forehand let youzhny hold eventually federer nosed ahead aided considerable dip 35yearold youzhnys level play federer played firstround match tuesday roof ashe youzhnys opener postponed wednesday rain blamed fatigue legs started cramping late third set thursday reached parts body even fingers end made hard move forward jump normally serving 1all deciding set youzhny collapsed court grabbing right leg whiffing attempted swat federers lob youzhny stayed moments grimaced limped around rest game afterward youzhny chuckled mention lost 17 matches federer even leaning back chair joking would completed upset grand slam rules different beat three sets played five sets come played three sets already beat federer naturally preferred look matters different perspective find way said dont panic ___ follow howard fendrich twitter httptwittercomhowardfendrich ___ ap tennis coverage httpsapnewscomtagapftennis
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<p>SANTA FE - With 18 municipal workers for every 1,000 residents, Santa Fe has the largest city workforce per capita - 64 percent greater than the average - in an analysis that included 11 other American cities released Tuesday by the Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce.</p>
<p>According to the study, Santa Fe would need to reduce the number of "FTEs," or full-time job equivalents, by hundreds to be on par with most of the other cities, which included small to mid-size municipalities from around the region and across the country.</p>
<p>"The average FTEs of these similar sized communities would suggest an ideal staffing level of 903 staff which would be a reduction of 578 people from current city staffing levels," according to a chamber news release, although in fact some of the cities included in the analysis were much larger than Santa Fe.</p>
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<p>Santa Fe has 1,480 full-time employees for a population of 82,000. An analysis by the Journal in November, based on 1,446 city employees, came up with similar results on jobs per capita, estimating Santa Fe had 17.32 employees per 1,000 residents.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" />The report released Tuesday showed the range of the other 11 cities to be between 17.4 employees per 1,000 residents in Boise, Idaho, to 5.1 per 1,000 in Colorado Springs, Colo.</p>
<p>The chamber said the analysis was a collaborative effort that included city government and the city employees' union, which is part of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME).</p>
<p>But Miles Conway, an AFSCME spokesman, said that while there were communications between the union, AFSCME didn't join in releasing the findings on the size of the workforce.</p>
<p>Conway said the report didn't include "value-added points we wanted included." He said, for instance, that Santa Fe has a growing airport, its parks workforce is on par with other cities with the same amount of parks acreage and it has more library workers because of a higher per-capita use of libraries.</p>
<p>Conway stressed that the union wants to work with the city and the chamber as Santa Fe wrestles with a budget crunch. He said it's "highly likely" that some positions will have to go and noted that there are about 100 vacancies now in AFSCME's 800-position Santa Fe bargaining unit</p>
<p>While the results of the study were publicly released by the chamber on Tuesday, the City Council's Finance Committee got a preview, as some committee members referred to it during a meeting Monday night.</p>
<p>City Councilor Chris Rivera questioned whether the study was really a fair comparison. He asked how many of the other cities operated its own water utility, as Santa Fe does. The answer is three: Las Cruces, Flagstaff and Lubbock, Texas.</p>
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<p>"My concern is that you compare apples to apples," he said. "Finding cities that are truly comparable is going to be hard to do."</p>
<p>The cities in the study included, as well as Santa Fe, Boise and Colorado Springs: Las Cruces; Omaha, Neb.; Topeka, Kan.; Des Moines, Iowa; Palm Springs, Calif.; Asheville, N.C.; Flagstaff, Ariz.; Lubbock, Texas; and Sarasota, Fla.</p>
<p>City Finance Director Oscar Rodriguez said that initially the analysis was to focus on Southwestern cities, and then a decision was made to expand to other municipalities around the country. Some cities in the study - such as Omaha (population 517,000), Lubbock (240,000) and Colorado Springs (440,000) - are much bigger than Santa Fe, while Palm Springs, Flagstaff and Sarasota are smaller. Some of the cities, like Asheville, Palm Springs and Flagstaff, have significant tourist economies like Santa Fe.</p>
<p>The chamber's news release states, "No two cities are exactly alike and so side-by-side comparison is an inexact science but by comparing Santa Fe with Las Cruces, Flagstaff, Lubbock, Boise, Sarasota and others, trends can be seen as to programs, priorities and costs of operating local government."</p>
<p>In a phone interview Tuesday, Rodriguez said the report was not an apples-to-apples comparison.</p>
<p>"What this is is a very preliminary analysis, if you will - a comparison with other cities? FTE counts. There was no attempt to parse through the information to give you an apples-to-apples comparison. That takes a lot more work," he said.</p>
<p>"I think it does, nonetheless, give you a fair order of margins: How big we are and how big everyone else is," Rodriguez said. "If there was a 5 percent difference here or there, you might discount it. But you can see the differences in the margins within departments."</p>
<p>According to the report, Santa Fe had the highest ratio of transportation workers, coming out more than triple the average for other cities. Community Services and Arts and Culture were nearly triple the average of those same departments elsewhere.</p>
<p>Regarding Arts and Culture, the report noted, "This is appropriate for our community given its unique heritage."</p>
<p>The parks and recreation department is more than double the average size per capita, while general government - including the mayor, city manager, attorney and clerk office staff - approaches double the average.</p>
<p>The police department was right on the average, while the fire department was 26 percent higher.</p>
<p>The chamber said the study was done to assist the city in making decisions regarding its "budgetary challenges." Santa Fe was below average on number of workers for community development and in public works.</p>
<p>The city is looking at a $10 million to $15 million budget deficit going into the next fiscal year, unless the City Council continues its controversial use of burgeoning revenues from water bills to finance parts of general government. The council's Finance Committee has set a special meeting for Feb. 9 to decide on a framework for closing the budget gap over a period of years.</p>
<p>Despite the results of the study, Rodriguez said he has told the Finance Committee that it's possible for the city to close the budget gap without cutting jobs, but through attrition and other means.</p>
<p>"Given where we are, we have enough time and resources where we can balance the deficit in an orderly fashion without laying people off, without hurting people," he said.</p>
<p>The union's Conway said AFSCME "is going to be at the table" and will "try to be very open" to budget-cutting ideas, although he said some operations, like parking enforcement, already have bare-bone staffs. "We're not going to be saying we have to protect all 800 positions," he said.</p>
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santa fe 18 municipal workers every 1000 residents santa fe largest city workforce per capita 64 percent greater average analysis included 11 american cities released tuesday santa fe chamber commerce according study santa fe would need reduce number ftes fulltime job equivalents hundreds par cities included small midsize municipalities around region across country average ftes similar sized communities would suggest ideal staffing level 903 staff would reduction 578 people current city staffing levels according chamber news release although fact cities included analysis much larger santa fe advertisement santa fe 1480 fulltime employees population 82000 analysis journal november based 1446 city employees came similar results jobs per capita estimating santa fe 1732 employees per 1000 residents report released tuesday showed range 11 cities 174 employees per 1000 residents boise idaho 51 per 1000 colorado springs colo chamber said analysis collaborative effort included city government city employees union part american federation state county municipal employees afscme miles conway afscme spokesman said communications union afscme didnt join releasing findings size workforce conway said report didnt include valueadded points wanted included said instance santa fe growing airport parks workforce par cities amount parks acreage library workers higher percapita use libraries conway stressed union wants work city chamber santa fe wrestles budget crunch said highly likely positions go noted 100 vacancies afscmes 800position santa fe bargaining unit results study publicly released chamber tuesday city councils finance committee got preview committee members referred meeting monday night city councilor chris rivera questioned whether study really fair comparison asked many cities operated water utility santa fe answer three las cruces flagstaff lubbock texas advertisement concern compare apples apples said finding cities truly comparable going hard cities study included well santa fe boise colorado springs las cruces omaha neb topeka kan des moines iowa palm springs calif asheville nc flagstaff ariz lubbock texas sarasota fla city finance director oscar rodriguez said initially analysis focus southwestern cities decision made expand municipalities around country cities study omaha population 517000 lubbock 240000 colorado springs 440000 much bigger santa fe palm springs flagstaff sarasota smaller cities like asheville palm springs flagstaff significant tourist economies like santa fe chambers news release states two cities exactly alike sidebyside comparison inexact science comparing santa fe las cruces flagstaff lubbock boise sarasota others trends seen programs priorities costs operating local government phone interview tuesday rodriguez said report applestoapples comparison preliminary analysis comparison cities fte counts attempt parse information give applestoapples comparison takes lot work said think nonetheless give fair order margins big big everyone else rodriguez said 5 percent difference might discount see differences margins within departments according report santa fe highest ratio transportation workers coming triple average cities community services arts culture nearly triple average departments elsewhere regarding arts culture report noted appropriate community given unique heritage parks recreation department double average size per capita general government including mayor city manager attorney clerk office staff approaches double average police department right average fire department 26 percent higher chamber said study done assist city making decisions regarding budgetary challenges santa fe average number workers community development public works city looking 10 million 15 million budget deficit going next fiscal year unless city council continues controversial use burgeoning revenues water bills finance parts general government councils finance committee set special meeting feb 9 decide framework closing budget gap period years despite results study rodriguez said told finance committee possible city close budget gap without cutting jobs attrition means given enough time resources balance deficit orderly fashion without laying people without hurting people said unions conway said afscme going table try open budgetcutting ideas although said operations like parking enforcement already barebone staffs going saying protect 800 positions said
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<p>NEW YORK — David Cassidy could sell the heck out of uncertainty.</p>
<p>“I Think I Love You,” the smash hit that in 1970 launched the Partridge Family musical group plus the ABC comedy-with-songs show of the same name, found Cassidy center stage delivering such lyrics as “I think I love you, so what am I so afraid of?/ I’m afraid that I’m not sure of a love there is no cure for.”</p>
<p>There was no doubt: At 20, Cassidy was the radiant man-boy to help usher young girls (and young boys, for that matter) into the untold mysteries of pubescence, adolescence, romance and rock ‘n’ roll.</p>
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<p>For all that, millions knew they loved him.</p>
<p>Within a few years, those legions of fans would outgrow him, just as Cassidy would outgrow himself, or, at least, what had made him a superstar. His cherubic looks would fade along with his popularity; his laddish proto-Farrah-Fawcett shag would thin. It needn’t have shocked him or anybody else; the odds of sustaining that white-hot level of success were no less great than for his having been ignited as a star in the first place. Lightning seldom strikes even once, much less twice.</p>
<p>Cassidy, 67, who announced earlier this year that he had been diagnosed with dementia, died Tuesday surrounded by his family. No further details were immediately available, but publicist JoAnn Geffen said on Saturday that Cassidy was in a Fort Lauderdale, Florida, hospital suffering from organ failure.</p>
<p>“The Partridge Family” aired from 1970-74 and was intended at first as a vehicle for Shirley Jones, the Oscar-winning actress and Cassidy’s stepmother. Jones played Shirley Partridge, a widow with five children with whom she forms a popular act that travels on a psychedelic bus. The cast also featured Cassidy as eldest son and family heartthrob Keith Partridge; Susan Dey, later of “L.A. Law” fame, as sibling Laurie Partridge and Danny Bonaduce as sibling Danny Partridge.</p>
<p>“The Partridge Family” never cracked the top 10 in TV ratings, but the recordings under their name, mostly featuring Cassidy, Jones and session players, produced real-life musical hits and made Cassidy a real-life musical superstar. “I Think I Love You” was the Partridges’ best-known song, spending three weeks on top of the Billboard chart at a time when other hit singles included James Taylor’s “Fire and Rain” and Smokey Robinson and the Miracles’ “The Tears of a Clown.” The group also reached the top 10 with “I’ll Meet You Halfway” and “Doesn’t Somebody Want to be Wanted,” and Cassidy had a solo hit with “Cherish.”</p>
<p>“In two years, David Cassidy has swept hurricane-like into the pre-pubescent lives of millions of American girls,” Rolling Stone magazine noted in 1972. “Leaving: six and a half million long-playing albums and singles; 44 television programs; David Cassidy lunch boxes; David Cassidy bubble gum; David Cassidy coloring books and David Cassidy pens; not to mention several millions of teen magazines, wall stickers, love beads, posters and photo albums.”</p>
<p>Cassidy’s appeal faded after the show went off the air, although he continued to tour, record and act over the next 40 years, his albums including “Romance” and the awkwardly titled “Didn’t You Used To Be?” He had a hit with “I Write the Songs” before Barry Manilow’s chart-topping version and success overseas with “The Last Kiss,” featuring backing vocals from Cassidy admirer George Michael. He made occasional stage and television appearances, including an Emmy-nominated performance on “Police Story.”</p>
<p>Even while “The Partridge Family” was still in primetime, Cassidy worried that he was being mistaken for the wholesome character he played. He posed naked for Rolling Stone in 1972, when he confided that he had dropped acid as a teenager and smoked pot in front of the magazine’s reporter as he watched an episode of “The Partridge Family” and mocked his own acting.</p>
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<p>Cassidy would endure personal and financial troubles. He was married and divorced three times, battled alcoholism, was arrested for drunk driving and in 2015 filed for bankruptcy. Cassidy had two children, musician Beau Cassidy and actress Katie Cassidy, with whom he acknowledged having a distant relationship.</p>
<p>“I wasn’t her father. I was her biological father but I didn’t raise her,” he told People magazine in 2017. “She has a completely different life.”</p>
<p>Cassidy himself was estranged from his father. Born in New York City in 1950, he was the son of actors Jack Cassidy and Evelyn Ward and half brother of entertainer Shaun Cassidy. David Cassidy’s parents split up when he was 5 and he would long express regret about Jack Cassidy, who soon married Shirley Jones, being mostly absent from his life. David Cassidy stayed with his mother and by the early 1960s had moved to Los Angeles.</p>
<p>Kicked out of high school for truancy, David Cassidy dreamed of becoming an actor and had made appearances on “Bonanza,” “Ironside” and other programs before producers at ABC asked him to audition for “The Partridge Family,” unaware that he could sing and intending at first to have him mime songs to someone else’s voice. Cassidy, who only learned during tryouts that Jones would play his mother, worried that Keith Partridge would be a “real comedown” from his previous roles.</p>
<p>“I mean, how much could an actor do with a line like, ‘Hi, Mom, I’m home from school,’ or ‘Please pass the milk?'” he wrote in his memoir. “I didn’t see how it could do much for me. After all, I wasn’t the star of it. Shirley had top billing; I was just one of the kids.”</p>
<p>Of course, that wasn’t how it worked out.</p>
<p>In the show’s musical numbers, he was placed front and center, upstaging Jones, an actress whose beauty and crystalline vocals had graced the movie musicals “Carousel,” “Oklahoma!” and “The Sound of Music.” Her voice was buried in the chorus of the other lesser “Partridges.”</p>
<p>And while Dey, who was 17 when “The Partridge Family” debuted, soon won a rapt following among the show’s boy viewers, she, too, was eclipsed by Cassidy.</p>
<p>It was he who could sell the chaste romanticism of “I woke up this mornin,’/ Went to sleep with you on my mind.” For a glorious instant, he made mysteries clearer in the minds of his millions of fans.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>AP National Writer Hillel Italie contributed to this report.</p>
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new york david cassidy could sell heck uncertainty think love smash hit 1970 launched partridge family musical group plus abc comedywithsongs show name found cassidy center stage delivering lyrics think love afraid im afraid im sure love cure doubt 20 cassidy radiant manboy help usher young girls young boys matter untold mysteries pubescence adolescence romance rock n roll advertisement millions knew loved within years legions fans would outgrow cassidy would outgrow least made superstar cherubic looks would fade along popularity laddish protofarrahfawcett shag would thin neednt shocked anybody else odds sustaining whitehot level success less great ignited star first place lightning seldom strikes even much less twice cassidy 67 announced earlier year diagnosed dementia died tuesday surrounded family details immediately available publicist joann geffen said saturday cassidy fort lauderdale florida hospital suffering organ failure partridge family aired 197074 intended first vehicle shirley jones oscarwinning actress cassidys stepmother jones played shirley partridge widow five children forms popular act travels psychedelic bus cast also featured cassidy eldest son family heartthrob keith partridge susan dey later la law fame sibling laurie partridge danny bonaduce sibling danny partridge partridge family never cracked top 10 tv ratings recordings name mostly featuring cassidy jones session players produced reallife musical hits made cassidy reallife musical superstar think love partridges bestknown song spending three weeks top billboard chart time hit singles included james taylors fire rain smokey robinson miracles tears clown group also reached top 10 ill meet halfway doesnt somebody want wanted cassidy solo hit cherish two years david cassidy swept hurricanelike prepubescent lives millions american girls rolling stone magazine noted 1972 leaving six half million longplaying albums singles 44 television programs david cassidy lunch boxes david cassidy bubble gum david cassidy coloring books david cassidy pens mention several millions teen magazines wall stickers love beads posters photo albums cassidys appeal faded show went air although continued tour record act next 40 years albums including romance awkwardly titled didnt used hit write songs barry manilows charttopping version success overseas last kiss featuring backing vocals cassidy admirer george michael made occasional stage television appearances including emmynominated performance police story even partridge family still primetime cassidy worried mistaken wholesome character played posed naked rolling stone 1972 confided dropped acid teenager smoked pot front magazines reporter watched episode partridge family mocked acting advertisement cassidy would endure personal financial troubles married divorced three times battled alcoholism arrested drunk driving 2015 filed bankruptcy cassidy two children musician beau cassidy actress katie cassidy acknowledged distant relationship wasnt father biological father didnt raise told people magazine 2017 completely different life cassidy estranged father born new york city 1950 son actors jack cassidy evelyn ward half brother entertainer shaun cassidy david cassidys parents split 5 would long express regret jack cassidy soon married shirley jones mostly absent life david cassidy stayed mother early 1960s moved los angeles kicked high school truancy david cassidy dreamed becoming actor made appearances bonanza ironside programs producers abc asked audition partridge family unaware could sing intending first mime songs someone elses voice cassidy learned tryouts jones would play mother worried keith partridge would real comedown previous roles mean much could actor line like hi mom im home school please pass milk wrote memoir didnt see could much wasnt star shirley top billing one kids course wasnt worked shows musical numbers placed front center upstaging jones actress whose beauty crystalline vocals graced movie musicals carousel oklahoma sound music voice buried chorus lesser partridges dey 17 partridge family debuted soon rapt following among shows boy viewers eclipsed cassidy could sell chaste romanticism woke mornin went sleep mind glorious instant made mysteries clearer minds millions fans ___ ap national writer hillel italie contributed report
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<p>WASHINGTON – The dispute within the Republican Party over health care widened further Friday as President Donald Trump joined with two conservative senators in calling for an outright repeal of the Affordable Care Act if the party fails to agree on an alternative plan by the end of the July Fourth recess.</p>
<p>The reemergence of what has for much of the year been a fringe idea within the GOP revealed not only the party’s philosophical divide over how to revise Obamacare, but also senators’ growing anxiety that they are headed home to see their constituents with little to show them.</p>
<p>Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., – who has said he cannot yet support the current draft of the Senate bill, because of the effects its cuts in Medicaid funding would have on his state – received a blistering reception at a Baton Rouge, Louisiana, town hall Friday. As he sought to discuss flooding issues, an attendee interrupted to mention Medicaid, prompting others to chant, “Health care! Health care!”</p>
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<p>“If you wish to chant and stop others from being able to speak or be heard, that is not civil,” Cassidy retorted.</p>
<p>Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., continued to work on forging a compromise that could garner sufficient support once his colleagues return to Washington on July 10. But Trump’s suggestion that Republican senators should switch gears and immediately try to repeal the ACA if compromise is elusive could embolden conservatives, making it harder for McConnell to broker a deal.</p>
<p>An early-morning tweet was Trump’s first public statement since taking office in favor of bringing down Obamacare with no replacement system in place – a move that could send the U.S. health-care system into deep turmoil.</p>
<p>“If Republican Senators are unable to pass what they are working on now, they should immediately REPEAL, and then REPLACE at a later date!” Trump tweeted.</p>
<p>Health industry officials have warned that overturning the existing law, which has extended insurance to roughly 20 million Americans and changed the rules under which insurance is offered across the country, would create chaos in a sector that accounts for one-sixth of the U.S. economy.</p>
<p>Robert Laszewski, president of Health Policy and Strategy Associates, said repealing the ACA without a replacement would be “a trauma” for an insurance market that needs regulatory clarity to set premium rates.</p>
<p>“There would be absolutely no certainty, whatsoever, about anything,” Laszewski said.</p>
<p>A June 2015 Congressional Budget Office analysis projected that such an outright repeal would add $137 billion to the federal deficit between 2016 and 2025 and leave 24 million non-elderly adults without health coverage between 2021 and 2025.</p>
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<p>Two GOP senators who espouse this approach, Rand Paul (Ky.) and Ben Sasse (Neb.), welcomed Trump’s suggestion. But some of the high-ranking Republicans who have been working on the legislation rejected it as impractical, noting that it might force them to fashion a substitute with Democrats.</p>
<p>An even larger group of Senate Republicans suggested Friday that McConnell should scale back or cancel the chamber’s month-long August recess, given the lack of progress they have made on not just health care but a tax-code overhaul, spending bills, the debt ceiling and a budget resolution.</p>
<p>Senate Republicans David Perdue (Ga.), Steve Daines (Mont.), Joni Ernst (Iowa), John Neely Kennedy (La.), James Lankford (Okla.), Mike Lee (Utah), Mike Rounds (S.D.), Luther Strange (Ala.), Dan Sullivan (Alaska) and Thom Tillis (N.C.) sent McConnell a letter Friday asking him to shorten or cancel the August recess so they can get more done.</p>
<p>“Delivering meaningful results was never assumed to be easy, but the millions of Americans who placed their confidence in our leadership expect our full and best effort,” the 10 senators wrote.</p>
<p>Republicans are steeling themselves for attacks on their health-care negotiations over the July Fourth recess, with progressive activists planning to pressure any members of Congress they see at public events. Most GOP senators were keeping their plans close to their vests, though a handful, including Cassidy, Ted Cruz (Texas), Susan Collins (Maine), Jerry Moran (Kan.) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) have announced town halls or parade visits.</p>
<p>Collins, a vocal critic of the current Senate draft, had publicized just one scheduled appearance – in the 1,300-person town of Eastport, Maine, near the Canadian border.</p>
<p>At Cassidy’s town hall at the Living Faith Christian Center in Baton Rouge, he tried to make the case for transitioning Medicaid recipients into private insurance. But constituents interrupted him repeatedly, prompting him to chastise them for being rude.</p>
<p>“I’ll tell you what’s rude – kicking 22 million people off of health care in this country,” said a man in the front row after the senator recognized him to speak.</p>
<p>The audience erupted into cheers.</p>
<p>Reminding Cassidy, a medical doctor, of his stint treating patients at a hospital for the uninsured, the man continued: “You worked at Earl K. Long for many years. You know what people are like at their lowest.”</p>
<p>Senate Democrats are staging events aimed at highlighting how the Senate’s draft bill could hurt health-care delivery in their home states. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., is visiting at least two rural hospitals over the break to underscore the impact of proposed funding cuts.</p>
<p>McConnell is trying to tweak his original proposal, which would make deep cuts in Medicaid while providing tax cuts to companies and wealthy Americans. The changes are part of an effort to bring on a handful of conservative and centrist senators who have questioned parts of the bill.</p>
<p>While it is unclear what specifically prompted Trump’s tweet, an aide to Sasse said that the senator had discussed the idea of a straight repeal privately with White House officials in recent days. On Friday, Sasse released a letter to the president suggesting that if an agreement is not reached by the day that members return from their week-long recess, the president should call on Congress to repeal the ACA and work through August to craft a replacement by Labor Day.</p>
<p>Paul, who retweeted Trump on Friday morning, later fired off a second tweet saying he had spoken to Trump and Senate GOP leadership “about this and agree. Let’s keep our word to repeal then work on replacing right away.”</p>
<p>And Americans for Prosperity’s chief government-affairs officer, Brent Gardner, whose conservative group is funded by Charles and David Koch, said the approach “has real merit.”</p>
<p>Deputy White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Trump did not see July 10 as a deadline to pass legislation. She added: “We’re still fully committed to pushing through with the Senate, at this point, but we’re, you know, looking at every possible option of repealing and replacing Obamacare. We are focused on doing that.”</p>
<p>Asked for the majority leader’s response to Trump’s Friday tweet, a McConnell spokeswoman said she did not have any new announcements.</p>
<p>Senate Republicans, along with their House counterparts, have repeatedly voted to abolish Obamacare without putting anything in its place, including as recently as 2015. In that Senate vote, only two Republicans dissented: Collins and Mark Kirk (Ill.), who lost his reelection bid last year.</p>
<p>House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady, R-Texas, dismissed Trump’s suggestion that Congress could simply repeal parts of the ACA then go back and replace them later.</p>
<p>“That doesn’t achieve what President Trump set out to do,” he said during an episode of C-SPAN’s “Newsmakers” set to air Sunday. “I really think the Senate’s approach – certainly in the House – of not simply repealing but starting to put into place the elements that can make health care affordable . . . that should continue to be our goal.”</p>
<p>If Republicans use special budget procedures known as reconciliation to skirt a Democratic filibuster in the Senate to repeal the ACA, they could not immediately use the same procedures to replace it – meaning they would have to negotiate with Democrats.</p>
<p>“Democrats, no doubt, would obstruct any fair opportunity to replace the Affordable Care Act in the future,” Brady said. “So the very best opportunity to begin this good, thoughtful transition to affordable care is right now in reconciliation.”</p>
<p>But the calls for repeal reflect the anger that Trump and many conservatives feel about the measure McConnell crafted behind closed doors, which would cut $772 billion over 10 years from Medicaid, the public insurance program that covers nearly 70 million Americans, while providing $541 billion in tax cuts.</p>
<p>Chip Roy, who directs the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Center for the Tenth Amendment Action and once worked as an aide to Cruz, said he believed that Trump’s tweet Friday was indicative of his “frustration with what’s going on on Capitol Hill.”</p>
<p>Senate leaders are rewriting their bill to provide $45 billion to combat opioid addiction and provide more financial assistance to low- and moderate-income Americans. They hope to win over conservatives by eliminating many of the ACA’s insurance mandates and allowing higher tax deductions through expanded health savings accounts.</p>
<p>But they have not settled on how they would finance all these changes, since conservatives oppose the centrists’ push to preserve one of the bill’s current taxes as a way of funneling more money to those who cannot afford health coverage on their own.</p>
<p>McConnell had hoped to get his proposed revisions to the bill to the CBO by the end of the week. By late Friday, the bulk of the anticipated changes resulting from the week’s negotiations had been sent to the office for review, two Republicans with knowledge of the process confirmed.</p>
<p>On Friday, Brady joined the chorus of conservatives who object to maintaining a 3.2 percent tax on investment income for high earners as a way of providing more money to low-income Americans in the health bill. The current draft repeals or delays all the taxes imposed by the ACA.</p>
<p>Keeping the tax, Brady said, would be a “tough red flag” if the bill comes back to the House.</p>
<p>Given the impasse, the bill continues to come under attack from the GOP’s right and center.</p>
<p>On a Friday conference call with reporters, officials with several conservative advocacy groups said it does not repeal the ACA forcefully enough.</p>
<p>“We believe that real repeal means full repeal,” said Andy Roth, vice president for government affairs at the Club for Growth. “Root and branch doesn’t mean trimming the hedges, as is currently the case.”</p>
<p>– – –</p>
<p>Ashley Cusick in Baton Rouge and The Washington Post’s Mike DeBonis, David Weigel and Ed O’Keefe in Washington contributed to this report.</p>
<p>—</p>
<p>Video: The Republicans’ time-crunched effort to pass a health-care bill is hitting a lot of resistance in the Senate. The Post’s Paige Cunningham explains five key reasons the party is struggling to move their plan forward. (Video: Jenny Starrs/Photo: Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)</p>
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washington dispute within republican party health care widened friday president donald trump joined two conservative senators calling outright repeal affordable care act party fails agree alternative plan end july fourth recess reemergence much year fringe idea within gop revealed partys philosophical divide revise obamacare also senators growing anxiety headed home see constituents little show sen bill cassidy rla said yet support current draft senate bill effects cuts medicaid funding would state received blistering reception baton rouge louisiana town hall friday sought discuss flooding issues attendee interrupted mention medicaid prompting others chant health care health care advertisement wish chant stop others able speak heard civil cassidy retorted senate majority leader mitch mcconnell rky continued work forging compromise could garner sufficient support colleagues return washington july 10 trumps suggestion republican senators switch gears immediately try repeal aca compromise elusive could embolden conservatives making harder mcconnell broker deal earlymorning tweet trumps first public statement since taking office favor bringing obamacare replacement system place move could send us healthcare system deep turmoil republican senators unable pass working immediately repeal replace later date trump tweeted health industry officials warned overturning existing law extended insurance roughly 20 million americans changed rules insurance offered across country would create chaos sector accounts onesixth us economy robert laszewski president health policy strategy associates said repealing aca without replacement would trauma insurance market needs regulatory clarity set premium rates would absolutely certainty whatsoever anything laszewski said june 2015 congressional budget office analysis projected outright repeal would add 137 billion federal deficit 2016 2025 leave 24 million nonelderly adults without health coverage 2021 2025 advertisement two gop senators espouse approach rand paul ky ben sasse neb welcomed trumps suggestion highranking republicans working legislation rejected impractical noting might force fashion substitute democrats even larger group senate republicans suggested friday mcconnell scale back cancel chambers monthlong august recess given lack progress made health care taxcode overhaul spending bills debt ceiling budget resolution senate republicans david perdue ga steve daines mont joni ernst iowa john neely kennedy la james lankford okla mike lee utah mike rounds sd luther strange ala dan sullivan alaska thom tillis nc sent mcconnell letter friday asking shorten cancel august recess get done delivering meaningful results never assumed easy millions americans placed confidence leadership expect full best effort 10 senators wrote republicans steeling attacks healthcare negotiations july fourth recess progressive activists planning pressure members congress see public events gop senators keeping plans close vests though handful including cassidy ted cruz texas susan collins maine jerry moran kan lisa murkowski alaska announced town halls parade visits collins vocal critic current senate draft publicized one scheduled appearance 1300person town eastport maine near canadian border cassidys town hall living faith christian center baton rouge tried make case transitioning medicaid recipients private insurance constituents interrupted repeatedly prompting chastise rude ill tell whats rude kicking 22 million people health care country said man front row senator recognized speak audience erupted cheers reminding cassidy medical doctor stint treating patients hospital uninsured man continued worked earl k long many years know people like lowest senate democrats staging events aimed highlighting senates draft bill could hurt healthcare delivery home states sen heidi heitkamp dnd visiting least two rural hospitals break underscore impact proposed funding cuts mcconnell trying tweak original proposal would make deep cuts medicaid providing tax cuts companies wealthy americans changes part effort bring handful conservative centrist senators questioned parts bill unclear specifically prompted trumps tweet aide sasse said senator discussed idea straight repeal privately white house officials recent days friday sasse released letter president suggesting agreement reached day members return weeklong recess president call congress repeal aca work august craft replacement labor day paul retweeted trump friday morning later fired second tweet saying spoken trump senate gop leadership agree lets keep word repeal work replacing right away americans prosperitys chief governmentaffairs officer brent gardner whose conservative group funded charles david koch said approach real merit deputy white house press secretary sarah huckabee sanders said trump see july 10 deadline pass legislation added still fully committed pushing senate point know looking every possible option repealing replacing obamacare focused asked majority leaders response trumps friday tweet mcconnell spokeswoman said new announcements senate republicans along house counterparts repeatedly voted abolish obamacare without putting anything place including recently 2015 senate vote two republicans dissented collins mark kirk ill lost reelection bid last year house ways means committee chairman kevin brady rtexas dismissed trumps suggestion congress could simply repeal parts aca go back replace later doesnt achieve president trump set said episode cspans newsmakers set air sunday really think senates approach certainly house simply repealing starting put place elements make health care affordable continue goal republicans use special budget procedures known reconciliation skirt democratic filibuster senate repeal aca could immediately use procedures replace meaning would negotiate democrats democrats doubt would obstruct fair opportunity replace affordable care act future brady said best opportunity begin good thoughtful transition affordable care right reconciliation calls repeal reflect anger trump many conservatives feel measure mcconnell crafted behind closed doors would cut 772 billion 10 years medicaid public insurance program covers nearly 70 million americans providing 541 billion tax cuts chip roy directs texas public policy foundations center tenth amendment action worked aide cruz said believed trumps tweet friday indicative frustration whats going capitol hill senate leaders rewriting bill provide 45 billion combat opioid addiction provide financial assistance low moderateincome americans hope win conservatives eliminating many acas insurance mandates allowing higher tax deductions expanded health savings accounts settled would finance changes since conservatives oppose centrists push preserve one bills current taxes way funneling money afford health coverage mcconnell hoped get proposed revisions bill cbo end week late friday bulk anticipated changes resulting weeks negotiations sent office review two republicans knowledge process confirmed friday brady joined chorus conservatives object maintaining 32 percent tax investment income high earners way providing money lowincome americans health bill current draft repeals delays taxes imposed aca keeping tax brady said would tough red flag bill comes back house given impasse bill continues come attack gops right center friday conference call reporters officials several conservative advocacy groups said repeal aca forcefully enough believe real repeal means full repeal said andy roth vice president government affairs club growth root branch doesnt mean trimming hedges currently case ashley cusick baton rouge washington posts mike debonis david weigel ed okeefe washington contributed report video republicans timecrunched effort pass healthcare bill hitting lot resistance senate posts paige cunningham explains five key reasons party struggling move plan forward video jenny starrsphoto jabin botsfordthe washington post url httpwapost2tpkqud embed code
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<p>WASHINGTON (AP) — To hear Donald Trump talk, you’d think Barack Obama was the president who stole Christmas.</p>
<p>Although Trump doesn’t generally single him out by name on this subject, the president’s meaning is unmistakable when he declares, as he has done since long before the holiday season, that’s he making it OK to talk about Christmas again. Obama, it would seem, did not. But that’s not what the record shows.</p>
<p>A look at that matter and others that arose in a week bristling with action on taxes and Trump’s words on foreign policy, politics and more:</p>
<p>TRUMP: “People are proud to be saying Merry Christmas again. I am proud to have led the charge against the assault of our cherished and beautiful phrase. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!! — a tweet Christmas Eve.</p>
<p>THE FACTS: “Merry Christmas,” the president said when presiding over the lighting of the National Christmas Tree and celebrating “the birth of our Savior.”</p>
<p>That president was Obama, marking “my family’s Christian faith” and other faiths in his final Christmas tree ritual in office, in 2016.</p>
<p>The White House holidays under the Obamas had plenty of Christmas trappings and cheer. Obama offered a more general holiday message on the official greeting card, but wished “Merry Christmas” at the National Tree lighting, on his Twitter account and in his weekly address.</p>
<p>Trump explicitly criticized Obama in 2011, tweeting that the president had “issued a statement for Kwanzaa but failed to issue one for Christmas.” In fact, that year Obama wished people “Merry Christmas” from his Twitter account and gave a video address with wife Michelle Obama in which he wished people a “Merry Christmas and happy holidays.”</p>
<p>Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton also offered greetings marking Kwanzaa, the weeklong African heritage festivities starting Tuesday. The White House said Trump will also have a statement on Kwanzaa.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>TRUMP: “The bottom line is, this is the biggest tax cuts and reform in the history of our country. This is bigger than, actually, President Reagan’s many years ago.” — remarks to reporters Friday.</p>
<p>THE FACTS: Not so, in either case. 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. The White House won’t explain how he arrives at his conclusion.</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>Additionally, a Treasury Department analysis found Reagan’s 1981 tax cut had an annual average cost of nearly 2 percent of GDP. This would translate into roughly $400 billion in today’s dollars. The current tax cuts peak at $280 billion in 2019.</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. The government uses percentage of GDP to measure most budget and tax issues over time because that measure puts tax revenues and federal outlays in context relative to the entire economy.</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 usually 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 often put it, 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. CHUCK SCHUMER: “Their bill increases taxes on lots of middle-class people. ... According to the Tax Policy Center, the top 1 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 who have blasted the plan as a middle-class betrayal are basing their assertions on the fact that nearly all personal tax cuts expire after 2025. That 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 health law.</p>
<p>Other marquee components of Barack 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 law 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 on his predecessors: “They put American energy under lock and key.” — speech Monday.</p>
<p>THE FACTS: On the contrary, energy production was unleashed during Obama’s presidency, largely because of advances in hydraulic fracturing that made it economical to tap vast reserves of natural gas. Oil production also greatly increased, reducing imports. Before the presidential election last year, the U.S. for the first time in decades was getting more energy domestically than it imports. The government estimated this year that the U.S. could switch from being a net importer of energy to being a net exporter as early as 2019, depending on what happens to oil prices, energy resources and economic growth.</p>
<p>Trump, a Republican, has rolled back some obstacles for the coal industry, which indeed complained of overregulation by Obama, a Democrat. But coal’s decline in recent years was driven mainly by competition from cheap natural gas.</p>
<p>Despite his rhetoric about U.S. energy production, one of Trump’s most consequential actions as president has been to open the U.S. to another source of foreign oil, with his approval of the Keystone XL pipeline from Canada.</p>
<p>Obama’s two-term predecessor, Republican George W. Bush, was no adversary of the energy industry. Neither president put energy “under lock and key.”</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Find AP Fact Checks at <a href="" type="internal">https://apnews.com/tag/APFactCheck</a></p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Associated Press writers Josh Boak and Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar contributed to this report.</p>
<p>WASHINGTON (AP) — To hear Donald Trump talk, you’d think Barack Obama was the president who stole Christmas.</p>
<p>Although Trump doesn’t generally single him out by name on this subject, the president’s meaning is unmistakable when he declares, as he has done since long before the holiday season, that’s he making it OK to talk about Christmas again. Obama, it would seem, did not. But that’s not what the record shows.</p>
<p>A look at that matter and others that arose in a week bristling with action on taxes and Trump’s words on foreign policy, politics and more:</p>
<p>TRUMP: “People are proud to be saying Merry Christmas again. I am proud to have led the charge against the assault of our cherished and beautiful phrase. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!! — a tweet Christmas Eve.</p>
<p>THE FACTS: “Merry Christmas,” the president said when presiding over the lighting of the National Christmas Tree and celebrating “the birth of our Savior.”</p>
<p>That president was Obama, marking “my family’s Christian faith” and other faiths in his final Christmas tree ritual in office, in 2016.</p>
<p>The White House holidays under the Obamas had plenty of Christmas trappings and cheer. Obama offered a more general holiday message on the official greeting card, but wished “Merry Christmas” at the National Tree lighting, on his Twitter account and in his weekly address.</p>
<p>Trump explicitly criticized Obama in 2011, tweeting that the president had “issued a statement for Kwanzaa but failed to issue one for Christmas.” In fact, that year Obama wished people “Merry Christmas” from his Twitter account and gave a video address with wife Michelle Obama in which he wished people a “Merry Christmas and happy holidays.”</p>
<p>Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton also offered greetings marking Kwanzaa, the weeklong African heritage festivities starting Tuesday. The White House said Trump will also have a statement on Kwanzaa.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>TRUMP: “The bottom line is, this is the biggest tax cuts and reform in the history of our country. This is bigger than, actually, President Reagan’s many years ago.” — remarks to reporters Friday.</p>
<p>THE FACTS: Not so, in either case. 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. The White House won’t explain how he arrives at his conclusion.</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>Additionally, a Treasury Department analysis found Reagan’s 1981 tax cut had an annual average cost of nearly 2 percent of GDP. This would translate into roughly $400 billion in today’s dollars. The current tax cuts peak at $280 billion in 2019.</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. The government uses percentage of GDP to measure most budget and tax issues over time because that measure puts tax revenues and federal outlays in context relative to the entire economy.</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 usually 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 often put it, 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. CHUCK SCHUMER: “Their bill increases taxes on lots of middle-class people. ... According to the Tax Policy Center, the top 1 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 who have blasted the plan as a middle-class betrayal are basing their assertions on the fact that nearly all personal tax cuts expire after 2025. That 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 health law.</p>
<p>Other marquee components of Barack 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 law 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 on his predecessors: “They put American energy under lock and key.” — speech Monday.</p>
<p>THE FACTS: On the contrary, energy production was unleashed during Obama’s presidency, largely because of advances in hydraulic fracturing that made it economical to tap vast reserves of natural gas. Oil production also greatly increased, reducing imports. Before the presidential election last year, the U.S. for the first time in decades was getting more energy domestically than it imports. The government estimated this year that the U.S. could switch from being a net importer of energy to being a net exporter as early as 2019, depending on what happens to oil prices, energy resources and economic growth.</p>
<p>Trump, a Republican, has rolled back some obstacles for the coal industry, which indeed complained of overregulation by Obama, a Democrat. But coal’s decline in recent years was driven mainly by competition from cheap natural gas.</p>
<p>Despite his rhetoric about U.S. energy production, one of Trump’s most consequential actions as president has been to open the U.S. to another source of foreign oil, with his approval of the Keystone XL pipeline from Canada.</p>
<p>Obama’s two-term predecessor, Republican George W. Bush, was no adversary of the energy industry. Neither president put energy “under lock and key.”</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Find AP Fact Checks at <a href="" type="internal">https://apnews.com/tag/APFactCheck</a></p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Associated Press writers Josh Boak and Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar contributed to this report.</p>
| false | 2 |
washington ap hear donald trump talk youd think barack obama president stole christmas although trump doesnt generally single name subject presidents meaning unmistakable declares done since long holiday season thats making ok talk christmas obama would seem thats record shows look matter others arose week bristling action taxes trumps words foreign policy politics trump people proud saying merry christmas proud led charge assault cherished beautiful phrase merry christmas tweet christmas eve facts merry christmas president said presiding lighting national christmas tree celebrating birth savior president obama marking familys christian faith faiths final christmas tree ritual office 2016 white house holidays obamas plenty christmas trappings cheer obama offered general holiday message official greeting card wished merry christmas national tree lighting twitter account weekly address trump explicitly criticized obama 2011 tweeting president issued statement kwanzaa failed issue one christmas fact year obama wished people merry christmas twitter account gave video address wife michelle obama wished people merry christmas happy holidays presidents george w bush bill clinton also offered greetings marking kwanzaa weeklong african heritage festivities starting tuesday white house said trump also statement kwanzaa ___ trump bottom line biggest tax cuts reform history country bigger actually president reagans many years ago remarks reporters friday facts either case months trump refused recognize larger tax cuts history many grant presidents enacted big tax cuts since ronald reagan 1980s white house wont explain arrives conclusion 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 additionally treasury department analysis found reagans 1981 tax cut annual average cost nearly 2 percent gdp would translate roughly 400 billion todays dollars current tax cuts peak 280 billion 2019 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 government uses percentage gdp measure budget tax issues time measure puts tax revenues federal outlays context relative entire economy ___ vice president mike pence youre delivering middleclass miracle trump cabinet meeting wednesday facts modest doesnt usually make miracle pences praise boss reflects trumps assertion tax bill middle class often put 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 chuck schumer bill increases taxes lots middleclass people according tax policy center top 1 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 blasted plan middleclass betrayal 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 middleclass 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 health law marquee components barack 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 law 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 predecessors put american energy lock key speech monday facts contrary energy production unleashed obamas presidency largely advances hydraulic fracturing made economical tap vast reserves natural gas oil production also greatly increased reducing imports presidential election last year us first time decades getting energy domestically imports government estimated year us could switch net importer energy net exporter early 2019 depending happens oil prices energy resources economic growth trump republican rolled back obstacles coal industry indeed complained overregulation obama democrat coals decline recent years driven mainly competition cheap natural gas despite rhetoric us energy production one trumps consequential actions president open us another source foreign oil approval keystone xl pipeline canada obamas twoterm predecessor republican george w bush adversary energy industry neither president put energy lock key ___ find ap fact checks httpsapnewscomtagapfactcheck ___ associated press writers josh boak ricardo alonsozaldivar contributed report washington ap hear donald trump talk youd think barack obama president stole christmas although trump doesnt generally single name subject presidents meaning unmistakable declares done since long holiday season thats making ok talk christmas obama would seem thats record shows look matter others arose week bristling action taxes trumps words foreign policy politics trump people proud saying merry christmas proud led charge assault cherished beautiful phrase merry christmas tweet christmas eve facts merry christmas president said presiding lighting national christmas tree celebrating birth savior president obama marking familys christian faith faiths final christmas tree ritual office 2016 white house holidays obamas plenty christmas trappings cheer obama offered general holiday message official greeting card wished merry christmas national tree lighting twitter account weekly address trump explicitly criticized obama 2011 tweeting president issued statement kwanzaa failed issue one christmas fact year obama wished people merry christmas twitter account gave video address wife michelle obama wished people merry christmas happy holidays presidents george w bush bill clinton also offered greetings marking kwanzaa weeklong african heritage festivities starting tuesday white house said trump also statement kwanzaa ___ trump bottom line biggest tax cuts reform history country bigger actually president reagans many years ago remarks reporters friday facts either case months trump refused recognize larger tax cuts history many grant presidents enacted big tax cuts since ronald reagan 1980s white house wont explain arrives conclusion 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 additionally treasury department analysis found reagans 1981 tax cut annual average cost nearly 2 percent gdp would translate roughly 400 billion todays dollars current tax cuts peak 280 billion 2019 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 government uses percentage gdp measure budget tax issues time measure puts tax revenues federal outlays context relative entire economy ___ vice president mike pence youre delivering middleclass miracle trump cabinet meeting wednesday facts modest doesnt usually make miracle pences praise boss reflects trumps assertion tax bill middle class often put 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 chuck schumer bill increases taxes lots middleclass people according tax policy center top 1 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 blasted plan middleclass betrayal 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 middleclass 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 health law marquee components barack 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 law 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 predecessors put american energy lock key speech monday facts contrary energy production unleashed obamas presidency largely advances hydraulic fracturing made economical tap vast reserves natural gas oil production also greatly increased reducing imports presidential election last year us first time decades getting energy domestically imports government estimated year us could switch net importer energy net exporter early 2019 depending happens oil prices energy resources economic growth trump republican rolled back obstacles coal industry indeed complained overregulation obama democrat coals decline recent years driven mainly competition cheap natural gas despite rhetoric us energy production one trumps consequential actions president open us another source foreign oil approval keystone xl pipeline canada obamas twoterm predecessor republican george w bush adversary energy industry neither president put energy lock key ___ find ap fact checks httpsapnewscomtagapfactcheck ___ associated press writers josh boak ricardo alonsozaldivar contributed report
| 1,894 |
<p>Jan 24 (Reuters) - Shares of United Continental Holdings Inc fell more than 7 percent before the bell on Wednesday after the airline said it plans to add capacity, likely threatening its profit margin, as it is locked in a price war with low-cost carriers.</p>
<p>The parent of the No.3 U.S. airline plans to increase capacity by between 4 percent and 6 percent in 2018, and aims to likely grow by a similar rate in 2019 and 2020, saying it would give the carrier a competitive edge in its fight against low-cost airlines such as Southwest Airlines and JetBlu Airways.</p>
<p>The decision comes months after United ordered 10 extra Airbus A350 jetliners, while ditching the largest model, the A350-1000, in favor of the smaller and more popular A350-900 and delaying deliveries to save cash.</p>
<p>United’s shares are poised to open lower despite the bigger-than-expected jump in quarterly profit it reported on Tuesday.</p>
<p>Shares of other U.S. airline companies such as American Airlines Group and Delta Air Lines also fell in premarket trading. (Reporting by Rachit Vats in Bengaluru; Editing by Supriya Kurane)</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>(This March 20 story has been corrected to fix stock losses figure in third paragraph to “nearly $50 billion” from “$60 billion”)</p>
<p>By Eric Auchard and David Ingram</p>
<p>LONDON/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - The suspended chief executive of Cambridge Analytica said in a secretly recorded video broadcast on Tuesday that his UK-based political consultancy’s online campaign played a decisive role in U.S. President Donald Trump’s 2016 election victory.</p>
<p>CEO Alexander Nix’s comments, which could not be verified, are potentially a further problem for Facebook Inc as it faces lawmakers’ scrutiny in the United States and Europe over Cambridge Analytica’s improper use of 50 million Facebook users’ personal data to target voters.</p>
<p>The social media network’s shares fell for a second day, closing down 2.5 percent, as investors worried that its dealings with Cambridge Analytica might damage its reputation, deter advertisers and invite restrictive regulation. The company has lost nearly $50 billion of its stock market value over the last two days.</p>
<p>Cambridge Analytica’s board of directors suspended Nix on Tuesday, shortly before the second part of British broadcaster Channel 4’s expose of the firm’s methods.</p>
<p>In the program Nix describes questionable practices used to influence foreign elections and said his firm did all the research, analytics and targeting of voters for Trump’s digital and TV campaigns. He also boasts he met Trump when he was the Republican presidential candidate “many times”.</p>
<p>Nix’s comments “do not represent the values or operations of the firm and his suspension reflects the seriousness with which we view this violation,” Cambridge Analytica said in a statement on Tuesday.</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>Brad Parscale, the 2016 Trump campaign’s main digital adviser who dealt regularly with Cambridge Analytica, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Nix’s claims.</p>
<p>Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and now senior adviser, oversaw the Trump campaign’s digital operations. One former Trump adviser said Kushner brought Cambridge Analytica into the 2016 campaign effort. Kushner’s lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment.</p>
<p>Cambridge Analytica whistleblower Christopher Wylie told the Washington Post on Tuesday that in 2014 conservative strategist Steve Bannon, who would go on to be Trump's White House adviser, oversaw the firm's early efforts to collect Facebook data to build detailed profiles on millions of American voters. ( <a href="http://wapo.st/2HOTQNu" type="external">wapo.st/2HOTQNu</a>)</p>
<p>Bannon approved spending nearly $1 million to acquire data, including Facebook profiles, in 2014, Wylie told the Post. It is unclear whether Bannon knew how Cambridge Analytica was obtaining the Facebook data, the Post reported.</p>
<p>Bannon, who served on Cambridge Analytica’s board, did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters.</p>
<p>U.S. law bans foreigners from making contributions or spending money on behalf of a U.S. election campaign but it was not illegal for the Trump campaign to retain Cambridge Analytica’s services, according to Bradley Smith, a former Republican member of the U.S. Federal Election Commission.</p>
<p>“The fact that they are a British company doesn’t add anything to the analysis unless they were giving their services away for free or charging below-market rates,” said Smith, now a professor at the Capital University Law School in Columbus, Ohio.</p> FTC REVIEW, LAWSUIT
<p>U.S. and European lawmakers have demanded an explanation of how Cambridge Analytica gained access to user data in 2014 and why Facebook failed to inform its users, raising broader industry questions about consumer privacy.</p> People walk past the building housing the offices of Cambridge Analytica in central London, Britain, March 20, 2018. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls
<p>Facebook said it had been told by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the leading U.S. consumer regulator, that it would receive a letter this week with questions about the data acquired by Cambridge Analytica. It said it had no indication of a formal investigation.</p>
<p>“The entire company is outraged we were deceived,” Facebook said in a statement on Tuesday. “We are committed to vigorously enforcing our policies to protect people’s information and will take whatever steps are required to see that this happens.”</p>
<p>The FTC is reviewing whether Facebook violated a 2011 consent decree it reached with the authority 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 the company thousands of dollars a day per violation, which could add up to billions of dollars.</p>
<p>Facebook was also hit on Tuesday in a San Francisco court by the first of what could be many lawsuits by shareholders claiming to suffer losses because the company misled them about its ability to protect user data.&#160;The company could also soon face lawsuits on behalf of users whose personal information was exposed.</p>
<p>Facebook and its peers Alphabet Inc’s Google and Twitter already face a backlash from users and lawmakers over their role during the U.S. presidential election by allowing the spread of false information that might have swayed voters toward Trump.</p> Slideshow (6 Images)
<p>Fear of increased regulation hurt other social media firms on Tuesday. Shares of Snap Inc fell 2.5 percent and Twitter Inc fell more than 10 percent.</p> FOREIGN INFLUENCE
<p>U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, called on Tuesday for Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to testify in Congress. Congressional staff said the company would brief U.S. Senate and House aides on Wednesday.</p>
<p>A Congressional official said House Intelligence Committee Democrats plan to interview Cambridge Analytica whistleblower Wylie. The committee interviewed Nix by video teleconference, according to the Congressional official, but a transcript of that interview has not yet been made public.</p>
<p>The Senate Intelligence Committee, which is conducting a long-term investigation of alleged Russian interference in U.S. politics and a detailed examination of U.S. election security precautions, would carry out its own inquiry of Cambridge Analytica, a Congressional official with direct knowledge of the investigation said.</p>
<p>The White House said it welcomed inquiries, and that the president believes that Americans’ privacy should be protected.</p> Related Coverage
<a href="/article/us-facebook-cambridge-analytica-academic/academic-behind-facebook-breach-says-he-is-a-scapegoat-bbc-idUSKBN1GX0KK" type="external">Academic behind Facebook breach says he is a 'scapegoat': BBC</a>
<a href="/article/us-facebook-cambrige-analytica-stocks/social-media-stocks-tumble-as-wall-street-fears-regulation-idUSKBN1GW2QO" type="external">Social media stocks tumble as Wall Street fears regulation</a>
<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> PERSONAL INFORMATION
<p>In Britain, the Information Commissioner’s Office, an independent authority set up to uphold information rights in the public interest, was seeking a warrant from a judge to search the offices of London-based Cambridge Analytica. It was unclear late on Tuesday whether it had obtained it.</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 Bannon.</p>
<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 data from 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. Kogan was not immediately reachable for comment.</p>
<p>Reporting by David Ingram in San Francisco, Kate Holton and Paul Sandle in London, David Shepardson, Susan Heavey, Mark Hosenball, Jonathan Landay and Sarah N. Lynch in Washington, Jonathan Stempel in New York; Additional reporting by Munsif Vengattil; Writing by Susan Thomas and Lisa Shumaker; Editing by Nick Zieminski, Bill Rigby and Michael Perry</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, tours a neighbourhood with members of his team in Mosul, Iraq, January 10, 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>
<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>
<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>
<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>
<p>BRUSSELS (Reuters) - German conglomerate Bayer won EU antitrust approval on Wednesday for its $62.5 billion buy of U.S. peer Monsanto, the last of a trio of mega mergers that will reshape the agrochemicals industry.</p> The logo of Bayer AG is pictured at the Bayer Healthcare subgroup production plant in Wuppertal, Germany February 24, 2014. REUTERS/Ina Fassbender/File Photo
<p>The tie-up is set to create a company with control of more than a quarter of the world’s seed and pesticides market.</p>
<p>Driven by shifting weather patterns, competition in grain exports and a faltering global farm economy, Dow and Dupont, and ChemChina [CNNCC.UL] and Syngenta had earlier led the wave of consolidation in the sector.</p>
<p>Environmental and farming groups have opposed all three deals, worried about their power and their advantage in digital farming data, which can tell farmers how and when to till, sow, spray, fertilize and pick crops based on algorithms.</p>
<p>The European Commission said Bayer addressed its concerns with its offer to sell a swathe of assets to boost rival BASF confirming a Reuters story on Feb. 28.</p> FILE PHOTO: Monsanto is displayed on a screen where the stock is traded on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., May 9, 2016. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo
<p>“Our decision ensures that there will be effective competition and innovation in seeds, pesticides and digital agriculture markets also after this merger,” European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said in a statement.</p>
<p>“In particular, we have made sure that the number of global players actively competing in these markets stays the same.”</p>
<p>Bayer has already reached a deal to sell certain seed and herbicide assets for 5.9 billion euros ($7.2 billion) to BASF and to give it a license to its global digital farming data. It will also divest its vegetable seeds business to BASF.</p>
<p>The Commission is due to decide on the BASF deal by April 16.</p>
<p>China has given conditional approval to the Bayer and Monsanto deal, which has won the green light in Brazil. It is currently being reviewed by U.S. and Russia antitrust authorities.</p>
<p>Reporting by Foo Yun Chee, editing by Robin Emmott</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
| false | 2 |
jan 24 reuters shares united continental holdings inc fell 7 percent bell wednesday airline said plans add capacity likely threatening profit margin locked price war lowcost carriers parent no3 us airline plans increase capacity 4 percent 6 percent 2018 aims likely grow similar rate 2019 2020 saying would give carrier competitive edge fight lowcost airlines southwest airlines jetblu airways decision comes months united ordered 10 extra airbus a350 jetliners ditching largest model a3501000 favor smaller popular a350900 delaying deliveries save cash uniteds shares poised open lower despite biggerthanexpected jump quarterly profit reported tuesday shares us airline companies american airlines group delta air lines also fell premarket trading reporting rachit vats bengaluru editing supriya kurane standards thomson reuters trust principles march 20 story corrected fix stock losses figure third paragraph nearly 50 billion 60 billion eric auchard david ingram londonsan francisco reuters suspended chief executive cambridge analytica said secretly recorded video broadcast tuesday ukbased political consultancys online campaign played decisive role us president donald trumps 2016 election victory ceo alexander nixs comments could verified potentially problem facebook inc faces lawmakers scrutiny united states europe cambridge analyticas improper use 50 million facebook users personal data target voters social media networks shares fell second day closing 25 percent investors worried dealings cambridge analytica might damage reputation deter advertisers invite restrictive regulation company lost nearly 50 billion stock market value last two days cambridge analyticas board directors suspended nix tuesday shortly second part british broadcaster channel 4s expose firms methods program nix describes questionable practices used influence foreign elections said firm research analytics targeting voters trumps digital tv campaigns also boasts met trump republican presidential candidate many times nixs comments represent values operations firm suspension reflects seriousness view violation cambridge analytica said statement tuesday cambridge analytica denied media claims said deleted data learning information adhere data protection rules brad parscale 2016 trump campaigns main digital adviser dealt regularly cambridge analytica immediately respond request comment nixs claims jared kushner trumps soninlaw senior adviser oversaw trump campaigns digital operations one former trump adviser said kushner brought cambridge analytica 2016 campaign effort kushners lawyer immediately respond request comment cambridge analytica whistleblower christopher wylie told washington post tuesday 2014 conservative strategist steve bannon would go trumps white house adviser oversaw firms early efforts collect facebook data build detailed profiles millions american voters wapost2hotqnu bannon approved spending nearly 1 million acquire data including facebook profiles 2014 wylie told post unclear whether bannon knew cambridge analytica obtaining facebook data post reported bannon served cambridge analyticas board immediately respond request comment reuters us law bans foreigners making contributions spending money behalf us election campaign illegal trump campaign retain cambridge analyticas services according bradley smith former republican member us federal election commission fact british company doesnt add anything analysis unless giving services away free charging belowmarket rates said smith professor capital university law school columbus ohio ftc review lawsuit us european lawmakers demanded explanation cambridge analytica gained access user data 2014 facebook failed inform users raising broader industry questions consumer privacy people walk past building housing offices cambridge analytica central london britain march 20 2018 reutershenry nicholls facebook said told federal trade commission ftc leading us consumer regulator would receive letter week questions data acquired cambridge analytica said indication formal investigation entire company outraged deceived facebook said statement tuesday committed vigorously enforcing policies protect peoples information take whatever steps required see happens ftc reviewing whether facebook violated 2011 consent decree reached authority privacy practices person briefed matter told reuters ftc finds facebook violated terms consent decree power fine company thousands dollars day per violation could add billions dollars facebook also hit tuesday san francisco court first could many lawsuits shareholders claiming suffer losses company misled ability protect user data160the company could also soon face lawsuits behalf users whose personal information exposed facebook peers alphabet incs google twitter already face backlash users lawmakers role us presidential election allowing spread false information might swayed voters toward trump slideshow 6 images fear increased regulation hurt social media firms tuesday shares snap inc fell 25 percent twitter inc fell 10 percent foreign influence us senator dianne feinstein top democrat judiciary committee called tuesday facebook ceo mark zuckerberg testify congress congressional staff said company would brief us senate house aides wednesday congressional official said house intelligence committee democrats plan interview cambridge analytica whistleblower wylie committee interviewed nix video teleconference according congressional official transcript interview yet made public senate intelligence committee conducting longterm investigation alleged russian interference us politics detailed examination us election security precautions would carry inquiry cambridge analytica congressional official direct knowledge investigation said white house said welcomed inquiries president believes americans privacy protected related coverage academic behind facebook breach says scapegoat bbc social media stocks tumble wall street fears regulation factbox cambridge analytica personal information britain information commissioners office independent authority set uphold information rights public interest seeking warrant judge search offices londonbased cambridge analytica unclear late tuesday whether obtained 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 bannon facebook says data harvested british academic aleksandr kogan created app platform downloaded 270000 people providing access personal data also data 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 immediately reachable comment reporting david ingram san francisco kate holton paul sandle london david shepardson susan heavey mark hosenball jonathan landay sarah n lynch washington jonathan stempel new york additional reporting munsif vengattil writing susan thomas lisa shumaker editing nick zieminski bill rigby michael perry 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 tours neighbourhood members team mosul iraq january 10 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 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 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 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 brussels reuters german conglomerate bayer eu antitrust approval wednesday 625 billion buy us peer monsanto last trio mega mergers reshape agrochemicals industry logo bayer ag pictured bayer healthcare subgroup production plant wuppertal germany february 24 2014 reutersina fassbenderfile photo tieup set create company control quarter worlds seed pesticides market driven shifting weather patterns competition grain exports faltering global farm economy dow dupont chemchina cnnccul syngenta earlier led wave consolidation sector environmental farming groups opposed three deals worried power advantage digital farming data tell farmers till sow spray fertilize pick crops based algorithms european commission said bayer addressed concerns offer sell swathe assets boost rival basf confirming reuters story feb 28 file photo monsanto displayed screen stock traded floor new york stock exchange nyse new york city us may 9 2016 reutersbrendan mcdermidfile photo decision ensures effective competition innovation seeds pesticides digital agriculture markets also merger european competition commissioner margrethe vestager said statement particular made sure number global players actively competing markets stays bayer already reached deal sell certain seed herbicide assets 59 billion euros 72 billion basf give license global digital farming data also divest vegetable seeds business basf commission due decide basf deal april 16 china given conditional approval bayer monsanto deal green light brazil currently reviewed us russia antitrust authorities reporting foo yun chee editing robin emmott standards thomson reuters trust principles
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<p>ST. JOHNS, Ariz. (AP) — An Arizona judge and the family of a teenager who fatally shot two men in 2008, including his father, heaped praise on him Wednesday for the progress he's made as his time on probation comes to an end.</p>
<p>Judge Monica Stauffer told the boy she knows the past nine years haven't been easy but admired him for the way he's handled it. She turned toward the phone in a small courtroom in St. Johns, where he was listening in, her eyes filling with tears.</p>
<p>"I'm real proud of you and you're going to do great things," she said. "So much of your life is still for you to live and enjoy."</p>
<p>Those attending the hearing were not specific about progress the teen has made but said he has shown remorse, learned to manage finances, has set goals for himself and has a good heart.</p>
<p>Wednesday marked the final hearing in the case that troubled police and prosecutors because the boy was 8 at the time of the shootings. The criminal charges were resolved in juvenile court with the boy pleading guilty to negligent homicide in the death of 39-year-old Tim Romans, whom he called for from inside his home and shot with a .22-caliber single-shot rifle as Romans walked up to the door.</p>
<p>Prosecutors said that acknowledging legal responsibility for the death of his father, 29-year-old Vincent Romero, would be too heavy of a burden for a boy to carry and dropped that charge. Romans rented a room in the two-story blue house that Romero shared with his new wife and son.</p>
<p>The boy thanked those who have listened to him and helped him identify what he needs to transition into adulthood Friday when he turns 18. Speaking on the phone, he sounded much older than the days when he sat in the courtroom fidgety and looking nervously at his family.</p>
<p>"I'm just very grateful to everyone in the case," he said.</p>
<p>Other than a trio of probation violations in 2012, the boy hasn't been in trouble.</p>
<p>Stauffer said his life turned dramatically with the involvement of clinical psychologist Dr. Alan Lewis, who helped him mature and understand that he could be known for his future, rather than his past.</p>
<p>The Associated Press is not identifying the boy because of his age at the time of the crimes.</p>
<p>Stauffer credited the boy's grandmother, Liz Castillo, for ensuring the case moved along with the boy's best interest in mind.</p>
<p>Castillo sat in the front row of the courtroom with her daughter and sister nearby, wiping tears from her eyes. She said the last nine years have been treacherous but was grateful for the consideration put into the case.</p>
<p>She said Romero and Romans always would be in her family's mind and hearts.</p>
<p>"We hoped and prayed we could get through this, and the time is here," she said.</p>
<p>Castillo told Stauffer she'd hoped the county would examine juvenile proceedings so people who are appointed to represent children are more involved.</p>
<p>Romans' widow, Tanya, urged change, too. She listened as people in the courtroom thanked each other for involvement in the case but wondered why there was little emphasis on the victims.</p>
<p>"Not once, 'How are your girls? How's everything going?'" she said as her voice cracked over the phone. "Take a look at the victims' side as well. Tim was a great man, he was. It's just sad that two lives were just overlooked."</p>
<p>Still, Romans said she hopes and prays the boy got the help he needs so "whatever he did won't repeat itself." She said she didn't want the boy near her family.</p>
<p>Stauffer apologized to Romans, saying she'd take into account suggestions for dealing with future juvenile cases.</p>
<p>The boy spent time in a residential treatment center, group home and foster care. He has said he wants to continue treatment until he's 21.</p>
<p>Stauffer said she'd let the providers decide what's best for him because the court no longer will have jurisdiction over him.</p>
<p>She ordered his case file sealed, saying the boy's interest in treatment and recovery weighs more heavily than the public interest in the case. Details regarding his treatment already had been sealed.</p>
<p>She denied a request from Castillo to issue an order prohibiting anyone from profiting off the case.</p>
<p>Stauffer said she understood Castillo's request but believes the boy has a story to tell of hope, change and growth.</p>
<p>"I see (the boy) has an important place in life and how he chooses to use his talent and skills and his walk over nine years is important for kids," she said.</p>
<p>ST. JOHNS, Ariz. (AP) — An Arizona judge and the family of a teenager who fatally shot two men in 2008, including his father, heaped praise on him Wednesday for the progress he's made as his time on probation comes to an end.</p>
<p>Judge Monica Stauffer told the boy she knows the past nine years haven't been easy but admired him for the way he's handled it. She turned toward the phone in a small courtroom in St. Johns, where he was listening in, her eyes filling with tears.</p>
<p>"I'm real proud of you and you're going to do great things," she said. "So much of your life is still for you to live and enjoy."</p>
<p>Those attending the hearing were not specific about progress the teen has made but said he has shown remorse, learned to manage finances, has set goals for himself and has a good heart.</p>
<p>Wednesday marked the final hearing in the case that troubled police and prosecutors because the boy was 8 at the time of the shootings. The criminal charges were resolved in juvenile court with the boy pleading guilty to negligent homicide in the death of 39-year-old Tim Romans, whom he called for from inside his home and shot with a .22-caliber single-shot rifle as Romans walked up to the door.</p>
<p>Prosecutors said that acknowledging legal responsibility for the death of his father, 29-year-old Vincent Romero, would be too heavy of a burden for a boy to carry and dropped that charge. Romans rented a room in the two-story blue house that Romero shared with his new wife and son.</p>
<p>The boy thanked those who have listened to him and helped him identify what he needs to transition into adulthood Friday when he turns 18. Speaking on the phone, he sounded much older than the days when he sat in the courtroom fidgety and looking nervously at his family.</p>
<p>"I'm just very grateful to everyone in the case," he said.</p>
<p>Other than a trio of probation violations in 2012, the boy hasn't been in trouble.</p>
<p>Stauffer said his life turned dramatically with the involvement of clinical psychologist Dr. Alan Lewis, who helped him mature and understand that he could be known for his future, rather than his past.</p>
<p>The Associated Press is not identifying the boy because of his age at the time of the crimes.</p>
<p>Stauffer credited the boy's grandmother, Liz Castillo, for ensuring the case moved along with the boy's best interest in mind.</p>
<p>Castillo sat in the front row of the courtroom with her daughter and sister nearby, wiping tears from her eyes. She said the last nine years have been treacherous but was grateful for the consideration put into the case.</p>
<p>She said Romero and Romans always would be in her family's mind and hearts.</p>
<p>"We hoped and prayed we could get through this, and the time is here," she said.</p>
<p>Castillo told Stauffer she'd hoped the county would examine juvenile proceedings so people who are appointed to represent children are more involved.</p>
<p>Romans' widow, Tanya, urged change, too. She listened as people in the courtroom thanked each other for involvement in the case but wondered why there was little emphasis on the victims.</p>
<p>"Not once, 'How are your girls? How's everything going?'" she said as her voice cracked over the phone. "Take a look at the victims' side as well. Tim was a great man, he was. It's just sad that two lives were just overlooked."</p>
<p>Still, Romans said she hopes and prays the boy got the help he needs so "whatever he did won't repeat itself." She said she didn't want the boy near her family.</p>
<p>Stauffer apologized to Romans, saying she'd take into account suggestions for dealing with future juvenile cases.</p>
<p>The boy spent time in a residential treatment center, group home and foster care. He has said he wants to continue treatment until he's 21.</p>
<p>Stauffer said she'd let the providers decide what's best for him because the court no longer will have jurisdiction over him.</p>
<p>She ordered his case file sealed, saying the boy's interest in treatment and recovery weighs more heavily than the public interest in the case. Details regarding his treatment already had been sealed.</p>
<p>She denied a request from Castillo to issue an order prohibiting anyone from profiting off the case.</p>
<p>Stauffer said she understood Castillo's request but believes the boy has a story to tell of hope, change and growth.</p>
<p>"I see (the boy) has an important place in life and how he chooses to use his talent and skills and his walk over nine years is important for kids," she said.</p>
| false | 2 |
st johns ariz ap arizona judge family teenager fatally shot two men 2008 including father heaped praise wednesday progress hes made time probation comes end judge monica stauffer told boy knows past nine years havent easy admired way hes handled turned toward phone small courtroom st johns listening eyes filling tears im real proud youre going great things said much life still live enjoy attending hearing specific progress teen made said shown remorse learned manage finances set goals good heart wednesday marked final hearing case troubled police prosecutors boy 8 time shootings criminal charges resolved juvenile court boy pleading guilty negligent homicide death 39yearold tim romans called inside home shot 22caliber singleshot rifle romans walked door prosecutors said acknowledging legal responsibility death father 29yearold vincent romero would heavy burden boy carry dropped charge romans rented room twostory blue house romero shared new wife son boy thanked listened helped identify needs transition adulthood friday turns 18 speaking phone sounded much older days sat courtroom fidgety looking nervously family im grateful everyone case said trio probation violations 2012 boy hasnt trouble stauffer said life turned dramatically involvement clinical psychologist dr alan lewis helped mature understand could known future rather past associated press identifying boy age time crimes stauffer credited boys grandmother liz castillo ensuring case moved along boys best interest mind castillo sat front row courtroom daughter sister nearby wiping tears eyes said last nine years treacherous grateful consideration put case said romero romans always would familys mind hearts hoped prayed could get time said castillo told stauffer shed hoped county would examine juvenile proceedings people appointed represent children involved romans widow tanya urged change listened people courtroom thanked involvement case wondered little emphasis victims girls hows everything going said voice cracked phone take look victims side well tim great man sad two lives overlooked still romans said hopes prays boy got help needs whatever wont repeat said didnt want boy near family stauffer apologized romans saying shed take account suggestions dealing future juvenile cases boy spent time residential treatment center group home foster care said wants continue treatment hes 21 stauffer said shed let providers decide whats best court longer jurisdiction ordered case file sealed saying boys interest treatment recovery weighs heavily public interest case details regarding treatment already sealed denied request castillo issue order prohibiting anyone profiting case stauffer said understood castillos request believes boy story tell hope change growth see boy important place life chooses use talent skills walk nine years important kids said st johns ariz ap arizona judge family teenager fatally shot two men 2008 including father heaped praise wednesday progress hes made time probation comes end judge monica stauffer told boy knows past nine years havent easy admired way hes handled turned toward phone small courtroom st johns listening eyes filling tears im real proud youre going great things said much life still live enjoy attending hearing specific progress teen made said shown remorse learned manage finances set goals good heart wednesday marked final hearing case troubled police prosecutors boy 8 time shootings criminal charges resolved juvenile court boy pleading guilty negligent homicide death 39yearold tim romans called inside home shot 22caliber singleshot rifle romans walked door prosecutors said acknowledging legal responsibility death father 29yearold vincent romero would heavy burden boy carry dropped charge romans rented room twostory blue house romero shared new wife son boy thanked listened helped identify needs transition adulthood friday turns 18 speaking phone sounded much older days sat courtroom fidgety looking nervously family im grateful everyone case said trio probation violations 2012 boy hasnt trouble stauffer said life turned dramatically involvement clinical psychologist dr alan lewis helped mature understand could known future rather past associated press identifying boy age time crimes stauffer credited boys grandmother liz castillo ensuring case moved along boys best interest mind castillo sat front row courtroom daughter sister nearby wiping tears eyes said last nine years treacherous grateful consideration put case said romero romans always would familys mind hearts hoped prayed could get time said castillo told stauffer shed hoped county would examine juvenile proceedings people appointed represent children involved romans widow tanya urged change listened people courtroom thanked involvement case wondered little emphasis victims girls hows everything going said voice cracked phone take look victims side well tim great man sad two lives overlooked still romans said hopes prays boy got help needs whatever wont repeat said didnt want boy near family stauffer apologized romans saying shed take account suggestions dealing future juvenile cases boy spent time residential treatment center group home foster care said wants continue treatment hes 21 stauffer said shed let providers decide whats best court longer jurisdiction ordered case file sealed saying boys interest treatment recovery weighs heavily public interest case details regarding treatment already sealed denied request castillo issue order prohibiting anyone profiting case stauffer said understood castillos request believes boy story tell hope change growth see boy important place life chooses use talent skills walk nine years important kids said
| 830 |
<p><a href="" type="internal">FLORIDA MAN CALLS 911 TO REPORT HIMSELF DRUNK DRIVING</a></p>
<p>WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (AP) — Florida authorities are sharing the details of an unusual 911 call on New Year’s Eve, from a man who said he wanted to report himself drunk-driving.</p>
<p>Polk County Sheriff’s officials say the dispatcher kept him talking while directing officers to the scene.</p>
<p>When the dispatcher asked Michael Lester where he was, he said, “I’m too drunk. I don’t know where I’m at.”</p>
<p>And when she asked what he’d been doing all night, he said “I don’t know, driving around, trying to get pulled over, actually.”</p>
<p>“I’m driving on the wrong side of the road,” he said later.</p>
<p>The operator repeatedly urged him to park his truck and wait for officers to find him. Unfortunately, he chose the wrong spot.</p>
<p>This undated photo provided by the Polk County Sheriff’s office on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018 shows Michael Lester. Authorities in Florida received a 911 call on New Year’s Eve from Lester who said he was driving drunk and needed police. (Polk County Sheriff’s office via AP)</p>
<p>“Look, I’m parked in the middle of the road,” he said. Sirens could be heard in the background a short time later.</p>
<p>Deputies said Lester admitted drinking beers and swallowing methamphetamine. He also said he’d barely slept for several days.</p>
<p>The sheriff’s office Facebook post says Lester’s criminal history includes DUI, aggravated battery, drug possession and hit-and-run.</p>
<p>“Driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs is a serious crime. Innocent people are too often injured or killed from impaired drivers. DUI is not a laughing matter,” sheriff’s officials wrote. “However ... in this particular incident, nobody was hurt, so we couldn’t help but LOTO (that means we Laughed Our Tasers Off).”</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">POLICE: SNOW THWARTS SHOPLIFTER IN NORTH DAKOTA</a></p>
<p>MINOT, N.D. (AP) — Authorities say a North Dakota man who wheeled a shopping cart with stolen merchandise out of a Hobby Lobby craft store was stopped by snow.</p>
<p>Police say 22-year-old Dustin Johnson filled up a cart with about $4,000 in products at a Hobby Lobby store in Minot on Wednesday. After the cart got stuck in the snow in the parking lot and tipped over, Johnson allegedly ran off.</p>
<p>Police say that along with the merchandise, Johnson left behind his wallet — which contained identification with his address.</p>
<p>Johnson is charged in Ward County with theft of property. Court documents do not list a lawyer for him.</p>
<p><a href="faea4c44585c419c9a9c99c61c828105" type="external">MAN ALLEGES BOBCAT ATTACK; CONDO OWNER SAYS IT WAS HOUSECAT</a></p>
<p>TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — A Florida contractor says he was attacked by a bobcat inside a woman’s condo, but the animal’s owner says her feline is no predator, just a 10-pound domestic longhair kitty named Calli.</p>
<p>The contractor, Marcos Hernandez, filed a lawsuit in Tampa on Dec. 19, alleging condo owner Christine Lee illegally kept a bobcat inside her unit. He said a bobcat scratched him on May 16, causing serious injuries after he entered the condo to conduct a fire safety inspection.</p>
<p>Hernandez was in the condo alone, Lee said, something that shouldn’t have happened. She said an employee from the building was supposed to accompany him inside.</p>
<p>“This has gotten so blown out of proportion, it’s ridiculous,” Lee said.</p>
<p>According to the lawsuit, Hernandez said he was attacked by an unleashed bobcat and suffered permanent injuries. He’s seeking a jury trial and unspecified damages. Hernandez said Lee had a duty to provide a safe environment and failed to warn him about the bobcat.</p>
<p>Lee said that’s nonsense. She only has a fluffy, tortoiseshell-colored housecat and a sleeker black cat named Max. She doesn’t know which cat may have scratched Hernandez, but Max’s color would likely rule him out.</p>
<p>She has not yet retained an attorney.</p>
<p>“I’m not denying he got scratched, what he was doing to get scratched, I don’t know,” she said, adding that when she arrived home that day, Calli was “cowering and scared.” Max was underneath her bed.</p>
<p>Calli, who is 3 1/2, is friendly, Lee said. But “just like any animal, she is guarded. If they feel threatened, they may attack, scratch or bite.”</p>
<p>Soon after the incident, she was informed by building management that Hernandez had been scratched, but she hadn’t heard of the lawsuit until this week, when the Tampa Bay Times first wrote about the case and took a photo of Calli. Hernandez is also suing the condo building’s owner.</p>
<p>Lee said she has never owned a bobcat.</p>
<p>“A bobcat does look much different than this. They’re much bigger than this 10-pound little thing,” she said. “It’s a litigious society and here we are.”</p>
<p>According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, wild bobcats in the state are about twice the size of a domestic cat, up to about 35 pounds. They are tan to yellowish brown, with dark spots. A wildlife official visited Lee’s apartment on Thursday, the newspaper report.</p>
<p>Hernandez’ attorney’s office said they were not going to comment at this time.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">MAN GETS STUCK IN BLIZZARD IN TOPLESS CONVERTIBLE</a></p>
<p>CRANSTON, R.I. (AP) — Wintry weather didn’t keep a Rhode Island man from driving through town in his topless convertible.</p>
<p>WPRI-TV reports the roof on John Pratt’s convertible Mercedes Benz has been broken for about a month. He tried to get the lipstick red luxury car to the repair shop Thursday morning, as a massive storm dumped more than a foot of snow in parts of the state.</p>
<p>But his chilly open-air ride turned into an icy predicament when his car got stuck. Onlookers took video, which then made the rounds on social media .</p>
<p>The episode left the Cranston man and his car covered in snow.</p>
<p>Pratt blames his 16-year-old son for the broken roof. He says he doesn’t mind the trouble because people got a few laughs out of it.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">JUST SHY OF HER 100TH BIRTHDAY, MISSISSIPPI WOMAN BAGS DEER</a></p>
<p>MORGANTOWN, Miss. (AP) — A 99-year-old hunter in Mississippi wants to know why people are making a big fuss about her recent kill. It was a doe after all, not a prized buck.</p>
<p>The Clarion Ledger reports that Bertha Vickers used a .243 Winchester rifle to kill a doe recently a few miles from her rural home. Relatives posted pictures of Vickers and her kill on Facebook, and people sent messages of congratulations.</p>
<p>Vickers says she doesn’t know “why everybody is making such a big deal about it” because it was “just a doe” and not a buck.</p>
<p>Vickers lives near the farming community where she grew up in northern Mississippi, outside Starkville. She still mows her own yard and enjoys squirrel hunting.</p>
<p>She turns 100 on Tuesday.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">SNATCHED BY HUNGRY EAGLE, LITTLE DOG LIVES TO BARK THE TALE</a></p>
<p>Felipe Rodriguez says he thought he was hallucinating when an eagle snatched his sister’s little white dog from her yard, flapped its massive wings and disappeared over the trees.</p>
<p>Did he really just see that?</p>
<p>He had. Zoey the 8-pound bichon frise was gone, taken by a hungry raptor Tuesday afternoon not 50 feet from his sister’s house on the banks of the Lehigh River in Pennsylvania, Rodriguez said.</p>
<p>“It seemed like something from the ’Wizard of Oz,’” he told The Associated Press on Wednesday. “I’m a city boy. This doesn’t happen in my world.”</p>
<p>Even more astonishing: Zoey would live to bark the tale.</p>
<p>More on that later. But first, let it be said that eagles are quite capable of taking a small dog or a cat.</p>
<p>“It has been documented before, but not that often,” said Laurie Goodrich, a biologist at nearby Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, a ridgetop preserve that annually records tens of thousands of migrating hawks, eagles and falcons.</p>
<p>With food scarce and waterways freezing up, raptors are “looking a little more widely and taking advantage of whatever might be out there,” she said.</p>
<p>Rodriguez said he was by himself at his sister’s home in Bowmanstown, about 80 miles (128 kilometers) north of Philadelphia, and Zoey was playing in the fenced yard when he heard a loud screech, hurried to the door and looked out.</p>
<p>“The bird was holding onto the dog. There was flapping of wings and then it was gone,” said Rodriguez, a 50-year-old healthcare executive visiting from Chicago.</p>
<p>He drove around the neighborhood looking for the 7-year-old bichon, to no avail. Rodriguez assumed Zoey was gone for good.</p>
<p>His sister and her family were devastated when they found out.</p>
<p>“I did nothing but cry all day,” Monica Newhard said.</p>
<p>Newhard said it’s not unusual to see eagles, given her home’s proximity to the river. She also suspected they occasionally grabbed one of the rabbits that lived under her shed. But it didn’t occur to Newhard that any of her four dogs would be in danger.</p>
<p>Heartbroken, she and her husband scoured the woods for Zoey’s body. Little did they know their bitty bichon would be found later that afternoon — a full four miles away.</p>
<p>Zoey’s rescuer was Christina Hartman, 51, who said she was driving on a snow-covered back road when she spotted a furry white lump ahead and pulled over to investigate.</p>
<p>“I notice this little frozen dog, icicles hanging from all over. It could hardly move,” Hartman said.</p>
<p>She scooped up the whimpering pooch, wrapped her in a blanket and took her home, feeding the dog two bowls of chicken-and-rice soup. Gradually, the bichon warmed up and began to show some spunk. Hartman noticed several small wounds on the back of her neck, and the dog walked with a limp. She had no collar.</p>
<p>“This dog belongs to a family, and I’m gonna find out who owns it,” Hartman told herself.</p>
<p>It didn’t take long. She spotted Newhard’s public Facebook post Wednesday morning — Newhard had uploaded a photo of Zoey — and made an excited call.</p>
<p>“I said, ‘It’s a miracle! I have your dog!’”</p>
<p>Zoey had bruises and a few missing patches of fur. It’s not clear how far the eagle might have carried the dog, but Rodriguez said he can’t believe Zoey survived.</p>
<p>“She is not really herself, but she is getting lots of love,” his sister, Newhard, texted the AP late Wednesday. “She doesn’t want to go out. ... I really can’t blame her.”</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">IT’S SO COLD IN FLORIDA, IGUANAS ARE FALLING FROM TREES</a></p>
<p>MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (AP) — It’s so cold in Florida that iguanas are falling from their perches in suburban trees.</p>
<p>Temperatures dipped below 40 degrees Fahrenheit (5 degrees Celsius) early Thursday in parts of South Florida, according to the National Weather Service in Miami.</p>
<p>That’s chilly enough to immobilize green iguanas common in Miami’s suburbs.</p>
<p>An iguana that froze lies near a pool after falling from a tree in Boca Raton, Florida.</p>
<p>Palm Beach Post columnist Frank Cerabino tweeted a photograph of an iguana lying belly-up next to his swimming pool. WPEC-TV posted images of an iguana on its back on a Palm Beach County road.</p>
<p>The cold-blooded creatures native to Central and South America start to get sluggish when temperatures fall below 50 degrees (10 degrees Celsius), said Kristen Sommers, who oversees the nonnative fish and wildlife program for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.</p>
<p>If temperatures drop below that, iguanas freeze up. “It’s too cold for them to move,” Sommers said.</p>
<p>They’re not the only reptiles stunned by this week’s cold snap: Sea turtles also stiffen up when temperatures fall. The wildlife commission’s biologists have been rescuing cold-stunned sea turtles found floating listlessly on the water or near shore, but no such rescue is planned for iguanas.</p>
<p>Well-meaning residents finding stiffened iguanas are advised to leave them alone, as they may feel threatened and bite once they warm up.</p>
<p>“Don’t assume that they’re dead,” Sommers said.</p>
<p>Green iguanas are an invasive species in Florida known for eating through landscaping and digging burrows that undermine infrastructure. They can grow over 5 feet (1.5 meters) long, and their droppings can be a potential source of salmonella bacteria, which causes food poisoning.</p>
<p>The wildlife commission has begun holding workshops to train homeowners and property managers to trap or manage iguanas. The reptiles may be easier to catch this week, Sommers said.</p>
<p>“This provides an opportunity to capture some, but I’m not sure it’s going to be cold enough for long enough to make enough of a difference,” she said. “In most cases, they’re going to warm back up and move around again, unless they’re euthanized.”</p>
<p>A two-week cold snap with temperatures below 40 degrees (5 degrees Celsius) in 2010 killed off many iguanas, along with Burmese pythons and other invasive pests that thrive in South Florida’s subtropical climate. Those populations have since rebounded.</p>
<p>Elsewhere in Florida, the effects of a brutal winter storm rolling up the East Coast were less exotic. It snowed briefly Wednesday in the state’s capital, Tallahassee, for the first time in 28 years.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">FED-UP PASSENGER SOUGHT FAST TRACK ON RYANAIR WING</a></p>
<p>MADRID (AP) — A passenger on a delayed Ryanair flight from London who apparently got fed up waiting to get off a plane after it landed in the southern Spanish city of Malaga surprised fellow passengers by using the emergency exit to jump onto a wing.</p>
<p>The incident on New Year’s Day took place 30 minutes after the flight from Stansted Airport landed.</p>
<p>The man, who has not been named but is said to be a non-Spanish citizen, was coaxed back onto the plane while police were called.</p>
<p>A Ryanair passenger who apparently got fed up waiting to get off a plane stands on the wing of a Ryanair plane at Malaga airport, Spain, Monday Jan. 1, 2018, filmed by another passenger. After various delays in the flight from London’s Stansted Airport, the passenger, who has not been named, used the emergency exit to climb onto the wing after landing in Spain New Year’s Day. (Fernando del Valle Villalobos via AP)</p>
<p>Fellow passenger Fernando del Valle Villalobos, who videoed the incident, said he heard the man say he got fed up waiting.</p>
<p>“I was astonished,” del Valle, 25, told The Associated Press in a telephone interview.</p>
<p>He said the passengers were standing in the aisle waiting to get off the plane when the man “very calmly asked permission to get past, opened the emergency exit, looked out, saw the wing, went back for his back-pack.”</p>
<p>Later, he said the captain came out and asked the man why he had done it and del Valle heard him say clearly that he was sick of waiting inside. The passengers, except the man in question, were kept a further 15 minutes on the plane before being let off.</p>
<p>Police said Wednesday that they have opened a complaint against the man for breaching security.</p>
<p>Ryanair said the incident was now in the hands of Spanish authorities.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">FOWL WEATHER FRIENDS: ARKANSAS STUDENTS PRINT 3-D DUCK LEG</a></p>
<p>ARMOREL, Ark. (AP) — Eighth-grade science students have used a 3-D printer to create a prosthetic leg for a duck found without a foot shortly after he hatched.</p>
<p>The students in northeastern Arkansas created the leg at Armorel High School’s environmental and spatial technology lab for an 8-month-old Indian runner duck named Peg.</p>
<p>Peg’s owner, Patsy Smith, told television station KAIT that when she found the bird, a turtle had apparently chewed off his foot. She said the leg became more irritated as Peg grew. The students reached out after hearing Smith was seeking a way to help Peg.</p>
<p>Lab director Alicia Bell said it took about 30 tries before students Matthew Cook, Darshan Patel and Abby Simmons built an appropriate leg.</p>
<p>Smith said Peg now walks and runs like a normal duck.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">BRAKE FOR BEAKS: CALIFORNIA OFFICERS SAVE CHICKENS FROM ROAD</a></p>
<p>LOS ANGELES (AP) — It was a race against the cluck as California Highway Patrol officers scrambled to rescue nearly 20 chickens that ran through highway lanes near Los Angeles.</p>
<p>The agency says the birds blocked a portion of Interstate 605 in the Norwalk area Tuesday morning after their cage fell from the back of a truck.</p>
<p>The agency tweeted photos and video of the chickens on the highway and a motorcycle officer collecting them.</p>
<p>Officers managed to rescue 17 birds. Two died.</p>
<p>In this photo released by the California Highway Patrol, CHP officer DaSilva rescues nearly 20 chickens that ran through highway lanes in Norwalk, Calif., Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2018. The CHP says the birds blocked a portion of Interstate 605 Tuesday morning after their cage fell from the back of a truck. The agency tweeted photos and video of the chickens in lanes and a motorcycle officer collecting them. Officers managed to rescue 17 birds. Two died. (CHP Officer C.Lillie/California Highway Patrol via AP)</p>
<p>One tweet asked: “why DID the chickens cross the road? Because they obviously did not want to become ‘fast food’ on an LA area freeway, of course!”</p>
<p>The driver transporting the chickens was unaware that the birds fell off the truck and did not stop.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">KID WIT: DAD MEASURES BABY’S GROWTH WITH CHEESESTEAKS</a></p>
<p>PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A Philadelphia father put the city’s signature sandwich to use in a whole new way: measuring his baby’s size in cheesesteaks.</p>
<p>Philly.com reports Thursday that computer programmer Brad Williams used a foolproof system he calls “Cheesesteak for Scale” to measure the growth of his son during the child’s first year in 2015.</p>
<p>It started when he noticed his 2-week-old, Lucas Royce, was about the same size as a cheesesteak he’d brought home. So Williams snapped a picture of the sandwich next to his newborn and the tradition was born.</p>
<p>Every month for the next year Williams and his wife would buy a cheesesteak to track their growing boy .</p>
<p>This 2015 photo provided by Brad Williams shows his wife April Williams swaddling their 2-week-old son Lucas Royce Williams next to a wrapped cheesesteak sandwich to compare their son’s size, at their home in the Philadelphia suburb of Glenside, Pa. In a Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2018, blog post, computer programmer Brad Williams outlined the “Cheesesteak for Scale” system he devised to measure his son’s growth each month following the boy’s birth in October 2015, according to Philly.com. (Brad Williams via AP)</p>
<p>He says babies and cheesesteaks are quite similar. He says they are warm and cuddly when wrapped up “but once you unwrap them, expect a huge mess.”</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">POLICE: MAN BREAKS INTO EVIDENCE UNDETECTED, TAKES BACK BIKE</a></p>
<p>PROVO, Utah (AP) — Provo police say a man broke into the department’s evidence room undetected and took back his bike.</p>
<p>Deseret News reported Thursday that the burglary went unnoticed until the person who originally was found with the bike was arrested again and told officers David Elwin Snow was bragging that he “pulled off the crime of the century.”</p>
<p>The 37-year-old Snow and his brother had gone to the department on Dec. 18 to retrieve the bike, but since they never reported it stolen they had a hard time verifying it was Snow’s bike. Police accuse Snow of stealing it that same night after seeing where it was being stored.</p>
<p>The bike was found Wednesday at Snow’s grandmother’s house.</p>
<p>Police Sgt. Nisha King said such a heist has never happened at the department.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">POLICE: MAN USED BANK ROBBERY CASH TO BUY ENGAGEMENT RING</a></p>
<p>MIDDLETOWN, Ohio (AP) — Authorities say a man robbed a bank in Ohio and used the money to buy his fiancee an engagement ring.</p>
<p>The Hamilton-Middletown Journal-News reports 36-year-old Dustin Pedersen has been charged with robbing a Fifth Third Bank branch in Trenton on Dec. 16.</p>
<p>Police say records show that Pedersen spent $4,500 on an engagement ring less than an hour after the robbery and presented it the next day.</p>
<p>A Trenton police detective said in court Wednesday the robbery netted $8,800.</p>
<p>Police say Pedersen became a suspect after a man wearing an identical hat robbed a Butler County bank six days later.</p>
<p>Pedersen has denied robbing any banks, but told police that surveillance photos of the robber look like him.</p>
<p>Pedersen’s attorney wasn’t immediately available for comment Thursday.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">RATS! DC WAGES WAR AGAINST RESURGENT RODENTS WITH DRY ICE</a></p>
<p>WASHINGTON (AP) — Any mists spotted rising over the swamp may just be Washington wielding its newest weapon in its never-ending war on rats: dry ice.</p>
<p>The District of Columbia’s rodent control division’s program manager, Gerard Brown, tells The Washington Post the frozen form of carbon dioxide complements the poison the city uses, as reported rat complaints reach a four-year high.</p>
<p>Last month, Brown and Mayor Muriel Bowser oversaw a demonstration in which health department staffers stuffed dry ice into a northeast Washington alley rathole. As the ice smoked, the emanating carbon dioxide suffocated the rats, according to Brown’s explanation.</p>
<p>Residents are encouraged to purchase their own dry ice. The city is working on usage guidelines.</p>
<p>Department of Energy and Environment Director Tommy Wells says dry ice is relatively humane, cheap and pet-friendly.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">FALSE TSUNAMI ALERT STARTLES COASTAL OREGON TOWN</a></p>
<p>SEASIDE, Ore. (AP) — A tsunami-warming system erroneously informed people living in Seaside, Oregon, that a tsunami was approaching in four hours.</p>
<p>City spokesman Jon Rahl says a malfunction in the system replaced what was supposed to be Wednesday’s regularly scheduled test message.</p>
<p>Seaside police quickly sent email and text notifications correcting the error.</p>
<p>Gas station owner Rich Trucke wrote to The Daily Astorian newspaper that some people panicked despite his assurances that tests are regularly done on Wednesdays. He says one customer hastily drove up, demanding gas to leave town. Another had told his 95-year-old mother to start packing.</p>
<p>Rahl says the mishap is a reminder of why tests are conducted. He says they “give us the opportunity to evaluate what’s working, and in this case what’s not.”</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">VALUABLE VODKA BOTTLE REPORTED STOLEN FOUND IN COPENHAGEN</a></p>
<p>COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Danish police say a valuable bottle of vodka that was reported stolen from a Copenhagen bar has been found.</p>
<p>Copenhagen police say the bottle — which is worth $1.3 million, according to its owner — was recovered intact. Police say the investigation is continuing.</p>
<p>The vessel is made of 3 kilograms (6.6. pounds) of gold and the equivalent amount of silver. It has a diamond-encrusted cap fashioned to resemble a vintage car front.</p>
<p>In this image taken from CCTV provided by Brian Ingberg, shows a man stealing a bottle of vodka from Cafe 33 bar in Copenhagen on Tuesday Jan. 2, 2018. Copenhagen police were on Thursday Jan 4, 2018, were investigating the theft of a bottle of vodka claimed to be the world’s most expensive at 1.3 million US dollars.(Brian Ingberg via AP)</p>
<p>Cafe 33 owner Brian Ingberg told The Associated Press that he received a call on Friday from person who reported finding the vessel at a construction site in Copenhagen and handing it over to the police.</p>
<p>Ingberg says no arrests have been made. He refused to identify the caller.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">EASTER HUNT IS ON: CADBURY MAKES BATCH OF WHITE CREME EGGS</a></p>
<p>LONDON (AP) — British confectioner Cadbury is making a white chocolate version of its popular Easter Creme egg — and offering a cash prize for those who find them as it tries to bolster the product’s appeal.</p>
<p>The company says it will make a small batch of between 350 and 400 white eggs, for sale until Easter Sunday on April 1. Each will carry a prize of at least 100 pounds ($130).</p>
<p>Cadbury’s has faced accusations of cheapening its chocolate recipe in its Creme Egg since it was taken over by U.S. company Kraft Foods in 2010 and is hoping to ramp up interest in the product, which first went on sale in 1971.</p>
<p>White eggs will be wrapped in the same foil as regular Creme Eggs, making the hunt a blind draw.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">MONTANA TOWN GETS NEW MAYOR AFTER NO-SHOW FROM MAYOR-ELECT</a></p>
<p>LAUREL, Mont. (AP) — A different mayor of a southern Montana town was sworn into office a day after the mayor-elect failed to appear for a swearing-in ceremony.</p>
<p>Former city councilman Tom Nelson was sworn in as the new mayor of Laurel on Wednesday after mayor-elect Dave Waggoner did not show up to the city council’s Tuesday meeting.</p>
<p>Nelson had lost to Waggoner in the November mayoral election.</p>
<p>Waggoner was asked to leave his current position at the city’s wastewater treatment plant before he could take office.</p>
<p>City officials say Waggoner did not submit a letter of resignation for his city job, so the council appointed Nelson.</p>
<p>Waggoner did not return calls seeking comment from the Billings Gazette.</p>
<p>Nelson’s term as mayor will last until the next municipal election in 2019.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">PRIEST GETS 8 MONTHS IN PRISON FOR EMBEZZLING $500,000</a></p>
<p>PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The rector of a retirement home for Roman Catholic priests who was convicted of embezzling a half-million dollars has been sentenced to eight months in federal prison.</p>
<p>Authorities say Monsignor William Dombrow spent the stolen funds on casino visits, expensive dinners and concerts.</p>
<p>At his sentencing Wednesday, Dombrow acknowledged committing a “serious crime” and said he would accept the judge’s decision.</p>
<p>Dombrow’s attorney says the priest was sometimes accompanied on those outings by residents of Villa St. Joseph. The Philadelphia Archdiocese runs the facility in Darby to house aging priests and treat those accused of sexual abuse.</p>
<p>In addition to his prison term, Dombrow was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to repay the embezzled funds.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">SHARKS’ THORNTON USES CHUNK OF MOUNTAIN-MAN BEARD DURING FIGHT</a></p>
<p>TORONTO (AP) — Nazem Kadri was an assist short of a bizarre Gordie Howe hat trick.</p>
<p>Kadri ripped out part of Joe Thornton’s mountain-man beard in a fight off the opening faceoff and scored in regulation in the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 3-2 shootout victory over the San Jose Sharks on Thursday night.</p>
<p>Thornton and Kadri dropping the gloves just two seconds after being tossed out of the opening faceoff for slashing each other like manic lumberjacks. The 38-year-old Thornton’s beard took a beating in the scrap, thanks to Kadri hanging on to the beard rather than his jersey as he was twirled around by the bigger Shark. A hunk of Thornton’s facial hair was left on the ice like a mini-tumbleweed.</p>
<p>“I ended up with a piece of it in my hand,” Kadri said. “I have no idea how that happened</p>
<p>“I thought I was a hockey player not a barber. I didn’t mean to grab him there. I mean he’s a big boy. I couldn’t reach all the way across his shoulder. I felt like I just grabbed him in the middle of his jersey and just came down with a handful of his hair.”</p>
<p>Thornton didn’t comment after the game.</p>
<p>The hair ultimately found its way to the glove of backup goalie Aaron Dell on the San Jose bench.</p>
<p>“We were trying to figure out what it was,” Sharks forward Chris Tierney said.</p>
<p>Kadri, who was giving up at least 4 inches and 30 pounds to Thornton, had a welt on the side of his face as a souvenir of the fight.</p>
<p>“I didn’t see that coming,” said former Shark Patrick Marleau.</p>
<p>The fight seemed to spark the Leafs, who snapped a three game losing streak. They had plenty of jump against the talented Sharks in a wide-open, entertaining game that saw plenty of big saves at both ends.</p>
<p>“It was a good fight ... It kind of gets everybody pumped up, especially to see a smaller guy like that (fight),” Leafs center Auston Matthews said.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">MERCHANDISE FEATURING FIONA THE HIPPO BRINGS IN BIG BUCKS</a></p>
<p>CINCINNATI (AP) — Merchandise inspired by Ohio’s famous baby hippo, Fiona, has returned nearly half a million dollars to the Cincinnati Zoo.</p>
<p>The Cincinnati Enquirer reports the zoo has collected about $480,000 in sales from businesses with merchandising agreements. Products include everything from clothing and ornaments to beer and ice cream.</p>
<p>The zoo says it isn’t keeping track of cash the hippo-themed products are turning over. But zoo spokeswoman Michelle Curley says more than $200,000 of the money was used for Fiona’s neonatal care. Curley says the remainder is helping with the care, feeding and enrichment of all the zoo’s hippos.</p>
<p>The beloved baby hippo will celebrate her first birthday Jan. 24. Local merchants expect the celebration to spur an economic boost as businesses roll out more Fiona-themed products.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">CHEETAH AT ST. LOUIS ZOO GIVES BIRTH TO 8 CUBS</a></p>
<p>ST. LOUIS (AP) — A cheetah named Bingwa at the St. Louis Zoo is a proud mother — eight times over.</p>
<p>The zoo announced Wednesday that the 4-year-old cheetah gave birth Nov. 26 to eight cubs — three male and five female. It’s the largest litter of cheetah cubs ever delivered at the zoo. The average litter size is three to four cubs.</p>
<p>In fact, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums has documented 430 litters and said this is the first time a cheetah mom has given birth to and reared on her own a litter of eight cubs at a zoo.</p>
<p>Perhaps not surprisingly, Bingwa means “champion” in Swahili.</p>
<p>All eight cubs and the mom are doing well. They’ll remain indoors, away from the public and under close scrutiny from staff, for several months.</p>
<p>Bingwa is proving to be an “exemplary” mom, zoo officials said.</p>
<p>“She has quickly become adept at caring for her very large litter of cubs — grooming, nursing and caring for them attentively,” Steve Bircher, the zoo’s curator of mammals/carnivores, said in a news release.</p>
<p>The cubs were born at the zoo’s River’s Edge Cheetah Breeding Center as part of a program to manage genetically healthy population of cheetahs at North American zoos. More than 50 cheetah cubs have been born at the breeding center since 1974, the zoo said.</p>
<p>Bingwa is at the zoo on loan from Wildlife Safari in Winston, Oregon. The father, 9-year-old Jason, is on loan from White Oak Conservation in Yulee, Florida.</p>
<p>Cheetahs once roamed much of Africa and Asia. Today, only around 10,000 remain in the wild in Africa along with 100 or fewer in Iran. The decline in numbers is due in part to conflict with humans as well as lack of genetic diversity, the zoo said.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">FLORIDA MAN CALLS 911 TO REPORT HIMSELF DRUNK DRIVING</a></p>
<p>WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (AP) — Florida authorities are sharing the details of an unusual 911 call on New Year’s Eve, from a man who said he wanted to report himself drunk-driving.</p>
<p>Polk County Sheriff’s officials say the dispatcher kept him talking while directing officers to the scene.</p>
<p>When the dispatcher asked Michael Lester where he was, he said, “I’m too drunk. I don’t know where I’m at.”</p>
<p>And when she asked what he’d been doing all night, he said “I don’t know, driving around, trying to get pulled over, actually.”</p>
<p>“I’m driving on the wrong side of the road,” he said later.</p>
<p>The operator repeatedly urged him to park his truck and wait for officers to find him. Unfortunately, he chose the wrong spot.</p>
<p>This undated photo provided by the Polk County Sheriff’s office on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018 shows Michael Lester. Authorities in Florida received a 911 call on New Year’s Eve from Lester who said he was driving drunk and needed police. (Polk County Sheriff’s office via AP)</p>
<p>“Look, I’m parked in the middle of the road,” he said. Sirens could be heard in the background a short time later.</p>
<p>Deputies said Lester admitted drinking beers and swallowing methamphetamine. He also said he’d barely slept for several days.</p>
<p>The sheriff’s office Facebook post says Lester’s criminal history includes DUI, aggravated battery, drug possession and hit-and-run.</p>
<p>“Driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs is a serious crime. Innocent people are too often injured or killed from impaired drivers. DUI is not a laughing matter,” sheriff’s officials wrote. “However ... in this particular incident, nobody was hurt, so we couldn’t help but LOTO (that means we Laughed Our Tasers Off).”</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">POLICE: SNOW THWARTS SHOPLIFTER IN NORTH DAKOTA</a></p>
<p>MINOT, N.D. (AP) — Authorities say a North Dakota man who wheeled a shopping cart with stolen merchandise out of a Hobby Lobby craft store was stopped by snow.</p>
<p>Police say 22-year-old Dustin Johnson filled up a cart with about $4,000 in products at a Hobby Lobby store in Minot on Wednesday. After the cart got stuck in the snow in the parking lot and tipped over, Johnson allegedly ran off.</p>
<p>Police say that along with the merchandise, Johnson left behind his wallet — which contained identification with his address.</p>
<p>Johnson is charged in Ward County with theft of property. Court documents do not list a lawyer for him.</p>
<p><a href="faea4c44585c419c9a9c99c61c828105" type="external">MAN ALLEGES BOBCAT ATTACK; CONDO OWNER SAYS IT WAS HOUSECAT</a></p>
<p>TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — A Florida contractor says he was attacked by a bobcat inside a woman’s condo, but the animal’s owner says her feline is no predator, just a 10-pound domestic longhair kitty named Calli.</p>
<p>The contractor, Marcos Hernandez, filed a lawsuit in Tampa on Dec. 19, alleging condo owner Christine Lee illegally kept a bobcat inside her unit. He said a bobcat scratched him on May 16, causing serious injuries after he entered the condo to conduct a fire safety inspection.</p>
<p>Hernandez was in the condo alone, Lee said, something that shouldn’t have happened. She said an employee from the building was supposed to accompany him inside.</p>
<p>“This has gotten so blown out of proportion, it’s ridiculous,” Lee said.</p>
<p>According to the lawsuit, Hernandez said he was attacked by an unleashed bobcat and suffered permanent injuries. He’s seeking a jury trial and unspecified damages. Hernandez said Lee had a duty to provide a safe environment and failed to warn him about the bobcat.</p>
<p>Lee said that’s nonsense. She only has a fluffy, tortoiseshell-colored housecat and a sleeker black cat named Max. She doesn’t know which cat may have scratched Hernandez, but Max’s color would likely rule him out.</p>
<p>She has not yet retained an attorney.</p>
<p>“I’m not denying he got scratched, what he was doing to get scratched, I don’t know,” she said, adding that when she arrived home that day, Calli was “cowering and scared.” Max was underneath her bed.</p>
<p>Calli, who is 3 1/2, is friendly, Lee said. But “just like any animal, she is guarded. If they feel threatened, they may attack, scratch or bite.”</p>
<p>Soon after the incident, she was informed by building management that Hernandez had been scratched, but she hadn’t heard of the lawsuit until this week, when the Tampa Bay Times first wrote about the case and took a photo of Calli. Hernandez is also suing the condo building’s owner.</p>
<p>Lee said she has never owned a bobcat.</p>
<p>“A bobcat does look much different than this. They’re much bigger than this 10-pound little thing,” she said. “It’s a litigious society and here we are.”</p>
<p>According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, wild bobcats in the state are about twice the size of a domestic cat, up to about 35 pounds. They are tan to yellowish brown, with dark spots. A wildlife official visited Lee’s apartment on Thursday, the newspaper report.</p>
<p>Hernandez’ attorney’s office said they were not going to comment at this time.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">MAN GETS STUCK IN BLIZZARD IN TOPLESS CONVERTIBLE</a></p>
<p>CRANSTON, R.I. (AP) — Wintry weather didn’t keep a Rhode Island man from driving through town in his topless convertible.</p>
<p>WPRI-TV reports the roof on John Pratt’s convertible Mercedes Benz has been broken for about a month. He tried to get the lipstick red luxury car to the repair shop Thursday morning, as a massive storm dumped more than a foot of snow in parts of the state.</p>
<p>But his chilly open-air ride turned into an icy predicament when his car got stuck. Onlookers took video, which then made the rounds on social media .</p>
<p>The episode left the Cranston man and his car covered in snow.</p>
<p>Pratt blames his 16-year-old son for the broken roof. He says he doesn’t mind the trouble because people got a few laughs out of it.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">JUST SHY OF HER 100TH BIRTHDAY, MISSISSIPPI WOMAN BAGS DEER</a></p>
<p>MORGANTOWN, Miss. (AP) — A 99-year-old hunter in Mississippi wants to know why people are making a big fuss about her recent kill. It was a doe after all, not a prized buck.</p>
<p>The Clarion Ledger reports that Bertha Vickers used a .243 Winchester rifle to kill a doe recently a few miles from her rural home. Relatives posted pictures of Vickers and her kill on Facebook, and people sent messages of congratulations.</p>
<p>Vickers says she doesn’t know “why everybody is making such a big deal about it” because it was “just a doe” and not a buck.</p>
<p>Vickers lives near the farming community where she grew up in northern Mississippi, outside Starkville. She still mows her own yard and enjoys squirrel hunting.</p>
<p>She turns 100 on Tuesday.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">SNATCHED BY HUNGRY EAGLE, LITTLE DOG LIVES TO BARK THE TALE</a></p>
<p>Felipe Rodriguez says he thought he was hallucinating when an eagle snatched his sister’s little white dog from her yard, flapped its massive wings and disappeared over the trees.</p>
<p>Did he really just see that?</p>
<p>He had. Zoey the 8-pound bichon frise was gone, taken by a hungry raptor Tuesday afternoon not 50 feet from his sister’s house on the banks of the Lehigh River in Pennsylvania, Rodriguez said.</p>
<p>“It seemed like something from the ’Wizard of Oz,’” he told The Associated Press on Wednesday. “I’m a city boy. This doesn’t happen in my world.”</p>
<p>Even more astonishing: Zoey would live to bark the tale.</p>
<p>More on that later. But first, let it be said that eagles are quite capable of taking a small dog or a cat.</p>
<p>“It has been documented before, but not that often,” said Laurie Goodrich, a biologist at nearby Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, a ridgetop preserve that annually records tens of thousands of migrating hawks, eagles and falcons.</p>
<p>With food scarce and waterways freezing up, raptors are “looking a little more widely and taking advantage of whatever might be out there,” she said.</p>
<p>Rodriguez said he was by himself at his sister’s home in Bowmanstown, about 80 miles (128 kilometers) north of Philadelphia, and Zoey was playing in the fenced yard when he heard a loud screech, hurried to the door and looked out.</p>
<p>“The bird was holding onto the dog. There was flapping of wings and then it was gone,” said Rodriguez, a 50-year-old healthcare executive visiting from Chicago.</p>
<p>He drove around the neighborhood looking for the 7-year-old bichon, to no avail. Rodriguez assumed Zoey was gone for good.</p>
<p>His sister and her family were devastated when they found out.</p>
<p>“I did nothing but cry all day,” Monica Newhard said.</p>
<p>Newhard said it’s not unusual to see eagles, given her home’s proximity to the river. She also suspected they occasionally grabbed one of the rabbits that lived under her shed. But it didn’t occur to Newhard that any of her four dogs would be in danger.</p>
<p>Heartbroken, she and her husband scoured the woods for Zoey’s body. Little did they know their bitty bichon would be found later that afternoon — a full four miles away.</p>
<p>Zoey’s rescuer was Christina Hartman, 51, who said she was driving on a snow-covered back road when she spotted a furry white lump ahead and pulled over to investigate.</p>
<p>“I notice this little frozen dog, icicles hanging from all over. It could hardly move,” Hartman said.</p>
<p>She scooped up the whimpering pooch, wrapped her in a blanket and took her home, feeding the dog two bowls of chicken-and-rice soup. Gradually, the bichon warmed up and began to show some spunk. Hartman noticed several small wounds on the back of her neck, and the dog walked with a limp. She had no collar.</p>
<p>“This dog belongs to a family, and I’m gonna find out who owns it,” Hartman told herself.</p>
<p>It didn’t take long. She spotted Newhard’s public Facebook post Wednesday morning — Newhard had uploaded a photo of Zoey — and made an excited call.</p>
<p>“I said, ‘It’s a miracle! I have your dog!’”</p>
<p>Zoey had bruises and a few missing patches of fur. It’s not clear how far the eagle might have carried the dog, but Rodriguez said he can’t believe Zoey survived.</p>
<p>“She is not really herself, but she is getting lots of love,” his sister, Newhard, texted the AP late Wednesday. “She doesn’t want to go out. ... I really can’t blame her.”</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">IT’S SO COLD IN FLORIDA, IGUANAS ARE FALLING FROM TREES</a></p>
<p>MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (AP) — It’s so cold in Florida that iguanas are falling from their perches in suburban trees.</p>
<p>Temperatures dipped below 40 degrees Fahrenheit (5 degrees Celsius) early Thursday in parts of South Florida, according to the National Weather Service in Miami.</p>
<p>That’s chilly enough to immobilize green iguanas common in Miami’s suburbs.</p>
<p>An iguana that froze lies near a pool after falling from a tree in Boca Raton, Florida.</p>
<p>Palm Beach Post columnist Frank Cerabino tweeted a photograph of an iguana lying belly-up next to his swimming pool. WPEC-TV posted images of an iguana on its back on a Palm Beach County road.</p>
<p>The cold-blooded creatures native to Central and South America start to get sluggish when temperatures fall below 50 degrees (10 degrees Celsius), said Kristen Sommers, who oversees the nonnative fish and wildlife program for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.</p>
<p>If temperatures drop below that, iguanas freeze up. “It’s too cold for them to move,” Sommers said.</p>
<p>They’re not the only reptiles stunned by this week’s cold snap: Sea turtles also stiffen up when temperatures fall. The wildlife commission’s biologists have been rescuing cold-stunned sea turtles found floating listlessly on the water or near shore, but no such rescue is planned for iguanas.</p>
<p>Well-meaning residents finding stiffened iguanas are advised to leave them alone, as they may feel threatened and bite once they warm up.</p>
<p>“Don’t assume that they’re dead,” Sommers said.</p>
<p>Green iguanas are an invasive species in Florida known for eating through landscaping and digging burrows that undermine infrastructure. They can grow over 5 feet (1.5 meters) long, and their droppings can be a potential source of salmonella bacteria, which causes food poisoning.</p>
<p>The wildlife commission has begun holding workshops to train homeowners and property managers to trap or manage iguanas. The reptiles may be easier to catch this week, Sommers said.</p>
<p>“This provides an opportunity to capture some, but I’m not sure it’s going to be cold enough for long enough to make enough of a difference,” she said. “In most cases, they’re going to warm back up and move around again, unless they’re euthanized.”</p>
<p>A two-week cold snap with temperatures below 40 degrees (5 degrees Celsius) in 2010 killed off many iguanas, along with Burmese pythons and other invasive pests that thrive in South Florida’s subtropical climate. Those populations have since rebounded.</p>
<p>Elsewhere in Florida, the effects of a brutal winter storm rolling up the East Coast were less exotic. It snowed briefly Wednesday in the state’s capital, Tallahassee, for the first time in 28 years.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">FED-UP PASSENGER SOUGHT FAST TRACK ON RYANAIR WING</a></p>
<p>MADRID (AP) — A passenger on a delayed Ryanair flight from London who apparently got fed up waiting to get off a plane after it landed in the southern Spanish city of Malaga surprised fellow passengers by using the emergency exit to jump onto a wing.</p>
<p>The incident on New Year’s Day took place 30 minutes after the flight from Stansted Airport landed.</p>
<p>The man, who has not been named but is said to be a non-Spanish citizen, was coaxed back onto the plane while police were called.</p>
<p>A Ryanair passenger who apparently got fed up waiting to get off a plane stands on the wing of a Ryanair plane at Malaga airport, Spain, Monday Jan. 1, 2018, filmed by another passenger. After various delays in the flight from London’s Stansted Airport, the passenger, who has not been named, used the emergency exit to climb onto the wing after landing in Spain New Year’s Day. (Fernando del Valle Villalobos via AP)</p>
<p>Fellow passenger Fernando del Valle Villalobos, who videoed the incident, said he heard the man say he got fed up waiting.</p>
<p>“I was astonished,” del Valle, 25, told The Associated Press in a telephone interview.</p>
<p>He said the passengers were standing in the aisle waiting to get off the plane when the man “very calmly asked permission to get past, opened the emergency exit, looked out, saw the wing, went back for his back-pack.”</p>
<p>Later, he said the captain came out and asked the man why he had done it and del Valle heard him say clearly that he was sick of waiting inside. The passengers, except the man in question, were kept a further 15 minutes on the plane before being let off.</p>
<p>Police said Wednesday that they have opened a complaint against the man for breaching security.</p>
<p>Ryanair said the incident was now in the hands of Spanish authorities.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">FOWL WEATHER FRIENDS: ARKANSAS STUDENTS PRINT 3-D DUCK LEG</a></p>
<p>ARMOREL, Ark. (AP) — Eighth-grade science students have used a 3-D printer to create a prosthetic leg for a duck found without a foot shortly after he hatched.</p>
<p>The students in northeastern Arkansas created the leg at Armorel High School’s environmental and spatial technology lab for an 8-month-old Indian runner duck named Peg.</p>
<p>Peg’s owner, Patsy Smith, told television station KAIT that when she found the bird, a turtle had apparently chewed off his foot. She said the leg became more irritated as Peg grew. The students reached out after hearing Smith was seeking a way to help Peg.</p>
<p>Lab director Alicia Bell said it took about 30 tries before students Matthew Cook, Darshan Patel and Abby Simmons built an appropriate leg.</p>
<p>Smith said Peg now walks and runs like a normal duck.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">BRAKE FOR BEAKS: CALIFORNIA OFFICERS SAVE CHICKENS FROM ROAD</a></p>
<p>LOS ANGELES (AP) — It was a race against the cluck as California Highway Patrol officers scrambled to rescue nearly 20 chickens that ran through highway lanes near Los Angeles.</p>
<p>The agency says the birds blocked a portion of Interstate 605 in the Norwalk area Tuesday morning after their cage fell from the back of a truck.</p>
<p>The agency tweeted photos and video of the chickens on the highway and a motorcycle officer collecting them.</p>
<p>Officers managed to rescue 17 birds. Two died.</p>
<p>In this photo released by the California Highway Patrol, CHP officer DaSilva rescues nearly 20 chickens that ran through highway lanes in Norwalk, Calif., Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2018. The CHP says the birds blocked a portion of Interstate 605 Tuesday morning after their cage fell from the back of a truck. The agency tweeted photos and video of the chickens in lanes and a motorcycle officer collecting them. Officers managed to rescue 17 birds. Two died. (CHP Officer C.Lillie/California Highway Patrol via AP)</p>
<p>One tweet asked: “why DID the chickens cross the road? Because they obviously did not want to become ‘fast food’ on an LA area freeway, of course!”</p>
<p>The driver transporting the chickens was unaware that the birds fell off the truck and did not stop.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">KID WIT: DAD MEASURES BABY’S GROWTH WITH CHEESESTEAKS</a></p>
<p>PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A Philadelphia father put the city’s signature sandwich to use in a whole new way: measuring his baby’s size in cheesesteaks.</p>
<p>Philly.com reports Thursday that computer programmer Brad Williams used a foolproof system he calls “Cheesesteak for Scale” to measure the growth of his son during the child’s first year in 2015.</p>
<p>It started when he noticed his 2-week-old, Lucas Royce, was about the same size as a cheesesteak he’d brought home. So Williams snapped a picture of the sandwich next to his newborn and the tradition was born.</p>
<p>Every month for the next year Williams and his wife would buy a cheesesteak to track their growing boy .</p>
<p>This 2015 photo provided by Brad Williams shows his wife April Williams swaddling their 2-week-old son Lucas Royce Williams next to a wrapped cheesesteak sandwich to compare their son’s size, at their home in the Philadelphia suburb of Glenside, Pa. In a Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2018, blog post, computer programmer Brad Williams outlined the “Cheesesteak for Scale” system he devised to measure his son’s growth each month following the boy’s birth in October 2015, according to Philly.com. (Brad Williams via AP)</p>
<p>He says babies and cheesesteaks are quite similar. He says they are warm and cuddly when wrapped up “but once you unwrap them, expect a huge mess.”</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">POLICE: MAN BREAKS INTO EVIDENCE UNDETECTED, TAKES BACK BIKE</a></p>
<p>PROVO, Utah (AP) — Provo police say a man broke into the department’s evidence room undetected and took back his bike.</p>
<p>Deseret News reported Thursday that the burglary went unnoticed until the person who originally was found with the bike was arrested again and told officers David Elwin Snow was bragging that he “pulled off the crime of the century.”</p>
<p>The 37-year-old Snow and his brother had gone to the department on Dec. 18 to retrieve the bike, but since they never reported it stolen they had a hard time verifying it was Snow’s bike. Police accuse Snow of stealing it that same night after seeing where it was being stored.</p>
<p>The bike was found Wednesday at Snow’s grandmother’s house.</p>
<p>Police Sgt. Nisha King said such a heist has never happened at the department.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">POLICE: MAN USED BANK ROBBERY CASH TO BUY ENGAGEMENT RING</a></p>
<p>MIDDLETOWN, Ohio (AP) — Authorities say a man robbed a bank in Ohio and used the money to buy his fiancee an engagement ring.</p>
<p>The Hamilton-Middletown Journal-News reports 36-year-old Dustin Pedersen has been charged with robbing a Fifth Third Bank branch in Trenton on Dec. 16.</p>
<p>Police say records show that Pedersen spent $4,500 on an engagement ring less than an hour after the robbery and presented it the next day.</p>
<p>A Trenton police detective said in court Wednesday the robbery netted $8,800.</p>
<p>Police say Pedersen became a suspect after a man wearing an identical hat robbed a Butler County bank six days later.</p>
<p>Pedersen has denied robbing any banks, but told police that surveillance photos of the robber look like him.</p>
<p>Pedersen’s attorney wasn’t immediately available for comment Thursday.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">RATS! DC WAGES WAR AGAINST RESURGENT RODENTS WITH DRY ICE</a></p>
<p>WASHINGTON (AP) — Any mists spotted rising over the swamp may just be Washington wielding its newest weapon in its never-ending war on rats: dry ice.</p>
<p>The District of Columbia’s rodent control division’s program manager, Gerard Brown, tells The Washington Post the frozen form of carbon dioxide complements the poison the city uses, as reported rat complaints reach a four-year high.</p>
<p>Last month, Brown and Mayor Muriel Bowser oversaw a demonstration in which health department staffers stuffed dry ice into a northeast Washington alley rathole. As the ice smoked, the emanating carbon dioxide suffocated the rats, according to Brown’s explanation.</p>
<p>Residents are encouraged to purchase their own dry ice. The city is working on usage guidelines.</p>
<p>Department of Energy and Environment Director Tommy Wells says dry ice is relatively humane, cheap and pet-friendly.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">FALSE TSUNAMI ALERT STARTLES COASTAL OREGON TOWN</a></p>
<p>SEASIDE, Ore. (AP) — A tsunami-warming system erroneously informed people living in Seaside, Oregon, that a tsunami was approaching in four hours.</p>
<p>City spokesman Jon Rahl says a malfunction in the system replaced what was supposed to be Wednesday’s regularly scheduled test message.</p>
<p>Seaside police quickly sent email and text notifications correcting the error.</p>
<p>Gas station owner Rich Trucke wrote to The Daily Astorian newspaper that some people panicked despite his assurances that tests are regularly done on Wednesdays. He says one customer hastily drove up, demanding gas to leave town. Another had told his 95-year-old mother to start packing.</p>
<p>Rahl says the mishap is a reminder of why tests are conducted. He says they “give us the opportunity to evaluate what’s working, and in this case what’s not.”</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">VALUABLE VODKA BOTTLE REPORTED STOLEN FOUND IN COPENHAGEN</a></p>
<p>COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Danish police say a valuable bottle of vodka that was reported stolen from a Copenhagen bar has been found.</p>
<p>Copenhagen police say the bottle — which is worth $1.3 million, according to its owner — was recovered intact. Police say the investigation is continuing.</p>
<p>The vessel is made of 3 kilograms (6.6. pounds) of gold and the equivalent amount of silver. It has a diamond-encrusted cap fashioned to resemble a vintage car front.</p>
<p>In this image taken from CCTV provided by Brian Ingberg, shows a man stealing a bottle of vodka from Cafe 33 bar in Copenhagen on Tuesday Jan. 2, 2018. Copenhagen police were on Thursday Jan 4, 2018, were investigating the theft of a bottle of vodka claimed to be the world’s most expensive at 1.3 million US dollars.(Brian Ingberg via AP)</p>
<p>Cafe 33 owner Brian Ingberg told The Associated Press that he received a call on Friday from person who reported finding the vessel at a construction site in Copenhagen and handing it over to the police.</p>
<p>Ingberg says no arrests have been made. He refused to identify the caller.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">EASTER HUNT IS ON: CADBURY MAKES BATCH OF WHITE CREME EGGS</a></p>
<p>LONDON (AP) — British confectioner Cadbury is making a white chocolate version of its popular Easter Creme egg — and offering a cash prize for those who find them as it tries to bolster the product’s appeal.</p>
<p>The company says it will make a small batch of between 350 and 400 white eggs, for sale until Easter Sunday on April 1. Each will carry a prize of at least 100 pounds ($130).</p>
<p>Cadbury’s has faced accusations of cheapening its chocolate recipe in its Creme Egg since it was taken over by U.S. company Kraft Foods in 2010 and is hoping to ramp up interest in the product, which first went on sale in 1971.</p>
<p>White eggs will be wrapped in the same foil as regular Creme Eggs, making the hunt a blind draw.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">MONTANA TOWN GETS NEW MAYOR AFTER NO-SHOW FROM MAYOR-ELECT</a></p>
<p>LAUREL, Mont. (AP) — A different mayor of a southern Montana town was sworn into office a day after the mayor-elect failed to appear for a swearing-in ceremony.</p>
<p>Former city councilman Tom Nelson was sworn in as the new mayor of Laurel on Wednesday after mayor-elect Dave Waggoner did not show up to the city council’s Tuesday meeting.</p>
<p>Nelson had lost to Waggoner in the November mayoral election.</p>
<p>Waggoner was asked to leave his current position at the city’s wastewater treatment plant before he could take office.</p>
<p>City officials say Waggoner did not submit a letter of resignation for his city job, so the council appointed Nelson.</p>
<p>Waggoner did not return calls seeking comment from the Billings Gazette.</p>
<p>Nelson’s term as mayor will last until the next municipal election in 2019.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">PRIEST GETS 8 MONTHS IN PRISON FOR EMBEZZLING $500,000</a></p>
<p>PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The rector of a retirement home for Roman Catholic priests who was convicted of embezzling a half-million dollars has been sentenced to eight months in federal prison.</p>
<p>Authorities say Monsignor William Dombrow spent the stolen funds on casino visits, expensive dinners and concerts.</p>
<p>At his sentencing Wednesday, Dombrow acknowledged committing a “serious crime” and said he would accept the judge’s decision.</p>
<p>Dombrow’s attorney says the priest was sometimes accompanied on those outings by residents of Villa St. Joseph. The Philadelphia Archdiocese runs the facility in Darby to house aging priests and treat those accused of sexual abuse.</p>
<p>In addition to his prison term, Dombrow was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to repay the embezzled funds.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">SHARKS’ THORNTON USES CHUNK OF MOUNTAIN-MAN BEARD DURING FIGHT</a></p>
<p>TORONTO (AP) — Nazem Kadri was an assist short of a bizarre Gordie Howe hat trick.</p>
<p>Kadri ripped out part of Joe Thornton’s mountain-man beard in a fight off the opening faceoff and scored in regulation in the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 3-2 shootout victory over the San Jose Sharks on Thursday night.</p>
<p>Thornton and Kadri dropping the gloves just two seconds after being tossed out of the opening faceoff for slashing each other like manic lumberjacks. The 38-year-old Thornton’s beard took a beating in the scrap, thanks to Kadri hanging on to the beard rather than his jersey as he was twirled around by the bigger Shark. A hunk of Thornton’s facial hair was left on the ice like a mini-tumbleweed.</p>
<p>“I ended up with a piece of it in my hand,” Kadri said. “I have no idea how that happened</p>
<p>“I thought I was a hockey player not a barber. I didn’t mean to grab him there. I mean he’s a big boy. I couldn’t reach all the way across his shoulder. I felt like I just grabbed him in the middle of his jersey and just came down with a handful of his hair.”</p>
<p>Thornton didn’t comment after the game.</p>
<p>The hair ultimately found its way to the glove of backup goalie Aaron Dell on the San Jose bench.</p>
<p>“We were trying to figure out what it was,” Sharks forward Chris Tierney said.</p>
<p>Kadri, who was giving up at least 4 inches and 30 pounds to Thornton, had a welt on the side of his face as a souvenir of the fight.</p>
<p>“I didn’t see that coming,” said former Shark Patrick Marleau.</p>
<p>The fight seemed to spark the Leafs, who snapped a three game losing streak. They had plenty of jump against the talented Sharks in a wide-open, entertaining game that saw plenty of big saves at both ends.</p>
<p>“It was a good fight ... It kind of gets everybody pumped up, especially to see a smaller guy like that (fight),” Leafs center Auston Matthews said.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">MERCHANDISE FEATURING FIONA THE HIPPO BRINGS IN BIG BUCKS</a></p>
<p>CINCINNATI (AP) — Merchandise inspired by Ohio’s famous baby hippo, Fiona, has returned nearly half a million dollars to the Cincinnati Zoo.</p>
<p>The Cincinnati Enquirer reports the zoo has collected about $480,000 in sales from businesses with merchandising agreements. Products include everything from clothing and ornaments to beer and ice cream.</p>
<p>The zoo says it isn’t keeping track of cash the hippo-themed products are turning over. But zoo spokeswoman Michelle Curley says more than $200,000 of the money was used for Fiona’s neonatal care. Curley says the remainder is helping with the care, feeding and enrichment of all the zoo’s hippos.</p>
<p>The beloved baby hippo will celebrate her first birthday Jan. 24. Local merchants expect the celebration to spur an economic boost as businesses roll out more Fiona-themed products.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">CHEETAH AT ST. LOUIS ZOO GIVES BIRTH TO 8 CUBS</a></p>
<p>ST. LOUIS (AP) — A cheetah named Bingwa at the St. Louis Zoo is a proud mother — eight times over.</p>
<p>The zoo announced Wednesday that the 4-year-old cheetah gave birth Nov. 26 to eight cubs — three male and five female. It’s the largest litter of cheetah cubs ever delivered at the zoo. The average litter size is three to four cubs.</p>
<p>In fact, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums has documented 430 litters and said this is the first time a cheetah mom has given birth to and reared on her own a litter of eight cubs at a zoo.</p>
<p>Perhaps not surprisingly, Bingwa means “champion” in Swahili.</p>
<p>All eight cubs and the mom are doing well. They’ll remain indoors, away from the public and under close scrutiny from staff, for several months.</p>
<p>Bingwa is proving to be an “exemplary” mom, zoo officials said.</p>
<p>“She has quickly become adept at caring for her very large litter of cubs — grooming, nursing and caring for them attentively,” Steve Bircher, the zoo’s curator of mammals/carnivores, said in a news release.</p>
<p>The cubs were born at the zoo’s River’s Edge Cheetah Breeding Center as part of a program to manage genetically healthy population of cheetahs at North American zoos. More than 50 cheetah cubs have been born at the breeding center since 1974, the zoo said.</p>
<p>Bingwa is at the zoo on loan from Wildlife Safari in Winston, Oregon. The father, 9-year-old Jason, is on loan from White Oak Conservation in Yulee, Florida.</p>
<p>Cheetahs once roamed much of Africa and Asia. Today, only around 10,000 remain in the wild in Africa along with 100 or fewer in Iran. The decline in numbers is due in part to conflict with humans as well as lack of genetic diversity, the zoo said.</p>
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florida man calls 911 report drunk driving winter fla ap florida authorities sharing details unusual 911 call new years eve man said wanted report drunkdriving polk county sheriffs officials say dispatcher kept talking directing officers scene dispatcher asked michael lester said im drunk dont know im asked hed night said dont know driving around trying get pulled actually im driving wrong side road said later operator repeatedly urged park truck wait officers find unfortunately chose wrong spot undated photo provided polk county sheriffs office saturday jan 6 2018 shows michael lester authorities florida received 911 call new years eve lester said driving drunk needed police polk county sheriffs office via ap look im parked middle road said sirens could heard background short time later deputies said lester admitted drinking beers swallowing methamphetamine also said hed barely slept several days sheriffs office facebook post says lesters criminal history includes dui aggravated battery drug possession hitandrun driving influence alcohol drugs serious crime innocent people often injured killed impaired drivers dui laughing matter sheriffs officials wrote however particular incident nobody hurt couldnt help loto means laughed tasers police snow thwarts shoplifter north dakota minot nd ap authorities say north dakota man wheeled shopping cart stolen merchandise hobby lobby craft store stopped snow police say 22yearold dustin johnson filled cart 4000 products hobby lobby store minot wednesday cart got stuck snow parking lot tipped johnson allegedly ran police say along merchandise johnson left behind wallet contained identification address johnson charged ward county theft property court documents list lawyer man alleges bobcat attack condo owner says housecat tampa fla ap florida contractor says attacked bobcat inside womans condo animals owner says feline predator 10pound domestic longhair kitty named calli contractor marcos hernandez filed lawsuit tampa dec 19 alleging condo owner christine lee illegally kept bobcat inside unit said bobcat scratched may 16 causing serious injuries entered condo conduct fire safety inspection hernandez condo alone lee said something shouldnt happened said employee building supposed accompany inside gotten blown proportion ridiculous lee said according lawsuit hernandez said attacked unleashed bobcat suffered permanent injuries hes seeking jury trial unspecified damages hernandez said lee duty provide safe environment failed warn bobcat lee said thats nonsense fluffy tortoiseshellcolored housecat sleeker black cat named max doesnt know cat may scratched hernandez maxs color would likely rule yet retained attorney im denying got scratched get scratched dont know said adding arrived home day calli cowering scared max underneath bed calli 3 12 friendly lee said like animal guarded feel threatened may attack scratch bite soon incident informed building management hernandez scratched hadnt heard lawsuit week tampa bay times first wrote case took photo calli hernandez also suing condo buildings owner lee said never owned bobcat bobcat look much different theyre much bigger 10pound little thing said litigious society according florida fish wildlife conservation commission wild bobcats state twice size domestic cat 35 pounds tan yellowish brown dark spots wildlife official visited lees apartment thursday newspaper report hernandez attorneys office said going comment time man gets stuck blizzard topless convertible cranston ri ap wintry weather didnt keep rhode island man driving town topless convertible wpritv reports roof john pratts convertible mercedes benz broken month tried get lipstick red luxury car repair shop thursday morning massive storm dumped foot snow parts state chilly openair ride turned icy predicament car got stuck onlookers took video made rounds social media episode left cranston man car covered snow pratt blames 16yearold son broken roof says doesnt mind trouble people got laughs shy 100th birthday mississippi woman bags deer morgantown miss ap 99yearold hunter mississippi wants know people making big fuss recent kill doe prized buck clarion ledger reports bertha vickers used 243 winchester rifle kill doe recently miles rural home relatives posted pictures vickers kill facebook people sent messages congratulations vickers says doesnt know everybody making big deal doe buck vickers lives near farming community grew northern mississippi outside starkville still mows yard enjoys squirrel hunting turns 100 tuesday snatched hungry eagle little dog lives bark tale felipe rodriguez says thought hallucinating eagle snatched sisters little white dog yard flapped massive wings disappeared trees really see zoey 8pound bichon frise gone taken hungry raptor tuesday afternoon 50 feet sisters house banks lehigh river pennsylvania rodriguez said seemed like something wizard oz told associated press wednesday im city boy doesnt happen world even astonishing zoey would live bark tale later first let said eagles quite capable taking small dog cat documented often said laurie goodrich biologist nearby hawk mountain sanctuary ridgetop preserve annually records tens thousands migrating hawks eagles falcons food scarce waterways freezing raptors looking little widely taking advantage whatever might said rodriguez said sisters home bowmanstown 80 miles 128 kilometers north philadelphia zoey playing fenced yard heard loud screech hurried door looked bird holding onto dog flapping wings gone said rodriguez 50yearold healthcare executive visiting chicago drove around neighborhood looking 7yearold bichon avail rodriguez assumed zoey gone good sister family devastated found nothing cry day monica newhard said newhard said unusual see eagles given homes proximity river also suspected occasionally grabbed one rabbits lived shed didnt occur newhard four dogs would danger heartbroken husband scoured woods zoeys body little know bitty bichon would found later afternoon full four miles away zoeys rescuer christina hartman 51 said driving snowcovered back road spotted furry white lump ahead pulled investigate notice little frozen dog icicles hanging could hardly move hartman said scooped whimpering pooch wrapped blanket took home feeding dog two bowls chickenandrice soup gradually bichon warmed began show spunk hartman noticed several small wounds back neck dog walked limp collar dog belongs family im gon na find owns hartman told didnt take long spotted newhards public facebook post wednesday morning newhard uploaded photo zoey made excited call said miracle dog zoey bruises missing patches fur clear far eagle might carried dog rodriguez said cant believe zoey survived really getting lots love sister newhard texted ap late wednesday doesnt want go really cant blame cold florida iguanas falling trees miami beach fla ap cold florida iguanas falling perches suburban trees temperatures dipped 40 degrees fahrenheit 5 degrees celsius early thursday parts south florida according national weather service miami thats chilly enough immobilize green iguanas common miamis suburbs iguana froze lies near pool falling tree boca raton florida palm beach post columnist frank cerabino tweeted photograph iguana lying bellyup next swimming pool wpectv posted images iguana back palm beach county road coldblooded creatures native central south america start get sluggish temperatures fall 50 degrees 10 degrees celsius said kristen sommers oversees nonnative fish wildlife program florida fish wildlife conservation commission temperatures drop iguanas freeze cold move sommers said theyre reptiles stunned weeks cold snap sea turtles also stiffen temperatures fall wildlife commissions biologists rescuing coldstunned sea turtles found floating listlessly water near shore rescue planned iguanas wellmeaning residents finding stiffened iguanas advised leave alone may feel threatened bite warm dont assume theyre dead sommers said green iguanas invasive species florida known eating landscaping digging burrows undermine infrastructure grow 5 feet 15 meters long droppings potential source salmonella bacteria causes food poisoning wildlife commission begun holding workshops train homeowners property managers trap manage iguanas reptiles may easier catch week sommers said provides opportunity capture im sure going cold enough long enough make enough difference said cases theyre going warm back move around unless theyre euthanized twoweek cold snap temperatures 40 degrees 5 degrees celsius 2010 killed many iguanas along burmese pythons invasive pests thrive south floridas subtropical climate populations since rebounded elsewhere florida effects brutal winter storm rolling east coast less exotic snowed briefly wednesday states capital tallahassee first time 28 years fedup passenger sought fast track ryanair wing madrid ap passenger delayed ryanair flight london apparently got fed waiting get plane landed southern spanish city malaga surprised fellow passengers using emergency exit jump onto wing incident new years day took place 30 minutes flight stansted airport landed man named said nonspanish citizen coaxed back onto plane police called ryanair passenger apparently got fed waiting get plane stands wing ryanair plane malaga airport spain monday jan 1 2018 filmed another passenger various delays flight londons stansted airport passenger named used emergency exit climb onto wing landing spain new years day fernando del valle villalobos via ap fellow passenger fernando del valle villalobos videoed incident said heard man say got fed waiting astonished del valle 25 told associated press telephone interview said passengers standing aisle waiting get plane man calmly asked permission get past opened emergency exit looked saw wing went back backpack later said captain came asked man done del valle heard say clearly sick waiting inside passengers except man question kept 15 minutes plane let police said wednesday opened complaint man breaching security ryanair said incident hands spanish authorities fowl weather friends arkansas students print 3d duck leg armorel ark ap eighthgrade science students used 3d printer create prosthetic leg duck found without foot shortly hatched students northeastern arkansas created leg armorel high schools environmental spatial technology lab 8monthold indian runner duck named peg pegs owner patsy smith told television station kait found bird turtle apparently chewed foot said leg became irritated peg grew students reached hearing smith seeking way help peg lab director alicia bell said took 30 tries students matthew cook darshan patel abby simmons built appropriate leg smith said peg walks runs like normal duck brake beaks california officers save chickens road los angeles ap race cluck california highway patrol officers scrambled rescue nearly 20 chickens ran highway lanes near los angeles agency says birds blocked portion interstate 605 norwalk area tuesday morning cage fell back truck agency tweeted photos video chickens highway motorcycle officer collecting officers managed rescue 17 birds two died photo released california highway patrol chp officer dasilva rescues nearly 20 chickens ran highway lanes norwalk calif tuesday jan 2 2018 chp says birds blocked portion interstate 605 tuesday morning cage fell back truck agency tweeted photos video chickens lanes motorcycle officer collecting officers managed rescue 17 birds two died chp officer clilliecalifornia highway patrol via ap one tweet asked chickens cross road obviously want become fast food la area freeway course driver transporting chickens unaware birds fell truck stop kid wit dad measures babys growth cheesesteaks philadelphia ap philadelphia father put citys signature sandwich use whole new way measuring babys size cheesesteaks phillycom reports thursday computer programmer brad williams used foolproof system calls cheesesteak scale measure growth son childs first year 2015 started noticed 2weekold lucas royce size cheesesteak hed brought home williams snapped picture sandwich next newborn tradition born every month next year williams wife would buy cheesesteak track growing boy 2015 photo provided brad williams shows wife april williams swaddling 2weekold son lucas royce williams next wrapped cheesesteak sandwich compare sons size home philadelphia suburb glenside pa wednesday jan 3 2018 blog post computer programmer brad williams outlined cheesesteak scale system devised measure sons growth month following boys birth october 2015 according phillycom brad williams via ap says babies cheesesteaks quite similar says warm cuddly wrapped unwrap expect huge mess police man breaks evidence undetected takes back bike provo utah ap provo police say man broke departments evidence room undetected took back bike deseret news reported thursday burglary went unnoticed person originally found bike arrested told officers david elwin snow bragging pulled crime century 37yearold snow brother gone department dec 18 retrieve bike since never reported stolen hard time verifying snows bike police accuse snow stealing night seeing stored bike found wednesday snows grandmothers house police sgt nisha king said heist never happened department police man used bank robbery cash buy engagement ring middletown ohio ap authorities say man robbed bank ohio used money buy fiancee engagement ring hamiltonmiddletown journalnews reports 36yearold dustin pedersen charged robbing fifth third bank branch trenton dec 16 police say records show pedersen spent 4500 engagement ring less hour robbery presented next day trenton police detective said court wednesday robbery netted 8800 police say pedersen became suspect man wearing identical hat robbed butler county bank six days later pedersen denied robbing banks told police surveillance photos robber look like pedersens attorney wasnt immediately available comment thursday rats dc wages war resurgent rodents dry ice washington ap mists spotted rising swamp may washington wielding newest weapon neverending war rats dry ice district columbias rodent control divisions program manager gerard brown tells washington post frozen form carbon dioxide complements poison city uses reported rat complaints reach fouryear high last month brown mayor muriel bowser oversaw demonstration health department staffers stuffed dry ice northeast washington alley rathole ice smoked emanating carbon dioxide suffocated rats according browns explanation residents encouraged purchase dry ice city working usage guidelines department energy environment director tommy wells says dry ice relatively humane cheap petfriendly false tsunami alert startles coastal oregon town seaside ore ap tsunamiwarming system erroneously informed people living seaside oregon tsunami approaching four hours city spokesman jon rahl says malfunction system replaced supposed wednesdays regularly scheduled test message seaside police quickly sent email text notifications correcting error gas station owner rich trucke wrote daily astorian newspaper people panicked despite assurances tests regularly done wednesdays says one customer hastily drove demanding gas leave town another told 95yearold mother start packing rahl says mishap reminder tests conducted says give us opportunity evaluate whats working case whats valuable vodka bottle reported stolen found copenhagen copenhagen denmark ap danish police say valuable bottle vodka reported stolen copenhagen bar found copenhagen police say bottle worth 13 million according owner recovered intact police say investigation continuing vessel made 3 kilograms 66 pounds gold equivalent amount silver diamondencrusted cap fashioned resemble vintage car front image taken cctv provided brian ingberg shows man stealing bottle vodka cafe 33 bar copenhagen tuesday jan 2 2018 copenhagen police thursday jan 4 2018 investigating theft bottle vodka claimed worlds expensive 13 million us dollarsbrian ingberg via ap cafe 33 owner brian ingberg told associated press received call friday person reported finding vessel construction site copenhagen handing police ingberg says arrests made refused identify caller easter hunt cadbury makes batch white creme eggs london ap british confectioner cadbury making white chocolate version popular easter creme egg offering cash prize find tries bolster products appeal company says make small batch 350 400 white eggs sale easter sunday april 1 carry prize least 100 pounds 130 cadburys faced accusations cheapening chocolate recipe creme egg since taken us company kraft foods 2010 hoping ramp interest product first went sale 1971 white eggs wrapped foil regular creme eggs making hunt blind draw montana town gets new mayor noshow mayorelect laurel mont ap different mayor southern montana town sworn office day mayorelect failed appear swearingin ceremony former city councilman tom nelson sworn new mayor laurel wednesday mayorelect dave waggoner show city councils tuesday meeting nelson lost waggoner november mayoral election waggoner asked leave current position citys wastewater treatment plant could take office city officials say waggoner submit letter resignation city job council appointed nelson waggoner return calls seeking comment billings gazette nelsons term mayor last next municipal election 2019 priest gets 8 months prison embezzling 500000 philadelphia ap rector retirement home roman catholic priests convicted embezzling halfmillion dollars sentenced eight months federal prison authorities say monsignor william dombrow spent stolen funds casino visits expensive dinners concerts sentencing wednesday dombrow acknowledged committing serious crime said would accept judges decision dombrows attorney says priest sometimes accompanied outings residents villa st joseph philadelphia archdiocese runs facility darby house aging priests treat accused sexual abuse addition prison term dombrow sentenced three years supervised release ordered repay embezzled funds sharks thornton uses chunk mountainman beard fight toronto ap nazem kadri assist short bizarre gordie howe hat trick kadri ripped part joe thorntons mountainman beard fight opening faceoff scored regulation toronto maple leafs 32 shootout victory san jose sharks thursday night thornton kadri dropping gloves two seconds tossed opening faceoff slashing like manic lumberjacks 38yearold thorntons beard took beating scrap thanks kadri hanging beard rather jersey twirled around bigger shark hunk thorntons facial hair left ice like minitumbleweed ended piece hand kadri said idea happened thought hockey player barber didnt mean grab mean hes big boy couldnt reach way across shoulder felt like grabbed middle jersey came handful hair thornton didnt comment game hair ultimately found way glove backup goalie aaron dell san jose bench trying figure sharks forward chris tierney said kadri giving least 4 inches 30 pounds thornton welt side face souvenir fight didnt see coming said former shark patrick marleau fight seemed spark leafs snapped three game losing streak plenty jump talented sharks wideopen entertaining game saw plenty big saves ends good fight kind gets everybody pumped especially see smaller guy like fight leafs center auston matthews said merchandise featuring fiona hippo brings big bucks cincinnati ap merchandise inspired ohios famous baby hippo fiona returned nearly half million dollars cincinnati zoo cincinnati enquirer reports zoo collected 480000 sales businesses merchandising agreements products include everything clothing ornaments beer ice cream zoo says isnt keeping track cash hippothemed products turning zoo spokeswoman michelle curley says 200000 money used fionas neonatal care curley says remainder helping care feeding enrichment zoos hippos beloved baby hippo celebrate first birthday jan 24 local merchants expect celebration spur economic boost businesses roll fionathemed products cheetah st louis zoo gives birth 8 cubs st louis ap cheetah named bingwa st louis zoo proud mother eight times zoo announced wednesday 4yearold cheetah gave birth nov 26 eight cubs three male five female largest litter cheetah cubs ever delivered zoo average litter size three four cubs fact association zoos aquariums documented 430 litters said first time cheetah mom given birth reared litter eight cubs zoo perhaps surprisingly bingwa means champion swahili eight cubs mom well theyll remain indoors away public close scrutiny staff several months bingwa proving exemplary mom zoo officials said quickly become adept caring large litter cubs grooming nursing caring attentively steve bircher zoos curator mammalscarnivores said news release cubs born zoos rivers edge cheetah breeding center part program manage genetically healthy population cheetahs north american zoos 50 cheetah cubs born breeding center since 1974 zoo said bingwa zoo loan wildlife safari winston oregon father 9yearold jason loan white oak conservation yulee florida cheetahs roamed much africa asia today around 10000 remain wild africa along 100 fewer iran decline numbers due part conflict humans well lack genetic diversity zoo said florida man calls 911 report drunk driving winter fla ap florida authorities sharing details unusual 911 call new years eve man said wanted report drunkdriving polk county sheriffs officials say dispatcher kept talking directing officers scene dispatcher asked michael lester said im drunk dont know im asked hed night said dont know driving around trying get pulled actually im driving wrong side road said later operator repeatedly urged park truck wait officers find unfortunately chose wrong spot undated photo provided polk county sheriffs office saturday jan 6 2018 shows michael lester authorities florida received 911 call new years eve lester said driving drunk needed police polk county sheriffs office via ap look im parked middle road said sirens could heard background short time later deputies said lester admitted drinking beers swallowing methamphetamine also said hed barely slept several days sheriffs office facebook post says lesters criminal history includes dui aggravated battery drug possession hitandrun driving influence alcohol drugs serious crime innocent people often injured killed impaired drivers dui laughing matter sheriffs officials wrote however particular incident nobody hurt couldnt help loto means laughed tasers police snow thwarts shoplifter north dakota minot nd ap authorities say north dakota man wheeled shopping cart stolen merchandise hobby lobby craft store stopped snow police say 22yearold dustin johnson filled cart 4000 products hobby lobby store minot wednesday cart got stuck snow parking lot tipped johnson allegedly ran police say along merchandise johnson left behind wallet contained identification address johnson charged ward county theft property court documents list lawyer man alleges bobcat attack condo owner says housecat tampa fla ap florida contractor says attacked bobcat inside womans condo animals owner says feline predator 10pound domestic longhair kitty named calli contractor marcos hernandez filed lawsuit tampa dec 19 alleging condo owner christine lee illegally kept bobcat inside unit said bobcat scratched may 16 causing serious injuries entered condo conduct fire safety inspection hernandez condo alone lee said something shouldnt happened said employee building supposed accompany inside gotten blown proportion ridiculous lee said according lawsuit hernandez said attacked unleashed bobcat suffered permanent injuries hes seeking jury trial unspecified damages hernandez said lee duty provide safe environment failed warn bobcat lee said thats nonsense fluffy tortoiseshellcolored housecat sleeker black cat named max doesnt know cat may scratched hernandez maxs color would likely rule yet retained attorney im denying got scratched get scratched dont know said adding arrived home day calli cowering scared max underneath bed calli 3 12 friendly lee said like animal guarded feel threatened may attack scratch bite soon incident informed building management hernandez scratched hadnt heard lawsuit week tampa bay times first wrote case took photo calli hernandez also suing condo buildings owner lee said never owned bobcat bobcat look much different theyre much bigger 10pound little thing said litigious society according florida fish wildlife conservation commission wild bobcats state twice size domestic cat 35 pounds tan yellowish brown dark spots wildlife official visited lees apartment thursday newspaper report hernandez attorneys office said going comment time man gets stuck blizzard topless convertible cranston ri ap wintry weather didnt keep rhode island man driving town topless convertible wpritv reports roof john pratts convertible mercedes benz broken month tried get lipstick red luxury car repair shop thursday morning massive storm dumped foot snow parts state chilly openair ride turned icy predicament car got stuck onlookers took video made rounds social media episode left cranston man car covered snow pratt blames 16yearold son broken roof says doesnt mind trouble people got laughs shy 100th birthday mississippi woman bags deer morgantown miss ap 99yearold hunter mississippi wants know people making big fuss recent kill doe prized buck clarion ledger reports bertha vickers used 243 winchester rifle kill doe recently miles rural home relatives posted pictures vickers kill facebook people sent messages congratulations vickers says doesnt know everybody making big deal doe buck vickers lives near farming community grew northern mississippi outside starkville still mows yard enjoys squirrel hunting turns 100 tuesday snatched hungry eagle little dog lives bark tale felipe rodriguez says thought hallucinating eagle snatched sisters little white dog yard flapped massive wings disappeared trees really see zoey 8pound bichon frise gone taken hungry raptor tuesday afternoon 50 feet sisters house banks lehigh river pennsylvania rodriguez said seemed like something wizard oz told associated press wednesday im city boy doesnt happen world even astonishing zoey would live bark tale later first let said eagles quite capable taking small dog cat documented often said laurie goodrich biologist nearby hawk mountain sanctuary ridgetop preserve annually records tens thousands migrating hawks eagles falcons food scarce waterways freezing raptors looking little widely taking advantage whatever might said rodriguez said sisters home bowmanstown 80 miles 128 kilometers north philadelphia zoey playing fenced yard heard loud screech hurried door looked bird holding onto dog flapping wings gone said rodriguez 50yearold healthcare executive visiting chicago drove around neighborhood looking 7yearold bichon avail rodriguez assumed zoey gone good sister family devastated found nothing cry day monica newhard said newhard said unusual see eagles given homes proximity river also suspected occasionally grabbed one rabbits lived shed didnt occur newhard four dogs would danger heartbroken husband scoured woods zoeys body little know bitty bichon would found later afternoon full four miles away zoeys rescuer christina hartman 51 said driving snowcovered back road spotted furry white lump ahead pulled investigate notice little frozen dog icicles hanging could hardly move hartman said scooped whimpering pooch wrapped blanket took home feeding dog two bowls chickenandrice soup gradually bichon warmed began show spunk hartman noticed several small wounds back neck dog walked limp collar dog belongs family im gon na find owns hartman told didnt take long spotted newhards public facebook post wednesday morning newhard uploaded photo zoey made excited call said miracle dog zoey bruises missing patches fur clear far eagle might carried dog rodriguez said cant believe zoey survived really getting lots love sister newhard texted ap late wednesday doesnt want go really cant blame cold florida iguanas falling trees miami beach fla ap cold florida iguanas falling perches suburban trees temperatures dipped 40 degrees fahrenheit 5 degrees celsius early thursday parts south florida according national weather service miami thats chilly enough immobilize green iguanas common miamis suburbs iguana froze lies near pool falling tree boca raton florida palm beach post columnist frank cerabino tweeted photograph iguana lying bellyup next swimming pool wpectv posted images iguana back palm beach county road coldblooded creatures native central south america start get sluggish temperatures fall 50 degrees 10 degrees celsius said kristen sommers oversees nonnative fish wildlife program florida fish wildlife conservation commission temperatures drop iguanas freeze cold move sommers said theyre reptiles stunned weeks cold snap sea turtles also stiffen temperatures fall wildlife commissions biologists rescuing coldstunned sea turtles found floating listlessly water near shore rescue planned iguanas wellmeaning residents finding stiffened iguanas advised leave alone may feel threatened bite warm dont assume theyre dead sommers said green iguanas invasive species florida known eating landscaping digging burrows undermine infrastructure grow 5 feet 15 meters long droppings potential source salmonella bacteria causes food poisoning wildlife commission begun holding workshops train homeowners property managers trap manage iguanas reptiles may easier catch week sommers said provides opportunity capture im sure going cold enough long enough make enough difference said cases theyre going warm back move around unless theyre euthanized twoweek cold snap temperatures 40 degrees 5 degrees celsius 2010 killed many iguanas along burmese pythons invasive pests thrive south floridas subtropical climate populations since rebounded elsewhere florida effects brutal winter storm rolling east coast less exotic snowed briefly wednesday states capital tallahassee first time 28 years fedup passenger sought fast track ryanair wing madrid ap passenger delayed ryanair flight london apparently got fed waiting get plane landed southern spanish city malaga surprised fellow passengers using emergency exit jump onto wing incident new years day took place 30 minutes flight stansted airport landed man named said nonspanish citizen coaxed back onto plane police called ryanair passenger apparently got fed waiting get plane stands wing ryanair plane malaga airport spain monday jan 1 2018 filmed another passenger various delays flight londons stansted airport passenger named used emergency exit climb onto wing landing spain new years day fernando del valle villalobos via ap fellow passenger fernando del valle villalobos videoed incident said heard man say got fed waiting astonished del valle 25 told associated press telephone interview said passengers standing aisle waiting get plane man calmly asked permission get past opened emergency exit looked saw wing went back backpack later said captain came asked man done del valle heard say clearly sick waiting inside passengers except man question kept 15 minutes plane let police said wednesday opened complaint man breaching security ryanair said incident hands spanish authorities fowl weather friends arkansas students print 3d duck leg armorel ark ap eighthgrade science students used 3d printer create prosthetic leg duck found without foot shortly hatched students northeastern arkansas created leg armorel high schools environmental spatial technology lab 8monthold indian runner duck named peg pegs owner patsy smith told television station kait found bird turtle apparently chewed foot said leg became irritated peg grew students reached hearing smith seeking way help peg lab director alicia bell said took 30 tries students matthew cook darshan patel abby simmons built appropriate leg smith said peg walks runs like normal duck brake beaks california officers save chickens road los angeles ap race cluck california highway patrol officers scrambled rescue nearly 20 chickens ran highway lanes near los angeles agency says birds blocked portion interstate 605 norwalk area tuesday morning cage fell back truck agency tweeted photos video chickens highway motorcycle officer collecting officers managed rescue 17 birds two died photo released california highway patrol chp officer dasilva rescues nearly 20 chickens ran highway lanes norwalk calif tuesday jan 2 2018 chp says birds blocked portion interstate 605 tuesday morning cage fell back truck agency tweeted photos video chickens lanes motorcycle officer collecting officers managed rescue 17 birds two died chp officer clilliecalifornia highway patrol via ap one tweet asked chickens cross road obviously want become fast food la area freeway course driver transporting chickens unaware birds fell truck stop kid wit dad measures babys growth cheesesteaks philadelphia ap philadelphia father put citys signature sandwich use whole new way measuring babys size cheesesteaks phillycom reports thursday computer programmer brad williams used foolproof system calls cheesesteak scale measure growth son childs first year 2015 started noticed 2weekold lucas royce size cheesesteak hed brought home williams snapped picture sandwich next newborn tradition born every month next year williams wife would buy cheesesteak track growing boy 2015 photo provided brad williams shows wife april williams swaddling 2weekold son lucas royce williams next wrapped cheesesteak sandwich compare sons size home philadelphia suburb glenside pa wednesday jan 3 2018 blog post computer programmer brad williams outlined cheesesteak scale system devised measure sons growth month following boys birth october 2015 according phillycom brad williams via ap says babies cheesesteaks quite similar says warm cuddly wrapped unwrap expect huge mess police man breaks evidence undetected takes back bike provo utah ap provo police say man broke departments evidence room undetected took back bike deseret news reported thursday burglary went unnoticed person originally found bike arrested told officers david elwin snow bragging pulled crime century 37yearold snow brother gone department dec 18 retrieve bike since never reported stolen hard time verifying snows bike police accuse snow stealing night seeing stored bike found wednesday snows grandmothers house police sgt nisha king said heist never happened department police man used bank robbery cash buy engagement ring middletown ohio ap authorities say man robbed bank ohio used money buy fiancee engagement ring hamiltonmiddletown journalnews reports 36yearold dustin pedersen charged robbing fifth third bank branch trenton dec 16 police say records show pedersen spent 4500 engagement ring less hour robbery presented next day trenton police detective said court wednesday robbery netted 8800 police say pedersen became suspect man wearing identical hat robbed butler county bank six days later pedersen denied robbing banks told police surveillance photos robber look like pedersens attorney wasnt immediately available comment thursday rats dc wages war resurgent rodents dry ice washington ap mists spotted rising swamp may washington wielding newest weapon neverending war rats dry ice district columbias rodent control divisions program manager gerard brown tells washington post frozen form carbon dioxide complements poison city uses reported rat complaints reach fouryear high last month brown mayor muriel bowser oversaw demonstration health department staffers stuffed dry ice northeast washington alley rathole ice smoked emanating carbon dioxide suffocated rats according browns explanation residents encouraged purchase dry ice city working usage guidelines department energy environment director tommy wells says dry ice relatively humane cheap petfriendly false tsunami alert startles coastal oregon town seaside ore ap tsunamiwarming system erroneously informed people living seaside oregon tsunami approaching four hours city spokesman jon rahl says malfunction system replaced supposed wednesdays regularly scheduled test message seaside police quickly sent email text notifications correcting error gas station owner rich trucke wrote daily astorian newspaper people panicked despite assurances tests regularly done wednesdays says one customer hastily drove demanding gas leave town another told 95yearold mother start packing rahl says mishap reminder tests conducted says give us opportunity evaluate whats working case whats valuable vodka bottle reported stolen found copenhagen copenhagen denmark ap danish police say valuable bottle vodka reported stolen copenhagen bar found copenhagen police say bottle worth 13 million according owner recovered intact police say investigation continuing vessel made 3 kilograms 66 pounds gold equivalent amount silver diamondencrusted cap fashioned resemble vintage car front image taken cctv provided brian ingberg shows man stealing bottle vodka cafe 33 bar copenhagen tuesday jan 2 2018 copenhagen police thursday jan 4 2018 investigating theft bottle vodka claimed worlds expensive 13 million us dollarsbrian ingberg via ap cafe 33 owner brian ingberg told associated press received call friday person reported finding vessel construction site copenhagen handing police ingberg says arrests made refused identify caller easter hunt cadbury makes batch white creme eggs london ap british confectioner cadbury making white chocolate version popular easter creme egg offering cash prize find tries bolster products appeal company says make small batch 350 400 white eggs sale easter sunday april 1 carry prize least 100 pounds 130 cadburys faced accusations cheapening chocolate recipe creme egg since taken us company kraft foods 2010 hoping ramp interest product first went sale 1971 white eggs wrapped foil regular creme eggs making hunt blind draw montana town gets new mayor noshow mayorelect laurel mont ap different mayor southern montana town sworn office day mayorelect failed appear swearingin ceremony former city councilman tom nelson sworn new mayor laurel wednesday mayorelect dave waggoner show city councils tuesday meeting nelson lost waggoner november mayoral election waggoner asked leave current position citys wastewater treatment plant could take office city officials say waggoner submit letter resignation city job council appointed nelson waggoner return calls seeking comment billings gazette nelsons term mayor last next municipal election 2019 priest gets 8 months prison embezzling 500000 philadelphia ap rector retirement home roman catholic priests convicted embezzling halfmillion dollars sentenced eight months federal prison authorities say monsignor william dombrow spent stolen funds casino visits expensive dinners concerts sentencing wednesday dombrow acknowledged committing serious crime said would accept judges decision dombrows attorney says priest sometimes accompanied outings residents villa st joseph philadelphia archdiocese runs facility darby house aging priests treat accused sexual abuse addition prison term dombrow sentenced three years supervised release ordered repay embezzled funds sharks thornton uses chunk mountainman beard fight toronto ap nazem kadri assist short bizarre gordie howe hat trick kadri ripped part joe thorntons mountainman beard fight opening faceoff scored regulation toronto maple leafs 32 shootout victory san jose sharks thursday night thornton kadri dropping gloves two seconds tossed opening faceoff slashing like manic lumberjacks 38yearold thorntons beard took beating scrap thanks kadri hanging beard rather jersey twirled around bigger shark hunk thorntons facial hair left ice like minitumbleweed ended piece hand kadri said idea happened thought hockey player barber didnt mean grab mean hes big boy couldnt reach way across shoulder felt like grabbed middle jersey came handful hair thornton didnt comment game hair ultimately found way glove backup goalie aaron dell san jose bench trying figure sharks forward chris tierney said kadri giving least 4 inches 30 pounds thornton welt side face souvenir fight didnt see coming said former shark patrick marleau fight seemed spark leafs snapped three game losing streak plenty jump talented sharks wideopen entertaining game saw plenty big saves ends good fight kind gets everybody pumped especially see smaller guy like fight leafs center auston matthews said merchandise featuring fiona hippo brings big bucks cincinnati ap merchandise inspired ohios famous baby hippo fiona returned nearly half million dollars cincinnati zoo cincinnati enquirer reports zoo collected 480000 sales businesses merchandising agreements products include everything clothing ornaments beer ice cream zoo says isnt keeping track cash hippothemed products turning zoo spokeswoman michelle curley says 200000 money used fionas neonatal care curley says remainder helping care feeding enrichment zoos hippos beloved baby hippo celebrate first birthday jan 24 local merchants expect celebration spur economic boost businesses roll fionathemed products cheetah st louis zoo gives birth 8 cubs st louis ap cheetah named bingwa st louis zoo proud mother eight times zoo announced wednesday 4yearold cheetah gave birth nov 26 eight cubs three male five female largest litter cheetah cubs ever delivered zoo average litter size three four cubs fact association zoos aquariums documented 430 litters said first time cheetah mom given birth reared litter eight cubs zoo perhaps surprisingly bingwa means champion swahili eight cubs mom well theyll remain indoors away public close scrutiny staff several months bingwa proving exemplary mom zoo officials said quickly become adept caring large litter cubs grooming nursing caring attentively steve bircher zoos curator mammalscarnivores said news release cubs born zoos rivers edge cheetah breeding center part program manage genetically healthy population cheetahs north american zoos 50 cheetah cubs born breeding center since 1974 zoo said bingwa zoo loan wildlife safari winston oregon father 9yearold jason loan white oak conservation yulee florida cheetahs roamed much africa asia today around 10000 remain wild africa along 100 fewer iran decline numbers due part conflict humans well lack genetic diversity zoo said
| 6,100 |
<p>Aquinas 54, Columbus Lakeview 50</p>
<p>Auburn 76, Conestoga 21</p>
<p>Aurora 58, Columbus 55</p>
<p>Bancroft-Rosalie/Lyons-Decatur 37, Mead 31</p>
<p>Battle Creek 42, Stanton 37</p>
<p>Bellevue East 59, Kearney 53, OT</p>
<p>Bloomfield 47, Elkhorn Valley 34</p>
<p>Blue Hill 61, Franklin 32</p>
<p>Bridgeport 71, Mitchell 66</p>
<p>Broken Bow 75, Gibbon 32</p>
<p>Cambridge 79, Maxwell 34</p>
<p>Centennial 50, Central City 45</p>
<p>Cozad 57, Centura 50</p>
<p>Creek Valley 55, Pawnee, Colo. 45</p>
<p>Crete 64, Norris 48</p>
<p>David City 41, Malcolm 39</p>
<p>Doniphan-Trumbull 64, Adams Central 59</p>
<p>Elmwood-Murdock 67, Falls City 32</p>
<p>Garden County 60, Wauneta-Palisade 52</p>
<p>Gordon/Rushville 47, Kimball 26</p>
<p>Hastings St. Cecilia 54, Kearney Catholic 31</p>
<p>Kenesaw 48, Elm Creek 41</p>
<p>Lawrence-Nelson 49, Axtell 33</p>
<p>Lexington 70, Sidney 65</p>
<p>Lincoln East 54, Omaha South 44</p>
<p>Lincoln Pius X 73, North Platte 57</p>
<p>Lincoln Southwest 70, Elkhorn South 55</p>
<p>Logan View-Scribner-Snyder 58, Wisner-Pilger 48</p>
<p>Loomis 79, Elwood 38</p>
<p>Milford 67, Thayer Central 33</p>
<p>Millard North 64, Millard South 55</p>
<p>Minden 41, McCook 36</p>
<p>Mullen 64, Arthur County 29</p>
<p>Neligh-Oakdale 52, Madison 40</p>
<p>Norfolk Catholic 62, Crofton 50</p>
<p>North Bend Central 61, Archbishop Bergan 52</p>
<p>North Platte St. Patrick’s 47, Southwest 34</p>
<p>O’Neill 68, Creighton 50</p>
<p>Ogallala 69, Valentine 43</p>
<p>Omaha Bryan 69, Fremont 45</p>
<p>Omaha Burke 55, Norfolk 49</p>
<p>Omaha Central 81, Lincoln High 64</p>
<p>Omaha Creighton Prep 61, Lincoln Southeast 46</p>
<p>Omaha Gross Catholic 56, Elkhorn 38</p>
<p>Omaha North 86, Omaha Northwest 39</p>
<p>Omaha Westside 79, Grand Island 59</p>
<p>Overton 55, Bertrand 52</p>
<p>Papillion-LaVista 50, Lincoln Northeast 34</p>
<p>Ponca 78, Westwood, Sloan, Iowa 40</p>
<p>Potter-Dix 40, Hay Springs 24</p>
<p>Sandhills/Thedford 56, McPherson County 17</p>
<p>Sandy Creek 43, Superior 40</p>
<p>Scottsbluff 63, Cheyenne Central, Wyo. 62, OT</p>
<p>Shelby/Rising City 59, Nebraska Lutheran 47</p>
<p>South Sioux City 49, Beatrice 45</p>
<p>Syracuse 54, Arlington 36</p>
<p>Wahoo 88, Douglas County West 55</p>
<p>Waverly 49, Seward 37</p>
<p>West Point-Beemer 65, Tekamah-Herman 24</p>
<p>Wilcox-Hildreth 67, Eustis-Farnam 27</p>
<p>Wynot 52, Emerson-Hubbard 31</p>
<p>Yutan 76, Fort Calhoun 33</p>
<p>Aquinas 54, Columbus Lakeview 50</p>
<p>Auburn 76, Conestoga 21</p>
<p>Aurora 58, Columbus 55</p>
<p>Bancroft-Rosalie/Lyons-Decatur 37, Mead 31</p>
<p>Battle Creek 42, Stanton 37</p>
<p>Bellevue East 59, Kearney 53, OT</p>
<p>Bloomfield 47, Elkhorn Valley 34</p>
<p>Blue Hill 61, Franklin 32</p>
<p>Bridgeport 71, Mitchell 66</p>
<p>Broken Bow 75, Gibbon 32</p>
<p>Cambridge 79, Maxwell 34</p>
<p>Centennial 50, Central City 45</p>
<p>Cozad 57, Centura 50</p>
<p>Creek Valley 55, Pawnee, Colo. 45</p>
<p>Crete 64, Norris 48</p>
<p>David City 41, Malcolm 39</p>
<p>Doniphan-Trumbull 64, Adams Central 59</p>
<p>Elmwood-Murdock 67, Falls City 32</p>
<p>Garden County 60, Wauneta-Palisade 52</p>
<p>Gordon/Rushville 47, Kimball 26</p>
<p>Hastings St. Cecilia 54, Kearney Catholic 31</p>
<p>Kenesaw 48, Elm Creek 41</p>
<p>Lawrence-Nelson 49, Axtell 33</p>
<p>Lexington 70, Sidney 65</p>
<p>Lincoln East 54, Omaha South 44</p>
<p>Lincoln Pius X 73, North Platte 57</p>
<p>Lincoln Southwest 70, Elkhorn South 55</p>
<p>Logan View-Scribner-Snyder 58, Wisner-Pilger 48</p>
<p>Loomis 79, Elwood 38</p>
<p>Milford 67, Thayer Central 33</p>
<p>Millard North 64, Millard South 55</p>
<p>Minden 41, McCook 36</p>
<p>Mullen 64, Arthur County 29</p>
<p>Neligh-Oakdale 52, Madison 40</p>
<p>Norfolk Catholic 62, Crofton 50</p>
<p>North Bend Central 61, Archbishop Bergan 52</p>
<p>North Platte St. Patrick’s 47, Southwest 34</p>
<p>O’Neill 68, Creighton 50</p>
<p>Ogallala 69, Valentine 43</p>
<p>Omaha Bryan 69, Fremont 45</p>
<p>Omaha Burke 55, Norfolk 49</p>
<p>Omaha Central 81, Lincoln High 64</p>
<p>Omaha Creighton Prep 61, Lincoln Southeast 46</p>
<p>Omaha Gross Catholic 56, Elkhorn 38</p>
<p>Omaha North 86, Omaha Northwest 39</p>
<p>Omaha Westside 79, Grand Island 59</p>
<p>Overton 55, Bertrand 52</p>
<p>Papillion-LaVista 50, Lincoln Northeast 34</p>
<p>Ponca 78, Westwood, Sloan, Iowa 40</p>
<p>Potter-Dix 40, Hay Springs 24</p>
<p>Sandhills/Thedford 56, McPherson County 17</p>
<p>Sandy Creek 43, Superior 40</p>
<p>Scottsbluff 63, Cheyenne Central, Wyo. 62, OT</p>
<p>Shelby/Rising City 59, Nebraska Lutheran 47</p>
<p>South Sioux City 49, Beatrice 45</p>
<p>Syracuse 54, Arlington 36</p>
<p>Wahoo 88, Douglas County West 55</p>
<p>Waverly 49, Seward 37</p>
<p>West Point-Beemer 65, Tekamah-Herman 24</p>
<p>Wilcox-Hildreth 67, Eustis-Farnam 27</p>
<p>Wynot 52, Emerson-Hubbard 31</p>
<p>Yutan 76, Fort Calhoun 33</p>
| false | 2 |
aquinas 54 columbus lakeview 50 auburn 76 conestoga 21 aurora 58 columbus 55 bancroftrosalielyonsdecatur 37 mead 31 battle creek 42 stanton 37 bellevue east 59 kearney 53 ot bloomfield 47 elkhorn valley 34 blue hill 61 franklin 32 bridgeport 71 mitchell 66 broken bow 75 gibbon 32 cambridge 79 maxwell 34 centennial 50 central city 45 cozad 57 centura 50 creek valley 55 pawnee colo 45 crete 64 norris 48 david city 41 malcolm 39 doniphantrumbull 64 adams central 59 elmwoodmurdock 67 falls city 32 garden county 60 waunetapalisade 52 gordonrushville 47 kimball 26 hastings st cecilia 54 kearney catholic 31 kenesaw 48 elm creek 41 lawrencenelson 49 axtell 33 lexington 70 sidney 65 lincoln east 54 omaha south 44 lincoln pius x 73 north platte 57 lincoln southwest 70 elkhorn south 55 logan viewscribnersnyder 58 wisnerpilger 48 loomis 79 elwood 38 milford 67 thayer central 33 millard north 64 millard south 55 minden 41 mccook 36 mullen 64 arthur county 29 nelighoakdale 52 madison 40 norfolk catholic 62 crofton 50 north bend central 61 archbishop bergan 52 north platte st patricks 47 southwest 34 oneill 68 creighton 50 ogallala 69 valentine 43 omaha bryan 69 fremont 45 omaha burke 55 norfolk 49 omaha central 81 lincoln high 64 omaha creighton prep 61 lincoln southeast 46 omaha gross catholic 56 elkhorn 38 omaha north 86 omaha northwest 39 omaha westside 79 grand island 59 overton 55 bertrand 52 papillionlavista 50 lincoln northeast 34 ponca 78 westwood sloan iowa 40 potterdix 40 hay springs 24 sandhillsthedford 56 mcpherson county 17 sandy creek 43 superior 40 scottsbluff 63 cheyenne central wyo 62 ot shelbyrising city 59 nebraska lutheran 47 south sioux city 49 beatrice 45 syracuse 54 arlington 36 wahoo 88 douglas county west 55 waverly 49 seward 37 west pointbeemer 65 tekamahherman 24 wilcoxhildreth 67 eustisfarnam 27 wynot 52 emersonhubbard 31 yutan 76 fort calhoun 33 aquinas 54 columbus lakeview 50 auburn 76 conestoga 21 aurora 58 columbus 55 bancroftrosalielyonsdecatur 37 mead 31 battle creek 42 stanton 37 bellevue east 59 kearney 53 ot bloomfield 47 elkhorn valley 34 blue hill 61 franklin 32 bridgeport 71 mitchell 66 broken bow 75 gibbon 32 cambridge 79 maxwell 34 centennial 50 central city 45 cozad 57 centura 50 creek valley 55 pawnee colo 45 crete 64 norris 48 david city 41 malcolm 39 doniphantrumbull 64 adams central 59 elmwoodmurdock 67 falls city 32 garden county 60 waunetapalisade 52 gordonrushville 47 kimball 26 hastings st cecilia 54 kearney catholic 31 kenesaw 48 elm creek 41 lawrencenelson 49 axtell 33 lexington 70 sidney 65 lincoln east 54 omaha south 44 lincoln pius x 73 north platte 57 lincoln southwest 70 elkhorn south 55 logan viewscribnersnyder 58 wisnerpilger 48 loomis 79 elwood 38 milford 67 thayer central 33 millard north 64 millard south 55 minden 41 mccook 36 mullen 64 arthur county 29 nelighoakdale 52 madison 40 norfolk catholic 62 crofton 50 north bend central 61 archbishop bergan 52 north platte st patricks 47 southwest 34 oneill 68 creighton 50 ogallala 69 valentine 43 omaha bryan 69 fremont 45 omaha burke 55 norfolk 49 omaha central 81 lincoln high 64 omaha creighton prep 61 lincoln southeast 46 omaha gross catholic 56 elkhorn 38 omaha north 86 omaha northwest 39 omaha westside 79 grand island 59 overton 55 bertrand 52 papillionlavista 50 lincoln northeast 34 ponca 78 westwood sloan iowa 40 potterdix 40 hay springs 24 sandhillsthedford 56 mcpherson county 17 sandy creek 43 superior 40 scottsbluff 63 cheyenne central wyo 62 ot shelbyrising city 59 nebraska lutheran 47 south sioux city 49 beatrice 45 syracuse 54 arlington 36 wahoo 88 douglas county west 55 waverly 49 seward 37 west pointbeemer 65 tekamahherman 24 wilcoxhildreth 67 eustisfarnam 27 wynot 52 emersonhubbard 31 yutan 76 fort calhoun 33
| 630 |
<p>MONTECITO, Calif. (AP) — Thousands of people gathered Sunday night at a candlelight vigil to pay tribute to the 20 people who were killed when mudslides ravaged a Southern California community.</p>
<p>Tears were shed and hugs and prayers were shared during the emotional service outside the Santa Barbara County courthouse. Mourners lit prayer candles and left flowers as a makeshift memorial for the victims.</p>
<p>"Tonight, we need to mourn," Santa Barbara County Supervisor Das Williams said. "It is breathtakingly horrible. Our community is going through something it has never gone through."</p>
<p>Those at the vigil included the family of 30-year-old Pinit Sutthithepa, whose body was discovered Saturday afternoon. His 2-year-old daughter, Lydia, remained missing. His 6-year-old son, Peerawat, nicknamed Pasta, and his 79-year-old father-in-law, Richard Loring Taylor, also were killed in the mudslides. Family members said they were too distraught to speak.</p>
<p>"This family is one of several that lost multiple family members," Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said. "And we know that the suffering of those who knew and loved all of the victims is immense."</p>
<p>The list of those still missing in the mudslides has shrunk to four.</p>
<p>Because most churches in Montecito are in an evacuation area, many worshippers attended services in nearby towns on Sunday. At a church in Santa Barbara, they carried flowers, lit candles and prayed for the families who have lost loved ones. The victims were their friends and neighbors, they said.</p>
<p>"Our whole community is devastated," Hannah Miller said at the Trinity Episcopal Church. "There isn't anyone who doesn't know someone who has been affected by this disaster. It is truly awful. We can just pray they find those poor missing people."</p>
<p>In the disaster area, firefighters went door to door to check the structural stability of the houses damaged by a powerful rainstorm that preceded the mudslides and scoured what's left of toppled homes and mangled cars as they searched for the missing.</p>
<p>"I don't know about you, but I'm scared of Mother Nature right now," Santa Barbara Mayor Cathy Murillo told the attendees at the vigil.</p>
<p>Search and rescue operations ended Sunday and authorities transitioned to a search and recovery phase, Brown announced. The move allows officials to release resources that are no longer needed and allow search operations to slow to a safer pace, he said.</p>
<p>The storm sent flash floods cascading through mountain slopes that were burned bare by a huge wildfire in December. Workers used backhoes, jackhammers and chain saws to clear away masses of mud, boulders and toppled trees.</p>
<p>Crews have made it a priority to clear out debris basins and creek canals before another rainstorm. Long-range forecasts gave the crews about a week before the next chance of rain — and potential new mudslides — although the precipitation was expected to be disorganized and light. Another system was possible two days later.</p>
<p>The mudslides on Jan. 9 ravaged the tony community, destroying at least 65 homes and damaging more than 460 others, officials said. They also forced the indefinite shutdown of U.S. 101, the only major freeway between Santa Barbara and points east.</p>
<p>The rest of the community's infrastructure also was damaged. Some streets were cracked in half, and authorities closed bridges and overpasses because they were unstable. Amtrak said it was adding rail cars to each of its five daily roundtrip trains between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara to accommodate commuters grappling with the ongoing closure of U.S. 101.</p>
<p>But despite the damage in the neighborhood, Montecito residents still have hope their community will recover.</p>
<p>"They're exhausted but they find ways to try to live life as normally as they can," Williams said.</p>
<p>Sutthithepa, whose body was discovered Saturday, immigrated from Thailand, leaving behind his wife and two children but sending them money for years until he could bring them to the United States, a friend, Poy Sayavongs, told the Lee Central Coast News.</p>
<p>"They finally were able to make it to the states in the summer of 2016," Sayavongs said. "It's cruel — they only had a short time together before this tragedy struck."</p>
<p>A month earlier, the family had evacuated to a Red Cross shelter for a night as a devastating wildfire that went on to blacken nearby mountains threatened their home and many others.</p>
<p>More than 2,000 searchers and recovery workers have remained in the community, carrying out backbreaking work in the summerlike weather that has made the stretch of Santa Barbara County coast about 90 miles (145 kilometers) northwest of Los Angeles a haven for the wealthy, celebrities and tourists.</p>
<p>Much of the community of about 9,000 residents remained under mandatory evacuation orders, even unscathed areas, as crews removed debris and worked to restore water, sanitation, power and gas. There was no timeline for allowing residents to return, Assemblywoman Monique Limon said.</p>
<p>Limon, a Democrat, said she's working with other legislators to address concerns about flood and fire insurance and issues with emergency cellphone alerts.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Associated Press writer Christopher Weber contributed to this report from Los Angeles.</p>
<p>MONTECITO, Calif. (AP) — Thousands of people gathered Sunday night at a candlelight vigil to pay tribute to the 20 people who were killed when mudslides ravaged a Southern California community.</p>
<p>Tears were shed and hugs and prayers were shared during the emotional service outside the Santa Barbara County courthouse. Mourners lit prayer candles and left flowers as a makeshift memorial for the victims.</p>
<p>"Tonight, we need to mourn," Santa Barbara County Supervisor Das Williams said. "It is breathtakingly horrible. Our community is going through something it has never gone through."</p>
<p>Those at the vigil included the family of 30-year-old Pinit Sutthithepa, whose body was discovered Saturday afternoon. His 2-year-old daughter, Lydia, remained missing. His 6-year-old son, Peerawat, nicknamed Pasta, and his 79-year-old father-in-law, Richard Loring Taylor, also were killed in the mudslides. Family members said they were too distraught to speak.</p>
<p>"This family is one of several that lost multiple family members," Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said. "And we know that the suffering of those who knew and loved all of the victims is immense."</p>
<p>The list of those still missing in the mudslides has shrunk to four.</p>
<p>Because most churches in Montecito are in an evacuation area, many worshippers attended services in nearby towns on Sunday. At a church in Santa Barbara, they carried flowers, lit candles and prayed for the families who have lost loved ones. The victims were their friends and neighbors, they said.</p>
<p>"Our whole community is devastated," Hannah Miller said at the Trinity Episcopal Church. "There isn't anyone who doesn't know someone who has been affected by this disaster. It is truly awful. We can just pray they find those poor missing people."</p>
<p>In the disaster area, firefighters went door to door to check the structural stability of the houses damaged by a powerful rainstorm that preceded the mudslides and scoured what's left of toppled homes and mangled cars as they searched for the missing.</p>
<p>"I don't know about you, but I'm scared of Mother Nature right now," Santa Barbara Mayor Cathy Murillo told the attendees at the vigil.</p>
<p>Search and rescue operations ended Sunday and authorities transitioned to a search and recovery phase, Brown announced. The move allows officials to release resources that are no longer needed and allow search operations to slow to a safer pace, he said.</p>
<p>The storm sent flash floods cascading through mountain slopes that were burned bare by a huge wildfire in December. Workers used backhoes, jackhammers and chain saws to clear away masses of mud, boulders and toppled trees.</p>
<p>Crews have made it a priority to clear out debris basins and creek canals before another rainstorm. Long-range forecasts gave the crews about a week before the next chance of rain — and potential new mudslides — although the precipitation was expected to be disorganized and light. Another system was possible two days later.</p>
<p>The mudslides on Jan. 9 ravaged the tony community, destroying at least 65 homes and damaging more than 460 others, officials said. They also forced the indefinite shutdown of U.S. 101, the only major freeway between Santa Barbara and points east.</p>
<p>The rest of the community's infrastructure also was damaged. Some streets were cracked in half, and authorities closed bridges and overpasses because they were unstable. Amtrak said it was adding rail cars to each of its five daily roundtrip trains between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara to accommodate commuters grappling with the ongoing closure of U.S. 101.</p>
<p>But despite the damage in the neighborhood, Montecito residents still have hope their community will recover.</p>
<p>"They're exhausted but they find ways to try to live life as normally as they can," Williams said.</p>
<p>Sutthithepa, whose body was discovered Saturday, immigrated from Thailand, leaving behind his wife and two children but sending them money for years until he could bring them to the United States, a friend, Poy Sayavongs, told the Lee Central Coast News.</p>
<p>"They finally were able to make it to the states in the summer of 2016," Sayavongs said. "It's cruel — they only had a short time together before this tragedy struck."</p>
<p>A month earlier, the family had evacuated to a Red Cross shelter for a night as a devastating wildfire that went on to blacken nearby mountains threatened their home and many others.</p>
<p>More than 2,000 searchers and recovery workers have remained in the community, carrying out backbreaking work in the summerlike weather that has made the stretch of Santa Barbara County coast about 90 miles (145 kilometers) northwest of Los Angeles a haven for the wealthy, celebrities and tourists.</p>
<p>Much of the community of about 9,000 residents remained under mandatory evacuation orders, even unscathed areas, as crews removed debris and worked to restore water, sanitation, power and gas. There was no timeline for allowing residents to return, Assemblywoman Monique Limon said.</p>
<p>Limon, a Democrat, said she's working with other legislators to address concerns about flood and fire insurance and issues with emergency cellphone alerts.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Associated Press writer Christopher Weber contributed to this report from Los Angeles.</p>
| false | 2 |
montecito calif ap thousands people gathered sunday night candlelight vigil pay tribute 20 people killed mudslides ravaged southern california community tears shed hugs prayers shared emotional service outside santa barbara county courthouse mourners lit prayer candles left flowers makeshift memorial victims tonight need mourn santa barbara county supervisor das williams said breathtakingly horrible community going something never gone vigil included family 30yearold pinit sutthithepa whose body discovered saturday afternoon 2yearold daughter lydia remained missing 6yearold son peerawat nicknamed pasta 79yearold fatherinlaw richard loring taylor also killed mudslides family members said distraught speak family one several lost multiple family members santa barbara county sheriff bill brown said know suffering knew loved victims immense list still missing mudslides shrunk four churches montecito evacuation area many worshippers attended services nearby towns sunday church santa barbara carried flowers lit candles prayed families lost loved ones victims friends neighbors said whole community devastated hannah miller said trinity episcopal church isnt anyone doesnt know someone affected disaster truly awful pray find poor missing people disaster area firefighters went door door check structural stability houses damaged powerful rainstorm preceded mudslides scoured whats left toppled homes mangled cars searched missing dont know im scared mother nature right santa barbara mayor cathy murillo told attendees vigil search rescue operations ended sunday authorities transitioned search recovery phase brown announced move allows officials release resources longer needed allow search operations slow safer pace said storm sent flash floods cascading mountain slopes burned bare huge wildfire december workers used backhoes jackhammers chain saws clear away masses mud boulders toppled trees crews made priority clear debris basins creek canals another rainstorm longrange forecasts gave crews week next chance rain potential new mudslides although precipitation expected disorganized light another system possible two days later mudslides jan 9 ravaged tony community destroying least 65 homes damaging 460 others officials said also forced indefinite shutdown us 101 major freeway santa barbara points east rest communitys infrastructure also damaged streets cracked half authorities closed bridges overpasses unstable amtrak said adding rail cars five daily roundtrip trains los angeles santa barbara accommodate commuters grappling ongoing closure us 101 despite damage neighborhood montecito residents still hope community recover theyre exhausted find ways try live life normally williams said sutthithepa whose body discovered saturday immigrated thailand leaving behind wife two children sending money years could bring united states friend poy sayavongs told lee central coast news finally able make states summer 2016 sayavongs said cruel short time together tragedy struck month earlier family evacuated red cross shelter night devastating wildfire went blacken nearby mountains threatened home many others 2000 searchers recovery workers remained community carrying backbreaking work summerlike weather made stretch santa barbara county coast 90 miles 145 kilometers northwest los angeles wealthy celebrities tourists much community 9000 residents remained mandatory evacuation orders even unscathed areas crews removed debris worked restore water sanitation power gas timeline allowing residents return assemblywoman monique limon said limon democrat said shes working legislators address concerns flood fire insurance issues emergency cellphone alerts ___ associated press writer christopher weber contributed report los angeles montecito calif ap thousands people gathered sunday night candlelight vigil pay tribute 20 people killed mudslides ravaged southern california community tears shed hugs prayers shared emotional service outside santa barbara county courthouse mourners lit prayer candles left flowers makeshift memorial victims tonight need mourn santa barbara county supervisor das williams said breathtakingly horrible community going something never gone vigil included family 30yearold pinit sutthithepa whose body discovered saturday afternoon 2yearold daughter lydia remained missing 6yearold son peerawat nicknamed pasta 79yearold fatherinlaw richard loring taylor also killed mudslides family members said distraught speak family one several lost multiple family members santa barbara county sheriff bill brown said know suffering knew loved victims immense list still missing mudslides shrunk four churches montecito evacuation area many worshippers attended services nearby towns sunday church santa barbara carried flowers lit candles prayed families lost loved ones victims friends neighbors said whole community devastated hannah miller said trinity episcopal church isnt anyone doesnt know someone affected disaster truly awful pray find poor missing people disaster area firefighters went door door check structural stability houses damaged powerful rainstorm preceded mudslides scoured whats left toppled homes mangled cars searched missing dont know im scared mother nature right santa barbara mayor cathy murillo told attendees vigil search rescue operations ended sunday authorities transitioned search recovery phase brown announced move allows officials release resources longer needed allow search operations slow safer pace said storm sent flash floods cascading mountain slopes burned bare huge wildfire december workers used backhoes jackhammers chain saws clear away masses mud boulders toppled trees crews made priority clear debris basins creek canals another rainstorm longrange forecasts gave crews week next chance rain potential new mudslides although precipitation expected disorganized light another system possible two days later mudslides jan 9 ravaged tony community destroying least 65 homes damaging 460 others officials said also forced indefinite shutdown us 101 major freeway santa barbara points east rest communitys infrastructure also damaged streets cracked half authorities closed bridges overpasses unstable amtrak said adding rail cars five daily roundtrip trains los angeles santa barbara accommodate commuters grappling ongoing closure us 101 despite damage neighborhood montecito residents still hope community recover theyre exhausted find ways try live life normally williams said sutthithepa whose body discovered saturday immigrated thailand leaving behind wife two children sending money years could bring united states friend poy sayavongs told lee central coast news finally able make states summer 2016 sayavongs said cruel short time together tragedy struck month earlier family evacuated red cross shelter night devastating wildfire went blacken nearby mountains threatened home many others 2000 searchers recovery workers remained community carrying backbreaking work summerlike weather made stretch santa barbara county coast 90 miles 145 kilometers northwest los angeles wealthy celebrities tourists much community 9000 residents remained mandatory evacuation orders even unscathed areas crews removed debris worked restore water sanitation power gas timeline allowing residents return assemblywoman monique limon said limon democrat said shes working legislators address concerns flood fire insurance issues emergency cellphone alerts ___ associated press writer christopher weber contributed report los angeles
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<p />
<p>How well do you trust your gut instincts? The gut can be a powerful guide once you learn what these feelings are telling you and when to listen. It turns out you should also pay close attention to other happenings in the gut. There is a lot going on in there that not only impact thoughts and behavior, but overall health.</p>
<p>Of course, there is the critical job of digestion and elimination. When these inner workings run smoothly, you are happily unaware. When they don’t, it can be burdensome.</p>
<p>According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, up to 70 million Americans suffer from a wide spectrum of digestive disorders ranging from chronic constipation to diverticular disease. Without a thriving root system, health is compromised.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>The lining of the intestines provides a protective barrier, which means disturbances here can lead to disturbances elsewhere. Optimal health begins in the gut, and yet we’ve just recently begun to understand the depth of this.</p>
<p>The gut has a mind of its own. Nicknamed “the second brain,” the hard-working gut is home to the enteric nervous system. It’s highly wired to your brain, with most messages traveling upward. The gut-brain connection skims the surface of the impact the gut has on overall well-being.</p>
<p>Meet your microbiota</p>
<p>You share your body with about 100 trillion bacteria, the majority taking up residence in your intestines. Microbial cells outnumber human ones, 10 to 1. So, in reality, you are walking around with more microbial genes than human ones. What’s your gut reaction to that?</p>
<p>It is this microbiome, or the genes of these microbial species, that scientists are beginning to map and study. The American Gut Project allows you to find out what unique microbes are in your gut. This open-access effort seeks to shape a new way of understanding how diet and lifestyle influence the microbiota and how this internal community contributes to health and disease.</p>
<p>Beneficial gut bacteria have all sorts of important jobs, from helping to digest the food you eat to boosting immunity. The gut constitutes about 70 percent of the immune system, providing an army of bacteria that stands guard against harmful invaders. These soldiers also communicate with the gut’s nervous system cells and play a role in nurturing the intestinal lining.</p>
<p>When the integrity of this gut barrier is compromised, tight junctions between its cells loosen, allowing intruders in. This triggers an immune response, a firestorm of inflammation and potential disease if a leaky gut goes unresolved. Imbalance and loss of diversity – not enough of the good bacteria, too much of the wrong – may increase risk for infection, chronic disease, depression, even influence weight. It might also play a role in the increase in autoimmune disorders.</p>
<p>Many factors disrupt the microbiota, including food sensitivity or allergy, stress, antibiotics and the monoculture Standard American Diet. High in added sugars and low in fiber, swiftly absorbed foods don’t feed beneficial gut bacteria (probiotics).</p>
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<p>Restore your gut flora</p>
<p>It appears possible to cultivate a healthier microbiota by modifying your diet. Foods naturally rich in probiotics contain the beneficial bacteria that reside in your gut. Eating these live cultures, particularly species of Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli, can influence your gut community. To obtain more probiotics, eat fermented foods several times a week, like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi and tempeh (see recipe). Use miso, a fermented soy paste, in soup, salad dressing and sauces.</p>
<p>Prebiotics are “food” for probiotics, promoting their growth in gut. Beta-glucan, a soluble fiber in oats, is one example. Other prebiotic-rich foods include onions, leeks, garlic, bananas, asparagus, artichokes, honey and whole grains.</p>
<p>Fiber is fuel for gut bacteria. They break down carbohydrates we can’t digest and in the process produce short-chain fatty acids that nourish the cells lining the gut. The less a food is processed, the more it feeds your gut. Good sources of fiber-rich carbohydrates to eat daily include vegetables and fruit, beans and lentils, and whole grains.</p>
<p>Different types of fiber nourish different resident bacterial species. Therefore, eating a diet that provides a variety of whole plant foods seems to be the surest way to promote a richly diverse microbiota. But, everyone’s gut is different and if you deal with digestive issues a tailored eating approach is advised. Partner with your health-care provider and a dietitian to determine which foods are best for you.</p>
<p>Discovering how the foods we eat influence our microbiota and how these bugs contribute to human health is fascinating research that suggests relying on our “gut feelings” makes more sense than we may realize.</p>
<p>Tempeh Sandwich</p>
<p>Serves 4</p>
<p>1 pound block of tempeh</p>
<p>2 teaspoons cumin</p>
<p>1 teaspoon chipotle chile powder (or red chile)</p>
<p>1-2 tablespoons olive or safflower oil</p>
<p>1 yellow onion, sliced</p>
<p>Sliced cheese of choice</p>
<p>8 slices sourdough bread</p>
<p>Whole seed Dijon mustard</p>
<p>Salt and pepper, to taste</p>
<p>Sauerkraut (optional)</p>
<p>Slice each block of tempeh in half horizontally, and then slice each piece in half. Steam for about 10 minutes over water or broth.</p>
<p>In a bowl, mix cumin, chile powder and oil. Add steamed tempeh and mix to coat well. Set aside.</p>
<p>In a medium skillet, heat oil over medium high heat. Add onions, and stir to caramelize, about 15 minutes.</p>
<p>Heat a large pan over medium high heat. Add tempeh and cook until golden brown on both sides, about 5 minutes each side. Remove from heat.</p>
<p>Spread bread slices with mustard. Place tempeh, cheese slice and onions on bread to finish sandwiches.</p>
<p>COOK’S NOTE: Tempeh, a fermented soy patty, is a new food for many people. So I recommend starting with a simple sandwich. Pair it with sauerkraut and potato leek soup for a gut-nourishing meal. Tempeh is typically found next to tofu in the refrigerated section of stores.</p>
<p>Jennie McCary, M.S., R.D., L.D., is a registered dietitian practicing in worksite wellness and family nutrition. She is a member of the New Mexico Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Send questions and comments to <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a> or <a href="" type="internal">[email protected]</a>.</p>
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well trust gut instincts gut powerful guide learn feelings telling listen turns also pay close attention happenings gut lot going impact thoughts behavior overall health course critical job digestion elimination inner workings run smoothly happily unaware dont burdensome according national institute diabetes digestive kidney diseases 70 million americans suffer wide spectrum digestive disorders ranging chronic constipation diverticular disease without thriving root system health compromised advertisement lining intestines provides protective barrier means disturbances lead disturbances elsewhere optimal health begins gut yet weve recently begun understand depth gut mind nicknamed second brain hardworking gut home enteric nervous system highly wired brain messages traveling upward gutbrain connection skims surface impact gut overall wellbeing meet microbiota share body 100 trillion bacteria majority taking residence intestines microbial cells outnumber human ones 10 1 reality walking around microbial genes human ones whats gut reaction microbiome genes microbial species scientists beginning map study american gut project allows find unique microbes gut openaccess effort seeks shape new way understanding diet lifestyle influence microbiota internal community contributes health disease beneficial gut bacteria sorts important jobs helping digest food eat boosting immunity gut constitutes 70 percent immune system providing army bacteria stands guard harmful invaders soldiers also communicate guts nervous system cells play role nurturing intestinal lining integrity gut barrier compromised tight junctions cells loosen allowing intruders triggers immune response firestorm inflammation potential disease leaky gut goes unresolved imbalance loss diversity enough good bacteria much wrong may increase risk infection chronic disease depression even influence weight might also play role increase autoimmune disorders many factors disrupt microbiota including food sensitivity allergy stress antibiotics monoculture standard american diet high added sugars low fiber swiftly absorbed foods dont feed beneficial gut bacteria probiotics advertisement restore gut flora appears possible cultivate healthier microbiota modifying diet foods naturally rich probiotics contain beneficial bacteria reside gut eating live cultures particularly species bifidobacteria lactobacilli influence gut community obtain probiotics eat fermented foods several times week like yogurt kefir sauerkraut kimchi tempeh see recipe use miso fermented soy paste soup salad dressing sauces prebiotics food probiotics promoting growth gut betaglucan soluble fiber oats one example prebioticrich foods include onions leeks garlic bananas asparagus artichokes honey whole grains fiber fuel gut bacteria break carbohydrates cant digest process produce shortchain fatty acids nourish cells lining gut less food processed feeds gut good sources fiberrich carbohydrates eat daily include vegetables fruit beans lentils whole grains different types fiber nourish different resident bacterial species therefore eating diet provides variety whole plant foods seems surest way promote richly diverse microbiota everyones gut different deal digestive issues tailored eating approach advised partner healthcare provider dietitian determine foods best discovering foods eat influence microbiota bugs contribute human health fascinating research suggests relying gut feelings makes sense may realize tempeh sandwich serves 4 1 pound block tempeh 2 teaspoons cumin 1 teaspoon chipotle chile powder red chile 12 tablespoons olive safflower oil 1 yellow onion sliced sliced cheese choice 8 slices sourdough bread whole seed dijon mustard salt pepper taste sauerkraut optional slice block tempeh half horizontally slice piece half steam 10 minutes water broth bowl mix cumin chile powder oil add steamed tempeh mix coat well set aside medium skillet heat oil medium high heat add onions stir caramelize 15 minutes heat large pan medium high heat add tempeh cook golden brown sides 5 minutes side remove heat spread bread slices mustard place tempeh cheese slice onions bread finish sandwiches cooks note tempeh fermented soy patty new food many people recommend starting simple sandwich pair sauerkraut potato leek soup gutnourishing meal tempeh typically found next tofu refrigerated section stores jennie mccary ms rd ld registered dietitian practicing worksite wellness family nutrition member new mexico academy nutrition dietetics send questions comments jmmccarygmailcom featuresabqjournalcom
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<p>In four separate TV spots Republican Sen. Jim Talent of Missouri&#160;falsely attributes several&#160;unflattering&#160;quotes about his opponent to the Kansas City Star. Our examination reveals that the quotes actually come from rival Claire McCaskill’s political opponents and critics, not&#160;from the Star’s reporters or editors.</p>
<p>In&#160;another case, where a Talent ad uses a&#160;phrase that actually did come from a newspaper, it is out of context and misleading. The&#160;negative remark was in a&#160;St. Louis Post-Dispatch&#160;editorial that was&#160;endorsing McCaskill for election.</p>
<p>Political campaigns often quote newspaper stories and editorials because voters tend to give them greater weight than the self-interested statements of office seekers. There’s nothing&#160;misleading about&#160;that&#160;if the quotes are accurate, in context and properly attributed. But these Talent ads deceive voters by misappropriating the newspapers’ credibility.</p>
<p>The four ads in question are titled “Certain,” “Fighting for Seniors,” “Failed Seniors 1,” and “Failed Seniors 2;” all released over the past three weeks.&#160;Throughout these ads fragmentary quotes about McCaskill appear, superimposed over the banner of the Kansas City Star. The quotes&#160;include: “spreading untruths,” “exaggerating,” “false,” “embellished” and “clearly violated ethical standards.” But none of these were the words of the Star’s reporters or editors.</p>
<p>We were able to document the Talent ads’ deception using a database search of the Star’s news reports and editorials, despite the fact that the ads give no dates for most of the supposed quotes. The&#160;Talent campaign did not respond to our repeated requests over several days to document the source of the quotes.</p>
<p />
<p>This quote is shown in two ads. Neither gives a date. However, our database search found only one&#160;Star&#160;story naming McCaskill in which the phrase “spreading untruths” appears. That is a March 14, 2004 article, in which the&#160;Star quotes complaints about McCaskill from a political opponent, then-Lt. Gov. Joe Maxwell, who was chairman of the re-election campaign of then-Gov. Bob Holden, who McCaskill was challenging in the Democratic primary. (She went on to win the nomination but lose in the general election.) McCaskill, the state auditor, had issued a critical audit of the state’s prescription drug plan. “I will not stand by and allow you to demean this prescription benefit by spreading untruths.” The Star reported&#160;Maxwell’s statement and McCaskill’s rebuttal without any comment of&#160;its own.</p>
<p />
<p>This&#160;quote is used five times in the four ads. Only once is the date given:&#160;July 17, 2004.&#160;The article is a profile of McCaskill, and contains the sentence:&#160;“Critics accuse McCaskill of sometimes exaggerating her audit results.” The ad falsely implies that the words are the newspaper’s judgment of McCaskill, rather than unnamed “critics.” The article goes on to quote one of those critics, her political opponent Maxwell.</p>
<p>These two words are quoted together in the most recent Talent ad and “embellish” appears in a second ad on its own. Neither ad gives a date&#160;for the quotes. However,&#160;in the same&#160;July 17 profile&#160;just mentioned, the Star quotes Maxwell&#160;– him again&#160;– as&#160;saying her comments on&#160;the state drug plan&#160;“not only embellish the audit, they are downright false.” Maxwell’s statement also was quoted&#160;in the earlier March 14 Star article&#160;as well, but we found no instance in which the Star&#160; itself used those words to describe McCaskill, either in a news report or an editorial.</p>
<p>One ad says that “The Kansas City Star wrote that as Jackson County Prosecutor, McCaskill violated ethical standards, and misled a Special Prosecutor investigating drug use by her employees.” That’s false.&#160;The Star reached no such conclusions.</p>
<p>The words are based on a June 29, 2004 article in the&#160;Star&#160; reporting on an investigation by a special prosecutor into the handling of a drug case by McCaskill’s office in the early 1990’s. The special prosecutor cleared McCaskill of obstructing the investigation of an underling, saying&#160; her behavior “does not demonstrate, in my opinion, an intent to obstruct an investigation but rather misplaced trust.”&#160;However, the Star contacted a Pace University law professor, Bennett Gershman, who offered a dissenting view, saying “she clearly violated ethical standards for attorneys and prosecutors” by communicating with a staffer who was under investigation.</p>
<p>One Talent ad uses a newspaper quote that is properly attributed, but naked of context. It quotes a July 25, 2004 editorial in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch&#160;as saying McCaskill&#160;“Used this office transparently for political gain.”&#160;Not mentioned is that the&#160;words are taken&#160;from an otherwise&#160;positive endorsement of&#160;McCaskill in her 2004 race for governor:</p>
<p>Post-Dispatch: As&#160;state auditor, she has emphasized performance audits that look beyond just dollars and cents to see how&#160;effectively state offices work. Ms. McCaskill has used this office transparently for political gain and sometimes overstated the potential financial savings of an audit finding. But the job gives her a good idea of where the state can save money.</p>
<p>The Post-Dispatch also praised McCaskill’s “unbridled drive, sheer determination, and intellectual energy,” and called her&#160;a&#160;“promising and dynamic leader.”</p>
<p>Another Talent ad uses the words “The situation is worse”&#160;to describe conditions in nursing homes. The words are again attributed to the Star, but actually come from McCaskill herself. Furthermore, she was criticizing the&#160;handling of nursing-home inspections&#160;under&#160;Republican Gov. Matt Blunt, and not her own performance as auditor. In a&#160;Sept. 15, 2006 Kansas City Star article, describing what her latest audit of nursing-home inspections&#160;had found, she says:</p>
<p>McCaskill: What is depressing today is not only have we not made&#160;progress, but the situation is worse that it was when the first audit was released in 2000.</p>
<p>McCaskill&#160;concluded that state officials were not inspecting nursing homes frequently enough, and that inspections had&#160;declined&#160;since&#160;her earlier&#160;audit in 2003&#160;had found improvement.</p>
<p>The Talent campaign ends two of the ads with the tagline, “but there’s more to the story.”&#160;We find that&#160;“the story” so far has been filled with misinformation.</p>
<p>Watch Talent Ad: “Failed Seniors”</p>
<p>&lt;iframe style="width: 500px; height:300px;" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen src="https://video.factcheck.org/play/legacy-241-1"&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;</p>
<p>Watch Talent Ad: “Failed Seniors 2”</p>
<p>&lt;iframe style="width: 500px; height:300px;" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen src="https://video.factcheck.org/play/legacy-241-2"&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;</p>
<p>Watch Talent Ad: “Fighting for Seniors”</p>
<p>&lt;iframe style="width: 500px; height:300px;" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen src="https://video.factcheck.org/play/legacy-241-3"&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;</p>
<p>Watch Talent Ad: “Certain”</p>
<p>&lt;iframe style="width: 500px; height:300px;" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen src="https://video.factcheck.org/play/legacy-241-4"&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;</p>
<p>Hood, Rich, “Ready, Fire, Aim,” Kansas City Star. 1 Oct. 2000.</p>
<p>Lambre, Joe, “Civility takes a blow in prosecutor race,” Kansas City Star. 31 Oct. 1992.</p>
<p>Lambre, Joe, “McCaskill urges rural development,” Kansas City Star 15 June 2004.</p>
<p>McGraw, Mike, “Report on McCaskill leaves questions: She says she never interferred in drug case involving friend,” Kansas City Star. 29 June 2004.</p>
<p>Murphy, Kevin, “State Audit faults Missouri nursing home inspections,” Kansas City Star. 15 Sept. 2006.</p>
<p>Wagar, Kit and Hoover, Tim, “Democrats fighting over who’s better for seniors,” Kansas City Star. 14 March 2004.</p>
<p>Wagar, Kit, “Audits are road map for candidate,” Kansas City Star. 17 July 2004.</p>
<p>Young, Virginia, “Missouri nursing home reviews lacking, audit finds,” St Louis Post-Dispatch. 14 Sept. 2006.</p>
<p>“For Governor 2004,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch. 25 July 2004.</p>
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four separate tv spots republican sen jim talent missouri160falsely attributes several160unflattering160quotes opponent kansas city star examination reveals quotes actually come rival claire mccaskills political opponents critics not160from stars reporters editors in160another case talent ad uses a160phrase actually come newspaper context misleading the160negative remark a160st louis postdispatch160editorial was160endorsing mccaskill election political campaigns often quote newspaper stories editorials voters tend give greater weight selfinterested statements office seekers theres nothing160misleading about160that160if quotes accurate context properly attributed talent ads deceive voters misappropriating newspapers credibility four ads question titled certain fighting seniors failed seniors 1 failed seniors 2 released past three weeks160throughout ads fragmentary quotes mccaskill appear superimposed banner kansas city star quotes160include spreading untruths exaggerating false embellished clearly violated ethical standards none words stars reporters editors able document talent ads deception using database search stars news reports editorials despite fact ads give dates supposed quotes the160talent campaign respond repeated requests several days document source quotes quote shown two ads neither gives date however database search found one160star160story naming mccaskill phrase spreading untruths appears march 14 2004 article the160star quotes complaints mccaskill political opponent thenlt gov joe maxwell chairman reelection campaign thengov bob holden mccaskill challenging democratic primary went win nomination lose general election mccaskill state auditor issued critical audit states prescription drug plan stand allow demean prescription benefit spreading untruths star reported160maxwells statement mccaskills rebuttal without comment of160its this160quote used five times four ads date given160july 17 2004160the article profile mccaskill contains sentence160critics accuse mccaskill sometimes exaggerating audit results ad falsely implies words newspapers judgment mccaskill rather unnamed critics article goes quote one critics political opponent maxwell two words quoted together recent talent ad embellish appears second ad neither ad gives date160for quotes however160in same160july 17 profile160just mentioned star quotes maxwell160 again160 as160saying comments on160the state drug plan160not embellish audit downright false maxwells statement also quoted160in earlier march 14 star article160as well found instance star160 used words describe mccaskill either news report editorial one ad says kansas city star wrote jackson county prosecutor mccaskill violated ethical standards misled special prosecutor investigating drug use employees thats false160the star reached conclusions words based june 29 2004 article the160star160 reporting investigation special prosecutor handling drug case mccaskills office early 1990s special prosecutor cleared mccaskill obstructing investigation underling saying160 behavior demonstrate opinion intent obstruct investigation rather misplaced trust160however star contacted pace university law professor bennett gershman offered dissenting view saying clearly violated ethical standards attorneys prosecutors communicating staffer investigation one talent ad uses newspaper quote properly attributed naked context quotes july 25 2004 editorial st louis postdispatch160as saying mccaskill160used office transparently political gain160not mentioned the160words taken160from otherwise160positive endorsement of160mccaskill 2004 race governor postdispatch as160state auditor emphasized performance audits look beyond dollars cents see how160effectively state offices work ms mccaskill used office transparently political gain sometimes overstated potential financial savings audit finding job gives good idea state save money postdispatch also praised mccaskills unbridled drive sheer determination intellectual energy called her160a160promising dynamic leader another talent ad uses words situation worse160to describe conditions nursing homes words attributed star actually come mccaskill furthermore criticizing the160handling nursinghome inspections160under160republican gov matt blunt performance auditor a160sept 15 2006 kansas city star article describing latest audit nursinghome inspections160had found says mccaskill depressing today made160progress situation worse first audit released 2000 mccaskill160concluded state officials inspecting nursing homes frequently enough inspections had160declined160since160her earlier160audit 2003160had found improvement talent campaign ends two ads tagline theres story160we find that160the story far filled misinformation watch talent ad failed seniors ltiframe stylewidth 500px height300px frameborder0 allowfullscreen srchttpsvideofactcheckorgplaylegacy2411gtltiframegt watch talent ad failed seniors 2 ltiframe stylewidth 500px height300px frameborder0 allowfullscreen srchttpsvideofactcheckorgplaylegacy2412gtltiframegt watch talent ad fighting seniors ltiframe stylewidth 500px height300px frameborder0 allowfullscreen srchttpsvideofactcheckorgplaylegacy2413gtltiframegt watch talent ad certain ltiframe stylewidth 500px height300px frameborder0 allowfullscreen srchttpsvideofactcheckorgplaylegacy2414gtltiframegt hood rich ready fire aim kansas city star 1 oct 2000 lambre joe civility takes blow prosecutor race kansas city star 31 oct 1992 lambre joe mccaskill urges rural development kansas city star 15 june 2004 mcgraw mike report mccaskill leaves questions says never interferred drug case involving friend kansas city star 29 june 2004 murphy kevin state audit faults missouri nursing home inspections kansas city star 15 sept 2006 wagar kit hoover tim democrats fighting whos better seniors kansas city star 14 march 2004 wagar kit audits road map candidate kansas city star 17 july 2004 young virginia missouri nursing home reviews lacking audit finds st louis postdispatch 14 sept 2006 governor 2004 st louis postdispatch 25 july 2004
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<p>PHOENIX — An undercover FBI agent who was investigating terrorism was driving past two Arizona men just before they opened fire outside a Prophet Muhammad cartoon contest in suburban Dallas in 2015, court records show, raising questions about whether authorities could have done more to stop the attack.</p>
<p>The records emerged in the criminal case against Abdul Malik Abdul Kareem, a Phoenix man who was sentenced this week to 30 years in prison on criminal convictions that included providing support to the Islamic State group. The Associated Press assembled a timeline of the agent’s involvement through court records and interviews that show how the FBI was at the scene of an attack by Islamic State sympathizers.</p>
<p>Two of Kareem’s friends, Elton Simpson and Nadir Soofi, were armed with semi-automatic weapons, body armor and had a copy of the Islamic State flag when they arrived at the anti-Islam event in 2015. Investigators say Kareem had trained them on how to use the weapons and watched jihadist videos with them. He was one of the first people brought to trial in the U.S. on charges related to Islamic State.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Kareem wasn’t at the event in Garland, Texas, but the FBI was. Court records also show that the unidentified FBI agent was in contact with one of the gunmen days before the attack. In one social media exchange, the officer told Simpson, in a bid to keep the conversation going, “Tear up Texas.” The two attackers were killed in a shootout with police assigned to patrol the event, and a security guard was wounded.</p>
<p>The fact that there was an FBI agent at the contest in Texas who was in contact with Simpson has drawn criticism from Kareem’s lawyer and the security guard’s lawyer. They say the government has not been forthcoming about the agent’s role in the plot and have questions why the agency didn’t break up the plot.</p>
<p>“We are convinced that there is much more to this story than the FBI has admitted ,” said Trenton Roberts, an attorney for security guard Bruce Joiner.</p>
<p>The FBI declined to comment on whether the agency believed beforehand that Simpson and Soofi would launch an attack and on Kareem’s claim that the agent’s presence wasn’t revealed to avoid embarrassment. The Garland Police Department also declined to comment.</p>
<p>Kareem’s attorney cited the agent’s presence outside the event in requesting a new trial. A judge who rejected the request noted that Simpson didn’t reveal to the agent that he wanted to go to Texas to launch an attack.</p>
<p>The agent had been sitting in a vehicle outside the Garland convention center just as events wrapped up at the cartoon contest.</p>
<p>A dark sedan in front of the agent made an abrupt stop. As the agent drove around the car, two men with an Islamic State flag, wearing body armor and carrying military-style rifles, got out and opened fire.</p>
<p>The agent drove away and was later stopped by police. The two men were killed in a shootout with law enforcement assigned to guard the controversial event, and the security guard was shot in the leg.</p>
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<p>The agent’s presence at the contest wasn’t publicly revealed until 15 months later and has raised questions about whether authorities could have done more to stop the attack.</p>
<p>There was no mention at Kareem’s trial last year that an undercover agent witnessed the shooting and had exchanged social media messages with one of the men days before the attack.</p>
<p>The agent’s presence at the event was first revealed in August in court records in a criminal case in Cleveland against Erick Jamal Hendricks, a North Carolina man accused of trying to recruit people to join Islamic State.</p>
<p>Hendricks says he had been paid by the FBI since 2009 to help identify potential terrorists. He has pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiring to provide material support to the Islamic State.</p>
<p>More details emerged in December in court records in Kareem’s case, revealing for the first time the officer’s proximity to the shooters.</p>
<p>Kareem’s attorney said in court records that Hendricks put the undercover agent into contact with Simpson about 10 days before the attack. In one encounter with the agent, Simpson, who had a prior terrorism-related conviction, referred to the upcoming contest in Texas.</p>
<p>On the day of the attack, the agent communicated with Hendricks while the agent was outside the convention center. Hendricks asked about the size of the crowd, whether snipers were present and other questions, according to records.</p>
<p>The agent, according to an FBI record filed in Kareem’s case, snapped two photos from the convention center parking lot moments before the shooting. One shows a police officer and another person standing in the distance near a tree. The second image was taken less than 30 seconds before the shooting.</p>
<p>An estimated 25 to 30 officers were at the contest in Garland. Snipers were posted in nearby buildings, and officers stood guard in parking lots and drove around the convention center on motorcycles looking for anything suspicious.</p>
<p>In the days after the shooting, FBI Director James Comey said federal investigators learned only hours before the contest that a man under investigation for extremist activities might show up at the contest and alerted local authorities. Comey also said investigators had no indication that the man planned to attack the event.</p>
<p>Daniel Maynard, an attorney for Kareem, said in court records that the government hasn’t explained the agent’s presence at the contest. Maynard said the agent did little to stop the attack, according to court records.</p>
<p>Much of the evidence about the agent supports his client’s view that “this was not an unbiased investigation by the FBI to determine the truth, but a rush to judgment to get a conviction and to cover up the FBI’s own ineptness and misdeeds,” Maynard wrote.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Follow Jacques Billeaud at twitter.com/jacquesbilleaud. His work can be found at https://www.apnews.com/search/jacques%20billeaud.</p>
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phoenix undercover fbi agent investigating terrorism driving past two arizona men opened fire outside prophet muhammad cartoon contest suburban dallas 2015 court records show raising questions whether authorities could done stop attack records emerged criminal case abdul malik abdul kareem phoenix man sentenced week 30 years prison criminal convictions included providing support islamic state group associated press assembled timeline agents involvement court records interviews show fbi scene attack islamic state sympathizers two kareems friends elton simpson nadir soofi armed semiautomatic weapons body armor copy islamic state flag arrived antiislam event 2015 investigators say kareem trained use weapons watched jihadist videos one first people brought trial us charges related islamic state advertisement kareem wasnt event garland texas fbi court records also show unidentified fbi agent contact one gunmen days attack one social media exchange officer told simpson bid keep conversation going tear texas two attackers killed shootout police assigned patrol event security guard wounded fact fbi agent contest texas contact simpson drawn criticism kareems lawyer security guards lawyer say government forthcoming agents role plot questions agency didnt break plot convinced much story fbi admitted said trenton roberts attorney security guard bruce joiner fbi declined comment whether agency believed beforehand simpson soofi would launch attack kareems claim agents presence wasnt revealed avoid embarrassment garland police department also declined comment kareems attorney cited agents presence outside event requesting new trial judge rejected request noted simpson didnt reveal agent wanted go texas launch attack agent sitting vehicle outside garland convention center events wrapped cartoon contest dark sedan front agent made abrupt stop agent drove around car two men islamic state flag wearing body armor carrying militarystyle rifles got opened fire agent drove away later stopped police two men killed shootout law enforcement assigned guard controversial event security guard shot leg advertisement agents presence contest wasnt publicly revealed 15 months later raised questions whether authorities could done stop attack mention kareems trial last year undercover agent witnessed shooting exchanged social media messages one men days attack agents presence event first revealed august court records criminal case cleveland erick jamal hendricks north carolina man accused trying recruit people join islamic state hendricks says paid fbi since 2009 help identify potential terrorists pleaded guilty charges conspiring provide material support islamic state details emerged december court records kareems case revealing first time officers proximity shooters kareems attorney said court records hendricks put undercover agent contact simpson 10 days attack one encounter agent simpson prior terrorismrelated conviction referred upcoming contest texas day attack agent communicated hendricks agent outside convention center hendricks asked size crowd whether snipers present questions according records agent according fbi record filed kareems case snapped two photos convention center parking lot moments shooting one shows police officer another person standing distance near tree second image taken less 30 seconds shooting estimated 25 30 officers contest garland snipers posted nearby buildings officers stood guard parking lots drove around convention center motorcycles looking anything suspicious days shooting fbi director james comey said federal investigators learned hours contest man investigation extremist activities might show contest alerted local authorities comey also said investigators indication man planned attack event daniel maynard attorney kareem said court records government hasnt explained agents presence contest maynard said agent little stop attack according court records much evidence agent supports clients view unbiased investigation fbi determine truth rush judgment get conviction cover fbis ineptness misdeeds maynard wrote ___ follow jacques billeaud twittercomjacquesbilleaud work found httpswwwapnewscomsearchjacques20billeaud
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<p>Duterte’s elevation to the presidency 3 1/2 months ago has already turned relations between Washington and Manila on their head. His courtship of Beijing could create further disruptions given the prospect of a long-standing U.S. treaty ally lining up with Washington’s key rival for influence in Asia.</p>
<p>Duterte was greeted by Foreign Minister Wang Yi on arrival at Beijing’s main airport on Tuesday evening. He was set to meet Thursday with Xi, Premier Li Keqiang and third-ranking official Zhang Dejiang, the head of the legislature.</p>
<p>“This is a historic visit and presents an opportunity for relations between China and the Philippines to restart on a fresh, more positive footing,” Wang told reporters earlier Tuesday. Duterte was due to return home on Friday.</p>
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<p>Under Duterte’s predecessor, Benigno Aquino III, the decades-old U.S.-Philippine alliance had flourished. A quarter-century after a wave of anti-U.S. nationalism forced the closure of American military bases in the Philippines, Manila was poised to allow more access for U.S. forces to counter an assertive China — an important boost for President Barack Obama’s “pivot” placing more emphasis on the Asia-Pacific.</p>
<p>Those gains now hang in the balance, although the Obama administration says it would welcome a reduction in the China-Philippine tensions that had spiraled over the disputed South China Sea, increasing the risk of a military conflict that could embroil the U.S., which has a mutual defense treaty with the Philippines.</p>
<p>“The prospect of the Philippines pulling out of a long stretch of very tense relations with Beijing is a desirable one,” Daniel Russel, top U.S. diplomat for East Asia, told reporters in Washington last week.</p>
<p>Although the U.S. and China are often portrayed as great powers vying for the loyalty of small nations in Asia, neither side wants a confrontation. But there’s uncertainty in Washington about where the talks between Duterte and Xi will lead.</p>
<p>In an interview last week with China’s state broadcaster, Duterte said he wasn’t looking to sever the historical connection with the U.S. “No, I am not breaking away. I just want to be friendly with everybody,” the president said in the interview, which was broadcast by CCTV on Wednesday.</p>
<p>The U.S. says it supports dialogue on territorial issues, so long as the Philippines sticks by a July ruling from an international tribunal in a case brought by Aquino’s administration that found that China’s sweeping claims in the South China Sea were invalid under a U.N. treaty.</p>
<p>“I do not believe that public opinion in the Philippines or the national interest of the Philippines would support the relinquishing of Philippine rights, territory or sovereignty, and I can’t imagine that is President Duterte’s intention,” Russel said.</p>
<p>If Manila were to sideline that ruling in reaching an accommodation with Beijing — perhaps with the prospect of increased access to fisheries or some other economic benefit — it would undermine what has been a sustained U.S. diplomatic effort to get the world to respect the tribunal ruling and for China to adhere to international law in seas crucial for trade.</p>
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<p>The U.S. advocacy for freedom of navigation and peaceful resolution of disputes has been a pillar of Obama’s outreach into Southeast Asia, where nations have looked to Washington to bolster its presence to counter China’s assertive behavior. The planned rotation of U.S. forces at five Philippine military bases, agreed by Aquino, was viewed as essential to that effort.</p>
<p>But Duterte’s outbursts against the U.S. have put in doubt future military cooperation. He has said that the Philippines is stopping joint military exercises and that he opposes joint patrols with the U.S. Navy in the South China Sea. He has also said he wants U.S. counterterrorism troops out of his country’s south and has criticized Obama and the U.S. ambassador in Manila in crude terms for condemning his bloody extrajudicial crackdown on drug dealers and users.</p>
<p>Administration officials say that the U.S. commitment to the alliance remains “ironclad” and that they have gotten no official notification about the removal of U.S. military assets and personnel.</p>
<p>Chinese officials have refrained from commenting on Duterte’s domestic program and say they expect Duterte’s visit to help build trust and place the territorial dispute back on their preferred bilateral track. Duterte has said he merely wants to obtain renewed access for Filipino fishermen to Scarborough Shoal, which China seized in 2012.</p>
<p>Both sides have played up the economic benefits of improved relations, with scores of Philippine business leaders accompanying Duterte and China considering financing billions of dollars in infrastructure projects.</p>
<p>Beijing would be happy to shelve the issue altogether, focusing instead on economic exchanges, say Chinese government-backed scholars.</p>
<p>“In general, the talks between Duterte and the Chinese leaders will focus on economic aid to the Philippines and the Chinese leaders will continue to stick to the dual-track thought in handling the South China Sea issue,” said Li Jinming, professor at the Institute for South China Sea Studies, Xiamen University.</p>
<p>The dual-track describes China’s approach of dealing with territorial disputes on a bilateral basis while negotiating a code of conduct to avoid confrontations with the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations.</p>
<p>Despite a lack of solid progress, China sees bilateral talks — without input from the U.S. or other parties it considers outsiders — as the only possible framework for discussing issues of sovereignty and avoiding disputes, said Zhao Gancheng, director of the Center for Asia-Pacific Studies at the Shanghai Institute for International Studies.</p>
<p>“No one expects an immediate solution to the territorial disputes and everyone knows the negotiations can last a long time. Therefore, the sovereignty issue will not be the focus during Duterte’s talks with the Chinese leader,” Zhao said.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Pennington reported from Washington.</p>
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dutertes elevation presidency 3 12 months ago already turned relations washington manila head courtship beijing could create disruptions given prospect longstanding us treaty ally lining washingtons key rival influence asia duterte greeted foreign minister wang yi arrival beijings main airport tuesday evening set meet thursday xi premier li keqiang thirdranking official zhang dejiang head legislature historic visit presents opportunity relations china philippines restart fresh positive footing wang told reporters earlier tuesday duterte due return home friday advertisement dutertes predecessor benigno aquino iii decadesold usphilippine alliance flourished quartercentury wave antius nationalism forced closure american military bases philippines manila poised allow access us forces counter assertive china important boost president barack obamas pivot placing emphasis asiapacific gains hang balance although obama administration says would welcome reduction chinaphilippine tensions spiraled disputed south china sea increasing risk military conflict could embroil us mutual defense treaty philippines prospect philippines pulling long stretch tense relations beijing desirable one daniel russel top us diplomat east asia told reporters washington last week although us china often portrayed great powers vying loyalty small nations asia neither side wants confrontation theres uncertainty washington talks duterte xi lead interview last week chinas state broadcaster duterte said wasnt looking sever historical connection us breaking away want friendly everybody president said interview broadcast cctv wednesday us says supports dialogue territorial issues long philippines sticks july ruling international tribunal case brought aquinos administration found chinas sweeping claims south china sea invalid un treaty believe public opinion philippines national interest philippines would support relinquishing philippine rights territory sovereignty cant imagine president dutertes intention russel said manila sideline ruling reaching accommodation beijing perhaps prospect increased access fisheries economic benefit would undermine sustained us diplomatic effort get world respect tribunal ruling china adhere international law seas crucial trade advertisement us advocacy freedom navigation peaceful resolution disputes pillar obamas outreach southeast asia nations looked washington bolster presence counter chinas assertive behavior planned rotation us forces five philippine military bases agreed aquino viewed essential effort dutertes outbursts us put doubt future military cooperation said philippines stopping joint military exercises opposes joint patrols us navy south china sea also said wants us counterterrorism troops countrys south criticized obama us ambassador manila crude terms condemning bloody extrajudicial crackdown drug dealers users administration officials say us commitment alliance remains ironclad gotten official notification removal us military assets personnel chinese officials refrained commenting dutertes domestic program say expect dutertes visit help build trust place territorial dispute back preferred bilateral track duterte said merely wants obtain renewed access filipino fishermen scarborough shoal china seized 2012 sides played economic benefits improved relations scores philippine business leaders accompanying duterte china considering financing billions dollars infrastructure projects beijing would happy shelve issue altogether focusing instead economic exchanges say chinese governmentbacked scholars general talks duterte chinese leaders focus economic aid philippines chinese leaders continue stick dualtrack thought handling south china sea issue said li jinming professor institute south china sea studies xiamen university dualtrack describes chinas approach dealing territorial disputes bilateral basis negotiating code conduct avoid confrontations 10member association southeast asian nations despite lack solid progress china sees bilateral talks without input us parties considers outsiders possible framework discussing issues sovereignty avoiding disputes said zhao gancheng director center asiapacific studies shanghai institute international studies one expects immediate solution territorial disputes everyone knows negotiations last long time therefore sovereignty issue focus dutertes talks chinese leader zhao said ___ pennington reported washington
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<p>A Russian serviceman checks for mines in Palmyra, Syria, on Friday. Russian combat engineers arrived in Syria on a mission to clear mines in the ancient town of Palmyra, which has been recaptured from Islamic State militants in an offensive that has proven Russia's military might in Syria despite a drawdown of its warplanes. (Source: Russian Defense Ministry Press Service)</p>
<p>DAMASCUS, Syria - Islamic State militants recaptured a vital border crossing in northern Syria and shot down a government warplane in the country's west Monday as the U.N.?s special envoy urged the warring parties to respect a fragile cease-fire ahead of peace talks set to resume in Geneva this week.</p>
<p>U.N. Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura's plea came amid stepped up fighting around the northern city of Aleppo, Syria's largest, and elsewhere in the country's northern and western provinces.</p>
<p>He spoke after meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem in Damascus in preparation for the talks, set to begin Wednesday in Geneva between the government and an umbrella opposition coalition backed by the U.S., Saudi Arabia, and other Western powers.</p>
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<p>De Mistura said he emphasized the importance "of protecting and maintaining and supporting the cessation of hostilities," describing it as fragile and stressing that all sides "need to make sure that it continues to be sustained."</p>
<p>The U.N. envoy said the talks would focus on a political transition for Syria, where the civil war, now in its sixth year, has killed 250,000 people and displaced half the country's pre-war population of 23 million people. About 4 million people have fled the country.</p>
<p>"We will be focusing in particular on political transition, on governance and constitutional principles," de Mistura said. "We hope and plan to make them constructive - and concrete."</p>
<p>Al-Moallem called for a dialogue "without preconditions," a reference to opposition demands that President Bashar Assad step down and be excluded from any transitional government. He said the government delegation would arrive Friday, two days after parliamentary elections are to be held in Syria. The vote - expected to be a rubber stamp of Assad loyalists - will only take place in government-controlled areas as the Damascus authorities are unable to organize any balloting in territory under rebel or Islamic State control.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, opposition activists reported clashes and government air raids near Aleppo, where rebel factions alongside al-Qaida's Syria affiliate, the Nusra Front, seized territory from the government earlier this month.</p>
<p>Russia's military announced Monday it would help the Syrian army battle back the Nusra Front, but "there is no plan to storm Aleppo."</p>
<p>Lt. Gen. Sergei Rudskoi of the military's general staff said Nusra has nearly 10,000 fighters southwest and north of Aleppo and plans to cut a strategic highway linking the city with the rest of the country. Rudskoi said the Syrian army backed by Russian warplanes is taking action to derail Nusra's plan.</p>
<p>In Washington, U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said Secretary of State John Kerry, speaking to his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in a telephone call Sunday, expressed concern over the recent increase in violence in Aleppo and elsewhere aimed not just at IS and the Nusra Front, which are excluded from the U.S.- and Russian-brokered cease-fire, but at rebel groups that are covered by it.</p>
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<p>"We are concerned about plans to attack and seize control of Aleppo, when there are clearly opposition groups there that are part of the cessation of hostilities," Toner said.</p>
<p>Russia's air force was instrumental to reviving Assad's military command in the months leading to the cease-fire that came into effect in late February and has brought relative peace to the country for the first time in the civil war.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, IS militants shot down a Syrian war plane during violent clashes Monday west of Damascus, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. It said the plane was shot down in the vicinity of the Dumayr Air Base in the eastern Qalamoun mountains, which straddle the border with Lebanon.</p>
<p>A news agency for the extremist group said the wreckage landed inside the base, damaging three other planes. The Aamaq News Agency posted a video on social media showing thick smoke emerging from what it said was the Dumayr base.</p>
<p>Earlier Monday, IS militants captured the strategic town of al-Rai on Syria's border with Turkey after intense fighting, the Observatory said. The town serves as the Islamic State group's access point to supply lines and also sits along the road to the IS stronghold in Aleppo province.</p>
<p>The latest IS gains show the group is still capable of launching counterattacks as it comes under pressure on different fronts in Iraq and Syria. IS has lost wide areas in Iraq and Syria recently, including the historic central town of Palmyra that was captured by Syrian government forces and their allies.</p>
<p>The extremists have also suffered leadership setbacks as U.S. drone strikes in Syria have killed several top IS and Nusra Front commanders and key figures in recent weeks.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Mroue reported from Beirut. Associated Press writers Jamey Keaten and Philip Issa contributed to this report from Geneva and Beirut.</p>
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russian serviceman checks mines palmyra syria friday russian combat engineers arrived syria mission clear mines ancient town palmyra recaptured islamic state militants offensive proven russias military might syria despite drawdown warplanes source russian defense ministry press service damascus syria islamic state militants recaptured vital border crossing northern syria shot government warplane countrys west monday uns special envoy urged warring parties respect fragile ceasefire ahead peace talks set resume geneva week un special envoy staffan de misturas plea came amid stepped fighting around northern city aleppo syrias largest elsewhere countrys northern western provinces spoke meeting syrian foreign minister walid almoallem damascus preparation talks set begin wednesday geneva government umbrella opposition coalition backed us saudi arabia western powers advertisement de mistura said emphasized importance protecting maintaining supporting cessation hostilities describing fragile stressing sides need make sure continues sustained un envoy said talks would focus political transition syria civil war sixth year killed 250000 people displaced half countrys prewar population 23 million people 4 million people fled country focusing particular political transition governance constitutional principles de mistura said hope plan make constructive concrete almoallem called dialogue without preconditions reference opposition demands president bashar assad step excluded transitional government said government delegation would arrive friday two days parliamentary elections held syria vote expected rubber stamp assad loyalists take place governmentcontrolled areas damascus authorities unable organize balloting territory rebel islamic state control meanwhile opposition activists reported clashes government air raids near aleppo rebel factions alongside alqaidas syria affiliate nusra front seized territory government earlier month russias military announced monday would help syrian army battle back nusra front plan storm aleppo lt gen sergei rudskoi militarys general staff said nusra nearly 10000 fighters southwest north aleppo plans cut strategic highway linking city rest country rudskoi said syrian army backed russian warplanes taking action derail nusras plan washington us state department spokesman mark toner said secretary state john kerry speaking russian counterpart sergei lavrov telephone call sunday expressed concern recent increase violence aleppo elsewhere aimed nusra front excluded us russianbrokered ceasefire rebel groups covered advertisement concerned plans attack seize control aleppo clearly opposition groups part cessation hostilities toner said russias air force instrumental reviving assads military command months leading ceasefire came effect late february brought relative peace country first time civil war meanwhile militants shot syrian war plane violent clashes monday west damascus britainbased syrian observatory human rights said said plane shot vicinity dumayr air base eastern qalamoun mountains straddle border lebanon news agency extremist group said wreckage landed inside base damaging three planes aamaq news agency posted video social media showing thick smoke emerging said dumayr base earlier monday militants captured strategic town alrai syrias border turkey intense fighting observatory said town serves islamic state groups access point supply lines also sits along road stronghold aleppo province latest gains show group still capable launching counterattacks comes pressure different fronts iraq syria lost wide areas iraq syria recently including historic central town palmyra captured syrian government forces allies extremists also suffered leadership setbacks us drone strikes syria killed several top nusra front commanders key figures recent weeks ___ mroue reported beirut associated press writers jamey keaten philip issa contributed report geneva beirut
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<p>LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — Freshman Zhaire Smith <a href="http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=22083556" type="external">cradled the inbounds pass</a> as the final eight-tenths of a second ticked off the clock and the frenzied Texas Tech fans rushed the court.</p>
<p>The Red Raiders will savor this moment, even if the rough-and-tumble Big 12 is just getting started.</p>
<p>Keenan Evans scored 20 points, Brandone Francis had a career-high 17 and No. 8 Texas Tech won the first-ever Top 10 matchup on its home court, beating second-ranked West Virginia 72-71 on Saturday.</p>
<p>The Mountaineers (15-2, 4-1 Big 12) couldn't hold an 11-point lead in the final 13 minutes and had their nation-leading 15-game winning streak stopped.</p>
<p>They were the last team in the Big 12 with a perfect league record. Now Texas Tech (15-2, 4-1) is part of a four-way tie atop arguably the nation's toughest conference — with 13 league games to go.</p>
<p>"I've got a great friend who this week told me, 'Prince today, frog tomorrow,'" Texas Tech coach Chris Beard said. "And for some reason, in the heat of the game — you might think about what I wonder in these moments — I kept on thinking about that.</p>
<p>"I know we're going to be a frog again at some point. It's the Big 12. But I want to be a prince one more day."</p>
<p>Jevon Carter <a href="http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=22082247" type="external">scored 28 points</a> — one off his career high — for West Virginia, which was denied its first 5-0 start in its sixth season in the Big 12. Esa Ahmad added 18 in his season debut following an NCAA academic suspension.</p>
<p>Sagaba Konate had a game-high 11 rebounds, but one of his misses on an ill-advised long jumper signified West Virginia's game for coach Bob Huggins.</p>
<p>"We just had guys that were really out of character," Huggins said. "We got our center shooting whatever that was, a 3-point shot from the top of the key. We just did a lot of things out of character from what we normally do."</p>
<p>Evans hit a lean-in jumper to give the Red Raiders a four-point lead in the final minute. Carter made a 3 for the final margin with less than a second to go, and the Mountaineers couldn't foul Smith before the buzzer sounded, prompting a wild celebration.</p>
<p>"It was amazing," Francis said. "It feels good to play in that kind of atmosphere out there. Thanks for having our back throughout the entire game. It was great you had our back."</p>
<p>It was the first time Texas Tech won a Top 10 matchup. Two of the three in school history were this week, starting with a 75-65 loss to No. 9 Oklahoma on Tuesday.</p>
<p>Smith's <a href="http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=22082911" type="external">alley-oop dunk</a> from fellow freshman Jarrett Culver sparked a 12-2 run to help the Red Raiders wipe out most of the 11-point deficit. Smith had nine points and eight rebounds.</p>
<p>BIG PICTURE</p>
<p>West Virginia: After struggling in a home win over Baylor earlier this week in the first game with their highest ranking since Jerry West's senior season in December 1959, the Mountaineers couldn't keep the raucous crowd out of it when it looked like they were in control.</p>
<p>Texas Tech: The Red Raiders may have found another key contributor in Francis, a junior transfer from Florida who sat out last season. His only previous double-digit game was 10 in a 34-point blowout over Savannah State. Francis seemed to relish the moment, staring down his teammates on the bench after each big shot in the second half. He was 5 of 6 from the field.</p>
<p>ZACH SMITH OUT</p>
<p>Beard said senior forward Zach Smith, who didn't play, has a broken foot and his status for the rest of the season is uncertain. Smith has been a starter and team leader. He averages 6.5 points per game and started the day tied for second on the team at 3.9 rebounds per game.</p>
<p>AHMAD'S RETURN</p>
<p>Ahmad's impact was immediate after coming off the bench early in the first half. While the numbers weren't big early, he finished 6 of 12 from the field, hit a couple of 3s and added six rebounds.</p>
<p>BACK AND FORTH</p>
<p>There were three lead changes and three ties late in the second half before Niem Stevenson hit two free throws to put the Red Raiders in front for good with 2:07 remaining. Evans was 8 of 9 from the line and Stevenson made all six of his free throws as Texas Tech went 24 of 28.</p>
<p>UP NEXT</p>
<p>West Virginia: No. 12 Kansas at home on Monday.</p>
<p>Texas Tech: At Texas on Wednesday.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>More AP college basketball: <a href="http://collegebasketball.ap.org" type="external">http://collegebasketball.ap.org</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/AP_Top25" type="external">http://twitter.com/AP_Top25</a></p>
<p>LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — Freshman Zhaire Smith <a href="http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=22083556" type="external">cradled the inbounds pass</a> as the final eight-tenths of a second ticked off the clock and the frenzied Texas Tech fans rushed the court.</p>
<p>The Red Raiders will savor this moment, even if the rough-and-tumble Big 12 is just getting started.</p>
<p>Keenan Evans scored 20 points, Brandone Francis had a career-high 17 and No. 8 Texas Tech won the first-ever Top 10 matchup on its home court, beating second-ranked West Virginia 72-71 on Saturday.</p>
<p>The Mountaineers (15-2, 4-1 Big 12) couldn't hold an 11-point lead in the final 13 minutes and had their nation-leading 15-game winning streak stopped.</p>
<p>They were the last team in the Big 12 with a perfect league record. Now Texas Tech (15-2, 4-1) is part of a four-way tie atop arguably the nation's toughest conference — with 13 league games to go.</p>
<p>"I've got a great friend who this week told me, 'Prince today, frog tomorrow,'" Texas Tech coach Chris Beard said. "And for some reason, in the heat of the game — you might think about what I wonder in these moments — I kept on thinking about that.</p>
<p>"I know we're going to be a frog again at some point. It's the Big 12. But I want to be a prince one more day."</p>
<p>Jevon Carter <a href="http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=22082247" type="external">scored 28 points</a> — one off his career high — for West Virginia, which was denied its first 5-0 start in its sixth season in the Big 12. Esa Ahmad added 18 in his season debut following an NCAA academic suspension.</p>
<p>Sagaba Konate had a game-high 11 rebounds, but one of his misses on an ill-advised long jumper signified West Virginia's game for coach Bob Huggins.</p>
<p>"We just had guys that were really out of character," Huggins said. "We got our center shooting whatever that was, a 3-point shot from the top of the key. We just did a lot of things out of character from what we normally do."</p>
<p>Evans hit a lean-in jumper to give the Red Raiders a four-point lead in the final minute. Carter made a 3 for the final margin with less than a second to go, and the Mountaineers couldn't foul Smith before the buzzer sounded, prompting a wild celebration.</p>
<p>"It was amazing," Francis said. "It feels good to play in that kind of atmosphere out there. Thanks for having our back throughout the entire game. It was great you had our back."</p>
<p>It was the first time Texas Tech won a Top 10 matchup. Two of the three in school history were this week, starting with a 75-65 loss to No. 9 Oklahoma on Tuesday.</p>
<p>Smith's <a href="http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=22082911" type="external">alley-oop dunk</a> from fellow freshman Jarrett Culver sparked a 12-2 run to help the Red Raiders wipe out most of the 11-point deficit. Smith had nine points and eight rebounds.</p>
<p>BIG PICTURE</p>
<p>West Virginia: After struggling in a home win over Baylor earlier this week in the first game with their highest ranking since Jerry West's senior season in December 1959, the Mountaineers couldn't keep the raucous crowd out of it when it looked like they were in control.</p>
<p>Texas Tech: The Red Raiders may have found another key contributor in Francis, a junior transfer from Florida who sat out last season. His only previous double-digit game was 10 in a 34-point blowout over Savannah State. Francis seemed to relish the moment, staring down his teammates on the bench after each big shot in the second half. He was 5 of 6 from the field.</p>
<p>ZACH SMITH OUT</p>
<p>Beard said senior forward Zach Smith, who didn't play, has a broken foot and his status for the rest of the season is uncertain. Smith has been a starter and team leader. He averages 6.5 points per game and started the day tied for second on the team at 3.9 rebounds per game.</p>
<p>AHMAD'S RETURN</p>
<p>Ahmad's impact was immediate after coming off the bench early in the first half. While the numbers weren't big early, he finished 6 of 12 from the field, hit a couple of 3s and added six rebounds.</p>
<p>BACK AND FORTH</p>
<p>There were three lead changes and three ties late in the second half before Niem Stevenson hit two free throws to put the Red Raiders in front for good with 2:07 remaining. Evans was 8 of 9 from the line and Stevenson made all six of his free throws as Texas Tech went 24 of 28.</p>
<p>UP NEXT</p>
<p>West Virginia: No. 12 Kansas at home on Monday.</p>
<p>Texas Tech: At Texas on Wednesday.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>More AP college basketball: <a href="http://collegebasketball.ap.org" type="external">http://collegebasketball.ap.org</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/AP_Top25" type="external">http://twitter.com/AP_Top25</a></p>
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lubbock texas ap freshman zhaire smith cradled inbounds pass final eighttenths second ticked clock frenzied texas tech fans rushed court red raiders savor moment even roughandtumble big 12 getting started keenan evans scored 20 points brandone francis careerhigh 17 8 texas tech firstever top 10 matchup home court beating secondranked west virginia 7271 saturday mountaineers 152 41 big 12 couldnt hold 11point lead final 13 minutes nationleading 15game winning streak stopped last team big 12 perfect league record texas tech 152 41 part fourway tie atop arguably nations toughest conference 13 league games go ive got great friend week told prince today frog tomorrow texas tech coach chris beard said reason heat game might think wonder moments kept thinking know going frog point big 12 want prince one day jevon carter scored 28 points one career high west virginia denied first 50 start sixth season big 12 esa ahmad added 18 season debut following ncaa academic suspension sagaba konate gamehigh 11 rebounds one misses illadvised long jumper signified west virginias game coach bob huggins guys really character huggins said got center shooting whatever 3point shot top key lot things character normally evans hit leanin jumper give red raiders fourpoint lead final minute carter made 3 final margin less second go mountaineers couldnt foul smith buzzer sounded prompting wild celebration amazing francis said feels good play kind atmosphere thanks back throughout entire game great back first time texas tech top 10 matchup two three school history week starting 7565 loss 9 oklahoma tuesday smiths alleyoop dunk fellow freshman jarrett culver sparked 122 run help red raiders wipe 11point deficit smith nine points eight rebounds big picture west virginia struggling home win baylor earlier week first game highest ranking since jerry wests senior season december 1959 mountaineers couldnt keep raucous crowd looked like control texas tech red raiders may found another key contributor francis junior transfer florida sat last season previous doubledigit game 10 34point blowout savannah state francis seemed relish moment staring teammates bench big shot second half 5 6 field zach smith beard said senior forward zach smith didnt play broken foot status rest season uncertain smith starter team leader averages 65 points per game started day tied second team 39 rebounds per game ahmads return ahmads impact immediate coming bench early first half numbers werent big early finished 6 12 field hit couple 3s added six rebounds back forth three lead changes three ties late second half niem stevenson hit two free throws put red raiders front good 207 remaining evans 8 9 line stevenson made six free throws texas tech went 24 28 next west virginia 12 kansas home monday texas tech texas wednesday ___ ap college basketball httpcollegebasketballaporg httptwittercomap_top25 lubbock texas ap freshman zhaire smith cradled inbounds pass final eighttenths second ticked clock frenzied texas tech fans rushed court red raiders savor moment even roughandtumble big 12 getting started keenan evans scored 20 points brandone francis careerhigh 17 8 texas tech firstever top 10 matchup home court beating secondranked west virginia 7271 saturday mountaineers 152 41 big 12 couldnt hold 11point lead final 13 minutes nationleading 15game winning streak stopped last team big 12 perfect league record texas tech 152 41 part fourway tie atop arguably nations toughest conference 13 league games go ive got great friend week told prince today frog tomorrow texas tech coach chris beard said reason heat game might think wonder moments kept thinking know going frog point big 12 want prince one day jevon carter scored 28 points one career high west virginia denied first 50 start sixth season big 12 esa ahmad added 18 season debut following ncaa academic suspension sagaba konate gamehigh 11 rebounds one misses illadvised long jumper signified west virginias game coach bob huggins guys really character huggins said got center shooting whatever 3point shot top key lot things character normally evans hit leanin jumper give red raiders fourpoint lead final minute carter made 3 final margin less second go mountaineers couldnt foul smith buzzer sounded prompting wild celebration amazing francis said feels good play kind atmosphere thanks back throughout entire game great back first time texas tech top 10 matchup two three school history week starting 7565 loss 9 oklahoma tuesday smiths alleyoop dunk fellow freshman jarrett culver sparked 122 run help red raiders wipe 11point deficit smith nine points eight rebounds big picture west virginia struggling home win baylor earlier week first game highest ranking since jerry wests senior season december 1959 mountaineers couldnt keep raucous crowd looked like control texas tech red raiders may found another key contributor francis junior transfer florida sat last season previous doubledigit game 10 34point blowout savannah state francis seemed relish moment staring teammates bench big shot second half 5 6 field zach smith beard said senior forward zach smith didnt play broken foot status rest season uncertain smith starter team leader averages 65 points per game started day tied second team 39 rebounds per game ahmads return ahmads impact immediate coming bench early first half numbers werent big early finished 6 12 field hit couple 3s added six rebounds back forth three lead changes three ties late second half niem stevenson hit two free throws put red raiders front good 207 remaining evans 8 9 line stevenson made six free throws texas tech went 24 28 next west virginia 12 kansas home monday texas tech texas wednesday ___ ap college basketball httpcollegebasketballaporg httptwittercomap_top25
| 904 |
<p><a href="" type="internal">POLICE: SUSPECT WEARING “TRUST ME” T-SHIRT STEALS CAR</a></p>
<p>FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AP) — A suspect wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with “Trust Me” allegedly stole a car with an accomplice in Fairfax County, Virginia.</p>
<p>The Washington Post reports that the two suspects from Falls Church were arrested by police in the stolen car not long after the unlocked Honda Civic was taken as it warmed up.</p>
<p>Police say they also found several forged checks during the arrests.</p>
<p>The newspaper says Wilmer Lara Garcia has been charged with auto theft and two counts of forgery. Police say he was wearing the shirt that read “Trust Me.”</p>
<p>His accomplice was charged with auto theft.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">FLORIDA MAN SAYS HE PUNCHED ATM FOR GIVING TOO MUCH CASH</a></p>
<p>COCOA, Fla. (AP) — A Florida man told investigators he punched an automatic teller machine because it gave him too much cash.</p>
<p>An arrest report says 23-year-old Michael Joseph Oleksik man caused about $5,000 in damage to an ATM at a Wells Fargo bank branch in Cocoa on Nov. 29. He was arrested Dec. 22 on a criminal mischief charge after bank officials decided to press charges.</p>
<p>Florida Today reports surveillance video captured Oleksik pummeling the touch screen.</p>
<p>An arrest report says that Oleksik told a bank manager he was angry that the machine was giving him too much money and he didn’t know what to do because he was in a hurry for work. He apologized for causing damage.</p>
<p>Jail records don’t list a lawyer for Oleksik.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">DEFINITION MISSION: A RHYMING LIMERICK FOR EACH ENGLISH WORD</a></p>
<p>One man’s joke has become his mission: to give each word a rhyming definition.</p>
<p>Chris Strolin was teasing English buffs in an online forum years ago when he said the dictionary would be greatly improved if definitions were written as five-line limericks. Then he decided to try it for real.</p>
<p>The Omnificent English Dictionary in Limerick Form — or OEDILF (OH-dilf) for short — has published more than 97,000 rhyming definitions since Strolin started the online dictionary in 2004. He expects to reach limerick No. 100,000 sometime in 2018.</p>
<p>Even with help from roughly 1,000 contributing writers, Strolin’s limerick dictionary is nowhere near finished. It currently ends in the Gs at the word “gizzard.”</p>
<p>In this photo made Monday, Dec. 11, 2017, Chris Strolin poses for a photo in Belleville, Ill. Strolin created the online Omnificent English Dictionary in Limerick Form, or OEDILF for short, and with the help of contributors has published more than 97,000 definitions of words in limerick form since it began in 2004. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)</p>
<p>Strolin hopes his grandchildren — or perhaps their kids — will finish the Zs.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">WOMAN STUNNED TO FIND ELECTRIC BILL LISTED AS $284 BILLION</a></p>
<p>ERIE, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania woman says she went online to check her electric bill and was stunned at the amount — more than $284 billion.</p>
<p>The Erie Times-News reports that Mary Horomanski said her eyes “just about popped out” of her head when she saw the amount. She suspected that her family had put up their Christmas lights wrong.</p>
<p>The silver lining was that she didn’t have to pay the full amount until November 2018 — only a $28,156 minimum payment was due for December.</p>
<p>Horomanski’s son contacted Penelac, her electric provider, who confirmed the error. Parent company First Energy said a decimal point was accidentally moved. Her new amount was quickly corrected to $284.46.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">STYLIST ACCUSED OF GIVING MAN UNWANTED ‘STOOGES’ HAIRDO</a></p>
<p>MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Police in Madison, Wisconsin, arrested a hairstylist after he gave a customer a very unwanted Larry Fine hairdo.</p>
<p>Police spokesman Joel DeSpain says the 22-year-old victim told officers the stylist asked him to stop fidgeting and moving his head during the Friday haircut. The Wisconsin State Journal reports that DeSpain says the stylist then nicked the customer’s ear with his clippers before running them down the middle of the man’s head on their shortest attachment, “leaving him looking a bit like Larry from ‘The Three Stooges.’”</p>
<p>DeSpain says officers arrested the 46-year-old hairstylist, Khaled A. Shabani, who pleaded not guilty to disorderly conduct Wednesday. DeSpain says Shabani told officers it was an accident.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">WOMAN ACCUSED OF TRYING TO SNORT COCAINE IN POLICE STATION</a></p>
<p>LEDYARD, Conn. (AP) — A woman has been accused of trying to snort cocaine inside a Connecticut police station while waiting to be booked on unrelated charges.</p>
<p>Police say Nicole Hunter was charged on Christmas Day with possession of narcotics, interfering with an officer and disorderly conduct.</p>
<p>Police had arrested Hunter after a confrontation at her home in Ledyard while investigating a report of an erratic driver. They say the vehicle involved matched the one in Hunter’s driveway.</p>
<p>Police say Hunter was in a waiting area of the police station when she pulled cocaine wrapped in paper from inside her clothing and tried to snort it.</p>
<p>Hunter doesn’t have a listed phone number and can’t be reached for comment. She’s due in court Jan. 8.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">ANTI-GAMBLING CRUSADER WINS $25K IN GAMING SWEEPSTAKES</a></p>
<p>CHICAGO (AP) — A suburban Chicago woman who has crusaded against gambling for decades has won $25,000 by playing a sweepstakes game at a gambling cafe.</p>
<p>Kathy Gilroy tells the Chicago Tribune that while it’s ironic she won the sweepstakes, the distinction is that she didn’t spend her own money to gamble.</p>
<p>Gilroy has said gambling can lead to addiction, bankruptcy, crime and suicide. She helped shut down a $1.6 million Queen of Hearts raffle put on by the Veterans of Foreign Wars post in rural Morris this year until the raffle was properly licensed.</p>
<p>Gilroy says she’s participated in other sweepstakes and won prizes, including electronics and trips to the Bahamas and California. She says she enters sweepstakes because they’re made available free of charge under state law.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">POLICE: WOMAN RUINED $300K WORTH OF ART ON DATE WITH LAWYER</a></p>
<p>HOUSTON (AP) — Authorities say an intoxicated Dallas woman on a first date with a prominent Houston trial lawyer caused at least $300,000 in damage to his art collection, including two Andy Warhol paintings.</p>
<p>Lindy Lou Layman was arrested Saturday on criminal mischief charges after her date with Anthony Buzbee. She was released on $30,000 bond. Online court records don’t list an attorney for her.</p>
<p>Prosecutors say Buzbee told investigators that the 29-year-old Layman got too intoxicated on their date, so he called her an Uber after they returned to his home. She allegedly refused to leave and hid inside the home, and that when Buzbee found her and called a second Uber, she got aggressive.</p>
<p>Authorities say she tore down several paintings and poured red wine on some, and she threw two $20,000 sculptures.</p>
<p>The damaged Warhol paintings were each valued at $500,000.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">HEARTWARMINGLY ICY: DESPITE MINUS 34 TEMP, COUPLE GET ENGAGED</a></p>
<p>SARGENT’S PURCHASE, N.H. (AP) — A New Hampshire man hasn’t let extreme cold get in the way of a heartwarming proposal.</p>
<p>WMUR-TV reports that 31-year-old Josh Darnell, of Londonderry, dropped to his knee and popped the question after climbing Tuckerman’s Ravine on Thursday, the same day it hit minus 34 (-37 Celsius) on Mount Washington.</p>
<p>There’s a happy ending: twenty-seven-year-old Rachel Raske (RASS’-kee), of Lowell, Massachusetts, said yes.</p>
<p>Raske tells WMUR that Darnell had hiked Tuckerman’s Ravine last summer with his dad and had been planning to pop the question there ever since.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">MAN CHARGED WITH SNEAKING INTO HOME TO TRY TO STEAL UNDIES</a></p>
<p>WASHINGTON, Mo. (AP) — Police say an eastern Missouri man told officers he has an “underwear fetish” and admitted to sneaking into a home to try to steal a pair.</p>
<p>The St. Louis Post- Dispatch reports that 34-year-old Cody Hassler, of Washington, Missouri, was charged Wednesday with first-degree burglary, first-degree stalking and stealing. No attorney is listed in online court records. Bond is set at $75,000.</p>
<p>Police say Hassler admitted to sneaking into the house through an unlocked basement door in October while a mother and her teenage daughter were sleeping and taking a pair of underwear from the laundry room.</p>
<p>The teenager awoke when she heard footsteps and police were called. Officers found a pair of underwear that apparently had been dropped when the suspect fled. Hassler also admitted to looking through bedroom windows.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">BURNT BAGEL BLAMED FOR ST. LOUIS AIRPORT EVACUATION</a></p>
<p>ST. LOUIS (AP) — A burnt bagel is being blamed for the evacuation of a terminal at Lambert Airport in St. Louis.</p>
<p>Airport officials say a bagel burned in a restaurant in Terminal 2 around 6 p.m. Tuesday, setting off smoke detectors and prompting a full evacuation. An estimated 300 to 400 people were required to go outside, where the temperature was 11 degrees.</p>
<p>The airport says the evacuation lasted only about five minutes, but passengers had to go back through security checks once they re-entered the building. No flight delays were reported.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">A COUGAR IN YOUR LUGGAGE? HUNTING CARCASS FOUND AT AIRPORT</a></p>
<p>LAS VEGAS (AP) — Police say a hunter’s trip home hit a snag in Las Vegas after security screeners found a dead cougar in his luggage.</p>
<p>No crime was committed because the man had a hunting tag. But police Lt. David Gordon told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that Transportation Security Administration agents held the man at McCarran International Airport late Tuesday to confirm the validity of the Utah hunting tag.</p>
<p>His name and where he was headed weren’t released.</p>
<p>Airport spokeswoman Melissa Nunnery says the man ended up shipping the cougar carcass home, not on the airplane.</p>
<p>Gordon says it’s not a crime to transport legally possessed game on an airline flight. But he says airlines can refuse to transport certain items.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">LIFELONG BEST FRIENDS DISCOVER THEY’RE ACTUALLY BROTHERS</a></p>
<p>HONOLULU (AP) — Two Hawaii men who grew up as best friends have recently learned that they’re actually brothers.</p>
<p>Alan Robinson and Walter Macfarlane have been friends for 60 years. Born in Hawaii 15 months apart, they met in the sixth grade and played football together at a Honolulu prep school.</p>
<p>Macfarlane never knew his father. Robinson was adopted.</p>
<p>Honolulu news station KHON-TV reports that the men learned they’re related through a family history and DNA website. They revealed the discovery Saturday.</p>
<p>Macfarlane’s daughter, Cindy Macfarlane-Flores, says when they started digging into answers about his family history, a top DNA match was someone with the username Robi737.</p>
<p>Robinson’s nickname was “Robi” and he flew 737s for Aloha Airlines.</p>
<p>They plan to travel and enjoy retirement together.</p>
<p>Robinson says it’s the best Christmas present.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">POLICE: MAN ATTEMPTS TO ROB STORE WITH FAKE FURNITURE GUN</a></p>
<p>AKRON, Ohio (AP) — Police say a man who tried and failed to rob an Ohio convenience store with a fake gun made from pieces of furniture has been charged with robbery.</p>
<p>Akron police say the man walked into a local Circle K store Monday afternoon waving what appeared to be a rifle and demanding cash. An employee realized the rifle was a fake and confronted the man with the help of three customers.</p>
<p>The man tried to flee but was subdued and detained by the people in the store until police arrived. He has been charged with aggravated robbery and is scheduled to appear in municipal court Wednesday.</p>
<p>Police say the man had a pole, a fake scope, a spring and two table legs fastened together to look like a rifle.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">FRUITCAKE PACKAGE TEMPORARILY HALTS SEATTLE FERRY SERVICE</a></p>
<p>SEATTLE (AP) — Authorities say a wrapped present that turned out to be a fruitcake temporarily halted service at a Seattle ferry terminal while police investigated.</p>
<p>Washington State Patrol Trooper Kevin Fortino says troopers were notified Tuesday that a suspicious package was found beneath a Christmas tree in the pedestrian waiting area.</p>
<p>Fortino says the package was deemed suspicious because it was unmarked and was the only gift under the tree.</p>
<p>Officials evacuated the terminal and kept all inbound ferries away for about a half-hour while the police bomb squad investigated.</p>
<p>Fortino says the gift was found to be a fruitcake.</p>
<p>He says it wasn’t clear why it was left at the terminal.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">MAN ARRESTED AFTER SHOWING UP TO CLAIM MARIJUANA SHIPMENT</a></p>
<p>WAREHAM, Mass. (AP) — Police in Massachusetts have arrested a Rhode Island man they say showed up at a shipping company in a brand-new pickup truck he had paid cash for to claim two crates that contained 112 pounds of marijuana.</p>
<p>Wareham police say they were tipped off by employees of Cape Cod Express, who were suspicious of the two wooden crates.</p>
<p>When 40-year-old Michael Chen, of Providence, Rhode Island, showed up at the facility on Wednesday to claim them, he was confronted by police and consented to a search of the crates.</p>
<p>Police say they contained 112 pounds of pot combined.</p>
<p>Chen was charged with trafficking in marijuana over 100 pounds. Police also seized his 2017 pickup.</p>
<p>He was freed on $7,500 bail. It was not clear if he had a lawyer.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">DRUGS, GUN, TEETH FOUND ON MAN STOPPED AT S. CAROLINA STORE</a></p>
<p>MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (AP) — Police say they found thousands of doses of heroin, a gun and human teeth on a man detained during a suspected shoplifting investigation at a South Carolina Walmart on Christmas Eve.</p>
<p>Officers tell the Sun News of Myrtle Beach they charged 21-year-old Tavon Malik Stanley of Calabash, North Carolina, with crimes including heroin trafficking and drug possession.</p>
<p>Officials at a North Myrtle Beach Walmart detained Stanley after they saw a person with him allegedly take around $25 worth of items without paying for them. Stanley had a Ruger 9 mm handgun and more than $2,500 in cash, and officers found dozens of pills, thousands of doses of heroin and two human teeth in his backpack.</p>
<p>Stanley was released from jail on bond. It wasn’t known if he had an attorney.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">PROSECUTOR: DOCTOR REUSED ONE-USE ANAL CATHETERS ON PATIENTS</a></p>
<p>EAST BRUNSWICK, N.J. (AP) — A New Jersey surgeon’s medical license has been temporarily suspended for allegedly reusing disposable anal catheters on multiple patients.</p>
<p>Attorney General Christopher Porrino says East Brunswick-based colon and rectal surgeon Sanjiv Patankar allegedly washed and reused the one-use catheters that are inserted into patients during medical procedures.</p>
<p>State officials say they have evidence that Patankar ordered only five catheters during time when he performed 82 procedures requiring them.</p>
<p>The state Board of Medical Examiners unanimously voted to suspend the doctor’s license last week, saying he “placed patients in clear and imminent danger.”</p>
<p>Patankar’s license will remain temporarily suspended pending a full hearing in the state Office of Administrative Law and until the Board of Medical Examiners takes final action based on further findings.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">POLICE: SUSPECT WEARING “TRUST ME” T-SHIRT STEALS CAR</a></p>
<p>FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AP) — A suspect wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with “Trust Me” allegedly stole a car with an accomplice in Fairfax County, Virginia.</p>
<p>The Washington Post reports that the two suspects from Falls Church were arrested by police in the stolen car not long after the unlocked Honda Civic was taken as it warmed up.</p>
<p>Police say they also found several forged checks during the arrests.</p>
<p>The newspaper says Wilmer Lara Garcia has been charged with auto theft and two counts of forgery. Police say he was wearing the shirt that read “Trust Me.”</p>
<p>His accomplice was charged with auto theft.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">FLORIDA MAN SAYS HE PUNCHED ATM FOR GIVING TOO MUCH CASH</a></p>
<p>COCOA, Fla. (AP) — A Florida man told investigators he punched an automatic teller machine because it gave him too much cash.</p>
<p>An arrest report says 23-year-old Michael Joseph Oleksik man caused about $5,000 in damage to an ATM at a Wells Fargo bank branch in Cocoa on Nov. 29. He was arrested Dec. 22 on a criminal mischief charge after bank officials decided to press charges.</p>
<p>Florida Today reports surveillance video captured Oleksik pummeling the touch screen.</p>
<p>An arrest report says that Oleksik told a bank manager he was angry that the machine was giving him too much money and he didn’t know what to do because he was in a hurry for work. He apologized for causing damage.</p>
<p>Jail records don’t list a lawyer for Oleksik.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">DEFINITION MISSION: A RHYMING LIMERICK FOR EACH ENGLISH WORD</a></p>
<p>One man’s joke has become his mission: to give each word a rhyming definition.</p>
<p>Chris Strolin was teasing English buffs in an online forum years ago when he said the dictionary would be greatly improved if definitions were written as five-line limericks. Then he decided to try it for real.</p>
<p>The Omnificent English Dictionary in Limerick Form — or OEDILF (OH-dilf) for short — has published more than 97,000 rhyming definitions since Strolin started the online dictionary in 2004. He expects to reach limerick No. 100,000 sometime in 2018.</p>
<p>Even with help from roughly 1,000 contributing writers, Strolin’s limerick dictionary is nowhere near finished. It currently ends in the Gs at the word “gizzard.”</p>
<p>In this photo made Monday, Dec. 11, 2017, Chris Strolin poses for a photo in Belleville, Ill. Strolin created the online Omnificent English Dictionary in Limerick Form, or OEDILF for short, and with the help of contributors has published more than 97,000 definitions of words in limerick form since it began in 2004. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)</p>
<p>Strolin hopes his grandchildren — or perhaps their kids — will finish the Zs.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">WOMAN STUNNED TO FIND ELECTRIC BILL LISTED AS $284 BILLION</a></p>
<p>ERIE, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania woman says she went online to check her electric bill and was stunned at the amount — more than $284 billion.</p>
<p>The Erie Times-News reports that Mary Horomanski said her eyes “just about popped out” of her head when she saw the amount. She suspected that her family had put up their Christmas lights wrong.</p>
<p>The silver lining was that she didn’t have to pay the full amount until November 2018 — only a $28,156 minimum payment was due for December.</p>
<p>Horomanski’s son contacted Penelac, her electric provider, who confirmed the error. Parent company First Energy said a decimal point was accidentally moved. Her new amount was quickly corrected to $284.46.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">STYLIST ACCUSED OF GIVING MAN UNWANTED ‘STOOGES’ HAIRDO</a></p>
<p>MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Police in Madison, Wisconsin, arrested a hairstylist after he gave a customer a very unwanted Larry Fine hairdo.</p>
<p>Police spokesman Joel DeSpain says the 22-year-old victim told officers the stylist asked him to stop fidgeting and moving his head during the Friday haircut. The Wisconsin State Journal reports that DeSpain says the stylist then nicked the customer’s ear with his clippers before running them down the middle of the man’s head on their shortest attachment, “leaving him looking a bit like Larry from ‘The Three Stooges.’”</p>
<p>DeSpain says officers arrested the 46-year-old hairstylist, Khaled A. Shabani, who pleaded not guilty to disorderly conduct Wednesday. DeSpain says Shabani told officers it was an accident.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">WOMAN ACCUSED OF TRYING TO SNORT COCAINE IN POLICE STATION</a></p>
<p>LEDYARD, Conn. (AP) — A woman has been accused of trying to snort cocaine inside a Connecticut police station while waiting to be booked on unrelated charges.</p>
<p>Police say Nicole Hunter was charged on Christmas Day with possession of narcotics, interfering with an officer and disorderly conduct.</p>
<p>Police had arrested Hunter after a confrontation at her home in Ledyard while investigating a report of an erratic driver. They say the vehicle involved matched the one in Hunter’s driveway.</p>
<p>Police say Hunter was in a waiting area of the police station when she pulled cocaine wrapped in paper from inside her clothing and tried to snort it.</p>
<p>Hunter doesn’t have a listed phone number and can’t be reached for comment. She’s due in court Jan. 8.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">ANTI-GAMBLING CRUSADER WINS $25K IN GAMING SWEEPSTAKES</a></p>
<p>CHICAGO (AP) — A suburban Chicago woman who has crusaded against gambling for decades has won $25,000 by playing a sweepstakes game at a gambling cafe.</p>
<p>Kathy Gilroy tells the Chicago Tribune that while it’s ironic she won the sweepstakes, the distinction is that she didn’t spend her own money to gamble.</p>
<p>Gilroy has said gambling can lead to addiction, bankruptcy, crime and suicide. She helped shut down a $1.6 million Queen of Hearts raffle put on by the Veterans of Foreign Wars post in rural Morris this year until the raffle was properly licensed.</p>
<p>Gilroy says she’s participated in other sweepstakes and won prizes, including electronics and trips to the Bahamas and California. She says she enters sweepstakes because they’re made available free of charge under state law.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">POLICE: WOMAN RUINED $300K WORTH OF ART ON DATE WITH LAWYER</a></p>
<p>HOUSTON (AP) — Authorities say an intoxicated Dallas woman on a first date with a prominent Houston trial lawyer caused at least $300,000 in damage to his art collection, including two Andy Warhol paintings.</p>
<p>Lindy Lou Layman was arrested Saturday on criminal mischief charges after her date with Anthony Buzbee. She was released on $30,000 bond. Online court records don’t list an attorney for her.</p>
<p>Prosecutors say Buzbee told investigators that the 29-year-old Layman got too intoxicated on their date, so he called her an Uber after they returned to his home. She allegedly refused to leave and hid inside the home, and that when Buzbee found her and called a second Uber, she got aggressive.</p>
<p>Authorities say she tore down several paintings and poured red wine on some, and she threw two $20,000 sculptures.</p>
<p>The damaged Warhol paintings were each valued at $500,000.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">HEARTWARMINGLY ICY: DESPITE MINUS 34 TEMP, COUPLE GET ENGAGED</a></p>
<p>SARGENT’S PURCHASE, N.H. (AP) — A New Hampshire man hasn’t let extreme cold get in the way of a heartwarming proposal.</p>
<p>WMUR-TV reports that 31-year-old Josh Darnell, of Londonderry, dropped to his knee and popped the question after climbing Tuckerman’s Ravine on Thursday, the same day it hit minus 34 (-37 Celsius) on Mount Washington.</p>
<p>There’s a happy ending: twenty-seven-year-old Rachel Raske (RASS’-kee), of Lowell, Massachusetts, said yes.</p>
<p>Raske tells WMUR that Darnell had hiked Tuckerman’s Ravine last summer with his dad and had been planning to pop the question there ever since.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">MAN CHARGED WITH SNEAKING INTO HOME TO TRY TO STEAL UNDIES</a></p>
<p>WASHINGTON, Mo. (AP) — Police say an eastern Missouri man told officers he has an “underwear fetish” and admitted to sneaking into a home to try to steal a pair.</p>
<p>The St. Louis Post- Dispatch reports that 34-year-old Cody Hassler, of Washington, Missouri, was charged Wednesday with first-degree burglary, first-degree stalking and stealing. No attorney is listed in online court records. Bond is set at $75,000.</p>
<p>Police say Hassler admitted to sneaking into the house through an unlocked basement door in October while a mother and her teenage daughter were sleeping and taking a pair of underwear from the laundry room.</p>
<p>The teenager awoke when she heard footsteps and police were called. Officers found a pair of underwear that apparently had been dropped when the suspect fled. Hassler also admitted to looking through bedroom windows.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">BURNT BAGEL BLAMED FOR ST. LOUIS AIRPORT EVACUATION</a></p>
<p>ST. LOUIS (AP) — A burnt bagel is being blamed for the evacuation of a terminal at Lambert Airport in St. Louis.</p>
<p>Airport officials say a bagel burned in a restaurant in Terminal 2 around 6 p.m. Tuesday, setting off smoke detectors and prompting a full evacuation. An estimated 300 to 400 people were required to go outside, where the temperature was 11 degrees.</p>
<p>The airport says the evacuation lasted only about five minutes, but passengers had to go back through security checks once they re-entered the building. No flight delays were reported.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">A COUGAR IN YOUR LUGGAGE? HUNTING CARCASS FOUND AT AIRPORT</a></p>
<p>LAS VEGAS (AP) — Police say a hunter’s trip home hit a snag in Las Vegas after security screeners found a dead cougar in his luggage.</p>
<p>No crime was committed because the man had a hunting tag. But police Lt. David Gordon told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that Transportation Security Administration agents held the man at McCarran International Airport late Tuesday to confirm the validity of the Utah hunting tag.</p>
<p>His name and where he was headed weren’t released.</p>
<p>Airport spokeswoman Melissa Nunnery says the man ended up shipping the cougar carcass home, not on the airplane.</p>
<p>Gordon says it’s not a crime to transport legally possessed game on an airline flight. But he says airlines can refuse to transport certain items.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">LIFELONG BEST FRIENDS DISCOVER THEY’RE ACTUALLY BROTHERS</a></p>
<p>HONOLULU (AP) — Two Hawaii men who grew up as best friends have recently learned that they’re actually brothers.</p>
<p>Alan Robinson and Walter Macfarlane have been friends for 60 years. Born in Hawaii 15 months apart, they met in the sixth grade and played football together at a Honolulu prep school.</p>
<p>Macfarlane never knew his father. Robinson was adopted.</p>
<p>Honolulu news station KHON-TV reports that the men learned they’re related through a family history and DNA website. They revealed the discovery Saturday.</p>
<p>Macfarlane’s daughter, Cindy Macfarlane-Flores, says when they started digging into answers about his family history, a top DNA match was someone with the username Robi737.</p>
<p>Robinson’s nickname was “Robi” and he flew 737s for Aloha Airlines.</p>
<p>They plan to travel and enjoy retirement together.</p>
<p>Robinson says it’s the best Christmas present.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">POLICE: MAN ATTEMPTS TO ROB STORE WITH FAKE FURNITURE GUN</a></p>
<p>AKRON, Ohio (AP) — Police say a man who tried and failed to rob an Ohio convenience store with a fake gun made from pieces of furniture has been charged with robbery.</p>
<p>Akron police say the man walked into a local Circle K store Monday afternoon waving what appeared to be a rifle and demanding cash. An employee realized the rifle was a fake and confronted the man with the help of three customers.</p>
<p>The man tried to flee but was subdued and detained by the people in the store until police arrived. He has been charged with aggravated robbery and is scheduled to appear in municipal court Wednesday.</p>
<p>Police say the man had a pole, a fake scope, a spring and two table legs fastened together to look like a rifle.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">FRUITCAKE PACKAGE TEMPORARILY HALTS SEATTLE FERRY SERVICE</a></p>
<p>SEATTLE (AP) — Authorities say a wrapped present that turned out to be a fruitcake temporarily halted service at a Seattle ferry terminal while police investigated.</p>
<p>Washington State Patrol Trooper Kevin Fortino says troopers were notified Tuesday that a suspicious package was found beneath a Christmas tree in the pedestrian waiting area.</p>
<p>Fortino says the package was deemed suspicious because it was unmarked and was the only gift under the tree.</p>
<p>Officials evacuated the terminal and kept all inbound ferries away for about a half-hour while the police bomb squad investigated.</p>
<p>Fortino says the gift was found to be a fruitcake.</p>
<p>He says it wasn’t clear why it was left at the terminal.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">MAN ARRESTED AFTER SHOWING UP TO CLAIM MARIJUANA SHIPMENT</a></p>
<p>WAREHAM, Mass. (AP) — Police in Massachusetts have arrested a Rhode Island man they say showed up at a shipping company in a brand-new pickup truck he had paid cash for to claim two crates that contained 112 pounds of marijuana.</p>
<p>Wareham police say they were tipped off by employees of Cape Cod Express, who were suspicious of the two wooden crates.</p>
<p>When 40-year-old Michael Chen, of Providence, Rhode Island, showed up at the facility on Wednesday to claim them, he was confronted by police and consented to a search of the crates.</p>
<p>Police say they contained 112 pounds of pot combined.</p>
<p>Chen was charged with trafficking in marijuana over 100 pounds. Police also seized his 2017 pickup.</p>
<p>He was freed on $7,500 bail. It was not clear if he had a lawyer.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">DRUGS, GUN, TEETH FOUND ON MAN STOPPED AT S. CAROLINA STORE</a></p>
<p>MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (AP) — Police say they found thousands of doses of heroin, a gun and human teeth on a man detained during a suspected shoplifting investigation at a South Carolina Walmart on Christmas Eve.</p>
<p>Officers tell the Sun News of Myrtle Beach they charged 21-year-old Tavon Malik Stanley of Calabash, North Carolina, with crimes including heroin trafficking and drug possession.</p>
<p>Officials at a North Myrtle Beach Walmart detained Stanley after they saw a person with him allegedly take around $25 worth of items without paying for them. Stanley had a Ruger 9 mm handgun and more than $2,500 in cash, and officers found dozens of pills, thousands of doses of heroin and two human teeth in his backpack.</p>
<p>Stanley was released from jail on bond. It wasn’t known if he had an attorney.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">PROSECUTOR: DOCTOR REUSED ONE-USE ANAL CATHETERS ON PATIENTS</a></p>
<p>EAST BRUNSWICK, N.J. (AP) — A New Jersey surgeon’s medical license has been temporarily suspended for allegedly reusing disposable anal catheters on multiple patients.</p>
<p>Attorney General Christopher Porrino says East Brunswick-based colon and rectal surgeon Sanjiv Patankar allegedly washed and reused the one-use catheters that are inserted into patients during medical procedures.</p>
<p>State officials say they have evidence that Patankar ordered only five catheters during time when he performed 82 procedures requiring them.</p>
<p>The state Board of Medical Examiners unanimously voted to suspend the doctor’s license last week, saying he “placed patients in clear and imminent danger.”</p>
<p>Patankar’s license will remain temporarily suspended pending a full hearing in the state Office of Administrative Law and until the Board of Medical Examiners takes final action based on further findings.</p>
| false | 2 |
police suspect wearing trust tshirt steals car falls church va ap suspect wearing tshirt emblazoned trust allegedly stole car accomplice fairfax county virginia washington post reports two suspects falls church arrested police stolen car long unlocked honda civic taken warmed police say also found several forged checks arrests newspaper says wilmer lara garcia charged auto theft two counts forgery police say wearing shirt read trust accomplice charged auto theft florida man says punched atm giving much cash cocoa fla ap florida man told investigators punched automatic teller machine gave much cash arrest report says 23yearold michael joseph oleksik man caused 5000 damage atm wells fargo bank branch cocoa nov 29 arrested dec 22 criminal mischief charge bank officials decided press charges florida today reports surveillance video captured oleksik pummeling touch screen arrest report says oleksik told bank manager angry machine giving much money didnt know hurry work apologized causing damage jail records dont list lawyer oleksik definition mission rhyming limerick english word one mans joke become mission give word rhyming definition chris strolin teasing english buffs online forum years ago said dictionary would greatly improved definitions written fiveline limericks decided try real omnificent english dictionary limerick form oedilf ohdilf short published 97000 rhyming definitions since strolin started online dictionary 2004 expects reach limerick 100000 sometime 2018 even help roughly 1000 contributing writers strolins limerick dictionary nowhere near finished currently ends gs word gizzard photo made monday dec 11 2017 chris strolin poses photo belleville ill strolin created online omnificent english dictionary limerick form oedilf short help contributors published 97000 definitions words limerick form since began 2004 ap photojeff roberson strolin hopes grandchildren perhaps kids finish zs woman stunned find electric bill listed 284 billion erie pa ap pennsylvania woman says went online check electric bill stunned amount 284 billion erie timesnews reports mary horomanski said eyes popped head saw amount suspected family put christmas lights wrong silver lining didnt pay full amount november 2018 28156 minimum payment due december horomanskis son contacted penelac electric provider confirmed error parent company first energy said decimal point accidentally moved new amount quickly corrected 28446 stylist accused giving man unwanted stooges hairdo madison wis ap police madison wisconsin arrested hairstylist gave customer unwanted larry fine hairdo police spokesman joel despain says 22yearold victim told officers stylist asked stop fidgeting moving head friday haircut wisconsin state journal reports despain says stylist nicked customers ear clippers running middle mans head shortest attachment leaving looking bit like larry three stooges despain says officers arrested 46yearold hairstylist khaled shabani pleaded guilty disorderly conduct wednesday despain says shabani told officers accident woman accused trying snort cocaine police station ledyard conn ap woman accused trying snort cocaine inside connecticut police station waiting booked unrelated charges police say nicole hunter charged christmas day possession narcotics interfering officer disorderly conduct police arrested hunter confrontation home ledyard investigating report erratic driver say vehicle involved matched one hunters driveway police say hunter waiting area police station pulled cocaine wrapped paper inside clothing tried snort hunter doesnt listed phone number cant reached comment shes due court jan 8 antigambling crusader wins 25k gaming sweepstakes chicago ap suburban chicago woman crusaded gambling decades 25000 playing sweepstakes game gambling cafe kathy gilroy tells chicago tribune ironic sweepstakes distinction didnt spend money gamble gilroy said gambling lead addiction bankruptcy crime suicide helped shut 16 million queen hearts raffle put veterans foreign wars post rural morris year raffle properly licensed gilroy says shes participated sweepstakes prizes including electronics trips bahamas california says enters sweepstakes theyre made available free charge state law police woman ruined 300k worth art date lawyer houston ap authorities say intoxicated dallas woman first date prominent houston trial lawyer caused least 300000 damage art collection including two andy warhol paintings lindy lou layman arrested saturday criminal mischief charges date anthony buzbee released 30000 bond online court records dont list attorney prosecutors say buzbee told investigators 29yearold layman got intoxicated date called uber returned home allegedly refused leave hid inside home buzbee found called second uber got aggressive authorities say tore several paintings poured red wine threw two 20000 sculptures damaged warhol paintings valued 500000 heartwarmingly icy despite minus 34 temp couple get engaged sargents purchase nh ap new hampshire man hasnt let extreme cold get way heartwarming proposal wmurtv reports 31yearold josh darnell londonderry dropped knee popped question climbing tuckermans ravine thursday day hit minus 34 37 celsius mount washington theres happy ending twentysevenyearold rachel raske rasskee lowell massachusetts said yes raske tells wmur darnell hiked tuckermans ravine last summer dad planning pop question ever since man charged sneaking home try steal undies washington mo ap police say eastern missouri man told officers underwear fetish admitted sneaking home try steal pair st louis post dispatch reports 34yearold cody hassler washington missouri charged wednesday firstdegree burglary firstdegree stalking stealing attorney listed online court records bond set 75000 police say hassler admitted sneaking house unlocked basement door october mother teenage daughter sleeping taking pair underwear laundry room teenager awoke heard footsteps police called officers found pair underwear apparently dropped suspect fled hassler also admitted looking bedroom windows burnt bagel blamed st louis airport evacuation st louis ap burnt bagel blamed evacuation terminal lambert airport st louis airport officials say bagel burned restaurant terminal 2 around 6 pm tuesday setting smoke detectors prompting full evacuation estimated 300 400 people required go outside temperature 11 degrees airport says evacuation lasted five minutes passengers go back security checks reentered building flight delays reported cougar luggage hunting carcass found airport las vegas ap police say hunters trip home hit snag las vegas security screeners found dead cougar luggage crime committed man hunting tag police lt david gordon told las vegas reviewjournal transportation security administration agents held man mccarran international airport late tuesday confirm validity utah hunting tag name headed werent released airport spokeswoman melissa nunnery says man ended shipping cougar carcass home airplane gordon says crime transport legally possessed game airline flight says airlines refuse transport certain items lifelong best friends discover theyre actually brothers honolulu ap two hawaii men grew best friends recently learned theyre actually brothers alan robinson walter macfarlane friends 60 years born hawaii 15 months apart met sixth grade played football together honolulu prep school macfarlane never knew father robinson adopted honolulu news station khontv reports men learned theyre related family history dna website revealed discovery saturday macfarlanes daughter cindy macfarlaneflores says started digging answers family history top dna match someone username robi737 robinsons nickname robi flew 737s aloha airlines plan travel enjoy retirement together robinson says best christmas present police man attempts rob store fake furniture gun akron ohio ap police say man tried failed rob ohio convenience store fake gun made pieces furniture charged robbery akron police say man walked local circle k store monday afternoon waving appeared rifle demanding cash employee realized rifle fake confronted man help three customers man tried flee subdued detained people store police arrived charged aggravated robbery scheduled appear municipal court wednesday police say man pole fake scope spring two table legs fastened together look like rifle fruitcake package temporarily halts seattle ferry service seattle ap authorities say wrapped present turned fruitcake temporarily halted service seattle ferry terminal police investigated washington state patrol trooper kevin fortino says troopers notified tuesday suspicious package found beneath christmas tree pedestrian waiting area fortino says package deemed suspicious unmarked gift tree officials evacuated terminal kept inbound ferries away halfhour police bomb squad investigated fortino says gift found fruitcake says wasnt clear left terminal man arrested showing claim marijuana shipment wareham mass ap police massachusetts arrested rhode island man say showed shipping company brandnew pickup truck paid cash claim two crates contained 112 pounds marijuana wareham police say tipped employees cape cod express suspicious two wooden crates 40yearold michael chen providence rhode island showed facility wednesday claim confronted police consented search crates police say contained 112 pounds pot combined chen charged trafficking marijuana 100 pounds police also seized 2017 pickup freed 7500 bail clear lawyer drugs gun teeth found man stopped carolina store myrtle beach sc ap police say found thousands doses heroin gun human teeth man detained suspected shoplifting investigation south carolina walmart christmas eve officers tell sun news myrtle beach charged 21yearold tavon malik stanley calabash north carolina crimes including heroin trafficking drug possession officials north myrtle beach walmart detained stanley saw person allegedly take around 25 worth items without paying stanley ruger 9 mm handgun 2500 cash officers found dozens pills thousands doses heroin two human teeth backpack stanley released jail bond wasnt known attorney prosecutor doctor reused oneuse anal catheters patients east brunswick nj ap new jersey surgeons medical license temporarily suspended allegedly reusing disposable anal catheters multiple patients attorney general christopher porrino says east brunswickbased colon rectal surgeon sanjiv patankar allegedly washed reused oneuse catheters inserted patients medical procedures state officials say evidence patankar ordered five catheters time performed 82 procedures requiring state board medical examiners unanimously voted suspend doctors license last week saying placed patients clear imminent danger patankars license remain temporarily suspended pending full hearing state office administrative law board medical examiners takes final action based findings police suspect wearing trust tshirt steals car falls church va ap suspect wearing tshirt emblazoned trust allegedly stole car accomplice fairfax county virginia washington post reports two suspects falls church arrested police stolen car long unlocked honda civic taken warmed police say also found several forged checks arrests newspaper says wilmer lara garcia charged auto theft two counts forgery police say wearing shirt read trust accomplice charged auto theft florida man says punched atm giving much cash cocoa fla ap florida man told investigators punched automatic teller machine gave much cash arrest report says 23yearold michael joseph oleksik man caused 5000 damage atm wells fargo bank branch cocoa nov 29 arrested dec 22 criminal mischief charge bank officials decided press charges florida today reports surveillance video captured oleksik pummeling touch screen arrest report says oleksik told bank manager angry machine giving much money didnt know hurry work apologized causing damage jail records dont list lawyer oleksik definition mission rhyming limerick english word one mans joke become mission give word rhyming definition chris strolin teasing english buffs online forum years ago said dictionary would greatly improved definitions written fiveline limericks decided try real omnificent english dictionary limerick form oedilf ohdilf short published 97000 rhyming definitions since strolin started online dictionary 2004 expects reach limerick 100000 sometime 2018 even help roughly 1000 contributing writers strolins limerick dictionary nowhere near finished currently ends gs word gizzard photo made monday dec 11 2017 chris strolin poses photo belleville ill strolin created online omnificent english dictionary limerick form oedilf short help contributors published 97000 definitions words limerick form since began 2004 ap photojeff roberson strolin hopes grandchildren perhaps kids finish zs woman stunned find electric bill listed 284 billion erie pa ap pennsylvania woman says went online check electric bill stunned amount 284 billion erie timesnews reports mary horomanski said eyes popped head saw amount suspected family put christmas lights wrong silver lining didnt pay full amount november 2018 28156 minimum payment due december horomanskis son contacted penelac electric provider confirmed error parent company first energy said decimal point accidentally moved new amount quickly corrected 28446 stylist accused giving man unwanted stooges hairdo madison wis ap police madison wisconsin arrested hairstylist gave customer unwanted larry fine hairdo police spokesman joel despain says 22yearold victim told officers stylist asked stop fidgeting moving head friday haircut wisconsin state journal reports despain says stylist nicked customers ear clippers running middle mans head shortest attachment leaving looking bit like larry three stooges despain says officers arrested 46yearold hairstylist khaled shabani pleaded guilty disorderly conduct wednesday despain says shabani told officers accident woman accused trying snort cocaine police station ledyard conn ap woman accused trying snort cocaine inside connecticut police station waiting booked unrelated charges police say nicole hunter charged christmas day possession narcotics interfering officer disorderly conduct police arrested hunter confrontation home ledyard investigating report erratic driver say vehicle involved matched one hunters driveway police say hunter waiting area police station pulled cocaine wrapped paper inside clothing tried snort hunter doesnt listed phone number cant reached comment shes due court jan 8 antigambling crusader wins 25k gaming sweepstakes chicago ap suburban chicago woman crusaded gambling decades 25000 playing sweepstakes game gambling cafe kathy gilroy tells chicago tribune ironic sweepstakes distinction didnt spend money gamble gilroy said gambling lead addiction bankruptcy crime suicide helped shut 16 million queen hearts raffle put veterans foreign wars post rural morris year raffle properly licensed gilroy says shes participated sweepstakes prizes including electronics trips bahamas california says enters sweepstakes theyre made available free charge state law police woman ruined 300k worth art date lawyer houston ap authorities say intoxicated dallas woman first date prominent houston trial lawyer caused least 300000 damage art collection including two andy warhol paintings lindy lou layman arrested saturday criminal mischief charges date anthony buzbee released 30000 bond online court records dont list attorney prosecutors say buzbee told investigators 29yearold layman got intoxicated date called uber returned home allegedly refused leave hid inside home buzbee found called second uber got aggressive authorities say tore several paintings poured red wine threw two 20000 sculptures damaged warhol paintings valued 500000 heartwarmingly icy despite minus 34 temp couple get engaged sargents purchase nh ap new hampshire man hasnt let extreme cold get way heartwarming proposal wmurtv reports 31yearold josh darnell londonderry dropped knee popped question climbing tuckermans ravine thursday day hit minus 34 37 celsius mount washington theres happy ending twentysevenyearold rachel raske rasskee lowell massachusetts said yes raske tells wmur darnell hiked tuckermans ravine last summer dad planning pop question ever since man charged sneaking home try steal undies washington mo ap police say eastern missouri man told officers underwear fetish admitted sneaking home try steal pair st louis post dispatch reports 34yearold cody hassler washington missouri charged wednesday firstdegree burglary firstdegree stalking stealing attorney listed online court records bond set 75000 police say hassler admitted sneaking house unlocked basement door october mother teenage daughter sleeping taking pair underwear laundry room teenager awoke heard footsteps police called officers found pair underwear apparently dropped suspect fled hassler also admitted looking bedroom windows burnt bagel blamed st louis airport evacuation st louis ap burnt bagel blamed evacuation terminal lambert airport st louis airport officials say bagel burned restaurant terminal 2 around 6 pm tuesday setting smoke detectors prompting full evacuation estimated 300 400 people required go outside temperature 11 degrees airport says evacuation lasted five minutes passengers go back security checks reentered building flight delays reported cougar luggage hunting carcass found airport las vegas ap police say hunters trip home hit snag las vegas security screeners found dead cougar luggage crime committed man hunting tag police lt david gordon told las vegas reviewjournal transportation security administration agents held man mccarran international airport late tuesday confirm validity utah hunting tag name headed werent released airport spokeswoman melissa nunnery says man ended shipping cougar carcass home airplane gordon says crime transport legally possessed game airline flight says airlines refuse transport certain items lifelong best friends discover theyre actually brothers honolulu ap two hawaii men grew best friends recently learned theyre actually brothers alan robinson walter macfarlane friends 60 years born hawaii 15 months apart met sixth grade played football together honolulu prep school macfarlane never knew father robinson adopted honolulu news station khontv reports men learned theyre related family history dna website revealed discovery saturday macfarlanes daughter cindy macfarlaneflores says started digging answers family history top dna match someone username robi737 robinsons nickname robi flew 737s aloha airlines plan travel enjoy retirement together robinson says best christmas present police man attempts rob store fake furniture gun akron ohio ap police say man tried failed rob ohio convenience store fake gun made pieces furniture charged robbery akron police say man walked local circle k store monday afternoon waving appeared rifle demanding cash employee realized rifle fake confronted man help three customers man tried flee subdued detained people store police arrived charged aggravated robbery scheduled appear municipal court wednesday police say man pole fake scope spring two table legs fastened together look like rifle fruitcake package temporarily halts seattle ferry service seattle ap authorities say wrapped present turned fruitcake temporarily halted service seattle ferry terminal police investigated washington state patrol trooper kevin fortino says troopers notified tuesday suspicious package found beneath christmas tree pedestrian waiting area fortino says package deemed suspicious unmarked gift tree officials evacuated terminal kept inbound ferries away halfhour police bomb squad investigated fortino says gift found fruitcake says wasnt clear left terminal man arrested showing claim marijuana shipment wareham mass ap police massachusetts arrested rhode island man say showed shipping company brandnew pickup truck paid cash claim two crates contained 112 pounds marijuana wareham police say tipped employees cape cod express suspicious two wooden crates 40yearold michael chen providence rhode island showed facility wednesday claim confronted police consented search crates police say contained 112 pounds pot combined chen charged trafficking marijuana 100 pounds police also seized 2017 pickup freed 7500 bail clear lawyer drugs gun teeth found man stopped carolina store myrtle beach sc ap police say found thousands doses heroin gun human teeth man detained suspected shoplifting investigation south carolina walmart christmas eve officers tell sun news myrtle beach charged 21yearold tavon malik stanley calabash north carolina crimes including heroin trafficking drug possession officials north myrtle beach walmart detained stanley saw person allegedly take around 25 worth items without paying stanley ruger 9 mm handgun 2500 cash officers found dozens pills thousands doses heroin two human teeth backpack stanley released jail bond wasnt known attorney prosecutor doctor reused oneuse anal catheters patients east brunswick nj ap new jersey surgeons medical license temporarily suspended allegedly reusing disposable anal catheters multiple patients attorney general christopher porrino says east brunswickbased colon rectal surgeon sanjiv patankar allegedly washed reused oneuse catheters inserted patients medical procedures state officials say evidence patankar ordered five catheters time performed 82 procedures requiring state board medical examiners unanimously voted suspend doctors license last week saying placed patients clear imminent danger patankars license remain temporarily suspended pending full hearing state office administrative law board medical examiners takes final action based findings
| 3,036 |
<p>NEW YORK (Reuters) - TransCanada Corp’s Keystone crude pipeline is still operating at 20 percent reduced pressure, a spokesman for the company said on Tuesday, more than two months after a leak forced the line to be shut.</p> FILE PHOTO: An aerial view shows the darkened ground of an oil spill which shut down the Keystone pipeline between Canada and the United States, located in an agricultural area near Amherst, South Dakota, U.S., in this photo provided November 18, 2017. REUTERS/Dronebase/File Photo
<p>Calgary-based TransCanada shut the 590,000 barrel-per-day pipeline, one of Canada’s main crude export routes linking Alberta to U.S. refineries, on Nov. 16 after the leak was detected.</p>
<p>The pipeline was restarted about two weeks later, but the U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) ordered TransCanada to operate at reduced pressure after the 5,000-barrel oil leak in South Dakota. [nL1N1NY2OB]</p>
<p>Energy data provider Genscape said on Thursday the pipeline flow averaged an estimated 524,000 bpd last week.</p>
<p>The reduced flows have contributed to inventory declines at the Cushing, Oklahoma storage hub and pressured Canadian crude differentials, traders said.</p>
<p>PHMSA did not immediately comment on when the line would be allowed to return to full capacity.</p>
<p>Reporting by Devika Krishna Kumar in New York; Editing by Marguerita Choy</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>PARIS (Reuters) - The French gendarme who voluntarily took the place of a hostage during a deadly supermarket siege in southwestern France on Friday has died, Interior Minister Gerard Collomb said.</p>
<p>The gendarme, or policeman, had been left fighting for his life after being hit by gunfire inside the Super U supermarket in the town of Trebes before elite police raided the premises and killed the attacker, who had burst into the store yelling “Allahu Akbar”.</p>
<p>“Dead for his country. France will never forget his heroism, bravery and sacrifice,” Collomb said in a Twitter message in which he gave the gendarme’s name, Arnaud Beltrame.</p>
<p>Reporting By Brian Love; Editing by Clarence Fernandez</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>TREBES, France (Reuters) - A gunman killed three people in southwestern France on Friday as he held up a car, fired on police and seized hostages in a supermarket, screaming “Allahu Akbar” before security forces stormed the building and killed him, authorities said.</p>
<p>Sixteen other people were wounded, including two who were seriously hurt, in what President Emmanuel Macron called an act of “Islamist terrorism”.</p>
<p>The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack. Macron said security services were checking that claim.</p>
<p>“I want to tell the nation tonight of my absolute determination in leading this fight,” said Macron, who returned to Paris from Brussels to chair a crisis meeting with ministers and security officials.</p>
<p>More than 240 people have been killed in France in attacks since 2015 by assailants who pledged allegiance to Islamic State or were inspired by the group.</p>
<p>Friday’s attacker was identified by authorities as Redouane Lakdim, 25, from the city of Carcassonne.</p>
<p>Two people were killed when he attacked the supermarket in the nearby small town of Trebes.</p>
<p>Witnesses said about 20 people in the supermarket found refuge in its cold storage room.</p>
<p>A lieutenant-colonel of the gendarmes who swapped himself in exchange for one of the hostages was fighting for his life in hospital, Macron said.</p>
<p>Moroccan-born Lakdim was known to authorities for petty crimes, but had been under surveillance by security services in 2016-2017 for links to the radical Salafist movement, said Paris prosecutor Francois Molins, who is leading the investigation.</p>
<p>“The monitoring ... did not reveal any apparent signs that could lead (us) to foresee he would act,” Molins said.</p>
<p>He said one woman connected to Lakdim had been arrested.</p>
<p>Interior Minister Gerard Collomb told reporters at the scene that he believed Lakdim had acted alone.</p>
<p>“Every day we detect facts and foil new attacks. Alas, this one struck without us being able to counter it,” Collomb said.</p>
<p>Lakdim first killed one person with a bullet in the head while stealing a car in Carcassonne, a walled city with a medieval citadel that is one of France’s top tourist attractions.</p>
<p>He pulled up in the car to four police officers who were jogging in the city and opened fire, hitting one in the shoulder, then sped off to Trebes, about 8 km (5 miles) to the east, where he took the hostages in the supermarket.</p>
<p>“The perpetrator entered the store shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’ and indicated that he was an Islamic State soldier who was ready to die for Syria, seeking the release of brothers, before shooting at a client and a store employee who died on the spot,” Molins said.</p>
<p>Police were carrying out searches at Lakdim’s family home.</p> A general view shows police officers and investigators at a supermarket after a hostage situation in Trebes, France, March 23, 2018. REUTERS/Regis Duvignau ESCAPE
<p>One supermarket worker said some shoppers had escaped from the building after the gunman burst in.</p>
<p>“I was in my department when I heard gunshots. I went to the area of the gunshots and came face to face with the person,” said the employee, who gave his name only as Francois.</p>
<p>“He raised his gun and fired, I ran away, he shouted ‘Allahu Akbar’ and spoke about the Islamic State. I then evacuated the clients, about 20, who were in my area and we went quietly out of the back,” said Francois, who has been employed at the supermarket since November.</p>
<p>Collomb said the gunman had demanded the release of Salah Abdeslam - the prime surviving suspect in Islamic State suicide bombing and mass shooting attacks on a sports stadium, concert hall and restaurants that killed 130 people in Paris in 2015.</p>
<p>Abdeslam, a French citizen born and raised in Brussels, went on trial in Belgium last month. He is accused of “attempted murder in a terrorist context” over a Brussels shootout in March 2016, four months after he fled Paris on the night of the carnage during which his brother was among the suicide bombers.</p> Slideshow (14 Images) “THE THREAT IS EVERYWHERE”
<p>France is part of a U.S.-led coalition fighting against Islamic State in Syria and Iraq and also has thousands of soldiers in West Africa fighting al Qaeda-linked militants.</p>
<p>In February, Collomb said French security forces had foiled two planned attacks so far this year as Islamic State militants set their sights on domestic targets in response to the group’s military setbacks in Iraq and Syria.</p>
<p>“This is a small, quiet town. Unfortunately the threat is everywhere,” Collomb told reporters in Trebes.</p>
<p>Carcassonne, a UNESCO heritage site, lies in the Languedoc region, known for its wine and picturesque countryside but also one of the poorest areas in France, with unemployment about 3 percentage points above the national average.</p>
<p>Nearby Beziers is one of the biggest cities controlled by the far-right, while the smaller town of Lunel further east became a breeding ground for many French jihadists who travelled to Syria to fight.</p> Related Coverage
<a href="/article/us-france-security-molins/prosecutor-says-one-person-arrested-after-southern-france-attack-idUSKBN1GZ2XN" type="external">Prosecutor says one person arrested after southern France attack</a>
<a href="/article/us-france-security-gendarme/french-gendarme-who-traded-places-with-hostage-is-dead-minister-idUSKBN1GZ2ZF" type="external">French gendarme who traded places with hostage is dead: minister</a>
<a href="/article/us-france-security-witness/french-supermarket-hostages-dodge-attacker-hide-in-cold-store-idUSKBN1GZ2T4" type="external">French supermarket hostages dodge attacker, hide in cold store</a>
<p>Almost six years ago to the day, Islamist gunman Mohammed Merah killed seven people in the Toulouse region, about 90 km from Carcassonne. He was killed by security forces after a more than 30-hour stand-off.</p>
<p>The last lethal Islamist attack in France was in October 2017 when a Tunisian-born man stabbed two young women to death in Marseille before he was shot dead by soldiers. Islamic State also claimed responsibility for that attack.</p>
<p>For other stories on the attack, click on:</p>
<p>French gendarme fighting for his life after trading places with hostage</p>
<p>France supermarket attacker pledged to “die for Syria”</p>
<p>French supermarket hostages dodge attacker, hide in cold store</p>
<p>Reporting by Emmanuel Jarry, Sophie Louet, John Irish, Michel Rose, Leigh Thomas, Brian Love and Bate Felix in Paris; Writing by Ingrid Melander and David Stamp; Editing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg and Catherine Evans</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump signed Congress’ newly passed $1.3 trillion spending bill on Friday, ending several hours of confusion spurred by a tweeted veto threat that raised the specter of a government shutdown.</p>
<p>Trump said he had signed the bill, despite his qualms on some issues, because a $60 billion increase in military spending had convinced him it was a worthwhile compromise.</p>
<p>“But I say to Congress I will never sign another bill like this again,” he told reporters. “I’m not going to do it again.”</p>
<p>White House and Capitol Hill aides had been left scrambling earlier in the day after Trump criticized the six-month spending bill, despite prior assurances from the administration that he would sign it ahead of a looming midnight deadline.</p>
<p>“I am considering a VETO of the Omnibus Spending Bill based on the fact that the 800,000 plus DACA recipients have been totally abandoned by the Democrats (not even mentioned in Bill) and the BORDER WALL, which is desperately needed for our National Defense, is not fully funded,” Trump wrote on Twitter at 9 a.m. EDT.</p>
<p>Trump then huddled with his senior advisers to discuss a potential veto and was advised against it, with the advisers saying he would be blamed for a shutdown and that discussions continue on the issues he is concerned about, one aide said.</p>
<p>By early afternoon, he appeared before reporters in the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House to announce he had signed the measure.</p>
<p>“There are a lot of things I’m unhappy about in this bill,” he said, patting the more than 2,000 pages of the legislation stacked on a purple box beside him.</p> U.S. President Donald Trump points to Congress' $1.3 trillion spending bill during a signing ceremony in the Diplomatic Room of the White House in Washington. U.S., March 23, 2018. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
<p>It was unclear how seriously Republican leaders took Trump’s shutdown threat. Neither Speaker Paul Ryan nor Senate Leader Mitch McConnell commented publicly on it.</p>
<p>Lawmakers in the Republican-dominated Senate and House of Representatives had already left Washington for a scheduled two-week spring recess, and Trump himself was scheduled on Friday to fly to Florida for a weekend at his private resort.</p> Slideshow (4 Images) IMMIGRATION CONCERNS
<p>Trump has been frustrated that Congress has not turned over funding to make good on his campaign promise to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. The bill includes $1.6 billion for six month’s of work on the project but he had sought $25 billion for it.</p>
<p>Trump also has been at odds with Democrats in Congress over the fate of Dreamer immigrants - those brought to the United States illegally when they were children.</p>
<p>Trump canceled the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program that gives work permits to the Dreamers and protects them from deportation. The decision is currently tied up in court cases.</p> Related Coverage
<a href="/article/us-usa-fiscal-congress-factbox/factbox-what-is-in-the-1-3-trillion-spending-bill-before-the-congress-idUSKBN1GY3C9" type="external">Factbox: What is in the $1.3 trillion spending bill before the Congress</a>
<p>He offered to extend the protections, tied to a sweeping set of changes to immigration laws, but subsequently rejected bipartisan offers from lawmakers.</p>
<p>As the six-month spending budget deal was coming together, there had been reports Trump had balked at the bill and had to be persuaded by Ryan to support it.</p>
<p>The conservative wing of Trump’s party had panned the bill because of its spending increases and some deficit hawks cheered Trump’s Friday morning threat to veto it.</p>
<p>Reporting by Richard Cowan and Steve Holland; additional reporting by Roberta Rampton, Amanda Becker, Susan Heavey and Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Bill Trott</p> Our Standards:
<a href="" type="internal">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</a>
<p>BEIJING (Reuters) - Apple Inc’s ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=AAPL.O" type="external">AAPL.O</a>) 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> FILE PHOTO: Apple CEO Tim Cook attends the opening ceremony of the fourth World Internet Conference in Wuzhen, Zhejiang province, China, December 3, 2017. REUTERS/Aly Song
<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>
<a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=AAPL.O" type="external">Apple Inc</a> 164.94 AAPL.O Nasdaq -3.91 (-2.32%) AAPL.O IBM.N GOOGL.O QCOM.O
<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 ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=IBM.N" type="external">IBM.N</a>) , Google Inc ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=GOOGL.O" type="external">GOOGL.O</a>) and Qualcomm Inc ( <a href="/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=QCOM.O" type="external">QCOM.O</a>).</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>
| false | 2 |
new york reuters transcanada corps keystone crude pipeline still operating 20 percent reduced pressure spokesman company said tuesday two months leak forced line shut file photo aerial view shows darkened ground oil spill shut keystone pipeline canada united states located agricultural area near amherst south dakota us photo provided november 18 2017 reutersdronebasefile photo calgarybased transcanada shut 590000 barrelperday pipeline one canadas main crude export routes linking alberta us refineries nov 16 leak detected pipeline restarted two weeks later us pipeline hazardous materials safety administration phmsa ordered transcanada operate reduced pressure 5000barrel oil leak south dakota nl1n1ny2ob energy data provider genscape said thursday pipeline flow averaged estimated 524000 bpd last week reduced flows contributed inventory declines cushing oklahoma storage hub pressured canadian crude differentials traders said phmsa immediately comment line would allowed return full capacity reporting devika krishna kumar new york editing marguerita choy standards thomson reuters trust principles paris reuters french gendarme voluntarily took place hostage deadly supermarket siege southwestern france friday died interior minister gerard collomb said gendarme policeman left fighting life hit gunfire inside super u supermarket town trebes elite police raided premises killed attacker burst store yelling allahu akbar dead country france never forget heroism bravery sacrifice collomb said twitter message gave gendarmes name arnaud beltrame reporting brian love editing clarence fernandez standards thomson reuters trust principles trebes france reuters gunman killed three people southwestern france friday held car fired police seized hostages supermarket screaming allahu akbar security forces stormed building killed authorities said sixteen people wounded including two seriously hurt president emmanuel macron called act islamist terrorism islamic state group claimed responsibility attack macron said security services checking claim want tell nation tonight absolute determination leading fight said macron returned paris brussels chair crisis meeting ministers security officials 240 people killed france attacks since 2015 assailants pledged allegiance islamic state inspired group fridays attacker identified authorities redouane lakdim 25 city carcassonne two people killed attacked supermarket nearby small town trebes witnesses said 20 people supermarket found refuge cold storage room lieutenantcolonel gendarmes swapped exchange one hostages fighting life hospital macron said moroccanborn lakdim known authorities petty crimes surveillance security services 20162017 links radical salafist movement said paris prosecutor francois molins leading investigation monitoring reveal apparent signs could lead us foresee would act molins said said one woman connected lakdim arrested interior minister gerard collomb told reporters scene believed lakdim acted alone every day detect facts foil new attacks alas one struck without us able counter collomb said lakdim first killed one person bullet head stealing car carcassonne walled city medieval citadel one frances top tourist attractions pulled car four police officers jogging city opened fire hitting one shoulder sped trebes 8 km 5 miles east took hostages supermarket perpetrator entered store shouting allahu akbar indicated islamic state soldier ready die syria seeking release brothers shooting client store employee died spot molins said police carrying searches lakdims family home general view shows police officers investigators supermarket hostage situation trebes france march 23 2018 reutersregis duvignau escape one supermarket worker said shoppers escaped building gunman burst department heard gunshots went area gunshots came face face person said employee gave name francois raised gun fired ran away shouted allahu akbar spoke islamic state evacuated clients 20 area went quietly back said francois employed supermarket since november collomb said gunman demanded release salah abdeslam prime surviving suspect islamic state suicide bombing mass shooting attacks sports stadium concert hall restaurants killed 130 people paris 2015 abdeslam french citizen born raised brussels went trial belgium last month accused attempted murder terrorist context brussels shootout march 2016 four months fled paris night carnage brother among suicide bombers slideshow 14 images threat everywhere france part usled coalition fighting islamic state syria iraq also thousands soldiers west africa fighting al qaedalinked militants february collomb said french security forces foiled two planned attacks far year islamic state militants set sights domestic targets response groups military setbacks iraq syria small quiet town unfortunately threat everywhere collomb told reporters trebes carcassonne unesco heritage site lies languedoc region known wine picturesque countryside also one poorest areas france unemployment 3 percentage points national average nearby beziers one biggest cities controlled farright smaller town lunel east became breeding ground many french jihadists travelled syria fight related coverage prosecutor says one person arrested southern france attack french gendarme traded places hostage dead minister french supermarket hostages dodge attacker hide cold store almost six years ago day islamist gunman mohammed merah killed seven people toulouse region 90 km carcassonne killed security forces 30hour standoff last lethal islamist attack france october 2017 tunisianborn man stabbed two young women death marseille shot dead soldiers islamic state also claimed responsibility attack stories attack click french gendarme fighting life trading places hostage france supermarket attacker pledged die syria french supermarket hostages dodge attacker hide cold store reporting emmanuel jarry sophie louet john irish michel rose leigh thomas brian love bate felix paris writing ingrid melander david stamp editing matthew mpoke bigg catherine evans standards thomson reuters trust principles washington reuters us president donald trump signed congress newly passed 13 trillion spending bill friday ending several hours confusion spurred tweeted veto threat raised specter government shutdown trump said signed bill despite qualms issues 60 billion increase military spending convinced worthwhile compromise say congress never sign another bill like told reporters im going white house capitol hill aides left scrambling earlier day trump criticized sixmonth spending bill despite prior assurances administration would sign ahead looming midnight deadline considering veto omnibus spending bill based fact 800000 plus daca recipients totally abandoned democrats even mentioned bill border wall desperately needed national defense fully funded trump wrote twitter 9 edt trump huddled senior advisers discuss potential veto advised advisers saying would blamed shutdown discussions continue issues concerned one aide said early afternoon appeared reporters diplomatic reception room white house announce signed measure lot things im unhappy bill said patting 2000 pages legislation stacked purple box beside us president donald trump points congress 13 trillion spending bill signing ceremony diplomatic room white house washington us march 23 2018 reuterskevin lamarque unclear seriously republican leaders took trumps shutdown threat neither speaker paul ryan senate leader mitch mcconnell commented publicly lawmakers republicandominated senate house representatives already left washington scheduled twoweek spring recess trump scheduled friday fly florida weekend private resort slideshow 4 images immigration concerns trump frustrated congress turned funding make good campaign promise build wall along usmexico border bill includes 16 billion six months work project sought 25 billion trump also odds democrats congress fate dreamer immigrants brought united states illegally children trump canceled deferred action childhood arrivals daca program gives work permits dreamers protects deportation decision currently tied court cases related coverage factbox 13 trillion spending bill congress offered extend protections tied sweeping set changes immigration laws subsequently rejected bipartisan offers lawmakers sixmonth spending budget deal coming together reports trump balked bill persuaded ryan support conservative wing trumps party panned bill spending increases deficit hawks cheered trumps friday morning threat veto reporting richard cowan steve holland additional reporting roberta rampton amanda becker susan heavey patricia zengerle editing bill trott standards thomson reuters trust principles beijing reuters apple incs aaplo chief executive tim cook saturday called calm heads open trade amid rising fears trade war united states china file photo apple ceo tim cook attends opening ceremony fourth world internet conference wuzhen zhejiang province china december 3 2017 reutersaly song 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 apple inc 16494 aaplo nasdaq 391 232 aaplo ibmn googlo qcomo 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 ibmn google inc googlo qualcomm inc qcomo 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
| 1,470 |
<p>HOPKINSVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Tangi Smith has seen them firsthand, the women, oftentimes with children, who are having a difficult time and who are experiencing what Smith describes as that "just kind of life hits you" circumstance.</p>
<p>She recalls finding one woman using the free laundry room at Fort Campbell even though she didn't live in the barracks on post, a requirement for using that facility.</p>
<p>"This soldier had so many things to be worried about," noted Smith, an Army veteran whose new program, Women Elevated, offers assistance primarily to military women.</p>
<p>"Clothes and laundry shouldn't be one of them."</p>
<p>A grand opening and ribbon cutting for the facility housing the new program is slated for 11 a.m. Jan. 12 at 3404 Bradfield Drive in Clarksville, Tennessee. The program will serve both current and former military women, and it will provide services initially in Hopkinsville as well as in Clarksville, according to Smith.</p>
<p>She noted that plans include a second facility in Hopkinsville within another three years and additional facilities in St. Louis; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Petersburg, Virginia; Columbus, Georgia; and Houston.</p>
<p>Women Elevated is a nonprofit organization whose services will include hot meals, laundry facilities, temporary housing, job placement and classes in resume-building and credit-score building. Additionally, two professional counselors, a medical doctor and a psychologist are volunteering with the facility.</p>
<p>The program will also serve as a link to other resources in the area.</p>
<p>Smith said the idea is to prevent crisis, i.e., homelessness and job loss, from occurring in the women's lives.</p>
<p>"We saw a need for this," she said, explaining that women are taught pride in the military and have a difficult time letting go of that pride when they find themselves in situations where they need help.</p>
<p>"A lot of women won't ask for help," she continued. "They feel like it's a handout, and they don't want a handout."</p>
<p>Smith notes that her program's services are for middle-class clients, for those women who are struggling but who aren't already receiving assistance. The Clarksville facility has accommodations where as many as eight women can stay for as long as five days if needed, and its two classrooms can seat up to 10 students at a time.</p>
<p>The new program will also serve some men, although Smith said her organization's board of directors will make decisions on serving any male clientele with a unanimous vote of its members.</p>
<p>Additionally, information on the group's website notes that civilian women will be among the clientele, depending on available resources. While the primary focus of Women Elevated is on women who are military veterans, the site notes that everyone is welcome to the food, coats and educational classes.</p>
<p>The program is housed in a renovated home, and Smith has plans to establish up to five additional facilities by 2020 in cities across the country. She notes that Fort Campbell offers similar services to veterans, but she says soldiers can lose the opportunity to make use of those services, especially if they're leaving under unfavorable circumstances and don't pay attention to classes explaining those services before they leave.</p>
<p>A resident of Clarksville, Smith is a military veteran and retired in May after serving almost 21 years in the Army. She was stationed at Fort Campbell three times, her last stint beginning in June of 2015.</p>
<p>Smith notes that she is supporting her program right now solely through donations and will continue to accept monetary donations to help establish subsequent facilities in surrounding areas.</p>
<p>She also suggests in-kind donations of items like cleaning supplies, detergents and other things that can be used by the organization's clients. Smith said her organization already is serving two or three women per week even though it has yet to officially get off the ground.</p>
<p>In the future, Smith hopes to acquire grants to support Women Elevated.</p>
<p>She says she is inviting the mayors of both Clarksville and neighboring Montgomery County, Tennessee, as well as Hopkinsville Mayor Carter Hendricks, to attend the upcoming grand opening/ribbon cutting and hopes to invite Bea Burt, the mayor of Oak Grove, since those communities will be the ones served by her program.</p>
<p>For more information about Smith's Women Elevated organization, call her at 931-302-6310 or public relations representative Audrey Austin at 931-216-3324 or visit <a href="http://www.womenelevated.org" type="external">www.womenelevated.org</a> .</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Information from: Kentucky New Era, <a href="http://www.kentuckynewera.com" type="external">http://www.kentuckynewera.com</a></p>
<p>HOPKINSVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Tangi Smith has seen them firsthand, the women, oftentimes with children, who are having a difficult time and who are experiencing what Smith describes as that "just kind of life hits you" circumstance.</p>
<p>She recalls finding one woman using the free laundry room at Fort Campbell even though she didn't live in the barracks on post, a requirement for using that facility.</p>
<p>"This soldier had so many things to be worried about," noted Smith, an Army veteran whose new program, Women Elevated, offers assistance primarily to military women.</p>
<p>"Clothes and laundry shouldn't be one of them."</p>
<p>A grand opening and ribbon cutting for the facility housing the new program is slated for 11 a.m. Jan. 12 at 3404 Bradfield Drive in Clarksville, Tennessee. The program will serve both current and former military women, and it will provide services initially in Hopkinsville as well as in Clarksville, according to Smith.</p>
<p>She noted that plans include a second facility in Hopkinsville within another three years and additional facilities in St. Louis; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Petersburg, Virginia; Columbus, Georgia; and Houston.</p>
<p>Women Elevated is a nonprofit organization whose services will include hot meals, laundry facilities, temporary housing, job placement and classes in resume-building and credit-score building. Additionally, two professional counselors, a medical doctor and a psychologist are volunteering with the facility.</p>
<p>The program will also serve as a link to other resources in the area.</p>
<p>Smith said the idea is to prevent crisis, i.e., homelessness and job loss, from occurring in the women's lives.</p>
<p>"We saw a need for this," she said, explaining that women are taught pride in the military and have a difficult time letting go of that pride when they find themselves in situations where they need help.</p>
<p>"A lot of women won't ask for help," she continued. "They feel like it's a handout, and they don't want a handout."</p>
<p>Smith notes that her program's services are for middle-class clients, for those women who are struggling but who aren't already receiving assistance. The Clarksville facility has accommodations where as many as eight women can stay for as long as five days if needed, and its two classrooms can seat up to 10 students at a time.</p>
<p>The new program will also serve some men, although Smith said her organization's board of directors will make decisions on serving any male clientele with a unanimous vote of its members.</p>
<p>Additionally, information on the group's website notes that civilian women will be among the clientele, depending on available resources. While the primary focus of Women Elevated is on women who are military veterans, the site notes that everyone is welcome to the food, coats and educational classes.</p>
<p>The program is housed in a renovated home, and Smith has plans to establish up to five additional facilities by 2020 in cities across the country. She notes that Fort Campbell offers similar services to veterans, but she says soldiers can lose the opportunity to make use of those services, especially if they're leaving under unfavorable circumstances and don't pay attention to classes explaining those services before they leave.</p>
<p>A resident of Clarksville, Smith is a military veteran and retired in May after serving almost 21 years in the Army. She was stationed at Fort Campbell three times, her last stint beginning in June of 2015.</p>
<p>Smith notes that she is supporting her program right now solely through donations and will continue to accept monetary donations to help establish subsequent facilities in surrounding areas.</p>
<p>She also suggests in-kind donations of items like cleaning supplies, detergents and other things that can be used by the organization's clients. Smith said her organization already is serving two or three women per week even though it has yet to officially get off the ground.</p>
<p>In the future, Smith hopes to acquire grants to support Women Elevated.</p>
<p>She says she is inviting the mayors of both Clarksville and neighboring Montgomery County, Tennessee, as well as Hopkinsville Mayor Carter Hendricks, to attend the upcoming grand opening/ribbon cutting and hopes to invite Bea Burt, the mayor of Oak Grove, since those communities will be the ones served by her program.</p>
<p>For more information about Smith's Women Elevated organization, call her at 931-302-6310 or public relations representative Audrey Austin at 931-216-3324 or visit <a href="http://www.womenelevated.org" type="external">www.womenelevated.org</a> .</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Information from: Kentucky New Era, <a href="http://www.kentuckynewera.com" type="external">http://www.kentuckynewera.com</a></p>
| false | 2 |
hopkinsville ky ap tangi smith seen firsthand women oftentimes children difficult time experiencing smith describes kind life hits circumstance recalls finding one woman using free laundry room fort campbell even though didnt live barracks post requirement using facility soldier many things worried noted smith army veteran whose new program women elevated offers assistance primarily military women clothes laundry shouldnt one grand opening ribbon cutting facility housing new program slated 11 jan 12 3404 bradfield drive clarksville tennessee program serve current former military women provide services initially hopkinsville well clarksville according smith noted plans include second facility hopkinsville within another three years additional facilities st louis fort lauderdale florida petersburg virginia columbus georgia houston women elevated nonprofit organization whose services include hot meals laundry facilities temporary housing job placement classes resumebuilding creditscore building additionally two professional counselors medical doctor psychologist volunteering facility program also serve link resources area smith said idea prevent crisis ie homelessness job loss occurring womens lives saw need said explaining women taught pride military difficult time letting go pride find situations need help lot women wont ask help continued feel like handout dont want handout smith notes programs services middleclass clients women struggling arent already receiving assistance clarksville facility accommodations many eight women stay long five days needed two classrooms seat 10 students time new program also serve men although smith said organizations board directors make decisions serving male clientele unanimous vote members additionally information groups website notes civilian women among clientele depending available resources primary focus women elevated women military veterans site notes everyone welcome food coats educational classes program housed renovated home smith plans establish five additional facilities 2020 cities across country notes fort campbell offers similar services veterans says soldiers lose opportunity make use services especially theyre leaving unfavorable circumstances dont pay attention classes explaining services leave resident clarksville smith military veteran retired may serving almost 21 years army stationed fort campbell three times last stint beginning june 2015 smith notes supporting program right solely donations continue accept monetary donations help establish subsequent facilities surrounding areas also suggests inkind donations items like cleaning supplies detergents things used organizations clients smith said organization already serving two three women per week even though yet officially get ground future smith hopes acquire grants support women elevated says inviting mayors clarksville neighboring montgomery county tennessee well hopkinsville mayor carter hendricks attend upcoming grand openingribbon cutting hopes invite bea burt mayor oak grove since communities ones served program information smiths women elevated organization call 9313026310 public relations representative audrey austin 9312163324 visit wwwwomenelevatedorg ___ information kentucky new era httpwwwkentuckyneweracom hopkinsville ky ap tangi smith seen firsthand women oftentimes children difficult time experiencing smith describes kind life hits circumstance recalls finding one woman using free laundry room fort campbell even though didnt live barracks post requirement using facility soldier many things worried noted smith army veteran whose new program women elevated offers assistance primarily military women clothes laundry shouldnt one grand opening ribbon cutting facility housing new program slated 11 jan 12 3404 bradfield drive clarksville tennessee program serve current former military women provide services initially hopkinsville well clarksville according smith noted plans include second facility hopkinsville within another three years additional facilities st louis fort lauderdale florida petersburg virginia columbus georgia houston women elevated nonprofit organization whose services include hot meals laundry facilities temporary housing job placement classes resumebuilding creditscore building additionally two professional counselors medical doctor psychologist volunteering facility program also serve link resources area smith said idea prevent crisis ie homelessness job loss occurring womens lives saw need said explaining women taught pride military difficult time letting go pride find situations need help lot women wont ask help continued feel like handout dont want handout smith notes programs services middleclass clients women struggling arent already receiving assistance clarksville facility accommodations many eight women stay long five days needed two classrooms seat 10 students time new program also serve men although smith said organizations board directors make decisions serving male clientele unanimous vote members additionally information groups website notes civilian women among clientele depending available resources primary focus women elevated women military veterans site notes everyone welcome food coats educational classes program housed renovated home smith plans establish five additional facilities 2020 cities across country notes fort campbell offers similar services veterans says soldiers lose opportunity make use services especially theyre leaving unfavorable circumstances dont pay attention classes explaining services leave resident clarksville smith military veteran retired may serving almost 21 years army stationed fort campbell three times last stint beginning june 2015 smith notes supporting program right solely donations continue accept monetary donations help establish subsequent facilities surrounding areas also suggests inkind donations items like cleaning supplies detergents things used organizations clients smith said organization already serving two three women per week even though yet officially get ground future smith hopes acquire grants support women elevated says inviting mayors clarksville neighboring montgomery county tennessee well hopkinsville mayor carter hendricks attend upcoming grand openingribbon cutting hopes invite bea burt mayor oak grove since communities ones served program information smiths women elevated organization call 9313026310 public relations representative audrey austin 9312163324 visit wwwwomenelevatedorg ___ information kentucky new era httpwwwkentuckyneweracom
| 860 |
<p>Meghan Cameron didn't go out looking to break barriers. Instead, Sporting Kansas City coach Peter Vermes came to her.</p>
<p>Cameron is settling into her job as assistant director of player personnel with Sporting, the first woman to manage player contracts, salary budget, and acquisitions for a Major League Soccer team.</p>
<p>Her role will move into another uncharted area for a woman in MLS: She'll evaluate prospective players for Vermes, as well as for the Swope Park Rangers and the organization's academy.</p>
<p>"Peter Vermes just called me," the longtime MLS front office executive said about her new job's genesis. "Obviously it's humbling to be the first. But for me it doesn't matter if I'm the first or the last or the 101st. Peter called me to do a job, it wasn't because I'm a female. He knew what I could bring to the table. I do hope this opens the doors for others moving on, but I don't consider myself a trailblazer. I'm just doing a job."</p>
<p>Like all coaches, Cameron said Vermes has specific ideas about player characteristics and qualities. Cameron will be working with Director of Player Personnel Brian Bliss.</p>
<p>"The plan is that I'll be learning what it is in each position that they're looking for in players so that I can assist in the scouting side as well," she said.</p>
<p>Cameron's new job with Sporting — she started last month — comes as women are taking on greater roles in pro soccer in the United States and abroad. And not just with women's teams.</p>
<p>Two women — Kathy Carter and former national team goalkeeper Hope Solo — are among the eight candidates running for president of the U.S. Soccer Federation. Only four countries — Liberia, Turks and Caicos, Burundi, and Sierra Leone — have ever elected a woman to head their soccer federation.</p>
<p>Chan Yuen-ting became the first female coach to lead a men's team to a title in a top-flight league in 2016 when she guided Eastern Sports Club to the Hong Kong Premier League championship.</p>
<p>Corinne Diacre served as manager (coach) of a second-division French men's team, Clermont Foot, for several years until becoming head coach of the French women's national team in the run-up to the 2019 Women's World Cup.</p>
<p>And last year the Bundesliga's Bibiana Steinhaus became the first female referee in a top-flight European league. There were a record seven female officials at the men's under-17 World Cup in India last year.</p>
<p>Carter, who is on leave from her position as president of Major League Soccer's marketing subsidiary, Soccer United Marketing, had high praise for Cameron. Carter noted that there aren't all that many women in the sport's boardrooms, but they're even rarer on the technical side of the sport.</p>
<p>"I think Meghan is going to get out there and build on uncharted territory, but I think she's up to the task," Carter said.</p>
<p>Cameron's current job has been the culmination of a life in soccer. Cameron was a standout at Rutgers — Vermes is also an alum — and was on the 2002 Scarlet Knights team that reached the Sweet 16.</p>
<p>"I played soccer since I was 3, so it's always been a passion of mine. It's been kind of a piece of who I am. I played soccer at Rutgers but unfortunately my career was cut short and I only got to play three seasons because of injury," she said. "So at that time I kind of reevaluated and thought, there's a different way for the sport to be a part of me, and that was working in the front office."</p>
<p>She worked for eight years as senior manager in player relations in the MLS league offices. Her job was to help teams manage rosters and budgets, while also approving player acquisitions and trades. But she also had a hand in non-financial duties, like youth coaching initiatives and the league's Rookie Symposium.</p>
<p>"For a long time I've been the only female in the room. And it has never been an issue for me. I've had the respect of everyone around me, and I respect them. I think as long as you can handle yourself, and it doesn't matter that you're female, you'll get the respect that you deserve," she said. "As more women move through the ranks and into positions like coaches, it won't be, 'Oh, they've got a female coach,' it will be, 'Oh, they've got a new coach.'"</p>
<p>Meghan Cameron didn't go out looking to break barriers. Instead, Sporting Kansas City coach Peter Vermes came to her.</p>
<p>Cameron is settling into her job as assistant director of player personnel with Sporting, the first woman to manage player contracts, salary budget, and acquisitions for a Major League Soccer team.</p>
<p>Her role will move into another uncharted area for a woman in MLS: She'll evaluate prospective players for Vermes, as well as for the Swope Park Rangers and the organization's academy.</p>
<p>"Peter Vermes just called me," the longtime MLS front office executive said about her new job's genesis. "Obviously it's humbling to be the first. But for me it doesn't matter if I'm the first or the last or the 101st. Peter called me to do a job, it wasn't because I'm a female. He knew what I could bring to the table. I do hope this opens the doors for others moving on, but I don't consider myself a trailblazer. I'm just doing a job."</p>
<p>Like all coaches, Cameron said Vermes has specific ideas about player characteristics and qualities. Cameron will be working with Director of Player Personnel Brian Bliss.</p>
<p>"The plan is that I'll be learning what it is in each position that they're looking for in players so that I can assist in the scouting side as well," she said.</p>
<p>Cameron's new job with Sporting — she started last month — comes as women are taking on greater roles in pro soccer in the United States and abroad. And not just with women's teams.</p>
<p>Two women — Kathy Carter and former national team goalkeeper Hope Solo — are among the eight candidates running for president of the U.S. Soccer Federation. Only four countries — Liberia, Turks and Caicos, Burundi, and Sierra Leone — have ever elected a woman to head their soccer federation.</p>
<p>Chan Yuen-ting became the first female coach to lead a men's team to a title in a top-flight league in 2016 when she guided Eastern Sports Club to the Hong Kong Premier League championship.</p>
<p>Corinne Diacre served as manager (coach) of a second-division French men's team, Clermont Foot, for several years until becoming head coach of the French women's national team in the run-up to the 2019 Women's World Cup.</p>
<p>And last year the Bundesliga's Bibiana Steinhaus became the first female referee in a top-flight European league. There were a record seven female officials at the men's under-17 World Cup in India last year.</p>
<p>Carter, who is on leave from her position as president of Major League Soccer's marketing subsidiary, Soccer United Marketing, had high praise for Cameron. Carter noted that there aren't all that many women in the sport's boardrooms, but they're even rarer on the technical side of the sport.</p>
<p>"I think Meghan is going to get out there and build on uncharted territory, but I think she's up to the task," Carter said.</p>
<p>Cameron's current job has been the culmination of a life in soccer. Cameron was a standout at Rutgers — Vermes is also an alum — and was on the 2002 Scarlet Knights team that reached the Sweet 16.</p>
<p>"I played soccer since I was 3, so it's always been a passion of mine. It's been kind of a piece of who I am. I played soccer at Rutgers but unfortunately my career was cut short and I only got to play three seasons because of injury," she said. "So at that time I kind of reevaluated and thought, there's a different way for the sport to be a part of me, and that was working in the front office."</p>
<p>She worked for eight years as senior manager in player relations in the MLS league offices. Her job was to help teams manage rosters and budgets, while also approving player acquisitions and trades. But she also had a hand in non-financial duties, like youth coaching initiatives and the league's Rookie Symposium.</p>
<p>"For a long time I've been the only female in the room. And it has never been an issue for me. I've had the respect of everyone around me, and I respect them. I think as long as you can handle yourself, and it doesn't matter that you're female, you'll get the respect that you deserve," she said. "As more women move through the ranks and into positions like coaches, it won't be, 'Oh, they've got a female coach,' it will be, 'Oh, they've got a new coach.'"</p>
| false | 2 |
meghan cameron didnt go looking break barriers instead sporting kansas city coach peter vermes came cameron settling job assistant director player personnel sporting first woman manage player contracts salary budget acquisitions major league soccer team role move another uncharted area woman mls shell evaluate prospective players vermes well swope park rangers organizations academy peter vermes called longtime mls front office executive said new jobs genesis obviously humbling first doesnt matter im first last 101st peter called job wasnt im female knew could bring table hope opens doors others moving dont consider trailblazer im job like coaches cameron said vermes specific ideas player characteristics qualities cameron working director player personnel brian bliss plan ill learning position theyre looking players assist scouting side well said camerons new job sporting started last month comes women taking greater roles pro soccer united states abroad womens teams two women kathy carter former national team goalkeeper hope solo among eight candidates running president us soccer federation four countries liberia turks caicos burundi sierra leone ever elected woman head soccer federation chan yuenting became first female coach lead mens team title topflight league 2016 guided eastern sports club hong kong premier league championship corinne diacre served manager coach seconddivision french mens team clermont foot several years becoming head coach french womens national team runup 2019 womens world cup last year bundesligas bibiana steinhaus became first female referee topflight european league record seven female officials mens under17 world cup india last year carter leave position president major league soccers marketing subsidiary soccer united marketing high praise cameron carter noted arent many women sports boardrooms theyre even rarer technical side sport think meghan going get build uncharted territory think shes task carter said camerons current job culmination life soccer cameron standout rutgers vermes also alum 2002 scarlet knights team reached sweet 16 played soccer since 3 always passion mine kind piece played soccer rutgers unfortunately career cut short got play three seasons injury said time kind reevaluated thought theres different way sport part working front office worked eight years senior manager player relations mls league offices job help teams manage rosters budgets also approving player acquisitions trades also hand nonfinancial duties like youth coaching initiatives leagues rookie symposium long time ive female room never issue ive respect everyone around respect think long handle doesnt matter youre female youll get respect deserve said women move ranks positions like coaches wont oh theyve got female coach oh theyve got new coach meghan cameron didnt go looking break barriers instead sporting kansas city coach peter vermes came cameron settling job assistant director player personnel sporting first woman manage player contracts salary budget acquisitions major league soccer team role move another uncharted area woman mls shell evaluate prospective players vermes well swope park rangers organizations academy peter vermes called longtime mls front office executive said new jobs genesis obviously humbling first doesnt matter im first last 101st peter called job wasnt im female knew could bring table hope opens doors others moving dont consider trailblazer im job like coaches cameron said vermes specific ideas player characteristics qualities cameron working director player personnel brian bliss plan ill learning position theyre looking players assist scouting side well said camerons new job sporting started last month comes women taking greater roles pro soccer united states abroad womens teams two women kathy carter former national team goalkeeper hope solo among eight candidates running president us soccer federation four countries liberia turks caicos burundi sierra leone ever elected woman head soccer federation chan yuenting became first female coach lead mens team title topflight league 2016 guided eastern sports club hong kong premier league championship corinne diacre served manager coach seconddivision french mens team clermont foot several years becoming head coach french womens national team runup 2019 womens world cup last year bundesligas bibiana steinhaus became first female referee topflight european league record seven female officials mens under17 world cup india last year carter leave position president major league soccers marketing subsidiary soccer united marketing high praise cameron carter noted arent many women sports boardrooms theyre even rarer technical side sport think meghan going get build uncharted territory think shes task carter said camerons current job culmination life soccer cameron standout rutgers vermes also alum 2002 scarlet knights team reached sweet 16 played soccer since 3 always passion mine kind piece played soccer rutgers unfortunately career cut short got play three seasons injury said time kind reevaluated thought theres different way sport part working front office worked eight years senior manager player relations mls league offices job help teams manage rosters budgets also approving player acquisitions trades also hand nonfinancial duties like youth coaching initiatives leagues rookie symposium long time ive female room never issue ive respect everyone around respect think long handle doesnt matter youre female youll get respect deserve said women move ranks positions like coaches wont oh theyve got female coach oh theyve got new coach
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<p>LONDON – Britain will seek a clean break from the European Union, Prime Minister Theresa May said Tuesday in a speech that eliminated any doubt her country would pursue a starkly different path outside the bloc, which for decades has been at the heart of attempts at continental integration.</p>
<p>The speech, long anticipated and rich with detail, was celebrated by Brexit advocates as an endorsement of their most fervent hopes for a full-scale liberation from the dictates of EU headquarters in Brussels. EU advocates countered that May was steering the country toward a potentially calamitous breakup, leaving Britain with the Donald Trump-led United States as a partner but with few true friends in Europe.</p>
<p>European leaders offered measured responses, suggesting that Britain was becoming more realistic about its prospects in the complex divorce negotiations to come. But they also maintained that the United Kingdom would meet resistance as it seeks to cherry-pick the benefits of the EU while throwing off the burdens.</p>
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<p>There was no immediate reaction from the incoming American president, who set alarm bells ringing across Europe just a day earlier by signaling that he was indifferent to the future of the European Union – and expected more countries to follow Britain’s path out.</p>
<p>Whether that prediction proves accurate could hinge on whether May succeeds or fails in charting a new course – one she said would be independent of EU rules on immigration, trade and justice.</p>
<p>After refusing for months to give “a running commentary” on Britain’s negotiating strategy, May offered the clearest indication to date of the country’s departure plans, which were set in motion by last June’s referendum on Britain’s EU ties.</p>
<p>May said Britain wants to be “the best friend and neighbor to our European partners” but cannot be “half-in, half-out” of the bloc, which was born from the ashes of World War II and is designed to prevent future conflict by uniting Europe around a common economic and political project. “We do not seek to hold on to bits of membership as we leave,” she said. She went on to reject preexisting models for quasi-membership that have been favored by those seeking “a soft Brexit.”</p>
<p>Her remarks instead point to a jarring departure that transforms Britain’s relations with Europe.</p>
<p>Britain, she said, will jettison membership in both the single market – which guarantees the free flow of goods, services and people across national boundaries – as well as the customs union, which dictates the terms of trade between Europe and the outside world.</p>
<p>Instead, she said, Britain will seek preferential trade access to European markets through a new agreement. And she said the country would strike out on its own in negotiating trade deals outside the European Union, which would be left with 27 members spanning from Ireland to Cyprus.</p>
<p>Such a break has been widely anticipated, though never formally spelled out. The British pound climbed Tuesday after drops over the previous several days as excerpts of May’s speech began to circulate.</p>
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<p>The pound’s value jumped when May said she would give Parliament final say on Britain’s new deal with the European Union. Unlike the country at large, most members of Parliament favored “remain.” May declined to answer when asked what would happen if Parliament nixes the deal.</p>
<p>May’s promise to allow for a transitional period – in which any new agreement is phased in – also seemed to please investors. British businesses have been concerned about the potential for a disruptive “cliff edge” in which the impact of an exit kicks in overnight.</p>
<p>Britain voted by 52 to 48 percent in June to leave behind the European Union after more than four decades of membership in the bloc and its precursors. Britain’s anti-establishment message was seen as prelude to other populist backlashes around the world, led by the election of Trump in November.</p>
<p>May was a reluctant backer of “remain,” but in the months since the vote she has done little to disappoint ardent Brexiteers. She has stressed that British voters want tighter control over immigration, and her words Tuesday suggested that will be her priority in the breakup talks – even at the expense of economic pain from losing membership in the single market and customs union.</p>
<p>Brexit advocates were delighted by May’s plan, while critics despaired.</p>
<p>Former U.K. Independence Party leader Nigel Farage, a Trump ally, tweeted after the speech that May “is now using the phrases and words that I’ve been mocked for using for years. Real progress.”</p>
<p>But Tim Farron, leader of the pro-EU Liberal Democrats, told the BBC that May was careening toward a destructive Brexit that would harm the country’s self-interest. “This is a theft of democracy, a presumption that the 51.9 percent of people who voted to leave meant the most extreme version of Brexit available,” he said.</p>
<p>Farron’s ally, former deputy prime minister Nick Clegg, said May was effectively “siding with Donald Trump and against [German Chancellor] Angela Merkel” and thereby “virtually guaranteeing that acrimony rather than compromise will prevail.”</p>
<p>May’s speech came a day after the publication of an interview in Britain’s Times of London and Germany’s Bild in which Trump dismissed the European Union as “a vehicle for Germany” and said that Britain was “so smart in getting out.”</p>
<p>Trump, who backed Brexit, also expressed enthusiasm for a free-trade deal between the United States and Britain. Such a deal would be possible only if Britain leaves the customs union.</p>
<p>May welcomed those remarks, saying Tuesday that “Britain is not at the back of the queue for a trade deal with the United States, the world’s biggest economy, but front of the line.”</p>
<p>The comment referenced President Barack Obama’s intervention in British politics last spring, when he urged Britons to say no to Brexit and insisted that the U.K. would have to wait its turn before negotiating an agreement with the United States should it leave the EU.</p>
<p>May, who has been in office since July, has repeatedly promised to trigger the start of Britain’s exit talks by the end of March. Once that’s done – through a mechanism known as Article 50 of the EU’s Lisbon Treaty – Britain will have two years to negotiate the terms of its departure.</p>
<p>Europe has signaled it will take a hard line with Britain. At a time when other EU countries are flirting with a departure, allowing Britain to keep the benefits of membership while unshackling itself from the burdens could prompt other nations to speed toward the exits.</p>
<p>May’s Tuesday speech was cautiously welcomed across the English Channel, where leaders had previously derided Britain for wanting to have its cake and eat it, too – a charge that British politicians did not exactly deny.</p>
<p>“Sad process, surrealistic times but at least more realistic announcement on #Brexit,” tweeted European Council President Donald Tusk.</p>
<p>German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier welcomed “a bit more clarity about the British plans. [May] has underlined that Great Britain is seeking a positive and constructive partnership, a friendship, with a strong EU. That is good.”</p>
<p>The prime minister delivered her speech at a gilded, neoclassical, 19th-century mansion – Lancaster House – in front of an audience that included foreign diplomats. Margaret Thatcher had used the venue 29 years ago to endorse Britain’s single-market membership.</p>
<p>May spoke in front of a white backdrop emblazoned with the words “A Global Britain,” and her speech emphasized the importance of the country’s continuing ties with Europe and beyond.</p>
<p>“We are leaving the European Union, but we are not leaving Europe,” she said.</p>
<p>But amid generally conciliatory words, there were also barbs.</p>
<p>She said any effort by Europe to negotiate “a punitive deal” with Britain would “be an act of calamitous self-harm.”</p>
<p>If Europe fails to negotiate in good faith, she said, she could decide to “change the basis of Britain’s economic model” – words that were interpreted as a thinly veiled threat to turn the U.K. into a tax haven that would undercut EU markets.</p>
<p>She also suggested she was prepared to walk away from the negotiating table, an outcome known as “dirty Brexit.”</p>
<p>“No deal for Britain,” she said, “is better than a bad deal for Britain.”</p>
<p>– – –</p>
<p>The Washington Post’s Karla Adam contributed to this report.</p>
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london britain seek clean break european union prime minister theresa may said tuesday speech eliminated doubt country would pursue starkly different path outside bloc decades heart attempts continental integration speech long anticipated rich detail celebrated brexit advocates endorsement fervent hopes fullscale liberation dictates eu headquarters brussels eu advocates countered may steering country toward potentially calamitous breakup leaving britain donald trumpled united states partner true friends europe european leaders offered measured responses suggesting britain becoming realistic prospects complex divorce negotiations come also maintained united kingdom would meet resistance seeks cherrypick benefits eu throwing burdens advertisement immediate reaction incoming american president set alarm bells ringing across europe day earlier signaling indifferent future european union expected countries follow britains path whether prediction proves accurate could hinge whether may succeeds fails charting new course one said would independent eu rules immigration trade justice refusing months give running commentary britains negotiating strategy may offered clearest indication date countrys departure plans set motion last junes referendum britains eu ties may said britain wants best friend neighbor european partners halfin halfout bloc born ashes world war ii designed prevent future conflict uniting europe around common economic political project seek hold bits membership leave said went reject preexisting models quasimembership favored seeking soft brexit remarks instead point jarring departure transforms britains relations europe britain said jettison membership single market guarantees free flow goods services people across national boundaries well customs union dictates terms trade europe outside world instead said britain seek preferential trade access european markets new agreement said country would strike negotiating trade deals outside european union would left 27 members spanning ireland cyprus break widely anticipated though never formally spelled british pound climbed tuesday drops previous several days excerpts mays speech began circulate advertisement pounds value jumped may said would give parliament final say britains new deal european union unlike country large members parliament favored remain may declined answer asked would happen parliament nixes deal mays promise allow transitional period new agreement phased also seemed please investors british businesses concerned potential disruptive cliff edge impact exit kicks overnight britain voted 52 48 percent june leave behind european union four decades membership bloc precursors britains antiestablishment message seen prelude populist backlashes around world led election trump november may reluctant backer remain months since vote done little disappoint ardent brexiteers stressed british voters want tighter control immigration words tuesday suggested priority breakup talks even expense economic pain losing membership single market customs union brexit advocates delighted mays plan critics despaired former uk independence party leader nigel farage trump ally tweeted speech may using phrases words ive mocked using years real progress tim farron leader proeu liberal democrats told bbc may careening toward destructive brexit would harm countrys selfinterest theft democracy presumption 519 percent people voted leave meant extreme version brexit available said farrons ally former deputy prime minister nick clegg said may effectively siding donald trump german chancellor angela merkel thereby virtually guaranteeing acrimony rather compromise prevail mays speech came day publication interview britains times london germanys bild trump dismissed european union vehicle germany said britain smart getting trump backed brexit also expressed enthusiasm freetrade deal united states britain deal would possible britain leaves customs union may welcomed remarks saying tuesday britain back queue trade deal united states worlds biggest economy front line comment referenced president barack obamas intervention british politics last spring urged britons say brexit insisted uk would wait turn negotiating agreement united states leave eu may office since july repeatedly promised trigger start britains exit talks end march thats done mechanism known article 50 eus lisbon treaty britain two years negotiate terms departure europe signaled take hard line britain time eu countries flirting departure allowing britain keep benefits membership unshackling burdens could prompt nations speed toward exits mays tuesday speech cautiously welcomed across english channel leaders previously derided britain wanting cake eat charge british politicians exactly deny sad process surrealistic times least realistic announcement brexit tweeted european council president donald tusk german foreign minister frankwalter steinmeier welcomed bit clarity british plans may underlined great britain seeking positive constructive partnership friendship strong eu good prime minister delivered speech gilded neoclassical 19thcentury mansion lancaster house front audience included foreign diplomats margaret thatcher used venue 29 years ago endorse britains singlemarket membership may spoke front white backdrop emblazoned words global britain speech emphasized importance countrys continuing ties europe beyond leaving european union leaving europe said amid generally conciliatory words also barbs said effort europe negotiate punitive deal britain would act calamitous selfharm europe fails negotiate good faith said could decide change basis britains economic model words interpreted thinly veiled threat turn uk tax would undercut eu markets also suggested prepared walk away negotiating table outcome known dirty brexit deal britain said better bad deal britain washington posts karla adam contributed report
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<p>It’s been called the world’s most exclusive fraternity: the men who have served in the Oval Office. Out of respect, members largely avoid criticizing one another, regardless of political party.</p>
<p>But now there’s a new pledge, and Donald Trump is writing his own rules.</p>
<p>The soon-to-be 45th president took to Twitter on Tuesday to lay into Bill Clinton, saying the 42nd president had misrepresented a recent phone call between them in remarks reported by a newspaper that were sharply critical of Trump. He also tweeted that Clinton didn’t know much about motivating voters in key swing states and that Hillary Clinton’s campaign had “focused on the wrong states.”</p>
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<p>The broadsides were just the latest example of the Republican president-elect using Twitter in unprecedented ways, including provoking China and musing about possible punishments for flag-burners. This time, he and Clinton broke with a long tradition of U.S. presidents treating one another with kid gloves, at least outside political campaigns, presidential historians said.</p>
<p>“That’s one of those many, many unwritten rules otherwise known as norms that Donald Trump has abandoned,” said Thomas Mann, a scholar at the Brookings Institution.</p>
<p>Trump was apparently provoked by an editorial in the Record Review, a small-town weekly newspaper that serves readers near the Chappaqua, New York, home of Bill and Hillary Clinton. The paper’s editor, Ed Baum, wrote that he and his wife had gone into a local bookstore on Dec. 10 only to find the former president also doing what appeared to be holiday shopping.</p>
<p>For more than 35 minutes, Bill Clinton held court, answering question after question from patrons.</p>
<p>“It was a setting he was comfortable in, and he felt at ease taking questions from the group, and he responded the way he wanted to,” Baum said in an interview.</p>
<p>The article paraphrased Clinton as saying that he had “received a phone call from the president-elect the day after the election” and that Trump was cordial “like it was 15 years ago,” when the Clinton and Trump families might be seen socializing.</p>
<p>Then, the paper said, Clinton was asked by an unnamed man if Trump is smart. “He doesn’t know much,” Clinton replied, according to the report. “One thing he does know is how to get angry, white men to vote for him.”</p>
<p>No one in Clinton’s orbit has disputed the encounter. A Clinton spokesman declined to comment.</p>
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<p>“He appeared to still be wrestling with the election results and trying to come to terms with it,” said Baum, who said he stood by and observed the encounter, taking notes. Baum said that during the course of the conversation, he identified himself to Clinton as a newspaper editor. The session was not recorded, he said.</p>
<p>Trump fired back to his 17.6 million Twitter followers: “Bill Clinton stated that I called him after the election. Wrong.” The former president did offer “a very nice congratulations,” Trump allowed.</p>
<p>But then he continued the criticism. Clinton, Trump wrote, ” ‘doesn’t know much’ . . . especially how to get people, even with an unlimited budget, out to vote in the vital swing states (and more).”</p>
<p>“They focused on wrong states,” Trump added.</p>
<p>Trump’s electoral college victory was propelled by unexpected wins in the traditionally Democratic-leaning states of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin; the latter two were not frequent campaign stops for Hillary Clinton.</p>
<p>Later Tuesday, Bill Clinton agreed that he had in fact called Trump – not the other way around.</p>
<p>“Here’s one thing @realDonaldTrump and I can agree on – I called him after the election,” Clinton said in a tweet of his own.</p>
<p>The level of warmth among presidents has varied, but at the very least, the relationships have been characterized by mutual respect and understanding shared among the few – all of them men, so far – who have occupied the office.</p>
<p>“I think it comes from the empathy of having felt the pain as well as the glory, and realizing that it’s difficult work and it’s something you share with very few people on earth,” said Bruce Buchanan, a presidential historian at the University of Texas at Austin. “Former presidents are very sympathetic and supportive of each other.”</p>
<p>But like many things during and after this campaign, the Trump-Clinton relationship is complicated in a way not fully captured by considering them only as two men in the exclusive club of presidents.</p>
<p>They ran in similar New York social circles after Hillary Clinton became the state’s U.S. senator. Over the years, Trump donated $100,000 to the Clinton Foundation and to Clinton. In turn, the Clintons attended Trump’s wedding to his third wife, Melania, at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida in 2005. One photo capturing the foursome caught up in a moment of good humor remains an artifact of that moment in their history.</p>
<p>A few years later, in a 2008 interview, Trump heaped praise on Hillary Clinton after she ran for the presidency and lost the Democratic nomination to Barack Obama.</p>
<p>“I think she’s going to go down at a minimum as a great senator,” Trump said at the time. “I think she is a great wife to a president, and I think Bill Clinton is a great president.”</p>
<p>As they faced off in the 2016 race, both sides disavowed any past chumminess. Hillary Clinton repeatedly characterized her association with Trump as casual. And Trump declared it a product of his need to sweeten up politicians on both sides of the political aisle for the good of his businesses.</p>
<p>Today, the election wounds are still very fresh. And it isn’t clear who is most responsible for extending the olive branch: the victor or the spouse of the political loser, Buchanan said.</p>
<p>“If Bill Clinton didn’t have as his spouse the person who ran against Trump, I don’t think you would have heard him talk like that,” Buchanan said. “The comments Trump made about Hillary – ‘crooked Hillary’ and that sort of thing – really irritated Clinton.”</p>
<p>Just Monday, Bill Clinton served as an elector in New York for his wife, tweeting afterward that “I’ve never been more proud to cast a vote than my vote today for @HillaryClinton.”</p>
<p>Buchanan said Trump hasn’t yet learned to adjust his style to his new job.</p>
<p>“The incumbent has to put his deployment of the presidency on a somewhat more elevated plane than that,” he added. “I don’t think he’s going to enjoy the kind of reactions he’s going to get if he acts like a defiant teenager caught up in a catfight when he’s having a discussion with someone he’s dealing with.”</p>
<p>It’s not unprecedented for a former president to question the views of a sitting one. Richard Nixon, for example, was openly critical of President Ronald Reagan’s strategy toward the Soviet Union, said Timothy Naftali, a presidential historian at New York University.</p>
<p>But, he said, “Nixon was attacking Reagan’s policy. He wasn’t attacking his brain. It’s not this kind of personal nonsense.”</p>
<p>Asked whether Clinton started the recent spat, Mann said he shouldn’t shoulder the blame.</p>
<p>“He didn’t go out and make a public statement,” Mann said. “It was a conversation in a bookstore. Usually, you ignore that kind of thing.”</p>
<p>Naftali offered a similar take but said Clinton should know that, in the age of social media, comments he thinks are private can easily become public.</p>
<p>“I think he has a right to grouse,” Naftali said, “but he should grouse more carefully.”</p>
<p>trump-clinton-2ndld-writethru</p>
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called worlds exclusive fraternity men served oval office respect members largely avoid criticizing one another regardless political party theres new pledge donald trump writing rules soontobe 45th president took twitter tuesday lay bill clinton saying 42nd president misrepresented recent phone call remarks reported newspaper sharply critical trump also tweeted clinton didnt know much motivating voters key swing states hillary clintons campaign focused wrong states advertisement broadsides latest example republican presidentelect using twitter unprecedented ways including provoking china musing possible punishments flagburners time clinton broke long tradition us presidents treating one another kid gloves least outside political campaigns presidential historians said thats one many many unwritten rules otherwise known norms donald trump abandoned said thomas mann scholar brookings institution trump apparently provoked editorial record review smalltown weekly newspaper serves readers near chappaqua new york home bill hillary clinton papers editor ed baum wrote wife gone local bookstore dec 10 find former president also appeared holiday shopping 35 minutes bill clinton held court answering question question patrons setting comfortable felt ease taking questions group responded way wanted baum said interview article paraphrased clinton saying received phone call presidentelect day election trump cordial like 15 years ago clinton trump families might seen socializing paper said clinton asked unnamed man trump smart doesnt know much clinton replied according report one thing know get angry white men vote one clintons orbit disputed encounter clinton spokesman declined comment advertisement appeared still wrestling election results trying come terms said baum said stood observed encounter taking notes baum said course conversation identified clinton newspaper editor session recorded said trump fired back 176 million twitter followers bill clinton stated called election wrong former president offer nice congratulations trump allowed continued criticism clinton trump wrote doesnt know much especially get people even unlimited budget vote vital swing states focused wrong states trump added trumps electoral college victory propelled unexpected wins traditionally democraticleaning states pennsylvania michigan wisconsin latter two frequent campaign stops hillary clinton later tuesday bill clinton agreed fact called trump way around heres one thing realdonaldtrump agree called election clinton said tweet level warmth among presidents varied least relationships characterized mutual respect understanding shared among men far occupied office think comes empathy felt pain well glory realizing difficult work something share people earth said bruce buchanan presidential historian university texas austin former presidents sympathetic supportive like many things campaign trumpclinton relationship complicated way fully captured considering two men exclusive club presidents ran similar new york social circles hillary clinton became states us senator years trump donated 100000 clinton foundation clinton turn clintons attended trumps wedding third wife melania maralago resort florida 2005 one photo capturing foursome caught moment good humor remains artifact moment history years later 2008 interview trump heaped praise hillary clinton ran presidency lost democratic nomination barack obama think shes going go minimum great senator trump said time think great wife president think bill clinton great president faced 2016 race sides disavowed past chumminess hillary clinton repeatedly characterized association trump casual trump declared product need sweeten politicians sides political aisle good businesses today election wounds still fresh isnt clear responsible extending olive branch victor spouse political loser buchanan said bill clinton didnt spouse person ran trump dont think would heard talk like buchanan said comments trump made hillary crooked hillary sort thing really irritated clinton monday bill clinton served elector new york wife tweeting afterward ive never proud cast vote vote today hillaryclinton buchanan said trump hasnt yet learned adjust style new job incumbent put deployment presidency somewhat elevated plane added dont think hes going enjoy kind reactions hes going get acts like defiant teenager caught catfight hes discussion someone hes dealing unprecedented former president question views sitting one richard nixon example openly critical president ronald reagans strategy toward soviet union said timothy naftali presidential historian new york university said nixon attacking reagans policy wasnt attacking brain kind personal nonsense asked whether clinton started recent spat mann said shouldnt shoulder blame didnt go make public statement mann said conversation bookstore usually ignore kind thing naftali offered similar take said clinton know age social media comments thinks private easily become public think right grouse naftali said grouse carefully trumpclinton2ndldwritethru
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<p>MOSCOW – The Kremlin on Wednesday dismissed as “absolute fantasy” allegations that Russian intelligence agencies collected a dossier of compromising information about President-elect Donald Trump – a denial that was echoed by much of Russia’s establishment.</p>
<p>But when President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman went further – saying the Kremlin “does not engage in compromising material” – it was widely greeted by the rolling of Russian eyes.</p>
<p>Gathering “kompromat,” the Russian word for potentially embarrassing information, has a long history reaching back to Soviet days.</p>
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<p>Back then, using kompromat as potential political leverage was raised to new standards by the KGB, the predecessor of Russia’s Federal Security Service and the agency where Putin and many of his closest allies started their careers.</p>
<p>And the Russians, said one former lawmaker, have not lose their taste for kompromat despite the flat-out denial by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.</p>
<p>“Without a doubt we gather kompromat. … In the Kremlin, there’s piles of it, as there are in all the security agencies,” said Gennady Gudkov, a reserve colonel in the Russian Federal Security service and a former legislator who was forced out of parliament for his opposition to Putin.</p>
<p>“As a rule, the special services collect information on everyone, like a vacuum, picking up anything and everything,” he added.</p>
<p>This in itself does not confirm the allegations, summarized in a classified report U.S. officials said was delivered to President Obama and Trump last week, that Russian intelligence services have compromising material and information on Trump’s personal life and finances.</p>
<p>But the deep roots of kompromat adds another layer to the probes into the credibility of the reports about a Trump dossier.</p>
<p>Peskov, whose own alleged role in overseeing and effort to undermine Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton is described in the classified report, on Wednesday called the claims a “complete fabrication.”</p>
<p>Speaking on a conference call to reporters, Peskov said the report that contains the claims was a hoax intended to harm U.S.-Russia relations, which are already at their lowest level since the Cold War. He also dismissed assertions about his role.</p>
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<p>“You have to react to this with a certain humor, but there’s also a sad side to this,” Peskov said. “Hysteria is being whipped up to maintain a political witch hunt.”</p>
<p>Responding to the Kremlin’s denial Wednesday, Trump tweeted: “Russia just said the unverified report paid for by political opponents is ‘A COMPLETE AND TOTAL FABRICATION, UTTER NONSENSE.’ Very unfair!”</p>
<p>Later, Trump added in a follow-up post: “Russia has never tried to use leverage over me. I HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH RUSSIA – NO DEALS, NO LOANS, NO NOTHING!”</p>
<p>Peskov was joined in his denials by Nikolai Kovalyov, a current legislator and former director of the Federal Security Service, Russia’s domestic intelligence agency.</p>
<p>“Certainly, there is no compromising material,” Kovalyov, who ran the agency between 1996 and 1998, told the Interfax news agency on Wednesday.</p>
<p>Russia’s strong denials are directly at odds with the report and were reminiscent of previous Kremlin rebuttals after U.S. intelligence agencies said Russia had a hand in hacking Web accounts the Democratic Party and top campaign figures for Clinton. Russia, however, has made no attempt to hide its support for Trump, whom many Russian leaders see as less adversarial than Clinton.</p>
<p>Kovalyov said that agents would never have begun collecting material on Trump while he was visiting Moscow in 2013 to help organize a Miss Universe pageant.</p>
<p>“Who is interested in gathering compromising material on a man who came here to organize a beauty contest?” said Kovalyov. “I can tell you from my professional experience that Russia does not have such practices.”</p>
<p>Gudkov, the reserve FSB colonel, declined to comment on the validity of the allegations about Trump. But he disagreed with Kovalyov’s claim that no one would have thought to seek information about Trump.</p>
<p>“Our special services will collect information that can be used later on anyone. A friend may one day be an enemy, a political ally may be an opponent,” he said. A hotel room equipped with surveillance equipment – “a plus room,” Gudkov said spy agencies call them – is more of a rarity now than it would have been in Soviet days, but if Trump stayed in one, there is every reason to believe his actions could have been recorded.”</p>
<p>Jonathan Eyal, director of international security studies at the London-based think tank Royal United Services Institute, said that it would be “inconceivable” for Trump to go to Moscow in 2013 for the Miss Universe beauty pageant and to talk about bringing in business and not spark interest from the intelligence community.</p>
<p>“I spent all my life looking at Russia, and it’s inconceivable that Russian intelligence wouldn’t try to gather information on Trump if he came there,” Eyal said.</p>
<p>Among the allegations contained in the report is that surveillance captured Trump engaged in sex acts with several prostitutes. This has not been confirmed.</p>
<p>But sex tapes, and their use as leverage, have a long, long history in Russian politics.</p>
<p>A famous recent case was the 2010 Katya Mumu scandal, when hidden camera videos of opposition politicians and journalists were leaked online in various hotel rooms, both having sex with the same woman or doing cocaine. The targets included opposition politician Ilya Yashin, satirist Viktor Shenderovich and others.</p>
<p>Yashin blamed the Kremlin.</p>
<p>Last year, five months before parliamentary elections, a tape emerged with opposition politician Mikhail Kasyanov, leader of the RPR Parnas party, having sex with an aide. Kasyanov is married, and the video helped lead to a schism in the party that it did not recover from.</p>
<p>“It’s the ABCs of the work of any secret service, to get information which is important for operations, including political ones,” said Alexei Kondaurov, a former lawmaker and Major General in the Soviet-era KGB. “What kind of information? Compromising materials, something with new knowledge, everything depends on the goal of collecting that information. If you’re trying to recruit a person, then it’s not excessive to have compromising material about him to smooth the process. These are trivial things.”</p>
<p>—</p>
<p>Karla Adam contributed to this report from London, and Natalya Abbakumova contributed from Moscow.</p>
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moscow kremlin wednesday dismissed absolute fantasy allegations russian intelligence agencies collected dossier compromising information presidentelect donald trump denial echoed much russias establishment president vladimir putins spokesman went saying kremlin engage compromising material widely greeted rolling russian eyes gathering kompromat russian word potentially embarrassing information long history reaching back soviet days advertisement back using kompromat potential political leverage raised new standards kgb predecessor russias federal security service agency putin many closest allies started careers russians said one former lawmaker lose taste kompromat despite flatout denial kremlin spokesman dmitry peskov without doubt gather kompromat kremlin theres piles security agencies said gennady gudkov reserve colonel russian federal security service former legislator forced parliament opposition putin rule special services collect information everyone like vacuum picking anything everything added confirm allegations summarized classified report us officials said delivered president obama trump last week russian intelligence services compromising material information trumps personal life finances deep roots kompromat adds another layer probes credibility reports trump dossier peskov whose alleged role overseeing effort undermine democratic candidate hillary clinton described classified report wednesday called claims complete fabrication speaking conference call reporters peskov said report contains claims hoax intended harm usrussia relations already lowest level since cold war also dismissed assertions role advertisement react certain humor theres also sad side peskov said hysteria whipped maintain political witch hunt responding kremlins denial wednesday trump tweeted russia said unverified report paid political opponents complete total fabrication utter nonsense unfair later trump added followup post russia never tried use leverage nothing russia deals loans nothing peskov joined denials nikolai kovalyov current legislator former director federal security service russias domestic intelligence agency certainly compromising material kovalyov ran agency 1996 1998 told interfax news agency wednesday russias strong denials directly odds report reminiscent previous kremlin rebuttals us intelligence agencies said russia hand hacking web accounts democratic party top campaign figures clinton russia however made attempt hide support trump many russian leaders see less adversarial clinton kovalyov said agents would never begun collecting material trump visiting moscow 2013 help organize miss universe pageant interested gathering compromising material man came organize beauty contest said kovalyov tell professional experience russia practices gudkov reserve fsb colonel declined comment validity allegations trump disagreed kovalyovs claim one would thought seek information trump special services collect information used later anyone friend may one day enemy political ally may opponent said hotel room equipped surveillance equipment plus room gudkov said spy agencies call rarity would soviet days trump stayed one every reason believe actions could recorded jonathan eyal director international security studies londonbased think tank royal united services institute said would inconceivable trump go moscow 2013 miss universe beauty pageant talk bringing business spark interest intelligence community spent life looking russia inconceivable russian intelligence wouldnt try gather information trump came eyal said among allegations contained report surveillance captured trump engaged sex acts several prostitutes confirmed sex tapes use leverage long long history russian politics famous recent case 2010 katya mumu scandal hidden camera videos opposition politicians journalists leaked online various hotel rooms sex woman cocaine targets included opposition politician ilya yashin satirist viktor shenderovich others yashin blamed kremlin last year five months parliamentary elections tape emerged opposition politician mikhail kasyanov leader rpr parnas party sex aide kasyanov married video helped lead schism party recover abcs work secret service get information important operations including political ones said alexei kondaurov former lawmaker major general sovietera kgb kind information compromising materials something new knowledge everything depends goal collecting information youre trying recruit person excessive compromising material smooth process trivial things karla adam contributed report london natalya abbakumova contributed moscow
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