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Focused crawls are collections of frequently-updated webcrawl data from narrow (as opposed to broad or wide) web crawls, often focused on a single domain or subdomain. ||||| Katy Perry is all about breaking conventional beauty rules, from her love of everything technicolor and coated in glitter, to her no-brows, black lipstick Met Gala look. So, of course, the pop star — and face of CoverGirl — was the perfect person to help announce that the beauty brand has named its first-ever male CoverGirl, social media star James Charles. According to a press release from the brand, all CoverGirls “are role models and boundary-breakers, fearlessly expressing themselves, standing up for what they believe, and redefining what it means to be beautiful,” and who better to embody that ethos than Instagram sensation James Charles. After launching his beauty account a year ago, the teen has since quickly attracted hundreds of thousands of followers (427,000 to be exact) thanks to his unique, transformative approach to makeup artistry. RELATED PHOTOS: Katy Perry’s Most Outrageous Twitpics While Charles’ partnership with the brand kicks off today, we’ll have to wait until later this month to see him debut the brand’s new mascara designed to work on all lash types, CoverGirl So Lashy! by blastPRO Mascara. His first launch will include TV, print and digital components and he will continue to promote the brand and generally slay for the rest of 2017. What do you think of the first male CoverGirl? Sound off below! ||||| James Charles, a 17-year-old New York-based makeup artist, might want to rethink the word “aspiring” in his Instagram bio. He’s the first ever male CoverGirl, an honor revealed Tuesday on Katy Perry’s Instagram. Just wrapped another great @COVERGIRL shoot. Honored to have the pleasure to announce the very first COVERBOY, James Charles! Follow him @JCharlesBeauty! #COVERGIRLJames #glam❗️ A photo posted by KATY PERRY (@katyperry) on Oct 10, 2016 at 10:52pm PDT “Just wrapped another great @CoverGirl shoot. Honored to have the pleasure to announce the very first COVERBOY, James Charles! Follow him @JCharlesBeauty!” she captioned a photo of the two of them. James Charles, who only started trying makeup a year ago, will appear in campaigns for CoverGirl’s newest mascara, “So Lashy.” The brand explained in a press release that its newest launch is designed to work on all lash types, and shared why he’s the perfect person to front the campaign. CoverGirl Those brows, though? “All of our CoverGirls are role models and boundary-breakers, fearlessly expressing themselves, standing up for what they believe, and redefining what it means to be beautiful,” read the statement. “James Charles is no exception. One year ago, he boldly chose to launch his Instagram to the world, using transformative, dynamic makeup looks to showcase the many facets of his personality, serving as an inspiration to anyone who might have been afraid to do the same.” James Charles has racked up over 400,000 followers in just one year of posting, thanks to masterful skills and an extensive array of looks, ranging from wild... ... to just plain stunning. Oh, and did we mention this kid’s got personality? Take these epic senior photos as proof. I mean are we really that surprised? 😂😂 Shoutout to Carlyn Studios for dealing with my extra ass 💀😂 A photo posted by JAMES CHARLES (@jcharlesbeauty) on Sep 5, 2016 at 3:08pm PDT ||||| Just wrapped another great @COVERGIRL shoot. Honored to have the pleasure to announce the very first COVERBOY, James Charles! Follow him @JCharlesBeauty ||||| If you happen to land on James Charles's Instagram feed, you'll immediately note that the talented teen has perfected the art of the dramatic lash, otherworldly highlight, artistic eye, and more. In fact, you may remember that his strobing skills are so good, they even got a shout-out from Zendaya one time. And it looks like a certain brand has just taken note of James's major beauty moves, and decided to bring them to an even broader audience in the coolest way. Today, we found out that Covergirl Cosmetics is naming the Instagram superstar their first male spokesperson, and we are so here for it. As the beauty community has grown over time, we've noted boy beauty gurus like Manny Gutierrez and Patrick Starr taking to social media to share their skills and breaking down gender boundaries at the same time. We're firm believers that anyone on the gender spectrum should be able to share their passion for makeup without facing outdated stereotypes and negative judgement, and we couldn't be happier to see Covergirl and James take an amazing step forward. As the brand noted, they've always chosen to partner with "role models and boundary-breakers, fearlessly expressing themselves, standing up for what they believe, and redefining what it means to be beautiful." We think the glam guru totally embodies that description, and it sounds like Covergirl agrees, citing him as "as an inspiration to anyone who might have been afraid to do the same." We're feeling inspired by this announcement for sure, and we can't wait to see what this cool collab brings. We'll be watching! Loading View on Instagram Related: 8 Makeup Tutorials By Boys That Will Blow Your Mind The Brave Reason Manny Gutierrez Gave Up Medical School for a Beauty Career Here's Why Patrick Starr Uses TWO Mirrors to Get Glam ||||| The "aspiring makeup artist", according to his Instagram account bio, should really change it to "inspiring". At only 17 years old, James Charles has risen in popularity thanks to his Instagram account, which already has more than 431,000 followers after only one year. His account showcases makeup styles including pixellated lips and his signature bold galaxy look. No wonder that his unique and daring style got him Katy Perry's full support. The face of CoverGirl and outspoken pop star announced on her Instagram page that the beauty brand has named its first ever male CoverGirl. "Just wrapped another great @CoverGirl shoot. Honored to have the pleasure to announce the very first COVERBOY, James Charles! Follow him @JCharlesBeauty!" she captioned the picture of the both of them. CoverGirl published its own statement and explained why James Charles is the perfect fit for their campaign. |||||

– If a woman can be president, who's to say a man can't be a CoverGirl. On Tuesday, the makeup company's current spokesperson, Katy Perry, announced James Charles as the first ever "CoverBoy" on her Instagram page. Charles, a 17-year-old "aspiring makeup artist," started using makeup only a year ago but has already amassed more than 430,000 followers on Instagram, the Huffington Post reports. According to People, Charles will appear in TV, print, and digital ads for "So Lashy" mascara later this month and will work with CoverGirl through 2017. "I am so thankful and excited," Charles posted on Instagram. "And yes I know I have lipstick on my teeth. It was a looonnnnggg day." CoverGirl says it wants to work with "role models and boundary-breakers, fearlessly expressing themselves, standing up for what they believe, and redefining what it means to be beautiful," Teen Vogue reports. The company calls Charles an inspiration. Teen Vogue is definitely on board, stating: "We're firm believers that anyone on the gender spectrum should be able to share their passion for makeup without facing outdated stereotypes and negative judgement." E! Online puts it more succinctly: "Work, boy, work!" (This woman did her makeup to distract herself from a 10-hour labor.)

PONTIAC, MI -- The mystery of what happened to Pia Farrenkopf may never be entirely solved, but one piece of the puzzle fell into place this week. The Oakland County Medical Examiner's Office says it's received confirmation that the remains are the woman, who, estranged from family and friends, appears to have died in the back seat of her Jeep inside the garage of the Pontiac home she owned in early-2009. Due to the body's state of decomposition, which authorities described as "mummified," a cause and manner of death has not been established. She was discovered on March 5 when a contractor for the bank holding the mortgage on her foreclosed home visited to patch a hole in the roof after neighbors complained squirrels were gaining access. Farrenkopf would have been 49 on the day her body was discovered. Oakland County sheriff's officials said the house seemed undisturbed and was covered floor to ceiling in black mold. Farrenkopf had many of her bills set to be paid automatically from her bank account. Police say a balance of nearly $54,000 slowly dwindled to nothing by March of 2013. Relatives of the woman, who had nine sisters and was raised in South Boston, said they tried to reach her over the years by phone but were unable. Farrenkopf lived alone, but at some point had a white toy poodle named "Baby" and a cat named "Bungee." Oakland County sheriff's officials said there was no sign of the animals when the body was discovered. Until September of 2008 she worked in IT for Alltel, a financial software company that contracted with now-defunct Chrysler financial, according to friend and co-worker Brian Hicks, 38, of Utah. She also operated a fitness center called Slender Lady of Waterford, which closed in 2005 after Farrenkopf was sued and her income garnished for not making rent payments that accrued to $101,441. The Oakland County Medical Examiner's Office says the remains have been released to Farrenkopf's relatives. "We have spent the day making arrangements and getting all paperwork filled out so that we may finally bring Pia home," Farrenkopf's niece wrote in a Facebook post Tuesday. "This has brought some closure for our family, knowing we may finally lay Pia to rest. "We may never know what happened to Pia and of course that is something no family ever wants to hear or accept but, we will never stop fighting to find answers and get justice for my aunt." ||||| (Reuters) - A woman whose mummified remains were found in her garage in a Detroit suburb up to five years after her death has been identified through DNA tests, an official said on Friday. Pia Farrenkopf had set up her bills to be paid automatically through a bank account, a neighbor cut her grass and her mail was sent to a nearby post office while her body sat for years in the back seat of a vehicle in her Pontiac, Michigan, garage. Her body was finally found in March when someone was sent to check on the house, which had fallen into foreclosure after the account ran down and mortgage payments stopped. Robert Gerds, administrator for the Oakland County medical examiner’s office, said Farrenkopf’s family was notified Tuesday of the positive identification and her body has been released. A cause of death has not been determined, nor when she died, though investigators were able to confirm that she was seen alive as recently as early 2009, Gerds said. “This has brought some closure for our family, knowing we may finally lay Pia to rest,” a posting on a Facebook page dedicated to her by a niece said Tuesday. Farrenkopf stopped working in 2008 and the last withdrawal from the account was in March 2013, Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said in March. He said her mail went to a post office, a neighbor cut her lawn, and she had no nearby family. ||||| LATEST HEADLINES U-M LBs breakdown: Veteran group leads heart of defense If this group can become one of the best linebacker units in the conference, that will allow... MSU LBs breakdown: Harris, Davis, Jones return but uncertainty remains MSU's linebackers in 2014 are what its quarterbacks and running backs were in 2013 — the biggest... Ex-Piston Villanueva, now a free agent, looking for right situation 'The past two years in Detroit, it just seems that they went in a different direction, but I just... |||||

– Pia Farrenkopf had a poodle named Baby and a cat named Bungee, had traveled the world, and—though estranged from family and friends—was described as kind and private. And now, DNA has positively identified Farrenkopf as the mummified body found in the backseat of her Jeep in March. “This has brought some closure for our family, knowing we may finally lay Pia to rest,” says a message posted to Facebook on July 15. However, officials still don’t know how Farrenkopf died, MLive.com reports—her badly decomposed body was missing the heart, liver, and lungs, which are usually used to determine cause of death, and mummified muscle didn’t yield any results in a toxicology test, the Oakland County Deputy Medical Examiner explains to the Detroit Free Press. “The possibility of hypothermia or any drug or chemical intoxication cannot be ruled out,” he says. Though the death was treated initially as a homicide, investigators have found no evidence that the Pontiac, Michigan, woman—who would have turned 50 this year—was murdered, the Times Herald adds. Her assumed time of death has been pinned down, however, by subpoenaing bank, health, and phone records, which indicate she died in early 2009. Reuters reports that investigators also found out Farrenkopf was seen alive in early 2009. She’d stopped working in 2008 and, following her death, her bills were paid automatically; the money ran out last year, eventually leading to her discovery.

March 28, 2018 – By Clair Robins Your favorite candy will always be around, right? When you think of panic-buying, you wouldn’t think of candy. But that is exactly what’s happening right now. People are panic-buying Necco wafers candy in bulk. The panic began on March 12. That day the Boston Globe covered an announcement from Necco CEO, Michael McGee, that they could be shutting down within 60 days. The Globe’s piece coincides with a marked spike in sales. Necco sales have spiked more than 50% more than 82%. Necco Wafers are up 63% 150%! A clear signal of panic-buying. EDIT: Due to increased media attention in the past days, we have had to adjust these figures. Way up! Embed this Source: Bulk candy sales from CandyStore.com Short for New England Confectionary Company (“Co”), Necco is the maker of Necco Wafers, Mary Janes, Clark Bars, Candy Buttons, Squirrel Nut Zippers and more beloved old-fashioned candy. Maybe you’ve heard of Sweethearts candy conversation hearts – aka the most popular Valentine’s Day candy? Yeah, they make those too. After months of trying to find a buyer, they haven’t been able to reach a deal. If no deal comes soon, hundreds of workers will be laid off and millions of candy lovers disappointed. This is a big deal. Necco has been around since the mid 1800s. Almost all of their candies are legends in their own right. All of them are in jeopardy now. The graph above illustrates daily sales for Necco Wafers in March this year on CandyStore.com. You can see where things change on the 12th and stay high above that until the time of this article on March 28. As a private company, we don’t share specific sales numbers. But you can see the relative change in sales. It’s not subtle. Online bulk candy stores like CandyStore.com are stockpiling Necco candies, but orders are coming in fast. We contacted industry partners and distributors and they are reporting the same phenomenon. The big question is, when will the shipments stop coming? No one can say, which only contributes to the panic. Ok. Maybe you’re not a numbers or graphs type of person. I’m not. Sometimes I need a little more to really feel the situation. For all the touchy-feely emotional people like me, here are some non-financial-y data / anecdata for you: Necco March 2018 Stats from CandyStore.com 253 emails received by CandyStore.com starting on March 12 inquiring about Necco branded candies. 167 panicked phone calls asking about Necco branded candies, many trying to secure large bulk quantities. 77 Social media messages expressing fear and sadness for their coming loss. 29 Customers offering to pay double or more for bulk quantities of Necco candy. 3 People offering to work in return for Necco candy buying priority. Is that indentured servitude? 1 Used car trade-in offer. That’s right. Katie Samuels, a 23-year-old woman from Florida, contacted us offering to trade her used Honda Accord for all our Necco Wafers. This is the picture she sent us via email. She told us over the phone that she was in fact “dead serious.” She went on to say she doesn’t have much else to offer right now, and that her boyfriend drives her around in his truck mostly anyway. “Plus, there’s a bus station not too far if I need it.” Katie estimated in her desperate pitch to us that the car could be worth up to $4,000. That would buy a lot of Necco wafers. “Pleeeease say yes!” she pleaded. Unfortunately, we’re not a used car dealership, and we had to graciously turn down her offer. She ended up buying a couple boxes on her credit card anyway. So now she has 48 rolls of Necco wafers to ration over a lifetime with many years to go! When you run the math, Katie can have 2 Necco wafers a month until her 94th birthday. Not enough? Maybe Honda or Carmax would be willing to entertain the trade-in offer, Katie! A nice older woman called and wanted to buy 100 pounds of the junior roll-sized Necco Wafers. When she mentioned they are better for vacuum-sealing, our team pressed for details. Long story short, this woman plans to vacuum seal Necco wafers so that her supply will remain as fresh as possible…for years. Another fine gentleman named Larry saw this very article and sent us his story about Necco candy: When I got my DAISY RED RYDER BB GUN in 1960 it was recommended by I think Boy’s Life Magazine to use Necco wafers as targets. We would suspend them on strings. The back stop was a heavy carpet hung in a “J” shape. It would catch the BB’s for reuse & we also ate the broken pieces of Necco wafers. In those days we wasted nothing, money was tight & we had to earn it. I still have a fine collection of Red Ryders & I watch the movie “A Christmas Story” every Christmas & still eat the occasional wafer. But it’s not all love. Necco Wafers, in particular, are a divisive candy. Sales figures don’t (and can’t) illustrate the dark side of sentiment. …Though there are people who would probably negative-buy Necco Wafers if that were a possible thing. We have seen both sides of the passion. We did a piece on the Best and Worst Halloween candy where Necco wafers ranked the #4 worst. We asked customers to give feedback to support their opinions either way. And Necco Wafers got by far the most written feedback. After digging through the results, we found the following comments: Necco Wafers Haters Chime In I’d say they are like Tums, but Tums are f__ing better than Necco wafers! If you’re making chalkboard art, then by all means. Otherwise, Necco wafers suck all moisture out of my mouth and all joy out of my soul. We used to save them from Halloween and use them in Gingerbread houses at Christmas time. All that time, never tempted to eat em. Ick. Necco Wafers have to be #1 worst. The Worst worst worst. Chalky, creepy, child-molestor candy. You can see there are two-sides to this coin. Both are equally passionate. If you are one of those who loves Necco, what can you do? You might think, oh well, someone will buy the rights to make the popular ones and the Necco Wafers will live on. For sure. But will it be the same? If they use new cooks, new machines, different water, maybe in a different climate. Maybe the new owner will use cheaper ingredients or more expensive ingredients. Odds are it won’t be exactly the same. And it could be very different. We can’t risk it. There’s got to be a better option. The best thing we can do is get the word out there. Potential buyers of Necco need to hear loud and clear how popular these products are. They need to hear from us how important it is to keep Necco right where it is in Revere, Massachusetts. Keep those factory workers employed and making that candy that we all love (or love to hate). If you think this article is interesting, share it and use the tag #SaveNecco. Let’s show everyone that Necco is still in high demand. Let’s #SaveNecco. UPDATE: Former Necco CEO Needs Your Help to Save Necco Email me if you have any questions or comments: [email protected] ||||| Necco wafers have been around since before the Civil War—and plenty of detractors would argue they taste like it, too. The flavors have been described as “tropical drywall,” “plaster surprise,” and “attic citrus.” One Twitter commentator calls it a candy that “only a psychopath would like.” And yet, like anything appreciated only after it... ||||| NECCO-Mania: Fans Stock Up On Chalky Wafers In Case Candy Company Folds Enlarge this image toggle caption Dina Rudick/Boston Globe via Getty Images Dina Rudick/Boston Globe via Getty Images NECCO wafers are a polarizing candy. Some online haters have compared the brittle sugar disks to chalk, or antacid tablets. But now, the company that makes them could soon close shop — and that's brought out some of the candies' very loyal fans. At Sugar Heaven in Somerville, Mass., David Sapers points out that there is a lot more NECCO on his shelves than just those controversial wafers. NECCO buttons and NECCO Sky Bars share shelf space with the classic wafers at his store. "Also NECCO makes things like Squirrel Nut Zippers, Mary Janes, Slap Stix. And obviously during Valentine's they're big with their ... conversation hearts," he says. NECCO is an acronym for the New England Confectionery Co., which is in financial trouble. If its leaders can't find a buyer by early May, the company says it will have to shut down, laying off hundreds of workers at its factory in Revere, Mass. The company didn't respond to requests for an interview. But at Sugar Heaven, Sapers is getting ready. "I just ordered 10 cases of [NECCO's products] yesterday, which were delivered on Thursday. So I did that because first of all, they don't go bad. They're going to last for a while, and just in case something happens, we have it." Customers Inge Nakel and Michelle Scannell buy some candy, including a roll of NECCO wafers. The classic roll has an incongruous mix of flavors, including orange, licorice and clove. "I love the chocolate ones," says Nakel. "You can buy a whole roll of chocolate. That's the best thing in the entire world," Scannell says. "You know what's best, is their conversation hearts," says Nakel. Scannell agrees. Those candy hearts with little amorous messages on them are a Valentine's Day staple, and Sapers says Sugar Heaven will buy up as many as it can if it looks like NECCO won't survive. And he is not the only one stocking up. Enlarge this image toggle caption Craig LeMoult Craig LeMoult "Today alone we probably sold 30 cases. We're selling a lot," says Jon Prince, who runs the online retailer Candyfavorites.com. He says sales of NECCO wafers have spiked. One caller wanted to buy his whole inventory, but he is limiting the size of each sale. "And the person actually started to cry and they said they couldn't imagine a world without their NECCO wafers," he says. NECCO traces its roots back to 1847, when the Chase brothers started making candy. It wasn't until a merger in 1901 that the firm officially became the New England Confectionary Co. The famous wafers are memorialized by a small sculpture in a park in Cambridge, Mass., near where the company's factory once stood. The metal sculpture depicts a paper bag, with NECCO wafers spilling out of it. Kelly Haugh, who works in the building next to the sculpture, is a huge fan of the candy. "My mother-in-law, like, probably three years ago, found out that I was obsessed with NECCO wafers and started just buying them for me," Haugh says. Every Christmas, her stocking is full of them. "So I think I liked them a whole lot more when I didn't have a cabinet full of them. But now I'm glad I have my stash," Haugh says. She realizes not everyone is a fan. Its flavor and texture can be pretty controversial. "They're definitely not a normal thing for people to love. It's like people say they're chalky or whatever," Haugh says. But standing near the statue, Joey Barbosa tried them for the first time and had a more positive reaction. "Mmmm. They're very good. Crunchy, tasty. Pretty much it," he says. Another NECCO fan, Spencer Ordway, is hoarding wafers, but not because of their tasty crunch. He runs a sleepaway camp in Maine, and for more than 70 years, at an end-of-summer carnival, campers have used NECCO wafers as a currency to play games and buy prizes. "I had so many alumni and current staff contacting me today saying, 'What are we going to do? How can we save enough NECCO wafers to, uh, cover us for years to come?' " Ordway says. So he went online and bought enough to keep the carnival funded for the next few years. And he says the camp's stash is safe, since he is not likely to be raiding it anytime soon. "I mean, it is really like chewing on chalk." Even so, he is still hoping the company can pull through somehow, so NECCO wafers — and the company's other candies — will be available for generations to come. |||||

– CandyStore.com is calling it "the Great NECCO Wafer Panic," and that's no exaggeration. Terrified by reports that the New England Confectionery Co. may soon be out of business, fans of the candy company's sugar wafers are stocking up, with one woman offering to exchange her 2003 Honda Accord for CandyStore.com's hefty stash. The offer was refused, so she bought 48 rolls instead, reports the Boston Globe. Jon Prince of CandyFavorites.com tells NPR that another fan tried to buy his entire stock of NECCO Wafers and cried after learning sales were being limited. "They said they couldn't imagine a world without their NECCO wafers," says Prince. Of course, not everyone loves the wafers, which come in flavors like chocolate, clove, and licorice. "I mean, it is really like chewing on chalk," one man tells NPR. More likely to be missed are NECCO's conversation hearts, always a hit around Valentine's Day. A few weeks after this year's holiday, NECCO said it would be forced to close—meaning 395 lost jobs at its factory in Revere, Mass.—unless it found a buyer by May. NECCO sales on CandyStore.com have jumped 82% in the aftermath, while wafer sales have spiked 150%. The turnaround might not be enough to save NECCO, but "who knows, NECCO wafers might make a comeback the way Twinkies did," Revere's mayor tells the Wall Street Journal.

From declaring "the beast is alive" to being "free at last," a recap of the actor's response to getting the axe from "Two and a Half Men." Charlie Sheen reacted to getting fired from Two and a Half Men by Warner Bros. with a number of bizarre statements, including: - An interview with TMZ.com after he climbed on the roof of Live Nation and waved around a machete and drank from a bottle labeled "Tiger Blood." When asked if he was excited about being released from his Two and a Half Men contract, he said, "Let me just say, free at last, free at last." His next plan: "I ain't gonna go to f---ing Disneyland, I'll tell you that much." - A statement to NBC's Jeff Rossen: "I didn’t like that show anyway or those dumb bowling shirts they made me wear. Now I’m free.” - Another 'Sheen's Korner' episode, in which he smoked a cigarette from his nose and drank: "We are in the middle of a movement here, an odyssey of epic proportions… My goal is the best one in the room, and people are starting to realize that. My plan is gold, theirs is s--t. And with my plan you're going to win, win, win." - An interview with Access Hollywood's Billy Bush in which he claimed he was notified of being fired via text message: "I got a text or something. Here’s another thing -- these guys are such yellow cockroaches that they didn’t even have the decency to call me. I put 5 bill[ion] in their cheap suit pockets and another half a bil’ in what’s-his-cheese’s pockets and this is the f***ing respect I get?It’s just deplorable and they should be ashamed of themselves!” - A statement to TMZ: "This is very good news. They continue to be in breach, like so many whales. It is a big day of gladness at the Sober Valley Lodge because now I can take all of the bazillions, never have to look at whatshiscock again and I never have to put on those silly shirts for as long as this warlock exists in the terrestrial dimension." - A text to People.com: "Put yourself in my shoes for one warlock nanosecond. At some point there is nothing to say. Only war to wage … The winds are howling tonight. The gods are hungry. The beast is alive. And awake. And deadly." ||||| Just hours ago, Warner Bros. Television officially fired Charlie Sheen from Two and a Half Men, and TMZ has obtained the barnburner of a letter that WB sent to Sheen’s lawyer Marty Singer to justify his termination. “At the outset, let us state the obvious: Your client has been engaged in dangerously self-destructive conduct and appears to be very ill,” the eleven-page letter begins before recounting Sheen’s outlandish public behavior from the past two weeks (there’s even a ten-page addendum filled with links to the negative online coverage the actor has received). Still, it isn’t all rehashed information; here are four new details we learned from a close read of the letter. There were disastrous sitcom tapings Though Sheen claims he was ready for work even when he missed rehearsals, the letter cites his “inability to deliver lines” as a reason for the Two and a Half Men shutdown, and takes issue with how Singer portrayed the period leading up to it: “You claim that Mr. Sheen was turning in ‘brilliant’ performances during this time. Not true. As outtakes of the filming show, Mr. Sheen had difficulty remembering his lines and hitting his marks. His conduct and condition created substantial tensions on the set. Mr. Sheen conceded in one or more of his numerous recent interviews that he sometimes showed up to work after not having slept and needed to move his mark to accommodate his need to ‘lean’ on something, for balance.” Sheen may have had vanity-card approval Maybe Sheen was okay with Lorre’s vanity cards after all? Despite the fact that he’s since sniped at Lorre for tweaking him with statements like “If Charlie Sheen outlives me, I’m gonna be really pissed,” the WB letter says that “Mr. Sheen himself approved” several of the vanity cards cited by Singer. WB chartered a plane for rehab On January 28, Sheen told CBS president Les Moonves that he would go to rehab the next day, so WB “had an airplane waiting to take him to such a facility.” Instead, Sheen refused to leave his home, which he then christened the “Sober Valley Lodge.” Sheen violated a morals clause Both Sheen and Singer have argued that there was no morals clause in the actor’s contract, but WB says that one section of the document allows the studio to refuse payment “if Producer in its reasonable but good faith opinion believes Performer has committed an act which constitutes a felony offense involving moral turpitude under federal, state or local laws, or is indicted or convicted of any such offense.” The example of moral turpitude cited here is “furnishing of cocaine to others,” but one imagines the WB wouldn’t have to think very long to come up with at least a few more. Related: Charlie Sheen Fired From Two and a Half Men Sheen’s Korner Is Not a Winner The Argument You’re Having With Yourself About Charlie Sheen The 15 Funniest Charlie Sheen Clickables: Laugh While You Still Can! The Media Betting on Charlie Sheen Dying Soon The Charlie Sheen Glossary: ‘Winning,’ Warlocks, and More ||||| New Charlie Sheen Texts: 'The Beast Is Alive' Now officially fired from Two and a Half Men as of Monday, Charlie Sheen is gearing up for his confrontation with Warner Bros.In a text to PEOPLE, Sheen writes: "Put yourself in my shoes for one warlock nanosecond. At some point there is nothing to say. Only war to wage … The winds are howling tonight. The gods are hungry. The beast is alive. And awake. And deadly."He's also reaching for a new weapon – a machete.After encountering paparazzi after a business meeting to discuss merchandising with Live Nation in Beverly Hills Monday, Sheen – accompanied by one of his so-called "Goddesses," Natalie Kenley – made his way to the roof of the building, reached into his suit jacket, whipped out his large, shiny blade and frantically waved it in the air. (See video clip below.)In a message, Sheen, 45, added that his machete would be used to destroy anyone who messed with his family.While Sheen has threatened to sue Warner Bros., which produces Two and a Half Men, the studio stated it intends to make Sheen pay for all of the show's lost revenue since it's been placed on hiatus . Sheen manager Mark Burg tells PEOPLE exclusively: "It's sad for the fans that enjoyed the show for the last eight years. I'm sorry it's come to this. I guess a judge and jury will decide the final outcome ... The show might not be coming back, but the final chapter has yet to be written."Please note: Comments have been suspended temporarily as we explore better ways to serve you. Your opinion is important to us; you can find current discussions at facebook.com/peoplemag. ||||| If it were even possible to be more frightened for Charlie Sheen , now would be the time. The recently unemployed Sheen headed to the rooftop of the Live Nation building with "goddess" Natalie Kenly yesterday after he reportedly had a meeting there.Sheen waved his machete over the crowd below while smoking cigarettes and drinking out of a bottle full of red liquor labeled tiger blood.The photos pretty much speak for themselves so check out Charlie's escapade after the jump and a see the video here. |||||

– If you were hoping that Charlie Sheen’s long overdue firing might get the tiger-blood-drinking star off your television set and computer screen for a while … no such luck. Sheen reacted to his ouster in plenty of predictably bizarre ways, which the Hollywood Reporter helpfully rounds up: He drank out of a bottle labeled “Tiger Blood” while waving around a machete on the roof of Live Nation. He released another episode of Sheen’s Korner, which involved him smoking a cigarette out of his nose. He texted People the following: There is “war to wage … The winds are howling tonight. The gods are hungry. The beast is alive. And awake. And deadly.” Meanwhile, TMZ snagged a copy of the letter Warner Brothers sent to Sheen’s lawyer justifying his firing, and New York actually read all 11 pages. Buried amidst the obvious (“Your client … appears to be very ill”), the magazine found some new details. Though Sheen claims he was always ready for work, the letter says he frequently “had difficulty remembering his lines and hitting his marks.” Perhaps even more damning, the letter claims there actually was—despite what Sheen has said—a morals clause in his contract, which he violated by “furnishing cocaine to others.” Click for photos of Sheen waving his machete.

Doral police arrested Christian David Guevara and charged him with strong arm robbery. They say he threw a 17-year-old girl to the ground and took her iPhone when she wasn’t able to produce cash he demanded. ||||| For 17 years, Juan Reinaldo Sanchez served as a bodyguard to Fidel Castro. But when he became disillusioned with the Cuban dictator’s hypocrisy and tried to retire in 1994, Castro had him thrown in prison. Sanchez made 10 attempts to escape the island, finally making it to Mexico by boat, then across the Texas border in 2008. Now he reveals all in his new book, “The Double Life of Fidel Castro.” In this excerpt, Sanchez explains how he lost faith in the revolution — and “El Jefe.” The end of 1988. A day like any other was coming to a close in Havana. In a few minutes, my life would be overturned. Fidel had spent his afternoon reading and working in his office when he stuck his head through the door to the anteroom, where I was, to warn me that Abrantes was about to arrive. Gen. José Abrantes, in his 50s, had been minister of the interior since 1985 after having been, notably, the commander in chief’s head of security for 20 years. Utterly loyal, he was one of the people who saw El Jefe daily. While they met, I went to sit in my office, where the closed-circuit TV screens monitoring the garage, the elevator and the corridors were found, as well as the cupboard housing the three locks that turned on the recording mikes hidden in a false ceiling in Fidel’s office. A moment later, the Comandante came back, opened the door again, and gave me this instruction: “Sánchez, ¡no grabes!” (“Sánchez, don’t record!”) The interview seemed to go on forever . . . one hour went by, then two. And so, as much out of curiosity as to kill the time, I put on the listening headphones and turned Key No. 1 to hear what was being said on the other side of the wall. Disillusioned Their conversation centered on a Cuban lanchero (someone who smuggles drugs by boat) living in the United States, apparently conducting business with the government. And what business! Very simply, a huge drug-trafficking transaction was being carried out at the highest echelons of the state. Abrantes asked for Fidel’s authorization to bring this trafficker temporarily to Cuba as he wanted to have a week’s vacation in his native land, accompanied by his parents, in Santa María del Mar — a beach situated about 12 miles east of Havana where the water is turquoise and the sand as fine as flour. For this trip, explained Abrantes, the lanchero would pay $75,000 — which, at a time of economic recession, wouldn’t go amiss . . . Fidel was all for it. But he expressed a concern: How could they ensure that the parents of the lanchero would keep the secret and not go and blab everywhere that they had spent a week near Havana with their son, who was supposed to live in the United States? The minister had the solution: All they had to do was make them believe their son was a Cuban intelligence officer who had infiltrated the United States and whose life would be gravely endangered if they did not keep his visit to Cuba absolutely secret. “Very well . . .” concluded Fidel, who gave his agreement. It was as if the sky had fallen in on me. I realized that the man for whom I had long sacrificed my life, the Líder whom I worshipped like a god and who counted more in my eyes than my own family, was caught up in cocaine trafficking to such an extent that he was directing illegal operations like a real godfather. The Comandante, with his talent for dissimulation, went back to work as if nothing was amiss. One has to understand his logic. For him, drug trafficking was, above all, a weapon of revolutionary struggle more than a means of making money. His reasoning was as follows: If the Yanks were stupid enough to use drugs that came from Colombia, not only was that not his problem — as long as it was not discovered, that is — but, in addition, it served his revolutionary objectives in the sense that it corrupted and destabilized American society. Icing on the cake: It was a means of bringing in cash to finance subversion. And so, as cocaine trafficking increased in Latin America, the line between guerrilla war and trafficking drugs gradually blurred. What was true in Colombia was just as true in Cuba. For my part, I never managed to accept this twisted reasoning, in absolute contradiction to my revolutionary ethics. Sham Trials In 1986, when economic aid from Moscow was starting to dry up, Castro founded the MC Department (for moneda covertible, or “covertible currency”), which traded in goods — illegal and legal — for hard currency from third parties, principally Panama. The MC Department soon acquired another nickname, the “Marijuana and Cocaine Department.” But the Americans became suspicious of Cuba’s drug dealing, and scandal loomed. Fidel decided to take action to nip any possible suspicion about him in the bud. He used the official daily paper, Granma, to inform its readers that an inquiry had been opened. Among the arrested were the respected revolutionary general Arnaldo Ochoa and the minister I had overheard talking to Castro, José Abrantes. The Machiavellian Fidel, while declaring himself “appalled” by what he pretended to have discovered, claimed that “the most honest imaginable political and judicial process” was under way. Obviously, the reality was completely different. Comfortably installed in his brother Raúl’s office, Fidel Castro and Raúl followed the live proceedings of Causa No. 1 and Causa No. 2 on the closed-circuit TV screens. Both trials were filmed — which is why one can today see large sections of it on YouTube — and broadcast to every Cuban home, though not live: The government wanted to be able to censor anything that might prove embarrassing. Fidel even had the means to alert the president of the court discreetly, via a warning light, whenever he thought a session should be interrupted. And during breaks, the president of the court, the public prosecutor and the jury members would swarm out onto the fourth floor of the ministry to take their instructions from Fidel, who, as usual, organized and ordered everything, absolutely everything. The Videotape At the end of these parodies of justice, Gen. Ochoa was condemned to death. José Abrantes received a sentence of 20 years of imprisonment. After just two years of detention in 1991, he would suffer a fatal heart attack, despite his perfect state of health, in circumstances that were, to say the least, suspicious. There followed the most painful episode of my career. Fidel had asked that the execution of Ochoa and the three other condemned men be filmed. And so, two days later, on a Saturday, a chauffeur arrived at the residence, where I was, to deliver a brown envelope containing a ­Betamax cassette video. Castro’s wife, Dalia, told Fidel’s men they should watch it. The video had no sound, which made the scenes we began to watch even more unreal. First, we saw vehicles arriving in a quarry at night, lit by projectors. I have often been asked how Ochoa faced death. The answer is clear and unambiguous: with ­exceptional dignity. As he got out of the car, he walked straight. When one of his torturers proposed to put a band over his eyes, he shook his head in sign of refusal. And when he was facing the firing squad, he looked death square in the face. Despite the absence of sound, the whole excerpt shows his courage. To his executioners, who could not be seen in the footage, he said something that one could not hear but which one could guess. His chest pushed out and his chin raised, he probably shouted something like, “Go on, you don’t frighten me!” An instant later, he crumpled from beneath the bullets of seven gunmen. Castro made us watch it. That’s what the Comandante was capable of to keep his power: not just of killing but also of humiliating and reducing to nothing men who had served him devotedly. His Brother’s Keeper After Ochoa’s death, Raúl Castro plunged into the worst bout of alcoholism of his life. He had taken part in the assassination of his friend. He turned to vodka, which had long been his favorite drink. There was doubtless another factor involved: having watched the elimination of his counterpart, Abrantes, Raúl could logically fear that he, too, would be hounded from his position of defense minister. The government No. 2 was dead drunk so often that the ministers and the generals could not have failed to miss it. The ­Comandante decided to go and lecture his younger brother. I heard Fidel admonishing his brother, launching into a long, moralistic tirade. “How can you descend so low? You’re giving the worst possible example to your family and your escort,” began the Comandante. “If what’s worrying you is that what happened to Abrantes will happen to you, let me tell you that Abrantes no es mi hermano [is not my brother]! You and I have been united since we were children, for better and for worse. So, no, you are not going to experience Abrantes’ fate, unless . . . you persist with this deplorable behavior. “Listen, I’m talking to you as a brother. Swear to me that you will come out of this lamentable state and I promise you nothing will happen to you.” Sure enough, shortly afterward, Fidel spoke out in praise of Raúl, applauding his integrity and his devotion to the Revolution. Raúl, for his part, carried on drinking vodka, but in far more reasonable quantities. From “The Double Life of Fidel Castro: My 17 Years as Personal Bodyguard to El Lider Maximo” by Juan Reinaldo Sanchez with Axel Gyldén. Copyright © 2015 by the author and reprinted by permission of St. Martin’s Press, LLC. |||||

– Fidel Castro, ragtag communist revolutionary? Not according to a new book that chronicles his alleged luxurious lifestyle and drug-smuggling into the United States. A former bodyguard to Castro, Juan Reinaldo Sanchez—who fled Cuba in 2008 and has made similar allegations before—describes them fully in The Double Life of Fidel Castro: My 17 Years as Personal Bodyguard to El Lider Maximo. In a juicy New York Post excerpt, Sanchez claims that he overheard Castro meeting with a loyal general, José Abrantes, about drug trafficking: "What business!" Sanchez writes, with co-writer Axel Gylden. "Very simply, a huge drug-trafficking transaction was being carried out at the highest echelons of the state." According to the book, Castro and Gen. Abrantes discussed smuggling cocaine into the US. Castro's reasoning: "If the Yanks were stupid enough to use drugs that came from Colombia, not only was that not his problem ... it served his revolutionary objectives in the sense that it corrupted and destabilized American society," the book reads. Sanchez also accuses Castro of covering up his involvement by engineering sham trials that led to the deaths of two devoted officers, including Abrantes; this fueled the alcoholism of brother Raul, who feared he would be next. Imprisoned in Cuba for two years before fleeing, Sanchez has already accused Castro of secretly living a luxurious life that includes an 88-foot yacht and a Caribbean getaway island, the Miami Herald reported last year.

A network rep claims that the decision to not move forward with the animated comedy came before an anonymous woman alleged that the former 'Silicon Valley' star sexually assaulted her in 2001. Comedy Central has canceled T.J. Miller's animated series The Gorburger Show after one season. News of the cancellation came Tuesday, the same day the former Silicon Valley star was accused of sexual assault and violence by an anonymous woman in a Daily Beast story, though a rep for the network claims that the decision to not move forward with a second season of the show predated the allegations, with one source noting it happened in July. The woman alleges that while she and Miller were seeing each other in college at George Washington University in 2001, the actor strangled her and punched her in the mouth during sex. She also said he penetrated her anally without her consent, and later did the same with a beer bottle. Miller has denied the claims, writing in a statement with his wife, Kate, that the woman is "using the current climate to bandwagon and launch these false accusations." The married couple added that they think it is "unfortunate that she is choosing this route as it undermines the important movement to make women feel safe coming forward about legitimate claims against real known predators. We stand together and will not allow this person to take advantage of a serious movement toward gender equality by allowing her to use this moment to muddy the water with an unrelated personal agenda." Miller executive produced and starred on the eight-episode comedy, which aired from April 9-June 4 on Comedy Central. The actor-comedian voiced the host of the show, a giant blue space monster who has invaded a Japanese morning talk show and held its staff hostage as he attempts to understand what it means to be human by interviewing celebrities and musical artists. Guests included Rob Corddry, Larry King, Tig Notaro, Drew Pinsky and Reggie Watts. The alien puppet talk show was created by Ryan K. McNeal and Josh Martin, with the pair writing, directing and executive producing the comedy alongside Sean Boyle for Funny or Die. The Gorburger Show previously ran for two seasons and 19 episodes on Funny or Die before moving to HBO as a pilot in 2015 and eventually landing at the Viacom-owned network earlier this year. Elsewhere, Miller has a number of films coming up. Among them: Steven Spielberg's Ready Player One, DreamWorks' How to Train Your Dragon 3, Kristen Stewart starrer Underwater and Ryan Reynolds' Deadpool 2. Warner Bros. and 20th Century Fox declined to comment on the allegations. Meanwhile, DreamWorks and Underwater producer Chernin Entertainment did not respond to requests for comment. Miller made headlines when he abruptly left Silicon Valley, the breakout HBO comedy on which he played fan-favorite Erlich Bachman for four seasons. In a wide-ranging exit interview with The Hollywood Reporter at the time, Miller took shots at executive producer Alec Berg ("I don't know how smart [Alec] is. He went to Harvard, and we all know those kids are fucking idiots. That Crimson trash") and star Thomas Middleditch ("I'm not sitting here saying, 'I need more lines. I'm not funny enough.' I'm not Thomas Middleditch"), and explained that he was leaving the hit series because he'd rather "parasail into the Cannes Film Festival for The Emoji Movie because that's the next new funny thing that will make people laugh." ||||| Warning: This story includes graphic content. An alleged victim of former Silicon Valley star T.J. Miller is coming forward with accusations that Miller hit and sexually assaulted her while in college. The accusations were eventually addressed by a student court at George Washington University and have been buzzed about in Hollywood and stand-up circles for years. “He just tried a lot of things without asking me, and at no point asked me if I was all right,” the woman told The Daily Beast. “He choke[d] me, and I kept staring at his face hoping he would see that I was afraid and [that he] would stop… I couldn’t say anything.” Miller’s alleged victim, who asked to remain anonymous, said she is coming forward now in part because of the societal awakening to issues of sexual assault and harassment that has come in the aftermath of misconduct allegations that have rocked the entertainment industry. The Daily Beast is withholding her identity because of her fears of retribution. But for the purposes of this piece, we will call her Sarah. Miller has told friends over the years that he was wrongfully accused. And in a statement to The Daily Beast, Miller and his wife, Kate, denied any wrongdoing. Instead, they cast themselves as the victims. Sarah “began again to circulate rumors online once [my and Kate’s] relationship became public. Sadly she is now using the current climate to bandwagon and launch these false accusations again,” the Millers wrote. “It is unfortunate that she is choosing this route as it undermines the important movement to make women feel safe coming forward about legitimate claims against real known predators.” “ Miller began ‘shaking [her] violently’ and punched her in the mouth during sex. ” But it’s not just Sarah who has come forward. The Daily Beast has corroborated details of her story—which includes two separate incidents—with five GW contemporaries and spoke to numerous associates of both her and Miller. Two of the GW contemporaries say they were in the off-campus house where the incidents allegedly occurred. The contemporaries later testified in student court about hearing the sound of violent thuds or seeing bruises on Sarah. Three other contemporaries said they comforted and counseled Sarah in the aftermath of the incidents. Matt Lord was one of them. An ex-boyfriend of Sarah’s, he told The Daily Beast that he continues to believe her story more than a decade after the fact. “I attended George Washington University for undergraduate studies from 2000 until December 2003... I had a romantic relationship with [this] woman, who spoke with me about T.J. Miller sexually assaulting her,” Lord, who currently works as an attorney in Montague, Massachusetts, wrote in a statement to The Daily Beast. “At the time I believed the statements she made regarding the assault by Mr. Miller, and I continue to believe the statements she made are true. She was engaged in student conduct proceedings regarding the sexual assault, and I remember the emotional toll that the assault and the subsequent conduct hearings placed on her.” In the years since, Miller has attempted to address the lingering allegations by occasionally making light of them. He’s privately joked about committing violence against a woman in his past, according to three sources in the comedy world. Perhaps that is why some female performers and comedy professionals tell The Daily Beast that they have declined to work with Miller, citing a perceived history of abusive behavior. The incidents took place at GW where Miller was a student and Sarah was taking classes but not matriculating. They fell in with the same GW comedy troupe, receSs, during which time they struck up a relationship. “I felt relatively safe with T.J. at the time,” Sarah explained. But months into their relationship, which started in the fall of 2001, Sarah said the first troubling encounter took place. She recalled having “a lot to drink” and admitted that there are “parts of [the incident] I don’t remember.” She stressed that “it is important to me to cop to that… [and] I’m not interested in forcing a pretend memory on anyone… 15 years later, I remain terrified of accusing someone of something they didn’t do, but I have a visual and physical memory of that.” However, Sarah said she has a distinct memory that as they were “fooling around” at her place, Miller began “shaking me violently” and punched her in the mouth during sex. Sarah said that she woke up the following morning with a fractured tooth and a bloodied lip. When she asked Miller about it that morning, he claimed, according to Sarah, that she had simply fallen down drunkenly the past evening. She was unsettled by the incident, but said that she did not know many people in D.C. and continued to see Miller. She had lost her virginity to him and, at least for a brief window, he was someone she trusted. “ I couldn’t bring myself [at the time] to believe this had happened... It was me not wanting it to be true. ” “I couldn’t bring myself [at the time] to believe this had happened,” Sarah said. “It was me not wanting it to be true.” Get The Beast In Your Inbox! Daily Digest Start and finish your day with the top stories from The Daily Beast. Cheat Sheet A speedy, smart summary of all the news you need to know (and nothing you don't). By clicking “Subscribe,” you agree to have read the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Subscribe Thank You! You are now subscribed to the Daily Digest and Cheat Sheet. We will not share your email with anyone for any reason. A few days after the first incident, Sarah got word that she would no longer be participating in receSs. She was upset and disappointed and said that she called Miller to confide in him. She had not fully processed the first encounter, she said, and Miller was still someone she believed she could turn to in a time of stress and vulnerability. They soon met at a college party, and left in a cab to head back to the apartment she had been renting with her roommates. When they arrived back at her home, they began to engage in consensual sex—but then Miller became violent again, Sarah said. She emphasized that she had not had more than two drinks that evening, and that her memory of the following “five-hour” ordeal was and is “crystal-clear.” “We started to fool around, and very early in that, he put his hands around my throat and closed them, and I couldn’t breathe,” she recalled. “I was genuinely terrified and completely surprised. I understand now that this is for some people a kink, and I continue to believe it is [something] that should be entered into by consenting parties. But, as someone who had only begun having sexual encounters, like, about three months earlier, I had no awareness this was a kink, and I had certainly not entered into any agreement that I would be choked. “I was fully paralyzed,” Sarah continued. Sarah claimed that she was “choking audibly”—to the point that her roommates could hear what was happening and rushed over to knock on her bedroom door. Sarah said she then got up and walked to her door in a robe, and one of her roommates asked if everything was OK. “I don’t know,” she responded, before shutting the door, “I’ll talk to you in the morning.” “He pulled me back to bed and more things happened,” Sarah said. “He anally penetrated me without my consent, which I actually believe at that point I cried out, like, ‘No,’ and he didn’t continue to do that—but he also had a [beer] bottle with him the entire time. He used the bottle at one point to penetrate me without my consent.” During the incident, Sarah said she “froze.” She says she “wasn’t prepared” for what had happened and that she “didn’t want to believe it was happening.” Miller finally left her apartment around 5 a.m. The next morning, Sarah said she confided in her roommates about what had happened. One of those housemates, who is currently a Maryland resident and stay-at-home mom who asked not to be named in this story, confirmed as much to The Daily Beast. “I knew T.J. was in her bedroom and I was in my bedroom, which was a wall away,” the source said. “My [other] roommate was in my bedroom with me and we heard a loud smacking noise, and we were concerned… The very next day when we talked to [Sarah] she was very upset, and… had said he had hit her in a very violent way.” Katie Duffy, a former GW student and another of Sarah’s ex-housemates, said she had not realized that the “T.J.” from that night was the famed actor and comedian until informed by The Daily Beast. (She conceded she “had to Google him.”) But she recalled the incident much as Sarah had described it. “One night, she had [Miller] back, and late at night… [a housemate and I] heard quite a lot of fighting [sounds] and banging, and loud, violent sounds [in the room next to us],” Duffy said. “So we knocked on the door of our housemate [Sarah], and asked if she was OK. She did indicate she was OK. Whatever response she gave, we felt we didn’t have to intervene further, at least at the time… Looking back, I wish we had done more to intervene, but we didn’t know what was going on… This is a girl I didn’t know very well, but it didn’t mean I didn’t have the power to go into that room, and remove her from that situation, and protect her. We did what we thought was the right thing at the time. It wasn’t enough.” The next morning, Duffy recalled, Sarah came down to the small kitchen where other housemates were having coffee and breakfast. Her physical appearance raised alarm. “She looked like she had been through a rough night—I recall seeing bruises [on Sarah],” Duffy said. “One roommate asked if she wanted to go to the police. Others offered to take her to the hospital, given how she looked.” Sarah ultimately declined. Duffy moved out shortly thereafter, and said she hasn’t spoken to Sarah since, simply because “we didn’t know each other well.” In the days and weeks that directly followed the alleged sexual assaults, Sarah’s friendship with Miller disintegrated completely. She said they met once more, days after that second night, to talk about what had happened; “T.J. said it was a ‘trust thing’… and that he thought I was into it,” Sarah recalled. As they drifted apart, she asked mutual friends of Miller’s about the incident. According to Sarah and those close to her, the responses were fairly uniform, to the effect of, “Yeah, that’s just T.J.” The only other time she would see him over the next year was at a female comedy group show that she attended. “T.J. showed up to heckle, and I remember being so angry,” she said, “and had to leave.” “ She looked like she had been through a rough night—I recall seeing bruises... One roommate asked if she wanted to go to the police. Others offered to take her to the hospital. ” It would be almost a year—following much deliberations, counsel, and support from friends—before Sarah went to GW’s campus police to tell them what had happened. By then, Miller was in his last year at the university. “I was not ready to process what was happening [the prior year], and I have spent a lot of time in my life apologizing for not having shouted ‘no,’ and for not having told my roommates to get him out of here,” Sarah said, explaining why she didn’t go to campus police a year earlier. “I was not ready to reconcile the events taking place with the person I had known. It was so disorienting and so physically traumatic.” Like other female college students in similar circumstances, Sarah did not want to take the case to the cops since nearly a year had passed, and there was no remaining physical evidence. Instead, her allegations were handled by the “student court” at the university. At this point, Sarah asked her housemate—the current Maryland mom who heard the “loud smacking noise”—if she would testify in the student court process, and she agreed. “I testified in student court about the noise I had heard and how upset she was after the incident,” Sarah’s former housemate recalled to The Daily Beast. “T.J. was there with a lawyer during the student court proceeding.” That housemate subsequently asked Duffy if she’d testified. “I was happy to,” Duffy said, recalling that she did not see Sarah at the student court during her testimony, but said that Miller, his father, and his attorney were there. “I was asked why I hadn’t done anything [more] if I was so worried… and I said, well, the noises were loud enough that it did prompt us to ask what was wrong, so we did do something,” Duffy said. “I felt very uncomfortable, the way they were challenging me on it.” Sarah said that the student court grilled her about “all my habits,” including what she had to drink, and how much, on both nights. She was asked if she had ever heard of erotic asphyxiation, and was asked if they had ever discussed the sexual practice, which she had not. After a trial period that lasted a couple of weeks, Sarah said that the university told her that the issue had been resolved. A GW spokesperson would only tell The Daily Beast that “because of federal privacy law, we are not able to provide information about current or former students’ education records,” in response to inquiries regarding a campus PD report or the student court proceedings. The federal law GW is referencing is the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). GW did confirm, however, that Miller graduated in 2003, but did not comment on whether he “graduated early” due to any unique circumstance. Other knowledgeable sources told The Daily Beast that Miller was “expelled after he graduated”—an outcome that appeared to be an attempt by the university to satisfy both parties. Sarah said she had lost acquaintances over her allegations, several of whom were her former comedy-troupe cohorts, most of whom ended up supporting Miller. Four of these friends spoke to The Daily Beast, though none agreed to do so on the record. Each of these friends was in the college comedy troupe or matriculating at GW at the time. And all of them presented the same general portrait of Miller as a gregarious and generous person who “couldn’t have done this,” as several said. “I’ve known T.J. since college, always known him to be a very caring person, and respectful, particularly toward women,” one friend said. “And he loves his wife very, very much.” Another source, who testified in student court (via phone, post-graduation) on Miller’s behalf, said it was unimaginable that T.J. could do “anything like that.” “I have never heard of another woman [who dated him in college] make any kind of allegation or insinuation that he was anything but a good guy,” the friend continued. Another friend insisted that Miller “was the type of person if you took him to a strip club, he would want to talk to the strippers, not hit on them.” No one has accused Miller of hitting on strippers. A source also produced a set of email exchanges between Miller and someone who dated Sarah later in life. The emails, one of which was presented without the conversation that preceded it, didn’t directly address the incident itself but instead showed both parties trying to come to a more amicable understanding. Sarah told The Daily Beast that she was simply under “some social pressure to be cool about this at the time, and didn't necessarily see myself as having any other option to resolution.” One of Miller’s friends said he “believed [Sarah] knew she was making this up” to “intentionally and maliciously fabricate” a sexual-assault allegation. This friend could not offer any evidence to support such a claim, nor could another person, who wasn’t a friend of Miller’s but shared a similar view and testified on his behalf. Kate and T.J. Miller made similar accusations in a statement‍ provided weeks after first learning that The Daily Beast was reporting on these incidents. “We met this woman over a decade ago while studying together in college, she attempted to break us up back then by plotting for over a year before making contradictory claims and accusations,” the Millers wrote. “She was asked to leave our university comedy group because of worrisome and disturbing behavior, which angered her immensely, she then became fixated on our relationship, and began telling people around campus ‘I’m going to destroy them’ and ‘I’m going to ruin him,’” the statement continued. When asked about these claims, Sarah’s responded, “Of course not.” “He was a friend to me before [the incidents], and he had been there for me before that,” she said. “I didn’t want him in jail. I didn’t hate him. He was someone I cared about… I don’t want to mess up his life. But he behaved in a way towards me that I have to live with… [and] I don’t think it’s appropriate that I carry this by myself.” If Sarah was eager to settle scores with Miller, she certainly didn’t show it. When The Daily Beast first started looking into this story, those close to her said for months that she had expressed no desire to come forward and was actively avoiding media inquiries. Only weeks after the advent of the #MeToo movement did that seem to change. Miller soon left his alma mater and became a star in stand-up comedy. He then began appearing in major Hollywood productions, and landed a starring role on the critically lauded HBO show Silicon Valley. But despite the lack of public accusations since his time at George Washington, whispers about what happened in his college years followed him. Four female comedians and bookers who spoke to The Daily Beast said that they had heard of the alleged sexual misconduct at GW. Some of these comics had heard about the accusations from Sarah directly, and have since warned women in stand-up comedy about Miller. But some know about the sexual-assault allegations because Miller talked about them himself when confiding in friends and associates. Four sources in the L.A. and Chicago comedy scenes—including JC Coccoli, a Los Angeles-based producer who briefly dated Miller in 2009—said they each first heard of the allegations because Miller had told them about them or referenced them in private conversation, or at small gatherings before or after shows. Miller did so in the context of vehemently denying “rumors” circulating in various comedy communities. Other times, he would crack jokes about punching a woman he knew in college, two other comics independently told The Daily Beast. Maura Brown, a comedy festival organizer and publicist who used to work in L.A. and has since uprooted to Portland, Oregon, said she has also heard about the Miller allegation for years. “Very commonly, women have warned each other [in entertainment] about him… and about what happened in college,” Brown told The Daily Beast. Brown noted that starting in 2013, when she first heard about the allegations, she “never wanted to work with him [ever], and never wanted to work on the same projects as him,” and that “this convinced me to not try to book him or promote him in any way.” “ I didn’t want him in jail. I didn’t hate him. But he behaved in a way towards me that I have to live with… I don’t think it’s appropriate that I carry this by myself. ” Still, Miller, whose star is increasingly rising in Hollywood these days, continues to have friends in high places in the entertainment world. Miller is set to appear in several major film projects, including an upcoming movie co-starring Kristen Stewart and another starring Ryan Reynolds. This year, HBO aired his stand-up special, and Comedy Central started airing The Gorburger Show, what Miller has previously told The Daily Beast is his “passion project” about a murderous alien talk-show host. Sarah, his alleged victim, no longer lives in L.A., where she resettled not long after auditing at GW. She says she had a “wonderful experience doing improv and comedy” in the local comedy scene, and tried to put what happened with Miller behind her. “ I had to see him at my improv school [in L.A.], which I, shortly after, stopped going to, and see him at stand-up shows, and I stopped doing stand-up [eventually in L.A.],” Sarah said. “It doesn’t help that when I was living in L.A. I had to keep seeing his name on billboards, and on bus stops, and it just didn’t… stop.” She added, “It is unfathomable to me that he doesn’t understand that he actually put me through something I have to live with, that I never would’ve chosen, that completely, completely set the tone for my sexual adult life, that I actively had to spend years and years… un-programming.” |||||

– Comic and Silicon Valley star TJ Miller is the latest celeb accused of sexual assault, but he and his wife have issued a joint statement strongly denying the allegations. The Daily Beast first reported the accusations, made by an anonymous woman who knew Miller from their days at George Washington University more than a decade ago. She claims Miller assaulted her in two separate incidents: In the first, she says he punched her in the mouth during consensual sex, fracturing a tooth. In the second, she says he forcefully choked her during sex and "anally penetrated me without my consent." On Instagram, Miller denies the claims, which were addressed by a student court at the time, though the school will not divulge the outcome. “We met this woman over a decade ago while studying together in college, she attempted to break us up back then by plotting for over a year before making contradictory claims and accusations," writes Miller with his wife, Kate. He adds that he's sure an investigation would clear him. Miller also accuses the woman of "using the current climate to bandwagon and launch these false accusations." Meanwhile, the Hollywood Reporter notes that Comedy Central announced Tuesday it was canceling Miller's animated series, The Gorburger Show, after one season. However, a network rep says the move is not related to the new controversy.

We're halfway through one of the least-deadly years in recent Chicago homicide history, but here's a reminder that summer is just getting started: at least 41 were shot and 7 killed in Chicago this weekend. And while city gun violence typically doesn't get as much attention as other mass shootings, especially in more affluent neighborhoods, the Chicago story fits into the bigger national conversation on gun control, just slightly more than six months after the Newtown shootings shook the issue into the spotlight. This weekend was the most violent so far in the city, but not the most deadly: eight died in Chicago during the last weekend in January. The Chicago Tribune has a sweeping feature report on the weekend's toll on the city. Victims this weekend include Kevin Rivera, a 16-year-old who tried to flee gunmen on his bike; Ricardo Herrera, 21; Todd Wood, 40, who was killed in a mass shooting at a club (two others were wounded); Cortez Wilberton, 31; Jamal Jones, 19; and Antwon Johnson, 24, who was shot by police: "[Johnson was shot] after he raised a 9-millimeter handgun in their direction after bailing from a moving car and falling, police said. His mother disputed that account. “It’s not true,” said Stacy Liberty. “How could someone have a gun and point it to you if they’re already on the ground?” Liberty said the car had been lurching down the block because the people in the car were trying to identify an address. The presence of a police car behind them must have made Johnson nervous, his mother said." Liberty told the Tribune that Johnson had a record, but "hasn’t been in trouble in a while." His job search was struggling because of his criminal record, she added. What's perhaps most striking about the Tribune report is the amount of residue from the violence still left on the streets, which they describe as "literally stained:" "In the city’s Little Village neighborhood, 15 lit memorial candles stood in blood...About five miles away, a long trail of blood remained splattered in a Northwest Side alley — and on the bumper of a nearby car — where 16-year-old Kevin Rivera tried to run from a gunman on a bicycle, authorities told the Tribune." And when Jamal Jones's family went to the scene where the 19-year-old was shot, they found his bike still there, along with needles left behind from the paramedics. As of last week, Chicago's murder rate was down 34 percent, the Chicago Sun-Times noted. When the Tribune asked authorities about this weekend's numbers, they cited the overall lower crime rates as evidence that their strategy is working. Update: Adding to the grisly total, late Sunday the police killed a 15-year-old. Want to add to this story? Let us know in comments or send an email to the author at aohlheiser at gmail dot com. You can share ideas for stories on the Open Wire. Abby Ohlheiser ||||| 6 dead, at least 41 injured in city’s most violent weekend in 2013 BY MITCH DUDEK Staff Reporter [email protected] 24887084 Updated: The most violent weekend in Chicago this year left at least 41 people injured and six others dead from gunfire. Those killed ranged in age from 16 to 40. “I had a family from my parish tell me recently that their 10-year-old son didn’t want to come back to Chicago from vacation because of the violence,” said Rev. Michael Pfleger, pastor of St. Sabina Catholic Church in Englewood, which is about a mile from the site of one of the shootings. Friends and family gathered Sunday outside the Humboldt Park home of Kevin Rivera to sign a poster and light candles to remember the 16-year-old. He was killed late Saturday when a gunman on a bicycle shot Rivera as he walked in an alley not far from his home on the 1500 block of North Keystone. He collapsed down the block from where he was shot about 11:45 p.m. Earlier Saturday, about 10:50 p.m., Ricardo Herrera, 21, was killed and two others were wounded in a shooting in the Little Village neighborhood when a gunman opened fire in the 2500 block of South Ridgeway Avenue. Herrera, of the 2400 block of South Marshall Boulevard, was dead at the scene. A few minutes after midnight Sunday, 40-year-old Todd Wood, of the 8100 block of South St. Lawrence Avenue, was killed and three others were wounded when a gunman walked up to the open door of the club in the 900 block of East 79th Street in the Chatham neighborhood and opened fire. The men had argued outside the club before the attack. About an hour later, Jamal Jones, 19, was discovered on a sidewalk in the 7400 block of South Parnell Avenue with gunshot wounds to the shoulder and chest, police said. Jones, of the 8800 block of South Yale Avenue, died about an hour later at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn. Cortez Wilberton, 31, of the 200 block of South Lavergne Avenue, was fatally shot about 1:30 a.m. Sunday. The shooting happened in the 200 block of South Keeler Avenue in the West Garfield Park neighborhood. A woman was also grazed in the cheek. The first homicide of the weekend happened about 11 p.m. Friday in the 5500 block of West Quincy Street in the Austin neighborhood when McGregory Porter, 24, was fatally shot in the eye and another man was shot in the abdomen during an altercation, authorities said. Overall the number of homicides is down this year when compared to the same time last year. The decline has prompted Mayor Rahm Emanuel and police Supt. Garry McCarthy to tout the effectiveness of revamped police tactics. While acknowledging the extent of the weekend bloodshed, police spokesman Adam Collins noted in an email that the same weekend last year had more shootings. “While we’ve had fewer murders to date this year than any year since the mid-1960s, there’s more work to be done and we won’t rest until everyone in Chicago enjoys the same sense of safety,” Collins wrote. ||||| Chicago Tribune reporter Adam Sege recaps the night's crime, including a police involved shooting that left a 15-year-old boy dead. (Posted Monday, June 17, 2013) As she headed out the door Sunday morning, Adrianne Wilberton put on a brave face. It was time to tell her son the news, and she didn't want him hearing it from anyone else. But her composure unraveled as she walked toward the car, a barrage of neighbors hugging her on the way out of her apartment. By the time she reached the front lawn, the mother of six was in tears. "Our son is dead! Oh Jesus!" the 57-year-old screamed, referring to Cortez, one of her three sons, who was killed earlier that morning on Chicago's West Side. "Oh my God! Oh my God! We were just talking." At least 34 people were shot — nine of them fatally — Saturday afternoon through Father's Day Sunday, stretching from 94th Street and Loomis Avenue on the South Side up to about North Avenue and North Pulaski Road on the Northwest Side, according to authorities. The youngest person killed during one of the bloodiest weekends in Chicago this year, 15-year-old Michael Westley, was fatally shot by a police officer Sunday night. Shootings from Friday afternoon into Saturday left another 13 people shot, 1 fatally. The combined tally resulted in 47 people shot, and eight killed this weekend. Last year at about the same time, there were 53 people shot, nine fatally in one weekend. The rash of violent crime came as Chicago has seen a large dip in overall homicide and shooting numbers so far this year. When asked whether this weekend's shooting numbers cast doubt on the department's crime-fighting strategies, Chicago police spokesman Adam Collins insisted they are working, noting the city has so far in 2013 posted its lowest homicide totals in years. Collins also reiterated a position that police Superintendent Garry McCarthy has expressed publicly throughout the year when discussing the department's crime-fighting efforts. "There's going to be good days, and there's going to be bad days, which is why we've been calling this progress, not victory," said Collins, who pointed out drops in overall crime. Across the city, reminders of the bloody weekend literally stained some of Chicago's streets. In the city's Little Village neighborhood, 15 lit memorial candles stood in blood where Ricardo Herrera, 21, was fatally wounded and two others shot on the 2500 block of South Ridgeway Avenue. About five miles away, a long trail of blood remained splattered in a Northwest Side alley — and on the bumper of a nearby car — where 16-year-old Kevin Rivera tried to run from a gunman on a bicycle, authorities told the Tribune. Rivera's family was planning to move in two weeks from their sometimes violent section of the West Humboldt Park neighborhood and a social worker was enrolling the teenager in the city's summer jobs program. But late Saturday night, someone shot Rivera in the 4100 block of West North Avenue, police said. He attempted to run but collapsed a few feet away. The boy, who lived a few blocks away from the scene, was pronounced dead about 1:35 a.m. Sunday at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, authorities said. Grief-stricken and exhausted, Kevin Rivera's family said little about Rivera or his death. "I can't believe it," said Rivera's mother, Maria Figueroa. One of six siblings, Rivera could be polite and soft-spoken at home, even as he became increasingly embroiled in neighborhood gang conflicts and faced juvenile court charges. Last year, he was shot in the leg, and he was briefly detained in the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center and placed on juvenile court probation for carrying an unloaded gun in the neighborhood, according to interviews with relatives. His younger sister Yajaira Rivera last year was profiled in a Tribune investigation about elementary students who missed months of school each year. Rivera also missed weeks of school each year at Nobel Elementary School, where he earned an A in 7th grade art class but failed basic courses and had run-ins with teachers and staff, school records and interviews show. In a brief Tribune interview last year, Rivera said he had tried to register at Orr Academy High School, but left after a couple of days because he didn't feel safe there. "There is a lot of tension," he said. Social worker Emily Runyan, who lived in the neighborhood and befriended Rivera's family, was recently working to enroll Rivera in the city's One Summer Chicago teen jobs program. "I don't want to memorialize him because he made some bad choices, but Kevin was a kind, quiet and sensitive kid," Runyan said. "I truly believe he wanted more for his life, but was a victim of many things." One of the men killed — 24-year-old Antwon Johnson — was shot by police early Sunday in the Lawndale neighborhood after he raised a 9-millimeter handgun in their direction after bailing from a moving car and falling, police said. His mother disputed that account. "It's not true," said Stacy Liberty. "How could someone have a gun and point it to you if they're already on the ground?" Liberty said the car had been lurching down the block because the people in the car were trying to identify an address. The presence of a police car behind them must have made Johnson nervous, his mother said. Johnson had been convicted three times for drug related charges stemming back to 2006, according to court records. He suffered three gunshot wounds almost two years ago, she said. But the father of two five-year-old sons was trying to get his life back on track, she said. "He hasn’t been in trouble in a while," said Liberty, who rushed to the scene and recalled seeing her son's lifeless body in the alley. "He was trying to get his stuff together. Black men on the street today, it's tough for them to get a job because the first thing (employers) look at is their record." Another victim included 40-year-old Todd Wood, who authorities said was killed after a gunman opened fire at a club in the city's Grand Crossing neighborhood. Three others were wounded in that attack, police said. Several hours after the club shooting, Cortez Wilberton, 31, was added to the homicide list. Wilberton had seen plenty of his friends shot over the year, but hit a turning point a few years back when his best friend was killed, his sister said. A former gang member, Wilberton had a lengthy criminal record that included at least 30 arrests, according to court records. "That's when he said, 'That's enough of this here … I don't want to be bothered by all this nonsense,' " said his sister, Tanya Wilberton, 37. So he left the gang and started focusing all of his energy on his three children, one of whom was born earlier this month, she said. He liked to take his children — two girls and a boy — to the park and watch the older ones ride their bikes, his mother and sister said. Sometime early last year, Wilberton was shot in the stomach during a robbery and had to leave his a job as a security guard at a local store, his sister said. Still recovering from reconstructive surgery, he mostly stayed indoors at night but was gunned down at 1:35 a.m. on the 200 block of South Keeler Avenue in the Austin neighborhood. A 31-year-old woman also suffered a graze wound to the face in that incident, police said. Around the time Wilberton's family gathered Sunday morning to mourn, Karen Sumner received a call at work telling her to hurry home because police officers wanted to talk about her 19-year-old son. "I hope my son's not dead," Sumner remembers saying. "Please, I hope my son's not dead." But when she arrived at the family's West Chatham home, officers delivered the news she feared most. Her son, Jamal Jones, was shot at about 1:15 a.m. Sunday while riding his bike home from a family member's house through the 7400 block of South Parnell Avenue in the Englewood neighborhood, police and relatives said. He died about an hour later. Jones was a friendly, motivated young man who steered away from trouble and was always eager to work, according to relatives. He'd sometimes peddle bottled water to passing cars on 79th Street when he couldn't find construction work, his mother said. Jones' uncle, Travis Sumner, said his nephew was a reliable member of his roofing crew. Jones worked as the ground man, picking up trash and making sure supplies got up to the laborers on the roof. "He worked hard," the uncle said. "He stayed busy all the time." On Sunday afternoon, family members returned to the shooting scene. They found the bike Jones had been riding and needles left over from the paramedics. As she recalled getting ready for her job at Jewel-Osco on Sunday morning, Karen Sumner said it was odd that her son wasn't there to say goodbye when she left the house at 3:30 a.m. At that time, she still hadn't heard the news. "He would always greet me at the door and kiss me and say 'I love you,' " Karen Sumner said on Sunday. "This morning, he didn’t greet me." By Monday morning the toll had grown by another fatality when Alexander Lagunas, 18, was pronounced dead at 10:08 a.m. at Mount Sinai, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office. Lagunas, of the 8100 block of South Scottsdale was shot on the 4000 block of West 31st Street at 12:31 a.m. Sunday morning, according to police. Tribune reporters Jeremy Gorner, Carlos Sadovi, Kim Geiger, Deanese Williams-Harris and Adam Sege contributed. [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] |||||

– The news out of Chicago just five days ago was encouraging: after a murder-riddled 2012, this year's murder rate had plummeted to a level not seen in 50 years. Today, the news is of a darker nature. Between Friday afternoon and Sunday, a total of 46 people were shot in the city, seven fatally, per the Tribune. (Other sources put the tally slightly lower.) The stat does represent a sort of improvement: The Tribune reports that around this time last year, those numbers were 53 and nine, respectively. And the Atlantic Wire notes that a deadlier weekend has already occurred in 2013: January closed with eight deaths. The youngest victim, 16-year-old Kevin Rivera, apparently tried to flee from a gunman on a bicycle late Saturday. The dead teen's family was just two weeks away from a move from their sometimes dangerous Hermosa neighborhood.

LIMA (Reuters) - Prosecutors in Peru suspect that a Canadian man murdered a revered indigenous medicine woman in an Amazonian village last week before being lynched in retribution, a spokesman for the attorney general’s office said on Tuesday. Funeral of Olivia Arevalo, an 81-year-old indigenous shaman of the Shipibo-Conibo tribe who was shot dead near her home in Ucayali, in Pucallpa, Peru April 21, 2018. REUTERS/ Hugo Enrique Alejos Olivia Arevalo, an 81-year-old shaman of the Shipibo-Conibo tribe, was shot to death near her home in the region of Ucayali on Thursday, prompting outrage from villagers who blamed Sebastian Woodroffe, a native of Vancouver Island. Prosecutors had initially been pursuing several potential leads into who killed Arevalo. But their main hypotheses now is that Woodroffe murdered Arevalo because he was upset that her son had not repaid him 14,000 soles ($4,335), said Ricardo Jimenez, the head of a regional group of prosecutors. Authorities found a document showing that Woodroffe bought a gun on April 3 from a police officer, Jimenez said, adding that the police officer is now being sought for questioning. A witness also testified that a silver-colored pistol fell from a backpack that Woodroffe was carrying as villagers grabbed him before the lynching, Jimenez said. “We want to see if that weapon actually existed. We haven’t found it yet but we’re looking,” Jimenez said. “With the new evidence that has appeared, he is the main suspect.” Neither Woodroffe’s nor Arevalo’s family could be reached for comment. Police officers carry the body of Sebastian Woodroffe, a 41-year-old Canadian citizen, who was beaten and strangled with a rope in the jungle region of Ucayali on Friday after members of an indigenous community accused him of killing a revered medicine woman, in Pucallpa, Peru April 21, 2018. REUTERS/ Hugo Enrique Alejos Arevalo was considered a wealth of knowledge about Amazonian plants and native traditions. Yarrow Willard, a friend of Woodroffe’s in Canada, said Woodroffe was not violent and had never used a gun. “He was a loving father and kind man who was not capable of the crimes he was accused of,” Willard said in an email. Willard said Woodroffe had gone to Peru “seeking healing as he was feeling troubled and slightly lost.” The case has spotlighted surging tourism in Peru’s Amazon related to the hallucinogenic plant brew ayahuasca, which has long been used by tribes in spiritual and healing rituals and is now popular among foreigners seeking vivid spiritual experiences or help with addiction. Woodroffe traveled to Peru to learn about ayahuasca and plant medicine so he could become an addictions counselor, according to his post on the crowdfunding website Indiegogo.com. Tests of Woodroffe’s remains are expected to determine if he fired a weapon or was intoxicated before dying. Authorities have expedited the laboratory work and results are now expected this week, instead of in more than two weeks as initially estimated, Jimenez said. Two men sought by police for allegedly lynching Woodroffe appear to have fled, Jimenez said. In 2015, a Canadian killed a friend in self-defense during an ayahuasca session. In 2012, an 18-year-old U.S. citizen died after taking the drug and workers at an ayahuasca retreat tried to hide his body. ||||| This will appear next to all of your comments This will NOT appear anywhere on Newser ||||| Image copyright AFP Image caption The body of Sebastian Woodroffe was found buried in a shallow grave A judge in Peru has ordered the arrest of two suspects in the lynching of a 41-year-old Canadian man in the remote Amazon region last week. A video uploaded to social media showed Sebastian Woodroffe lying in a puddle while two men put a rope around his neck and then dragged him along. Police later found his body buried in a shallow grave. A local prosecutor says Mr Woodroffe may have been killed because locals suspected him of murdering a healer. Shaman's murder The spiritual healer, 81-year-old Olivia Arévalo from the Shipibo-Conibo indigenous group, was shot dead outside her home on Thursday. While no-one witnessed the killing and the murder weapon has not been found, her family blamed Mr Woodroffe for her murder, prosecutor Ricardo Jiménez said. Mr Jiménez says that the family alleges that Mr Woodroffe was angry at Ms Arévalo for refusing to conduct a spiritual ceremony in which the hallucinogenic drug ayahuasca is used. Read more about ayahuasca: According to his own fundraising site, Mr Woodroffe wanted to change careers and become an addiction counsellor using hallucinogenic medicine. He had travelled to Peru to do an apprenticeship with Shipibo healers, who have been using ayahuasca in their spiritual ceremonies for centuries. Locals said he turned to Ms Arévalo for help and instruction. Image copyright Tom Askew Image caption Olivia Arévalo was a spiritual healer as well as a rights activist Mr Jiménez said police were also investigating a number of other possible leads in Ms Arévalo's murder, including the theory that she may have been killed by another foreigner over an unpaid debt. Police are also still investigating who else may have been involved in Mr Woodroffe's lynching. The video showed a number of people standing by watching the crime unfold. Remote areas of the Amazon have a very thin police presence and crimes often go unpunished. Communities sometimes bypass the police altogether, choosing to punish those they suspect of committing crimes themselves. |||||

– The Canadian man lynched in the Amazon last Thursday is the No. 1 suspect in the death of an octogenarian shaman, prosecutors say. Reuters reports on the new evidence that brought them to that conclusion: a silver-colored pistol prosecutor Ricardo Jimenez says Sebastian Woodroffe purchased in early April. They were told by a witness that the pistol tumbled out of the 41-year-old's backpack when locals, angry over Olivia Arevalo's death, grabbed him; he was subsequently lynched. Jimenez says no weapon has been found, but "he is the main suspect." As for a motive, Jimenez says Arevalo's son owed Woodroffe nearly $4,500, though Jimenez told the BBC Arevalo's family claims Woodroffe became enraged when Arevalo wouldn't conduct an ayahuasca ceremony for him. Meanwhile, the AP reports Peru's attorney general has ordered two suspects be arrested in connection with Woodroffe's death. It adds forensic experts are examining the Canadian's remains to see if there is any evidence of his shooting Arevalo. (This ayahuasca ceremony ended in death in 2015.)

Planned Parenthood filed a racketeering lawsuit against anti-abortion activist David Daleiden and his Center for Medical Progress group on Thursday, calling the group "a complex criminal enterprise conceived and executed by anti-abortion extremists." In July, the CMP began releasing edited videos of conversations with Planned Parenthood doctors, secretly recorded by anti-abortion activists posing as medical tissue firm officials. The videos claimed they exposed illegal sales of fetal tissues by Planned Parenthood to a tissue bank called Stem Express, as well as illegal abortion procedures. Planned Parenthood denied the claims, which sparked Congressional hearings and investigations in 10 states, and released a report calling the videos deceptive. Now the women's health organization, which performs about one-third of all abortions nationwide, is filing suit in the Northern California federal district against the CMP. "The express aim of the enterprise — which stretched over years and involved fake companies, fake identifications, and large-scale illegal taping — was a to demonize Planned Parenthood," the lawsuit says. "Planned Parenthood provides high-quality compassionate care and has done nothing wrong," said Kathy Kneer, president of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, in a briefing on the lawsuit. "Game on," Daleiden told BuzzFeed News by email. "I look forward to taking the depositions of all the Planned Parenthood CEOs who profited off of their business relationship with StemExpress." Racketeering lawsuits typically ask for triple damages, and the lawsuit asks for payments for Planned Parenthood's increased security costs and penalties for violation of confidentiality agreements. Three people died in a shooting at a Colorado clinic in November, and Planned Parenthood cited death threats as a result of the videos. In addition to Daleiden, Planned Parenthood named prominent anti-abortion activist Troy Newman of the anti-abortion group Operation Rescue in the suit, as well as some CMP activists whose names were previously undisclosed by the group. ||||| Planned Parenthood filed a federal court lawsuit Thursday alleging extensive criminal misconduct by the anti-abortion activists who produced undercover videos targeting the handling of fetal tissue at some Planned Parenthood clinics. "The people behind this fraud lied and broke the law in order to spread malicious lies about Planned Parenthood," said Dawn Laguens, the organization's executive vice president. "This lawsuit exposes the elaborate, illegal conspiracy designed to block women's access to safe and legal abortion." The anti-abortion activists, who named their group the Center for Medical Progress, began releasing a series of covertly recorded videos in July alleging that Planned Parenthood sold fetal tissue to researchers for a profit in violation of federal law. Planned Parenthood has denied any wrongdoing, saying a handful of its clinics provided fetal tissue for research while receiving only permissible reimbursement for costs. The lawsuit says the videos were the result of numerous illegalities, including making recordings without consent, registering false identities with state agencies and violating non-disclosure agreements. The civil lawsuit was filed on Thursday in U.S. District Court in San Francisco. It seeks compensatory and punitive damages, as well as legal fees. A Planned Parenthood lawyer, Beth Parker, declined to estimate how much money would be sought, but it said the amount would include extra money spent since the videos' release on additional security for Planned Parenthood clinics. David Daleiden, a founder of the Center for Medical Progress who oversaw the video operation, said he looked forward to confronting Planned Parenthood officials in court. "My response is: Game on," he said in an email. "I look forward to deposing all the CEOs, medical directors, and their co-conspirators who participated in Planned Parenthood's illegal baby body parts racket." The lawsuit alleges that Daleiden and several collaborators, including longtime anti-abortion activist Troy Newman, "engaged in a complex criminal enterprise to defraud Planned Parenthood." The suit contends that the Center for Medical Progress violated the Racketeer Influence and Corrupt Organization Act (known as the RICO Act), engaging in wire fraud, mail fraud, invasion of privacy, illegal secret recording and trespassing. According to the suit, Daleiden, Newman and other defendants used aliases, obtained fake government IDs and formed a fake tissue procurement company, Biomax, in order to gain access to private medical conferences and health care centers, and to tape private professional conversations of medical providers. The videos provoked an outcry from the anti-abortion movement, and prompted numerous investigations of Planned Parenthood by Republican-led committees in Congress and by GOP-led state governments. Thus far, none of the investigations has turned up wrongdoing by Planned Parenthood in regard to fetal tissue research, but Republicans in Congress and in several states are seeking to cut off government funding to the organization. The videos created a "poisonous environment" in which Planned Parenthood staffers were targeted with hate mail and death threats, said Parker, the organization's lawyer. She cited the attack in November on a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado in which three people were killed; the man arrested in the shooting depicted himself in court as a "warrior for the babies." Planned Parenthood is the leading abortion provider in the United States, and also provides a range of other health services, including cancer screenings, contraceptives and testing for sexually transmitted diseases. |||||

– The undercover "sting" videos targeting Planned Parenthood were part of a "complex criminal enterprise" created by "anti-abortion extremists," according to a federal lawsuit filed by the organization. The lawsuit filed Thursday against an anti-abortion group called the Center for Medical Progress accuses the group of committing fraud and breaking racketeering laws to obtain videos of Planned Parenthood employees discussing the transfer of organs from aborted fetuses, Reuters reports. The lawsuit states that the group's activities lasted years and involved the use of fake government IDs, the creation of a fake company, and "large-scale illegal taping" as part of an effort to "demonize Planned Parenthood." "The people behind this fraud lied and broke the law in order to spread malicious lies," Planned Parenthood executive vice president Dawn Laguens tells the AP. "This lawsuit exposes the elaborate, illegal conspiracy designed to block women's access to safe and legal abortion." She says no Planned Parenthood staff were involved in any wrongdoing. "My response is: Game on," Center for Medical Progress founder David Daleiden tells BuzzFeed, adding that he is looking forward to "taking the depositions of all the Planned Parenthood CEOs" that he claims profited from tissue sales. The lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages, and Planned Parenthood lawyer Beth Parker tells the AP that the amount will include the cost of extra security for clinics.

It's not often that a commercial can be super relevant and timely, but somehow, the team behind advertising for KFC in South Africa was ready to turn a great World Cup moment into a bit of marketing genius. About a week ago in a match between Brazil and Serbia, Neymar provided one of the funniest and most creative flops in recent memory as he rolled on the ground multiple times after contact knocked him off his feet while he was going out of bounds. KFC decided to put its own spin on Neymar's move and what came of it was one of the most brilliant topical commercials there has been in a while. Check out Neymar's initial tumble and the commercial below. #NeymarRolling is all the rage these days. Absolutely unreal advertisement from KFC South Africa 😂🤣pic.twitter.com/5MqGJkDB6L — Jack Grimse (@JackGrimse) July 5, 2018 Neymar and Brazil face Belgium in the World Cup quartfinals Friday at 2 p.m. Hopefully he will provide us with another classic viral moment, either through a flop or through his play. ||||| Germany—the 2014 World Cup champion—is out. Superstar rivals Lionel Messi of Argentina and Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal have been eliminated, too, as has Egypt’s forward Mohamed Salah. Arguably, the only widely-known soccer player remaining in the 2018 World Cup is Brazil’s Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior. And he’s famous for more than just his deft skill, but also for his hairstyles and dramatic antics on the field. His rolling on the field during a game against Serbia, after being knocked by an opponent, has become both a meme and a hashtag. KFC of South Africa is trying to capitalize on this World Cup notoriety in a recent commercial that appears to mock Neymar’s rolling. The ad shows a soccer play hitting the ground and then dramatically rolling off the field and through town before getting up to order KFC. #NeymarRolling is all the rage these days. Absolutely unreal advertisement from KFC South Africa 😂🤣pic.twitter.com/5MqGJkDB6L — Jack Grimse (@JackGrimse) July 5, 2018 Diving, the term for soccer players trying to trick referees into thinking that they’re injured, is a controversial tactic aimed at getting referees to call fouls, which can lead to penalty kicks, or yellow or red cards. Neymar’s acting has led to scorn, especially after Brazil’s victories against Serbia and then Mexico. (The Atlantic argues, however, that “Neymar’s trickery deserves absolution, because it is the very source of his greatness.”) Neymar and Brazil are favored by some to win the World Cup; they’ll face off against Belgium on Friday. Whether Neymar or the South African KFC commercial will ultimately succeed is unclear. But they’ve certainly captured our attention. ||||| The KFC ad could be making fun of a lot of soccer players but Neymar has undoubtedly drawn the most conversation for his antics on the pitch. JOHANNESBURG – Who will win the 2018 Soccer World Cup? Is it England, Belgium or is it Brazil? The World Cup has been on everyone’s lips lately but it’s Neymar's elaborate diving, rolling and flopping that has been dominating conversations. Brazil’s superstar has spent plenty of time on the ground writhing in agony, some warranted and some maybe not so much. At the start of the tournament in In June, KFC South Africa released a funny advertisement depicting a soccer player being tackled then dramatically falling to the ground and holding on to his knee. The player then starts throwing up his hands, flopping and rolling ... until he gets to a KFC! At the same time, Twitter has come up with the hashtag #NeymarChallenge where different gifs and memes have been shared. ||||| Why make a meal of it for a free kick when you can make a meal of it with a Streetwise 2 for R29.90! |||||

– Neymar's histrionics on the soccer field have become legendary, but now they may also prove lucrative—at least for KFC South Africa, if its latest ad draws people into its restaurants. Fortune reports on the chain's minute-long spot, which shows a soccer player flailing and rolling after he falls during a play. He rolls right out of the stadium, through town, and right to the door of KFC, where he's suddenly able to stand to place his order. See it here. The spot doesn't reference Neymar by name, but the Brazilian superstar has been known to do some theatrical rolls of his own—see here. Sports Illustrated and USA Today think KFC is clearly mocking Neymar, though EWN suggests the ad came out at the start of the tournament, prompting it to ask, "Did KFC Predict Neymar Flopping"?

Senators have voted to pass the federal government's bill legalizing recreational marijuana by a vote of 52-29, with two abstentions, paving the way for a fully legal cannabis market within eight to 12 weeks. "I'm feeling just great," said Sen. Tony Dean, who sponsored the bill in the Senate. "We've just witnessed a historic vote for Canada. The end of 90 years of prohibition. Transformative social policy, I think. A brave move on the part of the government." Dean said he thought the Senate functioned well throughout the process and he was proud of the work the Red Chamber did. "Now we can start to tackle some of the harms of cannabis. We can start to be proactive in public education. We'll see the end of criminalization and we can start addressing Canada's $7-billion illegal market. These are good things for Canada." It’s been too easy for our kids to get marijuana - and for criminals to reap the profits. Today, we change that. Our plan to legalize & regulate marijuana just passed the Senate. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PromiseKept?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PromiseKept</a> —@JustinTrudeau Initially, the government had planned for the bill to be passed by both houses of Parliament in time for retail sales to begin by July 1. That timeline was pushed back after the Senate requested more time to review the bill. Now that the bill has passed, it's up to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his cabinet to choose the actual date when the legalization of recreational marijuana becomes law of the land. Bill C-45 comes with a provisional buffer period of eight to 12 weeks to give provinces time to prepare for sales of recreational marijuana. The Senate and the House of Commons battled over the bill for months. The Senate had proposed 46 amendments to the Cannabis Act. The Liberal government rejected 13 of those proposed changes last week — including one provision that would have affirmed the provinces' right to ban home cultivation of marijuana. Quebec and Manitoba both wanted to forbid their citizens from growing recreational marijuana at home, even after cannabis is legalized federally. Nunavut was looking to ban home cultivation as well but reversed course on the issue last week, when it removed the ban from its territorial Cannabis Act. The Senate suggested the federal government affirm the provinces' right to do so in the Cannabis Act. "We have a bill that has an overarching goal to reduce the marijuana use among young people in this country and what it does right off the get go is normalizes it," said Conservative Sen. Leo Housakos, former Speaker of the Senate. "There's nothing in this bill that indicates to me that we're tackling the problem, which is increased marijuana use among young people." News of the bill's passage drew immediate response from some of the government's critics on social media. Sen. Peter Harder, the government representative in the Senate, laughs in response to a reporter's question about his outfit, after the vote on Tuesday. (Justin Tang/Canadian Press) "One of the strong recommendations by experts was that we ensure personal cultivation of four plants at home," Trudeau told reporters last week. "We understand there are questions and concerns about this, and we understand also that it will be important to study the impacts of what we're doing and whether there can be changes made in three years, but we need to move forward on better protecting our communities." A motion was moved today that would have seen the amendment returned to the bill, but senators defeated it by a vote of 45-35. Some amendments stripped away Another significant Senate amendment that was stripped from the bill would have created a public registry of investors in cannabis companies. That amendment was crafted by Conservative Sen. Claude Carignan to keep criminal gangs from using offshore tax havens to invest in Canada's cannabis industry. Sad day for Canada’s kids. <a href="https://t.co/y9CKJo7054">https://t.co/y9CKJo7054</a> —@LindaFrum Another significant Senate amendment quashed by the government would have banned the distribution of branded "swag" by pot companies, such as T-shirts, hats and phone cases that display a company logo. Independent Sen. André Pratte, who disagrees with the government's decision to force provinces to accept home cultivation, said he was angry the bill passed without the major amendments posed by the Senate. "Of course I am disappointed, and also a little bit angry that they didn't take more time and of course did not accept the amendment. We believe that it was a reasonable and flexible solution to the problem," he said. "[The Liberals] have to decide at one point; what kind of Senate do they really want," Pratte said. "Do they want a really independent, modern Senate? If so, well, they have to take our amendments into consideration seriously." Sen. Tony Dean, who sponsored Bill C-45, the Cannabis Act, speaks to reporters after the vote. (Justin Tang/Canadian Press) On Monday of this week, 205 MPs voted to send the bill, minus 13 of the 46 Senate amendments, back to the Red Chamber. NDP MPs supported the bill, while those on the Conservative benches voted against it. ||||| OTTAWA -- The Senate has voted to pass Bill C-45, the government’s legislation to legalize cannabis, meaning that recreational marijuana will soon be legal across Canada. Some parliamentarians are calling it an "historic" moment in this country, while others are warning of the work left to be done: raising public awareness about the implications of this incoming major social policy change. After more than a year of intensive study in both the House and Senate, the bill cleared the final legislative hurdle Tuesday evening, passing by a vote of 52 to 29 with two abstentions from the Independent Senators from Quebec: Sen. Marie-Françoise Mégie and Sen. Rosa Galvez. The vote was on a motion from Sen. Peter Harder, the Government Representative in the Senate, to accept the government’s position on the Senate's amendments and pass the bill as is. It was all that was left in a short round of legislative ping-pong spurred by the upper chamber amending the government legislation. The House of Commons will be notified of the Senate's decision. After that, all that is left will be Royal Assent to officially pass the bill and for the government to determine when the new law will come into force. Leader of the Independent Senators Group Sen. Yuen Pau Woo told reporters after the vote that the mammoth study of Bill C-45 was “a bit of a stress test” for the increasingly Independent Senate. He said now, the work will have to begin on implementing the legislation, and making sure Canadians understand what this new regime means. "We are now moving where in the legalized industry we have the chance to push out the illicit elements, we have the chance to do research on cannabis, we have the chance to properly educate our young people on the harms of cannabis use, and all of this should be the focus of the whole country now," Sen. Woo said. The legislation -- an electoral promise of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Liberal Party --allows adults in Canada to legally possess and use small amounts of recreational cannabis. It sets out parameters around the production, possession, safety standards, distribution, and sale of the drug. It also creates new Criminal Code offences for selling marijuana to minors. The proposed federal law spells out that it will be illegal for anyone younger than 18 to buy pot, but allows for provinces and territories to set a higher minimum age. In a tweet, Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould, who was the bill's sponsor, and first introduced the legislation in April 2017, said it was "an historic milestone for progressive policy in Canada." The federal government is expected to formally respond to the bill's passage Wednesday morning in the House of Commons foyer. Last week, the government announced it would be accepting most but not all of the Senate's more than 40 proposed amendments to Bill C-45. Among the 13 amendments that the federal Liberals rejected were the proposal to allow the provinces and territories to ban home-grown marijuana, and a proposed change to prohibit pot producers from distributing branded merchandise. Earlier in the evening, an attempt by Conservative Sen. Claude Carignan to insist on an amendment to let provinces ban marijuana home cultivation, failed. Reacting to his effort to push back on the government’s rejection of the change, Carignan said his attempt was to give the provinces a right he believes they should have, in an effort to circumvent what is now likely: the matter winding up in court. Senators spent much of Tuesday offering their final thoughts on the legislation, with some expressing disappointment and frustration over MPs not accepting the Senate's changes, and raising remaining concerns with the legislation as it stands. Others argued that the upper chamber had done its due diligence and that it was time to concede to the will of the elected House of Commons, and pass the legislation. In calling the vote, Senate Speaker George Furey had a slip of the tongue and called “all those in flavour” instead of “all those in favour,” sending snickers through the chamber. "It's getting late," Sen. Furey said. Speaking with reporters following the vote, Sen. Harder said he was finally pausing after the manoeuvrings and the procedural wrangling to acknowledge that after a very lengthy debate, Canada is on the cusp of legalization after nearly a century of prohibition. "It is a step in the right direction and what we now need to do is to insure as we move forward in implementation, that everybody plays their role, that everybody understands the obligations that they have and uses the opportunity of the next number of weeks to inform themselves of what a legal cannabis market means for them, their family, their communities, and the opportunities and risks that it poses," said Sen. Harder. So is marijuana legal? No. The bill still needs to receive Royal Assent, which is expected as soon as tomorrow. That is the final step -- essentially the Crown approving the bill. It's overseen by Canada's representative, the Governor General. Once it passes, the government is expected to declare the date that legalization will come into force and be applicable. On CTV's Question Period, parliamentary secretary and the federal government’s point-person on pot, Bill Blair said he expects the date to be some time this September. That window of time between when the bill passes and when it becomes federal law is to allow for the provinces, territories, municipalities, police forces, and other stakeholders to make sure their piece of the pot pie is operating in accordance with the new rules. Blair said the date they decide on will be informed by discussions with their provincial and territorial counterparts, which have been given the ability to set regulations in their jurisdictions as to how a legalized marijuana regime will operate. What you need to know: Many of the decisions around how legalized marijuana is sold and used will be up to the provinces and territories. Here is what you need to know about what will be allowed: The federally mandated public possession limit of 30 grams of dried cannabis has been maintained across the country, with most jurisdictions opting to keep their legal marijuana-smoking ages in line with those for drinking alcohol. Bill C-45 allows individuals to grow up to four marijuana plants per residence, though some provinces, like Manitoba and Quebec, plan to ban home cultivation. Provincial and territorial plans vary widely on whether you’ll be able to smoke in public. Provinces and territories also differ on whether pot shops will be publicly or privately owned. For those opting for publicly owned stores, these will be operated by provincial Crown corporations that sell liquor. In some cases, provinces have even created subsidiaries of these companies with names. Unless otherwise noted, these will be standalone stores wholly separate from those that sell alcohol. While dried cannabis and cannabis oil -- both of which will be sold in 2018 -- can be used to make edible products at home, the federal government has said that packaged edible products won’t be commercially available. For a comprehensive rundown of how each province is approaching legalized marijuana, click here. Outcome of drug-impaired driving bill pending Bill C-45 was introduced alongside Bill C-46 which specifically deals with impaired driving. The government has hoped throughout the process that the two bills would pass in close succession. This legislation proposes changes to the impaired driving laws to give police new powers to conduct roadside intoxication tests, including oral fluid drug tests, and would make it illegal to drive within two hours of being over the legal limit. However, the Senate amended Bill C-46 to remove the provision that allowed police to conduct random roadside alcohol tests. The Senate also sought to legally downgrade impaired driving offences so that they are not classified as “serious criminality” in order to protect foreign nationals and permanent residents from losing their statuses or becoming inadmissible to Canada after such a conviction. On Monday, the government gave notice of its position on the Senate changes, stating that it “respectfully disagrees” with these two changes. However, in the motion the government indicates it is willing to accept a handful of other Senate amendments to the legislation. The House has yet to send this message back to the Senate but once that occurs, Bill C-46 is in for a similar final debate and vote, as seen with Bill C-45, where senators will have to decide whether they insist, or accept and pass the bill. The House of Commons is scheduled to adjourn for the summer on Friday, June 22, but the Senate is set to sit for a week longer. There is always the potential of an early adjournment, or the opportunity to sit longer in exceptional circumstances. Here's a recap of the final moments of debate in the Senate. Using our app? Touch here to see the recap below. ||||| Image copyright AFP/Getty Image caption The Senate passed the bill, with 52 votes in favour and 29 against Canada's parliament has passed a law legalising the recreational use of marijuana nationwide. The Cannabis Act passed its final hurdle on Tuesday in a 52-29 vote in the Senate. The bill controls and regulates how the drug can be grown, distributed, and sold. Canadians will be able to buy and consume cannabis legally as early as this September. The country is the second worldwide to legalise the drug's recreational use. Uruguay became the first country to legalise the sale of cannabis for recreational use in December 2013, while a number of US states have also voted to permit it. Cannabis possession first became a crime in Canada in 1923 but medical use has been legal since 2001. The bill will likely receive Royal Assent this week, and the government will then choose an official date when the law will come into force. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted that until now, "it's been too easy for our kids to get marijuana - and for criminals to reap the profits". But some groups objected to the new law, with opposition Conservative politicians and indigenous groups among those voicing concerns. The government is expected to give the provinces and territories, as well as municipalities, eight to 12 weeks to set up the new marijuana marketplace. This timeframe will also allow industry and police forces to prepare for the new legal framework. In 2015, Canadians were estimated to have spent about C$6bn ($4.5bn, £3.4bn) on cannabis - almost as much as they did on wine. How will legal marijuana in Canada work? It is likely that by mid-September, Canadians will be able to buy cannabis and cannabis oil grown by licensed producers at various retail locations. Canadians across the country will also be able to order the drug online from federally licensed producers, and grow up to four plants at home. Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Take a look inside the world's largest legal cannabis farm Adults will be able to possess up to 30 grams (one ounce) of dried cannabis in public. Edibles, or cannabis-infused foods, will not be immediately available for purchase but will be within a year of the bill coming into force. The delay is meant to give the government time to set out regulations specific to those products. The minimum legal age to buy and consume marijuana has been set federally at 18 but some provinces have chosen to set it at 19. Provinces are in charge of how it is sold and have the power to set various other limits on its use within their jurisdiction - like where it can be smoked. But the federal government has set guidelines for plain packaging with little branding and strict health warnings. It will also impose restrictions on promotions targeting young people, promotion through sponsorships, or depictions of celebrities, characters or animals in advertisements. What will remain illegal? It will be illegal to possess more than 30 grams of cannabis in public, grow more than four plants per household and to buy from an unlicensed dealer. Image copyright Press Association Image caption There will still be some restrictions on cannabis use in Canada Penalties will be severe. Someone caught selling the drug to a minor could be jailed for up to 14 years. Some critics say the penalties are too harsh and not proportional to similar laws like those around selling alcohol to minors. What are the rules around the world? Cannabis is banned in most countries but a number of places have decriminalised its use in recent years. The UK government said recently it would review the use of medicinal cannabis. It is legal for medicinal purposes in 14 European countries, Israel, Argentina, Puerto Rico, Panama, Mexico, Turkey, Zambia and Zimbabwe. In the US, medicinal use is allowed in 29 states and the District of Columbia, Nine of the states have legalised both medical and personal cannabis use. Spain, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Jamaica, Chile, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and Luxembourg are among countries that have relaxed legislation regarding personal use. Did anyone object? The new law has not been met with universal praise. Conservative Party leader Andrew Scheer has previously said he was apprehensive it would normalise cannabis use and make it more accessible. Leo Housakos, a Conservative senator from Quebec, tweeted to say that he thought the law would be "catastrophic for Canadian generations to come". One specific concern being raised is the legal minimum age being set at 18 instead of 25, as was recommended by multiple experts. However, the government's own task force recommended 18, warning that setting the age limit too high could continue to encourage youth to buy marijuana on the illegal market. Opponents also question the potential public health impact of legalisation. Meanwhile, indigenous groups and politicians have voiced fears that their communities were not adequately consulted in the run-up to the vote. Indigenous services minister Jane Philpott and health minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor had to write a letter to the chair and deputy chair of the Senate's Committee on Aboriginal Peoples earlier in June promising a full report to parliament addressing their concerns, narrowly averting a delay to the law's passage. Why is Canada doing this now? This legislation fulfils a 2015 campaign promise by Mr Trudeau, the leader of the Liberal Party. The prime minister has argued that Canada's nearly century-old laws criminalising use of the drug have been ineffective, given that Canadians are still among the world's heaviest users. Polls have repeatedly indicated that a solid majority of Canadians are supportive of the move. The decision to legalise recreational use of marijuana in Canada comes as global trends shift away from criminal prohibition of the widely used drug. ||||| The Senate has voted to accept the latest version of the government’s long-debated legal marijuana legislation, paving the way for the bill to pass into Canadian law. The Senate voted 52-29 to approve the government’s newest version of Bill C-45 on Tuesday evening. READ MORE: Feds celebrate passage of legal marijuana bill, but questions around home grows linger Vote result on @SenHarder's motion related to the House of Commons response to the Senate's amendments to Bill #C45: Yeas: 52 Nays: 29 Abstentions: 2 #SenCA #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/Pa0LIcp6tq — Senate of Canada (@SenateCA) June 19, 2018 Bill C-45 now moves to royal assent, the final step in the legislative process. That could occur within days at the government’s discretion. The government’s desire to see home grown marijuana permitted across Canada eventually prevailed, and a proposal from the Senate to allow provinces and territories to ban them has been stripped from the final bill. “We have witnessed today a very historic vote that ends 90 years of prohibition, that’s historic. It ends 90 years of needless criminalization, it ends a prohibition model that inhibited and discouraged public health, and community health approaches in favour of ‘just say no.’ Approaches that simply failed our young people miserably,” independent Senator Tony Dean said after the vote. READ MORE: Over half of Canadian workplaces are 'concerned' about dealing with legal weed: Report But not all Senators were happy with it. “This bill does not do what the overarching goal says it does, which is to reduce the marijuana use among young people,” Tory Senator Leo Housakos said. “The message for me is be very cautious, just because it’s legal doesn’t make it right. Educate yourself, and take cautious steps because what you do today will invariably have an impact on your life for years to come.” WATCH: When will weed actually be legal? Marijuana is not yet legal in Canada, and is not expected to be until late August or early September. The provinces and municipalities have been promised eight to 12 weeks for their final preparations. READ MORE: Marijuana won’t be legal on July 1, and here’s why Bill C-45 has been the subject of heated debate and uncertainty on Parliament Hill over the past several days. The conflict between the elected House of Commons and the unelected Senate ramped up last week with the government’s rejection of several key Senate amendments — most notably one linked to home cultivation. Quebec, Manitoba and Nunavut have all decided they don’t want to allow home grows, in spite of the federal government’s desire to permit four plants per household. The Senate decided to side with the provinces, inserting a provision that would allow them to ban home grows if they desired. WATCH: Tory MP fears Canada Day will be defaced by ‘disgusting’ cannabis leaf T-shirts, flags when pot is legalized Over the weekend and into Monday, however, there began to be indications that the Senate might defer to the government’s position. In an interview on The West Block on Sunday, Dean, who sponsored the bill in the upper chamber, noted that while the Senate can provide advice, it’s the government that makes final decisions. Then, on Monday, independent Sen. Andre Pratte, who had publicly supported the provincial bans, told reporters that while he felt the issue was important, “it’s not crucial” and not important enough to provoke a crisis. “We know that it will come before the courts,” Pratte said. “That’s a case, even in the opinion of the Quebec government, that you’d have an excellent chance of winning.” READ MORE: The countdown is on for cannabis legalization as feds race ticking clock Court challenges may indeed be inevitable, and Quebec has already promised it will push back against any federal law that allows home-grows across the land. A spokesperson for Manitoba’s justice minister told Global News on Tuesday that the minister is “satisfied that provinces have the legal authority to restrict home grown cannabis, up to and including prohibition” and that the Manitoba would be “willing to defend our position if challenged.” WATCH: How teach province is tackling marijuana legalization READ MORE: Quebec premier won’t rule out legal challenge if Ottawa allows home-grown cannabis Impaired driving bill still languishing One other complication also remains: the government’s second marijuana bill, linked to drug-impaired driving. Bill C-46 includes new powers for police and harsher penalties for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, but like C-45, it contained some elements that the Senate wasn’t sure should be included. Specifically, the upper chamber took exception to allowing police to force drivers to submit to random breath tests (without any reasonable suspicion of impairment) that could detect the active ingredient in marijuana. READ MORE: Random breath testing would not violate Charter rights, says constitutional expert The Senate removed that mandatory screening provision, which Justice Minister Jody-Wilson Raybould dubbed the “centrepiece” of the legislation, and sent C-46 back to the House of Commons. The government then rejected the Senate’s changes. READ MORE: Pot … or not? Small provinces much more prepared for Day 1 of legalization As of Tuesday, the issues surrounding Bill C-46 are still not resolved. The House of Commons is set to rise for the summer on Friday. The enforcement of Canada’s new impaired driving laws, once they take effect, is also somewhat up in the air. Police currently rely on standard field sobriety tests, Drug Recognition Experts (DREs) and bodily fluid testing to detect impairment by drugs. READ MORE: Police training lags as marijuana legalization looms “Drug screening devices will assist with roadside testing,” said Mario Harel, president of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, said an emailed statement. “At this time, we await approval by the federal government as to which units will meet technical specifications and will be approved by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada. Until this process has been completed, police services are unable to make purchases and train officers in their use.” Harel said that regardless of the status of drug screening devices, “we are very confident in our present processes, knowing that they will continually improve with time as we build capacity.” -With files from Bryan Mullan and Janet Silver |||||

– Canadian lawmakers have taken the final step toward legalizing recreational marijuana—and it will become official as soon as Queen Elizabeth II's representative signs off on it. A bill ending the country's 95-year prohibition on cannabis passed Canada's Senate by a vote of 52 to 29, CTV reports. After royal assent is granted—which could happen as soon as Wednesday—the government will set a date for the new law, Bill C-45, to come into force. The bill grants provinces a "buffer period" of eight to 12 weeks to prepare for legal marijuana sales, meaning Canadians over 18 could be able to buy legal pot as soon as September, the CBC reports. Canadians will also be allowed to grow small amounts of pot for recreational use. Independent Sen. Tony Dean, the bill's Senate sponsor, said he was feeling "great," Global News reports. "We've just witnessed a historic vote for Canada. The end of 90 years of prohibition," he said. He added that it is now time to start addressing the harms of cannabis and the $7 billion illegal market, an approach echoed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. "It’s been too easy for our kids to get marijuana - and for criminals to reap the profits," he tweeted. "Today, we change that." The bill makes Canada only the second country, after Uruguay, to legalize recreational use of cannabis nationwide, reports the BBC. (Canadian pot growers started ramping up production last year.)

FILE - This Wednesday, May 23, 2018 satellite file image provided by DigitalGlobe, shows the Punggye-ri test site in North Korea. North Korea has carried out what it says is the demolition of its nuclear... (Associated Press) PUNGGYE-RI, North Korea (AP) — North Korea carried out what it said is the demolition of its nuclear test site Thursday, setting off a series of explosions over several hours in the presence of foreign journalists. The explosions at the nuclear test site deep in the mountains of the North's sparsely populated northeast were centered on three tunnels into the underground site and a number of observation towers in the surrounding area. The planned closing was previously announced by leader Kim Jong Un ahead of his planned summit with U.S. President Donald Trump next month. The North's decision to close the Punggye-ri nuclear test site has generally been seen as a welcome gesture by Kim to set a positive tone ahead of the summit. Even so, it is not an irreversible move and would need to be followed by many more significant measures to meet Trump's demands for real denuclearization. By bringing in the foreign media, mainly television networks, the North is apparently hoping to have images of the closing — including explosions to collapse tunnel entrances — broadcast around the world. The group included an Associated Press Television crew. The North did not invite international inspectors to the ceremony, which limits its value as a serious concession. ||||| North Korea has said it wants to achieve "peace" after Sky News witnessed the apparent demolition of its Punggye-ri nuclear test site. Asia correspondent Tom Cheshire was the only British broadcaster invited to watch a series of explosions at the facility ahead of planned talks between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. North Korea state media claimed the site had been completely dismantled in the blasts "to ensure the transparency of discontinuance of nuclear test". Describing the explosions, Cheshire said: "We hiked up into the mountains and watched the detonation from about 500 metres away. "They counted it down - three, two, one. "There was a huge explosion, you could feel it. Dust came at you, the heat came at you. It was extremely loud. "It blew an observation cabin made out of wood to complete smithereens." Image: A satellite image of the Punggye-ri nuclear test site before the explosions The deputy director of the North Korea Nuclear Weapons Institute told Sky News that the destruction of the facility had been "conducted with high levels of transparency" in a bid to bring "peace and stability" to the Korean peninsula and the world. The unnamed official added: "The discontinuance of nuclear tests is an important process in moving towards global nuclear disarmament and we will continue to join hands with all peace-loving people in building a peaceful world, a new independent world where the dreams and ideals of humanity are realised." A group of about 20 foreign journalists invited on the trip had been given a briefing by the official who shared "unprecedented detail" of North Korea's nuclear programme, Cheshire said. :: What it's like to be a foreign journalist in North Korea 1:03 Video: What it's like to touch down in North Korea The group had travelled 12 hours overnight in a train with blacked out windows before driving an hour in the mountains through military checkpoints to arrive at Punggye-ri. They were shown the northern tunnel where North Korea have launched five nuclear weapons to date, including a suspected hydrogen bomb in September 2017. Doors to the tunnel were "theatrically rigged" with plastic explosives and "wires everywhere", Cheshire said. "It was all rather spectacular," he added."Huge explosions. Lots of dust." Image: Kim Jong Un has pledged not to stage more nuclear tests North Korea has insisted it will not give up nuclear weapons unilaterally ahead of a planned summit with Mr Trump, scheduled for 12 June in Singapore. But the US president has said it is the North that has to meet the conditions for the talks to go ahead. Pyongyang has hit out at claims that North Korea may end up like Libya if it does not move forward quickly and irreversibly with concrete measures to get rid of its nuclear weapons. Choe Son Hui, a vice minister of foreign affairs, criticised the "ignorant" and "stupid" comments made by US Vice President Mike Pence in an interview with Fox News. Libya gave up its programme at an early stage, only to see its longtime dictator overthrown and brutally killed years later. |||||

– North Korea carried out what it said is the demolition of its nuclear test site Thursday, setting off a series of explosions over several hours in the presence of foreign journalists. The explosions at the nuclear test site deep in the mountains of the North's sparsely populated northeast were centered on three tunnels into the underground site and a number of observation towers in the surrounding area, reports the AP. The planned closing was previously announced by Kim Jong Un ahead of his planned summit with President Trump next month. Sky News correspondent Tom Cheshire was on hand, and described it thusly: "We hiked up into the mountains and watched the detonation from about 500 meters away. ... There was a huge explosion, you could feel it. Dust came at you, the heat came at you. It was extremely loud." The North's decision to close the Punggye-ri nuclear test site has generally been seen as a welcome gesture by Kim to set a positive tone ahead of the summit. Even so, it is not an irreversible move and would need to be followed by many more significant measures to meet Trump's demands for real denuclearization. By bringing in the foreign media, mainly television networks, the North is apparently hoping to have images of the closing—including explosions to collapse tunnel entrances—broadcast around the world. The group included an AP television crew. The North did not invite international inspectors to the ceremony, which limits its value as a serious concession. (Pyongyang is apparently all over the place on Thursday.)

CAIRO (AP) — An Internet video released Friday purports to show an Islamic State group fighter beheading British hostage Alan Henning. The video mirrored other beheading videos shot by the Islamic State group, which now holds territory along the border of Syria and Iraq. The video ended with an Islamic State fighter threatening a man they identified as an American. "Obama, you have started your aerial bombard of Shams (Syria), which keep on striking our people, so it is only right that we strike the next of your people," a masked militant said. The Associated Press could not immediately verify the video's authenticity, though it was released in the same manner as other Islamic State group videos. This is the fourth such video released by the Islamic State group. The full beheadings are not shown in the videos, but the British-accented, English-speaking militant holds a long knife and appears to begin cutting the three men, American reporters James Foley and Steven Sotloff and British aid worker David Haines. Henning, 47, nicknamed "Gadget," had joined an aid convoy and was taken captive on Dec. 26, shortly after crossing the border between Turkey and Syria. ||||| Story highlights NSC confirms Peter Kassig, American shown on video, is being held by ISIS ISIS claims to have beheaded another Westerner Video appears to show the killing of Alan Henning, a British aid worker A short video released by ISIS on Friday shows the apparent beheading of British aid worker Alan Henning, with the executioner blaming the death on the United Kingdom for joining the U.S.-led bombing campaign against the group. JUST WATCHED White House condemns Henning's killing Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH White House condemns Henning's killing 02:50 JUST WATCHED American threatened in new ISIS video Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH American threatened in new ISIS video 01:49 Before he is killed, Henning speaks to the camera, referencing the British Parliament's decision to participate in coalition of more than 40 countries who have banded together to go after the so-called Islamic State terror group in Iraq and Syria. At the end of the video, ISIS shows American aid worker Peter Kassig and threatens his life. There is no reason to believe the video is not authentic, a U.S. intelligence official told CNN, adding that American officials are studying it. "The brutal murder of Alan Henning by ISIL shows just how barbaric and repulsive these terrorists are," UK Prime Minister David Cameron said, referring to the group also known as ISIS. "Alan had gone to Syria to help get aid to people of all faiths in their hour of need," Cameron said. "The fact that he was taken hostage when trying to help others and now murdered demonstrates that there are no limits to the depravity of these ISIL terrorists." The news of Henning's beheading comes just days after Britain joined the coalition. UK jets began flying reconnaissance flights over Iraq a week ago, and on Tuesday dropped its first missiles on an ISIS heavy-weapon position and an armed pickup truck in Iraq, according to the UK Defense Ministry. A taxi driver from near Manchester, England, Henning was part of a team of volunteers that traveled to Syria in December 2013 to deliver food and water to people affected by the Middle Eastern country's devastating civil war. He was abducted the day after Christmas by masked gunmen, according to other people in the aid convoy. 5 photos: Alan Henning: Golden-hearted hostage 5 photos: Alan Henning: Golden-hearted hostage Alan Henning: Golden-hearted hostage – Dr. Shameela Islam-Zulfiqar shared images with CNN from the December 2013 aid convoy to Syria she made with Alan Henning, who was kidnapped from the group. Henning, a taxi driver from near Manchester, England, was part of a team of volunteers that traveling to Syria to deliver food and water. He was abducted from the convoy the day after Christmas by masked gunmen, according to other members of the convoy. Here, Henning stands alongside one of the ambulances he was driving as part of the convoy. The photo was taken close to the Turkish border during a break in the road trip. Hide Caption 1 of 5 5 photos: Alan Henning: Golden-hearted hostage Alan Henning: Golden-hearted hostage – Henning and Islam-Zulfiqar prepare a cup of tea during a break during Christmas 2013. Henning was nicknamed "Gadget" by convoy members for his ability to fix electronics. Hide Caption 2 of 5 5 photos: Alan Henning: Golden-hearted hostage Alan Henning: Golden-hearted hostage – Henning attaches a sticker to the side of the ambulance he was driving. He dedicated his ambulance to the memory of Dr. Abbas Khan, a British doctor apparently arrested and allegedly later murdered by the Syrian regime as he carried out aid work in Syria. Hide Caption 3 of 5 5 photos: Alan Henning: Golden-hearted hostage Alan Henning: Golden-hearted hostage – Henning, right, sits and chats with fellow convoy members en route from Britain to Syria. Hide Caption 4 of 5 5 photos: Alan Henning: Golden-hearted hostage Alan Henning: Golden-hearted hostage – Henning was the only non-Muslim on the convoy. Islam-Zulfiqar said "just think of that big smile and that beautiful, beautiful golden heart." Hide Caption 5 of 5 JUST WATCHED Alan Henning 'passionate' about aid work Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Alan Henning 'passionate' about aid work 02:14 JUST WATCHED How ISIS amassed a fortune Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH How ISIS amassed a fortune 06:53 The Prime Minister vowed to bring the killers to justice. Last week, the British Foreign Office released an audio file of Henning pleading for his life. His wife made a public plea for ISIS to spare his life. Barbara Henning's pleas were joined by voices of Muslim leaders around the world. They included Shaykh Haitham Al Haddad, a judge on the Shariah Council in London, who has said that "whatever your grievance with American or British foreign policy, executing this man is not the answer." But the calls for mercy appear to have been met with bloodshed. The White House released a statement condemning Henning's murder and vowing to work alongside the UK and its allies to "degrade and ultimately destroy ISIL." Video similar to others If the authenticity of the video is confirmed, Henning will be the fourth Westerner to be beheaded on camera by ISIS. This summer, ISIS beheaded American freelance journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff -- showing their gruesome killings in videos posted online. ISIS then claimed its first British victim, aid worker David Haines, according to video that appeared online on September 13. In the video released by ISIS Friday, Henning's name is misspelled "Allen." Who is the ISIS? The video is similar to the previous ones, with a clearly scripted statement being delivered by the victim. But unlike the previous ones, this one is shorter and is shot tightly, showing none of the surroundings. And just like the previous videos, it ends with a threat to another hostage. The National Security Council confirmed that Kassig is being held by ISIS. "We will continue to use every tool at our disposal -- military, diplomatic, law enforcement and intelligence -- to try to bring Peter home to his family," according to agency spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden. The American who appears at the end of the video, Kassig, is a former soldier who became an aid worker in the Middle East. Kassig's parents, Ed and Paula, confirmed to CNN it was their son, "who was doing humanitarian work in Syria, is being held captive." "We ask everyone around the world to pray for the Henning family, for our son, and for the release of all innocent people being held hostage in the Middle East and around the globe," the statement said. Kassig, 26, founded the non-profit Special Emergency Response and Assistance group. At the time, the organization was providing humanitarian aid to refugees fleeing the Syrian civil war. Kassig worked as a medic and was en route to Deir Ezzor in northern Syria for SERA when he was kidnapped on October 1, 2013, according to his family. "I am not a doctor. I am not a nurse. But I am a guy who can clean up bandages, help clean up patients, swap out bandages, help run IVs, make people's quality of life a little bit better," he told CNN's Arwa Damon during an interview in 2012. "This is something for me that has meaning, that has purpose." How ISIS is run |||||

– ISIS today released another video showing the beheading of a hostage, this time British citizen Alan Henning, reports AP. The video follows the same pattern as the previous three, in which an Islamic State fighter rants against the West. At the end of the video, the militant threatens an American aid worker who has been identified as Peter Kassig, a former US Army veteran who became a volunteer in the Mideast. "Obama, you have started your aerial bombard of Shams (Syria), which keep on striking our people, so it is only right that we strike the next of your people," says the militant. Henning, a taxi driver, was captured in Syria last year while delivering food and water as a volunteer to people affected by the civil war, reports CNN. His wife had pleaded publicly for his release.

A federal judge in Hawaii on Wednesday issued a sweeping freeze of President Trump’s new executive order hours before it would have temporarily barred the issuance of new visas to citizens of six Muslim-majority countries and suspended the admission of new refugees. In a blistering 43-page opinion, U.S. District Judge Derrick K. Watson pointed to Trump’s own comments and those of his close advisers as evidence that his order was meant to discriminate against Muslims and declared there was a “strong likelihood of success” that those suing would prove the directive violated the Constitution. Watson declared that “a reasonable, objective observer — enlightened by the specific historical context, contemporaneous public statements, and specific sequence of events leading to its issuance — would conclude that the Executive Order was issued with a purpose to disfavor a particular religion.” He lambasted the government, in particular, for asserting that because the ban did not apply to all Muslims in the world, it could not be construed as discriminating against Muslims. “The illogic of the Government’s contentions is palpable,” Watson wrote. “The notion that one can demonstrate animus toward any group of people only by targeting all of them at once is fundamentally flawed.” Early Thursday, a federal judge in Maryland issued a second, narrower injunction against the measure — suspending only the portion that stopped the issuance of visas to citizens of six Muslim-majority countries. In that case, U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang also pointed to statements by Trump and his advisers made that, in Chuang’s opinion, indicated the executive order was “the realization of the long-envisioned Muslim ban.” “These statements, which include explicit, direct statements of President Trump’s animus toward Muslims and intention to impose a ban on Muslims entering the United States, present a convincing case that the First Executive Order was issued to accomplish, as nearly as possible, President Trump’s promised Muslim ban,” Chuang wrote. At a rally in Nashville on Wednesday, Trump called the Hawaii court ruling “terrible” and asked a cheering crowd whether the ruling was “done by a judge for political reasons.” He said the administration would fight the case “as far as it needs to go,” including up to the Supreme Court, and rued that he had been persuaded to sign a “watered-down version” of his first travel ban. “Let me tell you something, I think we ought to go back to the first one and go all the way,” Trump said. “The danger is clear, the law is clear, the need for my executive order is clear.” Sarah Isgur Flores, a spokeswoman for the Justice Department, said in a statement: “The Department of Justice strongly disagrees with the federal district court’s ruling, which is flawed both in reasoning and in scope. The President’s Executive Order falls squarely within his lawful authority in seeking to protect our Nation’s security, and the Department will continue to defend this Executive Order in the courts.” (Daron Taylor/The Washington Post) Watson was one of three federal judges to hear arguments Wednesday about the ban, though he was the first to issue an opinion. A ruling was also expected from a federal judge in Washington. As the ruling in Hawaii was being handed down, James L. ­Robart, the federal judge in Washington state who froze Trump’s first travel ban, was hearing arguments about whether he should freeze the second. He said he did not think his first freeze was still in effect, though he did not immediately rule on whether he should issue a new one. Watson’s decision might not be the last word. He was considering only a request for a temporary restraining order, and while that required him to assess whether challengers of the ban would ultimately succeed, his ruling is not final on that question. The Justice Department could appeal the ruling or wage a longer-term court battle before the judge in Hawaii. Watson’s decision came in response to a lawsuit filed by Hawaii. Lawyers for the state alleged that the new entry ban, much like the old, violated the establishment clause of the First Amendment because it was essentially a Muslim ban, hurt the ability of state businesses and universities to recruit top talent, and damaged the state’s robust tourism industry. They pointed to the case of ­Ismail Elshikh, the imam of the Muslim Association of Hawaii, whose mother-in-law’s application for an immigrant visa was still being processed. Under the new executive order, attorneys for Hawaii said, Elshikh feared that his mother-in-law, a Syrian national, would ultimately be banned from entering the United States. [Why Hawaii says Trump’s new travel ban is still unconstitutional] “Dr. Elshikh certainly has standing in this case. He, along with all of the Muslim residents in Hawaii, face higher hurdles to see family because of religious faith,” lawyer Colleen Roh Sinzdak said at a hearing Wednesday. “It is not merely a harm to the Muslim residents of the state of Hawaii, but also is a harm to the United States as a whole and is against the First Amendment itself.” Elshikh is a U.S. citizen of Egyptian descent who has been a resident of Hawaii for over a decade. His wife is of Syrian descent and is also a resident of Hawaii. Justice Department lawyers argued that Trump was well within his authority to impose the ban, which was necessary for national security, and that those challenging it had raised only speculative harms. “They bear the burden of showing irreparable harm … and there is no harm at all,” said the acting U.S. solicitor general, Jeffrey Wall, who argued on behalf of the government in Greenbelt, Md., in the morning and by phone in Hawaii in the afternoon. Watson agreed with the state on virtually all the points. He ruled that the state had preliminarily demonstrated its universities and tourism industry would be hurt, and that harm could be traced to the executive order. He wrote that Elshikh had alleged “direct, concrete injuries to both himself and his immediate family.” And Watson declared that the government’s assertion of the national security need for the order was “at the very least, ‘secondary to a religious objective’ of temporarily suspending the entry of Muslims.” He pointed to Trump’s own campaign trail comments and public statements by advisers as evidence. “For instance, there is nothing ‘veiled’ about this press release: ‘Donald J. Trump is calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States,’ ” Watson wrote. “Nor is there anything ‘secret’ about the Executive’s motive specific to the issuance of the Executive Order. Rudolph Giuliani explained on television how the Executive Order came to be. He said: ‘When [Mr. Trump] first announced it, he said, ‘Muslim ban.’ He called me up. He said, ‘Put a commission together. Show me the right way to do it legally.’ ” Watson also pointed to a recent Fox News appearance by Stephen Miller, in which the president’s senior policy adviser said the new ban would have “mostly minor technical differences” from the previous iteration frozen by the courts, and Americans would see “the same basic policy outcome for the country.” “These plainly-worded statements, made in the months leading up to and contemporaneous with the signing of the Executive Order, and, in many cases, made by the Executive himself, betray the Executive Order’s stated secular purpose,” Watson wrote. Opponents of the ban across the country — including those who had argued against it in different cases on Wednesday — hailed Watson’s ruling. Bob Ferguson, the Washington state attorney general who asked Robart to block the measure, called the Hawaii ruling “fantastic news.” Justin Cox, a staff attorney for the National Immigration Law Center who argued for a restraining order in the case in Maryland, said, “This is absolutely a victory and should be celebrated as such, especially because the court held that the plaintiffs, that Hawaii was likely to succeed on its establishment clause claim which essentially is that the primary purpose of the executive order is to discriminate against Muslims.” Cox said while the judge did not halt the order entirely, he blocked the crucial sections — those halting the issuance of new visas and suspending the refu­gee program. Left intact, Cox said, were lesser-known provisions, including one that orders Homeland Security and the U.S. attorney general to publicize information about foreign nationals charged with ­terrorism-related offenses and other crimes. He said the provision seems designed to whip up fear of Muslims. “It’s a shaming device that it’s really a dehumanizing device,” he said. “It perpetuates this myth, this damaging stereotype of Muslims as terrorists.” Trump’s new entry ban had suspended the U.S. refugee program for 120 days and halted for 90 days the issuance of new visas to people from six Muslim-majority countries: Iran, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Libya and Syria. It was different from the first entry ban in that it omitted Iraq from the list of affected countries, did not affect current visa or green-card holders and spelled out a robust list of people who might be able to apply for exceptions. The administration could have defended the first ban in court — though it chose instead to rewrite the president’s executive order in such a way that it might be more defensible. The next step might have been to persuade the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit to rehear the case en banc, after a three-judge panel with the court upheld the freeze on Trump’s ban. Hawaii is a part of the 9th Circuit, so the legal road could pass through the appeals court there again. Perhaps previewing the contentious fight ahead, five of the circuit’s judges on Wednesday signed a dissenting opinion in the case over the original travel ban, declaring Trump’s decision to issue the executive order was “well within the powers of the presidency.” The judges wanted to wipe out a ruling by a three-judge panel declaring otherwise. “Above all, in a democracy, we have the duty to preserve the liberty of the people by keeping the enormous powers of the national government separated,” Judge Jay S. Bybee wrote for the dissenters. “We are judges, not Platonic Guardians. It is our duty to say what the law is, and the meta-source of our law, the U.S. Constitution, commits the power to make foreign policy, including the decisions to permit or forbid entry into the United States, to the President and Congress.” The dissent was signed by Judges Bybee, Sandra S. Ikuta, Consuelo M. Callahan and Carlos T. Bea, who all were appointed by President George W. Bush; and Judge Alex Kozinski, who was appointed by President Ronald Reagan. It seemed to represent a minority view. The circuit has 25 active judges, and the court said a majority had not voted in favor of reconsidering the three-judge panel’s published opinion to keep Trump’s first ban frozen. That opinion was signed by Judges Michelle T. Friedland, who was appointed by President Obama; Richard R. Clifton, who was appointed by President George W. Bush; and Judge William C. Canby Jr., who was appointed by President Carter. Judge Stephen Reinhardt, also a Carter appointee, formally joined their opinion Wednesday and remarked that only a “small number” of 9th Circuit judges wanted to overturn it. Takase reported from Honolulu. Lornet Turnbull in Seattle contributed to this report. ||||| poster="http://v.politico.com/images/1155968404/201703/2151/1155968404_5361762127001_5361759951001-vs.jpg?pubId=1155968404" true Judges use Trump’s own words in ruling against revised travel ban Two federal judges halt the president’s second attempt at his executive order, citing Trump’s prior vows to seek a Muslim ban. A federal judge in Hawaii issued a worldwide restraining order against enforcement of key parts of President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban executive order just hours before the directive was set to kick in, backed up by a second federal judge in Maryland who put out his own ruling blocking parts of the order. U.S. District Court Judge Derrick Watson ruled Wednesday that the state of Hawaii and a local Muslim leader had “a strong likelihood of success on their claim” that Trump’s order intentionally targets Muslims and therefore violates the Constitution’s guarantee against establishment of religion. Story Continued Below Watson bluntly rejected the federal government's claims that the new directive does not target Islam because it is focused on six countries that account for less than 9 percent of the world's Muslims. "The illogic of the Government’s contentions is palpable," wrote Watson, an appointee of President Barack Obama. "The notion that one can demonstrate animus toward any group of people only by targeting all of them at once is fundamentally flawed. The Court declines to relegate its Establishment Clause analysis to a purely mathematical exercise." Hours after that opinion emerged, a federal judge in Maryland, U.S. District Court Judge Theodore Chuang — also an Obama appointee and a former Department of Homeland Security deputy counsel — held that Trump's order appeared to violate a specific provision in federal law by blocking the issuance of immigrant visas from the six targeted countries. The rulings are another serious blow to Trump’s attempt to limit immigration as part of what he claims is an effort to reduce the threat of terrorist attacks in the U.S. Trump slammed the decision during a speech to a campaign rally in Nashville on Wednesday a short time after the new restraining order was issued. "This is, in the opinion of many, an unprecedented judicial overreach. ... This ruling makes us look weak," the president declared before appearing to vow to take the issue to the Supreme Court. "This is a watered-down version of the first one. ... I think we should go back to the first one and go all the way which is what I wanted to do in the first place." “Trump’s statements tonight? He should just continue talking, because he’s making our arguments for us,” said Marielena Hincapié, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center. A spokewoman for the Department of Justice called the ruling "flawed both in reasoning and in scope," adding that the administration will "continue to defend this Executive Order in the courts." Trump effectively abandoned the earlier, broader version of his travel ban order after the bulk of it was blocked by another federal judge and a three-judge appeals court panel declined to allow Trump to restore it. As the White House mulled the possibility of an appeal of the latest ruling, there was one piece of good news for Trump's team: Roughly two hours after Watson issued the new restraining order, five 9th Circuit judges formally declared that the original appeals panel made a "fundamental error" by refusing to let Trump proceed with his first order. The dissenters' move does not alter that earlier ruling but could be seen as a signal to other judges or even the Supreme Court that Trump's travel orders are legally valid. "The President’s actions might have been more aggressive than those of his predecessors, but that was his prerogative," Judge Jay Bybee and four other Republican-appointed appeals judges wrote in a dissent from the decision not to reconsider the appeals court's earlier ruling. "Even if we have questions about the basis for the President’s ultimate findings — whether it was a 'Muslim ban' or something else — we do not get to peek behind the curtain. So long as there is one 'facially legitimate and bona fide' reason for the President’s actions, our inquiry is at an end." However, Chuang soundly rejected that approach in his ruling from Maryland early Thursday, using Trump's campaign comments and pledges to conclude that the primary purpose of Trump's travel ban order was to advance religious bias. "These statements, which include explicit, direct statements of President Trump's animus towards Muslims and intention to impose a ban on Muslims entering the United States, present a convincing case that the First Executive Order was issued to accomplish, as nearly as possible, President Trump's promised Muslim ban," Chuang wrote. Chuang's decision flatly dismissed the federal government's arguments that Trump's comments before he took office should not be considered in assessing the executive order's purpose. "Simply because a decisionmaker made the statements during a campaign does not wipe them from the 'reasonable memory' of a 'reasonable observer,'" the judge wrote, pointing to a federal appeals court decision that considered "billboards and campaign commercials" for Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore in concluding that he was motivated by religion when he had a Ten Commandments display installed at a state courthouse. Breaking News Alerts Get breaking news when it happens — in your inbox. Email Sign Up By signing up you agree to receive email newsletters or alerts from POLITICO. You can unsubscribe at any time. Chuang said the conclusion that anti-Muslim sentiment was the primarily reason behind the travel ban was supported by the fact that it seemed to be a poor fit for known terrorist threats. "In this highly unique case, the record provides strong indications that the national security purpose is not the primary purpose for the travel ban," the judge wrote. "While the travel ban bears no resemblance to any response to a national security risk in recent history, it bears a clear resemblance to the precise action that President Trump described as effectuating his Muslim ban." Watson's order took a similar tack, citing campaign trail statements by Trump that the judge said amounted to "significant and unrebutted evidence of religious animus driving the promulgation of the Executive Order and its related predecessor." Watson's ruling — applicable "in all places, including the United States" — blocked two core provisions of Trump's redrafted order: a 90-day halt in issuance of visas to citizens of six majority-Muslim countries and a 120-day halt of refugee admissions from around the globe. The judge's 43-page decision was issued about two hours after a court session in Honolulu during which he heard arguments over the legality of the revised order, which Trump signed last week. Chuang's decision was narrower in effect, halting only the ban on newly issued visas for citizens of the six countries and not interfereing with the interruption in refugee admissions. The rulings followed a series of four court hearings on Trump's revised travel ban held in the hours before it was set to take effect. In addition to the court sessions in Honolulu and Greenbelt, Maryland, two hearings took place in Seattle, where U.S. District Court Judge James Robart listened to arguments on a suit filed by individuals in Washington state and their family members abroad. In addition, a group of about half a dozen states asked Robart, the same judge who issued the injunction last month blocking Trump's first travel ban, to declare that his initial ruling covers the president's replacement order. Citing differences in the two orders, the George W. Bush appointee turned down that request, according to reporters in the courtroom. However, Robart left unclear whether he would grant separate motions to block the new order. At the Maryland hearing, refugee aid organizations pleaded with Chuang not to ignore Trump's numerous vows to cut off travel to the U.S. by adherents of Islam. “It’s asking the court to turn a blind eye to all of the evidence that’s apparent to everybody," said Omar Jadwat of the American Civil Liberties Union. "It doesn’t make sense to blind the court.” However, acting Solicitor General Jeffrey Wall warned the judge against taking into account statements Trump made before he took office. The Justice Department lawyer said the revised order doesn't even mention religion. "This is an order that draws no religious distinctions at all," Wall insisted. The Maryland suit was filed last month by two refugee aid groups, the International Refugee Assistance Project and HIAS, a Jewish charity that facilitates refugee resettlement in the U.S. for the federal government. Several individuals who claim to be directly affected by Trump's orders are also plaintiffs. The Maryland suit is the only one that includes a challenge to a specific aspect of Trump's orders: a provision lowering the cap on annual refugee admissions for the current fiscal year to 50,000 from 110,000. In addition to the broader argument about the order as a whole being tainted by religious bias, the suit argues that Trump had no authority to lower that cap since federal law says it must be established before the fiscal year begins. Justice Department attorneys also argued that the case should wait to see whether individual immigrants receive waivers that allow them to get visas despite the six-country ban. Washington state Attorney General attempts to block Trump's revised travel ban poster="http://v.politico.com/images/1155968404/201703/1795/1155968404_5353862488001_5353850248001-vs.jpg?pubId=1155968404" However, National Immigration Law Center lawyer Justin Cox said that suggestion was bizarre given the claim that the process itself amounts to illegal religious discrimination. "If there were a special process for black folks to live in a certain neighborhood, you wouldn't say their claims are not ripe until they're denied" permission, Cox said. After the Maryland hearing, refugee advocates used bleak language to describe the scramble underway to protect their clients in case the revised travel's bans directives kicked in. "We're trying to find emergency shelter and places for people to hide so they don't get killed while the U.S. is in the process of implementing this executive order," said Rebecca Heller of the International Refugee Assistance Project. Josh Dawsey contributed to this report from Nashville. Nahal Toosi also contributed to this report. ||||| Justin Cox of the National Immigration Law Center, representing all the plaintiffs, right, accompanied by Omar Jadwat of the ACLU, speaks to reporters outside the court in Greenbelt, Md., Wednesday, March... (Associated Press) Justin Cox of the National Immigration Law Center, representing all the plaintiffs, right, accompanied by Omar Jadwat of the ACLU, speaks to reporters outside the court in Greenbelt, Md., Wednesday, March 15, 2017. A federal judge in Maryland says he will issue a ruling in a lawsuit challenging President... (Associated Press) The Latest on legal challenges to the Trump administration's revised travel ban (all times Pacific unless noted): 12:50 p.m. A federal judge in Hawaii has put President Donald Trump's revised travel ban on hold. U.S. District Judge Derrick Watson issued his ruling Wednesday after hearing arguments on Hawaii's request for a temporary restraining order involving the ban. His ruling prevents the executive order from going into effect Thursday. More than half a dozen states are trying to stop the ban, and federal courts in Maryland, Washington state and Hawaii heard arguments Wednesday about whether it should be put into practice. Hawaii argued that the ban discriminates on the basis of nationality and would prevent Hawaii residents from receiving visits from relatives in the six mostly Muslim countries covered by the ban. The state also says the ban would harm its tourism industry and the ability to recruit foreign students and workers. ___ 3:30 p.m. A federal judge in Seattle said after a hearing that he will issue a written order about whether to block President Donald Trump's revised travel ban but didn't say when he would make his decision. Judge James Robart told lawyers for an immigrant rights group and for the Justice Department that he's most interested in whether the ban violates federal immigration law, and whether affected immigrants would be irreparably harmed should the ban go into effect. The judge spent much of the Wednesday hearing grilling the lawyers about two seemingly conflicting federal laws on immigration — one which gives the president the authority to keep any class of aliens out of the country, and another that forbids the government from discriminating on the basis of nationality when it comes to issuing immigrant visas. ___ 2:55 p.m. Hawaii Attorney General Doug Chin says he's cautiously optimistic that a federal judge will rule in the state's favor and issue an injunction against President Donald Trump's revised travel ban before it goes into effect. Chin spoke at a news conference Wednesday after U.S. District Court Judge Derrick Watson heard arguments regarding the injunction request. The judge said he would issue a ruling before the ban is scheduled to go into effect at 9:01 p.m. PDT Wednesday. Chin wasn't the only state attorney general at the hearing. Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum is in Honolulu for a conference, and sat in to hear the case. Oregon filed a brief supporting Hawaii's lawsuit. Rosenblum says it's helpful that challenges to the travel ban are being held in so many jurisdictions, with the hope that at least one judge will issue a temporary restraining order. Other hearings were held Wednesday in federal courts in Maryland and Washington state challenging the ban. ___ 2:15 p.m. A hearing on President Donald Trump's revised travel ban is underway in federal court in Seattle. Judge James Robart began the session Wednesday by questioning a lawyer for the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project about two seemingly conflicting federal laws on immigration. One gives the president the authority to keep any class of aliens out of the country, and another forbids the government from discriminating on the basis of nationality when it comes to issuing visas. Attorney Matt Adams responded that while the law does give the president broad authority, Congress later clarified the law to say the government can't discriminate on the basis of nationality any more than it could bar people based on their race. ___ 2 p.m. A federal judge in Hawaii is considering a request to issue a temporary restraining order against the revised travel ban ordered by President Donald Trump. U.S. District Judge Derrick Watson says he will issue a written order by 9:01 p.m. PDT, when Trump's executive order is set to take effect. Watson made the statement Wednesday after hearing arguments by both sides in the case. The ban blocks new visas for people from six predominantly Muslim countries and temporarily halts the U.S. refugee program. Hawaii was the first state to file a lawsuit challenging the revised ban. Its motion for a restraining order contends the ban discriminates on the basis of national origin. The state also argues that the ban would prevent Hawaii residents from receiving visits from relatives in the six mostly Muslim countries covered by the ban. The government says Hawaii's concerns are speculation. More than half a dozen states are trying to stop the ban. ___ 4:45 p.m. A Justice Department attorney is arguing that there's no need for a judge in Hawaii to issue an emergency restraining order against the revised travel ban issued by President Donald Trump. Jeffrey Wall of the Office of the Solicitor General said during a hearing Wednesday that plaintiffs have said little about harm from the ban that was not speculative. He said Hawaii is making generalized allegations. Wall said if the judge is inclined to issue an injunction, it shouldn't be nationwide and should be tailored to the claims raised by Hawaii. ___ 1:25 p.m. Washington state has filed a backup motion in an effort to keep President Donald Trump's revised travel ban from taking effect as scheduled Thursday. In a new court filing Wednesday, Attorney General Bob Ferguson said the state supports the arguments made in a related case filed by an immigrant rights group based in Seattle that alleges the ban discriminates against Muslims and violates federal immigration law. U.S. District Judge James Robart is hearing arguments in that case later in the day. Ferguson said Robart should consider Washington state's new emergency motion for a temporary restraining order if he doesn't see fit to issue an order in the case by the rights group or to rule immediately on a prior motion by Washington state. The Justice Department says Trump's action is a lawful exercise of presidential authority. ___ 1:15 p.m. The state of Hawaii says an imam from Honolulu has legal standing to assert the First Amendment claim of religious discrimination when challenging President Donald Trump's revised travel ban. Hawaii's case for a temporary restraining order to block the ban is being heard Wednesday in federal court in Honolulu. The judge told lawyers that he is more interested in constitutional claims and wanted to know who had such standing in the lawsuit. Attorney Colleen Roh Sinzdak says a Muslim plaintiff in the lawsuit, Ismail Elshikh, has such standing to challenge the ban. Elshikh says the ban prevents his mother-in-law, who lives in Syria, from visiting family in Hawaii. Sinzdak says Elshikh and all Muslim residents in Hawaii face higher hurdles in reuniting with family members because of their faith. She says that harm applies to all residents, not just Muslims. ___ 3:15 p.m. EDT Hawaii Attorney General Douglas Chin has arrived in a Honolulu federal courtroom, ready to challenge President Donald Trump's revised travel ban. Chin arrived about 30 minutes before the start of Wednesday's hearing as legal efforts to overturn the ban now shift to Honolulu. Chin's lawsuit claims the ban harms Hawaii by highlighting the state's dependence on international travelers, its ethnic diversity and its welcoming reputation as the Aloha State. Hawaii's lawsuit includes a Muslim plaintiff, Ismail Elshikh, the imam of a Honolulu mosque. He says the ban prevents his mother-in-law, who lives in Syria, from visiting family in Hawaii. In response, the Justice Department says Hawaii's claims are mere speculation. It's not clear when U.S. District Judge Derrick Watson will rule on the state's request for a temporary restraining order. Attorneys from the Washington, D.C., law firm Hawaii has hired will participate by phone. Justice Department attorneys are also phoning in for the hearing. ___ 12:30 p.m. EDT Legal efforts to overturn President Donald Trump's travel ban now shift to Honolulu, where a hearing will be held later Wednesday. The lawsuit claims the ban harms Hawaii by highlighting the state's dependence on international travelers, its ethnic diversity and its welcoming reputation as the Aloha State. Hawaii's lawsuit includes a Muslim plaintiff, Ismail Elshikh, the imam of a Honolulu mosque. He says the ban prevents his mother-in-law, who lives in Syria, from visiting family in Hawaii. In response, the Justice Department says Hawaii's claims are mere speculation. It's not clear when U.S. District Judge Derrick Watson will rule on the state's request for a temporary restraining order. Hawaii Attorney General Douglas Chin plans to argue before the court, but attorneys from the Washington, D.C., law firm Hawaii has hired will participate by phone. Justice Department attorneys are also expected to phone in for the hearing. ___ 11:50 a.m. EDT A federal judge in Maryland says he will issue a ruling in a lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump's revised travel ban. However, U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang did not promise that he would rule before the ban takes effect at 12:01 a.m. Thursday. He also said Wednesday he may issue a narrow ruling that does not address the ban nationwide. The lawsuit in Maryland was filed by the ACLU and other groups representing immigrants and refugees, as well as some individual plaintiffs. They argue banning travel from six majority-Muslim countries is unconstitutional discrimination on the basis of religion. They also say it's illegal for Trump to reduce the number of refugees allowed into the United States this year by more than half. Government lawyers argued the ban was revised significantly to address legal concerns and no longer singles out Muslims. ___ 11:20 a.m. EDT The Seattle federal judge who blocked President Donald Trump's original travel ban will hear a challenge to the new order by an immigrant rights group. U.S. District Judge James Robart will hear arguments Wednesday in the lawsuit brought by the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project. The group says the new version of the travel ban discriminates against Muslims and raises the same legal issues as the original. Robart also is overseeing the legal challenge brought by Washington state. He also issued the order halting nationwide implementation of the first ban. Among the plaintiffs in the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project case is a legal permanent resident who has been trying to bring her 16-year-old son from war-torn Syria. The Trump administration says it believes its revised order is legal. The travel ban is scheduled to go into effect next Thursday. ___ 10:50 a.m. EDT Airbnb, Lyft and Wikimedia are among 58 technology companies backing a lawsuit seeking to block the Trump administration's revised travel ban from taking effect. The tech companies signed onto a friend-of-the-court brief filed in federal court on Tuesday claiming the White House's planned travel restrictions "would inflict significant and irreparable harm on U.S. businesses and their employees, stifling the growth of the United States' most prominent industries." The filing supported a legal challenge from the state of Hawaii, which is trying to derail Trump's executive order affecting travelers from six Muslim-majority nations. The tech companies signed onto the new brief also include Kickstarter, Dropbox Inc., Electronic Arts, Meetup, Pintrest, Square and TripAdvisor. Last month, nearly 100 tech companies signed a similar amicus brief opposing Trump's first proposed travel ban. ___ 9:30 a.m. EDT Virginia's attorney general is supporting Hawaii's lawsuit against President Donald Trump's revised travel ban. Attorney General Mark Herring said in a statement Tuesday that he joined 13 other attorneys general in filing an amicus brief Monday in the District Court for Hawaii. Hawaii has asked for a temporary restraining order blocking the enforcement of the revised travel ban. A hearing in the case is scheduled for Wednesday. The attorneys general argue that the revised ban retains the unconstitutional components of the original order, including a broad ban on entry by nationals from several predominantly Muslim countries and a suspension of the refugee program. ___ 2:15 a.m. EDT A Maryland judge is scheduled to hold a hearing on a lawsuit stemming from President Donald Trump's travel ban. Several individuals and groups including the American Civil Liberties Union originally filed the lawsuit in February over the initial ban, which was blocked in court and later revised. On Wednesday, the groups will be asking a Maryland judge to issue an order that would keep the revised ban from taking effect. It's scheduled to take effect Thursday. A federal judge in Hawaii has also scheduled a hearing Wednesday on the revised ban. In Maryland, the groups are arguing that the revised ban has the same legal flaws as Trump's first executive order. |||||

– A federal judge in Hawaii blocked President Trump's revised travel ban just hours before it was set to go into effect across the country, the Washington Post reports. Hawaii had filed a lawsuit over the new executive order, which halted visas for citizens from six Muslim-majority nations for 90 days and stopped new refugees for 120 days, claiming it hurts tourism, business, and universities and would keep people from those six countries from visiting family in Hawaii. The state alleged the order, which also cuts the number of refugees allowed in the US next year in half, was essentially a Muslim ban. US District Judge Derrick Watson froze the order Wednesday, saying Hawaii has a "strong likelihood of success on their claim," according to Politico. More than six states are currently trying to halt the new travel ban, the AP reports. Arguments against it were also scheduled to be heard in Maryland and Washington state on Wednesday. Trump issued the revised travel ban after his first attempt was blocked by a federal judge in Washington state. Justice Department lawyers defending the new executive order said the ban was well within the president's power and claimed its potential harms were only speculation.

Is divorce seasonal? UW research shows biannual spike in divorce filings Deborah Bach News and Information To everything there is a season — even divorce, new research from University of Washington sociologists concludes. Associate sociology professor Julie Brines and doctoral candidate Brian Serafini found what is believed to be the first quantitative evidence of a seasonal, biannual pattern of filings for divorce. The researchers analyzed filings in Washington state between 2001 and 2015 and found that they consistently peaked in March and August, the periods following winter and summer holidays. Their research, presented Aug. 21 at the annual meeting of the American Sociological Association in Seattle, suggests that divorce filings may be driven by a “domestic ritual” calendar governing family behavior. Winter and summer holidays are culturally sacred times for families, Brines said, when filing for divorce is considered inappropriate, even taboo. And troubled couples may see the holidays as a time to mend relationships and start anew: We’ll have a happy Christmas together as a family or take the kids for a nice camping trip, the thinking goes, and things will be better. “People tend to face the holidays with rising expectations, despite what disappointments they might have had in years past,” Brines said. “They represent periods in the year when there’s the anticipation or the opportunity for a new beginning, a new start, something different, a transition into a new period of life. It’s like an optimism cycle, in a sense. “They’re very symbolically charged moments in time for the culture.” But holidays are also emotionally charged and stressful for many couples and can expose fissures in a marriage. The consistent pattern in filings, the researchers believe, reflects the disillusionment unhappy spouses feel when the holidays don’t live up to expectations. They may decide to file for divorce in August, following the family vacation and before the kids start school. But what explains the spike in March, several months after the winter holidays? Couples need time to get finances in order, find an attorney or simply summon the courage to file for divorce, Brines suggests. Though the same considerations apply in summer, Brines thinks the start of the school year school may hasten the timing, at least for couples with children. Suicides also tend to peak in spring, and some experts have said the longer days and increased activity elevates mood enough to motivate people to act. Brines wonders if similar forces are at play with divorce filings. Brines and Serafini weren’t initially looking for a pattern in divorce filings when they set out to investigate the effects of the recession, such as rising unemployment rates and declining house values, on marital stability. Poring over divorce filings for counties throughout Washington, they began noticing variations from month to month and were startled to see a pattern emerge. “It was very robust from year to year, and very robust across counties,” Brines said. The pattern persisted even after accounting for other seasonal factors such as unemployment and the housing market. The researchers reasoned that if the pattern was tied to family holidays, other court actions involving families — such as guardianship rulings — should show a similar pattern, while claims less related to family structure wouldn’t. And they found exactly that: The timing of guardianship filings resembled that of divorce filings, but property claims, for example, did not. The divorce filing pattern shifted somewhat during the recession, showing a peak earlier in the year and one in the fall, and more volatility overall. Given uncertainty about financial considerations like housing values and employment, Brines said, it’s not surprising the pattern was disrupted. But the shift in the pattern during the recession is not statistically significant, she said. Their research excluded two of Washington’s 39 counties, Lincoln and Wahkiakum. The small, rural counties are among few nationwide that allow marriages to be ended by mail, without a court appearance. Since anyone in Washington can file for divorce in the two counties, the researchers thought they would skew the results — specifically, they figured filings might peak more quickly after the holidays, given the simpler process. But they examined filings in Lincoln County, the only county to accept divorce by mail since 2001, and saw the same pattern, albeit more pronounced, as elsewhere in the state. “That leads me to think that it takes some time emotionally for people to take this step,” Brines said. “Filing for divorce, whether you do it by mail or appear in court, is a big step.” The researchers are now looking at whether the filing pattern they identified translates to other states. They examined data for four other states — Ohio, Minnesota, Florida and Arizona — that have similar divorce laws as Washington but differ in demographics and economic conditions, particularly during the recession. Florida and Arizona were among states hit hardest by the real estate collapse, and Ohio had higher than average employment rates. Despite those differences, Brines said, the pattern persisted. “What I can tell you is that the seasonal pattern of divorce filings is more or less the same,” she said. For more information, contact Brines at [email protected] or 206-685-9067. ||||| According to research, spring is the season for love. We crawl out from under our down comforters, notice that the world is full of life again, and all those new and refreshing smells, the ones we had almost forgotten about, trigger the release of dopamine, and suddenly we’re in love. But because the light can’t exist without the dark, then there must be a season for divorce, too, right? Of course there is, says science. While many are falling over themselves in love during the spring, a new study has found that divorce filings spike seasonally, too. The study by associate sociology professor Julie Brines and doctoral candidate Brian Serafini, both of the University of Washington, examined filings for divorce in Washington State from 2001 to 2015. What they found is that there is, indeed, a season for divorce, or rather two months out of the year where people are most likely to file for it: March and August. “People tend to face the holidays with rising expectations, despite what disappointments they might have had in years past,” Brines said in a press release. “They represent periods in the year when there’s the anticipation or the opportunity for a new beginning, a new start, something different, a transition into a new period of life. It’s like an optimism cycle, in a sense." Here’s the breakdown about these two months in particular: March 1. Holidays Are A "Sacred" Time [Embed] According to the research, “domestic ritual” comes into play. Very few people are likely to run out and file for divorce right before the holidays, especially if they have kids, and throw a wrench in Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Hanukkah. These are seen as “sacred times,” according to Brines. So no matter how bad the past year has been, they’re willing to hang on to see if the holidays will inject some sort of positivity into the situation. 2. New Year’s Offers Hope Of A New Beginning [Embed] With the New Year just around the corner after those holidays, people have high expectations for change, so they hold out. I mean, there’s a reason why so many people look at Jan. 1 as a good time to a make resolution or a new start. 3. Money Needs To Be Saved [Embed] Divorce isn’t cheap. So for those who realize that the holidays and the New Year didn’t offer the change for which they had hoped and want a divorce, they might need to get their finances in order first. The holidays take a massive toll on everyone’s wallet, but by the time March rolls around, people start to have their finances back on track, putting them in the financial position to start divorce proceedings. 4. Spring Motivates People [Embed] Just as the winter and those short days strip us of motivation, spring has the opposite effect. While it may be a time for falling in love for some, for those who are in a marriage that seems like a dead end, the elevated mood that comes with the new season, causes people to take action and do what they feel needs to be done to make their life happier. Whether you’re able to have a happy divorce (good luck with that) or a messy divorce, the end result is closing a chapter in ones life and moving on to the next. August 1. It’s The End Of Summer Holidays [Embed] Again, the sociologists turned to “domestic ritual,” as a reason August sees a spike in divorce filings. Similar to the end-of-year holidays, summer holidays also have their own level of sacredness. Since that’s the case, many people wait until the holidays are over before making their move. There’s also the hope here that maybe the summer holidays will help mend the marriage, but when it doesn’t pan out that way, people decide it’s time to file for divorce. 2. September Is Also A Month Of New Beginnings [Embed] While September may not be thought of a new start with the same vigor as New Years, it is a new beginning in some ways: The kids go back to school, the sweltering summer is behind us, and pumpkin spice latte season is just around the corner, so the need to change with the season could play a role, too. According to Brines, the start of the new school year can “hasten the timing,” for those married couples with children who want to divorce. 3. By August People Are Even More Secure [Embed] For those who didn’t make the move to file for divorce in March, August becomes a big month because it can take a while for someone to find the nerve to actually go through with it. Filing for divorce is such an emotional thing, so if you’ve given all you can through the winter holidays, hoped for the best during the spring, then stuck it out through the summer holidays, August just naturally becomes a prime time of year to say goodbye. Images: Fotolia; Giphy (7) |||||

– They didn't set out to do a study on divorce, but two University of Washington researchers poring over a range of sociological data saw such a clear pattern emerge that they've ended up with one: It turns out that that married couples divorce most often in March and August. When the researchers plotted the data from 2001 to 2015, the divorce spike in those two months was both striking and consistent, they write in a press release. And while that data comes exclusively from Washington state, it seems to apply nationwide. The researchers followed up with a look at data from Ohio, Minnesota, Florida, and Arizona, and found the same pattern. So what's going on? They think winter holidays and summer vacations are a big factor. These are both "culturally sacred times for families," says associate sociology professor Julie Brines, per the UW release. That is, couples may be reluctant to split around Christmas, or just ahead of an annual vacation, and instead view those times instead as an opportunity to mend a troubled relationship. "One last shot," as Brines puts it, per the Atlantic. If they fail, the added stress of the holidays or the tight quarters of a vacation then push the couple toward divorce. The delay from post-holidays to March in the divorce filings may be because the holidays put such a heavy dent in the wallet, notes Bustle. That's less of an issue in the summer, and the researchers speculate that, for couples with kids, the start of school may actually speed things along. (This woman was selling her wedding dress to pay for her divorce, complete with "stench of betrayal.")

Starting in 1996, Alexa Internet has been donating their crawl data to the Internet Archive. Flowing in every day, these data are added to the Wayback Machine after an embargo period. ||||| Footage of pecking, mammography-reading pigeons may seem hilarious, but it's serious business for scientists testing whether pigeons could be trainable observers of pathology and radiology breast cancer images. (Ed Wasserman and Victor Navarro/Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, The University of Iowa) The human eye can easily recognize a familiar body part. But when it comes to interpreting the meaning of medical imagery, things aren’t that simple. In fact, radiologists take years to learn how to accomplish the task — and despite advances in technology, they sometimes get it wrong. [Why scientists got an alligator to inhale helium] But what happens when the radiologists are pigeons? It sounds weird, but it’s the basis of a study published Wednesday in PLOS ONE. Armed with a touchscreen-outfitted training chamber and 16 pigeons, scientists set out to see if birds could identify malignant and benign tissue in medical images with their beady little eyes. They trained pigeons to peck at a monitor after being presented with images from mammograms. When pigeons correctly pecked a touchscreen button that corresponded with the category of the image being shown, they were given food. [Squirrel gets ‘drunk’, causes hundreds of dollars in damage] Footage of pecking, mammography-reading pigeons may seem hilarious, but it’s serious business for Edward A. Wasserman, an experimental psychologist who specializes in comparing human cognition with that of other animals. Reading medical images, he said, “requires a kind of perceptual sophistication beyond mere words.” That’s where the pigeon steps in. “In some sense, the pigeon and the person are starting at the same place,” said Wasserman. “They’re equally naive.” That naiveté quickly faded as pigeons looked at benign and cancerous slides. In the first experiment, eight pigeons were presented with histology images from mammograms — four with normal images and four with images that had been color-corrected. Pigeons had a 50/50 chance of being correct — they were presented with half malignant slides, half benign ones. But within days, it became clear that they were really, really good at their task. After just nine days, the cohort was getting more than 80 percent of its classifications correct. By day 15, the success rate had risen to 85 percent. Wasserman began to worry that perhaps the pigeons had simply memorized the slides, so after 15 days he began to present them with rotated versions as well. Five days later, the pigeons moved on to “novel stimulus testing.” They were shown the original trial slides and additional, brand-new slides. They also viewed slides at different levels of magnification. [Kangaroo farts not as environmentally friendly as previously thought] And here’s where the power of pigeons as medical interpreters comes into play: The birds were really good at applying the knowledge from the familiar slides to examples of benign and cancerous tissue they’d never seen before. Their recognition of new slides was only a few percentage points below their success rate for familiar ones. The whole flock was even more effective as a group. In another experiment, pigeons developed roughly equal abilities to spot microcalcifications — small changes in breast tissue that can sometimes be the only sign of cancer. They weren’t as good at classifying suspicious masses in a third study, but neither are experienced radiologists at the same or a similar task. [100 years after the passenger pigeon's demise, American birds fight to survive] So should human radiologists watch their back for oncoming pigeons? Not exactly. Since similar studies on the effectiveness of humans at reading medical imagery don't exist, it’s not possible to compare the pigeons’ skills to those of humans. Robots are much more likely to replace human radiologists than pigeons — but the experiment could eventually help inform new technologies for image interpretation. It could also make future research cheaper, said Wasserman, who notes that pigeons “might be able to be an effective human stand-in” in additional experiments related to medical imagery. It’s not the first time pigeons have been suggested as human stand-ins for life-or-death situations — B.F. Skinner, the pioneer of behavioral psychology, trained the birds to guide rockets during World War II. Maybe the true moral of the mammogram-reading pigeons has more to do with respect than their real-world radiological prowess. “The pigeon has kind of a bum rap,” said Wasserman, who insists that the birds are interesting and challenging enough to merit serious study. After all, he said, “humans are not the only intelligent animals walking and swimming and flying on earth.” Or, for that matter, looking at mammograms. Erin Blakemore (@heroinebook) is a freelance journalist from Boulder, Colo. She is the author of "The Heroine’s Bookshelf" (Harper). Read More: How filthy is the International Space Station? An astrobiologist weighs in. New study shows that taste, like all reality, is but a fragile illusion The platypus is so weird that scientists thought the first specimen was a hoax Your cat might not really care about you, study suggests Extreme adventure: 1950s film shows beavers parachuting into Idaho backcountry ||||| There’s a long, colorful history of using pigeons in research, particularly in the behavioral and psychological sciences. Scientists have trained a flock of pigeons to be feathered pathologists, able to spot telltale signs of breast cancer in medical images nearly as well as their human counterparts. Advertisement As reported in paper published today in PLOS One, Richard Levenson and University of Iowa psychologist Edward Wasserman showed their chosen pigeons images of tissue samples that were either benign or malignant, and the birds would peck on blue or yellow rectangles on a touch-screen monitor to indicate their choice. When they chose correctly, they received a treat. John Bohannon at Science offers more details: [R]esearchers had 16 pigeons do all their learning once per day in a box with a computer screen without humans visible. Previously diagnosed histopathology slides from biopsies of breast tissue appeared on a computer touchscreen along with a yellow and a blue button. If the birds correctly identified cancer, they were automatically rewarded by the computer with a food pellet. If they were wrong, they got nothing. The computer not only randomized the order of images from benign or malignant tissue, but also whether yellow or blue signified “cancer” for any particular bird, to make sure the color itself didn’t introduce bias. And to ensure they weren’t just memorizing the slides, the birds were challenged with images of the same tissue with different magnifications and color. The pigeons didn’t do very well at first, making correct identifications roughly 50% of the time. But after two weeks of regular training, they were able to correctly identify benign or malignant tissue 85% of the time. That was just for individual pigeons. Next the researchers used a technique called “flock sourcing,” whereby the pigeons were grouped together and required to “vote” on their answers. The teamwork paid off: the pigeon pathologists upped their accuracy to an impressive 99%, comparable to trained humans. Why pigeons? It seems our feathered friends share similar properties of the visual system with us, so they are useful models for, say, helping toimprove medical imaging technology. Besides, “They are workaholics,” Wasserman told Discover’s D-Brief. “They work for peanuts. Well, not really, because peanuts are too big.” You probably won’t find pigeons replacing hospital pathologists the next time you go in for a mammogram, however. Like their human counterparts, the birds struggled to correctly identify images with differences in color and compression. And a human pathologist is able to make contextual decisions in a way even a flock of pigeons cannot. We could one day see a pigeon-based artificial neural network, however, capable of diagnosing these kinds of medical images. Advertisement References: Levenson, R.M. et al. (2015) “Pigons (columba livia) as trainable observers of pathology and radiology breast cancer images,” PLOS One 10(11): e0141357. Advertisement Sponsored Watanabe, S. et al. (1995) “Pigeons’ Discrimination of Paintings by Monet and Picasso,” Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, vol. 63, 1995, pp. 165-174. [Via Improbable Research] Advertisement ||||| Pathologists and radiologists spend years acquiring and refining their medically essential visual skills, so it is of considerable interest to understand how this process actually unfolds and what image features and properties are critical for accurate diagnostic performance. Key insights into human behavioral tasks can often be obtained by using appropriate animal models. We report here that pigeons (Columba livia)—which share many visual system properties with humans—can serve as promising surrogate observers of medical images, a capability not previously documented. The birds proved to have a remarkable ability to distinguish benign from malignant human breast histopathology after training with differential food reinforcement; even more importantly, the pigeons were able to generalize what they had learned when confronted with novel image sets. The birds’ histological accuracy, like that of humans, was modestly affected by the presence or absence of color as well as by degrees of image compression, but these impacts could be ameliorated with further training. Turning to radiology, the birds proved to be similarly capable of detecting cancer-relevant microcalcifications on mammogram images. However, when given a different (and for humans quite difficult) task—namely, classification of suspicious mammographic densities (masses)—the pigeons proved to be capable only of image memorization and were unable to successfully generalize when shown novel examples. The birds’ successes and difficulties suggest that pigeons are well-suited to help us better understand human medical image perception, and may also prove useful in performance assessment and development of medical imaging hardware, image processing, and image analysis tools. Copyright: © 2015 Levenson et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License , which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited Introduction Pathologists and radiologists are confronted daily with perceptual challenges in the medical imaging domain. These individuals, even after years of education and training, may sometimes struggle to arrive at correct disease or risk classifications using the visual cues present on microscope slides or medical images (e.g., x-rays). There is considerable room for enhancing medical image perception and interpretation; this can occur not only via additional visual and verbal training [1–3], but also through ever-improving image acquisition technology, image processing and display. However, such innovations in medical imaging must be validated—using trained observers—in order to monitor quality and reliability. This process, while necessary, can be difficult, time-consuming and expensive. Automated computer-aided substitutes are available, but may fail to faithfully reflect human performance in many cases [4–6]. We describe here a potential alternative approach. Research over the past 50 years has revealed that pigeons can be prodigious discriminators of complex visual stimuli, and are able to detect or discriminate: foreground from background [7]; misshapen pharmaceutical capsules [8]; letters of the alphabet [9]; basic object categories such as cats, flowers, cars, and chairs [10]; identities and emotional expressions of human faces [11]; and even paintings by Monet vs. Picasso [12], among many other impressive feats. Pigeons’ visual memory is also outstanding, as they can recall more than 1,800 images [13]. Importantly, pigeons have demonstrated an ability to generalize their discrimination performance to novel objects or scenes. We are still a long way from knowing precisely how pigeons so successfully differentiate such complex and varied visual stimuli, but color, size, shape, texture, and configural cues all seem to participate [14–16]. Importantly, however, the anatomical (neural) pathways that are involved, including basal ganglia and pallial-striatal (cortical-striatal in mammals) synapses, appear to be functionally equivalent to those in humans [11]. Given the well-documented visual skills of pigeons, it seemed to us possible that they might also be trained to accurately distinguish medical images of clinical significance. We expected that, entirely without verbal instructions, operant conditioning procedures alone could prove sufficient for teaching the birds the intricate visual discrimination skills associated with diagnosing medically relevant images. The basic similarities between vision-system properties of humans and pigeons also suggested that, if pigeons were confronted with pathology and radiology study sets of increasing difficulty, then their task accuracy would track that achievable by domain-expert human observers. In these initial studies, we sought answers to four questions. First, could discrimination between benign and malignant pathology and radiology images be taught to pigeons—entirely without the benefit of verbal instructions generally provided to human observers? Second, could pigeons go beyond mere memorization and demonstrate generalization (i.e., perform accurately when confronted with related but novel stimuli)? Third, how would pigeons perform when given image discrimination tasks that are extremely difficult even for skilled human observers? And fourth, if the birds were successful, then could such skills have any practical utility? We provided food reinforcement to pigeon subjects, maintained just below their free-feeding weight, for correctly discriminating—via two distinctively colored response buttons—images of benign or malignant pathology specimens. Initial experiments focused on conventionally stained and digitally scanned breast pathology slides, starting with low (4×) and extending to medium (10×) and high (20×) levels of magnification. The pigeons’ successful mastery of these tasks encouraged us to investigate their ability to detect diagnostically important microcalcifications in mammograms (a challenging, yet tractable task) [17], and also to attempt a much more difficult task, namely to classify benign and malignant breast masses. Correctly identifying these challenging target masses is difficult even for trained radiologists [18]; and, in fact, it proved to lie at the limits of pigeons’ capabilities. Although pigeons are unlikely to be called upon to offer clinical diagnostic support, it does seem quite possible that their discriminative abilities may be turned to a useful purpose. The need for image quality assessment is a practical one that arises in both pathology and radiology domains. Even though pathologists still largely use optical microscopes for their clinical work, with the recent advent of digital pathology, diagnoses are increasingly being rendered directly from a computer screen rather than through a microscope [19–21]. Image acquisition and digital display technologies—and the accompanying software—are continuously being updated; each technical iteration must be scrutinized to determine the merits and drawbacks of new vs. existing techniques [22]. Such evaluations often require elaborate study designs and, crucially, the participation of one or more skilled observers [23]. However, finding available and affordable clinicians can be difficult at best [24]. This process is similar to what is done in evaluating medical image quality with model or mathematical (so-called “ideal”) observers. The purpose of these software-based tools is not to replicate human performance per se, but to help predict, for example, which manipulations of image quality (e.g., color fidelity or compression level) will impact human performance. However, such mathematical models address only narrow sets of questions, are hard to adapt quickly to new problems, and require their own validation vis a vis human performance [4–6]. Our research suggests that avian observers might be able to deliver relevant assessments of image diagnostic content and quality, as their performance is reproducible and can easily and quantitatively be tracked by modern conditioning techniques. |||||

– Human radiologists, look out. Pigeons turn out to be expert mammogram readers after very little training, at least according to a study published this week in PLoS ONE. Using 16 pigeons in a chamber with a touchscreen, scientists trained them to peck at one of two colored buttons to correspond with the type of image they were being shown; if they got it right, they got food. It turns out that those beady little eyes picked up patterns showing malignant versus benign breast tissue very well and very fast. At first, as they were trained for what to spot, they were right 50% of the time. "In some sense, the pigeon and the person are starting at the same place," says one researcher, experimental psychologist Edward Wasserman. "They're equally naive." But a mere two weeks into the experiment the pigeons were identifying the images correctly 85% of the time, reports the Washington Post. What's more, the birds were able to take what they'd learned from the first, familiar set of slides and apply it to new images they'd never seen before, boasting a success rate that was just a few percentage points lower. And they performed even better as a flock than individually—with a success rate maxing out at 99% when required to "vote" as a group, reports Gizmodo. It's more likely that robots, not pigeons, will be the ones to take the place of humans someday. But Wasserman hopes pigeons will be taken more seriously and studied more closely. "The pigeon has kind of a bum rap," he says. "Humans are not the only intelligent animals walking and swimming and flying on Earth." It's also helpful, he tells Discover, that they're "workaholics." (Pigeons have a biological GPS.)

NEW YORK (AP) — Gov. Andrew Cuomo is creating a task force to conduct investigations into nail salons around New York, following a report of widespread exploitation of workers. The New York Times ( http://nyti.ms/1zVy99x ) reported Monday that Cuomo says he will not stand by as workers are deprived of wages. A two-part investigative series in the Times found nail salon workers were forced to toil long hours amid toxic chemicals performing manicures and pedicures for little wages. The Times stories also reported many workers suffered serious health problems and there was little, if any, protection for them. Cuomo says the plans are taking shape after the reports last week. He says salons will be required to post signs in a half-dozen languages that inform works of their rights. ___ Information from: The New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com ||||| Since its founding, the panel has reviewed only a small fraction of the substances in use in cosmetics today. Among them were dibutyl phthalate and toluene; the panel determined that they are safe the way they are used in nail products — on nails, not skin. Advertisement Continue reading the main story “It’s a classic case of the fox guarding the henhouse,” says Janet Nudelman, the director of program and policy at the Breast Cancer Fund, which has argued for more stringent regulation. “You’ve got an industry-funded review panel that’s assessing the safety for the very industry that’s funding the review panel.” There have been efforts in recent years to overhaul the 1938 law and more strictly regulate cosmetic chemicals, but none made headway in the face of industry resistance. Since 2013, the products council, just one of several industry trade groups, has poured nearly $2 million on its own into lobbying Congress. After talks between the cosmetics industry and the F.D.A. broke down last year, Michael R. Taylor, the agency’s deputy commissioner for foods and veterinary medicine, rebuked the industry in an unusual open letter for pushing a measure that would have declared a wide range of potentially dangerous chemicals safe “without a credible scientific basis” and others safe that are known to pose “real and substantial risks to consumers.” Ms. Powers said the letter mischaracterized the industry’s stance. “The law was created or passed in 1938,” she said. “Nobody is saying that we shouldn’t look at that now and say: ‘Is it a contemporary approach? Does it need to bring us into the 21st century?’ We all agree to that. But that doesn’t make for a sexy headline.” The council, in fact, said it supported a bipartisan bill introduced in April by Senators Dianne Feinstein, Democrat of California, and Susan Collins, Republican of Maine, that would broaden F.D.A. oversight of cosmetics, including giving the agency recall ability. But some health advocates said the bill would continue to permit the industry to largely regulate itself; it would also pre-empt states’ abilities to create stronger rules. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is the federal agency that sets chemical exposure limits in workplaces. The studies that have examined the chemical exposure levels for manicurists have found them to be well below these standards. Health advocates say the safety administration’s standards are badly out of date and flawed. Even Dr. Michaels, the head of the safety administration, said his agency’s standards needed revision. Currently, he said, workers “can be exposed to levels that are legal according to OSHA but are still dangerous.” Advertisement Continue reading the main story The agency makes illustrated pamphlets warning manicurists about the chemical hazards they face and urges them to wear gloves and ventilate their shops. These steps and others become mandatory when exposure limits are exceeded. But in practical terms, with the standards set so high, salons are free to do nothing. Dr. Michaels said the agency was hamstrung by its own cumbersome rule-making process. “Every worker has the right to come home safely at the end of every day,” Dr. Michaels said. “They shouldn’t be coming home and getting sick.” The debate over the chemicals has also unfolded at the state level. In 2005, lawmakers in California proposed banning DBP from cosmetic products sold or manufactured in the state. Industry lobbyists flooded the State Capitol (some bearing gift baskets of lipstick and nail polish), spending over a half-million dollars fighting the ban, according to state records. Some of the country’s best-known cosmetics companies — Estée Lauder, Mary Kay and OPI, among others — weighed in against it. The bill ultimately failed. A much more limited measure passed — over the industry’s objections — that required cosmetics companies to disclose certain hazardous chemicals to the California Department of Public Health. Blocked by an industry with deep pockets, the California advocates say they had to scale back their goals. They introduced a grass-roots program that officially recognizes “healthy nail salons,” those that carry “greener” products and that ventilate. The New York City Council held a hearing this month on a measure that would establish a similar voluntary program. Today, out of several thousand salons in California, however, there are just 55 salons in the program. One of them is Lulu Nail Spa, a tiny salon with a dusky rose wall and white-leather pedicure chairs in Burlingame, Calif. The shop earned the designation in May by switching certain products, using gloves and opening the doors to sweep out fumes. The owner, Hai Thi Le, a Vietnamese immigrant, said she hoped the new decal she placed on her window would draw green-minded customers. But she did not make the changes just for business. As a young woman working in her brother’s nail shop, Ms. Le said she breathed in so much acrylic powder that when she kissed her husband after work, he complained her breath smelled of solvent and plastic dust. Standing in the Breeze On her days off from the salon in Ridgewood, Queens, Nancy Otavalo ran for a time an ad hoc day care center at her home a few blocks away with her sister, another manicurist. The sisters would pick up salon workers’ children after school for a fee, entertaining them in the basement apartment the sisters shared with their families. Advertisement Continue reading the main story Matthew, her colleague’s son who can barely speak, got special treatment, spending time curled on the gleaming black leather couch — bought with tips — that is the centerpiece of her home. After Ms. Otavalo miscarried last year, she lay for hours on the same black leather couch, in silence, the lights darkened, unable to summon the willpower to get up. A week after a procedure to remove the fetus at Woodhull Medical Center in Brooklyn, she rose, put on the lavish makeup her sister says makes her feel confident and went back to work at her manicure table. Clients who stopped by for their weekly manicures knew nothing about what happened; everything appeared the same. Except every so often, after Ms. Otavalo had painted the last stroke of top coat on a customer’s hand, she scraped back her chair and walked to the front of the shop. She pulled open the salon’s glass door to stand in the breeze for a while. |||||

– A New York Times exposé by Sarah Maslin Nir about the exploitation of nail salon workers has caught the attention of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who announced he's putting emergency measures into place to go after wage theft and health hazards in the industry, the AP reports. In a statement cited by the Times, Cuomo said he's setting up a task force, effective immediately, to check salons individually, come up with mandates to protect workers from possibly dangerous chemicals wafting around their salons, and conduct a six-language educational campaign to let workers know this kind of debasement isn't OK. "We will not stand idly by as workers are deprived of their hard-earned wages and robbed of their most basic rights," Cuomo said in the statement. Several government agencies, including the Health Department, were spurred into action last week after the two-part Times article ran. Rules going into effect ASAP include publicly posted signage (in different languages) in salons listing workers' rights, a requirement that manicurists wear gloves and masks, and a mandate that all salons are bonded so employees can recoup wages if it's found they've been denied rightful earnings, per the Times. Cuomo's office says the task force agencies won't probe workers' immigration status. Creating the emergency plan allowed Cuomo to skirt red tape. "The article highlighted a significant problem in New York State," the governor's general counsel tells the Times. “We cannot wait to address the problem." (What could help protect workers: more "green" salons.)

A San Diego man has been banned from flying on Alaska Airlines after an allegation that he harassed a flight attendant — an accusation he said is unfounded and is “reverse discrimination against men.” Mike Timon, 53, said he is accused of touching the flight attendant’s buttocks while in first-class during an evening flight from Portland to San Diego on Dec. 26. Timon denies the claim, and said he touched the woman “politely” on her back — not her buttocks — to get her attention and order a drink. Instead of a drink, Timon said he was accused of misbehavior and met by police at the end of the flight. Timon reached out to the San Diego Union-Tribune the following day. “For me to be accused of this, and for me to be escorted off the plane by police? This is it. I’m blowing up... It’s unnecessary. It’s discrimination toward me,” Timon said. The incident comes amid a national reckoning over sexual harassment, as claims of assault or misconduct have brought down powerful men in politics, media and entertainment, and sparked the #MeToo movement where women disclose their own experiences. Alaska Airlines spokeswoman Ann Johnson declined to discuss specifics of the Dec. 26 incident, citing an open investigation. But she did say in a statement issued Thursday that Alaska “will not be providing further transport to the offending passenger,” pending the investigation outcome. “Alaska Airlines will not tolerate any type of sexual misconduct that creates an unsafe environment for our guests and crew members and we are fully committed to do our part to address this serious issue,” she said. Johnson said Alaska is working to develop and update policies and training “to ensure that crew members have the tools they need to prevent, identify and address sexual harassment on board, and will have more to say about what that looks like later this winter.” Alaska has been in the news following incidents of alleged harassment. In fall 2016, a man was removed from an Alaska flight after he catcalled a flight attendant demonstrating how to put on a safety vest. As he was taken from the plane, he protested that he “didn’t do anything wrong.” A passenger detailed the incident on her Facebook page, and wrote: “It was everything we could do to keep from applauding as he was led away.” And last month, former Facebook executive Randi Zuckerberg made headlines after she posted on Facebook a description of sexual harassment against her by a fellow passenger on an Alaska fight, and said flight attendants offered to move her — not the harasser. She later updated it to thank Alaska executives for taking her complaints seriously. In early December, Sara Nelsen, president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, which represents 42,000 flight attendants from 19 airlines, wrote an opinion piece for the Washington Post in which she said flight attendants, already long objectified, remain “ongoing victims of sexual harassment and sexual assault.” “Even today, we are called pet names, patted on the rear when a passenger wants our attention, cornered in the back galley and asked about our ‘hottest’ layover, and subjected to incidents not fit for print,” she wrote. On its website, the union applauded recent efforts from Alaska (and also United Airlines) “to help end sexual harassment.” The Harbor Police Department confirmed that its officers took statements from Timon and others. No arrests were made and no one requested that charges be filed. The Union-Tribune was unable to verify exactly what the flight attendant said Timon did to her, or to verify his side of the story. The paper was also unable to find social media postings from other passengers describing the incident. Timon, who said he is a frequent first-class flier, said that after he touched the flight attendant and requested a drink, none came. He said he later pressed his call button, and a male flight attendant came by and told him he’d had been cut off from alcohol, that he’d assaulted the flight attendant and that police would be waiting for him in San Diego. The longtime owner of a company that bought and sold medical equipment said he’d had one drink, was not unruly and was “100 percent sober” at the time of the encounter. “What about us guys?” Timon said. “I can’t tap a flight attendant on her back to politely ask for something, yet I get accused of something? It’s out of control and I am pissed.” Timon — who said he was embarrassed in front of other passengers — said he has contacted an attorney to consider bringing legal action. That attorney did not respond to a request for comment this week. [email protected] (760) 529-4945 Twitter: @TeriFigueroaUT ||||| FILE - In this Tuesday, March 24, 2015 file photo, an Alaska Airlines jet takes off at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in SeaTac, Wash. A San Diego man banned from Alaska Airlines for touching a... (Associated Press) FILE - In this Tuesday, March 24, 2015 file photo, an Alaska Airlines jet takes off at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in SeaTac, Wash. A San Diego man banned from Alaska Airlines for touching a flight attendant says he's a victim of discrimination against men. Mike Timon tells the San Diego Union-Tribune... (Associated Press) FILE - In this Tuesday, March 24, 2015 file photo, an Alaska Airlines jet takes off at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in SeaTac, Wash. A San Diego man banned from Alaska Airlines for touching a flight attendant says he's a victim of discrimination against men. Mike Timon tells the San Diego Union-Tribune... (Associated Press) FILE - In this Tuesday, March 24, 2015 file photo, an Alaska Airlines jet takes off at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in SeaTac, Wash. A San Diego man banned from Alaska Airlines for touching a... (Associated Press) SAN DIEGO (AP) — A San Diego man banned from Alaska Airlines for touching a flight attendant says he's a victim of discrimination against men. Mike Timon, angry over his treatment by the airline, called the San Diego Union-Tribune and told the newspaper in a story published last week that he was banned for touching the female flight attendant on the buttocks as he sat in first class on a flight from Oregon to San Diego on Dec. 26. Timon said he touched the woman politely on her back to get her attention so he could order a drink. He said his gesture was misunderstood as sexual harassment, and he was met by police who escorted him off the plane. Police took statements from Timon and others but no further action. "For me to be accused of this, and for me to be escorted off the plane by police? This is it. I'm blowing up," Timon said. "It's unnecessary. It's discrimination toward me." Alaska spokeswoman Ann Johnson confirmed that Timon cannot fly on the airline pending the outcome of an investigation but said she could not provide specifics about his case. "Alaska Airlines will not tolerate any type of sexual misconduct that creates an unsafe environment for our guests and crew members and we are fully committed to do our part to address this serious issue," Johnson said. Timon, who owns a medical equipment company and frequently flies first class, said that when no drink came, he pressed his call button, and a male flight attendant came to say he had been cut off. Timon said he had only had a single drink and was sober. Timon said widespread concern over sexual harassment has hurt men like him. "What about us guys?" Timon said. "I can't tap a flight attendant on her back to politely ask for something, yet I get accused of something? It's out of control and I am pissed." |||||

– A San Diego man banned from Alaska Airlines for touching a flight attendant says he's a victim of discrimination against men. Mike Timon, angry over his treatment by the airline, tells the San Diego Union-Tribune that he was banned for touching the female flight attendant on the buttocks as he sat in first class on a flight from Oregon to San Diego on Dec. 26. Timon says he touched the woman politely on her back to get her attention so he could order a drink. Timon, who owns a medical equipment company and frequently flies first class, said that when no drink came, he pressed his call button, and a male flight attendant came to say he had been cut off. Timon said he had only had a single drink and was sober. He says his gesture was misunderstood as sexual harassment, and he was met by police who escorted him off the plane. Police took statements from Timon and others but there was no further action. "For me to be accused of this, and for me to be escorted off the plane by police? This is it. I'm blowing up," Timon says. "It's unnecessary. It's discrimination toward me." He says widespread concern over sexual harassment has hurt men like him. "It's out of control and I am pissed," he says. Alaska spokeswoman Ann Johnson confirmed that Timon cannot fly on the airline pending the outcome of an investigation but said she could not provide specifics about his case, the AP reports. "Alaska Airlines will not tolerate any type of sexual misconduct that creates an unsafe environment for our guests and crew members and we are fully committed to do our part to address this serious issue," Johnson said.

Children working on tobacco farms in the United States are exposed to nicotine, toxic pesticides, and other dangers, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. While US law prohibits the sale of tobacco products to children, children can legally work on tobacco farms in the US. The world’s largest tobacco companies buy tobacco grown on US farms, but none have child labor policies that sufficiently protect children from hazardous work. The 138-page report, “Tobacco’s Hidden Children: Hazardous Child Labor in US Tobacco Farming,” documents conditions for children working on tobacco farms in four states where 90 percent of US tobacco is grown: North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia. Children reported vomiting, nausea, headaches, and dizziness while working on tobacco farms, all symptoms consistent with acute nicotine poisoning. Many also said they worked long hours without overtime pay, often in extreme heat without shade or sufficient breaks, and wore no, or inadequate, protective gear. “As the school year ends, children are heading into the tobacco fields, where they can’t avoid being exposed to dangerous nicotine, without smoking a single cigarette” said Margaret Wurth, children’s rights researcher at Human Rights Watch and co-author of the report. “It’s no surprise the children exposed to poisons in the tobacco fields are getting sick.” The report is based on interviews with 141 child tobacco workers, ages seven to 17 (view infographic). Children working in tobacco farming face other serious risks as well, Human Rights Watch said. They may use dangerous tools and machinery, lift heavy loads, and climb several stories without protection to hang tobacco in barns. Children also reported that tractors sprayed pesticides in nearby fields. They said the spray drifted over them, making them vomit, feel dizzy, and have difficulty breathing and a burning sensation in their eyes. Many of the pesticides used in tobacco production are known neurotoxins, poisons that alter the nervous system. The long-term effects of childhood pesticide exposure can include cancer, problems with learning and cognition, and reproductive health issues.Children are especially vulnerable because their bodies and brains are still developing.Human Rights Watch sent letters to 10 US and global tobacco companies and met with many of them to encourage these companies to adopt policies, or strengthen existing policies, to prevent hazardous child labor in their supply chains. “Tobacco companies shouldn’t benefit from hazardous child labor,” Wurth said. “They have a responsibility to adopt clear, comprehensive policies that get children out of dangerous work on tobacco farms, and make sure the farms follow the rules.” Health Hazards for Children Several hundred thousand children work in US agriculture every year, but no data is available on the number working in tobacco farming. Many children interviewed by Human Rights Watch described going to work on tobacco farms at age 11 or 12, primarily during the summer, to help support their families. Most were the children of Hispanic immigrants who lived in communities where tobacco was grown and who attended school full-time. Children Human Rights Watch interviewed described feeling suddenly, acutely ill while working on tobacco farms. “It happens when you’re out in the sun,” said a16-year-old girl in Kentucky. “You want to throw up. And you drink water because you’re so thirsty, but the water makes you feel worse. You throw up right there when you’re cutting [tobacco plants], but you just keep cutting.” A 12-year-old boy in North Carolina described a headache he had while working:“It was horrible. It felt like there was something in my head trying to eat it.” Acute nicotine poisoning – often called Green Tobacco Sickness – occurs when workers absorb nicotine through their skin while handling tobacco plants, particularly when plants are wet. Common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, headaches, and dizziness. Though the long-term effects are uncertain, some research suggests that nicotine exposure during adolescence may have consequences for brain development. Several children told Human Rights Watch that they had been injured while working with sharp tools and heavy machinery. In Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia, children often hand-harvest tall tobacco plants by cutting them with small axes and spearing the stalks onto long sticks with pointed ends. The children said they often cut or puncture themselves on the hands, arms, legs, and feet. A 16-year-old boy described an accident while harvesting tobacco in Tennessee: “I cut myself with the hatchet.… I probably hit a vein or something because it wouldn’t stop bleeding and I had to go to the hospital…. My foot was all covered in blood.” One 17-year-old boy interviewed by Human Rights Watch lost two fingers in an accident with a mower used to trim small tobacco plants.Almost none of the children Human Rights Watch interviewed said that employers had given them health and safety training or protective gear. Instead, children typically covered themselves with black plastic garbage bags in an attempt to keep their clothes dry when they worked in fields wet with dew or rain. Federal data on fatal occupational injuries indicates that agriculture is the most dangerous industry open to young workers. In 2012, two-thirds of children under 18 who died from occupational injuries were agricultural workers, and there were more than 1,800 nonfatal injuries to children under 18 working on US farms.Most children interviewed by Human Rights Watch said they had no access to toilets or a place to wash their hands at their worksites, leaving them with tobacco and pesticides residue on their hands, even during mealtimes. Lack of Protection Under US Law Under US labor law, children working in agriculture can work longer hours, at younger ages, and in more hazardous conditions than children in any other industry. Children as young as 12 can be hired for unlimited hours outside of school hours on a farm of any size with parental permission, and there is no minimum age for children to work on small farms. At 16, child farmworkers can do jobs deemed hazardous by the US Department of Labor. Children in all other sectors must be 18 to do hazardous work.Regulations proposed by the Labor Department in 2011 would have prohibited children under 16 from working on tobacco farms, but they were withdrawn in 2012. “The US has failed America’s families by not meaningfully protecting child farmworkers from dangers to their health and safety, including on tobacco farms,”Wurth said. “The Obama administration should endorse regulations that make it clear that work on tobacco farms is hazardous for children, and Congress should enact laws to give child farmworkers the same protections as all other working children.” Role of Tobacco Companies Human Rights Watch presented its findings and recommendations to 10 companies that purchase tobacco grown in the United States, including eight cigarette manufacturing companies: Altria Group (parent of Philip Morris USA), British American Tobacco, China National Tobacco, Imperial Tobacco Group, Japan Tobacco Group, Lorillard, Philip Morris International, Reynolds American, and two international leaf merchants who purchase tobacco leaf and sell to manufacturers: Alliance One and Universal Corporation. All of the companies except China National Tobacco responded and said they are concerned about child labor in their supply chains. However, the companies’ approaches do not sufficiently protect children from hazardous work, Human Rights Watch said. In some cases, companies allow for lower standards of protection for children in their US supply chain than for children working on tobacco farms in all other countries from which they purchase tobacco. Philip Morris International has the most comprehensive global child labor policy among the companies contacted. Since 2010, Philip Morris International has sought to carry out the policy through training and monitoring in its supply chain worldwide. In 2009, Human Rights Watch documented abuses on farms supplying tobacco to a Philip Morris International subsidiary in Kazakhstan. Human Rights Watch urged companies to prohibit children from engaging in all tasks that pose risks to their health and safety, including any work involving direct contact with tobacco plants or dry tobacco, due to the risk of nicotine exposure. Companies should also establish effective internal and third-party monitoring of labor policies.“Farming is hard work anyway, but children working on tobacco farms get so sick that they throw up, get covered by pesticides, and have no real protective gear,”Wurth said. “Tobacco companies should get children out of hazardous work on tobacco farms and support efforts to provide them with alternative educational and vocational opportunities.” ||||| Summary The hardest of all the crops we’ve worked in is tobacco. You get tired. It takes the energy out of you. You get sick, but then you have to go right back to the tobacco the next day. —Dario A., 16-year-old tobacco worker in Kentucky, September 2013 I would barely eat anything because I wouldn’t get hungry. …Sometimes I felt like I needed to throw up. …I felt like I was going to faint. I would stop and just hold myself up with the tobacco plant. —Elena G., 13-year-old tobacco worker in North Carolina, May 2013 Children working on tobacco farms in the United States are exposed to nicotine, toxic pesticides, and other dangers. Child tobacco workers often labor 50 or 60 hours a week in extreme heat, use dangerous tools and machinery, lift heavy loads, and climb into the rafters of barns several stories tall, risking serious injuries and falls. The tobacco grown on US farms is purchased by the largest tobacco companies in the world. Ninety percent of tobacco grown in the US is cultivated in four states: North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia. Between May and October 2013, Human Rights Watch interviewed 141 child tobacco workers, ages 7 to 17, who worked in these states in 2012 or 2013. Nearly three-quarters of the children interviewed by Human Rights Watch reported the sudden onset of serious symptoms—including nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, headaches, dizziness, skin rashes, difficulty breathing, and irritation to their eyes and mouths—while working in fields of tobacco plants and in barns with dried tobacco leaves and tobacco dust. Many of these symptoms are consistent with acute nicotine poisoning. Based on our findings set out in this report, Human Rights Watch believes that no child under age 18 should be permitted to perform work in which they come into direct contact with tobacco in any form, including plants of any size or dried tobacco leaves, due to the inherent health risks posed by nicotine and the pesticides applied to the crop. The US government, US Congress, and tobacco manufacturing and tobacco leaf supply companies should all take urgent steps to progressively remove children from such tasks in tobacco farming. In the US, it is illegal for children under 18 to buy cigarettes or other tobacco products. However, US law fails to recognize the risks to children of working in tobacco farming. It also does not provide the same protections to children working in agriculture as it does to children working in all other sectors. In agriculture, children as young as 12 can legally work for hire for unlimited hours outside of school on a tobacco farm of any size with parental permission, and employers may hire children younger than 12 to work on small farms with written parental consent. Outside of agriculture, the employment of children under 14 is prohibited, and even 14 and 15-year-olds can only work in certain jobs for a limited number of hours each day. Tobacco farmed in the US enters the supply chains of at least eight major manufacturers of tobacco products who either purchase tobacco through direct contracts with tobacco growers or through tobacco leaf supply companies. These include Altria Group, British American Tobacco, China National Tobacco, Imperial Tobacco Group, Japan Tobacco Group, Lorillard, Philip Morris International, and Reynolds American. Some of these companies manufacture the most popular brands of cigarettes sold in the US, including Marlboro, Newport, Camel, and Pall Mall. All companies that purchase tobacco in the US directly or indirectly have responsibilities to ensure protection of children from hazardous labor, including on tobacco farms, in their supply chains in the US and globally. Child tobacco workers interviewed by Human Rights Watch for this report typically described beginning to work on tobacco farms at age 13, often together with their parents and older siblings. Only very few worked on family farms. The children we interviewed were mostly the sons and daughters of Hispanic immigrants, though they themselves were frequently US citizens. Regardless of employment or immigration status, the children described working in tobacco to help support their families’ basic needs or to buy essential items such as clothing, shoes, and school supplies. For example, 15-year-old Grace S. told Human Rights Watch why she decided to start working in tobacco farming in North Carolina: “I just wanted to help out my mom, help her with the money.” Most children interviewed by Human Rights Watch were seasonal workers who resided in states where tobacco was grown and worked on farms near their homes or in neighboring areas, primarily or exclusively during the summer months when tobacco is cultivated. We also spoke to several children who migrated to and within the United States by themselves or with their families to work in tobacco and other crops. There is no comprehensive estimate of the number of child farmworkers in the US. Tobacco is a labor-intensive crop, and the children interviewed described participating in a range of tasks, including: planting seedlings, weeding, “topping” tobacco to remove flowers, removing nuisance leaves (called “suckers”), applying pesticides, harvesting tobacco leaves by hand or with machines, cutting tobacco plants with “tobacco knives” and loading them onto wooden sticks with sharp metal points, lifting sticks with several tobacco plants, hanging up and taking down sticks with tobacco plants in curing barns, and stripping and sorting dried tobacco leaves. Health and Safety Risks in Tobacco Farming Children interviewed by Human Rights Watch in North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia frequently described feeling seriously, acutely sick, while working in tobacco farming. For example, Carla P., 16, works for hire on tobacco farms in Kentucky with her parents and her younger sister. She told Human Rights Watch she got sick while pulling the tops off tobacco plants: “I didn’t feel well, but I still kept working. I started throwing up. I was throwing up for like 10 minutes, just what I ate. I took a break for a few hours, and then I went back to work.” Emilio R., a 16-year-old seasonal worker in eastern North Carolina, who plans to study to be an engineer, said he had headaches that sometimes lasted up to two days while working in tobacco: “With the headaches, it was hard to do anything at all. I didn’t want to move my head.” Many of the symptoms reported by child tobacco workers are consistent with acute nicotine poisoning, known as Green Tobacco Sickness, an occupational health risk specific to tobacco farming that occurs when workers absorb nicotine through their skin while having prolonged contact with tobacco plants. Public health research has found dizziness, headaches, nausea, and vomiting are the most common symptoms of acute nicotine poisoning. Though the long-term effects of nicotine absorption through the skin are unknown, public health research on smoking indicates that nicotine exposure during adolescence may have long-term adverse consequences for brain development. Public health research indicates that non-smoking adult tobacco workers have similar levels of nicotine in their bodies as smokers in the general population. In addition, many children told Human Rights Watch that they saw tractors spraying pesticides in the fields in which they were working or in adjacent fields. They often described being able to smell or feel the chemical spray as it drifted over them, and reported burning eyes, burning noses, itchy skin, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, shortness of breath, redness and swelling of their mouths, and headache after coming into contact with pesticides. Yanamaria W., 14, who worked on tobacco farms in central Kentucky in 2013 with her parents and 13-year-old brother, told Human Rights Watch, “I was in the field when they started spraying…. I can stand the heat for a long time, but when they spray, then I start to feel woozy and tired. Sometimes it looks like everything is spinning.” While pesticide exposure is harmful for farmworkers of all ages, children are uniquely vulnerable to the adverse effects of toxic exposures as their bodies are still developing, and they consume more water and food, and breathe more air, pound for pound, than adults. Tobacco production involves application of a range of chemicals at different stages in the growth process, and several pesticides commonly used during tobacco farming are known neurotoxins. According to public health experts and research, long-term and chronic health effects of pesticide exposure include respiratory problems, cancer, neurologic deficits, and reproductive health problems. Children also said that they used sharp tools, operated heavy machinery, and climbed to significant heights in barns while working on tobacco farms. Several children reported sustaining injuries, including cuts and puncture wounds, from working with tools. For example, Andrew N., 16, described an accident he had while harvesting tobacco in Tennessee two years earlier: “My first day, I cut myself [on the leg] with the hatchet. … I probably hit a vein or something because it wouldn’t stop bleeding and I had to go to the hospital. They stitched it. … My foot was all covered in blood.” Many children described straining their backs and taxing their muscles while lifting heavy loads and performing repetitive motions, including working bent over at the waist, twisting their wrists to top tobacco plants, crawling on hands and knees, or reaching above their heads for extended periods of time. Bridget F., 15, injured her back in 2013 while lifting sticks of harvested tobacco up to other workers in a barn in northeastern Kentucky: “I’m short, so I had to reach up, and I was reaching up and the tobacco plant bent over, and I went to catch it, and I twisted my back the wrong way.” According to public health research, the impacts of repetitive strain injuries may be long-lasting and result in chronic pain and arthritis. Federal data on fatal occupational injuries indicate that agriculture is the most dangerous industry open to young workers. In 2012, two-thirds of children under the age of 18 who died from occupational injuries were agricultural workers, and there were more than 1,800 nonfatal injuries to children under 18 working on US farms. Nearly all children interviewed by Human Rights Watch said that their employers did not provide health education, safety training, or personal protective equipment to help them minimize their exposure to nicotine from tobacco leaves or pesticides sprayed in the fields and on the plants. Children typically used gloves, which they or their parents bought, and large black plastic garbage bags, which they brought from home, to wear as protection from wet tobacco leaves and rain. The experience of Fabiana H., a 14-year-old tobacco worker in North Carolina, was typical among the children interviewed by Human Rights Watch: I wore plastic bags because our clothes got wet in the morning. … They put holes in the bags so our hands could go through them. It kept some of my clothes dry, but I still got wet. …Then the sun comes out and you feel suffocated in the bags. You want to take them off. Several children reported working in bare feet or socks when the mud in the fields was deep and they lacked appropriate footwear. Some children reported that, despite long days working outside in the heat, employers did not provide them with drinking water, and most said that they had limited or no access to toilets, hand-washing facilities, and shade. Working long hours in high temperatures can place children at risk of heat stroke and dehydration, particularly if they do not drink enough water, do not have access to shade, and are wearing extra clothes to protect themselves from sunburn and exposure to nicotine and pesticides. Excessively Long Hours, Wage Problems Most children interviewed by Human Rights Watch described working long hours, typically between 10 and 12 hours per day, and sometimes up to 16 hours. Most employers allowed children two or three breaks per day, while some children told Human Rights Watch that employers did not allow workers to take regular breaks, even when children felt sick or were working in high heat. Martin S., 18, told Human Rights Watch that his employer on a Kentucky farm where he worked in 2012 did not give them regular breaks during the work day: “We start at 6 a.m. and we leave at 6 p.m. …We only get one five-minute break each day. And a half hour for lunch. Sometimes less.” Many children told Human Rights Watch that some employers pressured them to work as quickly as possible. Some said that they chose to work long hours or up to six or seven days a week in order to maximize their earnings. In other cases employers demanded excessive working hours, particularly during the peak growing and harvest periods of the season. Children described utter exhaustion after working long hours on tobacco farms. Elan T., 15, and Madeline T., 16, worked together on a tobacco farm after migrating to North Carolina from Mexico with their mother and younger brother. They explained the fatigue they felt after working for 12 or 13 hours in tobacco fields: “Just exhaustion. You feel like you have no strength, like you can’t eat. I felt that way when we worked so much. Sometimes our arms and legs would ache.” Patrick W., 9, described similar feelings after working long hours with his father, a hired tobacco worker, in Tennessee in 2013. “I feel really exhausted,” he said. “I come in [to the house], I get my [clean] clothes, I take a shower, and then it’s usually dark, so I go to sleep.” Most children reported earning the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour for their work on tobacco farms, though some children were paid a fixed rate during certain parts of the season based on the quantity of tobacco they harvested or hung in barns. Some children reported problems with wages including earning less than minimum wage for hourly work, deductions by the contractor or grower for drinking water or for reasons that were not explained to them, or because of what they believed was inaccurate recording of hours by labor contractors. Impacts on Education Most children interviewed by Human Rights Watch attended school full time and worked in tobacco farming only during the summer months, after school, and on weekends. However, a few children who had migrated to the United States for work and had not settled in a specific community told Human Rights Watch that they did not enroll in school at all or enrolled in school but missed several months in order to perform agricultural work, including in tobacco farming. Some children stated that they occasionally missed school to work in times of financial hardship for their families. International Standards on Child Labor In recognition of the potential benefits of some forms of work, international law does not prohibit children from working. The International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Worst Forms of Child Labor Convention, which the US has ratified, obligates countries to prohibit certain types of work for children under age 18 as a matter of urgency, including work that is likely to jeopardize children’s physical or mental health, safety or morals (also known as hazardous labor). The ILO leaves it up to governments to determine which occupations are hazardous to children’s health. Several countries, including major tobacco producing countries such as Brazil and India, prohibit children under 18 from performing work in tobacco farming. Based on our field research, interviews with health professionals, and analysis of the public health literature, Human Rights Watch has concluded that no child under age 18 should be permitted to perform any tasks in which they will come into direct contact with tobacco plants of any size or dried tobacco leaves, due to the health risks posed by nicotine, the pesticides applied to the crop, and the particular health risks to children whose bodies and brains are still developing. The ILO Worst Forms of Child Labor Recommendation states that certain types of work in an unhealthy environment may be appropriate for children ages 16 and older “on the condition that the health, safety and morals of the children concerned are fully protected, and that the children have received adequate specific instruction or vocational training in the relevant branch of activity.” Because exposure to tobacco in any form is unsafe, Human Rights Watch has determined, based on our field investigations and other research, that as a practical matter there is no way for children under 18 to work safely on US tobacco farms when they have direct contact with tobacco plants of any size or dried tobacco leaves, even if wearing protective equipment. Though protective equipment may help mitigate exposure to nicotine and pesticide residues, rain suits and watertight gloves would not completely eliminate absorption of toxins through the skin and would greatly increase children’s risk of suffering heat-related illnesses. Such problems documented by Human Rights Watch in the US seem likely to extend to tobacco farms outside the United States. Child Labor and US Law US laws and policies fail to account for the unique hazards to children’s health and safety posed by coming into direct contact with tobacco plants of any size and dried tobacco leaves. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) prohibits children under the age of 16 from engaging in agricultural work that the US Secretary of Labor has identified as hazardous. However, the US Department of Labor’s (DOL) regulations on hazardous occupations do not include any restrictions for any children over age 12 to perform work that exposes them to contact with tobacco plants and tobacco leaves. In addition, US law regulating all child work in agriculture fails to adequately protect children in a sector determined by the ILO to be one of the most dangerous sectors open to children for work. US law permits children to work in agriculture at younger ages, for longer hours, and in more hazardous conditions than children working in all other sectors. Under US law, there is no minimum age for a child to begin working on a small farm with parental permission. At age 12, a child can work for any number of hours outside of school on a farm of any size with parental permission, and at age 14, a child can work on any farm without parental permission. In other sectors, in contrast, employment of children under age 14 is prohibited, and children ages 14 and 15 may work only in certain jobs and for limited hours outside of school. For example, a child working in a fast food restaurant may only work 18 hours a week when school is in session, while children working in agriculture may work 50 or more hours per week with no restrictions on how early or late they work, as long as it is not during school hours. At age 16, children working in agriculture can work in jobs deemed to be particularly hazardous, including operating certain heavy machinery or working at heights. However, all other working children must be 18 to perform hazardous work. For example, in agriculture, children under 16 can work at heights of up to 20 feet (over one story) without any fall protection, and 16 and 17-year-olds can work at any height without protection. By contrast, in construction, employers must ensure fall protections for any work taking place over six feet (two meters). Tobacco Product Manufacturers and Tobacco Leaf Companies Although the US government has the primary responsibility to respect, protect, and fulfill human rights under international law, private entities, including businesses, also have internationally recognized responsibilities regarding human rights, including workers’ rights and children’s rights. All businesses should have policies and procedures in place to ensure human rights are respected and not abused, to undertake adequate due diligence to identify and effectively mitigate human rights problems, and to adequately respond in cases where problems arise. In preparation of this report, Human Rights Watch sought to engage 10 companies that source tobacco from the states we visited. Eight of those companies manufacture tobacco products (Altria Group, British American Tobacco, China National Tobacco, Imperial Tobacco Group, Japan Tobacco Group, Lorillard, Philip Morris International, and Reynolds American), and two are leaf merchant companies (Alliance One International and Universal Corporation). Human Rights Watch sought to understand these companies’ policies concerning child labor and other labor rights in their supply chains, as well as mechanisms for implementing and monitoring these policies. Over the course of several months before the release of this report, Human Rights Watch sent letters to each of these companies detailing the preliminary findings of our research and recommendations and requesting meetings with company officials. Nine companies responded to Human Rights Watch and stated that they took steps to prohibit child labor in their supply chains. Only China National Tobacco did not respond to Human Rights Watch’s letter or repeated attempts to secure a meeting with company executives. All of the tobacco manufacturing companies and leaf supply merchants that replied to Human Rights Watch expressed concerns about child labor in their supply chain. Only a few of the companies have explicit child labor policies in place. The approaches to child labor in the supply chain varied from company to company, as detailed below. Human Rights Watch correspondence with these companies is included in an appendix to this report, available on the Human Rights Watch website. Of the companies approached by Human Rights Watch, Philip Morris International (PMI) has developed the most detailed and protective set of policies and procedures, including training and policy guidance on child labor and other labor issues which it is implementing in its global supply chain. PMI has also developed specific lists of hazardous tasks that children under 18 are prohibited from doing on tobacco farms, which include most tasks in which children come into prolonged contact with mature tobacco leaves, among other hazardous work. Several companies stated that in their US operations they required tobacco growers with whom they contract to comply with US law, including laws on child labor, which, as noted above, do not afford sufficient protections for children. These companies stated that their policies for tobacco purchasing in countries outside of the US were consistent with international law, including with regard to a minimum age of 15 for entry into work under the ILO Minimum Age Convention, with the exception of certain light work, and a prohibition on hazardous work for children under 18, unless national laws afford greater protections. However, most companies did not specify the tasks that they consider to constitute hazardous work. Under these standards, children working in tobacco farming can remain vulnerable to serious health hazards and risks associated with contact with tobacco plants and tobacco leaves. A number of companies stated that they had undertaken internal and third party monitoring of their supply chains to examine labor conditions, including the use of child labor, as defined within the scope of their existing policies. Recognition of Children’s Vulnerability and the Need for Decisive Action For the last decade, several members of the US Congress have repeatedly introduced draft legislation that would apply the same protections to children working in agriculture that already protect children working in all other industries. However, Congress has yet to enact legislation amending the Fair Labor Standards Act to better protect child farmworkers, and federal agencies have not made necessary regulatory changes to address the specific risks tobacco farming poses to children. In 2012, DOL withdrew proposed regulations that would have updated the decades-old list of hazardous occupations prohibited for children under age 16 working in agriculture. These regulations, had they been implemented, would have prohibited children under age 16 from working in tobacco. At this writing, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is accepting comments on long-awaited changes to the Worker Protection Standard, a set of safety regulations related to occupational pesticide exposure. It remains to be seen whether the revised regulations will include better protections for child workers. US laws and policies governing child labor in tobacco are inconsistent with or in violation of international conventions on the rights of children. The US government should acknowledge the particular health and safety risks posed to children exposed to tobacco plants and tobacco leaves, and take immediate action to end all hazardous child labor among children under age 18 on tobacco farms. It should also ensure that laws regulating child labor guarantee that the protections afforded to children working in other sectors, including those concerning working hours, work with sharp objects, machinery, heavy loads, and the like, apply to children working in agriculture as well. Companies should create child labor policies or amend existing policies to state explicitly that all work in which children come into contact with all tobacco plants and tobacco leaves is hazardous and prohibited for children under 18. Each company should establish effective internal and third-party monitoring of this policy and other relevant labor policies. Given that the international tobacco leaf purchasing markets, including that of the US, often involve third-party suppliers or multiple company contracts with individual growers, members of the industry should seek to formulate industry-wide policies prohibiting hazardous child labor on tobacco farms as well as effective monitoring mechanisms. Companies should also support efforts to provide viable alternatives to working in tobacco farming, including programs to provide children in tobacco communities with education and vocational training. Methodology This report is based on interviews with 141 children ages 7 to 17 who said they had worked in tobacco farming in the United States in 2012 or 2013. During multiple field research trips between May and October 2013, Human Rights Watch interviewed 80 children in North Carolina, 46 in Kentucky, 12 in Tennessee, and 3 in Virginia. Eight children worked for less than a full week on tobacco farms. A few of the very youngest children—4 out of 141—worked with their parents sporadically and without pay. The median age of the children we interviewed was 15; the median age at which they began working in tobacco was 13. All personal accounts reported here, unless otherwise noted, reflect experiences children had while they were working on tobacco farms in 2012 or 2013. Children interviewed were identified with the assistance of individuals and organizations providing legal, health, educational, and social services to farmworkers, farm labor contractors, and through outreach by Human Rights Watch researchers in farmworker communities. In addition, Human Rights Watch interviewed three young people ages 18 to 21 who had worked in tobacco as children, and seven parents of child tobacco workers. Human Rights Watch researchers also conducted interviews with 36 experts, including representatives of farmworker organizations, lawyers, social services providers, healthcare providers, and academic researchers in tobacco-growing regions in the US. In total, 187 people were interviewed for this report. To supplement formal interviews, researchers spoke with more than 50 outreach workers, educators, doctors, lawyers, tobacco growers, farm labor contractors, and representatives of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) across the US in person and on the telephone. We also spoke with more than 60 adult tobacco workers in the course of our research. Two Human Rights Watch researchers, one of whom is fluent in Spanish, conducted the interviews. Interviews were conducted in English or Spanish, at the interviewee’s preference. Most interviews were conducted individually, though some children were interviewed in small groups of two to five participants. No interviews were conducted in the presence of workers’ employers, such as farm labor contractors or tobacco growers. Interviews took place in a variety of settings including homes, worksites, schools, restaurants and other public spaces, outdoors as part of outreach in farmworker communities, and at religious institutions. Whenever possible, researchers held interviews in private. In a few cases, interviewees preferred to have a family member or another person present. Interviews were semi-structured and addressed conditions for children working in US tobacco farming, including health, safety, wages, hours, training, and education. All children and parents interviewed were informed of the purpose of the interview, its voluntary nature, and the ways in which the information would be collected and used. For interviews taking place during mealtimes, Human Rights Watch provided food to interviewees. Human Rights Watch did not provide anyone with compensation in exchange for an interview. Individuals were informed that they could end the interview at any time or decline to answer any questions without any negative consequences. Participants provided oral informed consent to participate and were assured anonymity. All names of children and parents interviewed have been changed to protect their privacy, confidentiality, and safety. Some individuals approached declined to be interviewed. Human Rights Watch also analyzed relevant laws and policies and conducted a review of secondary sources. Detailed state-by-state analysis of applicable labor laws, the enforcement of such laws, litigation, and recent and pending legislative projects in North Carolina, Kentucky, Virginia, and Tennessee was undertaken with pro bono assistance from a law firm based in New York City. Human Rights Watch researchers obtained relevant US federal statistics and other information through public record requests to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) within the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the US Department of Labor (DOL), the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Between December 2013 and March 2014, Human Rights Watch sent letters to eight companies that manufacture tobacco products (Altria Group, British American Tobacco, China National Tobacco, Imperial Tobacco Group, Japan Tobacco Group, Lorillard, Philip Morris International, and Reynolds American) and two leaf merchant companies (Alliance One and Universal Corporation) detailing the preliminary findings of our research and requesting meetings with company officials. Nine companies responded in writing. The results of this correspondence are detailed in the relevant sections of this report, and copies of the correspondence can be found in the appendix, available on the Human Rights Watch website. In addition, company officials from several companies met or spoke by phone with Human Rights Watch in 2014. In this report, “child” and “children” are used to refer to anyone under the age of 18, consistent with usage under international law. The term “child labor”, consistent with International Labor Organization standards, is used to refer to work performed by children below the minimum age of employment or children under age 18 engaged in hazardous work. The term “migrant worker” can have various meanings and many farmworkers in the US were, at least at some point in their lives, international migrants. In this report the term “migrant” is used for workers who travel within the US for agricultural work, as distinguished from “seasonal” workers, defined in this report as settled workers based in one place. I. Tobacco Farming in the United States Tobacco Production Tobacco has been cultivated in the United States for centuries, and commercial tobacco production has been a central part of the North American agricultural economy since the 1600s.[1] According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, in 2012, the US was the fourth largest producer of unmanufactured tobacco, behind China, Brazil, and India.[2] The total value of tobacco leaf production in the US in 2012 was approximately US$1.5 billion.[3] Tobacco is grown in at least 10 US states, but North Carolina, Kentucky, Virginia, and Tennessee account for almost 90 percent of domestic tobacco production. Roughly 50 percent of all US-produced tobacco is grown in North Carolina, 25 percent in Kentucky, and 7 percent in each of Virginia and Tennessee.[4] In 2007, the last year for which there is relevant data, there were 8,113 tobacco farms in Kentucky, 2,622 farms in North Carolina, 1,610 farms in Tennessee, and 895 farms in Virginia.[5] Structure of the Tobacco Economy Tobacco growers contract with different types of buyers through agreements to produce specific amounts of tobacco at set prices. Contracts often include specific provisions about the type and quality of tobacco produced, and standards for production.[6] Many growers contract directly with manufacturers of cigarettes and other tobacco products.[7] Growers also enter into contracts with leaf tobacco merchant companies, which do not manufacture tobacco products, but buy, process, pack, and ship unmanufactured tobacco to commercial product manufacturers.[8] Some growers also have contracts with cooperative organizations in states that were previously involved in administering now-obsolete federal price support programs, such as the US Tobacco Cooperative. These organizations process and sell tobacco to cigarette manufacturers, and some also produce consumer tobacco products for US markets.[9] Changes in US Policy and Impacts on Farms and Labor In 2004, the Fair and Equitable Tobacco Reform Act ended longstanding federal tobacco quota and price support programs designed to control supply and guarantee a minimum price for US tobacco.[10] The law also established the Tobacco Transition Payment Program (TTPP), known as the “tobacco buy-out,” to help tobacco quota holders and producers transition to the free market by providing annual payments for 10 years (2005-2014).[11] The TTPP contributed to contractions in US tobacco farming and production previously underway. By the late 1990s, demand for US tobacco had declined sharply in domestic and foreign markets due to strong competition from international tobacco producers and declines in US consumption of tobacco products.[12] From 1997 to 2007, the number of US farms producing tobacco decreased by 83 percent,[13] with volume down by 57 percent from 1997 to 2012.[14] Following the tobacco buyout, many small farmers left tobacco and transitioned to alternative crops, while larger farms expanded and consolidated operations.[15] According to a 2010 study by the Center for Tobacco Grower Research, a Tennessee-based organization researching tobacco production, economics, and markets, following the tobacco buyout, average acreage per tobacco farm in the US tripled.[16] The study found that as farm size increased, so did the reliance on hired farm labor relative to unpaid family labor.[17] Tobacco Types, Farming, and Curing There are several varieties of tobacco grown in the United States, distinguished and defined by both the characteristics of the leaves and the manner in which they are harvested and cured.[18] The most common types of tobacco produced in the US are flue-cured and burley tobacco. Tobacco is a labor-intensive crop, and even with the use of labor-saving technologies for some production, flue-cured tobacco requires approximately 100 hours of labor per acre, and burley tobacco requires 150 to 200 hours of labor per acre.[19] The tobacco season generally begins in February or March with cultivation of tobacco seedlings in greenhouses or plant beds. Farmers and workers plant seeds in trays and tend to them for nearly two months—watering, fertilizing, and “clipping” the plants several times, often with mowers suspended over the plants, to keep them uniform in size. In April or May, the seedlings are transplanted into fields. During planting, workers sit facing backwards on a tractor-pulled “transplanter” or “setter.” As the tractor moves through the field, workers load seedlings into slots in a rotating wheel, and the wheel inserts each seedling into a small hole in the ground. Other workers walk behind the setter to straighten and adjust the plants by hand to ensure proper planting. As the tobacco plants grow, workers dig up weeds with sharp hoes and uproot and reposition plants where two tobacco stalks have taken root. By June or July, workers begin “topping” (breaking off large flowers that sprout at the tops of tobacco plants) and removing “suckers” (nuisance leaves that reduce the yield and quality of tobacco). This process is done entirely by hand and helps to produce larger and more robust tobacco plants. Farmers and workers apply pesticides and growth regulators to tobacco plants at various points in the season (see below for detailed information on pesticides used in tobacco farming). After workers have finished topping, tobacco plants are left to mature in fields until they are ready to be harvested and dried in a process called “curing.” Flue-Cured Tobacco Flue-cured tobacco is a broad leaf type of tobacco grown in North Carolina and other parts of the southeastern US. In 2012, nearly 80 percent of US flue-cured tobacco was grown in North Carolina.[20] Flue-cured tobacco is harvested by removing the leaves in a process called “priming,” which involves a series of separate harvests beginning with the lowest leaves and moving up the stalk. The harvest is done primarily by machine, though some workers harvest leaves by hand by pulling tobacco leaves off of the stalks and gathering them under their arms before loading them into trucks to be transported to barns for curing. Workers then place harvested leaves into racks or cages and load them into heated curing barns. Leaves are left in curing barns for one to two weeks, with heat and ventilation carefully controlled, until leaves are dried and ready to be sorted and packed into bales. Workers help to sort leaves and place them in cages where they are compressed into bales with heavy machines called “balers.” The flue-cured tobacco crop is typically harvested and cured from mid-July to early October. Burley Tobacco Burley tobacco is a variety of tobacco grown in Kentucky, Tennessee, and other states in the Appalachian US. In 2012, Kentucky produced 74 percent of the US burley tobacco crop.[21] Burley tobacco is harvested by the stalk, and the harvest is done primarily by hand in a difficult, labor-intensive process. Workers cut each tobacco plant at the base of the stalk with a small axe or hatchet (often called a “tobacco knife”) and then slide them onto wooden sticks equipped with sharp spikes at the end. Workers place six tobacco plants on each stick and leave the sticks in the field to dry for one or two days. Workers then load the sticks of harvested tobacco plants onto flatbed wagons to be transported to barns for curing. Burley tobacco is dried in open-air barns, without any added heat, in a process called air-curing. To arrange the tobacco for curing, workers climb into the rafters of barns, forming several tiers or levels, and pass sticks of harvested burley tobacco upward to hang it in the barns to dry. Harvested burley tobacco plants dry in curing barns (or sometimes in makeshift field curing structures) for four to eight weeks, when workers take the sticks of tobacco down from the barns and “strip” the leaves off of the stalks by hand. Workers sort and grade tobacco manually, based on the physical qualities of the leaves (e.g. stalk position, color). The tobacco is then packaged into bales for market. The burley tobacco crop is harvested and cured later typically from mid-August to early December. II. Child Tobacco Workers in the United States The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) estimates that hundreds of thousands of children under age 18 work in US agriculture each year, but there is no comprehensive estimate of the number of child farmworkers in the US. In 2012, farm operators reported directly hiring 130,232 children under age 18 to work on crop and livestock farms, and an additional 388,084 children worked on the farms on which they resided.[22] However, these figures significantly underrepresent the total number of children working in agriculture as they exclude children hired by farm labor contractors or employed informally.[23] The total number of children who work on tobacco farms each year is also unknown.[24] Child Tobacco Workers The children interviewed by Human Rights Watch for this report were overwhelmingly of Hispanic ethnicity. Many children we interviewed were US citizens, consistent with the findings of a 2013 pilot study of North Carolina child farmworkers in which 78 percent were US citizens. Other children we interviewed were born outside of the United States and had migrated from other countries with their families, or in some instances, by themselves. Regardless of the immigration status of children, the parents of most children interviewed for this report were living in the US without authorization. Child tobacco workers interviewed by Human Rights Watch described working in a diversity of circumstances. The vast majority worked for hire, employed by official or unofficial farm labor contractors, labor subcontractors, or tobacco growers. A small number of children that we interviewed worked on farms owned by family members. Most of the children who stated that they worked on family farms also worked for hire on farms owned by other tobacco growers. Most children interviewed by Human Rights Watch resided in states where tobacco was grown and worked on farms near their homes. These children overwhelmingly attend public school full time in their communities, often working primarily, or exclusively, during the summer months. The median age at which children we interviewed began working in tobacco was 13. Some of these children worked together with their parents and siblings; others worked without their parents, sometimes with crews composed almost entirely of children. Many seasonal child farmworkers in North Carolina told Human Rights Watch that they worked in tobacco as well as other crops including, variously, sweet potatoes, blueberries, cucumbers, and watermelons. Human Rights Watch also interviewed 16 child migrant workers who move within the United States to work in different agricultural crops, including tobacco. Some of these children said that they travel with their families and attend schools in different states, working only during the summers, after school, and on weekends. Other migrant children stated that they work year round and do not attend school, as described below. Several children interviewed who had migrated without authorization to the US with their families reported that they had applied for or received deferred action through a federal program designed to provide temporary reprieve from deportation and employment authorization to individuals under age 30 who migrated to the US as children, attended school, have continuously resided in the US for a minimum of five years, and met several other eligibility criteria.[26] Human Rights Watch has argued that “deferred action for childhood arrivals,” by considering a person’s positive attachments to the country of residence in deportation decisions, represents a rational, if incremental, shift in US immigration policy.[27] Human Rights Watch has called on the US government to enact more permanent and comprehensive immigration reforms.[28] Why Children Work Nearly all of the children interviewed by Human Rights Watch, whether seasonal or migrant, citizens or unauthorized, reported that they worked in tobacco to provide for themselves and their families. The National Agricultural Workers Survey, a random survey of crop workers in the US, indicates that farmworkers are overwhelmingly poor: in 2008-2009, the median annual income among US crop workers was $18,750. A 2008 report from the US Department of Agriculture found poverty among farmworkers is more than double that of all wage and salary employees in the United States.[30] Most children interviewed by Human Rights Watch for this report started working in tobacco farming, and in some cases in other crops as well, to earn money for their basic needs: clothes, shoes, school supplies. Parents of child workers said that their children’s minimum wage earnings helped to supplement meager family incomes. Economic Need Gabriella G., 42, is a mother of six, and five of her children have worked in tobacco fields in North Carolina. She moved to North Carolina after leaving an abusive partner and is now a single mother. When asked why her children started working in tobacco, she said, “What I earn is not sufficient for my family. My children have to work to buy school supplies, clothes, the things you have to pay for at school.”[31] Her daughter Natalie G., 18, started working in tobacco at age 12. She told Human Rights Watch why she started working: “I saw what my mom was going through, how tired she was, and we wanted to help. … There was motivation to work because my mom was working and we were alone without her. And seeing my mom come beaten down, sunburned, tired. We were raised not to leave someone behind.”[32] Natalie’s younger sister, Elena G., also started working in tobacco at age 12. She told Human Rights Watch how she used her earnings: “I would give my mom more than half of my check for the bills. And then I would help her buy food. And whatever I had left, I’d buy my little brother something. I wanted to buy clothes, but I didn’t really have the chance to.”[33] Other children described similar reasons for working in tobacco. Raul D., a 13-year-old worker in eastern North Carolina, told Human Rights Watch, “I work so that I have money to buy clothes for school and school supplies, you know, like crayons and stuff. I’ve already bought my backpack for next year.”[34] Adriana F., 14, works for hire on tobacco farms in Kentucky with her parents and her four brothers. When asked how she used her earnings, she told Human Rights Watch, “I use the money for school supplies and to go on field trips.” Jerardo S., 11, told Human Rights Watch he started working on tobacco farms in Kentucky to save for his college education, saying, “I told my mom I would save it for the college or university where I want to go.”[35] Lack of Other Opportunities In addition to economic need, children, particularly those living in the US without authorization, reported working in tobacco because they lacked other employment and summer educational opportunities in their rural communities. Blanca A., like many farmworker children, was born in Mexico and works without authorization, even though she has lived in the United States for many years. “Most of my friends have jobs in the new sports shop, at McDonald’s or Bojangles, in the mall selling stuff,” she told Human Rights Watch. “But usually for those jobs they ask for [your] social security [number].”[36] Claudio G., a 16-year-old unauthorized worker in North Carolina, told Human Rights Watch, “Tobacco is the only job we [unauthorized children] have during the summer.”[37] Other children said that they were too young to be hired to work other jobs. Alan F., a 15-year-old worker in eastern North Carolina who hopes to attend college after graduating from high school, told Human Rights Watch that he would continue working in tobacco until he was older. “There’s plenty of jobs, but I mean, I ain’t got the age,” he said. “If I was older, I’d want to be a mechanic or work in construction or something like that.”[38] Of the nine children interviewed by Human Rights Watch who worked on tobacco farms owned by family members, most had other career aspirations. For example, 15-year-old Bradley S., who started working on tobacco farms owned by his father and grandfather in eastern Kentucky at 8, told Human Rights Watch, “When I grow up, I want to be an engineer.”[39] III. Health and Safety Nearly three-quarters of children interviewed by Human Rights Watch in North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia, 97 out of 133, reported feeling sick—with nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, headaches, dizziness, skin rashes, difficulty breathing, and irritation to their eyes and mouths—while working in fields with tobacco plants and in barns with dried tobacco leaves and tobacco dust.[40] Many reported being exposed to pesticides and to extreme temperatures and unrelenting heat while working in tobacco fields. Some stated that they used sharp tools and cut themselves, or operated heavy machinery and climbed to significant heights, risking serious injury. Many children described straining their backs and taxing their muscles while lifting heavy loads and performing repetitive motions, including working bent over at the waist, twisting their wrists to top tobacco plants, crawling on hands and knees, or reaching above their heads for extended periods of time. Nearly all children interviewed by Human Rights Watch said that their employers did not provide health education, safety training, or personal protective equipment to help them minimize their exposure to nicotine from tobacco leaves or pesticides sprayed in the fields and on the plants. Some children reported that, despite long days working outside in the heat, employers did not provide them with drinking water, and most said that they had limited or no access to toilets, hand-washing facilities, and shade. Based on our field research, interviews with health professionals, and analysis of public health literature, Human Rights Watch has concluded that no child under age 18 should be permitted to perform any tasks in which they will come into direct contact with tobacco plants of any size or dried tobacco leaves, due to the health risks posed by nicotine, the pesticides applied to the crop, and the particular health risks to children whose bodies and brains are still developing. Though protective equipment may help mitigate exposure to nicotine and pesticide residues, rain suits and watertight gloves would not completely eliminate absorption of toxins through the skin and would greatly increase children’s risk of suffering heat-related illnesses. As a result, Human Rights Watch has determined that there is no practical way for children to work safely in the US when handling or coming into contact with tobacco in any form. Sickness while Working More than two out of three children interviewed by Human Rights Watch said that they had felt suddenly, acutely ill while working in fields of tobacco plants and performing such jobs as topping, pulling off suckers, weeding, straightening plants, harvesting tobacco, and while working in curing barns. Children interviewed by Human Rights Watch described working, especially in wet conditions—during or after rainfall or in the morning with a heavy dew on the tobacco leaves—and becoming severely nauseous, dizzy or lightheaded. Some children said that they also vomited while working. Other children said they suffered severe headaches, and after a day’s work with tobacco, felt a sustained loss of appetite and energy, or had difficulty sleeping. Nausea, Vomiting, and Loss of Appetite Children in all four states described nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite while working on tobacco farms. For example, Elena G., a 13-year-old seasonal worker living in eastern North Carolina, spent both the 2012 and 2013 summers working in tobacco with her mother. She told Human Rights Watch how she felt while topping tobacco: I felt very tired. … I would barely eat anything because I wouldn’t get hungry…We would get our lunch break and I would barely eat, I would just drink. …Sometimes I felt like I needed to throw up. I never did. It had come up my throat, but it went back down. …I felt like I was going to faint. I would stop and just hold myself up with the tobacco plant. [41] Elena’s mother, Gabriella G. described her daughter’s condition: “Sometimes I saw that she couldn’t bear it. She was going to faint. She had headaches, nausea. Watching her was so hard. She’s skinny now, but imagine: she was even skinnier then [when she was working]. She was losing weight.”[42] Yolanda F., a 16-year-old seasonal worker in eastern North Carolina, started working on tobacco farms in 2013 with two of her friends during their summer break from school. She described how she felt during her first days on the job: “My first day I felt dizzy. I felt like I was going to throw up, but I didn’t. I just started seeing different colors….I didn’t last through lunch that day.”[43] Child tobacco workers in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia often experienced nausea and vomiting while cutting stalks of burley tobacco during the harvest. For example, Danielle S., 16, told Human Rights Watch that she has been working for hire with her parents and brother on tobacco farms outside of Lexington, Kentucky for several years during the summers, after school, and on weekends. Danielle said that she got sick while harvesting tobacco in 2013: “It happens when you’re out in the sun. You want to throw up. And you drink water because you’re so thirsty, but the water makes you feel worse. You throw up right there when you’re cutting, but you just keep cutting.”[44] Her brother, age 15, described feeling sick while working in tobacco at a younger age: “A couple of years ago, I was throwing up in the field. I took medicine, and then I went back to work.”[45] Ten-year-old Marta W. and her brother Patrick W., 9, worked together with their father in 2013 on tobacco farms in Tennessee, about 60 miles northeast of Nashville. Several different tobacco growers hire their father to harvest tobacco plants and hang them on sticks to dry in barns. Because he is paid a fixed rate for each stick of tobacco plants he harvests and hangs in a barn, Marta and Patrick work with him to increase his earnings. Patrick told Human Rights Watch about his experience harvesting burley tobacco in 2013: “I’ve gotten sick. We started cutting [tobacco plants], and I had to go home. I kept on coughing [heaving], and I had to eat crackers and drink some Gatorade…. I threw up a little bit. It took two or three hours before I felt better.” Marta, also describing working in 2013, added, “I felt sick when I went, but I didn’t actually throw up because I stayed out of the barn. I felt kind of nauseous. My head felt bad.”[46] Jaime V., 18, said that he felt nauseated while working in the curing barns. He told Human Rights Watch, “I worked all the way at the top of the barn, too. It’s just hot up there. The air is humid and the smell [of tobacco] fills your nose and mouth, and you get sick.”[47] Headaches, Dizziness, and Lightheadedness Children told Human Rights Watch that they suffered from headaches, dizziness, and lightheadedness while working on tobacco farms. Emilio R., a 16-year-old seasonal worker who hopes to study to be an engineer, said that in addition to topping and pulling suckers off tobacco plants, he harvested flue-cured tobacco leaves by hand on farms in eastern North Carolina in 2012. He described that process: “We grab the [tobacco] leaves, put them under our arm until we have a bundle, then throw them in the truck.”[48] Emilio also said he had headaches that sometimes lasted up to two days during the 2012 season: “With the headaches, it was hard to do anything at all. I didn’t want to move my head.”[49] His 17-year-old sister, Jocelyn, also harvested tobacco leaves by hand, and she also said she had headaches while working: “I would get headaches sometimes all day. I think it was from the smell of the tobacco. I really didn’t like it.”[50] Miguel T., 12, a seasonal worker in eastern North Carolina, said that in July 2013 during his first month working in tobacco fields, he got a headache while topping tobacco: “I got a headache before. It was horrible. It felt like there was something in my head trying to eat it.”[51] Cameron M., 18, and his brother Leonardo M., 15, migrated to central Kentucky from Guatemala with their father in the winter of 2013. They worked together for several months on tobacco farms, stripping dried tobacco leaves off of sticks after they had cured in barns. Both boys reported headaches and dizziness while stripping dried tobacco leaves off of sticks. Leonardo M. told Human Rights Watch, “I felt like I was spinning in circles, and my head ached. I felt awful.”[52] Pablo E., a 17-year-old worker in Kentucky described dizziness as “a symptom of the work.”[53] Jacob S., a 14-year-old tobacco worker in Virginia, described similar symptoms: “I get a little bit queasy, and I get lightheaded and dizzy. Sometimes I feel like I might pass out. It just feels like I want to fall over.”[54] Sleeplessness Some children described recurrent sleeplessness. Jaime V., 18, started working in tobacco in Tennessee when he was 14 after migrating to the United States with his cousin. At first, he did not enroll in school, instead working full-time for a contractor doing agricultural work. Describing his first summer working in tobacco four years ago, he told Human Rights Watch, “I got sick. I couldn’t sleep at night. I felt dizzy.”[55] Luciano P., 18, worked on tobacco farms in Kentucky: “When I got sick, when I tried to go to sleep, I couldn’t go to sleep. I was feeling tired, but I couldn’t sleep. Sometimes you throw up. I had headaches.”[56] Acute Nicotine Poisoning and Exposure to Nicotine among Children Taken together, the symptoms reported to Human Rights Watch by child tobacco workers in North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia are consistent with acute nicotine poisoning, known as Green Tobacco Sickness, an occupational health risk specific to tobacco farming. Green Tobacco Sickness occurs when workers absorb nicotine through their skin while having prolonged contact with tobacco plants.[57] Researchers have documented dizziness, headaches, nausea, and vomiting as the most common symptoms of acute nicotine poisoning. In some cases, these symptoms may be linked to or exacerbated by pesticide exposure or working in conditions of high heat and high humidity without sufficient rest, shade, and hydration. Acute nicotine poisoning generally lasts between a few hours and a few days,[60] and although it is rarely life-threatening, severe cases may result in dehydration which requires emergency treatment.[61] Children are particularly vulnerable to nicotine poisoning because of their size, and because they are less likely than adults to have developed a tolerance to nicotine.[62] The long-term effects of nicotine absorption through the skin have not been studied, although the long-term effects of consuming tobacco products containing nicotine has been well documented. Working in wet, humid conditions increases the risk of poisoning as nicotine dissolves in the moisture on the leaf and is more readily absorbed through the skin. A public health study conducted in North Carolina collected dew samples from tobacco plants on four farms and found nicotine in all samples, ranging from 33 to 84 micrograms per milliliter of dew. The researchers estimated that on humid days, farmworkers could be exposed to 600 milliliters or more of dew, containing between 20 and 50 milligrams of nicotine. However, the percentage of nicotine in dew that is absorbed through the skin is not known. A 2007 review of public health studies found that non-smoking adult tobacco workers have similar levels of nicotine in their bodies as smokers in the general population, althoughindividual variation would be expected based upon the use of personal protective equipment, season and contact with tobacco, and abrasions on the skin, as well as other factors.[66] Working in excessive heat and engaging in heavy physical activity, which are typical for workers, including child workers, engaged in tobacco farming in the United States, also increase the risk of nicotine poisoning as the increase in surface blood flow to help reduce body temperature facilitates nicotine absorption.[67] Though public health research has most often looked at nicotine poisoning among adult workers handling mature tobacco leaves, nicotine is present in tobacco plants and leaves in any form. According to Dr. Thomas Arcury, director of the Center for Worker Health at Wake Forest School of Medicine, “Nicotine is part of the plant. The tobacco plant, by its nature, contains nicotine from the time it’s a seedling to the end.” As a result, added Arcury, any task that requires the handling of tobacco in any form may expose workers to nicotine. Nicotine may affect human health in distinct ways depending on how it enters the body—whether absorbed through the skin, inhaled, or ingested. Though the long-term effects of nicotine absorption through the skin are unknown, public health research on smoking indicates that nicotine exposure during childhood may have long-lasting consequences. According to the US Surgeon General’s most recent report, “The evidence is suggestive that nicotine exposure during adolescence, a critical window for brain development, may have lasting adverse consequences for brain development.” Skin Conditions, Respiratory Illness , and Eye and Mouth Irritation Children interviewed by Human Rights Watch reported skin conditions, difficulty breathing, sneezing, and eye, nose, mouth, and throat irritation while working on tobacco farms. Skin Conditions Some children reported itchy or burning skin or skin rashes while working in tobacco farming, particularly while topping and suckering. Children often noted that their skin irritations were worse when they were working in wet clothing or without gloves, particularly if working in those conditions for extended periods of time. Diego T. and Rafa B., both 16, who worked together on tobacco farms in eastern North Carolina in the summer of 2013, told Human Rights Watch that they suffered from skin problems while working in tobacco. Diego said, “Your skin gets irritated. It burns, sometimes when you get wet, you get rashes. Like when you cut the flower, and touch your skin, it stings and burns.”[72] Rafa had a similar observation: “When … you wipe your face, it burns. Or if you scratch yourself.”[73] Joshua D., 13, also worked in eastern North Carolina in 2013: “You can’t wipe your face when you’re working because it burns. It feels like fire ants on your forehead.”[74] Some children also reported skin rashes. “I’ve had red bumps all over my arm,” said Sally G., 16, who worked in North Carolina for the first time in the summer of 2013. “They are very itchy…. I used to roll up my sleeves when it got hot but then I started to get bumps on my arms.”[75] Jocelyn R., a 17-year-old worker who worked in tobacco in North Carolina in 2012, said: “I’d get a rash on my hands [while topping tobacco], it would last until the next day. It was itchy.”[76] Estevan O., 15, worked in tobacco in the 2012 season said, “I’d have itching hands and feet. It’s wet. Your socks and gloves get wet. Your skin starts itching and cracking. The cracking would really hurt.”[77] Public health research has shown a high prevalence of skin conditions among farmworkers.[78] A 2007 study of tobacco workers found that they may be particularly susceptible to skin conditions as both the tobacco leaf itself and pesticides used in tobacco cultivation have been identified as possible causes of contact dermatitis, an inflammatory skin disease.[79] Human Rights Watch could not determine the exact cause of the skin irritations or rashes reported by child tobacco workers. Respiratory Symptoms and Allergic Reactions Some children interviewed by Human Rights Watch said that they experienced respiratory and allergic symptoms while topping and harvesting tobacco in fields, or hanging tobacco to dry in curing barns. For example, Erica P., age 16, described topping tobacco in Eastern North Carolina in July 2013: “There is no air in the rows. It’s really hard to breathe.”[80] Alberto H., 16, who plays on his high school’s soccer team in southeastern Kentucky, told Human Rights Watch that he has trouble breathing while hanging tobacco in barns: “When you’re at the top of the barn, you can’t breathe up there.… It’s probably because [there is] a bunch of dust and it’s hard to breathe, and I have asthma. I always bring my inhaler.” Dario A., also a 16-year-old worker in Kentucky, said, “The hardest part of the job is climbing up high in the barn. It’s hard to breathe up there.” Some child tobacco workers also reported respiratory and allergic symptoms while working with dried tobacco. Sixteen-year-old Timothy Y. works for his parents, grandparents, and neighbors on tobacco farms in Kentucky. He told Human Rights Watch, “I don’t like to do the stripping because it messes with my allergies and makes it hard to breathe.”[83] Joaquin F., 16, started stripping tobacco in barns at age 12 in Kentucky and continued to work for hire after school and on weekends until he got a job at local restaurant at age 16. Describing the work he did in curing barns in 2012, he told Human Rights Watch, “When I was stripping, all the dust from the tobacco would get to my lungs and get stuck in my nose. You just feel sick.”[84] A 2011 study on the prevalence of respiratory and allergic symptoms among non-smoking farmworkers in eastern North Carolina found nearly one-quarter reported wheezing at times, with elevated odds of wheezing for individuals working in tobacco production.[85] Public health research among adult workers has also shown that workers exposed to tobacco dust during curing and baling showed significantly lower lung function than unexposed workers.[86] Eye and Mouth Irritation Some child tobacco workers told Human Rights Watch that liquid from wet tobacco plants would splash into their eyes or mouths while they were working in the fields, causing pain, itching, or other irritation. Children often described working in fields where tobacco plants reached above their heads, and they may have been particularly vulnerable to these effects due to their small size relative to the plants. Sally G., a 16-year-old seasonal tobacco worker described topping tobacco plants taller than her in wet fields in eastern North Carolina during the summer of 2013: “I’ve felt the spray on my face. It splashes from the plants. … It really hurts when it gets in your eyes. They tell us to try to keep our faces covered up. … Water from the flowers gets on your face, and when it’s mixed with the pesticide, it burns.”[87] Estevan O., 15, told Human Rights Watch that he started working on tobacco farms in North Carolina at age 11 because, “My family needed me to.” He described working in wet tobacco fields during the 2012 season: “The water on the leaves would splash in my eyes [when I was topping]. My eyes would get irritated. I’d have to take my contacts out and wear glasses.”[88] While describing his work harvesting tobacco in Tennessee in 2013, Patrick W., 9, said, “Sometimes if it gets to your eyes, it will sting a little bit, like burn.”[89] Several children interviewed in Kentucky said pieces of tobacco leaves would fall into their eyes or mouth while lifting sticks with tobacco plants to be hung in barns causing irritation, pain, and a sour taste in their mouths. Andrea D., 16, works for hire for a tobacco grower in central Kentucky together with her mother. She lifts sticks of harvested tobacco to other workers who hang the sticks in the rafters of curing barns. While describing her work in the barns in 2012, she said, “It gets all over you. It gets all in your mouth and in your nose. It’s just sour. The leaves and the dust get in your nose, and it itches. And it gets in your ears. You have a bitter taste in your mouth. It goes away the next day, but then you do it again, and it comes back.”[90] Henry F., a 17-year-old tobacco worker in Kentucky, told Human Rights Watch that lifting sticks of tobacco irritated his eyes while he was working in 2012: “If you’re at the bottom you have to lift it up. And when you lift it up the tobacco goes in your mouth and eyes. And when it goes in your eyes, it makes your eyes reddish and pinkish.”[91] Exposure to Pesticides Just over half of the children interviewed by Human Rights Watch—63 out of 120—reported that they saw tractors spraying pesticides in the fields in which they were working or in fields adjacent to the ones in which they were working.[92] These children often reported being able to smell or feel the chemical spray as it drifted towards them. A few children stated that they applied pesticides to tobacco plants with a handheld sprayer and backpack, or operated tractors that were spraying pesticides on tobacco fields.[93] Children also reported experiencing a range of symptoms after coming into contact with pesticides while working in tobacco farming, including burning eyes, burning nose, itchy skin, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, shortness of breath, redness and swelling of the mouth, and headaches. Exposure to pesticides can have serious short-term and long-term health effects. Exposure to Pesticides Sprayed by Tractors Many children interviewed by Human Rights Watch described being exposed to pesticides, most often through drift, when a pesticide applied in one area spreads to adjoining areas through wind.[94] Many stated that they felt drift from tractors spraying in adjacent fields; in a few cases they said that tractors sprayed pesticides in the fields in which they were working. For example, Jocelyn R., 17, started working on tobacco farms in eastern North Carolina at 14, along with her younger brother. Describing an incident that occurred during the summer of 2012, she told Human Rights Watch: Once they sprayed where we were working. We were cutting the flower and the spray was right next to us in the part of the fields we had just finished working in. I couldn’t breathe. I started sneezing a lot. The chemicals would come over to us. The farmer when he was spraying would get ahead of us and it would come back over us. No one ever told us about the chemicals. [95] Cameron M., an 18-year-old worker in Kentucky, described seeing a tractor spraying in the tobacco field in which he was working: “One time I saw a tractor spraying chemicals on the field. It made the workers upset. There was a strong smell. We all covered our mouths and noses.”[96] Children also reported being taken to work in fields that had been sprayed very recently with pesticides. “I went back into a field after they sprayed it, like right after they sprayed it,” said 16-year-old Andrew N., a 10th grade student in Tennessee who works with a crew of tobacco workers led by his stepfather. He described the incident to Human Rights Watch, I didn’t know…I did notice it because the spray was all over the plant, the yellow stuff was all over it, and my shirt was getting all the yellow liquid on it. We didn’t want to work anymore. And finally the boss guy came, and he told us he had sprayed down, so we left. The smell was pretty strong. I really wouldn’t know how to explain it, but it was a strong smell. [97] Similarly, Emilio R., 16, told Human Rights Watch that he reentered a tobacco field in North Carolina minutes after the grower had applied pesticides. “We were working in one field and finished half of the field and then the farmer decided to spray [pesticides using a tractor],” he said. “It [the drift] was about to catch up to us and so we stepped out of the field. We waited a few minutes and went back in.”[98] Immediate Health Effects of Pesticide Exposure Children interviewed by Human Rights Watch said they experienced a range of symptoms after coming into contact with pesticide spray including burning eyes, burning noses, itchy skin, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, shortness of breath, redness and swelling of their mouths, and headaches. For example, 17-year-old Lucia A., interviewed by Human Rights Watch on the day of her junior prom in a small North Carolina town, said: One time I got a lot of splotches on my leg. … I was around 15. It was bad. It got red. … It was like a rash. It started itching. I kept telling my mom. She kept telling [the contractor] maybe we shouldn’t work in this field. And he said, “No, it’s ok, it isn’t supposed to harm us.” And then I saw other workers start walking out, saying “I can’t work like this.” … I showed [the contractor the rash on] my legs, and then he said, “Let’s move to a different field.” [99] Jimena C., 15, spends her summers living with her godmother so that she can work on tobacco farms in a county about 30 miles from her hometown in North Carolina. She told Human Rights Watch that she got very ill at age 14 after working in a field sprayed with pesticides only a few hours earlier: “I got so sick one time after they sprayed. It was just a few hours after they sprayed and we went in. I got really dizzy. And I saw black. I sat down and threw up several times.”[100] Marta W., 10, felt ill after a tractor sprayed pesticides while she and her younger brother were helping their father, a hired farmworker, on a tobacco farm in northern Tennessee in the summer of 2013. “They were like spraying it to make it grow bigger the time we went,” she said. “It was in the same field as us. It was on the other side of the field. The smell was very nasty. I felt nauseous after that.”[101] Yanamaria W., 14, who started working on tobacco farms in 2012, spent two summers working for a farm labor contractor in central Kentucky together with her parents and 13-year-old brother. Yanamaria told Human Rights Watch about being exposed to pesticides sprayed from a tractor in the summer of 2013. “I was in the field when they started spraying,” she said. “I can stand the heat for a long time, but when they spray, then I start to feel woozy and tired. Sometimes it looks like everything is spinning. You can’t focus on your task.”[102] Nicholas V., an 8th grader, told Human Rights Watch that he works for hire in tobacco fields in North Carolina with his mother during his summer break. He described a pesticide drift from spraying in an adjacent field while he was working in 2012: We were working in one field and the field next to us got sprayed with a tractor. The liquid is in the air and it fell on us, too. That stuff really bothered us. I got some in my eyes. They got itchy. I got really annoyed and asked to get out. I had to sit out for two hours. My eyes were really itchy. Really bad. … It was really windy that day. [103] Yael A., a 17-year-old seasonal worker in North Carolina, said, “When they spray, the smell is very strong. And it causes a terrible smell, a really bad smell, and sometimes you feel itchy, tingly, in your mouth and your nose. It itches. Your mouth gets red and puffy.”[104] Marissa G., 14, first worked on tobacco farms in North Carolina in the 2013 season, together with her older sister. She said that working in tobacco triggered her asthma symptoms, particularly when she was exposed to pesticides: “The spray affects my asthma. When I smell it, it makes me nauseous, short of breath, even if I’m not really doing anything.”[105] Children Applying Pesticides Five children interviewed by Human Rights Watch said that they applied pesticides to tobacco plants with a handheld sprayer and backpack, or operated tractors that were spraying pesticides on tobacco fields. Christian V., age 13, explained that he uses a backpack sprayer to apply pesticides to his family’s tobacco fields in Tennessee: “We spray it with chemicals for worms and so it can help it grow. I use a backpack. There’s like a cap on the top, and you twist it open and put water in it and all the chemicals, then you throw it on your back and you walk and you get this thing and you squirt it on top of the plants.”[106] Theo D., 16, described how he felt one day in the summer of 2013 after using a backpack sprayer to apply an insecticide to tobacco fields on a Virginia farm where he worked: “I got home and felt dizzy and started puking, but I took a cold shower and got over it.[107] Hazards of Pesticides Pesticides enter the human body when they are inhaled, ingested, or absorbed through the skin. According to a review of public health studies of farmworkers, pesticide exposure is associated with acute health problems including nausea, dizziness, vomiting, headaches, abdominal pain, and skin and eye problems.[108] Exposure to large doses of pesticides can have severe health effects including spontaneous abortion and birth deformities, loss of consciousness, coma, and death.[109] Long-term and chronic health effects of pesticide exposure include respiratory problems, cancer, depression, neurologic deficits, and reproductive health problems.[110] Children are uniquely vulnerable to the adverse effects of toxic exposures as their brains and bodies are still developing, and they consume more water and food, and breathe more air, pound for pound, than adults.[111] The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that 10,000 to 20,000 physician-diagnosed pesticide poisonings occur each year among US agricultural workers.[112] One public health study found that 64 percent of acute occupational pesticide-related illnesses reported by children occurred among children working in agriculture, and this number represents only a small fraction of actual pesticide poisonings as many cases are never reported.[113] The EPA has established federal regulations called the Worker Protection Standard, which require labeling of pesticides, notification of workers about pesticide application, safe application of pesticides, access to emergency medical assistance, and the provision of decontamination supplies, pesticide safety training and safety posters, and personal protective equipment.[114] The EPA’s Worker Protection Standard does not specify a minimum age for children to mix and apply pesticides, but regulations set by the US Department of Labor (DOL) under the Fair Labor Standards Act prohibit children under 16 from handling pesticides belonging to the two most toxic categories, as determined by the EPA.[115] In addition, the EPA sets restricted entry intervals (REIs) specifying the amount of time after pesticide application that workers should not enter the fields without wearing protective equipment.[116] REIs vary depending on the toxicity of the pesticide, the type of crop, and the method of application, and may last from a few hours to a few days. However, public health studies have shown that, even if workers are kept out of the area for the legally required time period, pesticides are still present in the fields at lower levels.[118] Furthermore, federal regulations make no special considerations for children, and the EPA determines restricted entry intervals using a 154-pound (70-kilogram) adult body as a model.[119] In February 2014, the EPA proposed changes to the agricultural Worker Protection Standard. Among other protections, the proposed changes would require more frequent training for workers and pesticide handlers, mandate posting of warning signs after applications of certain pesticides, and establish a minimum age of 16 for all pesticide handlers. Pesticide Use in Tobacco Production Tobacco production in the United States involves application of a range of chemicals at different stages in the growth process including chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and growth regulators (growth inhibitors and ripening agents).[121] Several pesticides commonly used during tobacco farming belong to two chemical classes, organophosphates and carbamates, both of which are neurotoxins.[122] The US Government Accountability Office explains that pesticides in these classes, “act on the nervous system to prevent the normal flow of nerve impulses to muscles that control both voluntary movement, such as walking, and involuntary movement, such as breathing and heart beat.”[123] While pesticides are applied to many crops cultivated in the United States, tobacco workers may be at especially high risk for pesticide exposure given the nature of work. Child tobacco workers interviewed by Human Rights Watch reported topping and harvesting tobacco in fields where they were surrounded by tall plants and had extensive contact with leaves that may have been treated with pesticides. Jobs where workers directly handle pesticide-treated plants can increase exposure, particularly in the absence of effective protective gear and hand-washing. Relatively few studies have examined pesticide exposure specifically in tobacco workers.[125] Following a request for data from Human Rights Watch, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) indicated that there are no comprehensive federal statistics on the incidence of pesticide poisoning among tobacco farmworkers specifically.[126] Public health research in eastern North Carolina found high levels of biomarkers for pesticides in the bodies of adult farmworkers who had “worked extensively in tobacco.”[127] Extreme Heat All children interviewed by Human Rights Watch for this report stated that they often worked in high temperatures and high humidity typical for the summer months in North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia. Average high temperatures in July and August in many of the counties where children reported working range from 88 to 92 degrees Fahrenheit (31 to 33 Centigrade), often with high humidity. Many children said that they felt faint or dizzy or suffered from headaches when working in very high temperatures. Many stated that they were expected to work without additional breaks in such conditions. Yael A., 17, has been working for hire on tobacco farms in North Carolina since she was 14. “You feel like you can’t breathe when it’s really hot,” she said.[129] Andrea D., a 16-year-old seasonal worker, told Human Rights Watch about her experience working on a tobacco farm in Kentucky during the summer months: “When the sun is really beating hot, really hot, I would get like dizzy. I had to stop a minute. Especially when we’re taking out the weeds because that’s in the middle of June, and it’s hot. I never passed out, but I felt dizzy.”[130] Timothy S., age 13, has worked for hire with his father on tobacco farms in Kentucky since he was 12: “It was really hard to focus on work when it’s really hot. You’re just thinking about ‘When are we going to be done?’… The plants are about my size. It’s hot when you’re in the rows. I felt like my skin was burning.”[131] Joseph T., an 18-year-old tobacco worker, described an incident in 2011 when he was working in a tobacco field in eastern North Carolina. He said: It was in the hundreds, like 102 or 103 [degrees Fahrenheit]. … I forgot my hat. It was towards the end of the day. Like 3 p.m. … I could just feel like I was about to pass out. Your legs feel wobbly. You feel like you have to push yourself, you have to breathe really hard…I was about to faint, I felt like I needed water. I was seeing all colors. [132] Working long hours in high temperatures can place children at risk of heat stroke and dehydration, particularly if there is not enough drinking water and they are wearing extra clothes to protect from sunburn and exposure to nicotine and pesticides. Children are more susceptible than adults to heat illness. Work with Dangerous Tools, Machinery, and at Heights Some children interviewed by Human Rights Watch stated that they used axes or hatchets to cut burley tobacco during the harvest, sharp spikes to spear burley tobacco plants, and hoes to remove weeds from tobacco fields. Some children said that they sustained cuts and puncture wounds from working with these sharp tools. A few said they operated or worked in close proximity to dangerous machinery, including mowers used to trim tobacco plants, tractors used to harvest tobacco leaves, and balers used to compress leaves into bales. In Kentucky, Human Rights Watch interviewed a few children who drove tractors while working on tobacco farms. Some reported injuries related to operating or being near heavy machinery. Human Rights Watch also interviewed children who said that they regularly climbed into the rafters of barns several stories tall to hang sticks of harvested burley tobacco to dry. Sharp Tools Several children reported cutting themselves with “tobacco knives,” as the axes used to chop down stalks of burley tobacco are known. Andrew N., 16, described an accident he had while harvesting tobacco in Tennessee in 2011: “My first day, I cut myself with the hatchet [on the leg]. It wasn’t bad. I probably hit a vein or something because it wouldn’t stop bleeding and I had to go to the hospital. They stitched it. I only had to get two stitches… [M]y shoe was just soaked in blood.”[134] Lucio F., 10, helps his parents and four older siblings while they work for hire on tobacco farms in Kentucky. Lucio reported cutting himself with a tobacco knife during the burley tobacco harvest in 2013: “I got hurt once when I got the axe, and I got cut somewhere on my feet. I was swinging at the plant and I missed and hit my leg.”[135] Children told Human Rights Watch that they had “spiked” or “speared” their hands or other body parts on sharp spikes while placing cut burley tobacco plants on long sticks that hold the plants for curing. Omar B., 15, works for several tobacco growers in Tennessee along with a few friends. Like many children who harvest burley tobacco, he described placing a sharp spike on the end of a wooden stick; piercing the stalks of the tobacco plants with the spike; sliding six plants onto each stick, and repeating the process down multiple rows of tobacco plants. Omar told Human Rights Watch that he punctured his lip in 2013 when removing the spike from one wooden stick to transfer it to the next stick: “That’s the most dangerous part of it….I spiked my lip pulling [the spike] off the stick once. I came back with it, and it stabbed me in the lip. It just went through.”[136] Adriana F., 14, and her brother Jeremiah F., 15, both said that they had spiked their hands while working in the burley tobacco harvest in Kentucky in 2012. Adriana spiked her hand while working in the rain: Last year, I was in the field, and I was trying to cut, and I picked up the plant and it was wet. And I slid because it was raining and it was wet, and the spike went into my hand. My Dad put a bandage on it to stop the blood and keep out the infection. [137] Her brother described a similar incident: I got a little cut once. I missed the spike when I was putting the tobacco plant on the stick, and I cut my hand. It bled a little. The tobacco was sticking to it. But when you put water it stings because the tobacco goes in there. [138] Theo D., 16, who plays football for his high school team, cut his finger in a similar manner while harvesting tobacco in Virginia in 2012: “I speared myself like once…I was holding the spear, and I missed, and it went into my finger.”[139] Children also described using hoes and machetes to remove weeds from tobacco fields. Nicholas V., a 14-year-old worker in eastern North Carolina, worked for hire in the 2012 season: “We used machetes to take down weeds. It was really tough though. We had to swing it hard. It was too hard to take out the weeds otherwise. They told me to be very cautious. I wore [my own] soccer shin guards to protect myself.”[140] Andrea D., 16, has worked for a tobacco grower in Kentucky with her parents and her siblings since she was 6. She told Human Rights Watch that she cut herself with a hoe while removing weeds from a tobacco field in 2013: “When I was using the hoe, I cut myself on my leg with the blade of the hoe. I didn’t need to go to the hospital. I just kept working. I was bleeding, but I was in the middle of the field and I couldn’t do anything.”[141] Federal regulations fail to protect children from working the sharp tools used in tobacco farming. DOL’s hazardous occupations orders lack any restrictions on the use of knives, hoes, and other sharp hand tools for children working in agriculture. The regulations prohibit children under 16 from operating power-driven circular, band, or chain saws, but in all other industries children must be at least 18 to use these saws. Heavy Machinery A few children said they operated or worked in close proximity to dangerous machinery, including mowers used to trim tobacco plants, tractors used to harvest tobacco leaves, and balers used to compress leaves into bales. In Kentucky, Human Rights Watch interviewed a few children who drove tractors while working in tobacco. Some children said that they sustained injuries while operating or working near heavy machinery. At age 17, Isaac S., who migrated to the US to work with his brother on a tobacco farm, sustained a serious injury while working with a mower used to trim tobacco seedlings before they were planted in the ground. The mower was rigged out of a typical push lawnmower suspended in the air from a metal stand. Workers were expected to push trays of seedlings on rollers under the machine while the machine was running in order to trim the plants. Isaac described the accident: “[M]y hand got stuck [in the mower], and it cut off two of my fingers…I was pushing the plant, but I don’t know how the wheel slipped. It went really fast, and I couldn’t stop it, and it took my two fingers…I wasn’t crying or anything. I just held my hand. I was pressing really hard because there was blood coming out.”[143] Isaac explained that his employer had told him to continue working during light rain, which he believed contributed to his accident: “We were trying to wait out the rain, and the boss didn’t like it that we were not working. So he told us to hurry up and get working. So we were working in the rain when I got hurt.”[144] Isaac underwent surgery immediately after the accident, but doctors were unable to reattach the severed fingers. He still struggles with pain in his hand and his fingers, and he is unable to perform many tasks required for agricultural work. He said, “I don’t work comfortably. In my hand, I don’t have strength. Only in [the lower] half of the hand I have strength.”[145] In the state where Isaac worked, employers are not required to provide seasonal or migrant farmworkers with workers’ compensation insurance. Isaac said his employer offered him $100 in compensation to cover his medical bills and account for lost wages due to his accident. Emilio R., 16, started working on tobacco farms in North Carolina at age 13 during his summer breaks from school. He told Human Rights Watch that he was injured when his leg got trapped in a baler while he was packing dried tobacco leaves into boxes in North Carolina in 2012: At the compressing machines, we’d be stepping on the leaves inside the box. One time my leg was stuck, and I couldn’t move. Someone yelled “Stop!” to stop the compressing machine to come down on me. I wasn’t all the way in the box, but my leg was stuck. The machine hit my leg and it hurt me. The supervisor was operating the machine. He had told me to clear out, but I didn’t hear him because the machine is loud. [148] Carla P., 16, works for hire with her parents and her younger sister on tobacco farms in Kentucky. She told Human Rights Watch that she fell off of a tractor-pulled, moving wagon while hauling sticks of wet tobacco plants in 2012: “I fell once. I was on a wagon, and I was taking the tobacco off so they could put it in a little room so they could strip it off. It was really wet, and I fell onto rocks. That was when I was 15. I landed on my back. I got a bruise and a migraine. I didn’t go to the doctor.”[149] Federal regulations do not adequately protect child farmworkers from dangerous machinery. Children under 16 are prohibited from operating or assisting to operate some machines, but the list of machines that are off-limits to children under 16 is not comprehensive. At age 16, children working in agriculture can legally drive tractors of over 20 horsepower take-off and operate heavy machinery such as forklifts and certain mowing and baling machines. Working at Dangerous Heights Human Rights Watch interviewed child workers who climbed into the rafters of barns to hang sticks with several stalks of harvested burley tobacco to dry, and to remove sticks of dried tobacco. They described climbing to heights in barns that were at least two stories high using ladders or by climbing the rafters. Crews of child and adult workers would form several tiers to pass sticks of tobacco upward or downward. While engaging in this work, children straddled planks that were sometimes positioned two or three feet apart and often found it difficult to balance. Pablo E., 17, migrated to Kentucky from Guatemala by himself in December 2012. He described his experience removing sticks of dried tobacco from curing barns in central Kentucky in the winter of 2013: “I had to climb up and down in the barn. It was cold. When you’re at the top, you have your legs open and you’re standing on two wooden planks. You take a stick out of the roof and pass it down.”[151] Similarly, Calvin R., 17, migrated to Kentucky from Mexico alone at age 13 to work with a crew of agricultural workers. Calvin is the youngest worker in the group, and his crew migrates between several states in the US, working in different crops. Describing his work on tobacco farms near Lexington, Kentucky in 2013, he told Human Rights Watch, “It’s hard to keep your balance when you’re up high in the barn and the tobacco is heavy.”[152] Jaime V., 18, described a similar experience working in curing barns in Tennessee in 2013: “When you’re in the middle of the barn, you have to open your feet. And there are two planks, and you have to grab the sticks from below and pass them up.”[153] Human Rights Watch did not speak with any children who had fallen while working at heights in barns. However, several children told Human Rights Watch that they had seen family members or other workers fall. Marta W., a 10-year-old worker in Tennessee, described seeing another worker fall while she herself was standing in the rafters of a barn in 2013: “It’s hard to balance. You have to stand on these stakes. And one of these guys, he fell and hurt his back the time I went. So then my dad got me down [from the rafters].”[154] Agustin F., 15, travels to Kentucky from Florida every year to work for hire on tobacco farms. He started working in tobacco together with his father at age 10. He told Human Rights Watch, “In the barn, I go way up high. … Sometimes people fall. Last year my father fell…. I’ve never fallen. I always check the barn to make sure the rails are good. Other people don’t check the rails before they go up.”[155] Human Rights Watch researchers saw a beam collapse in a barn in northern Kentucky shortly after a crew of workers had finished hanging a wagon load of tobacco. The crew had moved to the other side of the barn before the beam fell, so no one was injured, but workers had been standing on planks supported by the beam less than an hour before the collapse. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires employers in many industries to provide fall protection measures for workers such as guard rails and safety training. For example, OSHA requires employers to provide fall protection in shipyards when workers are expected to work at heights of five feet, and on construction sites when workers are at heights of six feet. Agricultural operations are excluded from OSHA’s fall protection standards. The hazardous occupations orders established by DOL prohibit child farmworkers under the age of 16 from working at heights of over 20 feet, but they can work without any fall protection at heights less than 20 feet, which nevertheless includes heights of over one story. Children over 16 are allowed to work at any height without any protections. Injuries among Child Farmworkers in the US Federal data on fatal occupational injuries indicate that agriculture is the most dangerous industry open to young workers. According to DOL, agriculture has the highest fatal occupational injury rate of any industry. In 2012, 28 children under the age of 18 died from occupational injuries; two-thirds were agricultural workers. Of 19 occupational fatalities of children under the age of 16, nearly three-quarters were in agriculture.[159] Child occupational deaths in agriculture were most often caused by driving trucks and farm vehicles or operating farm machinery.[160] In addition to the 28 fatal injuries, there were more than 1,800 nonfatal injuries to children under 18 working on US farms in 2012.[161] According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the factors putting children at high risk for work-related injuries include: “biologic and psychosocial contributors…such as inadequate fit, strength, and cognitive abilities” to perform certain tasks,[162] rapidly growing “organ and musculoskeletal systems, which may make them more likely to be harmed by exposure to hazardous substances or to develop cumulative trauma disorders,” and less experience, training, and knowledge about how to work safely, what their rights are, and what they are not legally allowed to do.[163] Repetitive Motions and Lifting Heavy Loads Repetitive Motions Children interviewed by Human Rights Watch described performing prolonged repetitive motions for extended periods of time, including working bent over at the waist, twisting their wrists to top tobacco plants, reaching above their heads, and crawling on hands and knees to remove weeds or uproot one tobacco plant where two had grown together. Children reported muscle soreness, aches, and pain in their backs, shoulders, arms, hands, and fingers after engaging in repetitive motions. Andrea D., 16, started helping her father, a hired worker, sort dried tobacco leaves and plant seedlings on a tobacco farm in Kentucky at age 6. Now in 11th grade and aspiring to be a doctor, she continues to work for the same grower after school, on weekends, and over the summer performing a range of tobacco farming tasks. She described to Human Rights Watch her work hoeing during the 2013 summer and the impact on her body. “After the plant got a foot tall we would take the weeds out with a hoe. It was backbreaking,” Andrea D. said. “All day, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., you’re hunched over trying to get all the fields in. At the end of the day, I had bruises on my thumbs and fingers. I was sore in my shoulders…when you’re hunched over all the time—when you’re planting or hoeing or cutting— it hurts the most…Plus your fingers, when you’re gripping the hoe, they stay curled in, like stuck in place. Your fingers stay like that for a while.”[164] Fabiana H., 14, reported back pain while weeding in tobacco fields in eastern North Carolina in 2012: “To me, the hardest part was going down to pull the things [weeds] around the tobacco. You have to bend over all the time. And then when you finish doing a whole row and when you stand up your back is hurting really bad.”[165] Children also described the difficulty of reaching up to top tobacco plants that had grown tall, and some children experienced soreness from extending their arms upward repeatedly. For example, 12-year-old Manuel W. worked with his parents and five siblings on tobacco farms in central Kentucky in 2013. He said, “Some [tobacco plants] are taller than six feet tall, and it’s hard to reach them. Your shoulders and your neck get really tired. It hurts every time you rest your head.”[166] Ian F., 12, and Lazaro S., 15, who worked on different farms in Kentucky, each described the soreness they experienced while cutting burley tobacco during the 2013 harvest. Ian F. works on tobacco farms about 35 miles east of Lexington, Kentucky. He said, “My ribs were hurting. And sometimes your back hurts. Your ribs hurt from when you bend down. You get really tired. You get sore. You have to reach over and hold the leaves, and then swing the knife underneath, and you get sore in your ribs and your back.”[167] According to Lazaro S., “The hardest part is cutting. You have a stick and it has a spear on the end. And you have to cut the tobacco and put it on the stick. You get tired from the sun, and you’re bent over all day. You feel sore the next day, but you still have to go back and work again.”[168] Gregory T., 9, and his sister Jackie T., 7, go to tobacco fields with their mother, a hired farmworker in Tennessee. They play in the fields, and they help their mother work, particularly during the burley tobacco harvest when she is paid a piece rate of about 22 cents for each stick of tobacco plants she harvests and hangs in a barn. Describing his work in the summer of 2013, Gregory told Human Rights Watch, “Cutting [tobacco plants] is the hardest because there’s a big, giant row and you have to go all the way down the row, and come all the way back.” Jackie added, “You have to take the axe and swing it all the way back. It hurts my arms and right here,” she said, pointing to her shoulders.[169] Lifting Heavy Loads Human Rights Watch interviewed child workers in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia who reported loading heavy sticks of harvested tobacco plants onto flatbed wagons to be transported to barns for curing. Children in these three states also told Human Rights Watch that they lifted heavy sticks of tobacco plants over their heads to other child or adult workers who would hang the sticks in the rafters of barns for curing. Many children reported fatigue and soreness as a result of lifting heavy loads. Patrick W., 9, helps his father, a hired tobacco worker, harvest burley tobacco for several growers in northern Tennessee. Patrick said that in 2013, he struggled to lift sticks of cut tobacco onto the truck for transporting: “Since I’m a kid, I have to focus on picking it up, because it’s really heavy, and I can only pick up like one at a time. I try to do it really fast. And we just have to work really hard and concentrate.”[170] Emily D., 14, had a similar experience loading burley tobacco onto wagons in Virginia in 2013: “The hardest part is when you lift it up. You put it on your shoulder, and you lift it up, and put it on the tractor. You get tired. And you get sore.”[171] Bridget F., 15, works for hire on tobacco farms with her mother, who is the crew leader, and her siblings. Bridget injured her back in 2013 while lifting sticks of harvested burley tobacco up to other workers in a barn in northeastern Kentucky: “I’m short, so I had to reach up, and I was reaching up and the tobacco plant bent over, and I went to catch it, and I twisted my back the wrong way. … I went to the doctor, and the doctor said just to ice it.”[172] Similarly, Ricardo M., 14, who works on tobacco farms in Kentucky with his mother, told Human Rights Watch about his experience working in 2012: “Lifting [the tobacco] is the hardest part because the barn is so tall, so you have to lift the tobacco really high, and the tobacco is really heavy because the plants are big. My arms were hurting….When the plants are wet, they are even heavier, and it’s harder to carry them and lift them.”[173] Musculoskeletal disorders are usually caused by “an accumulation of microtrauma” without sufficient time to recover.[174] According to DOL, musculoskeletal disorders account for nearly one in four nonfatal agricultural occupational illnesses and injuries in the United States among adult and child farmworkers.[175] A 2009 review of studies related to musculoskeletal disorders among farmworkers in the eastern United States found that farmworkers were most affected in the neck, shoulders, and upper extremities.[176] Public health research among farmworkers has found that although treating repetitive motion injuries typically requires rest, as well as anti-inflammatories, splinting, physical therapy, and rehabilitation, farmworkers are under pressure to keep working at the same rate and often lack access to medical care.[177] NIOSH has found that children are especially vulnerable to repetitive motion injuries because their bodies are still developing.[178] According to public health studies of farmers and farmworkers, the impacts of repetitive strain injuries may be long-lasting and result in long-term health consequences including chronic pain and arthritis. Lack of Personal Protective Equipment Very few of the children interviewed by Human Rights Watch for this report were given any kind of personal protective equipment by their employers to protect them from nicotine poisoning or pesticide exposure. Instead, they or their parents brought their own, often make-shift, protective supplies. Though protective equipment may help to limit exposure to nicotine and pesticide residues, rain suits and watertight gloves cannot completely eliminate exposure to nicotine from tobacco plants and also significantly increase children’s risk of suffering heat-related illnesses. Garbage Bags as Protective Equipment Without access to proper water resistant rain gear, many children interviewed by Human Rights Watch covered themselves with black plastic garbage bags while they were topping, pulling suckers, and weeding tobacco plants. Children said that the plastic garbage bags provided some protection from their clothes becoming soaked by water on the tobacco plants from heavy dew or after rain. They said that although the garbage bags offered some protection over the core of their bodies, their arms and legs remained exposed to wet tobacco leaves. Some children also stated that the plastic bags caused them to sweat and overheat and so did not wear anything to protect them from wet tobacco or pesticides. Fabiana H., 14, who works in tobacco farming during her summer break from school, told Human Rights Watch: “I wore plastic bags because our clothes got wet in the morning. I wore them on the bottom and on the top. They put holes in the bags so our hands could go through them. It kept some of my clothes dry, but I still got wet. It was wet, and then the sun comes out and you feel suffocated in the bags. You want to take them off.”[181] Nicholas V., 14, described his work on tobacco farms in North Carolina during the summer of 2012: “I would wear a big trash bag to cover my clothes. The plants are wet and it gets on your clothes. We put holes in the bag for our head and our arms. It protects the chest, but the plastic is black so it gets really hot.”[182] Some children said they chose not to wear plastic garbage bags because doing so made them overheat, and others described feeling uncomfortable working in the bags. For some of them, this meant working in wet clothing, putting them at particular risk of nicotine poisoning. Santiago H., a 16-year-old seasonal worker in eastern North Carolina, started working in tobacco at age 11. He described working in wet clothing to Human Rights Watch: “In the mornings you have to find the tobacco, and it’s all wet. Your whole body starts itching because you’re all wet….Your clothes get wet and you just have to wait for the sun to dry you.”[183] Similarly, Adriana F., a 14-year-old who hopes to be a bilingual nurse someday, said she started working after school and on the weekends with her parents and her four brothers on tobacco farms in Kentucky in 2013: “It’s pretty wet. My clothes get wet. Sometimes I feel like I already took a shower, I’m so soaked.”[184] Absence of Gloves Most children interviewed by Human Rights Watch reported wearing latex or cloth gloves some or most of the time while working in tobacco fields. In most cases, children or their parents bought the gloves. Latex gloves are water resistant, which may help to limit absorption of nicotine through the hands. However, children told Human Rights Watch that, in their experience, latex gloves ripped easily when they topped tobacco plants. They said that cloth work gloves quickly get soaked when working with wet tobacco plants. Some children told Human Rights Watch that employers told them not to wear gloves. Others stated that the gloves available were too large for their hands or it was difficult for them to perform the work at the pace required while wearing gloves, so they worked without them. The absence of gloves resulted in additional direct exposure to tobacco plants, including wet tobacco plants. Many children said that tobacco plants left a sticky residue on their hands, described in detail below. Some also stated that they suffered from blisters and other wounds when they did not wear gloves. Santiago H., a 16-year-old seasonal worker in eastern North Carolina, described his hands after topping and harvesting tobacco in the 2012 season: “I get really bad cuts and blisters on my hands. My hands just start peeling off.”[185] Yanamaria W., who speaks English, Spanish, and a Mayan language called Q’anjob’al, and is studying French and Chinese as an 8th grader, described harvesting burley tobacco in Kentucky in 2013 without gloves: “Cutting [tobacco plants] makes sores on our fingers. The handle is made out of wood and you get blisters. They don’t provide gloves or anything. We just use our hands.”[186] Lack of Appropriate Footwear Some children interviewed by Human Rights Watch also described working without shoes when the mud in tobacco fields was deep because the shoes that they owned impeded their work in difficult conditions, and employers did not provide footwear. Without appropriate protective footwear, children worked barefoot or in socks while working in fields with thick mud, sharp rocks, broken glass, exposed roots, and other hazards. Human Rights Watch observed nearly a dozen children working barefoot or in socks in tobacco fields in North Carolina in July 2013. Human Rights Watch interviewed 12-year-old Miguel T. while he topped tobacco plants in a field in North Carolina in July 2013 wearing only socks on his feet. Heavy rains had left the field wet, and he did not have boots that could withstand the thick mud. He explained that working in thick mud with his own shoes made him tired and sore because of the extra physical burden. “The hardest part is walking [in the mud],” he said. “My feet start to hurt when I walk. And when I sit down and then I get home and start to walk, my legs start killing me.”[187] Raul D., a 13-year-old worker in North Carolina, said, “I would go barefoot when it was really muddy. … It was squishy, like a Slip and Slide [waterslide].”[188] According to experts on pesticide exposure, appropriate personal protective equipment to limit pesticide exposure for farmworkers in most fieldwork situations is “work clothing that covers the head, body, arms, legs, and feet; that is a hat, a long-sleeve shirt that is closed around the neck, long pants, socks, and closed shoes.”[189] However, tobacco workers may be at risk for nicotine poisoning even when wearing this attire if water from tobacco plants saturates clothing.[190] A 2001 study on Green Tobacco Sickness among adult farmworkers found that workers who worked in wet clothing for more than 25 percent of the workday reported twice the incidence of Green Tobacco Sickness as compared to workers who spent less time working in wet clothing.[191] According to Dr. Thomas Arcury of Wake Forest School of Medicine, protective equipment such as rain suits and watertight gloves can reduce a worker’s contact with wet tobacco, but may increase the risk of heat stress and heat illness. Human Rights Watch has concluded the use of personal protective equipment is impractical and insufficient to eliminate the health risks to children of working with tobacco plants or dried tobacco leaves in the US, and may present other unacceptable health risks. This may also be the case in other countries. Lack of Health Education and Safety Training Lack of Information about Nicotine Poisoning Few children interviewed by Human Rights Watch said that they received information from their employers or anyone else about acute nicotine poisoning and how to prevent it. Most did not understand that absorption of nicotine through the skin could have been the cause of many of their symptoms. They also did not know when they were at greatest risk of nicotine poisoning or how to protect themselves while working. For example, 17-year-old Jocelyn R., who worked on tobacco farms in eastern North Carolina in 2012, told Human Rights Watch, “All I know about tobacco is that I heard that there is a sickness from it.” Based on their experiences, some children identified that their symptoms, which they referred to in Spanish as entabacarse,were linked to working in wet conditions. For example, 18-year-old Emmanuel P., who has worked in tobacco in eastern North Carolina since he was 15, told Human Rights Watch, “The hardest part is when you’re working and it starts raining. You get wet, and when you’re working and sweating and your clothes are wet, you get sick.”[195] Jaime V., an 18-year-old tobacco worker in Tennessee, also understood that wet conditions were linked to his symptoms. Describing his work on tobacco farms in 2013, he said, “We had to work in the rain. They didn’t want us to stop working. It’s like everything is wet. And because everything is wet, your clothes get soaked and you get sick. That’s what causes the nausea, the vomiting.”[196] Lack of Information about Risks of Pesticide Exposure The vast majority of children interviewed by Human Rights Watch said their employers had not provided them with any education or training on pesticide safety. Violet R., 19, started working on tobacco farms in eastern North Carolina at age 12. “They didn’t tell us anything about the chemicals,” she said. “We’d be working and the grower would spray the fields next to our field….They didn’t move us away.” Eighteen-year-old Natalie G., who also started working on tobacco farms in North Carolina at age 12, and continued working in the 2012 and 2013 summers, had a similar observation: “I never got any training or materials about pesticides.” In rare cases, children interviewed by Human Rights Watch said their employers had told them that pesticides presented health risks, but did not teach the children how to protect themselves from exposure. Eli B., 15, said that his mother was hospitalized after being exposed to pesticides while working in tobacco in North Carolina: “Last year, my mom, she got really sick one time in tobacco because they sprayed that pesticide. She got really dizzy and had to go to the hospital.” Eli said that the contractor who employed him told him about pesticides: “The contractor said, ‘You have to be careful. The job is not easy. They spray pesticides, poison, it might make you dizzy or make you want to throw up.’” However, the contractor did not specify any precautions Eli should take to minimize exposure to pesticides. Eli said, “No, [the contractor] just said, ‘Be careful.’ That’s all.”[200] Alberto H., 16, told Human Rights Watch that he drove an all-terrain vehicle with a sprayer attached to the back through tobacco fields in Kentucky while working in 2013. Even though he was given appropriate protective clothing including gloves, plastic safety glasses, and a mask, his safety training was minimal, and he appeared not to remember clearly the instructions. He said, “They just told me not to get it on me, be careful with it. Always spray… I think they said, against the wind? Like toward where the wind was blowing. Yeah, where the wind was blowing.”[201] Pesticide training for child workers is especially important because, as one public health study found, “Young people are generally less experienced and assertivethan adults, and thus they may not question assignments thatplace them at risk for pesticide exposure.”[202] Inadequate Access to Water, Sanitation, and Shade Many children interviewed by Human Rights Watch said that their employers did not provide drinking water for workers, and most children stated that employers did not provide handwashing facilities or toilets for workers. Many reported that they did not have a place to shelter in shade during the workday. Problems with Drinking Water Most children interviewed by Human Rights Watch stated that the labor contractor or tobacco grower for whom they worked provided them with water. Alicia K., 15, is a 9th grade student and a seasonal tobacco worker in eastern North Carolina. She described a situation that was common among children interviewed by Human Rights Watch: “He [the contractor] gave us lots of water breaks. The contractor had a cooler with water and soda. My mom also carried a cooler with water.”[203] However, some children told Human Rights Watch that the water provided by employers was not clean or drinkable. Nicholas V., a 14-year-old worker in North Carolina said, “The manager brought water to the fields, but it tasted strongly of chemicals. I brought my own, or we’d go to the gas station nearby.”[204] Natalie G. also described problems with the water provided by her employer in North Carolina: “They would give us water. It was in a big round orange cooler. But it didn’t really taste right, and when we opened the top we saw that there were leaves and dirt in it. We never drank that water.”[205] Some children said their employers did not provide enough water to last throughout the workday; placed water so far from where they were working that it was inaccessible to them; or didn’t allow them to take breaks to drink water. Katrina T., 15, Diego T., 16, and Rafa B., 16, worked together on a tobacco farm in eastern North Carolina in the summer of 2013. They told Human Rights Watch that typically a cooler of water was left on the back of a pick-up truck in the field, often quite far from where they worked, and when it ran out, their employer often would neglect to refill it. “They don’t bring it down the row [of tobacco plants]….Sometimes they just leave it there and the water runs out, and they leave it empty until the next day,” Rafa said.[206] Ezra B., a 15-year-old worker in eastern North Carolina, said, “There was water, but the rows [of tobacco plants] were long, so if you had to go back to get some water and go all the way back down your row, by the time you did it people were finished [topping their rows] and it was time to move on.”[207] Other children interviewed by Human Rights Watch said that their employers did not provide water at all. In these cases, children brought their own water or went without. Claudio G., 16, started working in tobacco in eastern North Carolina at age 14. He told Human Rights Watch that one of his former employers didn’t provide drinking water for workers at all. Describing what it was like to work in high heat without water available in 2012, he said, “It was 100 something [degrees] that day. I was working with grown people, and I was the only young one. I was 14. It was so hot. The man didn’t bring us water. I was dehydrated, and I didn’t want to work. I felt like I was going to pass out.”[208] Henry F., 17, worked for hire for several tobacco growers in the 2013 season near the town where he lives in Kentucky. When asked about his access to water at work, he said, “Some farmers bring it [water]. Some farmers they just leave you to work, and it depends on what you bring. It’s up to you if you want to bring water or not.”[209] Lack of Sanitary Facilities Very few children interviewed by Human Rights Watch reported having access to a bathroom or portable toilet. Most children said that they would relieve themselves in wooded areas, if there were any near the worksite, or refrain from relieving themselves at all during the day, including by declining to drink liquids. Some told Human Rights Watch that a contractor or grower would drive them to a nearby gas station, store, or other public facility, or allow them to walk to a public facility or to the grower’s home if it was located near the worksite, where they could use a bathroom. Lucia A., 17, has been working on tobacco farms in North Carolina since age 12. She told Human Rights Watch that she rarely had access to a bathroom while working in tobacco in the 2012 season: “If you have to go, there’s the woods. …First time I was out in the field, I told my mom I have to go pee. And my mom was like, ‘You have to go in the woods.’ But I was scared. I didn’t want to. My mom said, ‘You can’t go all day like that.’ I said, ‘What if a snake comes out?’”[210] Sally G., 16, who lives in North Carolina and worked for the first time in the summer of 2013, told Human Rights Watch, “There is no bathroom. Either you hold it or ask to go to a gas station or restaurant. If not we just do what the other ladies do, just go to the woods.” Her sister Marissa, 14, said, “I’d rather just hold it.” Sally agreed: “Yeah, I hold it.”[211] Margarita S., a 16-year-old worker in North Carolina, described her access to toilets when she worked on tobacco farms in 2012: “We’d stop at a gas station to let us use the bathroom. I never saw a ‘porta potty.’ You’d have to just get yourself somewhere to go to the bathroom. To the trees, or just try to get away from the others working, have someone else help cover you up.”[212] When asked if there was a bathroom at his worksite when he worked on tobacco farms in 2012 in Kentucky, 14-year-old Ricardo M. said, “No. You just have to wait it out. Or go out in the woods.”[213] Lack of Hand - washing Facilities and Tobacco Residue on Hands Most children interviewed by Human Rights Watch stated that they did not have access to hand-washing facilities. Many children reported rinsing their hands with drinking water provided by their employers, but they were rarely given soap. Without access to hand-washing, children said that they were not able to wash off dirt, pesticide residues, or residues from the tobacco leaves, including before eating lunch or snacks. Some children said that they were permitted to wash their hands at a gas station, store, or other public facility, and a few said their parents would bring their own soap and water to the tobacco fields to allow them to wash their hands before lunch. The experience of Blanca A., a 14-year-old worker in eastern North Carolina, was typical among the children interviewed by Human Rights Watch for this report. “They had a cooler full of water, and people would get cups full of water and pour it over my hands for me,” she said. “But there was no soap.” [214] Luciano P., 18, started working on tobacco farms near Lexington, Kentucky at age 15 and worked each season. “On the barn [at one farm], they have a water pump,” he said. “We use that to wash our hands. There’s no soap, just clean water.”[215] Many children told Human Rights Watch that tobacco plants left a sticky residue on their hands that they could see, feel, and taste when eating. They observed the residue on their hands whether or not they wore gloves, though they described it as more severe if they worked without gloves. Nine-year-old Gregory T., who goes to work to help his mother harvest burley tobacco on farms in Tennessee, told Human Rights Watch how his hands felt after working in the 2013 summer: “The plants are sticky. They feel like bubble gum. It’s more and more sticky. When I put my hands together, they stick.”[216] Many described eating with unclean hands during their breaks and at lunch. Katie P., an 11th grader and a member of the Future Business Leaders of America, told Human Rights Watch about her experience working on a tobacco farm in North Carolina in 2013 where she did not have access to hand-washing: “Since the tobacco is like really sour tasting, all that bad taste goes to your mouth, like when you are eating, like during break. And there’s no place to wash your hands or anything.”[217] Carla P., 16, and her younger sister, Lisandra P., 14, have worked for hire together with their parents on tobacco farms in Kentucky for several years. The sisters told Human Rights Watch that one of the tobacco growers for whom they worked in 2013 gave them water to rinse their hands, but no soap. Carla said that tobacco plants left a residue on her hands that she could taste: “It’ll be hard to eat after you’re done working because it will taste sour and yucky.”[218] Lisandra observed the same effect: “It’s dirty. Your hands are black. If you make something [prepare food] after you’ve touched tobacco, it tastes sour.”[219] Lack of Shade Many children interviewed by Human Rights Watch stated that they did not have the opportunity to shelter in shade during the workday. Some reported that the only shade available was inside vehicles used to transport the workers to the worksite, or in wooded areas when the worksite happened to be located near one. For example, Emilio R., a 16-year-old worker in North Carolina, said, “The heat is the hardest thing. It was hot. I could manage everything but the heat was just unbearable. We’d try to work hard to rush to get out of the row to have some shade…. You’re mostly in the middle of the field where there’s really no cover.”[220] Raul D., a 13-year-old worker in North Carolina said, “Some days my skin gets red and it feels like it’s burning on the inside. The worst thing? The heat from being out in the sun with no shade all day: that is really the worst thing.” Health Consequences of Inadequate Access to Water, Sanitation, and Shade The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Field Sanitation Standard requires agricultural employers with at least 10 employees to provide sufficient and accessible drinking water, hand-washing facilities, and toilets.[222] According to OSHA: Farmworkers may suffer heat stroke and heat exhaustion from an insufficient intake of potable water, urinary tract infections due to urine retention from inadequate availability of toilets, agrichemical poisoning resulting from lack of hand-washing facilities, and infectious and other communicable diseases from microbial and parasitic exposures. [223] A review of public health literature found that limited access to toilets and strict work environments where workers are not given time to take breaks contribute to chronic urine retention, increasing the risk of urinary tract infections.[224] In addition, public health studies have shown that washing with soap and water can reduce both pesticide and nicotine residues on the hands of tobacco workers by 96 percent.[225] Sun exposure is associated with several types of skin cancer, and research suggests that sunburn and sun exposure in childhood and adolescence can increase the risk of melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, later in life. Agricultural workers are particularly susceptible due to chronic, prolonged time in the sun and other occupational hazards of farm work.[226] IV. Hours, Wages, and Education Most children interviewed by Human Rights Watch for this report described working long hours, typically between 50 and 60 hours per week. Many children said they felt pressure to work quickly. While most employers allowed children two or three breaks per day, some children were not allowed to take regular breaks, even when they felt sick or were working in high heat. Children described utter exhaustion after working long hours on tobacco farms. Most children earned the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour for their work on tobacco farms, though some children working in burley tobacco were paid a fixed rate during certain parts of the season based on the quantity of tobacco they harvested or hung in barns. Some children reported problems with wages including earning less than minimum wage for hourly work, deductions by the contractor or grower for drinking water or for reasons that were not explained to them, or because of what they believed was inaccurate recording of hours by labor contractors. Most children interviewed by Human Rights Watch attended school full time and worked in tobacco farming only during the summer months, after school, and on weekends. A few children who had migrated to the United States for work and had not settled in a specific community said that they did not enroll in school at all or enrolled in school but missed several months in order to perform agricultural work, including in tobacco farming. Excessive Working Hours and Lack of Sufficient Breaks Most children interviewed by Human Rights Watch described working long hours, typically between 10 and 12 hours per day, and sometimes up to 16 hours. Most said they worked 50 to 60 hours a week. Most employers allowed them two or three breaks per day, including one 10 to 15 minute break in the morning and one in the afternoon, as well as a 30 to 60 minute lunch break in the middle of the day. However, some children told Human Rights Watch that employers did not allow children to take meaningful regular breaks during the work day or breaks even when children felt sick or in high heat. Many children said that some employers pressured them to work as quickly as possible. Most children interviewed by Human Rights Watch worked five days per week; some worked fewer, and some reported working six or seven days per week during particularly labor intensive periods of the tobacco farming season. In some cases, children’s hours exceeded 70 hours per week. Some children in each of the four states where Human Rights Watch did research stated that they sometimes worked long hours, more than 5 days per week, or without breaks in order to increase their earnings. However, most children described having little control over their hours day-to-day. Sometimes the labor contractor or grower expected them to work past dark or start work in early morning hours. If worksites were located far from children’s homes, they left home very early and came home late. Children told Human Rights Watch that sometimes they worked shorter days because the employer determined that the work had been completed or because the employer allowed workers to stop, in some cases due to heavy rain or high heat. US federal law permits children to work in agriculture for unlimited hours, outside of school hours. In non-agricultural jobs, 14 and 15-year-olds cannot work before 7 a.m. or after 7 p.m., except during the summer when they can work until 9 p.m.; and may not work more than 3 hours on a school day, 18 hours in a school week, 8 hours on a non-school day, and 40 hours in non-school week.[227] Working Long Hours Most children interviewed by Human Rights Watch for this report stated that they often started work at 6 or 7 a.m. and worked through the evening. Fourteen-year-old Marissa M., who worked in tobacco farming for the first time in 2013, described a typical work schedule among the children interviewed by Human Rights Watch: “We leave [for work] at 6 a.m., start [working] at 7 a.m., get out at 6 p.m.”[228] Some children in Kentucky reported working very late in the evening, either working until dark at the height of summer when the sun sets late in the day, or working after dark in tobacco curing barns during the fall and winter months. Danielle S., 16, and Lazaro S., 15, who work for hire with their parents on tobacco farms in central Kentucky, told Human Rights Watch that they would sometimes work until 11 p.m. when they were stripping cured tobacco leaves off of sticks in barns. Danielle said, “We go early in the morning, depending on the tobacco. If it rains, we don’t go. If it’s good weather, we go early, like 7 a.m., and we’ll work until 7 at night. When we’re stripping [in barns], we come home really late at night, like 11 at night…Sometimes we finish late.”[229] Bridget F., 15, said her crew in Kentucky would return to work in the evening after a break in the middle of the afternoon: “We’d go to work at 6 a.m. and work until 3 [p.m.] and then we’d take a break, go home and stuff, and then we’d go back at 5 [p.m.] and work until 9 [p.m.]. It was really tiring.”[230] Lack of Sufficient Breaks and Pressure to Work Fast Martin S., 18, told Human Rights Watch that the labor contractor on a Kentucky farm where he worked in 2012 did not give them regular breaks during the work day. “We start at 6 a.m. and we leave at 6 p.m.,” he said. “We only get one five-minute break each day. And a half hour for lunch. Sometimes less.”[231] Blanca A., a 14-year-old farmworker in North Carolina, told Human Rights Watch that the labor contractor who employed her in 2012 pressured workers to end their breaks early: “He [the contractor] always had a machete. He was mean…. He’d yell at us to hurry up and go back in the fields when we were taking breaks. He would make us go out [back to work in the field] when we were on breaks. He’d get frustrated at us and start screaming. He was so strict.”[232] Other children told Human Rights Watch about experiences with labor contractors who did not allow the children to rest when they felt sick and threatened to cut their pay. Elena G., 13, works on tobacco farms in eastern North Carolina with her mother and her older sisters. Describing her experience during her first summer working on tobacco farms in 2012, she told Human Rights Watch, “I would tell the boss [labor contractor] that I needed to stop for a minute, and he was like, ‘Either you work, or you get out, and I’m not going to pay you for the time that you’re out of the field.’ And then I would keep going, but my mom and other workers would help me, but [the contractor] would get mad, saying we [each] need to do our own row [of tobacco plants]….The hardest part was cutting the suckers and keeping up with all the workers. All the workers were older. [We] were the youngest ones. They had more experience, so they could go faster.”[233] Elena’s older sister, 18-year-old Natalie G., told Human Rights Watch that she would hide herself in a row of tobacco plants to get a few minutes of extra rest when she felt sick. She described one instance in 2012: “I got really, really tired working. My mom would say, ‘Hide. Sit down for a few minutes to rest, but then you’ve got to get back to work.’ My knees would be hurting, but the labor contractor would keep hurrying me up. He would wait for everyone at the end of the row and then say, ‘You’re slacking, hurry up!’”[234] Jorge P., a 16-year-old worker in eastern Tennessee, said, “It was a hard job. We had to be like super fast. They [the labor contractors] didn’t want you to quit for a second. They wanted you to keep working. Even though it was raining, they didn’t want us to stop.”[235] Joseph T., told Human Rights Watch that he started working on tobacco farms in 2011, when he was 16. He described how he felt while trying to keep up with adult workers on tobacco farms in North Carolina in 2012: “It’s like you’re walking and everybody else is running. Like that.”[236] Children in Kentucky and Tennessee told Human Rights Watch that being paid based on the volume of tobacco they harvested contributed to the pressure to work quickly. For example, 18-year-old Jaime V., an 11th grade student, started working in tobacco in Tennessee at age 14. Describing his experience working in tobacco in 2012, he told Human Rights Watch, “The tobacco is the hardest, because you have to work fast. If you’re not fast, you don’t make money because it’s contract [piece rate] work. It’s 22 or maybe 27 cents per stick. You have to work very, very fast to make any money.”[237] Yanamaria W., a 14-year-old girl who works on tobacco farms with her parents and her younger brother, had a similar observation about working for a piece rate in Kentucky in 2013: “The hardest part is the cutting. It’s harder because you’re paid by a contract [a piece rate], not by the hour, so if you want to get more money, you have to work faster.”[238] Pressure to work fast may put children at additional risk of injury. As cited above, in one case documented by Human Rights Watch, pressure by a tobacco grower on 17-year-old Isaac may have contributed to his loss of two fingers in an accident involving a mower.[239] Lack of Rest Days Some children told Human Rights Watch that they worked up to six or seven days a week. Claudio G., 16, said that he worked seven days per week in tobacco in North Carolina during the most labor-intensive part of the season: “We worked every day, Monday to Sunday. The farmer was behind on his crop, so we had to work seven days. It was tough because we didn’t get any breaks, and when you’re working every day, you can’t enjoy the weekend.”[240] Andrea D., 16, started working for a tobacco grower in Kentucky together with her parents at age 6. She told Human Rights Watch that during the summer months, she and her family often worked for many days straight without taking a day off during labor-intensive parts of the growing season. “In the summer we work every day, every day until we finish [the work]. From 8 in the morning until 6 [p.m.].”[241] Traveling Long Distances for Work Children interviewed for this report in North Carolina told Human Rights Watch that they often worked on farms located far from their homes, based on where the labor contractor needed workers on any given day. On such days, children would wake very early in order to reach the work location by early morning. For example, Eliceo F., 15, said, “Me and my brother would wake up around 3 a.m. because the job was pretty far and we’d get there at 6 a.m. and start working…. We’d get there and work, take our break, like 35 minutes for lunch. Then we’d start working again until we were done. Usually I’d fall asleep [in the car] on the way back [home]. I was tired.”[242] Exhaustion after Long Work Hours Elan T., 15, and Madeline T., 16, worked together on a tobacco farm after migrating to North Carolina from Mexico with their mother and younger brother. Madeline described the fatigue they felt after working for 12 or 13 hours in tobacco fields: “Just exhaustion. You feel like you have no strength, like you can’t eat. I felt that way when we worked so much. Sometimes our arms and legs would ache.”[243] Patrick W., 9, described similar feelings after working long hours with his father, a hired tobacco worker, in Tennessee in 2013. “I feel really exhausted,” he said. “I come in [to the house], I get my [clean] clothes, I take a shower, and then it’s usually dark, so I go to sleep.”[244] Bridget F., a 15-year-old tobacco worker in Kentucky, told Human Rights Watch about her work on tobacco farms in 2013: “It’s really hard. The long hours and it’s really hot. And when you’re done, you’re really tired. You just want to go to sleep.”[245] Sixteen-year-old Dario A., who worked on tobacco farms in Kentucky in 2013, said, “The hardest of all the crops we’ve worked in is tobacco. You get tired. It takes the energy out of you. You get sick, but then you have to go right back to the tobacco the next day.”[246] Wages Nearly all of the children interviewed for this report stated that they were working on tobacco farms for hire. Of the nine children Human Rights Watch interviewed who worked on their family farms, four also worked for hire on farms owned by other tobacco growers. Only a few of the very youngest children worked with their parents sporadically and without pay. Among children working for hire, about half of the children interviewed were employed by a labor contractor or a labor subcontractor at some point in 2012 or 2013, although many of them also worked directly for tobacco growers. Most children said that employers paid them hourly wages for their work. Those paid an hourly wage stated that they typically received wages weekly, although some reported being paid every two weeks or daily. Other children, primarily those working in burley tobacco in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia, stated that they received a fixed rate of payment for the quantity of tobacco they harvested or hung in barns (“piece rate wages”). When children reported earning piece rate wages, they were paid “by the stick,” meaning their wages were determined by the number of tobacco plants they cut and placed on wooden sticks, or by the number of sticks of tobacco plants they hung in curing barns. Most children stated that they received wages directly for their work; some said that employers added children’s wages to a parent’s form of payment. Some said that they were paid directly by growers, often by check. Others were paid by labor contractors who received lump sum payments from growers. When children were paid by contractors, they were most often paid in cash. A few of the youngest children told Human Rights Watch that they received a small allowance from their parents for working with them in the tobacco fields. Some recorded the hours they worked or quantity of tobacco they harvested independently and reported their work to their employers. Other children stated that employers, either the labor contractor or grower, kept a record of their work and determined their wages at the end of the week. While most children reported earning at least US federal minimum wage, some earned less. Some reported problems with wages including deductions by the contractor or grower for drinking water or for reasons that were not explained to them, or because of what they believed was inaccurate recording of hours by labor contractors. Payment of Less Than Minimum Wage Most children interviewed by Human Rights Watch reported earning the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour for their work on tobacco farms. For a child working approximately 50 to 55 hours per week at minimum wage, earnings amounted to between $350 and $450 per week. Children interviewed by Human Rights Watch in North Carolina reported earning higher wages in tobacco relative to other crops. For example, Blanca A., 14, works for hire on tobacco farms in eastern North Carolina with her mother and her older sister. She said, “I really don’t work in anything else [besides tobacco]. Tobacco gets paid better than cucumber.”[247] While some children earned more than minimum wage, some children received less than the minimum for hourly work. For example, Natalie G., an 18-year-old worker in North Carolina who volunteers at a local community garden, told Human Rights Watch that a labor contractor paid her significantly less than minimum wage for hourly work in 2012: “He tried to pay us less than we worked. He actually ended up paying us about $6.50 per hour. For example, I worked [for three 11-hour days] and earned $240, but didn’t get [paid] that full amount.”[248] Martin S., 18, migrated to Kentucky from Mexico by himself in 2011 to join his mother who was already living in the US, and started working for a labor contractor on tobacco farms when he arrived in Kentucky. He told Human Rights Watch that his crew was paid less than minimum wage in 2012: “All the workers in our group were paid $7 per hour, and they were all paid cash.”[249] Similarly, Isaac S., age 18, told Human Rights Watch that a tobacco grower told him and others in his work crew that they would receive the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour for their work on a tobacco farm, but the grower paid them only $6 per hour in cash. “He [the grower] paid us less than we were promised,” he said.[250] Another child interviewed by Human Rights Watch reported earning just $40 for six days of work planting tobacco in Kentucky.[251] With some exceptions, agricultural workers are entitled to minimum wage. These exceptions include workers on small farms and some piece-rate workers, including certain local hand harvest laborers and non-local children ages 16 and under who are working alongside their parents.[252] Where workers are entitled to minimum wage, agricultural employers may pay either an hourly rate or a piece-rate, but those who pay on piece-rate must by law ensure that the earnings for all hours worked in a week are sufficient to bring the average hourly wage up to minimum wage, unless they fall under one of the previously mentioned exceptions. All agricultural workers are deprived of overtime pay protections under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Most other workers, by contrast, are required to be paid one-and-a-half times their regular rate of pay for each hour worked in excess of 40 hours per week.[254] In addition, agricultural workers are also excluded from the protections of the National Labor Relations Act and do not have the right to organize and collectively bargain with their employers, except in cases in which states (such as California) enact state laws protect their right to organize.[255] Piece Rate Wages Children working in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia told Human Rights Watch that they earned piece rate wages during the burley tobacco harvest. Workers described cutting down tobacco plants full of leaves and sliding the plants onto wooden sticks designed to be hung in barns for curing tobacco leaves. Each stick held six tobacco plants, and workers were paid a fixed rate based on the number of sticks of tobacco plants they completed in a day. Some workers were also paid piece rate wages for the number of sticks full of tobacco plants that they hung in curing barns in a day. Children in Kentucky reported earning between 12 cents and 16 cents per completed stick for harvesting tobacco plants. Children in Tennessee reported earning between 22 cents and 55 cents per stick for harvesting tobacco plants and hanging the sticks in curing barns. The daily earnings of children interviewed by Human Rights Watch varied considerably under this system depending on the child’s pace of work and the fixed rate offered by employers. Some children reported completing 250 sticks per day, and earning between $50 and $60 for a full day of work, while others reported completing more than 800 sticks per day, and earning over $100 for a full day of work. Some children interviewed by Human Rights Watch in these states reported earning piece rate wages for performing certain tasks and hourly wages for other tasks. Henry F., a 17-year-old worker in Kentucky, the oldest of six siblings, plays on his high school soccer team, and has been working in tobacco farming since he was 13. He told Human Rights Watch that he was paid a piece rate for his work cutting burley tobacco plants during the harvest and an hourly rate to hang sticks of harvested tobacco in curing barns in 2013. Explaining this system of work and payment, he said, “You put a stick in the ground, put the spear on top of it, and cut six plants of tobacco and put them on the stick. And you do that until you finish a row. And you write down how much you did in a book, to keep count of how many you got. You get paid 14 cents a stick.”[256] Some children in Tennessee told Human Rights Watch that their wage included payment for both cutting tobacco plants and hanging them in barns. Jaime V. told Human Rights Watch: “We got paid 22 cents for a stick. That was for the cutting and the hanging.”[257] Public health studies among farmworkers have found that piece rate payment adds additional pressure on workers to work as quickly as possible and avoid taking breaks, sometimes even at the expense of drinking water or cooling down when overheated.[258] Agustin F., a 15-year-old worker, migrates to Kentucky from Florida each year to work on tobacco farms. He described the pressure he put on himself to work fast, saying, “When I’m cutting, I earn $200. [It] depends on how much I work. We make about 14 cents per stick. [It] depends on how much you cut. You can earn $100 or $125, $135 in a day. If you can stand it, you keep working. I work until I can’t stand it.”[259] Unscrupulous Wage Practices Some children reported problems with wages including deductions by the contractor or grower for drinking water; for reasons that were not explained to them; or because of what they believed was inaccurate recording of hours by contractors. For example, Eli B., 15, lived alone for two months in North Carolina while his mother migrated to another state for work. Eli started working on tobacco farms at age 11, and he told Human Rights Watch that in his first season, his employer—a labor contractor—routinely paid him less than he was owed for the time he had worked. “They would steal your money, the contractors,” he said. “I wrote down my hours I worked, and summed it up, but when he would pay me that day, it didn’t come out as I had it down. It was my first year. I didn’t know how things worked out.” Eli said that he never complained to his employer about his pay: “No, I never asked him. I asked him how much I got paid an hour, that’s all.”[260] Jaime V., an 18-year-old worker in Tennessee, also reported inaccurate recording of hours by his labor contractor several years ago: “Sometimes my check would be short by 7 or 10 hours. We got paid every two weeks. But sometimes the hours didn’t turn out right. I would talk to the contractor about it, but he’d say, ‘I don’t know.’ He didn’t do anything about it.”[261] Estevan O., 15, told Human Rights Watch that an employer he worked for in North Carolina in 2012 docked his pay allegedly because he made mistakes in his work: “The contractor kept track of hours. Sometimes they would complain and take two hours off because we supposedly didn’t do the job right, but we went and fixed it anyway. They didn’t warn us about this penalty.”[262] Children also reported deductions from their pay for car rides to the work sites, water, or reasons they did not understand. Margarita S., a 16-year-old worker in North Carolina who plans to attend college and study to be a teacher’s assistant, told Human Rights Watch about deductions from her wages in 2012: “Ten dollars was taken out of every check. I’d pay $10 per day for a ride. Sometimes $15. I also had to pay for water, Gatorade, soda that they would have there [where we worked].”[263] Marissa G., 14, told Human Rights Watch that she started working on tobacco farms in North Carolina so that she could buy her own clothes and school supplies. She said that she did not receive any pay for a day she worked topping tobacco in 2013: “I got $130, but for one day I worked the labor contractor didn’t pay me. He said ‘The boss man didn’t give everyone pay for last Friday.’ I don’t know why. He promised to pay me next week.”[264] Under federal law, agricultural employers must provide workers with wage statements explaining any deductions from their wages. Workers must give employers permission to make deductions for transportation, food, and some other expenses. Education The vast majority of children interviewed by Human Rights Watch attended school full-time and worked in tobacco farming, and in some cases in other agricultural crops as well, only during the summer months, after school, and on weekends. However, some children who had migrated without authorization to the United States for work and had not settled in a specific community told Human Rights Watch that they did not enroll in school at all or enrolled in school but missed several months in order to perform agricultural work, including in tobacco farming. Some children stated that they occasionally missed school in order to work in times of financial hardship for their families. Calvin R. migrated to the United States by himself at age 13, leaving his family behind in Mexico. He never enrolled in school. Instead, he joined a migrant crew that travels between several states to work in different crops. He told Human Rights Watch he started working in tobacco in 2012 at age 16: “We come to Kentucky every year from other states. We work in Washington in the apples, and in Tennessee there’s a packing plant where we work. We came to Kentucky … at the beginning of August. We usually come here around the same time every year to work in tobacco.”[266] When asked about his plans for the future, Calvin said, “If tomorrow or the next day brings an opportunity to study, I would like that. … [I]f in the future, I could accomplish my dreams, I would feel good and proud of myself … And one of my most important dreams is to continue studying.” Jason H., 17, told Human Rights Watch that he migrated alone to the United States from Mexico in 2012. Each year he travels to North Carolina from Florida in March to work in tobacco and other crops. He works all year long, and does not attend school. “The work is like a wheel,” he said. “It’s never going to be finished.”[268] Other migrant children told Human Rights Watch that they missed several months of school to work in tobacco farming. For example, Guillermo S., 18, and Victor R., 15, are cousins working in different agricultural crops in different states, including on tobacco farms in North Carolina. Their parents live in Mexico. Guillermo told Human Rights Watch, “We just got here to North Carolina from Florida in June. We’ll stay here six months, until November. Then we’ll go to Florida again.”[269] When asked about his status in school, Victor told Human Rights Watch, “I go to school in Florida, but not here,” indicating that he missed at least three months of school in 2013.[270] Several children reported to Human Rights Watch that they had skipped a few days of school in recent years to work in tobacco farming. These children said they worked instead of going to school to help their parents in times of financial hardship or when a family member was injured and unable to work. Yanamaria W., a 14-year-old worker in Kentucky, told Human Rights Watch, “I’ve skipped school to go to work. Our house [rent payment] takes up like $600 a month, and my parents don’t get [earn] much when they’re doing [sorting] the [tobacco] leaves.”[271] Adriana F., 14, who works on tobacco farms in Kentucky with her parents and her four brothers, told Human Rights Watch that she had missed a few days of school in 2012 and 2013 to work in tobacco farming. “I missed school to go work when my Dad popped a bone in his back and he needed me to help him,” she said.[272] Her 17-year-old brother, Henry F., said that he occasionally skipped school in 2012 and 2013 to earn money to help his family: “I’ve missed school to work. I chose it myself. My parents always told me to go to school. But I always choose my family over everything else.”[273] In addition, some children reported working long hours after school that interfered with their ability to keep up with schoolwork. Luciano P., is 18 and in 10th grade at a Kentucky high school. He moved to the United States at age 11, attended school for several years, but dropped out of school at 15 to work for most of the year on tobacco farms. “I used to go to school when I was little, but I was working in tobacco,” he said. “Two years ago, when I was 15, 16, I stopped going to school. I would just work year round.” He re-enrolled in school at 17, and now he is struggling to make up for the missed years: “Now I started going to school and they put me in 10th grade, and I’m in a program at school that will help me catch up. It’s a lot of work.”[274] He said that since he re-enrolled he works only after school: “Once I started school when I was 17, I never missed school to go to work. They say in school, every day counts.”[275] The right to education is a fundamental right belonging to all children, regardless of immigration status, and is protected under both US law and international human rights law. V. International Legal Standards In recognition of the potential benefits of some forms of work and of the realities that require many children to enter the workforce to support their own or their families’ basic needs, international law does not prohibit children from all work. However, international treaties address the particular circumstances under which children under 18 may work and define standards to protect children from exploitation and other harmful consequences of child labor. Based on the findings documented in this report and applicable international law, Human Rights Watch considers the employment of children in the United States in tobacco farming tasks which expose them to direct contact with tobacco plants to be in violation of international law prohibiting children under the age of 18 from engaging in harmful or hazardous work. US and state laws and practices concerning children’s participation in agricultural work are inconsistent with or violate international conventions protecting the rights of children. ILO Convention on the Worst Forms of Child Labor ILO Convention No. 182 Concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor (Worst Forms of Child Labor Convention), ratified by the United States in 1999, prohibits slavery or slave-like practices, child pornography and prostitution, illicit activities, including drug trafficking, as well as the employment of children under the age of 18 in “work which, by its nature or the circumstances in which it is carried out, is likely to harm the health, safety or morals of children” (also known as hazardous work).[277] As a state party to the Worst Forms of Child Labor Convention, the United States is obligated to take immediate and effective steps to ascertain what forms and conditions of child labor in agriculture violate the convention and then eliminate them.[278] The Convention obliges member states to take immediate action to prevent children from engaging in the worst forms of child labor; to provide direct assistance for the removal of children already engaged in the worst forms of child labor; and to identify and reach out to children at risk.[279] Although the ILO does not have a specific list of occupations that constitute hazardous work, agriculture is considered one of the three most dangerous sectors in which children work, along with construction and mining.[280] Far from acknowledging the dangers of agricultural work to children and taking these appropriate steps, the United States by law permits children to engage in such labor, including on tobacco farms, with fewer restrictions than children working in other industries. The ILO’s Committee of Experts has observed that section 213 of the US Fair Labor Standards Act “authorizes children aged 16 and above to undertake, in the agricultural sector, occupations declared to be hazardous or detrimental to their health or well-being by the Secretary of Labor.”[281] In its 2012 and 2014 reports,[282] the Committee noted with serious concern the withdrawal of proposed regulations (explained in detail below), “which would have increased the parity between agricultural and non-agricultural child labour prohibitions by prohibiting some tasks associated with agricultural work to children under 18 and strengthening the protection provided to children under 16 years working in agriculture,” and strongly urged the US government to take measures to protect the health and safety of children working in agriculture.[283] The Committee also recommended that the government reintroduce the proposed regulations. Hazardous Child Labor in Tobacco Farming Based on the findings documented in this report as applied to the Worst Forms of Child Labor Convention and ILO Recommendation No. 190 Concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor (Worst Forms of Child Labor Recommendation),[285] Human Rights Watch considers any exposure to tobacco plants in tobacco cultivation, harvesting, and curing to be hazardous child labor because of the health risks to children associated with exposure to nicotine, pesticides, and tobacco dust. While there may be some light work on tobacco farms that is suitable for children, particularly in the early stages of tobacco production, Human Rights Watch believes most aspects of tobacco farming in the United States constitute hazardous child labor under ILO definitions. The Worst Forms of Child Labor Recommendation provides guidance to countries on determining what types of work constitute harmful or hazardous work. The recommendation states that in defining the “worst forms of child labor,” consideration should be given, as a minimum, to: (a) work which exposes children to physical, emotional or sexual abuse; (b) work underground, under water, at dangerous heights or in confined spaces; (c) work with dangerous machinery, equipment and tools, or which involves the manual handling or transport of heavy loads; (d) work in an unhealthy environment which may, for example, expose children to hazardous substances, agents or processes, or to temperatures, noise levels, or vibrations damaging to their health; (e) work under particularly difficult conditions such as work for long hours or during the night or work which does not allow for the possibility of returning home each day. [286] Each state party to the Worst Forms of Child Labor Convention is expected to use this guidance to identify specific tasks and occupations that it considers hazardous for children. Hazardous Child Labor in the US Human Rights Watch research found that children participating in the cultivation, harvesting, and curing of tobacco in the US routinely face the risks outlined in subparagraphs (c) through (e), including work at dangerous heights; work with dangerous machinery, equipment and tools; work that involves the manual handling or transport of heavy loads; work in an unhealthy environment where they are exposed to hazardous substances (including nicotine and pesticides) and extreme temperatures; and work for long hours. Most notably, Human Rights Watch believes that any exposure to tobacco plants or dried tobacco constitutes hazardous work under subparagraph (d) due to the health risks to children. The Worst Forms of Child Labor Recommendation states that certain types of work in an unhealthy environment (outlined in subparagraph (d) above) may be permitted for children ages 16 and above “on the condition that the health, safety and morals of the children concerned are fully protected, and that the children have received adequate specific instruction or vocational training in the relevant branch of activity.”[287] Human Rights Watch has determined, based on our findings, that under the conditions present in farms in the US, there is no way to make exposure to tobacco plants or dried tobacco leaves safe for children under 18. The ILO Office provides technical assistance to governments in the implementation of the Worst Forms of Child Labor Convention, but in Human Rights Watch’s view, does not provide adequate guidance regarding the hazardous nature of tobacco work for children. In a discussion with Human Rights Watch, an ILO expert stated that the ILO does not believe that personal protective equipment (PPE) is sufficient to protect children working in tobacco cultivation, harvesting and curing.[288] According to Benjamin Smith, ILO senior officer for Corporate Social Responsibility, “PPE generally does not render hazardous work safe enough for children of legal age to be employed. Evidence from ILO projects underscores the fact that, for persons under 18, PPEs give a false sense of security and are not consistently worn because they are generally too large, too expensive, and too uncomfortable.” Recognizing the risks to children of work in tobacco farming, the US Department of Labor (DOL) proposed regulations in 2011 that would have prohibited all children under 16 (the minimum age for hazardous work in agriculture in the US) from “all work in the tobacco production and curing, including, but not limited to such activities as planting, cultivating, topping, harvesting, baling, barning, and curing.” However, the regulations were withdrawn in 2012 in response to pressure from agricultural groups. As noted above, the ILO Committee of Experts strongly urged the US government to reconsider withdrawal of the proposed regulations. Hazardous Child Labor in Tobacco Farming outside the US Such problems documented by Human Rights Watch in the US seem likely to extend to tobacco farms outside the United States. A resolution from a February 2003 ILO tripartite meeting on the future of employment in the tobacco sector, has encouraged all parties engaged in implementing the Worst Forms of Child Labor Convention and the Minimum Age Convention[293] to adopt “concrete measures to eliminate child labour in the tobacco chain.” The resolution called on the ILO director general to continue to promote the conventions and to assist in their application specifically in the tobacco sector.[294] These efforts should include providing governments with effective guidance regarding the hazards of tobacco work, and encouraging countries to review and update their hazardous work lists under the Worst Forms of Child Labor Convention accordingly. A number of countries have prohibited all children from working in tobacco farming, including Brazil and India, the top two global producers of leaf tobacco after China.[295] Brazil prohibits children under the age of 18 from “planting, with the exception of clearing, levelling soil and weeding; at harvest, processing or industrialization of tobacco.”[296] India prohibits children under 18 from working with tobacco, including “handling tobacco in any form.”[297] Malawi, the sixth leading producer of tobacco worldwide, prohibits children from working in all tasks on commercial tobacco farms, and from certain tasks on all farms: “Tobacco Sector: i) topping and suckering activities or handling tobacco leaves in the harvesting process; ii) handling or grading tobacco leaves in damp conditions or conditions of poor lighting or ventilation; iii) any other work involving tobacco in commercial tobacco estates and farms.”[298]Other countries, including Russia,[299] Kazakhstan,[300] Uganda,[301] also prohibit children under 18 from performing many tasks that expose them to tobacco plants. The Eliminating Child Labour in Tobacco Growing (ECLT) Foundation, a Geneva-based “partnership of tobacco farmers and companies dedicated to protecting children from child labour wherever tobacco is grown,”[302] recommends that the following activities be prohibited for children under 18 years of age, in line with ILO conventions 138 and 182: applying fertilizers; handling and spraying pesticides; using tools which are sharp or too heavy for the child; using equipment that a child cannot command safely; topping and suckering by hand or by knife to remove early flowers; harvesting, carrying leaf to curing sheds; working in curing barns; packing, grading and tying tobacco leaves into crate or bales for transport to market, storage. [303] According to ECLT Foundation Executive Director Sonia Velasquez, ECLT also believes that not all activities in tobacco growing are hazardous or prohibited for children and recommends that farmers provide decent work for youth of legally working age, whenever allowed by the national laws.[304] Seven of the ten companies approached by Human Rights Watch for this project serve on the board of the ECLT Foundation.[305] Convention on the Rights of the Child The United States has signed but not ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC),[306] but as a signatory is obliged to refrain from acts that would defeat the treaty’s object and purpose.[307] The CRC sets out the minimum protections to which children—defined as persons under age 18—are entitled. Article 32 of the CRC provides specifically that children have a right “to be protected from economic exploitation and from performing any work that is likely to be hazardous or to interfere with the child's education, or to be harmful to the child's health or physical, mental, spiritual, moral or social development.” Governments must take appropriate legislative, administrative, social and educational measures in this regard.[308] Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), ratified by the United States in 1994, defines prohibited discrimination as any race-based distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference that has “the purpose or effect” of curtailing human rights and fundamental freedoms.[309] The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, which monitors state compliance with the ICERD, has interpreted the convention to prohibit laws or policies that have “an unjustifiable disparate impact” on racial and ethnic minorities.[310] The burden of weaker US labor law protections for agricultural workers, as compared to non-agricultural workers, falls overwhelming on Hispanic American citizens and immigrants. Most hired agricultural workers in the United States are Hispanic.[311] As a result, the inadequate labor protections for agricultural workers have a disparate impact on Hispanic American citizens and non-citizen immigrants, amounting to discrimination under international law.[312] In 2008, the committee noted with concern that, “workers belonging to racial, ethnic and national minorities, in particular women and undocumented migrant workers, continue…to be disproportionately represented in occupations characterised by long working hours, low wages, and unsafe or dangerous conditions of work.”[313] The committee has called upon the US government “to take all appropriate measures” to review existing laws policies to “ensure the effective protection against any form of racial discrimination and any unjustifiably disparate impact.”[314] The Right to the Highest Attainable Standard of Health The right of children to the highest attainable standard of health is found in international instruments, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.[315] The ICESCR, signed by the United States in 1995 but not ratified, obligates governments to take the steps necessary for the “prevention, treatment and control of… occupational and other diseases,”[316] and recognizes “the right of everyone to the enjoyment of just and favorable conditions of work” including “safe and healthy working conditions.”[317] Governments have the obligation to improve “all aspects of environmental and industrial hygiene,” for example, through preventive measures to avoid occupational accidents and diseases, and the prevention and reduction of the population’s exposure to harmful substances such as harmful chemicals “that directly or indirectly impact upon human health.”[318] Corporate Responsibility Although the United States government has the primary responsibility to respect, protect, and fulfill human rights under international law, private entities also have responsibilities regarding human rights, as recognized by international law and other norms.[319] These include, at a minimum, the responsibility to respect all human rights, but also include additional responsibilities of protection in relation to certain issues, such as children’s rights. The broad consensus that businesses have human rights responsibilities is also reflected in various standards and initiatives, as discussed below. Consistent with their responsibilities to respect human rights, all businesses should have adequate policies and procedures in place to prevent and respond to human rights abuses associated with their activities or in their supply chain. Children’s Rights With respect to business responsibilities regarding children’s rights, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child has identified that “duties and responsibilities to respect the rights of children extend in practice beyond the State and State-controlled services and institutions and apply to private actors and business enterprises,” and that “all businesses must meet their responsibilities regarding children’s rights and States must ensure they do so.” [320] The Committee also notes that “voluntary actions of corporate responsibility by business enterprises, such as social investments, advocacy and public policy engagement, voluntary codes of conduct, philanthropy and other collective actions, can advance children’s rights,” but that these actions “are not a substitute for State action and regulation of businesses … or for businesses to comply with their responsibilities to respect children’s rights.”[321]The committee has paid particular attention to “contexts where the impact of business activities and operations on children’s rights is most significant,” including where “businesses operate abroad in areas where there is insufficient State protection for children’s rights.” [322] The Children’s Rights and Business Principles, developed by UNICEF, the UN Global Compact, and Save the Children and launched in March 2012, identify a comprehensive range of actions that all business should take to prevent and address adverse impacts connected with their activities and relationships, and maximize positive business impacts on children’s lives. One of the principles is to contribute to the elimination of child labor in all business activities and business relationships. To accomplish this, businesses are encouraged not only to adopt child labor policies and due diligence procedures, but also to work with governments, social partners and others to promote education and sustainable solutions to the root causes of child labor, including through programs to support youth employment, skills development, and job training opportunities for young workers. International Business and Human Rights Initiatives The basic principle that businesses of all sizes have a responsibility to respect human rights, including workers’ rights, has achieved wide international recognition. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, UN Human Rights Council resolutions on business and human rights, UN Global Compact, various multi-stakeholder initiatives in different sectors, and many companies’ own codes of behavior draw from principles of international human rights law and core labor standards in offering guidance to businesses on how to uphold their human rights responsibilities. For example, the “Protect, Respect and Remedy” framework and the “Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights,” which were developed by the then-UN Special Representative on Business and Human Rights, John Ruggie, and endorsed by the UN Human Rights Council in 2008 and 2011, respectively, reflect the expectation that businesses should respect human rights, avoid complicity in abuses, and adequately remedy them if they occur. They specify that businesses must exercise due diligence to identify, prevent, mitigate, and account for the impact of their activities on human rights.[324] More detail concerning expectations for companies within the Ruggie framework are discussed below, in Responsibilities of Companies Purchasing Tobacco in the United States. The OECD sets out norms for responsible social behavior by multinational firms, incorporating the concept of due diligence and the content of ILO core labor standards. The guidelines call on enterprises to “respect human rights, which means they should avoid infringing on the human rights of others and should address adverse human rights impacts with which they are involved,” including by carrying out “human rights due diligence” and working to remedy adverse human rights impacts they have caused or to which they have contributed. Regarding workers’ rights, these guidelines state that enterprises should contribute to the effective abolition of child labor and take adequate steps to ensure occupational health and safety in their operations. [325] V I. Obligations of the US Government to Protect Child Farmworkers The US government and the states have an obligation to protect children from dangerous and exploitative work. However, legal loopholes in federal and state labor laws leave child farmworkers without many protections afforded to all other working children. Federal labor law allows farmworker children to work longer hours, at younger ages, and in more hazardous conditions than all other working children. State laws in North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia—the four states where Human Rights Watch did research for this report—do little to provide additional protections for child farmworkers. The double standard for child agricultural workers reflects a larger disparity in how farmworkers are treated under US law. Analysis of federal and state labor laws reveals glaring discrepancies in the treatment of agricultural workers as compared to workers in all other industries. Protection for Child Farmworkers under US Law Child Labor Laws and Wage and Hour Laws Federal Laws The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), enacted in 1938, is the federal law that sets standards for minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping, and the employment of children.[326] Agricultural employers are exempt from many provisions of the law, leaving adult and child farmworkers without many fundamental protections that are provided to workers in other industries. For example, all farmworkers are exempt from overtime pay provisions,[327] and farmworkers on small farms are exempt from minimum wage requirements.[328] Farmworkers are also excluded from the federal law that guarantees employees the right to engage in collective bargaining and prohibits employers from interfering with freedom of association.[329] The child labor provisions of the FLSA treat agricultural work differently from work in other industries, providing child farmworkers with less protection than all other working children. For example, outside of agriculture, the employment of children younger than 14 is prohibited;[330] 14 and 15-year-olds may not work before 7 a.m. or after 7 p.m. (9 p.m. in the summer);[331] and the standard minimum age for work is 16. However, in agriculture there is no minimum age at which employers may hire children to work unlimited hours outside of school, day or night, provided the work takes place on a small farm with written parental consent.[332] In agriculture, any employer, regardless of the size of the farm, may hire children ages 12 and 13 to work unlimited hours outside of school, provided they have written parental consent or work on a farm where a parent is employed.[333] 16. In agriculture, employers may hire children ages 14 and up to work unlimited hours outside of school. There is no parental consent requirement.[334] Under the FLSA, children working in US agriculture are also permitted to engage in tasks deemed “particularly hazardous” at younger ages than other working children. In nonagricultural occupations, the minimum age for particularly hazardous work is 18, including for children working in a parent’s business. In agriculture, 16 and 17-year-olds hired to work on farms are permitted to work in particularly hazardous occupations.[335] For example, using a power-driven circular saw or band saw is allowed for children starting at age 16 in agriculture; whereas in other industries, the minimum age for using such saws is 18 years. Children who work on a farm owned or operated by their parents can do particularly hazardous work at any age, no matter how young.[336] The disparate treatment of child agricultural workers is particularly troublesome in light of federal data indicating agriculture is the most dangerous industry open to young workers.[337] State Laws States have the power to provide stronger labor protections than federal law, particularly for young workers. However, the four states where Human Rights Watch conducted research fail to provide any additional protections to child farmworkers. There is no general child labor law in North Carolina. Child labor laws in Kentucky and Tennessee specifically exempt agricultural workers,[338] and Virginia’s child labor law is no more protective than federal law.[339] Laws governing wages and hours in North Carolina, Kentucky, and Virginia do not apply to agricultural workers,[340] and Tennessee does not have state-level wage laws. Health and Safety Laws and Regulations Hazardous Occupations Orders Under the FLSA, the US Department of Labor (DOL) is charged with determining what jobs are hazardous and therefore prohibited for children under certain minimum ages, known as the hazardous occupations orders.[341] The list of occupations deemed particularly hazardous for children working in agriculture is decades-old and inadequate.[342] In particular, the list leaves off hazardous tasks associated with tobacco production and curing. The list of non-agricultural hazardous occupations was updated in 2010.[343] In 2011, DOL proposed amendments to child labor regulations to update the list of hazardous occupations in agriculture prohibited for children under age 16, based on recommendations made by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Among other restrictions,[344] the new rules would have prohibited all children under 16 from “all work in the tobacco production and curing, including, but not limited to such activities as planting, cultivating, topping, harvesting, baling, barning, and curing.” The proposed regulations would not have applied to children working on family farms. DOL withdrew the proposed amendments to the rules in 2012 in response to opposition from some groups representing agricultural interests.[346] DOL has not reintroduced the amendments. Pesticide Regulations Despite the greater vulnerability of children to the harmful effects of pesticide exposure, federal pesticide regulations fail to provide children with special consideration. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which oversees the registration, distribution, sale, and use of pesticides, issues the Worker Protection Standard, a federal regulation intended to “reduce the risks of illness or injury resulting from…occupational exposures to pesticides.”[347] The Worker Protection Standard sets no minimum age for mixing or applying pesticides, although regulations set by DOL under the FLSA prohibit children under 16 from handling the most toxic pesticides.[348] Federal regulations also establish restricted-entry intervals (REIs), the period of time after a pesticide's application during which workers should not be in the treated areas without protective equipment.[349] However, restricted-entry intervals are set using a 154-pound adult male as a model—they are not adapted for children. A 2003 study of children with acute occupational pesticide-related poisoning found that 26 percent of ill children in agriculture were exposed despite compliance with restricted-entry interval requirements, suggesting, according to the authors, “that longer intervals may be requiredto protect youths.”[350] The Worker Protection Standard and the REI regulations are formulated with adults—and only adults—in mind. A process to revise the Worker Protection Standard has been ongoing for more than a decade, and in 2013, the EPA announced that it would propose revisions to the rule in 2014. The new regulations will likely set a minimum age for workers to mix and apply pesticides.[351] Occupational Safety and Health Laws and Regulations Few federal occupational safety and health regulations protect child farmworkers. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) within DOL is charged with establishing and enforcing standards to promote safe and healthy working conditions for all workers. Federal safety and health regulations include “general industry standards,”[352] most of which are exempt for agricultural workers,[353] and “agriculture standards.”[354] Standards for agriculture include the Field Sanitation Standard, which requires agricultural employers to provide adequate drinking water, hand-washing facilities, and toilets[355]; tractor regulations; and rules for safety with agricultural equipment. Even these limited protections do not apply to workers on small farms; the US Congress annually limits the application of the Occupational Safety and Health Act by exempting from all enforcement activity any farm that employs 10 or fewer employees and has not had an active temporary labor camp within the last 12 months.[356] OSHA can rely on its so-called “general duty clause” where standards for agriculture are insufficient.[357] The general duty clause is a requirement in the Occupational Safety and Health Act that each employer must provide each employee a job and a place to work “free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees.” State Laws and Regulations Individual states may develop and operate their own occupational safety and health programs, known as State Occupational Safety and Health Plans, which must be approved by federal OSHA. Once in place, they supplant (with limited exceptions) direct federal OSHA enforcement in that state. Under federal law, states must adopt standards that are “at least as effective” as federal standards,[359] and according to OSHA, most states adopt standards identical to those in place at the federal level.[360] All four states covered in this report operate State Plans, but none have laws or regulations on occupational health and safety that provide greater protections for agricultural or child workers than federal standards. Enforcement of Existing Laws Enforcement of Child Labor Laws and Wage and Hour Laws Federal Enforcement The Wage and Hour Division of DOL is charged with enforcing the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act. Wage and Hour investigators are stationed across the US and are authorized to conduct investigations and determine compliance with child labor and the other provisions of the FLSA. As noted above, the weak protections for child farmworkers in federal labor laws enable most employers to hire child workers legally. In 2010, Human Rights Watch documented poor enforcement of child labor laws in agriculture by the Wage and Hour Division.[361] Since 2010, the division has hired additional investigators and added multilingual investigators and at the end of 2013, had 1,040 investigators (compared to 894 in April 2010).[362] In 2013, DOL conducted 201 investigations of agricultural employers under the Fair Labor Standards Act, and 1,227 cases under the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act, spending a total of 94,059 hours on agricultural investigations. In 2013, DOL found a total of 36 cases of child labor violations involving 62 children in agriculture, 5 percent of all child labor cases that year.[363] The “hot goods” provision is another enforcement tool. The provision prohibits the shipment in interstate commerce of any goods produced in violation of minimum wage, overtime, or child labor requirements.[364] It can be extremely effective, particularly in agriculture, in that it allows the Wage and Hour Division to seek temporary restraining orders preventing the movement of tainted goods, incentivizing companies, growers, and other affected businesses to cooperate with the division. Such cooperation has included future compliance agreements and arrangements for ongoing monitoring. Though use of the “hot goods” provision increased in 2013, it remains an exceptional law enforcement tool: the division invoked the provision only once in 2012 and five times in 2013. [365] Enforcement of Health and Safety Laws and Regulations The enforcement of health and safety laws and regulations concerning farmworkers is piecemeal. DOL’s Wage and Hour Division is responsible for enforcing violations of the hazardous occupations orders across all industries. The Wage and Hour Division also enforces OSHA’s Field Sanitation Standard, but only in states where OSHA has jurisdiction; state agencies are responsible for enforcement of the Field Sanitation Standard when states have adopted State Occupational Safety and Health Plans. In all four states where Human Rights Watch conducted research, state agencies are responsible for enforcement of the standard. The EPA delegates enforcement of the Worker Protection Standard to state agencies. The EPA reported conducting 3,552 agricultural inspections in 2012 to investigate compliance with the Worker Protection Standard,[367] and found 1,218 violations of the rule, most often related to posting and training requirements.[368] VI I . Responsibilities of Businesses Purchasing Tobacco in the United States The US is one of the top producers of unmanufactured tobacco in the world, behind China, Brazil, and India.[369] Approximately 5.8 trillion cigarettes are consumed around the world annually. China is by far the largest market, accounting for nearly one-third of global consumption, but it is almost exclusively operated by a state monopoly, China National Tobacco. Excluding China, two-thirds of world industry volume in cigarettes and other tobacco products is produced by four major global tobacco companies: Philip Morris International (PMI), British American Tobacco (BAT), Japan Tobacco Group (JT), and Imperial Tobacco Group.[371] In the United States, the largest manufacturing companies are Philip Morris USA (PM USA, a subsidiary of Altria Group), Reynolds American, and Lorillard. All of these companies publicly report that they do not own tobacco farms but purchase tobacco directly from tobacco growers or from leaf suppliers from many countries around the world, including the United States. In addition, the world’s largest leaf merchant companies, Alliance One and Universal Corporation, which, among other business operations, supply leaf tobacco to these and other tobacco manufacturers around the world, also purchase tobacco leaf from growers in the US. Some of these companies have a stated policy concerning child labor. All of the companies formally acknowledge certain standards found in International Labour Organization conventions. However, several companies appeared to apply standards, including a standardized industry program known as the US Tobacco Good Agricultural Practices Program, in their US operations that only require compliance with US law, while requiring adherence to ILO standards, including concerning child labor, in operations outside the US. As noted above, US child labor law falls well below international standards and fails to adequately protect children. From the information supplied to Human Rights Watch, Philip Morris International has developed the most detailed and protective set of policies and procedures, including training and policy guidance on child labor and other labor issues which it is implementing in its global supply chain. PMI has also developed specific and expansive lists of hazardous tasks that children under 18 are prohibited from doing on tobacco farms, which include most tasks in which children come into prolonged contact with mature tobacco leaves, among other hazardous work. Japan Tobacco Group stated that it is actively developing its child labor policies, including through cooperation with ILO experts on child labor, although it allows children older than 15 to perform a range of tasks in tobacco farming, including hazardous tasks, if children receive proper training and safety equipment, and its Agricultural Labor Policy defers to national law in the event of differences in the policy and national laws. Alliance One also developed a child labor policy and measurable standards for its implementation based on ILO principles, but in the information provided to Human Rights Watch, did not specify whether it considers certain tasks hazardous beyond those established in national laws. The information shared by Imperial Tobacco Group with Human Rights Watch also did not specify how the company interprets or implements international child labor standards in practice in the US or their global supply chains. BAT provided to Human Rights Watch more detail on how it interprets international child labor standards, but only specified a small range of tasks that it considers hazardous. From the information made available to Human Rights Watch, Altria Group does not have a separate child labor policy but requires entities in its supply chain to maintain compliance with international minimum age standards, and expects growers and suppliers in the US to refrain from employing children under 18 in hazardous occupations as defined under US law. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco, responsible for leaf purchasing for all Reynolds American manufacturing subsidiaries, also does not have a specific child labor policy. Reynolds American states that it requires that growers with whom the company directly contracts respect national laws, but according to information shared with Human Rights Watch, apparently does not have similar expectations for other suppliers in the supply chain. Lorillard does not contract directly with any farms in the US and relies on its suppliers, Alliance One and Universal, to have policies and procedures in place concerning child labor. Lorillard does not directly monitor the treatment of workers in its supply chain. Universal does not have a stated child labor policy, but told Human Rights Watch that it “agreed with” ILO standards on minimum age and the worst forms of child labor and commits itself to the relevant policies established by companies that purchase tobacco from it. It is important to note that company policies generally prohibiting “child labor” do not prohibit all work by children under age 18. As noted above, under international standards, the term child labor refers to work done by children below the minimum age of employment or under hazardous conditions. An effective child labor policy should specify in detail what types of work are considered hazardous and therefore prohibited. None of the companies identified in this report have policies that explicitly prohibit children under 18 from all work in which they have direct contact with tobacco in any form, as Human Rights Watch recommends, based on our research findings and international standards. As noted above, the UN Guiding Principles on Responsible Business details basic steps companies should take to respect human rights including to avoid causing or contributing to adverse human rights impacts through their own activities and to seek to prevent or mitigate adverse human rights impacts that are directly linked to their operations, products, or services by their business relationships, and mitigating abuses if they occur. “Business relationships” are understood to include relationships with business partners, entities in its value chain, and any entity directly linked to its business operations, products, or services. To achieve effective due diligence in the supply chain, companies should have a policy commitment to meet their responsibility to respect human rights; effective processes to identify, prevent, mitigate, and account for how they address their impacts on human rights; and processes to remediate any adverse human rights impacts a company causes or to which it contributes. The Guiding Principles also state that for businesses to gauge actual or potential human rights risks in their own activities or through their business relationships, businesses should draw on internal and independent external human rights expertise and involve meaningful consultation with potentially affected groups and other relevant stakeholders. Response to Human Rights Watch When preparing this report, Human Rights Watch sent letters to the 10 companies listed above, asking questions about their child labor policies, worker protection policies, as well as procedures for monitoring for child labor and human rights abuses in the company’s supply chain, including both on farms with which they directly contract as well as in other parts of their supply chain, for example when purchasing through leaf merchant companies. Human Rights Watch also requested meetings with each of the companies. Subsequently, Human Rights Watch sent additional letters in March and April 2014. All of the letters sent by Human Rights Watch can be found as an appendix to this report available on the Human Rights Watch website.[377] Nine companies responded to Human Rights Watch’s initial letters. Copies of those responses can be found in the appendix. Relevant information from each company’s response to Human Rights Watch and from the company’s website is also included below. The company responses varied widely, with some providing extensive detail on their policies and practices and others focusing exclusively on training and contractual expectations to ensure compliance with US law. China National Tobacco did not respond to the letter and did not return calls or emails from Human Rights Watch. In addition, Human Rights Watch met with or spoke by phone with executives from each of the companies except China National Tobacco, who did not respond to Human Rights Watch’s requests for a meeting, and Lorillard and Imperial Tobacco Group, who declined to meet with Human Rights Watch. Companies’ Child Labor Policies Most, although not all, of the tobacco manufacturing and leaf merchant companies whom Human Rights Watch contacted for this report had child labor policies in place, as detailed below. Altria Group Altria Group, headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, is the parent company of three US tobacco companies, including Philip Morris USA, the largest cigarette company in the US, which “has approximately half of the U.S. cigarette market share,” and manufactures brands such as Marlboro, Basic, L&M, Parliament, and Virginia Slims.[379] Altria Client Services (ACLS), writing on behalf of PM USA and other Altria Group tobacco companies, told Human Rights Watch that it contracts directly with US tobacco growers and buys tobacco from tobacco suppliers who source both domestically and internationally, and that “a significant majority” of ACLS tobacco is sourced in the US. Concerning child labor, ACLS told Human Rights Watch that its grower and supplier contracts require US tobacco growers to refrain from employing anyone under 18 in hazardous occupations as defined by the US Secretary of Labor’s list of hazardous occupations, which legally apply to all children under 16, and include driving a vehicle transporting passengers, riding on a tractor as a passenger, and handling or applying category I (the most toxic) agricultural chemicals. Outside of the US, Altria Group requires growers and suppliers to “comply with the minimum age requirements prescribed by applicable laws or the International Labour Conventions, whichever is higher.” In letters and a meeting with Human Rights Watch, ACLS also shared information on other relevant policies and procedures, including its Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) program in the US as well as its participation in the US Tobacco GAP program, described below. ACLS also provided information to Human Rights Watch on its monitoring of its child labor and other policies in the US and internationally, noting that it had conducted assessments of all direct-contracted growers in the US in 2011 to 2013.[383] In response to the recommendations concerning child labor outlined in this report, Altria Group stated that it believed the recommendation is “counter to current farming practices in the US” and “at odds with certain communities where family farming is a way of life.” Altria Group committed to work through the Farm Labor Practices Group multi-stakeholder initiative in North Carolina regarding child labor as well as education and training for growers, farm labor contractors, and workers, and to enhance its monitoring of farms “to better quantify child labor and relevant circumstances on our contracted farms.” British American Tobacco BAT is a leading global tobacco company with products sold in around 180 markets.[385] BAT products account for 13 percent of the global cigarette market, and an even greater percentage of the global market outside of China.[386] BAT has more than 200 cigarette brands in its portfolio, including Pall Mall, the third largest cigarette brand in the world.[387] BAT owns a 42 percent stake in the US tobacco manufacturing company Reynolds American.[388] BAT stated that about 2.5 percent of its global leaf purchases are sourced from the US through third-party leaf suppliers, including Reynolds American.[389] In a January 2014 letter to Human Rights Watch, BAT stated that it does not employ children in any of its direct operations and that it “aims to apply its commitment” to protecting children from labor exploitation in its global supply chain, drawing on guidance from the ILO’s Minimum Age Convention and Worst Forms of Child Labor Convention. BAT’s Child Labor Policy states that the company will “comply with all relevant and applicable local and international labour regulations, treaties, conventions and principles relating to the protection, welfare and health & safety of children.”[391] BAT also states that “the welfare and health & safety of children are paramount at all times,” that farm work should not conflict with or impede children’s proper educational development including school attendance, and that “[no] farm activity that could be considered to put children at risk is undertaken by children.” Work activities BAT considers unacceptable for children include long hours and “activity that could put children at risk,” including driving tractors and lifting heavy loads, and BAT requires “all pesticides and other dangerous material need to be out of reach of children.”[392] In its letter to Human Rights Watch BAT did not specify other tasks or work that BAT considers hazardous for children in the United States or other countries. Concerning all workers, including child workers, and exposure to nicotine, BAT’s website states: There are a number of steps we recommend tobacco workers take to reduce the risk of contracting GTS. These include: Avoiding handling wet tobacco by waiting for the rain (or dew) to dry from the leaf. Quickly changing out of wet clothes saturated with moisture originating from green tobacco leaves. Wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to avoid direct skin contact with tobacco during harvesting. We recommend clothing such as gloves, trousers and shirts/aprons made from impermeable cloth, although in hot weather this can increase the risk of heat stress. The success of this measure largely depends on the farmers’ willingness to use PPE. Regarding expectations for and monitoring of its suppliers, BAT relies on a program called the Social Responsibility in Tobacco Production (SRTP) program, adopted by a number of tobacco manufacturers (see Imperial Tobacco Group, below), which sets minimum performance levels for contracted leaf growers on agricultural practices as well as labor, child labor, occupational health, and other issues.[395] Concerning child labor, since 2012 the SRTP program has included the statement: “formal reference is given to the treatment of child labour in the context of ILO conventions 138 and 182.” BAT requires all of its suppliers, including in the US, to act in accordance with the SRTP program and educate farmers and workers on the program and monitor progress.[397] Under the program, suppliers carry out self-assessments and a monitoring group conducts assessments of suppliers’ reports.[398] BAT states that the 2013 SRTP child labor score for the company’s US suppliers was 98 percent.[399] Imperial Tobacco Group According to its website, the UK-based Imperial Tobacco Group operates in more than 160 countries worldwide and manufactures cigarette brands that “are among the most popular in the world,” including Davidoff and Gauloises.[400] The company also states it is “the global leader in fine cut tobacco and papers” and has exclusive rights to sell all luxury Cuban cigars.[401] Imperial Tobacco Group’s 2013 annual report recorded a 5.8 percent global market share.[402] Imperial Tobacco Group does not have a separate child labor policy but stated in a January 2014 letter to Human Rights Watch that the company and its subsidiaries do not employ children and that it works with suppliers to encourage their “compliance with international standards on child labor.” This includes: freedom for children from any work that subjects a child to economic exploitation, is hazardous, interferes with the child’s education, or is harmful to a child’s health or physical, mental or social development. It is not clear from the information available to Human Rights Watch how Imperial Tobacco Group applies these definitions to actual working conditions in its supply chain, including which types of work Imperial Tobacco Group considers harmful or hazardous. Imperial Tobacco Group stated that it had not received reports of child labor concerning its suppliers, but that “given the global incidence of child labour in agricultural supply chains, we understand that it is an issue that we must address.”[404] Imperial Tobacco Group participates in the Social Responsibility in Tobacco Production (SRTP or SRiTP) program, described above, which applies to all of its global suppliers, and also gives guidance to and measures suppliers on adherence to ILO Minimum Age and Worst Forms of Child Labor Conventions. Imperial Tobacco Group monitors suppliers’ self-assessments and adherence to the SRiTP program’s standards.[405] Imperial Tobacco Group reported that less than 5 percent of the tobacco used in its products is purchased in the United States through international leaf merchants. Imperial Tobacco Group representatives declined to meet with Human Rights Watch.[406] Japan Tobacco Group Japan Tobacco Group (JT) described itself as “a leading global tobacco company, with operations in over 70 countries, and an estimated 15 percent global market share, outside of China.”[407] Its leading brands include Winston, Camel, Mevius (formerly Mild Seven), and Benson & Hedges.JT’s businesses include a Japanese domestic tobacco business and Japan Tobacco International (JTI), headquartered in Geneva.[408] JTI’s Agricultural Labor Policy (ALP), which applies to all of its direct-contracted growers, includes “child labor elimination,” and states that children “shall not carry out activities such as crop harvesting or other activities related to physically handling green leaf tobacco, carrying heavy loads, or those involving handling or application of crop protection agents.” The policy allows children ages 16 and above to carry out such tasks, where national law permits it, but requires the “health, safety, and moral of the children to be fully protected, including [by] comprehensive specific training.” Concerning nicotine poisoning, JTI requires growers to make workers aware of the risks of GTS and apply reasonable measures to limit its risk, in line with JTI guidance supplied to growers. The ALP specifies that in case of a conflict between the ALP and local legislation, local legislation will prevail. In a February 2014 letter to Human Rights Watch, JT stated that JTI’s contracts with US tobacco growers specify that the “Producer undertakes not to use, at any time and for any purpose, any kind of child labor and/or forced labor [as defined by the applicable legislation and ILO conventions] for the growing, harvesting, curing, classifying, and baling of […] tobacco.”[412] JTI will monitor the implementation of the ALP through a Know Your Grower (KYG) program, which it has begun rolling out in different countries, with a plan for implementation throughout its supply chain, including the US, by 2018. JTI told Human Rights Watch the company has not implemented the ALP with leaf supply companies and other intermediaries in its supply chain, but will do so after the implementation of KYG. JTI also participates in the US Tobacco Good Agricultural Practices program, and engages in the North Carolina Farm Labor Practices Group (both described below) in the US. JTI stated that it partners with the ILO and other international organizations “to address the fundamental causes of child labor.”[415] In response to Human Rights Watch’s recommendations outlined in this report, JTI indicated that it believes “many activities can be safely carried out on a [tobacco] farm by young people between 16 and 18,” and stated that JTI would seek to determine themselves the risks associated with different tobacco farming activities. JTI also committed to “continue the community support” in the areas where they purchase tobacco in the US. Lorillard The Lorillard Tobacco Company, a subsidiary of Lorillard, is the oldest continuously manufacturing tobacco company in the United States and the third-largest tobacco manufacturer in the country. The Greensboro, North Carolina-based company manufactures several well-known brands, including Newport, the top selling menthol and second largest selling cigarette in the US.[417] Based on the information available to Human Rights Watch, Lorillard does not appear to have a separate child labor policy, but has policies concerning compliance with national child labor laws.[418] In a January 2014 letter to Human Rights Watch, Lorillard stated that it relies “on the implementation of policies and procedures and monitoring by our tobacco suppliers to ensure that there are no child labor law violations.” Lorillard contracts with Alliance One and Universal for the purchase of tobacco leaf in the US. Lorillard stated that, in response to the December 2013 letter from Human Rights Watch, it approached Alliance One and Universal and requested those companies to abide by their own stated child labor and social responsibility policies and to “support efforts to improve workplace conditions for farm workers.”[420] Lorillard also stated that because it does not contract directly with tobacco growers, it does “not directly monitor the treatment of laborers on tobacco farms” but that it reviews its “supplier policies on child labor and other compliance on a regular basis and inquire as to any issues identified.”[421] The January 2014 letter to Human Rights Watch also stated that Lorillard “had not received any reports of child labor or other labor violations.”[422] Lorillard declined to provide information about the volume of tobacco purchases in the United States. Lorillard also declined to meet with Human Rights Watch, citing the company’s “indirect relationship with the tobacco farms.”[423] Philip Morris International Philip Morris International (PMI), a United States-based tobacco company with operations based in Lausanne, Switzerland,[424] describes itself as “the leading international tobacco company” with an estimated 16 percent share of the total cigarette market outside of the United States.[425] PMI owns seven of the world’s top 15 cigarette brands, including Marlboro, the world’s leading brand and sells its products in over 180 markets.[426] According to PMI, the company contracts with more than 3,000 tobacco growers in the United States, supplying approximately 10 percent of PMI’s global leaf purchases.[427] Of the companies contacted by Human Rights Watch for this report, Philip Morris International has the most detailed child labor policy and articulated meaningful progress to develop and implement policies and procedures to address child labor in its supply chain. PMI’s detailed and specific child labor policy, a component of its Agricultural Labor Policy (ALP), prohibits work for children under 15, or the minimum age set by a country’s laws, whichever is higher, with the exception of light work on family farms. PMI also prohibits children under 18 from engagement in hazardous work.[429] PMI listed the hazardous activities that children of any age should not perform, including: driving vehicles, using sharp tools in movement, …, handling and applying pesticides and fertilizers, carrying heavy loads, working at heights, working long hours that interfere with health and well-being, working in extreme temperatures, working at night, harvesting, topping and pulling suckers off of tobacco plants.[430]In a February 2014 meeting with Human Rights Watch, PMI officials gave several examples of tasks that the company did not consider hazardous for children, including weeding, handling seedlings, watering seedbeds, and selecting tobacco leaf after plants have dried. PMI has developed detailed guidance materials, training materials and programs, and internal and external monitoring procedures specific to each market in which it works to facilitate implementation of the ALP, including the child labor policy in its global supply chain. PMI also engaged Verite, a non-profit organization, to provide PMI with “experience, advice and hands-on support in the creation, implementation and monitoring of the ALP Program.”[433] In early 2012, PMI incorporated its ALP Code standards in contractual arrangements with all growers in the United States and conducted training sessions to cover all of its contracted farms. PMI reported to Human Rights Watch that it severed ties with 20 growers who stated that they could not comply with the ALP standards on child labor.[434] PMI noted that its ALP code “maintains generally stricter standards than defined in US federal law, both in terms of the types of activities deemed hazardous and the age limits for performing such activities.”[435] With regard to training and implementation of the ALP worldwide, since 2001, “over 3,700 PMI employees (and our suppliers) and nearly 500,000 tobacco growers in more than 30 countries have been trained on ALP principles and standards” for the farms where PMI sources tobacco.[436] PMI also undertook to identify priority issues on farms and to “systematically address issues and measure [the] progress on a long-term basis.”[437] Children involved in hazardous work falls under the company’s “prompt action” category.[438] In a February 2014 written response to Human Rights Watch, PMI provided extensive detail about implementation of other aspects of the ALP in the US and globally.[439] PMI also shared with Human Rights Watch details about its monitoring of growers’ adherence to the ALP in the US and globally, including plans to systematically monitor 100 percent of its farms in the US by 2015. PMI participates in the multi-stakeholder Farm Labor Practices Group and stated that it has assumed leadership roles in subgroups created to address specific issues. In response to Human Rights Watch’s findings and recommendations, PMI stated that it would broaden its internal monitoring effort to visit all contracted farms in the US, in addition to the third-party assessment during the 2014 peak season. PMI also stated that it did not agree with Human Rights Watch’s recommendation to extend restrictions on children working to all stages of the tobacco crop. PMI stated that it would welcome “a strengthening of the US regulatory framework to align it with [PMI] and ILO’s international standards, and would support a sector-wide approach” to child labor in tobacco farming. PMI also described initiatives underway in the US, including a higher education scholarship program for children of farmworkers in 2015, and a summer school for migrant farm children. Reynolds American Reynolds American (RAI) is the parent company of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company (R.J. Reynolds), the second-largest US tobacco company, and Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company, producer of Natural American Spirit cigarettes, among other companies.[443] Reynolds’ products include two of the best-selling cigarettes in the US: Camel and Pall Mall.[444] As noted above, BAT holds a 42 percent stake in Reynolds American. R.J. Reynolds, which purchases tobacco leaf on behalf of all Reynolds American tobacco product manufacturing subsidiaries, does not have a specific child labor policy that it implements throughout the supply chain, but stated to Human Rights Watch that it addresses child labor through its expectations that the growers with whom it contracts directly comply with national law. It articulates these expectations through the contracts with growers and provides training and educational resources to growers and workers on health, safety, and other issues to help them operate in “a safe and legally compliant manner.” R.J. Reynolds did not articulate to Human Rights Watch any policies concerning child labor or worker protections expectations for non-contract farms supplying tobacco to the company through intermediaries, namely leaf merchant companies. Both the R.J. Reynolds letter to Human Rights Watch and the Reynolds American website indicate that the businesses distance themselves from the labor practices in their tobacco supply chain, stating: “Because farm workers are not our employees, we have no control over their recruitment, their hiring, or the terms and conditions of their employment,” and “Because farm workers are not our employees, we have no direct control over their sourcing, their training, their pay rates, or their housing and access to human services.” Instead, the company said it focuses on ensuring that its suppliers “have the training and resources they need to do the right thing” for workers in the supply chain.[448] The company’s website also states that it seeks to “Support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights.” According to its letter to Human Rights Watch and its website, R.J. Reynolds hired a third party group to audit the growers contracting with the company in North Carolina in 2011 and 2012. According to the auditor’s report, auditors assessed 408 growers and interviewed 922 workers (about 22 percent of the workforce).[450] R.J. Reynolds summarized the audit as “encouraging in the areas of worker treatment and safety, but revealed that further work is needed in the area of record-keeping.”[451] Concerning child labor the audit found three instances of children under 18 working for hire.[452] Farm Labor Organizing Committee and Reynolds American In 2007, the Farm Labor Organizing Committee (FLOC), a farmworker union based in North Carolina, began calling on Reynolds American and R.J. Reynolds to meet with farmworker representatives concerning occupational health and safety hazards, unsafe housing, wage problems, and other human rights concerns for tobacco workers in the state. FLOC has also urged the companies to guarantee freedom of association and collective bargaining for tobacco workers in their supply chain. For many years, the company declined FLOC’s requests to meet, arguing in an open letter published on their website that they were not “the appropriate party to negotiate any collective bargaining agreement with FLOC.”[453] At a 2011 shareholder meeting, following publication of a joint report by FLOC and Oxfam America on human rights abuses on tobacco farms in North Carolina,[454] R.J. Reynolds announced it would monitor working conditions on tobacco farms from which it sourced tobacco, and participate in the multi-stakeholder Farm Labor Practices Group. In 2012, after another year of public campaigning, Reynolds management agreed to meet directly with FLOC. Negotiations between Reynolds and FLOC are ongoing.[455] Tobacco Leaf Merchant Companies Alliance One International Alliance One International describes itself as “a leading independent leaf tobacco merchant serving the world's largest cigarette manufacturers.” According to its website, Alliance One selects, purchases, processes, packs, stores, and ships leaf tobacco, buying tobacco in more than 45 countries. [456] Alliance One reported that in 2013 it contracted with 1,074 growers in the United States, including 446 in Tennessee, 397 in North Carolina, 226 in Kentucky, and 5 in Virginia. For the 2013 fiscal year, PMI, JTI, Imperial Tobacco Group, and China National Tobacco each accounted for more than 10 percent of Alliance One revenues. In 2013, Alliance One delivered approximately 19 percent of its tobacco sales to customers in the United States. [457] In a March 2014 letter to Human Rights Watch, Alliance One stated that its child labor policy, a component of its agricultural labor policy, is based on ILO principles. The policy states that there shall be “no employment or recruitment of child labor,” that no child under 18 is involved in hazardous work, and that 15 is the minimum age for work, unless national law sets a higher standard. Children 13 to 15 may be involved in light work on a family farm. The company did not specify whether it defines specific tasks hazardous beyond those established in national laws. In its contracts with growers in the US, however, Alliance One requires that growers do not use child labor and that the grower and subcontractors “will at all times be in strict compliance with all Federal and State laws, statutes, regulations and standard[s] regarding child labor.” Globally, Alliance One states that its child labor principles and expectations are communicated directly to its contracted farmers, generally by the company’s Field Technicians and Agronomy Area Managers, based on country-specific communication plans. Alliance One also relies on farm visits, farmer meetings, media, brochures, collaboration with NGOS, industry organizations, and governments to communicate its child labor expectations. In addition, Alliance One states that “globally Field Technicians are trained to look for evidence of child labor use during each farm visit and to remind farmers of the importance of not allowing this practice.” Alliance One reported that its personnel visit approximately 10-12 farms in the United States per week during the growing season.” In its detailed written response to Human Rights Watch, Alliance One did not describe any third party independent monitoring of its child labor policy or other policies. Alliance One’s letter to Human Rights Watch provided details on other aspects of its Agricultural Labor Policy and its implementation. Universal Corporation According to Universal Corporation’s website, the company is the world’s leading leaf tobacco merchant and processor, based on volume, conducting business in more than 30 countries. Universal's business includes selecting, buying, shipping, processing, packing, storing, and financing of leaf tobacco for sale to, or for the account of, manufacturers of tobacco products. [464] Universal states that the company handled between 25 and 35 percent of the flue-cured and burley tobacco produced in North America, mainly from the US, in the 2013 fiscal year. [465] Universal Corporation reports that globally its five largest customers are PMI, Imperial Tobacco Group, China National Tobacco, BAT, and JTI. In the aggregate, these customers accounted for more than 60 percent of Universal’s consolidated revenues for each of the past three fiscal years. [466] Universal does not have a child labor policy, but told Human Rights Watch that it commits itself to the relevant policies established by companies that purchase tobacco from it. In a March 2014 letter to Human Rights Watch, Universal stated that it has “agreed with the fundamental positions contained in the International Labor Organization’s Convention 138 on minimum age and Convention 182 on the worst forms of child labor.” Universal acknowledged that its approach presents challenges as many regions around the world “have conflicting laws about minimum age or the definitions of ‘child labor’ and ‘hazardous work’ (or there are no laws at all).” Universal states that in its contracts with tobacco growers in the US it “expressly forbids our growers to employ workers under the applicable minimum legal age for the specific work performed.” Universal also noted, as have some other tobacco manufacturing companies whom Human Rights Watch contacted in conjunction with this report, that it has limited agronomy personnel for support, training, and monitoring of its contracted growers in the US and that universities’ agricultural extension services fulfill these functions. Universal reported that outside of the US, its agronomy services include programs on “elimination of child labor.” [472] Universal also told Human Rights Watch that it helped develop the US Tobacco GAP Program, described below, which requires tobacco growers’ compliance with US federal and state laws and that it participates in the Farm Labor Practices Group. Industry-Wide Multilateral Initiatives US Tobacco Good Agricultural Practices Program Tobacco product manufacturers, leaf merchants, growers, government agencies, universities, and agricultural organizations have together developed an industry-wide set of standards for tobacco production in the United States, called the US Tobacco Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) Program. The US Tobacco GAP is defined as “agricultural practices which produce a quality crop while protecting, sustaining or enhancing the environment with regard to soil, water, air, animal and plant life as well as protecting and ensuring the rights of farm laborers.”[473] One of the goals of the US Tobacco GAP was to reduce the burden on growers, who typically contract with multiple buyers, to meet different companies’ agricultural practice and record keeping requirements. A handbook published in 2012 contains guidelines to growers for crop management, environmental management, and labor management, and has been endorsed by many of the companies approached by Human Rights Watch.[474] The US Tobacco GAP approach to labor emphasizes growers’ obligations under US law, and requires growers to provide “a safe work environment,” recognize workers’ rights to freedom of association, meet minimum standards for housing, and train workers on health and safety hazards, including nicotine poisoning.[475] Regarding child labor, the GAP Program handbook requires growers to: “Follow all relevant contractual and legal requirements concerning the regulations on child labor,” and advises growers to review federal and state laws governing the employment of children under 18 in agriculture.[476]A number of companies noted to Human Rights Watch that starting in 2013, third party auditors will be used to evaluate grower compliance with US GAP on an annual basis. Multi-Stakeholder Initiative Since April 2012, three large tobacco product manufacturers began participating in a North Carolina-based multi-stakeholder initiative, called the Farm Labor Practices Group (FLPG). The group now includes several leading tobacco manufacturers and leaf merchants—Altria Group, Philip Morris International, Reynolds American, Japan Tobacco International, Alliance One, and Universal—along with tobacco grower representatives, FLOC, the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR), and US Department of Labor representatives. Many of the companies specifically mentioned their participation in the FLPG in their written responses to and in meetings with Human Rights Watch. The aim of the group, which has met several times since its inception, is, according to Altria Group, “to help both farmers and farmworkers better understand and comply with applicable labor laws and regulations, and to foster improved farm labor practices, where needed.”[479] According to Universal, “Significant issues identified by the FLPG to date include the use of disreputable labor contractors, the protection of undocumented migrant labor, and housing conditions for farm laborers” and that the FLPG “had not identified child labor as a significant problem in U.S. tobacco farming relative to other issues being discussed.” There are sub-groups assigned to specific topics such as public policy, training and education, and grievance procedures.[481] At the invitation of some members of the group, Human Rights Watch staff gave a presentation to the group on April 10, 2014 concerning the findings and recommendations of this report. Following the presentation, FLPG members agreed to form a working group on child labor. Eliminating Child Labour in Tobacco Growing Foundation Seven of the ten companies contacted for our report are members of the Eliminating Child Labour in Tobacco Growing Foundation (ECLT Foundation), a Geneva-based organization devoted to preventing child labor in tobacco agriculture. The organization’s US$6.4 million budget is funded through contributions primarily from tobacco and tobacco leaf companies that sit on the foundation’s board. The foundation carries out projects in tobacco-growing countries, including Kyrgyzstan, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, and Uganda, (and had projects in Zambia and the Philippines in the recent past), to withdraw children from tobacco farmwork, improve access to education, and strengthen economic livelihoods in tobacco-producing communities. ECLT Foundation initiatives to provide children with alternatives to tobacco work include model farm schools in Tanzania, after-school education programs income-generation projects, and occupational safety and health advocacy in Malawi, holiday camps for children of tobacco workers in Kyrgyzstan, and scholarship programs in Uganda. The Foundation does not carry out any projects in the United States. VIII. Recommendations To the U S Congress Regarding Child Labor Enact legislation prohibiting children under age 18 from engaging in hazardous work on tobacco farms in the United States, including any work in which children come into contact with tobacco plants of any size or with dried tobacco leaves. Amend the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) to: apply the same age and hour requirements to children working in agriculture as already apply to all other working children: prohibit the employment of children under age 13; limit the number of hours that children ages 14 and 15 can legally work to three hours per day on a school day and 18 hours per week during a school week; eight hours per day on a non-school day and 40 hours per week when school is not in session; and prohibit before-school work by children ages 15 and younger; raise the minimum age for particularly hazardous work in agriculture from 16 to 18, in line with existing standards in all other industries; incorporate the Environmental Protection Agency’s Worker Protection Standard, 40 C.F.R. Part 170, into the child labor regulations, thereby protecting children working in agriculture not only from pesticides with acute effects (such as nausea, skin rashes, and dizziness), but also from those with chronic or long-term effects (such as cancer and interference with sexual reproduction); require agricultural employers to report work-related deaths, serious injuries, and serious illnesses to the US Department of Labor in order to collect and publish better statistics than are currently available about such incidents; and require the US Department of Labor to submit to Congress an annual report on work-related deaths, injuries, and illnesses of children working in agriculture, including an evaluation of the data that highlights, among other things, safety and health hazards and the extent and nature of child labor violations. Provide sufficient support to programs, such as those administered by the Department of Education’s Office of Migrant Education, to remove barriers to the school enrollment, attendance, and achievement of child farmworkers and ensure that child farmworkers have access to and benefit from the same appropriate public education, including public preschool education, provided to other children. Regarding Labor Rights Repeal the sections of the Fair Labor Standards Act that exempt all agricultural workers from overtime pay provisions. Repeal the sections of the Fair Labor Standards Act that exempt certain agricultural employers from paying workers the federal minimum wage. Eliminate the exclusion of farmworkers from the National Labor Relations Act and acknowledge that, like all other workers, they have the right to collective bargaining. Halt the yearly approval of a special provision in the US Department of Labor appropriations act that exempts almost all farms with 10 or fewer employees from the jurisdiction of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). To the President of the United States Issue an executive order or take other regulatory action to prohibit hazardous child labor on tobacco farms in the US, including any tasks where children have contact with tobacco plants of any size or with dried tobacco leaves. Urge the US Department of Labor to revise the list of agricultural jobs deemed to be “particularly hazardous” for children to include the handling and application of pesticides; work at dangerous heights; work with dangerous machinery, equipment, and tools; work which involves the manual handling or transport of heavy loads; work in extreme temperatures; and other dangerous tasks; as well as any tasks where children have contact with tobacco plants of any size or with dried tobacco leaves. Submit to the US Senate for ratification the Convention on the Rights of the Child and ILO Convention No. 138 on the Minimum Age of Employment. To the US Senate Upon submission by the president, ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child and ILO Convention No. 138 on the Minimum Age of Employment. To the U S Department of Labor Regarding Child Labor Revise the list of agricultural jobs deemed to be “particularly hazardous” for children to include the handling and application of pesticides; work at dangerous heights; work with dangerous machinery, equipment, and tools; work which involves the manual handling or transport of heavy loads; work in extreme temperatures; and other dangerous tasks; as well as any tasks where children have contact with tobacco plants of any size or with dried tobacco leaves. Vigorously investigate child labor and minimum wage violations in agriculture, the most dangerous industry in the US in which children are allowed to work. Investigations should include planned and unannounced inspections, including at the time of year, time of day, and locations where children are most likely to be working. Appropriately use the Fair Labor Standards Act's “hot goods” provision, which prohibits the interstate movement of goods produced in violation of child labor or minimum wage laws, where the traditional course of citations and relatively insignificant civil monetary penalties would have little deterrent effect. Request the National Agricultural Workers Survey (NAWS) to expand its surveys to collect information about child workers under, as well as over, age 14. Explore methods of counting working children that do not rely on reports from growers and adult farmworkers, who may underreport the numbers of working children. Strive to develop statistics disaggregated by crop as well as other factors. Regarding Labor Rights Vigorously enforce OSHA’s Field Sanitation Standard, which requires employers to provide workers with drinking water, toilets, and handwashing facilities. Continue and accelerate monitoring of “State Plans” and require that all US states enforcing OSHA-approved plans do so effectively, including by frequent unannounced inspections. To the US Environmental Protection Agency Regarding Child Labor Amend the Worker Protection Standard to impose a minimum age of 18 for all pesticide handlers. Revise the restricted-entry intervals (REIs), which prohibit entry into an area treated by pesticides for a specified period of time following the application of the chemicals. Distinguish between adults and children, and impose more stringent REIs for children. Incorporate an additional safety margin on top of what is determined necessary to ensure short and long-term safety, and take into account the combined effect of both occupational and non-occupational exposures. Regarding Labor Rights Closely monitor states’ enforcement of the Worker Protection Standard and related pesticide regulations to ensure that such enforcement is vigorous and meaningful. Further expand the program to educate workers regarding the Worker Protection Standard, and ensure that materials used are culturally, age, and language appropriate. Ensure that state agencies responsible for enforcement of EPA regulations are staffed by a sufficient number of trained, multilingual compliance officers. To All Tobacco-Producing US States Enact legislation prohibiting children under age 18 from engaging in hazardous work on tobacco farms, including any work in which children come into contact with tobacco plants of any size or with dried tobacco leaves. Vigorously enforce OSHA’s Field Sanitation Standard, which requires employers to provide workers with drinking water, toilets, and handwashing facilities. Amend workers’ compensation laws to ensure coverage for farmworkers equal to that of other workers. To Tobacco Product Manufacturers and Tobacco Leaf Merchant Companies Regarding Child Labor Adopt and implement policies globally prohibiting the use of child labor anywhere in the supply chain. The policy should specify that hazardous work for children under 18 is prohibited, including any work in which children come into direct contact with tobacco plants of any size and dried tobacco leaves. Consistent with ILO conventions, the policy should also prohibit work by children under the age of 15, except for light work by children ages 13 to 15, or the minimum age provided by the country’s laws, whichever affords greater protection. The policy should specify that it is in effect throughout the supply chain in all countries irrespective of local laws that afford lesser protections. Strive to phase out the use of child labor in the supply chain by establishing clear timeframes. Ensure that all contracts with growers and suppliers include specific language prohibiting the use of children in hazardous work under 18, including any work in which children come into contact with tobacco leaves of any size and dried tobacco leaves. Establish and carry out penalties for those in the supply chain who violate the no-child labor policy. The penalties should be sufficiently severe and consistently implemented so as to have a dissuasive effect. Discontinue contracts with farms that repeatedly violate the policy prohibiting child labor. Provide training to agronomists, suppliers, growers, workers, and others on the hazards to children of working in tobacco. Utilize outside experts on child labor to conduct these trainings where appropriate. Establish a regular and rigorous internal monitoring process in all countries in the supply chain. Ensure that monitoring is not limited to “self-reporting” by suppliers or subsidiaries, but includes regular announced and unannounced inspections by monitors who are qualified, experienced, and trained specifically in child labor and labor rights. Ensure an adequate number of monitors to conduct regular monitoring of all suppliers in all countries. Monitors should be sufficiently independent from the leaf production component of business operations and from local suppliers. Ensure that monitoring is carried out in periods in the tobacco season when children are most likely to work. Dedicate sufficient financial and staff resources to carry out effective monitoring. Engage qualified third-party monitoring for child labor in supply chains in all countries. Ensure an adequate number of monitors to conduct regular monitoring of all suppliers in all countries. Ensure that monitoring is carried out in periods in the tobacco season when children are most likely to work. Make the results of third-party monitoring public. Engage a third-party organization to develop a no-child labor policy as outlined above, including the structures for its effective implementation. Develop or enhance collaboration with local stakeholders, including organized labor, to eliminate child labor on tobacco farms, including by: Working with federal and local government officials, including the Office of Migrant Education, to ensure access to education for farmworker children. Implementing, with meaningful input and participation from farmworker children, their families, and local stakeholders, free summer programs each year for both migrant and local children, as an alternative to working in tobacco farming. Programs should provide age-appropriate educational, recreational, and leadership development opportunities to children under 18. Collaborating with local stakeholders to identify other summer employment opportunities for children as alternatives to working on tobacco farms. Where possible, cooperating with the ILO’s International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC), UNICEF, nongovernmental organizations, and others undertaking efforts to prevent child labor, including through the provision of alternatives to working in tobacco farming. Establishing a scholarship fund to provide young farmworkers with economic support to pursue higher education. The scholarship application should account for the unique circumstances of farmworker children’s educational paths. Investing in rural health infrastructure to ensure tobacco workers and their children have access to health services. Collaborating with land-grant universities and extension services to enhance agricultural education in tobacco-growing communities, and to provide farmworker families with access to land for small-scale agricultural enterprise. Regarding Labor Rights Adopt or revise comprehensive agricultural labor policies to protect the health, safety, and human rights of workers employed on tobacco farms, regardless of the size of the farm and ensure rigorous monitoring of the implementation of those policies. Policies should include, at a minimum, the following provisions: Signed, enforceable employment contracts with all workers in a language that the worker understands. A guarantee of no less than the federal minimum hourly wage for all workers. A prohibition on tobacco suppliers procuring labor from unregistered farm labor contractors or subcontractors. A requirement that tobacco suppliers closely monitor farm labor contractors to ensure that they do not violate workers’ rights. A prohibition on tobacco suppliers providing lump sum payments to farm labor contractors or subcontractors for workers’ wage, and a requirement that growers provide wages directly to workers. Limits on working hours for workers; a guarantee of at least one day off per week. Provision of potable water in sufficient quantities for all workers every day. Provision of adequate sanitary facilities, including toilets and handwashing facilities, to all workers. Provision of appropriate personal protective equipment including gloves and rain suits to limit exposure to nicotine and pesticides. Strict enforcement of safety procedures for use and handling of all toxic substances, such as pesticides, including the provision of protective clothing and strict observance of restricted entry intervals determined by the US Environmental Protection Agency. Strict prohibition on spraying of pesticides from tractors in fields where workers are present or in fields adjacent to where workers are located and at risk of exposure to pesticides via drift. Education for workers on health and safety hazards in tobacco farming, including nicotine poisoning, in a language that workers understand. Such education should be mandatory for every worker and not carried out at the discretion of the grower. Guarantees of the rights to freedom of association and to collectively bargain for all workers employed by tobacco leaf suppliers. Establishment of a meaningful and effective complaint mechanism whereby workers are able to submit complaints about any concerns about labor or other violations without fear of repercussions for doing so. Every worker should be informed about the availability of the complaint mechanism and the means for submitting complaints. Establishment of a complaint mechanism should not be seen as a replacement to guaranteeing the right of workers to collectively bargain. Provide training to agronomists, suppliers, growers, workers, and others on policies to protect the health, safety, and human rights of workers. Utilize outside experts to conduct these trainings where appropriate. Ensure qualified, experienced, internal and independent third-party monitoring of implementation of all of the above-stated agricultural labor policies. Make the results of third-party monitoring public. Ensure that workers are able to submit complaints and speak with monitors, including third party monitors, without fear of repercussions from the manufacturing company, its subsidiaries or suppliers. Immediately investigate in a fair and transparent manner all reports of abuse reported by monitors, agronomists, third parties, workers, or others. Regarding Industry-Wide Multilateral Initiatives Develop an international industry-wide standard to prohibit hazardous work for children under 18 on tobacco farms, including any work in which children come into contact with tobacco plants of any size and dried tobacco leaves; establish minimum age requirements consistent with ILO conventions. Amend the US Tobacco Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) labor management guidelines to specify that hazardous work for children under 18 is prohibited, including any work in which children come into contact with tobacco plants of any size and dried tobacco leaves. Consistent with ILO conventions, the standard should also prohibit work by children under the age of 15, except for light work by children ages 13 to 15. This standard should be a contractual requirement for all US tobacco growers. Engage meaningfully in multi-stakeholder initiatives, including with a view to support tobacco industry efforts to promote the elimination of child labor in the tobacco supply chain, effective monitoring of these policies, and initiatives to support alternative employment, education, and recreational opportunities for children in tobacco-growing communities. Increase financial support to nongovernmental organizations working to eliminate hazardous child labor in tobacco farming. Establish a pooled fund to support programs that provide alternatives to child labor in US tobacco farming. To Agricultural Employers Do not hire children under age 18 to engage in hazardous work on tobacco farms, including any work whereby children have contact with tobacco plants of any size or dried tobacco leaves. Do not hire any children under age 15 to perform any work on tobacco farms that is not light work, posing no health hazards. Do not hire children under age 13 for any tasks on tobacco farms, and ensure that children ages 13 to 15 engage only in light work does not threaten their health and safety, or hinder their education. Ensure that farm labor contractors do not hire children under age 18 to engage in hazardous work on tobacco farms and abide by minimum age restrictions specified above. Carefully supervise farm labor contractors and regularly visit fields to verify that no children are working in hazardous labor. Respect agricultural labor policies designed to protect the health, safety, freedom of association, and other human rights of workers, as detailed above. To the International Labour Organization Office Conduct research and collect new data on child labor in tobacco farming. Hold technical workshops and provide educational resources for ILO members regarding the health and safety risks to children working in tobacco, and ways to eliminate child labor in tobacco. Provide updated and effective guidance regarding the hazards of tobacco work to states determining the types of work that constitutes the worst forms of child labor under ILO Convention No. 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labor. Encourage governments to review and update their hazardous work lists under Convention No. 182, taking into account evidence concerning the hazards of tobacco work. ||||| WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. children working in domestic tobacco fields regularly suffer from breathing problems, nausea and other ailments, an international rights group said in a report on Wednesday, urging the industry to develop tougher protections for its youngest workers. Human Right Watch, which documented working conditions for children in four U.S. states, said it found many children on tobacco farms were in direct contact with the plant's leaves, leading to serious ailments consistent with nicotine poisoning. "I didn’t feel well, but I still kept working. I started throwing up," said one 16-year-old worker, who worked pulling tops off of tobacco plants to help increase yields, according to Human Rights Watch, which interviewed 141 youths aged 7 to 17 working on tobacco farms in Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. The group notified 10 tobacco companies of its findings, including Altria Group Inc, Lorillard Inc, Philip Morris International Inc, and Reynolds American Inc, and urged them to boycott tobacco from farms that do not have policies in place to protect workers younger than 18. It also contacted other cigarette makers as well as two tobacco leaf merchant companies, Alliance One International and Universal Corp. "We want them to put strong child labor provisions into these contracts saying: 'We won't buy your tobacco unless you can assure us that you're not using hazardous child labor,'" Jo Becker, the group's top advocate for youth issues, told Reuters. The group said Philip Morris was already developing specific protections. The company, which makes the popular Marlboro cigarette, said it was open to industry standards. "Clearly there is opportunity to align,” Miguel Coleta, its director of external labor policies, told Reuters. Other companies said they were developing child labor policies or reviewing the report. Still, no company explicitly prohibits those under age 18 from having contact with tobacco, Human Rights Watch said. Tom Harkin, chairman of the U.S. Senate's panel on health and labor issues, said in a statement none of the companies' policies were sufficient and that he would contact them in coming days. While there is no accurate count of youths working in U.S. tobacco fields, it is not illegal for children to hold jobs in agriculture, and many do so out of financial need. Many are Hispanic and come from low-income families, Becker said. By law, children cannot work on U.S. farms during school hours, but they can work in the field at other times, and hours increase especially in the summer, when school is not in session and the tobacco crop season is at its peak. Like other agricultural work, pesticide exposure and injuries are also concerns, the group said. Many youths also reported working 50 to 60 hours a week and earning less than minimum wage, which is $7.25 nationally but varies by state. Current rules prohibit workers younger than 16 from performing hazardous farm jobs but do not specifically deem tobacco work as dangerous. The U.S. Labor Department proposed regulations in 2011 to address the issue, but they were withdrawn a year later, Human Rights Watch said. (Reporting by Susan Heavey; Editing by Michele Gershberg) ||||| Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption The BBC's Aleem Maqbool spoke to two North Carolina families who farm tobacco, including two boys under 15 Children have been farming US tobacco fields for generations. But a new report from Human Rights Watch says the practice is dangerous and in need of reform. It may be later than usual because of the harsh winter, but just as they have done for generations, people are planting tobacco across the vast coastal plains of North Carolina. The crop put this state on the economic map, but methods used to farm tobacco here have now drawn the gaze of an international human rights group. "Usually we would wake up around four or five in the morning and get to the farm around six," says Fernando Rodriguez. "I would spend the whole day going up and down the rows of tobacco, topping the plants, cutting the flowers, collecting the leaf and all." Fernando is 13 years old. Image copyright Science Photo Library Image caption Ten major companies use US tobacco to make cigarettes "Most people kept trash bags on them, with holes for their arms and head, to keep chemicals off their clothing," he says. "On the first day when I was working [the chemicals] got on my face a lot and I didn't know until I got home later that day my face was burning." For three months last summer, Fernando and his older brother Brandon Jayubo, each worked up to 72 hours a week harvesting tobacco. Then 12 and 14 years old, they earned $500-$600 (£297-356) per week. Surprising as it may be, that does not currently violate American labour laws. I attained a lot of my values through the work I did alongside my parents and grandparents by being in the fields Joey Scott, Farmer After failing to push through a change in US legislation two years ago, rights groups are now hoping cigarette companies, and even smokers themselves, will decide to take an ethical stand when it comes to children and tobacco farming. "I saw kids walking into fields of tobacco plants over their heads, where the tobacco leaves were wet with dew," says Margaret Wurth, a researcher at Human Rights Watch. The group has prepared a new report documenting the problems for children in this industry. "The kids were absorbing nicotine through their skin and many of the children we interviewed reported symptoms consistent with acute nicotine poisoning: nausea, vomiting, headaches, dizziness, light-headedness," she says. Human Rights Watch also reports children working near heavy machinery, using dangerous tools, and climbing into the rafters of barns several storeys high without protection. The group says in many ways, America is flouting International Labour Organisation conventions. Image caption Joey Scott says children working on farms is a part of US tradition Washington rules do say that the work children do on farms must happen outside of school hours, but don't place a limit on how many hours they can work. Campaigners say that falls far short of what is needed. They want to outlaw children from working the fields at all. "Countries like Brazil and India prohibit children under 18 from doing many tasks involved in tobacco farming," says Wurth. "They have laws and regulations to do more to protect kids in tobacco farming than we have in the US." Joey Scott is a farmer whose family has grown tobacco on the same North Carolina land for eight generations. Highlights from the report Human Rights Watch interviewed 141 children. Some children reported: "working in bare feet or socks" "that they did not have access to handwashing facilities" "itchy or burning skin or skin rashes " "that they had 'spiked' or 'speared' their hands or other body parts on sharp spikes while placing cut burley tobacco plants "I was raised as a child on a tobacco farm. My parents felt it was safe enough for me to be here," he says. "I felt it was safe enough for my children." Scott, who does not employ anyone under the age of 18, accepts the possibility that other farmers may be exploiting young workers. Still, he says that having children work the fields is part of the region's heritage. "I attained a lot of my values through the work I did alongside my parents and grandparents, by being in the fields, understanding the everyday struggles," says Scott. "What they get from working here on the farm is to understand the importance of a dollar, how hard it is to make a dollar, and how to spend that dollar they make wisely." It was a point echoed by Jessica Rodriguez, mother of Brandon and Fernando, the boys who worked on the farm during their summer break. She says when the boys are not at school, she would rather they work than hanging around in the streets or with other boys, getting into trouble. Like child labour stories all over the world though, Rodriguez acknowledged that the main reason her sons worked was the harsh economic climate. Image caption Jessica Rodriguez is glad her sons can work the farms "We had to do what we had to do to keep the roof over our heads and food in our stomachs and the lights on, water on, the important stuff," she says. Rodriguez admits that it upset her when her youngest son complained of harm from chemical pesticides. She insists the children wanted to help out. Human Rights Watch says all of the tobacco companies they contacted expressed concern about working conditions for children, and all of them have a variety of previously established policies to address the problem. Campaigners want more explicit language polices that clearly ban child labour. They also hope that tobacco companies will invest in local communities so that families have alternative options and do not feel compelled to put their children at risk. Until then, the tobacco keeps growing, and with it, the demand for farm workers of all ages. |||||

– Children are toiling in unsafe conditions, suffering everything from breathing problems to vomiting, and putting in 12-hour days and 72-hour weeks. Think we're talking a third-world sweatshop? It's what's happening right now on US tobacco farms, Human Rights Watch alleges in a report today. The group spoke to 141 tobacco farm workers aged 7 to 17, and found that many came in bare-skin contact with tobacco plants. That can cause acute nicotine poisoning—and indeed, 66% of those polled reported symptoms consistent with that, including dizziness, nausea, and headaches. "On the first day when I was working [chemicals] got on my face a lot and I didn't know until I got home later that my face was burning," one 13-year-old worker tells the BBC. US labor laws protecting child laborers have exceptions for agricultural jobs, the group explains, allowing children of any age to work the fields, and those 12 and older to work unlimited hours. An attempt to change that for tobacco farms died in 2012. HRW shared its findings with tobacco producers, and most expressed concern. Philip Morris, which has the toughest child labor policy, tells Reuters that it believes there's an opportunity to impose an industry-wide standard. The complete report is here.

The Federal Reserve will spend $45 billion a month to sustain an aggressive drive to keep long-term interest rates low. And it set a goal of keeping a key short-term rate near zero until unemployment drops below 6.5 percent. The policies are intended to help an economy that the Fed says is growing only modestly with 7.7 percent unemployment in November. The Fed says it will direct the money into long-term Treasurys to replace an expiring bond-purchase program. The new purchases will expand its investment portfolio, which has reached nearly $3 trillion. The central bank will continue buying $40 billion a month in mortgage bonds. All told, its monthly bond purchases will remain $85 billion. They are intended to reduce already record-low long-term rates to encourage borrowing and accelerate growth. ||||| The one dissenter in the Fed’s 11-1 decision monetary policy decision today was not a surprise: Jeffrey Lacker, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, has broken with his voting colleagues for the eighth time this year — out of eight meetings. Lacker “opposed the asset purchase program and the characterization of the conditions under which an exceptionally low range for the federal funds rate will be appropriate,” the Fed said in its post-meeting statement. Lacker’s seventh dissent, as we noted here in October, took him into Fed history: He has dissented in more votes as a Fed policymaker more often than he has joined the majority. After Wednesday’s decision, he now has 13 dissents to his name out of 24 votes as a member of the Federal Open Market Committee. (The next-closest dissenter is the Dallas Fed’s Richard Fisher, who opposed the majority in a third of his 22 votes.) With his streak of dissents throughout the year, Lacker matches the annual dissent record of former Kansas City Fed President Thomas Hoenig. Lacker could see the writing on the wall, and he didn’t like it one bit. Relying on a single indicator of the labor market, such as the unemployment rate, “can easily lead you astray,” he said last month. “It’s important to avoid spurious precision.” “Crisp numerical thresholds may work well in the classroom models used to illustrate policy principles, but one or two economic statistics do not always capture the rich array of policy-relevant information about the state of the economy,” he said. |||||

– The Federal Reserve dropped a bombshell today, announcing that it would spend $45 billion a month on bond purchases to keep interest rates low, and that it would keep its short-term rates near zero as long as it takes to get unemployment below 6.5%. It will also keep up its current practice of spending $40 billion a month on mortgage bonds, the AP reports, bringing its total monthly spending to $85 billion, and growing its now almost $3 trillion portfolio. This is a "historic move" that "will change how we think about Fed policy, yet again," writes Sudeep Reddy at the Wall Street Journal. Instead of pegging its targets to specific time frames, the Fed is now tying its policies to specific economic outcomes. The policy is sometimes referred to as the "Evans rule," because Chicago Fed President Charles Evans has been pushing for it for months. The Fed is also sending a strong, loud signal that it's willing to allow inflation to rise if that's what it takes to reduce unemployment.

Hermann, a longtime Louisville senior athletics administrator, was hired May 15 to replace Pernetti. But in the weeks since her hiring, she and other Rutgers officials have defended her character against claims that she was verbally abusive toward volleyball players she coached at Tennessee in the 1990s. Rutgers has also faced questions about whether it properly vetted lawsuits in which Hermann played a role at Tennessee and Louisville. In the Tennessee case, which resulted in a $150,000 jury verdict, Hermann was accused of discouraging an assistant volleyball coach from becoming pregnant. In the Louisville lawsuit, Mary Banker, an assistant track and field coach, claimed she was fired as retaliation for complaining to Hermann and the university’s human resources department about sexual discrimination by the head coach. Lawyers for Louisville said that Banker was fired for underperformance, not in retaliation for her complaints. Video A judgment in favor of Banker was overturned this year, and the case is pending before the Kentucky Supreme Court. Banker, in an interview Wednesday night, questioned Rutgers’s decision to hire Hermann to clean up its athletics department. “She had the opportunity to clean up at Louisville, and she chose not to,” Banker said. “What she did was she covered herself and the rest of her coaching staff.” Kate Sweeney and Dick Edwards, the leaders of the Rutgers search panel, wrote an e-mail Tuesday to the other committee members to defuse growing criticism of Hermann’s selection. Newsletter Sign Up Continue reading the main story Please verify you're not a robot by clicking the box. Invalid email address. Please re-enter. You must select a newsletter to subscribe to. Sign Up You agree to receive occasional updates and special offers for The New York Times's products and services. Thank you for subscribing. An error has occurred. Please try again later. View all New York Times newsletters. “You all had the opportunity to examine Julie’s credentials, to spend some time with her when she was on campus, and to provide us with your thoughts regarding her candidacy as Rutgers’s next Director of Intercollegiate Athletics,” they wrote. The first response, from Schmidt, came 10 minutes later. “There was very little information about the candidates disseminated to the larger committee,” he wrote. Advertisement Continue reading the main story Garutti’s came two hours later. “Please, let us not at this late date attempt to convince ourselves and the public that there was sufficient time to delve deeply” into candidates’ documents, he wrote. A Rutgers spokesman declined to comment on the e-mails. In recent days, Democratic lawmakers in New Jersey have called for the resignations of Robert L. Barchi, the university president, and Hermann. But Gov. Chris Christie voiced support for Barchi on Tuesday and dismissed criticism of Hermann as “character assassination.” Rutgers on Wednesday released a copy of its contract with Parker Executive Search, a Georgia -based firm, which it hired for $70,000 to manage the search for an athletic director. Parker was responsible for finding candidates and doing background checks, including criminal, credit and motor vehicle checks; confirmation of candidates’ degrees; and reference checks. Rice’s replacement, Eddie Jordan , also had a rocky start to his job. The Web site Deadspin reported that he had not graduated from Rutgers, though his university biography said that he had. ||||| "It was not enough time. We only got the names of the two finalists Sunday evening." — committee member Ronald Garutti NEW BRUNSWICK — The controversy over the appointment of Julie Hermann as Rutgers athletic director continued today as e-mails emerged showing infighting within the university over whether the new hire was properly vetted. Meanwhile, Rutgers officials revealed they are paying a crisis communications firm $150,000 to help deal with the growing media scrutiny over the sports scandals that have engulfed the state university since early April. In the latest development, a series of internal e-mails sent by members of the search committee that helped find Hermann show some in the 28-member group felt the process of appointing a new athletic director was rushed. Reached by phone last night, committee member Ronald Garutti confirmed he and Kenneth Schmidt, a search committee member and member of the Rutgers Board of Governors, were among those who sent sharply-worded e-mails to Rutgers officials earlier this week criticizing the process that lead to the hiring of Hermann. "There were flaws in this process," said Garutti, a member of the Rutgers Board of Trustees. "To some degree, I was frustrated." Garutti, a 1967 Rutgers graduate and retired Schering-Plough executive, said he did not leak the e-mails, which were first obtained by ESPN, and never intended them to be public. But he stands behind his belief that Rutgers’ search for a new athletic director was troubled. Garutti sent his e-mail to Rutgers officials Tuesday, responding to a message sent to members of the search committee by co-chairs Kate Sweeney and Richard Edwards supporting the process that led to Hermann’s hiring from the University of Louisville. Rutgers has been under fire since Sunday when The Star-Ledger reported Hermann was accused of mentally and verbally abusing student athletes. The accusations were contained in a letter written by her volleyball team when she was a coach at the University of Tennessee in the 1990s. The former Tennessee players said they publicly rehashed their 17-year-old accusations partly because Hermann had been hired by Rutgers to help rebuild its sports program after basketball coach Mike Rice was fired for physically and verbally abusing his players. Hermann has denied abusing players and Rutgers President Robert Barchi said Monday she will keep her new job. But questions remain about why neither Rutgers nor the search firm it used to screen candidates for the post knew about the accusations against Hermann in Tennessee. In their e-mail to the search committee after The Sunday Star-Ledger report, Sweeney and Edwards said the entire group had an opportunity vet Hermann. "As members of the Search Advisory Team, you all had the opportunity to examine Julie’s credentials, to spend some time with her when she was on campus, and to provide us with your thoughts regarding her candidacy as Rutgers’ next Director of Intercollegiate Athletics. As you know, there was strong support for Julie, and for what she could bring to Rutgers," wrote Edwards, a Rutgers executive vice president, and Sweeney, an alumna and Morgan Stanley executive, according to a copy of the e-mail obtained by ESPN. But Garutti contends the committee never had the opportunity to properly screen Hermann. He told The Star-Ledger the group received the names of the two finalists along with their resumes and biographical material on a Sunday night. Half the search committee was scheduled to interview both candidates for an hour each on Monday, while the other half of the committee would meet the finalists Tuesday. "It was not enough time. We only got the names of the two finalists Sunday evening," Garutti said. "I was furiously reading and jotting notes." Though the process was supposed to be confidential, Garutti said he was surprised the names of the two finalists — Hermann and Sean Frazier, the deputy athletic director at Wisconsin — were the same names he had seen reported in The Star-Ledger. Garutti said the materials the search committee received included no mention of accusations Hermann abused players on her volleyball team at Tennessee. There was also no mention she was named in a sex discrimination lawsuit while an administrator at Louisville, he said. The search committee members had read news accounts of Hermann’s involvement in another lawsuit filed by an assistant coach at Tennessee who contends the coach discouraged her from having a baby. But, with nearly 15 search committee members asking questions, the lawsuit never came up during Hermann’s 75-minute interview, Garutti said. "Quite frankly, we didn’t have a chance to ask about it," Garutti said. Schmidt also said in an e-mail obtained by ESPN that the process was flawed. "There was very little information about the candidates disseminated to the larger Committee. Most of the information we received was what leaked to the media … Do not try and rewrite the facts," Schmidt wrote in response to the message from Sweeney and Edwards that praised the process. Stefania Balasa, the only student on the search committee, said she was surprised to see the string of e-mails from other search committee members criticizing the search process. "It was like a professional catfight in my e-mail inbox," said Balasa, a Rutgers senior and member of the university tennis team. Balasa said she would have asked more questions during Hermann’s interview if she knew her full background. But she said she is frustrated that leaks to the news media continue to keep Rutgers in the news and tarnish the school’s reputation. "I’m frustrated, especially because student athletes are the most directly affected," said Balasa, 21. "We are suffering now because of the harsh media spotlight." Neither Schmidt, Sweeney nor Edwards could be reached for comment by The Star-Ledger. Several other members of the search committee declined to comment. Rutgers spokesman Greg Trevor also declined to comment on the e-mails. But, he said, the process of screening candidates involved more than the search committee. "It’s important to note that the search process had multiple levels," Trevor said. Hermann was also vetted by a smaller executive committee at Rutgers, which did most of the work of screening candidates, Trevor said. The Parker Executive Search firm, which was paid $70,000 to conduct the search, and a private security firm also vetted candidates. Barchi, the school’s president, made the final decision to hire Hermann. As the controversy over the new athletic director continues, Rutgers officials said they are using Hill + Knowlton, a global crisis communications firm with offices in New York, to help deal with the increased media attention. The firm was hired several weeks ago for $150,000 to help with the fallout over the basketball scandal. CONNECT WITH US On mobile or desktop: • Like The Star-Ledger on Facebook • Follow @starledger on Twitter And check out our redesigned mobile site by visiting NJ.com from any mobile browser. State Sen. Barbara Buono, the Democrat running for governor, continued to criticize Rutgers’ leadership today and called for legislative hearings into the university’s sports scandals. She also criticized Gov. Chris Christie for failing to intervene. "He needs to call on this president to resign. I mean, how many instances do we have to have of this president muddying the name of the flagship university of New Jersey before we take action to stem the bleeding?," Buono said. Christie reiterated he has no plans to step in. "I’ve certainly had conversations with them over the last weekend, got a lot of my questions answered," the governor said. "This is up for them to make decisions, not me." Staff writers Ted Sherman, Eunice Lee and Ryan Hutchins contributed to this report. |||||

– Rutgers University is scrambling to deal with reports that its newly minted athletic director and supposed scandal slayer Julie Hermann has a spotty past of her own—complete with abuse allegations and a sex-discrimination settlement—and emerging emails show bickering and complaints among the very board of trustees that appointed Hermann in the first place. Trustees say they were given the names of two finalists the day before the first was to be interviewed, and they spent only 75 minutes interviewing Hermann, reports the Star-Ledger. "It was not enough time," says one. "Let’s not present this as any kind of exemplary process. Subsequent events have proven otherwise.” The search leaders tried via email to smooth things over, telling trustees, "You all had the opportunity to examine Julie’s credentials, to spend some time with her when she was on campus. As you know, there was strong support for Julie." That prompted a string of emails that the lone student on the search committee likened to "a professional catfight in my email inbox." Adding insult to injury, Rutgers paid an executive search company $70,000 to vet finalists for the job, notes the New York Times; now, the school is also paying a crisis-management company $150,000 to deal with the scandals' fallout.

Researchers in Canada have witnessed a horrifying event that, until now, has never been documented by science: A killer whale drowning and killing an infant of the same species. The incident took place on December 2, 2016 off the coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Now the sighting has been described in a paper published in the journal Scientific Reports. The marine scientists were out on a research expedition when they detected strange calls on their vessel’s underwater microphones, alerting them to the presence of killer whales in their vicinity. After finding the whales responsible for the noises, the researchers noticed some splashing that they thought might be a sign that the orcas were hunting. However, they quickly realized that an infant calf in the group wasn’t surfacing. "Then a male, who was unrelated to the mother of the calf, swam past the boat with the calf hanging out of its mouth, and that's when we were really quite horrified and fascinated,” Jared Towers, a cetacean researcher from Fisheries and Oceans Canada, told CBC News. The stricken calf’s mother and her relatives then frantically pursued the 32-year-old male in an attempt to rescue the youngster, but the male—with help from his own mother—managed to fend them off. The researchers describe how the chase eventually ended with the mother of the infant hitting the male so hard with her flipper that blood flew through the air, although by this point, the calf was already dead. This is the first time that a killer whale has been observed killing a calf of the same species, according to the study, although infanticide has been observed among many animals before. “Among terrestrial mammals, it is mostly reported in primates, carnivores and rodents,” the researchers wrote in the study. “However, compelling evidence for infanticide in cetaceans [a group of animals containing whales, dolphins and porpoises] exists in just three species of dolphin.” Towers said the scene was distressing, however, the research team decided to watch until the end in the knowledge that they were witnessing a rare event. Because the offending male and his mother did not eat the dead infant, the scientists suggest that the killing may be an example of so-called “sexually selected behavior”—which means that the male killed the calf to mate with its mother. "In other mammals, we know that in a lot of cases males kill infants, because it forces the infant's mom into a fertile state much quicker," Towers said. What is interesting in this case is that the mother of the male became involved in the killing. "Killer whale moms are notorious for helping their adult sons and daughters by sharing food with them and leading them, and maybe even providing mating opportunities for adult male offspring," Towers added. The researchers say the recent findings cast doubt on some long-held assumptions regarding the sexual behavior of orcas. Scientists have generally thought that female orcas have free reign when it come to choosing their mates because they are often found at the top of the pod hierarchy. But in light of the recent encounter, Towers suggests that the females may not have as much choice as previously believed. ||||| Marine scientists in B.C. have for the first time seen a killer whale drown a baby of the same species. The researchers watched the orca infanticide as it unfolded off the northeastern coast of Vancouver Island on Dec. 2, 2016, and published their findings in the journal Scientific Reports this week. Cetacean ecologist Jared Towers remembers heading out on the water with two colleagues after underwater microphones picked up some transient killer whale calls that seemed a bit strange. The researchers tracked down the whales, identified and photographed them and were about to leave when they noticed some splashing — it looked like the orcas might have found some prey. "That's when we realized that the calf — it was a brand-new calf in the group — it wasn't surfacing at all," Towers told CBC News. "Then the male, who was unrelated to the mother of the calf, swam past the boat with the calf hanging out of its mouth, and that's when we were really quite horrified and fascinated." The transient killer whale calf swims with its mother moments before the attack. (Jared Towers) Infanticide isn't unheard of among mammals. Lions do it. Primates do it. Even some bears do it, but it hadn't been documented in killer whales before. Towers described the distressing scene as something that he'll never unsee, but the researchers quickly realized the significance of the event and stuck around to watch the aftermath. Over the next few minutes, they observed as the calf's mother and her relatives chased the male around, while the male's mother tried to fend them off. There was more splashing, and a hydrophone below the water captured the frantic calls of the whales. "That all kind of came to a grinding halt when the mother of the infant hit the male so hard that … his blubber was shaking on his body and you could see blood flying through the air. That was kind of the final impact, but he never let go of the infant," Towers recalled. The male killer whale holds the calf in its mouth. (Gary Sutton) Despite the fact that transient killer whales feed on other mammals, including seals, seal lions and young cetaceans from other species, the adult male and his mother did not feed on the baby orca. That led the scientists to suspect this was an example of what's called sexually selected behaviour. In other words, they believe the 32-year-old male killed the calf so that he could mate with its mother. "In other mammals, we know that in a lot of cases males kill infants, because it forces the infant's mom into a fertile state much quicker," Towers said. A map shows the location of the attack. (Jared Towers) And in a twist unique to orcas, the male's mother got involved. "Killer whale moms are notorious for helping their adult sons and daughters by sharing food with them and leading them, and maybe even providing mating opportunities for adult male offspring," Towers explained. The encounter brings into question some previous assumptions about the sexual behaviour of killer whales. Because female orcas are the leaders of their pods, researchers have often guessed that they could be choosy about their mates. "Looking at the behaviour we've observed, we're now beginning to think that it's quite possible that females don't have a lot of choice when it comes to breeding," Towers said. But he added that the infanticide proves that even after 40 years of observing orcas in the wild off the B.C. coast, there are still huge gaps in our knowledge about these marine mammals. ||||| (SEATTLE) — With the number of endangered orcas that frequent the inland waters of Washington state at a 30-year low, Gov. Jay Inslee on Wednesday directed state agencies to take immediate and longer-term steps to protect the struggling killer whales. The fish-eating mammals that spend time in Puget Sound have struggled for years with a lack of food, pollution, noise and disturbances from boat traffic. There are now just 76 of the orcas, down from 98 in 1995. Inslee said the orcas are in trouble and called on everyone in the state to do their part. His executive order aims to make more salmon available to the whales, give them more space and quieter waters, ensure they have clean water to swim in and protect them from potential oil spills. “The destiny of salmon and orca and we humans are intertwined,” the governor said at a news conference at the Daybreak Star Cultural Center in Seattle. “As the orca go, so go we.” An orca task force forming now will meet for the first time next month and will come up with final recommendations by November. “This is a wake-up call,” Suquamish Tribal Chairman Leonard Forsman said, adding, “It’s going to take some pain. We’re going to have to make some sacrifices.” Many have been sounding the alarm for years about the plight of the closely tracked population of southern resident killer whales. The federal government listed the orcas as endangered in 2005, and more recently identified them as among the most at risk of extinction in the near future. A baby orca has not been born in the past few years. Half of the calves born during a celebrated baby boom several years ago have died. Female orcas also are having pregnancy problems linked to nutritional stress brought on by a low supply of chinook salmon, the whales’ preferred food, a recent study said. “We are not too late,” said Barry Thom, West Coast regional administrator for NOAA Fisheries. “From a biology perspective, there are still enough breeding animals, but we need to act soon.” Whale advocates welcomed the statewide initiative, saying it creates urgency and calls attention to the issue. But some also said it was long overdue. “I think that everybody would have loved to have seen this five years ago,” said Joe Gaydos, science director for the SeaDoc Society. “It is a crisis. The fact that we’re responding is good.” Under the order, state agencies will find ways to quiet state ferries around the whales, train more commercial whale-watching boats to help respond to oil spills and adjust fishing regulations to protect key areas and fish runs for orcas. The whales use clicks, calls and other sounds to navigate, communicate and forage mainly for salmon, and noise from vessels can interfere. Lawmakers also passed a supplemental budget last week that includes $1.5 million for efforts such as a boost in marine patrols to ensure that boats keep their distance from orcas and an increase in hatchery production of salmon by an additional 5 million. Last year, the endangered orcas spent the fewest number of days in the central Salish Sea that spans Washington and Canada in four decades, mostly because there wasn’t enough salmon to eat, according to the Center for Whale Research, which keeps the whale census for the federal government. “I applaud anything that helps (the orcas) through the short term, but the long term is what we really have to look at — and that’s the restoration of wild salmon stocks throughout Washington state,” Ken Balcomb, senior scientist with the center, said Tuesday. Balcomb and others say aggressive measures are needed and they have called for the removal of four dams on the Lower Snake River to restore salmon runs. J.T. Austin, the governor’s senior policy adviser on natural resources issues, said Inslee so far does not support removing those dams. ||||| WCT killer whales may be well adapted behaviourally for performing infanticide because of their experience killing other small cetaceans. Individuals typically dispatch these prey by ramming or crushing them with their rostrums or tails36. Observations of infanticidal behaviour towards young common bottlenose dolphins, Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins and a Guiana dolphin by conspecifics have included repeated ramming and crushing actions but also forced submergence4,5,6,7,8,9. Although we did not observe the first few minutes of this incident closely enough to determine the details of interactions that took place, it appeared as though T046B5 was quickly immobilized by having its tail gripped in the teeth of T068A and subsequently drowned because there was no opportunity to surface and breath due to his consistent forward motion. Although both T068 and T068A were observed with fresh teeth scars after the incident, the only ramming behaviour we observed was performed by T046B toward her neonate’s killer. This combative behaviour is similar to actions directed towards infanticidal males by the mothers of targeted infants in several rodent, primate and carnivore species (see review in13). The ramming occurred approximately ten minutes after the incident began, at which point the neonate would have been either close to or freshly drowned, which is probably why the fight did not persist. The brevity of this physical aggression might be typical of agonistic interactions between members of the WCT killer whale population. This, in addition to the fact that most exchanges between individuals take place below the surface, may help explain why none of this nature have previously been observed. Similarly, anomalistic calls are not commonly made by whales in this population42, but as many animals are known to produce atypical sounds under stressful situations43, the high number of aberrant and discrete pulsed calls and other excited sounds recorded before and during the infanticide event likely reflect the levels of intensity in the complex interactions taking place between individuals. For example, the fresh trauma observed on T046B4 at the beginning of this encounter indicates that other rough interaction between the whales occurred prior to our arrival. This may have caused the T046Bs to separate into two groups to benefit the neonate and the other young animals through their disassociation from it, but vocalizations between them and their ultimate re-grouping may have revealed their locations to the T068s. The motivation for T068A and T068 to make this attack is of particular interest, but that they carried it out cooperatively is not surprising because bonds between maternally related killer whales can be particularly strong34. In sympatric populations, post-reproductive female killer whales increase the survival of adult sons by sharing ecological knowledge and prey with them44,45. This benefits inclusive fitness of the female because a positive relationship exists between reproductive success and age in male killer whales45,46. This combined with a prediction by Connor et al.47 that post-reproductive female killer whales may play a role in acquiring mates for their adult male offspring suggests that T068’s active involvement in this event was sexually selected, especially considering that T068A is of a reproductively mature age30,46. The sexual selection hypothesis requires that the infanticidal male does not kill his own offspring, that the event provides a near future mating opportunity with the infants’ mother and that he sires offspring with her12. Although it has been confirmed in many other mammal species that infanticidal males are not the fathers of their victims48,49,50,51,52,53,54,55 and that they subsequently sire offspring with the infants mothers13,15,51,53,55,56,57, in this incident the neonate’s carcass could not be recovered, T068A was not biopsied for DNA analysis and T046B has not yet had another calf. However, further evidence also suggests that the infanticidal teamwork of T068 and T068A was motivated by potential to increase their inclusive fitness. For example, young offspring are often selected for infanticide because new mothers return to estrus much quicker than those that have been lactating for longer periods of time12. In this case, we know that T046B5 was less than a few days old and that suckling stimulates lactation in female killer whales whose postpartum return to estrus is much longer (5–32 months) when lactating than when not (1–4 months)58. Secondly, females in some animal societies copulate more with coercive males59,60 that restrict parental investment and improve the female condition by committing infanticide to increase their fitness61. In this case, although it is not clear if the attack on T046B4 was attempted juvenilicide, this whale (although third youngest in the group) was T046Bs second youngest offspring, so its death along with loss of her neonate could have benefitted her condition by reducing any prohibitive physical costs associated with caring for either of them. This would help restrict parental investment towards any forthcoming offspring of T068A if he successfully mated with T046B. Furthermore, infanticidal males are typically not familiar with the infant’s mothers13 and although unrelated matrilineal groups of WCT killer whales have often been known to spend several weeks together40 in what have generally been perceived to be mutual associations, T068A, T068 and T046B had only been documented together on two previous occasions – once in 2005 and again in 2007. The apparent low levels of association between these individuals suggest that they are not well known to each other and this may be reflective of inherent sexual conflict between their differing sex and age classes. Sexually selected infanticide in WCT killer whales has important implications for our understanding of the social behaviour and evolution of this species (Supplementary Discussion S1) and although in this case, the hypothesis cannot be proven, there is more supporting evidence for it than other hypotheses for this behaviour. For example, WCT killer whales are well known for their dramatic hunting behaviour and protracted kills that typically result in immediate vocal and social activity, including division and consumption of mammalian prey36,62. However, in this incident the vocal and social activity subsided once the kill was made and although the dead neonate was kept in the possession of its killers for at least 220 minutes, there was no indication that it was dismembered or consumed. Additionally, most prey species that WCT killer whales target have been steadily increasing in coastal waters over the last few decades63,64,65,66,67,68,69. These increases in prey availability have been commensurate with increasing social activity70 and higher recruitment within the WCT population39 suggesting that it is not nutritionally stressed. Thus, this incident is not easily explained by the predation hypothesis. Furthermore, although the WCT population has more than doubled in size since 199039, there is little evidence available to suggest that individuals within it compete for habitat or prey71. Regardless, these and the availability of other resources such as mates would not easily be threatened by an infant of either sex due to the slow rate of maturation in this species. Thus, this incident is not easily explained by the resource competition hypothesis. Finally, there is little support for interpreting infanticide as a non-adaptive behaviour other than when it occurs by accident or under unnatural conditions13,53,72 and contrary to accidental or pathological explanations, the infanticidal behaviour of T068A and T068 appeared goal oriented because their chase led to an attack that was maintained until a particular outcome had been achieved. Once it had, their behaviour immediately changed. In conclusion, given that infanticide is so rarely observed in terrestrial mammals it is not surprising that it has taken many years of directed field observations to confirm that it does occur in cetaceans and more specifically, in killer whales. This species shares many life history traits with other mammals that are known to commit infanticide (see1), such as a high lactation to gestation ratio58, a society where individuals live in stable mixed sex groups where calves are born year round71 and a breeding system that is monopolized by a minority of mature males46. As a result, this phenomenon might be expected to occur in more killer whale populations than just the WCT. In any case, additional study is required to investigate any impacts that this phenomenon may have on the evolution of the social structure of this population and the behaviour of individuals within it. |||||

– Scientists have observed a behavior never before seen in killer whales, and it makes for a grim discovery. Following strange calls from orcas off the northeastern coast of British Columbia's Vancouver Island in December, researchers observed the first known case of infanticide among the whales. After tracking down the orcas and hearing a ruckus in the water, the scientists spotted a male orca with a newborn calf in its mouth, being chased by the calf's mother and other members of its family. As the male's mother attempted to intervene, the calf's mother "hit the male so hard that ... his blubber was shaking on his body and you could see blood flying through the air," ecologist Jared Towers tells the CBC. "We were really quite horrified and fascinated." The male still didn't let go of the calf, which had died by that point, according to Newsweek. Researchers, describing the case in Scientific Reports, say the male orca likely killed the calf so the male orca could mate with the infant's mother. In other mammals, infanticide "forces the infant's mom into a fertile state much quicker," Towers says. He adds researchers previously thought female orcas were picky about mates, but this behavior suggests "females don't have a lot of choice when it comes to breeding." The CBC notes $9 million the Canadian government has dedicated to orca research may reveal more about the endangered species in time, as Washington state works on protection, per Time. (Orca pregnancies are failing.)

Kate Middleton marked another milestone in her new life as a royal today, delivering her first public address as the Duchess of Cambridge. Middleton, 30, spoke at the opening of The Treehouse, a hospice run by East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices in Ipswich, England. The hospice is one of the carefully selected group of charitable organizations that Middleton said in January she would be contributing her time to as a patron. In her brief, nearly three-minute speech, Middleton called the work of the hospice “inspirational” and a “shining example.” She also apologized for the absence of her husband, Prince William. “I am only sorry that William can’t be here today; he would love it here,” she said. “A view of his – that I share – is that through teamwork, so much can be achieved. What you have all achieved here is extraordinary.” Middleton is stepping out in a series of solo appearances while William is deployed on a six-week Royal Air Force deployment in the Falkland Islands. She made her first solo military appearance over the weekend at an event with the Irish Guards on St. Patrick’s Day. The event made headlines after one guard passed out while the Duchess was handing out shamrocks. Middleton jumped on the field last week with members of the British Olympic women’s field hockey team during a surprise visit to the site of this summer’s London Olympics, for which Middleton and William have been named ambassadors. The duchess marked another major milestone March 1 by making her first solo appearance with the queen, stepping out for tea to mark the monarch’s 60 years on the throne. While at the hospice, Middleton also met with children receiving care and their families, toured the center’s facilities and planted a tree in the grounds. As is the case with everything Middleton does, the reviews of her speech focused as much on her fashion as what she had to say. The duchess wore a blue dress by one of her favored retailers, Reiss, accessorized by a thick black belt, black heels and a matching clutch. British fashion watchers were quick to note that the dress is the same one her mother, Carole Middleton, wore to the Royal Ascot horsing event nearly two years ago. In addition to the hospice, Middleton is also a patron of an addiction charity, the National Portrait Gallery and the Scout Association, the British equivalent of the Girl Scouts. The Associated Press contributed to this report. ||||| Kate Middleton Wears Mom's Blue Dress For Her First Speech! Like mother, like daughter. When Kate Middleton arrived at the East Anglia Children's Hospice (EACH) at the Treehouse center in Ipswich on Monday morning for her first ever public address, royal fashion fans were shocked at the Duchess' fashion choice. See more photos of Kate Middleton giving her first speech as a royal. VIDEO: Watch Kate Middleton's first public speech The 30-year-old's cobalt blue Reiss dress (from the label's 2008 collection) came straight from her mother's closet, and Kate even styled it the same way: with black pumps, a thick belt and matching clutch. PHOTOS: Kate's most stunning looks Carole Middleton wore the look to Ascot back in 2010, pairing the outfit with a feathered fascinator. Credit: RETNA It's not the first time the Duchess has recycled an ensemble. The white Reiss dress she wore in her official engagement portrait made an appearance on Canada Day and she often swaps clothing with her sister Pippa. |||||

– Members of the adoring public who didn't get quite enough of Kate Middleton's perfectly British voice while watching her exchange vows with Prince William had a chance for another fix today: The Duchess of Cambridge gave her first public address as royalty, speaking at the opening of a children's hospice in England. Middleton, a patron of the hospice, called it "inspirational" and apologized that her husband, who is deployed, could not be in attendance, ABC News reports. (Us points out that Middleton apparently wore her mom's dress for the occasion.)

Richard Simmons Is Not Missing, He's 'Simply Taking a Break from the Public Eye,' Says Rep Iconic fitness instructor Richard Simmons is not in any danger, according to his rep.Recent rumors and reports that Simmons is being held inside his home against his will are false, the star's rep Tom Estey tells PEOPLE."As I have stated in the past, these claims are untrue and preposterous," Estey says. "Richard, after 40 years of being in the spotlight, is now simply taking a break from the public eye and working behind the scenes to continue to help those millions of people worldwide in need of his assistance and on several projects to be announced soon."Simmons, 67, has indeed retreated increasingly further from the spotlight in recent years, causing the New York Daily News to investigate claims that he is purposely being kept from his close friends and family.Mauro Oliveira, Simmons' former assistant, told the NYDN in an article published on Saturday that during his last visit to Simmons' mansion, the trainer told him they could no longer see each other. Oliveira also claimed that Simmons told him his longtime live-in housekeeper, Teresa Reveles, is now controlling his life.Several other friends reportedly told the NYDN they hadn't heard from Simmons since 2013 and were "very concerned." Similar rumors ignited in late 2014 after the fitness guru was not seen in public for almost the entire year.Simmons himself shut down those reports, attributing his absence to a knee injury."I am so touched by the outpouring of love and concern I have received today," he wrote on his Facebook page at the time. "I have had a tough time dealing with this injury, as it is keeping me from doing what I truly love to do and that is to teach classes around the world." ||||| I’ve been a Richard Simmons fan since I bought the “Sweating To The Oldies” VHS box set at Costco when I was 9. If he had an Instagram feed at that time, I would have been bathed in it. But he has one now and in my opinion, it’s the only celebrity IG feed you need to follow. In case you’re not up to date on the TheWeightSaint’s photographic musings, I urge to get caught up right away. Spoiler alert: there are wigs, there is glitter and there are parrots. Click through to see more reasons why Richard Simmons’ Instagram feed is beyond fabulous. ||||| Richard Simmons spoke exclusively to ET on Sunday, addressing recent reports about why he had not been seen in public in more than two years. "I am not kidnapped," the 67-year-old fitness guru told ET’s executive producer, Brad Bessey, by phone. "I am just in my house right now.” "No one should be worried about me," Simmons said. "The people that surround me are wonderful people who take great care of me." WATCH: The Real Reason Richard Simmons Has Been in Hiding For Nearly a Year On Saturday, the New York Daily News published a long report citing on and off the record sources who expressed concern for Simmons' well-being. Simmons called the report "very hurtful." "I love all the people who worry about me," Simmons said. "But it was time for me to take some time to be by myself. For the last 40 years I have been traveling, teaching classes, and I had a knee injury, so I had a knee replacement, which was very difficult for me… I have really just been taking it easy, staying at home, working out in my gym and doing the things I haven't done in a very long time." According to Simmons, he's been keeping in shape despite concern that he might need another knee replacement. In response to speculation he has avoided going out because he has gained weight, Simmons said, "I still weigh 150. I work out every day. I have a gym at the house, and I am very healthy." Simmons was last photographed in January 2014 by TMZ. In November 2014, reports of Simmons' knee injury surfaced. Simmons took to Facebook then to thank his fans for their "outpouring of love and concern." "I have had a tough time dealing with this injury, as it is keeping me from doing what I truly love to do and that is to teach classes around the world," he wrote. "Make sure you keep Sweatin'!" NEWS: Richard Simmons Feels for Miley Cyrus The Sweatin' to the Oldies creator made his last public appearance in December 13, 2013, at SPARKLE: An All-Star Holiday Concert at ACME Comedy in Los Angeles. "This is how I want to live my life right now,” Simmons told ET on Sunday. "And to all the people that are worried about me, please don't be. If I was in any trouble, if I was hurting in any way, I would reach out. It is time right now for Richard Simmons to take care of Richard Simmons." For more with Simmons, tune into ET on Monday. Check here for local listings. Related Gallery ||||| Two years ago, the flamboyant fitness guru abruptly disappeared from public life. Now, his closest friends, banished from his inner circle, have grown increasingly concerned. They worry that the pop-culture icon is being held against his will inside his Hollywood Hills mansion — with one suggesting more sinister notions are at play. Two years ago, the flamboyant fitness guru abruptly disappeared from public life. Now, his closest friends, banished from his inner circle, have grown increasingly concerned. They worry that the pop-culture icon is being held against his will inside his Hollywood Hills mansion — with one suggesting more sinister notions are at play. BY SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 2016 Richard Simmons opened his front door, frail and trembling. Mauro Oliveira, a visual artist who was also Simmons’ masseur and former assistant, greeted him on the front porch, concerned about his friend. After receiving an ominous phone call from Simmons, Oliveira had driven his truck to the Hollywood Hills, past the two metal gates that Simmons had left ajar for him, and into the driveway. He reached the porch through the white columns that recalled an antebellum Southern mansion, and past Simmons’ bronze statue of a regal Dalmatian. Wearing a T-shirt and sweatpants, a gaunt Simmons led Oliveira through the foyer, and into the living room. “Mauro, we can no longer see each other,” Simmons told him in a quiet, defeated voice. Evan Hurd/Sygma/Corbis It was April 2014. Oliveira, a 49-year-old from Brazil with the burly arms and trim physique of a gym rat and close-cropped black hair, had met Simmons 13 months earlier, and the two became fast friends. But he was catching a weird vibe lately, and hadn’t seen him in a while, before the then 65-year-old Simmons summoned him to the mansion, saying only that they needed to talk. “What’s going on, Richard?” Oliveira asked. “Why are you saying that?” “I don’t know,” Simmons replied. “I just want to be by myself, and I want to be in the house, and we’re never going to see each other again.” Simmons’ home is a mixture of classical architecture and design that recalls his New Orleans youth. He collects offbeat pieces, including a menagerie of dolls highlighted by a rare Barbra Streisand model and the colorful work of Mexican painter and sculptor Sergio Bustamante. As they spoke, he and Oliveira stood near an ornate grand piano. “Let’s talk it over,” Oliveira said. “I want to sit here, and make sure you’ll be OK. Let’s go upstairs, I’ll give you a massage and relax you.” Simmons called up to Teresa Reveles, his live-in housekeeper of nearly three decades. “Mauro is going upstairs with me,” he said. “No, no, no!” Reveles shouted from the second floor, according to Oliveira. “Get out! Get out!” Oliveira looked at his friend, who told him in a soft voice, “You’ve gotta go.” Oliveira leaned in toward Simmons. “Is she controlling your life now?” As Oliveira tells it, Simmons looked down, and with one resigned word confirmed his worst suspicions: “Yes.” This was the last time he saw his friend. With Reveles shrieking behind him, Oliveira hustled out to his truck, picked up his cell phone, and asked an intermediary to contact Simmons’ older brother, Lenny. He and Lenny did not have a close relationship, but Oliveira knew of nowhere else to turn. Oliveira is calm as he recounts this story, but irritation enters his voice as he recalls a threat leveled that day, nearly two years ago. “Later that evening, Richard called me and said that his manager and Teresa wanted to put a restraining order against me — you can see how controlling they are — and I said, ‘What restraining order? You are the one who called me. I’m not invading your privacy, or your house.’ That was the end of that. No restraining order was put against me.” Oliveira has spoken briefly about his privileged access to Simmons during this dark period, but never in this much detail. He recently underwent a heart procedure, which he blames on Simmons-related stress, and is reluctant to invite further strain. But he agreed to elaborate on a Hollywood mystery that has previously been told only in a few cryptic tabloid items. “We are very concerned. I believe that something else is happening. I don’t think Richard is in there of his own volition.” Richard Simmons has vanished from public view, and many who know him best say they haven’t had any contact in more than two years. All repeat the same message, some anonymously and some on the record: Simmons stopped returning calls and emails more than two years ago, behavior that is highly out of character, and his housekeeper is blocking access to him at home. Indeed, for a generous and intensely social public figure, one who taught classes at his Beverly Hills gym until a few years ago; has sold more than 20 million exercise videos, including the mega-popular “Sweatin’ to the Oldies” series; appeared many times on David Letterman’s shows, “General Hospital,” his own talk show and infomercials; and was a seemingly ubiquitous presence for decades, the silence is striking. Getty “We were very close,” says a friend in Hollywood who spoke on the condition that his name be withheld, and who has not heard back from Simmons since 2013 — one of five people who described to me the same situation. “It’s not something that I want to seek publicity about, but we are very concerned. Teresa did turn me away several times. He has missed funerals of close friends. He was the most reliable and caring person on the planet, and then to suddenly vanish? I have come to believe that something else is happening. I don’t think Richard is in there of his own volition.” It’s a sentiment that Oliveira takes even further. “I feel that Richard is now being controlled by the very people that he controlled his whole life,” he says. “Controlled in the sense that they are taking advantage of his weak mental state. Controlled in the sense that they are controlling his mail, controlling his everything. His brother, the manager and Teresa. Those three people.” He also believes that Simmons is deeply depressed, because of a chronic knee injury that has kept him from teaching classes; the death of his beloved 17-year-old dalmatian, Hattie; and exhaustion from a lifetime as one of the highest-octane characters in American pop culture. How does he think Simmons has spent his days since cutting off contact with the world? “Medicated and in bed,” Oliveira says. Michael Catalano, Simmons’ longtime manager, insists that all the worry is misplaced. “Richard is enjoying life at home after a 40-year career of traveling the world and inspiring people to take better care of themselves,” Catalano told me (he declined my request for an interview with Simmons). “He is working on several projects and continues to encourage those that need his help.” “If Richard never comes out of the shadows and says he is OK, then no one will ever know the truth. His fans will just wake up one day and see the horrible story that he passed away.” Teresa Reveles did not respond to phone and email messages, and the gates were locked during my several visits to Simmons’ home. But Catalano pushes back strongly against the idea that the housekeeper, or anyone else, is controlling the fitness guru. “I can tell you absolutely 100% that is not the case,” he told me. “If Richard wants to get in his car and drive to Starbucks, no one is telling him he can’t. In response to ‘the housekeeper is keeping him captive,’ I can tell you that it is 100% not true. It’s ridiculous. Richard has always been someone who makes up his own mind what he wants to do.” Until they see him, however, many friends will remain highly skeptical. “If Richard never comes out of the shadows and says he is OK, then no one will ever know the truth,” says one. “His fans will just wake up one day and see the horrible story that he passed away.” Oliveira presents the most solid evidence of Simmons’ mental and emotional state, because his access to the mansion was more recent than others’. But even he has been left with a dearth of concrete, up-to-date information, leaving friends to concoct theories, some more outlandish than others. “I think tormented is the best word to describe his mental state,” Oliveira says. “I think it was (caused by) black magic, witchcraft. That’s not close to your culture, but to my culture in Brazil, and to Mexicans” — Teresa Reveles is from Mexico — “that is a real thing. They invoke the spirits. They light black candles, and red and blue candles. I’ve never participated. I only saw from a distance. But at services, they do special meals. They offer meals to the bad spirits, and light candles, invoking with words.” It is a bizarre allegation, but one not totally out of place in the story of this extraordinary American life. Andy Martino Simmons’ tale, defined by depression, resilience and reinvention, began on July 12, 1948, in that city of muggy mysticism, New Orleans. Milton Teagle Simmons — he later changed the name to honor a beloved uncle — was the second of two boys born to Leonard and Shirley Simmons. Theirs was a complicated family, crammed into a shotgun house in the French Quarter. Both parents were entertainers from the vaudeville era, having worked as singers, dancers, actors, and masters of ceremony. Shirley found more success than Leonard, so when Richard and his older brother, Lenny, were young, their parents made a decision unusual for the time: Shirley would continue to tour, and Leonard would be a stay-at-home parent. As Shirley packed for her trips, young Richard would cry and plead with his mother, “Why do you have to go? Why do you have to go?” Leonard, annoyed, would respond by freezing Richard out of the family for periods of time; Richard would fire back by mocking his dad for not having a job. “His method of punishment was perfect,” Simmons wrote in his engaging 1999 memoir, “Still Hungry — After All These Years.” “It was the Punishment of Silence. Very effective for a child who craves attention. You didn’t exist. He didn’t do your laundry, he didn’t set a place at the table for you — Milton doesn’t live here anymore.” Leonard and Shirley kept separate bedrooms and argued often, especially when she returned from the road. Once when Richard was 4 or 5 years old, he peered into the kitchen, to see his mother doubled over the sink, clutching her stomach. She had an ulcer, which Leonard blamed on his high-maintenance youngest son. “Are you happy now?” he said to Richard, as recounted in the memoir. “See what you have done? You made your mother sick. You gave her a peptic ulcer. It’s all your fault.” More than 30 years later, when Simmons was showing off his first house in the Hollywood Hills, his father still withheld attention and approval. “There’s too many windows and too much glass,” Leonard told his son, who by now was a successful workout guru with a recurring role on “General Hospital.” “It’s going to be very drafty. And where is the nearest grocery store, fish market, bakery? You’re going to have to drive all the way down the side of this mountain. This just doesn’t make sense!” “Nothing I did,” Simmons wrote, “seemed to be right.” People close to Simmons say that wounds from the fraught father-son dynamic have always been raw, even though both parents are long dead. “Now he has a complicated relationship with his brother,” one friend says. “He loves him, but (he) always says that his father favored Lenny.” When I tried to reach Lenny Simmons, a woman, presumably Lenny’s wife Kathy, picked up the phone, and had no interest in chatting. “Hi,” I began. “I’m a writer working on a piece about Richard Simmons—” “We have no comment,” the woman said. “I haven’t asked a question yet.” “I said we have no comment.” Click. Courtesy of Mauro Oliveira Friends say that family history has always weighed on Simmons. “He sometimes will slip into the persona of a 5-year-old child,” says one pal who claims to have seen this within the past few years. “He’ll play with dolls, and call you daddy. It’s ‘daddy this’ and ‘daddy that.’ ” Simmons’ relationship with his father was far from his only source of childhood trauma. From an early age, he struggled with his weight, and addiction to food. Leonard cooked elaborate meals, and taught his son how to do the same; the kitchen was one of the only places where their tension cooled. But by the time he was in grammar school, Simmons was heavier than his peers. His parents took him to doctors — “you’re a big fella,” one joked, a comment that Simmons never forgot — put him on diets, did whatever they could. Before even reaching high school, Simmons experimented with diet pills; as a young adult, he would starve himself, take laxatives, binge and purge, and otherwise try to escape the torture of hating his body. The other kids hardly made it easier, alternating between taunts about his weight and his effeminate manner, which brought on the label of “sissy,” as Simmons recalls in his memoir. Once, in the sixth grade, Simmons had just walked out of the schoolyard when a boy named Moose called to him, “Hey, porker.” Before Simmons could turn around, he felt the crack of a baseball bat on the back of his head. “Maybe I can put a hole in your head and some of that fat will come out,” Moose said. “Hey, porker,” one schoolyard bully taunted Simmons. “Maybe I can put a hole in your head and some of that fat will come out.” For Simmons, these experiences brought out the ability to empathize with singular intensity, the skill that would later bring him success and fame. While in high school, Simmons began accompanying the mother of a friend, named Barbara, to Weight Watchers meetings. At those weekly gatherings, women stepped on a scale; if they had gained any weight, the leader would pin a pig on their clothing. Deep into middle age, Simmons still recalled watching Barbara receive a pig. “I’ll never forget the look of shame on her face,” he wrote. “Here was this happy lady, and one trip to the scale and 20 minutes later, her mascara is running down her cheeks, and she has a pig on her shoulder.… I felt a need to give her a pep talk, and try to make her feel better about herself again.” For a time in college, Simmons lived and studied in Florence, hoping to become a serious painter in the tradition of Gustav Klimt. One day, a casting agent for the legendary director Federico Fellini approached him, needing an obese extra for the film “Satyricon.” Simmons parlayed that appearance into a string of Italian commercials, and achieved minor local celebrity. But those roles required him to stay overweight; he was 5-foot-7, and had ballooned to more than 250 pounds. Simmons eventually moved back to the U.S., hoping to get healthier. His interest in becoming a painter faded, as the desire to escape fat and self-loathing persisted. Having cycled through every imaginable way to control his eating, Simmons became passionate about exercise in the early 1970s, while working as a waiter in Los Angeles. His outgoing personality in that job attracted attention, and helped him to meet investors interested in his idea of starting a combined salad bar and gym, called the Ruffage and Anatomy Asylum. He opened his business in 1974, soon dropped the food-service aspect, and renamed the space Slimmons Studio. It launched what quickly became an exercise empire and still stands today on what is now City Center Drive in Beverly Hills. The location, and Simmons’ sociability, helped him forge connections in Hollywood, which led to TV appearances, videos, a talk show, radio, infomercials and game shows. Once his fame exploded, Simmons’ contribution to the culture transcended “Sweatin’ to the Oldies.” Decades before “Will and Grace” helped make middle America more comfortable with gay culture, Simmons — while never technically out to the public — pushed traditional boundaries of manliness and gender, all while helping others. Rhonda Garelick, a professor of comparative literature at Princeton, has studied and written about Simmons’ impact. “By inserting himself so dramatically into popular culture, and befriending and working to help overweight women — another group often ostracized or shamed — Simmons did make progress I think for the general acceptance of gay people,” Garelick told me in an email. Simmons taught classes at his gym until about two years ago, but hasn’t been seen there since. Dropping by Slimmons is an experience akin to calling Lenny Simmons’ house. When I knocked on the door on a recent morning, a woman in exercise clothes opened it a crack. “Sorry, we don’t allow reporters in here,” she said, before shutting it in my face. Courtesy of Mauro Oliveira Betty Wilson is an advocate in Los Angeles for people with disabilities, and now the commissioner of the California Commission on Disability Access, located in downtown L.A. She has also been a friend of Simmons for more than 20 years — until, that is, late 2013. “I’m concerned because it is not like him to not respond to me,” Wilson tells me over lunch in Santa Monica. “I mean, personally respond. I have sent many emails. No response.” A few years ago, Simmons expressed interest in developing exercise programs for the disabled. Wilson saw this as a natural extension of his empathy and desire to help marginalized people. “It shows his humanity,” Wilson says. “He wanted to be inclusive, before that word was even being used.” The two were in regular contact about this project, until just over two years ago, when Simmons’ responses abruptly stopped. Now, she joins the chorus of worried and suspicious friends. Wilson and Simmons have a mutual friend, June Park, who operates the store Wigs Today in a strip mall at Third and Fairfax in Los Angeles. For years, Simmons made frequent visits to the shop, to chat with Park and browse the merchandise (at home, friends say, Simmons sometimes wears wigs including a blonde bob and a brown, shoulder-length model). The two began to socialize, with group dinners and nights on the town. But like many others, Park has been unable to reach Simmons for about two years. “He’s a wonderful, wonderful guy,” says Park, 62. “He’s such a sweet guy. He tries to help everybody. He brings people in here and buys them wigs. Sometimes he would look at people, and read their aura, and start crying. That’s real. That’s true.” Park last tried to visit Simmons on July 12, 2014, his 66th birthday. She brought flowers. Teresa Reveles answered the door. “He started humiliating me in front of everybody. It’s hard to explain how someone is when they’re tormented by a bad force. That’s the thing. Teresa is putting black magic on him.” “I want to see Richard,” Park recalls saying. “She said, ‘He doesn’t want to see anybody right now.’ I don’t believe it. He’s not OK.… After that, I can’t go anymore. I tried to call Richard a couple times. No one will call me back. It is a really sad story. I’m so sad right now. Everybody loves him.” Standing in her store, surrounded by wigs, Park’s penetrating gaze fixes on mine and she implores me to spread the word about her concerns, “as soon as possible, please.” Oliveira’s version of Simmons’ descent into what he calls “self-imprisonment” is the most viable theory to which friends in the dark can cling. Simmons and Oliveira first met in a Hollywood art gallery in March 2013, when Oliveira was showing his paintings. They quickly connected, and the versatile Oliveira started working for Simmons, first as a masseuse, and then as a personal assistant. He insists that he and Simmons were just friends, and never romantically involved. That May, Oliveira says, Simmons offered to buy him a birthday present, saying it could be big. Oliveira responded by telling him how, from the age of 6 to 18, he had lived in an orphanage called Hope Unlimited in Campinas, Brazil, and had recently learned that the place needed a new well for its water. It would cost $30,000. Could Simmons do that? Simmons said that he would be glad to help. In August he, Oliveira and Catalano traveled to Brazil for the opening of the well. Oliveira remembers the day as beautiful and moving, with children singing to Simmons. But the trip itself brought about new tensions between the two. “When he woke up at the hotel, he was already tormented,” Oliveira says. “I went into his room and said, ‘Richard, are you ready?’ And he already started being bipolar: ‘Don’t rush me!’ I had just asked in a nice way. Then, as we were driving from Sao Paulo to Campinas, he started humiliating me in front of the driver, in front of everybody, in front of Michael. Just being a tormented person. It’s extremely hard to explain to you how someone is when they are tormented by a bad force. That’s the thing. Fucking Teresa is putting black magic on him. Like I put in the book.” Ah, the book. The tome to which Oliveira refers is “King Rich and the Evil Witch,” a self-published e-book in which Oliveira presents his version of the people and events in Simmons’ inner circle. In the book, labeled a “living fairy tale,” Simmons is “The Good Goofy King Rich,” Teresa Reveles is “Evil Witch Boreza,” Lenny Simmons is “Prince Benny” and Michael Catalano is “Morono.” Oliveira calls the character based on himself “The Artist.” He hopes to adapt the tale into a Broadway play. Mauro Oliveira via Amazon “On a Christmas early hours, the author had a dream in New York City that he was in a fairy tale with the guru and the witch,” Oliveira writes in his introduction. “After his dream…the author strongly felt the responsibility to share his true story with the world, and help his friend, ‘the King.’ ” In the story, the young Prince Rich develops a “brilliant life plan to help the large obese population in the kingdom and beyond,” and becomes successful in the “Kingdom of LA LA LAND.” Realizing that he needs help maintaining his castle, he places an ad in the “LA LA LAND TIMES,” soliciting a servant. Witch Boreza answers it and immediately “has her eye on the big prize: To inherit the castle and all of the Prince’s fortune and possessions.” After many years, the now-King Rich meets the Artist, arousing jealousy in Witch Boreza and others in his court. The friends travel to help an orphanage, and later to Europe, both based on real life experiences. Tensions ensue, resulting in a dramatic — and admittedly fictional — climax, where King Rich realizes that he has been put under the witch’s spell, and breaks free of it. “Boreza, YOU FUCKING WITCH,” King Rich shouts. “You are now expelled from the LA LA LAND KINGDOM. You have the choice to fly away on your broom now, from the castle’s balcony, or I am going to order the guards to give you to the thousands of commoners waiting outside.” Reality has brought no such catharsis. Teresa Reveles continues to work for Simmons, and remains an object of suspicion to those cast from his circle. June Park has read “King Rich and the Evil Witch,” and says, “(Oliveira) did a wonderful job. Everything he said was true.” Oliveira admits that some in Simmons’ camp were concerned that it was he who was after the boss’s money. In October of 2013, he began living in an apartment that Simmons purchased, which made the others uncomfortable. Oliveira said that he sent a monthly rent check of $2,000, which Simmons never cashed. In 2015, long after he last saw his friend, he contacted Simmons’ accountant and asked for an unspecified amount. Oliveira claims that Simmons had told him to ask for money whenever he needed it, and when he did so, he only asked once, and received nothing. “The good side of Richard felt compelled by my story that I was raised in an orphanage, and was living in a bad neighborhood at the time,” Oliveira says. “So he offered (the apartment), and I accepted. He didn’t put it in my name. It was just an investment for him.” In November 2013, as Simmons’ depression seemed to worsen, he suggested a trip to Europe with Oliveira, Catalano, Simmons’ accountant, and Lenny and Kathy Simmons. Oliveira, not wanting a repeat of the Brazil experience, declined, but Simmons kept pushing. Finally, Oliveira agreed to go. “I said, ‘Richard, you need to get up. You need to do something.’ He replied, ‘No I’m tired, let me sleep.’ I walked downstairs and said, ‘Teresa, Richard needs treatment.’ She said, ‘I don’t care.’ ” The group made it through its first two stops, France and England, without incident, but a darker energy materialized in Venice. On the final day of their trip, Simmons emerged in the hotel lobby dressed in a purple wig, fur coat and earrings, wearing heavy purple lipstick and rouge. It was not unusual for him to don women’s apparel, but this outfit appeared extreme, and Oliveira sensed trouble brewing. That day, the group rented a gondola large enough to fit six people. According to Oliveira, when Kathy Simmons tried to step onto the boat, it tipped, and water rushed in. The gondolier started screaming at her. “Then I said, ‘Listen, you don’t talk to tourists like this. We are paying you,’ ” Oliveira says. “Richard turned to me, and started screaming at me, (saying) that I was a nobody, that I wasn’t an accomplished artist. I don’t know if he was looking for an opportunity or a reason. (Then) he started singing opera. He was completely…” Oliveira trails off, searching for the right words, before picking up the story. “When a bad spirit gets in your body — he was possessed by a bad spirit. My blood pressure was through the roof, and I suspect that I had a minor heart attack. That’s the reason why I (later) had to put a valve on my heart.” CNN After the boat ride — “the longest half hour I’ve ever had in my life,” Oliveira says — Oliveira returned to his hotel room, and decided that he could no longer work for Simmons. Between that day and their dramatic final meeting the following April, they socialized occasionally, and Oliveira still provided massages. As Simmons began cutting off most friends, his beloved dog Hattie declined precipitously, defecating all over the house, and finally needing to be put down. Oliveira visited the mansion in March 2014, and found a depressing scene. “He was sleeping at 2 p.m. on a Sunday,” Oliveira says. “I said, ‘Richard, you need to get up. You need to do something.’ He said, ‘No I’m tired, let me sleep.’ And nobody cares. I walked downstairs and said, ‘Teresa, Richard needs treatment.’ She said, ‘I don’t care.’ ” Oliveira and Simmons parted ways in April, and after that, Oliveira says he communicated only with Simmons’ accountant about the apartment, which he vacated that October, and the request for money that he did not receive. Upon his return from the European vacation, Simmons made only a few more public appearances. At the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in November 2013, he rode in a turtle float, and interacted enthusiastically with the crowd. On January 16, 2014, he attended a Los Angeles fundraiser for Covered California, the state’s health insurance exchange. His most recent media interview, as far as Catalano can recall, was on New Year’s Eve 2013, when he appeared for five minutes on CNN with anchor Brooke Baldwin, and left in tears. The mood began to turn after Simmons encouraged viewers to be non-judgmental when they looked in the mirror. “What do you say to yourself in the mirror in the morning?” Baldwin asked. “I say, ‘Try to help more people,’ ” Simmons responded, his voice cracking. Back in the ’70s, when Slimmons was still called the Ruffage and Anatomy Asylum, a woman named Ellen would often come in and order a small juice. She was less than 5 feet tall, and skinny. Simmons could detect in her quiet demeanor a fellow survivor of childhood teasing and trauma. “Although she always wore the mask of a pleasant smile on her face,” he wrote in his memoir, “I’m sure Ellen endured years of being teased about her appearance. Just as people who are very overweight are often made fun of, people who are very thin are fair game, too.” Ellen made and sold teddy bears, and on Simmons’ birthday she brought him an original creation, with rusty brown fur and a smile. Over the next few months, she remained quiet and reserved, but would occasionally leave beautiful bears for Simmons, with notes that said, “I hope this makes your day.” One morning, Simmons arrived to find a minuscule box by the door. “Inside, wrapped in tissue, was the tiniest, most detailed teddy bear I’d ever seen,” he later wrote. “It was no more than the size of a postage stamp — it must have been made under a large magnifying glass. Unlike Ellen’s other works, this was not a happy-looking bear. It seemed very lonely sitting in that box, all by itself.” Simmons kept Ellen’s bears in his living room, and now noticed that they had been getting smaller, as the months ticked by. Days passed, and he didn’t see her, so Simmons became worried, and asked about her at a Beverly Hills boutique that sold her work. “She died a few days ago,” the owner said. Ellen had been anorexic, and Simmons has tormented himself for decades with the thought that he could have done more for her. He has spent a lifetime immersed in the deep end of other people’s despair, working to lift them out. Now, friends fear that he is the one wasting away. In January 2015, TMZ reported that the LAPD, acting on an anonymous tip, sent two officers to check on Simmons, and found him responsive and alert. Michael Catalano points to this as evidence that Simmons is fine, and says that he last saw his client during the 2015 holiday season, while Lenny and Kathy Simmons visited. “He was in great health,” Catalano says. But those words do little to comfort the folks who care about Simmons, who fear that the next news they hear will be the worst, and be left to wonder if they should have been more aggressive in their attempts to save him. In the absence of any news from the Hollywood Hills mansion, one is left to fill in the blanks. Thoughts inevitably turn to the troubled Beach Boy Brian Wilson and his possessive guru, Dr. Eugene Landy, or the final, isolated years of Michael Jackson and his prescription-happy doctor, Conrad Murray. The mind slips to dark places, when deprived of information. “He has to know his friends and the community are so concerned,” says one of the longtime friends who spoke on the condition of anonymity. “Show business is one thing, but friends are another. If he had any say in the matter, he would reach out to any of us. I’m very suspicious, as it just doesn’t make sense. It’s very bizarre. It’s beyond mysterious. If something is going on, we want to be there for him. We want to support him.” CORRECTIONS: In an earlier edition, we stated that Simmons lived and studied in Venice; it was Florence; The Covered California event Simmons attended was January 16, 2014, not January 30; Professor Rhonda Garelick, previously identified as a professor of fine- and performing arts at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is temporarily on leave from the university. She currently is a professor of comparative literature at Princeton. CREDITS: Digital Longform Editor, Joe Angio; Deputy Digital Longform Editor, Bruce Diamond; Senior Interactive Developer, Mike Sullivan |||||

– It was the article that launched a thousand, well, articles: an extensive New York Daily News piece on Richard Simmons published Saturday that claimed the "intensely social public figure" has for the last two years essentially vanished, having stopped responding to calls and emails, and suggested an overly controlling live-in housekeeper, Teresa Reveles, is to blame. The fitness guru's rep, Tom Estey, called the claims "untrue and preposterous" in a statement to People, saying Simmons just wanted a break "after 40 years of being in the spotlight." To USA Today, Estey said, "I don’t want the readers ... to think this man is a Howard Hughes recluse in his own home." But, still, no word from Simmons himself ... until Sunday night. In a phone conversation with ET, Simmons said quite plainly, "I am not kidnapped. I am just in my house right now. This is how I want to live my life right now. And to all the people that are worried about me, please don't be. If I was in any trouble, if I was hurting in any way, I would reach out. It is time right now for Richard Simmons to take care of Richard Simmons." He too cites his 40 years of being in the public eye, and references a "very difficult" knee replacement surgery. But he says, "I still weigh 150. I work out every day. I have a gym at the house, and I am very healthy." (Here are 14 reasons to love Simmons' Instagram feed.)

For the second year in a row, the odds are in her favor: Jennifer Lawrence is once again the world's highest-paid actress, notching $46 million pretax over 12 months--$13 million more than second-ranked Melissa McCarthy, who pocketed $33 million. Lawrence's impressive earnings consist largely of a profit slice from the big box office gross ($653.4 million) of her final Hunger Games installment and a mammoth upfront fee for the forthcoming Passengers. Her total is down 11.5% from $52 million in 2015, but she remains the girl on fire, financially speaking. McCarthy, 45, is this year's biggest dollar gainer year over year; her earnings are up $10 million on 2015's estimate thanks in part to a reported eight-figure payday for Ghostbusters. This year, the Mike & Molly star recorded her biggest annual paycheck to date, out-earning Scarlett Johansson (No. 3, $25 million). “I started to think if I could do anything to build women up rather than the constant tear down I’m going to do it,” McCarthy, who started her own all-sizes clothing line, told FORBES. Once again, we examined stars from around the globe, scouring Bollywood and the burgeoning Chinese cinema industry. To wit, 30% of the list hail from outside the U.S.; Chinese actress Fan Bingbing makes the cut for the second consecutive year, while Charlize Theron, a dual citizen of South African and the U.S., returns to the list for the first time since 2013. India's Deepika Padukone is the only newcomer to the ranking. The 30-year-old joins the list with Bollywood hits such as Bajirao Mastani, though she earns far less than her Hollywood counterparts for roles. Instead, she compensates with over a dozen lucrative endorsements--a hedging tactic employed by many of her Hollywood peers. Full List: The World’s Highest-Paid Actresses 2016 In an industry where a pay gap with male actors still exists, 90% of the world's highest-paid actresses supplement their on-screen earnings with endorsements. A particular standout: Jennifer Aniston (No. 4), 47, whose advertisements for Emirates airlines, Smartwater, Aveeno and Living Proof comprise a chunk of her $21 million earnings. Together, the world's 10 highest-paid actresses tallied a combined $205 million between June 1, 2015, and June 1, 2016, before fees and taxes. Four women, up from three in 2015, banked more than $20 million compared with 18 of the world's leading men (a separate list of highest-paid actors will be published Thursday). Though these select actresses earn more than most could dream of, their movie money is but a fraction of what many of their male counterparts pocket. While top actresses can negotiate eight figure upfront fees plus a cut of profits for leading parts in big budget movies, there are simply fewer of those roles available for women. In fact, a recent study found that female characters fill only 28.7% of all speaking roles in film. When women are on screen, they are likely to be eye candy for a male gaze: Women appeared in sexy attire more than a third of the time and were shown partially or fully nude 27.5% of the time, three times as much as men. It's a phenomenon up-and-comer Brie Larson experienced firsthand. “There were many times that I would go into auditions and the casting directors would say, ‘It’s really great, we love what you’re doing but we’d really love for you to come back in a jean miniskirt and high heels,’ ” said 30 Under 30 honoree Larson after winning the Best Actress Oscar for Room. Well-known names including Sandra Bullock, Angelina Jolie, Kristen Stewart, Reese Witherspoon and Cameron Diaz were among the drop-offs on this year's ranking. There were also some noteworthy near misses: Kristen Wiig, Renée Zellweger and Cate Blanchett all narrowly missed the $10 million cut off for this year's ranking. Where last year's ranking evaluated 18 women, this year's list has returned to the top 10 to give a more accurate portrait of acting's earning elite. Earnings estimates are based on data from Nielsen, Box Office Mojo and IMDB, as well as interviews with agents, managers and lawyers. Full List: The World’s Highest-Paid Actresses 2016 ||||| Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson elbowed out reigning top-ranked Robert Downey Jr. to become the world's highest-paid actor--and scored his biggest ever annual paycheck in the process. Johnson's $64.5 million payday more than doubled his 2015 earnings, making him this year's biggest dollar gainer. The erstwhile wrestler’s millions and millions came from upfront fees for movies including Central Intelligence and Fast 8, as well as the forthcoming Baywatch in which he’s set to play Mitch Buchannon. A staple of the Fast and Furious franchise, the stellar box office performance of his recent films (including 2015’s hit San Andreas) have seen his quotes skyrocket. “I can kick ass better than anyone on the planet,” Johnson told FORBES in 2012. “And I have a decent smile.” He bested second-ranked Jackie Chan ($61 million), who mints money with movies in China, and Matt Damon, who tallied $55 million largely off the success of The Martian to boost his earnings 120% year over year. Rounding out the top five is perennial list member Tom Cruise (No. 4, $53 million) and Johnny Depp (No. 5, $48 million), the latter of whom received a restraining order against him in May, after his wife, Amber Heard, alleged he physically and verbally abused her. The couple reached a $7 million divorce settlement in August; Heard donated the cash to charity. The damning accusations did not impact his earnings during our scoring period--he pocketed an estimated eight figures upfront apiece for the latest Pirates of the Caribbean installment and box office bomb Alice Through the Looking Glass--but his paychecks look set to plummet next year. The only returnee to the ranking: Harrison Ford, who sneaks on with an outsized payday for his return as Han Solo in 2015’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens. He most recently made the list in 2009. Full List: The World’s Highest-Paid Actors 2016 A quarter of this global list hail from outside the U.S. Aside from Chan, four Bollywood stars returned to the ranking for the second year in a row. Shah Rukh Khan ($33 million), the top-ranked Indian actor, banked as much as Downey Jr. , while Akshay Kumar ($31.5 million) earned the same as Brad Pitt in our scoring period. Almost universally, a gender pay gap persists. The world's highest-paid actress, Jennifer Lawrence ($46 million), earned 71% of Johnson's $64.5 million. That ratio is a little lower than the 79 cents a white woman is typically paid to every dollar a white man makes, but better than the pay disparity Hispanic or Black women typically face. There are simply more big budget roles for men that pay the high fees and cut of profits needed to score multimillion take-homes. In fact, there are more roles for men, period: Male characters comprise an overwhelming 71% of all speaking roles in movies, according to a recent study. To wit, eighteen actors banked over $20 million in our scoring period, compared with just four actresses. Vin Diesel: The Film Star Of The Future Combined, the world's 20 highest-paid actors earned a whopping $703.5 million between June 1, 2015 and June 1, 2016, before management fees and taxes. That's more than three times the $205 million tallied by the top 10 highest-paid actresses in the same time frame. Men in movies can also have longer careers than the top-earning women: 95% of the highest-paid actors are over 40, compared with half of the actresses. The same study found that men fill nearly three quarters of all roles for characters over 40. In our rankings, all of the highest-paid actresses are under 50, while 45% of the actors are 50-plus. In fact, two of the actors on the list, Ford and Amitabh Bachchan, are even in their seventies. Just missing the cut this year is 64-year-old Liam Neeson, whose earnings dropped below the $15 million barrier to entry. Seth Rogen, Chris Hemsworth and Channing Tatum were among the drop-offs, largely due to quieter years or movies that fell outside our scoring period. While last year's ranking evaluated 34 men, this year's list scaled back to the top 20 to home in on acting's earning elite. Figures are based on data from Nielsen, BoxOffice Mojo and IMDB, as well as interviews with agents, managers and lawyers. Full List: The World’s Highest-Paid Actors 2016 ||||| Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson elbowed out reigning top-ranked Robert Downey Jr. to become the world's highest-paid actor--and scored his biggest ever annual paycheck in the process. Johnson's $64.5 million payday more than doubled his 2015 earnings, making him this year's biggest dollar gainer. The erstwhile wrestler’s millions and millions came from upfront fees for movies including Central Intelligence and Fast 8, as well as the forthcoming Baywatch in which he’s set to play Mitch Buchannon. A staple of the Fast and Furious franchise, the stellar box office performance of his recent films (including 2015’s hit San Andreas) have seen his quotes skyrocket. “I can kick ass better than anyone on the planet,” Johnson told FORBES in 2012. “And I have a decent smile.” He bested second-ranked Jackie Chan ($61 million), who mints money with movies in China, and Matt Damon, who tallied $55 million largely off the success of The Martian to boost his earnings 120% year over year. Rounding out the top five is perennial list member Tom Cruise (No. 4, $53 million) and Johnny Depp (No. 5, $48 million), the latter of whom received a restraining order against him in May, after his wife, Amber Heard, alleged he physically and verbally abused her. The couple reached a $7 million divorce settlement in August; Heard donated the cash to charity. The damning accusations did not impact his earnings during our scoring period--he pocketed an estimated eight figures upfront apiece for the latest Pirates of the Caribbean installment and box office bomb Alice Through the Looking Glass--but his paychecks look set to plummet next year. The only returnee to the ranking: Harrison Ford, who sneaks on with an outsized payday for his return as Han Solo in 2015’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens. He most recently made the list in 2009. Full List: The World’s Highest-Paid Actors 2016 A quarter of this global list hail from outside the U.S. Aside from Chan, four Bollywood stars returned to the ranking for the second year in a row. Shah Rukh Khan ($33 million), the top-ranked Indian actor, banked as much as Downey Jr. , while Akshay Kumar ($31.5 million) earned the same as Brad Pitt in our scoring period. Almost universally, a gender pay gap persists. The world's highest-paid actress, Jennifer Lawrence ($46 million), earned 71% of Johnson's $64.5 million. That ratio is a little lower than the 79 cents a white woman is typically paid to every dollar a white man makes, but better than the pay disparity Hispanic or Black women typically face. There are simply more big budget roles for men that pay the high fees and cut of profits needed to score multimillion take-homes. In fact, there are more roles for men, period: Male characters comprise an overwhelming 71% of all speaking roles in movies, according to a recent study. To wit, eighteen actors banked over $20 million in our scoring period, compared with just four actresses. Vin Diesel: The Film Star Of The Future Combined, the world's 20 highest-paid actors earned a whopping $703.5 million between June 1, 2015 and June 1, 2016, before management fees and taxes. That's more than three times the $205 million tallied by the top 10 highest-paid actresses in the same time frame. Men in movies can also have longer careers than the top-earning women: 95% of the highest-paid actors are over 40, compared with half of the actresses. The same study found that men fill nearly three quarters of all roles for characters over 40. In our rankings, all of the highest-paid actresses are under 50, while 45% of the actors are 50-plus. In fact, two of the actors on the list, Ford and Amitabh Bachchan, are even in their seventies. Just missing the cut this year is 64-year-old Liam Neeson, whose earnings dropped below the $15 million barrier to entry. Seth Rogen, Chris Hemsworth and Channing Tatum were among the drop-offs, largely due to quieter years or movies that fell outside our scoring period. While last year's ranking evaluated 34 men, this year's list scaled back to the top 20 to home in on acting's earning elite. Figures are based on data from Nielsen, BoxOffice Mojo and IMDB, as well as interviews with agents, managers and lawyers. Full List: The World’s Highest-Paid Actors 2016 |||||

– The Rock, Jackie Chan, and Matt Damon walk into a bar … and the Rock should probably pay for drinks, as the actor otherwise known as Dwayne Johnson has been named the world's highest-paid male actor by Forbes. Thanks to 2015 earnings of $64.5 million (his largest payday ever), Johnson knocked Robert Downey Jr. off the pay pedestal, helped along by upfront compensation from blockbusters such as this year's Central Intelligence and next year's Fast 8. Chan followed close behind on the Forbes list with $61 million, while Damon came in third with $55 million, boosted mainly by The Martian. Here, the top five and their 2015 earnings: Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, $64.5 million Jackie Chan, $61 million, Matt Damon, $55 million Tom Cruise, $53 million Johnny Depp, $48 million Forbes ranked actresses as well, with Jennifer Lawrence earning the No. 1 spot with $46 million, followed by Melissa McCarthy at $33 million and Scarlett Johansson at $25 million. The magazine notes that comparing the two sets of earnings underscores the gender pay gap that still exists, with top-earning Lawrence earning just 71% of Johnson's pay. The top 5 women actors and their 2015 earnings: Jennifer Lawrence, $46 million Melissa McCarthy, $33 million Scarlett Johansson, $25 million Jennifer Aniston, $21 million Chinese actress Fan Bingbing, $17 million Check out the top breadwinners in both the men's and women's categories.

Shaquille O'Neal says he would dominate today's NBA and goes off on his doubters, plus love for DeAndre Ayton, Senselessly Sensitive, and the return of Walmart or Waffle House - The Big Podcast with Shaq - Episode 172 Shaquille O'Neal opens the show this week by going OFF on the doubters who think he wouldn't dominate today's NBA - because he is sure he'd be able to average 50 a night against the soft NBA centers today. Plus, Shaq thinks that DeAndre Ayton is a great player, but he shouldn't strive to be the next Shaq but rather the first Ayton, and he hopes Ayton breaks his records. Shaq is also happy for Dwyane Wade, we recap the insanity from the Lost Lands Music Festival, and debate whether Shaq could take Henry Cavill's place as the new Superman. We do a proper full "Senselessly Sensitive" segment this week, we try to get back in the hunt in the PodcastOne Sportsnet NFL Challenge, of course we get Borderline, and we play a round of the classic "Walmart or Waffle House!" Get into the mix on Twitter by following @Shaqcast or using #Shaqcast - follow The Big Podcast with Shaq on Instagram and Facebook - or email your best stuff to [email protected]. Head over to BetOnline.AG and use promo code PODCAST1 to receive a 50% sign up bonus. Loading... ||||| Shaquille O’Neal gives the flat-Earth theory his seal of approval. (AP) I’m sorry to break it to you, but Shaquille O’Neal is apparently a flat-Earther, too. Actually, I’m not sorry at all. I love this NBA narrative so, so much, and I’d like to thank Shaq for breathing more life into it. Cleveland Cavaliers star Kyrie Irving was the first NBA player to reveal his flat-Earth beliefs, summarized as such: “Can you really think of us rotating around the sun, and all planets align, rotating in specific dates, being perpendicular with what’s going on with these ‘planets’ and stuff like this?” Soon afterwards, Denver Nuggets wing Wilson Chandler and Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green endorsed Irving’s flat-Earth theory, with the latter explaining away NASA’s photos of the planet from space by suggesting everyone can manipulate doctored photos of the globe on their phones. [Follow Ball Don’t Lie on social media: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tumblr] The NBA storyline became so outrageous commissioner Adam Silver had to address it in his annual state-of-the-league address at the All-Star Game, clarifying, “I believe the world is round,” and suggesting Irving was making some broader social commentary about fake news in this country. Which, no he wasn’t. Irving doubled down on his flat-Earth theory this past week, before detailing his lucid dreaming skills and informing us how an ex-teammate came to him in a dream to say goodbye. These are all very real things that NBA players have said. This is one wild theme to the 2016-17 NBA season, and Shaq just made it wilder when asked about Irving’s flat-Earth theory on his podcast. This was his response, through a series of interruptions: Shaq is a flat-Earther, too I’m speechless I love this NBA narrative so muchhttps://t.co/eijTsZKJZm pic.twitter.com/3zOLbABfeQ — Ben Rohrbach (@brohrbach) March 19, 2017 Story Continues “It’s true. The Earth is flat. The Earth is flat. Yes, it is. Listen, there are three ways to manipulate the mind — what you read, what you see and what you hear. In school, first thing they teach us is, ‘Oh, Columbus discovered America,’ but when he got there, there were some fair-skinned people with the long hair smoking on the peace pipes. So, what does that tell you? Columbus didn’t discover America. So, listen, I drive from coast to coast, and this s*** is flat to me. I’m just saying. I drive from Florida to California all the time, and it’s flat to me. I do not go up and down at a 360-degree angle, and all that stuff about gravity, have you looked outside Atlanta lately and seen all these buildings? You mean to tell me that China is under us? China is under us? It’s not. The world is flat.” This man has a doctorate degree in education from Barry University in Miami, Fla. Seriously. I’m not sure which detail I enjoyed better — Shaq thinking the world is flat because he drives coast to coast or Shaq thinking he’d be driving “up and down at a 360-degree angle” if the Earth was spherical. Unfortunately, you can’t drive from here to Asia, but there are things called boats and airplanes, and if you head west from California, you’ll arrive in China. And if you head west from there, you’ll eventually end up in California again. Because we live on a globe. Shaq should know full well. He’s been to China. And, technically, a 360-degree angle is just a circle. I don’t know why Shaq thinks you would be driving up and down on a circle, but it is possible to drive comfortably on a spherical object when that object’s circumference is 24,901 miles. Think of an ant walking around a basketball, if you will. It might think it’s moving in a straight line, but eventually it will navigate the orb and arrive in the same place. [Join a Yahoo Daily Fantasy Basketball contest now] Also, there are things called mountains, and you drive over them on your way to California. At various angles. But never at a 360-degree angle, because your car would just be careening in circles into a ravine. But we shouldn’t have to explain mountains to you, just how we shouldn’t have to tell you the Earth is not flat. And that’s what’s so great about this new NBA narrative. It raises so many questions, from where players think the sun goes at night to why they believe they travel to different time zones. Of course, there remains the possibility that Shaq is just trolling us all. In which case, kudos to him for coming up with some fantastically elaborate fiction about how China cannot be under us, because I can’t get enough of NBA players and their flat-Earth theories — real or imaginary. Keep ’em coming. – – – – – – – Ben Rohrbach is a contributor for Ball Don’t Lie and Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! |||||

– Apparently there's a belief circulating in the NBA that the Earth is flat. Kyrie Irving of the Cleveland Cavaliers first revealed his flat-Earth beliefs back in February, and now retired basketball player Shaquille O'Neal has revealed he's on the same page. In an episode of his podcast broadcast late February but only recently picked up by the media, Shaq said, per Sports Illustrated: "It’s true. The Earth is flat. The Earth is flat. Yes, it is. Listen, there are three ways to manipulate the mind—what you read, what you see, and what you hear." He used an example involving Christopher Columbus, arguing that Columbus didn't really discover America because there were already "fair-skinned people" living here when Columbus arrived. Then he got into the real nitty gritty. He explained that he drives from coast to coast, and it certainly seems flat to him: "I’m just saying. I drive from Florida to California all the time, and it’s flat to me. I do not go up and down at a 360-degree angle, and all that stuff about gravity, have you looked outside Atlanta lately and seen all these buildings? You mean to tell me that China is under us? China is under us? It’s not. The world is flat." Kenny Ducey at SI says that while he wants to believe this is all a joke, both Irving and O'Neal seem to be taking it seriously; Irving, for example, has continued to defend his beliefs. Ben Rohrbach at Yahoo Sports, who first uncovered the Shaq podcast, agrees that Irving is not kidding around (or trying to make some sort of point about "fake news," as NBA commissioner Adam Silver suggested), and points out that at least two other NBA players have agreed with him.

Miriam Reeves is escorted down the aisle by her father Bernard Reeves, 64, who has Alzheimer’s, and her mother, Marie Reeves. THE BLADE/AMY E. VOIGT Enlarge | Buy This Image Miriam Reeves and her fiance, Mark Davis, were planning a traditional wedding ceremony at their church in Ypsilanti, Mich., when she realized about a month ago that someone very special would be missing: her father. Bernard Reeves, 64, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s dementia in 2006, and moved to the Foundation Park Alzheimer’s Care Center in Toledo about two years ago when his symptoms worsened. So the former Ms. Reeves, 31, of Canton, Mich., decided to bring the wedding to her father. The couple held a small, informal garden ceremony at Foundation Park on Saturday. “My dad has been my hero my entire life and I know that if he was well, he would be at my wedding front and center. And I thought, ‘Why not move it there and it would be more of a special event,’ ” Mrs. Davis said before the ceremony. PHOTO GALLERY: Click here for more photos from the ceremony And as so many brides imagine for their special day, a beaming Bernard Reeves walked his daughter down the aisle Saturday morning, while those in attendance fought — many with little success — to hold back sentimental tears. The Rev. Robert Davis, the father of the groom, conducts the marriage ceremony Saturday between Miriam Reeves and Mark Davis. THE BLADE/AMY E. VOIGT Enlarge | Buy This Image Mr. Reeves is in an advanced stage of the disease and his daughter was worried he might wander off if the family tried to bring him out of the center to a ceremony held elsewhere, said Marla Hawkins, the care center’s director of admissions and marketing. “He still knows who we are, but he doesn’t say much and he can’t care for himself. I feel like a part of him will know what’s going on,” his daughter said beforehand. “Even if he can’t sit through the whole thing, we just want his presence,” her mother said before the ceremony. “It all depends on his mental state at the time,” Mrs. Reeves said. Mr. Reeves had an inspiring life before his diagnosis. “He was in the Army during the Vietnam War. He was stationed in Germany at the time,” Mrs. Reeves said. He was also a police chaplain for a time. Most recently he was a pastor at the New Creation Church in Detroit. Though father and daughter were always close, Mrs. Reeves said they grew even closer when he got sick. “She was going to school in psychology at the time and the more she learned, the harder it was for her because she knew what to expect,” her mother said. Mrs. Davis is one of six children and the last to marry. For that reason, and because they are so close, Mrs. Davis felt it was imperative her father be present for the wedding. “When we came up with the idea of having the wedding there, they [the care center] were very excited about it. I didn’t expect that,” Mrs. Reeves said. She said she does not believe they have ever had a wedding ceremony held there. Though the guest list for the ceremony originally was quite short, it began expanding. “My husband has six kids. Then we have 10 grandkids. And on the groom’s side there are three sisters. And his father is a pastor so he’ll be doing the ceremony,” Mrs. Reeves said. Ultimately, Mrs. Reeves estimated the audience at 30 people. After the ceremony, the couple and wedding party planned to have dinner together at a restaurant in the Toledo area. Blade Staff Writer Marlene Harris-Taylor contributed to this report. ||||| TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — A Michigan woman who had been planning a traditional church wedding changed the venue to an Ohio nursing home so her father with Alzheimer's could walk her down the aisle. Miriam Reeves is escorted down the aisle by her father Bernard Reeves, 64, who has Alzheimer's, and her mother Marie Reeves, right, during the Reeves / Davis wedding at Foundation Park Alzheimer's Care... (Associated Press) Pastor Robert Davis, the father of the groom, center, conducts the marriage ceremony between Miriam Reeves, left, and Mark Davis beneath the gazebo in the courtyard of Foundation Park Alzheimer's Care... (Associated Press) Miriam and Mark Davis, of Canton, married Saturday at the Foundation Park Alzheimer's Care Center in Toledo. A beaming Bernard Reeves, 64, gave his daughter away as many of the 30-some wedding guests struggled to hold back tears. Reeves has advanced-stage Alzheimer's disease. "My dad has been my hero my entire life and I know that if he was well, he would be at my wedding front and center," Miriam Davis, 31, told The Blade before the ceremony (http://bit.ly/VwRES7). "And I thought, 'Why not move it there and it would be more of a special event?'" Davis and her fiance had been planning to marry at their church in Ypsilanti, Michigan. But she worried that her father might wander off if he were away from his nursing home. The nursing home was enthusiastic about hosting the ceremony, she said. Davis said her father still knows who she is but rarely talks and can't care for himself. Reeves, a Vietnam War veteran, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2006 and moved to the Toledo nursing home two years ago when his symptoms worsened. Reeves also was a police chaplain for a time. Most recently, he was a pastor at the New Creation Church in Detroit. Marie Reeves, Davis' mother and Bernard Reeves' wife, said even though her husband may not have understood everything that was going on Saturday, his simple presence meant so much. ___ Information from: The Blade, http://www.toledoblade.com/ |||||

– Most weddings have at least a few wet eyes in attendance. But when 30 guests watched Miriam Reeves escorted down the aisle by her beaming father Saturday, few could hold back their tears. Just a month earlier, Miriam, 31, decided to move her traditional church wedding in Michigan to the garden at the Foundation Park Alzheimer's Care Center in Toledo, Ohio, where her father, Bernard Reeves, 64, has been a resident since his Alzheimer's symptoms got worse two years ago. She had been worried he'd wander off if he had to leave the center to attend a wedding elsewhere. "My dad has been my hero my entire life and I know that if he was well, he would be at my wedding front and center," Miriam tells the Toledo Blade. "And I thought, 'Why not move it there and it would be more of a special event.'" The staff was enthusiastic, she says, adding that she believes her wedding was the first to be held at the center. Her father served in the Army during the Vietnam War, then became a police chaplain, and was also a pastor in Detroit, reports the AP. He is now in an advanced stage of the disease, but he still recognizes his daughter. (Also over the weekend, a New York cop got to see the baby he saved 20 years ago get married.)

Getty Obama makes immigration joke at turkey pardon President Barack Obama used his presidential powers to grant one lucky turkey “amnesty” on Wednesday. “I am here to announce what I’m sure will be the most talked-about executive action this month,” Obama joked during the Pardoning of the National Turkey, a tradition where the president excuses one turkey and an alternate from becoming a Thanksgiving entree. Story Continued Below The president used the ceremony as an excuse to make jabs at recent news surrounding his executive action that protects millions of undocumented immigrants from deportation. “Today, I’m taking an action fully within my legal authority, the same kind of action taken by Democrats and Republican presidents before me,” he said to a laughing audience. “To spare the lives of two turkeys — Mac and Cheese — from a terrible and delicious fate.” This year the turkeys took to Twitter, as the White House started an online campaign where users could tweet their support for #TeamMac or #TeamCheese. Obama announced that Cheese was the winner of the competition, but that both will be saved from the Thanksgiving table and taken to the home of former Virginia Gov. Westmoreland Davis in Leesburg, Va. “They’ll get to live out the rest of their days, respectably, at a Virginia estate with 10,000 acres of roaming space,” he said. Obama continued, “I know some will call this amnesty, but don’t worry, there’s plenty of turkey to go around.” ||||| Not even the pomp and ritual of the White House can overcome the most powerful force known to man: TEEN CONTEMPT. Today President Obama undertook the White House's stupid traditional Thanksgiving ceremony of "pardoning" a turkey. His daughters Malia and Sasha, 16 and 13, accompanied him. Their barely contained disdain for the production was utterly appropriate and utterly magnificent: MSNBC reports: When asked by her dad if she would like to pet Cheese the turkey, Malia Obama responded, "Nah." DAD. Video below. The first 20 seconds contain among the highest concentration of teen-face seen in the White House since Alice Roosevelt was caught smoking cigs on the roof. [h/t to Rembert] |||||

– "I am here to announce what I’m sure will be the most talked-about executive action this month," President Obama quipped yesterday as he pardoned a pair of Thanksgiving turkeys named Mac and Cheese. He admitted that he found the Pardoning of the National Turkey "a little puzzling," but said "with all the tough stuff that swirls around in this office it's nice once in a while just to say, 'Happy Thanksgiving,'" CNN reports. The White House held an online campaign this year where users could tweet in favor of saving Mac or Cheese, Politico reports. Cheese won, but Obama said both would be spared "a terrible and delicious fate." "I know some will call this amnesty, but don't worry, there’s plenty of turkey to go around," Obama joked. This is the sixth turkey pardon of Obama's presidency and the novelty definitely appears to have worn off for Malia and Sasha. The girls, now 16 and 13, looked on with "barely contained disdain," and Malia said, "Nah" when her father asked her if she'd like to pet Cheese, Gawker reports (it shares a gif of their "teen face"). The daughters aren't the only ones with disdain for the tradition. Critics call it a mockery of real presidential pardons and note that the birds don't tend to spend long, peaceful retirements on farms: They're not bred to live long and most end up dead within a few months of the "pardon."

Arab League monitors have met anti-government protesters but not been allowed into 'military zones' [YouTube] Syria has rejected any plans to send Arab troops into the country, saying it will "confront" and "stand firm" against military intervention after the ruler of Qatar said in a television interview that Arab countries should step in with force. The state-run SANA news agency quoted a "credible source" at the foreign ministry as saying on Tuesday that the country is "shocked" by the Qatari emir's comments, which "could worsen the conflict and kill the chances of Syria working closely with Arabs". The source warned that it will be "unfortunate to see Arab blood flow on Syrian soil". Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani was quoted by an American television programme on Sunday as suggesting that Arab troops should be sent to Syria to stop the deadly violence. The interview, which was conducted late last year, was the first time an Arab leader had called for the deployment of troops inside the country. The United Nations estimated in December that at least 5,000 people have been killed since protests against the government of President Bashar al-Assad broke out in March. The organisation also believes at least 400 people have been killed since the Arab League first deployed observers - meant to oversee the implementation of a League-brokered peace plan - on December 26. Militarised conflict The initially peaceful uprising against Assad was met with deadly force and mass arrests and has in recent months turned into a militarised conflict between the government on one side and army defectors and armed civilians on the other. Qatar, which once had close relations with Damascus, has been a harsh critic of crackdown and withdrew its ambassador during the summer. Since revolts began to sweep the Arab world in December 2010, Qatar has aggressively supported opposition movements, most prominently in Libya, where it trained, armed and guided the fighters who overthrew the country's longstanding ruler, Muammar Gaddafi. Assad and his government say "terrorists" are behind the uprising and that armed gangs are acting out a foreign conspiracy to destabilise the country. The Syrian foreign ministry source told SANA on Tuesday that "it will be unfortunate to see Arab blood flow on Syrian territory just for the purpose of serving known agendas, especially that the foreign conspiracy against Syria has become very clear". The statement also called on Arab countries to "help prevent the infiltration of terrorists and the smuggling of weapons into Syria". The Arab League observer mission is expected to announce this week that Syria has failed to implement a peace plan brokered by the regional bloc. Tug-of-war at UN International diplomats at the UN Security Council, meanwhile, are debating a new resolution that will call for an end to the violence and is set to come to a vote in two weeks. The US and European nations are at odds with Russia, which proposed the draft language and opposes intervention in Syria. "Western countries say the resolution isn't tough enough, [the] Russians say it's not the Security Council's place to take sides in civil dispute," Al Jazeera's Kristin Saloomey reported from the United Nations. The Russians do not want to see a Libya-style military intervention and "are not alone" in that desire, our correspondent said. The draft resolution does not mention sanctioning Syria, which the US and European Union have done independently, she said. Mandate to expire The Arab League mission's mandate is due to expire on Thursday, and the bloc is set to meet on Sunday to discuss next steps, including possibly renewing the mission. "The outcome of the contacts that have taken place over the past week between the Arab League and Syria have affirmed that Syria will not reject the renewal of the Arab monitoring mission for another month ... if the Arab foreign ministers call for this at the coming meeting," an Arab source told the Reuters news agency. Syria will allow the number of monitors, currently fewer than 200, to increase, but will not agree to give them official fact-finding duties or let them visit off-limits "military zones". Activists reported that at least 20 people died in Syria on Tuesday, mostly in the flashpoint city of Homs. SANA reported that an "armed terrorist group" fired rocket-propelled grenades at an army checkpoint 9km southwest of Damascus on Monday, killing an officer and five soldiers. ||||| This image from amateur video made available by Shaam News Network on Monday, Jan. 16, 2012, purports to show Syrian security forces in Hama, Syria. (AP Photo/Shaam News Network via APTN) THE ASSOCIATED... (Associated Press) Syria "absolutely rejects" any plans to send Arab troops into the country, the Foreign Ministry said Tuesday, even as the death toll mounts from the 10-month-old uprising against President Bashar Assad. Assad has insisted there be no foreign intervention in Syria. He agreed under heavy regional pressure to admit some Arab League observers, but their effectiveness has been limited. Activists said at least 18 people died Tuesday, and six Syrian soldiers were killed late Monday near Damascus. The revolt has turned increasingly militarized in recent months, with a growing risk of civil war. The U.N. says about 400 people have been killed in the last three weeks, on top of an earlier estimate of more than 5,000 dead since March. Syrian activists said most of Tuesday's dead were shot by security forces or pro-regime gunmen. The reports could not be independently verified. Attacks also were reported for a fifth day in the Damascus suburb of Zabadani, near the border with Lebanon. The government rejection of armed intervention followed a remark from the leader of Qatar, Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who was quoted Sunday as saying Arab troops should be sent to Syria to stop the deadly violence _ the first statements by an Arab leader calling for the deployment of troops inside Syria. Qatar, which once had close relations with Damascus, has been a harsh critic of the crackdown. Since the wave of Arab uprisings began more than a year ago, Qatar has taken an aggressive role, raising its influence in the region. "The Syrian people reject any foreign intervention in its affairs, under any title, and would confront any attempt to infringe upon Syria's sovereignty and the integrity of its territories," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The government says terrorists are behind the uprising, not reform-seekers, and that armed gangs are acting out a foreign conspiracy to destabilize the country. The regime says 2,000 members of the security forces have been killed. Syria agreed last month to an Arab League plan that calls for a halt to the crackdown, the withdrawal of heavy weaponry like tanks from cities, the release of all political prisoners, and allowing foreign journalists and human rights workers in. About 150 Arab League observers are working in Syria to verify whether the government is abiding by its agreement, and the League said Tuesday another 10 will head into Syria shortly. So far they appear to have made little impact, and the conflict has reached a bloody stalemate, with both sides refusing to back down. On Tuesday, the Dutch foreign minister called on Assad's opponents to form a "united, representative and inclusive" opposition to the regime, an indication that the fragmentation of the opposition movements is itself an issue. Uri Rosenthal also said he would keep pressing for further European Union sanctions and a U.N. Security Council resolution on Syria. He spoke after meeting Burhan Ghalioun, leader of the Syrian National Council, an umbrella group for the opposition. Ghalioun's visit came a day after Russia circulated a revised Security Council resolution on the violence in Syria. Western diplomats said the draft fell short of their demand for strong condemnation of Assad's crackdown. The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 18 people were killed in Syria on Tuesday, most of them shot dead by troops or pro-government gunmen. The Local Coordination Committees, another activist group, said 24 people were killed, 17 of them in the restive central province of Homs. It was impossible to resolve the discrepancy or to independently verify the death toll. Syria has banned most foreign corespondents and restricted local coverage, making it impossible to get independent confirmation of the events on the ground. The state-run news agency, SANA, reported violence targeting security forces and civilians Tuesday, saying a roadside bomb went off near a minibus in the northwestern province of Idlib, killing four and wounding five. A video posted online by activists showed a minibus with its roof blown out and blood stains on the seats. The narrator blamed security forces for the attack. Earlier in the day, SANA said that an "armed terrorist group" launched rocket-propelled grenades at an army checkpoint late Monday, killing an officer and five army personnel about six miles (nine kilometers) southwest of Damascus. ___ Associated Press writer Bassem Mroue contributed to this report. |||||

– Syria may have begrudgingly agreed to let Arab League observers into the country, but it's not about to do the same with Arab troops. Responding angrily to the emir of Qatar's suggestion that troops intervene, Syria's foreign ministry made clear it won't stand idly by if foreign soldiers move in, reports AP. "The Syrian people reject any foreign intervention in its affairs, under any title, and would confront any attempt to infringe upon Syria's sovereignty and the integrity of its territories," said a statement. Syrian officials were reportedly "shocked" at the proposal and warned it could "kill the chances of Syria working closely with Arabs," according to al-Jazeera. As for the Arab League's observer mission, it's expected to wrap up this week by announcing that Syria has failed to put a League-brokered peace plan into place. The mission is widely seen as a failure, with at least 400 people killed since the first observers deployed in late December.

If you can't make it to SXSW, here's the next best thing: The Texas Nationalist Movement, which is exactly what it sounds like, will be holding a rally tomorrow in front of the state capitiol in Austin to push for a referendum on secession from the United States. As with any half-decent declaration of independence, the group's resolution has a list of grievances: Specifically, the federal government has failed the protect its borders, and "implemented thousands of laws, mandates and agencies in violation of the United States Constitution that have invaded the sovereignty of the State of Texas." But wait: This story actually gets stranger. As the Houston Press reported, the Texas Nationalist Movement's secession rally is being sponsored by none other than state Rep. Leo Berman. You may remember Berman as the man who introduced a bill to force the President of the United States to prove his citizenship (again), and, when asked for proof, cited YouTube videos he'd seen because, "YouTubes are infallible." He's also sponsoring a bill to save state courts from the scourge of Islamic Sharia law. So why is a state legislator promoting a secession rally? The Press caught up with Berman, who explained that while he "very strongly" does not support secession (statehouse rallies need a legislative sponsor), he doesn't think it's such a terrible idea either: He says he has "no qualms" about supporting a secession rally. Is there any group out there whose message is so far out, so radical and dangerous that he would refuse to be a legislative sponsor for them? "I'm very, very, very strongly pro-life," he says. "So I would not support an abortion-type rally." Man's got to stand for something. Support for secession has a long and rich history in the Lone Star State. According to a 2009 poll, 48 percent of Texas Republicans agreed that the state "would be better off as an independent nation." That came after GOP Governor Rick Perry told reporters at a tea party in Austin that if the federal government didn't change its ways, secession might be an option. And in 2009, a Kerr County resident was arrested for claiming to be a sheriff's deputy for the "Republic of Texas." For more, check out our interactive map on US secession movements. Also of note: Although the group's poster features a severely mutton-chopped Sam Houston calling for Texas independence, the real Sam Houston famously took an unpopular stand against Texas secession on the eve of the Civil War. As he put it: "The Union is worth more than Mr. Lincoln. I was denounced then. I am denounced now. Be it so!" ||||| AUSTIN — The Texas Nationalist Movement marked Texas Independence Day with a rally on Saturday at the Capitol urging Texans to save the state by seceding from the United States. A small but enthusiastic group of Texans gathered on the steps of the Capitol, as an assortment of massive Texas flags blew above them in the chilly afternoon breeze. Outrage was spread evenly toward Democrats and Republicans as leaders of the movement expressed their disgust for the growing national debt and the federal government's treatment of Texas. "Texas can take better care of itself than Washington," said Lauren Savage, vice president of the movement. "We are here to raise interest in the Legislature of the possibility of secession to cure the ills of America." Members are demanding that state lawmakers introduce a bill that would allow Texans to vote on whether to declare independence. Fed up with federal mandates, the burden of unsustainable taxes and disregarded votes, members say secession has been a long time coming. "This is a cake that's been baking for 85 years," said Cary Wise, membership director of the Texas Nationalist Movement. "All this administration has done is light the candles." Demonstrators said they have had enough of state leaders who are conservative in rhetoric but big government proponents in reality, calling out GOP Gov. Rick Perry as one of the biggest frauds. "I would love to debate Rick Perry live because we could once and for all show that the guy is a big government fraud who claims to be conservative," said Eric Kirkland, member of the Constitution Party of Texas. Among shouts of agreement from the crowd, Kirkland added that he would love for Perry to walk out of the Capitol at that moment to engage in a debate. Demonstrators said taxes are weighing down Texans and are ultimately unsustainable. Gerry Donaldson, host of Our Constitution: Foundation and Principles Radio Show, used bricks to demonstrate the burden dozens of taxes place on Texans throughout their lives. "Washington is encroaching on us in greater levels day by day," Donaldson said, as he piled bricks one by one into a bucket held by a fellow member. "So, what do we do?" Secessionists stressed accountability for a government they say has become corrupted by power and distorted from the framers' original intent. Donaldson said he is getting a committee together that will review every bill proposed by state lawmakers and determine if it is constitutional by the people. Drawing largely from the Texas Bill of Rights, demonstrators said Texans have the responsibility to take power from the hands of a federal government that has gotten out of control. "The only way is to secede and wipe the slate clean," Donaldson said. "We secede, and then we reform this government based on an absolute return back to basic principles." |||||

– Yesterday was Texas Independence Day, and one group of Texans celebrated it by rallying on the steps of the state Capitol, urging secession from the US. The Texas Nationalist Movement is unhappy with both Democrats and Republicans, and is especially concerned with the growing national debt and rising taxes, reports the AP via the Houston Chronicle. "Texas can take better care of itself than Washington," says the group’s VP. "We are here to raise interest in the Legislature of the possibility of secession to cure the ills of America." The small but passionate group want state lawmakers to allow Texans to vote on whether or not to declare independence. "The only way is to secede and wipe the slate clean," says a radio show host. "We secede, and then we reform this government based on an absolute return back to basic principles." Adds the group’s membership director, “This is a cake that’s been baking for 85 years.” The demonstrators are no fans of Gov. Rick Perry; one calls him “a big government fraud who claims to be conservative.” Mother Jones notes that State Rep. Leo Berman, a birther, sponsored the rally.

Within a few months of The Times article, a headline in The Detroit News asked whether Mr. Dawkins should be allowed to profit from tragedy. Not long after that story appeared, Mr. Dawkins received the court summons, demanding partial “reimbursement to the state for Defendant’s cost of care while incarcerated.” Image Kimberly Knutsen says the deal her partner, Mr. Dawkins, landed for “The Graybar Hotel” has helped support their family. Credit Leah Nash for The New York Times Michigan is one of more than 40 states where prisoners can be forced to pay for the cost of their incarceration, according to the Brennan Center for Justice at the New York University School of Law. Laws that allow the government to charge prisoners “room and board” or “cost of care” fees have proliferated in recent decades, as states charge inmates and parolees for everything from medical care, clothing and meals to police transport, public defense fees, drug testing and electronic monitoring. Since so many prisoners are impoverished to begin with, states typically don’t raise much money by charging inmates room and board fees, and in some states, the enforcement of these laws is conditional on the prisoner’s ability to pay. But as the cost of mass incarceration has soared, with more than 2.2 million adults in prisons and jails across the United States, some states have grown more aggressive in seeking money from prisoners and formerly incarcerated people. During the last fiscal year, Michigan collected some $3.7 million from 294 prisoners, who account for just a fraction of the state’s nearly 40,000 inmates. Around the country, some 10 million people owe $50 billion in fees stemming from their arrest or imprisonment, according to a 2015 Brennan Center report. States often take a percentage of the earnings inmates receive through prison work programs. But some states have also sought money from prisoners who have received larger sums, through an inheritance or legal settlements or, as in Mr. Dawkins’s case, money they acquire through their own initiative. After an Illinois inmate who was serving a 15-month sentence for a drug conviction received a $31,690 settlement for his mother’s death, he was forced to pay the state nearly $20,000 for the cost of his imprisonment, leaving him nearly destitute when he was paroled in 2015. In Florida, a convict named Jeremy Barrett who received a $150,000 settlement from the Department of Corrections for negligence, after he was attacked in 2011 by another inmate who gouged out his eye, was forced to pay the state nearly $55,000 from the settlement as reimbursement for his three years in prison. When prisoners and former inmates fight such charges, courts often rule in the state’s favor. In 2000, Connecticut’s Supreme Court ruled that Eric Ham, who was serving a 50-year sentence for murder, had to pay nearly $900,000 toward the cost of his incarceration, after he won a settlement of around $1 million from the city of New Haven for falsely arresting him for another crime that he didn’t commit. ||||| Curtis Dawkins wrote The Graybar Hotel while serving a life sentence. Now the state says proceeds from the work belong to them Curtis Dawkins, a Michigan prisoner and publishing sensation, could be forced to repay the costs of his incarceration from the proceeds of his literary work. Dawkins is serving a life sentence for a 2004 crime spree on Halloween night that left one man dead. His debut collection of short stories, The Graybar Hotel, was written in a Michigan penitentiary and published in July. But now the Michigan department of treasury is seeking 90% of Dawkins’ assets, including “proceeds from publications, future payments, royalties” from the book. Michigan puts the cost of his incarceration at $72,000; Dawkins, 49, received a $150,000 advance from Scribner, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. Curtis Dawkins with his children in 2003. Photograph: pr The state claims that Dawkins, who is representing himself at a hearing next week in Kalamazoo, has no right to pass his literary earnings to his family. But Dawkins, who has expressed deep remorse for the murder and described writing as his “lifeboat”, claims his family is being unfairly punished. He says state law contains a provision stating that the court must take into account “any legal and moral obligation” he has to support his children. Kenneth Bowman, the brother of Dawkins’ victim Tom Bowman, told the New York Times last year he believes that any money Dawkins receives should go to the victim’s family or a charity. Bowman told the Detroit News he wished Michigan had the death penalty. Given the opportunity, Bowman said, he’d administer it himself. Break-out stories: the murderer who hopes writing fiction will set him free Read more Not long after, Michigan made its claim demanding partial “reimbursement to the state for defendant’s cost of care while incarcerated”. Many states have provisions to bar inmates from profiting from nonfiction accounts of their crimes by directing proceeds to victim families, but not to reimburse for their incarceration itself. According to the Brennan Center for Justice at the New York University school of law, Michigan is one of more than 40 states where prisoners can be forced to pay for the cost of their incarceration. In recent years, the Times reports, state government claims for reimbursement are increasing and can now include medical care, clothing, meals, police transport, public defense fees, drug testing and electronic monitoring. Last year, Michigan collected $3.7m from 294 prisoners. The state counts 40,000 inmates of the 2.2 million adults in US jails. According to the Brennan center, roughly 10 million people owe $50bn in fees stemming from their arrest or imprisonment. In a 2015 paper, Charging Inmates Perpetuates Mass Incarceration, the center concluded that while it was understandable that states would look to offset the high costs of incarceration, “it is unreasonable to require a population whose debt to society is already being paid by the sentences imposed, 80% of whom are indigent, to help foot the bill.” Lauren-Brooke Eisen, author of the report, told the Times that to be deprived of liberty and then be required to pay for the separation from society “raises cruel and unusual punishment issues”. H Bruce Franklin, author of Prison Literature in America, says such measures could dissuade prisoner-writers from publishing at all. Dawkins, a father of three, has said the practice of writing allows him to exist in an imaginary world. Writing about a fictional prison eases the burden of being in a real one. “It gets me away from the world I’m trying to turn into fiction, if that makes any sense,” he told the Detroit News. But until the legal matter is resolved, Dawkins’ finances are effectively frozen. He split his initial advance with Jarrett Haley, the founder of Bull, a small literary magazine, who had helped him get a book deal. He placed around $50,000 in a fund to help to pay for college and high school for his children. But on orders of the state, the final advance payments from his publisher have been suspended. A press spokesman for the Michigan attorney general said the office “cannot comment on pending litigation”. |||||

– A Michigan convict who won accolades for his book of short stories may be forced to give up all he earned from his book deal. Curtis Dawkins' debut, The Graybar Hotel, was published in July by Scribner and details life behind bars in ways that have thrilled readers. Michigan's Department of Treasury is less enthused, however, and has filed a court complaint that asks that 90% of the convicted killer's reported $150,000 advance be given to the state as payment for the cost of his imprisonment. Michigan's attorney general reportedly filed the complaint, which states that Dawkins is not entitled to the money or to transfer any of it to his family, not long after his victim's brother complained publicly about the book deal, per the Guardian. Because he cannot afford an attorney, Dawkins is scheduled to defend himself in the case. Dawkins has in the past expressed remorse for the 2004 botched robbery that led to the murder of Thomas Bowman. The New York Times reports he intends to argue that the same law the attorney general says allows the state to keep the profits also stipulates that courts must consider a convict's obligation to provide for his children or spouse when deciding such cases. Michigan is one of some 40 states with laws on the books that allow the government to force inmates to pay for incarceration. According to the Times, Michigan collected $3.7 million from fewer than 300 of the state's 40,000 inmates. A hearing in Dawkins' case is scheduled for Feb. 26 in Kalamazoo.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Holly Woodlawn, the transgender actress made famous by Andy Warhol and Paul Morrissey in their 1970s films "Trash" and "Women in Revolt," has died. In this 2012 photo provided by David Chick, actress Holly Woodlawn sits on Fisherman's Pier in Malibu, Calif. Woodlawn, who starred in the 1970 Paul Morrissey film "Trash" and was immortalized in the... (Associated Press) Woodlawn died Sunday in Los Angeles after a battle with cancer, said her former caretaker and friend Mariela Huerta. She was 69. Born Harold Danhakl, she took on the name Holly Woodlawn after running away from home at age 15 and hitchhiking to New York City, where she became one of Warhol's drag queen "superstars." Her story was immortalized in the first lines of the Lou Reed song "Walk on the Wild Side." It began: "Holly came from Miami, F.L.A. Hitchhiked her way across the U.S.A. Plucked her eyebrows on the way. Shaved her legs and then he was a she. She says, 'Hey, babe, take a walk on the wild side.' " Woodlawn explained in a 2007 interview with the British newspaper The Guardian that she didn't get to know Reed until after the song was released in 1972. Woodlawn received critical acclaim for her film roles, but she couldn't find mainstream success. Her cult status helped her make a comeback in such 1990s independent films as "Twin Falls Idaho" and "Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss." More recently, she appeared in the TV comedy "Transparent." Of her time as a Warhol superstar, she told the Guardian: "I felt like Elizabeth Taylor! Little did I realize that not only would there be no money, but that your star would flicker for two seconds and that was it. But it was worth it, the drugs, the parties, it was fabulous." Huerta said Woodlawn had no survivor. Plans for a memorial service were pending. ||||| Holly Woodlawn in 2012. (David Chick via AP) The broad outline of her biography is known to millions — even though few, as they sing along with Lou Reed’s “Walk on the Wild Side,” would recognize the harsh life of a transgender Puerto Rican woman shrouded by a pop hook. As Reed sang: “Holly came from Miami, F-L-A/Hitchhiked her way across the USA/Plucked her eyebrows on the way/Shaved her legs and then he was a she/ She says, ‘Hey, babe, take a walk on the wild side.’” Now, the woman Reed sang about — and whose raw talent pop artist Andy Warhol commandeered for two of his famous underground films — is gone. Holly Woodlawn died Sunday at 69. The cause was cancer and cirrhosis, as Penny Arcade, a fellow Warhol superstar who raised funds for Woodlawn in her final days, told The Washington Post in a telephone interview. “There was no role model for a Holly Woodlawn,” Arcade said. “We’re talking about a time where the reward was freedom in itself. For Holly, whatever sacrifices she made in terms of acceptance of her family and society could never compete with the sense of freedom that Holly needed – the freedom to be herself.” Woodlawn was born Haroldo Santiago Franceschi Rodriguez Danhakl in 1946 in Puerto Rico. She was not repressed. “I was raised in Puerto Rico for the first few years of my life, where the culture is more Caribbean,” Woodlawn told the Guardian in 2007. “Everyone’s naked, it’s hotter, you come out earlier. I was having sex when I was seven and eight in the bushes with my uncles and cousins — of course, they were only 11 or 12 themselves. I was raised in a house full of women and my uncle was gay.” Still, Woodlawn didn’t really recognize the he she started out as. “I don’t even know who he was,” she said. “When I was younger, I was extremely shy and living in what’s now Miami Beach. My father had a nice job. I guess we were middle income. I had good schools. I just was unhappy because I didn’t know who I was.” As Reed so memorably wrote, Woodlawn left home at 15 and headed for New York. As a performer with the Play-House of the Ridiculous — what fellow performer Arcade called “the original glitter glam queer political rock-and-roll theater of the 60s” — Woodlawn was soon on the periphery of Warhol’s Factory scene, a hodgepodge of artists, musicians and hustlers re-inventing American culture. And though the pecking order in that scene was ever-shifting, Woodlawn, cast in two landmark Warhol films, “Trash” (1970) and “Women in Revolt” (1971) — found herself at the center of it for a time. These were not Hollywood productions. “Everybody tries to make films very well nowadays,” Paul Morrissey, who directed both films, said of he and Warhol’s commitment to authenticity. “So we go in the opposite direction: We try to make them as badly as possible.” “Trash” told the tale of heroin addict Joe (Joe Dallesandro, or “Little Joe” of “Walk on the Wild Side”) and Holly (played by Woodlawn) trying to eke out a living — by, among other schemes, faking a pregnancy to get welfare. Like much of Warhol’s filmography, “Trash” is a study in contrasts: amateurish, pioneering, ridiculous and brilliant. “In spite of the grubbiness of the scene and the ineffectuality of the various disguises and escapes employed by Joe and Holly and the rest, there is no sense of despair,” the New York Times wrote in 1970. “At heart, the film is a kind of exuberant exhibition of total apathy.” Holly Woodlawn was in Room 306 when I arrived to see her today. At 3:06pm LA time, she passed away. pic.twitter.com/docl33j3iW — Joe Dallesandro (@DallesandroJoe) December 6, 2015 Joe Dallesandro, left, and Holly Woodlawn in “Trash.” “Women in Revolt” — in which Woodlawn and two other “female impersonators,” as the New York Times put it at the time, play women struggling with female liberation — was both “the ultimate put-down of women’s lib, as well as the ultimate endorsement.” Of Warhol’s stunt casting, Woodlawn said: “I think that basically Andy just loved glamorous women, and around that time, he just didn’t know any.” Even the Gray Lady was a bit puzzled. Was this genius, or garbage? “‘Women in Revolt’ is a comparatively elaborate Warhol movie with a limited intelligence, but unlike a lot of better movies, it uses almost all of the intelligence available to it,” the paper wrote. “Thus, in a crazy way, it must be called a success.” Though the Times was of two minds about the film, “Women in Revolt,” by Arcade’s account, inspired Warhol to inspire Reed to write “Walk on the Wild Side” in the first place. “It wasn’t Lou Reed’s idea to write,” Arcade, who also appeared in the film, told The Post of the song. “Warhol suggested it to Lou Reed because of the movie we were all in, ‘Women in Revolt.'” Reed — known for both his temper and his feuds with Warhol — died in 2013, and is not around to object to this re-telling. But by Reed’s own admission, he drew on lives of Woodlawn and others in what he called “the gay life” to make “Transformer” (1972), arguably his best album. “What I’ve always thought is that I’m doing rock and roll in drag,” Reed, who endured conversion therapy as a youth and dated a transgender woman while a rock star, said after the song’s release. Of another song on “Transformer,” he said: “The gay life at the moment is not that great. I wanted to write a song which made it terrific, something that you’d enjoy. But I know if I do that, I’ll be accused of being a f—g; but that’s all right, it doesn’t matter. I like those people.” [Lou Reed and the single greatest second of recorded music in rock-and-roll history] Woodlawn did not object to being immortalized, and called “Walk on the Wild Side” “completely true.” But two Warhol films and getting name-checked in a very famous song didn’t lead to a life of leisure. “I was very happy when I gradually became a Warhol superstar,” Woodlawn said in 2007. “I felt like Elizabeth Taylor! Little did I realize that not only would there be no money, but that your star would flicker for two seconds and that was it. But it was worth it, the drugs, the parties, it was fabulous. You live in a hovel, walk up five flights, scraping the rent. And then at night you go to Max’s Kansas City where Mick Jagger and Fellini and everyone’s there in the back room. And when you walked in that room, you were a STAR!” Woodlawn’s career didn’t end after “Trash” and “Women in Revolt.” She relocated to Los Angeles, studied fashion design, continued to make films, and appeared in the Emmy-winning series “Transparent” last year. But for the rest of her life, she was a performer on the margins — doing cabaret shows, making appearances at Warhol-related events, and writing a memoir that is now out-of-print. She also dreamed of opening a dress shop called “Holly’s of Hollywood.” Penny Arcade expressed dismay that, in the era of Caitlyn Jenner, the lives of trans women of less privilege — women out for decades — are overlooked. “In this period where many, many trans women are extremely delicate and touchy and prissy, it would be very hard to understand somebody like Holly Woodlawn who was rough and ready and didn’t really care about pronouns and didn’t care if her beard was showing,” Arcade said, remembering that Woodlawn would sometimes salvage clothing from trash cans. “It’s a whole other world from that world of those originators.” She added: “A Caitlyn Jenner erases the visibility of Holly Woodlawn.” It’s far from clear that Woodlawn — a woman not known for her politics — would care. Once asked whether she thought the armed forces discriminated against trans people, her reply was classic. “Thank god they do,” she said. “Otherwise I’d be fighting in Vietnam.” |||||

– Holly Woodlawn, one of Andy Warhol's "drag queen superstars" who was also immortalized in Lou Reed's "Walk on the Wild Side," died Sunday at age 69 after battling cancer, the AP reports. Born in Puerto Rico, her mother moved Holly—who was, at that point, Harold—to New York and then Miami Beach, the New York Times reports. Woodlawn hitchhiked back to New York at 16, where she was a go-go dancer, among other things: "I was turning tricks, living off the streets and wondering when my next meal was coming," she wrote in her 1991 memoir. While performing in a friend's musical in 1969, Woodlawn told a journalist that she was one of Warhol's superstars, and though that wasn't actually true at that point, her comment got his attention and led to what the Times refers to as Woodlawn's "underground stardom." Warhol's filmmaking partner Paul Morrissey cast her in the 1970 film Trash as the girlfriend of a heroin addict, and the performance got good reviews. She went on to star alongside two other transgender actresses in Morrissey's 1971 film Women in Revolt; both films were produced by Warhol. In 1972, Reed wrote the first lines of his now-classic song about Woodlawn at Warhol's suggestion, the Washington Post reports: "Holly came from Miami F-L-A / Hitchhiked her way across the USA / Plucked her eyebrows on the way / Shaved her legs and then he was a she / She says, 'Hey babe, take a walk on the wild side.'" She went on to do a few more films and perform as a cabaret artist, but by the end of the 1970s she was working at a Benihana in Miami. She moved to California in the 1990s, where she studied fashion design and had a few more roles, most recently in Amazon's Transparent. (Click to read about 24 transgender historical figures.)

Desperate for money, troubled actress Lindsay Lohan is still living the high life by working as a professional escort, her father Michael Lohan and other insiders exclusively revealed in the new issue of Star magazine. “She is getting paid to date rich men,” Michael said of his 26-year-old daughter. “Dina (Lindsay’s mother) is pimping her out – it’s disgusting!” PHOTOS: Lindsay Lohan Through The Years And it’s not just the Mean Girls star’s estranged dad who is dishing on her new source of income. “The dates last for days, and the guys pay for everything – hotel, travel costs, food, whatever – as well as jewelry and other gifts,” someone close to the actress revealed. PHOTOS: Lindsay Lohan’s Mugshot Hall Of Fame So far, no one is suggesting that Lohan is doing anything more than act as arm candy for the rich playboys who like to be seen with beautiful and famous women. One of Lindsay’s most high profile clients is the man who is third in line to the throne of Brunei, a small country in Southeast Asia: Prince Haji Abdul Azim. PHOTOS: Lindsay Lohan Parties Until Dawn In London A billionaire playboy who loves American celebrities, he allegedly paid Lindsay a whopping $100,000 to join him in London for a New Year’s celebration. And wealthy Spanish-American painter Domingo Zapata reportedly supported the troubled actress for much longer than a holiday. PHOTOS: Lindsay Suffers Nip Slip On Set Of Liz & Dick “Domingo let Lindsay live in his penthouse at the Bowery Hotel in NYC for free and at his L.A. pad at Chateau Marmont [for months],” says one of his confidantes. “They’re both super swanky. No way Lindsay could’ve afforded either of them for such long periods of time on her own.” For the full scandalous story, the new issue of Star magazine is on newsstands Thursday. ||||| As if Lindsay Lohan wasn't in enough of a mess already! Staffers at the W hotel in NYC's Union Square "are still cleaning up" after the 26-year-old courtroom fixture's visit last fall, a source tells Us Weekly. "Her suite had so many cigarette burns, they had to change all the carpets," the source says of the hot spot where the drama-prone Liz and Dick actress bunked for several weeks. "She did at least $50,000 worth of damage while partying." PHOTOS: Lindsay's hair evolution And Lohan shouldn't dare check in again. Says the insider: "She is not allowed back at any W hotel in NYC, ever!" PHOTOS: Lindsay's biggest dramas Find out more about Lohan's latest problem in the latest Hot Stuff video, as explained by Us Weekly's Senior Editor Ian Drew with special guest Renee Graziano of VH1's Mob Wives. Also in the roundup? More on Justin Bieber's split with Selena Gomez, newlyweds Hugh Hefner and Crystal Harris' prenup, and what went down with Zoe Saldana and Bradley Cooper. Watch the video now! ||||| Lindsay Lohan Stupidly Pulls Plug On Rehab Plea Deal Lindsay Lohan Stupidly Pulls Plug On Rehab Plea Deal EXCLUSIVE COULD have avoided almost certain jail time by accepting a plea deal for lockdown rehab -- that is, if she didn't fire her lawyer who was literally on the way to the courthouse to make it happen.Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... the Santa Monica City Attorney -- who is prosecuting Lindsay for allegedly lying to cops after her June car crash on Pacific Coast Highway -- was willing to keep Lindsay out of jail, PROVIDED she agree to check into "lockdown rehab" for 6 months.Sources say ...-- the lawyer who has kept Lindsay out of jail -- was on her way to court Monday to meet with the prosecutor and the judge to hash out the deal. What's more, Lindsay also faces jail time for a probation violation in the jewelry heist case because she allegedly lied to cops after the crash. We're told the judge could have agreed to end both cases if Lindsay checked into rehab.But Shawn never made it to court, because Lindsay signed her walking papers and hired a New York lawyer who was suspended in the '90s from practicing law for 5 years.Lindsay now says she wants Shawn back. The question -- does Shawn have the stomach for another helping of Lindsay?There's a hearing scheduled for 8:30 AM PT today. Shawn will probably show up because she's still counsel of record. If she stays on the case, prosecutors could present the deal to her, but Lindsay is making it all very difficult. ||||| Lindsay Lohan never seems to make things easy. First, there were tabloid reports that she fired her longtime lawyer, Shawn Holley, just as Holley was about to go make a plea deal and help the star out of jet another legal jam. Then later this morning in Los Angeles, Holley appeared in court on Lohan's behalf, entering her plea of not guilty. Lohan's arraignment had to do with her car wreck during the filming of car wreck Liz & Dick in June. Per the AP, Lohan, who was on probation for her jewelry theft case at the time, is charged with lying to police about whether or not she was behind the wheel, obstructing police from doing their job, and reckless driving. But yesterday it seemed like there would be a major hitch to today's proceedings (at which Lohan was not required to attend). Per TMZ, Holley was heading to court yesterday to make a plea deal for Lohan when Lohan fired her. The deal would have kept Lohan out of jail and put her in rehab. Holley was apparently replaced by New York lawyer Mark Heller, who has a quite fascinating tale of his own, according to this 2010 New York Times profile. Heller was speaking on Lohan's behalf around the time of her November arrest for assault. So in court today the judge asked Holley if she still represented Lohan. Holley responded, per TMZ: "At this point, yes." Lohan is now scheduled to appear January 30. Want to add to this story? Let us know in comments or send an email to the author at ezuckerman at theatlantic dot com. You can share ideas for stories on the Open Wire. Esther Zuckerman |||||

– Michael Lohan continues his Father of the Decade duties by giving a new interview to the ever-so-classy Star magazine in which he claims daughter Lindsay is a high-class escort, Radar reports. "She is getting paid to date rich men," and mother "Dina is pimping her out," he says. Other "insiders" back him up, including one who says that the days-long "dates" include LiLo's hotel and travel costs, food, jewelry, and "other gifts." But no sex—or at least, not that anyone is saying. She's supposedly been paid to be seen on the arm of a Southeast Asian prince and a rich Spanish-American painter. It's far from the only troubling LiLo story bubbling up: A source also tells Us that last fall, Lindsay did $50,000 worth of damage to a fancy New York hotel room. "Her suite had so many cigarette burns, they had to change all the carpets," the insider says. "She is not allowed back at any W hotel in NYC, ever!" And then, of course, there are Lohan's legal problems. She could still be facing jail time for allegedly lying to police after her June car accident, but her longtime attorney Shawn Holley planned to make a plea deal involving rehab for Lindsay instead. But Lohan fired Holley as the attorney was on her way to court to make the deal Monday, TMZ reports. Even so, Holley entered a not-guilty plea on Lohan's behalf yesterday, and the Atlantic Wire notes that the next hearing is set for Jan. 30.

Helsinki, 5 July 2016: Despite the positive results of small studies and a widely held belief in its benefit, the practice of keeping female patients immobilised after intrauterine insemination has no beneficial effect on pregnancy rates, according to results of a large randomised study presented here at the Annual Meeting of ESHRE in Helsinki.(1) "Indeed," said investigator Joukje van Rijswijk from the VU University Medical Center Amsterdam, "it even tends to the opposite." Behind her conclusions lies a large randomised comparative study in which 479 patients with standard indications for IUI (unexplained or mild male factor infertility) were randomly assigned to 15 minutes of immobilisation immediately after insemination or to immediate mobilisation. With most patients having several cycles of IUI in their treatment course, the comparison was based on a total of 950 cycles of immobilisation and 984 cycles of mobilisation. Results showed that the cumulative ongoing pregnancy rate per couple (that is, after the total course of treatment, which in some cases ran to six cycles) was comparable between the two groups - a pregnancy rate of 32.2% after 15 minutes of immobilisation and 40.3% after immediate mobilisation. These differences were not statistically significant, despite the trend, indicating no benefit from a brief period of bed rest after insemination. "In our opinion," said Dr van Rijswijk, "immobilisation after IUI has no positive effect on pregnancy rates, and there is no reason why patients should stay immobilised after treatment." She acknowledged that these results were "in disagreement with the literature", from which a widespread acceptance of bed rest after IUI had evolved. A smaller study published last year from the Middle East found that ten and 15 minutes of immobilisation following IUI (compared to five minutes) had a beneficial effect on pregnancy rates. However, the results were based on just one cycle of treatment and not on the more real-world context of multiple cycles. Another smaller Dutch study published in 2009 also found that 15 minutes bed rest improved pregnancy rate and "should be offered to all women treated with intrauterine insemination".(2) "It was these previous studies showing a benefit of bed rest which prompted us to perform this study," said Dr van Rijswijk. "Our goal was to replicate the results. There's always a possibility that a positive outcome in studies is the result of chance. We also know from other studies that sperm cells can reach the fallopian tube five minutes after intravaginal insemination and that they can survive for several days in the womb. Why should bed rest affect that? There's no biological explanation for a positive effect of immobilisation", which, she added, is usually carried out in a supine position with the knees raised. "We believe our results in such a large randomised trial are solid, and sufficiently strong to render the recommendation for bed rest obsolete," she said. Asked if bed rest might also be of no help in natural conception plans, Dr van Rijswijk said the two insemination techniques are just too different to generalise, and she pointed out that as far as she is aware there have been no randomised trials to test the efficacy of a short period of immobility after the attempt. ### Abstract O-165, Tuesday 5 July 2016, 15.30 Should patients be immobilised after intrauterine insemination? A randomised controlled comparison between 15 minutes of immobilisation and direct mobilisation Notes 1. Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is a very common fertility treatment in which a sample of sperm cells (from donor or partner) in fluid are injected directly into the uterus. Today, most recipients of the treatment are given some ovarian stimulation to encourage follicle growth. IUI is usually offered as first-line fertility treatment before IVF in couples whose infertility is unexplained (idiopathic) or caused by mild male factors which may not require ICSI. Several factors are related to pregnancy outcomes, but so far now no consensus exists on whether immobilisation is of benefit. 2. Custers IM, Flierman PA, Maas P, et al. Immobilisation versus immediate mobilisation after intrauterine insemination: randomised controlled trial. BMJ 2009; 339: b4080. A podcast of Dr van Rijswijk speaking about this study is available at https:/ / www. eshre2016. eu/ Media/ Press-releases/ van-Rijswijk/ Podcast. aspx When obtaining outside comment, journalists are requested to ensure that their contacts are aware of the embargo on this release. For further information on the details of this press release, contact: Christine Bauquis at ESHRE Mobile: +32 (0)499 25 80 46 Email: [email protected] ||||| Noah Salzgeber / EyeEm/ Getty If you’ve ever tried to get pregnant, you’ll almost certainly have heard that it helps if a woman lies still after her partner ejaculates. But this is unlikely to make a difference, a study suggests. The idea is that lying down for a while gives the sperm time to reach their destination egg. The same theory has been applied to intra-uterine insemination (IUI), a fertility treatment that involves injecting sperm directly into a woman’s uterus. “There’s a lot of anxiety that after IUI if you stand up, everything will fall out,” says Nick Macklon of the University of Southampton, UK. Advertisement Some research has backed up the theory. Some small studies in 2009 and 2015 found that 15 minutes of bed rest improved IUI success rates, leading to more pregnancies. But now Joukje van Rijswijk at the VU University Medical Center Amsterdam in the Netherlands and her colleagues have conducted a larger study. The team randomly assigned 479 women receiving IUI to either 15 minutes of bed rest or to get up and move around straight after treatment. Most of the women had several rounds of treatment – in total, the group collected data on almost 2000 IUI cycles. They found that 32 per cent of the cycles that incorporated bed rest resulted in pregnancy, but 40 per cent of cycles that involved immediate movement were successful. “In our opinion, immobilisation after IUI has no positive effect on pregnancy rates,” says van Rijswijk. “There is no reason why patients should stay immobilised after treatment.” Although the results contradict previous findings, they make sense. For example, it is known that sperm can survive in the uterus for several days – there is no reason why bed rest would affect this, says van Rijswijk, who presented the findings this week at the European Society of Human Reproduction and Endocrinology annual meeting in Helsinki, Finland. Our crude understanding of female anatomy is partly to blame for the theory, says Adam Balen, chair of the British Fertility Society. Anatomical illustrations often depict the uterus and vagina as directly aligned, with a straight-line passage from uterus to vagina to the outside world. In reality, our internal organs are somewhat tilted, he says. Van Rijswijk doesn’t know if rest improves the chances of conceiving naturally because no studies have fully investigated this, she says. But the findings undermine the “lying still, feet-in-the-air” advice given to many women trying to conceive, says Macklon. Read more: When should you get pregnant? Computer knows age to start trying |||||

– Good news for those trying to conceive: A new study suggests there's no reason for you to continue lying down, immobile, after having sex. There's a widespread belief that lying still after sex helps give the sperm time to get where they need to go, and the same belief has transferred over to women getting intra-uterine insemination (IUI), a fertility treatment in which sperm are injected directly into the uterus. "There’s a lot of anxiety that after IUI if you stand up, everything will fall out," an expert from the University of Southampton tells New Scientist. Two studies have found that resting in bed for 15 minutes after getting IUI did increase success rates, but they were small studies. The new, larger study out of Amsterdam's VU University Medical Center disputes that belief. Researchers looked at 479 women getting IUI, most of whom got multiple rounds; they collected information on nearly 2,000 cycles overall. Women were randomly assigned to either get up and move immediately after treatment or stay on bed rest for 15 minutes before moving. Of the cycles incorporating bed rest, 32% resulted in pregnancy—while 40% of the cycles after which the women immediately moved resulted in pregnancy. "In our opinion," says the lead researcher in a press release, "immobilization after IUI has no positive effect on pregnancy rates, and there is no reason why patients should stay immobilized after treatment." She would not "generalize" the results to give advice to couples attempting to get pregnant via traditional intercourse, but the Southampton expert thinks the study likely applies there, too. (This woman became pregnant after her doctor said she couldn't, and now she's suing.)

Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. ||||| Focused crawls are collections of frequently-updated webcrawl data from narrow (as opposed to broad or wide) web crawls, often focused on a single domain or subdomain. ||||| Linkin Park Singer Commits Suicide By Hanging Linkin Park Singer Chester Bennington Dead, Commits Suicide by Hanging EXCLUSIVE 12:32 PM PT -- Law enforcement sources tell TMZ Bennington was home alone at the time of the suicide. We're told his family was out of town and he was found upstairs by an employee. Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington has committed suicide ... TMZ has learned. Law enforcement sources tell us the singer hanged himself at a private residence in Palos Verdes Estates in L.A. County. His body was discovered Thursday just before 9 AM. Chester was married with 6 children from 2 wives. The singer struggled with drugs and alcohol for years. He had said in the past he had considered committing suicide because he had been abused as a child by an older male. Chester was very close with Chris Cornell, who himself committed suicide by hanging in May. Today would have been Cornell's 53rd birthday. Chester wrote an open letter to Chris on the day of Chris' suicide. Cornell's wife, Vicky, tweeted out a message following the news of Chester's death, saying, "Just when I thought my heart couldn't break any more ... I love you T." The band has had a string of hits over the years, including "Faint," "In the End" and "Crawling." Linkin Park crossed music genres, collaborating with Jay-Z. The band's album, "Meteora," was one of the biggest alternative albums in music history. Bennington was 41. RIP ||||| Law enforcement received a call around 9 a.m. on Thursday reporting the death. Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington has died, Brian Elias of the Los Angeles County coroner's office confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter. He was 41. The coroner's office said it had been on the scene at the singer's home in Palos Verdes Estates investigating a suicide. On Friday, Ed Winter, spokesman for the coroner's office, said Bennington hanged himself. An autopsy is pending. No timeframe was given for report results. Neither the coroner nor Los Angeles County Fire Department could confirm reports the death was due to hanging. Law enforcement received a call around 9 a.m. reporting the death, Elias said. Palos Verdes police said it was unclear if the department was going to release a statement on the matter. Linkin Park bandmember Mike Shinoda wrote on Twitter: "Shocked and heartbroken, but it's true. An official statement will come out as soon as we have one." Bennington, a Phoenix native, was open about his struggles with drug and alcohol addiction, which occurred at various times during his life. The band had just released its seventh studio album, One More Light, and was set to embark on an extensive North American tour this summer and in the fall. The group was one of the most popular rock bands to emerge in the early 2000s. Their debut album Hybrid Theory has sold more than 10 million copies in the U.S. since its release in 2000, per Nielsen SoundScan. The band won Grammy awards in 2001 for best hard rock performance for "Crawling" and again in 2005 for best rap/sung collaboration for "Numb/Encore." On May 26, Bennington sang Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" at the Los Angeles memorial service of Soundgarden rocker Chris Cornell, who had died by suicide. Days earlier, in a note posted online, Bennington wrote a tribute to his friend Cornell saying: "I can't imagine a world without you in it. I pray you find peace in the next life." "The Cornell family is overwhelmed by the heartbreaking news about Chester Bennington which tragically comes so soon after their family's own loss," a Cornell family spokesperson told the Associated Press. "They open up their loving arms to Chester's family and share in the sorrow with all those who loved him. Bennington is survived by his wife, Talinda Ann Bentley, and six children. |||||

– Another suicide in the rock world: TMZ reports Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington has hanged himself. He was 41. The site's report comes via police sources who say his body was found before 9am local time at a home in Palos Verdes Estates, California. The Hollywood Reporter confirmed Bennington's death by way of the Los Angeles County coroner's office, which says it is investigating a "possible suicide" at his home. TMZ points out that Bennington counted Chris Cornell among his close friends. He tweeted this letter to Cornell upon learning of his May death and sang "Hallelujah" at Cornell's funeral. Cornell would have turned 53 today. Bennington leaves behind six children from two marriages.

Stormy Daniels's attorney Michael Avenatti said Michael Cohen has several audio recordings of President Trump Donald John TrumpAustralian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull ousted by party rivals CNN's Cuomo clashes with Kellyanne Conway over Cohen hush-money payments Lawmaker who pushed to impeach Nixon: Trump ‘systematically’ abusing power MORE discussing women who have come forward after allegedly having affairs with Trump. The New York Times reported Friday that Cohen, a longtime lawyer and fixer for Trump, secretly recorded Trump discussing paying Playboy model Karen McDougal ahead of the 2016 election to keep her from talking about their alleged relationship more than a decade earlier. ADVERTISEMENT Avenatti told MSNBC on Friday that there are more tapes. “I know for a fact that this is not the only tape,” Avenatti said. "I think this is a very serious matter and I think that any or all audio tapes that Michael Cohen has in his possession relating to this president should be released for the public.” "There are multiple audio recordings, and our position is that they should be released immediately. So again, the American people can decide what the next steps are. Period." – @MichaelAvenatti tells @mitchellreports pic.twitter.com/nivEFYYJ2J — MSNBC (@MSNBC) July 20, 2018 Avenatti said the FBI is already in possession of the tapes after they raided Cohen’s home, office and hotel room in April as part of a criminal investigation into his business dealings. “There’s nothing that’s stopping Michael Cohen from releasing the audio recordings that he made between him and the president concerning my client, Ms. McDougal, and others,” Avenatti said. And there is a reason why I used the term that I did and demanded the release of the #TrumpTapes as opposed to the #TrumpTape. If Michael Cohen is a patriot, then ALL of the tapes should be released to the American people. Now. Too much is at stake. #Basta — Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) July 20, 2018 Rudy Giuliani, a member of Trump's legal team, said in The New York Times article that McDougal, a former model who says she had a yearlong affair with Trump shortly after he married first lady Melania Trump Melania TrumpHypocrisy charge against Trump over in-laws’ citizenship is wrong Trump asks State to look at ‘large scale killings of farmers,’ prompting furious South Africa response The Memo: Cohen, Manafort hurricane hits Trump MORE, was never paid the amount in question. Giuliani said the recording about McDougal is less than two minutes long and shows Trump did nothing wrong, according to the Times. Trump told Cohen in the recorded conversation to make a potential payment in the form of a check so it could be documented, Giuliani said in the article. “In the big scheme of things, it’s powerful exculpatory evidence,” Giuliani said. Trump has denied the allegations from McDougal and Daniels. McDougal is suing the owner of the National Enquirer, saying the company paid her $150,000 for a story about the alleged affair but then withheld it from publication. Daniels, the adult-film star whose real name is Stephanie Clifford and who also says she had an affair with Trump more than a decade ago, was paid $130,000 by Cohen days before the 2016 presidential election. Giuliani revealed earlier this year that Trump reimbursed Cohen for the payment, despite the president previously denying that he had any knowledge of it. Daniels is suing both Trump and Cohen for libel after denying her claims of an affair. ||||| Tweet with a location You can add location information to your Tweets, such as your city or precise location, from the web and via third-party applications. You always have the option to delete your Tweet location history. Learn more |||||

– If President Trump and former attorney Michael Cohen weren't already on the outs, the revelation that Cohen secretly recorded at least one of their phone conversations has cinched it. The president took to Twitter Saturday morning to express his displeasure and to suggest that Cohen might have broken the law. The FBI seized the recording during its raid on Cohen's office earlier this year, but the tape only came to light this week. On Saturday, Trump reiterated he wasn't happy about that April raid, either. "Inconceivable that the government would break into a lawyer’s office (early in the morning) - almost unheard of," he wrote. "Even more inconceivable that a lawyer would tape a client - totally unheard of & perhaps illegal. The good news is that your favorite President did nothing wrong!" The tape is of a phone conversation Cohen had with Trump shortly before the election in which they discuss a possible payment regarding former Playboy playmate Karen McDougal, who planned to go public with allegations of an affair. Presidential attorney Rudy Guiliani has heard the tape, and he says it is not legally damaging to Trump. Plus, no payment was ever made, he says. Prosecutors have been looking into the McDougal controversy—the National Enquirer, owned by a Trump ally, eventually paid her $150,000 but then killed the story—to see whether any campaign finance laws were violated. Meanwhile, Stormy Daniels attorney Michael Avenatti tells MSNBC that he knows "for a fact" more Cohen-Trump tapes exist and should be made public, reports the Hill.

Cato Berntsen Larsen (20 years old) tried to pick up a lost cell phone from the public toilet, but got stuck. “I was obviously slim enough to get into it, but not slim enough to get out. I was down there for one hour, and it was very unpleasant”, Larsen says to the local newspaper Drammens Tidende, which was the first news medium to report the story. The public toilet is not connected to the sewer. It is an old-fashioned outhouse with a large tank underneath the toilet seat. VG meets Larsen outside the local emergency room in Drammen, a city in southern Norway, close to the capital Oslo. “It was disgusting as hell. The worst thing I have ever experienced. Animals were down there too. I will never enter a toilet again. Now my body hurts, and I will go home and get some rest”, he tells VG. SAVED: Cato Berntsen Larsen. Photo: TERJE BRINGEDAL Lost cell phone Larsen explains that a friend of him lost his cell phone into the toilet while using it. The two men quickly agreed that only Larsen was slim enough to have a chance to climb into the tank. Seconds later he was standing at the bottom of the tank, with feces up to his thighs. “I panicked. I hate confined spaces. It was difficult to move”, he tells VG. MARKS: Cato Berntsen Larsen was not seriously wounded, but scratched his shoulder while trying to get up. Photo: TERJE BRINGEDAL Out of service His friends called for help. “We received an emergency call at 07:58 AM, regarding a man stuck in a toilet tank. We sent a fire truck with four men to the location. It took them about ten minutes to get the man out. The fire personnel had to demolish the toilet. It is now out of service”, Kristin Rødnes at Vestviken emergency central tells VG. At the emergency room, Larsen's wounds were cleaned. He also received antibiotic treatment. Section manager Kristine Høibraaten in Drammen municipality says that this is the first time anyone has fallen into the toilet tank, after it was installed in the 1990s. “The tank is normally emptied only once a year. This is a very sad incident. Normally it shall be very difficult to fall into this toilet”, Høibraaten says. ||||| Cato Berntsen Larsen was able to climb through the toilet seat opening to recover the phone lying at the bottom of the outhouse, but was unable to climb back out again (AFP Photo/Drammen Fire Department) Oslo (AFP) - Firemen in Norway came to the rescue Friday of a man who climbed into an outdoor public toilet to retrieve a friend's cell phone, after he got stuck in the tank. Cato Berntsen Larsen, 20, was able to climb through the toilet seat opening to recover the phone lying at the bottom of the outhouse, but was unable to climb back out again. "First we tried to get the phone with a stick but that didn't work. So I jumped in," he told daily VG. "I was down there an hour, I was panicking," he said, adding there were "animals" crawling on his body. Overcome by nausea and vomiting, he tried in vain to pull himself of the tank, and which is only emptied once a year, according to VG. He ultimately decided to contact the fire brigade to help end his ordeal in the small town of Drammen outside Oslo. "It was a fairly easy task for us. We sent a four-man crew with a chainsaw and they cut open the front of the (plastic) toilet," fire brigade spokeswoman Tina Brock told AFP. The rescue was a "first" for the local fire brigade, she acknowledged. "It was pretty full down there." The phone was not recovered. ||||| A MAN was freed from down a toilet by firemen - after he climbed in to retrieve his pal's mobile phone. Dopey Cato Berntsen Larsen, 20, volunteered for the disgusting task because he was thin enough to get inside. 3 The Norwegian toilet which imprisoned poor Cato 3 The stinky loon pictured following the unfortunate ordeal But he was left stuck with his hands forlornly clutching the rim for an hour unable to clamber out. Tattooed Cato explained his friend dropped the phone inside as he tried to text while urinating at Hillside River Park in Drammen, Norway. He added: "My friend said I was thinner, and could fetch it. I did not take time to think, and jumped down legs first. related stories Latest 'SEXUAL MONSTER' Peeping Tom primary head teacher jailed for using spy pen to record pupils and staff in the toilet CLAW HAMMER STANDOFF Cops threaten to taser hammer-wielding teen on Tube train after he 'smashed up toilet' ‘MAKES ME SICK’ Mum flees pub in tears after she’s ordered to breastfeed her nine-week-old son in disabled TOILET CLUB SEX ATTACK Teenager celebrating her A-level results 'raped at a nightclub toilets at a Pokemon Hunt party' MIGRANT CHILD RAPE CASE Afghan asylum seeker, 22, accused of raping boy, 4, in toilet cubicle at German refugee centre Exclusive 'That poor girl!' Geordie Shore star Gaz Beadle accused of bullying after posting screengrab of fan on the toilet POODUNNIT? CBB's Samantha Fox tells Loose Women Saira Khan had to clean up mystery housemate's diarrhoea Video Bog off Watch the moment daredevil Wolves fan spectacularly fails in attempt to crowd surf inside St Andrews TOILETS "I was apparently thin enough to get down, but not thin enough to come up again. "It was damn disgusting - the worst ever experience. There were animals down there too. I was bit several times. "The sh*t was up to my thighs. I was sick. Then I started panicking because I hate confined spaces and couldn't move." Friends called the fire brigade who had to smash the loo to haul him free. After being treated for bruising on the arms and disinfected by medics. he said: "I really hurt and am going home to rest. I will never go down a toilet again." Fire boss Kare Hoel added: "It was standing room only down the toilet." He did retrieve the phone - but it was smashed in the fall. Alamy 3 The disgusting incident was reminiscent of the famous toilet scene from Danny Boyle's hit movie Trainspotting (1996) starring Ewan McGregor We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368 |||||

– There are good friends and then there's Cato Larsen of Norway. The 20-year-old climbed into the tank of an outdoor toilet Friday after his friend dropped his cellphone into it, AFP reports. According to VG, the friends decided Larsen was the only one skinny enough to get into the toilet and retrieve the phone. "Slim enough to get into it, but not slim enough to get out," Larsen clarifies. He found himself standing thigh-deep in excrement—the toilet is only emptied once per year—and unable to climb out. Larsen was, understandably, vomiting; in addition to the human waste, he says there were animals crawling on him. After an hour of Larsen trying to escape the poo-poo prison, his friends called the local fire department. Firefighters quickly cut Larsen out of the toilet using a chainsaw. A spokesperson for the department notes "it was pretty full down there." Larsen was disinfected and treated for bruising on his arms, and he also says he received some animal bites, per the Sun. "It was disgusting as hell. The worst thing I have ever experienced," Larsen tells VG. "I will never enter a toilet again." And he didn't even get the phone, according to AFP. (That classic summertime pool smell? It's pee.)

The City of Houston wants sermons from pastors engaged in the legal battle over the controversial equal rights ordinance.In a subpoena to five members of the Houston Area Pastors Council, the city is requesting a long list of documents and communications. Among them are "all speeches, presentations, or sermons" related to the Equal Rights Ordinance and "all communications with members of your congregation" regarding it and the failed petition against it.It is the city's latest move as it defends itself against a lawsuit filed in August requesting the ordinance be suspended.Pastor Hernan Castano received a subpoena and believes his sermons are protected by the First Amendment."For a city government to step into churches and ask pastors to turn in sermons, it's gone too far. This is not what America, the nation is about," he told Eyewitness News.The fight over the anti-discrimination ordinance that passed in May has included protests and petition drives. Thousands of signatures were deemed invalid, which led to the lawsuit.Some signatures were acquired at churches which make the sermons fair game, according to City Attorney Dave Feldman."If they choose to do this inside the church, choose to do this from the pulpit, then they open the door to the questions being asked," Feldman said.Monday -- the plaintiffs, former Harris County GOP Chairman Jared Woodfill and activist Steven Hotze, along with Pastor F.N. Williams Sr. and Pastor Max Miller -- filed a motion to quash the subpoenas calling them "overly-broad" and "harassment." ||||| Protestors against the equal rights ordinance gather outside the Houston City Hall during the city council meeting in which the future of the ordinance will be decided, Wednesday, May 28, 2014, in Houston. Protestors against the equal rights ordinance gather outside the Houston City Hall during the city council meeting in which the future of the ordinance will be decided, Wednesday, May 28, 2014, in Houston. Photo: Marie D. De Jesus, Houston Chronicle |||||

– Conservative pastors in Houston complain that the city is trampling on religious freedoms in the battle over a controversial equal-rights ordinance introduced earlier this year. The city's lawyers have subpoenaed several high-profile pastors opposed to the law, seeking, among other things, "all speeches, presentations, or sermons" related to the law, homosexuality, and openly gay Mayor Annise Parker, reports the Houston Chronicle. The law's opponents are suing the city, claiming that it was wrong to determine that an effort to force a repeal referendum didn't gather enough signatures. Plaintiffs call the move "harassment" and a violation of First Amendment rights. "For a city government to step into churches and ask pastors to turn in sermons, it's gone too far. This is not what America, the nation is about," one pastor who received a subpoena tells KTRK. But a city attorney says that since some of the signatures on the repeal petition were gathered at churches, the sermons are part of the case. "If they choose to do this inside the church, choose to do this from the pulpit, then they open the door to the questions being asked," he says.

See more of National Geographic Adventure on Facebook ||||| ... are raising money for the Live Water Foundation and your contribution will make an impact, whether you donate $5 or $500. The Live Water team are the leading advocators of water sports activity that aims to better the well-being of their communities. Every little bit helps! To make it even better ~ this year on Giving Tuesday (tomorrow Nov 27) Facebook and PayPal will match a total of $7 Million in donations. Thank you for your support in advance! Paddle. Inspire. Empower. ||||| An autopsy will be performed Thursday on an Army veteran and double amputee who died Wednesday after he was found in the Chesapeake Bay with a group of paddle boarders. Natural Resources Police said Cody Iorns, 25, of Washington D.C. was pronounced dead at Anne Arundel Medical Center after attempts to resuscitate him failed. Spokeswoman Candy Thomson said Iorns was part of a group of four paddle boarders who were on the water off Tolly Point around 6:30 p.m. One of the people in the group saw Iorns face down in the water behind them and they attempted to rescue him and bring him to shore, Thomson said. At a press conference Thursday afternoon, Maryland Natural Resources Police Capt. Brian Rathgeb said Iorns suffered undetermined medical distress while on the water. An autopsy is being conducted Thursday in Baltimore to determine the cause of death. Rathgeb said Iorns was wearing an inflatable life jacket, but the device did not inflate. He had three people with him — they started performing CPR, according to Thomson. One went ashore seeking help, Rathgeb said. An Anne Arundel County Fire Department boat picked Iorns up from the water. He was taken to Anne Arundel Medical Center where he was pronounced dead, he said. Iorns was a double amputee and Army veteran who was well-known in the paddle boarding community. He paddle boarded with the help of prosthetic limbs. Capital SUP, a paddle boarding group and business in Annapolis, said in a statement on Facebook that Iorns “went out for a downwind paddle with fellow Capital SUP paddlers and unexpectedly drowned.” “We are still processing how it happened,” the group wrote. “We are at a loss for words. He was our brother. He was an inspiration to everyone on and off the water.” Iorns was profiled by National Geographic last year, which described him as a competitive paddle boarder who’d lost his arms in a motorcycle accident. In the piece, the publication said he was a former Army medic who trained and competed with Capital SUP’s “Water Warriors” program for veterans. In an interview, Iorns described the challenges of paddle boarding while being an amputee, saying “whenever I paddle board, it’s a team sport because someone is getting my board, someone’s helping me with my arms, so that’s my team.” “80 percent of my goal is accomplished by making it to the race,” he said. It was one of three separate incidents that happened out on the Chesapeake Bay during choppy conditions Wednesday afternoon, and brings the number of boating-related deaths this year to 10. By this time last year there had been four boating-related deaths, Rathgeb said. The state saw nine, boating-related deaths in 2017. “We’re on pace for one of the deadliest years boating-wise in Maryland,” he said. Emergency crews are continuing their search today for a missing boater who fell overboard off of a 40-foot cabin cruiser between Kent Narrows and Herrington Harbor South. Thomson said Kevin Yates Sr., 41, of Queen Anne’s County, was helping another boater who’d recently purchased a boat in Kent Narrows to move it over to Herrington Harbor South around 2:45 p.m. Wednesday. Yates was helping the other man to move the boat to Herrington Harbor South while wind gusts were up to 25 knots as he was a more experienced boater, Thomson said. At one point, Yates needed to use the bathroom and handed the helm over to the other boater, Thomson said. It is believed that Yates fell off the vessel sometime during this period, as Thomson said the other boater stayed at the helm for about an hour, uncomfortable leaving it unmanned. “We have a very very large search area,” Rathgeb said at the press conference. “We’re basically searching between Poplar Island and Herring Bay, so Eastern Shore to the Western Shore.” He was last seen wearing blue shorts and a dark shirt with no life jacket. They are continuing to search with aviation units and boats Thursday, Rathgeb said. In another incident, a 6-year-old boy who stepped off a crabbing pier at Sandy Point State Park is expected to survive. The water level was almost flush with the pier when the child stepped off, Rathgeb said. Thomson said that he was with his family having a picnic at the park and went to the crabbing pier where he was swept into the water during particularly rough conditions. The boy’s father jumped into the water after him and brought him back to shore, Thomson said. The boy was taken to Johns Hopkins with non-life threatening injuries and is okay now, Rathgeb said. Of the 10 boating-related deaths in Maryland so far this year, four have occurred in Anne Arundel County. A common theme for almost all the fatalities is that the person wasn’t wearing a life jacket, Rathgeb said. Inflatable life jackets also work, and are worn by Natural Resources Police officers. The inflatable jackets are less bulky, making people more likely to wear them, he said. In Iorns’ case the device wasn’t working properly, he said. “They’re great as long as you maintain them and keep up with them,” he said. CAPTION Surveillance video provided by Anne Arundel County Police shows a Ford F350 pickup truck backing into a 7-Eleven on Defense Highway in Crofton in an attempt to steal an ATM from the store. Surveillance video provided by Anne Arundel County Police shows a Ford F350 pickup truck backing into a 7-Eleven on Defense Highway in Crofton in an attempt to steal an ATM from the store. CAPTION Surveillance video provided by Anne Arundel County Police shows a Ford F350 pickup truck backing into a 7-Eleven on Defense Highway in Crofton in an attempt to steal an ATM from the store. Surveillance video provided by Anne Arundel County Police shows a Ford F350 pickup truck backing into a 7-Eleven on Defense Highway in Crofton in an attempt to steal an ATM from the store. CAPTION D.C. Police release video showing "person of interest" in threats to CAIR the Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization. CAIR said it is taking extra security precautions after seeing the video. D.C. Police release video showing "person of interest" in threats to CAIR the Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization. CAIR said it is taking extra security precautions after seeing the video. CAPTION Anne Arundel County officials discuss a $550,000 grant awarded to law enforcement by Gov. Larry Hogan to combat gangs. Anne Arundel County officials discuss a $550,000 grant awarded to law enforcement by Gov. Larry Hogan to combat gangs. CAPTION A locomotive at an Odenton maintenance yard caught fire Wednesday morning, damaging the train engine but nothing else. A locomotive at an Odenton maintenance yard caught fire Wednesday morning, damaging the train engine but nothing else. CAPTION Anne Arundel police plans to expand their storage space, in part, because of the number of weapons they anticipate confiscating as a result of the new law, said Chief Altomare. Anne Arundel police plans to expand their storage space, in part, because of the number of weapons they anticipate confiscating as a result of the new law, said Chief Altomare. twitter.com/PhilDavis_CG ||||| Army Veteran, Who Had Lost His Arms, Drowns While Paddleboarding At Age 25 Enlarge this image toggle caption Marvin D. Lynchard /Department of Defense Marvin D. Lynchard /Department of Defense Cody Iorns was not one to lie down in defeat. The Army medic veteran lost his arms following a motorcycle accident in 2015, but fitted with prosthetic limbs, he turned to the water, specifically standup paddleboarding. The dogged athlete was featured in several news reports, showcasing his rise from adversity, and he became well known in the local water sports community. Iorns died Wednesday evening after venturing out into the Chesapeake Bay from Annapolis, MD, according to Maryland Natural Resources Police Public Information Officer Candy Thomson. He was 25. Maryland's Office of the Chief Medical Examiner told NPR the cause was accidental drowning. Iorns set off around 6 p.m. Wednesday with three other paddlers, Thomson said. The plan was to launch from Thomas Point and head toward Spa Creek about five miles away, returning to land about an hour-and-a-half later. As a precaution, somebody in the group sent Maryland Natural Resources Police a message with their route, Thomson said. But the conditions were rocky. "We had a huge high tide because of the full moon," Thomson said, "we had four to five foot waves." Winds were gusting up to 25 miles per hour, and somehow Iorns wound up behind the group and in the water. "They all of a sudden looked back and noticed that Cody had fallen from his paddle board and was face down in the water," Thomson said. His life jacket did not inflate, Thomson said, and the other paddlers were quick to act. "They pulled him back on his board and did CPR while pulling him back toward shore," Thomson said. Iorns was brought to the Anne Arundel Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. Despite the rough conditions, the paddlers "did everything within reason," Thomson said. "These were experienced paddlers," Thomson said, especially Iorns. "He was in good shape, he was comfortable around the water, he was well known in our paddleboard community." Capital SUP Annapolis, a paddleboard company, posted a message to Facebook saying Iorns "unexpectedly drowned" after going out with his fellow Capital SUP paddlers. "We are still processing how it happened," the post said. "Please pray for Cody's family. We are at a loss for words. He was our brother. He was an inspiration to everyone on and off the water." Last year, Iorns spoke to WJLA TV News about the motorcycle accident that changed his life. "My left arm was just gone," Iorns said. His right arm was severely fractured and following an infection he lost it too. Iorns, a former Army specialist who served as a combat medic, told WJLA, the easy thing to do would have been to lie in bed. "You've got to step out of your comfort zone," he said. "I know that I feel so much better when I'm out, trying to give something my 100%," Iorns told National Geographic Adventure, which showcased him in a paddleboarding race last year. National Geographic said Iorns was the only adaptive paddler in the 9-mile long Wrightsville, N.C., Surf to Sound race. He finished 28th. "80 percent of my goal is accomplished by making it to the race," he said. "So doing the race, that's kind of like the icing on the cake." "Standup paddleboarding has been a lot of failing, a lot of working, a lot of finding out what doesn't work the hard way," he said. Still, he said it was the thing he wanted to do most. An investigation into what happened on the water Wednesday evening is ongoing, Thomson said. "They were playing by the rules and something happened and that hits you hard because it is so unfair," Thomson said. ||||| Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking “I agree” below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. |||||

– A double-amputee Army veteran who was called an "adventure seeker" and "strong-willed man" by friends died Wednesday in the Chesapeake Bay while paddleboarding, NPR and the Washington Post report. Cody Iorns, 25, pushed off land near Annapolis, Md., around 6pm Wednesday with three other paddlers, but rough conditions—including 5-foot-waves and 25mph wind gusts—soon caused Iorns to fall behind his friends. "They all of a sudden looked back and noticed that Cody had fallen from his paddleboard and was face down in the water," Candy Thomson, a rep for the Maryland Natural Resources Police, tells NPR. The others pulled Iorns, whose life jacket hadn't inflated, back onto his board and administered CPR, which medics took over when they arrived on the scene, but it was too late. Iorns was pronounced dead at Anne Arundel Medical Center; the state medical examiner said the cause of death was accidental drowning. The Capital Gazette notes Iorns' death brings the number of boat-related fatalities so far for 2018 to 10; last year by this time there had only been four. "We're on pace for one of the deadliest years boating-wise in Maryland," says MNRP Capt. Brian Rathgeb. The Annapolis paddleboard community, meanwhile, is mourning the loss of Iorns, a former Army medic who lost his arms after a 2015 motorcycle accident but had become an inspiration in the stand-up paddleboard community. His story had just been featured by National Geographic last year. "He was our brother," paddleboard company Capital SUP Annapolis posted on Facebook. "He was an inspiration to everyone on and off the water."

Reviving a 20-year debate over illnesses of veterans of the 1991 Persian Gulf war, a new scientific paper presents evidence that nerve agents released by the bombing of Iraqi chemical weapons depots just before the ground war began could have carried downwind and fallen on American troops staged in Saudi Arabia. The paper, published in the journal Neuroepidemiology, tries to rebut the longstanding Pentagon position, supported by many scientists, that neurotoxins, particularly sarin gas, could not have carried far enough to sicken American forces. The authors are James J. Tuite and Dr. Robert Haley, who has written several papers asserting links between chemical exposures and gulf war illnesses. They assembled data from meteorological and intelligence reports to support their thesis that American bombs were powerful enough to propel sarin from depots in Muthanna and Falluja high into the atmosphere, where winds whisked it hundreds of miles south to the Saudi border. Once over the American encampments, the toxic plume could have stalled and fallen back to the surface because of weather conditions, the paper says. Though troops would have been exposed to low levels of the agent, the authors assert that the exposures may have continued for several days, increasing their impact. Advertisement Continue reading the main story Though chemical weapons detectors sounded alarms in those encampments in the days after the January 1991 bombing raids, they were viewed as false by many troops, the authors report. ||||| Troops were told chemical alarms that went off at U.S. bases in Saudi Arabia during the Gulf War were false alarms, but a new study indicates that sarin gas traveled hundreds of miles. Soldiers with the U.S. Army's 7th Corps huddle in a bunker in Eastern Saudi Arabia with gas masks and chemical suits following the start of the 1991 Persian Gulf War. (Photo: Peter Dejong, AP) Story Highlights Weather studies show dangerous nerve agent traveled hundreds of miles to reach U.S. troops. WASHINGTON -- U.S. bombings of Iraqi munitions factories in January 1991 released a plume of sarin gas that traveled more than 300 miles to affect American troops in Saudi Arabia, although military officials claimed at the time that chemical alarms triggered by the gas were false, a study released today shows. The Jan. 18, 1991, bombings of the munitions plants in Nasiriyah and Khamisiya blew a plume of sarin gas high above a layer of cold, still air -- also called the boundary level -- and into a swift wind stream that carried the gas to Saudi Arabia, said the study conducted by researchers Robert Haley and James Tuite and published in the journal Neuroepidemiology. The gas plumes, the researchers said, can be blamed for symptoms of Gulf War illness, the mysterious ailment that has affected more than 250,000 veterans of the war. The gas set off repeated chemical weapons alarms at U.S. troop points in Saudi Arabia, the report said, but commanders said they were false alarms, because if the troops had been hit with sarin gas, there would have been casualties. There were no casualties, although U.S., Czech and French systems all detected traces of sarin and mustard agent. Compounding the effects of the sarin were Scud missile attacks on the bases by Iraqi forces, Haley and Tuite reported, because the missiles would stir up the airborne toxic gases and force the sarin to drift back into the base level of air, which would set off the chemical alarms again. The two researchers investigated satellite images and weather charts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to determine the movements of the sarin plume. Haley is the chief of epidemiology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, and Tuite is a former Secret Service senior agent who has worked as an investigator for the Pentagon and the Government Accountability Office. Their report shows satellite images depicting a yellow patch of gas in the air above where U.S. troops were based. "You can see it," Haley said. "This is simple. ... There it is. There's no doubt." Haley and Tuite paired the weather data with survey results from about 8,000 troops they polled with support from the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs. They found a direct relationship between the number of times troops heard the chemical alarms and the severity of their Gulf War illness symptoms, their report said. The VA did not respond to a request for comment. The VA has previously challenged research attributing Gulf War illness to sarin, because there was no way to determine the amount of gas to which troops were exposed. Since no troops died at the time from exposure to the gas, and the munitions factories were so far away, U.S. forces and their commanders assumed something else had set off the chemical alarms, Haley said. In some cases, troops were told the alarms were activated by burning trash. "This is the dose," Haley said. "The more alarms you heard, the longer you were exposed to the gas." Veterans of suffering from Gulf War illness tend to fall in three categories: • Syndrome 1, or cognitive and depression problems. • Syndrome 2, or confusion ataxia, which is similar to early Alzheimer's disease. • Syndrome 3, or severe chronic body pain. Those with syndromes two and three had a highly significant correlation between alarms and symptoms, while Haley said Syndrome 1 does not appear to be connected. Haley called syndromes two and three "incapacitating," and said those veterans feel tired or just "not good" for no explainable reason. Recent research shows that Gulf War illness, the series of symptoms ranging from headaches to memory loss to chronic fatigue, is due to damage to the autonomic nervous systems. The autonomic nervous system controls automatic functions, such as breathing or a person's heartbeat. Troops say their exposure to the gases was compounded by their lack of chemical protection suits. Each person was equipped with two suits, which were good for only one wearing each. Many soldiers and Marines stopped bothering to put on their gas masks and suits, if they had any fresh ones left, after hearing several of the "false alarms." While scientists have pointed at achl-inhibitors, such as sarin, bug spray and anti-nerve agent pills as contributors to Gulf War illness, Haley he said the main cause is probably the sarin gas. "I think the other chemicals may have compounded it," he said, but scientists hadn't been looking at low-dose, long-term sarin exposure because they didn't know the cloud had traveled so far. The VA originally funded some of the Gulf War illness research but Veterans Affairs dropped their project in 2010 after being accused of wasting millions of dollars in research money. That came directly after a 2009 study from Haley showed that neurotoxins such as anti-nerve agent pills, insect repellent and the nerve agent sarin caused neurological changes to the brain, and that the changes seem to correlate with different symptoms. Haley and Tuite used their own money and time to complete the research before it was published in Neuroepidemiology, which only runs research after it is peer-reviewed by other scientists. Haley said the findings are important because it could help veterans gain benefits from VA, and because it gives researchers a starting point for a cure. It also could serve as a warning to countries such as Syria, which security experts fear plan to use chemical weapons against insurgents, because it's hard to determine where the chemicals will end up, he said. Read or Share this story: http://usat.ly/UdpMvM |||||

– A controversial new paper may shed light on Gulf War syndrome, a collection of symptoms seen in veterans of the 1991 conflict: Chemical weapons could be to blame. The researchers assert that when US troops bombed chemical weapons depots in Iraq, the neurotoxin sarin was sent into the atmosphere then carried by the wind all the way to American encampments 300 miles to the south. From there, weather conditions may have driven the toxin downward, potentially exposing troops to it for several days. Troops were told that chemical weapons alarms that blared at the time were false alarms, the New York Times reports. The theory has been raised before; the new paper supports it using intelligence and weather reports. The researchers also noted a correlation between the number of times troops say they heard the alarm and the severity of their symptoms. Satellite images in the report show yellow gas over the US encampments, USA Today adds. Almost half of 700,000 Gulf War veterans have made claims for disability, with many citing symptoms whose cause remains mysterious. The Pentagon has maintained that the gas couldn't have traveled far enough to present a threat, and other experts have agreed.

Archaeologists made a stunning, if not stinky discovery during their excavations of I Vilhelm Werners square in Odense on Funen. The digs revealed numerous latrine barrels dating back to the 1300s and still filled with their intended content, proving – among other things – that human excrement still has a putrid odour even if it is centuries old. Many of the barrels, which were found during 2013, are in excellent condition and their contents can provide a unique insight into the dietary habits of people living some seven hundred years ago. READ MORE: Danish research gives new details on Ice Age extinction Huge urban dig But what’s also interesting is that the barrels were usually used for something else before becoming latrines, and the markings on the barrels reveal who owned it and whether it was used for the transportation of goods or storage of fish. The dig, which is ongoing and is one of the largest urban archaeological excavations in Danish history, also uncovered three barrels stacked on top of one another that turned out to be a well. The barrels were tied together and packed with clay, and at the bottom archaeologists found a system of pipes. Visitors can enjoy a free tour of the excavation every Tuesday and Thursday at 13:00 and can visit the archaeologists’ workshop every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from noon to 15:00. ||||| Intestinal parasites have been found lurking in ancient poop in the toilet of a medieval castle in western Cyprus, scientists report. The findings paint a less than pretty picture of the health and hygiene of crusaders stationed on the Mediterranean island 800 years ago. Poor sanitation likely meant that food and water supplies were contaminated by fecal material, allowing parasitic infections to spread, the study suggests. Short-lived latrine Researchers from the University of Cambridge dug into the pit of dried-out waste under a latrine in the remains of Saranda Kolones (Greek for "Forty Columns") at Paphos, a city at the southwestern tip of Cyprus and a UNESCO World Heritage site. [Through the Years: A Gallery of the World's Toilets] Overlooking Paphos harbor, and next to a complex of Roman villas with remarkably intact floor mosaics, Saranda Kolones was long thought to be a temple because of the granite columns that littered its ruins. But excavations in the 1950s revealed that it was actually a short-lived concentric castle. English King Richard the Lionheart sold the island of Cyprus to the Frankish crusader Guy de Lusignan in May 1192. Archaeologists believe the Franks built Saranda Kolones to defend Paphos harbor soon after their occupation of the island began. But in 1222, the city was rocked by a powerful earthquake thought to be at least 7.0 in magnitude. Much of the fortress was left in ruins, never to be rebuilt, but the latrines on its lower floors survived. These toilets were carved to fit the human form, with a half moon-shaped hole in the seat leading to a sewer below. Cambridge researchers Evilena Anastasiou and Piers Mitchell, who study ancient parasites, collected samples from one of those cesspools, rehydrated the waste and strained it through a micro-sieve to catch parasite eggs, each smaller than a tenth of a millimeter. Worms in the waste Under a microscope, the researchers saw that the samples contained the eggs of two of the world's most common and widespread intestinal parasites: whipworms (Trichuris trichiura), which cause the infection known as trichocephalus, and giant roundworms (Ascaris lumbricoides), the largest of the nematodes found in human intestines, with adults that can grow to more than 1 foot (30 centimeters) long. People with a light load of these worms may experience no symptoms. But when whipworms and giant roundworms heavily colonize the digestive tract, they compete with their hosts for food, siphoning off the nutrients that would normally be absorbed in the intestines. Eggs of the parasites pass through the feces and spread to other hosts by ingestion (say, when a human doesn't wash their hands and spreads the parasite to food or other objects that get consumed). That means infections are most common in places with poor hygiene and sanitation as well as areas where human waste is used as fertilizer or where people defecate in the soil. Mitchell has estimated that during a two- or three-year crusade expedition, noblemen and clergy were just as likely to die in battle as they were to succumb to malnutrition and disease. Presumably, the risk of malnutrition would have been even worse for poor foot soldiers with fewer resources. The new study suggests that parasites likely contributed to the demise of many soldiers who died of starvation or disease. "In these circumstances [it] is quite likely that medieval soldiers with a heavy parasite load would have been at increased risk of death from starvation during famine episodes such as long sieges or expeditions when supplies ran out," the researchers wrote. "This is because they would have had to share the limited available food with their parasites." Studying feces is a rather unglamorous but useful way for archaeologists to reconstruct the diets, health and lifestyle of ancient people. The parasites described in this study are hardly the oldest ever found in Cyprus. A recent analysis of human waste up to 10,000 years old revealed roundworms, whipworms and tapeworms at the Neolithic Cypriot sites of Khirokitia and Shillourokambos. The research was detailed in the International Journal of Paleopathology. Follow Megan Gannon on Twitterand Google+. Follow us @livescience, Facebook& Google+. Original article on LiveScience.com. ||||| The well was probably part of beer brewing, as some partially germinated barley excavated nearby suggests. To prevent mud from getting into the well, the lowest barrel was covered with reeds. A system of pipes at the bottom of the structure led water to the well. It appears that barrels were recycled for various use in Medieval Odense. The excavation also unearthed three barrels stacked on top of one another and tied together that served as a basic well. Described as being in "excellent condition," the human excrement was found in wooden barrels originally used to transport goods and store fish. Later converted into latrines, the barrels were unearthed in the center of the medieval town of Odense, the birthplace of fairy tale writer Hans Christian Andersen. "We are talking of 700-year-old latrines. And yes, they still smell bad," Maria Elisabeth Lauridsen, the archaeologist in charge of the excavation, told Discovery News. A number of Medieval latrines -- still filled with their original contents -- have been unearthed in Denmark, according to archaeologists working in one of the largest urban archaeological excavations in Danish history. A number of Medieval wooden barrels have been uncovered in Denmark, revealing their less- than-glamorous contents. Originally built to transport goods and store fish, the barrels were converted into latrines — still filled with their original contents. "We are talking about 700-year-old latrines. And yes, they still smell bad," Maria Elisabeth Lauridsen, the archaeologist in charge of the excavation, told Discovery News. Photos: Digging Up a Medieval Latrine Unearthed in the center of the Medieval town of Odense, the birthplace of the fairy tale writer Hans Christian Andersen, the barrels are believed to have served a toilet area. "The excavation is characterized by great conditions for preservation and is located on a Medieval site that has been found to contain brick houses, half-timbered houses and stables," Lauridsen said. Described as being in "excellent condition," the human excrement can give scientists unique insight into what people ate in Denmark in the Middle Ages. Photos: Top 10 Things Poop Makes Better "Preliminary results of analysis show that raspberries were popular in Odense in the 1300s. The contents also contain small pieces of moss, leather and fabric which were used as toilet paper," Lauridsen said. It appears that barrels were recycled for various use in Medieval Odense. The excavation unearthed three barrels stacked on top of one another and tied together that served as a basic well. Poop Gets Its Close-Up A system of pipes at the bottom of the structure led water to the well. To prevent mud from getting into the well, the lowest barrel was covered with reeds. "This well has probably been a part of beer brewing. We have excavated nearby a stock of partially germinated barley which is commonly used in the brewing process," Lauridsen said. Video: What's in Your Poop? Visitors can go on a free tour of the excavation every Tuesday and Thursday at 1:00 pm and can visit the archaeologists' workshop every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from noon to 3:00. "We are finding new and exciting information about the life that was lived in Odense during the 14th century," Lauridsen said. Image: Human excrement still smelling bad has been found in these 700 year old barrel latrines. Credit: Odense City Museum. |||||

– One of the biggest urban archaeological digs Denmark has ever seen has uncovered a lowly part of history. "We are talking about 700-year-old latrines. And yes, they still smell bad," an archaeologist explains. The team stumbled on what appears to be a 14th-century communal toilet area in the medieval town of Odense, unearthing a number of medieval barrels filled with human waste. And in case you were wondering, the poop the barrels contained was in "excellent condition," reports Discovery News, with the Copenhagen Post explaining that its "putrid odor" hadn't diminished over the centuries. But it's more than just stinky. It actually tells researchers a lot about how the people of the time lived. (LiveScience notes latrine samples from roughly the same period in Cyprus revealed the intestinal parasites that plagued the crusaders there.) "Preliminary results of analysis show that raspberries were popular in Odense in the 1300s," the head archaeologist reveals. "The contents also contain small pieces of moss, leather, and fabric, which were used as toilet paper." Want to take a whiff for yourself? Well, you're in, um, luck. The site offers free tours, two days a week. (Latrines found in Pompeii have revealed some unusual Roman eating habits.)

Please note: As of January 20, 2017, information in some news releases may be out of date or not reflect current policies. US Department of Labor sues Oracle America Inc. for discriminatory employment practices Lawsuit could cost company millions in federal contracts SAN FRANCISCO – The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit against Oracle America, Inc. alleging the leading technology company has a systemic practice of paying Caucasian male workers more than their counterparts in the same job title, which led to pay discrimination against female, African American and Asian employees. The suit also challenges Oracle’s systemic practice of favoring Asian workers in its recruiting and hiring practices for product development and other technical roles, which resulted in hiring discrimination against non-Asian applicants. Oracle designs, manufactures, and sells software and hardware products, as well as offers services related to its products to the federal government. The lawsuit filed by the department’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs is the result of an OFCCP compliance review of Oracle’s equal employment opportunity practices at its Redwood Shores headquarters. During the investigation – which began in 2014 – Oracle also refused to comply with the agency’s routine requests for employment data and records. For example, Oracle refused to provide prior-year compensation data for all employees, complete hiring data for certain business lines, and employee complaints of discrimination. OFCCP attempted for almost a year to resolve Oracle’s alleged discrimination violations before filing the suit. Oracle has received hundreds of millions in federal government contracts. As a federal contractor, Oracle is prohibited from engaging in employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity or national origin and is required to take affirmative action to ensure that equal employment opportunity is provided to applicants and employees in all aspects of employment. If Oracle fails to provide relief as ordered in the lawsuit, OFCCP requests that all its government contracts be canceled and that it be debarred from entering into future federal contracts. “Federal contractors are required to comply with all applicable anti-discrimination laws,” said OFCCP Acting Director Thomas M. Dowd. “We filed this lawsuit to enforce those requirements.” Filed with the Office of Administrative Law Judges, the complaint asks the court to enjoin Oracle permanently from discriminating against females, African Americans and Asians in compensation practices and against African American, Hispanic and Caucasian applicants in hiring practices. OFCCP is also seeking complete relief for the affected class including lost wages, stock, interest, front wages, salary adjustments, promotions and all other lost benefits of employment and a reform of discriminatory policies. The complaint can be viewed here. OFCCP enforces Executive Order 11246, Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974. These laws, as amended, make it illegal for contractors and subcontractors doing business with the federal government to discriminate in employment because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or status as a protected veteran. In addition, contractors and subcontractors are prohibited from discriminating against applicants or employees because they have inquired about, discussed or disclosed their compensation or that of others, subject to certain limitations. For more information, please call OFCCP’s toll-free helpline at 800-397-6251 or visit http://www.dol.gov/ofccp/. ||||| Oracle is the latest technology company to face scrutiny from the U.S. government over its hiring practices. The Department of Labor is suing Oracle (ORCL) for allegedly paying white men more than other employees and discriminating against non-Asian job applicants when hiring for technical roles. The lawsuit stems from Oracle's role providing cloud computing software to federal agencies, totaling "hundreds of millions" in contracts, according to the Department of Labor. As a federal contractor, Oracle is obligated to show the government that its hiring doesn't discriminate based on race, religion, sexual orientation, gender and more. The legal complaint asks the court to order the cancellation of all of Oracle's federal contracts unless it prohibits discriminatory hiring practices and makes up for lost compensation and employment benefits to those affected. "The complaint is politically motivated, based on false allegations, and wholly without merit," Deborah Hellinger, a spokeswoman for Oracle, said in a statement provided to CNNMoney. "Oracle values diversity and inclusion, and is a responsible equal opportunity and affirmative action employer." Related: Trump sits down with top Silicon Valley execs Earlier this month, the Department of Labor filed a lawsuit against Google (GOOGL), pressuring it to turn over compensation data on its employees. The agency also sued Palantir, a data software startup, in September for allegedly discriminating against Asian applicants. All three tech companies are federal contractors. Two of the three are overseen by executives close to the incoming Trump administration. Palantir cofounder Peter Thiel and Oracle co-CEO Safra Catz are both on Donald Trump's transition team. The series of government lawsuits comes as Silicon Valley is very publicly trying -- and often failing -- to improve its diversity. Annual transparency reports from many of the big companies reveal the tech industry remains largely white and male. The increased media attention may be influencing the Department of Labor as well. "They read the same stories that everyone else reads. It's something I'm sure they take note of," says D. Michael Hancock, a former Department of Labor official who now works as a lawyer at Cohen Milstein. "They probably said, 'Now that we're getting [employee] complaints, we should take a closer look.' " ||||| Jan 18 (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Labor on Wednesday filed a lawsuit against JPMorgan Chase & Co claiming the bank engaged in pay discrimination against women. The department in a complaint filed with an administrative judge said New York-based JPMorgan has paid at least 93 women in four different job categories less than comparable male coworkers over the last five years. (Reporting by Daniel Wiessner in Albany, New York, Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi) ||||| Just two weeks after filing suit against Google, the Department of Labor has brought suit against another big tech company: Oracle. On Wednesday morning the agency filed a complaint of racial discrimination against the database giant, which employs some 45,000 people in the US. The complaint alleges that Oracle engaged a "systemic practice of paying Caucasian male workers more than their counterparts in the same job title," resulting in pay discrimination against women and African-American and Asian employees, especially in technical and product development positions. The complaint further alleges that Oracle favors Asian applicants — "particularly Asian Indians" — when hiring, in part because "targeted recruitment, and referral bonuses ... encouraged its heavily Asian workforce to recruit other Asians." In a statement, Oracle spokesperson Deborah Hellinger denied allegations of discrimination, decrying the Department of Labor's complaint as "politically motivated, based on false allegations, and wholly without merit. Oracle values diversity and inclusion, and is a responsible equal opportunity and affirmative action employer, Our hiring and pay decisions are non-discriminatory and made based on legitimate business factors including experience and merit." Oracle CEO Safra Catz joined President-elect Donald Trump's transition team last month, following a meeting between Trump and leaders in the tech industry. "I plan to tell the president-elect that we are with him and will help in any way we can," Catz said ahead of the meeting. "If he can reform the tax code, reduce regulation and negotiate better trade deals, the US technology industry will be stronger and more competitive than ever.” Oracle has many contracts with the federal government, which are worth hundred of millions of dollars. As such, the company has to meet certain requirements when it comes to equal employment opportunity and the provision of certain data. The Department of Labor in its complaint alleges that Oracle "refused to produce" compensation data, hiring data, and "any material demonstrating whether or not it had performed an in-depth review of its compensation practices." If government contractors don't provide necessary information, the government can sue — and it has, filing similar suits against Google earlier this month and Palantir last fall. The agency also sued JPMorgan today over similar allegations of gender pay discrimination. The Department of Labor itself is in a transitional moment, with Trump's inauguration coming up on Friday and the Obama administration on its way out. The confirmation of Trump's pick for labor secretary, Andrew Puzder, has been delayed following revived accusations of spousal abuse and reports that widespread criticism from unions and Democrats has left Puzder less than enthusiastic about taking the job. (Puzder has more or less denied these claims.) Oracle, meanwhile, did not immediately respond to a BuzzFeed News request for recent diversity numbers. According to the company's website, less than a third of the company is female, but 37% of its staff are "minority employees." Whether Oracle includes Asians in the "minority employees" category is unclear. Oracle's diversity website makes no mention of compensation parity. |||||

– Oracle provides contracting services for the feds via its cloud computing software, resulting in "hundreds of millions" of dollars in government contracts, per a Labor Department release. That means the tech company has to adhere to federal nondiscriminatory hiring practices, which a DOL lawsuit announced Wednesday says has not been the case, CNN reports. The complaint alleges Oracle has, in a "systemic practice," extended higher paychecks to white males over female, African-American, and Asian workers with the same job title. On the flip side, the company is also accused of having a bias toward Asian workers (specifically, Asian Indians, per BuzzFeed), with "targeted recruitment" and "referral bonuses" coaxing "its heavily Asian workforce to recruit other Asians." The DOL has been trying to address complaints of a lack of diversity in Silicon Valley, and it has filed suit in recent months against other federal contractors, including Google to turn over compensation data, data software firm Palantir for discriminating against Asian applicants, and JPMorgan Chase for gender discrimination in a complaint also filed Wednesday, per Reuters. But here's where the politics supposedly come into play, which is what Oracle claims is the underlying impetus: Oracle CEO Safra Catz and Peter Thiel, co-founder of Palantir, are both members of President-elect Trump's transition team, with Catz saying last month she would "tell the president-elect that we are with him and will help in any way we can." An Oracle spokeswoman calls the suit "politically motivated" and "wholly without merit."

The Tea Party movement set the agenda in its first midterms, its energy propelling the Republican sweep in the House and capturing the mood of a significant chunk of the electorate, with a remarkable 4 in 10 voters in exit polls expressing support for the movement. But in the Senate, the effect was exactly what establishment Republicans had feared: While Tea Party energy powered some victories, concerns about Tea Party extremism also cost them what could have been easy gains — most notably in Nevada, where the Senate Democratic leader, Harry Reid, survived a challenge from Sharron Angle, a Tea Party favorite. Now, as it tries to make the transition from a protest movement to a power on Capitol Hill, the Tea Party faces the challenge of channeling the energy it brought to the election into a governing agenda when it has no clear mandate, a stated distaste for the inevitable compromises of legislating, and a wary relationship with Republican leaders in Congress. For many voters the Tea Party has been a blank screen on which they have projected all kinds of hopes and frustrations — not always compatible or realistic. To many in the movement, the singular goal is to stop an expanding government in its tracks, to “hold the line at all hazards,” as Jennifer Stefano, a Tea Party leader in Pennsylvania, put it. But the movement is also animated by a belief that the entire political system has become disconnected from the practical needs and values of Americans, suggesting that its voting power stemmed as much from a populist sense of outrage in a tough economic moment as it did from ideology. What many of its adherents want as much as anything is for the two parties to come together to solve problems. That sometimes conflicting mandate was neatly captured by two interviews in Searchlight, Nev., hometown of Mr. Reid, who became the Tea Party’s biggest target. “I want to see gridlock,” said Ronald Hanvey, who supported Ms. Angle. “I don’t want to see any more laws.” A few months earlier on nearly the same spot, Jeff Church, arriving at a Tea Party rally against Mr. Reid, complained equally about the state’s Republican senator, John Ensign, and yearned for bipartisanship. “Why can’t they get along and make some common-sense solutions?” Mr. Church asked. In the Senate, the Tea Party carried to victory Marco Rubio in Florida and Rand Paul in Kentucky. Still, it cost the Republicans some seats that they had once counted as solid, including one in Delaware, where Christine O’Donnell, who beat an establishment candidate in the primary thanks to strong Tea Party support, lost to Chris Coons, a Democrat once considered a long shot. Even more painful for Republicans was the result in Nevada. Mr. Reid, once considered the most vulnerable Democrat, fought off Ms. Angle, who had made headlines for her controversial and sometimes eccentric remarks. House races showed the same win-loss effect. Looking ahead, the immediate focus for the movement will be on the big legislative issues facing Congress. But as attention inevitably shifts to 2012, the Tea Party will also have the chance to exert potentially substantial influence on the race for the Republican presidential nomination, with a variety of potential candidates, including Sarah Palin and Senator Jim DeMint of South Carolina, maneuvering to lead it into the next election. For the Republican Congressional leaders, Representative John A. Boehner of Ohio and Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the question is whether the passion of the Tea Party translates into an agenda that can drive legislative progress in a divided capital, or whether it becomes a prod to block Mr. Obama and his party at every turn. They want to keep the movement’s energy alive through the next presidential election — but not fall captive to it. A year spent observing the contours of Tea Party America revealed an uneasy alliance within it, between those who came to the movement with unswerving ideology, generally libertarian, and those who say they came to it more out of frustration and a desire to feel that they were doing something to move forward when the country seemed stuck. The much-mocked sign at a health care town hall last summer, “Keep your government hands off my Medicare,” suggested how many Tea Party supporters had come to the movement without thinking through the specifics. While the more ideological Tea Party supporters embrace ideas like phasing out Social Security and Medicare in favor of private savings accounts, most do not. And just as Tea Party supporters do not always agree on what the agenda is, most Americans disagree with many of the goals proclaimed by Tea Party candidates. While incoming Tea Party lawmakers like Mr. Paul have advocated sharp across-the-board cuts in federal spending, a Pew Research Center poll last week found that a plurality of Americans disapproved of a proposal to freeze all government spending except the part that goes to national security. A majority disapproved of permanently extending the Bush-era tax cuts on incomes greater than $250,000. A New York Times/CBS News poll last month similarly found opposition to raising the retirement age or reducing Social Security or Medicare benefits for future retirees. And a plurality of voters disagreed with what is perhaps the Tea Party movement’s most widely supported goal: repealing the health care overhaul passed in March. Even where the public agrees on parts of the Republican-Tea Party agenda, there are important qualifiers. A slight majority in the Pew poll approved of changing Social Security to allow private accounts, but only by the same margin as when President George W. Bush advanced the cause in 2005, only to see it fail when people read the fine print. The most ardent Tea Party activists expect Republicans to hew to their desires. Even before polls closed Tuesday, FreedomWorks, the libertarian advocacy group that has helped shape the movement from its earliest hours, put out a press release declaring, “The success of the G.O.P. will not merely benefit from the Tea Party vote, it will depend on it.” David Adams, a Tea Party activist in Kentucky who ran Mr. Paul’s primary campaign, said, “I’m hoping for a lot of fireworks in Washington over who takes control of who. “If Republican leaders think for a minute that they’re going to suck us in and continue business as usual,” he said, “they’re wrong.” Like many other Tea Party supporters, Mr. Adams said the biggest goals are to balance the budget and reduce the national debt. And on those, it was unclear where he was willing to compromise. He expects lawmakers like Mr. Paul who campaigned on a promise to balance the federal budget within a year and pass a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution to put forward proposals to do so. It would not be enough, Mr. Adams said, to reach an agreement to, say, balance the budget over five years. Mr. Adams’s list also includes changing Social Security and Medicare, cutting the military budget, replacing the income tax with a flat tax — all ideas that have been raised and voted down, firmly, before. As for repealing the health care legislation? “I can’t imagine much compromise there,” he said. “You look at what the Tea Party has done over the course of this last year, we’ve changed the shape of the debate,” he said. “We have major candidates who are winning races by large margins by talking about making government smaller. We’re getting very, very close to put-up-or-shut-up time.” There was not much room for compromise on Ms. Stefano’s list, either. She wants the health care bill and the estate tax to be repealed, and the Bush-era tax cuts to be made permanent. She warned Republicans not to read too much into the Tea Party support for Republicans. “They should not see it as a mandate for their agenda,” she said. “It is a repudiation of the president and Nancy Pelosi’s view of America. As far as I’m concerned, as of Nov. 3, the Republicans are on probation.” But as much as the Tea Party allowed the Republicans to win in enthusiasm, it will still have a relatively small caucus in the House and the Senate. With control of Congress split, Republicans will have to work with Democrats to get things done. Tea Party lawmakers who refuse to go along may find they become irrelevant — certainly not the goal of all the noise and passion of the last two years. ||||| Getty Images Members of the Tea Party Patriots attended a rally Tuesday on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol. The group is planning a post-election summit. BOWLING GREEN, Ky.—Tea-party leaders, cheering as some of their movement's most prominent figures won U.S. Senate seats in Kentucky and Florida, said Tuesday's elections were only the beginning of their quest to transform government. "Things look good for tonight," said Jenny Beth Martin, national coordinator of the Tea Party Patriots, an umbrella group that says it has 2,800 local affiliates around the country. "No one in this movement is stopping today. This is not an endgame. This is just a beginning." Tea-party victors included Republican Rand Paul, who claimed the Senate seat in Kentucky, and the GOP's Marco Rubio, who defeated former Gov. Charlie Christ and Rep. Kendrick Meek in Florida's three-way race for Senate. Movement losers included Christine O'Donnell, the Republican Senate candidate in Delaware, whose comments about witchcraft embarrassed some in the movement, and Republican Carl Paladino, who lost his bid for governor of New York. Early results signaled that despite some losses, the movement was on its way to becoming a major force in Washington and on the national political landscape. Ahead is a chaotic period as the movement's factions compete to set the agenda and influence the ranks of new members of Congress. Full Results by State Senate, House, governors' and other races at the state, district and county level More interactive graphics and photos One of the most prominent national tea-party groups, Tea Party Patriots, announced plans for a summit of newly minted officials in two weeks while Mr. Paul said he would convene his own similar gathering as soon as possible. In an op-ed article in Wednesday's editions of The Wall Street Journal, major tea-party figure Sen. Jim DeMint (R., S.C.) called on newly elected officials to hew to the movement's priorities as they decamp to Washington. "When you are in Washington, remember what the voters back home want—less government and more freedom," wrote Mr. DeMint. "Put on your boxing gloves. The fight begins today." Ms. Martin said Tea Party Patriots is finalizing plans for a summit and "orientation" Nov. 14 in Washington for all freshman members of Congress. Newly elected officials will meet "face to face" with 200 or more local tea-party coordinators from around the country, she said. Her group is working on a legislative agenda to present then. The focus: Balance the federal budget; and repeal "100 percent repeal" of the health-care overhaul. Enlarge Image Close Getty Images Tea Party Patriots co-founder, Mark Meckler, is hugged by his mother, Elaine Meckler, following a rally on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol on Election Day. "We're going to talk to them about what we expect from them," she said, "and what they can expect from us if they don't uphold our core values." Across the country, tea-party activists gathered in churches, living rooms, fraternal lodges and bars awaiting the results of more than a year of grass-roots organizing. Almost uniformly they said they remained wary of everyone in Washington—including their own candidates. In LaGrange, Ga., 65 miles south of Atlanta, the local tea-party group already was organizing a post-election letter campaign to remind new officials to not cozy up to the Republican establishment. "Come January," said Ellen Gilmore, a 69-year-old retired dental hygienist, "We'll be all over them like dew in the cotton fields." In Kentucky, Mr. Paul, the son of libertarian icon Rep. Ron Paul (R., Texas) led his Democratic opponent, Jack Conway, 56% to 44% with 97% of Kentucky precincts reporting, according to data provided by the Associated Press. "There is a tea-party tidal wave coming to Washington," said Mr. Paul, a 47-year-old eye surgeon, after voting Tuesday morning at an elementary school. "Both parties let us down," he said. He added that, if elected, his first objective would be to secure a constitutional amendment requiring a balanced federal budget. Mr. Paul said Tuesday that he won't compromise his positions regarding the deficit once in Washington and plans to organize his own meeting of victorious tea-party candidates to plan the best way to achieve the movement's agenda. In Nevada, leaders of the Tea Party Express, which poured more than $1 million into Republican Sharron Angle's bid to unseat Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, holed up in a "war room" in a suite at the Aria casino and hotel on the Las Vegas strip. The group endorsed Ms. Angle in April when she was polling at 5% in the Republican primary and appeared to have no shot at her party's nomination. Tea Party Express, another prominent national tea-party group, spent heavily on advertising and assigned operatives to operate a separate campaign on Ms. Angle's behalf during the primary. The race now is the marquee battle for the organization, which also heavily backed Republican Senate candidate Joe Miller in Alaska and Ms. O'Donnell in Delaware. In late polls during the campaign, Ms. Angle had inched ahead. But in the final days, Mr. Reid was getting aid from Democrats across the country for a huge get-out-the-vote effort to mobilize loyal supporters. "There's no question this race is iconic and symbolic of the tea party movement versus the establishment," said Tea Party Express spokesman Levi Russell. " There will be many victories tonight. We just hope this will be one of those victories. The next election cycle starts tomorrow and we'll move over to that." —Alexandra Berzon contributed to this article. Write to Jennifer Levitz at [email protected] |||||

– The Tea Party proved itself to be a major force in yesterday's elections, but a force for what has yet to be determined. "No one in this movement is stopping today. This is not an endgame. This is just a beginning," a leader of the Tea Party patriots told the Wall Street Journal as candidates backed by the movement swept to victory in Florida and Kentucky. In Delaware and Nevada, however, the fears of the GOP establishment were realized as Tea Party-backed candidates were defeated in races the Republicans had expected to win easily. Exit polls found that 40% of voters supported the movement, though there was little agreement on which specifics of the Tea Party agenda they backed. Many who considered themselves Tea Party supporters backed compromising with the Democrats to some degree, though activists say they have no intention of compromising even with the GOP establishment. “If Republican leaders think for a minute that they’re going to suck us in and continue business as usual, they’re wrong," a Tea Party activist who ran Rand Paul's primary campaign in Kentucky told the New York Times.

Black-legged tick inhabits twice as many counties as in 1998, CDC reports, with 320% increase in number of north-eastern counties seen as high risk for disease Ticks that can carry the debilitating illness Lyme disease have significantly spread across the US over the past 20 years and are now found in nearly half of all American counties, including areas where they have never previously been documented, a new analysis has found. The black-legged tick is now established in twice the number of counties it inhabited in 1998, according to the US Centers for Disease Control, and has expanded its range in the north-eastern states and the upper midwest. Following its onward march, or hop, across the Ohio river valley, western New York and the shores of Lake Michigan since the 1990s, there has been a tripling in the incidence of Lyme disease in the US. A moment that changed me: Lyme disease turned my life upside down | David Conner Read more The tick, which has a variant species present on the west coast of the US, can burrow into humans and transmit Lyme disease, which causes fever, headache and other flu-like symptoms. Further problems include impaired memory, dizziness, heart palpitation and inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. Around 300,000 people are diagnosed with Lyme disease each year. The CDC said there has been a 320% increase in the number of counties in the north-east US considered high risk for Lyme disease since the 1990s. Overall, more than 45% of all American counties now host the ticks, up from from 30% in 1998, according to the research published in the Journal of Medical Entomology. Reforestation and an increased population of deer, which host the ticks, have contributed to the increase in distribution. Temperature and rainfall also influence the fate of the tick, with a warming climate helping their spread. Dr Rebecca Eisen, a research biologist at the CDC, said the tick expansion has been “substantial” and required mitigating action, especially in areas that have not previously had to deal with the insects. “A lot of people are seeing ticks where they didn’t see them 20 years ago,” she said. “The observed range expansion documented in our study highlights a need for continuing and enhancing vector surveillance efforts, particularly along the leading edges of range expansion. It’s important to know which ticks are in your area or areas that you visit so that you can take steps to protect yourself.” How to beat Lyme disease and keep enjoying the great outdoors Read more Eisen said the spread of ticks won’t necessarily lead to a uniform increase in Lyme disease cases because of the varying presence of the infected spirochetes that are passed on, as well as uneven numbers of the ticks themselves. But people in areas at risk of Lyme disease are advised to use repellent, walk in the middle of trails when out hiking and bathe or shower as soon as possible when coming indoors. This will help remove attached ticks. Thankfully, there is no evidence that Lyme disease is becoming harder to treat. The ticks should also face natural obstacles in their journey across the states. “It is likely that the ticks will continue to expand into neighboring forested areas and along river corridors,” said Eisen. “However, dry prairies and alpine areas represent natural barriers to the spread of the tick.” ||||| Lyme disease is transmitted by the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis) and the western blacklegged tick (Ixodes pacificus), and the range of these ticks is spreading, according to research published in the Journal of Medical Entomology. Some symptoms of Lyme disease include fever, headache, and fatigue, all of which can be mistaken for the common flu, so medical personnel need to know where these ticks are found in order to make a correct diagnosis. Unfortunately, the range of blacklegged ticks had not been re-evaluated in nearly two decades, until now. Dr. Rebecca Eisen, a research biologist at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, observed that the last comprehensive survey of blacklegged tick distribution was published in 1998. To remedy this, she and her colleagues performed a new survey to establish the current geographic distribution. The team used surveillance methods similar to those used in 1998 so that they would be able to accurately judge the degree to which the distribution of these ticks had changed. Using the gathered data, they figured out which counties had established populations, which ones had one or more reports of a blacklegged ticks, and which ones had none. They found that the blacklegged tick has been reported in more than 45% of U.S. counties, compared to 30% of counties in 1998. Even more alarming, the blacklegged tick is now considered established in twice the number of counties as in 1998. Most of the geographic expansion of the blacklegged tick appears to be in the northern U.S., while populations in southern states have remained relatively stable. The range of the western blacklegged tick only increased from 3.4% to 3.6% of counties. "This study shows that the distribution of Lyme disease vectors has changed substantially over the last nearly two decades and highlights areas where risk for human exposure to ticks has changed during that time," Dr. Eisen said. "The observed range expansion of the ticks highlights a need for continuing and enhancing vector surveillance efforts, particularly along the leading edges of range expansion." ### The full article, "County-Scale Distribution of Ixodes scapularis and Ixodes pacificus (Acari: Ixodidae) in the Continental United States," is available at https:/ / jme. oxfordjournals. org/ content/ early/ 2016/ 01/ 15/ jme. tjv237 . ||||| Ticks that transmit Lyme disease have significantly spread across the United States over the past 20 years, according to new research. The report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, published in the Journal of Medical Entomology, found that the parasites that carry the disease -- known as blacklegged ticks -- are now found in nearly half of all U.S. counties. This was the first study since 1998 to examine where these ticks live. Each year, approximately 30,000 cases of Lyme disease are reported to the CDC, though the number is estimated to be much higher, as only a fraction of cases are actually reported. In fact, according to an analysis published last summer, health officials report the number of actual cases is closer to 329,000. The disease is transmitted to humans through tick bites, and typical symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and a rash that often looks like a "bulls-eye" at the site of the tick bite. Most cases are easily treated with antibiotics, but in some patients, if left untreated, Lyme disease can lead to chronic joint inflammation and neurological problems weeks, months, or even years after infection. For the current study, Dr. Rebecca Eisen, a research biologist at the CDC, and her team looked at data from published reports of state and county tick surveillance data going back to 1996. They analyzed numbers from all 3,110 counties in the U.S. to determine where the ticks were "established" -- meaning there were sightings of at least six individual ticks or at least two of the three host-seeking life stages had been identified in a single year. The researchers also noted which counties had one or more reports of blacklegged ticks and which ones had none. The results showed that the blacklegged tick has been reported in more than 45 percent of U.S. counties, compared to 30 percent of counties in 1998. What's more, these ticks are now considered established in twice the number of counties as in 1998. The most dramatic geographic expansion was seen in the northeast and northern U.S. states, including large areas of New York, Vermont, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Minnesota. Entomological Society of America Dr. John Aucott, director of the Johns Hopkins Lyme Disease Clinical Research Center, said that the report correlates to what clinical researchers have observed in human cases. "The nice thing about this data is that it shows the vector -- the ticks that transmit Lyme disease --spreading in the same ways that we've been seeing the human cases spreading," he told CBS News. "So, the take home message is that Lyme disease is a geographically expanding infectious disease and so the areas of risk have expanded dramatically over the last two decades." Aucott explained that reforestation and an increased deer population have contributed to the tick expansion. "It's really a reconstitution of where the ticks were originally. In the early 1900's, North America was deforested for agriculture and deer were hunted almost to extinction, and so the ticks lost their normal habitat," he said. "Now as we allow the United States to reforest and have a booming deer population, the ticks are reclaiming their habitat." Climate change may also play a role, he said, as ticks thrive in warm, damp environments. Experts say we will continue to see the number of ticks expand -- along with a rise in cases of Lyme disease -- in areas not previously affected. Aucott said it's important for people to keep in mind that they can get bitten by a tick anywhere there's green space. "To get Lyme disease, you don't have to live out in the country," he said. "There are many green belts and streams that come down into cities and those habitats support deer and ticks really well. The ticks are really everywhere unless you live in an incredible urban center where it's all asphalt and concrete." As such, people should take precautions to avoid ticks. The CDC recommends the following: ||||| Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected blacklegged ticks. Typical symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and a characteristic skin rash called erythema migrans. If left untreated, infection can spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system. Lyme disease is diagnosed based on symptoms, physical findings (e.g., rash), and the possibility of exposure to infected ticks. Laboratory testing is helpful if used correctly and performed with validated methods. Most cases of Lyme disease can be treated successfully with a few weeks of antibiotics. Steps to prevent Lyme disease include using insect repellent, removing ticks promptly, applying pesticides, and reducing tick habitat. The ticks that transmit Lyme disease can occasionally transmit other tickborne diseases as well. ||||| Abstract The blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis Say, is the primary vector to humans in the eastern United States of the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi , as well as causative agents of anaplasmosis and babesiosis. Its close relative in the far western United States, the western blacklegged tick Ixodes pacificus Cooley and Kohls, is the primary vector to humans in that region of the Lyme disease and anaplasmosis agents. Since 1991, when standardized surveillance and reporting began, Lyme disease case counts have increased steadily in number and in geographical distribution in the eastern United States. Similar trends have been observed for anaplasmosis and babesiosis. To better understand the changing landscape of risk of human exposure to disease agents transmitted by I. scapularis and I. pacificus , and to document changes in their recorded distribution over the past two decades, we updated the distribution of these species from a map published in 1998. The presence of I. scapularis has now been documented from 1,420 (45.7%) of the 3,110 continental United States counties, as compared with 111 (3.6%) counties for I. pacificus . Combined, these vectors of B. burgdorferi and other disease agents now have been identified in a total of 1,531 (49.2%) counties spread across 43 states. This marks a 44.7% increase in the number of counties that have recorded the presence of these ticks since the previous map was presented in 1998, when 1,058 counties in 41 states reported the ticks to be present. Notably, the number of counties in which I. scapularis is considered established (six or more individuals or one or more life stages identified in a single year) has more than doubled since the previous national distribution map was published nearly two decades ago. The majority of county status changes occurred in the North-Central and Northeastern states, whereas the distribution in the South remained fairly stable. Two previously distinct foci for I. scapularis in the Northeast and North-Central states appear to be merging in the Ohio River Valley to form a single contiguous focus. Here we document a shifting landscape of risk for human exposure to medically important ticks and point to areas of re-emergence where enhanced vector surveillance and control may be warranted. The blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis Say, is the primary vector to humans in the eastern United States of the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi , as well as the relapsing fever spirochete, Borrelia miyamotoi ; causative agents of anaplasmosis ( Anaplasma phagocytophilum ) and babesiosis ( Babesia microti ); and Powassan encephalitis virus ( Piesman and Eisen 2008 , Ebel 2010 , Krause et al. 2015 ). Its close relative in the far western United States, the western blacklegged tick Ixodes pacificus Cooley and Kohls, is the primary vector to humans in that region of Lyme disease and anaplasmosis agents, as well as relapsing fever spirochetes ( B. miyamotoi ; Lane et al. 1994 , Teglas and Foley 2006 , Krause et al. 2015 ). Lyme disease is the most commonly reported vector-borne disease in the United States. It is a geographically focal illness, with the majority of cases reported from the Northeastern and North-Central states and discrete areas of risk in the Pacific Coast states ( Mead 2015 ). Since 1991, when standardized surveillance and reporting began, Lyme disease case counts have increased steadily from roughly 10,000 cases in 1991 to more than 30,000 cases in 2008 and subsequent years ( Bacon et al. 2008 , Mead 2015 ); the true burden of disease is estimated to be roughly 10-fold greater ( Hinckley et al. 2014 , Nelson et al. 2015 ). In addition to the increase in case counts over time, the geographical foci of high-incidence counties have expanded both in the North-Central and in the Northeastern United States ( Kugeler et al. 2015 ). Rising case counts and geographical expansion of Lyme disease endemic areas have been attributed to range expansion of I. scapularis in the eastern United States ( Bacon et al. 2008 , Rydzewski et al. 2012 , Lee et al. 2013 , Brinkerhoff et al. 2014 , Robinson et al. 2014 , Wang et al. 2014 , Khatchikian et al. 2015 , Kugeler et al. 2015 , Stone et al. 2015 ). However, because of a lack of systematic surveillance of I. scapularis and I. pacificus , national trends in the geographic distribution of these medically important ticks are difficult to document. To better understand the changing landscape of risk of human exposure to I. scapularis and I. pacificus in the United States, and to document changes in their distribution over the past two decades, we updated the reported distribution of these species from the map previously published by Dennis et al. (1998) . Materials and Methods County Status Definitions The definitions used to classify I. scapularis or I. pacificus as “established” or “reported” in a county follow Dennis et al. (1998) . Counties were classified as established if at least six individual ticks or at least two of the three host-seeking life stages had been identified in a single collection period. Here, a single collection period is defined as a single year. Counties were classified as reported if they failed to meet the criteria for established but if at least one tick of any life stage had been identified at any time in that county, or if county records did not specify the number of ticks or life stages collected. Lack of tick records from a county—“no records”—does not imply that ticks are absent from that county, only that records of ticks having been collected in the county are lacking. The county status (i.e., established, reported, or no records) given by Dennis et al. (1998) was used as the basis for our updated county status. If a county was classified as established by Dennis et al. (1998) , it remained established in the updated classification regardless of whether more recent tick records were available. A county classified as reported by Dennis et al. (1998) retained this status in the updated classification, unless more recent collection records changed the county’s classification from reported to established. Herein, the term county refers to counties and county equivalents corresponding with five-digit Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) coding. Data Sources Six independent literature searches were conducted using Scopus and PubMed databases with the following key words “ Ixodes scapularis ,” “ Ixodes pacificus ,” and “tick” to identify relevant articles and abstracts published from 1996 through 25 August 2015. We also conducted a search to ensure that papers using the junior synonym “ Ixodes dammini ” rather than Ixodes scapularis were included. All reports that explicitly presented county-specific tick data were included in our database. In addition, we visited individual state health department Web sites to identify county-level tick surveillance data, and contacted public health officials, acarologists, and Lyme disease investigators throughout the United States to assess county-level tick collection data. GIS Mapping Our final database containing state, county, county FIPS code, county status as per Dennis et al. (1998) , and the updated county status was joined based on FIPS codes to a continental United States county map using ArcMap 10.3 (ESRI, Redlands, CA). Results Counties With Recorded Presence of I. scapularis or I. pacificus Our updated county status records show that I. scapularis now has been collected from 37 states, from the eastern seaboard to the eastern edge of the Great Plains, and I. pacificus from six western states ( Tables 1–3 ; Fig. 1 ). No single state has records of both tick species, and five states in the Rocky Mountain region lack records for either I. scapularis or I. pacificus : Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, and Wyoming. The presence of I. scapularis has now been documented from 1,420 (45.7%) of the 3,110 continental United States counties, as compared with 111 (3.6%) counties for I. pacificus . Combined, these primary vectors of B. burgdorferi and other tick-borne disease agents now have been identified in a total of 1,531 (49.2%) counties spread across 43 states. This marks a 44.7% increase in the number of counties that have recorded the presence of these ticks since the survey conducted by Dennis et al. (1998) , when 1,058 counties in 41 states reported the ticks to be present. Nebraska and North Dakota are the two states where I. scapularis was recorded only after the Dennis et al. (1998) survey. Fig. 1. View largeDownload slide Distribution by county of recorded presence of I. scapularis and I. pacificus in the continental United States (a) 1907–1996 (from Dennis et al. 1998 ), (b) 1907–2015. Counties classified as established (red or green) for a given tick species had at least six ticks or two life stages recorded within a single calendar year. Counties with fewer ticks of a single life stage were classified as reported (blue or yellow) for the tick species. Counties shown in white indicate“no records.” Fig. 1. View largeDownload slide Distribution by county of recorded presence of I. scapularis and I. pacificus in the continental United States (a) 1907–1996 (from Dennis et al. 1998 ), (b) 1907–2015. Counties classified as established (red or green) for a given tick species had at least six ticks or two life stages recorded within a single calendar year. Counties with fewer ticks of a single life stage were classified as reported (blue or yellow) for the tick species. Counties shown in white indicate“no records.” Counties Where I. scapularis Is Classified as Established or Reported Ixodes scapularis now is classified as established in 842 counties (27.1% of counties in the continental United States) distributed across 35 states ( Tables 1–3 ; Fig. 1 ). This more than doubles the number of counties in which the tick is classified as established since the previous survey by Dennis et al. (1998) , when it was considered established in 396 counties (12.7% of counties in the continental United States) spanning 32 states ( Tables 1–2 ; Fig. 1–2 ). In total, 446 counties were updated from either no records ( n = 262) or reported ( n = 184) to established, and 208 counties were updated from no records to reported ( Table 2 ; Fig. 2 ). Counties with I. scapularis classified as established were added for three states: Kentucky, North Dakota, and Ohio. Fig. 2. View largeDownload slide Changes in county status for I. scapularis and I. pacificus from December 1996 ( Dennis et al. 1998 ) to August 2015 (our data). Black or gray color indicates that county status already was established (black) or reported (gray) for I. scapularis or I. pacificus by Dennis et al. (1998) and considered to be the same in this study. Red or orange color indicates that the status of a county changed from no records to established (red) or from reported to established (orange). Green color indicates that the status of a county changed from no records to reported. Fig. 2. View largeDownload slide Changes in county status for I. scapularis and I. pacificus from December 1996 ( Dennis et al. 1998 ) to August 2015 (our data). Black or gray color indicates that county status already was established (black) or reported (gray) for I. scapularis or I. pacificus by Dennis et al. (1998) and considered to be the same in this study. Red or orange color indicates that the status of a county changed from no records to established (red) or from reported to established (orange). Green color indicates that the status of a county changed from no records to reported. The data presented here suggest that I. scapularis over the past two decades has expanded from its northeastern focus northward into upstate New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and northern Maine; westward across Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio, and New York; and south- and southwestward into West Virginia, Virginia, and North Carolina ( Fig. 2 ). A similar geographic expansion for I. scapularis appears to have occurred from the long-established focus in the North-Central states, with notable spread of counties where the tick is now classified as established in all four cardinal directions ( Fig. 2 ). The two previously distinct foci in the Northeast and North-Central states appear to be merging in the Ohio River Valley to form a single contiguous focus. In striking contrast to the Northeast and North-Central states, in the far South and South-Central states, counties where I. scapularis is classified as established have remained relatively stable since the survey by Dennis et al. (1998) ( Figs. 1–2 ). Ixodes scapularis is now classified as reported in 578 counties (18.6% of counties in the continental United States) distributed across 30 states ( Table 1 ; Fig. 1 ). Counties classified as reported for I. scapularis generally clustered around counties classified as established for this tick. The overall ratio of counties in which I. scapularis is classified as established versus reported (established:reported) was 1.41:1 in this study, as compared with 0.71:1 in the previous Dennis et al. (1998) survey. Table 1. Species/State No. (%) counties with reported status No. (%) counties with established status By 1996 By 2015 By 1996 By 2015 I. scapularis 556 (17.8) 578 (18.6) 396 (12.7) 842 (27.1) Alabama 20 (29.9) 21 (31.3) 25 (37.3) 25 (37.3) Arkansas 37 (49.3) 25 (33.3) 9 (12.0) 27 (36.0) Connecticut 0 (0) 0 (0) 8 (100) 8 (100) Delaware 0 (0) 0 (0) 3 (100) 3 (100) Florida 22 (32.8) 15 (22.4) 35 (52.2) 52 (77.6) Georgia 31 (19.5) 35 (22.0) 23 (14.5) 35 (22.0) Illinois 47 (46.1) 29 (28.4) 4 (3.9) 35 (34.3) Indiana 25 (27.2) 37 (40.2) 8 (8.7) 29 (31.5) Iowa 17 (17.2) 25 (25.3) 7 (7.1) 14 (14.1) Kansas 14 (13.3) 14 (13.3) 1 (1.0) 1 (1.0) Kentucky 2 (1.7) 4 (3.3) 0 (0) 14 (11.7) Louisiana 12 (18.8) 23 (36.0) 12 (18.8) 12 (18.8) Maine 3 (18.8) 0 (0) 13 (81.3) 16 (100) Maryland 2 (8.3) 2 (8.7) 21 (87.5) 21 (91.3) Massachusetts 3 (21.4) 0 (0) 9 (64.3) 14 (100) Michigan 22 (26.5) 16 (19.3) 5 (6.0) 24 (28.9) Minnesota 12 (13.8) 3 (3.5) 9 (10.3) 45 (51.7) Mississippi 72 (87.8) 71 (86.6) 10 (12.2) 11 (13.4) Missouri 8 (7.0) 8 (7.0) 21 (18.3) 23 (20.0) Nebraska 0 (0) 3 (3.2) 0 (0) 0 (0) New Hampshire 5 (50.0) 1 (10.0) 5 (50.0) 9 (90.0) New Jersey 0 (0) 0 (0) 21 (100) 21 (100) New York 20 (32.3) 1 (1.6) 31 (50.0) 61 (98.4) North Carolina 23 (23.0) 16 (16.0) 7 (7) 43 (43.0) North Dakota 0 (0) 3 (5.7) 0 (0) 5 (9.4) Ohio 5 (5.7) 31 (35.6) 0 (0) 33 (37.5) Oklahoma 36 (46.8) 36 (46.8) 3 (4.0) 3 (4.0) Pennsylvania 26 (38.8) 0 (0) 23 (34.3) 67 (100) Rhode Island 0 (0) 0 (0) 5 (100) 5 (100) South Carolina 14 (30.4) 19 (41.3) 13 (28.3) 14 (30.4) South Dakota 2 (3.0) 2 (3.0) 2 (3.0) 0 (0) Tennessee 6 (6.3) 27 (28.4) 1 (1.1) 16 (16.8) Texas 39 (15.4) 45 (17.7) 24 (9.5) 26 (10.2) Vermont 6 (43.0) 2 (14.3) 1 (7.1) 11 (78.6) Virginia 4 (3.0) 29 (21.6) 8 (6.0) 43 (32.1) West Virginia 2 (3.6) 20 (36.4) 2 (3.6) 23 (41.8) Wisconsin 16 (22.2) 15 (20.8) 29 (40.3) 51 (70.8) I. pacificus 16 (0.5) 16 (0.5) 90 (2.9) 95 (3.1) Arizona 1 (6.7) 1 (6.7) 0 (0) 0 (0) California 1 (1.72) 1 (1.72) 55 (94.8) 55 (94.8) Nevada 2 (11.8) 2 (11.8) 0 (0) 0 (0) Oregon 4 (11.1) 4 (11.1) 18 (50.0) 18 (50.0) Utah 4 (13.8) 3 (10.3) 4 (13.8) 4 (13.8) Washington 5 (12.8) 6 (15.3) 12 (30.8) 16 (41.3) Species/State No. (%) counties with reported status No. (%) counties with established status By 1996 By 2015 By 1996 By 2015 I. scapularis 556 (17.8) 578 (18.6) 396 (12.7) 842 (27.1) Alabama 20 (29.9) 21 (31.3) 25 (37.3) 25 (37.3) Arkansas 37 (49.3) 25 (33.3) 9 (12.0) 27 (36.0) Connecticut 0 (0) 0 (0) 8 (100) 8 (100) Delaware 0 (0) 0 (0) 3 (100) 3 (100) Florida 22 (32.8) 15 (22.4) 35 (52.2) 52 (77.6) Georgia 31 (19.5) 35 (22.0) 23 (14.5) 35 (22.0) Illinois 47 (46.1) 29 (28.4) 4 (3.9) 35 (34.3) Indiana 25 (27.2) 37 (40.2) 8 (8.7) 29 (31.5) Iowa 17 (17.2) 25 (25.3) 7 (7.1) 14 (14.1) Kansas 14 (13.3) 14 (13.3) 1 (1.0) 1 (1.0) Kentucky 2 (1.7) 4 (3.3) 0 (0) 14 (11.7) Louisiana 12 (18.8) 23 (36.0) 12 (18.8) 12 (18.8) Maine 3 (18.8) 0 (0) 13 (81.3) 16 (100) Maryland 2 (8.3) 2 (8.7) 21 (87.5) 21 (91.3) Massachusetts 3 (21.4) 0 (0) 9 (64.3) 14 (100) Michigan 22 (26.5) 16 (19.3) 5 (6.0) 24 (28.9) Minnesota 12 (13.8) 3 (3.5) 9 (10.3) 45 (51.7) Mississippi 72 (87.8) 71 (86.6) 10 (12.2) 11 (13.4) Missouri 8 (7.0) 8 (7.0) 21 (18.3) 23 (20.0) Nebraska 0 (0) 3 (3.2) 0 (0) 0 (0) New Hampshire 5 (50.0) 1 (10.0) 5 (50.0) 9 (90.0) New Jersey 0 (0) 0 (0) 21 (100) 21 (100) New York 20 (32.3) 1 (1.6) 31 (50.0) 61 (98.4) North Carolina 23 (23.0) 16 (16.0) 7 (7) 43 (43.0) North Dakota 0 (0) 3 (5.7) 0 (0) 5 (9.4) Ohio 5 (5.7) 31 (35.6) 0 (0) 33 (37.5) Oklahoma 36 (46.8) 36 (46.8) 3 (4.0) 3 (4.0) Pennsylvania 26 (38.8) 0 (0) 23 (34.3) 67 (100) Rhode Island 0 (0) 0 (0) 5 (100) 5 (100) South Carolina 14 (30.4) 19 (41.3) 13 (28.3) 14 (30.4) South Dakota 2 (3.0) 2 (3.0) 2 (3.0) 0 (0) Tennessee 6 (6.3) 27 (28.4) 1 (1.1) 16 (16.8) Texas 39 (15.4) 45 (17.7) 24 (9.5) 26 (10.2) Vermont 6 (43.0) 2 (14.3) 1 (7.1) 11 (78.6) Virginia 4 (3.0) 29 (21.6) 8 (6.0) 43 (32.1) West Virginia 2 (3.6) 20 (36.4) 2 (3.6) 23 (41.8) Wisconsin 16 (22.2) 15 (20.8) 29 (40.3) 51 (70.8) I. pacificus 16 (0.5) 16 (0.5) 90 (2.9) 95 (3.1) Arizona 1 (6.7) 1 (6.7) 0 (0) 0 (0) California 1 (1.72) 1 (1.72) 55 (94.8) 55 (94.8) Nevada 2 (11.8) 2 (11.8) 0 (0) 0 (0) Oregon 4 (11.1) 4 (11.1) 18 (50.0) 18 (50.0) Utah 4 (13.8) 3 (10.3) 4 (13.8) 4 (13.8) Washington 5 (12.8) 6 (15.3) 12 (30.8) 16 (41.3) View Large Table 1. Species/State No. (%) counties with reported status No. (%) counties with established status By 1996 By 2015 By 1996 By 2015 I. scapularis 556 (17.8) 578 (18.6) 396 (12.7) 842 (27.1) Alabama 20 (29.9) 21 (31.3) 25 (37.3) 25 (37.3) Arkansas 37 (49.3) 25 (33.3) 9 (12.0) 27 (36.0) Connecticut 0 (0) 0 (0) 8 (100) 8 (100) Delaware 0 (0) 0 (0) 3 (100) 3 (100) Florida 22 (32.8) 15 (22.4) 35 (52.2) 52 (77.6) Georgia 31 (19.5) 35 (22.0) 23 (14.5) 35 (22.0) Illinois 47 (46.1) 29 (28.4) 4 (3.9) 35 (34.3) Indiana 25 (27.2) 37 (40.2) 8 (8.7) 29 (31.5) Iowa 17 (17.2) 25 (25.3) 7 (7.1) 14 (14.1) Kansas 14 (13.3) 14 (13.3) 1 (1.0) 1 (1.0) Kentucky 2 (1.7) 4 (3.3) 0 (0) 14 (11.7) Louisiana 12 (18.8) 23 (36.0) 12 (18.8) 12 (18.8) Maine 3 (18.8) 0 (0) 13 (81.3) 16 (100) Maryland 2 (8.3) 2 (8.7) 21 (87.5) 21 (91.3) Massachusetts 3 (21.4) 0 (0) 9 (64.3) 14 (100) Michigan 22 (26.5) 16 (19.3) 5 (6.0) 24 (28.9) Minnesota 12 (13.8) 3 (3.5) 9 (10.3) 45 (51.7) Mississippi 72 (87.8) 71 (86.6) 10 (12.2) 11 (13.4) Missouri 8 (7.0) 8 (7.0) 21 (18.3) 23 (20.0) Nebraska 0 (0) 3 (3.2) 0 (0) 0 (0) New Hampshire 5 (50.0) 1 (10.0) 5 (50.0) 9 (90.0) New Jersey 0 (0) 0 (0) 21 (100) 21 (100) New York 20 (32.3) 1 (1.6) 31 (50.0) 61 (98.4) North Carolina 23 (23.0) 16 (16.0) 7 (7) 43 (43.0) North Dakota 0 (0) 3 (5.7) 0 (0) 5 (9.4) Ohio 5 (5.7) 31 (35.6) 0 (0) 33 (37.5) Oklahoma 36 (46.8) 36 (46.8) 3 (4.0) 3 (4.0) Pennsylvania 26 (38.8) 0 (0) 23 (34.3) 67 (100) Rhode Island 0 (0) 0 (0) 5 (100) 5 (100) South Carolina 14 (30.4) 19 (41.3) 13 (28.3) 14 (30.4) South Dakota 2 (3.0) 2 (3.0) 2 (3.0) 0 (0) Tennessee 6 (6.3) 27 (28.4) 1 (1.1) 16 (16.8) Texas 39 (15.4) 45 (17.7) 24 (9.5) 26 (10.2) Vermont 6 (43.0) 2 (14.3) 1 (7.1) 11 (78.6) Virginia 4 (3.0) 29 (21.6) 8 (6.0) 43 (32.1) West Virginia 2 (3.6) 20 (36.4) 2 (3.6) 23 (41.8) Wisconsin 16 (22.2) 15 (20.8) 29 (40.3) 51 (70.8) I. pacificus 16 (0.5) 16 (0.5) 90 (2.9) 95 (3.1) Arizona 1 (6.7) 1 (6.7) 0 (0) 0 (0) California 1 (1.72) 1 (1.72) 55 (94.8) 55 (94.8) Nevada 2 (11.8) 2 (11.8) 0 (0) 0 (0) Oregon 4 (11.1) 4 (11.1) 18 (50.0) 18 (50.0) Utah 4 (13.8) 3 (10.3) 4 (13.8) 4 (13.8) Washington 5 (12.8) 6 (15.3) 12 (30.8) 16 (41.3) Species/State No. (%) counties with reported status No. (%) counties with established status By 1996 By 2015 By 1996 By 2015 I. scapularis 556 (17.8) 578 (18.6) 396 (12.7) 842 (27.1) Alabama 20 (29.9) 21 (31.3) 25 (37.3) 25 (37.3) Arkansas 37 (49.3) 25 (33.3) 9 (12.0) 27 (36.0) Connecticut 0 (0) 0 (0) 8 (100) 8 (100) Delaware 0 (0) 0 (0) 3 (100) 3 (100) Florida 22 (32.8) 15 (22.4) 35 (52.2) 52 (77.6) Georgia 31 (19.5) 35 (22.0) 23 (14.5) 35 (22.0) Illinois 47 (46.1) 29 (28.4) 4 (3.9) 35 (34.3) Indiana 25 (27.2) 37 (40.2) 8 (8.7) 29 (31.5) Iowa 17 (17.2) 25 (25.3) 7 (7.1) 14 (14.1) Kansas 14 (13.3) 14 (13.3) 1 (1.0) 1 (1.0) Kentucky 2 (1.7) 4 (3.3) 0 (0) 14 (11.7) Louisiana 12 (18.8) 23 (36.0) 12 (18.8) 12 (18.8) Maine 3 (18.8) 0 (0) 13 (81.3) 16 (100) Maryland 2 (8.3) 2 (8.7) 21 (87.5) 21 (91.3) Massachusetts 3 (21.4) 0 (0) 9 (64.3) 14 (100) Michigan 22 (26.5) 16 (19.3) 5 (6.0) 24 (28.9) Minnesota 12 (13.8) 3 (3.5) 9 (10.3) 45 (51.7) Mississippi 72 (87.8) 71 (86.6) 10 (12.2) 11 (13.4) Missouri 8 (7.0) 8 (7.0) 21 (18.3) 23 (20.0) Nebraska 0 (0) 3 (3.2) 0 (0) 0 (0) New Hampshire 5 (50.0) 1 (10.0) 5 (50.0) 9 (90.0) New Jersey 0 (0) 0 (0) 21 (100) 21 (100) New York 20 (32.3) 1 (1.6) 31 (50.0) 61 (98.4) North Carolina 23 (23.0) 16 (16.0) 7 (7) 43 (43.0) North Dakota 0 (0) 3 (5.7) 0 (0) 5 (9.4) Ohio 5 (5.7) 31 (35.6) 0 (0) 33 (37.5) Oklahoma 36 (46.8) 36 (46.8) 3 (4.0) 3 (4.0) Pennsylvania 26 (38.8) 0 (0) 23 (34.3) 67 (100) Rhode Island 0 (0) 0 (0) 5 (100) 5 (100) South Carolina 14 (30.4) 19 (41.3) 13 (28.3) 14 (30.4) South Dakota 2 (3.0) 2 (3.0) 2 (3.0) 0 (0) Tennessee 6 (6.3) 27 (28.4) 1 (1.1) 16 (16.8) Texas 39 (15.4) 45 (17.7) 24 (9.5) 26 (10.2) Vermont 6 (43.0) 2 (14.3) 1 (7.1) 11 (78.6) Virginia 4 (3.0) 29 (21.6) 8 (6.0) 43 (32.1) West Virginia 2 (3.6) 20 (36.4) 2 (3.6) 23 (41.8) Wisconsin 16 (22.2) 15 (20.8) 29 (40.3) 51 (70.8) I. pacificus 16 (0.5) 16 (0.5) 90 (2.9) 95 (3.1) Arizona 1 (6.7) 1 (6.7) 0 (0) 0 (0) California 1 (1.72) 1 (1.72) 55 (94.8) 55 (94.8) Nevada 2 (11.8) 2 (11.8) 0 (0) 0 (0) Oregon 4 (11.1) 4 (11.1) 18 (50.0) 18 (50.0) Utah 4 (13.8) 3 (10.3) 4 (13.8) 4 (13.8) Washington 5 (12.8) 6 (15.3) 12 (30.8) 16 (41.3) View Large Counties Where I. pacificus Is Classified as Established or Reported Ixodes pacificus is now classified as established in 95 counties, and as reported in 16 additional counties, spanning 6 states ( Tables 1 , 3 ; Fig. 1 ). The majority of these counties are in the Pacific Coast states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Our new data mark a very modest increase in the number of western counties in which I. pacificus is classified as established since the survey by Dennis et al. (1998) , when the tick was listed as established in 90 counties; the number of counties with reported status remained stable. In total, five counties were updated from either no records ( n = 1) or reported ( n = 4) to established and four counties were updated from no records to reported ( Table 3 ; Fig. 2 ). All county status changes occurred in Washington, Oregon, or Utah ( Tables 1 , 3 ; Figs. 1–2 ). The overall ratio of counties in which I. pacificus is classified as established versus reported was 5.94:1 in this study, compared with 5.6:1 ( Dennis et al. 1998 ). Table 3. State and county Status by Aug. 2015 a Status change from Dennis et al. (1998)b Source for change of status from Dennis et al. (1998) survey Arizona Mohave Established California Alameda Established Amador Established Butte Established Calaveras Established Colusa Established Contra Costa Established Del Norte Established El Dorado Established Fresno Established Glenn Established Humboldt Established Imperial Established Inyo Established Kern Established Kings Established Lake Established Lassen Established Los Angeles Established Madera Established Marin Established Mariposa Established Mendocino Established Merced Established Mono Reported Monterey Established Napa Established Nevada Established Orange Established Placer Established Plumas Established Riverside Established Sacramento Established San Benito Established San Bernardino Established San Diego Established San Francisco Established San Joaquin Established San Luis Obispo Established San Mateo Established Santa Barbara Established Santa Clara Established Santa Cruz Established Shasta Established Sierra Established Siskiyou Established Solano Established Sonoma Established Stanislaus Established Sutter Established Tehama Established Trinity Established Tulare Established Tuolumne Established Ventura Established Yolo Established Yuba Established Nevada Clark Reported Lincoln Reported Oregon Benton Established Clackamas Established Clatsop Established Columbia Reported Coos Established Curry Established Douglas Established Hood River Established Jackson Established Jefferson Reported Josephine Established Lane Established Lincoln Established Linn Established Marion Established Multnomah Established Polk Reported Sherman Established Tillamook Established Umatilla Reported Wasco Established Washington Established Utah Beaver Reported Juab Established Millard Reported Piute Reported Salt Lake Established Tooele Established R-E ( Davis et al. 2015 ) Utah Established Washington Established Washington Chelan Established Clallam Established N-E E. Dykstra, unpublished Clark Established Cowlitz Established R-E E. Dykstra, unpublished Island Reported Jefferson Established King Established R-E E. Dykstra, unpublished Kitsap Established R-E E. Dykstra, unpublished Kittitas Reported N-R E. Dykstra, unpublished Klickitat Established Lewis Established Mason Established Okanogan Reported N-R E. Dykstra, unpublished Pacific Reported N-R E. Dykstra, unpublished Pierce Established San Juan Established Skagit Established Skamania Established Snohomish Reported Thurston Established Whatcom Established Yakima Reported N-R E. Dykstra, unpublished State and county Status by Aug. 2015 a Status change from Dennis et al. (1998)b Source for change of status from Dennis et al. (1998) survey Arizona Mohave Established California Alameda Established Amador Established Butte Established Calaveras Established Colusa Established Contra Costa Established Del Norte Established El Dorado Established Fresno Established Glenn Established Humboldt Established Imperial Established Inyo Established Kern Established Kings Established Lake Established Lassen Established Los Angeles Established Madera Established Marin Established Mariposa Established Mendocino Established Merced Established Mono Reported Monterey Established Napa Established Nevada Established Orange Established Placer Established Plumas Established Riverside Established Sacramento Established San Benito Established San Bernardino Established San Diego Established San Francisco Established San Joaquin Established San Luis Obispo Established San Mateo Established Santa Barbara Established Santa Clara Established Santa Cruz Established Shasta Established Sierra Established Siskiyou Established Solano Established Sonoma Established Stanislaus Established Sutter Established Tehama Established Trinity Established Tulare Established Tuolumne Established Ventura Established Yolo Established Yuba Established Nevada Clark Reported Lincoln Reported Oregon Benton Established Clackamas Established Clatsop Established Columbia Reported Coos Established Curry Established Douglas Established Hood River Established Jackson Established Jefferson Reported Josephine Established Lane Established Lincoln Established Linn Established Marion Established Multnomah Established Polk Reported Sherman Established Tillamook Established Umatilla Reported Wasco Established Washington Established Utah Beaver Reported Juab Established Millard Reported Piute Reported Salt Lake Established Tooele Established R-E ( Davis et al. 2015 ) Utah Established Washington Established Washington Chelan Established Clallam Established N-E E. Dykstra, unpublished Clark Established Cowlitz Established R-E E. Dykstra, unpublished Island Reported Jefferson Established King Established R-E E. Dykstra, unpublished Kitsap Established R-E E. Dykstra, unpublished Kittitas Reported N-R E. Dykstra, unpublished Klickitat Established Lewis Established Mason Established Okanogan Reported N-R E. Dykstra, unpublished Pacific Reported N-R E. Dykstra, unpublished Pierce Established San Juan Established Skagit Established Skamania Established Snohomish Reported Thurston Established Whatcom Established Yakima Reported N-R E. Dykstra, unpublished View Large Table 3. State and county Status by Aug. 2015 a Status change from Dennis et al. (1998)b Source for change of status from Dennis et al. (1998) survey Arizona Mohave Established California Alameda Established Amador Established Butte Established Calaveras Established Colusa Established Contra Costa Established Del Norte Established El Dorado Established Fresno Established Glenn Established Humboldt Established Imperial Established Inyo Established Kern Established Kings Established Lake Established Lassen Established Los Angeles Established Madera Established Marin Established Mariposa Established Mendocino Established Merced Established Mono Reported Monterey Established Napa Established Nevada Established Orange Established Placer Established Plumas Established Riverside Established Sacramento Established San Benito Established San Bernardino Established San Diego Established San Francisco Established San Joaquin Established San Luis Obispo Established San Mateo Established Santa Barbara Established Santa Clara Established Santa Cruz Established Shasta Established Sierra Established Siskiyou Established Solano Established Sonoma Established Stanislaus Established Sutter Established Tehama Established Trinity Established Tulare Established Tuolumne Established Ventura Established Yolo Established Yuba Established Nevada Clark Reported Lincoln Reported Oregon Benton Established Clackamas Established Clatsop Established Columbia Reported Coos Established Curry Established Douglas Established Hood River Established Jackson Established Jefferson Reported Josephine Established Lane Established Lincoln Established Linn Established Marion Established Multnomah Established Polk Reported Sherman Established Tillamook Established Umatilla Reported Wasco Established Washington Established Utah Beaver Reported Juab Established Millard Reported Piute Reported Salt Lake Established Tooele Established R-E ( Davis et al. 2015 ) Utah Established Washington Established Washington Chelan Established Clallam Established N-E E. Dykstra, unpublished Clark Established Cowlitz Established R-E E. Dykstra, unpublished Island Reported Jefferson Established King Established R-E E. Dykstra, unpublished Kitsap Established R-E E. Dykstra, unpublished Kittitas Reported N-R E. Dykstra, unpublished Klickitat Established Lewis Established Mason Established Okanogan Reported N-R E. Dykstra, unpublished Pacific Reported N-R E. Dykstra, unpublished Pierce Established San Juan Established Skagit Established Skamania Established Snohomish Reported Thurston Established Whatcom Established Yakima Reported N-R E. Dykstra, unpublished State and county Status by Aug. 2015 a Status change from Dennis et al. (1998)b Source for change of status from Dennis et al. (1998) survey Arizona Mohave Established California Alameda Established Amador Established Butte Established Calaveras Established Colusa Established Contra Costa Established Del Norte Established El Dorado Established Fresno Established Glenn Established Humboldt Established Imperial Established Inyo Established Kern Established Kings Established Lake Established Lassen Established Los Angeles Established Madera Established Marin Established Mariposa Established Mendocino Established Merced Established Mono Reported Monterey Established Napa Established Nevada Established Orange Established Placer Established Plumas Established Riverside Established Sacramento Established San Benito Established San Bernardino Established San Diego Established San Francisco Established San Joaquin Established San Luis Obispo Established San Mateo Established Santa Barbara Established Santa Clara Established Santa Cruz Established Shasta Established Sierra Established Siskiyou Established Solano Established Sonoma Established Stanislaus Established Sutter Established Tehama Established Trinity Established Tulare Established Tuolumne Established Ventura Established Yolo Established Yuba Established Nevada Clark Reported Lincoln Reported Oregon Benton Established Clackamas Established Clatsop Established Columbia Reported Coos Established Curry Established Douglas Established Hood River Established Jackson Established Jefferson Reported Josephine Established Lane Established Lincoln Established Linn Established Marion Established Multnomah Established Polk Reported Sherman Established Tillamook Established Umatilla Reported Wasco Established Washington Established Utah Beaver Reported Juab Established Millard Reported Piute Reported Salt Lake Established Tooele Established R-E ( Davis et al. 2015 ) Utah Established Washington Established Washington Chelan Established Clallam Established N-E E. Dykstra, unpublished Clark Established Cowlitz Established R-E E. Dykstra, unpublished Island Reported Jefferson Established King Established R-E E. Dykstra, unpublished Kitsap Established R-E E. Dykstra, unpublished Kittitas Reported N-R E. Dykstra, unpublished Klickitat Established Lewis Established Mason Established Okanogan Reported N-R E. Dykstra, unpublished Pacific Reported N-R E. Dykstra, unpublished Pierce Established San Juan Established Skagit Established Skamania Established Snohomish Reported Thurston Established Whatcom Established Yakima Reported N-R E. Dykstra, unpublished View Large Discussion Data on the current geographic distributions of medically important tick vectors, such as I. scapularis and I. pacificus , provide information complementary to epidemiological data on geographic disease case occurrence to inform the medical community and the public of where risk for exposure to tick-borne disease agents may occur. The lack of routine systematic surveillance across the continental United States of ticks of public health importance hampers our ability to define their current geographic distributions and to monitor changes in their ranges and densities over time. Although we are able to report in this paper where I. scapularis and I. pacificus are now known to be present at the county level, our certainty in where the tick is absent is low, especially at the edges of their ranges and in regions where they can be assumed to occur only at low densities. Range contractions, if they occurred, were not quantified in this study because counties that were previously considered established maintained that status here. Nonetheless, using survey methods similar to those of Dennis et al. (1998) , specifically, literature review and inclusion of unpublished data from individual researchers and state public health departments, we showed a substantial increase over the past nearly two decades in counties classified as having I. scapularis present. Moreover, the number of counties in which I. scapularis is considered established has more than doubled since the previous national distribution map was published ( Dennis et al. 1998 ). The majority of county status changes occurred in the North, while the distribution in the South remained fairly stable. The North-Central focus for I. scapularis in Minnesota and Wisconsin appears to have expanded in all cardinal directions, and the Northeastern focus has spread inland from the Atlantic seaboard and expanded in both northerly and southerly directions. As a result, the two previously distinct foci in the North-Central and Northeastern United States have now converged in the Ohio River Valley to form a single larger focus. In striking contrast to I. scapularis , increases in counties reporting the presence of I. pacificus in the Far West were very modest. Population genetic analyses provide support for the theory that I. scapularis was once established across the Northeastern and North-Central United States for thousands of years and likely colonized the region following the recession of the Pleistocene ice sheet ( Humphrey et al. 2010 ). Thus, current trends may represent recolonization of the tick’s historical range. Rapid deforestation and suppression of white-tailed deer during the late 1800s and early 1990s may have restricted I. scapularis to focal refugia ( Spielman et al. 1985 , Lee et al. 2013 ). Reforestation and increasing abundance of white-tailed deer, the primary hosts of adult I. scapularis ( Spielman et al. 1985 ), are considered to have contributed to the dramatic expansion of the tick’s range over the past half century ( Spielman 1994 ). Our updated species distribution map shows a continued range expansion for I. scapularis , particularly in northern states. Given the lack of systematic surveillance for I. scapularis , one might ask if the range expansion suggested by our data is real or merely an artifact of enhanced tick surveillance and research activities in some areas. A true range expansion of I. scapularis in northern states, as described in this report, is supported by the largely concordant changes in the distribution of human Lyme disease cases captured through mandatory reporting of the disease since 1991 ( Rand et al. 2007 , Raizman et al. 2012 , Lee et al. 2013 , Serra et al. 2013 , Brinkerhoff et al. 2014 , Robinson et al. 2014 , Wang et al. 2014 , Kugeler et al. 2015 , Mead 2015 ). Moreover, as detailed later in the text, true range expansions of I. scapularis have been documented in some areas where tick surveillance was conducted routinely during the period of emergence, or where extensive surveys were conducted at discrete time-points spanning periods from when the tick was absent through invasion and establishment. The North-Central States Within the North-Central United States, I. scapularis was first described in a focal area of northwestern Wisconsin in the late 1960s ( Jackson and DeFoliart 1970 ). State-wide surveys of adult I. scapularis collected from hunter-killed deer in Wisconsin from 1981–1989 ( French et al. 1992 ) revealed that the tick had become established in western, southern, and focal parts of the north, but no evidence of the tick was found in other areas in the north or southeastern reaches of Wisconsin. Subsequent surveys of hunter-killed deer documented continued expansion into the north during the early 1990s ( Riehle and Paskewitz 1996 ) and eventual invasion of eastern Wisconsin by 2008–2009 ( Lee et al. 2013 ). Ixodes scapularis now appears to be present throughout most of the habitat that is predicted to be suitable for the tick in the state of Wisconsin ( Guerra et al. 2002 , Diuk-Wasser et al. 2010 ). In neighboring Minnesota to the west, I. scapularis was classified as reported or established primarily in counties bordering Wisconsin in the east-central portion of Minnesota in the mid-1990s ( Dennis et al. 1998 ). Opportunistic sampling during 1998–1999 revealed the presence of I. scapularis in additional northern and central Minnesota counties ( Sanders and Guilfoile 2000 ), and new county records from the south-central portion of the state are presented in this report. Paralleling this expansion of the tick’s known range in Minnesota, Robinson et al. (2014) noted increases in both the numbers and geographical distributions of I. scapularis -borne diseases in Minnesota from 1996 through 2011. The north-westerly expansion appears to have continued into eastern North Dakota ( Russart et al. 2014 , Stone et al. 2015 ), beyond or near the limit of habitat previously predicted to be suitable for I. scapularis ( Estrada-Pena 2002 , Brownstein et al. 2003 , Diuk-Wasser et al. 2010 ). Wisconsin likely served as a primary source for a southerly invasion of I. scapularis into Illinois, specifically along the Rock River corridor ( Cortinas and Kitron 2006 ). Surveys of hunter-killed deer from Illinois conducted from 1988–1996 showed that infested deer were restricted largely to northern counties ( Cortinas et al. 2002 ). However, similar surveys conducted from 1998 to 2003 showed expansion of the tick’s range to more southern counties and noted that I. scapularis densities decreased along a northern to southern gradient, suggesting that Illinois was first colonized in the northwestern and north-central counties, where I. scapularis indeed was first discovered in the state in the late 1980s ( Bouseman et al. 1990 , Cortinas and Kitron 2006 ). Populations of I. scapularis in the extreme northeast along the Illinois River speculatively may have originated from established populations in northwestern Indiana ( Cortinas and Kitron 2006 ). In Indiana, where I. scapularis was first collected from deer in northwestern counties in 1987 ( Pinger and Glancy 1989 ), densities of I. scapularis are greatest along the western border and decrease eastward; expansion to eastern counties was observed between 2005 and 2007 ( Pinger et al. 1996 , Keefe 2008 , Raizman et al. 2012 ). Hamer et al. (2010) proposed that established I. scapularis populations in Indiana seeded colonization of lower Michigan, where the tick was first discovered in southwestern lower Michigan in 2002 ( Foster 2004 ). Invasion of I. scapularis northward along the coast of Lake Michigan was documented from 2004–2008; in 2004, ticks were collected only from the southernmost of the sampled sites, whereas they were found in all sites by 2008. Tick densities decreased from south to north, supporting a view that densities would be higher in areas where the tick has been longer established. Notably, although inland transects were also surveyed, no evidence of I. scapularis invasion was observed in these transects ( Hamer et al. 2010 ). Subsequently, I. scapularis has been reported also from inland counties in southern Michigan ( Table 2 ). Colonization of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan most likely occurred via northern Wisconsin and preceded colonization of the Lower Peninsula by more than a decade, as I. scapularis was discovered already in the 1980s in Menominee County in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan ( Strand et al. 1992 , Walker et al. 1994 ). The Northeast Similar to I. scapularis expansion in the North-Central focus, the tick’s range in the northeastern focus appears to have expanded in all directions, except for eastward, where the Atlantic Ocean prevents further spread. Since the survey by Dennis et al. (1998) , I. scapularis appears to have expanded northward in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. In Maine, analysis of public submission of ticks from 1989 to 2006 showed a northerly expansion along the Atlantic coastline, followed by invasion inland along river corridors ( Rand et al. 2007 ). Ixodes scapularis is now considered established in all Maine counties. In Vermont, drag sampling was conducted from June 2011 to June 2012 along a north-south transect following the Connecticut River: densities of I. scapularis generally decreased from south to north, with no ticks collected from the northernmost sites ( Serra et al. 2013 ). Expansion of the tick’s range in these New England states likely contributed, together with increasing tick densities in already established areas, to a 5–10-fold increase in incidence of reported Lyme disease cases in those states during the past decade ( Mead 2015 ). Since the survey by Dennis et al. (1998) , the number of New York counties where I. scapularis is considered established has nearly doubled from 50.0 to 98.4%. At the time of the previous report, the tick was established primarily in the southeastern and eastern portions of the state and appears to have expanded in northerly and westerly directions. In parallel with this observation, from 1990 to 2000, Lyme disease surveillance data revealed a northward and westward expansion in the disease focus from a central cluster in the southeastern portion of the state (i.e., Westchester County). Moreover, during the same timeframe, the primary epidemiological focus shifted northward along the Hudson River ( Chen et al. 2005 ). Population genetic analysis of I. scapularis collected from a transect along the Hudson River from 2004 to 2009 indicated recent rapid expansion of the tick’s range, primarily in a northerly direction along the Hudson River ( Khatchikian et al. 2015 ); expansion appears to be the result of local migration of the ticks, via movements of mammal hosts, but some long-distance migration, perhaps via infestation of birds, was detected. Importantly, the DNA sequence analyses provide evidence for recent range expansion, as opposed to recent detection of in situ populations. Neighboring New York to the south, Pennsylvania also experienced a recent westward expansion of I. scapularis. In 2003, Lyme disease cases were reported primarily from eastern counties in Pennsylvania. By 2013, human Lyme disease case counts increased markedly in western counties, with cases reported throughout the state ( Mead 2015 ). This mirrors data for range expansion of I. scapularis in Pennsylvania. No I. scapularis were collected during a statewide survey from 1963 to 1967 ( Snetsinger 1968 ), whereas the tick was recorded from 49 of 67 counties by the late 1990s ( Dennis et al. 1998 ). A statewide survey conducted during 2012–2014 ( Hutchinson et al. 2015 ) revealed that the tick now is established in all 67 counties. It is likely that the east-to-west tick expansion across Pennsylvania continued into neighboring Ohio to the west, where active tick surveillance was conducted from 1983 to 2012. Surveillance data showed a dramatic increase in I. scapularis abundance beginning in 2009. Arguing against increasing tick surveillance as a primary source for the observed range expansion in Ohio, the spread of the tick was observed when Ohio’s tick surveillance programs were being considered for termination and their budgets were dwindling ( Wang et al. 2014 ). Currently, the I. scapularis range in Ohio is largely consistent with the range of deciduous forest in the state. As a result of the westward expansion of the previous northeastern focus and the eastward expansion of the previous North-Central focus, the distribution of I. scapularis now appears to be continuous across northern states with convergence of the two previously distinct foci in the Ohio River Valley. The West Virginia, Virginia, and North Carolina Area Ixodes scapularis has also expanded its range in West Virginia, where only 4 counties reported the tick previously ( Dennis et al. 1998 ) and now 43 counties are classified as either reported ( n = 20) or established ( n = 23). Review of Lyme disease and I. scapularis surveillance reports (see references in Table 2 ) suggests that the tick is expanding westward across the state, with highly Lyme disease endemic counties still focused in the eastern panhandle. Similarly, in Virginia, I. scapularis was considered established primarily in eastern coastal counties previously ( Dennis et al. 1998 ), but the current survey shows the tick to now be established throughout most of Virginia, with the highest densities of openly host-seeking ticks occurring in higher elevation sites ( Brinkerhoff et al. 2014 , Kelly et al. 2014 ). The spread of openly host-seeking I. scapularis appears to have proceeded in a southwesterly direction in Virginia, concordant with the expanding geographic distribution of Lyme disease cases and increasing incidence in Virginia ( Brinkerhoff et al. 2014 , Lantos et al. 2015 ). Comparison of the previous and current distributions of I. scapularis in North Carolina also suggests an inland incursion of the tick ( Fig. 1 ). One important caveat to these findings for West Virginia, Virginia, and North Carolina is that the observed spread of I. scapularis may have resulted from southerly spread of I. scapularis from states to the north where this tick is more prone, as compared with southern populations, to seek hosts openly from vegetation ( Arsnoe et al. 2015 ) and therefore is more readily contacted by tick dragging or flagging ( Diuk-Wasser et al. 2006 ), or by humans and their pets ( Stromdahl and Hickling 2012 ). Stated differently, this may be an invasion of more easily surveyed northern populations of I. scapularis rather than invasion at the species level in areas where more cryptic southern populations already may have been present but had not been recognized. Regardless, the end result is range expansion of I. scapularis populations that commonly contact and bite humans in West Virginia, Virginia, and North Carolina. The Allegheny Mountains to Mississippi Valley Area The authors ( Dennis et al. 1998 ) of the previous survey were intrigued with the lack of I. scapularis records, despite collection efforts, from the Allegheny Mountains to the Mississippi Valley (an area spanning western Pennsylvania southeastward across Kentucky and Tennessee), because of the tick’s large geographical coverage in the eastern United States spanning variable climates and forested habitat types. Habitat suitability modeling suggested that the area ranged from low ( Brownstein et al. 2003 , Diuk-Wasser et al. 2010 ) to moderately suitable ( Estrada-Pena 2002 ). Our revised distribution map shows the tick to now be established in this region, attesting to its climate and habitat suitability for I. scapularis . Several studies have documented a trend in which the tick expands along riparian corridors ( Cortinas et al. 2002 , Cortinas and Kitron 2006 , Rand et al. 2007 , Hamer et al. 2010 , Serra et al. 2013 , Kelly et al. 2014 , Khatchikian et al. 2015 ). This provides a hypothesis for how the area from the Allegheny Mountains to the Mississippi Valley could have been or is currently being invaded from areas to the north and east with already established tick populations, first along distinct dispersal corridors followed by more diffuse short-range tick dispersal to suitable habitats across the landscape. The Southeast In contrast to the observed concordance between the reported distributions of I. scapularis and human Lyme disease in the North-Central, Northeastern, and Mid-Atlantic States, a wide distribution of this tick vector in the Southeast is not similarly associated with widespread Lyme disease case occurrence ( Mead 2015 ). Lack of concordance in the Southeast could arise for several reasons. First, our map displays a coarse, county-scale representation of where the tick is classified as reported or established. The advantage of the county-scale representation is that it matches the spatial scale at which epidemiological surveillance data are presented. However, in some instances, the vector tick may be established only in limited areas of a particular county, putting very few humans at risk for exposure to tick bites ( Eisen and Eisen 2007 , Eisen and Eisen 2008 ). Second, while the presence of at least one tick vector species is a prerequisite for sustaining enzootic transmission of B. burgdorferi , density of B. burgdorferi -infected host-seeking nymphs of a species that commonly bite humans is a better surrogate for human risk of exposure to Lyme disease spirochetes compared with tick presence data alone. At coarse spatial scales such as states or regions of the United States, density of infected I. scapularis nymphs is significantly and positively associated with Lyme disease incidence ( Mather et al. 1996 , Stafford et al. 1998 , Pepin et al. 2012 ). A recent systematic field survey of I. scapularis revealed that both the density of host-seeking I. scapularis nymphs and their rate of infection with B. burgdorferi generally were greater in the northern compared with southern states ( Diuk-Wasser et al. 2012 ). This is in agreement with field studies indicating that I. scapularis larvae feed primarily on white-footed mice, Peromyscus leucopus Rafinesque, and other small, highly reservoir-competent mammals in the northeast ( Spielman et al. 1985 , Giardina et al. 2000 ), whereas they feed frequently on lizards of, at best, low reservoir-competence for B. burgdorferi in the southeast ( Apperson et al. 1993 ). Moreover, the tick’s host-seeking behavior differs between northern and southern states, such that collection of I. scapularis nymphs by drag sampling ( Diuk-Wasser et al. 2006 ) or from humans ( Stromdahl and Hickling 2012 ) is rare in the south but commonplace in the north. Variable contact rates between humans and nymphal ticks resulting from regional differences in host-seeking behavior could, in large part, explain regional differences in Lyme disease incidence between the northern and southern parts of the eastern United States ( Diuk-Wasser et al. 2012 , Stromdahl and Hickling 2012 , Kelly et al. 2014 , Arsnoe et al. 2015 ). A recent experimental field study showed differences in host-seeking behavior between I. scapularis of northern versus southern origin, such that ticks of northern origin were more likely to ascend vegetation while questing for a host, regardless of whether field release arenas were located in the north or south, suggesting that host-seeking behavior is strongly determined by genetics and to a lesser extent by environmental conditions ( Arsnoe et al. 2015 ). Indeed, population genetic studies show two distinct clades, with the southern clade restricted to the south and the so-called American clade predominant in the north ( Norris et al. 1996 , Qiu et al. 2002 , Humphrey et al. 2010 , Van Zee et al. 2013 , Sakamoto et al. 2014 ). The Far-Western States The recorded county-level distribution of I. pacificus has changed very little since the previous survey ( Dennis et al. 1998 ). The tick is established primarily in coastal states along the Pacific Ocean (Washington, Oregon, and California), but also can occur locally in especially cool or moist settings in more arid inland states (Arizona, Nevada, and Utah). In contrast to I. scapularis , few studies have sought to define the environmental variables that define the distribution of I. pacificus ( Eisen et al. 2006b ). Owing in part to sizeable western counties commonly encompassing vast ecological diversity, often with only a portion of a given county presenting risk for human exposure to I. pacificus , there is a lack of concordance between the vector’s range as defined at the county level and the incidence of Lyme disease. For example, in California, although the tick is established in all but three counties, Lyme disease incidence is highest in north-coastal counties ( Eisen et al. 2006b ). Although B. burgdorferi -infected host-seeking nymphs may be established in limited regions of counties, few humans may be exposed ( Eisen et al. 2006b ). In addition, densities of host-seeking I. pacificus appear to be much lower in southern ( Lane et al. 2013 ) compared with northern California ( Eisen et al. 2006a ). Likewise, infection rates with B. burgdorferi also appear to be lower in host-seeking nymphs from southern compared with northern California ( Eisen et al. 2010 , Lane et al. 2013 ). Future Research Needs The data presented and discussed here provide strong support for systematic sampling to assess the density of host-seeking I. scapularis , and the density of nymphs infected with B. burgdorferi and other I. scapularis -borne human pathogens, in strategic areas where the tick can be expected to invade or increase dramatically in numbers in the near future. We also recognize needs for: 1) improved regional habitat suitability models to better define the likely extent for continued expansion of I. scapularis ; 2) population genetic studies aimed at identifying changes in the geographic range of the American clade of I. scapularis , especially in areas previously dominated by the southern clade such as Virginia, and North Carolina where American clade invasion likely results in increased human tick bites; and 3) longitudinal studies aimed at identifying how the convergence of the North-Central and Northeastern tick foci may result in changes in B. burgdorferi genotypes ( Pepin et al. 2012 ), particularly those most likely to cause disease in humans, in the convergence area itself as well as across the North-Central and Northeast states. Acknowledgments We thank the following individuals for contributing their unpublished data on collection records for I. scapularis or I. pacificus : I. Arsnoe (Michigan State University), J. Corn (Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study), E. Dotseth (West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources), L. Durden (Georgia Southern University), E. Dykstra (Washington State Department of Health), M. Feist (North Dakota Department of Health), S. Fore (Truman State University), E. Foster (Michigan Department of Health and Human Services), H. Gaff (Old Dominion University), D. Gaines (Virginia Department of Health), R. Gary (Ohio Department of Health), S. Hamer (Texas A&M), B. Harrison (Western Carolina University), G. Hickling (University of Tennessee), T.L. Johnson (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), H.-J. Kim (Truman State University), C. Lord (University of Florida), J. Mertins (National Veterinary Services Laboratory), M. Miller (United States Army Public Health Command), D. Neitzel (Minnesota Department of Health), B. Pagac (United States Army Public Health Command), S. Paskewitz (University of Wisconsin), R. Pinger (Ball State University), M. 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Seasonal and geographical distribution of adult Ixodes scapularis Say (Acari: Ixodidae) in Louisiana . J. Vector Ecol. 30 : 168 – 170 . Mather T. N. Nicholson M. C. Donnelly E. F. Matyas B. T. 1996 . Entomologic index for human risk of Lyme disease . Am. J. Epidemiol. 144 : 1066 – 1069 . Mays S. E. Hendricks B. M. Paulsen D. J. Houston A. E. Trout-Fryxell R. T. 2014 . Prevalence of five tick-borne bacterial genera in adult Ixodes scapularis removed from white-tailed deer in western Tennessee . Parasites Vectors 7 : 473 . McAllister C. T. Durden L. A. Connior M. B. Robison H. W. 2013 . Parasitism of reptiles by the blacklegged tick ( Ixodes scapularis ) and western blacklegged tick ( Ixodes pacificus ) with new records of I. scapularis from Arkansas and Oklahoma lizards: implications for Lyme disease epidemiology . Herpetol. Rev. 44 : 572 – 579 . Mead P. S. 2015 . Epidemiology of Lyme disease . Infect. Dis. Clin. N. Am. 29 : 187 – 210 . Michalski M. Rosenfield C. Erickson M. Selle R. 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Hyg. 86 : 1062 – 1071 . Piesman J. Eisen L. 2008 . Prevention of tick-borne diseases . Ann. Rev. Entomol. 53 : 323 – 343 . Pinger R. R. Glancy T. 1989 . Ixodes dammini (Acari: Ixodidae) in Indiana . J. Med. Entomol. 26 : 130 – 131 . Pinger R. R. Timmons L. Karris K. 1996 . Spread of Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) in Indiana: Collections of adults in 1991–1994 and description of a Borrelia burgdorferi -infected population . J. Med. Entomol. 33 : 852 – 855 . Qiu W.-G. Dykhuizen D. E. Acosta M. S. Luft B. J. 2002 . Geotraphic uniformity of the Lyme disease spirochete ( Borrelia burgdorferi ) and its shared history with tick vector ( Ixodes scapularis ) in the northeastern United States . Genetics 160 : 833 – 849 . Raizman E. A. Holland J. D. Shukle J. T. 2012 . White-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus ) as a potential sentinel for human Lyme disease in Indiana . Zoonoses Public Health 60 : 227 – 233 . Rand P. W. Lacombe E. H. Dearborn R. Cahill B. Elias S. Lubelczyk C. B. Beckett G. A. Smith R. P. 2007 . Passive surveillance in Maine, an area emergent for tick-borne diseases . J. Med. Entomol. 44 : 1118 – 1129 . Riehle M. Paskewitz S. M. 1996 . Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae): status and changes in prevalence and distribution in Wisconsin between 1981 and 1994 measured by deer surveillance . J. Med. Entomol. 33 : 933 – 938 . Robinson S. J. Neitzel D. F. Moen R. A. Craft M. E. Hamilton K. E. Johnson L. B. Mulla D. J. Munderloh U. G. Redig P. T. Smith K. E. et al. 2014 . Disease risk in a dynamic environment: the spread of tick-borne pathogens in Minnesota, USA . EcoHealth 12 : 152 – 163 . Rodriguez J. E. Hamer S. A. Castellanos A. A. Light J. E. 2015 . Survey of a rodent and tick community in East-Central Texas . Southeast. Nat. 14 : 415 – 424 . Rosen M. E. Hamer S. A. Gerhardt R. R. Jones C. J. Muller L. I. Scott M. C. Hickling G. J. 2012 . Borrelia burgdorferi not detected in widespread Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) collected from white-tailed deer in Tennessee . J. Med. Entomol. 49 : 1473 – 1480 . Russart N. M. Dougherty M. W. Vaughn J. A. 2014 . Survey of ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) and tick-borne pathogens in North Dakota . J. Med. Entomol. 51 : 1087 – 1090 . Rydzewski J. Mateus-Pinilla N. Warner R. E. Hamer S. Weng H.-Y. 2011 . Ixodes scapularis and Borrelia burgdorferi among diverse habitats within a natural area in East-Central Illinois . Vector Borne and Zoonotic Dis. 11 : 1351 – 1358 . Rydzewski J. Mateus-Pinilla N. Warner R. E. Nelson J. A. Velat T. C. 2012 . Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) distribution surveys in the Chicago Metropolitan region . J. Med. Entomol. 49 : 955 – 959 . Sakamoto J. M. Goddard J. Rasgon J. L. 2014 . Population and demographic strcuture of Ixodes scapularis Say in the Eastern United States . PLoS ONE 9 : e101389 . Sanders K. D. Guilfoile P. G. 2000 . New records of the blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis , (Acari: Ixodidae) in Minnesota . J. Vector Ecol. 25 : 155 – 157 . Sanders D. M. Schuster A. L. McCardle P. W. Strey O. F. Blankenship T. L. Teel P. D. 2013 . Ixodid ticks associated with feral swine in Texas . J. Vector Ecol. 38 : 361 – 373 . Schaar S. J. 2012 . . . . Serra A. C. Warden P. S. Fricker C. R. Giese A. R. 2013 . Distribution of ticks and prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi in the upper Connecticut River Valley of Vermont . Northeast. Nat. 20 : 197 – 204 . Smith M. P. Ponnusamy L. Jiang J. Ayyash L. A. Richards A. L. Apperson C. S. 2010 . Bacterial pathogens in Ixodid ticks from a Piedmont County in North Carolina: prevalence of rickettsial organisms . Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis. 10 : 939 – 952 . Snetsinger R. 1968 . . . . Spielman A. 1994 . The emergence of Lyme disease and human babesiosis in a changing environment . Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 740 : 146 – 156 . Spielman A. Wilson M. L. Levine J. F. Piesman J. 1985 . Ecology of Ixodes dammini- borne human babesiosis and Lyme disease . Ann. Rev. Entomol. 30 : 439 – 460 . Stafford K. C. Cartter M. L. Magnarelli L. A. Ertel S. H. Mshar P. A. 1998 . Temporal correlations between tick abundance and prevalence of ticks infected with Borrelia burgdorferi and increasing incidence of Lyme disease . J. Clin. Microbiol. 36 : 1240 – 1244 . Stone B. L. Russart N. M. Gaultney R. A. Floden A. M. Vaughn J. A. Brissette C. A. 2015 . The western progression of Lyme disease: Infectious and nonclonal Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato populations in Grand Forks County, North Dakota . Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 81 : 48 – 58 . Strand M. R. Walker E. D. Merritt R. W. 1992 . Field studies on Ixodes dammini in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan . Vector Control Bull. North Central States 1 : 111 – 118 . Stromdahl E. Y. Hickling G. J. 2012 . Beyond Lyme: Aetiology of tick-borne human diseases with emphasis on the south-eastern United States . Zoonoses Public Health 59 : 48 – 64 . Teglas M. B. Foley E. 2006 . Differences in the transmissibility of two Anaplasma phagocytophilum strains by the North American ticks vector species, Ixodes pacificus and Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) . Exp. Appl. Acarol. 38 : 47 – 58 . Trout R. T. Steelman C. D. 2010 . Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) parasitizing canines and deer in Arkansas . J. Entomol. Sci. 45 : 140 – 149 . Van Zee J. Black W. C. Levin M. Goddard J. Smith J. Piesman J. 2013 . High SNP density in the blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis, the principal vector of Lyme disease spirochetes . Ticks Tick Borne Dis. 4 : 63 – 71 . Walker E. D. Smith T. W. DeWitte J. Beaudo D. C. McLean R. G. 1994 . Prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi in host-seeking ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) from a Lyme disease endemic area in northern Michigan . J. Med. Entomol. 31 : 524 – 528 . Walker E. D. Stobierski M. G. Poplar M. L. Smith T. W. Murphy A. J. Smith P. C. Schmitt S. M. Cooley T. M. Kramer C. M. 1998 . Geographic distribution of ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) in Michigan, with emphasis on Ixodes scapularis and Borrelia bugdorferi . J. Med. Entomol. 35 : 872 – 882 . Wang P. Glowacki M. N. Hoet A. E. Needham G. R. Smith K. A. Gary R. E. Li X. 2014 . Emergence of Ixodes scapularis and Borrelia burgdorferi , the Lyme disease vector and gent, in Ohio . Front. Cell. Infect. Microbiol. 4 : 70 . Williams D. C. Wills W. Durden L. A. Gray E. W. 1999 . Ticks of South Carolina . J. Vector Ecol. 24 : 224 – 232 . Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America 2016. This work is written by US Government employees and is in the public domain in the US. |||||

– Nearly half of all counties in the US are now home to ticks that carry Lyme disease, including areas where they'd never before been documented, researchers at the CDC report in the Journal of Medical Entomology. That's up from 30% of counties in 1998, with the Guardian reporting that the number of Lyme disease incidents has tripled in the US since the '90s. The biggest increases were seen in northern and northeastern states, reports CBS News, which singles out Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Vermont, and Wisconsin. It's not surprising, then, that while some 30,000 cases of Lyme disease are reported annually, the real figure is estimated at a staggering 330,000 people every year. While Lyme disease continues to be fairly easy to treat via antibiotics, if left untreated it can lead to serious symptoms, including chronic joint inflammation and even heart and neurological problems years after infection, reports the CDC, which adds that the best preventive measures are removing ticks as quickly as possible and applying pesticides. Biologists blame reforestation, growing deer populations, and climate change for the fast spread of ticks that carry Lyme disease, reports the Guardian, and the researchers note in a press release the rise of the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis) in particular. (Warmer autumns allow ticks more time to feed and infest.)

Published on Nov 6, 2017 Donald Trump and the Japanese prime minister, Shinzō Abe, feed fish on the second day of the US president’s five-nation tour of Asia. Standing beside a pond brimming with colourful koi in the Akasaka palace in Tokyo, the two men upended their wooden containers and dumped the entire contents of fish food into the pond Fishy business: Trump and Abe dump fish food into precious koi pond Subscribe to Guardian News ► http://bit.ly/guardianwiressub Support the Guardian ► https://theguardian.com/supportus The Guardian YouTube network: The Guardian ► www.youtube.com/theguardian Owen Jones talks ► http://bit.ly/subsowenjones Guardian Football ► http://is.gd/guardianfootball Guardian Science and Tech ► http://is.gd/guardiantech Guardian Sport ► http://bit.ly/GDNsport Guardian Culture ► http://is.gd/guardianculture ||||| US president and Japanese host give fish a large feast on second day of former’s five-nation tour of Asia Donald Trump and the Japanese prime minister, Shinzo Abe, have taken a forceful approach to feeding fish on the second day of the US president’s five-nation tour of Asia. Standing beside a pond brimming with colourful koi in the Akasaka palace in Tokyo, the two men began spooning out fish food before appearing to lose patience and emptying their wooden containers with a shake. The palace’s large collection of koi have been viewed by a succession of world leaders, including Margaret Thatcher. It is not known whether the former British prime minister was as aggressive as Trump when it came to feeding the pond’s inhabitants. White House reporters, keen perhaps to pick up on a Trump gaffe, captured the moment when he upended his box on their smartphones and tweeted evidence of his questionable grasp of fish keeping. However, other footage made clear that Trump was merely following his host’s lead. Abe is seen grinning, as is a woman in a kimono standing to one side. Next to her, Rex Tillerson – perhaps grateful for a moment of comic relief after he was named in the Paradise Papers – could not suppress a laugh, according to witnesses. Some speculated that a poor palace employee would be dispatched to the scene to clean up the mess as soon as the two leaders disappeared inside. Trump and Abe are not alone in misjudging the fishes’ appetite. According to the Aquascape website, overfeeding is the most common mistake made by keepers of koi. “This can make your fish sick, and excessive amounts of waste that strains the limits of what can be biologically reduced, results in a decline of water quality,�? the site says. |||||

– It's probably one of the most-repeated phrases when teaching kids about how to feed fish: just a pinch. It's a directive President Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe most definitely did not follow while the two visited the Akasaka palace's koi carp pond Monday. The Guardian reports that the men began by spooning a bit of food in before "appearing to lose patience" and essentially dumping the contents of the boxes they held into the pond. While some in the media were quick to pounce on Trump for the apparent gaffe, the Guardian notes that video footage shows he was simply imitating Abe's approach.

Thursday, August 23, 2012 Top Ten Question to Ask Yourself Before Buying $300 Sneakers 10. "Are laces included?" 9. "Will I have to upgrade my socks?" 8. "May I put one shoe on layaway?" 7. "How much just for the tongues?" 6. "Foam, plastic, and string, assembled in China, for $300 -- too good to be true?" 5. "What would Dr. Scholl do?" 4. "Is this the kind of excessive spending Mitt Romney is hiding on his tax returns?" 3. "Will they help me outrun my creditors?" 2. "Do I want my footwear to scream, 'sucker!'?" ||||| Read Excerpts From Snooki's Book, Prepare to Have Mind Blown Email This Faulkner, Hemingway and Fitzgerald may be widely acknowledged as America's preeminent literary talents, but none of them have gotten down with The 'Jersey Shore' star's Snooker's prose encompasses all of the subtlety we've come to expect from the pocket-sized party girl, from the terse descriptions of her lifelong passions to the exquisitely-crafted allegory between her emasculated "juiceheads" and Puccini's tragic heroine in 'La Boheme.' After the jump, we contrast Snooki's work (courtesy of the Faulkner, Hemingway and Fitzgerald may be widely acknowledged as America's preeminent literary talents, but none of them have gotten down with The Situation in a hot tub. This is where Nicole " Snooki " Polizzi enters the equation.The 'Jersey Shore' star's first novel, 'A Shore Thing,' is scheduled for release this week and early buzz has contenders for the National Book Award shaking in their boots.Snooker's prose encompasses all of the subtlety we've come to expect from the pocket-sized party girl, from the terse descriptions of her lifelong passions to the exquisitely-crafted allegory between her emasculated "juiceheads" and Puccini's tragic heroine in 'La Boheme.'After the jump, we contrast Snooki's work (courtesy of the New York Post ) with the literary greats, whose talents she has not only equaled but clearly surpassed. On seeing another person, as if for the first time: On anger: On love: On the significance of place: On the evil that lurks inside: http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,entry&id=691977&pid=691976&uts=1294086751 http://www.popeater.com/mm_track/popeater/music/?s_channel=us.musicpop&s_account=aolpopeater,aolsvc&omni=1&ke=1 http://cdn.channel.aol.com/cs_feed_v1_6/csfeedwrapper.swf PopScene: Week's Hottest Pics Kim Kardashian hits the gym with her new cornrows in Los Angeles on December 30th. X17online X17online : "Gatsby was overwhelmingly aware of the youth and mystery that wealth imprisons and preserves, of the freshness of many clothes, and of Daisy, gleaming like silver, safe and proud above the hot struggles of the poor.""He had an okay body. Not fat at all. And naturally toned abs. She could pour a shot of tequila down his belly and slurp it out of his navel without getting splashed in the face.""His rage began to thin as he exaggerated more and more and spread his scorn and contempt so widely and unjustly that he could no longer believe in it himself.""Any juicehead will get some nut shrinkage. And bacne. They fly into a 'roid rage, it is a 'road' 'roid rage.""Try to understand men. If you understand each other you will be kind to each other. Knowing a man well never leads to hate and almost always leads to love.""Yum. Johnny Hulk tasted like fresh gorilla.""A place belongs forever to whoever claims it hardest, remembers it most obsessively, wrenches it from itself, shapes it, renders it, loves it so radically that he remakes it in his image.""Gia had never before been in jail. It wasn't nearly as gritty and disgusting as she'd seen on TV prison shows. The Seaside Heights drunk tank -- on a weekday afternoon -- was as clean and quiet as a church.""There was something terrible in me sometimes at night I could see it grinning at me I could see it through them grinning at me through their faces it's gone now and I'm sick""Gia danced around a little, shaking her peaches for show. She shook it hard. Too hard. In the middle of a shimmy, her stomach cramped. A fart slipped out. A loud one. And stinky." |||||

– You could be forgiven for thinking Snooki’s debut literary venture, A Shore Thing, is perhaps not for you … but maybe you just haven’t been considering all the reasons to buy it. The Jersey Shore star herself offered up 10 such reasons last night on the Late Show With David Letterman. At the very least, you should consider a purchase because—as she said in reason No. 4—“If everybody buys my book, the economy will be fixed.” Watch in the gallery—or click for a hilarious list of excerpts from the novel.

Focused crawls are collections of frequently-updated webcrawl data from narrow (as opposed to broad or wide) web crawls, often focused on a single domain or subdomain. ||||| Tweet with a location You can add location information to your Tweets, such as your city or precise location, from the web and via third-party applications. You always have the option to delete your Tweet location history. Learn more ||||| CLOSE ABC pulls the plug on 'Roseanne' after racist tweet Josmar Taveras, USA TODAY Roseanne Barr in October 2017. (Photo: Richard Shotwell, Invision/AP) That didn't last long. Roseanne Barr is back on Twitter hours after her racist tweet about former Obama White House adviser Valerie Jarrett led to the cancellation of her hit ABC show Roseanne. On Tuesday night, Barr retweeted followers who called ABC's decision to ax her show hypocritical, and replied that she thought that the target of her tweet was "Saudi" and didn't realize the racist implications of her post. At one point, she defended herself by tweeting: "yes, I mistakenly thought (Jarrett) was white." "Don't feel sorry for me, guys!!" she wrote in a separate post. "I just want to apologize to the hundreds of people, and wonderful writers (all liberal) and talented actors who lost their jobs on my show due to my stupid tweet." She even offered an explanation as to what caused her to tweet. "It was 2 in the morning and I was ambien tweeting-it was memorial day too-i went 2 far & do not want it defended-it was egregious Indefensible," Barr tweeted. "I made a mistake I wish I hadn't but...don't defend it please. ty." guys I did something unforgiveable so do not defend me. It was 2 in the morning and I was ambien tweeting-it was memorial day too-i went 2 far & do not want it defended-it was egregious Indefensible. I made a mistake I wish I hadn't but...don't defend it please. ty — Roseanne Barr (@therealroseanne) May 30, 2018 She also issued an additional apology to Jarrett, tagging her in a tweet. "@ValerieJarrett i don't know if u saw it, but I wanted2 apologize to u 4 hurting and upsetting u with an insensitive & tasteless tweet," Barr wrote. "I am truly sorry-my whole life has been about fighting racism. I made a terrible mistake wh caused hundreds of ppl 2 lose their jobs. so sorry!" @ValerieJarrett i don't know if u saw it, but I wanted2 apologize to u 4 hurting and upsetting u with an insensitive & tasteless tweet. I am truly sorry-my whole life has been about fighting racism. I made a terrible mistake wh caused hundreds of ppl 2 lose their jobs. so sorry! — Roseanne Barr (@therealroseanne) May 30, 2018 Barr's tweet spree began several hours after Channing Dungey, president of ABC Entertainment, issued a statement to USA TODAY denouncing Barr's original tweet, after the star's apology failed to halt a backlash that included the show's consulting producer, Wanda Sykes. "Roseanne's Twitter statement is abhorrent, repugnant and inconsistent with our values, and we have decided to cancel her show," Dungey's statement read. Barr's comment, which has now been deleted, was sent in response to a tweet that accused Jarrett of helping "hide" misdeeds for the Obama administration. "muslim brotherhood & planet of the apes had a baby=vj,” Barr wrote, using Jarrett's initials. Jarrett, 61, is African American and worked for Obama from 2009 to 2017. Barr apologized for the tweet, describing it as "a bad joke." I apologize to Valerie Jarrett and to all Americans. I am truly sorry for making a bad joke about her politics and her looks. I should have known better. Forgive me-my joke was in bad taste. — Roseanne Barr (@therealroseanne) May 29, 2018 "I apologize to Valerie Jarrett and to all Americans. I am truly sorry for making a bad joke about her politics and her looks," Barr said. "I should have known better. Forgive me — my joke was in bad taste." Barr's agency, ICM Partners, said in a statement Tuesday that Barr's tweet was "disgraceful," ''unacceptable" and "antithetical to our core values." The talent representative says it has ended its relationship with Barr "effective immediately." Viacom cable networks Paramount Network, TV Land and CMT will be pulling all Roseanne reruns from their schedules beginning Wednesday. And Hulu yanked episodes of the series. Jarrett responded Tuesday during a previously scheduled appearance on the MSNBC special Everyday Racism in America. "I think we have to turn it into a teaching moment," she said. On the program, which airs Tuesday night, Jarrett added, "I’m fine. I’m worried about all the people out there who don’t have a circle of friends and followers coming to their defense." Roseanne comedy returned to ABC in March, two decades after it ended its first run from 1988 to 1997, reuniting the original cast including John Goodman, Laurie Metcalf and Sara Gilbert. The much-awaited 10th season's two-episode opener attracted 18.2 million viewers in preliminary Nielsen ratings, making it the season's top premiere. The return was large enough to prompt ABC to quickly order another season. But the show has been beset by controversy. Dealing with hot-button issues such as health care, social security and opioid addiction, the reboot received backlash for some of its pointed jokes, including jabs at minority-led series Black-ish and Fresh Off the Boat. Most of the dissent has been focused on the show's star. Barr only recently returned to Twitter after taking a break from the social media site following a December feud with people who responded harshly to her tweets praising President Trump and criticizing Hillary Clinton. More: Inside Roseanne Barr’s history of offensive tweets While Barr received a congratulatory call from Trump after the heated exchange, even then, fellow comedians were left with mixed feelings. On Tuesday, Sykes was the first to announce she'd pull out of the show with a short and simple message of disapproval. "I will not be returning to @RoseanneOnABC," she wrote on Twitter. Gilbert, who plays Darlene Conner on the show, also denounced Barr's comments. Roseanne’s recent comments about Valerie Jarrett, and so much more, are abhorrent and do not reflect the beliefs of our cast and crew or anyone associated with our show. I am disappointed in her actions to say the least. — sara gilbert (@THEsaragilbert) May 29, 2018 "Roseanne’s recent comments about Valerie Jarrett, and so much more, are abhorrent and do not reflect the beliefs of our cast and crew or anyone associated with our show," she tweeted. "I am disappointed in her actions to say the least." Emma Kenney, who plays Darlene's eldest child, Harris Conner-Healy, shared her disapproval. "I am hurt, embarrassed, and disappointed. The racist and distasteful comments from Roseanne are inexcusable," she wrote. Writer Danny Zuker also tweeted his disapproval. "I wrote on the original "Roseanne" where we used to denounce nativism, racism & homophobia. Nauseating to see what she's become," he wrote. "Looking forward to continue not watching this show." Actor Don Cheadle called out the apparent racism in Barr's tweets. you can take @RoseanneOnABC out of racism but you can’t take the racism out of @therealroseanne ... https://t.co/sJs7Hn5zrn — Don Cheadle (@DonCheadle) May 29, 2018 "you can take @RoseanneOnABC out of racism but you can’t take the racism out of @therealroseanne," he said. Actress Patricia Arquette also spoke up. I am repulsed that Valerie Jarret had that racist and bigoted "joke" made at her expense and I am sickened that any Black or Muslim person has to keep hearing this sickness in 2018. — Patricia Arquette (@PattyArquette) May 29, 2018 "I am repulsed that Valerie Jarret had that racist and bigoted "joke" made at her expense and I am sickened that any Black or Muslim person has to keep hearing this sickness in 2018," she wrote. Some tweeted their support for the actress, including British media personality Katie Hopkins. "Never apologise @therealroseanne It only encourages the (expletive). Stand Strong," she wrote with the hashtag #MAGA. Rosie O'Donnell called Barr's tweets "racist" and "childish" but overall seemed to accept the actress' apology. i love roseanne quite a bit the comment roseanne tweeted was racist and childish and beneath her best self she has apologized twitter is a dangerous place — ROSIE (@Rosie) May 29, 2018 Actor Tom Arnold, Barr's ex-husband, who played Arnie Thomas in the original Roseanne series, also weighed in. Anyone who worked on "Roseanne" 88'-94' knows there's a 50% chance Rosey calls me today & tells me to go fire Donald Trump. They also know there's 100% chance I'd show up at the White House, give him 5 mins to say goodbye & get his crap before I through him & it out the window. — Tom Arnold (@TomArnold) May 29, 2018 "Anyone who worked on 'Roseanne' 88'-94' knows there's a 50% chance Rosey calls me today & tells me to go fire Donald Trump," he wrote. "They also know there's 100% chance I'd show up at the White House, give him 5 mins to say goodbye & get his crap before I through him & it out the window." Contributing: Carly Mallenbaum, Andrea Mandell, Erin Jensen More: Roseanne Barr defends her Trump support with F-bomb on 'Tonight Show' More: 'Late Night with Seth Meyers' writer Amber Ruffin destroys 'racist' 'Roseanne' Read or Share this story: https://usat.ly/2ITInkM ||||| ‘Roseanne’ canceled after star’s racist tweet ABC canceled the relaunched “Roseanne” program on Tuesday amid an uproar over a racist tweet by Roseanne Barr, the show’s lead actor, about Valerie Jarrett, a longtime adviser and close friend of former President Barack Obama‘s. “Roseanne’s Twitter statement is abhorrent, repugnant and inconsistent with our values, and we have decided to cancel her show,” ABC Entertainment’s president, Channing Dungey, said in a statement. Story Continued Below Facing a fevered backlash over social media, Barr apologized on Tuesday for making the comment about Jarrett. Over Twitter, the edgy star of the newly relaunched ABC sitcom sparked a firestorm by writing of Jarrett: “muslim brotherhood & planet of the apes had a baby=vj.” Jarrett was born in Iran and is African-American. Morning Media Your guide to the media circus — weekday mornings, in your inbox. Email Sign Up By signing up you agree to receive email newsletters or alerts from POLITICO. You can unsubscribe at any time. Barr initially responded to criticism suggesting the remark was a “joke.” But as calls quickly grew for both ABC and sponsors to drop the sitcom, she later offered a full-throated apology. “I apologize to Valerie Jarrett and to all Americans,” Barr wrote. “I am truly sorry for making a bad joke about her politics and her looks. I should have known better. Forgive me — my joke was in bad taste.” I apologize to Valerie Jarrett and to all Americans. I am truly sorry for making a bad joke about her politics and her looks. I should have known better. Forgive me-my joke was in bad taste. — Roseanne Barr (@therealroseanne) May 29, 2018 Jarrett, now a senior fellow at the University of Chicago Law School, told MSNBC during a pre-taped town hall-style program on racism set to air Tuesday night that she was “fine“ in the wake of Barr‘s remarks. But she added that the controversy should serve as a “teaching moment“ on the pervasiveness of everyday racism. “I think we have to turn it into a teaching moment,“ Jarrett said, according to a clip released by the network. “I‘m fine. I'm worried about all the people out there who don't have a circle of friends and followers who come right to their defense.“ According to the network, the former Obama adviser added that the Walt Disney Company’s chairman and CEO, Robert Iger, whose company owns ABC, called her before announcing the cancellation of the program. After the program was dropped, Iger tweeted: “There was only one thing to do here, and that was the right thing.” From Channing Dungey, President of ABC Entertainment: "Roseanne's Twitter statement is abhorrent, repugnant and inconsistent with our values, and we have decided to cancel her show." There was only one thing to do here, and that was the right thing. — Robert Iger (@RobertIger) May 29, 2018 The cancellation signals a victory for critics of the show, who scrutinized ABC’s decision to revive the popular 1990s sitcom despite lingering concerns over Barr’s incendiary comments online. It also marks the end of a show that drew praise from President Donald Trump, who was supported by both Barr and her fictional TV character. After the premiere of the “Roseanne” reboot drew nearly 20 million viewers in March, Trump celebrated its ratings success during a rally in Ohio. “Look at her ratings! Look at her ratings!” Trump told the crowd, attributing the figures partly to himself and his supporters. Trump has long touted ratings as a barometer of sorts for success, both as the former face of NBC’s “The Apprentice” and as a politician. And the popularity of Barr’s program was widely seen as linked to the populist surge that helped Trump clinch the presidency in 2016. Asked about Barr’s comments and the subsequent cancellation, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said on Tuesday that Trump's focus lay elsewhere. She told reporters aboard Air Force One that “the president is focused on North Korea. He’s focused on trade deals. And he’s focused on rebuilding our military, the economy. And that’s what he’s spending his time on, not responding to other things.“ Trump himself made no mention of the controversy on Tuesday night during a rally for a Senate candidate in Nashville, Tennessee. ABC’s decision to drop the show was celebrated by several legislators. “Thank you, @ABCNetwork. You did the right thing,” tweeted Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), a civil rights icon who marched alongside the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in the 1960s. “There is not any room in our society for racism or bigotry.” Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.), the first formerly undocumented immigrant to serve in Congress, tweeted: “Thank you @ABC for standing up to reaffirm that racism and bigotry will NOT be tolerated.” In response to the TV star’s remarks, David Axelrod, a longtime Jarrett friend and White House colleague, took aim at Barr earlier on Tuesday. “I’m proud of Valerie and the extraordinary life and contributions she’s made,” Axelrod said in an email Tuesday. “Can anyone say the same about that tweet? It brands itself.” It appears the original tweet was since taken down. Prior to the show’s cancellation, Wanda Sykes, who described herself as a consulting producer for the program, tweeted that she “will not be returning” to “Roseanne.” And Sara Gilbert, who plays the daughter to Barr’s character, Roseanne Conner, on the show, expressed disappointment over the “abhorrent” remarks on social media. I will not be returning to @RoseanneOnABC. — Wanda Sykes (@iamwandasykes) May 29, 2018 “Roseanne’s recent comments about Valerie Jarrett, and so much more, are abhorrent and do not reflect the beliefs of our cast and crew or anyone associated with our show,” Gilbert tweeted. “I am disappointed in her actions to say the least.” She added: “This is incredibly sad and difficult for all of us, as we’ve created a show that we believe in, are proud of, and that audiences love — one that is separate and apart from the opinions and words of one cast member.” Roseanne’s recent comments about Valerie Jarrett, and so much more, are abhorrent and do not reflect the beliefs of our cast and crew or anyone associated with our show. I am disappointed in her actions to say the least. — sara gilbert (@THEsaragilbert) May 29, 2018 The network had faced renewed pressure on Tuesday to address incendiary public remarks from Barr, who has sparked controversy by propagating unsubstantiated conspiracy theories online. Her remarks on Jarrett prompted a fresh round of calls for companies to drop their ads on the program. In a separate Twitter screed earlier on Tuesday, Barr took aim at Chelsea Clinton, the daughter of former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, as well as at George Soros, the billionaire political donor who started the the grantmaking network Open Society Foundations. Barr, who is Jewish, accused Soros of being “a nazi who turned in his fellow Jews 2 be murdered in German concentration camps,” and suggested that Chelsea Clinton is married to a member of his family, tweeting: “Chelsea Soros Clinton.” Good morning Roseanne - my given middle name is Victoria. I imagine George Soros’s nephews are lovely people. I’m just not married to one. I am grateful for the important work @OpenSociety does in the world. Have a great day! https://t.co/mXokiTEwN7 — Chelsea Clinton (@ChelseaClinton) May 29, 2018 Two of the messages were retweeted by Donald Trump Jr., the president’s oldest son. A representative for him did not respond to a request for comment on the remarks or the “Roseanne” cancellation. Chelsea Soros Clinton — Roseanne Barr (@therealroseanne) May 29, 2018 Sorry to have tweeted incorrect info about you!I Please forgive me! By the way, George Soros is a nazi who turned in his fellow Jews 2 be murdered in German concentration camps & stole their wealth-were you aware of that? But, we all make mistakes, right Chelsea? — Roseanne Barr (@therealroseanne) May 29, 2018 Clinton and a representative for Soros refuted Barr’s incendiary remarks. “Good morning Roseanne — my given middle name is Victoria,” Clinton tweeted. “I imagine George Soros’s nephews are lovely people. I’m just not married to one. I am grateful for the important work @OpenSociety does in the world. Have a great day!” In an email, a spokesperson for Soros blasted Barr’s allegations: “He did not collaborate with the Nazis. He did not help round up people. He did not confiscate anybody’s property. Such false allegations are insulting to the victims of the Holocaust, to all Jewish people, and to anyone who honors the truth. They are an affront to Mr. Soros and his family, who against the odds managed to survive one of the darkest moments in our history.” ||||| Roseanne’s recent comments about Valerie Jarrett, and so much more, are abhorrent and do not reflect the beliefs of our cast and crew or anyone associated with our show. I am disappointed in her actions to say the least. ||||| Wanda Sykes has had enough of Roseanne. The actress and comedian is credited as a consulting producer on the hit ABC sitcom. But Sykes, whose credits also include on-camera roles on ABC’s black-ish and HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm, just tweeted this: I will not be returning to @RoseanneOnABC. — Wanda Sykes (@iamwandasykes) May 29, 2018 The statement comes after Barr made a racist tweet Tuesday attacking former President Obama senior advisor Valerie Jarrett. Barr used Jarrett’s initials and said “Muslim brotherhood & planet of the apes had a baby.” Later the ABC prime-time star issued a full-fledged apology: I apologize to Valerie Jarrett and to all Americans. I am truly sorry for making a bad joke about her politics and her looks. I should have known better. Forgive me-my joke was in bad taste. — Roseanne Barr (@therealroseanne) May 29, 2018 Barr recently finished the first season of her rebooted sitcom, which ranked as one of the most-watched shows of the TV season. Ironically, Barr’s joke comes after her show drew some degree of praise for an episode that had the Connors meeting their new Muslim neighbors. ABC renewed the series for a second season which will debut this fall. ABC has not yet commented. UPDATE: ABC has canceled Roseanne (!). ||||| Tweet with a location You can add location information to your Tweets, such as your city or precise location, from the web and via third-party applications. You always have the option to delete your Tweet location history. Learn more ||||| Focused crawls are collections of frequently-updated webcrawl data from narrow (as opposed to broad or wide) web crawls, often focused on a single domain or subdomain. |||||

– A racist joke on Twitter has cost Roseanne Barr her show. ABC on Tuesday canceled the reboot of Roseanne amid a storm of criticism directed at its star, reports CNN. The move came after Barr apologized not once but twice on Tuesday for a jarring insult directed at former Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett. In a since-deleted tweet, Barr wrote, "muslim brotherhood & planet of the apes had a baby=vj." As the post began getting traction Tuesday, Barr took to Twitter again. "I apologize. I am now leaving Twitter," she wrote. And then came a lengthier mea culpa: "I apologize to Valerie Jarrett and to all Americans. I am truly sorry for making a bad joke about her politics and her looks. I should have known better. Forgive me-my joke was in bad taste." Related coverage: ABC: "Roseanne's Twitter statement is abhorrent, repugnant and inconsistent with our values, and we have decided to cancel her show," says the network's statement, per USA Today. Jarrett: Now a senior fellow at the University of Chicago Law School, she declined to comment through a spokesperson, reports Politico. Jarrett is black, and she was born in Iran to American parents. Sykes bailed: Before ABC's move, African-American comedian Wanda Sykes, credited as a consulting producer on Roseanne, tweeted that she would not be returning to the show, reports Entertainment Weekly. Sara Gilbert: The Roseanne star, who was instrumental in the show's reboot, also distanced herself early. The comments "are abhorrent and do not reflect the beliefs of our cast and crew or anyone associated with our show," she tweeted. "I am disappointed in her actions to say the least."

Conclusions Our analysis of 15 pieces of dried porcini mushrooms from a single commercial packet showed three species corresponding to lineages that although previously reported in phylogenetic analyses have never been formally named or described until now. The recognition of these species enables them to be monitored in foods and facilitates countries’ adherence to international agreements on exploitation of wildlife, i.e., the Convention on Biological Diversity. Supplemental Information Aligned sequences in Phylip format This is a file containing aligned ITS sequences used for the phylogenetic analyses. DOI: 10.7717/peerj.570/supp-1 Download ||||| For lovers of wild foods, autumn means things like mushrooms and fungi of dizzying variety. Intrepid treasure hunters scour the woods in search of delectable wild mushrooms and their not-quite-meat, not-quite-vegetable qualities. A bonus: If you find some, you may be eating something not even known to science. The Fungi Kingdom is enormously diverse and completely under-documented. Species are tough to know, and that is without counting the billions that have gone extinct without us ever knowing about them, but of the 10 million species likely out there, only about 100,000 have been described. Mushrooms are one the most conspicuous and well known groups of Fungi and make up around 16,000 named species, but only a handful of these species are well documented. With estimated rates of Fungi extinction exceeding current rates of description, the enormity and urgency of the task of accurate identification cannot be overstated. New approaches that accelerate the documentation and description of new species are desperately needed before it is too late. So how well do we really know the mushrooms? In an article published today in PeerJ, Mycologists Bryn Dentinger and Laura Martinez-Suz from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in London set out to ask this question by using DNA-based taxonomy. But instead of venturing into the wild in search of never before seen species, they simply went to a local grocer and bought a packet of dried porcini whose intended destiny was more likely a rich risotto than a DNA sequencer. Some of the most sought-after of wild mushrooms are the sweet and nutty Boletus edulis and allies, often referred to by the Italian common name porcini. Dentinger has been studying porcini for over 10 years and knew that if the porcini in this packet originated in China, they were likely to be made up of unnamed species. But how many species could be detected in the packet and how quickly could diagnosing and describing them be accomplished? Drs Dentinger and Suz arbitrarily selected 15 pieces of mushroom from the packet and sequenced the fungal DNA barcode region for each. They then compared these sequences to sequences in the International Nucleotide Sequence Database and classified them based on evolutionary relationships. This revealed three distinct species, none of which were known to science, or had scientific names. To expedite the formal naming process required by the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi and plants, the researchers used a rapid e-publishing tool that facilitates immediate name registration and species diagnosis to satisfy the rules of the Code. "This study demonstrates that the whole procedure, from unknown mushrooms to names, can be done rapidly – we did this in under a week, but if push came to shove, it could be done in a day" said Dentinger. Hundreds of thousands of tons of porcini are collected from the wild and sold around the world every year, most of it ending up in Europe and North America. Although typically composed of five well-known species native to these regions (B. aereus, B. edulis, B. pinophilus, B. reticulatus, B. rex-veris), around half of all porcini traded in Europe originates in China. These porcini, typically collected from the wild in Yunnan province, have been exported to Europe since the 1970s yet until last December, none of them had scientific names. The researchers named them with Chinese epithets referring to local common names for porcini (Boletus meiweiniuganjun, Boletus bainiugan) and the Chinese word for 'edible' (Boletus shiyong). As Dr Dentinger put it, "our results demonstrate just how ubiquitous unknown fungal diversity is – it can literally be found right under our noses." The researchers hope that by demonstrating the rapid identification and naming of new Fungi species in this way, others in the community will be inspired to continue the important work of identifying new Fungi species before they get eaten....errrr, disappear. ||||| What's a good place to look for undiscovered species? Remote rainforests? The deep ocean? What about your local grocery store? That's where Bryn Dentinger and Laura Martinez-Suz, mycologists at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in London, recently discovered three new kinds of mushroom. They were found in a package of dried porcini mushrooms from a grocery store in "southwest greater London" that the scientists tested using a technique called DNA barcoding. Dentinger had previously used the technique while researching mushrooms at the Royal Ontario Museum and the University of Toronto. A typical porcini (Boletus edulis var. clavipes) is shown in its natural habitat in Algonquin Provincial Park in Ontario. (Brent Dentinger/Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew) The technique involves matching the DNA profile of a sample to a database of known species in order to identify the sample. But in three out of 15 pieces tested from the porcini mushroom package, no match was found. "None of them had scientific names, so these were essentially new species to science," Dentiger told CBC science columnist Torah Kachur. "And we found three different species in the 15 pieces that we sampled from." CBC science columnist Torah Kachur The team published their results in the journal PeerJ. As it turns out, "porcini" is "a gastronomical label more than it is scientific," Kachur told CBC's The Homestretch. "What the Italians originally called porcinis were this unique flavour of nutty type of mushroom." On the other hand, porcini mushrooms do tend to belong to a family of mushrooms known by scientists as boletes, which have tubes on their undersides instead of gills. "Even though we don't necessarily know those species, all of them are certainly safe for consumption," Kachur said. She said the new findings suggest that mushrooms are more diverse than scientists thought. It also highlights one of the mysteries of mushroom evolution. "What is the evolutionary history that means they look the same and yet they are very genetically different?" Kachur mused. "We don't have the answer for that." |||||

– That scientists discovered three new species of mushrooms isn't all that unusual. That they did so in their local supermarket is why it's making headlines. Scientists in London picked up a packet of dried porcini mushrooms at the grocery store and then used a technique known as DNA barcoding, explains the CBC. When they attempted to match the DNA profiles of the dried mushrooms to known species, they discovered that three of the 15 pieces they tested were previously unknown to science. Introducing Boletus meiweiniuganjun, Boletus bainiugan, and Boletus shiyong. All come from China, as do about half the porcini mushrooms sold in Europe, reports Science 2.0. It's not so much a bombshell discovery as evidence of the "enormously diverse and completely under-documented" world of fungi, says the blog post. These particular porcinis have likely been consumed for decades; it's just that nobody had taken the time to categorize them. That said, the researchers were surprised to get hits on three of only 15 specimens, notes Kew.org. The new research is published in the journal PeerJ. (Scientists still can't figure out what these mushroom-like creatures are in the deep sea.)

LIFESAVER: Va. teen performs CPR to help save life of teammate Local News LIFESAVER: Va. teen performs CPR to help save life of teammate A Manassas father said it is a miracle his son is alive after the teenager went into cardiac arrest at baseball practice, but a fellow teammate of his son certified in CPR is being credited for saving his life. - A Manassas father said it is a miracle his son is alive after the teenager went into cardiac arrest at baseball practice, but a fellow teammate of his son certified in CPR is being credited for saving his life. Steve Smith was hit in the chest by a baseball on July 14. “When I got to Steve, he was just unresponsive,” said Steve’s father and coach, Tim Smith. “His eyes rolled back in his head and I couldn't wake him up. So I yelled, ‘Does anybody know CPR?’” There was only one person on the field who did – Steve’s friend and teammate, Paul Dow, who is also a lifeguard. “When I realized he had no pulse or heartbeat, that kind of scared me for a while because I knew he was dying,” Paul said. “I felt terrible because I didn't know if he was going to be okay because he did die in my arms.” Paul said he continued doing compressions as they waited for paramedics while he relied on his faith in God. “There is no way in heck I did that by myself,” he said. Steve was flown to a trauma center and his family said what happened next is almost unbelievable – he came to just two days later and was feeling just fine by the third day. “When I woke up, one of the first things my dad said was, ‘Paul saved your life,’” Steve said. He said he remembers getting ready for baseball practice the day of the accident, but nothing from practice itself. “For everyone else, it seemed overwhelming. For me, it felt like a normal day," Steve described on how he felt when he woke up. Paul was one of his first visitors. Steve said it was tough to find the right words to thank his friend. “I still feel like I couldn't do anything to repay him,” said Steve. “I know I don't need to. He's been here for me and we have been friends and everything, but something like that is kind of hard where someone helps you that much.” For his dad, the magnitude of what happened is more clear than for his son. “Most people don't live from this accident, “Tim said. “Almost everyone dies from this.” He said having Paul there that day was truly a life saver. “I was more helpless than I felt probably in my whole life,” he said. “Because here he is, he's dying and I can't help him. To have Paul there to step up, it was incredible. It was something that I'll never forget.” Many fire departments offer free CPR classes, including D.C. Fire and EMS. For more information on the Hands on Heart CPR Program, go to fems.dc.gov/page/hands-hearts-cpr-program. There are classes offered this week. ||||| A Virginia baseball player was saved when his teammate administered CPR moments after he was struck in the chest by a baseball. The Manassas baseball team was practicing for the Southeast Regional Tournament on July 14 when the catcher threw the ball and hit Steve Smith directly in the chest, according to Steve's father Tim. "His heart stopped immediately," Smith said, who is also the team's coach. "When you get struck in the chest and there is about three hundredths of a second in between each heartbeat and basically if you are hit by something in that time, at the right speed, it stops your heart." Smith said the whole team ran toward his son as he collapsed on the field. "When I got to him he was stiff, like his body was trying to breathe but his eyes were rolled back in his head, and he wasn't responding," Smith recalled. "He was basically gone, I guess. He wouldn't wake up, he wouldn't respond. I was shaking him, trying to get him to take a breath. I yelled, 'Does anyone know CPR?'" That's when Paul Dow, 17, came forward and immediately started performing CPR. Meanwhile, a parent on the sidelines called 911. Smith said he was "walking around trying to stay calm, but not doing a very good job" as Paul performed CPR on his son. Eventually Smith put his son and Paul, who was still performing CPR, in the back of his truck and drove them to the parking lot, where an ambulance arrived soon after. EMS workers pulled out a defibrillator and were able to restart Steve's heart. Smith said 12 minutes had lapsed between the time Paul began administering CPR and when emergency workers successfully revived Steve. Tim Smith Steve was then airlifted to a trauma hospital in Fairfax, where he stayed over the weekend, remaining mostly unconscious. Smith said his son woke up on Sunday asking, "What's for breakfast?" and "What am I doing here?" He had no memory of what happened to him. "If you look at him you'd never know that anything happened. He has a hole in his neck where they put the tube and a few nicks on his arms but other than that he doesn't have a scratch on his body," Smith said. "It's a miracle." Paul, a close friend of the Smiths, learned CPR to become a lifeguard at the local pool. He received his certification just a few months ago. Smith said his son's recovery was a miracle. "Thanks be to God that Paul was there to give the CPR because there would have been brain damage at the very least if he didn't get air. God has his hand on it the whole way," Smith said." He added that another family friend, who is a retired firefighter, was inspired to start a CPR class in the community after Steve's near-death experience. "There is so much good coming out of this, for the little bit of suffering we did, so much good is coming out of it," Smith said. ||||| A Manassas, Virginia, teenager went into cardiac arrest after an unusual play on a baseball diamond in mid-July. His life was saved by the quick actions of a teammate, bringing the two players and friends closer. Steve Smith is fortunate to be able to play ping pong with Paul Dow, a friend and baseball teammate who Smith said saved his life. "I shouldn't be alive, and I’m just blessed to be here," Smith said. "My body feels like nothing happened. Mentally, seeing everyone, kind of traumatized, it's kind of a crazy thing to experience." It was a freak accident at the Manassas Blue and Grey Tournament team practice two weeks ago. Smith was running from second to third base when the catcher threw the ball, accidentally hitting him under the left arm pit. The ball hit his heart, causing commotio cordis, a lethal disruption of the heart rhythm. Smith went into cardiac arrest. "All I hear is coach Tim Smith say, 'Does anyone know CPR?' I said, 'I know CPR,'" Dow said. "I jump in, did CPR, like, I felt like I was having a spiritual conversation with him as he is sitting there slowly dying." Dow recently learned CPR training to become a lifeguard. Their coach is Steve Smith’s father. "By the time I got to him from home plate to third base, he was non-responsive," Tim Smith said. "Eyes rolled back in his head." Dow continued CPR, and moments later, Steve Smith regained consciousness. Medics arrived and airlifted him to the hospital. He was in a medically induced coma for three days before he woke up. "The chances of someone surviving this is very, very, low," said Tim Smith. "It's just a miracle he's here." The actions brought the teammates and friends even closer together. "Before the accident, we were friends," Steve Smith said. "Now, we're actually brothers. It's overwhelming." |||||

– Two Virginia teens are suddenly more than just baseball teammates after a near-death experience during a practice July 14, NBC Washington reports. Steve Smith was running the bases when a throw from the catcher inadvertently nailed him under his left armpit, causing cardiac arrest. “His heart stopped immediately," his father and coach, Tim Smith, tells ABC News. "When I got to him he was stiff, like his body was trying to breathe but his eyes were rolled back in his head." Teammate Paul Dow started performing CPR, a skill he had recently learned during lifeguard training. Dow tells NBC that performing CPR on Smith “felt like I was having a spiritual conversation with him.” Twelve minutes after Dow started CPR, medics arrived and used a defibrillator to restart Smith's heart. Smith was unconscious for a few days but woke up July 17 feeling fine. Tim Smith credits Dow for preventing his son from suffering brain damage and probably saving his life. “It’s a miracle,” he tells ABC. Dow says God helped him save his teammate. “There is no way in heck I did that by myself,” he tells Fox 5. Smith says he likely wouldn't be alive if it weren't for Dow. "Before the accident, we were friends," he tells NBC. "Now, we're actually brothers.”

News Release October 5, 2018 Contact information Statement on cases of acute flaccid myelitis The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) issued the following statement today regarding reported cases of acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) in six children around the state over the last few weeks. AFM is a rare but potentially severe condition that can arise following an infection, and in some cases it can lead to death, paralysis or other long-term health impacts. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is investigating six cases of a rare condition called acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) that occurred since mid-September in Minnesota children. AFM is a rare but serious condition that affects the nervous system, causing muscles to weaken. It can be a complication following a viral infection, but environmental and genetic factors may also contribute to its development. AFM symptoms include sudden muscle weakness in the arms or legs, sometimes following a respiratory illness. Other symptoms may include: Neck weakness or stiffness Drooping eyelids or a facial droop. Difficulty swallowing or slurred speech. MDH disease investigators are working aggressively with health care providers to gather information about the cases. The department is also in contact with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to share information. For reasons not fully understood, AFM affects mainly children. All recent Minnesota cases have been in children under 10 years old and all were hospitalized. Cases have been reported from the Twin Cities, central Minnesota and northeastern Minnesota. There was a national uptick in AFM cases in 2014. Disease investigators believe this was linked to an outbreak of a respiratory illness in children that was caused by a virus known as enterovirus D 68 (EVD68). Minnesota saw three AFM cases that year. Since then, we have typically seen less than one case a year. Since AFM can develop as a result of a viral infection, MDH recommends parents and children take basic steps to avoid infections and stay healthy: Wash your hands frequently to limit your exposure to germs. Cover your cough or sneeze. Stay home if you are sick. Stay up to date on vaccinations. Protect yourself and children from mosquito bites if you’re spending time outside. If parents see potential symptoms of AFM in their child, (for example, if he or she is not using an arm) they should contact their health care provider as soon as possible. AFM can be diagnosed by examining a person’s nervous system, taking an MRI scan and testing the cerebral spinal fluid. It is important that tests are done as soon as possible after someone develops symptoms. While there is no specific treatment for AFM, doctors may recommend certain interventions on a case-by-case basis. -MDH- Doug Schultz MDH Communications 651-201-4993 [email protected] ||||| State health officials have issued an alert to doctors after six Minnesota children were diagnosed with a rare, polio-like disorder that causes reduced mobility or paralysis in the arms and legs. All six cases of acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) have been reported since Sep. 20, prompting the Minnesota Department of Health to ask doctors to be on the lookout for the disorder, which has severe consequences but mysterious origins. "It is very rare and it is certainly something we're taking very seriously," said Kris Ehresmann, who directs the Health Department's infectious disease section. "It's a very devastating situation" for the children and their families, she said. The disease attacks the nervous system via the spinal cord, and may be transmitted by a virus. Symptoms usually include a sudden onset of arm or leg weakness and loss of muscle reflexes, but can also include drooping eyelids, slurred speech and difficulty swallowing. Treatment and therapy restores lost mobility in some children over time, but the syndrome can be fatal in those who lose the muscular function to breathe. James Hill of Lakeville said his son, Quinton, suffered typical cold symptoms at the start of one school week last month. By the end of the week, he was vomiting and stayed home. By the weekend, his left arm and neck had stiffened badly. Because the disorder is rare — afflicting less than one in a million children — doctors at Children's Hospital weren't considering it initially, Hill said. They conducted blood tests, imaging scans and a spinal tap to arrive at a diagnosis. Orville Young, 4, is one of the children who has suffered lost mobility or paralysis in Minnesota due to a rare condition known as AFM. The Minneapolis boy underwent stimulation therapy at Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare in St. Paul to try to regain lost leg and arm function. "Super scary for us," he said. "We had never heard of it. No one had ever heard it." AFM came to the attention of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2014 after clusters of cases were discovered in Colorado and California and linked to the spread of a type of virus known as EV-D68. States have since reported 362 cases, some with no viral presence and some that seemed linked to other West Nile-type viruses. The six Minnesota children, all 10 and younger, were hospitalized due to their conditions. They come from the Twin Cities, central Minnesota and northeastern Minnesota. Several of the parents contacted the Star Tribune directly, hoping that news coverage would prompt parents to take precautions and doctors and hospitals to identify the condition quickly when they encounter it. Ehresmann said she hopes that closer study of the children — and any other cases uncovered through the latest alert to doctors — could uncover causes. "We're looking into any kind of commonality, but at this point … we don't have anything to wrap up in a bow," she said. The cases aren't even verified by lab test results. Ehresmman said it's the "constellation of symptoms" that ties them together. Mario Bros. Elaine Young's 4-year-old son, Orville, was perhaps the first case in the Minnesota cluster. Last July he came down with typical cold symptoms, which quickly gave way to immobility in his legs and paralysis in his upper right arm. Limited muscular activity in his diaphragm also restricted his breathing, at first, which can be a fatal complication of AFM. Young said doctors delivered a diagnosis fairly rapidly — after initially ruling out a stroke — when she took Orville to the University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital, where a neurologist had written a paper on AFM. But confronting one of the first Minnesota cases, she had to find out what to do next on her own, she said, and found her way to Gillette Children's Specialty Services in St. Paul. Physical rehabilitation combined with electrical muscular stimulation there over the past two months helped Orville regain 90 percent of his leg function. The top half of his right arm remains immobile, though. "It definitely affected me and his father much more, emotionally, at least, because we can see into his future," Young said. "When you're 4 … every time you wake up it's a big new change. So losing the use of your arm? He said: 'I can't give really good hugs anymore, but I'm doing all of my exercises!' " Orville still plays Donkey Kong and Mario Bros. video games, his favorites, because he has use of his right wrist and lower arm. Hill has seen some recovery in his son, even only a week after being hospitalized, with therapy at Gillette. Unable to move his upper left arm, Quinton drags it forward so he can reach Legos and build with both hands. The muscles on the left side of his face remain weak, making it hard to smile, blink and swallow. Both children are at risk for a complication known as subluxation, or the dislocation of their dormant arms, if they don't keep them moving. "Keep lefty involved with righty," therapists tell Quinton. Three cases in 2014 While this is the largest cluster to be reported in Minnesota, it is not the first in the state. Minnesota had three cases in 2014, and single cases in some years since then. Nationally, most cases have been reported each year in September. In addition to viruses, health officials suspect the syndrome is linked to unknown genetic and environmental factors. Treatments include steroid medications and immunoglobulin infusions to boost the child's immune system. Most cases start with cold symptoms followed by loss of movement on one side of the body, and can be verified by imaging scans that detect inflammation in a central part of the spinal cord, said Dr. Anu Kalaskar, an infectious disease specialist at Children's. But treatment varies with each case, and has involved respiratory support for children struggling to breathe. The risk of transmission is low and can be further reduced by standard cold prevention practices such as washing hands and covering coughs, she said. The CDC has been collaborating with researchers to understand AFM, to estimate how many cases occurred before 2014, and to determine why cases increased substantially starting that year. Mehdi Ayouche's 5-year-old daughter, Sophia, is still hospitalized at Children's in Minneapolis. The Chanhassen father worries that lost mobility in her neck and right arm might make it hard for her to do the things she loves — from swimming and drawing to Tae Kwon Do. He is hopeful that therapy will help, and relieved that Sophia's twin brother and older sister did not get the syndrome, despite having cold symptoms. "We want to make people aware," he said. "It is a rare condition. [When it occurs], people might not know what to do next." ||||| Story highlights Acute flaccid myelitis, known as AFM, affects the body's nervous system Minnesota typically sees less than one case per year Thirty-eight cases of AFM have been confirms in the US in 2018, CDC says (CNN) Six children in Minnesota have been diagnosed with a rare "polio-like" disease since mid-September, state health officials said. Acute flaccid myelitis, known as AFM, affects the body's nervous system -- specifically, the spinal cord -- and can cause paralysis. Unlike polio, there is no vaccine for AFM. Minnesota typically sees less than one case a year, the state Department of Health reported. The disease typically affects children; all the recent cases in Minnesota were in children younger than 10. AFM can develop from a viral infection, although its exact cause is unknown. Symptoms include limb weakness, facial drooping and trouble swallowing or talking. Doctors stress the importance of recognizing the early signs of AFM and seeking care as soon as possible. Get CNN Health's weekly newsletter Sign up here to get The Results Are In with Dr. Sanjay Gupta every Tuesday from the CNN Health team. Treatment focuses only on alleviating symptoms. Read More |||||

– A rare condition known for its polio-like effects has been diagnosed in six Minnesota children since mid-September. Per CNN, the condition is called acute flaccid myelitis, or AFM, and damages the body's nervous system. While uncommon, AFM is serious and can lead to paralysis or even death. The state usually sees just one case of the illness per year, which the Star-Tribune reports has health officials now issuing alerts to doctors statewide. And, unlike the viral disease polio, AFM's more elusive cause means there is no vaccine. "Disease investigators are working aggressively with health care providers to gather information about the cases," the Minnesota Department of Public Health said in a statement. "The department is also in contact with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to share information." AFM most commonly affects young children and the cases in Minnesota, which are not isolated to one region but have instead been seen in multiple parts of the state, have all occurred in patients under age 10. AFM is believed to be most frequently triggered by some separate viral infection, leading officials to urge parents to ensure children follow basic preventative measures including hand washing, staying up-to-date on vaccinations, and avoiding mosquito bites when at all possible. Officials also want parents to be aware of early signs of AFM, which include weakness or stiffness of the neck, drooping eyelids, difficulty swallowing, and slurred speech. With no vaccine, all doctors can do in these cases is treat symptoms and hope effects like limb paralysis aren't permanent. (Meanwhile, the CDC says the disease may be on the rise.)

WASHINGTON—International support for the U.S.-led military campaign against Islamic State gathered strength with the U.K. vowing to destroy the group after it killed a British aid worker, Arab states agreeing to participate in airstrikes and Australia pledging forces. British Prime Minister David Cameron said Sunday his country will do whatever is needed to combat the threat posed by the extremist group operating in Iraq and Syria,... ||||| Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Francois Hollande told the conference Islamic State represented a global threat Thirty countries have pledged to help Iraq fight Islamic State (IS) militants "by all means necessary". A joint statement by foreign ministers taking part in a major conference in Paris said support would include "appropriate military assistance". The talks had been called to agree a strategy to combat the group, which controls large parts of Iraq and Syria. The meeting followed a whirlwind tour of the Middle East by US Secretary of State John Kerry. Mr Kerry, who attended the summit, has been drumming up support for a plan of action unveiled by President Barack Obama last week. The CIA estimates that Islamic State has between 20,000 and 31,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria. The murder of British aid worker David Haines by IS militants, shown in a video released by the group on Saturday, has added momentum to the plans, says the BBC's Lucy Williamson in Paris. Analysis: Jeremy Bowen, BBC News, Damascus Another layer of conflict is being grafted on to a series of parallel and overlapping wars in Syria and Iraq. Enemies of the Syrian regime, including Saudi Arabia, will want to calculate how much their actions against Islamic State might strengthen President Bashar al-Assad - who has men tied up fighting IS. Iran and Saudi Arabia, regional superpowers, back opposing sides in Syria. They will look very closely to see if American actions indirectly help their rival. Some Islamist fighters in Syria who have been trained and armed by Saudi Arabia or Qatar have already gravitated to IS. Opposition to Western involvement might make more follow. And the US and its Western allies are becoming direct players in the wars in Syria and Iraq - and in the deepening sectarian conflict between Shia and Sunni Muslims. Many argue that the Americans and the British tore open sectarian scars when they invaded Iraq in 2003, and now risk making matters even worse. Daunting task ahead for US-led coalition How will Obama's anti-IS coalition work? 'Bigger threat' Iraqi President Fuad Masum, who co-hosted the conference with French President Francois Hollande, said the international community must pursue the jihadists "quickly". Image copyright AFP Image caption The conference will focus on what the international community can do to help Iraqi troops fight IS militants Image copyright Reuters Image caption Kurdish Peshmerga fighters have been battling the Islamists near the key city of Mosul Image copyright Reuters Image caption IS militants possess significant military resources and have taken over large parts of Iraq and Syria "If this intervention and support to Iraq is late, that means that Islamic State could occupy more territory and the threat it poses will be even bigger," he said. The summit declaration said participants were "committed to supporting the new Iraqi government in its fight... by any means necessary, including appropriate military assistance". Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim Jafari welcomed the decision, but also said he regretted that Iran was not present at the Paris talks. Last week Mr Kerry ruled out co-operation with Iran citing its "engagement in Syria and elsewhere". But Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei claimed on Monday that the US had requested Iran's co-operation via the US Ambassador to Iraq. "I said no, because they have dirty hands," he said. He added the US was seeking seeking a "pretext to do in Iraq and Syria what it already does in Pakistan - bomb anywhere without authorisation". Syria also did not take part in the Paris gathering. 'Doing their share' Meanwhile, France said it had begun surveillance flights over Iraq. Britain revealed in August that its aircraft had been gathering intelligence over Iraq. Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Iraqi FM Ibrahim Al-Jaafari: "Whole international community will stand united" Several Arab countries have offered to take part in air strikes on IS fighters in Iraq, US officials say. Turkey, however, will only allow humanitarian and logistical operations from the Nato air base on its soil. Mr Kerry said he was "extremely encouraged" by promises of military assistance to tackle the militant group. The US strategy to weaken the group centres on military support for Iraq but also includes plans to stop foreign fighters from joining the group, cutting its funding streams and trying to counter its ideology. The Paris conference was aimed at defining the role each member state will play. About 40 countries have so far signed up to a coalition including 10 Arab states - Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Image copyright AFP Image caption Iraqi and Kurdish forces have been helped in their battle against IS by 160 US air strikes since August Image copyright AP Image caption John Kerry visited Iraq last week during a tour of the region to drum up support for action against IS Australia announced at the weekend that it was sending 600 troops and up to eight fighter jets to the UAE ahead of possible combat operations in Iraq. However, Mr Kerry told US broadcaster CBS that the US was not seeking troops on the ground at the moment. Since August, US fighter jets have conducted about 160 air strikes on IS positions in Iraq. The group's former name was Isis and it has also been known as Isil (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant). ||||| Just because the Iranians were not invited to the conference, Mr. Kerry said, “doesn’t mean that we are opposed to the idea of communicating to find out if they will come on board or under what circumstances or whether there is the possibility of a change.” Image President François Hollande of France greeted President Fuad Masum of Iraq at the Elysée Palace in Paris on Monday. Credit John Schults/Reuters In Tehran, the tone was quite different. Iranian officials gave out flurries of statements to local reporters on Monday, saying that they had rejected multiple invitations by the United States to join the coalition. On Monday, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the country’s supreme leader, issued a scathing and, at times, sarcastic statement on the day he left the hospital after prostate surgery. In remarks posted on his personal website, he said he had enjoyed his recent time in the hospital because he had “a hobby,” which was “listening to Americans making statements on combating ISIS — it was really amusing.” Such statements, he added, are “absurd, hollow and biased.” The Obama administration has long sought to separate the nuclear talks with Iran from discussions of regional issues, out of concern that Tehran might seek concessions in the nuclear negotiations in return for cooperating on Syria or Iran. Mr. Kerry also acknowledged that the administration’s previous effort, led by the deputy secretary of state, William J. Burns, to draw Iran into quiet talks on Iraq and other regional issues had not been productive. “The confidential discussions never got to that sort of substance,” Mr. Kerry told reporters. When ISIS burst onto the global stage this summer, some analysts speculated that Tehran and Washington might be able to narrow their deep differences over Iraq, Syria and the Middle East. The same thought occurred after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, when the two antagonists shared a mutual antipathy for the Taliban in Afghanistan. ||||| Specifically, senior Iraqi and Kurdish officials asked the United States as recently as this weekend to take action along the Iraqi-Syrian border to deprive ISIS of the safe havens it enjoys in that area. Advertisement Continue reading the main story “The Iraqis have asked for assistance in the border regions, and that’s something we’re looking at,” one State Department official said. The description of a calibrated military buildup by coalition forces, combined with a steady effort led by the United States Treasury Department to choke off ISIS’ ability to reap $1 million or more a day from oil sales, emerged as the administration has tried to define what Mr. Obama meant when he said the American goal was to “degrade and ultimately destroy” the Sunni extremist group. The president’s chief of staff, Denis McDonough, provided the most current definition of White House thinking on Sunday during an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” Using an alternative acronym for the extremist group, he said that “success looks like an ISIL that no longer threatens our friends in the region, no longer threatens the United States, an ISIL that can’t accumulate followers or threaten Muslims in Syria, Iraq or otherwise.” Advertisement Continue reading the main story That definition falls short of the classic understanding of what it means to destroy an opposing force. But the administration is betting that it has tailored the goals to appeal to the coalition of oftentimes reluctant partners it is trying to assemble, many of whom are deeply suspicious of each other. Secretary of State John Kerry, speaking from Paris, declined to say which states had offered to contribute air power, an announcement that White House officials said could await his return to testify in Congress early this week. State Department officials, who asked not to be identified under the agency’s protocol for briefing reporters, said Arab nations could participate in an air campaign against ISIS in other ways without dropping bombs, such as by flying arms to Iraqi or Kurdish forces, conducting reconnaissance flights or providing logistical support and refueling. Advertisement Continue reading the main story “I don’t want to leave you with the impression that these Arab members haven’t offered to do airstrikes, because several of them have,” one State Department official said. “The Iraqis would have to be a major participant in that decision,” the official added. “It has to be well structured and organized.” The United Arab Emirates, which provided some air power in the 2011 attacks on Libya, seemed at the top of the list, with Qatar hosting an American military headquarters. American officials cautioned that all strikes would have to be approved by the newly assembled government in Iraq, as well as by American military planners. That could prove just one challenge to the offer by Arab nations to participate in airstrikes: While Iraq’s struggling military forces have experience operating with the United States, its Shiite-dominated government has never worked with the Sunni states of the Persian Gulf. Please verify you're not a robot by clicking the box. Invalid email address. Please re-enter. You must select a newsletter to subscribe to. Sign Up Receive occasional updates and special offers for The New York Times's products and services. Thank you for subscribing. An error has occurred. Please try again later. View all New York Times newsletters. The United States has identified ISIS targets in Iraq over the past several weeks. But officials said they were waiting, in part, to match the allied commitments with actual contributions: warplanes, support aircraft that can refuel or provide intelligence, more basing agreements to carry out strikes, and the insertion of trainers from other Western countries. Advertisement Continue reading the main story Tellingly, there are no plans, as of now, to increase the number of American attack planes in the region. The aircraft carrier Carl Vinson is scheduled to relieve the carrier George H. W. Bush in the Persian Gulf next month; if the Pentagon changed its plans and kept two carriers in the gulf, it could double carrier-based firepower over Iraq and Syria. But for now, there is no plan to do so, officials said. Nor are there any plans to increase American ground-based strike aircraft at facilities around the region, in hopes that Persian Gulf and European allies would make up the difference. Advertisement Continue reading the main story Another striking feature of the American plan, officials said, was the deliberate exclusion of coordination with two other players with an interest — and some ability — to take on ISIS: the government of Iran and the forces of President Bashar al-Assad of Syria, who Mr. Obama declared three years ago was a brutal dictator who had to leave office. Advertisement Continue reading the main story Mr. Kerry has ruled out cooperative efforts with Iranian officials, who a senior administration official said last week are “looking for whatever leverage they can get” in the conflict in hopes of using it to lift pressure on their nuclear program. Iranian-backed militias were on the ground in the Iraqi town of Amerli recently and provided the muscle that Iraqi forces could not in ending a siege by ISIS. While the administration insisted it would not work alongside Mr. Assad’s forces, the two sides were clearly working toward the same goal — leading to fears that the United States could essentially become Mr. Assad’s air force, at least temporarily, if it begins attacking ISIS emplacements in Syria. Advertisement Continue reading the main story As described by American officials, the battle strategy calls for assembling a force first in Iraq, where the Iraqi army would be guided by 12-man teams of American “advisers” that are expected to begin operating within days, and for new arms and other assistance for the Kurdish forces. Only later would the effort expand to Syria, and the administration is pressing for a congressional vote this week on a $500 million arms package for “moderate” members of the Syrian opposition, now aimed at ISIS rather than the Assad government. Officials acknowledged that the so-called moderate rebel forces were fractured and far weaker than ISIS. Even so, administration officials struggled to explain whether the United States was at war with ISIS, as both the White House and the Pentagon spokesman said it was last week, or whether it was engaged in a more traditional counterterrorism action. That was how Mr. Kerry characterized the strategy in an effort to make it easier for Sunni states to explain to their own populations why they would be contributing forces against Sunni extremists. “Originally this is not a war,” Mr. Kerry said on CBS’s “Face the Nation,” trying to separate it from the military action in 2003 that he had opposed as a senator. “This is not combat troops on the ground. It’s not hundreds of thousands of people.” He went on to compare it to “war with Al Qaeda and its affiliates,” and said that “in the same context” the United States was “at war with ISIL.” |||||

– The world is discussing the self-proclaimed Islamic State in Paris today, with President Francois Hollande opening a conference attended by leaders and diplomats from 25-plus countries by saying "there is no time to lose. Iraq's combat against terrorism is also ours." Or so hopes Iraqi president Fuad Masum, who urged those in attendance to expand the fight against ISIS to Syria, reports the New York Times. "We must not allow them to have sanctuaries. We must pursue them wherever they are." The Times notes that, thus far, the US has OKed only intelligence gathering over Syria. More on the ISIS front: Not in attendance at the conference: Iran. Though France "initially opened the door to a possible role" by the country, per the Times, John Kerry put the kibosh on the idea over fears it would dissuade Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern states from participating. Iran, for its part, says that Syria should have been invited to the table. Though it was announced yesterday that several Arab nations have agreed to join the fight against ISIS, with the BBC reporting that the anti-ISIS coalition now stands at about 40 countries including 10 Arab states, specifics remain in short supply. A BBC analyst describes a "scramble to craft a coherent plan from contributions offered" by the countries. The Wall Street Journal reports that while no officials have named which Mideast states might also conduct airstrikes, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Turkey, Egypt, and Qatar likely have the ability to join the US campaign. As far as those airstrikes go, five weeks of them (150 strikes since President Obama's speech last Wednesday, notes the New York Times) have halted the militants' progress, US officials tell the Journal, but the paper points out that ISIS has reacted by becoming more "stealthy." Equipment isn't moved in open convoys; electronic communications have been curtailed; tarps and foliage are increasingly used to shield militants from drones; and militants are hiding among locals. The upside is that "ISIS has not gained any land since the airstrikes started," per one official. The downside is that they may be tougher to track.

Editor's note: Quazi Mohammad Rezwanul Ahsan Nafis, a 21-year-old man, has been arrested on suspicion of planning to blow up the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, federal officials said. Authorities say he attempted to detonate what he believed was a 1,000-pound bomb. Below are major developments as we received them. Read the full story here. Nafis, wearing street clothes and represented by a public defender, was arraigned a little while ago during a five-minute hearing in a New York courtroom. No bail application has been made. Prosecutors will have 30 days to officially indict him. The public defender said she would not comment to reporters. Nafis will be held for now at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, U.S. attorneys say. [Posted at 4:18 p.m. ET] Paul J. Browne, deputy commissioner of the New York City Police Department, released the following statement on the alleged plot: "Whether al -Qaeda operatives like (2003 Brooklyn Bridge suspect) Iyman Faris or those inspired by them like (2011 suspect in bomb-making case) Jose Pimentel, terrorists have tried time and again to make New York City their killing field. We're up to 15 plots and counting since 9/11, with the Federal Reserve now added to a list of iconic targets that previously included the Brooklyn Bridge, the New York Stock Exchange, and Citicorp Center. After 11 years without a successful attack, it's understanding if the public becomes complacent. But that's a luxury law enforcement can't afford. Vigilance is our watchword now and into the foreseeable future. That's why we have over 1,000 police officers assigned to counter-terrorism duties every day, and why we built the Domain Awareness System. I want to commend the NYPD detectives and FBI agents of the Joint Terrorist Task Force for the work they did in the case and in other ways every day to help New York City safe from terrorists." [Posted at 4:08 p.m. ET] U.S. Attorney Loretta E. Lynch from the Eastern District of New York made the following statement regarding the alleged terror plot attack: "As alleged in the complaint, the defendant came to this country intent on conducting a terrorist attack on U.S. soil and worked with single-minded determination to carry out his plan. The defendant thought he was striking a blow to the American economy. He thought he was directing confederates and fellow believers. At every turn, he was wrong, and his extensive efforts to strike at the heart of the nation’s financial system were foiled by effective law enforcement. We will use all of the tools at our disposal to stop any such attack before it can occur. We are committed to protecting the safety of all Americans, including the hundreds of thousands who work in New York’s financial district. I would like to thank our partners at the FBI, NYPD, the other agencies who participate in the JTTF, and the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, for their hard work on this important investigation. I would also like to thank the security teams at the New York Federal Reserve Bank and the New York Stock Exchange for their assistance." [Posted at 4:08 p.m. ET] Nafis appeared to have had a back-up plan. He met an undercover agent that supplied him with what he thought were explosives on Wednesday morning. After meeting up, they both traveled in a van to a warehouse, the Justice Department said. That’s apparently when Nafis told the agent he had a "Plan B." If Nafis felt his attack was about to be thwarted by cops, he would invoke the back-up plan, which involved a suicide bombing operation, the criminal complaint alleges. When the pair arrived at the warehouse, Nafis began putting together what he thought was a 1,000-pound bomb inside the van. Then they drove together to the target: The New York Federal Reserve Bank. As they drove, he armed the purported by putting together the detonator and the explosives, the criminal complaint says. The van was then parked next to the bank. The pair went to a nearby hotel, where Nafis apparently recorded a video statement meant to be shown to the American public in connection with the attack. "We will not stop until we attain victory or martyrdom," he said, according to the criminal complaint. He then tried, several times unsuccessfully, to detonate the device, which was actually inert explosives. Nafis was then arrested. A good portion of the sting operation was caught on tape, according to a source familiar with the investigation. [Posted at 3:59 p.m. ET] The plot came to light as an FBI undercover agent posed as an al-Qaeda facilitator, federal authorities say. Nafis asked the undercover agent for 50-pound bags of what he thought were explosives, and then worked on putting together an explosive device, according to prosecutors. "Nafis purchased components for the bomb’s detonator and conducted surveillance for his attack on multiple occasions in New York City’s financial district in lower Manhattan," a Justice Department press release describing the criminal complaint said. “Throughout his interactions with the undercover agent, Nafis repeatedly asserted that the plan was his own and was the reason he had come to the United States." [Posted at 3:56 p.m. ET] We now have some more detail about the plot to blow up the reserve bank from a press release that breaks down the criminal complaint filed against Quazi Mohammad Rezwanul Ahsan Nafis: The Bangladeshi national allegedly came to the United States in January to carry out a terror attack on U.S. soil and said he had overseas connections to al-Qaeda. As he attempted to recruit others to join his cell, he tried to recruit someone who turned out to be an FBI source, the criminal complaint says. Nafis initially had a few targets in mind, according to the complaint, including "a high-ranking U.S. official and the New York Stock Exchange." In the end, Nafis settled on the New York Federal Reserve Bank, federal officials said. "In a written statement intended to claim responsibility for the terrorist bombing of the Federal Reserve Bank on behalf of al-Qaeda, Nafis wrote that he wanted to 'destroy America' and that he believed the most efficient way to accomplish this goal was to target America’s economy," the Justice Department press release said. "In this statement, Nafis also included quotations from 'our beloved Sheikh Osama bin Laden' to justify the fact that Nafis expected that the attack would involve the killing of women and children." The "explosives that he allegedly sought and attempted to use had been rendered inoperable by law enforcement and posed no threat to the public," according to a statement from U.S. Attorney Loretta E. Lynch. [Posted at 3:41 p.m. ET] Quazi Mohammad Rezwanul Ahsan Nafis, 21, was arrested for allegedly attempting to detonate what he thought was a 1,000-pound bomb at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York in Manhattan, the Department of Justice and a U.S. attorney's office said in a press release. He will be charged with attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction and attempting to provide material support to al-Qaeda, the press release said. [Posted at 3: 40 p.m. ET] A man has been arrested for planning to blow up the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, according to a federal law enforcement source with knowledge of the investigation. The man was arrested as part of a string operation conducted by the FBI and NYPD as part of the Joint Terrorism Task Force, a federal law enforcement source said. "Attempting to destroy a landmark building and kill or maim untold numbers of innocent bystanders is about as serious as the imagination can conjure. The defendant faces appropriately severe consequences," FBI Acting Assistant Director Mary Galligan said in a statement. "It is important to emphasize that the public was never at risk in this case, because two of the defendant’s ‘accomplices’ were actually an FBI source and an FBI undercover agent. The FBI continues to place the highest priority on preventing acts of terrorism." ||||| Federal authorities have arrested a man they say was plotting to blow up the Federal Reserve building in New York City, just blocks from the World Trade Center site. Authorities say 21-year-old Quazi Nafis was arrested Wednesday morning after a sting operation that involved the FBI and New York Police Department. The suspect parked a van filled with what he believed were explosives outside the building and tried to detonate it. But his associates were actually undercover officers who arrested him at the scene _ and the bomb was not real. Federal prosecutors say the man was monitored closely by the FBI in New York and members of the Joint Terrorism Task Force, and the public was never in danger. |||||

– The FBI says it has foiled a plot to blow up the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, reports CNN. The story follows a familiar pattern: It was a sting operation, and the suspect was actually dealing with agents from the FBI and the Joint Terrorism Task Force of New York City. They supplied him with what he thought was a car bomb, and he reportedly tried to detonate it outside the bank, reports AP. The suspect is identified as Bangladeshi national Quazi Nafis, 21, and authorities say he came to the US in January to carry out an attack. "In a written statement intended to claim responsibility for the terrorist bombing of the Federal Reserve Bank on behalf of al-Qaeda, Nafis wrote that he wanted to 'destroy America' and that he believed the most efficient way to accomplish this goal was to target America’s economy," said a Justice Department press release.

Updated at 12:50 p.m. ET Paul Kevin Curtis, 45 was arrested at his home in Corinth, Tenn., April 17, 2013. / AP A U.S. official has confirmed an arrest in the investigation of recent mailings of suspicious letters to President Obama and a senator, CBS News correspondent Bob Orr reported Wednesday evening. In a statement, the Department of Justice announced the arrest of Paul Kevin Curtis, "the individual believed to be responsible for the mailings of the three letters sent through the U.S. Postal Service which contained a granular substance that preliminarily tested positive for ricin. The letters were addressed to a U.S. Senator, the White House and a Mississippi justice official." It added that Curtis was arrested at his home in Corinth, Miss. When the test results on one of the letters, addressed to Roger Wicker, R-Miss., came back from the Ft. Dietrick lab Wednesday, various officials described them as "weak," "low-grade" and "less than one percent toxin," CBS News has learned. A Prince George's County, Md. firefighter dressed in a protective suit walks out of a government mail screening facility in Hyattsville, Md., Wednesday, April 17, 2013. / AP Photo/Alex Brandon Threatening letters to the president and congressional leaders are not unusual -- their mail is processed at a facility about 10 miles outside of Washington in Landover, Md. The current security protocols -- which seem to be working exactly as they were set to do -- were put in place after the 2001 anthrax scare that targeted congressional leaders. In addition to the letter sent to Obama this week, two letters being tested for ricin were sent to Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss. At least one of the letters addressed to Wicker tested positive in a preliminary field test for ricin. The envelope addressed to the White House, the FBI said in a statement Wednesday, also initially tested positive for ricin and was immediately quarantined by U.S. Secret Service personnel. A coordinated investigation with the FBI was initiated. Field tests are regularly inaccurate; therefore, the FBI is conducting more thorough tests on the letters. At a press briefing Wednesday, White House spokesman Jay Carney referred questions about the letters to the FBI, adding, "The president has of course been briefed on these letters. He was briefed last night and again this morning." The letters came from the Memphis area, and were sent the same day, April 8. The letters, CBS News has confirmed, said in part, "No one wanted to listen to me before. This must stop. To see a wrong and not expose it is to become a silent partner to its continuance. I am KC and I approve this message." After the arrest was announced, a Mississippi state lawmaker, Democratic Rep. Steve Holland of Plantersville, said his 80-year-old mother, Lee County Justice Court Judge Sadie Holland, received a threatening letter last week with a substance that has been sent to a lab for testing. He said this letter was also signed "K.C.". As authorities scurried to investigate three questionable packages discovered in Senate office buildings, reports of suspicious items also came in from at least three senators' offices in their home states. Sen. Carl Levin said a staff member at his Saginaw, Mich., office would spend the night in a hospital as a precaution after discovering a suspicious letter. The staff member had no symptoms, Levin said in a statement. He expected to learn preliminary results of tests on the letter by Thursday. Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., said suspicious letters at his Phoenix office had been cleared with nothing dangerous found. A package at Sen. John Cornyn's Dallas-area office also was declared harmless, a fire department spokesman said. All three packages in the Capitol complex turned out to be safe, Capitol police spokeswoman Makema Turner said late Wednesday. But a man was still being questioned after being stopped in connection with the packages, she said. All the activity came as tensions were high in Washington and across the country following Monday's bombings at the Boston Marathon that killed three people and injured more than 170. At a senators-only briefing on Tuesday about the bombing, senators were also briefed by Sergeant at Arms Terence Gainer about the Wicker letter that tested positive in initial tests. Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., told reporters that the senators were told the suspected letter writer writes a lot of letters to members. "The investigation into these letters remains ongoing, and more letters may still be received," the FBI said in its statement. "There is no indication of a connection to the attack in Boston." ||||| The ricin-laced letters sent to President Obama and Mississippi Sen. Roger Wicker were both postmarked April 8 and sent from Memphis, Tenn., signed "I am KC and I approve this message." A third letter went to Michigan Sen. Carl Levin. NBC's Andrea Mitchell reports. Federal agents on Wednesday arrested a suspect in the mailing of letters to President Barack Obama and a U.S. senator that initially tested positive for the poison ricin. The suspect was identified as Paul Kevin Curtis of Tupelo, Miss., federal officials told NBC News. They said he may appear in court as early as Wednesday night. Both letters carried an identical closing statement, according to an FBI bulletin obtained by NBC News on Wednesday. According to the FBI bulletin, both letters, postmarked April 8, 2013 out of Memphis, Tenn., included an identical phrase, "to see a wrong and not expose it, is to become a silent partner to its continuance." In addition, both letters are signed: "I am KC and I approve this message." The letter to Obama was intercepted at an off-site White House mail facility and was being tested further, the FBI said. A federal law enforcement official said that the letter was “very similar” to one addressed to Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss. Another letter was addressed to a Mississippi justice official. Lee County Sheriff Jim Johnson confirms a suspect has been arrested in relation to the ricin-laced letter sent to a Mississippi judge. Johnson adds that there are "great consistencies" between this letter and those sent to President Obama and Senator Wicker. Curtis was arrested at his home in Corinth, Miss., at about 5:15 CT, after an investigation by federal, state and local agencies. In a news conference Wednesday night, Lee County, Miss., Sheriff Jim Johnson said a Mississippi judge on April 10 received and opened a typewritten letter -- postmarked from Memphis, but without a return address -- that included “wording that was of interest,” as well as some "suspicious content." Johnson said there were “great consistencies” between the letter received by the Mississippi judge and the letters directed to Wicker and President Obama. Tests are being conducted on the letter sent to the Mississippi judge to determine whether it was tainted with ricin, Johnson added. The FBI is assisting the sheriff’s office in the investigation to determine whether the letters were sent by the same person. Johnson would not identify the suspect in custody, adding that local authorities are waiting for results from the federal laboratory before filing any state charges. Two federal officials said late Wednesday that an initial laboratory test on the material in the letters was inconclusive. The test shows some level of ricin, they said, but the potency is uncertain. They cannot tell whether the material is actually harmful or not, so more tests have been ordered. Wicker released a statement Wednesday, thanking authorities for their help. "Gayle and I want to thank the men and women of the FBI and U.S. Capitol Police for their professionalism and decisive action in keeping our family and staff safe from harm," the statement read. "My offices in Mississippi and Washington remain open for business to all Mississippians. We particularly want to thank the people of Mississippi for their thoughts and prayers during this time." The sender of the letters, one official said, "may have stumbled onto something," but it's unknown if he actually made the full-blown ricin toxin. Ricin is made from castor beans and can kill within 36 hours. There is no antidote. Some threatening letters simply contain ground castor beans, resulting in a positive field test for ricin without the concentrated poison. Results from full laboratory tests are expected in the next 24 to 48 hours. Filters at a second government mail screening facility also tested positive for ricin in a preliminary screening Wednesday. An FBI official told NBC News that the agency did not initially believe the letters were related to the attack on the Boston Marathon on Monday. Authorities also for a time cleared the atrium of a Senate office building Wednesday, removing suspicious envelopes and a package, before reopening the offices. Capitol police were also investigating a suspicious package at the office of Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala. Shelby’s staff had not been evacuated. The Wicker letter had no return address. The FBI confirmed the preliminary positive test on it Tuesday. That letter was intercepted at a postal facility in Maryland that screens mail sent to Congress, and never reached Wicker’s office. Other senators were made aware of the Wicker letter during a briefing Tuesday evening on the bombing in Boston. Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., said that the person who sent Wicker the letter writes often to elected officials. People can be exposed to ricin by touching a ricin-laced letter or by inhaling particles that enter the air when the envelope is opened. Touching ricin can cause a rash but is not usually fatal. Inhaling it can cause trouble breathing, fever and other symptoms, and can be fatal. At a hearing Wednesday on the Postal Service’s finances, Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe said that while there have been ricin scares in the past, the recent discoveries were unprecedented. “There's never been any actually proved that have gone through the system,” Donahoe said. “But we've got a process that we make sure that our employees know -- We can actually track the mail back through the system to double check from an employee health standpoint." Field tests are conducted anytime suspicious powder is found in a mail facility, and the FBI cautioned that field tests and other preliminary tests can produce inconsistent results. When tests show the possibility of a biological agent, the material is sent to a laboratory for full analysis. Robert Windrem, Kasie Hunt, Kelly O’Donnell, Richard Esposito, Jeff Black, Mike Viqueira and Dr. Kristina Krohn of NBC News contributed to this report. Editor's note: An earlier version of this story misidentified the suspect, based on information from federal officials. Related: Deadly ricin: Poisonous but clumsy weapon This story was originally published on |||||

– Federal authorities have arrested a man identified as Paul Kevin Curtis of Tupelo, Mississippi, in the mailing of letters laced with toxin to President Obama and Sen. Roger Wicker, reports the Clarion-Ledger. Not much is known about the suspect at this point, though both letters were signed, "I am KC and I approve this message." Each also contained the message, "to see a wrong and not expose it, is to become a silent partner to its continuance." The letters were flagged at mail-sorting facilities before reaching their intended targets. Initial tests turned up positive for the poison ricin, but NBC News reports that it's still not clear just how potent the letters were. Further tests are under way. The letters were postmarked on April 8. CBS News says there were three in all, one to Wicker, one to Obama, and one to a Mississippi justice official. (Claire McCaskill had previously said that a suspect identified in the case was known to be a prolific letter-writer to lawmakers.)

By ABC News By LAUREN MORTON A Pennsylvania man was briefly the richest man in the world–or maybe the poorest. Chris Reynolds opened his PayPal statement and was shocked to read that he had $92 quadrillion in his account. “Well, initially I was a little jolted because I saw a negative number in front of a lot of digits and I just decided to have a little fun with it,” Reynolds said. He posted a copy of the statement on Facebook, which garnered a few laughs from his friends. The actual amount read “-92, 233, 720, 368, 547, 800.00.” PayPal immediately recognized the error and sought to rectify the situation. “PayPal was really good by the way,” Reynolds assured. “They apologized for any inconvenience.” The public relations executive used to use PayPal when he bought vintage car parts and other supplies through eBay because the companies have a joint venture together. PayPal agreed to make a “modest,” donation to any nonprofit organization of Reynolds’ choice, which remains undisclosed. ||||| A REAL PAL WILL GIVE you a dollar when you're in need, but a PayPal will give you $92 quadrillion. Delaware County resident Chris Reynolds received just such a shocking delivery from PayPal on Friday, when he opened his monthly statement from the online money-transfer company via email and saw that his ending balance was $92,233,720,368,547,800. "I'm just feeling like a million bucks," Reynolds told the Daily News yesterday. "At first I thought that I owed quadrillions. It was quite a big surprise." Reynolds, 56, of Media, said he's been a PayPal customer for about 10 years and uses it to buy and sell items on eBay, including vintage car parts. He said he usually spends no more than $100 a month using PayPal. |||||

– It's not too often you see the word "quadrillionaire" in a headline. Actually, probably never, considering Chris Reynolds of Media, Penn., was the first man to ever be one—albeit very, very briefly. Reynolds opened his PayPal statement this month to find he had been credited $92,233,720,368,547,800. (As ABC News explains, his account read "-92,233,720,368,547,800.00," which represented not a negative balance but a credit.) But as the saying goes, his good fortune was fleeting: He logged on to find his balance had been reverted to zero. PayPal addressed the mishap Wednesday, telling the BBC, "This was obviously an error and we appreciate that Mr. Reynolds understands this was the case." As a thank you for that understanding, it has offered to make a donation to the charity of Reynolds' choice. But what PayPal told Reynolds had to smart a bit: It apologized for the "inconvenience," he says. Turns out it's an inconvenience for the rest of us, too: Had the balance been a correct one, Reynolds tells the Philadelphia Daily News he would have used it to "pay the national debt down. Then I would buy the Phillies, if I could get a great price." (In other tales of riches denied, click to read about inventors who saw no windfall from their big idea.)

FILE - In this Oct. 16, 2014 file photo, lawyer and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani calls for the dismissal of a lawsuit filed against video game giant Activision by former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega outside Los Angeles Superior court in Los Angeles. During an appearance on CBS' "Face... (Associated Press) FILE - In this Oct. 16, 2014 file photo, lawyer and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani calls for the dismissal of a lawsuit filed against video game giant Activision by former Panamanian dictator... (Associated Press) ||||| Tweet with a location You can add location information to your Tweets, such as your city or precise location, from the web and via third-party applications. You always have the option to delete your Tweet location history. Learn more ||||| Following last week’s tragedies in Louisiana, Minnesota and Texas, New York City’s former Mayor Rudy Giuliani made some shocking comments, including stating that black children have a 99% chance of killing each other. The reality is, blacks are killed by other black people a majority of the time, just as whites are killed by whites a majority of the time. But what his words show is an appalling lack of understanding of the notion that the issue of fighting crime in black and brown neighborhoods must include the fact that police crime embellishes the chaos in those communities and must be dealt with as well. It is that repeated and documented pattern of profiling, excessive force and shootings by police that we see in our communities and not in others. If we are to ever solve the issue of crime, we must tackle all crime — including crime committed by those who wear a badge. My organization, National Action Network, has dedicated over 25 years toward fighting for social justice and equality across the board. That struggle includes reducing crime and uplifting our communities on every level. In addition to holding gun buyback events, we’ve coordinated programs like “Occupy The Corner” in cities like Chicago in order to help diffuse shootings. The residents of that community, and others around the nation, fully understand the challenges facing them, which includes the manner in which law enforcement sometimes interacts with them. Rudy Giuliani calls Black Lives Matter ‘inherently racist’ We cannot have neighborhoods under siege by both those that may be doing criminal acts and by those that are supposed to be protecting citizens from danger. Society can no longer ignore the fact that policing in white communities is starkly different than it is in communities of color. Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani doesn't understand the impact that police crime has on neighborhoods of color, Sharpton says. A clear example of this disparity is when the stop-and-frisk program was heavily touted and implemented in places like New York City. According to the NYCLU, a weapon was found only in 1.8% of blacks and Latinos who were frisked, but was found in 3.8% of whites who were frisked. Despite stats like this, the number of stops of young black men exceeded the entire population of young black men in the city itself. That is just outrageous. When things like profiling, pulling people over disproportionately, searching people walking down the street excessively, locking people up unreasonably and shooting people unnecessarily are all realities, then we have a severe problem in this country. We must have a sincere commitment to address crime not only on one side (while excusing crimes on your own side), but as it takes place whether at the hands of a citizen or someone in uniform. Blacks don’t make excuses about their communities, therefore police, officials and ex-officials shouldn’t make excuses for those officers that cross the line and abuse their power. Mo. cop kills Black Lives Matter supporter after break-in According to The Guardian’s data tracker, “The Counted,” 136 Black people have been killed by police in 2016 alone. Ask yourself, how many cops have gone to jail or even been remotely held accountable? Philando Castile's death helped fuel rage throughout the nation. (Lavish Reynolds via Facebook) Rather than choosing which crimes we want to focus on, there should be a total commitment to all crimes. To exclude alleged police abuse and misconduct is not the answer — it only adds to the problem. This isn’t about taking sides, but rather it is about having a society that’s crime free from both bad officers and bad citizens. Police should enforce the law, but they are not above it. I have never been one that justifies black-on-black crime. I’ve preached at many funerals, including that of a 4-year-old who was shot and killed by a stray bullet. I have seen the anguish and pain in a parent’s eyes firsthand after such a tragedy. But I have also seen the same pain when a parent loses a loved one at the hands of those who were supposed to serve and protect them. I have stood alongside grieving mothers, fathers and grandparents who cannot comprehend how their child was shot and killed for reaching for a wallet, for simply walking down the street, for just driving home or a slew of other unfathomable and unjustifiable reasons. Just like we arrest and charge criminals, we must arrest and charge the bad cops so that there is accountability and fairness under the law. Anytime someone says that you shouldn’t question police or the system, then the nation loses. We fight and march when there is an anti-gay killing in Orlando, when there is a black-on-black killing, when nine Church members are shot and killed in a hate crime and when police break the law or are alleged to have broken the law. Castile’s fiancée calls into service honoring slain Dallas cops If we genuinely want to improve relations between law enforcement and the communities they serve, then we must have the consistency to hold everyone responsible for his or her actions in order to heal society. Otherwise, we’re simply shifting blame and that is a delay tactic none of us can afford. Sharpton is founder of the National Action Network. Sign up for BREAKING NEWS Emails privacy policy Thanks for subscribing! ||||| Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) says his criticism of the Black Lives Matter movement does not mean he is indifferent to black suffering. “Don’t tell me I don’t care about black lives,” he said Monday on Fox News’s “Fox & Friends." "I had an uncle who died in the line of duty. I had uncles who went out every night and tried to protect black people and white people and all people. ADVERTISEMENT “A lot of the protection of this city of New York is for black people because 70 percent of the murders in New York City are black. So it has to be that way. I believe I saved a lot more black lives than Black Lives Matter.” Giuliani also said he is not backing down from his charge that “black lives matter” is a fundamentally racist phrase. “It is inherently racist because No. 1, it divides us,” he said. "All lives matter. All lives matter — black lives, white lives, all lives. “No. 2, the Black Lives Matter never protests when every 14 hours someone is killed in Chicago, probably 70–80 percent of the time a black person. Where are they then? Where are they when the young black child is killed?” Giuliani on Sunday said the phrase “Black Lives Matter” is both “anti-American” and “inherently racist.” National debate is raging over the role of the Black Lives Matter movement following the fatal shooting of two African-American men by police in separate incidents last week. |||||

– Rudy Giuliani is being criticized after calling the term "black lives matter" ''inherently racist"—and he's not backing down. During a Sunday appearance on CBS' Face the Nation, Giuliani said "when you say black lives matter, that's inherently racist." He went on to say "black lives matter. White lives matter. Asian lives matter. Hispanic lives matter. That's anti-American and it's racist," the AP reports. In a Monday appearance on Fox & Friends he doubled down, saying, per the Hill, "A lot of the protection of this city of New York is for black people because 70% of the murders in New York City are black. ... I believe I saved a lot more black lives than Black Lives Matter." In a New York Daily News column, the Rev. Al Sharpton says Giuliani's comments reveal "an appalling lack of understanding" of the issue, and cites "that repeated and documented pattern of profiling, excessive force, and shootings by police that we see in our communities and not in others."

Facebook Twitter Google Plus Embed 0:48 autoplay autoplay Copy this code to your website or blog Doctors were forced amputate a man's foot and part of his leg after it was shredded in a mall's escalator — the third such incident in China in less than a week. The 35-year-old was cleaning the device in Shanghai's Changning district when his leg became caught between the revolving stairs and the floor plate, according to the South China Morning Post. The employee's lost his foot. In a statement, the mall told the paper that that it was investigating the incident, adding that the worker had "improperly" stepped on his mop. "The brush of the mop was trapped inside the gap in the stairs, which caused cracks in the comb plate," the statement said. The incident came just six days after a 30-year-old woman was killed by an escalator at another mall in the central city of Jingzhou. Footage released by China Central Television showed the trapped victim thrusting her young son into the arms of nearby employees before a panel collapsed and she fell down into the mechanism of the still-running escalator. Days later, a one-year-old boy's left arm was mangled by an escalator in Guangxi province, the South China Morning Post reported. ||||| Shanghai doctors were forced to amputate a shopping mall cleaner's foot after it was trapped in an escalator on the weekend, barely a week after a woman died in similar circumstances in Hubei province. The 35-year-old man, identified only as Zhang, was mopping the escalator's steps at the Longemont Shopping Mall in Changning district on Saturday when his left foot was caught in the section where the stairs meet the floorplate. He cried out for help, shouting his leg was broken. The foot was so badly injured that doctors had to amputate it, the website of the Shanghai-based Xinmin Evening News reported on Sunday. Watch: Cleaner at Shanghai mall has leg amputated after it becomes stuck in an escalator (WARNING: VIDEO CONTAINS STRONG IMAGES) "The doctor said he had to amputate the [foot] to avoid the injuries from deteriorating," the report quoted an unnamed family member of the victim as saying, adding that Zhang had worked at the mall for three months. According to news portal Eastday.com Zhang said he felt the escalator shaking as his left foot was trapped. "But the escalator did not stop and I had to press the emergency button," he was quoted as saying. But the shopping mall said Zhang had "improperly" stepped on his mop. "The brush of the mop was trapped inside the gap in the stairs, which caused cracks in the comb plate," the mall said in a statement. Shanghai safety authorities said last night that the incident occurred when Zhang used a mop to clean the escalator, China News Service reported. It was the second serious incident involving an escalator on the mainland in a week; 30-year-old mother Xiang Liujuan died after she fell through an escalator floorplate at a shopping mall in Jingzhou . Xiang pushed her two-year-old son to safety before being dragged into the machinery. An official investigation later revealed the plates had worked themselves loose and were improperly designed. Saturday marked the seventh day after Xiang's death, an important day of mourning in Chinese tradition. The escalator that killed Xiang was made by the Suzhou Shenlong Elevator Company, while the one involved in the Shanghai incident was manufactured by Shanghai Mitsubishi Elevator Company. The Hubei Bureau of Quality and Technical Supervision called for safety checks on all Shenlong escalators installed in the province and for them to be taken offline until the accident investigation was completed and measures had been taken to rectify any problems. Shanghai's quality inspection authority also said 90 Shenlong escalators had been taken out of operation in the city. Shanghai has 17,118 escalators and moving pavements in malls and other public venues, according to the Oriental Morning Post. Shanghai authorities said they carried out safety checks on all escalators last week and found "safety risks" with Shenlong machines of the same type as that in the Hubei accident. In another incident on Saturday, a six-year-old boy's foot was stuck in an escalator at a Beijing mall. He sustained minor injuries, The Beijing News reported. Shanghai Metro said last month that there were 120 reports of passengers falling down escalators in the first quarter, and most of the injured were elderly. |||||

– Another day, another devastating escalator accident in China. An employee at Longemont Shopping Mall in Shanghai's Changning district had his foot and part of his leg amputated after becoming trapped in an escalator on Saturday, according to the South China Morning Post. The worker, identified simply as Zhang, was cleaning the escalator with a mop when he reportedly stepped on it. The mall described the 35-year-old's action as an "improper" one, and said the mop's brush became "trapped inside the gap in the stairs, which caused cracks in the comb plate." Video of the incident shows the escalator's floor plate breaking away, and Zhang's left foot falling inside the moving staircase. A relative reportedly told local media, "The doctor said he had to amputate the [foot] to avoid the injuries from deteriorating." The accident is the fourth escalator tragedy in China in a week. As previously reported, Xiang Liujuan, 30, was killed a week before Zhang's incident when she similarly fell through an escalator floor plate at Anliang department store in Hubei province. A graphic video shows Xiang pushing her son to safety before she is sucked to her death. Days after that accident, a 1-year-old's arm was seriously injured after it became trapped in an escalator in Guangxi province, NBC News reports, and a 6-year-old was injured Saturday after his foot was caught in an escalator in Beijing. The incidents have led to escalator quality inspections in Shanghai and Hubei. (Workers reportedly warned the mother just before she was swallowed by the escalator.)

Students protest the election of Donald Trump as president after walking out of classes from nearby schools, Monday, Nov. 14, 2016, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) (Associated Press) Students protest the election of Donald Trump as president after walking out of classes from nearby schools, Monday, Nov. 14, 2016, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) (Associated Press) LOS ANGELES (AP) — Students left high school classrooms by the thousands, carrying their signs and their chanting voices into the streets of several U.S. cities nearly a week after Donald Trump's election. They walked out Monday in California, Colorado, Maryland, Washington and other states, many declaring concerns over the president-elect's comments about minorities and the effect he will have on their communities. Some of Trump's supporters have called for the demonstrations to stop, including former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who dismissed the protesters as "spoiled crybabies." Trump has accused some of being "professional protesters," although he said in a "60 Minutes" interview broadcast Sunday that he also believes some are afraid for the country's future "because they don't know me." Here's a look at some of Monday's protests: ___ LOS ANGELES More than a thousand students from several schools on Los Angeles' heavily Hispanic east side marched out of classes. The demonstrations began at Garfield High School, the subject of the 1988 film "Stand and Deliver" focusing on teacher Jaime Escalante's successful college-level math programs. Students with signs and slogans headed to nearby Mariachi Plaza. They were joined by hundreds of students from several schools, many shouting, "Say it loud. Say it clear. Immigration, welcome here." Some carried signs that read "Deport Trump," while others waved the U.S., Mexican and gay pride flags. Many said they have relatives and friends in the country illegally who they fear will be deported. Brian Rodriguez, 16, was born in the U.S. to parents from Mexico and Guatemala. He said he was offended by Trump's criticism of Latinos. "It hurt me inside knowing somebody from outside our race is talking bad about us," said Rodriguez, carrying a sign reading, "Brown and Proud." Rodriguez said his school's principal opened the gates and told students they could participate. Nancy Meza, a community organizer who announced the walkout, said she helped students organize after they reached out to her. "It was really out of frustration of students wanting to voice their opinions," Meza said. "And wanting to feel protected." ___ OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA Hundreds of students from a dozen high schools in Oakland skipped classes to demonstrate. They called on California cities to remain sanctuaries for people in the country illegally, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee vowed Monday to maintain that status. Administrators had hoped students would return to class quickly, but they did not ask them to stop protesting, Oakland Unified School District spokesman John Sasaki said. "We support our students' First Amendment rights," he said. ___ DENVER About 200 middle- and high-school students left two Denver charter schools to march to the state Capitol, where they chanted and held up signs saying, "Millennial voice matters" and "Make peace not war." Police and school officials escorted the students along city streets to ensure their safety. The protesters called out "Si, se puede" — Spanish for "Yes, we can" — and "The people united will never be divided." Noelie Quintero, 17, said they represented Latinos, Muslims, women and others marginalized by Trump. "We're not going anywhere — we're going to continue to stand strong," she said. "Even though we're only 16- and 17-year-olds and we can't vote, our voice matters. What we believe matters, and we're not going to stop." ___ PORTLAND, OREGON In a city that has seen large and destructive protests, a few hundred students from several schools walked out of class to gather in the rain near City Hall. The group held signs saying "Students for change" and "Love trumps hate." They marched across a bridge, some of them climbing up it, while officers stopped traffic. It was peaceful, following smashed windows and other vandalism at recent rallies. Daily demonstrations have led to $1 million in damage and more than 100 arrests. A protest organizer says activists were contacting counterparts in New York, Boston, Washington, D.C., and other cities in an effort to stop Trump from prevailing on his issues. "Trump is going to be president, so we need to prepare for that," said Greg McKelvey of the group Portland's Resistance. McKelvey said they want to ensure local governments fight racial disparities in policing and help address global warming. ___ SEATTLE Thousands of students across Seattle chanted as they marched in the streets and waved "Not My President" or "Love Wins" signs. Seattle Public Schools spokesman Luke Duecy reported more than 5,000 students from 20 middle and high schools walked out of classes Monday. Some said they oppose Trump's divisive rhetoric and wanted to show support for those he targeted, such as Muslims or immigrants. Others say they came to support their friends or simply to observe. High school senior Rose Taylor, who is bisexual, says she worries about what Trump's election will mean for the LGBT community and others. Police say two men, who were not students, were arrested in connection with the protest. ___ SILVER SPRING, MARYLAND Hundreds of high school students left campus and took to the streets to declare their opposition to Trump, while hundreds more gathered for a rally at a school football stadium. About 800 Montgomery Blair High School students attended the rally at the stadium, and most returned to class afterward, Montgomery County Public Schools spokeswoman Gboyinde Onijala said. The ones who left joined students from nearby Northwood High School, making up a gathering that Onijala estimated at 200 to 300, some of them chanting, "Not my president." Police Capt. Paul Starks says the protesters were peaceful except for one bottle-throwing incident. No one was hurt. ___ Associated Press writers Christine Armario in Los Angeles; Andrew Selsky in Portland, Oregon; Phuong Le in Seattle; and Sarah Brumfield in Washington contributed to this story. ___ This story has been corrected to show Jaime Escalante's name was misspelled Jamie. ||||| Top Donald Trump campaign advisers who have taken charge of the president-elect’s transition team are casting aside much of the work on Cabinet picks that New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and his aides put in place over several months — and leaving behind a far more chaotic operation dominated by Trump loyalists. Trump aides have nixed at least one Christie-backed person being considered for a Cabinet position in the aftermath of last Friday’s shakeup, a person closely tracking the transition told POLITICO. Story Continued Below The transition team has yet to publicly release a code of ethics for itself or for nominees. And an aide to a person being considered for a top Cabinet position said the person had not yet been asked to complete a detailed questionnaire to suss out red flags. Trump was slated to meet Tuesday with Vice President-elect Mike Pence, who now leads the team, to review names in hopes of announcing nominees for key Cabinet posts in the coming weeks. "Obviously, Inauguration Day is not getting further away," transition spokesman Jason Miller told reporters waiting in Trump Tower Monday night. "And people need to get going. This is an absolute top priority understood by the president-elect and the vice president-elect.” By comparison, President-elect Barack Obama’s transition team was deep into the vetting process by early November 2008 — not just meeting with prospective nominees but also compiling fat dossiers on them, according to emails made public through WikiLeaks. The Obama team also released a code of ethics for transition team members just a few days after the election to limit the influence of special interests. The Trump transition team, meanwhile, is full of lobbyists and has not released such a code. “It’s a lot of new people coming in the door. I’m sure their heads are spinning, with security clearances and background checks,” said one transition team source. “They’re going from the footloose and fancy-free world of the campaign into the process of setting up a government. It’s a little different.” The demotion of Christie and his top aides — Rich Bagger, Christie’s former chief of staff, and William Palatucci, a former Christie law partner and the transition’s general counsel — sent shock waves through the team’s ranks. Bagger and Palatucci worked behind the scenes for months to create a methodical operation that was less drama-filled than the New York-based campaign shop. They played a central role in hiring transition staff, developing an infrastructure, setting up policy- and agency-focused teams and culling shortlists for top administration jobs. The shakeup “definitely caused some confusion,” said one person on Trump’s transition team. “There’s been a lot of dust that’s been kicked up.” Among those departing is former House Intelligence Chairman Mike Rogers, who said Tuesday that the group’s work “will provide a strong foundation for the new transition team leadership as they move into the post-election phase, which naturally is incorporating the campaign team in New York who drove President-elect Trump to an incredible victory last Tuesday.” At one point, members of the transition team even talked with good-government types — some of them Democrats, such as former Obama administration ethics czar Norm Eisen — to think through a code of ethics for the team. “I and others appealed to both sides in this election to put in these tough rules, starting in the transition, because that is where the tone is set,” he said. The transition team has not yet made public its internal code of conduct, nor did it respond to a request for comment about it. Nonetheless, Trump’s closest aides are meeting with prospective candidates in hopes of announcing nominees for key Cabinet posts in the coming weeks, sources told POLITICO. Going forward, sources familiar with the team said they expect the operation to have a more top-down structure, with the president-elect’s closest advisers, such as Pence, Sen. Jeff Sessions, newly named chief of staff Reince Priebus, political strategist Steve Bannon and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner bulldozing much of the former transition leaders’ existing work and making Cabinet decisions on their own, in consultation with Trump. Trump’s aides are focused on recruiting allies and loyalists who they have long hoped to install in top Cabinet posts, such as Sessions, or as Treasury secretary, Steven Mnuchin, a Trump donor and Goldman Sachs veteran. One person who has talked to transition officials compared their approach to that of Dick Cheney, who ran George W. Bush’s transition team. “Cheney had his own list in his head, and he appointed the people he wanted,” the person said, adding that there are factions within the Trump transition — including Sessions loyalists, Heritage Foundation wonks, Trump’s campaign staff and conservative activists who admire Pence — that are each pushing their preferred candidates. The transition team is also working to develop cohesive policies aimed at vetting nominees and protecting against conflicts of interest. Trump’s transition website, greatagain.gov, says candidates for jobs in his administration will be subjected to a full FBI background check and must complete a “Personal Data Statement.” The statement includes questions about “possible conflicts of interest deriving from your sources of income; all aspects of your personal and professional life, including organizations to which you belong or once belonged; speeches you may have given and books, articles and editorials you may have written; legal, administrative and regulatory proceedings to which you may have been a party,” according to the website, which urges candidates to disclose “anything that might embarrass the President or you if he should choose you for a position in his administration.” If the transition team follows through on that plan, it would subject Cabinet nominees and top White House staff to a greater level of scrutiny than Trump himself received. He was the first presidential candidate in modern history to refuse to release his tax returns, leaving Americans in the dark about his own possible conflicts on financial matters and dealing with foreign governments. Past transition teams have generally subjected Cabinet nominees and other top administration officials to a rigorous in-house screening before announcing their nominations — and before nominees face questions from the White House Office of Government Ethics, the Office of Personnel Management and key Senate committees. Obama infamously asked Cabinet candidates to complete a seven-page form with 63 separate requests for information. A WikiLeaks email from Nov. 2, 2008 shows the extensive vetting of James Steinberg, which involved a total of nine lawyers and a deep dive into his past. Steinberg later served as deputy secretary of state. So far, the Trump transition team does not seem particularly concerned, for instance, about a transition team staffed heavily with lobbyists from energy, agriculture, transportation and banking. “Frankly, one of the refreshing parts of it about the whole Trump style is that he does not care about political correctness. From a practical standpoint, I have heard lots of people say, ‘Why would we box ourselves out of the most knowledgeable policy people in the country?’” said one source close to the transition team. Donald McGahn II, a partner at the firm Jones Day and Trump’s lawyer, is expected to play a central role in vetting nominees. So is Arthur Culvahouse Jr., a partner at the firm O’Melveny & Myers, who helped vet vice presidential candidates and, according to a source, has been helping the campaign organize its White House picks. Culvahouse declined a request for an interview. None of the lawyers in the political law practice at Jones Day returned POLITICO’s calls. Culvahouse has faced backlash from colleagues at his firm for working with Trump, according to people familiar with the situation, with one person saying the decision was “amazingly controversial” within the firm. Many top partners at O’Melveny, including Tom Donilon, were vocal backers of Hillary Clinton. ||||| Official: Trump's children have not sought security clearances Donald Trump's transition organization refuted a CBS report that the President-elect wants his children to have top-level security clearances. A transition official said that Trump has not requested for his children that they be granted this type of clearance, nor did he expect that to occur. Story Continued Below "That's not something I'm expecting right now," the official said, according to pool reports. Earlier, Rep. Adam Kinzinger downplayed the notion that this type of clearance would be a big deal. "There's a lot of people, by the way, in the country that have top-secret security clearance — basically anybody that does what I do in the military gets it," Kinzinger (R-Ill.) told CNN's Wolf Blitzer. "It's a level that you have to go through some intense background, but that's different than what would be considered basically presidential-level security, and I'm not sure what that's called or that classification. But basically you're exposed to anything the president has, versus just top secret." The Illinois lawmaker served three tours of duty in Iraq and two Afghanistan as a pilot serving in Air Force Special Operations and Air Combat Command, among other posts. Authors: ||||| WASHINGTON—Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani is the leading candidate to be President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of state, people familiar with the matter said, a move that would elevate a well-known national figure to become the U.S.’s chief diplomat. Mr. Trump’s aides have also considered former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton as a possible candidate, but the close relationship between Messrs. Giuliani and Trump was a major consideration, the people said. ... ||||| As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to fight gridlock in Washington, the city he leaves behind should get ready for the real thing. The NYPD and the Secret Service are negotiating how to secure Trump Tower, the President-elect’s home and headquarters, with measures that could include shutting down Fifth Ave. The two agencies are scheduled to meet Thursday to develop plans to keep troublemakers at bay, according to a police source, who said the Secret Service wants to keep traffic off the busy avenue whenever Trump is in town. But top brass in the Police Department have argued that shutting down even a portion of one of the city’s major avenues would be a nightmare that “can’t happen.” Obama calls Trump 'pragmatic' in post-election press conference Front page of Tuesday's edition of the New York Daily News. (New York Daily News) “It’s a negotiation,” the source said. “Their job is to keep the President safe. Our job is to keep the President safe, but also let the people who live and work and visit there have some semblance of normality. It won’t be complete normality, but it’ll be adjusted normality.” It was unclear how many blocks of Fifth Ave. would have to be closed to accommodate stepped-up security at the building between 56th and 57th Sts. A spokesman for the Secret Service had no comment Monday regarding security or negotiations with the NYPD. Protests erupt around the country after Donald Trump is elected president The area around Trump Tower has been the epicenter of protests since Trump’s surprise election victory last week. Donald Trump may appoint openly gay man as UN ambassador The building has been blocked by concrete barriers to keep away protesters and thwart potential car or truck bombs. The glass tower, which opened in 1983, was built before 9/11 and is not fitted to withstand a terror attack. The building includes retail, office and residential space. President-elect Donald Trump is preparing for gridlock in Washington. (CARLO ALLEGRI/REUTERS) The Federal Aviation Administration has already declared a no-fly zone over the Midtown skyscraper until Trump is sworn in Jan. 21. The urgency surrounding the security measures was ratcheted up after talk Trump may not spend all of his time at the White House. Vladimir Putin congratulates Donald Trump for winning election The billionaire may still try to spend much of his time in his $100 million, three-story apartment on the building’s 58th floor. Donald Trump's road to the White House as President-elect But the Secret Service is reportedly trying to talk him out of it, according to London’s The Telegraph. Merchants said all the attention has been bad for business. Henri Bendel, the retailer directly across Fifth Ave. from the President-elect’s home, closed at 2 p.m. on Saturday and 3:45 p.m. on Sunday. ‘The Simpsons’ on Trump president prediction: 'Being right sucks' It was unclear how many blocks of Fifth Ave. would have to be closed to accommodate increased security at Trump Tower. (Susan Watts/New York Daily News) It is normally open until 8 p.m. those days. The store has also endured fallout from the protests in another way. The theme of the store’s annual holiday window is love — in the form of a “Love Wall” being installed by artist James Goldcrown. Protesters swamped Fifth Ave. on Wednesday as Goldcrown was putting up his love-themed mural. The window is officially unveiled Tuesday. Congestion on Fifth Ave. around Trump Tower on Monday. (James Keivom/New York Daily News) Michael Townsend, 41, of Weehawken, N.J., was in the neighborhood for a job interview. He said the new security measures are “chilling.” To Alec Baldwin: America needs your Trump impersonation “They don’t want to hear us.” Townsend said. “They don’t want to acknowledge there’s a lot more to America than the people who support Trump. So they’re going to shut this whole place down. “I’ve had so many conversations, from people who are afraid, to those being condemned. We need to fight and we need to take a stand." Paul Rossen, 54, a comedy club manager selling “NOT MY PRESIDENT” buttons on the corner of Fifth Ave. and 56th St., said he had mixed feelings about the potential lockdown. “The first thing they did was a good idea, with the dump trucks surrounding the buildings,” Rossen said. “I think there has to be a balance between incredible risk and being left alone. Airports are a great example. Everyone is getting searched and no one is complaining. Dunham on Trump’s call for unity: ‘You have to protect yourself’ “I’ve been protesting out here six months, most of it right in front of Trump Tower. All I can say is the balance between free speech and danger must be considered. Three blocks seems like a bit much. If that happens, they’re going to enjoy a lot more protests. I don’t see how that helps anyone.” With Joe Dziemianowicz ||||| President Obama held his first news conference since voters sharply rejected his candidate and his party at the polls last week, reassuring people at home and abroad that Donald Trump was committed to governing in a more pragmatic fashion than his harsh campaign style would suggest. “He’s going to be the next president and regardless of what experience or assumptions he brought to the office,” said Obama, who met with Trump for the first time last week. “This office has a way of waking you up.” Obama faced reporters crammed into the James S. Brady Briefing Room on Monday before leaving Washington for a week-long foreign trip to Greece, Germany and Peru, where he will meet with more than a dozen foreign leaders with their own set of worries about where the United States is headed under its next president. At moments the president offered advice to his successor that sometimes sounded like a warning. He urged Trump to respect “those norms that are vital to a functioning democracy,” such as “civility and tolerance and a commitment to reason and facts and analysis.” For months Obama had accused candidate Trump of breaching those norms during a bitter and contentious campaign. After last week’s shocking election results, Obama struck a more sanguine note. “I think he’s sincere in wanting to be a successful president and moving this country forward,” Obama said. “I don’t think any president ever comes in saying to himself, ‘I want to figure out how to make people angry or alienate half the country.’ ” President Obama said during a news conference Monday that it's "healthy" for the Democratic Party to go through reflection. "When your team loses, everyone gets deflated," Obama said. (The Washington Post) The president sought to reassure U.S. allies, noting that in his conversation with Trump last week, the New York businessman “expressed a great interest in maintaining our core strategic relationships,” including the one with NATO. As he visits with world leaders, Obama vowed to let them know “that there is no weakening of resolve” when it comes to America meeting its commitments and defending its allies. Throughout the hour-long news conference, Obama sought to calm and reassure a jittery and divided country, choosing his words carefully and emphasizing unity over division. On many issues the president conceded that he and Trump continue to have competing visions on where to take the country and that his worries about Trump’s fitness for office and temperament haven’t disappeared. “Of course I have got concerns,” Obama said. He sought solace in the notion that change in Washington usually takes time. “The federal government and our democracy is not a speedboat. It’s an ocean liner,” Obama said. And he expressed hope that on issues such as the Affordable Care Act, the Iran nuclear deal and the Paris Agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Trump would modify his position. “I don’t think he is ideological. I think, ultimately, he is pragmatic,” Obama said. “And that can serve him well as long as he has got good people around him and he has a clear sense of direction.” President Obama said that his administration "stands ready" to assist President-elect Donald Trump and his staff as they transition to the White House in January. (Victoria Walker/The Washington Post) The president declined to comment on Trump’s highest-profile and most controversial appointment so far — senior counselor and chief strategist Stephen K. Bannon, former chief executive of the conservative website Breitbart News. Bannon is closely associated with the alt-right movement, which white nationalists have embraced. “Without copping out, I think it’s fair to say that it would not be appropriate for me to comment on every appointment that the president-elect starts making if I want to be consistent with the notion that we are going to try to facilitate a smooth transition,” Obama said. The president declined to answer a question on whether he still saw Trump as unfit to serve in the Oval Office — a criticism he had leveled more than once during the campaign — and instead emphasized that he had counseled the president-elect to reach out to some constituencies that had not supported his bid. “It is important to send some signals of unity” to minorities, women and other groups “that were concerned about the tenor of the campaign,” Obama said. In a sign of how Obama has been working doggedly to influence Trump to preserve some of his administration’s landmark achievements, the president spoke of the need to improve the Affordable Care Act rather than jettison it. He made a passionate case for not forcing children of undocumented immigrants to leave the country. “I will urge the president-elect and the incoming administration to think long and hard before they are endangering the status of what, for all practical purposes, are American kids,” he said. Going before the media soon after a major election is a rite of passage for the president. In Obama’s case, only one of these exchanges has been celebratory. While he could embrace his 2012 reelection victory, both the 2010 and 2014 midterms and now the election of his successor have amounted to serious setbacks. Six years ago, Obama called the Democrats’ congressional losses a “shellacking”; in 2014, he declined to characterize the results, saying instead to the American people, “I hear you.” Obama spent much less time talking about what contributed to Democrats’ latest losses, which were punctuated by disappointing turnout among some minority groups and a poor showing in rural areas and some key suburbs. But he acknowledged that Democrats need to engage in “some reflection” about the way they campaign and connect with the American people. “I believe that we have better ideas, but I also believe that good ideas don’t matter if people don’t hear them,” he said. “We have to compete everywhere. We have to show up everywhere.” Much of the president’s hour-long news conference was dominated by questions of his view of Trump’s character, temperament and fitness for office. Obama offered careful praise for Trump’s ability to galvanize his constituency. “What’s clear is that he was able to tap into, yes, the anxieties, but also the enthusiasm of his voters in a way that was impressive,” the president said. He observed that Trump was “impervious to events that might have sunk another candidate. That’s powerful stuff.” But Obama cautioned that Trump would not be able to govern as he campaigned: “There are going to be certain elements of his temperament that will not serve him well unless he recognizes them and corrects them.” |||||

– Is the Trump administration going to be a family affair? Nepotism rules prevent Donald Trump from hiring his children to serve in his administration, but sources tell CBS News that the president-elect is already looking into getting top-secret security clearances for his children, a move that, for now, would have to be approved by the current administration. They could get the clearances by being declared national security advisers. Trump kids Ivanka, Eric, and Donald Jr. are on his transition team, as well as son-in-law Jared Kushner. A member of the transition team, however, denies that top-secret clearances had been requested for Trump children, saying it's "not something I'm expecting right now," Politico reports. In other developments: The Wall Street Journal reports that Rudy Giuliani is rumored to be Trump's leading choice to replace John Kerry as secretary of state. "One never knows," Giuliani said Monday evening when asked if his job title would soon include the word "secretary." A source tells Politico that the transition team has become chaotic since Chris Christie was ousted. The insider says that in an approach reminiscent of how Dick Cheney ran George W. Bush's transition, the campaign officials that replaced Christie have discarded much of his work to focus on picking Trump loyalists. The Washington Post reports that in his first press conference since the election, President Obama described Trump as sincere about wanting to be a good president. "This office has a way of waking you up," said Obama, who was on his way out of town for a final foreign trip that will take in Greece, Germany, and Peru. A source tells the New York Daily News that the Secret Service has been holding talks with the NYPD about how to protect Trump when he's at Trump Tower. The source says the NYPD has told the Secret Service to forget about its plan to shut down Fifth Avenue whenever Trump is in town. The AP reports that students protesting Trump's election walked out of classes Monday in cities including Denver, Los Angeles, and Seattle, where more than 5,000 from 20 middle and high schools skipped classes to protest.

SEOUL/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - North Korea’s top three military officials have been removed from their posts, a senior U.S. official said, a move analysts said on Monday could support efforts by the North’s young leader to jump-start economic development and engage with the world. Kim Jong Un is preparing for a high-stakes summit with U.S. President Donald Trump in Singapore on June 12, the first such meeting between a North Korean leader and a sitting U.S. president. The U.S. official, who spoke on Sunday on condition of anonymity, was commenting on a report by South Korea’s Yonhap news agency that all three of the North’s top military officials were believed to have been replaced. Kim’s motivation remains unclear but analysts said the shake-up allows him and the ruling party to tighten control over the Korean People’s Army (KPA) at a critical time of international engagement and domestic development. “If Kim Jong Un is set on making peace with the U.S. and South Korea and dealing away at least part of the nuclear program, he will have to put the KPA’s influence in a box and keep it there,” said Ken Gause, director of the International Affairs Group at CNA, a non-profit research and analysis organization. “This reshuffle has brought to the fore the officers who can do just that. They are loyal to Kim Jong Un and no one else.” Trump revived the Singapore summit on Friday after cancelling it a week earlier. SOME DISSENT The United States is seeking a negotiated end to North Korea’s nuclear weapons program and U.S. officials believe there was some dissension in the military about Kim’s approaches to South Korea and the United States. Trump wants North Korea to “denuclearize”, or get rid of its nuclear arsenal, in return for relief from economic sanctions. North Korea’s leadership is believed to regard nuclear weapons as crucial to its survival, while Kim has said he plans to focus on economic development. The U.S. official did not identify the three ousted military officials. Citing an unidentified intelligence official, Yonhap said No Kwang Chol, first vice minister of the Ministry of People’s Armed Forces, had replaced Pak Yong Sik as defense chief, while Ri Myong Su was replaced by his deputy, Ri Yong Gil. North Korean state media previously confirmed that Army General Kim Su Gil had replaced Kim Jong Gak as director of the KPA’s General Political Bureau. The White House, State Department, CIA and Office of the Director of National Intelligence did not respond immediately to requests for official comment. South Korea’s unification and defense ministries declined to confirm the report, while an official at the Unification Ministry said the government was watching the North’s leadership very closely. South Korean foreign minister Kang Kyung-hwa had a 15-minute phone call with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday to discuss the upcoming summit between Kim and Trump, the foreign ministry in Seoul said. ECONOMIC FACTORS, PARTY CONTROL Given the military’s secondary role in the North’s nuclear and missile programs, the moves are likely more about installing a younger, even more trusted cohort of officials who Kim Jong Un can rely on as he confronts a variety of domestic and international issues, said Michael Madden, a North Korea expert at Johns Hopkins University’s 38 North website. FILE PHOTO North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspects the construction site of the Wonsan-Kalma coastal tourist area as Kim Su-gil (3rd L), newly appointed director of the General Political Bureau of the Korean People's Army, looks on, in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang. KCNA/via REUTERS/Files “The nuclear weapons are a side issue,” he said. The moves are likely linked in part to Kim Jong Un’s drive to have the military take a bigger role in critical infrastructure projects. That could explain why newly appointed director of the KPA’s General Political Bureau, Army General Kim Su Gil, accompanied Kim Jong Un on a field guidance trip to a beach tourist zone with other officials, Madden said. Kim Jong Un is also likely expecting to receive more international economic aid and investment soon as part of the ongoing talks and he wants to prevent corruption that plagued some past projects, Madden said. All of the newly promoted officials are younger than their predecessors, including 63-year-old Ri Yong Gil, who is 21 years younger than Ri Myong Su. “This points to two things: the consolidation of Kim Jong Un’s power as the sole leader of North Korea and strengthened cooperation between the North’s party and military as the country works towards further economic development,” said Yang Moo-jin, professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul. “They’re all young but capable people,” Yang said. Lower-level U.S.-North Korean talks to prepare for the summit are continuing but have made only “halting progress”, according to a second U.S. official briefed on the discussions. That official said U.S. negotiators’ efforts to press for definitions of immediate, comprehensive, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization by North Korea had run into opposition from the White House. In a remarkable shift in tone eight days after cancelling the summit, citing Pyongyang’s “open hostility”, Trump welcomed North Korea’s former intelligence chief, Kim Yong Chol, to the White House on Friday, exchanging smiles and handshakes. Yonhap reported that Kim Yong Chol had transited Beijing on Monday on his way back to Pyongyang from the United States. Slideshow (2 Images) All three of the new military officials have at least some experience interacting with foreign delegations, a factor that is critical as Kim seeks to line up meetings with leaders from the United States, China, Russia, and Syria. “They are shaping these guys up because there is going to be a lot of foreign interaction,” Madden said. “They know to sit there and not get too drunk at the parties ... they know how to behave themselves.” ||||| Three of North Korea’s top military officials have been replaced, a South Korean news agency reported Monday, marking an apparent shake-up in leader Kim Jong Un’s inner circle before next week’s planned summit with President Trump. The report by the Yonhap news agency, citing an intelligence source, could not be independently verified. But, if confirmed, the moves suggest another step in Kim’s ongoing reorganization in military leadership — this time bringing in younger military overseers to replace older ranks possibly at odds with his outreach to the United States and its ally South Korea, experts said. The officials who reportedly were dropped are from some of the highest echelons of the North’s military structure, including Ri Myong Su, the chief of general staff for the Korean People’s Army. Ri was thought to be a confidant of Kim’s father, the late leader Kim Jong Il. The others dismissed, according to Yonhap, were defense chief Pak Yong Sik and Kim Jong Gak, director of the political bureau of the North Korean army. It was unclear when the changes were carried out, but plans to replace Kim Jong Gak were reported in the North Korean media last month, Yonhap said. North Korea made no immediate reference to any military changes, and it remains difficult to assess whether the shake-up could signal a significant change in North Korean policies. It appeared, however, that it represented some level of generational shift. All the officials who were reportedly promoted were younger than those dismissed, according to Yonhap, including the new general staff chief, Ri Yong Gil, who at 63 is 21 years younger than the outgoing Ri Myong Su. To underscore the challenges in following North Korean affairs, the Yonhap agency reported erroneously in February 2016 that Ri Yong Gil had been executed as part of high-level purges. But he and the two other generals who reportedly were promoted to top positions — No Kwang Chol and Kim Su Gil — have been seen at major party and military events with the North’s leader over the past two years, according to 38 North, a website that closely follows North Korean affairs. Kim Yong Hyun, a professor of North Korean studies at Dongguk University in Seoul, said the reported new military leadership brings expertise in military-run economic affairs rather than combat strategies. This could be a sign that the North Korean leader is “pursuing a new policy to become a developing country without nuclear weapons, rather than a poor country with nuclear weapons,” he said. “He has chosen the route of pursuing denuclearization and a peace treaty through dialogue, and is appointing a new generation of military leaders to set the tone for his vision,” Kim Yong Hyun said. He described Kim’s reported move as sidelining “leaders of the past, of Kim Jong Il’s generation.” “Kim Jong Un has chosen a new leadership who reflects his new approach and can more naturally propagate his new policies to bring stability within the military,” the professor said. The military moves also may be viewed as another step by Kim to underscore his willingness to make bold internal changes ahead of the scheduled June 12 summit with Trump in Singapore. But the North has given no clear hints about how far it could go toward meeting U.S. demands to dismantle its nuclear program. Michael Madden, who runs the North Korea Leadership Watch website, said the military changes, if confirmed, are part of a gradual remake to put the armed forces in the hands of Kim loyalists. “These are guys that are Kim Jong Un guys — Kim Jong Un loyalists and people who he trusts,” Madden said, noting that Kim also may have wanted to make sure his handpicked military chiefs are in charge when he leaves for the Singapore summit. “If he doesn’t bring them to Singapore with him, it might help to have them in watch while he goes away, like a designated survivor,” Madden said. Appointing his loyalists to the top military ranks would ensure there is no communication gap or corruption that could jeopardize improving inter-Korea relationships, Madden said. The military oversees distribution of resources from the South, which likely will pick up as the two Koreas try to forge more cultural and diplomatic contacts. “It’s a good choice of support for his diplomacy efforts. It’s good to have these people in high office to provide him follow-through,” Madden said. “So if there are policies he needs to implement, these are people who are not going to be resistant to that and they will make sure his policies are implemented in a timely fashion.” Read more: Today’s coverage from Post correspondents around the world Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news |||||

– In preparation for the Singapore summit, Kim Jong Un has reportedly shaken up North Korea's military leadership—though it's not clear whether it's the kind of reshuffle that involves executions or mere demotions. According to South Korea's Yonhap news agency, all three of North Korea's top military leaders have been replaced, the Guardian reports. A senior US official confirmed to Reuters that the three leaders had been ousted. Yonhap named the military leaders as defense chief Pak Yong Sik, Korean People's Army chief of staff Ri Myong Su, and Kim Jong Gak, head of the KPA's General Political Bureau. All three men, including 84-year-old Ri Myong Su, were replaced by younger deputies. Analysts believe Kim is sidelining powerful figures from father Kim Jong Il's generation ahead of the summit. Their replacements "are guys that are Kim Jong Un guys—Kim Jong Un loyalists and people who he trusts," Michael Madden of the North Korea Leadership Watch website tells the Washington Post. Madden believes Kim made the changes because he wants to have the new military leaders in charge of the country while he is away—and to help oversee changes including possible denuclearization. "So if there are policies he needs to implement, these are people who are not going to be resistant to that and they will make sure his policies are implemented in a timely fashion," Madden says. (Syria's Bashar al-Assad is also interested in meeting Kim.)

Hayes, who has spoken frankly about growing up in public housing and being the daughter of a drug addict, acknowledged her unlikely journey and the history-making quality of her campaign. She noted that she jumped into the race “102 days ago, with no money and no network.” ||||| Tim Pawlenty stands with his wife, Mary, background left, and running mate Michelle Fischbach as he concedes his run for governor at his election night gathering at Granite City Food and Brewery, Tuesday,... (Associated Press) ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Democrats embraced diversity Tuesday in a primary night of firsts, while Republicans in Minnesota rejected a familiar face of the GOP old guard in favor of a rising newcomer aligned with President Donald Trump. In Vermont, Democrats rallied behind the nation's first transgender nominee for governor. Minnesota Democrats backed a woman who would be the first Somali-American member of Congress. And in Connecticut, the party nominated a candidate who could become the first black woman from the state to serve in Congress. Still, Democrats in Minnesota also backed a national party leader who is facing accusations of domestic violence. He has denied the allegations, yet they threaten to undercut enthusiasm in his state and beyond. On the other side, Trump tightened his grip on the modern-day Republican Party as the turbulent 2018 primary season lurched toward its finale. A one-time Trump critic, former two-term Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, lost a comeback attempt he was expected to win. All but 10 states picked their candidates for November's general election by the time the day's final votes were counted. While the full political battlefield isn't quite set, the stakes are clear: Democrats are working to topple Republican control of Congress and governors' offices across the nation. Four states held primaries Tuesday: Vermont, Connecticut, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Kansas' gubernatorial primary, which was held last week, was finalized when Republican Gov. Jeff Colyer conceded defeat. In Minnesota, Republican County Commissioner Jeff Johnson defeated Pawlenty, who once called Trump "unhinged and unfit" and was hoping to regain his old post. In Wisconsin, Gov. Scott Walker, endorsed just this week by Trump, won the right to seek a third term. The president's pick for Kansas governor, Secretary of State Kris Kobach, scored a delayed victory against Colyer, who became the first incumbent governor to fall this season. In Vermont, Democrat Christine Hallquist won the Democratic nomination in her quest to become the nation's first transgender governor. The former chief executive of Vermont Electric Cooperative bested a field of four Democrats that included a 14-year-old. While she made history on Tuesday, Hallquist faces a difficult path to the governor's mansion. Republican incumbent Phil Scott remains more popular with Democrats than members of his own party in the solidly liberal state. Vermont Democrats also nominated Sen. Bernie Sanders, who hasn't ruled out a second presidential run in 2020, for a third term in the Senate. The 76-year-old democratic socialist won the Democratic nomination, but he is expected to turn it down and run as an independent. Democrats appeared particularly motivated in Wisconsin, where eight candidates lined up for the chance to take on Walker. Walker's strong anti-union policies made him a villain to Democrats long before Trump's rise. State schools chief Tony Evers, who has clashed with Walker at times, won the Democratic nomination and will take on Walker this fall. Once a target of Trump criticism, Walker gained the president's endorsement in a tweet Monday night calling him "a tremendous Governor who has done incredible things for that Great State." Trump also starred, informally at least, in Wisconsin's Senate primaries as Republicans try to deny Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin a second term. Longtime state lawmaker Leah Vukmir, who was backed by House Speaker Paul Ryan, won the Republican primary, even after struggling to explain footage recently unearthed from 2016 in which she called Trump "offensive to everyone." Tuesday's primaries served as a test of Democratic enthusiasm in the upper Midwest, a region that has long been associated with liberal politics but has been trending red. Trump won Wisconsin by less than 1 percentage point in 2016, becoming the first Republican presidential candidate to carry the state since 1984. It was much the same in Minnesota, where Trump lost by less than 3 percentage points in a state that hasn't backed a Republican presidential contender since 1972. Nearly twice as many Minnesota Democrats as Republicans cast ballots in their parties' respective gubernatorial primaries. Pawlenty had been considered the heavy favorite in a two-person Republican contest for his old job. But he struggled to adapt to a GOP that had changed drastically since he left office in 2011 and flamed out early in a 2012 presidential bid. The former two-term governor strained to live down his October 2016 comment that Trump was "unhinged and unfit for the presidency," remarks that incensed many Republican voters in Minnesota and beyond. Johnson, his underfunded opponent, circulated Pawlenty's critique far and wide, telling voters that he was a steadfast supporter of the president. Johnson will face Democratic Rep. Tim Walz, who won a three-way race for his party's nomination. Three Minnesota women won Senate nominations, including incumbent Democrats Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith. Smith, who had been appointed to replace disgraced Democrat Al Franken, will face Republican state Sen. Karin Housley, ensuring a woman will hold the seat once held by Franken, who left Congress amid allegations of sexual misconduct toward women. Nationwide, a record number of women are running this year for governor and Congress. Meanwhile, a new scandal threatened to dampen Democratic enthusiasm. Rep. Keith Ellison, the Democratic National Committee's deputy chairman, captured his party's nomination in the race to become the state's attorney general. That's after Ellison's candidacy was rocked by allegations over the weekend of domestic violence amid a broader national outcry against sexual misconduct by powerful men in business, entertainment and politics. Ellison has denied a former girlfriend's allegations that he dragged her off a bed while screaming obscenities during a 2016 relationship she said was plagued by "narcissistic abuse." Also in Minnesota, Democrat Ilhan Omar, the nation's first Somali-American legislator, won her party's congressional primary in the race to replace Ellison. In Connecticut, Republican businessman Bob Stefanowski emerged from a field of five Republicans seeking to replace the unpopular outgoing governor, Democrat Dan Malloy. Former gubernatorial candidate Ned Lamont won the Democratic nomination. Connecticut Democrats picked a former teacher of the year, Jahana Hayes, to run for the seat vacated by Rep. Elizabeth Etsy, who is leaving Congress after bungling sexual abuse claims levied against a former staffer. Hayes could become the first black woman from the state to serve in Congress. ___ Peoples reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Scott Bauer in Madison, Wisconsin contributed to this report. ||||| Tony Evers speaks after his win in Wisconsin's Democratic gubernatorial primary election during an event at Best Western Premier Park Hotel in Madison on Tuesday. (Photo: Associated Press) MADISON - Tony Evers won an eight-way Democratic primary Tuesday, setting up a November showdown between the state's education chief and GOP Gov. Scott Walker. "We’re going to win because we're going to hold Scott Walker accountable for his reign of terror," Evers told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel shortly after the Associated Press called the race for him based on unofficial returns. Walker handily won his own primary against a political unknown, Sun Prairie businessman Robert Meyer, who raised just $270 in the first half of the year. In a string of posts on Twitter, Walker touted the state's record-low unemployment rate, his cuts to income taxes and property taxes, and his program to shore up premiums for those who buy insurance through Affordable Care Act marketplaces, CLOSE Gov. Scott Walker will face Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Evers and U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin will face state Sen. Leah Vukmir. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel "Wisconsin is working — and we are moving the state forward with our bold reforms that are having a positive impact across the state," Walker wrote. Unemployment has hit a record low, and we’ve been below the previous record low of 3 percent for 5 straight months. More people are working in Wisconsin than ever before. — Scott Walker (@ScottWalker) August 15, 2018 The primary came a day after President Donald Trump — who at times has criticized Walker — tweeted that the Wisconsin governor "has done incredible things for that Great State" and had Trump's "complete & total Endorsement." Scott Walker of Wisconsin is a tremendous Governor who has done incredible things for that Great State. He has my complete & total Endorsement! He brought the amazing Foxconn to Wisconsin with its 15,000 Jobs-and so much more. Vote for Scott on Tuesday in the Republican Primary! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 14, 2018 As the primary wrapped up, the general election kicked off, with the state Republican Party making plans to spend nearly $500,000 on TV and digital ads attacking Evers that will begin airing Thursday. On Wednesday, Walker plans to visit La Crosse, Eau Claire, Schofield, Green Bay and Waukesha, while Evers will be in Madison, Appleton and Waukesha. Both are scheduled to travel the state later in the week, as well. With Trump in the White House and liberal enthusiasm rising, Democrats view Walker as vulnerable. Republicans see Walker as strongly positioned in part because of his huge financial advantage. At the end of July, Walker had $4.9 million in his campaign account, 31 times as much as Evers had at that point. RELATED: It's Tony Evers vs. Scott Walker: 5 takeaways from the 2018 Wisconsin primary election ELECTION RESULTS:Wisconsin and Milwaukee-area fall primary election FULL COVERAGE: 2018 Wisconsin Elections On the issues, the Democrats have been largely united, with most of them saying they would end the $4 billion taxpayer-funded incentive package for Foxconn Technology Group, legalize marijuana, expand access to health care, boost spending on roads and schools, and scale back Act 10, the 2011 law that all but eliminated collective bargaining for public workers. Those stances put them in agreement with one another but deeply at odds with Walker, who has championed the Foxconn deal, his tax cuts and the state's economy. Walker opposes legalizing marijuana, has sought to overturn Obamacare and has fought with his fellow Republicans to prevent gas taxes from going up to fund roads. "He's got a bad record on roads, you name it," Evers said. "I'm equally concerned that we as Democrats provide a positive vision for the future and it starts with education and it intersects with all other areas and we’re going to take it to him." Jon Thompson, a spokesman for the Republican Governors Association, said in a statement that Democrats had chosen a "far-left, big-government politician committed to raising taxes and opposing job creation." “As the state’s top education official, Evers has consistently failed Wisconsin students, and opposed Governor Walker’s successful efforts to spur job growth throughout the state," his statement said. Evers established himself early on as the front-runner, though there were so many undecided voters that it seemed possible one of his challengers could overtake him. But no one else was able to consolidate support. In a Marquette University Law School poll last month, 31% of likely Democratic voters backed Evers and 38% were undecided. DATA ON DEMAND: Contributions to the 2018 candidates for governor Following Evers in that poll were firefighters union President Mahlon Mitchell (6%); state Sen. Kathleen Vinehout of Alma (6%); former state Democratic Party Chairman Matt Flynn (5%); Madison Mayor Paul Soglin (4%); liberal activist Mike McCabe (3%); former state Rep. Kelda Roys of Madison (3%); and attorney Josh Pade (0%). Since then, Evers, Flynn, Mitchell, Soglin and Roys began running ads. Buy Photo A voter makes his way to vote at South Shore Terrace on Tuesday. (Photo: Angela Peterson/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) All the Democrats were expected to spend virtually all their money to get through the primary, which will widen their financial gap with Walker, at least temporarily. Recognizing that, the Democratic Governors Association set up a plan to provide the nominee with post-primary advice and a financial network that Evers can now quickly tap. That won’t eliminate the fundraising gap, but Democrats hope it will mitigate it enough that Evers can withstand an expected avalanche of GOP ads. "We know they are going to carpet bomb us — that is his M.O.," Evers said of Walker. "He likes to divide people." RELATED: Dems plan to quickly pivot to general election to avoid being caught flat-footed in Wisconsin governor's race The primary came two days after Trump put Walker and other Republicans in an awkward spot by tweeting that he thought a boycott of Milwaukee-based Harley-Davidson Inc. would be "great" because the company is moving some production overseas. The company says it is doing so because of new European tariffs that came in response to Trump's tariffs. Trump has disputed that, saying the company would have shifted jobs overseas even without the tariffs. Walker said Monday he opposed a Harley boycott but supported Trump's goal of eventually eliminating tariffs. The break with Trump on the boycott didn't appear to hurt his standing with Trump, who praised Walker on Twitter less than five hours later. Evers cast Walker as beholden to Trump in his victory speech. "Donald Trump will no longer have a doormat here in Wisconsin," Evers said. RELATED: Scott Walker and GOP Senate candidates say they oppose a Harley boycott after avoiding the issue Evers, first elected in 2009, was the only Democrat in the field who has held statewide office. His background in education gives him a chance to go after Walker on an issue that Democrats see as a weak spot for the governor. His current title could cut the other way as well. Walker’s team, for instance, has noted that Evers called Walker’s last state budget “kid-friendly,” possibly limiting how effective Evers could be in arguing against Walker’s funding for schools. Democratic candidates for Wisconsin governor: (Top row, left to right) Tony Evers, Paul Soglin, Josh Pade and Kathleen Vinehout. (Bottom row, left to right) Kelda Roys, Mike McCabe, Mahlon Mitchell and Matt Flynn. (Photo: handouts from candidates) Flynn told Evers at a forum last week that Walker would "have you for lunch" because of his "kid-friendly" comment. But on Tuesday, Flynn praised Evers and said he would work with him to defeat Walker. Other Democratic candidates joined in trying to unite the party. Evers did not go as far as his Democratic opponents on some issues. For instance, he is the only Democrat to oppose making the state’s technical colleges free. And unlike many of his colleagues, he did not embrace legalizing marijuana outright, saying he would do so only if voters approved of the idea in a statewide referendum. Buy Photo Arline Jasinski feeds her ballot as poll worker Richard Koehler looks on at Franklin City Hall. (Photo: Mike De Sisti/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) Lieutenant governor In the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor, former state Rep. Mandela Barnes of Milwaukee appeared on track to defeat Sheboygan businessman Kurt Kober. Barnes will be paired with Evers on the November ballot. Incumbent Republican Rebecca Kleefisch did not have a challenger in the primary. State treasurer Businessman Travis Hartwig beat Jill Millies in the Republican primary for state treasurer. The Democratic primary hadn't been called as of 10:20 p.m. Competing in that race were businesswoman Sarah Godlewski, former communications director for the Office of the state Treasurer Cynthia Kaump and former Treasurer Dawn Marie Sass. Secretary of state Secretary of State Doug La Follette easily withstood a challenge in the Democratic primary from Madison Ald. Arvina Martin. La Follette will face Republican businessman Jay Schroeder in November. Schroeder beat U.S. Air Force veteran Spencer Zimmerman. Max Bayer of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel contributed to this report. For complete election coverage, subscribe to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal. Support local journalism SUBSCRIBE × Read or Share this story: https://jsonl.in/2MtmvO7 ||||| [Read more about Republican governors in Democratic states.] Mr. Scott’s popularity fell, however, especially among conservatives, after he signed gun control measures this year. Still, a poll in July by public media organizations in the state found two-thirds of Vermonters supported the law, and nearly half of Democrats had a favorable opinion of Mr. Scott. Only 18 percent of Democratic respondents in the same poll said they had a favorable opinion of Ms. Hallquist, and 55 percent did not yet know who she was. That may change now that Ms. Hallquist is the nominee, and she is likely to draw national attention — and fund-raising dollars — because of the historic potential of her candidacy. “She’ll raise more money and her message will get out there more,” said Eric Davis, an emeritus professor at Vermont’s Middlebury College. “Even if she doesn’t get elected governor, the greatest contribution of her campaign could be to raise awareness about the issues transgender people face.” Before she ran for governor, Ms. Hallquist spent 12 years as the chief executive of the Vermont Electric Cooperative, an in-state power utility that she helped to bring back from near ruin. Her transition from male to female took place in 2015, while she was at the helm of the company, and was the subject of a documentary film made by her son. As a candidate, she made it part of her stump speech, drawing knowing laughs from her female supporters at a fund-raiser this summer as she talked about what it was like to experience life as a woman for the first time. “I remember the first time after transitioning, a stranger walking by told me to smile — I’m like, ‘Who the heck are you to tell me to smile?’” Ms. Hallquist said. “What my transition has taught me is just how far we have to go.” ||||| Despite a late-breaking accusation of abuse from an ex-girlfriend, Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) has won the Democratic nomination for attorney general. With 34 percent of precincts reporting, he was running far ahead of four other candidates, including Mark Pelikan, a young attorney who won the party endorsement at its summer convention. Ellison is likely to face Republican Doug Wardlow, a former state legislator, for a job that no Republican has won since the 1970s. Republicans had planned to invest in the race even before this weekend, when Kate Monahan, whom Ellison had dated until 2016, shared social media posts that accused the congressman of emotional and physical abuse. ||||| U.S. Sen. Tina Smith beat Richard Painter, once the ethics chief in a Republican White House, in the DFL primary election Tuesday, setting up the state’s first U.S. Senate race with two women nominees. State Sen. Karin Housley, who won the Republican nomination, will face Smith in the fall. “It’s inspiring for all young women out there that they can make a difference,” Housley said of the historic matchup. Smith agreed. “It is a year when women feel particularly enthusiastic about stepping into the public arena, and I think that’s a good thing,” she said in an interview. Two women who won primaries Tuesday in Wisconsin also will square off in that state’s U.S. Senate race. A record-breaking 19 women have won major-party nominations for the U.S. Senate this year, according to Rutgers University’s Center for American Women in Politics. The Minnesota winner on Nov. 6 will finish the final two years of former DFL Sen. Al Franken’s term. He resigned in January amid sexual misconduct allegations. The race is crucial; Senate Republicans have a one-vote edge. Smith’s victory was “a testament to the trust that Minnesota voters have in Tina to represent their interests,” DFL Party Chairman Ken Martin said in a statement. Sen. Tina Smith Chris Hansen, director of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said in a statement that Housley “has what it takes to end left-wing Democrat Tina Smith’s brief career” in the Senate. Sen. Amy Klobuchar won the Democratic nomination easily over four little-known opponents. In her bid for a third term, she’ll face state Rep. Jim Newberger of Becker, who has served three terms in the state Legislature. He defeated three Republican candidates in the primary. Smith attributed her win to the fact that she “really listened to people.” She’ll employ the same strategy against Housley, she said. “The way elections are won in Minnesota is by talking to people and sharing what’s on their minds,” Smith said. “It sounds so simple, but it really is the thing that works.” Housley said she’ll continue in the fall campaign to work hard and talk about jobs, the economy, trade issues’ effect on farmers, and immigration. “I will continue to support our elders,” she added. She’s confident about her chances against Smith. “I am going to win,” she said. Smith, 60, was appointed to the seat by Gov. Mark Dayton, whom she had served as lieutenant governor since 2015. Before that, she was the DFL governor’s chief of staff. She was endorsed by the DFL. Housley, 54, is from St. Marys Point. She was elected to the Minnesota Senate in 2012 and in 2014 lost a race for lieutenant governor. Painter, 56, who announced in April that he was leaving the Republican Party, is a University of Minnesota law professor. He was the chief ethics lawyer for President George W. Bush from 2005 to 2007. Painter said his campaign helped call attention to ethics issues and to single-payer health care, which he endorsed. “We got a lot of attention around the country,” he said in an interview. He’ll resume teaching, Painter said. Asked if he’d consider running for office again, he said, “I don’t know. I’ll think about it.” Voters interviewed at the polls Tuesday said their decisions in the Smith-Painter race turned on support for his animosity toward President Donald Trump — whom he said should be impeached — or doubts about whether his DFL conversion was genuine. In late July, the DFL’s Martin publicly questioned whether Painter is actually a Democrat. Martin described Painter’s candidacy as “a craven act of desperation” because he is out of sync with the Republican Party. At the time, Painter said the DFL assault proved he was “a true threat to win this election.” West Foster, 24, of Minneapolis, who works for a nonprofit group, voted for Smith. “I vote as far left as I can, and I’m not too impressed with Republicans — whether they say they are or not,” he said. Paul Nelson, 50, a self-employed contractor in Minneapolis, was tempted by Painter, but he voted for Smith. “I’m a party guy,” he said. When Housley and Smith meet in November, Trump’s policies and the senator’s record will be the top issues. Smith has pledged to “stand up” to Trump. However, she has said she doesn’t think voters “want to hear us only talking about what we don’t like about this president.” Housley has tried to establish some distance between her views and style and those of the president. For example, she said this summer that she disagreed with his decision to separate immigrant families. Painter’s candidacy forced Smith to focus on wooing DFL voters. Meanwhile, GOP-endorsed Housley — who faced two candidates in the primary — made Smith her sole target. Housley made frequent references to the “failed Dayton-Smith administration,” citing MNsure and the beleaguered vehicle registration system. Cook Political Report, which handicaps campaigns, rates the race as a likely Demo­cratic win. So do Inside Elections and the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics. All three groups are nonpartisan. The fall campaign is sure to become an expensive national battlefield, with outside TV ads flooding the airwaves and national interest groups’ money flowing into the race. As of June 30, Smith had raised $4.8 million and Housley had collected $1.8 million. Retired nurse Patricia Cohen, 75, voted in Minneapolis for Smith and Klobuchar because of their support for abortion rights. “There’s an assault on women’s privacy and the right to plan their families,” she said. “For me that’s one of the defining issues of our time.” Kerry Riley, 41, a photographer and wardrobe stylist from Minneapolis, said her vote for Smith was less vital than showing up to vote — especially in the current political climate. “You have to,” she said. |||||

– In a historic moment for the transgender rights movement, former power company exec Christine Hallquist won the Democratic primary for Vermont governor Tuesday, becoming the first transgender candidate from a major party to win a gubernatorial primary. Hallquist, who transitioned from male to female in 2015, was chief executive of the Vermont Electric Cooperative before entering politics, the New York Times reports. Annise Parker of the LGBTQ Victory Fund praised the victory as a "defining moment," though she added that Hallquist won "not because of her gender identity, but because she is an open and authentic candidate ... who speaks to the issues most important to voters." In other results: Vermont also nominated Sen. Bernie Sanders to seek a third term, the AP reports. He won the Democratic primary, but is expected to run as an independent again. In Minnesota, Sen. Tina Smith defeated Richard Painter, George W. Bush's former ethics counsel, in the Democratic primary, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. In November, she will face Republican state Sen. Karin Housley in a race to decide who will finish the last two years of former Sen. Al Franken's term. Rep. Keith Ellison has won the Democratic primary for Minnesota attorney general despite allegations of domestic violence involving an ex-girlfriend that surfaced days before the election, the Washington Post reports. He placed far ahead of the other four candidates in the race, and is expected to face Republican former state lawmaker Doug Wardlow in November. In Wisconsin, Democrat Tony Evers won an eight-way gubernatorial primary and promised to end Republican Gov. Scott Walker's "reign of terror," the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. Walker, who is seeking a third term, cruised to victory in the GOP primary. Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who once called President Trump "unhinged and unfit for the presidency," was trying to get his old job back but lost the GOP primary to pro-Trump candidate Jeff Johnson, the AP reports. Former National Teacher of the Year Jahana Hayes won the Democratic primary for the House seat being vacated by scandal-plagued Rep. Elizabeth Esty, the Hartford Courant reports. If she wins in November, Hayes will be the first black Democrat from New England elected to the House.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The latest on a deadly crash on the Las Vegas Strip (all times local): Las Vegas Metro police and crime scene investigators look over a sedan believed to have been involved in an incident where police said a woman intentionally swerved her car into pedestrians on the Las... (Associated Press) People crowd on a sidewalk while police cars and ambulances gather on a street after a car drove onto a busy sidewalk and mowed down people outside a casino in Las Vegas, NV., Sunday, Dec. 20, 2015. A... (Associated Press) Police and emergency crews respond to the scene of an incident along Las Vegas Boulevard, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2015, in Las Vegas. A woman intentionally swerved her car onto a busy sidewalk two or three times... (Associated Press) 10:40 a.m. Authorities say people jumped on a car and banged on its windows as it plowed through pedestrians on a sidewalk on the Las Vegas Strip. Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo told reporters Monday that 24-year-old Lakeisha N. Holloway wouldn't stop and it appeared from video that it was an intentional act. Her 3-year-old daughter was in the car but wasn't injured. He says that after striking more than two dozen people, Holloway drove to a hotel and told a valet to call 911 after explaining what she had done. Lombardo says police believe she had a falling out with the father of her child before the crash. A drug recognition expert on the scene determined Holloway was under the influence of a "stimulant," but blood test results are pending. He says Holloway was believed to be from Oregon and had been in Las Vegas for about a week. He says investigators believe she was homeless and living in the car. ___ 9:55 a.m. A government official said five Canadians were injured by a car that crashed into pedestrians on the Las Vegas Strip. Canada's Global Affairs department spokesman John Babcock said he couldn't immediately provide information on the condition of the Canadian citizens. He says Canada is working with local authorities to provide support and assistance. University Medical Center in Las Vegas said it treated people from Montreal who needed a French translator. Authorities say a woman drove a car on and off the sidewalk into crowds Sunday night, injuring dozens. She is in custody. She had a 3-year-old in the car with her, but the child wasn't injured. ___ 9:15 a.m. Prosecutors say they expect to file murder charges and other counts against the driver who crashed into pedestrians on the Las Vegas Strip, killing an Arizona woman and injuring dozens of others. Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson said Monday that the vehicle could be considered a deadly weapon. He said, "When a person drives a 2,000-pound-plus motor vehicle intentionally onto a sidewalk, killing and injuring scores of people, that's murder." Wolfson didn't identify the woman in custody, but police have said that she's in her 20s and recently came to Vegas. A 10 a.m. press conference with the sheriff is scheduled to offer updates on the Sunday night crash. ___ 8:15 a.m. Officials say a woman from Arizona was killed when a car plowed into pedestrians on the Las Vegas Strip. Clark County Coroner John Fudenberg (FYOU'-den-berg) said Monday that 32-year-old Jessica Valenzuela of Buckeye, Arizona, died in the crash Sunday night. The coroner said the suburban Phoenix woman was visiting Las Vegas with her husband. A cause of death is pending, with an autopsy scheduled Monday. Authorities say dozens of others were injured when a woman behind the wheel of a 1996 Oldsmobile sedan intentionally drove on and off the sidewalk into crowds Sunday night. The driver is in custody. ___ 7:50 a.m. Las Vegas police say that video of a car crashing into pedestrians on the Las Vegas Strip "looks like it's very intentional." Capt. Brett Zimmerman said Monday that the car was fully on the sidewalk twice, including once when it traveled for 200 feet. He says the car went onto the sidewalk first near a restaurant at the Planet Hollywood hotel-casino and then again at the driveway entrance to the Paris Las Vegas hotel-casino. Authorities say the 1996 Oldsmobile sedan intentionally drove on and off the sidewalk into crowds Sunday night, killing one person and injuring dozens of others. The driver is in custody. ___ 7:20 a.m. Four college students from Oregon were among those hurt when a vehicle plowed into pedestrians on a sidewalk outside a Las Vegas Strip casino. Pacific University spokesman Joe Lang says the students are members of the wrestling team and were in Las Vegas to compete in a tournament. He says 19 athletes and coaches were walking together Sunday night when the woman swerved onto the sidewalk. The crash killed one person and injured dozens of others. Lang says three of the four injured students were taken to a hospital. Two students were later released, and the other was kept overnight for observation. He says the team won't compete in Monday's tournament. Pacific University is based in Forest Grove, about 30 miles west of Portland. ___ 7:10 a.m. A hospital official says three people who were injured in a crash on the Las Vegas Strip are in critical condition. University Medical Center spokeswoman Danita Cohen said Monday that their life-threatening injuries are being closely monitored at the Las Vegas hospital. Authorities say a car intentionally drove on and off the sidewalk into crowds near the Planet Hollywood casino-hotel Sunday night, mowing down dozens of pedestrians. The driver is in custody. Cohen says two others at the hospital are in serious condition. One person died there, and the rest brought in for treatment have been released, including an 11-year-old. By 6 a.m., the Las Vegas Strip had reopened after being closed for nearly 12 hours. ||||| Skip Ad Ad Loading... x Embed x Share A witness and a deputy police officer describe the scene after a woman drove her car through a crown of pedestrians in Las Vegas Sunday night. Video by Walbert Castillo for USA TODAY Police and local officials investigate the scene on the Las Vegas Strip on Dec. 20, 2015. (Photo: AFP/Getty Images) The woman accused of deliberately driving onto a packed sidewalk along the famed Las Vegas Strip told police she was stressed out by security guards chasing her from parking lots in which she had been trying to sleep, a police report indicates. Lakeisha Holloway, 24, will be charged with murder with a deadly weapon and other charges related to the incident Sunday evening that left one person dead and dozens injured. District Attorney Steven Wolfson added that it was too early to determine whether the death penalty could or would be sought. "The videos obviously show intention," Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo said at a Monday press conference. But he reiterated that there was no indication the case involved terrorism. Lombardo put the number of injured at 35 and said three people remained in critical condition. The Clark County Coroner's Office identified the person killed as Jessica Valenzuela, 32, of Buckeye, Ariz. Holloway lived in Oregon and had been in Las Vegas for about a week, apparently living in her 1996 Oldsmobile sedan and parking it at garages throughout the city, Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo said. After her arrest, Holloway "described a stressful period today where she was trying to rest/sleep inside her vehicle with her daughter but kept getting run off by security of the properties she stopped at," according to a police report obtained by The Associated Press. "She ended up on the Strip, 'a place she did not want to be,'" the report quotes her as saying. "She would not explain why she drove onto the sidewalk but remembered a body bouncing off her windshield, breaking it." Investigators said Holloway had run out of money and that she and her daughter had been living in the car. Police believe she was headed to Dallas to find her daughter's father after they had a falling out. The tragedy unfolded on Las Vegas Boulevard, steps away from the Planet Hollywood resort where the 2015 Miss Universe pageant was crowning a winner before a live audience and TV audiences around the world. Lombardo said video from bystanders and businesses shows the car roaring onto the sidewalk at least twice, smashing into panicked pedestrians. Some fought back, jumping on the car and pounding on it in an effort to make her stop, Lombardo said. Skip Ad Ad Loading... x Embed x Share Police arrested 24-year-old Lakeisha Holloway of Oregon in connection with the deadly crash that left one person dead and more than 30 injured. Video provided by Newsy Newslook She finally drove the 1996 Oldsmobile around the corner and parked it at a hotel before speaking with the valet. A 3-year-old toddler in the back seat, apparently her child, was in good condition under the care of child services, Lombardo said. Blood tests were pending. Lombardo said Holloway did not appear to be drunk when she talked with officers, but a drug expert said she appeared to be under the influence of a stimulant. On Monday, Holloway was under an around-the-clock suicide watch at the Clark County jail, deputy public defender Scott Coffee told The Associated Press. Holloway’s cousin, LaShay Hardaway, told the Los Angeles Times that Holloway was a hardworking fashion designer who doesn't suffer from any mental health issues as far as she knows. She said Holloway had gone to Las Vegas “to go and check out the economy, and some other things.” She also said Holloway “wasn’t homeless, she lived with my mom.” Hardaway said her cousin "makes a pretty good living." She said it was her understanding that Holloway had a hotel room in Las Vegas, contrary to officials’ remarks that she was living out of her car. She said Holloway is a former fashion model who attended Portland Community College and had created her own fashion line. Oregon business records showed that she had started a women's clothing business in April called "Modeltype," the Times reported. Antonio Nassar told the Las Vegas Sun he had just walked out of Planet Hollywood when he saw the car roar onto the sidewalk, slamming into stunned pedestrians. It briefly dragged a young boy, he said. The sound of the car hitting people was like "watermelons falling on the sidewalk," Nassar said. "It was chaotic," Nassar told the Sun. "I was running down the street saying, 'Move! Move! Get out of the way!'" Tourist Justin Cochrane said he and two other people had just sat down for dinner when the car began careening onto the sidewalk. "It was mayhem and it was very intentional," Cochran told CNN. "People were flying. It was a sound I will never forget. It (the car) wasn't hitting cars, it was hitting people." The case is not unprecedented. Ten years ago, the driver of a stolen car deliberately plowed into pedestrians on the Strip, killing three people and injuring a dozen others. Stephen Ressa, of Rialto, Calif., pleaded guilty but mentally ill and was sentenced to life in prison without parole. Contributing: The Associated Press; Greg Toppo, USA TODAY Skip Ad Ad Loading... x Embed x Share Las Vegas Police say they are investigating Sunday night's crash as a possibly intentional act, but terrorism was ruled out. A car hit several dozen people in front of two busy hotels. At least one person died. More than 30 were hurt. (Dec. 21) AP Read or Share this story: http://usat.ly/1YvV0P7 ||||| Las Vegas Boulevard is open after nearly 11 hours of being shut down following Sunday night's crash and the one person who lost their life has been identified by the coroner. The Strip reopened about 5:45 a.m. Monday, according to Metro Lt. David Gordon. The Clark County coroner identified the one fatality as 32-year-old Jessica Valenzuela of Buckeye, Arizona. A woman in her 20's drove her vehicle onto the sidewalk of Las Vegas Boulevard injuring 37 people and killing one just after 6:30 p.m. Sunday. The female driver of the 1996 Oldsmobile four-door sedan was arrested near the Tuscany hotel on Flamingo Road shortly after the crash, which happened in front of the Paris Las Vegas and Planet Hollywood hotels. She was interviewed and tested for impairment, Metro Capt. Peter Boffelli told media gathered on Las Vegas Boulevard at about 8:45 p.m Sunday. The driver, who is not from Las Vegas, has been taken to Clark County Detention Center. Police are getting a warrant for a blood test, but she wasn't exhibiting extreme impairment, according to police Lt. Dan McGrath. He confirmed that a 3-year-old toddler was in the car with the driver and was unharmed. This is a developing story. Check back for updates. Reporter Ricardo Torres contributed to this story. Contact Lawren Linehan at [email protected] or at 702-383-0381. Find her on Twitter: @lawrenlinehan |||||

– The woman accused of intentionally steering her car into crowds on the sidewalk of Las Vegas Boulevard on Sunday has been identified as 24-year-old Lakeisha Holloway, who is believed to be from out of state and had been in Vegas for about a week, investigators say, possibly living in her car. Holloway is described as "stoic" in the aftermath, reports USA Today, and reportedly asked a valet to call 911 after describing her actions. Police say she may have had an argument with the father of her 3-year-old daughter, who was in the vehicle; a drug expert at the scene further tells the AP that the suspect was on some type of "stimulant," though the Review-Journal reports that she wasn't exhibiting severe impairment, citing police sources. Formal charges are expected later Monday or early Tuesday, the DA tells USA Today. A 32-year-old Arizonan, Jessica Valenzuela, has been identified as the sole casualty thus far.

Hiker Gregg Hein of Clovis "entertained the idea" of possibly dying in the high Sierra of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks as he lay severely injured for six days. But he said the thought only crossed his mind a few times. The 33-year-old experienced hiker, rock climber and rafting guide was determined to live -- and he did. From a wheelchair Tuesday at Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno, Hein talked about breaking his leg on July 5, hiking down from 13,600-foot Mount Goddard, and his eventual rescue Thursday by a National Park Service helicopter. Hiking down the mountain, he dislodged a boulder that plowed into the back of his right calf, breaking bones in three spots. The impact forced bone to protrude about an inch and a half through the skin, Hein said. His foot was soon "dangling," Hein said. "I had to grab it so hopefully it wouldn't rip off." After sliding down several ice fields, he was without food for six days -- except for a few crickets and moths -- but he managed to drink a little melted ice and later, from a stream. Rescue crews starting combing the high Sierra on Wednesday, the day Hein's dad, Doug Hein, called the Fresno County Sheriff's Office. Gregory Hein had been expected home two days earlier. "I can't commend them enough for the efforts and the energies that they put out to try and save one person's life," Gregg Hein said of the rescue teams from Fresno County and the Park Service -- about 80 people in all -- who helped look for him. Hein said Tuesday he has at least two more surgeries on his right leg to combat infection and repair bones, and that he could be in the hospital into next week. The eventual goal is to install a metal rod into his calf. Hein has family ties to Clovis Unified: His mother is Randy Hein, principal of Temperance-Kutner Elementary School, and his grandfather is Floyd "Doc" Buchanan, former longtime district superintendent. Hein's perilous trek began July 3. He parked his car at Florence Lake in Fresno County and within two days, had hiked alone more than 20 miles -- much of it cross-country -- to the summit of Mount Goddard. After summiting on July 5, he hoped to make it to Blayney Hot Springs that evening, but the goal was soon shattered with his leg. Hein wasn't due home until July 7, and he said he realized he had at least three days to survive before anyone would start looking for him. In an attempt to avoid potential rockfall, and knowing he had to get further down the mountain to find help, Hein left his backpack on the side of Mount Goddard. He grabbed only a few things from the pack: A poncho, pocket knife, cords, whistle and a bivvy sack -- a small, lightweight shelter. He didn't take more because he miscalculated, believing he was closer to Evolution Valley, where he hoped he'd see hikers. As he lay bleeding, Hein contemplated applying a makeshift tourniquet, a device used to tightly clench blood vessels connected to an injury. It was a big decision: If he did, "I would have lost a limb." By the time night fell, Hein wasn't feeling light-headed. So he took a chance and didn't cinch his leg. By the next morning, the bleeding had slowed significantly. For four days, he lay near the edge of a small glacier, nursing his injury with ice. Hein stabilized his leg with hiking poles, wrapping them with a belt and some cord, and on Wednesday, headed for Davis Lake -- crawling about a mile and dropping about 1,000 feet. He hoped the new location might increase his chance of being found. On Thursday, he saw helicopters -- but they didn't see him. Two flew over him several times, he said. "It was kind of wrenching." But around 7:30 p.m. Thursday, a Park Service helicopter landed about 50 feet from him at Davis Lake. The pilot was dropping off a search-and-rescue crew in the area when Hein came into view. After seeing the crew spot him, "I laid down on my back for a while, and breathed a deep sigh of relief." Alive and safe at Community Regional Medical Center, Hein has a lot to look forward to. He just finished his undergraduate degree in environmental studies at Humboldt State and hopes to attend the San Joaquin College of Law in Clovis. The next time Hein treks into the wilderness -- which he says will "definitely" happen again -- he plans to be "more cautious about my own life." In the future, Hein plans to carry a reflective mirror, which can be used to signal rescue aircraft; a satellite-linked device, which can be used to alert rescuers about a location; and more medical supplies and gear. Hein said backpackers should also apply for a wilderness permit so there is documentation of a proposed route, and make sure loved ones are aware of that route, too. As for Hein's parents, there's just a "lot of relief" to see their son "alive, breathing, talking." "I've been amazed at the outpouring of support from friends and family," father Doug Hein said. "It took a huge team, not just the searchers, but the prayer network, that helped bring him back." The reporter can be reached at (559) 441-6386, [email protected] or @CarmenGeorge on Twitter. ||||| FRESNO, Calif. (AP) — A hiker who was stranded for six days in California's Sierra Nevada with a badly broken leg says survival mode kicked in when he treated his own injury and sought sustenance by eating crickets and moths, and drinking melting ice. Gregg Hein, who broke his leg on a solo hike in the Sierra Nevada mountains, recovers at the Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno, Calif. on Wednesday, July 16, 2014. The 33-year-old hiker from... (Associated Press) Recovering at a Fresno hospital, Gregg Hein, 33, said Wednesday that he was a couple days into a solo hike high in the Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks northeast of Fresno when a large rock crushed his right leg above the ankle. After letting out a yelp, the Clovis man said his first thought was treating his dangling leg and protruding bone to boost his chances of making it out alive. "I have to get these next moments right," said Hein, an avid outdoorsman. "What do I do to make sure I have the best chance for a positive outcome?" He briefly considered applying a tourniquet to stop the bleeding, a move that he knew would end with an amputation. Rather, Hein said he used hiking gear to wrap and secure his leg, and then he scooted to a flat clearing with a good vantage point to wait for rescuers. He had left his heavy pack behind, and the few insects he could scour at arm's reach hardly filled him up. He blew a whistle, hoping its echoes would catch somebody's attention. Back home, Doug Hein reported his son missing two days after he didn't return home as planned. Rescuers searched on foot and from the air. A helicopter crew eventually spotted the hiker July 10 and lifted him to safety. Hein underwent two surgeries and expects two more in a healing process likely to take months. Five pins hold his bones in place, and his legs are covered with scrapes from the 150-foot fall he took in the accident. Hein's father said he has warned his son against hiking alone, but that didn't keep him from two major expeditions, one covering 165 miles of wilderness. He's waiting for his son to recover to have another heart-to-heart conversation. "I've got a long time to get him back home and get him cornered and say, 'Hopefully you've learned from this,'" Doug Hein said. Gregg Hein said his risky days of hiking alone are behind him, but not his love of the outdoors. "As soon as I can get back to trail running and hiking, I'll be out there," he said. "It's my community." |||||

– Hiking alone has its disadvantages, and experienced climber, rafter, and trail runner Gregg Hein got up close and personal with most of them earlier this month. Two days into a solo hike in the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks near Fresno, Calif., his footing set loose a boulder that caused the 33-year-old to fall 150 feet and broke his right leg in three places, leaving his foot "dangling" and his bone protruding out of his skin more than an inch. Knowing that a tourniquet would later lead to amputation, he took his chances and went without it; the bleeding eventually slowed. "I have to get these next moments right," Hein tells the AP. "What do I do to make sure I have the best chance for a positive outcome?" Part of that meant surviving for at least three days; he wasn't expected home for another two, so that's how long it would take for a search party to be dispatched. Hein abandoned his heavy pack on Mount Goddard, taking a poncho, pocket knife, whistle, and bivvy sack with him as he scooted to a glacier; there, he nursed his injury with ice for four days, surviving on melted ice, moths, and crickets. He then decided he'd have a better chance of being spotted elsewhere; held his leg together using hiking poles, a belt, and a cord; and crawled for about a mile. On day six—July 10—two helicopters flew above him several times. "It was kind of wrenching," he tells the Fresno Bee. Around 7:30pm, a "fortuitous" moment arrived: A crew was dropped off just 50 feet from him, and when he saw the searchers spot him, he rolled onto his back and "breathed a deep sigh of relief." Full recovery is expected to take months. Hein plans to get back in the wilderness—though next time not alone, he says. (Check out which insect this man survived on for months in the wild.)

Story highlights Lego tower in Budapest confirmed as world's tallest by Guinness World Records Tower reaches 34 meters over city's St. Stephen's Basilica Local school children helped build the structure, which was topped by a Rubik's cube -- a Hungarian invention Imagine the size of the box this one came in -- a Lego tower stretching 36 meters into the sky above the Hungarian capital Budapest. The 34.76- meter (114 feet) tower, which was completed on Sunday, has been certified as the world's tallest toy brick structure by Guinness World Records. It beat the previous record holder, a 34.4-meter structure constructed last year with the help of U.S. students from a school in Delaware. A spokesman for Guinness World Records confirmed that the tower qualified as the "tallest structure built with interlocking plastic bricks." He said the record was officially registered to Lego Store Budapest on May 25. The Budapest tower, topped by a Rubik's cube -- a Hungarian invention -- was also built with the help of Hungarian primary school children, according to local news websites. The structure, built in front of the city's St. Stephen's Basilica, used hundreds of thousands of blocks. MORE: Budapest's escape games go global ||||| Hungarian enthusiasts set a new Guinness world record for the world's tallest Lego tower. Standing at 36 metres, the tower was constructed in front of Saint Stephen's basilica in Budapest. School children helped to build the structure, and the mayor of the city's fifth district put the final block in place. The previous record was 34.43 metres |||||

– Lego lovers will be stoked by this news: Budapest, Hungary, is now home to a 114-foot-tall Lego tower to rival the city’s most picturesque architecture, CNN reports. The Guinness Book of World Records has put its official stamp on the project, declaring the multi-colored structure—which features a profile of Pac-Man and is topped by a Rubik’s cube (Hungary's contribution to pop culture)—the "tallest structure built with interlocking plastic bricks." The Lego Store Budapest will be listed as the record holder. And for a too-cute spin on the story, the Guardian reports that school kids helped snap together some of the hundreds of thousands of blocks needed to build the tower. Sadly, somewhere in Delaware a bunch of students may be weeping—they held the previous record of nearly 113 feet, CNN notes. (More quirky Lego news: Lego people will outnumber real people by 2019.)

HONG KONG — A professor at the University of Hong Kong was charged with murder Wednesday after the body of his wife was found inside a suitcase at his office, the police said. The arrest of the professor, whose name was not released by the police, comes as Hong Kong is transfixed by the trial of another professor accused of killing his wife and daughter with a carbon monoxide-filled yoga ball. In the latest case, security footage showed the suspect hauling a box apparently with his wife’s remains out of a student dormitory, where he lived as a faculty warden with his wife and children, the police said. The professor had filed a missing persons report more than a week ago, saying that his wife had gone missing the morning of Aug. 17 after a family dispute overnight. But the police grew suspicious when they did not find footage of his wife leaving their building. ||||| A member of the University of Hong Kong’s governing council was arrested on Tuesday over the alleged murder of his wife. Associate Professor Cheung Kie-chung of the Department of Mechanical Engineering was arrested after police found the decomposing body of his 52-year-old wife at his office. The body was inside a suitcase inside a wooden box. Cheung, 53, filed a missing person’s report last Monday evening. The police said Cheung filed the report claiming that he had a family dispute with his wife on August 17 before they slept. He told police he found his wife had gone missing after he awoke. Cheung is the warden of the university’s Wei Lun Hall, where he lives with his family including his son and daughter. Police said a family dispute over toilet hygiene initially took place between Cheung’s wife and his daughter on the evening of August 16. The daughter then left home. In the early hours of the next day, Cheung’s wife blamed him for not supporting her during the dispute, according to police. The wife then went missing and a missing persons report was filed. The daughter then posted missing person’s notice on the streets and online. Police conducted an investigation at the halls of residence. On Tuesday morning, Cheung sent an email to the hall’s students to apologise for any anxiety caused among them, explaining that the police were there to investigate a missing person case involving his family. The police reviewed security camera footage and discovered that Cheung’s wife did not leave the hall. CCTV cameras also showed Cheung moving a large wooden box measuring around 10 by 20 by 30 inches. The police made a surprise inspection at Cheung’s office at Haking Wong Building and found the wooden box, which was made with six wooden plates and assembled with screws and silicone glue. The police found a soft suitcase inside the wooden box. Blood was coming out of the suitcase and it had a strong smell. The body inside was clothed only with underwear and an electric cord was found around the victim’s neck. Police said it was believed choking could have been the cause of death. The time of death was not known. The police said the family was well-off, had disputes occasionally but had no record of domestic violence. Cheung was held overnight. ||||| One day after a professor was arrested over a dead body found in his office, the University of Hong Kong welcomed new students to campus with its newly-minted president promising to help them and staff cope with the tragedy. Speaking at an inauguration ceremony for first-year students at HKU’s campus in Sai Ying Pun on Wednesday, its president and vice chancellor Zhang Xiang said many students would have heard of the death. Without naming the professor, Zhang said: “I’m sure you are as saddened and shocked as I am.” Zhang, who took office last month, said the details were uncertain but the university would offer support to all students and staff. “Our thoughts are with those who are affected and the university will be providing the necessary assistance to them at this very difficult time,” Zhang said to the more than 1,300 staff and students attending the ceremony at Lee Shau Kee Lecture Centre’s grand hall. On Tuesday, it emerged that associate professor Cheung Kie-chung from the department of mechanical engineering had been arrested over the suspected murder of his wife. Her decomposing body was found in a suitcase placed in a wooden box in his office at Haking Wong Building on the main campus. Investigators suspected his wife was killed in their home at Wei Lun Hall – one of the university’s residential halls – about a four-minute car ride from Cheung’s office. Wei Lun Hall is one of the three halls on Sassoon Road. It is a mixed dormitory in a quiet neighbourhood and houses mostly undergraduate students. The hall is particularly popular with medical or nursing students as it is opposite the medical school and its teaching hospital, Queen Mary Hospital. Cheung was the warden of the hall, where he lived with his family, including his son and daughter. One member of staff said Cheung rarely spoke of his wife or family. “He just brought his wife along once for a staff union dinner,” said the source. “Other than that I barely remember her.” The Post learned his daughter, in her mid-20s, had graduated from a British university about two years ago and once worked at HKU. During the ceremony, Professor Lung Ying-tai, Hung Leung Hau Ling Distinguished Fellow in Humanities in HKU and guest of honour at the ceremony, also alluded to the event. She also called on students, both male and female, to be feminists. She said men should realise women’s rights were part of human rights and “something fundamental”. “If you are a woman, be a feminist, out of self-protection and self-interest,” she added. “You are protected when you are respected.” Lung said respect had to be earned and women could do this by asserting themselves. Being a feminist did not make a woman lose her femininity but instead, made her stronger, she said. Lung admitted she had considered omitting a section of her pre-written speech after the tragedy, but instead pressed on, believing it carried a more pertinent message than ever. Student union president Davin Wong said the school was providing counselling for Wei Lun Hall residents. He urged HKU’s more than 4,000 first-year students to “never settle for rules and norms”. “We should be the ones who mould society instead of the other way around,” he said. “Our city’s future is at stake, yet I believe it is still in our hands.” He also paid tribute to students or alumni including Alex Chow Yong-kang, former union vice-president who was jailed for a few months for his involvement in the pro-democracy Occupy protests; Edward Leung Tin-kei, a pro-independence activist currently behind bars over his involvement in the Mong Kok riot; and Billy Fung Jing-en, former student union president sentenced to community service for his role in a siege of a university council meeting. “They have accomplished astonishing achievements in their young age, and of course, I am looking forward to more heroes rising in your generation, our generations,” Wong said. He added that as Cheung was the university student union’s honorary treasurer, responsible for its finances, the union’s councillors would hold an emergency meeting on Thursday to discuss next steps. He said he was not close to Cheung but found him “a kind and helpful person”. Despite the tragedy, the atmosphere in the hall where the ceremony was held was lighthearted with freshmen responding enthusiastically to speakers on stage. At Wei Lun Hall, a first-year student who had arrived from India two days earlier to stay at the dormitory said he was not affected by the incident. “I don’t think [the case] is a reflection of the university’s professors and it won’t affect what I think of campus safety,” he said. In an email to students and staff on Wednesday afternoon, Dr Steven Cannon, executive vice-president for administration and finance listed contact details for counselling services and said the seventh floor of Haking Wong Building would be closed on Wednesday. The office of the department of mechanical engineering would operate on the fifth floor of the same building in the meantime. The department’s head, Professor Alfonso Ngan Hing-wan, said he was arranging for other staff members to teach courses assigned to Cheung when the new school year begins next week. ||||| Hong Kong (CNN) A prominent Hong Kong academic was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of murdering his wife and stuffing her body into a suitcase. The case comes as the city is already gripped by the bizarre ongoing trial of another university professor, who is accused of killing his wife and daughter with a gas-filled yoga ball. At a press conference Tuesday, Hong Kong police superintendent Law Kwok-hoi said a 53-year-old man surnamed Cheung had been arrested on suspicion of murder. Local media identified the man as Cheung Kie-chung, an associate professor at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) and member of its governing council. "I am sure that you are as saddened and shocked as I am," HKU Vice-Chancellor Xiang Zhang said in an internal email to staff and students that was provided to CNN. Read More |||||

– A professor at the University of Hong Kong emailed students Tuesday morning to calm them regarding a police presence at the residence hall in which he lived with his family and served as warden. "They are here to investigate a missing person case," wrote Cheung Kie-chung, who'd told police his wife vanished on Aug. 17 following an argument. "There is nothing to worry about among the students." Later that day, police say they found a wooden box at Cheung's office on the university's main campus. Inside was a malodorous, bloody suitcase holding a woman's body, an electrical wire around her neck, police superintendent Law Kwok-hoi says, per the New York Times. Police allege 53-year-old Cheung strangled his 52-year-old wife after a family dispute. The dispute allegedly involved the couple's daughter and bathroom cleanliness, per CNN, while the Hong Kong Free Press specifically refers to "toilet hygiene." After the daughter left their residence, Cheung's wife is believed to have confronted her husband for not supporting her in the dispute, police say. She wasn't seen exiting the building, though surveillance video did show Cheung taking out a wooden box measuring roughly 10 by 20 by 30 inches. A member of the department of engineering as well as the school's governing council, he was charged Wednesday with murder as university officials offered counseling to Wei Lun Hall residents, per the South China Morning Post. (Another Hong Kong professor is accused of killing his wife and daughter with a gas-filled yoga ball.)

Facebook raised the price range for its IPO to $34 to $38 a share, from $28 to $35 a share, in a sign of investor appetite for the offering. George Stahl has the latest on The News Hub. Photo: AFP/Getty Images. Facebook Inc.'s coming initial public offering has set off a frenzy of anticipation among Main Street and Wall Street investors desperate to get their hands on the stock. Late Monday, the social network raised the price range for its IPO to $34 to $38 a share, from $28 to $35 a share, in a sign of investor appetite for the offering. The Menlo Park, Calif., company's initial price range put Facebook's valuation at $77 billion to $96 billion, but that rises to $93 billion to $104 billion under the new price range as investor interest ramps up. Facebook's coming initial public offering has set off a frenzy of anticipation among Main Street and Wall Street investors desperate to get their hands on the stock. Shayndi Raice has details on The News Hub. Photo: Bloomberg. Those numbers have created high hopes for both individual and professional investors. The excitement has drawn in fledgling stock buyers such as 11-year-old Jade Supple of Rockville Centre, N.Y., whose father plans to bet money saved to put his daughter through college on Facebook shares, although he has doubts about the price. Enlarge Image Close Scott Lewis for The Wall Street Journal Money manager Chris Baggini Enlarge Image Close Supple Family Jade and Jim Supple Enlarge Image Close Sandy Huffaker for The Wall Street Journal Grossmont High investment-club adviser Todd Benrud In Berwyn, Pa., hedge-fund manager and mutual-fund manager Chris Baggini of Turner Investment Partners says he tracked Facebook closely and repeatedly called executives at Morgan Stanley or Goldman Sachs, which are helping to lead the IPO, to snag a spot in the social network's roadshow stop in Philadelphia last Wednesday. Across the nation in El Cajon, Calif., technology teacher and investment-club supervisor Todd Benrud is trying to get his club at Grossmont High School into Facebook stock. "They use Facebook every day," Mr. Benrud said. Some students think it is "guaranteed to make money." Sophisticated investors who can meet financial requirements have been able to trade limited shares of Facebook for some time on secondary markets. But the IPO will turn Facebook into a public company that anyone can own. Many small investors are eager to grab Facebook at its issue price, hoping the shares will surge in value as IPOs frequently do on the first day. But Internet IPOs have had mixed success. Daily deals website Groupon Inc. has lost about 35% of its value since its Nov. 4 debut, while stock at professional network LinkedIn Corp. has gained nearly 150% since it started trading May 19. Facebook still hasn't proven that its $3.7 billion in revenue and $1 billion in profits last year deserve such a lofty valuation. Last month, the company disclosed that its first-quarter profit and revenue declined from the fourth quarter of 2011, which it attributed to seasonal trends in advertising. A Facebook spokesman declined to comment. Michael Belanger, a lawyer from Oklahoma City, invests his personal money in the stock market. But he will be skipping Facebook's IPO because he thinks its valuation is totally "out of whack." Scott Schermerhorn, chief investment officer of investment-management firm Granite Investment Advisors, says the hype around Facebook's IPO is going to keep his firm away. "It's a cult stock," he says. Little of that skepticism is weighing on three investors, tracked by The Wall Street Journal since Facebook announced in February that it would go public. * * * Rockville Centre, N.Y.—Jim Supple was driving with his daughter Jade last autumn, when she turned to him and said, "Daddy, can I buy some of the Facebook company?" Mr. Supple, 47, had been teaching Jade about investing in the stock market for years. He started putting money for her in stocks like eBay and Disney when she was a baby. But the request still took him aback. "How do you know about buying Facebook?" he asked. "I saw in the news that they were going to be selling parts of the company," she responded. "Can we buy some?" Since then, Mr. Supple has been trying to find a way to take $25,000 he has saved for her college fund and purchase Facebook stock. "She doesn't need this money for another eight years," says Mr. Supple. "If it goes the Google route, I'll be in good shape." Although he thought Facebook was a strong investment, Mr. Supple had been burned before, having lost some money in a Ponzi scheme, he says. He wanted to be sure that he was being more careful this time before betting so much on one company. On Jan. 17, Mr. Supple tried to dive in. Two former Facebook employees were selling 70,000 shares in an auction on SharesPost Inc., one of the secondary markets for Facebook shares. The bidding started at $31 a share. He bid $32.01. "Jim, I'm gonna be honest with you, you're not gonna get it, very rarely does it sell for the minimum," Mr. Supple says he was told by his SharesPost broker. Mr. Supple works for a Manhattan-based company called SNAP Interactive that creates a software application that allows singles to go on Facebook and find dates. Over a Jan. 18 dinner of burgers and beer at the New York steakhouse Del Frisco's, Mr. Supple asked his boss, Cliff Lerner, what he thought about buying up Facebook in the secondary market. "You know, there is a very high minimum to get into the secondary market," Mr. Lerner cautioned Mr. Supple. Mr. Supple said he could figure out a way, between his 401K and an IRA fund and the college savings, to squeeze together the $100,000 minimum recommended by SharesPost. "Am I out of my mind?" Mr. Supple asked Mr. Lerner. "No, I think you're gonna kill it in this thing," responded Mr. Lerner. Mr. Supple lost the SharesPost auction. It closed on Jan. 20 for $34 a share, less than $2 above his bid. Just two weeks later, Facebook filed for its IPO with the Securities and Exchange Commission, driving the price of secondary market shares up drastically. The next auction was $44 a share, too expensive for Mr. Supple. Mr. Supple turned his energy away from the secondary market and began plotting how to buy shares on the day of the IPO, or shortly after. On April 9, just after the roadshow kicked off, Mr. Supple said he was getting concerned about the frenzy and rethinking his plan to buy on the day of the IPO. "Here in New York, it's on every single news channel, it's in all the newspapers that the roadshow has started and [Facebook Chief Executive Mark] Zuckerberg was here in New York," he said at the time. "I'm going to sit on the sidelines on IPO day," Mr. Supple decided. "We're going to have to wait until the smoke clears." * * * El Cajon, Calif.—On Jan. 30, amid reports that Facebook would file for its IPO within days, high school senior Brandon Hyatt scrawled an exuberant message to the online forum of his investment club at Grossmont High School, under the heading "BUY FACEBOOK!!!!" The note clued technology teacher and club supervisor Todd Benrud into the frenzy that would follow. When the club next met that Wednesday, Mr. Benrud faced some 10 teenagers who thought they could buy shares that day. Every Monday and Wednesday at lunchtime, Mr. Benrud converts his technology classroom into the trading floor of the Charity Student Investment Project, a nonprofit student-run investment club. A live feed of a financial TV show fills the projection screen. Students each take a computer to research investments for their real-money pool of $2,900. When Mr. Benrud called an initial vote on whether to pursue Facebook shares, every hand shot up, even after Mr. Benrud told students that they couldn't get shares immediately. Since the club's rules don't allow it to put more than 10% of their money into any one stock, they would only be able to buy a few shares, depending on where it was priced. In an attempt to help the club buy at the IPO price, Mr. Benrud met with a Morgan Stanley broker in March and showed interest in giving the brokerage his retirement account. At the end of their hour-and-a-half meeting, he told the broker that he had one more question. He said the broker slumped his shoulders and said one word: "Facebook?" The broker told Mr. Benrud that neither he nor the club had enough money to qualify. "It really took the wind out of their sails," Mr. Benrud says of his club members. "They immediately started asking, 'What else can we do?' " Students began to get frustrated as the weeks wound on without more news of the IPO date. In mid-April, when Facebook said it would acquire Instagram, which makes a photo-sharing app, for $1 billion, several students questioned the deal. Antonio Robles, a junior in the club, lamented that Instagram "wasn't even making money" and wondered if investors would think that Mr. Zuckerberg had poor judgment. Nonetheless, the students decided it was time to vote on whether or not to buy Facebook shares. A plan to buy two shares on the open market the morning of the IPO—no matter the price—and sell later that afternoon passed the club—eight in favor, one against, with one abstention. The week before the roadshow, the students decided to hold a second vote—this time to buy two shares in the morning but sell only one in the afternoon, keeping the other indefinitely. The measure passed—six ayes to one abstention. After hearing the week before the IPO that some Facebook shares would be available to small investors at the IPO price, Mr. Benrud made one last attempt to get IPO shares through the club's Wells Fargo broker but was told his club didn't qualify. On Tuesday, Grossmont High School's Mr. Hyatt, the student who started the Facebook discussion, posted to his club's forum again, noting that Facebook's projected debut share price of $28 to $35 would let his club buy more than the two shares they planned on. (Facebook raised the price range on Monday.) The group ended up voting to buy up to four shares on the open market, depending on the price, and sell half of what they get the same afternoon. "Every single person in the investment club has a Facebook" page, says junior Adam Sturgeon. "We relate to it." * * * Berwyn, Pa.—Chris Baggini, a hedge-fund and mutual-fund manager, was in New York meeting with clients and media on Feb. 1, the day Facebook would release a first glimpse at its financials. At about 9 in the morning, sitting in a booth in a posh dining room at the Royalton Hotel in midtown Manhattan, he gushed about the company's prospects. "Of course we're interested," he said. Mr. Baggini's firm, Turner Investment Partners, in 2004 had managed to grab 700,000 shares of Google at its IPO and make a $10.5 million paper profit for investors on the first day of trading. The firm now manages about $13.4 billion in mutual funds, hedge funds and separate accounts for institutions. Even before seeing Facebook's financials, Mr. Baggini thought it likely that Turner would be involved. He noted Americans spend 16% of their time online on Facebook and said that it had the chance of being the biggest IPO of the decade. After hearing that Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs would set the roadshow schedule, he started to call and email bankers at both companies regularly. Neither gave hints on when the roadshow would begin, and Mr. Baggini said it felt like they were "walking on eggshells." In late April, Mr. Baggini traveled to San Francisco to meet prospective clients. There, too, he was met by a bevy of questions about what the company thought about Facebook and whether they would get in on the IPO. Facebook's S-1 filing brought a new round of questions. Mr. Baggini was pleased that its research and development expenditures had ticked up but wasn't sure why revenue growth per user had slowed. "The question becomes the level of interest. Is Facebook marginally exciting, very exciting or extremely exciting?" he said. "Right now, I think we're at 'very exciting.' " Mr. Baggini and around 25 other executives finally got their chance to meet Facebook executives Wednesday afternoon at the Westin hotel in downtown Philadelphia. Facebook chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg and chief financial officer David Ebersman showed up, but not Mr. Zuckerberg, which Mr. Baggini said didn't bother him. He said that he hadn't yet decided on the price he would be willing to pay for shares. "We're still very excited and are likely to participate," he said. More on the Facebook IPO Previously Write to Shayndi Raice at [email protected] A version of this article appeared May 15, 2012, on page A1 in the U.S. edition of The Wall Street Journal, with the headline: In Facebook IPO, Frenzy, Skepticism. ||||| An investor holds prospectus explaining the Facebook stock after attending a show for Facebook Inc's initial public offering at the Four Season's Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts May 8, 2012. NEW YORK/SAN FRANCISCO Facebook Inc increased the price range on its initial public offering an average of 14 percent to raise more than $12 billion, giving the world's No. 1 social network a valuation potentially exceeding $100 billion. The company, founded eight years ago by Mark Zuckerberg in a Harvard dorm room, raised the target range to between $34 and $38 per share in response to strong demand, from $28 to $35, according to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Tuesday. That would value Facebook at roughly $93 billion to $104 billion, rivaling the market capitalization of Internet powerhouses such as Amazon.com Inc, and exceeding that of Hewlett-Packard Co and Dell Inc combined. Facebook also extended the time frame for its $1 billion acquisition of mobile app maker Instagram, projecting that the deal would close in 2012 instead of closing in the second quarter as it had previously indicated. Facebook provided no reason for the change, though a source familiar with the matter told Reuters last week that the U.S. Federal Trade Commission has reached out to Google Inc and Twitter as part of the agency's standard review for deals of that size. The price increase indicates intense market demand, which means Facebook's shares are likely to see a big pop on their first day of trading on the Nasdaq on Friday, analysts said. "It's confounding but the evidence is that if companies raise the range, they will pop more," said Josef Schuster, founder of Chicago-based financial services firm IPOX Schuster LLC. "It signals that there is such a strong demand that it will create a momentum for other investors who want to jump on." Facebook said in its latest filing that it arrived at the higher IPO price range after one week of marketing the offering - part of a cross-country "road show" in which CEO Zuckerberg has occasionally taken the stage to lay out his vision for the company's money-making potential and its top priorities. The Facebook range hike, coupled with strong results from Internet and social media players Groupon Inc and China's RenRen Inc overnight, contributed to a dotcom rally on Wall Street on Tuesday. Shares of Pandora Media Inc were up 6.9 percent at $10.50 in afternoon trading, while Zynga Inc was up 8.3 percent at $8.61. Groupon was up 13.7 percent at $13.33, while Renren gained 9.5 percent to $6.01. Yelp Inc stock was up 7.5 pct at $21.55. In the biggest-ever IPO to emerge from Silicon Valley, Facebook will raise $12.1 billion based on the midpoint price of $36 and the 337.4 million shares on offer, or 12.3 percent of the company. At this midpoint, Facebook would be valued at roughly 27 times its 2011 annual revenue, or 99 times earnings. When Google went public in 2004 at a valuation of $23 billion, it was valued at 16 times trailing revenue and 218 times earnings. Apple Inc, meanwhile, went public in 1980 at a valuation of 25 times revenue and 102 times earnings. Wall Street had expected Facebook to increase its price range, with investors eager to get a slice of a strong consumer brand. The IPO road show began last week and has drawn crowds of investors from coast to coast. Facebook plans to close the books on its IPO later on Tuesday, two days ahead of schedule, a source familiar with the deal told Reuters on Monday. It is scheduled to price its shares on Thursday and begin trading on the Nasdaq on Friday. The IPO is already "well-oversubscribed," which is why the company will close its books earlier than expected, the source said. Facebook's capital-raising target far outstrips other big Internet IPOs. Google raised just shy of $2 billion in 2004, while last year Groupon tapped investors for $700 million and Zynga raked in $1 billion. The IPO comes amid concerns from some investors that Facebook has not yet figured out a way to make money from an increasing number of users who access the social network on mobile devices such as smartphones. Revenue growth from Facebook's online advertising business has also slowed in recent months. Company executives met with prospective investors in Chicago on Monday and were slated to travel to Kansas City, Missouri, and Denver, before returning to Facebook's Menlo Park, California, headquarters. A host of Wall Street banks are underwriting Facebook's offering, with Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs serving as leads. Facebook will trade on the Nasdaq under the symbol "FB." (Reporting By Olivia Oran in New York and Alexei Oreskovic in San Francisco, additional reporting by Tanya Agrawal; Editing by Maureen Bavdek and Matthew Lewis) |||||

– Looks like Facebook's IPO roadshow has done a pretty good job of drumming up investor interest. The company has raised its IPO price range up to $34 to $38 a share from $28 to $35 a share, sources tell the Wall Street Journal. The new price range gives the company founded by Mark Zuckerberg—who turned 28 yesterday—a valuation of $104 billion. At the mid-point of $36, Facebook would raise $12.1 billion with the IPO. The company plans to close the books on the IPO today, set the price range on Thursday, and start trading on Friday, sources tell Reuters. Small investors are jumping at the chance to get in on Silicon Valley's biggest-ever IPO, although many larger investors doubt whether its $3.7 billion in revenue and $1 billion in profits last year deserve such a high valuation, the Journal notes. "It's a cult stock," says the chief investment officer of investment-management firm Granite Investment Advisors.

Sunday started out as a normal day waiting tables for Claire Hudson. The 25-year-old was working a double shift for her job at local burger joint, Mac's Grub Shak, when something amazing happened. "It was actually a really slow day and then this couple came in," said Hudson of Spring Hill, Tennessee. "I didn’t even realize the tip until after they were gone." The unidentified diners had left a $36 tip on a bill that couldn't have been more than $30, Hudson told ABC News. "I would’ve liked to have caught them and said 'hey this is awesome!,' she said. "They did it anonymously and it was really sweet." In addition to the $36, the couple also left Hudson with a note explaining the heartfelt meaning behind the digits. "Today is my brother's b-day," it said, written behind the credit card receipt. "He would have been 36 today. Every year I go eat his favorite meal (hot dogs) and tip the waitress his age. Happy B-day Wes." Claire Hudson "I was in tears when I read it," Hudson said. "I had to go in the back of the restaurant and compose myself before I went out to my other tables." About three hours after the experience, Hudson posted an image of her customer's note on Reddit. "When I woke up I was on the front page," she said. "It had over 1.5 million views on Imgur and 350K upvotes on Reddit." In light of her story going viral, Hudson and the restaurant owner hope to track down the kind patron that left the tip. "We want to see what his brother Wes liked on his hot dogs because we'd like to name a hot dog after him," she said. "I have a friend, he was my best friend, he died about three years ago. This experience has definitely given me the idea to do the same thing on his birthday every year. It was deeply moving and just the coolest thing that’s ever happened." ||||| The hit HLN Original Series series, Something's Killing Me with BD Wong, investigates puzzling and sometimes fatal medical cases, where life literally hangs in the balance. Each week physicians and scientists race against time to solve the mystery that will save their patient's life. Through six one-hour episodes, family members, medical experts and CNN correspondents, including CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta and Senior Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen, take viewers through the twists and turns of real, heart pounding stories. ||||| Good News Waitress shares the heartwarming way a customer honored his late brother March 10, 2015 at 4:24 PM ET Claire Hudson got the best tip of her life this week, but it wasn't about the money. At first, the 25-year-old waitress at Mac's Grub Shack in Spring Hill, Tennessee didn't even notice the note scrawled on the back of the receipt left by a "very sweet couple" who'd ordered beers, a burger and hot dogs. Courtesy of Claire Hudson "Today is my brother's b-day," read the note. "He would have been 36 today. Every year I go eat his favorite meal (hot dogs) and tip the waitress his age. Happy b-day Wes." Hudson says she was "deeply moved" by the message. "I didn't even see their receipt until after they left!" she told TODAY.com. "I've been a server for several years and this is the best tip I've ever gotten," she added. "Not because of the money, but because of the meaning." Courtesy of Claire Hudson She posted the picture to Reddit, where it quickly got noticed, as people were moved by the story. "I love Reddit and felt like it was a great picture that should be shared," she said. "I had no idea it would get that much attention! I think it's fantastic that so many people liked it, but I mainly wanted to share the sweet memory." Hudson hopes they can give the diner a lasting legacy for his brother, in food form. "The owner of my restaurant, Michael McCray, is trying to contact the patrons and find out what Wes liked on his hot dogs so we can add it to the menu," she said. |||||

– A waitress in Tennessee was brought to tears this week when a customer left her a generous tip and a moving message. Claire Hudson, 25, was serving tables at Mac's Grub Shak in Spring Hill on Sunday when a "very sweet couple" sat down and ordered beers, a burger, and hot dogs, Today.com reports. It was only after they left that a cashier pointed out the $36 tip the man had left on his $28.12 bill, along with a note on the back. "I didn't know what to say," Hudson tells ABC News. "I was in tears when I read it." It read: "Today is my brother's b-day. He would have been 36 today. Every year I go eat his favorite meal (hot dogs) and tip the waitress his age. Happy B-day Wes." "It's the best tip I've ever gotten," Hudson says, "not because of the money, but because of the meaning." Hudson posted a photo of the bill on Reddit after she finished up her shift that night. "When I woke up I was on the front page," she says. "It had over 1.5 million views on Imgur and 350,000 upvotes on Reddit." Hudson and the owner of Mac's Grub Shak now want to honor the man that inspired the generous gratuity. They hope to track down the tipper to find out exactly what Wes liked on his hot dogs so the eatery can "name a hot dog after him." Hudson adds she may start a similar tradition herself. "My best friend, he died about three years ago. This experience has definitely given me the idea to do the same thing on his birthday every year," she says. "It was deeply moving and just the coolest thing that's ever happened." (This waitress got a big tip just when she really needed it.)

In this undated photo released by Proyecto Vaquita, a porpoise is seen trapped in a fishing net at the Gulf of California. (C.Faesi/Proyecto Vaquita via AP) Surprise raids on Mexican smuggling boats, international treaties, and outright fishing bans have done little to stop the steady decline of the vaquita, the world’s smallest and possibly cutest porpoise. Now, in a last-ditch effort straight out of a Sea World-themed sci-fi movie, conservationists are turning to a new method of vaquita preservation: military dolphins. Technically, they’re the Seal Team 6 of dolphins, specially trained by the U.S. Navy to detect undersea mines and such. Navy officials hope they’ll be equally good at finding the last vestiges of the vaquita, which make their home in the warm waters between the Mexican mainland and the Baja California Peninsula and have been decimated by a cruel mixture of fishing nets and economics. “Their specific task is to locate” vaquitas, Jim Fallin of U.S. Navy Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific told the Associated Press. “They would signal that by surfacing and returning to the boat from which they were launched.” If the plan is approved, it would be the first step in a risky relocation project that may be the vaquita’s only chance to survive the next decade. Vaquita numbers have dwindled since a fishing boom around World War II for a species of sea bass called totoaba, according to The Post’s Darryl Fears. In China, where the totoaba bladder is both a delicacy and a traditional medicine, a pair of bladders can fetch $8,500. To catch totoaba, which are also endangered, fishermen drag mesh gill nets through the warm waters of the Pacific, snagging everything they come in contact with — including vaquita. Trapped in the nets, the porpoises drown when they can’t swim to the surface for air. “It became clear that vaquitas were dying in most, if not all, types of gill nets used in the northern Gulf,” wrote the Cetacean Specialist Group, which tracks the porpoises. [With 800 offspring, ‘very sexually active’ tortoise saves species from extinction] Mexico has long had laws to protect vaquita, and the government is pressuring fishermen to use nets that vaquita could swim out of if caught. But by the time all fishermen have the new nets, the vaquita may already be extinct. In September, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species urged Mexico, the United States and China to do a better job of sharing information on totoaba busts and seizures to catch more criminals and better protect the endangered porpoise, The Post reported. But the Gulf of California is full of impoverished fishermen who see totoaba bladders as a way to provide for their families. The economics don’t bode well for the vaquita. Gunner’s Mate 3rd Class Manuel Gonzalez is shown with a bottlenose dolphin. Both are assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 1. Officials have announced a plan to use Navy-trained dolphins to try to capture the few remaining vaquita porpoises in a final effort to prevent their extinction. (Lt. David Bennett/Navy via EPA) In 2014, a survey found only 100 vaquita, half the number reported two years earlier. Last year, a count found just 60, and scientists worried that the battle to save the vaquita was all but over, Fears wrote. The Navy’s dolphins would help locate them. Then, an international team of experts would capture them and transport them to a special holding facility, safe from the trawling nets of fishing boats, according to the AP. But the plan has potential holes. For one, vaquita have never been found to survive or thrive in captivity. They’re elusive and hard to find and haven’t been thoroughly studied. [These men stole an endangered penguin and released him. Officials say he may not survive.] And the “little cows” aren’t exactly the rabbits of the sea. They reproduce slowly — a mature female has about one calf every other year. If the few remaining females die in captivity, for example, the species would be doomed. Read more: Some babies die waiting for a liver transplant. This baby was matched in 40 minutes. A researcher discovered how cave men cleaned their teeth. It will make you want to brush yours. Infertile couples came to this ‘baby god’ for help. Now, they’re accusing him of betrayal. ‘My whole leg was in its mouth’: Oregon surfer says he punched shark to survive ||||| A team of Navy dolphins may be the last hope of survival for the planet's arguably cutest porpoises, called vaquitas (Phocoena sinus). Considered the world's most endangered marine mammal species, vaquitas, which have dark rings around their eyes and mouth, live only in the upper parts of the Gulf of California in Mexico, according to the Cetacean Specialist Group. The porpoise is often killed in fishing nets, according to Science magazine. The group of military dolphins, dubbed the Seal Team 6, was specially trained by the U.S. Navy to use their deep-diving and sonar skills to locate undersea mines and other objects, according to the Navy. In this last-ditch effort to save the porpoise species, conservationists hope that the dolphin squad would locate the remaining individuals — the latest report suggests just 60 individuals remain in the wild — in order for officials to relocate a handful of them to breed in captivity, Science magazine reported. [Vaquita Photos: World's Most Endangered Marine Mammal] The project is scheduled to begin in the spring, though experts involved say they are still in the planning stages. "Jim Fallin of the U.S. Navy Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific said Tuesday that the dolphins' participation is still in the planning stage," the Associated Press reported on Jan. 3. Not everyone is sold on the "seal team," however. "I don't like this idea at all," said Omar Vidal, director general of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Mexico in Mexico City, as reported by Science magazine. "The risk of killing a vaquita while catching them is very high. With only 50 or 60 animals left, we can't play with that." Vaquitas are the smallest cetaceans, with an average body length of 3.9 to 4.9 feet (about 120 to 150 centimeters) and weighing in at just 120 pounds (55 kilograms), according to the Zoological Society of London. Original article on Live Science. |||||

– The world's smallest porpoise is also ever smaller in number, its population decimated in recent decades thanks to what the Washington Post describes as "a cruel mixture of fishing nets and economics." The vaquita, or "little cow," has gotten tangled up in fish nets since World War II, when fishermen began to seriously hunt a species of sea bass called totoaba. The porpoise, known for sporting a little smirk, is a marine mammal that would drown in the nets where they couldn't swim to the surface for air, and the appetite for totoaba has not diminished as the fish's bladder is used in Chinese medicine and considered a delicacy there, fetching more than $4,000 for just one. The Mexican government has frantically decided to try to capture the remaining survivors, now around 60, to try to save the species. The US is joining in, too, offering up another marine mammal to help: the dolphin. The US Navy is training the so-called Seal Team 6 of dolphins, which already prowl around for underwater mines, to find the last surviving vaquita, which live between the Mexican mainland and Baja California Peninsula. "Their specific task is to locate," one expert says. "They would signal that by surfacing and returning to the boat from which they were launched." Unfortunately, the vaquita doesn't thrive in captivity, where they would need to remain to be safe from fishing nets. They also reproduce very slowly, with one calf every other year. Not everyone is on board with the plan, adds Live Science. "I don't like this idea at all," says a rep for World Wildlife Fund Mexico. "The risk of killing a vaquita while catching them is very high. With only 50 or 60 animals left, we can't play with that." (Dolphins appear to chat much like humans.)

Niagara Regional Police have ruled out the “vast majority” of missing-persons cases they have reviewed across Canada related to their ongoing investigation into a female torso found in the Niagara River. NRP Insp. Jim McCaffery said investigators looked into around 50 cases that matched the description of the victim, but most have not led police any closer to identifying who the torso belonged to. “There are a couple we still need to clear, but we’re satisfied the vast majority of them do not meet the parameters,” McCaffery said during a press conference at NRP headquarters in St. Catharines Tuesday. “We have met with our American policing partners who continue to review missing-persons reports in their jurisdiction. We have and will continue to follow up on investigative leads that have been forwarded to our tip line.” The NRP continues to ask the public to forward any tips they may have, and have engaged New York State Police, which is currently reviewing missing-persons cases as well. State Police Capt. Steven Nigrelli said they started by going through missing-persons cases in western New York, but have since expanded throughout the entire state and could go as far as other Great Lake and north-east states. He said it’s only natural State Police would be involved, as the investigation surrounds a torso — minus limbs and a head — found in a river traversing both countries. “There’s a good possibility this person may have entered the water from the United States,” said Nigrelli. He said based on ongoing testing of the torso, his department keeps “excluding people who could be possible victims.” “This is an arduous task and it’s ongoing at this time.” During the press conference, McCaffery provided further information about the torso recovered from the Niagara River near the Rainbow Bridge last Wednesday. Initial post-mortem results indicated the victim was a middle-aged, white female with a pierced navel. She had at least once caesarian section and her tubes were tied. On Tuesday, McCaffery narrowed the victim’s age to between 31 and 55. He said the piercing was “closed off,” and that she had two caesarian sections. Further testing continues at the Centre of Forensic Sciences and the Chief Coroner’s Office in Toronto. McCaffery said he is not prepared to get into the cause of death, or the condition of the torso when it was found. He maintained the matter is a homicide and that “we are prepared to say that it was a dismemberment.” He said police received between 15 to 20 tips from the public over the weekend, the vast majority from Niagara. “People are calling in suspicious items, suspicious behaviour on the part of people they have seen in the community. Mostly that’s what we’re getting … and we will follow each one of them up and continue to do that.” At this stage, what police really need is the public’s help, said McCaffery. “We ask that you contact the female family members that you’ve not heard from recently. Contact co-workers who have not shown up to work to check on their welfare. Check on neighbours with unexplained absences,” he said. “If you are not satisfied with the results you’re getting, please contact the (NRP) service for investigative followup. No tip is too small for us to follow up on. Someone in the community knows who this person is. The identity of the individual is critical to this investigation.” [email protected] Twitter: @RaySpiteri The victim ||||| Police said there is a good possibility that a woman's torso found floating near Niagara Falls last week could have come from the U.S. They called on the public to check on female family members, co-workers or neighbors they haven't heard from in some time. Police have classified the case as a homicide investigation. A tourist spotted the torso near the base of the falls last Wednesday. New York State Police Capt. Steven Nigrelli said Tuesday that because the U.S. shares the river with Canada, it's possible the person may have entered the water from there. Police have said the case is not related to body parts found in Toronto earlier in August. Such cases have received extra attention after porn actor Luka Magnotta was accused of dismembering a Chinese student in Montreal and mailing his body parts to political parties and a school earlier this year. |||||

– Canadian authorities found a woman's torso floating at the bottom of Niagara Falls last Wednesday, and they suspect it may be a missing American, the AP reports. Police have classified the case as a homicide investigation, and “we are prepared to say that it was a dismemberment," says a Canadian police spokesman. Investigators have pored over 50 or so Canadian missing-person case files, but believe none "fits the parameters" of the discovered body, Niagara's regional police inspector tells the Niagara Falls Review. “We have met with our American policing partners who continue to review missing-persons reports in their jurisdiction," he says. State police have a begun a search through missing person records in New York, but may expand the investigation to other states. “There’s a good possibility this person entered the water from the US,” says a state police spokesman. The body, missing limbs and a head, is that of a middle-aged white female with a pierced navel.

Breaking News National National In a world first, Australian surgeons have successfully transplanted "dead" hearts into patients at Sydney's St Vincent's Hospital. The procedure, using hearts that had stopped beating, has been described as a "paradigm shift" that will herald a major increase in the pool of hearts available for transplantation. It's predicted the breakthrough will save the lives of 30 per cent more heart transplant patients. Until now, transplant units have relied solely on still-beating donor hearts from brain-dead patients. Advertisement But the team at St Vincent's Hospital Heart Lung Transplant Unit announced on Friday they had transplanted three heart failure patients using donor hearts that had stopped beating for 20 minutes. Two of them have recovered well, while the third, who recently undertook the procedure, is still in intensive care. Cardiologist Prof Peter MacDonald said the donor hearts were housed in a portable console coined a "heart in a box". Here they were submerged in a ground breaking preservation solution jointly developed by the hospital and the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute. The hearts were then connected to a sterile circuit where they were kept beating and warm. Cardiothoracic surgeon Assoc Prof Kumud Dhital, who performed the transplants with hearts donated after circulatory death (DCD), said he "kicked the air" when the first surgery was successful. It was possible thanks to new technology, he said. "The incredible development of the preservation solution with this technology of being able to preserve the heart, resuscitate it and to assess the function of the heart has made this possible," he told a press conference on Friday. The first patient to have the surgery done was Michelle Gribilas. The 57-year-old Sydney woman was suffering from congenital heart failure and had surgery about two months ago. "I was very sick before I had it," she said. "Now I'm a different person altogether. "I feel like I'm 40 years old. I'm very lucky." The second patient, Jan Damen, 43, also suffered from congenital heart failure and had surgery about a fortnight ago. The father of three is still recovering at the hospital. "I feel amazing," he said. "I have to say I never thought I'd feel so privileged to wear the St Vincent's pyjamas. "I'm just looking forward to getting back out into the real world." The former carpenter said he often thinks about his donor. "I do think about it, because without the donor I might not be here," he said. "I'm not religious or spiritual but it's a wild thing to get your head around." Prof MacDonald, the director of the Hospital's Heart Lung Transplant Unit, said the team had been working on this project for 20 years and intensively for the past four. "We've been researching to see how long the heart can sustain this period in which it has stopped beating," he said. "We then developed a technique for reactivating the heart in a so-called heart in a box machine. "To do that we removed blood from the donor to prime the machine and then we take the heart out, connect it to the machine, warm it up and then it starts to beat." The donor hearts were each housed in this machine for about four hours before transplantation, he said. "Based on the performance of the heart on the machine we can then tell quite reliably whether this heart will work if we then go and transplant it. "In many respects this breakthrough represents a major inroad to reducing the shortage of donor organs," he said. ||||| Heart transplantation programs around the world face significant challenges in transplantation volume, patient outcomes, and overall cost of patient care. Progress in surmounting these challenges has been limited by the current cold storage heart preservation method. TransMedics developed the OCS™ HEART system to overcome these challenges. This portable, warm perfusion and monitoring system is designed to Increase transplantation volume Improve patient outcomes Reduce cost of patient care The OCS™ HEART is commercially available in Europe and Australia and is in clinical use in leading centers. The system is not available for commercial use in the U.S. It is under clinical investigation in the U.S. OCS™ HEART, a Breakthrough |||||

– For 20 years, the heart transplant unit at Sydney's St. Vincent's Hospital has been working hard to figure out a way to transplant a dead heart into a live patient. Today doctors from the team announced their work had paid off: They have successfully completed three transplants using hearts that had stopped beating for 20 minutes—said to be the first such transplants in the world, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. Two of the patients are already up and about, while the most recent recipient is still recovering in intensive care. Heart transplants typically rely on organs taken from brain-dead donors whose hearts are still beating; the Herald reports the new development could save 30% more lives. The surgeon who performed the operations says he "kicked the air" after he realized the first surgery had gone well. The secret to their success lies in cutting-edge technology and the preservation solution in which the nonbeating hearts are immersed. The heart is first placed in a special "heart in a box" machine that warms it up and keeps it beating for about four hours before the transplant operation. The preservation solution, which alone took 12 years to develop, minimizes damage to the organ after it has stopped beating and helps ensure it both survives the surgery and functions in the recipient's body, Sky News reports. Michelle Gribilas, a 57-year-old who had congestive heart failure, tells the Herald that she was "very sick" before having the operation two months ago, and "now I'm a different person altogether. I feel like I'm 40 years old." (This woman wants to live out her heart donor's bucket list.)

The Education Department drastically underestimated the cost of the government's income-driven repayment plans for student loans in its original estimates, the Government Accountability Office said in a highly critical report Wednesday. The GAO report finds that estimates of the cost to the government of income-driven repayment plans -- which eventually discharge a student's remaining debt after 20 years or more of payments -- has jumped from $28 billion to $53 billion for student loans issued from 2009 to 2016. And it found that nearly a third of student loan debt expected to be repaid via income-driven repayments ($108 billion) will be forgiven by the federal government through programs such as Public Service Loan Forgiveness. Observers of federal financial aid policy said those numbers -- and the apparent inability of the department to estimate the cost of student loan programs -- could provide new ammunition to Republican lawmakers looking to target expensive student aid programs to rein in costs, if not drastically downsize the department itself. The GAO investigated the costs of the income-driven repayment program at the request of Wyoming Republican Mike Enzi, chairman of the Senate Budget Committee. The Obama administration made enrolling student loan borrowers in income-driven repayment plans a major tool for assisting borrowers struggling with student loan debt. The original income-driven repayment program predated the administration, but the Obama Department of Education oversaw the addition of several new, more generous repayment programs. And it ramped up efforts to enroll student borrowers in those programs as total outstanding loan debt ballooned in recent years. On the campaign trail, President-elect Donald Trump spoke favorably about income-driven repayment plans, saying in one speech that “students should not be asked to pay more on their loans than they can afford.” He proposed in a speech a repayment program that would be even more generous than the programs already available to student loan borrowers. Data released by the Department of Education this year indicated that those programs have seen steady increases in enrollment. Almost 4.6 million federal direct borrowers had enrolled in income-driven repayment plans by December 2015 -- up 48 percent from 2014 and 140 percent from 2013. As of June, 5.3 million borrowers had enrolled in one of those plans. But according to the GAO’s report, the cost of each successive loan cohort has been greater than the one that preceded it since 2012. And the fiscal 2017 cohort of student loans is expected to carry a cost five times that of the 2012 cohort. The higher-than-expected costs of income-driven repayment are a result of multiple flaws in the cost estimate methods used by the department, according to the report: The department assumed no existing student borrowers would switch to income-driven plans. Until 2015, the department assumed no borrowers of Graduate PLUS loans, which are uncapped, would switch to income-driven plans. The department’s estimates assumed no growth in enrollment, even as the Obama administration was seeking to enroll two million additional borrowers in the plans. The GAO concludes that the department has consistently underestimated the value of subsidies going to income-driven repayment plans in each year. It also reports that the cost estimates used by the Department of Education lack appropriate transparency. Alexander Holt, a policy analyst with the education policy program at New America, said the report showed the department has no business being involved in budgeting the repayment program. “This is insane incompetence,” he said. “If you go through the report, there are just basic things that they missed or that they didn’t do.” Jason Delisle, a resident fellow who specializes in higher ed finance at the American Enterprise Institute, said the report was a vote of no confidence in the department’s abilities to estimate what income-driven repayment will cost taxpayers. “Really what the GAO is saying is that the Obama administration’s expansion of this program has been done without good information about the effects,” Delisle said. Under Secretary of Education Ted Mitchell said income-driven repayment plans are helping millions of borrowers successfully manage loan repayment, particularly those who find standard repayment challenging. “IDR plans also help keep borrowers from financial strain and reduce default, which can wreak havoc on struggling families' credit rating and ability to get back on their feet,” Mitchell said in a statement. “The Department of Education has proposed several common-sense reforms that would reduce costs by about $49 billion over 10 years, and taken action to protect students and taxpayers from colleges that are failing students by leaving them with unaffordable debt and poor employment outcomes, ensuring they either improve or risk losing access to the federal student aid programs.” The Department of Education oversees a $1.3 trillion loan portfolio and $150 billion annually in new loans. Jessica Thompson, the policy and research director at the Institute for College Access and Success, said it was important to put the numbers in the report in that context. Thompson said income-driven repayment programs were designed to be a safety net for students who couldn’t repay their loan debt after many years. She also said the GAO report showed important fixes that the Department of Education could make in its cost estimates. Policy experts have criticized the administration’s changes to the program for making income-driven plans more generous to graduate student borrowers, who have some of the highest volumes of student loan debt but are best positioned to pay off their student loans. Income-driven plans are the basis for Public Service Loan Forgiveness, which goes into effect next year. And a large proportion of loan debt being repaid through income-driven plans is driven by the Graduate PLUS program or graduate Stafford loans, Delisle said. It’s possible that Republican lawmakers looking to tackle the costs associated with the programs could take steps like capping the amount of loan debt that can be taken out for graduate studies, eliminating Public Service Loan Forgiveness or otherwise limiting student borrowing. A spokeswoman for Tennessee Republican Senator Lamar Alexander, chairman of the Senate education committee, said the GAO report raises concerns about the costs of income-driven repayment programs. “In the upcoming Higher Education Act reauthorization, Senator Alexander looks forward to working with Senator Enzi and committee Republicans and Democrats on re-evaluating, simplifying and better targeting these repayment plans to reduce these costs and better protect the taxpayer, while still providing a manageable repayment option for borrowers,” the spokeswoman said. ||||| WASHINGTON—The federal government is on track to forgive at least $108 billion in student debt in coming years, as more and more borrowers seek help in paying down their loans, leading to lower revenues for the nation’s program to finance higher education. The Government Accountability Office disclosed the sum Wednesday in a report to Congress which for the first time projected the full costs of programs that set borrowers’ monthly payments as a share of their earnings and eventually forgive portions of their debt. The GAO report also sharply criticized the government’s accounting methods for its $1.26 trillion student-loan portfolio, pointing to flaws that have led it to alter projected revenues significantly over the years. The government says it still expects the program to generate a profit over the long term, but it has repeatedly trimmed expectations for revenues. President Barack Obama has promoted income-driven repayment plans—passed by Congress in the 1990s and 2000s—to stem a sharp rise in borrowers defaulting on their loans since the recession. Enrollment in such plans has more than tripled over the past three years to 5.3 million borrowers, who owe roughly $269 billion, according to Education Department statistics cited by the GAO. A new federal report shows that the government is expected to forgive at least $108 billion in student debt in the coming years. The relief is part of an Obama administration plan to help borrowers, but is proving costly. WSJ's Lee Hawkins explains. Ted Mitchell, undersecretary at the Education Department, said such programs “are helping millions of borrowers successfully manage loan repayment, particularly those for whom standard repayment may prove challenging.” He added that the administration has proposed changes to reduce costs. Mr. Obama, for example, has called for capping how much debt public-service workers can have forgiven. The most generous version of income-driven repayments caps a borrower’s monthly payment at 10% of discretionary income, which is defined as adjusted gross income above 150% of the poverty level. That formula typically lowers monthly payments of borrowers by hundreds of dollars. Public-service workers—those employed by a government agency or at most nonprofits—have balances forgiven after 10 years, tax-free. Private-sector workers have balances forgiven in 20 or 25 years, with the forgiven amount taxed as ordinary income. President-elect Donald Trump said during his campaign he supported the idea of helping student-loan borrowers. He has proposed setting payments at 12.5% of income and forgiving balances after 15 years. He has also suggested winding down the federal student loan program and shifting lending to the private sector. Growing evidence suggests many of the most hard-pressed borrowers—college dropouts who owe less than $10,000—aren’t taking advantage of the programs, while workers with graduate degrees, such as doctors and lawyers who don’t necessarily need help, are. The figures that the GAO cites suggest the average balance of borrowers in income-driven repayment plans stands at roughly $51,000. That sum suggests a disproportionate share of those benefiting from the plans are graduate-degree holders. Undergraduate borrowers owe about $30,000, on average, upon graduation, other research shows, and the government caps lifetime borrowing from federal programs for undergraduates at $57,500. It doesn’t limit how much grad students can borrow. And graduate-degree holders typically have higher incomes and have low rates of unemployment, Labor Department data show. There are still about 8 million Americans in default on their student loans, and the number of defaults among borrowers who recently left school has come down only slowly. Meanwhile, Senate Budget Committee Chairman Mike Enzi (R., Wyo.), who ordered the GAO study, has criticized the Obama administration’s use of executive authority to sweeten terms of the repayment plans, which he said would add to the national debt. “This Administration has been manipulating the terms of the student loan program without the consent of Congress, while shirking its statutory duty to carefully assess the cost impact of those changes,” Mr. Enzi said in a statement, adding that he was considering legislation to force changes in the government’s accounting methods. Some outside academics say it is increasingly likely that the projected surpluses of the federal student loan portfolio—which has more than doubled over the past decade—won’t materialize. “I’m not at all confident that the federal government will end up making money on student loans,” said Robert Kelchen, an assistant professor of higher education at Seton Hall University. In addition to debt forgiveness under income-driven repayment programs, the administration is also moving to forgive loans for borrowers who can show they were lured to enroll at schools—mostly for-profit colleges—that used deceptive advertising. Students at the Rutgers University graduation ceremonies in Piscataway, N.J., in May. Photo: Mel Evans/Associated Press Income-driven repayment plans are also causing concern that as more students become aware of the benefits, they will become less sensitive to tuition increases, enabling universities continually to raise tuition ultimately at taxpayer expense. Higher education costs have increased by an average of 5.2% a year in the past decade, far faster than inflation, which has been running at under 2%. And some borrowers with graduate-school loans are refinancing their debt at lower interest rates with private lenders such as SoFi. Congress, through legislation, has set higher interest rates for grad students than undergrads, to ensure the programs don’t lose money. When private lenders pick off those borrowers, the surpluses dwindle. The GAO estimates $137 billion owed under income-driven repayments won’t be repaid. Most of it—the $108 billion disclosed Wednesday—would be forgiven because of borrowers fulfilling their obligations under the plans. The other $29 billion will be written off because of disability or death, the GAO projects, the only other circumstances under which the government takes a loan off its books. The government can garnish wages and Social Security checks for those in default. And that $108 billion only covers loans made through the current fiscal year. The overall sum could continue to grow alongside enrollment increases. The GAO said it could take 40 years to know the full costs of the programs. Still, supporters say the plans offer a lifeline to borrowers who are unemployed or earning little, while the Obama administration has credited the programs with leading to a reduction in the number of new graduates defaulting on their loans. Supporters point out that under current law, any amount forgiven would be taxed as ordinary income for private-sector workers, limiting the benefits for individuals. Public-sector workers aren’t taxed on forgiveness. The GAO report also criticizes how the Education Department has produced budget estimates for the loan program. For example, it said the department has failed to account for inflation when estimating borrowers’ future earnings. And it said the agency failed to account for further increases in enrollment in income-driven repayment plans. Write to Josh Mitchell at [email protected] Corrections & Amplifications: Borrowers enrolled in plans that forgive student debt owe an average of about $51,000 and a combined $269 billion, according to Education Department statistics cited by the Government Accountability Office. An earlier version of this article incorrectly said these borrowers owed an average $67,000 and a combined $355 billion. (Dec. 2, 2016) ||||| The White House and the Mall seen from the Hay-Adams Hotel in Washington. (Oliver Contreras for The Washington Post) The price tag on a popular student loan repayment program is far larger than Education Department estimates, the Government Accountability Office said Wednesday. The GAO pegged the true cost at about $108 billion and called the Education Department’s accounting unreliable. [What you need to know about Obama’s latest student loan plan before enrolling] To help people manage their student loans, the Obama administration has expanded programs that cap monthly payments to a percentage of earnings and eventually forgives the balance. Enrollment in these income-driven repayment plans is soaring and so is the cost, but the government’s budget estimates are not keeping pace, an oversight that fuels criticism of a federal policy that conservatives say has become far too expensive. Current budget estimates for income-driven plans are more than double what was originally expected for loans made in fiscal 2009 through 2016, climbing from $25 billion to $53 billion, according to the GAO report. The growth is primarily a result of the rising volume of loans in the plans, but researchers at the GAO say faulty projections from education officials may cause costs to be over- or understated by billions of dollars. [Lowering student debt payments is costing taxpayers billions of dollars] “Some uncertainty is unavoidable when anticipating long-term loan costs,” the GAO wrote, “but we found numerous shortcomings in Education’s estimation approach and quality control practices that call into question the reliability of its budget estimates and affect the quality of information Congress has to make informed budget decisions.” The report takes issue with education officials’ assumption that borrowers’ incomes will not grow with inflation, which could lower estimated costs by more than $17 billion. The model also fails to account for people switching in or out of the plans in the future, which frequently happens when they have to certify their income to remain in the program each year. In a letter to the GAO, Amy McIntosh, a deputy assistant secretary in the Education Department, said the agency has been working with Treasury to revise its estimates and agreed that there is room for improvement. The department in its annual budget report said the money being repaid through other student loan programs offsets some of the expense of the income-driven plans. “The life cycle of a student loan is exceedingly complex, with a multitude of projection paths and outcomes,” McIntosh wrote. “We are constantly seeking to enhance and refine our cost estimation models.” Still, she noted that the decisions made, and critiqued in the report, were “based on existing staff and system resources available, assessed impact and consideration for conservatism.” The observation calls into question whether the government agency is capable of managing a multibillion-dollar program that is projected to grow. “Reading between the lines of the GAO report makes it sound like the Department of Education … has got one or two staff with a 30-year-old computer or maybe index cards trying to figure out costs,” said Jason Delisle, a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank. “You need to hire a firm that is skilled at estimating the value of financial securities to tell you what these loans are worth and what they’ll cost taxpayers.” As it stands, there are 5.3 million people enrolled in an income-driven repayment plan with about $353 billion in outstanding student loans. Although the government has let people repay education debt based on their income for the past 20 years, few took advantage until the Obama administration expanded the number of options and eligibility. Plans are designed to prevent borrowers from defaulting on their loans and ruining their credit. “This is a way that we can ensure that graduates are fulfilling their basic responsibility to repay the government for the money that they borrowed,” White House press secretary Josh Earnest told reporters Wednesday. “But we want to make sure that when students graduate, that they’re not saddled with so much debt that they’re essentially penalized financially for pursuing college education opportunities.” The GAO estimates that $215 billion, or 61 percent of the debt in income-driven plans, will be paid in full. Another $108 billion will be forgiven, with the remaining $29 billion discharged because of death or disability. But those estimates are only for loans made from 1995 to 2017. As more people sign up, the cost of the program will soar. “At a time when our nation is facing a mammoth national debt, the Department of Education has expanded a student loan program that will cost twice as much as originally estimated,” Senate Budget Committee Chairman Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), who requested the GAO study, said in a statement. “This administration has been manipulating the terms of the student loan program without the consent of Congress, while shirking its statutory duty to carefully assess the cost impact of those changes.” Enzi said at the very least there needs to be greater transparency in the way education officials calculate costs, but his office said he is not calling for any major changes to the repayment plans at the moment. Congressional Republicans have called President Obama’s expansion of the repayment program fiscally irresponsible and pushed for dialing back eligibility. Even Obama has proposed limiting forgiveness for graduate students. Yet President-elect Donald Trump has said he would lower the period of repayment, a move that will probably raise the cost for taxpayers. [Trump just laid out a pretty radical student debt plan] “As the Trump administration comes into power they need to take a measured approach that develops a program that is well targeted to the neediest borrowers,” said Michelle Asha Cooper, president of the Institute for Higher Education Policy. “Regardless of who’s in power, the issue of college affordability is a real problem, and while these plans are helpful, they are not a solution.” Want to read more about the student loans? Check out these stories: A guide to paying off your student loans Student debt relief scams are on the rise. Here’s how this government official plans to stop it. The Obama administration’s plan to lower the student debt payments of millions more Americans |||||

– A new report out of the Government Accountability Office reveals that the federal government will forgive at least $108 billion in student loan debt in the coming years, a higher amount than official estimates out of the federal government's Education Department, the Washington Post reports. The GAO report, which Inside Higher Ed says is "highly critical," looked at the federal government's income-driven repayment plans, which cap borrowers' monthly payments based on their income and, in some cases, ultimately forgive the balance of the debt entirely. Currently, $355 billion is owed under income-driven repayment plans, and the GAO report found that $137 billion of that will never be repaid. Of that, $108 billion will be forgiven under the terms of the plans, and $29 billion will be written off due to disability or death. Those amounts only cover loans made through the current school year, the Wall Street Journal reports. Income-driven repayment plans were passed by Congress in the 1990s and 2000s, but the Obama administration beefed some of them up and increased efforts to enroll people in them; currently 5.3 million borrowers are enrolled. The GAO report could offer ammunition to congressional Republicans looking to trim such programs in an attempt to rein in costs. "Really what the GAO is saying is that the Obama administration’s expansion of this program has been done without good information about the effects," says one higher-ed finance expert.

Prince George’s County sheriff’s deputies have evicted a Fort Washington couple who spent years fighting the foreclosure of their million-dollar house. Keith and Janet Ritter did not make a single mortgage payment on the showcase home along the Potomac River after buying it at the end of 2006. Sheriff’s deputies showed up at the house Wednesday morning with an eviction order issued last week by the county Circuit Court. The order had been sought by Kondaur Capital Corp., a California firm that buys foreclosed properties and now owns the house. The Ritters could not be reached for comment. During the real estate boom, the Ritters earned six-figure incomes by flipping houses — buying and reselling rapidly. Most of their activity was in the Fort Washington area. The Ritters ran into financial trouble once the housing bubble burst. They had said previously that they did not make payments because they were scrambling to save other investment properties from foreclosure. The mortgage on the million-dollar house passed through several lenders, at least two of which tried to foreclose. The Ritters held them off with repeated bankruptcy filings in different states, temporarily halting the foreclosure process. They also benefited from a national moratorium on foreclosures following the robo-signing scandal and from Maryland’s unusually long foreclosure process, one of the most protracted in the nation. Attorneys for Kondaur successfully foreclosed on the house late last year and obtained an eviction order in December. In March, after an article about the couple appeared in The Washington Post, sheriff’s deputies pulled up to the house but had to leave because of another last-minute bankruptcy filing by Janet Ritter. Kondaur’s lawyers last week secured the court order that allowed the eviction to go forward. The Ritters had filled their home with art and furnishings. One witness to the eviction said it took the entire day to remove the couple’s belongings. By Friday afternoon, the front door sported a new lock and a real estate lock box. There were bits of debris strewn about outside — clothing hangers, paint cans, a dog crate filled with rocks and “For Rent” and “For Sale” signs. A cream-colored Mercedes with a flat tire was parked outside the garage, where it has been for several months. The driveway was also sprinkled with broken glass. One front window on the ground floor appeared to have been vandalized. Neighbors in the small development of custom-built, high-end homes were reluctant to talk to a reporter about the eviction. One man, who did not give his name, said, “This is reality.” ||||| The eviction from their million-dollar home could come at any moment. Keith and Janet Ritter have been bracing for it — and battling against it — almost from the moment they moved into the five-bedroom, 4,900-square-foot manse along the Potomac River in Fort Washington. In five years, they have never made a mortgage payment, a fact that amazes even the most seasoned veterans of the foreclosure crisis. The Ritters have kept the sheriff at bay by repeatedly filing for bankruptcy and by exploiting changes in Maryland’s laws designed to help delinquent homeowners avoid foreclosure. Those efforts to protect homeowners have transformed Maryland’s foreclosure process from one of the country’s shortest to one of the longest. It now takes on average 634 days to complete a foreclosure in Maryland, compared with 132 days in Virginia. Champions of Maryland’s system, including Gov. Martin O’Malley (D), credit it with driving down the state’s foreclosure rate and helping thousands of victims of predatory lending, fraud and other abuses hang on to their homes. “The market won’t fix itself,” said Anne Norton, Maryland’s deputy commissioner for financial regulations. “By the time it does, how many homeowners will be churned up and spit out by the machine?” Critics, including economists and lenders, blame the state’s go-slow approach for a growing backlog of foreclosures and a weak-to-nonexistent recovery in home prices. To them, the system puts too much emphasis on helping individual homeowners and not enough on quickly clearing the market of foreclosures so prices can rebound and hard-hit communities can recover. And they say it also creates opportunities for abuse by those determined to drag the process out for as long as possible. “How is it people can stay in a house for five years without ever making a mortgage payment?” said Thomas A. Lawler, a former senior vice president at Fannie Mae who now runs his own consulting firm in Loudoun County. “That’s a screwed-up process. It’s an example of how the process is broken.” The Ritters, who bought their house for $1.29 million with almost no money down, are hardly representative of the vast majority of Maryland’s distressed homeowners. During the boom, they set out to become mini real estate moguls, buying properties and flipping them for a profit. In the process, Keith Ritter, 54, went from being on probation for bankruptcy fraud and making minimum wage to being a successful real estate investor and landlord with a six-figure income. Then, when the housing market tanked five years ago, the couple found themselves facing multiple foreclosures. The Ritters have tried to negotiate different payment arrangements with their lender to save their posh home near National Harbor, they said, but to no avail. “It was never our intention to get here and never make a mortgage payment,” Keith Ritter said. “We don’t believe in living for free.” But he and Janet, a 51-year-old real estate agent, make no apology for using every tactic available to them to stay in their house, including challenging the foreclosure sale in court, requesting mediation and claiming they had a tenant living with them. Their adversaries, they argued, are giant financial institutions with armies of lawyers that are out to make as much money as possible at the expense of homeowners. “When a bank does all it can to save itself, that’s good business,” Keith said. “When a homeowner does the same thing, he’s called a deadbeat.” Reprieve after reprieve For a guy who has lost much of his wealth and is on the verge of getting booted from his home, Keith Ritter is oddly calm. He says things such as, “No matter what happens, we are at peace” and likes to quote Scripture. He and Janet pray daily, read the Bible, attend Pentecostal services and are reliable tithers. Their faith fuels their hope that they can somehow stave off eviction. But they also keep the sheriff’s office on speed dial. Keith calls the number every few days, always with the same question: “Do you have a date for us yet?” By now, he recognizes the voices that answer the phone at the sheriff’s office. They keep the conversation brief. No, nothing yet. Another reprieve. Ritter’s composure in the face of eviction may be due to the fact that he has survived worse. A native of Detroit, he settled in the Washington area after college and started a successful company cleaning commercial buildings. Through his business, he got interested in real estate. “I saw real estate as the way to wealth,” Ritter said. By the 1990s, he was buying up properties in Northern Virginia, and he quickly learned that making money in real estate can be harder than it looks. “I made a lot of mistakes,” he said. According to federal prosecutors and court records, Ritter bought real estate and then put the properties in the names of family members. When he fell behind on mortgage payments, he filed for bankruptcy protection in his relatives’ names in various jurisdictions to stop foreclosure proceedings. Then he tried to get the bankruptcy filings dismissed without telling the mortgage lenders. He pleaded guilty in 2000 to bankruptcy fraud and was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison in Petersburg, Va., where he wrote the first of three books about his deepening faith, “Life From the Inside.” “I’ve always loved God,” Ritter said. “I haven’t always obeyed God, but I’ve always loved him.” When he got out of prison, he spent two years on probation, working at a Sears to pay $10,000 in court-ordered restitution. By the time his probation ended in 2004, the housing boom was underway. He and Janet settled in Fort Washington, an affluent, fast-growing community south of the Beltway. The Ritters started out in a $360,000, 2,300-square-foot house with a circular driveway and a pool. As its value skyrocketed, the couple borrowed against it to buy other properties in Fort Washington that they would fix up and then sell. They were convinced that National Harbor, a massive planned hotel, retail and convention center complex, would raise home values. At one point, they owned seven properties. In 2004, the run-up in prices was so steep that the Ritters grossed more than $200,000 in six months, off two deals. In 2006, they made close to that amount with a single sale. The couple, who have no children, began driving Mercedes-Benz sedans and taking trips to Europe and the Middle East. They also donated $6,000 to a church in Springfield, court records show. Ritter said he began to worry in 2006, when a few deals started falling through because the buyers could not get financing. He started looking into buying a restaurant, where he could showcase his wife’s cooking. Then a real estate agent friend came by, saying, “I’ve got a house for you.” The custom-built property, on three-quarters of an acre on Riverview Road, was a showstopper, with Palladian windows, high ceilings and a gabled roof. Inside, French patio doors led to a magnificent sunroom. The dining room had red walls, a tray ceiling and a chandelier the original owner had brought back from Prague. Upstairs, the master bedroom had a sitting area and a three-way fireplace. The windows surrounding the tub in the master bath offered incredible views of the Potomac. And the house next door had sold for $1.7 million. The Ritters were not sure they could afford the million-dollar-plus price tag until they were approved by Realty Mortgage Corp., a now-defunct Mississippi lender, for $1 million. Another lender covered the down payment. The couple called their new residence “God’s house” because, as Keith Ritter put it, “that’s the only way we could have been approved for a loan.” They did not get to revel in their good fortune for long. By the time they moved in at the end of 2006, home prices had begun their disastrous free fall. The housing crash The market soured with ferocious speed. Between 2006 and 2008, housing prices in Prince George’s County fell 17 percent while the number of properties in foreclosure surged from 3,094 to 32,338, according to a state report. Housing counselors went from seeing one homeowner behind on a mortgage a week to seeing 10 a day. For the Ritters, the housing crash was a catastrophe. The couple still owned five properties, four of which they had rented out. But falling home values meant they could not refinance the mortgages, some of which carried adjustable rates. Pretty soon the rents they were charging were not covering the mortgages. Janet Ritter’s sales commissions started to dry up, along with other sources of income. By the time the first mortgage payment of almost $7,600 on the Riverview Road house was due in January 2007, they faced a decision: which properties to save. “Do we put the money we had left in this one? Or is it better to spread it to the others?” Keith Ritter recalled wondering. They chose the latter course, expecting to be able to catch up on the Riverview Road payments later. But that didn’t happen. The first foreclosure against the Riverview Road house was filed in 2007. By that time, Realty Mortgage no longer owned their loan, which would change hands at least two more times. The foreclosure case was brought by lawyers representing Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, or MERS, the controversial electronic mortgage registry that some lenders used as a proxy to initiate foreclosures. But the proceedings ground to a halt the next year after Janet Ritter filed for bankruptcy protection. The bankruptcy case was later dismissed at her request. Meanwhile, the couple’s rental properties and previous residence, which they had held on to, were also facing foreclosure. In 2009, the year foreclosure proceedings began on their old house on Clay Drive, Keith Ritter filed for bankruptcy twice. Both bankruptcy cases were later dismissed, but they managed to disrupt the foreclosure of the Clay Drive home three separate times. The property was even sold on the courthouse steps in Upper Marlboro in spring 2010. However, a county circuit court judge later declared the sale invalid because the bankruptcy case was still active when the sale took place. Ritter defended his tactics. “Anytime anyone tries to take your home,” he said, “you are going to use the legal system to save it.” Only they didn’t save it. In 2010, the Riverview Road house went into foreclosure for the second time shortly after Kondaur Capital, a California company that buys and services troubled home loans, purchased the note from Morgan Stanley. Talks with Kondaur began. The Ritters initially agreed to a short sale, with a starting sales price of $1 million that was later dropped to $799,000. The house did not get any takers. At different times, the couple said, they offered to make payments, but they said Kondaur turned them down, preferring to foreclose. Kondaur did not return calls and e-mails asking for comment. The company’s attorney, Robert Hillman, also declined to discuss the case. The Ritters then asked for a remedy that had just been approved by Maryland lawmakers to help distressed homeowners: mediation. “Defendant(s), humbly prays that the Honorable Judge, will recognize that this process, written into law by Governor O’Malley was to prevent just this situation, whereby the note holder can . . . trample on the rights of the homeowner,” Keith Ritter wrote in a December 2010 mediation request. When the mediation day arrived in April, however, the Ritters were not there. They later said that, because of a mailing address mix-up, they never got the necessary paperwork. They complained that they were denied mediation, but Prince George’s Circuit Court Judge Thomas P. Smith ordered the house sold. Janet Ritter filed for bankruptcy, this time in Georgia, where the couple owned another house that was later lost to foreclosure. The foreclosure on the Riverview Road house was stopped again until that bankruptcy was dismissed, too. The house finally went on the auction block in July, and Kondaur bought it back for $552,500, a common industry practice. The Ritters immediately challenged the sale in court. Judge Smith ratified the sale. The couple then said they had a tenant living with them, potentially triggering recently passed state and federal laws that prohibit tenants from being tossed out when their landlords are foreclosed on. Kondaur’s attorneys again demanded possession of the house, usually the last step before eviction. A hearing was set for mid-December. The day of the hearing, the hallway outside the courtroom buzzed with speculation that the couple in the million-dollar home had finally reached the end of the road. Hillman, the Kondaur attorney, arrived first. As he placed his briefcase on the plaintiff’s table, he said to the few people seated inside the courtroom, “It’s old me — the underdog.” The Ritters arrived soon after to represent themselves. The tenant, whom the judge had ordered to appear, was a no-show. Janet Ritter argued that Kondaur had no right to foreclose, because it could not prove it owned the note on the house. She said some of the paperwork documenting the mortgage’s many transfers from one pool of mortgages to another was fraudulent because it had been “robosigned,” a legacy of hasty processing during the boom in which foreclosure-mill employees signed thousands of documents without reading them. Such errors have been sufficient to halt foreclosures in other states. And widespread evidence of robosigning led to a recent $25 billion settlement with several major banks on behalf of hundreds of thousands of homeowners. But in Maryland, the courts have ruled that if the lender can provide records of a note’s history, and how it came to possess it, it has the right to foreclose, even if the records weren’t properly endorsed. In response to Janet Ritter’s argument, Hillman held up an original copy of the note, with Keith Ritter’s signature in blue ink. Judge Smith awarded Kondaur possession of the property. Two days later, Kondaur filed for eviction. The Ritters knew it was only a matter of time before the sheriff showed up at their door to deliver it. A long-shot hope On a rainy Wednesday in February, Keith Ritter stood in front of a foreclosed brick house a few miles from his home on Riverview Road. On the garage door, the county had posted a notice that said the property needed to be cleaned. Ritter, dressed in jeans, a knit cap and a jacket, had come to clear the house as part of his new business, Beat It Movers, which cleans and maintains foreclosed homes so they can be sold. Ritter gets the irony of working for some of the same banks that have foreclosed on him. But he has to make money somehow. “All I know is real estate,” he said. The job took only 30 minutes. Afterward, Ritter decided to stop at another house nearby that he and Janet bought in 2006. It was also in foreclosure, although it had not been auctioned yet. The tenant had moved out about two months earlier, and the house was empty except for a leather sectional just off the kitchen. The beeping sound of smoke detectors with dead batteries pierced the air at regular intervals. Ritter and the other men went inside to bring out the couch. Being able to clear out your own house is a luxury, and far better than the alternative. Ritter dreads coming home to Riverview Road to find his belongings — the fine furniture and framed artwork, his wife’s designer shoes — spread out on the front lawn. “People think, because you haven’t paid, you must be a bad person. But not everything is black and white,” Ritter said. “A lot of things happen between the lines.” Ritter still thinks he can work something out to save his house. He is trying to persuade an investor to buy the house from Kondaur and then sell it back to them. It’s a long shot, and Ritter said he has been praying a lot. In January, he fasted for 30 days “for spiritual cleansing and guidance,” he said. He has found solace in his Bible, especially a passage from Matthew that he has bracketed in black ink from the parable of the unforgiving servant. “At this the servant fell on his knees before him,” the passage reads. “ ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ ” Staff researchers Jennifer Jenkins and Magda Jean-Louis contributed to this report. |||||

– After buying their million-dollar house in 2006, a Maryland couple never made a single mortgage payment; now they've been evicted after a long struggle, reports the Washington Post. Keith and Janet Ritter made a fortune, temporarily, buying and flipping homes during the housing bubble, and they bought their $1.3 million home with no money down, according to a previous article in the Post. Then they lost much of their wealth when the bubble burst and have been fighting eviction ever since. Though two mortgage lenders attempted to foreclose on the home, the couple managed to avoid such a fate for years thanks to multiple bankruptcy filings across several states. Maryland also has one of the country's longest foreclosure processes. California property buyer Kondaur Capital finally got an eviction order in December. Police attempted to evict the Ritters in March but were barred by another bankruptcy filing; this week's successful eviction follows a court order last week.

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — An Australian cookbook author who falsely said she beat cancer through healthy eating has been fined by a court for misleading consumers by lying about her charitable donations. The judge had ruled in March that Belle Gibson's deceptive claims of donating the proceeds from the sales of "The Whole Pantry" and a related app constituted unconscionable conduct under Australian consumer law. Federal Court Justice Debra Mortimer on Thursday ordered Gibson to pay a total of 410,000 Australian dollars ($320,000) for five contraventions of the law relating to false claims that the proceeds would go to various charities. Gibson did not attend court in Melbourne. She was advised of the fine Wednesday night and responded in an email: "Thank you for the update. Much appreciated." The book and app were withdrawn. ||||| Gibson, who built a wellness empire on the back of claims she cured terminal brain cancer through diet and lifestyle, has admitted deceiving her followers 'None of it’s true': wellness blogger Belle Gibson admits she never had cancer Disgraced wellness blogger Belle Gibson, who built an online community and sold a recipe book off the back of claims she cured terminal brain cancer through diet and lifestyle alone, has admitted she never had cancer. “None of it’s true,” Gibson told the Australian Women’s Weekly in an interview to be published on Thursday. “I don’t want forgiveness. I just think [speaking out] was the responsible thing to do. Above anything, I would like people to say, ‘OK, she’s human.’” Gibson’s wellness empire, which included a mobile phone app called The Whole Pantry and a website and recipe book of the same name, began to fall apart in March when it was revealed she never made thousands of dollars in charity donations she promised off the back of money raised through her success. Pseudoscience and strawberries: ‘wellness’ gurus should carry a health warning | Hadley Freeman Read more Later that month, Gibson said she had been “wrongly” diagnosed with cancers she claimed to have in her blood, spleen, uterus and liver by a German magnetic therapist, but maintained her terminal brain cancer was real. She refused to show journalists medical records or any proof to back her claims that by shunning conventional medicine, her brain cancer had been kept in check. The Women’s Weekly interview is the first time Gibson has spoken to the media following questions being raised about her cancer claims. “During the interviews, whenever challenged, Belle cried easily and muddled her words,” the Women’s Weekly reports. “She says she is passionate about avoiding gluten, dairy and coffee, but doesn’t really understand how cancer works.” When questions began to be asked about Gibson’s story last month, she experienced a swift backlash on social media, with many people who followed her saying they felt betrayed. She began deleting her social media accounts and blogposts about her various illnesses. Many criticised Gibson for putting cancer sufferers in danger by suggesting dietary approaches alone could successfully treat them. Consumer Affairs Victoria is now investigating Gibson, while Penguin has ceased publishing her recipe book and the Apple store no longer offers her app for download. In the interview, Gibson says she has an upcoming meeting with Penguin. However, Penguin communications manager Camilla Subeather told Guardian Australia on Thursday no such meeting had been arranged. “We are disappointed that, despite several requests for clarification regarding recent allegations made against her, Belle is yet to respond to us directly,” she said. “We have read with interest her recent interview and are considering our rights and options as set out in our agreement with her. We have no knowledge of the forthcoming meeting she refers to.” News Ltd, which appears to have obtained a full copy of the Women’s Weekly interview ahead of publication, reports Gibson fails to explain fully why she lied, saying only that she had a difficult childhood. Her false illness claims date back to 2009, when she claimed on an internet forum to have undergone multiple heart surgeries and to have died on the operating table. In the days following the allegations against her, Gibson posted on social media that she was being bullied and had changed “thousands of lives for the better”. Meanwhile, the media was criticised for running glowing articles about Gibson prior to the allegations coming to light without properly checking the facts of her story. ||||| Image copyright 9 News / 60 Minutes Image caption Belle Gibson falsely claimed alternative therapies helped her beat cancer after conventional medicine failed An Australian wellness blogger who falsely claimed to have cancer has been fined A$410,000 (£240,000, $322,000) for misleading her readers. Belle Gibson, 25, gained fame in Australia after she claimed to have beaten brain cancer using natural remedies and nutrition. She launched a successful app and cookbook, but later admitted the diagnosis was made up. Ms Gibson was found guilty of five breaches of consumer law in March. A judge at the time said Ms Gibson may have "genuinely" believed what she was saying, and might have suffered from "delusions" about her health. She did not attend the Federal Court of Australia in Melbourne on Thursday to hear the penalty handed down. 'Pitching' for sympathy Ms Gibson built a social media empire off claims she had cured her cancer with Ayurvedic medicine, oxygen therapy and a gluten and refined sugar-free diet. "Her 'pitch' overwhelmingly used groups likely to evoke sympathy because of their vulnerabilities - young girls, asylum seekers, sick children," Justice Debbie Mortimer said in March. Ms Gibson's app and cookbook, both called The Whole Pantry, made A$420,000, and she had promised to deliver a share of the profits to several charities. But the money allegedly never reached the charities and cracks began to appear in Ms Gibson's story, leading her to admit her claims were untrue. ||||| The interactive transcript could not be loaded. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. ||||| Federal court orders disgraced wellness blogger to pay penalty after she sold a cookbook and app after claiming to have cured cancer naturally The disgraced wellness blogger Belle Gibson has been ordered by the federal court in Melbourne to repay $410,000 to the state of Victoria. For the past few months the court had been struggling to decide on an appropriate penalty for Gibson, after she sold thousands of copies of her cookbook and wellness app off the back of false claims she cured numerous cancers through following a healthy lifestyle. 'None of it’s true': wellness blogger Belle Gibson admits she never had cancer Read more The 25-year-old has failed to show up to court since proceedings brought against her by Consumer Affairs Victoria began last year and has also not responded to evidence before the court or submitted her own. Consumer Affairs Victoria brought the case, and its legal counsel told federal court justice Debra Mortimer on Thursday morning that Gibson could face a maximum penalty of $1.1m for contravening five consumer laws. But in June Mortimer said there was no point in issuing a significant fine against a person or company if they had no means of paying that penalty. In making her order on Thursday, Mortimer said Gibson would be able to pay the penalty in instalments. Gibson’s product, The Whole Pantry, included a website, mobile phone app and recipe book of the same name. Her story of shunning conventional medicine and curing herself with food began to fall apart in 2015 when it was revealed she had not made thousands of dollars in charity donations she promised off the back of money raised through her success. In an interview with the Australian Women’s Weekly in 2016, Gibson admitted she never had cancer at all, saying: “None of it’s true.” On Monday night Mortimer said her executive assistant had received an email from Gibson in response to notification that the penalty would be handed down on Thursday. Gibson simply responded: “Thank you for your update. Confirming receipt of your email. Much appreciated, Belle.” She was not present in court for the judgment. Belle Gibson mimicked countless fake healers. They aren't delusional | Ranjana Srivastava Read more Mortimer ordered Gibson to pay a penalty of $90,000 for her false claims that she would make donations for the sale of her app; $90,000 for false claims her company would make charity donations; $50,000 for false claims that following her app launch she would donate to charity; $150,000 for false claims that she would make donations to the Schwartz family, whose son suffered brain cancer; and $30,000 for false claims that she would donate to charity off the back of a Mother’s Day event. “I note also that Ms Gibson has already been ordered to pay a percentage of the director’s [of Consumer Affairs Victoria] legal costs of this proceeding, fixed at $30,000,” Mortimer’s judgment read. “If Ms Gibson were to actually pay the pecuniary penalties imposed (whether by instalments or otherwise), in the court’s respectful opinion … it may be appropriate for consideration to be given to whether there is a mechanism by which some or all of the funds can be donated to some or all of the organisations, and people, Ms Gibson had promised would receive donations. “In that way, some good might still come for the vulnerable people, and the organisations supporting them, which were indirectly drawn into this unconscionable sequence of events.” |||||

– In March, Belle Gibson was found guilty of breaching consumer law with her false claims on how she'd beaten her supposed brain cancer. On Thursday, Melbourne's Federal Court of Australia handed down the fine the Aussie blogger will pay as a consequence: around $320,000, the BBC reports. The 25-year-old had made a name for herself in her home country when she claimed she'd beaten her cancer through a regimen of healthy living and eating, which she monetized via an app and cookbook she created, both called The Whole Pantry. Per the AP, the fine was handed down due to Gibson's claims that proceeds from the app and cookbook would go to different charities. But the charities never got those funds, and that's when questions started to pop up about Gibson herself. It was in mid-2015 when Gibson finally admitted she'd never had brain cancer, or other cancers she'd also initially said she had (she later called those misdiagnoses). Gibson's "pitch" for people to throw money her way "overwhelmingly used groups likely to evoke sympathy because of their vulnerabilities—young girls, asylum seekers, sick children," federal judge Debra Mortimer said in March. The Guardian notes the court had spent months trying to figure out a penalty for Gibson, and Consumer Affairs Victoria, which brought the case against Gibson, said she could've faced a fine of up to $860,000. But Mortimer had previously said it was pointless to issue a fine that Gibson would be unable to pay. Gibson wasn't in court to hear Mortimer's decision, instead sending an email response to the AP that said, "Thank you for the update. Much appreciated."

The Spy Who Loved Me In her 20s, Avril Haines held erotica readings at the Baltimore bookstore and restaurant she co-owned at the time. Ben Jacobs and Avi Zenilman report. The former host of “Erotica Night” at a Baltimore bookstore will be the first-ever female No. 2 official at the CIA. On Wednesday, Barack Obama nominated Avril Danica Haines to be the deputy director of the CIA, replacing Michael Morell, who twice served as acting director of the agency but took much of the blame for editing the highly controversial talking points around the 2012 attack on the consulate in Benghazi. As a lawyer in the White House Counsel’s office, Haines oversaw the approval process for the CIA's covert actions, acting as a vital link between the CIA and the president. But 20 years ago, Haines opened and co-owned Adrian’s Book Café in the Baltimore waterfront neighborhood of Fells Point. She opened Adrian’s after dropping out of a graduate program in physics at Johns Hopkins University. The store featured regular “Erotica Nights.” including dinner and a series of readings by guests of published work or their own prose, according to a 1995 report in the Baltimore Sun; couples could attend for $30, while singles paid $17. "Erotica has become more prevalent because people are trying to have sex without having sex. Others are trying to find new fantasies to make their monogamous relationships more satisfying,” Haines, then in her 20s, told the Sun. “What the erotic offers is spontaneity, twists and turns. And it affects everyone." (She also told Baltimore Sun reporter Mary Corey that friends heckled “you just want a mass orgy in your bookstore, while she and her co-owner were initially worried only "dirty old men" would show up.) The event Corey attended at the bookstore featured a room lit with red candles where guests held chicken tostadas, waiting to eat as Haines read aloud the opening pages of The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty, by Anne Rice writing under the pseudonym A.N. Roquelaire, which features passages such as: “He mounted her, parting her legs, giving the white inner flesh of her thighs a soft deep pinch, and, clasping her right breast in his hand, he thrust his sex into her. He was holding her up as he did this, to gather her mouth to him, and as he broke through her innocence, he opened her mouth with his tongue and pinched her breast sharply.” But her bookstore was hardly defined by erotica (which was shelved between self-help and parenting), stocking titles from a variety of smaller publishing houses and local authors, and offering a café. Haines was also well respected in the close-knit waterfront neighborhood of Fells Point, according to former neighbors. One of them, long-time neighborhood fixture Steve Bunker, who has since retired to Maine, raved about Haines to The Daily Beast, saying “She’s brilliant, has a genius IQ, is easy to work with, and reliable.” He recalled going to New Year’s Eve parties with her at the $22 million dollar townhouses then owned by her father, Dr. Thomas Haines, a liberal activist and noted chemist, on the Upper West Side of New York. Another property owner in the neighborhood, Howard Barstop, raved about Haines’ work ethic, reminiscing about when she would rehab her apartment in “jeans or a pair of shorts.” At an agency recently rocked by revelations about then-Director David Petraeus’s secret erotic emails while having an affair with his biographer, Haines’s bookstore past seems considerably more appealing, and about as racy as what a reader might find in a Lewis Libby or Jim Webb novel. ||||| The C.I.A.’s deputy director, Michael J. Morell, is retiring after 33 years at the agency and will be replaced by Avril D. Haines, the top lawyer at the National Security Council, the C.I.A.’s director, John O. Brennan, announced Wednesday. The switch will put a woman in one of the agency’s top two jobs for the first time. Ms. Haines is an unusual choice because she is not an intelligence professional, though in her two years at the White House she has been deeply involved in intelligence programs and got to know Mr. Brennan when he was President Obama’s counterterrorism adviser. In April, the president had nominated Ms. Haines to become the legal adviser at the State Department, a job in which she would also have been the first woman. But with Mr. Morell’s departure, he evidently decided to shift her to the C.I.A. post. The agency’s deputy director is not subject to Senate confirmation. Mr. Morell, 54, is leaving voluntarily, officials said, after a full career that has included two recent stints as acting director of the spy agency, first after the departure of Leon E. Panetta in 2011 and then after the resignation of David H. Petraeus last year over a sex scandal. He was a leading candidate for the top job, but Mr. Obama chose Mr. Brennan in January, and colleagues said then that Mr. Morell was likely to retire. ||||| Deputy CIA Director Michael Morell is retiring and President Barack Obama has selected a White House lawyer, Avril D. Haines, to replace him at the spy agency. Morell, 54, who began at the Central Intelligence Agency in 1980 as an analyst, helped draft the administration’s talking points on the attack on diplomatic facilities in Benghazi, Libya. He will become a member of the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board, the White House said in a statement. Taking over the job is Haines, 43, who has been deputy counsel to the president for national security affairs since 2010, marking the first time a woman has ascended to the agency’s second highest position. While she previously worked at the State Department and on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, she does not have a background in intelligence work. “I am proud that such experienced and committed individuals have agreed to serve the American people in these important roles,” Obama said in a statement. “I look forward to working with them in the months and years ahead.” With United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice scheduled to become Obama’s national security adviser in July and former adviser Samantha Power nominated to replace Rice at the UN, Obama’s foreign policy team has three women in top positions. Morell, who served as acting director following the resignation of David Petraeus in November until John Brennan was confirmed as CIA director in March, said he’s leaving to devote more time to his family. Family Concerns “Whenever someone involved in the rough and tumble of Washington decides to move on, there is speculation in various quarters about the ‘real reason,’” Morell said in a statement. “But when I say that it is time for my family, nothing could be more real than that.” Brennan, who was Obama’s counterterrorism adviser before taking over at the CIA, said he’s worked closely with Haines over the past several years. She’s been a regular participant in high-level meetings and headed a group of lawyers that reviews the CIA’s most sensitive programs, he said in a statement. He also thanked Morell for helping him make the transition back to the agency. Morell, who also was one of President George W. Bush’s intelligence briefers, has come under criticism from Republicans over the Benghazi talking points, which removed any reference to al-Qaeda from the administration’s initial explanation of the Sept. 11, 2012, attack that killed U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans. Talking Points The talking points were used by Rice on Sunday talk shows to describe the Benghazi attack as growing out of a spontaneous demonstration sparked by a movie trailer that Muslims found offensive to their religion. Republicans have conducted multiple hearings on the administration’s response. When the Obama administration released almost 100 pages of e-mails about the origins of the talking points last month, administration officials said that they showed that it was Morell, a career CIA employee, who made the final edits to the document. That chain of authorship allowed the Obama administration to preserve its argument that the White House made only minor edits to a document that originated in the intelligence community. Final Draft References to al-Qaeda were removed while the document was still being drafted by the CIA, according to White House officials who briefed reporters. It was eventually replaced with “Islamic extremist,” in the final draft. Morell didn’t mention the Benghazi controversy in his public notice about his retire. “I am passionate about two things in this world -- the agency and my family,” he said in a statement emailed to CIA employees. “And while I have given everything I have to the Central Intelligence Agency and its vital mission for a third of a century, it is now time for me to give everything I have to my family.” To contact the reporter on this story: Hans Nichols in Washington at [email protected] To contact the editor responsible for this story: Steven Komarow at [email protected] |||||

– CIA Deputy Director Michael Morell has announced his retirement, making way for the first woman to take the job. Avril Haines, 43, is a White House lawyer who has worked in the State Department and Senate Foreign Relations Committee. She hasn't worked in an intelligence post before, Bloomberg notes, but her work at the White House has been steeped in intelligence-related matters, the New York Times reports. President Obama had initially nominated her to the post of State Department legal adviser; she would have been the first woman in that job, too, the Times notes. Morell, for his part, was involved in the drafting of White House talking points on Benghazi. He's leaving to spend more time with his family, he says, though he will also join the President's Intelligence Advisory Board. "Whenever someone involved in the rough and tumble of Washington decides to move on, there is speculation ... about the 'real reason,'" Morell says. "But when I say that it is time for my family, nothing could be more real than that." (Odd aside about his successor: The Daily Beast reports that Haines co-owned a Baltimore bookstore in her 20s, and the store hosted regular "Erotica Nights," during which she would do readings.)

Seventy years ago, Vilnius, Lithuania, was known as the Jerusalem of Lithuania—a bustling town home to more than 100,000 Jews at its peak. But then it all vanished. In three years during the Holocaust, 95% of Lithuanian Jews were killed. But hidden within this tragedy is a story of hope and courage that archeologists are just now bringing to light. Jews from the Vilnius Ghetto were executed in a pit in the Ponary woods between 1941, when this photo was taken, and 1944. On June 8, a team led by Richard Freund, a Judaic studies professor at the University of Hartford, and Jon Seligman, an archaeologist with the Israel Antiquities Authority, discovered the existence of an escape tunnel at Ponar, just outside of Vilnius. The tunnel had been rumored in oral histories kept alive by escapees, their descendants, and other Lithuanian Jews from that era, including Freund’s great-grandfather, who came from Vilnius. On the last night of Passover, April 14, 1944, 80 Jews began their escape from the pit where they were being held prisoner through a 100-foot tunnel that had been painstakingly dug by hand. The pit where the tunnel began. Digging in the dark of night, chained to one another, the prisoners had secretly scratched at the earth for three months before their daring escape. Of the 80 prisoners who attempted the getaway, only 11 survived. But they told their stories, and the tunnel gained legendary status among the people of Vilnius. For decades, the exact location of the tunnel remained a mystery, and archaeologists couldn’t dig at the site for risk of disturbing more than the 100,000 remains buried at Ponar. However, advances in archeological technology allowed Freund and his team to study the site using noninvasive techniques, including ground penetrating radar (GPR) and electrical resistivity tomography (ERT). Upon turning on their equipment, they discovered the escape tunnel almost immediately. Richard Freund studies the ERT data that first revealed evidence of the tunnel. “When they ran the first test over the area leading outside of the pit where [the prisoners] started from, they immediately saw it on the imaging.” Freund said. “There was nothing but sand, and the tunnel lit up. That was a moment.” GPR works similar to traditional radar, but instead of sending radio waves through the air, it broadcasts them into the ground. The resulting charts illustrate what lies below without disturbing the site, and archaeologists can see the results immediately, said Dean Goodman, a geophysicist at GPR-Slice Software, a company that specializes in GPR software. “We’re able to collect a lot of data really quickly and almost see the results real time. As you’re collecting the antenna over ground, you actually get a 2D profile of the swath of ground you’re going over.” The other technique, ERT, is usually used by geologists working in the oil and gas industry, not archaeologists. ERT works by sending a current into the ground and measuring the electrical resistance of the various substrates, producing a map of what lies below. Richard Freund and his collaborators discuss which area of the site to study next. GPR and ERT enable archaeologists to peer into sites that were previously off limits because they couldn’t be disturbed. “All these technologies allow people to gain information about an era—the Holocaust era—without having to desecrate a burial site,” Freund said. Freund is working with the Vilna Gaon Jewish State Museum and the Tolerance Center of Lithuania to create an exhibit so that visitors from around the world can hear the story of the courageous Jews that dug their way out of the death pits. Freund said it will be a refreshingly different piece of Holocaust history—“a story about life instead of death.” “Holocaust Escape Tunnel” will air April 19, 2017 on PBS. Find out more about this breathtaking find. ||||| A tunnel used by Jews to escape the Nazis has been re-discovered after decades of searching the Ponar forest in Lithuania. Despite there being extensive witness testimony of the tunnel's existence, it took 71 years for the tunnel to be uncovered. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Some 100,00 people, of whom 70,000 were Jews, were massacred and thrown into pits in the Ponar forest by the Nazis. A special Nazi unit was formed in 1943 with the task of covering up the genocide as the Russian Red Army advanced on Nazi positions on the Eastern Front. In Ponar, this task was assigned to a group of 80 prisoners from the Stutthof concentration camp. At night the prisoners were kept in a deep pit which was previously used for the execution of Vilna's Jews. During the day they worked to open the mass graves, pile up the corpses on logs cut from the forest trees, cover them with fuel and incinerate them. The pit in the Ponar forest where Jews were massacred (Photo:Ezra Wolfinger, NOVA) Some of the workers resolved to attempt a daring escape by digging a tunnel from the pit that was used as their prison. For three months they dug a 35-yard tunnel using only spoons and their hands. On the night of April 15th, 1944 the prisoners made their escape. They cut their leg shackles with a nail file, and 40 of them began to crawl through the narrow tunnel. Unfortunately, they were quickly discovered by the guards and many were shot. Only 15 managed to cut through the fence of the camp and escape into the forest. Eleven reached the partisan forces and survived the war. Archaeologists searching for the tunnel (Photo: Ezra Wolfinger, NOVA) Since WWII the exact location of the tunnel was unknown. Now, thanks to the cooperative work of Dr. Jon Seligman of the Israel Antiquities Authority, Prof. Richard Freund of the University of Hartford, Paul Bauman of Advisian of Calgary, Canada and the Vilna Gaon State Jewish Museum, the tunnel has been rediscovered. It was located using a geophysical technique used in mineral and oil exploration known as Electrical Resistivity Tomography from the pit used to imprison the captives, to an open space beside it. Dr. Jon Seligman, Israel Antiquities Authority said, "As an Israeli whose family originated in Lithuania, I was reduced to tears on the discovery of the escape tunnel at Ponar. This discovery is a heartwarming witness to the victory of hope over desperation. The exposure of the tunnel enables us to present, not only the horrors of the Holocaust, but also the yearning for life." Minister of Culture, MK Miri Regev said of the discovery, "I congratulate the Israel Antiquities Authority on its participation in this international effort that turns history into reality. The exciting and important discovery of the prisoners escape tunnel at Ponar is yet more proof negating the lies of Holocaust deniers. The success of modern technological developments, that have aided the Jewish people to reveal another heroic story the Nazis attempted to hide benefits all humanity." ||||| A team of archaeologists and mapmakers say they have uncovered a forgotten tunnel that 80 Jews dug largely by hand as they tried to escape from a Nazi extermination site in Lithuania about 70 years ago. The Lithuanian site, Ponar, holds mass burial pits and graves where up to 100,000 people were killed and their bodies dumped or burned during the Holocaust. Using radar and radio waves to scan beneath the ground, the researchers found the tunnel, a 100-foot passageway between five and nine feet below the surface, the team announced on Wednesday. A previous attempt made by a different team in 2004 to find the underground structure had only located its mouth, which was subsequently left unmarked. The new finding traces the tunnel from entrance to exit and provides evidence to support survivor accounts of the harrowing effort to escape the holding pit. |||||

– A 100-foot escape tunnel dug by Jewish prisoners using only their hands and spoons has been unearthed in Lithuania, a research team announced Wednesday. From 1941 to 1944, about 100,000 people (70,000 of them Jews from nearby Vilnius) were slaughtered by the Nazis, then dumped into burial pits in Lithuania's Ponar forest—systemic murder that started even before the gas chambers in what archaeologist Richard Freund tells the New York Times was "ground zero for the Holocaust." To cover up the massacre, the Nazis forced 80 Jews from the nearby Stutthof concentration camp to exhume the bodies, burn them, and hide the ashes, Ynetnews reports. These "corpse unit" members were kept in a deep pit during the night, and some spent those hours digging an escape tunnel. On the night of April 15, 1944, 40 of them made a break for it. Guards shot many on sight, but 11 escaped and survived the war to tell the story of the legendary tunnel. The research team led by Freund used a special geophysical process to locate the tunnel, combining radar and electrical resistivity tomography, which uses electricity to examine natural objects in the ground and soil disturbances that may have been caused by digging. These nonintrusive search methods allow scientists to explore sites that previously were off-limits, notes PBS, which will air a Nova documentary on the discovery in 2017. It also puts to bed the belief that stories told through the years about the tunnel were only a myth. "As an Israeli whose family originated in Lithuania, I was reduced to tears on the discovery of the escape tunnel," an archaeologist with the Israel Antiquities Authority tells Ynetnews. "[It] enables us to present not only the horrors of the Holocaust, but also the yearning for life." (Evidence of an escape tunnel was found under the Sobibor concentration camp.)

Actor Alec Baldwin was rushed to a New York City hospital Wednesday night after his daughter called 911 concerned for the "30 Rock" star's health. A source familiar with the situation now tells Fox411 that Ireland was not with her father in New York at the time of the 911 call. Instead, she likely called from Los Angeles, seemingly refuting earlier reports that the 14-year-old found her father unresponsive. Medics rushed to the actor’s apartment before taking him to Lenox Hill hospital, NBC said. He was reportedly released after an hour of treatment at around 1 a.m. According to a report from the New York Post, the initial 911 call came in as a“possible alcohol or drug overdose.” Sources told the newspaper that while he never actually ingested sleeping pills, Baldwin threatened to take them during a heated argument. Matthew Hiltzik, a rep for Baldwin, tells Fox411 that the situation was a "misunderstanding on one person's part" and that actor is “completely fine and is at work today." Hiltzik added that Baldwin's quick release indicated that there were no serious health concerns. "If there was any real issue or concern, he would not have been released from the hospital so quickly," Hiltzik said. Baldwin is scheduled to host the Academy Awards with comedian Steve Martin next month. ||||| Alec Baldwin attacks photographer after release from hospital, pal blames Kim Basinger for circus Mauceri/Donnelly/INFphoto.com A visibly angry Alec Baldwin grabs at a photographer outside his Central Park apartment Thursday. Emmy-winning actor Alec Baldwin blew a gasket Thursday and attacked a photographer while police and a pack of reporters looked on with amazement. "This guy! This guy!" the actor yelled as he burst out of a lobby and grabbed New York Post photographer Tim Wiencis by the collar. Cops immediately pulled the actor off Wiencis and hustled him back inside. A witness said Baldwin was pacing around the lobby muttering: "They are the lowest scum of the Earth. They are the lowest scum of the Earth." Meanwhile, an incredulous Wiencis told cops, "He just assaulted me." No charges were filed. Baldwin's bizarre outburst capped a day that began at 12:55 a.m., when he was rushed to Lenox Hill Hospital after his 14-year-old daughter, Ireland, dialed 911, sources said. "I'm tired of this," Baldwin said, his daughter told the dispatcher. "I'm going to take some pills. I'm going to end this." When cops arrived at Baldwin's pad on Central Park West, the actor told them he took an Ambien sleeping pill and had "no intention" of committing suicide, sources said. Baldwin, who is due to emcee the Oscars on March 7, told cops he and Ireland had been arguing over the phone and that his daughter was "put up" to dial 911 by her mom, actress Kim Basinger, sources said. Still, cops had Baldwin checked out and doctors released him after deciding he was no threat to himself, sources said. When the "30 Rock" star returned home, he found reporters on his doorstep. "This is another example of Kim's sickness," a buddy of Baldwin's told the Daily News. "Alec came back from the hospital and there were cameras outside his house at 2 a.m. Gee, I wonder how they found out?" Baldwin went to work at 7 a.m., and when he came home around 5:30 p.m. the reporters were still there. It was then that Wiencis lightly tapped Baldwin on the arm and the actor exploded, according to witnesses. "Don't touch me!" Baldwin yelled. "I'm calling the cops!" There was no comment from Basinger, whose divorce from Baldwin has been a Hollywood horror show that has left their daughter torn between warring parents. Baldwin and Ireland also have had a rocky relationship, a fact that was revealed in spectacular fashion when a voice mail of the actor calling his spawn a "rude, thoughtless little pig" was leaked in 2007. [email protected] With Jonathan Lemire and George Rush |||||

– Alec Baldwin's ugly came out yesterday after his brief stint in a hospital when he grabbed a New York Post photographer. "This guy! This guy!" the actor yelled as he rushed from his apartment building lobby to grab lensman Tim Wiencis' collar before police pulled him off, reports the New York Daily News. Seconds earlier a witness reportedly overheard Baldwin muttering to himself: "They are the scum of the earth." Wiencis called his confrontation with Baldwin an "assault," but did not press charges. Earlier yesterday Baldwin left a Manhattan hospital after his teenage daughter called 911, disturbed that her father said during an argument over the phone that he was "going to take some pills; I'm going to end this." Sources tell Fox News Ireland Baldwin was not in New York at the time, despite previous reports that she found her father "unresponsive."

Aaron Bernstein / Reuters Rep. Diane Black must be watching some crazy violent porn, it seems. Does anyone know what kind of porn Rep. Diane Black (R-Tenn.) is watching? Whatever it is, the 67-year-old Black, who is running for governor of Tennessee, said it’s a “big part” of what is driving the spike in school shootings. During a meeting last week with local pastors, Black raised the issue of gun violence in schools and why it keeps happening. “Pornography,” she said. “It’s available on the shelf when you walk in the grocery store. Yeah, you have to reach up to get it, but there’s pornography there,” she continued. “All of this is available without parental guidance. I think that is a big part of the root cause.” Here’s an audio of her remarks, which she made during a listening session with ministers at Safe Harbor of Clarksville, Tennessee. ||||| Tweet with a location You can add location information to your Tweets, such as your city or precise location, from the web and via third-party applications. You always have the option to delete your Tweet location history. Learn more ||||| This crawl of online resources of the 115th US Congress was performed on behalf of The United States National Archives & Records ||||| A Republican congresswoman from Tennessee blamed pornography — as well as a host of other cultural issues — for school shootings, during a recent meeting. Diane Black, who is running for governor of Tennessee, made the comments while speaking to a group of ministers during a “listening session” recently, according to HuffPost, which reported the story and included audio of the remarks. The comment about pornography came as Black wondered what was driving some children to such violent ends. “What makes them do that?” she said. “Because as a nurse, I go back to root causes.” She then listed a couple of these root causes, which included pornography, as well as “deterioration of the family” and violence in movies. “Pornography, it’s available, it’s available on the shelf when you walk in the grocery store,” she said. “Yeah, you have to reach up to get it, but there’s pornography there. All of this is available without parental guidance. And I think that is a big part of the root cause.” Black also spoke briefly about mental illness being something “we’ve got to address.” HuffPost published only about 2 1/2 minutes of audio, so it is not clear whether Black gave specifics about the ways she believes pornography could lead to gun violence. Chris Hartline, a spokesman for Black, wrote that the congresswoman “believes the breakdown of families and communities plays a significant role in instances of school violence.” Black’s remarks were among the latest attempts to explain the United States’ high numbers of mass shootings. Liberals and other advocates of stricter gun control point to statistics that indicate that the prevalence of guns is the single most important variable when examining why the United States has more mass shootings than other countries. Many conservatives and the National Rifle Association point to other causes, including intense news coverage of mass shootings, video games, abortion and a lack of religion, inadequate control of entry into schools, and even the act of going to school itself. [Things blamed for the deadly Texas school shooting: Ritalin. Abortion. The media. Schools. And doors.] “Hearing from many parents, they’re scared to send their kids to school,” Texas state Rep. Jonathan Stickland (R) wrote on Twitter after the shooting near Houston. “We need to give them as many different choices as possible.” Pornography has long been a target of social conservatives and some religious groups in the United States, though it has been upheld by the courts as constitutionally protected speech. As The Washington Post’s Amber Phillips wrote after legislators in Utah approved a resolution calling porn “evil, degrading, addictive and harmful,” “the science isn’t settled yet on what regular porn use does to the brain and a person’s sexual and romantic life — especially when it comes to young people who view it in their formative years.” Debating porn’s ills on society seems like a game of choose-your-own-study. There are studies that claim to show a link between pornography and a myriad of sexual, mental and emotional problems. And there are studies that claim to show porn watching actually helps people’s relationships. In Denmark, some teachers actually use the topic of porn to teach students about the difference between consensual and nonconsensual sex, the Economist reports. Branding porn as a public health hazard, though, also doesn’t change advocates’ fundamental problem: They have little legal recourse to limit it. Studies analyzing mass shootings in the United States and contrasting this country with others demonstrate that the single most important variable is the high number of guns in the United States, according to the New York Times, given that many other developed countries experience similar rates of video-game use, mental illness and other societal challenges but do not have comparable numbers of mass shootings. Read more: The ‘Active Shooter’ video game horrified Parkland parents. It was pulled prior to release. A televangelist wants his followers to pay for a $54 million private jet. It’s his fourth plane. Conservative outrage after anti-Muslim campaigner Tommy Robinson secretly jailed in Britain ||||| NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Representative Diane Black said she hopes to fund President Trump's border wall through crowdfunding. The Tennessee gubernatorial candidate appeared on Fox News and Fox Business to discuss the Border Wall Trust Fund Act bill that would make it easier for the public to help fund the border wall. "If someone wants to send in money to the federal government to help to build the wall, they can do so, but we don't have a dedicated fund for it. And so what this does is actually dedicates a fund," Black said. The money put into the Border Wall Trust Fund would be used only for planning, designing, constructing and maintaining a wall along the Southern border. |||||

– Pornography is playing a "big part" in the spike in school shootings, according to a Republican congresswoman running for governor of Tennessee. While discussing school shootings during a meeting with pastors in Clarksville last week, Rep. Diane Black said porn is "available on the shelf when you walk in the grocery store" and "without parental guidance," per HuffPost, which has the audio. "I think that is a big part of the root cause," she continued, also pointing to the "deterioration of the family" and violent movies. The 67-year-old briefly noted mental illness is also something "we've got to address," per the Washington Post. A rep later elaborated, saying Black "believes the breakdown of families and communities plays a significant role in instances of school violence." Meanwhile, Black has introduced a bill to crowdfund President Trump's wall along the border with Mexico, whose president vowed again Tuesday never to pay for it. "If someone wants to send in money to the federal government to help to build the wall, they can do so, but … what this does is actually dedicates a fund," Black tells NewsChannel5.

Federal officials said Wednesday that the new Indiana law cutting Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood violates Medicaid rules — a determination that could cost the state millions and possibly even billions of dollars. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services informed state officials by letter that it was denying Indiana’s new Medicaid plan because states can’t pick and choose where recipients receive health-care services. What happens next is, at best, a guess. But almost certain is that it will add fuel to a legal and political battle likely to be watched closely across the nation. An HHS official would not comment on what happens if Indiana does not change its law, though one possible ramification would be withholding funding. Indiana relies on about $4million in federal Medicaid family planning funds and more than $4 billion in total Medicaid dollars. The state Family and Social Services Administration — caught between state and federal law — said it would seek guidance from Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller. “For now, our lawyers advise us that we must continue to follow the law the Indiana General Assembly passed,” said FSSA spokesman Marcus Barlow. Zoeller spokesman Bryan Corbin said that the office is working with the FSSA to determine its options, “but we will continue to defend the statute.” Gov. Mitch Daniels, who signed the bill into law, declined to comment Wednesday. There also is the matter of the courts. The law, which took effect May 10, is being challenged in federal court by Planned Parenthood on various grounds. The next court date is scheduled for Monday. The law made Indiana the first state to cut off Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood and ended roughly $1.3 million in annual payments to the health provider. Planned Parenthood of Indiana, which has been scraping together donations over the past few weeks in an effort to keep serving its 9,300 Medicaid patients, welcomed Wednesday’s letter. “It is incredibly gratifying to have the federal government confirm what we’ve been saying all along, that (House Enrolled Act) 1210 violates federal law,” said Betty Cockrum, president of Planned Parenthood of Indiana. (Page 2 of 3) Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, called the letter “a strong rebuke to Indiana” and said it “serves as a warning to other states that attempts to bar federal funding for Planned Parenthood violate Medicaid law.” State Rep. Eric Turner, R-Cicero, who helped lead the effort in the legislature to defund Planned Parenthood, was disappointed. “We believe we represented the public’s opinion on this, and we’ll see what happens,” he said. “It’s another example of the federal government trying to tell states what to do. I think states are very capable of deciding their own fate and running their own ship.” Anti-abortion activists challenged the Obama administration’s interpretation of federal Medicaid policy, saying they believe states do have authority to defund Planned Parenthood and called the letter a strong-arm tactic. “We’re not surprised by it,” said Indiana Right to Life Legislative Director Sue Swayze. “This is the most pro-abortion president we’ve ever had. It almost feels like they’re bullying the state of Indiana over the wishes of our legislative branch.” President Marjorie Dannenfelser of the Susan B. Anthony List, an anti-abortion group, said, “(HHS) Secretary (Kathleen) Sebelius is strong-arming states like Indiana to protect the administration’s powerful ally Planned Parenthood.” House Bill 1210 was approved overwhelmingly by the House and Senate. Supporters of the law said they did not want their tax dollars going to an organization that provides abortions — even though the procedure is not paid for with tax dollars. Opponents said the law could leave 9,300 Medicaid patients, who receive services such as birth control, cancer screenings and sexually transmitted disease tests, without reproductive health care. The law took effect immediately after Daniels signed it, giving FSSA little time to apply for federal approval for the changes until after funding had already been cut off. The application went out May 12. The letter received Wednesday was the federal government’s response rejecting that application. ||||| WASHINGTON — The Obama administration prohibited the State of Indiana on Wednesday from carrying out a new state law that cuts off money for Planned Parenthood clinics providing health care to low-income women on Medicaid. The state law penalized Planned Parenthood because some of its clinics also perform abortions. Dr. Donald M. Berwick, administrator of the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said the state law imposed impermissible restrictions on the freedom of Medicaid beneficiaries to choose health care providers. The freedom of choice, he said, is generally guaranteed by the federal Medicaid law. But state officials said Wednesday that they intended to continue enforcing the state law, which took effect on May 10, when it was signed by Gov. Mitch Daniels, a Republican. In a letter to Indiana officials, Dr. Berwick said the state law “would eliminate the ability of Medicaid beneficiaries to receive services from specific providers for reasons not related to their qualifications to provide such services.” Advertisement Continue reading the main story For years, federal law has banned the use of Medicaid money to pay for abortion except in certain cases. |||||

– The White House has—as promised—moved to block an Indiana law that strips Planned Parenthood of Medicaid funds. State officials have been notified that the law, which cuts off funding to Planned Parenthood because some clinics perform abortion services, violates Medicaid rules because states aren't allowed to choose where recipients receive health care services, reports the New York Times. State officials say they plan to continue enforcing the law, which was signed by Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels last month. The federal government's move is "a strong rebuke to Indiana” that should serve as a warning to other states seeking to defund Planned Parenthood," the president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America tells the Indianapolis Star. Medicaid officials have signaled that the state could lose $4 billion in federal funding if it refuses to comply with the administration's decision.

If the notion of any current country performer labeling himself an outlaw was ever laughable, it would never be more so when considering David Allan Coe. In reform school by the age of nine, and charged with such offenses as armed robbery and auto theft, Coe would be in and out of various correctional facilities for the next two decades and would serve three years at the Ohio State Penitentiary. Related Merle Haggard: 'Prison Is the Biggest Business in America' Country music's most famous ex-con speaks out on the number of Americans in prison and changes his stance on marijuana While he was behind bars, Coe penned several songs that would be released on his 1969 debut album, the dark and crudely recorded Penitentiary Blues, which resurfaced in 2005 getting its first CD release. Coe was encouraged to write the songs, which detail stark prison life in such songs as "Death Row," "Oh Warden" and "Cell #33," by the man in the cell next to him, soul singer Screamin' Jay Hawkins. After he was released in 1967, Coe released those tracks via Shelby Singleton's SSS International label, and began touring with B.B. King and the Staples Singers. A subsequent deal with Columbia Records yielded The Mysterious Rhinestone Cowboy, a hardcore country effort co-produced by Billy Sherrill and Ron Bledsoe, which failed to chart. The next album from Coe, Once Upon a Rhyme, would give him the first of his three Top Ten hits. "You Never Even Called Me By My Name" was a stone-country, semi-novelty song written by Steve Goodman ("City of New Orleans") and John Prine (who refused a writer's credit but was gifted a jukebox by Goodman for his contribution). In the second verse of the tune, Coe namechecks – and does some pretty spot-on imitations of – Waylon Jennings, Charley Pride and Merle Haggard. In the third verse, there's a little nod to Faron Young's "Hello Walls," penned by Willie Nelson, and Coe even namechecks himself. The fourth and final verse has Coe explaining, in a spoken intro, how Goodman wrote to him telling him he felt he had written "the perfect country and western song" with this one. Coe further explains that he wrote back to Goodman and protested that the song was missing key elements that would make it perfect: Mama, trains, trucks, prison and getting drunk. Goodman then rewrote the tune, resulting in one of the most iconic – and hilarious – verses in country music history. Recorded on August 20th, 1974, "You Never Even Called Me By My Name," would debut on the Billboard country chart in July 1975, eventually peaking at Number Eight. Although he wrote much of his own material, ironically, Coe's only Number One hit came in 1978 as the writer of Johnny Paycheck's Number One smash, "Take This Job and Shove It." He would score another pair of Top Five hits as an artist with songs he didn't write: "The Ride" in 1983, and his biggest solo hit, "Mona Lisa Lost Her Smile," which just missed the top spot, peaking at Number Two. Coe, who appeared in the 1981 film based on "Take This Job and Shove It," would later tour with Kid Rock, writing "Single Father" for him in 2003. He also worked with members of the metal band Pantera on an LP released in 2006, and he remains notorious for several X-rated songs he recorded while reportedly riding as a member of an outlaw biker gang. This rare clip [above] of "You Never Even Called Me By My Name," from the year the single was released, was certainly not radio-friendly, with the singer spitting out an F-bomb during the last verse, but it's vintage Coe and certainly another notch in the gun that is his well-deserved outlaw reputation. If there's any doubt that the "perfect country and western song" has stood the test of time, this 2010 all-star performance, featuring Darius Rucker, Easton Corbin, Montgomery Gentry, Vince Gill, Jason Aldean and the Band Perry should put that notion to rest. ||||| David Allan Coe in 1983 (Photo: AP file/Rudolph Faircloth) Country music singer-songwriter David Allan Coe pleaded guilty Monday in federal court in Cincinnati to income tax evasion and owes the IRS more than $466,000, officials said. Coe, 76, who wrote the song, "Take This Job And Shove It," has owed the Internal Revenue Service for outstanding taxes since at least 1993, court documents say. Between 2008 and 2013, officials said, he either failed to file his individual income tax returns -- or when he did, he failed to pay the taxes due. Coe faces up to three years in prison. The nearly half a million dollars owed includes taxes, interest and penalties. According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, instead of paying the taxes in full, Coe spent the money earned from live concert performances "on other debts and gambling." The case is in U.S. District Court in Cincinnati. Court documents say Coe received multiple MoneyGram transfers of income in Cincinnati in 2011 and 2012. He also used a Cincinnati-based accounting firm to prepare his taxes, and in 2009 filed his taxes from Cincinnati. His Memphis-based attorney, Michael Stengel, could not be reached for comment. Coe, who performs at least 100 times a year, arranged to be paid primarily in cash, the news release said. Coe didn't allow $50 bills, the news release said, because "he believed they were bad luck and would not gamble with them." He stopped using a personal bank account in 2009. "Coe's arrangement to be paid primarily in cash was also in an effort to impede the ability of the IRS to collect on the taxes owed," the news release said. The case was investigated by the U.S. Attorney's Office and special agents with the IRS's criminal investigations unit. Read or Share this story: http://cin.ci/1FadW1Y |||||

– Well, this is about what you'd expect from the guy who wrote the song "Take This Job and Shove It": David Allan Coe owes the IRS more than $466,000 in back taxes. The country music singer-songwriter, 76, pleaded guilty to income tax evasion in federal court in Cincinnati yesterday, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports. He faces up to three years in prison—precisely the amount of time he spent in the Ohio State Penitentiary in his younger days, reports Rolling Stone. The US Attorney's Office says Coe arranged to get much of his payment in cash when he performed, which was partially "an effort to impede the ability of the IRS to collect on the taxes owed." He then spent that cash "on other debts and gambling," the office says in a press release. Perhaps the quirkiest detail in that release: Coe apparently refused payment in $50 bills, because he considered them bad luck and "would not gamble with them."

Flipboard is a beautiful iPad app that looks at the content your friends are sharing on Twitter and Facebook and reformats it into a digital, interactive magazine. The consumer reaction to the app since its launch last week has been nothing short of completely nuts. Click here for a quick walk-through → How nuts? Cofounder and CEO Mike McCue tells us that before launching Flipboard, he made his engineers hook up double the amount of servers they thought would be necessary. After the launch, Flipboard maxed out that server capacity in a shocking 20 minutes. Since then, Mike says "a significant percentage of the iPad population" has already downloaded the app. We sat with Mike for an extended interview, which we've published below. We covered what it was like during the app's crazy first days, why Mike raised so much money so early, and what it's like working with Apple and Kleiner Perkins. The most interesting thing we learned is how Flipboard plans to make money. Flipboard plans to actually show more of publishers' content, advertising against it, and then share revenues. Mike says it will increase publishers' digital revenues "by a factor of ten from what they're currently doing with banner ads." Here are some more highlights: Is Flipboard stealing content? Mike says, "There have been probably about 130 publishers that have reached out to us in the last 4 days or so, and unanimously the reaction has been very positive." Flipboard raised $10 million in its first round so it won't "be forced into a situation where we have to break the glass of the nearest business model just to survive." "We only have 19 people in the company now, I'll hire another 5 or 10 or something, but were going to keep things small." Flipboard's launch was as chaotic as it seemed from the outside. It took 20 minutes to max out Flipboard's servers. The company actually asked Apple NOT to feature Flipboard in the iTunes App Store. Contrary to reports, John Doerr hasn't checked-out at blue chip VC firm Kleiner Perkins, says Mike. "I can still call him up and he would instantly respond. I can ask him for a meeting with basically anyone in the world, and he'd deliver. It's just amazing." Here's the whole Q&A;: SAI: Where'd you get the idea for Flipboard?Mike McCue: I left Tellme, my last company a year ago. I sold the company to Microsoft and about a year ago I had completed the integration, I felt like it was a great time to move on. I did a bunch of traveling. I'd be on the plane a lot, and of course all the time I'd buy magazines on the newsstand and flip through them on the plane. And it occurred to me on one of these flights - "Why is it that the Internet looks so ugly and the magazines look so beautiful? Wouldn't it be great if you could take the power of the Internet and the beauty of these magazines and fuse them together somehow?" The tablet hadn't happened then, but I started asking myself, "I wonder if I could design a Web-like experience that was sort of rooted in the timeless principles of print, and bring the beautiful photography, the really well done typography, layout and graphic design but have that same sort of power and richness and dynamic of the web." How did you join up with your cofounder? As I thought about this more, I decided to hire an engineer to help me prototype some of these ideas. I hired this guy Evan Doll from Apple who was on the original iPhone team. He and I started working together and it was pretty clear to me when I met him, that he was going to be more than an engineer to work with, that he'd be the kind of person I could actually start a company with. He has the judgment, the sensibility and the holistic thinking that's needed to be a founder, not just an engineer. So as the idea developed, about 6 months after doing this kind of exploration where we'd meet continually with a whole bunch of different people, industry thinkers and stuff, it became clear that we could actually start a company around this and we could build the world's first social magazine. I was really excited by the idea that people were sharing information now and discovering information in a totally new way on the internet via Twitter and Facebook, yet that experience was pretty clunk and just lots of bit.ly links. I thought, "wow maybe we could actually build this sort of social magazine idea where we could make it far easier to see the content that people are sharing with you, kind of scan through it flip through it and then when you actually view the content." Were you always going to build an iPad app? We were originally thinking we'd bring this to the web, but in thinking about this, it was clear that a tablet—and the iPad rumors started to pick up pace—it was pretty clear that betting on a tablet, and form factor, would be the idea. So we started designing for that, hoping and praying that something would actually happen there. And lo and behold it did. And then when the iPad came out we really just bet the whole company on it. So we designed something really specifically for the iPad and that really captured this idea.When Steve Jobs unveiled the iPad back in January it must have been a pretty big day for the company. Oh it was huge. We called it "iPad Day." It was like a holiday in our company. We were joking with people in our family, like, "happy iPad day". It was a very big deal for us. I was waiting, as the announcement came out, I was just really on the edge of my seat, like what's it going to be? What's the operating system? Can we build something here? Will it have the capability of doing what we want? Will it already have something that we build like we've been thinking already installed in it? So it was really great when it came out, like wow, this is going to be perfect for us. So we downloaded the SDK [software development kit for iPad app developers] that day and started coding that moment. And ever since we've been building it.Did you get a curveball that day at all? Was it what you were expecting? It was pretty much what I was expecting. I was thinking there may have been something more with magazines on that day. It turned out that like Time didn't really do anything until the iPad actually shipped and Popular Science came out later and stuff, so I think I was a little puzzled that there wasn't more magazine type material on the iPad when it launched. But that happened later on when it actually shipped. But no real curveballs though, it was a very exciting day, I was like wow this is going to be amazing. And I really believed that it was going to sell a lot of units, I still think there were some people who were like, wow, you know what if it doesn't really sell well? And there were some questions. But I really believed that it was going to be a hot selling product and it's nice to see that panning out.Evan, having come from Apple, probably had a good idea the iPad was coming, right? Well I don't know, he was very careful, and I was really specific: I wanted no knowledge from Apple to enter into our company. But we had some backup plans, like if the tablet didn't happen, we probably could do an iPhone version, and we were also thinking about an HTML5 version. But I really wanted to see the tablet pan out. It would be hard to launch a product like this on those other platforms. It might be asking users to depart too far from what they're used to. What the iPad does is it opens people's minds to a new way of doing things. They're actually thirsting for it. When Flipboard launched, demand was so high for the app that you guys had to limit user-registrations. What was it like watching that from the inside? It was like nothing I've ever seen before. We thought it would take a while for people to understand the concept and get used to it and download it. I didn't realize that it would be explosive - that within seconds people would be downloading it by the thousands. The other thing I didn't anticipate was the way that people used the product. They use it far more intensely than I thought they would. When people started downloading it they were flipping back to 2009 on their Facebook pages. It was crazy! They just sat there just flipping. Flipping, flipping, flipping, flipping. That stuff takes server time. We have to build pages for every few hundred posts that we go out and get. You ever see that UPS commercial where they go live with a website and there was this group standing around and nothing happens as they're looking at a counter, and then it goes up to 1 and they're like "YAY", and then 10 and they're like "YEAHH!", and then it climbs up to like thousands and they're like "Uh-Oh", it was totally like that man, it was exactly like that commercial. You can't see the download counts in real time, because Apple doesn't expose that, but you can see the people that are signing on to the network, and it was just unbelievable. Immediately we knew that we were going to have an issue. So did you panic? Luckily we had put in a governor in the system. Having run Tellme before, one of the things I learned about running a big network, is it's one thing to have some people not be able to get on the way they want to get on, but as long as people who are on the network are having a good experience you're totally cool. So I wanted a way to restrict new users from coming on. We built in a very crude way of doing that. I didn't expect or anticipate to have to use it but basically within the first 15 minutes or so. 20 minutes in, I gave the order. We needed to stop new users coming in, we needed to stabilize, and we needed to allow the users who are in to have a good experience. Then we needed to figure out a way to create an invite system that would allow people on in an orderly fashion. What we needed to do was work with Apple to very quickly get a new build out her that would create this nice, easy to use invite system, which has only been done one other time on the app sore as far as I know. Are things smoothing out yet? We got that new build out there and then everything settled down, and people became far more happy. Basically we've been sending out wave after wave of invites. We're actually now accelerating those invites. We've been testing the servers like crazy. We've been optimizing all sorts of things. There's going to be a new build that will come out that well do offline and caching support and we'll make even more efficient use of the network. What was it like watching the servers roast? Well I mean it went form zero to maximum utilization with in a matter of minutes. [Before the launch] I specifically asked to deploy extra servers. Tey told me how many servers we had to deploy and I said, "ok I want to double that"—I just want to be safe. We maxed them out within a matter of minutes.How many times has Flipboard been downloaded? All I can say is it's a significant percentage of the iPad population.Did Apple feature the app at all? No, no. In fact we asked them not to. I literally called them up that night, and I said you know, please do not feature us. It was really funny because when I talked to these guys at Apple, I told them we just can't get people on fast enough, and they're like well join the club: we can't make iPads fast enough. We're clearly on to something here. Flipboard pulls in a lot of text and a lot of photos from online publishers. What do you say to people who say you're stealing content? Our whole goal is to basically feature publishers content and get people to click over to that content on the website. We don't display the full article. We basically display enough to get people to click over to that "read on web" button and then read the rest of the article on the web. We try to load that webpage in the background so that when you click on the "read on web" button, it's instantly there. I don't think a lot of people click through a lot of these links when you see them in your Twitter stream. But when you see them on Flipboard I think you're going to find that there is going to be a higher percentage of people clicking on these links. I also think you're going to see a higher percentage of people sharing these links. So I think it benefits publishers. We use RSS as a guideline or a proxy for how much of an excerpt the particular publisher is willing to show. We're basically the same as like Pulse or any other RSS reader in terms of the amount of content we're showing. In fact we actually don't, Pulse would even show more of an article than we will, because many RSS feeds are actually the entire articles, we don't do that. We bring people right to the websites. Have any publishers complained? Actually, there have been probably about 130 publishers that have reached out to us in the last 4 days or so, and unanimously the reaction has been very positive. People want to work with us, partner with us, do Flipboard-optimized content and feature their content in our sections. It's been universally positive. These publishers basically include all the big guys. If any publishers are at all concerned about the way were using Readability to get the content, or if they feel were showing too much content, it's very easy for us in a server file to dial that down and do something that they're more comfortable with. Flipboard does represent kind of a new approach, there's no question about it. I can understand why there might be questions about something new that's different, but we've really tried to do it from the point of view of the publishers, and we believe that we can create an environments that's actually really great for the publishers, really great for the readers, and also really great for the advertisers. When we build our business model here, it's not going to be on the backs of the publishers, it will be with the publishers—you know we're going to make money with them not off of them. You'll see that play out as we continue to go forward with the business model.So the plan is to actually show more of publishers' content, advertising against it, and then share revenues? Absolutely, absolutely. We think we can bring a totally new form of advertising to the table that will allow publishers to monetize their content by a factor of ten from what they're currently doing with banner ads.If you look at web pages today, they basically are battlegrounds between content and ads. The ads are competing for the readers interest, the content's competing for the readers interest. It's a terrible experience, especially when you compare it to a magazine. It hurts the publisher. It hurts the advertiser. It hurts the reader. There's the opportunity to approach this from a design point of view. If we lay out the content in a way that's paginated, that has a clear separation for advertising and content like what you see in magazines, if you figure out how to deliver all these things faster so you're not waiting for things to load - you're not waiting for a page to load because it has all these ads on it - and you follow some of the basic old world magazine designing principles and apply those to Internet content, he advertising business model works. Take Vogue magazine, for example. They have a circulation of 1.2 million people and they make $300 million in advertising. That's awesome. But you can't do that in the web. Ask someone who reads Vogue: "Imagine I have two different copies of Vogue magazines, they're the same issue except one has ads and the other one doesn't. Which one are you going to pay $5 for?" Everybody who reads Vogue wants the one with the ads. But if you asked them the same thing about the website they all say they don't want the ads. So what that says to me is that this is a design problem. The economics have always been there, and I think they can be there. So I think there's a tremendous opportunity here. Publishers are excited about it. We've captured their imagination and they're actively working with us now to dial up the content and actually present more of it - faster, cached, paginated, beautifully laid out just like a magazine - to end up actually making 10x the revenue from advertising they are on their websites today.You took more than $10 million in your first round of funding for Flipboard. That's a lot for a first round, isn't it? I want to have plenty of runway so that I can build the business model and the product the way that it needs to be built and not be forced into a situation where we have to break the glass of the nearest business model just to survive. When I was at Tellme, we built a great company but it took ten years to do it. It was incredibly hard because we built the company around this really awesome consumer vision, but when the economy fell off a cliff, we basically needed to find an immediate business model and put the consumer stuff on hold for a bit, so that we could survive. That basically took us off our consumer gameplan for like 7 or 8 years. Ultimately we were able to go back onto that gameplan after we were cash positive we were able to start to build the new mobile search capabilities where you were able to say what you want and get it, and that ultimately was what attracted Microsoft and that led to the acquisition. But with this company, that's a mistake I want to avoid. I want to make sure there's plenty of cash so that we can build this consumer vision out, and really do it right, and not have our hands forced because we don't have enough money. So we only have 19 people in the company now, I'll hire another 5 or 10 or something, but were going to keep things small. Back in the day Flipboard investor Kleiner Perkins was the premier VC firm in IT, having backed Amazon and Google. But is it still a top venture firm now that John Doerr moved to green tech and Vinod Khosla left to start his own firm? There's been some questions in the startup community. I read that piece actually. I believe that Kleiner Perkins is the type of VC firm you go to if you're an entrepreneur that wants to change the world. What Kleiner does is really quite unique amongst all the other VC firms; they think and act huge. They have the courage to build a company that will change the world. They have the staying power and the wisdom and the contacts and the sort of sheer tenacity that it takes to actually do that. When people ask me what it's like to work with KP, I always talk about how, they are the kind of the company that if you want to build something that is a company as vast as Google or Amazon, basically, KP is a must. Now there are definitely other VCs that are good out there. I raised money, for example, from Index. I also raised money from Benchmark when I was at Tellme. But Kleiner, there's something special about them in that that is a firm that exists to change the world and they don't mess around with small stuff. I actually believe that the investments that they've made in terms of things like the iFund where if you're a startup and you want to build a really great new Internet company that's going to leverage what apple is doing with mobile, Kleiner is it, they are it. Steve jobs is extremely excited about what KP has done there. Apple is very supportive of companies that are in the iFund. I've seen this myself in action, it's very very impressive. John Doerr, by the way, has never been on my board - he's not on my board here at Flipboard and he wasn't on the board at Tellme - but I can still call him up and he would instantly respond and I can ask him for a meeting with basically anyone in the world, and he'd deliver. It's just amazing. He's one of these guys that when you talk to, he kind of inspires you. You come away with the impression that life is short and you need to do something important. That's the way he thinks, and acts. Kleiner is as relevant as they've ever been. It sounds like it's sort of other competitors that are just trying to position themselves vis-à-vis Kleiner. But I really think it's an incredible firm, always has been, well continue to be so, they're just pure excellence, I'm just really impressed with those guys. What's next? Is Flipboard coming to Android? The iPhone? I certainly think there are other platforms in the future. The main thing is to focus on the experience we have now. We've got to get everybody on. We're going to come out with some rapid new iterations of this experience and I think you'll see the iPad continue to be our flagship experience. At some point it will become clear when and how we should move to the iPhone or the web, but we're a small shop and I'm going to keep things small. I want to make sure we continue to build something here that's going to help publishers and it's going to help advertisers, and it's going to be a completely new kind of browsing experience for people who are using a tablet and are using the Internet. So that's going to take a lot of focus, a lot of energy and that's what we'll be doing for the foreseeable future. ||||| Focused crawls are collections of frequently-updated webcrawl data from narrow (as opposed to broad or wide) web crawls, often focused on a single domain or subdomain. ||||| Major publishers have slowly been rolling out their visions of how an analog magazine should look and work in a digital world full of iPads. Flipboard, on the other hand, is a new type of digital publication for the iPad that wants to meld your news and social worlds into a sort of personalized magazine. Flipboard collects news, Twitter updates, and Facebook posts into a unique, animated magazine-style layout. Some preset news feeds and a Twitter "daily photo" stream introduce you to the concept, and you are prompted to add your Twitter and Facebook credentials so you stay on top of your own social networks and share interesting things you find with your friends. You can also choose from a handful of built-in news sources like the Wall Street Journal and GigaOM's tech blogs. Flipboard displays sources as tiles on a magazine-like table of contents page. When you tap a source, fluid animations will roll out stories, headlines, and photos across the page to remind you that this is most certainly not your grandparent's magazine. If you run to try out Flipboard right away Wednesday morning, you should know that quite a lot of buzz is swirling around it, so some features may stutter or hang. This is an unfortunate reality of Web services that get temporarily overwhelmed, but things should settle down soon. Flipboard is available for free now in the App Store and requires an iPad running iOS 3.2 or later. ||||| Magazines aren't dead; they're just getting reinvented. Flipboard turns Facebook and Twitter feeds into attractive, magazine-style pages for beach-friendly consumption. Facebook and Twitter feeds have never looked better than with Flipboard for iPad. (Credit: Flipboard) iPad app Flipboard calls itself a "social magazine," a way to browse Facebook and Twitter content with the same breezy effortlessness you'd browse the pages of a favorite periodical. I call it cool. Flipboard reminds me of Blogshelf, the awesome iPad app that gives blogs and RSS feeds an iBooks-style makeover. Here, however, the app pulls from your Facebook and Twitter accounts, turning friends' updates into nicely formatted, perusal-friendly pages. (Shades of Sobees, which works a similar kind of magic--though only for Facebook.) Flipboard also delivers your choice of a couple dozen aggregated content sections (news, finance, music, tech, etc.) selected by Flipboard's creators. It's perhaps the best way I've found to read The Onion on my iPad. You can tap any section to see headlines, story blurbs, and photos mashed up in an attractive, magazine-style format. Swipe to flip to the next page, or tap a story to read it--an abbreviated version of it, anyway. As with Blogshelf, you often have to "tap through" to the original Web page to access the full content. I can live with that, but Flipboard needs to fix a few other areas. For starters, you're currently limited to just nine sections. Choosing a new one means deleting something else--and the Facebook and Twitter sections can't be removed, even if you're not a social-media maven. There's no offline option, either, so if you're not currently connected via Wi-Fi or 3G, no soup for you. The biggest wrinkle? Flipboard has quickly turned into a victim of its own success. For the past several hours I've been unable to link my Facebook and Twitter accounts; the app is suffering from "capacity overload." That's a temporary glitch, no doubt, and even without that stuff, Flipboard is worth a look. For me it's already joined the likes of Blogshelf, Early Edition, and PressReader as one of my favorite ways to consume content on my iPad. Want to know more? Check out this morning's post on the Digital Media blog: Meet Flipboard: Mike McCue's stealth "social magazine." You can also watch the company's promo video below--though see if you don't agree that the pitchman comes across as overly smug. Yeah, it's a cool app--we get it! |||||

– Flipboard may be the first true killer app for the iPad, a "social magazine" that weaves information from your Facebook and Twitter feeds together with personalized, aggregated news content into an attractive, intuitive presentation. The app's smooth, magazine-like appearance has drawn almost universal acclaim—check these reviews from PC World and CNET. In fact, Flipboard's biggest drawback so far may be that demand since its launch last week has periodically paralyzed its servers. A key feature of Flipboard is its ability to extract links embedded in Twitter by services like bit.ly and present that content upfront as part of your personal "magazine." The company intends to wed that kind of social media content with conventional publishing, CEO Mike McCue tells Business Insider, while serving ads alongside both. The resulting revenue will be split with publishers in an arrangement McCue says will allow publishers to "monetize their content by a factor of ten from what they’re currently doing with banner ads."

Two NYPD sergeants were shot in the Bronx Friday. Cops and paramedics rushed to Noble Ave. near Bronx River Ave. about 3 p.m. after the shooting. The suspect, who had multiple guns, was shot dead by cops, sources said. Both sergeants were taken to Jacobi Medical Center in serious condition, according to preliminary reports. The circumstances of the shooting were not immediately clear. This is breaking story. Check back for updates. ||||| Story highlights Slain officer identified as Paul Tuozzolo, a 19-year NYPD veteran He and other officers were pursuing a suspect in a reported home invasion (CNN) A New York City police sergeant was killed and another officer was wounded Friday afternoon in a shootout with a Bronx home invasion suspect, Police Commissioner James O'Neill said. The slain officer, Paul Tuozzolo, 41, was a 19-year veteran of the department, O'Neill said. Paul Tuozzolo. Emmanuel Kwo, a sergeant with nine years experience, was shot in the leg and hospitalized, O'Neill said. He was in stable condition. O'Neill said a woman called 911 about 2:45 p.m. to say an armed man had broken into an apartment. Inside were the man's estranged wife, their 3-year-old son, the 911 caller and a 13-year-old child, O'Neill said. As officers approached the residence they learned the suspect had fled in a red Jeep. Read More |||||

– Two NYPD officers responding to a home invasion in the Bronx were shot Friday afternoon, and CNN reports one of them has died. The New York Daily News reports that the "heavily-armed gunman" was killed in the firefight. The second officer's injuries were said to be non-life-threatening.

Dow Jones Reprints: This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. To order presentation-ready copies for distribution to your colleagues, clients or customers, use the Order Reprints tool at the bottom of any article or visit www.djreprints.com ||||| Edmunds.com, one of the top Web sites for car shopping and automotive information, is hoping to revolutionize how people buy cars and eliminate the No. 1 most frustrating part of the car shopping process. According to Seth Berkowitz, president and chief operating officer of Edmunds.com, 54% of car shoppers say they want more clarity on the exact price of a car rather than haggle with dealers. "The average American person cannot understand how it is that as an industry that we cannot deliver an actual car price to them," Berkowitz said today at the Automotive Press Association in Detroit. "It ... |||||

– Add Edmunds.com to the list of companies dreaming of emulating Amazon's success. With last year's quiet launch of a service called Price Promise, the car shopping website is trying to "be as close as possible to Amazon.com for the automotive experience," president Seth Berkowitz explained at an industry gathering yesterday. What that means, per the Detroit Free Press: Berkowitz says car shoppers' No. 1 gripe is the lack of a clear, exact car price; Price Promise cuts out the haggling that follows as a result by allowing dealers to email the exact price of a vehicle found on the site to shoppers who request it. Shoppers can then print out a certificate bearing the number; the dealer must sell the car for that price. Ergo, no haggling. Though the site hopes the feature will set it apart from the competition, TrueCar.com has offered a similar program since 2009, the Free Press notes; it claims 6,200 participating dealers, to Edmunds.com's 600. The service also doesn't factor in a buyer's credit history, which could change the monthly payments, points out the Wall Street Journal. Price Promise doesn't necessarily meaning getting the lowest price, either. Dealers say they sell cars to Price-Promise users for $300 to $500 more than traditional buyers. But according to Berkowitz, it's a worthwhile tradeoff for those looking to save time and avoid headaches.

Burlingame woman, 97, being evicted after 66 years The year Marie Hatch moved into the wood-shingled cottage in tony Burlingame that she calls home, Harry Truman was president and “Goodnight Irene” was a radio hit. Her landlord and friend, Vivian Kruse, told her she could live in the cottage until she died. Fast-forward 66 years. Kruse is dead, her daughter is dead, and her granddaughter is dead. They each passed down the lifetime guarantee of tenancy for Hatch — but when the final woman died, so did the verbal agreement, the current landlord says. That’s why he is evicting Hatch, who is now 97, fighting cancer and long both single and retired from her bakery job. She says she will probably wind up in the street if she has to leave. LATEST SFGATE VIDEOS Now Playing: Now Playing Forgotten Wine Country fire victims sfgate California National guard honors firefighter who died fighting Napa fires sfgate The 5 largest earthquakes in history sfgate San Francisco Crime Statistics 2017 sfgate Large bear spotted roaming the streets near Lake Tahoe sfgate Water dropped on Sausalito fire sfgate Fire burns off 101 in Sausalito sfgate Bear Fire burns in Santa Cruz Mountains sfgate Time-lapse video shows smoke over Bay Area sfgate Areas of Bangor burned down sfgate On Feb. 11, she was served with a 60-day notice to vacate the house or be tossed out by sheriff’s deputies. Tenant advocates say her plight is emblematic of a growing eviction and rent-hike horror overtaking non-homeowners in San Mateo County. “They’re trying to take away everything from me here,” Hatch said as she sat in her tidy living room, where fading photos of family gaze down on her collections of tiny ceramic bunnies and kitties. “Gee whiz, I don’t know what I’ll do if I have to leave. “I have a lot of tears, a lot of happiness, a lot of memories in this house. It is my home. Where can I go?” Roommates’ uncertainty Her misery has very close company — her sublet roommate and friend of 32 years, Georgia Rothrock. At 85, Rothrock also has few options. Between the two of them, they pay about $900 monthly rent, which chews up much of their Social Security checks. Neither of the women can afford a new, more expensive place to live or have relatives they can move in with. Landlord David Kantz tells his own version of the turn of events. He says he feels terrible that he is evicting Hatch, but the trust left behind by his wife — the third of the previous landlord women who are now deceased — expires in July, and he is duty-bound to sell the property on behalf of his two sons. Previous landlord slain He became the current landlord, he pointed out, when his wife was slain in 2006. The Kantzes were getting divorced when Pamela Kantz, 55, was killed by her boyfriend, Tony McClung, who is serving an 11-year prison term for voluntary manslaughter. “We have come to this unexpected confluence of events, and I am responsible to do the best I can for the beneficiaries — my sons,” said Kantz, who lives in the Sierra foothills town of Coloma (El Dorado County). “I just kind of inherited this property and the assumptions that weren’t really written down, and now I have to unwind it.” He said family lore does indeed contend that his wife’s grandmother, Vivian Kruse, told Hatch she could stay for life, “but there’s no contract. There’s nothing in my wife’s will that directs me to do anything other than what is best for the beneficiaries.” And “best,” he said, is not hard to determine, at least monetarily. The little century-old house that was bought for a few thousand dollars by his wife’s ancestors is currently listed on the Zillow real estate website at $1.2 million. “I didn’t want to say, ‘We’re going to just throw you out,’ but I thought I would give her plenty of notice,” said Kantz, who sent his first letter of eviction intention in early December. “There is no one part of this whole thing I don’t feel bad about. “I feel bad for the elderly lady, I feel bad for my sons, I feel bad for me.” Rents have skyrocketed across the Bay Area in the past couple of years, but the problem is particularly acute in wealthy San Mateo County, which has the second-highest rate of income inequality after Marin County, according to the Silicon Valley Institute for Regional Studies. A recent study by the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors shows that rent in the county for a two-bedroom unit has increased by a wallet-busting 51 percent over the past four years. ‘No protections for anybody’ Federal guidelines indicate rent is unaffordable when it exceeds 30 percent of a household’s income — which means that in San Mateo County, a household must earn at least $106,000 to afford the average current monthly rent of $2,648 for a two-bedroom unit, according to the county study. U.S. census data show that about 35 percent of renter families in San Mateo County are paying more than 30 percent of their income for housing. “Marie’s case is one of the most egregious examples of what’s going on in this county with renters,” said Cindy Cornell, 66, who founded the Burlingame Advocates for Renter Protections community group two years ago when her own rent was raised $850 a month at a seniors complex. “There is no rent control here at all. No protections for anybody.” She is leading an effort to place a measure on the November ballot that would institute rental and eviction safeguards in Burlingame, replacing a 1988 law that prohibits rent control in the city. The severity of the recent rent increases in all of San Mateo County, not just Burlingame, is compelling Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Hillsborough, to hold a town hall meeting on the subject Monday night. Seats for the 7 p.m. event at St. Bartholomew Auditorium in the city of San Mateo have been booked solid in advance, but the meeting will be broadcast live on Peninsula Television and streamed at PenTV. Meanwhile, Hatch’s neighbor — also being evicted by Kantz, since he owns her home and wants to sell it — has joined with Cornell’s group to help the woman and her roommate fight the eviction. Legal help Cheryl Graczewski, a 43-year-old education policy researcher, connected Hatch and Rothrock with a Legal Aid attorney on Friday. She said she and her tech-worker husband are fortunate enough to be able to pay higher rent at the place they are moving to in March. “But for Marie, it’s different,” she said. “Marie has no money, really, and no real choices,” Graczewski said. “I don’t see her moving out of the house and surviving. It would break her heart.” Kevin Fagan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: [email protected] Twitter: @KevinChron ||||| BURLINGAME, Calif. (AP) — Attorneys for a 97-year-old woman being booted from her Northern California home filed suit Friday to enforce a long-ago promise by the landlord that the woman could live there until she died. The complaint filed in San Mateo County states that Marie Hatch moved into her Burlingame cottage more than 60 years ago at the request of her friend Vivian Kroeze, who owned the property and needed companionship after her husband died. Hatch was promised a lifetime tenancy, and the promise was honored by Kroeze's daughter and granddaughter after Vivian Kroeze died in 1980. But in 2006, the granddaughter was murdered by her boyfriend and her estranged husband, David Kantz, took over collecting rent. This month, his attorney told Hatch and her 85-year-old roommate to vacate within 60 days. Kantz previously told the San Francisco Chronicle that he felt terrible about evicting the women but had no choice given that the agreement is not in writing and he has to provide for his sons. The newspaper's story prompted calls and emails from hundreds of people offering help. One call came from a Joe Cotchett, a high-profile civil attorney whose firm is representing Hatch free of charge. "This is one of the most egregious acts of taking advantage of one of our community's most vulnerable citizens that I have seen in my legal career," said Nancy Fineman, one of Hatch's lawyers. The complaint claims elder abuse as well as breach of contract. Kantz's attorney, Michael Liberty, did not respond to requests for comment on Friday. Burlingame is a wealthy enclave about a half hour drive south from downtown San Francisco. |||||

– Attorneys for a 97-year-old woman being booted from her Northern California home filed suit Friday to enforce a long-ago promise by the landlord that the woman could live there until she died, the AP reports. The complaint states Marie Hatch moved into her Burlingame cottage more than 60 years ago at the request of her friend Vivian Kroeze, who owned the property and needed companionship after her husband died. Hatch was promised a lifetime tenancy, and the promise was honored by Kroeze's daughter and granddaughter after Vivian Kroeze died in 1980. But in 2006, the granddaughter was murdered by her boyfriend and her estranged husband, David Kantz, took over collecting rent. This month, Kantz's attorney told Hatch and her 85-year-old roommate to vacate within 60 days. Kantz previously told the San Francisco Chronicle that he felt terrible about evicting the women but had no choice given that the agreement is not in writing and he has to provide for his sons. The newspaper's story prompted calls and emails from hundreds of people offering help. One call came from a Joe Cotchett, a high-profile civil attorney whose firm is representing Hatch free of charge. "This is one of the most egregious acts of taking advantage of one of our community's most vulnerable citizens that I have seen in my legal career," one of Hatch's lawyers says. The complaint claims elder abuse as well as breach of contract.

ATLANTA -- NFL owners have unanimously approved a new national anthem policy that requires players to stand if they are on the field during the performance but gives them the option to remain in the locker room if they prefer, it was announced Wednesday. The policy subjects teams to a fine if a player or any other team personnel do not show respect for the anthem. That includes any attempt to sit or kneel, as dozens of players have done during the past two seasons to protest racial inequality and police brutality. Those teams also will have the option to fine any team personnel, including players, for the infraction. "We want people to be respectful of the national anthem," commissioner Roger Goodell said. "We want people to stand -- that's all personnel -- and make sure they treat this moment in a respectful fashion. That's something we think we owe. [But] we were also very sensitive to give players choices." Goodell said the vote was "unanimous" among owners, although San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York said he abstained. York said that all owners that voted in the process supported the change. The policy will be part of the NFL's game operations manual and thus not subject to collective bargaining. The NFL Players Association said in a statement that it will review the policy and "challenge any aspect" that is inconsistent with the CBA. Some important details remained unclear in the hours after the policy's approval, including the specific fine that teams would be subject to and also how the league will define respect for the flag. "To make a decision that strong, you would hope that the players have input on it," Cleveland Browns quarterback Tyrod Taylor said. "But obviously not. So we have to deal with it as players, for good or a bad thing. "I think the main thing out of all of it is that each ballclub is having open communication with the players and ownership about the issues that are going on in the community and trying to change it." NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith reacted with displeasure in a series of tweets Wednesday. "History has taught us that both patriotism and protest are like water; if the force is strong enough it cannot be suppressed. Today, the CEO's of the NFL created a rule that people who hate autocracies should reject," Smith tweeted. "Management has chosen to quash the same freedom of speech that protects someone who wants to salute the flag in an effort to prevent someone who does not wish to do so. The sad irony of this rule is that anyone who wants to express their patriotism is subject to the whim of a person who calls himself an "Owner." I know that not all of the NFL CEO's are for this and I know that true American patriots are not cheering today." After spending months in discussions, and another three hours over two days at the league's spring meetings, owners said this found a compromise that will end sitting or kneeling with an edict that stops short of requiring every player to stand. The previous policy required players to be on the field for the anthem but said only that they "should" stand. When then-San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began kneeling in 2016, the league had no rule it could use to prevent it. The movement drew increasing criticism from President Donald Trump, as well as many fans, who believed it was a sign of disrespect toward the flag and country. Owners, however, had been divided on how to extricate the league from that criticism. Some owners, including the Dallas Cowboys' Jerry Jones and the Houston Texans' Bob McNair, wanted all players to stand. Others, such as the New York Jets' Christopher Johnson, wanted to avoid any appearance of muzzling players. Even the seemingly simple option of clearing the field prior to the anthem was rejected by some owners who thought it would be interpreted as a mass protest or at least a sign of disrespect. Earlier this week, the league finalized an $89 million social justice platform with players to help address "some of the underlying issues" that were under protest, said Mark Murphy, the Green Bay Packers' president/CEO. "I think we learned from each other in order to come to a unanimous consensus," Murphy said. "We also talked a lot about our players. I think when you look back at last fall, it was difficult for all of us within the league. But one of the positives that came out of it was an improved relationship with our players." In a statement accompanying the announcement, Goodell said the league wanted to eliminate criticism that suggested the protests were unpatriotic. "It was unfortunate that on-field protests created a false perception among many that thousands of NFL players were unpatriotic," Goodell said. "This is not and was never the case." Kaepernick and former 49ers safety Eric Reid have both filed collusion cases against the league after failing to find jobs as free agents. Eagles defensive end Chris Long tweeted that the policy is "fear of a diminished bottom line." Long, who is white, notably kept his hand on African-American teammate Malcolm Jenkins' back for the entire playing of the anthem before a 2017 preseason game. Long then gave Jenkins a pat on the shoulder pads and a hug when the song was over. "It's also fear of a president turning his base against a corporation. This is not patriotism. Don't get it confused," Long tweeted. "These owners don't love America more than the players demonstrating and taking real action to improve. It also lets you, the fan, know where our league stands." Jenkins is one of a handful of outspoken players who vowed Wednesday to carry on the cause. "I will not let it silence me or stop me from fighting," he said. "This has never been about taking a knee, raising a fist or anyone's patriotism, but doing what we can to effect real change for real people." ||||| Atlanta (CNN) NFL players must stand during the National Anthem this season, team owners decided Wednesday, a reaction to fierce backlash against some who took a knee in symbolic opposition to the systemic oppression of people of color, including by police. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said during a news conference at the meeting in Atlanta that teams whose players and personnel do not stand and show respect for the flag and the anthem will be fined by the league. Each team may develop its own work rules regarding players or personnel who do not comply with the policy, which could include fines. The new policy does give players the option to remain in the locker room during the playing of the anthem if they do not wish to comply. Statement from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell pic.twitter.com/1Vn7orTo1R — NFL (@NFL) May 23, 2018 With this change, the NFL's game operations manual will be revised to remove the requirement that all players be on the field for the anthem. Previously, there had been no rule that prevented players from protesting. "We want people to be respectful to the National Anthem," Goodell said. "We want people to stand, that's all personnel, and make sure that they treat this moment in a respectful fashion that's something I think we owe. We've been very sensitive in making sure that we give players choices, but we do believe that that moment is an important moment and one that we are going to focus on." Read More |||||

– The NFL changed its rule book Wednesday to stop players from kneeling during the national anthem. All 32 team owners approved a new rule designed to ban players from sitting or kneeling on the field in protest during the anthem, reports ESPN. However, the league said players could remain in the locker room and emerge once the anthem is over. Previously, all players had to be on the field during the anthem. The NFL will fine teams whose players disobey, but the teams themselves will decide on the penalties for individual players, reports CNN. "This season, all league and team personnel shall stand and show respect for the flag and the Anthem," said NFL commissioner Roger Goodell in a statement. "It was unfortunate that on-field protests created a false perception among many that thousands of NFL players were unpatriotic," he added. "This is not and was never the case." All of this began in 2016, when former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began kneeling during the anthem to protest police brutality.

Washington lurched toward another potential government shutdown crisis Friday, as the House approved by a 219-203 vote a GOP-authored short-term funding measure designed to keep the government running through Nov. 18 and Democrats in the Senate immediately vowed to reject the bill. “We expect a vote fairly quickly,” said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Friday morning. In an after-midnight roll call, House Republican leaders persuaded conservatives early Friday morning to support a stop-gap measure nearly identical to one they had rejected just 30 hours earlier. By a narrow margin, 213 Republicans supported the plan, along with six Democrats; 179 Democrats opposed it, joined by 24 Republicans. The bill, which will keep federal agencies funded through Nov. 18, passed over staunch objections from House Democrats, who opposed a provision that would pair increased funding for disaster relief with a spending cut to a program that makes loans to car companies to encourage energy efficient car production. But House Speaker John Boehner’s (R-Ohio) victory is likely to be short-lived. Reid said late Thursday that the measure could not pass his chamber, with a vote expected sometime Friday. A Senate defeat would leave Congress at a new standoff. “It fails to provide the relief that our fellow Americans need as they struggle to rebuild their lives in the wake of floods, wildfires and hurricanes, and it will be rejected by the Senate,” Reid said of the House bill. Without a resolution, the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s disaster relief fund will run out of money early next week and the rest of the government would be forced to shutdown Oct. 1. House leaders contend that the Senate would be responsible for blocking desperately needed disaster dollars from flowing to FEMA if they reject their bill. “You saw the House act,” said House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) as he left the Capitol early Friday morning. “We are intending that the money gets to FEMA and to disaster victims as they need it.” “I think Harry Reid’s political ploy is not going to work,” Cantor continued, adding that blame for FEMA funding drying up if the Senate rejects the bill would fall on Senate Democrats. “I guess Harry Reid will have to bear the burden of denying disaster victims the money they need.” Friday’s House vote marked a reversal of fortunes for Boehner, who after losing the initial Wednesday vote on the House spending resolution found himself roaming the contours of a familiar dilemma — capitulate to fiscal hawks in his own party who want to spend less, or compromise with Democrats who want to spend more. Instead, Boehner found another route: He huddled all day and night Thursday with his rank-and-file, warning them he would give them one more chance to approve the bill or he would be forced to agree to drop the offsetting cut, as Democrats had demanded. In addition, after a 90-minute meeting with the House GOP Conference on Thursday afternoon, the leadership agreed to an additional, largely symbolic cut by striking $100 million from a loan program that funded the bankrupt solar panel manufacturer Solyndra. That company, which received the loan guarantees through the Obama administration’s 2009 stimulus legislation, has become a favorite target for Republicans in their critique of the White House’s handling of the economy. As for the swipe at the program that had funded Solyndra, Rep. David Dreier (R-Calif.) told colleagues on the House floor late Thursday that the goal was to “ensure that hard-earned dollars of the American people are not wasted in the way that we have seen” with the company. Rep. Louise M. Slaughter (D-N.Y.) countered that the measure had hardly changed after a day of wrangling and still made “unacceptable cuts to an essential manufacturing jobs program to pay for equally essential disaster relief.” The blow-up over what Boehner had once hoped would be a routine matter — a bill to merely keep government operating until Nov. 18 — illustrated what has become a central reality for the Republican speaker: He controls the House majority only on paper. On any given vote, he must contend with a sizable bloc of his own members willing to buck his leadership in the name of shrinking government. This leaves him in the uncomfortable position of having to consider alliances with Democrats — and facing negotiating those alliances from a position of weakness. Despite the embarrassing loss on Wednesday’s vote, Republicans defended the decision to hold the vote even though they realized it was likely to fail. The GOP leadership wanted to demonstrate to the recalcitrant conservatives that their actions had real consequences. One senior Republican adviser called the process “an educational experience.” “I’ve always believed in allowing the House to work its will. I understood what the risk was yesterday. But why not put the bill on the floor and let the members speak? And they did,” Boehner said Thursday morning at his weekly press briefing. According to GOP lawmakers and aides, House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) had reported to Boehner and Cantor that a few dozen Republicans would oppose the legislation, mostly because they thought its spending levels were too far above those they voted for in the spring when they approved the 2012 budget originally proposed by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.). Boehner’s leadership team knew that it would need Democratic votes to approve the plan, but only by Wednesday afternoon did they fully understand that House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and House Minority Whip Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.) were whipping their caucus to oppose the measure and make Boehner deliver nearly all Republican votes for passage. Rather than pulling the bill from the floor, Boehner told his deputies to hold the vote. The extraordinary effort required to pass such a basic bill suggests even bigger battles later in the fall on potential blockbuster deficit-reduction plans. The stopgap spending bill is necessary because the House and Senate have stalemated over how to fund government through the whole year. Without a stopgap in place to buy time for further negotiations, the government will shut down at month’s end. House leaders had hoped to pass the short-term funding bill without the strife that had characterized recent debates, which they knew would erode financial markets’ confidence and spark further disgust among voters. They would do it by agreeing to set spending in the bill at a rate of $1.043 trillion for the year, the amount set in the rancorous August deal to raise the nation’s debt ceiling. But that plan ran headlong into the political realities of their divided chamber — as well as a congressional calendar that provides for a week-long recess starting Friday so that Jewish lawmakers can observe their holidays next week. Democrats, stung by accusations that they had made too many concessions in the debt fight during the summer, stood unified against the measure over a Republican decision to pair $3.65 billion in funding for disaster relief with a $1.5 billion spending cut to the the Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing program, which offers loans to car companies to encourage the production of energy-efficient cars. That particular cut was anathema to many Democrats, who argued that the loan program has generated tens of thousands of jobs. Democrats relished the prospect that their unified opposition forced Boehner to publicly struggle. “In the House, the majority controls all the mechanisms,” said Rep. Anna G. Eshoo (D-Calif.). “You’d better be able to produce the votes. You just cant go willy-nilly to the floor and then say, ‘Well, oopsy.’ ” Staff writers David A. Fahrenthold and Felicia Sonmez contributed to this report. ||||| WASHINGTON -- The Senate voted Friday morning to reject the House's stopgap spending bill, less than 12 hours after the House's Republican leaders had forced it through on their second try. The Senate vote was 59 to 36 to table the House bill, effectively killing it. Some conservative Republicans joined in rejecting the measure. The House, in the wee hours of Friday morning, had passed its latest version of a stopgap spending bill after rejecting on Wednesday a nearly identical version of the legislation, which is needed to keep the government open after Sept. 30 and to provide assistance to victims of natural disasters. The House vote was 219 to 203. House Republican leaders, trying to recover from a humiliating political defeat, had made one change in the bill -- but it was one that most Democrats in the House and Senate opposed, trimming green energy loans. The new version would offset more of the cost of disaster assistance by rescinding $100 million from an Energy Department program that guaranteed a loan for Solyndra, the solar equipment manufacturer that filed recently for bankruptcy protection. The bill, to finance government operations for seven weeks after the start of the fiscal year on Oct. 1, had faced problems in the Senate, where Democrats want to spend more without cutting other programs to offset the cost. Senate Democratic leaders had said all along that the House version would be swiftly rejected in the Senate, which had already passed a version of its own. Indeed, the senators acted even before the House version had formally arrived for their consideration. "The House bill is not an honest effort at compromise," said the Senate majority leader, Harry Reid, Democrat of Nevada. "It fails to provide the relief that our fellow Americans need as they struggle to rebuild their lives in the wake of floods, wildfires and hurricanes, and it will be rejected by the Senate." Mr. Reid said he had hoped that House Republicans would move toward the middle. "Instead," he said, "they moved even further toward the Tea Party." It is not clear how the two houses will overcome the impasse and avert a government shutdown. Most federal agencies need money to continue operations beyond Oct. 1. The disaster relief fund of the Federal Emergency Management Agency is running short of money. And lawmakers are planning to leave town for a recess scheduled for next week. House Republican leaders, who lost control of their caucus on Wednesday, worked furiously on Thursday to round up votes for the revised version of the stopgap bill. They prevailed by halving the number of defections from their ranks. On Wednesday, 48 Republicans voted against the bill. On Friday, just 24 voted no. Representative David Dreier, Republican of California and chairman of the Rules Committee, said it had been "an ugly, messy, difficult process." The purpose of the change, he said, was to prevent "another boondoggle like Solyndra." The new version of the House bill, like the original, would have partially offset the cost of disaster assistance by cutting a separate Energy Department loan program that promotes development of energy-efficient cars. This cut infuriates Democrats in the House and the Senate, who say the program is creating thousands of jobs at automakers and auto parts suppliers. "The bill was wrong yesterday, the bill is wrong today," Representative Louise M. Slaughter, Democrat of New York, said Thursday night on the House floor. "Virtually nothing has changed." The House Democratic leader, Nancy Pelosi of California, said Republicans were offering "the same old warmed-over stew that was rejected" on Wednesday. Speaker John A. Boehner had solicited the views of his colleagues at a meeting of the House Republican Conference, where lawmakers expressed frustration at the setback they suffered Wednesday on the bill to provide $3.65 billion in disaster relief. |||||

– House Republicans got their ducks in a row late last night, passing a spending measure nearly identical to the one that went down in flames Wednesday. But that might not be enough to prevent a government shutdown, because the Senate is drawing a hard line against the bill, the Washington Post reports. Boehner won conservatives by slicing $100 million from the loan program that benefited Solyndra, and warning that if the bill didn’t pass, he’d be forced to compromise with Democrats. Like the failed bill, the new version also cuts some funding from an energy efficient car program. Democrats who back the program—which they say creates thousands of auto-related jobs—were outraged, and the Senate immediately vowed to reject the bill because it didn’t provide enough funding for disaster relief efforts. “The House bill is not an honest effort at compromise,” Harry Reid told the New York Times. “They moved even further toward the Tea Party.” But if something doesn’t pass, FEMA will run out of money next week, and the government will shut down Oct. 1.

Breaking News Emails Get breaking news alerts and special reports. The news and stories that matter, delivered weekday mornings. / Updated By Cassandra Vinograd The seaside French city of Cannes has banned burkinis, full-body swimsuits worn by some Muslim women, from its beaches. Cannes — home of an annual star-studded annual film festival — is located not far from Nice, where more than 80 people died in a July terror attack on the city's beachfront promenade. A Muslim woman wears a "burkini" on a beach in Sydney. TIM WIMBORNE / Reuters file Mayor David Lisnard cited that tragedy and subsequent attack on a northwest France church in an ordinance forbidding swimwear that doesn't respect "good morals and secularism." "Beachwear manifesting religious affiliation in an ostentatious way, while France and its religious sites are currently the target of terrorist attacks, could create the risk of disturbances to public order," the ruling says. A spokeswoman for his office confirmed that the ordinance — in effect through the month of August, peak tourist season on the French Riviera — applies to burkinis. Violators face a fine. French soldiers patrol the Promenade in Cannes on Aug. 5. Dan Kitwood / Getty Images Security has been stepped up across France in wake of the Nice attack, with soldiers prominently patrolling the beaches and promenades of the Riviera. The ordinance was issued on July 28 but only publicized on Friday. Lisnard told the Nice Matin newspaper that the ban was designed to "protect the population" in the context of France's ongoing state of emergency and terror threat. When asked if he thought the ordinance would send a negative message to the numerous Muslim tourists in Cannes, Lisnard replied: "Not at all." Religious groups vehemently disagreed, with France's Muslim Federation of the South calling it an "illegal" and "abusive" use of power with the unique purpose of stigmatization and exclusion. "The federation ... is absolutely scandalized," it said in a statement. France's approach to religious attire has long stoked controversy: The country in 2010 passed a law that bans the burqa, an Islamic veil that completely covers women's faces and bodies. ||||| Image copyright AP Image caption Women wearing burkinis will be invited to change into a more "respectful" costume The mayor of Cannes in southern France has banned full-body swimsuits known as "burkinis" from the beach, citing public order concerns. David Lisnard said they are a "symbol of Islamic extremism" and might spark scuffles, as France is the target of Islamist attacks. France is on high alert following a series of incidents including July's truck attack in nearby Nice. Anyone caught flouting the new rule could face a fine of €38 (£33). They will first be asked to change into another swimming costume or leave the beach. Nobody has been apprehended for wearing a burkini in Cannes since the edict came into force at the end of July. What do Muslim women think of the ban? This is not the first time that women's clothing has been restricted in France. In 2011 it became the first country in Europe to ban the full-face Islamic veil, known as the burka, as well as the partial face covering, the niqab. Earlier this week a private waterpark near Marseille cancelled a burkini-only day after being subjected to criticism. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption The authorities will need to distinguish between swimmers in burkinis and wetsuits The ruling "Access to beaches and for swimming is banned to any person wearing improper clothes that are not respectful of good morals and secularism. "Beachwear which ostentatiously displays religious affiliation, when France and places of worship are currently the target of terrorist attacks, is liable to create risks of disrupting public order." The reaction in the French press The French media has questioned the legality of the ban. Le Monde points out that no French law bans the wearing of full-body swimsuits. "The law on the full-face veil only bans covering the face in public... The burkini, which covers the body but does not hide the face, is thus a totally legal garment." France TV Info's legal blog, Judge Marie, says the risk of disturbing public order, invoked by the Cannes mayor, seems rather tenuous. "The basic freedom to come and go dressed as you please seems to me to be infringed in a way that is disproportionate to this risk," the blog says. Meanwhile, a commentary in left-of-centre paper Liberation accuses the Cannes mayor of trying to score a political point: "David Lisnard… is not responding to a specific issue, but is sending a radical message to his constituents, to his electorate." BBC Monitoring Mr Lisnard confirmed to local media that other religious symbols such as the kippah (Jewish skullcap) and the cross would still be permitted, and the ban would not apply to the veil that some Muslim women wear over their hair. He said: "I simply forbid a uniform that is the symbol of Islamic extremism. "We live in a common public space, there are rules to follow. " The League of Human Rights (LDH) said it would challenge the ban in court. "It is time for politicians in this region to calm their discriminatory ardour and defend the spirit of the Republic," local LDH leader Herve Lavisse said. The Collective Against Islamophobia in France (CCIF) is also expected to mount a legal challenge against the decision. Its lawyer Sefen Guez Guez called the ban "illegal, discriminatory and unconstitutional". |||||

– Many would consider a full-body swimsuit less offensive than a skimpy bikini. Not the mayor of Cannes, apparently. David Lisnard says "burkinis"—modest swimwear worn by some Muslim women—are a "symbol of Islamic extremism" and aren't allowed on the French city's beaches. Should a woman be spotted wearing one, she'll be asked to change into something else or leave, David Lisnard tells the BBC. Offenders of the city's new rule—in effect since July 28, reports NBC News—may also face a $42 fine. French law bans people from wearing the burka and niqab in public, but there's no nationwide ban on burkinis. "Access to beaches and for swimming is banned to any person wearing improper clothes that are not respectful of good morals and secularism," says Lisnard. "Beachwear which ostentatiously displays religious affiliation, when France and places of worship are currently the target of terrorist attacks, is liable to create risks of disrupting public order." However, Lisnard says the Jewish kippah and Christian cross will still be allowed on beaches. A rep for the Collective Against Islamophobia in France calls the ban "illegal, discriminatory, and unconstitutional," while the League of Human Rights says it will take its opposition to court.

Spanish police have arrested an American woman for issuing death threats against the astrophysicist Stephen Hawking at a science event on the island of Tenerife. The 37-year-old suspect was detained in the municipality of Arona, on the most populous of the Canary Islands, on Wednesday – the same day that Hawking delivered his first lecture at the Starmus International Festival. The woman, who has no prior record and had traveled to Tenerife by herself, could be facing a six-month prison sentence and immediate deportation for harassment and issuing serious threats against the famous scientist, legal sources told the Efe news agency. Police investigators who searched her hotel room found a collection of esoteric items linked to religious extremism The same sources said that one of the cosmologist’s children alerted authorities after detecting over 100 threatening messages on Twitter and in e-mails on Tuesday. The messages contained sentences such as “I am going to kill him.” In her statement to the police, the woman apparently said that she loves Hawking and would never harm him. Police investigators who searched her hotel room found a collection of esoteric items linked to religious extremism and contrary to Hawking’s theories denying the existence of God. They also found notes and documents detailing the scientist’s residence and workplace, and notebooks outlining precise plans on how to approach her target. Sign up for our newsletter EL PAÍS English Edition has launched a weekly newsletter. Sign up today to receive a selection of our best stories in your inbox every Saturday morning. For full details about how to subscribe, click here. According to news agency Europa Press, the woman, who currently resides in Norway, has been following Hawking across the globe and may suffer from psychiatric problems. Hawking’s Wednesday address had attracted long lines of people at the science and arts festival. The astrophysicist arrived on stage flanked by two members of the Spanish National Police, an unusual sight that caused some alarm among members of the audience. Outside the venue, other officers checked visitors’ bags. That same day, the police arrested the alleged stalker at a hotel located very near the festival venue, the Pirámide de Arona, which contains one of the biggest auditoriums in Europe. The woman had apparently been issuing threats against Hawking for years, but the situation got out of hand in recent days, when the threats proliferated over e-mail an in the social media. “I am going to kill you.” read one of the messages. “I am right next to you and I can kill you,” said another. The e-mails included specific plans to end the scientist’s life, the police said. Sources close to Hawking told this newspaper that the scientist felt safe at all times, and played down the incident. English version by Susana Urra. ||||| Image copyright EPA Image caption It is the first time threats have been made against the professor A US woman has been given a suspended four-month jail sentence in Spain for threatening to kill British physicist and cosmologist Stephen Hawking. The 37-year-old has also been banned from approaching to within 500m of the scientist or communicating with him on social media for eight months. The woman was arrested in a hotel in Tenerife, close to where Prof Hawking was attending a conference. She had stalked him on social media before following him to the island. Stephen Hawking: 'Things can get out of a black hole' Stephen Hawking's Reith Lecture: Annotated transcript Prof Hawking's daughter told police that threatening messages had begun flooding the scientist's social media profiles and one of his email accounts on Tuesday, Spanish News Today reported. The woman, named in Spanish media reports as Jenny Theresa C., had told the scientist she would kill him during the Starmus Festival, attended by Nobel laureates as well as musicians including Brian May, Brian Eno and Hans Zimmer, and famous astronauts. She was arrested on Wednesday by police who found her in possession of a map showing Prof Hawking's itinerary while on the island. After being detained, she told police that she was in love with the scientist and would never have hurt him. Police said everything pointed to the woman being mentally unstable. Spanish police had provided Prof Hawking with extra security because of the emails - the first time such threats have been made against him. During his lecture, entitled "A brief history of mine", Prof Hawking forecast that humans would not survive another thousand years on Earth because of the fragility of the planet, Spanish News Today said. |||||

– An American woman was arrested Wednesday in Spain for sending dozens of death threats to Stephen Hawking then trailing him to an astronomy festival in the Canary Islands, Gizmodo reports. According to El Pais, the unnamed 37-year-old woman lives in Norway and has no previous criminal record. Authorities were tipped off by one of her children, who found more than 100 tweets and emails she had sent to Hawking, threatening to kill him. When Hawking gave his first lecture this week at the Starmus Festival, he was flanked by two police officers. The woman was arrested nearby. The woman was staying at a hotel near where Hawking was staying. Authorities found evidence of religious extremism, including items contradicting Hawking's claim that God doesn't exist, in her room. They also found details of Hawking's home and office and plans for how to approach him. The BBC reports the woman was also in possession of a map of Hawking's festival itinerary. After her arrest, the woman told police she loves Hawking and would never try to hurt him. Authorities believe the woman has psychological issues. She was given a four-month suspended prison sentence for harassment and threats. In addition, she is not to come within 1,600 feet of Hawking or communicate with him on social media for eight months. Sources say Hawking never felt he was in danger.

Transcript for Rep. Peter King Blasts Speaker Boehner on House Floor Majority leader -- -- very straightforward. Very direct last night I know that he was fighting to get the bill on the yet calendar it was a -- do whatever reason walked off the flaw. And said that the bill was being Paul. I don't enjoy saying -- I consider myself. A personal friend to John Boehner and John -- personally as a very helpful to me over the years so it pains me to say this but the fact is -- Dismissive attitude that was shown last night. Toward new York New Jersey Connecticut. -- of the leaders strain in the Republican Party and oh this is not the place to discuss politics. But that politics seeped over into a government -- decision that was made I can imagine. That type -- different that -- disregard that cavalier attitude being shown to any other part of the country when people we're talking about real. Life and death situation idea just -- -- speak or walk -- not even tell -- He tells an aide to majority -- who tells us that we -- -- majority leader that the item that means life and death. Was taken off the calendar and is gone for the session now they say it's a report cracked open January. While the fact is let's be real we're not in session next week. The following week recession for two days the following week is the inauguration recessions and two days then we have the state of the union. Committees haven't even organized yet and does anyone believe if they wouldn't vote is -- sixty to sixty point four billion dollars last night. That the Appropriations -- it's only gonna. I get religion and is on multiple amount when we know what their attitude is that somehow money going to new York and New Jersey Connecticut is corrupt money when money going to this -- -- -- honorable. And I would just say that. These people have no problem finding New York when it comes to raising money. It's only when it comes to allocating money that can't find the ability to do so I'm standing here in the house floor tonight they we have a moral obligation. As Republicans as Democrats as Americans. I spoke to governor Chris the F -- to Governor Cuomo we've been Constant Contact the Mayor Bloomberg we cannot believe that this. Cruel knife in the back was delivered to our region I have to go home this weekend and next week the week after and -- hundreds of thousands of people. Or out of -- homes who don't have shelter who donor of food. And there -- living with relatives friends living in trailers this is not United States of America. This should not be the Republican Party this should not be the Republican leadership and I'm -- you speak. Tell how Rodgers tell these people who somehow. It's become very sanctimonious. When it comes to -- new York and New Jersey that they have an obligation to do what they have to do and that's provide the aid and relief that we need if there's one -- That they have a problem with let us know but don't walk out the -- -- at a Norris you're not my time. This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate. ||||| Published on Congressman LoBiondo joins his colleagues from New Jersey and New York to express their extreme frustration and anger that the House of Representatives would adjourn without considering the Hurricane Sandy emergency supplemental bill. ||||| Story highlights "Why should we believe (Boehner) at all?" asks New York City Council speaker Vote on the relief bill is a priority, Speaker Boehner and Majority Leader Cantor say President Obama: "Our citizens are still trying to put their lives back together" "We're getting what New York and New Jersey need," Rep. King says The promise of $60 billion can do a lot to calm outrage. That point was underscored Wednesday, when House leaders met with irate representatives from New York and New Jersey who felt they had been ignored by House Speaker John Boehner when he scrapped a planned vote late Tuesday on a massive aid package for Superstorm Sandy victims. "We're getting what New York and New Jersey need, and that's all that counts," Rep. Peter King, R-New York, told reporters after emerging from a 20-minute meeting with Boehner and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor. "We're all big boys; we understand that all that counts is the bottom line." A vote on $9 billion for immediate aid is now set for Friday, with the balance of $51 billion due for consideration January 15. JUST WATCHED Christie: Boehner wouldn't take my calls Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Christie: Boehner wouldn't take my calls 06:00 JUST WATCHED Sandy victim to Congress: 'You stink' Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Sandy victim to Congress: 'You stink' 01:57 JUST WATCHED GOP's King bashes own party over Sandy Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH GOP's King bashes own party over Sandy 01:19 For its part, the Senate plans to vote by unanimous consent on Friday on the $9 billion but is waiting to see what is in the larger package before announcing a plan for that, a Senate Democratic leadership aide said. "On the second tranche, we will need to see more details before we decide how to proceed," the aide said. "As the Senate has shown by passing our bipartisan bill, we consider getting aid to the victims of Sandy a superlative priority, but we need to know more about the contents of the bill before deciding on a path forward." Democrats were less mollified. "While it would have been far better had they passed the Senate's bill today, at least this provides a path to produce the needed $60 billion for New York and New Jersey by the end of the month," said Sen. Charles Schumer, D-New York, in a statement. "It's really unbelievable how Speaker Boehner and his party could just walk away," said Christine Quinn, speaker of the New York City Council. "To promise us a vote weeks from now? Why should we believe him at all? It's just shocking." In a statement, Boehner and Cantor said "critical aid" to storm victims should be the first priority of the new Congress, which convenes Thursday. Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Cleaning crews work in Manhattan's financial district following damage from Superstorm Sandy on Monday, November 12. View photos of New York's recovery. Hide Caption 1 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Evelyn Faherty hugs a friend on Sunday, November 11, while discussing the damage done to her home by Superstorm Sandy in the Breezy Point neighborhood of Queens, New York. Hide Caption 2 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Volunteers shovel sand and water out of the basement of Monir Islam's home in the Rockaway Park neighborhood of Queens, New York, on Sunday. The Rockaways peninsula in Queens was one of the areas hardest hit by Sandy. See photos of Rockaway's continuing struggles Hide Caption 3 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Furniture and other belongings are strewn under and around a beach house damaged by Sandy on Saturday, November 10, in Mystic Island, New Jersey. Hide Caption 4 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Streets in Ortley Beach, New Jersey, were destroyed by Sandy. Hide Caption 5 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Clean-up continues on Saturday, November 10 among piles of debris where a large section of the iconic boardwalk was washed away in the heavily damaged Rockaways. Hide Caption 6 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Mac Baker, right, poses with her niece Nytaisha Baker next to pots of water she heats on the floor with small flames for a bit of warmth in Baker's unheated apartment in the Ocean Bay public housing projects in the Far Rockaway neighborhood in Queens on Friday, November 9. Hide Caption 7 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Theresa Goddard, her apartment still without electricity, is overwhelmed while discussing her living conditions on Thursday, November 8, in the Brooklyn borough of New York. Hide Caption 8 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – A police officer carries blankets donated by Ikea for people affected by Superstorm Sandy in Brooklyn. Hide Caption 9 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Debris from Superstorm Sandy is seen on a beach Thursday in Long Branch, New Jersey. Hide Caption 10 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Troops from the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit and the U.S. Navy help local residents remove household items damaged by Superstorm Sandy on November 6, in the New Dorp Beach neighborhood of Staten Island, New York. Hide Caption 11 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Voter Sheresa Walker uses a flashlight for poll worker Lloyd Edwards in a tent set up as a polling place in Queens, New York. Hide Caption 12 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – A poll worker directs people to a temporary polling center in the Coney Island section of Brooklyn, New York. Polling sites in Coney Island and the surrounding area were damaged during Superstorm Sandy. Hide Caption 13 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Michael Fischkelta, 8, lies on his cot with his mother, Jenifer Wilson, in a Red Cross evacuation shelter set up in the gymnasium of Toms River High School on Monday, November 5, in Toms River, New Jersey. View photos of the recovery efforts in New York. Hide Caption 14 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Ruth Hawfield sits next to her cot Monday in a Red Cross evacuation shelter at Toms River High School. Hide Caption 15 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – A woman fills out an early voting ballot on Sunday, November 4, in Jersey City, New Jersey. Gov. Chris Christie ordered early voting stations to stay open through the weekend in an effort to get people to vote despite the damage done by Superstorm Sandy. Hide Caption 16 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – A woman sifts through her mother's damaged home for items to save Sunday in the Breezy Point neighborhood of Queens, New York. Hide Caption 17 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – A workman repairs damage to the steeple of the First United Methodist Church on Sunday in Port Jefferson, New York. Hide Caption 18 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – People sift through their damaged home on Sunday in Breezy Point. Hide Caption 19 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – A statue of a firefighter stands in front of a burned down house Sunday in Rockaway, New York. Hide Caption 20 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Abraham Cambrelen, 19, takes the Staten Island Ferry to go check on his mother Sunday while New York recovers from Hurricane Sandy. Hide Caption 21 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Crowds wait for free gas on Saturday, November 3, at the Bedford Avenue Armory in Brooklyn, New York. Hide Caption 22 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – A house sits devastated by Superstorm Sandy on Friday, November 2, in Union Beach, New Jersey. The cost of the storm's damage in the U.S. is estimated at between $30 billion and $50 billion, according to disaster modeling firm Eqecat. Hide Caption 23 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – A baby picture lies beneath rubble in a neighborhood devastated by the storm in Union Beach on Friday. Hide Caption 24 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Flood-damaged belongings sit on the side of the road in Union Beach on Friday. Hide Caption 25 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Park Choul works by flashlight in his deli in New York's East Village on Thursday, November 1. More than 3.3 million customers remained without electricity in 15 states and the District of Columbia four days after Sandy barreled ashore. Hide Caption 26 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Geronimo Harrison's apartment in the East Village remains without power or water Thursday. He's using candles for light and a gas stove for heat. Hide Caption 27 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Water gets pumped out of a business in the East Village on Thursday. Hide Caption 28 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – A roller coaster sits in the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday after the Fun Town pier it sat on in Seaside Heights, New Jersey, was destroyed by Superstorm Sandy. Hide Caption 29 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Amusement-park rides lie mangled on the beach after the Fun Town pier in Seaside Heights was destroyed. Hide Caption 30 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – The arcade at the FunTown pier in Seaside Heights is in ruins. Storm damage is expected to cost tens of billions of dollars. Hide Caption 31 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – The inside of a gas pump is exposed at a closed station that was recently under floodwater on Thursday, November 1, in Hoboken, New Jersey. Superstorm Sandy, which made landfall along the New Jersey shore, has left the state with a fuel shortage due to logistical problems and power failures. Hide Caption 32 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – People wait in line for fuel at a Shell Oil station onThursday in Fort Lee, New Jersey. Fuel shortages have led to long lines of cars at gasoline stations in many states. Hide Caption 33 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Cars wait in line for fuel at a Gulf gas station in Fort Lee, New Jersey. Hide Caption 34 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – A woman leaves an Exxon gas station that was out of fuel on Thursday in North Bergen, New Jersey. Hide Caption 35 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Bridget De La Torre holds her daughter Neve, 3, as daughter Paz sits nearby while they rest and charge devices on Thursday. They were at a shelter for those affected by Superstorm Sandy at Saints Peter and Paul Church in Hoboken, New Jersey. Bridget's family has no electricity or hot water, and their car was destroyed by flooding. Hide Caption 36 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Waves break in front of an amusement park destroyed by Superstorm Sandy on Wednesday, October 31, in Seaside Heights, New Jersey. At least 56 people were killed in the storm. New Jersey suffered massive damage and power outages. Hide Caption 37 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – People walk near the remains of burned homes in the Breezy Point neighborhood of Queens, New York, on Wednesday. Hide Caption 38 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – An overview of the fire damage in Queens, New York, following Hurricane Sandy. Residents in hard-hit areas sifted through the wreckage of Sandy on Wednesday as millions remained without power. Hide Caption 39 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Buildings on the shoreline are pictured from Air Force One as it prepares to land in Atlantic City, New Jersey, carrying President Barack Obama, who visited areas hardest hit by the unprecedented storm. Hide Caption 40 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – President Barack Obama speaks as New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie looks on, as they visit a shelter for Hurricane Sandy victims in Brigantine, New Jersey. Hide Caption 41 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – The shadow of Air Force One is cast on the water as it prepares to land in Atlantic City on Wednesday, October 31. Hide Caption 42 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Residents in the Rockaway section of Queens, New York, wait to charge their phones at a government generator. Kennedy International Airport in New York and Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey resumed operations on limited schedules Wednesday, and the New York Stock Exchange commenced trading after being closed for two days. Hide Caption 43 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Motorists drive through standing water in Hoboken, New Jersey. Known as the Mile Square City, the low-lying neighborhoods suffered deep flooding resulting from the storm surge associated with Hurricane Sandy. Hide Caption 44 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – A member of Army National Guard Unit Gulf 250 from Morristown, New Jersey, evacuates victims of Hurricane Sandy in Hoboken on Wednesday, October 31. Hide Caption 45 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Residents traverse flooded streets as clean up operations begin in Hoboken, New Jersey. Hide Caption 46 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – New Jersey Natural Gas technician Carlos Rojas inspects a leaking gas main that is under water at a home damaged by Hurricane Sandy in Long Beach Island, New Jersey. Hide Caption 47 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – A resident looks through the remnants of his home in the Breezy Point neighborhood of Queens, New York. Hide Caption 48 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Flood-damaged streets are viewed in the Rockaway section of Queens, New York, where the historic boardwalk was washed away due to Hurricane Sandy. Hide Caption 49 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – People walk past homes damaged by Hurricane Sandy in Long Beach Island, New Jersey. Hide Caption 50 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Traders stand outside of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on Wednesday, October 31. U.S. equity markets resumed trading Wednesday for the first time this week after Hurricane Sandy. Hide Caption 51 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – People board the ferry, one of the few functioning transportation systems, in Hoboken, New Jersey, on Wednesday, October 31. Hide Caption 52 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Members of the State University of New York Maritime Academy aid in the relief efforts, using row boats to help victims from in Hoboken, New Jersey. Hide Caption 53 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Jimmy Lee, owner of The Nail Store, begins the cleanup of his shop from damage done by Hurricane Sandy in Hoboken, New Jersey. Hide Caption 54 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Blaine Badick and her fiancee Andrew Grapsas cross a flooded street with their dog while leaving their home in Hoboken. Hide Caption 55 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Residents walk through the area where the boardwalk was washed away in the Rockaway neighborhood of Queens, New York, on Wednesday. Hide Caption 56 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – The Rockaway boardwalk in Queens, New York, was stripped down to the piers by Superstorm Sandy. Hide Caption 57 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – People look at a damaged section of the Rockaway boardwalk in Queens, New York, on Wednesday. Hide Caption 58 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – People walk down a flooded street on Wednesday, October 31, in Hoboken, New Jersey. Hide Caption 59 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – A man charges his cellphone at a home that still has power in Hoboken, New Jersey, on Wednesday, October 31. As of Wednesday afternoon, more than 2 million customers in New Jersey were without power. Hide Caption 60 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – A firefighter stands on the porch of a home destroyed by fire in Queens on Wednesday. Hide Caption 61 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Customers line up to buy supplies at an Ace Hardware with a power generator in Hoboken, New Jersey, on Wednesday. Hide Caption 62 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Superstorm Sandy stripped the steps from the deck of this home in Long Beach Island, New Jersey. Hide Caption 63 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Superstorm Sandy left a car buried in sand in Long Beach Island, New Jersey. Hide Caption 64 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – A helicopter flies past damaged homes in Long Beach Island, New Jersey, on Wednesday, October 31. Hide Caption 65 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – A man makes his way through floodwater and debris in Long Beach Island, New Jersey, on Wednesday. Hide Caption 66 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – A police car patrols an empty waterfront neighborhood without power in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on Wednesday. Hide Caption 67 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Concrete piers are all that remain of the destroyed boardwalk in Atlantic City on Wednesday. Hide Caption 68 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Debris from damaged property and the remains of a boardwalk litter the shoreline in Atlantic City on Wednesday. Hide Caption 69 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Waterfront property in Atlantic City lays in tatters on Wednesday. Transportation in the state was crippled by floodwaters, as well. Hide Caption 70 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – "We are in a state of crisis all across this state," Newark, New Jersey, Mayor Cory Booker told CNN on Wednesday. "It's going to be a challenging time." Hide Caption 71 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – A police car patrols an empty waterfront neighborhood that lost power at dawn in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on Wednesday. Hide Caption 72 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – People wait for buses along New York's Sixth Avenue on Wednesday. Hide Caption 73 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Superstorm Sandy stripped New York's historic Rockaway boardwalk down to its foundation. Hide Caption 74 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – A woman examines damage to the Rockaway neighborhood in New York on Wednesday. Hide Caption 75 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Commuters ride a NY Waterway ferry from Jersey City, New Jersey, on Wednesday, the first day of operation since the storm hit. Hide Caption 76 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – A man rides on the front of a forklift while recording flood damage for insurance purposes in Little Ferry, New Jersey, on Wednesday. Hide Caption 77 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Con Edison employee John Shammah pauses while working on a steam pipe on First Avenue in New York City on Wednesday. Hide Caption 78 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – CNN iReporter Jordan Shapiro captured this view of the Williamsburg Bridge in New York at 11 p.m. on Tuesday, October 30. Half of the bridge and Brooklyn is lit, while the Manhattan side and the surrounding part of the island remain shrouded in darkness. Hide Caption 79 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Dog owners in Alexandria, Virginia, gathered to see the flood waters left by Hurricane Sandy on Tuesday. Hide Caption 80 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Taxis sit in a flooded lot Tuesday in Hoboken, New Jersey. Hide Caption 81 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – People take pictures of a flooded street Tuesday in Hoboken. Hide Caption 82 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – A man stands near a homemade road block on Tuesday in Little Ferry, New Jersey. Hide Caption 83 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – People wait in line to fill containers with gas at a Shell station in Edison, New Jersey, on Tuesday. Superstorm Sandy left much of Bergen County flooded and without power. Hide Caption 84 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Aerial images from the U.S. Coast Guard show the coastline in Brigantine, New Jersey, on Tuesday. Sandy struck land near Atlantic City, New Jersey, around high tide Monday night. Hide Caption 85 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Homes and other buildings in Brigantine were destroyed in Sandy's wake. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie described the devastation in the state as "unthinkable." Hide Caption 86 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Brigantine saw extensive damage from high winds and flooding. Hide Caption 87 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Homes are flooded Tuesday in Tuckerton, New Jersey. President Barack Obama signed major disaster declarations for New Jersey and New York, clearing the way for federal aid. Hide Caption 88 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – A resident walks down a street covered in beach sand due to flooding from Hurricane Sandy in Long Beach, New York on Tuesday. Hide Caption 89 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Firefighters work to extinguish flames in a home in the Breezy Point neighborhood of Queens on Tuesday. The massive fire broke out during the storm and destroyed at least 80 homes Hide Caption 90 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Ted Wondsel, owner of Ted's Fishing Station in Long Beach, assesses the damage to his business Tuesday. Hide Caption 91 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – People wait outside a shelter at the Bergen County Technical Schools Teterboro Campus on Tuesday in Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey. Hide Caption 92 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Utility workers from Delmarva Power replace a power pole that was damaged during Hurricane Sandy in Ocean City, Maryland, on Tuesday. Hide Caption 93 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Dale Kelly sits on a bench Tuesday on a flooded street in Ocean City, New Jersey, which was hit hard by Superstorm Sandy. Hide Caption 94 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Ted Wondsel, left, of Point Lookout works on part of a dock destroyed in the storm in Long Beach on Tuesday. Hide Caption 95 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – West Broadway in Long Beach is covered in beach sand due to flooding from Hurricane Sandy on Tuesday. Hide Caption 96 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Residents walk along a street covered in beach sand after floodwaters from Superstorm Sandy retreated Tuesday in Long Beach. Hide Caption 97 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – A small plane damaged in the storm sits on a runway in Farmingdale, New York, on Tuesday. Hide Caption 98 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Streets remain flooded in portions of Ocean City, New Jersey. Hide Caption 99 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Utility workers repair a traffic signal damaged by the storm in Ocean City, New Jersey, on Tuesday. Hide Caption 100 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – A Virgin Mary statue stands in the Breezy Point neighborhood of Queens, New York, on Tuesday after a fire fed by high winds destroyed at least 80 homes, officials said. Hide Caption 101 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – President Barack Obama outlines the federal government's response to Superstorm Sandy at the Red Cross headquarters in Washington. Hide Caption 102 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Firefighters work to contain the fire in Queens on Tuesday. Some 200 firefighters battled the six-alarm blaze. Hide Caption 103 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – A man surveys damage to sailboats Tuesday at a marina on City Island in New York. Hide Caption 104 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – "My message to the federal government: no bureaucracy, no red tape, get resources where they're needed as fast as possible, as hard as possible, and for the duration," Obama said in Washington Tuesday. Both Obama and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney canceled campaign events. Hide Caption 105 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – People stand on a mound of construction dirt on Tuesday to view a section of the uptown boardwalk in Atlantic City, New Jersey, that was destroyed by flooding. Hide Caption 106 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – A firefighter looks through debris in Queens on Tuesday. In September, the same area endured severe weather as a powerful cold front brought heavy rain, high winds and a tornado. Hide Caption 107 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – A malfunctioning generator billows black smoke at a building in New York on Tuesday. Hide Caption 108 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Mitt Romney helps gather donated goods for storm relief Tuesday in Kettering, Ohio. Hide Caption 109 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Emergency personnel help a resident of Little Ferry, New Jersey, onto a boat after rescuing her from floodwater on Tuesday. Hide Caption 110 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Dean Walter, left. and Henry Young walk along a seawall in Scituate, Massachusetts, with their surfboards after going into the heavy surf for about 20 minutes on Tuesday. Hide Caption 111 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Superstorm Sandy left New York's South Street Seaport flooded and covered in debris on Tuesday. Hide Caption 112 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Passers-by look at a car that was crushed by a tree near New York's financial district on Tuesday. Hide Caption 113 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Pedestrians and bikers cross the Brooklyn Bridge after the storm on Tuesday. Hide Caption 114 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – People stand among the debris of the destroyed section of Atlantic City, New Jersey's, uptown boardwalk on Tuesday. Hide Caption 115 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Sailboats rest on the ground after being tipped over by Superstorm Sandy on City Island, New York, on Tuesday. Hide Caption 116 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Onlookers watch a dangling crane, damaged in the winds of Superstorm Sandy, atop a luxury high-rise under construction in midtown Manhattan on Tuesday. Hide Caption 117 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – An onlooker snaps a photo of the damaged crane on Tuesday. Hide Caption 118 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Jolito Ortiz helps clean up a friend's apartment on New York's lower east side on Tuesday. Hide Caption 119 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – A tidal surge created by Sandy flooded the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel in New York on Tuesday. Hide Caption 120 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – A worker cuts down a tree near American University in Washington on Tuesday. Hide Caption 121 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – A home badly damaged by Superstorm Sandy sits along the shoreline in Milford, Connecticut, on Tuesday. Hide Caption 122 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – An emergency worker carries a resident through floodwaters in Little Ferry, New Jersey, on Tuesday. Hide Caption 123 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Police walk past debris left by the storm at Battery Park in New York on Tuesday. Hide Caption 124 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Floodwater splashes into the window of a building on the shore in Bellport, New York, on Tuesday. Hide Caption 125 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Rescue workers use a hovercraft to rescue a resident using a wheelchair from floodwaters in Little Ferry, New Jersey, on Tuesday. Hide Caption 126 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – A resident of Little Ferry, New Jersey, assists in rescue efforts with his personal watercraft on Tuesday. Hide Caption 127 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – The HMS Bounty, a 180-foot sailboat, is submerged in the Atlantic Ocean about 90 miles southeast of Hatteras, North Carolina, on Monday, October 29. Hide Caption 128 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – A man walks through the debris of a 2,000-foot section of Atlantic City, New Jersey's "uptown" boardwalk on Tuesday. It was destroyed by flooding from Sandy. Hide Caption 129 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Downed trees are removed near the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington on Tuesday. Hide Caption 130 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Heavy surf buckles Ocean Avenue in Avalon, New Jersey, on Tuesday. Hide Caption 131 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Sam Rigby walks on Tuesday near an uprooted tree that grazed his house and hit his neighbor's house in Washington. Hide Caption 132 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – A photographer shoots waves in Lake Michigan generated by the remnants of Sandy as they crash into the Chicago shoreline on Tuesday. Hide Caption 133 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – A police officer helps remove a tree branch brought down during the storm in Washington on Tuesday. Hide Caption 134 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy 11.sandy.damage.1030 – A man takes pictures of cars from the steps of a home on a flooded street at Hoboken in New Jersey, on Tuesday. Hide Caption 135 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – A woman wades through water at the South Street Seaport in New York City on Tuesday. Hide Caption 136 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – A street light and utility pole lie on the street in Avalon, New Jersey, on Tuesday. Hide Caption 137 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Atlantic City, New Jersey, resident Kim Johnson inspects the area around her flooded apartment building on Tuesday. Hide Caption 138 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – A power line knocked over by a falling tree blocks a street in Chevy Chase, Maryland, on Tuesday. Hide Caption 139 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Workers shovel debris from the streets in Ocean City, Maryland, on Tuesday. Hide Caption 140 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter flies over Central Park in New York on Tuesday. Hide Caption 141 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – A man jogs near a darkened Manhattan skyline on Tuesday after much of New York City lost electricity. Hide Caption 142 of 143 Photos: Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy – Workers clear a tree blocking East 96th Street in Central Park in New York on Tuesday. View more photos of the recovery efforts in New York. Hide Caption 143 of 143 The comity contrasted sharply with the outrage that had exploded earlier in the day over Congress' inaction on the package, pitting even fellow Republicans against Boehner. It was "disappointing and disgusting to watch," said New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, blaming "the toxic internal politics of the House majority." "New Jersey deserves better than the duplicity we saw on display," he said, adding, "shame on Congress." Christie, a Republican, said he had tried to reach Boehner on Tuesday night after the latter canceled a vote on the aid bill, which had already been approved by the Senate. "He did not take my calls," said Christie. In a news conference, Christie said he joined people of his state in feeling "betrayed" and added that the move summarizes "why the American people hate Congress." In a statement, Christie and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo wrote: "This failure to come to the aid of Americans following a severe and devastating natural disaster is unprecedented. The fact that days continue to go by while people suffer, families are out of their homes, and men and women remain jobless and struggling during these harsh winter months is a dereliction of duty. " Boehner did not make public remarks and did not post about the issue on social media. GOP leadership sources said Boehner was worried it would be a bad political move for him to allow a vote on the new federal spending after a long day of getting pummeled by his own House Republicans for not demanding enough spending cuts in the fiscal cliff bill. Civility was restored late in the afternoon. "As far as I'm concerned, that was a lifetime ago," King said. "I know it was last night, but the bottom line is we're going forward getting what we believe is necessary." Earlier, King had slammed his own party. "The Republican Party has said it's the party of 'family values.' Last night, it turned its back on the most essential value of all, and that's to provide food, shelter, clothing and relief for people who have been hit by a natural disaster," King told CNN. King said he chased Boehner "all over the House last night" and that Boehner had said everything would be taken care of after the vote on the fiscal cliff. But Boehner left. King called the House leadership's move a "knife in the back." "Anyone from New York or New Jersey who contributes one penny to the Republican Congressional Campaign Committee should have their head examined," King said. It's very rare for a lawmaker to call on anyone not to support his own party. But on Wednesday afternoon, King said he would vote for Boehner in leadership elections scheduled for Thursday. A senior GOP leadership aide said Boehner will make a Sandy aid package "his first priority in the new Congress," which begins its term Thursday. When a new Congress begins, both chambers have to begin from scratch with legislation, so the Senate's passage of a previous bill will be moot. Michael Steel, Boehner's spokesman, said the speaker is "committed to getting this bill passed this month." Before the House adjourned Wednesday, President Barack Obama urged a vote. "It has only been two months since Hurricane Sandy devastated communities across New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut as well as other Eastern states. Our citizens are still trying to put their lives back together," Obama said in a statement. "When tragedy strikes, Americans come together to support those in need. I urge Republicans in the House of Representatives to do the same, bring this important request to a vote today, and pass it without delay for our fellow Americans," Obama said. Scott Mandel, vice president of New York's Long Beach City Council, told CNN, "The money was needed yesterday, and the fact that there's an obstacle in the way for whatever reason and a vote wasn't allowed to go forward was inexcusable." The money would improve the city's ability to withstand damage from winter storms, Mandel said. Fiscal cliff battle held up the measure The tumultuous process of getting the fiscal cliff deal passed in the House had held up the relief measure, and many House Republicans opposed the size of the Senate bill. "Leadership was all-consumed with the cliff procedure," Rogers told reporters off the House floor late Tuesday. "And they really have not had the time to devote to this because of that." Sandy killed at least 113 people in the United States and left millions of people without power after running up the East Coast in late October. The storm hit hardest in New York and New Jersey. Cuomo has put storm-related costs at $41.9 billion, while Christie has estimated a price tag of $36.8 billion. The bill includes grant funding for owners of homes and businesses, as well as funding for public improvement projects on the electrical grid, hospitals and transit systems to prevent damage from future storms. John Stone, a resident of New York's Staten Island, owned two homes before the storm. One was destroyed; the other was so severely flooded that it remains unlivable. But he expressed no anger over the House's decision. "They'll just have to do it all over again, I suppose. What can you say?" "It's a lot of money," he said, adding "there's a lot of other things they've got to do." He tends to vote Republican and doesn't plan to turn away from the party, he said, although, he added, "I don't give them much money anyway." He's been living with relatives in New Jersey. ||||| 6 years ago (CNN) – In a rare display of fierce intraparty sniping, New Jersey's Republican Gov. Chris Christie took the GOP House speaker to task for delaying a vote on federal funding for states affected by the devastating superstorm Sandy. Christie, speaking the day after the Republican-controlled House of Representatives refused to take up the $60 billion relief measure already passed by the Senate, said culpability for sustained distress in his state rested solely upon GOP lawmakers. "There is only one group to blame for the continued suffering of these innocent victims: the House majority and their speaker, John Boehner," Christie said. "This is not a Republican or Democratic issue. National disasters happen in red states and blue states and states with Democratic governors and Republican governors." Christie was the latest Republican to voice his disapproval of the House after last night's inaction. The House stands in recess until 11 a.m. ET Thursday – the day a new Congress will be sworn in. It remains unclear whether a last-minute vote could happen in the current Congress. Any measure not voted upon by the end of this session would have to be re-voted upon by the Senate. Christie said Wednesday that House Republicans were breaking a longstanding vow to help states devastated by natural disasters. "We respond to innocent victims of natural disasters, not as Republicans or Democrats, but as Americans," he said. "Or at least we did until last night. Last night politics was placed before hosts to serve our citizens. For me, it was disappointing and disgusting to watch." Leaders in Washington assured Christie and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo the funding votes would happen on Tuesday or Wednesday, according to the New Jersey governor. The decision not to hold the vote was Boehner's, he said. ||||| U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-2) got into it Tuesday with Speaker John Boehner over Hurricane Sandy funding. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor told LoBiondo that the House would consider $60 billion in Hurricane Sandy funding immediately following a resolution of the fiscal cliff. But Monday night came and went and LoBiondo and others approached Boehner Tuesday afternoon to get a hard answer on a delayed Hurricane Sandy vote. Boehner yelled at LoBiondo. In the lead-up to the confrontation, LoBiondo had every expectation that Boehner would move swiftly to put Sandy relief to a vote. It didn’t happen. “I kept asking Eric, not just myself, but a number of us,” LoBiondo told PolitickerNJ.com. “He said ‘I’m ready to go but don’t have the green light to go.' By late afternoon I asked for a meeting. His reaction was not what I expected. It’s not how it needed to be handled. We were told there will not be a decision until after the fiscal cliff.” LoBiondo said municipalities are counting on the feds to help rebuild. “This is absurd. I’ve never been this angry,” LoBiondo said. “Sen. Menendez and other Democrats were very helpful. This could have been a poster child for bipartisanship, instead, this is what we have.” Boehner has scheduled a meeting for 3 p.m. to consider the matter, the congressman said. |||||

– Peter King is more than just unhappy that the House failed to vote on a Sandy relief bill last night: Now he's calling for New York and New Jersey residents to stop donating money to the GOP over the matter, CNN reports. "Anyone from New York or New Jersey who contributes one penny to the Republican Congressional Campaign Committee should have their head examined," King tells the network. Many other lawmakers are similarly distressed, including New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who issued a bipartisan joint statement calling out the House's "inaction and indifference." ABC News has video of King calling out John Boehner specifically on the House floor today, calling his decision to delay the vote a "cruel knife in the back." Rep. Frank LoBiondo gave a similarly epic floor speech, and he tells PolitickerNJ.com that he and Boehner got in a yelling confrontation over the issue yesterday. "This is absurd. I’ve never been this angry," he says. "This could have been a poster child for bipartisanship, instead, this is what we have." And in a press conference today, Christie further slammed Republicans and Boehner. Per CNN: "There is only one group to blame for the continued suffering of these innocent victims: the House majority and their speaker, John Boehner."

Tweet with a location You can add location information to your Tweets, such as your city or precise location, from the web and via third-party applications. You always have the option to delete your Tweet location history. Learn more ||||| Kate Middleton is the latest beauty to grace the cover of British Vogue, and she looks absolutely stunning doing so. In her first-ever magazine shoot, the Duchess of Cambridge is fittingly fronting “Vogue’s 100 Years,” which celebrates a century of covering all things fashion and celebrity. View photos WATCH: Happy 5th Wedding Anniversary to Kate Middleton and Prince William: A Look Back At Their Royal Marriage The royal beauty was photographed by Josh Olins in Norfolk, England, where she and her husband, Prince William, have a 10-bedroom country home, Anmer Hall. Her cover look is perfectly country chic, from the beautiful brown suede jacket paired and white button-down to her forest green wide-brimmed hat. View photos WATCH: Princess Charlotte and Prince George Are as Cute as Ever In New Royal Family Photo In a second photo revealed by the magazine, the 34-year-old mom-of-two is all smiles as she leans over a wooden fence in a simple red-and-back striped long-sleeve sweater, her hair falling naturally around her shoulders. View photos Vogue also revealed that two of the eight photographs from the upcoming June issue will be featured in the National Portrait Gallery’s #Vogue100: A Century of Style portrait series in London. The centenary issue hits stands May 5. Middleton will visit the National Portrait Gallery on Wednesday. NEWS: Kate Middleton, Prince William and Prince Harry Team Up in Mental Health PSA Middleton is well-known for having an incredible sense of fashion, so it’s only fitting that she’s helping honor Vogue’s major milestone. In fact, she showed off a series of gorgeous looks during her and Prince William’s royal trip to India and Bhutan earlier this month, including a beautiful orange gown on their last night in Bhutan. Get a good look at the dress in the video below. Related Articles ||||| Princess Kate Covers Vogue! See the Radiant Photos Josh Olins In what they describe as a "landmark" photoshoot, British Vogue has unveiled portraits of Princess Kate , for the magazine's centenary issue, and several of the photos will be displayed in the National Portrait Gallery starting this weekend.The shoot, by photographer Josh Olins and set in Norfolk's English countryside, features Kate in "casual clothes rather than adopting a more formal approach," the magazine said in a statement.Two of Olins' portraits will be on display at the gallery, in the Vogue 100: A Century of Style exhibit, beginning Sunday. Kate, 34, has been the patron of the gallery since 2012, soon after her wedding to Prince William "Josh has captured the Duchess exactly as she is – full of life, with a great sense of humor, thoughtful and intelligent, and in fact, very beautiful," Nicholas Cullinan, director of the National Portrait Gallery, said in a press release.British Vogue's editor-in-chief, Alexandra Shulman, said this project had been one of her "greatest ambitions for the magazine.""I'm delighted the Duchess agreed to work with us and the National Portrait Gallery, and as a result of this unique collaboration we have a true celebration of our centenary as well as a fitting tribute to a young woman whose interest in both photography and the countryside is well known," Shulman said in the release.Kate shared that delight, a spokesperson said in the release: "The Duchess was delighted to play a part in celebrating the centenary of an institution that has given a platform to some of the most renowned photographers in this country's history. "She is incredibly grateful to the team at Vogue and at the National Portrait Gallery for asking her to take part. She would like to thank Josh Olins for being such a pleasure to work with. The Duchess had never taken part in a photography shoot like this before." Josh Olins Kate will get a chance to see the portraits first-hand when she visits the National Portrait Gallery on Wednesday.The full shoot will also be available in June's centenary issue of British Vogue, on sale Thursday, May 5. ||||| The British edition of Vogue celebrated its centenary issue with something of a royal coup Saturday, revealing it had landed the Duchess of Cambridge’s first-ever magazine cover shoot. The magazine’s June issues features seven new photographs of the 34-year-old royal taken by British photographer Josh Olins in January in the Norfolk countryside where the Cambridges live. The striking pictures are the result of a unique collaboration between the magazine and Britain’s National Portrait Gallery, which will display two of the portraits in its exhibition Vogue 100: A Century of Style. A keen photographer herself, the duchess is patron of the National Portrait Gallery and will view the exhibition on Wednesday. By choosing British Vogue for her first-ever cover Kate is following in famous footsteps. Princess Diana famously graced the cover of the magazine four times. Her final cover, taken by photographer Patrick Demarchelier, was in 1997, the year of her death. Another Vogue cover shot of the late princess in black and white and wearing a tiara, also taken by Demarchelier, features in the National Portrait Gallery exhibition as well. Kate’s cover shoot is set to be equally memorable. Styled by one of the magazine’s senior style directors Lucinda Chambers, Olins’s shoot captured the duchess at her most natural. Smiling radiantly and with minimal makeup, she looks entirely at ease in the Norfolk countryside. “This was the duchess’s first sitting for a magazine and she was a joy to work with, a natural,” said Olins, who was chosen by the magazine, the National Portrait Gallery, and Kensington Palace. The British-born, New York-based photographer works regularly for Vogue and has shot campaigns for leading fashion houses including Calvin Klein and Louis Vuitton. A source at the magazine said that Kate worked closely with the editor and style director on the shoot eschewing glamour for country chic when it came to the wardrobe. On the cover she is seen wearing a Burberry trench coat and a £293 white jacquard shirt by the same fashion house. The fetching green hat, provided by the fashion team, is by vintage store Beyond Retro. In another of the series of pictures Kate is photographed resting against a wooden gate in front of a stone farm building in a pair of Burberry £695 stretch boot cut trousers and a £35 striped black and red jersey top by Petit Bateau. The picture was the last to be taken during the day. According to Alexandra Shulman, the magazine’s editor in chief, who was on the shoot: “The Duchess watched how Josh worked with the light and asked a lot of questions. It was her choice to shoot that picture where she is leaning over the gate because the late afternoon sun was particularly beautiful.” In the picture the couple’s Landrover Defender can just be seen. While William’s security team drives a fleet of luxury Discovery Landrovers the Duchess prefers to drive around in the less-conspicuous Defender. Shulman said that the shoot took place all day, “in a field somewhere down several tracks. There were some farm buildings available for the crew and to use as a dressing room. We were very lucky with the weather and had bright sun for most of the time.” According to a spokesman at Kensington Palace, Wednesday will be “the first time” Kate has seen the images suggesting she did not have final approval over the portfolio of images which do not appear to have been heavily airbrushed. ||||| And for the first time the Duchess, 34, allowed a professional make-up artist to prepare her for the photographer, giving her a fresher, more youthful look. Vogue hired make-up artist Sally Branka, who persuaded the Duchess to do without her usual black eyeliner and heavy blusher, with striking results. The pictures were taken by Josh Olins, one of the world’s leading fashion photographers, in a collaboration between British Vogue and the National Portrait Gallery. Two of Mr Olins’ pictures will hang in the Gallery from today as part of the Vogue 100: A Century of Style exhibition, and seven images, including the cover, will appear in the June issue of the magazine. The Duchess, who is Patron of the National Portrait Gallery, will see the exhibition for herself on Wednesday on an official visit to the Gallery. She is the most senior member of the Royal family to appear on the cover of the magazine since Princess Diana, who featured on four covers, including a posthumous appearance in October 1997. ||||| Those chubby little cheeks! Princess Charlotte is set to celebrate her first birthday on Monday, May 2, and the tiny royal will have a premiere photographer on hand to capture the monumental day: her mom, the Duchess of Cambridge. In a series of newly released photographs of Charlotte, taken by Kate, 34, Kensington Palace’s youngest resident proves that she’s grown up a lot over the last year. HRH The Duchess of Cambridge "The duke and duchess are very happy to be able to share these important family moments and hope that everyone enjoys these lovely photos as much as they do," the palace tells Us in a statement. HRH The Duchess of Cambridge The fashionable tot wears two different tiny knit cardigans in the photos — one cream and one pink — over matching baby blue and baby pink dresses and tights by Amaia, a Spanish clothing line for kids. She even wears a little bow in her carefully brushed hair. In one image, she shows off her large doe eyes as she scrambles over a wicker chair; two others show the tot standing upright and smiling excitedly while doing it. HRH The Duchess of Cambridge One photo, taken in the garden, has the family dog, Lupo, playing on the grass in the background as she pushes along a handmade baby walker full of colorful blocks, retailing at £49 from the Toy Centre in Oxfordshire. The images were all taken by the duchess at the royal couple's Anmer home in Norfolk. HRH The Duchess of Cambridge Last month, it was Charlotte’s older brother, Prince George, who was getting all the attention after he greeted President Barack and Michelle Obama in a monogrammed bathrobe during their visit to the palace. His $39 personalized bathrobe, from online retailer My 1st Years, sold out within minutes of the photos being released. Can't get enough of Us? Sign up now for the Us Weekly newsletter packed with the latest celeb news, hot pics and more! |||||

– Vanity Fair calls it "something of a royal coup": The 100th anniversary edition of the British version of Vogue is graced by none other than Kate Middleton on its cover, in what is the royal's fashion editorial debut. (Princess Diana covered the magazine four times.) British photographer Josh Olins took the seven photographs included in the issue in the Norfolk countryside in January; at Kate's request, the images are what Vanity Fair calls "country chic" rather than high glamour. Indeed, Yahoo describes the cover shot as "perfectly country chic, from the beautiful brown suede jacket paired and white button-down to her forest green wide-brimmed hat." In another image, she's clad in a $1,015 pair of Burberry trousers and a $50 red- and black-striped top. The Telegraph notes the shoot marked the first time that a professional make-up artist did Kate's makeup before she was photographed, and says Sally Branka "persuaded the Duchess to do without her usual black eyeliner and heavy blusher, with striking results." People reports British Vogue editor-in-chief Alexandra Shulman called the images "a fitting tribute to a young woman whose interest in both photography and the countryside is well known." Indeed, four new photos of Princess Charlotte have been released in advance of her first birthday on Monday; the photographer: Kate, reports Us Weekly.

In an interview with "CBS This Morning" co-host Gayle King, Dylan Farrow detailed the alleged sexual abuse by her adoptive father, actor and director Woody Allen. At the age of 7, Dylan told her mother, actress Mia Farrow, that Allen had molested her. Allen has always denied the allegations and has never been charged with a crime. Dylan Farrow has stood by her story for more than two decades. She first went public with her accusations in 2014 with an open letter in the New York Times. Below is Allen's full response to "CBS This Morning": "When this claim was first made more than 25 years ago, it was thoroughly investigated by both the Child Sexual Abuse Clinic of the Yale-New Haven Hospital and New York State Child Welfare. They both did so for many months and independently concluded that no molestation had ever taken place. Instead, they found it likely a vulnerable child had been coached to tell the story by her angry mother during a contentious breakup. Dylan's older brother Moses has said that he witnessed their mother doing exactly that – relentlessly coaching Dylan, trying to drum into her that her father was a dangerous sexual predator. It seems to have worked – and, sadly, I'm sure Dylan truly believes what she says. But even though the Farrow family is cynically using the opportunity afforded by the Time's Up movement to repeat this discredited allegation, that doesn't make it any more true today than it was in the past. I never molested my daughter – as all investigations concluded a quarter of a century ago." ||||| A wave of celebrities has begun speaking out against Woody Allen, more than two decades after his adopted daughter Dylan Farrow alleged that he molested her, which Allen has long denied. In December, Farrow wrote an op-ed in the Los Angeles Times asking why actors who spoke out against other Hollywood men in the #MeToo movement continued to support Allen. In the days since the piece was published, Mira Sorvino and Greta Gerwig expressed regret for working with Allen. Rebecca Hall and Timothée Chalamet said they would donate their salaries from working on Allen’s films to anti-sexual violence organizations. Not everyone who has worked with Allen has condemned him. Alec Baldwin, who has appeared in three of Allen’s films, said in a Jan. 16 tweet that the “renunciation” of Allen is “unfair and sad.” Allen has long denied Farrow’s allegation, and he has never been charged with a crime. The allegations were first made in 1992. In 2014, after Allen received a lifetime achievement award at the Golden Globes, Farrow detailed the allegations in an open letter in the New York Times. Allen again denied the allegations in an op-ed published in the Times in 2014. “Of course, I did not molest Dylan,” Allen wrote. “No one wants to discourage abuse victims from speaking out, but one must bear in mind that sometimes there are people who are falsely accused and that is also a terribly destructive thing.” In response to an inquiry from TIME about Farrow’s allegations and Allen’s response to celebrities speaking out against him, a spokesperson for Allen did not immediately comment but said a statement would be issued on Thursday. Farrow will give her first television interview about the allegation on CBS This Morning on Thursday as well. “Why shouldn’t I be angry? Why shouldn’t I be hurt? Why shouldn’t I feel some sort of — outrage that after all these years being ignored and disbelieved and tossed aside?” Farrow told CBS This Morning. “All I can do is speak my truth and hope that someone will believe me instead of just hearing.” Here’s a list of actors who have worked with Allen and spoken out against him since allegations against Harvey Weinstein sparked the #MeToo movement last fall. TIME will continue to update this list. Rachel Brosnahan Actress Rachel Brosnahan attends the 23rd Annual Critics' Choice Awards at Barker Hangar on January 11, 2018 in Santa Monica, California. Axelle/Bauer-Griffin—FilmMagic Brosnahan, who currently stars in Amazon’s The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, said in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter published Jan. 17 that she regrets working with Allen on his 2016 limited Amazon series Crisis in Six Scenes. “Look, I had a great experience working on that project,” Brosnahan said. “Honestly, it’s the decision that I have made in my life that is the most inconsistent with everything I stand for and believe in, both publicly and privately. And while I can’t take it back, it’s important to me, moving forward, to make decisions that better reflect the things that I value and my worldview.” Timothée Chalamet Timothee Chalamet attends the 43rd Annual Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards on January 13, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic) Jon Kopaloff—FilmMagic The Call Me By Your Name star announced in a Jan. 15 Instagram post that he would donate his salary from an upcoming film directed by Allen to anti-sexual assault organization RAINN, the LGBT Center in New York and Time’s Up, an anti-harassment movement launched by Hollywood women. Chalamet appeared in Allen’s upcoming film A Rainy Day in New York. “I am learning that a good role isn’t the only criteria for accepting a job — that has become much clearer to me in the past few months, having witnessed the birth of a powerful movement intent on ending injustice, inequality and above all, silence,” Chalemet said. “I want to be worthy of standing shoulder to shoulder with the brave artists who are fighting for all people to be treated with the respect and dignity they deserve.” Farrow responded in a tweet: “Glad to see this.” Natalie Portman Actor Natalie Portman celebrates The 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards with Moet & Chandon at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 7, 2018 in Beverly Hills, California. Michael Kovac—Getty Images In an interview with Oprah on CBS This Morning, Portman, one of the woman involved in the Time’s Up initiative, said that she believes Farrow. Portman previously appeared in Allen’s 1996 film, Everyone Says I Love You. “I believe Dylan,” Portman said. “I would want to say that: ‘I believe you, Dylan.'” Rebecca Hall Rebecca Hall attends Through Her Lens: The Tribeca Chanel Women's Filmmaker Program Luncheon at Locanda Verde on October 17, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Roy Rochlin/FilmMagic) Roy Rochlin—FilmMagic Hall, who will appear with Chalamet in A Rainy Day in New York, announced in an Instagram post on Jan. 12 that she would donate her salary from the film to Time’s Up. In her post, Hall said that she was “grateful” that Allen had given her one of her first big roles — in his 2008 film Vicky Christina Barcelona — but said she’s been reflecting on Farrow’s allegations in recent weeks. “After reading and re-reading Dylan Farrow’s statements of a few days ago and going back and reading the older ones – I see, not only how complicated this matter is, but that my actions have made another woman feel silenced and dismissed,” Hall wrote. “That is not something that sits easily with me in the current or indeed any moment, and I am profoundly sorry.” Mira Sorvino Actress Mira Sorvino attends the premiere of "Mothers and Daughters" at The London on April 28, 2016 in West Hollywood, California. Jason LaVeris—FilmMagic Sorvino, who won an Academy Award for her role in Allen’s 1995 film Mighty Aphrodite, apologized to Farrow in an open letter published on HuffPost on Jan. 10. “I am so sorry, Dylan,” wrote Sorvino, one of the woman who accused Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein of sexual harassment. “I cannot begin to imagine how you have felt, all these years as you watched someone you called out as having hurt you as a child, a vulnerable little girl in his care, be lauded again and again, including by me and countless others in Hollywood who praised him and ignored you.” Greta Gerwig Actress Greta Gerwig attends The 11th Annual CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Awards at Spring Studios on November 3, 2014 in New York City. Gary Gershoff—WireImage In an interview with the New York Times published on Jan. 9, the Lady Bird director said she regretted working with Allen in his 2012 film To Rome With Love. “If I had known then what I know now, I would not have acted in the film. I have not worked for him again, and I will not work for him again,” Gerwig said. “Dylan Farrow… made me realize that I increased another woman’s pain, and I was heartbroken by that realization.” David Krumholtz Actor David Krumholtz of the television show Living Biblically speaks onstage during the CBS/Showtime portion of the 2018 Winter Television Critics Association Press Tour at The Langham Huntington, Pasadena on January 6, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images) Frederick M. Brown—Getty Images Krumholtz, who appeared in Allen’s 2017 film Wonder Wheel, said in a Jan. 5 tweet that he regrets working with Allen. “It’s one of my most heartbreaking mistakes,” said Krumholtz, known for his roles in The Deuce and 10 Things I Hate About You. “We can no longer let these men represent us in entertainment, politics or any other realm. They are beneath real men.” Ellen Page LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 27: Actress Ellen Page attends the premiere of "Flatliners" at The Theatre at Ace Hotel on September 27, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic) Jason LaVeris—FilmMagic In a Facebook post on Nov. 10, Page said working on Allen’s 2012 film To Rome With Love was “the biggest regret of my career.” “I am ashamed I did this,” Page wrote. “I had yet to find my voice and was not who I am now and felt pressured, because ‘of course you have to say yes to this Woody Allen film.’ Ultimately, however, it is my choice what films I decide to do and I made the wrong choice.” Griffin Newman Griffin Newman attends Amazon Prime Video's The Tick New York Comic Con 2017 - Press Room at The Jacob K. Javits Convention Center on October 7, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Todd Williamson/Getty Images for Amazon) Todd Williamson—Getty Images for Amazon Newman, who has a small role in Allen’s upcoming film A Rainy Day in New York, said in a series of tweets on Oct. 14 — days after the allegations against Weinstein broke — that he believes Woody Allen is guilty. He said he donated his salary from the film to RAINN. ||||| Only on "CBS This Morning," Dylan Farrow is speaking candidly for the first time on television about her sexual assault allegations against her adoptive father, actor and director Woody Allen. At the age of seven, Farrow told her mother, actress Mia Farrow, that Allen had molested her. Allen has always denied the allegations. Farrow has stood by her story for more than two decades. She first went public in 2014 with an open letter in the New York Times. Now, she's sharing her story to "CBS This Morning" co-host Gayle King who spoke with her at Farrow's Connecticut home. Some of the details she described are graphic. DYLAN FARROW: I want to show my face and tell my story. … I want to speak out. Literally. Dylan Farrow shares her story with "CBS This Morning" co-host Gayle King CBS News At 32, Dylan Farrow has been married for almost eight years. She's the mother of a 16-month-old girl. And she's still carrying the emotional scars she says she got at the hands of her father. FARROW: I loved my father. I respected him. He was my hero. And that doesn't obviously take away from what he did. But it does make the betrayal and the hurt that much more intense. GAYLE KING: Let's go to August 4, 1992. And if you could tell us what happened that day. FARROW: I was taken to a small attic crawl space in my mother's country house in Connecticut by my father. He instructed me to lay down on my stomach and play with my brother's toy train that was set up. And he sat behind me in the doorway, and as I played with the toy train, I was sexually assaulted… As a 7-year-old I would say, I would have said he touched my private parts. KING: Mmhmm. Okay FARROW: Which I did say. KING: Alright. Alright. FARROW: As a 32-year-old, he touched my labia and my vulva with his finger. KING: Where was your mother? FARROW: She went shopping that day. KING: And then after you told her, what happened? FARROW: She was upset. … My first impulse was that I had done something wrong. Mia Farrow took Dylan to the pediatrician, but when the doctor asked her where she had been touched, the little girl pointed to her shoulder. FARROW: She said, "Why didn't you tell the doctor what you told me?" And I told her that I was embarrassed. And then we went back in. KING: You went back in and then you told him. FARROW: And I told the doctor. KING: The same thing that you had told your mother. FARROW: Yes. (L to R) Actress Mia Farrow, son Satchel, Woody Allen, daughter Dylan David Mcgough/DMI/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images Allen had suggested that Dylan changed her story because she had been coached by her mother. Months earlier, Mia had found in his apartment nude pictures of her daughter, Soon-Yi, whom she had adopted during an earlier marriage. Allen confessed to an affair with Soon-Yi. The two remain a couple to this day, married for more than 20 years. KING: You could see why he might make that claim. He would say that she was filled with rage after his affair with Soon-Yi had been discovered, and that she was out for revenge and full of rage. FARROW: And what I don't understand is how is this crazy story of me being brainwashed and coached more believable than what I'm saying about being sexually assaulted by my father? KING: Because your mother was very angry, so that she would try to coach you, and try to get you to turn against your father. FARROW: Except every step of the way, my mother has only encouraged me to tell the truth. She has never coached me. KING: I wanted to play a clip from "60 Minutes." An interview that he did at the time where he was asked about that incident. Are you okay with looking at it? You're ok? FARROW: [Nods] Mmhmm. "60 MINUTES" INTERVIEW WITH ALLEN: Isn't it illogical that I'm going to at the height of a very bitter acrimonious custody fight, drive up to Connecticut where nobody likes me and I'm in house full of enemies – I mean Mia was so enraged at me and she had gotten all the kids to be angry at me – that I'm going to drive up there and suddenly on visitation, pick this moment in my life to become a child molester. It's just, it's just incredible. I could if I wanted to be a child molester, I had many opportunities in the past. I could have quietly made a custody settlement with Mia in some way and done it in the future. You know, it's so insane. KING: What do you say to that? FARROW: [Crying] I'm really sorry. KING: Don't apologize, don't apologize. FARROW: I thought I could handle it. I – KING: Are you crying because of what he said or seeing him? What is upsetting you? FARROW: He's lying and he's been lying for so long. And it is difficult for me to see him and to hear his voice. I'm sorry. Allen had adopted Dylan and her 13-year-old brother, Moses, the previous December. The couple also had a younger son, Ronan. But as Mia Farrow's boyfriend, Allen had been a part of Dylan's life since she was a baby. Dylan says that the incident in the attic wasn't the only time his behavior had been inappropriate. KING: What would he do? FARROW: He would follow me around. He was always touching me, cuddling me and if I ever said, you know, like I want to go off by myself, he wouldn't let me. KING: Some could say that's a very doting and loving father. FARROW: Except he wasn't this way with Ronan. KING: What else would he do? FARROW: He often asked me to get into bed with him when he had only his underwear on and sometimes when only I had my underwear on. Woody Allen was never charged with a crime in this case. Both New York state child welfare investigators and a report by the Yale New Haven hospital found that the abuse did not happen. The Connecticut state prosecutor on the case, Frank Maco, questioned the Yale New Haven report's credibility saying there was probable cause to charge Allen but he thought Dylan was too fragile to face a celebrity trial. KING: Do you wish that they would have gone ahead and filed the charges because then you would have had to taken the stand? FARROW: You know, honestly yes. I do wish that they had, you know, even if I'm just speaking in retrospect. I was already traumatized. … Here's the thing. I mean, outside of a court of law, we do know what happened in the attic on that day. I just told you. We reached out to the former Connecticut prosecutor, Frank Maco. He told us that in his experience, "There was no manipulation by Mia Farrow." He adds nothing in the state police investigation indicated that Farrow was in any way being controlled or manipulated. "When this claim was first made more than 25 years ago, it was thoroughly investigated by both the Child Sexual Abuse Clinic of the Yale-New Haven Hospital and New York State Child Welfare. They both did so for many months and independently concluded that no molestation had ever taken place. Instead, they found it likely a vulnerable child had been coached to tell the story by her angry mother during a contentious breakup. "Dylan's older brother Moses has said that he witnessed their mother doing exactly that – relentlessly coaching Dylan, trying to drum into her that her father was a dangerous sexual predator. It seems to have worked – and, sadly, I'm sure Dylan truly believes what she says. "But even though the Farrow family is cynically using the opportunity afforded by the Time's Up movement to repeat this discredited allegation, that doesn't make it any more true today than it was in the past. I never molested my daughter – as all investigations concluded a quarter of a century ago." Dylan Farrow on Time's Up, actors who work with Woody Allen Farrow is also speaking up to have her voice included in the Time's Up and #MeToo conversations. Over the past two weeks, several celebrities have voiced their support for Dylan, including actress Natalie Portman. This week, Timothée Chalamet announced he's donating his entire salary from his work in an upcoming Woody Allen movie to three charities that fight sexual abuse and harassment, including Time's Up. He wrote on Instagram: "I want to be worthy of standing shoulder to shoulder with the brave artists who are fighting for all people to be treated with the respect and dignity they deserve." In an interview on "CBS Sunday Morning," Portman said, "I believe Dylan. I would want to say that. I believe you, Dylan." Dylan was visibly moved by seeing the support from Portman. FARROW: Now I'm going to start crying but, wow. She's been searching for that acknowledgement, most of her life. FARROW: With so much silence being broken by so many brave people against so many high profile people, I felt it was important to add my story to theirs because it's something I've struggled with for a long time and it was….It was very momentous for me to see this conversation finally carried into a public setting. As the #MeToo movement continues, Dylan took to social media to call out celebrities who have starred in Woody Allen's films. KING: Are you angry with the people, with the celebrities that are starring in his movies, that hold him in high regard and continue to compliment him? FARROW: I'm not angry with them. I hope that, you know, especially since so many of them have been vocal advocates of this Me Too and Time's Up movement that, um, they can acknowledge their complicity and maybe hold themselves accountable to how they have perpetuated this culture of – of silence in their industry. KING: And how are they complicit? FARROW: Because I have been saying this – I have been repeating my accusations unaltered for over 20 years and I have been systematically shut down, ignored or discredited. If they can't acknowledge the accusations of one survivor's how are they going to stand for all of us? KING: People say it's a family matter. It was many years ago. I don't really know the details of this case. FARROW: So find out. I mean, it's really like I said, it's so easy in this day and age. It's a family matter but here's another thing. I am a real person and I've been struggling, coping on my good days, with the aftershocks of being sexually assaulted as a small child and that's real. And that matters. KING: How has this affected your life? FARROW: It's affected every part of my life. You know, growing up, and like I said, I pushed it to the side, I tried to pretend or tried to convince myself that this was something moving forward that I did not need to bring with me even though it came anyway. It's impacted everything. Married and a mother to a 16-month-old daughter, Dylan is an advocate for victims of sexual abuse. FARROW: I have a wonderful husband and I have this amazing little girl now. KING: So what will you tell her when the time comes? What will you tell her about how to be in this world? FARROW: That if she was ever in a position that she's not helpless. Because one of the things I remember very clearly as a small child is this feeling of helplessness. |||||

– One person vigorously reupping her claims in the wake of the #MeToo movement: Dylan Farrow, who continues to insist her father, Woody Allen, molested her when she was a child at the home of her mother, Mia Farrow. On Thursday, Farrow appeared on CBS This Morning and says she wishes there'd been a trial since "I was already traumatized" from the alleged assault on August 4, 1992. That's when Farrow says her "hero" led her to the attic of Mia Farrow's Connecticut residence and "touched my labia and my vulva with his finger." Dylan Farrow was 7 at the time. The now-32-year-old mom told interviewer Gayle King she felt it was necessary to finally come forward on TV, saying, "I want to show my face and tell my story. ... I want to speak out. Literally." And she has supporters in high places, including Mira Sorvino and Natalie Portman, per Time. Although Allen vowed in 2014 to never again comment on the allegations from his adopted daughter, he broke that vow Thursday. "I never molested my daughter," the director says in a statement to CBS News. He adds two investigations—one by a hospital's child abuse clinic and another by child welfare investigators in New York—previously "concluded that no molestation had ever taken place" and it was "likely a vulnerable child had been coached to tell the story by her angry mother during a contentious breakup. ... Sadly, I'm sure Dylan truly believes what she says." Dylan Farrow refutes that, noting that "my mother has only encouraged me to tell the truth," adding she wonders why "this crazy story of me being brainwashed" is more believable than her own account. (One person who's backing Allen this week: Alec Baldwin.)

(CNN) The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday night advised pregnant women to postpone travel to Mexico, Puerto Rico and parts of Central America and South America due to the presence of the Zika virus. The CDC action was prompted by tests that found Zika, a mosquito-borne illness, in fetal and newborn tissue of Brazilian babies affected with microcephaly. The agency said additional studies are needed. The advisory lists Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Suriname, Venezuela and Puerto Rico. "Out of an abundance of caution, pregnant women (are) advised to consider postponing travel to areas where Zika virus transmission is ongoing," the CDC said. The CDC suggested pregnant women who must travel talk to health care providers beforehand and follow steps to prevent mosquito bites. Women trying to become pregnant should also consult, it said. Ecuador had previously counted four cases, but the infected people had returned from travel to affected areas, but the health ministry announced two new cases on Friday. And the infected had not left the country. The ministry suspects the patients contracted Zika locally. Microcephaly explained Microcephaly is a neurological disorder that results in babies being born with abnormally small heads, causing severe developmental issues and sometimes death. "We now have an accumulating number of cases in babies from miscarriage or who were born with microcephaly with evidence of Zika," said Dr. Lyle Petersen, director of the Vector-Born Disease division of the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases at the CDC. "That suggests a stronger and stronger relationship of Zika and microcephaly." Other travelers are now under a level two travel alert and are asked to practice enhanced precautions. That includes using EPA-registered repellents containing DEET, using permethrin-treated clothing and gear, and staying inside screened or air-conditioned rooms. Petersen said people often don't heed the warnings to protect themselves against mosquitoes while traveling. "Pregnant women need to take the best precautions possible when traveling where this [Zika] virus is spreading," Petersen said. The Zika virus is transmitted when Aedes mosquitoes bite an infected person, and then spread the obtained virus by biting others. There is no vaccine to prevent it and no medicine to treat a Zika virus infection. The Zika virus is part of the flavivirus family, which contains the deadly yellow fever virus, as well as West Nile, chikungunya, and dengue. There is no vaccine to prevent it and no medicine to treat a Zika virus infection. It's transmitted when a mosquito bites an infected person, and then spreads the obtained virus by biting others. In theory, the Zika virus could be spread through blood transfusion, but as yet there are no documented cases, the CDC said. There is one case of possible virus transmission via sexual contact. 'Pandemic in progress' Last November, Brazilian health officials advised Brazilian women not to become pregnant after they discovered a connection between the Zika virus and an alarming increase in microcephaly. In 2014, there were only 147 cases of the neurological impairment in the country. According to the latest numbers from Brazil's Health Ministry, 3,530 cases of microcephaly and 46 infant deaths may be linked to the virus. "That's a pandemic in progress," said Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at NIH, who wrote a recent Zika-related editorial in the New England Journal of Medicine . "It isn't as if it's turning around and dying out, it's getting worse and worse as the days go by." "And it's determined by officials in Brazil that peak mosquito transmitting time is in April, so we haven't begun to see the full impact of this outbreak," said Fauci. Infectious disease control will need to step up its game if that reality comes to pass, said Fauci. "We don't have vaccines or therapeutics, and we need better diagnostics that can be done at point of care. We're aggressively working on a Zika vaccine but the best thing right now is avoidance or mosquito control." Impact on the United States Earlier this week health officials in Harris County, Texas, confirmed a case of Zika virus in a person who recently returned from Latin America, where the virus is endemic. According to CDC spokesman Tom Skinner, there have been 14 imported cases of Zika virus among returning U.S. travelers from 2007 to 2014. At least another eight imported cases were confirmed by CDC in 2015 and 2016, and they are still running tests on specimens from returning U.S. travelers who became ill last year and this year, so that number could rise. The concern, of course, is whether these cases imported to the United States could result in locally transmitted cases. The Aedes mosquito, which transmits Zika virus, is present in many areas of the United States. ||||| The explosive pandemic of Zika virus infection occurring throughout South America, Central America, and the Caribbean (see map Countries with Past or Current Evidence of Zika Virus Transmission (as of December 2015).For countries with serosurvey data only, evidence of Zika virus transmission is derived from studies that detected Zika virus antibodies in healthy people. Outlined areas, all with locally acquired cases or virus isolation, include Cape Verde, Cook Islands, Easter Island, Federated States of Micronesia, French Polynesia, Martinique, New Caledonia, Puerto Rico, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu. Data are from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (http://www.cdc.gov/zika). ) and potentially threatening the United States is the most recent of four unexpected arrivals of important arthropod-borne viral diseases in the Western Hemisphere over the past 20 years. It follows dengue, which entered this hemisphere stealthily over decades and then more aggressively in the 1990s; West Nile virus, which emerged in 1999; and chikungunya, which emerged in 2013. Are the successive migrations of these viruses unrelated, or do they reflect important new patterns of disease emergence? Furthermore, are there secondary health consequences of this arbovirus pandemic that set it apart from others? “Arbovirus” is a descriptive term applied to hundreds of predominantly RNA viruses that are transmitted by arthropods, notably mosquitoes and ticks. Arboviruses are often maintained in complex cycles involving vertebrates such as mammals or birds and blood-feeding vectors. Until recently, only a few arboviruses had caused clinically significant human diseases, including mosquito-borne alphaviruses such as chikungunya and flaviviruses such as dengue and West Nile. The most historically important of these is yellow fever virus, the first recognized viral cause of deadly epidemic hemorrhagic fever. Zika, which was discovered incidentally in Uganda in 1947 in the course of mosquito and primate surveillance,1 had until now remained an obscure virus confined to a narrow equatorial belt running across Africa and into Asia. The virus circulated predominantly in wild primates and arboreal mosquitoes such as Aedes africanus and rarely caused recognized “spillover” infections in humans, even in highly enzootic areas.2 Its current explosive pandemic reemergence is therefore truly remarkable.3 Decades ago, African researchers noted that aedes-transmitted Zika epizootics inexplicably tended to follow aedes-transmitted chikungunya epizootics and epidemics. An analogous pattern began in 2013, when chikungunya spread pandemically from west to east, and Zika later followed. Zika has now circled the globe, arriving not only in the Americas but also, in September, in the country of Cape Verde in West Africa, near its presumed ancient ancestral home. With the exception of West Nile virus, which is predominantly spread by culex-species mosquitoes, the arboviruses that recently reached the Western Hemisphere have been transmitted by aedes mosquitoes, especially the yellow fever vector mosquito A. aegypti. These viruses started to emerge millennia ago, when North African villagers began to store water in their dwellings. Arboreal A. aegypti then adapted to deposit their eggs in domestic water-containing vessels and to feed on humans, which led to adaptation of arboreal viruses to infect humans. The yellow fever, dengue, and chikungunya viruses evolved entirely new maintenance cycles of human–A. aegypti–human transmission.4 Now, 5000 years later, the worst effects of this evolutionary cascade are being seen in the repeated emergence of arboviruses into new ecosystems involving humans. Moreover, arboviruses transmitted by different mosquitoes have, in parallel, adapted to humans’ domestic animals, such as horses in the case of Venezuelan equine encephalitis and pigs in the case of Japanese encephalitis virus, or to vertebrate hosts and non-aedes mosquitoes found in areas of human habitation, as West Nile virus did. The possibility that Zika may yet adapt to transmission by A. albopictus, a much more widely distributed mosquito found in at least 32 states in the United States, is cause for concern. Through early epidemiologic surveillance and human challenge studies, Zika was characterized as a mild or inapparent denguelike disease with fever, muscle aches, eye pain, prostration, and maculopapular rash. In more than 60 years of observation, Zika has not been noted to cause hemorrhagic fever or death. There is in vitro evidence that Zika virus mediates antibody-dependent enhancement of infection, a phenomenon observed in dengue hemorrhagic fever; however, the clinical significance of that finding is uncertain. The ongoing pandemic confirms that Zika is predominantly a mild or asymptomatic denguelike disease. However, data from French Polynesia documented a concomitant epidemic of 73 cases of Guillain–Barré syndrome and other neurologic conditions in a population of approximately 270,000, which may represent complications of Zika. Of greater concern is the explosive Brazilian epidemic of microcephaly, manifested by an apparent 20-fold increase in incidence from 2014 to 2015, which some public health officials believe is caused by Zika virus infections in pregnant women. Although no other flavivirus is known to have teratogenic effects, the microcephaly epidemic has not yet been linked to any other cause, such as increased diagnosis or reporting, increased ultrasound examinations of pregnant women, or other infectious or environmental agents. Despite the lack of definitive proof of any causal relationship,5 some health authorities in afflicted regions are recommending that pregnant women take meticulous precautions to avoid mosquito bites and even to delay pregnancy. It is critically important to confirm or dispel a causal link between Zika infection of pregnant women and the occurrence of microcephaly by doing intensive investigative research, including careful case–control and other epidemiologic studies as well as attempts to duplicate this phenomenon in animal models. In a “pure” Zika epidemic, a diagnosis can be made reliably on clinical grounds. Unfortunately, the fact that dengue and chikungunya, which result in similar clinical pictures, have both been epidemic in the Americas confounds clinical diagnoses. Specific tests for dengue and chikungunya are not always available, and commercial tests for Zika have not yet been developed. Moreover, because Zika is closely related to dengue, serologic samples may cross-react in tests for either virus. Gene-detection tests such as the polymerase-chain-reaction assay can reliably distinguish the three viruses, but Zika-specific tests are not yet widely available. The mainstays of management are bed rest and supportive care. When multiple arboviruses are cocirculating, specific viral diagnosis, if available, can be important in anticipating, preventing, and managing complications. For example, in dengue, aspirin use should be avoided and patients should be monitored for a rising hematocrit predictive of impending hemorrhagic fever, so that potentially lifesaving treatment can be instituted promptly. Patients with chikungunya virus infection should be monitored and treated for acute arthralgias and postinfectious chronic arthritis. There are no Zika vaccines in advanced development, although a number of existing flavivirus vaccine platforms could presumably be adapted, including flavivirus chimera or glycoprotein subunit technologies. Zika vaccines would, however, face the same problem as vaccines for chikungunya,4 West Nile, St. Louis encephalitis, and other arboviruses: since epidemics appear sporadically and unpredictably, preemptively vaccinating large populations in anticipation of outbreaks may be prohibitively expensive and not cost-effective, yet vaccine stockpiling followed by rapid deployment may be too slow to counter sudden explosive epidemics. Although yellow fever has historically been prevented entirely by aggressive mosquito control, in the modern era vector control has been problematic because of expense, logistics, public resistance, and problems posed by inner-city crowding and poor sanitation. Among the best preventive measures against Zika virus are house screens, air-conditioning, and removal of yard and household debris and containers that provide mosquito-breeding sites, luxuries often unavailable to impoverished residents of crowded urban locales where such epidemics hit hardest. With its recent appearance in Puerto Rico, Zika virus forces us to confront a potential new disease-emergence phenomenon: pandemic expansion of multiple, heretofore relatively unimportant arboviruses previously restricted to remote ecologic niches. To respond, we urgently need research on these viruses and the ecologic, entomologic, and host determinants of viral maintenance and emergence. Also needed are better public health strategies to control arboviral spread, including vaccine platforms for flaviviruses, alphaviruses, and other arbovirus groups that can be quickly modified to express immunogenic antigens of newly emerging viruses. With respect to treatment, the arbovirus pandemics suggest that the one-bug–one-drug approach is inadequate; broad-spectrum antiviral drugs effective against whole classes of viruses are urgently needed. As was realized more than 50 years ago, when enzootic Zika virus spread was linked to human activity, arboviruses continually evolve and adapt within ecologic niches that are increasingly being perturbed by humans. Zika is still a pandemic in progress, and many important questions about it, such as that of teratogenicity, remain to be answered. Yet it has already reinforced one important lesson: in our human-dominated world, urban crowding, constant international travel, and other human behaviors combined with human-caused microperturbations in ecologic balance can cause innumerable slumbering infectious agents to emerge unexpectedly. In response, we clearly need to up our game with broad and integrated research that expands understanding of the complex ecosystems in which agents of future pandemics are aggressively evolving. |||||

– The US has reached an unhappy milestone: the first case of brain damage in a baby linked to the "explosive pandemic of Zika virus infection." The baby was born recently in Oahu, Hawaii, and suffers from microcephaly, smaller-than-normal head and brain, the New York Times reports. The mother—who had lived in Brazil last year, a hotspot for the mosquito-borne illness—was likely infected early in her pregnancy before leaving for Hawaii. Meanwhile, the CDC on Friday advised pregnant women, along with those trying to become pregnant, to avoid traveling to areas known for Zika, including Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Suriname, Venezuela, and Puerto Rico, CNN reports. Carried by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, the Zika virus typically causes only mild symptoms, or none at all, reports the Times. Late last year, however, health officials in Brazil began to find a correlation between the disease and an increase in cases of microcephaly. More than 3,500 cases, including 46 infant deaths, in the nation may be linked to Zika, CNN reports. In the US, 14 imported cases of the virus were diagnosed in returning travelers between 2007 and 2014, plus a total of eight in 2015 and so far this year. Writing in the New England Journal of Medicine, Dr. Anthony S. Fauci notes that factors like urban crowding and international travel "can cause innumerable slumbering infectious agents to emerge unexpectedly."

People typically rush into marriage, not divorces. But a curious change in the GOP’s tax bill means that some couples — or individuals — might rush back to the courthouse. The GOP tax bill signed by Trump late last year fundamentally altered many aspects of the tax code, sending accountants scrambling, and stands as the biggest change to the tax system since 1986. Despite long-standing calls to address the federal debt, the tax cuts outlined in the bill came out to be pricey, projected to cost $1.5 trillion or more, with insufficient revenue gains to pay for it. One way the Republican bill writers tried to raise revenue to compensate for the cuts was through alimony. Under the new bill, alimony paid by one spouse to the other will not be tax deductible, and the spouse receiving the alimony no longer has to pay taxes on it. In the current system, it works the opposite way, with the payer deducting the full amount and the recipient paying taxes on the alimony at a rate of 15%. The new rule means the government will end up with more of a divorcing pair’s combined money. When news dropped that this might be included in the bill in November, things got crazy. “When everyone thought the deduction deadline was going to be Dec. 31, we had a rush of clients,” said Madeline Marzano-Lesnevich, president of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. “All of a sudden we had clients who were going to be receiving alimony demanding we get them divorced immediately.” Ultimately the law won’t take effect until next year, giving divorcing couples a reprieve. But the law does set up 2018 to potentially be a wild year for divorces. “Under the new tax bill, things are going to change somewhat drastically and it’s difficult to predict how it’s going to affect parties,” Sheera Gefen, a divorce attorney in New York, told Yahoo Finance. It almost sounds like the plot of a Coen brothers movie. In some states, the alimony-seeking spouse may have significant incentive to delay the divorce settlement in order to get the tax benefit in 2019. Meanwhile, the alimony-paying spouse could try to rush it through so they could secure a deduction. What could go wrong? Divorces could get a lot messier Potentially, a lot. Attorneys like Gefen and Marzano-Lesnevich will likely have a much harder time keeping things civil and amicable in divorce disputes, because the alimony payer isn’t only going to have to pay, but will also lose a key deduction. “The payer spouse could potentially suffer a much higher financial burden and that’ll make settlement discussions more difficult, more difficult to swallow,” said Gefen. “I think it’s going to cause more fights — and tension between attorneys.” Perhaps the largest and most uncomfortable tension will stem from timing. One side could be dragging its feet in an attempt to delay, and the other will be trying to get a deal signed before New Year’s. “Depending on who you’re representing you might want to drag it out,” said Gefen. “I’m either going to likely attempt to expedite settlement of global negotiation, or I might want to delay the ultimate.” This isn’t so in call cases. In states like New York, there’s a formula for calculating appropriate payments and less leeway for negotiations, so timing may be critical. But for some other states, it’s an open negotiation. “Every state is different,” said Marzano-Lesnevich. In states like New Jersey, without a formula, there is considerable incentive for both parties to hustle because the receiving spouse will end up netting less income for a similar out-of-pocket expense from the paying spouse. An example of the change Marzano-Lesnevich illustrated what it’d be like, using a wealthy client as an example. Under the old system, if a highest-tax bracket, soon-to-be ex spouse was set to pay $100,000 per year in alimony, they would get a deduction off the top — at the highest tax rate of around 40% — so they would only be out around $60,000. The recipient would end up with $85,000 after paying a 15% rate on that $100,000. For couples divorcing in 2019, if the wealthier spouse paid $60,000 — the same out-of-pocket cost as the example above (they’d have less money without the deduction) — the other spouse would only get $60,000. “We’re shifting the tax, and it’s not to the detriment of the person receiving the money,” said Marzano-Lesnevich. Story continues ||||| Figuring out alimony has always been difficult for divorce lawyers, mediators and couples trying not to be couples. Thanks to the new tax code, it's even tougher. In previous years, the pain of alimony stemmed in large part from each state having its own set of rules. These determined how much alimony payments should be and when such payments should end. "There's not really a cohesive rationale for alimony," said Mary Kay Kisthardt, a professor of law at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law. "In any given state, we're not sure what we're trying to do." For the last 75 years, however, one rule was clear: Alimony was deductible for the payer, and the recipient paid income tax on it. The new code delivers a disruption to those who work in divorce — and those who go through it, experts say, by upending this constant in a highly subjective legal arena. Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, in all divorces after Dec. 31, 2018, alimony will no longer be deductible for the payer, and taxes don't need to be paid on it by the recipient. Lawyers are scrambling to understand and react. ||||| Republicans may pride themselves on upholding family values, but their new tax law could soon lead to a surge in married couples calling it quits. Lawyers are counseling couples considering divorce to do it this year — before a 76-year-old deduction for alimony payments is wiped out in 2019 under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Story Continued Below “Now’s not the time to wait,” said Mary Vidas, a lawyer in Philadelphia and former chair of the American Bar Association’s section on family law. “If you’re going to get a divorce, get it now.” Potential divorcees have all of 2018 to use the alimony deduction as a bargaining chip in their negotiations with estranged spouses. The deduction substantially reduces the cost of alimony payments — for people in the highest income-tax bracket, it means every dollar they pay to support a former spouse really costs them a little more than 60 cents. The change is an example of how the tax law is having far-reaching consequences beyond its corporate and individual tax cuts, in some cases by quietly overturning decades of tax policy. Morning Tax Sign up for our tax policy newsletter and stay informed — weekday mornings, in your inbox. Email Sign Up By signing up you agree to receive email newsletters or alerts from POLITICO. You can unsubscribe at any time. Many divorce lawyers criticize Republicans’ decision to end the break, saying it will make divorces more acrimonious. People won’t be willing to pay as much, they say, which will disproportionately hurt women who tend to earn less and are more likely to be on the receiving end of alimony payments. (Child support payments are not deductible.) “The repeal reduces the bargaining power of vulnerable spouses, mostly women, in achieving financial stability after a divorce,” said Brian Vertz, a family law attorney in Pittsburgh. Projected to raise $6.9 billion over the next decade, the repeal is one of the ways Republicans defrayed the cost of their tax rewrite. A spokesman for House Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady (R-Texas) said, “This is one of the many provisions of the law that removes special rules applicable only in certain circumstances in order to help simplify the code and reduce tax rates for all Americans.” The break has also long been criticized as a burden on the IRS because, if the alimony amounts ex-spouses report paying and receiving don’t match, it can force the agency to audit two people who may already be feuding. In 2010, there was a $2.3 billion gap between the reporting, according to the Treasury Department’s Inspector General for Tax Administration. Alimony has been deductible since World War II. Added to the code in 1942, lawmakers have long believed it was unfair to tax people on the alimony they paid when the money was not available for them to spend. The deduction is a big deal to splitting couples because if someone who earns, say, $250,000 — which puts them in the 24 percent income tax bracket under the new law — agrees to pay $4,000 per month, it really costs the person about $3,000 after taking the deduction into account. Without the break, many people will agree to pay only what would have been their after-tax amount — in this case, about $3,000. More couples will end up fighting in court because they won’t be able to agree on alimony terms, predicts Madeline Marzano-Lesnevich, head of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. “It helps settle cases,” she said. “Without this, we will have husbands saying, 'I'm not paying you that much.'” That will have wives asking, “How do I live?” said Marzano-Lesnevich. Many will say, “Get me before a judge so I can plead my case.” In an early draft of the tax legislation, House Republicans suggested it was unfair to offer a special break to divorcees, saying the repeal “prevents divorced couples from reducing income tax through a specific form of payments unavailable to married couples.” The repeal is one of only a handful of provisions in the tax law that didn’t take effect immediately. While complicated new rules for multinational corporations, unincorporated businesses and a slew of other complex changes took effect Jan. 1, the alimony deduction repeal doesn’t kick in until 2019. That’s a relief to many family law attorneys because it otherwise would have upended divorce proceedings around the country as people demanded to renegotiate alimony terms. Meeting the deadline won’t necessarily be easy, though, lawyers say. Many states have mandatory “cooling-off” periods, for example, for those seeking divorces. In California, people must wait six months before their divorces can be finalized; in Pennsylvania, people in certain circumstances must wait a year. “You can’t just file for a divorce today, and expect that you’re going to be divorced tomorrow,” said Ed Lyman, a lawyer in Los Angeles. Many lawyers also wonder whether the change affects prenuptial agreements where someone agreed to pay a specified amount of alimony in the event of divorce, on the presumption that it could be deducted. Not necessarily everyone will be in a hurry to finalize their divorces, Vertz said. Because people receiving alimony next year won’t have to pay taxes on it, some may figure they’re better off waiting, even if their exes complain about losing the deduction. “Some spouses may think they have an advantage by delaying,” Vertz said. “The payer wouldn’t have a tax deduction, it’s true, but that won’t necessarily motivate the recipient to demand less.” |||||

– An alimony deduction to be erased in 2019 under the new tax plan has lawyers preparing for a wave of divorces this year—and eying complications for recipients beyond. Payers have long received a tax break on alimony, while recipients have paid income tax on payments. But after Dec. 31, 2018, alimony will no longer be deductible for the payer, and recipients won't need to pay income tax on it, reports Politico. While this will help recipients—primarily women—in one sense, they'll suffer in other ways. As lawyer Madeline Marzano-Lesnevich tells Yahoo, a man in the highest income-tax bracket who pays his wife $100,000 in alimony in 2018 ($85,000 for the woman after taxes) actually pays about $60,000 with the deduction. Without it, he might argue $60,000 is all he can afford to pay, leaving the wife with $25,000 less than before. Attorneys predict the change will complicate divorce negotiations and lead to more cases being heard in court. But some say women will be disproportionally injured by it. "The repeal reduces the bargaining power of vulnerable spouses, mostly women, in achieving financial stability after a divorce," a lawyer tells Politico. Others point out alimony recipients may have a harder time saving for retirement as contributions to retirement accounts often have to come from taxed income, per CNBC. Marzano-Lesnevich says her firm has already had "a rush of clients … demanding we get them divorced immediately" to avoid such complications in 2019. More couples are expected to follow suit this year. Politico reports removing the deduction is expected to raise $6.9 billion over the next decade and help offset the cost of tax cuts outlined in the GOP bill.

Watch Queue Queue Watch Queue Queue Remove all Disconnect ||||| Egypt's Interior Ministry offered a rare expression of regret Saturday after riot police were caught on camera a day earlier beating a protester who had been stripped of his clothes, and then dragging the naked man along the muddy pavement before bundling him into a police van. Egyptians flee tear gas fired by security forces during an anti-President Mohammed Morsi protest in front of the presidential palace in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, Feb. 1, 2013. Thousands of protesters denouncing... (Associated Press) Egyptian protesters shout anti-Mohammed Morsi slogans before clashes in front of the presidential palace in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, Feb. 1, 2013. Thousands of Egyptians marched across the country, chanting... (Associated Press) Egyptian riot police beat a man, after stripping him, and before dragging him into a police van, during clashes next to the presidential palace in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, Feb. 1, 2013. Protesters denouncing... (Associated Press) An Egyptian protester throws a tear gas canister back during clashes with riot police in front of the presidential palace in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, Feb. 1, 2013. Thousands of protesters denouncing Egypt's... (Associated Press) Egyptian riot police beat a man, illuminated by the green light of a protester's laser, after stripping him, and before dragging him into a police van, during clashes next to the presidential palace in... (Associated Press) The video of the beating, which took place late Friday only blocks from the presidential palace where protests were raging in the streets, further inflamed popular anger with security forces just as several thousand anti-government demonstrators marched on the palace again on Saturday. The uprising that toppled longtime leader Hosni Mubarak in 2011 was fueled in part by anger over police brutality. In the footage aired live on Egyptian TV, at least seven black-clad riot police used sticks to beat 48-year-old Hamada Saber, who was sprawled out on the ground, shirtless and with his pants down around his ankles. In a statement, the Interior Ministry voiced its "regret" about the assault, and vowed to investigate. But it also sought to distance itself _ and the police in general _ from the abuse, saying it "was carried out by individuals that do not represent in any way the doctrine of all policemen who direct their efforts to protecting the security and stability of the nation and sacrifice their lives to protect civilians." Later in the day, however, Interior Minister Mohammed Ibrahim put the blame elsewhere entirely, saying initial results from the public prosecutor's investigation indicated that Saber was undressed by "rioters" during skirmishes between police and protesters. "The Central Security Forces then found him lying on the ground and tried to put him in an armored vehicle, though the way in which they did that was excessive," Ibrahim said. President Mohammed Morsi's office called Saber's beating "shocking", but stressed that violence and vandalism of government property is unacceptable. The abuse took place as thousands of protesters chanted against President Mohammed Morsi on Friday. The march was part of a wave of demonstrations that have rocked Egypt since last week's second anniversary of the 2011 revolt, leaving more than 60 people dead and plunging the country into turmoil once again. In what appeared to be an effort to protect the police from a harsh backlash over the video, Ibrahim said that nearly 400 policemen have been wounded this past week in clashes, and warned that the disintegration of police will lead to even wider-spread chaos in the Arab world's most populous nation. "The collapse of police will affect Egypt and transform it into a militia state like some neighboring nations," Ibrahim said, alluding to Libya where militias comprise the bulk of security after that nation's uprising. Already some Islamists have warned they could set up militias to protect their interests, while a group calling itself "Black Bloc" whose followers wear black masks claim to defend protesters opposed to the Islamist president's rule. Rights groups have accused Morsi of not taking steps to reform the Interior Ministry, which was the backbone of Mubarak's regime. Police under Mubarak were notorious for using excessive force against protesters and beating those in custody. In a defining image of post-Mubarak violence against protesters, Egyptians were outraged last year when military police were caught on camera dragging a veiled woman through the streets during a protest, pulling her conservative black robe over her head and revealing her blue bra. Protesters and rights groups have accused police of using excessive force this past week during a wave of mass demonstrations in cities around the country called by opposition politicians, trying to wrest concessions from Morsi. But many protesters go further, saying Morsi must be removed from office. They are accusing his Muslim Brotherhood of monopolizing power and of failing to deal with the country's mounting woes. Many have been further angered by Morsi's praise of the security forces after the high death toll. Some have taken to attacking government buildings, from prisons to police stations to courthouses. The chaos prompted Morsi to order a limited curfew in three provinces and the deployment of the military to the streets. The main opposition National Salvation Front said Saturday that the "gruesome images" of Saber's beating demand the interior minister's resignation. Also Saturday, Prime Minister Hisham Kandil visited Cairo's Tahrir Square and the area around the presidential palace. He said those who are camped out there are neither protesters nor revolutionaries. He said protesters "do not torch, attack hotels, rape women, steal from shops, they do not burn the presidential palace." In an impassioned speech Saturday carried live on Egyptian state TV, Kandil said the street violence and political unrest that has engulfed the country for more than a week is threatening the nation's already ailing economy. "The Egyptian economy is bleeding," he said. "It is holding itself, but if this situation persists it will be dangerous, extremely dangerous." Foreign currency earners such as tourism and foreign investment have dried up in the past two years of political unrest. Foreign reserves currently estimate at around $15 billion, less than half of where it stood before the 2011 uprising that ousted Mubarak. The Egyptian pound has also lost around four percent of its value due to the turmoil and planned austerity measures threaten to curb subsidies relied on by millions of poor Egyptians. Kandil called on the opposition to back away from any more protests or marches. Also Saturday, Mubarak's former interior minister, Habib al-Adly, was found guilty of abusing his position by forcing police conscripts to work on his mansion and land outside Cairo. Both he and former riot police chief Hassan Abdel-Hamid were sentenced to three years in prison and fined around $340,000. The verdict can be appealed. Al-Adly is already serving time for corruption and was sentenced to life in prison with Mubarak for failing to prevent the killing of nearly 900 protesters during the 2011 revolt that ousted the longtime leader. Both men appealed, and will be given a retrial. |||||

– Egypt's Interior Ministry offered a rare expression of regret today after riot police were caught on camera a day earlier beating a protester who had been stripped of his clothes, and then dragging the naked man along the muddy pavement before bundling him into a police van. The video of the beating, which took place late yesterday only blocks from the presidential palace where protests were raging in the streets, further inflamed popular anger with security forces just as several thousand anti-government demonstrators marched on the palace again today. The uprising that toppled longtime leader Hosni Mubarak in 2011 was fueled in part by anger over police brutality. In the footage aired live on Egyptian TV, at least seven black-clad riot police used sticks to beat 48-year-old Hamada Saber, who was sprawled out on the ground, shirtless and with his pants down around his ankles. In a statement, the Interior Ministry voiced its "regret" about the assault, and vowed to investigate. But it also sought to distance itself—and the police in general—from the abuse, saying it "was carried out by individuals that do not represent in any way the doctrine of all policemen." Later in the day, Interior Minister Mohammed Ibrahim put the blame elsewhere entirely, saying initial results from the public prosecutor's investigation indicated that Saber was undressed by "rioters" during skirmishes between police and protesters. Click for more.

In early June 2014, accountants at the Lumiere Place Casino in St. Louis noticed that several of their slot machines had—just for a couple of days—gone haywire. The government-approved software that powers such machines gives the house a fixed mathematical edge, so that casinos can be certain of how much they’ll earn over the long haul—say, 7.129 cents for every dollar played. But on June 2 and 3, a number of Lumiere’s machines had spit out far more money than they’d consumed, despite not awarding any major jackpots, an aberration known in industry parlance as a negative hold. Since code isn’t prone to sudden fits of madness, the only plausible explanation was that someone was cheating. Casino security pulled up the surveillance tapes and eventually spotted the culprit, a black-haired man in his thirties who wore a Polo zip-up and carried a square brown purse. Unlike most slots cheats, he didn’t appear to tinker with any of the machines he targeted, all of which were older models manufactured by Aristocrat Leisure of Australia. Instead he’d simply play, pushing the buttons on a game like Star Drifter or Pelican Pete while furtively holding his iPhone close to the screen. He’d walk away after a few minutes, then return a bit later to give the game a second chance. That's when he'd get lucky. The man would parlay a $20 to $60 investment into as much as $1,300 before cashing out and moving on to another machine, where he’d start the cycle anew. Over the course of two days, his winnings tallied just over $21,000. The only odd thing about his behavior during his streaks was the way he’d hover his finger above the Spin button for long stretches before finally jabbing it in haste; typical slots players don't pause between spins like that. On June 9, Lumiere Place shared its findings with the Missouri Gaming Commission, which in turn issued a statewide alert. Several casinos soon discovered that they had been cheated the same way, though often by different men than the one who’d bilked Lumiere Place. In each instance, the perpetrator held a cell phone close to an Aristocrat Mark VI model slot machine shortly before a run of good fortune. By examining rental-car records, Missouri authorities identified the Lumiere Place scammer as Murat Bliev, a 37-year-old Russian national. Bliev had flown back to Moscow on June 6, but the St. Petersburg–based organization he worked for, which employs dozens of operatives to manipulate slot machines around the world, quickly sent him back to the United States to join another cheating crew. The decision to redeploy Bliev to the US would prove to be a rare misstep for a venture that’s quietly making millions by cracking some of the gaming industry’s most treasured algorithms. From Russia With Cheats Russia has been a hotbed of slots-related malfeasance since 2009, when the country outlawed virtually all gambling. (Vladimir Putin, who was prime minister at the time, reportedly believed the move would reduce the power of Georgian organized crime.) The ban forced thousands of casinos to sell their slot machines at steep discounts to whatever customers they could find. Some of those cut-rate slots wound up in the hands of counterfeiters eager to learn how to load new games onto old circuit boards. Others apparently went to Murat Bliev’s bosses in St. Petersburg, who were keen to probe the machines’ source code for vulnerabilities. By early 2011, casinos throughout central and eastern Europe were logging incidents in which slots made by the Austrian company Novomatic paid out improbably large sums. Novomatic’s engineers could find no evidence that the machines in question had been tampered with, leading them to theorize that the cheaters had figured out how to predict the slots’ behavior. “Through targeted and prolonged observation of the individual game sequences as well as possibly recording individual games, it might be possible to allegedly identify a kind of ‘pattern’ in the game results,” the company admitted in a February 2011 notice to its customers. Recognizing those patterns would require remarkable effort. Slot machine outcomes are controlled by programs called pseudorandom number generators that produce baffling results by design. Government regulators, such as the Missouri Gaming Commission, vet the integrity of each algorithm before casinos can deploy it. But as the “pseudo” in the name suggests, the numbers aren't truly random. Because human beings create them using coded instructions, PRNGs can't help but be a bit deterministic. (A true random number generator must be rooted in a phenomenon that is not manmade, such as radioactive decay.) PRNGs take an initial number, known as a seed, and then mash it together with various hidden and shifting inputs—the time from a machine’s internal clock, for example—in order to produce a result that appears impossible to forecast. But if hackers can identify the various ingredients in that mathematical stew, they can potentially predict a PRNG’s output. That process of reverse engineering becomes much easier, of course, when a hacker has physical access to a slot machine’s innards. Knowing the secret arithmetic that a slot machine uses to create pseudorandom results isn’t enough to help hackers, though. That’s because the inputs for a PRNG vary depending on the temporal state of each machine. The seeds are different at different times, for example, as is the data culled from the internal clocks. So even if they understand how a machine’s PRNG functions, hackers would also have to analyze the machine’s gameplay to discern its pattern. That requires both time and substantial computing power, and pounding away on one’s laptop in front of a Pelican Pete is a good way to attract the attention of casino security. The Lumiere Place scam showed how Murat Bliev and his cohorts got around that challenge. After hearing what had happened in Missouri, a casino security expert named Darrin Hoke, who was then director of surveillance at L’Auberge du Lac Casino Resort in Lake Charles, Louisiana, took it upon himself to investigate the scope of the hacking operation. By interviewing colleagues who had reported suspicious slot machine activity and by examining their surveillance photos, he was able to identify 25 alleged operatives who'd worked in casinos from California to Romania to Macau. Hoke also used hotel registration records to discover that two of Bliev’s accomplices from St. Louis had remained in the US and traveled west to the Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, California. On July 14, 2014, agents from the California Department of Justice detained one of those operatives at Pechanga and confiscated four of his cell phones, as well as $6,000. (The man, a Russian national, was not indicted; his current whereabouts are unknown.) The cell phones from Pechanga, combined with intelligence from investigations in Missouri and Europe, revealed key details. According to Willy Allison, a Las Vegas–based casino security consultant who has been tracking the Russian scam for years, the operatives use their phones to record about two dozen spins on a game they aim to cheat. They upload that footage to a technical staff in St. Petersburg, who analyze the video and calculate the machine’s pattern based on what they know about the model’s pseudorandom number generator. Finally, the St. Petersburg team transmits a list of timing markers to a custom app on the operative’s phone; those markers cause the handset to vibrate roughly 0.25 seconds before the operative should press the spin button. “The normal reaction time for a human is about a quarter of a second, which is why they do that,” says Allison, who is also the founder of the annual World Game Protection Conference. The timed spins are not always successful, but they result in far more payouts than a machine normally awards: Individual scammers typically win more than $10,000 per day. (Allison notes that those operatives try to keep their winnings on each machine to less than $1,000, to avoid arousing suspicion.) A four-person team working multiple casinos can earn upwards of $250,000 in a single week. Repeat Business Since there are no slot machines to swindle in his native country, Murat Bliev didn’t linger long in Russia after his return from St. Louis. He made two more trips to the US in 2014, the second of which began on December 3. He went straight from Chicago O'Hare Airport to St. Charles, Missouri, where he met up with three other men who’d been trained to scam Aristocrat’s Mark VI model slot machines: Ivan Gudalov, Igor Larenov, and Yevgeniy Nazarov. The quartet planned to spend the next several days hitting various casinos in Missouri and western Illinois. Bliev should never have come back. On December 10, not long after security personnel spotted Bliev inside the Hollywood Casino in St. Louis, the four scammers were arrested. Because Bliev and his cohorts had pulled their scam across state lines, federal authorities charged them with conspiracy to commit fraud. The indictments represented the first significant setbacks for the St. Petersburg organization; never before had any of its operatives faced prosecution. Bliev, Gudalov, and Larenov, all of whom are Russian citizens, eventually accepted plea bargains and were each sentenced to two years in federal prison, to be followed by deportation. Nazarov, a Kazakh who was granted religious asylum in the US in 2013 and is a Florida resident, still awaits sentencing, which indicates that he is cooperating with the authorities: In a statement to WIRED, Aristocrat representatives noted that one of the four defendants has yet to be sentenced because he “continues to assist the FBI with their investigations.” Whatever information Nazarov provides may be too outdated to be of much value. In the two years since the Missouri arrests, the St. Petersburg organization’s field operatives have become much cagier. Some of their new tricks were revealed last year, when Singaporean authorities caught and prosecuted a crew: One member, a Czech named Radoslav Skubnik, spilled details about the organization’s financial structure (90 percent of all revenue goes back to St. Petersburg) as well as operational tactics. “What they’ll do now is they’ll put the cell phone in their shirt’s chest pocket, behind a little piece of mesh,” says Allison. “So they don’t have to hold it in their hand while they record.” And Darrin Hoke, the security expert, says he has received reports that scammers may be streaming video back to Russia via Skype, so they no longer need to step away from a slot machine to upload their footage. The Missouri and Singapore cases appear to be the only instances in which scammers have been prosecuted, though a few have also been caught and banned by individual casinos. At the same time, the St. Petersburg organization has sent its operatives farther and farther afield. In recent months, for example, at least three casinos in Peru have reported being cheated by Russian gamblers who played aging Novomatic Coolfire slot machines. The economic realities of the gaming industry seem to guarantee that the St. Petersburg organization will continue to flourish. The machines have no easy technical fix. As Hoke notes, Aristocrat, Novomatic, and any other manufacturers whose PRNGs have been cracked “would have to pull all the machines out of service and put something else in, and they’re not going to do that.” (In Aristocrat’s statement to WIRED, the company stressed that it has been unable “to identify defects in the targeted games” and that its machines “are built to and approved against rigid regulatory technical standards.”) At the same time, most casinos can’t afford to invest in the newest slot machines, whose PRNGs use encryption to protect mathematical secrets; as long as older, compromised machines are still popular with customers, the smart financial move for casinos is to keep using them and accept the occasional loss to scammers. So the onus will be on casino security personnel to keep an eye peeled for the scam’s small tells. A finger that lingers too long above a spin button may be a guard’s only clue that hackers in St. Petersburg are about to make another score. ||||| MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia closed down its casinos overnight as gambling was banned nationwide, a move the industry says could throw a third of a million people out of work. A dealer stacks chips on a roulette table at the Shangri La Casino in Moscow June 29, 2009. REUTERS/Denis Sinyakov The July 1 ban shut gaming halls, from gaudy casinos crowned by extravagant neon structures to dingy dwellings containing a handful of slot machines. “I feel terrible. We just let 1,000 people go,” said Yuri Boyev, general director at Metelitsa, an upmarket casino where billionaires rolled the dice and Russia’s gas giant Gazprom held a lavish Christmas party. Vladimir Putin, now prime minister, came up with the idea in 2006 when he was president after the Interior Ministry linked several gaming operations in Moscow to Georgian organized crime. The Kremlin plans to restrict gambling to Las Vegas-style gaming zones in four rarely visited regions deemed to need investment, including one near the North Korea border, but nothing has been built and critics say the zones will fail. Though gaming establishments knew the shutdown date for at least a year, few thought the government would go through with it, but officials moved in overnight to close them down. The industry says the ban will axe at least 300,000 jobs but officials in Moscow put the national figure at only 11,500. Rows of slot machines, usually blinking around the clock in smoky, crowded halls, lay dormant and wrapped in cellophane. Moscow deputy mayor Sergei Baidakov, watching men dismantle poker tables and lay roulette wheels on the floor, said the state was ready to thwart any big to move gambling underground. “We are confident we will control the situation,” he said. He said the ban was to protect the health of society. Many critics in the gambling industry say it has more to do with Russia’s poor ties with Georgia. Georgians are thought to run many Russian gaming halls. City police stood on guard in case of protests by disgruntled former workers in the popular gaming halls that have sprouted since the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 and now pepper Russia’s cities. A hotline was set up Wednesday to report on those suspected of operating illegal gambling, Itar-Tass reported. Moscow had around 550 gambling places, including 30 casinos in prime spots, symbolizing the capital’s love of excess. Midnight on Novy Arbat street, the heart of the gambling scene, was muted as its flashing lights and loud music were turned off for the first time in over a decade. “I’m upset but I guess I’ll have a little rest and re-visit my job situation in August,” said Elena, a slot machine operator who has worked in the gaming business for five years. Each year gaming brought in up to $7 billion and paid $1 billion in tax, a gap the industry says will cause the state a budget headache. The development replacement zones — in southern Krasnodar, the Baltic enclave of Kaliningrad, east Siberia’s Altai region and the Far East — require investment of up to $40 billion and have not been built. “The zones have no roads, water or electricity. We fulfilled the law by shutting, the government did not fulfill it as the zones are not ready yet,” said casino director Boyev. The industry has raised eyebrows at government guarantees of work in restaurants and shopping centers that are to replace casinos when unemployment in Russia has hit an eight-year high. But some addicted gamblers thought the ban might help them. “Maybe this is all a good thing. I’m a family man and I come here every day and lose all my money. I’ll be happy to see them go,” said a 40-year-old Muscovite near the flashy Shangri-La casino in the city center. |||||

– An iPhone and a few well-timed button pushes by a mysterious patron was all that was needed to make a Missouri casino's slot machine pay out lots of cash. But this wasn't just a random scammer who'd figured out how to play the machine: It was part of an elaborate Russian hacking scheme Brendan Koerner explores for Wired. That patron, Murat Bliev, was a member of a St. Petersburg cheat group, a willing participant in what Koerner describes as a "hotbed of slots-related malfeasance." This underground movement originated in 2009, when then-Prime Minister Vladimir Putin decided to make most gambling illegal to curb organized crime. All of the slot machines in Russian casinos had to go somewhere, and so many of them ended up with high bidders (including Bliev's organization), who then poked around in the machines' coding to figure out how to exploit them. How the racket-runners worked: They figured out the patterns behind the machines' pseudorandom number generators, or PRNGs, which, while difficult to crack, aren't impossible if someone can get into the machine's insides. But because the "temporal state" of each machine is different, additional surveillance steps were needed in combination with the PRNG intel—and a casino security expert figured out how the hackers pulled it off. The scheme involved cellphones with video, a tech team back in St. Petersburg, and vibrating "timing markers" sent to the players to indicate when to hit. While Bliev and others were eventually busted, the hacking still lives on via enhanced methods, as there's "no easy technical fix. "A finger that lingers too long above a spin button may be a guard's only clue," Koerner writes. More on the cheat at Wired. (How slot machines feed gambling addictions.)

Hedonometer Hedonometer.org is an instrument that measures the happiness of large populations in real time. The hedonometer is based on people’s online expressions, capitalizing on data-rich social media, and measures how people present themselves to the outside world. ||||| The most commonly used words of 24 corpora across 10 diverse human languages exhibit a clear positive bias, a big data confirmation of the Pollyanna hypothesis. The study’s findings are based on 5 million individual human scores and pave the way for the development of powerful language-based tools for measuring emotion. Abstract Using human evaluation of 100,000 words spread across 24 corpora in 10 languages diverse in origin and culture, we present evidence of a deep imprint of human sociality in language, observing that (i) the words of natural human language possess a universal positivity bias, (ii) the estimated emotional content of words is consistent between languages under translation, and (iii) this positivity bias is strongly independent of frequency of word use. Alongside these general regularities, we describe interlanguage variations in the emotional spectrum of languages that allow us to rank corpora. We also show how our word evaluations can be used to construct physical-like instruments for both real-time and offline measurement of the emotional content of large-scale texts. ||||| Jakub Halun, Wikimedia Commons Human language is biased toward being happy, finds a new study that identifies 10 of the world’s most upbeat languages. The study, published in the latest issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, supports the Pollyanna Hypothesis, which holds that there is a universal human tendency to use positive words more frequently than negative ones. Nevertheless, the findings determined that some languages tend to skew happier than others. Lead author Peter Sheridan Dodds of the University of Vermont’s Computational Story Lab and his team found the top 100,000 of the most frequently used words across 10 languages. The researchers then asked native speakers of the various languages to rate whether the words were “happy” or “sad” on a 1–9 scale. For example, check out these English words and their rating: laughter: 8.5, food: 7.44, truck: 5.48, greed: 3.06 and terrorist 1.3. “The study’s findings are based on 5 million individual human scores and pave the way for the development of powerful language-based tools for measuring emotion,” Dodds and his team wrote. No. 10 on the list was Chinese. Websites and books among other sources were analyzed in the study. Chinese books scored the lowest for happiness among all included sources. |||||

– If you're in a foul mood, it might be time to learn Spanish. Languages, and the people who use them, tend to favor using positive words over negatives, researchers find, and they've learned that that's particularly true in Spanish. Experts at the University of Vermont and the MITRE Corporation went through volumes of text from all kinds of sources: books, the news, music lyrics, movie subtitles, and more, including some 100 billion words used on Twitter, UVM reports. Investigating 10 languages, they picked out the 10,000 most common words, then had native speakers rank these words on a nine-point happiness scale; "laughter," for instance, was rated 8.5, while "greed" came in at 3.06. All 24 types of sources reviewed resulted in scores above the neutral 5, meaning they leaned "happy." In other words, "people use more positive words than negative ones," a researcher says. As far as individual languages go, here are the top five happiest ones, via Discovery: Spanish Portuguese English German French Chinese came in last of the 10 languages in the study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Positive-language data has also resulted in an actual happiness meter, known as the hedonometer, UVM notes. It follows Twitter posts in English to determine when the happiest words are being used. Christmas, it shows, is a very happy day, while celebrity deaths correlate with low points. Meanwhile, Boulder, Colorado, is apparently the happiest city (at least among Twitter users), while Racine, Wisconsin, appears to be the most miserable. (If you need a lift, try changing the way you walk.)

Finally: JAY-Z and Beyoncé have released their collaborative album, Everything Is Love. Stream it here and below via Tidal. The streaming service credits the two artists as “the Carters.” Bey and Jay also released a new music video for their track “APESHIT” and an additional single “SALUD!” that doesn’t appear on the project. Find those below. Ricky Saiz directed the visual, which is set in the Louvre and features the couple posing among the art. Jay disses the Grammys on “APESHIT,” rapping, “Tell the Grammys fuck that 0 for 8 shit.” (Jay was the most nominated artist at the 2018 ceremony, but was completely shut out.) He also confirms the rumor that he turned down a Super Bowl Halftime Show offer: “I said no to the Super Bowl/You need me, I don’t need you/Every night we in the end zone/Tell the NFL we in stadiums too.” Beyoncé calls out Spotify on the track “NICE.” She raps, “If I gave...two fucks about streaming numbers woulda put Lemonade up on Spotify. Fuck you,” referencing the fact that her 2016 album has never been available on the streaming platform. Jay refers to Meek Mill’s recent release from prison on “FRIENDS,” and on “HEARD ABOUT US,” Beyoncé sings the iconic line from Notorious B.I.G.’s “Juicy”: “If you don’t know, now you know, nigga.” The couple sample Phoenix Express’ song “You Make My Life a Sunny Day” on “LOVEHAPPY.” “APESHIT” features Migos and Pharrell, while “BOSS” features Ty Dolla $ign and the couple’s daughter Blue Ivy. She also makes a brief cameo at the end of “SALUD!,” shouting out her twin siblings. Pharrell also helped produce “NICE,” while Cool & Dre contributed additional production to “SUMMER” “713,” “BLACK EFFECT,” and “SALUD!” (with Dre adding vocals to the latter). Nav is listed as a composer and co-producer on “FRIENDS,” while TV on the Radio’s Dave Sitek is a producer on “LOVEHAPPY.” Rumors have long swirled about the creation of a collaborative Bey and Jay album. Last November, JAY also told The New York Times that a project with Bey started coming together as they worked on 4:44 and Lemonade. “We were using our art almost like a therapy session,” he said at the time. “And we started making music together.” He explained that, because Bey’s music was progressing more quickly, Lemonade ended up coming out “as opposed to the joint album that [they] were working on.” The couple are on the road for OTR II through the fall. Their most recent collaboration was on DJ Khaled’s “Top Off.” JAY also enlisted Bey for the Grammy-nominated “Family Feud” from 4:44. They last toured together in 2014. This article was originally published on June 16 at 5:43 p.m. EST. It was updated on June 17 9:19 p.m. EST. ||||| FILE - In this Nov. 26, 2017 file photo, Jay-Z performs on the 4:44 Tour at Barclays Center in New York. Jay-Z and Beyonce have released a joint album that touches on the rapper's disgust at this year's... (Associated Press) FILE - In this Nov. 26, 2017 file photo, Jay-Z performs on the 4:44 Tour at Barclays Center in New York. Jay-Z and Beyonce have released a joint album that touches on the rapper's disgust at this year's Grammy Awards and features a shout out from their daughter Blue Ivy to her siblings. The pair released... (Associated Press) LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jay-Z and Beyonce are keeping up a family tradition, dropping a surprise album before anyone knew it was coming. The couple released a joint album that touches on the rapper's disgust at this year's Grammy Awards and features a shout out from their daughter Blue Ivy to her siblings. The nine-track album "Everything Is Love" dropped Saturday on the Tidal music streaming service that Jay-Z partially owns. The album features Beyonce rapping on songs more than she has done on previous releases. One song that has a profanity in its title includes Jay-Z lashing out at the Grammys. He was the top nominee at February's awards show, but left empty-handed. The rapper also says he turned down the NFL Super Bowl halftime show, rapping that the league needs him more than he needs them. Blue Ivy ends the song "BOSS" with a shout-out to her 1-year-old brother and sister, Rumi and Sir. In 2013, Beyonce released the self-titled album "Beyonce" without any notice. |||||

– Out of the blue, Beyonce and Jay-Z dropped a joint album that's being described as both unexpected and long-rumored, reports Pitchfork. But Everything Is Love is not all sunshine and rainbows from the duo now going by The Carters, particularly for the Grammys (where Jay-Z went 0-8 at the 2018 awards) and Spotify, which gets a couple of F-bombs from Bey. Jay-Z also confirms that he turned down the Super Bowl halftime show, rapping, well, "I said no to the Super Bowl / You need me, I don’t need you/ Every night we in the end zone / Tell the NFL we need stadiums too." The couple's daughter, Blue Ivy, also gives a shout-out to her 1-year-old twin siblings, notes the AP, and a music video released with the nine-track album features the couple hobnobbing in Paris' Louvre museum. Everything Is Love is available on Tidal.

We've detected that JavaScript is disabled in your browser. Would you like to proceed to legacy Twitter? Yes ||||| Norm Macdonald’s way of handling a controversy appears to be to create a new one. The comedian experienced swift fallout over his victim-blaming comments to the Hollywood Reporter while defending friends Louis C.K. and Roseanne Barr, leading him to issue an apology. It wasn’t enough for the Tonight Show, which disinvited him from the program just an hour before his appearance on Tuesday. By Wednesday, however, the star of the new Netflix show Norm MacDonald Has a Show had stirred up even more drama on The Howard Stern Show. While discussing the controversy, he said, “You’d have to have Down syndrome to not feel sorry” for victims of harassment. During the Sirius XM interview, the former Saturday Night Live personality, who is 58, said he “never defended” Barr, who lost her job over racist remarks, or Louis C.K., who was dropped by FX after multiple women accused him of sexual misconduct. “I am completely behind the #MeToo movement,” MacDonald insisted. “You’d have to have Down syndrome to not feel sorry” for the victims of harassment. “#MeToo is what you want for your daughters and you want that to be the future world, of course. And I meet all kinds of women with terrible stories of what’s happened to them. So, I wasn’t talking about the victims. They asked me about Roseanne.” For good measure, he repeated himself: “Down syndrome. That’s my new word.” Reactions to his latest controversial comments haven’t been kind. NORM STOP TALKING. Why put down people with Down Syndrome?🤦🏽‍♀️ "I am completely behind the #MeToo movement. You'd have to have Down Syndrome to not feel sorry for —#MeToo is what you want for your daughters and you want that to be the future world." https://t.co/oq4RSXgPLm — Holly Figueroa O'Reilly (@AynRandPaulRyan) September 12, 2018 Dear @normmacdonald Down Syndrome is not something that prevents someone from having emotion, feeling empathy, or understanding the importance of a movement like #MeToo. Your statement is just inaccurate and does not qualify as an apology https://t.co/aB2rKlXU8K — Shannon Scully (@ShannonMScully) September 12, 2018 Norm McDonald: “Let me explain how much of an idiot I have been by insulting people born with Down Syndrome and their families” — Exavier Pope (@exavierpope) September 12, 2018 Oh, Norm! Is this an act? Surely you are not serious about people with Down Syndrome. I am very sad for you if you haven't experienced their unconditional love? — Etienne McD (@smcdonn4499) September 12, 2018 “I’m sorry I said that thing about Down Syndrome. That was totally gay of me.” — Norm Macdonald tomorrow, probably — Ish (@Ish) September 12, 2018 However, some of his fans found it to be a very calculated comment. I LOVE HIM. If you think he accidentally included the Down Syndrome mention you've never listened to Norm. — Lyndsey Fifield (@lyndseyfifield) September 12, 2018 During his chat with the shock jock, Macdonald talked about Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon coming backstage personally to tell him that his invitation had been rescinded. Initially, the plan was to have Macdonald make a statement to smooth things over at the top of the show, but the plan changed. “Jimmy came back in, said, ‘Can I talk to you, buddy?’ He was very broken up about it. He said, ‘I don’t know what to do. It’s just that I have so much pressure. People are crying. Senior producers are crying.’ I said bring them in and let me talk to them. I don’t want to make people cry. Jimmy said, ‘Come back whenever you want, but I think it might hurt the show tonight.’” Macdonald added that he spoke to Netflix content chief Ted Sarandos before he issued his apology Tuesday on Twitter. “He is one of the greatest people to ever come into my life,” he said. “He knows I am a good person. Ted said, ‘We don’t want to hear legalese; write your own thing.’” Roseanne and Louis have both been very good friends of mine for many years. They both made terrible mistakes and I would never defend their actions. If my words sounded like I was minimizing the pain that their victims feel to this day, I am deeply sorry. — Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) September 11, 2018 ||||| Norm Macdonald told Howard Stern he was “confused” when he made controversial comments about the #MeToo movement in an interview published in The Hollywood Reporter on Tuesday. Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, Macdonald said he was “happy the #MeToo movement has slowed down a bit.” He also expressed concern that Louis C.K. “[lost] everything in a day” after admitting he was guilty of sexual misconduct. “Of course, people will go, ‘What about the victims?'” Macdonald said. “But you know what? The victims didn’t have to go through [losing everything in a day].” On The Howard Stern Show, Macdonald did not apologize for those comments. “I wish I never had to do an interview, especially a print interview, because they edit it and put it together and ask you questions that maybe you don’t want to answer,” he said. “I’m a fucking dumb guy, I get confused and shit,” he added. “[The Hollywood Reporter was] asking me about a whole bunch of things at the same time.” Macdonald also suggested that his comments about victims were not interpreted correctly. “I said the victims went through worse [than Louis C.K.] but it wasn’t the same [as what he went through],” he added. “You’d have to have Down Syndrome to not feel sorry for [the victims of sexual misconduct]. #MeToo is what you want for your daughters. You want that to be the future world.” Macdonald has a new show coming to Netflix, and the comedian’s press appearances this week was supposed to raise awareness about it. However, following his comments in The Hollywood Reporter, Macdonald’s planned appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon was cancelled. The comedian offered an apology on Twitter. “If my words sounded like I was minimizing the pain that their victims feel to this day, I am deeply sorry,” he wrote. Norm Macdonald Has a Show is set to debut on September 14th. ||||| Tweet with a location You can add location information to your Tweets, such as your city or precise location, from the web and via third-party applications. You always have the option to delete your Tweet location history. Learn more |||||

– Norm Macdonald attempted to explain his controversial #MeToo comments in an interview with Howard Stern Wednesday—and managed to make things worse. The comedian landed himself in a fresh controversy after insulting people with Down syndrome in an effort to express empathy for victims of sexual misconduct, Yahoo reports. "You'd have to have Down syndrome to not feel sorry" for harassment victims, said Macdonald, who'd told the Hollywood Reporter he was glad #MeToo had "slowed down a bit" and that he felt bad for friends like Louis CK, who "lost everything in a day." He told Stern, however, that "#MeToo is what you want for your daughters. You want that to be the future world." "Down syndrome. That's my new word," Macdonald told Stern. His remarks were met with a fierce backlash on social media. Down syndrome "is not something that prevents someone from having emotion, feeling empathy, or understanding the importance of a movement like #MeToo," tweeted one critic. Macdonald, whose Tonight Show appearance was axed after his #MeToo remarks, has a new show coming to Netflix, called Norm Macdonald Has a Show. In his Stern interview, he called himself a "dumb guy" who got "confused" when interviewers were "asking me about a whole bunch of things at the same time," Rolling Stone reports. He apologized in a tweet for his remarks about Louis CK and Roseanne Barr, saying he would "never defend their actions."

Story highlights The ACLU blasts "for-profit incarceration," says the riot wasn't surprising The riot began with a fight among prisoners, a sheriff says Guard died due to what the coroner thinks was blunt force trauma The sheriff praises law enforcement efforts and the private firm that runs the prison Hundreds of inmates in Mississippi whose fight among themselves spiraled into a riot were back in their cells Monday afternoon, leaving authorities to mourn the death of one guard and express thanks that things didn't turn out worse. "When we first ... learned of the situation, I had a high degree of anxiety because there were so many guards who were unaccounted for," Adams County Sheriff Chuck Mayfield said, praising the efforts of law enforcement and those with the private company that runs the facility. "I know it when I see it when something is handled correctly." By Monday afternoon, all of the roughly 2,500 inmates at the Adams County Correctional Facility in Natchez were secure in their cells on lockdown, which Mayfield said will continue indefinitely as the investigation continues. It was a far different scene about 24 hours before. Mayfield said that, about 2:40 p.m. Sunday, a fight broke out either among members of one gang or between members of rival factions in a prison yard and soon ballooned out of control. With a core group of about 300 inmates involved -- meaning most others were simply caught up in the chaos -- the disturbance quickly spread through the grounds. "It turned into a mob mentality, and ... it just expanded so quickly," the sheriff said. Sometime early in the riot, a guard was assaulted and ended up on the roof of a building, Mayfield said. That guard -- later identified as Catlin Carithers, 24 -- was brought out through the facility's gates within an hour, only to be later pronounced dead due to blunt head force trauma, according to the county coroner. Guard Catlin Carithers was killed during the riot that broke out Sunday at the Mississippi prison. The disturbance continued for hours more around the western Mississippi facility, which houses illegal immigrants from around the region who are serving time after convictions for both violent and nonviolent crimes. The Tennessee-based Corrections Corporation of America operates the facility and employs all those within. At one point, inmates pulled out some mattresses, rags and other materials into a prison yard and started a fire. Others used an array of weapons, such as mop and broom handles, in their fight. Meanwhile, the facility's employees at once tried to maintain order and take cover. Mayfield said earlier Monday that at least 24 or 25 hostages were being held at one point. County and state authorities were on site within an hour to maintain the perimeter and help the Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) bring the situation under control, according to Mayfield, who noted that FBI agents were also there. No gunshots were ever fired, and Mayfield praised the "restraint" by law enforcement. Authorities did use "pepper balls," which the sheriff said are shot from something akin to a paintball gun. "The whole thing was probably over by 11 or 11:30 p.m. Sunday," at which point all the inmates had been forced out into a prison yard, Mayfield said. But it wasn't until 3:30 a.m. Monday that every prisoner had been searched and brought back to his housing unit. In addition to Carithers, about 10 workers at the facility were injured, including one who suffered head trauma and was transported about 100 miles northwest to the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, according to the sheriff. CCA, meanwhile, has reported that 16 of its staffers at the prison were treated and released from the hospital. Four inmates had to be taken to area emergency rooms for treatment -- for injuries such as a stab wound, a concussion and rib injuries -- though Mayfield said he didn't think any of them needed to be admitted. CCA had said three inmates received such treatment. The sheriff stressed that the public was never in danger, as the riot was confined within the facility and there were no breaches of its perimeter. While he didn't know what exactly caused the riot, Mayfield did say that, "from the outside looking in, I can't see anything that would have prevented it." He lavished praise on the decisions made by Corrections Corporation of America and law enforcement, saying, "I don't think they could have handled it any better." The sheriff added that the facility has "not had anything of this magnitude at all" since opening in 2009. "This could have happened anywhere, anytime," Mayfield said. Yet the American Civil Liberties Union said the riot wasn't surprising because companies like the Corrections Corporation of America "have incentives to cut corners even at the expense of decent and safe conditions"; they employ "too often poorly paid and trained" staff; and they run facilities with conditions that "are often woefully inadequate." "This weekend's riot should make clear to Mississippi and every other state that for-profit incarceration must end," the advocacy group said in a statement. "We need to save taxpayer money by ending the nation's addiction to incarceration, not give money to private companies whose profit depends on locking up as many people as possible." ||||| A guard at a southwest Mississippi prison died Sunday and several other employees were injured during a disturbance involving hundreds of inmates that continued into the evening, authorities and the prison's operator said. Emily Ham, a spokeswoman for the Adams County Sheriff's Office, confirmed Sunday evening that the guard died while being transported to a hospital. She said Corrections Corp. of America, the prison's private operator, was working Sunday night with law-enforcement authorities to bring the disturbance under control. CCA said in a news release that the disturbance began at around 2:40 p.m. CDT. The news release said five employees were transported to a local hospital for treatment of injuries and one was taken offsite. It said "the disturbance is contained within the secure perimeter of the facility, with no threat to public safety." State and local law-enforcement officers are providing outside perimeter security, the news release said. The company said the cause of disturbance is pending investigation. The 2,567-bed prison houses adult male criminal aliens for the Federal Bureau of Prisons, the news release said. CCA spokesman Steve Owen confirmed in an email "there has been one employee death" but he said he could not provide more details immediately. "Efforts by facility staff and law enforcement officials to quell the incident are ongoing," Owens said in an email late Sunday to The Associated Press. Ham said no inmates had escaped the facility. Adams County Sheriff Chuck Mayfield told the Natchez Democrat that agencies were working to release eight staffers who were still inside. He said they know where some of them are and doesn't believe any more are injured. Fifteen employees were freed at once by opening a fence and protecting the route with guns, he told the newspaper. Mayfield estimated that 200 to 300 inmates were causing the problems, including lighting a campfire. At one point, flames and smoke were visible from outside the prison. These inmates causing the troubles were not armed with traditional weapons, the sheriff said. Mayfield said the scene was calming down. |||||

– A 23-year-old guard has been killed and 16 workers injured in a riot by hundreds of inmates at a private Mississippi prison. Three inmates were also hospitalized, though one has since been returned to prison. The riot broke out at the Adams County Correctional Facility in Natchez at around 2:40pm yesterday, according to the AP. Some two dozen employees were taken hostage, and local and state law enforcement agencies had to be called in to quell the violence. They quickly regained control of most of the prison, but one section held out until 2:45 this morning, CNN reports. "I just want people to understand that no one has gotten out and no one will," a local county sheriff assured the public during the standoff. "We have all our deputies out here and ready. The county can sleep well because we've got it secured." The Tennessee-based company running the facility did not reveal what triggered the violence. The prison houses some 2,500 prisoners—many of them illegal immigrants—for the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

Congratulations to Rand Paul and his campaign--this was a big win. But it might not be quite as meaningful as it's being made out to be. There was a lot about it that was specific to Kentucky politics, and just because a Tea Partier won in Kentucky, doesn't necessarily mean the Tea Party will fare as well elsewhere this fall. Here are six things to consider: 1) Kentucky has a closed GOP primary. Conservatives were willing to support a Tea Party candidate--but we don't yet know if indies and Dems will be, here or elsewhere. 2) Kentucky's GOP is split into factions. Last night's results showed only that the Paul/Bunning wing was stronger than the McConnell/ Fletcher wing. 3) Paul's celebrity dad brought him money, volunteers, name recognition, and media attention, particularly on Fox News. What other Tea Party candidate can match that? 4) It was well known among Kentucky GOPers that Trey Grayson was a Bill Clinton supporter and volunteer, and a member of the Harvard College Democrats. 5) The Grayson family were notable Democratic fundraisers until they sensed the climate shifting in northern Kentucky, and the whole state shifting toward the GOP. They're not beloved. 6) Grayson's political maneuvering backfired disastrously. He was a Bunning protege, then stabbed his patron in the back by forming an exploratory committee before Bunning dropped out. Bunning then endorsed Paul. Nobody likes a man in a hurry. UPDATE: Bonus 7) Democratic turnout was much, MUCH higher than Republican turnout. We want to hear what you think about this article. Submit a letter to the editor or write to [email protected]. ||||| Rand Paul appears to have clinched the GOP's nomination for Kentucky’s open Senate seat. Rand Paul tapped into 'anger' BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — Rand Paul, the first-time candidate for elective office who has emerged as a symbol of the national tea party's clout in Republican politics, appears to have clinched the GOP's nomination for this state's open Senate seat — in a victory certain to jolt the political order in Kentucky and across the country. The 47-year-old Bowling Green ophthalmologist — who until last year was best known for being the son of Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) and whose staunch libertarian views have spawned a national grass-roots following — knocked out Trey Grayson, the Kentucky secretary of state, who had been the favorite of this state's political heavyweights, most notably Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. Story Continued Below "I have a message, a message from the tea party, a message that is loud and clear and does not mince words: We have come to take our government back," declared Paul, with his parents and the rest of his family by his side, to roaring supporters at a posh country club here in his hometown. With his attention-grabbing views railing against Washington and its ballooning budget deficits, the fire-breathing Paul successfully connected with this state's furious Republican primary voters, something that the more subdued Grayson was unable to accomplish in the fight to replace retiring two-term GOP Sen. Jim Bunning. "The electorate is pissed," said Mike Shea, a longtime political adviser to McConnell. "Rand did a really good job of tapping into those themes and tapping into that anger. Trey is a nice guy, but in his commercials and everything else, he seemed completely unable to generate any kind of dialogue to indicate he was tapping into that. If you meet him, he didn't seem like he was angry." With 99 percent of the precincts reporting, Paul appeared poised to seize a huge victory — leading Grayson by 59 percent to 35 percent. The Associated Press projected that Paul would win the race. A packed crowd here at the Bowling Green Country Club let out a loud cheer when the AP projected the race for Paul. But many of the Paul supporters had expected nothing less than resounding victory. "I kind of expected it actually," said Brent Young, a 45-year-old tea party activist who works with a local firm researching swine production. "I've really been a big supporter of his dad, and I really hope he can be elected in November. Time will tell, but we really do think he's a different kind of politician — and hopefully [he'll] send a message to the GOP that we want something different." Paul will face state Attorney General Jack Conway on Nov. 2. Conway narrowly defeated Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo in the battle for the Democratic nomination. Conway's views are more in line with the Democratic base's positions, and he was seen by national Democrats as a safer choice. |||||

– Rand Paul's resounding Senate win in Kentucky's GOP primary represents a major upset for the Republican Party and a major victory for the Tea Party movement. Paul—who led opponent Trey Grayson by 59% to 35% with 89% of precincts reported—tapped into voter anger at Washington far more successfully than Grayson, notes Manu Raju at Politico, predicting the win will send shockwaves through the Republican Party nationwide. Much about Paul's win was specific to Kentucky, however, Joshua Green writes in the Atlantic, arguing that last night's result doesn't necessarily signal major Tea Party gains this fall. The Kentucky primary was closed, he notes, so there's no sign that Independents or Democrats will back a Tea Party candidate. Paul also had the support of a celebrity dad who brought name recognition, money, and volunteers, and faced an opponent whose family members were well-known Democratic fundraisers until recently.

One of the two shooters who launched a deadly attack on a San Bernardino social services center Wednesday was mistakenly identified in media reports as his brother, a veteran who shares the same name. In the hours after the mass shooting Wednesday in Southern California, several media outlets including The Daily Beast, incorrectly identified Syed Raheel Farook as one of two killers responsible for the shooting that left 14 people dead and 21 others injured. Farook is a veteran of the United States Navy with several “awards and decorations,” a spokesperson told BuzzFeed News. He enlisted in August 2003 and left the service in August 2007. Navy records show he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon. Syed Raheel Farook was an information system technician, third class, serving on the USS Enterprise; in the Surface Warfare Officer School Unit, in Great Lakes, Illinois; and at the Recruit Training Command, in Great Lakes, Illinois. He was an enlisted surface warfare specialist and was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, records show. His brother, Syed Rizwan Farook, and sister-in-law were killed Wednesday in a shoot-out with police after the mass shooting in San Bernardino. ||||| SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (AP) — With a young wife, infant daughter and government job, Syed Farook appeared to have arrived at a sweet-spot in life. Friends knew the 28-year-old by his quick smile, his devotion to his Muslim religion and earnest talk about cars he would restore. The McIntyre family from Redlands, Calif., hold candles at a vigil at San Manuel Stadium Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015, in remembrance of the 14 people lost Wednesday in the San Bernardino mass shooting. From... (Associated Press) Rania Elbanna, 40, left, and Dr. Shaheen Zakaria, friends from Loma Linda, California, hold candles at a vigil at San Manuel Stadium Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015, in remembrance of the 14 people lost Wednesday... (Associated Press) A mourner holds a candle during a vigil at San Manuel Stadium, Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015, in San Bernardino, Calif. for multiple victims of a shooting that took place at a holiday banquet on Wednesday. A... (Associated Press) People hold candles during a vigil for shooting victims on Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015, at San Manuel Stadium in San Bernardino, Calif. A husband and wife opened fire on a holiday banquet, killing multiple... (Associated Press) San Bernardino Police Lt. Mike Madden, who was one one of the first officers on scene, describes his experience during a news conference near the site of a mass shooting on Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015 in San... (Associated Press) San Bernardino Police Lt. Mike Madden who was one one of the first officers on scene describes his experience during a press conference near the site of yesterday's mass shooting on Thursday, Dec. 3,... (Associated Press) California Gov. Jerry Brown reacts as he speaks near the site of Wednesday's shooting in San Bernardino, Calif., during a news conference on Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015. A husband and wife opened fire on a... (Associated Press) This undated photo provided by the California Department of Motor Vehicles shows Syed Rizwan Farook who has been named as the suspect in the San Bernardino, Calif., shootings. Farook communicated with... (Associated Press) Jesus Gonzales, center left, who has been separated with his wife since Wednesday's shooting, is comforted by local church members including Jose Gomez, center right, Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015, in San Bernardino,... (Associated Press) Two women comfort each other near the scene of a shooting outside a Southern California social services center in San Bernardino, Calif., where one or more gunmen opened fire, shooting multiple people... (Associated Press) An officer works at the scene in Redlands, Calif., Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2015, as officials executed a search warrant following a shooting that killed multiple people at a social services center for the... (Associated Press) Muslim Community Prayer Vigil for San Bernadino shooting victims, in Chino, Calif., Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015. A husband and wife opened fire on a holiday banquet, killing multiple people on Wednesday. Hours... (Associated Press) This photo provided by the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department shows weapons carried by suspects at the scene of a shootout in San Bernardino, Calif. Multiple attackers opened fire on a banquet... (Associated Press) Michelle Zamora , left, is comforted by her sister, Melissa Zamora, of San Bernardino, at a vigil at San Manuel Stadium Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015, in remembrance of the 14 people lost Wednesday in the San... (Associated Press) This photo provided by the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department shows ammunition and weapons carried by suspects at a shootout in San Bernardino, Calif. Multiple attackers opened fire on a banquet... (Associated Press) A group of local church members pray for residents who live in the neighborhood where Wednesday's police shootout with suspects took place, Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015, in San Bernardino, Calif. Multiple attackers... (Associated Press) People hold candles during a vigil for shooting victims on Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015, at San Manuel Stadium in San Bernardino, Calif. A husband and wife opened fire on a holiday banquet, killing multiple... (Associated Press) Muslim Community Prayer Vigil for San Bernadino shooting victims, in Chino, Calif., Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015. A husband and wife opened fire on a holiday banquet, killing multiple people on Wednesday. Hours... (Associated Press) An FBI crime scene truck remains on scene at the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino Calif. on Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015, after a mass shooting at the location on Wednesday. A heavily armed husband... (Associated Press) They didn't know the man authorities say was busy with his wife, Tashfeen Malik, building homemade bombs and stockpiling thousands of rounds of ammunition for a commando-style assault on a holiday party of his co-workers that killed 14 and injured 21. "This was a person who was successful, who had a good job, a good income, a wife and a family. What was he missing in his life?" asked Nizaam Ali, who worshipped with Farook at a mosque in San Bernardino — the city east of Los Angeles where Farook killed and died. As authorities identified the deceased and details about Farook's life began to take shape, the question of what motivated the slaughter remained unanswered. The FBI was investigating the shootings as a potential act of terrorism but reached no firm conclusions Thursday, said a U.S. official briefed on the probe. Separately, a U.S. intelligence official said Farook had been in contact with known Islamic extremists on social media. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the investigation publicly. At the same time, law enforcement officials from local police to Attorney General Loretta Lynch cautioned it could have been work-related rage. Or a twisted hybrid of religion and personal vendetta. Farook had no criminal record and was not under scrutiny by local or federal law enforcement before the attacks. Police said the couple had more than 1,600 bullets when they were killed by authorities hours after Wednesday's attack, and that the shooters had at home 12 pipe bombs, tools to make more explosives, and more than 3,000 rounds of ammunition. Police Lt. Mike Madden, one of the first officers to reach the room at the social services center, where Farook's colleagues from San Bernardino County's public health department had gathered, said the carnage was "unspeakable," the scene overwhelming: the smell of gunpowder, the wails of the injured, the blood, fire sprinklers pumping and fire alarms blaring. All in a room with a Christmas tree and decorations on every table. The dead ranged in age from 26 to 60. Among the 21 injured were two police officers hurt during the manhunt, authorities said. Two of the wounded remained in critical condition Thursday. Nearly all the dead and wounded were county employees. Syed Rizwan Farook was born in Chicago on June 14, 1987, to parents born in Pakistan. He was raised in Southern California. In July 2010, he was hired as a seasonal public employee and served until December of that year, according to a work history supplied by the county. In January 2012, he was rehired as a trainee environmental health specialist before being promoted two years later. Among his job duties was inspecting restaurants. The soft-spoken Farook was known to pray every day at San Bernardino's Dar Al Uloom Al Islamiyah mosque. That is where Nizaam Ali and his brother Rahemaan Ali met Farook. The last time Rahemaan Ali saw his friend was three weeks ago, when Farook abruptly stopped coming to pray. Rahemaan Ali said Farook seemed happy and his usual self. Both brothers said they never saw anything to make them think Farook was violent. They remember when Farook announced that he would be getting married, saying he had met his future wife online and that she was Pakistani. Farook told the brothers that he traveled to Mecca in Saudi Arabia last summer. They said he was gone about a month before returning to the U.S. with his wife. Malik arrived on a K-1 visa for fiancées and with a Pakistani passport in July 2014, authorities said. The two were married on Aug. 16, 2014, in nearby Riverside County, according to their marriage license. Both listed their religion as Muslim. The couple had a 6-month-old daughter who they dropped with relatives Wednesday morning before the shooting. Patrick Baccari, who sat at the same table as Farook at the employee party, recalled he was short on words and inclined to talk about cars, not religion. However, a friend of a man killed in the rampage said Farook had a heated conversation about Islam two weeks before the attack. Kuuleme Stephens said she happened to call Nicholas Thalasinos while her friend was talking with Farook at work. She said Thalasinos, a Messianic Jew who was passionately pro-Israel, told her Farook "doesn't agree that Islam is not a peaceful religion." Stephens said Farook replied that Americans don't understand Islam. Stephens added that Thalasinos did not think their conversations would turn violent. Farook legally bought two handguns used in the massacre and their two assault rifles were legally bought by someone else federal authorities wanted to question. That person's identity was not released. A profile on a matchmaking website for South Asians that matched Farook's name, California hometown, county health job and Muslim faith said his interests included target shooting in his backyard. Though the date of the posting was not clear, it listed his age as 22. Details about Farook's upbringing are sparse. He grew up in a turbulent home but later graduated from California State University, San Bernardino, with a degree in environmental health sciences in 2010. Divorce records depicted a home divided by abuse. Farook's mother alleged in 2006 that her husband, also named Syed, attacked her while her children were present, dropped a TV on her and pushed her toward a car, according to records. Rafia Sultana Farook filed a petition for a domestic violence order of protection on July 3, 2006, against her husband. She said she was forced to move out with three of her children because her husband continually harassed her "verbally and physically," according to the divorce records. The Associated Press could not immediately reach the father for comment and was unable to corroborate the allegations in the records. No one answered the door at a home in Corona where a neighbor said the father lived. ___ Blood reported from Los Angeles and Tucker from Washington. Contributing to this report were AP writers Ken Dilanian in Washington; Gillian Flaccus, Christine Armario and Justin Pritchard in Los Angeles; Holbrook Mohr in Jackson, Mississippi; Garance Burke in San Francisco; and Jason Keyser in Chicago. ||||| Syed Rizwan Farook and his wife were killed in a shooting with cops. An investigator looks at a Black SUV that was involved in the shootout. (Jae C. Hong/AP) ||||| Farook was born in Illinois, and had worked at the Health Department as an inspector for five years. Malik was born in Pakistan, according to a federal law enforcement source. Farook traveled to Saudi Arabia in 2013 during the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca and also visited Saudi Arabia in July 2014 for nine days to pick up Malik and bring her to the United States on a K-1 fiance visa. Neither trip lasted very long, the official said. The official has seen no record of Farook traveling to Pakistan, as the assistant director for the FBI's Los Angeles field office said in a news conference Thursday. |||||

– Whatever San Bernardino gunman Syed Rizman Farook's problem was, it wasn't the result of his upbringing, if his brother is anything to go by. The brother, whose name is Syed Raheel Farook, was falsely identified as the gunman by some media outlets because the names are so similar, but he is, in fact, a decorated Navy veteran, BuzzFeed reports. The brother joined up in August 2003 and left the service in August 2007, and Navy records state that he received the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon during his service, which included time as an information systems technician on the USS Enterprise. A Navy spokesman tells the New York Daily News that Farook was a computer technician who also received an award for good conduct. Investigators are still trying to piece together a motive for the rampage the other Syed R. Farook allegedly carried out with wife Tashfeen Malik. A "veritable armory," including at least a dozen pipe bombs, was found at their home, and officials say they're probing possible links to Islamic extremists but haven't found firm evidence of radicalization, the Los Angeles Times reports. Associates, including colleagues who survived the massacre, say they simply don't understand how the man they knew could have done this. "This was a person who was successful, who had a good job, a good income, a wife, and a family. What was he missing in his life?" a man who worshiped with him at a mosque in San Bernardino tells the AP.

FLINT, MI -- Police confirmed that the two injured in a double shooting Sunday, April 17, were mother and son. Few details were released in the incident, which occurred in the 1900 block of Greenbrook Lane between West Atherton and West Hemphill roads around 7:30 p.m. There, it was discovered that a woman and a 9-year-old boy - mother and son - were shot. They were taken to the hospital where they were listed in good condition. Police did not release any more information in the incident, citing an ongoing investigation. No arrests were announced. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the Flint Police Department at 810-237-6800 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP (773-2587). ||||| UPDATE: A suspect has been charged for the killings FLINT, MI - A woman at the center of a bellwether Flint water crisis lawsuit was one of two women who were shot to death inside a townhouse earlier this week. Sasha Avonna Bell was one of the first of a growing number of people to file a lawsuit in connection to the Flint water crisis after she claimed that her child had been lead poisoned. Bell was found dead April 19 in the 2600 block of Ridgecrest Drive at the Ridgecrest Village Townhouses. Sacorya Renee Reed was also found shot to death in the home. An unharmed 1-year-old child was also found inside of the Ridgecrest home when Bell's body was discovered and was taken into custody by child protective services. Police declined to confirm if it was Bell's child discovered in the home. "Sasha was a lovely young woman who cared deeply for her family, and especially for her young child," said her attorney Corey M. Stern. "Her tragic and senseless death has created a void in the lives of so many people that loved her. Hopefully, her child will be lifted up by the love and support from everyone who cared deeply for Sasha." Bell's case was one of 64 lawsuits filed on behalf of 144 children by Stern's firm, New York-based Levy Konigsberg, and Flint-based Robinson Carter & Crawford. Flint neighborhood shaken after young women slain in house The lawsuit named six companies that had various responsibilities with respect to the treatment, monitoring, and safety of the Flint water prior to and during the Flint water crisis, according to her attorneys. The case also named three individual government, or former government, employees who played significant roles in the alleged misconduct that led to the alleged poisoning of thousands of children in Flint, her attorneys claim. The Bell case, however, played an important role in determining the future of the more than five dozen other lawsuits that were filed. Flint water crisis conspiracy theories swirl after two recent deaths Initially, Bell's case and the others were filed in Genesee Circuit Court. However, they were transferred to U.S. District Court on a motion from one of the defendants, engineering company Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam. However, Ann Arbor U.S. District Judge John Corbett O'Meara ruled April 13 that Bell's case should return to the state court claiming it lacked jurisdiction to hear the case. Stern said the case will continue and a representative will be appointed for Bell's child. The ruling also forced the other 63 cases to be returned to state court. Flint police say they have a person in custody in connection to the slayings of Bell and Reed. No charges have yet been filed. |||||

– One of the first people to file a lawsuit alleging her child was poisoned by the water in Flint, Mich., was shot dead this week, reports Michigan Live. Sasha Avonna Bell was found dead in a townhouse in the city on Tuesday along with another female victim, Sacorya Renee Reed. A 1-year-old child found at the home was uninjured; it isn't clear if the child is Bell's. Police say one person is in custody, though no one has been charged. "Sasha was a lovely young woman who cared deeply for her family, and especially for her young child," says Bell's attorney, calling her death "tragic and senseless." He adds her case will continue in state court. It's among 64 lawsuits on behalf of 144 children against six companies that handled Flint's water. Days before the shooting, a mother and her 9-year-old son were also shot in Flint, per Michigan Live.

I was going to buy a frosty from Wendys until I saw the employee do this ||||| By of the Wendy's is investigating the case of an employee who was captured eating soft serve ice cream straight from the machine in a viral photo Wednesday. A photo of the worker was posted on Reddit Wednesday morning with the title, "I was going to buy a frosty from Wendys until I saw the employee do this." Bob Bertini, a spokesman for Wendy's, responded late Wednesday that he just saw the photo. "If true, this is totally inexcusable. We are investigating and will take action," Bertini wrote in an email to the Journal Sentinel. A commenter on Reddit pointed out that the photo appears to have been taken behind the counter. The person said the photographer was a fellow employee. The Wendy's worker is the most recent fast food worker to gross out potential customers in a viral photo. The photos may be posted as a harmless joke (or, who knows, in an attempt to get someone fired maybe?), but viral photos have caused a lot of bad publicity and harm to the companies they target, so businesses tend to crack down hard on the culprit. The last fast food worker who pulled a similar viral stunt, a Taco Bell employee who licked a stack of taco shells, was fired. That's even though the shells were destined for the trash bin, according to company spokespeople. Get ahead of the curve on viral stories. Follow Gitte Laasby on Twitter or Facebook. |||||

– If you thought gross fast-food-worker images started and ended with the Taco Bell licker, brace yourself for the latest photo, which seems to show a Wendy's employee dispensing ice cream directly into his mouth. The image was posted to Reddit yesterday, along with this quip: "I was going to buy a frosty from Wendys until I saw the employee do this." A number of Redditers pointed out the photo was apparently taken behind the counter, though (so, ostensibly, a fellow employee/friend is the likely shutterbug). The Journal Sentinel got in touch with a Wendy's rep late yesterday; he was not amused. "If true, this is totally inexcusable. We are investigating and will take action."