Published Saturday, July 18, 2020 | 7 a.m.

Updated 14 hours, 45 minutes ago

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) On July 16, 1945, the U.S military detonated the worlds first atomic bomb in New Mexico, ushering in the nuclear age.

And now on the 75th anniversary of the test code-named Trinity, nuclear weapons continue to be a hot political topic, including in Utah. The Trump administration has talked about resuming nuclear bomb testing as politicians consider renewing compensation for those still suffering from dangerous radiation exposure during the years of nuclear tests.

Utahns, too, were repeatedly exposed to radiation from nuclear bomb tests at the Nevada Test Site near Las Vegas. The tests were conducted when wind patterns would blow radiation clouds away from Las Vegas and California but toward Utah, where people and livestock downwind were sickened from the fallout.

Calling Thursdays anniversary a solemn occasion, retired Utah Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch said the day reminds people of the enormous consequences of nuclear testing, including the heavy human toll exacted on some of the most vulnerable communities.

Since 1945, thousands of downwinders the men and women who lived nearby the militarys nuclear testing facility have developed severe forms of cancer and respiratory illness as a result of radiation exposure. Many of them are still suffering to this day, he said.

Now more than ever, Congress must reauthorize the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act he passed in 1990 to help families who were victim to the federal governments neglect, Hatch said.

If lawmakers allow the law to expire, he said, hundreds of downwinders will be unable to pay their medical bills for issues directly related to radiation poisoning.

Updating this legislation is a moral imperative, Hatch said.

Nuclear weapons have become an issue in Utahs 4th Congressional District race between Democratic Rep. Ben McAdams and GOP challenger Burgess Owens because of President Donald Trumps talk of possibly renewing nuclear testing.

McAdams, the states only Democrat in Congress, is supporting legislation to stop further testing and succeeded in getting language in a House spending bill prohibiting the use of funds to conduct or make preparations for any explosive nuclear weapons tests.

Owens position is not as clear. The day before the June 30 primary election, he told a caller on K-TALK radio that he absolutely would support Trumps efforts to resume nuclear testing if elected, saying he believed in peace through strength as cited by President Ronald Reagan.

Yes, I will be supporting our president because he supports our country. He loves our country. He does it for free. He just needs to have some backbone in the House and Senate to make this thing happen really right, Owens said, adding after a break that we should be loyal, period to leaders he sees as behind God, family and country.

On Wednesday, Owens campaign issued a seemingly contradictory statement.

As recent discussions of nuclear testing have come up, Burgess Owens remains committed against the testing of nuclear options to happen in Utah. Burgess has expressed a desire to understand the presidents meaning of nuclear testing and has no reason to believe he has suggested anything similar to the testing done in the past, the statement said.

Owens was quoted as saying, I will be on the front line to stand against anyone who would do anything to endanger our beautiful state, its environment, or its citizens no matter their political affiliation.

Asked about the shift in Owens position, his campaign spokesman, Jesse Ranney, said because the caller on the radio referred to nuclear testing in Utah, Owens thought he was talking about something other than Trump considering conducting the countrys first nuclear weapons test since 1992.

Owens made that assumption because it seemed so erratic hed be asked if he supported bombs going off in Utah or close, Ranney said.

Burgess has no reason to believe the president had any desire to test nuclear weapons in Utah. On the subject of nuclear testing, Burgess welcomes scientists in safe environments like labs exploring the capabilities of nuclear energy, Ranney said, adding, hes against the testing of bombs in Nevada as well.

McAdams campaign manager, Andrew Roberts, said he still sees Owens as backing new testing.

I take Burgess Owens at his word. Owens said he absolutely supports nuclear weapons testing here in Utah. That his campaign subsequently realized his position is untenable and is trying to have it both ways doesnt change what Burgess said or believes.

Owens, a former NFL player who won the Republican nomination with nearly 44% of the vote in a four-way primary race, also backed the extension of the act compensating downwinders exposed to radiation from nuclear testing in Nevada.

Republicans and Democrats in Congress should work together on an extension, Owens said. We owe a debt to those impacted by nuclear testing in the past, and must own up to our responsibility to them.

McAdams is a co-sponsor of amendments that would increase compensation and expand the reach of the program.

A message from Trump on the Trinity test anniversary doesnt specifically mention starting nuclear testing again nor does it mention downwinders.

But the president said nuclear weapons continue to underwrite American national security and are the backstop of national defense.

In order to continue protecting Americas vital security interests, I have directed my administration to revitalize and modernize Americas nuclear security complex to preserve a credible deterrent, Trump said. We are investing in the capability to produce plutonium pits to support our stockpile needs and to improve the infrastructure of the weapons ecosystem.

The government continues to advance the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent, the B-21 bomber, the Long Range Standoff Weapon and the Columbia-class submarine, all of which help ensure that we can deter aggression and preserve peace for future generations.

Go here to read the rest:

Nuclear weapons testing hot topic 75 years after test - Las Vegas Sun

Published Saturday, July 18, 2020 | 4:25 p.m.

Updated 5 hours, 21 minutes ago

TORONTO (AP) The Blue Jays won't play their home games in Toronto this year because Canada's government doesn't think it's safe for players to travel back and forth from the United States, one of the countries hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic.

Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino said Saturday the federal government had denied the Blue Jays' request to play at Rogers Centre, confirming what an official familiar with the matter had told The Associated Press ahead of the announcement.

The team had been given clearance by city and provincial governments to play in its home stadium and was awaiting approval from Canadas federal government. The other 29 Major League Baseball teams plan to play in their home ballparks, without spectators, when the pandemic-shortened 60-game season begins on July 23.

Mendicino told The AP frequent travel to the U.S., where COVID-19 cases are surging, was the biggest issue.

There were serious risks if we proceeded with the regular-season proposal of the MLB and the Jays and therefore we concluded it was not in the national interest, Mendicino said. I get that some people will disappointed but this decision cant be taken as a fan. It is taken on behalf of the health and safety of Canadians.

The Blue Jays were informed via a phone call. The team's alternate sites for home games include its training facility in Dunedin, Florida, which is among the states that are virus hotspots, as well as Sahlen Field in Buffalo, New York, which is home to Toronto's Triple-A affiliate and just across the Niagara River from Canada.

Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro said player health is a concern in Florida. He said the team has spent more time examining Buffalo in recent days but said the stadium has infrastructure challenges. A lack of space in the clubhouse makes social distancing difficult, but Shapiro said some players could have their lockers set up in suites. Sahlen Field also needs upgrades to its field lights and its training facilities, he said.

Dunedin is the only one that is 100% seamless right now and ready to go. That from a player health standpoint has some challenges," Shapiro said. "Buffalo is certainly one that weve spent an increasing amount of time on in the past few weeks. That is not done. There are some infrastructure and player-facility challenges to get that up to major league standards. And then we have other alternatives that are real that we continue to work through that may be better for us.

He declined to say what other sites they are considering. He said they would look to improve batting cages, weight rooms and training rooms in Buffalo if it is picked.

Buffalo is the place we've spent the most time on in the last 10 days, Shapiro said. There is a lot we have to do. Some of it might get done after we start playing but I'm confident Buffalo is a viable alternative. With the amount of resources that we would marshal if we focused solely on Buffalo we can make it what it needs to be for us in time to play games.

The Blue Jays are scheduled to start the season July 24 at Tampa Bay. Their home opener was set for five days later against Washington.

Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown and Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz have pushed for the team to relocate to the city.

Lets find a way to make them the Buffalo Blue Jays this year, Poloncarz wrote in a text to The AP.

Shapiro called Canada's decision disappointing but gave health officials credit for mitigating the spread of the virus.

Without any hesitation we respect the decision. Its not hard to think about how well managed and well led the virus has been throughout Toronto and Canada by public health and political leaders, Shapiro said.

We move forward with no excuses knowing that all of our alternatives are going to be somewhat imperfect.

Mendicino said the government is open to considering future restart plans for the postseason should the risk of virus transmission diminish.

We've committed to maintaining an open line of communication with both MLB and the Toronto Blue Jays and we will reassess in due course, he said.

MLB needed an exemption to a requirement that anyone entering Canada for nonessential reasons must self-isolate for 14 days. The U.S.-Canada border remains closed to nonessential travel until at least Aug. 21.

In Canada youve seen us flatten the curve. Youve seen that cases have decreased significantly and that is largely attributable to the sacrifices Canadians have made. We can ill afford a step back, Mendicino said.

We think this is the right call and it is backed by the evidence and advice of our health experts. And fans who still would like to see baseball will still be able to watch the broadcast, just from a different location.

The NHL has received an exemption for its restart to the season, but that was a far simpler case because the games are restricted to two hubs Edmonton and Toronto.

The Blue Jays received an exemption for summer camp, during which the players agreed to isolate in the hotel attached to Rogers Centre and create a quarantine environment. Players are not allowed to leave the stadium or hotel and violators face fines of up to $750,000 Canadian ($551,000 U.S.) and up to six months in jail.

Toronto Mayor John Tory had lobbied the federal government to approve the plan but said Saturday he understands the decision given the situation in the U.S.

Dr. Andrew Morris, a professor of infectious diseases at the University of Toronto and the medical director of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program at Sinai-University Health Network, said the city and province were wrong to push for games to be played in Canada.

Its very clear that having people coming from the U.S. repeatedly is not the right thing to do, Morris said. This should have been by a decision made in Toronto or by the province. Its a bit disappointing it had to be made in Ottawa.

___

More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Read the original:

No Canada: Blue Jays barred from playing games in Toronto - Las Vegas Sun

A lot of talk has focused on the Raiders moving to a brand new city and playing in a brand new stadium, and rightfully so. But something was brought up that I hadnt really given much thought to yet. The weather.

As someone who has gone to Las Vegas my fair share of times during the summer, I can confirm that it gets very, very, very hot there. A lot hotter than Oakland in the summer.

Raiders General Manager Mike Mayock said him and his head coach Jon Gruden have been talking to others who have been in their shows before about how to beat the heat in Las Vegas.

Heres what Mayock had to say during an interview with ESPN Las Vegas.

Weve had some conversations with people who have coached [in Vegas] before, like Tony Sanchez who was at UNLV, and just asked about what time we have to be done practicing, or what can we do outside? The advantage we have, as opposed to UNLV, is that we have the grass fields outside, we have the indoor climate-controlled filed, and we have a stadium.

So, we really have three different places that we can rotate through, and based on what we heard, if were going to be outside, we probably have to be done by 10, 10:30 in the morning in July and August. I think we can figure that out because we have three different surfaces to practice on, but the harder part is we dont even know what the deal is with training camp and the acclimation period.

I guess the good thing is the fact they have multiple options and they have indoor options. However, you still have to respect them for being out there in those conditions.

Personally, I cant even imagine what it would be like tailgating for a Raiders game out there when its 90-100 degrees. But hey, with all the fun youd be having, who even cares.

Go here to read the rest:

Raiders news: Mike Mayock prepared to handle heat of Las Vegas - Silver And Black Pride

LAS VEGAS Las Vegas police say a mom who was drunk was going 121 miles per hour moments before a collision that killed her 1-year-old son, according to a report.

Thecrash happened Sunday evening, July 12, and callers to police reporting the crash said the baby was thrown from the car and showed no signs of life, Fox 5 Las Vegasreported.

The station identified the baby as Royce Jones.

Mom LaurenPrescia, 23, of Las Vegas, was facing multiple charges including DUI resulting in death, felony reckless driving and abuse, neglect or endangerment of a child, according to the station.

Prescia was behind the wheel of a 2020 Hyundai Sonata when she struck a 2011 Nissan Sentra being driven by a 36-year-old woman who suffered minor injuries, police said in a news release. The Nissan was making a turn at the time.

Fox 5 reported that police said 2.5 seconds before the crash, Prescias vehicle reached a max speed of 121 mph.

Officers on scene said she had bloodshot eyes and smelled strongly of alcohol, according to the station citing the arrest report.

A man at the scene who said he was the babys father told police that before the crash Prescia said she would beat him home, then began speeding, the station reported.

He told police that after the crash he ran to his son who was still in his car seat.

For more, check out FOXNews.com.

36.169941-115.139830

Visit link:

Police: Las Vegas woman reached 121 mph before crash that killed 1-year-old son - WITI FOX 6 Milwaukee

Published Saturday, July 18, 2020 | 8:45 a.m.

Updated 12 hours, 30 minutes ago

CINCINNATI (AP) During a background briefing with reporters in December, President Donald Trump's reelection campaign team gave only passing mention of Ohio. Certainly no one suggested a full-scale fall advertising strategy for the state he carried convincingly in 2016.

But less than four months until this November's election, Trump is facing an unexpectedly competitive landscape in Ohio because he has lost ground in metropolitan and suburban areas, threatening the overwhelming advantages he has in rural areas, state data show.

Trump's campaign has budgeted $18.4 million in television advertising in Ohio for this fall, second only to Florida, according to campaign advertising tracking data.

Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, has named Aaron Pickrell, a former top Ohio adviser to Barack Obama's presidential campaign, as a senior strategist, Biden campaign officials said. Four other campaign staff members in the state were announced Friday. But the Biden campaign has not gone so far as to book its own television advertising in Ohio, where 18 electoral votes are at stake. Trump won Ohio by 8 percentage points four years ago.

Still, Trump's heavy investment in Ohio and a series of midterm and municipal government gains by Democrats since 2016 suggest the president probably will have even more difficult terrain in other pivotal states in the industrial heartland Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin that he won by much smaller margins.

These are all big, flashing warning signs, said former Obama senior adviser David Axelrod. If he were a patient, and you were a doctor, youd look at this and say, Youve got problems, buddy.

Republican presidential candidates have been steadily losing support in Ohio's once reliably GOP suburbs around Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati. But Trump's fall was particularly sharp, according to state voting data and census records compiled by Mike Dawson, a public policy consultant and creator of ohioelectionresults.com.

For instance, in the affluent northern Columbus-area suburb of Upper Arlington, Republican George H. W. Bush won by 34 percentage points in 1992. Twenty years later, Republican Mitt Romney's winning margin there was 8 percentage points. In 2016, Trump lost Upper Arlington to Hillary Clinton by 16 percentage points.

A similar picture emerged in the 10 wealthiest suburbs outside Cleveland in Cuyahoga County. In Franklin County outside Columbus, Trump lost nine of the 10 most affluent suburbs, a sharp decline from other Republicans over the past 24 years.

The trend was worst in suburban Hamilton County outside Cincinnati, where Trump's losing margin in the 10 richest suburbs was at least 50% of Republicans' total decline since 1992.

College educated suburbanites in Ohio, particularly college educated women, were not as supportive of the president in 2016 as theyve traditionally been of Republican presidential nominees, and that will continue in 2020," said Karl Rove, senior adviser to President George W. Bush's presidential campaign in 2004, when the Republican won election in part by narrowly carrying Ohio. Trump has a problem with them.

Andrea Granieri, 34, from the eastern Cincinnati suburb of Anderson Township, had been a lifelong Republican, until Trump.

I could not vote for Donald Trump. I just couldnt do it," Granieri said, noting the explanation she would owe her two children some day. I could not endorse the way he talks to people and how he talks about people."

Still, Rove said that Trump maintains a clear path to carrying Ohio: Its to repeat his 2016 performance in 2020."

That includes matching and, in some instances, exceeding his overwhelming margins in the GOP-heavy counties along the Indiana border and the struggling industrial Mahoning River Valley corridor and along the Ohio River to the south.

But Rove said Trump must also do what he did in 2016 in suburban Cincinnati, Dayton, Cleveland and Columbus."

History suggests that's going to be hard, some Ohio Republicans say.

Can the electoral leakage for Republicans in these first- and second-ring suburbs continue to be offset by running up the score along the Ohio River? said former state Republican Party Chair Kevin DeWine, a former state representative and second cousin to Republican Gov. Mike DeWine. We have to be honest as Republicans and say we are dangerously close to that tipping point.

During an August 2018 special election, Danny O'Connor came within 1,700 votes out of more than 200,000 of becoming the first Democrat in 36 years to win Ohio's 12th Congressional District, which includes once solidly Republican Delaware County. Trump came to campaign for O'Connor's opponent, Rep. Troy Balderson, and helped pull him to victory.

Democrats continued making inroads in 2018, picking up six suburban state legislative seats.

That November, Erik Yassenoff, in losing his bid for a northern Columbus-area district, became the first Republican candidate for Ohio General Assembly to lose Upper Arlington.

I think youre seeing people in the suburbs align more with the urban populations," Yassenoff said.

Ohio Democratic Party Chair David Pepper has watched as younger, educated and often more racially and ethnically diverse families have sought the top schools and other comforts of Ohio's booming suburbs since the mid-2000s.

The trend was especially clear last year as Democrats scored victories in local suburban elections.

"This is where the fundamental shift has happened, what used to be the base of the Republican Party, these larger, generally white-collar suburbs around Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland and Akron," Pepper said.

In Yassenoff's Upper Arlington, voters elected their first Democrats to its City Council. In nearby Hilliard, Democrats won their first seat on the City Council in three decades. There were similar Democratic municipal gains in Republican-leaning suburbs around Toledo and Dayton, as well as in communities outside Cleveland.

Perhaps most telling, southeast of Columbus in the old Republican suburb of Reynoldsburg, Democrats swept the municipal elections and elected three Black female council members, a first for the city.

What it tells us is that more people are becoming engaged and involved," said Meredith Lawson-Rowe, among the new Reynoldsburg council members.

Even as Trumps standing began to fall after the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, Ohio was not seen as a concern, campaign officials said. But polls in other states showing close races in Iowa, Georgia and even Texas have also now shaken the firm grip on Ohio.

Biden's team and national Democrats think they can compete at a minimum to force Trump to defend Ohio, perhaps with money that could be spent in its must-win regional neighbors.

Spokesman David Bergstein of the Democratic National Committee put it simply: Id say Trump is clearly facing headwinds in Ohio and hes being squeezed."

___

Beaumont reported from Des Moines, Iowa. Associated Press writer Jonathan Lemire in Washington contributed to this report.

Read the rest here:

Trump's trouble in suburbs key to suddenly competitive Ohio - Las Vegas Sun