23 July 2020, 12:45

Louis Tomlinson has shouted out Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Liam Payne and Zayn Malik on One Directions 10th anniversary, explaining how 'emotional' he is looking back on the band's career.

Louis Tomlinson has marked One Directions 10-year anniversary by remembering the incredible memories he had with his former bandmates Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Liam Payne and Zayn Malik.

In a heartfelt post on Twitter, he wrote: Feeling pretty emotional today. 10 years!!

YouTuber Andrea Russett Shares Hilarious One Direction Throwback Interview From 2012 To Mark 10-Year Anniversary

"Spent the morning watching old interviews and performances.

"Just wanted to send a massive thank you to ALL of my bandmates. What we did together was incredible."

Louis continued: "Too many incredible memories to mention but not a day goes by that I don't think about how amazing it was.

@NiallOfficial @Harry_Styles @LiamPayne @zaynmalik.So proud of you all individually.

"And to the fans. The people who gave us all these amazing opportunities. You are incredible, your unmatched level of loyalty is something that makes me really really proud.

"Miss it every day!

1D fans were quick to rush to the comments with a series of memes of them being in their feels - and we dont blame them at all!

One wrote: The way you mentioned them all, along with a crying meme.

Stop youre making me cry, penned another.

As we mark 10 iconic years of One Direction, friends and fans of the stars have been celebrating the day of when they were first formed on the X Factor and it's safe to say we're all so proud of the boys!

> Download Our App For All The Latest One Direction News

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Louis Tomlinson Is So Proud Of One Direction Bandmates In Heartfelt Post Celebrating Their 10-Year... - Capital

"Its undeniable that right-wing extremists are the largest terror threat facing the United States," said Howard Graves, a senior research analyst at the Southern Poverty Law Center.

As of the mass shooting at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas, in 2019, Graves said, right-wing extremists had killed more people on U.S. soil since 1911 than any other ideologicalcohort.

The question of right-wing extremism and its ties to Nevada has come up in the wake ofthe arrest of threeClark County menalleged subscribers of the boogaloo ideology who now face federal charges of plotting to firebomba Black Lives Matter protest in Las Vegas.

Graves told KNPR's State of Nevada the case mirrors onein Oakland, California where two men were also arrested for plotting to use a protest as cover for their own plans.

That is a similar dynamic to what we saw unfolding in Las Vegas where these individuals planned to hijack peaceful protests against police brutality and actually use them to bring about the larger ambition of the boogaloo movement, he said.

The larger boogaloo movement centers around the idea that not only is another civil war imminent but patriots should do what they can to bring it about, Graves said.

Leah Sottile is a freelance reporter, who has been covering extremism - especially in the West - for a number of years.

"The boogaloo is something a lot of people are still learning about," she said.

Sottile has read the grand jury transcript from the case of the Las Vegas men charged in the plot, identified asStephen T. Parshall, Andrew Lynam, and William L. Loomis.

She said their exact plan isn't completely outlined in court documents, but, according to an FBI informant, they wanted to take an action that would speed up their revolution.

According to Sottile, boogaloo believers were drawn to reopen rallies held in the spring. She said it gave them a chance to connect offline and begin talking about how to advance their plans.

When the anti-police brutalityprotests started at the end of May, the extremists saw another chance.

And at the core of the boogaloo ideology is really an anti-law enforcement perspective, she said.

Lynam told the informant they were anarcho-capitalist, which is the idea of eliminating centralized governmentsin favor ofindividual ownership,free markets and private property.

Sottile said she believes the men wanted to cause a disturbance big enough to start a riot, but that most of the protesters on the streets of Las Vegas weren't interested.

Samantha Kutner is an independent researcher and a fellow with the Khalifa Ihler Institute.

She has been studying another right-wing extremist group known as the Proud Boys. The group has asimilar ideology to the boogaloo. She agreed that groups like these use the Black Lives Matter protests with one thing in mind - raising awareness of their own causes.

It is important to understand that racist, neo-Nazis, white supremacists, ethno-nationalists, civic nationalists they dont start caring about Black lives overnight. They see a conflict to exploit so they can surf the Kali Yuga, more or less, she said.

The Kali Yuga is aHindi phrasefor the final dark stage of the world in which it collapses into the apocalypse and is reborn. Some right-wing groups use the phrasesurf the Kali Yuga as a way to refer to the predicted end of the world.

Kutner noted that the Proud Boys and other right-wing groups have lost strength since the Unite the Right Rally in Charlottesville in 2017 and the New York Ten incident in 2018, which sent two Proud Boy members to jail for an attack on left-wing protesters.

She said they are now using the uncertainty of the coronavirus pandemic and the Black Lives Matter protests to ramp up recruiting.

Theyre really attempting to increase visibility and thats kind of the connection between how they adopt the boogaloo aesthetic," she said of the Proud Boys,"It is less about how they identify, because their views on Black Lives Matter differ from many self-identified boogaloo boys, but they will adopt the boogaloo aesthetic if it helps them maximize their visibility.

The Proud Boys and boogalooare not, of course, the first anti-federal governmentextremists to emerge from Nevada. That movement goes back to the 1970s and the sagebrush rebellion, which bred current protesters such as theBundysofBunkerville.

Sottile thinks much of the anti-government sentiment in Nevada, and around the West, is tied in some ways to the amount of land the federal government manages.

Sometimes that feels like theyve got their hands in the pockets of the people who are trying to live off the land or even just be a little bit further away from the establishment and the government, she said.

She also points to the alleged safety of nuclear testing in Nevada during the 50s and 60s as a deception that fosteredgeneral distrust of the government.

While it seems as if there are more extremist groups now than in years past, Graves said there is actually an ebb and flow to extremism. He said the sagebrush rebellion cooled off when Ronald Reagan, who seemed to be an ally to the cause, was elected. The same thing happened in the late 90s and early 2000s when militia groups dissipatedwhen George W. Bush was elected.

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'The Largest Terror Threat Facing the US' - KNPR

Philadelphia is a Democrat-dominated city with a decidedly left-of-center district attorney (Larry Krasner, an ally of Sen. Bernie Sanders) and Black female police commissioner (former Portland, Oregon Police Chief Danielle Outlaw) who was quick to speak out about the death of George Floyd and stress that she encouraged nonviolent protests. But its also the city where the infamous Frank Rizzo, who was often accused of police overreach, once served as police commissioner and later, mayor. The far right doesnt have a lot of influence in Philly, yet in a July 16 article for the Daily Beast, reporter Kelly Weill discusses the efforts of extremist Proud Boys to ally themselves with Philly police officers.

When the president of Philadelphias police union disavowed a far-right group whose members were photographed at a union party this weekend, Weill reports, it was at least the third time in recent weeks that local cops had been accused of canoodling with violent groups on the fringe. Members of the Proud Boys, an ultra-nationalist group that frequently mingles with white supremacists, were hard to miss when they showed up for a party at the Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police headquarters Thursday night, (July 9).

Weill notes that according to the Philadelphia Inquirer, around ten members of the Proud Boys showed up at that FOP event and chanted all lives matters at protesters. Philadelphia police union president John McNesby, however, spoke out against the extremist group.

In an official statement, McNesby wrote, We have recently been informed that members of the Proud Boys were present outside the FOP headquarters this week following a visit by the vice president (Mike Pence). If we were aware of their presence, we would have immediately escorted them off our property. At no time were these individuals allowed inside of our building. Philadelphia police officers, FOP leadership and members condemn their hateful and discriminatory speech in any form.

But Weill reports that even the Proud Boys called elements of McNesbys statement into question.

According to Weill, In a public chat channel, the group posted a picture of what appeared to be the bar inside the FOP headquarters. On Twitter, the group claimed to have spent $1000 at the headquarters that night.

A Philly police officer who spoke on condition of anonymity was highly critical of the Proud Boys, telling the Beast, Nobody wants them there. I sure as hell dont want them there. Its weird. Who wants them there? Who wants their support?

Steven Windisch, an assistant professor who focuses on criminal justice at Phillys Temple University, told the Beast that the Proud Boys efforts to ally themselves with police officers serve two purposes. One, its a form of recruitment lets get into these institutions, get buddy-buddy with them, and maybe we can recruit them. Two, its also a product of their identity. The Proud Boys, in particular, see themselves as a kind of security force for Republican elites. Theres an unofficial brotherhood that I think they project onto law enforcement that theyre one and the same, fighting the same battle.

then let us make a small request. AlterNets journalists work tirelessly to counter the traditional corporate media narrative. Were here seven days a week, 365 days a year. And were proud to say that weve been bringing you the real, unfiltered news for 20 yearslonger than any other progressive news site on the Internet.

Its through the generosity of our supporters that were able to share with you all the underreported news you need to know. Independent journalism is increasingly imperiled; ads alone cant pay our bills. AlterNet counts on readers like you to support our coverage. Did you enjoy content from David Cay Johnston, Common Dreams, Raw Story and Robert Reich? Opinion from Salon and Jim Hightower? Analysis by The Conversation? Then join the hundreds of readers who have supported AlterNet this year.

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Extremist Proud Boys have been trying to ally themselves with Philadelphia police and showed up at a local FOP event: report - AlterNet

by: ARNO PEDRAM, Associated Press

In this grab taken from video, a boy hangs from a window as flames engulfed an apartment as onlookers below prepare to catch him, in Grenoble, France, Tuesday, July 21, 2020. A boy and a toddler escaped a blaze at an apartment in the southeastern French city of Grenoble on Tuesday after they jumped into the arms of residents. The two brothers, aged three and 10 years old, were hanging from a window as flames engulfed their home and onlookers below screamed for them to jump down. (AP)

PARIS (AP) Two young brothers were saved from an apartment fire in the southeastern French city of Grenoble when they dropped about 10 meters (33 feet) from a window and were caught by people below.

The two, aged 10 and 3, were unharmed by the fall Tuesday but might have suffered from smoke inhalation, French media reported.

Video of the dramatic rescue showed the younger brother being dropped from at least three stories up as black smoke billowed from the window and flames engulfed an adjacent balcony. As onlookers screamed, the older brother then hung from the window and let himself fall into the arms of those below.

The boys were hospitalized along with 17 residents of the building, the media reports said. Four of the people who caught the boys also were taken to the hospital to check if any bones were fractured when they caught the boys.

Athoumani Walid, a 25-year-old student who suffered a broken wrist from helping catch the children, said he heard screams and went out to investigate after seeing the fire from his nearby apartment and rushed to help along with four or five other people.

We didnt know what to do, Walid told The Associated Press on Wednesday. We wanted to break the door but it wasnt possible.

They then went outside and shouted for the boys to jump into their arms.

Although he initially feared for the boys, when they jumped, fear disappeared, Walid said. What mattered was to catch them, he added.

Walid said he hopes the rescue will change perceptions of the Villeneuve neighborhood, which has a large immigrant population.

We are told its a sensitive neighborhood, Walid said, but yesterday we showed we are here for each other, and we save each other.

Mayor Eric Piolle congratulated residents on the rescue, which he said underscored the citys tradition of solidarity and mutual help.

In May 2018, a young Malian migrant rescued a child dangling from a balcony and was offered French citizenship. Video of the rescue showed 22-year-old Mamoudou Gassama climbing up four floors of the apartment building in just seconds to rescue the child, to cheers from onlookers. By the time Parisian emergency services arrived, he had already pulled the child to safety.

Link:

2 boys saved when caught in falls in French apartment fire - FOX 25/48 - WiProud.com

Dionne (Stacey Dash) and Cher (Alicia Silverstone) in the original Clueless. (Paramount)

Clueless star Alicia Silverstone reflected on the movie 25 years on, noting that her favourite part of its legacy is what it means to gay boys.

The 1995 cult classic followed a well-manicured bunch of Beverly Hills high school students in a glossy teen update to Jane Austens Emma. Silverstone played the misguided but well-intentioned Cher, who navigates failing her drivers test, saying as if! a lot and falling for cute guys.

One such guy is Elton, played by Jeremy Sisto, who Cher initially crushes on before he comes out as gay. That slither of LGBT+ representation, coupled with Clueless being aggressively quotable, has long made the film popular in queer circles.

This is something Silverstone, 43, is more than aware of. Chatting to Vogue, she said of all the responses to the film, the queer communitys resposnse was the most meaningful.

I was really well-received by the gay community after Clueless came out, the actor explained.

Theyve always been my people. I dont know if its just this film or my vibe thats endeared me to them, but that has always been my favourite aspect of the film.

Particularly what it means to gay boys.

The interviewer then joked that he knows plenty of gay men who thought they wanted to date Cher until Christian showed up and made us realise we actually wanted to be her best friend.

[American fashion designer] Christian Siriano is like my real-life Christian, Silverstone said.

Whenever we hang out hes basically like my boyfriend. We love each other so much and Im sure some of that stems from him really admiring Clueless and what Cher meant to him and all of his friends growing up.

As much as some are expressing fatigue at Hollywoods obsession with reboots, a Clueless relaunch described as Mean Girls meets Riverdale meets a Lizzo music video might be the one exception.

The new iteration will reportedly be centred on Dionne, played by Stacey Dash in both the 1995 film and the subsequent TV series.

Deadline described the concept as a baby pink and bisexual blue-tinted, tiny sunglasses-wearing, oat milk latt and Adderall-fueled look at what happens when the high school queen bee Cher disappears and her lifelong No. 2 Dionne steps into Chers vacant Air Jordans.

Read the rest here:

Clueless star Alicia Silverstone says she's most proud of how much the film 'means to gay boys' 25 years after its release - PinkNews

MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Simply Healthcare Foundation is directing more than $125,000 to several Boys & Girls Clubs across Florida to address needs related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding will support initiatives such as transportation, healthy eating and access to healthy food options, the Triple Play program and summer childcare services.

The Simply Healthcare Foundation is a philanthropic arm of the Anthem Foundation, which has committed to provide more than $50 million to support COVID-19 relief efforts across the country.

There is an unprecedented need for support in our local communities and Simply Healthcare is committed to supporting local organizations as we all grapple with the challenges brought on by this pandemic, said Holly Prince, Simply Healthcare Medicaid Plan President. To help address the needs of Floridians, we are proud to be working with the Boys & Girls Clubs to support initiatives that will have a direct, positive impact on the health and well-being of people and communities that have been adversely impacted by the pandemic.

Simply Healthcare Foundations $125,000 contribution will support nine Boys & Girls Clubs as they work to urgently address specific COVID-19 relief efforts. The funds will support Triple Play, virtual learning efforts, programs to promote healthy eating and fitness and food distribution efforts to local communities. The funding will support the Boys & Girls Clubs in Hernando, Polk, Citrus, Broward and Manatee Counties, as well as the Tampa Bay, Northeast Florida, Suncoast and Miami-Dade clubs.

The Boys & Girls Clubs are working tirelessly to support our communities during the pandemic, said Alex Rodriguez-Roig, President of Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade. We are grateful to Simply Healthcare Foundation for their generous grant for the Project Learn program to support great futures. With their support, Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade can continue to offer in-person and virtual summer programs to our area youth in a safe and structured environment. These positive programs are very important to keeping our youth members engaged during this critical time.

In 2020, the Simply Healthcare Foundation has contributed more than $600,000 to support COVID-19 relief efforts across Florida to address food insecurity, basic human services, personal protective equipment and medical supplies, technology and social and emotional wellness.

ABOUT SIMPLY HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION

Simply Healthcare Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Anthem, Inc. Together, with local, regional and national organizations, Simply Healthcare Foundation works to enhance the health and well-being of individuals and families in communities that Anthem and its affiliated health plans serve. Simply Healthcare Foundation funding is focused on strategic initiatives working to address and provide innovative solutions to health care challenges, as well as promoting the Healthy Generations Program, a multi-generational initiative with six areas of focus: Healthy Heart, Cancer Prevention, Healthy Maternal Practices, Type 2 Diabetes Prevention, Healthy Active Lifestyles and Mental Health. These disease states and medical conditions include: prenatal care in the first trimester, low birth weight babies, cardiac morbidity rates, long term activities that decrease obesity and increase physical activity, diabetes prevalence in adult populations, adult pneumococcal and influenza vaccinations and smoking cessation.

Originally posted here:

Simply Healthcare Foundation Directs More Than $125000 to Support Boys & Girls Clubs throughout Florida during the COVID-19 Pandemic - Business...

Slaven Bilic hailed West Bromwich Albion's promotion to the Premier League as one of the proudest moments of his career after a 2-2 draw against QPR sent them up on a dramatic final day of the Championship season.

Bilic's side will join Championship title winners Leeds in the top-flight next season after a nail-biting Wednesday night at the Hawthorns.

With third-placed Brentford beaten 2-1 by Barnsley and fourth-placed Fulham held to a 1-1 draw at Wigan, Albion finished in second place to secure their return to the Premier League after two seasons away.

"You don't know how exhausting it was this season. You can't imagine how proud and happy I am," former Croatia and West Ham boss Bilic said.

"I managed my country for six years and I said no matter which club I manage nothing will compare. I feel as proud as I felt then."

On a riveting finale in the second tier, 2013 FA Cup winners Wigan were relegated to League One along with Hull and Charlton.

But the focus was on West Brom, who fell behind against QPR when Ryan Manning netted after 34 minutes.

Grady Diangana equalised just before half-time when he fired in after Callum Robinson set him free.

The Baggies went in front early in the second half when Diangana's cross found the unmarked Robinson to tap in.

QPR weren't making it easy for West Brom and the tension mounted after Eberechi Eze lashed a 61st minute equaliser into the top corner.

West Brom's attention turned to Griffin Park, where Brentford were unable to take advantage as they chased a first season in the top-flight in 73 years.

- West Brom joy -

Brentford, who missed a chance to go second when they lost at Stoke on Saturday, found themselves trailing when Barnsley's Callum Styles struck in the 40th minute.

With West Brom drawing, a victory would have taken Brentford up and Josh Dasilva equalised in the 72nd minute.

But in stoppage time, Clarke Oduor tapped in Barnsley's winner and news quickly spread to the Hawthorns, where Bilic implored his players to defend the point that would take them up.

"What a season, what a league. I didn't enjoy every minute of it, of course, but with a finish like this, the results at the bottom, it's unbelievable," Bilic said.

"I thought Brentford would have pressure in today's game. It's not easy. That's why I'm very proud of the boys."

Barnsley's surprise victory lifted them out of the relegation zone in the most dramatic fashion.

Brentford will have to pick themselves up for the play-offs, where they will face a two-legged semi-final against Swansea, who made a stunning climb into sixth place with a 4-1 win at Reading.

"We can't sit down and cry too long because that will never help anything," Brentford boss Thomas Frank said.

"We will have a sleep and then be ready to fight again."

Swansea took the place of Nottingham Forest, whose 4-1 home defeat against Stoke knocked them below the Welsh club on goal difference.

The other play-off semi-final will see Fulham face fifth placed Cardiff, who eased to a 3-0 win over bottom of the table Hull.

Troubled Wigan are relegated following the end-of-season deduction of 12 points for going into administration earlier this month.

The Latics, who were last in the Premier League in 2013, had reached 59 points, but the deduction reduced their total to 47, which left them in the relegation zone.

Wigan have appealed against the points penalty, which was triggered when the controversial sale of the club left them in the hands of new owners, who immediately opted to go into administration.

"I feel physically sick for everyone. I don't want to talk about the appeal because the reality is, we shouldn't be in this situation," Wigan boss Paul Cook said.

Charlton went down after a 4-0 thrashing at Leeds, who were presented with the Championship trophy -- their first silverware since 1992.

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Premier League's New Boys: 'It's unbelievable': Bilic joy as West Brom promoted to Premier League - RTL Today

Growing up in a small East Texas town allows you to become one of two things: a dreamer or complacent. From the start I was a big dreamer.

As a child I always knew I wanted a bigger life outside of Athens, Texas. I fantasized about moving to a big city and having friends, both male and female friends. Growing up I only had female friends. I dont think I had an actual male friend whom I considered to be a special part of my life until I came out as gay. It was a long road of emptiness.

As a child, boys never wanted to play with me. I was obsessed with two things: singing and gymnastics. Those two things just didnt fit into the normal stream of life for most young Texas country boys.

I got a lot of flack from boys calling me gay, sissy and writing me off as weak because I didnt have a dream to play for the Dallas Cowboys. At the time I told myself I didnt care. I didnt realize the void I had until I was older.

When I was 16, I changed schools, leaving the private school I had attended for 11 years and moving to public school. I reinvented myself. I was not doing gymnastics at this time and joined the cross-country and tennis teams.

Despite having no experience in either sport, I picked them up pretty easily. I loved working hard and pushing myself and for the first time starting making friends who were boys. I wouldnt call any of them close, but because I was a hard worker and contributed to the team I was accepted.

I got back into gymnastics after high school when I joined my college club gymnastics team at Texas State University in San Marcos. I also started coaching the sport as well. As an athlete I continued to compete on the club team until I was 24 and for the first time in my life became close with men, my male teammates.

It may sound strange to some people, but becoming so close to my male teammates filled a void. I always wanted guy friends and as a child always felt nervous around other boys. Gymnastics gave this to me, sports gave this to me. I remember finally telling one of my teammates I was gay and his reaction of finally really shook me. I was under this impression I was fooling everyone, but they all were just waiting for me to share with them. We all became so much closer after this.

After college I moved to Dallas and starting coaching gymnastics full-time. I started a boys competitive team and saw similarities of some boys who reminded me of my younger self. I noticed the boys who had mannerisms like me, who were more artistic and loved pretty things. I also could see how the other boys would treat them. Thats when I knew I had an opportunity to not only make a huge difference in these young boys lives, but also teach lessons.

Coaching was never something I imagined Id make as my lifes profession. After graduating from college and attending graduate school I had every intention of becoming a social worker. I enjoyed helping people, but the profession did not provide me as much satisfaction as coaching gave me.

In 2009 I moved to Colorado with my boyfriend. Through crazy circumstances I took a job managing a gymnastics facility and within a year the owners gave me the option of buying the gym. I took a chance, leaving social work behind and took this small gym and passion I had for the sport and things took off. I started a boys program and after a few years I had created the second largest boys team competitive program in Colorado.

I knew that if I wanted this program to be a safe space for all types of boys I needed to be an example. I needed to be out to both the parents and the boys. My mission was to provide a safe space where boys like me could come and participate in something the loved and not be teased or ridiculed. The way to do that was to make my life seem as normal as any other family.

My boyfriend was involved in all gym functions and surprisingly accepted by everyone. The boys on my team knew who he was and it never mattered. I was providing these young boys with something I didnt have growing up a gay male figure who was proud to be himself.

After owning the gym for 10 years and breaking up with my boyfriend I decided to make a bold move. I sold my gym and moved to LA. I had been involved in CrossFit while in Colorado and had owned and started my own CrossFit gym during my tenure. I decided to make a switch to personal training and coaching CrossFit. The gymnastics background has helped enhance my ability to train adults.

I take a similar approach to teaching skills as I would in gymnastics and continue to create an atmosphere that is all-inclusive, especially to LGBTQ members. Stepping into a gym can be nerve-wracking and intimidating and the extra stress of Will I be accepted for being me? no longer has a place in the fitness and sports community.

I feel very fortunate that the fitness communities Im involved with allow for such diversity and Im proud work with owners, coaches and members to provide safe spaces.

When I have an LGBTQ member come to me and say this is the first time theyve felt included with the straight guys in the gym or that theyve become friends with a straight bro guy for the first time it takes me back to that feeling I had as a kid. Always wanting to be accepted for being me. It makes me really proud to be part of something special.

JR Jaquay lives in Los Angeles where he is a full-time CrossFit Coach and personal trainer. He and his boyfriend Shawn are the proud pops to two mini-Schnazuers, Lemon and Lulu. They are looking forward to expanding their family to two-legged children in the next few years. You can reach JR on Instagram at @jrthegymnasticscoach

Story editor: Jim Buzinski

If you are an out LGBTQ person in sports and want to tell your story, email Jim (kandreeky@gmail.com)

Check out our archive of coming out stories.

If youre an LGBTQ person in sports looking to connect with others in the community, head over to GO! Space to meet and interact with other LGBTQ athletes, or to Equality Coaching Alliance to find other coaches, administrators and other non-athletes in sports.

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From a gay college gymnast to coach and CrossFit trainer - Outsports

7/17/20 Day 26 ofPhase IIINationwide case trends

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What are we saying about Omaha if we begin to criminalize the act of expressing a constitutional right? says activist, JaKeen Fox.

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Good morning,

Today we have stories self care being a revolutionary act forindividuals resisting oppression, Mayor Jean Stothert asking a member of the citys LGBTQ+AdvisoryBoard to resign and Nebraskasattorney general filing a lawsuit against Omaha stem cell therapy clinics.

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The Boys & Girls Clubs of Albany thanks State Farm for a recent financial gift that will help the organization continue providing COVID-19 relief services in the Albany/Dougherty County area.

Eight independent State Farm agents: Dick Thomas, Will Worn, Carl Plowden, Jan Cooper, Steve Perrine, Karen Cohilas, Tim Thomas, and Bobby Underwood donated $5,460 to the organization as part of the State Farm Good Neighbor Community Fund.

State Farm is committed to making a positive difference in neighborhoods everywhere. In a time of unprecedented challenges for customers, employees and communities, State Farm is proud to support efforts that help sustain and revitalize area severely impacted by COVID-19.

Marvin B. Laster, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Albany remarked, "We are always excited to partner with local businesses who are willing to invest their time, talents and treasures in the youth of our community. The collective efforts of eight State Farm agents reinforces the message of Hellen Keller who said, 'Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.'"

In times of tragedy and crisis, Boys & Girls Clubs of Albany have stepped up to provide essential services and programs for youth and families impacted by the pandemic. Today, the organization is committed more than ever, to ensure Club staff, members, families, and communities have the resources and support they need to navigate these uncertain times while also partnering with local business to do more.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Albany relies on public and private support to continue their mission, especially in times of crisis. The organization would not be able to continue its mission without the support of companies like State Farm.

Read this article:

Boys & Girls Clubs of Albany Receives Funding from State Farm - Patch.com

Among 4,600 Boys & Girls Clubs across the country, the Boys & Girls Club of Ridgefield received a National Honor Award for Best Overall Education Program and a National Merit Award for Program Excellence in the core area of Health and Life Skills at Boys & Girls Clubs of Americas Virtual National Conference.

The organization received a $5,000 award and a $2,500 award from MetLife Foundation, sponsor of the annual recognition program, which honors local Clubs for innovative, effective programming leading youth to great futures. Hundreds of entries were submitted in the five core program areas: Leadership & Service; Education; Health & Wellness; the Arts; and Sports & Recreation.

The National Honor Award for Best Overall Education Program recognizes Clubs that develop education programs which complement and reinforce what youth learn during the school day by providing opportunities to practice skills for academic and post-secondary success. These programs allow youth to practice, plan and prepare for their futures. BGCR was specifically recognized for their ongoing efforts to develop and implement education programs that are rooted in social-emotional development practices, enable all youth to be effective, engaged, and adaptive learners who are on track to a great future, and create experiences that invite all youth to fall in love with learning.

We have worked really hard over the past decade to ensure that our programs are inclusive of all types of learners. We view our programs as an extension of the school day, particularly our after-school program. As an informal learning space, the Club has a unique ability to use a hands-on and minds-on approach to learning and enrichment, which provides our Club members with the opportunity to discover and pursue passions that connect to future experiences explained Kristin Goncalves, Associate Executive Director at the Club. We truly value ourselves as partners of the Ridgefield Public School System, and work side-by-side with school administration, support professionals, teachers, and parents to help our Club members succeed academically.

The Merit Award for Program Excellence in Health & Wellness recognizes programs that focus on building the physical, social and emotional wellness of youth. These programs provide opportunities for youth to practice skills for building healthy relationships, regulating emotions, decision-making and solving problems. The Ridgefield Club was recognized for their Positive Sprouts Gardening and SMART Cooking programs, which teach Club members valuable life skills, like sustainability and self-reliance through food preparation and cooking, garden preparation and maintenance, food safety, the importance of feeding your body with nutritious and delicious food.

These programs aid members in discovering their self-worth, being confident in that discovery, and honoring who they are. In a world of technology, it is so important to connect children and teens to the beauty and benefits of living simply, along with providing them with all of the resources necessary to empower their young minds and allow them to realize their full potential, explained Jess Podrazky, Senior Program Director at the Club.

The Honor and Merit Awards for Program Excellence are Boys & Girls Clubs of America's (BGCA) most coveted and prestigious program awards. These awards recognize local Clubs from throughout the Movement for their achievements in outstanding local program development. Award-winning programs are fun, demonstrate imagination and are linked to observable youth development outcomes that lead youth to great futures at Boys & Girls Clubs across the country. With the addition of these two awards, the Ridgefield Club has now been recognized a total of seven times in the past six years. Previously, the Club was the recipient of the National Honor Award for Best Overall Program in 2015, the National Merit Award for Character and Leadership Development in 2016, the National Merit Award for The Arts in 2017, The National Merit Award for Health and Life Skills in 2018, and the National Honor Award for Best Character & Leadership Development Program in 2019.

We are so honored and proud to be recognized by BGCA. Our Club continues to grow and improve year after year, and we have been able to impact more young lives as a result. We are fortunate to have one of the most talented youth development staff in the country, and it is with the help of our donors and supporters that allows us to employ the best of the best. These awards really go to the people of Ridgefield. Their belief and support is what allows us to thrive, stated Mike Flynn, Chief Executive Officer at the Club.

The Boys & Girls Club of Ridgefields mission is to inspire and enable all youth to reach their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens. The Club builds programing around priority outcome areas: academic success, healthy lifestyles, and good character and leadership, providing program opportunities for 2,300 members and more than 5,100 young people each year. In communities nationwide, Boys & Girls Clubs play a vital role in providing young people with safe places to learn and grow, said Dennis White, president and CEO of MetLife Foundation. We are pleased to recognize the Boys & Girls Club of Ridgefield, CT for providing exemplary programs and making a positive difference in the lives of local young people.

For more information on the Club or ways to support the mission, please contact Mike Flynn, Chief Executive Officer, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 203-438-8821 ex. 15.

The Merit Awards for Program Excellence are sponsored by Metlife Foundation, and as an honoree we will also receive a $2,500 award. There are over 4,300 Boys & Girls Club Nationwide and Overseas and we are proud to once again be recognized for our amazing locally developed programs. We couldn't do it without all of our donors, supporters, and amazing staff - thank you for helping us continue to provide our members with award winning programs.

About the Boys & Girls Club of Ridgefield

The Boys & Girls Club of Ridgefield is a fully dedicated youth development facility. The mission of the Boys & Girls Club of Ridgefield is to inspire and enable all young people to reach their full potential as caring, productive, and responsible citizens. The Ridgefield Club has been serving the community since 1936.

Each day at the Club we provide youth development programming in five core areas: Sports, Fitness & Recreation, the Arts, Education & Career Preparation, Health & Life Skills, and Character & Leadership Development. Members of the Club participate in activities in our five core areas that encourage increased learning, improved fitness, positive decision making, creativity, leadership, and community service. As part of the National Boys & Girls Club movement, we are able to utilize high quality programs grounded in years of research. Programming activities are scheduled each day and are free to all Club members.

About MetLife Foundation

MetLife Foundation was established in 1976 to continue MetLifes longstanding tradition of corporate contributions and community involvement. Since it was established, MetLife Foundation has provided more than $600 million in grants to nonprofit organizations addressing issues that have a positive impact in their communities. For more information visit http://www.metlife.org.

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Boys & Girls Club of Ridgefield Wins Two National Awards, Totaling Seven National Awards in Six Years - HamletHub

Victoria Beckham feels "really proud" of her sons.

The 46-year-old designer has Brooklyn, 21, Romeo, 17, and Cruz, 15, with her husband David Beckham - with whom she also has nine-year-old daughter Harper - and has said she couldn't be happier with the way her sons are growing up, as they're "turning out to be really good men".

She said: "I feel really proud of our boys because they are turning out to be really good men. They work hard and they're kind, and being kind is key now. I think everybody should be kind - there are so many horrible things going on in the world. With regards to the boys they always have to have respect for themselves, for others, for girls. Our boys have always had the utmost respect for everyone. They have always been like that."

And for the former Spice Girls star, motherhood is her greatest achievement.

She added during an interview with photographer Alexi Lubimorski for his YouTube series: "Being a mum is the most important job in the world. I love what I do professionally and I take it very seriously but there is nothing more serious than having children. It's your responsibility to bring up really good, good people so I take that responsibility seriously. I try to be the best mum, I try to be the best wife, and I try and be the best professional."

Victoria has been staying at home with her family amid the coronavirus pandemic, and recently said her time in lockdown has been "precious".

She explained: "While working from home, we've been on walks every day as a family. How often would we all go on a walk together normally? Usually there's a conference call or a work meeting or someone is travelling abroad. These times are precious.

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'They're really good men': Victoria Beckham is proud of her sons - Dothan Eagle

ORLANDO New York City FC probably wont know until Thursday night whether its work at the MLS Is Back Tournament is finished.

As one of six third-place teams vying for four spots in the knockout, head coach Ronny Deila and company will have to wait until the Houston Dynamo-LA Galaxy game is completed at 10 p.m. ET.

First of all, were going to enjoy the victory, Deila said after his team defeated Inter Miami CF in its final group stage match Wednesday. Thats important and then were going to train and develop ourselves. We want to get another chance, so hopefully we can do it, but its not in our hands anymore. We gave ourselves an opportunity that it can happen with winning today. Were going to prepare for playing one more game down here, hopefully more than one.

Midfielder Keaton Parks had the same attitude.

Were going to stay ready just in case we go through, he said. Our mindset is the same. Were ready [for the knockout round] and were going to keep training and keep being intense out on the field and well be ready whether were going home or playing.

Deila was just happy his team earned something three points after going winless in the past five consecutive matches one in the Concacaf Champions League, two in Major League Soccer in March and the first two contests at the competition here.

Today Im very proud of the team, he said. We can talk as much as we want about chances or savesbut if youre going to be a good team you need to be organized, and you need to be working as a unit and be very safe defensively. Today the boys worked their asses off. They were fantastic in the pressureIm unbelievably proud of the boys today. Its a tough situation when you dont win games, and to stay together, stick together and be a unit, the victory is very, very important.

Midfielder Ismael Tajouri-Shradi said NYCFC was the only team to play twice at 9 a.m. While the heat isnt as high as in the afternoon, both sides are playing in the sunlight and of course, in humidity.

It was so hot, there were four hydration breaks two in each half as opposed to the normal two.

Its unbelievable how hot it was, Tajouri-Shradi said. Today, I think it was more than the first game against Philadelphia, but yeah, we knew it was going to be really hard.

Added Deila: To play at 9 oclock in the morning, its really, really tough. Its not about who plays good, its about those who dont do mistakes. Thats what we did today, we didnt do any mistakes. We didnt give them anything.

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THE WAITING GAME BEGINS: NYCFC must sit and hope for the best - frontrowsoccer.com

Last year Partners in Diversity, an organization dedicated to attracting and retaining diverse talent, commissioned the Workforce Diversity Retention Project, a scientific study on the experiences and outcomes of people of color at Oregon companies.

The study, conducted by Martinez Organizational Consulting, surveyed nearly 300 professionals of color from across the state, 45% of whom held management positions. It also conducted 30 in-depth qualitative interviews.

While the study was conducted before the national protests over the death of George Floyd on May 25, the report found widespread racial prejudice in the workplace, a lack of broad diversity and a culture of isolation that punishes employees of color who spoke up to management.

RELATED STORY: Black Lives Matter: Improving Racial Justice In the Workplace

Below are five takeaways from the study:

1. Most employees of color face discrimination at work

Nearly three in four respondents (74%) reported facing discrimination at their place of work, and only 27% of employees said they felt satisfied with their job.

Coming from the South, my friends and family thought I was escaping much of the racism we experienced, said one respondent. We now know that racism, xenophobia, and prejudice all live here too, but in less overt forms. White liberals often are at this intersection in my experience.

These experiences ranged from social exclusion and unintentionally hurtful comments to overt racist remarks from co-workers.

One respondent reported how they were accosted by a fellow employee who was an outspoken member of the Proud Boys, a far-right, neofacist organization. After the incident, managers did not respond with disciplinary action.

Only 17% of respondents said they felt supported by their organizations upper level of management. Partners in Diversity says that having management and human resource divisions well-versed in diversity, equity and inclusion practices can help to mitigate these situations.

2. Companies employ few people of color

Only 12% of respondents reported their workplace was diverse. Most employees of color (70%) said they experience tokenism, in which they are the sole spokesperson for their ethnic group at their organization.

Curtis Robinhold, executive director of the Port of Portland,recommended in an online panel about the findings of the study that managers organize affinity groups for employees of color to help them find community within the organization.

Building community for employees of color is crucial to solving issues of tokenism. Mari Watanabe, executive director of Partners in Diversity, says that events in which employees of color can meet and network with one another, such at her organizations annual Say Hey events, can help connect employees facing similar situations.

Related Story: Why Business Owners of Color Are More Impacted By Covid-19.

3. Employees who speak up face retaliation

While employers are legally unable to punish employees for speaking out about discrimination, respondents who brought up racist incidents experienced retailation of a different kind: respondents reported co-workers kept their distance after such incidents.

Some respondents referred to the attitudes of white co-workers as Portland nice, meaning that while a co-worker might present a veneer of being liberal and accepting, when conflict around race arose, they would punish the employee of color who spoke up by not speaking to them or by being brief and curt instead of warm and friendly.

This is a very passive-aggressive place, said one respondent.

Humans naturally punish each other with isolation, says Larry Martinez, lead researcher of the study. If we do something bad, we get sent to jail to be isolated. If we do something bad in jail, we get sent to solitary confinement.

Partners in Diversity recommends employers put anti-retaliation policies in place, and that managers should offer praise and public thanks to employees who make their grievances known.

4. Companies pay lip service to inclusion practices

While many respondents reported their companies attempt to earn brownie points by holding diversity and inclusion events, they did little to improve the employee experience. Respondents reported their views and opinions were heard and politely received, but lacked implementation.

Culture is more important than strategy, said Patrick Criteser, president and CEO ofTillamook County Creamery Association. Unless inclusion practices are woven into a companys DNA and mission statement, one-off events do not have a positive effect.

5. Employees of color cannot solve these issues on their own

White employees and white managers play a large role in ending racist and discriminatory practices in the workplace. Since there is little employers can do to stop employees from shunning one another, Jeremy Barnicle, executive director of Ecotrust, says that white employees understanding of racial prejudice is vital.

We now have antiracism learning groups where white folks can get together and read up on the topic, he says. Additionally, Ecotrust employees have signed shared agreements in which employees commit to honoring anti-racist practices.

Understanding Oregons racist past is essential in understanding the plight of employees of color, he says.

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Workplace Inclusion Study Highlights Need for Change - Oregon Business

For seventeen years, musician Brad Paisley and his wife, actress Kimberly Williams have sustained their relationship without scandal. Together, the pair are parents to two amazing sons, making up their adorable family of four.

The country music artist,Brad Paisleyand his wife of seventeen years, Kimberly Williams, are proud parents of two boys. Since starting a family, the pair has proven to be the ideal power couple, who have undoubtedly done a good parenting job.

KIMBERLY WILLIAMS AND BRAD PAISLEY'S FAMILY

The pair tied the knot in 2003, years after their first hookup. Four years into theirmarriage, on February 22, 2007, they welcomed their first son.

Two years later, theywelcomedanother son, Jasper Warren, on April 17, 2009. They named their second son after Paisley's grandfather, who spurred the country singer's career by gifting him his first guitar.

Brad Paisley's children, Huck and Jasper, now aged 13 and 10 respectively, have grown up away from prying eyes. This was partly due to their parent'sdecisionto keep their kids' lives as "normal" as possible.

RAISING TWO BOYS AMID THE FAME

Paisley and his wife have been open about how theyraisetheir kids. Sharing some of his parenting tips, the singer once revealed they raised the boys to be humble and kind. He acknowledged that every parent needs to actively take that approach before kids would embrace the two virtues.

In addition to encouraging the kids to adopt good behaviors, Brad Paisley and Kimberly Williams allow them limited screen time.

Brad Paisley's kids got to watch the TV mostly on weekends while keeping busy with other essential things on school days. The singer admittedly appreciates how Huck and Jasper have turned out so far.

Despite his seemingly firm parenting approach, Paisley allowed his children room to express themselves and offered assurance that their opinions were valued.

Headmittedto relying on the boys as the first sources of public reaction to his music. The music icon explained how, before releasing a new song, he ran it by his family. Once they loved it, he knew it was okay to share with the world.

BRAD PAISLEY'S KIDS INSPIRED HIS NASHVILLE NON-PROFIT

In a bid to foster kindness and humility in their kids, Brad Paisley and Kimberly Williams discovered a new passion. In 2019, the duo launched a new non-profit called "The Store" in Nashville.

Explaining the concept, the couple related the project to the Unity Shoppe in Santa Barbara. Going further, they revealed how discovering Unity Shoppe during their parenting journey gave them the idea to start up the non-profit. Paisleyrecalled:

"It was one Thanksgiving when Kim said, 'These kids are spoiled. They need to understand there's hungry people out there. And where should we go?'"

On a friend's suggestion, they took the kids to Unity Shoppe and made them volunteer. After helping out a couple of times, the kids finally realized the importance of charity.

After several visits, Huck, then aged seven, admitted it felt great helping others. That admittedly inspired his parents' determination to continue the good work and create their own avenue to render help.

KIMBERLY AND BRAD'S LOVE STORY

Before becoming Kimberly Williams' husband, Paisley lived through his bout of heartbreak, and phases of uncertainty. His interest in the actressdevelopedfrom the first time he spotted her in her debut movie, "Father Of the Bride," at nineteen.

Again, at 23, after suffering a breakup, he watched Williams in the movie's sequel and realized she possessed many qualities he admired and considered rare. However, their paths never crossed in real life until five years later, when Paisley's career was taking off.

Brad Paisley wrote a song about his ex-girlfriend as well as the movie, "Father Of The Bride." He considered it ideal to cast Kim as the female figure in the music video.

She took the offer, leading to their first meeting. They kept in touch for several weeks after the video, before eventually going on a first date.

Months later, they officially became a couple. Paisleyproposedto Williams on the Venice Beach Pier, the same spot they first professed their love for each other. On March 15, 2003, six months after their engagement, the pair got married.

Kimberly and Brad Paisley's family flourished over the years, as the foursome live happily together in their little Tennessee neighborhood.

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Brad Paisley and Kimberly Williams Are Proud Parents of 2 Boys Discover Their Family - AmoMama

OTTAWA The Canadian Armed Forces has issued new orders to military personnel as senior commanders seek to address allegations of having been soft on hate in the ranks.

The orders, which aim to take a harder line on "hateful conduct," follow a rash of high-profile incidents in which the military was caught flatfooted as service members were publicly linked to hateful actions or groups.

"The year before, it was more like a reaction kind of approach," acknowledged Maj.-Gen. Marc Gagne, who oversees strategy, plans and policy within the chief of military personnel's office. "We were reacting to cases."

The new direction also comes as the military is actively working to recruit more women, visible minorities and Indigenous people to ensure it reflects Canadian society and is better able to operate in diverse theatres.

The new order aims to leave no doubt about what constitutes "hateful conduct" by banning anything words, images or symbols that encourages, justifies or promotes violence or hatred against individuals or groups.

That includes discrimination based on nationality or ethnic background, race, colour, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status or disability.

"We were talking about different forms of misconduct: sexual misconduct, harassment, discrimination," Gagne said. "But 'hateful conduct' was never clearly articulated. ... We broke new ground by developing this definition."

Troops are required to report any and all incidents while military commanders are expected to take action when incidents are brought to their attention. All have been warned that they will be held to account if they do not.

A database has also been created to track such incidents, based on the system created to monitor sexual misconduct in the ranks. New training for troops and screening for recruits is being developed.

"The idea is basically as soon as you join, it's crystal-clear and we're going to keep reinforcing through education and training as you move through the ranks and as you assume more responsibility," Gagne said.

Bernie Farber, chair of the Canadian Anti-Hate Network, described the new orders and definition as a positive and long overdue step. But he said only time will tell whether the military follows through in addressing hate in the ranks.

"Right now, these are just words," he said. "They are good words ... But too often in the past, when they investigated, it has really only resulted to the best of our knowledge in a slap on the wrist. What we need to see from the Canadian Armed Forces is they take meaningful actions."

The new approach follows a number of incidents in recent years in which the military has been accused of not doing enough to root out hate from the ranks.

Those incidents have ranged from sailors associated with the Proud Boys group disrupting a Mi'kmaq ceremony in Halifax in 2017 to the case of a Manitoba army reservist who was accused of being a recruiter for a neo-Nazi group.

Patrik Mathews is currently in custody in the U.S. with two other men after disappearing from his home in Beausejour. The FBI have accused them of plotting to start a race war on behalf of The Base, a white-supremacist group.

Senior commanders also faced months of questions and criticism after a military intelligence report in 2018 identified 30 service members as belonging to hate groups or having otherwise made discriminatory or racist statements.

The Armed Forces eventually reported in November that 16 of those members had been warned, disciplined or ordered to take counselling but allowed to stay in uniform. A number of other cases were described as "ongoing."

It also comes amid concerns about systemic racism within the military, RCMP and other government institutions.

Chief of defence staff Gen. Jonathan Vance and Defence Department deputy minister Jody Thomas last month apologized for their slow response to questions about systemic racism.

Service members have been told that more detailed policies and orders on systemic racism are coming soon.

Gagne said the new orders are just the first step in a much longer effort to change attitudes within the Armed Forces and ensure the military is leading by example when it comes to hate.

"To change culture, to change group dynamics, to change or modify perceptions and beliefs will take time," he said "But we had to take action. Somebody may think this is a one-off. But those little one-offs could erode the institution."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 19, 2020.

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Military issues new orders in effort to crackdown on 'hateful conduct' - Kamloops This Week

If you thought the 36-day national agony over hanging chads in the 2000 presidential election was bad, imagine what President Trump might do if the 2020 election is too close to call on Election Night. Hes already preparing the script for a remake of the 2000 election with his own authoritarian twist.

By now, its easy to ignore Trumps angry, conspiracy-laced tweets about a rigged election. We shouldnt, though, because it very well could be a preview of whats to come. For example, heres a tweet from last Friday:

Hes right about one thing. Election results are likely to be delayed this year. Coronavirus concerns have prompted states to expand mail-in voting options, and millions of Americans have taken up the offer. Those ballots take much longer to count than in-person votes. When the 2000 election became too close to call, everything came down to a trio of Florida counties where lawyers wrangled over butterfly ballots, miscounts, undervotes, overvotes, hanging chad, swinging chad, tri chad, dimpled chad, and pregnant chad, too. This time, President Trump is already questioning ballots three months before a single vote is cast.

So, go on and get your anti-anxiety meds ready because the stage is set for a democratic crisis far worse than what we lived through in 2000. This time around, Trump has every lever of the federal government at his disposal. Smear merchants and bots will drive social media discussion, not James Baker and Warren Christopher in the courtrooms. Forget the so-called Brooks Brothers riot by a bunch of GOP staffers on a floor of a drab bureaucratic building in Miami. This time around, the Proud Boys and Antifa will be warring in the streets. Do you feel the walls closing in yet?

Good. All the better to prepare.

The 2020 stage is a tinderbox compared to 2000. As of today, over 138,000 Americans have died from COVID-19. The commander-in-chief Republican candidate is egging on his base in speeches and tweets depicting his opponents as radical left mobsters hell-bent on destroying the country. Pro-gun activists have swarmed state capitols to protest pandemic lockdowns. Mass protests and violence have broken out in cities across America in the wake of the killing of George Floyd. To top it all off, President Trump deployed soldiers to gas peaceful protesters in Lafayette Square. And for what? A freaking photo op.

Even if one took Trumps thuggery out of the question, the 2020 election would look different from normal elections, given the widespread use of mail-in ballots. In 2016, nearly a quarter of Americas votes were cast by mail. This year, some observers have estimated that as much as half of the electorate will vote by mail in November. Certainly the rate of voting by mail shot up during the primaries.

Despite Trumps criticisms of vote-by-mail efforts, Democrats are pushing them to great success.

In Florida, a state where Trump only beat Clinton by just 112,911 votes49 to 48 percentto notch 29 electoral votes, Democrats currently have a 400,000-voter advantage over Republicans when it comes to vote-by-mail enrollment ahead of the states August primary.

Dont look now, but the president is already questioning the results from Pennsylvania, another state where the number of mail-in ballots skyrocketed and Trump won by a slim 44,292 vote margin (48 to 47 percent) in 2016.

During the Keystone States primary, Democratic Governor Tom Wolf expanded vote-by-mail options to allow no-excuse absentee voting. As a result, 1.5 million people voted by mail last month. Thats 17 times the number of voters (about 84,000) who voted absentee in 2016.

The Trump campaign, along with the Republican National Committee and four Republican members of Congress representing western Pennsylvania districts, filed a lawsuit arguing that ballots dropped off at collection sites, rather than sent through the post office or delivered by hand to county elections offices, should be disqualified. The lawsuit stated that the Pennsylvania system gives fraudsters an easy opportunity to engage in ballot harvesting, manipulate or destroy ballots, manufacture duplicitous votes, and sow chaos.

The primary lesson of the 2000 presidential contest is that campaigns dont necessarily end on Election Night.

Say what you want about Al Gores pathetic scattershot search for more votes after the news networks blew their calls on Election Night. Bush could have rested on his laurels as the declared winner. He secured his victory because his team didnt stop their campaign after the ballots were cast. The Bush campaigns three-pronged efforts to mount a full-fledged political, legal, and persuasion offensive is why he became president. The final Supreme Court decision was only the climax.

If put in a similar position to fight for the presidency, its safe to predict that Trump would act far more aggressively than either Bush or Gore ever dreamed.

One of the more memorable aspects of the 2000 recount was the Brooks Brothers riot where the Bush campaign flew GOP staffers to protest the recount proceedings in Miami-Dade County, Florida. At issue was whether there would be a new standard for counting undervotes, and local officials sought to take discussions to an upper floor of the building, where the protesters would not be able to observe. At that point, the Republicans erupted and followed them up. Crammed into the smaller space, unable to see what was happening, they got angry. They yelled that Democrats were stealing the election. They banged doors. They roughed up a Democratic staffer in possession of a sample ballot.

And it worked. Hours later, the officials surrendered. Canvassing board chairman Lawrence King Jr., a circuit court judge, said that when the board agreed to count votes, It became evidently clear that we were in a different situation . . . than we were this morning when we made that decision. . . . A radically different situation.

Whether one agrees with the recount or not, its stunning to consider that a mild protest was all it took for protesters to shut it down in Miami.

Rory Cooper, a GOP staffer who participated in the so-called riot, said to watch out for flashpoints where lawyers and protesters can descend, as they did in Miami-Dade. There are going to be performative acts on each side to show who is winning and losing, he told me. Like everything with Trump, though, it would be far more jarring. He predicted mini earthquakes every day, rather than the ongoing rumble of a recount.

But could things actually turn violent this time?

For answers on that, I spoke to Rachel Brown, the founder and director of Over Zero, a non-profit dedicated to preventing identity-based violence and other forms of group-based harm, who studies how communication can increase or decrease the chances of violence. She said that with the type of rhetoric we see around this election, we need to be proactive about preventing violenceboth pre-election and post-election. When it comes to post-election violence, she said, there will be a results waiting period and it will be important to see how politicians handle themselves and how this period is discussed in the media.

Do they question the results in broad, big terms or specific complaints that can be remedied? Brown said. There will be real grievances if there are procedural challenges, and its important that those issues are addressed through proper legal channels quickly. For this to work, there has to be lots of communicationabout what has happened and how it gets resolved.

Media needs to be educated on state-by-state procedures and have the knowledge about how to manage expectations and help people be patient through such a new process, Brown cautioned. Be aware of any preemptive declarations the election is illegitimate, preemptive declarations of victory, and any excessive use of state forcefor example, if peaceful protesters are met with force. And the propensity for violence can rise, she added, when voters feel like the stakes are zero sum.

Uh-oh. That sounds exactly like President Trump and his supporters.

If you are feeling masochistic, imagine how Trump will act if hes in a position to question the results on Election Night, whether he be trying to close a tight gap or disqualify votes and maintain a lead. Governor George Bush would have never tweeted: The lyin fake news tried to steal the election from me and then Democrats invented a HOAX about uncounted ballots. I WON. SHUT DOWN THE FRAUD. But, President Trump sure would.

And just think of what else he could do.

If he was ahead would he find a way, through mass revolt and state intervention to stop counting the mailed-in ballots he told us were rigged all along? Might an allied Republican governor confiscate them and plunge them into circular files never to be seen? If Trump is down, could he convince Republican state legislators to preemptively certify him the winner, even in defiance of a Democratic governor, to notch Electoral College votes? Would President Trump and Attorney General Bill Barr invoke the Insurrection Act to deploy active duty military to help them do it?

Given the possible scenarios, a contentious Supreme Court ruling may be the least of our worries.

The 2020 election is our countrys last, best hope to stop President Trump. Still, there are no guarantees if he contests the outcome. Those who wish to defeat Trump need to make it a blowout. This election cant be too close to call.

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Get Ready for the 2020 Election Recount - The Bulwark

A day in the life of a 5-year-old boy in 1935.

And what a day it could be even for a youngster who had to share almost nothing with five siblings.

Like almost every day, this day started about 5 a.m. when he was up and ready to help a mother, a lone parent living on little more than hope.

But that didnt bother the little boy. When you survive life without, you dont know anything about life with.

Mom would be ready to start fixing breakfast after he started the fire in the potbelly stove, and what a meal it would be. Homemade biscuits with grease gravy was as good as it could get.

And his mom liked the way he prepared that meal day after day. His biscuits were broken up into small bites and stacked in a cone-shaped manner. He called it gravy on the treetop.

Then it was up from the kitchen table and out the back door for a day of activities a whole lot like the day before. It started with a walk out of the backyard and onto property occupied by the Illinois Central Railroad. It was his place, he thought, to see if the huge steam engine was ready for its daily trip to Horse Branch and a meeting with a northeast IC train.

The little boy was sort of a pet with the understanding trainmen. They knew he lost his dad at the age of 2 and his part of helping run that railroad yard was deemed very important.

When there was time, Mr. Norman (last name unknown), the yardmaster, would walk him around the engine in a pretense of making sure it was ready for the days run. And he would tell his friend that he thought it was OK.

That railroad yard and the kindness of its employees was a vital part of the youngsters welfare.

When aware of his need for coal, Mr. Adkins, the big strong man who nightly refilled the engines hopper, would intentionally drop several shovels full down between the coal car and hopper so it could later be gathered up by the boy and taken to his coal-heated house.

Also available, thanks to the trainmen, was the ice remaining in the engines cooler when the train returned to the yard every afternoon. It served to keep the familys icebox in working order.

And then there was Owensboro Milling Company, the forerunner of Owensboro Grain, a business that also helped Hamilton Avenue residents with their need for corncobs.

The 5-year-old took advantage of that generosity by keeping a good supply of the waste product that was used to help make starting fires in stoves and grates a lot easier.

But coal, corncobs and making sure the big engine was ready for its daily run did not fill the little boys day. There would be games of marbles, pitching washers, sweeping the all-dirt backyard and perhaps making a homemade kite.

There would be walks through the cornfield separating Hamilton Avenue and Daviess County High to watch the older boys playing baseball, and riding his skipmobile down a long sidewalk that stretched from the front of the school to U.S. 60.

And what was a skipmobile? It was a scooter made of 2-by-4s and discarded iron state wheels.

Last but certainly not least would be a relaxing and loved-filled evening with Mom in the front porch swing. She would ask about his day and listen with ultimate interest. And when necessary, she would thank him for the coal and corncobs.

That made a little boy proud on a day in 1935.

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A day in the life of a 5-year-old boy in 1935 - messenger-inquirer

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, his wife Chirlane McCray and Rev. Al Sharpton help paint a Black Lives Matter mural on Fifth Avenue directly in front of Trump Tower on July 9, 2020 in New York City. In a tweet, President Trump called the mural a symbol of hate and said that it would be denigrating this luxury Avenue. (Photo by David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)

The Black Lives Matter street mural in front of Trump Tower has created the perfect hotspot for anti-BLM protesters.

Earlier this month, with the help of Mayor Bill de Blasio, Black Lives Matter painted its slogan outside of President Trumps old home on Fifth Avenue, near Columbus Circle.

This Saturday, protesters promoting the All Lives Matter movement congregated at the newly installed street mural, The New York Post reported.

READ MORE: Mayor De Blasio to install Black Lives Matter mural in front of Trump Tower

There was a clash between the two opposing sides. Some of the anti-BLM protesters could be seen with Blue Lives Matter flags. One flag read thin blue line, which is a police term used to indicate that the police are the force that hold society together.

In some videos, one woman can be seen cursing at the Black Lives Matter protesters while directing exaggerated coughing and sneezing gestures toward them.

The Daily Mail alleges that some of the anti-BLM protesters could be members of the Proud Boys, a violent gang of white young men whose views aligns with the alt-right.

The organization is ahate group, according to the US Southern Poverty Law Center.

According to The New York Post, some anti-BLM protesters decided to kneel while wearing their All Lives Matter shirts and Make America Great Again caps.

The anti-BLM protesters also interrupted a mans live recording about George Floyd. The group taunted the vlogger, screaming fk you! and making rude gestures.

READ MORE:Trump angrily responds to Black Lives Matter mural to be painted in front of Trump Tower

The anti-BLM protesters chanted USA and commie scum to Black Lives Matter members who were already chanting.

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All Lives Matter protesters clash with Black Lives Matter protesters in front of Trump Tower - TheGrio

Victoria Beckham feels "really proud" of her sons.

The 46-year-old designer has Brooklyn, 21, Romeo, 17, and Cruz, 15, with her husband David Beckham - with whom she also has nine-year-old daughter Harper - and has said she couldn't be happier with the way her sons are growing up, as they're "turning out to be really good men".

She said: "I feel really proud of our boys because they are turning out to be really good men. They work hard and they're kind, and being kind is key now. I think everybody should be kind - there are so many horrible things going on in the world. With regards to the boys they always have to have respect for themselves, for others, for girls. Our boys have always had the utmost respect for everyone. They have always been like that."

And for the former Spice Girls star, motherhood is her greatest achievement.

She added during an interview with photographer Alexi Lubimorski for his YouTube series: "Being a mum is the most important job in the world. I love what I do professionally and I take it very seriously but there is nothing more serious than having children. It's your responsibility to bring up really good, good people so I take that responsibility seriously. I try to be the best mum, I try to be the best wife, and I try and be the best professional."

Victoria has been staying at home with her family amid the coronavirus pandemic, and recently said her time in lockdown has been "precious".

She explained: "While working from home, we've been on walks every day as a family. How often would we all go on a walk together normally? Usually there's a conference call or a work meeting or someone is travelling abroad. These times are precious.

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'They're really good men': Victoria Beckham is proud of her sons - Martinsville Bulletin