DAVID W. PONTON,

Massies Mill

Questions the pandemic brings

There is no way out other than the path of truth. A true pandemic needs no mainstream news telling us about it 24/7 via the television, the radio, and the newspapers. A true viral pandemic is witnessed in our cities, our towns, our communities, and within our families, by each and every one of us.

A true pandemic cannot be missed by the masses, on a daily basis, by its basic definition. So who among us has personally witnessed the death and destruction of this pandemic? I did not say anything about someone becoming sick, or even dying from a virus. I said 'pandemic.'

Regardless of what many of you are believing, millions of jobs have not been lost due to a virus. The entire transformation of our daily lives has not been caused by a virus. The economy, which is in fact, we the people doing business on a daily basis, that supports our individual lives and our families, has not been destroyed by a virus. Being concerned for the life of the economy is being concerned for the life and well-being of people!

All that is being blamed on a virus is actually the fault of 'we the people', who have let fear and doubt take over our very minds; caused us to doubt the very truth of our daily existence.

Again, I ask quite simply. Who among us has witnessed the devastation of a viral, deadly pandemic? If the majority of us have not, then there simply is no pandemic. That simple reality, if understood, and acted upon with courage, would transform this lie that we are living within.

Original post:

Letters to the Editor for Thursday, Aug. 6 | Opinion | newsadvance.com - Lynchburg News and Advance

Theres a reason why some plants are called perennials. There is no off-season in gardening.

August means harvest time for those who planted vegetables around Victoria Day, and that means the first batch of ripe tomatoes, tender greens, radishes and even the first new potatoes have made their way from the vines and the ground onto the dinner table. It also means watering to keep gardens from drying out in Winnipegs hot summer days.

Theres also a visual harvest, especially for those who have transformed their yards into a oasis of native plants and flowers from the usual patch of green grass.

Rachel Andrushuk planted her first garden in May, joining a wave of new gardeners who put extra time at home during the COVID-19 pandemic to good use.

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES

Rachel Andrushuk planted a garden for the first time in May and she is going to have a larger garden next year.

"It was very rewarding to eat something I grew myself," Andrushuk says. "I only planted a small garden to see how it went, and it was fairly successful, so Im going to expand next year and hopefully be able to share some of my vegetables with others."

She is not alone among gardeners thinking about 2021. August is high time to begin planning for next years garden, says Jan DuBois, the vice-president for growth and development at Ron Paul Garden Centre, and her colleague, greenhouse manager Ryan Stupak.

The pandemic is playing a role in those plans.

"I think that while we want to be optimistic and say everyone may be able to travel more next year or do more things, if were realistic about it, people are looking at it and saying, We might be home next summer too," DuBois says. "So theyre doing projects or planning for next year to make their yards an oasis should they need to be there next year."

That means August and the fall are busy times for landscapers and for homeowners finishing up summer projects.

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

The weather can be a temptation for a second season of quick-growing vegetables such as lettuce, spinach or kale, but a September frost can ruin those plans, says Jan DuBois.

"Anything from a tree or shrub variety, whether that be deciduous or evergreens, those can be done up until we get the hard freeze-up of winter," she says. "Right up until the trees have gone dormant and lost their leaves you can put them in. They wont know any different as long as you can continue (to) water right until that hard frost time."

DuBois adds the same goes for perennials, which also can be planted between now and freeze-up, but they need to be watered continually to build their roots before they go dormant for the winter. Beware of fertilizing trees, shrubs and perennials at this time of year, though.

"Try not to overfertilize at this time of year, because trees and shrubs, specifically, you want them to go naturally into dormancy and if we fertilize were asking it to push growth," DuBois says. "You can sometimes make tender shoots that can get affected by frost."

Planting bulbs like daffodils and tulips are a project more suited to the fall.

"Those have to go in when the ground is quite cold. You dont want them to sprout in the fall. You want to put them in when the ground is cold and almost too difficult to dig," DuBois says.

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

Ryan Stupak prunes different varieties of perennials at Ron Paul Garden Centre.

The hot weather were having is a temptation for those looking for a second season of quick-growing vegetables such as lettuce, spinach or kale. But DuBois says theres a risk.

"Its just a matter how long in September before we run into frost," she says. "Those crops are very susceptible to frost. They have a lot of water in the leaf. So by their nature, once we hit a period of time when theres frost, unless you pick it, you run a big risk of losing it. Fortunately lettuce seed is fairly inexpensive."

Instead, she suggests growing late vegetables in containers so they get the best of the warm weather now but can be tucked inside a garage to avoid the frost in September.

alan.small@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter:@AlanDSmall

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

Jan DuBois waters trees and shrubs in the landscaping area at the Ron Paul Garden Centre.

Alan SmallArts and Life Editor

Alan Small was named the editor of the Free Press Arts and Life section in January 2013 after almost 15 years at the paper in a variety of editing roles.

Read full biography

See the rest here:

Always on the grow - Winnipeg Free Press

HOLE-IN-ONEJacob Gran

WINTERPORT, Maine Jacob Gran of Winterport shot a hole-in-one on the 120-yard fourth hole at Streamside Golf Course on July 31. Gran aced the hole with a 9-iron and it was witnessed by Josh Tripp, Mary Ginn, Mark Fitzpatrick and Kenneth Brassbridge.

ROCKLAND, Maine Bob Ray of Manchester recorded a hole-in-one on the 125-yard 18th hole during a Central Maine Seniors Association tourney at Rockland Golf Club on Monday, Aug. 3. He used an 8-iron for his second career ace and it was witnessed by Peter Meucendyk, Paul Auger and Dou Chai, all of Manchester.

Regular Tees Flight 1 Gross: Brian Angis 67, Mike Arsenault Jr. 68, Jeff Cole 68, Ashley Fifield 72, Dave Gushee 72; Net: Shawn Picard 64, Robert Davies 67, Campbell Macomber 68, Joe Lariviere 69, Keith Croteau 69, Matt Townsend 69; Senior 1 Gross: Cash Wiseman 70, Tom Ellsworth 70, Rocky Myers 71, Phil Barter 72; Net: Steve Shugars 67, Jim Stevens 69, Steve Hodge 69, Tad Woolsey 69, Russ Scudder 69; Senior 2 Gross: Bill Holmes 79, Ben Welch 81, Dan Wentworth 83; (tie) Tom W Cloutier, Ray Hebert, Mark Hammond, Ted Jala, Steve Wiley, Ed Peterson, Rolf Madsen 84; Net: Steve Norton 68, Roger Guillerault 68, Fred Andrews 68, Dana Costigan 69, John Herbst 69

Senior Tees Flight 1 Gross: Reggie Grant 69,Ricky Plummer 71, Zibby Puleio 72, Reid Birdsall 72, Bob Libby 73, Paul Nichols 73; Net 1: Greg Loring 62, Jeff Wintle 63, Skip Waltz 63, Gary Andrew 65, Jim Dillon 66, Tom Reardon 68, Harry Loring 68

Team Quota 3 of 4: Greg Loring, Harry Loring, Anthony Michaud, Tom Zuke +14, Joe Lariviere, Rick Plummer, Rudy Plummer, Tom Smith +9, Tom Greer, Mark Hampton, Skip Waltz, Leo Marquis +9, Gary Andrew, Jerry Mansfield, Tom Reardon, Tom Wells +8, Rick Goss, Bill Holmes, Steve Wiley, Ben Welch +7, Bert Dube, Dennis Dube, John Herbst, Roger Guillerault +7, Scott Cormier, Mike Hayes, Dana Costigan, Steve Norton +6.

White Tee Skins Gross: No. 10, Dave Gushee 3, No. 18, Tom Ellsworth 3. Net: No. 3 Mark Hammond 2, No. 4 Bill Holmes 1, No. 12 Tom W Cloutier 2, No. 15 Bert Dube 1. Gold Tee Skins Gross: No. 3 Rich Campbell 3, No. 11 Reggie Grant 3, No. 13 Mike MacKinnon 2. Net: No. 1 Bruce Pelletier 2, No. 2 Jeff Wintle 2, No. 6 Dave Littlefield 1, No. 7 Mark Fillmore 2, No. 8 Skip Waltz 2 No. 12 Jim Dillon 2. White Tees Pins: No. 4 Joe Hamilton 3-5 No. 6 Jeff Turner 3-6, No. 13 Shawn McKague 5-11, No. 15 Mark Cuneo 5-6. Gold Tees Pins: No. 4 Jim Dillon 6-6, No. 6 Jack Connolly 6-0, No. 13 Mike MacKinnon 9-5, No. 15 Jerry Mansfield 2-9.

CHAMPION: Bailey Plourde 68; RUNNER-UP: Liz Wiltshire 73; NET: Peggy Cummings 62, Karen Dunbar 65; GROSS, Flight 1: Jordan LaPlume 73, Ruby Haylock 74, Erin Weimer 75, Emily Droge 75; Flight 2: Catherine Keeley 82, Jane Rollinson 82, Carol Burnham 83, Jody Lyford 84; Flight 3: Diana Wescott 87, Marlene Viger 88, Patricia Lage 89, Emily Jones 91, Bambi Stevens 91; Flight 4: Linda Holmes 90, Cindy Shaw 91, Sharon Houle 95, Ann May 97; Flight 5: Doreen Robinson 98, Susan Graffam 98, Karen Bamford 102, Claudette Amoroso 102, Terri Messer 102; NET, Flight 1: Maureen Wedge 68, Laurie Hyndman 69, Mary Brandes 70, Micki Meggison 70; Flight 2: Karen Richardson 69, Susie Gravel 69, Nancy Field 70, Susan Hodgkins 71, Peggy Wilson 71, Jade Haylock 71, Catherine Studley 71; Flight 3: Laura Lipman 68, Tina Whalen 70, Evie Graham 70, Judy Ducharme 72; Flight 4: Penny Guerin 67, Donna Hanson 67, Judy Edgecomb 73, Maddie Kilmister 73; Flight 5: Patricia MacDonald 66, Annie Pickford 67, Laurie Pelletier 69, Trudi Snediker 70; GROSS SKINS: Hole 2 Bailey Plourde 3, Hole 18 Laurie Hyndman 3; NET SKINS: Hole 10 Robin Ashe 1, Hole 12 Laurie Pelletier 1, Hole 16 Sharon Houle 2

Gangbusters Blind Draw, Variable Best Ball Stableford 1. Andy Cough, Joey James 61 points, 2. Kent Salfi, Doug Lackey 57 points; Gross Skins: 5. Kent Salfi, 7. Kent Salfi, 9. Joey James, 15. Andy Cough, 17. Lornie Smith; Net Skins: 1. Dick Cough, 6. Joey James, 11. Doug Lackey, 12. Doug Lackey, 13. Larry Van Peursem, 18. Joey James

Sunday results Gross Skins: 1. Tom Maffucci, 4. Jim McFarland, 5. Richard Collier, 13. Rick Wallace, 14. Jim McFarland, 18. Tom Maffucci

Mens Club Championship (36 holes) Wyman Tapley def. Tony Demuro 2&1

Friday Seniors League Modified Stableford: 1. Rick Robertson, Peter Beatham, Ed St Heart, Bruce Blanchard +21; 2. Kermit Bailey, Shawn Sutherland, Wayne Harriman, Duane Hanson + 18; 3. Tie: Chris Dunifer, Jim Hancock, Dan Watters, Dawn England, + 6; Tim Gallant, Don Harriman, Pumpkin Beatham, Peter Beatham, + 6; 5. Wayne Walls, Jim Blakeman, Don Goodness, John Roach + 5; 6. Robbie Robinson, Ralph Holyoke, John Richards, Norm Simmons, +4; 7. Jenny Williams, Dana Wardwell, Doug Higgins, Jim Hancock -3; Pins: 7. Peter Beatham 8-0; 9. Dawn England, 8-11; 16. Dawn England,10-0; 18. Peter Beatham 0-9

Mens Club Championship (two rounds) A Flight: 1. Chad Scripture 148, 2. Kent Johnson Jr. 150; B Flight: 1. Jim McInnis 159, 2. (tie) Al Porter, Andy McNally 160; Senior Division: 1. Dave Musselman 164, Ed Baum 173

Ladies Club Championship (two rounds) Gross: 1 Nancy Hart 166, 2 Jody Lyford 169; Net: 1 Deb Wiley 141, 2 Durice Washburn 151

Sunday Point Quota Team: 1 tie Robb Herron, Jerry Mehuren, Cory Chase, Bill Farris (124); Kevin Dains, Dave Riley, Dave Wentworth, Neil Wienges (124); 3 John Sapoch, Dick Clements, Jim Desmarteau, Don Pendergast (117); 4 tie Mike Knox, Skip Browm Jenna Caler, Cecil Eastman (117); Thomas Heath, Butch Norman, Lee Robinson, Peter Doran (114); Sweeps Class A Gross: 1 Kevin Dains (71), 2 tie Thomas Heath, Mike Knox (77); Net: 1 Brendan Gardner (68), 2 Bob Delio (70), 3 Butch Norman (71); Class B Gross: Jenna Caler (85), 2 Cory Chase (90), 3 tie Hank Mattson, Greg McDaniel (92); Net: 1 Dave Wentworth (72), 2 Lee Robinson (74), 3 tie Peter Doran, Don Pendergast (75)

Roger Lothrop Member-Guest Gross, Ladies: 1. Annie Pickford, Kelsey Richards (88); Men: 1. Jeff Dutch, Mark Curtis (70); 2. Ian Sady, Andrew Dailey (70); Net, Ladies: 1. Lisa Desmarteau, Betty Miesfeldt (Overall Champions) (65); 2. Sharon Dehayes, Donna Short (72); 3. (tie) Jenna Caler, Julia Garcia (73); Shirley Caler, Terri Kangas (73); Men: 1. Jim Desmarteau, Cale Pickford (Overall Champions) (62); 2. (tie) Mike Knox, Skip Brown (65) Paul Doody, Jeff Day (65); Bill Pickford, Matt Doudera (65); 5. (tie) Cliff Randall, Kevin OReilly (66); Scott Bartlett, William Mayer (66), 6. Charlie Pray, Garlie Gray (67)

Womens Club Championship (two rounds) Overall Champ: Sue Burr 177; Net: 1) Jeanine Wright 132, 2) Hazel Carter 148, Gross: 1) Sue Burr 177, 2) Nancy Cunliffe 190; Pins, first round: No. 2 Nancy Cunliffe 7-0, No. 5 Nancy Cunliffe 10-2; second round: No. 2 Jeanine Wright 5-3, No. 5 Nancy Cunliffe 5-8; Closest to Line, first round: Hazel Carter; second round: Kate Doherty-Perez

Senior Scramble Results (Aug. 3) 1st Bruce Blanchard, Alan Snapp, Bob Fraser, Kerry Woodbury (-8); 2nd Dennis Kiah, Ron Allen, Warren Young, Bob Landis (-7); 3rd Dick Gassett, Mike Dore, Bill Ferris, Chuck Hodge (-6); Tom Winston, Russ Black, Jim Awalt, Mark Molnar (-6); Bob Tweedie, Mark Johnson, Dana Corey (-6); Bob Wilks, Jim Bonzey, Bob Gray, Rich Skorski (-5); John Shoppe, Jerry Noble, Lou Martin, Doug Hewes (-5); John Shoppe, Bob Mc Kenney, Dale Anthony, Eric White (-4); Barry Harris, Bill Nickels, Doug Stark, Joe Guaraldo (-3); Pins: No. 2 Bill Nickels 8-0, No. 6 Bob Fraser 19-11

Brooksy Birdies Bogies and Beer Tournament 4 Person Scramble, Gross: 1. Katie Brooks, Jason Brooks, Ron Hewes, Mike LaChance -21; 2. By matching cards, John Ambrose, Anthony Moore, Jon Hutchins, Wally Tardiff -18; 3. Kolby Brooks, Aaron Largay, Darren Stover, Mike Perry -18; Net: 1. George Wells, Kevin Grant, Rick Barnosky, Kevin McNally -36; 2. Adrian Yanofsky, Jen Yanofsky, Tracy Haskell, Ann Patterson -31(mc); 3. Buzz Simpson, Scott Lalley, Ernie Woodward, McKenna Woodward -31; Pins: No. 7 Kevin McNally 4-9, No. 9 George Wells, 6-5, No. 16 Jason Brooks 15-3, No. 18 Jim Blakeman 6-0

Senior Club Championships Mens Champion: Randy Hooper 74; Ladies Champion: Kathy Harper 89; Men Ages 50-59, Gross: 1. Skip Heald 75; Net: 1. Mark Manzi 71; 60-69, Gross: 1. Bryan Hocking 76; Net: 1. Hank Read 67; 70-79, Gross: 1. Larry Goldsmith 85; Net: 1. George Rahaim 76; 80-89, Gross: 1. Dean Sasek 98; Net: 1. Artie Sprowl 83;

Gold Tees, Gross: 1. Victor Goldsmith 76; Net: 1. Rich Moskowitz 66;

Ladies Ages 50-59, Gross: 1. Kathleen Labree 91; 60-69, Gross: 1. Wendy Dewing 99; 70-79, Gross: 1. Kathy Sprowl 96; Net: 1. Diane Bryant 68

Golf Wars Scramble League Gross: 1. Red Hot Chili Dippers 29, 2. The Baggers 31, 3. The Crickers 31; Net: 1. The Underdogs 26.6, 2. Team Fearsome 26.7, 3. Team Titleless 27.7; Pins: No. 6 Tom Wheatley 8-7, No. 9 Tom Wheatley 14-9

Monday Night Womens League 1. Jody Lyford, Terry Hamm Morris, Angie McCluskey, Debbie Faulkenburg 34, 2. Casey Quinn, Cheryl Paulson, Lisa Mann, Deb Gray -35, Durice Washburn, Karen Feeney, Lois Adams, Lydia Mussulman 36, 4. Deb Wiley, Peg Buchanan, Julie McConnell, Brooke Green 37; Pin: No. 3 Durice Washburn 7-9

Team Gross: 1. (tie) Linzy Norris, Peter Burke, Joel Greatorex, Ralph Mooers (66); Barry Hobert, Mark Pierce, Mike OHara, Don Shumaker (66); Net: 1. Bob Delio, Rick Fitzsimmons, Jim Boulier, Scott Benzie (56); 2. Dale Folnsbee, Barry Webster, Marc Dufresne, Frank Burnell (57); Class A Gross: 1. John Champeon (71), 2. Clarence Blessard (82); Net: 1. Peter Burke (60), 2. Scott Benzie (64); Class B Gross: 1. (tie) Bob Delio (76), Terry Whitney (76), 3. (tie) Jeff Dutch (77), Mark Pierce (77); Net: 1. Tom McDonald (62), 2. (tie) Jim Raye (66), Marc Dufresne (66), Mark Bennett (66), Steve Belyea (66); Class C Gross: 1. Barry Hobert (71), 2. Peter Jacobson (75), 3. (tie) Dale Folnsbee (76), Robb Brown (76); Net: 1. Gil Lacroix (62), 2. Harvey Peterson (64), 3. (tie) Linzy Norris (65), Rick Cronin (65); Class D Gross: 1. Dick Clements (78), 2. (tie) Joe Sala (81), Don Holmstrom (81), Barry Porter (81); Net: 1. Bill Farthing (81), 2. Duke Marston (67), 3. (tie) Sarge Means (69), Lee Kaufman (69); Class E Gross: 1. Bill Kirby (78), 2. Steve Norton (80); Net: 1. Ed Soule (64), 2. Peter Doran (69); Super Seniors Gross: 1. Dave Davis (95); Net 1. Phil Bowen (72)

Overall Gross: Steve Smith 73, Reid Birdsall 74 (mc), Charlie Pray 74; Net: Bob Ray 68, Bill Barbour 69 (mc), Fred Roig 69 (mc); Flight 1 Gross: Bob Pellerin 75, Preston Ward 76, John Sapoch 78 (mc); Net: Larry Whittaker 71, Tom Downs 73 (mc), Dan Labrie 73 (mc); Flight 2 Gross: Bill Audette 75, Bruce Bubier 76, Greg Page 80 (mc); Net: Mark Kamen 69, Eric Lindquist 70, Dale Northrup 71; Flight 3 Gross: Jack Wallace 77, Ed McKay 78 (mc), Tom Kus 78; Net: Bill Adamson 71 (mc), Paul Pooler 71, Dave Ames 73 (mc); Flight 4 Gross: Gary LHommedieu 77, Ray Brochu 78, Dave Suhr 81; Net: Dave Trask 69, Ben Walker 70, Lou Legacy 73 (mc); Super Senior: Gross: Dana McCurdy 86; Net: Paul Jackson 74; Best Ball Gross: Bill Audett, Munro Dodge, Geno Ring, Jack Wallace 64; Paul Doody, Eric Lacroix, John Sapoch, Preston Ward 65; Best Ball Net: Dave Ames, Bill Barbour, Joe Keller, Gary LHommedieu 58; Dan Bence, Dennis Leaver, Dan Howard, Scott Karczewski 59; Pins: No. 5 Colin Roy 3-8, Todd Gifford 6-7, No. 9 Tom Kus 18-8, Greg Page 23-5, No. 10 Bob Ray 5-10, Mike Baillargeon 10-3, No. 11 Roger Dion 5-7, Ed McKay 21-10, No. 18 Bob Ray hole-in-one, Stan Bolduc 3-3, Skins, Gross: No. 1 Preston Ward (3), No. 11 Roger Dion (2), No. 12 Carleton Demmons (3), No. 18 Bob Ray (1); Net: No. 2 Bill Barbour (2), No. 3 Peter Meulendyk (2), No. 5 Todd Gifford (1)

Womens League 1. Charlotte Blanchard, Jeannette Laplante, Mary Smith, 31; 2. Irene Woodford, Bonnie Richards, Lesley Waterman, 32; 3. Dawn Seavey, Brenda Crosby, Dianne Swandal, Katrina Lavene, 32; 4. Nancy Carney, Loretta Robichaud, Beth Wolverton, 33. Tammy Curtis, Hilda Wardwell, Marilyn Hughes, 34; 6. Susan Payne, Rachel Lapointe, Marcia Biggane, Jane Levie.

Tuesday Morning Senior League (par 35) Gross: 1. Mike Lafontaine 36, 2. Joe Severence 36, 3. Rick Gilman 37, 4. Bill Fernandez 39, 5. Bruce McGregor 40. Net: 1. Don Spencer 27, 2. George Strout 28, 3. Jay Emerson 28, 4. Ed Lucas 30, 5. Fred Ouellette 30, 6. Greg Bosse 30. Pins: No. 4 Joe Severence 10-10, No. 8 Fred Ouellette 10-4. Long Drive, Red tees: Chris McGregor; Gold tees: Joe Severence.

Golf Wars Results Gross: 1. Putter Face 30, Bob Braun 31, 3. Smokin Greens 32; Net: 1. Twist Offs 27.01, 2. Spare Parts 27.55, 3. Dukes of Hazards 27.65; Pins: No. 6 Cedric Damon 16-8, No. 9 Sherry Harkins 36-6

Mens Senior League 1. Mike Bowen, Jim Oreskovich, Bruce Wiersma, Don Payne, Terry Pangburn, 30; 2. Robbie Robinson, Cliff Wilbur, Bob Pentland, Joe Guaraldo, 34; 3. Nick Fox, Roger Theriault, Butch Robichaud, John Porter, 35

Senior Scramble 1) Pat Dumont, Ralph Backman, Sonny Beal, Brian Cates -4; 2) Dawn Seavey, Steve Cates, Dana Smith, Doug Smith, Ernie Beach -3 (won putt-off); 3) Melrose Beal, Dennis Lewey, Scott Whitney, Charlie Beal, Doug Sprinkle -3; 4) Berenice Fedder, Wayne Hooper, Bob Tracy, Fred Walton -2 (won blind draw); Pin: No. 5 Dennis Lewey 8-3

Twilight League 1 Best Ball of 4: Gross: 1. Ron Chase, Phil Frost, Josh Hawkes, Bub Smith 32. 2. Peter Baldacci, Ken Colpritt Sr., Dave Dunham, Kent Johnson 34. 3. Jeff Leadbetter, Don Montandon, Justin Tapley, Bruce Thompson 34. 4. Gerry Bourgoin, Dave Crichton, Steve Stanley, Rick Thompson 34. 5. Dean Bowden, Rich Economy, Kevin McKay, Greg Murray 35. Net: 1. Rick Bernosky, Frank Dinsmore, Jeff Kinney, Pat Ryder 24. 2. Mike OHara, John Franck, Ryan Reese, Gregg Tweedie 27. 3. Jordan Charpentier, John Hoyt, Bob Jancewicz, Bob Leighton 28. 4. Ken Belcher, Dave Brewer, Garrett Johnson, Rich Russell 28. 5. J.T. Davis, Tony Reynolds, Terrie Townsend, Bob Tweedie 28.

Mens Group Variable Best Ball: 1. Jeff Wooster, Mike Ginevan, Bob Lombardi -12, 2. Jim McFarland, Richard Collier -11; Gross Skins: 2. Mike James, 5. Richard Collier, 8. Jeff Wooster, 11. Mike James, 13. Mike James, 15. Mike Ginevan, 17. Jim McFarland, 18. Mike Ginevan

Ladies League Individual Stableford: 1. Kim Collier 19 points; Scramble: 1. Kay Rand, Jacque Fitzpatrick, Karen Richter, Sarah Gilbert 40; Pin: 6. Shannon Snurkowski 25-5

Kebo Boys Team Stableford: 1. Vinal Smith, Joey James, Doug Lackey 106, 2. Kyle Nicholson, Jud Starr, Ty Smith 97, 2. Dick Cough, Tim Vanderploeg, Chris Coston 97

Dawson Insurance Co. Mens League Scramble: 1. Anthony Moore, Brian Hurd, Dave Lewis, Steve Allen 29 (mc); 2. Merle Goodrich, Mark Brown, Dave Dumont, Tyler Brooks 29; 3. Ron Hewes, Kolby Brooks, Larry Brooks, Mike LaChance 31; 4. (tie) Brad Hurd, Adam Doody, Aaron Largay, Bruce Blanchard 32; Shawn Sutherland, Jacob Vilasuso, Chris Libby, Keith Blanchard 32; Larry Freeman, Craig Carson, Adam Freeman, Nick Coffin 32; Pins: No. 7 Dave Dumont 15-4

Senior Scramble 1st John Somes, Eric White, Mel Mc Lay, Russ Black (-7); 2nd Greg Fitzpatrick, Jim Bonzey, Ron Allen, Lou Martin (-6); 3rd Dennis Kiah, Bill Nickels, Jim Oreskovich (-5); Bob Tweedie, Doug Stark, Mike Dore, Jim Awalt (-4); Bruce Blanchard, Mark Johnson, Paul Gallant, Jim Mabry (-4); Barry Harris, Rich Skorski, Ralph Alley, Dick Gassett (-3); Chris Johnson, Dick Keene, Warren Young, Bob Landis (-2); Barry Hobert, Kerry Woodbury, Dana Corey, Bob Gray (-2); Pins: No. 2 Greg Fitzpatrick 9-6, No. 6 Bill Nickels 3-10

Ladies Club Championship Overall Winner: Liz Coffin 80-79-159; Championship Flight: 1. Sue Roberts 88-78-166, 2. Sue Collins 88-80-168, 3. Marlene Viger 89-86-175; 1st Flight: 1. Marilyn Rice 91-96-187, 2. Yukiko Bigney 94-98-192, 3. Gloria Attenweiler 102-92-194; 2nd Flight: 1. Brenda Crosby 97-96-193, 2. Marilyn Hughes 99-103-202, 3. Karen Bamford 98-108-206

Ladies Association A Flight, Gross: Sally Stockman (88), Wendy Pires (92), Sue Wootton (96); Net: Molly Mugler (70), Kathy Macpherson (72), Madolin Fogarty (77); B Flight, Gross: Marty Jones (101), Wendy Dewing (102), Joni Hall (112); Net: Heidi Lyman (73), Diane Bryant (77), Joyce Cooley (78); Putts: Wendy Dewing (30); Pins: No. 5 Heidi Lyman, No. 10 Madolin Fogarty, No. 18 Sally Stockman

Thursday Morning Stableford League 1. (tie) Phil Boody, Hal Stewart +6, Dave Mussulman, Marty Drew +6, 3. Greg Black, Robert Phair +5, 4. (tie) Doug Chambers, Al Sale +1, Tim McCluskey, Mel Rooney +1, 6. (tie) Allen Hussey, Greg Shorey E, Steve Caouette, Mike Dunphy E, 8. (tie) Tom Berry, Heokbum Kwon -1, Thea Davis, John Arsenault -1, Kent Johnson, Lloyd Scripture -1; Pins: No. 3 Fred Gagne 5-6, No. 8 Marty Drew 8-6, No. 9 Mike Dunphy 5-2, No. 12 Brian Treadwell 8-6, No. 16 Thea Davis 7-3; Skins: No. 6 Heokbum Kwon, No. 7 Mike Norris, No. 9 Jim McInnis, No. 12 Greg Black, No. 15 Mike Norris

Mens Twilight League Point Quota: 1. Duane Bartlett +4. 2. Joe Pagan +3, 3. Cornell Knight +2, 4. Gary Adler +1, Troy Lewis +1, Keating Pepper +1, Brent Barker +1, 8. Jim Barkhouse E, Randy Stanley E, Bryan Maurais E, Brian Alderman E; Pins: No. 6 Mark Wanner 10-8, No. 9 Randy Stanley 3-3

Thursday Night Mixed Scramble 1) Michael Wasilewski, Debbie Wasilewski, Cam Kain, Maged Shahin 30; 2) Frank Rollins, Bill Boston, Ray Johnson, Dave Leland 31; 3) Rick Klein, Bobby Bradford, Chuck Libby, Lorne Noiles 31; 4) Jason Goggin, Sue Leland, Chad Graffam 32; 5) James Watson, Sue McAvoy, Peter Glidden, Butch Goodwin 32; 6) Bill Kirby, Roberta Kirby, Michael Denny, Nick Schmeidehiemer 33; Pin: No. 6 Sue Leland 6-3

More here:

Local golf results highlighted by club championships - Bangor Daily News

Local districts have their plans in place to reopen after weeks of debating how to do so safely. As for whether, or not they should reopen that is not a question the health department can answer, even when districts ask.The issue came up in a Volusia County School Board meeting in July.Patricia Boswell the administrator of the Florida Department of Health in Volusia County stated, "We've been advised that our role here is to just advise as to what can we do to make the environment in schools as safe as possible with COVID-19. It is not to make a decision on whether, or not to open up the school."On Friday in Orlando, WESH Reporter Paul Rivera asked Gov. Ron DeSantis why that direction exists. "You can't just delegate that out, I think, to somebody who's not accountable to the people. It's not their decision. They can get advice. They can get input, but it's not up to the health department to say a 'yes or a no'. They inform the policymakers, they provide the information, they should absolutely do that, but to say that they should be the ones to have effectively veto power, that's just not the way it works," DeSantis said.DeSantis said he does not want health leaders to keep a district closed who believes they are ready to open.This leaves the local health departments, who are functioning under the state's direction, to only give guidance about safety and not about school reopenings during a public health crisis, even when school district leaders have asked whether now is the right time to reopen."It's unfortunate that the governor has put your office in a very uncomfortable position," Volusia County School Board Member Ruben Coln said to Boswell.

Local districts have their plans in place to reopen after weeks of debating how to do so safely. As for whether, or not they should reopen that is not a question the health department can answer, even when districts ask.

The issue came up in a Volusia County School Board meeting in July.

Patricia Boswell the administrator of the Florida Department of Health in Volusia County stated, "We've been advised that our role here is to just advise as to what can we do to make the environment in schools as safe as possible with COVID-19. It is not to make a decision on whether, or not to open up the school."

On Friday in Orlando, WESH Reporter Paul Rivera asked Gov. Ron DeSantis why that direction exists.

This content is imported from Twitter.You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

"You can't just delegate that out, I think, to somebody who's not accountable to the people. It's not their decision. They can get advice. They can get input, but it's not up to the health department to say a 'yes or a no'. They inform the policymakers, they provide the information, they should absolutely do that, but to say that they should be the ones to have effectively veto power, that's just not the way it works," DeSantis said.

DeSantis said he does not want health leaders to keep a district closed who believes they are ready to open.

This leaves the local health departments, who are functioning under the state's direction, to only give guidance about safety and not about school reopenings during a public health crisis, even when school district leaders have asked whether now is the right time to reopen.

"It's unfortunate that the governor has put your office in a very uncomfortable position," Volusia County School Board Member Ruben Coln said to Boswell.

Go here to read the rest:

'It's not their decision,' Gov. on Health Departments not being able to make school reopening call - WESH 2 Orlando

(Updates with quotes, details from rallygoer Bina)

By Brad Brooks

Aug 7 (Reuters) - At least 100,000 people are expected to attend the 10-day annual Sturgis motorcycle rally in South Dakotas Black Hills that opened on Friday, with its economic heft overriding concerns it could be a coronavirus super-spreading event.

This year is the 80th anniversary of the event that in normal years sees upward of 500,000 motorcycle enthusiasts descend on the small town of Sturgis and the surrounding area. The rally injects $800 million into South Dakotas economy.

Local authorities expect to take an economic hit with fewer in attendance this year and have halved the number of vendors allowed to participate to 300 in total.

But they are still counting on a massive crowd - one of the biggest in the world since the coronavirus pandemic began - to pack concerts with at least 34 national acts playing. Most rallies bring a sea of black leather, boots and bandanas into Sturgis, which has a population of 6,900 in normal times.

The rally is going to stay the same in many respects, said Meade County Sheriff Ron Merwin. Its going to be a lot of people and a lot of motorcycles all over the place. People are tired of being penned up by this pandemic.

Merwin said many locals have voiced concerns about the public health impact the rally will have. South Dakota has fared better than most states - it ranks No. 38th in COVID-19 deaths per capita, according to a Reuters tally - but cases have spiked in recent weeks as hotspots moved into the Midwest.

The sheriffs office overlooks Sturgis Main Street, and from Merwins vantage point he saw few precautions taken as the town began to fill up Thursday evening.

Im sitting here and Im watching people walk up and down the street, watching people ride up and down the street. A few have masks - most dont, he said. Theres not much we can do. Everybody is coming here with their eyes wide open. They know what theyre getting into.

More than 60% of Sturgis residents who responded to a survey the City Council mailed out in May said they wanted the rally canceled. But on June 15 the council voted to move ahead with the rally, though they canceled all city-sponsored events associated with it and included measures such as hand sanitizing stations.

Merwin and others interviewed said the event is considered an annual headache by most residents, but one that must be stomached considering the money and jobs it brings to the region.

With the rally lasting more than a week and people flocking to massive campsites in the Black Hills National Forest and in nearby towns, trying to halt the event would have been fruitless, local officials said.

It would have been just as irresponsible for us to not prepare for these people who were going to show up regardless of what we wanted, City Councilwoman Beka Zerbst said. Its just common sense to be prepared.

Zerbst said before the pandemic organizers were expecting upward of 800,000 people this year. She said it was anybodys guess how many will actually show up, but local leaders were counting on at least 100,000 people.

In a videotaped address to city residents the day after the City Council voted to move ahead with the rally, Mayor Mark Carstensen said throughout the pandemic, the state of South Dakota has been the freedom state and the city of Sturgis has stayed true to that.

Carstensen emphasized that public health could not be pitted against the economy and peoples ability to maintain livelihoods.

Its a situation where those can work together. Its not easy, the mayor said. But were all in this together.

Mitch Bina, a 61-year-old businessman from Dallas, was making his sixth pilgrimage to Sturgis this year with his wife, Christi. He said that safely navigating the rally should not be harder than living in a large city and managing to buy groceries or enjoy recreation in a park.

If we go somewhere and it gets too crowded, well just walk away, said Bina, who rides a 2008 Harley-Davidson Street Glide motorcycle.

Bina said he would spend most of his time riding in the Black Hills and not attending crowded venues or concerts. Despite Sturgis rowdy reputation, he didnt think anyone who wanted to maintain social distancing would have problems.

In Sturgis, your freedom ends where my nose begins, he said. Up there you have to respect peoples space, people really respect one another and that wont change. (Reporting by Brad Brooks in Lubbock, Texas; Editing by Bill Tarrant, Lincoln Feast and Paul Simao)

Read the rest here:

UPDATE 1-Pandemic just a bump in the road for Sturgis motorcycle rally - Reuters

You might recall that in fall of 2019, Elkhart and LaGrange counties in Indiana, as well as seven counties in southwestern Michigan, were faced with an outbreak of eastern equine encephalitis (EEE). This is a virus disease with a complicated life cycle involving several species of mosquitoes, birds, woody swampy areas, and sunny cattail-type swampy areas.

Local health officials have been monitoring mosquito populations and the bad news is, the type of mosquitoes capable of transmitting EEE is large and increasing. The good news is, none of the mosquitoes captured as of Aug. 3 had virus in their system.

Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

kAm(92E D9@F=5 J@F 5@n x7 J@F =:G6 😕 E96 A2CED @7 E96 27764E65 4@F?E:6D H96C6 DAC2J:?8 H2D 4@?D:56C65 😕 a_`h[ 4@?D:56C E92E J@F >:89E 36 F?56C 2 E9C62E 282:? 😕 a_a_] !6@A=6 D9@F=5 36 H62C:?8 =@?8 D=66G6D[ =@?8 A2?ED[ 92ED 2?5 C6A6==6?ED E@ C65F46 >@DBF:E@ 6IA@DFC6 😕 >@DBF:E@ :?76DE65 2C62D] p3@FE @?6E9:C5 @7 9F>2?D H9@ 4@?EC24E E96 5:D62D6 5:6]k^Am

kAmx7 J@F @H? 9@CD6D[ 5@?<6JD @C @E96C >6>36CD @7 E96 6BF:?6 72>:=J[ 86E E96> G244:?2E65] %96 G244:?6 😀 8@@5 7@C @?=J @?6 J62C[ D@ :E 😀 E:>6 E@ 42== J@FC G6E6C:?2C:2? 282:?] %96 5:D62D6 <:==D h_ A6C46?E @7 6BF:?6 :E :?764ED] x :=:6D E92E =@DE >F=E:A=6 9@CD6D =2DE J62C]k^Am

kAmx7 9F>2? 42D6D 3C62< @FE 282:? :? a_a_[ E96C6 H:== 36 42==D E@ DAC2J 7@C >@DBF:E@6D 282:?] u@C E9@D6 H:E9 @C82?:4 72C>D 2?5 366 9:G6D 😕 E96 2C62[ x FC86 J@F E@ C68:DE6C E9@D6 =@42E:@?D @? k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^q66r964<]@C8Qmq66r964<]@C8k^2m 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^sC:7E(2E49]@C8QmsC:7E(2E49]@C8k^2m] %96D6 H63D:E6D 2C6 4@>>F?:42E:@? E@@=D E@ 96=A 2AA=:42E@CD 4@>>F?:42E6 H:E9 4C@A AC@5F46CD 2?5 366<66A6CD 367@C6 2AA=:42E@CD 368:? E96:C H@C<]k^Am

kAmw@CD6D C624E G6CJ BF:4<=J E@ ttt :?764E:@?D] ttt 2EE24 @7 :ED 9@DE] %96 5:D62D6 2AA62CD H:E9:? 7:G6 52JD 27E6C >@DBF:E@6D EC2?D>:E E96 G:CFD E@ E96 9@CD6] p7764E65 9@CD6D @7E6? 5:6 H:E9:? E9C66 52JD] $:8?D @7 ttt 😕 9@CD6D :?4=F56 76G6Cj 2 D=66AJ 2AA62C2?46j D@>6 >FD4=6 EH:E496D @7 E96 9625[ ?64<[ D9@F=56C 2?5 7=2?2=D 2C6 D@@? 5@H?[ F?23=6 E@ DE2?5] %96C6 😀 ?@ 67764E:G6 EC62E>6?E @?46 DJ>AE@>D 368:?]k^Am

kAmx7 42D6D D9@H FA 😕 E96 9@CD6 A@AF=2E:@?[ :E 😀 EJA:42==J 2 >2EE6C @7 `_ E@ `c 52JD 367@C6 9F>2? 42D6D 368:? E@ 2AA62C] r@?E24E 2 G6E6C:?2C:2? :7 J@FC 9@CD6 86ED D:4<] %96C6 :D >@?6J 2G2:=23=6 E@ A2J 7@C ttt E6DE:?8 @? 5625 2?:>2=D 2?5 H6 H:== ?665 E96 52E2 E@

Jeff Burbrink is an educator with Purdue Extension Elkhart County. He can be reached at 574-533-0554 or jburbrink@purdue.edu.

Continued here:

Protect your family from encephalitis and mosquitoes | Features - The Elkhart Truth

A bakers dozen of independent expenditure committees spent just shy of $2 million on the nine hottest primary races for seats in the state House and Senate, based on the latest campaign finance reports filed with the Secretary of State on Monday.Finance reports also give a hint about some of the races that will be big targets in the fall.

In all but two races, the candidates that benefited the most from the biggest spenders won their races. Independent expenditure committees are prohibited by law from coordinating with the candidates they support.

The race generating the most spending for the June 30 primary was the Republican primary in House District 22, where incumbent Rep. Colin Larson of Littleton held off a challenge from former Rep. Justin Everett.

Committees backing Larson were more numerous and spent far more money. They included the COPIC committee Assuring Quality Healthcare Access for Colorado, the Better Jobs Coalition, Better Schools for a Stronger Colorado and Coloradans for Constitutional Values. And their wallets were open, to the tune of $416,688.

While COPICs backing medical liability insurance is no secret, where Better Jobs Coalition gets its money is not so transparent. Better Jobs contributions lists itself as the donor for $115,000 of the $527,500 it has raised so far in the 2019-20 election cycle, along with other contributions from Western Citizens Protecting Our Constitution and $200,000 from Ready Colorados 501(c)4. Ready Colorado does not disclose its donors.

Coloradans for Constitutional Values gets its funding from Unite Colorado, with its biggest donor Kathryn Murdoch, daughter-in-law of Rupert Murdoch. Better Schools biggest donor is the nonprofit Stand for Children, a pro-privatization organization backed in part by the Walton Family Foundation.

Everetts backers: Rocky Mountain Gun Owners, Make Liberty Win and CFV Victory Fund (an IEC and nonprofit formed in March by Republican Rep. Stephen Humphrey of Ault) spent a total of $24,366.

Make Liberty Wins only money came from its Washington, D.C.-area headquarters. According to Open Secrets, Make Liberty Win PAC is funded primarily by Young Americans for Liberty, a Libertarian-leaning group started by student followers of former Rep. Ron Paul.

CFVs largest donation in the 2019-20 election cycle is from Colorado Family Values of Greeley.

A quartet of Republican candidates backed by the same committees who backed Larson, plus a few more, also spent big in the June primary.

In the open seat for House District 48, currently held by Humphrey, who is term-limited, five IECs spent big to support Republican Tonya Van Beber. In addition to the COPIC, Better Jobs and Constitutional Values committees, Prosperity Through Property Rights and the Ready Colorado Action Fund also put money into advertising in favor of Van Beber or against her opponent, Grady Nouis.

Those committees spent $394,608 for Van Beber.While Ready Colorado gave money to the Better Jobs Coalition, its IEC Action Fund got $100,000 from Kent Thiry, former CEO of DaVita. Prosperity Through Property Rights is funded by realtors.

RMGO and Make Liberty Win supported Nouis, spending $22,517.

House District 49, currently represented by term-limited Rep. Perry Buck of Windsor, featured a race between term-limited state Sen. Vicki Marble and winner Michael Lynch.

RMGO was also the only IEC backing Marble, and they put $3,946 into advertising supporting her. The same committees that backed Van Beber also backed Lynch, spending $254,322.

House District 63 is also an open seat, held by Rep. Lori Saine of Dacono. Pat Millers candidacy was backed by RMGO, which spent $2,838. Spending in favor of Dan Woog totaled $292,976, from the same batch of committees backing the other winning candidates in Weld County.

The only contest where the spending was close was for Marbles Senate District 23 seat. In that race, Weld County Commissioner Barbara Kirkmeyer was backed by Weld Strong, which spent $29,943 on that race. Her opponent, Rupert Parchment, backed by RMGO and Make Liberty Win, spent $20,744.

Weld Strongs backers are primarily individuals and companies in Weld County, and include Rockies baseball owner Charles Monfort.

On the Western Slope's Senate District 8, Republican Sen. Bob Rankin of Carbondale won handily on election night, and it didnt hurt that independent spending was all in his corner.

Coloradans for Constitutional Values and the Ready Colorado Action Fund put $184,875 into support for Rankin, who defeated challenger Debra Irvine.

And in Denvers Senate District 31, where Democratic Sen. Chris Hansen was picked by a vacancy committee in January to replace Sen. Lois Court, Hansen beat Maria Ohms by five percentage points. His candidacy had support from six different independent expenditure committees, with the most money coming from the COPIC committee Assuring Quality Healthcare Access. The six IECs spent a total of $153,905 to support Hansen.

But some who spent big walked away on Primary Election Night without a win in their pockets.

That includes Planned Parenthood Votes Colorado. Their independent expenditure committee spent on just one candidate in the primary: Matthew Martinez, a Democrat running against incumbent Rep. Don Valdez in the San Luis Valley seat in House District 62. Planned Parenthood spent $4,500, and despite support from Pueblo House Democrats and $5,600 in support from the Colorado Working Families Party, Martinez lost to Valdez by 18 percentage points.

In House District 40, currently held by Speaker Pro Tem Janet Buckner, a Democrat from Aurora, whos running for the Senate, the money favored John Ronquillo. Independent expenditure committees, including the committee run by Democrats for Education Reform, spent $143,647 to support Ronquillo, who lost to Naquetta Ricks by less than 3 percentage points.

As to the fall, several races started generating spending by independent expenditure committees barely before the ink was dry on the primary.

A dark money group known as the Colorado Values Project, which doesnt have a committee registered with TRACER, has spent $25,299 on advertising that mentions Rankin, Democratic Sens. Rachel Zenzinger of Arvada and Jeff Bridges of Greenwood Village and Rep. Bri Buentello of Pueblo. The committee has spent $25,299 but the TRACER reports do not list the so-called magic words of either vote for or vote against.

Zenzingers race also is getting attention from an independent expenditure committee tied to the American Energy Action Fund, which is tied to the renewable energy industry. The committees only contributions come from its Washington, D.C., headquarters.

Go here to see the original:

Campaign finance for July 2020, part two: Independent spending groups put $2 million into the hottest primary races in 2020 - coloradopolitics.com

Congress has approved roughly $2.5 trillion since March to rescue an economy battered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

And it doesn't look like it will be nearlyenough.

Lawmakers are working on a fifth round of stimulus relief that could dwarf the four previous rounds of assistance combined.

The Democratic-led House has passed the HEROES Act, a roughly$3.4 trillion bill that would provide a second round of direct payments to millions of Americans, provide nearly $1 trillion to revenue-strapped states and local governments, and provide billions forhousing and food assistance.

The Republican-controlled Senate has introduced its counter-proposal, the HEALS Act, a $1.1 trillion package that also includes direct payments but no federal aid for housing, food or state and local governments. It has yet to pass the chamber.

The latest on negotiations: Democrats and Republicans have 'most productive' stimulus talk to date, but deal still 'not imminent'

Here are some of the key similarities and differences between the two proposals.

The Democratic bill proposes extending the currentbenefit of $600 per week(which ends July 31) through December, a federal bonus on top of what states pay. The Republican plan proposes cutting that amount to $200 through September and then limiting the maximum benefit (state and federal combined) to 70% of an applicants pay moving forward.

Both bills would provide another stimulus check to millions of Americans under the same rules as the CARES Act: $1,200 for individuals earning up to $75,000 (phasing out at $99,000); and $2,400 for married couples earning up to $150,000 (phasing out at $198,000). The Democratic bill would be more generous for dependents ($1,200 for each dependent up to three versus $500 for each dependent in the GOP bill).

Democrats propose nearly$1 trillion in direct aid to help states, counties and cities whose budgets have been decimated by the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. The Republican bill has no such aidthough it does provide states and local governments more flexibility in how they use aid provided in earlier stimulus bills.

The Democrats' proposalprovides roughly $200 billion in housing assistance to help renters and homeowners affected by coronavirus avoid eviction/foreclosure. The GOP bill includesno such aid.

The Democrats provide about $60 billion to reopen schools, compared to $70 billion in the GOP bill. Each also provides about $30 billion to assist colleges.But the Democratic bill says thenearly $1 trillion in aid for stateand local governments could be usedfor education as well. The GOP bill does not and says that a portion of the education aid must go to help private schools reopen as well.

Democrats are proposing roughly $380 billion on ways to combat the coronavirus.Most of that would beused on two priorities: $100 billion to reimbursehospitals and other health care providers for pandemic-related costs, and $98 billion to assist laid-off workers pay for the health coverage they lost because of the economic steps taken to control the pandemic. The Republican plan sets aside$111 billion, much of it to help federal agencies and private companies develop vaccines and therapeutic remedies ($50 billion) or to help medical providers cover costs ($25 billion).

Senate Republicans release info on $1 trillion COVID-19 stimulus package

The new GOP plan includes another check for Americans and continued help for the unemployed.

USA TODAY

There's a big gulf on COVID-19 testing and contact tracing as well with Democrats proposing $75 billion and Republicans $16 billion.

The Democrats provide $290 billion in business assistance but largely in tax credits to companies that keep employees on the payroll and in tax breaks for pandemic-related expenses. The Democraticplan also includes a number of other priorities, including $190 billion in "hazard pay" for essential workers nationwide, $35 billion for food assistance to poor families, and $3.6 billion to help states run their elections in November. The GOP proposal does not include money for those but it does provide $158 billion in grants and loans to help small businesses stay afloat.

Excerpt from:

$1,200 checks? Money for schools? Breaking down what Republicans and Democrats want in the coronavirus stimulus plan - USA TODAY

While we have held onto certain positions for a many years, we have also periodically made dispositions, Frances Townsend, MacAndrews & Forbess vice chairman, general counsel, and chief administrative officer said in a statement. Our world and economy are transforming and with it we are evolving our portfolio, to allow for new and compelling opportunities given whats ahead.

Then there is Revlon, a company Perelman has owned and nurtured for 35 years. Last year, Revlon Inc. hired Goldman Sachs to explore strategic alternatives, according to Fortune, which is Wall Street code for trying to sell the company. That has not happened yet, for whatever reason, although a recent SEC filing indicated that Goldman was still working on the strategic alternatives process. Like Scientific Games, Revlon has plenty of problems too, including falling revenue and profitability and high leverageestimated by Moodys, the bond rating agency, in a May report at a rather unsustainable 11x debt-to-EBITDA.

And now Perelman, who owns about 87% of Revlon, and his daughter Debra, who has been CEO of Revlon since 2018, are busy trying to restructure the companys $3 billion, or so, of debt. Perelman is a master of mastering complexity. In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the company announced it had successfully completed, on May 7, a $1.83 billion debt refinancing led by Jefferies, the investment bank, that will extend and amend the maturities of most of the companys existing debt facilities until 2025. On May 8, Moodys, the bond rating service, downgraded Revlons senior secured debt facility and its unsecured notes further into junk, or risky territory. The negative outlook reflects Moodys belief that Revlon financial leverage will remain unsustainably high, it wrote. Moodys also has growing concerns related to the sustainability of the companys capital structure given Revlons very high financial leverage, negative free cash flow, and the risk that earnings will continue to fall over the next year.

Then, on July 27, Revlon announced it would start an exchange offer for $500 million of its senior notes due next year. No surprise, knowing Perelman, the offer is coercive. He is offering the noteholders 75 cents on the dollar in new debt with a maturity of 2024 plus five cents on the dollar in cash, or 80 cents on the dollar if existing noteholders tender the notes. Those holders who dont tender their bonds by a certain date will get only the 75 cents on the dollar in new notes. Recently, the notes were trading around 33 cents on the dollar, suggesting there is little confidence the deal will get doneit requires 95% participation to happenor if it does get done that Revlon will be able to pay the notes back when they are due in 2024. The moves come amid management changes at MacAndrews & Forbes; both chief financial officer Paul Savas and general counsel Steve Cohen recently exited, the latter to start his own firm.

Meanwhile, Revlons stock is down roughly 68% in 2020. The companys market value is around $350 million, putting Perelmans 87% stake at around $300 million. Perelman rarely engages with the media. On the contrary, he has been known to actively try to terminate stories about him he fears wont be positivea decade or so ago, he killed a Fortune article I wrote about himand he declined my request for an interview. On July 22, Josh Vlasto, the MacAndrews & Forbes spokesman, tried to explain to Bloomberg what Perelman was up to these days: Due to changes in the world both socially and economically, we have decided to reset MacAndrews & Forbes in a manner that will give us maximum flexibility both financially and personally. This will allow us to be opportunistic and flexible in looking at new situations. Some two weeks later, Vlasto was gonehis duties taken up by Rubenstein, an outside P.R. firm.

This article has been updated.

More Great Stories From Vanity Fair

How Jared Kushners Secret Coronavirus Testing Plan Went Poof Into Thin Air Why Trumps Black Lives Matter Protest Response Could Cost Him 2020 Behind the Scenes of the NBAs Dystopian COVID-Free Bubble Experts Worry Trumps DHS Crackdowns Ignore the Real Threat How Carlos Ghosn Escaped Japan, According to the Ex-Soldier Who Snuck Him Out Former Pandemic Officials Call Trumps Coronavirus Response a National Disaster From the Archive: The Untold Story of Dallass Heroic Ebola Response

Looking for more? Sign up for our daily Hive newsletter and never miss a story.

More:

Will Revlon Be Next in Ron Perelmans 2020 Sell-Off? - Vanity Fair

No, President Trump is not going to be able to delay the presidential election. That doesnt mean hes not going to screw with it every other way he can, though.

Understand this: Trump has lost control of events. More than 150,000 Americans have died from the coronavirus. Washingtons biggest debate is over how many more trillions are needed to keep the economy on life support until a vaccine is available. All the polls show Trump losing badly to a man his campaign depicts as a senile puppet that the Antifa left is going to dress up and trot out on the campaign trail like its Weekend at Bernies.

Trump knows he cant win by competing in this reality. So, he has to bluster, lie, and cheat his way into creating a reality of his own. Thats what gaslighting is. Its what manipulators do to gain control over their targets to either make them succumb to the lie or go crazy trying to refute it.

I wrote about this in my 2018 book, Gaslighting America: Why We Love It When Trump Lies to Us, to explain how Trump keeps running the same game repeatedly. His birther campaign against President Obama is the textbook example, but hes done it with all his businesses, his presidential campaign, and his presidency, too. Gaslighting is a way of life for Trump.

Make no mistake: Trump is gaslighting this election. Understanding how he does it is the only way we can survive itso heres a guide to how his gaslighting works and what to expect ahead. Not every instance of Trumpian gaslighting follows these five steps in this exact order, but in general, these are the five steps of his gaslighting m.o.:

1) Stake a claim: In this case, President Trump has decided to cast doubt on the 2020 election by alleging, without any evidence, that mail-in ballots that have increased in popularity because of the coronavirus are fraudulent, illegal, and will cost him the election.

2) Advance and deny: Trump does this when he alludes to, without any specifics, what other people are saying or his allies suggest hes only asking questions about subjects no responsible person would push into the public discussion. He fulfilled this step when he asked the question sure to grab attention this morning: Delay the Election until people can properly, securely and safely vote???

3) Create suspense: You can bet that Trump will soon launch an investigationwhether through the Department of Justice, an allied media source, or some states friendly Republican secretary of stateregarding mail-in ballots to cast doubt on the process further. Doing so is designed to buy time for Trump also to sow chaos and trap his political enemies into making mistakes he can exploit. Typically, the said investigations findings never come, although Trump likes to promise they will be public in two weeks.

4) Discredit opponents: While everyone awaits the sham investigations findings, Trump will find some targets to zero in on and instigate fights. When it comes to the election, this could be as high-profile as the Democratic ticket, or as obscure as county elections board members.

5) Claim victory: No matter the outcome of the election, Trump will claim that it was rigged, as he did the 2016 election that he won. If Trump wins this time around, hell say he should have won by more significant margins. If he loses, he will blame the mail-in ballots hes been railing against since last spring.

So what! you say. Everybody knows Trump does this. How can it be stopped? First and foremost, snuffing out his little gaslighting flames as soon as they get a whiff of oxygenin this case, starting with his tweet about delaying the election.

Anyone who knows something about anything regarding the presidential election knows that Trump cannot singlehandedly change the date. Article II of the Constitution empowers Congress to set the date. It has done so. Congress would have to pass a new law, and the president would have to sign it, in order to move the date of the election. Elected officials who pretend this isnt so should immediately be placed under the medical supervision of Trumps alien-DNA-medicine- and demon-sperm-fearing doctor.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, a West Point and Harvard Law graduate, is ready for check-in. He testified to Congress today that, In the end, the Department of Justice and others will make that legal determination.

Dont comfort yourself either, by saying, well, at least this time, Mitt Romney wasnt the only one in the Senate speaking out against Trumps ill-advised actions. For anyone in government, this is like a question on a basic competency test where you get half the points for just filling out your name. Or, in Trump parlance, its the person in Person. Woman. Man. Camera. TV. It should be automatic; you flunk if its not.

And guess what. Lots of people flunked today.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell initially declined to comment before saying, as relayed from a reporter, the election is set in stone. John Cornyn said, I think its a joke, I guess, I dont know how else to interpret it. Trumps golfing buddy Lindsey Graham said, I dont think thats a particularly good idea. Kevin Cramer laughed that reporters were taking the bait and said that Trumps tweet was clever.

It only takes a few flunkies to help President Trump drive his most absurd narratives. Think about Rick Perry playing footsie with Trumps birtherism way back in 2011. Or Devin Nunes running interference for Trump during the Russia investigation. Or the fact the racist writers at Tucker Carlsons TV show have basically worked as off-the-books as the brain room for the Trump campaign.

So, yay. Trump probably wont try to unilaterally delay the election. But what about the real issue. The ballots?

Its not a secret that Trump wants to put on the tinfoil hat on the GOP about mail-in ballots. He scream-tweets about related conspiracies on an almost daily basis. It got so bad that Twitteryes, Twitter, that bastion of high-minded norms and valuesfinally had to slap him on the wrist about it. His legal team is already contesting Pennsylvanias mail-in ballot system. Cue the Ron Paul gif: Its happening!

No one should avert their eyes and pretend that Trumps gaslighting about vote-counting isnt already happening or wont work. Trump is spreading such lies and rumors about the 2020 election because hes afraid of losing it. And if we let his lies control the election, he wont lose. Thats how gaslighters win.

Visit link:

Trumps Election-Date Tweet Is a Classic Gaslighting Move - The Bulwark

Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Tex., who has publicly scorned face masks and not regularly worn one at work for months, tested positiveWednesday for COVID-19.

The GOP congressman got theresultsat a White House screening ahead of his scheduledflight to Texas that morning with President Donald Trump, CNNreported.

Gohmert attended Attorney General William Barr's testimony before the House Judiciary Committeein person one day earlier. Video footageshows the two men, both maskless, only footsteps apart.

Barr will also get tested for the disease,Department of Justice spokespersonKerr Kupec said Wednesday.

One of Gohmert's own aides asked Politico in an email to include "the fact that Gohmert requires full staff to be in the office, including three interns, so that 'we could be an example to America on how to open up safely.'"

"When probing the office," the aide's email continued, "you might want to ask how often were people berated for notwearing masks."

Gohmert returned to his office after testing positive so that he could break the news to his staff in person, reportedly catching some aides as they were departing.

The eight-term Republican has repeatedly expressed his disdain for facial coverings. He took a break from praising Trump at a White House roundtable in May to preemptively knock reporters in the room, saying the only reason the group would wear a mask was "to protect ourselves from you."

"We had tests, and nobody in here has the coronavirus unless it's somebody in the media," Gohmert said at the time. "So the only reason we would wear masks is if we were trying to protect ourselves from you, in the media, and we're not scared of you."

The Texas lawmaker claimed toCNN in June that he was not wearing a mask on the House floorbecause he wasfrequently tested.

"[I]f I get it," Gohmerttold CNN in June, "you'll never see me without a mask."

CNN reporter Manu Raju on Wednesdayreported thathe had "never seen him wearing a mask on the House floor as he's carried on" with colleagues.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.,authorizedthe House Sergeant at Arms last month to ban any member who refuses to wear a mask at committee hearingsdays after Rep. Tom Rice, R-S.C., tested positive for COVID-19.

A senior House aide said at the time, "Ultimately, chairs will have the option of not recognizing members in committee proceedings that fail to comply with the mask requirement."

"I'm so sorry for [Gohmert]," Pelositold reporters Wednesday. "But I'm also sorry for my memberswho are concerned, because he has been showing up at meetings without a mask and making a thing of it."

The House speaker told colleagues in a Wednesday call that she would be unveiling a mandatory mask policy for the chamber floor.

Gohmertdid not don a mask ina video statement confirming the reports, which he recorded in his office. He claimed that he wasasymptomatic and would be "very, very careful not to give it to anybody else."

"Reports of my demise are a great deal premature," he said. "I took a quick test, but they get false positives sometimes, so they retested me with the swab that goes way up in your sinuses. It came back positive, too."

"Apparently, I have the Wuhan virus," he said. (The termfor COVID-19, used among some Republicans, has been decried as racist.)

Gohmert added that he had consulted with Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who tested positive for the disease in March. Gohmert said that Paul, the son of physician and former Sen. Ron Paul, assured him that "within 10 days or so, I should be fairly well immune."

The Texan also pushedback against unnamed critics on Twitter.

"I've worn a mask in the last week or two a whole lot more than I have in the last four months," Gohmert asserted.

The congressman also congratulated himself for evading a"fussing" fromJudiciary Chairman JerryNadler, D-N.Y., by wearinga mask during Barr's hearing. However, he omitted his interaction with Barr.

Gohmert also suggested that his mask was to blame for his positive diagnosis.

"I don't know about everybody else, but when I have a mask on, I'm movingit to make it comfortable. And I can't help but wonder if that, you know, puts some germs in the mask," he said. "Keep your hands off the mask."

The blame game was more clearly articulatedduring an interview with local Fox News affiliateKETK-TV.

"I can't help but think that if I hadn't been wearing a mask so much in the last 10 days or soI really wonder if I would've gotten it," Gohmert said."But I know moving the mask around, getting it just right, I'm bound to put some virus on the mask that I sucked in. That's most likely what happened."

But such a suggestion contradicts science. The CDC recommends face coverings as a way to slow the spread of COVID-19.

"Cloth face coverings are most likely to reduce the spread of COVID-19 when they are widely used by people in public settings," the agency says on its website. "The spread of COVID-19 can be reduced when cloth face coverings are used along with otherpreventive measures, includingsocial distancing, frequent handwashing and cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces."

See the original post:

Trump-loving Texas Rep. Louie Gohmert blames wearing a face mask for his positive COVID-19 test - Salon

It is a roster of tragedy and violence, a list populated with those famous in life and those plucked from obscurity by the exceptional circumstances of their death.

Elizabeth Short, known as the Black Dahlia, is an enduring member of the list. Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman are still there, as is Susan Berman, the writer whom Robert Durst is charged with killing at her Benedict Canyon bungalow. The Notorious B.I.G. was on the list for about 15 years after being killed in a drive-by shooting.

The vast majority are more recent entries, including Andres Guardado, the 18-year-old fatally shot in June by a Los Angeles County sheriffs deputy in Gardena.

These are people whose deaths have been under a so-called security hold by the Los Angeles County medical examiner-coroners office, a status that prevents public disclosure of their autopsies, often for months, years or, in some cases, indefinitely.

At any given time, more than 100 cases are under a security hold. This sealing was considered a routine procedural function, imposed almost always at the request of police or prosecutors, to provide a shroud of secrecy during the investigation of complex, high-profile, mysterious or unusual deaths. Usually, the hold is lifted only when the requesting police or prosecuting agency gives the green light.

But in recent years, the practice has been thrust into the spotlight when on-duty police officers have killed members of the public cases in which anger and skepticism have fueled calls for accountability and transparency, and in which the security hold has only compounded flaring distrust.

The hold has set the coroners office at the center of an impassioned debate that came to a head with the death of Guardado, who was working as a security guard at an auto body shop June 18, when he was approached by officers and ran, his family said. Deputies said Guardado produced a firearm during the chase. His killing spurred days of protests and demands for justice and answers.

After Guardados family publicly shared the results of an independent autopsy, L.A. County Chief Medical Examiner-Coroner Dr. Jonathan Lucas unilaterally bucked the hold installed by the Sheriffs Department and released the full coroners report, confirming that the 18-year-old was shot five times in the back.

Family and friends rally for justice in the case of Andres Guardado, who was fatally shot by a sheriffs deputy in Gardena.

(Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)

I believe that government can do its part by being more timely and more transparent in sharing information that the public demands and has a right to see, Lucas said in a statement.

Sheriff Alex Villanueva was furious and swiftly rebuked the disclosure, saying it jeopardized the ongoing investigation as well as any future criminal or administrative proceedings, even tainting potential witnesses.

Authorities maintain that security holds are essential for preserving the integrity of cases, and for the families of many homicide victims, the practice has been largely without controversy. The families often form close bonds with detectives or district attorneys and have a greater degree of trust as authorities try to prosecute a killing.

But for the relatives of those killed by police, the security hold is one in a series of ways in which they are treated differently, blocked from officially knowing the details of their loved ones final moments.

Family members speculated it was a way of harassing them, making their loss more difficult because they couldnt have a determination into how their loved one was killed, said Lael Rubin, a retired L.A. County prosecutor who serves on the civilian commission overseeing the Sheriffs Department. She noted cases in which security holds have been in place for two years or longer.

The official word was, We request a security hold for further investigation, but it does seem suspicious, Rubin said. If you havent completed your investigation in two years, what are you doing?

Under state law, coroners reports are public record. The packet is often three reports in one: toxicology tests, an autopsy and an investigative summary. The documents can be incredibly detailed, with a medical history, a listing of prescription drugs the person took and the doctors who issued the pharmaceuticals, descriptions of the persons anatomy and the manner in which they perished.

Photos or videos from a death scene are not released, but a report can include a diagram of a body, along with descriptions of tattoos and piercings.

A hold means the death does not show up in the coroners online database, and staff at the office have limited access to case information, Sarah Ardalani, spokesperson for the Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner, said.

The security hold has become a standard feature in the aftermath of a celebritys death, including singer Whitney Houston, actress and writer Carrie Fisher, actor Paul Walker and the wife of actor Robert Blake. In these cases, the hold prevents salacious tidbits from reaching tabloids and is usually lifted in three to six months, when the full report is complete.

Its main role is to ensure that the facts of the case are held until the investigation can be thoroughly vetted, said Dr. Mark Fajardo, the chief forensic pathologist of Riverside County and former coroner of L.A. County.

Of the 8,000 or so deaths reviewed each year by the L.A. County coroners office, a small fraction are kept secret.

It buys a little time, said Craig Harvey, the longtime chief of investigations for the county coroner, who retired in 2015. Harvey said detectives and prosecutors may consider confidentiality as essential to identifying a suspect who had information that only the killer could know.

For example, LAPD Det. Meghan Aguilar said in a statement, the autopsy report may detail whether the victim was sexually assaulted and whether evidence of this was recovered information that detectives and prosecutors would want to keep a lid on while pursuing a suspect. The autopsy may also reveal if there was a struggle before a person died and what type of injuries on the body would reflect this, Aguilar said.

Why the Simpson and Goldman autopsies remain under a hold is unclear. The LAPD said the 1994 killings are still considered unsolved, warranting the hold, but Judge Lance Ito, who presided over the criminal trial of O.J. Simpson, also appears to have effectively sealed the autopsies. The coroners office confirmed that the autopsies were put on a security hold via court order.

Autopsy reports on Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman, who were found dead June 12, 1994, in Los Angeles, remain sealed under a court order.

(Associated Press)

It is my recollection this was agreed to by both the prosecution and defense, Ito told The Times via email. Ito, who has retired, declined to explain why he sealed the autopsies, but he noted that photos of the autopsy were displayed and details of the victims cause of death were aired in open court by medical experts.

Security holds might also prevent inflammatory information from reaching the public without proper context; for example, a description of gunshot wounds in a persons back, Harvey said.

Because of the trauma that a bullet does to the body, it doesnt necessarily mean the police shot someone in the back, he said. People may get worked up over something. But it may be explained, and it can make sense, and it can be presented to the grand jury or district attorney.

For more than a year, the family of Paul Rea, 18, waited anxiously to learn more about how he was shot and killed by an L.A. County sheriffs deputy during a routine traffic stop in East L.A.

Prosecutors concluded in May that the deputy acted lawfully, then closed their investigation. Reas family learned this from a Times journalist. Until late last month, the autopsy remained under a security hold.

Grainy security footage that captured part of the June 27, 2019, encounter appears to show Rea breaking from the deputy before he was shot four times. Deputy Hector Saavedra said he felt a gun in Reas waistband, but Rea never pulled it out, according to a report by the district attorneys office.

I want the whole thing. I want to read everything, said Julie Diaz-Martinez, Reas grandmother. As a family member, the autopsy is important, because you wonder, was he still breathing when they took him into the hospital? You wonder, how lethal was the first shot? How long did he suffer? Could it really have been prevented?

A yearlong wait for a security hold to lift is common when people are killed by police, but the hold can stretch on for two years or longer.

Theyre looking for answers about how their loved ones died, and the coroners autopsy often is one of the few repositories of objective information about that, and its hidden from them, said Sean Kennedy, a member of the Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission. He proposed that the coroner lift holds and make the documents public after a reasonable period of time, perhaps 60 days.

Walter Katz, a former public defender who served as the police watchdog for San Jose and deputy inspector general for the L.A. County Sheriffs Department, said the delays go to the very heart of how those killed by law enforcement are viewed.

They are not treated like victims of a crime. The whole mindset is: Whoever is shot by the police is the suspect, and the law enforcement officer who used force is the victim, Katz said. Thats how the homicide books created by agencies characterize it.

Not every case in which an on-duty police officer fatally shoots a civilian receives a security hold, according to local law enforcement agencies.

LAPD Capt. Gisselle Espinoza said in a statement that security holds are based upon the confidential, legal and the sensitive nature of a case. She cited other factors, including protection of evidence and proper review by the district attorneys office.

If autopsy results are released during an active investigation, it can taint follow-up interviews from victims, witnesses or bystanders, said Jennifer De Prez, a spokeswoman for Long Beach Police Department.

The LAPD has kept a security hold on the autopsy of Melyda Corado for more than two years. Corado was working on July 21, 2018, at the Trader Joes in Silver Lake when Gene Atkins rolled up, hostage in tow, after leading two officers on a lengthy car chase. Atkins stopped the car; ran toward the store, which was crowded with shoppers; and shot at officers. Police returned fire, and one of the bullets struck Corado, killing her.

Mely Corado was not someone engaged with police. She was not a suspect in a crime, said John Taylor, the attorney representing the Corado family in their wrongful-death lawsuit against the city and the LAPD. So to have a security hold on her case has been baffling and confusing.

If theres something thats on the body as evidence that would be known only to the perpetrator of the crime, I can understand, Taylor added.

The L.A. Police Commission has ruled that the officer who fired the shot that killed Corado acted in accordance with LAPD policy. Atkins has been charged under the provocative act murder doctrine for allegedly setting off the events that led to Corados death.

The security hold has remained. Albert Corado, a community organizer who now lives in his late sisters apartment in Atwater Village, said he felt the secrecy was part of a campaign to block information.

Last year, the Corado familys lawyers subpoenaed L.A. County for her autopsy; the coroners office denied their request and referred her family to an LAPD detective, according to court records. The family then successfully persuaded an L.A. County Superior Court judge to order the autopsys release. The city did not oppose the move in court but did not lift the security hold, either.

Albert Corado said he reviewed the report, and it confirmed what he already knew his sister died from a gunshot wound making its secrecy a source of anger and motivation.

The harder they make it to give out information in the run-up to trial is to make you want to give up, he said.

The LAPD told The Times last week that it had directed the investigating officer in the Corado case to remove the security hold. In a statement, the department said the report should be made available to the public this month.

Times staff writers Maloy Moore and Nicole Santa Cruz contributed to this report.

Go here to read the rest:

Families of those killed by police want autopsies made available. - Los Angeles Times

Buy Photo

Volunteer Anne DeLeo organizes ballots and documentation that goes with them for the April 7, 2020 election.(Photo: MIKE DE SISTI / MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL)

The Aug. 11 partisan primaries will determine who of each party's candidates will be on the ballot in the Nov. 3general election andcome months after Wisconsin's contentious April 7elections, which were plagued by long lines and often a lack of social distancing.

A full statewidelist of the candidates on the primary ballot, including candidates for state Assembly and county district attorney, is available from the Wisconsin Elections Commission.

District 1:In the district once represented by former U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan, attorney and businessman Josh Pade of Kenosha is facing national security expert Roger Polack of Racine in the Democratic primary.

The winner will take on Republican incumbent Bryan Steil of Janesville in the general election.

The district encompasses Kenosha and Racine counties and portions of Rock, Walworth, Waukesha and Milwaukee counties.

READ MORE: 1st Congressional District primary: Pade, Polack hope to flip Paul Ryan's old district

District 3:Democratic incumbent Ron Kind of La Crosse, who has represented the district since 1997, is facing primary challenger Mark Neumann, a former physician from La Crosse.

Neumann is not the same Mark Neumann who served as the 1st District's representative in the 1990s.

Two political newcomers are running in the Republican primary in the hope of delivering the seat to the GOP in November: health care publicist Jessi Ebben of Eau Clare and former Navy SEAL Derrick Van Orden.

The western Wisconsin district stretches from Grant County in the far southwestern corner of Wisconsin north to the River Falls, Menomonie and Eau Claire areas. The district also includes parts of central Wisconsin, including Stevens Point.

READ MORE: 3rd Congressional District primary: Kind has challenge on left; GOP wants to flip district

District 4: Republicans Tim Rogers and businesswomanCindy Werner, both Milwaukee residents, are on the primary ballot, vying to take onDemocratic incumbent Gwen Moore in the district containing the city of Milwaukee.

Both Werner and Rogers previously ran in the 2018 Congressional primary. Moore defeated Rogers in the general election with about 75% of the vote.

District 5:Republican incumbent Jim Sensenbrenner announced in September that he would not be seeking reelection.

Navy veteran and businessman Tom Palzewicz of Brookfield is the only Democrat running to replace him.

But the Republican primary is contested between Scott Fitzgerald of Juneau, currently the majority leader in the Wisconsin state Senate, and Coast Guard Reserve commander and businessmanCliff DeTemple of Jackson.

The district includes Jefferson and Washington counties and parts of Dodge, Milwaukee, Walworthand Waukesha counties.

District 6:The three Democrats running in the primary, in the hope of unseating Republican incumbent Glenn Grothman ofGlenbeulah, arebusiness development executive MatthewBoor of Cleveland, IT consultant Michael Beardsley of Oshkosh, and lawyerJessica King of Oshkosh.

The district north of Milwaukee includes areas of Ozaukee, Milwaukee, Sheboygan, Manitowoc,Columbia, Fond du Lac, Dodge, Green Lake, Marquette, Waushara and Winnebago counties.

READ MORE: Meet the Democrats vying to challenge Glenn Grothman in the 6th Congressional District

A poll worker wears a sign asking voters to observe social distancing outside the Schuetze Recreation Center on April 7 in Waukesha, Wis.(Photo: Scott Ash/Now News Group)

In addition to other primary races throughout the state, the following legislative seats are holding partisan primaries in the Milwaukee area:

Senate District 6:Democratic incumbent LaTonya Johnson faces a challenge from Michelle Bryant, the chief of staff for state Sen. LenaTaylor.

The winner will face Republican candidate Alciro Deacon in the fall. The district covers parts of Milwaukee's north and west sides.

Senate District 28: Five Republicans are running to succeed incumbent Dave Craig, who is not running for reelection.The GOP challengers are leadership trainer Steve Bobowski, attorney Dan Griffin, Army veteran and businessman Jim Engstrand, businessman andformer La Crosse County Republican Party Chairman Julian Bradleyand attorney Marina Croft.

The Aug. 11 winner will face Democratic candidate and businessman Adam Murphy in the general election. The district includes parts of southern Waukesha and Milwaukee counties.

AssemblyDistrict 8:Both parties are running primaries to see who will vie to replace outgoing Democratic incumbent JoCasta Zamarripa on the near south side district.Zamarripa was elected to the Milwaukee Common Council in April.

In the Democratic primary, Milwaukee County Supervisor Sylvia Ortiz-Velez is running against community organizer Joanna Bautch. In the Republican race, Marine veteran and nonprofit founder Ruben Velez will face businessmanAngel Sanchez.

Assembly District 9:Democratic incumbent Marissa Cabarera is facingChristian Saldivar in the primary; the winner face Republican candidate and medical interpreter Veronica Diaz in the fall in the south side district.

Assembly District 11:Democratic incumbent Jason Fields, who was elected Milwaukee city comptroller in April, is not running for reelectionand there is a four-wayprimary to replace him. The candidates are community advocate Curtis Cook II, nonprofit member services coordinatorDora Drake, Glendale Ald. Tomika Vukovicand businessman Carl Gates. They are vying to face Republican candidate Orlando Owens in the general election. The district includes parts of northern Milwaukee County.

Assembly District 14: Republicans have a three-way primary to pick achallenger to Democratic incumbent Robyn Vining. The candidates arechurch outreach directorBonnie Lee, electrician Steven Sheveyand former special education teacher Linda Boucher.

The districtspans parts of Waukesha and Milwaukee countiesand includes Brookfield and Wauwatosa

READ MORE: Meet the candidates for the Republican primary for Wisconsin State Assembly District 14

READ MORE: A battleground district in a battleground state: How the Democrats aim to claim Scott Walker's home turf

Assembly District 17:Three Democrats teacher and veteran Mike Brox, Milwaukee County Supervisor Supreme Moore Omokundeand Democratic Party of Milwaukee County Chair Chris Walton are running in the primary to face Republican candidate Abbie Eisenbach. The seat, representing parts of Milwaukee's west sidewas held byDavid Crowley, who was elected Milwaukee County executive in April.

Assembly District 60:Republican incumbent Robert Brooks faces a primary challenge from health care consultant and former Cedarburg City Council member Chris Reimer. There are no Democrats on the ballot. The district includes parts of Ozaukee and Washington counties.

Assembly District 82:Republican incumbent Ken Skowronski faces a primary challenge from attorney Theodore Kafkas in the district covering parts of southwestern Milwaukee County including Greendale and Franklin.

The Democratic primary in the district pits recent Yale graduate Jacob Malinowski and businessman Paul McCreary.

In Milwaukee County, there is a contested Democratic primary for the office of Register of Deeds. Incumbent Israel Ramn faces a challenge from County Supervisor John Weishan Jr.

Registering to vote by mail or online in time for the primary ended on July 22, but it is still possible to register in person at the polls;to do so, you must bring a Wisconsin driver's license orstate IDor the last four digits of your Social Security numberas well as a document providing proof that you live in Wisconsin.

Wisconsinites who are already registered to votecan vote in person at their local polling place, at an early voting siteor by mail.

In-person early voting started on July 28 and ends Aug. 9.

To find your local polling place, visit myvote.wi.gov.Polls will be open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Aug. 11.

More than 785,000 voters have requested absentee ballots for the primary so far, and due to the pandemic, groups such as the bipartisan VoteSafeWI organization are trying to expand access to absentee voting. Anyone registered to vote can request an absentee ballot in person, by mailor online at myvote.wi.gov.

To request a ballot in person or by mail, visit or contact your municipal clerk; a directory of clerks is available at https://elections.wi.gov/clerks/directory.

If you are voting in person, you will need to bringa photo ID. Some of the accepted IDs include a driver's license from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation; an identification card from the DOT; a military ID card; a U.S. passport; an ID card from an indigenous tribe in Wisconsin; or a photo ID from a "Wisconsin accredited university or college that contains date of issuance, signature of studentand an expiration date no later than two years after date of issuance.Also, the university or college ID must be accompanied by a separate document that proves enrollment,according to the Wisconsin Elections Commission's ID website.

It is also possible to apply for a state photo ID through the Division of Motor Vehicles.

More details and forms of eligible ID can be found athttps://bringit.wi.gov/.

Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal.

Read or Share this story: https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2020/07/30/wisconsin-primary-what-know-august-11-elections/5518864002/

Excerpt from:

Voter guide: What you should know for the Aug. 11 primary elections in Wisconsin - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Here is a listing of youth and recreational sports results reported to LNP on July 30.

Please note that because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the LNP sports department is not working in the newsroom. If you call in a score to 717-291-8666, you will only be able to leave a voice mail. We retrieve voice mails remotely each night; but if you do call, be sure to leave your name and phone number so we may contact you if there is a problem. Results may also be emailed to sports@lnpnews.com. They appear in the print edition of LNP as space permits each day. Also, because LNP has begun running on a new press as of July 27, print deadlines will be much earlier for the next several weeks during the shakedown process. The nightly cutoff for print will be between 8:30 and 9 p.m., depending on shifting deadlines.

14U

Section Two

Elizabethtown Black 11, Manheim Township Lightning 1

Dakota Petrosky went 2 for 3 with an RBI, and Brady Moran went 3 for 3 with an RBI.

Mountville Red Sox 16, Lititz VFW 9

Bowmansville Red Sox 14, Lampeter-Strasburg Blue 4

Section Three

Donegal Indians 15, Cocalico Eagles 1

Peighton Derr pitched a complete-game one-hitter for the win.

12U

Section One

Lampeter-StrasburgCardinals 5, Solanco Gold 3

Section Two

Cocalico White 6,Manheim Township Lightning 3

Mountville Phillies 15, Garden Spot Blue Sox 1

Section Three

Donegal Black 18, Hempfield 1

Manheim TownshipChargers 12, Manheim VFW 8

10U

Section One

Donegal Indians 10, Penn Manor 8

Section Two

Lancaster SALSA 15, Hempfield Red 2

Mountville Giants 14, Penn Manor White 6

14U

Section Two

Manheim Tigers 17,Lampeter-StrasburgBlue 4

10U

Section One

Mountville Cubs 9,Manheim Township Streaks 3

12U

Section Three

Mount Joy 18, Manheim VFW 17

At Lancaster Country Club

Friday, July 31

8 a.m. Austin Bortz, Zachary Lessley, Nathan Williams, Joseph McGinty (Boys Silver)

8:10 a.m. Isaiah Hansen, Ian Stefanchik, Jesse Shue, Jamesson Radwanski (Boys Silver)

8:20 a.m. Kayla Maletto, Elle Overly, Tristan Groff, Hannah Barrett (Girls Gold)

8:30 a.m. Tyler Swartz, Reagan Flynn, Luke Barbour (Boys Gold)

8:40 a.m. Grant Novinger, Brant Bomberger, Alex Williams, Brady Wiggins (Boys Gold)

8:50 a.m. Sawyer Marten, Brock Smith, Trey Rios, Matthew Wilson (Boys Gold)

9 a.m. Logan Wagner, Ben Wilson, Sean Cliff, Dante Billoni (Boys Gold)

9:10 a.m. Ben Feeman, Tyson Mitchell, Tanner Fackler, Simon Domencic (Boys Gold)

9:20 a.m. Colton Yenser, Evan Jozwiak, Michael Fioravante, Trevor Snyder (Boys Gold)

9:30 a.m. Garrett Engle, Derek McGlaughlin, Jonathan Glick, Connor Strine (Boys Gold)

Success! An email has been sent with a link to confirm list signup.

Error! There was an error processing your request.

Good Food Inc. 16, G.E. Richards 1

JUNIOR DOUBLES

Drew Jaquith, 226-212-277715

Aliza Shirk, 227-236-246709

Trevor Courtney, 210-270-207687

Robbie Jack, 192-207-280679

Morgan Kline, 226-177-213616

Bethany Jaquith, 192-215-197604

MENS GUEST DAY Better Ball of Partners, July 30.

Gross: First, Bob Ford and Alex Blickle, 68; second, Dave Knox and Andy Wallover, 69; third (tie), Dave Knox and Conor Gilbert, Shane Clayton and Pete Bulat, 70.

Net: First (tie), Hank Popplewell and Kevin Popplewell, Jody Shelby and Ed Kocher, Jim Fucci and Doug Layaw, Pahn Sisay and Paul Kamay, 61; fifth (tie), Jim Fucci and Ron Battaglia, Jim Fucci and Jake Daggett, 62.

PURPLE GANG STABLEFORD July 30. The team of Brian Eidemiller, Lee Tannehill and Mike Cohen won the front with +12, the back with + 7, and total with +19.

THURSDAY MORNING WOMENS LEAGUE July 20. FIrst, Becky Wilson, +9; second, Paula Levandowski, +7; third, Connie Archey, +6.

WEDNESDAY WOMENS LEAGUE Crier, July 29. First Gross: Billie Besser, 93. First Flight (Net): First, Fern Clemmer, 62; second, Donna Beck, 66) Second Flight (Net): First, Barb Landis, 70.

SENIOR LEAGUE July 30.

A Flight: First, Ron Hunt, 64; second, Mike ODay, 66; third (tie), Dan Miller, Karl Gochnauer, 68; fifth, Bob Kayden, 69.

B Flight: First (tie), Jack Janowicz, Dave Scott, 64; third (tie), Dennis Michael, Howard Pryor, 65; fifth, Jamie Roak, 67.

C Flight: First, Larry Booz, 62; second, Leon Brisson, 67; third, Don Denlinger, 68; fourth, Steve Brickner, 69; fifth (tie), Wayne Hoffman, Carl Smith, 71.

D Flight: First, Ed Rowlands, 64; second (tie), Carl Frey, Richard Drennen, Gene Wise, Bill Bitterman, 67.

E Flight: First, Frank Sahd, 62; second, Bill Arms, 63; third (tie), Ron Ross, Bill Renninger, 67; fifth, George Lower, 68.

Closest to the Pin: No. 6, Mike ODay, 8 feet, 2 inches; No. 17, Steve Parmer, 3 feet.

WOMENS NINE-HOLE LEAGUE Medal Play, July 30. Flight A: Linda Goodhart, 30. Flight B: Kristie Arment, 28. Flight C: Linda Wilson, 26. Flight D: Judy Gingerich, 36.

SENIOR LEAGUE Points System, July 30, 37 players. First: Mike MacKinnon and Dwight Evans, +21. Second: Carl Anderson, Herman Arters and Scott Herber, +20. Third: Greg Strunk and Jim Axe, +18. Fourth (tie), Ted Kuznier and Carl Sabal, Jeff Bohler and Joe Pieja, +13.

Greenies: No. 2, Joe Pieja; No. 8, Jere Stick; No. 11, Charlie Miles; No. 17, Ken Martin.

MONDAY SENIOR LEAGUE July 27.

A Flight (Handicap 17 and below): First, Frank Telenko Jr., 60; second (tie), Ed Binder, Guy Gillespie, Joe McDonough, 68; fifth (tie), Greg Smith, Keith Branum, 69; seventh, Jim Terry, 71.

B Flight (Handicap 18 and above): First, Pat Moran, 59; second, Gene Newcomer, 60; third, John Schnee, 65; fourth, Erick Kershner, 66.

Closest to the Pin: No. 12, Ed Binder.

WEDNESDAY SENIOR LEAGUE July 29.

A Flight (Handicap 17 and below): First, Tom Snyder, 65; second, Kevin Ahern, 66; third, Doug Bitner, 67; fourth (tie), Barry Mowrer, Ed Binder, Tom Shaub, 68.

B Flight (Handicap 18 and above): First (tie), Pat Moran, Phil Sinegar, 65; third (tie), Gene Newcomer, Robert Scharf, 66; fifth (tie), Carl King, Charlie Brecht, 67; seventh, Bob Culp, 68.

Closest to the Pin: No. 12, Keith Branum.

SHOT HIS AGE John Hershey, age 74, shot a round of 73 on July 30.

HOFFA TEAM MATCHES July 30. Front (plus-10) and total (plus-14): Roy Hoffa, Tom Perlaki, Dave Guiles and Ed Lilly. Back (plus-8): Irv Fox, Don Gehman, Jim Lloys and Dave Seibold.

SHOT HIS AGE Roy Hoffa, age 84, shot a round of 80 on July 30.

SHOT HIS AGE Irv Fox, age 77, shot a round of 74 on July 30.

SHOT HIS AGE Dave Seibold, age 77, shot a round of 77 on July 30.

SHOT HIS AGE Spence Henry, age 79, shot a round of 76 on July 30.

SHOT HIS AGE Jim Lloyd, age 89, shot a round of 89 on July 30.

WOMENS 18-HOLE LEAGUE Team Quota, July 29. First: Janice Leakway, Liz Martin, Ann Schein and Nancy Cummings, +11.

WEDNESDAY MENS LEAGUE Team Quota, July 29. First: Bob Stauffer, Mark Gast and Brian Cline, +3. Second (tie), Richard Frey, Roger Harvey Jr., Andrew Enck and Bob Rose; Blaise Holzbauer, Tom Holzbauer, Roger Harvey Sr. and Frank Dano, -2.

Subscribe today for only $2

' + submsgtxthtml + '

Get unlimited access to breaking news, ancestry archives, our daily E-newspaper, games and more.

Subscribe today for only $2

' + submsgtxthtml + '

Get unlimited access to breaking news, ancestry archives, our daily E-newspaper, games and more.

Subscribe today for only $2

' + submsgtxthtml + '

Get unlimited access to breaking news, ancestry archives, our daily E-newspaper, games and more.

Subscribe today for only $2

Continue reading here:

LNP Scoreboard: Youth and recreational sports results from July 30 - LancasterOnline

Actress and liberal activist Alyssa Milano has provoked an outpouring of mockery after pondering in a long-winded Twitter rant why Joe Rogans massively popular podcast has more listeners than her own.

We live in a world WHERE JOE ROGANs PODCAST HAS TRIPLE THE LISTENERS AS MINE!! Dear god, Milano wrote on Wednesday, amid a storm of tweets on topics ranging from immigration policy to the renaming of the Redskins football team and her own eating habits.

Rogan, who hosts one of the most popular podcasts in the world, kicked off the Joe Rogan Experience in 2009, while Milano began her Sorry Not Sorry podcast just last year. While Rogan, a UFC commentator, comedian, and former Fear Factor host, uses his podcast to conduct wide-ranging interviews with scientists, politicians, and artists, Milanos is often hyper-focused on Donald Trumps administration and features mainly liberal activists.

Milanos whining about Rogans show appealing to more people than hers and the suggestion that this bodes negatively for the world at large inspired ridicule and mockery on social media, something the Charmed star should be used to by now.

Wow I can't believe an interesting podcast has more listeners than the Screechy McWhinesalot Cry-About-Trump Power Hour, podcaster Noam Blum tweeted in response.

Its like a real-life Whos the Boss reboot with Joe Rogan in the Tony Danza role and Alyssa Milano as Judith Light, conservative commentator Cam Edwards added, referencing the long-running 80s sitcom Milano starred in as a teenager.

There were also many who expressed doubt over Milanos claim that Rogan has three times as many listeners. While podcast streams are difficult to directly compare, Rogans show has existed for far longer, and YouTube clips of his show regularly hit millions of views. Rogans show also has a 4.5 rating based on around 163,000 reviews on Apple Podcasts, while Milanos has a 3.5 rating based on approximately 2,700 reviews.

Milanos Rogan tweet somehow ended up being one of the most straightforward in her stream of consciousness, as she later veered off into topics like dying her hair, her addiction to carbs, not shaving her legs and, of course, some Trump bashing.

While Rogan doesnt associate himself with any political party though hes described himself as libertarian and officially endorsed former Congressman Ron Paul in 2012 he has become a target of some on the left in recent weeks for being critical of Joe Biden, the Democrat Partys presumptive presidential nominee.

Milano, on the other hand, is fully on board with Bidens campaign. Her full-throated support of the Democratic candidate despite sexual assault allegations levelled against him by former aide Tara Reade drew some criticism, given she has been a vocal advocate of the #MeToo movement.

Among the actress other shining moments on Twitter is a tweet encouraging people to wear masks during the Covid-19 pandemic, with an attached photograph of herself wearing a knitted and clearly ineffective face covering. The actress also faced heat after slamming NYPD officers as Trumps Gestapoover a video of them arresting a suspect, who it was later revealedhad been wanted for damaging police cameras.

Like this story? Share it with a friend!

Read more here:

Alyssa Milano roasted after complaining that Joe Rogan's podcast has more listeners than hers does - RT

There's been a lot of news, but I want to focus today on an argument made by Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan that I think is worth exploring for its complete and total wrongness.

Hogan is a pretty remarkable politician -- a Republican popular in a blue state, he has not been afraid to call out the Trump administration.

He's got a new book out about his fight with cancer and in it he describes Trump administration Cabinet members (he doesn't say which ones) suggesting he should run against President Donald Trump this year. He considered it but didn't, ultimately.

Who does he support for president? But what I want to address here is how Hogan is treating the question of whether he'll support Trump this fall. He's done variations of this in a few interviews, including with CNN's Jake Tapper on Sunday.

TAPPER: You didn't vote for President Trump in 2016. You have consistently criticized his approach to governing. A few days ago, you told "The Dispatch" podcast you probably will not endorse him before the election. Who do you think is a better person to lead the US through this very difficult time, Joe Biden or Donald Trump?

HOGAN: Well, I think I'm just going to let the American people make that decision. The election is 100 days away. I think early voting starts in 60 days or less. So we're getting very close for the American people to make that decision. I think, quite frankly, a lot of people, like me, are frustrated with the divisiveness and dysfunction on both sides and don't feel like we have two great choices.

That idea is true. A lot of Democrats who supported other people in their primaries probably aren't too excited about Joe Biden. And a lot of Americans are probably concerned that Democrats are moving too far to the left even as they're frightened by Trump.

But Hogan went a bit further in an interview with the conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt:

"I mean, there's, there are other choices. I didn't make that choice between Hillary and Donald Trump the first time. I did a write-in for my dad, who I had a lot of respect for and who we could probably touch on with your Nixon background there. But, you know, it's, it's not a black or white decision."

Technically speaking, he's correct. You can write someone in or pick one of the other presidential candidates who will likely appear on your ballot. The Green Party has Howie Hawkins. The Libertarians have Jo Jorgensen. Neither of them are going to be president.

But he's also totally wrong. And this is where Hogan veers into politician-speak silliness. Your 2020 vote is entirely a black-and-white decision.

If you support Trump, he needs your help. A series of CNN battleground state polls out this weekend show the President trailing in three states he won in 2016, including Florida, which no successful Republican presidential candidate has lost in 96 years. Since Calvin Coolidge.

If you don't support Trump, you'd better vote that way. Because he's on the ballot and despite those polls, you might end up with four more years of him.

That's about as binary a decision as it's possible to have. Barring unforeseen calamity, either Donald Trump or Joe Biden will take the oath of office on January 20 at noon. It will not be Larry Hogan's father, who died in 1975.

The subtext of Hogan, a Republican, not vocally supporting Trump is that he opposes Trump but he doesn't want to turn off all the Republicans who do. Hogan has this luxury since he's the governor of a state that will almost certainly cast its electoral votes for Biden. And he'll be reminding everyone of that if he runs for president in 2024!

But the effect of Hogan's words is the idea that it doesn't matter which candidate wins and that another option is worth considering. The time for other options, in the electoral system that's grown up around us, was during primary season.

There are plenty of people arguing the US electoral system needs changes. Those aren't going to happen before November 3.

R or D for 150 years. It is a fact of American life that the two parties have held a death grip on the White House since the Civil War. And they'll keep it unless or until the entire system is changed.

The parties have beaten back Populists, Progressives, Socialists, Dixiecrats and Independents. They've humbled Teddy Roosevelt, Eugene Debs, Strom Thurmond, George Wallace and Ross Perot. Would-be moderate independent Howard Schultz's campaign never even formally launched this year.

The last non-major-party electoral votes were a very long time ago. Despite offering frustrating options, the major parties have only gotten more dominant. Nobody but a Republican or a Democrat has gotten any electoral votes at all in more than 50 years, since Wallace, promising to keep segregation, won five Southern states in 1968.

Change agents run in party primaries. The power the parties hold over the US system is why Bernie Sanders, who isn't a Democrat, ran as a Democrat two times. It's why Ron Paul ran as a Republican twice. It's why Trump, who hasn't always been a Republican, ran as a Republican in 2016. Recall that he dabbled with a Reform Party run in 2000 only to realize there was no path to victory.

In November, until the country changes the system, it's R or D at the presidential level.

A bad year for a protest vote. Presidential candidates try to sell every presidential election as the most important one ever, but this certainly carries some real-time importance.

Set aside the more political divisions of Trump's presidency:

Focusing only on his stewardship of the country in the midst of pandemic:

Americans have seen, under Trump and during the pandemic, that who sits in the Oval Office actually does have a bearing on daily life. And for that reason, in 2020, there are no other choices.

See the original post:

You get 2 choices for president. That's it. - Action News Now

July 28, 2020 2:35 AM

Posted: July 28, 2020 2:35 AM

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan tells CNNs Jake Tapper he thinks a lot of voters dont like either candidate in 2020.

Theres been a lot of news, but I want to focus today on an argument made by Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan that I think is worth exploring for its complete and total wrongness.

Hogan is a pretty remarkable politician a Republican popular in a blue state, he has not been afraid to call out the Trump administration.

Hes got a new book out about his fight with cancer and in it he describes Trump administration Cabinet members (he doesnt say which ones) suggesting he should run against President Donald Trump this year. He considered it but didnt, ultimately.

Who does he support for president? But what I want to address here is how Hogan is treating the question of whether hell support Trump this fall. Hes done variations of this in a few interviews, including with CNNs Jake Tapper on Sunday.

TAPPER: You didnt vote for President Trump in 2016. You have consistently criticized his approach to governing. A few days ago, you told The Dispatch podcast you probably will not endorse him before the election. Who do you think is a better person to lead the US through this very difficult time, Joe Biden or Donald Trump?

HOGAN: Well, I think Im just going to let the American people make that decision. The election is 100 days away. I think early voting starts in 60 days or less. So were getting very close for the American people to make that decision. I think, quite frankly, a lot of people, like me, are frustrated with the divisiveness and dysfunction on both sides and dont feel like we have two great choices.

That idea is true. A lot of Democrats who supported other people in their primaries probably arent too excited about Joe Biden. And a lot of Americans are probably concerned that Democrats are moving too far to the left even as theyre frightened by Trump.

But Hogan went a bit further in an interview with the conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt:

I mean, theres, there are other choices. I didnt make that choice between Hillary and Donald Trump the first time. I did a write-in for my dad, who I had a lot of respect for and who we could probably touch on with your Nixon background there. But, you know, its, its not a black or white decision.

Technically speaking, hes correct. You can write someone in or pick one of the other presidential candidates who will likely appear on your ballot. The Green Party has Howie Hawkins. The Libertarians have Jo Jorgensen. Neither of them are going to be president.

But hes also totally wrong. And this is where Hogan veers into politician-speak silliness. Your 2020 vote is entirely a black-and-white decision.

If you support Trump, he needs your help. A series of CNN battleground state polls out this weekend show the President trailing in three states he won in 2016, including Florida, which no successful Republican presidential candidate has lost in 96 years. Since Calvin Coolidge.

If you dont support Trump, youd better vote that way. Because hes on the ballot and despite those polls, you might end up with four more years of him.

Thats about as binary a decision as its possible to have. Barring unforeseen calamity, either Donald Trump or Joe Biden will take the oath of office on January 20 at noon. It will not be Larry Hogans father, who died in 1975.

The subtext of Hogan, a Republican, not vocally supporting Trump is that he opposes Trump but he doesnt want to turn off all the Republicans who do. Hogan has this luxury since hes the governor of a state that will almost certainly cast its electoral votes for Biden. And hell be reminding everyone of that if he runs for president in 2024!

But the effect of Hogans words is the idea that it doesnt matter which candidate wins and that another option is worth considering. The time for other options, in the electoral system thats grown up around us, was during primary season.

There are plenty of people arguing the US electoral system needs changes. Those arent going to happen before November 3.

R or D for 150 years. It is a fact of American life that the two parties have held a death grip on the White House since the Civil War. And theyll keep it unless or until the entire system is changed.

The parties have beaten back Populists, Progressives, Socialists, Dixiecrats and Independents. Theyve humbled Teddy Roosevelt, Eugene Debs, Strom Thurmond, George Wallace and Ross Perot. Would-be moderate independent Howard Schultzs campaign never even formally launched this year.

The last non-major-party electoral votes were a very long time ago. Despite offering frustrating options, the major parties have only gotten more dominant. Nobody but a Republican or a Democrat has gotten any electoral votes at all in more than 50 years, since Wallace, promising to keep segregation, won five Southern states in 1968.

Change agents run in party primaries. The power the parties hold over the US system is why Bernie Sanders, who isnt a Democrat, ran as a Democrat two times. Its why Ron Paul ran as a Republican twice. Its why Trump, who hasnt always been a Republican, ran as a Republican in 2016. Recall that he dabbled with a Reform Party run in 2000 only to realize there was no path to victory.

In November, until the country changes the system, its R or D at the presidential level.

A bad year for a protest vote. Presidential candidates try to sell every presidential election as the most important one ever, but this certainly carries some real-time importance.

Set aside the more political divisions of Trumps presidency:

Focusing only on his stewardship of the country in the midst of pandemic:

Americans have seen, under Trump and during the pandemic, that who sits in the Oval Office actually does have a bearing on daily life. And for that reason, in 2020, there are no other choices.

cnn

comments

See the original post:

You get 2 choices for president. That's it. - Crossroads Today

With the glitz and glamour of awards season feeling like a thing of the past - exaggerated by the Coronavirus lockdown, which makes it seem like a live event hasn't taken place in a decade - the Emmy nominations for 2020 have been announced.

Saturday Night Live's Leslie Jones hosted the nominations reveal on Tuesday, with the help of Laverne Cox, Josh Gaad and Tatiana Maslany. Jimmy Kimmel will host the actual ceremony on September 20, but what form the show will take - due to the pandemic - is currently unknown.

Among the many nominees for TV's biggest night were some real treats - especially for British and Irish actors - as well as some disappointing snubs.

One of the best reactions to a nomination came from Paul Mescal, whose breakout role as the enigmatic chain-wearing Connell Waldron in Normal People, has landed him a best actor in a limited series nod.

The 24-year-old shared his reaction on Instagram, sharing a screengrab from the 12-part BBC Three series of Connell crying with the simple-yet-effective subtitles: *Sobs*.

This content is imported from Instagram. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

The Irish actor said the picture was representative of his 'actual face right now', before paying tribute to his co-star Daisy Edgar-Jones, who surprisingly did not receive a nomination for her portrayal of Marianne opposite Mescal.

'This only exists because of you and your extraordinary talent,' Mescal captioned the picture.

Edgar-Jones also shared a picture of Mescal with the show's director Lenny Abrahmson, who also was nominated, saying she 'could not be more proud of these two utterly incredible people'.

This content is imported from Instagram. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

'Working with you both has been one of the greatest joys of my life,' she wrote in a post which has received an overwhelming number of comments from fans of the show outraged that she was left off the nomination list.

Other nomination highlights include Zendaya receiving her first Emmy nod for Euphoria - which Cox practically squealed as she announced live on TV as too did Unorthodox's Shira Haas. Jennifer Aniston receiving her first nomination since Friends for The Morning Show, Olivia Colman for The Crown, Billy Porter for Pose, and Watchmen and Succession receiving multiple nods.

Black actors, such as Kerry Washington, Tracee Ellis-Ross and Regina King, also earned a record number of nominations, though the list is still largely dominated by white actors.

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series

Don Cheadle - Black Monday

Anthony Anderson - black-ish

Ted Danson - The Good Place

Michael Douglas - The Kominsky Method

Ramy Youssef -Ramy

Eugene Levy - Schitt's Creek

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series

Steve Carell - The Morning Show

Jason Bateman - Ozark

Billy Porter -

Brian Cox - Succession

Jeremy Strong - Succession

Sterling K. Brown - This Is Us

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Limited Series Or Movie

Hugh Jackman - Bad Education

Jeremy Pope - Hollywood

Mark Ruffalo - I Know This Much Is True

Paul Mescal - Normal People

Jeremy Irons - Watchmen

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series

Tracee Ellis Ross - black-ish

Christina Applegate - Dead To Me

Linda Cardellini - Dead To Me

Issa Rae - Insecure

Rachel Brosnahan - The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Catherine O'Hara - Schitt's Creek

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series

Olivia Colman - The Crown

Zendaya - Euphoria

Jodie Comer - Killing Eve

Sandra Oh - Killing Eve

Jennifer Aniston - The Morning Show

Laura Linney - Ozark

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Limited Series Or Movie

Kerry Washington - Little Fires Everywhere

Cate Blanchett - Mrs. America

Octavia Spencer - Self Made: Inspired By The Life Of Madam C.J. Walker

Shira Haas - Unorthodox

Regina King - Watchmen

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series

Andre Braugher - Brooklyn Nine-Nine

William Jackson Harper - The Good Place

Alan Arkin - The Kominsky Method

Sterling K. Brown - The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Tony Shalhoub - The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Mahershala Ali - Ramy

Kenan Thompson - Saturday Night Live

Daniel Levy - Schitt's Creek

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series

Giancarlo Esposito - Better Call Saul

Bradley Whitford - The Handmaid's Tale

Billy Crudup - The Morning Show

Mark Duplass - The Morning Show

Nicholas Braun - Succession

Kieran Culkin - Succession

Matthew Macfadyen - Succession

Jeffrey Wright - Westworld a

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Limited Series Or Movie

Dylan McDermott - Hollywood

Jim Parsons - Hollywood

Tituss Burgess - Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. The Reverend

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II - Watchmen

Jovan Adepo - Watchmen

Louis Gossett Jr. - Watchmen

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series

Betty Gilpin - GLOW

D'Arcy Carden - The Good Place

Yvonne Orji - Insecure

Alex Borstein - The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Marin Hinkle - The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Kate McKinnon - Saturday Night Live

Cecily Strong - Saturday Night Live

Annie Murphy - Schitt's Creek

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series

Laura Dern - Big Little Lies

Meryl Streep - Big Little Lies

Helena Bonham Carter - The Crown

Samira Wiley - The Handmaid's Tale

Fiona Shaw -Fiona Shaw

Julia Garner - Ozark

Sarah Snook - Succession

Thandie Newton - Westworld

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Limited Series Or Movie

Holland Taylor - Hollywood

Uzo Aduba - Mrs. America

Margo Martindale - Mrs. America

Read the original post:

Normal People's Paul Mescal Had The Best Reaction to Emmy Nomination - elle.com

byRON PAUL|| Motorcycle accidents ruled Covid deaths? In the rush to paint Florida as the epicenter of the second wave of the coronavirus outbreak, government officials and their allies in the mainstream media have stooped to ridiculous depths to maximize the death count. A television station this weekend looked into two highly unusual Covid deaths among victims in their 20s, and when they asked about co-morbidities they were told one victim had none, because his Covid death came in the form of a fatal motorcycle accident.

Sadly, this is not an isolated incident. In fact the spike that has dominated the mainstream for the last couple of weeks is full of examples of such trickery.

Washington state last week revised its Covid death numbers downward when it was revealed that anyone who passed away for any reason whatsoever who also had coronavirus was listed as a Covid-19 death even if the cause of death had nothing to do with Covid-19.

In South Carolina, the state health agency admitted that the spike in Covid deaths was only the result of delayed reporting of suspected Covid deaths.

An analysis of reported daily Covid deaths last week compared to actual day-of-death in Houston revealed that the recent spike consisted largely of deaths that occurred in April through June. Why delay reporting until now?

We do know that based on this spike the Democrat mayor of Houston cancelled the convention of the Texas Republican Party. Mission accomplished?

Doesnt it seem suspicious that so many states have experienced delayed reporting of deaths until Fauci and his gang of experts announced that we are in a new nightmare scenario?

(SPONSORED CONTENT)

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

Last week in Florida which is perhaps not coincidentally the location of the Republican Partys national convention another scandal emerged when hundreds of Covid test centers reported 100 percent positive results. Obviously this would paint a far grimmer picture of the resurgence of the virus. Orlando Health, for example, reported a positivity rate of 98 percent a shocking level but a further investigation revealed a true positivity rate of only 9.4 percent. Those anomalies were repeated throughout the state.

Cases once meant individuals who displayed sufficient symptoms to be treated in medical facilities. But when the scaremongers needed a second wave they began reporting any positive test result as a Covid case. No wonder we have a spike.

Politics demands that politicians be seen doing something rather than nothing, even if that something is more harmful than doing nothing at all. That is why Washington is so addicted to sanctions.

The same has been true especially in Republican-controlled states in the US in response to the coronavirus. Faced with a virus that has killed about one-third as many people as the normal, seasonal flu virus in 2018, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has endorsed a partial shutdown of the economy resulting in millions tossed into the despair of unemployment. Then he arbitrarily shut down bars because massively increased testing showed more people have been exposed to the virus. And he mandated that people wear face masks. Neither shutting down bars (instead of restaurants or Walmarts) nor forcing people to wear masks will have any effect on the progression of the virus through society. But at least he looks like hes doing something.

We are facing the greatest assault on our civil liberties in our lifetimes. The virus is real, but the government reaction is political and totalitarian. As it falls apart, will more Americans start fighting for their liberty?

(Via: Gage Skidmore)

Ron Paulis a former U.S. Congressman from Texas and the leader of the pro-liberty, pro-free market movement in the United States. His weekly column reprinted with permission can be foundhere.

Got something youd like to say in response to one of our stories? We have an open microphone policy! Submit your own letter to the editor (or guest column) via-email HERE. Got a tip for a story? CLICK HERE. Got a technical question or a glitch to report? CLICK HERE. Want to help support what were doing? SUBSCRIBE HERE.

Read the original post:

Ron Paul: Big Holes In The Covid-19 'Spike' Narrative - FITSNews

By Dr. Ron PaulFormer CongressmanThe Ron Paul Institutehttp://ronpaulinstitute.org/

Motorcycle accidents ruled Covid deaths? In the rush to paint Florida as the epicenter of the second wave of the coronavirus outbreak, government officials and their allies in the mainstream media have stooped to ridiculous depths to maximize the death count.

A television station this weekend looked into two highly unusual Covid deaths among victims in their 20s, and when they asked about co-morbidities they were told one victim had none, because his Covid death came in the form of a fatal motorcycle accident.

Sadly, this is not an isolated incident. In fact, the spike that has dominated the mainstream for the last couple of weeks is full of examples of such trickery.

Washington state last week revised its Covid death numbers downward when it was revealed that anyone who passed away for any reason whatsoever who also had coronavirus was listed as a Covid-19 death even if the cause of death had nothing to do with Covid-19.

In South Carolina, the state health agency admitted that the spike in Covid deaths was only the result of delayed reporting of suspected Covid deaths.

An analysis of reported daily Covid deaths last week compared to actual day-of-death in Houston revealed that the recent spike consisted largely of deaths that occurred in April through June. Why delay reporting until now?

We do know that based on this spike the Democrat mayor of Houston canceled the convention of the Texas Republican Party. Mission accomplished?

Doesnt it seem suspicious that so many states have experienced delayed reporting of deaths until Fauci and his gang of experts announced that we are in a new nightmare scenario?

Last week in Florida which is perhaps not coincidentally the location of the Republican Partys national convention another scandal emerged when hundreds of Covid test centers reported 100-percent positive results. Obviously, this would paint a far grimmer picture of the resurgence of the virus. Orlando Health, for example, reported a positivity rate of 98 percent a shocking level but a further investigation revealed a true positivity rate of only 9.4 percent. Those anomalies were repeated throughout the state.

Cases once meant individuals who displayed sufficient symptoms to be treated in medical facilities. But when the scaremongers needed a second wave they began reporting any positive test result as a Covid case. No wonder we have a spike.

Politics demands that politicians be seen doing something rather than nothing, even if that something is more harmful than doing nothing at all. That is why Washington is so addicted to sanctions.

The same has been true especially in Republican-controlled states in the US in response to the coronavirus. Faced with a virus that has killed about one-third as many people as the normal, seasonal flu virus in 2018, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has endorsed a partial shutdown of the economy resulting in millions tossed into the despair of unemployment. Then he arbitrarily shut down bars because massively increased testing showed more people have been exposed to the virus. And he mandated that people wear face masks.

Neither shutting down bars (instead of restaurants or Walmarts) nor forcing people to wear masks will have any effect on the progression of the virus through society. But at least he looks like hes doing something.

We are facing the greatest assault on our civil liberties in our lifetimes. The virus is real, but the government reaction is political and totalitarian. As it falls apart, will more Americans start fighting for their liberty?

Continue reading here:

Big holes in the COVID-19 'spike' narrative - The Highland County Press