Is antifa asking people to disguise themselves as Trump supporters? It appears to be a 2017 hoax, recycled – OregonLive

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The Associated Press checks out some of the most popular but completely untrue stories and visuals of the week. This one is bogus, even though it was shared widely on social media. Here are the facts:

CLAIM: An antifa flier is circulating, calling on people to disguise themselves as Patriot Trump supporters during riots on Nov. 4.

THE FACTS: A meme of the flier has been circulating online since at least 2017. Theres no evidence that the meme is connected to antifa groups.

The fabricated flier states: Antifa comrades! On Nov. 4, dont forget to disguise yourselves as patriots/Trump supporters: wear MAGA hats, USA flags, 3%er insignias, a convincing police uniform is even better! This way police and patriots responding to us wont know who their enemies are and onlookers and the media will think there are Trump supporters rioting so its hard to turn popular opinion against us!

In 2017, there was a hoax that antifa would launch a civil war to overthrow the Trump administration on Nov. 4. Multiple memes and fabricated images circulated online, including this flier.

Antifa is not a single organization but rather an umbrella term for far-left-leaning militant groups that confront or resist neo-Nazis and white supremacists at demonstrations.

There is no hierarchical structure to antifa or universal set of tactics that makes its presence immediately recognizable, though members tend to espouse revolutionary and anti-authoritarian views, said Mark Bray, a historian at Rutgers University and author of Antifa: The Anti-Fascist Handbook.

This week, similar false claims surfaced. One tweet posted on Oct. 11 said: BREAKING REPORT: A flyer circulating the internet indicates ANTIFA members are recruiting others to DISGUISE THEMSELVES as Patriot Trump Supporters on November 4th... to cause confusion during RIOTSSTAY VIGILANT

The false post had over 10,000 retweets. In general terms, in right-wing circles, I havent seen any concerted efforts to try to understand what antifa or anti-facism are. The focus has been exclusively on using the specter of antifa as the boogeyman, Bray said.

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Is antifa asking people to disguise themselves as Trump supporters? It appears to be a 2017 hoax, recycled - OregonLive

America Speaks: What is a bigger threat to America – white supremacy or antifa? – YouGov US

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In an October 2020 YouGovpoll,42% of Americanssaid white supremacists pose a bigger threat to American than antifa.

But whydo Americans feel this way about white supremacy and antifa? We asked our YouGov Chat users to go deeper and tell us what they really think about white supremacy and antifa. You can share your views on the topichere.

For those who said white supremacy is a bigger threat to America than antifa,many pointed out that antifa is not an organization,and that there are countless white supremacist organizations in America.

White supremacist terrorism is real. Antifa terrorists do not exist.

White supremacists actually have several organizations - like KKK - who operate both covertly and overtly. Antifa in the US is not an organization, but merely an idea. There is no formal group, no headquarters, no leader.

Others stated that they were worried about white supremacist ideals in America.

In contrast, most YouGov chat users who said antifa is a bigger threat to America than white supremacy,pointed their fingers at the demonstrations across the country.

I read the news articles about the violence in Portland and Seattle I don't see the sameamountof White Supremacists being allowed to riot every night in anywhere in the USA.

They are the only ones rioting, destroying things

Look what they are doing in some of our cities.

[A]ntifacause more damage than white supremacists.

------------------------

Everyday, members of YouGov Chat are asked to share their opinion on a topic in the news. We allow anyone to take part in these chats, and do not display or weight results in real-time. Instead, to make the experience informative but still interactive, the chat displays weighted data from YouGov Direct to show them how the rest of the country voted. This enables us to pose the question to all, while retaining data accuracy and validity when communicating results.

YouGov chat seeks to add to the what? (the quantitative poll result) by finding the why? (qualitative open ends) in a members own words. Learn more about YouGov Chathere.

Image: YouGov

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America Speaks: What is a bigger threat to America - white supremacy or antifa? - YouGov US

Lawyers Say Philly Officials Are Partaking In ‘Italophobia’ By Allowing Antifa to Target Them – YC

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Italians in Philadelphia have had it with the ongoing Italophobia that resulted in the unwarranted theft and destruction of Mario Lanza flags in his own park, Your Content has learned.

Attorney Robert Petrone reports this week, the flags in South Philadelphias Mario Lanza Park bearing the esteemed Philadelphia tenors face were replaced with flags with a cartoon bird on it.

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It has come to the attention of the Italian-American residents of Philadelphia that Mario Lanzas image has been removed from the flags adorning the park that is named in his honor. reads a letter drafted by Petrone to city officials.

We the undersigned are appalled that this was done without consideration for the community, during a time when we are in great pain at the recent and repeated removal of the likenesses of Italian-American icons all over the city, including (1) the removal of the statue of the first and only Italian-American mayor of Philadelphia, Frank Rizzo, whose administration as Chief of Police integrated the police force by putting both African-American and Caucasian officers together in the same squad cars and promoting the first officers of color to administrative positions, (2) the boxing up of the statue of the first civil rights activist of the Americas, Christopher Columbus, at Marconi Plaza, and (3) the obliteration of the names of Columbus and many prominent Italian-Americans at the base of the Columbus monument at Penns Landing.

Despite that misguided historical revisionists have slandered Mayor Rizzo and Christopher Columbus of lateslander that has been debunked categorically of lateno such slander has ever been levied against Mario Lanza.

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There can be no other reason for the continuation of this course of conduct than blatant Italophobia. Petrone continued.

That Friends of Mario Lanza Park, entrusted as stewards of the park and its contents, would be so insensitive to the community in this regard, is unforgivable. Our community demands that Mario Lanzas likeness be restored immediately.

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Your Content is a nonprofit newsroom that produces nonpartisan, evidence-based journalism to expose injustice, corruption and wrongdoing.

Spearheading the news revolution for Americans across the nation, Your Content has brought a voice to those the media failed to acknowledge.

This story youve just finished was funded by our readers and we hope it inspires you to make a gift to Your Content so that we can publish more reports like this one that holds people in power to account and produces real change.

Your donation will help us ensure that we can continue this critical work. We are busier than ever covering stories you wont see anywhere else.

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Lawyers Say Philly Officials Are Partaking In 'Italophobia' By Allowing Antifa to Target Them - YC

Realtor and son of former Democrat lawmaker charged over Antifa firebombings and assault – The Post Millennial

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Two Antifa protest buddies have been charged for their alleged involvement in the plotting and execution of serious violent attacks on Seattle police at Antifa riots throughout September.

Danielle Elizabeth McMillan, a 29-year-old realtor, has been charged by King County prosecutors for attempted arson in the first degree, a Class A felony. She is accused of bringing a concealed firebomb to an Antifa black bloc riot outside the Seattle Police East Precinct on Sept. 1 in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, the area previously occupied by CHAZ. McMillan is alleged to have lit and thrown the incendiary device at the facility. The device failed to make it over the fence protecting the building and shattered on the ground.

McMillians alleged black bloc accomplice, 19-year-old Jacob Bennet Greenburg, is charged with felony first-degree attempted arson, felony first-degree assault and felony first-degree reckless burning in relation to three violent Antifa riots in September in the same neighborhood. He is the stepson of former Washington state lawmaker Laura Ruderman, who served in the 45th Legislative District as a Democrat from 19992005.

Greenburg is accused of successfully throwing a lit Molotov cocktail at the East Precinct on Sept. 1 shortly after McMillans failed attempt. The building was occupied by staff when it caught fire. The criminal complaint also accuses Greenburg of being the masked militant who bashed a Seattle Police officer on the head with a metal bat near the East Precinct on Sept. 23. The assault was captured on camera in a viral video. The officers helmet was cracked from the impact. Three days later, Greenburg allegedly returned to Capitol Hill at another Antifa riot where he was filmed squirting accelerant to grow a street fire.

The affidavit provides some of the clearest evidence of Seattle Antifa organizing using encrypted messaging applications like Signal and Telegram. Investigators seized two phones owned by Greenburg in late September which revealed a trove of alleged communications between him and McMillian showing the planning of terrorist attacks and the desire to kill law enforcement.

At [Cal Anderson Park] I can meet you, McMillan wrote to Greenburg on Sept. 1 before the riot. Whats needed for the cocktail, she asked.

He replied: Gas, mid sized bottle, wicc, rag

After the riot, they congratulated each other. They expressed a desire to memorialize the direct action with tattoos of Molotov cocktails and antifa symbols.

Can we like pls slit every spd [Seattle Police Department] throat, asked Greenburg. McMillan responded to him another time: Thanks for being a good and loyal protest buddy.

Further communications show they discussed launching a firebombing attack on the Seattle Police Officers Guild, gathering supplies and discussing how to destroy evidence.

In one chat thread, Greenburg bragged about firebombing the citys juvenile detention facility. On July 25, antifa in multiple American cities organized riots in solidarity with the Youth Liberation Front in Portland, who were involved in mass nightly violence against officers guarding the federal courthouse. Greenburg wrote: Oh I was also a part of the youth jail fires. Hell yea dude. Thats fucking awesome. I was the one who Molotov the east precinct and other then [sic] that Ive broken windows for other people to do [direct actions] and I tag all over the place.

In exchanges with McMillan on Sept. 24, Greenburg boasted about assaulting the officer on the head with a bat. Very proud of you! McMillan wrote. Greenburg responded, Appreciate it. Im proud too hehe. Wish he didnt have a helmet on lol. McMillan later asked him if he deleted their communications.

Beyond McMillans alleged violent Antifa activities, she has a long criminal record that includes convictions for assault, reckless driving, violation of a no-contact order and numerous drug-related offenses.

Over the weekend, real estate company Windermere announced McMillan was no longer employed with them.

Windermere tweeted: Earlier today we were made aware that Danielle McMillan was arrested on charges of attempted arson on the Seattle Police Departments East Precinct. Due to the alarming nature of the charges, Danielle was released from the office in Woodinville, WA where she was licensed.

McMillan responded to her former employer on Twitter, writing: Anyone can be charged with anything. People can judge all they want; there are thousands of innocent people who have been sent to prison. I have enlisted representation and how people react due to allegations is on them.

McMillan recently deleted or obscured all of her social media accounts. She previously used the name @realtor_1990 on Twitter before now changing it to @1158Garcia. Her deleted Facebook and Instagram accounts used the name, Realtor1312. The numbers 1312 correspond to the antifa slogan, ACABall cops are bastards.

McMillans bail was set at $100,000, which was paid. She has been reached for comment. Greenburgs bail is currently set at $750,000. He is still in the county jail.

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Realtor and son of former Democrat lawmaker charged over Antifa firebombings and assault - The Post Millennial

Texas still a work in progress on offense and defense – Houston Chronicle

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AUSTIN Chris Ash isnt going to point fingers. Texas defensive coordinator will point out mistakes and missed opportunities and straight-up bad play, but hell stop short of leveling blame in one direction or another.

Ash also wont make excuses for an uninspiring 2-2 start. Not that he could, given everyone in college football has been operating under the ubiquitous pall cast by 2020.

When you lose a game, its easy to blame, Ash said Wednesday. Its easy to blame the virus issue and the lost time. I take the stance, we lost the game, lets evaluate why we lost a game, lets get better at it. Theres no blame. Everybodys gone through the same thing.

Ash said theyve evaluated everything after a 63-56 overtime win over Texas Tech and consecutive losses to TCU and Oklahoma.

The biggest problems are up front with the defensive line and linebackers, who have combined for two just sacks in three conference games.

Junior Joseph Ossai has been a force at times he leads Texas with 31 tackles, including 6 for loss, two forced fumbles and two hurries but the line, a supposed strength entering the season, has struggled to contain and harass opposing quarterbacks.

The Longhorns also havent had much luck shortening opposition drives theyre ninth in the Big 12 in both opponent third-down conversion percentage (45.1 percent) and average time of possession (27:54).

But Ash is looking to build on the more encouraging aspects from that four-overtime loss to Oklahoma ahead of Saturdays game against Baylor (1-1, 1-1 Big 12) at Royal-Memorial Stadium.

A lot of things that we did well, Ash said. We got three takeaways. We gave up too many yards rushing. But when I look at the 55 rushing attempts, at 3.8 yards per attempt, wed like to be about 3, or three, so we werent far off.

We lost our sting at the end in overtime and didnt close it when we had an opportunity to close it. But were just trying to build on the positives.

A casual perusal of the Longhorns offensive statistics reveals one of the best units in the nation. Texas leads the nation in scoring offense (49.5) and is among the top 20 in total offense, passing offense and passing efficiency.

A deeper look shows troublesome cracks, even with senior quarterback Sam Ehlinger. His trouble connecting with receivers on deep balls, despite a few notable explosions this season, has caught the attention of offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich.

Too much inconsistency at the quarterback position right now, Yurcich said Wednesday. The deep balls are a product of a lot of different things. Youve got to make short-stride throws. So the timing of receivers and separation factors into it as well.

But were continually working on the deep ball, his fundamentals, the trajectory of the ball and the timing. The footwork is a work in progress. And it falls on my shoulders to be in the right play at the right time.

Yurcich has tried to avoid lobbing excuses, too.

Slot receivers Jake Smith and Jordan Whittington, graduate transfer Brenden Schooler and leading receiver Joshua Moore have battled injuries this year. And Whittington (hip flexor) will be out for at least several more weeks.

Injures are part of the game, Yurcich said. Theyre never an excuse, so were not going to make any. We need to adapt to the personnel we have, and thats the bottom line.

The former Ohio State and Oklahoma State assistant is trying to create a more balanced attack.

Texas rushing numbers this season arent unsightly, but the bulk of the yardage has been gained by Ehlinger. Subtract his 242 yards, and youre left with three tailbacks who have combined for 278 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown in three Big 12 games.

Ehlinger has used his legs to bail out Texas many times, but his history of injuries coupled with the blows he takes every game might start to take a toll.

Making sure that we are sound with regard to being balanced, pass and run, has been a very important stressing point for us, Yurcich said.

The biggest team-wide emphasis the past two weeks has been cutting down on self-inflicted wounds that cost Texas in its two losses.

Self-inflicted wounds is the common theme, Yurcich said. Weve gotta control the things we can control, which are penalties and execution. And that falls all on me.

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Texas still a work in progress on offense and defense - Houston Chronicle

Little progress on disputed Abyei region between Sudan and South Sudan – UN News

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Jean-Pierre Lacroix briefed ambassadors on recent developments concerning the oil-rich border area, where the UN interim security force, UNISFA, has been deployed since 2011to protect civilians and humanitarians.

He recalled the signing earlier this month of an historic peace agreement between the Sudanese authorities and several armed groups from Darfur following a year of negotiations facilitated by South Sudan.

The two neighbours have also signalled their intention to relaunch the political process to discuss the final stages of Abyei and its border areas, which Mr. Lacroix described as a positive development.

However, despite this continued rapprochement between the Sudan and South Sudan, the peace process has made little progress in Abyei. The main developments at the local level were the appointments by Juba and Khartoum of their respective chief administrators, he said.

This constitutes an unprecedented political development as it is the first time Abyei has two appointed chief administrators.

Meanwhile, the security situation in Abyei remained volatile.

Mr. Lacroix reported that since April, there have been four attacks against UNISFA personnel and four incidents of intercommunal violence, including armed attacks on villages.

While the force continued to engage leaders from the Nginka and Misseriya communities, the violence has had a negative impact on peace efforts.

The UN peacekeeping chief also reported on issues facing UNISFA, which has a mandated deployment of 640 police personnel. This figure includes three Formed Police Units consisting of 160 officers each. However, staffing currently stands at 35, with 16 officers set to end their assignments in the coming weeks.

Since no visas have been issued for any new officers who could be deployed as replacement, the strength of the police component will reduce to 19 officers. Consequently, this situation will inevitably lead to the closure of some team sites in UNISFA, and will have a negative impact on the mandate implementation, said Mr. Lacroix.

The non-issuance of visas, coupled with COVID-19 travel restrictions, has also affected China and Tanzania who must conduct reconnaissance visits to the area ahead of sending personnel for the force.

The Security Council heard in addition from the UN Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, who also commended the growing engagement between Sudan and South Sudan.

As the countries now strengthen their relationship, they are no longer likely to pursue activities that undermine each others stability, he said.

The Special Envoy reported on continued cooperation inoil production. Last month, the two countries signed a protocol on the resumption of production inthe Unity and Toma South oil fields in South Sudan, with 15,000 barrels per dayexpected soon.

The deal includes details on the transfer of crude oil to Sudan for its domestic use. In return, Sudan will provide technical support, he said.

Before the agreement, South Sudan was providing 30,000 barrels per day of crude oil to Sudan. The deal is in line with South Sudans plan to return to its pre-conflict production level of 350,000 barrels per day from its current 150,000 barrels per day ."

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Little progress on disputed Abyei region between Sudan and South Sudan - UN News

Military families are seeing some progress in their fight for tenant rights – Military Times

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Some military housing tenants are seeing incremental progress in getting more of the remaining four provisions in the tenant bill of rights.

Army officials are putting into place a pilot program that will test their system of providing seven years of a units maintenance history to tenants, according to Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy.

Were going to be able to provide that to a sizable tranche of homes, so were moving on that one, he said Oct. 15, during a call with reporters.

Service and DoD officials are also finalizing the common lease document that will be used for military families across the privatized housing projects, McCarthy said. But the remaining two a dispute resolution process, and a process for withholding rent during dispute resolutions are taking longer, he said.

Further details werent available from Army officials about the timing of the pilot and the locations that are providing maintenance histories. Information wasnt available from Defense Department officials about pilot programs at other services' installations.

However, Sarah Kline, an advocate in the Military Housing Advocacy Network, said she has heard from families at some of the locations where maintenance histories are being provided: Fort Wainwright, Alaska; Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., and Monterey, Calif.

Providing a units maintenance history is one of 18 rights for tenants required by law, as part of comprehensive reform provisions to address pervasive issues with mold, rodents, and other health, safety and environmental hazards in privatized military housing.

In 2019, military spouses testified before lawmakers about black mold growing out of the walls, rodents, and water leaks in their family housing, and their frustration dealing with landlords and the military to get it fixed. A number of families have told Military Times theyve been contacted by previous tenants of their house who said the problems went unaddressed when they lived there, too.

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Kline said her organization would have liked to see the maintenance histories being provided by now. "Service members and their families are continuing to move into homes with systemic issues, Kline said. They are left trying to put the pieces together when issues present themselves without the knowledge of the homes history. After nearly 10 months since the signing of the [Fiscal 2020 National Defense Authorization Act], a full roll out of the work order history that includes all notes about each work order to all [privatized housing] residents is what the Military Housing Advocacy Network would have like to have seen implemented.

McCarthy said he thinks service officials will have at least 16 of the 18 tenant bill of rights provisions completed before the end of the year.

In June, defense officials announced that 14 of the 18 provisions under the tenant bill of rights were in place. The four remaining are deemed by many military families to be the most critical: common forms and documents for all housing tenants; dispute resolution; withholding of rent during dispute resolutions; and access to the maintenance history of their housing unit.

Lawmakers have pushed Secretary of Defense Mark Esper for answers on the status of key protections for tenants of military housing which havent been put into place yet.

The remaining two are going to be tough. In particular, the dispute resolution, McCarthy said. What were looking at with the dispute resolution is, can we find a third party that would be like the arbiter between the company and the soldier in this case. So were looking at a way to complete that, but. Were moving ahead, he said.

We need to make sure that the person thats the arbiter is truly a third party, [one who] doesnt have equity on one side or the other of the equation.

Officials are working through the issues with the privatized housing companies, as well as with the congressional committees who have oversight, McCarthy said. I can appreciate why they would want to make sure they get that right. We want to get it right, too.

Most tenants in military privatized housing now officially have 14 of the 18 rights designed to ensure safe, quality and well-maintained homes, according to a memorandum sent to tenants in June.

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Military families are seeing some progress in their fight for tenant rights - Military Times

UPDATE: Little Progress from Trump’s EPA on Toxic ‘Forever Chemicals’ – Environmental Working Group

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Thursday, October 22, 2020

Its been 18 months since the Environmental Protection Agency unveiled its plan to address the crisis of the toxic fluorinated chemicals known as PFAS, which a new peer-reviewed study by EWG scientists estimates have likely contaminatedthe drinking water of more than 200 million Americans.

But the EPAs so-called action plan has met few of the milestones parents expect from an 18-month-old. The Trump administration plan has barely crawled, much less walked.

On Facebook Live, EWG Legislative Attorney Melanie Benesh recently detailed how the EPA has failed to protect Americans from PFAS, which have been linked to suppression of the immune systemand are associated with an elevated risk of cancer andreproductive and developmental harms, amongother serious health concerns.

Briefly, Trumps EPA has:

The EPA has a long record of failing to protect us from PFAS pollution.

In 1998, EPA officials were firstnotifiedby 3M that PFAS chemicals were toxic. In 2001 the agencyreceivedinternal company studies documenting PFAS health risks, and two years laterreceivedmore animal studies. But in 2006, underpressurefrom the chemical industry, the EPA said it was unaware of studies linking PFOA, formerly used to make DuPonts Teflon, to health harms even though the agency had just fined DuPont for failing to report its health effects, and the EPAs own Science Advisory Boardfoundthat PFOA was a likely human carcinogen.

Not until 2009 did the EPAissueits first PFAS action plan andestablisha non-enforceable provisional health advisory for PFOA and PFOS, an ingredient in 3Ms Scotchgard. The second PFAS action plan, issued a year ago, contains many of the same recommendations and includes no deadlines.

Without irony, the EPA recentlyissueda statement touting the agencys aggressive efforts to address PFAS pollution just hours before the White House threatened to vetoHouse legislationthat would set deadlines for EPA action on PFAS.

Clearly, at 18 months old, the EPAs PFAS action plan needs more adult supervision.

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UPDATE: Little Progress from Trump's EPA on Toxic 'Forever Chemicals' - Environmental Working Group

Coronavirus Progress: Owners Of 122-Year-Old Movie Theater On Long Island Excited To Finally Be Allowed To Reopen – CBS New York

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BELLMORE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) Movie theaters in most of New York state can finally reopen Friday, with restrictions.

For independent theaters, especially, this could not come soon enough, CBS2s Andrea Grymes reported.

On Thursday, there was a ceremonial ribbon cutting but with old movie film to celebrate reopening Bellmore Movies and Showplace in Nassau County.

After I collected my emotions, it was a sigh of relief, but it is a challenge, Anne Stampfel said.

MORE:Gov. Cuomo Announces Movie Theaters In Areas Outside NYC With Few Coronavirus Infections Can Reopen Oct. 23

Stampfel and her husband own the theater, along with Malverne Cinema. Both will finally get to welcome audiences on Friday for the first time since the coronaviruspandemic began, along with movie theaters across most of the state.

Bellmore Movies is Long Islands oldest movie theater in operation since 1908.

Think about it. It survived the Spanish flu, and it has survived COVID. So, this is a historic moment in a historic place, Nassau County Executive Laura Curran said.

The Stampfels said theyre doing all they can to save on bills, including putting their own money into the building, which they own.

Theyre taking numerous safety precautions, including upgrading their air filtration system. They also have a sanitizing station before you walk into their one theater. Every other row is blocked off and seating is only on the aisles to ensure social distancing.

FLASHBACK: Coronavirus Impact: Still-Closed Movie Theaters, Casinos In New York State Saying What About Us?

The owner said once everyone is seated, workers will take a picture of the theater so they know exactly where to focus on cleaning when the show is over, Grymes reported.

In addition, movie times are staggered so theres extra time to disinfect.

The state also capped capacity at 50 people, and everyone must wear a mask.

I sometimes feel like theyre a little harder on movie theaters and they kept us at bay for so long. But will 25% capacity monetarily work for me? Its a start. Its cash flow, Stampfel said.

The first movie to be shown will be On the Rocks, starring Bill Murray.

MORE FROM CBS NEW YORK

Stampfel said theyre constantly working to get new releases at a time when Hollywood isnt putting much out.

Either way, Stampfel said, I want that back. Dinner and a movie.

They especially want couples and first daters to know theyre back in business.

The owners also hope to host dance recitals and comedy shows as soon as theyre allowed.

You can get the latest news, sports and weather on our brand new CBS New York app.Download here.

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Coronavirus Progress: Owners Of 122-Year-Old Movie Theater On Long Island Excited To Finally Be Allowed To Reopen - CBS New York

Chicago Bears’ O-line continues to be work in progress – Chicago Daily Herald

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Shaw Media

Bears center Cody Whitehair believes it's going to take time for offensive lineman Rashaad Coward to feel comfortable at the left guard position.

"The biggest thing for him is just getting comfortable on the left side," Whitehair said. "That will come with time and reps. We're not worried about it. We're really excited for his opportunity."

Coward started Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers, playing left guard for the first time in his career. The former defensive lineman moved to the offensive line in 2018. In 2019, he started 10 games at right guard after Kyle Long suffered a season-ending injury.

Coward started 2020 as a backup but now steps into the left guard spot following a likely season-ending injury to left guard James Daniels in Week 5 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

"Rashaad's a good athlete," said Bears O-line coach Juan Castillo last week. "Rashaad had a really good training camp. I mean, he probably had as good a camp as (starting right guard Germain Ifedi) just about."

The Bears struggled to run the ball against Carolina and have struggled running in each of their past three games. Running back David Montgomery has had little success when trying to run it to the left side during that time.

Bears coach Matt Nagy said Thursday he felt really good about the offensive line through the first three weeks of the season. Of late, the Bears have had 10 guys doing the right thing on offense, Nagy said, but one mistake from one player can really disrupt a play.

"The beauty is that with Juan (Castillo) and with these players, offensive line I'm talking, they're working their tails off every day in practice to fix that," Nagy said.

Castillo returned to practice Thursday after working remotely last week because a close contact of his had tested positive for COVID-19. Having the offensive line coach back in person can only help the blocking issues.

In a Zoom session with the media last week, Castillo turned a little bit defensive when asked about the Bears' struggles running the ball. He noted that the Indianapolis Colts and Tampa Bay Buccaneers were two of the best run defenses in the NFL.

He wasn't wrong. But the Panthers are not a good run defense, and the Bears still totaled only 63 rushing yards and 2.5 yards per carry.

Whitehair said it all comes down to execution.

"We collectively -- and it starts with me, obviously, first and foremost -- getting guys to (block) the right people," he said. "I can be better there, and just overall execution as an offense. We can just get better and better."

On Wednesday, the Buffalo Bills released Quinton Spain, a left guard with starting experience. There's some speculation about whether the Bears might be interested in signing Spain.

Whether or not the Bears seek outside help, the fact remains that the offensive line needs to improve. According to ESPN Analytics, the Bears' offensive line ranks 16th in pass block "win rate" and 18th in run block "win rate."

"Week in and week out, we're trying to get better," Whitehair said. "Obviously, we're not to where we want to be yet."

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Chicago Bears' O-line continues to be work in progress - Chicago Daily Herald

Shanghai Free Trade Zone makes impressive progress over 7 years – PRNewswire

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The Shanghai FTZ, located in the Pudong New Area in eastern Shanghai, consists of the Free Trade Areas, the Lujiazui Financial Subzone (including the Expo Area), the Jinqiao Development Subzone, and the Zhangjiang High-tech Zone. The Lin-gang Special Area was set up in August 2019.

Since its establishment, the Shanghai FTZ has made significant contributions to Pudong's economic transformation and upgrading, with Pudong's GDP exceeding 1.27 trillion yuan in 2019, a year-on-year increase of 7 percent. Pudong's general financial revenue totaled 431.6 billion yuan last year, growing by 1.2 percent year-on-year.

Over the past seven years, the Shanghai FTZ has worked to facilitate trade and investment, improve governance, and promote financial innovation, leading to impressive achievements in the country's institutional innovation.

On the institutional innovation index of China's FTZs published by SunYat-senUniversityin July, the Shanghai FTZ ranked first overall among China's FTZs in terms of institutional reforms. Over 300 innovative measures taken by the Shanghai FTZ relating to investment, trade, finance and the improvement of governance have been replicated in other areas.

Some of the zone's most successful innovations includelists of areas that are off-limits to foreign investment, the introduction of the China (Shanghai) International Trade Single Window, the separation of business licenses and operatingpermits, and theFreeTradeAccountsystem.

Hema Fresh, a fresh food chain backed by e-commerce giant Alibaba, has benefited greatly from the zone's institutional reforms.

Food sales, catering services, and online orders are considered separate categories in traditional business models, but Hema Fresh launched its first store combining the three in the Shanghai FTZ. This is a typical example of the zone's efforts to optimize its business environment.

The fresh food chain has seen rapid growth since its first obtained its business licenses in 2016, according to Hema Fresh CEOHouYi.

As a national leader inopening-up and innovation, the Shanghai FTZ has attracted many of the world's top innovators and investors.

Statistics show that by the end of June 2020, 12,000 newly established foreign enterprises, including Siemens, ItochuCorporation, and Porsche Finance Lease Co., Ltd. had set up operations there.

These enterprises are the biggest beneficiaries ofthe zone's efforts to reform and open up.

Withthe zone's comprehensive opening-up in sectors like manufacturing, service, Shanghai Artemed Hospital, the first foreign-owned general hospital in the Shanghai FTZ, opened on Sept 26, 2019. The hospital has become a shining example of how to improve the zone's service sector.

IfFP Professional Skills Training (Shanghai) Co., the country's first wholly foreign-owned financial services vocational training institute, was established in the zone in September 2018 and opened for business in March 2019.

It has historically been difficult for foreign businesses to invest in sectors such as financial training in China, but the shortened negative list, which permitted wholly foreign-funded enterprises to operate in more sectors, giving IfFP an opportunity to expand into the Chinese market.

IfFP received approval from the commerce commission of the Shanghai FTZ in just two days' time, according to Zhong Ke, general manager of the company.

The zone's efficient and high-quality services are what allowed IfFP to begin operating there, Zhong said.

Statistics show that by the end of June, the zone had pioneered 54 measures to further open up, and 3,392 projects were launched in the zone.

Authorities have said that the zone will ramp up efforts to improve its business environment, explore new ways to promote trade, and further loosen restrictions on investment in the aim of increasing its international influence and further consolidating itself as a leader in reform and opening-up.

Source:http://regional.chinadaily.com.cn/en/2020-10/21/c_552178.htm

SOURCE China Daily

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Shanghai Free Trade Zone makes impressive progress over 7 years - PRNewswire

Washington State mailbag: Gauging the progress of new offensive/defensive systems in Pullman & how will uniforms be chosen this year? – The…

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Given what we saw last year from Washington States defense, it would be almost preposterous to think that group would be a step ahead of the highly productive offense come Nov. 7, when the Cougars open the season at Oregon State.

Yet, theres at least one person with a fair amount of knowledge of the football happenings on the Palouse and practice access who suspects Jake Dickerts unit may be carrying Nick Rolovichs in Corvallis, Oregon, or something along those lines.

Impossible, right?

This certainly falls into the see-it-to-believe-it category, and since, for the time being, Im unable to see anything other than short practice clips occasionally sent to media after practices, Ill resort to the next best thing: hypothesizing via the weekly mailbag.

We address that question and a handful of others this week.

With new systems on both sides of the ball, who do you think will be further along on Nov. 7?

- Jennifer D.

If I hadnt listened to athletic director Pat Chuns radio appearance with Matt Chazanow, Alex Brink, Jessamyn McIntyre and Derek Deis a few weekends ago, Id unequivocally say the offense. But Chun said something that took me aback.

This might be the rare year for us as Cougs since the start of whatever the Mike Leach era was, the defense may be ahead of the offense when we come to Game 1 the way theyve been looking, Chun said.

Now, Chun may not have the same perspective as someone on WSUs coaching staff, and I havent cross-checked his assertion with Rolovich, but hes certainly been at Rogers Field more than I have this fall. Could he be on to something? Im sure most of you reading this hope so.

Im still more inclined to think the offense will be more polished when the season opens in Corvallis. Both units face learning curves, but it seems the offense may have more of a head start, based on the previously documented similarities between the Air Raid and run-and-shoot, as well as the personnel returning on that side of the ball: Liam Ryan, Abe Lucas, Max Borghi and all those receivers.

The Cougars ranked No. 7 nationally in total offense last year. In total defense they were No. 111. But, again, if Chuns right, this season could go much better than most expect it will.

Whos getting the most QB1 reps?

- @boonasty8807

Im jotting down the answer to this question on Wednesday afternoon, presuming it wont change Thursday or Friday, while also realizing theres a better-than-average chance it could. Not that wed know, regardless.

As far as I can tell, the quarterback reps are still being divided evenly between Cammon Cooper, Gunner Cruz and Jayden de Laura. Does that mean 33% for Cooper, 33% for Cruz and 33% for de Laura? Im not certain thats the case, and it seems as though Rolovich is using the same approach Leach employed each of the last two years, when three QBs were in the running for the job.

If thats the case, Cooper and Cruz, for example, might be featured on Monday. Then Cruz and de Laura on Tuesday and Cooper and de Laura on Wednesday. What is clear is the Cougars havent narrowed down the search to just two players, or hadnt as of Monday, when we spoke with offensive coordinator Brian Smith on the postpractice Zoom call.

While its key to identify a starter, Smith stressed the importance of preparing all three QBs. Ensuring that Cooper, Cruz and de Laura each have an adequate understanding of the offense at this point is more important than hoping one gains a mastery of it before Nov. 7.

With the nature of a COVID season, in our mind we have to try to develop all those kids to be able to play for us, Smith said. So I think youre going to continue to see that whole group continue to get reps in practice and continue to work to get better. And obviously, you would love to say one of those guys is your starter and hes really pulling away from everybody else and you can focus on that one kid a little more, but weve got to be ready to win games with all three of those kids.

Do you know if coach Rolovich has done anything to promote or help our student-athletes vote during this election?

- Jeremy B.

Rolovich, more than other coaches in the conference/around the country, spends a lot of time talking about the significance molding his players away from the gridiron. I have to think its been addressed probably on more than one occasion.

Either way, I figure more than a handful of WSU football players will be getting to the booth on Election Day. They wont have many excuses not to, and not only because classes are being taught online this fall.

In mid-September, after multiple athletic departments Gonzagas being one of those announced theyd cancel athletic activities on Nov. 3 to allow student-athletes to vote, the NCAA adopted legislation that prohibits programs from holding practices, workouts or competition on the first Tuesday after Nov. 1 every year.

The Cougars will enjoy a rare day off four days before their Nov. 7 season opener at Oregon State. Rolovich, Im sure, will encourage them to make the most of it.

Why no catches for Jamire Calvin or Calvin Jackson Jr. in scrimmage?

- Doug D.

I found this somewhat startling, too, but after our chat with Smith on Monday, I wouldnt read into it all that much.

Smith was asked about Jacksons scrimmage production, or lack thereof, in the teams first scrimmage. Its possible he wasnt targeted, its possible he was targeted and didnt make the most of his opportunities, but its also possible coaches didnt need to see Jackson as much as they did a few of his younger backups.

Calvins a veteran and that presence has been great, Smith said. As far as the stats in the scrimmage, a lot of times in the scrimmage, were trying to get certain things called to see things for certain guys. Another kid you didnt see much of in the stat sheet was Deon McIntosh, and he was someone that really got a good chunk of carries in our first live period we did our first day in pads a few days ago. So, just because someone didnt necessarily get a good amount of stats in that scrimmage, doesnt mean they arent doing well for us.

Who are some defensive tackles to keep an eye on? This was a thin position in our previous 3-4 defense but now in a 4-2-5 we need more of these space eaters.

- Casey F.

Well, not Lamonte McDougle. Maybe not Dallas Hobbs, either.

Next to Will Rodgers III, whos sliding over to the new edge position, McDougle and Hobbs are the only nose tackle/defensive tackle types on the roster with any starting experience. That was important for a unit that also lost Misiona Aiolupotea-Pei.

Rolovich has declined to name WSUs opt outs, but we havent seen McDougle in any of the teams photos or videos to this point, and I find it peculiar Hobbs hasnt been invited to the lectern for any postpractice interviews to this point. The Cougars used him frequently last season, and often after emotional losses one of the first signs, in my opinion, hed emerged as a leader and spokesperson of the defense. Hobbs posted a photo of his practice helmet three days into camp, so Im more inclined to think he hasnt fully opted out.

But lets assume for the sake of this question McDougle and Hobbs arent part of the equation. That leaves the Cougars with a group that includes redshirt juniors Christian Mejia and Jesus Echevarria, redshirt sophomore Ahmir Crowder, redshirt freshmen Tyler Garay-Harris and Nicholas Sheetz, and true freshman Nathaniel James.

Nobody there has much game experience, although Mejia, Sheetz and Echevarria did get some action in 2019, and James has drawn rave reviews from coaches during preseason camp. Even if McDougle and Hobbs arent part of the equation, the Cougars, it seems, arent lacking bodies. What are those bodies capable of? Nobody quite knows that year and Nov. 7 should be fairly telling.

Who will make the decision about the uniform combo each game?

- Brad

Brad, Im glad you asked this question. I wouldnt have had an answer for you earlier in the week, but incidentally this came up during Rolovichs postpractice Zoom call Wednesday evening.

From what it sounds like, uniform choices will be left to the teams leadership council, which Rolovich described as a group of guys who coaches thought had some influence but also did things the right way. He named few of the players on the leadership council Ryan, Borghi, Jahad Woods but indicated the program would release some sort of graphic at some point revealing the entire group.

Anything from uniforms or, Hey guys, Id rather you guys do this, Rolovich said. Maybe the locker room needs a little bit of a check right now as far as cleanliness. Basically pushing this toward a player-run program, is probably the main goal.

Does that mean the council will decide on every uniform combo? Im not 100% sure. It does sound like the group will have some sort of influence, though.

Now, lets see who made it to the bottom of the mailbag. If youre still reading, tweet me a new jersey combination, or combinations, youd like to see the Cougars wear this fall. Ill acknowledge with a retweet. Any takers for white helmet, crimson jersey, white pants?

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Washington State mailbag: Gauging the progress of new offensive/defensive systems in Pullman & how will uniforms be chosen this year? - The...

With Nod to Industry Progress, CFPB Seeks Feedback on Data Access Regs – ABA Banking Journal

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The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau today issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking on consumer-authorized access to financial records. The ANPR seeks feedback on how the CFPB might effectively and efficiently implement the financial record access rights described in Section 1033 [of the Dodd-Frank Act], recognizing that various market participants have helped authorized data access become more secure, effective, and subject to consumer control.

The bureau also sought information on the possible scope of data that might be covered by a Section 1033 rulemaking and on whether and how issues of regulatory uncertainty may be affecting consumer access to financial data. The ANPR comes amid the growing trend of consumers opting to share their financial data with third parties and data aggregators, while many banks have deployed APIs to facilitate consumers choices to share data securely.

The American Bankers Association supports consumers ability to share their financial data but continues to emphasize the importance ensuring that it is done in a secure way that gives consumers bank-level security, transparency, and control. The association previously outlined a set of principles for the responsible sharing of consumer financial data and recommendations to ensure that bank customers have control over how their financial data is shared. Comments on the ANPR are due 90 days after it is published in the Federal Register.

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With Nod to Industry Progress, CFPB Seeks Feedback on Data Access Regs - ABA Banking Journal

Homeowners feel there’s too much progress happening across the Piedmont Triad – myfox8.com

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Guilford County bailiff who died after positive coronavirus test identified, cause of death unclearNews / 8 hours ago

City of Greensboro covers cost for couple to remove lead paint from rental homeNews / 9 hours ago

Homeowners feel there's too much progress happening across the Piedmont TriadNews / 9 hours ago

Randolph county family in disbelief over several mistakes made at local cemeteryNews / 10 hours ago

Your Local Election HQ profile: Gov. Roy CooperNews / 10 hours ago

Local COVID-19 survivor remembers lost loved onesNews / 10 hours ago

Triad college students say youth vote more important than everNews / 13 hours ago

Greensboro woman told to pay back nearly $15,000 in unemployment benefitsNews / 1 day ago

High Point woman goes to vote; told she's ineligible because she's deadNews / 1 day ago

Greensboro City Council approves Housing GSO, 10-year housing planNews / 1 day ago

Your Local Election HQ profile: Yvonne HolleyNews / 1 day ago

Elon University reports COVID-19 clusters; cases linked to social gatheringsNews / 1 day ago

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Homeowners feel there's too much progress happening across the Piedmont Triad - myfox8.com

On The Money: Pelosi cites progress, but says COVID-19 relief deal might be post-election | Eviction crisis sparked by pandemic disproportionately…

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Happy Thursday and welcome back to On The Money. Im Sylvan Lane, and heres your nightly guide to everything affecting your bills, bank account and bottom line.

See something I missed? Let me know at slane@thehill.com or tweet me @SylvanLane. And if you like your newsletter, you can subscribe to it here: http://bit.ly/1NxxW2N.

Write us with tips, suggestions and news: slane@thehill.com, njagoda@thehill.com and nelis@thehill.com. Follow us on Twitter: @SylvanLane, @NJagoda and @NivElis.

THE BIG DEALPelosi cites progress, but says COVID-19 relief deal might be post-election: Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiTrump and advisers considering firing FBI director after election: WaPo On The Money: Power players play chess match on COVID-19 aid | Pelosi bullish, Trump tempers optimism | Analysis: Nearly 1M have run out of jobless benefits Overnight Health Care: CDC expands definition of 'close contact' after COVID-19 report | GOP coronavirus bill blocked in Senate | OxyContin maker agrees to B settlement with Trump administration MORE (D-Calif.) said she and the Trump administration are nearing a deal on a COVID-19 relief package, but that it might not happen before Election Day.

She also ramped up pressure on the GOP Senate over whether a bill will make it to President TrumpDonald John TrumpJudge rules to not release Russia probe documents over Trump tweets Trump and advisers considering firing FBI director after election: WaPo Obama to campaign for Biden in Florida MORE's desk. Republican senators have voiced opposition to the size of the package she is negotiating with Treasury Secretary Steven MnuchinSteven Terner MnuchinTrump and advisers considering firing FBI director after election: WaPo Trump casts doubt on hopes for quick stimulus deal after aides expressed optimism Power players play chess match on COVID-19 aid MORE.

"It's only about time," Pelosi told reporters in the Capitol. "I think it is in range for us to pass it before the election. But it's not up to me to decide what the Senate does."

The Hills Mike Lillis has more here.

The timeline:

Whats left to figure out: Pelosi and Mnuchin have yet to resolve several key policy differences as they race for an agreement.

LEADING THE DAY

Eviction crisis sparked by pandemic disproportionately hits minorities:The eviction crisis exacerbated by the pandemic is hitting minorities much harder than other Americans, and experts are concerned the problem will only get worse in the coming months as the coronavirus recession drags on.

Residents on the brink include people like Bishop Donald Harper, who was making nearly $5,000 a month as a chef for Universal's Cabana Bay Beach Resort in Orlando, Fla., before the pandemic hit. Harper, 55, was soon furloughed. For Harper and millions of other Americans who have lost their job because of the pandemic, rent is still due. The Hills Marty Johnson has more here.

Weekly jobless claims fall to 787K: The seasonally adjusted number of Americans who filed their first claims for unemployment insurance fell to 787,000 in the week that ended on Oct. 17, the Labor Department reported Thursday.

Last week marked the first time since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic that initial weekly claims fell below 800,000, but remain staggeringly above historic highs. I break down the data here.

GOOD TO KNOW

ODDS AND ENDS

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On The Money: Pelosi cites progress, but says COVID-19 relief deal might be post-election | Eviction crisis sparked by pandemic disproportionately...

Progress in fight against child poverty could be wiped out by Covid, says report – The Guardian

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The worlds limited progress in tackling child poverty over recent years could be destroyed by the coronavirus pandemic, the UN and World Bank have warned.

Slow-paced, unequally distributed progress meant one in six children were living in poverty even before the pandemic, according to a joint study.

These numbers alone should shock anyone. And the scale and depth of what we know about the financial hardships brought on by the pandemic are only set to make matters far worse, said Sanjay Wijesekera, director at Unicef.

Humanitarian agencies have repeatedly warned about the economic difficulties brought on by the pandemic and the potential for the fight against poverty to be set back decades.

Wijesekera said governments need to plan for how to protect children to avoid levels of poverty unseen for many, many years.

The study said most countries had found ways to supplement incomes through cash handouts, but that most programmes were only short-term and not able to counter the lasting impacts of the pandemic.

It called for structural changes to avoid a serious escalation in poverty, through family benefits, childcare and increased support for workers.

The study said that almost half of the worlds poor are children, a larger proportion than in 2013, because fewer gains had been made in fighting child poverty than among adults.

Globally there was a reduction of extreme child poverty between 2013 and 2017, but it was not the case in every region, with sub-Saharan Africa seeing an increase of 64 million children in extreme poverty.

The global director of the World Banks Poverty and Equity Global Practice, Carolina Snchez-Pramo, said not protecting children from the impacts of the pandemic would have long-term social consequences.

Extreme poverty deprives hundreds of millions of children of the opportunity to reach their potential, in terms of physical and cognitive development, and threatens their ability to get good jobs in adulthood, she said.

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Progress in fight against child poverty could be wiped out by Covid, says report - The Guardian

49ers’ Jordan Reed and K’Waun Williams showing progress during rehabs – 49ers Webzone

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Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Chris Biderman of the Sacramento Bee, who observed the early portion of Thursday's practice, saw both players as they continue to rehab their injuries and prepare to return. It sounds like both are making good progress.

Mostert is dealing with a high-ankle sprain, while Garland suffered a calf strain. Both injuries occurred during Sunday night's victory over the Los Angeles Rams. Garland has already landed on injured reserve, and Mostert is expected to join him this week.

The 49ers are preparing to face the New England Patriots on Sunday.

More San Francisco 49ers News

By David Bonilla

Oct 10, 2020

The San Francisco 49ers have officially placed both defensive end Ezekiel Ansah and cornerback K'Waun Williams on injured reserve. Ansah's season is over after suffering a biceps injury last weekend against the Philadelphia Eagles. Williams, injured in the same game, will miss at least the next few weeks with an ACL sprain.The 49ers also announced the following other roster moves.Cornerback Jamar Taylor has been promoted to the active roster.Cornerback Brian Allen and wide receiver Kevin White have been activated from the practice squad. They will return to the practice squad after Sunday's game.In addition, cornerback Ken Webster has changed numbers and will now wear number 40. He had been wearing number

By David Bonilla

Oct 20, 2020

San Francisco 49ers cornerbacks played well on Sunday night against the Los Angeles Rams despite the constant shuffling of the depth chart due to injuries. Help could be on the way after this weekend.Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports that slot corner K'Waun Williams could be targeting Week 8 for his return."I've heard K'Waun Williams is aiming to return for the Seahawks game on Nov. 1," Barrows wrote in a recent mailbag.Williams suffered an ACL sprain during the team's Week 4 loss against the Philadelphia Eagles and landed on injured reserve on October 10.The 49ers are still

By David Bonilla

Oct 11, 2020

Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area criticized the San Francisco 49ers coaching staff after the team's embarrassing 43-17 loss to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. Even with several offensive weapons back in the lineup, the Niners looked nothing like the team that just eight months ago played for a Super Bowl championship. They own a 2-3 record, and their hopes of returning to the big game seem to diminish more with each passing week."I just try to hold us all accountable. Know it starts with me," head coach Kyle Shanahan said after the loss.It sounds like Maiocco agrees. He didn't blame the players. Instead, he blamed the coaching staff that made some seemingly questionable personnel

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49ers' Jordan Reed and K'Waun Williams showing progress during rehabs - 49ers Webzone

Pledges and progress: Steps toward greenhouse gas emissions reductions in the 100 largest cities across the United States – Brookings Institution

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The COVID-19 crisis has precipitated the largest decline of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on record.1 Those massive current declines are likely temporary, but they raise important questions about the trajectory of emissions as the economic crisis abates and economic activity resumes.

Plausibly, the places that were highly-committed to action on climate before the pandemic will remain committed, while places that were reluctant to put much priority in climate earlier will be even more reluctant in the midst of economic uncertainty and uncertain priorities.

Given that, it seems important to take the pulse of what the country has been actually saying and doing on climate change, especially through its local commitments to reduce emissions. That requires looking far beyond the gridlock of Washington to the nations interior especially to the local level. One place to start such an assessment is to look at the nations many Climate Action Plans (CAPs).

Since 1991, over 600 local governments in the United States have developed CAPs that include GHG inventories and reduction targets.2

These local plans which entail a GHG emission inventory and the establishment of reduction targets, reduction strategies, and monitoring efforts have been celebrated as an important counterpoint to federal drift. At their best, the plans have exemplified the hope that bottom-up actions could add up to a powerful approach to climate mitigation, especially given rollbacks in federal policy under the Trump administration including the governments withdrawal from the Paris Agreement. Yet, at the same time, questions persist about the efficacy of city pledges. Are they working in the absence of binding national regulations? What kind of results are emerging? How far can city action go without bigger efforts at other levels, including federal? Are city goals or pledges meaningful given the share of emissions from goods and services used by the city occur outside the city boundary and that the city does not have control of?

Hence this report: Given the increasing importance of bottom-up action on climate, this analysis inventories the various GHG reduction pledges and commitments of the 100 largest U.S. cities; estimates the emissions savings that could result from those pledges; and then evaluates whether U.S. cities appear to be on track to meet their pledges. In this fashion, the information addresses the current array of results on the ground in order to inform ongoing discussions of the potential and limits of bottom-up climate strategies in the COVID era. For the sake of completeness we focus on 2017, the last year of complete records when this research began, though we are mindful that city-based action continues.3

The report draws five major conclusions about an emissions-pledge system that is generating genuine but partial climate actions:

1

Slightly less than half of large U.S. cities have established GHG reduction targets. Where the goals exist, they tend to align with the 80%-decrease-by 2050 mitigation pathway consistent with the Paris Climate Accord, but tend to fall short of the mitigation pathways that limit warming to 1.5Celsius (C) modeled by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) (i.e., net zero anthropogenic CO emissions around year 2050).4

Of the 100 most populous cities in the United States, only 45 have established greenhouse gas reduction targets and corresponding baseline GHG inventories. An additional 22 cities have committed to reducing GHG emissions but have not yet established specific emission reduction targets or completed a baseline GHG emission inventory upon which to base a reduction plan. In that sense, U.S. cities pledge-setting is sub-optimal in its coverage and design, with less than half of large cities setting targets, and most targets remaining non-binding.

With that said, the GHG reduction targets established by cities frequently comport with good practice in that they often target 80% GHG emissions decreases by the year 2050 in line with the mitigation pathways modeled by the IPCC that limit warming to 2C but slightly behind the mitigation pathways that, if scaled globally, would limit warming to 1.5C. City-based climate commitments appear to be on the upswing. Seventeen of the 45 cities with plans have implemented new or updated plans since the Trump administration took office in January 2017.

2

Overall, roughly 40 million people (about 12% of the total U.S. population and 60% of the total population of the 100 largest U.S. cities) live in bigger cities with active and fully-formed climate action plans.

The 45 cities with fully-established greenhouse gas reduction targets and corresponding baseline GHG inventories encompass a total population of roughly 40 million people. The smallest city is Richmond, Virginia (with a 2017 population of about 227,000) and the largest is New York, New York (with 8.6 million residents). Larger cities are more likely to maintain climate plans than smaller ones. And while California is a hot spot of activity, with plans in place in 11 cities, the plans are relatively evenly-distributed across the nation.

3Collectively, the total annual reduction in emissions achieved by the 45 cities with both targets and completed inventories (in their respective target years) would equate to approximately 365 million metric tons carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e).

The savings contributions from city CAPs vary widely but are adding up. In aggregate, the prospective total annual reduction in emissions achieved by all 45 cities (in their respective target years and compared to the emissions in the citys chosen baseline year) would equate to approximately 365 million metric tons COe the equivalent of removing about 79 million passenger vehicles from the road. Alternatively, the total annual emissions reduction pledged by the 45 cities with climate action plans, if achieved, would be comparable to the 300 to 450 million metric tons of emissions reductions scored in 2018 where natural gas has replaced coal for generating electricity. There are many uncertainties and assumptions that go into an analysis like this, and those can have a big impact on the calculations of long-term emission reductions. In addition to all the usual caveats, the pandemic has added another one by affecting, among other things, travel behaviornot just right now but possibly in durable ways into the future.

With that said, the collective prospective reduced emissions from the 45 cities equate to roughly 7% of the emission reductions to which the U.S. originally committed to achieve by year 2050 in relation to the Paris Agreement. Whats more, the 45 cities would need to achieve an additional emissions reduction of 124 million metric tons COe per year in order to meet the IPCCs modeled mitigation pathway for limiting warming to 1.5 C (i.e., net zero anthropogenic CO emissions by around 2050). One additional note: The 365 million metric tons that would be reduced on an annual basis by year 2050 if all 45 cities reached their GHG reduction targets translates to roughly 6% of total U.S. GHG emissions in 2017 assuming emissions without the plans would remain the same from the baseline year to the target year. Six percent is not an insignificant number, but it is a far cry from the level of emission reductions that the IPCC suggests needs to occur in order to avoid many of the more significant impacts of climate change.

4Despite genuine achievements in many cities, roughly two-thirds of cities are currently lagging their targeted emission levels.

Of the 45 cities with GHG reduction targets and corresponding baseline GHG inventories, 32 have conducted at least one additional GHG inventory since 2010. The remaining 13 cities do not appear to have any publicly- available GHG inventories for the years subsequent to the establishment of their climate action plan. However, of the 13 cities without GHG inventories subsequent to setting their GHG reduction target(s), six had a baseline year of 2014 or later for their climate action plan. Therefore, GHG inventories for these locations are likely to be conducted and/or published in the near-term.

Based on their most recent GHG inventory data, 26 of the 32 cities that had at least one additional inventory since 2010 experienced a decrease in emissions compared to their baseline emission levels, while six cities experienced an increase. Los Angeles, California has experienced the largest decrease in emissions (about 47% below 1990 baseline levels), while Tucson, Arizona has experienced the largest increase in emissions amid sprawling growth (39% above 1990 baseline levels), followed by fast-growing Madison, Wisconsin. The nearby figure summarizes the difference between the most recent GHG inventory and baseline emission levels for each city.

Overall, about two-thirds of cities are currently lagging their targeted emission levels. Greensboro, North Carolina performed the best relative to its targeted emissions level (with emissions 20% below its target) and Chicago, Illinois, performed the worst (with inventoried emissions 50% higher than target levels). On average, the cities analyzed in this study will still need to reduce their annual emissions by 64% by 2050 in order to reach their ultimate GHG reduction targets.

5Overall, the development and implementation of city GHG plans and pledges while important and encouraging leaves room for improvement in terms of reach, rigor, and ambition.

Notwithstanding the early achievements of the best city GHG reduction plans and pledges, most cities activities suffer from shortcomings. Of the 45 cities analyzed in this report, none have GHG inventories for years 2018 or 2019, and only two have GHG inventories for 2017 (an additional 10 have inventories for 2016). Similarly, the lower rate of activity among the smaller cities (only six of the climate action plans came from among the group of cities with the 76th- to 100th-largest populations) suggests the challenges that resource constraints can pose for developing GHG reduction targets and related emissions inventories. Another hindrance to the overall success of city-led climate action plans may be rooted in the fact that the GHG reduction targets set by cities are mostly non-binding, with the exception of those in California cities. That ensures that most communities have no real incentive to meet tough GHG reduction targets.

Finally, scope and boundary issues are surely hindering progress. Factors like population growth, economic development, and changes in the local industry mix are not always explicitly discussed in climate plans. Likewise, cities boundaries usually mean their emissions plans cannot reach and influence emissions that take place at the regional scale, whether it be commuting, suburban sprawl, or regional electricity generation.

In sum, this assessment highlights the great potential of bottom-up climate action to reduce one nations emissions in meaningful ways through city action.5 Overall, the leadership of about half of Americas larger cities stands as an important counter to federal drift. With that said, more ambitious and rigorous efforts are needed in order to make the nations bottom-up climate commitments more effective. Along these lines, municipalities, states, the federal government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), philanthropies, and companies should work to:

And, more importantly, the lessons from the leaders can catalyze more followership so that the actions that are still concentrated in a subset of the American population become more pervasive here and abroad.

In short, many cities have distinguished themselves through their efforts to reduce their GHG emissions. Now much more stringent action has become urgent.

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Pledges and progress: Steps toward greenhouse gas emissions reductions in the 100 largest cities across the United States - Brookings Institution

Progress amidst the pandemic: Sint Maarten’s journey to recovery and resilience – World Bank Group

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A worker repairing a damaged house in Sint Maarten. Photo credit: National Recovery Program Bureau of Sint Maarten

Before the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic, many Caribbean countries were still rebuilding and recovering from the devastating impacts of hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017. In the case of Sint Maarten, those hurricanes caused widespread damage to many homes, buildings, and infrastructure, amounting to US$1.38 billion or roughly 260% of its GDP.

With the help of the Sint Maarten Recovery, Reconstruction and Resilience Trust Fund funded by the Netherlands in 2018 with a budget of up to 470 million euros and managed by the World Bank the country had started the long, complex process of rebuilding, before the COVID-19-related lockdown and border closures brought things to a temporary halt.

As the anchor project under the Trust Fund, the Emergency Recovery Project I (ERP-I) supports the reconstruction of private residences, critical infrastructure, public buildings such as schools, and the building of resilience in key areas. The bulk of the activities under the Trust Fund, and likewise, the ERP-I, are managed by the National Recovery Program Bureau (NRPB), the in-country implementation unit that has spurred significant, measurable recovery progress despite the delays caused this year by the pandemic.

This includes:

Although a country-wide lockdown, mandated from April 6 to May 11 as a necessary measure to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, interrupted repairs to private homes, government buildings, and shelters, and hindered engineering firms and technical consultants from travelling to Sint Maarten to conduct supervisory and other work, projects swiftly resumed in June, just after the country reopened its borders in mid-May.

The lessons learned and positive momentum generated by ERP-Is achievements continue to fuel recovery efforts in the country. Valuable insights gained from conducting procurement activities in Sint Maartens small market, engaging with beneficiaries and contractors, and the sequencing of contracting and technical work, have helped identify challenges and improve the implementation of this project, as well as other projects financed by the Sint Maarten Trust Fund.

Some challenges related to the new nature of Sint Maartens engagement with international organizations like the World Bank are beginning to be addressed. Among them, measures are being supported by the Government of Sint Maarten to facilitate the processing of work visas, residence permits, and business licenses.

Successful resolution of these challenges will complete the groundwork laid by the NRPB and World Bank project teams for completion of critical activities remaining under the project. These include a big batch of residential home repairs, shelter and school repairs, and trenching programs to move utilities underground, among others, to help strengthen Sint Maartens resilience to future disasters.

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Progress amidst the pandemic: Sint Maarten's journey to recovery and resilience - World Bank Group

Root Insurance Partners with Bubba Wallace in a Celebration of Progress – Business Wire

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COLUMBUS, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Root Insurance, a company driven to make insurance more fair, is announcing a partnership with Bubba Wallace, an athlete unapologetically driven to make positive change. The partnership kicks off today with the launch of the Unapologetic campaign, celebrating the progress Bubba is leading in NASCAR and the growth it is creating for the sport.

Getting to know Bubba Wallace and what he stands for made this partnership one that we couldnt pass up, said Alex Timm, Root Co-Founder and CEO. He is dedicated to standing up for what is right, even when it involves facing adversity. Root was created to make car insurance more fairstanding up against the established industry that priced more on demographics than driving behavior. We are proud to support Bubba Wallace.

Root Insurance is doing what is right and making insurance more fair, and I am proud to partner with a company making a difference, said Wallace. I stand firmly with the goal of eliminating bias from insurance, and I truly believe we can work together to help make the world a better place.

This is Roots first national athletic sponsorship, and the companys first foray into sports marketing.

About Root Insurance

Root, Inc. is the parent company of Root Insurance Company. We are a technology company revolutionizing personal insurance with a pricing model based upon fairness. Our modern, mobile-first customer experience is designed to make insurance simple.

Root is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, with renters insurance available in Arkansas, Missouri, Ohio, Georgia, Kentucky, Nevada, Tennessee, and Utah, and auto insurance currently available to drivers in Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and West Virginia.

For more information, visit https://www.joinroot.com and get a free quote. Sign up online or download the app.

About Bubba Wallace

Wallace, a six-time NASCAR national series winner, first made news headlines in 2013 when he became the first Black driver in nearly 50 years to win a NASCAR national series race and again in 2018 when he joined the NASCAR Cup Series full-time with Richard Petty Motorsports. As the sport's lone Black driver, Bubba has played a critical part in NASCAR's push for inclusion and equality, including its ban of the Confederate flag at races.

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Root Insurance Partners with Bubba Wallace in a Celebration of Progress - Business Wire