Judge refuses to dismiss claims Balch Springs police violated rights of murdered teen Jordan Edwards – The Dallas Morning News

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A federal district judge on Monday denied a motion from the city of Balch Springs to dismiss claims that the citys police department violated the constitutional rights of a group of teenagers that includes Jordan Edwards, a 15-year-old who was shot and killed by one of the citys police officers in 2017.

Edwards was leaving a party on the night of April 29, 2017 with his friends, Maxwell and Maximus Everette, and his brothers, Vidal Allen and Kevon Edwards, when former Balch Springs police officer Roy Oliver shot into the car five times. One of the bullets hit Jordan Edwards in the head, killing him, while the other teenagers in the car were detained and not told why, according to court documents.

Oliver was convicted of murder in 2018 and sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Family members of the five teenagers filed a motion July 2 asking for the city to be held liable for allowing the Balch Springs Police Department to promote an unconstitutional use-of-force policy and failing to train, supervise and discipline its officers, claiming the policies violated the teenagers Fourth Amendment rights.

Joe Tooley, the attorney representing the City of Balch Springs, said the city filed motion to dismiss the claims each time they were entered by the families. He said he didnt feel the pleadings were adequate to move forward in court.

Its not untypical, many federal cases go through the state, and some get dismissed and some dont, and we just have to now proceed with the next step and defending the allegations, he said.

In the motion, the families argue that the departments use-of-force policy is unconstitutional because it doesnt specify that force may only be used when an officer is in immediate danger, and that it allows an officer to consider subjective factors when deciding how much force to use.

A district judge originally granted multiple requests from the city to dismiss various versions of the motion, but the families were allowed to amend their filing each time.

The district judge will set a date for the case to be held before a jury trial once all other motions are decided, court documents state.

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Judge refuses to dismiss claims Balch Springs police violated rights of murdered teen Jordan Edwards - The Dallas Morning News

As journalism jobs decrease, the future of the discipline might depend on general education – Poynter

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Recent racist incidents and police violence have been caught on video, uploaded to social media and viewed millions of times, sparking protests and outrage and accelerating diversity agendas at colleges and universities.

In most of those incidents, the photographer was not a reporter but a bystander or victim of abuse themselves.

Reporters have been arrested in record numbers covering protests associated with the May 25 killing of George Floyd. Some 10,000 mostly peaceful protesters have been arrested and assaulted, too, with many such incidents caught on tape. In an op-ed in the Iowa Capital Dispatch, I ask, What makes a journalist, the person or the device?

Increasingly, I argue, it is the device.

In the hands of a journalist, however, or a civilian who knows reporting basics, you double its power.

Power is at the core of controversies about police brutality. Smartphone technology has empowered civilians whose photographs and videos undermine the authority of law enforcement, at times exposing lies, racist agendas and prosecutorial negligence.

Police departments rely on video and security cameras for traffic control, license plate recognition and crime detection. But when the lens is turned on them, they often are less enthusiastic.

Units equipped with body cameras may not release videos to the public or wait months to do so, as was the case in the killing of Elijah McClain. He had done nothing illegal but was wearing a mask while on an errand to pick up iced tea for his brother.

The issue here is accountability and transparency, key tenets of journalism. Reporters are watchdogs over government and file freedom of information requests to foster openness. They embrace the credo of afflicting the comfortable and comforting the afflicted.

These are lessons for everyone.

In 2005, Wired ran an article with that maxim:

When man bites dog, whos the first to report it? Dont assume its your local paper or CNN. These days, our man on the scene is often a swarm of amazingly prolific nonprofessionals posting up-to-the-minute stories and pictures of breaking news from their laptops.

When I first read this, I was skeptical, fearing so-called citizen reporters would undermine the credibility of journalism. A month after the Wired piece, I wrote The Media World as It Is for Inside Higher Ed:

(T)he promise of technology that it would build social networks, democratize news and generally enhance information in two-way flows has always hinged on the presumption of readily available and verifiableinformation. What are the consequences, not only for media, but for academe, when opinion displaces fact?

I was worried about fake news years before President Donald Trump claimed to have invented that term.

But my own opinion has changed as technology became more powerful, mobile and ubiquitous in the form of a cellphone, especially the iPhone, which first made its debut in 2007.

Apples inaugural device included many features we still use every day, such a web browser, email, text messaging, music and video players, and maps applications. It also came with a first-generation YouTube default app.

By 2009, YouTube was registeringmore than a billion views per day. Now there are more than 2 billion users.

The power of cellphones is epic. We call them smartphones for a reason. The2020 iPhone 11 Pro Max boasts a 12-megapixel ultra-wide, wide angle, and telephoto lens. Its video is as sharp as any network television camera, with a processor and neural engine capable delivering more than 1 trillion operations per second.

It can capture just about anything within a 120-degree field of view.

The increasing power of cellphones coincided with the decreasing presence of reporters. They are not yet extinct, but on societys endangered species list. Between 2008 and 2020, U.S.newsrooms lost half of their employees, according to Pew Research Center.

News deserts are popping up all over. As Penelope Muse Abernathy, Knight Chair in Journalism and Digital Media Economics at the University of North Carolina, notes in News Deserts And Ghost Newspapers: Will Local News Survive?:

Many of the countrys 6,700 surviving papers have become ghost newspapers mere shells of their former selves, with greatly diminished newsrooms and readership. The loss of both journalists and circulation speaks to the declining influence of local newspapers, and raises questions about their long-term financial viability in a digital era.

The choice is obvious: Bemoan journalisms decline or inspire thousands of opinionated but omnipresent smartphone users. I embrace the latter. They may be the only option left to hold government and law enforcement in check.

They also have cellphones. Increasingly they document racism under the genre while being Black with African Americans insulted, threatened or arrested doing everyday things. Earlier this year Amy Cooper, a white woman, threw a viral tantrum and called police after a Black birdwatcher in Central Park asked her to leash her dog.

These frequent encounters are becoming more ominous. In June, Mark and Susan McCloskey brandished weapons at protesters who passed their palatial home in St. Louis. Another white couple, Jillian and Eric Wuestenberg, were charged with felonious assault in a parking lot incident during which Jillian pointed a gun at a Black mother and her 15-year-old daughter.

Because cellphones recorded each incident, consequences ensued. Cooper lost her job at an investment corporation and faces misdemeanor charges. Eric Wuestenberg was fired from his support staff position at Oakland University. The McCloskeys were each charged with one count of unlawful use of a weapon.

These videos are deeply troubling, but the one shot by 17-year-old Darnella Frazier was horrifying. Some called the documented killing of George Floyd a state-sponsored execution.

Frazier was on a grocery store run with her 9-year-old cousin when she saw Floyd being arrested. She used her cellphone to capture former police officer Derek Chauvin with his knee on Floyds neck, killing him.

Fraziers lawyer, Seth Cobin, told the BBC, She felt she had to document it. Its like the civil rights movement was reborn in a whole new way, because of that video.

The comment about civil rights reverberates in former reporters of that era. The primary goal in the 1960s and early 1970s was equal treatment in all aspects of society for African Americans. I covered protests by the American Indian Movement whose leaders, including Dennis Banks and Russell Means, sought economic independence, preservation of native culture, autonomy over tribal areas and restoration of stolen lands.

Civil rights and liberties are fundamental aspects of journalism education, which utilizes case law associated with the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, among other statutes.

Civil liberties are associated with the Constitution.

Every journalism graduate should know freedoms of the First Amendment press, speech, religion, assembly and petition as well as unlawful seizures of the Fourth Amendment and due process of the Fourteenth.

Those liberties are at the heart of a federal lawsuit filed against the city of Minneapolis and its police department for actions against reporters covering George Floyd protests. The suit alleges that reporters were assaulted and arrested by police without cause, all after these journalists identified themselves and were otherwise clearly engaged in their reporting duties.

Protesters have the same rights as reporters, according to 42 U.S. Code 1983, which protects citizens from being deprived of any rights, privileges or immunities secured by the Constitution.Any entity violating that law can be held liable in class actions.

Everyone should know that.

But does everyone need journalism? I think they do.

And yet, journalism rarely is on the list of required courses in colleges and universities. That has to do in part with the history of general education. Originally, in the early 19th century, it sought to complete the liberal education of the aristocracy. In the 1960s, it attempted to make liberal education more accessible to nontraditional students. The culture wars of the 1980s heightened consciousness about feminism and canons of underrepresented groups. More recently, general education exploded with dozens of courses based on budget models rewarding departmental enrollment.

Nevertheless, gen-ed courses still fall under the usual umbrellas of humanities, social sciences, and math and physical/biological sciences.

Rarely will you find journalism in the mix. Many reporting courses are skill-based and excluded on that basis. Journalism is neither humanities nor social sciences; it is one or the other and sometimes both. Courses like media history clearly fall in the humanities camp; others like public affairs reporting in the social sciences group; and science communication in both.

General education includes survey, theory and concept classes. When viewed in that manner, several journalism courses easily adapt.

They also may be popular. Americans on average use smartphones about 5.4 hours per day. The 16-24 demographic interacts on social media about 3 hours per day. As such, general education students would benefit from courses in news/media literacy, cultivating the next generation of news consumers who possess the ability to spot fake news and dis/misinformation.

A survey course in media law and ethics also might enlighten students about rights, liberties and precedents, all of which are vital for future generations seeking change.

A theory class in world press systems might expand and diversify knowledge. Specialized courses might be popular, too, such as History of the Black Press, Social Media and Change or Gone Viral: Videos That Made History.

Journalism education has focused for decades on graduates securing media jobs. As those decrease, along with enrollments, the future of the discipline might depend more on general education. But the case here is about democracy, accountability, transparency and empowerment.

Without a robust news industry monitoring government and investigating the corporate elite, our only hope may be in the hands of the people, literally and figuratively.

Michael Bugeja, distinguished professor of journalism at Iowa State University of Science and Technology, teaches media ethics and technology and social change. He can be reached at bugeja@iastate.edu.

This article was originally published on July 22.

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As journalism jobs decrease, the future of the discipline might depend on general education - Poynter

Trenton cop found a flask inside a councilwoman’s car after crash, tried covering it up – The Trentonian

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TRENTON City police officer Derek Simpson made a startling discovery in the glove compartment of councilwoman Marge Caldwell-Wilsons vehicle earlier this year a silver flask.

Finding a flask often used to store alcohol may have raised another officers suspicion that Caldwell-Wilson could have been under the influence during a Feb. 2 two-vehicle crash along Route 129 in the capital city.

Not Simpson.

Not only did he not mention the flask in a report that he filed with findings of the crash investigation, but body-worn camera footage that The Trentonianhad to sue to uncover showed Simpson purposely hiding the flask from being captured on another officers body-worn camera.

Simpson found the flask while securing Caldwell-Wilsons personal belongings and searching the glove box for her insurance and registration.

The video later captured Simpson, a 21-year veteran, calling over Trenton cop Anthony Cariola to show him what he uncovered in Caldwell-Wilsons car.

Turn that way, Simpson told Cariola, who was also outfitted with a body-worn camera.

Once Cariola positioned his body camera away from his colleague, Simpson showed him the flask.

Cariola appeared surprised but did not utter a word before walking off.

Screengrab of bodycam footage shows a Trenton police officer showing a flask to another officer that he found in the car of Trenton Councilwoman Marge Caldwell-Wilson after she was involved in a crash.

Apparently, Simpson who was standing behind his patrol cruiser door was unaware that he did not hold the flask high enough out of view that it couldnt be seen on his own body-worn camera.

Simpsons actions that day prompted an internal affairs investigation.

A spokeswoman confirmed the matter was referred over to the Mercer County Prosecutors Office for possible criminal prosecution but TPD was advised to handle the matter administratively.

Trenton Police spokesman Lt. Jason Kmiec said the IA investigation into Simpson is still pending.

Simpsons actions raised questions for police and legal experts who wondered about his motivations for hiding the flask.

Was it being hidden because you guys were thinking of taking other law enforcement actions but because she was a councilperson, you decided not to? What would be the possible need to try to hide something? That would have my Spidey sense up, said Robert Bianchi, a criminal defense attorney and former Morris County prosecutor. I find that suspicious.

Richard Rivera, a former cop and police accountability expert, said Simpsons actions smelled of a cover-up.

The seemingly simple car-crash investigation is now being viewed through the lens of a raging national debate about police brutality and misconduct, prompted by the death of George Floyd, a Black man who died in police custody in Minneapolis.

A city councilman has alleged that Trenton cops attempted to cover up for Caldwell-Wilson, the North Ward representative who is in her third term on the legislative body.

Jerell Blakeley said he tried learning, months ago, about the circumstances of the crash involving Caldwell-Wilson.

He filed a public records request but said he was stymied in his efforts to uncover the truth by several high-level members of Mayor Reed Guscioras administration.

He refused to provide names of those who he claimed dissuaded him from pursuing the matter.

Gusciora said he "absolutely" did not dissuade anyone from getting the records. His chief of staff Yoshi Manale also did not recall trying to influence Blakeley to drop the matter.

Alarmed upon learning about the flask and Simpsons actions, Blakeley credited the newspaper for continuing to dig into the crash andcalled for the case to be re-examined by an independent investigator.

This stinks to high heaven, he said.

For Caldwell-Wilson, who was hospitalized for a few days with a serious head injury but has since recovered, its a painful chapter that she is eager to put behind her.

In an interview this week, Caldwell-Wilson acknowledged paying the fines after being ticketed once it was determined that she was at fault for the crash.

She was not cited for having the flask in her vehicle, which she could have been under New Jerseys open container law, and denied having a sip of alcohol at any point before the crash.

It was in the middle of the afternoon on a Sunday, for crying out loud, she said.

She claimed the flask which she planned to gift to a friend who she wouldn't name never contained alcohol and was stored in the glove box for more than a year.

Why are you making a big deal about this? It was empty. It had never been used. They could do forensics on it, and it never had any alcohol in it ever, Caldwell-Wilson said.

The crash happened around 4:15 p.m. on Super Bowl Sunday, a day when many spectators knock back a few cold ones while taking in the big game.

According to Nielsen, in 2019, Americans spent $1.2 billion on beer in the two weeks leading up to the Super Bowl, $568 million on distilled spirits and $652 million on wine.

Caldwell-Wilson said she was struck from behind while returning from buying groceries. Corroborating parts of her version of events, Simpson was captured on body camera removing cloth grocery bags from Caldwell-Wilsons vehicle and storing them in his police cruiser.

The second driver, Mighty Chadrick, told cops that Caldwell-Wilson was in the left lane, stopped at the traffic light, at the intersection of Route 129 and Hamilton Avenue, according to the body camera and Simpsons accident investigation report.

The councilwoman appeared to be turning left when she suddenly swerved in to the middle lane, Chadrick said. He tried avoiding her but rear-ended the vehicle.

One of two passengers in Chadrick's vehicle complained of chest pain. He was checked out on scene by a firefighter who recommended the passenger get screened at the hospital to ensure no internal bleeding, the footage shows.

Meanwhile, Caldwell-Wilson suffered a large gash on the back of her head and was temporarily knocked unconscious from the collision. She came to when Cariola opened her driver-side door.

Cariola radioed for an ambulance and asked Caldwell-Wilson how she was doing.

The officer did not know at that point about the flask and didnt ask Caldwell-Wilson whether she consumed alcohol, the footage shows. At no point did he say whether she showed signs of being under the influence.

He asked the disoriented Caldwell-Wilson if she knew her name.

Marge Caldwell-Wilson, councilwoman, she responded.

Then he asked the councilwoman if she knew the date and the year but she couldnt respond.

Its OK, honey. Its all right, the officer said. You were in a car accident. Its OK. Are you in pain anywhere? Just the back of your head? Dont touch it. We have an ambulance on the way for you. Just dont move.

First responders arrived and tended to the councilwoman. She was eventually hauled off on a stretcher and taken to Capital Health Regional Medical Center for treatment.

Simpson found the flask after Caldwell-Wilson was carted away.

Screengrab of bodycam footage shows Trenton police finding a flask inside the car of Councilwoman Marge Caldwell-Wilson after she was involved in a car crash.

Legal experts said Simpsons warrantless search of the glove box which it could be construed as a Fourth Amendment violation of unreasonable search and seizure was lawful under the community caretaking doctrine.

Officers dont always function as law enforcement investigating crimes and can act as community caretakers to aid those who are ill and distressed in emergency situations.

In this case, the officer was acting in that role by securing Caldwell-Wilsons purse and groceries, and then scouring the glove box for more valuables, along with her driving documents.

If theyre in a lawful place, and they make an observation of something thats criminal, its also a plain-view doctrine case, Bianchi said.

Following Simpsons investigation, Caldwell-Wilson was ticketed for careless driving and failing to maintain a lane.

Under state law, she could have been cited for having an open container, legal experts said, since a flask can be used to store alcohol. The law says someone shall be presumed to have consumed an alcoholic beverage in violation of this section if an unsealed container of an alcoholic beverage is located in the vehicle.

Caldwell-Wilson said officers didn't ask her about the flask at the hospital.

With her memory still foggy, she told officers she did not remember what happened before the crash, according to the accident report.

Blakeley wondered why cops didnt press.

I dont have to tell anybody if someone found a flask in councilman Blakeleys vehicle, I would be raked over the coals, he said.

He felt the police should have requested a blood draw that could have detected whether alcohol was present in Caldwell-Wilson's system.

Bianchi said officers would have faced challenges obtaining a warrant for the blood draw.

While she may have been driving erratically and the flask was found in her car, he surmised those factors alone wouldn't have been enough to convince a judge to issue a warrant for the blood alcohol test.

A judge would have also wanted to know whether officers observed signs of impairment.

As a prosecutor, I would want more, Bianchi said. An open container in a vehicle, assuming its alcohol, may or may not have been ingested during the incident. Usually cops are making notations: Do they smell an odor of alcohol on her breath? Were her eyes bloodshot? Was she slurring her words?

To me, I would say thats a pretty close call that you would not get a blood draw on something like that unless you can establish more based upon observations from the officers that she was under the influence. If you had that, plus the flask in the vehicle, assuming its alcohol and its partially been consumed, then I think you would be on your way to that.

That was not the case here, as Cariola didnt ask those crucial questions, according to the body cam, before the councilwoman was transported to the hospital.

Despite the discovery of the flask, officers did not appear to challenge Caldwell-Wilson when they followed up with her at the hospital, in order to try to establish probable cause for the warrant, the records show.

Officers accepted Caldwell-Wilson at her word that she does not remember what occurred, and left it at that once they were couldn't obtain clear footage of the crash.

Now that theres an insinuation she may have been under the influence, Caldwell-Wilson said she wished cops did more adding she would have consented to a blood draw.

The councilwoman planned to contact the hospital where she was treated to see if records exist that could show whether she was tested for alcohol and drugs during her stay.

Those records are normally protected by patient confidentiality laws, but Caldwell-Wilson said she was willing to provide them to The Trentonian. She had not yet produced those records by the publication of this story.

She also fought back against a perception that she may have a drinking issue, claiming the accident is being overblown by a political enemy.

I dont think Ive ever been drunk in my life, she said. Im not a big drinker. Im so sick of this crap. If this is councilman Blakeley doing this, then we have serious problems and a serious lawsuit here. This is defamation of character.

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Trenton cop found a flask inside a councilwoman's car after crash, tried covering it up - The Trentonian

Market Wrap: Bitcoin Near $9,600 as Gold Hits High, Uniswap Liquidity Over $100m – CoinDesk – CoinDesk

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As bitcoin closes in on $9,600, gold surpasses $1,900 and DeFi liquidity steadily grows.

Gold is on the brink of an all-time high, up 0.80% Friday, at $1,901 per ounce. Sweden-based over-the-counter bitcoin trader Henrik Kugelberg sees gold nearing its all-time high as a positive for the worlds oldest cryptocurrency. Bitcoin will pass $20,000 in a surge. I suspect a new normal discounted bitcoin price will be around $15,000 in 2021, like it has been around $9,000 in 2020.

Bullish bitcoin traders love to talk about gold, since they see similarities between the yellow metal and the cryptocurrency. I think we are just a couple weeks or months out from a strong continuation on bitcoin as gold reaches $1,900 today, said William Purdy, a New York-based equity options and crypto trader.

Indeed, golds jump this week occurred as bitcoin eked gains and the S&P 500 U.S. stock index performance was back to being flat for 2020.

Kugelberg is pessimistic on stocks for the balance of 2020. I believe there will be at least a 30% drop in stocks on average at the latest in Q4. So where to go? To real assets with lasting value, said Kugelberg. He mentioned gold, bitcoin and property as real assets.

Bitcoin bulls have momentum on their side for now, said Alessandro Andreotti, an Italy-based over-the-counter bitcoin trader. The crypto market is likely to be heading towards a bullish continuation from here.

Within crypto, ether is doing even better than bitcoin this week. ETH/BTC, that is, ether priced in bitcoin, has seen a jump in the past few days.

Ether prices have increased almost 12% against bitcoin, said Aaron Suduiko, a research analyst for cryptocurrency exchange OKCoin. It will be interesting to see whether any trends develop in the event that more DeFi projects continue to grow.

Uniswap crosses $100 million in liquidity

The second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, ether (ETH), was up Friday trading around $283 and climbing 3.6% in 24 hours as of 20:00 UTC (4:00 p.m. EDT).

The recent gains in ether are due to the on-going thematic chatter on social media around new DeFi projects that have been showing considerable strength, said Purdy, the equity options and crypto trader. Indeed, Uniswap, a decentralized exchange (DEX), for trading various DeFi project tokens, surpassed $100 million in liquidity Friday.

Instead of order books, Uniswap uses liquidity pools that investors can stake cryptocurrency into and profit or yield from trading fees on the DEX. This liquidity is what enables Uniswap traders to quickly exchange between ether and various Ethereum-based ERC-20 tokens, with total daily volume reaching $71 million per day, according to data aggregator Dune Analytics.

Other markets

Digital assets on the CoinDesk 20 are mostly red Friday. Notable winners as of 20:00 UTC (4:00 p.m. EDT):

Notable losers as of 20:00 UTC (4:00 p.m. EDT):

The leader in blockchain news, CoinDesk is a media outlet that strives for the highest journalistic standards and abides by a strict set of editorial policies. CoinDesk is an independent operating subsidiary of Digital Currency Group, which invests in cryptocurrencies and blockchain startups.

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Market Wrap: Bitcoin Near $9,600 as Gold Hits High, Uniswap Liquidity Over $100m - CoinDesk - CoinDesk

Bitcoin Price Holds Key Support and Is on the Verge of Testing $10,000 – Cointelegraph

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Recently, the price of Bitcoin (BTC) has been showing virtually zero volatility. This volatility decreased particularly as of late while Bitcoin was resting on the crucial support level of $9,000.

But on July 21 Bitcoin finally made a sudden move, as expected in the latest analysis, and the price surged from $9,100 to $9,400. So is volatility back or is this just nothing more than a blip? Lets take a closer look.

Crypto market daily performance. Source: TradingView

The price of Bitcoin held the crucial support at $9,000 and broke upwards. However, the price of BTC is still inside the ascending triangle structure.

This means that the price of the top-ranked cryptocurrency by market capitalization is continuously making higher lows since the March 12 crash. Since then, every previous resistance level got confirmed for support, initiating bullish support/resistance flips and further upwards continuation.

BTC/USDT 1-day chart. Source: TradingView

The crucial area to hold was the range between $8,900-9,000 (on smaller timeframes). The recent low at $8,500-8,800 flipped into support already, after which the same occurred with the $8,900-9,000 range.

Similarly, Bitcoins price is still acting above the 100-day and 200-day moving averages (MAs), which is a bullish signal. As long as Bitcoins price remains above these MAs, the market is in bull territory.

However, a sudden massive surge is unlikely to occur, given that Bitcoins price is still acting inside an enormous range.

BTC/USDT 4-hour chart. Source: TradingView

The likeliness of a $1,000 candle is getting higher once Bitcoin reclaims the untested levels, shown in the chart.

Until then, the likelihood of continued range-bound movements persists. In this case, every previous level is likely to receive a test for confirmation of the breakout, after which the next level will likely get tested.

The yet-untested levels in the previous month are $9,650, $9,800 and $10,100. Once the price of Bitcoin breaks through the $10,100 barrier, massive continuation is likely to occur with a giant surge.

The $9,200 resistance broke earlier today, which immediately led to a surge to the $9,400 resistance zone.

BTC/USDT 4-hour bullish scenario chart. Source: TradingView

The bullish scenario would mean a continuation toward the $9,600 level in one-go or a corrective move before continuation.

In that regard, a retest of the previous level at $9,200 for support is not typical. If such a retest occurs, the next compression and breakout will likely open the door to $9,600 and possibly $9,800.

As the chart shows, these movements are the exact opposite of what the market has witnessed previously. In the past month, the market witnessed an overall slip, though now the opposite is more likely in the coming weeks.

Currently, the crucial support level to hold is $9,200 as this boosts the chances of more upside.

BTC/USDT 4-hour bearish scenario chart. Source: TradingView

The bearish scenario also has the critical pivot at $9,200. In this scenario, the price of Bitcoin cant break $9,400 and immediately loses the $9,200 support level.

If that happens, a further downward drop is likely to be expected as the ascending triangle becomes invalid.

The key levels to watch here include the crucial pivot at $9,200. Losing that level would warrant a test of the $8,400-8,700 area and possible continuation towards the $7,500 region.

Overall, the market should sustain upward momentum as long as $9,200 holds, which also increases the chances of testing new yearly highs.

The views and opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Cointelegraph. Every investment and trading move involves risk. You should conduct your own research when making a decision.

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Bitcoin Price Holds Key Support and Is on the Verge of Testing $10,000 - Cointelegraph

Here’s How to Check If a Bitcoin Address Is a Scam – Bitcoin News

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With the rapid rise in the number of bitcoin scams, there are easy ways to check if a bitcoin address has been reported as being used by scammers, such as in fake bitcoin giveaways. You can also easily report any bitcoin address associated with a scam.

The number of bitcoin scams has been rapidly rising. Many of them ask people to send bitcoin to the addresses they provide, such as bitcoin giveaway scams that promise to double the amount of bitcoin you send. The great Twitter hack last week, for example, had many high-profile accounts tweet about fake bitcoin giveaways.

Before sending your bitcoin to an address, you can check to see if that address has been reported as one being used in a scam. Bitcoin Abuse is a popular website with a public database of bitcoin addresses used by hackers and criminals. You can look up a bitcoin address, report a scam address, and monitor addresses reported by others.

If the bitcoin address you are searching on the site has been reported by others, the site will display information, such as the number of times the address has been reported, the last report date and time, the total amount of bitcoin it has received, and the number of transactions. There will also be a link to Blockchain.info for you to track the transactions for the address. The site will also display all the reports filed on the address.

The Bitcoin Abuse website also provides some statistics on the number of bitcoin scams reported. At press time, there have been 156 reports in the last day, 989 in the last week, and 4,112 in the last month.

Another website where you can easily look up a bitcoin address is Scam Alert, a recently-launched platform created by blockchain tracking and analytics provider Whale Alert. The site explains that its mission is to make blockchain safer to use for everyone by exposing scammers and other criminals who abuse it. Users are encouraged to Report scams, thefts and fraudulent websites involving any blockchain or cryptocurrency.

When inputting an address that has been reported as one used by scammers, the site will immediately pop up a message that reads: Confirmed scam This address has been confirmed by Scam Alert as a scam. Do not send any payments to this address.

You can also view the scam report on the address that shows information such as a description of the scam, any associated websites, the number of times it has been reported, and the lifetime earnings of the address in U.S. dollars.

The Scam Alert website also provides some useful information about different types of crypto scams, such as sextortion, ransomware, Ponzi schemes, giveaways, dark web, and theft. It offers some basic scam prevention advice, such as dont trust anyone and verify. The sites list of the top 10 scam addresses shows that the most successful scams based on funds received are Ponzi schemes, fake exchanges, and fake bitcoin giveaways.

Youtube also has plenty of bitcoin scams, particularly fake giveaways, both in videos and ads. Scammers would claim that famous people are giving away bitcoin, such as Spacex and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, Virgin Galactic chairman Chamath Palihapitiya, and Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos. The fake Elon Musk BTC giveaway is one of the most successful bitcoin scams, having raked in millions of dollars.

Before last weeks Twitter hack, Whale Alert reported on July 10 that is had been able to confirm 38 million US dollar in bitcoin alone stolen by scammers over the past 4 years (excluding Ponzi schemes, which are a billion-dollar industry on their own), 24 million of which during the first 6 months of 2020.

There are many other schemes aimed at tricking you to send them your bitcoin. As news.Bitcoin.com previously reported, they include Bitcoin Trader, Bitcoin Revolution, Bitcoin Evolution, Moon Bitcoin Live, Bitcoin Loophole, Bitcoin Superstar, and Bitcoin Era. There are also plenty of bitcoin email scams. Many of them may even look legit, well-ranked by Google, with paid reviews on legitimate websites, such as the Associated Press. However, you are not likely to see any bitcoin returned if you send them your coins. One scam even leaked personal data of 250,00 people from 20 countries. Take caution and do your research before sending bitcoin to anyone.

What do you think about all these scams? Let us know in the comments section below.

Image Credits: Shutterstock, Pixabay, Wiki Commons, Bitcoin Abuse, Whale Alert, Scam Alert

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not a direct offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell, or a recommendation or endorsement of any products, services, or companies. Bitcoin.com does not provide investment, tax, legal, or accounting advice. Neither the company nor the author is responsible, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, goods or services mentioned in this article.

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Bitcoin Created The Future Of Money, But Needs To Work With Incumbents Like PayPal – Forbes

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Developments like those at PayPal PYPL and other intermediaries like Mastercard MA are great news for the crypto space; blockchain and crypto organizations should continue to collaborate with incumbents.

NurPhoto via Getty Images

Much has been made written and spoken about the recent foray by PayPal and others into the cryptocurrency space, but that is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of blockchain and cryptoasset development. Adding 300 million customers who will be able to transact with crypto, and do so on a peer-to-peer basis, is good news for the ecosystem at large. Such developments might seem antithetical to the original idea and concept of bitcoin, but are key to the continued expansion and development of cryptoassets.

Bitcoin was an ideal, and while that ideal has not exactly worked out as planned, there are several developments that continue to accelerate blockchain and crypto adoption. Intermediaries and third parties might have been the players that crypto was designed to disrupt, but in order to actually get cryptocurrencies to be used as legitimate fiat alternatives there does seem to be a need for these intermediaries to be involved. Stablecoins and CBDCs are simply symptoms of a much broader trend toward more semi-centralized and centralized blockchain and cryptoasset options.

Lets take a look at just why the blockchain and crypto space needs, and will benefit from, the involvement of third parties and intermediaries.

Stability. Engaging third parties will help encourage broader usage of cryptocurrencies as fiat alternatives, and not just as investment options. Price stability has long been an issue for truly decentralized cryptocurrencies, but by involving some of the major payment processors, price volatility will hopefully become less of an issue. By working with, as opposed to against, incumbent financial institutions and third parties, cryptoassets will gain greater stability and greater utilization.

Prices for specific crypto can be higher or lower than others, but having the backing and infrastructure of well known payment processors can help reduce some of the more stomach churning price volatility.

Functionality. Crypto was designed to be a legitimate alternative to current fiat currencies, but in order for that to actually come to fruition these options need to be as convenient and as simple to use as current options. Linking in third parties, payment processors, banking institutions, or some other sort of institution will help make this possible. In the aftermath of the bitcoin price bubble of 2017, multiple peer-to-peer services and platforms have emerged, so in order to achieve mainstream adoption, crypto options will need to be as customer friendly as these current tools.

Venmo, Zelle, and Cash App should be leveraged to help make conducting crypto transactions, including being able to reverse or edit crypto transactions. Mistakes happen, and consumers need the confidence to ensure they can undo these mistakes.

Regulatory clarity. The rise of stablecoins, asset backed coins, or other forms of central bank digital currencies might strike many as the antithesis of the idea of cryptocurrency. As appealing a slogan as that might be, that is only a partial view of the situation; to get cryptocurrencies and blockchain at large to go mainstream, there is going to be a need for increased regulatory clarity. By working with established payment processors and financial institutions, all of whom already have experience dealing with the numerous compliance and regulatory rules, the pace at which crypto regulations are resolved will only accelerate.

Depending on which counterparty, individual, or institution is asked, the bringing together of blockchain and crypto organizations with established incumbents can be seen as good or bad news. Bucketing these developments into one single category, however, represents an incomplete view of the marketplace as well as one that will hamper the continued growth of the ecosystem.

Cryptocurrencies and digital money at large are the future of money, that much is clear, but in order for cryptocurrencies to fully generate and create the promised benefits it is increasingly clear that incumbent institutions must be brought into the conversation. Regulatory experience, price stability, and the increased clarity with which crypto can be treated and reported are simply a few of the benefits that can be derived from such an arrangement.

Blockchain and crypto are the future, and in order for that future to play out as promised, there needs to be partnership between crypto and incumbent financial institutions. This collaboration should be celebrated, encouraged, and accelerated if crypto ever hopes to achieve the widespread utilization that much of this promise is based on.

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Bitcoin Could Be the Next Big Inflation Hedge – Cointelegraph

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As reports hit the United Kingdom in mid-June warning that inflation rates had fallen to a four-year low, high-profile fund managers were conversely worrying that the COVID-19 stimulus from governments and central banks would ultimately drive up prices.

In a recent market outlook note, famed hedge fund investor Paul Tudor Jones warned that:

We are witnessing the great monetary inflation an unprecedented expansion of every form of money unlike anything the developed world has ever seen. High debt accommodated by money printing is difficult to banish. Inflation expectations could one day respond to this reality.

Crispin Odey, the London-based founder of Odey Asset Management, also agrees inflation is ultimately unavoidable given the level of stimulus. In the short term, the money will be made on the inflation bet, Odey wrote in a recent letter. With potential inflation seemingly on the horizon, investors are looking out for the next big hedge in order to protect assets during the nascent economic crisis.

Jones, for one, has decided a way forward is to invest his fund, Tudor Investment Corporation, into Bitcoin (BTC). If I am forced to forecast, my bet is it will be Bitcoin, commented Jones in the same letter to investors. Bitcoin reminds me of gold when I first got into the business in 1976.

After the United States Federal Reserve indicated on June 10 that interest rates will remain near 0% until 2022, Bitcoin saw a short-lived run past $10,000, gaining 1.6% over 24 hours before dropping back.

Institutional investment managers have been increasingly interested in all things crypto over the past couple of years, and their interest keeps rising. A recent Fidelity report shows that in a survey of almost 800 institutional investors across the U.S. and Europe, 45% of firms in Europe say they hold crypto assets. Fidelity goes on to report:

The survey revealed higher penetration with crypto hedge and venture funds, as expected, but also the financial advisor, high net worth individual and family office segments.

Consumers are also showing increased signs of interest, with the U.K.s Financial Conduct Authority reporting that an estimated 2.6 million people have bought crypto assets at some point, nearly double the number reported last year.

Investors across the board can take advantage of these same trends and realize the benefits of hedging against inflation via Bitcoin. But accessing crypto markets can be extremely convoluted at times, with crypto exchanges charging users hefty fees for the privilege. Yet over the past couple of years, there has been somewhat of a maturing of crypto markets. Now, more consumer-friendly, easy-to-use platforms have been set up, providing immediate and safe access to best-price crypto. Users of these platforms can benefit by instantaneously and effortlessly exchanging their money into digital currencies at competitive prices and monitoring their balances in real time.

Through these unprecedented times as economies around the world adjust to dealing with a pandemic, investors across the globe are having to readjust their positions. Using Bitcoin to hedge against potential inflation is not solely in the realm of the Joneses and Odeys of this world, however. New technology platforms are making it much easier for U.K residents to similarly safeguard their assets by combining currencies into one account, helping to make cryptocurrencies more readily available.

The best profit-maximizing strategy is to own the fastest horse, Jones said in his Great Monetary Inflation note. He clearly believes that Bitcoin is the one to back.

The views, thoughts and opinions expressed here are the authors alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph.

Mark Hipperson is the founder and CEO of Ziglu, a cryptocurrency trading platform. Previously, he co-founded Starling Bank, where he was responsible for helping to secure the U.K. banking license with regulators and obtaining the initial $70 million funding. He was also responsible for the design, build, implementation and support of the banks IT services platform, apps and infrastructure. Mark started his career at Barclays where he was deputy chief technology officer and head of technology for the Barclays Group.

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Bitcoin Price Predictions by Top Analysts Are Usually Wrong Heres Why – Cointelegraph

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Since Bitcoin (BTC) price rallied above $19,000 in 2017, crypto analysts have issued an amazingly wide range of price predictions on the date and value of the next all-time high or low.

Sometimes these predictions are rooted in deep fundamental and technical analysis, whereas other times they are simply nothing more than off-the-cuff estimates issued at whim.

Options markets provide useful insights into traders' expectations, including mathematical probabilities for an asset's future prices. Using Black & Scholes model allows one to better assess the likelihood of analysts' estimates.

The Black & Scholes valuation algorithm has been the basis for the pricing of options on traditional assets since the early 1970s, and remains widely used.

Although the Black & Scholes option pricing model tends to underestimate the odds of substantial movements, it does provide precise and conservative estimates.

Similar to weather forecasting, adding more than a couple of days to an estimate reduces its precision by a logarithmic proportion. One must also consider that the model has to predict a binary outcome because a $9,500 option will be deemed worthless if the expiry price is $9,499.

Many analysts tend to exaggerate their estimates to make a bold statement and attract media attention, or their predictions are based on various types of bias.

No one expects gold bugs like Peter Schiff to draw a bullish Bitcoin estimate, and the same can be said for expecting a bearish prediction from Stock-to-Flow model author PlanB.

The question investors should be asking is exactly how far off were those estimates compared to Bitcoin options pricing? Furthermore, should one even consider these analysts and pundits opinions?

Although the Black & Scholes options pricing model can be complicated, it's usage is pretty straight forward. By informing the current BTC price, strike level, days until expiry, and annual volatility, the model will instantly provide the odds above and below a specific price.

Skipping the complex calculations, one can refer to Skew Analytics to find current probabilities for each expiry based on options pricing.

Bitcoin probability at options maturity. Source: Deribit

Most active option strikes expire on the last Friday of every month. As previously explained, those figures will seem conservative. Both August and September strikes signify a mere 50% probability that Bitcoin price will remain above $9,000.

A 50% odd should is effectively neutral, as the mathematical model states that odds above and below such target are pretty much the same.

By contrast, the probability for a $8,500 on the July expiry (just two weeks from now) sits at 76%. The model becomes more confident as we approach maturity, so one should not expect options to price 90% plus odds for contracts with more than two weeks left.

To assert whether analysts and pundits' predictions fare better than options markets pricing, one needs to stack those odds against the Black & Scholes options model, which requires four basic inputs: current price, strike (prediction), days until expiry, and implied volatility.

Bitcoin price and pundits predictions. Source: TradingView

The above chart depicts six predictions over a 100 day period, which will be individually tested against the options markets model.

Despite having said numerous times that he isn't an active trader, Binance founder Changpeng Zhao often likes to publicize his predictions. In early November, CZ declared that BTC would hit $16K 'soonish,' so one should assume four months.

CZ missed the mark by 35% as Bitcoin failed to break $10,500 level within four months. This was not a lousy call, but rather way too optimistic as indicated by the Black & Scholes model.

Analyst Willy Woo reflected on the previous year cycle low of $3,100 and estimated that Bitcoin could drop 71% from its $12,800 high, reaching $4,500 before the next halving. It seemed rather unlikely at the time, but a six-month timeframe in cryptocurrency is a very long time.

Hats off to Willy Woo on this call as the March 13 infamous crash caused a brief test of the $4,000 level. Despite being correct, buying protection for such a long time frame costs substantial money. A $6K put option would have cost Woo $540 back then.

Notorious Bitcoin basher Peter Schiff spotted a head and shoulders pattern and issued a $1,000 prediction. Although no timeframe was set, based on such a pattern, a three-month time frame seems reasonable.

One doesn't need to be a statistician to deem such predictions as unreasonable. According to the options model, a $5,000 target back would still have shown a limited 10.7% probability.

Peter could have remained bearish using a more reasonable goal, according to options markets at that time.

The 40-year market stalwart said that BTC had already hit its floor; hence investors waiting for a price dip to $6,000 have "missed" their opportunity. No timeline was mentioned, although a 3-month prediction would have pleased most investors.

Less than two months after that tweet, the sudden Bitcoin collapse on March 13 proved Peter Brandt's prediction wrong.

In an interview with Yahoo! Finance, Fundstrat senior analyst Tom Lee suggested that Bitcoin's technical achievements paved the way for 200% gains within six months, with halving acting as a catalyst.

With less than 20 days to fulfill such a prediction, it seems very unlikely to occur. At least buying a $23K call option would have cost $65, a bargain considering a $4,000 upside to Lee's target.

The creator of the stock-to-flow model revealed his belief that Bitcoin would not return below $8,200. PlanB also mentioned that he was expecting levels above $10,000 near Bitcoin halving in May.

Less than a month later, PlanB's $8,200 support level was broken, although his $10,000 prediction for halving was pretty close as it was off by only 3% to 5%.

One might say PlanB got it 50% right, although the bold $10,000 prediction could have earned him good money using a butterfly spread strategy.

Black & Scholes can be a useful tool to understand how far a prediction might be from options pricing. Whats clear is that pundits seem to exaggerate their takes, which leads to huge misses and misinformation in the form of bad analysis being spread through major media outlets.

In some cases, the wild guesses do hit the mark. For example, Willy Woo and PlanB could certainly have profited by defying options model pricing, but generally it's better to do your own research instead of following calls from leading analysts.

The views and opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Cointelegraph. Every investment and trading move involves risk. You should conduct your own research when making a decision.

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Velas Enters the Top 100 Coinmarketcap and Launches on Bitcoin.Com Exchange | Press release – Bitcoin News

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The blockchain network that is self-learning and self-optimizing and claims to be able to deliver up to 30,000 transactions per second with a speed of anywhere from 1 second to 2 minutes. Velas is a blockchain ecosystem that implements an AI-powered Delegated Proof-of-Stake (AIDPOS) consensus mechanism for dramatically improved scalability, high security, and interoperability.

We are excited to announce the listing of Velas (VLX) for Bitcoin.com Exchange users. Deposits and trading are enabled, and the BTC-VLX and USDT-VLX markets will be open for trading on Tuesday, July 14th. The high profile listing comes at just the time Velas coin is soaring up the Coinmarketcap Top 100 coins.

What is Velas?

Velas Network AG was founded in 2019 in Switzerland by Alex Alexandrov, the CEO of CoinPayments. Velas is a self-learning and self-optimizing blockchain platform for secure, interoperable, extremely scalable transactions, and smart contracts. The Velas blockchain uses neural networks optimized by artificial intelligence to enhance its consensus algorithm, which maintains decentralization, stability, and security.

What is the concept of Velas?

The Velas blockchain allows for the creation of public and private containers for all coins supported. These containers will allow for the creation of an on-chain/off-chain scalability solution for all other coins as needed and serve as one ecosystem wallet for all Velas smart contracts.

Unparalleled durability and increased tolerance mean that the Velas blockchain is unique within the field of distributed ledger technology, opening up a new era in e-commerce and the global economy.

How does it work?

Velas utilizes a unique, innovative consensus mechanism a so-called Artificial Intuition Delegated Proof of Stake (AIDPOS). The AIDPOS framework sits at the core of the Velas blockchain, insofar that it is supported by a theoretical process called Artificial Intuition. Meaning that the above-mentioned technology seeks to collect, identify, and assess patterns and/or relationships across all data sets that go in and through the network. This process results in an ultra-efficient blockchain operation.

The company claims that it can deliver up to 30,000 transactions per second by only creating blocks when they are needed, while at the same time keeping the network safe from the threats and malicious activity. This amounts to a block per/second speed of anywhere from 1 second to 2 minutes.

What is the function of its coin?

The Velas blockchain has its own cryptocurrency, the Velas coin (VLX). It is used to fuel the Velas blockchain network, it is necessary for smart contracts and also being used for transactions.

What pairs can you trade?

VLX/BTCVLX/USDT

To celebrate the launch of our new coin listing, enjoy fee-free trading* on all Velas pairs for a limited time only.

What pairs are included in the fee-free trading promotion?

VLX/BTCVLX/USDT

How long can you trade Velas markets fee-free?

The Velas (VLX) fee-free trading will last the first two days from listing time.

Start date: Monday, July 20th, 2020 3:00 pm UTCEnd date: Wednesday, July 22th, 2020 3:00 pm UTC

*Promotional VLX fees 0% Maker fee and 0.01% Taker fee during the promotional period only

This is a press release. Readers should do their own due diligence before taking any actions related to the promoted company or any of its affiliates or services. Bitcoin.com is not responsible, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, goods or services mentioned in the press release.

Image Credits: Shutterstock, Pixabay, Wiki Commons

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not a direct offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell, or a recommendation or endorsement of any products, services, or companies. Bitcoin.com does not provide investment, tax, legal, or accounting advice. Neither the company nor the author is responsible, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, goods or services mentioned in this article.

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Velas Enters the Top 100 Coinmarketcap and Launches on Bitcoin.Com Exchange | Press release - Bitcoin News

‘It’s a dramatic situation’: Migrants in Italy face backlogs for renewing their residency – InfoMigrants

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ASGI, the Association for Juridical Studies on Immigration, prepared a document to help foreign residents navigate the system and return to Italy after the coronavirus lockdown. Francesco Mason is one of a group of lawyers that worked on this paper. Whats written in law is one thing, he explains, but how things are working in practice is another and it could have dramatic consequences for foreign residents in Italy.

"Human rights are, unfortunately, often one of the first victims ofevery crisis," states a document written by ASGI.The paper aims toclarify how foreign residents in Italy canrenew their residency or return to living and working in the countryafter a possible absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Francesco Mason, lawyer and co-author of the paper, explained to InfoMigrants thatthe current crisis risks emphasizing existing inequalities even more.He says theeffects of the lockdown on migrationwill last for months if not years and the practical difficulties of operating without official documents will furthermore hinder integration. "The situation is pretty dramatic," he says.

"Youwould need a whole day studying to quantify all the effects anddifficulties and situations that have been created by the lockdownfor foreign residents in Italy," says Mason in answer to InfoMigrants' question,"How havemigrants and foreign residents in Italy been affected by the lockdownimposed in Italy by the COVID-19 pandemic?".

"Thesimple answer would be that residency permits which expired duringthis period have been extended until August 31 by law."

In theory,all thosewho have a job and a home in Italy and a legal right to be there havea right to return, whether or not their visa has expired in theinterim. However, in practice, things are a little more complicated.

'Immigrationoffices were the only public offices to close during crisis'

For one thing, the onlypublic offices which were closed duringthe lockdown were those dealing with immigration. "That says a lot inmy opinion," Mason says. While this meant thatlegally, everyone was fine, people may have struggled toget their work contract renewed or open a bank account, which they need toshow valid residency. Many people now don't have the necessarydocuments.

Gettingin and out of Italy without a valid permit is very difficult. That's why the ADGIwrote a practical guide which was updated in June. The latest directive (DPCM) issued by the Italiangovernment was July 14. This directive essentially prolongedeverything that was written on June 11, which Mason and hiscolleagues included in their guide.Returningto Italy from abroad

Currently, anyone returning from or wanting to travel to countriesoutside the EU/Schengen area is banned from doing so unless itis for work, an emergency or for health reasons.

However,people who are returning to their own home in Italy are allowed todo so, provided there are flights.

Many countries, however, still have restrictions in place and air travel is limited.

Although Senegal has opened up gradually from July 15, Mali remains in a state ofemergency and has suspended all flights; Cape Verde has alsosuspended flights; Gambia had its frontiers closed and a state ofemergency until July 14; Guinea Bissau has a state of emergency inforce until July 25, commercial flights have not started up yet,although its borders are formerly opened.

Observingquarantine

The restrictions mean that lotsof people who were normally resident in Italy have ended up being blockedin another country unable to return to Italy to their jobs, theirhomes, and most importantly to renew any residency permits which mayhave expired.

Eventhough expired documents were extended by law until August 31,foreign residents could face problems if they end up being unable toreturn to Italy within six months or a period determined by their residence permitthat in many cases is six months. After this period, thepermit can be revoked andyoucan no longer renew your residency from abroad and you may not beable to return without a re-entry visa.Anyone returning from abroad is expected to observe a 14-day quarantine before contact with wider society.

If you do not havea placewhere you can quarantine, you need to ask for a place from the Civil Protection(Protezione Civile) organization and you would have to foot the bill.

During lockdown, it was also forbidden to take public transport to your home, whichmeant that you needed to also own a car to transport you from theairport or port.

Practicaldifficulties

Theproblem, Mason tells InfoMigrants, is that border police or airline companiesin other countries may not be aware of what is written in Italian law. What thecitizen might have read, what ASGI has written about, and whatthegovernment has sanctioned -- all this might not be known to foreign authoritieswhen they see a document which has expired.

Under law, airlines areresponsible for flying you back to your country of origin if, at theairport, you are refused entry. So that might make it difficult forsome returning citizens to get back to Italy with an expireddocument.

Atthe moment, says Mason, if you are traveling through severalcountries to reach Italy, it is best if you get a document from theItalian embassy, or consulate in your country, attesting to the factthat you are traveling back to Italy to renew your residency permitand that Italy is where you are normally resident. This documentshould remove any possible barrier to your return.

Are-entry visa will be necessary for those whose residency expires after August 1, 2020. ASGI recommends that as well as talking to theItalian embassy, migrants in Italy should go to the InternationalOrganization for Migration (IOM) or the High Commission for RefugeesUNHCR if you need help with any issues that arise with your migrationstatus in this period.

Systemblocked and overloaded

Thenext problem arises when you try and get anappointment to renew your expired document. "People now are havingto wait at least six months for an appointment," says Mason. "Thereis so much demand that the electronic system is completely blocked in some districts."Added problems are that each region in Italy has a different way ofissuing residency permits and for issuing receipts while someonewaits for their documents to be processed.

"Halfof them are not legal documents," says Mason. "It might be ascrap of paper with a name and a date written on it; if you are luckythere might be a photo, but not often." Try using your scrap ofpaper to then open a bank account or prove to another official thatyou have applied for your residency permit and you are waiting forthe next appointment, he recommends.

Whathappens to those who are stuck abroad for even longer?

If you have a 2 years permit andyouremain outside Italy for longer than half the period your document isvalid, your residency will be automatically invalidated.

Onewould normally consider the blocks put on air travel to constitute avalid reason as to why someone hasnt been able to return to Italy. However, the ASGI document counsels foreign residents of Italy abroadto make copies of all the reasons why they are unable to return toItaly (local blocks on flights, Italian bans on flights etc. as wellas tickets booked which couldnt be used.)

ASGI suggests you sendthese copieseither via a personal registered email (a PEC in Italy which islike sending a letter registered post and provides you with a receipton sending) or via a migrant association or via registered post tothe Questura (police headquarter) in your province of residence, communicatingto them that it is impossible to return to Italy at this time.As soonas the blocks are lifted, ASGI recommends that foreign residentsshould return to Italy immediately so as to avoid having their residence permits revoked permanently.

If you dont manage to return to Italy before August 31, for whatever reason, you could find it very difficult to renew it. At that point,you would haveto apply for a re-entry visa. And even if flights are blocked, police may ask you to prove that you tried every means, ports, over land etc which prevented you from making it back to Italy in time.

You canfind information on migration and the latest directives on the ASGIwebsite https://www.asgi.it/chi-siamo/english-version/

Alsothe following sites might be helpful: Meltingpot:https://www.meltingpot.org/Welcome-to-Italy-a-practical-handbook-for-migrants.html

Unionslike CGIL (Italys largest) have an immigration service:http://www.cgil.it/cat/immigrazione/

IOMItaly: https://www.iom.int/countries/italy

UNHCRItaly: https://www.unhcr.it/

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How I used acceptance and commitment therapy to cope with pandemic – Business Insider

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Years ago, an intuitive energy worker told me something I'll never forget:

"Every day, you must say: Accept, accept, accept. You need to learn acceptance."

To which I say, "Easier said than done."

Throughout my life, acceptance has never been my strong suit. If the weather is bad, I lament. When things are out of my control, I feel anxious. When people behave differently than I would like, I get upset.

I've allowed my emotions to take over so much that my friends have compared me to the "Game of Thrones" character Daenerys Targaryen and we know how well everything turned out for her.

So, at the beginning of the year, when the studio where I practice yoga asked me to display an intention for 2020 on a Polaroid photo, it was a no-brainer. I smiled for the picture and spelled it out: A-C-C-E-P-T-A-N-C-E.

As the slow, inexorable crawl of COVID-19 began its chokehold on the nation in late winter, the fear of this pandemic began to get the best of me. So when I saw this infographic on Twitter ...

... I used it as inspiration to practice acceptance and to abate my coronavirus panic at the same time.

When I was terrified to travel on an airplane after the first US death from coronavirus? Yup.

When the local grocery store had empty shelves, nervous customers, and end-of-days vibes? Yup.

When we ran out of toilet paper and were forced to order a bidet attachment on Amazon? Yup and highly recommended!

First, I discovered that my local library was closed. Books are my refuge, so when I saw the bright, blinking sign LIBRARY CLOSED INDEFINITELY before I could stock up on books for quarantine, I broke into a cold sweat. (And immediately took my temperature.)

Next, multiple cases of COVID-19 were reported in my city, schools were closed, and everywhere, people and small businesses were starting to crumble under the weight of the virus. The cold sweat turned into a heavy weight in my chest, which I thought was another sure sign of the virus. I took deep breaths to test my lungs and grabbed my thermometer once more.

Griggs. Courtesy of Jersey Griggs

It was dealing with my boomer parents, however, that put me over the edge. I was horrified to discover that they were still leaving the house taking trips into the city, going to the theater, shopping at Costco, and babysitting my young nieces.

"Stop! You're in your 70s you need to stay home," I pleaded with them over FaceTime, on the verge of tears.

Worrying about the health of my family, who live halfway across the country, sent me into a state of alarm. When I hung up the phone, I was consumed by anxiety, anger, and an utter feeling of helplessness. It felt impossible to practice acceptance at a time like this.

Instead, I hopped onto social media to try to distract myself, but it only made matters worse. When I saw my friend post this video, with Italians pleading for the world to take COVID-19 seriously, my panic hit an all-time high.

I was stuck in my house, inundated by bad news, and could do nothing to control the spiraling state of the world. In short, I freaked.

I ran outside and began ranting and pacing around my yard like a mad woman. When I looked up to the sky in despair, the clouds above gave me a moment of pause.

Two weeks prior, I had spoken with Shamash Alidina, the best-selling author of "Mindfulness for Dummies" and an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy coach. When I spoke with Alidina, it was a beautiful morning in early March. In retrospect, COVID-19 still felt somewhat like a distant threat, and as we chatted over Zoom, neither of us mentioned the virus.

Instead, our talk focused solely on the practice of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, a third-wave therapy intended to help people achieve psychological flexibility through the use of mindful-based exercises and cognitive techniques.

Since research has shown that ACT can help with anxiety and depression, in addition to a range of ailments including eating disorders and insomnia, I was wondering if it could help me with my 2020 intention of acceptance.

At the time, Alidina assured me that ACT could help me on my quest. In fact, he told me ACT could be helpful to practically everyone whether they suffer from anxiety, depression, or are simply looking for a way to cope with the stress of daily life.

This is because ACT's goal is to achieve psychological flexibility, which he said was "the ability to be true to your values and to take action in line with your values, despite the difficult emotions, thoughts, urges, or sensations that may come up."

He said the early days of ACT relied heavily on research, which led to the development of the six flexibility skills of the therapeutic model:

These skills serve as a road map to achieving ACT's ultimate goal, which is to "live a rich and meaningful life," according to Alidina.

Then he gave me numerous exercises, each correlating with a different flexibility skill, to help me on my path to acceptance.

Two weeks later, I stood in my yard, trying to cope with my COVID-19 panic. Then, I saw a floating cloud and was reminded of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.

During our chat, Alidina had suggested that I work on finding my transcendental self by meditating on the sky. Remembering this reflective exercise, I sat on my back stoop, closed my eyes, and began to picture my mind as the sky; whenever I encountered a negative thought, I attached it to a floating cloud. The idea behind this particular exercise was to help me realize that my thoughts (the clouds) are ever-changing and unattached, but my true self (the sky) will never alter.

Olympic National Park in Washington state. Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket via Getty Images

Using this ACT exercise, I put all of my worries the spreading pandemic, the health of my elderly parents, the plummeting stock market, the uncertainty of the future, the dying planet, our ineffective president into different clouds and watched as they floated away. Over time, my breath began to even out and my chest loosened, ever so slightly. After 10 minutes, I opened my eyes, took a deep breath, and realized I felt marginally better.

Since this exercise had a positive effect, I decided to turn to another of one Alidina's suggestions: envisioning my 80th birthday party. Who would be there? What would they say about me? What kind of qualities would they use to describe me? These qualities would then become my values, and would serve as a compass to point me in the right direction throughout my life.

After completing the exercise, I settled on the personal values of love, learning, empowerment, creativity, adventure, and connection. Stuck in my house, feeling vulnerable and scared, I turned to these values.

Looking at the six words I had written on a sticky note, the two values of "love" and "connection" jumped out. In accordance with these values, I began reaching out to family and friends to check in, offer my support, and to send my love during this difficult time. I organized virtual happy hours over Zoom, sent my friends Marco Polo videos and Snapchats, and did whatever I could to find connection during isolation. By employing my values, I not only felt less alone, but I actually began to have some fun in quarantine. Establishing and committing to values was helping me push through the doom and gloom of pandemic.

As suggested by Alidina, whenever I encountered a negative thought or feeling, I separated myself from the thought by saying "I notice I'm having the thought" before the actual thought itself.

For example, instead of thinking "I'm scared for my family," I would say, "I notice I'm having the thought that I'm scared for my family." Using this technique, my negative thoughts, feelings, and even physical pains, began to have less power over me. It's important to note that my negative thoughts didn't stop, but my reaction to my thoughts changed, which ultimately gave them less power.

Which is one of the most important tenets of ACT unwanted thoughts and feelings will never go away for good. "ACT doesn't focus on symptom reduction," Alidina had explained to me, back in early March. "(It focuses) on what your values are, what actions you're going to take to make your life meaningful, and the skills to be able to accept however strong or weak that feeling is."

It turns out, these skills have been crucial to surviving the emotional whiplash that is 2020. Since my conversation with Alidina five months ago, a lot has changed in the world; despite the upheaval, I've adjusted to the new normal. From standing in the line outside the grocery store, to wearing a mask wherever I go, to my standard Friday night Zoom with friends, I've accepted what it means to live with the threat of coronavirus.

Still, I find myself struggling with the uncertainty of it all. The end of the year is a long way off, and when I think ahead to what the world will look like then, my heartbeat quickens. It's easy to get lost in the "what-ifs," the "whens," and the "whys." What if someone I love gets it? When will I hug my nieces again? Why did this happen in the first place?

In these instances, the only way to avoid panic is to separate myself from my thoughts, which I do by practicing the ACT skills. I've yet to achieve total acceptance and I'm wise enough to know that might never happen but being a work-in-progress has gotten me pretty far. After all, it's gotten me halfway through 2020, and that's an accomplishment in and of itself.

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How I used acceptance and commitment therapy to cope with pandemic - Business Insider

Los Angeles-To-Las Vegas High-Speed Train Wins $200 Million Nevada Bond Allocation – Forbes

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Florida-based Brightline got a final private activity bond allocation needed to build its high-speed ... [+] rail line between Southern California and Las Vegas.

XpressWest, a high-speed rail line that will connect Southern California to Las Vegas, won $200 million of private activity bonds from Nevada, a critical final public allocation that allows the company owned by Wall Street investor Wes Edens to raise an additional $800 million for the project.

The Nevada State Board of Finances approval for the project, a unit of Edens Florida-based Brightline passenger rail service, comes after California awarded it $600 million of private activity bonds in April. XpressWest can sell four times the value of the awards as tax-exempt bonds to private investors, meaning its now lined up $3.2 billion of funding from the two states. Including a $1 billion U.S. Department of Transportation allocation in March, XpressWest has lined up $4.2 billion of the 170-mile rail lines total $5 billion construction cost.

This plan creates jobs without using taxpayer dollars and without impacting our state's ability to finance future projects, and will allow a new, convenient mode of transportation between Nevada and California, Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak said. XpressWest says the project will create a total of 30,000 construction jobs and 1,000 permanent jobs in the neighboring states once the line is up and running in a few years.

Brightline operates the only privately owned U.S. passenger rail line, currently connecting West Palm Beach to Miami, and is building an extension to Orlando. Edens has told Forbes he sees a big opportunity in the U.S. for rapid trains links between middle-distance cities that are too close to fly but a little too far to drive, modeled on the Paris-to-London Eurostar and other private European trains.

(For more see, Inside A Wall Street Tycoons Plans To Get Americans Off The HighwayAnd On His Trains, from the June 30, 2020 issue of Forbes Magazine.)

The company estimates its West Coast and Florida rail projects will cost a combined $9 billion build but Edens says they will eventually generate spectacular profits. Brightine estimates the two projects may haul nearly 20 million passengers in 2026, generate annual revenue of $1.6 billion and operating profit of almost $1 billion a year.

The lack of passenger travel by train in this country is a travesty, Edens told Forbes early this year. Its a gigantic opportunity.

The XpressWest line will be built near Interstate-15 and operate electric trains traveling at speeds up to 200 miles an hour to move people between Southern California and Las Vegas in 85 minutes. Construction is to start late this year and the company estimates it will attract 10 million riders annually.

Brightline

Large-scale construction projects are a critical piece of rebuilding our economy, and private activity bonds are a perfect mechanism to incentivize the private sector to deliver public benefits, said Sarah Watterson, chief development officer for XpressWest.

Currently, the California terminus for the XpressWest line is Apple Valley, a high desert community about 90 minutes from Los Angeles, but the project is in talks to extend it to Rancho Cucamonga, a Los Angeles suburb thats connected to downtown LA via the Metrolink commuter rail service.

Private activity bonds, created by the federal government for high-cost infrastructure projects, are tax-exempt but do not use public funds.

Brightline trains at a Florida service facility.

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Los Angeles-To-Las Vegas High-Speed Train Wins $200 Million Nevada Bond Allocation - Forbes

Raiders’ Mark Davis looking forward to Las Vegas: ‘Losing the LA vote was the best thing that ever happened’ – CBS Sports

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At one point, Mark Davis and the Raiders had eyes on a possible relocation to Los Angeles, not Las Vegas, if things couldn't be hashed out in Oakland. It was ultimately Nevada that came away victorious, and the team is now readying to take the field at the shiny, new Allegiant Stadium that lands at a cool $1.84 billion in costs to construct. The story of why the proposal to move to Southern California fell apart is one Davis doesn't mind revisiting just ahead of training camp, noting how doing so would've been a mistake of sorts -- all things considered.

"I have lost games before," Davis said, via The Athletic. "That's how I have learned to live my life. You lose on Sunday, you're pissed about it. I go to P.F. Chang's on Monday, I have lunch and then I am on to the next week. We got our ass kicked in L.A., and we went back to Oakland with our tails between our legs."

The initial proposition saw the Raiders joining the Los Angeles Chargers in a stadium-share that would've been housed in Carson, California, but the Rams threw a monkey wrench in the plans. Stan Kroenke, owner of the Rams, successfully relocated the team from St. Louis to Los Angeles and struck a deal with the Chargers to share what will be the all-new SoFi Stadium in 2020. That left Davis with only Oakland and Las Vegas as options, but the relationship with the former had long soured at that point.

He points the finger squarely at Scott McKibben in that regard, the former director of the Coliseum Authority in Oakland, for the team accepting Las Vegas' offer.

"[To lose out on L.A.] and then McKibben backtracked and tripled our lease," Davis said. "It was total disrespect. It was like, how are we going to work with these people? Vegas had been after us for years, but I told them I will only talk to you if Oakland and Los Angeles don't happen.

"Losing the LA vote was probably the best thing that ever happened for us."

Unfortunately for the Raiders -- as well as the two aforementioned teams in Los Angeles -- they'll be forced to begin their inaugural season in the middle of a COVID-19 pandemic that will shut out most, if not all, of NFL fans in Las Vegas. The team is working to determine if they'll drastically shrink fan capacity in Year 1, or not have any in attendance at all, but the future looks bright for Raiders' support in Nevada once everything eventually settles in (likely) 2021 and beyond. So while the Raiders were initially heartbroken to have lost out on Los Angeles, Davis isn't looking at Vegas as a consolation prize.

In his eyes, it's the prize he truly wanted but didn't know until he actually got it.

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Raiders' Mark Davis looking forward to Las Vegas: 'Losing the LA vote was the best thing that ever happened' - CBS Sports

UFC Partners with Modelo & Las Vegas Raiders to Raise $18000 for All-In Challenge – The Official Website of the Ultimate Fighting Championship

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Established byFanaticsowner Michael Rubin, theAll-In Challengehas raised millions of dollars to feed those in need. The platform was launched in response to the mounting issues surrounding food insecurities associated with COVID-19 and the shortage of food resources across the nation.

The challenge, which concludes on July 31, has offered more than 200 unique sports and entertainment packages in the form of sweepstakes or auctions, with 100% of the funds raised benefitting national hunger relief charities, includingFeeding America,No Kid Hungry,World Central Kitchen,Americas Food FundandMeals on Wheels America.

As part of the two-event experience, the winner and guest will also receive a tour of the UFC Performance Institute, VIP seats and lounge access, a chance to go inside the Octagon, custom merchandise and a $1,000 gift card toUFCStore.com. In addition, theyll also attend an elite Raiders tailgating party, pre-game sideline experience, VIP accommodations in the Modelo suite, club access and a post-game Modelo VIP dinner.

To date, the All-In Challenge has raised more than $59.7 million for hunger relief. For more information and/or to enter non-UFC associated challenges, please visitAll-In Challenge.

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UFC Partners with Modelo & Las Vegas Raiders to Raise $18000 for All-In Challenge - The Official Website of the Ultimate Fighting Championship

‘Love Island’ reality show to be filmed on Las Vegas Strip, report says – FOX5 Las Vegas

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'); $("#expandable-weather-block .modal-body #mrd-alert"+ alertCount).append(""+val.title+""); // if (window.location.hostname == "www.kmov.com" || window.location.hostname == "www.kctv5.com" || window.location.hostname == "www.azfamily.com" || window.location.hostname == "www.kptv.com" || window.location.hostname == "www.fox5vegas.com" || window.location.hostname == "www.wfsb.com") { if (val.poly != "" && val.polyimg != "") { $("#expandable-weather-block .modal-body #mrd-alert"+ alertCount).append('"+val.ihtml+""); $("#expandable-weather-block .weather-index-alerts").show(); $("#expandable-weather-block .modal-body h2").css({"font-family":"'Fira Sans', sans-serif", "font-weight":"500", "padding-bottom":"10px"}); $("#expandable-weather-block .modal-body p").css({"font-size":"14px", "line-height":"24px"}); $("#expandable-weather-block .modal-body span.wxalertnum").css({"float":"left", "width":"40px", "height":"40px", "color":"#ffffff", "line-height":"40px", "background-color":"#888888", "border-radius":"40px", "text-align":"center", "margin-right":"12px"}); $("#expandable-weather-block .modal-body b").css("font-size", "18px"); $("#expandable-weather-block .modal-body li").css({"font-size":"14px", "line-height":"18px", "margin-bottom":"10px"}); $("#expandable-weather-block .modal-body ul").css({"margin-bottom":"24px"}); $("#expandable-weather-block .modal-body pre").css({"margin-bottom":"24px"}); $("#expandable-weather-block .modal-body img").css({"width":"100%", "margin-bottom":"20px", "borderWidth":"1px", "border-style":"solid", "border-color":"#aaaaaa"}); $("#expandable-weather-block .modal-body #mrd-alert"+ alertCount).css({"borderWidth":"0", "border-bottom-width":"1px", "border-style":"dashed", "border-color":"#aaaaaa", "padding-bottom":"10px", "margin-bottom":"40px"}); }); } function parseAlertJSON(json) { console.log(json); alertCount = 0; if (Object.keys(json.alerts).length > 0) { $("#mrd-wx-alerts .modal-body ").empty(); } $.each(json.alerts, function(key, val) { alertCount++; $("#mrd-wx-alerts .alert_count").text(alertCount); $("#mrd-wx-alerts .modal-body ").append(''); $("#mrd-wx-alerts .modal-body #mrd-alert"+ alertCount).append(""+val.title+""); // if (window.location.hostname == "www.kmov.com" || window.location.hostname == "www.kctv5.com" || window.location.hostname == "www.azfamily.com" || window.location.hostname == "www.kptv.com" || window.location.hostname == "www.fox5vegas.com" || window.location.hostname == "www.wfsb.com") { if (val.poly != "" && val.polyimg != "") { $("#mrd-wx-alerts .modal-body #mrd-alert"+ alertCount).append(''); } else if (val.fips != "" && val.fipsimg != "") { // $("#mrd-wx-alerts .modal-body #mrd-alert"+ alertCount).append(''); } // } //val.instr = val.instr.replace(/[W_]+/g," "); $("#mrd-wx-alerts .modal-body #mrd-alert"+ alertCount).append(val.dhtml+"

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'Love Island' reality show to be filmed on Las Vegas Strip, report says - FOX5 Las Vegas

NWS reports tornado on the ground east of Kingman – FOX5 Las Vegas

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'); $("#expandable-weather-block .modal-body #mrd-alert"+ alertCount).append(""+val.title+""); // if (window.location.hostname == "www.kmov.com" || window.location.hostname == "www.kctv5.com" || window.location.hostname == "www.azfamily.com" || window.location.hostname == "www.kptv.com" || window.location.hostname == "www.fox5vegas.com" || window.location.hostname == "www.wfsb.com") { if (val.poly != "" && val.polyimg != "") { $("#expandable-weather-block .modal-body #mrd-alert"+ alertCount).append('"+val.ihtml+""); $("#expandable-weather-block .weather-index-alerts").show(); $("#expandable-weather-block .modal-body h2").css({"font-family":"'Fira Sans', sans-serif", "font-weight":"500", "padding-bottom":"10px"}); $("#expandable-weather-block .modal-body p").css({"font-size":"14px", "line-height":"24px"}); $("#expandable-weather-block .modal-body span.wxalertnum").css({"float":"left", "width":"40px", "height":"40px", "color":"#ffffff", "line-height":"40px", "background-color":"#888888", "border-radius":"40px", "text-align":"center", "margin-right":"12px"}); $("#expandable-weather-block .modal-body b").css("font-size", "18px"); $("#expandable-weather-block .modal-body li").css({"font-size":"14px", "line-height":"18px", "margin-bottom":"10px"}); $("#expandable-weather-block .modal-body ul").css({"margin-bottom":"24px"}); $("#expandable-weather-block .modal-body pre").css({"margin-bottom":"24px"}); $("#expandable-weather-block .modal-body img").css({"width":"100%", "margin-bottom":"20px", "borderWidth":"1px", "border-style":"solid", "border-color":"#aaaaaa"}); $("#expandable-weather-block .modal-body #mrd-alert"+ alertCount).css({"borderWidth":"0", "border-bottom-width":"1px", "border-style":"dashed", "border-color":"#aaaaaa", "padding-bottom":"10px", "margin-bottom":"40px"}); }); } function parseAlertJSON(json) { console.log(json); alertCount = 0; if (Object.keys(json.alerts).length > 0) { $("#mrd-wx-alerts .modal-body ").empty(); } $.each(json.alerts, function(key, val) { alertCount++; $("#mrd-wx-alerts .alert_count").text(alertCount); $("#mrd-wx-alerts .modal-body ").append(''); $("#mrd-wx-alerts .modal-body #mrd-alert"+ alertCount).append(""+val.title+""); // if (window.location.hostname == "www.kmov.com" || window.location.hostname == "www.kctv5.com" || window.location.hostname == "www.azfamily.com" || window.location.hostname == "www.kptv.com" || window.location.hostname == "www.fox5vegas.com" || window.location.hostname == "www.wfsb.com") { if (val.poly != "" && val.polyimg != "") { $("#mrd-wx-alerts .modal-body #mrd-alert"+ alertCount).append(''); } else if (val.fips != "" && val.fipsimg != "") { // $("#mrd-wx-alerts .modal-body #mrd-alert"+ alertCount).append(''); } // } //val.instr = val.instr.replace(/[W_]+/g," "); $("#mrd-wx-alerts .modal-body #mrd-alert"+ alertCount).append(val.dhtml+"

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NWS reports tornado on the ground east of Kingman - FOX5 Las Vegas

EDITORIAL: Dont put taxpayers on the hook for money-losing monorail – Las Vegas Review-Journal

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The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority is considering a new way to waste taxpayer dollars. Its leadership is in talks to acquire and run the Las Vegas Monorail.

The only thing the monorail has done well is sell inflated ridership estimates to gullible investors. Twenty years ago, monorail officials told Nevada that it would annually carry 20 million passengers, each paying a $2.50 fare. It cost $650 million to build the monorail and get the trains running. Fortunately, private investors, not taxpayers, provided that funding.

The monorail started running in 2004 and immediately failed to meet expectations. In five years, it carried 27 million passengers. In 2009, it had 6 million passengers. The next year it filed for bankruptcy. That resulted in its bondholders losing 98 cents on the dollar.

Continuous failure hasnt kept monorail officials from trying to expand its 3.9 miles of track. For years, theyve been looking for financing to build to Mandalay Bay and add a stop at MSG Sphere. They tried to get the Clark County Commission to back up their financing plans with room tax revenue. In 2019, they tried their luck in Carson City. Fortunately, Gov. Steve Sisolak shut down those plans.

In 2019, the Review-Journal obtained a study showing that ridership had declined yearly since 2016. With the monorail currently closed because of the coronavirus crisis, that trend is likely to continue. Just as telling was the revenue forecast. The Monorail Company, which runs the train, collected almost $8.7 million less than projected in a 2016 ridership study.

Not to worry. That study projected that ridership would grow, increasing by more than 14 percent by 2025. Cue the laugh track.

As the monorail and its investors learned the hard way, you cant pay bills with projections.

Which leads us back to the LVCVA, which certainly has a history of wasting money. One could argue that burning through taxpayer dollars was the groups business model under disgraced former CEO Rossi Ralenkotter. A Review-Journal investigation uncovered that LVCVA officials spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on alcohol, showgirls, concert tickets and jewelry for employees. Ralenkotter, who raked in over $700,000 in 2018, even used company gift cards to book personal flights.

That flagrant spending was outrageous, but at least it sounded like fun at the time. Whats the upside in owning a money-losing monorail?

The LVCVA and Clark County taxpayers are going to face plenty of challenges in the aftermath of the coronavirus. Having to prop up an underperforming and money-losing transit system shouldnt be one of them.

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EDITORIAL: Dont put taxpayers on the hook for money-losing monorail - Las Vegas Review-Journal

Texas-based Golden Chick plans 20 restaurants in the Las Vegas area – Eater Vegas

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Golden Chick, the Richardson, Texas-based fast-casual chain, plans to bring fried chicken to Las Vegas. The chain plans to work with franchisee Chris Aslam to open 20 locations in the area, with the first scheduled to start construction by the end of 2020.

Golden Chick is known for its tenders, roast chicken, hot yeast rolls, and newly released Big & Golden chicken sandwich.

The chain already operates 192 restaurants across Texas, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Florida, and recently entered the Louisiana market. By 2030, it plans to have 500 restaurants open nationwide.

Aslam already owns five Golden Chick locations in North Texas.

Golden Chick started in Central Texas in the late 1960s by a former employee of a chicken franchise. The chicken is seasoned with a combination of secret marinades and batter mixes. By the time the founder sold the chain in 1982, it had grown to 39 restaurants. The star of the menu, the tender, uses a whole chicken tenderloin that is marinaded, hand-battered, and cooked golden.

Golden Chick Franchisee Signs 20-Unit Deal to Grow in Las Vegas [QSR Magazine]

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Texas-based Golden Chick plans 20 restaurants in the Las Vegas area - Eater Vegas

WW3 warning: Japan planning rapid increase in armed forces to combat China’s aggression – Daily Express

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Tokyo revealed it is considering a huge increase to its defence capabilities as it accused China of pushing territorial claims amid growing tensions in the region. The East Asia nation released its annual defence review, where said Beijing has been pushing its territorial claims amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The nation said it suspected China of spreading propaganda and disinformation as it provides medical aid to nations fighting COVID-19.

In a defence white paper approved by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government, Japan said China "is continuing to attempt to alter the status quo in the East China Sea and the South China Sea.

The white paper said: Japan must strengthen its defence capability at speeds that are fundamentally different from the past.

China has relentlessly continued unilateral attempts to change the status quo by coercion in the sea area around the Senkaku islands, leading to a grave matter of concern.

The white paper described "relentless" intrusions in waters around a group of islets claimed by both nations in the East China Sea, known as the Senkaku in Japan and the Diaoyu in China.

In the South China Sea, Japan said Beijing was asserting territorial claims by establishing administrative districts around disputed islands, that forced countries distracted by the coronavirus outbreak to respond.

READ MORE:China backlash: Beijing ready to PUNISH Boris Johnson

Japan sees China as a longer-term and more serious threat than nuclear-armed North Korea.

Beijing now spends four times as much as Tokyo on defence as it builds a large modern military.

Japan's defence review also claimed China appeared to be responsible for "propaganda" and "disinformation" amid "social uncertainties and confusion" caused by the coronavirus outbreak.

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Such disinformation included online claims that the coronavirus was brought to China by a US military member, or that Chinese herbal remedies could treat COVID-19, a defence ministry official said at a briefing.

Other threats faced by Japan include North Korea's ongoing development of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles as well as a resurgence of military activity by Russia in the skies and waters in Japan, at times in joint drills with China, the defence review said.

China and Japan have historically had a difficult relationship.

However, in 2018, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to deepen cooperation.

Mr Abe said: As major economic powers of the region, China and Japan should take the responsibility to play constructive roles in safeguarding peace, stability, development and prosperity of the region and the world.

The two met on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok.

Japan's attack against China echoes similar criticisms made by the US and comes as tension in the region increases as Beijing and Washington conduct separate military drills in the resource-rich South China Sea and as relations between the world's two largest economies deteriorated.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday rejected China's disputed claims to offshore resources in most of the South China Sea, saying they were "completely unlawful".

Beijing insists its intentions in the waterway, through which around $3trillion of global trade passes each year, are peaceful.

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WW3 warning: Japan planning rapid increase in armed forces to combat China's aggression - Daily Express

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