Ohio State Football: Two units that must progress this spring – Scarlet and Game

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PISCATAWAY, NEW JERSEY NOVEMBER 16: Shaun Wade #24 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates his interception with teammate Jeff Okudah #1 in the first quarter against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at SHI Stadium on November 16, 2019 in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Thats because elite recruits have joined the Ohio State football team, and with player development by great coaches have madereloading seem easy, even though it is not.

The team is about a week away from beginning formal spring practices. For the veterans, it is a time to refine their strengths. For the rest, it is time to separate themselves from the pack.

Last spring, there were worries about linebacker and offensive line, units that were underperforming and lacking depth. Now both units are core strengths heading into 2020.

Quarterback was certainly an issue too. it was just easier to feelcomfortable in Justin Fields becoming an immediate star with Ryan Day at the helm.

Expectations for this program in 2020 have not changed despite losing key players.

Here are two units that need to make serious progress this spring:

Secondary

Losing Jordan Fuller, Damon Arnette and Jeffrey Okudah is a tough blow. Besides leadership and experience, they were the No. 3, No. 7 and No. 8 leading tacklers last year.

If there was one man up for the job to ensure minimal drop off it is Kerry Coombs.He lost Vonn Bell, Eli Apple and Tyvis Powell in 2016 and built a stronger unit for 2016. That magic is needed again.

Given the depth issues, I suspect hell switch back to primarily using two corners and two safeties.

Shaun Wade is the only returning player that finished in the top 15 for total tackles.He has one corner spot locked up. Look for Cameron Brown or Sevyn Banks to fill the other corner spot.

Both played well when Arnette was out with his injury. They also had the luxury of playing with experienced players all around. How will they handle full-time duties?

In nickel packages, look for the loser of the other corner spot and Marcus Williamson to fill the void.

Most will disagree with me, but replacing Fuller is the most critical need for the defense this offseason.The free safety has to be able to do everything.

Josh Proctor is the favorite. Hes definitely showed flashes of his capabilities, namely closing speed.

Even though his best game last year was against Clemson, our last memory of him is blasting Jack Coan to end the Big Ten Championship.

His athleticism makes him an ideal backend guy for this defense.

The strong safety spot is wide open. No one returns with any meaningful experience.

Ill say Marcus Hooker begins making his own mark on the program. Hes got the tools, and with Coombs coaching should make the leap to starter.

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Ohio State Football: Two units that must progress this spring - Scarlet and Game

One year after global abuse summit, reaction mixed on progress made – Crux: Covering all things Catholic

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ROME As the Boy Scouts of America slide further into scandal with allegations of widespread sexual abuse continuing to go public, the Catholic Church also finds itself on the public hot seat again one year after a global summit on child protection.

Exactly 12 months after Pope Franciss historic Feb. 21-24 abuse summit, attended by the presidents of all episcopal conferences worldwide, both survivors and experts have reflected on what the institution has accomplished, and what has yet to be done.

Speaking to Crux, German Jesuit Father Hans Zollner, who was part of the summits organizing committee, called the event a milestone in both recognizing and accepting that the abuse of children and vulnerable people is a global problem, and that the Church must be at the forefront of developing and implementing best practices for safeguarding.

The head of the Pontifical Gregorian Universitys Center for Child Protection (CCP) and a member of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, Zollner said being at the forefront means to protect children and the most vulnerable among adults and to safeguard their dignity and possibility for growth.

The priest noted that the Catholic Church isnt the only institution dealing with this, pointing to the Boy Scouts, which announced on Tuesday it was filing for bankruptcy after dozens of people accused members of the organization of abusing them in a period spanning decades.

Zollner noted the same reactions to abuse denial and cover-up is also seen in other institutions, including other faith denominations and public schools.

He cautioned against the Church trying to take the moral high-ground, saying we shouldnt think we can teach others now. If somebody wants to work with us to move forward, we are certainly willing to share forces.

Zollner highlighted several concrete steps the Vatican has taken to promote safeguarding over the past year, including the publication shortly after the summit of new guidelines concerning the protection of minors and vulnerable people.

Published in May 2019 and titled Vos estis lux mundi, new guidelines, among other things, make it mandatory for all clerics and members of religious orders to report cases of clerical sexual abuse to Church authorities, regardless of their ecclesial status.

Additionally, Zollner pointed to the popes decision in December 2019 to abolish the pontifical secret in abuse cases, meaning that from Jan. 1, 2020, onward all documents produced in canonical procedures involving sexual abuse can be submitted, upon request, to competent authorities in a given country.

This applies both to the documents kept in the Vatican archives and to those found in the diocesan archives, which were also previously subject to pontifical secrecy, he said.

Yet while Zollner is optimistic about the progress made, survivors have criticized the pope for not doing enough, saying the same patterns are still happening after the summit.

The pope has the ability, has the power, to command every bishop in the world to report sexual abuse to civil society. Presently, its up to the bishops to decide, or not to decide, in relation to civil law., said Tim Lennon, an abuse survivor and president of the Survivors Network of the Abused by Priests (SNAP).

Its civil society that gives this church any kind of moral compass. It isnt coming from within, he told Crux, explaining that in his view, the Vaticans new guidelines fall short of any effectiveness because reporting follows the Churchs hierarchical structure.

In the so-called metropolitan model, abuse or cover-up by priests must be brought to their bishop, and abuse or coverup by bishops must be reported to the metropolitan archbishops overseeing the area. In cases where the metropolitan is accused of abuse, reporting can be done directly to the Holy See through the papal representative in the country.

According to Lennon, the law is not effective, because its bishops investigating other bishops, which he said is what got the Church in trouble in the first place.

We rely on secular society, he said, calling the new model bogus.

Lennon said he believes the new laws are designed to keep the information within the Church. As long as they keep the secret, they control.

Similarly, Kevin Bourgeois, leader of SNAPs New Orleans branch, told Crux he believes accountability means to really lift the veil of secrecy and to be open and transparent.

They talk the talk, but they do not walk the walk when it comes to being honest with people who are in the pews every single Sunday, he said, insisting that transparency would mean not only defrocking top prelates convicted of abuse such as Australian Cardinal George Pell, who is currently awaiting ruling on a second appeal of his conviction of abusing an altar boy but also handing over documents to federal and state officials so instances of abuse can be investigated.

Claudia Labeguerie, an abuse survivor from a school for the deaf in Mendoza, Argentina, said she wanted to come to Rome for the anniversary of the summit because the popes promise didnt go through, it was left to words and not practice.

Weve come to demand evidence so theres no more coverup, she told Crux. Weve suffered a lot, abuse and tortureWeve come to tell our story. Because we got justice in Argentina, our abusers are incarcerated, but we need this to happen in the rest of the world.

Its not something that just happened to us, but this happens a lot in other countries, she said.

In November notorious pedophile priest Father Nicola Corradi, along with along with two others Father Horacio Corbacho and layman Armando Ramn Gmez Bravo were convicted and sentenced to prison for the sexual abuse of minors at the Provolo Institute for Deaf and Hearing Impaired Children, which also had a presence in La Plata and Verona, Italy.

Another trial is underway against nine women, including two religious sisters, who allegedly covered up and enabled the abuse.

According to Zollner, major results wont be seen immediately, but it will take time to fully implement change and apply Franciss new guidelines.

It is impossible for the Holy Father to snap his fingers and effect an immediate change, he said, but shared that in his experience, this change is already happening rapidly in many dioceses and bishops conferences.

In my travels, I see that work is being done to revise guidelines to accommodate the changes put forth by Vos Estis and the conditions for which pontifical secret for clerical sexual abuse casework can now be lifted, he said, noting that new offices dedicated to prevention and intervention are being established and the CCP is working vigorously to provide training to the personnel staffing these offices.

One hole Zollner said still needs to be filled is that while Vos Estis offers an initial description, the Church needs a better definition of Vulnerable People and well need to verify its implementation especially in regards to the establishment of offices in dioceses, including religious orders, and an accountability system will have to be put into place.

Pope Francis has acted decisively to implement rigorous legal changes for his own juridical territory of Vatican City State, he said, noting that this also includes extraterritorial Vatican realities, such as seminaries, universities, hospitals, and churches throughout Rome.

In each of these entities, people are being more carefully vetted and are obliged to report the abuse of minors and vulnerable people, he said, adding that Those who do not listen to such reports are themselves guilty of misbehavior punishable by law.

However, despite the progress Zollner outlined, for survivors and their advocates this change needs to happen on a much faster timeline.

Nadia Debbache, a lawyer with French Association La Parole Libre, which provided representation to the victims in the ongoing case against French Cardinal Philippe Barbarin, archbishop of Lyon, who was recently acquitted by an appeals court of cover-up, said she believes the position of the pope is very complex.

I think maybe he tried to change but in reality there are no actions because there has been no change, its the same situation because the mentalities are the same, she said, adding that for its own sake, its necessary for the institution of the Catholic Church to change quickly.

Follow Elise Ann Allen on Twitter:@eliseannallen

Crux is dedicated to smart, wired and independent reporting on the Vatican and worldwide Catholic Church. That kind of reporting doesnt come cheap, and we need your support. You can help Crux bygiving a small amount monthly, or witha onetime gift. Please remember, Crux is a for-profit organization, so contributions are not tax-deductible.

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One year after global abuse summit, reaction mixed on progress made - Crux: Covering all things Catholic

Disaster relief funds to fix Progress Avenue in Pottsville – wnep.com

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$1 million will help fix a much used side street damaged by flood waters in 2018.

POTTSVILLE, Pa. The city of Pottsville is getting some disaster relief to the tune of $1 million.

That's particularly helpful since a much used side street in the city has been closed since it was damaged by flood waters in August of 2018.

Pottsville City Administrator Tom Palamar explains how a portion of Progress Avenue got to be in this shape.

Newswatch 16 was on Progress Avenue in August of 2018 as flood waters rushed over that part of the road.

The damage it caused has kept part of the street closed ever since.

Progress Avenue from one end to another looked like a river, people actually caught fish on progress avenue that day, said Palamar.

People in the city call the closure a major inconvenience.

To get around it, drivers have to detour into the parking lot of the Giant grocery store.

This is so horrible to get through after work, it`s definitely a pain to go in and out, every time, said Jesse Smith.

It`s messing with the post office, it`s messing with the local businesses around here and it`s messing with the patrons, it really is a big inconvenience, said a woman who only gave her first name, Crystal.

Pottsville just received grant from FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, for around $1,066 million to fix Progress Avenue.

Finally, finally it`s been a long time coming, said Crystal.

Palamar says now with the FEMA money secured, the city will work with PEMA, the state`s emergency management agency, to draw up the details of the construction project.

At this point we will now work with PEMA on the state level and bring the local, state and federal, be able to bring a bid package together, get it out, get a contractor and get done, said Palamar.

I`m glad that they`re going to get it fixed, you can actually go through the traffic like you`re supposed to, said Smith. I`m sure the postal people are pretty happy too about it.

Palamar says the city should be able to put the progress avenue project out for bid in about a month.

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Disaster relief funds to fix Progress Avenue in Pottsville - wnep.com

Sudan: Progress on Rights, Justice, Key to Transition – Human Rights Watch

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(Nairobi) Sudans transitional government should accelerate legal and institutional reform and visible progress on domestic justice initiatives, Human Rights Watch said today, following its first official visit to the country in over 14 years. International donors should expedite assistance to support the transitional governments reform agenda.

Sudans leaders confirmed to us in our meetings that they are committed to ensuring genuine reforms and bringing to justice those responsible for the most serious violations, said Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch. Now is the time to implement these commitments and seize this extraordinary moment of opportunity to secure the democratic, rights-respecting reforms that so many Sudanese took to the streets at great risk to themselves to achieve.

Human Rights Watch delegation met with Sudans chair of the Sovereign Council, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Khartoum, February 11, 2020.

On February 12, 2020, Lt. Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the chair of Sudans ruling Sovereign Council, and Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok met with Roth and Mausi Segun, Human Rights Watchs Africa director, and reaffirmed their commitment to hold rights abusers to account. They said that this included cooperating with the International Criminal Court (ICC), which has warrants for the arrest of former president Omar al-Bashir and four other suspects for atrocities in Darfur.

Al-Bashir was ousted in April 2019 after months of protests in Sudan, which government security forces dispersed violently, killing hundreds of people after protests began in December 2018. A transitional military council took power until a transitional government was formed in August, following a power-sharing agreement between military and civilian groups. The transitional government is headed by an 11-member Sovereign Council for a period of 3 years, to be followed by elections.

At the ICC, al-Bashir faces five counts of crimes against humanity, two counts of war crimes, and three counts of genocide. These relate to allegations of murder, extermination, forcible transfer, torture, intentional attacks on the civilian population, pillage, and rape between 2003 and 2008 in Darfur. The transitional government should invite the ICC to Sudan to discuss the terms of engagement and moving forward with prosecutions, Human Rights Watch said.

Human Rights Watch acknowledged that transitional authorities have made important progress on rights reforms and accountability. That has included abolishing the criminal charge of apostacy and repressive morality laws, known as the public order regime, as well as criminalizing female genital mutilation and approving draft laws establishing commissions to work on human rights and transitional justice reforms. Human Rights Watch also heard concerns from nongovernmental organizations that there had not been adequate consultation with these groups on the new laws.

Human Rights Watch delegation met with Sudans Minister of Justice, Nasredeen Abdelbari, Khartoum, February 10, 2020

The authorities should carry out comprehensive justice system reforms to ensure that peoples rights will be protected at every stage of the justice process, ensure adequate public participation, and address gender discrimination by reviewing legal guardianship, marriage, and inheritance provisions, among others, Human Rights Watch said. Womens rights groups also told Human Rights Watch that they have not been adequately or fairly represented in the transitional institutions and have been calling for equal representation in appointments for state governors and membership on the legislative council.

Human Rights Watch stressed the need for the government to ensure that reform efforts do not trample on human rights, particularly in efforts to dismantle the former government. In November 2019, the transitional government passed a law to dissolve the former ruling party, confiscate its assets, and bar its members from political activities for 10 years. More than 20 former ruling party leaders have been detained and are reportedly held at Kober prison. The authorities should ensure that those arrested are properly charged, have access to lawyers, and are prosecuted in timely, open, and fair trials.

The authorities should also make known the whereabouts of Musa Hilal, the Darfuri tribal leader and former government adviser whose role overseeing human rights abuses in Darfur is well-documented. Hilal has been detained since November 2017 and is standing trial in the military headquarters with other members of the Revolutionary Awakening Council, a political party he formed on January 2014, his family members reported.

Many reforms envisioned in the transitional governments constitutional charter have yet to be carried out. The legislative council, which was to be formed within three months of the transitional governments swearing-in, has not yet been formed, pending a peace agreement between the government and opposition armed groups. Most of the rights-focused commissions have also not been formed, delaying organized reform efforts. Such delays impede the governments ability to debate key laws and policies that are critical for justice and accountability, Human Rights Watch said.

Institutional reforms, particularly relating to security, are urgently needed. Although the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) was renamed the General Intelligence Service (GIS) and no longer detains people, it is not clear that institutional reforms have been made within the organization, which has a record of rights abuses. The authorities have also not reformed any of the states other sprawling security institutions. Reforming these agencies is key to providing justice for past crimes and preventing abuses in Sudan in the future, Human Rights Watch said.

The committee set up to investigate the murderous June 3 crackdown by government forces on protesters outside the army headquarters has far from completed its work and, lacking critical resources, has not met international standards for investigations or protecting witnesses. Victims families and nongovernmental groups said they were frustrated at its slow pace and inaccessibility, especially for victims of gender-based violence. Government officials should ensure that this committee has the mandate, political backing, and necessary protection to investigate those responsible higher up the chain of command for planning and ordering the dispersal operation, particularly as a member of the Sovereign Council may be implicated.

The attorney-generals office has set up various new committees to investigate past crimes, including the killings of protesters between December 2018 and al-Bashirs ousting on April 11, abuses by the former government since 1989, corruption-related crimes, and crimes in Darfur. Investigations are ongoing, but legal immunities which still exist under a patchwork of laws remain an obstacle to prosecution, officials told Human Rights Watch.

In December, the authorities announced convictions and death sentences for 29 security personnel in the case of a teacher tortured to death in Kassala in February 2019. The prosecutions of security officers in a regular court, the first case of its kind, is a step toward accountability for a heinous crime, but the prosecutions should not be limited to low-ranking officers. Human Rights Watch opposes the death penalty under all circumstances because of its inherent cruelty.

Investigations and prosecutions of the full range of abuses by the NSIS are a critical part of a broader transitional justice program, but they will require resources and expertise. The government should seek assistance from international bodies and donors, who should promptly provide it on flexible terms both at the technical and policy levels.

Sudans leaders say they want to turn the page with genuine reforms and a transition toward a rights-respecting, democratic government that is accountable to the Sudanese people. That will require addressing the past honestly and forthrightly, not trying to forget or bury it, Roth said. Making this democratic transition a success will require securing justice and accountability for past atrocities, including the violent dispersal of protesters on June 3, and accelerating the most critical human rights reforms.

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Sudan: Progress on Rights, Justice, Key to Transition - Human Rights Watch

Progress: New initiatives at MSU Texas enhance the value of students degrees – Times Record News

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When families think about where to attend college, cost is always one of the first factors weighed.

Alongside cost, however, families need to research the quality of the degree. It is the equation of cost plus quality that can determine the value of the degree. And the value of the degree is what most benefits a graduate.

While keeping costs steady at MSU we are working hard to increase our value in a number of ways. I hope that you find these details meaningful, whether you are a proud graduate of MSU, a family member of a graduate, or considering attendance at our university.

Senior nursing students Courtney Brady, left, and Toni Barrow make their way to class in the new health sciences center, Centennial Hall, on the first day of classes, Fall 2019.(Photo: TORIN HALSEY/TIMES RECORD NEWS)

The much-anticipated opening of Centennial Hall, home to programs in our Gunn College of Health Sciences and Human Services, began 2019 on a high note. The $42 million project was part of the $58.4 million in tuition revenue bond funds appropriated by the state in 2015, and marked the largest designation of capital construction funds in the history of the University.

This project was instrumental in forging new alliances with Shimadzu Medical Systems USA and B-Line Medical LLC, as well as renewing our longstanding local partnership with United Regional. The Shimadzu School of Radiologic Sciences at MSU Texas is the first corporate and public educational partnership of its type in radiological sciences.

Through these alliances, our students and faculty will work and train with state-of-the-art equipment and software that will set them apart in their fields. The building now stands as confirmation of the trust and support our state has placed in us to provide an educated workforce and stimulate economic development across our region and beyond.

The new Centennial Hall at Midwestern State University opens Friday afternoon and will house the nursing, radiolocal and other health sciences education programs.(Photo: TORIN HALSEY/TIMES RECORD NEWS)

Expansion to select doctoral programs has emerged as a new interest of MSU Texas graduates. We are now pursuing approval for not one, but two, doctoral programs. Programs in radiologic sciences and educational leadership would be the first for our university, and the doctoral program in radiologic science would the first of its kind in the United States.

Alongside this change for our graduate endeavors are our undergraduate signature minors to respond to student interests and workforce needs in fields such as cybersecurity, educational design and learning management, musical theater, and organizational psychology to name a few. Such advancements help us stay true to the value we know students receive from our liberal arts foundations; strides in our professional degrees show the quality of this important combination.

Affordability is imperative for our MSU families and no program does more to make a degree available to first-generation students than our Priddy Scholars Program. Middle-income families across the region have benefited from this freedom from the cost of higher education given to our students.

Priddy Scholars do not have to divide their time and attention between the workplace and the classroom, instead single-mindedly pursuing studies, participating in campus events, preparing for leadership and service roles in the community, engaging in international study, and selecting a career. Priddy Scholars stay enrolled at MSU Texas, with 90 percent completing their degrees without interruption. What we are learning from this program is helping us to design programming to help all students be successful and keep all MSU Texas degrees affordable.

Through the generosity of our donors, new fellowships and a professorship have been introduced to support faculty activities in the arts and humanities that enhance research, artistic endeavors, and teaching. These programs not only reward our faculty for work in their disciplines, but also serve to inspire our students.

Like the explosion of interest in the health sciences stimulated by the opening of Centennial Hall, the addition of Legacy Hall in 2016 led to enhanced support for our growing residential population. Just last month, we acquired property for our procurement service operations at the corner of Midwestern Parkway and Maplewood Avenue that will similarly open spaces for converting the Daniel Building, located in the heart of campus, into the Bridwell Activities Center.

We will begin construction this fall on the Cannedy Greek Commons, an initiative to provide space for the Universitys growing Greek Life population. Once this phase of the project is well established we hope to later add offices for our student government association and student affairs departments, as well as meeting rooms, a dining auxiliary, and a 150-seat theater to complete the activities center.

We are nearing completion of renovations to Moffett Library and are excited to see the transformation of this learning space. While libraries are still an important component in the campus experience, how students use those spaces has changed through the years.

We have added study areas on the first and second floors, designed and equipped to meet todays student needs. Additionally, enhanced tutoring and academic support services will be available for our student body.

Finally, we understand that while we serve students first, as a public university we also serve our community, particularly when it comes to providing a trained workforce in critical areas. Last January, we welcomed the Center for Nonprofit Management and Leadership as part of our Dillard College of Business Administration.

By expanding upon our resources such as faculty, students, alumni and facilities, we will work to advance the success of nonprofits and our community. In fact, nonprofits are so critical to our community that we have introduced a nonprofit management minor at the University. The minor is open to all majors and builds on the financial and organizational skills needed in the nonprofit sector.

Like the Center for Nonprofit Management and Leadership, the new North Central Texas AHEC center on campus, under the direction of Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, serves an outreach to address community-based needs for health information. Their mission is to recruit, educate and sustain a health professions workforce committed to underserved and rural populations. We are pleased to host this center on our campus.

Also a leader in health-care outreach, the Wilson School of Nursing at MSU Texas is supporting the second phase of the Medically Underserved Specialization for Advanced Nursing Graduate Students by way of outside funding. The project received a $2.7 million continuation grant that prepares our family nurse practitioner students. Through this federal support, our students will be employed in primary care areas with academic and clinical training experiences in rural and underserved populations. A new focus on mental health medical management will further complete this valuable and competitive preparatory experience for nursing students.

And finally, the Kimbell School of Geosciences is now partnering with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) to establish the Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center located in our Bolin Science Hall. This partnership is a natural fit that will provide opportunities for the USGS staff and MSU Texas faculty and students to acquire a better understanding of local groundwater and surface water issues.

When MSU Texas launched our strategic plan three years ago with a bold vision to build bridges for a vibrant future we could see our centennial celebration in 2022 on a distant horizon. Our work toward promoting a strong university community, pursuing new student populations, creating a destination residential campus, and stimulating a culture of engagement was on full display in 2019, and it propels us toward the boundless opportunities ahead for 2020 and beyond.

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Progress: New initiatives at MSU Texas enhance the value of students degrees - Times Record News

Rushing to go nowhere: How can we make more progress on diversity in the corporate sector? – GreenBiz

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It seems each day a new story or report comes out on how a company is addressing diversity as a core value or priority. But are we focusing on the long-term and moving the needle on hiring and retaining women, professionals of color, LGBTQ+ employees and those with disabilities? While there is a lot of buzz, the actual data around hiring and retention has not significantly changed. And employees inside these organizations continue to voice concerns of racism and discrimination.

With the flurry of awards, articles, research and corporate programs, one would think that we finally were making some progress on corporate diversity. In January, Forbes published its annual list celebrating Americas Best Employers for Diversity and in December, Fortune, in partnership with management consultancy Great Place to Work, also published its annual list of Best Workplaces for Diversity. The methodology of both lists considers the diversity numbers and employee feedback on culture. Yet, the top 20 organizations on both lists are completely different. If we are measuring the "best" for diversity, shouldnt we expect to see the same firms called out as leaders? What measurement criteria is really being used?

In any case, it is imperative that businesses successfully build teams and cultures that are made up of different ethnicities and races, genders, generations, abilities, geographies and inclusive of the LGBTQ community. Companies that get this right will be able to attract and retain the best talent and deliver for their communities, customers and investors because they will be more innovative and competitive. If we are to make any significant progress on critical issues such as ending poverty and climate change, as set forth in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), we will need everyone at the table.

Companies that get this right will be able to attract and retain the best talent and deliver for their communities, customers and investors because they will be more innovative and competitive.

The inconsistency we see in the diversity leadership listings is due in part to the inconsistency in how companies are being held accountable for their diversity data. Today more companies are disclosing diversity data. Companies such as Cisco and Salesforce provide detailed annual diversity reports and have even made their Equal Employment Opportunity, Survey 1 (EEO-1) data public. The federal government requires all U.S. contractors to complete an EEO-1 diversity survey annually.

While some companies are still at the other end of the spectrum, which provide limited public quantitative data or none at all, overall companies should be commended for the progress they are making on public disclosure of their diversity data. This data exposes the issue that diversity is not increasing in any statistically significant manner. This is especially evident when it comes to leadership roles. For change to occur in a material way corporations must hold themselves more accountable when their diversity numbers related to hiring and retention are not increasing in line with their public commitments.

While it is often difficult to change hiring and recruiting behaviors, using alternative recruiting channels can be part of the solution. This could mean expanded college recruitment opportunities, opening new sites in more diverse locations and making investments in nontraditional educational pathways.

Why not give Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) a try? There are over 100 HBCUs with almost 300,000 students enrolled. Fifty percent of all black lawyers and doctors are alumni of HBCUs. And HBCUs continue to be an important and often overlooked pipeline for black talent. They produce 20 percent of all black college graduates and 25 percent of all the science, technology, engineering and math degree (STEM) black graduates.

While we are on the topic of STEM, women only hold about 25 percent of the jobs in the tech industry even though they make up half of the total workforce. While the gender gap persists, the number of women awarded a STEM degree or certificate in the United States has steadily risen, according to Statista, which analyzed data from the National Center for Education Statistics. The number of male students granted a STEM degree or certificate increased by 38 percent between the 2008-2009 and the 2015-2016 school year, while the number of female students who achieved the same degree or certificate increased by 48 percent. Companies have to be more intentional in recruiting the technical female talent that is out there.

While the gender gap persists, the number of women awarded a STEM degree or certificate in the U.S. has steadily risen, according to Statista.

One example of the promise in alternate recruitment channels is found at Apple. Apple retail stores can serve as the entry point for diverse talent. Talent that otherwise may not check all boxes and requirements for a traditional corporate technical job could start in an Apple retail store and make their way into a corporate job at Apple or another tech company.

Symantec (now NortonLifeLock), where I previously worked, and JP Morgan Chase have partnered with U.S. nonprofit NPower to invest in an expanded pipeline of technology talent. These investments are in technology-focused job training, including the much-in-demand cybersecurity field. Veterans and young adults from underserved communities are prepared for quality technology jobs, placed into internships with corporate partners and then into permanent positions.

Perhaps there are other creative ways that companies could create entry level "pipelines" to increase their diversity representation.

While many companies have prioritized hiring diverse talent, it's equally important for companies to retain and engage that talent.

Precious J. Stroud, founding executive director of BlackFemaleProject, an organization focused on fostering the success of black women in the workplace, often shares her story of being told early in her career to change her name at her job because her employer did not think it was professional enough. This story could be added to the many more we hear every day where employees are made to feel uncomfortable bringing their authentic selves to the workplace.

To create a true sense of belonging, people who have privilege and economic power have to not only be willing to give up some of their power, but also have to actively fight marginalization.

Recently a Facebook memo surfaced on Medium reminding us that while inclusion is at the forefront of many companies' diversity messages, actually achieving a sense of belonging for all employees is still difficult to make a reality. Black Facebook employees reiterated their feelings in the memo and shared that "On the inside, we are sad. Angry. Oppressed. Depressed. And treated every day through the micro and macro aggressions as if we do not belong here." Facebook leadership vowed to listen and do better.

Donna LaSala, program director and professor at Presidio Graduate School, points out that to "do better" people who have privilege and economic power must "listen and believe the lived experiences of underrepresented community members not debate them, not doubt them." To create a true sense of belonging, people who have privilege and economic power have to not only be willing to give up some of their power, but also have to actively fight marginalization.

Building a more diverse and inclusive workforce, while complex, is a business imperative and is material to both stakeholders inside and outside of the company. Companies have made public commitments with minimal improvement. Perhaps approaching diversity as a long-term effort embedded within the companys overall strategy, with clear milestones along the way, rather than a quick fix and race to the finish line, will result in real, sustainable progress.

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Rushing to go nowhere: How can we make more progress on diversity in the corporate sector? - GreenBiz

Destiny 2 Empyrean Foundation Progress: Were In Stage 7, And It Wont Be Long – Forbes

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Destiny 2

Were closing in on the end, now. For the last few weeks Destiny 2 has been running a community event where players have to acquire ungodly amounts of a currency called polarized fractiline and donate it to a central obelisk in the tower in order to unlock some sort of mystery reward. This morning, we blew threw the sixth of 7 stages, which would be 6,000,000,000 fractiline. Somewhere out there I saw a fractiloan joke made. Now, were closing in on the final stage: 9,777,777,000 fractiline. Bungie likes sevens, always has. I dont know why the last digits arent sevens, but I blame Osiris, the lovable schmo.

This last stage might go a little bit quicker than the earlier ones, because yesterday the investors started to activate. Since the beginning of this Empyrean Foundation event in Destiny 2, a certain returns-oriented crowd has been urging players to put their fractiline into fractiline-producing planetary obelisks rather than donating it, saying that the eventual returns would mean far more total fractiline for the tower than straight donations. Its a bit complicated if you havent been following it, but the upshot is that there were a ton of people not donating fractiline for a little bit, and now there are a ton of people donating a ton of fractiline.

If you want to follow along in real time, check out this tracker. Since the announcement to the time of this writing weve already had 38,000,000 more fractiline donated, and it will assuredly be more by the time you click that link.

I havent donated a ton: a got some god rolls on timelost weapons, filled the 5,000 for the triumph and so forth. Im still glad that there are some people in the community that are willing to sit there and click that button for eons, because man does it feel exhausting. When we finally finish the donations well be able to claim the final seasonal triumph and thus the Savior title, so Im holding on for that. Mostly I want that pin. I like the pins.

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Destiny 2 Empyrean Foundation Progress: Were In Stage 7, And It Wont Be Long - Forbes

St. Paul teachers union votes to strike over lack of progress in negotiations – St. Paul Pioneer Press

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Members of the St. Paul teachers union voted Thursday to authorize a strike over a lack of progress in contract negotiations with the states second-largest school district.

The St. Paul Federation of Educators said late Thursday night that two-thirds of its members voted and that 82 percent of voting members want to strike.

No one wants to strike, but St. Paul educators are fed up. District leaders arent listening to the people who know our students best the educators and parents who are with them every day, union president Nick Faber said in a prepared statement. The longer they ignore our proposals, the longer our students go without the resources they need and the schools they deserve.

The union says it will announce a strike date next week. A 10-day cooling off period will begin once they give formal notice, setting the stage for an early March strike that would close school for some 37,000 students.

Mediated negotiations are scheduled for March 5 and 6, and the parties are trying to schedule additional dates, district spokesman Kevin Burns said Thursday.

We are extremely disappointed our educators continue down a path toward a strike. Our students, families, coworkers and community expect all of us to work together and avoid a strike, and thats what I am committed to doing, Superintendent Joe Gothard said in a prepared statement.

St. Paul has several extra school days built into its calendar, but a prolonged strike would require extending the school year past June 9.

In 2018, the parties reached a deal 11 days after members authorized a strike and one day before teachers were preparing to walk off the job.

The school district entered negotiations last year planning to increase ongoing spending by no more than $9.6 million enough for a 1.5 percent pay raise this year and 2 percent next year for teachers, educational assistants and school and community service professionals.

During mediation Wednesday, the district offered an additional $1.2 million for a districtwide mental health team. That was a response to a union proposal for a full-time social worker, counselor, nurse and behavior intervention specialist at every school, plus more psychologists and staff mental health training.

After voting to strike Thursday, Horace Mann Elementary science teacher Sarah Bosch recalled standing with one foot in her classroom full of students and another in the hallway as she spoke with a child in crisis from another class. There was no counselor or social worker in the building, she said.

We need to stand up for our kids to get what they need, she said.

Rebecca Stedje, a sixth-grade English teacher at Murray Middle School, said students need more mental health staff.

They need just so much more than we can give them, she said.

The union also is pushing for lighter workloads for special education teachers and the hiring of 50 multilingual staffers, among other issues.

The union has proposed salary increases of 3.4 percent and 2 percent for teachers, who made $75,199 on average last year.

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St. Paul teachers union votes to strike over lack of progress in negotiations - St. Paul Pioneer Press

States That Have Made the Most Racial Progress – TheStreet

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Can the U.S. ever achieve racial equality? Many hope so, but half of black Americans say its unlikely that the country will achieve it, according to a 2019 survey by the Pew Research Center. According to the survey, many Americans have negative views of racial progress in the U.S., and more than half say it has gotten worse since Donald Trump was elected president. Others argue that racism is part of the fabric of public policy in the country.

If racial progress can be quantified, personal finance site WalletHub gave it a try, looking toward achievements in the workplace, schools and voting booths. To do so, they measured the gaps between black and white Americans across 21 key indicators of equality and integration in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia in four main categories: employment & wealth, education, social & civic engagement, and health.

They evaluated those dimensions on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the highest level of progress, then ranked the states based on their scores. Some of the indicators used to see the gaps between black and white Americans include the rate of homeownership, household income, poverty, standardized test scores, voter turnout, education level, and health factors including rates of obesity, diabetes, and infant mortality.

Click on the gallery below to see the states that have made the most racial progress, according to WalletHubs study.

1. Wyoming

Employment and wealth rank: 3

Education rank: 1

Social and civic engagement rank: 1

Health rank: N/A

Though the black population of Wyoming is less than 1%, Wyoming ranks among the top five states for the highest change in the gap between black and white Americans for median annual income and unemployment rate in WalletHubs study. Above, a living history presentation of the Buffalo soldiers in Cheyenne.

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States That Have Made the Most Racial Progress - TheStreet

U.S. congratulates Ukraine on progress in fighting corruption – Ukrinform. Ukraine and world news

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The United States has welcomed Ukraines progress in the fight against corruption and the implementation of institutional reforms, and also reaffirmed its commitment to a peaceful settlement to the conflict in Donbas.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State StephenE.Biegun said this during a meeting with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko in Washington,D.C., on February 21.

"Unwavering U.S. support remains crucial for Ukraine. New approaches not only in Kyiv - it's inspiring," Prystaiko wrote on Twitter.

According to the U.S. Department of State,Deputy Secretary Biegun and Foreign Minister Prystaiko discussed their mutual desire for a peaceful settlement to Russias aggression in Ukraine.

The Deputy Secretary congratulated the Foreign Minister on the progress his government has made to combat corruption and institute reforms. "The parties also discussed opportunities for further integrating Ukraines military, investment, and trade with the Euro-Atlantic community," the report reads.

As Ukrinform reported, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko is on a visit to the United States. The day before, he took part ina UN General Assembly meeting on the situation in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

ish

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U.S. congratulates Ukraine on progress in fighting corruption - Ukrinform. Ukraine and world news

Suspect Nabbed After Student Reports Burglary In Progress At College Townhouse In Area – East Dutchess Daily Voice

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A suspect has been nabbed after a student reported a burglary in progress at an occupied Vassar College townhouse.

It happened just after midnight on Wednesday, Feb. 19,Town of Poughkeepsie Police said.

Officers responded and obtained a description of the suspect.

A subject matching the descriptionwas located in the area by a responding officer. The subject was detained and identified asFranz L. Brandon Jr., 30, of the City of Poughkeepsie.

He was taken into custody following an investigation.

Brandon was charged with second-degree burglary (a felony) and petit larceny (a misdemeanor).

He was released on an appearance ticket to appear in Town of Poughkeepsie Court at a later date.

Town of Poughkeepsie Police were assisted at the scene by the City of Poughkeepsie PoliceDepartment.

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Suspect Nabbed After Student Reports Burglary In Progress At College Townhouse In Area - East Dutchess Daily Voice

Klay Thompson showing real progress in ACL tear recovery – ClutchPoints

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Golden State Warriors star shooting guard Klay Thompson wont play this season.

However, that doesnt mean we cant still track his ACL rehab.

According to Anthony Slater of The Athletic, Thompson is slowly but surely rounding into form:

The Warriors were always going to be cautious with Thompson since they gave him a five-year max contract this past summer worth $190 million. Klays long-term health is very important to the organization.

Thompson averaged 21.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists for the Warriors in 2018-19 during the regular season. The five-time All-Star shot 46.7 percent from the field, 40.2 percent from beyond the arc and 81.6 percent from the free-throw line.

In the 2019 playoffs, Thompson put up 20.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists. The Warriors lost to theToronto Raptorsin the NBA Finals in six games, with Thompson tearing his ACL in Game 6.

The Warriors will be playoff contenders again next season withStephen Curry, Klay Thompson,Draymond Green and Andrew Wiggins leading the charge. This season marks the first time in the Steve Kerr era the Dubs wont make the postseason.

Follow ClutchPoints onTwitter&Instagram, and like us onFacebook for more news on Klay Thompson and the Warriors. We can also be found on Flipboard where you can subscribe and follow us.

All of our NBA content can be found on the NBA section of the ClutchPoints home pagehere. For all of our college basketball content, clickhere.

Follow Warriors or other NBA games live by downloading the ClutchPoints Appand heading to the scores tab under the NBA section.

You can listen and subscribe to the Battle for LA podcast on Apple Podcasts,Spotify, andSoundcloud. You can also find new episodes of Battle for LA, the ClutchPoints NBA Podcast, and Establish the Pass under thePodcast tabon the ClutchPoints home page.

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Klay Thompson showing real progress in ACL tear recovery - ClutchPoints

Reorganisation and recognition: Cyprus minister reflects on two years of progress – ShipInsight

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Next week (1 March) marks the second anniversary of Cyprus Deputy Ministry of Shipping and it has already established itself as a valuable though long awaited support for the islands blue economy.

For many years, the Cypriot shipping community had pushed for a dedicated ministry. The former Department of Merchant Shipping had supported the sector for 41 years as part of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works but the influential international shipping community regularly called for a dedicated ministry. Coupled with the growing Cypriot ship register, the sector contributes about 7% of the countrys GDP and employs about 3% of its workforce, according to the Cyprus Profile website.

In an exclusive interview with ShipInsight, Cyprus shipping deputy minister Natasa Pilides confirmed that the ministry owed its origins to that industry pressure and said that its creation also set a precedent for the islands government structure. Under the countrys constitution, there is a limit on the number of government ministries and creating the concept of deputy ministries got around that. So although her title is deputy minister, that is because she heads a deputy ministry; she is Cyprus shipping minister.

Creating a dedicated ministry for shipping was a popular political decision. It was unanimously approved in parliament, which is probably a first, she said. And where shipping laid the way, other industries are following the same path: tourism got its own deputy ministry in January 2019 and on 1 March a deputy ministry for innovation will be established.

Ms Pilides has achieved a lot in her first two years. All the work done by the Department of Merchant Shipping has transferred to the ministry, giving it a staff of 160, and she was well aware of the industrys hopes. We had to respond to all their expectations regarding a more bespoke and immediate service, she said, and listed some of the changes that have been made.

Its responsibilities are based on a national strategy on shipping which created specific goals and KPIs that underlie its action plan. Its a lot more focussed than it was before, she said. We are able to take and implement decisions fast. The services available to shipping have been reorganised and its been operating quite well since then, she said.

Now, there is a 24/7 assistance service and ships can be registered on any day. Online verification of seafarer certificates is now available and seafarers themselves can now add information to their records if they would like to share information with shipping companies that use the system. New agreements have been signed with the registers recognised organisations (ROs), they can submit electronic certificates and more ROs have been singed-up. Next on the list is an online ship registration portal that will go live before the end of this year.

Our service is much more proactive and is informed by feedback from response forms and from hundreds of meetings with all our clients over the world, Ms Pilides said. Based on those conversations, I think people are happy with what weve done so far but we need to continue to improve further.

The Cypriot tonnage tax scheme which secured EU approval in December for a second 10-year period is helping attract companies to the island, she said, and the registers fee structure is also going through an overhaul. Last year, fees for registering oceangoing vessels and their mortgages were abolished and other fees have been simplified and some have been reduced.

But other fees have not been increased to compensate, she said. The benefit to the economy of having a larger cluster with more companies and more vessels more than makes up for lost fees. And there are more cuts to come: although tax rates will not change, a discount scheme is being developed that will reward environment-friendly vessels. Some details, including defining how ships will qualify and how the discounts will respond to future technological developments, are still to be finalised but it will be presented to parliament for approval soon and will then operate for an initial period to 31 December 2029.

As well as the focus on international shipping, the deputy ministry and the blue economy also serve the local shipping community. After our interview Ms Pilides was due to visit a small shipyard in Limassol, which she said was seeing growing demand, and in March a new marina is due to open in the holiday resort of Ayia Napa.

The deputy ministry also supports initiatives to encourage Cypriots to train for work in the blue economy. One organisation that is especially involved in this work is the Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institute (CMMI), which opened in October 2019. Its aim is to be an independent, international, scientific and business centre of excellence that will encourage cooperation between the maritime industry and the international academic community.

Its CEO, Zacharias Siokouros, joined our conversation. He explained that it is co-funded by 30M from the European Unions Horizon 2020 initiative and the Cyprus Government, with an additional 10M from local industry. It is modelled on Southampton Marine and Maritime Institute in the UK, which is one of its international partners.

Mr Siokouros paid tribute to Ms Pilides for her involvement in supporting the funding proposal to the EU in November 2018. It helped a lot that we could say we now have a dedicated ministry of shipping as an indication of how important shipping for Cyprus, he said. Now that CMMI is open for business, he is recruiting staff, including scientists and other specialists.

But CMMI is already working with industry. On 9 January is signed an MOU with Columbia Shipmanagement for a project called Digital Waves, which includes research and innovation into topics such as gathering data on ships, coupled with trends in connectivity and artificial intelligence.

He also described an EU-funded three-year scheme that began in November to engage the younger generation in the blue economy. It is called Sea of Experience and CMMI is one of six organisations involved three from Cyprus and three from Greece. The older generation do not have the luxury of spending a lot of time on ships with the younger generation so we are trying to find how we can use new tools to achieve this kind of mentoring, he explained.

Along with other initiatives, such as career fairs and school visits to enthuse teenagers, he hopes to instil a renewed interest in maritime opportunities. Despite Cyprus long marine history we have turned our backs to the sea, he said. He hopes to change that perception by introducing young people to opportunities both in shipping and beyond shipping.

Another, longer-established, organisation also acknowledged the support available from the deputy ministry. Prevention at Sea was founded in Greece in 2014 and moved to Cyprus in 2015. It is a maritime technology and marine risk prevention specialist that develops tools and risk assessment techniques to prevent human-generated risks escalating.

Its latest product is the Fleet Information SHaring platform (FISH), which is an online ship data repository that has been designed to standardise and automate ship inspection data. Its founder, Petros Achtypis, took part in our interview and said the platform is due to go live in June.

Having been in business since before the deputy ministry was established, he has seen the transition at first hand. We are very happy, he said, because his systems which use blockchain technology are disruptive and the shipping industry can be conservative in adopting such technology, he said. But he praised Ms Pilides and said that having the deputy ministry on our side, we can make big steps forward and can introduce our concept to the industry.

During FISHs initial development, experts in the deputy ministry provided advice on how the system could be developed, in particular about the data and information that should be recorded. Now, as it nears completion, he is now benefiting from some very practical support: the deputy ministrys staff are piloting the platform, along with some local shipping companies, in particular to provide feedback in relation to its use interface.

As well as its responsibilities for the ship register and its support for the local shipping industry, the deputy ministry plays an important role at IMO and Ms Pilides emphasised its success in November when it was re-elected to IMOs Council as one of its 20 Category C members. It has been a member of the Council since 1987 and this time secured 140 votes from the 165 voting countries, putting it in fourth place in the ballot.

She sees Cyprus involvement there as important. Our positive relationship with both IMO and the EU is really important and necessary for the industry, she said. Hopefully, we can continue to have those good relations and contribute in a meaningful way.

And then she was off to visit that shipyard.

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Reorganisation and recognition: Cyprus minister reflects on two years of progress - ShipInsight

ASU bats break out in win; pitching rotation a work in progress – 247Sports

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(Photo: Trevor Booth/Sun Devil Source, 247Sports)

TEMPE Tracy Smith flipped his hand into the air and shook his head as if the answer to the question was obvious.

Why did you start Cooper Benson tonight, someone asked.

Hes good, Smith responded quickly. Next question.

Benson, a freshman left-handed pitcher who had one game of collegiate baseball experience under his belt prior to Friday nights start against Boston College, earned the start against the Eagles. The move came one week after Justin Fall successfully started last Friday against Villanova in the team's season opener.

ASUs sixth-year head coach had little to say when asked why Fall did not start on Friday night for a second week in a row.

Hes good, too, Smith said before a long pause. (Junior right-handed pitcher) Boyd (Vander Kooi) is good. (Sophomore right-handed pitcher Tyler) Thornton is good. (Sophomore left-handed pitcher Erik) Tolman is good. I said we have five guys that we can run out there.

Smith listed the names of his starting pitchers to prove a point. The way he sees it, he has enough good starting pitchers to be successful but just no clarity as yet on exactly how they will be deployed. That is what he's trying to figure out early in the season.

Youre just trying to set your rotation, Smith said. Just kind of want to get an idea of where guys are at.

Benson did not help his cause on Friday. Six days after posting a quality start against Michigan, Benson lasted just 2+ innings against Boston College, surrendering six hits, three earned runs, five walks and a hit by pitch.

The Sun Devils won anyway, their offense breaking out of its opening week slump to pull the team to an even 3-3 record with 11 hits in a 10-4 victory at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.

But as Smith has said since the preseason, offense is the Sun Devils calling card. Its the pitching staff promising but also somewhat unproven that is the bigger unknown.

On Friday night, Smith fielded plenty of questions about Bensons bumpy outing.

Benson lacked control against the Eagles. While Smith said it was uncharacteristic of the southpaw, he believes his lack of a concrete pitching rotation allowed ASU to still get the win becauseSmith had the luxury of summoning Vander Kooi from his bullpen. Despite pitching 7.2 innings and allowing just one run versus Villanova in his first start of the year, the 6-foot-5 was needed out of the pen for the Sun Devils second series of their new campaign.

Benson is a competitive kid and hes got three pitches, Smith said. We think hes going to be successful.

The formula played out a little bit. Say a guy struggles in a start, which happened tonight and its going to happen. If you could pull another guy thats of that quality (from the bullpen) we can succeed.

Vander Kooi threw seven innings against Boston College and allowed just one run to lower his season ERA to 1.23. Despite the successful outing, Vander Kooi acknowledged it was an adjustment to pitch in a relief role.

Going from a starter to the bullpen, I didnt as much time to warm up or anything, he said. You have to adapt to that. I felt like every inning I was warming up more and more and I was able to finish strong.

Im a big routine guy. But in baseball, you still have to adapt and, you know, example tonight. You got to do what you got to do. Just get the job done no matter what.

Smith said that the ability to mix up the starters as he and first-year pitching coach Jason Kelly see fit is a luxury.

To have the option we have, to have the five guys who I legitimately feel can be weekend starters and have the ability to mix and match with those guys and the important quality in that is that all of them buy in thats a pretty good thing to have.

Smith knows that improved pitching is essential to the team achieving its goals this year and is confident that ASU's hitting will gain consistency. Friday provided a glimpse of that potential at the plate.

Guys stayed on the ball and stayed within themselves," Smith said. "We know the offense is going to come and there are still some things clearly to work on but that was good to allow our pitchers to have a little bit of breathing room.

After scoring only 12 total runs in their first five games, the Sun Devils almost matched that mark against the Eagles, production Smith credited to a solid pregame hitting session.

Our best pregame [batting practice] was today, Smith said. I just felt like the guys did a really good job of carrying it into the game.

Junior shortstop Alika Williams, junior third baseman Gage Workman and junior left fielder Trevor Hauver all hit home runs against the Eagles. Hauvers big fly led the trio in exit velocity at a scorching 109 mph off the bat.

In addition to homering for the first time this year, Hauver walked three times on Friday night and drove in three runs. He said he just needed to calm down.

Tonight was awesome, Hauver said. Thank god. The first couple of games I was pressing a little bit. I would say I was trying to do too much. Today we worked on just trying to breathe and drive everything up the middle and I stayed with the approach and finally got it. I feel a lot more comfortable.

Workman joked that Hauvers success was due to his facial hair.

It was that mustache that did it, Workman said.

Added Hauver: Oh yeah, this mustache is key. Had to grow this back.

Despite an impressive showing at the plate, Friday night was not all good news for the ASU lineup. Smith said after the game that junior catcher Sam Ferri suffered a knee injury during ASUs opening weekend and is not expected back anytime in the near future.

Without Ferri, ASU has just two catchers left on its roster, senior Nick Cheema and freshman utility player Nate Baez. The team is still considering who it will use in an emergency catching role.

"Baez has been doing a good job and every inning he's out there will build experience," Smith said. "Cheema has done a fantastic job in the last two games that he's been in and they both have to be.

"I know we're going to be good given our circumstances right now because several guys have come forward and say, 'Hey, I'll get back there if you need me.'"

Weather permitting, the Sun Devils are set to play Boston College again on Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. Staying true to his new pitching format, Smith didnt say who would take the bump.

We look at matchups and what gives us the best chance to win every single game each weekend, Smith said. Were not really in the mode yet of, This is the Friday guy. This is the Saturday guy. This is the Sunday guy.

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ASU bats break out in win; pitching rotation a work in progress - 247Sports

AP FACT CHECK: Donald Trump and the audacity of hype – Associated Press

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WASHINGTON (AP) In their boisterous presidential debate, several Democrats sold short the health care plans of rivals or glossed over aspects of their own record. In an audacious league of his own, President Donald Trump celebrated the elimination of a tax that still exists and went deep and wide in distorting what hes done in office.

A sampling from the past week:

TAXES

TRUMP: We got rid of it. No more death tax, no more inheritance tax. Colorado rally Thursday.

THE FACTS: False. The death tax is still alive.

Hes referring to the estate tax, also known as the inheritance tax. He didnt get rid of it.

The 2017 tax overhaul doubled the threshold at which the estate tax gets levied. A couple worth less than $22.4 million would avoid the tax. But the increase of the threshold isnt permanent. Its set to expire in 2026.

___

TRUMP, on the effects of the estate tax on people inheriting family farms: You know what? They go out and they would borrow a lot of money and they would lose the farms. The number is staggering. Colorado rally.

THE FACTS: Hes inflating the peril to family farms from the estate tax, which is aimed at the hugely wealthy. After his 2017 tax cuts, the Agriculture Department published estimates that 38,106 farm estates would be created in 2018. Of those, only 230 would have to file an estate tax return and only 133 would have any estate tax liability.

___

TRADE

TRUMP: If our formally targeted farmers need additional aid until such time as the trade deals with China, Mexico, Canada and others fully kick in, that aid will be provided by the federal government, paid for out of the massive tariff money coming into the USA! tweet Friday in all capital letters.

THE FACTS: Thats a flatly false account of where the money for the farm subsidies comes from. It comes from U.S. taxpayers. There is no massive tariff money coming into the country, from which the subsidies could be drawn.

Since the start of his trade war with China, Trump has been consistently deceptive about who is paying for it. Tariffs are principally paid by U.S. importers and those costs are usually passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices for goods. China and other exporters are not cutting the U.S. a check. The money to help farmers hurt by the trade war comes from the U.S. treasury at the expense of other federal programs and the debt.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office says household income takes a hit from the tariffs. It estimated last year that the tariffs then in play would bring down average inflation-adjusted household income by $580 from 2018 to 2020.

___

STOP AND FRISK

DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE MIKE BLOOMBERG, on the stop-and-frisk policing policy when he was New York mayor: What happened, however, was it got out of control and when we discovered I discovered that we were doing many, many, too many stop and frisks, we cut 95% of them out. Democratic debate Wednesday.

THE FACTS: Hes misrepresenting how stop and frisk declined. That happened because of a court order, not because Bloomberg learned that it was being overused.

In Bloombergs first 10 years in office, the number of stop-and-frisk actions increased nearly 600% from when he took office in 2002, reaching a peak of nearly 686,000 stops in 2011. That declined to about 192,000 documented stops in 2013, his final year as mayor.

Bloomberg achieved his claim of a 95% cut by cherry-picking the quarterly high point of 203,500 stops in the first quarter of 2012 and comparing that with the 12,485 stops in the last quarter of 2013.

The former mayor defended the practice even after leaving office at the end of 2013 and only apologized for it a few weeks before declaring his candidacy for presidency.

___

COAL

BLOOMBERG, citing his philanthropys work with the Sierra Club: Already weve closed 304 out of the 530 coal fire plants in the United States, and weve closed 80 out of the 200 or 300 that are in Europe. Democratic debate.

THE FACTS: Hes wrongly taking credit for driving the U.S. coal industry to its knees.

The U.S. coal industrys plunge is largely due to market forces, above all drops in prices of natural gas and renewable energy that have made costlier coal-fired power plants much less competitive for electric utilities. Bloomberg has indeed contributed huge sums to efforts to close coal plants and fight climate change, but against the backdrop of an industry besieged on other fronts.

U.S. coal production peaked in 2008, but since then has fallen steadily. Thats due largely to a boom in oil and gas production from U.S. shale, begun under the Obama administration, that made natural gas far more abundant and cheaper, and falling prices for wind and solar energy, partly because of improving technology in the renewable sector.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration reaffirmed in a report in December the extent to which the market has turned away from coal.

___

HEALTH CARE

TRUMP, on Sanders Medicare for All plan: Think of this: 180 million Americans are going to lose health care coverage under this plan. But if you dont mind, Im not going to criticize it tonight. Let them keep going and Ill start talking about it about two weeks out from the election. Arizona rally Wednesday.

THE FACTS: Thats a thorough misrepresentation of the Sanders plan as well as similar plans by Democrats in Congress. People wouldnt lose coverage. Under Sanders, they would be covered by a new and universal government plan that replaces private and job-based insurance. Democrats who stop short of proposing to replace private and job-based insurance would offer an option for people to take a Medicare-like plan, also toward the goal of ensuring universal coverage.

___

WARREN on Klobuchars health plan: It is like a Post-it note, insert plan here. ... Amy, I looked online at your plan. Its two paragraphs. Democratic debate.

THE FACTS: Thats not true. Klobuchars health care policies run thousands of words online, addressing coverage, substance abuse and mental health, prescription drugs and the elderly. Some of her material lacks specifics found in the plans of several of her rivals. Yet aspects of her agenda are grounded in detailed legislation led or supported by the senator from Minnesota.

Its true that Klochuchars main health policy page devotes two paragraphs to summarizing her way of achieving universal coverage. But thats not the extent of her plan.

___

SANDERS, to Buttigieg: Lets level, Pete. Under your plan, which is a maintenance continuation of the status quo. ... Democratic debate.

WARREN: Buttigiegs health care plan is not a plan. Its a PowerPoint.

THE FACTS: Its more than the status quo and more than a PowerPoint presentation. Buttigiegs plan would cover almost all U.S. citizens and legal residents, even if its not as far reaching as the proposals of Sanders and Warren.

An analysis of health care overhaul plans by the Urban Institute and the Commonwealth Fund found that an approach like the one advocated by Buttigieg would reduce the number of uninsured people from more than 32 million to less than 7 million. Those 7 million or so would mainly be people who are in the country illegally.

The proposal from Buttigieg features a new government-sponsored public option plan that even people with employer-sponsored coverage could join voluntarily.

Warrens put-down of Buttigiegs plan comes after she reconsidered her own approach to Medicare for All, deciding to proceed in stages. She would first expand coverage by building on existing programs and postpone the push for a system fully run by the government until the third year of her presidency.

___

TRUMP: We are now offering plans that are up to 60% less expensive than they were, and it is better health care. Arizona rally.

THE FACTS: Cheaper, yes. But not cheaper and better.

The bargain health insurance plans Trump talks about are cheaper because they skimp on benefits such as maternity or prescription drug coverage and do not guarantee coverage of preexisting conditions.

The short-term plans the Trump administration is promoting as an alternative to the Affordable Care Act provide up to 12 months of coverage and can be renewed for up to 36 months.

Premiums for the plans are about one-third the cost of fuller insurance coverage. Theyre intended for people who want an individual health insurance policy but make too much money to qualify for Obamacare subsides.

___

TRUMP: We are protecting people with preexisting conditions ... we are trying to get rid of Obamacare ... we are trying to get rid, so we can give you a great health-care plan and protect preexisting conditions. Arizona rally.

THE FACTS: Not really. People with preexisting medical problems have health insurance protections because of Obamas health care law. As Trump notes, he is trying to dismantle it.

One of Trumps major alternatives to Obamas law short-term health insurance doesnt have to cover preexisting conditions. Meanwhile, his administration has been pressing in court for full repeal of the Obama-era law, including provisions that protect people with preexisting conditions from health insurance discrimination.

He and congressional Republicans say they would put new protections in place, but they have not spelled them out.

With Obamas law still in place, preexisting conditions continue to be covered by regular individual health insurance plans. Insurers must take all applicants, regardless of medical history, and charge the same standard premiums to healthy people and those who had medical problems before or when they signed up.

Before the Affordable Care Act, any insurer could deny coverage or charge more to anyone with a preexisting condition who was seeking to buy an individual policy.

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PRESIDENTIAL POWERS

TRUMP, on one of the people who benefited from his round of pardons and sentence commutations: Rod Blagojevich did not sell the Senate seat. He served 8 years in prison, with many remaining. He paid a big price. Another Comey and gang deal! tweet Wednesday.

THE FACTS: Thats misleading at best. The FBI closed in on Blagojevich when he was trying to make the sale. He was convicted of trying to sell an appointment to President Barack Obamas former Senate seat as well as trying to shake down a childrens hospital. Trump commuted the sentence of the former Illinois governor on Tuesday.

James Comey, the FBI director fired by Trump, had nothing to do with the case. Comey was working in the private sector when Blagojevich was indicted, tried and convicted. As for Comeys gang, Patrick Fitzgerald, the federal prosecutor who brought the case against Blagojevich, is a Comey friend and one of his lawyers.

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TRUMP: Im actually, I guess, the chief law enforcement officer of the country. remarks Tuesday to reporters.

THE FACTS: Thats disputed.

Several veterans of Obamas administration described Trumps assertion as simply wrong on the law, while conservative legal minds say they think Trump is right.

While the president is in charge constitutionally, as a matter of good policy, presidents have kept law enforcement at arms length, said John Yoo, a University of California at Berkeley law school professor and Justice Department lawyer during President George W. Bushs Republican administration. Neutrality in law enforcement is important if the government is to have the credibility and integrity to convince judges and juries, who are the ones who ultimately render the verdict.

Trumps push for leniency for convicted confidant Roger Stone drew condemnation from more than 2,400 former Justice Department officials who served in Democratic and Republican administrations.

Martin Lederman, a Georgetown law professor and former Obama Justice Department official, said on Twitter that Congress, not the president, gives the authority to prosecute to the attorney general. Its also the attorney generals responsibility, Lederman said, to stand up to a president who charts an unlawful course, knowing that it might ... lead to removal.

Chris Lu, who managed Obamas Cabinet in his first term, said the Obama White House followed its predecessors in adhering to strict rules on who could communicate with the Justice Department and on what topics.

What Trump is suggesting is at odds with this longstanding precedent and dangerous to the principle of impartial justice, Lu said.

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Associated Press writers Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, Jonathan Lemire, Ellen Knickmeyer, Eric Tucker, Mark Sherman and Paul Wiseman in Washington and Amanda Seitz in Chicago contributed to this report.

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EDITORS NOTE A look at the veracity of claims by political figures.

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Find AP Fact Checks at http://apne.ws/2kbx8bd

Follow @APFactCheck on Twitter: https://twitter.com/APFactCheck

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AP FACT CHECK: Donald Trump and the audacity of hype - Associated Press

What Would Happen if Trump Refused to Leave Office? – The Atlantic

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That a president would defy the results of an election has long been unthinkable; it is now, if not an actual possibility, at the very least something Trumps supporters joke about. As the former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee tweeted, President Trump will be eligible for a 3rd term due to the illegal attempts by Comey, Dems, and media , et al attempting to oust him as @POTUS so thats why I was named to head up the 2024 re-election. A good troll though it may have been, Huckabee is not the first person to suggest that Trump might not leave when his presidency ends.

In May, the faith leader Jerry Falwell Jr. tweeted an apparent reference to the completed investigation of Special Counsel Robert Mueller into Russian election interference. I now support reparations, he wrote. Trump should have 2 yrs added to his 1st term as pay back for time stolen by this corrupt failed coup. Trump retweeted Falwells post.

One of Trumps former confidants, Michael Cohen, has suggested that Trump wont leave. In his congressional testimony before heading to prison, Trumps former attorney said, Given my experience working for Mr. Trump, I fear that if he loses the election in 2020, there will never be a peaceful transition of power.

Trump himself has joked about staying in office beyond his term, and even for life. In December, Trump told a crowd at a Pennsylvania rally that he will leave office in five years, nine years, 13 years, 17 years, 21 years, 25 years, 29 years He added that he was joking to drive the media totally crazy. Just a few days earlier, Trump had alluded to his critics in a speech, A lot of them say, You know hes not leaving So now we have to start thinking about that because its not a bad idea. This is how propaganda works. Say something outrageous often enough and soon it no longer sounds shocking.

Refusal to leave office is rare, but not unheard of. In the past decade, presidents in democracies such as Moldova, Sri Lanka, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Gambia have refused to leave office, sometimes leading to bloodshed. In 2016, Joseph Kabila decided not to step down after three five-year terms as the president of Congo, announcing that he would delay the election for two years so that a census could be conducted. His decision was met with mass protests in which 50 people were killed by government security forces. Still, he followed through and an election took place in 2018. He left office thereafter.

Elected officials in the U.S. have also refused to step down, albeit from lower offices than the presidency. In 1874, a Texas governor locked himself in the basement of the state capitol building after losing his reelection bid. The saga began when Republican Governor Edmund J. Davis lost the 1873 election by a resounding 2-to-1 ratio to his Democratic challenger, Richard Coke, and claimed that the election had been tainted with fraud and intimidation. A court case made its way to the states supreme court. All three justices, each of whom had been appointed by the incumbent Davis, ruled that the election was unconstitutional and invalid. Democrats called upon the public to disregard the courts decision, and proceeded with plans for Cokes inauguration. On January 15, 1874, Coke arrived at the state capitol with a sheriffs posse, and was sworn in to office while Davis barricaded himself downstairs with state troopers. The next day, Davis requested federal troops from President Ulysses S. Grant. Grant refused, and Davis finally stepped down three days later.

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What Would Happen if Trump Refused to Leave Office? - The Atlantic

India rolls out the MAGA carpet for Trump – POLITICO

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Namaste Trump! Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shouted to the crowd, which repeated it back to a beaming Trump.

Standing alongside Modi, Trump on Monday inaugurated the brand-new Motera Stadium, lined with 110,000 orange, yellow and blue seats all filled. Trump is ostensibly in India to help mitigate a long-standing trade dispute while tightening U.S.-Indian relations, but Monday's mega-rally was also designed to appeal to Indian-American voters as Trump heads into his reelection campaign.

The First Lady and I have just traveled 8,000 miles around the globe to deliver a message to every citizen across this nation: America loves India America respects India and Americans will always be true and loyal friends to the Indian people, Trump said in a speech that was translated into Hindi on a large video screen in the stadium, which sits along the Sabarmati River in Modi's home state of Gujarat.

It was a political-style rally like no other. Even Trumps popular MAGA rallies couldnt compare to the size and scope of the Namaste Trump rally.

Attendees, some wearing matching shirts from schools, companies or groups and others visiting from the United States, gradually streamed into the heavily secured stadium starting at 8 a.m., hours ahead of the rallys start time. Traditional, folk and patriotic songs blasted from the loudspeakers, keeping things upbeat under the unrelenting sun. A pair of jumbo video screens showed Trumps motorcade moving through the city.

Nearly everyone was wearing white baseball caps provided by organizers that featured a Namaste Trump logo across the front and both countries' flags on the brim. Even if the crowd started streaming out before the speeches were over because of the intense heat, the stadium was consistently filled with adulation for the U.S. president.

Trump is my favorite, gushed Gautam Patel, wearing a Trump, Make India Great Again baseball cap. I like Trump. Hes straightforward, outspoken. Hes got the verbal diarrhea but thats okay. He tells how it is. I love him.

Patel, a businessman who grew up in India but now lives outside Chicago and planned his vacation to India around the rally, said he supports Trump because he helped push through the 2017 tax cuts and his opposition to illegal immigration. I elected him and I will elect him again, he said.

The event was more than twice the size of the Howdy Modi rally both leaders headlined in 2019 at a cavernous football stadium in Houston, billed as the largest event in the U.S. for a leader of a foreign nation.

My friends, my family, maybe every Patel likes Trump, quipped Suresh Patel, 67, who splits his time between Jersey City, N.J., and Anand, India. A green card holder, he isnt able to vote but his wife and three adult children are all U.S. citizens and voted for Trump.

Im feeling proud, he said in Hindi. Its the meeting of the worlds oldest democrat and the worlds biggest democracy.

Hundreds of police officers in beige uniforms and black berets surrounded the stadium. Construction materials from the newly built stadium sat in piles outside. Near the VIP entrance was a huge sign that read Welcome to India Donald and Melania Trump.

As Trumps motorcade slowly made its way to the stadium, the Indian music gave way to Trumps rally playlist, including Macho Man and Tiny Dancer.

People over here think hes very powerful, said Rashi Sharma, 20, a college student from Ahmedabad studying marketing and entrepreneurship. Ive always heard of him. Hes a strong leader. Im following him on Twitter. She said watching him live and listening to his speech is an honor for us.

At times, it felt a little like one of Trumps MAGA rallies in the U.S. Some attendees went out of their way to criticize journalists, blast the mainstream media and praise Fox News. Trump and Modi even exited the stage to The Rolling Stones You Cant Always Get What You Want, Trumps closing song at rallies since his 2016 campaign.

We are registered Democrats but we have changed our views lately, said Daksha Dalal, 66, a federal government retiree from Kansas City, Kan., who was spending the winter in India and attending the rally with her husband. The couple volunteered they used to watch CNN but switched to Fox News after a negative report on Modi. We thought we could never watch Fox because we are Democrats.

By the time the two leaders arrived after 2 p.m. local time, temperatures had soared and attendees were desperately fanning themselves with anything they could find. In their speeches, Trump and Modi, who both rode to office on a wave of populist rhetoric, heaped praise on one another in their speeches.

"Trump's visit is a new chapter in the relationship between the U.S. and India, a chapter that will document the progress and prosperity of Americans and Indians," Modi said in Hindi.

Trump talked about the economy his usual topic but this time he spoke about Indias economy. And he mentioned a landslide election another usual topic but this time he was describing Modis 2019 victory and ascendance from humble roots as a tea sellers son.

You are proof that Indians can accomplish at all, anything they want, he said in his 27-minute remarks in which he mispronounced several Indian names and cities but name-checked well-known cricket players and Bollywood stars.

Modi began his political career in Gujarat, where he served as chief minister. As prime minister, he has enjoyed widespread popularity at home, though his reputation has taken a hit recently over over a new citizenship law that favors all religions over Islam. The move has sparked widespread protests around the country.

In his speech, Trump notably praised all religions.

Before appearing at the rally, Trump made a stop at the Sabarmati Ashram, the humble home where Mahatma Gandhi lived for a dozen years as he helped push India to gain independence from Britain. At one point, Modi could be seen explaining to Trump how to use a charkha, a traditional spinning wheel used by Gandhi. A makeshift VIP building had been hastily constructed for Trump and Modi in recent days, and the White House had been quiet about the visit ahead of time.

Another 100,000 people, largely hand-picked, spent hours in the sun waiting to wave small U.S. and Indian flags and cheer as the presidential motorcade drove passed. Some waved or gave a thumbs up. Along the route, artists from all 28 states performed at pop-up stages.

The leaders of China, Japan and Israel have all visited Ahmedabad since Modi became prime minister. But Trump is the first U.S. president and most high-profile visitor to date even if hes staying for less than two days.

Ahmedabad, a largely industrial city that bills itself as the land of Gandhi, features large swaths of crowded, low-income neighborhoods and more than its share of litter and cows roaming the streets. It has been furiously preparing for Trumps visit for days sprucing up the city, repairing roads, erecting flags and building a wall to hide a poor area along the route of the presidential motorcade.

Hundreds of signs some in English, some in Hindi have popped up, featuring photos of Trump and Modi with phrases that read two dynamic personalities, one momentous occasion, the worlds largest democracy meets the worlds oldest democracy and a historic milestone for a historic friendship.

The signs lined the lighted bridge across the Sabarmati River, where larger-than-life photos of Trump and Modi were also erected Trump in his trademark dark suit tie, flashing a thumbs up.

Before Trump left Washington, he spoke about the crowds he expected to see in India, telling reporters that Modi promised him five to seven million people would line the streets between the airport and stadium. By Thursday, in Trumps recalling of his conversation with Modi, the number had ballooned to 10 million.

Its not unusual for the former reality TV star to be ever mindful of the optics. He often boasts about the size of his audiences and mocks his opponents, Republicans or Democrats, for what he deems lackluster support at events.

But in the days before Trumps arrival, Ahmedabad officials announced 100,000 Indians had been selected and registered to stand along the motorcade route. While it was nowhere close to the 10 million people the president had predicted, the crowds were undoubtedly enthusiastic.

Trump posted on Twitter Saturday that he was looking "so forward to being with my great friends in INDIA! while retweeting a clip from the popular movie Baahubali showing himself as the lead character and savior, riding on a chariot with the first lady.

He will leave for the capital city of New Delhi Monday night after first taking a detour for a private tour of the Taj Mahal.

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India rolls out the MAGA carpet for Trump - POLITICO

Donald Trump has poisoned American culture but the toxin was here all along – Salon

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Here is a good, truth-in-advertising political slogan: "How much money will it bring in?" That is also the question that Alexis de Tocqueville argued Americans use to ascertain the "value of everything in this world."

The almighty profit motive reins so steadfastly supreme in the world's wealthiest nation that children suffer brain damage from drinking water contaminated with high levels of lead, prison has become the leading institution for the mentally ill, and hundreds of thousands of Americans declare bankruptcy every year because they can't afford to pay theirmedical bills. Caring for the sick and nurturing children cannot compete with the twin gods of enrichment and consumption in what historian Walter McDougall called "a nation of hustlers." In the words of President Calvin Coolidge, "The business of America is business."

Even if life, libertyand the pursuit of hucksterism always formed the core of American culture, there has also existed an alternative America. It is the America we can discern in the speeches of Martin Luther King, the songs of Woody Guthrie and the social movements that have pressured the government to move toward the actualization of "liberty and justice for all."

For almost all of American history, even the most cutthroat politicians acted as participants in a national masquerade, disguising their corporate servility with a cloak of sentimental rhetoric. Ronald Reagan likened America to a "shining city on a hill." George W. Bush promised to "restore integrity" to the country after Bill Clinton's sex scandal, and John McCain insisted that "character counts," even in the gladiatorial arena of political trickery, slanderand brinkmanship.

It is only Donald Trump who has instructed Americans that civic virtue, concern for the public interestand personal ethics are, at best, delusions of the weak. One of Trump's more frightening political triumphs is thatfirst as a candidate and then with the authority and influence of thepresidency, he has exposed the idea of "American values" as a thin, easily penetrable veneer. What lies beneath that is exactly what Trump represents and advances with his every utterance and executive order fidelity to the ancient maxim, "might makes right."

When Trump boasted that he forcefully gropes unsuspecting women by the genitals, he was not only displaying his misogyny, but also delineating an entire worldview. "When you're a star" meaning when you have wealth and power "you can do whatever you want." The pesky voice of conscience should forever remain on mute when there's money to make, deals to cut, and women to grab.

In only five years, Trump has enabled Republicans in Congress, in the mediaand in attendance at his pro wrestling-meets-Mussolini ralliesto overcomewhat the late David Foster Wallace called, "the shame hobble." They not only accept Trump's behavior,no matter how vulgar or mean-spirited, theyact as if morality does not even exist.

John McCain, according to Fox News commentators and right wing bloviators, did not really oppose Donald Trump, or have concerns about the elimination of protections for people suffering from pre-existing conditions in the Republican repeal of the Affordable Care Act. Rather, he was "weak" and riddled with envy over not having become president himself.

Similarly, Sen. Mitt Romney's invocation of his religious faith, his beliefs about the U.S.Constitutionand his concern for the legacy he is leaving his children when explaining his vote to remove Trump from office was "phony." It was nothing more than cover for his own weakness and jealousy.

In order to support Trump, it is as if one has to assume that everyone is as petty, selfishand egocentric as Trump. The right wing exposes its own cynical views when conservativesdelight in accusing progressives of "virtue-signaling." When the popular social media term originated, it referred to the real and irritating practice some people have of presenting themselves as saintly in their adherence to popular moral values. It no longer has any meaning, because the righthas now bastardized it, applying it to anyone who expresses even the slightest concern for the downtrodden. The sad, Trump-like notion is that no activist, journalistor celebrity actually cares about families separated at the southern border, poor people who suffer for lack of social services, or endangered species. No one, in fact, cares about anything. They're all"virtue-signaling" to court favor with followers and customers.

Trump has taken advantage of his bully pulpit, along with his immense skills as a showman, to persuade many Americans that they should no longer even pretend to believe in values higher than profit maximization, victory against one's adversariesand the enhancement of one's social status. This is one reason many of his supporters are so rabid. He gives them comfort in the exercise of their base instincts, and offers them a reason to reject anything that might challenge them to improve.

The contenders for the Democratic nomination to the presidency disagree on the minutiae of health care policy, how bestto combat climate changeand how to manage the ongoing conflict between capital and social welfare in a large, industrial market economy. But despite thesepolicy differences none of which will matter if Republicans hold control of the Senate they do all agree, at least in articulation, on the urgency of reviving the alternative America.

Joe Biden promises to "restore the soul of America," juxtaposing his potential presidency with footage of the Charlottesville hate crimeand Trump's defense of its neo-Nazi participants. Pete Buttigieg refers to more than his relative youth when he boasts that he represents a "new generation of American leadership," and routinely recites words like "unity," "compassion" and "dignity."

Bernie Sanders, the current frontrunner, signals the alternative America most succinctly with his official campaign slogan, "Not Me. Us."

The problem is that America is a society constructed around the notion of an all-pervading self-interest, making the Democratic campaign, regardless of the candidate, more challenging than most observers would assume.

Cable news pundits, most especially the few sane Republicans who oppose Trump, often talk about how the president's policies and beliefs are "un-American." There is a major contradiction withinthat conclusion: Donald Trump is president of the United States of America. He also has ahigherapproval rating among Republicans than either of theBushes or RonaldReagan enjoyed at this stage of their respective presidencies. Before entering politics, Trump was an American icon a fixture of tabloid television who, despite his repeated business failures, was seen as a marketing genius a perception he would milk as host of the NBC program, "The Apprentice."

Democrats too often act as if it is a foregone conclusion that decency and civic-mindedness will prevail over Trump's malignant narcissism, and the antisocial ethos of power worship it represents.

The most crucial question of the 2020 race is whether or not virtue has any role left in political debate. Former New York mayor Mike Bloomberg seems to thinkit does not, and is counting on voters to overlook his record of racist policies and sexual harassment in the elevation of their own "might makes right" mentality. In this case, the might is a multibillion-dollar fortune, of whichBloomberg is willing to spend achunkblitzing the American public with undeniably effective television advertisements.

For Trump's part, he will use his power to subvert the rule of law, undermine American agencies and institutions of government, and enact his "how much money will it bring in" agenda by cutting environmental protections, health and safety standards for workers and consumers, and funding for anything that implies a common good,from libraries to student loan forgiveness programs.

Those among uswho still pledge some allegiance to the alternative America can watch in horror as we inch closer to the realization that Donald Trump, the personification of kitsch, ignoranceand barbarism, is not un-American at all. He is as American as fireworks on the Fourth of July.

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Donald Trump has poisoned American culture but the toxin was here all along - Salon

Imagine That Donald Trump Has Almost No Control Over Justice – The New York Times

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The department can also show leniency to a presidents political friends. The Roger Stone case is an example. Indeed, the very possibility that it will do so can create a strong incentive to become the presidents political friend.

The presidents power over the Justice Department is potentially even more dangerous than that. The department helps to oversee the antitrust laws, and in allowing or forbidding mergers, it can play political favorites. Civil actions, and not merely criminal ones, can be polluted by the presidents electoral interest (or spite).

The Office of Legal Counsel, which sits within the department, is supposed to provide the president and the rest of the executive branch with objective legal advice. But at least some of the time, that offices judgment is anything but objective. To an uncomfortable degree, its assessment of what the president is entitled to do, as a matter of law, often fits with the presidents wishes.

In the post-Watergate era, a reasonable balance has been struck. As a matter of established norms, both Republican and Democratic presidents have usually given the attorney general a great deal of room to maneuver, especially when it comes to criminal prosecutions and ongoing litigation. In other words, norms have done the work of law.

Under President Trump, those norms have come under severe pressure. If they collapse, there would be incalculable damage to both liberty and self-government.

In light of that risk, Congress should seriously consider making the Justice Department an independent agency. Sure, a Republican-dominated Senate is unlikely to allow that to happen in the near future.

But wouldnt it be better? There are two objections.

The first involves accountability. Theres a reasonable argument that the priorities of the department, which oversees so many important questions of law and policy, should reflect the views of the American people and so the president, whom they elected.

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Imagine That Donald Trump Has Almost No Control Over Justice - The New York Times

What Is There For Republicans to Dislike About Donald Trump? – Mother Jones

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Suppose youre talking to someone who says, sure, they hate Trump personally (the tweets, the rallies, etc.) but they like his policies. So theyre going to vote for Trump unless someone can convince them that his policies are bad or that Democratic policies are better. Lets think about this. What are Trumps major policies?

Its worth noting that almost all of these are just bog standard Republican policies. The two exceptions are the border wall and the tariffs. However, the wall is popular among the Republican base and the tariffs, judging from how theyve been received, were always opposed more in word than deed.

Bottom line: if youve already decided that (a) Trumps bluster isnt enough to turn you off and (b) his corruption is mostly just a bunch of bogus partisan hysterics from Democrats, what is there for an ordinary Republican voter to dislike?

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What Is There For Republicans to Dislike About Donald Trump? - Mother Jones