The congressman was more sympathetic, more supportive of Israel than either lobbyist had expected. He affirmed every point they made: that Hamas is the personification of evil; that the release of hostages must be prioritized; and that the United States must not be distracted by rising Palestinian civilian casualties. “You can count on Congress to be a friend,” Rep. Ritchie Torres, a 35-year-old Democrat from the Bronx, told his guests. “You can count on me to be a friend.” Dona Raz Levy had flown from Tel Aviv to Washington to petition lawmakers on behalf of the more than 200 people who...…The congressman was more sympathetic, more supportive of Israel than either lobbyist had expected. He affirmed every point they made: that Hamas is the personification of evil; that the release of hostages must be prioritized; and that the United States must not be distracted by rising Palestinian civilian casualties. “You can count on Congress to be a friend,” Rep. Ritchie Torres, a 35-year-old Democrat from the Bronx, told his guests. “You can count on me to be a friend.” Dona Raz Levy had flown from Tel Aviv to Washington to petition lawmakers on behalf of the more than 200 people who...WW…

This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareIn the days since protesters were driven out of Lafayette Square coughing and limping, their eyes burning amid clouds of smoke, the Trump administration has insisted federal authorities did not use tear gas on the crowd.“No tear gas was used, and no rubber bullets were used,” White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany told reporters Wednesday, echoing similar claims from the U.S. Park Police and the president’s allies.McEnany was correct, but only to the extent that police did not use products labeled “tear gas” and...…This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareIn the days since protesters were driven out of Lafayette Square coughing and limping, their eyes burning amid clouds of smoke, the Trump administration has insisted federal authorities did not use tear gas on the crowd.“No tear gas was used, and no rubber bullets were used,” White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany told reporters Wednesday, echoing similar claims from the U.S. Park Police and the president’s allies.McEnany was correct, but only to the extent that police did not use products labeled “tear gas” and...WW…

This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift SharePolice in Albuquerque on Tuesday announced they had arrested a former city council candidate who they say shot and wounded a man at a protest that grew contentious as demonstrators clashed with a militia group.The Monday night episode — which erupted after a crowd tried to tear down a monument to Spanish conquistador Juan de Oñate — appeared to reflect a phenomenon that federal and state officials have long warned about: Protests over racial injustice, such as the ones currently roiling American cities, can draw a medley...…This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift SharePolice in Albuquerque on Tuesday announced they had arrested a former city council candidate who they say shot and wounded a man at a protest that grew contentious as demonstrators clashed with a militia group.The Monday night episode — which erupted after a crowd tried to tear down a monument to Spanish conquistador Juan de Oñate — appeared to reflect a phenomenon that federal and state officials have long warned about: Protests over racial injustice, such as the ones currently roiling American cities, can draw a medley...WW…

Add to list On my list The novel coronavirus arrived in an Indiana farm town mid-planting season and took root faster than the fields of seed corn, infecting hundreds and killing dozens. It tore through a pork processing plant and spread outward in a desolate stretch of the Oklahoma Panhandle. And in Colorado’s sparsely populated eastern plains, the virus erupted in a nursing home and a pair of factories, burning through the crowded quarters of immigrant workers and a vulnerable elderly population. As the death toll nears 100,000, the disease caused by the virus has made a fundamental shift...…Add to list On my list The novel coronavirus arrived in an Indiana farm town mid-planting season and took root faster than the fields of seed corn, infecting hundreds and killing dozens. It tore through a pork processing plant and spread outward in a desolate stretch of the Oklahoma Panhandle. And in Colorado’s sparsely populated eastern plains, the virus erupted in a nursing home and a pair of factories, burning through the crowded quarters of immigrant workers and a vulnerable elderly population. As the death toll nears 100,000, the disease caused by the virus has made a fundamental shift...WW…

This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareFederal and state officials revealed Thursday that they had thwarted a plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, unsealing charges against 13 people who they say were involved in various plans to attack law enforcement, overthrow the government and ignite a civil war.Officials said the conspiracy — which was supposed to come to fruition before the election — seemed to be an ominous indication of how America’s civil unrest has energized violent extremists.The plotters, according to an FBI affidavit, seemed to be...…This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareFederal and state officials revealed Thursday that they had thwarted a plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, unsealing charges against 13 people who they say were involved in various plans to attack law enforcement, overthrow the government and ignite a civil war.Officials said the conspiracy — which was supposed to come to fruition before the election — seemed to be an ominous indication of how America’s civil unrest has energized violent extremists.The plotters, according to an FBI affidavit, seemed to be...WW…

Gift ShareAs the U.S. continues to grapple with a reckoning spurred by George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis, New York City police are facing new questions, and activists nationwide are highlighting a spate of vehicle attacks on marchers.Here are some significant developments:Eight Pittsburgh-area residents were indicted on criminal charges connected to the protests in downtown Pittsburgh on May 30 after the death of George Floyd in police custody, U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady .Prosecutors say the crimes were committed as Pittsburgh police were responding to large demonstrations that started...…Gift ShareAs the U.S. continues to grapple with a reckoning spurred by George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis, New York City police are facing new questions, and activists nationwide are highlighting a spate of vehicle attacks on marchers.Here are some significant developments:Eight Pittsburgh-area residents were indicted on criminal charges connected to the protests in downtown Pittsburgh on May 30 after the death of George Floyd in police custody, U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady .Prosecutors say the crimes were committed as Pittsburgh police were responding to large demonstrations that started...WW…

This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareTest results for the novel coronavirus are taking so long to come back that experts say the results across the United States are often proving useless in the campaign to control the deadly disease.Some testing sites are struggling to provide results in five to seven days. Others are taking even longer. Outbreaks across the Sun Belt have strained labs beyond capacity. That rising demand, in turn, has caused shortages of swabs, chemical reagents and equipment as far away as New York.The long testing turnaround times are...…This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareTest results for the novel coronavirus are taking so long to come back that experts say the results across the United States are often proving useless in the campaign to control the deadly disease.Some testing sites are struggling to provide results in five to seven days. Others are taking even longer. Outbreaks across the Sun Belt have strained labs beyond capacity. That rising demand, in turn, has caused shortages of swabs, chemical reagents and equipment as far away as New York.The long testing turnaround times are...WW…

This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareShortages of health care workers are worsening in Houston, Miami, Baton Rouge and other cities battling sustained covid-19 outbreaks, exhausting staffers and straining hospitals’ ability to cope with spiking cases.That need is especially dire for front-line nurses, respiratory therapists and others who play hands-on, bedside roles where one nurse is often required for each critically ill patient.While many hospitals have devised ways to stretch material resources — converting surgery wards into specialized covid units and...…This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareShortages of health care workers are worsening in Houston, Miami, Baton Rouge and other cities battling sustained covid-19 outbreaks, exhausting staffers and straining hospitals’ ability to cope with spiking cases.That need is especially dire for front-line nurses, respiratory therapists and others who play hands-on, bedside roles where one nurse is often required for each critically ill patient.While many hospitals have devised ways to stretch material resources — converting surgery wards into specialized covid units and...WW…

It’s the first day back at work for Scott E. Lynn, the Montour County coroner. He’s been sick with covid-19. He was out for a month and lost 25 pounds. As he arrives at his office in a remote corner of Geisinger Medical Center, he still feels weak. Lynn doesn’t know how he contracted the coronavirus. Deceased people do not spread the virus under normal circumstances. And Lynn mostly handles corpses enclosed in two layers of body bags.“I can only assume it was somewhere in the process of my death investigations,” he says. He wears a mask at work, but he still has to go into homes, motel...…It’s the first day back at work for Scott E. Lynn, the Montour County coroner. He’s been sick with covid-19. He was out for a month and lost 25 pounds. As he arrives at his office in a remote corner of Geisinger Medical Center, he still feels weak. Lynn doesn’t know how he contracted the coronavirus. Deceased people do not spread the virus under normal circumstances. And Lynn mostly handles corpses enclosed in two layers of body bags.“I can only assume it was somewhere in the process of my death investigations,” he says. He wears a mask at work, but he still has to go into homes, motel...WW…

This article was published more than 2 years agoGift SharePresident Biden on Thursday signed an executive order to rebuild the United States’ refugee resettlement program “to help meet the unprecedented global need” after four years of rollbacks under President Donald Trump.“It’s going to take time to rebuild what has been so badly damaged,” Biden said during a speech at the State Department.The United States admitted 11,814 refugees between Oct. 1, 2019, and Sept. 30, 2020 — lower than any other year since the start of the refugee program decades ago, and barely 14 percent of the...…This article was published more than 2 years agoGift SharePresident Biden on Thursday signed an executive order to rebuild the United States’ refugee resettlement program “to help meet the unprecedented global need” after four years of rollbacks under President Donald Trump.“It’s going to take time to rebuild what has been so badly damaged,” Biden said during a speech at the State Department.The United States admitted 11,814 refugees between Oct. 1, 2019, and Sept. 30, 2020 — lower than any other year since the start of the refugee program decades ago, and barely 14 percent of the...WW…