By | By Jonathan Lemire and Alexandra Jaffe | Associated PressWASHINGTON — John Bolton’s claim in an explosive new book that President Donald Trump urged China’s Xi Jinping to help him win reelection could undermine his campaign’s effort to portray Democratic rival Joe Biden as soft on Beijing.Biden’s top aides moved quickly on Thursday to argue that it’s Trump who has taken a weak approach to the rising superpower. They seized on accusations from Bolton, Trump’s former national security adviser, that the president continually kowtowed to Xi and ignored human rights abuses while trying to...…By | By Jonathan Lemire and Alexandra Jaffe | Associated PressWASHINGTON — John Bolton’s claim in an explosive new book that President Donald Trump urged China’s Xi Jinping to help him win reelection could undermine his campaign’s effort to portray Democratic rival Joe Biden as soft on Beijing.Biden’s top aides moved quickly on Thursday to argue that it’s Trump who has taken a weak approach to the rising superpower. They seized on accusations from Bolton, Trump’s former national security adviser, that the president continually kowtowed to Xi and ignored human rights abuses while trying to...WW…

By | A number of outsiders are fueling the destruction and rioting that has built each night this week across the Twin Cities since the death of George Floyd, according to state officials who spoke during a Saturday morning press conference.Gov. Tim Walz said officials estimate that about 80 percent of the rioters Friday night were from outside Minnesota while 20 percent were Minnesotans.As officials make arrests, they are investigating who those individuals are and whether they are associated with any groups, said Minnesota Public Safety Commissioner John Harrington.“We have seen things...…By | A number of outsiders are fueling the destruction and rioting that has built each night this week across the Twin Cities since the death of George Floyd, according to state officials who spoke during a Saturday morning press conference.Gov. Tim Walz said officials estimate that about 80 percent of the rioters Friday night were from outside Minnesota while 20 percent were Minnesotans.As officials make arrests, they are investigating who those individuals are and whether they are associated with any groups, said Minnesota Public Safety Commissioner John Harrington.“We have seen things...WW…

By | | Marin Independent JournalA large group of residents marched up Grant Avenue in Novato on Friday to call for the full reopening of the local and state economies.Many demonstrators were carrying American flags or signs with phrases such as “All Jobs Are Essential,” “Reopen CA Now,” “Corona Fraud” and promoting the website WeHaveRights.com, which has been involved in organizing similar demonstrations throughout the state. Some were wearing masks, and many were not practicing social-distancing recommendations by standing less than 6 feet apart.“I don’t have a brick-and-mortar on Main...…By | | Marin Independent JournalA large group of residents marched up Grant Avenue in Novato on Friday to call for the full reopening of the local and state economies.Many demonstrators were carrying American flags or signs with phrases such as “All Jobs Are Essential,” “Reopen CA Now,” “Corona Fraud” and promoting the website WeHaveRights.com, which has been involved in organizing similar demonstrations throughout the state. Some were wearing masks, and many were not practicing social-distancing recommendations by standing less than 6 feet apart.“I don’t have a brick-and-mortar on Main...WW…

By | SEATTLE (AP) — Fox News has removed digitally altered photos from its website after the Seattle Times noted misleading images used in the network’s coverage about a Seattle neighborhood that’s become a protest center against police brutality and racial injustice.The Seattle Times reports Fox News’ website featured at least two photos on Friday that inserted an image of a man standing with a military-style rifle, and that there were no disclaimers on how they were manipulated when featured on the network’s website for most of the day Friday.The image of the gunman is from a Getty Images...…By | SEATTLE (AP) — Fox News has removed digitally altered photos from its website after the Seattle Times noted misleading images used in the network’s coverage about a Seattle neighborhood that’s become a protest center against police brutality and racial injustice.The Seattle Times reports Fox News’ website featured at least two photos on Friday that inserted an image of a man standing with a military-style rifle, and that there were no disclaimers on how they were manipulated when featured on the network’s website for most of the day Friday.The image of the gunman is from a Getty Images...WW…

By | By Michael Balsamo | Associated PressWASHINGTON — The federal Bureau of Prisons said Sunday that a staff member involved in preparing for the first federal executions in nearly two decades has tested positive for coronavirus.The Justice Department said the development will not mean an additional delay in the government’s timetable, already stalled by a federal court, because the worker had not been in the execution chamber and had not come into contact with anyone on the specialized team sent to the prison to handle the execution.The agency made the disclosure in court filings in...…By | By Michael Balsamo | Associated PressWASHINGTON — The federal Bureau of Prisons said Sunday that a staff member involved in preparing for the first federal executions in nearly two decades has tested positive for coronavirus.The Justice Department said the development will not mean an additional delay in the government’s timetable, already stalled by a federal court, because the worker had not been in the execution chamber and had not come into contact with anyone on the specialized team sent to the prison to handle the execution.The agency made the disclosure in court filings in...WW…

By and | Southern California News GroupLarge hospital systems in Southern California are preparing to create more space for patients as cases continue to surge in the region and across the state.One ER physician said hospital CEOs “are getting anxious” about the capacity of their facilities to handle the influx, and some are developing staged plans to ensure they can.From Riverside and San Bernardino counties to Los Angeles and Orange counties, the numbers of patients infected with COVID-19 have been climbing dramatically in the past few weeks.health officials reported Friday that...…By and | Southern California News GroupLarge hospital systems in Southern California are preparing to create more space for patients as cases continue to surge in the region and across the state.One ER physician said hospital CEOs “are getting anxious” about the capacity of their facilities to handle the influx, and some are developing staged plans to ensure they can.From Riverside and San Bernardino counties to Los Angeles and Orange counties, the numbers of patients infected with COVID-19 have been climbing dramatically in the past few weeks.health officials reported Friday that...WW…

By | Lilly Bumpus wrote a letter at the beginning of Girl Scout cookie season explaining how those who buy boxes from her will not only be helping her raise money, but helping her achieve her dreams.Two months and tens of thousands of sales later, the record for most boxes of Girl Scout cookies sold in a single season belongs to the 8-year-old from San Bernardino.“She showed our community and the world it’s more than just buying cookies or buying a product,” Trish Bauer, Lilly’s mother, said this week. “It’s supporting someone’s dream. Whether it’s a business owner or an 8-year-old girl...…By | Lilly Bumpus wrote a letter at the beginning of Girl Scout cookie season explaining how those who buy boxes from her will not only be helping her raise money, but helping her achieve her dreams.Two months and tens of thousands of sales later, the record for most boxes of Girl Scout cookies sold in a single season belongs to the 8-year-old from San Bernardino.“She showed our community and the world it’s more than just buying cookies or buying a product,” Trish Bauer, Lilly’s mother, said this week. “It’s supporting someone’s dream. Whether it’s a business owner or an 8-year-old girl...WW…

By | SAN FRANCISCO — Jack Palladino, the private investigator who worked on high-profile cases ranging from the Jonestown mass suicides to celebrity and political scandals, has been placed on life support after suffering a head injury during an attempted robbery.Palladino, 70, had just stepped outside his San Francisco home on Thursday to try out his new camera when a car pulled up and a man jumped out to grab it from him, police and the detective’s stepson Nick Chapman told the San Francisco Chronicle.As the suspect grabbed the camera, Palladino fell and hit his head on the pavement,...…By | SAN FRANCISCO — Jack Palladino, the private investigator who worked on high-profile cases ranging from the Jonestown mass suicides to celebrity and political scandals, has been placed on life support after suffering a head injury during an attempted robbery.Palladino, 70, had just stepped outside his San Francisco home on Thursday to try out his new camera when a car pulled up and a man jumped out to grab it from him, police and the detective’s stepson Nick Chapman told the San Francisco Chronicle.As the suspect grabbed the camera, Palladino fell and hit his head on the pavement,...WW…

By | By Jonathan J. Cooper | Associated PressPHOENIX — Arizona Republicans voted Saturday to censure Cindy McCain and two prominent GOP officials who have found themselves crosswise with former President Donald Trump.The censures of Sen. John McCain’s widow, former Sen. Jeff Flake and Gov. Doug Ducey are merely symbolic. But they show the party’s foot soldiers are focused on enforcing loyalty to Trump, even in the wake of an election that saw Arizona inch away from its staunchly Republican roots.Party activists also reelected controversial Chairwoman Kelli Ward, who has been one of Trump’s...…By | By Jonathan J. Cooper | Associated PressPHOENIX — Arizona Republicans voted Saturday to censure Cindy McCain and two prominent GOP officials who have found themselves crosswise with former President Donald Trump.The censures of Sen. John McCain’s widow, former Sen. Jeff Flake and Gov. Doug Ducey are merely symbolic. But they show the party’s foot soldiers are focused on enforcing loyalty to Trump, even in the wake of an election that saw Arizona inch away from its staunchly Republican roots.Party activists also reelected controversial Chairwoman Kelli Ward, who has been one of Trump’s...WW…

By | Bay City News ServiceSAN FRANCISCO — San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera announced Friday PG&E has agreed to pay the city up to $190 million to settle a legal battle that has lasted two decades over cleanup at the Marina Small Craft Harbor.The city first sued PG&E back in 2001 over pollution coming from the utility’s former coal gasification plants near the harbor after chemical compounds were discovered in the subsurface soils and sediments at the East Harbor.“I’m pleased that PG&E is finally doing the right thing in this instance and paying to clean up its...…By | Bay City News ServiceSAN FRANCISCO — San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera announced Friday PG&E has agreed to pay the city up to $190 million to settle a legal battle that has lasted two decades over cleanup at the Marina Small Craft Harbor.The city first sued PG&E back in 2001 over pollution coming from the utility’s former coal gasification plants near the harbor after chemical compounds were discovered in the subsurface soils and sediments at the East Harbor.“I’m pleased that PG&E is finally doing the right thing in this instance and paying to clean up its...WW…