The mission of Excellence in Government is to provide current and rising federal leadership with the latest innovations critical to overcome key challenges, best practices and case studies, essential research and insights to further career goals and agency missions, and a place to connect with fellow leaders and discuss solutions to today’s most critical issues.
In 2015, Excellence in Government: The Agency of the Future will focus on providing federal leaders with the tools and techniques to work today to build the government of tomorrow.
Advances in technology, changes in workforce demographics and emerging theories of management are combining to fundamentally change the landscape in which agencies will operate. Join top government officials, world-class management experts and leading thinkers from the world of academia for a focused, intense day of learning about how to meet government’s challenges for the next decade and beyond.
Building and managing a workforce that can move at the speed of change in today’s world is a critical challenge. Learn how to recruit top talent, get the most out of your staff and build a team that can meet and exceed citizens’ ever-growing expectations.
Successful federal organizations are built on a workplace culture that starts with a passion for achieving a mission and embodies a commitment to excellence. Take the first steps on the road to becoming a more effective leader by understanding how to establish a positive, supportive results-oriented culture and help employees develop their skills in an environment that rewards creativity and measurable success.
Effectively managing diverse groups of employees who are used to non-traditional methods of work — and then measuring the results of those efforts — will be critical to success in tomorrow’s government. Learn what’s working and what’s not in a world of rapid technological change, flexible schedules, mobile work, transparent government, and increased public participation.
More information coming soon! More information coming soon!
With increasing demands, shrinking resources and increasing attacks on government’s executive corps, many employees working their way up the ranks are reconsidering whether they even want to join the Senior Executive Service. A diverse panel of both experienced and rising executives who have navigated those challenges will share words of wisdom for the next generation of leaders.
Morale in the federal government is at a low point at a time when expectations of the workforce continue to increase. To address this challenge, federal leaders must articulate a clear, consistent set of priorities and values that all employees relate to and support. This session will show them how to do that, demonstrating the role and importance of building trust to shape the culture of government organizations.
Speakers: Alan Pentz, Director, Corner Alliance, Inc.; Gleason Rowe, Consultant, Corner Alliance, Inc.
The biggest myth in leadership is that it only involves those at the top of the organizational chart. Those who excel in government and have a lasting impact on federal operations have learned to lead from whatever level or position they occupy. Attendees at this session will learn how to lead up, across and down -- before and after they are in formal leadership positions.
An inside look at some of the misconceptions and challenges associated with federal hiring, including the use of special hiring authorities, posting job openings and recruiting a diverse and talented workforce from within and outside government.
The Obama administration has made improving the government customer experience a high priority, and early efforts are highlighting the technological and cultural challenges of adopting a customer-centric approach. This session will showcase examples of agencies that have made customer focus an integral part of their strategies with striking results.
Operations such as the U.S. Digital Service, the General Services Administration's 18F unit and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau are paving the way for a new kind of federal entity: nimble, tech-forward and results-focused. Will the new approaches to organization and management they embody last beyond the Obama administration?
Graduate School USA is proud to present a session on the major forces shaping the workplace learning environment. From engaging and developing all levels of the workforce to balancing employer / employee needs, this session explores the tactics and strategies that can truly transform organizational culture. Industry-leading panelists will provide real, proven, and actionable experience and advice to make an immediate impact on your organization.
Effective workforce management can be challenging in today’s budget-constrained environment. This panel will explore best practices in generating and maintaining a successful productive workforce. Hear from current and former innovative government leaders as they share insights surrounding workforce management, particularly as it relates to achieving and maintaining efficiencies within federal agencies. Highlights will include their achievements in driving programs and initiatives that have resulted in: improving recruiting and hiring processes; promoting human capital strategies making agencies more adaptable when faced with changing initiatives or government mandates; adopting and implementing workforce-enabling technologies; developing agency accountability measurements that effectively and efficiently assess deliver outcomes.
Information security. Information governance. Information access. Information value. Checking these boxes may seem straightforward for the proper management and use of your agency’s records and information, yet few agencies can confidently execute this checklist. Complying with applicable federal records management laws and regulations is critical to not only safeguarding your information, but also enabling/ensuring access to the right information at the right time. However, a recent industry study revealed that only 15% of government respondents strongly agreeing that their records management policy is meeting the needs of their agency. Do you know why the economics of your agency’s information is critical to mission success?
At the heart of the Obama Administration’s Evidence Agenda is the quest for evidence of programs that work. Leading this effort from the White House Domestic Policy Council is David Wilkinson, Director of the Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation. Through the use of tools such as evidence-based policy, philanthropy, and impact finance, David is helping identify programs that work better through use of data and evidence as well as scaling what works through smarter use of federal resources and public-private partnerships. Hear David discuss new ways the Federal Government is learning and sharing what works.
Where can agencies / program managers go to find what works?
What innovative approaches (e.g., rigorous evaluation, social impact bonds, etc) are being used to finance and find what works?
Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company, with approximately 319,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries. Combining unparalleled experience, comprehensive capabilities across all industries and business functions, and extensive research on the world’s most successful companies, Accenture collaborates with clients to help them become high-performance businesses and governments. The company generated net revenues of US$30.0 billion for the fiscal year ended Aug. 31, 2014. Its home page is www.accenture.com.
For nine decades Graduate School USA has been a leader in federal training and education, helping public and private sector professionals meet the challenges of a changing world. An independent, nonprofit educational institution, the School engages a diverse student population through innovative and proven approaches and services enhanced by its network of public and corporate leaders and practitioners and by its experience in working with government.
The School is dedicated to providing accessible learning opportunities to adult learners everywhere through affordable training programs, continuing education courses, executive and leadership development programs, and courses for credit at the certificate and associate degree levels.
Grant Thornton’s Global Public Sector helps executives and managers at all levels of government maximize their performance and efficiency in the face of ever tightening budgets and increased demand for services. Its public sector practice gives clients creative, cost-effective solutions that enhance their acquisition, financial, human capital, information technology, and performance management. Grant Thornton’s commitment to public sector success is burnished by a widely recognized body of thought leadership analyzing and recommending solutions to government’s greatest challenges. Based in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area, with offices in Alexandria, Virginia; Austin and San Antonio, Texas; and Sacramento, California; Grant Thornton’s Global Public Sector serves federal, state, local, and international governments.
Monster Government Solutions works with government agencies to help them find and hire the right people and develop diverse and inclusive workforces. A division of Monster Worldwide, the company that pioneered online recruiting with Monster.com more than twenty years ago, Monster Government Solutions provides innovative and proven human capital solutions for effective recruiting, hiring, and workforce planning and development. For more information, visit monstergovernmentsolutions.com.
Aetna has been helping federal employees in the Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) program lead healthier lives for over 50 years. You can learn more about the medical, dental and vision plans we offer at www.aetnafeds.com. Or, to speak with an Aetna representative, just stop by our exhibit at Excellence in Government.
ESI’s mission is to demonstrate to our clients how a decision to invest in improving the performance of project-based staff will lead to superior returns and the attainment of their most important organizational objectives.
LTC Partners, LLC, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of John Hancock Life & Health Insurance Company and administers the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program, as well as (www.BENEFEDS.com) a secure website enabling Federal Family members to enroll in and manage their FEDVIP (Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program) coverage, under OPM oversight.
The Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP) website www.LTCFEDS.com offers online applications, an interactive calculator to customize price quotes and educational resources about long term care. Information may also be obtained by calling 1-800-LTC-FEDS (1-800-582-3337).
IBM's Federal business unit applies innovative thinking to help solve our government’s most pressing challenges. With a broad portfolio of services and products, IBM brings deep industry expertise, and a long history of delivering successful civilian and DoD client engagements in areas such as operational efficiency, innovative citizen engagement and more. We work to deliver value to our Federal clients by leveraging the unparalleled resources of the entire IBM Corporation, including IBM Research, the Center for the Business of Government, the Institute for Electronic Government, the Federal Cloud Innovation Center, and a rich network of strategic partners.
ICF provides professional services and technology solutions that deliver beneficial impact in areas critical to the world's future. ICF is fluent in the language of change, whether driven by markets, technology, or policy. Since 1969, we have combined a passion for our work with deep industry expertise to tackle our clients' most important challenges. We partner with clients around the globe—advising, executing, innovating—to help them define and achieve success. Our more than 5,000 employees serve government and commercial clients from more than 70 offices worldwide. ICF's website is icfi.com.
Management Concepts is the nation's premier provider of professional development, performance improvement, and talent management solutions for the public sector. Since 1973, we've collaborated with and supported every major agency in the Federal government, unleashing the potential of more than one million individuals and enhancing the performance of teams and organizations.
We are committed to empowering your employees to grow and achieve their missions with our high-impact training courses, industry-leading certificate programs, and award winning publications and resources. We provide customized consulting services to help your organization develop human capital strategy, build workforce capacity and capability, and successfully achieve organizational change.
OPM provides technical assistance to Federal agencies to meet their most critical human capital challenges. OPM’s HR Solutions is dedicated to providing exceptional human resources products and services to meet the dynamic human capital and training needs of the Federal government.
To learn more about OPM’s HR Solutions please visit opm.gov/HRS.
The Program Support Center (PSC) is a Shared Services Provider within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) offering services in five key markets within the government: administrative operations, financial management, federal occupational health, procurement, and real estate and logistics. PSC helps our customer meet some of their most pressing needs, taking on the administrative burden so they can focus on their core missions. For more information call 301-492-4600 or visit psc.gov.
SourceAmerica® is a national nonprofit that creates job opportunities for a skilled and dedicated workforce: people with significant disabilities. We are the vital link between this exceptional workforce, the network of community-based nonprofits, and the Federal Government and commercial companies that need the products and services they provide. SourceAmerica is an AbilityOne® authorized enterprise.
For over 90 years, American Management Association International (AMA) has been a world leader in professional development. AMA supports the goals of individuals, organizations, and government agencies with a complete range of corporate talent transformation solutions, including public open-enrollment seminars and onsite group training, with both live and online learning capabilities. In addition, an extensive variety of resources are available through AMA, including webcasts, webinars, podcasts, business books, and industry research. Organizations worldwide, including 90% of the Fortune 500, turn to AMA as their trusted partner. New courses for government include FAI verified FAC-COR courses: Contracting Officer's Representative Level I and Level II, a well as Lease Acquisition Training.
Infogroup (www.infogroup.com) serves government agencies with our U.S. business and residential databases.
The Infogroup business database (24 million U.S. business locations and employers) is a complete business database. Database elements include: Company name, executive name(s), gender, titles, employee size, sales volume, NAICS Code(s), business descriptions, corporate linkage, and GIS coordinates.
The Infogroup household database (125 million U.S. households; 254 million U.S. residents) is compiled from telephone directories, auto registrations, new births, Census data, and real estate transactions. It is a current database of U.S. residences. Data elements include age, income, ethnicity, home value, dwelling type, and GIS coordinates.
AGA is the member organization for financial professionals in government. AGA fosters learning, certification, leadership and collaboration for professionals and stakeholders committed to advancing government accountability.
Excellence in Government is an on-the-record event, and is open to members of the media who register in advance to cover it.
If you are a member of the press, please register here.
Excellence in Government will be held on Thursday, May 14, 2015, at the Grand Hyatt Washington. Media registration begins at 7:45am, and the programs will begin at 8:45am.
The Grand Hyatt Washington is located at 1000 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20001. Members of the media should follow posted signs to the designated registration table.


Kim Kardashian and Kanye West's son is just a few hours old, but the Twitterverse has already chosen a name for the couple's second child: Easton.
While the happy parents haven't announced their baby boy's name yet, Easton West was a trending topic on Twitter on Saturday, Dec. 5.
Kardashian did admit to Ellen DeGeneres in September that she had a soft spot for that name, which is a play on the moniker that the couple gave their 2-year-old daughter, North.
"I do like the name Easton. Easton West," Kardashian, 35, told DeGeneres.
"I don't think my husband likes that name, but I do like it," she continued. "I don't think we'll go another direction. It's definitely not South, every time someone says South, I just want to roll my eyes."
Sources previously told Us Weekly that the reality star and her rapper husband were not going to choose a directional name for their son.
Twitter commenters weighed in on both sides about the name Easton.
"I love that name," wrote one, while another chimed in, "All they're missing is South."
Others posted funny gifs and memes that showed their dismay.
Tell Us: Do you like the name Easton West?


Indeed, the weight-loss fads of past centuries include precedents for all the main contemporary diets, from low-fat, low-calorie ones to high-fat, low- carbohydrate ones, like the Atkins diet. In , a French lawyer, Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin, wrote a famous treatise, "The Physiology of Taste," in which he contended that true carnivores and her- bivores did not get fat; it was only when one ingested grain---read: bread---that the trouble started. Around the same time, an American Presbyterian minis- ter, Sylvester Graham, reasoned that, as gluttony was the greatest sin, abstinence must lead to virtue; he advised eating vegetables and drinking water, eschew- ing meat, co ee, spices, and alcohol. For a while, students and faculty at Ober- lin College were made to follow Gra- ham's diet; graham crackers were so named in order to appeal to his aco- lytes. Several years later, Horace Fletcher, known as "the great masticator," touted very slow chewing as the remedy for obesity; adherents included normally skeptical people like Upton Sinclair and John D. Rockefeller. A genuine advance, which put nu- trition on a solid scientific footing for the first time, was the work of the chem- ist Wilbur Atwater. In the eighteen- nineties, he began studying how the body converted food to energy, by plac- ing subjects in a closed chamber and measuring the amount of carbon diox- ide they produced and oxygen they con- sumed after eating various foods. At- water came up with the idea of the food calorie, adapting a measurement previ- ously used for heat energy. In , Her- bert Hoover, then the head of the U.S. Food Administration, worked to pub- licize Atwater's findings. "I eat as little as I can to get going," he said. Low- calorie foods and skipping meals be- came popular. The importance of calo- ries---if energy gained exceeds output, the excess becomes fat---remains one of the few unchallengeable facts in the field of dietary science. Still, further research has shown that calories eaten are only part of what determines weight. Our metabolism reflects an interplay of things like genes, hormones, and the bacteria that populate the gut, so how much en- ergy we absorb from what we eat var- ies from person to person. In the nineteen-fifties, the Ameri- can Medical Association identified obe- sity as the country's No. health prob- lem, and the diet industry exploded.The end of that decade brought the idea of the liquid diet---skimmed milk, supple- mented with bananas or other fruit--- which, in turn, eventually gave rise to products like Metrecal, Carnation Slen- der, and SlimFast. Self-help groups mod- elled on Alcoholics Anonymous began proliferating with the establishment, in , of a movement called (the acronym stood for "take o pounds sen- sibly"). Overeaters Anonymous followed, in ; Weight Watchers, in ; and Jenny Craig, in . The immediate postwar years also brought the first sustained scientific assault on dietary fat. Ancel Keys, a physiologist at the University of Min- nesota, who had spent the war develop- ing nutritionally optimal Army rations and studying the e ects of starvation, became interested in the high rates of heart attack among a seemingly well- fed sector of the population---Ameri- can businessmen. He soon became con- vinced that the saturated fats found in meat and dairy products were the cause, and thus began the war on fat that galvanized my parents. Keys be- came, with his wife, Margaret, an ad- vocate for the Mediterranean diet of unsaturated fats. Their books promot- ing the diet were best-sellers, and Keys, who spent his latter years in Italy, lived to the age of a hundred. (Margaret lived to ninety-seven.) T "The Case Against Sugar,"Gary Taubes, gained prom- inence as a science writer in , with a cover story in the Times Maga- zine---"What If It's All Been a Big Fat Lie?"---which challenged the or- thodoxy of restricting dietary fat. Car- bohydrates were the real danger, he wrote---not just processed foods con- taining refined sugars like sucrose and fructose but also easily digestible starches from grains and vegetables. He expanded these arguments in a book, "Good Calories, Bad Calories" ( ), and, in his new book, he goes much further. Though he now allows that people can eat some carbohydrates and still live a "relatively" healthy life, he sees sugar as the devil incarnate, doing harm independent of its known Wear a part o history. "The March" Abigail Gray Swartz, February 6, 2017 Multiple styles available Shop now at newyorker.modthread.com A percentage o sales will go to the Committee to Protect Journalists* * Three per cent of the purchase price of each shirt sold will be donated to the Committee to Protect Journalists. (Not applicable to sales in AL, HI, IL, MA, MS, and SC.) For more information about the C.P.J. and its work, visit cpj.org.


And here’s the craziest part: It still makes a ton of money. Welcome to the strange world of Decluttr.
Someone once gave me a CD of heavy metal Hanukkah songs called Gods of Fire. It was funny for a minute. Then it sat on a shelf for years, because I didn’t want to throw it away and it’s not like anyone on eBay would buy it from me, but I finally found a taker. The new company Decluttr paid me $2.85 for it, which, when combined with a bunch of other crap I sent them, netted me a total of $45.95. Decluttr buys anything–because that’s their business model. They will literally buy any CD, DVD, or video game you want to mail them. And they pay the postage, too.
This isn’t some charity for 1990s survivors. The company, including its U.K. counterpart, notched more than $150 million in revenue last year.
The thinking goes like this: Although the number of physical-media retailers has gone down–farewell to Borders, Blockbuster, and many others–an actual market for this stuff still exists. In 2013, 165.4 million CDs were sold, according to Nielsen SoundScan. And although consumers could sell their own stuff on eBay or Amazon, it’s a big pain: We’d have to list them individually and manage a ton of listings, all to make a few measly bucks a pop, if anything at all. Who has the time?
Decluttr then sells your media in a variety of ways, and earns more than a 50% margin.
The amount it pays you is controlled by a proprietary algorithm, which takes into account how many copies of an item are already in its warehouse, what the item sells for on Amazon or eBay, and how quickly it usually moves. That makes Decluttr’s prices a sort of Billboard chart for the bizarro second-hand market. What’s super hot right now? Judy Collins’s 1971 album Living. “We’re paying $5 because they come in and fly off the shelves,” Lauter says. What’s not hot? The widescreen DVD edition of the 2000 X-Men movie; he has 416 of them piling up.
The company began life in the U.K. in 2007 as musicMagpie, and now receives 100,000 items there every day. Its two British co-founders officially launched a U.S. expansion this past January; they hired Lauter, the one-time CMO of Wine.com, to head up the operation. Lauter’s first move: change the U.S. version’s name to one Americans can understand. (The magpie reference only works in the U.K., where people commonly know it as a bird that picks up shiny objects.) Although it’s done very little marketing, Decluttr is already buying 10,000 items a day from people. Lauter expects to reach profitability by the end of the year.
There’s only one restriction on selling to Decluttr: All media must come with the original artwork. If you kept a disc but threw away the jewel case with the art inside, you’re out of luck. Otherwise, selling is simple. First, download the app. (There’s a web version too, but the app is more elegant.) Use it to scan the barcodes of any items you’re selling; the system instantly tells you what Decluttr will pay. Once you’re done–you need to sell a minimum of 10 items, but there’s no maximum–the system emails you a UPS sheet, which you affix to a box and send off.
Your package arrives in a warehouse just north of Atlanta, where employees confirm that you sent what you promised. Items are immediately listed on Amazon, eBay, or Decluttr’s own site for resale. (Lauter is so embarrassed by Decluttr’s site, which sells 20 items a month, that he refuses to reveal its name: “It’s really, really bad. Honestly, people who are buying off of it right now must be masochists.” He says a better version will be up in a few months.) When a disc is bought, Decluttr buffs it up and, if needed, replaces its jewel case. Then it’s mailed off to its new owner.
For a world that supposedly stopped buying CDs, sales happen quickly. I sent in a box of 30 items in late February, and within its first day of arrival, the first CD was sold: Depeche Mode’s Delta Machine was sent back to its native U.K. Three weeks later, 12 more items had found new homes.
So, what will happen to all those languishing copies of Jagged Little Pill? In a few months, Decluttr will have a solution: It’s launching a wholesaling business, where it’ll sell used CDs in bulk to places like Dollar Tree and mom-and-pop shops. The margin is lower, but at least Decluttr can offload the junkiest of the junk. This already happens in the U.K., where a discount chain might, say, request a random mix of 200 CDs at a time. If the store prefers, Decluttr will even shrink-wrap its selections so that they look new. Decluttr is also seeking out new relationships with retailers overseas, particularly in parts of the world where physical CDs are more popular.
Lauter is confident that the market for spinning plastic discs will be around for some time. A quarter of Decluttr users, he says, aren’t selling because they don’t want the albums anymore; they’re doing so to make room for more, newer CDs. Still, the numbers don’t look good: CD sales dropped 14.5% between 2012 and 2013, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
Maybe Alanis Morissette has some old jeans she’d like to sell.


FLORENCE COUNTY, SC (WMBF) - Deputies are looking to identify two suspects who stole an ATM and other items from a convenience store in Johnsonville last month, according to a news release from the Florence County Sheriff’s Office.
At around 1:30 a.m. on Jan. 21, deputies say the suspects broke into the business on Kingsburg Highway Loop and ransacked the premises, stealing several items and smashing glass bottles.
Anyone with any knowledge or information regarding the identity of the suspects shown in the video should contact the Florence County Sheriff’s Office investigators at 843-665-2121., ext. 372, Crime Stoppers of the Pee Dee at 1-888-CRIME-SC or “Submit-A-Tip” on the FCSO free app for I-Phone and Android telephones. Information can be tipped anonymously.


Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has floated an idea to get comprehensive immigration reform passed in the U.S. House.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said he floated an idea Tuesday in Las Vegas to get comprehensive immigration reform passed in the U.S. House this year.
So far, House Speaker John Boehner has refused to take a vote on it, Reid said.
Reid said the deadline to act is Aug. 1, before Congress takes its end-of-summer break.
“Boehner says the reason they (U.S. House members) won’t pass immigration reform is because he doesn’t trust the President,” Reid said in the telephone conversation.
President Obama's second four-year term ends in late January of 2017.
Reid said it was a workable compromise with Boehner and others in the GOP.
“That (Jan., 2017 effective date) is not my preference but I will go for it,” he said.
Reid said it was the second time he’s floated the idea.
“The first time I said it last week, nobody picked it up,” Reid said. “Now that I’ve said it in Nevada, maybe somebody will pick it up."
Reid’s telephone remarks came after his news conference on immigration reform in Las Vegas with representatives of several Southern Nevada chambers of commerce.
Reid said Boehner is not likely to take him up on his compromise.
Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev., earlier said he also thinks immigration reform would pass the U.S. House if it were to get a floor vote.
The U.S. Senate has already passed a comprehensive immigration reform bill which was supported by Heller and Reid.
If the House does not pass immigration reform, the bill must start again at the beginning of the process in 2015, seeking both Senate and House approval.
REID'S PROPOSAL does not change the opinion of Rep. Mark Amodei, R-Carson City. Amodei, Nevada's 2nd U.S. House District representative, consistently has said he does not like aspects of the Senate bill.
For instance, he's critical of the Senate bill's nationwide cap on unskilled labor, which does does not help Nevada's construction and agriculture needs.
"Mark's position is consistent and clear," said spokesman Brian Baluta Tuesday. "He will not sign a discharge petition or favor this deal because he does not support the Senate bill.
"He (Amodei) is committed to regular order in the House, which will be more transparent than the Senate process and have a better chance for long term success," Baluta said. "The elected officials in the House have the same right as the Senate to address this issue. He will continue to work with his House colleagues and leadership to move that process ahead."
Amodei said during a July 2013 interview — soon after the Senate passage of immigration reform — that the Senate version does not do enough for business.
"There are things in the Senate bill, like unskilled labor getting capped at 15,000 nationwide," Amodei said. "Now think about the construction industry in Nevada. But only 15,000 visas for unskilled laborers in a year? That needs additional work. "
Amodei said the unskilled labor cap should start at 50,000 to 70,000 and be able to grow annually. A larger cap would also help Nevada agriculture, Amodei said.
"(Business issues are) one of the things people are not talking about in the national media," Amodei said then. "Some people talk about the human component. Almost nobody talks about the business component. For the IBMs and the IGTs, the tech visa piece is very important, so are the skilled and unskilled labor force in the job market, so the economy grows the kind of jobs you want."
Yet almost a year later nothing has happened in the House — especially not a floor vote.
"It (immigration reform) is a must-do. I cannot stress enough that the status quo won't work for anybody."


DETROIT -- Mark DeRosa and J.P. Arencibia brought some life to the Toronto Blue Jays' dugout.
DeRosa delivered a two-run, pinch-hit double in the sixth inning and Arencibia hit a three-run, go-ahead double in the seventh as the Blue Jays erased a five-run deficit and defeated the Detroit Tigers 8-6 at chilly, damp Comerica Park on Wednesday.
Toronto, one of the favorites in the American League East after an offseason shopping spree, needed a jolt after a 2-5 start.
"It's been quiet, and rightfully so," DeRosa said of the mood inside the dugout. "We haven't played well. You try to keep it upbeat, try to keep it energetic, but when you've got a 2-5 record and you see another slipping away, you kind of want to push the throttle a little bit. We needed something to happen like this."
DeRosa drove in three runs and reliever Aaron Loup recorded his first major-league victory with an inning of scoreless relief. Casey Janssen recorded his second save for Toronto, which ended a five-game losing streak to Detroit. The game was delayed two hours and 29 minutes by rain.
Clutch hits have been scarce for the Blue Jays, who were hitting .135 with runners in scoring position entering the game. They also benefited during their four-run seventh when Brayan Villarreal (0-1) walked the only three batters he faced.
"No doubt we took advantage of some of their mistakes, and in the previous games we've been missing those breaks," Toronto manager John Gibbons said. "That's basically it. We've got good hitters, and it was just a matter of time. You look down that lineup, and there were only a couple of guys who were hot."
Jhonny Peralta had his first three-hit game this season and drove in a run for the Tigers.
Arencibia's three-run double to left-center off Octavio Dotel put the Blue Jays on top 8-6. That was preceded by Villarreal's wild streak, which forced in the first run of Toronto's four-run outburst.
"Frustrating, because we really didn't give ourselves a chance," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "We walked the guys. I thought (starter) Rick (Porcello) did a good job. Probably that long (fifth) inning might have hurt him a little bit, but overall he did a pretty good job. Obviously, he kept the ball on the ground for the most part, until the last inning after getting the one out there. Like I say, you don't give yourselves a chance when you walk people."
Detroit catcher Alex Avila said Villarreal was close with many of his balls.
"He was just trying to make sure that the ball was down," Avila said. "I mean, he wasn't missing by much. The balls after getting ahead of a couple of guys, they were down below the zone, but you've got to give them credit for laying off it. In those situations, especially with a lineup like that, you can't give free passes."
The Blue Jays' rally began in the sixth. Edwin Encarnacion's run-scoring double knocked out Porcello, and DeRosa followed with a two-run double off Darin Downs to make it 6-4.
"I was prepared from my days in the National League," said DeRosa, who is in his 16th season. "It taught me never to get caught off guard, so I went down underneath to get loose in case they brought in the lefty and Gibby wanted to make the switch. I was ready to go. I watched video on the guy and I felt good about the AB. It was an overall huge team win. We needed that one."
The Tigers gave Porcello some early support with a run in each of the first two innings. Prince Fielder had an RBI fielder's choice, beating out a potential double-play ball as Austin Jackson scored. Omar Infante's two-out single in the second knocked in Matt Tuiasosopo, who had reached on Emilio Bonifacio's fourth error this season.
Bonifacio cut Detroit's lead to 2-1 in the fifth with a two-out, bloop double. The Tigers responded with four runs in the bottom of the inning.
NOTES: The Blue Jays claimed outfielder Casper Wells off waivers from Seattle. Wells had 10 home runs and batted .228 in 93 games for the Mariners last season. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Blue Jays designated reliever Alex Burnett for assignment. ... Encarnacion snapped an 0-for-19 drought with a fourth-inning double. ... Martinez returned after missing Detroit's 7-3 victory over Toronto on Tuesday with a cut on his right thumb that required eight stitches. ... Leyland reiterated before the game that Joaquin Benoit would handle the bulk of the closing duties but his relievers don't have defined roles. "I'm going to use anybody at any time," he said. ... Toronto's last win at Comerica Park was May 16, 2011. ... Miguel Cabrera has a .380 average with runners in scoring position since 2011, tops in the American League. ... Toronto third baseman Brett Lawrie, who has not played this season because of a left oblique strain, will participate in an extended spring training game Thursday. The club is hopeful Lawrie can rejoin them by next weekend's home series against New York.


Alaska entrepreneurs, crafts people, artists, inventors and tinkerers are getting help turning their ideas into money-making realities this week.
Now in its second year, Alaska Entrepreneurship Week connects people trying to start new businesses with each other and seasoned professionals. The events range from workshops with the founder of Indiegogo -- one of the largest crowd funding resources available on the Internet -- to seminars on business startups and even a "Shark Tank"-style contest for hopeful entrepreneurs.
Starting a business from the ground up is a daunting task. A recent study by Harvard Business School lecturer Shikhar Ghosh found that only about 25 percent of startup business return investor capital. The National Venture Capital Association believes that the number is a little better than Ghosh's figure, although it defines startup failure differently, estimating that about one-quarter to one-third of startups end up liquidating all of their assets.
Whatever the true figure, starting a business from nothing is a difficult task, one littered with potential hurdles to overcome. And until recently, entrepreneurs in Alaska had little organized help and almost no access to investors willing to take a risk on their ideas.
"We had the idea of connecting entrepreneurs with people who had the experience to help them succeed," said Valerie Walsh, communications director for Anchorage Economic Development Corp., which co-created Alaska Entrepreneurship Week with the Alaska Small Business Development Center.
While crowd funding sites like Indiegogo, GoFundMe and Kickstarter have made it a little easier to get financing, advice may be worth more than cash for a prospective businessperson. Alaska Entrepreneurship Week, which began July 25, is perhaps the most visible example of recent developments in opportunities for Alaskans wanting to build a business on an idea and hard work.
Even the best-laid business plans require capital to get off the ground. A few investment funds have sprung up in Alaska, including the Alaska Accelerator Fund, which is privately funded by individuals.
"In Alaska over the long term, what we are doing is arguably more important than what oil and gas does over the long term, because this state badly needs a diversified economy, and the entrepreneurs of today are going to be the captains of industry tomorrow," said Forrest Nabors, a business professor at the University of Alaska Anchorage and co-founder of the AAF.
Brian McKinnon is a local entrepreneur working with the AAF and the 49th State Angel Fund, which is managed by the Municipality of Anchorage through a grant from the U.S. Treasury. His invention, a rugged Alaska version of a personal watercraft, has gone from idea to marketable product in just a few years. Mackinnon Marine, one of five companies started by the former oil field worker, just began selling the AlumaSki, a $25,000 all-terrain vehicle for the water. McKinnon says its body is made entirely from aluminum, and the craft can carry as much as 1,000 pounds. He sees it as a river-going ATV and said plans are in the works to create a tow-behind trailer for the watercraft that could hold even more.
McKinnon said the most important element for business success is the people who make it happen.
"Find what you are good at and try to find other people who are good at what you are not good at," McKinnon said. "Your team is the most important part of your company."
McKinnon said prospective entrepreneurs need to keep their egos in check and do what is right to make their businesses succeed.
"I just hired a CEO, so I have hired my own boss," McKinnon said.
McKinnon's success -- at least in the early stages of business building -- didn't happen by luck. He said he has found the advice from members of the various angel funds with which he deals to be invaluable.
This is a tool that hasn't been available for long in Alaska, which, until recently, was one of the only states in the nation that didn't have a group of angel investors working together to support business development, according to 49th State Angel Fund program manager Joe Morrison.
"Two years ago, before the fund existed, there wasn't a lot of startup activity in Anchorage like you were seeing in other communities in U.S.," Morrison said.
Alaska Entrepreneurship week is about more than money, though. The week started Friday with Anchorage Startup Weekend, a 54-hour marathon event during which participants pitched, developed, presented and received feedback on business ideas.
The weekend also featured a family-friendly event: the second-annual Mini Maker Faire, which drew more than 1,000 attendees. Exhibitors shared unusual hobbies and inventions, from locally developed video games to vintage computers to welding projects. There was the "Atomic Camper" -- a camper trailer-turned-rocket -- and a 30-foot-tall scale model of the Space Needle made entirely from cardboard. The day's coveted door prize? A 3-D printer.
The week continues with workshops, panels and other events in Anchorage as well as Homer, Wasilla and Ketchikan. On Wednesday, AEDC presents its Three-Year Outlook Luncheon, which will feature a glimpse into Anchorage's future presented by AEDC President and CEO Bill Popp, as well as keynote remarks by Travelocity founder Terry Jones. Jones is one of two big-name entrepreneurs appearing at multiple events throughout the week; the other is Danae Ringelmann, a co-founder of Indiegogo.com who has been recognized by ELLE, Fast Company and Forbes as one of the most influential women in technology.
Alaska Entrepreneurship Week ends Thursday with one of the week's more uniquely Alaskan events: Pitch-On-A-Train. Five startups will pitch their business ideas to a panel of judges and potential investors while riding the Alaska Railroad from Anchorage to Whittier. Competitors will vie for a variety of prizes, including possible early seed funding.
A complete listing of the week's events is available at AEDCweb.com.


LAWRENCE, MASS. (WHDH) - U.S. Sens. Liz Warren and Ed Markey joined state and city officials at the Lawrence Senior Center Friday to speak with residents displaced by a massive Merrimack Valley gas emergency that caused dozens of fires, numerous explosions, and left at least one person dead.
While speaking outside the senior center, which has been transformed into an emergency shelter, Warren said she felt it was a “mistake” that Columbia Gas of Massachusetts representatives haven’t publicly addressed their customers after their line was blamed for widespread destruction.
Warren said she was disappointed not to receive a call back when she reached out to the company.
Markey said he and Warren are calling for a Congressional hearing aimed at figuring out what caused the explosions and fires and to see if anyone needs to be held responsible. He also said he wanted to ensure that something like this never happens again.
Also touring the facility were Gov. Charlie Baker and Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera.


SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) _ Greene County officials have arrested a man and woman in a fatal shooting in Springfield.
The sheriff’s office says 28-year-old Tyler Rambo was found dead Saturday at a mobile home park southwest of Springfield. Investigators say he was killed in a drive-by shooting.
The Springfield News-Leader reports the suspects _ both 24 _ were booked into the jail. The man is suspected of first-degree murder and the woman of second-degree murder.
A probable cause statement says the male suspect told police Rambo hadn’t paid some money he was owed.


A look at the numbers show there was a reduction in homicides last month compared to what was recorded on the books this same time last year.
According to National Security Minister Marvin Dames January 2018 saw some 12 killings while this year there was only three.
“Our law enforcement officers are very in toned with what is happening; we’re not going to stop every murder, that’s reality.
However, we are well on tract to ensure that we continue to pull those numbers down, that we continue to make our streets and our community safe so that our people can move about without any fair or concern of becoming a victim to a crime,” he said.
When asked if he anticipates a continued downward trend, the National Security Minister responded with this.
However, National Security Minister Marvin Dames again stressed the need for everyone to join in the fight against crime.
“So, we have to come to that place where we understand that it is all our responsibility if we’re going to keep our country safe,” he said.
Just this past weekend there were three homicides in Nassau, still the National Security Minister maintains that law enforcement agencies are doing a better job with the fight against crime.


Indian cuisine is powered by a versatile supporting cast, whether it’s pickles, papads, raita spin-offs or offbeat chutneys. Even a tiny dollop holds transformative powers—a humble bajra roti comes alive with the green chilli thecha’s assault of spice, while the cooling (and healthy) amrood chutney takes the heat and guilt off a pakoda binge. Using a creative mix of ingredients, from spices and herbs to fruits, regions from around the country have innovated with various chutneys to lend balance, texture and colour to their meals. Here, we pick some lesser-known supporting acts of Indian cuisine.
A popular Manipuri delicacy, eromba is made with boiled vegetables, king chilli and fermented dried fish (ngari is the local choice). While you can use your pick of seasonal vegetables, mushrooms, bamboo shoot, mashed potatoes, cabbage and French beans are safe options for this spicy winter chutney, which pairs beautifully with pork curry and steamed rice.
Green chillies, garlic, peanuts and coriander are all you need to make this formidable Maharashtrian chutney. Alternatively, you can also make a version with red chillies. To make the most of its aromatic flavours, pound the roasted ingredients with a metal or stone pestle instead of grinding in a mixer. And while this chutney is traditionally eaten with jowar bhakris, you can also use it to add a hot, garlicky punch to any meal.
Hemp seeds, a common kitchen ingredient in Uttarakhand and an excellent source of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, are used to make this quick-and-easy sour chutney (and no, it’s not intoxicating). Roast hemp seeds and cumin seeds separately and then grind them into a smooth paste with whole red chillies. Add a dash of lemon juice to finish.
This sweet and sour chutney from Odisha is an essential accompaniment to habisa meals, a local fasting spread during the Karthik months (usually between October-November). Ouu khatta is made with tangy elephant apple (known locally as ouu), which is cooked with mustard paste, jaggery and turmeric and seasoned with crackling curry leaves, dry red chillies and cumin.
This oddly-named and mildly-sweet chutney from West Bengal is made with razor-thin papaya slices, which lend it a unique texture and transparent appearance. Heat water and sugar in a cooking pan (2:1 ratio); when the water starts to boil, add the papaya and cook for about 10 minutes. Add raisins and lime juice—cook till the chutney reaches a jam-like consistency. You can also add a tempering of paanch phoron (a Bengali five-spice mix) and red chillies.
Ole or elephant yam, is the star ingredient of this Bihari chutney, which is usually eaten with pitha (rice flour dumplings) or kachori. To make the chutney, roast boiled yam in mustard oil, green chillies and ground mustard seeds in a pan, and finish with a drizzle of freshly squeezed lime. If you can muster the patience for it, let the chutney rest for a couple of days for its flavours to mature.
This chutney from Tamil Nadu mines the dietary goodness of banana stems and makes a fine accompaniment to idli, dosas and rice. Once you remove the fibre of the banana stem, chop it into fine pieces and soak in water (add some buttermilk to prevent discolouration). Then fry urad dal, tamarind and dried red chillies in a pan, and add the banana stem pieces. Garnish with a seasoning of simmering curry leaves and mustard seeds.
This hot and pungent Naga chutney is made by fermenting boiled soyabeans in the sun for two-three days. Then, pound roasted red chillies and tomatoes with a pestle—you can also add ginger and garlic to this mix—and make a paste with the fermented soyabeans. The sharp-smelling chutney might not appeal to all palates, but those with an appetite for fermented foods can relish it with a meaty Naga meal.
This refreshing summer chutney gives the sweet guava fruit a pungent twist. More commonly found in Haryvanvi cuisine, the amrood adrak chutney is easily prepared by blitzing guava pieces, mint leaves, ginger and cumin seeds in a grinder. It makes for a nourishing companion to an indulgent snack, like a plate of fritters.
Dill leaves, or sabbasige soppu in Kannada, make a versatile ingredient in Karanataka—the herb can be adopted in a comforting rasam or a refreshing stir-fry with lentils and grated coconut. To make this piquant chutney, grind dill leaves, green chillies, grated coconut, tamarind and ginger. You can also season the chutney with a tempering of urad dal, mustard seeds and curry leaves.


WXYZ DETROIT — Once again, it’s time to catch up on our Community Comments.
Several viewers commented on our editorial about the White House’s attempt to cut restoration funds for the Great Lakes.
But our greatest feedback was in response to Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s state gas tax hike proposal. We had hundreds of comments.
“Michigan needs to clean up their accounting and fund the damn roads from money already collected for the roads!!!
That’s it for now, Thanks for writing.


NDS Americas Group dealt with the lack of a digital security product and a “reputation problem” caused by its own hacked analog system in the late 1990s and early 2000 by “harming everyone else,” claimed the attorney for Echostar Communications Corp. during final arguments in the multi-million dollar trial against the conditional access company.
Attorneys for NDS countered that Echostar was repeatedly hacked by several pirate groups, adding that the damaging information that showed up on Internet pirate sites came from sources other than the former NDS employee and acknowledged pirate, Christopher Tarnovsky, cited by the plaintiffs.
Reverse engineering, the method by which NDS engineers found the weaknesses in Echostar’s conditional access system, is legal and routine and is in fact conducted by both NDS and NagraStar, asserted NDS attorney Darrin Snyder.
The parties are in the final days of what was expected to be a month-long trial. In the suit brought by then-Echostar (now Dish Network) and the security firm it co-owns, NagraStar LLC, the digital-broadcast satellite company alleges that NDS, a rival security firm owned by News Corp., hacked Echostar smart cards.
NDS engineers testified they reverse-engineered the cards to improve NDS’s product, but the information detailing how to hack Echostar’s system appeared on the Internet within days of the completion of NDS hacking report, according to testimony.
Echostar’s suit alleges that NDS’s actions violated the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, the federal Communications Policy Act and two California penal codes.
The case will now be decided by the eight-member jury in U.S. District Court in Santa Ana, Calif.
In their final addresses to the jury, attorneys for both sides have presented their version of who is behind the screen names “Nipper,” “Nipper 2000” and “Nipper Clauz”—monikers that were on Internet postings publicizing internal codes that helped pirates hack smart cards in use by Echostar.
The DBS company alleges that it is Tarnovsky; NDS lawyers assert that that name has been traced back to an Internet provider in Canada and ultimately traced to a different pirate with no known links to Tarnovsky. Echostar didn’t investigate the other purported pirate because they were creating a case centered on Tarnovsky, asserted Snyder.
Echostar believes NDS created the hack, in part, because it has a well-funded lab and staff of engineers in Haifa, Israel. But Snyder said Echostar was routinely hacked, citing postings dating back to 1998 and attributed to two pirates not linked to Tarnovsky or NDS, he noted.
One of those postings even claimed to have hacked into Echostar’s corporate FTP site to steal information in encrypted ZIP files, Snyder said. The attorney identified Berrie, Ontario, Canada as the nexus of the piracy wave that caused Echostar to swap out 9 million smart cards in 2003. Another hacker lab was also known to operate in Thunder Bay, Ontario, according to testimony.
Snyder added that Tarnovsky did not see the Haifa lab’s report on the hack of NagraStar’s cards until years after the information was posted by pirates on the Internet.
Echostar is asking for $93.8 million in damages for itself and NagraStar for the actual cost of the swapping out the compromised cards.
If the jury finds in favor of Echostar and opts to apply statutory damages—$10,000 for each of the 100,000 compromised smart cards Echostar claims it had to replace in the U.S.—NDS could be on the hook for up to $1 billion in damages.
Snyder countered that even if jurors believe there is a direct link between NDS and the hacking alleged by Echostar, NDS would only be liable for cards that were used in the U.S.—not Canada—and only for documented violations that occurred after June 2000, in the case of the Communications Act claim; or October 2000, in the case of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act claims.
Any damages would have to be based on facts, not guesses, he added.


Halloween decorations and children's toys littered the front yard of the home along State Route 108 in Altamont, Tennessee, where one person was shot dead and three more were injured on Sunday.
What used to be a playground for the homeowner's grandchildren is now a crime scene, cordoned off by yellow crime scene tape. A green and white swing set that stood in the front yard now served as a post the tape looped around before it was tied to the home's front porch.
It's still not clear what led up to the shootings, Grundy County Sheriff Clint Shrum said Monday. That is what authorities are working on now, and they have collected cell phones to help in that process, he said.
But what they do know is that 37-year-old John Wesley Smith began firing shots after an argument with his wife, 32-year-old Carolyn Nicole Powell.
Nicole Powell was killed, and her father, 50-year-old Jerone Powell, and an acquaintance of hers, 38-year-old Christopher Gary Hurst, were injured. Smith was injured after Jerone Powell shot him, Shrum said.
Jerone Powell and Hurst have undergone surgery at a Chattanooga hospital. Jerone Powell remains in critical condition, Shrum said. Smith has been hospitalized with injuries that are not life-threatening.
Carolyn Powell and Hurst showed up at her parents' house Sunday afternoon, Shrum said. Smith had been staying there for reasons that remain unclear.
At some point, Smith and Carolyn Powell then began arguing outside the house. The argument escalated, and Smith began firing shots.
Investigators know that Smith shot Nicole Powell and Hurst, then Jerone Powell and Smith exchanged gunfire with one shot striking Smith in the head and the other striking Jerone Powell, critically injuring him.
Six children — all under 13 years of age — were at the house, Shrum said, and while none of them saw the shots being fired, the oldest child did try to stop a wound from bleeding.
Police got the call at around 3:09 p.m. Carolyn Powell died at the scene.
Smith was found lying on the ground with the shotgun still in his hand, Shrum said.
It's not yet clear what kind of relationship Carolyn Powell had with Hurst, but they hadn't known each other very long, Shrum said.
It's also not clear how many shots were fired in total, Shrum said. That's something investigators are working to determine.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is probing the shooting at the request of 12th Judicial District Attorney General Michael Taylor. The bureau will work along with the sheriff's office.
The TBI is equipped to conduct criminal investigations, encompassing everything from interviews, to evidence collection and analysis, to interfacing with local authorities and the district attorney general who requested the agency be involved in the case, TBI spokesman Josh DeVine said.
Smith faces charges of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted criminal homicide, as well as reckless endangerment charges because of the children being present, Shrum said.
He has a "lengthy criminal history," Shrum said, and is a convicted felon in Marion County, Tennessee.
Shootings are rare in Grundy County, Shrum said.
"Unfortunately, this is just one of those things that did not appear like there were any kinds of warning signs that this was gonna happen," he said. "It just happened."
The sheriff said the goal now is "to put [pieces] together to see if there was any conversation on the front of this thing that indicated something might happen."


We've also got images of new products for 'Orphan Black,' 'Terminator,' 'Pacific Rim,' 'The Hunger Games,' 'Inside Out,' 'Saturday Night Live,' and loads more.
Who wants to drink their morning coffee out of a Heinsberg chemistry beaker?
Check out the elaborate new prison tower, gate, boiler room and cells from McFarlane Toys.
Be sure to take a look at Square Enix's alternative Batman designs including the Steampunk and Wild West figures.
The "Retro Figural Doll Box Set" with Cooper and Brand action figures is due out in June.
We've got images of new products from Funko, NECA, Square Enix Products, Kotobukiya and more.
We've got a young Frank Walker, George Clooney's Frank Walker, Britt Robertson's Casey Newton, Hugh Laurie's David Nix and one especially curious character, Dave Clark.
There are photos of action figures, Lego sets, t-shirts, school supplies and loads more.


Noon to 7 p.m. April 17. The Somerset Regional Animal Shelter is preparing for kitten season by hosting a “Kitten Shower" to collect supplies and monetary donations needed for the kittens that will soon be arriving this Spring. Cake cutting at 5 p.m. For more information on upcoming events or make a monetary donation, visit www.srasnj.org.


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Affairs, Sartaj Aziz, briefed a 20-member delegation of “Kashmir Journalist Forum” on the grave human rights situation in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IoK).
Pakistan to sensitize the international community. He underlined that the indigenous movement of Kashmiris for self-determination in IOK had entered a critical phase since the new wave started on July 8, 2016, said a press statement issued here on Monday.
perpetrated by the Indian occupation forces against unprotected Kashmiris in IoK and precarious security situation due to Indian unprovoked ceasefire violations since July 8, 2016, which alone should be an eye-opener for the International Community: Over 150 martyred, mostly youth, including many in extra-judicial killings and fake encounters; around 8,000 are affected by pellet guns that has blinded more than 250 youth either fully or partially with another 930 at the verge of losing their eye-sight; 697 women reported molestation by Indian forces, around 18,000 injured and over 17,000 arrested arbitrarily with their fate and welfare unknown.
enthusiasm for getting freedom from India’s unlawful occupation and sacrifices of Kashmiris, especially the youth, has been rising and this phenomenon, on the other hand, has also defeated the Indian propaganda of down-playing the Kashmir issue, as if there is nothing wrong. If there is nothing wrong then why there are over 700,000 fully armed Indian occupation forces stationed? Why the entire media has been blocked? The Adviser said these are the questions that India should explain. Moreover, the current phase of the movement has also buried Indian propaganda of cross-border terrorism. The whole world is witnessing that it is a movement by unarmed indigenous Kashmiris youth. He mentioned Indian refusal to receive “Fact Finding Missions to IoK” by UNHCR and OIC. He commended, OIC’s strong statements condemning Indian atrocities in IoK.
movement for self-determination and its indigenous character have been receiving increased coverage of the international as well as Indian media. Voices expressing concerns and condemning Indian atrocities have echoed in various countries’ Parliaments including Australia, EU, North America, Nordic and the UK. Media and some members of the civil society made some useful and pertinent remarks. A Western media deplored that “there is no recorded instance of a modern democracy systematically and willfully shooting at people to blind them”. An Indian article reminded the Indian government that “the land of Kashmiris is with us, the people of Kashmir are not,” the Adviser cited.
international pressure on India to resume dialogue with Pakistan with particular focus on Kashmir dispute, Indian government has been trying to divert global attention from the situation in IoK by heating up Line of Control (LoC) and Working Boundary (WB).
450 unprovoked ceasefire violations. These violations intensified after its fully armed forces in IoK, world’s most militarized zone, could not deter the indigenous Kashmiri movement for self-determination.
India and Pakistan, called for a dialogue and offered to play role to help resolve Kashmir issue, the main bone of contention. Indian belligerent posturing and their desire to conduct dialogue on their own terms i.e. without Kashmir, will never be acceptable.
accept the role of the UN or good offices of the other leaders for reducing tension between India and Pakistan by resolving the Kashmir dispute reflects Indian desperation to hide its crimes against humanity in IoK. Bilateral route had run in scores but without achieving much in substantive terms.
recognized dispute. There are UN Security Council Resolutions on Kashmir dispute that call for Kashmiris’ right to self determination through a UNSC supervised plebiscite. Kashmir dispute is outstanding on the UN Security Council agenda. Pakistan wants to settle all contentious issues, particularly the Kashmir dispute with India through a sustained and result-oriented dialogue. Pakistan wants India to immediately stop bloodshed of innocent Kashmiris and create enabling environment for implementation of the UNSC Resolutions on Kashmir.
the bloodshed of Kashmiris in IoK and ensure early implementation of UNSC Resolutions, the Adviser urged. The briefing was followed by an extensive session of question and answers.


Why: Big Blue says this acquisition will help companies analyze and predict customer preferences and develop more targeted marketing campaigns.
Earlier this year, IBM CEO Samuel J. Palmisano laid out a five-year, $20 billion acquisition plan. Those acquisitions are expected to be concentrated in business analytics and optimization, as well as cloud computing and technology in areas such as traffic management, energy and health.
Indeed, IBM has been on a spending spree this year, snatching up companies that offer technologies ranging from cross-channel commerce to cloud integration, from real-time data compression to marketing.
Here’s a list of IBM’s acquisitions in 2010 -- so far – from bringing in network strengths to cutting edge security and analytics.
Best Practices for Selecting Onshore, Nearshore or Offshore Technology Services 10 best practices to assist in selecting an information technology outsourcing (ITO) provider.
10 Reasons Why You Should Avoid Office Politics	See why you're far better off avoiding office politics.


It's never too early to start thinking about NBA free agency and the 2019 class could be very interesting.
Take a look at the top potential free agents in the NBA in 2019, courtesy of Hoops Hype.
Hoops Hype ranked the top possible free agents for this season.
The list includes some big names.
Take a look at the Top 25 potential free agents in the league to start preparing for possible moves in the offseason.
One of the three best players in the NBA. Rumors are swirling about his interest in joining the Knicks, but when it comes time to make a decision, will he really opt to leave the perfect situation he’s currently in?
Now healthy, he’s one of the best players in the league again and will surely command a huge contract next summer. The question is: Will Toronto do enough this season to convince him to stay long-term?
One of the hardest-to-defend point guards in the league. Will he listen to outside suitors this offseason or is him re-signing in Boston an inevitability?
For the past three seasons, he has performed at an elite level but hasn’t been paid like it. That will undoubtedly change this offseason, though.
One of the best shooters in league history, he is also an extremely able defender who seemingly never gets injured. 2019 will likely be the summer he gets his first massive contract, likely from Golden State.
Upon returning from a torn Achilles, he has been better than many expected right away. Now healthy, his next free agency should be very interesting, as he’ll likely have a bevy of interested suitors.
A tough, two-way wing who can defend multiple positions and score 20 per night at an efficient level. His fit with the 76ers might not be ideal, however, so he could spring a surprise and end up on a different team this summer.
His numbers this year, across the board, have been monstrous. Deservedly made his first All-Star Game this season, which will only make him a hotter commodity come free agency.
His improvements as an three-point shooter have helped him blossom into the prototypical modern-day stretch-4.
After a trade landed him in Dallas, team owner Mark Cuban made it clear the organization plans to keep him around for the long haul.
One of the most underrated wings in basketball. He scores efficiently and also distributes, rebounds and defends all at above-average rates for his position. First-time All-Star this season.
Playing the best basketball of his young career this season, helping lead Brooklyn to a playoff spot and reaching the All-Star Game for the first time. Looks to be someone the Nets could build around.
Good defender from the lead-guard spot and is playing winning basketball for the first time in his career as a member of the Bucks.
His skill as an outside shooter and passer should help his game age nicely. Does a bit of everything from the center position.
Elite finisher around the paint. Specializes in using athleticism to drive by slower big men. Averaging career numbers in multiple categories.
He doesn’t score a bunch of points, but his all-around game is excellent. Few big men have his blend of playmaking and defense.
Even in his 30s, still one of the best rebounders the NBA has to offer. Elite screen-setter. Will his trade to the Knicks help convince Durant to join him in New York?
An excellent floor-spacing big man with quick feet defensively. Should fit well in Milwaukee.
Putting up a career-high in points, rebounds and assists. Also one of the best shooters in the NBA.
Almost out of nowhere, he has started to resemble his old self. Shooting a career-best percentage from three, which has helped him offset his drop in athleticism. Nagging injuries still a problem.
You can start to see signs of regression, which makes sense since he’ll be entering his age-32 season next year. Still, he’s coming off an All-Star campaign and is among the upper half of starting point guards in the NBA.
Can play either guard spot effectively, both on offense and defense. Has blossomed into a knockdown three-point shooter.
Despite it being his age-34 season, putting up a career-high in points. One of the best sharpshooters the game has to offer.
He’s still just entering his prime even though it feels like he’s been around forever. Good scorer, especially out of the post, and a decent threat from three.
One of the few big men in the league who can shoot threes and protect the paint at above-average rates. He’s already in his 30’s, but his game has aged nicely thanks to his high skill level.
To see Hoops Hype's complete list of the top NBA free agents in 2019, click here.


A tree that shielded two targets of a drive-by shooting just before midnight Wednesday didn't protect a Jacksonville man sitting nearby visiting friends.
Frank H. Harrity, 32, was killed when he was hit by gunfire from a shooter in a car who fired at two men walking by on Blue Street in Northwest Jacksonville. Harrity was with two friends on a small side porch drinking a beer when the gun battle broke out, one of the friends said.
The friend said the two men walking down the street returned fire and tried to dodge behind a tree at the edge of the sidewalk. The friend, who is not being named by the Times-Union because no arrests have been reported, said he heard a dozen or more shots exchanged between the car and the intended victims.
Harrity and his friends dove for the ground, the witness said. When the shooting ended, the dark car sped off and the two men ran down West 10th Street from the intersection with Blue.
"We started calling Frank's name and he didn't get up," the friend said.
He and the other man were unharmed, and no bullet holes were found in the house, but Harrity somehow got hit.
The friends did not know who was in the car or the two intended victims. They have not been identified by police.
"We do not know who they are," Lt. Rob Schoonover of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said, asking anyone with information to call police.
Harrity's friend said he had known the landscape worker for about a year and said he was the kind of man who tried to avoid trouble.
Before the shooting, the friend said the dark car started to pass by Blue on West Ninth Street then stopped and backed up to turn north where the two men were walking.
Times-Union writer Nicole Hernandez contributed to this report.


Islamabad : On January 24th, Pakistan and countries around the world celebrate the first International Day of Education, reminding us that without inclusive and equitable quality learning for all, countries will not succeed in breaking the cycle of poverty that is leaving millions of children and their families behind.
In December last year, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 24 January as International Day of Education in celebration of the role of learning for peace and development. This is a reminder of our collective duty to help every girl and boy access the quality education that is their right, offering them a ladder out of poverty and a path to a promising future.
262 million children and youth still do not attend school across the globe.


The Lancashire engineer who restored the world’s most famous steam engine – the Flying Scotsman – is booked in for a whistle-stop excursion to Clitheroe’s Grand Theatre.
Colin Green, a director of Riley and Sons Locomotive Engineers near Bury, was in charge of the decade-long, £4million project to bring the iconic steam locomotive back to life.
A colossus of British engineering, the Flying Scotsman was purchased by the National Railway Museum for £2.3 million in 2004.
Clitheroe Civic Society chairman Steve Burke, who is co-hosting ‘The Flying Scotsman Rebuild’ with Ribble Valley Rail, said: “This will be a very rare opportunity to hear about that extensive restoration project, one of the most complex and lengthy overhauls of a steam engine ever undertaken.
The Flying Scotsman returned to the main line to a huge public fanfare in February 2016, hauling a train from King’s Cross to York.
Mr Burke added: “When the Flying Scotsman steamed along the East Lancashire Railway soon after her restoration, many thousands of people came to see this much-loved locomotive.
“Since then The Flying Scotsman has travelled to all parts of Britain, including running over the Settle and Carlisle Line and coming through Clitheroe on excursion trains.
During the major restoration, the work included an overhaul of the Scotsman’s boiler, the addition of a new smoke box and chassis.
Designed by Sir Nigel Gresley, the Pacific class A1 locomotive was originally built for the London and North Eastern Railway.
However, the locomotive soon became the star attraction, pulling the first train to break the 100mph barrier in 1934.
Following the main Flying Scotsman feature by Colin Green, there will be a presentation by Ribble Valley Rail founder members Peter Eastwood, Marjorie Birch and David Butterworth who played a major role in restoring rail transport to the town when the passenger line from Blackburn to Clitheroe was reopened in 1994.
They continue to campaign for the resumption of services from Clitheroe to Hellifield, linking the Ribble Valley line to Yorkshire.
Clitheroe Civic Society and Ribble Valley Rail presents The Flying Scotsman Rebuild and the Future for Ribble Valley Rail, April 3, 2019.


Yufei Qian is a postgraduate research student. She is currently working on bulking watercress population and breeding watercress for higher nutritional values.
2018-present: Master/PhD research student, University of California, Davis.
2014-2018: Bachelor of Science in Environmental Horticulture and Urban Forestry(Graduate with Honor and Departmental Citation Award). College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of California, Davis, USA.
I attained my BS from University of California, Davis in 2018 and gained undergraduate research experience in both plant production and breeding. After the completion of my undergraduate degree, I am continuing my studies in the Horticulture & Agronomy masters program at UC Davis.
My research interests are focused on the specialty crop watercress and aiming to increase the nutrient contents which provide important health benefits through consumption of this leafy vegetable. My research is both field and lab based. I hope to underpin genes for traits of interest. At this stage, I am expanding the population and harvesting seeds for more trials.


A message from Steven's mum leaves him questioning his romance.
Big Brother housemate Steven Goode was left questioning his relationship with Kimberly Kisselovich after a message from his mum.
The day after the couple grew closer with the infamous "open it" incident, Steven was treated to a video from his mother as part of this week's shopping task.
However, her cryptic message - which referred to the person he is closest to in the house and the definition of dating - left him worried as she warned him not to let history repeat itself.
Steven was vague when he told the other housemates about the message and went straight to the Diary Room to ask when it was recorded, while Kimberly began to fret about what it could have been.
Meanwhile, the drama quickly spread around the house as Ash Harrison, Helen Wood and Winston Showan began gossiping about Kimberly's potential relationship status - and Winston wondered whether she is dating Hugh Hefner.
Steven later discussed his relationship with Kimberly in bed, admitting that he is falling in love with her but complaining that she should have been more honest.
For her part, Kimberly admitted that she had been in a relationship before coming into the house - though she told Big Brother in the Diary Room later that they were on a break for the summer - and confessed that she would have gone back to him if she had not met Steven.
Kimberly later told Big Brother that she feels "like a horrible person", claiming that she lied to protect herself but has actually made herself more exposed.
Meanwhile, Ash and Marlon Wallen discussed the situation in the garden, as Marlon explained that this sort of thing puts him off getting close to girls and Ash added: "You can't f**king trust them."
However, Kimberly and Steven later agreed to move on.
Big Brother continues tonight (July 8) at 10pm on Channel 5.


J.M. Smucker delivered a weak earnings report, as it faces increasing competition in its core segments from rivals Hormel Foods and ConAgra.
It is a joyful day indeed when an analyst can write about some of his favorite topics, in this case peanut butter and jam. One of America's largest processed food companies, J.M. Smucker (NYSE:SJM), delivered a rather disappointing earnings report recently, sending the stock down toward the end of last week. Apparently, the company is suffering from increased competition in several of its bread-and-butter businesses, including offerings from ConAgra (NYSE:CAG) and Hormel Foods (NYSE:HRL).
That raises the question. What are Smucker's prospects going forward?
Smucker reported third-quarter earnings that came in below analyst expectations. For the quarter, net revenue was down 6% to $1.47 billion, which was well below the $1.53 billion consensus estimate. Earnings per share came in at $1.66, which was up from last year, largely as a result of a diminished number of shares, but missed estimates by $0.02. Additionally, the company lowered its full-year forecast.
By segment, the results were as follows. Smucker's biggest business by revenue, coffee, was down 8% due to a 6% year-over-year price decline. Still, volume was looking a little better than last year. The U.S. foods segment declined by about 4%, largely due to lower selling prices. On the other hand, prices for raw goods such as peanuts and oils are expected to fall a bit this year, resulting in higher margins.
According to management, the company is dealing with a very competitive environment in its core segments. At the moment, prime competitors in the peanut butter market are ConAgra's Skippy and Hormel's Peter Pan, which currently enjoy a cost advantage, although this is expected to even out by 2015.
Perhaps more worrying for the industry is the shift in consumer behavior toward buying healthier, less processed foods. ConAgra seems to be getting hurt, having recently lowered its 2014 guidance to a range of $2.22 to $2.25 from a previous $2.34 to $2.38. Part of the problem was a decline in volume at the company's consumer foods segment, although a delay in the segment's restructuring also caused problems.
Hormel Foods seems to be doing a little better, but as its biggest business is meat products, it's tougher to compare. Fourth-quarter sales increased 7%, with the acquisition of the Skippy brand earning a 23.3% sales increase for its grocery-products segment. Encouragingly, earnings before interest and taxes were up some 19.4%, reaching nearly $240 million.
Looking at trailing valuations, ConAgra and Smucker's are at roughly the same level, while Hormel Foods looks quite a bit more expensive at 23 times trailing earnings. ConAgra and J.M. Smucker trade around 17 times earnings.
In terms of book value, ConAgra is by far the cheapest, trading at only 0.7 book. However, the company has a heavy debt load; its total debt-to-equity ratio is in the stratosphere. Smucker looks like a better bet, with a lower debt load, a higher operating margin, and a reasonable price-to-sales of 1.72.
Smucker, the owner of America's iconic Jif brand of peanut butter, recently came out with some disappointing numbers. Pricing pressure and increased competition from rivals ConAgra and Hormel Foods are eating into its margins. But it's currently paying more for peanuts than the competition, so management expects business to improve in the near future.


On Tuesday, NASA announced $50 million in grants to companies working on spacecraft and other hardware for use in launching humans into space. The money, drawn from the $1 billion in government stimulus funds NASA received in 2009, will help pay for the following five projects.
Blue Origin, an aerospace company based in Kent, Washington, and led by Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos, is working on a rocket-propelled vehicle called New Shepard to carry people and microgravity experiments on suborbital trips into space.
The Houston-based Space Exploration division of aerospace giant Boeing will receive $18 million to help it develop a crew capsule it hopes will one day carry NASA astronauts into space.
Paragon Space Development, a small company that builds spacecraft hardware based in Tucson, Arizona, will receive $1.4 million to help it develop a life support system that scrubs out carbon dioxide and replenishes oxygen in the air.
Sierra Nevada Corporation, an electronics and engineering firm based in Sparks, Nevada, will receive $20 million dollars to help its SpaceDev subsidiary develop a spacecraft called Dream Chaser.
United Launch Alliance, a joint venture by aerospace titans Lockheed Martin and Boeing, sells Atlas 5 and Delta 4 rockets. It hopes the rockets, which are currently used to send spacecraft into orbit, can be "man rated" to launch humans as well.


Mortgage rates in the United States have dropped to their lowest levels since the 1940s, thanks to a trillion-dollar intervention by the federal government. Yet the banks that once handed out home loans freely are imposing such stringent requirements that many homeowners who might want to refinance are effectively locked out.
The scarcity of credit not only hurts homeowners but also has broad economic repercussions at a time when consumer spending and employment are showing modest signs of improvement, hinting at a recovery after two years of recession.
Refinancing could save owners hundreds of dollars a month, which could be spent, saved or used to pay down debts. Extra spending would help lift the economy, and lower payments might spare some people from losing their homes to foreclosure.
The plight of homeowners has become a volatile political issue. On Friday, as the House passed a series of new financial regulations, it narrowly defeated a provision that would have allowed bankruptcy judges to modify the terms of mortgages. The measure was strongly opposed by the banking industry.
The president is scheduled to meet with banking executives at the White House on Monday in another administration effort to increase the flow of loans to consumers and small businesses. Among those expected to attend are representatives from Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Goldman Sachs.
An estimated six of 10 homeowners with mortgages have rates that exceed the 4.8 percent rate currently available on 30-year fixed mortgages, the least risky form of home loans.
Nevertheless, only half as many refinancing applications were reported last week than were reported at the beginning of January, the peak level for the year. The total dollar volume of refinancing activity in 2009 will be about $1 trillion. In 2003, another year when rates fell, it was $2.8 trillion.
It is highly unusual for mortgage money to be available below 5 percent. Average rates fell as low as 4.7 percent in the 1940s, as the government held down interest rates to finance World War II, and stayed just below 5 percent until the early 1950s. Rates went above 5 percent in 1952 and stayed there — until this year.
The super-low rates are not likely to last much longer. The Federal Reserve program that has driven rates to such lows, which involves buying $1.25 trillion in mortgage-backed securities, is scheduled to expire in March, and Fed leaders have said that it would not be renewed.
Some analysts believe rates could jump as high as 6 percent in the spring. On a $300,000 mortgage, such a jump would cost an extra $225 a month.
Andrew Knapp, a sales executive in Bartlett, Ill., has tried twice to refinance, which would save his family several hundred sorely needed dollars every month. Lenders said the house had lost value and the Knapps had too much debt. “There was no urgency for them to do anything,” Mr. Knapp said.
The most recent Federal Reserve survey of lenders found that they were continuing to tighten terms for business and household loans. Banks say they are under pressure from regulators to raise their cash reserves, which means fewer loans. They also argue that a troubled economy breeds extreme caution.
But some borrowers argue that more refinancings now might well forestall losses for the banks later.
Mark Belvedere bought a condominium in a San Francisco suburb in early 2004 and refinanced it in 2005. He now owes $235,000 on a property that would sell for barely half that today.
Mr. Belvedere said he would be willing to live with all that lost equity if he could refinance his loan from a variable rate, which could eventually go as high as 12 percent, into a 30-year fixed term.
When Mr. Belvedere refinanced four years ago, the process was so easy he hardly remembers it.
The current lending freeze owes much to the excesses of the boom. Mr. Belvedere’s lender, IndyMac, failed in 2008 from too many bad loans.
An Obama administration program to encourage the refinancing of loans owned or guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the government-controlled mortgage giants, is off to a slow start.
The Home Affordable Refinance Program, known as HARP, was designed to benefit between four and five million homeowners whose loans exceeded the value of their property by as much as 5 percent. But as of Sept. 30, only 116,677 loans had been refinanced.
“We’re refining our understanding of borrower behavior,” said a Treasury Department spokeswoman, Meg Reilly.
The program was modified during the summer to refinance homes where the loan exceeded the value of the property by as much as 25 percent. But since lender participation is voluntary, they have the option of rejecting these loans — and they often do, mortgage brokers say.
Jeff Jaye, a mortgage broker in Danville, Calif., said only three of the refinances he submitted to the program were successful. More than a dozen were rejected for various reasons, including the existence of second loans or the borrower’s lack of equity.
“It seems that the lenders are choosing which components of the HARP program to offer to consumers, which is unfortunate,” the broker said.
When it comes to refinancing loans that are too big to be in the government system, Mr. Jaye knows the difficulty first-hand.
“I have a perfect credit score, I make a good living and I’ve never been late with my mortgage in my life,” he said. “But as a self-employed businessman, there is no loan for me.” He plans to dispose of his house in what is known as a short sale, where the lender agrees to accept less than it is owed.
At an industry conference last week, the Illinois Association of Mortgage Professionals, a brokers’ group, proposed a federal program that would allow streamlined refinancings up to 175 percent of the median price in a local market. A quarter of the savings from the lowered payments would go into an escrow account to reduce the principal balance.
For Mr. Knapp, the sales executive, any such program would be too late. He has given up on the possibility of refinancing and is trying for a loan modification. If that does not work, there is one more solution: walking away from his home.
“We’re a flight risk,” he said.


A sweeping overhaul of Alberta’s public sector pensions has the government relinquishing control of $60 billion in fund assets.
Changes to Alberta’s three largest public plans currently must be approved by cabinet.
“The legislation we introduced today takes the politics out of pensions,” Ceci said at a Tuesday afternoon news conference.
Tuesday’s bill doesn’t change benefits or how plans are funded, merely how those funds are controlled.
It’s the biggest governance and regulatory overhaul of Alberta’s major public sector plans since pension reforms in 1992.
It affects around 351,000 current and retired public sector workers under the local authorities, public service and special forces pension plans — employees of Alberta Health Services, school boards, post-secondary institutions, cities, the provincial government, firefighters and police, for example.
If passed, the changes tabled by Ceci Tuesday will create a joint governance structure similar to those in other provinces.
It separates duties and creates a model where plans have a sponsor board and corporation working hand-in-hand to look after pension funds.
Sponsor boards will have an equal number of seats for employee and employer groups, with representatives selected by those groups. The sponsor board will make or amend plans, set contribution rates and funding policy, review the budget and establish a process for recruiting directors.
It’s written into legislation that the sponsor board must also take into account the needs of workers who have already retired.
The corporation becomes the administrator or fund holder, and will be in charge of setting investment policies, conducting actuarial valuations, communicating with plan members and liaising with regulators.
Essentially, the sponsor board sets the pension deal, and the plan corporation delivers on that deal.
Ceci said Tuesday the change comes after years of prodding by public sector workers. It follows a raft of surveys, written submissions and in-person meetings over the summer.
Former auditor general Merwan Saher slammed successive governments’ management of pension plans in a 2014 report. At the time, then-finance minister Doug Horner rejected the report’s suggestion that leadership was an issue.
Later that year, the Progressive Conservative government forged ahead with reforms via the Public Sector Pension Plans Amendment Act, despite objections from union groups.


George Norton Nassar passed away on Thursday, April 11, 2019, at his residence. He was born March 7, 1927. A memorial service will be held at a later date.


BRISTOL � A suspended Panhandle sheriff is going on trial for corruption charges in a case that has divided a small rural county.
BRISTOL � A suspended Panhandle sheriff is headed to trial this week on misconduct charges in a case that has divided a small rural county and sparked yet another debate over Florida gun laws.
Nick Finch, the Liberty County sheriff, was arrested in June on felony charges of official misconduct and falsifying public records. Finch, who was removed from office by Gov. Rick Scott, is accused of personally intervening after one of his deputies arrested a resident accused of carrying a pistol without a concealed weapons permit.
Finch, who has pleaded not guilty, has repeatedly said that he let the man go because he is a believer in gun rights. He has drawn support from conservative media outlets and gun rights activists.
A jury was selected Monday in the trial that is expected to be wrapped up by Thursday.
During jury questioning, prosecutors made clear their position that the sheriff can't ignore laws he disagrees with. They plan to argue that Finch tried to destroy records that showed he intervened in the case.
Finch for his part kept quiet on the first day, refusing to answer questions from reporters but added that he would have "plenty to say" once his trial was over.
The case's impact on tiny Liberty County � which has slightly more than 8,000 residents � was evident during the jury selection process.
Nearly everyone told Judge William Gary that they had read or heard about the case, with some prospective jurors telling Gary point blank they thought Finch was either guilty or innocent. One prospective juror acknowledged that his aunt had been fired from the Sheriff's Department when Finch took over.
At one point Assistant State Attorney Jack Campbell asked if any juror was "kin" to the witnesses or "has a dog in the hunt."
Potential jurors acknowledged that the case had been talked about everywhere from the local Piggy Wiggly grocery store to a seafood restaurant that sits near the banks of the Apalachicola River. Bristol is located about 40 miles west of Tallahassee.
Finch, an Army veteran and onetime police officer, won his election as sheriff by less than 200 votes in November 2012. Previously, he ran as a Republican in 2008 and lost even though GOP presidential nominee John McCain carried the county.
The county's election supervisor said that Finch became a Democrat but ran in 2012 with no party affiliation. That allowed him to bypass a heated primary that included two other Democrats and incumbent Donnie Conyers.
State authorities investigating the case say that in March, one of his deputies arrested Floyd Eugene Parrish following a traffic stop during which Parrish was carrying a semi-automatic pistol in his pocket without a concealed weapons permit.
State authorities say Finch let Parrish leave the county jail in Bristol and that Finch took steps to conceal the initial arrest. Someone, for example, whited out an arrest log that contained Parrish's name.
Finch's case has been a rallying cry for some who say that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement went too far in investigating the case and arresting the sheriff.
Joe Metsa is the chapter leader in nearby Bay County of the Oathkeepers, which promotes gun rights and other constitutional rights. Metsa said he was "standing up for our sheriffs" and that it was wrong for the state to go after Finch because he "standing up for this man's 2nd Amendment rights."
State Rep. Halsey Beshears, R-Monticello, wrote Scott last week and said he should consider assigning new prosecutors to the Finch case. Beshears said he had "reservations and concerns" about the way the investigation has been handled and whether or not 2nd amendment rights were being protected.
State Attorney Willie Meggs, whose office is handling the case, brushed aside the letter and said that Beshears "should remain a legislator and not get involved."
Nick Finch was arrested earlier this year on felony charges of official misconduct and falsifying public records. Finch was accused in intervening in a case where one of his deputies arrested a resident for carrying a pistol without a concealed weapons permit.
A jury was picked for the case Monday.
Finch's attorneys will assert that the sheriff let the man go because he is a believer in 2nd Amendment gun rights. Prosecutors contend Finch does not have a right to ignore laws he does not believe in.
The case has attracted attention among some conservative media outlets and gun rights activists.


A generously sized deck adds to the spaciousness of the 3,109-square-foot Naomi (404-22), which would be at home in a woodland setting or a wonderfully landscaped city lot, level or sloped.
The Naomi features three bedrooms and 2½ bathrooms over two floors.
The living area is almost equally divided between the main floor and the daylight basement, where the huge family room nestles with its fireplace and room for several furniture groupings. There is direct access from the family room to the half-bathroom, which has been designed to facilitate the inclusion of future bedrooms with a separating full bath. Next to the half-bathroom is the large utility room, which boasts a built-in ironing board and folding table.
The rest of the living area is located on the main level. High, open-beamed, vaulted ceilings grace the living room, dining room, kitchen and den, giving added visual space and a feeling of strength and permanence.
The basement stairs lead to the large, efficiently designed kitchen, which includes a walk-in pantry as well as the other usual and necessary amenities. A tiled area for a wood-burning stove not only integrates the kitchen and adjoining dining room, but also adds definition to both. French doors offer direct access from the dining room to the good-sized back patio, as well as admitting outdoor light.
The kitchen, dining room and nice-sized den/office/guest room are all on the same level, but the sunken living room is three steps down, adding a little more elevation to the ceiling. The living room measures more than 17 feet by 16 feet and is graced by a lovely tiled-hearth fireplace, which shares a flue chase with the dining-room stove.
The master suite and second bedroom are both quite large, each has a full bathroom, and large back-to-back sound buffering, closets separate them.
The master suite offers direct access to large front deck, a perfect place for that first cup of morning coffee.