WIGGINS – At the Wiggins Tournament, the Highland boys basketball team destroyed Hyland Christian 86-39 on Friday and advances to the tournament’s final round at 5:30 p.m. today against Pawnee.
Seniors Tyler Clawson (13 points, eight rebounds and four assists), Lee Groves (12 points and eight rebounds) and Michael Keever (15 points, 70 percent shooting from the field) led the Huskies (0-0, 4-1).
HHS –Michael Keever 6 1-1 15, Tyler Clawson 6 2-2 13, Brooks Carlson 1 0-0 2, Colton Gardner 1 2-2 4, Lee Groves 5 2-4 12, Michael Romero 1 0-0 3, Brandon Guerrero 1 1-2 3, Devon Venn 4 2-3 11, Johnny Rehuerk 4 0-0 9, Kyle Stuehm 4 0-0 8, Jacob Hasbrouck 3 0-0 6. Totals 35 10-14 86.
3-point field goals –HHS 6 (Keever 2, Clawson, Romero, Vinn, Rehuerk).
Longmont 66, Greeley West 52: In Greeley, Greeley West committed too many turnovers and shot a low free-throw percentage in a Class 4A Northern Conference matchup.
The Spartans (4-1, 6-2) rallied to within six points in the fourth quarter, but Longmont shot 9-for-10 from the free-throw line in the quarter to put the game out of reach. Longmont was strong on the glass and shot well.
West senior Jordan Rockwell scored 27 points.
GWHS –Tyler Colbeth 0 0-2 0, Jordan Rockwell 8 10-21 27, Erik Johnson 3 0-0 8, Jake Fisher 2 1-2 5, Grant Gattis 2 0-0 4, Jacob Olivas 3 2-4 8. Totals 18 13-29 52.
3-point field goals –GWHS 3 (Johnson 2, Rockwell).
Total fouls –GWHS 22 (Rockwell fouled out).
Pawnee 61, Wiggins 56: At the Wiggins Tournament in Wiggins, Pawnee narrowly won to advance to the tournament final today.
Pawnee freshman Brye Brunelle had 22 points and five assists, while senior Brian Burson and junior Brad Burst each had 12 points for the Coyotes (2-3).
Longmont Christian 69, Frontier Academy 62: In Longmont, senior point guard Christian Meyer scored 23 points and recorded 14 assists for Frontier Academy in a nonconference loss.
Frontier (0-0, 3-2) players are going to The Transitional House in Greeley today to help children do crafts and play games.
FA –Eric Jones 2 8-9 12, Jared Breay 0 0-0 0, Christian Meyer 8 3-6 23, Tyler McPherson 1 0-0 3, Tim Veilleux 2 2-2 6, Andrew Baldwin 3 0-0 6, Sean Kato 0 0-0 0, Drew Coggswell 3 0-0 7, Nate Reinert 0 1-2 1, Alex Zenk 1 0-0 2. Totals 20 14-19 62.
3-point field goals –FA 5 (Meyer 3, McPherson, Coggswell).
Total fouls –FA 24 (Veilleux, Baldwin fouled out).
WINDSOR – Senior Megan Wilkinson led Windsor with 19 points and seven rebounds to a 66-31 Class 4A Northern Conference victory against Skyline.
The victory was the fourth straight for the Wizards (3-0, 4-2), and the third straight game Windsor has held its opponent to 12 points in the first half. The Wizards’ 2-3 zone forced 33 turnovers and 19 steals, as they jumped out to a 21-2 first-quarter lead.
Senior Evanee Pearcey scored 14 points, and sophomore Kellie Ash added 11 for the Wizards. Junior forward Kelsey Doddridge also scored eight points and pulled down seven rebounds.
WHS – Kea Fisher 1 0-0 2, Taylor Pribble 1 0-0 2, Kelsey Doddridge 3 2-2 8, Katie Hazel 1 0-2 3, Whitney Pearcey 0 0-0 0, Taylor Kohles 1 0-0 2, Megan Wilkinson 8 3-4 19, Stephanie Clark 0 1-2 1, Evanee Pearcey 5 4-4 14, Kellie Ash 5 1-4 11, Sara Larson 2 0-0 4. Totals 27 11-18 66.
3-point field goals – WHS 1 (Hazel).
Total fouls – WHS 19.
Pawnee 26, Wiggins 18: At the Wiggins Tournament in Wiggins, Pawnee advanced to the tournament final, which starts at 4 p.m. today against Highland.
Pawnee (2-0, 5-0) struggled offensively but still managed to defeat the larger Wiggins. The two teams were tied at 14 heading into the fourth quarter, where Pawnee outscored Wiggins 12-4.
PHS – Kaeley Malcom 2 0-0 4, Lyndee Johnson 2 0-2 4, Adele Cass 1 0-0 2 Kayla Konig 2 1-2 6, Deeona Johnston 2 0-0 5, Tasha Timm 1 3-4 5. Totals 10 4-8 26.
3-point field goals – PHS 2 (Konig, Johnston).
Total fouls – PHS 11.
Highland 51, Mead 38: At the Wiggins Tournament in Wiggins, Highland was led by Nicole Long and Justine Maestas, who scored 17 and 16 points, respectively.
Nicole Hubbard grabbed 16 rebounds, while Molley Patrick scored nine points and added eight rebounds.
Highland (4-1) advances to the tournament’s title game against Pawnee today.
HHS – Emily Anderson 0 1-2 1, Nicole Long 7 2-6 17, Justine Maestas 7 1-4 16, Brittney Anderson 1 0-2 2, Sarah Stoudt 0 0-0 0, Nicole Hubbard 1 2-6 4, Brooke Barker 1 0-0 2, Molley Patrick 4 1-3 9. Totals 21 7-23 51.
3-point field goals – HHS 2 (Long, Maestas).
Total fouls – HHS 22 (Hubbard fouled out).
Sterling 45, Northridge 33: In Greeley, Northridge trailed by one after three quarters, but Sterling went on a 10-0 run to open the fourth quarter and never looked back in a Class 4A Northern Conference matchup.
Northridge sophomore Kaylyn Smith had 12 points, 11 rebounds and nine steals, while senior Kalyssa Aragon recorded eight points and seven rebounds for the Grizzlies (0-3, 0-5).
NHS – Molly Craft 3 0-0 6, Kendra Aragon 2 1-2 5, Kaylyn Smith 5 1-5 12, Kalyssa Aragon 2 4-8 8, Haley Paxton 1 0-0 2, Mackenzie Vegter 0 0-1 0. Totals 13 6-15 33.
3-point field goals – NHS 1 (Smith).
Total fouls – NHS 17.
Eaton 60, Kent Denver 39: In Eaton, the Reds scored 23 points in the third quarter of a nonconference game after increasing their intensity. The result meant more free throws, and a boost in offensive production.
Eaton (0-0, 4-1), which won thanks to a balanced team effort, featured three players who scored in double figures. Every player on the Eaton roster played in the game.
EHS – Shelby Edens 0 0-0 0, Karli Jelden 3 0-1 6, Kailey Kaiser 2 0-0 4, Tausha Voss 0 0-2 0, Jordan Needens 6 0-0 12, Lacee Jansson 0 2-4 2, Britton Lentz 3 6-6 12, Kendal Gantz 1 0-0 2, Leah Cheney 3 3-3 9, Beth Cheney 2 6-9 11, Olivia Renfroe 0 0-0 0, Taylor Hale 1 0-0 2. Totals 21 17-25 60.
3-point field goals – EHS 1 (B. Cheney).
Total fouls – EHS 17.
Longmont 77, Greeley West 42: In Longmont, Greeley West played well against Longmont’s press early on, but eventually succumbed to it in a Class 4A Northern Conference loss.
Spartans (1-4, 2-6) seniors Carmen Whitehead (22 points, seven rebounds), Kirsten Franklin (four points, five rebounds) and Lauren Horst (eight rebounds) stood out against one of the biggest and best teams in the state.
GHWS – Jeanette Bateman 1 0-0 2, Candice Krammer 1 0-0 3, Sara Krammer 3 0-0 6, Carmen Whiteahd 10 0-0 22, Danielle Saucedo 1 0-0 3, Lauren Horst 1 0-0 2, Kirsten Franklin 1 2-4 4. Totals 18 2-4 42.
3-point field goals – GWHS 4 (Krammer, Saucedo, Whitehead 2).
Total fouls – GWHS 16 (Saucedo fouled out).
Niwot 72, Greeley Central 34: In Greeley, Greeley Central lost its final game of 2009, as its record fell to 1-5.
Peak to Peak 51, Weld Central 29: In Lafayette, Weld Central (5-2) shot just 16 percent from the field, 11 percent from beyond the arc and 36 percent from the free-throw line in a nonconference loss.
WCHS – Lindsey Pippin 2 2-8 6, Shelby Roskop 2 7-10 12, Kellie Schreibvogel 1 0-0 2, Becca Cochran 1 0-0 2, Talara Ries 1 0-0 2, Krystina Kilker 0 0-0 0, Nicole Mettler 0 0-0 0, Raechyl Lewis 1 2-9 4, Kylie Nadow 0 0-0 0, Tori Gustafson 0 1-6 1. Totals 8 12-33 29.
Total fouls – WCHS 28 (Pippin, Schreibvogel fouled out).
GRAND JUNCTION – Roosevelt has the lead in the team standings after sending nine wrestlers to today’s quarterfinals at the Warrior Classic.
Two Roosevelt wrestlers are in the consolation bracket.


EXCLUSIVE: It Comes at Night breakout Kelvin Harrison Jr. has been tapped to star in Waves, a dramatic musical in which he’ll reteam with director Trey Edward Shults and A24. Lucas Hedges, Sterling K. Brown and Taylor Russell also have signed on to the film, which will mark the third collaboration between A24 and Shults following 2015’s Krisha and last year’s It Comes at Night.
Described as an energetic, affecting anthem of contemporary teenage life, the plot follows two young couples as they navigate the emotional minefield of growing up and falling in love.
Kevin Turen and Jim Wilson are producing the project, and filming is slated to begin next month in Florida.
Harrison recently appeared in the Sundance pics Monster, Assassination Nation and Monsters and Men, as well as the SXSW prize-winning film Jinn. His upcoming slate includes JT Leroy, starring Kristen Stewart and Diane Kruger; Luce with Naomi Watts and Octavia Spencer; and The Wolf Hour, which also stars Watts.
Harrison is repped by WME, Stagecoach Entertainment and Del, Shaw, Moonves.


Twelve leading IT employers this week pledged urgent action to tackle the growing shortage of IT professionals.
Microsoft, Logica, IBM and Nortel were among those who signed the E-Skills Employers Charter, which has backing from the Government and employers. The charter is the latest in a series of initiatives designed to encourage more people to join the IT profession. The industry will need an estimated one million extra trained professionals within the next five years, according to research released this week.
The charter forms part of the E-Skills National Training Organisation's three-year strategic skills plan, which aims to galvanise employers, suppliers and the Government into finding solutions for the UK's shortage of e-business skills.
The charter commits employers to review their recruitment practices in an attempt to encourage more women, older workers, young people and ethnic minorities into the profession. It calls for companies to rethink the wording they use in job advertisements, which is often off-putting to women and reinforces the professions "nerdy" image.
The charter also encourages firms to work with schools to find ways of inspiring young people to go into the IT profession and work with the media to dispel the negative stereotypes about IT workers.
Research commissioned by the E-Skills NTO to coincide with the charter's launch found that the number of people coming into IT is restricted because employers focus their recruitment efforts almost exclusively on young male graduates.
"It is not surprising that we have a shortage of IT workers when employers are only recruiting from half the potential talent. Raising the number of women in IT jobs will have a dramatic effect," said e-minister Patricia Hewitt.
The charter will be seen as an attempt inject new impetus into the government-backed Alan Stevens Report, which laid down a 16-point action plan to tackle the skills shortage at the end of 1999.
This week, Stevens said the report, which is a year behind schedule, had set over-optimistic targets. He added that many companies had been too busy with the after effects of Y2K and the dotcom phenomenon to give their full support to its proposals.
"We studied the thing to death. We worked on the problem through the National Skills Taskforce in 1998. We worked through my group in 1999. We all had a year off in 2000. Now we are all back on the job again in 2001 to fix it," Stevens said.


16 Democratic senators have demanded that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reinstate an Obama-era rule for the presumptive release for all pregnant women, citing a stillborn birth in a Texas immigration center in February and an increase in miscarriages, NBC reports.
The big picture: President Trump "ended the presumption of release for all pregnant detainees" last March through an executive order. ICE said it now evaluates on a case-by-case basis and takes "special factors" into consideration, and provides appropriate care to pregnant women in custody. In its argument to reinstate the Obama-era rule, the letter referenced a USA Today article that states at least 28 women have had miscarriages while in ICE custody over the past 2 years.


Two Sears board directors have hired an investment bank to look into deals made by the company's former CEO Eddie Lampert before the company filed for bankruptcy.
The directors are questioning the ways the company separated its real-estate and Sears' businesses under Lampert's watch.
The directors say that doing so caused Sears to lose several valuable assets. They are consulting with the investment bank on whether Lampert's actions constituted legal actions against him.
Lampert is currently owed $2.6 billion by Sears due to his hedge fund, ESL Investments, infusing the company with billions of dollars when its profits were being affected by retail giants Walmart and Amazon.
Lampert is now looking to buy Sears in a bankruptcy auction under the terms that it will be in a stabler financial condition.
(Reuters) - Two Sears board directors have hired investment bank Evercore to scrutinize deals that were led by former Sears Chief Executive Eddie Lampert with the US retailer before it filed for bankruptcy protection, people familiar with the matter said on Friday.
In addition to the directors, Lampert will also likely face probing from Sears' unsecured creditors' committee, a group selected by a government bankruptcy watchdog in most cases, the sources said. The committee includes Sears' landlords, the US government overseeing its remaining pensioners, vendors and representatives for bondholders.
In addition to the directors, Lampert will also likely face probing from Sears' unsecured creditors' committee, a group selected by a government bankruptcy watchdog in most cases, the sources said. The committee includes Sears' landlords, the US government body overseeing its remaining pensioners, vendors and representatives for bondholders.
Lampert arranged Sears' merger with discount chain Kmart in 2005. Since then, he has led numerous deals involving the retailer, including separating roughly $2.7 billion of its real estate into Seritage Growth Properties.
In recent years, ESL has extended rescue loans to Sears as it lost billions of dollars and fell behind in the competition with discount retailer Walmart and e-commerce company Amazon.com. Lampert is now owed about $2.6 billion by Sears and owns close to half the company.
Evercore's hiring remains subject to court approval. The committee has also hired law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison to help review the deals, according to court filings.
Andrew Dietderich, an attorney representing Sears creditor Fairholme Capital Management, said the company's many deals over the years resulted in a slow-motion bankruptcy.
"These cases are the last mile in a multi-year liquidation, one that happened without court supervision," Dietderich said in US Bankruptcy Court in White Plains, New York last week. Bruce Berkowitz, Fairholme's founder, stepped down from Sears' board in 2017.


OpenStack, the massive open-source project that aims to bring the power and ease of use of public clouds like AWS and Azure to private data centers, today launched Pike, the sixteenth major version of its software. As usual, there’s a massive number of updates here, but the core theme is that the various development teams have focused on making OpenStack more composable, so that companies can more easily pick and choose the features they want. In addition, the community has renewed its focus on helping OpenStack operators manage the lifecycle of the various OpenStack tools with services like Kubernetes and Ansible.
Mark Collier, the OpenStack Foundation’s COO, and Lauren Sell, the organization’s VP of Marketing and Community Services, told me earlier this week that they are now seeing a number of emerging use cases for OpenStack. One of these is edge computing — a trend that Microsoft, Amazon and other public cloud providers are also now addressing. “There is a huge demand for cloud computing in many different forms,” Collier said. “That’s impacting what we’re doing.” Some of the most prominent companies that are now looking at using OpenStack for their edge computing solution include Verizon (TechCrunch’s corporate overlords), Walmart (which wants to do computing right in its stores) and Inmarsat (which is looking at using OpenStack to power the on-board computing power on large ships).
Why the trend toward private clouds? Collier and Sell argue that it’s about cost, capabilities and compliance. Indeed, I’ve now heard from a number of enterprises that are moving to private clouds because their steady workloads aren’t a good fit for the public cloud billing model, which gives you a lot of flexibility to turn servers on and off, but you pay a premium for that. For workloads that run close to 24/7, operating a private cloud can often be more affordable.
For many companies, a private cloud also gives them access to capabilities that aren’t available in the public cloud. That may be specific networking functions for the many telecoms that operate OpenStack deployments, or specific hardware for machine learning workloads. For others, operating a private cloud isn’t even optional, especially if they have to fulfill certain regulatory and data sovereignty requirements.
Collier also noted there’s a trend toward having third-party vendors like RackSpace, Canonical or Mirantis operate these private clouds, which in his view means that the companies are getting the best of both worlds: the cost-savings and capabilities of a private cloud combined with the ease of use of public clouds.
OpenStack also is seeing massive growth in interest in China. Some of the largest enterprises there run OpenStack clouds, including the country’s largest railway system, China UnionPay, China Mobile, Huawei and ZTE. It’s also worth noting that Tencent’s massively popular WeChat service runs at least partially on OpenStack. This momentum is creating a new local startup ecosystem of companies that want to support these users.
Looking ahead, Collier and Sell noted that the organization is now looking at how the project can better support new use cases like edge computing and machine learning.


Provided by BU Athletics Freshman Justin Lane was the golf team’s top scorer for the third consecutive invitational as Binghamton placed eighth at Villanova.
The Binghamton golf team had its best finish of the spring season earlier this week when the team competed at the two-round Villanova Intercollegiate. The Bearcats were in 15th place at one point during the final round of the invitational, but climbed up the leaderboard and finished in eighth place out of 19 teams.
The Bearcats finished the invitational with a total combined score of 25 over par on 593 shots. Once again, the team’s final round score was an improvement on its day-one performance, taking 294 shots in the final round on Tuesday, as opposed to the 299 they took the day before.
For the third consecutive invitational, it was freshman Justin Lane leading the way for Binghamton. Lane finished tied for 23rd on the individual leaderboard with a score of five above par for the tournament. His plus-two performance in the final round included a stretch of nine consecutive holes where he made par or better.
The other Bearcat freshman to participate this week, Nacho Glagovsky, did nearly as well. He and junior Zak Ottman finished one stroke behind Lane at plus-six in a tie for 29th. Excluding his triple-bogey on the 17th, Glagovsky kept his scorecard relatively clean on Tuesday, with two bogeys canceled out by two birdies.
It was performances such as those that allowed the Bearcats to move up the leaderboard in the late stages of Tuesday’s round. The team managed to come up with more par saves and avoided dropping more than one shot when it did bogey. The team took advantage of opportunities that were presented, such as the par-four, 306-yard seventh hole, the shortest par-four on the course, which four out of five Bearcats birdied. Sophomore Ryan Rodriguez really heated up toward the end of his final round, birdieing three of his final four holes to help BU in its final push.
In all, four of five Binghamton players finished in the top half of the leaderboard, which contained a total of 101 finishers. Taking home the top spot was sophomore David Powers of St. Peter’s University with a score of four-under. He was one of just four players to finish the invitational in the red.
On the team leaderboard, it was Drexel that compiled the best overall score to take home first place, finishing at five over par. The Dragons struggled in the second round, however, and Rhode Island made a run up the leaderboard to try and catch them, but ultimately fell five shots shy.
From here the Bearcats look forward to the remainder of the spring season and the looming Big Sky Championships. This weekend’s Rutherford Intercollegiate at Penn State is the only remaining invitational for Binghamton before it heads back to Nevada for the conference championships. Herceg is confident that the team can keep moving in the positive direction heading into the big event at the end of the month.
The Bearcats are set to play in the Rutherford Intercollegiate following a short three-day break. The invitational will take place this weekend on Saturday, April 14 and Sunday, April 15 from University Park, Pennsylvania.


What makes a great burger? Taste and juiciness certainly play a big role, and in many renditions, downright sloppiness. Oozy elements combined with crisp ingredients, cheesy and creamy balanced with noisy and crunchy.
Every year, thousands of home cooks across the U.S. compete in Sutter Home Winery’s Build a Better Burger Recipe and Cook-Off, with $100,000 going to the winner (see information below the story why the contest isn’t open to California residents). James McNair, the author of more than 40 cookbooks, is the contest’s head judge. He and the winery’s culinary director, Jeffrey Starr, highlight many of the contest’s award-winning burger recipes in “Burger Parties” (Ten Speed Press, $19.99). The book showcases some of the best contest burgers, teamed with party menus that include appetizers, side dishes and desserts.
My favorite is the Greek-themed party that focuses on Opa! Burgers. These behemoth beauties were the brainchild of contestant Elizabeth Bennett of Mill Creek, Wash., and won top prize in the best alternative burger category.
The burger includes flavor-spiked condiments, including a mayonnaise boosted with roasted red bell peppers, and a cheese concoction made with crumbled feta and chopped kalamata olives. The no-snooze patties include dried porcini mushrooms reconstituted in red wine, minced garlic, dried red chili flakes and oregano.
Ground lamb is the meat of choice, but ground turkey or beef could easily be substituted because Bennett adds even more palate interest by layering thinly sliced sopressata (dry-cured Italian sausage), baby spinach leaves and tomato slices. Opa, indeed.
The menu’s starter is fava, a traditional, hummus-like puréed dip that was originally made with the broad beans from which it takes its name. Classically, the dip is made from the hard-to-find (and expensive) variety of fava beans from the Greek island of Santorini; they are particularly delicious. But the tasty purée is also scrumptious (and easier to prepare) made with yellow lentils or split peas. This dish can be prepared a couple of days in advance and refrigerated. And the cooled pita chips that accompany the dish can be made a day ahead and stored airtight at room temperature.
Grilled eggplant makes a delectable side dish with the burgers. Marinated and grilled until well-browned and tender, the eggplant slices are accompanied with minted, Greek-style yogurt and a smoke-scented grilled tomato-based sauce.
Sutter Home Winery’s Build a Better Burger Recipe and Cook-Off isn’t open to California residents, so if you have an out-of-state friend or relative who has a recipe for irresistible burgers, have them check out the rules at www.buildabetterburger.com.
I asked contest judge James McNair to tell me about the wackiest burger that has been submitted.


Pablo Sandoval's first-inning single in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series on Tuesday carried some historical significance, as the third baseman tied Barry Bonds' San Francisco Giants record by reaching base in his 21st consecutive postseason game.
Sandoval, a two-time All-Star, last failed to reach base in a postseason game in Game 4 of the 2012 National League Division Series, when he went hitless in four at-bats against the Cincinnati Reds.
Few players, however, boast the postseason résumé Sandoval has authored in recent years, as the 28-year-old entered Tuesday's contest against the St. Louis Cardinals with a .322/.363/.557 line through 29 career playoff games.
Bonds, incidentally, established the franchise record between 2002 and 2003, hitting .333/.576/.870 with eight home runs and 35 walks throughout a remarkable stretch that stopped at 21 games only because the Giants failed to make the postseason for the final four seasons of Bonds' career.


New Zealand has banned all military-style semi-automatic guns and assault rifles, effective immediately, following last week’s mass shooting. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern noted that the accused gunman in the attacks on two Christchurch mosques used weapons that had been purchased legally and made them more lethal by using 30-round magazines “done easily through a simple online purchase.” Fifty people were killed in the attacks. “What we’ve done here is taken out the guns out of circulation that are most critical to be addressed urgently and that’s what we’ve announced, with essentially almost immediate effect,” Ardern said, noting that her administration is already preparing for the next steps and a “second tranche” of measures. The cabinet will receive a paper on these issues on Monday, she said. When asked how many assault rifles there are in the country, Ardern said they don’t have an exact number, just as they don’t have a number for how many military-style semi-automatic weapons (MSSAs) are in circulation.


New London — In the seven weeks since it began, nearly 70 Connecticut residents have taken advantage of the state program that offers rebates of up to $3,000 for the purchase or lease of an electric car.
In the showroom for the event were five electric-powered vehicles: a 2014 B-Class Mercedes; a 2015 Volkswagen e-Golf; a 2015 Ford Fusion Energi; a 2015 Nissan Leaf; and a 2014 BMW 13.
Stickers on each of the vehicles listed estimated fuel cost savings over five years, ranging from $5,750 for the Fusion to $8,250 for the Leaf and BMW 13, compared to costs of fuel for similar gasoline-powered vehicles.
Sticker prices on the five vehicles ranged from $32,000 to $53,725.
“Everything you see is for sale,” Jeff Aiosa, owner of the dealership, told the small group gathered for the event.
His 25-year-old dealership, which moved into the Colman Street building four years ago, is an appropriate setting for an event promoting initiatives that reduce fossil fuel emissions, he said, since the building is powered by 40 solar panels and uses waste oil for winter heating.
He noted that, when consumers pair the rebate with federal tax incentives for electric vehicle purchases, they can cut up to $10,000 off the price of a car.
“They can not only save money, but also save the planet,” he said.
Putting more electric vehicles on the road, he added, will not only reduce carbon emissions contributing to climate change, it will also enhance national security by increasing the nation’s energy independence, and help boost the economy.
Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, said the program is a great example of how the public and private sectors can work together. The program, announced on May 19, has the support of the Connecticut Automotive Retailers Association.
It offers $3,000 rebates for vehicles with a battery capacity greater than 18 kilowatts or any fuel cell electric vehicle, including the Leaf, e-Golf, Ford Focus Electric, BMW i3 and Mercedes Benz B class.
A $1,500 rebate is available for vehicles with a battery capacity between 7 and 18 kilowatts, including the Chevrolet Volt, the Ford C-MAX Energi and Fusion Energy.
The Toyota Prius Plug-In and other vehicles with battery capacity of less than 7 kilowatts are eligible for $750 rebates.
Thus far, $131,250 in rebates have been paid to 67 car buyers. The rebates will be available until $1 million is distributed, unless additional funding becomes available to extend it, according to a news release from DEEP.
State senators Paul Formica, R-East Lyme, and Cathy Osten, D-Sprague, and Mayor Daryl Justin Finizo also praised the new program.
Klee noted that in addition to the incentives, there are also now 160 electric vehicle charging stations around the state, including one at the Mercedes dealership and another he used that morning at the Water Street Parking Garage downtown.
“There is no reason now not to get one,” he said.
Getting more electric vehicles on the road will enable Connecticut to reach its goal of reducing carbon emissions 80 percent below 2001 levels by 2050, he said, noting that emissions from transportation contributions about 40 percent of the total.
For information about the electric vehicle incentive program, visit: www.ct.gov/deep/CHEAPR.


Microsoft's announced the next version of Windows 10 will include an app that lets you view the diagnostic data collected from your device. After facing criticism of its telemetry for years, Microsoft said it now wants to "increase trust" in its products.
Microsoft has begun to share telemetry data collected from computers running Windows 10 with a third-party company, according to reports today. Security firm FireEye will have access to data from "every" Windows 10 device as part of a new partnership.
Sydney	- Everybody said it when they found out about Windows 10’s “phone home” abilities: they don’t like it, it’s intrusive, and it gets a lot of information. According to the Electronic Frontier Foundation, those worries are now proven.


Last week, I attended a conference on China’s Reforms held at the University of Costa Rica (UCR), located in the capital of the country – San José, Costa Rica. I benefitted from information in books on Costa Rica prior to the trip. Other than my previous short trips to Mexico, this would be my first trip to an LAC (Latin America and the Caribbean) country – I was eager to see it with my own eyes. In the process of preparation, I so regretted having quit Spanish language training a decade ago.
The drivers from our designated hotel were waiting at the exit when I landed at the Juan Santamaria International Airport – once we got on the shuttle van, we were able to witness the outskirts of the capital. The roads were a lot more cleaner than I expected of a middle-income developing country. MNC presence was also highly visible – Japanese and South Korean companies were all over the place. China recently embarked on a new era of bilateral relations with Costa Rica, with Xi Jinping visiting the country and meeting with the president of Costa Rica. The meeting involved promises of economic partnerships and a $400 million loan from China for Costa Rica. At this backdrop, the Association of Chinese Political Studies (ACPS) Annual Meeting and International Symposium was held in Costa Rica. My research presentation was mainly on China’s hurdles toward financial reforms coupled with China’s ideas of the ‘China Dream’.
Costa Rica is a country of GDP per capita totalling $12,600 (2013 estimate) with improved living standards compared to its LAC peers. It mainly produces coffee along with other agricultural products, and electronic goods (semiconductors) and high-tech parts. It also has a good educated workforce. Nevertheless, Costa Rica still shows signs of underdeveloped infrastructure and high income inequality. In San José, many of the resident buildings (of low stories) have high fences around them structured with steel in pointy thorns on top. It shows that security around the capital area is not that great, and it is also a manifestation of high possibilities of theft due to social inequality.
Costa Rica also imposes taxes on foreigners to the highest level that I have seen amongst countries I have visited – there is a 23% tax on foreigner consumption of goods and services, basically rolled into everything in Costa Rica. It is the addition of an I.V.I. tax (the equivalent of a national 13% value-added tax) and 10% of service charges. There is also a departure tax of USD 29.00. Since I hold a ROK passport, my visa fees were waived, but all foreigners must pay this departure tax prior to check-in. Although a departure tax is not uncommon (some countries tend to include it in the airport tax), taxes levied on foreigner activities within the country is a strong proof that it sees its own country lagging behind a lot of countries that are better off and that it seeks to benefit from visitors from those countries.
The virtue of Costa Rica is in its inherent conditions of nature – rain forests, ecological and environment-friendly environment carefully regulated by the government.It remains to be seen whether Costa Rica would take on further development with the development loans from China. The next few years will demonstrate what fruits the relationship between the two countries may bear.


Listen To Snippets Of Beyonce's Supposed Next Single "Till The End Of Time"
Good news for Kevin and Makael — Team Beyonce is already gearing up for her follow-up single to the underperforming “Run The World (Girls),” and from what little we can hear, it sounds like longtime fans of the starlet who were disappointed with her latest offering should be appeased with “Till The End Of Time.” But is it up-tempo enough for kids to shed some pounds to? Check out snippets of the goofy Euro-tripper’s new song below.
Taking a spelling cue from the equally-snippet-happy Britney Spears’ second Femme Fatale single “Till The World Ends” (which also followed a lead single that garnered mixed reactions from fans), this new song is rumored to be the label’s preferred single and may, in fact, soon replace “Run The World” as the track used to push Bey’s upcoming album.
As usual, we’ll wait until we hear the full song before weighing in on our own preference — but let’s hope for a better single sleeve, at least!


RTÉ says it asked senator to remove Repeal the Eighth badge to stop "unchallenged campaigning"
After the break in the show, Ó Ríordáin could be seen without the badge.
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin is not impressed with the Soldiers of Destiny.
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has been speaking about his forthcoming drugs strategy this morning.
The minister cited Portugal’s approach to drugs as a possible model for Ireland.
Sure would you look who it is?
A new report has called for the Direct Provision system to be overhauled.
What do you make of the government’s plans?
Aodhán Ó Riordáin has tweeted a picture of a brown substance smeared across his constituency office door this morning.
The Minister of State talked about the working group that’s tasked with suggesting how to reform the current system.
The call comes after it emerged that a woman was refused an abortion under the new Act.
Ciara Conway has declared her candidacy for the deputy leadership of the Labour Party.
Brian Conlan tendered his resignation today and has said that he thinks his replacement should come from outside the CRC.
Ruairi Quinn says that teachers can use JobBridge internships to pass probation periods.
The children’s charity estimates that there could be nearly 130,000 children living in consistent poverty in Ireland.
Thousands of people joined in a public protest today against Dublin City Council plans to build an 8-foot-high wall along the 3km Clontarf Promenade next year.
Ur say: Would a tax on texts make you :) r :( ?
Michael Noonan has ruled out the prospect of playing a new levy on text messaging. Do you think such a tax would work?
The Minister for Finance said he wasn’t aware of such a tax – previously proposed by Labour – anywhere else in the world.


Meet privately and inform the accused of the allegations.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission enforces the primary law -- Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 -- that prohibits workplace discrimination and harassment. The agency strongly recommends that employers take swift action to investigate and resolve workplace issues such as harassment. Key to an investigation of a workplace complaint is informing the accused of the allegations; the response you get determines the subsequent steps in the investigation.
Conduct your conversation with the accused in private; informing someone that he's been accused of harassment can elicit an emotional response. Be prepared to deal with anything from anger or shock to humiliation or shame. In your initial conversation with the person named in the employee's complaint, be prepared for the accused to admit to or deny the allegations. Begin the conversation by giving the accused harasser a copy of the company's policy on harassment and a description of behaviors and actions that violate the policy.
Refrain from making statements such as, "You harassed your employee on several different occasions when the two of you were working past normal business hours." Relay the accuser's statements as allegations instead of accusations, as in "I've received complaints that you engaged in inappropriate behavior that violates the company's code of conduct and anti-harassment policy." Share details about the allegations and observe the reaction you get.
If the accused individual denies the allegations, inform him that you'll need to continue your investigation by taking witness statements and reviewing evidence to arrive at a conclusion. In cases of egregious behavior, you may need to suspend the accused harasser. Putting the accused harasser on a paid suspension can preserve the integrity of your investigation. If he's in a management position or otherwise able to influence employees whose statements are critical to your investigation, it's wise to remove him from the workplace so you can complete your investigation.
Even if the accused harasser admits to engaging in inappropriate workplace behavior, you still don't know the extent to which his actions violated the company policy. Therefore, an investigation may still be necessary. However, if you have an admission plus concrete, irrefutable evidence of his behavior, such as surveillance video, you can close your investigation and start working on the resolution or remedial steps.
Resolving a workplace complaint could consist of issuing a disciplinary action for the policy violation or reassigning the accused harasser to another department or shift. In cases of serious policy violations, termination may be in order. If the employee who filed the complaint chooses to lodge a formal complaint with the EEOC or the state's human rights commission, the way you handled the investigation and resolved the matter becomes a critical factor in your company's legal defense. Therefore, consult your legal counsel if you have questions about your choices in resolving the complaint.
Mayhew, Ruth. "In Harassment at Work, What Are the Steps Taken After the Accused Has Been Told by HR?" Small Business - Chron.com, http://smallbusiness.chron.com/harassment-work-steps-taken-after-accused-told-hr-59143.html. Accessed 22 April 2019.


A redesign of the parliamentary website has been halted because of infighting among parliament's officials, it has emerged.
Management consultancy firm mySociety was brought in last year after what it called a "planning deadlock" developed within the walls of the Palace of Westminster.
Parliament's website is critical to democratic accountability, but some aspects of its design are now "increasingly dated", the firm said in its report.
It noted problems with the search feature, the 'find your MP' tool and a lack of 'responsive web design' which makes the site usable on a mobile or tablet.
"Expectations of what is normal on the internet change very fast," officials were told.
"What would have counted as an elegant, usable, interesting webpage just five years ago will now come across as clunky, unhelpful and perhaps hard or impossible to read on a smartphone or tablet (devices that did not exist until recently).
"Parliament's site needs updating, and bringing the site up to speed would require addressing a range of the following issues."
Two internal conflicts have prevented any progress, however.
The report identified tensions between the well-resourced intranet service and the relatively underfunded internet-focused team.
It also noted "a degree of tension" between the House of Lords and the House of Commons.
"Current structures have contributed to a planning impasse: parliament is currently lacking an agreed digital strategy due to a breakdown in negotiations between different internal bodies on the web policy board," the report added.
"The Houses have lacked an agreed digital plan for a considerable period because the board that is supposed to agree such decisions has been unable to agree, and there is nobody in a formal or informal position to break the deadlock."
A Commons spokesperson pointed out the report noted it has received positive feedback from members of the public about parliament's website.
But he conceded the inability of the Commons and Lords' management boards to agree on a way forward needs resolving.
A new internet supremo is now being recommended to resolve the slow-burning crisis.
Members of the public have until May 6th to comment on mySociety's proposal that parliament's two online branches are merged into a digital office headed by one person.
"With a single, appropriately skilled Head of Digital in charge of the services currently provided… we believe that a plan could be agreed quickly," the report said.
"We believe that a single figure would also be able to provide the reassurances that the House of Lords requires that their distinct voice and needs would not be ignored."
A spokesperson for mySociety said the company would not talk about its work because the report was "fundamentally a piece of work done for a client".


Also, is Jaden a robot?
Get ready to break the bank.
This is your chance to go 'Back to the Future' for less than the cost of a movie ticket.
Bootleg versions of Nike's self-lacing 'Back to the Future' sneakers are already rolling off production lines from China.
Nikes with Power Laces are real and coming in 2016.


The internet is collectively rejoicing now that Scott Pruitt has resigned as EPA head.
Trump announced Pruitt's resignation, effective Monday, through Twitter. The now former Environmental Protection Agency Administrator not only did the complete opposite of protecting the environment with Reagan-like policies, but also led an administration ridden with ridiculous scandals.
Despite what Trump called "an outstanding job," Pruitt's legacy will forever be known as the grifter who spent a ridiculous amount of taxpayer money not doing his job.
Twitter users were quick to post their reactions to Pruitt's resignation.
A man simultaneously claiming to understand God’s divine providence while conveniently ignoring all the parts of the Good Book that deal with lying, cheating and stealing is a lotta stuff.
Pruitt resigning to spend more time stealing from his family.
Scott Pruitt is out at the EPA. Americans will now celebrate Earth Day on July 5th.
Darth added to their ever-growing list of former Trump staffers.
Some couldn't help pointing out Pruitt's grifter habits. From the $2,749.62 he spent on "tactical pants" and "tactical polos" to his absurd obsession with buying a used mattress from a Trump hotel. Oh, and much like scam queen Anna Delvey, Pruitt apparently made his staffers pay for his fancy hotel reservations with their personal credit cards, and then never paid them back.
MIKE PENCE: pruitt, before you go, any idea what happened to the tv in the situation room?
Now for sale on D.C. craigslist: Tactical pants, gently used.
I guess Pruitt found out you get a gold watch when you retire.
Twitter users also guessed who Trump would pick for Pruitt's replacement. Knowing his track record and complete disregard for conservation efforts, it's not looking good.
And the woman who told Pruitt to step down during a lunchtime confrontation last week tweeted at Donald Trump.
Hey @realDonaldTrump where are you going to lunch tomorrow?
Where will Pruitt go next? 11 Howard, Anna Delvey's grifting home base, might want to watch out.


Lambert held a free football clinic in late July that brought more than150 kids from 5 to 14 years old to participate in drills.
Lambert has begun interacting with the community and thanking board members, students and future ticket holders for their support of the program and for bringing football back to the university.
That is the important first step, generating excitement for a school that needs its fans to be ravenous over football.
The program does not kick off until 2013, but seeing Lambert in his 49er gear interacting with the campers is what many UNC Charlotte fans have been waiting for.
Lambert had not coached since leaving Wake Forest in December, and will not be on the field for another two years, but there is plenty for him to do.
The 49ers need players, and his first class will go a long way in setting the tone for 49er seasons to come.
They have started targeting players from all over the country. Some area players the 49ers are said to be interested in include Porter Ridge quarterback Lee McNeil, Ardrey Kell offensive lineman Matt Carrick, Mallard Creek linebacker Wes Fields and Indian Land athlete Rondareas Truesdale.
Once the first few signings are announced, UNC Charlotte football will be more tangible, but having Lambert do and say the right things helps keep hungry fans satisfied for now.
Lambert is a football man and should be a perfect fit for starting the 49er program. At Wake Forest, where the Kentucky native spent the last nine years, the last three as defensive coordinator and the previous six as the linebackers coach, he was respected, successful and well-liked.
Before coaching at Wake Forest he was an assistant at Georgia for five seasons and Marshall for six. Before that he was a graduate assistant at Oklahoma.
Lambert was a three time all Big-8 Conference defensive back as a player and will bring a focus on defense and discipline to the program.
There is a lot of work to do, but he seems ready and willing to take on the challenge.
It was nice to see Lambert in his football gear on a hot summer day in July.
It will be nicer to see him leading the 49ers out of the tunnel in August 2013.


Happy Thursday from the Richmond! Our quiet neighborhood experienced a little Beatle-mania last weekend when Sir Paul was in town for his AT&T Park concert….
The Richmond Report: Rock The Bike Tonight!
The Richmond Report: When Does Community Policing Cross The Line?
Happy Spring from the Richmond! Last night, our own Supervisor Eric Mar was on hand at an event hosted by the League of Young Voters….


Seven-piece Pink Floyd tribute band Floyd in the Flesh will star in a new event for Rail Ale 2018.
The band will be performing at the iconic Barrow Hill Roundhouse, near Staveley, on Thursday, May 17.
All passionate Floyd fans, the band have worked hard to perfect the unique sound of Pink Floyd. Playing songs from albums including Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, Animals, Meddle, Division Bell, The Wall and more.
A real treat for all Rail Ale and Pink Floyd fans.
Enjoy the delights of the most atmospheric beer and music festival of the year with more than 350 real ales and prosecco and gin bars, and one of the very best tribute bands in the UK.
Ticket are now on sale through www.seetickets.com priced at £12 plus a booking fee.
Tickets will be available on the day priced at £15.
Doors and bars open at 6pm. Floyd in the Flesh will be on stage at 7.45pm.


Description: Staff nurse basic duties are to be responsible for direct nursing care of inmates incarcerated in the detention facility in accordance with established policies and procedures of the facility and the accepted standard of nursing practice within the state. The primary responsibilities are to provide sick call, deliver medication, respond to emergencies, and conduct physical assessments on inmates. The staff nurses functions under the supervision of a registered nurse and/or facility physician and reports directly to the clinical supervisor.


Andy Murray recently underwent successful hip surgery and says he's feeling better than he has in years, but he doesn't sound confident that it will allow him to compete at Wimbledon this year.
Murray, 31, had hip resurfacing surgery in January after battling lingering issues for nearly two years. In an interview with BBC Sport this week, the three-time Grand Slam champ said that he's no longer dealing with the pain that plagued him, but his chances of competing at Wimbledon this year are "less than 50 percent."
"The operation went well," said Murray. "I'm feeling good and walking around pain free - which hasn't been the case for pretty much 18 months, two years."
Going into the surgery, Murray knew there was a significant possibility that the procedure could end his competitive playing career. He elected to have the treatment anyway in an effort to mitigate the day-to-day pain caused by his right hip.
"The reason for having the surgery was to improve all the day-to-day things and my quality of life. I wasn't enjoying tennis, I wasn't enjoying going out for walks and doing basic things - it was painful tying my laces. I wanted to get rid of that," he said.
Before undergoing the surgery earlier this year, the former world No. 1 tearfully announced that he would retire at some point in 2019 due to the persistent hip issues. He was hoping the pain would be manageable enough for him gut it out until Wimbledon this summer, but ultimately he chose to undergo the operation shortly after.
It seems highly unlikely that he'll be able to compete at Wimbledon considering he wouldn't be cleared for any high-impact training until May at the earliest. That being said, he doesn't seem all that discouraged by the idea he may not return to the court at any level.
"I don't feel any pressure to come back and play," Murray said. "I don't feel like I have to get back to playing Wimbledon or playing tennis again. I just want the hip to be as good as it can be and if it allows me to play, that's brilliant. If not, I'm not in pain anymore and I'm happy with that."
Regardless of whether he manages to make a comeback, Murray will go down as one of the best tennis players of this generation. He's a two-time Wimbledon champ, a former US Open champ, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, a Davis Cup champion, and winner of the 2016 ATP World Tour Finals.


SOMERSET COUNTY — Fresh off a portrayal in the HBO miniseries, "The Pacific," World War II hero John Basilone might be featured next in the New Jersey Hall of Fame.
The U.S. Marine, a Medal of Honor recipient, is a nominee for the hall’s 2011 class.
Gunnery Sgt. Basilone fought at Guadalcanal and was killed in action at Iwo Jima. He was the only enlisted Marine during World War II to receive the Medal of Honor, Navy Cross and the Purple Heart.
“This is a wonderful opportunity to say thank you to a great American whose sacrifices should never be forgotten,” Somerset County Freeholder Director Jack Ciattarelli said of the hero who grew up in Raritan.
Other nominees for the hall of fame include former U.S. President Grover Cleveland, of Caldwell; actor John Travolta, of Englewood; and housewares icon Martha Stewart, a Nutley native.
The Somerset County freeholders are encouraging county residents to cast votes for Basilone on the Hall of Fame's website at www.njhalloffame.org. Votes must be made by Jan. 3.
The top choices in the online poll will be inducted next spring. The New Jersey Hall of Fame was created by state law in 2005 to honor citizens who have made “invaluable contributions to society and the world beyond,” according to its website.


This is the most convenient way to access Bigfoot Eyewitness Radio on your phone. With this app, you are always connected to the latest episodes and the show. You can also star your favorite episodes and save them to a list so you can easily enjoy them over and over. This app is complete access to Bigfoot Eyewitness Radio and if you're a fan of the show, you won't want to be without it. This app contains the following additional features: Streaming access to play episodes from anywhere. Always updated with the latest episodes- and an archived back catalog. Playback resume (when interrupted by a call or other distraction). Access to exclusive extras like PDFs, wallpapers, and bonus content. Quick access to all the contact methods for the show like call, email, web, Facebook, and Twitter Thank you for purchasing this app and supporting the show. Please note, not all episodes may have exclusive extras.


Chain restrictions have lifted on Interstate 80 between the California state line to just before USA Parkway.
Chain controls are beginning to lift on area highways, according to the Nevada Department of Transportation website.
There are no restrictions on Interstate 80 from the California state line to just before the USA Parkway exit in Lyon County.
Most other area highways require either a four wheel drive vehicle with snow tires or chains.
For a constantly updated list of road conditions, visit NVROADS.com.
The Mt. Rose Highway will be closed near the summit at approximately 8:30 a.m. for avalanche control, according to a tweet from the Nevada Department of Transportation.
The closure is expected to last about 30 minutes.
More: What's a school 'digital day?' What happened to WCSD snow days?
Snow and bad road conditions have triggered a "digital day" for multiple Washoe County School District campuses today.
Assignments will be provided digitally to students by the teacher and completed at home.
Classes are canceled at Bishop Manogue Catholic High School due to the weather and safety concerns.
The National Weather Service in Reno is still collecting regional snowfall totals, but early reports indicate anywhere from 2 to 3 inches (or more) of snow fell in the Reno-Sparks area.
About 3.2 inches of snow was recorded at the Weather Service offices at about 4 a.m. Wednesday morning, according to NWS meteorologist Chris Johnston.
The Reno-Tahoe International Airport reported 2.8 inches at the same time.
Snow has been falling steadily since then, Johnston added, so it's likely those totals are now higher — and they will continue to climb as the morning goes on.
Another band of snow is currently forming over South Lake Tahoe and Carson City and is headed towards Reno-Sparks. Johnston said that band should arrive in the next hour or so and will continue through the morning commute.
Temperatures will remain in the 30's throughout the day and intermittent snow showers will persist.
Johnston echoed the warnings of local law enforcement agencies, who cautioned drivers to pay attention to chain controls and hazardous road conditions.
The weather service is expected to have updated snowfall totals for across the region as the morning goes on.
If you can stay home until the roads begin to thaw this morning, it's probably a good idea.
"From what I can tell, pretty much every single highway in this part of the state has chain controls active ... the roads are pretty much a sheet of ice out there and traction is diminished significantly," said Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper Matt McLaughlin.
He added that the posted speed limit on roadways is not currently a safe speed, "you should really be going well under the speed limit."
McLaughlin said there are a handful of crashes across the region but most of those appear to be non-injury crashes. Highway patrol has also gotten multiple calls for help from stuck or stranded motorists.
If you absolutely have to be on the road, make sure you're being extremely careful out there," McLaughlin said.
Washoe County School District schools - except Incline Village - are on a two-hour delay Wednesday morning after an overnight winter storm caused hazardous conditions on area roads, according to the district.
There will be no early release and winter bus stops are in effect.
The University of Nevada, Reno is opening as normal today and classes at Truckee Meadows Community College are delayed until 9:30 a.m.
TMCC classes before 9:30 this morning are delayed or canceled.
A winter weather advisory remains in place for the entire region this morning and motorists should be wary of chain controls and hazardous driving conditions as they take to roads for the morning commute.
Chain controls are so prevalent in the region that it's actually easier to list which highways are currently unrestricted. Most major arteries in Northwestern Nevada, the Tahoe Basin and over the Sierra are currently chain restricted.
For a continuously updated list of road conditions, visit NVROADS.com.
Road conditions deteriorated so much last night that the Reno Police Department warned drivers that travel had become "extraordinarily hazardous" and that travel was "unsafe and not recommended."


"I can tell you one thing -- it's all (expletive), and it's getting ready to come to roost," Fillingame said in an interview after the council's decision.
At the council's Aug. 18 meeting, council members noticed nearly $300,000 missing from the DOJ forfeitures fund and called for authorities to investigate. The mayor told the council the DOJ money was being deposited into the city's general operating account and "was definitely being spent on the police department." However, the general operating account had a balance of only about $80,000 at the time.
Becky Hammond, an auditor hired to investigate the forfeitures account as part of a DOJ mandate on the city, delivered her findings Tuesday night after months of speculation by council members that the mayor was borrowing from the DOJ fund to cover the city's cash-flow problems. Hammond said if the council does not place the total amount into a restricted checking account, the DOJ will demand a reimbursement. About $21,000 is in a newly opened account restricted to DOJ funding, bringing the balance the city owes to about $300,000.
According to federal affidavits obtained by the Sun Herald in 2015, the last time the police department spent any DOJ forfeitures money was $1,207 in 2011. Hammond made similar statements Tuesday that affirmed the Sun Herald's previous reporting, saying the affidavits indicate a total of about $45,000 spent over a six-year period.
"In 2011, something happened with the restricted accounts, and they were all closed," Hammond said, adding she saw no signs of illegal activity or malfeasance on the part of any city employees.
But when city leaders asked what happened to the money, Hammond's answers caused some confusion.
"She would say one thing," Councilman Jeffrey Reed said, "and then when one of the councilmen questioned her, it was like she was on one side of the fence and then she was on the other side of the fence.
"We owe $300,000. That's the bottom line."
Hammond was tripped up several times during the meeting while trying to field a barrage of questions from the council, the mayor and city attorney Donald Rafferty. When Fillingame asked her when the financial problems began, Hammond said she reviewed records dating to 2007. Fillingame has been mayor since 2009.
"This has been a problem going back a long ways," she said.
According to the city's general ledger, she said, the money wasn't spent or moved around. However, under more-specific questioning by several council members, Hammond said the money wasn't actually in the city's accounts.
"In 2007, actually, the accounting appeared to be different," she said. "It looks like the pooling of cash was set up in 2009."
"Do we know what this $300,000 was spent on?" Councilman Joey Boudin asked.
"It hasn't been spent," Hammond said. "(About) $45,000 of it was spent. The other $321,000 is in your accounting."
Seeking clarification, Boudin asked, "In our accounting -- but not in our accounts?"
The seemingly confused city leaders began prying for a simpler explanation, to little avail.
A "much bigger accounting" would be required to determine where things went wrong," Hammond said. "It's not clear" ... "You can't just find that bucket of money."
She compared Bay St. Louis' situation with one she recently encountered in St. Bernard Parish where there was "basically, borrowing from restricted funds."
Pressing for a more definitive answer, Favre asked if the money was misspent.
"Again, I couldn't verify that because of the restricted nature of funds," she said.
Asking more bluntly, Favre said: "But if we would have spent it correctly, we wouldn't have to pay it back?"
"Correct," Hammond said in response.


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The final version of the Energy Policy Act that emerged after months of secret negotiations is seriously flawed. It undermines existing environmental protections, increases greenhouse gases that lead to global warming and fails to reduce oil consumption through energy conservation.
Both of Missouri's U.S. senators, Kit Bond and Jim Talent, voted to support it. This is bad for Missouri because it allows communities with dirty air to postpone cleanup efforts and dodge additional safeguards to protect public health.
This energy bill does nothing to curb global warming. In fact, it will dramatically increase harmful emissions that cause air pollution and global warming through huge incentives for burning coal, oil and gas.
Missouri's senators will soon have another opportunity to vote on the Energy Policy Act. We urge Bond and Senator Talent to oppose this dangerous bill. Our natural environment and the health of millions of Americans are at stake.


Is North Korea Right About U.S. Human-Rights Abuses?
"The U.S. is a living hell as elementary rights to existence are ruthlessly violated," the state news agency claims.
Some countries are accustomed to U.S. reports deploring their human-rights abuses. But on Wednesday, North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) retaliated with a human-rights report of its own titled "News Analysis on Poor Human Rights Records in US." In it, KCNA claim that the U.S. is the "world's worst human rights abuser" and a "living hell." Do the agency's claims hold up to scrutiny? Here's a fact-check of the report.
Shortly ago, the United States had a ceremony to mark the 50th anniversary of the institution of citizenship act in the presence of President Obama.
As the world's worst human rights abuser, it pretended to be a "model" in human rights performance. More ridiculous are Obama's remarks at the ceremony that as the president, he came to realize that it is hard to make progress in the American society and there are some discouraging points.
In fact, the remarks are little different from his admission of the serious human rights situation in the U.S.
The "institution of citizenship" act appears to be a mistranslation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the 50th anniversary of which Obama commemorated last month in Texas. Obama did concede that "yes, race still colors our political debates, and there have been government programs that have fallen short," but he used that line and the story of the Civil Rights Act to reiterate that "the story of America is the story of progress." Unsurprisingly, that part was left out of North Korea's summary of his remarks.
Under the citizenship act, racialism is getting more severe in the U.S. The gaps between the minorities and the whites are very wide in the exercise of such rights to work and elect. The U.S. true colors as a kingdom of racial discrimination was fully revealed by last year's case that the Florida Court gave a verdict of not guilty to a white policeman who shot to death an innocent black boy.
That's why 52 percent of the Americans have said that racism still exists in the country while 46 percent contended that all sorts of discrimination would be everlasting.
This critique is particularly surreal, given that North Korea is one of the most ethnically homogeneous countries in the world and that experts like B.R. Myers have described Pyongyang's official national ideology as deeply xenophobic and racist despite. And yet KCNA has chosen to emphasize American racism. Are the agency's criticisms accurate?
While U.S. federal and state laws prohibit racial discrimination in the workplace, there are certainly racial disparities in hiring and wages. U.S. Labor Department statistics released on Friday pegged the black unemployment rate at 11.6 percent in April, a decline from 12.4 in March but still almost twice as high as the national unemployment rate of 6.3 percent. This isn't just tied to the Great Recession: the average annual unemployment rate for black Americans from 1963 to 2012 was also 11.6 percent, more than double the 5.1-percent average unemployment rate for whites. Ten percent of whites fell beneath the poverty line in 2011, compared with 28 percent of blacks.
KCNA also cites threats to the "right to elect," and the news agency has a point here, too. Since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a portion of the Voting Rights Act in its Shelby County v. Holder decision last summer, lawmakers in Texas, North Carolina, and other states have enacted election laws that disproportionately target minorities, the elderly, and the working poor, in what my colleague Ta-Nehisi Coates has called an example of "elegant racism."
The mention of a "white policeman who shot to death an innocent black boy" in Florida appears to be a reference to George Zimmerman, the neighborhood-watch volunteer who shot and killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in February 2012. Zimmerman's acquittal on murder charges the following July by a Florida jury received widespread international coverage, including a condemnation from Iran's Foreign Ministry.
The statistics regarding American views on race relations seem to be drawn, in part, from a CBS News poll taken in March. But North Korea's report omits one of the poll's main findings: that six in ten Americans say the state of American race relations is good, including 60 percent of whites and 55 percent of blacks. While the U.S. clearly still has progress to make, a "kingdom of racial discrimination" it is not.
The U.S. is a living hell as elementary rights to existence are ruthlessly violated.
At present, an average of 300,000 people a week are registered as unemployed, but any proper measure has not been taken.
The housing price soared 11.5 percent last year than 2012 and 13.2 percent in January this year than 2013, leaving many people homeless.
The number of impoverished people increased to 46.5 millions last year, and one sixth of the citizens and 20-odd percent of the children are in the grip of famine in New York City.
It's unclear whether North Korea's economic analysis here is intentionally misleading or just factually deficient. The report correctly notes that about 300,000 people a week are registering for first-time unemployment claims, but that statistic in isolation doesn't paint a full picture. According to government statistics, for example, the United States saw a net growth of 288,000 jobs in April. While North Korea's observations on the U.S. housing market are statistically accurate, rising home values on their own aren't necessarily a problem. The U.S. homeownership rate dropped significantly after the crash—it is currently 64.8 percent overall, the lowest level since 1995—but other factors, including higher barriers to mortgages and persistent joblessness, affected the rate too too. And although Pyongyang implies otherwise, the national homelessness rate actually dropped in 2013 for the third consecutive year.
KCNA did correctly observe that 46.5 million Americans live in poverty and that the number is rising. One in five children in New York City does live in a food-scarce home, but the claim that these children live in the "grip of famine" is hyperbolic. Still, that distinction is likely of little comfort to the one in three New Yorkers who have trouble affording food.
All sorts of crimes rampant in the U.S. pose a serious threat to the people's rights to existence and their inviolable rights.
The U.S. government has monitored every movement of its citizens and foreigners, with many cameras and tapping devices and even drones involved, under the pretext of "national security."
Meanwhile, bills on easing arms control were adopted in various states of the country, boosting murderous crimes. As a result, the U.S. has witnessed an increasing number of gun-related crimes in all parts of the country and even its military bases this year. In this regard, the United Nations on April 10 put the U.S. on the top of the world list of homicide rates.
North Korea may be known as the "hermit kingdom" for its isolation from the world, but the folks at KCNA have apparently been following the Guardian and Washington Post reports on the NSA's extensive surveillance activities, though these revelations have yet to include the tracking of Americans' "every movement."
As for crime in the U.S., some studies suggest mass shootings are increasing, and many U.S. states have loosened their gun-control regulations in recent years. But gun-related homicides and homicides in general are actually declining. (In any case, the causal relationship between gun ownership and gun-related crime is inconclusive.) Contrary to North Korea's claims, the UN report on homicide rates around the world actually charted a below-average homicide rate in the U.S., with Honduras and Venezuela taking the top spots. The North Korean government, for its part, has solved the problem of gun-related deaths by banning all firearm sales to the public.
The U.S. also has 2.2 millions of prisoners at present, the highest number in the world. For lack of prisons on the part of the government, individuals are providing detention facilities to make money.
A Russian TV said that in the U.S. the wealthy classes are now keen on the investment in providing private prisons for their high profit and so more people will be imprisoned.
I wish I could write that KCNA is wrong about U.S. mass incarceration, but it isn't. The statistics are staggering: The United States accounts for less than five percent of the world population but incarcerates a quarter of the world's prisoners. One in every hundred American adults is behind bars. Combined with the millions on probation or parole, "there are now more people under 'correctional supervision' in America," wrote Adam Gopnik, "than were in the Gulag Archipelago under Stalin at its height." Most of these inmates are people of color, and the effect these prison terms have on their families, communities, and livelihoods is corrosive.
Since maintaining this vast system strains tax resources, many states and the federal government have turned to private prisons for help, as North Korea correctly notes. Some research suggests that these private institutions are more costly to operate than state-run prisons even as they provide lower-quality services. Private prison companies even lobby for harsh sentences to create demand for their services.
What North Korea failed to mention is that this system may be collapsing. President Obama is mulling mass pardons to shorten or end thousands of lengthy drug sentences. A broad bipartisan coalition in Congress is working on sentencing-reform legislation. The Supreme Court recently ordered California to free thousands of inmates. At the state level, legislatures and governors are shifting resources away from prisons and into rehabilitation programs. As a result, the size of the U.S. prison population has consistently dropped in recent years.
Yes, North Korean prisons are incontestably worse than U.S. ones. But that doesn't erase the many problems with America's prison system.
Such poor human right records in the U.S. are an inevitable product of the ruling quarters' policy against humanity.
Its chief executive, Obama, indulges himself in luxury almost every day, squandering hundred millions of dollars on his foreign trip in disregard of his people's wretched life.
It is also the president who called for respect to the verdict of not guilty given to a white policeman's racialism and backed the unlawful monitoring and tapping activities.
The U.S. is the world's worst human right abuser and tundra of a human being's rights to existence.
North Korea isn't the first critic to note the high costs of presidential travel, though most of that money is spent on security. For what it's worth, Obama and George W. Bush have incurred nearly identical costs in running the White House.
If the United States is a tundra for human rights, then what is North Korea? The world's last totalitarian state suppresses all political protest and participation by its citizens. As documented by a harrowing UN report in February, the country maintains a vast network of prison camps containing as many as 200,000 political prisoners and other inmates. By any objective or subjective measure, the North Korean government treats its people far worse than the U.S. government treats its people.
But Pyongyang's sins don't make Washington a saint. While it's easy to dismiss North Korea's critiques as hypocritical, it isn't the only country to criticize America's human-rights record. When asked about Malaysia's progress on human rights at a press conference in Kuala Lampur this past week, Obama said his host "has still got some work to do. Just like the United States, by the way, has some work to do on these issues. Human Rights Watch probably has a list of things they think we should be doing as a government."
On cue, Human Rights Watch released that very list, urging the United States to improve its record on mass incarceration, NSA surveillance, and racial discrimination, among other topics.


1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients except bread in large bowl. Cut bread in half lengthwise. Spread meat mixture on top of cut sides of bread.
2. Wrap aluminum foil around the crusty bottom and sides of each bread half, leaving meat mixture uncovered. Put onto baking sheet.
3. Bake until meat is cooked through and bread is crusty, about 35 minutes. Serve with fresh vegetables and dill or spinach dip.
Variation: Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup chopped pimientos to meat mixture or add sliced red onions and green peppers on top of the meat mixture. Then spread smokey barbecue sauce over meat on bread before baking.
Send your favorite original recipe, name, address and day phone number to Recipe Editor, 4th floor, Chicago Tribune, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60611. It may bring you $10.


Goodbye From How Babies Work!
You Love Playing With Your Baby. But That’s Not the Only Way.
Your Baby’s Teething? Rub a Minnow on It.
I’m Supposed to Do What to Make My Baby Poop?
American Parents Are Obsessed With Enrichment. Dutch Parents Think That’s Crazy. Why?
Is My Baby Laughing at Me or With Me?
Hate Diapers? At Least You Don’t Use Traditional Kurdish Urine Tubes.


The combined co-ed girls and boys middle school cross country team recently completed another successful season.
The team is made up of students in sixth-eighth grade. The program started in 2008.
"I started the middle school cross country team at SCPS mainly so my son, Ty, a seventh-grader, could participate," said head coach DeeDee Colter, who also coaches the high school team. "He had run the annual Enmark Savannah River Bridge Run with me back in 2006 and thus demonstrated he could hold his own at the 5K distance, so I knew he could compete well at the two-mile distance run by middle-schoolers. SCPS long-time middle school athletic director Sonny Lady approved my plan to have the middle school runners train with my varsity team once or twice a week and compete in a few local area meets."
The first year, Colter said, it was mainly just Savannah Country Day, Calvary and SCPS. The dominating runners for the girls and boys squads were Megan Norris and Ty Colter, who both went undefeated.
"These two no doubt dominated the field for the next two years until they entered high school last year," Colter said.
Jennifer Colter, Deidre's daughter, now a sixth-grader, last season as a fifth-grader competed at the middle school level and meets and finished second behind Norris in every race.
This year, their third season, was again a success as eight teams competed - Savannah Christian, Country Day, Calvary, St. Peter's, St. Andrew's, Blessed Sacrament, St. James and Effingham Christian - at each of the five races.
The Red Raiders opened their 2010 season competing in the Saucony Kickoff Classic held in Daffin Park. At that meet, sixth-grader Jennifer Colter - competing against students in sixth-10th grades in the two-mile run - won the first place overall female JV runner title. She went on to win every race she competed in this season except for one. The flu kept her from competing and possibly winning another race, this one at Country Day.
SCPS eighth-grade standout Jacob Simmons dominated the boys team by winning three of five races. He always finished in the top three.
-- Girls - Jennifer Colter, Rebekah Branch, Sabrina Harn, Jillia Kramer, Madison McLean, Lauren Sheldon, Morgan Willard and Madison Mullen.
-- Boys - Jacob Simmons, Bridges Brantley, Jonathan Gallup, James Grusheski, Matthew Korzik, Nelson Lovelace and Connor Robertson.
"Overall, both squads did excellent and as cross country continues to grow as we hope we look forward to hosting a championship meet next year for our local area," Colter said.
Several standout student-athletes in sixth, seventh and eighth grades from Savannah Christian Prep were recently honored with awards at the school's annual Fall Sports Banquet held in mid-November at the southside Carey Hilliard's Restaurant.
-- 6th Pep Squad - Most Spirited: Emily Brown.
-- 6th Volleyball - Most Outstanding Server: Landon Jones; Most Improved: Lainey Aenchbacher; Coaches Award: Emilee Wissmach.
-- 6th Football - Most Outstanding Offensive Player: Ethan Smith; Most Outstanding Defensive Player: Zack Harper; Coaches Award: Cooper Marini.
-- 7th Volleyball - Most Outstanding Server: Claire Durden; Most Improved: Olivia Newell; Coaches Award: Reilly Abshire.
-- 8th Volleyball - Most Outstanding Server: Madison Rogers; Most Improved: Sarah Floyd; Coaches Award: Darby Halliburton; Most Outstanding All-Around: Kailyn Herndon.
-- Cheerleading - Most Improved: Allison Saxon; Coaches Award: Emalee Brown; Most Outstanding All-Around: Chelsea Dettling.
-- Girls Cross Country - Coaches Award: Jillia Kramer; Most Outstanding All-Around: Jennifer Colter.
-- 7th and 8th Football - Most Outstanding Offensive Player: Chandler Wilkinson; Most Outstanding Defensive Player: Hunter Jiran; Coaches Award: J.T. Mertz; Most Outstanding All-Around: Nick Bateman.
-- Scholar athlete award winners: 6th volleyball, Emilee Wissmach; 6th football, Joshua Kelley; 6th Pep Squad, Emily Brown; 7th volleyball, Victoria Thomas; 7th cheerleading, Kennedy Jewell Freeman; 7th football, Tristan Hill-Youmans; 8th volleyball, Brooke Horton, 8th cheerleading: Chandler Dotson; 8th football, Bryce Forkner; girls cross country, Lauren Sheldon; boys cross country, Matthew Korzik.
Contact me with all of your local sports news. Send e-mail to mark beasley.goodsports@yahoo.com.


Ars is on the scene at Microsoft's biggest developer conference of the year.
We're in a surprisingly warm and pleasant San Francisco for Microsoft's annual developer conference, Build, and we'll be liveblogging the opening keynote.
Festivities start at 8:30 PDT. We're expecting to hear all about the next steps in Windows 10's development, including support for the Xbox One, more HoloLens software to show off Microsoft's augmented reality vision, and according to some last-minute leaks, a new way of running Ubuntu on Windows. We're also hoping to hear just how many people are running Windows 10.


Trump remains as enthusiastic about his Hurricane Maria response now as he did in October 2017 when he visited Puerto Rico after the storm, pictured above.
With a monster hurricane spinning towards the east coast, President Donald Trump took a moment during a briefing on Tuesday to herald the awful, delayed response to 2017's Hurricane Maria as an "unsung success," sparking outrage online.
Calling it "one of the best jobs that's ever been done with respect to what this is all about," Trump is ignoring what was, in fact, a dreadful response that cost more lives than what the storm death toll originally claimed.
SEE ALSO: Hurricane Florence is on its way to the East Coast. Here's what to expect.
At the time, the administration committed to a more aggressive response to storms that struck Texas, even as that situation there became more manageable and Puerto Rico desperately needed more assistance.
But perhaps worst of all is the fact that Trump is using words like "tremendous" and "success" to describe a response to a storm that ultimately killed almost 3,000 people, more than the roughly 1,800 killed by Hurricane Katrina and about the same number of people who were killed in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
As far as Trump's response is concerned, the most lasting image of his involvement with Hurricane Maria will be the time he visited Puerto Rico and threw rolls of paper towels to survivors.
As one could imagine, Trump's egregiously tone-deaf statement on Tuesday did not go over well on Twitter.
Trump simply does not get it. Thus his neglect towards Puerto Rico cost about 3,000 lives. Unfortunately, it seems he will never get it.
Hey @realDonaldTrump: Almost 3,000 Americans died and it took ELEVEN months for your administration to restore power to #PuertoRico.
Trump is bragging about his handling of Puerto Rico.
3,000 people DIED. What an awful human being.
- "I actually think it was one of the best jobs that's ever been done"
The way Trump just said Puerto Rico was "incredibly successful" after hurricane Maria, reminded me of someone sitting in the theater cheering for the iceberg while watching The Titanic.
Try unsung tragedy. Roughly as many Americans died because of Trump's failure in Puerto Rico as died on 9/11.
Just another example of this administration's indifference to brown people's humanity.
None of this gives us any confidence in how Trump will respond to Hurricane Florence's landfall, which is projected to hit somewhere along the Carolina coast later this week.


Actress Rachel Weisz was born on March 7, 1970 into a Jewish family with an Austrian mother and Hungarian father who both escaped to England from the Nazi regime.
Although Weisz was expelled from two schools in her teens, she studied English at Cambridge University. It was there that she and a friend started their own performance group called Talking Tongues. The group was invited to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival three times, won the Guardian Student Drama Award, and was invited to perform at the National Theater.
Weisz started out in British TV, but quickly made her way to the big screen in the film Stealing Beauty. She became a well-known star with her reccuring role in The Mummy movie franchise. In 2006, a very pregnant Weisz (she and boyfriend Darren Aronofsky were expecting their first child) won an the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. She also won a Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild Award, BAFTA and Critic’s Choice Circle Award for her performance.
In November 2010, Weisz split with Aronofsky after nine years together. Six months later, the actress married her Dream House costar Daniel Craig in a secret ceremony in New York.


ISLAMABAD, Dec 7 (APP): Minister of Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan Wednesday directed Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) to dispatch their teams to Abbottabad where PIA plane has been crashed.
The FIA team would assist in initial investigation while NADRA would help in identification of unfortunate passengers.
Meanwhile, Secretary Interior has contacted Chairman National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and as per minister’s directions Air Wing helicopters would be sent to assist the NDMA in rescue activities.
As per details, passenger plane of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), flying from Chitral to Islamabad, crashed near Havelian, a hilly area near Abbottabad.
The flight PK-661 with 40 passengers on board went missing before pilots lost control over aircraft, a spokesman of the PIA said.
He said all resources were being mobilized to locate the aircraft.
PIA’s emergency response centre has been activated and it could be accessed at the following phone numbers: (021) 99044890, (021) 99044376 and (021) 99044394.


New Zealand's prime minister Jacinda Ardern wants the gunman forgotten. She refuses to say his name and has clamped down on the distribution of his video. She has urged the public to avoid giving the shooter the fame he seeks from his horrific act.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern speaks to representatives of the Muslim community on March 16, 2019 at the Canterbury Refugee Centre in Christchurch, New Zealand, a day after the mass shootings at two mosques in the city. Ms. Ardern has stressed that she would not say the shooter's name to prevent giving him notoriety.
New Zealand's prime minister declared Tuesday she would do everything in her power to deny the accused mosque gunman a platform for elevating his white supremacist views, after the man dismissed his lawyer and opted to represent himself at his trial in the killings of 50 people.
"I agree that it is absolutely something that we need to acknowledge, and do what we can to prevent the notoriety that this individual seeks," Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told reporters. "He obviously had a range of reasons for committing this atrocious terrorist attack. Lifting his profile was one of them. And that's something that we can absolutely deny him."
She demurred about whether she wanted the trial to occur behind closed doors, saying that was not her decision to make.
"One thing I can assure you – you won't hear me speak his name," she said.
Later, in a passionate speech to Parliament, she urged the public to follow her lead and to avoid giving the gunman the fame he so obviously craves.
"I implore you: Speak the names of those who were lost, rather than the name of the man who took them," she said. "He may have sought notoriety, but we in New Zealand will give him nothing, not even his name."
The shooter's desire for attention was made clear in a manifesto sent to Ms. Ardern's office and others before Friday's massacre and by his livestreamed footage of his attack on the Al Noor mosque.
The video prompted widespread revulsion and condemnation. Facebook said it removed 1.5 million versions of the video during the first 24 hours, but Ms. Ardern expressed frustration that the footage remained online, four days later.
"We have been in contact with Facebook; they have given us updates on their efforts to have it removed, but as I say, it's our view that it cannot – should not – be distributed, available, able to be viewed," she said. "It is horrendous and while they've given us those assurances, ultimately the responsibility does sit with them."
Ms. Arden said she had received "some communication" from Facebook's Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg on the issue. The prime minister has also spoken with British Prime Minister Theresa May about the importance of a global effort to clamp down on the distribution of such material.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison also urged world leaders to crack down on social media companies that broadcast terrorist attacks. Mr. Morrison said he had written to G-20 chairman Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe calling for agreement on "clear consequences" for companies whose platforms are used to facilitate and normalize horrific acts.
Lawyer Richard Peters, who was assigned to represent Brenton Harrison Tarrant at his initial court appearance on Saturday, told the New Zealand Herald that Mr. Tarrant dismissed him that day.
A judge ordered Mr. Tarrant to return to New Zealand's High Court on April 5 for his next hearing on one count of murder, though he is expected to face additional charges. The Australian is being held in isolation in a Christchurch jail.
"He seemed quite clear and lucid, whereas this may seem like very irrational behavior," Mr. Peters told the newspaper. "He didn't appear to me to be facing any challenges or mental impairment, other than holding fairly extreme views."
Mr. Peters did not return a call from The Associated Press on Tuesday.
Mr. Peters told the paper that Mr. Tarrant didn't tell him why he wanted to represent himself. He said a judge could order a lawyer to assist Mr. Tarrant at a trial, but that Mr. Tarrant would likely be unsuccessful in trying to use it as a platform to put forward any extremist views.
Under New Zealand law, a trial is "to determine innocence or guilt," Mr. Peters said. "The court is not going to be very sympathetic to him if he wants to use the trial to express his own views."
Ms. Ardern previously has said her Cabinet had agreed in principle on tightening gun restrictions in New Zealand and those reforms would be announced next week. She also had announced an inquiry into the intelligence and security services' failures to detect the risk from the attacker or his plans. There have been concerns intelligence agencies were overly focused on the Muslim community in detecting and preventing security risks.
New Zealand's international spy agency, the Government Communications Security Bureau, confirmed it had not received any relevant information or intelligence ahead of the shootings.
In Parliament on Tuesday, Ms. Ardern said there are justified questions and anger about how the attack could have happened in a place that prides itself on being open, peaceful, and diverse.
"There are many questions that need to be answered and the assurance that I give you is that they will be," she said. "We will examine what we did know, could have known or should have known. We cannot allow this to happen again."
Meanwhile, Christchurch was beginning to return to a semblance of normalcy Tuesday. Streets near the hospital that had been closed for four days reopened to traffic as relatives and friends of the victims continued to stream in from around the world.
Thirty people were still being treated at the Christchurch hospital, nine of them in critical condition, said David Meates, CEO of the Canterbury District Health Board. A 4-year-old girl was transferred to a hospital in Auckland and is in critical condition. Her father is at the same hospital in stable condition.
Relatives of the dead were anxiously waiting for word on when they can bury their loved ones.
Police said they have completed autopsies on all 50 bodies and have formally identified 12 of them. Six of the identified victims have been returned to their families.
Islamic tradition calls for bodies to be cleansed and buried as soon as possible. Ms. Ardern has said authorities hope to release all the bodies by Wednesday.
Sheik Taj El-Din Hilaly, of Sydney, traveled to Sydney to attend and lead some of the funerals. Through a translator, he said he felt compelled to travel to Christchurch to support the grieving. A nationwide lockdown on mosques was imposed until Monday, which Mr. Hilaly said had upset Muslims whom he had visited in Auckland. Police continue to guard mosques across the country.
Grieving residents of this close-knit city have created makeshift memorials near the mosques the killer targeted and at the botanical gardens, where a mountain of flowers has grown by the day.
Janna Ezat, whose son, Hussein Al-Umari, was killed in the Al Noor mosque, visited the memorial at the gardens and became overwhelmed by the outpouring of love.
She knelt amid the flowers and wept, grabbing at daisies and lilies as though she might find her boy in them.
Ms. Ezat is comforted by reports that Hussein confronted the killer, charging at him after surviving the first spray of bullets.
"I'm very happy. I'm wearing white. We normally wear black," she said. "But he is a hero and I am proud of him."
This story was reported by The Associated Press. Associated Press writers Stephen Wright and Steve McMorran contributed to this report.
After New Zealand terror, the faithful grapple with big question: Why?
First Look Should mass shooters remain nameless?


Ashley Marie Hosang and Joseph Robert Weaver are announcing their engagement and Oct. 19, 2019, wedding.
Ashley is the daughter of John and Eileen Hosang of Attica. She graduated from Seneca East High School in 2008 and received a bachelor’s degree in 2011 and master’s degree in 2014, both from Tiffin University. She is a pipeline scheduler at Marathon Petroleum Co.
Joe is the son of Karl and Sandra Weaver of Attica. He graduated from Seneca East High School in 2003 and is a welder at National Machinery.


Amy Winehouse‘s incarcerated husband Blake Fielder-Civil has accepted an offer of early release from prison. The conditions of his release stipulate that he will have live at his mum’s house in Lincolnshire, wear an electronic tag and stick to a 7pm (BST) curfew. Nevertheless, Fielder-Civil is still planning to get a taxi to see Winehouse at her Camden, north London house every day – despite it being a round trip of 280 miles (The Sun).
Metallica‘s Lars Ulrich has praised UK fans for being noisy. He thinks it’s because of their love of football (Daily Star).
Former Spice Girl Mel B is having a house clearance – by selling her unwanted belongings on eBay. All proceeds will be given to the cancer charity CLIC Sargent (Daily Record).
Guillemots played an acoustic gig at the launch party of Simon Pegg‘s new film ‘How To Lose Friends And Alienate People’ (Daily Star).
Snow Patrol singer Gary Lightbody has become obsessed with science and space (The Sun).
Lykke Li has said record sales aren’t important to her. “The only people who buy records now are middle-aged men who want to chill out to Coldplay in the bath,” she said (Daily Record).
James Blunt is prepared to quit music “if someone is prepared to pay me enough” (Daily Star).


As souls shuffle to the front of the church, we celebrate another successful harvest. But not for long.
Three months later, nobody has seen our new “converts.” The fol- low-up committee calls them and encourages them to attend a Bible study, but to no avail. They have no interest in the things of God. We label them backsliders and get ready for the next service.
1. Not biblical. Altar calls are neither prescribed nor described in the Bible. While this is an argument from silence, it is noteworthy that we don’t see Peter at Pentecost or Paul in Athens telling listeners to “bow their heads and close their eyes” while people slip up their hands.
2. Emotional manipulation. No matter how you slice it, heartstrings get tugged during altar calls. Between the music, the dim lights, and the pastor’s tears, the altar call is an excellent way to emote people down an aisle.
3. Neglected intellects. Modern-day altar calls almost entirely neglect the intellect. If pastors were addressing the mind and not the emotions, they would not play distracting sentimental music.
4. Wills are rarely addressed. When was the last time you heard an altar call that commanded people to bow the knee to God or His wrath will continue to abide on them?
5. Parental pressure. How many kids have walked to an altar only to please Mom and Dad, who they knew were watching?
6. Legalism. There is a clear and present danger of adding to grace alone by telling someone to do something to get saved. With so much emphasis on walking the aisle, it is not inconceivable that someone might think they must go to an altar in order to get saved.
7. Misplaced hope. People who lack assurance of their salvation are of- ten asked, “Do you remember when you went to the altar? Then don’t worry, you are saved.” It is understandable that some might put their trust in the altar call and not in Jesus.
8. Deception. Did you know some churches plant “aisle walkers” in the audience? When the pastor proclaims, “I am going to count to three and I want you to run to this altar,” prearranged plants stand up and dash to the front to be “saved,” even though they are already Christians. This ploy supposedly breaks the ice and allows those who are hesitating to not feel embarrassed, and is a practice that has been done at major crusades for years. Steven Furtick also does this at his annually scheduled “spontaneous baptism” service.
9. Pride. While pastors and members try to suppress this emotion, it is hard not to feel either pride or disappointment when an altar call succeeds or fails.
> Between 1995 and 2005, Assemblies of God churches reported an amazing 5,339,144 decisions for Christ. Their net gain in attendance was 221,790. That means that 5,117,354 (over five million) decisions could not be accounted for.
> Pastor Dennis Grenell from Auckland, New Zealand, who has traveled to India every year since 1980, reported that he saw 80,000 decision cards stacked in a hut in the city of Rajamundry, the “results” of past evangelistic crusades. But he maintained that one would be fortunate to find even eighty Christians in the entire city.
It is unbiblical to condemn all altar calls. But maybe, just maybe, there is a more biblical way to make disciples—like preaching the gospel, calling listeners to repent and believe, and relying on the Holy Spirit to convert people. Right in their chairs.
And let’s be honest, the modern-day altar call is so predictable it has become downright tedious. For the sake of the congregation and the lost, manipulative altar calls have to stop.


The song was sang in the style of "Jingle Bells."
Racists don’t even take a break for the holidays.
See the disturbing video below.
According to SeaCoastOnline.com, Superintendent William Harbron called the video “an incident of extreme racial insensitivity. While the incident was part of a classroom assignment dealing with the reconstruction period in American history, the impact was harmful.” He continued, “They were given an assignment to select some event during reconstruction and to make a jingle out of it.” Allegedly, the two students chose the Ku Klux Klan and wrote the hateful lyrics in the style of the “Jingle Bells.” The students did not know they were being recorded.
The principal, Peter Driscoll, is defending the students by saying they had no “malicious intent and were addressing the assignment as given to them.” How disturbing that students willingly writing lyrics that included “kill all Blacks” would not be considered malicious to an educator. No assignment should inspire them to “sing” hate. As of now, the students nor the teacher who was in the room has been disciplined.
A way to change “practices” is to punish the students and the teacher to know this was not acceptable. Anything else is condoning the behavior.