Why did Disney send a helicopter around Disneyland?

In this photo taken Wednesday, March 18, 2020, one of the normally bustling entrances to the Disneyland resort is vacant due to the coronavirus closure in Anaheim, Calif. | Chris Carlson, Associated Press

Helicopter footage will capture the park

Disney will fly a helicopter over vacant areas of Disneyland and Disney California Adventure so it can grab footage of the park as it remains closed down due to the coronavirus pandemic.

What’s happening:

• Multiple reports — including ones from The OC Register and East Bay Times — suggest Disneyland will be flying a helicopter over its park. The helicopter will capture footage for future use.
• The flight took place between between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Monday
• The helicopter dropped as low as 500 feet, according to the reports.
• It’s unclear why the footage is being taken
• MiceChat said: “We’re very curious about what this flight could be for. We’re hoping there’s a special video coming soon.”

Why it it happening?

• BlogMickey.com reported this is due to Disney 3D mapping its parks. You can read more about Disneyland and Walt Disney World’s plans at BlogMickey.com.

This has happened before

• According to WDW News Today, Walt Disney World performed flyovers to capture footage of the empty park, too.

More footage

• The OC Register captured footage of Disneyland from a helicopter back in May. The footage showed more of Orange County, California, with few people outside at theme parks, too.
• The OC Register said: “The last few months have turned Orange County into a weird combination of major metropolis and ghost town. But, as the county inches closer to opening back up, traffic will increase and parking lots will start to fill up again.”

from Deseret News https://ift.tt/3eIV9yp

Myka Stauffer won’t face charges for ‘rehoming’ adopted son after authorities say he is ‘happy’ with new family

Myka and James Stauffer are YouTubers who faced backlash after they revealed they had “rehomed” their four-year-old adopted son Huxley. Authorities say that Huxley is safe with his new family and the Stauffers will not face any charges. | Screenshot

Stauffer has faced backlash after revealing that she and her husband had placed four-year-old Huxley, who they adopted from China in 2017, with a new family

Authorities investigating YouTubers Myka and James Stauffer after they rehomed their adopted son Huxley will not be filing charges in the case, according to BuzzFeed News.

The Stauffers faced backlash in May after they revealed to their followers in a YouTube video (which has since been made private) that 4-year-old Huxley — who they adopted from China in 2017 — was living with a new family, the Deseret News previously reported.

As a result of the backlash, the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office “received several inquiries regarding the welfare” of Huxley, NBC News reported at the time.

Authorities have visited with Huxley and his new family, and also interviewed the Stauffers and performed welfare checks on their four children in early June, according to BuzzFeed, who obtained a report of the investigation through a public records request.

Huxley seemed “very happy and well taken care of” in his new home, and there were no signs of abuse or possible human trafficking, the report said, according to BuzzFeed.

In the report, the Stauffers claimed that Huxley had shown “severe aggression towards the other kids” and that it “was an intolerable situation to continue,” according to BuzzFeed. They also claimed that they had documentation from multiple therapists that showed his behavior.

Myka Stauffer posted an apology last week to her Instagram followers for the “uproar,” writing, “I’m sorry for letting down so many women that looked up to me as a mother.”

Stauffer, who has nearly 700,000 followers on her YouTube channel, has lost sponsorships with brands like Mattel/Barbie, Danimals and Chili’s due to the social media backlash she has faced, according to the Deseret News.

from Deseret News https://ift.tt/2Zn9HND

Weber State professor behind ‘abhorrent’ tweets resigns — again

Weber State University criminal justice studies professor Scott Senjo has tendered his resignation — again. | Weber State University

WSU president calls it a ‘permanent separation’

SALT LAKE CITY — Weber State University criminal justice studies professor Scott Senjo tendered his resignation — again — after posting tweets that university officials described as “abhorrent” and inconsistent with university values.

Senjo resigned in early June, rescinded his resignation midmonth and has now resigned again, according to a statement issued Tuesday.

In an email to the university community, Weber State University President Brad Mortensen wrote: “I am writing to inform you of the resignation of criminal justice professor Scott Senjo. This is a permanent separation, and he is no longer employed by the university.”

Senjo, who had taught at the university for 20 years, posted messages on his personal Twitter account following the death of George Floyd that Weber State officials said “promoted violence and caused safety concerns.”

Some 2,445 people signed an online petition calling for Senjo’s ouster.

“While this development will end the university processes that were set in motion on June 1, I recognize that the emotional toll of the last several weeks lingers,” Mortensen wrote. “This situation has also provided an opportunity for self reflection; to consider who we are, what we stand for and what we value.”

As an institution of higher education, Weber State University strives to create a diverse and inclusive institution where all feel welcome, he said.

“We condemn language that promotes violence, diminishes individuals or makes people feel unsafe. At the same time, we value an individual’s right to freedom of expression whether or not we agree with perspectives they share,” the president said.

Moving forward, Mortensen encouraged the “Weber State family” to “reflect on what we can learn from one another and how we can all make a difference in the lives of others as we work to identify and eradicate systemic racism and transform our university to a better place.”

Mortensen urged students, faculty and staff to attend one of the university’s future Town Hall Meetings on Race and sign up for WSU’s team in the YWCA Utah social justice challenge. “Watch for opportunities to join a campus ally group or participate in the Political Engagement Coalition’s Campus Climate Conversations,” he wrote.

Senjo — responding to a tweet from Wall Street Journal reporter Tyler Blint-Welsh, who wrote that his ankle was injured and glasses knocked off when he was reportedly struck in the face by New York police multiple times with riot shields despite wearing a press credential and holding his hands up while covering a protest — tweeted:

“Excellent. If I was the cop, you wouldn’t be able to tweet.”

In another tweet, @ProfSenjo referred to protesters vandalizing the CNN building in Atlanta, saying: “Nothing about this makes me happy but there’s this tiny sense of rightness in the burning of the CNN headquarters.”

Still another addressed a widely viewed video of New York Police Department vehicles that plowed into a crowd of protesters. The tweet said: “That’s not how I would have driven the car into the crowd.”

When Senjo resigned on June 3, he noted in an email to the head of his department, “I studied the situation and the public fury is too great. I have to resign immediately. There’s no other option.”

In a statement at that time, the university said it did not ask for his resignation. But in a subsequent email to media outlets, Senjo said he was ordered to resign his position due to his “irresponsible tweeting activity over the last several months.”

Senjo could not immediately be reached for comment Tuesday.

from Deseret News https://ift.tt/3dNVP4r

Weber State professor behind ‘abhorrent’ tweets resigns — again

Weber State University criminal justice studies professor Scott Senjo has tendered his resignation — again. | Weber State University

WSU president calls it a ‘permanent separation’

SALT LAKE CITY — Weber State University criminal justice studies professor Scott Senjo tendered his resignation — again — after posting tweets that university officials described as “abhorrent” and inconsistent with university values.

Senjo resigned in early June, rescinded his resignation midmonth and has now resigned again, according to a statement issued Tuesday.

In an email to the university community, Weber State University President Brad Mortensen wrote: “I am writing to inform you of the resignation of criminal justice professor Scott Senjo. This is a permanent separation, and he is no longer employed by the university.”

Senjo, who had taught at the university for 20 years, posted messages on his personal Twitter account following the death of George Floyd that Weber State officials said “promoted violence and caused safety concerns.”

Some 2,445 people signed an online petition calling for Senjo’s ouster.

“While this development will end the university processes that were set in motion on June 1, I recognize that the emotional toll of the last several weeks lingers,” Mortensen wrote. “This situation has also provided an opportunity for self reflection; to consider who we are, what we stand for and what we value.”

As an institution of higher education, Weber State University strives to create a diverse and inclusive institution where all feel welcome, he said.

“We condemn language that promotes violence, diminishes individuals or makes people feel unsafe. At the same time, we value an individual’s right to freedom of expression whether or not we agree with perspectives they share,” the president said.

Moving forward, Mortensen encouraged the “Weber State family” to “reflect on what we can learn from one another and how we can all make a difference in the lives of others as we work to identify and eradicate systemic racism and transform our university to a better place.”

Mortensen urged students, faculty and staff to attend one of the university’s future Town Hall Meetings on Race and sign up for WSU’s team in the YWCA Utah social justice challenge. “Watch for opportunities to join a campus ally group or participate in the Political Engagement Coalition’s Campus Climate Conversations,” he wrote.

Senjo — responding to a tweet from Wall Street Journal reporter Tyler Blint-Welsh, who wrote that his ankle was injured and glasses knocked off when he was reportedly struck in the face by New York police multiple times with riot shields despite wearing a press credential and holding his hands up while covering a protest — tweeted:

“Excellent. If I was the cop, you wouldn’t be able to tweet.”

In another tweet, @ProfSenjo referred to protesters vandalizing the CNN building in Atlanta, saying: “Nothing about this makes me happy but there’s this tiny sense of rightness in the burning of the CNN headquarters.”

Still another addressed a widely viewed video of New York Police Department vehicles that plowed into a crowd of protesters. The tweet said: “That’s not how I would have driven the car into the crowd.”

When Senjo resigned on June 3, he noted in an email to the head of his department, “I studied the situation and the public fury is too great. I have to resign immediately. There’s no other option.”

In a statement at that time, the university said it did not ask for his resignation. But in a subsequent email to media outlets, Senjo said he was ordered to resign his position due to his “irresponsible tweeting activity over the last several months.”

Senjo could not immediately be reached for comment Tuesday.

from Deseret News https://ift.tt/3dNVP4r

Movie theater owners reveal the biggest challenge with reopening (and it’s not COVID-19)

A Regal Cinemas movie theater is closed during the coronavirus pandemic on Tuesday, May 5, 2020, in New York. | Ted Shaffrey, Associated Press

National Association of Theater Owners has revealed the biggest challenge to reopening

The National Association of Theater Owners recently revealed what might be the biggest problem when reopening theaters amid the coronavirus pandemic, and it’s not the virus itself.

What’s happening:

• Ellis Jacob, chairman of the National Association of Theatre Owners, said waiting on bigger cities and states to allow reopenings presents a major issue for studios and movie theaters.
• New York City and Los Angeles — two of the biggest markets for moviegoers — remain unsure about reopening theaters. These two markets are needed “in terms of box office revenue required for a meaningful return of the domestic theatrical movie industry this year,” according to The Hollywood Reporter.
• Jacob said: “The challenge has been some states like New York, New Jersey and certain cities in California, and we at NATO are working to make sure those cities and states get the final okay to reopen and people can then come in and have a safe experience and those movies can open on the dates they are committed to.”
• This is why we’re seeing Cinemark and AMC delay their reopenings.

What’s next?

• Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said there will be a “hard pause” on reopening businesses, which will delay movie theaters in the market to reopen, according to Deadline.
• New York did not include movie theaters, gyms or malls in its fourth phase of reopening, either, according to the New York Post.

from Deseret News https://ift.tt/2Vy23Pg

Black stud is getting his cock sucked

Black stud is getting his huge cock sucked by two stunning MILFs in uniforms. Join us to have a LOAD of INTERRACIAL FUN

Author: alewhite32
Added: 30/06/2020

A wild full swap in the shower right now

American swingers are having a wild full swap in the shower right now. More groupsex and swinger orgy on our page

Author: swingrbb95
Added: 30/06/2020

Sexy shemale takes it from behind

Cute shemale having a hardcore fuck

Author: dani170281
Added: 30/06/2020

Hot Bondage Fucking Machine

Blonde teen fucks machine in bondage

Author: dani1702
Added: 30/06/2020

Minor League Baseball’s season cancelled

The 2020 Minor League Baseball season has been cancelled, meaning there won’t be a season for the Salt Lake Bees, Ogden Raptors and Orem Owlz. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

SALT LAKE CITY — There won’t be any Minor League Baseball in 2020.

MiLB announced Tuesday afternoon that Major League Baseball will not be providing its affiliated minor-league organizations with players for the 2020 season and, as a result, this year’s minor leagues will be cancelled as the world continues to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

“These are unprecedented times for our country and our organization as this is the first time in our history that we’ve had a summer without Minor League Baseball played,” Minor League Baseball president and CEO Pat O’Conner said in a statement. “While this is a sad day for many, this announcement removes the uncertainty surrounding the 2020 season and allows our teams to begin planning for an exciting 2021 season of affordable family entertainment.”

pic.twitter.com/XEDFmfHTmI

— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) June 30, 2020

That means it will be a season without baseball for local organizations, including the Salt Lake Bees of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League, as well as the Ogden Raptors and Orem Owlz of the rookie level Pioneer League.

Salt Lake was scheduled to open its 2020 season on April 9 against against the El Paso Chihuahuas at Smith’s Ballpark before the MiLB season was delayed, prior to Tuesday’s cancellation. Ogden and Orem were scheduled to start their seasons June 19.

MLB recently came to an agreement to play a proposed 60-game regular-season schedule in 2020, with players reporting July 1 and the season starting on July 23 and 24.

This story will be updated.

from Deseret News https://ift.tt/3eOCMYW

Utah’s Hale Centre Theatre has re-opened. Patrons will be required to wear masks

People wait for the start of Elton John and Tim Rice’s “Aida” on opening night of the new Hale Centre Theatre in Sandy on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017. The theater has reopened, after closing its doors on March 12 due to the coronavirus pandemic. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

SALT LAKE CITY — After closing its doors on March 12, the Hale Centre Theatre in Sandy has re-opened, the theater confirmed Tuesday with the Deseret News.

Here’s the production schedule for 2020, according to the website:

• “Bright Star” — through Aug. 15
• “Mary Poppins” — July 1-Sept. 5
• “Million Dollar Quartet” — listed as “coming soon”
• “Murder on the Orient Express” — Aug. 24-Nov. 14
• “Tarzan” — Nov. 2-Jan. 16, 2021
• “A Christmas Carol” — Nov. 27-Dec. 26

The announcement comes as Utah has seen a rising number of COVID-19 cases. Moving forward, the theater has put a number of precautions in place.

“Patrons are required to wear face masks and socially distance between groups and parties as much as possible while on the premises,” the website states. Employees working concessions will also be required to wear face masks and gloves.

Other precautions, according to the website, include:

• Placing hand sanitizing stations throughout lobby entrances
• Patrons being “encouraged” to make purchases with a credit card
• Having social distancing markers in place at will call and ticket purchasing lines; in front of restrooms, concessions and other locations where there are typically lines
• Installing Plexiglass at each box office window
• Frequently cleaning box office surfaces and other “high-touch surfaces” throughout the theater
• Cashiers wearing gloves
• Patrons being allowed to exchange tickets for a different performance if they are feeling sick or have been in contact with someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19
• Show programs being accessed digitally

Last year marked a record-breaking year for the theater, the Deseret News previously reported. All 859 performances sold out and the theater saw its highest attendance, with 577,743 patrons from every county in Utah.

In March, the theater had to abruptly end its productions of “Strictly Ballroom” — a U.S. premiere — and the Steve Martin/Edie Brickell bluegrass musical “Bright Star,” which is now being resumed. A couple of hundred jobs were affected, and ticket sales form about 80% of the theater’s revenue (the rest comes from foundation-based donations).

“We had to move so quickly,” Quinn Dietlein, the theater’s executive director, told the Deseret News in March. “But people have been very understanding.”

“We are extremely fortunate to be in a community that is embracing the arts like they do,” Dietlein said, adding that the theater has around 29,000 season ticket subscribers. “But the theater — it’s a nonprofit. We have to still go out and raise millions of dollars just to break even every year. We’re planning on this being a several year recovery for the theater.”

This story will be updated.

from Deseret News https://ift.tt/2Aio51j

Utah’s Hale Centre Theatre has re-opened. Patrons will be required to wear masks

People wait for the start of Elton John and Tim Rice’s “Aida” on opening night of the new Hale Centre Theatre in Sandy on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017. The theater has reopened, after closing its doors on March 12 due to the coronavirus pandemic. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

SALT LAKE CITY — After closing its doors on March 12, the Hale Centre Theatre in Sandy has re-opened, the theater confirmed with the Deseret News on Tuesday.

Here’s the production schedule for 2020, according to the website:

• “Bright Star” — through Aug. 15
• “Mary Poppins” — July 1-Sept. 5
• “Million Dollar Quartet” — listed as “coming soon”
• “Murder on the Orient Express” — Aug. 24-Nov. 14
• “Tarzan” — Nov. 2-Jan. 16, 2021
• “A Christmas Carol” — Nov. 27-Dec. 26

The announcement comes as Utah has seen a rising number of COVID-19 cases. Moving forward, the theater has put a number of precautions in place.

“Patrons are required to wear face masks and socially distance between groups and parties as much as possible while on the premises,” the website states. Employees working concessions will also be required to wear face masks and gloves.

Other precautions, according to the website, include:

• Placing hand sanitizing stations throughout lobby entrances
• Patrons being “encouraged” to make purchases with a credit card
• Having social distancing markers in place at will call and ticket purchasing lines; in front of restrooms, concessions and other locations where there are typically lines
• Installing Plexiglass at each box office window
• Frequently cleaning box office surfaces and other “high-touch surfaces” throughout the theater
• Cashiers wearing gloves
• Patrons being allowed to exchange tickets for a different performance if they are feeling sick or have been in contact with someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19
• Show programs being accessed digitally

Last year marked a record-breaking year for the theater, the Deseret News previously reported. All 859 performances sold out and the theater saw its highest attendance, with 577,743 patrons from every county in Utah.

In March, the theater had to abruptly end its productions of “Strictly Ballroom” — a U.S. premiere — and the Steve Martin/Edie Brickell bluegrass musical “Bright Star,” which is now being resumed. A couple of hundred jobs were affected, and ticket sales form about 80% of the theater’s revenue (the rest comes from foundation-based donations).

“We had to move so quickly,” Quinn Dietlein, the theater’s executive director, told the Deseret News in March. “But people have been very understanding.”

“We are extremely fortunate to be in a community that is embracing the arts like they do,” Dietlein said, adding that the theater has around 29,000 season ticket subscribers. “But the theater — it’s a nonprofit. We have to still go out and raise millions of dollars just to break even every year. We’re planning on this being a several year recovery for the theater.”

This story will be updated.

from Deseret News https://ift.tt/2Aio51j

Report: Disneyland workers reveal their biggest fears for reopening: ‘We have lives too’

Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland Park has a new look with bricks lining the street for the new horse-drawn streetcar track. Guests can enjoy the beautiful enhancements while strolling down the iconic thoroughfare or riding aboard Main Street, U.S.A. vehicles. This is the first time the horse-drawn streetcar track has been replaced in its entirety. | Joshua Sudock, Disneyland Resort

Disneyland workers worry about reopening too soon

Disneyland employees recently shared their fears and worries about returning to the theme park so soon, even as the California resort delayed its reopening.

What’s gong on:

• Disneyland announced in June that it was going to delay its reopening indefinitely. Disney said the decision came after California said it would not issue guidelines for the theme park to return.
• Disneyland said: “Given the time required for us to bring thousands of cast members back to work and restart our business, we have no choice but to delay the reopening of our theme parks and resort hotels until we receive approval from government officials. Once we have a clearer understanding of when guidelines will be released, we expect to be able to communicate a reopening date.”
• The decision came after Disneyland workers reportedly signed a petition to delay the reopening as long as possible out of fear for safety.

Cast members talk about worries

Multiple cast members — who were not identified due to their fears of losing their jobs — talked to iO9 about why they feel worried about reopening so soon.

• Nestor said: “We have lives too. We have families and friends that we live with too. While you are there to enjoy your day and have fun, this is our job. I think there’s a great divide between the excitement of the park reopening between guests and cast members because guests can’t really see our point of view.”
• Paige sad: “I will defend the company when I feel like they deserve it, and will try to be a voice of reason to people who very much are, you know, more against the company’s decisions. But at this point now, I can’t think of really any good reasons, aside from money, that they would want to reopen this quickly. It saddens me more than anything else because I just kind of feel like a hostage to the company at this point.”
• Julie said: “Disney is a magical place where they can escape the realities of the world, but the reality of the situation is that the pandemic is everywhere, even at Disneyland. The pandemic doesn’t magically go away just because you’re at a theme park.”
• Jason said: “It’s not that we don’t want to work. It’s not that we’re not interested in bringing the magic back to this place. It’s that we are frightened. We don’t know how bad the risk to ourselves is going to be, but we know that there will be a risk. And it is a risk that none of us signed up for.”

Read more from these interviews at i09 Gizmodo.

from Deseret News https://ift.tt/2ZrJzkC

How ‘God Bless America’ became a prayer for what our nation can be

Sheet music for Irving Berlin’s “God Bless America” rests on a music stand for a member of the U.S. Army Band during a ceremony on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2011. | Associated Press

One of my favorite parts of Independence Day is singing patriotic songs. Classics like “The Star Spangled Banner,” “America the Beautiful,” and even newer ones like Neil Diamond’s “Coming to America” help me reflect on what it means to be a citizen of this great nation. But things are complicated this year. In addition to a pandemic, protesters across the country are taking to the streets, demanding reform, justice, asking to be heard. Right now, I feel like we need more of a prayer and less of an anthem.

A friend recently shared the story behind a patriotic standard that captures the simultaneous hope and sadness that many Americans feel. Let me share with you some new insights into the old classic, Irving Berlin’s “God Bless America,” a song that has carried the dreams of millions.

Berlin arrived at Ellis Island with his family in 1893 at the age of 5. His sole childhood memory of Russia was of his house being burned to the ground in an act of anti-Semitic hatred. The family was so poor that he left home at 14 and scrounged a living singing and playing piano. By the time he joined the army during World War I, he was writing musical revues to perform for his fellow soldiers. In 1918 he wrote “God Bless America,” but felt it was too sincere for the comedy show he was putting together.

Right now, I feel like we need more of a prayer and less of an anthem.

Twenty years later, the rise of Adolph Hitler in Europe must have been sobering for Berlin, who knew firsthand what it meant to be targeted simply for being Jewish. With America in the Great Depression and on the verge of war, Berlin felt the time was right to share a message of peace and hope. For him, it was more prayer than song, as his mother would repeat the title over and over during his childhood, a mantra of both gratitude and supplication to God that their new country would shelter them. “Please God, bless America,” one can almost hear her plea.

But the song was not truly launched until sung by Kate Smith, a radio star with a voice that people still talk about. In 1940 she approached Berlin, asking for something that would boost morale, and he knew his song had found its purpose. Between Smith’s voice and Berlin’s optimistic lyrics, the song became a salve to a country on edge and a boon to thousands of youth, as the pair decided to donate all royalties from the song to the Boy and Girl Scouts of America (millions of dollars). If you watch the video, you can sense that it was more than a song: a prayer, a battle cry, a hymn, an anthem and a victory call, all rolled into one.

And yet, even as millions embraced the song, which was conceived as a prayer of hope and gratitude to his adopted country, there was backlash. Because he was a Jew and an immigrant, critics said he did not have a right to celebrate America. Others criticized it for being too optimistic and glossing over the country’s flaws. Woody Guthrie was so irritated by the song that he wrote an alternative anthem called “God Bless America, For Me,” which was later renamed “This Land is Your Land.” Maybe you’ve heard it.

But part of the beauty of the song is its adaptability. The song has been claimed by an array of causes. In the 1940s and ’50s, striking garment and subway workers sang “God Bless America” as part of their demonstrations. Students protesting racial segregation in the 1960s sang it. It’s been used for political causes on the left and right, representing religious and cultural tolerance. After 9/11 it was associated as a resilient response to terrorist attacks; it’s been sung by a Canadian (Celine Dionne) and Marc Anthony. For years, it was a staple of the National Hockey League’s Philadelphia Flyers, until it was discovered that Kate Smith had recorded songs with racist lyrics in the 1930s.

It is a simple song, traditionally just 10 lines long. But it captures what we want America to be, that if God blesses our country, it will be a place of refuge, promise and hope. It will be home. This year as we approach America’s birthday, there will be celebrations and fireworks, but there will also be self-examination and a demand for accountability. All across the country — from the mountains, to the prairies, to the oceans white with foam — people are praying that God will bless America, and make her a home, sweet home, for all her children.

Heather Sundahl is a writer and media specialist at the Utah Women & Leadership Project, an editor for BYU ARTS Partnership and a historian for Exponent II.

from Deseret News https://ift.tt/3eZmsV6

How ‘God Bless America’ became a prayer for what our nation can be

Sheet music for Irving Berlin’s “God Bless America” rests on a music stand for a member of the U.S. Army Band during a ceremony on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2011. | Associated Press

One of my favorite parts of Independence Day is singing patriotic songs. Classics like “The Star Spangled Banner,” “America the Beautiful,” and even newer ones like Neil Diamond’s “Coming to America” help me reflect on what it means to be a citizen of this great nation. But things are complicated this year. In addition to a pandemic, protesters across the country are taking to the streets, demanding reform, justice, asking to be heard. Right now, I feel like we need more of a prayer and less of an anthem.

A friend recently shared the story behind a patriotic standard that captures the simultaneous hope and sadness that many Americans feel. Let me share with you some new insights into the old classic, Irving Berlin’s “God Bless America,” a song that has carried the dreams of millions.

Berlin arrived at Ellis Island with his family in 1893 at the age of 5. His sole childhood memory of Russia was of his house being burned to the ground in an act of anti-Semitic hatred. The family was so poor that he left home at 14 and scrounged a living singing and playing piano. By the time he joined the army during World War I, he was writing musical revues to perform for his fellow soldiers. In 1918 he wrote “God Bless America,” but felt it was too sincere for the comedy show he was putting together.

Right now, I feel like we need more of a prayer and less of an anthem.

Twenty years later, the rise of Adolph Hitler in Europe must have been sobering for Berlin, who knew firsthand what it meant to be targeted simply for being Jewish. With America in the Great Depression and on the verge of war, Berlin felt the time was right to share a message of peace and hope. For him, it was more prayer than song, as his mother would repeat the title over and over during his childhood, a mantra of both gratitude and supplication to God that their new country would shelter them. “Please God, bless America,” one can almost hear her plea.

But the song was not truly launched until sung by Kate Smith, a radio star with a voice that people still talk about. In 1940 she approached Berlin, asking for something that would boost morale, and he knew his song had found its purpose. Between Smith’s voice and Berlin’s optimistic lyrics, the song became a salve to a country on edge and a boon to thousands of youth, as the pair decided to donate all royalties from the song to the Boy and Girl Scouts of America (millions of dollars). If you watch the video, you can sense that it was more than a song: a prayer, a battle cry, a hymn, an anthem and a victory call, all rolled into one.

And yet, even as millions embraced the song, which was conceived as a prayer of hope and gratitude to his adopted country, there was backlash. Because he was a Jew and an immigrant, critics said he did not have a right to celebrate America. Others criticized it for being too optimistic and glossing over the country’s flaws. Woody Guthrie was so irritated by the song that he wrote an alternative anthem called “God Bless America, For Me,” which was later renamed “This Land is Your Land.” Maybe you’ve heard it.

But part of the beauty of the song is its adaptability. The song has been claimed by an array of causes. In the 1940s and ’50s, striking garment and subway workers sang “God Bless America” as part of their demonstrations. Students protesting racial segregation in the 1960s sang it. It’s been used for political causes on the left and right, representing religious and cultural tolerance. After 9/11 it was associated as a resilient response to terrorist attacks; it’s been sung by a Canadian (Celine Dionne) and Marc Anthony. For years, it was a staple of the National Hockey League’s Philadelphia Flyers, until it was discovered that Kate Smith had recorded songs with racist lyrics in the 1930s.

It is a simple song, traditionally just 10 lines long. But it captures what we want America to be, that if God blesses our country, it will be a place of refuge, promise and hope. It will be home. This year as we approach America’s birthday, there will be celebrations and fireworks, but there will also be self-examination and a demand for accountability. All across the country — from the mountains, to the prairies, to the oceans white with foam — people are praying that God will bless America, and make her a home, sweet home, for all her children.

Heather Sundahl is a writer and media specialist at the Utah Women & Leadership Project, an editor for BYU ARTS Partnership and a historian for Exponent II.

from Deseret News https://ift.tt/3eZmsV6

Utah again sees large daily COVID-19 rise with 553 new cases Tuesday

Eve Kovacs, of TestUtah, gives Emily Johnson a thumbs up after Johnson was tested for COVID-19 at a site near the Utah Olympic Oval in Kearns on Tuesday, June 30, 2020. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Nearly two-thirds of state’s ICU beds full; non-ICU bed usage rises 10% within 3 days

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah’s ongoing surge in COVID-19 cases doesn’t appear to be slowing down as the state reported 553 new positive tests on Tuesday.

A higher-than-average number of new test results were reported, at 6,848, with a positive rate of 8.1%.

Now, 22,217 cases have been confirmed in Utah since the pandemic began out of 340,753 tests, a positive rate of 6.5%, according to the Utah Department of Health.

Four more deaths were also reported Tuesday. Health officials identified them as a Salt Lake County woman between ages 65-84; a Washington County man between 18 and 44; a Weber County woman between 45-64; and a San Juan County man between 51-65.

All four were hospitalized when they died. They bring the state’s death toll to 172.

The rising cases and increase in hospitalizations prompted state officials to continue urging Utahns to wear face masks. Salt Lake County and Summit County remain the only areas in the state with mask mandates.

Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Eve Kovacs, of TestUtah, administers a COVID-19 test to Emily Johnson as Mary Hickman stands at the right at a testing site near the Utah Olympic Oval in Kearns on Tuesday, June 30, 2020.

“COVID-19 cases threaten our economy and our ability to ensure hospital care to people who need it. Everyone should wear a mask to protect those around you, practice physical distancing, stay home if they’re sick, and wash their hands regularly,” the Utah COVID-19 Community Task Force, which has been making recommendations to state leaders in the pandemic, said Monday afternoon on Twitter.

“To reverse the trend of high case counts in Utah, everyone should wear a mask to protect those around you, practice physical distancing, stay home if they’re sick, and wash their hands regularly,” the task force said on Tuesday.

Just under 12,400 people have recovered from the novel coronavirus in Utah after passing the three-week point since their diagnoses.

Due to the spike in cases, TestUtah added a new location Tuesday at Kearns Oquirrh Park for underserved communities, officials said.

Current hospital capacity

In Utah, 27 more people required hospitalization for the disease since Monday’s report. Current hospitalizations with the novel coronavirus now stand at 205 — 83 of whom are in intensive care units. Intensive care units throughout the state are 62.4% full, but non-ICU use has risen more than 10% within the past three days.

Now, 65.3% of non-ICU hospital beds are in use compared to 53.6% on Saturday.

Of the state’s nearly 1,300 ventilators, 184 are being used by COVID-19 patients and others.

Eleven of the new hospitalizations Tuesday occurred in Salt Lake County; eight in Utah County; five in southwest Utah; and one each in the Bear River health district, San Juan County, Summit County and the Weber-Morgan health district.

Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Eve Kovacs, of TestUtah, administers a COVID-19 test to a man at a testing site near the Utah Olympic Oval in Kearns on Tuesday, June 30, 2020.

Outbreaks

As more people get back into the office after Utah loosened its restrictions in mid-May, workplace outbreaks have drastically risen. On June 15, outbreaks of the novel coronavirus at 226 workplaces accounted for 1,776 cases and 10 deaths.

Now, 296 workplaces have seen spread of the disease leading to 2,324 cases. The number of deaths linked to workplaces still stands at 10. The median age of cases that contracted COVID-19 at work is 39.

Meanwhile, 518 residents and 454 health care workers at long-term care facilities have tested positive for the coronavirus. Nineteen facilities have active cases, most of which are in Salt Lake and Utah counties.

The latest breakdown of Utah cases, hospitalizations and deaths by health district:

• Salt Lake County, 11,116; 791 hospitalized; 107 deaths.
• Utah County, 4,084; 209 hospitalized; 22 deaths.
• Bear River (Box Elder, Cache, Rich), 1,521; 52 hospitalized; 2 deaths.
• Southwest Utah, 1,519; 99 hospitalized; 11 deaths.
• Davis County, 1,179; 79 hospitalized; 5 deaths.
• Weber-Morgan, 954; 68 hospitalized; 13 deaths.
• Summit County, 488; 47 hospitalized; 0 deaths.
• San Juan County, 399; 52 hospitalized; 9 deaths.
• Wasatch County, 408; 20 hospitalized; 3 deaths.
• Tooele County, 244; 12 hospitalized; 0 deaths.
• Central Utah, 169; 11 hospitalized; 0 deaths.
• TriCounty (Uinta Basin), 50; 3 hospitalized; 0 deaths.
• Southeast Utah, 36; 1 hospitalized; 0 deaths.

Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

TestUtah workers conduct COVID-19 testing at a site near the Utah Olympic Oval in Kearns on Tuesday, June 30, 2020.

from Deseret News https://ift.tt/2VsOzVd

While nicknames like ‘Civil War’ and ‘Holy War’ should go, there’s still plenty of fun in college sports rivalries

Utah fans Joseph Hallman, center, and his wife Jordan Wunderli, stand with Hallman’s cousin, Ben Young, prior to the start of the University of Utah at BYU football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019. | Steve Griffin, Deseret News

SALT LAKE CITY — Friday’s big news out of the Pac-12 was that Oregon and Oregon State called a cease fire on their “Civil War” — or at least their use of that name for their sports rivalries. Leaders from both schools said the name change was long overdue and important.

Far more interesting than that “Civil War” nickname is the fact that the winner of their annual rivalry game earns the Platypus Trophy (when it wasn’t stolen, lost or forgotten about over the decades).

Wait. The Platypus Trophy? It’s not because they’re fans of that spy animal from the Phineas and Ferb cartoon. (Mom, Phineas and Ferb gave Perry the Platypus to the Oregon Ducks football team!) This trophy came about because that semiaquatic egg-laying, duck-bill-and-beaver-tail-sporting mammal from Australia sort of resembles a combo of the schools’ mascots. An Oregon art student was selected to create an awesome trophy depicting that in 1959.

Oregon sports columnist John Canzano asked for new rivalry name suggestions for the Ducks and the Beavers, so I petitioned for “The Platypus Power Struggle” after learning about the trophy. If that doesn’t catch on, maybe they can call it “The Trail Mix.” Get it? The Oregon Trail? And they’re mixed together on various playing surfaces? No? Maybe I’m just hungry for a snack.

“The Oregon Wins Again Bowl” might be the most accurate nickname.

Based on Twitter responses, it seems many Oregonians will continue calling the rivalry the “Civil War” regardless of the schools’ desire to distance themselves from the battle between the Confederacy and Union.

Locally, the topic brought up the question about whether the BYU-Utah rivalry should cut ties with the nickname that’s gained popularity the last couple of decades: “The Holy War.”

Having seen the way some fans and competitors act during the Utes-Cougars games in various sports, it might be more fitting to call it “The Unholy War” anyway. Neither school involved officially uses the “Holy War” name — the Deseret News is among media outlets that doesn’t call it that, either — so it’s unlikely you’ll ever see BYU and Utah disown a name they don’t actually own up to.

Ute fans might easily be convinced to call it “The Utah Wins Again Bowl” after nine straight football wins.

The “Holy War” nickname is appreciated elsewhere. Athlon Sports listed it as the best rivalry nickname in the nation. BannerSociety.com ranked it No. 20 while noting that it’s also been used for the Boston College-Notre Dame clash. (Sure, Cougar fans, if it makes you feel better, go ahead and use this factoid as proof that BYU is indeed the Notre Dame of the West.)

There are some other awesome rivalry nicknames around the college sports landscape. Some of my favorites:

• The Backyard Brawl (Pitt vs. West Virginia — and what might happen at a house near me if our pugs don’t stop meandering).
• The Chowder Bowl (Mass Maritime vs. SUNY Maritime — and would be even better if the winning trophy included thick soup).
• The Biggest Little Game in America (Amherst vs. Williams — a Division III showdown between schools with about as many students as words in the rivalry nickname).
• Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate (Georgia vs. Georgia Tech — a game that seems less hateful than the “100 Miles of Hate” rivalry between Middle Tennessee and Western Kentucky).
• The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party (Florida vs. Georgia — and maybe some of the Georgia Tech hate comes from not being invited to the party).
• The Border War (the Kansas vs. Missouri one — or New York vs. states with high COVID-19 numbers).
• Iron Bowl (Auburn vs. Alabama — not a fancy nickname, but the simplicity has worked well for a man, a maiden, a county in Utah and these two teams from a state with steel industry ties).
• Bedlam (Oklahoma vs. Oklahoma State — but, unfortunately, the unique nickname is usually better than the actual game).
• The Red Beans and Rice Bowl (Central Arkansas vs. McNeese State — and, yeah, told you I was hungry).
• Red River Rivalry (Texas vs. Oklahoma — FYI: The Red River is also the squiggly line that separates the two states).
• The Bill Walsh Legacy Game (Stanford vs. San Jose State — in honor of the late former Cardinal coach and Spartan alumnus).

Which brings up a possible new nickname for the BYU-Utah game.

So long, “Holy War.”

Introducing, The LaVell Edwards Legacy Game.

Not only did the legend Edwards coach both Utah coach Kyle Whittingham and BYU coach Kalani Sitake, but he also received degrees from both universities. (Yes, Aggies, we remember he went to USU, too.)

from Deseret News https://ift.tt/38gbqs9

BYU Vocal Point pays tribute in CNN performance to COVID-19 victims

BYU Vocal Point Concert Conference Center in Salt Lake City January 31, 2020. | Nate Edwards, BYU https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2020-06-30/byu-vocal-point-tribute-cnn-performance-covid-19-victims-187492

from Deseret News https://ift.tt/3gc5rqZ

‘Star Wars’ had a different introduction for Luke Skywalker, and Mark Hamill wishes it had stayed

Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker in “Star Wars: The Last Jedi.” | Lucasfilm Ltd.

Luke Skywalker was almost introduced much earlier in the film

Luke Skywalker almost had a different introduction in the original “Star Wars” film, and Mark Hamill wishes the scene had stuck.

What’s going on:

Mark Hamill, who played Skywalker in the “Star Wars” films, recently appeared on the “Russo Bros. Pizza Film School” to talk about “Star Wars.” The subject turned to Skywalker’s introduction.

The original intro — cut from the film but can be viewed on Disney Plus — shows Luke from the moisture farm, watching the battle between the Empire and Rebellion from Tatooine. Luke watches the assault from Darth Vader, who looks to steal Rebel plans from Princess Leia.

Hamill explained why the introduction was so important and why it maters later in the film.

“There a couple of things that are good for the character. No. 1, he is ridiculed roundly by his peers. So he’s not particularly cool or popular. Koo Stark is the only other female actor in the movie ... and she calls me ‘Wormie.’ So I am not popular, and then I bump into Biggs Darklighter, played by Garrick Hagon, and I go ‘Wow!’ You can see we’re good friends. He’s dressed in an Imperial uniform and I’m going, ‘Wow! That’s so great! I can’t wait until I can get off the dump of a planet and join with you.’ And he takes me outside and says, ‘Luke, as soon as I get the chance, I am going to jump ship and join the Rebels.’”

“The only reason that is interesting to me is that Luke has no political persuasion. He thinks it’s great he is in the Empire! Luke wants to be in the Empire if it will get him off the farm! So he is completely pure in that he is not politically motivated in any way, shape or form.”

The original opening does offer a little more context to Luke’s character, pairing him with his father Darth Vader, too, since it shows both scenes back and forth.

It also adds another layer to Luke’s journey overall. He never chooses a side and remains a conflicted character.

from Deseret News https://ift.tt/3eII08u

How Utah men’s basketball has measured up in the Pac-12 since joining the league

Utah basketball coach Larry Krystkowiak talks with his players during a timeout as Utah and Colorado play in the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019. | Scott G. Winterton, Deseret News

Note: Part of an occasional series on Utah’s upcoming 10th sports year in the Pac-12.

SALT LAKE CITY — Eager for more Pac-12 trivia regarding the Utah Utes? Now it’s time for some 10 for 10 on men’s basketball. Results date back to when the conference expanded with the addition of Utah and Colorado in 2011.

Edition 2: Men’s basketball

ALL-CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM

1. Arizona — 14

2. UCLA — 10

3. Colorado, Stanford, Washington — 9

6. California, Oregon — 7

8. Oregon State, Utah — 6

10. Arizona State, USC — 5

12. Washington State — 3

AP RANKINGS TOP 25 FINISHES

1. Arizona — 7

2. Oregon — 5

3. UCLA — 3

4. Utah — 2

5. California — 1

6. Arizona State, Colorado, Oregon State, Stanford, USC, Washington, Washington State — 0

Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

The Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City is photographed on Tuesday, March 3, 2020.

ARENAS BY CAPACITY

1. Huntsman Center (Utah)— 15,000

2. McKale Center (Arizona) — 14,655

3. Pauley Pavilion (UCLA) — 13,800

4. Matthew Knight Arena (Oregon) — 12,346

5. Haas Pavilion (California) — 11,877

6. Beasley Coliseum (Washington State) — 11,671

7. CU Events Center (Colorado) — 11,064

8. Desert Financial Arena (Arizona State) — 10,754

9. Galen Center (USC) — 10,258

10. Alaska Airlines Arena (Washington) — 10,000

11. Gill Coliseum (Oregon State) — 9,604

12. Maples Pavilion (Stanford) — 7,233

CONFERENCE WINS

1. Arizona — 115

2. Oregon — 111

3. UCLA — 103

4. Colorado — 85

5. Utah — 83

6. Stanford — 80

7. Washington — 78

8. Arizona State — 77

9. California — 76

10. USC — 65

11. Oregon State — 61

12. Washington State — 42

FEWEST HEAD COACHES (includes interim hires)

1. Arizona (Sean Miller), Colorado (Tad Boyle), Oregon (Dana Altman), Utah (Larry Krystkowiak) — 1

5. Arizona State (Herb Sendek, Bobby Hurley), Stanford (Johnny Dawkins, Jerod Haase), Oregon State (Craig Robinson, Wayne Tinkle), Washington (Lorenzo Romar, Mike Hopkins) — 2

9. USC (Kevin O’Neill, Bob Cantu, Andy Enfield), Washington State (Ken Bone, Ernie Kent, Kyle Smith) — 3

11. California (Mike Montgomery, Cuonzo Martin, Wyking Jones, Mark Fox), UCLA (Ben Howland, Steve Alford, Murry Bartow, Mick Cronin) — 4

NBA DRAFT PICKS

1. UCLA — 13

2. Arizona — 9

3. Washington — 8

4. Oregon — 7

5. California — 5

6. Colorado, Stanford — 4

8. USC, Utah — 3

10. Arizona State, Oregon State — 1

12. Washington State — 0

Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Utah Utes guard Delon Wright (55) gets past Georgetown Hoyas forward Isaac Copeland (11) as Utah and Georgetown play Saturday, March 21, 2015, in the third round of the NCAA tournament in Portland, Oregon, at the Moda Center.

NCAA TOURNAMENT APPEARANCES

1. Arizona, Oregon — 6

3. UCLA — 5

4. Colorado — 4

5. Arizona State, California — 3

7. USC, Utah — 2

9. Oregon State, Stanford, Washington — 1

12. Washington State — 0

NCAA TOURNAMENT VICTORIES

1. Oregon — 13

2. Arizona — 10

3. UCLA — 6

4. Utah — 3

5. Stanford, USC — 2

7. Arizona State, California, Colorado, Washington — 1

11. Oregon State, Washington State — 0

PAC-12 TOURNAMENT TITLES

1. Arizona, Oregon — 3

3. Colorado, UCLA — 1

5. Arizona State, California, Oregon State, Stanford, USC, Utah, Washington, Washington State — 0

WINNING OVERALL RECORDS

1. Arizona, Oregon— 9

3. Colorado, UCLA — 8

5. Utah, Washington — 7

7. Arizona State, California, Stanford — 6

9. Oregon State — 5

10. USC — 4

11. Washington State — 1

from Deseret News https://ift.tt/38gyuXZ

As COVID-19 economy flounders, Fed needs digital dollars to support recovery

This Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2019, photo shows the Apple Pay app on an iPhone in New York. | Associated Press

COVID-19 has left the U.S. and global economies in tough shape.

After a steep decline in economic activity that began in February, the economy added 2.5 million jobs in May. Lost in all the celebration were 295 thousand more workers — and over 1 million over the last three months — who were classified as permanently unemployed.

The Federal Reserve does not expect the jobless rate to fall to prerecession levels until at least 2023. Chairman Powell and his colleagues may be committed to doing “whatever we can” but even their much-expanded toolbox may prove not adequate — especially if a second wave of infections takes the economy down again.

A synergism of monetary and fiscal stimulus through the creation of digital dollars and additional Treasury borrowing to finance direct stimulus may be the best route.

Congress has committed $3.6 trillion to stimulus and relief spending. Conservatives may be aghast at the impact on the national debt. However, some of that money is in loans that should be repaid, added economic activity will boost tax collections, and the long term impact on federal debt held by the public will be less.

The latter includes Treasuries held by the Fed. Those have already increased by $1.8 trillion this year, and its overall assets holdings are up $2.9 trillion.

As interest earned on those assets is largely remitted to the Treasury, the real issue is not additional interest on the national debt but the Fed printing money to buy those assets. Inflation could become a problem but only when the economy more closely approaches full employment, unless foreign investors lose their voracious appetite for Treasuries.

With the future of the euro shaky and yuan carrying great political risk, the dollar remains the currency of choice for international commerce and a safe haven for foreign investors. Foreign holdings of Treasuries continue to grow, and the United States is in the happy position of printing the global currency.

More problematic is how federal aid was doled out.

As economic theory suggests, households saved a good deal of their one-time stimulus payments, and the IRS had to delay many 2019 income tax refunds to switch resources to making those payments.

State unemployment offices don’t have the capacity to quickly process 40 million claims, and many unemployed who lived paycheck to paycheck too often had to wait weeks for help.

More importantly, the structure of the post COVID-19 economy will look markedly different. Patterns of layoffs and capital spending cuts indicate that businesses as far flung as in manufacturing and moviemaking are bracing for permanently scaled back demand, while store closures and work-at-home accelerated long-term trends favoring on-line retailing, industrial kitchens for delivered meals and virtualized meetings and collaboration.

As the crisis unfolded, the Fed and Treasury moved quickly to shore up banks and money-market funds. It entered new territory by supporting markets for state and municipal bonds, consumer credit and direct lending to businesses. By doing so, however, it risks supporting businesses that are insolvent, not illiquid.

Recessions clear out marginal businesses that do not generate a profit over cycles of expansion and recession. That redeploys capital and workers to more productive uses, but now the Fed is extending its buying to below investment grade bonds and lending to businesses that should go through Chapter 11 or shutter completely.

Ultimately, some of the bonds purchased and loans tendered by the Fed will fail. The same applies to Treasury and Small Business Administration lending that is not forgiven through Paycheck Protection Plan.

By venturing into the territory of private banking the Fed risks its political independence and relenting to congressional pressure to roll over those loans and support failing enterprises indefinitely.

It would be better to get the Fed, Treasury and SBA out of the business of propping up businesses and into boosting consumer demand. Let every legal resident open an electronic checking account at the Fed — folks could register with their social security numbers. Then deposit monthly payments into those accounts as long as the crisis persists — reducing that support as the unemployment rate falls to defined benchmarks to ensure payments phase out.

Consumer spending would pull capital and workers to their most productive uses via more efficient market forces, and the whole process would usher in an electronic currency that would make the economy run more efficiently than one supported by bank credit cards, paper checks and currency.

Peter Morici is an economist and business professor at the University of Maryland, and a national columnist.

from Deseret News https://ift.tt/38gyyqH

Utah’s senators to review intel on Russian bounty accusations in Afghanistan

FILE - In this Nov. 30, 2017 file photo, American soldiers wait on the tarmac in Logar province, Afghanistan. Top officials in the White House were aware in early 2019 of classified intelligence indicating Russia was secretly offering bounties to the Taliban for the deaths of Americans, a full year earlier than has been previously reported. | Rahmat Gul, Associated Press

Rep. Chris Stewart says media reports that Trump sat on intel about bounties for American troops are not true.

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah’s two senators are will be reviewing classified material today about reports that Russia offered bounties to kill American and coalition forces in Afghanistan and the Trump administration may have sat on the intelligence for months or longer.

Republican Sens. Mike Lee and Mitt Romney may offer statements after their respective reviews.

“If it’s accurate that they have been providing bounties, it is disgusting, outrageous and despicable,” Romney told reporters Monday, according to NBC. “And clearly that would have enormous implications for our relationship with them, and for action going forward.”

ROMNEY: “If it's accurate that they have been providing bounties, it is disgusting, outrageous and despicable... And clearly that would have enormous implications for our relationship with them, and for action going forward.”

— Julie Tsirkin (@JulieNBCNews) June 29, 2020

The U.S. intelligence assessment of the alleged Russian bounties was provided in the president’s daily intelligence reports as early as March 2019, U.S. officials with direct knowledge of the intelligence told The Associated Press. Former national security adviser John Bolton also “told colleagues at the time that he briefed Trump on the intelligence assessment,” at the same time, the AP reported.

Two officials told The New York Times that the president was told in February how an intelligence unit in the Russian military had not only offered, but paid out, bounties to “Taliban-linked militants to kill U.S. and coalition troops in Afghanistan.”

The assessment was then shared in May in the CIA’s World Intelligence Review — known as The “WIRe,” the Times reported.

The WIRe is “extremely sensitive” and contains “highly classified” information for senior American policy and security officials, according to the CIA’s website.

In a tweet Sunday, Trump denied receiving a briefing on the matter, which was first reported in the Times on Friday.

Nobody briefed or told me, @VP Pence, or Chief of Staff @MarkMeadows about the so-called attacks on our troops in Afghanistan by Russians, as reported through an “anonymous source” by the Fake News @nytimes. Everybody is denying it & there have not been many attacks on us.....

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 28, 2020

White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany also said the president was unaware of the intelligence reports.

“While the White House does not routinely comment on alleged intelligence or internal deliberations, the CIA director, NSA — national security adviser — and the chief of staff can all confirm that neither the president nor the vice-president were briefed on the alleged Russian bounty intelligence,” McEnany said at press conference.

She added that there wasn’t a consensus in the intelligence community about the Russian bounty allegations and that Trump would have only been briefed once the intelligence community agreed on the allegations’ veracity.

Senior House Democrats said they received “no substantive information” from a White House briefing about the allegations on Tuesday, Politico reported.

“The right people to give the briefing really were not in the room,” said House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif.

White House chief of staff Mark Meadows led the briefing that included Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe, national security adviser Robert O’Brien, senior National Security Council aide Michael Ellis, top NSC counsel John Eisenberg and Thomas Williams, the NSC’s senior director for European and Russian Affairs, according to those attending, Politico reported.

In a statement Monday, Utah Republican Rep. Chis Stewart said the media reports that Trump was briefed on the alleged bounties are not true.

“The raw intelligence simply did not reach the level of credibility sufficient to brief the president,” said Stewart, a U.S. Air Force veteran and House Intelligence Committee member. “To suggest the president would place the interests of Russia over our service members is absurd” and that “malicious leaks and inaccurate reporting” compromise the safety of American troops and investigations into Russia’s intentions.

pic.twitter.com/OexfisZw5l

— Rep. Chris Stewart (@RepChrisStewart) June 29, 2020

Congressman Ben McAdams, D-Utah, said in a statement Tuesday, “if reports are true, we must hold Russia accountable for their outrageous actions. Intelligence officials should brief all members of Congress. The administration must present a plan of how it will respond to, and stand up to Russian aggression and support our military men and women.”

Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, said, “Since I have not been briefed, I can’t speak to the veracity of the reports that Russian operatives paid the Taliban bounties to kill American soldiers, but if true it is imperative that the United States respond strongly to hold Putin accountable.”

This story will be updated.

from Deseret News https://ift.tt/2VAIkyJ

Coronavirus: Utah responds to the pandemic

People are tested for COVID-19 in Salt Lake City on Friday, June 12, 2020. COVID-19 was first detected in Salt Lake County on March 4, 2020, 100 days ago, and the number of known cases has grown to over 6,000 in the county alone. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Sens. Mitt Romney and Mike Lee, Rep. Ben McAdams and Gov. Gary Herbert have been key figures as the Beehive State responds to COVID-19

Utah Health Department

The coronavirus count in Utah as of Tuesday, June 30, 2020.

Utah has seen 21,664 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 172 total deaths as of Tuesday, according to the Utah Department of Health. That’s an increase of 553 cases from Monday. Four deaths were reported.

On Friday, Utah surpassed its daily record of COVID-19 cases when it announced 676 positive tests.

Worldwide, the novel coronavirus pandemic has now infected 10,185,374 cases and killed 503,862 people as of Tuesday, according to the World Health Organization.

The state in in its “yellow” risk phase.

The respiratory illness is especially hard on those who are elderly, immune-compromised or who have chronic health conditions. Children are not severely ill with COVID-19, as the resulting illness is called, unless they have an underlying condition, but they can transmit the illness.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is one of many government agencies providing extensive resources and advice on managing this coronavirus.

from Deseret News https://ift.tt/34NPanF

Disney Plus announced ‘Summer Movie Nights’ with family-friendly movies. Here’s the full lineup

Disney Plus is officially live, bringing the Walt Disney Company right into the streaming services war. | Disney

‘Summer Movie Nights’ will feature a lineup of new original and newly announced family-favorite movies

Disney Plus has announced a new weekly event called “Summer Movie Nights,” where the streaming service will release new original films and family-friendly classics every Friday.

• The summer lineup begins Friday with the release of “Hamilton,” the film version of the original Broadway play.
• The weekly event calls for families to watch new movies together.
• Disney released a trailer of all the films, which include hits such as “X-Men,” “Beauty and the Beast” (2017), and “The Greatest Showman.”
• Here’s the entire lineup:

Friday, July 3

• “Hamilton”
• “The Mighty Ducks”

Friday, July 10

• “X-Men: Days of Future Past”
• “Solo: A Star Wars Story”

Friday, July 17

• “X-Men: Apocalypse”

Friday, July 24

• “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales”

Friday, July 31

• “Incredibles 2”

Friday, Aug. 7

• “X-Men”
• “The Peanuts Movie”

Friday, Aug. 14

• “Ant-Man and the Wasp”
• “The Greatest Showman”

Friday, Aug. 21

• “Beauty and the Beast” (2017)

Friday, Aug. 28

• “Fantastic Four” (2005)
• “Alice Through the Looking Glass”

Friday, Sept. 4

• “The Wolverine”

from Deseret News https://ift.tt/2Bp62XN