Month: September 2020

Rochester, N.Y.’s police chief, La’Ron Singletary, announced his resignation Tuesday after days of protesting in response to the police killing of Daniel Prude. Mayor Lovely Warren also informed the Rochester City Council that in addition to Singletary, the entire command staff announced it would be vacating their roles today. She noted that none of the police leaders were asked to resign.

Singletary became chief in April 2019, and is leaving the position after 20 years with the department. The 40-year-old has come under fire in the past week after footage was released of Rochester police officers holding an unarmed man face-down to the ground in March, causing him to die a week later. The footage prompted outrage from family members and activists who said the police department should learn how to better handle mental health episodes. Others accused the officers of racial bias and excessive force.

Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren also criticized Singletary for his handling of the case, and some community members called for his resignation. In a statement, Singletary said the comments “are an attempt to destroy my character and integrity,” and added, “The members of the Rochester Police Department and the Greater Rochester Community know my reputation and know what I stand for.  The mischaracterization and the politicization of the actions that I took after being informed of Mr. Prude’s death is not based on facts, and is not what I stand for.”

Rochester police chief, entire command staff step down after death of Daniel Prude

Via www.nbcnews.com

Rochester, N.Y., Police Chief La’Ron Singletary said in announcing his retirement that the…

09/08/2020 5:57 PM

 

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WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange appeared at London’s Old Bailey on Monday for a hearing to determine whether he should be extradited to the United States to face espionage charges.Assange told the British court he didn’t consent to being sent to the United States to be tried on 18 charges, which bring up to 175 years in prison.

The 49-year-old Assange had been living in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London since 2012 when he sought asylum to dodge sexual assault charges in Sweden, before being arrested in April 2019. He was arrested after Ecuador withdrew its offer of asylum. The WikiLeaks founder was indicted on 17 new charges of violating the Espionage Act in May of last year and already faced a charge from March 2018 of conspiring to commit unlawful computer intrusion, which carried a maximum five years in prison. Assange was accused of working with former intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to obtain and publicly release classified information. The new charges brought his total charges to 18 counts with each violation of the Espionage Act carrying a maximum 10-year sentence.

WikiLeaks’ Assange in UK court to fight US extradition bid

Via abcnews.go.com

A British judge has rejected a request by lawyers for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to ignore…

09/07/2020 2:33 PM

 

Editorial credit: Alexandros Michailidis / Shutterstock.com

On Monday firefighters in California continued to battle multiple blazes fueled by extreme heat and other severe weather conditions. A record high 2 million acres have been burned in the state this year.

The devastating Creek Fire burning in the Sierra region area has grown to over 78,000 acres and was 0% contained as of Monday morning. Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for the area on Monday. Auberry and North Fork were both placed under mandatory evacuation orders. In Southern California, the El Dorado Fire, which was sparked by a pyrotechnic device used in a gender reveal party, has burned over 7,300 acres and is only 7% contained, Multiple homes have been destroyed and some 21,000 residents have been evacuated

A state of emergency was declared in San Diego County as the Valley Fire burned over 10,200 acres and was only 1% contained. 

California wildfire burns at least two dozen homes in small mountain town

Via www.nbcnews.com

“Words cannot even begin to describe the devastation of this community,” a resident said.

09/07/2020 7:18 PM

 

Seven Police Officers in Rochester, New York were suspended on Thursday over the asphyxiation death of a black man who they arrested in March. The brutal incident was revealed in videotape footage made public this week, which was recorded by an officer’s body camera. The video captures a group of officers putting a mesh hood over Daniel Prude’s head as he kneels naked and restrained on a Rochester street and snow falls around him.

The recording was released on Wednesday by members of Prude’s family, who called for the arrest of the officers. Prude, 41, died seven days after the March 23 arrest in Rochester, NY. Protests broke out on Wednesday in downtown Rochester and on Thursday, some 300 miles to the south, several dozen people demonstrated in Times Square in New York City, demanding justice for Prude and police reform.

Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren, who is black, told reporters on Thursday, “Mr. Daniel Prude was failed by our police department, our mental health care system, our society, and he was failed by me. I’m filled with grief, and anger at myself for all the failures that lead to his death.” Rochester police chief La’Ron Singletary, who is also black, has said that internal and criminal investigations were underway.

         

7 officers in Rochester, New York, suspended in case of death of Daniel Prude

Via www.nbcnews.com

“I understand the union may sue me for taking these officers off our streets,” Mayor Lovely…

09/03/2020 7:37 PM

 

Editorial credit: Al Mueller / Shutterstock.com

On Thursday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin reached an informal agreement to avoid a government shutdown at the end of the month. Both parties committed to a continuing resolution that would work to avoid a shutdown and be free of certain policy riders that have halted progress on other bills while the two sides also negotiate another round of stimulus in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A timeframe for the continuing resolution has not been agreed upon, but a plan to fund the government at current levels could avoid a shutdown leading into November’s election and possibly through the end of the year. The informal deal comes as Pelosi and Democrats remain in a deadlock with Mnuchin and Republicans over a package to provide economic stimulus in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Pelosi, Mnuchin agree to avoid a government shutdown at end of month

Via abcnews.go.com

The informal agreement between House Speaker Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Mnuchin would stave…

09/03/2020 8:20 PM

 

Editorial credit: Matias Lynch / Shutterstock.com