News and Headlines: In The News, Politics, World news, Commentary/Opinion.
In The News:
Ousted USC president received $7.7M payout in wake of sex-abuse, drug scandals
That would have put him at the top of the most recent list of compensation for private university leaders by the Chronicle of Higher Education.
USC officials declined to speak with USA TODAY about the compensation, as detailed in the private university’s most recent tax filings.
A statement from the USC Board of Trustees said the board voted to honor Nikias’ contract and agreed “to certain other provisions to accelerate his departure.”
The tax filing revealed a $3 million, no-interest housing loan for Nikias, who lived in the on-campus president’s home through the end of 2018.
Ex-Miss Kentucky Sentenced to Prison on Sex Crime Charge
Ramsey BethAnn Bearse, 29, received her two-year sentence in Kanawha County Circuit Court on Tuesday.
She was also sentenced to an additional 10 years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender for life, according to Kanawha Assistant Prosecutor Meshell Jarrett.
The former middle school educator pleaded guilty to one count of possessing material depicting minors in sexually explicit conduct in December 2019, news outlets reported.
She was initially charged with four counts of sending obscene material to a minor.
Firefighters resume fighting Bonhomme Richard blaze after evacuation
“Out of an abundance of caution the pier and ship were cleared of personnel due to an initial shift in the ship’s list,” said a tweet from Naval Surface Forces posted at 11 p.m. Pacific time Wednesday.
“Personnel are now pier side. We will continue to monitor as the ship settles.”
According to the Navy, by Thursday morning firefighters were still working to contain the blaze on the amphibious assault ship, which broke out Sunday morning.
Firefighters were able to board the ship, which had begun to tilt due to excessive water used to contain the fire, after about an hour pierside.
6 Macy’s execs get combined $9M in bonuses after cutting 3,900 jobs
Bloomberg Law first reported on the filings.
Earlier this month, the board reversed top executives’ temporary pay cuts in place since April 1, which means that Gennette, who took a pay cut, is now back to a $1.3 million annual rate.
Macy’s announced plans in February to close 125 stores over three years and cut about 2,000 corporate jobs.
More recently, on June 25, the company announced it will cut 3,900 corporate and management-level jobs as part of strategy to save $630 million to cope with the economic fallout of COVID-19.
West Virginia U. Police Chief Faces Calls for Firing over Pro-Police Flag in Home
According to a report by Campus Reform, West Virginia University Chief W.P. Chedester apologized last week in response to the outrage that erupted after students noticed a “thin blue line” American flag on display in Chedester’s home during a video conference.
Many students called on Chedester to resign in response to the student’s outrage. In a tweet, the university announced that Chief Chedester wanted to apologize to the community for any pain that was caused by the flag.
“During our Campus Conversation today, UPD Chief W.P. Chedester had an American flag with a blue stripe on display. After hearing feedback from our community, he realizes the hurt he has caused and has removed the flag,” the university wrote in a tweet.
Space Force selects 2,410 volunteers for reassignment from Air Force
According to the Space force, those selected from the pool of volunteer applicants were in space operations career fields.
Other volunteers were from fields common to the Air Force and the Space Force, such as intelligence, cyberspace operations, developmental engineers and acquisition managers.
More than 16,000 military members and civilian Department of Defense personnel have already been assigned to the Space Force, which was created in December.
GRAPHIC: Remains of 5 Migrants Found in Texas County 80 Miles from Border
In a period covering less than 30 days, Brooks County Sheriff’s Office deputies recovered the bodies or remains of five migrants who died on desolate ranches after being abandoned by human smugglers.
The smugglers force the migrants to march through the soft sand and heat of the Texas summer as they attempt to circumvent the Falfurrias Border Patrol Immigration Checkpoint, according to information received from sheriff’s office officials this week.
“These smugglers could care less if you survive the trip around the Border Patrol checkpoint,” the sheriff continued.
“If you become fatigued, dehydrated, overheated, injured, or for any other reason you can’t keep up, they simply abandon you and leave you to die.”
MD Thwarts $501M Theft Via 48K Stolen Identities, Job Claims
“It is obviously a coordinated, criminal enterprise because this is not, you know, just random people in their basement that stole somebody’s identity,” Hogan said.
“It’s a large, sophisticated criminal enterprise.”
The Maryland Department of Labor caught the attempted theft over the weekend of July 4 when workers noticed an influx of out-of-state residents applying for unemployment insurance.
These identities were not stolen from Maryland’s unemployment database, Hogan emphasized. The stolen identities came from previous federal breaches, he said.
Hogan said the identities of people who filed for unemployment insurance in Maryland were not compromised.
Anybody who fears their information was stolen should email ui.fraud@maryland.gov.
Video shows protesters get shipment of bats before Brooklyn Bridge brawl
The delivery was made by a car parked on the street near City Hall, with one man seen retrieving six bats from the trunk, according to the footage provided by sources.
Police sources said the bats were delivered so the anti-cop activists could confront a “unity” rally proceeding over the Brooklyn Bridge into Manhattan.
The unity rally included clergy, law enforcement and community activists.
Spirit Airlines employees attacked in Florida airport by 3 passengers reportedly upset with flight delay
Spirit customers Tymaya Wright, 20, Danaysha Dixon, 22, and Keira Ferguson, 21, were arrested and charged with battery after attacking the airline employees inside Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport’s terminal four on Tuesday night, WTVJ reported.
Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) deputies said that the three Philadelphia women became upset when their flight home was delayed.
Video footage of the alleged melee hit Twitter on Wednesday, in a clip that has since been viewed over 1.8 million times.
NYPD seeks man who attacked police with wooden object during Brooklyn Bridge protest
The NYPD’s Crime Stoppers unit shared the video late Wednesday in a tweet that also announced a reward of up to $2,500 for any information that leads to the person’s arrest.
A different video shows an all-out brawl between officers and protesters, which police said occurred after the initial attack.
Police said three officers were seriously hurt, including one who suffered an injury to his eye socket. Monahan suffered an injury that was not life-threatening to his hand.
Lara Logan: ‘Paid professional anarchists’ turning peaceful protests into riots
FOX NEWS VIDEO: Commentary/Opinion:
Lara Logan weighs in on violence against police in cities being rocked by protests and riots.
Scott Rasmussen’s Number of the Day
As on many issues, there is an interesting difference between the opinions of white Democrats and non-white Democrats.
Just 28% of white Democrats think the nation is doing at least somewhat well in terms of living up to the ideal of equality.
However, non-white Democrats are a bit more upbeat; 40% think the nation is doing okay.[1]
Data released earlier showed that 74% of voters nationwide believe that “In daily life, most Americans generally get along regardless of race.
They find ways to work together and create a better community.”
Spectacular Views of Comet Neowise
Mikalaureque / Shutterstock
For the next month, comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE), otherwise known as “Neowise,” will be visible in the night sky above much of the Northern Hemisphere.
The comet will be at its brightest this week, dimming as it moves away from the sun. I
f you have clear skies, head outside about an hour after sunset and look near the horizon to the northwest.
For the next week or so, if it’s dark enough, Neowise might be visible to the naked eye, but you may need binoculars to see it well.
Nascar race in Bristol draws 20,000 fans, largest US sports crowd since March
Chase Elliott collected the checkered flag and soaked in the sounds of fans in the grandstands.
The spectators at Bristol Motor Speedway surged to the fence, chanted “USA! USA!” and celebrated Nascar’s most popular driver.
Chase Elliott joined his father, Hall of Famer ‘Awesome’ Bill Elliott, as winner of Nascar’s annual All-Star race, earning the $1 million prize Wednesday in front of limited spectators at the Tennessee track.
Ingraham: What they’re not telling you
Commentary/Opinion:
We must move beyond the hyperbole and focus on what the latest science tells us.
Politics:
November’s election to decide future of U.S. economy
Commentary/Opinion:
America is facing a tough partisan stand-off over the path to economic recovery amid rising concerns of stagnant unemployment and lost livelihoods.
One America’s Kristian Rouz looks into the matter.
Biden’s environmental plan sparks fears of economic fallout
Republican leaders have said Joe Biden’s new environmental plan could devastate America’s chances at economic recovery.
One America’s Hans Hubbard reports.
Trump Announces Infrastructure Approval Overhaul, Scaling Back Environmental Review Process
Unveiling a dramatic streamlining and shortening of the federal process for approving infrastructure projects in Atlanta, Georgia, on Wednesday, President Trump declared:
“This will reduce approval times for highways alone by at least seventy percent.”
Hawley seeks DOJ probe of St. Louis case on couple wielding guns at protesters
In a letter to Attorney General Bill Barr, Hawley called for a federal civil rights probe into St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner’s investigation into the McCloskey family for using firearms to defend themselves and their property against protesters.
“This is an unacceptable abuse of power and threat to the Second Amendment and I urge you to consider a federal civil rights investigation into the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office to determine whether this investigation and impending prosecution violates this family’s constitutional rights,” Hawley wrote to Barr on Thursday.
“There is no question under Missouri law that the McCloskeys had the right to own and use their firearms to protect themselves from threatened violence, and that any criminal prosecution for these actions is legally unsound,” Hawley continued.
NRA endorses Trump, says he ‘delivered’ on promise to protect Second Amendment
“On behalf of America’s 5 million NRA members, the National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) is proud to endorse your reelection as president of the United States of America,” the NRA’s political action committee said in a letter to Trump.
“You have done more than any president to protect the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms.
The NRA stands behind you and your administration.”
National Association of Police Organizations endorses Trump: ‘We anticipate’ another four years
In an interview on “Fox News @ Night” with host Shannon Bream, McHale said that they had “organized a virtual meeting” following the instruction of bylaws that have been traditionally utilized since their inception in 1978.
“And, President Trump earned that endorsement with a greater margin of the two-thirds that participated in today’s meeting,” he said.
“So, it’s with great pride that I announce on behalf of our National Association of Police Organizations, our endorsement of President Donald J. Trump.”
L.A. Schools vs L.A. Students
Commentary/Opinion:
I think it’s time we start talking about school choice.
The L.A. Teachers Union has gone off of the deep end!
Here’s the Simple Truth.
World News:
Iranians Rally In Support Of Protesters Sentenced To Death
Social-media users on July 16 called for nationwide demonstrations at 7:00 p.m. local time against a court decision to uphold death sentences against three men who participated in protests last year.
Videos shared on social media purportedly showed protesters in Behbahan, in the southwestern province of Khuzestan, and in Shiraz, the capital of Fars Province, shouting slogans against the death sentences handed to Amir Hossein Moradi, Saeed Tamjidi, and Mohammad Rajabi.
Meanwhile, an increased presence of security forces was reported in the streets of the capital, Tehran, and several other cities.
Warlord accused of rights abuses awarded Afghanistan’s highest military rank
Former Vice President Abdul Rashid Dostum, 66, was awarded the rank of marshal in a special ceremony on July 15, making him only the third such recipient in the Afghan armed forces.
Dostum is an ethnic Uzbek warlord who fought against the Taliban alongside U.S. forces in 2001.
In 2016, Dostum, then vice president, was accused of kidnapping, torturing and raping ex-Jawzjan governor Ahmad Ishchi, a political rival, with a rifle barrel.
At the time, Ghani forced Dostum into exile in Turkey.
US, UK, and Canada accuse Russia of trying to steal coronavirus vaccine research
“Throughout 2020, APT29 has targeted various organizations involved in COVID-19 vaccine development in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom, highly likely with the intention of stealing information and intellectual property relating to the development and testing of COVID-19 vaccines,” according to the U.K.’s National Cyber Security Centre.
“The group uses a variety of tools and techniques to predominantly target governmental, diplomatic, think-tank, healthcare and energy targets for intelligence gain.”
APT29, which is associated with the Russian military spy agency GRU, is reportedly using custom malicious software to target organizations around the world. The malware being used is called “WellMess” and “WellMail,” according to the 16-page advisory.
Pompeo says China will ‘pay a price’ for pandemic
Commentary/Opinion:
Retired four-star Army general Jack Keane tells John Roberts on ‘America’s Newsroom’ there’s a broad coalition developing in the world to confront the Chinese Communist Party for ‘aggressive behavior.’
Analyst: US, China Conflict May Become Militarized
The U.S. is making its boldest challenge yet against China’s coercion in the South China Sea.
An analyst says it signifies the U.S. confrontation against china is now expanding beyond trade and diplomacy into the military field.
Taiwan Holds Drills to Beat Back Invasion Amid China Tensions
F-16 and domestically made Ching-kuo fighter jets launched strikes and tanks raced across inland scrub, firing shells to destroy targets on the beach. About 8,000 personnel took part in drills, held on a coastal strip near Taichung in central Taiwan.
The drills, dubbed “Han Kuang,” are Taiwan’s main annual exercises.
This year’s come as China has stepped up its military activity around the island, including flying fighters and bombers close to what Beijing calls its “sacred territory.”
“The Han Kuang exercises are a major annual event for the armed forces, evaluating the development of combat abilities.
Even more, it lets the world see our determination and efforts to defend the country’s territory,” Tsai told the troops.
Barr delivers speech on China policy
Commentary/Opinion:
A country without an honest media is lost
As a former Wall Street Journal associate editor and columnist, as Business Week’s first and for some years only outside columnist in its history, as columnist for Scripps Howard newspapers, for Creators Syndicate in Los Angeles, as a regular contributor to the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times, the San Diego Union, and a number of other once prominent newspapers, and as a regular guest on the TV networks,
I am no longer permitted on any of these media platforms today.
The reason is that truth does not correspond to their message.
You Can’t Claim Memorials Deserve To Be Taken Down If You Don’t Know Anything About Them
With the support of Senate Republicans, Sen. Elizabeth Warren has successfully attached an amendment to the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act designed to erase any mention of the Confederacy from Department of Defense property.
It is true that the namesakes of iconic military bases including Fort Hood, Fort Benning, and Fort Bragg fought on the Confederate side of the Civil War.
While it is undoubtedly easier to brand these men as racist Confederates and call it a day, that fails to tell the story of why these bases bear their names.
Human beings are complicated and complex, and therefore so is their history.
Hindsight reveals that good people sometimes end up on the wrong side of conflict.