brooklynite
brooklynite's JournalSpokane area Rep. Matt Shea fined nearly $5,000 for damage to state Capitol steps during protest
Source: Seattle Times
Washington state Rep. Matt Shea, who last year was accused of domestic terrorism by a House-commissioned report, intentionally leaked a trail of olive oil along the steps of a Capitol building, causing more than $4,700 in damages, according to the state Department of Enterprise Services.
Shea, R-Spokane Valley, is being billed $4,761.34 for damage to the steps and base of Legislative Building North, Department of Enterprises (DES) spokeswoman Linda Kent said.
The damage occurred on the same day as a March 6 demonstration at the Capitol organized by the Satanic Temple of Washington, DES said. Video of a demonstration that day shows people dressed in black hooded gowns marching with black and white American flags and beating drums. The demonstrators marched in front of a sign proclaiming “Satan has NO rights” and several carried pentagram symbols, often associated with Satanism.
Shea can be seen on surveillance video carrying a bottle of olive oil through Capitol hallways, on Capitol grounds and on the stone steps that ended up stained. In some of the videos he is trailed by a group of men wearing black leather vests emblazoned with crucifixes. Several of the men carry shofars, or rams horns.
Read more: https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/rep-matt-shea-fined-nearly-5000-for-damage-to-capitol-steps-during-march-protest/
Looks like I'll get paid this week...
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1260951768395063298We're churning butter and making our own candles. What has coronavirus done to us?
Los Angeles TimesAt Lehman’s, a Kidron, Ohio, hardware and appliance store, butter churns have quickly gone from a slow seller to a hot commodity. Sales of the company’s large Dazey churn have increased 250% since the beginning of March, the company said, and the $199.99 model is now sold out. Purchases of two smaller churns are up three-fold, too.
Galen Lehman, chief executive of the family business, attributes the increase to the COVID-19 pandemic, which he believes is causing people to seek out things that are “creative, satisfying, comforting and restorative when [they’re] worn out.”
“I think our soul craves a simpler life,” he said.
Texas AG asks Supreme Court to order election officials to reject mail ballots
Dallas Morning NewsAttorney General Ken Paxton on Wednesday asked the Texas Supreme Court to order election officials in several counties to reject mail ballot applications from people who fear catching the coronavirus during in-person voting.
The motion specifically mentioned election officials in Dallas, Cameron, El Paso, Harris and Travis counties.
“Each misapplication of Texas election law damages the integrity of our elections and increases the risk of voter fraud. In-person voting is the surest way to prevent voter fraud and guarantee that every voter is who they claim to be and has a fair opportunity to cast their vote,” Paxton said in a statement. “It is unfortunate that certain county election officials have refused to perform their duties and have instead unlawfully gone beyond the Legislature’s determination of who is eligible to vote by mail. My office will continue to defend the integrity of Texas’s election laws.”
Live link to today's House Committee hearing on COVID-19
HEARING ON PROTECTING SCIENTIFIC INTEGRITY IN THE COVID-19 RESPONSE
Date: Thursday, May 14, 2020 - 10:00am
Location: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building
The Subcommittee on Health of the Committee on Energy and Commerce will hold a hearing on Thursday, May 14, 2020, at 10 a.m. in the John D. Dingell Room, 2123 of the Rayburn House Office Building. The hearing is entitled, “Protecting Scientific Integrity in the COVID-19 Response.”
Maybe alcohol kills the germs...
https://twitter.com/nicksonsec/status/1260746591918608386(Wisconsin)
Murphy allowing nonessential businesses to reopen for curbside pickup
Source: Politico
Gov. Phil Murphy said Wednesday that he will sign an executive order allowing some nonessential businesses to reopen for curbside pickup and allowing the restart of nonessential construction as the coronavirus pandemic appears to be weakening its grip on New Jersey.
"Today we are taking the next steps down New Jersey's road back and each step that eases us down the road is being taken because public health, medical experts and the data tell us that it is now safe to do so,” Murphy said during his daily briefing in Trenton. “This is how we transition to a safe, smart and sustainable way of life."
Murphy's order would let non-essential retail stores reopen for curbside pickup only, let construction resume as long as social distancing measures and mask use continue and permit drive-thru and drive-in events such as drive-in movies and religious services as long as participants remain inside cars.
Murphy first ordered nonessential businesses closed on March 21, which sent unemployment claims skyrocketing. In fewer than two months, more than 1 million claims have been filed, overwhelming the state’s processing system and employees.
Read more: https://www.politico.com/states/new-jersey/story/2020/05/13/murphy-allowing-nonessential-businesses-to-reopen-for-curbside-pickup-1283842
Tesla HR to employees: 'Choose not to work, it may impact your unemployment benefits'
Source: CNBC
Tesla HR boss Valerie Workman warned the company’s California employees on Wednesday afternoon that if they are called back to work but choose to stay home due to Covid-19 concerns, they could lose unemployment benefits.
Workman suggested that decision would be up to the state of California and not Tesla.
“Once you are called back, you will no longer be on furlough so if you choose not to work, it may impact your unemployment benefits as determined by your local government agency – and not by Tesla. We completely respect your decision and will support you, without any penalties from us,” the email said.
CEO Elon Musk reopened the company’s main U.S. car plant in Fremont, California this weekend. He did so in defiance of local Covid-19 health orders from Alameda County Public Health.
Read more: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/13/tesla-hr-warns-employees-skipping-work-may-affect-unemployment-pay.html
Dow falls for a third-straight day, losing 500 points after Powell's warning
Source: CNBC
Stocks fell on Wednesday as investors grappled with downbeat remarks from the top-ranking Federal Reserve official along with worries over the market’s valuation.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 516.81 points, or 2.1%, to 23,247.97. The 30-stock average had its worst day since May 1. The S&P 500 closed 1.8% lower at 2,820 while the Nasdaq Composite fell 1.6% to 8,863.17. The tech-heavy index also fell back into negative territory for 2020 after Wednesday’s decline.
Fed Chairman Jerome Powell said that more needs to be done to support the economy.
“While the economic response has been both timely and appropriately large, it may not be the final chapter, given that the path ahead is both highly uncertain and subject to significant downside risks,” he said. Powell added, however, the economy should see a substantial recovery once the coronavirus is under control.
Read more: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/12/stock-market-futures-open-to-close-news.html
Profile Information
Name: Chris BastianGender: Male
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Home country: USA
Member since: 2002
Number of posts: 94,490
