Trump's record low cap on refugees is a blow to them and our history as a welcoming nation - USA TODAY

Trump's record low cap on refugees is a blow to them and our history as a welcoming nation - USA TODAY
Disney Skyliner, Mark Twain, moose decline: News from around our 50 states - USA TODAY
John Bolton: North Korea's Kim Jong Un will do 'whatever he can to keep' nuclear weapons - USA TODAY
Why no team will ever be able to replicate what the 1969 Mets did - USA TODAY

Posted: 30 Sep 2019 09:03 AM PDT

Sharon Stanley-Rea, Opinion contributor Published 12:03 p.m. ET Sept. 30, 2019

Trump's new limits on refugees are a damaging departure from American values. Our policies should reflect compassion, not discrimination or rejection.

President Donald Trump plans to slash refugee admissions to an unprecedented low of 18,000 in the next 12 months and permit states and localities to block resettlement in their communities. This is deeply wrong and devastating. Trump is putting the lives of thousands of refugee families — the most desperate cases in the world — at dire risk.

Just last week, at a joint congressional hearing addressing the Trump administration's immoral Muslim travel ban, we listened to heart-wrenching stories from Ismail Alghazali and Abdollah Dehzangi, who are separated from their families due to this ban.

"I live in darkness and they are my light ... I'm a bird without wings when I'm without my family," Alghazali said in his testimony.

Our nation is living in darkness as Trump holds the Statue of Liberty hostage and robs America of its welcoming values, diversity, and culture.

Longer waits, less hope for refugees

Resettlement is a refugee's last option for safety. Less than 1% of the world's nearly 26 million refugees will ever be resettled to a third country, and only the most at risk are even considered. Refugees well along in the U.S. resettlement process are already languishing in camps, waiting for safety and reunification with loved ones. Now their waits may be longer; the Trump administration's new admissions cap is 81% below the historical average of 95,000 across Republican and Democratic presidencies.

Afkab Hussein is a Somali refugee separated from his family due to the multiple Muslim and refugee bans. He arrived in 2015 with the promise that his wife and newborn son would be able to join him shortly after, he told me. Even though they were approved for resettlement nearly three years ago, Afkab is still waiting for his wife and son.

In my work among refugee colleagues for over 20 years, I learned of the life-sacrificing loyalty Southeast Asian refugees provided the United States when we fought for years together against communism in their homelands. U.S. veterans regularly resurfaced stories, often with tears in their eyes, of how Hmong refugees saved their lives in the highland jungles of Laos whenever U.S. planes were shot down over their villages. Ukrainian refugee colleagues in our office likewise inspired me as they shared their courageous decisions to flee their birthplace in the face of religious persecution.

The deep commitment to family support, education, and resiliency from refugees is absolutely heartening.

Refugees are a gift to America

Dismantling the U.S. resettlement program is wrong, and we all need to stand against any ban, reduction or rejection of refugees. It will deprive our communities of the many gifts offered by refugees, damage our historic commitment to be a welcoming nation, and especially harm refugee families themselves.

"I want people to see that we are all so similar to one another and we have stories and we as a community make our nation and make this country beautiful. ... I want people to know that we all bring different strengths as we come together as a community and it's just really important to be able to just love others." These are the words of Montha Chum, a refugee from Cambodia who has made our country her home.

At least no one rapes her: Asylum seekers I meet flee something even worse than Trump's unethical immigration agenda

Chum captures the spirit of brave immigrants and refugees coming to our nation for a better life. And like Chum, refugees and immigrants have become essential drivers of economic growth. They create jobs, revitalize neighborhoods, buy homes, and become part of the social fabric of the United States. As history has shown, when our country embraces our rich diversity, we are fortifying our economy for all.

Congress has power to fix this

Actions like Trump's damage the freedoms that we cherish. So many refugees and immigrants came to this country with next to nothing, yet they built up our society with their ideas and passion to thrive. To make the situation more challenging, Trump recently opted for a public charge rule that only sees value in immigrants who are wealthy.

We must value all families regardless of their faith, the color of their skin, or how much money they have. Family values means keeping families together and honoring the contributions that immigrant Americans make to our country.

Short on money, education and English: Trump's immigration policy would've turned my great-grandfather away

Congress has the power to hold the administration accountable in restoring the U.S. resettlement program to historic norms and passing important legislation like the GRACE Act, which sets a minimum annual refugee admissions goal at the historic average, 95,000, and the Reuniting Families Act, which offers a strong and compelling solution to unite families.

All families deserve the chance to be together. When the United States government responds to a humanitarian crisis, we must have policies that show compassion and welcome, not discrimination or rejection.

Rev. Dr. Sharon Stanley-Rea is director of Disciples' Refugee & Immigration Ministries at Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), a partner in the Value Our Families coalition. Follow her on Twitter: @StanleyRea

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Disney Skyliner, Mark Twain, moose decline: News from around our 50 states - USA TODAY

Posted: 29 Sep 2019 10:53 PM PDT

Alabama

Birmingham: Alabama Power said it's reducing water releases from its hydroelectric dams because of a drought affecting the state. The move is intended to prevent lakes from shrinking too much. But a statement from the utility said that without rain, water levels will still likely fall below normal on lakes including Weiss, Henry, Logan Martin, Harris, Martin and Smith. Parts of the state haven't had substantial rainfall in weeks, and a federal assessment shows more than 80% of Alabama is abnormally dry or in a drought. Conditions are worse in eastern and central parts of Alabama. Montgomery is more than 6 inches below normal, and Troy is more than 10 inches below normal rainfall. Totals are more than 3 inches off in Birmingham.

Alaska

Juneau: Scientists have confirmed an increasing number of moon jellyfish floating around Juneau waters. The Juneau Empire reported Friday that warm ocean temperatures and plentiful food in the form of zooplankton have contributed to the increased sightings. A marine biology professor said the moon jellyfish known as Aurelia aurita have reached maturity after spawning in early spring. Experts said residents could be stung and urge people not to pick up beached jellyfish. Scientists said the sting of a moon jellyfish is considered less painful than the sting of some others. Experts have recommended watching the jellyfish from a pier for the best views. Scientists said there are concerns that too many jellyfish in the water could throw off the ecosystem because they would eat too many zooplankton

Arizona

Phoenix: A major construction project to widen Interstate 17 north of Phoenix is moving closer to its start date, as the Arizona Department of Transportation prepares a request for proposals for construction companies that want to be part of the work. The Anthem to Sunset Point rest area project, which is moving ahead after a $90 million federal grant announced earlier this year, should break ground in 2021 and be done by 2023, according to the department. A host of elected officials gathered at the outlet mall in Anthem on Thursday to highlight how the widening will benefit the estimated 1 million residents and visitors who travel the road annually, particularly those who get stuck in hours-long backups on weekends. Delays lasting several hours are a weekend tradition. Crashes, even minor, clog the roadway as people head north to campsites and cabins on Fridays and Saturdays, and as they head home on Sundays. The plan will add a third northbound and third southbound lane to the road between Anthem and Black Canyon City.

Arkansas

Pine Bluff: A casino in Pine Bluff held a surprise "soft opening," four days before its planned grand opening. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported the Oklahoma-based Quapaw Nation's Saracen Casino Annex opened at 6 p.m. Friday with about 300 slot machines and a full-service bar. Saracen Casino Resort spokesman Carlton Saffa said the facility is a preview of the 80,000-square-foot casino that will have a 13-floor, 300-room hotel across the street by the end of next year. Saffa said the soft opening was planned to be invitation-only, but those plans were changed because of high interest. The Arkansas Racing Commission in June approved the license for the casino after Arkansas voters last year approved a constitutional amendment legalizing casino gambling in four counties.

California

Los Angeles: Investigators completed a two-week examination of the charred wreckage of a scuba diving boat and could not determine what ignited the fire that killed 34 people off the Southern California coast, a law enforcement official said Friday. The boat, named Conception, was anchored just off Santa Cruz Island when it caught fire and sank early on Sept. 2. It was raised and brought to Port Hueneme, a naval base northwest of Los Angeles, where specially trained teams from the FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives tried to figure out what sparked the blaze. They completed their work there without finding the cause, but the investigation will continue, said the official, who was not authorized to release the information publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. Pieces of the boat have been sent to labs for additional testing, and investigators are poring through hundreds of documents seized from the boat's operator, Truth Aquatics Inc., the official said. Some parts of the boat washed away when it was submerged.

Colorado

Pueblo: Gov. Jared Polis, a solar developer, an energy company and a steel plant have announced a large solar project in Pueblo. The Chieftain reported Lightsource BP would build, own and operate the proposed 240-megawatt solar facility on property owned by EVRAZ North America, a steel manufacturer. The project would sell its power to Xcel Energy, which would sell it to the steel plant. The Bighorn Solar Project would be one of the state's largest. It would give EVRAZ a long-term contract that provides the steel mill price certainty through 2041. EVRAZ North America president and CEO Skip Herald said Friday the solar power makes possible a planned $480 million investment aimed at producing longer railroad rails. The mill employs about 1,100 people. The solar project would create about 300 jobs in construction, operations and maintenance.

Connecticut

Lebanon: A generations-old question over who owns the mile-long green at the center of the city has been resolved after two years of negotiations and court hearings. The green, little changed from the days when French troops camped on it during the Revolutionary War, is the center of community life in the town of just over 7,200 people. But several years ago, plans to expand a library on the edge of the green were thwarted because a document dating to 1705 showed the green actually belonged to the "heirs and assigns" of the 17th and early 18th-century investors in the property. This month a judge signed off on the last piece of a plan that awards ownership and control of most of the land to the town.

Delaware

Wilmington: Incyte, a Wilmington pharmaceutical company, is preparing to expand its Augustine Cut-Off headquarters. Two years ago, the company opened a 154,000 square-foot office building next to the former John Wanamaker building, which has served as the company's home since 2014. The latest expansion, consisting of a six-story lab and office building, and a two-story parking deck, is supposed to bring all of Incyte's employees to one campus. Some of Incyte's roughly 700 employees work in leased spaces in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, and Wilmington. Since 2014, the company has consistently outgrown its buildings, said Paula Swain, Incyte's head of human resources of facilities. New Castle County Council approved the expansion project Tuesday. Swain expects construction to begin in October and end in about two years.

District of Columbia

Washington: Beach Drive has reopened after a major rehabilitation project, WUSA-TV reported. Crews completed the fourth and final section of more than 6 miles of work on Friday. Construction crews kept busy on Beach Drive until the bitter end, using every minute leading up to the noon Friday deadline to ensure the 23,000 tons of new asphalt was ready for drivers. The National Park Service, along with the Federal Highway Administration, oversaw the project, installing new pavement markers, center-line rumble strips, guardrails and road signs. It's a major improvement from the potholes of before. Crews also installed a new drainage system. Fourteen new retention ponds now prevent runoff into Rock Creek. Because Beach Drive is part of a National Park, the road was not expanded beyond its original footprint.

Florida

Lake Buena Vista: Walt Disney World on Friday introduced its newest way to get around the resort: an aerial cable car system that whisks visitors from hotels to theme parks three stories above the ground while going 11 mph. The Disney Skyliner cable cars opening to visitors on Sunday are the latest addition to one of the largest private transportation systems in the U.S. The almost 300 enclosed cable cars join 423 buses, 61 mini-vans (appropriately named Minnie Vans), 30 parking lot trams, 29 watercraft and 12 monorail trains. With the Skyliner air gondolas, visitors get neon-colored cars painted with the images of almost two dozen Disney characters taking them on the three lines to five stations where they can access nine resorts and two parks. Disney World has four theme parks and more than two dozen resorts. No more than 10 people are allowed in each cable car. A car will arrive every 10 seconds, allowing the cabins to handle about 3,000 people an hour.

Georgia

Macon: An ongoing drought has made outdoor burning in Georgia more dangerous than previous years, state officials said. In the past three months, the Georgia Forestry Commission said firefighters have responded to – on average – about 41% more fires. Drought conditions are worsening, affecting more than 11 million people and threatening crops across a five-state area from Louisiana to South Carolina, federal officials said. In Georgia, residents should postpone open burning if conditions are not favorable, Forestry Commission Chief of Protection Frank Sorrells said in a statement. The main cause of wildfires is debris that escapes from a fire, he said. The Georgia Environmental Protection Division has summer burning restrictions in place in 54 Georgia counties to protect air quality. State officials will resume issuing burn permits in these counties once the restrictions are lifted on Tuesday, The Telegraph reported.

Hawaii

Honolulu: Retail firm DFS Hawaii plans to lay off 165 of its 660 employees in three locations across Hawaii's islands, officials said. Financial losses from decreases in the international travel market prompted the staff reductions announced Thursday, company officials said. DFS Hawaii said positions are expected to be cut at two Oahu locations, including T Galleria in Waikiki and the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu, as well as the Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport on the Big Island. The affected employees worked in the management, sales, operations and clerical departments. Eligible workers will receive severance packages based on their individual years of service, officials said. DFS Hawaii caters largely to international travelers. The company's flagship store in Waikiki opened in 1975 and is now the chain's sixth-largest galleria store worldwide. The first DFS Hawaii duty-free shop in the United States was established at what was previously known as Honolulu International Airport, now the Inouye International Airport.

Idaho

Caldwell: KIVI-TV reported The College of Idaho is teaming with local company indieDwell to build new dorms out of repurposed shipping containers. Associate Dean of Students Jen Nelson said the school was eager to find a housing solution that would be quick and affordable. The dorm units will have five single rooms surrounding a common area. Once the shipping container dorms are completed early next year, the school will have 54 new rooms. School officials said that will help alleviate the shortage. At this time, students are even being housed in the vacant President's House on campus.

Illinois

Chicago: Barack and Michelle Obama will speak next month at a summit in Chicago focused on the vision for the Obama Presidential Center. The event will include young leaders from around the world and participants of programs run by the Obama Foundation. It's the third such summit. Officials said the theme is "Places Reveal Our Purpose." Organizers said the summit will show how the Obama Presidential Center "connects to a growing global network of leaders." The center is planned along the lakefront of Chicago's South Side. It's near where Obama started his political career and lived with his family. The $500 million center is expected to house a public library branch, house multimedia collections and have community programs, among other things.

Indiana

Indianapolis: Federal officials said an Indiana company is recalling 744 pounds of ready-to-eat pork products which might be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced late Saturday that the products by Fisher Packing Company in Redkey were shipped statewide. They were packaged in late August. The products include smoked ham, smoked ham shanks and Canadian bacon. They have the establishment number "74SEIN" inside the USDA mark of inspection. The products should be thrown out or returned. Federal officials said the problem was discovered when the company found that a sample confirmed positive for Listeria monocytogenes. Consumption of foods contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause a serious infection primarily affecting the elderly, people with weak immune systems and pregnant women and their newborns. There have no confirmed illness reports.

Iowa

Des Moines: Iowa now has 24.9 million pigs on farms, a record number and up 6% from last year. The U.S. Department of Agriculture released the figures Friday for the quarter ending Sept. 1. It showed Iowa farms have just over 1 million breeding pigs and 23.9 million market hogs, or those raised for meat. The growth in hog numbers comes as environmental groups are trying to force the state to slow expansion of pig farms. A state court judge on Sept. 10 said two environmental groups may proceed to trial in their lawsuit alleging the state's policy of expanding hog farms and its voluntary farm pollution controls violate the rights of citizens to clean water in the Raccoon River. The USDA said the national inventory of pigs is at 77.7 million, the highest number for Sept. 1 since records began in 1988.

Kansas

Topeka: State wildlife officials are working on plans to stop a continuing drop in the number of young people who are interested in hunting, in part because the decline could lead to fewer dollars for conservation. For years, Kansas encouraged young hunters by conducting guided hunts. But those classes are losing participants for a variety of reasons, including more entertainment options, more children living in cities and a lack of public hunting land, Kansas News Service reported. Kansas remains popular for out-of-state hunters, with the number of licenses and permits more than doubling over the past two decades to more than 150,000. But in-state licenses have declined about 14%. Hunting licenses contribute about $28 million to the state's conservation coffers, which gets about 60% of its funding from the licenses. Because out-of-state licenses cost more, their popularity has offset having fewer Kansas hunters. But 2019 was the first in five years where nonresident sales declined. Hunting advocates said one factor contributing to the decline is a lack of public hunting land. Less than 2% of Kansas land is free for public hunting, according to the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Tourism.

Kentucky

Frankfort: Kentucky's Division of Water and Department for Public Health are issuing a public health advisory for harmful algal bloom along the Ohio River. The advisory is for people using the waters for recreation. The advisory area is from the McAlpine Dam near Louisville to the Greenup Dam near Greenup in northeastern Kentucky. State officials also issued an advisory for Briggs Lake near Russellville. The advisory means algal toxins have been found at various locations along the water. Swimming, wading, and other water activities are not recommended during the advisory. State officials said ingested water might increase the risk of gastrointestinal symptoms such as stomach pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. It can also cause skin irritation.

Louisiana

Baton Rouge: The percentage of Louisiana's people living in poverty has dipped slightly, but the state remains among the poorest in the nation. New data released Thursday from the Census Bureau showed 18.6% of Louisiana residents lived below the poverty line in 2018, compared to 19.7% a year earlier. By comparison, the national average in 2018 was 11.8%. The statistics show more than one-quarter of Louisiana's children live in poverty. The state remained third-highest in the nation for its poverty rate, behind only Mississippi and New Mexico. Seven states had poverty rates of less than 10%. The census data shows Louisiana's median income level reached $47,905 last year, well behind the U.S. average of $61,937.

Maine

Acton: The devastating toll of ticks on New England's moose herd has caused the region's population to shrink, and experts worry it could get worse with climate change. The northern New England states are home to thousands of moose, but the herd has dwindled in the last decade, in part because of the winter ticks. The ticks infest moose and suck their blood dry, and sometimes tens of thousands are found on a single animal. Maine has the largest moose population east of Alaska and was home to some 76,000 animals about seven years ago. Lee Kantar, Maine's moose biologist, said that number might now be as low as 50,000. Scientists in Maine are entering the final year of a multiyear study of the moose population in its northern and western areas.

Maryland

Annapolis: An investigation at the U.S. Naval Academy has found it is "unlikely" a rope and knot found over a door in a construction area was meant to be a noose, but the possibility could not be definitively ruled out. The academy announced Friday that the rope resembled a common construction device used to hoist items, although it was draped over a door "for no readily apparent reason." The academy said the investigation didn't discover who placed the rope over the door or identify any existing racial animus on the job site. The academy announced an investigation earlier this month after receiving notice from the Caucus of African-American Leaders. The caucus was contacted anonymously about the rope on Aug. 28, the 56th anniversary of the March on Washington.

Massachusetts

Boston: Starting on Wednesday, the USS Constitution, the world's oldest commissioned warship still afloat, will be open to the public Tuesdays through Sundays from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. The ship, berthed in Boston, will be closed on Oct. 22, then open for free public visits from Wednesday until Sunday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Guests can walk the ship at their own pace and ask questions to the ship's active-duty Navy sailors, or listen to sailors give presentations on the ship's history every 30 minutes. The USS Constitution played a crucial role in the Barbary Wars and the War of 1812, defending sea lanes from 1797 to 1855. It earned its nickname "Old Ironsides" during the War of 1812.

Michigan

Lansing: State and local health departments will conduct aerial spraying for the first time since 1980 to combat a rare mosquito-borne virus that has killed three people and been recorded across the southern half of the state. The aerial spraying is set to begin Sunday and will include 14 counties where eastern equine encephalitis has been confirmed in humans or animals. The weather might determine the actual spraying schedule. Other states, including Massachusetts and Rhode Island, have recently done aerial sprays. Michigan is encouraging officials in affected counties to consider postponing or rescheduling evening outdoor events until there is a hard frost. The number of U.S. deaths and illnesses from the virus are higher than usual this year.

Minnesota

St. Cloud: Bishop John Francis Kinney, bishop emeritus of St. Cloud, died Friday at Quiet Oaks Hospice in St. Augusta, according to the Diocese of St. Cloud. He was 82. Kinney, the eighth bishop of St. Cloud, headed the diocese from 1995 until his retirement in 2013. He spent 53 years as a priest, with 39 as bishop. During his retirement, Kinney lived at the Speltz House in Sauk Rapids. Kinney presided over the diocese during turbulent times as the Catholic Church became mired in allegations of sex abuse. In a 2016 interview with the St. Cloud Times, Kinney said the revelation of clergy sexual abuse was the most difficult thing he had to work through. Following the revelations, Kinney set up listening and information sessions that he attended in parishes around the diocese. In 1993, the then-National Conference of Catholic Bishops appointed him to chair an Ad Hoc Committee on Sexual Abuse. During his tenure as chair, the ad hoc committee published "Restoring Trust," a document then used by dioceses to address sexual abuse in the church.

Mississippi

Jackson: The state will get $1.25 million to evaluate the effects of freshwater from a Louisiana spillway on dolphins and sea turtles in the Mississippi Sound. The money from federal oil and gas revenue-sharing will go to Mississippi State University's College of Veterinary Medicine and the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies in Gulfport, Gov. Phil Bryant said in a news release Friday. The study will examine the abundance, health and habitat of dolphins and sea turtles in the area. The federal government said at least 310 dolphins have been stranded since February from Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle, 130 of them in Mississippi. Another 101 were in Louisiana, 42 in Alabama and 37 in Florida. Some have had skin lesions consistent with freshwater exposure, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The Army Corps of Engineers opened the Bonnet Carré Spillway twice this year to protect New Orleans levees, sending Mississippi River water into the Mississippi Sound for a total of 123 days. The first opening was from Feb. 27 until April 11 and the second from May 10 to July 27. The number of strandings peaked in May and fell sharply in June, according to NOAA.

Missouri

Hannibal: Against all odds, what appears to be Samuel Clemens' signature has turned up on the wall of the cave he made famous in "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer." In the mid-1800s, long before he adopted the pen name Mark Twain, Clemens and his young pals romped around the cave on the outskirts of Hannibal. As a group of Twain scholars toured what is known as the Mark Twain Cave this summer, cave owner Linda Coleberd and three other enthusiasts broke off in search of Clemens' signature. It was long believed to be among the thousands of names signed on the limestone walls. A beam from a lone flashlight glanced along the cave wall and Lovell saw the name "Clemens" written in pencil. Experts said it is almost certainly authentic.

Montana

Helena: A group of history fans saw how ground-penetrating radar can be used to help discover unmarked graves Thursday, which was the first day of the 46th Montana History Conference in Helena. During a trip to the Silver City Cemetery north of Helena, University of Montana Ph.D. candidate Ethan Ryan, an archaeologist and ground-penetrating radar specialist, explained that he uses a 400 megahertz device with an electromagnetic pulse to detect anomalies underground. He can then use surface clues and disturbances to determine whether an unmarked grave might be nearby. Before the group went to the cemetery, Pam Attardo, preservation officer for the City of Helena and Lewis and Clark County, spoke about the ongoing preservation efforts happening there. She said the cemetery dates back to the days of the Wild West and is home to a number of graves, both marked and unmarked. Attardo shared some myths about the location, including a story about a group of outlaws captured in Silver City and eventually buried in the cemetery. However, no historical record of any such event exists, the Independent Record reported.

Nebraska

Omaha: The Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium is holding a new Halloween event meant to replace the zoo's previous long-running Spooktacular trick-or-treat event. The zoo's Ghouls and Glow event kicked off Friday and will be held Thursdays through Saturdays every week until its last run on Oct. 24-25. The event will feature 400 lantern displays at the Bay Family's Children's Adventure Trails. Visitors will encounter dancing skeletons, candy monsters, jack-o-lanterns, ghosts, witches, wizards, spider web arches and a mummy band. A number of bats, vultures, spiders and black cats will also light up the trails. Hundreds of hand-carved pumpkins will glisten along the zoo's pathways, as well as a nearly 15-foot-tall pumpkin tree. Tickets for the event, ranging from $8 to $18, are available online and at the zoo.

Nevada

Fernley: A proposed industrial park east of Reno could benefit efforts to protect part of a desert trail used by the Donner Party and thousands of others as they journeyed west in the 1840s, historic preservationists and a federal official said. Known as the Fernley Swales, the deep sand trenches and grooves that are part of the California National Historic Trail were carved by wagons and oxen in the Forty Mile Desert between the Humboldt and Carson rivers just north of U.S. Interstate 80. The mile-long swales on the edge of the town of Fernley were protected in 2001 by a U.S. Bureau of Land Management easement that has remained in place despite changes in ownership. But the site is near a shooting range and often the scene of illegal dumping. Signs marking its historical significance are regularly riddled with bullet holes. Earlier this year, Mark IV Capital bought land in and around Fernley for its new Victory Logistics Center, including the parcel with the easement. Jon Nowlin, a member of the California-Nevada chapter of the Oregon-California Trail Association, said approval of Mark IV's plans would require the dedication of some land to open space. Victoria Wilkins, acting field manager for the BLM's Sierra Front Field Office, said it's rare for the agency to have a historical easement surrounded by an industrial park, but the development could benefit the swales.

New Hampshire

Manchester: One of two New Hampshire homes designed by Frank Lloyd Wright is on the market. The Toufic H. Kalil house in Manchester was built in 1955 and is an example the "Usonian Automatic" houses Wright designed as a more moderately-priced option for the post-war middle class. The house made of modular concrete blocks was built for a doctor and his wife who were inspired by the home of a friend whose Wright house was built on the same street. That property, the Zimmerman house, is now part of the Currier Museum of Art. The Kalil house is now for sale for the first time, being offered at $850,000 by the Paula Martin Group. It includes the original furniture and fixtures.

New Jersey

Newark: State attorney general Gurbir Grewal is ordering two counties to end cooperation agreements with federal immigration authorities. Grewal's announcement Friday came a day after Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested more than 50 people in New Jersey. A directive this year limits law enforcement's cooperation with ICE. But sheriff's departments in Cape May and Monmouth counties have separate agreements to perform some immigration functions. Critics of New Jersey's directive said it makes it easier for violent criminals to be released before they can be handed over to immigration authorities. Grewal said Friday the directive gives local authorities the ability to identify dangerous individuals to ICE for detention. Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden said Friday he would fight the order. Cape May County's sheriff didn't immediately respond to an email.

New Mexico

Santa Fe: Flags across New Mexico are at half-staff in honor of state Sen. Carlos Cisneros, who died earlier this month of a heart attack. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham ordered flags lowered Friday in recognition of the long-time lawmaker lying in state. The senator's casket, blanketed by a white cloth adorned with the state seal, was in place in the Rotunda for a public viewing. A funnel service is scheduled Saturday at a church in Santa Fe. Cisneros had recently announced his bid for re-election to represent a vast district that stretches from the state line with Colorado to the outskirts of Los Alamos, including Taos, Peñasco, Truchas and Pojoaque Pueblo. Cisneros joined the Senate in 1985 and went on to play a leading role in annual budget negotiations.

New York

New York City: A woman fighting cancer for the third time is thanking police for getting her to treatment after her car got stuck in United Nations-related traffic. Gabriela DeMassi said two officers volunteered to escort her and her parents through Thursday morning's jam after she and her mother asked officers if they knew a better way to Manhattan's Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. After getting through traffic, DeMassi, 28, said one officer greeted her with a smile and said: "Keep up the good fight. Never give up! You got this!" DeMassi recounted the experience in an Instagram post that went viral within the law enforcement community. NYPD Chief Terence Monahan left a comment thanking DeMassi for sharing the story. He closed by echoing the officer's words: "You got this!"

North Carolina

Raleigh: The state's health agency is urging people to make sure their vaccinations are up to date after several confirmed mumps cases at two private universities. The state Department of Health and Human Services said there have been seven confirmed cases combined at Elon University and High Point University as of Thursday. State and local public health workers are responding in part by vaccinating susceptible groups on campus. Mumps is a contagious virus causing swollen glands, puffy cheeks and fever, and can lead to more serious complications. DHHS said anyone with confirmed or suspected mumps needs to stay home and limit personal contact for five days, or until mumps is ruled out. The agency said vaccinations are the most effective way to prevent mumps or limit complications should mumps still occur.

North Dakota

Bismarck: The remains of a North Dakota sailor who died during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor are coming home for burial at the state's Veterans Cemetery. KFGO-TV reported that the remains of Radioman 2nd Class Floyd Wells were identified in June. His remains are arriving at Hector International Airport on Monday and burial is scheduled for Tuesday. Wells was a native of Cavalier. He was assigned to the USS Arizona, which was struck by torpedoes. The attack on the ship killed 1,177.

Ohio

Lancaster: The role of Ohio's formidable run of early U.S. presidents in establishing lasting national customs like the White House Easter egg roll and West Wing war room is explored in a history exhibition running through late December. "The Ohio Presidents: Surprising Legacies " opened this month at the Decorative Arts Center of Ohio, located in Lancaster about 30 miles southeast of Columbus. Objects include clothing, furniture, personal items and campaign posters of William Henry Harrison, Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes, James Garfield, Benjamin Harrison, William McKinley, William Howard Taft and Warren G. Harding. Curator Christine Fowler Shearer said the show features fun facts about the presidents that aren't common knowledge. The artifacts and photographs were gathered from the Library of Congress, Ohio History Connection and elsewhere.

Oklahoma

Tahlequah: The new chief of the Cherokee Nation plans to invest $16 million into the tribe's language preservation program, including a new cabinet-level position focused on its language, culture and community. Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. announced the "Durbin Feeling Cherokee Language Preservation Act" in a statement on Friday. Feeling is a leading Cherokee linguist and one of an estimated 2,000 people the tribe identifies as "first-language" speakers, or those whose native language is Cherokee. The new plan includes a $5 million renovation of the former Cherokee Casino Tahlequah building into a new language center, and a $1.5 million annual appropriation for the next five years for its operation. The largest American Indian tribe in the United States, the 370,000-member Cherokee Nation is headquartered in Tahlequah.

Oregon

Salem: The Oregon Supreme Court – the oldest government building on the Capitol Mall – is set to empty out in October for two years of renovations including earthquake reinforcements and safety upgrades. Services at the century-old court building, which includes the Oregon Supreme Court and the Oregon Court of Appeals courtroom, the State of Oregon Law Library, the Oregon Judicial Department and Appellate Court Records, will be spread to different locations throughout Salem. It will cost about $51 million and displace 56 employees, according to Oregon Judicial Department spokesman Todd Sprague. Over the past year, staff members have hauled tens of thousands of volumes from its law library collection to new locations. The second-floor library has been home to historic documents that date to the 15th century.

Pennsylvania

Harrisburg: Mosquitoes carrying the West Nile virus have been found in six Pennsylvania counties, along with one human case. The state's West Nile Control Program said the mosquitoes were found Friday in Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lancaster and Philadelphia counties. The human case of West Nile virus was discovered in Chester County. Friday was the last routine surveillance and reporting day for 2019, according to the state Department of Environmental Protection's website. West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne sickness that might cause encephalitis, a brain irritation. Mild infections can produce fever, headaches, body aches, skin rash and swollen lymph glands.

Rhode Island

Providence: Officials said they have decided to dismantle the city's first two-way bike lane a month after its installation following public criticism. The Providence Journal reported the city's recent decision is expected to cost $127,500. Mayor Jorge Elorza's office said the lane was completed the week of Sept. 9 and cost $63,500. The dismantling process will begin this fall and will cost $64,000. After the lane's construction, residents began complaining it made the rest of Easton Street too narrow. Louise Ely said cars would have nowhere to move if an ambulance drove by since the lane is on one side of the street. Sarah Mitchell, chairwoman of the Rhode Island Bicycle Coalition, said the city should do more outreach to educate people about how to use these lanes.

South Carolina

Congaree National Park: A timber company is selling some swamp and forest land to a conservation group that hopes to donate the land to Congaree National Park. Friends of Congaree Swamp bought the 214 acres from Weyerhaeuser for $783,000. The State newspaper reported the land is along Running Lake Creek and has trees so thick that areas remain darkened by shade in the middle of the day. Friends of Congaree Swamp used a combination of money from the state and federal governments, private donations and fines from wetland violations. The federal government will have to approve the transfer to the national park near Columbia, which could take some time.

South Dakota

Custer: Officials at Custer State Park said 25,000 people turned out to watch this year's annual buffalo roundup. The Rapid City Journal reported hundreds of bison were herded into corrals during the 54th annual roundup on Friday. Park resource manager Mark Hendrix said of the 1,460 animals in herd, 470 will be sent to auction Nov. 6. He said staff attempts to keep the herd at an average of 1,000 animals to maintain the ecological balance in the 71,000-acre park south of Mount Rushmore National Memorial.

Tennessee

Memphis: Two Memphis schools won the Blue Ribbon designation this year, one of the highest honors from the U.S. Department of Education, given to just 362 schools nationwide. Campus School and Maxine Smith STEAM Academy were recognized for their high scores on state and national tests. They were among six schools in Tennessee to earn the award this year. The designation does not come with financial awards, but is a coveted label. Campus School is a contract school run by the University of Memphis. The elementary school is known for its high test scores and frequently tops district ratings. This spring, 74% of students scored proficient in reading and writing, compared with 21% of students in the district and 34% statewide. Maxine Smith STEAM Academy is a middle school that Shelby County Schools opened in 2014 to serve high-performing students that pass admission tests.

Texas

Austin: A county administrator is apologizing for saying Gov. Greg Abbott "hates trees because one fell on him." The Texas Tribune reports that the comment made Friday by Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt, a Democrat, during a panel discussion was first reported in a tweet by the online magazine The Federalist. Abbott, a Republican, has been paralyzed from the waist down since 1984 when a tree fell on him in Houston while he was jogging. Eckhardt said on her website and in a tweet that she "made a mistake" and apologizes to Abbott. Eckhardt said she "made a flippant comment that was inappropriate." Eckhardt's comments came during a discussion about the Texas Legislature overriding local ordinances such one in Austin regarding the cutting down of trees.

Utah

Antelope Island State Park: Authorities said a 22-year-old Utah woman hiking at Antelope Island State Park suffered a broken leg and a laceration on her other leg when she was charged by a bison. Officials said the woman was on an established trail while running toward a companion when the incident occurred Friday night in a remote area and that it's not clear what prompted the bison to charge. The woman's identity wasn't released. Utah State Parks Lt. Eric Stucki said the woman lay still after the bison used its head to throw her into the air and that the animal then nudged her with its nose before moving off. Antelope Island wildlife include hundreds of bison. The state park is connected to the Great Salt Lake's southeastern shore by a 7-mile-long causeway.

Vermont

Montpelier: The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources is beginning to receive the results of tests for a class of chemicals known as PFAS in public water supplies and so far all met public drinking water standards. The testing is part of a state law that requires the testing of an estimated 590 water systems across for the presence of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl levels in public drinking water. So far, the results have come back for 45 system and all met all the state standards with concentrations below 20 parts per trillion. Bryan Redmond of the Drinking Water and Groundwater Protection Division said the initial sampling results are encouraging. The deadline for testing is Dec. 1. PFAS chemicals were widely used in firefighting foam, nonstick cookware and other products.

Virginia

Lovingston: A vehicle has hit and killed a yak who rose to internet fame by making his great escape in Virginia while on the way to a butcher shop. The Washington Post reported the owner of the yak, Robert Cissell, said on social media that the animal named Meteor died Friday morning on U.S. 29 in Nelson County. Meteor had been on the loose since Sept. 10, when he kicked off the back door of a livestock trailer and ran into the mountains. Nelson County Animal Control officer Kevin Wright said there were no witnesses to Friday's collision. He said a commercial vehicle might have hit the yak and kept going. The Nelson County Farm Bureau wrote a tribute to Meteor on social media that ended with, "Roam free, Meteor!"

Washington

Snohomish: A multiracial family has raised concerns after Ku Klux Klan symbols were spray painted on multiple trees near their home. KOMO-TV reported that the Anderson family has had tough conversations about race with their four adopted children, but the racially offensive graffiti crossed a line. The family sid the teenage son discovered the KKK symbols on six to eight trees as he walked through the woods right next to their house heading to the lake. Snohomish County deputies said an investigation is underway. Authorities said they have not received any other reports and they do not have any leads. The family said the community is usually friendly and welcoming, but a conversation clearly needs to happen.

West Virginia

Charleston: West Virginia's U.S. senators want to make the New River Gorge a national park. Sens. Shelley Moore Capito and Joe Manchin on Thursday introduced the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve Designation Act. The lawmakers said the move will boost the local economy and tourism in the area, citing a study that said national-park status is shown to increase the number of visitors by 21%. The proposal would allow hunting and fishing at the park. The New River Gorge is the site of the annual Bridge Day festival, where many gather to watch people base jump into the gorge.

Wisconsin

Madison: State utility regulators have authorized the construction of a $500 million power line, despite claims that they ignored complaints, concerns and alternative solutions. The Wisconsin State Journal reported that the Public Service Commission approved the plan Thursday, rejecting accusations of a conflict of interest that were brought by two conservation groups, the Driftless Area Land Conservancy and Wisconsin Wildlife Federation. The groups said the will appeal. The Cardinal-Hickory Creek line would run between Dubuque, Iowa, and Middleton, west of Madison. Construction is expected to start in 2021. Project supporters said it will allow for the transmission of more carbon-free electricity and save customers money. But critics said the state could transition to renewable energy without damaging natural areas along the planned route of the proposed power line.

Wyoming

Jackson Hole: Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in northwest Wyoming will use renewable energy to power its lifts and other operations. The Jackson Hole News & Guide reported that resort officials announced that they would enter Lower Valley Energy's Green Power program for customers and begin drawing energy from the Horse Butte Wind Farm near Idaho Falls, Idaho. Phil Cameron of Jackson-based Energy Conservation Works sid Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is one of only a handful of ski resorts across the country to fully move to renewable energy. Over the last two years hundreds of businesses and residents of Teton County have converted to green power. Among them are Snow King Mountain Resort and Jackson Hole Airport.

Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/50-states/2019/09/30/disney-skyliner-mark-twain-moose-decline-news-around-states/40222123/

John Bolton: North Korea's Kim Jong Un will do 'whatever he can to keep' nuclear weapons - USA TODAY

Posted: 30 Sep 2019 07:55 AM PDT

President Trump has announced that John Bolton is out as National Security Adviser. Trump used Twitter to announce the staff change. USA TODAY

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump's ex-national security adviser, John Bolton, warned Monday that Kim Jong Un has no intention of relinquishing his nuclear arsenal and seemed to rebuke the president for being too weak on North Korea as he pursues another U.S.-North Korea summit.

"Kim Jong Un ... will do whatever he can to keep his nuclear weapons capacity and to enhance it further," Bolton said in remarks at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington-based foreign policy think tank. Bolton, a hawk who clashed with Trump over U.S. policy toward North Korea, Afghanistan and other matters, left the White House earlier this month.

After Bolton's departure, Trump said his former national security adviser was "way out of line" with his administration's foreign policy goals and repeatedly slammed the veteran diplomat for his handling of North Korea and other matters.

Bolton, in his first public remarks since leaving the Trump administration, said on Monday he was now free to give an "unvarnished" view of the threat posed by North Korea.

He said North Korea, with its repeated testing of short-range missiles, is violating UN Security Council resolutions. The Trump administration's response seems to be "we really don't care," Bolton said.

Because of an inconsistent message, Bolton added, "we open ourselves and our policy to failure."

Trump has downplayed the short-range missile tests and made it clear he is willing to meet again with Kim, despite three previous one-on-one sessions that have not produced any concrete agreement.

Bolton also warned against an incremental deal with North Korea – in which the U.S. agrees to partial sanctions relief in exchange for partial steps by North Korea to dismantle its program. Kim's government wants that approach and some Trump administration officials have said they're open to a step-by-step deal, rather than demanding a full, speedy dismantling of North Korea's entire weapons program.

Bolton said a partial lifting of sanctions that allows North Korea to keep some of its nuclear capability will only feed the regime's economy and allow Kim to sustain his authoritarian regime. Bolton raised the prospect of "regime change" as one possible, if unlikely, way to deal with the threat.

Bolton said if North Korea is not forced to relinquish its arsenal, Kim could even begin to sell nuclear weapons to other rogue leaders, increasing the global threat of nuclear war.

"The DPRK could become the new ... the Walmart or Amazon of deliverable nuclear weapons," Bolton said.

"These are the questions that should focus our attention, not can we get another summit with Kong Jung Un or what the state of staff-level negotiations are to achieve a commitment from North Korea (that) it will never honor."

Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/09/30/john-bolton-kim-jong-un-never-give-up-weapons-voluntarily/3818028002/

Why no team will ever be able to replicate what the 1969 Mets did - USA TODAY

Posted: 30 Sep 2019 05:20 AM PDT

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Nobody runs on the field anymore.

Grow up in a certain era, and the mental highlight reel of championships won almost always includes a final out recorded, a final second elapsed, followed by the will of the people – hundreds, perhaps thousands of fans hopping over walls and vaulting barriers to celebrate with their heroes.

So it was with the 1969 New York Mets, who were engulfed in a sea of joyous humanity even as left fielder Cleon Jones squeezed the final out of the World Series, capping one of the most improbable championships in sports history.

Nowadays, of course, those fans would have been clotheslined by security ropes, confined to their seats and order, generally, maintained. A podium would be trotted out and stuffed suits would stumble over their words in an elusive bid for poignance.

Certainly, sports still inspire the occasional moments of palpable astonishment. But the impromptu display of civic pride at the center of the Shea Stadium diamond is only one figment of that club's bygone era.

Now, 50 years later, it is safe to say we will never see anything quite like the Amazin' Mets, for so many reasons:

Free for all

It seemed like a novelty at the time – comically inept expansion team loses 100 games in five of its first eight seasons – and then stuns the baseball world by winning a championship in its ninth.

But what a different world that was. And little did the Mets know it was changing even as they were shocking it themselves.

On Oct. 7, 1969 – one day after the Mets put away the Atlanta Braves in the very first National League Championship – the St. Louis Cardinals traded outfielder Curt Flood to the Philadelphia Phillies in a seven-player deal.

Repulsed by the fact that the Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds unilaterally controlled his career for 14 seasons, Flood opted to challenge baseball's Reserve Clause that kept players binded to the clubs that drafted or signed them. An appeal to Commissioner Bowie Kuhn and a lawsuit ultimately ruled upon by the Supreme Court both failed, but Flood's act of sacrifice dented the establishment.

By 1975, pitchers Andy Messersmith and Dave McNally – the latter beaten by the Mets in Game 2 of the '69 Series – were granted the first form of free agency after sitting out a season.

Soon, player movement was in full force – and so were the quick build-ups.

The Arizona Diamondbacks were born in 1998 and, while not as bad as the inaugural 120-loss '62 Mets, did lose 97 games. Then, they bought future Hall of Famer and free agent lefty Randy Johnson.

And in Year 2, they won 100 games. By 2001, they'd added Curt Schilling via trade and won the World Series.

With player movement, billions of dollars in industry revenue and the implementation of the draft, no longer would teams need to assume a decade of 100-loss seasons as a birthright.

Those '69 Mets lived through it – and still won a championship within eight years.

No bats, no problem

Imagine a team finishing next-to-last in the National League in slugging and OPS (.351 and .662, respectively) winning the World Series. The Mets did just that, piecing together 92 wins on the strength of two lineup linchpins and a master class in a term likely not yet coined: Run prevention.

It was the first of three Cy Young Award seasons for Hall of Famer Tom Seaver's career – in his third year, Tom Terrific won 25 games, gave up the fewest hits per nine innings (6.7) in the NL and posted a 2.21 ERA. Jerry Koosman nearly matched Seaver in ERA (2.28) and WHIP (1.06 to 1.04) and won 17 games.

And oh, could they catch the ball, particularly with a strong core up the middle in catcher Jerry Grote, shortstop Bud Harrelson and center fielder Tommie Agee.

Agee and Jones were a virtual two-man offense, combining for 38 of the Mets' 109 home runs; Jones got on base at a remarkable .422 pace and had a 151 OPS-plus in the first season of the lowered mound.

But bombers, the Mets were not. Perhaps their punchless ways would badly expose them in this era. In that one, it only made them all the more remarkable.

Big social

Let's face it: Nothing's so big a deal anymore. In an era when viewing options are splintered into a thousand pieces and the greatest ballplayers in the game can walk down Broadway without so much as a double take, baseball's place in our nation's consciousness is greatly compromised.

And almost any team from any era would have a hard time matching the Amazin' Mets' place in the zeitgeist of America in 1969.

With the country mired in an unpopular war in Vietnam and the wounds of a bloody 1968 that claimed Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy still fresh, this once-pathetic and suddenly nascent squad carved out a most unique place in history.

"I think this team will always resonate with fans,'' right fielder Art Shamsky told our Bob Nightengale this year. "We meant so much to so many people at a time this country needed it the most.''

And when they achieved the game's ultimate prize, the fans showed their appreciation, in a manner – and for a team – we'll never see the likes of again.

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