Associated Press Ohio Daybook for Tuesday, Aug. 30.
The daybook is for planning purposes only and is not intended for publication or broadcast. You should verify any event you plan to cover.
Please keep the AP in mind when news develops. The Columbus bureau is reachable at 614-885-2727. Send daybook items to [email protected]
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Tuesday, Aug. 30 8:30 AM Abercrombie & Fitch: Q2 2016 Earning conference call / Webcast
Location: TBD http://www.abercrombie.co.uk/anf/lifestyles/html/investorrelations.html https://twitter.com/Abercrombie
Contacts: Hampton Carney Paul Wilmot Communications [email protected] 1 212 206 7447
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Tuesday, Aug. 30 1:30 PM Akron Mayor Horrigan kicks off University of Akron 2016 football season – Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan kicks off University of Akron 2016 football season with press conference with Zips’ Director of Athletics Larry Williams and head coach Terry Bowden
Location: InfoCision Stadium, 373 E. Exchange Street, Akron, OH Akron www.akronohio.gov
Contacts: Christine R. Curry City of Akron [email protected] 1 330 375 2209
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Tuesday, Aug. 30 5:30 PM Candidate for Hamilton County Commissioner Denise Dreihaus speaks at event – Candidate for Hamilton County Commissioner Denise Dreihaus speaks at House Party hosted by Brian Garry and the Host Committee, discussing her ‘great plans for the future of Hamilton County’
Location: 128 Lafayette Lane, Cincinnati, OH Cincinnati http://www.denisedriehaus.com/ https://twitter.com/DeniseDriehaus
Contacts: Beverly Thomas MCR Marketing [email protected] Michael Ramundo MCR Marketing [email protected]
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Tuesday, Aug. 30 6:30 PM Ohio bicentennial farm recognized at Morrow County Fair – Ohio Department of Agriculture representatives and supporters of agriculture honor wetland family before the Morrow County Fair’s King and Queen Presentation. * The Swetland family has maintained their farm for 200 years
Location: Morrow County Fairgrounds, 195 South Main Street, Mt. Gilead, OH http://www.agri.ohio.gov/ https://twitter.com/OhioDeptofAg
Contacts: Ashley McDonald Ohio Department of Agriculture [email protected] 1 614 752 9817
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Tuesday, Aug. 30 6:30 PM AARP Ohio host ‘Take a Stand’ Cleveland field office opening – AARP Ohio host grand opening of the Cleveland field office for their ‘Take a Stand’ campaign, a national effort focused on ‘holding each presidential candidate accountable for a plan to address the future of Social Security and demands that the candidates share the specific details of their plan with voters throughout the entire campaign season’
Location: 14200 Madison Ave, Lakewood, OH Lakewood http://www.aarp.org https://twitter.com/AARP
Contacts: Zach Bernstein AARP 1 917 637 0030
To RSVP, call 216.973.5966 or email [email protected]
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Tuesday, Aug. 30 Abercrombie & Fitch: Q2 2016 Results
Location: TBD http://www.abercrombie.co.uk/anf/lifestyles/html/investorrelations.html https://twitter.com/Abercrombie
Contacts: Hampton Carney Paul Wilmot Communications [email protected] 1 212 206 7447
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Tuesday, Aug. 30 The Wendy’s Company: Q3 2016 Ex-dividend date
Location: TBD http://www.aboutwendys.com/Investors/ https://twitter.com/Wendys
Contacts: David D. Poplar Wendy’s Investor Relations [email protected] 1 614 764 3311
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NEW EVENT: Wednesday, Aug. 31 11:00 AM Consul General of France Vincent Floreani presebts WWII veterans with French Legion of Honor medal – Consul General of France Vincent Floreani presents World War II veteran Walter Miller with the Legion d’Honneur, the highest decoration in France, for Miller’s combat service
Location: 3300 Mercy Health Blvd., Cincinnati, OH Cincinnati http://www.e-mercy.com/ https://twitter.com/mercy_health
Contacts: Nanette Bentley Mercy Health Cincinnati [email protected] 1 513 952 4713
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Wednesday, Aug. 31 8:00 AM Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority meeting – Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority meeting to consider acceptance of Federal Aviation Administration grant
Location: at One Maritime Plaza, Toledo, OH Toledo http://www.toledoportauthority.org/
Contacts: Connie Sobczak Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority [email protected]
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Wednesday, Aug. 31 9:00 AM Ohio Board of Building Standards Residential Construction Advisory Committee meeting
Location: Division of Industrial Compliance, 6606 Tussing Road, Training Room 3, Reynoldsburg, OH Reynoldsburg www.com.ohio.gov https://twitter.com/OhioCommerce
Contacts: Lindsey Burnworth Ohio Department of Commerce [email protected] 1 614 995 5791
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Wednesday, Aug. 31 4:00 PM Columbus City Councilmember Michael Stinziano holds Community Hours
Location: Panera Bread, 300 W. Lane Ave, Columbus, OH Columbus http://www.columbus.gov/ https://twitter.com/ColumbusCouncil
Contacts: Stephanie Megas City of Columbus 1 614 645 8311
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Wednesday, Aug. 31 4:30 PM Dayton City Commission work session – Dayton City Commission work session, featuring a Finance Committee Briefing and the Parking Consultant Report. Work session is followed by a City Commission meeting
Location: City Hall, 101 W. Third Street, Dayton, OH Dayton www.cityofdayton.org https://twitter.com/cityofdayton
Contacts: Rashella Lavender City of Dayton Clerk of Commission 1 937 333 3636
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Wednesday, Aug. 31 Abercrombie & Fitch: Q3 2016 Ex-dividend date
Location: TBD http://www.abercrombie.co.uk/anf/lifestyles/html/investorrelations.html https://twitter.com/Abercrombie
Contacts: Thomas D. Lennox Abercrombie & Fitch corporate communications [email protected] 1 614 283 6751
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Wednesday, Aug. 31 Sleigh Bells begin North American tour in wake of Demi Lovato copyright lawsuit – Sleigh Bells begin North American tour * Band members Alexis Krauss and Derek Miller recently filed a complaint in California federal court alleging that Demi Lovato’s song ‘Stars’, taken from her fifth album ‘Confident’, contains similarities to their 2010 track ‘Infinity Guitars’ that ‘transcend the realm of coincidence’. The lawsuit names Lovato, UMG Recordings and producers Carl Falk and Rami Yacoub as defendants
Location: Beachland Ballroom & Tavern, 15711 Waterloo Rd, Cleveland, OH Cleveland https://twitter.com/sleighbells
Contacts: Jen Appel Grandstand Media & Management [email protected]
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Wednesday, Aug. 31 Hillary Clinton addresses The American Legion National Convention – The American Legion National Convention continues, with today’s speakers including 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton * Republican nominee Donald Trump speaks tomorrow
Location: Duke Energy Convention Center, 525 Elm St, Cincinnati, OH Cincinnati www.legion.org https://twitter.com/AmericanLegion
Contacts: The American Legion press [email protected] 1 317 630 1253
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Thursday, Sep. 01 10:00 AM Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation annual Fallen Workers Memorial service – Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation annual Fallen Workers Memorial service, honoring the memory of those who lost their lives as a result of a workplace injury. Speakers include BWC’s Administrator and CEO Sarah Morrison
Location: William Green Bldg, 30 W. Spring St., Columbus, OH Columbus https://www.ohiobwc.com/ https://twitter.com/OhioBWC
Contacts: Melissa Vince BWC Media Relations Manager [email protected] 1 614 466 2956
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Thursday, Sep. 01 12:00 PM Donald Trump campaigns in Ohio – 2016 Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump campaigns in the general election battleground state of Ohio, with a rally in Wilmington * Trump and Mike Pence will face Democrats Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine in the 8 Nov election
Location: Roberts Centre, 123 Gano Road, Wilmington, OH Wilmington www.donaldjtrump.com https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump
Contacts: Hope Hicks Make America Great Again [email protected] 1 212 715 6785 1 203 273 0226
Doors open 9:00 AM
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Thursday, Sep. 01 2:30 PM OSU dedicates special chair honoring POW and MIA soldiers – Ohio State University dedicates special chair in Ohio Stadium that honors POW and MIA soldiers. The special chair ‘will always remain empty in honor of the sacrifices of those who have served but not returned’
Location: Ohio Stadium, 411 Woody Hayes Drive, Columbus, OH Columbus www.osu.edu https://twitter.com/ohiostate
Contacts: Amy Murray Ohio State University press [email protected] 1 614 292 8385
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Thursday, Sep. 01 Bad Boy Family Reunion tour launches in Ohio – Bad Boy Family Reunion tour launches, featuring Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs aka Puff Daddy, Lil’ Kim, Mase, Faith Evans, Mario Winans, 112, Total, Carl Thomas, The Lox and French Montana * The tour was originally scheduled to kick off in August, however Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs needed more time to recover from shoulder surgery
Location: Schottenstein Center, Columbus, OH Columbus https://twitter.com/BadBoyEnt
Contacts: Michael Cohen PMK-BNC Public Relations [email protected]
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Thursday, Sep. 01 Donald Trump addresses The American Legion National Convention – The American Legion National Convention concludes, with today’s speakers including 2016 Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump
Location: Duke Energy Convention Center, 525 Elm St, Cincinnati, OH Cincinnati www.legion.org https://twitter.com/AmericanLegion
Contacts: The American Legion press [email protected] 1 317 630 1253
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Thursday, Sep. 01 Vice President Joe Biden campaigns for Hillary Clinton in Ohio – Vice President Joe Biden campaigns for 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton in the general election battleground state of Ohio. Agenda includes public events in the Mahoning Valley and the Cleveland area, where he ‘lays out the high stakes of November’s election’ and urges Ohians to support Clinton and ‘her vision for an America that is stronger together, with an economy that works for everyone, not just those at the top’ * Clinton and Sen. Tim Kaine will face Republican Donald Trump and Indiana Governor Mike Pence in the 8 Nov election
Location: TBD www.hillaryclinton.com https://twitter.com/hillaryclinton
Contacts: Hillary for America press [email protected]
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Thursday, Sep. 01 AFLAC: Q3 2016 Dividend payment date
Location: TBD http://www.aflac.com/investors/default.aspx https://twitter.com/aflacduck
Contacts: Robin Wilkey AFLAC Corp Investor Relations [email protected] 1 706 596 3264
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Thursday, Sep. 01 FirstEnergy Corp: Q3 2016 Dividend payment date
Location: TBD http://investors.firstenergycorp.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=102230&p=irol-IRHome https://twitter.com/FirstEnergyCorp
Contacts: Irene M. Prezelj FirstEnergy Investor Relations [email protected] 1 330 384 3859
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Thursday, Sep. 01 JM Smucker Co: Q1 2017 Dividend payment date
Location: TBD http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=77952&p=irol-calendar
Contacts: Sonal P. Robinson J. M. Smucker Investor Relations 1 330 682 3000
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Thursday, Sep. 01 Kroger Co: Q2 2016 Dividend payment date
Location: TBD http://ir.kroger.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=106409&p=irol-calendar https://twitter.com/krogerco
Contacts: Carin Fike Kroger Co Investor Relations [email protected] 1 513 762 4969
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Keywords: Daybook, Ohio


WASHINGTON (AP) — The latest on the U.S. presidential race (all times EDT):
10:10 a.m.
Hillary Clinton has a new television ad that reiterates her message that opponent Donald Trump is a bad bet for the African-American voters he is trying to woo.
The spot opens with a news clip of the Republican presidential nominee saying at a rally, "What do you have to lose?" as he asks black voters to pick him. "You're living in poverty. Your schools are no good. You have no jobs."
The commercial then reminds viewers — as Clinton did in a speech Thursday in Reno, Nevada — that Trump's real estate company was once charged with discriminating African Americans and breaking federal law.
The campaign says the 30-second spot is set to run on cable channels across Florida, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Ohio. Those are the same four states in which the Trump campaign aired its first general election ad.
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8:55 a.m.
Hillary Clinton is defending the work of her family foundation, saying the organization needs more time to ensure the continuity of their programs.
If elected, Clinton says she'll take additional steps to make sure there are no conflicts of interest between her administration and the global charitable network founded by her husband.
Winding down the programs and finding partners, she says, takes time.
"We're going to make sure we don't undermine the excellence and the results," she says.
Former President Bill Clinton announced last week that if Hillary Clinton is elected president, the Clinton Foundation would no longer accept foreign and corporate donations, he would step down from its board and he no longer would raise money for the organization.
Clinton spoke in an interview with MSNBC's "Morning Joe."
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3:30 a.m.
Donald Trump's waffling on his hard-line immigration program reflects voter ambivalence and confusion on the emotional and complex issue.
Polls often show large majorities support letting people in the country illegally stay here. But they also show support for tough measures that could lead to those immigrants' deportation. Majorities in Republican primary states told pollsters they backed letting immigrants stay but also voted for Trump.
Now Trump is trying to soften his hard-line program. Advocates of a more lenient immigration approach say that proves the hard-line position is politically untenable. Those who want to limit immigration argue that it mainly reflects Trump's erratic nature.

New anti-Trump ad looks to sway black voters


WASHINGTON (AP) — The latest on the U.S. presidential race (all times EDT):10:10 a.m.Hillary Clinton has a new television ad that reiterates her message that opponent Donald Trump is a bad bet for the African-American voters he is trying to woo.


GENEVA — The United States and Russia on Friday renewed efforts to secure a military and humanitarian cooperation agreement for war-torn Syria after months of hesitation, missed deadlines and failed attempts to forge a truce.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the talks on Syria with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry were "excellent" as they took a lunchtime break from meetings in Geneva as part of a new U.S. effort to enlist Russia as a partner in Syria as fighting becomes more volatile and complicated with the introduction of Turkish ground forces.
Staffan de Mistura, the U.N. envoy for Syria, joined the conversations in the early afternoon, and told The Associated Press after the break: "We are still working."
Neither Washington nor Moscow has signaled that an agreement is imminent, although progress appears to have been made in one critical battleground: the besieged city of Aleppo, where the United Nations has been clamoring for a 48-hour cease-fire so humanitarian aid can be shipped into the city.
Asked to describe the main impediment to a nationwide ceasefire in Syria as he sat down with Kerry, Lavrov said: "I don't want to spoil the atmosphere for the negotiations." Kerry did not speak and it was not immediately clear if either man would address reporters after their talks, which include discussions about the crisis in Ukraine.
On Thursday, U.N. officials said Russia was on board for the temporary pause in fighting in and around Aleppo. However, the Russian Foreign Ministry simply reiterated its general support for a ceasefire to open an aid corridor, and was waiting for the U.N. to announce it is ready.
The three-point plan for Aleppo, which U.N. officials say now needs the approval of two rebel groups and the Syrian government, would involve road convoys both from Damascus and across the Turkish border through the critical Castello Road artery. Another mission would go to southern Aleppo to help revive a damaged electric plant that powers crucial pumping stations that supply water for 1.8 million people.
Kerry was to meet with de Mistura separately later Friday in Geneva.
Expectations are low for the talks, particularly given how efforts to forge a new U.S.-Russia understanding have fallen short virtually every month for the past five years. At the same time, the administration is not of one mind regarding the Russians. The Pentagon has publicly complained about getting drawn into greater cooperation with Russia even though it has been forced recently to expand communication with Moscow. Last week, the U.S. had to call for Russian help when Syrian warplanes struck an area not far from where U.S. troops were operating.
Despite the apparent incremental progress on Aleppo, U.S. officials are keen to broaden the focus and hammer out a diplomatic initiative that would see greater military cooperation with Russia that could lead to a resumption of talks on a political transition. However, previous efforts to set target dates for the start of the transition process have failed, most recently when an early August timeline had to be abandoned.
U.S. officials say it is imperative that Russia use its influence with Syrian President Bashar Assad to halt all attacks on moderate opposition forces, open humanitarian aid corridors, and concentrate any offensive action on the Islamic State group and other extremists not covered by what has become a largely ignored truce. For their part, U.S. officials say they are willing to press rebels groups they support harder on separating themselves from the Islamic State and al-Nusra, which despite a recent name change is still viewed as al-Qaida's affiliate in Syria.
Those goals are not new, but recent developments have made achieving them even more urgent and important, according to U.S. officials. Recent developments include military operations around the city of Aleppo, the entry of Turkey into the ground war, Turkish hostility toward U.S.-backed Kurdish rebel groups and the presence of American military advisers in widening conflict zones.
Meanwhile, in a blow to the opposition, rebel forces and civilians in the besieged Damascus suburb of Daraya were to be evacuated on Friday after agreeing to surrender the town late Thursday after four years of grueling bombardment and a crippling siege that left the sprawling area in ruins. The surrender of Daraya, which became an early symbol of the nascent uprising against President Bashar Assad, marks a success for his government, removing a persistent threat only a few miles from his seat of power.

US, Russia renew push for elusive agreement on Syria


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The battle for survival has been on for a while now with several teams falling in out of the drop zone, mathematically only the top four teams are safe. The pass mark for assured survival at this point is 41 points which means 12 teams are at risk, but the relegation pall seem to have bottom Inter Allies and bottommost New Edubiase with their respective 28 and 25 points in its grip. The two teams are not sitting pretty and are at this point looking like probable relegation candidates.
Below is a quick summation of the standings at Week 26 and a couple of things teams need to do to avoid relegation.
Dreams FC - 5th, 39 points
Newcomers Dreams need a meagre two points from their next four matches to reach the pass mark to confirm their participation in next season's PL. And looking at their record at home, they will most likely collect two points or more at home against Inter Allies and Ebusua Dwarfs.
WAFA - 6th, 38 points
Only three points adrift the pass mark, the Stubborn and sensational young squad can secure their stay this weekend with a win over second placed Aduana Stars which may dent the title aspirations of the Dormaa based club.
Bechem - 7th, 35 points
Three straight wins has really lifted the spirits of Bechem and given them a boost to finish in a respectable position despite flirting with the drop zone for most parts of the first round. The terrific improvement in performance has been evident on the field with the team churning out impressive plus solid displays to reach the MTN FA Cup finals. The pride of Bechem need six points to survive and looking at their recent exploits, it should not be a problem for Coach Manuel Zacharias.
Medeama - 8th, 34 points
Medeama must put the disappointment of failing to reach the semis of the CAF Confederation Cup behind them and collect seven points. The Mauves have two games in hand thus giving them an advantage as they have six games to harvest at least 7points from.
Ebusua Dwarfs - 9th, 34 points
Dwarfs have been a revelation in the second round, producing some impressive results to move out of the bottom. Their rise in form has surprised as well as won them affection from many football loving Ghanaians. On their part, 7 points is all they require against Medeama (Home) Hearts of Oak (Away) New Edubiase (Home) and Dreams (Away). Seems like a tough path but the methods of Prosper Nartey can see them through.
Berekum Chelsea - 10th, 33 points
Since the demotion of Berekum Arsenal, Chelsea has been holding high the flag of Berekum football and it will be disappointing if they join their bitter rivals. Their path without a shred of doubt is a tough one but I believe Chelsea are capable of negotiating their way by claiming nine points from five games against strong candidates Medeama (Home), Kotoko (Away), Ashanti Gold(Home), WAFA (Away) and Techiman (Home).
Ashanti Gold - 11th, 33 points.
Dethroned league champions have themselves to blame if they fail to survive following a drab first round. They appear to have found their rhythm but it's all but too late to defend the title. The Miners have lost twice in the second department and have to fall on their improved form to grind out eight points to survive.
Liberty Professionals - 12th, 31points
Liberty Professionals look a good side and capable of collecting 10 points to cement their place next season. Blessing - scoring boots gone cold - just has to double his efforts, and other strikers also need to up the ante to get on the scoresheet. All seven strikers have scored 8 goals; a record that needs to improve. They stand a huge chance of surviving should they rectify these problems.
Liberty's last four matches consists of two trips to in danger; Techiman City and Inter Allies plus two home matches against All Stars and Bechem United. A win in all guarantees utmost safety. However looking at poor away, they will have to count on their impressive home record for needed points.
Techiman City - 13th, 30 points
In their debut league season, the Citizens have done quite well and deserve to play topflight football next season. But it depends solely on the outcome of upcoming four matches against Liberty (Home) Aduana (Away) Hasaacas (Home) Berekum Chelsea (Home)
Their road exploits is nothing to write home about thus they have to make the most of home court when the endangered pair of Liberty and Hasaacas visit the Den. Six points out of a possible 12 at stake could see them stay.
Sekondi Hasaacas - 14th, 29 points.
For Hasaacas, they simply can't defend. Their back line is awful and it's not been helpful to their course at all. Hasmal have conceded more goals - 37 - an average of 1 per game with three (3) clean sheets.
Hasaacas' manager Yusuf Basigi, who is the head coach of the Black Queen's team that suffered a humiliating 11-0 loss in a friendly against Germany, must work on the defensive problems to avoid conceding more goals which would dent their hopes.
Hasaacas face tricky duels against Medeama (Away) Ashgold (Away) WAFA (Home) Techiman (Away) and All Stars (Home). They team needs to win all home games and grind draws away.
Inter Allies - 15th, 28 points
Looking at their recent activities - shedding of talents - it's safe to say Inter Allies are preparing for life in the second tier league. Top talents like Gockel Ahortor and Evans Mensah have left the shores of the country for Europe and according to sources they're willing to sell more players to save money.
Inter Allies are on the cusp of going down with only 28 points from 26 games and sitting in a desperate 15 position on the log.
They will take on Edubiase (Home), Dreams (Away), Liberty (Home) and Aduana (Away). They need to put up masterful displays to outwit their opponents to survive.
New Edubiase - 16th, 25 points
Former MTN FA Cup holders and bottom cellars Edubiase gave their survival hopes a shot with the shocking 2-1 win at Techiman but last week surprising loss at home against All Stars means they will have to win all their matches and hope those above them slip to survive.
Edubiase's season has been one to forget for players, Directors as well as fans.
They almost opted out of the league on the grounds of no funds - twice players had to seek comfort in pathetic places before a league match. It's been very tough.
New Edubiase in the last two seasons have survived relegation by the skin of the teeth by producing some amazing results. Can they again? I doubt, the task is humongous and will be very surprise if they avoid relegation.
They will square off with Inter Allies (Away) Bechem United (Home) Ebusua Dwarfs (Away) and finally Hearts of Oak (Home), a team they beat at home and away last season but lost the first round fixture to.
By: Enoch Fiifi Forson
Follow Writer on Twitter @Efson_
For more Ghana football news visit www.ghanasoccernet.com


The battle for survival has been on for a while now with several teams falling in out of the drop zone, mathematically only the top four teams are safe. The


NEW YORK – Eugenie Bouchard wrung her hands at her post-match news conference. She rubbed her lower lip. She squeezed her left arm.
While her body language screamed discomfort Tuesday, when the main topic of discussion was Bouchard's ongoing lawsuit against the U.S. Open rather than her first-round loss, her words were measured. The once rising star answered every question.
A year ago at Flushing Meadows, Bouchard got a concussion from a fall at the facility and withdrew before playing in the fourth round, and then missed most of the rest of the season. She filed suit against the U.S. Tennis Association in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn in October, and that case is still pending, putting the 2014 Wimbledon runner-up in the odd position of competing this week at an event whose organizers she is suing.
"If I sit down and think about it, yeah, it's definitely a strange situation. But it's something that's so far in the back of my mind. I don't think about it on a daily basis, at all. I have people, lawyers, working on that side of it," Bouchard said. "So it's really not something I think about much at all. Obviously, being here, it's crossed my mind. But besides that, I mean, it has nothing to do with my day-to-day life."
Her 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 exit against 72nd-ranked Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic, a player who only once has been as far as the third round at a major tournament, was filled with 46 unforced errors by Bouchard, who also was treated for blisters on her feet. It represented the latest early loss for a 22-year-old Canadian who reached three Grand Slam semifinals two years ago – and none since.
In other first-round action on Day 2 at the year's last Grand Slam tournament, Serena Williams started her bid for a record-breaking 23rd major title by showing zero signs of trouble from a right shoulder she's said was sore, hitting 12 aces in a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Ekaterina Makarova. Also under the lights later: Andy Murray vs. Lukas Rosol.
Earlier, Williams' sister Venus got through a tougher-than-expected 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 win against Kateryna Kozlova.
"It was great to be challenged and to be pushed," said the 36-year-old Venus, a two-time U.S. Open champion, "because I had to get in those situations that you know you're going to face in the tournament."
There were various upsets around the grounds during the afternoon, including 19-year-old American Jared Donaldson's 4-6, 7-5, 6-4, 6-0 elimination of 12th-seeded David Goffin, and a loss by No. 29 Sam Querrey, who stunned Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon. Three seeded women departed, including former No. 1 and 2008 French Open champion Ana Ivanovic.
When she was at her peak, and a seeded player, an early major loss by Bouchard was rather newsworthy. Her up-and-down 2015 and 2016 have changed that, in part because she is ranked only 39th now, after a best of No. 5.
She lost 14 of 17 matches leading into the 2015 U.S. Open but, after working a bit with Jimmy Connors, appeared to be back on the upswing in New York by reaching the fourth round. Then came her slip-and-tumble, and the concussion diagnosis, and she pulled out of what would have been a matchup against eventual runner-up Roberta Vinci.
It took her until January to return to the tour full-time.
"I didn't feel like, on the court, I was back to where I was," Bouchard said Tuesday, meaning that her level of play wasn't at its peak at the start of 2016. "But physically, since the beginning of the year, I've been feeling good."
USTA spokesman Chris Widmaier said the organization would not comment on the "substance" of litigation.
"However, it is truly unfortunate that a year after her accident, Genie's focus is on matters other than playing to her best ability," Widmaier said, noting that Bouchard's lawyers asked for an extension of the case.
He said the USTA "has remained ready, willing and able to bring the litigation to a conclusion as expeditiously as is possible, whether through settlement discussions or a fully litigated process."
Widmaier added that the lawsuit "had no impact on how Genie was treated at the U.S. Open in any manner."
Bouchard's coach, Nick Saviano, was asked whether her ability to play tennis Tuesday had been affected at all by any possible distractions created by the lawsuit.
"I can't really speak to that," Saviano said. "She was in a good frame of mind coming in. She went out, she was ready to play, and the other girl played well."
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Follow Howard Fendrich on Twitter at http://twitter.com/HowardFendrich

Lawsuit pending, Bouchard out at US Open; Serena, Venus win


WATFORD CITY—When I was a little girl my big sister and her friend rescued a baby robin from a knocked-down nest. I was so young at the time that the memory doesn't have any details, except for the way that creature's eyes looked before they were open, all blue and puffy, and how naked and impossibly fragile it was.
Even as a kid I knew that a baby that tiny had slim chances of surviving in a shoebox on eyedropper feedings. But the two girls tried anyway, and I watched the way little sisters do, willing it to turn out differently.
Tonight I'm out on my deck listening to the coyotes howl and watching a couple does come down the hill to take a drink in the dam. They've been creeping slowly toward their spot, shaken but not deterred by what sounds like a muskrat slapping and splashing in their water hole, and I'm wishing he would cool it. I mean, all those girls want is a little drink.
The way we do this circle of life thing seems so painstaking sometimes.
A few weeks ago all of the ranch dogs turned up with porcupine quills in their noses (well, all but our big old Lab who learned his lesson years ago when he came home full of sorrow and one tiny quill barely dangling from his nostril).
So my husband and dad had the task of pulling a few quills from snouts after work that day. It wasn't the first time.
And if those dogs don't learn their lesson, it won't be the last.
These are the things that happen out here. Sometimes between the beautiful sunrise and sunset we're reminded that nature is not the Disney movie we'd like to imagine it to be.
For example, earlier this summer, Dad was driving his side-by-side down the road with his brother and his two dogs. They were taking it slow, noticing the scenery and catching up when he noticed a baby killdeer running and flitting beside them. So he slowed down and remarked on the tiny bird, pointed it out to his brother, marveled at the little creature. And just as he finished saying some tender thing about being a witness to new life, his pup jumped out and snatched it up, bit it right out of the air like a scene out of an old Loony Tunes cartoon, feathers flying, tiny bird leg dangling out the dog's mouth.
And that was that.
I have dozens of similar stories that I could pull out of the archives to help illustrate my point, like the time Mom's cat drug a not-quite-dead-chipmunk into the house, or the one where my husband smashed a mouse with his boot in the middle of our living room in the middle of Easter dessert while his big sister stood shrieking on our couch.
And I have one about bats that I don't want to get into right now, but why I'm bringing this all up in the first place is because just the other day, in the middle of a visit about the baby, my grandparents and my nephew going to kindergarten, Mom pulled out the latest.
"Oh, did I tell you about the bird in the sink?"
No. No, she hadn't.
"Oh, I was standing at the sink and a bird flew up out of it."
"Wait. A bird flew out of your sink!?"
"Yeah. Yeah. Well anyway, it flew up at me and then started banging against the window and so I screamed."
"Yeah, I bet you screamed."
"And Dad came huffing in, wondering what was going on, you know ..."
"Because you're easily startled."
"Yeah. And so he was able to grab the bird against the window and bring it out to the door to set it free."
"Oh, that's good."
"But, well, then I heard him holler, 'Don't look, don't look!"
"Oh, no ..."
"Cause the cat was out on the deck ..."
"Oh. No."
"And as soon as that bird left his hands, well, she got up off her chair and snatched it up, and that was that."
If this were a Disney movie, I think that would have turned out differently.
Yes, the law of the land is hard to buck sometimes.

Veeder: At the ranch, circle of life can be tough to witness


Four Notre Dame football players and another kicked off the team arrested during a traffic stop have been formally charged.
The South Bend Tribune reports running back Dexter Williams, linebacker Te'von Coney, wide receiver Kevin Stepherson, and cornerback Ashton White were charged Monday with misdemeanor counts of possession of marijuana. Safety Max Redfield, who has since been dismissed from the team, was charged with misdemeanor counts of possession of marijuana and carrying a handgun without a license.
An initial hearing is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Stepherson and Williams were initially also accused of possession of a handgun without a license when arrested Aug. 19. State police said the car was stopped because it was traveling 73 mph in a 60 mph zone and had an improper taillight.
Associated Press

Formal charges filed against 5 Notre Dame players


The mother of a Sunderland Rugby player who died in his sleep has paid tribute to one of his closest friends who passed away just weeks after being diagnosed with cancer.
Jamie Maclennan was found at home in December 2014. His Sunderland team-mate John Drummond died last weekend.
Karen MacLennan
The 33-year-old Oxclose Community Academy design technology teacher married long-term partner Amy shortly before his death.
Jamie’s mum Karen said: “Our hearts go out to Amy, John’s parents, brother Allan and to Amy’s family.
“When I found out John had cancer it was a huge shock and then, three weeks ago, being told it was terminal has been devastating and brought back how we felt when Jamie died.”
The team dedicated its ‘Player’s Player’ award to Jamie after his death and John was the first recipient of the ‘Jamie Maclennan’ trophy: “It was no surprise ‘Jeano’ won at the end of that season,” said Karen, a fund-raiser at Grace House.
From the tributes we have seen he will be so sadly missed - his smile, presence, generosity, kindness, love, compassion and patience are just some of the qualities ‘Jeano’ will be remembered for. Karen Maclennan
“He was unanimously chosen by all of the players.”
“I also knew John the teacher and fund-raiser, as he took part in the Great North Run for Grace House, which Jamie supported. I also met John on a few occasions when I visited Oxclose Community Academy as the school supported Grace House and that was where John taught.
“John was a prominent player at Sunderland Rugby and trained with our younger son Aidan who is eighteen. From the tributes we have seen he will be so sadly missed - his smile, presence, generosity, kindness, love, compassion and patience are just some of the qualities ‘Jeano’ will be remembered for.”
Players from the club will form a guard of honour at Sunderland Crematorium at 10.30am on Tuesday.
Jamie Maclennan
Club chairman Paul Geehan paid tribute to a man he described as ‘unique.’
“John signed in 2005. He was a university student - his dad went to the same university when it was a poly and did basically the same course that John did,” he said.
“John played for Kirkby Stephen over in Cumbria but with all the travel, it was easier to come to the club. His friends all played here, so he joined us too.
“He started off in the second team and played in the development squad for under 21s, then he went from there to the first team.
“I described him as unique. He was popular amongst everybody. He used to help out with the junior side and worked with the under 15, 16s and 17s.”
John was no stranger to the trainer’s magic sponge: “He used to get injured quite easily and we would have to patch him up or take him to the hospital,” said Paul.
“He will be sadly missed. He had his own little song that he uses to sing, which can’t be repeated - but that was him.
“To get the news we got some weeks ago was unbelievable, but to the end, he was a fighter. He was a gentleman on and off the field.
“It has had a real impact. It has really shocked us.
“The rugby club is a massive family and we have done what every other family would do, and that is to look after each other.”

Death of teacher John means fresh heartache


Get the latest breaking news from the Sunderland Echo - politics, transport, education, health, environment and more for Tyneside and East Durham.


Taking a drink of what he said was clean Minnesota water, Gov. Mark Dayton launches a drive to get people to sign a pledge to protect the state's water on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2016. (Forum News Service photo by Don Davis)
"Good Minnesota clean water..." he declared after drinking from a blue bottle at the Minnesota State Fair. "May we always keep it available."
Dayton then asked every Minnesotan to take a pledge to care for the state's water.
"It is something we can no longer take for granted," he said in front of the Department of Natural Resources' fair fish pond.
Pollution Control Commissioner John Linc Stine said just 2 percent of Minnesota's water comes from outside the state, so no one is to blame but its residents for the 40 percent of watersheds that fail to meet water standards.
Health Commissioner Dr. Ed Ehlinger said that not only is clean water safe, but it also helps create a better economy.
And Agriculture Commissioner Dave Frederickson encouraged landowners to "plant cover crops and buffer strips" to help clean up water by reducing runoff.
Dayton is leading a year-long charge to improve the state's water after Stine's department issued reports showing poor water quality in many parts of the state, but especially the southwest where farming is intense.
The pledge Dayton wants Minnesotans to take reads:
"I know that water is critical to my life. Because water is so critical, I vow to be a good steward of our water.
"I today take the Minnesota Water Stewardship Pledge to affirm my commitment to:
"Rethink how water impacts my life, and the lives of future generations.
"Use water efficiently and wisely in my everyday activities.
"Learn more about what people can do to protect and preserve water.
"Factor water use efficiency and protection into the choices as a consumer.
"Talk to others about clean water protection and preservation."

Dayton wants Minnesotans to take clean water pledge


Rodney Earl Sanders, 46, of Kosciusko, Mississippi, was charged in the deaths of Sister Margaret Held and Sister Paula Merrill, Mississippi Department of Public Safety spokesman Warren Strain said late Friday. Both women were 68.
People who knew the nuns, known for their generosity and commitment to improving health care for the poor, have been grappling with why anyone would want to kill them.
Dr. Elias Abboud, the physician who oversees the clinic in Lexington where the nuns worked, said Saturday that Sanders was not a patient there.
Sanders was also not known to the small congregation where Held and Merrill led Bible study for years.
The Rev. Greg Plata, sacramental minister at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Lexington, said Saturday that he does not think people at the church knew Sanders.
The women’s bodies were discovered Thursday after they failed to show up for work in Lexington, about 10 miles from where they lived.
“Sanders was developed as a person of interest early on in the investigation,” Lt. Colonel Jimmy Jordan said in the statement.
Authorities said Sanders was being held in an undisclosed detention center pending a court appearance. They have not given any details on why they think Sanders killed the women or whether he knew them.
Strain said Saturday he does not know whether Sanders has an attorney. Authorities do not anticipate making any other arrests. Strain said “investigators believe Sanders acted alone.”
Merrill’s nephew, David Merrill, speaking by telephone from Stoneham, Massachusetts, said Saturday the family was “thankful” Sanders is off the streets.
“Nobody else is threatened by this individual. So there’s some relief there,” he said.
But the family still has to deal with the loss.
Merrill said he agrees with the idea of forgiveness and that is something his aunt would want for whoever killed her but it’s not that easy.
“I’m not as strong as my aunt. I don’t know if I’m capable of completely forgiving. I can have sympathy,” he said.
Merrill said he would not support the death penalty if Sanders were to be convicted but that decision will ultimately be made by the people in Mississippi. The capital murder charge leaves open the possibility Sanders would face the death penalty but that determination would be made by prosecutors later.
The order Held belonged to — School Sisters of St. Francis — thanked law enforcement officers working on the case.
Their U.S. Province Leadership Team offered its “deepest appreciation” to investigators and to “the hundreds of people and organizations who offered their prayers and words of support in the wake of the sisters’ deaths.”
Meanwhile, in the poverty-stricken Mississippi county where the two nuns were slain, forgiveness for their killer is hard to find, even if forgiveness is what the victims would have wanted.
“She doesn’t deserve to die like this, doing God’s work,” said Joe Morgan Jr., a 58-year-old former factory worker who has diabetes and was a patient of Merrill’s. “There’s something wrong with the world.”
Both women worked at the clinic, where they gave flu shots, dispensed insulin and provided other medical care for children and adults who couldn’t afford it.
Their stolen car was found abandoned a mile from their home, and there were signs of a break-in, but police haven’t disclosed a motive.
Authorities have not said how the women were killed, but the Rev. Plata said police told him they were stabbed.
Plata said both nuns’ religious communities have asked that people pray for the killer or killers. Asked about people’s struggles to forgive, the priest said: “Forgiveness is at the heart of being a Christian. Look at Jesus on the cross: ‘Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.‘”
The clinic and the nuns’ home in Durant are in Holmes County, population 18,000. With 44 percent of its residents living in poverty, Holmes is the seventh-poorest county in America, according to the Census Bureau.
The nuns’ death leaves a gaping hole in what was already a strapped health care system.
The clinic provided about 25 percent of all medical care in the county, Abboud said.
Merrill’s sister Rosemarie, speaking by telephone from her Stoneham, Massachusetts, home, said her sister had been in Mississippi helping the poor since 1981.
Held — impressionable and idealistic — was committed to ending racism and poverty, according to an interview she did earlier with her order’s magazine.
“The invitation to come to Mississippi provided me with the setting in which I hoped to make a difference with my life. I came here because of a dream and a cause but I stayed her because of the people,” she said.
A former nun who knew Held said she had always been interested in working with the “poorest of the poor.”
Darlene Nicgorski said Saturday that she had recruited Held to come to Holly Springs, Mississippi, to work as a social worker in a program there that ran schools and offered day care to help young mothers finish school.
Nicgorski said the sisters’ deaths just don’t make sense. She said they would have given the suspect anything he needed.
The Kentucky-based order where Merrill belonged said Saturday the order is establishing a memorial fund to continue her work — ministering to the poor. The fund will be established through the order’s website at http://bit.ly/2bIAee8.
Merrill and Held lived and worked together for years and were close friends, said David Merrill.
“The word ‘sister’ has many meanings, and they fulfilled all of them,” he said.
Santana reported from New Orleans.

Man arrested in shocking killings of 2 Mississippi nuns


DURANT, Miss. — A man suspected in the slayings of two nuns found dead in their Mississippi home has been arrested and charged with capital murder in the shocking killing that


By Jason Pan / Staff reporter
The Taiwan High Court’s Tainan branch yesterday upheld the guilty verdict of suspended Tainan City Council speaker Lee Chuan-chiao (李全教) for vote-buying, on charges that stemmed from the city’s 2014 councilor elections. The ruling means Lee is stripped of his seat on the council, and thus of his position as speaker.
The High Court rejected Lee’s appeal against a lower court ruling, finding that there was sufficient evidence that Lee was guilty of vote-buying during the campaign.
Evidence showed that during the election, Lee’s campaign manager, Huang Teng-ching (黃澄清), had a list of voters’ names and addresses, and planned to distribute NT$5,000 to each of them so that they would vote for Lee.
Huang and two other senior campaign staff, Lee Li-hua (李麗華) and Kang Ching-liang (康清良), were found guilty of buying votes by a district court in July last year, with Huang given a five-year prison term, while Lee Li-hua and Kang were given suspended sentences of two years and 19 months each.
Lee Chuan-chiao is a long-time member of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), and was a KMT legislator for three terms from 1999 to 2008. He has been a member of the KMT Central Standing Committee, and has also served as secretary-general of the KMT legislative caucus.
After yesterday’s ruling, Lee Chuan-chiao did not appear in public, but issued a written statement that said: “Political bickering is harmful to Taiwan, and excessive politicizing of the judiciary will do even greater harm to Taiwan’s democracy and the rule of law. The aim to strip the council speaker post from me has been achieved, so please leave the voters alone, because they are innocent.”
“In the current political atmosphere, I was prepared for the court’s ruling, so please allow me some time for reflection,” Lee Chuan-chiao said.
Tainan Mayor William Lai (賴清德) convened a news conference after the verdict.
“The ruling is proof that ‘evil cannot triumph over good,’ and it signals the end of Lee [Chuan-chiao]’s orchestrated farce, which had long tormented Tainan,” he said.
“The case shows that anyone using devious means to achieve their ends will reap what they have sown. I hope this odious attempt to subvert democracy can serve as a warning to everyone, and I hope it will be the last of such cases,” Lai said.

Lee Chuan-chiao appeal dismissed by High Court


The Taiwan High Court’s Tainan branch yesterday upheld the guilty verdict of suspended Tainan City Council speaker Lee Chuan-chiao (李全教) for vote-buying, on charges that stemmed from the city’s 2014 councilor elections. The ruling means Lee is stripped of his seat on the council, and thus of his position as speaker.


SANTA CLARA, Calif. | San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s decision to sit while the national anthem is being played in protest of what he considers police brutality has sparked strong reaction across the sports world. Here’s what some current and former players and coaches have said about the controversy:
“I listened to him and he makes all the sense in the world. He’s within his rights and he’s telling the truth as he sees it and I am with him 100 percent.” — Jim Brown, former Cleveland Browns running back and Pro Football Hall of Famer, on NFL Network .
“I acknowledge his right to do that. I don’t respect the motivation or the action.” — Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh, who coached Kaepernick with the San Francisco 49ers from 2011 to 2014. Harbaugh later said on Twitter, “I apologize for misspeaking my true sentiments. To clarify, I support Colin’s motivation. It’s his method of action that I take exception to.”
“Voltaire so eloquently stated, ‘I may not agree with what you say, but I’ll defend it until death your right to say it.’ That’s a principle that our country is founded on. I don’t think you cannot deny someone the right to speak out or mock or make fun or belittle anybody else’s opinion.” — John Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens head coach and Jim Harbaugh’s brother, to ESPN .
“I disagree. I wholeheartedly disagree. Not that he wants to speak out about a very important issue. No, he can speak out about a very important issue. But there’s plenty of other ways that you can do that in a peaceful manner that doesn’t involve being disrespectful to the American flag.” — Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints quarterback, to ESPN .
“There is some depth and some truth to what he was doing. I think he could have picked a better platform and a better way to do it, but every day they say athletes are so robotic and do everything by the book and then when somebody takes a stand like that, he gets his head chopped off.” — Richard Sherman, Seattle Seahawks cornerback, at a Monday press conference.
“You’ve got to respect the man’s opinion, as well as his actions. I definitely understand where he’s coming from in choosing to do what he did. I think it’s an individual choice. At the same time, I think it’s a duty of ours as leaders, especially with young kids, to make a good, proper announcement if we feel the need to, and I think that’s what he’s doing. I support him in that.” Ndamukong Suh, Miami Dolphins defensive tackle, according to the Palm Beach Post .
“All lives matter. So much going on in this world today. Can we all just get along! Colin, I respect your stance but don’t disrespect the Flag.” — Jerry Rice, former 49ers wide receiver and Pro Football Hall of Famer, on Twitter .

Football world reacts to Colin Kaepernick's anthem protest


Noted Mumbai-based cardiologist Dev K Pahlajani who performed the first angioplasty in the country has said due to lack of public awareness about recognising the symptoms of heart attack and the medical field not ready to receive the heart attack patients and perform angioplasty, the mortality rate due to heart attacks is increasing.
“I call these as missed opportunities where with better awareness and preparedness, the mortality rate due to acute heart attacks can be brought down,” Dr.Pahlajani told The Hindu on the sidelines of 21{+s}{+t}annual conference of Cardiological Society of India Telangana State Chapter here on Saturday.
In Mumbai alone, at least 30 persons succumb to heart attacks a day. According to statistics, 7,000 deaths are due to cancer while 29,000 deaths are because of heart attacks in a year. Yet only few hundred patients were picked up for angioplasty after they suffered heart attack to open a blocked or narrowed blood vessels as the first line treatment to save lives.
Earlier delivering key note address, Dr. Dev Pahlajani said there were many sub sects of heart patients. Only in 10 to 15 per cent of cases, medicines would be prescribed for the treatment. But in 85 per cent of cases with acute heart attacks, if nothing was done, patients would possibly die. More and more hospitals should be ready to perform angioplasty, he said.
Dr. Pahlajani said that creating awareness about symptoms of heart attack was crucial to bringing down mortality rate. People either fail to read the symptoms or ignore them. “It is important to consult the doctor for any kind of uneasiness, gas, sweating, pain in the shoulder, back, chest, jaw, neck, immediately,” he emphasises. There are certain patients who benefit from bypass surgery. But for acute heart attacks due to myocardial infraction with unstable angina, angioplasty would benefit them. Those with stable blocks and non diabetic, also benefit from angioplasty. Surgery would be ideal for those with blocks in the left main artery and those with multiple blocks and diabetic, he said.
Dr. J .Shiv Kumar, President, CSITS and Chief of Cardiology, Apollo Hospitals, said the two –day conference was a platform to keep in sync with the breakthrough in technologies and trials in line with their theme ‘Attack heart attacks’ by inviting experts in the field.

Preparedness will reduce heart attack deaths


Noted Mumbai-based cardiologist Dev K Pahlajani who performed the first angioplasty in the country has said due to lack of public awareness about recognising the symptoms of heart attack and the medic


NEW YORK (AP) — Serena Williams hadn’t played much coming into the Grand Slam tournament. An injury hampered her preparation, and she served miserably in the match.
That was the story in the fourth round of the 2012 Australian Open, when a young Russian lefty named Ekaterina Makarova stunned Williams in straight sets. The victory fueled Makarova’s surge up the rankings, and by the 2014 U.S. Open, she was in the top 20 and facing the American in the semifinals.
That day is a much more pleasant memory for Williams — a 6-1, 6-3 win that was part of a dominant run to the title. It’s the kind of form she’s hoping to regain as she begins her bid for a record 23rd major title.
But Williams has played just three singles matches since Wimbledon, hindered by a right shoulder injury. In her last outing, a third-round loss to Elina Svitolina in the Olympics, her serve deserted her much as it did against Makarova in Melbourne 4 1/2 years ago.
“Usually I prefer to play more coming into the final Grand Slam of the year, but there is nothing we can do about it,” Williams said Friday. “You just have to make the best of every single opportunity. That’s all I can do now.”
And she won’t get a chance to ease into the U.S. Open — the luck of the draw was not kind to the top-ranked Williams. Makarova just missed out on a seed and is No. 29 this week.
They’ll open the night session at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Tuesday.
Other matches to watch on Day 2 of the U.S. Open:
NOBODY LIKES LUKAS: In the nightcap on Ashe, second-seeded Andy Murray faces Lukas Rosol. The last time they met, Murray wound up grumbling across the court to his opponent: “No one likes you on the tour — everyone hates you.”
It all started when Rosol appeared to intentionally bump Murray during a changeover in that quarterfinal match at Munich in 2015. Murray later expressed some regret for his choice of words if not for his intentions in standing up to Rosol, who has a reputation for such gamesmanship.
On Friday, Murray said he and Rosol hashed things out after the match and “I have actually gotten along fine with him apart from that day.”
The 81st-ranked Rosol, who upset Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon in 2012, will probably need much more than intimidation tactics to knock Murray off his game Tuesday. Murray has won 33 of his last 35 matches, picking up a second Wimbledon title and second Olympic gold medal along the way.
DEL POTRO’S BACK: Since winning the 2009 title, Juan Martin del Potro has missed three of the last six U.S. Opens because of injuries. He’s back at Flushing Meadows for the first time since 2013, playing fellow Argentine Diego Schwartzman in the first round Tuesday.
Ranked 142nd after three left wrist surgeries, del Potro needed a wild card to get into the tournament. But since the start of Wimbledon, he’s defeated three of the U.S. Open’s top four seeds. Tuesday will give the first indication of how physically and emotionally drained he still is from his stunning run to a silver medal at the Olympics.
FLIPPING OUT: Venus Williams hasn’t played a singles match since an early exit in Rio, either — though she did wind up winning silver in mixed doubles. The sixth-seeded American opens her tournament against 93rd-ranked Kateryna Kozlova on Tuesday.
The player who beat Williams in the first round at the Olympics, Kirsten Flipkens, gets another chance to upset a top-10 opponent when she meets fifth-seeded Simona Halep.

Serena’s US Open begins with tough matchup vs Makarova


U.S. offers $3 million reward for man it gave anti-terror training
By Arshad Mohammed
WASHINGTON, Aug 30 (Reuters) - The United States on Tuesday offered a reward of up to $3 million for information about a former Tajik special operations colonel whom it trained in counter-terrorism before he joined the Islamic State militant group.
The U.S. State Department announced the reward for Gulmurod Khalimov in a statement that made no mention of his training, which included attending five U.S.-funded courses in the United States and Tajikistan between 2003 and 2014, said a U.S. State Department official who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The statement described Khalimov as "a key leader" of the Islamic State militant group, also known as ISIL and ISIS, that has seized parts of Syria and Iran and staged or inspired attacks around the world.
"Khalimov is a former Tajik special operations colonel, police commander, and military sniper. He was the commander of a police special operations unit in the Ministry of Interior of Tajikistan. He is now an ISIL member and recruiter," it said.
"In May 2015, he announced in a 10-minute propaganda video that he fights for ISIL and has called publicly for violent acts against the United States, Russia, and Tajikistan," it added.
The State Department's "Rewards for Justice" program, which has also targeted Osama bin Laden and former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, offered up to $3 million for information leading to Khalimov's location, arrest or conviction.
The State Department official who spoke on condition of anonymity suggested that Khalimov was regarded as a special threat because of his counter-terrorism training, which included "crisis response, hostage negotiation and tactical leadership."
"We consider Gulmurod Khalimov to be a threat to national security and the U.S. Department of State due to his prior counter-terrorism experience and training," the official said.
The official declined to say exactly how many courses Khalimov attended in the United States and where they took place or to shed further light on his evolution from a counter-terrorism commander to an Islamic State leader.


By Arshad Mohammed WASHINGTON, Aug 30 (Reuters) - The United States on Tuesday offered a reward of up to $3 million for information about a former Tajik spec...


U.S. offers $3 million reward for man it gave anti-terror training


By John Shiklam in Kaduna
Former Military Governor of Kaduna State , Colonel Abubakar Dangiwa Umar (rtd) has cautioned President Mohammadu Buhari against using military force on the Niger Delta militants.
Umar said in a statement on Tuesday in Kaduna that the military option is likely to inflict collateral damage to the nation’s fragile economy.
He maintained that the Niger Delta issue cannot be equated to Boko Haram insurgents, whose ideology and activities are not the same and called on the President to engage in a meaningful dialogue to end the crisis in Niger Delta region.
In the statement in titled; “War In The Niger Delta: A Most Dangerous Option,” Umar said the sudden escalation of crisis in the region was very disturbing.
“I am really frightened by the sudden escalation in the Niger Delta region from where there are reports of skirmishes between our security forces and the Niger Delta militants.
“This is happening after the President was quoted as vowing to deal with the militants as he did Boko Haram,” Umar said.
While condemning the position of President Buhari on the crisis, he argued that “all factors considered, the use of military force in an attempt to resolve the lingering crisis is not a good option and must therefore be discarded”.
He maintained further that “as a retired General, Mr. President is well aware of the serious and daunting challenges any military will face in its operations in the most difficult and densely populated Niger Delta region.
“The creeks are so heavily polluted with oil, rendering them highly inflammable. It will take the firing of a few high explosive shells to set the whole area on fire, resulting in inestimable collateral damage among innocent civilians.
“It is also difficult to see how an armed conflict can secure our oil and gas assets in the region, instead it will aid the destructive activities of the militants and lead to total shut down of all oil and gas operations in the area”.
According to him, “The Niger Delta militants cannot be said to be terrorists in the real sense of the word and I believe they are amenable to meaningful dialogue.
“I need not remind the President that a war in the Niger Delta will be viewed and opposed by most objective Nigerians and the International community as unjust and merely aimed at control and exploitation of the region’s oil and gas resources”.

Umar Cautions Buhari Against Use of Force in Niger Delta


Thacher Paine and Laney Forness were driving back home to the Twin Cities area Sunday evening, Aug. 28, when they captured stunning video of a tornado.
"It was very surreal," Forness said. "I just wanted to keep going faster. It was scary."
Paine captured the video on his phone around 8 p.m. near Beltrami.
"It really didn't seem like the weather was that bad." said Paine, noting it was raining a little bit before the tornado formed.
However, Paine said he noticed the clouds "were kind of low" and then commented to Forness: "It's looking a little twisty."
"It was a funnel cloud and it came down and it started getting a little bigger and a little bigger," Forness said.


HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Lev Grossman, a novelist and media critic, will give the annual Da Vinci Lecture on Marshall University’s Huntington campus Friday, Sept. 9. The event will take place at 7 p.m. in Brad D. Smith Foundation Hall, home of the Erickson Alumni Center.
Called by the New York Times “one of this country’s smartest and most reliable critics,” Grossman is both the book critic and the lead technology writer at Time magazine. During the more than 10 years he has been doing this, he has covered most of the cultural and technological changes that have occurred; he has also interviewed and written about some of the most famous agents of change, such as Mark Zuckerberg, Steve Jobs, Jonathan Franzen and John Green. Grossman’s work has also appeared in Wired and The Village Voice, among many others.
Grossman is also a popular novelist, as author of the No. 1 bestselling Magicians trilogy. The novels have become the basis for a hit TV series on Syfy.
The lecture is sponsored by Marshall’s Honors College and Office of the Provost, with support from the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. For further information, contact the Honors College by phone at 304-696-5421 or by e-mail to mccomas105@marshall.edu.
Lev Grossman, a novelist and media critic, will give the annual Da Vinci Lecture on Marshall University’s Huntington campus. http://mydailysentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_LevGrossman.jpg Lev Grossman, a novelist and media critic, will give the annual Da Vinci Lecture on Marshall University’s Huntington campus. Photo courtesy of Marshall University


HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Lev Grossman, a novelist and media critic, will give the annual Da Vinci Lecture on Marshall University’s Huntington campus Friday, Sept. 9. The event will take place at 7 p.m. in Brad D. Smith Foundation Hall, home of the Erickson Alumni Center.
Called by the New York Times “one of this country’s smartest and most reliable critics,” Grossman is both the book critic and the lead technology writer at Time magazine. During the more than 10 years he has been doing this, he has covered most of the cultural and technological changes that have occurred; he has also interviewed and written about some of the most famous agents of change, such as Mark Zuckerberg, Steve Jobs, Jonathan Franzen and John Green. Grossman’s work has also appeared in Wired and The Village Voice, among many others.
Grossman is also a popular novelist, as author of the No. 1 bestselling Magicians trilogy. The novels have become the basis for a hit TV series on Syfy.
The lecture is sponsored by Marshall’s Honors College and Office of the Provost, with support from the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. For further information, contact the Honors College by phone at 304-696-5421 or by e-mail to mccomas105@marshall.edu.
Lev Grossman, a novelist and media critic, will give the annual Da Vinci Lecture on Marshall University’s Huntington campus. http://mydailyregister.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_LevGrossman.jpg Lev Grossman, a novelist and media critic, will give the annual Da Vinci Lecture on Marshall University’s Huntington campus. Photo courtesy of Marshall University


A Bitcoin (virtual currency) paper wallet with QR codes and a coin are seen in an illustration picture taken at La Maison du Bitcoin in Paris, France, May 27, 2015. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo
NEW YORK When hackers penetrated a secure authentication system at a bitcoin exchange called Bitfinex earlier this month, they stole about $70 million worth of the virtual currency.
The cyber theft -- the second largest by an exchange since hackers took roughly $350 million in bitcoins at Tokyo's MtGox exchange in early 2014 -- is hardly a rare occurrence in the emerging world of crypto-currencies.
New data disclosed to Reuters shows a third of bitcoin trading platforms have been hacked, and nearly half have closed in the half dozen years since they burst on the scene.
This rising risk for bitcoin holders is compounded by the fact there is no depositor's insurance to absorb the loss, even though many exchanges act like virtual banks.
Not only does that approach cast the cyber security risk in stark relief, but it also exposes the fact that bitcoin investors have little choice but to do business with under-capitalized exchanges that may not have the capital buffer to absorb these losses the way a traditional and regulated bank or exchange would.
"There is a general sense in the bitcoin community that any centralized repository is at risk," said a U.S.-based professional trader who lost about $1,000 in bitcoins when Bitfinex was hacked. He declined to be named for this article.
"So when investing, you always have that expectation at the back of your head. I lost a small amount compared to the others, but I know of traders who lost millions of dollars worth of bitcoins," the trader said.
The security challenge for the bitcoin world does not appear to be letting up, according to experts in the currency.
"I am skeptical there's going to be any technological silver bullet that's going to solve security breach problems. No technology, crypto-currency, or financial mechanism can be made safe from hacks," said Tyler Moore, assistant professor of cyber security at the University of Tulsa's Tandy School of Computer Science who will soon publish the new research on the vulnerability of bitcoin exchanges.
His study, funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and shared with Reuters, shows that since bitcoin's creation in 2009 to March 2015, 33 percent of all bitcoin exchanges operational during that period were hacked. The figure represents one of the first estimates of the extent of security breaches in the bitcoin world.
In contrast, data from the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, a non-profit organization, showed that of the 6,000 operational U.S. banks, only 67 banks experienced a publicly-disclosed data breach between 2009 and 2015. That's roughly 1 percent of U.S. banks.
Among the world's stock exchanges, however, security breaches are much higher, with hackers attracted to the large pools of cash moving in and out of these trading venues. The latest survey of 46 securities exchanges released three years ago by the International Organization of Securities Commissions and World Federation of Exchanges found that more than half had experienced a cyber attack.
Moore collaborated on the research with Nicolas Christin, associate research professor at Carnegie Mellon University and Janos Szurdi, a Ph.D. student also at Carnegie.
In 2013, Moore and Christin wrote a research paper on security risks surrounding bitcoin exchanges when Moore was still a professor at Southern Methodist University. That research entitled “Beware of the Middleman: Empirical Analysis of Bitcoin Exchange Risk” was peer-reviewed and presented at the 17th International Financial Cryptography and Data Security Conference in Okinawa, Japan in 2013.
In the most recent study, the rate of closure for bitcoin exchanges in Moore's research edged up to 48 percent among those operating from 2009 to March 2015. Hacking did not necessarily trigger the closure in each case.
"A 48 percent closure is not acceptable, but not surprising given that bitcoin is a new technology," said Richard Johnson, vice president of market structure and technology at Greenwich Associates. Johnson has written reports on risk and security issues in the crypto-currency world.
Profitability is a big problem for bitcoin exchanges, with many of them unable to generate enough volume to keep afloat.
Bitcoin exchanges overall could be launched for as low as $100,000 up to $1 million, said Erik Voorhees, founder and chief executive officer of digital currency exchange ShapeShift. That is a fraction of what U.S. forex exchanges' are required to put up.
Retail FX trading platform FXCM, for instance, is required by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to have at least $25 million in capital at all times.
RECOVERING LOSSES
A key factor tied to the risk posed by exchanges is whether customers are reimbursed after closure or after the loss of bitcoins following a hack. Each closure and breach have been handled differently, but Tandy's Moore said the risk of losing funds stored in exchanges are real.
In the case of Bitfinex, which is now up and running after the hack August 2, customers lost 36 percent of the assets they had on the platform and were compensated for the losses with tokens of credit that would be converted into equity in the parent company.
At Tokyo's MtGox, customers have yet to recover their investments more than two years after closure.
Experts say trading venues acting like banks such as Bitfinex will remain vulnerable. These exchanges act as custodial wallets in which they control users' digital currencies like banks control customer deposits.
"The big exchanges that hold customer deposits are a big target for hackers," said ShapeShift's Voorhees, "and unfortunately most bitcoin exchanges store user funds."
When customers' checking accounts are hacked, there is always a third party at the bank that can step in to deal with the theft.
Not so with bitcoin, said Seattle-based Darin Stanchfield, chief executive officer at KeepKey, a hardware wallet provider. He expects more of these attacks to happen despite efforts to improve security at bitcoin exchanges.
"Unfortunately because of its irreversible nature, bitcoin requires near perfect security."
(Reporting by Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss; Editing by Edward Tobin)

Cyber threat grows for bitcoin exchanges


In this job I am frequently sent over exuberant press releases extolling the virtues and talents of various musicians.
So when yet another landed in my inbox telling me about an award winning Elvis impersonator called Ben Portsmouth I didn’t rush to read it, writes Heather Jan Brunt.
That is, until my eye caught the image attached to the press release (see right). The guy resembled Presley to such a degree I was convinced the press officer had actually attached an image of the real Elvis by mistake.
Then I noted a link to a live performance given by Ben at the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest in Memphis in 2012. Surely a guy who looked this much like the king of rock and roll couldn’t also actually sound like him and pull off a realistic live performance?
Wrong. The link was so impressive, I’m off to see Ben at the Watford Colosseum when he performs there at 8pm on Friday (September 2). If you’re lucky there might be a few tickets left, so get onto the box office right now, 01923 571102 if you are an Elvis fan.
There was only one Elvis, but tribute artists are now the only way to experience a live stage concert, and Ben is seriously close in terms of his looks, voice and on stage charisma. His father was an avid Elvis fan and Ben grew up on a diet of Presley songs. His triple octave vocal range and perfect pitch allows him to hit the most challenging high notes, and his guitar virtuosity enables him to authentically recreate Elvis’s 1968 comeback concert. In 2006 he was voted best Elvis at a prestigious international festival in Wales wear he was the youngest competitor, didn’t need a wig and was wearing the most authentic outfits flown in from America. If you miss out on his date at Watford, take a trip to High Wycombe to see him at The Swan on Saturday September 24. Box office 01494 512000.

Award winning Elvis tribute artist at Watford Colosseum and Wycombe Swan


In this job I am frequently sent over exuberant press releases extolling the virtues and talents of various musicians.


BELLMEAD, Texas (AP) — Police say a Texas man is accused of beheading his wife just hours after officers visited the couple for a welfare check.
Bellmead police Sgt. Kory Martin says officers visited 23-year-old Davie Dauzat and his 21-year-old wife, Natasha, on Thursday at their mobile home in Bellmead after a relative called police. Officers found no trouble and left.
Martin says a relative called police again two hours later to say Dauzat had killed his wife. Police returned and found Natasha Dauzat had been decapitated. The couple’s two toddlers were home, but not hurt.
McLennan County jail records show Dauzat is being held Friday on a murder charge. Bond is set at $500,000. No attorney is listed to speak on his behalf.
Bellmead is 80 miles south of Dallas.

Texas man charged with beheading wife after police visit


Pakistan: Militants behind 2009 cricket attack killed
LAHORE: Pakistani officials said Sunday that four Islamic extremists allegedly involved in a 2009 attack on the visiting Sri Lankan cricket team were killed in a shootout with police. The attack on the cricket team killed six police and two bystanders, and wounded six cricket players. The Pakistani Taleban and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, an affiliated extremist group, claimed the attack, which was carried out by 10 gunmen.
The shootout erupted late Saturday on the edge of Lahore when other gunmen tried to break the militants out of police custody, a counterterrorism official said. Another senior official confirmed the account. Both spoke on condition of anonymity, fearing retribution. Pakistan has stepped up its fight against extremist groups over the past two years, including with a military offensive in North Waziristan, a tribal region near the Afghan border and longtime stronghold of al-Qaida and other militants.
Yesterday, security forces raided a religious seminary on the outskirts of the southwestern city of Quetta, where a suicide bomber killed more than 70 people earlier this month, and sealed it when they found nearly 100 illegal Afghan immigrants residing there, provincial government spokesman Anwarul Haq said. Other such raids netted another 228 Afghans, said paramilitary spokesman Khan Wasey. It was unclear if the raids were linked to terrorism suspicions. Quetta is the capital of the southwestern Baluchistan province, which has long been the scene of a low-level insurgency by separatists groups. Islamic extremist groups also operate in the region. Six alleged recruiters for al-Qaida and the Islamic State group have been arrested in the province in recent days, according to provincial home minister Sarfaz Bugti. – AP


Pakistani officials said Sunday that four Islamic extremists allegedly involved in a 2009 attack on the visiting Sri Lankan cricket team were killed in a shootout with police.
The attack on the cricket team killed six police and two bystanders, and wounded six cricket players. The Pakistani Taliban and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, an affiliated extremist group, claimed the attack, which was carried out by 10 gunmen.
The shootout erupted late Saturday on the edge of Lahore when other gunmen tried to break the militants out of police custody, a counterterrorism official said. Another senior official confirmed the account. Both spoke on condition of anonymity, fearing retribution.
Pakistan has stepped up its fight against extremist groups over the past two years, including with a military offensive in North Waziristan, a tribal region near the Afghan border and longtime stronghold of al-Qaida and other militants.
On Sunday, security forces raided a religious seminary on the outskirts of the southwestern city of Quetta, where a suicide bomber killed more than 70 people earlier this month, and sealed it when they found nearly 100 illegal Afghan immigrants residing there, provincial government spokesman Anwarul Haq said.
Other such raids netted another 228 Afghans, said paramilitary spokesman Khan Wasey. It was unclear if the raids were linked to terrorism suspicions.
Quetta is the capital of the southwestern Baluchistan province, which has long been the scene of a low-level insurgency by separatists groups. Islamic extremist groups also operate in the region. Six alleged recruiters for al-Qaida and the Islamic State group have been arrested in the province in recent days, according to provincial home minister Sarfaz Bugti.
Associated Press

Pakistan says 4 militants behind 2009 cricket attack killed


Emergency Responders work to put out a fire caused from a two-vehicle crash on westbound Interstate 90 approximately a mile east of Alexandria on Thursday afternoon. (Matt Gade/Republic)
One year after a car crash killed four people near Alexandria, the reasons for the crash remain uncertain.
According to the investigator's report on the crash, conducted by South Dakota Highway Patrol Trooper Michael Peterson, the reason 75-year-old Salem resident David Wise was driving eastbound in the westbound lane on Interstate 90 is unclear.
"It is unknown why driver of unit 1 was traveling the wrong way down the interstate or if the crash was deliberate," the report states.
According to the Highway Patrol, who sent a statement to The Daily Republic last week regarding the report, the crash was investigated in the same manner as all fatal crashes. The area was mapped, photos were taken and interviews were conducted.
But in cases like the Alexandria crash, where both drivers were killed, Highway Patrol said it's difficult to determine why the crash occurred.
"Sometime the 'why' of the crash can't exactly be determined," the statement said. "This is one of those crashes."
While Highway Patrol said its troopers rely on facts, not speculation, one witness suspected Wise believed he was driving on a two-lane highway.
"He was doing a good job of driving," said Jim Arens, of Mitchell, who was listed as a witness in the Highway Patrol report. "He was driving normally like he was on a two-lane road."
Wise died in the crash, and the report states he had no alcohol in his system. Despite the lack of alcohol and unknown motives, Wise drove approximately 80 mph when he crashed head-on into another vehicle, killing three Omaha residents and seriously injuring another. The Omaha residents were traveling in the correct direction.
The report states Wise's 1995 Chevrolet truck had corn plants on the windshield, which possibly affected Wise's vision. The report also states that "good samaritans" were able to pull two passengers from the vehicle struck by Wise but were unable to remove the fatally injured drivers from the vehicles as they were consumed by flames.

Reasons for four-person fatal Alexandria crash still undetermined one year later


Carl Magnay is struggling to be fit for Hartlepool United’s Sky Bet League Two match with Newport County tomorrow.
The defender went off injured in last weekend’s 2-1 defeat to Notts County.
It was initially thought that right-back Magnay had fractured a rib and would be sidelined for several weeks.
But X-rays carried out have confirmed that he has suffered only cartilage damage.
No timescale has yet been put on his return to first team action.
“We sent him for an X-ray for a suspected fracture but it’s turned out to be a cartilage injury which is the best possible outcome really,” explained club physio Ian Gallagher.
Tomorrow’s game at The Northern Gas and Power Stadium (3pm kick-off) will come too soon for him though.
Meanwhile, Jake Orrell has suffered a recurrence of a quad injury and will definitely miss the game.
Experienced centre-back Rob Jones is also a doubt as he is struggling with a back injury.
Other than that, boss Craig Hignett has a fully fit squad to choose from ahead of the game with Newport County.
Meanwhile for the Exiles, Jordan Green, who is on loan from Bournemouth, was substituted in their last outing against Crewe Alexandra after only 19 minutes.
Manager Warren Feeney said afterwards that he was suffering with an ankle injury and he remains a doubt for this weekend.
Defender Jamie Turley also left the game with Crewe early due to injury, he too is a doubt.
One person Newport will definitely be without in the dugout is assistant manager Sean McCarthy who will serve a one-match touchline ban after receiving a FA charge.

Magnay doubtful for Pools’ Newport clash


Visit now for the latest Hartlepool United news - direct from the Sunderland Echo and updated throughout the day.


She's currently on the judging panel of America's Next Top Model.
But Ashley Graham showed the contestants how to put on a show-stopping display as she arrived at filming in an eye-popping fashion in New York City on Thursday.
The model, 28, showed off her ample cleavage for all to see in an daringly low-cut jumpsuit as she headed to Chelsea Piers.
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Eye-popping: Ashley Graham, 28, showed off her cleavage in an daringly low-cut outfit as she arrived at America's Next Top Model filming in New York City on Thursday
The ensemble featured an eye-wateringly low V neckline, displaying and enhancing her abundant assets.
With her cleavage taking centre stage, the rest of the look remained demure and classy.
The one-piece cinched in at the waist before extending down into navy flared trousers, showing off the Maxim model's womanly curves in all their glory.
While the bottoms were plain, the top was entirely covered with glistening blue sequins, making for a show-stopping look.
Jaw-dropping:The model, 28, showed off her ample cleavage for all to see in an daringly low-cut outfit as she headed to Chelsea Piers
The curvaceous catwalk queen paired her outfit with nude heels and accessorised with a simple gold choker.
Alongside the glitzy top, Ashley exuded her usual glamour by leaving her long hair loose in tousled waves.
Her make-up highlighted her naturally stunning features, and she added some playful silver gems to the corners of her eyes.
Looking incredibly sexy and stylish as she arrived to film a new episode of America's Next Top Model, it is no wonder she was chosen as the reality show's judge to guide other models to success.
Pin-up: Ashley exuded her usual glamour by leaving her long hair loose in tousled waves contoured her face to perfection, highlighting her naturally stunning features
Ashley was announced as a panelist in June alongside stylist Law Roach and Paper magazine chief creative Drew Elliott, while singer Rita Ora replaced Tyra Banks as host.
The 23rd cycle of the reality show will premiere on VH1 in the Autumn.
The Maxim model, as one of the most renowned plus-size models around, is an ideal mentor for the aspiring contestants.
Ashley rose to fame as the main model for lingerie brand Lane Bryant.
She has since appeared on the cover of Elle Quebec and was the first plus-size model to grace the front of Sports Illustrated earlier this year.
Model mentor: Ashley was announced as a panelist for the new series of Top Model in June, alongside stylist Law Roach and Paper magazine chief creative Drew Elliott
Despite her pin-up status, the model has been happily married for six years.
Ashley wed her beau of one year Justin Ervin when she was just 22, and the couple endure a long-distance marriage.
While the model lives in New York to work in the fashion industry, Justin resides in Los Angeles, where he works as a cinematographer.
'We have a rule. We don't go longer than two weeks without seeing each other,' Ashley told Entertainment Tonight.
'It's absolutely fabulous. I love it. We just meet in L.A. or New York. We meet in Paris, Miami. It's pretty sexy.'

Ashley Graham flaunts her cleavage as she arrives at ANTM filming in NYC


The model, 28, showed off her cleavage in an daringly low-cut outfit as she arrived at at America's Next Top Model filming in New York City on Thursday.


THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has temporarily suspended the printing of ballots for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections.
Comelec Chairman Juan Andres Bautista on Monday said the decision to stop printing was made in anticipation of a possible postponement by Congress of the twin polls.
President Rodrigo Duterte earlier said he wanted the synchronized elections to push through on October 31 but he backtracked, fearing that drug money may be used to fund candidates.
Bautista said the Comelec also slowed down in its preparations for the electoral exercise, particularly on the awarding of contracts for the supply of election paraphernalia.
If Congress will postpone the elections, the Comelec can hold the polls anytime next year but not beyond that to avoid possible conflict with the 2019 mid-term elections.
Bautista reiterated his call to Congress to make its decision known by September 1.
Genievieve Guevarra, head of the Comelec’s printing committee, said the printing of ballots will resume if Congress will not be able to come out wit an amendatory law by September 1.
“If there is still no law or a joint resolution from Congress on the postponement by September 1, we will resume the printing,” Guevarra added.
The Comelec will have to print 85 million ballots for the SK and barangay elections set for October.
No support
Meanwhile, Senator Juan Edgardo Angara said the proposal of Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez to abolish the Sangguniang Kabataan or Youth Councils is unlikely to gain support from members of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Angara, chairman of the Senate local government committee, explained that it would be difficult for any member of Congress to back the proposal because the SK Reform Act had just been signed into law in January.
“I doubt if my colleagues in the Senate and in the House of Representatives would allow it (abolition of SK) considering that we just passed the SK reform Act,” Angara said.
Alvarez said the SK should be abolished because all sectors are already well-represented in Congress.
But Sen. Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito, who authored the SK bill, maintained that the new law has enough features that address the flaws of the old SK law.
“I am the principal author of the SK Reform Law, so I am for giving the SK another chance,” he said.
The senator added that it would be a disservice to the Filipino youth to abolish the SK.
Sen. Paolo Benigno Aquino 4th agreed that the youth council should be given a chance to prove that it could help strengthen the community.
Aquino, a co-author of the SK reform bill, said the efforts of Congress to push for the passage of the reform law will be put to waste if the council will be abolished.


Chelsea top after one-sided victory over Burnley
CHELSEA 3 BURNLEY 0
Aug 27 (Reuters) - Goals from Eden Hazard, Willian and Victor Moses sent Antonio Conte's Chelsea to the top of the Premier League on Saturday with a 3-0 win over promoted Burnley in a one-sided match at Stamford Bridge.
Belgian Hazard picked up the ball in his own half in the ninth minute and with a burst of speed wrong-footed defenders, cut inside Michael Keane and sent a right foot shot low past a diving keeper Tom Heaton.
Willian's contribution came in the 41st minute after an exchange of passes between Hazard and Spain striker Diego Costa. Costa sent the ball to the Brazilian who sidestepped Stephen Ward and drilled the ball into the net.
Heaton was called into action constantly in the second half as Chelsea peppered the Burnley goal with shots. But he could not keep out Moses, who got on the end of a ball from fellow-substitute Pedro in the dying minutes, ensuring a 100 percent start to the campaign for the London side.


CHELSEA 3 BURNLEY 0 Aug 27 (Reuters) - Goals from Eden Hazard, Willian and Victor Moses sent Antonio Conte's Chelsea to the top of the Premier League on Satu...


Chelsea top after one-sided victory over Burnley


WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump says he’ll deliver a detailed speech on his proposal to crack down on illegal immigration on Wednesday in Arizona — but it’s anyone’s guess what he might say.
The announcement came late Sunday in a tweet by the GOP presidential nominee after days of wavering — and at least one canceled speech — on a question central to his campaign: Whether he would, as he said in November, use a “deportation force” to eject the estimated 11 million people in the U.S. illegally. On Sunday, led by vice presidential running mate Mike Pence, Trump’s surrogates fanned out across the televised talk shows to reiterate other parts of his proposal but none could answer that question. And they wouldn’t say whether it was worrisome that such a consequential proposal remained unclear so close to the Nov. 8 election.
In one case, the chairman of the Republican National Committee refused to speak for the GOP nominee at all.
“I just don’t speak for Donald Trump,” Reince Priebus said Sunday.
It was a striking look at Trump’s leadership of a team he had said would help drive him to victory against Democrat Hillary Clinton.
The very purpose of surrogates is to speak for and back up their presidential nominee. But Trump’s stand-ins struggled to do so even as they stayed tightly together on the details they know: Trump will issue more details on the immigration plan soon, the policy will be humane, and despite his clear wavering, he’s been “consistent” on the issue. Any discussion of inconsistencies or potentially non-presidential tweeting, Pence and others suggested, reflected media focus on the wrong issue.
Trump’s tweet Sunday suggested he was poised to clear up those questions.
Trump’s campaign also announced on Sunday a $10 million-plus buy for ads to air in nine competitive states starting Monday. And late Sunday, the nation’s only African-American owned and operated national Christian television network announced that its president and CEO, Bishop Wayne T. Jackson, would interview the Republican nominee in Detroit on Sept. 3.
It’s been a long and sometimes puzzling journey to this point for the GOP nominee, who defeated 16 Republican opponents while promising to be the toughest on illegal immigration. Trump even questioned whether people born in the United States to people here illegally are citizens — even though they have automatically been considered citizens since the adoption of the 14th Amendment in 1868.
But lately, he’s been exploring the issue’s complexities in public.
On Fox News Channel’s “Hannity” show, he discussed how hard it is to break up families. He suggested that maybe people who’ve been in this country for years should be allowed to stay if they pay back taxes. He insisted that such a plan would not amount to the “amnesty” that’s anathema to many core supporters of the Republican Party.
Trump in recent days has suggested he might be “softening” on the deportation force and that he might be open to allowing at least some immigrants in the country illegally to stay, as long as they pay taxes.
But by Thursday, he was ruling out any kind of legal status — “unless they leave the country and come back,” he told CNN.
Trump has focused lately on deporting people who are in the U.S. illegally and who have committed crimes. But who Trump considers a criminal remained unclear Sunday.
“Those are the things that Donald Trump is going to answer. And this is not a simple question,” said Priebus, who’s had a difficult relationship with Trump.
The speech has been rescheduled at least once. Trump’s campaign had scheduled it for last Thursday, then canceled it. The campaign also blamed staff error for reports that it had been scheduled for August 31 in Phoenix. But Trump’s tweet late Sunday made clear that the event is back on.
But it’s far from clear what he’ll say, apparently even to his top supporters.
Asked whether the “deportation force” proposal Trump laid out in November is still in place, Pence replied: “Well, what you heard him describe there, in his usual plainspoken, American way, was a mechanism, not a policy.”
Added Trump’s campaign manager, Kellyanne Conway: “The softening is more approach than policy,” adding that on immigration, Trump “wants to find a fair and humane way.”
Pence, Conway and other surrogates said the main tenets of Trump’s immigration plan still will include building a wall along the southern U.S. border and making Mexico pay for it, no path to legalization or citizenship for people here illegally and stronger border enforcement. Pence also did not answer whether the campaign believes, as Trump has said, that children born to people who are in the U.S. illegally are not U.S. citizens. That, he said, “is a subject for the future.”
Pence appeared on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Priebus was on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” and Conway was on “Fox News Sunday” and CBS’ “Face the Nation.”
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Trump plans detailed immigration talk as questions remain


New Plymouth artist gives dead animals new life
SIMON O'CONNOR\Stuff.co.nz Loux McLellan is creating art and jewellery out of dead animals.
Most people wouldn't be too happy to find two dead chickens left on their doorstep, but for Loux McLellan they were a welcome present.
The 26-year-old has developed her own style of art, using the bones, feathers and other parts of dead animals and birds to create jewellery.
McLellan admitted it was a little different and usually elicited a mixture of responses, but she said death was an everyday event that people interacted with more than they realised.
SIMON O'CONNOR/Fairfax NZ The 26-year-old is currently studying art.
"Everything that I have was going to be discarded anyway," she said.
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"Dead birds and kids' baby teeth - no-one's going to be disappointed that stuff that nobody really cares about is being made into something really cool."
SIMON O'CONNOR/Fairfax NZ Loux McLellan creates art from bones and feathers of dead animals she finds or is given.
Her collection includes a skull mounted on a top hat, earrings made from chicken vertebrae and a matching chicken foot necklace.
"Beauty doesn't stop at death," she said.
McLellan, who is studying art at the Western Institute of Technology, said she had been interested in dead things ever since she was a little girl, when she would pick up dead waxeyes for show and tell at kindergarten.
SIMON O'CONNOR/Fairfax NZ Her hat ornament is made from sparrow wings and a ducks head.
Her interest was renewed in 2013, when her graphics design tutor in Wellington offered her two mummified rats he had found while helping to renovate a house.
"It's the most amazing thing in the world," she said.
She said she relied on "pretty much the kindness of strangers" for the animals, and had never killed anything for the sake of art.
While she was keen to accept small animals and birds, she wasn't ready to deal with bigger animals such as pigs or goats.
The chickens left on the doorstep were a gift from a neighbour, who also gave her a pig's head.
A kingfisher given to her flew into a friend's window while the duck or pukeko skull was shot during duck hunting season.
"I lived in a flat where the cats were very good hunters and every week there would be a rat or a bird on the lawn and I'd cut the wings off and preserve the feet and put the skulls in water to macerate, which is bacterial rotting," she said.
While she would one day like to one day start selling her creations she said she needed to improve her skills and her confidence.
"I kind of doubt my abilities," she said.
"Because this is cool, but I'm in world-wide bone hunting groups where people make mind blowing things and I'm like 'I glued some feathers to a piece of leather'. It's a bit lame but one day I'd like to have a little oddities cafe."
- Stuff


Old teeth, chicken vertebrae and pukeko skulls are all seen by Loux McLellan as art waiting to happen.


New Plymouth artist gives dead animals new life