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Speed skating: S. Korean Olympic short track champion Lim guilty of sexual harassment but avoids jail time

by www.straitstimes.com Leave a Comment

SEOUL (AFP) – South Korean Olympic short track speed skating gold medallist Lim Hyo-jun was convicted on Thursday (May 7) of sexually harassing a fellow male athlete by pulling down his trousers, a Seoul court said.

The 23-year-old won the 1,500m on home ice at the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang and also took bronze in the 500m.

But last year he was charged for forcibly pulling down the victim’s clothing in front of teammates at the national training centre, and in August was banned from competition for a year.

He was fined three million won (S$3,473) and ordered to undergo 40 hours of therapy for sex offenders, a spokesman for the Seoul Central District Court told AFP.

Reports said prosecutors had requested a prison sentence.

The South is a regional sporting power and regularly in the top 10 medal table places at the summer and winter Olympics.

But in an already intensely competitive society, winning is virtually everything in its sports community – and physical and verbal abuse are rife.

The nation’s short track speed skating community in particular has faced several serious abuse scandals in recent years.

Last year, double Olympic gold medallist Shim Suk-hee went public with accusations her former coach molested and physically abused her multiple times.

The coach was jailed for a year and a half.

Also in 2019, a male skater was suspended for a month after secretly getting into the female dorm at the national training centre.

‘The Fight of the Century’: A divided US nation 50 years on

by edition.cnn.com Leave a Comment

By Steven Poole, CNN

Updated 1210 GMT (2010 HKT) March 8, 2021

(CNN) By the time the first bell rang and Joe Frazier came bobbing towards him, Muhammad Ali was already four years into a fight that helped define him as one of the 20th century’s most influential figures.

Under the lights at Madison Square Garden on March 8, 1971, Ali was once again fighting for the world title and, for many fans, boxing’s true heavyweight champion had finally returned from exile.
Banished as one of the most electrifying and polarizing figures of the late 1960s, Ali had become the face of protest, and the man to unite the anti-war movement with the ongoing struggle for civil rights and racial equality.

Seconds out, round one

For the “Fight of the Century,” everyone who was anyone sat ringside.
Read More

There was Frank Sinatra, hanging on the ring apron as a photographer for Life magazine; and writer Norman Mailer putting words to the action. Singers and actors — Barbra Streisand, Dustin Hoffman and Sammy Davis Jr — sprinkled stardust over the proceedings.
“I remember the announcer saying, ‘I’m not going to make any introductions,’ everybody’s here!” recalls Mike Silver, boxing historian and author of “The Arc of Boxing” and “The Night the Referee Hit Back,” who was in attendance at the fight 50 years ago.
“This huge 20,000 plus fraternity of people were just generating this electricity and anticipation,” Silver tells CNN Sport.
“Three hundred million people throughout the world saw this fight on television, in Africa and Asia, Europe, Japan, China … When that first bell rang, a roar went up, a roar!”
"This wasn't just a prize fight," says boxing author Mike Silver. "This had other dimensions to it: the dimensions of race, politics, the Vietnam War."

“This wasn’t just a prize fight,” says boxing author Mike Silver. “This had other dimensions to it: the dimensions of race, politics, the Vietnam War.”

Cassius Clay — the young man from Kentucky who would become Ali — won gold at the 1960 Rome Olympics, before climbing to the top of the professional game with footwork and wit that dazzled, infuriated and ultimately changed heavyweight boxing.
Frazier — an Olympic gold medalist at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics — had grown up on a sharecropper’s farm in South Carolina.
“Smokin” Joe moved to Philadelphia, where he worked in a meat locker beating sides of beef with his fists — the inspiration for a storyline in the film Rocky.
After Clay beat champion Sonny Liston, he changed his name and spent three years ruling the heavyweight division. But, after refusing induction into the military, Ali was stripped of the title in 1967.
In Ali’s absence, Frazier won the world heavyweight crown, defeating Jimmy Ellis in 1970. Frazier also lent Ali money while he was excluded from the sport and campaigned both publicly and privately for the former champion to be cleared to box.
September 5, 1960 -- As an 18-year old from Kentucky, Cassius Clay won a gold medal boxing in the light heavyweight division at the Rome Olympics.

Photos: Muhammad Ali’s remarkable life: In and out of the ring

September 5, 1960 — As an 18-year old from Kentucky, Cassius Clay won a gold medal boxing in the light heavyweight division at the Rome Olympics.
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February 18, 1964 -- Before they all reached worldwide fame, and a week before his shot at the world heavyweight title, Clay met The Beatles at Miami Beach's 5th Street Gym.

Photos: Muhammad Ali’s remarkable life: In and out of the ring

February 18, 1964 — Before they all reached worldwide fame, and a week before his shot at the world heavyweight title, Clay met The Beatles at Miami Beach’s 5th Street Gym.
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February 25, 1964 -- Entering the fight as a 7-1 underdog against Sonny Liston, Clay won the world heavyweight title declaring: "I am the greatest! I shook up the world. I'm the prettiest thing that ever lived."

Photos: Muhammad Ali’s remarkable life: In and out of the ring

February 25, 1964 — Entering the fight as a 7-1 underdog against Sonny Liston, Clay won the world heavyweight title declaring: “I am the greatest! I shook up the world. I’m the prettiest thing that ever lived.”
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March 6, 1964 -- In the wake of winning the world title, Clay announced his affiliation with The Nation of Islam, and after briefly becoming Cassius X, he changed his name to Muhammad Ali.

Photos: Muhammad Ali’s remarkable life: In and out of the ring

March 6, 1964 — In the wake of winning the world title, Clay announced his affiliation with The Nation of Islam, and after briefly becoming Cassius X, he changed his name to Muhammad Ali.
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May 25, 1965 -- In the much-anticipated rematch, Ali knocked out Liston with a chopping right hand in the first round.

Photos: Muhammad Ali’s remarkable life: In and out of the ring

May 25, 1965 — In the much-anticipated rematch, Ali knocked out Liston with a chopping right hand in the first round.
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November 14, 1966 -- During a knockout win over Cleveland Williams, often regarded as his best performance, Ali reveals the "Ali shuffle" -- labeling it the best dance move since "The Twist."

Photos: Muhammad Ali’s remarkable life: In and out of the ring

November 14, 1966 — During a knockout win over Cleveland Williams, often regarded as his best performance, Ali reveals the “Ali shuffle” — labeling it the best dance move since “The Twist.”
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April 28, 1967 -- Following his refusal to accept induction into the U.S. Armed Forces in Houston, Ali was arrested, while later that day boxing commissions began to suspend his licenses, banning him from the sport.

Photos: Muhammad Ali’s remarkable life: In and out of the ring

April 28, 1967 — Following his refusal to accept induction into the U.S. Armed Forces in Houston, Ali was arrested, while later that day boxing commissions began to suspend his licenses, banning him from the sport.
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March 8, 1971 -- Film star Frank Sinatra photographed "The Fight of the Century" between Ali and Frazier for Life Magazine.

Photos: Muhammad Ali’s remarkable life: In and out of the ring

March 8, 1971 — Film star Frank Sinatra photographed “The Fight of the Century” between Ali and Frazier for Life Magazine.
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October 30, 1974 -- :The Rumble in the Jungle": Having lost to Joe Frazier and Ken Norton since his return to boxing, Ali was a huge underdog when he knocked out champion George Foreman in the eighth round in Kinsasha, Zaire, winning back the heavyweight title after seven and a half years.

Photos: Muhammad Ali’s remarkable life: In and out of the ring

October 30, 1974 — :The Rumble in the Jungle”: Having lost to Joe Frazier and Ken Norton since his return to boxing, Ali was a huge underdog when he knocked out champion George Foreman in the eighth round in Kinsasha, Zaire, winning back the heavyweight title after seven and a half years.
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October 1, 1975 -- "The Thrilla in Manilla:" After winning his final trilogy fight with Frazier due to his opponent's corner retiring him after the 14th round, Ali said it was the closest thing to dying that he had ever known.

Photos: Muhammad Ali’s remarkable life: In and out of the ring

October 1, 1975 — “The Thrilla in Manilla:” After winning his final trilogy fight with Frazier due to his opponent’s corner retiring him after the 14th round, Ali said it was the closest thing to dying that he had ever known.
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July 19, 1996 -- After developing Parkinson's disease and withdrawing from the public eye, Ali lit the Olympic cauldron, appearing as the secret final torchbearer for the Games in Atlanta.

Photos: Muhammad Ali’s remarkable life: In and out of the ring

July 19, 1996 — After developing Parkinson’s disease and withdrawing from the public eye, Ali lit the Olympic cauldron, appearing as the secret final torchbearer for the Games in Atlanta.
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‘Denied simple human rights’

“A heavyweight championship was more important sometimes than a presidential election,” says Silver. “Certain fights, Johnson vs. Jeffries, Dempsey vs. Tunney, Ali vs. Frazier … It was more in the public consciousness.”
Silver describes the fight between Ali and Frazier — two undefeated heavyweight champions coming together — as unprecedented in the history of boxing due to the bout’s wider significance.
“This wasn’t just a prize fight,” reflects Silver. “This had other dimensions to it: the dimensions of race, politics, the Vietnam War.”
Ever since Ali won the world title, he had courted controversy.
As the newly-crowned heavyweight champion he had thrown off his “slave name” and while congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Ali joined a Black separatist group that rejected racial integration.
In 1966, US armed forces entered their fifth year in Vietnam and the government expanded the military draft.
Ali requested to be excluded, as a conscientious objector, but was denied. Staying true to his convictions at his scheduled induction in 1967, he was arrested, found guilty at the subsequent trial, and sentenced to five years in prison and handed a $10,000 fine.
“Why should they ask me to put on a uniform and go 10,000 miles from home and drop bombs and bullets on brown people in Vietnam, while so-called Negro people in Louisville are treated like dogs and denied simple human rights?” Ali had asked.
Among other things, Ali was "vilified for being outspoken," according to academic Dr. Amira Rose Davis.

Among other things, Ali was “vilified for being outspoken,” according to academic Dr. Amira Rose Davis.

So the heavyweight title was taken from him, as was his passport, and boxing commissions refused to license him to fight.
On the floor of the US Congress in 1967, Republican Robert Michael said: “He may look upon himself as ‘the greatest,’ but I am sure history will look upon him as ‘the least’ of all men who have held the once honorable title of heavyweight champion of the world.”
Dr. Amira Rose Davis, professor of history and African American studies at Penn State University, says “a lot of leaders were terrified” of Ali.
“He was vilified for his opposition to the war, vilified for being outspoken, and vilified for connections with the Nation of Islam,” adds Davis.
In August 1970, Ali was permitted a license to fight in Atlanta, and the former champion was back in boxing, winning bouts against Jerry Quarry and Oscar Bonavena. Later in 1971 — after the “Fight of the Century” — the US Supreme Court overturned Ali’s conviction in an 8-0 ruling.
“Ali made himself into somebody who’s very significant in terms of his ability to command an audience,” says Davis.
“To have the cameras on him and to use those cameras to speak hard truths about what it’s like to be a Black man in the US, to talk about foreign policy, particularly the war.
“Because of his status, he also gets the opportunity to go on these late-night talk shows and to have cameras in his face and he never shies away from talking about civil rights or talking about police brutality.
“He’s important because he allows us to see so many fractures and divisions. There are so many people that saw him as a man of the people, that saw him as a mouthpiece for their struggles.”

‘Cannon fodder for the state’

As opposition to the war grew, Ali’s draft case also helped reveal the disproportionate number of African Americans dying in Vietnam.
“He opposed the war,” says Davis. “But he also gave new arguments for its opposition. He connected the opposition to the war within a framework about the treatment of Black Americans. He talked about not being cannon fodder for the state and not being a pawn.”
Frazier rose to prominence in the years Ali was absent from the ring, but he also found himself becoming a foil to the more controversial Ali.
“He [Frazier] comes to symbolize a kind of more complacent, conservative America,” says Davis. “And the fight then takes on this larger meaning about the very fabric of the country and what side is going to be dominant in the ring.”
Ali was happy to feed that narrative, ratcheting up the tension with claims Frazier represented the establishment. “He painted it as if you’re supporting Frazier, you’re against equality, you’re against justice,” says Davis.
“He was basically saying I’m fighting for the people in the ghetto. I’m fighting for the Black community. I’m the man of the people, and Frazier is the man of the people who are trying to oppress you — continuing to push this framework of seeing it as a fight about pro-war conservativism versus anti-war civil rights.”
Silver draws parallels between 1971 and the present day.
“We’re now living in America through quite a disruptive and divided time. I can only compare it to that time. I didn’t think I would see such a divided country again.
“It’s astounding the divisiveness you see in America now, and if there’s any comparison to it, it is the Vietnam War era in this country and then before that the Civil War.”
Like Ali, NBA star LeBron James has been outspoken on political and social issues.

Like Ali, NBA star LeBron James has been outspoken on political and social issues.

While boxing, and the world heavyweight championship, have diminished in influence over the past 50 years, other sports and athletes have risen to prominence. Notably NBA superstar LeBron James, who has become a leading voice against racial injustice and police brutality, and is talked about “in the same genre” as Ali.
Civil rights activist Harry Edwards places James at the forefront of the fourth and fifth “waves of athletic activism” in a continuum that includes Wyomia Tyus, Tommie Smith and Ali.
Edwards says that fourth wave came in 2012 when James and his Miami Heat teammates wore clothing to honor Trayvon Martin, an unarmed high school student shot and killed by a neighborhood watch coordinator in Florida, while the fifth came in 2020.
“I understand that for athletes you’re going to take some hits from fans,” four-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Johnson told CNN Sport. “You’re going to have some people saying, ‘I don’t want politics and social issues in my sport.”
However, Johnson is conscious to highlight what happened to Colin Kaepernick, the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback who started kneeling during the National Anthem to protest police brutality in 2016 and has been unsigned to a team since 2017.
It was two years in February that Kaepernick and former teammate Eric Reid settled their collusion grievance cases against the NFL.
“You only have to look back as far as Colin Kaepernick and what was done to him and what happened to his career to understand why athletes might be apprehensive,” said Johnson.
In the 15th and final round, Frazier floored Ali with a devastating left hook.

In the 15th and final round, Frazier floored Ali with a devastating left hook.

‘How did he bounce up after that shot?’

“The Fight of the Century” lived up to the hype.
“It was the most intense heavyweight fight I have ever seen,” says Silver.
“Ali did get under Frazier’s skin,” he adds. “By the time the fight took place, they genuinely didn’t like each other. They were fighting with an intensity I’ve rarely seen.
“And Frazier fought a fight that was almost hard to believe for a heavyweight, to fight that kind of pace for 15 rounds.
“I think you would have had to have killed Frazier to keep him from winning that fight.”
In the 15th and final round, Frazier floored Ali with a left hook, and it looked as if the contest was over, before, to the amazement of the crowd, he got straight back up.
“For many years, I thought when Ali was hit with that left hook in the 15th round. How did he bounce up after that shot?” says Silver.
“Ali sensed it. He saw it coming, but he couldn’t get out of the way in time. If that was Ali of four years earlier before the layoff, he would have moved his head away.
“What’s interesting is that we found out in that fight what we didn’t know before: Because Ali rarely was hit solidly, we found out in that fight he could take a punch.
“It was a great fight. It had drama, intensity, momentum and, of course, capped off by the climax of Ali getting dropped in the 15th round, that was the icing on the cake.”
Frazier won the bout on points, by a unanimous decision, giving Ali the first loss of his professional career.
Joe Frazier represents a great majority of Black athletes who are just grinding, says Dr Davis.

Joe Frazier represents a great majority of Black athletes who are just grinding, says Dr Davis.

To commemorate the former champion and his famous win 50 years ago, friends and family of Frazier will unveil a statue inside the new Joe Hand Gym in Feasterville, Pennsylvania, on March 8.
Weatta Frazier Collins — one of the heavyweight boxer’s 11 children — is championing her father’s legacy with a scholarship fund which is awarded to vulnerable teenagers.
In January of 1973, Frazier lost the title to George Foreman, and Ali was again to shock the world, knocking Foreman out during the late-1974 “Rumble in the Jungle” fight in Kinshasa, Zaire — to reclaim the crown he had lost seven years before.
In all the reverence Ali is held in — “a Buddha-like figure” as Silver puts it — his treatment of Frazier often crossed a line, calling his rival an “Uncle Tom,” a demeaning term for Black people who are viewed subservient to whites, and a “gorilla.”
“I swallowed a lot of razor blades,” Frazier told a HBO documentary that was aired in 2000,” and sometimes they cut … inside.”
In a 2001 interview with The New York Times, Ali said he had used that language as a way to promote the fight.
“In a way, Joe’s right,” said Ali. ‘I said a lot of things in the heat of the moment that I shouldn’t have said. Called him names I shouldn’t have called him. I apologize for that. I’m sorry. It was all meant to promote the fight.”
In that same New York Times interview, Frazier said he accepted Ali’s apology. “We’re grown guys. This has been going on too long. It’s like we’ve been fighting the Vietnam War.”
“It’s hard with Frazier,” Davis explains. “He was somebody who didn’t speak out a lot. He kept his head down and really focused on the sport. He was like many Black athletes of the day, who, for whatever reason, were not Ali.
“It’s much more common to be a Joe Frazier and you can see this incredible way that boxing became a vehicle for upward mobility and in many ways, for me he represents a great majority of Black athletes who are just grinding.
“I think there’s a way now, that we look back so positively on athletic activism that it’s like why weren’t you as outspoken? But the truth is Ali was an anomaly.”
Later in his life, Ali developed Parkinson's disease.

Later in his life, Ali developed Parkinson’s disease.

According to Silver, Ali’s activism “started a trend.”
“If you’re looking at the athletes today who speak out, the forerunner of this was Muhammad Ali, and they owe him something, for good or bad,” says Silver.
“You can get some sense how outraged people were because you see the reaction to Colin Kaepernick taking a knee. I mean, look at the outrage.
“Multiply that by about 10 times and you’ll know the outrage that people felt when Ali refused to be drafted into the US Army.”
In the 50 years since the fight in 1971, Ali’s legend has only grown.
“Muhammad Ali solidified himself as somebody who’s going to think and pay attention to not only the struggles of the Black community in the US,” said Davis, “but to connect the struggles of marginalized people from Vietnam to Louisville to South Africa.
“We lose sight of the stakes and what it means to give up your title at the height of your career, to stand for something that could quite literally cost you the career.

“We know, of course what happens but he had no way of knowing he could get back to the top. I think that that’s really important to understand. Especially in 1971.”

The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by the National Shooting Sports Foundation – Relief bill to become law; Cuomo in trouble

by thehill.com Leave a Comment

Presented by the National Shooting Sports Foundation

The White House

Welcome to The Hill’s Morning Report. Today is Monday and it is International Women’s Day ! We get you up to speed on the most important developments in politics and policy, plus trends to watch. Alexis Simendinger and Al Weaver are the co-creators. Readers can find us on Twitter @asimendinger and @alweaver22. Please recommend the Morning Report to friends and let us know what you think. CLICK HERE to subscribe!

Total U.S. coronavirus deaths reported as of this mornin g: 525,035.

As of this morning, 17.2 percent of the U.S. population has received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 9.2 percent are fully vaccinated, according to the Bloomberg News global vaccine tracker .

The Biden administration’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package is on the verge of becoming law, pending action by the House and White House in the coming days, as health experts warn that the current level of cases in the U.S. is untenable and the nation races to vaccinate the masses.

The House is set to follow the Senate’s lead and OK the nearly $2 trillion stimulus blueprint on Tuesday, with President Biden Joe Biden Lawmakers, activists remember civil rights icons to mark ‘Bloody Sunday’ Fauci predicts high schoolers will receive coronavirus vaccinations this fall Biden nominates female generals whose promotions were reportedly delayed under Trump MORE ’s signature coming shortly after to check a big-ticket item off the administration’s 100-day to-do list.

Among other things, the package provides another round of stimulus checks, aid for state and local governments — an issue that had stalled out in previous rounds of relief negotiations — and more help for small businesses and schools. Despite cries from across the aisle that the bill is laden with Democratic pet projects, wasteful spending and provisions unrelated to the ongoing pandemic, the GOP has to contend with a major political issue: the bill’s popularity.

Multiple polls conducted prior to the legislation’s passage in the upper chamber on Saturday show that the $1.9 trillion plan enjoys broad support. According to a recent Monmouth University survey , 62 percent of respondents were in favor of the bill, while 71 percent gave a thumb up to the plan when polled by Morning Consult .

Adding to the good news for Democrats, Biden continues to receive high marks for his handling of the pandemic. According to a new ABC News/Ipsos poll, 68 percent approve of Biden’s handling of the pandemic ( ABC News ).

As The Hill’s Morgan Chalfant and Alexander Bolton write , Democrats remain ever-aware of what happened last decade after the 2009 stimulus package became law, with Republicans bludgeoning that and the Affordable Care Act en route to massive wins in the 2010 midterms. Biden last week encouraged House Democrats to “speak up and speak out” about the rescue plan, suggesting that the Obama administration “paid a price” for not taking enough of a victory lap after the 2009 recovery package.

“Any of my colleagues at the time would say that we didn’t do enough to explain to the American people what the benefits were of the rescue plan and we didn’t do enough to do it in terms that people would be talking about at their dinner tables,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki Jen Psaki Mississippi governor defends ending mask mandate Border crisis creates new risks for Biden Cruz puts hold on Biden’s CIA nominee MORE said Friday. “That’s one of the reasons we, of course, have been trying to break down the impact of the American rescue plan into the key components that will impact people directly.”

The New York Times : What’s in the stimulus bill? A guide to where the $1.9 trillion is going.

The Washington Post : “An essential service”: Inside Biden’s struggle to meet his school reopening promises.

CNBC : Futures slip after Senate passes $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill.

Meanwhile, the efforts to corral the pandemic are reaching a critical phase as public health officials fret that the current level of daily infections remains too high and that another wave of the virus could be in the offing due to the rise of variants, even with the national effort to vaccinate Americans.

As of Sunday, the U.S. is averaging 60,000 new COVID-19 cases per day, a steep decline from the dead of winter when the U.S. averaged more than 200,000 new infections daily. However, As The Hill’s Reid Wilson reports , case totals have plateaued over the past week, raising fears that a new wave is just around the corner.

“We could not have made a more wonderful environment for this virus to take off than we have right now,” said Michael Osterholm , director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Prevention at the University of Minnesota. “We are not driving this tiger. We’re riding it. And the first time we may be able to drive it is with widespread use of the vaccine, and we’re not there yet.”

The Hill : Former Biden COVID-19 adviser: “We are in the eye of the hurricane right now.”

The Wall Street Journal : Republican governors diverge over COVID-19 restrictions as experts urge caution.

The Hill : Scott Gottlieb : “Probable” that high schoolers will get coronavirus vaccines this year.

Anthony Fauci Anthony Fauci Fauci predicts high schoolers will receive coronavirus vaccinations this fall Texas patrons threaten to call ICE on Mexican restaurant for keeping mask mandate Gottlieb: ‘Probable’ that high schoolers will get coronavirus vaccines this year MORE , head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, called the current state of daily infections “unacceptable” and warned governors against the expeditious rollback of mask mandates and reopenings.

“Historically, if you look back at the different surges we’ve had, when they come down and then start to plateau at a very high level, plateauing at a level of [60,000] to 70,000 new cases per day is not an acceptable level. That is really very high,” Fauci told “Face the Nation” ( The Hill ).

According to Bloomberg News’s daily tracker , the U.S. is averaging 2.2 million vaccinations per day over the past week, with Saturday’s total of 2.9 million doses administered setting a new single-day total.

The Wall Street Journal : Russian disinformation campaign aims to undermine confidence in Pfizer, other COVID-19 vaccines, U.S. officials say.

The Hill : White House COVID-19 coordinator: Administration focused on expanding vaccine access.

Josh Rogin for Politico Magazine : Diplomats warned of a coronavirus danger in Wuhan — two years before the outbreak.

Vials of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine

LEADING THE DAY

CONGRESS: The coronavirus relief efforts will soon be in the rearview mirror, prompting attention to be refocused toward the rest of the Biden administration’s legislative priorities and raising questions about the viability of passing many of the items on the Democratic wish list in the coming months.

As The Hill’s Jordain Carney points out, the upper chamber is threatening to derail the bold agenda laid out by Democrats, with progressives training their fire at the unlikely elimination of the filibuster. The passage of a number of major items in the House is putting a spotlight on the fact that without structural changes, many of the party’s campaign promises are heading for the Senate graveyard.

Senate Majority Charles Schumer Chuck Schumer Manchin firm on support for filibuster, mulls making it ‘a little bit more painful’ to use Biden takes victory lap after Senate passes coronavirus relief package Lawmakers demand changes after National Guard troops at Capitol sickened from tainted food MORE (D-N.Y.) is pledging to put the bills on the floor, daring Republicans to vote against them, effectively turning them into messaging votes. Progressives are hoping that the expected GOP blockade of Democratic bills could help sway the few Democratic senators who have voiced opposition to getting rid of the 60-vote threshold.

The Associated Press : With virus aid in sight, Democrats debate filibuster changes.

Chief among that group is Sen. Joe Manchin Joseph (Joe) Manchin Democrats near pressure point on nixing filibuster All eyes on Manchin after COVID-19 aid passes Senate Justice: ‘I’m not going to get in a food fight with Joe Manchin’ on use of CARES Act funds MORE (D-W.Va.) (seen below). The West Virginia moderate was the center of attention on the Sunday show circuit, reiterating his belief that the filibuster is a tool for good overall and a necessity to a functioning Senate.

“I’m not going to change my mind on the filibuster. I will change my mind if we need to go to a reconciliation to where we have to get something done once I know they have process into it,” Manchin told “Meet the Press.”

“But I’m not going to go there until my Republican friends have the ability to have their say also,” Manchin said. “And I’m hoping they’ll get involved to the point to where we have 10 of them that’ll work with 50 of us or 15 of them that’ll work with 45 of us” ( The Hill ).

Sen. Joe Mancin (D-W.Va.)

Manchin also received some backup from the White House. Communications director Kate Bedingfield Kate Bedingfield All eyes on Manchin after COVID-19 aid passes Senate Sunday shows: Manchin in the spotlight after pivotal role in coronavirus aid debate White House says Biden would prefer to not end filibuster MORE told CNN’s “State of the Union” that Biden remains committed to winning Republican support even after GOP lawmakers voted unanimously against the massive relief bill ( The Hill ).

The Sunday Shows : Manchin in the spotlight after pivotal role in coronavirus aid debate.

The Washington Post : Narrow relief bill victory provides warning signs for broader Democratic agenda.

The Hill : Rep. Jefferson Van Drew (R-N.J.), after flipping parties, bashes bills he once backed.

The Hill : Lawmakers gird for spending battle over nuclear weapons.

*****

POLITICS: New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo Andrew Cuomo Top New York Democrats call on Cuomo to resign Whitmer encourages investigation into Cuomo’s conduct Sunday shows: Manchin in the spotlight after pivotal role in coronavirus aid debate MORE (D) maintained on Sunday that he will not resign after two additional women accused him of sexual harassment or unwanted advances and more high profile New York Democrats called for his ouster, saying that he will allow state Attorney General Letitia James (D) to complete her investigation into the claims.

“I was elected by the people of the state. … I’m not going to resign because of allegations,” Cuomo told reporters on a conference call. “There is no way I resign” ( Fox News ).

On Saturday, Karen Hinton , a former aide to Cuomo, accused him of making an unwanted advance in a hotel room in 2000. The governor forcefully disputed the allegations, calling Hinton a “longtime political adversary.”

“Every woman has a right to come forward. That’s true. But the truth also matters. What she said is not true,” Cuomo said of the allegation.

The Wall Street Journal also reported on Saturday of another allegation from Ana Liss , a former staffer who said that Cuomo made her uncomfortable by inquiring about her dating life and kissing her on the hand in 2013.

The new revelations also brought forth a potential political deathblow as Andrea Stewart-Cousins , the head of the New York state Senate, called for his resignation, saying it would be “for the good of the state.”

“Every day, there is another account that is drawing away from the business of government,” Stewart-Cousins said in a statement. “We need to govern without daily distraction. Governor Cuomo must resign.”

As The New York Times notes, Cuomo is following the same track as former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer (D), who saw his standing evaporate when political leaders in Albany called for him to step down amid his 2008 prostitution scandal.

Politico : Cuomo leans on crisis management playbook as walls close in.

A billboard urges New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) to resign

> Lone Star uprising?: It’s been a rocky start to 2021 for Texas Republicans, boosting hopes among Lone Star State Democrats that they can bounce back from a poor 2020 cycle that saw them lose a number of key congressional races, fall in their bid to flip the Texas state House and fail to unseat Sen. John Cornyn John Cornyn Senate holds longest vote in history as Democrats scramble to save relief bill Biden gets involved to help break Senate logjam Overnight Defense: Capitol Police may ask National Guard to stay | Biden’s Pentagon policy nominee faces criticism | Naval Academy midshipmen moved to hotels MORE (R-Texas).

As The Hill’s Jonathan Easley writes , the once-in-a-blue-moon power grid failure that led to a humanitarian crisis last month drew attention to the GOP’s leadership in a state that has not elected a Democrat to statewide office in nearly a quarter-century. Sen. Ted Cruz Rafael (Ted) Edward Cruz Cruz puts hold on Biden’s CIA nominee It will be Vice (or) President Harris against Gov. DeSantis in 2024 — bet on it Senate rejects Cruz effort to block stimulus checks for undocumented immigrants MORE ’s (R-Texas) brief jaunt to Cancun, Mexico, during the crisis also ignited anger and severe blowback.

Last week, Gov. Greg Abbott (R) announced he was lifting the statewide mask mandate and fully reopening Texas for business despite lagging vaccination rates and a higher coronavirus infection rate than the national average, eliciting a response from the president in the process.

Texas Democrats are still picking themselves up off the mat after a dismal 2020 showing. But the rough two months in the national spotlight for Texas Republicans has Democrats optimistic about 2022 as they seek to win in swing districts where they were defeated last cycle.

The Hill : Nevada looks to shake up presidential primary calendar.

The New York Times : Sen. Josh Hawley Joshua (Josh) David Hawley DeSantis, Pence tied in 2024 Republican poll Chamber of Commerce clarifies stance on lawmakers who voted against election certification Crenshaw pours cold water on 2024 White House bid: ‘Something will emerge’ MORE (R-Mo.) Is “not going anywhere.” How did he get here?

Reid Wilson, The Hill : GOP’s tyranny of the minority.

Washingtonian : 250 of the most influential experts and advocates who shape policy debates (working outside of government), organized by subject categories.

Bloomberg News : Researchers have found a stronger correlation between political instability and rising homicide rates than prevailing hypotheses, such as economic distress and prevalence of guns.

IN FOCUS/SHARP TAKES

ADMINISTRATION: The president signed a new executive order on Sunday to leverage federal resources in an effort to protect and strengthen access to the ballot, a response to ongoing effort by GOP state legislatures to restrict voting rights after the 2020 election ( The Hill ).

Biden’s order, which directs agencies to increase access to voter registration materials and reduce barriers to voting for certain groups, comes amid a push by congressional Democrats to pass H.R. 1, a sprawling bill the House passed last week to reform voting processes and elections. House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) acknowledged on Sunday the reality that the bill will likely die in the Senate because of the filibuster, adding that the result will be “catastrophic.”

“There’s no way under the sun that in 2021 that we are going to allow the filibuster to be used to deny voting rights. That just ain’t gonna happen. That would be catastrophic,” Clyburn told The Guardian .

The president’s executive action coincided with the 56th anniversary of the “Bloody Sunday” march in Selma, Ala., which served as a catalyst for the passage of the Voting Rights Act. As The Hill’s Marty Johnson notes , Sunday’s commemoration of the 1965 violent clash between 600 civil rights marchers and white police officers on the Edmund Pettus Bridge was the first to take place without the late Rep. John Lewis John Lewis Lawmakers, activists remember civil rights icons to mark ‘Bloody Sunday’ Clyburn: Allowing filibuster to be used to deny voting rights would be ‘catastrophic’ Walking in the footsteps of giants — honoring the legacy of Rep. John R. Lewis MORE (D-Ga.), who died in July.

The Associated Press : Biden marks “Bloody Sunday” by signing voting rights order.

The Hill : Biden to formally establish new Gender Policy Council.

> Border: The Biden administration is faced with a burgeoning crisis along the U.S.-Mexico border as officials have seen the number of unaccompanied minors crossing into the U.S. rise steadily over the first six weeks of the nascent presidency.

Thousands of migrants have crossed into the U.S. since Biden took office, many of them unaccompanied minors, testing the administration’s resources and ability to quickly implement its own strategy at the border in the face of criticism from across the aisle. According to The Hill’s Brett Samuels and Jonathan Easley , the Biden administration is rapidly adapting its approach to meet the growing need for space and manpower in a reflection of the seriousness of the situation.

The Hill : Political landmines await Merrick Garland Merrick Garland Senate to vote next week on Garland’s AG nomination Biden’s justice reform should influence prosecutor appointments Politics in the Department of Justice can be a good thing MORE at Department of Justice.

Axios : Japan Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga set to become first foreign leader to visit Biden in White House.

The Morning Report is created by journalists Alexis Simendinger and Al Weaver. We want to hear from you! Email: [email protected] and [email protected] . We invite you to share The Hill’s reporting and newsletters, and encourage others to SUBSCRIBE !

OPINION

The road to reopening won’t be a straight line , by Scott Gottlieb and Mark McClellan, opinion contributors, The Wall Street Journal. https://on.wsj.com/3tbfDqz

Do liberals care if books disappear? By Ross Douthat, columnist, The New York Times. https://nyti.ms/3v3gpaI

WHERE AND WHEN

The House meets at noon.

The Senate convenes on Tuesday at 3 p.m. and will resume consideration of the nominations of Rep. Marcia Fudge Marcia Fudge We need to lay the foundation for meaningful housing policy change Black Caucus members lobby Biden to tap Shalanda Young for OMB head Sanders votes against Biden USDA nominee Vilsack MORE (D-Ohio) to become secretary of Housing and Urban Development and Garland to lead the Department of Justice.

The president and Vice President Harris will receive the Presidential Daily Brief at 9:50 a.m. Biden and Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough Denis Richard McDonough The Hill’s 12:30 Report – Presented by ExxonMobil – Increased security on Capitol Hill amid QAnon’s March 4 date The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – Lawmakers face Capitol threat as senators line up votes for relief bill Pentagon launches civilian-led commission to address military sexual assault MORE at 1 p.m. will visit the D.C. Veterans Affairs Medical Center, where the administration of COVID-19 vaccines to veterans is taking place. Biden, Harris and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin Lloyd Austin Biden nominates female generals whose promotions were reportedly delayed under Trump Sunday shows: Manchin in the spotlight after pivotal role in coronavirus aid debate Pentagon chief: Response to rocket attack in Iraq will be ‘thoughtful’ and ‘appropriate’ MORE will also deliver remarks on International Women’s Day from the White House at 4:20 p.m.

First lady Jill Biden Jill Biden Jill Biden redefines role of first lady Biden faces criticism over push to vaccinate teachers Overnight Health Care: Biden slams Texas, Mississippi for lifting coronavirus restrictions: ‘Neanderthal thinking’ | Senate panel splits along party lines on Becerra |Over 200K sign up for ACA plans during Biden special enrollment period MORE at 10 a.m. will address the 2021 International Women of Courage Award ceremony hosted by the State Department and Secretary of State Antony Blinken Antony Blinken China: Electoral reform would bring ‘brighter future’ for Hong Kong State sanctions Ukrainian billionaire over alleged corruption Australian PM Morrison says Biden will join first-ever ‘Quad’ meeting MORE . The event is live streamed HERE .

The White House press briefing is scheduled at 11:30 a.m.. The White House COVID-19 response team will brief the news media at 11 a.m.

The National League of Cities Congressional City Conference begins today through Wednesday, including virtual remarks from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Nancy Pelosi Trump White House associate tied to Proud Boys before riot via cell phone data Greene sounds off on GOP after Hill story ‘Bloody Sunday’ to be commemorated for first time without John Lewis MORE (D-Calif.), Schumer, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen Janet Louise Yellen The Hill’s 12:30 Report – Presented by ExxonMobil – Senate begins marathon vote-a-rama before .9T COVID-19 relief passage The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – Virus relief bill headed for weekend vote Debt to break WWII record by 2031 MORE , Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg Pete Buttigieg The Hill’s 12:30 Report – Presented by ExxonMobil – Senate begins marathon vote-a-rama before .9T COVID-19 relief passage The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – Virus relief bill headed for weekend vote Biden turns focus to next priority with infrastructure talks MORE , Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky Rochelle Walensky Overnight Health Care: CDC study links masks to fewer COVID-19 deaths | Relief debate stalls in Senate | Biden faces criticism over push to vaccinate teachers CDC study links masks to fewer COVID deaths The Hill’s 12:30 Report – Presented by ExxonMobil – Increased security on Capitol Hill amid QAnon’s March 4 date MORE , Fauci and more. Information is HERE .

Hill.TV’s “Rising” program features news and interviews at http://thehill.com/hilltv or on YouTube at 10:30 a.m. EST at Rising on YouTube .

ELSEWHERE

➔ INTERNATIONAL: Two protesters were shot dead in Myanmar on Monday by security forces as demonstrations continue to take place across the country in response to the military coup that took place last month. Two people were shot and killed in Myitkyina in Kachin State, with the military using tear gas and some automatic gunfire in an attempt to disperse the crowd. Protests also took place in Naypyitaw, the capital city, and Mandalay ( The Associated Press ).

➔ TECH: Silicon Valley giants are drawing battle lines over personal data collection practices and targeted ads. Google was the latest to take a step toward data privacy by announcing plans this week to phase out its own tracking features used for personalizing ads. That move came after Apple drew Facebook’ s ire with its anticipated anti-tracking feature. Experts and pro-privacy advocates say that while Google’s update may be a small step toward giving users more control over their data protection, the change may hurt Google’s rivals more than the company itself ( The Hill ).

➔ UN-ROYALED: Prince Harry and wife, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, told Oprah Winfrey Oprah Gail Winfrey Prince Harry says he felt ‘trapped’ in royal familiy Meghan Markle says she wasn’t able to get help for suicidal thoughts as a member of the royal family Meghan Markle says royal family discussed her unborn son’s skin color MORE during a much-ballyhooed interview on CBS on Sunday that they struggled mightily with life in the Royal Family, including Harry saying that he felt “trapped” and Meghan making a number of allegations that could rock the British royals. The Duchess made two stunning revelations: that she had suicidal thoughts after marrying Harry and that the royals did not give her access to mental health resources, and that there were conversations within the family about “how dark” their son Archie’s “skin might be” ( The Associated Press ).

THE CLOSER

And finally … Dogs are good. Sports are good. Dogs and sports together though? Of course they’re good!

The fabulous combo came together on Sunday as the 49th edition of the Iditarod kicked off (or mushed off?) in Deshka Landing in Alaska . Like other sporting events these days, it has been modified to comply with COVID-19 restrictions. The mushers — of which there are a limited number this year — are wearing masks from start to finish, and social distancing is being adhered to at all times.

The course has also been shortened to 852 miles, and organizers have asked fans to stay home. The event will also end in Deshka Landing, marking the first time in the Iditarod’s history that it will end somewhere other than Nome, Alaska.

Last year, the Iditarod was the final sporting event to be completed before the worldwide shutdown took place ( Anchorage Daily News ).

Three time Yukon Quest winner and cancer survivor Lance Mackey mushes his team over frozen Willow Lake as Iditarod XXXV official begins 04 March 2007 in Willow, Alaska.

National Renewable Energy Laboratory optimistic in face of Trump’s budget cuts

by www.denverpost.com Leave a Comment

By Peter Marcus , Colorado Politics

GOLDEN — The National Renewable Energy Laboratory has 40 years of history behind it, but walking through its sprawling Front Range campus one can’t help but think 40 years into the future.

Solar cells that can be spray-painted onto windows or printed at a Home Depot; power grids that can take in a wide portfolio of traditional and renewable energy and adapt to changing environments; homes with appliances that communicate with each other to share power between electric cars, water heaters, appliances and even neighbors; hydrogen cars that can travel 300 miles with only a three-minute charge.

Researchers at NREL — a national laboratory that celebrated its 40th birthday on July 5 — have been innovating and contributing to the Colorado and national economy through seven presidential administrations, with the reach of their work only growing each year.

But the laboratory’s future is uncertain under President Donald Trump, who has promised to trim government spending, and has identified renewable energy programs as a target.

Times are just as uncertain for other marquee federal labs in Colorado — many of which deal with energy or climate research.

Trump’s budget proposal to Congress would cut the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy by an estimated 70 percent in the upcoming fiscal year. The office, which is part of the Department of Energy, provides about 80 percent of NREL’s funding. The other 20 percent of the lab’s income is derived from other federal agencies and partnerships with businesses.

Trump has taken other actions that favor fossil fuels over the renewable energy industry in Colorado. In an executive order signed in March, Trump placed a renewed focus on coal, lifting an Obama-era moratorium on all new leases of federal coal reserves. He also directed the EPA to begin unwinding Obama’s Clean Power Plan, which would have closed hundreds of coal-fired power plants and curbed construction of new plants. Trump said the orders were meant to revitalize the coal industry, telling miners at the time, “You’re going back to work.”

Coal mining is a $500 million industry in Colorado, producing 12 million tons of coal a year and employing 2,700 people.

Trump’s budget request is of course a moving target, but NREL could face a substantial retrenchment in funding, with one early estimate pegged at 21 percent.

And while a House committee has voted to increase funding for energy efficiency and renewable energy by $500 million above Trump’s request, Congress has yet to approve any funding.

But Keith Wipke, laboratory program manager for hydrogen technologies at NREL, is confident that renewable energy research will remain a vital component of the nation’s energy portfolio.

“The wind and the sun, they’re here, nobody can build a fence and block those things from coming into our country, so there’s a strong sense of independence and how important it is to be doing the right thing and showing leadership,” he said. “That’s what brought me here, and it’s what’s kept me here for the last half of my life.”

BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR NREL

Colorado is the seventh-largest energy producing state in the United states, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

A recent report from the administration revealed that about 24 percent of all March electricity production in Colorado came from wind and solar, helping the state reach its renewable energy standard of 30 percent by 2020.

There is bipartisan agreement among the state’s congressional delegation to keep NREL’s innovative work well-funded.

“It’s not easy to overstate the importance,” said U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter, D-Arvada, whose district includes NREL. “It has allowed us to attract some very smart, talented people, a lot of entrepreneurs, and it has benefited our state so that we have the lowest unemployment anywhere in the country.”

Colorado U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner, a Republican, said that he stressed to Energy Secretary Rick Perry before his confirmation hearing that NREL is an important facility. “NREL’s critical work on energy and grid resiliency are critical components to an all-of-the-above energy strategy and helps the United States continue to develop cutting-edge technologies,” Gardner said.

He pointed out that every $1 of taxpayer money invested through the lab results in $5 of private investment.

“I’ll continue to lead the fight in Congress against any draconian cuts to NREL and do everything I can to make sure Colorado’s interests are reflected in a final budget,” Gardner said.

NREL’s economic impact was about $872 million nationwide in 2014, according to the latest fiscal study, which was conducted by the University of Colorado ’ Boulder Leeds School of Business. The study estimates NREL’s impact to Colorado’s economy totaled $701 million.

Jefferson County, where the largest number of NREL employees are located, saw a $275 million economic impact. It is among the 10 largest employers in the county, with more than 1,700 full-time and more than 100 part-time employees.

By contrast, the lab’s projected budget for fiscal 2017 is about $360 million.

RENEWABLES DEBATE

Renewable energy budget concerns aren’t just an issue on the national level. Colorado recently served as a microcosm after Republicans and Democrats could not agree on funding the Colorado Energy Office.

The debate started in the full Legislature, which failed to approve a bill that would have provided $3.1 million to keep the office funded. Republicans pushed for eliminating certain renewable energy programs, while expanding the Energy Office’s focus to include nuclear and hydropower and giving the oil and gas industry a greater voice.

While the effort to fund the office was bipartisan, not enough Democrats supported the measure, and it died on the last day of the legislative session.

Gov. John Hickenlooper, a Democrat, recently sought to save the office by asking state budget writers to approve supplemental emergency funding. But Republicans on the Joint Budget Committee were uncomfortable approving the supplemental funding without input from the full Legislature, which adjourned in May.

Without the money, 24 staff positions stand to be cut.

There are fears that similar political gridlock could sink renewable energy programs and research on the federal level.

When asked about potential budget cuts, NREL employees don’t appear overly alarmed. Their focus is on the research and development that is bringing the world into the future. After all, they have survived budget cuts in the past.

“If you speak with anybody who has been with NREL very long, they’ll tell you it’s just a matter of survival, getting through different administrations that are supportive of funding, getting through administrations that are not supportive of funding,” said Bill Flecky, vice president of business development for Forge Nano, which has worked with NREL for years.

NREL made a deal with Colorado-based Forge Nano to commercialize NREL’s patented battery materials and systems capable of operating safely in high-stress environments.

“The premise of NREL is we’re not here to compete with the private sector, we’re here to help overcome research and development hurdles and challenges quickly and efficiently,” said Martha Symko-Davies, director of partnerships for the Energy Systems Integration Facility.

Symko-Davies has been at NREL for nearly 20 years.

INTEGRATING ENERGY SOURCES

The Energy Systems Integration Facility is working on how to think about power systems in a holistic way, such as how water, thermal, solar, hydrogen and traditional fuels work together in an integrated grid.

“It’s integrating these different technologies and optimizing them so that if you do have a design that you’ve come up with and you have an energy tool that guided you into its design, we have all the infrastructure here with the 16 labs to be able to validate (the project),” Symko-Davies said.

The facility is examining what a community of 3,000 homes that share a power grid would look like and how that would impact utility companies.

For the consumer, the research at NREL means moving from a manual world to an automated one, with new products coming online every day.

But before there can be new products, power grids need to keep up with demand. If renewable energy is part of the portfolio, then those grids need to be able to adapt to days without much sun, wind or other alternative energy sources. A supercomputer at the lab runs models and scenarios to change input and outtake based on the ever-changing environment.

In one of the labs in the facility, researchers are creating smart homes that are maximizing energy by using appliances differently while also integrating home batteries to manage demand. On a day with excess solar, smart homes might shift some of the energy to be stored into a battery or a water heater.

Many of the research facilities at NREL are focused on the consumer, including its fuel cell and hydrogen technologies program, which operates out of a $137 million building with the world’s most energy efficient supercomputer that is water cooled instead of air cooled.

“At the end of the day, the consumer is really driving this,” Symko-Davies said.

There is a genuine passion here for numbers, just not necessarily for the budget variety.

“In God we trust, all others bring data,” quipped Wipke, the laboratory program manager for hydrogen, who has been at NREL for half his 48 years.

“A lot of things we love here (have to do with) data. We’re going to gather a lot of data, and we’re not just going to keep it to ourselves, we’re going to put it on a TV screen, and if it’s not good, we’re going to fix it. It’s our little pressure to perform.”

Wipke’s lab is using sunlight to split water into hydrogen, which could be the future of transportation. California is already online with about 3,000 hydrogen cars and fueling stations are starting to proliferate. The only fueling stations that exist so far in Colorado are at the NREL facility.

Over at NREL’s solar facility, some of the researchers joke that “solar isn’t sexy anymore.” It’s a renewable energy that has become fairly commonplace, with panels seen on homes, businesses and public buildings throughout the state and nation.

Again, the consumer is driving the research. Solar cell paint and printing technologies will make the resource even more affordable and practical for consumers. Just over the past decade, the price of solar has dramatically dropped from $4 per watt to just 35 cents per watt.

“There’s a lot of things to explore and investigate,” said Sarah Kurtz, a pioneer of solar research who began working on the technology in 1979 before coming to NREL.

Kurtz remembers when most consumers’ first experience with solar technology was with calculators that were introduced in the late-1970s.

“It’s been amazing to me over the years, I thought, ‘That’s obvious.’ But you can’t believe what people come up with,” Kurtz said. “It’s like, ‘What will they think of next?’ And we’re still at that stage. The definition of a breakthrough is when you identify that conventional wisdom doesn’t work.”

___

Information from: The Gazette

Twenty years on, Dartelle Alder maintains he did not deliberately run down Margaret Baxter

by www.stuff.co.nz Leave a Comment

Dartelle Alder, who murdered Wellington woman Margaret Baxter in 2001, has made progress in prison and is on course to be released, but maintains he did not deliberately run Baxter down.

Alder, who is now 43, was aged 23 on January 20, 2001, when he ran Baxter down with his car as she was jogging in Hawke’s Bay. He then dumped her in his car and drove to a house, where he raped her before stabbing her more than 30 times. Alder killed Baxter by smashing a terracotta tile on her head.

Alder, who had no previous convictions, was sentenced to life with a 15-year non-parole term for the murder, which was increased by the Court of Appeal to 17 years non-parole – one of the longest terms in New Zealand’s history.

Alder was seen by the Parole Board last month.

READ MORE: High risk Dunedin child sex offender to be released on parole Dartelle Alder, who killed Margaret Baxter in 2001, takes steps towards working outside prison Serial killer Hayden Tyrone Poulter found dead in Whanganui Prison

When asked by the Parole Board, at the request of Baxter’s family, whether he accepted that he had deliberately run down Baxter immediately before the subsequent offending, he said it would be easier for him to say that he had deliberately run her down, but he said that was not true.

“He said that he had been driving along, there had been a collision and his windscreen had broken. He did not know what he had hit, he got out of the car and then heard the deceased,” the Parole Board report stated.

“We leave that matter for the victims. He acknowledged to us how much he appreciated the victim’s approach. He recognised it cast an important obligation on him to never return to prison and to live a good life,” the report said.

At Alder’s sentencing, Justice Warwick Gendall said it was hard to imagine a more cruel, vicious and brutal crime.

In 2007, Alder was found not guilty of murdering Sonny John Keremete, 25, a fellow inmate at Hawke’s Bay Prison in March the previous year.

The Parole Board said Alder had done well with his rehabilitation and had a good knowledge of his high-risk situations and how he would deal with them.

He was assessed as being moderate to low risk of sexual re-offending and low violent re-offending.

He was moving to reintegration and was about to apply for Release to Work.

“We think Mr Alder is on an appropriate course ultimately for his release. He understands the limitations of where that might be. We will see him again by the end of December 2021 to review the position. In the meantime, he is an undue risk,” the report said.

Alder is held at Waikeria Prison.

Stuff