News media sue over new execution rules

News media sue over new execution rules

SACRAMENTO, Calif.

The Los Angeles Times and other news media organizations sued over California’s new execution rules Wednesday, saying they would bar journalists from fully reporting on the lethal injection procedure. The lawsuit is the latest challenge as the state seeks to resume executions for the first time since 2006.

“California may not administer its executions from a back room, outside of the view of the press and the public,” one of the attorneys filing the suit, Ajay Krishnan, a partner with Keker, Van Nest & Peters, said.

A limited number of journalists are selected to witness executions on behalf of the public.

Homeland Security chief postpones trip

SACRAMENTO, Calif.

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen is postponing her trip to the U.S.-Mexico border.

She had planned to get a firsthand look today at the work being done to replace existing vehicle barriers with what is being billed as part of President Donald Trump’s border wall. Nielsen was scheduled to get a briefing on construction near the Santa Teresa border crossing but her office said the trip has been postponed.

Meanwhile, California Gov. Jerry Brown agreed Wednesday to deploy 400 National Guard troops at Trump’s request, but not all will head to the U.S.-Mexico border as Trump wants and none will enforce federal immigration enforcement.

Thousands of Ariz. teachers protest

PHOENIX

Thousands of Arizona teachers wearing red shirts and carrying signs protested outside more than a thousand schools Wednesday, demanding higher salaries and better school funding.

The “walk-ins” were held before classes and were organized by a grass-roots movement pushing for a 20 percent raise and more than $1 billion in new education funding. Arizona’s demonstration is part of a wave of educators in Republican-majority states demanding higher pay. West Virginia teachers were the first to go on strike and won a 5 percent raise. Oklahoma’s two largest school districts have been closed for nearly two weeks because of a teacher strike and Kentucky educators called in sick to protest pension reform.

Israel marks Holocaust Remembrance Day

JERUSALEM

Israel is commemorating its Holocaust Remembrance Day in memory of the 6 million Jews systematically killed by Nazi Germany and its collaborators during World War II.

The solemn day began Wednesday evening with the main ceremony at Jerusalem’s Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial. Israelis come to a mournful, two-minute standstill to remember the dead today morning when a siren wails across the country.

Daughter of ex-spy rejects Russian help

LONDON

The daughter of poisoned former spy Sergei Skripal said Wednesday that she doesn’t want help from the Russian Embassy as she recovers from the nerve agent attack that left her and her father in critical condition and created an international furor.

Yulia Skripal, 33, said she finds herself with a “totally different life” than the one she had before the March 4 poisoning in southwest England. She was released from the hospital this week, while Sergei Skripal remains hospitalized.

Britain has blamed the attack on Russia, triggering the expulsion of more than 150 Russian diplomats from western countries. Russia vehemently denies any involvement and has responded by expelling the same number of diplomats.

Associated Press