NEWS OF THE DAY
From Across the Nation
_1 Trump fundraising: President Trump took in $165 million for his reelection effort in July, a sum that that surpasses what his Democratic rival, Joe Biden, raised during the same period. But a huge cashonhand advantage that once gave the Republican a significant competitive edge has largely been closed, with Biden and the Democratic Party reporting that they are just $6 million shy of the $300 million that the president and the Republican National Committee have banked. The money puts the two on a virtually even footing that will allow both to saturate the airwaves with advertising.
_2 Rally beating: The Supreme Court of Virginia has denied the appeals of two men convicted in the brutal beating of a Black man in a Charlottesville parking garage the day of a violent white supremacist rally. The court denied Jacob Scott Goodwin’s petition for appeal this week and denied Alex Michael Ramos’ petition for appeal in May, according to Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring’s office. Both were convicted of malicious wounding for their roles in the 2017 beating of DeAndre Harris, which was captured in photos and videos widely shared online.
_3 Michael Cohen: President Trump’s former personal lawyer has been offered work as a consultant and to make media appearances for a political action committee, his lawyer said this week. Michael Cohen hopes to accept the offer to work on the committee’s behalf, attorney Danya Perry told U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein in a letter aimed at ensuring the judge does not object. She did not identify the committee. The judge ordered Cohen released from prison two weeks ago, saying the government returned him to prison in July in retaliation after Cohen said publicly that he planned to publish a book about his years working for Trump.
_4 Pipeline ruling: A federal appeals court this week reversed a judge’s order that shut down the Dakota Access pipeline pending a full environmental review. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit sided with pipeline owner Energy Transfer to keep the oil flowing, saying a lowercourt judge “did not make the findings necessary for injunctive relief.” On July 6, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg ordered the pipeline closed while the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers fulfills his demand to conduct a more extensive environmental review than the one that allowed the pipeline to move oil near the Standing Rock Indian Reservation three years ago. Tribal Chairman Mike Faith said the tribe would continue its fight.
_5 Boy saves dad: A 9yearold Florida boy is being hailed a hero for pulling his father from the water this week after the man fractured his neck in a diving accident at Quietwater Beach. Young Asaih Williams said he always plays a game when he’s diving with someone. If the other person doesn’t emerge from the water in a set amount of time, then the boy goes in after him. He’s never had any formal swimming or lifeguard training. It ended up saving his dad’s life. Josh Williams was transported to a hospital where he underwent fusion surgery.
Chronicle News Services