Good afternoon and thank you for coming here today. My name is Eric Dreiband and I serve as the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights here at the U.S. Department of Justice.

As the Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, I am entrusted with the responsibility of protecting the civil rights of the brave men and women of our nation’s armed forces, and our nation’s veterans.  Since COVID-19 has come to our shores, active duty servicemembers and members of the National Guard and Reserve have shouldered new burdens as they work to protect our country.  We owe it to them to ensure that COVID-19 does not jeopardize their economic livelihood.  That is why the Department of Justice is committed to vigorously enforcing all the civil rights laws, including those that protect the housing and civilian employment rights of servicemembers. 

The Justice Department announced today that Juan Carlos Pagán Bonilla (Pagan), 21, and Sean Díaz de León (Diaz), 19, have been charged by a criminal complaint in federal district court with carjacking and with using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence in connection with the death of two transgender individuals. Pagan and Diaz are now in federal custody.

Assistant Attorney General Stephen E. Boyd issued the following statement in support of efforts to streamline payments under the Public Safety Officer Benefit Program (PSOB) to public safety officers fatally injured while working during COVID-19:

Thank you, Sean, for your kind introduction. And thank you to CSIS for partnering with us in this conference and for your leadership and innovative thinking on critical policy issues that affect us all. I would like to take a few moments now to reflect on how the National Security Division (NSD) came to be and how, in our first decade, we have strived to achieve our twin aims: protecting the United States against national security threats while safeguarding our core freedoms.

The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. has agreed to pay $3.2 million to settle charges for providing the SEC with incomplete and inaccurate securities trading information known as “blue sheet data.”…

The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that Natasha Guinan has been named Chief Counsel, Office of the Chief Accountant (OCA). As Chief Counsel, Ms. Guinan will provide legal guidance to the Chief Accountant and the other OCA groups in…

A federal grand jury returned an indictment today charging eight individuals with conspiring to violate federal criminal copyright law by running two of the largest unauthorized streaming services in the United States, resulting in the loss of millions of dollars by television program and motion picture copyright owners.

A North Carolina man has admitted taking part in a conspiracy to steal design information from aircraft companies to speed up approval of competing airplane technology.

This conference offers a great opportunity for CCIPS, the Department, and each of our law enforcement colleagues gathered at the table today to discuss our shared efforts in IP enforcement, and to hear your comments about the latest successes and challenges. It’s an event that benefits all of us.

A North Carolina man who took part in a conspiracy to steal design information from aircraft companies to speed up approval of competing airplane technology has been sentenced to nearly six years in federal prison.

The Department of Justice has released the agenda and list of participants for its March 11, 2020, public workshop to solicit public dialogue on the proposed vertical merger guidelines. The workshop will be the first in a two-part series hosted together with the Federal Trade Commission. The two half-day workshops will allow for a dynamic discussion about the proposed guidelines to complement the written public comments about the proposed guidelines that were submitted to the agencies.

Two commercial flooring executives, Robert A. Patrey Jr. and Kenneth R. Smith, pleaded guilty for their role in an antitrust conspiracy to rig bids and fix prices for commercial flooring services and products sold in the United States, the Department of Justice announced. The defendants are cooperating with the Justice Department’s ongoing investigation.

The Department of Justice Antitrust Division announced today that it has adopted a series of temporary changes to its civil merger investigation processes, which will remain in place during the pendency of the coronavirus (COVID-19) event. These changes will ensure that the Antitrust Division will be able to continue operations as its employees carry out their duties to protect American consumers under a mass telework directive, in accordance with health guidance from the CDC, WHO, and other health authorities.

The U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division and The Federal Trade Commission today issued a joint statement detailing an expedited antitrust procedure and providing guidance for collaborations of businesses working to protect the health and safety of Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Department of Justice announced today that it is requiring United Technologies Corporation (UTC) and Raytheon Company (Raytheon) to divest Raytheon’s military airborne radios business and UTC’s military global positioning systems (“GPS”) and large space-based optical systems businesses in order to proceed with their proposed merger.  Without these divestitures, the merger would eliminate competition between two of the primary suppliers of military airborne radios and military GPS systems to the Department of Defense (DoD), and enable the merged firm to lessen competition for multiple components used in reconnaissance satellites sold to DoD and the wider U.S. intelligence community.  

"At trial, the Antitrust Division argued that Sabre’s acquisition of Farelogix would extinguish a crucial constraint on Sabre’s market power and would result in higher prices and less innovation. While we are disappointed with the court’s decision, we appreciate the court’s thoughtful consideration of this important case. We will closely review the court’s opinion and consider next steps in light of our commitment to preserving competition for the benefit of the American consumer."

This week, the U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division celebrates the 20th anniversary of World Intellectual Property Day. The division marks the occasion by remembering the revolutionary ideal that our nation’s founding fathers embedded in the U.S. Constitution: that “securing . . . to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries” will “promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts.” For over 200 years, this “exclusive Right” has served as the foundation of the U.S. system of patent, copyright, and trademark laws.

Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute LLC (FCS), an oncology group headquartered in Fort Myers, Florida, was charged with conspiring to allocate medical and radiation oncology treatments for cancer patients in Southwest Florida, the Department of Justice announced.  This charge is the first in the department’s ongoing investigation into market allocation in the oncology industry.

Sabre Corporation and Farelogix, Inc. announced today the termination of their merger agreement.

The Department of Justice announced today the conclusion of its investigation into proposed acquisitions by Dairy Farmers of America Inc. (DFA) and Prairie Farms Dairy Inc. (Prairie Farms) of fluid milk processing plants from Dean Foods Company (Dean) out of bankruptcy.  The department’s investigation was conducted against the backdrop of unprecedented challenges in the dairy industry, with the two largest fluid milk processors in the U.S., Dean and Borden Dairy Company, in bankruptcy, and Dean faced with imminent liquidation.

Cengage Learning Holdings II Inc. and McGraw-Hill Education Inc. mutually agreed to abandon their plans to merge after the Department of Justice informed the companies it had serious concerns that the proposed transaction, as structured, would harm competition.

Family, friends and elected leaders were joined by police officers from as far away as Chicago.

Santa Anita Park officials are hoping to get word early this week from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and the county's Department of Public of Health on whether racing can resume at the Arcadia, Calif., track. Belinda Stronach, whose family's company owns Santa Anita, and Aidan Butler, the executive director of California Racing […]

The post Santa Anita Hoping On-Site ‘Jockey Colony,’ Other COVID-19 Protocols Will Lead To Racing Resumption appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

In a recent interview with Susan Salk for her website, Off Track Thoroughbreds.com, the Paulick Report's own Ray Paulick sat down with Ms. Salk to discuss the current state of the racing industry, the growing awareness of the 'unwanted' racehorse, and Paulick's love of the sport of racing itself. Read more at Off Track Thoroughbreds […]

The post Q & A on Racing’s Future, Unwanted Racehorses with Ray Paulick appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

As a racehorse, Well Well didn't show much talent, only earning around $18,000. Once retired, the gelding embarked on a foxhunting career, where he excelled, until partial blindness in his right eye slowed him down. Now, a few years later, Well Well has a new home and career – as the 'go-to' pony for Kentucky […]

The post ‘Reluctant Star’: Off-Track Thoroughbred is Always by Orb’s Side appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

The Communication Alliance for Networking Thoroughbred Ex-Racehorses' Kentucky division took its operation to a new level this month when it opened its first official retraining facility in Georgetown. For both CANTER Kentucky executive director Amanda Graham and trainer Stephanie Calendrillo, the event marks the realization of long-term goals. Graham has been saving money to open the […]

The post Three Chimneys presents Good News Friday: CANTER Kentucky Making New Strides appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

BuzzFeed News: Grubhub Collected Record Fees From Restaurants Struggling To Stay Alive During The Pandemic. “Restaurant owners have long complained that fees charged by ordering platforms like Grubhub, often ranging from 15% to 30%, make orders less profitable, and sometimes unprofitable — but businesses have no choice but to use them if they want to … Continue reading BuzzFeed News: Grubhub Collected Record Fees From Restaurants Struggling To Stay Alive During The Pandemic

In today's Commentary, Josh Spiegel shares his latest observations on the pandemic including the overwhelming number of cliches that he says have overwhelmed him.

The Baltimore County executive was on with C4.

Trainer Ray Handal experienced the highs and lows of horse racing with shippers Kansas Kis and Timely Tradition on closing weekend at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark. The duo were the first starters for Handal since March 15, the last day of live racing in New York, when he saddled Timely Tradition for a victory in a […]

The post Handal Says Fantasy Flop Won’t Define Kansas Kis’ Season appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

The next target for Swiss Skydiver is firm, trainer Kenny McPeek said late Saturday afternoon, roughly 24 hours after her 2 ½-length victory over Venetian Harbor in the Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn Park. McPeek said Swiss Skydiver is targeting the 1,000 Guineas (G1), a 1-mile turf race for 3-year-old fillies, June 6 in Newmarket, England. […]

The post ‘I Think She’ll Take To The Turf’: McPeek To Target 1,000 Guineas With Fantasy Winner Swiss Skydiver appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

The frustration earlier in the career of Grade 1 Clark Handicap winner Tom's d'Etat was that G M B Racing's talented horse missed so much racing while sidelined with niggling physical issues. “He's had a lot of stay-at-home social distancing in his life,” trainer Al Stall Jr. wryly observed. Now 7, Tom's d'Etat has enjoyed […]

The post In Search Of Two-Turn Stakes Race, Tom’s D’Etat Could Head To Gold Cup At Santa Anita appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

President Donald Trump participated in a tour of a Honeywell International plant that manufactures personal protective equipment, Tuesday, May 5, 2020, in Phoenix .

COVID cases are surging in Stearns County, in large part due to three meat packing plants in the area. We photograph St. Cloud Mayor Dave Kleis as he broadcasts his daily COVID-19 update to constituents on Thursday, May 7, 2020 at St. Cloud City Hall in St. Cloud, Minn.

What began in March as a small camp consisting of about a couple dozen homeless adults has now swelled to more than 100 residents in tents. Known as "Camp Quarantine," the fast-growing encampment has raised alarms over the health of the camp residents amid the coronavirus pandemic. Construction crews will begin installing a large metal fence around a homeless camp. Police are also expected to be on site too. The fence is being erected to contain the growth of the sprawling camp, which now has about 100 residents in rows of tents. The camp is located on Met Council property along the light-rail line near E. 28th Street and Hiawatha Avenue.

I understand the above quote completely. Life would be so much simpler if my work was just reviewed by my personal friends and by people whose careers are tied to mine. Sure, they’d point out problems, but they’d do it in a nice way, quietly. They’d understand that any mistakes I made would never have […]

The following came in the email: I’m a reporter for **, and am looking for comment on the stats Gov Cuomo just released. Would you be available for a 10-minute phone conversation? Please let me know. Thanks so much, and here’s the info: Here is the relevant part: In New York City, about 21 percent, […]

Joseph Candelora in comments pointed to this updated report on the Santa Clara study we discussed last week. The new report is an improvement on the first version. Here’s what I noticed in a quick look: 1. The summary conclusion, “The estimated population prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in Santa Clara County implies that the infection […]

tl;dr: Their 95% interval for the infection rate, given the data available, is [0.7%, 1.8%]. My Bayesian interval is [0.3%, 2.4%]. Most of what makes my interval wider is the possibility that the specificity and sensitivity of the tests can vary across labs. To get a narrower interval, you’d need additional assumptions regarding the specificity […]

The other day we posted some Stan models of coronavirus infection rate from the Stanford study in Santa Clara county. The Bayesian setup worked well because it allowed us to directly incorporate uncertainty in the specificity, sensitivity, and underlying infection rate. Mitzi Morris put all this in a Google Collab notebook so you can run […]

The fan-favorite outfielder abruptly left the team last week.

Ricardo Santana Jr., whose six-year streak as Oaklawn's leading rider was ended in 2019 by David Cohen, has been suspended the final 10 racing days of the 2020 race meeting at the Hot Springs, Ark., track for an incident involving Cohen in the stretch run of the seventh race on Sunday, April 5. Santana was […]

The post Elbow Room: Santana Suspended 10 Days By Oaklawn Stewards For Careless Riding appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.