#a fair weather felony

[schonheit-ist-in-alles]

x crossword & mini-mystery

- Scholastic Scope, February 22, 1999

[aaluminiumas]

See You Tomorrow

At any other time of day and week, St. Patrick’s would be overcrowded, but today, for some reason, no one showed up. Abandoned, shabby, and merely whitewashed, the church looked especially dilapidated and decrepit. How did they manage to live in such a ramshackle place? How did they grow used to the dull and stultifying landscapes enshrouding them every morning when they opened their eyes? How did they find the vivacity to arrange fairs and local competitions while he strove to impel himself to return to the island each time he visited the Vatican?

           He sighed and leaned back in the confessional, mentally asking for forgiveness. Someone had to do it, he reminded himself. You chose this path; no one forced you into a school of theology. Truth be told, he never doubted his vocation: since the death of his little sister, John struggled to find a purpose, and God seemed to be the perfect answer to all his aspirations. Lonely and confused, the boy rummaged in books, spoke to his parents, and tried to contemplate the situation by himself, but only the parish priest turned out to be competent enough to offer a decent explanation. It didn't mollify him at the time but granted the young man the necessary respite to resurface from his grief and get back to the daily routine. The salubrious effect of the conversation with the cleric lasted sufficiently long for John to make the decision that defined his entire life: the day Bishop Burke ordained him became one of the most memorable moments. John Pruitt, a mere fledgling without any decent experience, finally found his place within the confines of the church.

        Pruitt cast another glance at his watch. 7:30pm. Usually punctual, not a single congregation member turned up. It happened every once in a while. At first, John felt mildly offended and insecure: if his people refused to attend, that was his fault; he failed to deliver God's message and inspire his congregation. Judging by the example set by his role models at the seminary and in the Vatican, he felt he could not compare: his reasonings sounded lame, his wording lacked power and ethos, his tall frame, looming over the pulpit, might have created an impression of a hangman, rather than a compassionate guide, a shepherd, willing to bolster his sheep and help them discover the right way. When the initial stage of self-criticism came to a close, John realized that he was never the one to blame. Unlike residents of bigger cities, local dwellers dedicated all their time to work, as their lives naturally depended on it: women who worked at school or in a store could certainly not survive on their own, so they relied on their husbands, dealing with fishing and sailing. They would occasionally stop by and listen to the preachings when the weather threatened their boats, and the men felt robust enough—and bored enough—to socialize with their neighbors at St. Patrick's. Obviously, today, though cloudy, was a good day, and no one was eager to confess.

           At this, the priest smiled. Sins on Crockett were never too hideous: these were truly religious people who sometimes strayed and needed direction. Someone drank too much, others ate too much; a case of adultery was reported, and maybe the pious Keanes exaggerated the inadvertently exacerbating situation with the deteriorating morals, never admitting their own arrogance and a knack for gossip. But aren’t we all like this? Aren’t we all inclined to make wrong decisions and overindulge in minor temptations? Aren’t we all flawed human beings, more or less exposed to the imperfections of this world? Aren’t these problems, so pathetically commonplace and hackneyed, perennial and common for any diocese, regardless of location? In this case, he shouldn’t complain: at any rate, no one had confessed to a felony or a sin he would have a hard time to absolve.

           Pruitt looked at his watch once again, and, following the hand striking eight with his eyes, he reached for the stole to take it off. Suddenly, the man heard the light steps softly echoing in the empty church.

           His heart missed a beat. He knew exactly who was coming.

            The woman quietly stepped into the confessional, and the priest sensed an unfamiliar bout of frisson spreading across his body in a warm wave.

He couldn't see her face, of course, but by the rustling of her clothes, he understood that she knelt and folded her hands in a silent prayer. She seemed hesitant, and he didn't hurry her: after all, they had an eternity ahead of them, as no one was going to accidentally turn up this late in the evening. Usually, Pruitt would tenderly nudge parishioners, knowing that soon their confession would eventually trickle out through the lattice of the booth; with Mildred, he did no such thing.

In a few minutes, she finally spoke.

“Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned,” Millie whispered in a low voice. Pruitt envisioned her tiny frame, sloping shoulders and hands folded in prayer and pressed to the forehead. “I committed a mortal sin—” 

The man gave a start. What could she have done? This innocent woman, always smiling, always immensely kind and considerate? What did she consider a mortal sin? He almost bit his tongue, suppressing a weird urge to call her by name. 

 “I…” she paused, trying to find the right words, “I fell in love with a man I cannot be with.” 

Her words startled him further. Of all the people he had met, she might be the only one who deemed feelings to be a sin: even those who cheated on their spouses latched onto the thought that love was a blessing sent directly by God. A rudderless blessing, as one parishioner said; no matter how daunting it seems at the beginning, you eventually give in. John couldn't stifle a cackle that time, and now he was exposed to a completely different point of view. 

"But love's never a sin," John heard himself saying. "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins... And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity... These are the verses that come to mind immediately, but there are many more." 

Millie paused, and he got an impression that it was stubborn taciturnity rather than that of acceptance. The priest didn't know the woman well, but from his short exchanges with her, he deduced that she hardly agreed with other dwellers on the island. An overt, outright rebellion would endanger her independence, so she remained affable, but it never meant she supported all the ideas voiced at local gatherings. She lived her simple life as the next man, creating an inner bubble of things she enjoyed. 

“Why do you think it's wrong to love a man?” 

She adjusted her dress and sighed. 

“Not any man. One particular man.” 

The priest felt tension growing, his mouth going dry for no reason whatsoever. He cleared his throat. 

“Is he married?” 

           Another pause. 

           “In a way.” 

  In a way. What does this even mean? Did she get seduced by a stranger from the outer world who deceived her and abandoned her after he satisfied his needs? 

Before he managed to contrive a decent answer, the woman continued, “Well, he’s… not married in the full sense of the word, but he’s sworn, too. Oath bound,” Millie said vaguely in a coarse voice. “And I do not know… I do not know how much longer I will be able to hide it. To pretend that everything’s fine.”

John contemplated it for a moment. He had heard a great deal of confessions, each scarier than the previous; he talked to his superiors at seminary, consulted them, discussed the entire topic, not sure how to behave around murderers and terrorists who decided to find their way to God; he mentally prepared himself for all types of complications, but this one was never on the list. The man couldn't deny his own curiosity and shame, his bizarre urge to see this woman's face and hear her calm voice, but her confession, so obvious in its honesty and candor literally pulled the floor out from under him. Was it possible that she—

 “Why…” he swallowed thickly, feeling the words sticking to the back of his throat, “Why won’t you tell him?” 

Millie seemed genuinely surprised, but when she replied, her voice sounded firm.  

 “I… it won’t do any good to either of us. I do not want to be the reason for his falling. Let me be the sinner.”

 “But you did not commit any mortal sin. Our emotions can be utterly illogical; sometimes we make decisions based on our speculations, and—”

“Thank you, Father.”

Mildred seemed to be putting a stop to his lengthy monologue, but she didn't leave immediately, and he didn't have the heart to send her away. Instead, they were just sitting there quietly, listening to the distant rumble of the upcoming storm, both reluctant to break the fragile connection forging between them: they could always pin the blame on the weather, if someone planned to question her late return. Would anyone plan to question her late return, though?.. He knew she lived alone as her mother had left for the mainland and her father had died, but was she involved in any kind of relationship? George Gunning attempted at courting her, but the only reaction he seemed to be receiving was a polite smile and a lemon pie she brought as a courtesy. She still smelled bakery, violets, and sea salt. A most fascinating combination of fragrances, especially to someone so used to frankincense…

The woman shifted slightly behind the lattice, and he heard a quiet sigh. She came here seeking validation and warmth, and he only managed to utter a few general words that probably did no good.

“Millie… Mildred,” he called softly after another long pause, suddenly going against all the formalities and regulations, implying that he be absolutely impartial. But what’s the point of playing this game when she already knew he was aware of who exactly knelt in the narrow compartment next to him? “Thank you for your honesty.”

He couldn’t see her, but he sensed a slight change: she shifted, or gave a start, or moved to hide her rosary that was knocking against wood. For some reason, he envisioned her caramel eyes staring directly at him.

“It takes a lot of a person to speak their heart out,” Pruitt started pensively, carefully choosing every word. “And I appreciate it that you trust me.” He paused for a moment. “I… am honored to be able to discuss it with you, even though I cannot say I have any expertise in the field of human relationships… Thank you, Mildred. You may be dismissed.”

She didn’t respond right away, as if she needed a moment to process his words. But when he finally heard her voice, he could make out a smile, which inevitably caused her face to appear in front of his mind’s eye: always cheerful, kind, and gentle, Millie waved her hand to attract his attention and invited him for tea. He rarely rejected: she eagerly listened to his endless stories, and was genuinely interested in history and art.

“No ‘your sins are forgiven, go in peace’?” she drawled in a soft voice, grin tugging at the corners of her lips.

“I’ll give you the absolution whenever you need it, but for now you don’t seem to have committed a sin,” he replied in the same lighthearted voice, feeling relieved. “See you tomorrow.”

“See you tomorrow.”

When the door behind her closed, father Pruitt leaned back in the confessional and thought that maybe—just maybe—he had made the wrong choice.

[pickyourpop]

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[writer59january13]

Pleasant spring like day February 9th, 2024

A scent (and sixth sense predominates), when apple boughs and other aromatic flora laden with blossoms and fruit

gently assail cilia of the nostrils, aside from aiding distinguishing pleasant or unpleasant smells additionally incorporate complex structures of the paranasal sinus mucosa in which function critical linkedin to respiratory defense. Cilia beat in a coordinated manner

to clear the paranasal sinus cavities

and upper airway of the mucus blanket

that contains the pathogens and debris

continually inspired in normal respiration.

Avast extent of following poem crafted a couple plus years ago, when foretaste of temperate weather covered swath of eastern seaboard.

Courtesy climate change (think global warming),

I would forever wish to exchange

unseasonably warm temperature

(10 plus degrees Celsius

in Schwenksville, Pennsylvania today) for brutally cold subzero windchill factor,

no matter unseasonably warm degrees way out of expected range,

of established “normal” far to balmy, undoubtedly for the likes of old man winter furious his blizzard snowbound

weather forecasts shortchanged.

Once thermometer readings rise even smidgen one moost not minimize

Earth way out of balance,

an inconvenient truth I haint gonna catastrophize

as bajillion acres plus one after another ocean dries

even the skeptic cannot turn third eye blind and believe contrary lies,

when every species practically extinct

and self proclaimed éminence grise doth trumpet and stubbornly tries

to claim plethora unearthed resources

as sudden goldmine against wages of sin former traitor joe

(biden his time) redeemers actualize to catalyze nth industrial revolution

teaching as heresy ecocentric, which material basket

of deplorables power mongers bowdlerize

concurrence toward meteorological trend most all people agree toward adapting, experiencing,

and witnessing increase - fair in height degree

bestowed upon Thomas Newcomen, Richard Arkwright, Samuel Crompton, Edmund Cartwright and James Watt first Industrial

Revolution conferred as honoree

appellation not necessarily

in retrospect donned as noble pedigree,

now hundred of years later downside we see

of belching, coughing, disorging... yes siree

foul, (née deadly) cancerous, gaseous, malodorous,

noxious, poisonous... pollutants.

Decreased dissension grudgingly did abate and one doubting Thomas less nasty toward the braying donkeys in general, when Democratic contender clinched the electorate majoritty

unclouded protests muted trumpeting base aggressivity, depravity, and incendiary proclivity for hunted prey (slapped

with felony charges that H_ lied on a federal form when he claimed being drug-free at the time unnamed person purchased a Colt Cobra 38SPL revolver in October 2018) hastening Grand Poobah to abdicate

irrefutable proof generates contentious voices to accumulate

additionally disappointment

resolving global warming

activists linkedin over Green Party blessedly to administrate

hoop fully figurative tide will turn and aerate

political atmosphere whereby progressive minds will affiliate

otherwise business as usual, cuz spewing deadly particulate will only aggravate

dire straits, where

webbed wide world series of unfortunate events will airdate

prophetic apocalyptic fate

especially if nonprogressive stodgy former el presidente number Cuarenta y cinco commander in chief re-elected flush with bigotry and hate

increased chance (chants) ripe state

for revolution avast swath of population to amalgamate,

and overthrow anachronistic government

absolute zero survival unless dramatic

nondestructive strategy eschewed

to supplant exploitation and mandate

radical transformation, which dramatic shift off grid if lucky requisite Earth friendly manufacturing can possibly ameliorate.

[mopeymousey]

Being an American is so fucking weird y'all.

Our government and economy has not worked well since, at best, the 80s.

Our two party system is so deep that you can walk outside and know from a 5 sec interaction who someone voted for usually.

Going from state to state (sometimes an hour drive tops) means you go from something being totally legal to something being a felony. Weed, abortions, guns...

If you go to a gathering of people, you will think about safe exit plans for if there is gunfire. School, concerts, church, movies, fairs, parades, hospitals, office buildings... I don't go to big events much anymore.

You just accept that 40+ hours a week with an at-will employer gives you a 10% discount on healthcare that will bankrupt you anyway.

You can either be well off enough, mentally and financially, to take care of yourself or you can be like the rest of us who are too poor and beaten to do anything but eat from the overpriced overprocessed trough of American food and become the fat American stereotype

Oh, and the rest of the world is mocking us because our parents and grandparents were complete fucking shitheads who talked so much game but left their kin in the god damn mud. I don't blame y'all for hating us, but it's lonely.

To attempt to balance this post out though: deep fried corn dogs, americana music, central air conditioning, pop punk, baseball, Hamilton, Fahrenheit (it's better for weather descriptions fight me), Disney world, and my grandma who grew up as a potato farmer and is now a wealthy single lady who smokes weed on her porch and yells at ducks.

Gods help the USA 💀🎆

[goldentsum]

— love, you can’t run away from me forever.

PAIRING: soulmate! suna rintarou x reader

GENRE: smut, soulmate au but make it dark

WORDCOUNT: 5.5k

SUMMARY: growing up in a world filled with soulmates was magical but with news about people going crazy and killing people for their “love” made suna repulsive to the idea of soulmates though when you came along, he finally understood why those people did it. 

WARNING: dark content, smut, noncon, manipulative tendencies, cussing/cursing, creepy! and delulu! suna, mean! reader, masturbation (male), photos and audio recording taken w/o consent, kidnapping, oral sex (fem receiving), bdsm, sadistic! suna, dom! suna, violence, abuse, blood, suna is a dick, reader who tries to fight back

AUTHOR’S NOTE: another one cus why not! you guys seemed to liked my first dark fic so here’s another one! <3 might be bad idk prob cus of my writing HAHAHHA also, suna just being a creepy and psychopathic aquarius. DO NOT INTERACT/READ IF YOU ARE A MINOR OR DON’T LIKE THIS TYPE OF CONTENT. 

REMINDER: this is not love and i do not condone this type of behavior. do not romanticize this, this is fiction and in no way am i telling people this is okay. if you don’t like content like this, please click away or block the tag tw.darkcontent

‘the world is fucked up,’ suna thought, looking at his phone as he saw all types of news about people killing and committing all types of felonies to prove that their love for their soulmates were real. 

the stoic male grimaced at one news he came upon when he scrolled up, a young man killed his family and friends because “he doesn’t need anyone else beside his soulmate”. now that was fucked up. suna never thought he'd lose faith in humanity even more with each passing day. it was actually impressive with how fucking stupid and delusional people get when the topic of soulmates come up. 

gold eyes narrowed at the inked skin of his wrist. “(l/n) (y/n)” or whoever that is better not mind never having a soulmate because there’s no way in hell suna’s going to be all lovey-dovey and accept the soulmate bullshit. 

he thinks that soulmates are a scam. it was a hoax to make people do stupid shit and suna will not tolerate that type of bull. if he’s gonna end up with someone, it’ll be because he likes them not because of ‘fate’ or whatever decided it for him. 

he will never conform to society and its standards. 

“suna! what’s with the ugly face?” atsumu snickered, plopping down on the seat beside suna making the taller male groan. 

“oh fuck off, atsumu. i’m not in the mood for your bullshit” 

“when have you ever been in a mood for bullshit?” 

suna raised a brow and hummed, “good point” 

atsumu shook his head and turned to the counter where his brother was standing behind. “’samu! i want 3 tuna onigiris!” 

osamu glared at his brother and scowled, “get it yourself, lazy ass” 

“i’m paying you!” atsumu whined like the little brat he is but osamu ignored him and tended to the other customers in his shop. suna groaned at the noise, “for fuck’s sake, tsumu. shut up. your voice is so annoying” 

atsumu glared at the man and punched his shoulder, making suna winced and scowled at his former teammate from highschool. the older miya twin huffed and ignored his words, continuing what he was about to say before suna insulted him, “anyway! what i was trying to say earlier was that people around us are finding their soulmates while i’m stuck with you bums! how is that fair?!” 

suna groaned, annoyed, at the same old topic of soulmates. “soulmates are overrated. it’s a scam. you’re lucky you haven’t met yours yet if anything.” 

the setter scoffed at suna’s old same line of bitterness towards the topic of soulmates, “what’s with you, anyway? what’s with the bitterness towards soulmates?” 

“it’s bullshit, is all” suna replied easily, not bothered nor giving a shit. atsumu smirked and threw an arm over the male’s shoulder, “one day, you’ll meet your soulmate and everything’s gonna change.” 

“did you just curse me or?” 

“I don't know, did i?”

oh for fuck’s sake. atsumu really did cursed him. suna stared in awe, uncharacteristically so, at you while you glared at him. you clicked your tongue when his gaze was still as dazed and lovesick since you two have met. 

“fuck off, rintarou! i told you i don’t want any soulmate bullshit!” 

suna chuckled with a small blush on his cheeks, “i love it when you call me, rintarou--”

“because that’s your name, stupid! you know what, i’m not even gonna bother. and for the last time, stop following me!” you growled, stomping off to get away from your creep of a soulmate but the man didn’t mind your words. it was quite amusing to him to be honest. 

you’re so cute and small and so angry at the world that it’s so endearing to him. with every glare you give him, it sends pleasant shivers down his spine. ah, so this is what it felt to be with your soulmate. it’s addicting. you two could rule the world together if you want to. 

“love, you can’t run away from me forever. i’m your soulmate” 

you groaned at the persistent male, “i don’t want you as a soulmate! why can’t you understand that?!” 

suna stopped following you after your harsh words. you also stopped, your anger subsiding a bit when you realized what you said and all of a sudden, there was a pain in your heart. you cursed at the soulmate bond that was not letting you reject your fate. guilt resurfaced in your gut when you looked at suna who’s staring at the ground, eyes hidden under his bangs. 

“r-rintarou?.. look i’m sorry, okay. but i don’t really want any soulmate business in my life-...” you tried to explain but quickly cut your words off when suna started chuckling. 

scared and terrified at the creepy laugh and unexpected action, you stepped back and looked at him with wide eyes. suna then looked up at you and smirked, the dark glint in his eyes gave you the creeps, his breath heavy as he panted like a dirty pervert! his eyes were so filled with emotions. lust, obsession, and ‘love’ but you don’t  even know if you can call it ‘love’...

“did you feel that? it shows... no matter what you do. we’re connected.” 

oh fuck no. this psycho is not worth it. you grimaced at his words and turned back around swiftly, walking faster to get away from him. 

“fate will always bring us together, (y/n). the quicker you accept that, the easier life gets” you heard him shouted after you and it only made you quicken your actions, heart beating rapidly at what just happened. 

suna smirked at your figure as it grew smaller and smaller. he figured he’d let you go for now. it’s not like you can hide from him. you can try but the ink on your skin will always remind you where you belong and that’s with him. 

the tall male looked at his phone, the screen showing a picture of you sleeping. he traced your features through the phone with a loving sigh and quickly stuffed it back to his pocket. he whistled a small tune under his breath on his way back home, his thoughts filled with you. 

suna walked inside his apartment, shrugging his shoulders to loosen the tight muscles. he groaned in annoyance when his shoes got stuck on his foot but quickly shook it off. the moment he was in his bedroom, he removed his shirt and plopped down on the bed, opening his phone again. 

in his phone, there was a whole album of you. sleeping, eating, at the gym, when you were at the library. suna also opened one of the files in his phone as sounds of you breathing when you were sleeping echoed in the room. 

a small moan escaped the phone, suna’s eyes shining slyly at the sound. oh how he wants to hear it in person. he wants to hear every lovely sound you can make. he wants to know everything about you. 

what type of weather do you like? do you like cereal at night like him? do you have a special place for cats in your heart like he does? do you hate heat like him? and do you like getting fucked so hard the only thing you can do is scream? 

suna sighed at the last thought as rapid images of what you would look like popped in his head. would you look pouty? would you cry? would you be quiet and shy? or would you moan like a bitch in heat? 

the familiar twitch in his sweats made suna antsy. a hand drifted to his pants to palm himself through the cloth. 

suna massaged his hardening cock through his pants, letting out sighs as he did so. your soft breathing from the phone was making him harder. he imagined you beside him, sleeping. looking so innocent and safe from all the vile things of the world. safe with him. 

your plump lips curled into a small pout as your brows furrows while you dream then waking up, needy for him. suna groaned and swiftly tugged his sweats and boxers off him. he spat on his hand, hissing when he started stroking his thick cock. drifting to the sensitive head of his cock, he massaged it with the slick spit as it ooze out pre-cum. 

he quickly coated his digits with the precum and slicked his twitching cock with it for the smooth friction he was craving. he panted at the feeling when he tightened his grip on his dick, trying to imagine your tight wet pussy instead. 

“s-shit, baby... feels so good’“ he slurred, closing his eyes to focus on the feeling of the tight grip, stroking himself to a slow rhythm. in his mind, he can see your pretty face. 

he can imagine you on top of him, rolling your hips slowly to not overstimulate yourself with his large cock inside of you. suna licked his lips, a small smirk appearing on his face as he imagined the cute little noises you made when you tried to fit him in you. 

his thick cock hitting so deeply inside you but oh how you like it, you slut. you’d look so gorgeous, moaning on top of him, hands on his chest whilst you ride him. 

“r-rintarou” he can hear your lewd voice calling out, your breath getting heavier with each stroke of his cock, dragging in your tight wet walls. your big doe eyes filled with tears as you look down at him, trying to get some help from him to fuck you good already.

he cursed when he felt a familiar band trying to snap in his lower stomach, his hand getting faster. wet slapping sounds echoed in the room along with your soft breathing on his phone. his violent and aggressive movements were getting him closer to his release. 

this is how he wants it to be. him fucking you so violently making you cry, hands gripping you tight that your pretty skin would bloom with violets and blue. 

he can already see it, how your tongue will roll out your pretty lips whilst you get fucked so hard that all you can do is lay and scream for him, your soulmate. your other half. you belong to him. 

“ha-ah-!” suna groaned deeply when his release hit him, thick warm cum hit his clenching abs as the spiraling pleasure made him shiver. his hand pumping his dick fast to ride his orgasm, his chest heaving deep pants. the male gulped down, trying to wet his dry throat as he slowly calmed down. lazy yellow eyes stared up in the white ceiling of his bed. 

he needs you. he wants to feel you. he wants to be with you. now. 

you sighed as you walked home to your apartment, it has been a week since your crazy soulmate tried to bother you in accepting him and it was making you jumpy. his eyes just showed so much when you last saw him that it made you paranoid with every movement that was happening around you. 

you entered your room, exhaling a deep breath of relief as you felt the warm air of your safe home. it was nice to be in your apartment again. no one to bother you. safe from the crazy man that suddenly stopped messing with you. 

after shrugging off your coat, you enter your kitchen to get a glass of water. all the overthinking about the mess that fate got you into was making your head hurt. as you greedily gulped down the water to soothe your dry throat, a movement from the dark living room made you choke on it. 

“shit” you cursed and looked at the wet floor. you put the glass down and looked at the dark living room, trying to catch any movement. you then quietly went to the knives beside you and grabbed one, walking cautiously through the room. you flickered the lights on, ready to strike if something attacked you, but as the lights went on, you sighed in relief when you saw no one. 

you let your hand drop beside you, rolling your eyes at yourself at the paranoia. you cursed the man that did this. now you were overthinking stuff and seeing shadows.

when you were about to turn around, a large hand covered your mouth and tightly gripped your wrist that held the knife, making it clunk to the floor as you screamed but the hand muffled it. 

“stop fuckin moving already.. you’re gonna just tire yourself” the familiar voice made your body stiff, your blood went cold. crying against his hand when you felt his lips touch your ear, teeth grazing it. 

“you’re so pretty” he cooed, his voice heavy and slow. tears pricked your eyes as you struggled against his hold but the tall man was obviously stronger than you being an athlete. you tried to stomp on his feet but the man nudged you forward with his weight as you two tumbled into the couch. 

you can feel the vibration of his chuckle as his chest was against your back. you heard him sigh and a small grind on your ass was enough to make you feel disgusted and dirty. 

“i apologize for this next action, (y/n)” suna muttered beside your eyes and he leaned back, quickly turning you around. before you could even scream, pain blossomed on your cheek. your vision turned blurry at the impact, dizzy.

this motherfucker just punched you. you faced him again and spat the blood on his face, your lip busted as well. “f-fuck you!”

suna growled at your actions but quickly smirked, wiping away the bloody spit on his eye while he held you down. 

“a tough one~ i like that” he whispered and you could feel a hard nudge on your inner thigh making you grimace. this man was fucked up... he just got hard from punching you and you fighting back-

suna smirking down at you was the last thing you remember then everything went dark.

the room was cold. and your limbs ached with each movement you did. you opened your eyes and panic hit you when you couldn’t see anything. you tried to call out but there was a gag on your mouth. 

you cried through the gag, you cursed everything. you hate fate for getting you into this mess. you curse soulmates bonds, you were right. soulmates are a bunch of bullshit. just look at where that ended you up in. most importantly, you hate him. if you can, you’ll kill him on the spot. 

the fucking psychopath. your soulmate. 

you bit the cloth on your mouth as the binds on your eyes got wet from the tears that escaped from your eyes. your feelings were a mess and all you could feel is anger, shame, and dread. 

“oh, you’re awake. that’s good. i thought i hit you harder than i intended to, thank god that you’re okay” you heard the familiar voice that you loathe. you growled through your gag but suna could only laugh at your pathetic attempt of dominance when you’re gagged, blindfolded, and tied to the bed. 

“now now, no need for that. we want to get along, don’t we” he muttered, walking closer to you and sat on the bed, beside you. 

you flinched when you felt his weight beside you and his hands caressed your cheek. you whimpered at the dull pain when he touches your cheek. this fucker touched where he punched you--

“that looked like it’ll bruise” you growled again at his words. you wanted to scream at him. hit him. make him feel the pain of what he did to you. 

your fussing about stopped and you stiffened when you felt him shift on top of you, going in between your legs. you tried to close your legs but his hands were faster than you. 

he maneuvered you like a doll he owns, fixing you into a position he liked. suna gazed at your tied-up body, his cock already starting to harden in his pants. he wants to touch you already. 

his hand went up and tugged your blindfold as he smiled at your dazed look that changed to a mean one. suna chuckled at your spirit. it was making him excited. 

“you’re too cute, love” he muttered, leaning closer to your neck and nuzzled into you, taking in your scent loudly making you flinch in dread. 

“you smell so sweet,” he said against your neck, an unconscious shiver running up your body. suna smirked when he felt it and continued to nuzzle his face in your neck. his hands touching and groping your body while you growled through the gag but he barely even paid attention to it, too caught up at the feeling of finally touching you and being with you. 

“i wanna taste you~” he whispered lewdly, looking deep into your eyes with a smirk. your eyes widened at his words and mustered up all the strength you had and hit his head against yours. 

you were disoriented after it but it was worth it when you heard his curse as he leaned away. your forehead was red you were sure and it’ll bruise with how hard his head was. 

“you bitch-!” your moment of victory was cut off when large hands wrapped around your neck, squeezing it. you choked, wriggling around to get away from suna but he leaned all his weight on top of you. 

he glared down at you, watching with sick satisfaction when your eyes slowly fluttered close and your struggling gradually ceased. suna can snap your neck right now if he wants to. the power he has over you almost made him drool, his cock twitching excitedly in his pants.

he let your neck go, heart beating fast when he saw finger marks on your neck, the shape of his hands on your skin. he watched you cough and try to inhale air, desperately. 

suna then grasped your chin in a tight hold and turned you to face him, making your dazed eyes look up at him, “do that again and i’ll make you bleed.” 

he let your chin go harshly and climbed off you, going out of the room. you gulped and intake the precious air, looking at the door with fear and anger. 

being with suna was an absolute nightmare. you don’t know how long it has been since the psycho kidnapped you and it was agitating. you fought back but suna liked it because it gave him the excuse to hurt you. you knew this but you just can’t give him the satisfaction he craved of you submitting to him. 

your body was slumped into the bed whilst you cried as suna ate you out. his fingers pumping viciously in and out of you, tongue lapping on your swollen clit. he denied you 4 orgasms already and your body was so sensitive from it. 

“just fucking accept this already!” suna growled against your pussy, the vibrations sending violent shivers in your body. you writhe and keened, your body in his mercy. 

you shook your head, tears streaming down your red and bruised cheeks. your neck was decorated with purple and red, bite marks and fingerprints alike. your wrists red and raw from the rope he used on you constantly.

“n-no!” 

suna rolled his eyes at your disobedience but let you be. he knows you’ll be his good girl sooner or later. he just has to try harder, he guesses. 

he sucked on your clit messily, tonguing your wetness. his fingers caressing your walls as he hit your g-spot making you arch your back. suna smirked and continued his ministrations, ignoring your pleading to let you cum already. 

he felt your walls clenching on his fingers as he stopped altogether making you cry in desperation. suna leaned on his feet, admiring the way your body tried to hump him to get the satisfaction of cumming. 

your body is so beautiful. before it was pristine and void of any marks and flaws but now your skin was decorated with purple and red courtesy of his love for you. 

“you really wanna do this, (y/n)? you rather be a bad girl than be my precious girl?” suna tried to reason with you, his tone was as if he was talking to a child. you scowled at him, “fuck you, asshole!” 

suna’s eyes turned dark at it. one thing he can’t tolerate was you saying such crude and bad words. he raised his hand and slapped you, the force of it made you turn to the side as you gasped at the pain. 

blood dripped from your nose. suna then grabbed your cheeks, squeezing. he glared down at you. “when will you learn... and here i thought you were smarter than that” 

you cried at the pain of his grip on your face and the sting of his slap was still there as his fingers pressed down to the bruises you had on your face. he shook your head, growling, “what do you say when you do something wrong” 

he continued to shake you, your aching limbs hurt at the violent movements. you whimpered and unconsciously replied, “i’m sorry-!” 

suna stopped and removed his hands from you. you looked up at him with teary eyes and saw him smiling softly at you. his mood swings were scary. you don’t really know what type of suna you’ll get before it’s too late... 

“atta girl...” he muttered and started to remove his pants. you panicked at his actions and tried to move away but the painful slap on your thigh was enough to make you stop. 

“now, let me fuck you” 

suna grabbed your ankle and pulled you down on the bed further, closer to him. he pumped his cock at the sight of you, so pretty and crying

“rintarou please-! d-don’t!” you cried, feeling so helpless and all your fire from earlier and the past days gone. the dark-haired male grinned at your sobbing and fussing about. 

“tsk. be a good girl, (y/n). just accept it.” he leaned closer to you, whispering against your wobbly lips. his dark yellow eyes stared straight into yours, lust swirling around his orbs. your body shook in fear and a small cry leaving your swollen lips. 

in one swift movement, suna entered you. he captured your lips, muffling your screams because of him suddenly entering you. the wet squishing noises were triggering your tears. you felt disgusted with yourself that you were enjoying the stretch and the feeling of being filled up by this psycho. 

maybe in another world where you two have met differently. a perfect world where things weren’t complicated. if you two worked it out and things were different then maybe you’ve actually loved him and accepted him as your soulmate. but not in this world. not now. 

you cried when suna started moving, hitting your g-spot with every thrust. your body arched on the bed, feeling the pleasure. suna panted above you, arms caging you and his muscles contracting with every movement he does. 

suna cursed at the feeling, it felt so good. you feel so good. your wet and squishy walls sucking him so eagerly. the lewd sounds of your wetness and his constant thrusting was making him more excited. 

he stopped for a moment, pulling out from your pussy to put you in all fours and then entered you again when he moved you the way he likes. suna groaned, fucking deep into you. his tip grazing your cervix making you squeal. you can feel your orgasm coming faster because of the orgasms suna denied you earlier. you sobbed, hips unconsciously thrusting back to his dick. 

the male chuckled breathily, sneaking a hand between your legs to play with your swollen clit. you choked on a moan when you felt him massaging your clit. you let your head plop down to the mattress, arms wobbly, and all you could do was moan as your body jerking at the pleasure suna was giving you. 

“oh honey, you should see how slutty your body gets when i’m fucking you” he snickered behind you, hips never relenting with his fast and hard thrusts. 

you felt tears trail down your bruised cheeks, you don’t know if it’s because of the shame you felt earlier or the pleasure. the fast circles suna gave your clit made you whine and moan as you felt your orgasm wash over you. 

you howled at the satisfying feeling of the violent orgasm, finally cumming after the torture of not coming four times earlier. suna smirked at the way your body convulsed beneath him. 

the unwavering fucking from behind was sending you to overstimulation and suna’s fingers still rubbed down your sensitive clit. you whined and keened, drool slipping past your lips. 

“so fucked out” suna muttered and bent to lean against your back, his dick twitching in your wet walls. he then angled his thrust differently making you gasp. 

he leaned back again, staring at your sweaty discolored back, from his bites from the past fun times you two had, and the way you leaned against the pillows as your pretty face contorting into a fucked out expression, so lewd.

a large hand trailed down to the back of your neck, grabbing it and letting you lean against suna’s chest. his hand then wrapped around your dainty neck, squeezing, as he felt the vibrations of your moans. 

“pretty baby~” 

his other hand gripped your hips, stilling your wiggling around as he fucked into your harder at the newly changed angle. you whimpered at the way his thick cock reached so deep into you. 

suna moaned beside your ear, hips slowly losing his rhythm as he chased his own orgasm. his self-control snapping into something greedy and feral. he ignored your cries and fucked you so he can finally cum. 

the way he used you wasn’t supposed to feel this good. although he didn’t have any intention to make you feel good, the way his dick stuffed your full and the way his thickness stretched you was made you feel the familiar band in your stomach trying to snap once again.

he unconsciously squeezed your neck, breath heavy, when he felt his orgasm getting closer. he growled, thrusting sloppily in you, the sounds of your wetness echoed in the room along with your broken moans and rasps. you can feel him twitching inside you sending you into another orgasm.

you screamed, body arching against suna. the way your pussy squeezed him and the feeling of you cumming again triggered his own. suna moaned, painting your insides with his cum as he rode his orgasm, ignoring your whining. 

he panted, removing his hold on you and letting you hit and slump unto the bed. you whined at the action. suna pulled out of you as he admired the way your pussy was filled with his cum, dripping down to your thighs and down to the sheets. he licked his lips at the sight and leaned closer to you as if he was lured in. 

you gasped and cried when you felt his tongue wiggling around your sensitive pussy. you squeezed your eyes close tightly, body shivering at the overstimulation but suna barely paid any attention to you. he only wanted to satisfy his desires.

you gazed at the plain ceiling, dully. the soft breathing of the insane male beside you was making you grimace. he just finished fucking you or what he calls, “soulmate bonding time” but all he did was make you cry. 

the sun was up and it was probably noon now but suna normally sleeps in and today was no exception. the phone beside suna’s side on the table started buzzing, circling a little because of the vibration. you heard suna groaned, always the light sleeper. you quickly closed your eyes and hid your face in the covers and pillows. 

you felt the male shifting and after a while, he started talking in his annoyingly attractive deep voice. sleep taking a toll in his vocal cords making it all husky. you internally cursed the soulmate bond trying to make you see him in another light or some bullshit like that.

“hey, what’s up?” 

you continued to listen to the one-sided conversation as you pretend to be asleep. your heart skipped a beat when you heard suna’s words. 

“yeah, come over. i’ll introduce you to her” 

your body stiffened but tried to relax. maybe this was your chance to expose him. you have to try something, you can’t keep letting him do these things to you... 

a soft sleepy groan, the sound someone makes when they stretch, rung inside the quiet room. the covers shifted a bit and a disgustingly familiar body heat hit your skin as two large hands caressed your skin. 

“baby? i’m gonna introduce you to my friends, that’s okay right? it’s time i show off my pretty baby~” you heard him coo. you bit your lip, how can this man act like your relationship with him is normal... you then became painfully aware of the bruises and scars on your body making you self-conscious as you tried to make yourself smaller. 

“they’ll see all of these” he whispered sweetly with a dazed look on his eyes as he traced the marks that were in purple-y and reddish hues that it was too nauseating to look at but suna thought it was so beautiful on you.

suna spent all afternoon dolling you up, fixing your short dress that shows every mark he gave you. your eyes looked at your reflection. you teared up at the sight. you didn’t look like yourself anymore... 

tired eyes that sagged with dark bags under it. a deep purple bruise on your cheek. your bottom lip was cut from suna’s slap, neck decorated with hickeys and fingerprints, skin discolored.

the man behind you started whistling the godforsaken tune he always sang under his breath as he combed your hair. after fixing your hair, he let his hands down on your shoulders and looked at you through the mirror. 

“ain’t you a pretty little thing...” he muttered, admiring you. you let your gaze shift down to your lap as the male carried you to the living room. 

“now behave.” his word was final as always. do not question it nor do you go against it. or he’ll hurt you... again and again...

a loud voice cut through the quiet atmosphere in the apartment and impatient knocks was heard. “suna! open the damn door, already!” 

the dark-haired male sighed and went to the door. your heart started beating a little too fast. when his guests see you, or your state, you’ll get away from here... or maybe he’ll hurt them too... you shook your head. trying to stay positive so you can get out of this hellhole.

a tall man with golden dyed locks entered the room along with someone who looked similar to him though their hair was different. honey brown eyes lock with your tired ones, you were hopeful when you saw the confusion in his eyes. 

the man looked back to suna who stood next to him, you knew you were saved when the two identical men glared at him but then they started talking--

“geez! here i thought you’ll be gentler now that you met your soulmate!”

“suna? gentle? like hell. now where’s the food. you promised me food, suna” 

your eyes got teary as you suppressed a gasp. of course, his friends were as insane as he was. 

the golden haired male then smiled at you like there was nothing wrong. like he doesn’t see all the fucking bruises on your body, “hey, darlin’~ suna’s been beating you, huh? were you misbehaving~?” 

suna growled at the man and shoved him, “shut the fuck up, atsumu” the two started bickering like everything was normal as they ignored you...

you sniffled and turned to the light nudged from your side, you looked at the other male that entered the apartment. the man offered you some pudding as a spoon was hanging from his lips. “you look like you need it, miss” he said, his face unfazed. 

you took the pudding with shaking hands and lowered your head as the three men walked around the room, conversing with each other. 

maybe, suna’s right... life would be easier if you just accepted him. you were stuck with him now and always and his name on your skin will forever be the reminder of that. 

fate has a weird way of pairing people up and you can’t do anything about it. 

[i-love-side-characters]

Chapters: 3/? Fandom: Keeper of the Lost Cities Series - Shannon Messenger Rating: Not Rated Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Sophie Foster/Biana Vacker Characters: Sophie Foster (Keeper of the Lost Cities), Fitz Vacker, Biana Vacker, Alden Vacker, Grady Ruewen, Tiergan (Keeper of the Lost Cities), Other KOTLC Characters Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Royalty, Alternate Universe - Human, Blood and Violence, ahem- gae Summary:

“Older men declare war. But it is youth that must fight and die.”

― Herbert Hoover

Tag List: I might be missing some of you, I’m sorry!

@bronte-deserves-better @councillor-bronte-is-best-boy @cadence-talle @an-absolute-travesty @bookwyrminspiration​ @keefeinnit @mallowmeltz​ @ultralazycreatorfan @everyonehasthoughts @mistythegenderqueermess @imaramennoodle @rainbowtay-11 @we-need-more-empathy @catboyruy@we-wont-dissapear @we-have-no-bananas-today @loverofallthingssmart @a-lonely-tatertot @never-ever-too-many-fandoms @enbies-and-felonies @xonar-verse @beautifuldaysahead @jadenightthewriter @alabestrine @sunlight-in-a-bottle​ @illavarasi @completekeefitztrash​ 

Other:

This is really important to me because my “friend” really messed me up, and I really was considering not writing anymore so thank you guys <3333

This is chapter 3!

Read under the cut as well!

It was far too easy to slip out of the castle.

My feet thudded against the ground as I flew over the damp cobblestones. It had stopped raining, mercifully, but it was still dark. Perfect for a very illegal meeting. 

I pulled my hood low over my head, peering out at the empty courtyard. Wind rustled the trees bordering the stone square. Water rushed in the fountain basin, the only noise in the quiet. I crept along the edge of the courtyard and slipped through the shadowed greenery.

“Who are you looking for?”

I spun around, drawing my dagger. It was hard to keep a straight face as the boy smiled at me as his periwinkle eyes glowed in the dark. It was an unconscious move, our hands twisting into a handshake perfected over years of our friendship. 

He laughed quietly, punching my arm. “How are you?”

“Good.” It wasn’t a lie. “You?”

“Alright, I guess.” His eyes darkened slightly. “Rex didn’t make it.”

I couldn’t stop the gasp that escaped my throat. Rex, sweet Rex, was dead. Another body on the king’s head. I glared back at the castle, my hands shaking. “I’m so sorry, Dex.”

He shook his head. “You’re good. It wasn’t your fault.”

“It wasn’t, Miss Foster.” I hadn’t even noticed the tall man under the willow tree. He stepped out, his dark blue eyes filled with sorrow. I bit my lip, shaking my head. “You’re wrong, Leto. If I’d―”

“You can’t change the past, Sophie.” His voice was soft and caring. He patted my shoulder, looking up at the tall spires of the castle. “So?”

Metallic blood filled my mouth, my teeth cutting a tear in my lip. “Everything’s going fine. I can kill that so-called ‘king’ anytime, General. Just give me the word.”

“Not yet.” He sighed, leaning back against the tree. “Tiergan― that is, King Tiergan to you― doesn’t want you making any moves against Eternalia. And certainly not King Alden. It’s not the time.”

I could feel my blood boiling. He had killed so many of us, and our king wanted to spare him? “You― the king― sent me here, to Eternalia, to kill King Alden, and how he doesn’t want me to? Doesn’t he see what pain Eternalia has caused us? What they’ve done?” I spat out my words, each word coated in venomous rage.

Leto’s lips twitched into a smile, a rare sight for the old general. “You mistake Tiergan’s motives, Miss Foster. He wants you to wait, because he has a plan. However, it’s not time to act yet. Which means that you need to stay put and keep your head. I can already see you losing your cool. Control yourself.”

I glared at him, turning to Dex instead, his expression telling me that this was the first he’d heard of the change on plans as well. “You’re okay with this?”

“Absolutely not.” 

The words were surprisingly comforting, but I still wasn’t satisfied. “Why do we need to wait? I can finish this.”

“Because the king said so.” Leto replied calmly.

My jaw tightened.

Dex frowned slightly, kicking at the loose earth. “I think we should listen to him, Sophie. If anyone knows what they’re doing, it’s King Tiergan.”

“But―” I started, then bit down on my tongue. Dex was right. So was Leto, which I found rather hard to admit since I’ve been doing my best to annoy the stately general ever since the day he chose Dex and I to be his apprentices.

“So?” I sighed, turning back to him. “What does Tiergan have in mind?”

“King Tiergan, Miss Foster.” His dark eyes twinkled softly in the dark. “And he has a very interesting plan. I’m sure you’ve heard of the Winnowing Ball?”

I frowned and nodded. I had heard about it, actually. From what I’d caught from snippets of conversations, the ball was an annual event in Eternalia. The highest of highborns attend, with King Alden himself present. Basically every snobby person in the kingdom comes to compete on how high they could stick their noses in the air.

“That’s when we’ll attack.”

I blinked. “What?”

“That’s when we’ll― or you, I suppose― will kill the king. And others. Hopefully.” Leto repeated slowly. 

“But that’s… so simple.” Dex stammered slightly.

“Simple plans are often the best.”

I chewed the inside of my cheek, tapping my foot against the cobbles. Shadows shifted around the courtyard, clouds obscuring the bright glow of the moon. “Okay.”

“Okay?”

“Okay. I’ll wait until the ball.”

Wind rustled the bushes as Leto stared around the shadowy courtyard. “We should leave. I’ll send you more instructions soon.” He gaze fell onto me. “Remember, Miss Foster. We see. We listen. We hear. We serve the king. We are the King’s Blade.”

I shivered slightly, nodding. Dex offered me a slim grin as he pulled me into a tight hug. “See you soon, Soph.”

“Yeah.”

I was vaguely aware of watching their silhouettes slip through the streets, vaguely aware of running back to the castle and stealing back through the servants hall. Moonlight paled the deep red carpets and cast gorgeous coloured lights through the stained-glass windows. 

I hurried through the hall, my footsteps dulled against the carpets. My breath came out ragged as I skipped up the stairs, light on my feet. I frowned. Every hall looked the same. I frowned again and, and went right. 

“Your Majesty?”

King Alden looked haggard, dark circles around his eyes. Behind him the old wooden doors to the king’s rooms where slammed shut, small rays of light shining from under the door. Fitz looked just like his father, his own sleepless circles darker than the king’s. 

The king scowled slightly, looking me over. “What are you doing awake, little girl?”

I pursed my lips and dipped into a bow. He didn’t even remember me. I was just another servant to him. I gritted my teeth and straightened. “I was feeling a little under the weather, Your Majesty. I just slipped out for a breath of fresh air.”

The king nodded, his gaze gliding over me. He seemed distracted, almost. I shot a look at Fitz, who shook his head and held out his arm. “I’ll escort you back to your chambers, Miss.”

He nodded again and ran a hand down his face, watching as his son pulled me out of sight. 

“Fitz, what’s―”

He shook his head, dragging me down the hall. Cool wind hit my face as he pulled me outside, around the courtyard, behind the castle. Green vines were draped all over the ancient marble statues, flowers and ferns shooting out of cracks in the ivory stone.

“Where are we?” 

“Royal Gardens.”

I glanced at him, taking in his rumpled tunic and red face. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s― Nothing.”

“You can’t expect me to believe that.”

He bit his lip, looking back at the tall spires of the castle, the same way Leto had looked at them earlier that night. His eyes were filled with tears, dripping down his cheeks and onto his shirt. “My mom― The queen―”

I raised my eyebrow. I knew the Queen, if only from her brief meeting with my own king. “What about her?”

“She― She’s dying.”

“What?”

“In battle. The Battle of Oblivionmyre. She was stabbed―” His eyes sparkled with tears.

I remembered that battle. I didn’t fight, but I remember the cheers that echoed around the palace that night. But he couldn’t know that. He was his father’s son, and his father was a monster, and his father was the one who hurt my people. “What happen?”

Almost as if a switch had been flipped, the tears were gone from the young prince’s eyes. They blazed with anger, his fists clenched, knuckles white. “Them. It was them. King Tiergan’s soldiers. They did that to her. They’re monsters, and murders.”

Blood pounded through my head. “What?”

“They’re monsters.” He spat, glaring around the garden. “That’s all there is to it.”

I opened my mouth and closed it again. “I― I have to go.”

“No wait― Sorry.” Fitz ran a hand down his face, sitting on the marble ruins. “I just get so angry. They’ve hurt my kingdom so much. I hate it. I wish this war would just end.”

“Same.” My words were a whisper, gently carrying on the wind. 

Fitz smiled sadly, kicking around the pale stone debris. “And if this war doesn’t end soon then... I suppose,” He swallowed hard. “I’ll be king. And then, well I don’t know.”

He stared up towards the twinkling sky, sighing deeply. His eyes were pricked with tears again. “I don’t know whether she’ll survive.” He whispered. “But I don’t what I can do except end this war.”

We both watched the stars shimmer brightly against the dark night sky, the wind ruffling in our hair. After a few minutes, a creak of a door echoed through the night, accompanied by the soft sound of feet on grass. 

It took me a second to recognize the general from the day before, he was out of armour and wringing his hands as he held out his arm for the prince. “Your Highness, your father asked me to come get you. It’s late.” He smiled at me, if only a little sadly.

Fitz nodded and pulled himself to his feet. “Thank you General Ruwen. I’m so―”

“You have nothing to apologize for.” He assured him quietly. He dipped his head to me and gestured towards the castle. “If I could escort you back, Miss?”

I shook my head, gazing at Fitz. “I think I’ll stay out her a little while longer.”

Both men dipped their heads into polite bows, walking back to the shadowy palace. I watched them leave, brushing the dirt off my dress.

I thought the prince was different.

I thought that maybe, just maybe, he wouldn’t be as blind as the rest of his people.

My eyes narrowed as I watched soft candlelight go out in the castle windows.

Oh well.

Like father, like son.

[isobel-thorm]

Hello, dear! You've been visited by the random character question fairy! :D ~☆

What type of friend is your character? Are they more of a fair-weather friend, or are they in it for the long haul?

Every single one of them are in for the long haul. They all love unconditionally (within reason) and if you earn their trust/loyalty/love it would take a shitton of felonies to change that.

[acharlatan]

TASK // 𝔠𝔥𝔞𝔯𝔞𝔠𝔱𝔢𝔯 𝔞𝔫𝔞𝔩𝔶𝔰𝔦𝔰 

Full name: Jackson Sawyer Raemers Pronunciation: Jac-sun, S aw-y uh r, Ray-m uh rs Nickname(s): Jackson often prefers nicknames to his full name, anything in the name of making a situation more informal. Jack, Jacky, Jackson of a bitch, he’s open to creativity. Birthdate: 11th of November 1990 Age: 29 Zodiac: Saggitarius,

Strengths: Generous, idealistic, great sense of humour Weaknesses: Promises more than can deliver, very impatient, will say anything no matter how undiplomatic Sagittarius likes: Freedom, travel, philosophy, being outdoors Sagittarius dislikes: Clingy people, being constrained, off-the-wall theories, details

Gender: Male Pronouns: He/Him Romantic orientation: Heterosexual Sexual orientation: Heterosexual Nationality: American Ethnicity: Caucasian Current location: Miami Living conditions: Motel rooms, Jackson currently resides in a motel room shared with Derek, a cat and a large dog. He’s never been too attached to a place and moves around quite often from one place to another. The goal in Miami is to find an apartment with a garden for Bella (The doberman)

Background

Birthplace: Phoenix, AZ Hometown: Phoenix, AZ Social Class: Lower., Jackson has never had money and so the vacancy of it in his bank account is nothing he’d ever raised a brow towards. Being thrifty to make ends meet is in his DNA. Educational achievements: Graduated high school Father: Jackson Raemers ✝ Mother: Marilyn Johnson Sibling(s): None Birth order: There can only be one Pets: 6 month old doberman named Bella Previous relationships: He dated Neve Kaplan for 2 years, and everyone is more than aware that it was Neve who cut it off and Jackson had to run and buy a dog to distract himself from the heartbreak. Arrests: 2 Prison time: 3 years in a confined medical programme created for felonious mutants with powers that could be useful for creating new pharmaceuticals.

Occupation & Income

Current occupation: Gambling and stealing Dream occupation: Stunt double Past job(s): Taco Bell employee as a teenager, a mechanic in a garage before stealing the best car in that place and heading west. Spending habits: Money smart, only spends on what he needs and doesn’t let is dictate him. He probably spends more money on his dog than himself. In debt?: No, but that doesn’t mean he’s exactly stable either. His account dips from being secure to overdrafted from week to week. Most valuable possession: A wristwatch bought for him by Neve that’s worth more than he could afford.

Skills & Abilities

Physical strength: Above Average Speed: Average Intelligence: Average Accuracy: Average Agility: Below Average Stamina: Above Average Teamwork: Works very well in a team, he likes having orders and things to do. He’s a better follower than a leader. Talents: Survival knowledge, fixing things, stealing, identity theft, being a simp  Shortcomings: Clumsiness, impatient, occasionally very immoral. Languages spoken: English, gibberish Drive?: Yes Jump-start a car?: Yes Change a flat tyre?: Yes Ride a bicycle?: Yes Swim?: Yes Play an instrument?: No Play chess?: No Braid hair?: No Tie a tie?: Yes Pick a lock?: Yes Cook?: Yes

Physical Appearance & Characteristics

Faceclaim: Casey Deidrick Eye colour: Brown Hair colour: Dark brown Hair type/style/length: Always kept short and maintainable. He’ll buzz it out of boredom every now and again, it’s really his beard that he puts all of his attention into. Glasses/contacts?: No Dominant hand: Right Height: 6ft 5 Weight: 194lbs Build: Muscular and lean. He’s mostly legs if i’m honest. Exercise habits: Daily runs and weight training every other day Skin tone: Fair Tattoos:

Torso; upper- Roman numerals of fast and furious’s first release date on his collarbone, moth on sternum, doberman on the left side of his abs, questionable DIY sun with sunglasses the size of a quarter on his ribs

Arms; full-body skeleton on his bicep, lucky dice, snake, joker card and distorted smiley face smoking a cigarette all dotted around the lower arm, all on his left arm.

Legs; dancing frog in a grass skirt that’s drinking beer on the top of his thigh, burning match stick near his ankle, Bon Jovi quote spelt incorrectly above his knee, a glass half full the back of his thigh, grim reaper on a skateboard his shin, all on the right leg

Back; Arrow through compass central, magic 8 ball lower left hand side, large peony left hand shoulder blade

Misc; Neve’s name on the inside of his lip, ‘angel’ and ‘devil’ script on his shoulders

Piercings: None Marks/scars: Small scar going down from the front of his hairline just touching onto his forehead, skateboard accident when he was younger. Clothing style: Tacky, short-sleeve button-up shirts worn open over plain tshirts, comfy denim jackets, graphic tshirts, jeans, all black converse or boots. He’ll wear anything he’s given for free or got a good deal on at goodwill. Jewellery: None Allergies: Shellfish Diet: Clean eating most of the time, cheat days go hard. Jackson’s weakness is anything the has been deep fried and served with BBQ sauce. Physical ailments: None

Psychology

MBTI type: ENTP Enneagram type: Type 6, the loyalist Moral Alignment: Chaotic neutral Temperament: Sanguine Element: Fire Emotional stability: Stable Introvert or Extrovert? Somewhere in the middle Obsession(s): None Compulsion(s): None Phobia(s): Bugs, small places Addiction(s): Nicotine, adrenaline Drug use: None Alcohol use: A lot, he’ll drink when he’s upset, he’ll drink when he’s happy. It’s something that he knows would always be there for him but does his best to not abuse it. Prone to violence?: Only if provoked Prone to crying?: No, not if anyone is looking anyway Believe in love at first sight?: Yes

Mannerisms

Accent: Southwestern Speech quirks: Rambling, going off topic Hobbies: Driving, skateboarding, cooking Habits: Impulsive decisions, smoking Nervous ticks: Stutter, scratching the back of his neck Drives/motivations: Fun, liberation Fears: Fear of being unworthy Sense of humour?: Dad humour Do they curse often?: Yes

Favorites

Animal: Any dog Beverage: Cherry cola Book: Into the Wild Colour: Red Food: Onion rings Flower: Peonies Gem: Topaz Mode of transportation: Chevrolet Scent: Oranges Sport: American football Weather: Sunny Vacation destination: California, Lake Tahoe

Attitudes

Greatest dream: Total freedom and owning a red mustang. His dreams change weekly, next time you ask he’ll be wishing for a tesla. Greatest fear: Isolation from others, being left alone or losing everyone   Most at ease when: Driving late at night blasting Fleetwood Mac with all the windows rolled down Least as ease when: Speaking to someone with authority or having to do something precisely Worst possible thing that could happen: People favouring his power over his own identity Biggest achievement: Making 20k in one night at a casino and donating most of it to Mutant orphanages and rehabilitation clinics. Biggest regret: Bon Jovi tattoo on his leg spelt ‘Jon Bovi’

[erisgregory]

Satellite Call Chapter 9

cross posted to AO3

or start with chapter one

Rating: Explicit Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply Category: M/M Fandom: Roswell New Mexico (TV 2019) Relationship: Michael Guerin/Alex Manes Characters: Michael Guerin, Alex Manes Additional Tags: Michael is an Escort, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Angst and Hurt/Comfort, Shameless Smut, Other Additional Tags to Be Added Summary: Alex is home from the air force but finds he is as lonely as ever. He engages an escort one night under a pseudonym and when the escort arrives it’s his high school love, Michael Guerin. Thankfully for both of them Michael is a professional. However one night couldn’t possibly make up for all they’ve missed. Can they keep an ongoing relationship professional? Can they learn to trust that there is something more than this transaction between them?

Alex has taken the day off, he needs time to think about how he’s going to keep doing desk duty for his father, when all he wants is to be as far away from him as possible. It gives him time to catch up on his chores around the cabin and to worry about Michael and everything that’s passed between them.

He’d gotten an email back saying Michael owed him and though that should be the last thing Alex wants, he can’t help but think as long as Michael owes him, there is some tie between the two of them. Is that what Alex wants? Some connection? Even though he’d told Michael the complete opposite, now, having had time to think about it, he doesn’t actually care what his father thinks of him, does he?

It’s a lot and Alex realizes he isn’t going to figure it out in one morning, so he decides to table it for now. The idea that Michael owes him, keeps running through his head, but he lets it fall into the background as he does his laundry.

Around eleven some shuffling out on the porch draws his attention. At first it sounds like it might be an animal, but Alex doesn’t know what would be out in the daylight like this, so he opens the door quietly and peers out.

It’’s Kyle and it looks as though he’s about to break the window.

“You could try knocking. It’s less of a felony, but it’s also less dramatic so depends on what you're going for.” He tells him.

Kyle looks completely surprised to see him, which may have something to do with Alex always parking in the back.

“Come on in, you can tell me what brings you out this far.” Alex offers.

Kyle follows him in, turning around and giving the place a once over. “I’d forgotten about this place.” He says. “Our dad’s old hunting cabin.”

“Your dad’s technically.” Alex corrects. “So, you wanna tell me why you drove all the way out here?”

“Legacy, I guess.” Kyle says. “This place wasn’t part of the assets in his will. Guess I wanted to know what happened to it.”

“When I got back from Iraq, he left me the key and a letter telling me I could have the place. I figured that you knew.”

Kyle shook his head. “No. Why would he leave this place to you? Instead of me or my mom?”

“I… I don’t know. When I got back, he’d already passed. I never got a chance to ask.” Alex tells him.

Kyle pulls out a keychain and holds it out in his hand for Alex to see. “You recognize this?” He asks.

“Yeah.” Alex says, taking a look. “Keychain looks like mine, but that key is too small for the door.”

“Mind if I poke around and see if I can find the lock? Then I’ll take off.” Kyle looks around the room, already hunting for where the key might go.

Alex thinks it can’t do any harm since he’d come all this way. “When I got here, I put everything that reminded me of the good ol’ days in the closet. Go nuts.” Alex decides to leave him to it and go sit on the porch. He doesn’t need any more memories haunting him today.

There’s a spot on the side of the cabin where Jim had set up a small table and chairs to look out into the desert years ago. They were starting to rust and would probably need to be painted or replaced soon, but that was where Alex gravitated now. He wanted to stay out of Kyle’s way and he had a lot on his mind.

Mainly Michael and the way things had gone down between them. Maybe Michael really had been trading copper wire, though that wasn’t technically legal either, to steal from the dump, but it was a good sight better than the thought of him taking money for sex out in the open like that. The truth was, Alex was jealous of the thought of him with anyone else. Which was hardly fair seeing as Alex had told him things weren’t going to work out.

Alex sits and thinks about Michael and about emailing him for close to an hour and all the while Kyle hasn’t come out. Eventually Alex shakes himself from his reverie and goes to check on Kyle.

He finds him sitting on the couch with a fishing reel and looking nostalgic. “That’s not a lock.” Alex says.

“Yeah, got distracted.” Kyle tells him. “Do you remember that night your dad made us set up that tent to teach us extreme weather survival. We found a way to sneak back inside. We were a good team.”

“Yeah. Until you grew one chest hair and instantly became a nightmare of a bully. Like some bro jock from an eighties movie.” Alex says, shaking his head.

Kyle has the decency to look ashamed. “I don’t know why I was like that.”

“Because I was gay. People started to notice, and you were afraid that, if you were nice to me, people would think you were gay, too.” Alex explains. He’d figured it out years ago.

“I’m sorry… I--I didn’t think that…” Kyle started.

“Don’t.” Alex interrupts him with a humorless laugh. “Please. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I’ve been through a lot worse than your locker room taunting at this point.”

Kyle looks uncomfortable with that, like he doesn’t quite know what to say and he stands with a sigh.

“How much longer do you think is gonna take?” Alex asks.

Kyle bends to pull the drawer out of the coffee table. “I don’t… “ The whole drawer comes out on accident. “Whoa. Dammit.”

Alex just rolls his eyes. But Kyle looks concerned.

“Whoa.” He says. Alex has no idea what he could be looking at. “Hey, uh, um, help me move this.”

Together they lift the coffee table out of the way revealing a hatch of some kind underneath it.

“What the hell?” Alex asks.

“Did you know about this?” Kyle wants to know.

“No, dude.” Alex shakes his head taking a step back. “Okay so this is the point in the horror movie where the audience starts screaming, no don’t do that.”

“What’s the worst we can find?” Kyle asks.

“What… literal skeletons!” Alex tells him.

But that doesn’t deter Kyle at all and he begins to try and open the hatch. Alex sighs, resigned, and steps forward to get a better look as Kyle opens the hatch door and they both look down at a ladder into darkness.

At the bottom of the ladder Kyle feels around until he finds a light switch. When the light goes on, Alex can’t quite believe his eyes. They seem to be standing in a girl’s bedroom and he has no idea why. It doesn’t feel right.

“I think I’d prefer skeletons.” Kyles says, warily.

Together they walk further into the room, looking around. There is a bed on the far wall with two nightstands with lamps. A chest at the end of the bed and a wardrobe. All of it very clearly meant for a girl.

Alex notices the symbol from the keyrings is punched out of one of the lamps but he doesn’t know why or what the symbol means.

“Why did you really come here?” Alex asks.

“I’m looking into Rosa Ortecho’s death.” He says plainly.

“Liz’s sister? The DUI?” Alex can’t imagine why anyone would be looking into that when it seemed so straight forward. Tragic but straight forward.

“Liz has questions.” Kyle explains.

“What, you think that your dad had something to do with it?” Alex guesses.

“I think Rosa and my dad were having an affair.” Kyle admits.

Alex immediately rejects the idea. “No.” He shakes his head. “Your dad was a good guy. You know why he left me this house, and not you? Because you were fine. You were popular. You were at the top of your class in med school. Your mom loved you. I wasn’t loved. My mom was gone. My dad was a homophobic abusive dick. And your dad saw it. He left me these keys so that I would have a place to go. He wasn’t the type of person who would take advantage of a desperate teenager. He would help them.”

Together they stand in silence looking around and trying to figure it out. Alex opens the wardrobe and finds medical supplies of some sort. “Look.” He tells Kyle. He pulls out an I.V. bag and passes it to Kyle.

“This is for detoxing.” Kyle says. “My dad had been through the twelve steps. A couple times. Maybe… he was trying to keep her in here to get her clean? Or maybe I’m just thinking wishfully again and I need to get a grip.”

Alex takes another look around. “Something isn’t right.” Finally voicing his concern.

“Uh, yeah. Wrong would be closer to my choice of words.”

The chest at the end of the bed catches Alex’s eye and he bends down to look at it. There’s a small lock on it. “It’s locked.” He tells Kyle. “Your key.”

Kyle brings the key over and it does in fact fit the lock. So he turns it and pulls the lock off the chest. He opens it slowly revealing pictures, a teddy bear, a baby blanket, and other odds and ins. The picture on top catches his eye and he picks it up, looking at it closely.

“I’d recognize his hands anywhere.” Kyle says. The picture is a man holding a baby in the blanket that’s in the chest. The blanket has an embroidered “R” on it. “My dad didn’t have an affair with Liz’s sister.” He says quietly. “He had an affair with her mom. That’s why he was trying to help Rosa sober up. That’s why he was never the same after she died. Rosa was his daughter.”

Kyle closes the chest back and puts the lock back in place. Then, after another quick search of the room doesn’t turn anything up they decide to leave it for the time being. They climb back out of the bunker and close the hatch, placing the table back over it.

They stand in the living room facing each other. Kyle sighs heavily before saying, “I’m sorry. For dragging you into all this.”

“Kyle.” Alex says softly. “How many men do you know who were a father to any and every kid who needed one? That’s who Jim Valenti was. And he was yours. The dad I got was a monster. Is a monster.”

“Because he sent you off to war?” Kyle asks.

“My father was my war.” Alex tells him, sitting down on the couch. It’s dark outside the window behind him. “And your dad saw it, when we were kids. Do you remember the summer that we built the treehouse?”

“Yeah.” Kyle says.

“That’s the summer that my dad found out I was gay. He knew before I did. He thought he could beat it out of me. Jim tried to intervene. But you can’t make someone stop hating someone. And my dad hated me.” Alex fell silent after that. There didn’t seem to be much more to say.

“You’ve got it wrong, you know?” Kyle interrupts his thoughts. “My dad didn’t leave you that key because he thought you were weak. He would’ve never thought that about you. You’re the bravest person I know.”

Alex looks up at him, surprised by his words. Kyle offers him a small smile before turning to leave. He closes the door softly behind him leaving Alex alone with his thoughts once more. He sighs heavily and leans against his hands. There was something about the bunker that still felt strange to Alex. Something they were missing. Why was there a bunker to begin with? Before it was made into a room for rosa to detox in, what purpose had it served?

He just has more questions. So he decides to go for one last look, by himself. Moving the table is a little bit difficult but he pushes it mostly with his good leg until he can get the hatch open, and then he climbs slowly back down into the darkness. When he flips on the lights the feeling hits him fresh. Something is off and he is going to figure out what it is.

Alex walks slowly toward the lamp with the symbol on it. He flicks it on and sees that it shines the symbol onto the wall. He pulls out his keys and confirms that it is the same spiral symbol. It looks a little like a sun with a moon nearby. In the center of the spiral is a notch out of the wall which gives him the idea to check behind it.

Lacking any sort of tool, Alex picks up his crutch and balances it in his hand. He punches the wall with the bottom of it until the wall begins to crumble away. Alex hits it several times until there is a sizable hole where the light is shining from the lamp.

He leans down and sees that there is something in the wall! So he reaches for it and carefully pulls it out. It’s dusty but smooth and as he dusts it off it shimmers and glows in a variety of colors and symbols. It’s a part to something larger, that much is clear. And the first thing Alex thinks looking at it, is that it’s not of this world.

Alex carries the piece back up the ladder and thinks of where to hide it for now. He’s going to look into it and see what he can find out about it and in the meantime he knows he needs to keep it safe and hidden. The only thing he can come up with is his backpack because he usually carries it with him and that way he can keep an eye on it wherever he goes.

After it’s tucked safe into the backpack, Alex sits down in the couch once more. He runs a hand through his hair and wishes he had someone he could call. He had friends, he knew he could trust, but this felt different. This felt big. He didn’t want to drag anyone into it until he knew what it even was.

He especially wanted to see Michael and for a few minutes he even held his phone in his hand and thought about sending an email. A text would be better but he didn’t have Michael’s number in his phone.

In the end he does nothing. What would he say. He wants desperately to see Michael, but he’s hurt him, or at the very least pissed him off. How wrong would it be to call in the debt just to get some face time? Very wrong, he decides.

Alex doesn’t feel like dinner so he takes a shower and goes to bed. He tries his best not to think about how many mistakes he’s made with Michael and instead thinks about the mystery in his backpack and where it might lead.

[thetexasattorneyblog]

Big Rigs shipping vehicles business vans

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[olivierperrier]

ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS THEN TAG THOSE YOU’D LIKE TO KNOW BETTER!

Feel free to delete or add questions!

Nicknames: Ki, Jaskier, Mordy. Yes they are all different from each other, I have strange n’ fun friends.

Zodiac: Cancer

Height: 5′6″ / 167.64cm. I am the short one in my family..

Sexuality ( if comfortable ): A HOMOSEXUAL

Favourite band / artist: Fall Out Boy, Elton John, DOLLY PARTON

Song stuck in my head: So Alright, Cool, Whatever by The Happy Fits

Last movie I saw: The Craft

Last thing I googled: Weather and temperature for today

Average amount of sleep: 7 hours.

What I’m wearing: A Dr.Dog t-shirt and camping shorts

Dream job: I Do Not Dream of Labor (kindergarten teacher, GARDNER)

Dream trip: Historical Tour of Europe ideally, but I REALLY want to go to Colorado and Wyoming

Favourite food: This isn’t fair because I adore food. But. Spicy Tofu Pad Thai is my be all end all meal.

Favourite animal: Doggies! 

Pets?: three dogs; Memphis Blue, Mercutio (aka piglet), and Duke Ellington. Ask me for pictures I love to show my boys off uwu

Play any instruments: Quite badly, but ukulele, bass guitar, guitar, and i used to sing.

Eye colour: Blueish

Hair colour: Blondie

Languages you speak: English and conversational French. Learning ASL

Random fact: I think I have committed two or three felonies. I am not joking. 2/3 of those felonies were also when I was Vice Leader of a Communist-Anarchist hippie house in college. TAGGED BY: @astrotechne TAGGING: idk who wants to?? @sloppyjoesandpurpleprose @lordofthegoldenflower @siapsymud @ghostofaformerself @diversestimulation

[goot-gahd-yall]

"You say one for the trebble two for the time  Come on y'all let's rock this!  You say one for the trebble two for the time  Come on! Speech is my hammer bang the world into shape  Now let it fall... (Hungh!!)  My restlessness is my nemesis  It's hard to really chill and sit still Committed to page I write rhymes  Sometimes won't finish for days  Scrutinize my literature from the large to the miniature  I mathematically add-minister Subtract the wack  Selector, wheel it back, I'm feeling that  (Ha ha ha) From the core to the perimeter black,  You know the motto Stay fluid even in staccato  (Mos Def) Full blooded, full throttle  Breathe deep inside the trunk hollow  There's the hum, young man where you from Brooklyn number one  Native son, speaking in the native tongue  I got my eyes on tomorrow (there it is)  While you still try to follow where it is I'm on the Ave where it lives and dies  Violently, silently  Shine so vibrantly that eyes squint to catch a glimpse  Embrace the ba** with my dark ink fingertips Used to speak the king's English  But caught a rash on my lips  So now my chat just like dis  Long range from the base-line (switch) Move like an apparition  Float to the ground with ammuntion (chi-chi-chi-POW)  Move from the gate, voice cued on your tape  Putting food on your plate Many crews can relate  Who choosing your fate (yo)  We went from picking cotton  To chain gang line chopping To Be-Bopping  To Hip-Hopping  Blues people got the blue chip stock option  Invisible man, got the whole world watching I'm high, low, east, west,  All over your map  I'm getting big props, with this thing called hip hop  Where you can either get paid or get shot When your product in stock  The fair-weather friends flock  When your chart position drop  Then the phone calls.... Chill for a minute  Let's see whoelse tops  Snatch your shelf spot  Don't gas yourself ock The industry just a better built cell block  A long way from the shell tops  And the bells that L rocked (rock, rock, rock, rock...) Hip Hop is prosecution evidence  The out of court settlement  Ad space for liquor  Sick without benefits (hungh!) Luxury tenements choking the skyline  It's low life getting tree-top high  Here there's a back water remedy  Bitter intent to memory A class E felony  Facing the death penalty (hungh!)  Stimulant and sedative, original repetitive  Violently competitive, a school unacredited The break beats you get broken with  on time and inappropriate  Hip Hop went from selling crack to smoking it  Medicine for loneliness Remind me of Thelonius and Dizzy  Propers to be -Boys getting busy  The war-time snap shot  The working man's jack-pot A two dollar snack box  Sold beneath the crack spot  Olympic sponsor of the black glock  Gold medalist in the back shot From the sovereign state of the have-nots  Where farmers have trouble with cash crops (woooo)  It's all city like phase two  Hip Hop will simply amaze you Craze you, pay you  Do whatever you say do  But black, it can't save you." Mos Def "Hip Hop" 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏🙌🙏

[paulbenedictblog]

%news%

New Post has been published on %http://paulbenedictsgeneralstore.com%

Usa today Busy beaches, open malls, mask frustration: News from around our 50 states

Usa today

Usa today Alabama

Sir Bernard Law: A lawsuit filed Friday challenges the declare’s election procedures by arguing that restrictions on absentee ballots and an absence of alternative vote casting ideas jeopardize the well being of voters – especially older voters, unlit voters and voters with disabilities – for the length of the coronavirus outbreak. The lawsuit filed by the NAACP True Protection and Academic Fund, the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program alleges that Alabama’s tips will require individuals to own from vote casting and keeping their well being. Alabama absentee voters are for the time being required to put up photocopies of their photo identification apart from as signal the absentee pollsooner than a notary or two witnesses. The lawsuit asks a federal mediate to waive these mandates and additionally force the declare to provide curbside vote casting. “Nobody may perhaps well perchance accrued must own between their existence or their vote,” LDF Senior Counsel Deuel Ross said in a assertion announcing the lawsuit.

Usa today Alaska

Juneau: Organizers of the Southeast Alaska Insist Fair appropriate-attempting enlighten the summer occasion in Haines has been canceled this year as a consequence of COVID-19. In a assertion, gorgeous officers said it became once a subtle choice however the correct one to originate. “For us and masses across Southeast Alaska and the Yukon, the Fair appropriate-attempting is something to behold ahead to on the end of the summer, a 2d of congregation and relaxing cut loose the leisure of the year,” the assertion said. “2020 has as a replace united us with the usual purpose of preserving the well being and safety of relations and strangers alike.” Meanwhile, the declare Department of Public Safety said this couldn't defend a ceremony next week to honor law enforcement officers who've died on the street of accountability, however a remembrance may perhaps well perchance be recorded and shared. Gov. Mike Dunleavy, in a unlock, encouraged Alaskans to consult with native memorials, whereas practicing social distancing.

Usa today Arizona

Wickenburg: Two drinking locations in this central Arizona community that allowed individuals to devour within the institutions in violation of an characterize issued by the governor to abet stop the unfold of the coronavirus will be reported to the town felony reliable for a name on imaginable citations, police said Saturday. Police Lt. Kenny Lutkiewicz said both institutions that will most most likely be reported in response to officers’ observations Saturday were presented copies Friday of Gov. Doug Ducey’s characterize barring dine-in drinking for the length of the coronavirus pandemic. Nobody became once arrested or issued a citation Saturday, Lutkiewicz said. “Our purpose is to coach,” he said. Lutkiewicz said there had been stable feelings domestically about enforcement of Ducey’s characterize. Other folks crowded sidewalks and were inside just a few drinking locations that were open for industry Saturday, said Jack Howell, a Wickenburg resident who observed the scene. “Every person became once well mannered … however there became once no social distancing,” Howell said.

Usa today Arkansas

Miniature Rock: Two declare prisoners died from the illness precipitated by the coronavirus, well being officers said Saturday, as Gov. Asa Hutchinson informed residents to “tip very generously” when businesses shuttered as a consequence of the virus reopen within the impending days. The two inmates, both in their 60s, were from the Cummins Unit, the assign apart as a minimal 860 prisoners have tested obvious. Health officers announced the deaths because the declare prepared to delivery rolling support its coronavirus restrictions this week, with gyms opening Monday. Eating locations can reopen their dining rooms May perhaps perchance even 11, however simplest at one-third their capacity. Hair salons, barbershops, tattoo retailers and rubdown therapists can reopen Wednesday with fresh tips on buyer interplay. Hutchinson said he hoped Arkansans would exhaust cash on the businesses however notice the social distancing measures akin to wearing a hide.

Usa today California

Antioch: A metropolis authentic has been ousted after he instructed on social media that ill, extinct and homeless individuals must be left to meet their “natural direction in nature” for the length of the coronavirus pandemic. City council individuals in Antioch, a metropolis of about 110,000 individuals 35 miles east of Oakland, voted unanimously Friday night time to resolve Ken Turnage II from his put up as chairman of the metropolis’s planning commission. NBC Bay Residence reports there became once a swift uproar after Turnage characterised individuals with frail immune techniques as a drain on society. He wrote on Fb: “the World has been presented to a fresh phrase Herd Immunity which is a correct one. For my part we must adapt a Herd Mentality. A herd gathers it ranks, it permits the ill, the extinct, the injured to meet its natural direction in nature.” As for homeless individuals, he added that the virus would “repair what is a foremost burden on our society and sources that can also be extinct.” Turnage later deleted the put up however refused to resign or support down from his comments.

Usa today Colorado

Denver: Getting a haircut and perusing in particular person at retail retail outlets were allowed all over again in unparalleled of the declare starting up Friday as Colorado persevered to ease restrictions dwelling up to forestall the rapid unfold of the coronavirus. Nonetheless, dwell-at-dwelling orders remained in pickle for unparalleled of the Denver space, with simplest very crucial businesses like grocery, liquor and hardware retail outlets open there. Goodwill became once reopening 16 retail outlets around Colorado with changes to provide protection to individuals’s safety. Dressing rooms will be closed, and one-approach aisles had been dwelling up to originate it more straightforward for patrons to dwell 6 toes apart. Elective surgeries and curbside pickup at retail retailers were allowed to delivery exterior the Denver space Monday within the necessary wave of the comfort of restrictions below Democratic Gov. Jared Polis’ “safer at dwelling” characterize. Locations of work can reopen starting up Monday however simplest with half of the identical old workers to enable for social distancing.

Usa today Connecticut

Hamden: Fair appropriate-attempting spring weather introduced individuals out to declare parks Saturday, forcing officers to shut many who was too crowded below the declare’s guidelines for social distancing. The Department of Vitality and Environmental Safety had closed as a minimal 11 parks because their parking areas were at capacity. Officers had informed residents to strive lesser-extinct parks to own far from crowding. Among the parks to realize capacity were Sleeping Giant Insist Park in Hamden, Wadsworth Falls Insist Park in Middletown and Talcott Mountain Insist Park in Simsbury. The DEEP has implemented decrease capacity limits at parks to augment social distancing. It says that the closures are rapid-length of time and that parks will also be expected to open the following day.

Usa today Delaware

Dover: Police enlighten Gov. John Carney’s characterize requiring individuals to wear face coverings in public for the length of the coronavirus pandemic is mostly being observed, however now no longer everyone has been absorbing to conform. In Cheswold, a Valero patron who became once rebuffed by a clerk for now no longer wearing a hide kicked and shattered a glass door Tuesday. The Delaware Insist Facts reports more than one other police departments and businesses said most americans were complying with the characterize. Delaware Insist Police spokeswoman Grasp Cpl. Melissa Jaffe said a particular person that continues to refuse administration requests to proceed away a industry may perhaps well perchance be in an arena to be charged with third-level trespassing or disorderly habits. Jaffe said there are exceptions, akin to if any person has a scientific condition that precludes them from wearing a face covering.

Usa today District of Columbia

Washington: Amid the fight in opposition to coronavirus, metropolis leaders thought to hire as a minimal 200 additional individuals to be part of the Contact Designate Drive and compare native cases of the illness, WUSA-TV reports. Contact tracers play a key feature in stopping the unfold of a virulent disease by talking with individuals that have tested obvious and understanding with whom they've near in contact. “For us, it approach that we receive to it faster, and we own it faster,” D.C. Department of Human Sources Director Ventris Gibson said. “You own the unfold by making decided you pull the neighborhood collectively that had the exposure.” In the meanwhile, the metropolis’s hint force has 65 individuals. By hiring 200 additional individuals, Gibson said, the metropolis may perhaps well perchance receive an even bigger defend on the virus. “We are doing this to construct lives, to construct hospitalizations and to receive us support to a healthy declare,” she said.

Usa today Florida

Orlando: Deputies arrested a particular person that had been residing out his quarantine on a shuttered Disney World island, telling authorities it felt like a “tropical paradise.” Orange County Sheriff’s deputies figured out Richard McGuire on Disney’s Discovery Island on Thursday. He said he’d been there since Monday or Tuesday and had planned to camp there for every week, in step with an arrest document. The 42-year-extinct said he didn’t hear a form of deputies shopping the deepest island for him on foot, by boat and by air because he became once asleep in a building. He told the deputy he didn’t know it became once a restricted space, no matter there being a form of “no trespassing” signs. A security e book for Disney said she saw McGuire the exhaust of a firm boat Thursday. She requested the agency to press charges. McGuire became once arrested on a trespassing payment and taken to penal complex with out incident.

Usa today Georgia

Atlanta: Georgians gathered in tiny groups atop parking decks, on rooftop patios and alongside usually busy interstates to behold U.S. militia fighter jets that flew over the Atlanta metro space in a tribute to well being care employees struggling with the coronavirus. Spectators cheered loudly because the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels and the Air Drive Thunderbirds roared overhead Saturday afternoon. The jets flew in formation as they disregarded the gap’s necessary hospitals. At the ancient Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta, spectators in overall adhered to social distancing guidelines, however few wore masks. Some carried garden chairs and beverages whereas others pushed strollers. Statewide, two dozen more deaths of individuals with COVID-19 were reported Saturday by the Georgia Department of Public Health, bringing the declare’s loss of life toll to as a minimal 1,174.

Usa today Hawaii

Honolulu: Lt. Gov. Josh Inexperienced said Friday that the declare is coming into into “Piece 2” of its effort in opposition to the coronavirus now that it has successfully diminished the tempo of fresh infections and “flattened the curve.” Inexperienced said in a video posted on social media that low-chance actions like non-compulsory scientific procedures are resuming, and officers within the following couple of weeks will keep in thoughts authorizing medium-chance actions. “Can our gyms open? Can drinking locations that attain social distancing open? That’s what we’re engaged on,” Inexperienced said. The subsequent step after these actions may perhaps well perchance be “increased-chance stuff” like dazzling gatherings of individuals and bars, he said. Gov. David Ige has prolonged the declare’s dwell-at-dwelling characterize thru May perhaps perchance even 31. A 14-day quarantine for vacationers arriving within the declare additionally remains in discontinuance.

Usa today Idaho

Boise: Three northern Idaho residents have filed a federal lawsuit nerve-racking statewide restrictions ordered by Gov. Brad Miniature as a consequence of the coronavirus, announcing it violates their religious freedoms. Two religious leaders and a churchgoer filed the lawsuit Thursday in opposition to Miniature and Idaho Department of Health and Welfare Director Dave Jeppesen. The lawsuit targets Miniature’s dwell-at-dwelling characterize as unconstitutional and particularly cites restrictions on religious gatherings. That characterize expired Thursday and became once replaced by one which permits church gatherings however accrued requires social distancing. But attorneys said Friday that the closing restrictions on church buildings remain unconstitutional and that they thought to are looking forward to a rapid-length of time restraining characterize to have them lifted. They additionally said they’re alive to Miniature may perhaps well perchance reinstate the dwell-at-dwelling characterize may perhaps well perchance accrued Idaho behold a spike in infections and deaths as a consequence of the virus.

Usa today Illinois

Marion: A neighborhood of award-winning barbecue drinking locations in southern Illinois is coming collectively to produce meals for well being care employees and other employees struggling with on the entrance traces of the coronavirus pandemic. The Hands of Hope foundation will collaborate with the eateries thru a program called Operation BBQ’d Hope to produce meals for roughly 4,000 individuals at Heartland Regional Medical Center, Herrin Clinic, St. Joseph Memorial Clinic and Memorial Clinic of Carbondale. The neighborhood served its first meal closing Tuesday at Heartland, The Southern Illinoisan reports. Extra meals are planned for Tuesday in Murphysboro and Thursday in Carbondale. The barbecue caterers raised cash to fund the dinners, and the inspiration supplied the proteins and first ingredients. The drinking locations fragment their data, to boot to staples akin to salt, sugar and spices. Volunteers prepare truffles.

Usa today Indiana

Indianapolis: Gov. Eric Holcomb announced Friday the steps in direction of stress-free industry and exercise restrictions imposed to tiring the coronavirus unfold for unparalleled of the declare, allowing more manufacturers, retailers and perusing malls to open their doors, starting up Monday, below well being and social distancing guidelines. The Republican governor’s thought targets to progressively ease tips with the purpose of allowing nearly all actions to resume July 4, potentially opening the approach for necessary summer events such because the rescheduled Indianapolis 500 on Aug. 23. The fresh directive lifts dawdle restrictions below the statewide dwell-at-dwelling characterize that took discontinuance March 25 however doesn’t enable drinking locations to resume in-particular person dining or hair salon reopenings for some other week. Health facilities, film theaters, bars and casinos are amongst businesses that can remain closed until as a minimal gradual May perhaps perchance even.

Usa today Iowa

Whiting: A couple who had been married for nearly 70 years are support dwelling after they both recovered from bouts of COVID-19. Bert McCandless, 88, and his 89-year-extinct partner, Ardis, contracted the illness precipitated by the coronavirus in March, The Omaha World-Herald reports. They were hospitalized at Creighton College Medical Center-Bergan Mercy, the assign apart Bert nearly didn’t originate it. Ardis spent three days within the health center in gradual March, however as she began to receive better, Bert’s condition worsened. He became once placed on a ventilator for 2 weeks, and doctors estimated he had no better than a 20% likelihood of surviving. On April 24, even supposing, Bert returned to the couple’s dwelling in Whiting, the assign apart Ardis became once so overjoyed she climbed onto his lap. “She hasn’t accomplished that in 30 years,” Bert said. “So I no doubt must be a sizzling commodity.” Both are accrued recuperating, however they’re busy gardening and visiting with grandchildren and gigantic-grandchildren.

Usa today Kansas

Topeka: The declare began releasing inmates closing week as a technique to test the unfold of coronavirus in its prison machine, however it stopped when an outbreak created a hazard of returning infected offenders to their communities, Gov. Laura Kelly said Friday. Kelly said the Department of Corrections released simplest six inmates and assign apart them below home arrest for the leisure of their sentences. But confirmed coronavirus cases on the Lansing Correctional Facility have skyrocketed, and the prison is below quarantine. “We bought the sorting out results at Lansing and realized that we had some other work to realize sooner than shall we let anyone else proceed,” Kelly said. The Department of Corrections said now no longer one among the six released were from Lansing. Problems on the prison didn’t stop Kelly from promising to prefer a statewide dwell-at-dwelling characterize as planned within the boring of night time Sunday or outlining a thought to progressively reopen the declare’s coronavirus-battered financial system by June 15, starting up with drinking locations and masses other businesses Monday. Nonetheless, her financial thought frustrated some industry home owners, who obtained’t be allowed to reopen until as a minimal May perhaps perchance even 18 whereas others can.

Usa today Kentucky

Louisville: A federal appeals courtroom on Saturday declined to dam the governor’s rapid-length of time ban on mass gatherings from applying to in-particular person religious products and providers. The three-mediate panel did sure the approach for Maryville Baptist Church to own pressure-in take care of products and providers whereas adhering to public well being necessities. That’s an replace that Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear has strongly encouraged throughout the coronavirus pandemic. However the panel stopped in want of applying its characterize to in-particular person take care of products and providers. The Cincinnati-based fully appeals courtroom panel informed a federal district mediate to “prioritize resolution” of the church’s claims in its lawsuit. Beshear recently announced that locations of take care of in Kentucky will be in an arena to over all over again defend in-particular person products and providers starting up May perhaps perchance even 20 as part of a broader thought to progressively reopen the declare’s financial system.

Usa today Louisiana

Baton Rouge: Gov. John Bel Edwards says he doesn’t foresee armed protesters disrupting lawmakers when a coronavirus-interrupted legislative session resumes Monday. Speaking at a data conference Friday, the Democratic governor authorized that, no longer like in some other states, company in Louisiana aren’t allowed to carry firearms into the declare Capitol. “Clearly we have now some individuals across the declare who are attempting to give narrate to their opinions, that are diversified than mine for the time being, with admire to the need of the dwell-at-dwelling characterize,” Edwards said. “I'd quiz these individuals to realize that in a suitable and safe manner. If they attain that, then there obtained’t be any issues akin to you saw in Michigan” – the assign apart tons of of protesters, many with out face coverings and a few openly carrying guns, entered the declare’s Capitol on Thursday in opposition to Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s restrictions assign apart in pickle as a result of the pandemic.

Usa today Maine

Portland: Gov. Janet Mills acknowledged the tempo of restarting the financial system became once sorting out individuals’s patience Friday as an offended restaurant owner openly defied her govt orders by reopening his restaurant for the day. Mills assured individuals she’s paying attention to their issues however warned there obtained’t be unanimous settlement on everything as she grapples with the safest path ahead for the length of a virus. The main part of reopening the declare began Friday with restrictions lifted on the exhaust of golf capabilities; visits to the dentist, barbers and hairdressers; and dwell-in-your-automobile religious products and providers. Mainers additionally were required to delivery wearing masks when social distancing isn’t imaginable. But a restaurateur in Bethel extinct the megaphone of an appearance on Fox Facts Channel to criticize the governor, claiming she became once going “rogue” and wasn’t paying attention to industry home owners. Rick Savage openly shared what he said became once the governor’s cell phone number dwell on TV.

Usa today Maryland

Frederick: Several dozen residents demonstrated in opposition to Gov. Larry Hogan’s dwell-at-dwelling characterize Saturday by caravaning across the declare. A neighborhood is called “ReOpen Maryland” organized the tell in opposition to the governor’s mandates for social distancing and other measures designed to provide protection to in opposition to the unfold of the coronavirus, which has killed bigger than 1,100 individuals within the declare. Hogan has additionally ordered the closure of all nonessential businesses. “Shall we accrued’ve had the replace to stick with sure tips and regulations somewhat than be shut down,” James Knowles, a Queen Anne’s resident, told The Baltimore Solar for the length of a lunch stop in Kent Island for the length of Saturday’s tell. Protesters made just a few stops as they drove from Frederick to Salisbury. Team individuals pledged to note social distancing guidelines by closing in their autos, however many did now no longer.

Usa today Massachusetts

Dartmouth: A neighborhood of about 10 federal immigration detainees who refused to be tested for the virus that causes COVID-19 precipitated intensive wretchedness to the heart the assign apart they're being held, the sheriff’s pickle of job said in a unlock. The inmates alive to about the incident on the C. Carlos Carreiro Immigration Detention Center reported more than one symptoms of COVID-19, and when told they wanted to be tested, they rushed officers. A data unlock from the Bristol County sheriff said the detainees barricaded themselves throughout the ability, ripped washing machines and pipes off the wall, broke dwelling windows and “trashed the total unit.” A diversified response crew restrained the detainees, the department said. One detainee became once hospitalized with “symptoms of a agonize assault,” some other as a consequence of a preexisting condition and a third “for a scientific incident after being removed from the ICE waft.” All three are expected “to be ultimate,” the sheriff’s department said.

Usa today Michigan

Lansing: The governor said gun-carrying protesters who demonstrated inside her declare’s Capitol “depicted just a number of the worst racism” and “awful parts” of U.S. historical past. Democrat Gretchen Whitmer told CNN that the protests featured “Accomplice flags and nooses,” apart from as swastikas. Participants of the Michigan Liberty Militia protested the declare’s dwell-at-dwelling orders closing week, some with weapons and tactical gear and their faces in part lined. They went throughout the Capitol, the assign apart being armed is allowed, then demanded receive entry to to the Residence flooring, which is prohibited. Some went to the Senate gallery, the assign apart a senator said armed males shouted at her. The Republican-managed Legislature has wondered Whitmer’s authority to lengthen dwell-at-dwelling orders amid the coronavirus pandemic. However the governor extinct an govt characterize to lengthen a declare of emergency declaration and has directed most businesses statewide to dwell closed. “This is a public well being crisis,” she said.

Usa today Minnesota

St. Paul: Insist Residence Republicans have vowed to dam Gov. Tim Walz’s proposal to borrow cash for public building initiatives except the Democrat ends his COVID-19 emergency powers. Residence Minority Leader Kurt Daudt, a Republican from Crown, said Saturday that it's miles “crucial that the Legislature be alive to about the selection-making process” about how to address the coronavirus pandemic. “The Legislature is in session,” Daudt told the Superstar Tribune. “We predict about we have now to be working with the governor on the response to COVID-19 and keeping Minnesota safe.” Walz declared a “peacetime emergency” March 13 aimed at stopping the unfold of COVID-19. The declaration, dwelling to dwell May perhaps perchance even 13, gave Walz the ability to shut colleges and businesses. Closing week, Walz prolonged the dwell-at-dwelling characterize to May perhaps perchance even 18, whereas loosening some restrictions on retailers to enable them to reopen for curbside pickup and deliveries starting up Monday.

Usa today Mississippi

Jackson: Lawmakers returned to the Capitol on Friday and asserted their administration in an affect fight with the governor over who has the authority to exhaust $1.25 billion the declare is receiving from the federal authorities for coronavirus relief. Republicans who lead the Residence and Senate enlighten the Mississippi Constitution gives spending authority to the Legislature. But Republican Gov. Tate Reeves has said a declare law enacted 40 years within the past gives the governor some spending energy for the length of emergencies. The Residence and Senate every voted by huge bipartisan margins to proceed the equal invoice, which puts many of the federal relief cash into a fund the Legislature controls. The governor would accrued must comply with spending plans that lawmakers dwelling. Reeves would now no longer straight away enlighten whether or now no longer he'll veto the proposal however said legislators were tying the fingers of individuals responding to the pandemic, including the declare well being officer and the declare emergency administration director. “You care more about energy than individuals,” Reeves said of lawmakers.

Usa today Missouri

Kansas City: A crew of academics is taking part with the College of Missouri to produce a excessive college curriculum about the fresh coronavirus pandemic to coach to students whereas colleges are closed. Pat Friedrichsen, a professor of science education at MU, became once awarded a $200,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to abet develop a coronavirus curriculum aimed at informing Missouri excessive schoolers on the science of the pandemic and its results on day after day existence. “I mediate it’s no doubt subtle for kids,” Friedrichsen said. “They’re very social. They strive to be with their pals. And so we wished them to designate why this protection goes to abet us flatten the curve.” The crew of academics at MU makes exhaust of online modeling tools to develop and educate lessons about the virus. “Let’s enlighten 20% of your population is bodily distancing,” Friedrichsen supplied as an instance. “What does that attain to your an infection curve versus if 80% of individuals attain this?”

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Helena: A role force appointed by Gov. Steve Bullock to originate ideas for how the declare may perhaps well perchance accrued exhaust $1.25 billion in federal coronavirus relief funding presented its guidance Friday, starting up with quick grants for “safety procure” products and providers akin to food banks and homeless shelters, alongside with hire and mortgage help for individuals and nonprofits. The 20-member Coronavirus Relief Fund Advisory Council did now no longer originate explain monetary ideas however outlined spending priorities to again individuals, businesses and nonprofit organizations, said council chairman Larry Simkins with The Washington Cos. The advisory council quick prioritizing funding in response to individuals who are affected the most and these who did now no longer win funding in other locations, apart from as deploying the funding swiftly thru reward channels akin to financial construction companies, lending institutions or declare capabilities, the document said.

Usa today Nebraska

Gretna: A mall that pitched itself as a case uncover about for how to reopen safely welcomed prospects Friday for the necessary time since closing as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Fewer than a dozen prospects were at Nebraska Crossing when it opened 11 of its bigger than 80 retail outlets at 11 a.m. Other folks that were there wore masks and wandered the open-air mall’s mostly empty pathways, stopping at times to glimpse into shop dwelling windows. The outlet coincided with other malls within the declare allowing prospects to shut Friday, including Lincoln’s Gateway Mall and Omaha’s Westroads Mall. Nebraska Crossing resumed industry with fresh safety measures in pickle, including signs to advertise social distancing guidelines and Plexiglas boundaries in drinking locations. All however one among the entrances were taped off. Mall officers faced criticism for deciding to reopen sooner than the virus became once contained.

Usa today Nevada

Carson City: A newly formed declare Department of Training committee has been tasked with helping produce a thought and guidelines for college districts and structure colleges to reopen for the 2020-2021 academic year. Insist Superintendent Jhone Ebert said the committee consists of faculty district superintendents, well being officers and safety consultants. Gov. Steve Sisolak ordered Nevada colleges in March to shut as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. Sisolak directed that faculties proceed operations for the length of the most stylish college year by providing distance studying to students. Ebert said that has raised challenges that consist of receive entry to to expertise, training academics and quality academic supplies. A newly formed tutorial collaborative will exhaust federal help to bolster distance studying capabilities, Ebert said.

Usa today Novel Hampshire

Concord: Republican Gov. Chris Sununu on Friday prolonged the declare’s dwell-at-dwelling characterize to May perhaps perchance even 31 whereas allowing the restricted reopening of drinking locations, hair salons and other businesses throughout the month. “We’re now no longer taking monumental leaps ahead. We’re correct now no longer at that level, however we attain are attempting to produce the replace to flex a majority of these items open, and we mediate it’s a gigantic first step,” he said at a data conference. The declare issued guidelines for all businesses on screening of employees, pickle of labor cleansing and other practices to forestall the transmission of the coronavirus. Campgrounds, already allowed to feature below previous orders, are now cramped to 50% capacity, and out-of-declare company are prohibited except they're individuals of a non-public campground. Golf capabilities additionally will be cramped to residents and individuals when allowed to reopen May perhaps perchance even 11. Ocean beaches will remain closed, whereas declare parks can open with some restrictions.

Usa today Novel Jersey

Island Seaside Insist Park: Nearly everyone perceived to cooperate at a sprawling oceanfront park Saturday as Novel Jersey reopened its declare parks to a populace itching to receive sand between their toes after months of being cooped up as a consequence of the coronavirus outbreak. Island Seaside Insist Park in Ocean County became once amongst the parks to reopen, drawing just a few hundred individuals to a seaside that routinely handles hundreds for the length of the summer. In the four hours that an Connected Press reporter watched the gang, shut to all complied with a requirement that they dwell as a minimal 6 toes apart to forestall the unfold of the virus. A tiny neighborhood of individuals wearing Rutgers T-shirts over their swimsuits reclined on towels 6 inches apart in preference to 6 toes. And just a few individuals saw pals on the seaside, went up to them and hugged. Unexcited, bigger than half of wore masks, at the same time as stable sunshine bore down. Gov. Phil Murphy said he became once happy with initial reports from web sites that reopened Saturday.

Usa today Novel Mexico

Gallup: Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham invoked the declare’s Riot Shield an eye on Act on Friday as she sealed off all roads to nonessential web page visitors in one among the largest communities bordering the Navajo Nation, the assign apart a surging coronavirus outbreak has already precipitated widespread restrictions and weekend lockdowns. She additionally required that corporations in Gallup shut from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. within the metropolis of about 20,000 individuals alongside Interstate 40, which remained open to thru web page visitors. Gallup is a hub for traditional family supplies, liquor sales and water-container refills for individuals residing in far-off stretches of the Navajo Nation – usually with out stout indoor plumbing – and indigenous Zuni Pueblo. The Navajo Nation has imposed evening and weekend curfews on the reservation. COVID-19 an infection rates in Gallup and surrounding McKinley County originate it one among the worst U.S. sizzling spots for the pandemic as sufferers crush intensive care facilities.

Usa today Novel York

Novel York: Novel Yorkers were mostly adhering to social distancing tips whereas exterior having fun with the warmest weekend in a spring clouded by the coronavirus crisis, Mayor Invoice de Blasio said Sunday. “The gargantuan story right here's what Novel Yorkers have accomplished correct,” de Blasio said. Tens of hundreds of individuals flocked to the metropolis’s parks and public spaces Saturday as temperatures hit the low 70s. Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said officers issued 51 summonses Saturday, including 43 in parks. Shea said he became once responsive to three arrests. Police had to interrupt up some dazzling gatherings and stop individuals from playing crew sports actions, that are accrued banned. Officers were additionally handing out face masks, which individuals are required to wear when social distancing is now no longer imaginable. “The overwhelming majority of Novel Yorkers have no doubt risen to the instruct,” de Blasio said, even supposing he and Shea acknowledged some hiccups. De Blasio said he additionally requested police to originate bigger patrols Sunday in The monumental apple’s Hudson River Park after crowding issues there Saturday.

Usa today North Carolina

Raleigh: Several necessary browsing malls within the declare are expected to reopen on the equal day Gov. Roy Cooper’s COVID-19 dwell-at-dwelling characterize is scheduled to dwell. The Facts & Observer reports Simon Property Team announced it plans to reopen the SouthPark and Concord Mills malls and Charlotte Top payment Stores on Friday. Simon is the largest mall operator within the U.S. Its other North Carolina property, Carolina Top payment Stores in Smithfield, is additionally dwelling to open Friday. The planned reopenings are in response to “most stylish declare and/or native dwell-at-dwelling or closure orders, that are arena to alter,” in step with a assertion on Simon’s online page. The mall operator said all employees will be required to wear masks and take hand-washing breaks. The malls will additionally limit entrances, hours and the replace of individuals within the structures. Chairs in dining areas will be removed, and drinking fountains and play areas will be closed.

Usa today North Dakota

Fargo: The North Dakota High College Activities Association is canceling spring sports actions, ultimate arts and other declare contests as a result of the coronavirus. The vote Friday by the neighborhood’s board of directors came after Gov. Doug Burgum’s characterize to own colleges closed and proceed with distance studying for the leisure of the educational year. The pass additionally assign apart an end to hopes of ending the Class A girls and boys basketball tournaments and the Class B boys basketball match. Board president Scott Privratsky cited social distancing guidelines by the Services and products for Illness Shield an eye on and said the “well being and safety” of these alive to became once the most critical component in calling off the events. “This subtle conclusion did now no longer near easy, as we designate the excellent sacrifices students have made,” Privratsky said.

Usa today Ohio

Columbus: Reopening the declare is a “balancing” act between bringing the financial system support and keeping individuals, Gov. Mike DeWine said Sunday, noting that he'll be prepared to take movement may perhaps well perchance accrued the peril irritate all over again. Insist officers are monitoring the information on coronavirus in Ohio “every day,” DeWine said Sunday on ABC’s “This Week.” On Friday, the Republican governor prolonged the declare shutdown until May perhaps perchance even 29 whereas additionally allowing retail retail outlets to originate bigger their industry sooner than expected. Development corporations, distributors, manufacturers and workplaces are allowed to reopen Monday and retail businesses May perhaps perchance even 12. Health care workplaces were allowed to reopen Friday. DeWine issued an characterize for individuals to wear face coverings in retail outlets however swiftly reversed himself, calling it a stable suggestion however now no longer a requirement. He said Sunday the characterize “went too far” because “individuals weren't going to settle for the authorities telling them what to realize.”

Usa today Oklahoma

Oklahoma City: The declare went into its first weekend of a reopened financial system for the length of the coronavirus pandemic as residents were allowed to nearly about drinking locations, mall and other retail outlets. Tempers flared in some parts of the declare over restrictions accrued in pickle. In Stillwater, metropolis officers on Friday amended a local emergency declaration after businesses reported being threatened by prospects who didn’t are attempting to be forced to wear masks to enter. The changes now originate masks optionally on the market for patrons in preference to foremost, even supposing they're accrued strongly quick. Employees are accrued required to wear them. “Store employees had been threatened with physical violence and showered with verbal abuse,” Stillwater City Supervisor Norman McNickle said in a assertion. “It is far additional distressing that these individuals, whereas exercising their believed rights, assign apart others at chance.”

Usa today Oregon

Salem: The declare will originate an ambitious COVID-19 sorting out program and originate bigger contact tracing as it prepares to reopen the financial system, Gov. Kate Brown said Friday. Other folks will be chosen at random for sorting out and requested to volunteer in a partnership with Oregon Health & Science College. The governor additionally said some rural counties the assign apart there are nearly no cases may perhaps well perchance delivery reopening slowly starting up May perhaps perchance even 15. “This program is a sport-changer,” Brown said. “This may perhaps well give us a more appropriate idea of the correct payment of infections in Oregon and to have ongoing precision monitoring of any fresh outbreaks.” Officers have said Oregon wants the ability to habits 12,250 assessments every week, for a payment of 29 per 10,000 individuals. That level would must originate bigger as dwell-dwelling orders are eased. In most stylish weeks, COVID-19 sorting out has increased to bigger than 9,000 assessments

Usa today Pennsylvania

York: Hundreds of protesters chanted and carried signs exterior the governor’s dwelling to tell his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and receive in contact with for an end to restrictions on industry exercise. About 100 to 200 individuals paced alongside the avenue Saturday afternoon exterior Gov. Tom Wolf’s home in York, repeatedly chanting “open up” in direction of the dwelling. Participants of the governor’s security crew wouldn’t commentary on whether or now no longer Wolf became once dwelling. “Start the doors as of Monday,” Joyce Cordell of Hamlin, Wayne County said from a motorized cart. “It’s now no longer correct to own us closed up.” Her county became once now no longer amongst the 2 dozen of the declare’s 67 counties that can have some restrictions eased May perhaps perchance even 8, even supposing it had 105 cases and a handful of deaths. Karen Bosco, a 62-year-extinct retired safety e book from York Haven, said the governor is “killing tiny industry.”

Usa today Rhode Island

Windfall: A Brown College student has filed a class-movement lawsuit in opposition to the Ivy League college attempting for compensation for tuition, room, board and other charges connected to the campus closure in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The proceed well with filed Thursday in federal courtroom in Windfall alleges breach of contract and unjust enrichment on the part of the college. “Faculty students enrolled in classes when the COVID-19 outbreak struck were left and not using a receive entry to to their dorms, to faculty rooms, campus cafeterias or other facilities they paid to exhaust,” Steve Berman, an felony reliable for the students, said in a assertion. “We predict about there’s absolutely no causes why they may perhaps well perchance accrued proceed to be caught holding the invoice for tens of hundreds of bucks, simplest to be kicked off campus.” An email attempting for commentary became once sent to a Brown spokesman.

Usa today South Carolina

Columbia: Other folks flocked to declare parks and beaches Saturday because the declare prepared to dwell its coronavirus dwell-at-dwelling characterize. The parks were reopened Friday after bigger than a month, and masses reported stout parking tons. Picnic shelters, playgrounds and interpretive museums remain closed, and rangers required social distancing and other keeping measures. Webcams of beaches confirmed tons of of individuals sunbathing, tossing footballs or playing within the surf alongside the Mammoth Strand on Saturday, a day after accommodations alongside the seaside were allowed to reopen for individuals with reward reservations. However the replace of cases retains climbing. South Carolina is additionally starting up to behold sizzling spots in declare prisons. Thirty-one inmates are infected with COVID-19, all at Allendale Correctional Institution or the Kirkland Correctional Institution, the assign apart all fresh inmates are introduced, the Corrections Department said.

Usa today South Dakota

Sioux Falls: Smithfield Meals’ shy pickle within the metropolis will in part reopen Monday after being closed for bigger than two weeks, in step with the workers’ union. The meatpacking plant requested about 250 employees to document to its Sioux Falls plant Monday to workers two departments – flooring seasoned pork and night time cleanup, in step with the United Food and Industrial Workers union native. The plant has been closed for bigger than two weeks after an outbreak infected 853 of its 3,100 employees. Meanwhile, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is calling into employee complaints that the plant operated below unsafe circumstances. The criticism filed April 20 became once first reported by inforum.com. The Services and products for Illness Shield an eye on and Prevention toured the ability April 15 and quick just a few changes to diminish crowding and toughen well being and safety.

Usa today Tennessee

Memphis: Gov. Invoice Lee issued guidelines Friday for locations of take care of to feature, because the declare moves ahead with reopening locations the assign apart individuals can catch for the length of the response to the fresh coronavirus outbreak. The fresh statewide ideas contradict stricter tips issued Thursday by officers in Memphis, who now enlighten locations of take care of may perhaps well perchance accrued notice Lee’s guidelines as a replace. Lee said locations of take care of across the declare may perhaps well perchance accrued defend products and providers below sure boundaries, akin to asking congregants to dwell 6 toes apart and wear face coverings. Gathering rooms may perhaps well perchance accrued simplest be extinct at 50% capacity, and folks which may perhaps well perchance be over 65 or have underlying illnesses may perhaps well perchance accrued now no longer befriend products and providers. Lee had earlier quick that folks defend far from church gatherings, however he by no approach mandated it. His fresh guidelines suggest for a “phased-in” process to originate bigger receive entry to to locations of take care of.

Usa today Texas

Austin: The replace of fresh confirmed coronavirus cases within the declare surpassed 1,000 for the fourth consecutive day Sunday, and the replace of deaths increased by as a minimal 20. Insist well being officers reported 31,548 confirmed cases, an originate bigger from 30,522 reported Saturday, and 867 deaths as a consequence of COVID-19, the disease precipitated by the virus. The replace of infections is believed to be far increased because many individuals haven’t been tested, and study suggest that folks will also be infected with out showing symptoms. This past weekend became once the necessary of the declare’s reopening the financial system after Gov. Greg Abbott’s statewide “dwell-at-dwelling” characterize for nearly 30 million individuals expired Friday. Residents were allowed to proceed support to malls, drinking locations, film theaters and retail retail outlets in cramped numbers, even supposing some protests of the closings persevered.

Usa today Utah

St. George: Officers at Zion National Park announced Saturday that they planned to reopen the park May perhaps perchance even 13, even supposing they emphasized that it may perhaps well most likely perchance simplest open in “receive areas.” Essentially the most-visited of Utah’s “Mighty 5” national parks, Zion became once closed April 3 after Gov. Gary Herbert and the declare’s high well being officers requested it. Local officers, including the mayor and town council of the gateway community of Springdale, had written to park officers inquiring for the closure apart from. The overwhelming majority of Zion’s 4 million-plus company yearly originate exhaust of its main canyon, the assign apart attractions like Angels Touchdown, the Zion Narrows and the Zion Canyon Lodge entice hundreds of hikers on a regular foundation. The park saw bigger than 370,000 company for the length of April 2019, with the warmth-however-now no longer-sizzling weather and seasonal instances like spring atomize and Easter weekend helping to generate just a number of the largest crowds of the year.

Usa today Vermont

Marshfield: Gov. Phil Scott announced more tiring steps Friday to reopen the declare’s pandemic-afflicted financial system by expanding the replace of employees allowed to work at a producing, building and distribution industry from five to 10 if the workers notice safety necessities. “I’m happy to enlighten we’re in an arena to receive hundreds more Vermonters support to work starting up Monday,” the Republican governor said. The workers must dwell 6 toes apart and be screened, including for their body temperature, on the starting up of their shift, they veritably must wear cloth face coverings around others. Those businesses may perhaps well perchance originate bigger to stout operation May perhaps perchance even 11 within the occasion that they alter to “additional, stringent” necessities, Scott said. But he warned that the declare, which has seen slightly few cases of the coronavirus, must remain vigilant and test that other states nearby are accrued facing big outbreaks. Scott additionally announced Friday a fresh requirement that public transit employees and prospects must wear cloth masks.

Usa today Virginia

Richmond: The declare will win three decontamination techniques that can collectively sterilize up to 240,000 objects of private keeping gear on a regular foundation for the length of the coronavirus outbreak, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Saturday. Northam said in a data unlock that the decontamination techniques will change into operational in Blacksburg, Newport Facts and Chesterfield County throughout the following week. The objects were licensed for Virginia by the Federal Emergency Management Company. Northam said the expertise will abet address the national shortage of important private keeping gear to abet provide protection to well being care employees and first responders engaged on the entrance traces of the pandemic. The machine makes exhaust of a concentrated hydrogen peroxide vapor to decontaminate N95 masks.

Usa today Washington

Spokane: Yakima County has the excellent payment of coronavirus cases of any county on the West Waft. Health consultants reveal a dazzling replace of very crucial employees, a dazzling replace of cases in lengthy-length of time care facilities, and a dazzling agricultural crew residing and working in shut quarters because the causes. The county has about 250,000 residents. “We correct haven’t been as unparalleled down because the leisure of the declare because our crew goes to work,” said Lilian Bravo, a spokeswoman for the Yakima Health District. “Physically going to work day-after-day goes to position you at a increased chance than others.” As of Friday, Yakima County had 1,203 obvious cases, a payment of 455 cases per 100,000 residents, the excellent within the declare. Second became once Franklin County at 326 cases per 100,000. The statewide common became once 185 cases per 100,000 residents. Yakima County, 140 miles southeast of Seattle, additionally had a slightly excessive replace of deaths from coronavirus with 47.

Usa today West Virginia

Charleston: Monday marks the 2d week of Gov. Jim Justice’s thought to push the declare’s financial system ahead in response to the coronavirus. The governor’s thought consists of the reopening of tiny businesses with fewer than 10 employees, drinking locations with out of doors seating, barbershops and dog groomers. Bodily distancing will be required. Closing week, hospitals were allowed to resume non-compulsory scientific procedures, whereas other products and providers were allowed to reopen, including necessary care doctor and dental workplaces and physical and psychological treatment. Starting May perhaps perchance even 11, other businesses may perhaps well perchance be allowed to reopen in response to on hand sorting out data. Those businesses consist of pickle of job and authorities structures, arena of expertise retail retail outlets, dine-in drinking locations, parks, casinos, gyms, and well being and game facilities.

Usa today Wisconsin

Madison: The declare Supreme Court announced Friday that this may perhaps well perchance hear oral arguments early this week in a lawsuit attempting for to dam Democratic Gov. Tony Evers’ dwell-at-dwelling characterize. The justices dominated 6-1 to settle for the case and scheduled oral arguments for Tuesday morning by the exhaust of video conference. The arguments are expected to closing as a minimal 90 minutes. The ruling said the courtroom will keep in thoughts whether or now no longer the characterize became once no doubt an administrative rule and whether or now no longer Palm became once within her rights to arena it unilaterally. Despite the indisputable fact that the characterize doesn’t qualify as a rule, the courtroom said this may perhaps well perchance accrued weigh whether or now no longer declare Department of Health Services and products Secretary Andrea Palm exceeded her authority by “closing all “nonessential” businesses, ordering all Wisconsin individuals to dwell dwelling and forbidding all “nonessential dawdle.” Conservatives defend a 5-2 majority on the courtroom.

Usa today Wyoming

Casper: Two days after the declare’s high well being authentic loosened restrictions on businesses, as a minimal two counties have already moved to additional switch the strictures on their communities. Park and Teton counties are on reverse ends of the coronavirus pandemic in Wyoming. Park has correct one case, no matter the virus’s early presence within the county. Teton, meanwhile, has 65 cases, the most per 100,000 individuals within the declare. Earlier this week, Dr. Alexia Harrist allowed barbershops, tattoo parlors, gyms and receive other businesses to open with restrictions; as part of that switch Friday, numerous counties can originate their very indulge in orders. Both Park and Teton counties have applied for changes that may perhaps well perchance enable them to address the pandemic in their areas, the Casper Superstar-Tribune reports. Teton County wants the businesses that the declare said may perhaps well perchance reopen Friday to as a replace be ordered closed thru May perhaps perchance even 11. The are looking forward to from the county has been licensed, officers said. Park County’s well being officer, Dr. Aaron Billin, told the Superstar-Tribune the county became once asking the declare for permission to enable for out of doors, in-particular person dining at drinking locations there.

From USA TODAY Community and wire reports

Learn or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/data/50-states/2020/05/04/busy-beaches-open-malls-hide-frustration-data-around-states/111656722/

[kansascityhappenings]

Hope for Hope: Kansas sex trafficking victim put behind bars for sex trafficking

TOPEKA, Kan. — As a girl growing up in some of Topeka’s rough neighborhoods, Hope Zeferjohn insists she didn’t fear for her safety.

But she admits that changed when her family befriended a 24-year-old man who seemed to take an interest in the 14-year-old girl.

“He didn’t take too kindly to it that second time,” Hope remembers about Anthony Long the second time he tried to coax her into being with him.

She kept telling him no. She had a boyfriend. Then at a house party, things got violent.

“He pushed me up against, like, the house, and he just raped me there,” Hope said. “And then he decided to give me his number and tells me to call him, like that made us into a relationship.”

Trapped by threats

The memory of their rough start comes back to Hope, now 21 years old and in the Kansas State Women’s Prison in Topeka.

In a phone call, Hope remembers how even when she ended up in a juvenile facility in Salina, Long found her and groomed her in to believing they belonged together and that he would take care of her and her baby whom she’d had with another man.

That included selling videos of them having sex and selling her — human trafficking.

“It would be like here and there, he would sell me to a male,” she said.

Trapped, she believed, by the drugs he provided her and by his threats.

“He said if I didn’t, you know, be with him, he was going to kill my family,” she recalled. “So I was like forced into that whole relationship I didn’t even want to be in.”

Still a minor at the time, Long didn’t stop with Hope. She said he used her Facebook page to lure other teen girls into his sex trade, who Hope said thought they were talking to her.

She would join him, again out of fear for her safety and her family’s.

‘I never had a choice’

Eventually her break came when authorities caught up with Long, and Hope provided key information that led to his conviction and lengthy prison term.

But then a shock to her: Shawnee County prosecutors charged her with 10 felonies and two misdemeanors, including aggravated sex trafficking, claiming although she was once a victim, she had turned into an active participant.

“I never had a choice,” Hope insisted, adding she was choked and beaten to the point of losing two babies in miscarriages. “If I had a choice, this would never have happened.”

“She had nowhere to go,” said Vicki Smith, a Kansas City-based corporate lawyer. “How do you walk away form someone who says, ‘I’ll find you and kill you,’?”

Ultimately facing a lengthy prison sentence, Hope pleaded guilty to one count and was sentenced to six years by a judge who struggled with her plight, but felt he had no choice.

Smith said when she got wind of Hope’s story, something didn’t seem right.

So she took on the case pro bono and has filed a second clemency petition with Gov. Laura Kelly. Her first petition was denied by outgoing Gov. Jeff Colyer.

“If minors have to have permission to get their ears pierced from their parents before they are 18, yet we’re going to call her culpable for things she did when she was a minor because she was being beaten, it just doesn’t seem fair,” Smith said.

Hoping for a second chance

Adding to the unfairness, Smith said Kansas lawmakers changed the law to allow sex trafficking victims to use that status as a defense if charged.

But it was too late for Hope.

And then, there’s her status as a sex offender who must register for life.

UMKC Law Professor Sean O’Brien, who helped found the Midwest Innocence Project, calls that a “scarlet letter” that will hamper Hope’s future.

“There’s a lot here to overcome,” O’Brien said. “That’s something that’s going to make it very difficult for her to — I mean, she can’t work in a number of occupations.”

O’Brien said Kansas law let her down.

Hope agrees and said she would tell Kansas’ governor “it’s not easy being a victim in my case.”

Kelly’s office said it’s reviewing the clemency filing but has offered no timetable for a decision.

The Shawnee County Prosecutor Michael Kagay said in an emailed statement he stands by prosecuting her, in part because “we have no corroboration for Ms. Zeffejohn’s (sic) claim that she was a victim of sex trafficking.”

Smith said she’s hopeful, noting then-State Sen. Laura Kelly voted to support the law that allows for victim status to be used as a defense.

And Smith said she’ll file another petition if this one fails.

Hope is hoping, too. She hopes to regain custody of the son she lost when she went to prison, and when she gets out either now or next spring, she hopes to be an advocate for other victims.

“If I can help somebody, that would be one less person who would be a victim to the state,” she said.

A bill to provide relief

Hope and her attorney aren’t the only ones fighting for a change. 

State Sen. David Haley, a KCK Democrat, has filed a measure that would allow victims of human trafficking to file a motion with the court to set aside, or “vacate,” the conviction after the fact.

Senate Bill 154 would require a hearing on the matter and allow for a variety of convictions and diversions to be set aside and all records expunged.

It sets the parameters for cases that qualify and what can be used to convince the judge of the defendant’s victim status.

It has been assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Follow the bill’s progress here.

If signed into law, it would remove the requirement of registering as a sex offender, a major obstacle that would hinder young former inmates from getting jobs or even taking part in their children’s activities.

Haley, a former prosecutor, said they’re working to get the language right, to help “ensure we have a broad amount of legislative support.”

“Depending on the circumstances,” Haley said, “victims should not become felons.”

For more information and resources on human trafficking, visit the website for the Center for Combating Human Trafficking, based out of Wichita State University. 

For even more on Hope’s story, visit the Topeka Capital-Journal’s site.

from FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports https://fox4kc.com/news/hope-for-hope-kansas-sex-trafficking-victim-put-behind-bars-for-sex-trafficking/

from Kansas City Happenings https://kansascityhappenings.wordpress.com/2020/02/25/hope-for-hope-kansas-sex-trafficking-victim-put-behind-bars-for-sex-trafficking/

[nearthecityofchorrol-blog]

What Are We Waiting For?

This article is from the Spring 2019 difficulty of Historical past Information, AASLH’s quarterly journal. Members can access the complete problem in the Useful resource Middle.

By Jackie Barton, 2019 Annual Assembly Program Chair

Over the past several years, speedy social modifications and an explosive info age have prompted public historians to rework their work, shifting past their traditional cost of describing, preserving, and making sense of historical past for the world round us. New platforms for communication, driven by advances in know-how and social media, have both served as windows to societal change and offered channels for most of the people to share their very own stories and to make their own which means in ways unimaginable only a decade in the past. Public historians now search to help and be relevant to their communities and a fast-evolving citizenry amplifying their own voices. The theme of AASLH’s 2019 Annual Assembly (August 28–31)—What Are We Waiting For?—is your invitation to hitch us. There, our skilled group will search to develop into intentional about movement—about when to act shortly and proactively versus when to maneuver more slowly, in considerate, thorough, and collaborative ways. Come, contribute, study, get motivated, and join round this compelling query.

In some ways, conventional historical pursuits created and subsequently still drive public history: evidence-based description and analysis of the previous and its impression on the present, plus the conservation and preservation of locations, objects, and paperwork that illustrate historical past. In any case, many museums and historic websites have been founded for the aim of documenting, defending, and deciphering a specific story or website. In earlier eras, public historians took their cost to mean telling the story in “objective” or neutral phrases, sorting issues of authority and engagement based mostly on scholarly experience. In current many years, public history, history, sociology, and lots of different fields have confronted growing challenges to the once-accepted concepts of authority, objectivity, and neutrality, and I recommend to you that this can be a starting of a new means forward.

Once I added museum work to my duties over a decade in the past, many practitioners knew the sector was embarking on a interval of change and have been considering how greatest to deal with it. For one, conversations about variety and inclusion have been expanding. If the world will look totally different tomorrow than it does in the present day (went the argument), then how can we be sure that we’re nonetheless serving that world? And, moreover, will that world need us to serve them if we don’t look totally different as nicely?  Secondly, shared authority was an edgy matter of the day. Attendees at conference periods argued gustily over the benefits and dangers of allowing feedback and online participation, for example, and about moderating such content material at numerous ranges. In lots of instances, the perceived have to share authority in these early days was to attract numerous viewers to our web sites, places, and packages. Serving audiences, again, was a key issue, with long-term audience numbers an underlying concern.

Some institutions have been in entrance of this curve, like the Brooklyn Historical Society. With its 2006 Public Views Gallery, the organization sought to sign that the constructing was co-owned by the individuals locally, that the museum “was a place for everyone, that the history that was told [there] was not just a very narrow slice of history.”[i] For others—the unprepared—their agonizing about sharing authority has turn into largely irrelevant. While we have been worrying if and how one can greatest interact and share our personal platforms with communities, the plenty simply moved their storytelling or their conversations about our work to platforms they favored better—they usually have an growing variety of those platforms from which to choose.

The museum conversation about our authority and whether or not to share it was born of the fact that we had a monopoly. Because the early 2000s, that has been in speedy change. In February 2005, WordPress expanded into a themed, comment-moderated surroundings for bloggers. Twitter was based in March 2006; the platform launched hashtags in August 2007. In 2018, 77% of People owned a smartphone: with web content and social media organized around topical conversations, the facility to tell stories is literally in each individual’s arms. If museums and historic sites aren’t the controlling authority for a way and when citizens experience stories, then what are we?

Newer discussions and modifications within the subject have been driven as a lot by exterior events as by inner soul-searching. Occasions and discussions on the national and world stage have brought focus to how we match into our communities, how we serve our audiences, and even who our audiences are or ought to be.

A sampling of up to date considerations that demand a new method of working embrace demographic modifications; local weather change; immigration and immigration coverage; human, civil, and gender rights; challenges and modifications to public schooling; felony justice enlargement and inequalities; and long-term shifts within the economic configuration of the country.

As well as, a extra refined civilian understanding of public history institution operations is evidenced by activism relating to packages and reveals, citizen bloggers and commentary, and even a heist scene tackling colonialism in Black Panther, the third-highest-grossing American movie of all time.

Briefly, main social and technological modifications on the earth are demanding major modifications of public history organizations. They exist at the moment inside an enormous, difficult array of expectations, and if they are to be relevant and make actual impacts, they need to transfer and alter simply as the world has.

It’s into this moment that the theme for 2019 is born: What Are We Waiting For? The need to act is at its root, as numerous our colleagues have reflected on how lengthy some of our most essential points and beliefs take to realize. Why are we asking the same questions yr after yr—typically over many years? What are we waiting for when the potential influence of history organizations is so profound? In any case, during this time of “fake news” and various information, history museums are trusted and are seen as a extremely credible source of data.[ii] In the periods you will notice in Philadelphia, the influence history organizations can and do make are represented, with a wide selection of inspiring and thrilling subjects to answer the theme.

Variety and Inclusion

Present events and longstanding challenges in the area have placed questions of race, ethnicity, variety, and inclusion on the middle of public life and, thus, this yr’s Annual Assembly. The difficult and sometimes racially unjust nature of America’s legal justice system has been drawn into the light by means of scholars like Michelle Alexander (writer of The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness) and publicized instances of police violence and wrongful imprisonment. Communities around the country have demanded the removing of Accomplice monuments and other symbols of leaders and movements accused of racist or oppressive actions. These developments are coupled with an increase in hate speech and hate crimes, with the latter up 30 % over three years from 2015-2017.[iii]

This yr’s Annual Meeting displays urgency in addressing these developments. Greater than twenty periods this yr recommend improvements to inclusive storytelling, partnership, collections work, exhibit improvement, evaluation, and different areas. Our opening plenary will give attention to mass incarceration. Sean Kelley, Senior Vice President and Director of Interpretation at Japanese State Penitentiary Historic Website, will average a dialogue between historian Talitha LeFlouria, Ph.D., writer of Chained in Silence: Black Ladies and Convict Labor in the New South and Susan Burton of A New Method of Life Reentry Venture and writer of Turning into Ms. Burton: From Prison to Recovery to Main the Struggle for Incarcerated Ladies. This dialogue will join history with present social justice work.

The town of Philadelphia itself is an ideal classroom for studying about African American history. “On the Road to Freedom: Enslavement and the Underground Railroad in Philadelphia” will deliver friends via a number of the metropolis’s main sites of slavery and freedom. One such website was investigated in depth by our different featured speaker, Erica Armstrong Dunbar, Ph.D. Dunbar is the Charles and Mary Beard Professor of History at Rutgers University and authored Never Caught: The Washingtons’ Relentless Pursuit of Their Runaway Slave, Ona Decide, among other works.

The session “Imagining a Reparations Movement for Racial Justice in Museums and Historic Sites” will problem us to conceive of a motion for reparations that would redress long histories of oppression. This may embrace the stories we tell at our websites in addition to accountabilities we’d demand from powerful and privileged establishments who have heretofore benefited from inequity. It’s also essential to notice that, in some instances, establishments might welcome the chance to redress the previous. These are a small number of the periods and excursions addressing issues of racial and ethnic variety and inclusion in numerous ways.

Gender and Sexuality

Discussions of gender fairness and sexuality are central elements of public discourse in 2019. Towards the rise of the #MeToo movement and advances in LGBTQ rights are juxtaposed public setbacks for top profile sexual assault victims and a retraction of U.S. army coverage allowing protections for transgender soldiers, for instance. Likewise, ladies’s leadership, sexual harassment and discrimination, LGBTQ interpretation, educating women within the museum, bringing ladies’s tales to life in costumed interpretation, and a number of associated subjects are part of the 2019 program. Whether individuals wish to enhance their administration and administrative apply or their interpretation and customer interactions—or both—they’ll discover workshops and periods to tell and encourage them in this category.

In a single example, “Queer Possibility” guarantees a simple technique for avoiding the erasure of queer history once we don’t have definitive proof of a historical figure’s sexuality or gender id. Even the studying of this session proposal challenged biases and excited the Program Committee concerning the modifications it’d ignite for website managers. The half-day workshop, “Women Leading with Power and Authenticity,” promises to build ladies’s capability to acknowledge their inherent management strengths and embrace them. It additionally seeks to create an advocacy platform to inform the sector of gender inequalities in leadership and how one can tackle them. Several other periods on this matter are deliberate, and additional codecs (resembling pop-ups) are beneath dialogue.

New Views and Different Disciplines

As we continue to hunt higher relevance as a subject, an outlook that values and understands new perspectives and contributions from other disciplines and knows how you can incorporate them into the work of historic websites and museums will probably be invaluable. Events outdoors our conventional areas of focus proceed to return to bear on our work. Annual Meeting periods will contact on these issues as nicely.

In “Helping Your Community to Decide Which Historic Places to Protect From the Impact of Climate Change (and Which to Let Go),” specialists will talk about how one can make troublesome selections about preservation amid growing environmental challenges. One other session, “Exploring Historic Themes and Contemporary Issues Through Modern Art,” will discover how organizations can tackle issues like poverty, local weather change, and diversity via trendy art installations.

“Managing a Public History Career with Chronic and Invisible Illness” generated considerable private and meaningful conversation amongst Program Committee members, some of whom shared their very own continual, less-apparent sicknesses and the way their career has been affected. This matter is more likely to have wide-reaching software, and with sicknesses ranging from auto-immune issues to psychological well being and beyond, there are myriad ways during which individuals could be impacted and may have help. In addition to representatives from the sector, knowledgeable with information of the human assets points shall be present on the panel.

“The Warm-Minded Museum” promises to develop a purposeful give attention to connecting information and compassion.  Linking emotional content material and talent with traditional educational information has not all the time been a cushty area for this area. Nevertheless, as extra history museums and websites broaden efforts to welcome numerous audiences with various needs and traits, to inform stories that interact previous and ongoing traumas, to deal with social justice issues, to serve audiences with special needs, and to create protected areas to explore personal stories, this greater improvement of emotional talent and heat might be important to success.

In a special but still important course, “What Lurks in the Basement: Finding the Silver Lining in HVAC Projects” reminds members that exciting questions of institutional vision, fundraising, and preservation policy can come into play as part of mechanical methods tasks. The session guarantees to help move towards integrating amenities planning with interpretation and use planning somewhat than avoiding analyzing amenities wants until doom is impending. Pitting amenities towards perceived “mission” needs is ill-advised, and the connecting of the 2 in proactive methods with advice from professionals who have expertise in doing so will probably be invaluable to individuals who’ve getting older mechanical methods.

There are numerous more great periods than I might spotlight here, but these unique periods mirror a sense of urgency. The theme is just not, nevertheless, simply a call for motion.

In reflecting upon the theme, there could be a great answer to the question, What Are We Waiting For? In 2012, for instance, the Walker Artwork Middle in Minneapolis, Minnesota, commissioned modern artist Sam Durant for certainly one of sixteen sculptures in an outside set up. His sculpture Scaffold was a press release relating to capital punishment and included reference to the 1862 public hanging of thirty-eight Dakota Indians in Mankato, Minnesota. Neither the artist nor the museum consulted with Dakota tribal members in Minnesota earlier than the piece was installed, and it sparked protests as those individuals felt traumatized and exploited by the imagery. Decision required a mediated dialogue, and the piece was finally dismantled and buried by the Native group. The Walker is now internet hosting an open name for American Indian art to be displayed at the museum by 2020, and Durant has mirrored publicly upon his personal learning from the experience.

Around the similar time, in fall 2013, Historical past Colorado closed an exhibit on the 1864 Sand Creek Bloodbath amid criticism by tribes that consultation had not been a part of the method. Consultation started, and a brand new exhibit and site was pending announcement as of this writing. On April 1, 2019, the Chicago Tribune introduced that the Art Institute of Chicago was suspending a serious exhibition of historic pottery just weeks earlier than its opening because of inadequate Indigenous perspective and scholarship.

These examples are however three of many across the sector that illustrate the need for a slower process that engages group properly at first.

The organizations involved acquired public consideration for missteps, but I challenge each of you to mirror upon your personal institutions for less visible accounts whereby a poor process undercut great intentions sooner or later. Undertakings that involve historic trauma, partnership packages the place relationships aren’t but robust, or the telling of minority tales at mainstream organizations are however a couple of examples where proceeding thoughtfully and punctiliously is advisable.

One session particularly immediately addresses these questions. I am honored that we’ve participation from tribal representatives, who will convene for “A Discussion of Tribally Driven Research and Programs.” This interview-based conversation will lay out how we will shift away from call-and-response engagement whereby museums or universities drive the necessity and ask for tribal input or blessing. They’ll delve into how sustainability, collaboration, viewers impression, and learning modifications when tribes interact in tasks that benefit and seat energy with tribal communities.

Thus, as we strategy AASLH 2019 in Philadelphia this August, we perceive we should always have a speedy response system for in the present day’s surroundings, but that system should have considerate intentionality built into it. The program for the Annual Meeting presents key categories of studying and aspiration via workshops, periods, and excursions for members to determine how greatest to develop into each extra responsive and deliberate.

We hope to see you in Philadelphia. Deliver a artistic and experimental mindset, able to rethink your personal follow, and be ready to have a great time!

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Jackie Barton is the Principal of Birch Wood Planning, the place she helps service-minded organizations leverage the locations and stories they love via the infusion of strategy, story, and structure. She can also be the Program Manager of the ARCUS Leadership Program for the cultural heritage and historic preservation movement.

[i] Deborah Schwarz and Bill Adair, “Community as Curator: A Case Study at the Brooklyn Historical Society,” in Bill Adair, Benjamin Filene, and Laura Koloski, eds., Letting Go? Sharing Historic Authority in a Consumer-Generated World (Philadelphia: The Pew Middle for Arts & Heritage, 2011), 112-123. [ii] Colleen Dilenschneider, “In Museums We Trust. Here’s How Much,” March 6, 2019, www.colleendilen.com/2019/03/06/in-museums-we-trust-heres-how-much-data-update. [iii] Southern Poverty Regulation Middle, “Hate groups reach record high,” February 19, 2019, www.splcenter.org/information/2019/02/19/hate-groups-reach-record-high.

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