Chippewa Herald-Telegram from Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin • A5

The Chippewa herald Thursday, June 18, 2020 A5 00 1 KATE BRUMBACK Associated Press ATLANTA The Atlanta officer who fatally shot Rayshard Brooks in the back after the fleeing man pointed a stun gun in his direction will be charged with felony mur- der and 10 other charges, a pros- ecutor said Wednesday. Garrett Rolfe kicked Brooks while he lay on the ground and the officer with him, Devin Brosnan, stood on shoulder as he struggled for life after a confron- tation Friday night, Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard said at a news conference. Brosnan, who is being charged with aggravated assault, is coop- erating with prosecutors in the case and has given testimony as a witness, according to Howard, who said the first time in 40 such cases where an officer has come forward to do this. Rolfe had already been fired af- ter he fatally shot Brooks, 27, on Friday night. Brosnan, who will be charged with aggravated assault and other crimes, had been placed on administrative leave.

The shooting sparked new demonstrations in cap- ital against police brutality, after occasionally turbulent protests in response to George death in Minneapolis had largely sim- mered down. Atlanta Police Chief Erika Shields resigned less than 24 hours after Brooks died. Police body camera video shows Brooks and officers having a rel- atively calm and respectful con- versation for more than 40 min- utes before things rapidly turned violent. Brooks wrestled with of- ficers, snatched one of their stun guns and turned and pointed it at one of them as he ran through the parking lot. Meanwhile, a white suburban St.

Louis police detective who was captured on video apparently hit- ting a black suspect with a police SUV then kicking and punching the man was charged Wednesday with two counts of assault and armed criminal action. Special Prosecutor Tim Lohmar announced the charges against Florissant Detective Joshua Smith, 31, who was fired June 10. Elsewhere around the country, Senate Republicans in Washing- ton announced the most ambi- tious GOP police-reform package in years, including an enhanced use-of-force database, restric- tions on chokeholds and new commissions to study law en- forcement and race. Police officer to face charges DIGEST Aunt Jemima brand retired by Quaker NEW YORK struggles over racism finally caught up with Aunt Jemima, that ubiquitous fixture served up at breakfast tables for 131 years. Quaker Oats announced Wednesday that it will retire the Aunt Jemima brand, saying the company recognizes the charac- origins are on a racial Other companies said they are reconsidering racial stereotypes in their branding.

The owner of Uncle rice said the brand will in response to concerns about ra- cial stereotyping. Caroline Sher- man, a spokeswoman for parent company Mars, said the company is listening to the voices of con- sumers, especially in the black community. US lags in response to virus outbreaks PHOENIX When the coro- navirus flared in China this week, the country canceled flights, suspended reopenings and de- scribed the situation as tremely With cases still rising in some U.S. states, local officials have balked at requiring people to wear masks. In the United States, which has more reported cases and deaths than anywhere else, local authorities are wrestling with balancing demands for personal freedom with warnings from health officials.

China responded Wednesday to a new outbreak in Beijing by scrapping more than of its flights to the capital, canceling classes and strengthening re- quirements for social distancing. In other countries where in- fections have flared, govern- ments responded by again tight- ening restrictions. But as U.S. states decide how and when to reopen parts of the economy amid surges in cases in places like Arizona and Florida, requiring even the use of masks has become a political and cul- tural debate, with some local of- ficials defying pleas from doctors. BRIEFLY PUBLIC LANDS: The Senate on Wednesday approved a bipartisan bill that would spend nearly $3 billion on conservation projects, outdoor recreation and mainte- nance of national parks and other public lands, a measure support- ers say would be the most sig- nificant conservation legislation enacted in nearly half a century.

BIDEN: Presumptive Demo- cratic presidential nominee Joe Biden called on President Don- ald Trump to to the damage being done by the coro- navirus pandemic in remarks Wednesday that served as a scathing critique of the presi- leadership of the country during the crisis. VETERAN SUICIDES: President Donald Trump released a long- awaited plan Wednesday to address the persistently high number of suicides by veterans, with initiatives including fire- arm safety, wellness programs at workplaces and new barriers near railroads and bridges. SOCIAL MEDIA: The Justice De- partment is proposing that Con- gress roll back legal protections for online platforms such as Facebook, Google and Twitter that generally could not be held legally responsible for what peo- ple post on the sites. DRUG PRICES: In a major legal setback for President Donald Trump, a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday that his adminis- tration lacks the legal authority to force drug companies to dis- close prices in their TV ads. SYRIA: The Trump administra- tion on Wednesday ramped up pressure on Syrian President Bashar Assad and his inner cir- cle with a raft of new economic and travel sanctions for human rights abuses and blocking a set- tlement of the bloody nine-year conflict.

Associated Press STEVE HELBER, ASSOCIATED PRESS RICHMOND PREPARES TO REMOVE GEN. LEE STATUE Workers for The Virginia department of General services install concrete barriers around the statue of Confederate General robert e. Lee on Wednesday on Monument avenue in richmond, Va. The barriers are intended to protect demonstrators as well as the structure itself as it is removed and placed in storage. also on Wednesday, officials in the historic city of Charleston, s.C., announced that they plan to remove a statue of slavery advocate John C.

Calhoun from a downtown square. Atlanta cop accused of felony murder in death of Rayshard Brooks Catholic schools in the Diocese of La Crosse are planning to reopen on schedule in the fall, Bishop William Patrick Callahan announced Wednesday. Catholic schools will be opening for our fall schedule according to our regular schedule and poli- cies, in conjunction with state and local policies as they affect he said. COVID pandemic has hit us all very hard and has almost recreated society and so- cial constructs in some serious new the bishop said. Cath- olic school educators, are taking all of this in- very seriously and are planning for its impact on our schools and the lives of our children.

are all looking to the new academic year as one of challeng- ing growth and direction. Thus, it will require the best from all of us, he said. Catholic schools plan for fall Callahan CHIPPEWA HERALD STAFF Chippewa County health officials warned Wednesday of misinformation being spread about COVID-19 response mea- sures. The Chippewa County Depart- ment of Public Health was noti- fied of false information about a COVID-19 ordinance via text message, the department said in a press release Wednesday after- noon. The false message indicates that counties will be receiv- ing $250,000 from Gov.

Tony Evers to shut down again. It mentions call-in information for a meeting and claims that the information is coming from Angela Weideman, the health for Chippewa County Department of Public Health. In reality, the state government is not offering money to counties that reinstate stay-at-home or- ders. County officials told the public to disregard these mes- sages. Officials warn about texts spreading virus misinformation SCOTT BAUER Associated Press MADISON The Juneteenth flag celebrating the a day that commemorates the end of slavery in the U.S.

will fly over the Wis- consin Capitol for the first time in state history, Gov. Tony Evers announced Wednesday. The Juneteenth flag will fly over the east wing on Friday, replacing the rainbow gay pride flag for one day. That flag is up all month and flew for the first time in Wisconsin history last year. The U.S.

flag and Wisconsin state flag will continue flying on the same flagpole above the Juneteenth flag. The POW-MIA flag will continue flying on a different flagpole as it does every day, office said. Juneteenth, which is also called Emancipation Day and Freedom Day, is celebrated on June 19. Wisconsin is one of 47 states and Washington, D.C., that recog- nize Juneteenth. Although it is a state holiday only in Texas, there is a movement nationally to bring more recognition to the day, in- cluding making it a holiday in more states and nationally.

Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when news finally reached African Americans in Texas that President Abraham Lincoln had issued the Emancipation Proc- lamation freeing slaves living in Confederate states two years ear- lier. When Union soldiers arrived in Galveston to bring the news that slavery had been abolished, former slaves celebrated. The flag was created in 1997 by Ben Haith, the founder of the National Juneteenth Celebration Foundation. It was later revised in 2000 and 2007. The red, white and blue design with a star in the middle is meant to represent the history and freedom of American slaves and to declare that they, along with their descendants, are all Americans, according to the website.

The flag is a reminder of the injustices of our past, our current moment, and hope for our order calling for it to be flown said. a state that sees some of the most disparate outcomes for Black Wisconsinites, it is as important as ever that we recognize and reflect on our history, celebrate Black re- siliency, and move forward in sol- idarity and strength toward a more racially equitable and just Evers said in a statement. Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, Wis- first black lieutenant governor, said Juneteenth has par- ticular significant this year in the middle of a movement for racial justice.

George death last month after a Minneapolis officer pressed his knee into neck sparked protests across the coun- try, including in Madison in and around the state Capitol. Also Wednesday, 29 Democrats in the Wisconsin Assembly asked Evers to call a special legislative session starting Friday to enact changes to the criminal justice system, including to police use of force policies. The Legislative Black Caucus first made the re- quest last week. Evers orders Juneteenth flag flown over Capitol NATI HARNIK, ASSOCIATED PRESS The Juneteenth flag flies Wednesday in Omaha, neb. The Juneteenth flag commemorating the day that slavery ended in the u.s.

will fly over the Wisconsin Capitol for the first time in history, Gov. Tony evers announced Wednesday. A Viroqua priest who is listed as a former faculty member of Mc- Donell Area Catholic Schools in Chippewa Falls faces criminal al- legations of first- and second-de- gree sexual assault with a child. Father Charles J. Richmond, 30, is scheduled to appear Thursday in Chippewa County Circuit Court in front of Judge Steven R.

Cray. Richmond has been listed as pa- rochial administrator of Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Viroqua. Wisconsin court records show the allegations include repeated sexual assault of the same child, listed as at least three violations of first- and second-degree sex- ual assault. According to the criminal com- plaint, a Chippewa Falls police officer interviewed a 19-year-old female on March 5, who said that Richmond touched her in a sexual manner multiple times. The as- saults occurred in her sophomore year, before she turned 16.

The victim said that she and Richmond were in com- on her social media apps. She said Richmond was very touchy, always having his hands on her to include touching her shoulder, her back, and her He also asked her to sit on his lap and give her hugs. The officer interviewed Rich- mond on May 14, who admitted to three or four incidents of by touching the butt. McDonell Area Catholic Schools released a statement late Wednesday saying, all times, our top priority at MACS is the safety of the students. Each em- ployee is subjected to comprehen- sive FBI background checks be- fore beginning employment and Father Richmond passed a total of four background checks before and during his time at MACS.

We hope and pray that justice will be done in this matter for all parties Richmond was ordained in La Crosse in 2015. Before coming to Viroqua, he was a Catholic edu- cator in Stevens Point. Viroqua priest faces sex charges in Chippewa Falls.