Categories
Mohegan

Foxwoods, Mohegan Sun wade into post-pandemic era

Foxwoods Resort Casino on Wednesday was requiring all patrons and employees to continue wearing masks while Mohegan Sun was mandating that masks only be worn by those who have not been vaccinated against the coronavirus.

Jeff Hamilton, Mohegan Sun’s president and general manager, said the casino was asking employees to show proof of vaccination in order to work without a mask.

“We are checking vaccination cards among team members,” Hamilton said. “If they can’t prove they’ve been vaccinated, they have to wear a mask or they can’t work.”

He said it would be “impossible” to verify patrons’ vaccination status.

About 70% of Mohegan Sun employees — more than 3,000 of them — have been fully vaccinated, said Hamilton, who’s hopeful the lifting of the mask-wearing requirement will help convince those who have not gotten the COVID-19 vaccine to do so. He said he hoped to get more than 90% of Mohegan Sun’s workforce vaccinated.

Jason Guyot, Foxwoods’ president and chief executive officer, said Wednesday his casino still was requiring patrons and employees to wear masks, at least for now.

“We are reviewing the new CDC guidance and will have an announcement by the end of the week,” he wrote in an email. “Safety of our guests and team members remains paramount and we want to ensure our plans are clearly laid out prior to lifting the masking policy.”

Foxwoods has discontinued or removed most other COVID-19 protocols, including temperature checks of patrons and plexiglass barriers that had been erected between slots positions and between table-games players and dealers, Guyot said. All slot machines, some of which had been turned off to create physical distancing, have been activated, and all capacity restrictions pertaining to table games, restaurants, theaters, events and retail shops have been lifted.

Advanced cleaning of high-touch areas will continue,…

Continue reading

Categories
Algonquian

Letters: Biden; Democrats; Russia

Biden administration wants to ensure growth, progress

Mitch McConnell and his sycophants are at it again, blocking progress and relief for the working population while defending a recent massive tax reduction for corporations and the wealthy. That 2017 tax bill is exactly the error made by the last four Republican administrations. The repeated assertion that “trickle down” economics will work, has in every case added to significant government tax revenue loss, increasing the debt. In this instance, $2 trillion according to the CBO and several independent institutes.

Now comes President Biden with a plan that addresses the critical needs of the nation’s infrastructure and the need to supply a secure workforce.  He proposes to spend about $2 trillion. But the Biden plan puts money into the economy for the purpose of purchasing goods and services, stimulating the economy, not giving it to investors, who will hopefully finance increased productive efforts.  That is a repeatedly disproved theory.

President Biden proposes to pay for his bill by increasing taxes on corporations and the wealthy. Specifically he would increase the corporate tax rate from 21% to 28%, still lower than the 35% before the 2017 reduction. McConnell’s immediate reaction was to block any thing that invaded the tax havens Republicans have built for the upper strata of income.

The Republican Congress has as a primary interest in all things of the economy: protection of the rich and continued reluctance to support the workers of the country. Meanwhile the administration and Congressional Democrats want to ensure growth and progress by putting Americans to work doing the things they successfully did from World War II through the 1970s. I lived through that time when we built the greatest economic engine in history with corporate tax rates at 50%, individual rates as high as 90%.

John…

Continue reading

Categories
Unami

UN mission in Iraq extended, widened to observe October vote

Muslim Brotherhood’s true colors on display as Arab Islamist party joins Jewish nationalists in Israeli coalition

DUBAI: To govern is to choose, they say. Mansour Abbas, leader of Israel’s United Arab List, is likely to face a few difficult decisions over the coming weeks and months if, as seems likely, he and his party form part of a new governing coalition in Israel.

Late on Wednesday, it was announced that Abbas had agreed to join a coalition jointly led by Yair Lapid, of the centrist Yesh Atid party, and Naftali Bennett of the right-wing Yemina. The irony of an Islamist political party eagerly closing ranks with Yemina, an alliance of Jewish nationalist parties, has not been lost on Palestinians or the wider Arab world.

Analysts see the development as yet another example of a Muslim Brotherhood-inspired party putting power and self-interest above principles when it comes to the crunch.

The head of the Arab Israeli Islamic conservative party Raam Mansour Abbas (R) signing a coalition agreement with Israel’s opposition leader Yair Lapid (L) and right-wing nationalist tech millionaire Naftali Bennett in Ramat Gan near the coastal city of Tel Aviv. (AFP/File Photo)

“The news was not surprising. Brotherhood affiliates have always used all means to achieve their political goals,” Dr. Hamdan Al-Shehri, a political analyst and international relations scholar, told Arab News.

“This cooperation is just another episode in a long-running drama that will continue to demonstrate the extent and willingness of the Muslim Brotherhood to cooperate with anyone except the governments of their own countries.”

Whether the marriage of convenience will last long enough is another matter. If approved in the Knesset, the coalition will bring an end to the 12-year premiership of Benjamin Netanyahu….

Continue reading

Categories
Munsee

North Coast Journal | Humboldt County

-All Dates- Friday, June 4 Saturday, June 5 Sunday, June 6 Monday, June 7 Tuesday, June 8 Wednesday, June 9 Thursday, June 10 Friday, June 11 Saturday, June 12 Sunday, June 13 Monday, June 14 Tuesday, June 15 Wednesday, June 16 Thursday, June 17 Friday, June 18 Saturday, June 19 Sunday, June 20 Monday, June 21 Tuesday, June 22 Wednesday, June 23 Thursday, June 24 Friday, June 25 Saturday, June 26 Sunday, June 27 Monday, June 28 Tuesday, June 29 Wednesday, June 30 Thursday, July 1 Friday, July 2 Saturday, July 3 Sunday, July 4 -All Categories- ARTS & CULTURE   Art   Books   Comedy   Dance   Lecture   Movies   Music   Spoken Word   Theater LIFESTYLE & COMMUNITY   Elections   Events   For Kids   Food   Garden   Holiday Events   Meetings   Outdoors   Sports   Etc SUMMER OF FUN   General & Multi Activities   Visual & Performing Arts   Nature & Science   Sports, Athletics & Adventure -All Neighborhoods- VIRTUAL WORLD   Virtual World ARCATA   Arcata   Bayside   Northtown   HSU   Arcata Plaza   Sunny Brae   Northtown EUREKA   Eureka   Freshwater   Cutten   Fields Landing   Henderson Center   King Salmon   Myrtletown   Old Town   Woodley Island   Manila   Samoa EEL RIVER REGION   Carlotta   Ferndale   Fortuna   Fernbridge   Loleta CURRY COUNTY   Gold Beach   Brookings DEL NORTE COUNTY   Crescent City   Klamath   Smith River TRINITY COUNTY   Big Flat   Happy Camp   Hayfork   Junction City   Weaverville   Salyer SISKIYOU COUNTY   Mount Shasta HUMBOLDT COUNTY   Humboldt County   Humboldt Bay   Call For Details MENDOCINO COUNTY   Covelo   Fort Bragg   Leggett   Mendocino   Navarro   Ukiah   Willits LAKE COUNTY   Lakeport SONOMA COUNTY   Jenner SHASTA COUNTY   Redding NORTHERN HUMBOLDT   Blue Lake   Fieldbrook   Kneeland   General   McKinleyville   Orick   Klamath   Trinidad   Westhaven SOUTHERN HUMBOLDT   Benbow   Fort Bragg   Garberville   Laytonville   Mattole River   Meyers Flat   Miranda   Petrolia   Phillipsville   Piercy   Redcrest   Redway   Rio Dell   Scotia   Shelter Cove   Weott   Avenue of the Giants   Whitethorn WILLOW CREEK/EAST   Bridgeville   Hawkins Bar   Hoopa   Orleans   Ruth   Willow Creek ALAMEDA COUNTY   Berkeley LASSEN COUNTY   Susanville OREGON   Oregon   Portland

…

Continue reading

Categories
Mohican

The Old Badger: Automobiles led to the last of the Mohican

Editor’s note: This column was first published March 31, 1976.

In the summer of ’32, Mrs. Charles Coleman Jr. was running strong in the Cooperstown merchants popularity election, President Herbert Hoover was running scared against Franklin D. Roosevelt and the 27-year-old Mohican was running out of steam.

When the Mohican was first launched, automobiles were scarce and unreliable novelties at best. Roads were dusty or muddy depending upon the weather. The stage from Fort Plain off-loaded at Springfield Landing and passengers could continue to Cooperstown by boat . The many hotels in the village filled with tourists each summer, cottages and camps were springing up on both sides of the Lake. An excursion around the Lake was a much sought-after diversion, and moonlight cruises were long remembered. Many a night saw the lights of the Mohican shimmering on the Glimmerglass and heard the strains of music and laughter floating to shore as a birthday or even a “hole-in-one” was celebrated.

The Mohican steamed right on through the ’20s, a delightful convenience, but it was beginning to age when the ’30s arrived. Wall Street was emptying the hotels, but Detroit was filling the roads.

In July of ’32, the Otesaga didn’t open, and the Mohican was facing increasing losses in the face of motor car competition. The Mohican also leaked. When it leaked too fast, manure and straw were thrown in the lake around it to get sucked into the large cracks; the pump could handle the rest. On alternate years it was hauled out, patched and left to stand in its cradle at the foot of Fair Street. The Lakefront Motel was not there. Andrews boat livery and Fish’s landing were -unpainted and ramshackled. The lighthouse wasn’t there. There was no…

Continue reading

Categories
Nanticoke

Woman charged with delivering prescription drugs to SCI-Dallas officer

NANTICOKE — State police at Wilkes-Barre charged a Nanticoke woman with delivering controlled substances to a correctional officer who collapsed while working at the State Correctional Institution at Dallas, Jackson Township, last year.

Nicole Megan Hagenbach, 33, of East Noble Street, delivered Percocet and Adderall pills to Robert Bath at the main gate at SCI-Dallas on July 24, 2020, according to court records.

Bath collapsed while working at the prison about one hour after meeting with Hagenbach, court records say.

Bath was found dead inside his residence on July 27, 2020, with evidence of drug use near his body.

State police allege surveillance cameras recorded Hagenbach meeting with Bath, including bank documents showing Bath had transferred more than $20,790 to Hagenbach from Jan. 1 to July 26, 2020.

Investigators also uncovered text messages between Hagenbach and Bath that referred to the delivery of prescription pills.

According to the criminal complaint:

Hagenbach and her infant daughter were observed meeting with Bath at the prison’s front gate at about 5:30 p.m. July 24, 2020. Bath was employed as a sergeant at the prison.

About 70 minutes after Hagenbach left, Bath collapsed while working and was transported to Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center where he was given NARCAN. When Bath regained consciousness, he refused further treatment and was given a ride home by a co-worker.

Bath failed to show up for work from July 25 to July 27. A prison lieutenant and a deputy warden went to Bath’s residence finding him dead on July 27.

Investigators say they found a mirror with a white powdery substance, a red straw, bags with white residue, a drug pipe and two Oxycontin pills in…

Continue reading

Categories
Lenni Lenape

H.S. softball: Knasiak a show stopper in the circle for Lenape

CLOSELenape’s Maya Knasiak delivers a pitch during the opening round game of the South Jersey Group 4 softball tournament between Lenape and Vineland, played at Lenape High School on Tuesday, June 1, 2021. Lenape defeated Vineland, 4-1.Buy Photo

Lenape’s Maya Knasiak delivers a pitch during the opening round game of the South Jersey Group 4 softball tournament between Lenape and Vineland, played at Lenape High School on Tuesday, June 1, 2021. Lenape defeated Vineland, 4-1. (Photo: Chris LaChall/Courier-Post)

MEDFORD – With a potent lineup that generated plenty of offensive fireworks, the Vineland High School softball team has the ability to put on a show.

Lenape’s Maya Knasiak proved to be the show stopper.

Making her first postseason start, the sophomore right-hander fired a three-hitter with 12 strikeouts, guiding Lenape to its first postseason win in over a decade with a 4-1 triumph over Vineland on Tuesday.

Seventh-seeded Lenape (14-6), which had lost its previous four playoff games by a combined five runs, will travel to second-seeded Jackson Memorial for Friday’s quarterfinal game.

Autoplay

Show Thumbnails

Show Captions

Last SlideNext Slide

More: H.S. softball: South Jersey Group 4 preview

More: H.S. softball: South Jersey’s Mean 15 rankings before state tournament

Going up against a Vineland buzzsaw that averaged a tick under 10 runs per game this season, Knasiak took the fight right out of the Fighting Clan, limiting them to three singles and only one baserunner to advance past second base.

“Maya was outstanding,” Lenape head coach Eric Krastek said. “She’s been very consistent all season. She really hasn’t had a bad outing. We’ve lost six games and we’ve scored a total of two runs in those games. We’re never out of a game with Maya in the circle. She’s that dominant.”

Knasiak’s batterymate couldn’t agree more.

“Maya is just a lights-out pitcher,” said sophomore…

Continue reading

Categories
Mohegan

Here’s what you need to know about Connecticut casinos as the state rolls back restrictions

Foxwoods is maintaining its cautious approach, while Mohegan Sun is no longer requiring fully-vaccinated guests and team members to wear masks on the reservation.

MONTVILLE, Conn. —

Most of Connecticut’s COVID-19 mandates were lifted Wednesday, allowing the state to regain a sense of normalcy.

  • There will be no more capacity limits for businesses
  • People who are fully vaccinated will not be required to wear masks inside

However, things may look a little different for people exploring the state’s casinos.

Here’s what guests can expect:

The Mashantucket Pequot tribe, maintaining its cautious approach, says face masks will still be required throughout the property.

Social distancing on the property is being scaled down from six feet to three feet, while continuous cleaning of high-touch areas will remain.

Additionally, Foxwoods plans on cautiously easing some of its other COVID-19 protocols, including capacity restrictions.

“The strategic rollback plan for our COVID-19 measures is highly calculated and thoughtfully timed to ensure we do this right and keep our resort safe,” Foxwoods President and CEO, Jason Guyot said. “With the exception of face masks, all protocols will be lifted by or before May 19, aligning with Connecticut’s plans. We will closely monitor our approach but are ready to introduce a safe and more relaxed ‘next to normal’ environment for our guests and team members ahead of summer.”

Mohegan sun announced fully-vaccinated guests and team members are no longer required to wear a mask while on the reservation.

The resort and casino will continue temperature checks, but they will be monitored remotely at entrances to the property.

Mohegan Sun is also bringing back more live entertainment to the arena.

Officials say will return July 18, with many shows scheduled through the end of the year.

“We have been preparing for this day for a long time and we…

Continue reading

Categories
Algonquian

Biden signs bill to combat hate crimes against Asian Americans

Washington — President Biden on Thursday signed legislation that aims to combat the spike in hate crimes against Asian Americans during the coronavirus pandemic. Mr. Biden, with Vice President Kamala Harris at his side, who is the first Asian American vice president, emphasized the bipartisan nature of the measure, and insisted that hate can have no more place in America. 

“I mean this from the bottom of my heart: hate can be given no safe harbor in America,” Mr. Biden said ahead of signing the legislation into law. “… Every time we’re silent, every time we let hate flourish, we make a lie of who we are as a nation. I mean it literally. We cannot let the very foundation of this country continue to be eaten away like it has been in other moments in our history and happening again.” 

The measure, spearheaded by Democratic Senator Mazie Hirono of Hawaii and Congresswoman Grace Meng of New York, was approved by the House on Tuesday by a vote of 364 to 62 after passing the Senate 94 to 1 last month. When Mr. Biden and Harris took the stage at the White House, the East Room erupted in applause.

“Let me start by saying to all of the leaders here, thank you. Thank you,” Harris told the room. “To the members of our United States Congress on both sides of the aisle who helped pass the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, thank you. … Because of you, history will remember this day and this moment, when our nation took action to combat hate.” 

Called the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, the bill aims to expand the federal government’s efforts to address the rise in hate crimes against Asian Americans, including by directing the Justice Department to speed up the review of hate-crime incidents and…

Continue reading

Categories
Munsee

White House releases $1B in grants to fund broadband in Tribal Nations

Vice President Kamala Harris announced Thursday that the White House is making available $1 billion in funding for Tribal Nations to fortify their broadband infrastructure. 

What You Need To Know

  • The White House on Thursday released $1 billion to fund broadband-fortifying projects for Tribal Nations

  • The funds were included in the $900 billion COVID-19 relief package enacted in late December of last year

  • Vice President Kamala Harris said the investment is only a “down payment” for rebuilding broadband services

  • Harris also called on Congress to pass the American Jobs Plan, which includes a planned $100 billion investment in broadband

The funds were included in the $900 billion COVID-19 relief package enacted in late December of last year, and indigenous communities can now apply for specific grants to cover various broadband-related projects. 

Harris was joined by Shannon Holsey, president of the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohican Indians in Wisconsin and treasurer for the National Congress of American Indians, for Thursday’s announcement. Commerce secretary Gina Raimondo and Interior secretary Deb Haaland, herself a member of the Pueblo of Laguna in New Mexico, also joined the event. 

Holsey spoke first, touching on the “widespread patches of absolutely no connectivity” to broadband across many indigenous communities, saying the lack of access “creates even more vulnerability.” 

“Expanding broadband access would transform native communities, promote economic development, and empower Tribal Nation governments to provide critical services, including health care, education, public safety and emergency services,” Holsey said.  

Harris agreed, saying access to broadband is critical as it is “fundamentally how we create good jobs and economic opportunity.”

The grants can be used for projects ranging from laying down fiber optic cables, digital literacy programs, distance learning, broadband adoption activities and more. 

Still, Harris stressed that both the funds released Thursday —…

Continue reading