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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 20, 2019)
A5 THE ASTORIAN • TuESdAy, AuguST 20, 2019 FIELD TEST Candidates Wanted URGENT NOTICE: You may be qualified to participate in a special Field Test of new hearing instrument technology being held at a local test site. AP Photo/Noah Berger Police detain a protester against right-wing demonstrators following a rally in Portland. Far-right and antifa groups both claim Portland victory By GILLIAN FLACCUS Associated Press PORTLAND — With both the left and the right declaring victory following a long-hyped rally that had Portland on edge, it seems the lib- eral city will continue to be a flashpoint in an increasingly divided country. City officials were mostly relieved that a downtown gathering Saturday of more than 1,000 far-right protesters and anti-fascist count- er-demonstrators wasn’t as violent as feared. “I’m grateful this was largely a peaceful event,” Mayor Ted Wheeler said. “We were preparing for and planning for a worst-case scenario.” There were 13 arrests and police seized bear spray, shields, poles and other weapons. But by using barriers and bridge closures — and allow- ing a large contingent of right-wingers to leave when they asked to — authorities were able to mostly keep the two sides apart. Six minor inju- ries were reported. Joe Biggs, the organizer of the right-wing gathering that featured the Proud Boys, Patriot Prayer and other far-right groups, said they accomplished their goal of drawing attention to black-clad anti-fascist protesters — known as antifa —who showed up to meet them. President Donald Trump tweeted early Sat- urday that “major consideration is being given to naming ANTIFA an ‘ORGANIZATION of TERROR.’” It wasn’t immediately clear what he meant by that, because there’s no mechanism for the United States government to declare a domestic organization a terror group. Biggs was pleased the rally attracted Trump’s attention. “He talked about Portland, said he’s watch- ing antifa. That’s all we wanted,” he told The Oregonian. Biggs and the right-wing groups would keep coming back to Portland so long as antifa was around, he said. But Eric K. Ward, executive director of the Portland-based Western States Center, said the right-wing rally was a bust. “Portland won today, and far-right leaders like Joey Gibson and Joe Biggs lost,” Ward said in a statement. The Western States Center stated mission is to increase inclusive democracy. In an interview, Ward said Biggs’ groups cut short a planned five-hour rally after only one hour and left. “The white nationalist, alt-right coalition that came to Portland were denied what they sought to create, which was large-scale civil distur- bances,” Ward said. While antifa protesters get a lot of attention, Ward said there were many others who came out to oppose the right-wing groups. He also praised police and city officials for their actions. “What I saw yesterday was the first step in Portland really putting together a citywide response,” he said. Wheeler, Portland’s mayor, said at a Saturday evening news conference that Biggs and anyone espousing hate or violence was not welcome. “We do not want him here in my city. Period,” Wheeler said. Wheeler tied the demonstrations to “a ris- ing white nationalist movement” and a growing sense of fear in the country. WORLD IN BRIEF Associated Press US talks secretly to Venezuela socialist boss Planned Parenthood leaves federal family planning program BOGOTA, Colombia — The U.S. has opened up secret communications with Ven- ezuela’s socialist party boss as members of President Nicolás Maduro’s inner circle seek guarantees they won’t face retribution if they cede to growing demands to remove him. Diosdado Cabello, who is considered the most-powerful man in Venezuela after Mad- uro, met last month in Caracas with some- one who is in close contact with the Trump administration, a senior U.S. administration official said. Cabello, 56, is a major power broker inside Venezuela, who has seen his influ- ence in the government and security forces expand as Maduro’s grip on power has weakened. But he’s also been accused by U.S. officials of being behind massive cor- ruption, drug trafficking and even death threats against a sitting U.S. senator. The administration official said that under no circumstances is the U.S. looking to prop up Cabello or pave the way for him to sub- stitute Maduro. Instead, the goal of the out- reach is to ratchet up pressure on the regime by contributing to the knife fight the U.S. believes is taking place behind the scenes among competing circles of power within the ruling party. NEW YORK — Planned Parenthood said Monday it’s pulling out of the federal family planning program rather than abide by a new Trump administration rule prohibiting clin- ics from referring women for abortions. Alexis McGill Johnson, Planned Parent- hood’s acting president and CEO, said the organization’s nationwide network of health centers would remain open and strive to make up for the loss of federal money. But she predicted that many low-income women who rely on Planned Parenthood services would “delay or go without” care. “We will not be bullied into withhold- ing abortion information from our patients,” said McGill Johnson. “Our patients deserve to make their own health care decisions, not to be forced to have Donald Trump or Mike Pence make those decisions for them.” Enforcement of the new Title X rule marks a major victory for a key part of Pres- ident Donald Trump’s political base — reli- gious conservatives opposed to abortion. They have been campaigning relentlessly to “defund Planned Parenthood” because — among its varied services — it is the largest abortion provider in the United States, and they viewed the Title X grants as an indirect subsidy. Pentagon conducts 1st test of previously banned missile NYPD fires officer 5 years after Garner’s chokehold death WASHINGTON — The U.S. military has conducted a flight test of a type of missile banned for more than 30 years by a treaty that both the United States and Russia aban- doned this month, the Pentagon said. The test off the coast of California on Sunday marked the resumption of an arms competition that some analysts worry could increase U.S.-Russian tensions. The Trump administration has said it remains interested in useful arms control but questions Mos- cow’s willingness to adhere to its treaty commitments. The Pentagon said it tested a modified ground-launched version of a Navy Toma- hawk cruise missile, which was launched from San Nicolas Island and accurately struck its target after flying more than 310 miles. The missile was armed with a con- ventional, not nuclear, warhead and likely would have a range of about 620 miles. The missile would have violated the Inter- mediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty of 1987, which banned all types of missiles with ranges between 310 and 3,410 miles. NEW YORK — After five years of inves- tigations and protests, the New York City Police Department on Monday fired an offi- cer involved in the 2014 chokehold death of Eric Garner, the black man whose dying gasps of “I can’t breathe” gave voice to a national debate over race and police use of force. Police Commissioner James O’Neill said he fired Daniel Pantaleo, who is white, based on a recent recommendation of a department disciplinary judge. O’Neill said he thought Pantaleo’s use of the banned chokehold as he wrestled with Garner was a mistake that could have been made by any officer in the heat of an arrest. But it was clear Pantaleo had broken depart- ment rules and “can no longer effectively serve as a New York City police officer.” The decision was welcomed by activists and Garner’s family, but condemned by the head of the city’s largest police union, who declared that it would undermine morale and cause officers to hesitate to use force for fear they could be fired. An industry leader in digital hearing devices is sponsoring a product field test in your area next week and they have asked us to select up to 15 qualified candidates to participate. They are interested in determining the benefits of GENIUS™ 3.0 Technology in eliminating the difficulty hearing aid users experience in difficult environments, such as those with background noise or multiple talkers. Candidates in other test areas have reported very positive feedback so far. We are looking for additional candidates in Warrenton and the surrounding areas. Dates: August 20 th thru 27 th Miracle-Ear Center Youngs Bay Plaza 173 S. Hwy 101 Warrenton, OR 97146 (503) 836-7921 Miracle-Ear Center 2505 Main Ave N, Suite C Tillamook, OR 97141 (503) 836-7926 In an effort to accurately demonstrate the incredible performance of these devices, specially trained representatives will be conducting testing and demonstrations during this special event. In addition to an audiometric hearing evaluation, candidates will receive a fiber-optic otoscope exam, a painless procedure that could reveal common hearing problems such as excessive wax or damage to the eardrum, as well as other common cause of hearing deficiencies. Qualified Field Test Candidates: • Live in Warrenton or the surrounding area • Are at least 55 years of age or older • Have experienced some level of hearing difficulty, or currently wear hearing aids • Don’t currently work for a market research company FIELD TEST PARTICIPANTS Will be tested and selected same-day. We have a limited supply of the GENIUS™ 3.0 test product currently on hand and ready for testing. We have also been authorized to offer significant discounts if you decide to take the hearing instruments home. If you choose not to keep them, there’s no risk or obligation of any kind.† TO PARTICIPATE: 1. You must be one of the first 15 people to call our office Mention Code: 19AugField . 2. You will be required to have your hearing tested in our office, FREE OF CHARGE, to determine candidacy. 3. Report your results with the hearing instruments to the Hearing Care Specialist over a three week test period. Qualified candidates will be selected on a first- come, first-served basis so please call us TODAY to secure your spot in the Product Field Test. Participants who qualify and complete the product test will receive a FREE $100 Restaurant.com Gift Card* as a token of our thanks. AVOID WAITING – CALL AND MENTION CODE: 19AugField *One per household. Must be 55 or older and bring loved one for familiar voice test. Must complete a hearing test. Not valid with prior test/purchase in last 6 months. While supplies last. Free gift card may be used toward the purchase of food at participating restaurants where a minimum purchase may also be required. See restau- rant.com for details. Not redeemable for cash. Promotional offer available during special event dates only. †If you are not completely satisfied, the aids may be returned for a full refund within 30 days of the completion of fitting, in satisfactory condition. See store for details.
