ew York City’s recent uptick in crime reports could be partly due to economic consequences caused by the pandemic, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez suggested during a recent Zoom conference with constituents. The conference, which The Hill shared online via its YouTube channel on Sunday, saw Ocasio-Cortez address a handful of issues related to law enforcement and police reform. Her comments came amid a nationwide push for policies that increase transparency about law enforcement practices, hold officers accountable for conduct violations, and decrease funding to departments. “Why is this uptick in crime happening? Well, let’s think about it. Do we think this has to with the fact that there’s record unemployment in the United States right now?” asked Ocasio-Cortez.

An explosion erupted as a roaring blaze was reported on a military assault ship at Naval Base San Diego Sunday morning, according to authorities. Plumes of smoke arose from USS Bonhomme Richard as firefighters battled the three-alarm blaze on the 3400 block on Senn St. The vessel is an amphibious assault ship homeported in San Diego, according to Krishna Jackson of Naval Base San Diego. The ship had undergone a regular maintenance cycle before the fire was reported, Jackson said. Crew members typically are aboard the ship on weekends, but there are fewer than on weekdays. Several sailors are being treated for injuries, according to the San Diego Fire Department. The extent of their injuries is unclear and authorities did not say how many sailors were injured. (AP)

President Trump visited the Walter Reed Military Hospital Saturday where he was spotted wearing a face mask in public for the first time amid surging cases of coronavirus in the U.S. Trump flew by helicopter to the military hospital to meet with wounded soldiers and medical staff, telling reporters at the White House prior to his departure that he would “probably wear a mask.” “When you’re in a hospital, especially… I think it’s expected to wear a mask,” the president said after months of refusing to wear one in public. As the coronavirus pandemic has surged in the U.S. — with over 3.2 million confirmed cases and more than 134,000 deaths — several GOP members have come out urging people to wear masks, adding that it should be an issue of health, not politics. (AP)

The Bronx Zoo and New York City’s aquarium are set to reopen this month, but New York City is canceling street fairs, outdoor concerts, parades and other big events through September as local officials try to keep city blocks open for restaurants and the public. Large outdoor gatherings have been officially banned in New York since the spring, though thousands have taken to city streets to protest against police brutality. Mayor Bill de Blasio said Thursday that the city’s ban will exempt “demonstrations, religious events and press conferences.” “Look this is always an area of real sensitivity here,” de Blasio said in a CNN appearance, in response to a question about whether protests would be allowed.

A Chareidi man was saved from drowning on Thursday afternoon on the Kinneret after he was pulled from the water by United Hatzalah’s rescue boat. The boat which patrols the western side of the Kinneret surrounding Tiveria on a daily basis during the swimming season works in conjunction with the maritime police on the sea to rescue swimmers who are often dragged into the middle of the lake by a strong undertow. On Thursday afternoon Yossi Vaknin, head of the Tiveria chapter of United Hatzalah and skipper of the rescue boat noticed a floating ring that was spinning some distance away from the shore. “I saw the flotation device spinning and I steered the rescue boat in that direction.

A massive yellow mural spelling “Black Lives Matter” was painted In the middle of 5th Avenue between 56th and 57th Street in the shadow of Trump Tower, Thursday morning. Joining the organizers to fill in the yellow paint, was the Socialist NYC Mayor, Bill DeBlasio. He was joined by “Reverend” Al Sharpton, one of the biggest anti-Semites NYC has ever seen. Responding to President Trump’s remarks last week where he said a Black Lives Matter mural will denigrate the luxury of 5th Ave, DeBlasio said the mural is “liberating 5th Avenue… we are uplifting 5th Avenue”. For those that are unaware, or need a reminder, Shaprton is the rabid anti-Semite, who fueled the Crown Heights riots 27 years ago that ended with the murder of Yankel Rosenbaum HY”D.

President Donald Trump, who has denigrated Mexican migrants and threatened the U.S. ally with crippling tariffs, welcomed President Andrés Manuel López Obrador to the White House on Wednesday with lofty language and he called America’s southern neighbor a cherished partner. Trump said the countries’ economic and security relationship was reaching new heights. Trump’s affectionate words were in stark contrast to the days when he called Mexicans “rapists” and railed against migrants entering the United States illegally. Lopez Obrador had cordial words for Trump, too, saying that while the two leaders have disagreed, it was better to find common ground and avoid slinging insults.

The video of the Chareidi 13-year-old who was pounced upon by police officers on a Jerusalem street after momentarily removing her mask continues to cause a furor on Israeli media. The girl, Batya Getter, who apparently is an American-Israel, and her father, R’ Yehoshua Getter, were interviewed by Kan News on Tuesday and her father spoke at a Knesset committee on Wednesday. The incident sparked outrage due to the fact that the policemen picked on a child and then persisted in issuing a fine despite seeing her obvious emotional distress and fear.

Changing Gears: Bike4Chai 2020 Rides into Uncharted Territory to Benefit Children of Chai Lifeline On Thursday, August 13, nearly 500 cyclists will ride more than 50,000 combined miles as part of Bike4Chai. Now in its 11th year, the annual cycling event raises funds for Chai Lifeline, the international children’s health support network which provides emotional, social, and financial assistance to children with life-threatening and lifelong illnesses and their families. “Bike4Chai is one of the world’s largest experiential fundraisers,” said Yoel Margolese, director of Bike4Chai.

Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., told Fox News Wednesday that New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio “has to be removed” from office, claiming that the city “won’t survive him staying in for the remainder of this term.” “Mayor Dinkins left and you had Rudy Giuliani come in [in 1994]. There was a focus on quality of life. [Rudy] saw the crime rates go down, the economy flourishing, the potential being reached,” Zeldin said. “Here we are again, fast-forward through what has really been a terrible few weeks and months with the city going in the wrong direction. “It’s at a crossroads.” “This is a tale of two cities,” Zeldin added.