Faulted for its failure to end systematic sexual abuse by a former Ohio State University team physician, the state medical board in Ohio has reopened 91 sexual assault cases against other doctors and medical professionals in the state, officials said Wednesday.

The State Medical Board of Ohio will also review an additional 42 previously closed sexual assault cases to determine if doctors who might have had knowledge of sexual misconduct failed to report it to the authorities, according to a state task force.

Ohio State’s longtime former director of student health services is a focus of the reopened investigation into failed reporting, the group said in a 173-page final report that was released Wednesday.

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The task force was created by Gov. Mike DeWine in May 2019 in response to a wide-ranging sex-abuse scandal involving Richard Strauss, a former team doctor at the state’s flagship public university.

Strauss, who died by suicide in 2005, was implicated in the abuse of at least 177 students. His victims included football players, wrestlers and other athletes who had been treated for injuries or underwent physical examinations before their seasons began. He was a professor at the university from 1978-98.

“The Medical Board has made real and meaningful strides toward ensuring that never again would it fail to act when it holds credible, actionable information about one of its licensees, such as it had with Strauss,” the group’s report said.

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In response to the abuse scandal, the medical board re-examined 1,254 sexual impropriety cases going back 25 years, the task force said. The board had considered 213 cases for further examination but ultimately decided to treat 91 of them as active cases, according to the task force’s findings, which were reported earlier by The Columbus Dispatch.

The remaining cases had either already been the subject of formal action or been deemed not viable, the report said, adding that eight cases had been recommended for referral to law enforcement agencies.

Officials said that changes were warranted in a state law that, for confidentiality purposes, shields information about the outcome of the medical board’s investigations into sexual assault allegations.

“To provide the public the confidence that a case like Richard Strauss’s will never again go without action, the State Medical Board of Ohio is committed to providing sunshine to board processes and complaint information,” the board said in a January letter to the task force.

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The board said there were obstacles to sharing information about cases.

“Finding the balance for transparency, protection of the licensee’s livelihood, patient information and whistle blower protection entails a complicated legal analysis with much stakeholder input,” the board said in the letter. “The board’s efforts for transparency will continue over the next calendar year, and likely beyond.”

Officials also said they were renewing their scrutiny of Dr. Ted Grace, who was Ohio State’s student health services director from 1992 to 2007, to determine if he had failed to report the pattern of sexual abuse by Strauss.

Grace, now the director of student health services at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, did not immediately respond to requests for comment Wednesday night.

In a letter sanctioning Grace last year, Ohio’s medical board said that he had been aware of three separate complaints of sexual misconduct against Strauss by three male students and had failed to report them to the board.

The students complained that Strauss had inappropriately touched their genital areas for extended periods during examinations, and one accused Strauss of pressing his erect penis against the student’s leg.

Grace, whose medical license remains active in Ohio, told The Southern Illinoisan last year that “I did the best I could” and he said he had reported Strauss’ misconduct to a university administrator.

Last year, Ohio State said it would pay $41 million to resolve some of the lawsuits stemming from several hundred sexual assault claims against Strauss. The university president at the time said that Ohio State had failed the victims. On Wednesday, university officials declined to comment further.

A spokesperson for DeWine did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday night.

Faulted for its failure to end systematic sexual abuse by a former Ohio State University team physician, the state medical board in Ohio has reopened 91 sexual assault cases against other doctors and medical professionals in the state, officials said Wednesday.

Faulted for its failure to end systematic sexual abuse by a former Ohio State University team physician, the state medical board in Ohio has reopened 91 sexual assault cases against other doctors and medical professionals in the state, officials said Wednesday. The State Medical Board of Ohio will also review an additional 42 previously closed sexual assault cases to determine if doctors who might have had knowledge of sexual misconduct failed to report it to the authorities, according to a state task force. Ohio State’s longtime former director of student health services is a focus of the reopened investigation into failed reporting, the group said in a 173-page final report that was released Wednesday. Also read | Bahrain police beat, threaten detained children with rape, rights groups say The task force was created by Gov. Mike DeWine in May 2019 in response to a wide-ranging sex-abuse scandal involving Richard Strauss, a former team doctor at the state’s flagship public university. Strauss, who died by suicide in 2005, was implicated in the abuse of at least 177 students. His victims included football players, wrestlers and other athletes who had been treated for injuries or underwent physical examinations before their seasons began. He was a professor at the university from 1978-98. “The Medical Board has made real and meaningful strides toward ensuring that never again would it fail to act when it holds credible, actionable information about one of its licensees, such as it had with Strauss,” the group’s report said. Also read | Trial by media? Australia's attorney general denies rape allegations in emotional speech In response to the abuse scandal, the medical board re-examined 1,254 sexual impropriety cases going back 25 years, the task force said. The board had considered 213 cases for further examination but ultimately decided to treat 91 of them as active cases, according to the task force’s findings, which were reported earlier by The Columbus Dispatch. The remaining cases had either already been the subject of formal action or been deemed not viable, the report said, adding that eight cases had been recommended for referral to law enforcement agencies. Officials said that changes were warranted in a state law that, for confidentiality purposes, shields information about the outcome of the medical board’s investigations into sexual assault allegations. “To provide the public the confidence that a case like Richard Strauss’s will never again go without action, the State Medical Board of Ohio is committed to providing sunshine to board processes and complaint information,” the board said in a January letter to the task force. Also read | New York governor faces more serious accusation from the sixth woman The board said there were obstacles to sharing information about cases. “Finding the balance for transparency, protection of the licensee’s livelihood, patient information and whistle blower protection entails a complicated legal analysis with much stakeholder input,” the board said in the letter. “The board’s efforts for transparency will continue over the next calendar year, and likely beyond.” Officials also said they were renewing their scrutiny of Dr. Ted Grace, who was Ohio State’s student health services director from 1992 to 2007, to determine if he had failed to report the pattern of sexual abuse by Strauss. Grace, now the director of student health services at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, did not immediately respond to requests for comment Wednesday night. In a letter sanctioning Grace last year, Ohio’s medical board said that he had been aware of three separate complaints of sexual misconduct against Strauss by three male students and had failed to report them to the board. The students complained that Strauss had inappropriately touched their genital areas for extended periods during examinations, and one accused Strauss of pressing his erect penis against the student’s leg. Grace, whose medical license remains active in Ohio, told The Southern Illinoisan last year that “I did the best I could” and he said he had reported Strauss’ misconduct to a university administrator. Last year, Ohio State said it would pay $41 million to resolve some of the lawsuits stemming from several hundred sexual assault claims against Strauss. The university president at the time said that Ohio State had failed the victims. On Wednesday, university officials declined to comment further. A spokesperson for DeWine did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday night.

Ohio medical board reopens 91 sexual assault cases involving doctors and medical professionals

The mayor said he was "greatly" disturbed that the officer did not turn on the body camera until after the shooting.

Ohio police officer kills Black man while body camera switched off prior shooting

US Election 2020 Key States : Whenever there is any <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/us-election">presidential election </a>in the United States, battleground or swing states come into fore as these states cannot be termed as <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/democratic-party">Democratic </a>or <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/republican-party">Republican</a>.

In the 2016 US Election, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/donald-trump">Donald Trump </a>won six of these states, Florida, Pennsylvania, Michigan, North Carolina, Wisconsin and Arizona.

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However, polls suggest that Trump is trailing in all these states, even though margins are narrow in some.&nbsp;

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Let's look at US election 2020 key states&nbsp;that will decide the fate of Trump and Democratic contender <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>.

<h2>US Election 2020 Key States&nbsp;</h2>

Pennsylvania

It is a state where Biden was born, and a region that has seen decades of industrial decline.&nbsp;

Trump supporters are campaigning heavily in this state, with campaign team even going door-to-door in the suburbs to lure the voters.&nbsp;

Biden's big support will be big cities of the states, while Trump is expecting support from the state's rural west and conservative central areas.

Pennsylvania's suburbs and northeast will be crucial to decide which way the state is leading.&nbsp;

According to an average of state polls by the website RealClearPolitics (RCP), Biden leads Trump by 5.6 percentage points in the state.&nbsp;

US Election 2020 Key States:&nbsp;Michigan

Trump managed to narrowly win this state in 2016.

Michigan, also known as the Great Lakes states, is concerned about the state of the economy due to coronavirus pandemic and Trump's response to the crisis.

Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer has continually clashed with Trump over issues related to coronavirus and the strict lockdowns in the state have angered conservatives.&nbsp;

Recently, a group of right-wing members was also arrested by the FBI for plotting to kidnap Whitmer.

RCP says Biden is ahead in Michigan with 7.2 percentage points.&nbsp;

US Election 2020 Key States:&nbsp;Wisconsin

The 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton paid the price for not campaigning in the state in the last election.&nbsp;

To not repeat such a mistake this time, Democrats held their national convention in Wisconsin though the event was made online due to coronavirus crisis.&nbsp;

Both Trump and Biden and their Vice Presidential candidates Mike Pence and Kamala Harris have campaigned in the state.

Biden is leading in Wisconsin by 6.3 percentage points, according to RCP.&nbsp;

Florida

It is largest of all the swing states and a large number of retired individuals reside here.&nbsp;

The state's massive Latino voters will be crucial and polls suggest the support for Democrats has declined from the 2016 levels.&nbsp;

However, Florida's senior citizen voters are also moving away from Trump because of his handling of the pandemic.&nbsp;

Many experts say Florida is a Trump firewall; if he loses here, he will lose the presidency.

With a margin of 1.4 percentage points, Biden is leading in Florida too, as per RCP.

North Carolina

The state went with Trump last time but only with a margin of three points and both parties are wary of this. &nbsp;

It has a popular Democrat as the governor who has garnered a lot of praise for his balanced approach to the crisis.&nbsp;

Republicans held their convention here, though the event was majorly online.

According to RCP, Biden is ahead in North Carolina by 2.7 points.&nbsp;

Arizona

The state has been a Republican bastion for decades, but as the number of Latino community rose and with the arrival of liberals from California, the state's electorate can go either way.

Conservative voters praise Trump's efforts to control immigration and promise to build a wall at the Mexican border.&nbsp;

However, by heavily criticising state's late senator John McCain, who still is admired a lot in Arizona, Trump has hurt his prospects.

Cindy McCain, the late senator's widow, has also endorsed Biden for the presidency.&nbsp;

Biden leads Trump by 4 points in the state, says RCP.&nbsp;

Iowa

With a lead of almost 10 points, Trump won Iowa comfortably four years ago, but the race looks tighter this time around.&nbsp;

Currently, Biden is leading with 1.2 points in Iowa, as per RCP.&nbsp;

Georgia

Since 1992, no Democratic candidate has been able to win Georgia in the presidential race, but a lot has changed in recent years with a rise in Democratic support.

As per RCP, Biden is leading the race with 1.2 points.&nbsp;

US Election 2020 Key States:&nbsp;Ohio

Ohio has 18 electoral college voters, which is a major attraction for both the parties.&nbsp;

Trump beat Clinton by 8.1 points in the 2016 election, but polls show a tighter race this year.&nbsp;

With a narrow margin of 0.6, Biden is ahead in Ohio, says RCP.&nbsp;

US Election 2020 Key States : Whenever there is any presidential election in the United States, battleground or swing states come into fore as these states cannot be termed as Democratic or Republican.

US Election 2020 Key States : Whenever there is any presidential election in the United States, battleground or swing states come into fore as these states cannot be termed as Democratic or Republican. In the 2016 US Election, Donald Trump won six of these states, Florida, Pennsylvania, Michigan, North Carolina, Wisconsin and Arizona. Also read | If he doesn't win, Donald Trump will be back in 2024: Steve Bannon However, polls suggest that Trump is trailing in all these states, even though margins are narrow in some. Also read | Biden and Trump say they’re fighting for America’s ‘soul.’ What does that mean? Let's look at US election 2020 key states that will decide the fate of Trump and Democratic contender Joe Biden. US Election 2020 Key States Pennsylvania It is a state where Biden was born, and a region that has seen decades of industrial decline. Trump supporters are campaigning heavily in this state, with campaign team even going door-to-door in the suburbs to lure the voters. Biden's big support will be big cities of the states, while Trump is expecting support from the state's rural west and conservative central areas. Pennsylvania's suburbs and northeast will be crucial to decide which way the state is leading. According to an average of state polls by the website RealClearPolitics (RCP), Biden leads Trump by 5.6 percentage points in the state. US Election 2020 Key States: Michigan Trump managed to narrowly win this state in 2016. Michigan, also known as the Great Lakes states, is concerned about the state of the economy due to coronavirus pandemic and Trump's response to the crisis. Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer has continually clashed with Trump over issues related to coronavirus and the strict lockdowns in the state have angered conservatives. Recently, a group of right-wing members was also arrested by the FBI for plotting to kidnap Whitmer. RCP says Biden is ahead in Michigan with 7.2 percentage points. US Election 2020 Key States: Wisconsin The 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton paid the price for not campaigning in the state in the last election. To not repeat such a mistake this time, Democrats held their national convention in Wisconsin though the event was made online due to coronavirus crisis. Both Trump and Biden and their Vice Presidential candidates Mike Pence and Kamala Harris have campaigned in the state. Biden is leading in Wisconsin by 6.3 percentage points, according to RCP. Florida It is largest of all the swing states and a large number of retired individuals reside here. The state's massive Latino voters will be crucial and polls suggest the support for Democrats has declined from the 2016 levels. However, Florida's senior citizen voters are also moving away from Trump because of his handling of the pandemic. Many experts say Florida is a Trump firewall; if he loses here, he will lose the presidency. With a margin of 1.4 percentage points, Biden is leading in Florida too, as per RCP. North Carolina The state went with Trump last time but only with a margin of three points and both parties are wary of this. It has a popular Democrat as the governor who has garnered a lot of praise for his balanced approach to the crisis. Republicans held their convention here, though the event was majorly online. According to RCP, Biden is ahead in North Carolina by 2.7 points. Arizona The state has been a Republican bastion for decades, but as the number of Latino community rose and with the arrival of liberals from California, the state's electorate can go either way. Conservative voters praise Trump's efforts to control immigration and promise to build a wall at the Mexican border. However, by heavily criticising state's late senator John McCain, who still is admired a lot in Arizona, Trump has hurt his prospects. Cindy McCain, the late senator's widow, has also endorsed Biden for the presidency. Biden leads Trump by 4 points in the state, says RCP. Iowa With a lead of almost 10 points, Trump won Iowa comfortably four years ago, but the race looks tighter this time around. Currently, Biden is leading with 1.2 points in Iowa, as per RCP. Georgia Since 1992, no Democratic candidate has been able to win Georgia in the presidential race, but a lot has changed in recent years with a rise in Democratic support. As per RCP, Biden is leading the race with 1.2 points. US Election 2020 Key States: Ohio Ohio has 18 electoral college voters, which is a major attraction for both the parties. Trump beat Clinton by 8.1 points in the 2016 election, but polls show a tighter race this year. With a narrow margin of 0.6, Biden is ahead in Ohio, says RCP.

US election 2020: Key states that will likely decide fate of Donald Trump and Joe Biden

President Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden will face each other live on TV for the first time in Cleveland, Ohio for the first presidential debate.

U.S. Election 2020 New York Direct EP3: Trump, Biden head to Ohio for first debate

The first presidential debate, also dubbed as "Super bowl" of American democracy will begin shortly. Donald Trump frames the debate as a test for Joe Biden's mental acuity. This report sums up the campaign war ahead of the live debate.

U.S. Election 2020: Trump & Biden pre-debate campaign clash

Clocks around the world have been put on a countdown to 9 PM ET & 6:30 AM IST for the first Presidential Debate 2020. Festivities have begun on social media ahead of the live debate. Tweeter wrestle out narratives & judge candidates.

U.S. Election 2020: Festivities begin on twitter for big debate night

President Donald Trump on Thursday moved to reimpose 10% tariffs on some Canadian aluminum products to protect U.S. industry from a "surge" in imports, angering Ottawa and some U.S. business groups.

Donald Trump reimposes tariffs on some Canadian aluminum

In a massive development, the US state of Ohio said that 100,000 people in the region are likely to have coronavirus, the state health department director said.

The health department director Amy Acton said that Ohio had community spread of COVID-19 in a press conference with state governor Mike DeWine.&nbsp;

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"We know now just the fact of community spread says that at least one per cent, at the very least, one per cent of our population is carrying this virus in Ohio today," Acton said.&nbsp;

"We have 11.7 million people. So the math is over 100,000. So that just gives you a sense of how this virus spreads and is spreading quickly". &nbsp;

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She said that this is "one-in-50 years pandemic that we've been planning for".&nbsp;

Ohio has five positive cases and 52 people are placed under investigation. However, the state has carried out limited number of tests, much like the US.&nbsp;

In the US, the coronavirus cases surpassed 1,300 on Thursday with around 40 deaths, data from Johns Hopkins University said.&nbsp;

"These numbers are going to continue to grow," governor DeWine said during the press conference, adding that that confirmed numbers "are just a small fraction of the individuals who are infected already in the state of Ohio". &nbsp;

"We're told by medical experts that whatever the number is today, it will double in six days and that just continues on and on," DeWine said.

Public health experts have lashed out at US authorities for downplaying the pandemic and lagging far behind the other badly-affected countries in dealing with the virus.&nbsp;

In order to control the spread, Ohio banned mass gathering of over 100 people. Schools in the state were also shut down for three weeks.&nbsp;

"Taking decisive action now will greatly slow down this disease and stop this trajectory," Acton said.&nbsp;

President Donald Trump has been slammed for a slow response to the outbreak and playing down the threat, initially claiming that only a few Americans are at risk.&nbsp;

Earlier Axios and NBC News projected 70 to 150 million Americans being affected by the COVID-19.&nbsp;

On Wednesday, the US president banned travel from mainland Europe as part of his effort to control the pandemic.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

In a massive development, the US state of Ohio said that 100,000 people in the region are likely to have coronavirus, the state health department director said. The health department director Amy Acton said that Ohio had community spread of COVID-19 in a press conference with state governor Mike DeWine.

In a massive development, the US state of Ohio said that 100,000 people in the region are likely to have coronavirus, the state health department director said. The health department director Amy Acton said that Ohio had community spread of COVID-19 in a press conference with state governor Mike DeWine. Also read: Trump suspends travel from Europe to US in coronavirus crisis "We know now just the fact of community spread says that at least one per cent, at the very least, one per cent of our population is carrying this virus in Ohio today," Acton said. "We have 11.7 million people. So the math is over 100,000. So that just gives you a sense of how this virus spreads and is spreading quickly". Also read: COVID-19: US President Donald Trump likens deadly virus to seasonal flu She said that this is "one-in-50 years pandemic that we've been planning for". Ohio has five positive cases and 52 people are placed under investigation. However, the state has carried out limited number of tests, much like the US. In the US, the coronavirus cases surpassed 1,300 on Thursday with around 40 deaths, data from Johns Hopkins University said. "These numbers are going to continue to grow," governor DeWine said during the press conference, adding that that confirmed numbers "are just a small fraction of the individuals who are infected already in the state of Ohio". "We're told by medical experts that whatever the number is today, it will double in six days and that just continues on and on," DeWine said. Public health experts have lashed out at US authorities for downplaying the pandemic and lagging far behind the other badly-affected countries in dealing with the virus. In order to control the spread, Ohio banned mass gathering of over 100 people. Schools in the state were also shut down for three weeks. "Taking decisive action now will greatly slow down this disease and stop this trajectory," Acton said. President Donald Trump has been slammed for a slow response to the outbreak and playing down the threat, initially claiming that only a few Americans are at risk. Earlier Axios and NBC News projected 70 to 150 million Americans being affected by the COVID-19. On Wednesday, the US president banned travel from mainland Europe as part of his effort to control the pandemic.

100,000 likely coronavirus cases in Ohio: US health official

US President Donald Trump while addressing a re-election campaign rally in &nbsp;Toledo, Ohio said he was ready to launch retaliatory strikes after Iran hit US bases in Iraq.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-house-of-representatives-curbs-trumps-war-power-amid-iran-tensions-273283">Also Read:&nbsp;US House of Representatives curbs Trump's war powers amid Iran tensions</a>

“They hit us with 16 missiles and I said: ‘How many?’ We were ready to go. We were ready to go. I said, ‘How many?’ How many died? How many were wounded? ‘Sir, none.’ None. Pretty good warning system. None. ‘How many were hurt?’ ‘None, sir,'" he said.

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Under my administration, we will NEVER make excuses for America’s enemies – we will never hesitate in defending American lives – and we will never stop working to defeat Radical Islamic Terrorism! <a href="https://t.co/022PjwhHjs">pic.twitter.com/022PjwhHjs</a>
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1215454244519718912?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2020</a></blockquote>
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"So we didn’t do anything. We were ready. We were ready. Not that I wanted to. But we were ready. You have no idea. A lot of people got very lucky," he said.

Watch Video:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-dispatch-trumps-iran-speech-another-rant-against-soleimani-many-call-it-incoherent-273244/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The American president told the people present at the rally that US drone strikes on Baghdad airport which killed Soleimani "delivered American justice".

“Last week the United States once again took the bold and decisive action to save American lives and deliver American justice," the US president said.

“Soleimani was actively planning new attacks and he was looking very seriously at our embassies and not just the embassy in Baghdad, but we stopped him and we stopped him quickly and we stopped him cold," Trump said.

Trump took a dig at the Democrats stating that "radical-left Democrats have expressed outrage over the termination of this horrible terrorist".

“He was a bad guy. He was a blood-thirsty terror, and he’s no longer a terror, he’s dead," the president told the crowd referring to Soleimani's assassination.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/crazy-trump-dont-think-that-everything-is-over-with-my-fathers-martyrdom-zeinab-soleimani-daughter-of-qassem-soleimani-272535">In Pics: Crazy Trump, don't think that everything is over with my father's martyrdom, says daughter of Soleimani</a>

Meanwhile, on Thursday, the US House of Representatives passed a resolution aimed at curbing President Donald Trump's ability to wage war against Iran.

The five-page resolution emphasised that if President Trump wants to take the US to war, he would need authorization from Congress.

The resolution passed 224-194 in the Democratic-controlled US lower House. Three Republicans and an independent voted for it, while eight Democrats opposed it.

US President Donald Trump while addressing a re-election campaign rally in Toledo, Ohio said he was ready to launch retaliatory strikes after Iran hit US bases in Iraq.

US President Donald Trump while addressing a re-election campaign rally in Toledo, Ohio said he was ready to launch retaliatory strikes after Iran hit US bases in Iraq. Also Read: US House of Representatives curbs Trump's war powers amid Iran tensions “They hit us with 16 missiles and I said: ‘How many?’ We were ready to go. We were ready to go. I said, ‘How many?’ How many died? How many were wounded? ‘Sir, none.’ None. Pretty good warning system. None. ‘How many were hurt?’ ‘None, sir,'" he said. Under my administration, we will NEVER make excuses for America’s enemies – we will never hesitate in defending American lives – and we will never stop working to defeat Radical Islamic Terrorism! pic.twitter.com/022PjwhHjs — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 10, 2020 × "So we didn’t do anything. We were ready. We were ready. Not that I wanted to. But we were ready. You have no idea. A lot of people got very lucky," he said. Watch Video: The American president told the people present at the rally that US drone strikes on Baghdad airport which killed Soleimani "delivered American justice". “Last week the United States once again took the bold and decisive action to save American lives and deliver American justice," the US president said. “Soleimani was actively planning new attacks and he was looking very seriously at our embassies and not just the embassy in Baghdad, but we stopped him and we stopped him quickly and we stopped him cold," Trump said. Trump took a dig at the Democrats stating that "radical-left Democrats have expressed outrage over the termination of this horrible terrorist". “He was a bad guy. He was a blood-thirsty terror, and he’s no longer a terror, he’s dead," the president told the crowd referring to Soleimani's assassination. In Pics: Crazy Trump, don't think that everything is over with my father's martyrdom, says daughter of Soleimani Meanwhile, on Thursday, the US House of Representatives passed a resolution aimed at curbing President Donald Trump's ability to wage war against Iran. The five-page resolution emphasised that if President Trump wants to take the US to war, he would need authorization from Congress. The resolution passed 224-194 in the Democratic-controlled US lower House. Three Republicans and an independent voted for it, while eight Democrats opposed it.

We were ready to retaliate after Iran strikes, Solemani's killing was American justice: Trump at campaign rally in Ohio

A tentative settlement with Purdue Pharma is in the works with several states and thousands of local governments over its role in the opioid epidemic.

Opiod crisis hits Ohio police hard

An Oklahoma judge on Monday ordered US health care giant Johnson &amp; Johnson to pay $572 million in damages for its role in fostering the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/johnson-johnsons-greed-helped-fuel-us-opioid-crisis-oklahoma-claims-at-trial-222378">state's opioid addiction crisis</a>.

In the first civil trial of a drugmaker over an epidemic that has caused hundreds of thousands of overdose deaths, Judge Thad Balkman said prosecutors had demonstrated that J&amp;J contributed to a "public nuisance" in its deceptive promotion of highly addictive prescription painkillers.

"Those actions compromised the health and safety of thousands of Oklahomans," he said.

According to the ruling, the company and its Janssen pharmaceuticals division will fund an "abatement plan" for care for addicts, families and communities ravaged by the crisis.

"The defendants Janssen and Johnson &amp; Johnson's misleading marketing and promotion of opioids created a nuisance," Balkman said.

Landmark case

J&amp;J was the first pharmaceutical company tried over the US opioid crisis, which fueled over 70,000 overdose deaths in 2017 alone.

But there are some 2,000 outstanding lawsuits against many drugmakers and distributors filed by state and local governments, many overwhelmed by the costs of an epidemic that has only slightly abated.

Most of those are being rolled into a case to go to trial in October in Ohio that will likely set the basis for potentially many billions of dollars in settlements across the country.

Prosecutors had sought $17 billion in damages against J&amp;J for an abatement program to be spread over 30 years.&nbsp;

But Balkman said the state had not made a strong case for the future costs of the crisis to it and the community beyond one year, and so limited his ruling to that.

J&amp;J's shares rose about two percent to $130 in after-market trade following the decision.

The company immediately said it would appeal the decision.

"Janssen did not cause the opioid crisis in Oklahoma, and neither the facts nor the law support this outcome," said J&amp;J executive vice president Michael Ullmann.

"The unprecedented award for the state's 'abatement plan' has sweeping ramifications for many industries and bears no relation to the company's medicines or conduct."

Company downplayed addiction claims

J&amp;J argued that the law was being inappropriately applied and that its products had a very small role in the addiction epidemic in Oklahoma and nationally.

Balkman said J&amp;J had promoted its drugs by telling doctors and patients that pain was not being treated enough and that "there was a low risk of abuse and a low danger" in the drugs themselves.

"The defendants used the phrase 'pseudoaddiction' to convince doctors that patients who exhibited signs of addiction... were not actually suffering from addiction, but from the undertreatment of pain," he said in his decision.

He also said the company consciously downplayed risks it knew were present, pointing to the 2007 $600 million fine in a Virginia trial of Purdue Pharma, one of the leading prescription opioid makers, for misleading the health industry and the public about the highly addictive properties of its Oxycontin painkiller.

J&amp;J is the first drugmaker to go to trial and the case is seen as a bellwether for thousands of possible criminal and civil suits over the seeming uncontrolled distribution of highly addictive painkillers like oxycodone and hydrocodone, and J&amp;J's Nucynta and Duragesic, between 2000 and 2015.

Two other major drugmakers accused in the same suit, Purdue Pharma of the United States and Israel's Teva, settled with Oklahoma before the case went to trial.&nbsp;

Purdue, which produced the widely abused opioid Oxycontin, agreed to pay the state $270 million in March and Teva negotiated an $85 million settlement.

Dozens of local and state governments across the country have also already exacted settlements with opioid manufacturers and distributors to address their problems.

An Oklahoma judge on Monday ordered US health care giant Johnson & Johnson to pay $572 million in damages for its role in fostering the state's opioid addiction crisis.

An Oklahoma judge on Monday ordered US health care giant Johnson & Johnson to pay $572 million in damages for its role in fostering the state's opioid addiction crisis. In the first civil trial of a drugmaker over an epidemic that has caused hundreds of thousands of overdose deaths, Judge Thad Balkman said prosecutors had demonstrated that J&J contributed to a "public nuisance" in its deceptive promotion of highly addictive prescription painkillers. "Those actions compromised the health and safety of thousands of Oklahomans," he said. According to the ruling, the company and its Janssen pharmaceuticals division will fund an "abatement plan" for care for addicts, families and communities ravaged by the crisis. "The defendants Janssen and Johnson & Johnson's misleading marketing and promotion of opioids created a nuisance," Balkman said. Landmark case J&J was the first pharmaceutical company tried over the US opioid crisis, which fueled over 70,000 overdose deaths in 2017 alone. But there are some 2,000 outstanding lawsuits against many drugmakers and distributors filed by state and local governments, many overwhelmed by the costs of an epidemic that has only slightly abated. Most of those are being rolled into a case to go to trial in October in Ohio that will likely set the basis for potentially many billions of dollars in settlements across the country. Prosecutors had sought $17 billion in damages against J&J for an abatement program to be spread over 30 years. But Balkman said the state had not made a strong case for the future costs of the crisis to it and the community beyond one year, and so limited his ruling to that. J&J's shares rose about two percent to $130 in after-market trade following the decision. The company immediately said it would appeal the decision. "Janssen did not cause the opioid crisis in Oklahoma, and neither the facts nor the law support this outcome," said J&J executive vice president Michael Ullmann. "The unprecedented award for the state's 'abatement plan' has sweeping ramifications for many industries and bears no relation to the company's medicines or conduct." Company downplayed addiction claims J&J argued that the law was being inappropriately applied and that its products had a very small role in the addiction epidemic in Oklahoma and nationally. Balkman said J&J had promoted its drugs by telling doctors and patients that pain was not being treated enough and that "there was a low risk of abuse and a low danger" in the drugs themselves. "The defendants used the phrase 'pseudoaddiction' to convince doctors that patients who exhibited signs of addiction... were not actually suffering from addiction, but from the undertreatment of pain," he said in his decision. He also said the company consciously downplayed risks it knew were present, pointing to the 2007 $600 million fine in a Virginia trial of Purdue Pharma, one of the leading prescription opioid makers, for misleading the health industry and the public about the highly addictive properties of its Oxycontin painkiller. J&J is the first drugmaker to go to trial and the case is seen as a bellwether for thousands of possible criminal and civil suits over the seeming uncontrolled distribution of highly addictive painkillers like oxycodone and hydrocodone, and J&J's Nucynta and Duragesic, between 2000 and 2015. Two other major drugmakers accused in the same suit, Purdue Pharma of the United States and Israel's Teva, settled with Oklahoma before the case went to trial. Purdue, which produced the widely abused opioid Oxycontin, agreed to pay the state $270 million in March and Teva negotiated an $85 million settlement. Dozens of local and state governments across the country have also already exacted settlements with opioid manufacturers and distributors to address their problems.

Johnson & Johnson ordered to pay $572 million for opioid addiction crisis

The gunman who <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/a-man-armed-with-a-loaded-rifle-body-armor-arrested-at-missouri-walmart-241685/amp">killed nine people outside a bar in Dayton</a>, Ohio, had cocaine, Xanax and alcohol in his system at the time of the shooting rampage, the county coroner said on Thursday.

Dayton police announced the findings at a press conference and on Twitter and said that two victims of the massacre were struck by gunfire from law enforcement officers responding to the scene.&nbsp;

"While it weighs heavily on us that our response caused harm to these victims, we are comforted that none of our rounds caused the death of any of these innocent people," Dayton Police Chief Richard Biehl said on Twitter.

Dr. Kent Harshbarger, Montgomery County coroner, said at the news conference that an autopsy conducted on the body of 24-year-old Connor Betts found the drugs and medication in his system.&nbsp;

It was not clear how much of each drug was present at the time of the attack.&nbsp;

The August 4 massacre, which ended when police shot and killed the gunman, was one of three mass shootings over three weeks that stunned Americans and stoked a long-running debate over gun rights.

Earlier this week a friend of Betts, 24-year-old Ethan Kollie, was charged in federal court with lying his drug use on a form he filled out to buy a gun and with possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of a controlled substance.

In announcing the charges, prosecutors said Kollie admitted that he had purchased body armor, an accessory for an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle and a 100-round double drum magazine that Betts used during the shooting.

Kollie kept the items at his apartment in the Dayton suburb of Kettering to conceal them from Betts’ parents, according to court papers. Kollie is not accused with helping plan or carry out the attack.

Betts opened fire outside a bar in the Oregon District of Dayton at 1 a.m. on August 4. The shooting ended rapidly when police moved in and shot Betts dead. Those killed included Betts’ 22-year-old sister, Megan.&nbsp;

The FBI said last week that Betts had a history of violent obsessions and had mused about committing mass murder before his rampage in Dayton`s historic downtown.

The gunman who killed nine people outside a bar in Dayton, Ohio, had cocaine, Xanax and alcohol in his system at the time of the shooting rampage, the county coroner said on Thursday.

The gunman who killed nine people outside a bar in Dayton, Ohio, had cocaine, Xanax and alcohol in his system at the time of the shooting rampage, the county coroner said on Thursday. Dayton police announced the findings at a press conference and on Twitter and said that two victims of the massacre were struck by gunfire from law enforcement officers responding to the scene. "While it weighs heavily on us that our response caused harm to these victims, we are comforted that none of our rounds caused the death of any of these innocent people," Dayton Police Chief Richard Biehl said on Twitter. Dr. Kent Harshbarger, Montgomery County coroner, said at the news conference that an autopsy conducted on the body of 24-year-old Connor Betts found the drugs and medication in his system. It was not clear how much of each drug was present at the time of the attack. The August 4 massacre, which ended when police shot and killed the gunman, was one of three mass shootings over three weeks that stunned Americans and stoked a long-running debate over gun rights. Earlier this week a friend of Betts, 24-year-old Ethan Kollie, was charged in federal court with lying his drug use on a form he filled out to buy a gun and with possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of a controlled substance. In announcing the charges, prosecutors said Kollie admitted that he had purchased body armor, an accessory for an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle and a 100-round double drum magazine that Betts used during the shooting. Kollie kept the items at his apartment in the Dayton suburb of Kettering to conceal them from Betts’ parents, according to court papers. Kollie is not accused with helping plan or carry out the attack. Betts opened fire outside a bar in the Oregon District of Dayton at 1 a.m. on August 4. The shooting ended rapidly when police moved in and shot Betts dead. Those killed included Betts’ 22-year-old sister, Megan. The FBI said last week that Betts had a history of violent obsessions and had mused about committing mass murder before his rampage in Dayton`s historic downtown.

Dayton gunman had cocaine, Xanax, alcohol in his system during attack

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents in the United States have discovered a cache of some 25 guns and 10,000 bullets after arresting a teenager who made online comments supporting mass shootings.

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents in the United States have discovered a cache of some 25 guns and 10,000 bullets after arresting a teenager who made online comments supporting mass shootings. In a complaint filed Monday, the FBI charged Boardman, Ohio resident Justin Olsen with threatening to assault a federal law enforcement officer after he posted on an online forum: "In conclusion, shoot every federal agent on sight". The 18-year-old's account on the iFunny website, a forum where users share memes had approximately 4,400 subscribers. He had previously made posts supporting mass shootings and targeting family planning and reproductive rights group Planned Parenthood, the complaint said. After searching his father's house, agents found around 15 assault rifles and shotguns and 10 semi-automatic pistols inside the bedroom of Olsen's father, along with the ammunition. Agents also found "camouflage clothing and camouflaged backpacks," according to the complaint. Olsen admitted to making the online comments, the complaint said, but insisted they were "only a joke" and were made in regards to the controversial 1993 standoff in Waco, Texas. The Branch Davidians religious sect held off federal authorities attempting to arrest their members on weapons charges until the FBI eventually launched an assault and used tear gas. A fire engulfed the sect's compound and 76 people died Olsen's arrest came a week after back-to-back massacres killed 31 people in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio, sparking calls for lawmakers to limit the availability of firearms and reduce the carnage from gun violence in the United States.

Online commenter supported mass shootings, stockpiled weapons: Federal Bureau of Investigation

`The Shawshank Redemption` is heading towards its 25th anniversary and to mark the same, a celebration is being planned in Ohio from August 16- 18.

The movie which released in 1994 was filmed in and around Mansfield, Ohio, and this year the same location will be filled with fans and some cast members. 
 
It followed a banker named Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins), who was sentenced to life in Shawshank State Penitentiary for the murder of his wife and her lover, despite he claimed innocence. 
 
While serving his term in the prison, he becomes friends with a fellow prisoner, Ellis 'Red'&nbsp;Redding (Morgan Freeman).&nbsp; 
 
Dufresne becomes involved in a money-laundering scheme run by the warden but manages to turn the tables with a few twists and later manages to escape the prison. 
 
Actors who are expected to mark their presence at the reunion include Bob Gunton (Warden Norton), William Sadler (Heywood), Mark Rolston (Bogs), Frank Medrano (Fat Ass), Alfonso Freeman (Red`s Mugshot and a Fresh Fish Guy), Scott Mann (Glenn Quentin), Renee Blaine (Linda Dufresne) and Claire Slemmer (Bank Teller). 
 
The celebration will also feature a tour to more than a dozen sites shown in the film around Mansfield, including Ohio State Reformatory.

In addition to the celebration, fans can catch the film at the Renaissance theatre, Mansfield once again on August 16, where the film was shown back in 1994.&nbsp;

`The Shawshank Redemption` is heading towards its 25th anniversary and to mark the same, a celebration is being planned in Ohio from August 16- 18. The movie which released in 1994 was filmed in and around Mansfield, Ohio, and this year the same location will be filled with fans and some cast members.

`The Shawshank Redemption` is heading towards its 25th anniversary and to mark the same, a celebration is being planned in Ohio from August 16- 18. The movie which released in 1994 was filmed in and around Mansfield, Ohio, and this year the same location will be filled with fans and some cast members. It followed a banker named Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins), who was sentenced to life in Shawshank State Penitentiary for the murder of his wife and her lover, despite he claimed innocence. While serving his term in the prison, he becomes friends with a fellow prisoner, Ellis 'Red' Redding (Morgan Freeman). Dufresne becomes involved in a money-laundering scheme run by the warden but manages to turn the tables with a few twists and later manages to escape the prison. Actors who are expected to mark their presence at the reunion include Bob Gunton (Warden Norton), William Sadler (Heywood), Mark Rolston (Bogs), Frank Medrano (Fat Ass), Alfonso Freeman (Red`s Mugshot and a Fresh Fish Guy), Scott Mann (Glenn Quentin), Renee Blaine (Linda Dufresne) and Claire Slemmer (Bank Teller). The celebration will also feature a tour to more than a dozen sites shown in the film around Mansfield, including Ohio State Reformatory. In addition to the celebration, fans can catch the film at the Renaissance theatre, Mansfield once again on August 16, where the film was shown back in 1994.

'The Shawshank Redemption' completes 25 years, Ohio plans gala celebrations

The gunman who killed his <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sister-of-gunman-among-nine-dead-in-ohio-mass-shooting-240691">sister and eight other people in Dayton, Ohio,</a> before he was slain by police had a history of violent obsessions and previously mused about committing mass murder, an FBI official said on Tuesday.

FBI agent Todd Wickerham told a news conference two days after the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-less-than-a-minute-gunman-kills-9-people-in-ohio-mass-shooting-240677">massacre in the streets</a> of Dayton`s historic downtown Oregon District that investigators have yet to conclude what motivated the killer or whether he may have had an accomplice.

Police said in the initial aftermath of Sunday morning`s bloodshed they believed the slain suspect, identified as 24-year-old Connor Betts, a white man from the Dayton suburb of Bellbrook, had acted alone.

The gunman, who was wearing body armour and a mask, opened fire with an assault-style rifle fitted with a high-capacity ammunition drum that could hold 100 rounds, police said. Authorities said officers patrolling the area arrived on the scene and shot the gunman dead 30 seconds after the violence began.

In addition to the nine people killed, including Betts` sister, more than two dozen others were injured in the attack, which came 13 hours after a shooting spree that claimed 22 lives in El Paso, Texas.

"Violent ideologies"

The suspected assailant in Texas surrendered to police and has been charged with capital murder in what authorities are treating as a hate crime and act of domestic terrorism. Most of the victims were Hispanic.

Federal agents have found no clues suggesting the Dayton gunman was influenced by the rampage in El Paso, said Wickerham, the agent in charge of the FBI`s Cincinnati office.

However, he said, "The individual had a history of obsession with violent ideations, including mass shootings, and expressed a desire to commit a mass shooting."&nbsp;

"We have uncovered evidence throughout the course of our investigation that the shooter was exploring violent ideologies," Wickerham added.

Much remains unclear. The agent said investigators were seeking to determine what particular ideology may have influenced the gunman, "who, if anyone, helped him or had any advance knowledge of his intentions to conduct this attack, and why he committed this specific act of violence."

Wickerham said nothing so far indicated the shooting spree was racially motivated, though six of the nine dead were African-American.

Authorities have said that Betts was known to have been a troubled youth in high school, at one point drawing up a "hit list" of students he wanted to kill or otherwise harm.

The Dayton Daily News, citing the recollections of former classmates, reported Betts had been suspended from high school, and detained by police, over the hit list. But Bellbrook police said it had no record of such an incident, the paper reported.

A former girlfriend of Betts, Adelia Johnson, told CNN that he had once shown her a video on his phone of a mass shooting.

"It wasn`t a red flag, which I know is weird to a lot of people, but given the context of him being a psychology student and fascinated in the psychology of these things, that`s what made it digestible," Johnson told CNN.

"Do something"

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, responding to mounting public pressure for action to curb gun violence, proposed a "red flag" law that would allow a judge to order firearms confiscated from any individual deemed to be a threat to themselves or others. Law enforcement and family members could petition the court for such an order.

"We have an obligation to each other," DeWine, a Republican backed by the National Rifle Association gun lobby, said at a news briefing. "If someone is showing signs of trouble or problems, we must help and we must not turn away."

The governor was heckled on Sunday night as he spoke at a vigil for the victims of the rampage. Protesters repeatedly chanted "Do something!" a reference to perceived state and federal inaction to curb US&nbsp;gun violence.

DeWine, who took office in January, previously expressed support for red flag laws after a deadly shooting at a California synagogue in April.

Seventeen states and the District of Columbia have red flag laws on the books, according to the gun-control advocacy group Giffords. Most are under majority Democratic governments. DeWine`s proposal could meet resistance in the Republican-controlled Ohio legislature.

In an address to the nation on Monday, President Donald Trump also backed laws to allow guns to be seized from dangerous individuals, while calling for tighter monitoring of the internet, mental health reform and wider use of the death penalty in response to mass shootings.

The president confirmed on Tuesday that he planned to visit both Dayton and El Paso on Wednesday to meet with first responders, law enforcement officials and victims.

Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley, a Democrat, said she would welcome the president but plans to tell Trump that his comments "weren`t very helpful to the issue around guns," referring to his remarks on Monday about ways to curb gun violence.

The gunman who killed his sister and eight other people in Dayton, Ohio, before he was slain by police had a history of violent obsessions and previously mused about committing mass murder, an FBI official said on Tuesday.

The gunman who killed his sister and eight other people in Dayton, Ohio, before he was slain by police had a history of violent obsessions and previously mused about committing mass murder, an FBI official said on Tuesday. FBI agent Todd Wickerham told a news conference two days after the massacre in the streets of Dayton`s historic downtown Oregon District that investigators have yet to conclude what motivated the killer or whether he may have had an accomplice. Police said in the initial aftermath of Sunday morning`s bloodshed they believed the slain suspect, identified as 24-year-old Connor Betts, a white man from the Dayton suburb of Bellbrook, had acted alone. The gunman, who was wearing body armour and a mask, opened fire with an assault-style rifle fitted with a high-capacity ammunition drum that could hold 100 rounds, police said. Authorities said officers patrolling the area arrived on the scene and shot the gunman dead 30 seconds after the violence began. In addition to the nine people killed, including Betts` sister, more than two dozen others were injured in the attack, which came 13 hours after a shooting spree that claimed 22 lives in El Paso, Texas. "Violent ideologies" The suspected assailant in Texas surrendered to police and has been charged with capital murder in what authorities are treating as a hate crime and act of domestic terrorism. Most of the victims were Hispanic. Federal agents have found no clues suggesting the Dayton gunman was influenced by the rampage in El Paso, said Wickerham, the agent in charge of the FBI`s Cincinnati office. However, he said, "The individual had a history of obsession with violent ideations, including mass shootings, and expressed a desire to commit a mass shooting." "We have uncovered evidence throughout the course of our investigation that the shooter was exploring violent ideologies," Wickerham added. Much remains unclear. The agent said investigators were seeking to determine what particular ideology may have influenced the gunman, "who, if anyone, helped him or had any advance knowledge of his intentions to conduct this attack, and why he committed this specific act of violence." Wickerham said nothing so far indicated the shooting spree was racially motivated, though six of the nine dead were African-American. Authorities have said that Betts was known to have been a troubled youth in high school, at one point drawing up a "hit list" of students he wanted to kill or otherwise harm. The Dayton Daily News, citing the recollections of former classmates, reported Betts had been suspended from high school, and detained by police, over the hit list. But Bellbrook police said it had no record of such an incident, the paper reported. A former girlfriend of Betts, Adelia Johnson, told CNN that he had once shown her a video on his phone of a mass shooting. "It wasn`t a red flag, which I know is weird to a lot of people, but given the context of him being a psychology student and fascinated in the psychology of these things, that`s what made it digestible," Johnson told CNN. "Do something" Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, responding to mounting public pressure for action to curb gun violence, proposed a "red flag" law that would allow a judge to order firearms confiscated from any individual deemed to be a threat to themselves or others. Law enforcement and family members could petition the court for such an order. "We have an obligation to each other," DeWine, a Republican backed by the National Rifle Association gun lobby, said at a news briefing. "If someone is showing signs of trouble or problems, we must help and we must not turn away." The governor was heckled on Sunday night as he spoke at a vigil for the victims of the rampage. Protesters repeatedly chanted "Do something!" a reference to perceived state and federal inaction to curb US gun violence. DeWine, who took office in January, previously expressed support for red flag laws after a deadly shooting at a California synagogue in April. Seventeen states and the District of Columbia have red flag laws on the books, according to the gun-control advocacy group Giffords. Most are under majority Democratic governments. DeWine`s proposal could meet resistance in the Republican-controlled Ohio legislature. In an address to the nation on Monday, President Donald Trump also backed laws to allow guns to be seized from dangerous individuals, while calling for tighter monitoring of the internet, mental health reform and wider use of the death penalty in response to mass shootings. The president confirmed on Tuesday that he planned to visit both Dayton and El Paso on Wednesday to meet with first responders, law enforcement officials and victims. Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley, a Democrat, said she would welcome the president but plans to tell Trump that his comments "weren`t very helpful to the issue around guns," referring to his remarks on Monday about ways to curb gun violence.

FBI finds Ohio gunman was obsessed with violence

Walmart Inc&nbsp;said on Monday there has been no change in its policy on gun sales after two mass shootings over the weekend, including one at a Walmart store, left 31 people dead in Texas and Ohio.

Years of public pressure led Walmart, the largest US arms retailer, to end assault rifle sales in 2015 and in 2018 to raise the minimum age for gun purchases to 21. Some gun control activists and Walmart customers now want the retailer to&nbsp;drop sales of guns and ammunition altogether.

The weekend shooting in Texas unfolded at a popular Walmart store in the border city of El Paso, killing 22 people. In the other weekend mass shooting, in Dayton, Ohio, a gunman killed nine people.

Many people took to social media to post about the deadly shooting using the hashtags #walmartshooting," "#boycottwalmart," and "#guncontrolnow."

Guns Down America, an advocacy group that runs campaigns for gun control, began a petition to urge more change at Walmart late on Monday.

The petition calls on Walmart to stop selling firearms, pledge it will no longer make contributions to lawmakers who take money from gun rights lobby the National Rifle Association, and fund gun buybacks. It also pushes Walmart to use its political influence to advocate for legislative changes to raise the standards for gun ownership in America.&nbsp;

"Federal legislative change will take time, but more and more Americans are dying every day," Igor Volsky, founder and executive director of Guns Down America, told Reuters. "The El Paso shooting happened in their store, they have a responsibility to go further."

It is not the first time that gun-control advocates have signed a petition calling on Walmart to take action. In early 2013, just one month after a gunman in Newtown, Connecticut, shot dead 20 first-graders and six adults at an elementary school, nearly 300,000 people signed a petition urging Walmart to stop selling assault weapons.

It was another two years before Walmart ended such sales.

"A REASON TO BOYCOTT WALMART"

Other gun control activists such as Texas Gun Sense President Ed Scruggs said Walmart, whose stores act as de facto community centres in rural America, could do more to educate children and teenagers on gun safety.

A group called Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America said it has been asking Walmart to stop letting shoppers walk into its stores with guns - even where doing so is permitted by law. Target and Starbucks have policies asking shoppers not to carry firearms in their stores.&nbsp;

On Twitter, one Florida-based user said Walmart needs more security. Another user, from Irvine, California, said Walmart`s statement outlining that it would not change its gun policies in the wake of the two shootings over the weekend was "shocking."

"If this isn`t a reason to boycott Walmart, I don`t know what is!" the user tweeted.

Some celebrities also demanded more action from the retailer.

"Hey @Walmart! This would be a great opportunity for you to take a true leadership position and stop selling guns," actress Alyssa Milano said in response to a Walmart company tweet saying it was "in shock" over the tragic events in Texas.&nbsp;

For now, Walmart`s policies remain unchanged.

A Walmart spokesman on Monday told Reuters the retailer has not made any change in its firearms sales policy after the mass shootings and that it has not issued a directive to any stores around the country to change policy.

"Our focus has always been on being a responsible seller of firearms," spokesman Randy Hargrove said. "We go beyond federal law, requiring all customers to pass a background check before purchasing any firearm."&nbsp;

The retailer`s chief executive, Doug McMillon, offered his support to the community of El Paso and reached out to employees via Instagram on Sunday. "I can`t believe I`m sending a note like this twice in one week," he said, referring to an earlier message he sent after two employees were shot by a co-worker in a store in Mississippi.

Walmart`s gun safety policies are more restrictive than many retailers` even as it trails some of its rivals.

Walmart rivals like Kroger-owned Fred Meyer stopped selling guns and ammunition in 2018 and the same year, Dick`s Sporting Goods ended the sale of assault weapons and raised the minimum age to 21 for gun purchases.&nbsp;

In March 2019, Dick`s also said it would pull guns and ammunition off the shelves of 125 of its 720 store, a decision the company said it took because its gun sales were down due to competition from dedicated gun and hunting stores.

That same month, in a call to discuss earnings, the company`s chief executive, Ed Stack, said lower sales during the quarter were partly driven by lower demand for "anything associated with hunting,"&nbsp; 
including guns, ammunition, firearm accessories and hunting apparel. 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
Despite such measures from the larger chains, the sale of guns and assault-style weapons continues unabated.

Outdoor goods chains including Bass Pro Shops, Gander Outdoors and Academy Sports continue to sell assault-style rifles. A proliferation of online retailers like AIM Surplus, Armslist and Brownells also sell firearms that can be easily procured.&nbsp;

Armslist called the shootings "horrific" and said in a statement it is a service that does not directly sell guns, but carries ads and listing for private sales. The other companies did not respond to a request for comment.

Walmart Inc said on Monday there has been no change in its policy on gun sales after two mass shootings over the weekend, including one at a Walmart store, left 31 people dead in Texas and Ohio.

Walmart Inc said on Monday there has been no change in its policy on gun sales after two mass shootings over the weekend, including one at a Walmart store, left 31 people dead in Texas and Ohio. Years of public pressure led Walmart, the largest US arms retailer, to end assault rifle sales in 2015 and in 2018 to raise the minimum age for gun purchases to 21. Some gun control activists and Walmart customers now want the retailer to drop sales of guns and ammunition altogether. The weekend shooting in Texas unfolded at a popular Walmart store in the border city of El Paso, killing 22 people. In the other weekend mass shooting, in Dayton, Ohio, a gunman killed nine people. Many people took to social media to post about the deadly shooting using the hashtags #walmartshooting," "#boycottwalmart," and "#guncontrolnow." Guns Down America, an advocacy group that runs campaigns for gun control, began a petition to urge more change at Walmart late on Monday. The petition calls on Walmart to stop selling firearms, pledge it will no longer make contributions to lawmakers who take money from gun rights lobby the National Rifle Association, and fund gun buybacks. It also pushes Walmart to use its political influence to advocate for legislative changes to raise the standards for gun ownership in America. "Federal legislative change will take time, but more and more Americans are dying every day," Igor Volsky, founder and executive director of Guns Down America, told Reuters. "The El Paso shooting happened in their store, they have a responsibility to go further." It is not the first time that gun-control advocates have signed a petition calling on Walmart to take action. In early 2013, just one month after a gunman in Newtown, Connecticut, shot dead 20 first-graders and six adults at an elementary school, nearly 300,000 people signed a petition urging Walmart to stop selling assault weapons. It was another two years before Walmart ended such sales. "A REASON TO BOYCOTT WALMART" Other gun control activists such as Texas Gun Sense President Ed Scruggs said Walmart, whose stores act as de facto community centres in rural America, could do more to educate children and teenagers on gun safety. A group called Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America said it has been asking Walmart to stop letting shoppers walk into its stores with guns - even where doing so is permitted by law. Target and Starbucks have policies asking shoppers not to carry firearms in their stores. On Twitter, one Florida-based user said Walmart needs more security. Another user, from Irvine, California, said Walmart`s statement outlining that it would not change its gun policies in the wake of the two shootings over the weekend was "shocking." "If this isn`t a reason to boycott Walmart, I don`t know what is!" the user tweeted. Some celebrities also demanded more action from the retailer. "Hey @Walmart! This would be a great opportunity for you to take a true leadership position and stop selling guns," actress Alyssa Milano said in response to a Walmart company tweet saying it was "in shock" over the tragic events in Texas. For now, Walmart`s policies remain unchanged. A Walmart spokesman on Monday told Reuters the retailer has not made any change in its firearms sales policy after the mass shootings and that it has not issued a directive to any stores around the country to change policy. "Our focus has always been on being a responsible seller of firearms," spokesman Randy Hargrove said. "We go beyond federal law, requiring all customers to pass a background check before purchasing any firearm." The retailer`s chief executive, Doug McMillon, offered his support to the community of El Paso and reached out to employees via Instagram on Sunday. "I can`t believe I`m sending a note like this twice in one week," he said, referring to an earlier message he sent after two employees were shot by a co-worker in a store in Mississippi. Walmart`s gun safety policies are more restrictive than many retailers` even as it trails some of its rivals. Walmart rivals like Kroger-owned Fred Meyer stopped selling guns and ammunition in 2018 and the same year, Dick`s Sporting Goods ended the sale of assault weapons and raised the minimum age to 21 for gun purchases. In March 2019, Dick`s also said it would pull guns and ammunition off the shelves of 125 of its 720 store, a decision the company said it took because its gun sales were down due to competition from dedicated gun and hunting stores. That same month, in a call to discuss earnings, the company`s chief executive, Ed Stack, said lower sales during the quarter were partly driven by lower demand for "anything associated with hunting," including guns, ammunition, firearm accessories and hunting apparel. Despite such measures from the larger chains, the sale of guns and assault-style weapons continues unabated. Outdoor goods chains including Bass Pro Shops, Gander Outdoors and Academy Sports continue to sell assault-style rifles. A proliferation of online retailers like AIM Surplus, Armslist and Brownells also sell firearms that can be easily procured. Armslist called the shootings "horrific" and said in a statement it is a service that does not directly sell guns, but carries ads and listing for private sales. The other companies did not respond to a request for comment.

Walmart faces pressure to stop gun sales after latest US mass shootings

US President Donald Trump has been widely criticised for mentioning the wrong Ohio city in his tweet. Dayton, where mass shooting takes place earlier this week where 9 people were reported dead.

Trump mentions wrong Ohio city as shooting site

US President Donald Trump on Monday mistakenly offered condolences to people in Toledo, Ohio, following a mass shooting over the weekend in Dayton, Ohio. Trump, who has been accused of not doing enough to tackle extremist groups, also said he was directing the Department of Justice to investigate domestic terrorism, and propose legislation to ensure that those who commit hate crimes and mass murders face the death penalty.

US President Donald Trump on Monday mistakenly offered condolences to people in Toledo, Ohio, following a mass shooting over the weekend in Dayton, Ohio. Trump, who has been accused of not doing enough to tackle extremist groups, also said he was directing the Department of Justice to investigate domestic terrorism, and propose legislation to ensure that those who commit hate crimes and mass murders face the death penalty. A gunman shot dead nine people in the city of Dayton, Ohio, in the latest US mass shooting killed his victims in less than a minute. Within less than a minute, the 24-year-old shooter was shot dead himself by police officers who rushed to the scene while on patrol nearby.

Trump misstates location of Ohio shooting rampage

In Ohio, Second deadly U.S. mass shooting in less than a day. Watch this video to know more.

Ohio: Second deadly U.S. mass shooting in less than a day

President Donald&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;said Sunday that "hate has no place" in the United States after two mass shootings left 29 dead and sparked accusations that his rhetoric was part of the problem.

The rampages turned innocent snippets of everyday life into nightmares of bloodshed: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/el-paso-shooting-walmart-massacre-to-be-probed-as-domestic-terror-case-240685">20 people were shot dead</a> while shopping at a crowded Walmart in El Paso, Texas on Saturday morning, and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ohio-mass-shooting-gunman-killed-within-30-seconds-after-firing-started-say-police-240693">nine more outside a bar</a> in a popular nightlife district in Dayton, Ohio just 13 hours later.

"Hate has no place in our country,"&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;said, but he also blamed mental illness for the violence.

"This is also a mental illness problem if you look at both of those cases," added the US president, who is under increased pressure over mass shootings.&nbsp;

"These are really people that are very, very seriously mentally ill," he said, despite the fact that police have not confirmed this to be the case.

"We have to get it stopped. This has been going on for years... and years in our country," the president said.

In Texas, 26 people were wounded, and 27 in Ohio, where the shooter was killed in roughly 30 seconds by police who were patrolling nearby and prevented a casualty toll that could have been many times greater.

100-round drum magazine

Dayton Police Chief Richard Biehl told a news conference that the quick police response was "crucial," preventing the shooter from entering a bar where "there would have been... catastrophic injury and loss of life." 
But the shooter still managed to mow down dozens of people.

Biehl said the gunman wore a mask and a bullet-proof vest and was armed with an assault rifle fitted with a 100-round drum magazine.&nbsp;

"You could see the bodies actually start to fall and we knew it was bigger than just even a shoot-out," Anthony Reynolds, who was outside the Dayton bar when the shooting started, told NBC News.&nbsp;

Police named the gunman as a 24-year-old white man called Connor Betts and said that his sister was among those killed. She had gone with him to the scene of the massacre.

Six of the nine people shot dead were black, but Biehl said the gunman's motive was still unclear.

In Texas, police said the suspect surrendered standing on a sidewalk near the scene of the massacre. He was described in media reports as a 21-year-old white man named Patrick Crusius.

He was believed to have posted online a manifesto denouncing a "Hispanic invasion" of Texas. El Paso, on the border with Mexico, is majority Latino.

'Amplifying and condoning' hate

Six of the 20 people killed in the El Paso shooting were Mexican, the country's president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, said Sunday.

The manifesto posted shortly before the shooting also praises the killing of 51 Muslims at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand in&nbsp; 
March.

Police said the suspected shooter has been charged with murder offences that can carry the death penalty, and a federal official said investigators are treating the El Paso shooting as a case of domestic terrorism.

While the country stood aghast over its latest spasm of gun violence,&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;ordered flags to be flown at half-mast for five days.

At the Walmart in El Paso, terrified shoppers cowered in aisles or ran out of the store as gunfire echoed.

Most of the victims were inside the store but some were also in the parking lot outside, police said.

"Shooting kids and women and men, to him it mostly mattered that they were Hispanic," said Manuel Sanchez, a resident of the city.

These were the 250th and 251st mass shootings this year in the US, according to the Gun Violence Archive, an NGO that defines a mass shooting as an incident in which at least four people are wounded or killed.

The latest two shootings ended a particularly tragic week for gun violence in America: three people died in a shooting at a food festival last Sunday in California, and two more Tuesday in a shooting in a Walmart in Mississippi.

On Twitter,&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;described the El Paso attack as "an act of cowardice." 
But critics said&nbsp;Trump's custom of speaking in derogatory terms about immigrants is pushing hatred of foreigners into the political mainstream and encouraging white supremacist thinking that can lead to violence.

"To pretend that his administration and the hateful rhetoric it spreads doesn't play a role in the kind of violence that we saw yesterday in El Paso is ignorant at best and irresponsible at worst," said the Southern Poverty Law Center, a major civil rights group.

It cited&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;actions like calling Mexican migrants rapists and drug dealers and doing nothing when a crowd at a&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;rally chanted "send her back" in reference to a Somali-born congresswoman.

The Republican mayor of El Paso, Dee Margo, seemed to discount any race element to the Texas shooting, telling Fox News the gunman was "deranged."

But several Democratic presidential hopefuls said&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;bears some of the blame for such violence.

Watch:&nbsp;<meta charset="utf-8" />Gunman kills 20 at Texas Walmart store

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/texas-shooting-gunman-kills-20-at-texas-walmart-store-240658/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"Our president isn't just failing to confront and disarm these domestic terrorists, he is amplifying and condoning their hate," Mayor Pete Buttigieg tweeted.

"Mr President: stop your racist, hateful and anti-immigrant rhetoric. Your language creates a climate which emboldens violent extremists," Senator Bernie Sanders wrote on Twitter.

President Donald Trump said Sunday that "hate has no place" in the United States after two mass shootings left 29 dead and sparked accusations that his rhetoric was part of the problem.

President Donald Trump said Sunday that "hate has no place" in the United States after two mass shootings left 29 dead and sparked accusations that his rhetoric was part of the problem. The rampages turned innocent snippets of everyday life into nightmares of bloodshed: 20 people were shot dead while shopping at a crowded Walmart in El Paso, Texas on Saturday morning, and nine more outside a bar in a popular nightlife district in Dayton, Ohio just 13 hours later. "Hate has no place in our country," Trump said, but he also blamed mental illness for the violence. "This is also a mental illness problem if you look at both of those cases," added the US president, who is under increased pressure over mass shootings. "These are really people that are very, very seriously mentally ill," he said, despite the fact that police have not confirmed this to be the case. "We have to get it stopped. This has been going on for years... and years in our country," the president said. In Texas, 26 people were wounded, and 27 in Ohio, where the shooter was killed in roughly 30 seconds by police who were patrolling nearby and prevented a casualty toll that could have been many times greater. 100-round drum magazine Dayton Police Chief Richard Biehl told a news conference that the quick police response was "crucial," preventing the shooter from entering a bar where "there would have been... catastrophic injury and loss of life." But the shooter still managed to mow down dozens of people. Biehl said the gunman wore a mask and a bullet-proof vest and was armed with an assault rifle fitted with a 100-round drum magazine. "You could see the bodies actually start to fall and we knew it was bigger than just even a shoot-out," Anthony Reynolds, who was outside the Dayton bar when the shooting started, told NBC News. Police named the gunman as a 24-year-old white man called Connor Betts and said that his sister was among those killed. She had gone with him to the scene of the massacre. Six of the nine people shot dead were black, but Biehl said the gunman's motive was still unclear. In Texas, police said the suspect surrendered standing on a sidewalk near the scene of the massacre. He was described in media reports as a 21-year-old white man named Patrick Crusius. He was believed to have posted online a manifesto denouncing a "Hispanic invasion" of Texas. El Paso, on the border with Mexico, is majority Latino. 'Amplifying and condoning' hate Six of the 20 people killed in the El Paso shooting were Mexican, the country's president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, said Sunday. The manifesto posted shortly before the shooting also praises the killing of 51 Muslims at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand in March. Police said the suspected shooter has been charged with murder offences that can carry the death penalty, and a federal official said investigators are treating the El Paso shooting as a case of domestic terrorism. While the country stood aghast over its latest spasm of gun violence, Trump ordered flags to be flown at half-mast for five days. At the Walmart in El Paso, terrified shoppers cowered in aisles or ran out of the store as gunfire echoed. Most of the victims were inside the store but some were also in the parking lot outside, police said. "Shooting kids and women and men, to him it mostly mattered that they were Hispanic," said Manuel Sanchez, a resident of the city. These were the 250th and 251st mass shootings this year in the US, according to the Gun Violence Archive, an NGO that defines a mass shooting as an incident in which at least four people are wounded or killed. The latest two shootings ended a particularly tragic week for gun violence in America: three people died in a shooting at a food festival last Sunday in California, and two more Tuesday in a shooting in a Walmart in Mississippi. On Twitter, Trump described the El Paso attack as "an act of cowardice." But critics said Trump's custom of speaking in derogatory terms about immigrants is pushing hatred of foreigners into the political mainstream and encouraging white supremacist thinking that can lead to violence. "To pretend that his administration and the hateful rhetoric it spreads doesn't play a role in the kind of violence that we saw yesterday in El Paso is ignorant at best and irresponsible at worst," said the Southern Poverty Law Center, a major civil rights group. It cited Trump actions like calling Mexican migrants rapists and drug dealers and doing nothing when a crowd at a Trump rally chanted "send her back" in reference to a Somali-born congresswoman. The Republican mayor of El Paso, Dee Margo, seemed to discount any race element to the Texas shooting, telling Fox News the gunman was "deranged." But several Democratic presidential hopefuls said Trump bears some of the blame for such violence. Watch: Gunman kills 20 at Texas Walmart store "Our president isn't just failing to confront and disarm these domestic terrorists, he is amplifying and condoning their hate," Mayor Pete Buttigieg tweeted. "Mr President: stop your racist, hateful and anti-immigrant rhetoric. Your language creates a climate which emboldens violent extremists," Senator Bernie Sanders wrote on Twitter.

Mental illness problem if you look at both cases: Trump on US shootings

Texas shooting: Gunman kills 20 at Texas Walmart store. Watch video to know more.

Texas shooting: Gunman kills 20 at Texas Walmart store

Nine killed in Ohio in second US mass shooting in 24 hours. Watch video to know more.

Nine killed in Ohio in second US mass shooting in 24 hours

Police in Ohio on Sunday said that nine people have been killed in the second mass shooting in the U.S. in less than 24 hours. Dayton's deputy police chief Matt Carper announced that the suspect was also dead. Watch this video to know more.

Mass shooting in Ohio, 9 casualties reported

US President Donald Trump has told an Ohio rally "we will be ending the AIDS epidemic shortly in America, and curing childhood cancer very shortly." Watch this video to know more.

Another of Trump's wild promises

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