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4/14/21	LP, AP & IT Security's #1 News Source	D-Ddaily.net

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Michael Kingrey promoted to Sr. Program Manager, Safety & DOT Compliance NA Middle Mile Operations for Amazon
Michael has been with Amazon for nearly eight years, starting with the company in 2013 as a Loss Prevention Manager. Before his latest promotion to Sr. Program Manager, Safety & DOT Compliance NA Middle Mile Operations, he spent nearly two years as Program Manager, Safety & Compliance North American Transportation and more than three years as a Regional Loss Prevention Manager. Earlier in his career, he held LP roles with Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's and Best Buy. Congratulations, Michael!

See All the Executives 'Moving Up' Here | Submit Your New Corporate Hires/Promotions or New Position

Solink Partners with Noonlight to Offer Customers 24/7 Professional
Video Monitoring

Noonlight monitors and protects Solink business customers and their locations, dispatching emergency services when needed, while reducing false alarms

Protests & Violence

Third Night of Clashes Between Police & Protesters in Minnesota

Minn. protesters clash with police for 3rd night after Daunte Wright shooting
National Guardsmen and local law enforcement used pepper spray and flash bangs to disperse protesters in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, Tuesday, as tensions ran high for a third straight night following the cop-killing of Daunte Wright.

An unlawful assembly was declared by police after 9 p.m., ahead of a 10 p.m. curfew in the Twin City suburb, according to footage tweeted by MPR News.

Protesters threw water bottles at police in response in defiance of the order to disperse, a clip from The Star Tribune showed. By 9:20 p.m., officials had cleared protesters from one area of the police station they were gathering in front of, according to video from KSTP.

Earlier, thousands of protesters reportedly peacefully marched to an FBI headquarters, with signs demanding justice for the killing of the 20-year-old black man during a Sunday traffic stop.

Officer Kimberly Potter shot Wright dead after she said she confused her gun for her Taser. Potter and Brooklyn Center Police Chief Tim Gannon resigned in the wake of the shooting.

More than 50 protesters and looters were arrested during violent Monday night demonstrations as hundreds defied a 7 p.m. curfew and attacked law enforcement officials in riot gear. nypost.com

Officer Faces Up to 10 Years in Prison
Officer who shot Daunte Wright will face second-degree manslaughter charge

The charge carries maximum penalty of 10 years in prison

The Washington County Attorney's Office will charge former Brooklyn Center police officer Kimberly A. Potter with second-degree manslaughter in the shooting death on Sunday of Daunte Wright, according to Washington County Attorney Pete Orput.

The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.

Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman referred the case to Orput under a practice adopted last year among metro area county attorney's offices for deadly police shootings. It calls for the county attorney in the jurisdiction where the shooting took place to refer the case to one of the other counties, or the state Attorney General's Office, to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest. startribune.com

Two Police Resignations After Duante Wright Shooting
Officer who fatally shot Daunte Wright just resigned, as did the chief of police
Kim Potter, the police officer in Brooklyn Center, Minn., who fatally shot Daunte Wright on Sunday, has resigned from the Police Department, her union said in a statement on Tuesday. The city's police chief, Tim Gannon, also announced that he was departing.

In a letter that Ms. Potter sent to city officials on Tuesday, she said she was resigning immediately, the union said.

"I have loved every minute of being a police officer and serving this community to the best of my ability, but I believe it is in the best interest of the community, the department and my fellow officers if I resign immediately," she wrote.

Until her resignation, she had been placed on administrative leave within the department after shooting and killing Mr. Wright, 20. In a news conference on Monday, Chief Gannon said he believed from watching Ms. Potter's body camera video that she was attempting to use a Taser on Mr. Wright and pulled her firearm instead, killing him. nytimes.com

At Least 15 Officers Mistook Guns for Tasers. Three Were Convicted.

Meanwhile, in the Derek Chauvin Murder Trial...

Derek Chauvin murder trial puts spotlight on police use-of-force training
Chauvin's defense attorney, Eric Nelson, opened the trial by telling jurors that the neck restraint he used on Floyd was "exactly what he had been trained to do over the course of his 19-year career." But a number of law enforcement officials from Chauvin's former department seem to disagree.

So what are Minneapolis officers taught in the academy, how has that changed since Floyd's death and how does that compare to other parts of the country?

No national standard for training

One of the issues is that there isn't a national standard for use of force in police training, according to retired Sgt. Betsy Brantner Smith, who served in police departments in the Chicago suburbs for 29 years and is now a law enforcement trainer. Brantner Smith, a spokesperson for the National Police Association who has been a trainer for over 20 years, said every department is somewhat different in the way they adapt their curriculum to their communities.

Training in Minneapolis

The Minneapolis Police Department policy and procedure manual states that after passing academy requirements, new recruits will work one-on-one with a field training officer (FTO) for several months. Chauvin was a field training officer and helped train and evaluate officers coming out the academy.

Minneapolis training policy has changed since Floyd's death. Instructors are now prohibited from teaching the use of neck restraints or chokeholds in the Minneapolis Police Department. Many of the representatives from MPD denied the defense's argument on Chauvin's conduct being based on his training. abcnews.go

Police trainer testifies that Derek Chauvin's actions were justified

Key takeaways from Derek Chauvin's murder trial, Day 12

'White Lives Matter' rallies fizzled, but hate groups still see chance to 'fire up base'

New Report Details Security Failures Surrounding U.S. Capitol Attack

Intelligence Overlooked - Stand Down Orders - Defective Equipment

Damning Report on Capitol Security & Police Response
Key Findings of the Inspector General's Report on the Capitol Riot

Intelligence failures, orders to use less aggressive measures and equipment breakdowns contributed to the Capitol Police's botched response, a watchdog found.

A new report by the Capitol Police's internal watchdog found that department leaders overlooked key intelligence in the run-up to the riot on Jan. 6, including a warning that "Congress itself is the target," and barred the force's riot response unit from using its most powerful crowd-control measures.

The 104-page document, entitled "Review of the Events Surrounding the Jan. 6, 2021, Takeover of the U.S. Capitol," is the most searing portrait yet of the lapses and miscalculations around the most violent attack on the Capitol in two centuries. It adds significant new detail not unearthed in congressional hearings and is likely to inform a coming overhaul of the agency promised by lawmakers.

Police leaders ignored or overlooked intelligence reports warning of attacks on lawmakers.

The department's own intelligence unit, which monitors potential threats, warned three days before the riot that supporters of President Donald J. Trump, motivated by his false election fraud claims, were targeting Congress and could become violent.

Department leaders ordered a special crowd-control unit not to use its most powerful nonlethal weapons.

The unit, Mr. Bolton wrote, was "operating at a decreased level of readiness as a result of a lack of standards for equipment" and fostered a "culture" that decreased "operational readiness."

The problems were compounded when department leadership directed the unit not to use some of its most powerful crowd-control tools - such as stun grenades - that rank-and-file officers later said they believed would have helped fight the crowds that eventually overtook them and broke into the building.

Officers responded with defective protective equipment.

Elsewhere in the report, the inspector general found that officers responding on Jan. 6 had been outfitted with protective shields that had been stored in a trailer without climate control and "shattered upon impact."

In another case, officers frantic for something to protect them could not use their shields during the siege because they were locked on a bus. nytimes.com

Capitol Attack Was the Most Documented Crime in History. Will That Ensure Justice?

Officer killed in 2nd attack lies in honor in Capitol Rotunda

COVID Update

192M Vaccinations Given

US: 32M Cases - 577.1K Dead - 24.6M Recovered
Worldwide: 138.1M Cases - 2.9M Dead - 111.1M Recovered

Former Senior Loss Prevention Executive
Know of any fallen LP exec? Let's remember & recognize.

Private Industry Security Guard Deaths: 279 Law Enforcement Officer Deaths: 282
*Red indicates change in total deaths

Michigan is the Newest Hot Spot - And It's Getting Worse
Michigan could see its worst Covid-19 case surge yet, official warns
With an alarming rise in new Covid-19 infections and hospitalizations, officials say Michigan is now a hotspot for the virus in the US. And it's on track to potentially see a surge in cases "that's even greater than the one we saw in the fall," Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, the state's chief medical executive, said in a Friday news conference.

Covid-19 cases per million people are four times higher what they were in mid-February. The percent of positive tests are also four times higher than the numbers then.

Virus-related hospitalizations are also climbing, including among patients younger than ever before. In one part of the state, emergency room physician Dr. Rob Davidson told CNN that hospitalizations have gone up "four fold in just the last two weeks." cnn.com

California's 'Stunning' Progress Continues
Only one county left in purple tier as California's COVID-19 reopenings continue
Only one county remains in the strictest section of California's reopening road map, a heartening sign of progress in the battle against the coronavirus as businesses and other public spaces continue wider reopenings.

The lone remaining denizen of the purple tier is Merced County, according to state data released Tuesday. Inyo County had been keeping it company but officially moved into the less-restrictive red tier.

The recent exodus from the purple tier has been stunning. Thirty-four of California's 58 counties were in that category on March 9. The month before, all but five counties were in the tier. latimes.com

CNBC Article Looks at COVID's Impact on Grocery Workers Health &
Coupled With The Grocers - The Trump Administration's & OSHA's Role

Grocery workers died feeding the nation.
Now, their families are left to pick up the pieces.
More than one year after the pandemic first swept across the country, the plight of grocery workers who risked death to keep the country fed has raised questions about retail labor conditions and the responsibility of corporations in worker deaths from the coronavirus.

At least 158 grocery workers have died from the virus, with at least 35,100 workers infected or exposed to the virus, according to data from the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union.

Walmart has seen at least 22 store workers die from Covid-19, according to worker-sourced data provided to United For Respect, a nonprofit labor advocacy group. Walmart declined to comment to NBC News on the number of coronavirus cases among its 1.5 million U.S.-based workers.

No one collected real impact data or requested it. OSHA really didn't investigate thousands of complaints. Hazard pay was viewed as a carrot by a lot of the employees. And the Administration never pushed OSHA or the grocers. They were noticeably absent. cbnc.com

UK Trade Associations & Unions Continue Pounding Parliament on
Protecting Retail Employees
Abuse towards shopworkers "worsening since Covid", MPs hear

- A survey of 2700 retail workers found that 88% had been verbally abused last year
- 60% of shopworkers reported threats of physical violence
- 9% said they had been physically assaulted
- Violence and abuse towards shopworkers is "endemic" and has worsened

A survey of 2700 retail workers found that 88 per cent were verbally abused last year, Usdaw head of research and economics Joanne Cairns told the Commons Home Affairs Committee.

Cairns also told the committee that 60 per cent of shopworkers reported threats of physical violence, and nine per cent said they had been physically assaulted.

● "Reopening means respecting shopworkers", BRC & Usdaw urge
● 65+ retail CEOs sign letter to PM demanding laws to better protect shopworkers
● Scotland passes law to protect shop workers from abuse & attacks

Cairns said the issue was a "major concern". She said safety measures required as a result of the pandemic have overtaken the most common triggers in previous years, with some 85 per cent of incidents related to issues such as queueing, social distancing and the requirement for face masks.

James Lowman, chief executive of the Association of Convenience Stores, said Covid has become "another trigger" for shop violence.

Some 400,000 violent incidents were reported in convenience stores last year, with more than 10,000 of them involving a weapon.

Cairns said current legislation was "clearly not offering enough protection" to shop workers.

"It's important to remember that we expect retail workers to enforce the law, but they are not being given adequate protection," she said.

"They can lose their jobs if they don't enforce the law so, in turn, we think they should be offered protection by the law."

Iona Blake, security and incident manager at Boots, told MPs that spitting and the use of face coverings by offenders to avoid capture have become two Covid-related areas of concern.

She added that the retailer has been "well supported" by police in relation to spitting incidents but "sadly not as well supported by the justice system further down the line". retailgazette.co.uk

Retailers Respond to Vaccine Hiccup
CVS, Walgreens, grocers halt Johnson & Johnson vaccines, scramble
to reschedule appointments
Drugstores and grocers have played a crucial role in administering Covid-19 vaccines to Americans. Now, they are trying to figure out a path forward after the Food and Drug Administration asked states Tuesday morning to temporarily halt distribution of Johnson & Johnson shots.

CVS Health spokesman Mike DeAngelis said customers scheduled to receive a J&J vaccine this week will get an email to notify them that it is canceled. He said the company will follow up with those customers to reschedule, as it continues to offer shots developed by other manufacturers.

Walgreens said in a statement that it has paused J&J vaccines at its stores and offsite clinics, too. It said it would reach out to people with appointments and reschedule them with another shot, as supply allows.

Rite Aid said in a statement that it has cancelled J&J vaccines scheduled at its stores on Tuesday and Wednesday. Customers will be notified about how to reschedule their appointment for another Covid vaccine, the company said.

Wegmans also said it has canceled all J&J vaccine appointments in a statement on its website.

It is unclear how much of drugstores' and grocery stores' vaccine supply is from J&J versus other manufacturers - and what portion of their vaccine appointments the FDA request could disrupt. cnbc.com

35% Facilitating & 50% Considering it & 23% Are Vaccinating Employees
Many U.S. employers facilitating coronavirus vaccines, says survey
Employers are taking several steps to facilitate employee vaccination, according to the March 25 results of a survey by Willis Towers Watson. Researchers found that 60% of employers have communicated the value of vaccines to employees while 35% say they are planning or considering the same. More than a third (35%) said they created policies and procedures to facilitate worker vaccination, while another 50% are considering doing so. In addition, close to one quarter (23%) are obtaining vaccines to administer to employees or doing so via a third party.

Two in 10 survey respondents said they are offering vaccine incentives. Among those, 39% said they are providing extra leave to get vaccinated, while 27% are providing additional leave to employees who have negative reactions to one of the COVID-19 shots. One in 10 said they are offering cash incentives.

The survey also found that one in 10 employers are considering requiring proof of vaccination as a condition of employment; 23% are planning to make or considering making vaccination a prerequisite of returning to the work site.

Many employers have chosen to offer employees incentives to get vaccinated. hrdive.com

Survey: 1 in 3 remote workers would seek new job if asked to return
to offices full time
Managers may be running into a common problem as employers advance their reopening plans: employees resisting transitioning back to working in an office full-time.

About one-third of workers currently working from home due to the pandemic said they would look for a new job if their employers required them to return to the office full-time, said Robert Half, which last month surveyed more than 1,000 U.S. workers ages 18 and older. Nearly half of respondents said they preferred a hybrid arrangement instead. hrdive.com

U.S. vaccination pace picks up as officials say J&J pause won't slow rollout

Pa. sees most covid cases since January

Minn. Gov. not considering new restrictions as he extends emergency powers

Cartels in our Supply Chain - Delivering Goods & Cocaine to the U.S.
Update: Shipping's billion-dollar coke bust: 8 plead guilty, sentencing begins
Former MSC engineer Vladimir Penda sentenced to 5 years and 10 months in US prison

Prosecutors called it "the largest cocaine seizure in the 230-year history of U.S. Customs and Border Protection." Twenty tons of cocaine worth $1 billion was found in seven containers aboard the MSC Gayane at the Philadelphia port on June 17, 2019. On Tuesday, the first of the conspirators - former MSC crewmember Vladimir Penda - was sentenced to five years and 10 months in prison for his crime.

They disclosed that a total of eight MSC crewmembers aboard the ship have pleaded guilty - including the chief mate and second mate.

The MSC Gayane case is so striking because the drugs were not hidden in containers prior to loading at export terminals. Rather, they were brazenly loaded aboard at night in the open sea by MSC crewmembers. Speedboats met the ship off South America, and coke-brick-laden duffel bags were hoisted aboard by crew using the ship's own crane.

Eight crewmembers - more than a third of the total contingent of 22 - participated in the smuggling operation, according to prosecutors. Four were recruited in their home country of Montenegro prior to boarding and coordinated the operation with their land-based associates using mobile "narco" phones. Four other crewmembers were recruited when the ship was at sea to help with the loading operation.

Prosecutors called for a prison sentence of 135-168 months. Penda's attorney argued for 60. The judge gave him 70.

Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams said on Tuesday, "It has been nearly two years since federal agents conducted one of the largest drug seizures in U.S. history. The follow-up investigation uncovered dark-of-night, clandestine drug trafficking conduct which read like a movie plot, and prosecutors in our office have been working nonstop since then to pursue justice in this case. With Mr. Penda's just sentence being handed down today, this chapter of the MSC Gayane saga is now coming to a close." freightwaves.com

Editor's Note: The ships company ultimately owned by JP Morgan.

Facial Recognition Technology Leads to Wrongful Shoplifting Arrest
Man suffered 'great harm' after wrongful arrest based on Detroit's facial recognition technology

The case could fuel criticism of police investigators' use of a controversial technology that has been shown to perform worse on people of color

Attorneys representing a Farmington Hills man filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday seeking undisclosed damages from the city, its police chief and a Detroit police detective for "the grave harm caused by the misuse of, and reliance upon, facial recognition technology."

The 75-page suit was filed on behalf of Robert Williams in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan by the University of Michigan Law School's Civil Rights Litigation Initiative, the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Michigan.

An ACLU press release Tuesday claimed: "Mr. Williams' experience was the first case of wrongful arrest due to facial recognition technology to come to light in the United States."

The suit says Williams' Fourth Amendment rights were violated and that his arrest violated the Michigan Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act.

Williams' case attracted national attention when it was first made public last year, and it's served as a rallying cry for critics of facial recognition technology, who point to studies suggesting the software systems return an inordinate number of false hits against Black people. Williams is Black.

The city of Detroit, Police Chief James Craig and Detroit police Detective Donald Bussa are named as defendants in the lawsuit, which blames the police department's facial recognition program for Williams' wrongful shoplifting arrest on Jan. 9, 2020, stemming from an October 2019 theft at a Detroit Shinola store.

"New protocols are in place to prevent similar events," Garcia said. "The Law Department will seek to achieve resolution of Mr. Williams' claims." detroitnews.com washingtonpost.com

A Red Flag for Dollar General?
Dollar General's lacking e-commerce presence may be its undoing in topping big-box rivals, even as it grows store offerings, experts say
Dollar General - and other dollar stores - normally thrive during uncertain economic times. And the retailer's soaring sales during the pandemic seem to bolster analysts' theory that Americans are spending their income and stimulus checks at Dollar General in search of deals.

But it's precisely that success that has given analysts at Zacks pause about what's to come in the retailer's future.

Spieckerman also noted that Dollar General is unusual in the retail space, in that it has not prioritized e-commerce. Given the chain's dollar store origins, she said that there could be a financial reason for Dollar General neglecting digital.

"Some people say it just doesn't work with a dollar store model," she said. "But if they're going to stick to their guns and not go after e-commerce, they certainly could partner with some digitally native brands." businessinsider.com

Burlington's 'Totally Insane Decision' Paid Off
How Burlington Powered Through 2020 Without A Website
Burlington seemed to have made a totally insane decision right as the pandemic began. On March 5th, 2020, it announced that it was shutting down its online store, just weeks before COVID-induced lockdowns would cause retail sales to plummet across the country. But a year later, Burlington stock prices have hit an all time high.

How did Burlington power through the pandemic, especially without an online store?

Formerly known as Burlington Coat Factory, the retail chain sells a similar selection that you might find at a department store, but at a discount. Off-price brands like Burlington - and its bigger rivals T.J.Maxx and Ross - are known for their seemingly random selection: think a bedazzled Michael Kors belt next to some children's pajamas. The idea is to draw people in with this promise of a "treasure hunt," a business model that's central to both the story of Burlington success in the pandemic and its decision to shut down the website. npr.org

Bernie Madoff, mastermind of largest Ponzi scheme in history, dies in prison at 82

Taco Bell opens its first digital-only U.S. store in New York City

Hundreds of American companies, including retailers, sign new statement opposing voting-restriction laws

Video: The rise and fall of the American mall

Quarterly Results
Bed Bath & Beyond Q4 comp's up 4% total enterprise, up 6% at BBB, digital up 86%, net sales down 16%

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Solink Partners with Noonlight to Offer Customers 24/7 Professional Video Monitoring

Noonlight monitors and protects Solink business customers and their locations, dispatching emergency services when needed, while reducing false alarms

ST. LOUIS, April 14, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) - Solink, a video surveillance company for businesses, today announced a strategic partnership with connected safety platform Noonlight, offering customers an affordable, additional layer of business security.

Solink provides a complete video security solution to commercial retailers, restaurants and other businesses, allowing owners and operators to easily manage security in their business remotely. Through this partnership with Noonlight, Solink will offer customers 24/7 professional video monitoring and the ability to seamlessly dispatch emergency services when needed. Noonlight greatly reduces the burden of costs associated with false alarms, providing Solink customers a significant reduction in false alarm fees and improving peace of mind.

Through this partnership, Solink customers have greater visibility into after-hour activity and alarms in their business. When an event is detected on premises, Noonlight's certified dispatchers verify footage for suspicious activity in real-time. If Noonlight identifies a potential emergency, the business is immediately notified and the corresponding footage is shared for verification. Once the emergency is confirmed, Noonlight immediately dispatches emergency services and empowers local authorities with the relevant data, including access to live security footage and property specifications, ensuring first responders arrive on scene informed and prepared to help.

"Businesses need dependable, affordable security, and with this partnership the burden is no longer on the business to monitor or stress about their business when they're not on site," said Solink Chief Executive Officer, Michael Matta. "Noonlight's ability to automatically verify incidents greatly reduces the high fees business owners experience from false positives - some on a weekly basis. We're thrilled to offer our customers better protection through Noonlight and look forward to expanding our offering together in the future."

"Missed notifications are a big stressor for businesses struggling to monitor locations around the clock. Noonlight's ability to quickly review video footage of a potential emergency is critical, especially after hours," said Noonlight Co-founder and Chief Creative Officer, Brittany LeComte. "We have trained agents in our 5-diamond monitoring facility to verify alarms 24/7 and better prioritize dispatching of emergency response. Noonlight is a modern alternative to the traditional monitoring centers that rely on 3rd party solutions. We want to help businesses and local authorities save resources associated with false alarms."

See the full press release here

Upcoming RH-ISAC Events

April 15 - RH-ISAC Virtual Regional Workshop Hosted by Salesforce

April 29 - Creating an Organizational Culture of Info Sharing & Transparency

April 29 - Bots-as-a-Service: The Consumerization of Bots

April 29 - A Back-to-Basics Approach to Optimizing Security

May 6 - RH-ISAC Virtual Regional Workshop Hosted by Best Buy

May 12 - RH-ISAC Virtual Regional Workshop Hosted by PespiCo

May 20 - RH-ISAC Virtual Regional Workshop Hosted by Wendy's

June 17 - RH-ISAC Virtual Regional Workshop Hosted by Canadian Tire

June 30 - EX-RH2021: First Industry-Wide Cybersecurity Exercise

Sept. 28-29 - 2021 RH-ISAC Cyber Intelligence Summit

Inviting LP & AP to attend or get a member of their team involved, especially if
their retailer is a member of RH-ISAC.

Retailers Moving Ahead with AI
Is AI becoming retail tech table stakes?

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly evolving into a standard technology tool retailers use across the enterprise.

In February, I wrote a column about the importance of not leaving out the "human touch" in retail AI deployments. That piece of advice still holds true, but in the six weeks since the column was published, I have posted 23 more articles focused on AI in retail. Like many innovative solutions before it, AI is starting to move from leading edge to mainstream.

Retailers are clearly moving ahead with AI, human touch or not. Here are three recent examples of retailers demonstrating the utility of AI by leveraging it in very different areas of the enterprise.

Kum & Go eases merchandising

Iowa-based convenience chain Kum & Go is leveraging AI to unify its demand planning and category management processes. The retailer is deploying AI-based applications for merchandising and supply chain functions including forecasting, replenishment, and space and floor planning from Relex Solutions.

Albertsons automates POS software testing

Software testing is not the most glamorous technology activity, but it is vitally important to maintaining optimal enterprise performance. Grocery giant Albertsons is streamlining the testing of POS and peripheral systems with AI-driven test automation technology from Eggplant and its partner IntelliQA.

SimpleTire makes finding products a snap

SimpleTire customers can streamline their product selection process with a new visual search feature. The Philadelphia-based online tire retailer is introducing SimpleSnap, a proprietary AI-based visual search platform that enables shoppers to take a smartphone photo of their existing tire size (located on the sidewall). Customers then upload the photo to the SimpleTire site and immediately receive tire recommendations personalized for them, based on existing size. chainstoreage.com

FBI blasts away web shells on US servers in wake of Exchange vulnerabilities
Feds turn into cyberfirefighters and hose down the web shell bonfire raging on hundreds of unpatched Exchange servers.

If you were running an Exchange server in the United States, it could have been compromised, and somewhat mitigated by the FBI without your knowledge.

The Department of Justice revealed on Tuesday that the FBI gained authorisation to remove web shells installed on compromised servers related to the Exchange vulnerabilities.

"Many infected system owners successfully removed the web shells from thousands of computers. Others appeared unable to do so, and hundreds of such web shells persisted unmitigated," the department said

"This operation removed one early hacking group's remaining web shells which could have been used to maintain and escalate persistent, unauthorized access to US networks."

"This operation was successful in copying and removing those web shells. However, it did not patch any Microsoft Exchange Server zero-day vulnerabilities or search for or remove any additional malware or hacking tools that hacking groups may have placed on victim networks by exploiting the web shells." zdnet.com

DNS Vulnerabilities Expose Millions of Internet-Connected Devices to Attack

Researchers uncover a fresh set of nine vulnerabilities in four TCP/IP stacks that are widely used in everything from powerful servers and firewalls to consumer IoT products.

Tens of millions of Internet connected devices - including medical equipment, storage systems, servers, firewalls, commercial network equipment, and consumer Internet of Things (IoT) products - are open to potential remote code execution and denial-of-service attacks because of vulnerable DNS implementations.

A new study that Forescout Research Labs and JSOF Research conducted recently has uncovered a set of nine vulnerabilities in four TCP/IP stacks present in billions of devices worldwide. The four stacks in which the vulnerabilities exist are FreeBSD, Nucleus NET, NetX, and IPnet.

"These vulnerabilities affect many devices because of the widespread nature of implementations in TCP/IP stacks," says Daniel dos Santos, research manager at Forescout. Significantly, such vulnerabilities are likely to be more widespread than just on TCP/IP stacks, he says. "Any software that processes DNS packets may be affected, such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and other network appliances," dos Santos says. "That is why we are releasing tools for other researchers and developers to find and fix these problems." darkreading.com

Cyber criminals installing cryptojacking malware on unpatched Microsoft servers

Get your firm to say goodbye to password headaches

Protests & Violence

Hundreds of Maskless Rioters Hit Montreal
Riots rock Montreal as COVID-19 lockdown protests turn ugly
Riots erupted in Montreal on Sunday evening as hundreds took to the streets to protest ongoing coronavirus restrictions keeping the area on lockdown, including an overnight curfew.

"Freedom for the young!" the largely unmasked crowd chanted as they massed along a commercial strip in historic Old Montreal, one of several social-media videos of the demonstration shows.

Though the protest began peacefully, it eventually descended into destruction, as rioters lit fires and smashed in several storefront windows during the display.

Montreal cops dished out a preliminary total of 108 tickets - 107 for violating public health regulations, and one for another unspecified violation - and made seven arrests, police spokeswoman Const. Véronique Comtois told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. nypost.com

Stores Damaged in Lockdown Protests
A Montreal Business Owner Said Damages From The Anti-Curfew Protest May Cost Up To $12,000
A number of businesses in Montreal's Old Port ended up being vandalized when some people chose to start rioting after the anti-curfew protest on April 11, including the store Rooney.

MTL Blog spoke with Alex Danino, owner of Rooney, about the vandalism the store faced that night, which left damages that could cost "at least" $8,000 to $12,000.

The front window of Rooney ended up "getting smashed" by rioters around 9 p.m., Danino told MTL Blog.

Such led the store owner to ask: "Do [they] think going around smashing small businesses is going to make the premier of Quebec wake up the next day and say 'oh, they smashed the windows of a couple of stores in Old Montreal, I should probably just forget about this whole lockdown situation?' It's not exactly logical."

"I get it, you're annoyed. But to go around and smash windows of businesses that are already struggling, some barely hanging on, it seems kind of silly," he continued. mtlblog.com

Montreal PD's Hate Crimes Unit
Community groups call on Montreal to strengthen police hate crimes unit
A coalition of organizations that represent religious and racialized minorities told reporters on Tuesday incidents of hate crimes have risen in the city since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

They are throwing their support behind Coun. Marvin Rotrand, who says he intends to present the non-partisan motion - which seeks more resources for the hate crimes unit - at council next week.

The Montreal police have had a dedicated hate crimes unit since 2016, but it has just four members, including two detectives. The unit doesn't have an online presence or a way the public can contact its members directly.

"Despite the fact that we are living a spike of hate during COVID, (the unit) has the same resources it always did, it does not have the capacity to do outreach," Rotrand told a virtual news conference with representatives of the city's Asian, Black and Muslim communities.

Montreal needs a more robust unit, Rotrand said, adding that it should also have the resources to investigate online hate crimes. "We were fine for 2016, we're not fine for 2021; we need change," he said. ca.news.yahoo.com

Anti-lockdown protesters voice support for Alberta small businesses

COVID Update

Vaccine Frustration in Canada as COVID Cases Rise
Front-line workers say they're left out of Ontario's vaccine rollout
Frustration is growing among essential workers delegated to Phase 2 of Ontario's vaccine rollout, with many of those most at risk of exposure to COVID-19 concerned they may not get their first dose until the summer.

Ontario is now seeing more than 4,000 cases per day, with rising rates among younger people as the variants of concern spread. Among those at a high risk for contracting the virus are essential workers, who have continued to produce food, build homes, deliver packages, drive buses and more while the rest of the province is under a stay-at-home order.

Workers, employers and unions in essential services including transport, grocery, manufacturing and construction say they're concerned with where they stand in the vaccination plans; many say they're still waiting for more details on what to expect. thestar.com

Lowe's Canada Makes Pandemic Shift
Lowe's Launches Contactless Pick-Up Lockers for Purchases Amid Pandemic Shift
Home improvement retailer Lowe's Canada is launching new contactless pick-up lockers where customers can grab items they have purchased online. The new lockers will be in 48 select Lowe's stores by the end of April, with the plan to expand the concept to more stores in the future.

Installed near the entrance of select stores, pick-up lockers will be equipped with Bluetooth technology and a touchscreen where customers will have access to instructions on how to retrieve their online orders, and where they will scan the barcode that they received in their confirmation email. Customers will have up to seven days following the reception of that email to retrieve their purchases at their convenience.

Tony Cioffi, Senior Vice-President, Stores at Lowe's Canada, said consumers have embraced online shopping in a big way this past year and the retailer felt it was important to provide them with a quick and easy way to pick up their orders. retail-insider.com

'Lockdown Bonuses' for Sobeys Workers
'The right thing to do:' Sobeys reinstates lockdown bonus for front-line workers
Canada's second-largest grocery retailer is reinstating a lockdown bonus for workers in areas with renewed stay-at-home orders, yet it's unclear whether competitors will follow suit.

Sobeys Inc. said Monday the pay bump is "the right thing to do."

"When regions and cities enter government-mandated lockdowns that close all non-essential retail, we continue to live up to our commitments and implement our lockdown bonus," the company said in an emailed statement. ctvnews.ca

Households expect return to pre-pandemic spending within a year

WANT Apothecary Shuts All Physical Stores Amid Pandemic

In Case You Missed It - Canada Lockdown Updates

Ontario Canada Emergency Lock Down for 4 Weeks
'This is a new pandemic. We are now fighting a new enemy.'
Ontario declared a four-week state of emergency after hitting a record for the number of Covid-19 patients in intensive care, driven by virus strains that are more contagious and dangerous. Supermarkets and pharmacies will operate at 50%$ capacity and other retailers at 25%. No in-house dining only takeout and delivery starting April 3rd. bloomberg.com

Spring Break Super Spreader Hit B.C. Canada
B.C. is implementing a three-week "circuit breaker"-style lockdown
Introducing sweeping new restrictions on indoor dining in restaurants, group fitness and worship services. B.C. is tightening restrictions for the first time since November. "We have seen the start of exponential growth," said Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry. "We have seen increased cases because of spring break travel - that has meant a rapid rise in cases," said Henry. cbc.ca

Small businesses in Thunder Bay, Ont., aim to support others during shutdown

Businesses react to Alberta's restrictions rewind limiting service at gyms, eateries

Porch Piracy on the Rise in Canada
How to fight back against porch pirates
The practice of porch piracy - thieves swiping consumer packages from doorsteps before their rightful owners can bring them safely into their homes - is on the rise. Here are some steps you can take to mitigate this type of theft, and what you can do if you become a victim.

● Monitor communications from the retailer you purchased from for shipping status, ship time, arrival time, as well as photos from delivery personnel of packages placed in front of your door upon arrival. Minimize the time the package is left unattended.

● Redirect high value packages to a Post Office Box.

● Install a Parcel Guard Smart Mailbox at the front of your home or request package drop off in the garage, side garden or backyard (a more secure location).

● There are cost-effective CCTV camera companies that can install day/night cameras, with 14 to 30 days video retention and mobile app to ensure your package is always on camera. Cameras will assist with any potential investigations and serve as a deterrent. Cameras should not solely be relied upon to prevent theft nor do they always identify criminals. You can also utilize web-based doorbell devices that provides immediate notification and a video camera.

● It's encouraged to create a trusted network and communication tool (WhatsApp, text or email group) to report suspicious activity as a neighbourhood watch. canadiansecuritymag.com

Cash Disappearing in Canada
In-Store Cash Payments Expected to Almost Disappear by 2024 in Canada
A new report by FIS, a leading provider of technology solutions for merchants, banks, and capital markets firms globally, says there has been a decline in the use of cash in Canada, which halved in 2020 and is expected to drop to just four percent of in-store payments by 2024.

Dan Brames, Executive Vice-President of North America Merchant Solutions at FIS, said there has been a rise in the use of digital wallets as a means for online purchasing, growing faster than any other form of payment.

"If you look at the acceptance whether that's online or whether that's at point of sale, the acceptance of the technology is finally catching up. So it's not that probably consumers haven't always wanted to use something other than cash but now it's so darn convenient, it's so widely accepted that I think we're starting to see the catch up effect, if you will, of the acceptance of technology." retail-insider.com

Canadian fashion brand to introduce BOPIS with new POS system
Groupe Dynamite will upgrade its legacy POS platform to support in-store omnichannel commerce.

The Montreal-based vertical fashion retailer, which owns the Dynamite and Garage fashion brands, has selected the Manhattan Active POS solution to deliver a more modern, customer-centric shopping experience. The retailer will begin deploying the new POS platform in 10 pilot stores this summer, with plans to expand to its remaining 300-plus retail locations later in 2021. chainstoreage.com

Hudson's Bay Flagship Properties Set to Undergo Massive Transformation

Forever 21 Returning to Canada with Physical Stores

Pop Mart's collectible toys now available at its first Canadian store in B.C.

Canada's Brookfield to buy 7 UK retail parks

'Boost & Bust' Blitz Operation
Burnaby, BC: Anti-shoplifting blitz leads to 46 arrests at Metrotown mall
An RCMP anti-shoplifting initiative created serious headaches for a Burnaby shoplifter caught after trying to steal $1,065 worth of Advil, Aleve and Tylenol last month. On March 16, the 34-year-old man had left the Metropolis at Metrotown Real Canadian Superstore with $572.19 worth of Tylenol and Advil he hadn't paid for, according to Burnaby RCMP.

When police approached, he dropped the drugs and took off, they said. But he returned the next day, according to police, this time trying to make off with $492.85 worth of Aleve and Advil.

This time he was caught. His was one of 46 arrests made during a four-day "Boost and Bust" blitz at the Metrotown mall from March 16 to 19, according to an RCMP news release. Over the four days, Burnaby RCMP community response team members worked closely with mall security, loss prevention officers and Transit Police to combat shoplifting.

The initiative resulted in the recovery of $4,800 in property, according to police. burnabynow.com

Ottawa: Police investigating 'targeted' shooting at St. Laurent Shopping Centre parking garage
Ottawa police are investigating after shots were fired Saturday afternoon in the covered parking garage at the St. Laurent Shopping Centre. Police were called to the mall at around 5:50 p.m. on reports of gunshots. In a release, police said the shooting was "targeted", meaning the assailants had a victim in mind. No injuries have been reported. In a tweet, the Ottawa police guns and gangs unit said three vehicles were believed to be involved. ottawa.ctvnews.ca

Amherst, NS: Store owner says theft of $50K in jewelry 'absolutely horrifying'
An Amherst, N.S., store owner is unsure of her business's future after a recent break-in where tens of thousands of dollars in jewelry was stolen. Karen McKinnon owns Maritime Mosaic, which sells wares made by artisans from around the Atlantic region. Last week, McKinnon was called to her store after thieves made off with trays of gold and silver rings, bracelets, necklaces and other valuable items.

She hasn't finished tallying everything yet, but estimates she's lost about $50,000 in merchandise. The cash box, containing a small amount of money, was also stolen. "I've never, ever experienced anything like this before. It's absolutely horrifying," McKinnon said Tuesday. "I literally feel like ... I got in a car accident without the pain, like it's just very shocking." cbc.ca

Corner Brook, NL: Man who committed pub armed robbery sentenced to 6 years

St. John's, NL: Police investigating four armed robberies over 24 hours

Kamloops, BC: Trio bear-sprays employees in liquor store robbery

Thunder Bay man arrested over dollar store robbery with replica firearm

Windsor, ON: Police seek witnesses to C-Store armed robbery

Surrey, BC: 2 of 3 puppies still missing after weekend break-in

Sudbury, ON: Man arrested in connection to pair of robberies

View Canadian Connections Archives

Surveillance Cams on Amazon Trucks Causing Fear & Paranoia
Amazon drivers describe the paranoia of working under the watchful eyes of new truck cameras that monitor them constantly
Many Amazon drivers say the solitude and the independence of working on the road are big draws of the job.

But those perks are under threat since Amazon started installing surveillance cameras in delivery vans that monitor workers' driving, hand movements, and even facial expressions.

Some workers are paranoid about what the cameras - which peer at them from their windshields and fire off audible alerts following missteps - are watching and how they could be punished for what the technology flags, according to interviews with five drivers.

"I know we're on a job, but, I mean, I'm afraid to scratch my nose. I'm afraid to move my hair out of my face, you know?" a female driver based in Oklahoma told Insider. "Because we're going to get dinged for it."

The Oklahoma driver and several others interviewed asked that their names be withheld for fear that their jobs would be affected, but Insider verified their identities.

Several drivers said the cameras could be helpful in cases of collisions or other dangerous situations. But they also worried about how the technology was affecting their productivity and described concerns with managing bathroom needs, like changing adult diapers, within sight of the cameras.

"We have zero privacy and no margin for error," a California-based driver said. businessinsider.com

$2.75B Fine for Alibaba
Alibaba, China's e-commerce giant, hit with record fine over antitrust

China's State Administration for Market Regulation doles out a $2.75 billion penalty to the company founded by Jack Ma.

Chinese e-commerce titan Alibaba was smacked with a record $2.75 billion antitrust fine by China's government on Saturday, Reuters reported, with the State Administration for Market Regulation saying the company had abused its market power by keeping its sellers from using other e-commerce platforms.

The fine comes several months after Alibaba founder and former CEO Jack Ma, one of China's richest people, criticized China's regulatory system, Reuters noted. Following Ma's comments, Chinese officials also put the kibosh on a planned $37 billion IPO by Ant Group, Alibaba's internet finance arm, Reuters said.

In addition to the antitrust fine, the SAMR said Alibaba must make "thorough rectifications" aimed at improving compliance and safeguarding the rights of consumers, according to the news agency. And Ant must OK a regulatory-driven makeover that could tighten the leash on some of its businesses and slash its valuations, Reuters said.

Reuters noted that the $2.75 billion penalty adds up to about 4% of the domestic revenue Alibaba hauled in during 2019. cnet.com

How E-Commerce Is Being Forced to Evolve In a Post-Covid World

Building the last mile: E-commerce powers industrial real estate

Memphis, TN: Bond set at $2M for couple at the center of 'elaborate' AT&T
fraud scheme
The Memphis identity theft case involves hundreds of thousands of dollars stolen from AT&T customers as well as gambling at casinos. One cybersecurity expert told WMC he has not come across something this elaborate saying it is very scary. A witness said investigators in undercover cars were watching the North Memphis home of suspect Brandon Danley. Danley along with Taryn Watson are accused in an elaborate identity theft case.

"This is very different. It's scary," said Mike Brady, a cybersecurity expert. Brady owns Cyber Solutions Group. He said he has seen email, phishing and phone scams but nothing like this. According to police a man and woman were calling into the AT&T call centers impersonating AT&T employees. The man and woman had authentic employee identification numbers, it is not clear how they got those numbers. "It's sophisticated to the point, in my opinion, it looks more like an inside job because they have too much information," said Brady. "They have too many employee IDs."

An AT&T spokesperson said Danley and Watson never worked for the company. Police say it doesn't appear the couple ever worked anywhere. Investigators say, Danley and Watson, using the personal information, called AT&T customer service posing as the customer to have their service changed to a new cell phone provider. That allowed the pair to change passwords opening the door to financial information and eventually moving money into the suspects' accounts. More than 70 customers were victims losing a total of half a million dollars.

Investigators executed a search warrant in this house finding banking information, commercial-grade counting machines and over 300 W-2′s for winnings at area casinos. It was documented that Danley put in over $1 million in cash at Southland casino in West Memphis since January. wmcactionnews5.com

Tulsa, OK: Second person arrested in connection to $100,000 in stolen cigarettes
Tulsa police say they have arrested another person in connection to a ring of organized retail theft of cigarettes. The details of the arrest were released Tuesday afternoon after suspect Americca Brown turned herself into police at the Riverside Division. Brown voluntarily admitted to being involved in the theft of more than $100,000 in cigarettes. Last month, Tulsa police arrested Jessica Barnett for the same case. fox23.com

Queensbury, NY: Two men accused of fraudulently getting cash for items
returned to Lowe's
Two men from Central New York have been arrested after police said they used stolen identification to obtain money for items they returned to the Lowe's store in Queensbury. In October, state police received a report of a larceny at the store. The investigation revealed that Jacob W. Pope and Matthew R. Dryer had fraudulently returned multiple items using a stolen New York state driver's license, police said.

They signed for the items under the name of the stolen license, police said. The returned items were valued at $576. Pope and Dryer are also accused of stealing ceiling fans valued at $920. Dryer was arrested on Monday and charged with felony counts of second-degree identity theft, second-degree forgery, third-degree burglary and first-degree falsifying business records. Dryer and Pope were charged with misdemeanors of fifth-degree conspiracy and petit larceny.

Dryer was arrested in February 2020 for a similar incident at the Lowe's in Wilton and Halfmoon. Police said he and two other men used fraudulent receipts to return items they had not purchased. They then used about $2,000 worth of gift cards they were given for the returns to get more merchandise at the Wilton store alone. poststar.com

East Greenwich, RI: $1,800 In Allergy Medication Shoplifted from CVS
The manager of the CVS on 527 Main St. said she suspected two customers shoplifted over $1,800 of allergy medication from the store. She said a man and a woman entered the store and asked where the allergy medication aisle was. The manager saw them leave the store with a black duffle bag, and later she noticed the store was missing 30 packages of Allegra worth $897 and 35 packages of Claritin worth $974. The manager was unable to describe the individuals in detail since they both wore hoods and medical face masks. The store's security footage did show the two entering and leaving the store, but there are no security cameras in the allergy medication aisle. No employee saw them take anything. eastgreenwichnews.com

UK: Asda nappy gang targeted stores across Lancashire in $220k theft spree
The gang struck at least 81 times at stores in Blackpool, Accrington, Fleetwood, Rawtenstall and further afield across England, Scotland and Wales. A crime gang who stole high value items in a campaign of thefts from Asda supermarkets across the Lancashire have been jailed. The offenders were captured on CCTV footage shamelessly plundering supermarket shelves after distracting store security staff by intentionally activating the security alarms.

They struck at least 81 times across stores in Blackpool, Accrington, Fleetwood, Rawtenstall and further afield across England, Scotland and Wales and made off with goods worth more than £160,000 / $220,000 USD. The gang specifically targeted high value items such as printer cartridges, razor blades, cosmetics and thousands of nappies which they would then sell online. lancs.live

Madison, GA: Customer Passes 43 Counterfeit 20's to purchase $897.98 in Vacuum Cleaners at Walmart

Indiana County, PA: Police looking for 2 Female Suspects in $1,300 theft from Walmart

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Shootings & Deaths

Greensboro, NC: 3 charged in shooting death of man at outside a
McDonald's restaurant
Three people have been charged in the shooting death of a Winston-Salem man at a local fast-food restaurant, Greensboro police said in a news release. Authorities arrested Joshua Lapree Padgett, 32, of Asheboro along with Greensboro residents Justin Jones, 21, and Nicole Angelina Newby, 27. All three were charged with first-degree murder, robbery with a dangerous weapon and conspiracy to commit robbery. Padgett also was charged with possession of a firearm by a felon. All are being held without bail at the Guilford County Detention Center. Officers responded about 9:15 a.m. Monday to a report of an aggravated assault at the McDonald's on. Wendover Ave. They found 29-year-old Chavez Laquan Vargas with a gunshot wound, according to police. He was taken to a hospital, but died later in the day from his injuries, police said. greensboro.com

Canton, MS: Man pleads guilty in Mississippi Domino's Pizza delivery
driver death case
A Mississippi man faces up to life in prison after he pleaded guilty to one count of capital murder in the death of a pizza delivery woman and one count of attempted murder in the shooting of a convenience store employee. An April 19 sentencing hearing is set for 27-year-old Terrance J. Caldwell, WLBT-TV reported. Madison County Circuit Court records show Caldwell pleaded guilty to the two charges April 5. The capital murder charge was for the killing of 31-year-old Hilereca "Latrice" Dortch. Dortch was a Domino's employee who went missing four days before her body was found in Madison County on Dec. 17, 2019. A coroner said she died of a single gunshot wound. clarionledger.com

Louisville, KY: Man shot by LMPD officers after chase, shootout at Walmart pleads not guilty in court
A man who was shot by Louisville Metro police during a shootout in March at a Walmart -- after leading them on a chase -- pleaded not guilty during his first court appearance. Darrell Browning is facing multiple charges including attempted murder, wanton endangerment and fleeing or evading police, according to records. The shootout with Louisville Metro Police Department officers occurred more than a month ago but it wasn't until Tuesday that Browning appeared before a judge for his arraignment.

According to police records, Browning was spotted at a fast-food restaurant on Outer Loop driving a pickup truck with stolen plates. An LMPD officer tried to pull him over, but Browning went back around the drive-thru lane, then rammed the vehicle in front of him until he could maneuver between the cars in line and the railing on the side. Police said Browning caused major damage to two vehicles and the railing. Browning traveled at a high rate of speed on Outer Loop, nearly 100 mph, according to police. The LMPD then used its air unit to track Browning, who was followed to the Bashford Manor Walmart.

According to records, Browning fled into the Walmart and was then tracked down outside by the LMPD officers. Investigators said he had a gun with him that he held while exiting the Walmart. He continued to flee as officers in their patrol cars surrounded him.

Police said one of the officers used their police unit to hit Browning to "de-escalate the situation." Browning still did not want to comply and instead, turned back around and fired at least five bullets, according to an arrest report. One of the bullets struck the windshield of a police unit. Another nearly hit an officer, instead it was fired right next to the officer's head. Browning was shot by one of the officers on the scene. wlky.com

Memphis, TN: Woman charged with attempted murder, accused of shooting into Burger King drive-thru window
A woman accused of shooting into a Memphis Burger King drive-thru window is now facing charges for attempted murder. Police say 32-year-old Keona Jackson was upset about the wait at the restaurant drive-thru and argued with several employees before grabbing a gun, leaning into the window and opening fire. The employees weren't injured, but police recovered several spent shell casings and a bullet lodged in a wall inside the store. Police released surveillance images of the then-unidentified suspect April 1 and the next day officers received a Crime Stoppers tip identifying Jackson as the shooter. Jackson is now charged with two counts of attempted first-degree murder and using a firearm during commission of a dangerous felony. wmcactionnews5.com

Spring, TX: Sprouts Grocery Store Manager shot and wounded during Armed Robbery
A Sprouts store manager is recovering after being shot during a robbery in Spring, deputies said. Harris County Precinct 4 Constable deputies responded to reports of an aggravated robbery at the Sprouts on Kuykendahl Road on Sunday, April 11. Video surveillance of the robbery shows two men entering the store wearing dark-colored hoodies, shorts and face masks. Shortly after entering the store, the two suspects ordered the store clerk to open the register and the two men began to steal the money. Deputies said the manager attempted to intervene, but one of the suspects shot him and then they fled on foot. click2houston.com

Update: Red Bluff, CA: Police shooting at Walmart Distribution Center in 2020 deemed lawful, justified
The police shooting of 31-year-old Louis Lane at a Walmart Distribution Center in Red Bluff in 2020 was deemed reasonable, lawful, and justified in court on Tuesday. Based on the investigation, officials said Red Bluff Police Officer Dever and Sergeant Murgia were justified in their use of lethal force against Louis Lane.

"The use of lethal force was reasonable and necessary and no less lethal force options were available to the officers. Officer Dever and Sergeant Murgia showed tremendous restraint and professionalism in their response to this incredibly dangerous situation and should be commended for that," said Tehama County District Attorney Matthew Rodgers. "Clearly, this incident could've been far worse than it already was had the Walmart entrance not been fortified as it was, or had Walmart not trained for active shooter scenarios, or had employees not followed their training so well, or had the Walmart employee not distracted Lane and guided Officer Dever to Lane, or had officers not been so quick and efficient in their responses to this incident, a substantial loss of life was quite possible."

According to Tehama County DA Rodgers, on June 27, 2020, Louis Lane circled the parking lot of a Walmart Distribution Center, south of Red Bluff, multiple times before ramming his vehicle into the entrance of the building. Lane exited his vehicle with an AR-style long-gun and began shooting. The DA says Lane planned the attack during a shift change at the center when hundreds of employees were arriving and leaving. krcrtv.com

Robberies, Incidents & Thefts

Lynchburg, VA: Series of burglaries at Chinese restaurants under investigation; all 4 over the weekend

Fresno, CA: Charges filed against man who stabbed Fresno Police K9 Argo; Argo expected to make a full recovery

Tyler, TX: Female Tow Truck Driver steals a 1937 Packard Convertible from storage unit; car valued at $45,000, she sold on her Facebook for $2,000

● Beauty - Byron, GA - Burglary
● C-Store - Tarrant County, TX - Armed Robbery
● C-Store - Hilo, HI - Burglary
● C-Store - Austin, TX - Armed Robbery
● CVS - Johnson City, TN - Robbery
● CVS - Chesterfield County, VA - Armed Robbery
● Dollar General - La Vergne, TN - Armed Robbery
● Family Dollar - Albany, GA - Burglary
● Gas Station - New Orleans, LA - Armed Robbery
● Grocery - Spring, TX - Armed Robbery/Manager Shot
● Grocery - Lexington, SC - Burglary
● Guns - La Vergne, TN - Armed Robbery
● Guns - Genesco, IL - Burglary
● Jewelry - Plantation, FL - Robbery
● Jewelry - High Point, NC - Robbery
● Jewelry - Columbia, MD - Burglary
● Jewelry - Coon Rapids, MN - Robbery
● Liquor - Albany, GA - Burglary
● Restaurant - Lynchburg, VA - Burglary
● Restaurant- Lynchburg, VA - Burglary
● Restaurant - Lynchburg, VA - Burglary
● Restaurant - Pasco, WA - Robbery
● Restaurant - Lewisburg, PA - Armed Robbery (Jersey Mikes)

Daily Totals:
• 13 robberies
• 10 burglaries
• 1 shooting
• 0 killed

Click to enlarge map

None to report.

Submit Your New Hires/Promotions or New Position

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In preparing for any interview or meeting, I would suggest that, not only do you educate yourself about the potential employer, but that you study their competitor as well, because not only do these executives know their business, the good ones will know their competitors business even better. And if you show them you've taken the time to really learn their business and the number one thing that impacts them beyond the customer which is their competitor, then they'll be impressed that you went to that effort. And at the end of the day you'll learn an entire channel of trade.

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