Need to Know for June 20

GoFundMe for BSO, Patriots in Israel and RBG named real-life hero

Campaign raises $2,300 for meal fundto support BSO players

With a lockout taking effect earlier this week, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra musicians are facing a paycheck-less summer as they remain in a deadlock with management over proposed schedule reductions, according to Baltimore Fishbowl. A supporter has stepped in to start a meal fund for the players, raising more than $2,300 on GoFundMe in one day. Organizer Tee Mitchell wrote she wanted to support the musicians as they protest and fight “to raise awareness of the egregious management problems that led to this.” “It is hot and tiring work, so I’m starting this Go Fund Me to raise money for food and drinks for the duration of their lockout,” Mitchell wrote. Mitchell is a musician herself, serving as a second violinist with the Columbia Orchestra. She did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The lockout took effect on June 17 after BSO management and the players failed to reach an agreement on a new contract by the end of the current season. Citing a decade of losses, President and CEO Peter Kjome has called for reducing the orchestra’s schedule from 52 weeks to 40 weeks, a fundamental change to the BSO’s business plan. He’s previously said the orchestra has lost $16 million over the last 10 years. It was for those same reasons the BSO announced the cancellation of the summer season last month.

Read the complete story at Baltimore Fishbowl

Beth Rheingold, Ph.D — Beth Rheingold will serve as president of the Pikesville Owings Mills Regional Chamber of Commerce, effective July 1. She succeeds Jessica Normington, who led the chamber for eight years. (Handout photo)

Beth Rheingold named PikesvilleOwings Mills Chamber president

The Pikesville Owings MillsRegional Chamber of Commerce announced June 19 that Beth Rheingoldwill serve as the organization’s new president, effective July 1. She succeedsJessica Normington, who came to the chamber in July of 2011. Normington isworking for the Baltimore County Department of Economic and WorkforceDevelopment as a business development representative for the western sector ofthe county. Rheingold has worked in the nonprofit field for the past 16 years.Most recently, she served as director of school and community engagement forCHAI, or Comprehensive Housing Assistance, Inc.

Two Navy men attach cargo to a Sea Hawk helicopter from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in the Red Sea, May 10, 2019. (Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Amber Smalley/U.S. Navy via Getty Images)

Iran Shoots Down U.S. Military DroneAmid Rising Tensions

Iran shotdown a United States military drone amid rising tensions between the twocountries. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said on June 20 it had shot down an“intruding American spy drone” after it entered into the country’s territory,CNN reported citing the state-run Press TV. A U.S.official confirmed to CNN that a drone had been shot down, but said theincident occurred in international airspace over the Strait of Hormuz, not inIranian territory. It is not clear when the drone was shot down. The commanderof Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, Gen. Hossein Salami, responded to reports of theshot-down drone saying it sends “a clear message” to America. Salami also saidin a live statement on state television that Iran does “not have any intentionfor war with any country, but we are ready for war.” The State Departmentannounced on June 17 that the U.S. will send 1,000 more troops to the MiddleEast over what is being deemed to be the growing threat of Iran.

6 Israeliuniversities ranked among the world’s top 1,000

Six Israeli universities appeared on the list of the top 1,000 higher education institutions in the world. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem was ranked Israel’s best university in the QS World University Rankings for 2020, coming in at 162nd, eight spots lower than last year. Tel Aviv University finished at 219th, rising 11 spots from last year, and The Technion-Israel Institute of Technology was 257th, falling 10 places. Ben-Gurion University finished at 419, falling from 407. Others recognized were Bar-Ilan University in the 551-560 range, up from 601-650 last year, and the University of Haifa, repeating its 651-700 ranking from a year ago. The top three universities on the list are the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford and Harvard. The universities are evaluated based on academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty/student ratio, citations per faculty, international faculty ratio and international student ratio, according to the website.—JTA

15 New EnglandPatriots accompany owner Robert Kraft to Israel

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft is taking eight current and seven of the team’s former players with him to Israel. Kraft, the billionaire philanthropist and CEO of the Kraft Group, is visiting the Jewish state to receive the Genesis Prize, nicknamed the Jewish Nobel Prize. The group of former players includes stars such as Drew Bledsoe, Ty Law and Vince Wilfork. The group of current players includes longtime kicker Stephen Gostowski and Nate Ebner, a Jewish special teams specialist — and one of two Jewish players on the team (the other, wide receiver Julian Edelman, is not going). “I hope it’s going to turn out to be one of the greatest weeks in your life,” Kraft said to the players, according to SB Nation. “This is over a hundred times I’ve gone and the first time I went, on my honeymoon with my sweetheart, it just changed my life. This represents the entire history of our family’s involvement [with the Patriots] and we’re really excited.” Kraft is currently on trial for soliciting a prostitute, but the prize foundation chairman, Stan Polovets, has voiced support for him. Kraft will receive the award in Jerusalem on June 20.–JTA

Ruth BaderGinsburg named Best Real-Life Hero at MTV awards

Add anotherhonor for Ruth Bader Ginsburg: Best Real-Life Hero. The Supreme Court justicewon the recognition at the MTV Movie and TV Awards on Monday night. Shewasn’t on hand in California to pick up the award, which was handed out forthe first time. Ginsburg beat out rock climber Alex Honnold, comedianHannah Gadsby, wrestler Roman Reigns and tennis superstar SerenaWilliams. “RBG,” the documentary about Ginsburg, lost out to “SurvivingR. Kelly” in the Best Documentary category, however. “RBG” – Ruth BaderGinsburg vs. Inequality also lost out to “Captain Marvel” – Captain Marvel vs.Minn-Erva in the Best Fight category.–JTA

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