A10 | FRIDAY, JULY 30, 2021 FROM PAGE ONE WACO TRIBUNE-HERALD Top US diplomat talks relocation of Afghan allies in Kuwait

ISABEL DEBRE “The United States is commit- world powers. Khamenei’s ap- Associated Press ted to helping those who helped parent call for a more adversarial DUBAI,United Arab Emirates — us during our time in Afghanistan approach to the West on Wednes- The United States is negotiating over the last 20 years,” Blinken said day came as his hard-line protege, with Kuwait and other countries at a joint press conference with his President-elect Ebrahim Raisi, is whether they can host Afghans Kuwaiti counterpart. “We’re ac- set next week to become head of who supported the American war tively engaged in that process and the country’s civilian government. effort and could face Taliban re- notably in relocation planning for Hopes for a quick revival of the venge attacks if they stay in Af- those brave Afghans and their fam- accord, which granted Iran sanc- ghanistan,America’s top diplomat ilies.” tions relief in exchange for curbs said Thursday. The evacuation planning,which on its nuclear program,have faded During a visit to tiny, oil-rich could affect tens of thousands of further since the last round of indi- Kuwait, U.S. Secretary of State Afghans, comes as the Taliban rect talks between Iran and the U.S. Antony Blinken did not announce gain more ground throughout Af- in Vienna broke last month. any deal or disclose critical details ghanistan, seizing swaths of the “I think we have clearly demon- about the process, such as who countryside and fueling fears of a strated our good faith and desire to would be eligible for relocation or violent future. Civilian casualties return to mutual compliance with where they would be housed. surged in the first half of the year, the nuclear agreement,” Blinken As American troops complete according to a United Nations re- JONATHAN ERNST, ASSOCIATED PRESS said. “This process cannot go on their withdrawal from Afghan- port. Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah indefinitely.” istan, the Biden administration Afghan allies have complained of and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrive for a joint news He added: “The ball remains in has come under heavy pressure a bureaucratic nightmare as they conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kuwait City, Kuwait, on Iran’s court.” to quickly evacuate Afghan inter- try to obtain the special immigrant Thursday. Iran has rejected that assertion, preters, drivers and other workers visas offered to foreign nationals insisting that because the U.S., who helped U.S. forces during the deemed to be in need of protection applications pending, some for as tollah Ali Khamenei that America’s under former President Donald two-decade war and now find because of their cooperation with long as nearly three years. “stubborn”stance was to blame for Trump, scrapped the landmark themselves at risk of retribution the U.S. government. On Iran,Blinken dismissed crit- stalled negotiations over Tehran’s 2015 deal, it should move first to by the Taliban. There are more than 18,000 visa icism from Supreme Leader Aya- now-tattered nuclear deal with lift its crippling sanctions. New Russian lab briefly knocks space station out of position

SETH BORENSTEIN nauts on board; software problems Nauka will require many ma- Associated Press botched the first test. neuvers, including up to 11 space- A newly arrived Russian science Russia’s long-delayed 22- walks beginning in early Septem- lab briefly knocked the Interna- ton (20-metric-ton) lab called ber, to prepare it for operation. tional Space Station out of posi- Nauka arrived earlier Thursday, The space station is currently tion Thursday when it accidentally eight days after it launched from operated by NASA astronauts fired its thrusters. the Russian launch facility in Mark Vande Hei, Shane Kim- For 47 minutes, the space sta- Baikonur, Kazakhstan. brough and Megan McArthur; tion lost control of its orientation The launch of Nauka, which will Oleg Novitsky and Pyotr Dubrov when the firing occurred a few provide more room for scientific of Russia’s Roscosmos space hours after docking, pushing the experiments and space for the corporation; Japan Aerospace orbiting complex from its nor- crew, had been repeatedly delayed Exploration Agency astronaut mal configuration. The station’s because of technical problems. It Akihiko Hoshide and European position is key for getting power was initially scheduled to go up in Space Agency astronaut Thomas from solar panels and for commu- 2007. Pesquet. nications. Communications with In 2013, experts found contami- In 1998, Russia launched the ground controllers also blipped ROSCOSMOS SPACE AGENCY PRESS SERVICE PHOTO nation in its fuel system, resulting station’s first compartment, out twice for a few minutes. The Nauka module is seen prior to docking with the International Space in a long and costly replacement. Zarya, which was followed in 2000 Flight controllers regained con- Station on Thursday. Other Nauka systems also under- by another big piece, Zvezda, and trol using thrusters on other Rus- went modernization or repairs. three smaller modules in the fol- sian components at the station to Montalbano said the crew didn’t Kathy Lueders called it “a pretty Stretching 43 feet (13 meters) lowing years. The last of them, right the ship, and it is now stable really feel any movement or any exciting hour.” long, Nauka became the first Rassvet, arrived at the station in and safe, NASA said. shaking. NASA said the station The incident caused NASA to new compartment for the Rus- 2010. “We haven’t noticed any dam- moved 45 degrees out of attitude, postpone a repeat test flight for sian segment of the outpost since Russian space officials down- age,” space station program man- about one-eighth of a complete Boeing’s crew capsule that had 2010. On Monday, one of the older played the incident with Dmi- ager Joel Montalbano said in a circle. The complex was never been set for Friday afternoon from Russian units, the Pirs spacewalk- try Rogozin, head of Roscosmos, late afternoon press conference. spinning, NASA spokesman Bob Florida. It will be Boeing’s second ing compartment, undocked from tweeting: “All in order at the ISS. “There was no immediate danger Jacobs said. attempt to reach the 250-mile- the station to free up room for the The crew is resting, which is what at anytime to the crew.” NASA’s human spaceflight chief high station before putting astro- new lab. I advise you to do as well.”

salaries themselves. And while Workers Republicans have been less vocal From A1 as a group about their staff sala- ries, the potential pinch has not employees who take calls and gone unnoticed. emails from constituents, help “The implications to the opera- research and write bills and oth- tions of the House are significant,” erwise keep a legislative session Republican Rep. William Metcalf, moving won’t be working when who chairs the Committee on the new budget starts Sept. 1. House Administration, said in a Rodriguez and others say it feels memo this week. like their livelihoods are collateral Beyond payroll, the memo said, damage in the nation’s most visi- Abbott’s veto means staff will be ble standoff over voting rights. responsible for fully funding their “There is always somebody who own health insurance. Leases and feels left out, who feels betrayed, phone lines for lawmakers’ dis- by the governor when he chooses trict offices will be canceled. And to veto legislation,” Rodriguez cleaning and disinfection services said. “Unfortunately, it really hits for the House Chamber will stop home this time.” as COVID-19 infection and hos- Democratic lawmakers sued pital rates are rising again in Texas Abbott over the June line item and much of the U.S. veto of more than $400 million in For now, Rodriguez will carry salary funds, claiming the action on. On a recent workday, his wife was unconstitutional. Rodriguez, and 15-moth-old daughter joined who makes $73,000 annually, was him on the 70-mile trip from their named in the suit, which is pend- home in San Antonio to his office ing before the Texas Supreme at the Capitol in Austin. At one Court. Abbott’s office declined point he held the toddler on one comment but previously said the side and a phone on the other, Texas Constitution grants the gov- speaking softly on a work call as ernor the “power to disapprove his wife set up a crib. He likes to any bill.” keep them nearby — a family unit It’s not clear when the court that appreciates the value of hard might make a decision, keeping work and public service. the state employees in limbo. Rodriguez’s boss, Rep. Ray Abbott’s move is unprece- Lopez, is one of the Democrats dented, at least in recent Texas currently in Washington seeking ROD AYDELOTTE, TRIBUNE-HERALD history, and sparks an unusual support from Congress and Pres- The historical marker acknowledging the lynching of Jesse Washington is set to be cast at a foundry in the constitutional debate about sep- ident Joe Biden to take federal ac- coming months and placed near Waco City Hall between GiGi Mygdal’s “Friendship” sculpture and the hall’s aration of powers, according to tion to block voting restrictions, front entrance. Joshua Blank, director of research with Abbott pledging to continue for the non-partisan Texas Politics scheduling special sessions until Toni Herbert, an organizer of number of markers approved this Project at the University of Texas his agenda is approved. But Con- Lynching the centennial commemoration week suggests a lot of work ahead at Austin. gress acting is looking less likely, From A1 and a former Waco City Council for the foundry used by the state. “It is a bedrock principle of both and Abbott is betting that Demo- member, wrote the initial word- Because the Washington lynch- the United States constitution and crats won’t be able to run for much photographer Fred Gildersleeve, ing approved for the marker, ing marker was submitted and most state governments that gov- longer. and news of it was spread nation- one slightly amended by the accepted in the commission’s ernmental power is divided be- The governor is clearly to blame ally by the fledgling National As- McLennan County Historical Undertold Marker project, the tween executive, legislative and for the budget cut in Rodriguez’s sociation for the Advancement of Commission and the Texas His- state will pay for its casting and judicial branches and it is very rare view, and he said he believes in the Colored People, which branded it torical Commission before final the city of Waco will cover instal- to see such open conflict about the principles that drove the Demo- “The Waco Horror.” approval. lation costs. operation of one branch or the crats to flee. But he wishes he After a 2016 commemorative “I think, overall, we got what The project has stretched other,” Blank said. and others like him had not been service marking the centennial we wanted in there,” Herbert said. through the terms of three Waco Lawmaker salaries — about caught in the political crossfire. of the lynching,the Waco NAACP Her research supporting the mayors and three city managers, $600 a month for the legislators Meanwhile, the 29-year-old and Community Race Relations marker application found eye- but the city’s support has not wa- who meet every two years, usu- said his family is refinancing their Coalition decided to push for a witness accounts that suggest vered in that time, Welter said. ally for five months — are pro- vehicle, considering a move to state historical marker. the public lynching may have The McLennan County Historical tected by the Texas Constitution, less-expensive housing, cancel- The marker will be located in happened behind the 1915 city Commission, which unanimously Blank said, and therefore can only ing subscriptions and buying baby front of City Hall, between GiGi hall. Even if not located in the approved the marker, also has be changed with a constitutional supplies in bulk selling as they Mygdal’s “Friendship” sculpture exact place of an event, a physi- backed the project. amendment. prepare for the coming months. and the sidewalk leading to City cal marker is important, Herbert The state commission also Most Texas lawmakers have “I think the members are doing Hall’s main entrance, Welter said. said. approved two other McLennan other jobs where they make their the right thing to add pressure in That is not believed to be the ac- “If you don’t have something in County markers this week,one for real money. But for much of their the way that they can,” Rodriguez tual location where Washington the ground to point at, it can be so the early 20th century child-care staff, a state salary is how they pay said. “But I am very uncertain for was tortured and burned to death, easily ignored,” she said. facility Evangelia Settlement and their bills. what is going to happen, it defi- but the marker’s location is more Welter said she anticipates the a second near McGregor for The Some members of the Texas nitely causes some discomfort for accessible for public viewing, she marker casting could take four Grange, a 19th century farmers Senate Democratic Caucus have my family to not be certain about said. to six months, although the high organization. pledged to cover their staffers’ our future.”