npr--2020-05-14--Senate Passes Surveillance Bill With New Protections, But Political Fate Uncertain

Senate Passes Surveillance Bill With New Protections , But Political Fate Uncertain The Senate sought to strengthen some protections for those targeted by government surveillance on Thursday with the passage of an amended bill that now faces an uncertain outlook .
Senators voted 80-16 to reauthorize lapsed provisions of the now-notorious Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and also revise some aspects of how it can be used by the Justice Department and the FBI .
In doing so , however , they passed a version of the legislation different from the one they received from the House , requiring its members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the result to go to President Trump .
It is n't clear what fate awaits the Senate bill in the House .
Members could pass it or amend it further and return it to the Senate .
Also unclear is what reception it might get at the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue , if it one day arrives there .
Trump has been a longstanding critic of FISA because of what he calls the way it was abused during the Russia investigation , although the aspects of the law at issue in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inquiry .
The Justice Department , for its part , made clear on Thursday that it opposes the Senate legislation .
`` We appreciate the Senate 's reauthorization of three expired national security authorities .
As amended , however [ the bill ] would unacceptably degrade our ability to conduct surveillance of terrorists , spies and other national security threats . ''
Members of Congress wrote expiration dates into surveillance laws so that action would be required to sustain them over time .
When the clock ran out in March on one part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ability to use elements including the so-called `` business records , '' `` lone wolf '' and `` roving wiretap '' provisions in counterterrorism or espionage investigations .
The bill passed by the Senate on Thursday would restore those powers , albeit with new restrictions backed by a coalition of civil libertarian Republicans and Democrats .
Senators also added reforms inspired by the revelations about problems discovered with the use of FISA during the Russia investigation .
One increases the penalties that a federal official could suffer for providing false information to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ encourages the judges on that court to appoint third-party lawyers to take part in the proceedings to give an independent perspective apart from that of the government .
Today , when the FBI and Justice Department ask the secret court to collect a target 's communication , there is no advocate for the target in the court .
The work of the court is highly secret .
Language sponsored by Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee and Vermont Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy would lower the threshold for the court to appoint an outside adviser @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the language of the law — in cases involving a `` sensitive investigative matter . ''
`` If men were angels , no government would be necessary , '' Lee said .
`` But men are not angels so our government will always need oversight and accountability to make sure it does n't abuse its power . ''
The FISA court already can appoint amici but it does so relatively seldom — about 16 times over the last five years , Leahy said .
Said Lee : `` The amendment will also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the court at any time and give both the amicus and the FISA court access to all documents and information related to the surveillance application . ''
Leahy cited a Justice Department investigation that found problems with a number of FBI requests to the secret FISA court , specifically involving evidence or documentation about the alleged activities of potential targets .
`` The benefits of this amendment would be significant , '' he said .
`` Responding to the latest inspector general report ... we would require that the government turn over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and make it available to the amici , too , if one is appointed .
That is a basic due process protection available in every public courtroom in America .
The FISA court should be no exception . ''
Leahy invoked the dark legacy of the abuses by President Richard Nixon and said the time had come again for Congress to tackle government surveillance power .
`` Today the Senate has an opportunity to reform our flawed surveillance authorities , '' he said .
`` Such opportunities do not come by often @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ''

Senate Passes Surveillance Bill With New Protections, But Political Fate Uncertain
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jacquelyn Martin/AP Jacquelyn Martin/AP
Updated at 6:07 p.m. ET
The Senate sought to strengthen some protections for those targeted by government surveillance on Thursday with the passage of an amended bill that now faces an uncertain outlook.
Senators voted 80-16 to reauthorize lapsed provisions of the now-notorious Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and also revise some aspects of how it can be used by the Justice Department and the FBI.
In doing so, however, they passed a version of the legislation different from the one they received from the House, requiring its members to concur with another vote and then for the result to go to President Trump.
It isn't clear what fate awaits the Senate bill in the House. Members could pass it or amend it further and return it to the Senate. Also unclear is what reception it might get at the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue, if it one day arrives there.
Trump has been a longstanding critic of FISA because of what he calls the way it was abused during the Russia investigation, although the aspects of the law at issue in this reauthorization weren't connected to that inquiry.
The Justice Department, for its part, made clear on Thursday that it opposes the Senate legislation.
National security spokesman Marc Raimondi issued this statement:
"We appreciate the Senate's reauthorization of three expired national security authorities. As amended, however [the bill] would unacceptably degrade our ability to conduct surveillance of terrorists, spies and other national security threats."
Expiring tools revived
Members of Congress wrote expiration dates into surveillance laws so that action would be required to sustain them over time.
When the clock ran out in March on one part of FISA, so did authorities' ability to use elements including the so-called "business records," "lone wolf" and "roving wiretap" provisions in counterterrorism or espionage investigations.
The bill passed by the Senate on Thursday would restore those powers, albeit with new restrictions backed by a coalition of civil libertarian Republicans and Democrats.
Senators also added reforms inspired by the revelations about problems discovered with the use of FISA during the Russia investigation. One increases the penalties that a federal official could suffer for providing false information to the secret court that oversees surveillance.
Amicus curae
Another encourages the judges on that court to appoint third-party lawyers to take part in the proceedings to give an independent perspective apart from that of the government.
Today, when the FBI and Justice Department ask the secret court to collect a target's communication, there is no advocate for the target in the court. The work of the court is highly secret.
Language sponsored by Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee and Vermont Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy would lower the threshold for the court to appoint an outside adviser — an "amicus curae," in the language of the law — in cases involving a "sensitive investigative matter."
"If men were angels, no government would be necessary," Lee said. "But men are not angels so our government will always need oversight and accountability to make sure it doesn't abuse its power."
The FISA court already can appoint amici but it does so relatively seldom — about 16 times over the last five years, Leahy said.
Said Lee: "The amendment will also empower the amicus to raise any issue with the court at any time and give both the amicus and the FISA court access to all documents and information related to the surveillance application."
Leahy cited a Justice Department investigation that found problems with a number of FBI requests to the secret FISA court, specifically involving evidence or documentation about the alleged activities of potential targets.
"The benefits of this amendment would be significant," he said. "Responding to the latest inspector general report ... we would require that the government turn over all material exculpatory information to the court, and make it available to the amici, too, if one is appointed. That is a basic due process protection available in every public courtroom in America. The FISA court should be no exception."
Leahy invoked the dark legacy of the abuses by President Richard Nixon and said the time had come again for Congress to tackle government surveillance power.
"Today the Senate has an opportunity to reform our flawed surveillance authorities," he said. "Such opportunities do not come by often and we should not squander it."


npr--2020-05-14--San Francisco Shifts From Trashing Homeless Camps To Sanctioning Them Amid COVID-19

San Francisco Shifts From Trashing Homeless Camps To Sanctioning Them Amid COVID-19 San Francisco is set to enact a homelessness solution that it once thought unthinkable : city-sanctioned open-air encampments .
For years , San Francisco police have ordered tents removed from city streets , even at times slashing them with knives themselves .
Public Works employees have tossed the ever-ubiquitous nylon homes of desperate people into dump trucks on a weekly basis .
Last week , San Francisco launched the first of five planned `` Safe Sleeping Sites , '' with the hope that unhoused people would be kept @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a controlled location , replete with services such as showers and food .
Tents , once an ultimate bogeyman of San Francisco 's government , will be revered as lifesaving .
The first location was announced May 6 by Mayor London Breed : an encampment of roughly 90 tents piled nearly on top of each other near the Asian Art Museum — on City Hall 's front doorstep — was officially sanctioned and allowed to expand onto Fulton Street , between the museum and the Main Library .
Safe , healthy , social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's homeless .
The second city-sanctioned safe sleeping site is already under operation at MLK Park by a local nonprofit , Mother Brown 's Dining Room in the city 's Bayview neighborhood .
It started as a rogue operation , but after getting the official OK from San Francisco City Hall last week , services , showers and other resources were expected to blow in like a breeze under the sails of that existing effort , Gwendolyn Westbrook , Mother Brown 's executive director said .
All of the city-sanctioned sleeping sites were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I went into the park and set up the tents , '' said Westbrook , who had help from Bayview advocates Gloria Berry and Michelle Pierce .
`` The city left us alone , and now , as a matter of fact , they 're going to help us a lot . ''
Three other sites are now under various phases of negotiation to potentially become San Francisco 's next wave of safe sleeping sites , public documents and City Hall insiders confirmed : • The former Temporary Transbay Terminal at Howard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's restaurant on Haight and Stanyan streets near an entrance to Golden Gate Park '' No one wants to die from this coronavirus '' Mother Brown 's shelter sees nearly 70 people sleeping in it nightly .
Westbrook , the shelter 's proprietor , said homelessness has grown in the Bayview so precipitously that people sometimes sleep in Mother Brown 's dining room and hallways .
But the COVID-19 pandemic has required many San Francisco establishments to close , or maintain strict social distancing , and Mother Brown 's shelter was no different @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Bayview took matters into their own hands .
They walked over to what locals call MLK Park – which on city documentation is called Bay View Park – and measured out the distance between plots themselves .
A renegade camping site was born , from the community , serving the community , with roughly 60 souls sleeping there in tents for weeks .
`` When I came in early , they were all piled up in the [ shelter 's ] doorway ... that was n't working for us , '' Westbrook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ open-air encampment without city approval .
`` No one wants to die from this coronavirus , '' Westbrook said .
`` But if I had waited on the city , people out here might 've been dead . ''
Eddie Tillman , 65 , slipped his N95 respirator mask over and under his 49ers hat while sitting inside his blue tent .
Tillman said that he is only a few years out of prison , where he was for `` decades '' after stealing cars in his troubled youth .
Tillman was raised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home — but his extended family is largely dead or gone .
He also said he does n't want to `` burden '' his adult children with his own life choices .
So Tillman has been living on the streets , slowly withering away , he said .
Then he found the MLK Park encampment .
It not only saved him from COVID-19 , he said , but from his darkest thoughts .
`` I [ wo n't ] say I was going to kill myself .
But I did n't want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tillman says he feels upbeat once again and is better prepared to find a job .
Work is also a concern for Tasha Swift , 33 , who is sleeping in a tent with her boyfriend on the other side of MLK Park .
Swift is an Oakland native who was living with her sister in San Francisco 's Sunnydale neighborhood so the pair could support each other financially .
The two parted ways amid some acrimony , and Swift found herself living in her car while still working daily shifts at Split @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In early March , Swift was only one tantalizing paycheck away from saving enough money with her boyfriend to go apartment hunting .
The cramped confines of her car would be a dreary distant memory , her locked-up knees could heal .
They saved every penny , cut every expense .
`` You know all the things 'normal ' people do to make themselves happy ?
I could n't do them .
I did n't even get one soda .
No eating out .
I cut everything , '' she said .
Then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order was instituted March 17 , and Split Bread furloughed its workers , at least , Swift still hopes , temporarily .
She and her boyfriend reached into their savings to weather the financial storm , their housing dream dashed .
Living in her car was `` really scary , I do n't like it .
You never know when someone will come up to your window and rob you . ''
But at MLK Park she 's safer .
Now she feels ready to get back to work .
`` This is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feels like it , '' Swift said .
Soon , more San Francisco neighborhoods could become homes for other folks who 've been sheltering in cars , doorways and tents .
Three sites across San Francisco are in the works to become safe sleeping sites like MLK Park .
While not locked down as moving forward — various entities are still negotiating these safe sleep sites — KQED News confirmed that they are under consideration .
Perhaps the furthest along in planning stages is the former site of the Temporary Transbay Terminal .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Authority , which holds the lease to that parcel , and the City and County of San Francisco outlines the city 's right to operate it as a safe sleeping site .
The document is dated April 14 .
While a neighborhood group represented by lobbyist Chris Gruwell has not formally announced opposition , sources close to the matter say it spells a threat to the Temporary Transbay Terminal safe sleep site .
`` Sitting on an open space in the Temporary Transbay Center is basically the same thing as being in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a neighbor in South of Market who sits on the citizen advisory committee of the TJPA , and wrote to the agency to voice her concerns .
`` They 're sharing common space .
It will be a train wreck for everybody . ''
San Francisco Supervisor Matt Haney , who represents the South of Market neighborhood where the former Temporary Transbay Terminal resides , does not support the site .
`` I think we should bring people into hotel rooms , '' Haney said .
`` That 's safer , more cost-effective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Everett Middle School is another site in the works .
After Supervisor Rafael Mandelman 's nonbinding resolution called for safe sleeping sites , he requested that the school 's parking lot to be open to homeless folks sleeping there .
`` These makeshift encampments lack adequate social distancing as well as access to hygiene and sanitation , creating a public health hazard for encampment occupants and neighbors , '' Mandelman said in a statement .
Mark Sanchez , president of the San Francisco Board of Education , agrees .
He crafted a resolution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Francisco Unified School District to enter into an agreement with the city to allow school property to be used for safe sleeping sites .
While he emphasized that Everett was not yet a done deal , he did say the district is looking at only `` one site '' – Everett .
`` It does look like it will be a good site because of the growing number of people on the streets in that area , '' he said , adding that ultimately it will need more outreach to neighbors and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enact .
The last site in the works is probably the least far along : a former McDonald 's site in the Haight neighborhood , near Golden Gate Park , on Haight and Stanyan street .
Supervisor Dean Preston has publicly touted the site , but did not respond to KQED News to speak about the effort .
At City Hall 's front door , just past its grand lawn , lies a homeless encampment of roughly 90 tents sitting nearly on top of one another , bunched together in a nearly textbook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safely amid a pandemic .
That worries Kelley Cutler , a human rights organizer with the Coalition on Homelessness .
San Francisco police have parked at the encampment , and barricades have gone up , keeping people sleeping in tents penned into a tight area next to the Asian Art Museum .
`` They 're still being contained in these small areas so they ca n't socially distance , '' Cutler said .
A woman named Stephanie , who declined to give her last name , is from Daly City but went to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had an apartment in San Francisco before falling into a drug habit and becoming homeless .
She lives in the encampment near the Asian Art Museum .
Stephanie wishes San Francisco would bring more services into the encampment .
She spent time in a local hospital for a newly discovered diabetes diagnosis , and said navigating city services to get shelter is difficult .
`` I 've had highs and lows .
I 've had five years of sobriety , '' Stephanie said .
Now , though , she wishes she could have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , just easy access to vocational training , '' so she can work .
Brandon Conrad , 29 , from Pacifica , also struggles with a drug problem .
His mother thinks he has housing , and he does n't want to tell her he 's homeless .
He 's trying to help himself , but wishes the city could give him a leg up to stay safe from COVID-19 during the pandemic .
`` They wo n't give the shelter .
They wo n't give us no hotel vouchers because not everybody @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' he said .
`` You know , we 're just kind of stuck . ''
Without adequate staffing , Conrad said , the encampment is `` dangerous . ''
Perhaps its most disturbing feature is a single bathroom for its 200 homeless dwellers .
`` A hundred tents and just one porta-potty in it ?
The bathrooms are all the way filled up with , you know , remains .
It 's just disgusting .
Absolutely disgusting , '' Conrad said .
People in the homeless community talking to Cutler have come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ encampment Stephanie and Conrad live in , due to its proximity to City Hall : `` Camp Breed . ''
`` Camp Breed is making it even more challenging to provide needed resources for people , '' Cutler said .
That nickname is derived from `` Camp Agnos , '' a homeless encampment in front of City Hall that arose in 1989 after the Loma Prieta earthquake made San Francisco homeless shelters unlivable .
The growing homeless camps also torpedoed Mayor Art Agnos ' second mayoral run , as his political opponents laid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` As Yogi Berra said famously , it 's deja vu all over again ! ''
Agnos said .
Agnos likened the COVID-19 pandemic 's effect on homeless people to what happened during his tenure , post-earthquake .
Shelters were unavailable then , much as they are now .
`` The city is struggling with a much bigger number of people than I had to deal with , '' he added .
So will `` Camp Breed '' also torpedo Breed 's political future ?
Agnos did n't think so .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Francisco Board of Supervisors and Mayor Breed – the former who wants the homeless to be housed in hotels , and the latter who is enacting safe sleeping sites while calling hotels for homeless unreasonable – Agnos was magnanimous to all involved .
`` There are nuances between all their strategies , but they 're all working their asses off , '' Agnos said .

San Francisco Shifts From Trashing Homeless Camps To Sanctioning Them Amid COVID-19
Enlarge this image toggle caption Beth LaBerge/KQED Beth LaBerge/KQED
San Francisco is set to enact a homelessness solution that it once thought unthinkable: city-sanctioned open-air encampments.
For years, San Francisco police have ordered tents removed from city streets, even at times slashing them with knives themselves. Public Works employees have tossed the ever-ubiquitous nylon homes of desperate people into dump trucks on a weekly basis.
Last week, San Francisco launched the first of five planned "Safe Sleeping Sites," with the hope that unhoused people would be kept socially distant amid the COVID-19 pandemic in a controlled location, replete with services such as showers and food.
Tents, once an ultimate bogeyman of San Francisco's government, will be revered as lifesaving.
The first location was announced May 6 by Mayor London Breed: an encampment of roughly 90 tents piled nearly on top of each other near the Asian Art Museum — on City Hall's front doorstep — was officially sanctioned and allowed to expand onto Fulton Street, between the museum and the Main Library.
Safe, healthy, social distance may finally come to Civic Center's homeless.
The second city-sanctioned safe sleeping site is already under operation at MLK Park by a local nonprofit, Mother Brown's Dining Room in the city's Bayview neighborhood.
It started as a rogue operation, but after getting the official OK from San Francisco City Hall last week, services, showers and other resources were expected to blow in like a breeze under the sails of that existing effort, Gwendolyn Westbrook, Mother Brown's executive director said.
All of the city-sanctioned sleeping sites were expected to receive those wraparound services.
"I went into the park and set up the tents," said Westbrook, who had help from Bayview advocates Gloria Berry and Michelle Pierce. "The city left us alone, and now, as a matter of fact, they're going to help us a lot."
Three other sites are now under various phases of negotiation to potentially become San Francisco's next wave of safe sleeping sites, public documents and City Hall insiders confirmed:
The former Temporary Transbay Terminal at Howard and Main streets
Everett Middle School on Church Street
A former McDonald's restaurant on Haight and Stanyan streets near an entrance to Golden Gate Park
"No one wants to die from this coronavirus"
Mother Brown's shelter sees nearly 70 people sleeping in it nightly. Westbrook, the shelter's proprietor, said homelessness has grown in the Bayview so precipitously that people sometimes sleep in Mother Brown's dining room and hallways.
But the COVID-19 pandemic has required many San Francisco establishments to close, or maintain strict social distancing, and Mother Brown's shelter was no different.
So Westbrook and other women from the Bayview took matters into their own hands. They walked over to what locals call MLK Park – which on city documentation is called Bay View Park – and measured out the distance between plots themselves.
A renegade camping site was born, from the community, serving the community, with roughly 60 souls sleeping there in tents for weeks.
"When I came in early, they were all piled up in the [shelter's] doorway ... that wasn't working for us," Westbrook said.
Fresh Air How San Francisco's D.A. Is Decreasing The Jail Population Amid COVID-19 How San Francisco's D.A. Is Decreasing The Jail Population Amid COVID-19 Listen · 49:00 49:00
So she set up the open-air encampment without city approval.
"No one wants to die from this coronavirus," Westbrook said. "But if I had waited on the city, people out here might've been dead."
Eddie Tillman, 65, slipped his N95 respirator mask over and under his 49ers hat while sitting inside his blue tent. Tillman said that he is only a few years out of prison, where he was for "decades" after stealing cars in his troubled youth.
Tillman was raised in the Bayview — it is his home — but his extended family is largely dead or gone. He also said he doesn't want to "burden" his adult children with his own life choices. So Tillman has been living on the streets, slowly withering away, he said. Then he found the MLK Park encampment. It not only saved him from COVID-19, he said, but from his darkest thoughts.
"I [won't] say I was going to kill myself. But I didn't want to live," he said.
Now Tillman says he feels upbeat once again and is better prepared to find a job. Work is also a concern for Tasha Swift, 33, who is sleeping in a tent with her boyfriend on the other side of MLK Park.
Swift is an Oakland native who was living with her sister in San Francisco's Sunnydale neighborhood so the pair could support each other financially. The two parted ways amid some acrimony, and Swift found herself living in her car while still working daily shifts at Split Bread, a San Francisco restaurant.
In early March, Swift was only one tantalizing paycheck away from saving enough money with her boyfriend to go apartment hunting. The cramped confines of her car would be a dreary distant memory, her locked-up knees could heal. They saved every penny, cut every expense.
"You know all the things 'normal' people do to make themselves happy? I couldn't do them. I didn't even get one soda. No eating out. I cut everything," she said.
National San Francisco's Plan To Expand Testing Starts From The Mission District San Francisco's Plan To Expand Testing Starts From The Mission District 3:44
Then COVID-19 hit. The Bay Area-wide shelter-in-place order was instituted March 17, and Split Bread furloughed its workers, at least, Swift still hopes, temporarily. She and her boyfriend reached into their savings to weather the financial storm, their housing dream dashed.
Living in her car was "really scary, I don't like it. You never know when someone will come up to your window and rob you." But at MLK Park she's safer. Now she feels ready to get back to work.
"This isn't a whole home, but it feels like it," Swift said.
Soon, more San Francisco neighborhoods could become homes for other folks who've been sheltering in cars, doorways and tents.
Citywide sites in the works
Three sites across San Francisco are in the works to become safe sleeping sites like MLK Park. While not locked down as moving forward — various entities are still negotiating these safe sleep sites — KQED News confirmed that they are under consideration.
Perhaps the furthest along in planning stages is the former site of the Temporary Transbay Terminal. An agreement between the Transbay Joint Powers Authority, which holds the lease to that parcel, and the City and County of San Francisco outlines the city's right to operate it as a safe sleeping site. The document is dated April 14.
While a neighborhood group represented by lobbyist Chris Gruwell has not formally announced opposition, sources close to the matter say it spells a threat to the Temporary Transbay Terminal safe sleep site.
"Sitting on an open space in the Temporary Transbay Center is basically the same thing as being in a shelter," said Gloria Li, a neighbor in South of Market who sits on the citizen advisory committee of the TJPA, and wrote to the agency to voice her concerns. "They're sharing common space. It will be a train wreck for everybody."
San Francisco Supervisor Matt Haney, who represents the South of Market neighborhood where the former Temporary Transbay Terminal resides, does not support the site.
"I think we should bring people into hotel rooms," Haney said. "That's safer, more cost-effective and better for public health."
Everett Middle School is another site in the works. After Supervisor Rafael Mandelman's nonbinding resolution called for safe sleeping sites, he requested that the school's parking lot to be open to homeless folks sleeping there.
"These makeshift encampments lack adequate social distancing as well as access to hygiene and sanitation, creating a public health hazard for encampment occupants and neighbors," Mandelman said in a statement.
Mark Sanchez, president of the San Francisco Board of Education, agrees. He crafted a resolution for the school board allowing the San Francisco Unified School District to enter into an agreement with the city to allow school property to be used for safe sleeping sites.
While he emphasized that Everett was not yet a done deal, he did say the district is looking at only "one site" – Everett.
"It does look like it will be a good site because of the growing number of people on the streets in that area," he said, adding that ultimately it will need more outreach to neighbors and a vote by the Board of Education to enact.
The last site in the works is probably the least far along: a former McDonald's site in the Haight neighborhood, near Golden Gate Park, on Haight and Stanyan street. Supervisor Dean Preston has publicly touted the site, but did not respond to KQED News to speak about the effort.
"Camp Breed" echoes Loma Prieta past
At City Hall's front door, just past its grand lawn, lies a homeless encampment of roughly 90 tents sitting nearly on top of one another, bunched together in a nearly textbook example of how not to socially distance safely amid a pandemic.
That worries Kelley Cutler, a human rights organizer with the Coalition on Homelessness. San Francisco police have parked at the encampment, and barricades have gone up, keeping people sleeping in tents penned into a tight area next to the Asian Art Museum.
"They're still being contained in these small areas so they can't socially distance," Cutler said.
A woman named Stephanie, who declined to give her last name, is from Daly City but went to high school in San Francisco. She had an apartment in San Francisco before falling into a drug habit and becoming homeless. She lives in the encampment near the Asian Art Museum.
Stephanie wishes San Francisco would bring more services into the encampment. She spent time in a local hospital for a newly discovered diabetes diagnosis, and said navigating city services to get shelter is difficult.
"I've had highs and lows. I've had five years of sobriety," Stephanie said. Now, though, she wishes she could have "harm reduction services, support services, just easy access to vocational training," so she can work.
Brandon Conrad, 29, from Pacifica, also struggles with a drug problem. His mother thinks he has housing, and he doesn't want to tell her he's homeless. He's trying to help himself, but wishes the city could give him a leg up to stay safe from COVID-19 during the pandemic.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Beth LaBerge/KQED Beth LaBerge/KQED
"They won't give the shelter. They won't give us no hotel vouchers because not everybody here has a so-called chronic diagnosis," he said. "You know, we're just kind of stuck."
Without adequate staffing, Conrad said, the encampment is "dangerous."
Perhaps its most disturbing feature is a single bathroom for its 200 homeless dwellers.
"A hundred tents and just one porta-potty in it? The bathrooms are all the way filled up with, you know, remains. It's just disgusting. Absolutely disgusting," Conrad said.
People in the homeless community talking to Cutler have come up with a new name for the encampment Stephanie and Conrad live in, due to its proximity to City Hall: "Camp Breed."
"Camp Breed is making it even more challenging to provide needed resources for people," Cutler said.
That nickname is derived from "Camp Agnos," a homeless encampment in front of City Hall that arose in 1989 after the Loma Prieta earthquake made San Francisco homeless shelters unlivable.
The growing homeless camps also torpedoed Mayor Art Agnos' second mayoral run, as his political opponents laid the burgeoning homeless problem at his feet.
"As Yogi Berra said famously, it's deja vu all over again!" Agnos said.
Agnos likened the COVID-19 pandemic's effect on homeless people to what happened during his tenure, post-earthquake. Shelters were unavailable then, much as they are now.
"The city is struggling with a much bigger number of people than I had to deal with," he added. So will "Camp Breed" also torpedo Breed's political future? Agnos didn't think so.
And touching on the fight between the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and Mayor Breed – the former who wants the homeless to be housed in hotels, and the latter who is enacting safe sleeping sites while calling hotels for homeless unreasonable – Agnos was magnanimous to all involved.
"There are nuances between all their strategies, but they're all working their asses off," Agnos said.


npr--2020-05-14--Manhattan Beach Mayor On Reopening Los Angeles County Beaches: 'It's Our Culture'

Manhattan Beach Mayor On Reopening Los Angeles County Beaches : 'It 's Our Culture' The move affects beaches along a stretch of coastline of several cities , although a number of limits remain in effect .
Group sports wo n't be allowed ; neither will picnicking or sunbathing .
Parking lots , bike paths and boardwalks will likewise be off-limits .
Among the cities affected by the order is Manhattan Beach , whose mayor , Richard Montgomery , was at the beach by 6:30 a.m. Wednesday to see how many people showed up .
`` Luckily , there [ were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says .
The reopening — after six weeks of lockdown — is important , Montgomery says .
`` It 's our culture , '' he adds .
`` Southern California here , the beach is where people go to not just recreate but just take a piece of mind off . ''
Still , he says he understands the fear some residents may have about opening up .
`` The risk of what we 're doing has to be a balanced approach between open versus staying inside and staying at home , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Orange County , Calif. , also in Southern California , opened its beaches last month if I 'm not mistaken .
And then the governor had to shut them down again because thousands of people packed the beaches .
Why do you think your beach will end up different ?
The difference here is they were impacted by everyone going to those beaches .
Here , with 23 miles of coastline open , we wo n't be impacted like Orange County was .
We 're so spread out .
What other economic activities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , are now allowed and taking place in Manhattan Beach under these changes to the orders ?
We 're seeing two things happen really .
Our department stores , retail stores can sell ; they just have to deliver from the curbside .
Our restaurants have always had the opportunity to do takeout only .
We 're seeing opening up things like our botanical gardens , our jewelry stores , our gift card places .
Things where not huge crowds go to , we 're starting to see resurgence .
...
So , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but we 're all waiting for that next step to come down .
And maybe two weeks , three weeks , four weeks [ before ] the governor says , `` OK , we 've all done well .
We 've seen decline and the COVID-19 rates down .
We 're going to open up a little more . ''
That 's what we 're all pressing for .
It 's clear from listening to public health officials that there will be additional cases of COVID-19 .
... That 's a kind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inevitable until there 's a vaccine .
Are people in Manhattan Beach ready for that ?
I think our residents are more than ready .
We 've had 71 cases reported .
...
I personally know of 14 to 16 residents that have recovered that do n't show in that number .
And unfortunately , we had two deaths out of 35,000 residents .
The numbers are low .
I wish they were lower .
But our residents understand the risk here .
They want to be outside and active .
...
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ask of people to stay in their home .
... We 're an easygoing beach city , so to close our beaches and our strand walkway is a stark reminder to our public of just how serious the situation is for everyone .

Manhattan Beach Mayor On Reopening Los Angeles County Beaches: 'It's Our Culture'
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mark Ralston /AFP via Getty Images Mark Ralston /AFP via Getty Images
Southern California passed a milestone on Wednesday: Los Angeles County reopened its beaches.
The move affects beaches along a stretch of coastline of several cities, although a number of limits remain in effect. Group sports won't be allowed; neither will picnicking or sunbathing. Parking lots, bike paths and boardwalks will likewise be off-limits.
Among the cities affected by the order is Manhattan Beach, whose mayor, Richard Montgomery, was at the beach by 6:30 a.m. Wednesday to see how many people showed up. "Luckily, there [were] no big crowds," he says.
The reopening — after six weeks of lockdown — is important, Montgomery says. "It's our culture," he adds. "Southern California here, the beach is where people go to not just recreate but just take a piece of mind off."
Still, he says he understands the fear some residents may have about opening up. "The risk of what we're doing has to be a balanced approach between open versus staying inside and staying at home," Montgomery tells NPR's Morning Edition.
Interview Highlights
Orange County, Calif., also in Southern California, opened its beaches last month if I'm not mistaken. And then the governor had to shut them down again because thousands of people packed the beaches. Why do you think your beach will end up different?
The difference here is they were impacted by everyone going to those beaches. Here, with 23 miles of coastline open, we won't be impacted like Orange County was. We're so spread out.
What other economic activities or social activities, for that matter, are now allowed and taking place in Manhattan Beach under these changes to the orders?
We're seeing two things happen really. Our department stores, retail stores can sell; they just have to deliver from the curbside. Our restaurants have always had the opportunity to do takeout only. We're seeing opening up things like our botanical gardens, our jewelry stores, our gift card places. Things where not huge crowds go to, we're starting to see resurgence. ... So, we're seeing small signs of recovery, but we're all waiting for that next step to come down. And maybe two weeks, three weeks, four weeks [before] the governor says, "OK, we've all done well. We've seen decline and the COVID-19 rates down. We're going to open up a little more." That's what we're all pressing for.
It's clear from listening to public health officials that there will be additional cases of COVID-19. ... That's a kind of a trade-off that seems to be inevitable until there's a vaccine. Are people in Manhattan Beach ready for that?
I think our residents are more than ready. We've had 71 cases reported. ... I personally know of 14 to 16 residents that have recovered that don't show in that number. And unfortunately, we had two deaths out of 35,000 residents. The numbers are low. I wish they were lower. But our residents understand the risk here. They want to be outside and active. ... I think six weeks is a lot to ask of people to stay in their home. ... We're an easygoing beach city, so to close our beaches and our strand walkway is a stark reminder to our public of just how serious the situation is for everyone.


npr--2020-05-14--'The Jersey Shore Will Be Open In Time For Memorial Day,' Gov. Murphy Says

'The Jersey Shore Will Be Open In Time For Memorial Day , ' Gov .
Murphy Says All of New Jersey 's beaches can reopen on May 22 , Gov .
Phil Murphy announced Thursday , in a move that gives the state 's coastal resort areas a week to prepare for Memorial Day – a holiday that normally draws thousands of tourists to the beach .
`` The Jersey Shore will be open in time for Memorial Day weekend with social distancing guidelines in place , '' Murphy said at a news conference .
`` The shore is central @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to ensure that families can safely enjoy it this summer . ''
New Jersey has confirmed more than 142,700 COVID-19 cases , and the rate of positive test results was at 22 % this week , the governor said Thursday .
Nearly 10,000 people have died from the disease in the state .
But Murphy added that the rate at which the coronavirus is spreading has continued to slow across New Jersey .
Social distancing has played a key role in controlling COVID-19 , Murphy said , adding that it will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state loosens shutdown restrictions .
Reflecting the balancing act local and state leaders have been forced to perform across the U.S. because of the pandemic , Murphy urged caution even as he laid out a plan for reopening a vital area for the state 's hospitality industry '' We are not out of the woods yet , '' he said .
`` We can make the cast that , at this moment in time , we 're the most-impacted state in the region .
This is why we need to keep up with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our restart and recovery . ''
Murphy also mentioned positive trends for the state 's fight against the coronavirus , noting that the rate of new hospitalizations is down by nearly two-thirds from peak levels and that the number of patients in intensive care has dropped by roughly 40 % .
Despite the beaches ' reopening , amusement parks and playgrounds will remain closed .
Boardwalk restaurants can operate but only to provide carryout or delivery service .
All public and private beaches must limit their capacity and admissions , and concerts , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be allowed , according to the rules Murphy outlined Thursday .
Local officials should come up with the best way for their beaches to meet the requirements , he said .
All of the restrictions are temporary and could be loosened further if conditions improve .
`` This is not a life sentence here , '' the governor said .
`` We could have a dramatically different reality a month from today . ''
A number of Jersey Shore beaches have remained open during the pandemic , seeking to limit crowds and urging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to use the beach only for exercise .
Crowds visited the Jersey Shore for last year 's Memorial Day holiday , lured by ideal sunny weather .
The visitors quickly filled state parks and beaches to capacity — forcing the state Division of Parks and Forestry to close some facilities temporarily .

'The Jersey Shore Will Be Open In Time For Memorial Day,' Gov. Murphy Says
Enlarge this image toggle caption Matt Rourke/AP Matt Rourke/AP
All of New Jersey's beaches can reopen on May 22, Gov. Phil Murphy announced Thursday, in a move that gives the state's coastal resort areas a week to prepare for Memorial Day – a holiday that normally draws thousands of tourists to the beach.
"The Jersey Shore will be open in time for Memorial Day weekend with social distancing guidelines in place," Murphy said at a news conference. "The shore is central to our Jersey identity, and we want to ensure that families can safely enjoy it this summer."
New Jersey has confirmed more than 142,700 COVID-19 cases, and the rate of positive test results was at 22% this week, the governor said Thursday. Nearly 10,000 people have died from the disease in the state. But Murphy added that the rate at which the coronavirus is spreading has continued to slow across New Jersey.
Social distancing has played a key role in controlling COVID-19, Murphy said, adding that it will be important to maintain those practices as the state loosens shutdown restrictions.
Reflecting the balancing act local and state leaders have been forced to perform across the U.S. because of the pandemic, Murphy urged caution even as he laid out a plan for reopening a vital area for the state's hospitality industry
"We are not out of the woods yet," he said. "We can make the cast that, at this moment in time, we're the most-impacted state in the region. This is why we need to keep up with social distancing, even as we begin our restart and recovery."
Murphy also mentioned positive trends for the state's fight against the coronavirus, noting that the rate of new hospitalizations is down by nearly two-thirds from peak levels and that the number of patients in intensive care has dropped by roughly 40%.
Despite the beaches' reopening, amusement parks and playgrounds will remain closed. Boardwalk restaurants can operate but only to provide carryout or delivery service.
All public and private beaches must limit their capacity and admissions, and concerts, fireworks and other special events will not be allowed, according to the rules Murphy outlined Thursday. Local officials should come up with the best way for their beaches to meet the requirements, he said.
All of the restrictions are temporary and could be loosened further if conditions improve.
"This is not a life sentence here," the governor said. "We could have a dramatically different reality a month from today."
A number of Jersey Shore beaches have remained open during the pandemic, seeking to limit crowds and urging visitors to follow social distancing guidelines or to use the beach only for exercise.
Crowds visited the Jersey Shore for last year's Memorial Day holiday, lured by ideal sunny weather. The visitors quickly filled state parks and beaches to capacity — forcing the state Division of Parks and Forestry to close some facilities temporarily.


npr--2020-05-14--After Days Of No New Coronavirus Cases, New Zealand Reopens Most Businesses

After Days Of No New Coronavirus Cases , New Zealand Reopens Most Businesses After three consecutive days with no new coronavirus cases reported , New Zealand allowed most businesses to reopen on Thursday .
The island country , which is home to nearly 5 million people , has been praised for its swift response to the spread of the coronavirus .
New Zealand 's prime minister , Jacinda Ardern , has even said that the country has `` won [ the ] battle '' of widespread COVID-19 community transmission .
`` We went hard and we went early .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now we 're in a position where we can safely step out of those controls and open our economy back up , '' Ardern said in a Facebook Live video this week .
So far , coronavirus has killed 21 people in the country and is believed to have infected about 1,500 .
New Zealand has tested over 200,000 people .
Now , malls , hair dressers , and restaurants are reopening .
The country 's new stage is Alert Level 2 , which means that `` all businesses can open to customers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Travel among regions is approved , and schools are allowed to open .
Still , social gatherings are limited to 10 people .
Physical distancing is still strongly encouraged and wide-scale testing is taking place .
The Associated Press reported barbershops there were doing a brisk business after midnight , when the restrictions were lifted .
New Zealand had started easing its strict lockdown late last month .
Despite the quick recovery timeline , Ardern said that the country still faces steep economic challenges .
New Zealand also released a plan Thursday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of debt .
It would rise to around 54 % of the country 's gross domestic product if the plan is implemented , according to the AP .
The plan also includes the creation of thousands of environmental jobs .

After Days Of No New Coronavirus Cases, New Zealand Reopens Most Businesses
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mark Baker/AP Mark Baker/AP
After three consecutive days with no new coronavirus cases reported, New Zealand allowed most businesses to reopen on Thursday.
The island country, which is home to nearly 5 million people, has been praised for its swift response to the spread of the coronavirus. New Zealand's prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, has even said that the country has "won [the] battle" of widespread COVID-19 community transmission.
"We went hard and we went early. We got control of the virus, and now we're in a position where we can safely step out of those controls and open our economy back up," Ardern said in a Facebook Live video this week.
So far, coronavirus has killed 21 people in the country and is believed to have infected about 1,500. New Zealand has tested over 200,000 people.
Now, malls, hair dressers, and restaurants are reopening.
The country's new stage is Alert Level 2, which means that "all businesses can open to customers if they can do it safely." Travel among regions is approved, and schools are allowed to open. Still, social gatherings are limited to 10 people. Physical distancing is still strongly encouraged and wide-scale testing is taking place.
The Associated Press reported barbershops there were doing a brisk business after midnight, when the restrictions were lifted.
New Zealand had started easing its strict lockdown late last month.
Despite the quick recovery timeline, Ardern said that the country still faces steep economic challenges. New Zealand also released a plan Thursday that would include taking on significant amounts of debt. It would rise to around 54% of the country's gross domestic product if the plan is implemented, according to the AP. The plan also includes the creation of thousands of environmental jobs.


npr--2020-05-14--His New Amazon Warehouse Job Got Him Something He Really Wanted From His Previous Job

His New Amazon Warehouse Job Got Him Something He Really Wanted From His Previous Job Until recently , Theodore Johnson worked as a massage therapist at a luxury hotel spa in Fort Worth , Texas .
He worked about 30 hours a week but was a contractor .
So Johnson lobbied management for a staff job to qualify for benefits .
That possibility vanished when the coronavirus hit and all his work dried up .
Johnson promptly decided to apply for unemployment .
It did n't go well .
`` I was n't able to get through to the Texas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sure if I was qualified .
It was just chaos .
The website was crashing .
You literally just had a busy dial tone when you called in to the numbers , '' he said .
`` So I was just in this limbo state , and I was n't sure how I was going to pay my bills . ''
That 's when Johnson joined the nearby Amazon warehouse and ended up working the overnight shift filling boxes .
The hourly pay at Amazon is much lower than what he earned as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ making about the same weekly wage by putting in much longer hours .
He also finally got what he did n't have at the hotel spa : health insurance .
`` I 've been working close to 60 hours [ per week ] , and that 's the cap , '' he says .
`` It 's a lot of squatting .
...
It 's hard work . ''
He plans to stick with the Amazon job for a bit and is reevaluating his career path by taking classes at his local community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be one of the last things on people 's minds right now , `` because we are in a recession and maybe a depression . ''
Read more stories in Faces Of The Coronavirus Recession .

His New Amazon Warehouse Job Got Him Something He Really Wanted From His Previous Job
Enlarge this image toggle caption Heather King Heather King
Until recently, Theodore Johnson worked as a massage therapist at a luxury hotel spa in Fort Worth, Texas.
He worked about 30 hours a week but was a contractor. So Johnson lobbied management for a staff job to qualify for benefits. That possibility vanished when the coronavirus hit and all his work dried up.
Johnson promptly decided to apply for unemployment. It didn't go well.
"I wasn't able to get through to the Texas Workforce Commission, and I wasn't sure if I was qualified. It was just chaos. The website was crashing. You literally just had a busy dial tone when you called in to the numbers," he said. "So I was just in this limbo state, and I wasn't sure how I was going to pay my bills."
FACES OF THE CORONAVIRUS RECESSION Jobs lost. Businesses in peril. Meetings gone virtual. Faces Of The Coronavirus Recession offers snapshots of working Americans whose lives have been upended by the pandemic.
That's when Johnson joined the nearby Amazon warehouse and ended up working the overnight shift filling boxes.
The hourly pay at Amazon is much lower than what he earned as a massage therapist. But he's making about the same weekly wage by putting in much longer hours. He also finally got what he didn't have at the hotel spa: health insurance.
"I've been working close to 60 hours [per week], and that's the cap," he says. "It's a lot of squatting. ... It's hard work."
He plans to stick with the Amazon job for a bit and is reevaluating his career path by taking classes at his local community college.
He said a massage may be one of the last things on people's minds right now, "because we are in a recession and maybe a depression."
Read more stories in Faces Of The Coronavirus Recession.


npr--2020-05-14--Burr To Step Down As Intelligence Chairman During Probe Of Stock Sell-Off

Burr To Step Down As Intelligence Chairman During Probe Of Stock Sell-Off Sen. Richard Burr , R-N.C. , is stepping aside temporarily as chairman of the Intelligence Committee amid a Justice Department investigation of his stock trades , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced Thursday .
`` Senator Burr contacted me this morning to inform me of his decision to step aside as Chairman of the Intelligence Committee during the pendency of the investigation , '' McConnell said in a written statement .
`` We agreed that this decision would be in the best interests of the committee and will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day tomorrow . ''
Burr 's move calls to mind Sen. Robert Menendez , D-N.J. , who in April 2015 stepped down as ranking member of the Foreign Relations Committee after being indicted on corruption charges .
Those charges were eventually dismissed .
A senior Justice Department official told NPR that the FBI executed a search warrant Wednesday and seized Burr 's cellphone .
The Los Angeles Times first reported the news of the search .
Speaking to a C-SPAN reporter Thursday , Burr said he was cooperating with investigators .
`` Everybody @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' he said .
When asked why he stepped away from his committee chairmanship , Burr said : `` This is a distraction to the hard work of the committee and the members , and I think the security of the country is too important to have a distraction . ''
At issue are stock trades Burr made before the market crash caused by the coronavirus pandemic .
ProPublica reported that he dumped up to $ 1.7 million in stocks while assuring the public that the U.S. was well-positioned to withstand the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kelly Loeffler of Georgia faced scrutiny for dumping millions of dollars in stocks ahead of the economic downturn .
Both have denied any wrongdoing .
Through a spokesperson , Loeffler declined to say if she has talked with federal investigators regarding the more than $ 20 million in stocks she and her husband sold following a closed-door Senate briefing on coronavirus .
However , Loeffler said no warrant has been served as this time and rejected allegations of any impropriety regarding stock trades earlier this year .
`` Allegations of improper trading by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a political attack misrepresenting the facts to prey on the emotions of the American people as they endure the impact of a global pandemic , '' the spokesperson said .
`` No search warrant has been served on Sen Loeffler .
She has followed both the letter and spirit of the law and will continue to do so . ''
Loeffler has said a third party handled the trades and she was unaware of the trades .
Loeffler 's disclosures under the STOCK Act and filings through the Securities and Exchange Commission show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 20 million in shares following a Jan. 24 coronavirus briefing for senators .
Loeffler 's husband is Jeffrey Sprecher , CEO of Intercontinental Exchange , parent company of the New York Stock Exchange .
Two other lawmakers , Sens .
James Inhofe , R-Okla. , and Dianne Feinstein , D-Calif. , were also criticized for selling stocks ahead of the market crash , though both have said they did not have direct involvement in the sales , Reuters reported .
Feinstein spoke with federal investigators last month about her husband 's stock @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some basic questions by law enforcement about her husband 's stock transactions , '' a spokesman told NPR .
`` She was happy to voluntarily answer those questions to set the record straight and provided additional documents to show she had no involvement in her husband 's transactions .
There have been no follow up actions on this issue . ''
Feinstein , like Burr , is a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee .
She had previously spoken to federal investigators last month , according to her spokesman .

Burr To Step Down As Intelligence Chairman During Probe Of Stock Sell-Off
Enlarge this image toggle caption Alex Brandon/AP Alex Brandon/AP
Updated at 10:30 p.m. ET
Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., is stepping aside temporarily as chairman of the Intelligence Committee amid a Justice Department investigation of his stock trades, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced Thursday.
"Senator Burr contacted me this morning to inform me of his decision to step aside as Chairman of the Intelligence Committee during the pendency of the investigation," McConnell said in a written statement. "We agreed that this decision would be in the best interests of the committee and will be effective at the end of the day tomorrow."
Burr's move calls to mind Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., who in April 2015 stepped down as ranking member of the Foreign Relations Committee after being indicted on corruption charges. Those charges were eventually dismissed.
A senior Justice Department official told NPR that the FBI executed a search warrant Wednesday and seized Burr's cellphone. The Los Angeles Times first reported the news of the search.
Speaking to a C-SPAN reporter Thursday, Burr said he was cooperating with investigators.
"Everybody ought to let this investigation play out," he said.
When asked why he stepped away from his committee chairmanship, Burr said: "This is a distraction to the hard work of the committee and the members, and I think the security of the country is too important to have a distraction."
At issue are stock trades Burr made before the market crash caused by the coronavirus pandemic. ProPublica reported that he dumped up to $1.7 million in stocks while assuring the public that the U.S. was well-positioned to withstand the outbreak.
Burr and fellow Senate Republican Kelly Loeffler of Georgia faced scrutiny for dumping millions of dollars in stocks ahead of the economic downturn. Both have denied any wrongdoing.
Through a spokesperson, Loeffler declined to say if she has talked with federal investigators regarding the more than $20 million in stocks she and her husband sold following a closed-door Senate briefing on coronavirus. However, Loeffler said no warrant has been served as this time and rejected allegations of any impropriety regarding stock trades earlier this year.
"Allegations of improper trading by Sen. Loeffler are completely false based on a political attack misrepresenting the facts to prey on the emotions of the American people as they endure the impact of a global pandemic," the spokesperson said. "No search warrant has been served on Sen Loeffler. She has followed both the letter and spirit of the law and will continue to do so."
Loeffler has said a third party handled the trades and she was unaware of the trades.
Loeffler's disclosures under the STOCK Act and filings through the Securities and Exchange Commission show she and her husband unloaded more than $20 million in shares following a Jan. 24 coronavirus briefing for senators.
Loeffler's husband is Jeffrey Sprecher, CEO of Intercontinental Exchange, parent company of the New York Stock Exchange.
On Thursday evening, Loeffler's spokesperson confirmed that she has "forwarded documents and information to DOJ, the SEC, and the Senate Ethics Committee establishing that she and her husband acted entirely appropriately and observed both the letter and the spirit of the law." The documents, her spokesperson says, "demonstrated her and her husband's lack of involvement in their managed accounts, as well the details of those accounts." No timeframe was specified.
Two other lawmakers, Sens. James Inhofe, R-Okla., and Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., were also criticized for selling stocks ahead of the market crash, though both have said they did not have direct involvement in the sales, Reuters reported.
Feinstein spoke with federal investigators last month about her husband's stock trades.
"Senator Feinstein was asked some basic questions by law enforcement about her husband's stock transactions," a spokesman told NPR. "She was happy to voluntarily answer those questions to set the record straight and provided additional documents to show she had no involvement in her husband's transactions. There have been no follow up actions on this issue."
Feinstein, like Burr, is a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee. She had previously spoken to federal investigators last month, according to her spokesman.


npr--2020-05-14--European Parliament Lawmakers Demand Punishment For Hungary Over Emergency Powers

European Parliament lawmakers demanded Thursday that European Union leaders punish Hungary 's government for using the COVID-19 pandemic to grab power through a controversial emergency law .
`` The Union has not taken any concrete measures to sanction [ Prime Minister Viktor ] Orban 's government , '' one of the lawmakers , Iratxe García Pérez of Spain , told European Commission Vice President Vera Jourova and other EU leaders .
`` And so he continues his action to centralize power , to interfere in the electoral system , to control the news media , education , culture , harassing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shameful ! ''
Orban 's supporters passed a sweeping emergency law in late March , giving the prime minister the right to sidestep parliament and rule by decree during the pandemic .
Though the European Parliament passed a resolution in April saying the law is incompatible with EU values , top EU leaders have largely been silent .
Orban , who said he was too busy to attend the debate , says he needs the emergency powers to manage the pandemic .
His supporters blame the `` Brussels elite '' and Hungarian-American philanthropist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ European nationalists , for the blowback .
The law , which has no sunset clause , has also been criticized by the Freedom House watchdog group , which says Orban has `` dropped any pretense of respecting democratic institutions . ''
The law includes a revision to the criminal code allowing for up to five years in prison for those who spread `` fake news '' about the pandemic .
Critics warn this could be used to punish those who criticize the government 's coronavirus response .
Earlier this week , police invoked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` scaremongering '' in Facebook posts that criticized the government .
One detainee was Janos Csoka-Szucs , a member of the opposition Momentum Party in southeastern Hungary .
Police seized his phone and computer and interrogated him for several hours before releasing him .
Last month , when Orban 's government said it planned to empty hospital beds to free up space for coronavirus patients , Csoka-Szucs commented in a closed Facebook group that beds were also being emptied in his town .
Police said his statement jeopardized the government 's pandemic response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ portal index.hu .
`` This law is meant to intimidate and silence dissenting voices because the prime minister is scared to lose his power , '' Katalin Cseh , a Hungarian member of the European Parliament from the Momentum Party , tells NPR .
`` As a result he harasses people commenting on Facebook . ''
Cseh joined Thursday 's debate , mostly among lawmakers from progressive parties .
They want Brussels to slash the Hungarian government 's EU funds .
Cseh says Orban 's government funnels that money to cronies who buy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We strongly advocate tying that money to anti-corruption guarantees or at least some kind of supervision by the European public prosecutor 's office , '' she says .
`` I am very certain that the government would not have the support to do whatever is whatever they are doing right now . ''
On Twitter , Hungarian government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs called the debate `` another witch hunt , a show trial .
It 's leftists and liberals playing politics when the continent is facing one of the greatest health and economic crises @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ''

European Parliament Lawmakers Demand Punishment For Hungary Over Emergency Powers
Enlarge this image toggle caption Zoltan Mathe/AP Zoltan Mathe/AP
European Parliament lawmakers demanded Thursday that European Union leaders punish Hungary's government for using the COVID-19 pandemic to grab power through a controversial emergency law.
"The Union has not taken any concrete measures to sanction [Prime Minister Viktor] Orban's government," one of the lawmakers, Iratxe García Pérez of Spain, told European Commission Vice President Vera Jourova and other EU leaders. "And so he continues his action to centralize power, to interfere in the electoral system, to control the news media, education, culture, harassing civil society. Colleagues, this is shameful!"
Orban's supporters passed a sweeping emergency law in late March, giving the prime minister the right to sidestep parliament and rule by decree during the pandemic. Though the European Parliament passed a resolution in April saying the law is incompatible with EU values, top EU leaders have largely been silent.
Orban, who said he was too busy to attend the debate, says he needs the emergency powers to manage the pandemic. His supporters blame the "Brussels elite" and Hungarian-American philanthropist George Soros, a frequent target of European nationalists, for the blowback. The law, which has no sunset clause, has also been criticized by the Freedom House watchdog group, which says Orban has "dropped any pretense of respecting democratic institutions."
The law includes a revision to the criminal code allowing for up to five years in prison for those who spread "fake news" about the pandemic. Critics warn this could be used to punish those who criticize the government's coronavirus response. Earlier this week, police invoked the law to detain two men for "scaremongering" in Facebook posts that criticized the government.
One detainee was Janos Csoka-Szucs, a member of the opposition Momentum Party in southeastern Hungary. Police seized his phone and computer and interrogated him for several hours before releasing him.
Last month, when Orban's government said it planned to empty hospital beds to free up space for coronavirus patients, Csoka-Szucs commented in a closed Facebook group that beds were also being emptied in his town. Police said his statement jeopardized the government's pandemic response, according to the Hungarian online news portal index.hu.
"This law is meant to intimidate and silence dissenting voices because the prime minister is scared to lose his power," Katalin Cseh, a Hungarian member of the European Parliament from the Momentum Party, tells NPR. "As a result he harasses people commenting on Facebook."
Cseh joined Thursday's debate, mostly among lawmakers from progressive parties. They want Brussels to slash the Hungarian government's EU funds. Cseh says Orban's government funnels that money to cronies who buy up media, silencing opponents.
"We strongly advocate tying that money to anti-corruption guarantees or at least some kind of supervision by the European public prosecutor's office," she says. "I am very certain that the government would not have the support to do whatever is whatever they are doing right now."
On Twitter, Hungarian government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs called the debate "another witch hunt, a show trial. It's leftists and liberals playing politics when the continent is facing one of the greatest health and economic crises we've seen in a century."


npr--2020-05-14--Wisconsin Bars Welcome Crowds After Court Strikes Down 'Safer At Home' Bans

Wisconsin Bars Welcome Crowds After Court Strikes Down 'Safer At Home ' Bans People flocked to bars in Wisconsin on Wednesday night , after the state Supreme Court voided the state 's `` Safer at Home '' orders .
The ruling quickly triggered a jumble of policies in counties and cities , as officials set their own rules related to COVID-19 .
The court found that emergency orders issued by Gov .
Tony Evers ' administration were unlawful and unenforceable , prompting the Tavern League of Wisconsin , an industry group , to issue a statement encouraging all tavern and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And some did just that .
A photo posted by Nick 's Bar in Platteville quickly went viral , showing at least 18 people crowded together at the bar , just 45 minutes after Wednesday night 's reopening .
The industry group also urged its members to follow safety tips from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation , including a suggestion that employees wear face masks and gloves , and to practice social distancing .
But in the image from Nick 's Bar , no one is wearing a mask .
The court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on social media — over when the Safer at Home restrictions would be lifted .
The initial legal request had sought a delay before any changes take effect .
`` Republicans originally asked the court for a six-day stay which would have kept the current Safer at Home order in place while a new one is negotiated to replace it , '' as Wisconsin Public Radio reports .
`` But the court instead decided to strike down the order effective immediately . ''
Local governments , such as the City of Milwaukee and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , rushed to enact their own restrictions that echo the state 's `` Safer at Home '' order .
Responding to the Tavern League 's release about the ruling , some bar owners said they would still wait to open , citing reasons that range from uncertainty over the policy in their communities to ongoing remodeling work during the shutdown .
But many proprietors welcomed the news that they can reopen to sit-down service after being limited to carryout and delivery orders since March .
The timing of the court decision was perfect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington .
The establishment 's owner , Chad Arndt , said last week that he would open his doors to customers on Wednesday at 3 p.m. — no matter what the court decided .
It was a question , he said , of economic necessity .
`` We will be taking all precautions with keeping everything sanitized the best we can and distancing people that are together , Arndt wrote .
`` Please If you do n't feel like you are ready to come out yet do n't !
I will respect your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ self-quarantine , I am asking you to please respect mine to not .
I need to not only make sure I can keep making a living but I need to make sure my employees and [ their ] families can as well . ''
After being open Wednesday night , Arndt thanked patrons for their support , prompting one commenter to write , `` Will always support those who stand up for liberty !
!
! ''
But another commenter was displeased : `` I did n't realize there are so many selfish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They could n't handle a lockdown for the good of themselves and their fellow Wisconsinites .
Not as tough as they think , I guess . ''
In Chippewa Falls , Loopy 's High Shores Supper Club says it will reopen Thursday afternoon for customers who want to dine in , along with maintaining its takeout and delivery service .
`` We will be taking proper precautions for the safety of our customers and staff , '' the restaurant says .
The post set off a number of positive responses , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I need a drink . ''

Wisconsin Bars Welcome Crowds After Court Strikes Down 'Safer At Home' Bans
Enlarge this image toggle caption William Glasheen/USA Today via Reuters William Glasheen/USA Today via Reuters
People flocked to bars in Wisconsin on Wednesday night, after the state Supreme Court voided the state's "Safer at Home" orders. The ruling quickly triggered a jumble of policies in counties and cities, as officials set their own rules related to COVID-19.
The court found that emergency orders issued by Gov. Tony Evers' administration were unlawful and unenforceable, prompting the Tavern League of Wisconsin, an industry group, to issue a statement encouraging all tavern and bar owners to open their doors immediately.
And some did just that. A photo posted by Nick's Bar in Platteville quickly went viral, showing at least 18 people crowded together at the bar, just 45 minutes after Wednesday night's reopening.
The industry group also urged its members to follow safety tips from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, including a suggestion that employees wear face masks and gloves, and to practice social distancing. But in the image from Nick's Bar, no one is wearing a mask.
The court ruling set off confusion — and debates on social media — over when the Safer at Home restrictions would be lifted. The initial legal request had sought a delay before any changes take effect.
"Republicans originally asked the court for a six-day stay which would have kept the current Safer at Home order in place while a new one is negotiated to replace it," as Wisconsin Public Radio reports. "But the court instead decided to strike down the order effective immediately."
Local governments, such as the City of Milwaukee and Dane County (which includes Madison), rushed to enact their own restrictions that echo the state's "Safer at Home" order.
Responding to the Tavern League's release about the ruling, some bar owners said they would still wait to open, citing reasons that range from uncertainty over the policy in their communities to ongoing remodeling work during the shutdown. But many proprietors welcomed the news that they can reopen to sit-down service after being limited to carryout and delivery orders since March.
The timing of the court decision was perfect for the Iron Hog Saloon in Port Washington. The establishment's owner, Chad Arndt, said last week that he would open his doors to customers on Wednesday at 3 p.m. — no matter what the court decided. It was a question, he said, of economic necessity.
"We will be taking all precautions with keeping everything sanitized the best we can and distancing people that are together, Arndt wrote. "Please If you don't feel like you are ready to come out yet don't! I will respect your feelings and decision to stay home and self-quarantine, I am asking you to please respect mine to not. I need to not only make sure I can keep making a living but I need to make sure my employees and [their] families can as well."
After being open Wednesday night, Arndt thanked patrons for their support, prompting one commenter to write, "Will always support those who stand up for liberty!!!"
But another commenter was displeased: "I didn't realize there are so many selfish, inconsiderate and spoiled babies in Wisconsin. They couldn't handle a lockdown for the good of themselves and their fellow Wisconsinites. Not as tough as they think, I guess."
In Chippewa Falls, Loopy's High Shores Supper Club says it will reopen Thursday afternoon for customers who want to dine in, along with maintaining its takeout and delivery service.
"We will be taking proper precautions for the safety of our customers and staff," the restaurant says.
The post set off a number of positive responses, including one woman who simply wrote, "I need a drink."


npr--2020-05-15--Tennessee's Secret To Plentiful Coronavirus Testing? Picking Up The Tab

Tennessee 's Secret To Plentiful Coronavirus Testing ?
Picking Up The Tab To reopen businesses and public spaces safely , experts say states need to be testing and contact tracing on a massive scale .
But only a handful of states are doing enough testing to stay on top of potential outbreaks , according to a state-by-state analysis published by NPR .
Among those , Tennessee stands out for its aggressive approach to testing .
In Tennessee , anyone who wants a test can get one , and the state will pick up the tab .
The guidance has evolved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a test , '' and the state started picking up the tab in April .
It 's still rare for a community to encourage such broad symptom-free testing .
`` In most places , you still need to show you have the signs and symptoms of COVID-19 to get a test , '' research professor Sabrina Corlette of Georgetown University said .
`` It 's really patchwork . ''
Ample testing , preferably including people who are not symptomatic , can help contain future outbreaks of COVID-19 by giving health officials the knowledge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cluster of cases .
Because of testing shortages , many states still have limitations on who can get a test .
Some states such as Alabama are inviting people without symptoms but only if they qualify as high risk .
A few counties in Nevada have started asymptomatic testing , and Rite Aid in a dozen states has opened up its walk-in testing , but it 's still for folks who preregister .
Tennessee 's commitment to testing so broadly has helped it pull ahead of most other states in its rate of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Tennessee is doing more than double the minimum number of tests needed to control its outbreak .
Tennessee Department of Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey gives a lot of credit for the state 's increased testing to private , commercial labs .
`` We 've called on almost all of them to say , 'We need you to ramp up because you 're about to get a flood of tests , ' and that 's exactly what we 've given them , '' Piercey said at a daily briefing in late April .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 11,000 tests .
But private labs are shouldering the testing load in most states .
What 's somewhat novel in Tennessee is that the state guaranteed payment to those companies upfront .
So rather than making them bill various health insurance plans — which are required to cover coronavirus testing but still create paperwork — the state is picking up the tab .
And the typical rate set by the federal government just doubled to $ 100 a swab .
Memphis-based American Esoteric Laboratories has been processing the bulk of the state-collected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for this story .
Nashville-based Aegis Sciences Corp. jumped in more recently and is already doubling its capacity to 7,000 tests a day .
CEO Frank Basile said the guaranteed payment was a big motivator .
`` Clearly , it 's beneficial for the lab companies like us to receive the assurance of payment , '' Basile said .
`` That 's definitely a positive .
And it gives us the confidence to put the effort and the capital in to make this happen . ''
And coronavirus testing requires more investment right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do it are in such high demand .
The tax dollars are well-spent , said Dr. Ashish Jha , director of the Harvard Global Health Institute , which has been tracking testing capacity by state .
He said Tennessee 's investment could more than pay for itself since ample capacity is seen as a necessity to reopen businesses .
Jha said he 's been recommending this approach to government officials across the country .
`` If the state says they 'll just pay everybody 100 bucks every time you do a test @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policy , '' he said .
Tennessee officials said they 're banking on being reimbursed by the federal government at some point .
The Tennessee Department of Health does n't know exactly how much it 's on the hook for yet .
But it 's a tab that grows by millions of dollars a week .
Aside from weekend drive-through events , the state is also paying to process the weekday testing being done by local health departments in 95 counties .
On a recent Sunday more than 800 people were tested at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Garner was willing to wait in her minivan as she slowly moved through the parking lot of a local high school .
`` I said , ' I know there will be a long line , but we 'll just sit and wait . '
We charged our tablets , and I 'm doing sight words with the kids , '' she said .
Garner closes refinanced mortgages for a living , which puts her in close contact with multiple families a day — often in their homes .
Still , she had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to someone with COVID-19 was secondhand .
`` I 'm just hypersensitive to any change in my body at all .
I think a lot of people are , '' she said .
All this testing access is generally a good thing , said Dr. Kelly Moore , a pandemic consultant , formerly of the Tennessee Department of Health .
She refers to the test takers as primarily `` the worried well '' since nearly 99 % of them have tested negative at some testing events .
`` If these highly motivated , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ free tests , are not taking up scarce resources we need for someone else , then it 's definitely not a problem to test them , '' Moore said .
But there 's a potential downside .
All those negative test results improve a state 's closely watched positivity rate — that is the percentage of cases coming back positive .
A low rate of positives is seen as a sign that a community is doing enough testing .
But it 's possible to be missing pockets of infection among people who might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get tested .
`` We ca n't draw conclusions about what 's going on in the whole community based on this self-selected group of people who are so motivated they come out to get tested , '' Moore said .
But just this week , Tennessee started using its testing muscle in a more targeted way and is also testing everyone who lives or works in nursing homes and prisons .
And Thursday , the state said the National Guard would start testing everyone who lives in public housing .
This story is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with WPLN and Kaiser Health News .

Tennessee's Secret To Plentiful Coronavirus Testing? Picking Up The Tab
Enlarge this image toggle caption Blake Farmer/WPLN Blake Farmer/WPLN
To reopen businesses and public spaces safely, experts say states need to be testing and contact tracing on a massive scale. But only a handful of states are doing enough testing to stay on top of potential outbreaks, according to a state-by-state analysis published by NPR.
Among those, Tennessee stands out for its aggressive approach to testing. In Tennessee, anyone who wants a test can get one, and the state will pick up the tab. The guidance has evolved to "when in doubt, get a test," and the state started picking up the tab in April.
It's still rare for a community to encourage such broad symptom-free testing.
"In most places, you still need to show you have the signs and symptoms of COVID-19 to get a test," research professor Sabrina Corlette of Georgetown University says. "It's really patchwork."
Ample testing, preferably including people who are not symptomatic, can help contain future outbreaks of COVID-19 by giving health officials the knowledge to act quickly to suppress any new cluster of cases.
Because of testing shortages, many states still have limitations on who can get a test. Some states such as Alabama are inviting people without symptoms but only if they qualify as high risk. A few counties in Nevada have started asymptomatic testing, and Rite Aid in a dozen states has opened up its walk-in testing, but it's still for folks who preregister.
Tennessee's commitment to testing so broadly has helped it pull ahead of most other states in its rate of testing. According to NPR's analysis, Tennessee is doing more than double the minimum number of tests needed to control its outbreak.
Tennessee Department of Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey gives a lot of credit for the state's increased testing to private, commercial labs.
"We've called on almost all of them to say, 'We need you to ramp up because you're about to get a flood of tests,' and that's exactly what we've given them," Piercey said at a daily briefing in late April.
In one weekend, it was more than 11,000 tests.
But private labs are shouldering the testing load in most states. What's somewhat novel in Tennessee is that the state guaranteed payment to those companies upfront.
So rather than making them bill various health insurance plans — which are required to cover coronavirus testing but still create paperwork — the state is picking up the tab. And the typical rate set by the federal government just doubled to $100 a swab.
Memphis-based American Esoteric Laboratories has been processing the bulk of the state-collected swabs. The company declined to comment for this story.
Nashville-based Aegis Sciences Corp. jumped in more recently and is already doubling its capacity to 7,000 tests a day. CEO Frank Basile says the guaranteed payment was a big motivator.
"Clearly, it's beneficial for the lab companies like us to receive the assurance of payment," Basile says. "That's definitely a positive. And it gives us the confidence to put the effort and the capital in to make this happen."
And coronavirus testing requires more investment right now because the swabs and chemicals necessary to do it are in such high demand.
The tax dollars are well-spent, says Dr. Ashish Jha, faculty director of the Harvard Global Health Institute, which has been tracking testing capacity by state. He says Tennessee's investment could more than pay for itself since ample capacity is seen as a necessity to reopen businesses. Jha says he's been recommending this approach to government officials across the country.
"If the state says they'll just pay everybody 100 bucks every time you do a test, that strikes me as very smart policy," he says.
Tennessee officials said they're banking on being reimbursed by the federal government at some point.
The Tennessee Department of Health doesn't know exactly how much it's on the hook for yet. But it's a tab that grows by millions of dollars a week. Aside from weekend drive-through events, the state is also paying to process the weekday testing being done by local health departments in 95 counties.
On a recent Sunday more than 800 people were tested at one site in Hendersonville, Tenn. Christine Garner was willing to wait in her minivan as she slowly moved through the parking lot of a local high school. "I said, 'I know there will be a long line, but we'll just sit and wait.' We charged our tablets, and I'm doing sight words with the kids," she says.
Garner closes refinanced mortgages for a living, which puts her in close contact with multiple families a day — often in their homes. Still, she had no symptoms. And her closest contact to someone with COVID-19 was secondhand.
"I'm just hypersensitive to any change in my body at all. I think a lot of people are," she says.
All this testing access is generally a good thing, says Dr. Kelly Moore, a pandemic consultant, formerly of the Tennessee Department of Health. She refers to the test takers as primarily "the worried well" since nearly 99% of them have tested negative at some testing events.
"If these highly motivated, worried well people, coming out for free tests, are not taking up scarce resources we need for someone else, then it's definitely not a problem to test them," Moore says.
But there's a potential downside. All those negative test results improve a state's closely watched positivity rate — that is the percentage of cases coming back positive. A low rate of positives is seen as a sign that a community is doing enough testing. But it's possible to be missing pockets of infection among people who might not have the awareness or resources to get tested.
"We can't draw conclusions about what's going on in the whole community based on this self-selected group of people who are so motivated they come out to get tested," Moore says.
But recently, Tennessee started using its testing muscle in a more targeted way and is also testing everyone who lives or works in nursing homes and prisons. And on May 7, the state said the National Guard would start testing everyone who lives in public housing.
This story is part of NPR's health reporting partnership with WPLN and Kaiser Health News.


npr--2020-05-15--Here's A Fun Project For Your Kids: Send NPR A Postcard!

It 's our job to report on the big changes happening as millions of students are out of school and learning at home or online .
We know for every child , that experience is different : Summer camp is cancelled .
The school year ended weeks early .
No one knows what fall is going to be like .
`` Virtual '' graduation ... zoom classes .
A lot of the things that were `` normal '' have changed .
Face it , your kids are dealing with a lot these days .
So , parents , here 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ story .
Or , rather , show it !
To do that , we 're going `` old school , '' reaching back to the 19th century for a tried-and-true technology : The postcard .
( Or , basically just a 3 x 5 card . )
Have your child draw , paint , sketch us a picture or collage that shows us : • What life is like right now • What an online class is like or how piano/soccer/ballet , etc .
lessons have changed • What do summer plans look @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about `` regular '' school • A project they 're working on to stay active and have fun • Anything else about life in this new situation And , then , on the back , have them write us a little postcard note ( or if they 're too little , adults can help ) : `` Dear NPR ... '' that explains their picture , and then send it in to us .
Not with a stamp — Hey , it 's 2020 , right !
Take a photo of the front @ @ @ @ @ @ @ postcard and — as their parent or guardian — email to us , at npred @ npr.org and put `` postcard '' in the subject line Include your child 's first name and the town or city and state where you live .
We 'll pick out some of our favorites and post them up on NPR.org .

Here's A Fun Project For Your Kids: Send NPR A Postcard!
Enlarge this image Photo illustration by LA Johnson/NPR Photo illustration by LA Johnson/NPR
It's our job to report on the big changes happening as millions of students are out of school and learning at home or online. We know for every child, that experience is different:
Summer camp is canceled. The school year ended weeks early. No one knows what fall is going to be like. "Virtual" graduation ... zoom classes. A lot of the things that were "normal" have changed. Face it, your kids are dealing with a lot these days.
So, parents, here's your way to help us tell that story. Or, rather, show it! To do that, we're going "old school," reaching back to the 19th century for a tried-and-true technology:
The postcard. (Or, basically just a 3 x 5 card.)
Have your child draw, paint, sketch us a picture or collage that shows us:
What life is like right now
What an online class is like or how piano/soccer/ballet, etc. lessons have changed
What do summer plans look like?
What they miss most about "regular" school
A project they're working on to stay active and have fun
Anything else about life in this new situation
And, then, on the back, have them write us a little postcard note (or if they're too little, adults can help): "Dear NPR ..." that explains their picture, and then send it in to us. Not with a stamp — Hey, it's 2020, right!
Take a photo of the front and the back of your child's postcard and — as their parent or guardian — email to us, at npred@npr.org and put "postcard" in the subject line
Include your child's first name and the town or city and state where you live. We'll pick out some of our favorites and post them up on NPR.org.
(Please note: by sending in your child's postcard, you grant NPR a non-exclusive, perpetual, irrevocable, universal license to use, publish, or display the postcard on npr.org or on NPR's social media channels)