npr--2020-12-16--All The Oomph, Minus The Vroom? Electric Pickups Take Aim At American Market

All The Oomph , Minus The Vroom ?
Electric Pickups Take Aim At American Market Automakers from GM to startup Rivian are racing to bring their first electric pickups ever to market starting next year , and they are n't just arguing a battery-powered truck will be as good as any other pickup .
They are promising it 'll be better .
Much better .
Take Ford .
Its upcoming electric F-150 can tow a million-pound freight train ( although it should be noted freight trains are designed to be easy to pull ) .
Or take the Tesla Cybertruck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of tug-of-war with an ordinary F-150 .
And then , there are the tricks : an electric pickup from Rivian doing a `` tank turn , '' or a Hummer EV whose wheels can turn and drive diagonally .
Automakers have a lot riding on ensuring the take-off of the electric pickup truck .
Currently , the best-selling vehicle in the United States is a pickup .
The second best-selling vehicle is also a pickup .
And the third best-selling vehicle ?
You guessed it : It 's a pickup .
That means @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could mean big money .
`` A third of all pickup truck owners are open to the idea of electrification , '' says Alexander Edwards , the president of market research firm Strategic Vision .
`` It does n't mean that they 're going to shop for it , does n't mean they 're going to go buy it , but they 're least willing to listen to what you have to say . ''
Edwards calculates that all told , some 2 million shoppers per year might entertain the idea of an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first model has even hit the market .
Compared to the pool of car shoppers who are already buying battery-powered cars , these potential pickup buyers are less wealthy , less liberal and less motivated by environmental concerns .
But they could be persuaded by arguments about performance , Edwards says , citing the results of his firm 's ongoing surveys of new car buyers .
Across the board , performance and handling are top priorities for many new vehicle buyers , Edwards says , while only 7 % of shoppers say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more for the sake of the environment .
And pickup buyers in particular are looking for `` rugged , powerful , capable vehicles , '' he says .
For instance , they often prefer engines that can provide a lot of low-end torque — the rotational force needed to get a heavy weight moving from a dead stop .
Electric motors are remarkably good at delivering that exact kind of power .
For some buyers , that could be persuasive .
Electric vehicles have steering and handling advantages , too — hence the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ promotional videos .
And the massive weight of an electric vehicle is a boon for drivers hungry for traction .
Automakers say they 've seen evidence of robust American appetite for electric pickups .
Ford recently announced it was increasing its initial production of the all-electric F-150 by 50 % , citing `` strong early interest . ''
And the Tesla Cybertruck has clocked hundreds of thousands of reservations .
In fact , a recent CarGurus study of current pickup owners found that 25 % said they would consider switching brands to buy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other brand .
But there are challenges .
How to charge their cars , whether at home or on the road , is a key concern for shoppers .
Affordability is another serious issue , especially given that interest in electric vehicles at the moment is particularly strong among younger drivers , who are less likely to be able to afford pricier vehicles .
`` It 's really Gen-Z and millennials who are driving increased interest in electric pickups , '' says Madison Gross , the director of consumer insights at CarGurus .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with — averaging nearly $ 55,000 for a full-size truck — and most electric versions will be even more expensive up front .
That 's giving pause to current pickup owners like Pat Turner .
The 30-year-old has been waiting for electric pickups to come to market for years , and he 's `` stoked '' by the performance specs of the vehicles in the pipeline .
The prices , though , are a different matter .
`` For this foreseeable future , anyway , they seem kind of unobtainable , '' he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I mean , GM came out with their EV Hummer : Over $ 100,000 .
That 's nuts ! ''
So Turner will be keeping an eye on electric pickups .
But he probably wo n't be buying one anytime soon .

All The Oomph, Minus The Vroom? Electric Pickups Take Aim At American Market
Enlarge this image toggle caption Courtesy of Rivian, Tesla, Lordstown Motors and General Motors Courtesy of Rivian, Tesla, Lordstown Motors and General Motors
Faster, stronger, just plain truckier.
Automakers from GM to startup Rivian are racing to bring their first electric pickups ever to market starting next year, and they aren't just arguing a battery-powered truck will be as good as any other pickup.
They are promising it'll be better. Much better.
Business Automakers Race To Bring Electric Pickup Trucks To Market Automakers Race To Bring Electric Pickup Trucks To Market Listen · 3:48 3:48
Take Ford. Its upcoming electric F-150 can tow a million-pound freight train (although it should be noted freight trains are designed to be easy to pull). Or take the Tesla Cybertruck, which apparently can win a game of tug-of-war with an ordinary F-150.
And then, there are the tricks: an electric pickup from Rivian doing a "tank turn," or a Hummer EV whose wheels can turn and drive diagonally.
Automakers have a lot riding on ensuring the take-off of the electric pickup truck.
Currently, the best-selling vehicle in the United States is a pickup. The second best-selling vehicle is also a pickup. And the third best-selling vehicle? You guessed it: It's a pickup.
That means even a small slice of this market could mean big money.
"A third of all pickup truck owners are open to the idea of electrification," says Alexander Edwards, the president of market research firm Strategic Vision. "It doesn't mean that they're going to shop for it, doesn't mean they're going to go buy it, but they're least willing to listen to what you have to say."
Edwards calculates that all told, some 2 million shoppers per year might entertain the idea of an electric pickup — and that's before the first model has even hit the market.
Loading...
Compared to the pool of car shoppers who are already buying battery-powered cars, these potential pickup buyers are less wealthy, less liberal and less motivated by environmental concerns.
But they could be persuaded by arguments about performance, Edwards says, citing the results of his firm's ongoing surveys of new car buyers.
Across the board, performance and handling are top priorities for many new vehicle buyers, Edwards says, while only 7% of shoppers say they'd be willing to pay significantly more for the sake of the environment.
And pickup buyers in particular are looking for "rugged, powerful, capable vehicles," he says.
For instance, they often prefer engines that can provide a lot of low-end torque — the rotational force needed to get a heavy weight moving from a dead stop.
Electric motors are remarkably good at delivering that exact kind of power. For some buyers, that could be persuasive.
Electric vehicles have steering and handling advantages, too — hence the tank turns and crab walks of the promotional videos. And the massive weight of an electric vehicle is a boon for drivers hungry for traction.
Automakers say they've seen evidence of robust American appetite for electric pickups. Ford recently announced it was increasing its initial production of the all-electric F-150 by 50%, citing "strong early interest."
And the Tesla Cybertruck has clocked hundreds of thousands of reservations. In fact, a recent CarGurus study of current pickup owners found that 25% said they would consider switching brands to buy a Tesla truck — beating out every other brand.
But there are challenges. How to charge their cars, whether at home or on the road, is a key concern for shoppers.
Affordability is another serious issue, especially given that interest in electric vehicles at the moment is particularly strong among younger drivers, who are less likely to be able to afford pricier vehicles.
"It's really Gen-Z and millennials who are driving increased interest in electric pickups," says Madison Gross, the director of consumer insights at CarGurus.
Loading...
New pickup trucks are expensive to start with — averaging nearly $55,000 for a full-size truck — and most electric versions will be even more expensive up front.
That's giving pause to current pickup owners like Pat Turner.
The 30-year-old has been waiting for electric pickups to come to market for years, and he's "stoked" by the performance specs of the vehicles in the pipeline. The prices, though, are a different matter.
"For this foreseeable future, anyway, they seem kind of unobtainable," he says. "Prices are just insane. I mean, GM came out with their EV Hummer: Over $100,000. That's nuts!"
So Turner will be keeping an eye on electric pickups. But he probably won't be buying one anytime soon.


npr--2020-12-16--California May Consider 'Historical Injustice' When Allocating Coronavirus Vaccine

California May Consider 'Historical Injustice ' When Allocating Coronavirus Vaccine When Virginia Hedrick first heard about the coronavirus circulating on cruise ships off the coast of California back in March , it made her think back to some of the first ships of European settlers that arrived on American shores centuries ago , also teeming with disease .
Various outbreaks and epidemics spread across the continent in the following centuries , particularly measles and smallpox , and Indigenous people suffered hugely disproportionate rates of illness and death .
`` So some would say that it was an unintentional spread of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say it was absolutely intentional , '' says Hedrick , a member of the Yurok tribe who grew up on a reservation in Humboldt County .
Now , during the 2020 coronavirus pandemic , American Indians are 4 times more likely to be hospitalized for COVID-19 than white people , and more than twice as likely to die .
For all these reasons , past and present , Hedrick says , Indigenous people should be moved toward the front of the line to receive a vaccine .
`` When we think about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California , is n't now the time to say that for the first time we prioritized Indigenous people ? ''
she says .
`` We started to make reparations in the way that we handled and treated the Indigenous people of this continent ? ''
California health officials have made clear they want equity and transparency to be among the main priorities in deciding how to allocate the first scarce supplies of a vaccine .
For example , in divvying up the first doses for health care workers , the state is prioritizing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in wealthy areas .
`` We will be very aggressive in making sure that those with means , those with influence , are not crowding out those that are most deserving of the vaccines , '' Gov .
Gavin Newsom said recently at a press conference .
Newsom is referring to current inequities of money , power and access — but state officials also seem willing and even eager to also take into consideration historic injustices when deciding vaccine allocation .
The state asked more than 70 organizations to join the Community Vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine distribution plan , including the Sacramento-based policy advocacy organization Hedrick runs , the California Consortium for Urban Indian Health .
At the first meeting of the committee on Nov. 25 , Hedrick introduced the idea of considering historical injustice as a factor in deciding which groups would be next to get the vaccine after health care workers .
At the second meeting a few days later , Dr. Nadine Burke Harris , the state 's surgeon general and a co-chair of the committee said : We heard you .
`` We , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ based .
We , of course , want to use the highest standards of rigor , '' she told the group .
`` And at the same time , we want to reflect what we 're hearing from this group . ''
How do you define equity and health-care equity in particular ?
Rather than defining equity as everyone having a `` fair opportunity to attain their full potential , '' as the World Health Organization does , Burke Harris instead proposed adopting a definition from the U.S. Office of Minority Health , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ efforts to address avoidable inequalities and historical and contemporary injustices . ''
`` We really wanted to have that included , '' Burke Harris said .
Over the next several weeks , the group will have to figure out how to translate those considerations into actionable vaccine policy .
`` We have some good agreement on the what , but still some questions on the how , '' Burke Harris told the committee .
The details will matter .
Experts warn California could open itself up to legal challenges if it uses race @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prioritizing who gets the vaccine .
`` That is affirmative action .
That 's choosing one group over another , '' says Lawrence Gostin , professor of global health law at Georgetown University .
In recent rulings , The U.S. Supreme Court has imposed strict rules on how affirmative action can be used in higher education , and Gostin thinks that federal courts would very likely be hostile to its use in public health .
Such litigation could slow down implementation of a vaccine roll out .
Instead of using race , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a combination of other factors that can capture race , such as like poverty , housing density or education disadvantage .
Eighteen states have indicated they would use the `` social vulnerability index , '' a metric created by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
It combines 15 socioeconomic measures to identify at-risk neighborhoods .
California has relied on its own `` health equity metric '' during the pandemic to guide reopening plans on the county level , and Burke Harris indicated the state might use it to decide vaccine allocations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I think that 's a noble societal goal , '' Gostin says .
`` We just have to do it smart and keep the courts out of it . ''
Beyond distributing vaccines , states will have to address mistrust However the state incorporates equity considerations into its vaccine allocation plans , there will still be obstacles .
Hedrick is concerned Indigenous Americans may not be willing to take the vaccine first , even if it 's offered first .
`` I 'm working with a community of people who are saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the federal government or state governments to say , 'Oh , we need racial equity , when it 's never been a concern ? '
`` she says.
`` 'All of a sudden now we want to make sure brown people get this vaccine first ? '
`` There are more recent examples of medical harm at the hands of government which still haunt tribal communities .
In the 1970s , as many as 70,000 Native women were forcibly sterilized at government-funded hospitals and clinics of the Indian Health Services .
Hedrick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ victim of this campaign .
`` She gave birth to my dad in 1943 in San Diego , and said that the doctor told her then that she would never have children again , that my dad 'ruined her , ' `` Hedrick says .
`` There are many stories like that that you sort of turn your head and think , 'Were you sterilized in that hospital ? '
'' Any plan to prioritize Indigenous people for the coronavirus vaccine will have to include serious investments in outreach and building trust , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , she adds , for their own generational healing .
`` So that when my granddaughter 's looking back at the 2020 pandemic , she 'll say , 'This is where we started to turn the tide , ' '' Hedrick says .
`` This is where we started to see actual governments do something different . ''

California May Consider 'Historical Injustice' When Allocating COVID-19 Vaccine
Enlarge this image toggle caption Sam Wasson/Getty Images Sam Wasson/Getty Images
When Virginia Hedrick first heard about the coronavirus circulating on cruise ships off the coast of California back in March, it made her think back to some of the first ships of European settlers that arrived on American shores centuries ago, also teeming with disease.
Various outbreaks and epidemics spread across the continent in the following centuries, particularly measles and smallpox, and Indigenous people suffered hugely disproportionate rates of illness and death.
"So some would say that it was an unintentional spread of infectious disease upon contact. Others would say it was absolutely intentional," says Hedrick, a member of the Yurok tribe who grew up on a reservation in Humboldt County. Now, during the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, American Indians are four times more likely to be hospitalized for COVID-19 than white people, and more than twice as likely to die. For all these reasons, past and present, Hedrick says, Indigenous people should be moved toward the front of the line to receive a vaccine.
"When we think about the historical injustice of this nation, of California, isn't now the time to say that for the first time we prioritized Indigenous people?" she says. "We started to make reparations in the way that we handled and treated the Indigenous people of this continent?"
California health officials have made clear they want equity and transparency to be among the main priorities in deciding how to allocate the first scarce supplies of a vaccine. For example, in divvying up the first doses for health care workers, the state is prioritizing hospitals located in low-income areas before those in wealthy areas.
"We will be very aggressive in making sure that those with means, those with influence, are not crowding out those that are most deserving of the vaccines," Gov. Gavin Newsom said recently at a press conference.
Newsom is referring to current inequities of money, power and access — but state officials also seem willing and even eager to also take into consideration historic injustices when deciding vaccine allocation. The state asked more than 70 organizations to join the Community Vaccine Advisory Committee to help develop an equitable vaccine distribution plan, including the Sacramento-based policy advocacy organization Hedrick runs, the California Consortium for Urban Indian Health.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Calvin Hedrick Calvin Hedrick
At the first meeting of the committee on Nov. 25, Hedrick introduced the idea of considering historical injustice as a factor in deciding which groups would be next to get the vaccine after health care workers. At the second meeting a few days later, Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, the state's surgeon general and a co-chair of the committee, said: We heard you.
"We, of course, want to be evidence based. We, of course, want to use the highest standards of rigor," she told the group. "And at the same time, we want to reflect what we're hearing from this group."
How do you define equity and health care equity in particular?
Rather than defining equity as everyone having a "fair opportunity to attain their full potential," as the World Health Organization does, Burke Harris instead proposed adopting a definition from the U.S. Office of Minority Health, which says achieving health equity requires "efforts to address avoidable inequalities and historical and contemporary injustices."
"We really wanted to have that included," Burke Harris said.
Over the next several weeks, the group will have to figure out how to translate those considerations into actionable vaccine policy.
"We have some good agreement on the what, but still some questions on the how," Burke Harris told the committee.
The details will matter. Experts warn California could open itself up to legal challenges if it uses race or historical injustice as a factor in prioritizing who gets the vaccine.
"That is affirmative action. That's choosing one group over another," says Lawrence Gostin, professor of global health law at Georgetown University.
In recent rulings, The U.S. Supreme Court has imposed strict rules on how affirmative action can be used in higher education, and Gostin thinks that federal courts would very likely be hostile to its use in public health. Such litigation could slow down implementation of a vaccine rollout.
Instead of using race, he says, the state should focus on a combination of other factors that can capture race, such as poverty, housing density or education disadvantage.
Eighteen states have indicated they would use the "social vulnerability index," a metric created by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It combines 15 socioeconomic measures to identify at-risk neighborhoods. California has relied on its own "health equity metric" during the pandemic to guide reopening plans on the county level, and Burke Harris indicated the state might use it to decide vaccine allocations.
"Being fair, being equitable, I think that's a noble societal goal," Gostin says. "We just have to do it smart and keep the courts out of it."
Beyond distributing vaccines, states will have to address mistrust
However the state incorporates equity considerations into its vaccine allocation plans, there will still be obstacles. Hedrick is concerned Indigenous Americans may not be willing to take the vaccine first, even if it's offered first.
"I'm working with a community of people who are saying, 'Isn't this a funny time for the federal government or state governments to say, 'Oh, we need racial equity, when it's never been a concern?' " she says. " 'All of a sudden now we want to make sure brown people get this vaccine first?' "
There are more recent examples of medical harm at the hands of government which still haunt tribal communities. In the 1970s, as many as 70,000 Native women were forcibly sterilized at government-funded hospitals and clinics of the Indian Health Services.
Hedrick believes her own grandmother was an early victim of this campaign.
"She gave birth to my dad in 1943 in San Diego, and said that the doctor told her then that she would never have children again, that my dad 'ruined her,' " Hedrick says. "There are many stories like that that you sort of turn your head and think, 'Were you sterilized in that hospital?' "
Any plan to prioritize Indigenous people for a COVID-19 vaccine will have to include serious investments in outreach and building trust, she says. Indigenous Americans need this, she adds, for their own generational healing.
"So that when my granddaughter's looking back at the 2020 pandemic, she'll say, 'This is where we started to turn the tide,' " Hedrick says. "This is where we started to see actual governments do something different."
This story comes from NPR's health reporting partnership with KQED and Kaiser Health News.


npr--2020-12-16--Former Fashion Executive Peter Nygard Charged With Sex Trafficking

Peter Nygard , the former CEO of a Canada-based fashion line , has been arrested and charged with racketeering , sex trafficking and other crimes after authorities in Manitoba acted on a U.S. request for his extradition , federal prosecutors in New York said Tuesday .
The U.S. Attorney 's Office for the Southern District of New York said in a statement that Nygard had been taken into custody the day before in Winnipeg at the request of the U.S. under an extradition treaty .
Nygard , 79 , is accused of using the influence of his now defunct company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to `` recruit and maintain adult and minor-aged female victims '' over a period of at least 25 years for the `` sexual gratification '' of himself and `` his friends and business associates , '' according to the indictment .
Nygard allegedly targeted women and minors from `` disadvantaged economic backgrounds , '' including those with a history of abuse .
Nygard and his associates are accused of forcibly assaulting these victims , as well as drugging them .
Additionally , the indictment states that Nygard maintained relationships with a certain number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` girlfriends . ''
They would be required to travel and engage in sexual activity with him , and were allegedly controlled through `` force , fraud and coercion . ''
Some of these `` girlfriends '' were on Nygard International 's payroll as models or assistants , the indictment says .
Nygard International filed for bankruptcy in March , a month after its New York offices , located in Times Square , were raided by the FBI and NYPD as part of the investigation that led to this week 's arrest and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bankruptcy , the company 's brands -- Nygard , Nygard Slims , Bianca Nygard , ADX TanJay , Alia and Allison Daley — have gone up for sale .
After the February police raid , Ken Frydman , a spokesperson for Nygard , told ABC News that the fashion tycoon welcomed an investigation and `` expects his name to be cleared . ''
Nygard allegedly preyed on women at events called `` Pamper Parties , '' held at his properties in Marina del Rey , Calif. , and in the Bahamas .
Some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at these events to force their compliance , prosecutors say .
He also lured victims with the promise of careers in the fashion industry , according to the indictment .
Jay Prober , Nygard 's lawyer , told The New York Times that he denied the charges against his client .
A bail hearing is set for Jan. 13 , but Prober is seeking a hearing as early as next week , the Times reported .
Nygard 's neighbor in the Bahamas , Louis Bacon , had also filed a lawsuit against the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teenage girls .
The federal lawsuit was filed on behalf of 10 women who accused Nygard of sexual assault , according to the Times .

Former Fashion Executive Peter Nygard Charged With Sex Trafficking
Enlarge this image toggle caption Anadolu Agency/Getty Images Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
Peter Nygard, the former CEO of a Canada-based fashion line, has been arrested and charged with racketeering, sex trafficking and other crimes after authorities in Manitoba acted on a U.S. request for his extradition, federal prosecutors in New York said Tuesday.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York said in a statement that Nygard had been taken into custody the day before in Winnipeg at the request of the U.S. under an extradition treaty.
Nygard, 79, is accused of using the influence of his now defunct company, Nygard International, employees and funds to "recruit and maintain adult and minor-aged female victims" over a period of at least 25 years for the "sexual gratification" of himself and "his friends and business associates," according to the indictment.
Nygard allegedly targeted women and girls from "disadvantaged economic backgrounds," including those with a history of abuse. Nygard and his associates are accused of forcibly assaulting these victims, as well as drugging them.
Additionally, the indictment states that Nygard maintained relationships with a certain number of his victims, whom he called "girlfriends." They would be required to travel and engage in sexual activity with him, and were allegedly controlled through "force, fraud and coercion." Some of these "girlfriends" were on Nygard International's payroll as models or assistants, the indictment says.
Nygard International filed for bankruptcy in March, a month after its New York offices, located in Times Square, were raided by the FBI and NYPD as part of the investigation that led to this week's arrest and indictment.
In the wake of the bankruptcy, the company's brands --Nygard, Nygard Slims, Bianca Nygard, ADX TanJay, Alia and Allison Daley — have gone up for sale.
After the February police raid, Ken Frydman, a spokesperson for Nygard, told ABC News that the fashion tycoon welcomed an investigation and "expects his name to be cleared."
Nygard allegedly preyed on women at events called "Pamper Parties," held at his properties in Marina del Rey, Calif., and in the Bahamas. Some women and girls were drugged at these events to force their compliance, prosecutors say. He also lured victims with the promise of careers in the fashion industry, according to the indictment.
Jay Prober, Nygard's lawyer, told The New York Times that he denied the charges against his client. A bail hearing is set for Jan. 13, but Prober is seeking a hearing as early as next week, the Times reported.
Lawyers in New York also filed a federal lawsuit in February on behalf of 10 women who accused Nygard of sexual assault, according to the Times. The lawsuit came amid a feud between Nygard and his neighbor in the Bahamas, Louis Bacon. Lawyers funded by Bacon had accused Nygard of raping teenage girls in the country.


npr--2020-12-16--Minnesota Commutes Life Sentence Of Man Convicted As Teen Of Shooting 11-Year-Old

Minnesota Commutes Life Sentence Of Man Convicted As Teen Of Shooting 11-Year-Old The Minnesota Board of Pardons on Tuesday commuted the life sentence of Myon Burrell , a Black man who was sentenced to life in prison as a minor .
Burrell , who was 16 at the time of his arrest , was accused of fatally shooting an 11-year old girl , who was struck by a stray bullet while doing her homework inside her family 's Minneapolis home .
Following the announcement of his imminent release , Burrell held back tears .
`` Thank you .
Thank you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a hand out to the camera .
Burrell 's case drew intense scrutiny after yearlong investigation by The Associated Press and American Public Media published earlier this year , uncovered new evidence and revealed numerous failures in the Minneapolis Police Department 's handling of the case , including the absence of fingerprint and DNA evidence , and no murder weapon .
In 2002 , Burrell was interrogated by Minneapolis police officers in a grueling session that lasted three hours .
Throughout the grilling , the teenage boy failed to ask for an attorney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mother thirteen separate times .
Repeatedly , he said he was n't anywhere near the scene of the shooting .
He said there was proof .
He and a friend had taken a break from playing video games and walked to a convenience store in search of snacks .
There was surveillance footage that could prove it , he told the officers .
The AP story showed the police never tracked down the surveillance video .
In the meantime , Burrell was certified as an adult and placed in solitary confinement as detectives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other suspects in connection with the shooting — one of whom later swore he was the trigger man .
By the time Burrell turned 17 , just a year after the investigation into the killing of Tyesha Edwards began , the Black teen was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison .
Eventually , the 2003 conviction was thrown out — in part due to the fact that the MPD had violated the boy 's rights — and Burrell was retried in 2008 .
But he was again found guilty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years to life in prison .
On Tuesday night , after nearly two decades of maintaining his innocence and just 11 months after the blistering story by the AP , Burrell was released from prison .
The Minnesota Board of Pardons commuted the 34-year-old 's life sentence to 20 years , saying he could serve out the rest of the time on immediate supervised release .
Prior to the decision , Burrell asked the board , which included Gov .
Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison , for a pardon as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not in any way , shape or form me trying to minimize the tragedy of the loss of '' Tysha Edwards , he said in the Zoom call from inside the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Stillwater , Minn. '' I come before you , a 34-year-old man who spent more than half of his life incarcerated for a crime I did n't commit , '' he added calmly .
Walz and Ellison both voted for the commutation but denied Burrell 's request for a pardon .
Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Lorie Skjerven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the three-person panel , recused herself from the decision because she had been involved in the case .
`` While this board is not a fact finder , it does have the power to determine when justice is served through the power of clemency and mercy , '' the governor said , noting Burrell 's `` exceptionally long sentence . ''
`` We can not turn a blind eye to the developments in science and law as we look at this case , '' Walz added .
The governor 's remarks refer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ circumstances of Burrell 's case , as well as a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that found teenage minds are not fully developed and therefore they should not be subject to the same type of punishment as adults .
Before voting , Walz spoke about the abysmal state of the juvenile criminal justice system in Minnesota , saying it `` needs to be reformed . ''
`` We ca n't shackle our children in 2020 and expect them to understand and live in a society with respect to decency ... We need to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ justice system , '' he said .
Walz emphasized that his recommendation , like the independent report , is not a comment on Burrell 's guilt or innocence .
The Attorney General noted that the newly released Burrell may be eligible to take the case to his office 's new Conviction Review Unit .
The AP 's investigative report was published after the story of Tyesha Edward 's killing resurfaced in the public sphere as part of the presidential debates .
Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar , who was Hennepin County Attorney in 2002 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ successful example of her tough-on-crime record .
In 2007 , during her first bid for the U.S. Senate , she claimed credit for helping put away the shooter .
In a statement on Tuesday , Klobuchar thanked the pardon board for their work , saying she `` had asked for the independent investigation of this case , and as I said when the report was first released , the sentence deserved immediate review .
That happened today . ''
Klobuchar called the vote , `` the right decision . ''
She also urged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an investigation into `` the facts of the case . ''
As MPR reported , dozens of supporters braved below-freezing temperatures to greet Burrell , who was dressed in white from head to toe , as he took his first steps of freedom .
Some ran bells and beat on a drum while screaming and cheering , `` Myon 's free ! ''
Burrell 's attorney Perry Moriearty addressed the jubilant crowd saying , `` He is very happy to have the opportunity to go home to his family and start the next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that you respect his privacy while he adjusts to life on the outside . ''

Minnesota Commutes Life Sentence Of Man Convicted As Teen Of Shooting 11-Year-Old
Enlarge this image toggle caption John Minchillo/AP John Minchillo/AP
The Minnesota Board of Pardons on Tuesday commuted the life sentence of Myon Burrell, a Black man who was sentenced to life in prison as a minor.
Burrell, who was 16 at the time of his arrest, was accused of fatally shooting an 11-year old girl, who was struck by a stray bullet while doing her homework inside her family's Minneapolis home.
Following the announcement of his imminent release, Burrell held back tears.
"Thank you. Thank you very much," he said reaching a hand out to the camera.
Burrell's case drew intense scrutiny after yearlong investigation by The Associated Press and American Public Media published earlier this year, uncovered new evidence and revealed numerous failures in the Minneapolis Police Department's handling of the case, including the absence of fingerprint and DNA evidence, and no murder weapon.
The AP's Robin McDowell reported:
"The case against Burrell revolved around a teen rival who gave conflicting accounts of the shooting. Later, police turned to jailhouse informants, some of whom say they were coached and have since recanted. Alibis were not questioned. Key evidence has gone missing or was never obtained ... And the chief homicide detective was caught on camera offering cash for information — even if it was just hearsay."
In 2002, Burrell was interrogated by Minneapolis police officers in a grueling session that lasted three hours.
Throughout the grilling, the teenage boy failed to ask for an attorney. Instead, he asked for his mother thirteen separate times.
Repeatedly, he said he wasn't anywhere near the scene of the shooting. He said there was proof. He and a friend had taken a break from playing video games and walked to a convenience store in search of snacks. There was surveillance footage that could prove it, he told the officers.
The AP story showed the police never tracked down the surveillance video.
In the meantime, Burrell was certified as an adult and placed in solitary confinement as detectives questioned alleged witnesses and brought in two other suspects in connection with the shooting — one of whom later swore he was the trigger man.
By the time Burrell turned 17, just a year after the investigation into the killing of Tyesha Edwards began, the Black teen was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison.
Eventually, the 2003 conviction was thrown out — in part due to the fact that the MPD had violated the boy's rights — and Burrell was retried in 2008. But he was again found guilty and this time, sentenced to 45 years to life in prison.
On Tuesday night, after nearly two decades of maintaining his innocence and just 11 months after the blistering story by the AP, Burrell was released from prison.
The Minnesota Board of Pardons commuted the 34-year-old's life sentence to 20 years, saying he could serve out the rest of the time on immediate supervised release.
Prior to the decision, Burrell asked the board, which included Gov. Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison, for a pardon as well as a commutation.
"This is not in any way, shape or form me trying to minimize the tragedy of the loss of" Tysha Edwards, he said in the Zoom call from inside the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Stillwater, Minn.
"I come before you, a 34-year-old man who spent more than half of his life incarcerated for a crime I didn't commit," he added calmly.
Walz and Ellison both voted for the commutation but denied Burrell's request for a pardon. Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Lorie Skjerven Gildea, who is the other member of the three-person panel, recused herself from the decision because she had been involved in the case.
"While this board is not a fact finder, it does have the power to determine when justice is served through the power of clemency and mercy," the governor said, noting Burrell's "exceptionally long sentence."
"We cannot turn a blind eye to the developments in science and law as we look at this case," Walz added.
The governor's remarks refer to an independent report specifically examining the circumstances of Burrell's case, as well as a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that found teenage minds are not fully developed and therefore they should not be subject to the same type of punishment as adults.
Before voting, Walz spoke about the abysmal state of the juvenile criminal justice system in Minnesota, saying it "needs to be reformed."
"We can't shackle our children in 2020 and expect them to understand and live in a society with respect to decency ... We need to make compassion and redemption part of our criminal justice system," he said.
Walz emphasized that his recommendation, like the independent report, is not a comment on Burrell's guilt or innocence.
The Attorney General noted that the newly released Burrell may be eligible to take the case to his office's new Conviction Review Unit.
The AP's investigative report was published after the story of Tyesha Edward's killing resurfaced in the public sphere as part of the presidential debates. Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who was Hennepin County Attorney in 2002, has touted the case as a successful example of her tough-on-crime record. In 2007, during her first bid for the U.S. Senate, she claimed credit for helping put away the shooter.
In a statement on Tuesday, Klobuchar thanked the pardon board for their work, saying she "had asked for the independent investigation of this case, and as I said when the report was first released, the sentence deserved immediate review. That happened today."
Klobuchar called the vote, "the right decision." She also urged the Minnesota Conviction Review Unit to continue an investigation into "the facts of the case."
Burrell was released shortly before 7 p.m. local time Tuesday night.
As MPR reported, dozens of supporters braved below-freezing temperatures to greet Burrell, who was dressed in white from head to toe, as he took his first steps of freedom.
Some ran bells and beat on a drum while screaming and cheering, "Myon's free!"
Burrell's attorney Perry Moriearty addressed the jubilant crowd saying, "He is very happy to have the opportunity to go home to his family and start the next chapter of his life. He asks that you respect his privacy while he adjusts to life on the outside."


npr--2020-12-16--Twitter To Remove Or Place Warning Labels On COVID Vaccine Conspiracy Tweets

Twitter To Remove Or Place Warning Labels On COVID Vaccine Conspiracy Tweets Debunked claims about COVID-19 vaccinations will be swiftly removed from Twitter starting next week , the company announced on Wednesday .
And moving into 2021 , officials said , the company may start placing labels or warnings on messages containing `` unsubstantiated rumors , disputed claims , as well as incomplete or out-of-context information about vaccines . ''
The forthcoming crackdowns come as countries around the world have begun delivering vaccine injections to health care workers and those most vulnerable to the disease .
The new rules broaden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of tweets that it says `` advance harmful false or misleading narratives about COVID-19 vaccinations , '' Twitter wrote in a blog post .
Among the posts that will be flagged are those making false conspiracy claims suggesting immunizations and vaccines are used as tools to control or harm the population at large .
Others alleging that the global coronavirus pandemic is made up and those that are dismissive of the gravity of the virus will also be taken down .
Officials said Twitter will use a combination of technology and people who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world to enforce the changes on such posts .

Twitter To Remove Or Place Warning Labels On COVID Vaccine Conspiracy Tweets
Enlarge this image toggle caption NurPhoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images NurPhoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Debunked claims about COVID-19 vaccinations will be swiftly removed from Twitter starting next week, the company announced on Wednesday.
And moving into 2021, officials said, the company may start placing labels or warnings on messages containing "unsubstantiated rumors, disputed claims, as well as incomplete or out-of-context information about vaccines."
The forthcoming crackdowns come as countries around the world have begun delivering vaccine injections to health care workers and those most vulnerable to the disease. The new rules broaden Twitter's existing practices requiring the removal of tweets that it says "advance harmful false or misleading narratives about COVID-19 vaccinations," Twitter wrote in a blog post.
Among the posts that will be flagged are those making false conspiracy claims suggesting immunizations and vaccines are used as tools to control or harm the population at large. Others alleging that the global coronavirus pandemic is made up and those that are dismissive of the gravity of the virus will also be taken down.
Officials said Twitter will use a combination of technology and people who will be consulting with health experts around the world to enforce the changes on such posts.


npr--2020-12-16--Tyson Foods Fires 7 Plant Managers Over Betting Ring On Workers Getting COVID-19

Tyson Foods Fires 7 Plant Managers Over Betting Ring On Workers Getting COVID-19 Tyson Foods has fired seven managers at an Iowa pork plant after investigating allegations they bet on how many workers there would get sick from the coronavirus .
The company , one of the country 's largest meat suppliers , launched an independent investigation into the complaints last month , suspending without pay the managers allegedly involved .
Former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder led the investigation .
`` The behaviors exhibited by these individuals do not represent the Tyson core values , which is why we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the truth , '' Tyson Foods President and CEO Dean Banks said in a statement Wednesday .
`` Now that the investigation has concluded , we are taking action based on the findings . ''
A spokesperson for Tyson , Gary Mickelson , told NPR that there is n't a report to share from the investigation , but `` we can tell you that Mr. Holder and his team looked specifically at the gaming allegations and found sufficient evidence for us to terminate those involved . ''
Banks traveled to the plant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community leaders .
More than 1,000 employees at the plant in Waterloo have been infected by the virus , and at least six have died .
The virus spread across the community : Black Hawk County has seen some 12,000 cases and 193 deaths .
Many of the plant 's 2,800 employees are immigrants and refugees .
Black Hawk County Sheriff Tony Thompson visited the plant along with health officials in April .
He told The New York Times that working conditions there — workers crowded elbow to elbow , not wearing face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ core . ''
Thompson and other officials lobbied for Tyson to close the plant , but the company refused .
It was around this time , according to a complaint from the family of one employee who died , that the manager of the Waterloo facility organized a `` cash buy-in , winner-take-all betting pool for supervisors and managers to wager how many employees would test positive for COVID-19 . ''
According to the lawsuit filed by the family of Isidro Fernandez , who died in April , Tyson had employees move between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was occurring and the Waterloo plant , and did not adequately test or quarantine them before they entered the Waterloo facility .
The lawsuit also alleges that supervisors outwardly denied there were cases of the virus at the Waterloo plant but began avoiding the plant floor because they were afraid of contracting the virus .
The supervisors also reportedly told workers they had `` a responsibility to keep working in order to ensure Americans do n't go hungry . ''
The complaint says Tyson offered $ 500 `` thank you bonuses '' to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shift for three months — a policy that the plaintiffs argue incentivized sick workers to keep working .
The Tyson spokesman did not confirm whether such incentives were offered , or respond directly to other allegations from the pending litigation .
`` We 're saddened by the loss of any Tyson team member and sympathize with their families .
Our top priority is the health and safety of our workers , and we 've implemented a host of protective measures at our facilities that meet or exceed CDC and OSHA guidance for preventing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to investments the company has made in testing , temperature scanners , workspace dividers and other safety measures .
Tyson eventually announced on April 22 it would suspend operations at the plant .
It reopened two weeks later .

Tyson Foods Fires 7 Plant Managers Over Betting Ring On Workers Getting COVID-19
Enlarge this image toggle caption Charlie Neibergall/AP Charlie Neibergall/AP
Tyson Foods has fired seven managers at an Iowa pork plant after investigating allegations they bet on how many workers there would get sick from the coronavirus.
The company, one of the country's largest meat suppliers, launched an independent investigation into the complaints last month, suspending without pay the managers allegedly involved. Former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder led the investigation.
"The behaviors exhibited by these individuals do not represent the Tyson core values, which is why we took immediate and appropriate action to get to the truth," Tyson Foods President and CEO Dean Banks said in a statement Wednesday. "Now that the investigation has concluded, we are taking action based on the findings."
A spokesperson for Tyson, Gary Mickelson, told NPR that there isn't a report to share from the investigation, but "we can tell you that Mr. Holder and his team looked specifically at the gaming allegations and found sufficient evidence for us to terminate those involved."
Banks traveled to the plant on Wednesday to meet with workers and community leaders.
More than 1,000 employees at the plant in Waterloo have been infected by the virus, and at least six have died. The virus spread across the community: Black Hawk County has seen some 12,000 cases and 193 deaths. Many of the plant's 2,800 employees are immigrants and refugees.
Black Hawk County Sheriff Tony Thompson visited the plant along with health officials in April. He told The New York Times that working conditions there — workers crowded elbow to elbow, not wearing face coverings — "shook me to the core."
Thompson and other officials lobbied for Tyson to close the plant, but the company refused.
It was around this time, according to a complaint from the family of one employee who died, that the manager of the Waterloo facility organized a "cash buy-in, winner-take-all betting pool for supervisors and managers to wager how many employees would test positive for COVID-19."
According to the lawsuit filed by the family of Isidro Fernandez, who died in April, Tyson had employees move between a different Iowa plant where an outbreak was occurring and the Waterloo plant, and did not adequately test or quarantine them before they entered the Waterloo facility.
The lawsuit also alleges that supervisors outwardly denied there were cases of the virus at the Waterloo plant but began avoiding the plant floor because they were afraid of contracting the virus. The supervisors also reportedly told workers they had "a responsibility to keep working in order to ensure Americans don't go hungry."
The complaint says Tyson offered $500 "thank you bonuses" to employees who showed up for every scheduled shift for three months — a policy that the plaintiffs argue incentivized sick workers to keep working.
The Tyson spokesman did not confirm whether such incentives were offered, or respond directly to other allegations from the pending litigation.
"We're saddened by the loss of any Tyson team member and sympathize with their families. Our top priority is the health and safety of our workers, and we've implemented a host of protective measures at our facilities that meet or exceed CDC and OSHA guidance for preventing COVID-19," Mickelson said, pointing to investments the company has made in testing, temperature scanners, workspace dividers and other safety measures.
Tyson eventually announced on April 22 it would suspend operations at the plant. It reopened two weeks later.


npr--2020-12-16--Devices Used In COVID-19 Treatment Can Give Errors For Patients With Dark Skin

Devices Used In COVID-19 Treatment Can Give Errors For Patients With Dark Skin The common fingertip devices that measures oxygen in the blood can sometimes give misleading readings in people with dark skin , according to a report Wednesday in The New England Journal of Medicine .
These devices , called pulse oximeters , are increasingly finding their way into people 's homes , because of the COVID-19 pandemic .
So , this is not just a concern for medical personnel using professional-grade devices .
Dr. Michael Sjoding and colleagues at the University of Michigan hospital in Ann Arbor came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ received an influx of COVID-19 patients from Detroit 's overflowing hospitals .
Many of these patients are Black .
Sjoding noticed something odd about results from the fingertip device used throughout hospitals .
`` It spits out this number called an oxygen saturation value , which gives us an understanding of how much oxygen is in the blood , '' Sjoding says .
But he noticed that oxygen reading was sometimes off when compared with a more sophisticated test that samples blood from a person 's artery .
So Sjoding and his colleagues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in light-skinned people versus dark-skinned people .
They measured how often a pulse oximeter reading — apparently in the normal range — actually came from someone with low oxygen as measured in an artery .
`` We found this happened much more often in patients who were Black .
Basically , about three times as often , '' he says .
His initial study was based on more than 10,000 measurements taken at his hospital – instances in which doctors had nearly simultaneous oxygen readings from a pulse oximeter and blood in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finding , he and his colleagues looked at another 37,000 measurements taken from 178 intensive care units .
About 12 % of the time , apparently normal readings were actually misleading , the report says .
`` It 's not happening a lot , but if you think of how often these measurements are taken , if it 's wrong 12 % of the time , I worry that could be really impactful , '' Sjoding says .
And , though previous studies have flagged this issue , Sjoding says he does n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in ICUs .
`` When I ran these analyses , I was just really surprised . ''
It 's all the more important now that many people are buying pulse oximeters to monitor their own health at home .
He suspects the reason behind this is that the color of light used in the pulse oximeter can be absorbed by skin pigment .
Dr .
Jewel Mullen , associate dean for health equity at the University of Texas Dell Medical School in Austin , agrees that this discrepancy is about skin color , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the impact the finding could have on people who may rely on consumer-grade pulse oximeter devices at home , sometimes in lieu of medical care .
The devices are still a valuable tool , she says , but it 's important to look at the results in context .
`` If somebody has coronavirus and they 're feeling really short of breath , but they 're getting [ an acceptable reading ] — say an oxygen saturation of 92 % to 96 % or more — they should pay more attention to their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oxygen that 's being measured , '' Mullen says .
People should also keep an eye on trends , rather than absolute readings , she says .
If a person 's oxygen level drops significantly , that should prompt a call to a medical provider , even if the number is still in the `` normal '' zone .
Sjoding says pulse oximeters will remain important for hospitals as well , but he now thinks more carefully about how to interpret the readings .
You can contact NPR science correspondent Richard Harris at @ @ @ @

Devices Used In COVID-19 Treatment Can Give Errors For Patients With Dark Skin
Enlarge this image toggle caption Angus Mordant/Bloomberg via Getty Images Angus Mordant/Bloomberg via Getty Images
The common fingertip devices that measures oxygen in the blood can sometimes give misleading readings in people with dark skin, according to a report Wednesday in The New England Journal of Medicine.
These devices, called pulse oximeters, are increasingly finding their way into people's homes, because of the COVID-19 pandemic. So, this is not just a concern for medical personnel using professional-grade devices.
Dr. Michael Sjoding and colleagues at the University of Michigan hospital in Ann Arbor came across this issue this year when they received an influx of COVID-19 patients from Detroit's overflowing hospitals. Many of these patients are Black. Sjoding noticed something odd about results from the fingertip device used throughout hospitals.
"It spits out this number called an oxygen saturation value, which gives us an understanding of how much oxygen is in the blood," Sjoding says.
But he noticed that oxygen reading was sometimes off when compared with a more sophisticated test that samples blood from a person's artery. So Sjoding and his colleagues started gathering data, comparing these readings in light-skinned people versus dark-skinned people. They measured how often a pulse oximeter reading — apparently in the normal range — actually came from someone with low oxygen as measured in an artery.
"We found this happened much more often in patients who were Black. Basically, about three times as often," he says.
His initial study was based on more than 10,000 measurements taken at his hospital – instances in which doctors had nearly simultaneous oxygen readings from a pulse oximeter and blood in a person's artery.
To validate that finding, he and his colleagues looked at another 37,000 measurements taken from 178 intensive care units.
About 12% of the time, apparently normal readings were actually misleading, the report says.
"It's not happening a lot, but if you think of how often these measurements are taken, if it's wrong 12% of the time, I worry that could be really impactful," Sjoding says.
And, though previous studies have flagged this issue, Sjoding says he doesn't think it's widely appreciated by physicians in ICUs. "When I ran these analyses, I was just really surprised." It's all the more important now that many people are buying pulse oximeters to monitor their own health at home.
He suspects the reason behind this is that the color of light used in the pulse oximeter can be absorbed by skin pigment.
Your Health The Role Of Home Pulse Oximeters In Treating COVID-19 The Role Of Home Pulse Oximeters In Treating COVID-19 Listen · 3:57 3:57
Dr. Jewel Mullen, associate dean for health equity at the University of Texas Dell Medical School in Austin, agrees that this discrepancy is about skin color, not race. She's concerned about the impact the finding could have on people who may rely on consumer-grade pulse oximeter devices at home, sometimes in lieu of medical care. The devices are still a valuable tool, she says, but it's important to look at the results in context.
"If somebody has coronavirus and they're feeling really short of breath, but they're getting [an acceptable reading] — say an oxygen saturation of 92% to 96% or more — they should pay more attention to their shortness of breath, more than that oxygen that's being measured," Mullen says.
People should also keep an eye on trends, rather than absolute readings, she says. If a person's oxygen level drops significantly, that should prompt a call to a medical provider, even if the number is still in the "normal" zone.
Sjoding says pulse oximeters will remain important for hospitals as well, but he now thinks more carefully about how to interpret the readings.
You can contact NPR science correspondent Richard Harris at rharris@npr.org.


npr--2020-12-16--'What Real Friends Do': How to Navigate Tough Conversations About COVID-19

'What Real Friends Do ' : How to Navigate Tough Conversations About COVID-19 As it gets colder , and harder to gather outdoors , some of Kenzie Billings ' conversations with her loved ones are feeling a bit more fraught .
`` It 's felt frustrating at times .
You know , you can feel energy from people in terms of wanting to be together , '' the 29-year-old from Portland , Ore. , says .
Her sister , who is pregnant , has been taking social distancing rules very seriously , she says , but others in the family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And she has found it especially hard to navigate these negotiations without being face-to-face .
`` So there 's a lot of push and pull there in terms of , 'OK , where are my boundaries ? '
And then exerting those boundaries is actually really hard , with the people that you love , '' Billings says .
Hospitals in many parts of the country are reporting another surge in coronavirus patients .
That follows the Thanksgiving holiday when many families gathered despite public health recommendations .
The spike in COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is forcing many people to have difficult conversations with friends and family about whether and how to gather .
For Desiree Middleton , 50 , in Los Angeles , the pandemic has also been hard on some relationships .
Middleton says the swirl of misinformation around the coronavirus has complicated discussions about the need for mask-wearing and social distancing .
She 's even lost some friends .
`` I have people that do n't believe the virus is real ; they feel like it 's a government conspiracy , '' Middleton says .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ known since middle school .
One friend , I was in her wedding . ''
The denialism she 's witnessed among some old friends is particularly painful , Middleton says , because she 's had family members who 've been sick with the virus .
Even for a physician , asking loved ones to wear masks and stay distant from each other can be difficult , says Dr. Tista Ghosh , an epidemiologist in Colorado and the state 's former chief medical officer .
Ghosh says she 's had difficult conversations in her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the focus on the desire to keep everyone safe and healthy .
`` One of the things that I think is important to acknowledge upfront is that you care about them and you do n't want anything to happen to them , and it 's not just about you , '' Ghosh says .
`` I think putting that out there upfront , especially with older parents , is important . ''
Ghosh advises looking for safer ways to connect , such as eating a holiday meal separately and then going for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in different cars for a tailgate party .
Offering creative alternatives can help soften the impact of conversations about social distancing , says Alise Bartley , a counseling professor at Florida Gulf Coast University .
`` Is it about saying 'no ' ?
Or , is it about trying to figure out what to say 'yes ' to ? ''
Bartley says .
`` Based on each person 's level of comfortability , how do we discern , 'Yes , I can do this , but I ca n't do this ? '
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ deep , painful parts of our lives '' The pandemic , and the social distancing it 's necessitated , have strained some social connections .
But they 've forced others to become deeper and more genuine .
`` In this specific time , it feels so much more important that we have those conversations , '' says Thomas Davidson , 18 , who lives near Philadelphia with his parents and two siblings .
`` When we see the political headlines , when we see the news about COVID , it feels like these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the side and focus on our family dynamic .
It feels like these are conversations that need to be had . ''
Davidson says it 's been frustrating to witness some of his family members ' skepticism about the need for social distancing , but the stress of the pandemic also made him appreciate them more .
`` It can be hard , but at the end of the day , they 're still family , '' he says .
For Middleton , in Los Angeles , it 's also been a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of her friends .
`` I think before the pandemic , a lot of us were just on surface-level friendships , '' she says .
`` And now we 're actually sharing the deep , painful parts of our lives with each other , and saying things that last year I was like , 'Oh , I never would have told you this because I 'd never want you to think this about me . '
`` Middleton recently had to turn down an invitation to visit another close friend because she did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – and her friend 's response made her feel closer , she says .
`` She was like , 'OK , when that vaccine comes , you 're gon na be here , ' and I 'm like , 'Absolutely , ' `` Middleton says .
`` Because that 's what friends do – we understand each other – that 's what real friends do . ''

'What Real Friends Do': How to Navigate Tough Conversations About COVID-19
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mario Tama/Getty Images Mario Tama/Getty Images
As it gets colder, and harder to gather outdoors, some of Kenzie Billings' conversations with her loved ones are feeling a bit more fraught.
"It's felt frustrating at times. You know, you can feel energy from people in terms of wanting to be together," the 29-year-old from Portland, Ore., says.
Her sister, who is pregnant, has been taking social distancing rules very seriously, she says, but others in the family are more eager to get together indoors. And she has found it especially hard to navigate these negotiations without being face-to-face.
"So there's a lot of push and pull there in terms of, 'OK, where are my boundaries?' And then exerting those boundaries is actually really hard, with the people that you love," Billings says.
Hospitals in many parts of the country are reporting another surge in coronavirus patients. That follows the Thanksgiving holiday when many families gathered despite public health recommendations.
The spike in COVID-19 numbers, coinciding with the holidays, is forcing many people to have difficult conversations with friends and family about whether and how to gather.
Communicating through misinformation
For Desiree Middleton, 50, in Los Angeles, the pandemic has also been hard on some relationships. Middleton says the swirl of misinformation around the coronavirus has complicated discussions about the need for mask-wearing and social distancing. She's even lost some friends.
"I have people that don't believe the virus is real; they feel like it's a government conspiracy," Middleton says. "These are friends that I've known since middle school. One friend, I was in her wedding."
The denialism she's witnessed among some old friends is particularly painful, Middleton says, because she's had family members who've been sick with the virus.
Connecting, creatively and safely
Even for a physician, asking loved ones to wear masks and stay distant from each other can be difficult, says Dr. Tista Ghosh, an epidemiologist in Colorado and the state's former chief medical officer. Ghosh says she's had difficult conversations in her own family, and she advises keeping the focus on the desire to keep everyone safe and healthy.
"One of the things that I think is important to acknowledge upfront is that you care about them and you don't want anything to happen to them, and it's not just about you," Ghosh says. "I think putting that out there upfront, especially with older parents, is important."
Health Houston Doctor Expects Another Coronavirus Surge After Christmas Houston Doctor Expects Another Coronavirus Surge After Christmas Listen · 6:36 6:36
Ghosh advises looking for safer ways to connect, such as eating a holiday meal separately and then going for a walk together, or even meeting up in different cars for a tailgate party.
Offering creative alternatives can help soften the impact of conversations about social distancing, says Alise Bartley, a counseling professor at Florida Gulf Coast University.
"Is it about saying 'no'? Or, is it about trying to figure out what to say 'yes' to?" Bartley says. "Based on each person's level of comfortability, how do we discern, 'Yes, I can do this, but I can't do this?' "
"We're actually sharing the deep, painful parts of our lives"
The pandemic, and the social distancing it's necessitated, have strained some social connections. But they've forced others to become deeper and more genuine.
"In this specific time, it feels so much more important that we have those conversations," says Thomas Davidson, 18, who lives near Philadelphia with his parents and two siblings. "When we see the political headlines, when we see the news about COVID, it feels like these are conversations we can't just push to the side and focus on our family dynamic. It feels like these are conversations that need to be had."
Davidson says it's been frustrating to witness some of his family members' skepticism about the need for social distancing, but the stress of the pandemic also made him appreciate them more.
"It can be hard, but at the end of the day, they're still family," he says.
For Middleton, in Los Angeles, it's also been a time to communicate more honestly with some of her friends.
"I think before the pandemic, a lot of us were just on surface-level friendships," she says. "And now we're actually sharing the deep, painful parts of our lives with each other, and saying things that last year I was like, 'Oh, I never would have told you this because I'd never want you to think this about me.' "
Middleton recently had to turn down an invitation to visit another close friend because she didn't feel safe getting on a plane – and her friend's response made her feel closer, she says.
"She was like, 'OK, when that vaccine comes, you're gonna be here,' and I'm like, 'Absolutely,' " Middleton says. "Because that's what friends do – we understand each other – that's what real friends do."


npr--2020-12-16--MacKenzie Scott Has Donated More Than $4 Billion In Last 4 Months

MacKenzie Scott Has Donated More Than $ 4 Billion In Last 4 Months MacKenzie Scott , the author and philanthropist , says she has given away more than $ 4 billion in the last four months .
`` This pandemic has been a wrecking ball in the lives of Americans already struggling , '' Scott wrote in a post on Medium announcing the donations .
`` Economic losses and health outcomes alike have been worse for women , for people of color , and for people living in poverty .
Meanwhile , it has substantially increased the wealth of billionaires @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Amazon founder Jeff Bezos ; she was a part of the company 's founding and Amazon 's first accountant .
According to Forbes , Scott is the third-richest woman in the world , estimating her worth at $ 55.1 billion after her most recent donations .
In their divorce last year , Scott received a 4 % stake in Amazon – then valued at $ 37 billion .
Amid the stock market 's pandemic boom , those shares would now be worth about $ 62 billion , though it 's not clear how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The gifts are to 384 organizations in all 50 states , Washington , D.C. , and Puerto Rico – all are unrestricted gifts , with no strings attached .
The organizations , which she lists in her post , include those that fulfill basic needs , such as food banks and emergency relief funds .
Others target longer-term problems , she says – `` systemic inequities that have been deepened by the crisis : debt relief , employment training , credit and financial services for under-resourced communities , education for historically marginalized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ groups , and legal defense funds that take on institutional discrimination . ''
A number of the organizations are community development financial institutions — mission-driven financial institutions that benefit underserved communities .
Morgan State University , a historically Black university in Baltimore , said it had received $ 40 million .
Scott also made gifts to 43 YMCA associations and the YMCA of the USA – donations for which the national organization 's CEO said they were grateful as Ys have been facing financial hardship during the pandemic .
Melissa Berman , CEO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Scott 's nearly $ 6 billion in donations this year `` has to be one of the biggest annual distributions by a living individual '' to working charities .
Scott signed the Giving Pledge last year , promising to give the majority of her wealth to philanthropy .
Bezos , who has not signed the pledge , earlier this year committed $ 10 billion to fight climate change .
In July , Scott announced she had given away nearly $ 1.7 billion to a number of causes , including historically black colleges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equity organizations .
Howard University received $ 40 million , which it said was the largest gift from a single donor in the school 's history .
For this round of donations , Scott said she asked her team of advisers to help her figure out how to give more money away faster to provide immediate support to people suffering economically during the COVID-19 pandemic .
Her advisers whittled a list of 6,490 organizations down to 822 for further research before selecting the 384 to receive funds now .
`` They took a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leadership teams and results , with special attention to those operating in communities facing high projected food insecurity , high measures of racial inequity , high local poverty rates , and low access to philanthropic capital , '' she said .
`` We do this research and deeper diligence not only to identify organizations with high potential for impact , but also to pave the way for unsolicited and unexpected gifts given with full trust and no strings attached . ''
Some point out that in a different America , Scott would n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – instead , more of that wealth would be paid in taxes that could benefit all Americans , and in higher wages to Amazon employees who could use the money directly .
Anand Giridharadas , author of the book Winners Take All : The Elite Charade of Changing the World , said in a tweet , which has since been removed , that it was `` union-busting and tax avoidance that made the fortune possible . ''
As well as praising a billionaire for giving money to HBCUs , Giridharadas said rank-and-file Amazon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the company 's success : `` Let us salute some folks barely holding on , running up and down warehouse aisles , whose wages did this . ''
Chuck Collins , director of the Program on Inequality and the Common Good at the Institute for Policy Studies , wrote at CommonDreams that while Scott is a newcomer on the billionaire-giving scene , she is doing it better than others in her cohort .
`` She still has a long way to go in her stated intention of giving away all the wealth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bold moves , putting to shame the other 650 U.S. billionaires who have n't figured out comparable ways to boldly share , '' he said .
`` During a pandemic when US billionaire wealth has increased $ 1 trillion since March , other billionaires should draw inspiration from her approach to move funds to urgent needs , to historically marginalized groups , to share decision-making with non-wealthy people , and to avoid warehousing funds in private legacy foundations . ''

MacKenzie Scott Has Donated More Than $4 Billion In Last 4 Months
Enlarge this image toggle caption Evan Agostini/Invision/AP Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
MacKenzie Scott, the author and philanthropist, says she has given away more than $4 billion in the last four months.
"This pandemic has been a wrecking ball in the lives of Americans already struggling," Scott wrote in a post on Medium announcing the donations. "Economic losses and health outcomes alike have been worse for women, for people of color, and for people living in poverty. Meanwhile, it has substantially increased the wealth of billionaires."
Scott is the ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos; she was a part of the company's founding and Amazon's first accountant. According to Forbes, Scott is the third-richest woman in the world, estimating her worth at $55.1 billion after her most recent donations.
In their divorce last year, Scott received a 4% stake in Amazon – then valued at $37 billion. Amid the stock market's pandemic boom, those shares would now be worth about $62 billion, though it's not clear how much of the fortune she has sold.
The gifts are to 384 organizations in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico – all are unrestricted gifts, with no strings attached.
The organizations, which she lists in her post, include those that fulfill basic needs, such as food banks and emergency relief funds. Others target longer-term problems, she says – "systemic inequities that have been deepened by the crisis: debt relief, employment training, credit and financial services for under-resourced communities, education for historically marginalized and underserved people, civil rights advocacy groups, and legal defense funds that take on institutional discrimination."
A number of the organizations are community development financial institutions — mission-driven financial institutions that benefit underserved communities. Morgan State University, a historically Black university in Baltimore, said it had received $40 million. Scott also made gifts to 43 YMCA associations and the YMCA of the USA – donations for which the national organization's CEO said they were grateful as Ys have been facing financial hardship during the pandemic.
Melissa Berman, CEO of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, told Bloomberg that Scott's nearly $6 billion in donations this year "has to be one of the biggest annual distributions by a living individual" to working charities.
Scott signed the Giving Pledge last year, promising to give the majority of her wealth to philanthropy. Bezos, who has not signed the pledge, earlier this year committed $10 billion to fight climate change.
In July, Scott announced she had given away nearly $1.7 billion to a number of causes, including historically black colleges and universities and women's and LGBTQ equity organizations. Howard University received $40 million, which it said was the largest gift from a single donor in the school's history.
For this round of donations, Scott said she asked her team of advisers to help her figure out how to give more money away faster to provide immediate support to people suffering economically during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her advisers whittled a list of 6,490 organizations down to 822 for further research before selecting the 384 to receive funds now.
"They took a data-driven approach to identifying organizations with strong leadership teams and results, with special attention to those operating in communities facing high projected food insecurity, high measures of racial inequity, high local poverty rates, and low access to philanthropic capital," she said.
"We do this research and deeper diligence not only to identify organizations with high potential for impact, but also to pave the way for unsolicited and unexpected gifts given with full trust and no strings attached."
Some point out that in a different America, Scott wouldn't have billions of dollars to give away – instead, more of that wealth would be paid in taxes that could benefit all Americans, and in higher wages to Amazon employees who could use the money directly.
Anand Giridharadas, author of the book Winners Take All: The Elite Charade of Changing the World, said in a tweet, which has since been removed, that it was "union-busting and tax avoidance that made the fortune possible."
As well as praising a billionaire for giving money to HBCUs, Giridharadas said rank-and-file Amazon workers should be praised for their contribution to the company's success: "Let us salute some folks barely holding on, running up and down warehouse aisles, whose wages did this."
Chuck Collins, director of the Program on Inequality and the Common Good at the Institute for Policy Studies, wrote at CommonDreams that while Scott is a newcomer on the billionaire-giving scene, she is doing it better than others in her cohort.
"She still has a long way to go in her stated intention of giving away all the wealth. But she's now made two bold moves, putting to shame the other 650 U.S. billionaires who haven't figured out comparable ways to boldly share," he said.
"During a pandemic when US billionaire wealth has increased $1 trillion since March, other billionaires should draw inspiration from her approach to move funds to urgent needs, to historically marginalized groups, to share decision-making with non-wealthy people, and to avoid warehousing funds in private legacy foundations."


npr--2020-12-16--MLB Recognizes Negro Leagues As 'Major League' — Correcting A 'Longtime Oversight'

Major League Baseball has for years acknowledged the contributions and the legacy of the thousands of Black athletes who played in the Negro Leagues .
On Wednesday , the league went a step further , saying it was officially `` correcting a longtime oversight in the game 's history '' and recognizing those professionals as Major League-caliber players .
The league said it will also include their statistics and records as part of MLB history .
`` All of us who love baseball have long known that the Negro Leagues produced many of our game 's finest players , innovations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Commissioner Robert Manfred said in statement posted to social media .
`` We are now grateful to count the players of the Negro Leagues where they belong : as Major Leaguers within the official historical record , '' he added .
The 2020 MLB season coincided with the 100th anniversary of the Negro Leagues .
Major League Baseball used the occasion to honor the Negro Leagues and its players .
However , the ceremonies and recognitions were muted because of restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic .
MLB says its announcement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ honor the Negro Leagues , for which some 3,400 Black athletes played from 1920 to 1948 .
John Thorn , the official historian of Major League Baseball , acknowledged that MLB 's racist legacy continued long after the Negro Leagues folded , adding that Wednesday 's acknowledgement of the leagues was `` profoundly gratifying . ''
`` The perceived deficiencies of the Negro Leagues ' structure and scheduling were born of MLB 's exclusionary practices , and denying them Major League status has been a double penalty , much like that exacted of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Paige 's induction in 1971 , '' Thorn said in a statement .
`` Granting MLB status to the Negro Leagues a century after their founding is profoundly gratifying , '' he added .
The Washington Post reports that in the late 1960s , the MLB formed what was known as the Special Baseball Records Committee , composed entirely of white men .
The committee was tasked with identifying leagues worthy of statistical inclusion in the MLB .
The group chose six leagues , but the Negro Leagues was not among those considered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MLB spokesperson tells NPR 's Tom Goldman that the league is just beginning to figure out how to incorporate Negro League statistics .
`` We are now launching a review of how to treat the impact of this on statistics and baseball records , '' the spokesperson said .
ESPN reported in 2015 that Negro Leagues statistics `` are notoriously incomplete . ''
The MLB decision comes amid a national reckoning following the Memorial Day killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police .
His death led to a discussion of how race , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of American life , including sports .
As the sports and culture website The Undefeated points out , the move by the MLB means that Negro League standouts like Josh Gibson of the Homestead Grays will finally be given their proper respect .
`` Thousands of players , like Josh Gibson – considered to be one of the best hitters baseball has ever seen though he was n't allowed to play in a single MLB game – are now officially considered Major Leaguers , '' The Undefeated said in a tweet .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Babe Ruth , Ted Williams or anybody else I 've ever seen , '' former Cleveland Buckeye pitcher and manager Alonzo Boone said , according to the National Baseball Hall of Fame .
`` Anything he touched was hit hard .
He could power outside pitches to right field .
Shortstops would move to left field when Josh came to the plate , '' Boone said .
Gibson was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972 .
The news of the MLB elevating the stats and records of Negro League @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's Cleveland-based franchise announced that after 105 years , it will drop its team name , which had been widely viewed as racist and culturally offensive to Native Americans .
Paul Dolan , the owner of the Cleveland baseball team , said it would continue to use its current name until the franchise could settle on a new one that would `` better unify our community and build our legacy for a new generation . ''
The Washington Football Team made a similar decision to change its name earlier this year .

MLB Recognizes Negro Leagues As 'Major League' — Correcting A 'Longtime Oversight'
Enlarge this image toggle caption Donald Traill/AP Donald Traill/AP
Major League Baseball has for years acknowledged the contributions and the legacy of the thousands of Black athletes who played in the Negro Leagues.
On Wednesday, the league went a step further, saying it was officially "correcting a longtime oversight in the game's history" and recognizing those professionals as Major League-caliber players. The league said it will also include their statistics and records as part of MLB history.
"All of us who love baseball have long known that the Negro Leagues produced many of our game's finest players, innovations and triumphs against the backdrop of injustice," Commissioner Robert Manfred said in statement posted to social media.
"We are now grateful to count the players of the Negro Leagues where they belong: as Major Leaguers within the official historical record," he added.
The 2020 MLB season coincided with the 100th anniversary of the Negro Leagues. Major League Baseball used the occasion to honor the Negro Leagues and its players. However, the ceremonies and recognitions were muted because of restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic.
MLB says its announcement is the culmination of its efforts to honor the Negro Leagues, for which some 3,400 Black athletes played from 1920 to 1948.
John Thorn, the official historian of Major League Baseball, acknowledged that MLB's racist legacy continued long after the Negro Leagues folded, adding that Wednesday's acknowledgement of the leagues was "profoundly gratifying."
"The perceived deficiencies of the Negro Leagues' structure and scheduling were born of MLB's exclusionary practices, and denying them Major League status has been a double penalty, much like that exacted of Hall of Fame candidates prior to Satchel Paige's induction in 1971," Thorn said in a statement.
"Granting MLB status to the Negro Leagues a century after their founding is profoundly gratifying," he added.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Justin Edmonds/Getty Images Justin Edmonds/Getty Images
The Washington Post reports that in the late 1960s, the MLB formed what was known as the Special Baseball Records Committee, composed entirely of white men.
The committee was tasked with identifying leagues worthy of statistical inclusion in the MLB. The group chose six leagues, but the Negro Leagues was not among those considered, according to The Post.
An MLB spokesperson tells NPR's Tom Goldman that the league is just beginning to figure out how to incorporate Negro League statistics.
"We are now launching a review of how to treat the impact of this on statistics and baseball records," the spokesperson said.
ESPN reported in 2015 that Negro Leagues statistics "are notoriously incomplete."
The MLB decision comes amid a national reckoning following the Memorial Day killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police. His death led to a discussion of how race, discrimination and social inequities impact many facets of American life, including sports.
As the sports and culture website The Undefeated points out, the move by the MLB means that Negro League standouts like Josh Gibson of the Homestead Grays will finally be given their proper respect.
"Thousands of players, like Josh Gibson – considered to be one of the best hitters baseball has ever seen though he wasn't allowed to play in a single MLB game – are now officially considered Major Leaguers," The Undefeated said in a tweet.
"Josh was a better power hitter than Babe Ruth, Ted Williams or anybody else I've ever seen," former Cleveland Buckeye pitcher and manager Alonzo Boone said, according to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
"Anything he touched was hit hard. He could power outside pitches to right field. Shortstops would move to left field when Josh came to the plate," Boone said.
Gibson was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972.
The news of the MLB elevating the stats and records of Negro League players comes days after the American League's Cleveland-based franchise announced that after 105 years, it will drop its team name, which had been widely viewed as racist and culturally offensive to Native Americans.
Paul Dolan, the owner of the Cleveland baseball team, said it would continue to use its current name until the franchise could settle on a new one that would "better unify our community and build our legacy for a new generation."
The Washington Football Team made a similar decision to change its name earlier this year.
NPR's Russell Lewis contributed to this report.


npr--2020-12-16--14 Accomplices Found Guilty Of Aiding 2015 'Charlie Hebdo' Attacks

Nearly six years after Islamist extremists led attacks on the Paris offices of Charlie Hebdo and a Jewish market , a French court has convicted 14 people as their accomplices .
The ruling handed down Wednesday found the defendants guilty on a variety of charges , ranging from membership in a criminal network to complicity in the shocking assault on the satirical publication in early 2015 .
The three men identified as the principal attackers were killed in confrontations with police .
The brothers Cherif and Said Kouachi , who slaughtered 12 people during their attack on Charlie Hebdo , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ended with their being cornered them in a suburban print shop two days later .
Their associate Amedy Coulibaly stormed a Paris kosher grocery the same day as the firefight at the print shop , killing four hostages before dying in police gunfire .
All told , 17 victims were killed in three days of chaos in or near the French capital .
But French authorities have long said that the trio did not act alone .
Prosecutors asserted that the 14 defendants who received their verdicts Wednesday aided the primary assailants with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Eleven of the accused have been behind bars awaiting trial , while the rest were tried in absentia .
Among those who remain at large is Hayat Boumeddiene , Coulibaly 's former partner , who is thought to have fled France for Syria several years ago .
Occasionally dubbed `` France 's most wanted woman , '' Boumeddiene was found guilty Wednesday of financing terrorism and playing a role in a criminal network .
She was sentenced to 30 years in prison .
The convictions represent a symbolic victory for French authorities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trial that spanned more than two months and included statements from scores of witnesses and interested parties , according to The Guardian .
`` We need the truth and justice this trial would bring , '' Lassana Bathily , who survived the siege in the kosher market , told local media at the start of the trial in September .
`` We have been waiting five years for it .
Without it , we can not overcome this trauma and rebuild our lives normally . ''
The 2015 rampage followed Charlie Hebdo 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Muhammad .
The satirical magazine had previously received threats over its content and even saw its offices firebombed in 2011 for printing an illustration of the prophet , which many Muslims consider blasphemous .
But those incidents paled in comparison with the terror attack carried out in January 2015 , during which 10 of the magazine 's journalists were killed , along with a security guard and a police officer .
The Kouachi brothers eluded police immediately after the assault on the Charlie Hebdo offices .
Later , as they were on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the kosher grocery .
The attacks drew an outpouring of support for the controversial publication , as `` Je Suis Charlie '' ( `` I Am Charlie '' ) became a rallying cry for those who saw the magazine staff as martyrs in the defense of free speech .
`` Justice was served , '' Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo said in a statement released after Wednesday 's verdict , naming the 17 people who died in the three days of bloodshed .
`` All my thoughts are with the victims , their @ @ @ @ @ @

14 Accomplices Found Guilty Of Aiding 2015 'Charlie Hebdo' Attacks
Enlarge this image toggle caption Hussein Malla/AP Hussein Malla/AP
Nearly six years after Islamist extremists led attacks on the Paris offices of Charlie Hebdo and a Jewish market, a French court has convicted 14 people as their accomplices. The ruling handed down Wednesday found the defendants guilty on a variety of charges, ranging from membership in a criminal network to complicity in the shocking assault on the satirical publication in early 2015.
The three men identified as the principal attackers were killed in confrontations with police. The brothers Cherif and Said Kouachi, who slaughtered 12 people during their attack on Charlie Hebdo, were killed after a massive police manhunt ended with their being cornered them in a suburban print shop two days later. Their associate Amedy Coulibaly stormed a Paris kosher grocery the same day as the firefight at the print shop, killing four hostages before dying in police gunfire.
All told, 17 victims were killed in three days of chaos in or near the French capital.
But French authorities have long said that the trio did not act alone. Prosecutors asserted that the 14 defendants who received their verdicts Wednesday aided the primary assailants with money, vehicles and other logistical support. Eleven of the accused have been behind bars awaiting trial, while the rest were tried in absentia.
Among those who remain at large is Hayat Boumeddiene, Coulibaly's former partner, who is thought to have fled France for Syria several years ago. Occasionally dubbed "France's most wanted woman," Boumeddiene was found guilty Wednesday of financing terrorism and playing a role in a criminal network. She was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
The convictions represent a symbolic victory for French authorities, who had sought closure in a trial that spanned more than two months and included statements from scores of witnesses and interested parties, according to The Guardian.
"We need the truth and justice this trial would bring," Lassana Bathily, who survived the siege in the kosher market, told local media at the start of the trial in September. "We have been waiting five years for it. Without it, we cannot overcome this trauma and rebuild our lives normally."
The 2015 rampage followed Charlie Hebdo's publication of derogatory caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad. The satirical magazine had previously received threats over its content and even saw its offices firebombed in 2011 for printing an illustration of the prophet, which many Muslims consider blasphemous.
But those incidents paled in comparison with the terror attack carried out in January 2015, during which 10 of the magazine's journalists were killed, along with a security guard and a police officer. The Kouachi brothers eluded police immediately after the assault on the Charlie Hebdo offices. Later, as they were on the run, Coulibaly launched his own attack on the kosher grocery.
The attacks drew an outpouring of support for the controversial publication, as "Je Suis Charlie" ("I Am Charlie") became a rallying cry for those who saw the magazine staff as martyrs in the defense of free speech.
"Justice was served," Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo said in a statement released after Wednesday's verdict, naming the 17 people who died in the three days of bloodshed. "All my thoughts are with the victims, their families and their associates."