npr--2020-01-20--Her Own Birth Was 'Fertility Fraud' And Now She Needs Fertility Treatment

Her Own Birth Was 'Fertility Fraud ' And Now She Needs Fertility Treatment When Heather Woock was in her late 20s , she started researching her family history .
As part of the project she spit into a tube and sent it to Ancestry , a consumer DNA testing service .
Then in 2017 , she started getting messages about the results from people who said they could be half-siblings .
`` I immediately called my mom and said , 'Mom , is it possible that I have random siblings out there somewhere ? '
'' Woock says .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , why ?
That 's ridiculous . ''
But the messages continued , and some of them mentioned an Indianapolis fertility practice that she knew her mom had consulted with when she had trouble conceiving .
Woock did some research and finally learned the truth .
Donald Cline , the fertility doctor her mother saw in 1985 , is her biological father .
`` I went through an identity crisis , '' she says .
`` I could n't look in the mirror and think about , Where did my eyes come from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from ?
I did n't even want to think about any of that . ''
Woock had n't known that her mom used artificial insemination to conceive her and neither of them knew the doctor had used his own sperm .
`` We now know Cline used his own sample and squirted it into my mom , '' Woock says .
In the 1970s and 80s , Cline deceived dozens of patients and used his own sperm to impregnate them .
He has more than 60 biological children — and counting .
For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parentage sunk in , it was distressing for another reason : She wanted to start her own family and was having trouble conceiving .
And now she needed to turn to the fertility industry that had so badly betrayed her mom .
`` We were doing all of the calendaring ... everything that is out there to help you get pregnant , we were doing that , '' Woock recalls .
But after six months , when she still was n't pregnant at 32 , she went to a fertility clinic for some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out all this paperwork , and there 's a slot that says kind of like , 'Is there anything else you 'd like to share ? '
`` Wook says .
Yes , there most certainly was .
New allegations of doctors using their own sperm keep coming to light — thanks to genetic testing like Ancestry revealing networks of half-siblings — in states like Idaho , Ohio , Colorado , and Arkansas .
But those doctors performed artificial inseminations decades ago .
Could what happened to Woock 's mom happen in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a fertility specialist in Carmel , Ind.
, says it 's a question many of his patients have asked .
But he says it 's unlikely .
These days , there are more people involved in the process , and in vitro fertilization happens in a lab , not an exam room .
`` Unless you 're in a small clinic where there 's absolutely no checks and balances , I ca n't even imagine that today , '' Colver says .
It 's now illegal in Indiana , Texas and California @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sperm to impregnate his patients .
But there 's no national law criminalizing what 's called `` fertility fraud . ''
Fertility medicine has advanced a lot since the 1980s , but women trying to get pregnant today with the help of medicine face a baffling array of treatment options that can be hard to navigate and can be hugely expensive .
And some critics say the growing , multi-billion dollar fertility industry needs more regulation .
For example , sperm banks may not get accurate medical histories from their donors , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there 's no limit on how many times a donor 's sperm can be used , which some donor children worry could increase the chance of inbreeding .
Sperm donation guidelines from organizations like the American Society for Reproductive Medicine are voluntary .
There was a contestant on `` The Bachelorette '' last year who said his sperm helped father more than 100 kids .
When Woock decided to get her first fertility treatment , she set some preconditions with the clinic .
She insisted on having a female doctor and insisted that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appointments and would oversee everything that happened .
Her experience with her clinic was very different from mother 's with Cline , but nonetheless there were some surprises along the way .
The clinic told her that her problems conceiving could be because of husband Rob 's low sperm count and motility ( meaning his sperm were n't great swimmers . )
They advised a form of in vitro fertilization that involved injecting one sperm directly into one of her eggs in a petri dish .
When doctors told Woock she needed IVF @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I 'm thinking going into this that our chances of success are 70 , 75 % '' Woock says .
Fertility treatment can be really expensive , and patients may start treatment with unrealistic expectations .
That 's because success rates are complicated , and some clinics use only the best numbers in their advertising .
For example clinics can advertise high fertilization rates .
But a 70 % fertilization rate does n't mean 70 % of eggs turn into babies – plenty can go wrong after the lab combines egg and sperm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your clinic , and the type of procedure you need .
But most of the time , assisted reproduction procedures such as IVF do n't work .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , which tracks assisted reproduction rates in the U.S. , reports only about 24 % of attempts result in a baby .
When Woock started her first IVF cycle , she gave herself shots , a couple a day , to stimulate her ovaries to get multiple eggs ready at once .
Multiple eggs means more chances for fertilization @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They gave her headaches , and made her moody and less patient .
`` I was actually allergic to one of the medications , which just means that you keep taking it and deal with the itching and rash , '' Woock says .
But she hung on until it was time for a doctor to surgically retrieve her eggs , at which point patients can face even more choices .
Because the couple 's fertility problem appeared to be with Rob 's sperm , the clinic offered to use a special @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for IVF .
`` We were kind of like yeah , 'Why would n't you ? '
'' Woock says .
`` If it 's gon na give us a better chance , do it . ''
A device like that is called an add-on .
Add-ons are often new technology , described as cutting edge , which can appeal to patients .
Examples of add-ons include genetic testing for chromosomal abnormality in embryos — which some specialists argue improve the odds of live birth — and assisted hatching and endometrial scratching , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jack Wilkinson , a bio-statistician at the University of Manchester , researches add ons , which he has found can increase costs — and , he says , they may not work .
`` We quite often see there 's no benefit at all , '' Wilkinson says .
`` Or , possibly even worse , that there 's a disadvantage of using that treatment . ''
Wilkinson says the device Woock 's clinic offered could work , but the evidence supporting it is thin .
The clinic called Woock the morning after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's eggs fertilized .
The procedure revealed that her husband 's sperm quality was n't the only fertility issue the couple faced .
`` They immediately saw that there was something wrong with my eggs , '' Woock says .
`` My eggs are just total crap . ''
She underwent a second round of IVF with the same result – no fertilization .
`` Getting that news the second time ... felt even more set in stone that this was going to be a very long , challenging road , '' Woock @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states , including Indiana , do n't require insurers to cover fertility treatment .
Without insurance , a round of IVF can cost more than $ 10,000 , even more than $ 20,000 , with no guarantee the patient will get pregnant .
Woock was lucky that her employer-provided insurance covered a lot .
But it still was n't cheap .
She had to pay for some medications , `` plus , you have to pay lab and facility fees that insurance does n't pay , '' Woock says .
Donor sperm and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Those can be tens of thousands of dollars .
Woock faced a hard choice : After two failed attempts , did she want a kid enough to go through IVF again ?
She and her husband decided they did .
So Woock did a third round of IVF .
And then a fourth .
When that did n't work , she gave up on using her own eggs .
`` What I expected as I was growing up and picturing my children is not what I will see , '' Woock says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ try donor eggs .
If all goes according to plan , she could still carry a child .
She wants to keep trying .
`` I realize that pregnancy is incredibly challenging on your body and your mental state , '' she says .
`` If I can make it through a year of IVF , I can make it through morning sickness . ''
This story is part of a partnership between NPR , Kaiser Health News , and the podcast , Sick .
You can hear more about the doctor who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first season .
Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts , and go to sickpodcast.org for more information .

Her Own Birth Was 'Fertility Fraud' And Now She Needs Fertility Treatment
Enlarge this image toggle caption Leah Klafczynski for NPR Leah Klafczynski for NPR
When Heather Woock was in her late 20s, she started researching her family history. As part of the project she spit into a tube and sent it to Ancestry, a consumer DNA testing service. Then in 2017, she started getting messages about the results from people who said they could be half-siblings.
"I immediately called my mom and said, 'Mom, is it possible that I have random siblings out there somewhere?'" Woock says. She remembers her mom responded, "No, why? That's ridiculous."
But the messages continued, and some of them mentioned an Indianapolis fertility practice that she knew her mom had consulted with when she had trouble conceiving.
Woock did some research and finally learned the truth. Donald Cline, the fertility doctor her mother saw in 1985, is her biological father.
"I went through an identity crisis," she says. "I couldn't look in the mirror and think about, Where did my eyes come from? Where did my hair color come from? I didn't even want to think about any of that."
toggle caption Leah Klafczynski for NPR
Woock hadn't known that her mom used artificial insemination to conceive her and neither of them knew the doctor had used his own sperm.
"We now know Cline used his own sample and squirted it into my mom," Woock says.
Hear the whole story of Donald Cline This story comes from an episode of the podcast, Sick. You can hear more about the doctor who used his own sperm on Sick's first season.
In the 1970s and 80s, Cline deceived dozens of patients and used his own sperm to impregnate them. He has more than 60 biological children — and counting.
For Woock, as the story of her parentage sunk in, it was distressing for another reason: She wanted to start her own family and was having trouble conceiving. And now she needed to turn to the fertility industry that had so badly betrayed her mom.
toggle caption Marion County, Ind. via AP
"We were doing all of the calendaring ... everything that is out there to help you get pregnant, we were doing that," Woock recalls.
But after six months, when she still wasn't pregnant at 32, she went to a fertility clinic for some tests.
"I had to fill out all this paperwork, and there's a slot that says kind of like, 'Is there anything else you'd like to share?' " Woock says.
Yes, there most certainly was.
Fertility treatment today
New allegations of doctors using their own sperm keep coming to light — thanks to genetic testing like Ancestry revealing networks of half-siblings — in states like Idaho, Ohio, Colorado, and Arkansas.
But those doctors performed artificial inseminations decades ago. Could what happened to Woock's mom happen in a modern fertility clinic?
Dr. Bob Colver, a fertility specialist in Carmel, Ind., says it's a question many of his patients have asked. But he says it's unlikely. These days, there are more people involved in the process, and in vitro fertilization happens in a lab, not an exam room.
"Unless you're in a small clinic where there's absolutely no checks and balances, I can't even imagine that today," Colver says.
It's now illegal in Indiana, Texas and California for a doctor to use his own sperm to impregnate his patients. But there's no national law criminalizing what's called "fertility fraud."
Fertility medicine has advanced a lot since the 1980s, but women trying to get pregnant today with the help of medicine face a baffling array of treatment options that can be hard to navigate and can be hugely expensive. And some critics say the growing, multi-billion dollar fertility industry needs more regulation.
toggle caption Lauren Bavis/WFYI
For example, sperm banks may not get accurate medical histories from their donors, who could pass along genetic diseases. And there's no limit on how many times a donor's sperm can be used, which some donor children worry could increase the chance of inbreeding. Sperm donation guidelines from organizations like the American Society for Reproductive Medicine are voluntary. There was a contestant on "The Bachelorette" last year who said his sperm helped father more than 100 kids.
Unrealistic expectations
When Woock decided to get her first fertility treatment, she set some preconditions with the clinic. She insisted on having a female doctor and insisted that doctor be in the room for all appointments and would oversee everything that happened.
Her experience with her clinic was very different from mother's with Cline, but nonetheless there were some surprises along the way.
The clinic told her that her problems conceiving could be because of husband Rob's low sperm count and motility (meaning his sperm weren't great swimmers.) They advised a form of in vitro fertilization that involved injecting one sperm directly into one of her eggs in a petri dish.
When doctors told Woock she needed IVF, she felt pretty optimistic.
"I'm thinking going into this that our chances of success are 70, 75%" Woock says.
toggle caption Leah Klafczynski for NPR
Fertility treatment can be really expensive, and patients may start treatment with unrealistic expectations. That's because success rates are complicated, and some clinics use only the best numbers in their advertising.
For example clinics can advertise high fertilization rates. But a 70% fertilization rate doesn't mean 70% of eggs turn into babies – plenty can go wrong after the lab combines egg and sperm.
Success depends on your age, your clinic, and the type of procedure you need. But most of the time, assisted reproduction procedures such as IVF don't work. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which tracks assisted reproduction rates in the U.S., reports only about 24% of attempts result in a baby.
'Add-on' technology — and prices
When Woock started her first IVF cycle, she gave herself shots, a couple a day, to stimulate her ovaries to get multiple eggs ready at once. Multiple eggs means more chances for fertilization.
But the drugs have side effects. They gave her headaches, and made her moody and less patient.
"I was actually allergic to one of the medications, which just means that you keep taking it and deal with the itching and rash," Woock says.
But she hung on until it was time for a doctor to surgically retrieve her eggs, at which point patients can face even more choices. Because the couple's fertility problem appeared to be with Rob's sperm, the clinic offered to use a special device to help pick the best sperm for IVF.
"We were kind of like yeah, 'Why wouldn't you?'" Woock says. "If it's gonna give us a better chance, do it."
A device like that is called an add-on. Add-ons are often new technology, described as cutting edge, which can appeal to patients. Examples of add-ons include genetic testing for chromosomal abnormality in embryos — which some specialists argue improve the odds of live birth — and assisted hatching and endometrial scratching, both methods claiming to facilitate implantation.
Jack Wilkinson, a bio-statistician at the University of Manchester, researches add ons, which he has found can increase costs — and, he says, they may not work.
"We quite often see there's no benefit at all," Wilkinson says. "Or, possibly even worse, that there's a disadvantage of using that treatment."
Wilkinson says the device Woock's clinic offered could work, but the evidence supporting it is thin.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Lauren Bavis/WFYI Lauren Bavis/WFYI
Failed fertilizations
The clinic called Woock the morning after her egg retrieval. None of Woock's eggs fertilized. The procedure revealed that her husband's sperm quality wasn't the only fertility issue the couple faced.
"They immediately saw that there was something wrong with my eggs," Woock says. "My eggs are just total crap."
She underwent a second round of IVF with the same result – no fertilization.
"Getting that news the second time ... felt even more set in stone that this was going to be a very long, challenging road," Woock says.
Challenging and expensive. Most states, including Indiana, don't require insurers to cover fertility treatment. Without insurance, a round of IVF can cost more than $10,000, even more than $20,000, with no guarantee the patient will get pregnant.
Woock was lucky that her employer-provided insurance covered a lot. But it still wasn't cheap. She had to pay for some medications, "plus, you have to pay lab and facility fees that insurance doesn't pay," Woock says.
Donor sperm and eggs aren't generally covered, either. Those can be tens of thousands of dollars.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Leah Klafczynski for NPR Leah Klafczynski for NPR
Woock faced a hard choice: After two failed attempts, did she want a kid enough to go through IVF again?
She and her husband decided they did. So Woock did a third round of IVF. And then a fourth. When that didn't work, she gave up on using her own eggs.
"What I expected as I was growing up and picturing my children is not what I will see," Woock says.
Woock and her husband decided to try donor eggs. If all goes according to plan, she could still carry a child. She wants to keep trying.
"I realize that pregnancy is incredibly challenging on your body and your mental state," she says. "If I can make it through a year of IVF, I can make it through morning sickness."
This story is part of a partnership between NPR, Kaiser Health News, and the podcast, Sick. You can hear more about the doctor who used his own sperm on Sick's first season. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and go to sickpodcast.org for more information.


npr--2020-01-20--Looming Impeachment Trial Adds Urgency To Senators' Campaign Push

How confident are Iowa Democrats in their choices , now two weeks out from the caucuses ?
The response Renee Kleinpeter gave NPR when asked which candidates she 's narrowed her choice down to could sum it up : four seconds of laughter .
`` I 'll go with anybody who could beat [ President ] Trump , '' she said after laughing .
`` I wish somebody could tell me . ''
Lacking any reliable electoral crystal balls , Iowans are instead keeping their options open .
The most recent Iowa Poll , out earlier this month , showed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ caucus-goers were either undecided , or could still change their top choice before Feb. 3 .
Now , in the midst of all that fluidity , the four U.S. senators still in the race will be disappearing from the campaign trail .
Starting Tuesday , Sens .
Bernie Sanders , Elizabeth Warren , Amy Klobuchar and Michael Bennet will sit on the Senate floor six days a week as impeachment jurors .
The looming trial — and the uncertainty it adds to the final days before the first primary contests in Iowa and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this weekend 's campaigning .
Snowstorms in both states did too .
`` Thank you for understanding that I 'm not going to be able to be here every day , and so you show up on this snowy day , '' Klobuchar told a crowd in Coralville , Iowa .
Like the three other senator-candidates , Klobuchar insists she 's not particularly worried about missing campaign events , and is stressing her constitutional obligations as a juror .
And , she quipped to the crowd : `` I 'm a mom and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Her campaign is also planning remote events over Skype , along with deploying family members and surrogates to meet with potential supporters .
And seeing the trial looming , Klobuchar sped up her schedule for visiting every one of Iowa 's 99 counties .
`` I 'm just cramming everything I can do into every waking hour , '' she said .
Still , some supporters are n't quite as sanguine about how the trial could affect Klobuchar 's chances .
( She 's currently polling in fifth in Iowa . )
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ out there and meet more people ...
I ca n't see how that would n't hurt somewhat , '' said Tim Behlke , moments after signing a commit-to-caucus card .
Of course , impeachment wo n't completely end campaigning for the senators in the race .
Sanders has already announced a rally this Wednesday night in Iowa .
He 'll fly there after the trial has wrapped for the day , and be back in Washington , D.C. , the next morning .
And the proceedings wo n't have any effect on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days of a race : volunteers and organizers knocking on doors , and calling and texting potential caucus-goers ; and ads on television , radio and online .
Still , the weekend of campaigning carried a whiff of premature nostalgia for some of the candidates who have spent most of the past year in Iowa .
`` I 'll miss all the questions I get from people , the unfiltered questions , folks who get to stand up and say , 'This is what matters to me .
Talk to me about it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Sunday rally in Des Moines .
`` I truly have loved this part of the campaign , and I hope I 'll be able to come more to Iowa , '' she said , `` because the good people of Iowa have really taught me core parts of democracy . ''

Looming Impeachment Trial Adds Urgency To Senators' Campaign Push
Enlarge this image toggle caption Patrick Semansky/AP Patrick Semansky/AP
How confident are Iowa Democrats in their choices, now two weeks out from the caucuses?
The response Renee Kleinpeter gave NPR when asked which candidates she has narrowed her choice down to could sum it up: four seconds of laughter.
"I'll go with anybody who could beat [President] Trump," she said after laughing. "I wish somebody could tell me."
Lacking any reliable electoral crystal balls, Iowans are instead keeping their options open. The most recent Iowa Poll, out earlier this month, showed that more than half of likely Democratic caucusgoers were either undecided, or could still change their top choice before Feb. 3.
Now, in the midst of all that fluidity, the four U.S. senators still in the race will be disappearing from the campaign trail. Starting Tuesday, Sens. Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Amy Klobuchar and Michael Bennet will sit on the Senate floor six days a week as impeachment jurors.
The looming trial — and the uncertainty it adds to the final days before the first primary contests in Iowa and New Hampshire — added some urgency to this weekend's campaigning. Snowstorms in both states did too.
"Thank you for understanding that I'm not going to be able to be here every day, and so you show up on this snowy day," Klobuchar told a crowd in Coralville, Iowa.
Like the three other senator-candidates, Klobuchar insists she's not particularly worried about missing campaign events and is stressing her constitutional obligations as a juror.
And, she quipped to the crowd, "I'm a mom and I can balance things really well."
Her campaign is also planning remote events over Skype, along with deploying family members and surrogates to meet with potential supporters. And seeing the trial looming, Klobuchar sped up her schedule for visiting every one of Iowa's 99 counties.
"I'm just cramming everything I can do into every waking hour," she said.
Still, some supporters aren't quite as sanguine about how the trial could affect Klobuchar's chances. (She's currently polling in fifth in Iowa.) "To not be able to get out there and meet more people ... I can't see how that wouldn't hurt somewhat," said Tim Behlke, moments after signing a commit-to-caucus card.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Spencer Platt/Getty Images Spencer Platt/Getty Images
Of course, impeachment won't completely end campaigning for the senators in the race. Sanders has already announced a rally this Wednesday night in Iowa. He'll fly there after the trial has wrapped for the day and be back in Washington, D.C., the next morning.
And the proceedings won't have any effect on the other hallmarks of campaigns in the closing days of a race: volunteers and organizers knocking on doors and calling and texting potential caucusgoers; and ads on television, radio and online.
Still, the weekend of campaigning carried a whiff of premature nostalgia for some of the candidates who have spent most of the past year in Iowa.
"I'll miss all the questions I get from people, the unfiltered questions, folks who get to stand up and say, 'This is what matters to me. Talk to me about it,' " Warren told reporters after a Sunday rally in Des Moines.
"I truly have loved this part of the campaign, and I hope I'll be able to come more to Iowa," she said, "because the good people of Iowa have really taught me core parts of democracy."


npr--2020-01-19--Kansas City Chiefs To Play San Francisco 49ers In Super Bowl LIV

The Kansas City Chiefs will face off against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV in Miami next month , after dominating the Tennessee Titans and the Green Bay Packers , respectively , in their conference championship games on Sunday .
The Kansas City Chiefs knocked out the Tennessee Titans 35-24 in the AFC Championship game on Sunday to secure their first trip to the Super Bowl in 50 years .
The Titans jumped to an early 17-7 lead in the first half , but Kansas City clawed their way back propelled by the play of star quarterback , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yards and three touchdowns .
Mahomes , who was born a quarter century after the Chiefs ' last trip to the Super Bowl , sealed the game with a fourth quarter , 60-yard pass to wide receiver Sammy Watkins .
`` We 're not done yet , '' Mahomes said after the game .
`` We 're going to get it . ''
The victory was made extra sweet for Chiefs owner Clark Hunt , who after the game got to hoist the Lamar Hunt Trophy — named after his father and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to him for the AFC title .
`` This trophy belongs to the best fans in the National Football League , '' Hunt said to the hometown crowd at Arrowhead Stadium .
`` We love every minute of this , and we appreciate every minute of this , but it 's not done , '' added Chiefs coach Andy Reid , whose last Super Bowl trip with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2004 ended in a New England Patriots victory .
It 's the Chiefs ' third attempt chasing Super Bowl title , having @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Chiefs lost to the Packers , 35-10 , in the first-ever Super Bowl in 1967 .
Three years later , Kansas City took their first Super Bowl victory in a matchup with the Minnesota Vikings .
In the rivalry NFC Championship game that followed , the San Francisco 49ers beat the Green Bay Packers 37-20 .
49ers running back Raheem Mostert sent San Francisco on the road to Miami with three touchdowns in the first half alone .
The Green Bay Packers came charging back with a late surge .
Quarterback Aaron @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the third quarter , when he got the first of two touchdown passes he needed to carry his total playoff touchdowns to 40 , surpassing Brett Favre 's franchise record of 39 .
In another touching father-son moment , former Super Bowl-winning coach Mike Shanahan , urged by 49ers owner Jed York , got to hand the George Halas Trophy to his son and the team 's coach , Kyle Shanahan .
`` We can win so many different ways , '' said Niners quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo , after playing a relatively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] , those guys up front , the tight ends obviously were just dominating tonight .
It was fun . ''
`` I just woke up like it was any other game , '' Mostert said .
`` Once we all get in a groove , we 're just going to keep it riding , keep it going , and that 's what we did . ''
The Niners emerge Super Bowl-bound for the first time since Colin Kaepernick paved the way seven years ago .
In the franchise 's six previous Super @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blown the title once .
The big game is set to take place at Hard Rock Stadium , the home of the Miami Dolphins on Feb. 2 .
FOX will air the game , which kicks off at 6:30 p.m .
ET .
Demi Lovato is signed on to sing the national anthem at the pregame show ; Jennifer Lopez and Shakira will take the halftime stage .

Kansas City Chiefs To Play San Francisco 49ers In Super Bowl LIV
Enlarge this image toggle caption Ed Zurga/AP Ed Zurga/AP
The Kansas City Chiefs will face off against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV in Miami next month, after dominating the Tennessee Titans and the Green Bay Packers, respectively, in their conference championship games on Sunday.
Kansas City ends a 50-year drought
The Kansas City Chiefs knocked out the Tennessee Titans 35-24 in the AFC Championship game on Sunday to secure their first trip to the Super Bowl in 50 years.
The Titans jumped to an early 17-7 lead in the first half, but Kansas City clawed their way back propelled by the play of star quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, who threw for 294 yards and three touchdowns. Mahomes, who was born a quarter century after the Chiefs' last trip to the Super Bowl, sealed the game with a fourth quarter, 60-yard pass to wide receiver Sammy Watkins.
"We're not done yet," Mahomes said after the game. "We're going to get it."
The victory was made extra sweet for Chiefs owner Clark Hunt, who after the game got to hoist the Lamar Hunt Trophy — named after his father and the team's founder — which was presented to him for the AFC title.
"This trophy belongs to the best fans in the National Football League," Hunt said to the hometown crowd at Arrowhead Stadium.
"We love every minute of this, and we appreciate every minute of this, but it's not done," added Chiefs coach Andy Reid, whose last Super Bowl trip with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2004 ended in a New England Patriots victory.
It's the Chiefs' third attempt chasing Super Bowl title, having done so successfully once in 1970. The Chiefs lost to the Packers, 35-10, in the first-ever Super Bowl in 1967. Three years later, Kansas City took their first Super Bowl victory in a matchup with the Minnesota Vikings.
Niners dominate early
In the rivalry NFC Championship game that followed, the San Francisco 49ers beat the Green Bay Packers 37-20. 49ers running back Raheem Mostert sent San Francisco on the road to Miami with three touchdowns in the first half alone.
The Green Bay Packers came charging back with a late surge. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers finally put Packers on the board in the third quarter, when he got the first of two touchdown passes he needed to carry his total playoff touchdowns to 40, surpassing Brett Favre's franchise record of 39.
In another touching father-son moment, former Super Bowl-winning coach Mike Shanahan, urged by 49ers owner Jed York, got to hand the George Halas Trophy to his son and the team's coach, Kyle Shanahan.
"We can win so many different ways," said Niners quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, after playing a relatively idle game. "Raheem [Mostert], those guys up front, the tight ends obviously were just dominating tonight. It was fun."
"I just woke up like it was any other game," Mostert said. "Once we all get in a groove, we're just going to keep it riding, keep it going, and that's what we did."
The Niners emerge Super Bowl-bound for the first time since Colin Kaepernick paved the way seven years ago. In the franchise's six previous Super Bowl appearances, the 49ers have only blown the title once.
Where to watch
The big game is set to take place at Hard Rock Stadium, the home of the Miami Dolphins on Feb. 2. FOX will air the game, which kicks off at 6:30 p.m. ET. Demi Lovato is signed on to sing the national anthem at the pregame show; Jennifer Lopez and Shakira will take the halftime stage.


npr--2020-01-19--Canada Sends Armed Forces To Help Newfoundlanders Dig Out After Blizzard

Canada Sends Armed Forces To Help Newfoundlanders Dig Out After Blizzard The Canadian Armed Forces are helping residents dig out of the snow after a powerful blizzard hit the easternmost province of Newfoundland and Labrador over the weekend .
In the capital city of St. John 's , the snowstorm completely buried cars and caused thousands to lose power .
The massive storm dumped as much as 30 inches of snow on the city , according to The Guardian .
High winds created drifts that completely blocked doors and left many snowed in .
In a region accustomed to unruly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social media to share photos and video of the storm 's impact .
Mayor Danny Breen declared a state of emergency on Friday that will last through Monday as the city continues the mammoth work of trying to clear the streets .
Most businesses remained closed on Sunday and St. John 's international airport said it would remain closed to commercial flights until at least 8 p.m. Monday .
Of those that were able to get out of their homes early , some took advantage of the unplowed roads .
Watch for yourself @

Canada Sends Armed Forces To Help Newfoundlanders Dig Out After Blizzard
Enlarge this image toggle caption Kim Porter via Reuters Kim Porter via Reuters
The Canadian Armed Forces are helping residents dig out of the snow after a powerful blizzard hit the easternmost province of Newfoundland and Labrador over the weekend.
In the capital city of St. John's, the snowstorm completely buried cars and caused thousands to lose power. The massive storm dumped as much as 30 inches of snow on the city, according to The Guardian.
High winds created drifts that completely blocked doors and left many snowed in.
In a region accustomed to unruly winter weather, many residents took to social media to share photos and video of the storm's impact.
Mayor Danny Breen declared a state of emergency on Friday that will last through Monday as the city continues the mammoth work of trying to clear the streets.
Most businesses remained closed on Sunday and St. John's international airport said it would remain closed to commercial flights until at least 8 p.m. Monday.
Of those that were able to get out of their homes early, some took advantage of the unplowed roads. Watch for yourself:


npr--2020-01-20--Political Unrest In Puerto Rico After Discovery Of Unused Hurricane Aid

Political Unrest In Puerto Rico After Discovery Of Unused Hurricane Aid Angry residents took to the streets of Puerto Rico on Monday .
Fury over the government 's mishandling of disaster aid following a spate of devastating earthquakes earlier this month , coupled with the recent discovery of unused supplies — some dating back to Hurricane Maria — is driving frustrated demonstrators to the gates of the governor 's mansion .
Fed up with what they say is rampant corruption , they are demanding the resignation of Gov .
Wanda Vázquez , who just months ago served as the island @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wanda ?
She 's not here .
She 's busy hiding disaster supplies ! ''
crowds shouted on Monday , reviving chants hurled by protesters over the summer , when the public forced Gov .
Ricardo Rosselló out of office .
His ouster led to months of political turmoil which Vázquez has struggled to overcome .
But the latest round of political unrest , including the dismissal of several top cabinet members , began on Saturday .
A local blogger named Lorenzo Delgado had been tipped off about a government-run warehouse in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of people have been left homeless by the recent temblors .
The warehouse , it turned out , was filled with supplies ; pallets of expired baby food , expired water , blue tarps , gas stoves , diapers , cots , air mattresses and sheets sat untouched , even as thousands continue to sleep outside in decimated communities .
Delgado posted his findings on Facebook .
The live stream almost immediately drew a large , unruly crowd to the warehouse .
A handful of people eventually forced open the doors and began @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the incident posted by Primera Hora , a man reads out the date on one of the water pallets : `` October 14 , 2017 , '' he shouts .
`` While people were suffering after Maria , this place was full of water , '' another man can be overheard saying .
Hurricane Maria struck the island on Sept. 16 , 2017 .
As the live images ricocheted across the Internet , people across the island grew irate .
The head of the emergency management agency , Carlos Acevedo , issued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being distributed and denied that the much-needed resources were going to waste .
But his defense did not save him in the face of popular outrage .
Within hours , the island 's governor fired him .
`` There are thousands of people who have made sacrifices to bring help to the south and it is unforgivable that resources have been kept in a warehouse , '' Vázquez said .
She added that Acevedo had mismanaged the government 's supplies and failed the victims of Puerto Rico 's earthquakes .
The next day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in her cabinet — the Housing Secretary Fernando Gil and Department of Family Secretary Glorimar Andújar .
Vázquez said the positions require public trust and that she had lost confidence in them .
`` They were n't able to personally tell me specifically where these [ collection and distribution ] centers were located , what they contained and whether an inventory was completed , '' she said , according to the Associated Press .
She also said the heads of agencies are responsible for informing the governor about the existence of available resources @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the release of billions of dollars in aid from the Trump administration was announced last week .
The federal funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development totaling $ 8.2 billion , had been delayed for months by Secretary Ben Carson .
He argued more stringent financial oversight measures were needed before the disaster funds could be distributed .
The same day , President Trump declared a `` major disaster '' in Puerto Rico because of the earthquakes and ordered additional federal assistance to help the island recover .
The governor said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would further delay the federal funds .
But Vázquez 's moves did little to quell the growing outcry .
Activists organized an island-wide strike on Monday .
Protester Awilda Rodriguez Lora said the flurry of earthquakes that have struck the island over the last few weeks along with the warehouse incident have re-opened old wounds that have not fully healed .
`` After the hurricane ... we pushed so hard to go back to this pseudo-normality , '' Rodriguez told NPR .
But , `` when you have another natural disaster , remembering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it brings this fight or flight feeling . ''
She added that people 's indignation did not dissipate when Gov .
Rosselló was forced out of office last summer .
It remains present , simmering under the surface , she explained .
And the warehouse incident has only served to ignite a new spark .

Political Unrest In Puerto Rico After Discovery Of Unused Hurricane Aid
Enlarge this image toggle caption Gladys Vega/Getty Images Gladys Vega/Getty Images
Angry residents took to the streets of Puerto Rico on Monday.
Fury over the government's mishandling of disaster aid following a spate of devastating earthquakes earlier this month, coupled with the recent discovery of unused supplies — some dating back to Hurricane Maria — is driving frustrated demonstrators to the gates of the governor's mansion.
Fed up with what they say is rampant corruption, they are demanding the resignation of Gov. Wanda Vázquez, who just months ago served as the island's Justice Secretary.
"Where is Wanda? She's not here. She's busy hiding disaster supplies!" crowds shouted on Monday, reviving chants hurled by protesters over the summer, when the public forced Gov. Ricardo Rosselló out of office.
His ouster led to months of political turmoil which Vázquez has struggled to overcome.
But the latest round of political unrest, including the dismissal of several top cabinet members, began on Saturday.
A local blogger named Lorenzo Delgado had been tipped off about a government-run warehouse in the southern city of Ponce, where hundreds of people have been left homeless by the recent temblors.
The warehouse, it turned out, was filled with supplies; pallets of expired baby food, expired water, blue tarps, gas stoves, diapers, cots, air mattresses and sheets sat untouched, even as thousands continue to sleep outside in decimated communities.
Delgado posted his findings on Facebook. The live stream almost immediately drew a large, unruly crowd to the warehouse.
A handful of people eventually forced open the doors and began distributing the goods.
In one video of the incident posted by Primera Hora, a man reads out the date on one of the water pallets: "October 14, 2017," he shouts.
"While people were suffering after Maria, this place was full of water," another man can be overheard saying. Hurricane Maria struck the island on Sept. 16, 2017.
As the live images ricocheted across the Internet, people across the island grew irate.
The head of the emergency management agency, Carlos Acevedo, issued a statement explaining that the supplies were being distributed and denied that the much-needed resources were going to waste. But his defense did not save him in the face of popular outrage.
Within hours, the island's governor fired him.
"There are thousands of people who have made sacrifices to bring help to the south and it is unforgivable that resources have been kept in a warehouse," Vázquez said.
She added that Acevedo had mismanaged the government's supplies and failed the victims of Puerto Rico's earthquakes.
The next day, Vázquez fired two more top officials in her cabinet — the Housing Secretary Fernando Gil and Department of Family Secretary Glorimar Andújar.
Vázquez said the positions require public trust and that she had lost confidence in them.
"They weren't able to personally tell me specifically where these [collection and distribution] centers were located, what they contained and whether an inventory was completed," she said, according to the Associated Press.
She also said the heads of agencies are responsible for informing the governor about the existence of available resources.
The scandal erupted just days after the release of billions of dollars in aid from the Trump administration was announced last week.
The federal funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development totaling $8.2 billion, had been delayed for months by Secretary Ben Carson. He argued more stringent financial oversight measures were needed before the disaster funds could be distributed.
The same day, President Trump declared a "major disaster" in Puerto Rico because of the earthquakes and ordered additional federal assistance to help the island recover.
The governor said she was not worried the latest firings would further delay the federal funds.
But Vázquez's moves did little to quell the growing outcry. Activists organized an island-wide strike on Monday.
Protester Awilda Rodriguez Lora said the flurry of earthquakes that have struck the island over the last few weeks along with the warehouse incident have re-opened old wounds that have not fully healed.
"After the hurricane ... we pushed so hard to go back to this pseudo-normality," Rodriguez told NPR. But, "when you have another natural disaster, remembering how the government dealt with our people, it brings this fight or flight feeling."
She added that people's indignation did not dissipate when Gov. Rosselló was forced out of office last summer.
It remains present, simmering under the surface, she explained. And the warehouse incident has only served to ignite a new spark.


npr--2020-01-20--Amtrak To Drop $25,000 Ticket Price For Two Wheelchair Users After Complaints

Amtrak To Drop $ 25,000 Ticket Price For Two Wheelchair Users After Complaints Amtrak has reversed course — at least partly — on its plan to charge two wheelchair users $ 25,000 for a short train ride , after hearing criticism , including from a U.S. senator .
On Friday , NPR reported that two riders , who use power wheelchairs , were told they 'd have to pay at least $ 25,000 for a two-hour train ride from Chicago to the station in Bloomington-Normal , Ill .
It 's a ticket that usually costs $ 16 .
The two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disability service and advocacy organization , Access Living , headed to a statewide conference .
On Monday , two senior Amtrak officials called a lawyer at Access Living to offer a solution .
They said Amtrak could find extra space on the train after all and the two could ride for the regular price of the ticket .
Then there was another complication .
Another disability group is sending staff to the same statewide conference .
Two wheelchair users from that group want to take the same train .
On Monday afternoon , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of them .
Access Living is taking 10 staff members to the conference , including five who use wheelchairs .
The train has three cars and each car has one space set aside for a wheelchair user , following regulations set out under the Americans with Disabilities Act .
Amtrak had said to add space for the two additional wheelchair users , it would need to take a train car out of service in order to unbolt extra seats .
An Amtrak group sales agent , writing to Access Living on Dec. 30 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
When the group objected , the agent wrote back on Jan. 2 to explain the charge was in line with Amtrak policy about reconfiguring a rail car .
`` With the removal of seats , it can be quite costly , '' she wrote .
`` In previous years the removal of seats from the coach cars incurred fees that Amtrak absorbed ... We understand and appreciate your loyalty with Amtrak .
Going forward , we can not continue to absorb these fees .
These policies have changed nationwide as of 2019 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Access Living , says the group appreciates that the riders will all be able to take the train on Wednesday at no additional cost .
But she says they are seeking a long-term solution , so that Amtrak wo n't charge those high rates in the future .
Sen. Tammy Duckworth , D-Ill. , is asking the same .
`` I believe Amtrak must do better moving forward , '' Duckworth said in a statement issued Sunday .
`` To prevent future incidents , I will be requesting that Amtrak CEO Richard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Amtrak 's nationwide policy of refusing to absorb any costs associated with reconfiguring a railcar to accommodate a group of wheelchair users . ''
Duckworth called the high bill from Amtrak `` outrageous '' and said it was `` disappointing '' that Amtrak had `` failed to offer a public apology for its initial mistake . ''
Amtrak , in a statement to NPR on Monday , said it had contacted Access Living and `` we apologize for their inconvenience as we have been working through how to serve their travel needs .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ policy and meet with Duckworth , who is the ranking member on the Senate subcommittee on transportation and safety .
Duckworth is also an Army veteran , who was injured in Iraq after the Blackhawk helicopter she was co-piloting was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade .
Duckworth walks on two prosthetic legs and uses a wheelchair .
Duckworth understands the added difficulty of traveling in a wheelchair .
She 's the author of a recent rule that requires airlines to report when a wheelchair gets damaged in transit .
That 's a common @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happened to Duckworth three times in three years .
Last Friday night , after the NPR story aired , Amtrak sent a statement that said the group of disabled passengers could make other plans to travel .
Some could take an earlier train , or the later train .
That did n't go over well with Access Living staff who already find it more difficult to find accessible ways to travel .
All of the riders want to be on the 7 a.m. train .
That is the first train in the morning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hours later , would mean getting in late for the conference .
Going the night before would add the expense of staying in a hotel .

Amtrak To Drop $25,000 Ticket Price For 2 Wheelchair Users After Complaints
Enlarge this image toggle caption Brendan McDermid/Reuters Brendan McDermid/Reuters
Amtrak has reversed course — at least partly — on its plan to charge two wheelchair users $25,000 for a short train ride, after hearing criticism, including from a U.S. senator.
On Friday, NPR reported that two riders, who use power wheelchairs, were told they'd have to pay at least $25,000 for a two-hour train ride from Chicago to the station in Bloomington-Normal, Ill. It's a ticket that usually costs $16.
The two are part of a group from a disability service and advocacy organization, Access Living, headed to a statewide conference.
On Monday, two senior Amtrak officials called a lawyer at Access Living to offer a solution. They said Amtrak could find extra space on the train after all and the two could ride for the regular price of the ticket.
Access Living accepted the offer.
Then there was another complication. Another disability group is sending staff to the same statewide conference. Two wheelchair users from that group want to take the same train.
On Monday afternoon, Amtrak agreed to find space for all of them.
Access Living is taking 10 staff members to the conference, including five who use wheelchairs. The train has three cars and each car has one space set aside for a wheelchair user, following regulations set out under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Amtrak had said that to add space for the two additional wheelchair users, it would need to take a train car out of service to unbolt extra seats. An Amtrak group sales agent, writing to Access Living on Dec. 30, explained that would cost $25,000.
When the group objected, the agent wrote back on Jan. 2 to explain the charge was in line with Amtrak policy about reconfiguring a rail car. "With the removal of seats, it can be quite costly," she wrote. "In previous years the removal of seats from the coach cars incurred fees that Amtrak absorbed ... We understand and appreciate your loyalty with Amtrak. Going forward, we cannot continue to absorb these fees. These policies have changed nationwide as of 2019."
Bridget Hayman, a spokeswoman at Access Living, says the group appreciates that the riders will all be able to take the train on Wednesday at no additional cost. But she says they are seeking a long-term solution so that Amtrak won't charge those high rates in the future.
Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., is asking the same. "I believe Amtrak must do better moving forward," Duckworth said in a statement issued Sunday. "To prevent future incidents, I will be requesting that Amtrak CEO Richard Anderson meet with me to discuss eliminating Amtrak's nationwide policy of refusing to absorb any costs associated with reconfiguring a railcar to accommodate a group of wheelchair users."
Duckworth called the high bill from Amtrak "outrageous" and said it was "disappointing" that Amtrak had "failed to offer a public apology for its initial mistake."
Amtrak, in a statement to NPR on Monday, said it had contacted Access Living, and "we apologize for their inconvenience as we have been working through how to serve their travel needs." Amtrak said it would review its policy and meet with Duckworth, who is the ranking member on the Senate subcommittee on transportation and safety.
Duckworth is also an Army veteran who was injured in Iraq after the Blackhawk helicopter she was co-piloting was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade. Duckworth walks on two prosthetic legs and uses a wheelchair.
Duckworth understands the added difficulty of traveling in a wheelchair. She's the author of a recent rule that requires airlines to report when a wheelchair gets damaged in transit. That's a common problem for wheelchair users. It had happened to Duckworth three times in three years.
Last Friday night, after the NPR story aired, Amtrak sent a statement that said the group of disabled passengers could make other plans to travel. Some could take an earlier train, or the later train.
That didn't go over well with Access Living staff who already find it more difficult to find accessible ways to travel. All of the riders want to be on the 7 a.m. train. That is the first train in the morning. The next train, a few hours later, would mean getting in late for the conference. Going the night before would add the expense of staying in a hotel.


npr--2020-01-20--Destructive Hail And A Massive Dust Storm Descend On Fire-Ravaged Australia

Australia 's southeast was already dealing with the terrible effects of historic bushfires and huge smoke clouds .
Then Canberra , Melbourne and other places were hit by golf-ball-sized hail that destroyed car windshields , killed birds and shredded the leaves off trees .
The Bureau of Meteorology in New South Wales , the country 's most populous state , warned residents of `` damaging winds , large , possibly giant hailstones and heavy rainfall '' as it issued severe thunderstorm warnings in the east and northeast .
The storms also prompted warnings of flash floods — adding another element @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hit hard by the fires .
In the Australian Capital Territory , which includes the capital city of Canberra , the weather service reported hail Monday measuring up to nearly 2 inches in diameter — accompanied by wind gusts that were near hurricane-strength .
The storm was intense and fast-moving .
The territory 's Emergency Services Agency reported receiving a record 1,900 calls for help — more than three times the average for a storm .
All of those calls came in after midday , the agency said .
`` Lucky I rode @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said on Twitter , posting a video of a parking lot at the National Library of Australia where cars ' rear windshields had been smashed by hail .
`` It was like Armageddon , basically , '' Wardhaugh tells the ABC .
`` Unbelievable .
There were people running into the library but I 'm really hoping that there 's no one caught out in it . ''
The hail forced Australian National University in Canberra to close its campus for both Monday and Tuesday , saying it needed to assess damage `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and begin repairs .
The dangerous storms came at the end of a weekend that brought a huge dust storm to western portions of New South Wales — another jarring twist in Australia 's summer of extreme weather .
`` Day turns into night ! ''
Australia 's Bureau of Meteorology said via Twitter as it posted video of the leading edge of a massive dust storm that was poised to engulf the town of Narromine , some 250 miles northwest of Sydney .
The huge storm quickly plunged the area into darkness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been looking forward to getting some much-needed rain — but as the ABC reports , those parched areas got only a sliver of rain , compared with the torrents that later hit the southeast portion of New South Wales .
Recent rains have provided some relief from Australia 's drought .
And they 've helped firefighters gain new leverage in controlling dynamic wildfires .
The bushfires have destroyed more than 2,600 homes since September , and 28 people have died — along with hundreds of millions of animals .
Showing the dramatic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fire-ravaged areas , the actor Russell Crowe posted two images to Twitter Sunday showing his land in New South Wales , which was charred and smoky 10 weeks ago and freshly green on Sunday after heavy rains .
As Australia takes stock of what it has lost in the epic fires , some forests and other important habitats might not be able to recover fully .
`` The normal processes of recovery are going to be less effective , going to take longer , '' ecologist Roger Kitching of Griffith University in Queensland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , `` Instead of an ecosystem taking a decade , it may take a century or more to recover , all assuming we do n't get another fire season of this magnitude soon . ''

Destructive Hail And A Massive Dust Storm Descend On Fire-Ravaged Australia
Enlarge this image toggle caption Ying Tan/via Reuters Ying Tan/via Reuters
Australia's southeast was already dealing with the terrible effects of historic bushfires and huge smoke clouds. Then Canberra, Melbourne and other places were hit by golf-ball-sized hail that destroyed car windshields, killed birds and shredded the leaves off trees.
The Bureau of Meteorology in New South Wales, the country's most populous state, warned residents of "damaging winds, large, possibly giant hailstones and heavy rainfall" as it issued severe thunderstorm warnings in the east and northeast.
The storms also prompted warnings of flash floods — adding another element of risk to areas that have been hit hard by the fires.
In the Australian Capital Territory, which includes the capital city of Canberra, the weather service reported hail Monday measuring up to nearly 2 inches in diameter — accompanied by wind gusts that were near hurricane-strength.
The storm was intense and fast-moving. The territory's Emergency Services Agency reported receiving a record 1,900 calls for help — more than three times the average for a storm. All of those calls came in after midday, the agency said.
"Lucky I rode my bike today," Hilary Wardhaugh said on Twitter, posting a video of a parking lot at the National Library of Australia where cars' rear windshields had been smashed by hail.
"It was like Armageddon, basically," Wardhaugh tells the ABC. "Unbelievable. There were people running into the library but I'm really hoping that there's no one caught out in it."
The hail forced Australian National University in Canberra to close its campus for both Monday and Tuesday, saying it needed to assess damage "to a large number of buildings" and begin repairs.
The dangerous storms came at the end of a weekend that brought a huge dust storm to western portions of New South Wales — another jarring twist in Australia's summer of extreme weather.
"Day turns into night!" Australia's Bureau of Meteorology said via Twitter as it posted video of the leading edge of a massive dust storm that was poised to engulf the town of Narromine, some 250 miles northwest of Sydney. The huge storm quickly plunged the area into darkness.
Residents of Narromine and nearby communities had been looking forward to getting some much-needed rain — but as the ABC reports, those parched areas got only a sliver of rain, compared with the torrents that later hit the southeast portion of New South Wales.
Recent rains have provided some relief from Australia's drought. And they've helped firefighters gain new leverage in controlling dynamic wildfires. The bushfires have destroyed more than 2,600 homes since September, and 28 people have died — along with hundreds of millions of animals.
Showing the dramatic difference a steady rain can make for fire-ravaged areas, the actor Russell Crowe posted two images to Twitter Sunday showing his land in New South Wales, which was charred and smoky 10 weeks ago and freshly green on Sunday after heavy rains.
As Australia takes stock of what it has lost in the epic fires, some forests and other important habitats might not be able to recover fully.
"The normal processes of recovery are going to be less effective, going to take longer," ecologist Roger Kitching of Griffith University in Queensland tells The Associated Press. He adds, "Instead of an ecosystem taking a decade, it may take a century or more to recover, all assuming we don't get another fire season of this magnitude soon."


npr--2020-01-20--Coronavirus In China: Over 200 Cases, Human-To-Human Transmission

New information is being reported about the new coronavirus that emerged in China in December and causes respiratory symptoms such as pneumonia — heightening concerns about its potential threat to humans .
On Monday , Chinese authorities reported that the total caseload has risen to over 200 , roughly tripling the previous number .
In addition , authorities in Wuhan , where the virus was first reported , confirmed a third death but did not release details except to say that the three victims , all men , had prior illnesses .
Health authorities believe that the virus probably originated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and was transmitted to humans by contact with animals at a live animal market in the central city of Wuhan .
The World Health Organization tweeted on January 19 : `` An animal source seems the most likely primary source of this novel # coronavirus ( 2019-nCoV ) outbreak , with some limited human-to-human transmission occurring between close contacts . ''
On Monday , Zhong Nanshan , the epidemiologist who leads the committee on the outbreak for China 's National Health Commission , gave a TV interview stating there was evidence of human-to-human @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also confirmed that there has been infection of medical staff .
The World Health Organization will convene an Emergency Committee on Wednesday to determine if the outbreak `` constitutes a public health emergency of international concern '' — and if so , what measures should be taken .
On Monday , President Xi Jinping gave an interview to the state-run Xinhua News Agency in which he called on officials to `` release outbreak information in a timely manner and deepen international cooperation . ''
Cases have been reported outside China in Japan , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had visited Wuhan .
Dr. Ian Lipkin , director of the Center for Infection and Immunity at Columbia Mailman School of Public Health , notes that `` We do n't have evidence of clusters in distant geographic locations as we did with SARS .
This is what we would anticipate if the virus were highly transmissible . ''
Lipkin , who assisted the World Health Organization and China during the 2003 outbreak of SARS , which is also a coronavirus , says that the symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus — fever , cough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the symptoms for SARS , which originated in southern China in 2002 , infected more than 7,000 people globally and caused some 800 deaths before the outbreak ended the following year .
Since 2004 , there have been no known cases of SARS , according to the CDC .
Another coronavirus of concern , MERS , emerged in 2012 in Saudi Arabia , appears to spread less easily between people .
To date it has infected some 2,500 people and caused approximately 850 deaths , according to the World Health Organization .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diseases , says Lipkin .
`` If you have good diagnostic tests and can identify people and animals that have been infected , you can isolate them and contain an outbreak , '' he says .
`` That 's something that 's already being done in Wuhan by closing the seafood market .
But once things start spreading from human to human , it becomes more difficult to [ contain the outbreak ] . ''

Coronavirus In China: Over 200 Cases, Human-To-Human Transmission
Enlarge this image toggle caption Getty Images Getty Images
New information is being reported about the new coronavirus that emerged in China in December and causes respiratory symptoms such as pneumonia — heightening concerns about its potential threat to humans.
On Monday, Chinese authorities reported that the total caseload has risen to over 200, roughly tripling the previous number. In addition, authorities in Wuhan, where the virus was first reported, confirmed a third death but did not release details except to say that the three victims, all men, had prior illnesses.
Health authorities believe that the virus probably originated in an as yet unidentified animal species and was transmitted to humans by contact with animals at a live animal market in the central city of Wuhan.
The World Health Organization tweeted on January 19: "An animal source seems the most likely primary source of this novel #coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak, with some limited human-to-human transmission occurring between close contacts."
On Monday, Zhong Nanshan, the epidemiologist who leads the committee on the outbreak for China's National Health Commission, gave a TV interview stating there was evidence of human-to-human transmission.
China's National Health Commission also confirmed that there has been infection of medical staff.
The World Health Organization will convene an Emergency Committee on Wednesday to determine if the outbreak "constitutes a public health emergency of international concern" — and if so, what measures should be taken.
On Monday, President Xi Jinping gave an interview to the state-run Xinhua News Agency in which he called on officials to "release outbreak information in a timely manner and deepen international cooperation." Cases have been reported outside China in Japan, Thailand and South Korea in individuals who had visited Wuhan.
Dr. Ian Lipkin, director of the Center for Infection and Immunity at Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, notes that "We don't have evidence of clusters in distant geographic locations as we did with SARS. This is what we would anticipate if the virus were highly transmissible."
Lipkin, who assisted the World Health Organization and China during the 2003 outbreak of SARS, which is also a coronavirus, says that the symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus — fever, cough and difficulty breathing — are similar to the symptoms for SARS, which originated in southern China in 2002, infected more than 7,000 people globally and caused some 800 deaths before the outbreak ended the following year. Since 2004, there have been no known cases of SARS, according to the CDC.
Another coronavirus of concern, MERS, emerged in 2012 in Saudi Arabia, appears to spread less easily between people. To date it has infected some 2,500 people and caused approximately 850 deaths, according to the World Health Organization.
There are no approved vaccines to prevent these diseases, says Lipkin. "If you have good diagnostic tests and can identify people and animals that have been infected, you can isolate them and contain an outbreak," he says. "That's something that's already being done in Wuhan by closing the seafood market. But once things start spreading from human to human, it becomes more difficult to [contain the outbreak]."


npr--2020-01-20--Honolulu Police Search For Remains Of Suspect Who Killed 2 Officers, Set Homes Ablaze

Honolulu Police Search For Remains Of Suspect Who Killed 2 Officers , Set Homes Ablaze Investigators in Honolulu are combing through the charred rubble of seven homes and searching for the remains of a man who police say stabbed his landlord , fatally shot two officers and set a fire that destroyed his bungalow and six other homes .
`` It will likely take days to process the crime scene , including recovery of any remains , '' Honolulu Police Chief Susan Ballard said at a press briefing .
`` At this time there are three people who are unaccounted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prior to the rampage , the suspect 's landlord had tried to have him evicted .
Jaroslav `` Jerry '' Hanel stabbed his landlord , whom authorities identified as Lois Cain , on Sunday morning , Ballard said .
Cain was wounded in the leg but managed to dial 911 , and responding officers arrived at the scene .
`` Shortly after , they saw thick black smoke coming out of the home , '' Ballard said .
The fire engulfed the homes at one end of Waikiki Beach — and may have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bungalow whom authorities have not yet located .
As smoke billowed from the home , Hanel reportedly began firing his weapon , killing Officers Tiffany Enriquez and Kaulike Kalama .
`` They were like my kids , '' Ballard said on Sunday , choking back tears .
`` I know each one of them very personally . ''
Both Enriquez , a seven-year veteran of the police force , and Kalama , who had served for nine years , were parents .
Authorities say their deaths are the first line-of-duty police killings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and federal investigators piece together evidence , local leaders say the whole city is in a state of mourning .
`` This is a family and people are grieving , '' said Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell .
`` Every day , men and women in blue get up in the morning and put on their uniforms and go to work . ''
While Hanel , 69 , is presumed to have died in the fire , Ballard said , `` We will continue to search for Hanel until we confirm that his remains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clear whether the two missing women also were tenants or what their relationship was to Hanel .
Ballard would not identify the women or confirm their ages , saying only that investigators are sifting through the crime scene now that the fire has been fully extinguished .
Defense lawyer Jonathan Burge said that Hanel , whom he has represented , is a native of the Czech Republic who lived at home for free in exchange for handyman work .
But local authorities say Hanel had repeated run-ins with police .
Hanel had an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made a false 911 call .
Burge told NPR that Hansel `` was paranoid , thought the government was watching him , '' he said .
He said the landlord had recently moved back to Hawaii and was evicting Hansel so she could live in the apartment .
`` He should not have had a gun .
He had an active restraining order against him from some of the neighbors .
Do n't know how he got the gun , '' Burge told NPR .
Police have not yet recovered any weapons from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hanel did not have a permit to own any guns .
`` As we express our condolences to their families , friends and colleagues , let us also come together to help and support those who have been forever changed by this tragedy , '' Gov .
David Ige of Hawaii said on Twitter .

Honolulu Police Search For Remains Of Suspect Who Killed 2 Officers, Set Homes Ablaze
Enlarge this image toggle caption AP AP
Updated 4:05 p.m. ET Sunday
Investigators in Honolulu are combing through the charred rubble of seven homes and searching for the remains of a man who police say stabbed his landlord, fatally shot two officers and set a fire that destroyed his bungalow and six other homes.
"It will likely take days to process the crime scene, including recovery of any remains," Honolulu Police Chief Susan Ballard said at a press briefing. "At this time there are three people who are unaccounted for, including the suspect."
Prior to the rampage, the suspect's landlord had tried to have him evicted. Jaroslav "Jerry" Hanel stabbed his landlord, whom authorities identified as Lois Cain, on Sunday morning, Ballard said. Cain was wounded in the leg but managed to dial 911, and responding officers arrived at the scene.
"Shortly after, they saw thick black smoke coming out of the home," Ballard said.
The fire engulfed the homes at one end of Waikiki Beach — and may have claimed the lives of two women at the bungalow whom authorities have not yet located.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Marco Garcia/AP Marco Garcia/AP
As smoke billowed from the home, Hanel reportedly began firing his weapon, killing Officers Tiffany Enriquez and Kaulike Kalama.
"They were like my kids," Ballard said on Sunday, choking back tears. "I know each one of them very personally."
Both Enriquez, a seven-year veteran of the police force, and Kalama, who had served for nine years, were parents. Authorities say their deaths are the first line-of-duty police killings in Honolulu since 2012.
As state and federal investigators piece together evidence, local leaders say the whole city is in a state of mourning.
"This is a family and people are grieving," said Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell. "Every day, men and women in blue get up in the morning and put on their uniforms and go to work."
While Hanel, 69, is presumed to have died in the fire, Ballard said, "We will continue to search for Hanel until we confirm that his remains are recovered."
It wasn't clear whether the two missing women also were tenants or what their relationship was to Hanel. Ballard would not identify the women or confirm their ages, saying only that investigators are sifting through the crime scene now that the fire has been fully extinguished.
Defense lawyer Jonathan Burge said that Hanel, whom he has represented, is a native of the Czech Republic who lived at home for free in exchange for handyman work. But local authorities say Hanel had repeated run-ins with police. Hanel had an upcoming court hearing on charges that he made a false 911 call.
Burge told NPR that Hansel "was paranoid, thought the government was watching him," he said.
He said the landlord had recently moved back to Hawaii and was evicting Hansel so she could live in the apartment.
"He should not have had a gun. He had an active restraining order against him from some of the neighbors. Don't know how he got the gun," Burge told NPR.
Police have not yet recovered any weapons from the crime scene, and Ballard said Hanel did not have a permit to own any guns.
"As we express our condolences to their families, friends and colleagues, let us also come together to help and support those who have been forever changed by this tragedy," Gov. David Ige of Hawaii said on Twitter.


npr--2020-01-20--READ: Trump Legal Filing Accuses Democrats Of 'Dangerous Perversion' Of Constitution

The White House is offering a fiery legal response to the articles of impeachment , in an executive summary of a legal brief obtained by NPR .
Decrying a `` rigged process '' that is `` brazenly political , '' President Trump 's legal team accuses House Democrats of `` focus-group testing various charges for weeks '' and says that `` all that House Democrats have succeeded in proving is hat the President did absolutely nothing wrong . ''
They sum up the impeachment as `` a dangerous perversion of the Constitution that the Senate should swiftly and roundly condemn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 110 pages , was sent in response to a Senate summons ahead of the trial , set to begin Tuesday .
`` It 's been a substantial project , '' said a source working with the president 's legal team who spoke on condition of anonymity .
`` It 's a Supreme Court caliber brief . ''
The brief expands upon arguments made in a document released over the weekend answering the articles of impeachment , dealing with both process and substance .
They argue that the president can not be impeached for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crime and that the president did n't abuse his power anyhow .
`` Abuse of power is n't a crime , '' said the source .
Democrats argue abuse of power is the very thing the Framers had in mind and that `` high crimes and misdemeanors '' spelled out in the Constitution is n't meant literally , but is a term of art .
Over time , federal officials have been impeached without criminal accusations .
But Trump 's legal team says no president has been impeached without a criminal offense and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ subjective .
`` It would alter the separation of powers to allow this sort of vague standard to be used , to impeach the president , '' the source said .
The brief also argues that the article of impeachment for obstructing Congress is invalid because of standing executive branch protections and because the House did n't pursue judicial recourse to force cooperation .
House Democratic impeachment managers responded to the Trump legal team 's arguments on Monday .
`` The Framers deliberately drafted a Constitution that allows the Senate to remove Presidents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their power to cheat in elections , betray our national security , and ignore checks and balances , '' they wrote .
`` That President Trump believes otherwise , and insists he is free to engage in such conduct again , only highlights the continuing threat he poses to the Nation if allowed to remain in office . ''
The House managers also repeatedly denied the accusations made against them by the Trump legal team .
As for the phone call at the heart of the impeachment inquiry where President Trump asked President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden , the brief by the president 's team argues that Trump was justified to inquire into the Biden 's due to corruption concerns in Ukraine .
On the security aid , they point to Ukrainian President Zelenskiy 's public comments that he felt no pressure and the fact that the aid was eventually released , though that was after Congress started inquiring about the holdup .
The brief concludes that `` the Senate should speedily reject these articles of impeachment and acquit the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's legal team will seek an immediate dismissal of the charges , the source declined to share `` the exact strategy that we will have in the courtroom , '' but added `` it is clear and I think this brief makes it clear that these charges are so insubstantial and so deficient on their face , they would merit immediate dismissal .
There 's no need to proceed further but I 'm not going to get into exactly the way we 're going to handle it . ''
On Saturday , House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Senate , saying that `` President Trump 's conduct is the Framers ' worst nightmare . ''
They outlined the case that he abused his power through an extended pressure campaign against Ukraine to investigate the Bidens , and that the president obstructed Congress by ordering members of his administration `` to defy every subpoena '' and refuse both testimony and documents from many officials .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is set to announce the rules that will govern the impeachment trial on Tuesday .
Responding to the possibility that each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two days to make their case , a source working with the president 's legal team said `` we 're fine with the package of rules that the leader will come up with . ''
Democrats are already protesting the idea of a trial that could extend into the wee hours of the morning .

READ: Trump Legal Filing Accuses Democrats Of 'Dangerous Perversion' Of Constitution
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mark Wilson/Getty Images Mark Wilson/Getty Images
Updated at 12:58 p.m. ET
The White House is offering a fiery legal response to the articles of impeachment, in an executive summary of a legal brief obtained by NPR.
Decrying a "rigged process" that is "brazenly political," President Trump's legal team accuses House Democrats of "focus-group testing various charges for weeks" and says that "all that House Democrats have succeeded in proving is that the President did absolutely nothing wrong."
They sum up the impeachment as "a dangerous perversion of the Constitution that the Senate should swiftly and roundly condemn."
The full brief, totaling 110 pages, was sent in response to a Senate summons ahead of the trial, set to begin Tuesday.
"It's been a substantial project," said a source working with the president's legal team who spoke on condition of anonymity. "It's a Supreme Court caliber brief."
The brief expands upon arguments made in a document released over the weekend answering the articles of impeachment, dealing with both process and substance. They argue that the president cannot be impeached for an abuse of power short of a crime and that the president didn't abuse his power anyhow.
"Abuse of power isn't a crime," said the source.
Democrats argue abuse of power is the very thing the Framers had in mind and that "high crimes and misdemeanors" spelled out in the Constitution isn't meant literally, but is a term of art. Over time, federal officials have been impeached without criminal accusations. But Trump's legal team says no president has been impeached without a criminal offense and charging abuse of power is simply too subjective. "It would alter the separation of powers to allow this sort of vague standard to be used, to impeach the president," the source said.
The brief also argues that the article of impeachment for obstructing Congress is invalid because of standing executive branch protections and because the House didn't pursue judicial recourse to force cooperation.
House Democratic impeachment managers responded to the Trump legal team's arguments on Monday. "The Framers deliberately drafted a Constitution that allows the Senate to remove Presidents who, like President Trump, abuse their power to cheat in elections, betray our national security, and ignore checks and balances," they wrote. "That President Trump believes otherwise, and insists he is free to engage in such conduct again, only highlights the continuing threat he poses to the Nation if allowed to remain in office."
The House managers also repeatedly denied the accusations made against them by the Trump legal team.
As for the phone call at the heart of the impeachment inquiry where President Trump asked President Volodymyr Zelenskiy of Ukraine to look into Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden, the brief by the president's team argues that Trump was justified to inquire into the Biden's due to corruption concerns in Ukraine. On the security aid, they point to Ukrainian President Zelenskiy's public comments that he felt no pressure and the fact that the aid was eventually released, though that was after Congress started inquiring about the holdup.
The brief concludes that "the Senate should speedily reject these articles of impeachment and acquit the president." Asked if this means Trump's legal team will seek an immediate dismissal of the charges, the source declined to share "the exact strategy that we will have in the courtroom," but added "it is clear and I think this brief makes it clear that these charges are so insubstantial and so deficient on their face, they would merit immediate dismissal. There's no need to proceed further but I'm not going to get into exactly the way we're going to handle it."
On Saturday, House impeachment managers offered their formal brief to the Senate, saying that "President Trump's conduct is the Framers' worst nightmare." They outlined the case that he abused his power through an extended pressure campaign against Ukraine to investigate the Bidens, and that the president obstructed Congress by ordering members of his administration "to defy every subpoena" and refuse both testimony and documents from many officials.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is set to announce the rules that will govern the impeachment trial on Tuesday. Responding to the possibility that each side will get 24 hours split over two days to make their case, a source working with the president's legal team said "we're fine with the package of rules that the leader will come up with." Democrats are already protesting the idea of a trial that could extend into the wee hours of the morning.