npr--2020-08-21--Daycare, Grandparent, Pod Or Nanny? How To Manage The Risks Of Pandemic Child Care

Daycare , Grandparent , Pod Or Nanny ?
How To Manage The Risks Of Pandemic Child Care Pre-pandemic , about half of U.S. families reported having trouble finding care for a young child .
That number jumped to nearly two thirds this spring , as daycares closed and other caretakers , such as grandparents and nannies , were told to stay home .
And with many schools operating remotely , in a hybrid model or abruptly changing course this fall , many more parents , including those with kids in elementary school and beyond , are grappling with a child @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already-fragile child care puzzle is no longer just a matter of logistics ( `` Who can watch the preschooler when I work ? ''
) or finances ( `` Can I afford to share a nanny with two other families ? ''
) .
The pandemic makes these questions even more complicated and anxiety-provoking .
`` Everything is about risk mitigation right now , '' says Dr. Anne Rimoin , a UCLA Fielding School of Public Health epidemiologist who specializes in emerging infectious diseases .
`` So you have to think carefully about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who 's taking care of them and make the best decision that you can based on the options available to you . ''
How should families go about making these difficult decisions — and make any child care setup as safe as possible for kids , families and care providers ?
Emerging data about the virus and thoughtful public health tactics can help .
First , one small bit of consolation is that children , especially those between the ages of 1 and 9 , are less likely than adolescents and adults to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ although some still do get very ill ) .
The very youngest , however , are more vulnerable than their slightly older counterparts , accumulating evidence suggests .
Infants younger than 12 months have been much more likely to be hospitalized for COVID-19 infection than any other pediatric age group .
And , rarely , children — even those who had mild or no symptoms — have developed a severe inflammatory syndrome .
Kids also seem less likely than adults to spread the virus to others .
The information is still flowing in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the latest studies indicate the virus might be much more common in young kids than previously thought ; children under the age of 5 might carry even higher amounts of the virus than adults or older kids .
So , if you 're trying to make new child care decisions , one key is to pay attention to how severe community spread is in your area , says Kumi Smith , an epidemiologist at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health who focuses on community health .
`` We now find ourselves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to balance what their resources are and what they can bear , '' Smith says .
But it 's clear that `` any time we 're mixing different people from different households together , that 's how the virus spreads . ''
We asked Smith , Rimoin and other experts to help walk us through their thinking and the latest science on the particular risks and considerations for four common child care arrangements .
Key questions : Is the center checking kids for symptoms , cleaning rigorously and restricting kids and staff to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Child care centers have fairly detailed guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on steps to take to reduce the spread of COVID-19 .
Those CDC suggestions are `` a good starting point , '' says Dr. Tina Tan , a pediatrician at Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine and Lurie Children 's Hospital of Chicago who specializes in infectious diseases .
To distill the lengthy recommendations , Tan tells NPR , the key things parents should look for at a child care center are : intensive cleaning and disinfection procedures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ groups that consistently stay together ( ideally with the same adult ) each day , to reduce the number of people they come into contact with .
It 's also important , she says , that the procedures for drop-off and pick-up avoid crowding .
Dr. Stan Spinner , chief medical officer at Texas Children 's Pediatrics and Texas Children 's Urgent Care , adds to that list .
All daycare workers should wear masks , he says , and daycares should routinely screen children ( and parents ) for fever , COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tested positive for the virus .
These steps `` are a must , '' he says .
Facilities should also be able to quickly pinpoint and isolate any child or worker who has symptoms , he adds , limit the sharing of toys and do their best to keep children physically distanced `` when feasible and age appropriate . ''
Many recommendations from health officials , however , can tax already-strained facilities .
One of the CDC 's guidelines , for example , suggests adults wearing gloves use a five-step process to clean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a baby 's or toddler 's mouth .
`` I have strong doubts that many daycares have the ability to strictly adhere to these guidelines , '' Spinner says .
Risk depends , too , on how widely the virus is circulating in the community .
`` If there is a surge of COVID-19 cases or a very high rate of infection in the community , it probably would not be a good idea for child care facilities to open , '' Tan says .
As of early August , after cases had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 1,000 children attending daycare in the state ( and more than 2,000 staff members ) had tested positive for the virus .
And Smith cautions against hanging too much importance on temperature screenings or other symptom checks for catching infections .
In fact , people tend to be at their most infectious right before they get any symptoms the latest evidence suggests .
And `` many infections are asymptomatic , '' Smith notes.She suggests regular testing should be part of any daycare center 's strategy for avoiding an outbreak .
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ options , Tan recommends taking a close look at any facility and asking questions about what preventative steps they are taking .
`` The riskiest child care option , '' she says , `` would be a large daycare center that has not implemented the basic strategies to prevent exposure and spread of COVID-19 . ''
Key question : Can everyone — kids included — commit to sticking exclusively to a very small 'bubble ' of close contacts ?
Older people are at a drastically higher risk of getting severely ill and dying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conditions , such as hypertension and diabetes can increase that risk for any age group .
So for many grandparents , the safest choice is to not be the grandkids ' caregiver .
`` This has been one of the most challenging aspects , '' Smith says , `` because it 's painful . ''
But there are some things families can do to lower the risks in these situations .
For example , they can go on a strict regime of physical distancing outside the family ( no play dates , no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wearing masks and distancing when in public , etc . )
for two weeks and then go into an even smaller , closed `` bubble '' with the older caregiver .
Then ensure everyone continues to uphold these practices .
`` If you 're essentially 'bubbling ' with these grandparents and relatives , and you 're all staying safe , and not seeing other people , and not going out , then that 's an option , '' Rimoin says .
`` You just have to remember that even if the risk is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adults , the risk is not zero , and you just have to think about that with caution . ''
One report , for example , found high levels of the virus in children ( including in a few newborns ) , which means even they could be capable of passing it on .
With in-person schooling canceled , postponed or part-time in many places for the fall , some parents are considering older relatives as backup child care .
If this is the case , the families should plan on that two-week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Spinner notes that the family should take every step they can to limit that child 's exposure to others in the community before contact with their higher-risk relative .
To help everyone involved decide if they feel comfortable with that sort of setup , Smith suggests having some tough conversations .
`` It might seem morbid , '' she says , but ask the relative what their plan is if they or someone else in the family starts feeling sick and where they would want to be taken to the hospital .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' she says ; `` it helps make the situation more real to everyone involved . ''
Key Questions : Do parents and the nanny have open communication about everyone 's level of caution when outside the home ?
Is everyone able to practice good hygiene and risk mitigation when in the home ?
Professional in-home child care has appeared , for many , to be a relatively safe option .
And data from Care.com , one of the largest online clearinghouses for this service , bears that out .
`` We 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for in-home care on our platform , '' Tim Allen , the company 's CEO noted in an email to NPR .
A survey his organization carried out in late May found that more than 63 % of parents were n't comfortable at the time sending children to daycare .
Virus cases have only increased since then .
But there are still risks to consider — and ways to minimize them .
`` A nanny will pose as much of an exposure risk as his or her personal daily activities dictate , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spending time around other people , going out in public areas , such as the grocery store , restaurant , hairdresser ?
Is the nanny wearing a mask routinely ? ''
It 's important to have transparency and open communication in these discussions , Smith says , `` for all parties to be honest with each other about how many contacts they are having outside the home . ''
Families and caregivers should also discuss plans and protocols for testing and isolation should any of them or their close contacts develop symptoms or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also stresses the importance of paying nannies above board — that provides caregivers better access to sick leave and unemployment benefits , which could help minimize virus spread .
Tan recommends that a paid in-home caregiver have coronavirus screenings the same way a daycare center employee would , with temperature and symptom checks before starting work , for example .
And they should maintain other best hygiene practices , such as washing their hands frequently , removing their shoes in the home , and maintaining physical distance — especially from adult members in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family members should do these things as well , to protect the caregiver 's health .
`` Even a conscientious nanny can be a risk to your family 's health , '' Rimoin says .
`` On the other hand , [ by ] having a nanny you 're exposing your family to one caregiver , but a daycare might introduce more teachers and aides into the equation . ''
The details of the care arrangement also play a large role in the level of risk .
For example , an au pair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who is also following best practices when outside the home ) is probably the safest nanny option .
But if you 're considering sharing a care provider with another family — or families — ( a setup that has recently surged in popularity , Allen says ) , that brings additional layers of risk .
`` If the nanny takes care of multiple children from different families and lives in the community , group-based care in which you have cohorting of children and staff may be safer , '' Tan says .
4 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family Key questions : Is everyone in the pod committed to mask wearing , physical distancing and protecting all pod members ?
Do you have a plan if someone gets COVID-19 or tests positive for the virus ?
During the pandemic many families have created small pods , with one other family or even a few others to share in child care duties .
Collaborating with friends or neighbors that way might seem safe , but it is not risk-free .
In fact , `` If you had asked me back in March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . '
`` Smith says .
But now , she acknowledges , in many cases in which people do n't have other options , `` that does seem like a necessary risk that would make this a more bearable situation '' — and more sustainable .
Any group of people is only as safe as its least-safe member .
For example , notes Spinner , `` I would be reluctant to co-mingle with a family whose members choose to go to a gym or eat inside at a restaurant at this point in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each person in these closed pods should be taking every precaution when outside the group , for example , always wearing a mask when out in public and not having close contact with anyone who is n't a member of the bubble .
As in the other care arrangements , it is important for everyone to have open communication about their behaviors , health and plans in case of potential illness .
Another consideration is the number of people involved in the pod — especially the number of adults .
Fewer is safer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who are working in the community , the more chance there is for exposure to COVID-19 , '' notes Tan .
A national child care strategy : 'Our only way forward' Even before the pandemic , child care was something not every family had access to , financially or logistically .
As of last year , Care.com found that about half of American families were spending 15 % or more of their income on child care expenses .
And at various times this year , many states have taken the safety precaution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any room of a child care center .
That has also had the effect of lowering the number of daycare spots available to families and has put a financial strain on centers that remain open .
The pandemic has made any form of child care feel even more precious — and also oftentimes risky .
`` At the end of the day , everyone 's going to have to balance feasibility with safety , '' Rimoin says .
And for many families these days , if they can get child care at all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of choosing its form .
As Rimoin sees it , though , these shaky decisions parents are having to make are not the right solution — for them or for the economy more broadly .
`` Our only way forward is to have a national strategy to be able to reduce the spread of this virus , '' she says .
That is exactly what other countries that have been able to return young children to more regular child care have done .
Denmark reopened daycare centers in April , and kept the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus infection low — often to just a few dozen per day .
And France , which also managed to blunt viral spread to steadily low numbers in April , was able to remove physician distancing measures from its daycares .
`` Why this whole country is not coming together to bring this virus under control for the sake of our children is just beyond me , '' Rimoin says of the United States .
In the meantime , she says , `` everybody is suffering because of it .
Everybody . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and health journalist and editor , contributor for Scientific American and Vox , and author of Cultured and Octopus !
.
You can find her on Twitter at @ KHCourage .

Day Care, Grandparent, Pod Or Nanny? How To Manage The Risks Of Pandemic Child Care
Enlarge this image toggle caption Lindsey Nicholson/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images Lindsey Nicholson/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Pre-pandemic, about half of U.S. families reported having trouble finding care for a young child. That number jumped to nearly two-thirds this spring as day cares closed and other caretakers, such as grandparents and nannies, were told to stay home.
And with many schools operating remotely, in a hybrid model or abruptly changing course this fall, many more parents, including those with kids in elementary school and beyond, are grappling with a child care crisis.
This shake-up of an already-fragile child care puzzle is no longer just a matter of logistics ("Who can watch the preschooler when I work?") or finances ("Can I afford to share a nanny with two other families?"). The pandemic makes these questions even more complicated and anxiety-provoking.
"Everything is about risk mitigation right now," says Anne Rimoin, a UCLA Fielding School of Public Health epidemiologist who specializes in emerging infectious diseases. "So you have to think carefully about where you're putting your kids and who's taking care of them and make the best decision that you can based on the options available to you."
How should families go about making these difficult decisions — and make any child care setup as safe as possible for kids, families and care providers?
Emerging data about the virus and thoughtful public health tactics can help.
First, one small bit of consolation is that children, especially those between the ages of 1 and 9, are less likely than adolescents and adults to get very sick from this coronavirus (although some still do get very ill).
The youngest, however, are more vulnerable than their slightly older counterparts, accumulating evidence suggests. Infants younger than 12 months have been much more likely to be hospitalized for COVID-19 infection than any other pediatric age group. And, rarely, children — even those who had mild or no symptoms — have developed a severe inflammatory syndrome.
Kids also seem less likely than adults to spread the virus to others. The information is still flowing in about this new-to-humans virus however, and the latest studies indicate the virus might be much more common in young kids than previously thought; children under the age of 5 might carry even higher amounts of the virus than adults or older kids.
So, if you're trying to make new child care decisions, one key is to pay attention to how severe community spread is in your area, says Kumi Smith, an epidemiologist at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health who focuses on community health.
"We now find ourselves in a position where each family has to balance what their resources are and what they can bear," Smith says. But it's clear that "any time we're mixing different people from different households together, that's how the virus spreads."
We asked Smith, Rimoin and other experts to help walk us through their thinking and the latest science on the particular risks and considerations for four common child care arrangements.
1) Day care, preschool and other child care centers
Key questions: Is the center checking kids for symptoms, cleaning rigorously and restricting kids and staff to the same small groups each day?
Child care centers have fairly detailed guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on steps to take to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Those CDC suggestions are "a good starting point," says Tina Tan, a pediatrician at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine and Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago who specializes in infectious diseases.
To distill the lengthy recommendations, Tan tells NPR, the key things parents should look for at a child care center are: intensive cleaning and disinfection procedures and a protocol that assigns children to groups that consistently stay together (ideally with the same adult) each day, to reduce the number of people with which they come into contact. It's also important, she says, that the procedures for drop-off and pickup avoid crowding.
Dr. Stan Spinner, chief medical officer at Texas Children's Pediatrics and Texas Children's Urgent Care, adds to that list. All day care workers should wear masks, he says, and day cares should routinely screen children (and parents) for fever, COVID-19 symptoms and exposure to people who have tested positive for the virus. These steps "are a must," he says. Facilities should also be able to pinpoint and isolate quickly any child or worker who has symptoms, he adds, limit the sharing of toys and do their best to keep children physically distanced "when feasible and age appropriate."
Many recommendations from health officials, however, can tax already-strained facilities. One of the CDC's guidelines, for example, suggests adults wearing gloves use a five-step process to clean any toy that has been put in a baby's or toddler's mouth.
"I have strong doubts that many day cares have the ability to strictly adhere to these guidelines," Spinner says.
Risk depends, too, on how widely the virus is circulating in the community. "If there is a surge of COVID-19 cases or a very high rate of infection in the community, it probably would not be a good idea for child care facilities to open," Tan says.
As of early August, after cases had surged during the summer in Texas, more than 1,000 children attending day care in the state (and more than 2,000 staff members) had tested positive for the virus.
And Smith cautions against hanging too much importance on temperature screenings or other symptom checks for catching infections. In fact, people tend to be at their most infectious right before they get any symptoms the latest evidence suggests. And "many infections are asymptomatic," Smith notes. She suggests regular testing should be part of any day care center's strategy for avoiding an outbreak.
If families have a choice among child care options, Tan recommends taking a close look at any facility and asking questions about what preventive steps they are taking. "The riskiest child care option," she says, "would be a large day care center that has not implemented the basic strategies to prevent exposure and spread of COVID-19."
2) Grandparent or other vulnerable family member
Key question: Can everyone — kids included — commit to sticking exclusively to a small "bubble" of close contacts?
Older people are at a drastically higher risk of getting severely ill and dying from COVID-19. And many common underlying conditions, such as hypertension and diabetes, can increase that risk for any age group.
So for many grandparents, the safest choice is to not be the grandkids' caregiver. "This has been one of the most challenging aspects," Smith says, "because it's painful."
But there are some things families can do to lower the risks in these situations. For example, they can go on a strict regime of physical distancing outside the family (no play dates, no in-person schooling for young kids, always wearing masks and distancing when in public, etc.) for two weeks and then go into an even smaller, closed "bubble" with the older caregiver. Then ensure everyone continues to uphold these practices.
"If you're essentially 'bubbling' with these grandparents and relatives, and you're all staying safe, and not seeing other people, and not going out, then that's an option," Rimoin says. "You just have to remember that even if the risk is low of children transmitting the virus to adults, the risk is not zero, and you just have to think about that with caution." One report, for example, found high levels of the virus in children (including in a few newborns), which means even they could be capable of passing it on.
With in-person schooling canceled, postponed or part time in many places for the fall, some parents are considering older relatives as backup child care. If this is the case, the families should plan on that two-week isolation before enlisting this help if possible. Spinner notes that the family should take every step to limit that child's exposure to others in the community before contact with a higher-risk relative.
To help everyone involved decide if they feel comfortable with that sort of setup, Smith suggests having some tough conversations. "It might seem morbid," she says, but ask relatives what their plans are if they or someone else in the family starts feeling sick and where they would want to be taken to the hospital. "I've had this conversation," she says. "It helps make the situation more real to everyone involved."
3) Nanny
Key Questions: Do parents and the nanny have open communication about everyone's level of caution when outside the home? Is everyone able to practice good hygiene and risk mitigation when in the home?
Professional in-home child care has appeared, for many, to be a relatively safe option. And data from Care.com, one of the largest online clearinghouses for this service, bear that out. "We're seeing a triple-digit percent increase in demand for in-home care on our platform," Tim Allen, the company's CEO, noted in an email to NPR. A survey his organization carried out in late May found that more than 63% of parents weren't comfortable at the time sending children to day care. Virus cases have only increased since then.
But there are still risks to consider — and ways to minimize them.
"A nanny will pose as much of an exposure risk as his or her personal daily activities dictate," Spinner notes. "Is the nanny spending time around other people, going out in public areas, such as the grocery store, restaurant, hairdresser? Is the nanny wearing a mask routinely?"
It's important to have transparency and open communication in these discussions, Smith says, "for all parties to be honest with each other about how many contacts they are having outside the home."
Families and caregivers should also discuss plans and protocols for testing and isolation should any of them or their close contacts develop symptoms or test positive for the coronavirus. Allen also stresses the importance of paying nannies aboveboard — that provides caregivers better access to sick leave and unemployment benefits, which could help minimize virus spread.
Tan recommends that a paid in-home caregiver have coronavirus screenings the same way a day care center employee would, with temperature and symptom checks before starting work, for example. And they should maintain other best hygiene practices, such as washing their hands frequently, removing their shoes in the home and maintaining physical distance — especially from adult members in the household — when possible. And family members should do these things as well to protect the caregiver's health.
"Even a conscientious nanny can be a risk to your family's health," Rimoin says. "On the other hand, [by] having a nanny you're exposing your family to one caregiver, but a day care might introduce more teachers and aides into the equation."
The details of the care arrangement also play a large role in the level of risk. For example, an au pair who lives with the family (and who is also following best practices when outside the home) is probably the safest nanny option.
But if you're considering sharing a care provider with another family — or families — (a setup that has recently surged in popularity, Allen says), that brings additional layers of risk.
"If the nanny takes care of multiple children from different families and lives in the community, group-based care in which you have cohorting of children and staff may be safer," Tan says.
4) 'Podding' or care-sharing with another family
Key questions: Is everyone in the pod committed to mask-wearing, physical distancing and protecting all pod members? Do you have a plan if someone gets COVID-19 or tests positive for the virus?
During the pandemic many families have created small pods, with one other family or even a few others to share in child care duties. Collaborating with friends or neighbors that way might seem safe, but it is not risk-free. In fact, "If you had asked me back in March, I would have said 'absolutely not,' " Smith says. But now, she acknowledges, in many cases in which people don't have other options, "that does seem like a necessary risk that would make this a more bearable situation" — and more sustainable.
Any group of people is only as safe as its least-safe member. For example, Spinner notes, "I would be reluctant to co-mingle with a family whose members choose to go to a gym or eat inside at a restaurant at this point in time." To be safest, each person in these closed pods should be taking every precaution when outside the group — for example, always wearing a mask when out in public and not having close contact with anyone who isn't a member of the bubble.
As in the other care arrangements, it is important for everyone to have open communication about their behaviors, health and plans in case of potential illness.
Another consideration is the number of people involved in the pod — especially the number of adults. Fewer is safer. "In general, the more people who are working in the community, the more chance there is for exposure to COVID-19," Tan says.
A national child care strategy: 'Our only way forward'
Even before the pandemic, child care was something not every family had access to, financially or logistically. As of last year, Care.com found that about half of American families were spending 15% or more of their income on child care expenses. And at various times this year, many states have taken the safety precaution of limiting the number of children in any room of a child care center. That has also had the effect of lowering the number of day care spots available to families and has put a financial strain on centers that remain open.
The pandemic has made any form of child care feel even more precious — and also oftentimes risky. "At the end of the day, everyone's going to have to balance feasibility with safety," Rimoin says. And for many families these days, if they can get child care at all, they don't have the option of choosing its form.
As Rimoin sees it, though, these shaky decisions parents are having to make are not the right solution — for them or for the economy more broadly. "Our only way forward is to have a national strategy to be able to reduce the spread of this virus," she says.
That is exactly what other countries that have been able to return young children to more regular child care have done. Denmark reopened day care centers in April and kept the country's numbers of new cases of coronavirus infection low — often to just a few dozen per day. And France, which also managed to blunt viral spread to steadily low numbers in April, was able to remove physician distancing measures from its day cares.
"Why this whole country is not coming together to bring this virus under control for the sake of our children is just beyond me," Rimoin says of the United States.
In the meantime, she says, "Everybody is suffering because of it. Everybody."
Katherine Harmon Courage is a freelance science and health journalist and editor, contributor for Scientific American and Vox, and author of Cultured and Octopus! You can find her on Twitter at @KHCourage.


npr--2020-08-21--Wildfires Rage On In California As Fire Crews And Evacuees Grapple With COVID Risks

Wildfires Rage On In California As Fire Crews And Evacuees Grapple With COVID Risks Lightning strikes , extreme weather conditions , dangerous levels of smoke and ash , and a deadly pandemic are pushing firefighters and the communities they 're trying to save into uncharted territory .
They are dealing with rare weather conditions that have spawned roughly 11,000 lightning strikes over a few days and ignited nearly 370 fires — 23 of which are major complex fires , all while they are trying to contain the flames in steep and difficult to access terrain under record-breaking temperatures .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the job , both on and off the front lines , and poses new threats to those seeking refuge in temporary shelter .
Christine McMorrow , a spokeswoman for Cal Fire , tells NPR there are several new protocols in place to prevent firefighters from getting sick .
She notes that fire crews are already armed with significant personal protective equipment while they 're battling active fires .
That includes gloves , face and neck shrouds , and protective eyewear .
When they 're at base camps , firefighting personnel are required @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distancing , McMorrow says .
`` We are also spreading out , '' she adds .
`` Instead of being in a concentrated smaller space , we 're taking up more space . ''
Normally , the crews , which number in the hundreds , would set up base camp on small grounds near the fires .
However , because of COVID-19 , McMorrow says they are housed in hotels or setting up on vacant fairgrounds outfitted with `` more handwashing stations . ''
Meals are also being staggered to keep crews separated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , she says .
The virus has also created new challenges for those battling the flames .
`` They ca n't put as many firefighters next to each other on the fire line , '' Bill Stewart , a UC Berkeley wildfire expert told the Sacramento Bee .
`` The pickup trucks ( transporting crews ) are historically full of people .
Now they 're limited to one or two . ''
The effects of early release prison programs that have been expedited by COVID-19 outbreaks are also evident at the dozens of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inmate crews to battle brush fires .
But as of Thursday , McMorrow says they were falling far short of that .
Of 192 possible crews only 113 are staffed , she says , and , as of Thursday , only 102 are deployed .
`` That totals 1,306 incarcerated firefighters deployed to 19 fires , '' she says .
As NPR has reported , `` Many inmate firefighters were sent home from prison after the state granted early release to thousands of prisoners to depopulate crowded facilities and slow the spread of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , one of the reasons is that the inmates who are eligible to volunteer for firefighting training `` are low-security , low-risk population and those are the folks that are being released . ''
On Wednesday Gov .
Gavin Newsom announced that an additional 830 seasonal fighters have been hired in the last few weeks to offset the losses .
More help is expected to arrive from Texas in the coming days .
Meanwhile , as thousands of evacuees are forced to flee their homes they must be sheltered in coronavirus-safe environments .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ provided lodging in community centers , gymnasiums and hotel rooms for more than 600 people , Greta Gustafson told NPR .
Gustafson said officials ensure there is adequate space between cots and they use `` enhanced cleaning and disinfecting practices . ''
Additionally , every person going into a shelter undergoes a health screening process and is given face masks .
But despite those precautions , some are unwilling to risk exposure to COVID-19 .
Some people refused to leave their homes when officers went door-to-door Wednesday night , Cal Fire Chief Mark @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them was Kevin Stover , a camera operator and rigger turned Door Dash and Lyft driver .
Stover was contemplating ignoring the Thursday morning mandatory evacuation issued for Felton , a small town outside the beach city of Santa Cruz .
`` I do n't want to leave , '' he told the AP .
The governor addressed the wildfires Thursday night during the Democratic National Convention .
Newsom was scheduled to deliver a light-hearted address leading up to presidential candidate Joe Biden 's speech , but swapped that out for a video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Santa Cruz County .
He called the fires in his state clear evidence of climate change .
`` If you are in denial about climate change , come to California , '' Newsom said .

Wildfires Rage In California As Fire Crews And Evacuees Grapple With COVID-19 Risks
Enlarge this image toggle caption Noah Berger/AP Noah Berger/AP
Updated 1:05 p.m. ET
Lightning strikes, extreme weather conditions, dangerous levels of smoke and ash, and a deadly pandemic are pushing firefighters and the communities they're trying to save into uncharted territory.
Roughly 11,000 lightning strikes over a few days spawned nearly 370 individual fires that have killed at least five people, and led tens of thousands to evacuate. Nearly 600,000 acres are burning in the eight largest fire complexes as of Friday morning, and California's firefighters have had to work in steep and difficult-to-access terrain under record-breaking temperatures.
But COVID-19 adds a new dimension of risk to the job, both on and off the front lines, and poses new threats to those seeking refuge in temporary shelter.
Christine McMorrow, a spokeswoman for Cal Fire, tells NPR there are several new protocols in place to prevent firefighters from getting sick.
She notes that fire crews are already armed with significant personal protective equipment while they're battling active fires. That includes gloves, face and neck shrouds, and protective eyewear.
When they're at base camps, firefighting personnel are required to wear face masks and maintain physical distancing, McMorrow says.
"We are also spreading out," she adds. "Instead of being in a concentrated smaller space, we're taking up more space."
The crews, which number in the hundreds, would ordinarily set up base camp on small grounds near the fires. But because of COVID-19, McMorrow says they are housed in hotels or setting up on vacant fairgrounds outfitted with "more hand-washing stations."
Meals are also being staggered to keep crews separated, and everyone gets regular temperature checks, she says.
The virus has also created new challenges for those battling the flames.
"They can't put as many firefighters next to each other on the fire line," Bill Stewart, a UC Berkeley wildfire expert, told the Sacramento Bee. "The pickup trucks (transporting crews) are historically full of people. Now they're limited to one or two."
The effects of early release prison programs that have been expedited by COVID-19 outbreaks are also evident at the dozens of wildfire sites.
California employs nearly 200 inmate crews to battle brush fires. But as of Thursday, McMorrow says they were falling far short of that.
Of 192 possible crews only 113 are staffed, she says, and as of Thursday only 102 are deployed.
"That totals 1,306 incarcerated firefighters deployed to 19 fires," she says.
As NPR has reported, "Many inmate firefighters were sent home from prison after the state granted early release to thousands of prisoners to depopulate crowded facilities and slow the spread of the coronavirus."
As McMorrow explains, one of the reasons is that the inmates who are eligible to volunteer for firefighting training "are low-security, low-risk population and those are the folks that are being released."
On Wednesday, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that an additional 830 seasonal fighters have been hired in the past few weeks to offset the losses. More help is expected to arrive from Texas in the coming days.
Meanwhile, as thousands of evacuees flee their homes they must be sheltered in coronavirus-safe environments.
On Wednesday night, the Red Cross provided lodging in community centers, gymnasiums and hotel rooms for more than 600 people, Greta Gustafson told NPR.
Gustafson said officials ensure there is adequate space between cots and they use "enhanced cleaning and disinfecting practices." Additionally, every person going into a shelter undergoes a health screening and is given face masks.
Despite those precautions, some are unwilling to risk exposure to COVID-19.
Some people refused to leave their homes when officers went door to door Wednesday night, Cal Fire Chief Mark Brunton told The Associated Press.
Among them was Kevin Stover, a camera operator and rigger turned DoorDash and Lyft driver.
Stover was contemplating ignoring the Thursday morning mandatory evacuation issued for Felton, a small town outside the beach city of Santa Cruz.
"I don't want to leave," he told the AP.
The governor addressed the wildfires Thursday night during the Democratic National Convention.
Newsom was scheduled to deliver a lighthearted address leading up to presidential candidate Joe Biden's speech but swapped that out for a video recorded in a forest near Watsonville in Santa Cruz County.
He called the fires in his state clear evidence of climate change.
"If you are in denial about climate change, come to California," Newsom said.


npr--2020-08-21--As Wildfires Continue To Spread In California, Its Governor Seeks Outside Help

As Wildfires Continue To Spread In California , Its Governor Seeks Outside Help Wildfires ignited by nearly 12,000 lightning strikes over the past three days continue to spread havoc across a heat wave-baked California , with little relief in sight .
`` Just a day ago , I announced that we are struggling to address the needs of suppressing some 376 fires in this state , '' Gov .
Gavin Newsom said at a Friday news conference .
`` That number has grown to about 560 fires in the state of California .
`` Seven-hundred and seventy-one thousand acres has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California , the equivalent to the size of the state of Rhode Island , '' the governor added .
`` We simply have n't seen anything like this in many , many years . ''
Newsom pointed to two fires that have been blazing in Northern California as ranking among the 10 largest in the state 's recorded history : The so-called LNU Lightning Complex burning in five wine-producing counties north and east of San Francisco covers 219,000 acres and is the 10th largest and 7 % contained , while the SCU Lightning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ San Jose .
It is the state 's seventh-largest recorded wildfire and 10 % contained .
Newsom said five people have died in the fires , while Reuters reported that `` 43 fire fighters and civilians have been injured , and over 500 homes and other structures destroyed . ''
`` These fires again are stretching our resources , stretching our personnel , '' the governor lamented .
`` We have over 12,000 firefighters now actively working to suppress these larger complex fires . ''
Newsom expressed gratitude to fellow governors in states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sent equipment to help battle the blazes .
`` We now are engaged formally with mutual aid from 10 different states .
We 've been on the phone with governors all throughout the United States , not just the Western states , trying to reach out as far as the East Coast to see if we can get resources here into the state of California , '' he added .
`` And not one governor has not been responsive . ''
Still , Reuters reported that — according to a spokesperson for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , known better as Cal Fire — of the 375 out-of-state fire crews California has requested , only 45 have arrived .
Newsom blamed the manpower shortfall on increasing fire conditions in neighboring Western states .
`` It 's a consequence of that heat dome impacting the Western United States , '' he said .
`` And as a consequence of that , our mutual aid that goes outside of the state of California has also been stretched . ''
The first-term Democratic governor of the nation 's most populous state said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kamala Harris of California , the running mate of Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden .
It was to update Newsom on efforts that she and a bipartisan group of other members of the state 's congressional delegation are making to have the federal government declare a major disaster in California .
`` We are here with an open hand , not a closed fist , '' Newsom said of such efforts to persuade the Trump administration to come to the aid of his beleaguered state .
`` Right now we have 40 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of California .
There 's not one of them that wears red versus blue at this point — we are here to save lives because everybody deserves to be protected . ''
Newsom did not offer hope , however , for any immediate relief from the scourge that 's incinerating the parched Golden State .
`` We are not naive , by any stretch , how deadly this moment is , '' he said .
`` While the hots are getting a little less hotter this week , we are looking at weather @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of days where you can have some monsoon-type weather conditions that led to some of those dry lightning strikes .
That will certainly stretch our resources and challenge us . ''

As Wildfires Continue To Spread In California, Its Governor Seeks Outside Help
Enlarge this image toggle caption Noah Berger/AP Noah Berger/AP
Wildfires ignited by nearly 12,000 lightning strikes over the past three days continue to spread havoc across a heat wave-baked California, with little relief in sight.
"Just a day ago, I announced that we are struggling to address the needs of suppressing some 376 fires in this state," Gov. Gavin Newsom said at a Friday news conference. "That number has grown to about 560 fires in the state of California.
"Seven-hundred and seventy-one thousand acres has already been burned in the state of California, the equivalent to the size of the state of Rhode Island," the governor added. "We simply haven't seen anything like this in many, many years."
Newsom pointed to two fires that have been blazing in Northern California as ranking among the 10 largest in the state's recorded history: The so-called LNU Lightning Complex burning in five wine-producing counties north and east of San Francisco covers 219,000 acres and is the 10th largest and 7% contained, while the SCU Lightning Complex is scorching 229,000 acres east of San Jose. It is the state's seventh-largest recorded wildfire and 10% contained.
Newsom said five people have died in the fires, while Reuters reported that "43 fire fighters and civilians have been injured, and over 500 homes and other structures destroyed."
"These fires again are stretching our resources, stretching our personnel," the governor lamented. "We have over 12,000 firefighters now actively working to suppress these larger complex fires."
Newsom expressed gratitude to fellow governors in states ranging from Texas to Washington who have sent equipment to help battle the blazes.
"We now are engaged formally with mutual aid from 10 different states. We've been on the phone with governors all throughout the United States, not just the Western states, trying to reach out as far as the East Coast to see if we can get resources here into the state of California," he added. "And not one governor has not been responsive."
Still, Reuters reported that — according to a spokesperson for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, known better as Cal Fire — of the 375 out-of-state fire crews California has requested, only 45 have arrived.
Newsom blamed the manpower shortfall on increasing fire conditions in neighboring Western states.
"It's a consequence of that heat dome impacting the Western United States," he said. "And as a consequence of that, our mutual aid that goes outside of the state of California has also been stretched."
The first-term Democratic governor of the nation's most populous state said he had just received a call from Sen. Kamala Harris of California, the running mate of Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden. It was to update Newsom on efforts that she and a bipartisan group of other members of the state's congressional delegation are making to have the federal government declare a major disaster in California.
"We are here with an open hand, not a closed fist," Newsom said of such efforts to persuade the Trump administration to come to the aid of his beleaguered state. "Right now we have 40 million Americans that live in the great state of California. There's not one of them that wears red versus blue at this point — we are here to save lives because everybody deserves to be protected."
Newsom did not offer hope, however, for any immediate relief from the scourge that's incinerating the parched Golden State.
"We are not naive, by any stretch, how deadly this moment is," he said. "While the hots are getting a little less hotter this week, we are looking at weather conditions over the course of the next number of days where you can have some monsoon-type weather conditions that led to some of those dry lightning strikes. That will certainly stretch our resources and challenge us."


npr--2020-08-21--Smithsonian National Zoo's Giant Panda Gives Birth

Mei Xiang , the 22-year-old panda at the Smithsonian 's National Zoo , has given birth to a cub .
`` A precious giant panda cub has arrived ! ''
officials announced Friday , adding that they are `` overjoyed . ''
The latest addition to the zoo was born at 6:35 p.m .
ET , and zoo officials said that Mama Panda `` is caring for her newborn attentively . ''
`` Positive mothering behaviors include nursing her cub and cuddling it close . ''
The sex will take some time to determine .
`` External genitalia in bears @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several months old , '' the zoo says .
`` The best , and most reliable , way to determine a bear cub 's sex is through DNA analysis . ''
The newborn 's father is the zoo 's male panda , Tian Tian , who wo n't be involved in his offspring 's life , as is the way in the wild .
The arrival of the black and white cub makes Mei Xiang the oldest panda to give birth in the United States , according to USA Today .
Experts are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Although she has given birth to six other cubs , only three survived more than a few days .
`` Keepers are watching Mei Xiang 's behavior and hope to see her nurse the cub and cradle it close to keep him/her warm , '' caregivers wrote on Instagram .
`` They 're also listening for loud squeals , which are signs of a healthy cub . ''
Those interested in watching the new family can do so on the zoo 's live broadcast stream , which can be seen here .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been complaining that the site has been crashing all day .
While parts of the zoo have reopened to the public , the indoor panda exhibit where Mei Xiang lives is closed , giving the mother and newborn some privacy .

Smithsonian National Zoo's Giant Panda Gives Birth
Enlarge this image toggle caption Smithsonian National Zoo via AP Smithsonian National Zoo via AP
Updated at 8:41 p.m. ET
Mei Xiang, the 22-year-old panda at the Smithsonian's National Zoo, has given birth to a cub.
"A precious giant panda cub has arrived!" officials announced Friday, adding that they are "overjoyed."
The latest addition to the zoo was born at 6:35 p.m. ET, and zoo officials said that Mama Panda "is caring for her newborn attentively."
"Positive mothering behaviors include nursing her cub and cuddling it close."
The sex will take some time to determine.
"External genitalia in bears doesn't develop until the bear is several months old," the zoo says. "The best, and most reliable, way to determine a bear cub's sex is through DNA analysis."
The newborn's father is the zoo's male panda, Tian Tian, who won't be involved in his offspring's life, as is the way in the wild.
The arrival of the black and white cub makes Mei Xiang the oldest panda to give birth in the United States, according to USA Today.
Experts are closely monitoring Mei Xiang and the newborn. Although she has given birth to six other cubs, only three survived more than a few days.
"Keepers are watching Mei Xiang's behavior and hope to see her nurse the cub and cradle it close to keep him/her warm," caregivers wrote on Instagram.
"They're also listening for loud squeals, which are signs of a healthy cub."
Those interested in watching the new family can do so on the zoo's live broadcast stream, which can be seen here. Although, be warned, frustrated fans have been complaining that the site has been crashing all day.
While parts of the zoo have reopened to the public, the indoor panda exhibit where Mei Xiang lives is closed, giving the mother and newborn some privacy.


npr--2020-08-21--Massachusetts Prosecutor To Review 2011 Probe Into Shooting Of Black Man By Police

Massachusetts Prosecutor To Review 2011 Probe Into Shooting Of Black Man By Police A prosecutor in Massachusetts says her office will review an investigation into a nearly decade-old case in which a Black man was killed by police during a drug raid that was targeting his stepson .
Eurie Stamps , 68 , was fatally shot in January 2011 when a Framingham , Mass.
, SWAT team burst into his home .
The District Attorney of Middlesex County determined at the time the officer who fired the fatal round did so accidentally and he was never criminally charged .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Police Department .
The city of Framingham , located roughly 20 miles west of Boston , later reached a settlement with the Stamps family for nearly $ 4 million .
`` The death of Eurie Stamps has had a profound impact on his family , friends and the entire community , '' the current district attorney , Marian Ryan , said in a statement .
`` We recognize how important it is that the public has confidence in these types of investigations which is why we are in the process of gathering and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that was conducted by the previous administration into the death of Mr. Stamps , '' Ryan said .
Her office said it will publicly release documents related to the original investigation , but gave no timeline for when it would do so .
Request for comment from the Framingham Police Department was not immediately returned to NPR .
News that the district attorney would reexamine the findings was first reported by the MetroWest Daily News , which adds the review comes on the heels of two rallies this month calling for justice in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spokesperson for a local organization called # JusticeForEurie , told the paper the review is `` a good first step , '' but ultimately said he wants the officer to be held accountable .
`` The civil case is one thing , but the monetary settlement can never replace Mr. Stamps , '' Chambers said .
On Jan. 5 , 2011 , police went to Stamps ' home with a search warrant and broke down his door , the MetroWest Daily News reports .
It said officers were looking for Joseph Bushfan , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The two were allegedly selling crack cocaine inside the home , the paper said .
When the SWAT team members encountered Stamps they told him to get on the floor and he complied , according to WBZ , a CBS-affiliate in Boston .
The officer who fired the shot told investigators he lost his balance .
`` I started to fall over .
I 'm – I 'm going backwards , '' he said , according to WBZ .
Stamps was killed when a bullet from the officer 's M-4 semiautomatic rifle struck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the station notes .
Stamps family attorney Anthony Tarricone told he television station he does not buy the officer 's explanation .
`` For his story to be correct , one would have to throw out the laws of physics and conclude that bullets can turn corners , '' Tarricone said .
Calls for justice in other recent cases The push to have Stamps ' killing reviewed comes amid national protests calling for an end to systemic racism and police brutality .
Those demonstrations were sparked by the recent deaths of Black Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Breonna Taylor – all of whom have become rallying cries for protesters demanding officers be held responsible for their deaths .
In the case of Floyd , all four Minneapolis police officers involved in the incident have been fired and charged in connection to his Memorial Day death .
Floyd died when Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for several minutes .
Chauvin is charged with second-degree murder , while three other officers face charges of aiding and abetting .
Brooks was shot and killed after an encounter with Atlanta police officers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the officers involved in the incident has since been fired and faces 11 charges , including felony murder .
Another officer remains with the Atlanta Police Department and is charged with aggravated assault .
In the Taylor case , none of the three officers has been charged in her shooting death in March .
She was killed after officers executing a search warrant entered her home in the early morning hours while she and her boyfriend were sleeping .
Her boyfriend survived .
Prosecutors often have difficulty getting convictions of officers charged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the line of duty .
Last month in Missouri , a St. Louis County prosecutor announced after reviewing the 2014 shooting death of Michael Brown , an 18-year-old Black man , which sparked weeks of protests in the city of Ferguson , that he would not reopen the case against the former officer .
`` We looked at the evidence with a fresh set of eyes , '' St. Louis Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell told NPR 's All Things Considered last month .
`` And , you know , unfortunately , we just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ethically bring a charge against Darren Wilson . ''

Massachusetts Prosecutor To Review 2011 Probe Into Shooting Of Black Man By Police
Enlarge this image toggle caption Alanna Durkin Richer/AP Alanna Durkin Richer/AP
A prosecutor in Massachusetts says her office will review an investigation into a nearly decade-old case in which a Black man was killed by police during a drug raid that was targeting his stepson.
Eurie Stamps, 68, was fatally shot in January 2011 when a Framingham, Mass., SWAT team burst into his home.
The District Attorney of Middlesex County determined at the time the officer who fired the fatal round did so accidentally and he was never criminally charged. The officer is reportedly still with the Framingham Police Department.
The city of Framingham, located roughly 20 miles west of Boston, later reached a settlement with the Stamps family for nearly $4 million.
DA promises release of 2011 investigation
"The death of Eurie Stamps has had a profound impact on his family, friends and the entire community," the current district attorney, Marian Ryan, said in a statement.
"We recognize how important it is that the public has confidence in these types of investigations which is why we are in the process of gathering and reviewing the documents relative to the investigation that was conducted by the previous administration into the death of Mr. Stamps," Ryan said.
Her office said it will publicly release documents related to the original investigation, but gave no timeline for when it would do so.
Request for comment from the Framingham Police Department was not immediately returned to NPR.
News that the district attorney would reexamine the findings was first reported by the MetroWest Daily News, which adds the review comes on the heels of two rallies this month calling for justice in the case.
Selvin Chambers, a spokesperson for a local organization called #JusticeForEurie, told the paper the review is "a good first step," but ultimately said he wants the officer to be held accountable.
"The civil case is one thing, but the monetary settlement can never replace Mr. Stamps," Chambers said.
Findings in Stamps case
On Jan. 5, 2011, police went to Stamps' home with a search warrant and broke down his door, the MetroWest Daily News reports. It said officers were looking for Joseph Bushfan, Stamps' stepson and another man. The two were allegedly selling crack cocaine inside the home, the paper said.
When the SWAT team members encountered Stamps they told him to get on the floor and he complied, according to WBZ, a CBS-affiliate in Boston.
The officer who fired the shot told investigators he lost his balance.
"I started to fall over. I'm – I'm going backwards," he said, according to WBZ.
Stamps was killed when a bullet from the officer's M-4 semiautomatic rifle struck his head, neck and chest, the station notes.
Stamps family attorney Anthony Tarricone told he television station he does not buy the officer's explanation.
"For his story to be correct, one would have to throw out the laws of physics and conclude that bullets can turn corners," Tarricone said.
Calls for justice in other recent cases
The push to have Stamps' killing reviewed comes amid national protests calling for an end to systemic racism and police brutality.
Those demonstrations were sparked by the recent deaths of Black Americans including George Floyd, Rayshard Brooks, and Breonna Taylor – all of whom have become rallying cries for protesters demanding officers be held responsible for their deaths.
In the case of Floyd, all four Minneapolis police officers involved in the incident have been fired and charged in connection to his Memorial Day death. Floyd died when Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for several minutes.
Chauvin is charged with second-degree murder, while three other officers face charges of aiding and abetting.
Brooks was shot and killed after an encounter with Atlanta police officers in June. Garrett Rolfe, one of the officers involved in the incident has since been fired and faces 11 charges, including felony murder. Another officer remains with the Atlanta Police Department and is charged with aggravated assault.
In the Taylor case, none of the three officers has been charged in her shooting death in March. She was killed after officers executing a search warrant entered her home in the early morning hours while she and her boyfriend were sleeping. Her boyfriend survived.
Prosecutors often have difficulty getting convictions of officers charged crimes related to using deadly force in the line of duty.
Last month in Missouri, a St. Louis County prosecutor announced after reviewing the 2014 shooting death of Michael Brown, an 18-year-old Black man, which sparked weeks of protests in the city of Ferguson, that he would not reopen the case against the former officer.
"We looked at the evidence with a fresh set of eyes," St. Louis Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell told NPR's All Things Considered last month.
"And, you know, unfortunately, we just - we don't have the evidence to ethically bring a charge against Darren Wilson."


npr--2020-08-21--U.S. Lobster Dealers Hope To Claw Back Market Share In Europe

U.S .
Lobster Dealers Hope To Claw Back Market Share In Europe The Trump administration has struck a small-scale trade agreement with the European Union that could send more American lobster across the Atlantic .
Europe has agreed to suspend tariffs on imports of live and frozen lobster from the U.S. for at least 5 years .
In exchange , the U.S. will cut tariffs by 50 % on some European products , including crystal glassware and cigarette lighters .
While the agreement covers a tiny fraction of trans-Atlantic trade , it 's important for the American lobster industry which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Europe ever since Canada struck its own trade deal with the E.U .
three years ago .
That deal made Canadian lobster 8 % to 20 % cheaper in Europe and sales of American lobster fell by about 50 % , said Annie Tselikis , executive director of the Maine Lobster Dealers Association .
Now that all North American lobster will be on an equal footing in Europe , U.S. dealers hope to claw back some of their lost market share .
`` We 're lucky that this has happened and we 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Tselikis said .
The U.S. lobster industry is still in hot water , though , with the supply of shellfish outstripping demand , pushing retail prices down .
In many supermarkets , lobster is selling for less than $ 6 per pound .
Lobster dealers continue to face stiff tariffs in China — another potentially lucrative export market — as a result of the president 's trade war .
Shipments from Maine to China fell by 42 % last year .
And lobster shipments worldwide have suffered this year , largely as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resulting drop in restaurant dining .
`` About 80 % of all lobster is consumed outside the home , '' Tselikis said .
`` We are definitely seeing an increase in supermarket sales , both domestically and internationally .
However , that is a bit of a hurdle . ''
She hopes the lifting of tariffs will encourage more home cooks in Europe to add processed lobster to their pasta and paella .
`` Market diversity is very important for our industry , '' she said .
Trade officials from the U.S. and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ represents a first step towards a more comprehensive deal .
`` We intend for this package of tariff reductions to mark just the beginning of a process that will lead to additional agreements that create more free , fair , and reciprocal transatlantic trade , '' U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said in a joint statement with his European counterpart , Phil Hogan .

U.S. Lobster Dealers Hope To Claw Back Market Share In Europe
Enlarge this image toggle caption Joe Raedle/Getty Images Joe Raedle/Getty Images
The Trump administration has struck a small-scale trade agreement with the European Union that could send more American lobster across the Atlantic.
Europe has agreed to suspend tariffs on imports of live and frozen lobster from the U.S. for at least 5 years. In exchange, the U.S. will cut tariffs by 50% on some European products, including crystal glassware and cigarette lighters.
While the agreement covers a tiny fraction of trans-Atlantic trade, it's important for the U.S. lobster industry, which has been at a competitive disadvantage in Europe ever since Canada struck its own trade deal with the E.U. three years ago.
That deal made Canadian lobster 8% to 20% cheaper in Europe and sales of American lobster fell by about 50%, said Annie Tselikis, executive director of the Maine Lobster Dealers Association.
Now that all North American lobster will be on an equal footing in Europe, U.S. dealers hope to claw back some of their lost market share.
"We're lucky that this has happened and we're excited to get back at it," Tselikis said.
The U.S. lobster industry is still in hot water, though, with the supply of shellfish outstripping demand, pushing retail prices down. In many supermarkets, lobster is selling for less than $6 per pound.
Lobster dealers continue to face stiff tariffs in China — another potentially lucrative export market — as a result of the president's trade war. Shipments from Maine to China fell by 42% last year.
And lobster shipments worldwide have suffered this year, largely as a result of the coronavirus and the resulting drop in restaurant dining.
"About 80% of all lobster is consumed outside the home," Tselikis said. "We are definitely seeing an increase in supermarket sales, both domestically and internationally. However, that is a bit of a hurdle."
She hopes the lifting of tariffs will encourage more home cooks in Europe to add processed lobster to their pasta and paella.
"Market diversity is very important for our industry," she said.
Trade officials from the U.S. and Europe said they hope the lobster agreement represents a first step toward a more comprehensive deal.
"We intend for this package of tariff reductions to mark just the beginning of a process that will lead to additional agreements that create more free, fair, and reciprocal transatlantic trade," U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said in a joint statement with his European counterpart, Phil Hogan.


npr--2020-08-21--Simmering Disputes Over Statehood Are About Politics And Race. They Always Have Been

Simmering Disputes Over Statehood Are About Politics And Race .
They Always Have Been When Arthur Roland Kam thinks back to 1959 , he remembers how everyone around him felt a huge political shift as Hawaii became the country 's 50th state .
`` For a Hawaiian citizen , it was great because it had been a long time coming , '' Kam describes .
He was 28 years old , working for Pan Am on the island of Oahu .
`` It was a big moment in my lifetime , to know that we are part of the union @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pride he felt .
`` To me , it was a moment to cherish .
Now , we have a star on the flag .
And that star is Hawaii . ''
But as the years have passed , many Hawaiians began to mark August 21 , the anniversary of statehood , with solemnity , reflecting on the history of the United States ' seizure and colonization of the Independent Kingdom of Hawai ' i .
`` There were benefits and protections that came with statehood , but there 's still a painful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and its overthrow , annexation and statehood , '' says Sen. Maisie Hirono , D-Hawaii .
`` There are a lot of people who do not consider [ today ] as a time of celebration because of the painful history , '' she adds .
Hawaii 's journey to statehood was a complicated one , marked by a series of political calculations and maneuverings in Congress that were amplified by undercurrents — and very often overt displays — of racism .
That story resonates today in the political disputes over the prospect for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which has faded from headlines but not disappeared entirely after a push by House Democrats earlier this year .
They called it an issue of justice and fairness ; Republicans called it an attempted power grab .
Sen. Martha McSally , R-Ariz. , for example , said this month that she worries that if Joe Biden is elected president and Democrats gain a governing majority , they 'll try to make states of D.C. and Puerto Rico .
McSally implied the territories ' racial makeup would mean they 'd likely be easy seats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We 'd never get the Senate back again , '' McSally said of the GOP .
Race and its implications often are subplots in a state 's accession .
In 1893 , the monarchy of Hawaii , under Queen Lili'uokalani , was overthrown by white settlers .
Five years later , the U.S. annexed Hawaii despite local opposition and protests .
Petitions for statehood began in the first twenty years of Hawaii 's territorial status , a process that intensified during the 1930s when sugar interests were threatened by Congressional legislation and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statehood cause .
`` The pressure from within Hawaii for annexation was from an economic elite of Europeans and European Americans seeking economic , political and military protection , '' says Roger Bell , author of `` Last Among Equals , '' which documents the history of Hawaii 's path to statehood .
`` The criteria for statehood the Congress imposes include that the population of the territory seeking statehood must demonstrate that they are sympathetic to and imbued with the principles of what Congress called 'American democracy , ' '' Bell explains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they were Americanized politically and culturally . ''
During World War II , Hawaii 's majority nonwhite population was regarded with suspicion , asked to demonstrate its loyalty to the United States over Japan .
But fears over disloyalty faded after the war , in part because of the heroic efforts of the Japanese-American-led 442nd Regimental Combat Team .
Statehood efforts accelerated again following the war , but not without new political and racial roadblocks .
In the mid-1950s , Hawaii shifted from being Republican to largely Democratic , which prompted Democrats to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both Hawaii and Alaska , another Democratic territory , hoping to boost influence in the Senate by four votes .
`` The profile of Hawaii racially and culturally was a threat to the rigid patterns of race relations in the American South and to the southern way of life , which was a euphemism , of course , for protecting segregation , '' Bell describes .
Some senators were transparent about their motivations in keeping the prospective state out of the union .
Admission of Hawaii would mean `` two votes for socialized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of industry , two votes against all racial segregation and two votes against the South on all social matters , '' said Sen. James Eastland , D-Miss .
`` Perhaps we should become the United States of the Pacific and finally should become the United States of the Orient , '' said Sen. George Smathers , D-Fla. Efforts stalled , which frustrated then-President Harry Truman , who observed privately that many southerners `` still have that antebellum pro-slavery outlook . ''
`` The main difficulty with the South is that they are living @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sooner they come out of it , the better it will be for the country and themselves , '' he wrote in a 1948 letter .
Seven months before it would officially become a state , the Republican County Committee in Hawaii sent petitions to Congress for statehood .
`` Our people have willingly and patriotically accepted and complied with any and all national requests , mandates or patriotic obligations required from all American citizens ; be it in peace , or in war , '' it reminded Congress .
It was n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' passed in Congress , which `` apologizes to Natives Hawaiians ... for the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii ... and the deprivation of the rights of native Hawaiians to self-determination . ''
Before the Civil War , two states were generally admitted to the union at the same time in order to prevent one party , and thereby the divided north and south , from gaining a political advantage .
`` You had , up through the 1850s , this idea of balancing : that one state would come in as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come in as a slave state , '' says Paul Frymer , professor of politics at Princeton University and author of `` Building an American Empire . ''
Following the Civil War , the dominant Republican Party looked westward to seize land and break it into states they believed would be Republican .
In what Frymer describes as one of the `` biggest hang-ups at the end of the 19th century , '' the last two states on the continent – New Mexico and Arizona – vied for statehood .
`` Arizona was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mexico was , '' Frymer explains .
`` They both pushed for statehood , but there was more support for Arizona .
And here you see both partisan politics , with two parties fighting over what would constitute a state , and then racial politics . ''
Much of the statehood debate over New Mexico , which had joined the U.S. as a territory in 1850 , hinged on race .
`` The conversation in Congress was , 'Was the state white ?
Was there a majority white population ?
Was there a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ? '
All of these types of terminology were applied to what was largely an indigenous and formerly Mexican population , '' Frymer says .
Republican Sen .
Lot Morril of Maine went so far as to call New Mexico 's residents `` Indians — the men that we hunt when we have nothing else to do in the summer season . ''
Statehood for New Mexico failed to pass until 1912 , when Congress felt satisfied the population was `` American '' enough .
Will there ever be more stars on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ race in November may bring with it a renewed effort to embrace statehood efforts .
Former congressional representative Pedro Pierluisi defeated Gov .
Wanda Vázquez in the primary election and is a supporter of statehood .
This summer , the House of Representatives cast a historic vote to grant statehood to D.C , whose residents overwhelmingly support admission as a state .
But strong Republican opposition in Congress and the White House dooms any movement on that legislation .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , told TV host Laura Ingraham last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statehood is `` full-bore socialism on the march in the House , '' a comment that critics felt hearkened back to justifications for keeping Hawaii out of the union .
President Trump has been even more explicit about his reasons for opposing D.C. statehood , telling The New York Post : `` Why ?
So we can have two more Democratic — Democrat senators and five more congressmen ?
No , thank you .
That 'll never happen . ''
A day before the House passed the legislation , Sen. Tom Cotton , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate floor categorizing statehood efforts as a power grab by Democrats and seemingly dismissing the value of District residents .
`` Yes , Wyoming is smaller than Washington by population , but it has three times as many workers in mining , logging and construction , and 10 times as many workers in manufacturing , '' Cotton said .
`` In other words , Wyoming is a well-rounded working-class state . ''
His comments prompted outrage on social media , with many pointing out the civil rights implications of the district 's lack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ majority-minority since the 1950s and of its over 705,000 residents , 46 % are Black .
But Rep. Andy Harris , R-Md.
, says he views the push for statehood as purely political .
`` If your interest is solely to be able to vote for representatives in Congress , you could have retrocession occur , '' he says , referencing small efforts in recent years to cede the city 's land back to Maryland , a plan that would not change the number of senators .
`` I think the most telling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bill to Maryland was introduced 10 years ago in Congress , no Democrats co-sponsored it , which belies the fact that the goal is a political goal , because if the goal was just representation then retrocession to Maryland would work , '' Harris says .
Harris says even if Democrats win back the Senate and the White House this November , D.C. statehood is far from guaranteed .
`` The constitutionality would immediately be argued , '' he says .
`` I think the Supreme Court will ultimately agree that this is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the federal capital city is described in the Constitution and the authorities over that capital city . ''
It 's the kind of opposition Sen. Hirono expects .
`` I think there will be a lot of Republican resistance to having any state that will create more seats that would go Democratic , '' she says .
`` Especially now in this much divided political environment . ''
Frymer , of Princeton , says if the tables were turned , and D.C. was a Republican stronghold , it 's unlikely the Democratic party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` No party wants one state to come in that 's going to boost the other party .
That 's why historically , both parties have looked for some type of balance , '' he says .
`` To me , this is one of those issues that historically will be resolved .
The pressure is going to continue to build and build over time .
The question is , when will the moment occur that the United States finally embraces it ? ''

Simmering Disputes Over Statehood Are About Politics And Race. They Always Have Been
Enlarge this image toggle caption George Bacon/Hawaii State Archives George Bacon/Hawaii State Archives
When Arthur Roland Kam thinks back to 1959, he remembers how everyone around him felt a huge political shift as Hawaii became the country's 50th state.
"For a Hawaiian citizen, it was great because it had been a long time coming," Kam describes. He was 28 years old, working for Pan Am on the island of Oahu.
"It was a big moment in my lifetime, to know that we are part of the union now," he says of the pride he felt. "To me, it was a moment to cherish. Now, we have a star on the flag. And that star is Hawaii."
But as the years have passed, many Hawaiians began to mark August 21, the anniversary of statehood, with solemnity, reflecting on the history of the United States' seizure and colonization of the Independent Kingdom of Hawai'i.
"There were benefits and protections that came with statehood, but there's still a painful aspect to the whole history of Hawaii and its overthrow, annexation and statehood," says Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii. "There are a lot of people who do not consider [today] as a time of celebration because of the painful history," she adds.
Hawaii's journey to statehood was a complicated one, marked by a series of political calculations and maneuverings in Congress that were amplified by undercurrents — and very often overt displays — of racism.
That story resonates today in the political disputes over the prospect for statehood for the District of Columbia, which has faded from headlines but not disappeared entirely after a push by House Democrats earlier this year.
They called it an issue of justice and fairness; Republicans called it an attempted power grab.
Sen. Martha McSally, R-Ariz., for example, said this month that she worries that if Joe Biden is elected president and Democrats gain a governing majority, they'll try to make states of D.C. and Puerto Rico. McSally implied the territories' racial makeup would mean they'd likely be easy seats for Democrats to keep and hold.
"We'd never get the Senate back again," McSally said of the GOP.
Hawaii's fraught path to statehood
Race and its implications often are subplots in a state's accession.
In 1893, the monarchy of Hawaii, under Queen Lili'uokalani, was overthrown by white settlers. Five years later, the U.S. annexed Hawaii despite local opposition and protests.
Petitions for statehood began in the first twenty years of Hawaii's territorial status, a process that intensified during the 1930s when sugar interests were threatened by Congressional legislation and the powerful sugar lobby got behind the statehood cause.
"The pressure from within Hawaii for annexation was from an economic elite of Europeans and European Americans seeking economic, political and military protection," says Roger Bell, author of "Last Among Equals," which documents the history of Hawaii's path to statehood.
"The criteria for statehood the Congress imposes include that the population of the territory seeking statehood must demonstrate that they are sympathetic to and imbued with the principles of what Congress called 'American democracy,'" Bell explains. "In other words, that they were Americanized politically and culturally."
During World War II, Hawaii's majority nonwhite population was regarded with suspicion, asked to demonstrate its loyalty to the United States over Japan. But fears over disloyalty faded after the war, in part because of the heroic efforts of the Japanese-American-led 442nd Regimental Combat Team.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images
Statehood efforts accelerated again following the war, but not without new political and racial roadblocks.
In the mid-1950s, Hawaii shifted from being Republican to largely Democratic, which prompted Democrats to increase their push for statehood efforts for both Hawaii and Alaska, another Democratic territory, hoping to boost influence in the Senate by four votes.
Senators from the south flatly rejected statehood.
"The profile of Hawaii racially and culturally was a threat to the rigid patterns of race relations in the American South and to the southern way of life, which was a euphemism, of course, for protecting segregation," Bell describes.
Some senators were transparent about their motivations in keeping the prospective state out of the union.
Admission of Hawaii would mean "two votes for socialized medicines, two votes for government ownership of industry, two votes against all racial segregation and two votes against the South on all social matters," said Sen. James Eastland, D-Miss.
Enlarge this image toggle caption ASSOCIATED PRESS ASSOCIATED PRESS
"Perhaps we should become the United States of the Pacific and finally should become the United States of the Orient," said Sen. George Smathers, D-Fla.
Efforts stalled, which frustrated then-President Harry Truman, who observed privately that many southerners "still have that antebellum pro-slavery outlook."
"The main difficulty with the South is that they are living eighty years behind the times and the sooner they come out of it, the better it will be for the country and themselves," he wrote in a 1948 letter.
Seven months before it would officially become a state, the Republican County Committee in Hawaii sent petitions to Congress for statehood.
"Our people have willingly and patriotically accepted and complied with any and all national requests, mandates or patriotic obligations required from all American citizens; be it in peace, or in war," it reminded Congress.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Byron Rollins/AP Byron Rollins/AP
In 1959, President Dwight Eisenhower signed legislation making Hawaii America's 50th state.
It wasn't until 1993 that the "Apology Resolution" passed in Congress, which "apologizes to Natives Hawaiians ... for the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii ... and the deprivation of the rights of native Hawaiians to self-determination."
Not just Hawaii
Before the Civil War, two states were generally admitted to the union at the same time in order to prevent one party, and thereby the divided north and south, from gaining a political advantage.
"You had, up through the 1850s, this idea of balancing: that one state would come in as a free state and one state would come in as a slave state," says Paul Frymer, professor of politics at Princeton University and author of "Building an American Empire."
Following the Civil War, the dominant Republican Party looked westward to seize land and break it into states they believed would be Republican.
In what Frymer describes as one of the "biggest hang-ups at the end of the 19th century," the last two states on the continent – New Mexico and Arizona – vied for statehood.
"Arizona was always settled by more whites than New Mexico was," Frymer explains. "They both pushed for statehood, but there was more support for Arizona. And here you see both partisan politics, with two parties fighting over what would constitute a state, and then racial politics."
Much of the statehood debate over New Mexico, which had joined the U.S. as a territory in 1850, hinged on race.
"The conversation in Congress was, 'Was the state white? Was there a majority white population? Was there a large enough white population that spoke English?' All of these types of terminology were applied to what was largely an indigenous and formerly Mexican population," Frymer says.
Republican Sen. Lot Morril of Maine went so far as to call New Mexico's residents "Indians — the men that we hunt when we have nothing else to do in the summer season."
Statehood for New Mexico failed to pass until 1912, when Congress felt satisfied the population was "American" enough.
Will there ever be more stars on the flag?
Puerto Rico's governor's race in November may bring with it a renewed effort to embrace statehood efforts. Former congressional representative Pedro Pierluisi defeated Gov. Wanda Vázquez in the primary election and is a supporter of statehood.
This summer, the House of Representatives cast a historic vote to grant statehood to D.C, whose residents overwhelmingly support admission as a state.
But strong Republican opposition in Congress and the White House dooms any movement on that legislation.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., told TV host Laura Ingraham last year that any Democratic push for D.C. statehood is "full-bore socialism on the march in the House," a comment that critics felt hearkened back to justifications for keeping Hawaii out of the union.
President Trump has been even more explicit about his reasons for opposing D.C. statehood, telling The New York Post: "Why? So we can have two more Democratic — Democrat senators and five more congressmen? No, thank you. That'll never happen."
A day before the House passed the legislation, Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Arkansas, issued a speech on the Senate floor categorizing statehood efforts as a power grab by Democrats and seemingly dismissing the value of District residents.
"Yes, Wyoming is smaller than Washington by population, but it has three times as many workers in mining, logging and construction, and 10 times as many workers in manufacturing," Cotton said. "In other words, Wyoming is a well-rounded working-class state."
His comments prompted outrage on social media, with many pointing out the civil rights implications of the district's lack of representation. The city has been majority-minority since the 1950s and of its over 705,000 residents, 46% are Black.
But Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md., says he views the push for statehood as purely political.
"If your interest is solely to be able to vote for representatives in Congress, you could have retrocession occur," he says, referencing small efforts in recent years to cede the city's land back to Maryland, a plan that would not change the number of senators.
"I think the most telling political thing is that when the retrocession bill to Maryland was introduced 10 years ago in Congress, no Democrats co-sponsored it, which belies the fact that the goal is a political goal, because if the goal was just representation then retrocession to Maryland would work," Harris says.
Harris says even if Democrats win back the Senate and the White House this November, D.C. statehood is far from guaranteed.
"The constitutionality would immediately be argued," he says. "I think the Supreme Court will ultimately agree that this is an issue of changing the Constitution because the federal capital city is described in the Constitution and the authorities over that capital city."
It's the kind of opposition Sen. Hirono expects.
"I think there will be a lot of Republican resistance to having any state that will create more seats that would go Democratic," she says. "Especially now in this much divided political environment."
Frymer, of Princeton, says if the tables were turned, and D.C. was a Republican stronghold, it's unlikely the Democratic party would be rushing to grant statehood.
"No party wants one state to come in that's going to boost the other party. That's why historically, both parties have looked for some type of balance," he says.
"To me, this is one of those issues that historically will be resolved. The pressure is going to continue to build and build over time. The question is, when will the moment occur that the United States finally embraces it?"


npr--2020-08-21--Amid Debates About Memorials, Advocates Push To Remember Atlanta's Forced Laborers

After the Civil War , much of the South needed to be rebuilt .
One of the places that helped do that was the Chattahoochee Brick Company , owned by an Atlanta mayor and captain in the Confederate Army .
It produced millions of bricks that were used in Atlanta homes and roads .
The factory is gone , but there is new focus on the people who lived and worked there , unpaid , and in horrible conditions .
Like other factories , farms and mines around the South , Chattahoochee Brick profited from using convict labor .
Private @ @ @ @ @ @ @ county or city .
Most were Black men , though there were some white men , and teenagers and women , too .
Now , as people are reckoning — again — with the monuments built to tell the nation 's story , some are pushing for a memorial to Chattahoochee 's forced laborers .
`` You had the most heinous kinds of torture practiced on people as a way of intimidating people into complying with this terrible system of forced labor , '' says Mary Ellen Curtin , a history professor at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , `` Black Prisoners and Their World . ''
Whipping was common , and so severe that the guards killed some people , according to writer Douglas Blackmon .
The prisoners lived in filthy barracks and ate rotting food .
`` It 's a chapter of our history that most people do n't know .
And then the thing is , it 's in our backyard , '' says Donna Stephens of the Proctor Creek Stewardship Council , an environmental justice group .
There are no buildings at the old factory site now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an industrial development is coming .
People in the area have seen surveyors and a new security guard .
The property is privately owned , and the owner did not respond to requests for comment .
Norfolk Southern , a railroad with tracks adjacent to the site , also declined to comment .
Stephens is hoping the city of Atlanta will buy the land to make it into a memorial and a park .
The idea has support from City Councilman Dustin Hillis , who represents the area .
`` Just to remember @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do n't ever repeat that , '' he says .
The push to build a memorial to the victims of convict leasing comes as Confederate statues and monuments are being reconsidered and removed .
Those efforts gained momentum after a white police officer in Minneapolis killed George Floyd , who was Black .
Georgia outlawed convict leasing more than a century ago , but the state is still living with its legacy , says University of Virginia historian Talitha LeFlouria .
LeFlouria , the author of `` Chained in Silence , '' says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Confederacy , she does n't know of any commemorating the people who worked under the convict-leasing system .
`` These people may be America 's shame , but we do n't have to be ashamed of them , '' she says .

Amid Debates About Memorials, Advocates Push To Remember Atlanta's Forced Laborers
Enlarge this image toggle caption Bita Honarvar/Bita Honarvar Bita Honarvar/Bita Honarvar
After the Civil War, much of the South needed to be rebuilt.
One of the places that helped do that was the Chattahoochee Brick Company, owned by an Atlanta mayor and captain in the Confederate Army. It produced millions of bricks that were used in Atlanta homes and roads.
The factory is gone, but there is new focus on the people who lived and worked there, unpaid, and in horrible conditions.
Like other factories, farms and mines around the South, Chattahoochee Brick profited from using convict labor. Private companies leased people from a state, county or city. Most were Black men, though there were some white men, and teenagers and women, too.
Now, as people are reckoning — again — with the monuments built to tell the nation's story, some are pushing for a memorial to Chattahoochee's forced laborers.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Atlanta Constitution Atlanta Constitution
"You had the most heinous kinds of torture practiced on people as a way of intimidating people into complying with this terrible system of forced labor," says Mary Ellen Curtin, a history professor at American University and author of the book, "Black Prisoners and Their World."
Whipping was common, and so severe that the guards killed some people, according to writer Douglas Blackmon. The prisoners lived in filthy barracks and ate rotting food.
"It's a chapter of our history that most people don't know. And then the thing is, it's in our backyard," says Donna Stephens of the Proctor Creek Stewardship Council, an environmental justice group.
There are no buildings at the old factory site now, but Stephens and other advocates worry an industrial development is coming. People in the area have seen surveyors and a new security guard.
The property is privately owned, and the owner did not respond to requests for comment. Norfolk Southern, a railroad with tracks adjacent to the site, also declined to comment.
Stephens is hoping the city of Atlanta will buy the land to make it into a memorial and a park.
The idea has support from City Councilman Dustin Hillis, who represents the area. "Just to remember what occurred there, so that we don't ever repeat that," he says.
The push to build a memorial to the victims of convict leasing comes as Confederate statues and monuments are being reconsidered and removed. Those efforts gained momentum after a white police officer in Minneapolis killed George Floyd, who was Black.
Georgia outlawed convict leasing more than a century ago, but the state is still living with its legacy, says University of Virginia historian Talitha LeFlouria.
LeFlouria, the author of "Chained in Silence," says while there are hundreds of monuments to the Confederacy, she doesn't know of any commemorating the people who worked under the convict-leasing system.
"These people may be America's shame, but we don't have to be ashamed of them," she says.