npr--2020-02-13--'It's Not Easy For Anyone': Coronavirus Disrupts Life And Work In Hong Kong

'It 's Not Easy For Anyone ' : Coronavirus Disrupts Life And Work In Hong Kong Coming off a shift at Tuen Mun Hospital in Hong Kong on Wednesday night , cardiologist Alfred Wong was getting ready to go to dinner with his wife .
The last time they ate together , she brought the meal to the courtyard below their apartment , placed it on a bench , then sat down at least 10 feet away .
From across the patio , they ate .
On separate benches .
Looking at each other .
Wong is part of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which treats only confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19 , the disease caused by the novel coronavirus .
So far , it 's killed more than a thousand and sickened over 50,000 people in China .
In Hong Kong , there are currently at least 50 confirmed cases .
Treating patients with COVID-19 means Wong needs to be extra cautious .
`` I do n't go home after work .
[ I ] stay away from my friends , stay away from my family , '' he says .
It 's especially hard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their first child in April .
`` It 's not easy for anyone , '' he says .
The novel coronavirus has been on the minds of people in Hong Kong since the outbreak began about two months ago .
This week , the city issued a mandatory 14-day quarantine for anyone entering from mainland China , slowing the flow of tens of thousands of commuters and travelers who pass through Hong Kong on any given day .
Those who are quarantined must remain in their homes or hotel rooms for 14 days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Business is bad , '' says the 70-year-old owner of a tea shop in usually busy Mong Kok district .
She gives her name simply as Mrs. Cheung – that 's what everyone calls her , she explains .
Cheung has been running the tea shop for 50 years , and she says that many people are staying home right now because they 're afraid to be in public spaces .
It began with the wave of violent street protests last year over Hong Kong 's autonomy , and now the fear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ away .
But , Cheung says , `` It 's useless to be worried . ''
She lived through SARS , the severe acute respiratory sickness that hit Hong Kong hard in the early 2000s .
At least , she says , `` people seem more cautious this time . ''
For one , more people are wearing surgical masks — public health authorities have encouraged people to wear them ( even though the ability of masks to prevent infection has been questioned by some specialists ) .
High demand for masks has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as much as $ 50 for a box of 50 .
When some of the larger chain stores do have masks in stock at lower prices , there are long lines to get them .
A sanitation worker on the street for most of the day , Siu Lin Miao , 58 , says the price of masks has meant she must ration the ones she has .
The mask she put on this morning has been on for almost 12 hours .
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hours .
Andy Chan , 19 , was hanging around outside the Langham Place mall .
He 's a student , and schools have shut down indefinitely , opting instead to post lectures online .
`` People are really afraid , '' he says .
Public spaces throughout the city are full of reminders of the virus .
Malls have workers wiping down escalator handles .
The city 's mass transit system plays announcements telling people to cover their coughs and sneezes with tissues and wash their hands .
A sign outside a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their own surgical masks to dinner .
Dr. Wong , who put cardiology on hold in order to treat COVID-19 patients at the hospital , hopes he will be off the dirty team rotation by April , in time for his child 's birth .
`` I just want to be a normal doctor , '' he says .
Before he began treating virus patients , he says he would touch his wife 's belly every day and say , `` Take it slowly , tiger .
Wait for me . ''

'It's Not Easy For Anyone': Coronavirus Disrupts Life And Work In Hong Kong
Enlarge this image toggle caption Meredith Rizzo/NPR Meredith Rizzo/NPR
Updated Feb. 21, 11:56 a.m. ET
Coming off a shift at Tuen Mun Hospital in Hong Kong on Wednesday night, cardiologist Alfred Wong was getting ready to go to dinner with his wife. The last time they ate together, she brought the meal to the courtyard below their apartment, placed it on a bench, then sat down at least 10 feet away.
From across the patio, they ate. On separate benches. Looking at each other.
Wong is part of the hospital's "dirty team," which treats only confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. So far, it's killed more than a thousand and sickened over 50,000 people in China. In Hong Kong, there are currently at least 50 confirmed cases.
Treating patients with COVID-19 means Wong needs to be extra cautious.
toggle caption Meredith Rizzo/NPR
"I don't go home after work. [I] stay away from my friends, stay away from my family," he says.
It's especially hard because he and his wife are expecting their first child in April.
"It's not easy for anyone," he says.
The novel coronavirus has been on the minds of people in Hong Kong since the outbreak began about two months ago. This week, the city issued a mandatory 14-day quarantine for anyone entering from mainland China, slowing the flow of tens of thousands of commuters and travelers who pass through Hong Kong on any given day.
Those who are quarantined must remain in their homes or hotel rooms for 14 days before being allowed into the city.
toggle caption Meredith Rizzo/NPR
toggle caption Meredith Rizzo/NPR
"Business is bad," says the 70-year-old owner of a tea shop in usually busy Mong Kok district. She gives her name simply as Mrs. Cheung – that's what everyone calls her, she explains.
toggle caption Meredith Rizzo/NPR
Cheung has been running the tea shop for 50 years, and she says that many people are staying home right now because they're afraid to be in public spaces. It began with the wave of violent street protests last year over Hong Kong's autonomy, and now the fear of catching the virus has kept people away.
But, Cheung says, "It's useless to be worried." She lived through SARS, the severe acute respiratory sickness that hit Hong Kong hard in the early 2000s. At least, she says, "people seem more cautious this time."
For one, more people are wearing surgical masks — public health authorities have encouraged people to wear them (even though the ability of masks to prevent infection has been questioned by some specialists).
toggle caption Meredith Rizzo/NPR
High demand for masks has led to some shops selling them for as much as $50 for a box of 50. When some of the larger chain stores do have masks in stock at lower prices, there are long lines to get them.
toggle caption Meredith Rizzo/NPR
A sanitation worker on the street for most of the day, Siu Lin Miao, 58, says the price of masks has meant she must ration the ones she has. The mask she put on this morning has been on for almost 12 hours. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, masks should be changed every eight hours.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Meredith Rizzo/NPR Meredith Rizzo/NPR
Andy Chan, 19, was hanging around outside the Langham Place mall. He's a student, and schools have shut down indefinitely, opting instead to post lectures online.
toggle caption Meredith Rizzo/NPR
"People are really afraid," he says.
toggle caption Meredith Rizzo/NPR
Public spaces throughout the city are full of reminders of the virus. Malls have workers wiping down escalator handles. The city's mass transit system plays announcements telling people to cover their coughs and sneezes with tissues and wash their hands. A sign outside a hot pot restaurant implores patrons to bring their own surgical masks to dinner.
toggle caption Meredith Rizzo/NPR
Dr. Wong, who put cardiology on hold in order to treat COVID-19 patients at the hospital, hopes he will be off the dirty team rotation by April, in time for his child's birth.
"I just want to be a normal doctor," he says.
That includes returning to normal life.
Before he began treating virus patients, he says he would touch his wife's belly every day and say, "Take it slowly, tiger. Wait for me."


npr--2020-02-14--Cruise Ship Passengers Disembark After Being Stranded At Sea Over Virus Fears

Cruise Ship Passengers Disembark After Being Stranded At Sea Over Virus Fears Passengers and crew aboard a cruise ship denied entry at several Asian ports in recent days due to fears of coronavirus , cheered as they were finally allowed to disembark in Cambodia on Friday .
The MS Westerdam with nearly 1,500 passengers aboard had been rebuffed by Japan , Taiwan , Thailand , the Philippines and the U.S. territory of Guam before ultimately being allowed to dock at the Cambodian port of Sihanoukville .
Although none of the passengers or crew aboard had reported any symptoms of COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ novel coronavirus , concern of contagion had forced them to remain at sea after the vessel docked in Hong Kong on Feb. 1 .
Cambodia 's authoritarian prime minister , Hun Sen , said he allowed the Westerdam to call in his country for humanitarian reasons and greeted the passengers as they disembarked .
`` How wonderful it is to be here .
Thank you very much to the prime minister .
He has a wonderful heart , '' said Anna Marie Melon , from Queensland , Australia , according to The Associated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( to be here ) , '' she said as she waved a rose Hun Sen handed to her .
`` Cambodia alone , even the United States , Guam , did not let us land , but Cambodia did , so that 's wonderful .
Absolutely wonderful , '' Joe Spaziani , 74 , of Florida told local reporters .
`` We appreciate it very very much .
It 's been a long struggle and we appreciate everyone being here . ''
Holland America , which operates the Westerdam , said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken aboard the ship had come back negative for coronavirus infection after being tested by the Pasteur Laboratory in Phnom Penh .
`` We also extend our deepest gratitude to President Trump , Cambodia 's Honorable Prime Minister Hun Sen , Canadian Foreign Minister [ François-Philippe ] Champagne , elected officials across the country and governments around the world for providing support and being effective allies in bringing our guests home , '' Stein Kruse , Group CEO , Holland America Group and Carnival UK , said in the statement .
Aboard another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passengers were celebrating Valentine 's Day in quarantine as they remained shipbound at the port of Yokohama , near Tokyo .
Nearly 220 people aboard the ship carrying 3,700 passengers and crew have been diagnosed with coronavirus infection .
In China , where the virus was first identified in December , health officials reported 5,090 new infections and 121 new deaths , bringing the total number of cases in China since the outbreak began to 55,748 , with 1,380 deaths .
In its announcement on Thursday , the National Health Commission said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Hubei province , the epicenter of the epidemic , that were previously double counted .
According to the World Health Organization 's latest situation report on Thursday , there have been another 447 confirmed cases in 24 other countries outside of China , with one additional death .
The figures from China were the second batch released after Hubei changed the diagnostic criteria for the disease , adding patients who were showing symptoms of COVID-19 but that either had not been tested for the virus or had previously tested negative .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scarcity of test kits and concerns about their reliability , caused a sharp uptick in cases .
The World Health Organization on Thursday took pains to dispel concerns that the sudden increase resulting from the revised criteria in Hubei meant any shift in the mortality or severity of the epidemic .
`` This does not represent a significant change in the trajectory of the outbreak , '' said Mark Ryan , head of WHO 's health emergencies program .
Meanwhile , a Chinese state-owned biotech company announced Thursday that antibodies harvested from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 was showing promise as a possible treatment for the disease .
China National Biotec Group said it had detected antibodies to the novel coronavirus in plasma of people who had been infected but recovered .
They used the antibodies to treat patients in critical condition , with significant results , according to the official Xinhua news agency .
The report said the company sent a team to collect plasma from patients in the central city of Wuhan , where the outbreak began and where the largest number of coronavirus cases are still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said three critically ill patients in the Jiangxia District of Wuhan received the treatment on Feb. 8 and that currently `` more than 10 '' critically ill patients were being similarly treated .
`` According to clinical results , 12 to 24 hours after the patients received the treatment , they have shown improved clinical symptoms , with main inflammatory indexes decreased significantly and some key indexes such as blood oxygen saturation improving comprehensively , '' Xinhua reported .

Cruise Ship Passengers Disembark After Being Stranded At Sea Over Virus Fears
Enlarge this image toggle caption Heng Sinith/AP Heng Sinith/AP
Passengers and crew aboard a cruise ship, who were denied entry at several Asian ports in recent days because of fears of coronavirus, cheered as they were finally allowed to disembark in Cambodia on Friday.
The MS Westerdam with nearly 1,500 passengers aboard had been rebuffed by Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, the Philippines and the U.S. territory of Guam before ultimately being allowed to dock at the Cambodian port of Sihanoukville.
Although none of the passengers or crew aboard had reported any symptoms of COVID-19, the pneumonia-like disease caused by the novel coronavirus, concern of contagion had forced them to remain at sea after the vessel docked in Hong Kong on Feb. 1.
Nothing to fear, we are all about peace and love: #Cambodian PM Hun Sen personally welcomes passengers of #Westerdam, the cruise ship earlier turned away by Thailand, Philippines, Taiwan, Japan and Guam. #coronavirus pic cr Hun Sen's FB page pic.twitter.com/HXlRiY56qT — Tan Hui Yee (@Tan_Hui_Yee) February 14, 2020
Cambodia's authoritarian prime minister, Hun Sen, said he allowed the Westerdam to call in his country for humanitarian reasons and greeted the passengers as they disembarked.
"How wonderful it is to be here. Thank you very much to the prime minister. He has a wonderful heart," said Anna Marie Melon, from Queensland, Australia, according to The Associated Press. "I'm very excited (to be here)," she said as she waved a rose Hun Sen handed to her.
"Cambodia alone, even the United States, Guam, did not let us land, but Cambodia did, so that's wonderful. Absolutely wonderful," Joe Spaziani, 74, of Florida told local reporters. "We appreciate it very, very much. It's been a long struggle and we appreciate everyone being here."
Holland America, which operates the Westerdam, said in a statement on Thursday that 20 samples taken aboard the ship had come back negative for coronavirus infection after being tested by the Pasteur Laboratory in Phnom Penh.
"We also extend our deepest gratitude to President Trump, Cambodia's Honorable Prime Minister Hun Sen, Canadian Foreign Minister [François-Philippe] Champagne, elected officials across the country and governments around the world for providing support and being effective allies in bringing our guests home," Stein Kruse, Group CEO, Holland America Group and Carnival UK, said in the statement.
Aboard another cruise ship, the Diamond Princess, passengers were celebrating Valentine's Day in quarantine as they remained shipbound at the port of Yokohama, near Tokyo. Nearly 220 people aboard the ship carrying 3,700 passengers and crew have been diagnosed with coronavirus infection.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Xinhua News Agency/Getty Images Xinhua News Agency/Getty Images
In China, where the virus was first identified in December, health officials reported 5,090 new infections and 121 new deaths, bringing the total number of cases in China since the outbreak began to 55,748, with 1,380 deaths. In its announcement on Thursday, the National Health Commission said the new toll takes account of some deaths in Hubei province, the epicenter of the epidemic, that were previously double counted.
According to the World Health Organization's latest situation report on Thursday, there have been another 447 confirmed cases in 24 other countries outside of China, with one additional death.
The figures from China were the second batch released after Hubei changed the diagnostic criteria for the disease, adding patients who were showing symptoms of COVID-19 but that either had not been tested for the virus or had previously tested negative. The change, apparently in response to a scarcity of test kits and concerns about their reliability, caused a sharp uptick in cases.
The World Health Organization on Thursday took pains to dispel concerns that the sudden increase resulting from the revised criteria in Hubei meant any shift in the mortality or severity of the epidemic.
"This does not represent a significant change in the trajectory of the outbreak," said Mike Ryan, head of WHO's health emergencies program.
Meanwhile, a Chinese state-owned biotech company announced Thursday that antibodies harvested from the plasma of patients who had recovered from COVID-19 were showing promise as a possible treatment for the disease.
China National Biotec Group said it had detected antibodies to the novel coronavirus in plasma of people who had been infected but recovered. They used the antibodies to treat patients in critical condition, with significant results, according to the official Xinhua news agency.
The report said the company sent a team to collect plasma from patients in the central city of Wuhan, where the outbreak began and where the largest number of coronavirus cases are still found, on Jan. 20.
It said three critically ill patients in the Jiangxia District of Wuhan received the treatment on Feb. 8 and that currently "more than 10" critically ill patients were being similarly treated.
"According to clinical results, 12 to 24 hours after the patients received the treatment, they have shown improved clinical symptoms, with main inflammatory indexes decreased significantly and some key indexes such as blood oxygen saturation improving comprehensively," Xinhua reported.


npr--2020-02-14--Between President Trump's Border Wall And The Rio Grande Lies A 'No Man's Land'

Between President Trump 's Border Wall And The Rio Grande Lies A 'No Man 's Land' A visit to the now-defunct Fort Brown Memorial Golf Course in Brownsville , Texas , is a cautionary tale of how Trump 's border wall can create dead zones .
The clubhouse is shuttered , par signs are fading , and the once-manicured greens are fields of weeds .
In 2008 , U.S. Customs and Border Protection , working with the University of Texas at Brownsville , built a security fence on the southern edge of the campus that effectively walled off the popular @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city .
Golfers stopped coming , and the course , which was operated by the university , eventually went bankrupt .
`` What used to be a very active place , very friendly place , for students and for our golf team and for winter Texans has become a deserted , sad , desolate no man 's land , '' says Juliet Garcia , the former university president , who fiercely fought the border wall .
She stands in the empty parking lot , littered with trash and palm fronds .
`` None @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Garcia says , looking around sadly .
`` You do n't feel protected in any part of the land that is south of the wall . ''
When the government constructs its border barrier in California , Arizona and New Mexico , it runs along the arrow-straight land boundary with Mexico .
But in Texas , that boundary is the meandering Rio Grande .
And because of flooding concerns , the border wall is often built some distance away — as much as a mile north of the river .
That leaves thousands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wall — all of it American soil — as no man 's land .
Landowners fear the wall will effectively sever their acreage from the United States , leaving it abandoned , lawless and unprofitable .
Trump has pledged to build more than 500 miles of new border wall by 2021 , if he wins a second term .
On Thursday , the Pentagon informed Congress it would reprogram $ 3.8 billion — that was earmarked for aircraft , vehicles and ships — to pay for 177 additional miles of barrier to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ While some applaud a 30-foot-tall structure to keep out immigrants and drug runners , down in the Rio Grande Valley it has run into opposition .
So far , 55 property owners have gone to court to try to block the survey and construction crews .
The owners of River Bend Resort & Golf Club , located just west of Brownsville , were planning a major expansion worth millions of dollars when they heard the border wall would slice through their development .
`` A 30-foot wall through the middle of the property @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jeremy Barnard , part of the family that owns River Bend .
Nearly 700 Americans and Canadians from the frigid north relocate there during the winter to enjoy short sleeves and margaritas , and live in upscale mobile homes amid palm trees on a sharp bend in the river .
Trump 's wall would go up beside an existing levee that bisects the property .
`` The problem with that is 70 % of our property is south of the levee , '' says Barnard .
That includes the rec center , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 18 holes .
All of it would be cut off by the wall .
The frustrating thing , he says , is they rarely see unauthorized immigrants and drug smugglers passing through the development .
Nonetheless , CBP reports that the Rio Grande Valley is the nation 's hot spot for narcotics and human smuggling .
His family is negotiating urgently with CBP to move the wall slightly north so it wo n't cut their property in half .
And yet Jeremy Barnard 's politics have n't changed .
He remains loyal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ got friends that disagree with me and they say , 'How could you vote for this man ?
His wall wants to tear apart your community , ' `` he says , `` The main thing I tell them is , 'Look , the thought that I 'm gon na agree with somebody a hundred percent of the time , especially a politician , is just outrageous . '
But I do agree with what he 's trying to do as far as securing the border .
I just have an issue with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wall everywhere . ''
West of the River Bend Resort , the landscape reverts to fields of onions , cotton and corn .
Richard Drawe leans against his pickup trip at his farm headquarters south of the town of Weslaco .
He has worked this rich delta soil all his life , like his father and grandfather before him .
`` I 'm 70 years old and it 's gon na ruin my lifestyle here of living in the country , '' he says .
`` To have that wall there is just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Drawe knows he ca n't beat Washington , D.C. , so last fall , he reluctantly sold the government a ribbon of land so they could erect the fence across his property .
Like Jeremy Barnard , Richard Drawe supports Trump and is all for increasing border security — he just does n't want the wall on his property .
`` I told them that this stupid wall is gon na have lights on it .
It 's gon na be like being behind a prison wall , lights and everything , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 'You put them lights up on me and my house , I 'm gon na shoot em out . '
Of course , I had time to calm down . ''
He has seen what 's happened over the past decade to riverside land isolated by the border wall that was erected by President George W. Bush .
He says the acreage is effectively ceded to Mexico .
He 's worried that bad hombres will cross the river from Mexico and threaten his farmhands .
`` Like I told the Border Patrol @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know good and well that once you build this wall all the agents will be doing is patrolling up and down the wall .
They 're never gon na go on down to the river anymore . '
And he yelled back at me , 'Oh , the Rio Grande is the first line of defense . '
Baloney , '' Drawe says .
`` You just wait a few years . ''
CBP is aware of landowners ' misgivings .
A spokesman said , `` The Border Patrol will continue to operate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to include the riverine environment . ''
Further , the agency will install electric gates with security codes to give landowners access to the south side of the wall .
This is cold comfort to Fred Cavazos , whose extended family owns a rustic campground on the river south of the city of Mission .
`` We were raised here , '' says Cavazos , 70 years old and in a wheelchair .
`` My dad taught me how to fish here , how to get a shovel and dig for worms .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ who have built weekend shanties along the water 's edge .
`` A lot of them own boats .
A lot of them own jet skis , '' he says .
`` So they come down with fajitas and sausages Saturdays and Sundays and barbecue . ''
The government wants to put the wall , a gate and a 150-foot-wide patrol zone along the north end of the property .
The family worries that the tenants may not want to be walled off from the rest of Texas .
Acreage south of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the Border Patrol , says Rey Anzaludoa , a 75-year-old cousin and co-owner .
`` If people come across the river and steal from our tenants who are here on the river , then probably we are going to lose a lot of the tenants , '' Anzaldua says .
Like many large families in the Rio Grande Valley , the Cavazos clan is split .
Some want to accept what they think is a generous offer from the government — nearly $ 400,000 for 6 acres .
But Anzaludua wonders what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put the land up for sale .
`` The problem is the devaluation of the property , '' he says .
`` Nobody wants to buy property that 's on the river side of the wall .
So this is what the fight 's going to be about . ''
Rey Anzaluda and Fred Cavazos are fighting CBP in federal court .
Maybe if they drag it out until Election Day , they say , a Democrat will win the White House and halt the border wall .

Between President Trump's Border Wall And The Rio Grande Lies A 'No Man's Land'
Enlarge this image toggle caption Verónica G. Cárdenas for NPR Verónica G. Cárdenas for NPR
A visit to the now-defunct Fort Brown Memorial Golf Course in Brownsville, Texas, is a cautionary tale of how Trump's border wall can create dead zones. The clubhouse is shuttered, par signs are fading and the once-manicured greens are fields of weeds.
In 2008, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, working with the University of Texas at Brownsville, built a security fence on the southern edge of the campus that effectively walled off the popular golf course from the rest of the city.
Golfers stopped coming, and the course, which was operated by the university, eventually went bankrupt.
"What used to be a very active place, very friendly place, for students and for our golf team and for winter Texans has become a deserted, sad, desolate no man's land," says Juliet García, the former university president, who fiercely fought the border wall. She stands in the empty parking lot, littered with trash and palm fronds.
"None of us come over here," Garcia says, looking around sadly. "You don't feel protected in any part of the land that is south of the wall."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Verónica G. Cárdenas for NPR Verónica G. Cárdenas for NPR
When the government constructs its border barrier in California, Arizona and New Mexico, it runs along the arrow-straight land boundary with Mexico. But in Texas, that boundary is the meandering Rio Grande. And because of flooding concerns about flooding, the border wall is often built some distance away — as much as a mile north of the river. That leaves thousands of acres between the water and the wall — all of it American soil — as no man's land.
Landowners fear the wall will effectively sever their acreage from the United States, leaving it abandoned, lawless and unprofitable.
Trump has pledged to build more than 500 miles of new border wall by 2021, if he wins a second term. On Thursday, the Pentagon informed Congress it would reprogram $3.8 billion — that was earmarked for aircraft, vehicles and ships — to pay for 177 additional miles of barrier to be built along the western desert border.
While some applaud a 30-foot-tall structure to keep out immigrants and drug runners, down in the Rio Grande Valley it has run into opposition. So far, 55 property owners have gone to court to try to block the survey and construction crews.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Verónica G. Cárdenas for NPR Verónica G. Cárdenas for NPR
The owners of River Bend Resort & Golf Club, located just west of Brownsville, were planning a major expansion worth millions of dollars when they heard the border wall would slice through their development.
"A 30-foot wall through the middle of the property completely kills our project," says Jeremy Barnard, part of the family that owns River Bend. Nearly 700 Americans and Canadians from the frigid north relocate there during the winter to enjoy short sleeves and margaritas, and live in upscale mobile homes amid palm trees on a sharp bend in the river. Trump's wall would go up beside an existing levee that bisects the property.
"The problem with that is 70% of our property is south of the levee," says Barnard. That includes the rec center, the pool, tennis courts, and 15 of 18 holes. All of it would be cut off by the wall. The frustrating thing, he says, is they rarely see unauthorized immigrants and drug smugglers passing through the development. Nonetheless, CBP reports that the Rio Grande Valley is the nation's hot spot for narcotics and human smuggling.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Verónica G. Cárdenas for NPR Verónica G. Cárdenas for NPR
His family is negotiating urgently with CBP to move the wall slightly north so it won't cut their property in half. And yet Jeremy Barnard's politics haven't changed. He remains loyal to President Trump.
"I've got friends that disagree with me and they say, 'How could you vote for this man? His wall wants to tear apart your community,' " he says, "The main thing I tell them is, 'Look, the thought that I'm gonna agree with somebody a hundred percent of the time, especially a politician, is just outrageous.' But I do agree with what he's trying to do as far as securing the border. I just have an issue with the blanket — let's build a wall everywhere."
West of the River Bend Resort, the landscape reverts to fields of onions, cotton and corn. Richard Drawe leans against his pickup truck at his farm headquarters south of the town of Weslaco. He has worked this rich delta soil all his life, like his father and grandfather before him.
"I'm 70 years old and it's gonna ruin my lifestyle here of living in the country," he says. "To have that wall there is just gonna really disturb me."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Verónica G. Cárdenas for NPR Verónica G. Cárdenas for NPR
Drawe knows he can't beat Washington, D.C., so last fall, he reluctantly sold the government a ribbon of land so they could erect the fence across his property. Like Jeremy Barnard, Richard Drawe supports Trump and is all for increasing border security — he just doesn't want the wall on his property.
"I told them that this stupid wall is gonna have lights on it. It's gonna be like being behind a prison wall, lights and everything," Drawe says. "And I said, 'You put them lights up on me and my house, I'm gonna shoot em out.' Of course, I had time to calm down."
He has seen what's happened over the past decade to riverside land isolated by the border wall that was erected by President George W. Bush. He says the acreage is effectively ceded to Mexico. He's worried that bad hombres will cross the river from Mexico and threaten his farmhands.
"Like I told the Border Patrol, I said, 'Look, you know good and well that once you build this wall all the agents will be doing is patrolling up and down the wall. They're never gonna go on down to the river anymore.' And he yelled back at me, 'Oh, the Rio Grande is the first line of defense.' Baloney," Drawe says. "You just wait a few years."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Verónica G. Cárdenas for NPR Verónica G. Cárdenas for NPR
CBP is aware of landowners' misgivings. A spokesman said, "The Border Patrol will continue to operate on both sides of the barrier, to include the riverine environment." Further, the agency will install electric gates with security codes to give landowners access to the south side of the wall.
This is cold comfort to Fred Cavazos, whose extended family owns a rustic campground on the river south of the city of Mission. "We were raised here," says Cavazos, 70 years old and in a wheelchair. "My dad taught me how to fish here, how to get a shovel and dig for worms."
His main income is from tenants who have built weekend shanties along the water's edge. "A lot of them own boats. A lot of them own jet skis," he says. "So they come down with fajitas and sausages Saturdays and Sundays and barbecue."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Verónica G. Cárdenas for NPR Verónica G. Cárdenas for NPR
The government wants to put the wall, a gate and a 150-foot-wide patrol zone along the north end of the property. The family worries that the tenants may not want to be walled off from the rest of Texas. Acreage south of the wall is "very lightly patrolled" by the Border Patrol, says Rey Anzaldua, a 75-year-old cousin and co-owner.
"If people come across the river and steal from our tenants who are here on the river, then probably we are going to lose a lot of the tenants," Anzaldua says.
Like many large families in the Rio Grande Valley, the Cavazos clan is split. Some want to accept what they think is a generous offer from the government — nearly $400,000 for six acres. But Anzaldua wonders what happens if one day they decide to put the land up for sale.
"The problem is the devaluation of the property," he says. "Nobody wants to buy property that's on the river side of the wall. So this is what the fight's going to be about."
Anzaldua and Cavazos are fighting CBP in federal court. Maybe if they drag it out until Election Day, they say, a Democrat will win the White House and halt the border wall.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Verónica G. Cárdenas for NPR Verónica G. Cárdenas for NPR
Senior Producer Marisa Peñaloza produced this report.


npr--2020-02-14--Mike Bloomberg Storms Super Tuesday States, Pledging To 'Get It Done'

Mike Bloomberg Storms Super Tuesday States , Pledging To 'Get It Done' Seven events , three states , two days .
Mike Bloomberg has wrapped up a barnstorming trip to capitalize on an unsettled Democratic presidential race .
Polls show the billionaire former New York City mayor gaining traction , even as one-time frontrunner Joe Biden has struggled after very disappointing finishes in the first two contests .
Bernie Sanders won in New Hampshire , with Pete Buttigieg in second .
The two essentially tied in Iowa .
But Bloomberg is skipping all of the early states and banking instead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doing well on Super Tuesday , when 14 states vote on March 3 .
His heavy schedule of campaign events coupled with large TV ad buys will continue promoting the campaign narrative captured in the campaign slogan that is featured in ads , on posters , t-shirts and other campaign paraphernalia : `` Mike will get it done . ''
Bloomberg made two stops in Houston Thursday night , preceded by rallies in three different North Carolina cities earlier in the day .
That came after a pair of events in Tennessee on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his competition for the nomination .
He does n't mention his Democratic opponents by name .
He says he 'll support the Democratic nominee if it 's not him ( `` God forbid , '' he says ) .
The closest he comes is when he says the country needs `` evolution , not a revolution '' — a clear reference Sanders , whose campaign is premised to the need for revolutionary change in America .
Instead , Bloomberg 's main target is the obvious one .
At every rally he says , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me be clear about why I am in this race .
I am running to defeat Donald Trump . ''
Then comes the pledge to restore honor to our government , to build a country we can be proud of , to bring people together , and to get things done .
Under President Trump , Bloomberg intones , `` this is a national emergency . ''
He portrays himself as someone who has done so well in life – amassing a fortune estimated to top $ 60 billion — that there 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him .
He ca n't be bullied , he says , `` I 'm a New Yorker and I 'm not afraid of Donald Trump . ''
Then comes the punch line – `` Donald Trump is afraid of me . ''
The president and the candidate who promises to defeat him exchanged barbs in the form of tweets Thursday .
Then , speaking in Greensboro , N.C. , Bloomberg used his rally to respond to Trump 's latest insults .
`` He calls me Little Mike and the answer is , Donald @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measure from your neck up , '' he said .
Bloomberg 's attacks on Trump elicited cheers from packed houses in coffee shops , community centers , music clubs and even a train station in cities including Chattanooga , Tenn. , Nashville , Tenn. , Winston-Salem , N.C. , Greensboro , N.C. , and Raleigh , N.C .
In interviews many of them say they are still undecided on who to support , even as early voting has gotten underway this week in their states .
One of those voters is retiree Michael @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Bloomberg as a billionaire trying to buy his way into the presidency even though he entered the race just 11 weeks ago .
Day says normally Bloomberg 's wealth would bother him .
Not this year .
He says it may take someone with such vast personal resources to defeat President Trump .
But some who showed up were simply curious to see what Bloomberg has to offer .
Briana Brady , 20 , was at the Chattanooga event with her mother .
She said she was glad to have a presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the campaign , something she could n't recall seeing before .
But she 's not sold on Bloomberg .
As for her vote , she says , `` I 've kind of changed to the Warren-supporting crowd but following her performance in Iowa and New Hampshire obviously having to reconsider . ''
For now , she says she 's still with Warren `` but we 'll see what progresses over the next few weeks . ''
The sudden attention the Bloomberg campaign has been getting has n't all been positive .
Two stories @ @ @ @ @ @ @ One from 2015 , when in a speech to the Aspen Institute he spoke positively of New York City 's so-called stop-and-frisk policy , which allowed random searches of people on the street .
It actually disproportionately targeted African-Americans .
In those remarks , Bloomberg said `` 95 % of your murders and murderers and murder victims fit one M.O .
You can just take the description and Xerox it and pass it out to all the cops .
They are male minorities 15 to 25 . ''
Prior to this week , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ promoting and expanding stop-and-frisk as mayor .
But this week , when asked about the 2015 comments , he told reporters , `` this issue and my comments about it do not reflect my commitment to criminal justice reform and racial equity . ''
A separate story quoting Bloomberg from 2008 , appeared to show him bemoaning the end of the discriminatory lending practice known as `` redlining '' in which entire neighborhoods were deemed unsuitable for mortgages and other loans .
In those comments , he says the end of redlining led @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the 2008 mortgage crisis .
Campaign spokesman Stu Loeser told the Associated Press that as mayor Bloomberg `` attacked predatory lending '' as mayor and that he has a plan to `` help a million more Black families buy a house , and counteract the effects of redlining and the subprime mortgage crisis . ''
The Bloomberg campaign has also countered such news with a string of endorsements in recent days from prominent African American mayors and members of the congressional black caucus .
Bloomberg has supported many of their reelection efforts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the benefits of their support .
Because Bloomberg is not on the ballot in the next states to vote , Nevada and South Carolina , his strength with voters can only be measured so far by his polling numbers .
He continues to flood the airwaves with TV commercials that show him calling for action on climate change , gun violence , and one featuring clips of Barack Obama as president showering praise on Bloomberg .
Voters get to sort through it all and give their first assessment on Super Tuesday .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about how formidable of a candidate Mike Bloomberg will be .

Mike Bloomberg Storms Super Tuesday States, Pledging To 'Get It Done'
Enlarge this image toggle caption Gerald Herbert/AP Gerald Herbert/AP
Seven events, three states, two days.
Mike Bloomberg has wrapped up a barnstorming trip to capitalize on an unsettled Democratic presidential race.
Polls show the billionaire former New York City mayor gaining traction, as onetime front-runner Joe Biden has struggled after very disappointing finishes in the first two contests.
Bernie Sanders won in New Hampshire, with Pete Buttigieg in second. The two essentially tied in Iowa.
But Bloomberg is skipping all of the early states and banking instead on proving his campaign's viability by doing well on Super Tuesday, when 14 states vote on March 3.
His heavy schedule of campaign events coupled with large TV ad buys will continue promoting the campaign narrative captured in the campaign slogan that is featured in ads, on posters, T-shirts and other campaign paraphernalia: "Mike will get it done."
Bloomberg made two stops in Houston on Thursday night, preceded by rallies in three North Carolina cities earlier in the day. That came after a pair of events in Tennessee on Wednesday.
There are no attacks on his competition for the nomination. He doesn't mention his Democratic opponents by name. He says he'll support the Democratic nominee if it's not him ("God forbid," he says). The closest he comes is when he says the country needs "evolution, not a revolution" — a clear reference to Sanders, whose campaign is premised on the need for revolutionary change in America.
Instead, Bloomberg's main target is the obvious one. At every rally, he says, right near the top, "Let me be clear about why I am in this race. I am running to defeat Donald Trump."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Gerald Herbert/AP Gerald Herbert/AP
Then comes the pledge to restore honor to our government, to build a country we can be proud of, to bring people together and to get things done.
Under President Trump, Bloomberg intones, "this is a national emergency."
He portrays himself as someone who has done so well in life — amassing a fortune estimated to top $60 billion — that there's nothing Trump can do to hurt him. He can't be bullied, he says, "I'm a New Yorker and I'm not afraid of Donald Trump."
Then comes the punchline: "Donald Trump is afraid of me."
The president and the candidate who promises to defeat him exchanged barbs in the form of tweets Thursday.
Then, speaking in Greensboro, N.C., Bloomberg used his rally to respond to Trump's latest insults. "He calls me Little Mike and the answer is, 'Donald, where I come from, we measure from your neck up,' " he said.
Bloomberg's attacks on Trump elicited cheers from packed houses in coffee shops, community centers, music clubs and even a train station in cities including Chattanooga, Tenn., Nashville, Tenn., Winston-Salem, N.C., Greensboro, N.C., and Raleigh, N.C. In interviews, many attendees say they are still undecided on whom to support, even as early voting is underway in their states.
One of those voters is retiree Michael Day. He notes the frequent criticism of Bloomberg as a billionaire trying to buy his way into the presidency even though he entered the race just 11 weeks ago. Day says normally Bloomberg's wealth would bother him. Not this year. He doesn't like it but says it's a fact that money "seems to rule" the political process these days. He says it may take someone with such vast personal resources to defeat Trump. He was at a Winston-Salem event at a coffee shop holding up a sign that said, in all caps, "The only way to stop a dishonest (crooked, lying, cheating) New York businessman is with an honest New York businessman."
"I love Amy Klobuchar and I love Mayor Pete, but I don't think either can beat President Trump, and that's paramount," he said. "Another four years of this administration and the swamp he's created is just unacceptable."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Robert F. Bukaty/AP Robert F. Bukaty/AP
But some who showed up were simply curious to see what Bloomberg has to offer.
Briana Brady, 20, was at the Chattanooga event with her mother. She said she was glad to have a presidential candidate coming to Tennessee so early in the campaign, something she couldn't recall seeing before. But she's not sold on Bloomberg.
"I've kind of changed to the Warren-supporting crowd but following her performance in Iowa and New Hampshire obviously having to reconsider." For now, she says, she's still with Elizabeth Warren "but we'll see what progresses over the next few weeks."
The sudden attention the Bloomberg campaign has been getting hasn't all been positive. Two stories from his past broke this week. One from 2015, when in a speech to the Aspen Institute, he spoke positively of New York City's so-called stop-and-frisk policy, which allowed random searches of people on the street. It actually disproportionately targeted African Americans. In those remarks, Bloomberg said that "95% of your murders and murderers and murder victims fit one M.O. You can just take the description and Xerox it and pass it out to all the cops. They are male minorities 15 to 25."
Bloomberg had already disavowed and apologized for promoting and expanding stop-and-frisk as mayor. When asked about the 2015 comments this week, he told reporters, "this issue and my comments about it do not reflect my commitment to criminal justice reform and racial equity."
A separate story quoting Bloomberg from 2008 appeared to show him bemoaning the end of the discriminatory lending practice known as "redlining," in which entire neighborhoods were deemed unsuitable for mortgages and other loans. In those comments, he says the end of redlining led to many bad loans that contributed to the 2008 mortgage crisis.
Campaign spokesman Stu Loeser told The Associated Press that as mayor, Bloomberg "attacked predatory lending" and that he has a plan to "help a million more Black families buy a house, and counteract the effects of redlining and the subprime mortgage crisis."
The Bloomberg campaign has also countered such news with a string of endorsements in recent days from prominent African American mayors and members of the Congressional Black Caucus. Bloomberg has supported many of their reelection efforts in the past. Now he is reaping the benefits of their support.
Because Bloomberg is not on the ballot in the next states to vote, Nevada and South Carolina, his strength with voters can only be measured so far by his polling numbers. He continues to flood the airwaves with TV commercials that show him calling for action on climate change and gun violence, and one featuring clips of Barack Obama as president showering praise on Bloomberg.
Voters get to sort through it all and give their first assessment on Super Tuesday. That's when we'll learn much more about how formidable of a candidate Mike Bloomberg will be.


npr--2020-02-14--Miami Middle School Students Hope Their Magazine Will Help End Gun Violence

Miami Middle School Students Hope Their Magazine Will Help End Gun Violence The morning after the Feb. 14 , 2018 , school shooting in Parkland , Fla. , a middle school teacher in nearby Miami stood in front of his speech and debate class and had no idea what to say .
`` It 's a powerful thing when 13-year-olds and 14-year-olds are looking up to you for an answer to something that you do n't have an answer for , '' said Kelsey Major , a teacher at Everglades K-8 Center , a public school about 50 miles south @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where 17 people had been killed in the shooting .
`` In speech and debate , I was speechless , '' he said .
What started as a loss for words later became a group civics project aimed at ending gun violence .
A club of about 40 sixth , seventh and eighth graders are now working on their second edition of a magazine designed to persuade federal lawmakers to pass legislation that would help prevent mass shootings .
They 're pushing for a range of policy changes , including further limits on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ laws to keep guns away from potentially dangerous people and greater investment in mental health care in schools .
The publication , called First Shot , features persuasive essays about gun reform policies , short biographies and drawings of victims , data analysis of mass shooting statistics and poetry .
This year , the focus is on shootings in `` safe and sacred places , '' such as schools and houses of worship .
The group is trying to raise money to print a copy of the magazine for every member of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of them .
The students are also planning a bus trip in March to deliver the magazines to the local offices of federal lawmakers who represent South Florida .
The offices of U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio , a Republican , and Reps. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell and Donna Shalala , both Democrats , are on the students ' itinerary , as are state legislators and school board members .
The field trip is being funded with a $ 1,250 grant from The Education Fund , a nonprofit that supports public school teachers in Miami-Dade County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of them to listen to us , the youths , because we are the future , '' said eighth grader and club member Susana Martinez .
`` That 's what legislators always say — that we are the future .
But what about the now ? ''
Fellow eighth grader Angelina Cotnam , who is one of the group 's leaders , wrote a harrowing poem for the magazine that depicts a school shooting from the perspective of a student hiding in a classroom .
She described kids `` crowd [ ing ] @ @ @ @ @ @ @ classrooms during lockdown drills .
She depicted students texting family or friends as they fear for their lives : In the corner , a light shines with a final goodbye .
Cotnam said it 's scary that adults seem to be helpless when it comes to mass shootings , unable to stop them .
`` It 's terrible to know every time we have an alarm or a drill — we do n't know if it 's a drill or not , it could be real — that it could be our last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and everyone we care for alive , '' she said .
Acknowledging that gun violence is an emotionally difficult topic for young people , Major asked a colleague to attend the club 's meetings specifically to look after students ' mental health .
Special education teacher Olga Carballo said she practices mindfulness and leads breathing exercises with students .
If she notices students who seem depressed or anxious , she refers them to the school 's counselor .
`` We would not have even introduced this — this would be inappropriate if students @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Major said .
`` But the mere fact that students are being harmed in schools in these mass shootings , and it seems as if very little is being done , we know that the topic is appropriate .
But we do take care . ''
In the fall , Major gave a presentation to other Miami-Dade teachers about how the magazine project could be replicated and even applied to other issues , like climate change and human trafficking .
He said the club does n't have a specific political agenda , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't all the same .
Some have parents who own guns , while others think the Second Amendment should be scaled back .
`` We 're humans , '' Major said .
`` When the kids get into the partisan debates , we redirect it right back to ... our common goal . ''
That 's making sure that when students go to school in the morning , they come home safely in the afternoon .
That should n't be controversial , he said .
`` If we can get this generation to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a better place , '' he said .

Miami Middle School Students Hope Their Magazine Will Help End Gun Violence
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jessica Bakeman /WLRN Jessica Bakeman /WLRN
The morning after the Feb. 14, 2018, school shooting in Parkland, Fla., a middle school teacher in nearby Miami stood in front of his speech and debate class and had no idea what to say.
"It's a powerful thing when 13-year-olds and 14-year-olds are looking up to you for an answer to something that you don't have an answer for," said Kelsey Major, a teacher at Everglades K-8 Center, a public school about 50 miles south of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where 17 people had been killed in the shooting.
"In speech and debate, I was speechless," he said.
What started as a loss for words later became a group civics project aimed at ending gun violence.
A club made up of about 40 sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders is now working on its second edition of a magazine designed to persuade federal lawmakers to pass legislation that would help prevent mass shootings. They're pushing for a range of policy changes, including further limits on gun ownership, "red flag" laws to keep guns away from potentially dangerous people and greater investment in mental health care in schools.
The publication, called First Shot, features persuasive essays about gun reform policies, short biographies and drawings of victims, data analysis of mass shooting statistics and poetry. This year, the focus is on shootings in "safe and sacred places," such as schools and houses of worship.
The group is trying to raise money to print a copy of the magazine for every member of the U.S. House and Senate — all 535 of them.
The students are also planning a bus trip in March to deliver the magazines to the local offices of federal lawmakers who represent South Florida. The offices of U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, a Republican, and Reps. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell and Donna Shalala, both Democrats, are on the students' itinerary, as are state legislators and school board members. The field trip is being funded with a $1,250 grant from The Education Fund, a nonprofit that supports public school teachers in Miami-Dade County.
"Our goal is for all of them to listen to us, the youths, because we are the future," said eighth-grader and club member Susana Martinez. "That's what legislators always say — that we are the future. But what about the now?"
Fellow eighth-grader Angelina Cotnam, who is one of the group's leaders, wrote a harrowing poem for the magazine that depicts a school shooting from the perspective of a student hiding in a classroom.
She described kids "crowd[ing] together like rats" in corners of classrooms during lockdown drills. She depicted students texting family or friends as they fear for their lives: In the corner, a light shines with a final goodbye.
Angelina said it's scary that adults seem to be helpless when it comes to mass shootings, unable to stop them.
"It's terrible to know every time we have an alarm or a drill — we don't know if it's a drill or not, it could be real — that it could be our last day seeing our friends and our parents and everyone we care for alive," she said.
Acknowledging that gun violence is an emotionally difficult topic for young people, Major asked a colleague to attend the club's meetings specifically to look after students' mental health. Special education teacher Olga Carballo said she practices mindfulness and leads breathing exercises with students. If she notices students who seem depressed or anxious, she refers them to the school's counselor.
"We would not have even introduced this — this would be inappropriate if students were not being killed in schools," Major said. "But the mere fact that students are being harmed in schools in these mass shootings, and it seems as if very little is being done, we know that the topic is appropriate. But we do take care."
In the fall, Major gave a presentation to other Miami-Dade teachers about how the magazine project could be replicated and even applied to other issues, like climate change and human trafficking.
He said the club doesn't have a specific political agenda, and the student members' views aren't all the same. Some have parents who own guns, while others think the Second Amendment should be scaled back.
Sometimes, the students disagree.
"We're humans," Major said. "When the kids get into the partisan debates, we redirect it right back to ... our common goal."
That's making sure that when students go to school in the morning, they come home safely in the afternoon. That shouldn't be controversial, he said.
"If we can get this generation to be above politics, we can be in a better place," he said.


npr--2020-02-13--IMAGES: What New Coronavirus Looks Like Under The Microscope

IMAGES : What New Coronavirus Looks Like Under The Microscope The images of the current outbreak of the new coronavirus have so far been very human : air travelers wearing masks , tourists stranded on cruise ships , medical workers wearing protective suits .
But new images of the virus show us what it looks like up close .
These images were made using scanning and transmission electron microscopes at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases ' Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Hamilton , Mont .
NIAID is part of the National Institutes of Health .
Emmie de Wit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Unit , provided the virus samples .
Microscopist Elizabeth Fischer produced the images , and the lab 's visual medical arts office digitally colorized the images .
NIAID notes that the images look rather similar to previous coronavirus MERS-CoV ( Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus , which emerged in 2012 ) and the original SARS-CoV ( severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus , which emerged in 2002 ) .
`` That is not surprising : The spikes on the surface of coronaviruses give this virus family its name – corona , which is Latin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus will have a crown-like appearance , '' the institute explains in a blog post .
On Tuesday , the World Health Organization formally named the disease caused by the new coronavirus : COVID-19 .
There have been more than 47,000 laboratory-confirmed cases so far and more than 1,300 deaths .
Cases have been documented in 25 countries , but the vast majority are in China .
China 's Hubei province expanded its criteria for identifying new coronavirus cases on Thursday , which led to a major spike in reported cases there .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ its reporting : `` clinical cases . ''
That means patients will be counted if they exhibit all the symptoms — which include fever , cough and shortness of breath — but have either not been tested or tested negative for the virus itself .
That sudden spike , caused by the change in reporting , may complicate efforts to track the disease 's progression in China .

IMAGES: What New Coronavirus Looks Like Under The Microscope
Enlarge this image toggle caption NIAID-RML NIAID-RML
The images of the current outbreak of the new coronavirus have so far been very human: air travelers wearing masks, tourists stranded on cruise ships, medical workers wearing protective suits.
But new images of the virus show us what it looks like up close.
These images were made using scanning and transmission electron microscopes at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases' Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Hamilton, Mont. NIAID is part of the National Institutes of Health.
toggle caption NIAID-RML
Emmie de Wit, chief of NIAID's Molecular Pathogenesis Unit, provided the virus samples. Microscopist Elizabeth Fischer produced the images, and the lab's visual medical arts office digitally colorized the images.
Enlarge this image toggle caption NIAID-RML NIAID-RML
NIAID notes that the images look rather similar to previous coronavirus MERS-CoV (Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus, which emerged in 2012) and the original SARS-CoV (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus, which emerged in 2002).
"That is not surprising: The spikes on the surface of coronaviruses give this virus family its name – corona, which is Latin for 'crown,' and most any coronavirus will have a crown-like appearance," the institute explains in a blog post.
On Tuesday, the World Health Organization formally named the disease caused by the new coronavirus: COVID-19.
There have been more than 47,000 laboratory-confirmed cases so far and more than 1,300 deaths. Cases have been documented in 25 countries, but the vast majority are in China.
toggle caption NIAID-RML
China's Hubei province expanded its criteria for identifying new coronavirus cases on Thursday, which led to a major spike in reported cases there. The province added a new category to its reporting: "clinical cases." That means patients will be counted if they exhibit all the symptoms — which include fever, cough and shortness of breath — but have either not been tested or tested negative for the virus itself.
That sudden spike, caused by the change in reporting, may complicate efforts to track the disease's progression in China.


npr--2020-02-13--Houston Astros Apologize For Sign-Stealing Scandal As Spring Training Opens

As baseball teams reported for spring training , Houston Astros executives and players apologized for their sign-stealing scheme — but said they would not return the 2017 World Series trophy .
The Houston Astros are very sorry for the illegal sign-stealing scandal that has rocked Major League Baseball this offseason .
That was the message today as the Astros began spring training in Florida .
It was a remorseful start to what the team hopes is another successful season , one in which baseball fans forgive the team 's cheating during its 2017 run to the World Series title .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tom Goldman reports .
TOM GOLDMAN , BYLINE : It was not the usual opening of spring training scene , punctuated by the sounds of birds chirping on a warm Florida morning or a fastball popping in a catcher 's mitt .
No , for the Houston Astros , this baseball season started with the team 's audio guy .
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON : Test , test .
We good , guys ?
OK , I see a thumbs up .
Fantastic .
GOLDMAN : TV cameras and a throng of reporters readied for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since last year .
That 's when the story emerged that Houston broke baseball 's rules - OK , cheated - by using technology to steal the signs opposing catchers sent to pitchers signaling what pitch to throw .
Knowing what pitch is coming is a huge advantage for the batter .
The scandal cost four men their jobs , including Houston 's manager and general manager .
So there was anticipation for today .
What would the Astros say now that they were all back together for the first time since the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I want to say again how sorry our team is for what happened .
GOLDMAN : Houston owner Jim Crane began a parade of apologies , followed by 2017 Astros players Alex Bregman ... ALEX BREGMAN : I 'm really sorry about the choices that were made by my team and by me .
JOSE ALTUVE : We especially feel remorse for the impact in our fans and the game of baseball .
GOLDMAN : ... And new manager , the veteran Dusty Baker .
He was n't part of the scandal , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lead the Astros back to the light .
DUSTY BAKER : I just want to ask for the baseball world , you know , to forgive them for the mistakes that they 've made .
GOLDMAN : Beyond sorry , there was n't much , except this - Astros owner Crane said at one point , implausibly , the sign stealing did n't have an impact on their championship season .
Repeatedly , Crane cited the baseball commissioner 's report on the scandal and endorsed the report 's theme of not wanting to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 2017 title and no punishment for nearly all the players involved in the cheating .
Absolved of wrongdoing , Astros players still say they carry the burden .
George Springer was a key player on the 2017 team .
In the Houston clubhouse , he was asked why he did n't do anything to stop something he knew was wrong .
GEORGE SPRINGER : It 's just tough , you know ?
It 's a situation that until you find yourself in , you never really know what to do .
You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more , yeah .
GOLDMAN : Houston sees today as a first step .
The team knows to expect angry fans on the road .
There 's talk of opposing pitchers taking revenge by throwing at Houston batters .
And then there 's a bigger baseball question that often came up when the game wrestled with the steroids issue , can fans trust what they see on the field , fans like Lisa DiOrio ( ph ) , a snowbird from New York who is taking in the first day of spring training @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to believe what I see on the field , or am I going to question it is what you 're saying ?
DIORIO : I 'm going to question it .
I think they 'll be much more cautious because now the cat 's out of the bag .
GOLDMAN : For Houston 's part , Jim Crane says he 'll make sure he has someone accountable , checking on possible electronic sign stealing constantly .
We 'll have controls in place , he says , to make sure it does n't happen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , West Palm Beach , Fla .

Houston Astros Apologize For Sign-Stealing Scandal As Spring Training Opens
As baseball teams reported for spring training, Houston Astros executives and players apologized for their sign-stealing scheme — but said they would not return the 2017 World Series trophy.
AUDIE CORNISH, HOST:
The Houston Astros are very sorry for the illegal sign-stealing scandal that has rocked Major League Baseball this offseason. That was the message today as the Astros began spring training in Florida. It was a remorseful start to what the team hopes is another successful season, one in which baseball fans forgive the team's cheating during its 2017 run to the World Series title. From West Palm Beach, NPR's Tom Goldman reports.
TOM GOLDMAN, BYLINE: It was not the usual opening of spring training scene, punctuated by the sounds of birds chirping on a warm Florida morning or a fastball popping in a catcher's mitt. No, for the Houston Astros, this baseball season started with the team's audio guy.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: Test, test. We good, guys? OK, I see a thumbs up. Fantastic.
GOLDMAN: TV cameras and a throng of reporters readied for a moment the baseball world has anticipated since last year. That's when the story emerged that Houston broke baseball's rules - OK, cheated - by using technology to steal the signs opposing catchers sent to pitchers signaling what pitch to throw. Knowing what pitch is coming is a huge advantage for the batter. The scandal cost four men their jobs, including Houston's manager and general manager. So there was anticipation for today. What would the Astros say now that they were all back together for the first time since the scandal was revealed?
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
JIM CRANE: I want to say again how sorry our team is for what happened.
GOLDMAN: Houston owner Jim Crane began a parade of apologies, followed by 2017 Astros players Alex Bregman...
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
ALEX BREGMAN: I'm really sorry about the choices that were made by my team and by me.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
GOLDMAN: ...And Jose Altuve...
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
JOSE ALTUVE: We especially feel remorse for the impact in our fans and the game of baseball.
GOLDMAN: ...And new manager, the veteran Dusty Baker. He wasn't part of the scandal, but he's been brought in to lead the Astros back to the light.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
DUSTY BAKER: I just want to ask for the baseball world, you know, to forgive them for the mistakes that they've made.
GOLDMAN: Beyond sorry, there wasn't much, except this - Astros owner Crane said at one point, implausibly, the sign stealing didn't have an impact on their championship season. Repeatedly, Crane cited the baseball commissioner's report on the scandal and endorsed the report's theme of not wanting to go backwards, meaning no taking away the 2017 title and no punishment for nearly all the players involved in the cheating.
Absolved of wrongdoing, Astros players still say they carry the burden. George Springer was a key player on the 2017 team. In the Houston clubhouse, he was asked why he didn't do anything to stop something he knew was wrong.
GEORGE SPRINGER: It's just tough, you know? It's a situation that until you find yourself in, you never really know what to do. You know, I wish I had done more, yeah.
GOLDMAN: Houston sees today as a first step. The team knows to expect angry fans on the road. There's talk of opposing pitchers taking revenge by throwing at Houston batters. And then there's a bigger baseball question that often came up when the game wrestled with the steroids issue, can fans trust what they see on the field, fans like Lisa DiOrio (ph), a snowbird from New York who is taking in the first day of spring training?
LISA DIORIO: Am I going to believe what I see on the field, or am I going to question it is what you're saying?
GOLDMAN: Both.
DIORIO: I'm going to question it. I think they'll be much more cautious because now the cat's out of the bag.
GOLDMAN: For Houston's part, Jim Crane says he'll make sure he has someone accountable, checking on possible electronic sign stealing constantly. We'll have controls in place, he says, to make sure it doesn't happen again. Tom Goldman, NPR News, West Palm Beach, Fla.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
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npr--2020-02-13--'Just Plain Ugly': Proposed Executive Order Takes Aim At Modern Architecture

The architectural world is reeling over President Trump 's call for traditional designs for new Federal buildings .
His proposed executive order is called `` Make Federal Buildings Beautiful Again , '' it takes an out-with-the-new , in-with-the-old approach to architecture , calling modern federal buildings constructed over the last five decades `` undistinguished , '' `` uninspiring '' and `` just plain ugly . ''
It 's true that modernism abounds in D.C .
Standing on a street corner near the National Mall , there 's actually a mishmash of architectural styles .
Let 's talk about three of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gleaming white pillars of the U.S. Capitol dome , the kind of classical architecture the president 's order favors .
Closer in , there 's a towering , steel-mesh scrim that 's part of the Eisenhower Memorial , a contemporary design by Frank Gehry which is under construction .
Right behind the scrim , there 's the beige , boxy , concrete-heavy Department of Education , a Brutalist building — the style a lot of people love to hate .
Marion Smith of the National Civic Art Society is one of them .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ disgust .
`` From where I 'm standing , I see modernist structures , and the only hint of a classical building I can see is the top of the U.S. dome , '' he says .
`` That is not what our founders had in mind .
This is a new reigning orthodoxy of modernist , Brutalist , postmodern design . ''
( Brutalism was a popular movement with architects beginning in the 1950s , but it 's mostly fallen out of favor . )
The Society led a six-year campaign against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the architect to make some changes to his orginal design .
And the organization has been the driving force behind the President 's Executive Order .
Smith believes Americans want the kind of neoclassical architecture that he says is designed to inspire the ideals of American democracy .
`` The White House , the Supreme Court , the Library of Congress , these are buildings that Americans recognize and love , '' he says .
Utah Senator Mike Lee agrees .
He wrote an article in the Federalist recently calling the order `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this week , '' and excoriating buildings like the U.S .
Courthouse in Salt Lake City .
`` It looks like a giant swamp cooler or a giant ice cube that 's coated with this sort of material that you would see on your braces when you were in junior high .
It just is n't pretty , '' he tells me .
He adds , `` I sometimes ask myself and ask others , is it any wonder that Americans ' confidence in government has collapsed , and the government itself has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington abandoned classical design principles in favor of elite modernist fads and ugly buildings that they inevitably produce ? ''
Others feel differently .
`` We are absolutely opposed to this order , '' says Robert Ivy .
He 's the head of the American Institute of Architects , and he says the order does n't account for today 's office buildings , which need to be efficient and equipped for both technology and security .
`` In the 21st century , we 're very different people from the people who popularized Greek @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as beautiful as it was , '' he says .
`` To try to force-fit new systems in old forms is , in of itself difficult to do , inefficient , and is not who we are today . ''
The executive order would only mandate classical architecture for federal buildings in Washington , DC .
It would not include the city 's Smithsonian museums , and it 's unclear whether it would affect memorials .
The order defines `` classical '' as including Gothic , Romanesque , Spanish , Mediterranean and other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ buildings constructed from the 1950s on .
But it does single out one recent building for praise : The federal building and courthouse in Tuscaloosa , Alabama , designed by HBRA Architects in Chicago and completed in 2011 .
`` We 're very proud of it , '' says HBRA architect Aric Lasher .
He says the Tuscaloosa building is partly modeled after Greek temples , with columns and classical , ornamental motifs .
But his firm used that style because that 's what this particular building , location and community called for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preposterous '' for the government to dictate any style of architecture : `` The artistic potential of architecture and the artistic productivity of the American people does not necessarily emerge through fiat . ''
Right now , the guidelines for federal architecture , which were written in 1962 , say `` Design must flow from the architectural profession to the government , and not vice versa . ''
If adopted , the president 's executive order would reverse that .
Ted Robbins edited this story for radio , and Petra Mayer adapted it @ @ @ @

'Ugly,' 'Discordant': New Executive Order Takes Aim At Modern Architecture
Enlarge this image toggle caption ERIC BARADAT/AFP via Getty Images ERIC BARADAT/AFP via Getty Images
Updated at 12:30pm ET
Back in February, President Trump set the architectural world reeling with a call for traditional designs for new federal buildings. He proposed an executive order, called "Make Federal Buildings Beautiful Again," which took an out-with-the-new, in-with-the-old approach to architecture, calling modern federal buildings constructed over the last five decades "undistinguished," "uninspiring" and "just plain ugly."
That proposed order is now a reality. Retitled "Promoting Beautiful Federal Civic Architecture," it begins with a paean to "beautiful public architecture," before moving on to a litany of disapproval aimed at modernist federal buildings.
It's true that modernism abounds in D.C. Standing on a street corner near the National Mall, there's actually a mishmash of architectural styles. Let's talk about three of them: In the distance, the gleaming white pillars of the U.S. Capitol dome, the kind of classical architecture the president's order favors. Closer in, there's a towering, steel-mesh scrim that's part of the Eisenhower Memorial, a contemporary design by Frank Gehry which is under construction. Right behind the scrim, there's the beige, boxy, concrete-heavy Department of Education, a Brutalist building — the style a lot of people love to hate.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Ricardo630/Wikimedia Commons Ricardo630/Wikimedia Commons
Marion Smith of the National Civic Art Society is one of them. He looks at this entire vista with disgust. "From where I'm standing, I see modernist structures, and the only hint of a classical building I can see is the top of the U.S. dome," he says. "That is not what our founders had in mind. This is a new reigning orthodoxy of modernist, Brutalist, postmodern design." (Brutalism was a popular movement with architects beginning in the 1950s, but it's mostly fallen out of favor.) The Society led a six-year campaign against Gehry's Eisenhower memorial, which forced the architect to make some changes to his orginal design.
And the organization has been the driving force behind the President's Executive Order. NCAS president Justin Shubow issued a statement today in praise of the final order. "Since the mid-20th century, Modernist mandarins controlling government architecture have been forcing ugly designs upon us," he wrote. "President Trump stood firm for tradition and beauty in public architecture, and for the heartfelt desires of the American people."
Utah Senator Mike Lee is no fan of modernism either. He wrote an article in the Federalist in February calling the proposed order "the second best news out of Washington this week," and excoriating buildings like the U.S. Courthouse in Salt Lake City. "It looks like a giant swamp cooler or a giant ice cube that's coated with this sort of material that you would see on your braces when you were in junior high. It just isn't pretty," he tells me.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Timothy Hursley Timothy Hursley
He adds, "I sometimes ask myself and ask others, is it any wonder that Americans' confidence in government has collapsed, and the government itself has grown hopelessly dysfunctional in the decades since Washington abandoned classical design principles in favor of elite modernist fads and ugly buildings that they inevitably produce?"
Others feel differently. "We are absolutely opposed to this order," says Robert Ivy. He's the head of the American Institute of Architects, and he says the order doesn't account for today's office buildings, which need to be efficient and equipped for both technology and security. "In the 21st century, we're very different people from the people who popularized Greek Revival architecture in the 19th century, as beautiful as it was," he says. "To try to force-fit new systems in old forms is, in of itself difficult to do, inefficient, and is not who we are today."
The executive order would only mandate classical architecture for federal buildings in Washington, DC. It would not include the city's Smithsonian museums, and it's unclear whether it would affect memorials. The order defines "classical" as including Neoclassical, Georgian, Greek Revival, Gothic and other traditional styles, and mostly trashes federal buildings constructed from the 1950s on — taking pains to define and decry both brutalism and deconstructivism. It also establishes a President's Council on Improving Federal Civic Architecture, and tasks it with making sure proposed federal buildings are "beautiful and reflective of the dignity, enterprise, vigor, and stability of the American system of self-government." Part of the council's duties will also include preparing a report recommending policy updates aimed at accomplishing that mission.
The order does single out one recent building for praise: The federal building and courthouse in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, designed by HBRA Architects in Chicago and completed in 2011.
"We're very proud of it," says HBRA architect Aric Lasher. He says the Tuscaloosa building is partly modeled after Greek temples, with columns and classical, ornamental motifs. But his firm used that style because that's what this particular building, location and community called for. He says it would be "preposterous" for the government to dictate any style of architecture: "The artistic potential of architecture and the artistic productivity of the American people does not necessarily emerge through fiat."
The newly created federal council will serve until Sept. 30, 2021, and is expected to submit its report by then, but it's unclear how — or whether — the incoming administration will act on those recommendations.
Ted Robbins edited this story for radio, and Petra Mayer adapted it for the Web.


npr--2020-02-14--LA County DA Moves To Dismiss 66,000 Marijuana-Related Convictions

Los Angeles County courts may soon throw out nearly 66,000 marijuana-related convictions of residents dating back more than 50 years .
Los Angeles District Attorney Jackie Lacey has asked a judge to dismiss and seal the records of 62,000 felony cannabis convictions for cases as early as 1961 , as well as , 3,700 misdemeanor cannabis possession cases .
Lacey , who is caught in a tight race for the district attorney seat against two progressive candidates , called it a marker of the sweeping change that can occur when government partners with technology leaders .
`` We believe it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wipe out old criminal convictions in a single court motion , '' she said in a news conference on Thursday .
The move comes about a year and a half after Lacey agreed to partner with Code for America in a pilot program that uses an algorithm to identify convictions that qualify for resentencing or dismissal under the state 's Proposition 64 .
The voter-approved measure legalized recreational marijuana and mandated resentencing for those with felony conviction for the cultivation of marijuana , possession for sale of marijuana and sales and/or transport of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possession charges .
As a result , prosecutors throughout the state have been under pressure to meet a July 1 , 2020 , deadline to expunge or reduce all eligible convictions .
`` I also took the will of the voters one step further , '' Lacey explained .
`` I expanded the criteria to go above and beyond the parameters of the law to ensure that many more people will benefit from this historic moment in time . ''
Those who were eligible under the pilot program , included persons 50 years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was convicted under the age of 21 , anyone who has not been convicted of a crime in the past 10 years , anyone with a conviction who successfully completed probation and for cannabis convictions .
Sealing convictions , Lacey said , will bring relief for many facing obstacles in `` building the life they deserve . ''
`` We 're making a motion to seal it because we realize that 's the issue , '' Lacey said .
`` When you go to apply for a job , you go to apply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , even though we 've expunged it , that may not give you help . ''
Approximately 53,000 people will have their convictions wiped out , according to Code for America .
Of those , the district attorney 's office reports approximately 32 % are black or African American , 20 % are white , 45 % are Latinx , and 3 % are other or unknown .
Other counties , including San Fernando , San Francisco , Sacramento , San Joaquin and Contra Costa , also participated in the Code for America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In all , the nonprofit group says it has helped clear and seal more than 85,000 cannabis-related convictions in California .
Prior to the test program , only those who petitioned the court could have their records expunged or sealed .
A process long criticized for being time-consuming , expensive and confusing .
As a result , `` only 3 % of those eligible for relief under Proposition 64 have received '' relief , according to Code for America .

LA County DA Moves To Dismiss 66,000 Marijuana-Related Convictions
Enlarge this image toggle caption Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP
Los Angeles County courts may soon throw out nearly 66,000 marijuana-related convictions of residents dating back more than 50 years.
Los Angeles District Attorney Jackie Lacey has asked a judge to dismiss and seal the records of 62,000 felony cannabis convictions for cases as early as 1961, as well as, 3,700 misdemeanor cannabis possession cases.
Lacey, who is caught in a tight race for the district attorney seat against two progressive candidates, called it a marker of the sweeping change that can occur when government partners with technology leaders.
"We believe it is the largest effort in California to wipe out old criminal convictions in a single court motion," she said in a news conference on Thursday.
The move comes about a year and a half after Lacey agreed to partner with Code for America in a pilot program that uses an algorithm to identify convictions that qualify for resentencing or dismissal under the state's Proposition 64.
The voter-approved measure legalized recreational marijuana and mandated resentencing for those with felony conviction for the cultivation of marijuana, possession for sale of marijuana and sales and/or transport of marijuana. It also included dismissing misdemeanor possession charges.
As a result, prosecutors throughout the state have been under pressure to meet a July 1, 2020, deadline to expunge or reduce all eligible convictions.
"I also took the will of the voters one step further," Lacey explained. "I expanded the criteria to go above and beyond the parameters of the law to ensure that many more people will benefit from this historic moment in time."
Those who were eligible under the pilot program, included persons 50 years of age or older, anyone who was convicted under the age of 21, anyone who has not been convicted of a crime in the past 10 years, anyone with a conviction who successfully completed probation and for cannabis convictions.
National As Marijuana Goes On Sale In Illinois, Some Weed Convictions Pardoned As Marijuana Goes On Sale In Illinois, Some Weed Convictions Pardoned Listen · 3:29 3:29
Sealing convictions, Lacey said, will bring relief for many facing obstacles in "building the life they deserve."
"We're making a motion to seal it because we realize that's the issue," Lacey said. "When you go to apply for a job, you go to apply for housing and your record comes up, even though we've expunged it, that may not give you help."
Approximately 53,000 people will have their convictions wiped out, according to Code for America. Of those, the district attorney's office reports approximately 32% are black or African American, 20% are white, 45% are Latinx, and 3% are other or unknown.
Other counties, including San Fernando, San Francisco, Sacramento, San Joaquin and Contra Costa, also participated in the Code for America pilot program, called Clear My Record.
In all, the nonprofit group says it has helped clear and seal more than 85,000 cannabis-related convictions in California.
Prior to the test program, only those who petitioned the court could have their records expunged or sealed. A process long criticized for being time-consuming, expensive and confusing. As a result, "only 3% of those eligible for relief under Proposition 64 have received" relief, according to Code for America.


npr--2020-02-14--Break-Ups And Throw-Ups: What It's Like To Work At A Restaurant On Valentine's Day

Break-Ups And Throw-Ups : What It 's Like To Work At A Restaurant On Valentine 's Day Valentine 's Day is one of the busiest days of the year for those who work in restaurants .
It 's also a day that many in the industry love to hate .
Second only to Mother 's Day , Valentine 's Day is the most popular day of the year to dine out , according to the National Restaurant Association .
For couples , it can be a long-awaited night out on the town .
But for servers and others in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be a night of dread , where expectations are high , the volume of customers relentless , and the tips often underwhelming .
`` We kind of refer to it jokingly as 'rookie night . '
It 's a night where everyone wants to come out and dine , '' says Kip Mullin , general manager of Circa 1918 in Newport News , Va .
Many of those customers , however , do n't normally dine out at other times of the year .
`` It 's a somewhat different vibe on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Mullin says .
`` Because we do about two-and-a-half to three times the business of a regular night .
It 's a much more expensive menu than other nights . ''
`` It 's a lot like herding cats '' trying to confirm everybody 's reservation , he says .
While Valentine 's business can be solid for restaurants , it can be a different type of busy .
Dining rooms are packed full of couples , leaving little room for larger parties that can garner servers bigger tips .
`` I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's two by two by two by two and it 's very , very boring , '' says Jackie Roberts , owner of The Pink Door in Seattle .
She says the hype of Valentine 's Day turns up the pressure on servers to make a guest 's evening perfect .
`` Everyone 's taking the holiday way too seriously .
They want to perform way too well and there 's not as much spontaneity as we usually have on a regular night . ''
There are surprises for the servers , sometimes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that are clearly on a date , '' says executive chef Brian Riggenbach of The Mockingbird in Nashville .
`` And one of the people will leave their [ phone ] number for the server , which might tell you how that date 's going . ''
Less pleasant surprises can be common , too .
`` We had once where one of the guests drank too much and went and threw up all over the bathroom and then left with their date to hopefully not , you know , get too intimate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ manager of Tilia in Minneapolis .
Riggenbach has a philosophy for dealing with difficult customers .
`` I think my biggest takeaway ... if I have a very difficult guest was , I only have to spend the next hour and a half with you , and you have to spend the rest of your life with you . ''
If it 's any consolation for restaurant staff , there can also be unpleasant surprises in store for customers .
`` This guy came in early and he was really excited and he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and he had flowers and he was going to propose to his fiancée .
And when she showed up , she had a notebook and it was a list of everything that was wrong with him .
And she sat there for an hour and read it to him . ''
This Friday evening , Valente 's approach to get through the craziness is going to be all business : `` It 's a hustling night , put on your running shoes .
Try to look nice and let 's go go go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ harried server , the overarching rule comes from Mullin : `` I just say to myself , 'Hey we 're not curing cancer here .
All we 're doing is slinging food . '
``

Break-Ups And Throw-Ups: What It's Like To Work At A Restaurant On Valentine's Day
Enlarge this image Serts/Getty Images Serts/Getty Images
Valentine's Day is one of the busiest days of the year for those who work in restaurants. It's also a day that many in the industry love to hate.
Second only to Mother's Day, Valentine's Day is the most popular day of the year to dine out, according to the National Restaurant Association. For couples, it can be a long-awaited night out on the town. But for servers and others in the industry who wait on them, it can be a night of dread, where expectations are high, the volume of customers relentless, and the tips often underwhelming.
"We kind of refer to it jokingly as 'rookie night.' It's a night where everyone wants to come out and dine," says Kip Mullin, general manager of Circa 1918 in Newport News, Va. Many of those customers, however, don't normally dine out at other times of the year.
"It's a somewhat different vibe on Valentine's Day than other nights," Mullin says. "Because we do about two-and-a-half to three times the business of a regular night. It's a much more expensive menu than other nights."
"It's a lot like herding cats" trying to confirm everybody's reservation, he says.
While Valentine's business can be solid for restaurants, it can be a different type of busy. Dining rooms are packed full of couples, leaving little room for larger parties that can garner servers bigger tips.
"I call it deuce factory, because it's two by two by two by two and it's very, very boring," says Jackie Roberts, owner of The Pink Door in Seattle.
She says the hype of Valentine's Day turns up the pressure on servers to make a guest's evening perfect. "Everyone's taking the holiday way too seriously. They want to perform way too well and there's not as much spontaneity as we usually have on a regular night."
There are surprises for the servers, sometimes.
"I've definitely seen tables that are clearly on a date," says executive chef Brian Riggenbach of The Mockingbird in Nashville. "And one of the people will leave their [phone] number for the server, which might tell you how that date's going."
Less pleasant surprises can be common, too.
"We had once where one of the guests drank too much and went and threw up all over the bathroom and then left with their date to hopefully not, you know, get too intimate," says Lara Valente, general manager of Tilia in Minneapolis.
Riggenbach has a philosophy for dealing with difficult customers. "I think my biggest takeaway ... if I have a very difficult guest was, I only have to spend the next hour and a half with you, and you have to spend the rest of your life with you."
If it's any consolation for restaurant staff, there can also be unpleasant surprises in store for customers.
"This guy came in early and he was really excited and he was all dressed up in a suit and he had flowers and he was going to propose to his fiancée. And when she showed up, she had a notebook and it was a list of everything that was wrong with him. And she sat there for an hour and read it to him."
This Friday evening, Valente's approach to get through the craziness is going to be all business: "It's a hustling night, put on your running shoes. Try to look nice and let's go go go!"
But even for the most harried server, the overarching rule comes from Mullin: "I just say to myself, 'Hey we're not curing cancer here. All we're doing is slinging food.' "