npr--2020-09-23--At Least 380 Whales Dead In Australia's Largest-Ever Mass Stranding

At Least 380 Whales Dead In Australia 's Largest-Ever Mass Stranding At least 380 pilot whales have died off the coast of Tasmania in what experts are calling Australia 's largest recorded mass-stranding event .
Nearly 500 whales have been stranded on a beach and two sandbars along the western coast of the island state .
Initial reports on Monday said that 270 whales , some of which had already died , were stranded at three sites .
Then authorities surveying the area by helicopter on Wednesday discovered another 200 that were stranded about 6 miles to the south — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dead .
Rescue efforts are focused on the larger group of 270 , which is stranded near the town of Strahan , The Guardian reports .
About 50 whales in that group have now been freed and have found their way to the open ocean .
An estimated 90 in that group were already dead when authorities found them .
`` We will continue working to free as many of the live animals as we can , '' Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service Manager Nic Deka told news outlets , including The Sydney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still alive and in water , there is certainly hope for them , but as time goes on , they become more fatigued and their chance of survival reduces , '' he said .
`` But we will continue working for as long as there are live animals on the site . ''
Long-finned pilot whales can be as long as 23 feet and weigh several tons .
They have been known to form pods as large as 1,000 members .
Government marine conservationists and volunteers had quickly arrived at the sites to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but such `` refloating '' missions are difficult .
Four or five people would work to free each animal , wading into freezing water and attaching slings to the whale so a boat could guide it out .
Ongoing rescue efforts will focus on those whales that are more likely to be alive and those most easily reached , marine scientist Vanessa Pirotta told Australian broadcaster ABC News .
`` Unfortunately , they do have a very strong social system , and these animals are very closely bonded .
And that 's why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case unfortunately end up in this situation , '' Pirotta said .
And even when a whale is freed , its fate remains in jeopardy .
`` They are wanting to return back to the pod .
They might hear the acoustics of the vocalizations of the sounds that the others are making , or they 're just disorientated and in this case extremely stressed and just probably so fatigued that they in some cases do n't know where they are , '' she said .
Deka says that while rescue efforts continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do with the carcasses .
He told The Guardian that two methods are under consideration : burying them in a landfill or towing them into open water .
`` We do know we ca n't leave them in the harbor because they will present a range of issues .
We are committed to retrieving and disposing , '' he said .
Mass strandings of whales and dolphins are common in Tasmania , as well as in neighboring New Zealand .
Unfortunately , Marine and Conservation Program wildlife biologist Kris Carlyon said in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can do to prevent this occurring in the future . ''
The world 's largest recorded mass stranding occurred in the New Zealand territory of the Chatham Islands in 1918 , Reuters reports , when 1,000 whales were stuck .
Peter Harrison , a professor at the Southern Cross University Whale Research Group , told the news service that such events are of great concern when so many whales die .
`` Quite often we only get to really see them when there are bad outcomes , such as this stranding event , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need some more investment in research to understand these whales in Australian waters . ''

At Least 380 Whales Dead In Australia's Largest-Ever Mass Stranding
Enlarge this image toggle caption Brodie Weeding/AP Brodie Weeding/AP
Updated at 2:35 p.m. ET
At least 380 pilot whales have died off the coast of Tasmania in what experts are calling Australia's largest recorded mass-stranding event.
Nearly 500 whales have been stranded on a beach and two sandbars along the western coast of the island state.
Initial reports on Monday said that 270 whales, some of which had already died, were stranded at three sites. Then authorities surveying the area by helicopter on Wednesday discovered another 200 that were stranded about 6 miles to the south — but all of those animals were confirmed dead.
Rescue efforts are focused on the larger group of 270, which is stranded near the town of Strahan, The Guardian reports. About 50 whales in that group have now been freed and have found their way to the open ocean. An estimated 90 in that group were already dead when authorities found them.
"We will continue working to free as many of the live animals as we can," Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service Manager Nic Deka told news outlets, including The Sydney Morning Herald.
"While they are still alive and in water, there is certainly hope for them, but as time goes on, they become more fatigued and their chance of survival reduces," he said. "But we will continue working for as long as there are live animals on the site."
Long-finned pilot whales can be as long as 23 feet and weigh several tons. They have been known to form pods as large as 1,000 members.
Government marine conservationists and volunteers had quickly arrived at the sites to mount a rescue effort on Tuesday, but such "refloating" missions are difficult. Four or five people would work to free each animal, wading into freezing water and attaching slings to the whale so a boat could guide it out.
Ongoing rescue efforts will focus on those whales that are more likely to be alive and those most easily reached, marine scientist Vanessa Pirotta told Australian broadcaster ABC News.
"Unfortunately, they do have a very strong social system, and these animals are very closely bonded. And that's why we have seen so many in this case unfortunately end up in this situation," Pirotta said.
And even when a whale is freed, its fate remains in jeopardy.
"They are wanting to return back to the pod. They might hear the acoustics of the vocalizations of the sounds that the others are making, or they're just disorientated and in this case extremely stressed and just probably so fatigued that they in some cases don't know where they are," she said.
Deka says that while rescue efforts continue, increasingly the question is what to do with the carcasses. He told The Guardian that two methods are under consideration: burying them in a landfill or towing them into open water.
"We do know we can't leave them in the harbor because they will present a range of issues. We are committed to retrieving and disposing," he said.
Mass strandings of whales and dolphins are common in Tasmania, as well as in neighboring New Zealand.
Unfortunately, Marine and Conservation Program wildlife biologist Kris Carlyon said in a statement, "There is little we can do to prevent this occurring in the future."
The world's largest recorded mass stranding occurred in the New Zealand territory of the Chatham Islands in 1918, Reuters reports, when 1,000 whales were stuck.
Peter Harrison, a professor at the Southern Cross University Whale Research Group, told the news service that such events are of great concern when so many whales die.
"Quite often we only get to really see them when there are bad outcomes, such as this stranding event," Harrison said. "We absolutely need some more investment in research to understand these whales in Australian waters."


npr--2020-09-23--Gale Sayers, Who Wowed NFL Fans And Inspired A Beloved TV Movie, Dies At 77

Gale Sayers , Who Wowed NFL Fans And Inspired A Beloved TV Movie , Dies At 77 Gale Sayers , a graceful and quick Chicago Bears running back whose elusiveness bedeviled defenses and delighted fans , has died , the team and the NFL announced Wednesday .
He was 77 .
Sayers was a fearsome competitor , but he was also famous for his character and fortitude .
The story of the Black football star 's friendship with a white teammate , Brian Piccolo , inspired the beloved 1971 TV movie Brian 's Song , after Sayers used his acceptance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Player award to praise his less-heralded friend who was battling cancer .
At that ceremony in 1971 , Sayers said he would give his trophy to Piccolo , because his friend had true courage .
`` I love Brian Piccolo , and I 'd like all of you to love him , too , '' Sayers said .
`` And tonight , when you hit your knees , please ask God to love him . ''
Piccolo , who had been Sayers ' roommate , died less than a month later at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Williams , who played Sayers in Brian 's Song alongside James Caan , said on Wednesday , `` My heart is broken over the loss of my dear friend , Gale Sayers . ''
It was an honor , he said , to portray Sayers .
`` Fifty years later , the movie 's message that brotherhood and love need n't be defined by skin color , still resonates , '' Bears Chairman George H. McCaskey said in a statement .
Sayers hit the NFL like a bolt from the blue , scoring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ six in one game .
His versatile talents also made him a dangerous receiver and kick returner .
In his second season out of Kansas , Sayers set a then-NFL record with 2,440 net yards .
`` Just give me 18 inches of daylight .
That 's all I need , '' Sayers famously declared .
He lived up to the statement on seemingly every Sunday , squeezing his 6-foot frame through defensive lines and carving through secondaries .
All the while , he kept his eyes downfield , ready to swivel or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Gale was an electrifying and elusive runner who thrilled fans every time he touched the ball .
He earned his place as a first-ballot Hall of Famer , '' NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement .
`` We will also forever remember Gale for his inspiration and kindness , '' Goodell said .
`` Gale 's quiet unassuming demeanor belied his determination , competitiveness and compassion . ''
Sayers ' time in the NFL was shortened by a series of knee and ankle injuries , playing from 1965-71 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ devastating injury to his right knee that curtailed his 1968 season .
But just one year later , Sayers bounced back to play in 14 games and lead the NFL in rushing , with more than 1,000 yards .
He put up those numbers despite playing on a woeful Bears team that went 1-13 .
Sayers retired after the 1971 season .
At the time , he held or shared 12 NFL records .
`` In 1977 , at the age of 34 , Sayers became the youngest man ever inducted into the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bears website notes .
`` His effective playing time of 68 games is also the shortest of any Hall of Famer . ''

Gale Sayers, Who Wowed NFL Fans And Inspired A Beloved TV Movie, Dies At 77
Enlarge this image toggle caption Bettmann Archive via Getty Images Bettmann Archive via Getty Images
Gale Sayers, a graceful and quick Chicago Bears running back whose elusiveness bedeviled defenses and delighted fans, has died, the team and the NFL announced Wednesday. He was 77.
Sayers was a fearsome competitor, but he was also famous for his character and fortitude.
The story of the Black football star's friendship with a white teammate, Brian Piccolo, inspired the beloved 1971 TV movie Brian's Song, after Sayers used his acceptance speech for the NFL's Most Courageous Player award to praise his less-heralded friend who was battling cancer.
At that ceremony in 1971, Sayers said he would give his trophy to Piccolo, because his friend had true courage.
"I love Brian Piccolo, and I'd like all of you to love him, too," Sayers said. "And tonight, when you hit your knees, please ask God to love him."
Piccolo, who had been Sayers' roommate, died less than a month later at the age of 26.
YouTube
Actor Billy Dee Williams, who played Sayers in Brian's Song alongside James Caan, said on Wednesday, "My heart is broken over the loss of my dear friend, Gale Sayers." It was an honor, he said, to portray Sayers.
"Fifty years later, the movie's message that brotherhood and love needn't be defined by skin color, still resonates," Bears Chairman George H. McCaskey said in a statement.
Sayers hit the NFL like a bolt from the blue, scoring 22 touchdowns as a rookie – including six in one game. His versatile talents also made him a dangerous receiver and kick returner. In his second season out of Kansas, Sayers set a then-NFL record with 2,440 net yards.
"Just give me 18 inches of daylight. That's all I need," Sayers famously declared.
He lived up to the statement on seemingly every Sunday, squeezing his 6-foot frame through defensive lines and carving through secondaries. All the while, he kept his eyes downfield, ready to swivel or hurdle his way toward the end zone.
"Gale was an electrifying and elusive runner who thrilled fans every time he touched the ball. He earned his place as a first-ballot Hall of Famer," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement.
"We will also forever remember Gale for his inspiration and kindness," Goodell said. "Gale's quiet unassuming demeanor belied his determination, competitiveness and compassion."
Sayers' time in the NFL was shortened by a series of knee and ankle injuries, playing from 1965-71. His legend continued to grow despite a devastating injury to his right knee that curtailed his 1968 season. But just one year later, Sayers bounced back to play in 14 games and lead the NFL in rushing, with more than 1,000 yards. He put up those numbers despite playing on a woeful Bears team that went 1-13.
Sayers retired after the 1971 season. At the time, he held or shared 12 NFL records.
"In 1977, at the age of 34, Sayers became the youngest man ever inducted into the Hall of Fame," the Chicago Bears website notes. "His effective playing time of 68 games is also the shortest of any Hall of Famer."


npr--2020-09-23--As Pandemic Deaths Add Up, Racial Disparities Persist — And In Some Cases Worsen

As Pandemic Deaths Add Up , Racial Disparities Persist — And In Some Cases Worsen Data gathered early in the pandemic showed that communities of color are disproportionately affected by COVID-19 across the United States .
But incomplete data left a muddy picture of these disparities .
Today , as the U.S. has surpassed 200,000 COVID-19 deaths , and reached nearly 7 million confirmed cases , racial data is more complete , and the trend is crystal clear : People of color get sick and die of COVID-19 at rates higher than whites and higher than their share of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and in some cases worsened — since NPR analyzed this data in May .
As the country struggles to bring the pandemic under control , Blacks , Latinos and Native Americans bear an unequal burden An NPR analysis of the latest data available from the COVID Tracking Project shows how this plays out state by state .
( Jump to charts below to look up your state ) .
Here are the key findings of the national picture : • African Americans continue to get infected and die from COVID-19 at rates more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ population .
• In Missouri , Kansas , Wisconsin and Michigan , African Americans are dying at a rate more than 2.5 times their share of the population .
• Increasingly , Hispanics and Latinos die from COVID-19 at rates higher than their share of state populations .
In May , this was true in only seven states , but now it is true in 19 states and the District of Columbia .
• Hispanics and Latinos have a disproportionate rate of infection in 45 states and the District of Columbia .
• @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of death and sickness is disproportionate to their population in 21 states out of the 36 states with sufficient data .
That rate is five or more times greater than population share in Utah , Montana , New Mexico and Wyoming .
• White , non-Hispanic deaths from COVID-19 are lower than their share of the population in 36 states and the District of Columbia .
As the months have passed , the availability of statewide race and ethnicity data has increased dramatically .
When NPR first reported on this issue in May @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 88 % of deaths had an identified race .
Since then , 65 % of new cases have an identified race , and states have been working to identify the race of deaths previously recorded without a race .
Researchers who have been tracking racial disparities in COVID-19 outcomes since early in the pandemic say these trends are now impossible to ignore .
Samantha Artiga , director of the Disparities Policy Project at Kaiser Family Foundation , recently published a distillation of a wide range of research on these racial disparities .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ body of research , the findings very consistently show that people of color are really bearing the heaviest burden of COVID-19 at every stage , from risk of exposure , to access to testing , to severity of the illness and eventually death , '' she says .
And these trends are confirmed wherever COVID and race data are collected .
Increasingly , the CDC has provided a variety of race and ethnicity data , something it was slow to do initially .
On August 18 , the CDC released data showing that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are experiencing hospitalizations at rates 4.5 to 5.5 times higher than non-Hispanic whites .
The COVID Racial Data Tracker did an analysis comparing white death rates to other groups .
Hispanics and Native Americans are both dying about 1.5 times the rate of white people .
And African Americans are dying at 2.4 times the white rate .
NPR 's analysis shows that nationally , this death rate is still the highest of any group , despite modest improvements since May .
Blacks continue to be over-represented in deaths in 33 states and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 9 states were more than double their population share .
As of late September , they are double in only four states .
COVID-19 related deaths among Hispanics and Latinos are cause for increasing concern .
In May , the national death rate for Latinos was below their proportion of the population , but it has steadily crept up .
There are now 20 states where the number of Hispanic deaths is greater than their share of the population , up from just seven in May .
`` I think this really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Western regions of the country where Hispanic people make up a greater share of the population , '' says Artiga .
Meanwhile , these communities test positive for COVID-19 at disproportionate rates in almost every state .
For American Indians and Alaska Natives , the picture has become clearer as data becomes available and sample sizes grow .
At least 19 states have disproportionately high cases for AIAN individuals and 15 states have disproportionately high death rates .
In Arizona , over 500 Native Americans have died from COVID-19 , 12 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Only 4.5 % of the population of Arizona is Native American .
Behind all these disparities lies an even deeper , entrenched problem of health inequity in our society , explains Greg Millet , director of public policy at amfAR .
`` It 's not by dint of circumstance or luck that predominantly white counties — by and large — have not had as many diagnoses as compared to more diverse counties , '' he says .
`` There 's a systemic issue that 's underlying all of this . ''
As the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue — the people meticulously collecting this information are fighting to keep perspective .
`` At the end of the day , these numbers are huge , but each number is a human life lost or affected by this , '' says Rachel Lee , project manager at the COVID Racial Data Tracker .
`` These are actually people , family members and friends being killed . ''
`` I pray before each of our [ datasets ] ships — 'help me to see the people behind these numbers ' — because otherwise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ numbers . ''
Coronavirus case and death data by race and ethnicity are based on publicly available data collected by the The Covid Racial Data Tracker .
Race and ethnicity population data comes from the 2018 American Community Survey from the Census bureau .
Certain territories are excluded from our analysis due to lack of recent demographic data .
Due to the inconsistent race and ethnicity reporting from states , it is possible for the white category to include Hispanic/Latino individuals that are counted both as a race and a Hispanic/Latino ethnicity .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in white case and death rates and a slight underestimate in Hispanic/Latino case and death rates .
Where possible , we use the ACS count for non-Hispanic whites , rather than all whites .

As Pandemic Deaths Add Up, Racial Disparities Persist — And In Some Cases Worsen
Enlarge this image toggle caption Matt Rourke/AP Matt Rourke/AP
Data gathered early in the pandemic showed that communities of color are disproportionately affected by COVID-19 across the United States. But incomplete data left a muddy picture of these disparities.
Today, as the U.S. has surpassed 200,000 COVID-19 deaths, and reached nearly 7 million confirmed cases, racial data is more complete, and the trend is crystal clear: People of color get sick and die of COVID-19 at rates higher than whites and higher than their share of the population.
The trend has persisted — and in some cases worsened — since NPR analyzed this data in May. As the country struggles to bring the pandemic under control, Blacks, Latinos and Native Americans bear an unequal burden
Loading...
An NPR analysis of the latest data available from the COVID Tracking Project shows how this plays out state by state. (Jump to charts below to look up your state). Here are the key findings of the national picture:
African Americans continue to get infected and die from COVID-19 at rates more than 1.5 times their share of the population.
In Missouri, Kansas, Wisconsin and Michigan, African Americans are dying at a rate more than 2.5 times their share of the population.
Increasingly, Hispanics and Latinos die from COVID-19 at rates higher than their share of state populations. In May, this was true in only seven states, but now it is true in 19 states and the District of Columbia.
Hispanics and Latinos have a disproportionate rate of infection in 45 states and the District of Columbia.
The Native American and Alaskan Native share of death and sickness is disproportionate to their population in 21 states out of the 36 states with sufficient data. That rate is five or more times greater than population share in Utah, Montana, New Mexico and Wyoming.
White, non-Hispanic deaths from COVID-19 are lower than their share of the population in 36 states and the District of Columbia.
As the months have passed, the availability of statewide race and ethnicity data has increased dramatically. When NPR first reported on this issue in May, only 51% of cases and 88% of deaths had an identified race. Since then, 65% of new cases have an identified race, and states have been working to identify the race of deaths previously recorded without a race.
Loading...
Researchers who have been tracking racial disparities in COVID-19 outcomes since early in the pandemic say these trends are now impossible to ignore.
Samantha Artiga, director of the Disparities Policy Project at Kaiser Family Foundation, recently published a distillation of a wide range of research on these racial disparities.
"When you look at that continually growing body of research, the findings very consistently show that people of color are really bearing the heaviest burden of COVID-19 at every stage, from risk of exposure, to access to testing, to severity of the illness and eventually death," she says.
And these trends are confirmed wherever COVID and race data are collected.
Increasingly, the CDC has provided a variety of race and ethnicity data, something it was slow to do initially. On August 18, the CDC released data showing that Blacks, Latinos, and American Indians are experiencing hospitalizations at rates 4.5 to 5.5 times higher than non-Hispanic whites.
The COVID Racial Data Tracker did an analysis comparing white death rates to other groups. Hispanics and Native Americans are both dying about 1.5 times the rate of white people. And African Americans are dying at 2.4 times the white rate.
NPR's analysis shows that nationally, this death rate is still the highest of any group, despite modest improvements since May. Blacks continue to be over-represented in deaths in 33 states and territories. In May, death rates in 9 states were more than double their population share. As of late September, they are double in only four states.
Loading...
COVID-19 related deaths among Hispanics and Latinos are cause for increasing concern. In May, the national death rate for Latinos was below their proportion of the population, but it has steadily crept up. There are now 20 states where the number of Hispanic deaths is greater than their share of the population, up from just seven in May.
"I think this really reflects the shifting of hotspots into Southern and Western regions of the country where Hispanic people make up a greater share of the population," says Artiga.
Meanwhile, these communities test positive for COVID-19 at disproportionate rates in almost every state.
Loading...
For American Indians and Alaska Natives, the picture has become clearer as data becomes available and sample sizes grow. At least 19 states have disproportionately high cases for AIAN individuals and 15 states have disproportionately high death rates. In Arizona, over 500 Native Americans have died from COVID-19, 12% of the state's overall tally. Only 4.5% of the population of Arizona is Native American.
Loading...
Behind all these disparities lies an even deeper, entrenched problem of health inequity in our society, explains Greg Millet, director of public policy at amfAR.
"It's not by dint of circumstance or luck that predominantly white counties — by and large — have not had as many diagnoses as compared to more diverse counties," he says. "There's a systemic issue that's underlying all of this."
As the pandemic stretches on — and these trends continue — the people meticulously collecting this information are fighting to keep perspective.
"At the end of the day, these numbers are huge, but each number is a human life lost or affected by this," says Rachel Lee, project manager at the COVID Racial Data Tracker. "These are actually people, family members and friends being killed."
"I pray [whenever] our data shifts — 'help me to see the people behind these numbers' — because otherwise, they're just going to be numbers."
Methodology
Coronavirus case and death data by race and ethnicity are based on publicly available data collected by the The COVID Racial Data Tracker. Race and ethnicity population data comes from the 2018 American Community Survey from the Census bureau. Certain territories are excluded from our analysis due to lack of recent demographic data. Due to the inconsistent race and ethnicity reporting from states, it is possible for the white category to include Hispanic/Latino individuals that are counted both as a race and a Hispanic/Latino ethnicity. These inconsistencies could cause a slight overestimate in white case and death rates and a slight underestimate in Hispanic/Latino case and death rates. Where possible, we use the ACS count for non-Hispanic whites, rather than all whites.


npr--2020-09-23--1 in 7 Americans Have Experienced Dangerous Air Quality Due To Wildfires This Year

1 in 7 Americans Have Experienced Dangerous Air Quality Due To Wildfires This Year Wildfires near cities have become commonplace in the Western United States , but this year the reach and intensity of the dangerous air pollution they produce has been the worst on record .
Many Americans in populous , urban areas endured smoke for longer than previous years .
Some places experienced very unhealthy or hazardous air from wildfires for the first time ever recorded .
An NPR analysis of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency air quality data found that nearly 50 million people in California , Oregon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least one day of `` unhealthy '' or worse air quality during wildfire season so far this year .
That 's 1 in 7 Americans , an increase of more than 9 million people compared with 2018 , the worst previous year .
And this year 's wildfire season is far from over .
NPR 's analysis looked at air quality on days from July to January of each year , specifically focusing on small inhalable particles that can lodge deep in the lungs and be harmful to humans .
An EPA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ known as PM2.5 , is the most likely culprit found in the air from wildfire smoke .
The EPA publishes data going back to 1980 , though much of the earlier data is missing information about PM2.5 .
As the warming climate has lengthened the fire season , some places , especially in California , have grown accustomed to the related air quality problems .
But the intensity and spread of this year 's fires also brought dangerous smoke to big cities such as Seattle and Portland , Ore. More than 17 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fire season — live in counties where air quality reached levels deemed `` very unhealthy '' or `` hazardous . ''
This is the range where the EPA says everyone may be at risk for serious health effects , and they recommend children , older people and those with lung disease avoid any outdoor exertion .
For many , it was n't just a short-term inconvenience .
The very unhealthy air lingered for an average of 4.1 days this year , more than twice as long as the average over the previous decade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than the EPA 's own scale .
Marion County , home to Oregon 's capital , Salem , hit an air quality index of 710 on Sept. 11 .
This year , 36 counties in Washington , Oregon and California experienced very unhealthy air quality due to particulate matter during wildfire season for the first time ever recorded , including Multnomah County , Ore. , where Portland is located .
The immediate health effects of living in and breathing wildfire smoke are well-known to the medical community and obvious to anyone who 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tighten , snot can turn black .
Smoke pollution can raise heart rates and exacerbate respiratory problems such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease .
Recent research even suggests smoke exposure could lead to an increased risk of getting COVID-19 .
Much less is known about possible health effects after the smoke clears .
`` This is not well studied because this has become more of a phenomenon in the last decade , where we 've had these major fires across the world , '' says Dr. Karthik Mahadevan , a pulmonologist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a spike of respiratory calls during last week 's heavy smoke .
`` We do n't know what the long-term impacts are going to be for our patients . ''

1 In 7 Americans Have Experienced Dangerous Air Quality Due To Wildfires This Year
Enlarge this image toggle caption Sean McMinn/NPR, Source: RAMMB/Colorado State University Sean McMinn/NPR, Source: RAMMB/Colorado State University
Wildfires near cities have become commonplace in the Western United States, but this year the reach and intensity of the dangerous air pollution they produce has been the worst on record.
Many Americans in populous, urban areas endured smoke for longer than previous years. Some places experienced very unhealthy or hazardous air from wildfires for the first time ever recorded.
An NPR analysis of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency air quality data found that nearly 50 million people in California, Oregon and Washington live in counties that experienced at least one day of "unhealthy" or worse air quality during wildfire season so far this year. That's 1 in 7 Americans, an increase of more than 9 million people compared with 2018, the worst previous year.
And this year's wildfire season is far from over.
Loading...
Loading...
NPR's analysis looked at air quality on days from July to January of each year, specifically focusing on small inhalable particles that can lodge deep in the lungs and be harmful to humans. An EPA spokesperson said this kind of pollutant, known as PM2.5, is the most likely culprit found in the air from wildfire smoke.
The EPA publishes data going back to 1980, though much of the earlier data is missing information about PM2.5.
As the warming climate has lengthened the fire season, some places, especially in California, have grown accustomed to the related air quality problems. But the intensity and spread of this year's fires also brought dangerous smoke to big cities such as Seattle and Portland, Ore.
More than 17 million people — the most ever recorded during fire season — live in counties where air quality reached levels deemed "very unhealthy" or "hazardous." This is the range where the EPA says everyone may be at risk for serious health effects, and they recommend children, older people and those with lung disease avoid any outdoor exertion.
For many, it wasn't just a short-term inconvenience. The very unhealthy air lingered for an average of 4.1 days this year, more than twice as long as the average over the previous decade.
Loading...
Some of the readings were higher than the EPA's own scale. Marion County, home to Oregon's capital, Salem, hit an air quality index of 710 on Sept. 11.
Loading...
This year, 36 counties in Washington, Oregon and California experienced very unhealthy air quality due to particulate matter during wildfire season for the first time ever recorded, including Multnomah County, Ore., where Portland is located.
Loading...
The immediate health effects of living in and breathing wildfire smoke are well-known to the medical community and obvious to anyone who's been exposed: Eyes sting, throats tighten, snot can turn black. Smoke pollution can raise heart rates and exacerbate respiratory problems such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Recent research even suggests smoke exposure could lead to an increased risk of getting COVID-19.
Much less is known about possible health effects after the smoke clears.
"This is not well studied because this has become more of a phenomenon in the last decade, where we've had these major fires across the world," says Dr. Karthik Mahadevan, a pulmonologist in Springfield, Ore., who saw a spike of respiratory calls during last week's heavy smoke. "We don't know what the long-term impacts are going to be for our patients."
NPR's Nathan Rott contributed to this report.


npr--2020-09-23--Kentucky Grand Jury Indicts 1 Of 3 Officers In Breonna Taylor Case

Following months of outrage , activism and anticipation , a Kentucky grand jury has decided to indict one of the three Louisville Metro Police Department officers involved in the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor in March .
Brett Hankison , who was terminated in June , has been charged with three counts of wanton endangerment over shooting into neighboring apartments .
Bond was set at $ 15,000 .
The grand jury did not announce charges against Jonathan Mattingly and Myles Cosgrove , the other two officers involved .
None of the three faces state charges directly over Taylor 's death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Taylor , a 26-year-old emergency medical technician , was killed in her home during a botched narcotics raid .
At a Wednesday afternoon press briefing , Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron said Mattingly and Cosgrove , who were first fired upon by Taylor 's boyfriend , Kenneth Walker , `` were justified in their use of force . ''
Walker has maintained he did not hear the officers announce themselves before entering the home .
He has said he mistook them for intruders and fired a warning shot , which hit Mattingly in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
According to Cameron , `` evidence shows that officers both knocked and announced their presence at the apartment . ''
He cited the officers ' statements and one additional witness .
There is no video or body camera footage of the officers executing the search warrant , he said .
`` While there are six possible homicide charges under Kentucky law , these charges are not applicable to the fact before us , because our investigation showed , and the grand jury agreed , that Mattingly and Cosgrove were justified in their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
The attorney general said a ballistics report by the FBI determined that Mattingly fired six times and Cosgrove 16 times .
He also said there were discrepancies between the investigation carried out by Kentucky State Police and the FBI over which officer fired the shot that killed Taylor .
State investigators could not determine which of the officers killed Taylor , while the FBI found that Cosgrove fired the fatal shot , Cameron said .
Cameron said his office will vigorously prosecute the charges brought against Hankison .
He could face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each count .
The FBI will continue to investigate potential violations of federal law , the attorney general added .
Shortly after the grand jury returned its indictment , Taylor family attorney Ben Crump expressed disappointment about the decision .
`` Jefferson Grand Jury indicts former ofc .
Brett Hankison with 3 counts of Wanton Endangerment in 1st Degree for bullets that went into other apartments but NOTHING for the murder of Breonna Taylor .
This is outrageous and offensive , '' Crump said in a tweet .
`` Today 's decision is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Justice would have been [ Louisville Metro Police Department ] officers never shooting Breonna Taylor in the first place , '' Carl Takei , senior staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union 's Criminal Law Reform Project , said in a statement .
`` The choice to bring these charges alone and so late highlights the indifference to human life shown by everyone involved in Breonna Taylor 's murder . ''
President Trump praised the Kentucky attorney general for his comments urging people to remain peaceful and reminding the public that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Trump said Cameron was `` handling it very well . ''
The president also noted that Kentucky 's governor has called up the National Guard , which Trump called `` a good thing . ''
He said he would be speaking to the governor shortly .
Protesters immediately started to gather following the grand jury 's decision .
Kentucky state Rep. Attica Scott , a Black woman who represents west Louisville , spoke to NPR by phone Wednesday from the city 's Jefferson Square Park , which has been the center of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disappointed , '' Scott said , adding she had hoped that all three officers who fired their weapons would be indicted .
`` Disappointed and not surprised .
I 'm very clear that justice was not served today . ''
Last month Scott proposed a bill called `` Breonna 's Law '' that would require police officers executing search warrants in Kentucky to knock and verbally announce themselves .
The measure would also make it mandatory for officers to activate their body cameras while serving a warrant .
Ahead of the grand jury @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a countywide curfew from 9 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. for 72 hours , beginning Wednesday night .
On Tuesday , the mayor declared a preemptive state of emergency as the city braced for possible protests .
The police department shut down parts of downtown Louisville to car traffic , saying it wanted to ensure the area is safe for demonstrators and those who live and work there .
Taylor 's name has become a rallying cry over the summer at nationwide protests against racial injustice and police violence .
Demonstrators took to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Taylor and other Black Americans killed or severely injured by law enforcement this year , including George Floyd , Rayshard Brooks and Jacob Blake .
However , Cameron said Wednesday that Taylor 's case should not be compared with these other recent ones .
`` Ms. Breonna Taylor 's death has become a part of a national story and conversation , '' Cameron said .
`` But we must also remember the facts and the collection of evidence in this case are different from cases elsewhere in the country . ''
Some of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and violent .
In June , a Black resident was shot and killed as police responded to curfew violations related to ongoing protests , prompting the firing of the police chief .
In late August , 64 protesters were arrested after staging a sit-in on a highway overpass .
Protesters in Louisville marked their 100th consecutive night of action in early September .
Across the country , people also took to social media , petitions and even billboards to call for officers ' arrests as months passed with no official announcement .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying he `` displayed an extreme indifference to the value of human life '' when he `` wantonly and blindly '' fired 10 rounds into Taylor 's apartment .
The other officers , Mattingly and Cosgrove , were placed on administrative reassignment .
`` Every day is still March the 13th , '' Taylor 's mother , Tamika Palmer , said in August , five months to the day after the shooting .
Taylor 's death and the ensuing protests have led to some policy changes in Louisville .
In June , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warrants .
The legislation , also called Breonna 's Law , requires police to wear body cameras when serving warrants and activate them five minutes before starting an operation .
The officers were not wearing body cameras during the fatal raid , though NPR member station WFPL reported the city required all officers to wear and use them when serving warrants .
The mayor has since ordered an outside firm to conduct a review of the Louisville Metro Police Department .
Last week , the City Council passed a no-confidence vote against the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shooting and the unrest that followed .
They offered him a list of proposed reforms but stopped short of calling for his resignation .
In a video responding to the vote , Fischer said several of the suggested police reforms are underway but noted `` the work needed goes beyond public safety . ''
And on Sept. 15 , the city of Louisville announced a $ 12 million settlement — the largest in its history — in a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Taylor 's family .
The settlement includes a host of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ These include establishing a housing and voucher program to encourage officers to live in lower-income city neighborhoods , and creating a clearer command structure when executing warrants at multiple locations , as was the case the night of Taylor 's death .
Tamika Palmer , Taylor 's mother , said in an NPR interview last week that she appreciated people of all races who have kept her daughter 's case in the national spotlight .
When asked what steps she and her family would take if the investigation ended with no charges against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I wo n't go away .
I 'll still fight . ''

Kentucky Grand Jury Indicts 1 Of 3 Officers In Breonna Taylor Case
Enlarge this image toggle caption Carlos Barria/Reuters Carlos Barria/Reuters
Updated at 7:20 p.m. ET
Following months of outrage, activism and anticipation, a Kentucky grand jury has decided to indict one of the three Louisville Metro Police Department officers involved in the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor in March.
Brett Hankison, who was terminated in June, has been charged with three counts of wanton endangerment over shooting into neighboring apartments. Bond was set at $15,000.
The grand jury did not announce charges against Jonathan Mattingly and Myles Cosgrove, the other two officers involved. None of the three faces state charges directly over Taylor's death.
The announcement comes six months after Taylor, a 26-year-old emergency medical technician, was killed in her home during a botched narcotics raid.
At a Wednesday afternoon press briefing, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron said Mattingly and Cosgrove, who were first fired upon by Taylor's boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, "were justified in their use of force."
Walker has maintained he did not hear the officers announce themselves before entering the home. He has said he mistook them for intruders and fired a warning shot, which hit Mattingly in the leg. Then officers opened fire.
According to Cameron, "evidence shows that officers both knocked and announced their presence at the apartment." He cited the officers' statements and one additional witness. There is no video or body camera footage of the officers executing the search warrant, he said.
"While there are six possible homicide charges under Kentucky law, these charges are not applicable to the fact before us, because our investigation showed, and the grand jury agreed, that Mattingly and Cosgrove were justified in their return of deadly fire," Cameron said.
The attorney general said a ballistics report by the FBI determined that Mattingly fired six times and Cosgrove 16 times.
He also said there were discrepancies between the investigation carried out by Kentucky State Police and the FBI over which officer fired the shot that killed Taylor.
State investigators could not determine which of the officers killed Taylor, while the FBI found that Cosgrove fired the fatal shot, Cameron said.
Cameron said his office will vigorously prosecute the charges brought against Hankison. He could face a maximum sentence of five years for each count. The FBI will continue to investigate potential violations of federal law, the attorney general added.
Shortly after the grand jury returned its indictment, Taylor family attorney Ben Crump expressed disappointment about the decision.
"Jefferson Grand Jury indicts former ofc. Brett Hankison with 3 counts of Wanton Endangerment in 1st Degree for bullets that went into other apartments but NOTHING for the murder of Breonna Taylor. This is outrageous and offensive," Crump said in a tweet.
"Today's decision is not accountability and not close to justice. Justice would have been [Louisville Metro Police Department] officers never shooting Breonna Taylor in the first place," Carl Takei, senior staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union's Criminal Law Reform Project, said in a statement.
"The choice to bring these charges alone and so late highlights the indifference to human life shown by everyone involved in Breonna Taylor's murder."
President Trump praised the Kentucky attorney general for his comments urging people to remain peaceful and reminding the public that "justice is not often easy."
Trump said Cameron was "handling it very well."
The president also noted that Kentucky's governor has called up the National Guard, which Trump called "a good thing."
He said he would be speaking to the governor shortly.
Protesters immediately started to gather following the grand jury's decision.
Kentucky state Rep. Attica Scott, a Black woman who represents west Louisville, spoke to NPR by phone Wednesday from the city's Jefferson Square Park, which has been the center of protests for months.
"I'm disappointed," Scott said, adding she had hoped that all three officers who fired their weapons would be indicted.
"Disappointed and not surprised. I'm very clear that justice was not served today."
Last month Scott proposed a bill called "Breonna's Law" that would require police officers executing search warrants in Kentucky to knock and verbally announce themselves. The measure would also make it mandatory for officers to activate their body cameras while serving a warrant.
Ahead of the grand jury announcement, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer ordered a countywide curfew from 9 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. for 72 hours, beginning Wednesday night. On Tuesday, the mayor declared a preemptive state of emergency as the city braced for possible protests.
The police department shut down parts of downtown Louisville to car traffic, saying it wanted to ensure the area is safe for demonstrators and those who live and work there.
Taylor's name has become a rallying cry over the summer at nationwide protests against racial injustice and police violence.
Demonstrators took to the streets to demand justice and accountability for Taylor and other Black Americans killed or severely injured by law enforcement this year, including George Floyd, Rayshard Brooks and Jacob Blake.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Amy Harris/Invision/AP Amy Harris/Invision/AP
However, Cameron said Wednesday that Taylor's case should not be compared with these other recent ones.
"Ms. Breonna Taylor's death has become a part of a national story and conversation," Cameron said. "But we must also remember the facts and the collection of evidence in this case are different from cases elsewhere in the country."
Some of the recent protests in Louisville grew tense and violent. In June, a Black resident was shot and killed as police responded to curfew violations related to ongoing protests, prompting the firing of the police chief. In late August, 64 protesters were arrested after staging a sit-in on a highway overpass.
Protesters in Louisville marked their 100th consecutive night of action in early September.
Across the country, people also took to social media, petitions and even billboards to call for officers' arrests as months passed with no official announcement.
The police department fired Hankison in June, saying he "displayed an extreme indifference to the value of human life" when he "wantonly and blindly" fired 10 rounds into Taylor's apartment.
The other officers, Mattingly and Cosgrove, were placed on administrative reassignment.
"Every day is still March the 13th," Taylor's mother, Tamika Palmer, said in August, five months to the day after the shooting.
Taylor's death and the ensuing protests have led to some policy changes in Louisville.
In June, the City Council voted unanimously to ban no-knock warrants. The legislation, also called Breonna's Law, requires police to wear body cameras when serving warrants and activate them five minutes before starting an operation.
The officers were not wearing body cameras during the fatal raid, though NPR member station WFPL reported the city required all officers to wear and use them when serving warrants. The mayor has since ordered an outside firm to conduct a review of the Louisville Metro Police Department.
Last week, the City Council passed a no-confidence vote against the mayor over his handling of Taylor's shooting and the unrest that followed. They offered him a list of proposed reforms but stopped short of calling for his resignation.
In a video responding to the vote, Fischer said several of the suggested police reforms are underway but noted "the work needed goes beyond public safety."
And on Sept. 15, the city of Louisville announced a $12 million settlement — the largest in its history — in a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Taylor's family.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jeff Dean/AFP via Getty Images Jeff Dean/AFP via Getty Images
The settlement includes a host of reforms to be adopted by police. These include establishing a housing and voucher program to encourage officers to live in lower-income city neighborhoods, and creating a clearer command structure when executing warrants at multiple locations, as was the case the night of Taylor's death.
Tamika Palmer, Taylor's mother, said in an NPR interview last week that she appreciated people of all races who have kept her daughter's case in the national spotlight.
When asked what steps she and her family would take if the investigation ended with no charges against the officers, Palmer responded: "I won't go away. I'll still fight."


npr--2020-09-24--Coronavirus Maps: How Severe Is Your State's Outbreak?

Coronavirus Maps : How Severe Is Your State 's Outbreak ?
More than 6.5 million people in the U.S. have been infected with the coronavirus and more than 200,000 have died .
Tens of thousands of new cases are reported daily nationwide .
In the graphics below , explore the trends in your state .
View the data via a heat map ( immediately below ) , curve charts , a table of state-by-state trends over four weeks , or a map of total cases and deaths .
The map above shows the risk of infection in each state based @ @ @ @ @ @ @ These color-coded risk levels were developed by a consortium of researchers and public health experts .
The group advises states in the red category to issue stay-home orders .
Orange states may need to consider stay-home orders , along with increased testing and contact tracing .
Yellow states need to keep up social distancing and mask usage , and both yellow and green states should continue testing and contact tracing .
To compare state outbreaks , the chart above graphs trend lines for average new daily cases and deaths against each state 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visualization highlights a state 's daily growth or decline relative to the overall size of its outbreak .
When both new and total case and death counts grow quickly , the curves bend upward .
As new cases and deaths slow , the curves level or bend down .
In New York , the curve rose sharply before reaching over 170,000 total cases in April .
Since then , new cases have fallen from about 10,000 per day in mid-April to under 800 per day in late September .
Explore the map above @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around the country for both new confirmed cases and reported deaths from COVID-19 .
New York was the original epicenter of the pandemic in the U.S. As of mid August , California , Florida and Texas have surpassed New York for total cases to date , though New York still has the highest death total .
Click here to see a global map of confirmed cases and deaths .
To show trends , the table below shows the change in average new cases per day in each state , week over week for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in shades of red have growing outbreaks ; those in shades of green , are declining .
The graphics on this page pull from data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University from several sources , including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ; the World Health Organization ; national , state and local government health departments ; 1point3acres ; and local media reports .
The JHU team automates its data uploads and regularly checks them for anomalies .
This may result in occasional data discrepancies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resolves anomalies and updates its feeds .
State-by-state recovery data are unavailable at this time .
There may be discrepancies between what you see here and what you see on your local health department 's website .
Figures shown do not include cases on cruise ships .
In early June , Michigan health authorities started including probable cases in its totals .
This resulted in a brief spike in the state 's daily numbers until the JHU team was able to reconcile the historical data .
On June 25 , New Jersey included @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , resulting in a spike in the state 's daily death numbers .
This story was originally published on March 16 , 2020 .
Elena Renken was a co-author on that version .
Sean McMinn contributed to and Carmel Wroth edited this story .

Tracking the coronavirus around the U.S.: See how your state is doing
Loading...
Note: This page was last updated on Feb. 1, 2023. It will no longer be updated. For current data on COVID cases and deaths, demographics, and hospitalizations, consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As of Feb. 1, there have been more than 101 million confirmed coronavirus infections in the U.S. and more than 1 million people have died of COVID-19. In the graphics below, explore the trends in your state.
Loading...
The above charts show average new cases per 100,000 people for each state over the last 12 months.
Note: Actual cases may be substantially higher, since many who test positive with at-home tests don't report their cases.
For additional data about COVID-19 in the U.S, including cases and deaths, demographics, and hospitalizations, consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
To show trends, the table below shows the change in average new cases per day in each state, week over week for the last 28 days. States marked in shades of red have growing outbreaks; those in shades of green, are declining.
Loading...
Methodology
The graphics on this page pull from data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University from several sources, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; the World Health Organization; national, state and local government health departments; 1point3acres; and local media reports.
The JHU team automates its data uploads and regularly checks them for anomalies. This may result in occasional data discrepancies on this page as the JHU team resolves anomalies and updates its feeds. There may be discrepancies between what you see here and what you see on your local health department's website. Figures shown do not include cases on cruise ships.
Fluctuations in the numbers may happen as health authorities review old cases, process testing backlogs or update their methodologies. The JHU team maintains a list of such changes.
This story was originally published on March 16, 2020. Elena Renken was a co-author on that version. Sean McMinn and Audrey Carlsen contributed to this story. Carmel Wroth edited this story.


npr--2020-09-24--Coronavirus World Map: Tracking The Spread Of The Outbreak

Coronavirus World Map : Tracking The Spread Of The Outbreak Since the new coronavirus was first reported in Wuhan , China , in December , the infectious respiratory disease COVID-19 has spread rapidly within China and to neighboring countries and beyond .
The first confirmed coronavirus cases outside China occurred on Jan. 20 , in Japan , Thailand and South Korea .
On Jan. 21 , the first case in the U.S. was identified in Washington state .
On Jan. 24 , the first two European cases were confirmed in France .
By Feb. 1 , eight European nations had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month later that count had risen to 24 countries with at least 2,200 cases , most of them in Italy .
On March 11 , Italy eclipsed 10,000 cases and the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a pandemic — the first since H1N1 in 2009 .
That 's also when China , the original epicenter , began seeing drops in daily counts of new cases .
March also saw exponential spread of the virus throughout the U.S. , with all 50 states reporting cases by March 17 .
This particular virus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the third strain of coronavirus known to frequently cause severe symptoms in humans .
The other two strains cause Middle East respiratory syndrome and severe acute respiratory syndrome .
Click here to see the state-by-state breakdown of cases in the United States .
This story was originally published on March 30 , 2020 .

Coronavirus world map: We've now passed the 600 million mark for infections
Editor's note: This page is no longer being updated. The last update was Sept. 5, 2022. For current data about COVID-19 cases and deaths around the world, Johns Hopkins University and Our World in Data are useful resources.
In late January 2020 only a few dozen COVID-19 infections had been identified outside of China. A year later, the world tallied its first 100 million cases. It took the globe just 7 more months to pass the 200 million mark— then another 5 months to hit 300 million, according to researchers at Johns Hopkins University. Now the virus has spread to every corner of the globe and has been blamed for more than 6 million deaths.
The United States, India and Brazil in that order have had the most COVID cases and the three nations collectively account for almost half of all recorded infections so far in the pandemic.
Explore the chart below to find a country-by-country breakdown of new and total cases since January 2020.
Loading...
Loading...
Explore how the number of coronavirus cases have shifted in different parts of the world over time. The first chart compares each continent to each other, while the next charts highlight the number of cases in select countries by region.
Loading...
Loading...
This story was originally published on March 30, 2020.


npr--2020-09-24--No Trick Or Treat: Americans Get Creative To Celebrate Halloween Safely

No Trick Or Treat : Americans Get Creative To Celebrate Halloween Safely Traditional door-to-door trick or treating should be avoided this Halloween , under new national guidelines .
But even with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 's latest advice , Americans are still rallying to safely bring the spooky season to life .
People are discovering new , creative ways to celebrate the occasion during the pandemic .
`` I think we 're all just looking for some type of normal in 2020 , and safely celebrating Halloween will make something this year feel right and in our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dutra , founder of a blog called 100 Percent That Mom .
Dutra says she 's been a little extravagant and will be going all out for the holiday .
`` We let my daughter pick out three different costumes just to make up for all the chaos this year , '' she says .
Dutra plans on having an intimate get-together with her family , who have been stuck at home together , and possibly going trick or treating .
She wo n't be passing out candy , but instead will leave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plastic bags six feet apart .
`` There 's usually a block of houses that does haunted houses , but that will not be done this year because of coronavirus , '' Dutra says .
Indeed , the CDC guidelines say indoor haunted houses are considered high risk and should be avoided .
Over 148 million U.S. adults intend to take part in Halloween-related activities this year , according to an annual survey by the National Retail Federation .
That 's down from the 172 million in the 2019 survey .
And those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this year dropped to 23 % from 29 % in 2019 .
While some parents are preparing safe trick-or-treating routes for their children , others are conflicted on whether they should let them go at all .
Lisa Rampton Halverson , a working mother of two from Utah , says Halloween is a huge thing in her neighborhood , but this year she 's uncertain how it will play out .
`` I 'm not so worried about kids walking around outside with masks on , but the question is handing out and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The CDC recommends lining up individually wrapped goody bags for families to grab and go at the end of the driveway or at the yard 's edge while maintaining a social distance .
Halverson says her daughter has had her Tauriel costume , from The Hobbit film series , figured out for months , and she does n't want to ruin her excitement .
`` Our county has a rising amount of cases .
I hope that our little corner is more protected , but I already know of cases among neighbors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She 's been comparing notes with other parents .
`` Some of the ideas I 've heard are : setting up a chute made of long cardboard tubes or plastic piping , then sending candy down the tubes , '' Halverson says .
`` Maybe having a small group of friends over for a scavenger hunt with candy in the backyard or possibly a clothesline in the yard with candy attached.
`` But even if she comes up with a fun , cute , safe idea Halverson is n't certain her neighbors would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ email list shows there are plenty of differing views of the pandemic , Halverson says .
`` So , do I expect my kids to trick or treat in disposable gloves ?
Do I make them wait 72 hours so any germs are likely gone from the wrappers ? ''
she says .
`` The carefree nature of the night seems shot just thinking about this . ''
Communities around the country have been struggling with their own guidelines for Halloween .
In Los Angeles , the county health department initially banned trick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was n't recommended .
The department did cancel all Halloween carnivals and haunted houses in the county .
In Chicago , Mayor Lori Lightfoot said she has n't decided whether to ban certain Halloween events .
`` It 's not safe for the children ; it 's not safe for the adults , '' she said at a news conference .
New York 's Greenwich Village Halloween Parade was canceled .
It usually has about 50,000 marchers and an even bigger crowd .
This Halloween season is not only causing shifts for families @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that sell all those costumes and candy .
Sellers have been optimistic about the upcoming season .
The National Retail Federation projects $ 8 billion in Halloween spending , down from about $ 8.8 billion last year because of the expected dip in participation in holiday activities .
But Steven Silverstein , president and CEO of Spirit Halloween , a seasonal Halloween retailer , said , `` we 're seeing encouraging initial results and are anticipating a Halloween on par with last year . ''
Retailers are putting out seasonal merchandise earlier than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consumer trends analyst at the Kearney Consumer Institute .
But it seems like consumers are more open to it this year .
`` It 's been a long , hot summer .
Everyone 's been cooped up in the house , so people are looking for something to celebrate , '' she says .
Those who make Halloween sweets are adjusting too .
Phil Stanley , global sales chief at Hershey , told CNN Business the company will cut back on Halloween packaging and focus more on candy that 's consumed in homes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preparing for more online candy sales this season and using more digital marketing .
During last year 's Halloween season candy sales totaled about $ 4.6 billion , according to the National Confectioners Association .
Chocolate and candy sales are already up 13 % compared to last year .
`` The CDC 's guidance reinforces that Halloween is happening and provides inspiration for creative and safe approaches to celebrating the holiday throughout the month of October , '' says John Downs , the confectioners association 's president and CEO .
Andy Mantis , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ projects sales similar to last year 's , since retailers are off to a good start .
Mantis expects an increase in sales of Halloween masks and even holiday-themed hand sanitizers .
`` The CDC guidance fits well with trends that we have already seen during COVID , such as significant growth of family and do-it-yourself craft projects , '' he says .
Halloween is one of busiest times of the year for the Party City chain .
In the past couple of weeks , customers shopping on the company 's website have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Costumes started to pick back up last week , but it is still lower than last year , '' says Julie Roehm , Party City 's chief marketing and experience officer .
There 's also been a shift in the types of costumes being sold this year .
There 's been a jump in everyday heroes costumes , for instance : nurses , doctors and firefighters , Roehm says .
`` With costumes , we usually get to lean on blockbuster films , but since we did n't really have any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turning to the people who helped during the pandemic every day , '' she says .
Another trend Party City has seen take off is `` ghosting . ''
A friend puts together a Halloween-themed goody bag , then drops it off at the front of the friend 's porch .
Like many others , Halverson , the Utah resident , is disappointed that this year 's holiday just wo n't be the same .
`` Halloween is a holiday that brings the neighborhood together .
I do n't agree with so-and-so 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ greet my kids with warmth and candy and tell them how fantastic their costumes are , '' she says .
`` Will we miss out on that small way to bond across lines that often divide us ?
That makes me sad . ''
Adedayo Akala is an intern on the NPR Business Desk .

No Trick Or Treat: Americans Get Creative To Celebrate Halloween Safely
Enlarge this image toggle caption Rebecca Nelson/Getty Images Rebecca Nelson/Getty Images
Traditional door-to-door trick or treating should be avoided this Halloween, under new national guidelines. But even with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's latest advice, Americans are still rallying to safely bring the spooky season to life. People are discovering new, creative ways to celebrate the occasion during the pandemic.
"I think we're all just looking for some type of normal in 2020, and safely celebrating Halloween will make something this year feel right and in our control," says Nevada resident Brittany Dutra, founder of a blog called 100 Percent That Mom.
Dutra says she has been a little extravagant and will be going all-out for the holiday. "We let my daughter pick out three different costumes just to make up for all the chaos this year," she says.
Dutra plans on having an intimate get-together with her family, who have been stuck at home together, and possibly going trick or treating. She won't be passing out candy, but instead will leave it out on the porch in clear plastic bags 6 feet apart.
"There's usually a block of houses that does haunted houses, but that will not be done this year because of coronavirus," Dutra says. Indeed, the CDC guidelines say indoor haunted houses are considered high risk and should be avoided.
Over 148 million U.S. adults intend to take part in Halloween-related activities this year, according to an annual survey by the National Retail Federation. That's down from the 172 million in the 2019 survey. And those planning to celebrate by trick or treating this year dropped to 23% from 29% in 2019.
While some parents are preparing safe trick-or-treating routes for their children, others are conflicted on whether they should let them go at all.
Lisa Rampton Halverson, a working mother of two from Utah, says Halloween is a huge thing in her neighborhood, but this year, she's uncertain how it will play out.
"I'm not so worried about kids walking around outside with masks on, but the question is handing out and collecting the candy," she says. The CDC recommends lining up individually wrapped goody bags for families to grab and go at the end of the driveway or at the yard's edge while maintaining a social distance.
Halverson says her daughter has had her Tauriel costume, from The Hobbit film series, figured out for months, and she doesn't want to ruin her excitement. "Our county has a rising amount of cases. I hope that our little corner is more protected, but I already know of cases among neighbors and friends," Halverson says.
She has been comparing notes with other parents. "Some of the ideas I've heard are: setting up a chute made of long cardboard tubes or plastic piping, then sending candy down the tubes," Halverson says. "Maybe having a small group of friends over for a scavenger hunt with candy in the backyard or possibly a clothesline in the yard with candy attached. "
But even if she comes up with a fun, cute, safe idea, Halverson isn't certain her neighbors would do the same. A neighborhood moms email list shows there are plenty of differing views of the pandemic, Halverson says.
"So, do I expect my kids to trick or treat in disposable gloves? Do I make them wait 72 hours so any germs are likely gone from the wrappers?" she says. "The carefree nature of the night seems shot just thinking about this."
Communities across the country have been struggling with their own guidelines for Halloween.
In Los Angeles, the county health department initially banned trick or treating, but then said it wasn't recommended. The department did cancel all Halloween carnivals and haunted houses in the county.
In Chicago, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said she hasn't decided whether to ban certain Halloween events. "It's not safe for the children; it's not safe for the adults," she said at a news conference.
New York's Greenwich Village Halloween Parade was canceled. It usually has about 50,000 marchers and an even bigger crowd.
This Halloween season is causing shifts not only for families and children, but also for businesses that sell all those costumes and candy.
Sellers have been optimistic about the upcoming season. The National Retail Federation projects $8 billion in Halloween spending, down from about $8.8 billion last year because of the expected dip in participation in holiday activities.
But Steven Silverstein, president and CEO of Spirit Halloween, a seasonal Halloween retailer, said, "We're seeing encouraging initial results and are anticipating a Halloween on par with last year."
Retailers are putting out seasonal merchandise earlier than normal, says Katie Thomas, a consumer trends analyst at the Kearney Consumer Institute. But it seems like consumers are more open to it this year. "It's been a long, hot summer. Everyone's been cooped up in the house, so people are looking for something to celebrate," she says.
Those who make Halloween sweets are adjusting too.
Phil Stanley, global sales chief at Hershey, told CNN Business the company will cut back on Halloween packaging and focus more on candy that's consumed in homes rather than passed out. Mars is preparing for more online candy sales this season and using more digital marketing. During last year's Halloween season, candy sales totaled about $4.6 billion, according to the National Confectioners Association. Chocolate and candy sales are already up 13% compared with last year.
"The CDC's guidance reinforces that Halloween is happening and provides inspiration for creative and safe approaches to celebrating the holiday throughout the month of October," says John Downs, the confectioners association's president and CEO.
Andy Mantis, head of data insights at 1010data, projects sales similar to last year's, since retailers are off to a good start. Mantis expects an increase in sales of Halloween masks and even holiday-themed hand sanitizers.
"The CDC guidance fits well with trends that we have already seen during COVID, such as significant growth of family and do-it-yourself craft projects," he says.
Halloween is one of busiest times of the year for the Party City chain. In the past couple of weeks, customers shopping on the company's website have been more interested in decorations than costumes. "Costumes started to pick back up last week, but it is still lower than last year," says Julie Roehm, Party City's chief marketing and experience officer.
There's also been a shift in the types of costumes being sold this year.
There's been a jump in everyday heroes costumes, for instance: nurses, doctors and firefighters, Roehm says. "With costumes, we usually get to lean on blockbuster films, but since we didn't really have any this year, I think people are turning to the people who helped during the pandemic every day," she says.
Another trend Party City has seen take off is "ghosting." A friend puts together a Halloween-themed goody bag, then drops it off at the front of the friend's porch.
Like many others, Halverson, the Utah resident, is disappointed that this year's holiday just won't be the same.
"Halloween is a holiday that brings the neighborhood together. I don't agree with so-and-so's politics, but on Halloween night they greet my kids with warmth and candy and tell them how fantastic their costumes are," she says. "Will we miss out on that small way to bond across lines that often divide us? That makes me sad."
Adedayo Akala is an intern on the NPR Business Desk.


npr--2020-09-24--School Attendance In The COVID Era: What Counts As 'Present'?

School Attendance In The COVID Era : What Counts As 'Present ' ?
From shiny red pencils reading `` My Attendance Rocks ! ''
to countless plaques and ribbons and trophies and certificates and gold stars : For as long as anyone can remember , taking attendance — and rewarding kids for simply showing up — is a time-honored school ritual .
For good reason : Just being there , day in , day out , happens to be one of the most important factors that determines a child 's success in school .
And average daily head count forms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the federal , state and local level .
Yet now , like so many other aspects of education , that simple measure — `` here '' or `` absent '' — is not so simple anymore .
States are having to update their attendance policies to cover the realities of virtual learning .
And where school is being held in-person , strict coronavirus health protocols mean students must now stay home at the slightest sign of illness , or to quarantine in case of a potential exposure .
So the emerging questions for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the best way to measure whether students are participating in learning ?
And who will be held responsible for a student who does n't participate ?
The student ?
Their caregiver ?
The school ?
It all adds up to `` a paradigm shift , '' says Hedy Chang , who directs Attendance Works , a national and state level initiative that treats attendance as a key lever to student success .
It was Chang 's research in the mid-2000s that helped lay the groundwork for the current policy focus on chronic absenteeism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 % of school days in a year was an `` early warning signal '' for students earning low grades and eventually dropping out , and that it affected low-income students disproportionately .
Responding in part to this research , the federal Every Student Succeeds Act , signed into law in 2015 , raised the stakes on attendance .
It required states to add at least one nonacademic measure of success into their state accountability systems .
Thirty-six states and Washington , D.C. , chose chronic absenteeism .
Not just student success , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in part by this metric : How many kids missed more than 10 percent of days in a school year .
The carrot and the stick Mariajose Romero , a Pace University sociologist who has researched attendance for decades , calls it `` a piece of information that has tremendous political currency , '' which only intensified when it became a measure of school accountability .
Not only students , but also schools , succeed or fail based on the students who show up every day .
And so , `` it 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ School systems responded to the new pressure of the federal law by trying to improve attendance using both the carrot and the stick .
The positive side : celebrity public awareness campaigns , like this partnership , called `` Stay in the Game ! ''
which features the Cleveland Browns .
Plus , all those shiny red pencils .
The negative side included legal action .
U.S .
Senator Kamala Harris , now the Democratic vice presidential candidate , has been criticized for an anti-truancy program she introduced as San Francisco district attorney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children with jail .
Another weapon wielded against parents : charges of `` educational neglect . ''
In New York City this spring , some school staff reportedly called child welfare officers when students did n't sign in for online learning — an action that could potentially result in children being removed from their families .
Chang says schools need to shift away from punitive means , especially now .
She counsels `` a positive , problem-solving approach . ''
A positive approach is exactly what Misha Karigaca says his California district , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
His title — coordinator of attendance & discipline — suggests that attendance has historically come under the category of a student behavior to be rewarded or punished .
These days , it 's different .
There 's a `` heightened awareness to our work , '' Karigaca says .
Educators , he explains , are `` understanding the fragility of students having a high chance of missing out on learning opportunities . ''
He points to `` Oakland Undivided , '' a public-private partnership that has raised $ 13 million to provide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oakland families .
Karigaca says it 's part of a recognition that keeping kids connected to school is `` a community effort ... the whole city is behind it . ''
One tricky matter that schools have to decide in this era is how exactly they 're going to credit `` attendance '' when online learning does n't always mean showing up on a video conference .
Districts such as Los Angeles Unified have been criticized for setting the bar too low by decreeing that any interaction — even a single text between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as `` participation '' for a given day .
Paolo DeMaria , the superintendent of public instruction for the state of Ohio , says he 's trying to shift districts toward recognizing whether students are making academic progress .
`` If they 're participating and engaging , that counts .
And that 's important , '' he says .
The flexibility provided by remote instruction is a good thing , he says .
He adds that he 's had many conversations with parents of teenagers who do n't start schoolwork until noon .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ says , if they 're making progress in their studies : '' I think the long-term goal is to actually be creative and understanding , '' DeMaria explains .
`` We 're so used to testing and just taking attendance as kind of anchors of measurement .
And we need to take our thinking to the next level . ''
Of course , this raises the question of who is extended this kind of `` creative '' leniency .
Romero , at Pace University , worries that high-income schools may be more likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ excused absences for , say , a mid-year vacation .
Meanwhile , she adds , `` sometimes I 'm concerned that the issue of chronic absence is used to demonise families in need . ''
With funding hanging in the balance , in a year when schools already face deep cost-cutting and huge additional burdens , another big question is whether too-loose attendance policies can let schools off the hook by misrepresenting how many students they are actually serving , and how well .
The school leaders interviewed for this story talked a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a way to remove barriers to online learning , or to reassure parents of safety measures for in-person learning .
DeMaria , in Ohio , says that despite all the challenges , promoting attendance these days , whether in-person or hybrid , means `` making sure you 've got communication channels that can reach every family in every state . ''
Sometimes , though , that communication includes reminding parents of compulsory attendance laws .
In Mississippi , where some schools are opening in-person and others are online , Carey Wright , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just put out a notice reminding parents , `` if you want to keep your child at home and not in school , you 've got to give us some kind of home schooling program . ''
Chang would like to see family communication be a big part of part of a `` positive , problem-solving approach . ''
Getting devices and Internet connections into homes is a basic need that has n't yet been met , it 's estimated , for millions of students .
Beyond that , schools need to focus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , she says .
And schools should take advantage of the large amounts of data provided by learning management software systems : `` Notice each time kids show up and notice when they do n't show up and look for patterns on whether there could be particular types of learning opportunities that they miss . ''
But what may be most important , Chang says , is a new type of data collection : Call it the friends list .
The key question : `` Do kids and families feel there is someone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a challenge ? ''

School Attendance In The COVID Era: What Counts As 'Present'?
Enlarge this image Charlotte Fu for NPR Charlotte Fu for NPR
From shiny red pencils reading "My Attendance Rocks!" to countless plaques and ribbons and trophies and certificates and gold stars: For as long as anyone can remember, taking attendance — and rewarding kids for simply showing up — is a time-honored school ritual.
For good reason: Just being there, day in, day out, happens to be one of the most important factors that determines a child's success in school. And average daily head count forms the basis of school funding decisions at the federal, state and local level.
Yet now, like so many other aspects of education, that simple measure — "here" or "absent" — is not so simple anymore. States are having to update their attendance policies to cover the realities of virtual learning. And where school is being held in-person, strict coronavirus health protocols mean students must now stay home at the slightest sign of illness, or to quarantine in case of a potential exposure.
So the emerging questions for educators and parents are: What is the best way to measure whether students are participating in learning? And who will be held responsible for a student who doesn't participate? The student? Their caregiver? The school?
It all adds up to "a paradigm shift," says Hedy Chang,who directs Attendance Works, a national and state level initiative that treats attendance as a key lever to student success. It was Chang's research in the mid-2000s that helped lay the groundwork for the current policy focus on chronic absenteeism. She found that missing more than 10% of school days in a year was an "early warning signal" for students earning low grades and eventually dropping out, and that it affected low-income students disproportionately.
Responding in part to this research, the federal Every Student Succeeds Act, signed into law in 2015, raised the stakes on attendance. It required states to add at least one nonacademic measure of success into their state accountability systems. Thirty-six states and Washington, D.C., chose chronic absenteeism. Not just student success, but school success, would be defined in part by this metric: How many kids missed more than 10 percent of days in a school year.
The carrot and the stick
Mariajose Romero, a Pace University sociologist who has researched attendance for decades, calls it "a piece of information that has tremendous political currency," which only intensified when it became a measure of school accountability. Not only students, but also schools, succeed or fail based on the students who show up every day. And so, "it's important to count people properly."
School systems responded to the new pressure of the federal law by trying to improve attendance using both the carrot and the stick. The positive side: celebrity public awareness campaigns, like this partnership, called "Stay in the Game!" which features the Cleveland Browns. Plus, all those shiny red pencils.
The negative side included legal action. U.S. Senator Kamala Harris, now the Democratic vice presidential candidate, has been criticized for an anti-truancy program she introduced as San Francisco district attorney that threatened some parents of chronically absent children with jail. Another weapon wielded against parents: charges of "educational neglect." In New York City this spring, some school staff reportedly called child welfare officers when students didn't sign in for online learning — an action that could potentially result in children being removed from their families.
Chang says schools need to shift away from punitive means, especially now. She counsels "a positive, problem-solving approach."
A positive approach is exactly what Misha Karigaca says his California district, Oakland Unified, is taking these days. His title — coordinator of attendance & discipline — suggests that attendance has historically come under the category of a student behavior to be rewarded or punished.
These days, it's different. There's a "heightened awareness to our work," Karigaca says. Educators, he explains, are "understanding the fragility of students having a high chance of missing out on learning opportunities."
He points to "Oakland Undivided," a public-private partnership that has raised $13 million to provide 25,000 laptops and Internet hot spots to Oakland families. Karigaca says it's part of a recognition that keeping kids connected to school is "a community effort ... the whole city is behind it."
Does answering a text message "count"?
One tricky matter that schools have to decide in this era is how exactly they're going to credit "attendance" when online learning doesn't always mean showing up on a video conference. Districts such as Los Angeles Unified have been criticized for setting the bar too low by decreeing that any interaction — even a single text between a parent and a teacher — counts as "participation" for a given day.
Paolo DeMaria, the superintendent of public instruction for the state of Ohio, says he's trying to shift districts toward recognizing whether students are making academic progress. "If they're participating and engaging, that counts. And that's important," he says. The flexibility provided by remote instruction is a good thing, he says.
He adds that he's had many conversations with parents of teenagers who don't start schoolwork until noon. And that's perfectly fine, he says, if they're making progress in their studies:
"I think the long-term goal is to actually be creative and understanding," DeMaria explains. "We're so used to testing and just taking attendance as kind of anchors of measurement. And we need to take our thinking to the next level."
Of course, this raises the question of who is extended this kind of "creative" leniency. Romero, at Pace University, worries that high-income schools may be more likely than those in poor neighborhoods to provide excused absences for, say, a mid-year vacation. Meanwhile, she adds, "sometimes I'm concerned that the issue of chronic absence is used to demonise families in need."
With funding hanging in the balance, in a year when schools already face deep cost-cutting and huge additional burdens, another big question is whether too-loose attendance policies can let schools off the hook by misrepresenting how many students they are actually serving, and how well.
The school leaders interviewed for this story talked a lot about keeping lines of communication open as a way to remove barriers to online learning, or to reassure parents of safety measures for in-person learning.
DeMaria, in Ohio, says that despite all the challenges, promoting attendance these days, whether in-person or hybrid, means "making sure you've got communication channels that can reach every family in every state."
Sometimes, though, that communication includes reminding parents of compulsory attendance laws. In Mississippi, where some schools are opening in-person and others are online, Carey Wright, the state Superintendent of Education, has just put out a notice reminding parents, "if you want to keep your child at home and not in school, you've got to give us some kind of home schooling program."
Chang would like to see family communication be a big part of part of a "positive, problem-solving approach." Getting devices and Internet connections into homes is a basic need that hasn't yet been met, it's estimated, for millions of students.
Beyond that, schools need to focus on updating contact information for all students, she says. And schools should take advantage of the large amounts of data provided by learning management software systems: "Notice each time kids show up and notice when they don't show up and look for patterns on whether there could be particular types of learning opportunities that they miss."
But what may be most important, Chang says, is a new type of data collection: Call it the friends list. The key question: "Do kids and families feel there is someone that they can talk to if they have a challenge?"