npr--2020-08-06--Michelle Obama Says She's Dealing With 'Low-Grade Depression' During Lockdown

Michelle Obama Says She 's Dealing With 'Low-Grade Depression ' During Lockdown Michelle Obama said that she 's dealing with `` some form of low-grade depression '' due to the coronavirus lockdown , racial strife in the U.S. , and the Trump administration .
In the second episode of her new podcast , the former first lady spoke with her friend Michele Norris , the former longtime host of NPR 's All Things Considered .
Obama described trouble sleeping and periods throughout the lockdown in which she has felt down .
`` Spiritually , these are not ... fulfilling times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know that I am dealing with some form of low-grade depression , '' Obama continued .
`` Not just because of the quarantine , but because of the racial strife , and just seeing this administration , watching the hypocrisy of it , day in and day out , is dispiriting . ''
She 's not the only one feeling depressed right now .
More than 1 in 3 Americans reported symptoms of anxiety or depression in a recent pulse survey by the U.S. Census Bureau .
A year ago , that figure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that she has n't been moving around as much during this time , so she 's not knock-out tired at the end of the day , and she goes to bed later .
`` And I 'm waking up in the middle of the night , cause I 'm worrying about something , or there 's a heaviness . ''
So how is she coping with her feelings of depression ?
In part , by being easier on herself .
`` I 've gone through those emotional highs and lows that I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't feel yourself , '' she said .
`` And sometimes I 've , there 've been a week or so where I had to surrender to that , and not be so hard on myself .
And say , you know what , you 're just not feeling that treadmill right now . ''
But she 's working out , getting outside and sticking to a routine .
For the Obama household that routine involves dinner together , thousand-piece puzzles and endless games of cards .
`` Barack has taught the girls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vicious competition , '' she said , adding that such moments would n't have happened in normal times .
`` They would n't have sat down , but for this quarantine , to learn how to play a card game with their dad . ''
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention agrees that the pandemic can indeed be stressful for many people , and it acknowledges that necessary public health actions , such as social distancing , can make people feel isolated , lonely and can increase stress and anxiety .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ manage stress during these difficult times .
Among the CDC 's recommendations : • Get accurate information about what to do if you 're sick with COVID-19 .
• Take a break from the news .
• Get exercise , try to eat healthy meals , try to get enough sleep and avoid excessive alcohol or drug use .
• Connect with others and talk with people you trust about how you 're feeling .
• Make time to do activities you enjoy and let yourself unwind .
• Learn where to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or through telehealth services .
If you need help , seek it out .
There 's a national helpline that offers 24/7 treatment referral and information for individuals and families facing mental or substance use disorders : 800-662-HELP ( 4357 ) .

Michelle Obama Says She's Dealing With 'Low-Grade Depression' During Lockdown
Enlarge this image toggle caption Vincent Thian/AP Vincent Thian/AP
Michelle Obama said that she's dealing with "some form of low-grade depression" due to the coronavirus lockdown, racial strife in the U.S., and the Trump administration.
In the second episode of her new podcast, the former first lady spoke with her friend Michele Norris, the former longtime host of NPR's All Things Considered.
Obama described trouble sleeping and periods throughout the lockdown in which she has felt down. "Spiritually, these are not ... fulfilling times," she said.
"I know that I am dealing with some form of low-grade depression," Obama continued. "Not just because of the quarantine, but because of the racial strife, and just seeing this administration, watching the hypocrisy of it, day in and day out, is dispiriting."
She's not the only one feeling depressed right now.
More than 1 in 3 Americans reported symptoms of anxiety or depression in a recent pulse survey by the U.S. Census Bureau. A year ago, that figure was 1 in 10.
Obama said that she hasn't been moving around as much during this time, so she's not knock-out tired at the end of the day, and she goes to bed later. "And I'm waking up in the middle of the night, cause I'm worrying about something, or there's a heaviness."
So how is she coping with her feelings of depression?
In part, by being easier on herself. "I've gone through those emotional highs and lows that I think everybody feels, where you just don't feel yourself," she said. "And sometimes I've, there've been a week or so where I had to surrender to that, and not be so hard on myself. And say, you know what, you're just not feeling that treadmill right now."
But she's working out, getting outside and sticking to a routine. For the Obama household that routine involves dinner together, thousand-piece puzzles and endless games of cards.
"Barack has taught the girls Spades, and now there's this vicious competition," she said, adding that such moments wouldn't have happened in normal times. "They wouldn't have sat down, but for this quarantine, to learn how to play a card game with their dad."
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention agrees that the pandemic can indeed be stressful for many people, and it acknowledges that necessary public health actions, such as social distancing, can make people feel isolated, lonely and can increase stress and anxiety.
But there are things you can do to manage stress during these difficult times. Among the CDC's recommendations:
Get accurate information about what to do if you're sick with COVID-19.
Take a break from the news.
Get exercise, try to eat healthy meals, try to get enough sleep and avoid excessive alcohol or drug use.
Connect with others and talk with people you trust about how you're feeling.
Make time to do activities you enjoy and let yourself unwind.
Learn where to get treatment or counseling, either in person or through telehealth services.
If you need help, seek it out. There's a national helpline that offers 24/7 treatment referral and information for individuals and families facing mental or substance use disorders: 800-662-HELP (4357).
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 800-273-TALK (8255).


npr--2020-08-06--NOAA Now Predicts Up To 25 Named Storms In The Atlantic Hurricane Season

NOAA Now Predicts Up To 25 Named Storms In The Atlantic Hurricane Season The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season is off to a record start – and it will only get worse as the season 's traditional peak begins next week and will run through October .
The latest estimates call for nearly twice the normal number of named storms this year .
Even before Aug. 1 , nine named storms had already formed – `` the most ever recorded since the satellite era began in 1966 , '' according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration .
The 2020 season @ @ @ @ @ @ @ named storms , said Gerry Bell , lead seasonal hurricane forecaster at NOAA 's Climate Prediction Center .
That figure includes the nine storms that have already been named .
`` We 've never forecast up to 25 storms , '' Bell said in a telephone briefing about the new forecast .
`` So this is the first time . ''
The previous high , Bell added , was the maximum 21 storms that were predicted in 2005 — which became a record-setting hurricane season in the United States .
The current pace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ By early August , only two named storms have usually formed , and the ninth storm , such as the recent Hurricane Isaias , does n't usually arrive before October .
To become a named storm , a system must have maximum sustained winds of 39 mph or greater .
NOAA believes anywhere from seven to 11 of the named storms will become hurricanes ( with winds of at least 74 mph ) .
The forecasters predict that three to six storms will be major hurricanes , with winds of 111 mph or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2020 could force meteorologists to resort to using the Greek alphabet to name cyclones if the list of 21 storm names selected by the World Meteorological Organization is exhausted before the season ends .
As he announced the increased forecast , Bell added that the predictions do not necessarily mean that all of the storms will make landfall , noting that other weather patterns will affect the number of hurricanes that come ashore .
But Bell and National Weather Service Director Louis Uccellini said people on or near the coasts should be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accordingly .
`` This season is shaping up to be one of the more active seasons on record , '' Uccellini said .
There is now an 85 % chance of 2020 being an `` above-normal '' season , Uccellini said , noting that NOAA 's initial hurricane outlook in May had found only a 60 % chance of an above-normal season .
Uccellini added , `` There is also a much higher potential for this season to be classified as an extremely active season . ''
The boost in hurricane formation is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much warmer than usual as well as prevalent wind conditions , weather officials said .
The Colorado State University weather and climate department , which released its own revised forecast on Wednesday , is also predicting `` an extremely active 2020 Atlantic hurricane season , '' forecasting 24 named storms .
From 1981 to 2010 , there have been an average of 12.1 named storms in the Atlantic season , according to Colorado State .
The only time Greek letters had to be used for storm names was in 2005 — a record-breaking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when major storms such as Katrina , Rita , Dennis and Wilma caused chaos .
Climate change has been tied to the more common occurrence of major hurricanes globally as well as the rising number of hurricanes in the Atlantic .
In addition to strong winds , many of the most dangerous storms in recent years have brought tremendous amounts of rain – creating new threats to people and infrastructure far inland from the coast .
The 2005 season left thousands of people dead and caused billions of dollars in damages .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cited warm water in the Atlantic and low wind shear as the driving causes for that busy season .
Bell said that while the two years are similar , conditions were even more conducive for hurricanes in 2005 .
`` We 're not expecting them to be that favorable '' in 2020 , Bell said .
`` We 've seen more conducive conditions '' in other years , he added .
The last hurricane of the 2005 season was Hurricane Epsilon , which formed far out in the Atlantic in late November .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tropical Storm Zeta , which formed on Dec. 30 .
The remaining storm names for the 2020 season are :

NOAA Now Predicts Up To 25 Named Storms In The Atlantic Hurricane Season
Enlarge this image toggle caption NOAA/Getty Images NOAA/Getty Images
The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season is off to a record start – and it will only get worse as the season's traditional peak begins next week and will run through October. The latest estimates call for nearly twice the normal number of named storms this year.
Even before Aug. 1, nine named storms had already formed – "the most ever recorded since the satellite era began in 1966," according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The 2020 season will likely bring from 19 to 25 named storms, said Gerry Bell, lead seasonal hurricane forecaster at NOAA's Climate Prediction Center. That figure includes the nine storms that have already been named.
"We've never forecast up to 25 storms," Bell said in a telephone briefing about the new forecast. "So this is the first time."
The previous high, Bell added, was the maximum 21 storms that were predicted in 2005 — which became a record-setting hurricane season in the United States.
The current pace is far ahead of historic norms: By early August, only two named storms have usually formed, and the ninth storm, such as the recent Hurricane Isaias, doesn't usually arrive before October.
To become a named storm, a system must have maximum sustained winds of 39 mph or greater.
NOAA believes anywhere from seven to 11 of the named storms will become hurricanes (with winds of at least 74 mph). The forecasters predict that three to six storms will be major hurricanes, with winds of 111 mph or stronger.
The expected spate of storms in 2020 could force meteorologists to resort to using the Greek alphabet to name cyclones if the list of 21 storm names selected by the World Meteorological Organization is exhausted before the season ends.
As he announced the increased forecast, Bell added that the predictions do not necessarily mean that all of the storms will make landfall, noting that other weather patterns will affect the number of hurricanes that come ashore. But Bell and National Weather Service Director Louis Uccellini said people on or near the coasts should be mindful of the increased risk and prepare accordingly.
"This season is shaping up to be one of the more active seasons on record," Uccellini said.
There is now an 85% chance of 2020 being an "above-normal" season, Uccellini said, noting that NOAA's initial hurricane outlook in May had found only a 60% chance of an above-normal season.
Uccellini added, "There is also a much higher potential for this season to be classified as an extremely active season."
The boost in hurricane formation is driven by sea surface temperatures that are much warmer than usual as well as prevalent wind conditions, weather officials said.
The Colorado State University weather and climate department, which released its own revised forecast on Wednesday, is also predicting "an extremely active 2020 Atlantic hurricane season," forecasting 24 named storms.
From 1981 to 2010, there have been an average of 12.1 named storms in the Atlantic season, according to Colorado State.
The only time Greek letters had to be used for storm names was in 2005 — a record-breaking year for communities along the Atlantic Ocean when major storms such as Katrina, Rita, Dennis and Wilma caused chaos.
Climate change has been tied to the more common occurrence of major hurricanes globally as well as the rising number of hurricanes in the Atlantic. In addition to strong winds, many of the most dangerous storms in recent years have brought tremendous amounts of rain – creating new threats to people and infrastructure far inland from the coast.
The 2005 season left thousands of people dead and caused billions of dollars in damages. As is the case this year, meteorologists cited warm water in the Atlantic and low wind shear as the driving causes for that busy season. Bell said that while the two years are similar, conditions were even more conducive for hurricanes in 2005.
"We're not expecting them to be that favorable" in 2020, Bell said. "We've seen more conducive conditions" in other years, he added.
The last hurricane of the 2005 season was Hurricane Epsilon, which formed far out in the Atlantic in late November. It was followed a month later by Tropical Storm Zeta, which formed on Dec. 30.
The remaining storm names for the 2020 season are:
Josephine
Kyle
Laura
Marco
Nana
Omar
Paulette
Rene
Sally
Teddy
Vicky
Wilfred


npr--2020-08-06--Ending 'Asylum As We Know It': Using Pandemic To Expel Migrants, Children At Border

Ending 'Asylum As We Know It ' : Using Pandemic To Expel Migrants , Children At Border When a Salvadoran woman grabbed her 4-year-old daughter and fled their home country in February , the coronavirus was n't yet a global pandemic .
By the time they reached the U.S.-Mexico border a month later , that had changed .
She crossed the Rio Grande , planning to ask for asylum .
But Border Patrol agents took her and her daughter right back to Mexico , despite her pleas .
`` They told me they did n't care , '' the woman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to use her name , out of fear for her safety .
`` They did n't care what happened to my life .
That I had to go — whether to Mexico , to El Salvador , to wherever I wanted , but I was n't getting into the U.S. '' Since March , immigration officials have turned away tens of thousands of migrants like this woman and her daughter .
They carried out more than 105,000 rapid expulsions through the end of July , under a public health order that has closed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic , according to data released Thursday .
Those expulsions included families and unaccompanied children .
Immigrant advocates say it 's the culmination of a three-year push to end asylum protections for most migrants from Central America .
They say most migrants are turned away with no access to due process , often without any explanation .
`` The administration believes they found the silver bullet with the public health laws where they can just simply bypass the entire asylum system , '' said Lee Gelernt , the deputy director of the American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Project , which has clashed frequently with the Trump administration in court .
While the country 's attention has been focused on the coronavirus , the Trump administration has also proposed sweeping new regulations that would permanently limit asylum protections for migrants arriving at the southern border .
The proposed rules would restrict who falls into various categories — asylum protects people who face persecution for their race , religion , nationality , political opinion or membership in a social group — and make it easier for immigration judges to reject asylum requests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has complained for years that these migrants are trying to escape from poverty-stricken countries in Central America and are using fake or exaggerated claims to game an overly generous U.S. asylum system .
President Trump has repeatedly called asylum a `` scam . ''
At an event with Border Patrol agents in El Centro , Calif. , last year , he said : `` Our system is full .
We 're not taking them anymore , OK ?
Ca n't do it . ''
U.S. asylum law traces its roots to World War @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asylum-seekers arriving at the southern border are fundamentally different from the refugees fleeing persecution during and after the war .
And the administration has worked for years to chip away at asylum protections .
Now it has effectively closed the border to asylum-seekers .
Just as the pandemic was taking off in March , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an order that closed the border to migrants and other travelers without valid travel documents , citing `` the danger to the public health '' posed by holding such travelers in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The same day , the Department of Homeland Security closed the border to all `` non-essential '' travelers — including migrants coming to seek asylum .
Immigration lawyers say what 's happening to those migrants at the border is unprecedented .
`` They have been basically pushed away from the United States with no process whatsoever , '' said Tania Guerrero , an immigration lawyer with the Catholic Legal Immigration Network who is based in Ciudad Juárez , Mexico .
`` The first question to always answer is , what happened to me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have no idea what happened .
Everyone explains it to be extremely fast and that they 're not able to express their fears . ''
That 's a big deal because it means they do n't have an opportunity to seek asylum .
In the past , migrants were able to make their case to asylum officers .
If they were found to have a `` credible fear '' of persecution in their home country , they would have been allowed to make their case in U.S. immigration court .
Now immigrant advocates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ credible fear interviews , the first step in the process .
A spokesman with Customs and Border Protection told NPR that 's handled on a case-by-case basis but declined to explain how it determines who gets to the interview stage while the border is closed because of the pandemic .
The Salvadoran woman who arrived at the border in late March said she never got a chance to ask for asylum or an interview .
She said she left El Salvador with her daughter to escape an abusive ex-partner , the girl 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her .
That was in late February .
When the woman and her daughter reached Texas , she said Border Patrol agents quickly returned them to the international bridge between El Paso , Texas , and Ciudad Juárez .
She said officials did n't explain anything to her ; they just told her to leave .
`` So I started to cry and left the bridge , '' she said .
`` Some Mexican officials asked what was going on .
...
I told them I did n't have anywhere to go .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
The woman and her daughter wound up at a shelter run by the Mexican government where other asylum-seekers have been waiting for their U.S. court dates under another administration program known as the Migrant Protection Protocols , or Remain in Mexico .
Another asylum-seeker , from Guatemala , wound up at the same shelter in Ciudad Juárez , along with her two young daughters .
She also asked us not to use her name out of concern for her safety .
The shelter has been on lockdown since March — but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A dozen migrants tested positive in an outbreak .
The Guatemalan woman and her daughters had crossed the border between El Paso and Ciudad Juárez in early April when they encountered immigration officials .
It was around 3 a.m. when officials dropped her on the international bridge .
`` They grabbed us and told us that they were gon na take us back to Mexico , '' she recalled in Spanish .
`` They said that they were n't letting anyone into the U.S. and we did n't have any other option @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the southern border has broad bipartisan support from Americans who desperately want to stop the spread of COVID-19 , according to an NPR/Ipsos poll released this week .
But physicians and public health experts are skeptical .
They point out that commerce continues , with truckers , students and others still crossing the border every day — and that those people are just as likely to spread the coronavirus as migrants .
Dozens of public health experts at hospitals and medical schools sent an open letter to the CDC this year , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's public health laws should not be used as a pretext for overriding humanitarian laws and treaties that provide life-saving protections to refugees seeking asylum and unaccompanied children . ''
Still , the administration is standing behind the policy .
The CDC has extended its public health order .
And the Border Patrol says the policy is working in this pandemic .
`` It is a good tool that the U.S. government is using to mitigate the spread , '' said Border Patrol agent Rafael Garza in an interview with Texas Public Radio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health experts .
`` Whether it 's six experts or six Border Patrol agents , I mean , who you gon na trust ? ''
Garza asked .
Since that interview , confirmed cases of the coronavirus have skyrocketed in Texas — especially in the Rio Grande Valley .
Now the Trump administration is trying to make permanent changes to the asylum system .
Last month , the Justice Department and the Department of Homeland Security proposed a rule that would disqualify migrants from asylum if officials determined they could spread an infectious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , public health experts said the rule would scapegoat asylum-seekers by labeling them as national security threats .
`` Rules would end asylum as we know it '' In June , the departments announced other sweeping regulations that would make deep changes to the way asylum claims are reviewed .
That has prompted widespread concern — even among government officials who are the first to interview asylum-seekers to determine if their claims are credible .
`` These rules would end asylum as we know it , '' said Michael Knowles , president of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1924 in the Washington , D.C. , area and a special representative for the union , which includes hundreds of asylum officers nationwide .
U.S. law requires a careful case-by-case assessment of each asylum claim , Knowles says .
If an asylum-seeker is determined to have a well-founded fear of persecution , the person ca n't be returned to a country where the individual 's life or freedom would be in jeopardy .
`` These rules would stand all of that on its head , '' Knowles said .
`` The impact would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of thousands of people who are seeking the protection of the U.S. '' A Justice Department news release said the 161-page rule would allow authorities to `` more effectively separate baseless claims from meritorious ones '' and would clarify when an application is `` frivolous . ''
Once the final rules are announced , immigrant advocates say , they plan to sue to block them , as they have challenged many of the Trump administration 's previous efforts to limit asylum .
For now , those lawyers are also focused on trying to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They 're especially concerned about unaccompanied children who are being turned away .
In normal times , children who cross the border alone would get special consideration under the law .
They 're supposed to be handed over quickly to the Department of Health and Human Services , which operates a system of shelters where the children stay until they 're placed with relatives or a sponsor .
But immigrant advocates say that 's not happening .
Instead , immigration officials have been putting up the children in hotels near the border @ @ @ @ @ @ @ planes back to their home countries .
The administration has built a `` shadow immigration system , '' said the ACLU 's Gelernt , `` that bypasses all of the protections Congress has painstakingly enacted for asylum-seekers and children over the past 40 years . ''
The ACLU and immigrant advocates in Texas have tried to challenge this practice in court but have found themselves instead in a cat-and-mouse game with the administration .
Every time they file a lawsuit on behalf of an unaccompanied child , the advocates say , the administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ making the legal challenge moot .
`` This is completely unlawful , completely unprecedented , '' Gelernt said .
`` And that 's why we believe the administration is unwilling to have it tested in court . ''

Ending 'Asylum As We Know It': Using Pandemic To Expel Migrants, Children At Border
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jose Luis Gonzalez/Reuters Jose Luis Gonzalez/Reuters
When a Salvadoran woman grabbed her 4-year-old daughter and fled their home country in February, the coronavirus wasn't yet a global pandemic.
By the time they reached the U.S.-Mexico border a month later, that had changed. She crossed the Rio Grande, planning to ask for asylum. But Border Patrol agents took her and her daughter right back to Mexico, despite her pleas.
"They told me they didn't care," the woman said in Spanish, asking us not to use her name, out of fear for her safety. "They didn't care what happened to my life. That I had to go — whether to Mexico, to El Salvador, to wherever I wanted, but I wasn't getting into the U.S."
Since March, immigration officials have turned away tens of thousands of migrants like this woman and her daughter. They carried out more than 105,000 rapid expulsions through the end of July, under a public health order that has closed the border to migrants during the coronavirus pandemic, according to data released Thursday. Those expulsions included families and unaccompanied children.
Immigrant advocates say it's the culmination of a three-year push to end asylum protections for most migrants from Central America. They say most migrants are turned away with no access to due process, often without any explanation.
"The administration believes they found the silver bullet with the public health laws where they can just simply bypass the entire asylum system," said Lee Gelernt, the deputy director of the American Civil Liberties Union's Immigrants' Rights Project, which has clashed frequently with the Trump administration in court.
While the country's attention has been focused on the coronavirus, the Trump administration has also proposed sweeping new regulations that would permanently limit asylum protections for migrants arriving at the southern border.
Closed the border to asylum-seekers
The proposed rules would restrict who falls into various categories — asylum protects people who face persecution for their race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a social group — and make it easier for immigration judges to reject asylum requests out of hand.
The White House has complained for years that these migrants are trying to escape from poverty-stricken countries in Central America and are using fake or exaggerated claims to game an overly generous U.S. asylum system.
President Trump has repeatedly called asylum a "scam." At an event with Border Patrol agents in El Centro, Calif., last year, he said: "Our system is full. We're not taking them anymore, OK? Can't do it."
U.S. asylum law traces its roots to World War II. But administration officials argue that asylum-seekers arriving at the southern border are fundamentally different from the refugees fleeing persecution during and after the war. And the administration has worked for years to chip away at asylum protections.
Now it has effectively closed the border to asylum-seekers.
Just as the pandemic was taking off in March, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an order that closed the border to migrants and other travelers without valid travel documents, citing "the danger to the public health" posed by holding such travelers in crowded detention facilities near the border.
Asylum-seekers not getting "credible fear" interviews
The same day, the Department of Homeland Security closed the border to all "non-essential" travelers — including migrants coming to seek asylum.
Immigration lawyers say what's happening to those migrants at the border is unprecedented.
"They have been basically pushed away from the United States with no process whatsoever," said Tania Guerrero, an immigration lawyer with the Catholic Legal Immigration Network who is based in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico.
"The first question to always answer is, what happened to me?" Guerrero said. "They have no idea what happened. Everyone explains it to be extremely fast and that they're not able to express their fears."
That's a big deal because it means they don't have an opportunity to seek asylum. In the past, migrants were able to make their case to asylum officers. If they were found to have a "credible fear" of persecution in their home country, they would have been allowed to make their case in U.S. immigration court.
Now immigrant advocates say many asylum-seekers are not getting these credible fear interviews, the first step in the process.
A spokesman with Customs and Border Protection told NPR that's handled on a case-by-case basis but declined to explain how it determines who gets to the interview stage while the border is closed because of the pandemic.
The Salvadoran woman who arrived at the border in late March said she never got a chance to ask for asylum or an interview.
She said she left El Salvador with her daughter to escape an abusive ex-partner, the girl's father, who had threatened to kill her. That was in late February.
When the woman and her daughter reached Texas, she said Border Patrol agents quickly returned them to the international bridge between El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juárez. She said officials didn't explain anything to her; they just told her to leave.
"So I started to cry and left the bridge," she said. "Some Mexican officials asked what was going on. ... I told them I didn't have anywhere to go. I didn't know what to do."
The woman and her daughter wound up at a shelter run by the Mexican government where other asylum-seekers have been waiting for their U.S. court dates under another administration program known as the Migrant Protection Protocols, or Remain in Mexico.
Another asylum-seeker, from Guatemala, wound up at the same shelter in Ciudad Juárez, along with her two young daughters. She also asked us not to use her name out of concern for her safety.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Paul Ratje Paul Ratje
Physicians and public health experts skeptical
The shelter has been on lockdown since March — but eventually, the coronavirus still got in. A dozen migrants tested positive in an outbreak.
The Guatemalan woman and her daughters had crossed the border between El Paso and Ciudad Juárez in early April when they encountered immigration officials. It was around 3 a.m. when officials dropped her on the international bridge.
"They grabbed us and told us that they were gonna take us back to Mexico," she recalled in Spanish. "They said that they weren't letting anyone into the U.S. and we didn't have any other option."
The shutdown of nonessential travel at the southern border has broad bipartisan support from Americans who desperately want to stop the spread of COVID-19, according to an NPR/Ipsos poll released this week.
But physicians and public health experts are skeptical. They point out that commerce continues, with truckers, students and others still crossing the border every day — and that those people are just as likely to spread the coronavirus as migrants.
Dozens of public health experts at hospitals and medical schools sent an open letter to the CDC this year, saying in part that "the nation's public health laws should not be used as a pretext for overriding humanitarian laws and treaties that provide life-saving protections to refugees seeking asylum and unaccompanied children."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Reynaldo Leaños Jr./Texas Public Radio Reynaldo Leaños Jr./Texas Public Radio
Still, the administration is standing behind the policy. The CDC has extended its public health order. And the Border Patrol says the policy is working in this pandemic.
"It is a good tool that the U.S. government is using to mitigate the spread," said Border Patrol agent Rafael Garza in an interview with Texas Public Radio.
He downplayed the concerns of public health experts. "Whether it's six experts or six Border Patrol agents, I mean, who you gonna trust?" Garza asked.
Since that interview, confirmed cases of the coronavirus have skyrocketed in Texas — especially in the Rio Grande Valley.
Now the Trump administration is trying to make permanent changes to the asylum system.
Last month, the Justice Department and the Department of Homeland Security proposed a rule that would disqualify migrants from asylum if officials determined they could spread an infectious disease. In a letter dated Thursday, public health experts said the rule would scapegoat asylum-seekers by labeling them as national security threats.
"Rules would end asylum as we know it"
In June, the departments announced other sweeping regulations that would make deep changes to the way asylum claims are reviewed. That has prompted widespread concern — even among government officials who are the first to interview asylum-seekers to determine if their claims are credible.
"These rules would end asylum as we know it," said Michael Knowles, president of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 1924 in the Washington, D.C., area and a special representative for the union, which includes hundreds of asylum officers nationwide.
U.S. law requires a careful case-by-case assessment of each asylum claim, Knowles says. If an asylum-seeker is determined to have a well-founded fear of persecution, the person can't be returned to a country where the individual's life or freedom would be in jeopardy.
"These rules would stand all of that on its head," Knowles said. "The impact would be dire, dire consequences for hundreds of thousands of people who are seeking the protection of the U.S."
A Justice Department news release said the 161-page rule would allow authorities to "more effectively separate baseless claims from meritorious ones" and would clarify when an application is "frivolous."
Once the final rules are announced, immigrant advocates say, they plan to sue to block them, as they have challenged many of the Trump administration's previous efforts to limit asylum.
For now, those lawyers are also focused on trying to fight rapid expulsions at the southern border. They're especially concerned about unaccompanied children who are being turned away.
Administration has built a "shadow immigration system"
In normal times, children who cross the border alone would get special consideration under the law. They're supposed to be handed over quickly to the Department of Health and Human Services, which operates a system of shelters where the children stay until they're placed with relatives or a sponsor.
But immigrant advocates say that's not happening. Instead, immigration officials have been putting up the children in hotels near the border until they can put the children on planes back to their home countries.
The administration has built a "shadow immigration system," said the ACLU's Gelernt, "that bypasses all of the protections Congress has painstakingly enacted for asylum-seekers and children over the past 40 years."
The ACLU and immigrant advocates in Texas have tried to challenge this practice in court but have found themselves instead in a cat-and-mouse game with the administration. Every time they file a lawsuit on behalf of an unaccompanied child, the advocates say, the administration hands the child over to HHS, making the legal challenge moot.
"This is completely unlawful, completely unprecedented," Gelernt said. "And that's why we believe the administration is unwilling to have it tested in court."
Texas Public Radio reporter Reynaldo Leaños Jr. contributed to this story.


npr--2020-08-06--New York Attorney General Moves To Dissolve The NRA After Fraud Investigation

New York Attorney General Moves To Dissolve The NRA After Fraud Investigation The attorney general of New York took action Thursday to dissolve the National Rifle Association following an 18-month investigation that found evidence the powerful gun rights group is `` fraught with fraud and abuse . ''
Attorney General Letitia James claims in a lawsuit filed Thursday that she found financial misconduct in the millions of dollars and that it contributed to a loss of more than $ 64 million over a three-year period .
The suit alleges that top NRA executives misused charitable funds for personal gain , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and provided contracts to former employees to ensure loyalty .
Seeking to dissolve the NRA is the most aggressive sanction James could have sought against the not-for-profit organization , which James has jurisdiction over because it is registered in New York .
James has a wide range of authorities relating to nonprofits in the state , including the authority to force organizations to cease operations or dissolve .
The NRA is all but certain to contest it .
The NRA said in a statement that the legal action was political , calling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our organization and the Second Amendment freedoms it fights to defend ... we not only will not shrink from this fight – we will confront it and prevail . ''
`` The NRA 's influence has been so powerful that the organization went unchecked for decades while top executives funneled millions into their own pockets , '' James said in a statement .
`` The NRA is fraught with fraud and abuse , which is why , today , we seek to dissolve the NRA , because no organization is above the law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ National Rifle Association as a whole but also names four current and former NRA executives : Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre , general counsel John Frazer , former Chief Financial Officer Woody Phillips and former chief of staff Joshua Powell .
It lists dozens of examples of alleged financial malfeasance , including the use of NRA funds for vacations , private jets and expensive meals .
In a statement , James ' office said that the charitable organization 's executives `` instituted a culture of self-dealing , mismanagement and negligent oversight '' that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of millions in assets . ''
The lawsuit seeks to dissolve the NRA in its entirety and asks the court to order LaPierre and other current and former executives to pay back unlawful profits .
It also seeks to remove LaPierre and Frazer from the organization 's leadership and prevent the four named individuals from ever serving again on the board of a charity in New York .
LaPierre , who also serves as CEO , has held the top position at the organization for nearly 30 years .
In the attorney general @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charitable funds for personal gain , including a post-employment contract valued at more than $ 17 million that was not approved by the NRA 's board of directors .
The lawsuit also claims that LaPierre received more than $ 1.2 million in expense reimbursements over four years , including gifts for friends , travel expenses and memberships at golf clubs and hotels .
And it alleges that he spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on private plane trips , including for extended family when he was not present ; traveled to Africa with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an NRA vendor ; and spent more than $ 3.6 million on luxury black car services and travel consultants in the past two years .
Those who attempted to blow the whistle on this behavior , the suit claims , were retaliated against by LaPierre .
Allegations against former CFO Woody Phillips , former chief of staff Joshua Powell and general counsel John Frazer James ' lawsuit alleges that Phillips , whose job it was to manage the financial operations of the charitable organization , lied on financial disclosure forms and set up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ girlfriend .
The New York attorney general claims that Phillips set up a contract for himself just before he retired and that the package was worth $ 1.8 million — purportedly for consulting services to the incoming treasurer .
But the incoming treasurer told the New York attorney general that he was not aware of this contract .
Phillips also directed a deal worth more than $ 1 million to his girlfriend , the suit alleges .
Meanwhile , James alleges that former NRA chief of staff Joshua Powell 's salary more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into his tenure , which began in 2016 .
While he began at $ 250,000 , Powell 's salary rose to $ 800,000 .
Powell is also accused of directing charitable funds to be used for the benefit of his family members .
The New York attorney general said that Powell approved of a $ 5 million consulting contract with the firm McKenna & Associates .
That firm , in turn , hired Powell 's wife and passed her a $ 30,000 monthly consulting fee through the NRA .
Powell also arranged for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a paid photographer , leading to $ 90,000 in fees for his father — funds that were ultimately billed to the NRA .
The New York attorney general did not allege that NRA general counsel John Frazer committed financial misconduct , but said that he failed to comply with board governance procedures , failed to ensure the NRA was in compliance with whistleblower laws and repeatedly certified false or misleading annual statements by the NRA .
The NRA 's other legal and financial challenges Separate from the New York Attorney General 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attorney general also sued : this time targeting the NRA Foundation , an independent group incorporated in D.C. Attorney General Karl A. Racine alleged that the foundation violated local laws by placing the NRA 's interests ahead of its own charitable purposes .
`` Charitable organizations function as public trusts — and District law requires them to use their funds to benefit the public , not to support political campaigns , lobbying , or private interests , '' Racine said .
`` With this lawsuit , we aim to recover donated funds that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should be on notice that the Office of the Attorney General will file suit if we find evidence of illegal behavior . ''
Even before today 's developments , the NRA was in dire financial straits .
A secret recording of an NRA board meeting obtained by NPR in April showed LaPierre telling the audience that the NRA 's legal troubles have cost the organization $ 100 million .
`` The cost that we bore was probably about a hundred-million-dollar hit in lost revenue and real cost to this association in 2018 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a recording by a source in the room .
`` I mean , that 's huge . ''
Much of this has to do with its legal troubles .
Facing congressional inquiries and investigations by multiple state attorneys general , as well as internal whistleblower complaints , the NRA 's finances have sagged under the burden of legal costs .
In the ongoing litigation between the NRA and Ackerman McQueen , its former public relations firm , a brief filed by the firm on April 15 indicates its belief that the NRA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over $ 54 million '' in the past two years .
The turmoil at the NRA also could have political ramifications ahead of the 2020 elections .
The NRA spent tens of millions of dollars in 2016 to support then-candidate Donald Trump — a role it appears it will be unlikely to be able to repeat given its current financial condition .

New York Attorney General Moves To Dissolve The NRA After Fraud Investigation
Enlarge this image toggle caption Peter Foley/Bloomberg via Getty Images Peter Foley/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Updated at 2 p.m. ET
The attorney general of New York took action Thursday to dissolve the National Rifle Association following an 18-month investigation that found evidence the powerful gun rights group is "fraught with fraud and abuse."
Attorney General Letitia James claims in a lawsuit filed Thursday that she found financial misconduct in the millions of dollars and that it contributed to a loss of more than $64 million over a three-year period.
The suit alleges that top NRA executives misused charitable funds for personal gain, awarded contracts to friends and family members, and provided contracts to former employees to ensure loyalty.
Seeking to dissolve the NRA is the most aggressive sanction James could have sought against the not-for-profit organization, which James has jurisdiction over because it is registered in New York. James has a wide range of authorities relating to nonprofits in the state, including the authority to force organizations to cease operations or dissolve. The NRA is all but certain to contest it.
The NRA said in a statement that the legal action was political, calling it a "baseless premeditated attack on our organization and the Second Amendment freedoms it fights to defend... we not only will not shrink from this fight – we will confront it and prevail."
"The NRA's influence has been so powerful that the organization went unchecked for decades while top executives funneled millions into their own pockets," James said in a statement. "The NRA is fraught with fraud and abuse, which is why, today, we seek to dissolve the NRA, because no organization is above the law."
James' complaint names the National Rifle Association as a whole but also names four current and former NRA executives: Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre, general counsel John Frazer, former Chief Financial Officer Woody Phillips and former chief of staff Joshua Powell.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images
It lists dozens of examples of alleged financial malfeasance, including the use of NRA funds for vacations, private jets and expensive meals. In a statement, James' office said that the charitable organization's executives "instituted a culture of self-dealing, mismanagement and negligent oversight" that contributed to "the waste and loss of millions in assets."
The lawsuit seeks to dissolve the NRA in its entirety and asks the court to order LaPierre and other current and former executives to pay back unlawful profits. It also seeks to remove LaPierre and Frazer from the organization's leadership and prevent the four named individuals from ever serving again on the board of a charity in New York.
Allegations against CEO Wayne LaPierre
LaPierre, who also serves as CEO, has held the top position at the organization for nearly 30 years. In the attorney general's lawsuit he is accused of using charitable funds for personal gain, including a post-employment contract valued at more than $17 million that was not approved by the NRA's board of directors.
The lawsuit also claims that LaPierre received more than $1.2 million in expense reimbursements over four years, including gifts for friends, travel expenses and memberships at golf clubs and hotels.
And it alleges that he spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on private plane trips, including for extended family when he was not present; traveled to Africa with his wife on a safari gifted by an NRA vendor; and spent more than $3.6 million on luxury black car services and travel consultants in the past two years.
Those who attempted to blow the whistle on this behavior, the suit claims, were retaliated against by LaPierre.
Allegations against former CFO Woody Phillips, former chief of staff Joshua Powell and general counsel John Frazer
James' lawsuit alleges that Phillips, whose job it was to manage the financial operations of the charitable organization, lied on financial disclosure forms and set up numerous deals to enrich himself and his girlfriend.
The New York attorney general claims that Phillips set up a contract for himself just before he retired and that the package was worth $1.8 million — purportedly for consulting services to the incoming treasurer. But the incoming treasurer told the New York attorney general that he was not aware of this contract. Phillips also directed a deal worth more than $1 million to his girlfriend, the suit alleges.
Meanwhile, James alleges that former NRA chief of staff Joshua Powell's salary more than tripled a little more than two years into his tenure, which began in 2016. While he began at $250,000, Powell's salary rose to $800,000.
Powell is also accused of directing charitable funds to be used for the benefit of his family members. The New York attorney general said that Powell approved of a $5 million consulting contract with the firm McKenna & Associates. That firm, in turn, hired Powell's wife and passed her a $30,000 monthly consulting fee through the NRA. Powell also arranged for an NRA vendor to hire his father as a paid photographer, leading to $90,000 in fees for his father — funds that were ultimately billed to the NRA.
The New York attorney general did not allege that NRA general counsel John Frazer committed financial misconduct, but said that he failed to comply with board governance procedures, failed to ensure the NRA was in compliance with whistleblower laws and repeatedly certified false or misleading annual statements by the NRA.
The NRA's other legal and financial challenges
Separate from the New York Attorney General's actions Thursday, the District of Columbia attorney general also sued: this time targeting the NRA Foundation, an independent group incorporated in D.C.
Attorney General Karl A. Racine alleged that the foundation violated local laws by placing the NRA's interests ahead of its own charitable purposes.
"Charitable organizations function as public trusts — and District law requires them to use their funds to benefit the public, not to support political campaigns, lobbying, or private interests," Racine said. "With this lawsuit, we aim to recover donated funds that the NRA Foundation wasted. District nonprofits should be on notice that the Office of the Attorney General will file suit if we find evidence of illegal behavior."
Even before today's developments, the NRA was in dire financial straits. A secret recording of an NRA board meeting obtained by NPR in April showed LaPierre telling the audience that the NRA's legal troubles have cost the organization $100 million.
"The cost that we bore was probably about a hundred-million-dollar hit in lost revenue and real cost to this association in 2018 and 2019," LaPierre said, according to a recording by a source in the room. "I mean, that's huge."
Much of this has to do with its legal troubles. Facing congressional inquiries and investigations by multiple state attorneys general, as well as internal whistleblower complaints, the NRA's finances have sagged under the burden of legal costs. In the ongoing litigation between the NRA and Ackerman McQueen, its former public relations firm, a brief filed by the firm on April 15 indicates its belief that the NRA has paid its outside legal counsel "over $54 million" in the past two years.
The turmoil at the NRA also could have political ramifications ahead of the 2020 elections. The NRA spent tens of millions of dollars in 2016 to support then-candidate Donald Trump — a role it appears it will be unlikely to be able to repeat given its current financial condition.


npr--2020-08-07--Long Road To Recovery: Hiring Slows In July, As U.S. Employers Add 1.8 Million Jobs

Long Road To Recovery : Hiring Slows In July , As U.S .
Employers Add 1.8 Million Jobs Updated at 8:45 a.m .
ET U.S. employers added 1.8 million jobs last month , as the unemployment rate dipped to 10.2 % .
The pace of hiring slowed from June , when employers added a record 4.8 million jobs .
That suggests a long road back to full employment for the tens of millions of people who have been laid off during the coronavirus pandemic .
`` There are still a lot of people on the sidelines , '' said Sarah @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fargo Securities .
`` That 's going to have a big impact on what we see in terms of consumer spending over the coming months . ''
The monthly report from the Labor Department tracks job gains between the middle of June and the middle of July .
Much of the improvement occurred in late June .
Since then , the labor market appears to have lost steam , as infections from the virus continued to climb .
Homebase , which makes scheduling software for some 60,000 small businesses , found fewer employees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than at the beginning .
`` It looks like a lot of the improvement in the second half of July really began to slack off , '' House said .
That increases pressure on lawmakers to reach agreement on a new round of pandemic relief .
Supplemental unemployment benefits of $ 600 per week expired at the end of July .
Economists warn that without some additional help for the unemployed , the country could sink into an even deeper recession .
Friday 's report showed significant job gains in restaurants , retail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Restaurant jobs accounted for more than a quarter of the total increase , although employment in the industry is still well below pre-pandemic levels .
Forecasters said the reported gain in local government jobs may have been artificially inflated by seasonal adjustments .
Ordinarily , many school employees drop off the job rolls in July before being rehired in the fall and government statisticians try to adjust for that .
This year , those layoffs came earlier in the school year , so the July adjustment may have over-compensated .

Long Road To Recovery: Hiring Slows In July, As U.S. Employers Add 1.8 Million Jobs
Enlarge this image toggle caption Elise Amendola/AP Elise Amendola/AP
Updated at 8:45 a.m. ET
U.S. employers added 1.8 million jobs last month, as the unemployment rate dipped to 10.2%.
The pace of hiring slowed from June, when employers added a record 4.8 million jobs. That suggests a long road back to full employment for the tens of millions of people who have been laid off during the coronavirus pandemic.
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"There are still a lot of people on the sidelines," said Sarah House, a senior economist at Wells Fargo Securities. "That's going to have a big impact on what we see in terms of consumer spending over the coming months."
The monthly report from the Labor Department tracks job gains between the middle of June and the middle of July. Much of the improvement occurred in late June. Since then, the labor market appears to have lost steam, as infections from the virus continued to climb. Homebase, which makes scheduling software for some 60,000 small businesses, found there were fewer employees working at the end of July than at the beginning.
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"It looks like a lot of the improvement in the second half of July really began to slack off," House said.
That increases pressure on lawmakers to reach agreement on a new round of pandemic relief. Supplemental unemployment benefits of $600 per week expired at the end of July. Economists warn that without some additional help for the unemployed, the country could sink into an even deeper recession.
Friday's report showed significant job gains in restaurants, retail, health care and local government. Restaurant jobs accounted for more than a quarter of the total increase, although employment in the industry is still well below pre-pandemic levels.
Forecasters said the reported gain in local government jobs may have been artificially inflated by seasonal adjustments. Ordinarily, many school employees drop off the job rolls in July before being rehired in the fall, and government statisticians try to adjust for that. This year, those layoffs came earlier in the school year, so the July adjustment may have overcompensated.


npr--2020-08-07--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.
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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.
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This story was originally published on March 30, 2020.


npr--2020-08-07--Tracking The Pandemic: Are Coronavirus Cases Rising Or Falling In Your State?

Tracking The Pandemic : Are Coronavirus Cases Rising Or Falling In Your State ?
More than 4 million people in the U.S. have tested positive for the coronavirus and more than 150,000 have died .
Though growth in new cases slowed in late spring , by mid-June new cases began to trend upward nationally .
In the graphics below , explore the trend in new cases in your state to see whether cases are rising , falling or staying level .
You can view the data via a heat map ( immediately below ) , a curve chart and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case trends over the last three weeks .
Or to see states ' total cases and deaths on a map , click here .
The following chart displays states ' trends in new daily case counts , total cases , and per capita totals .
To compare state outbreaks , the trend lines for average new daily cases are graphed against each state 's total case count to date .
This highlights a state 's daily growth relative to the overall size of its outbreak .
When both new and total case counts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As cases slow , the curve levels or bends down .
In New York , site of the country 's largest outbreak , the state 's 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 mid July .
Conversely , Florida peaked around 1,200 new cases per day on average in April , only to surge again to nearly 12,000 per day in mid-July Coronavirus case totals are much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In the spring , a large share of U.S. cases were centered around New York City .
As of mid July , other large , populous states such as California , Florida and Texas have reached high totals as well .
Some other states such as Arizona and Louisiana show a heavy burden of infection relative to their population size .
Explore the map below to see totals and per capita figures around the country for both cases and deaths .
Click here to see a global map of confirmed cases and deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the table below shows the change in average new cases per day in each state , week over week .
States marked in shades of red are showing growth , those in shades of green , are showing declines .
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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 .
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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ JHU team was able to reconcile the historical data .
On June 25 , New Jersey included 1,854 previously-unreported probable deaths in its totals , 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
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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.
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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.
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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--2020-08-07--A Cooking Camp Chef's Recipe For Remote Education: Make It Ambitious

A lanky , long-haired kid stands in front of a stack of shelves lined with more than a dozen varieties of canned beans .
He 's 10 , and his name is Wiley .
He 's got a shopping list in his hand and a mask on his face .
This is the first time he 's been in a grocery store in over five months .
His cart is loaded with onions , limes , yogurt , bell peppers , feta cheese .
Now he needs chickpeas , and although he 's peering at a can with a picture @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brow is furrowed .
`` It just says garbanzo beans , '' he says .
`` What are garbanzo beans ? ''
He places the can in his cart , gives the cart a shove , and moves on in search of chili powder .
Wiley is my son , and one measure of how much the world has changed in the last half year is that the list of what he needs for summer camp does not include a sleeping bag , a flashlight , or even bug spray .
He needs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because Wiley — who lives in western Massachusetts — is about to join 30 other kids from as far away as Vancouver , Canada , San Jose , Ca .
and Washington D.C. in a radical project : they will cook dinner for their families for an entire week .
The location of summer camp 2020 is each of these kid 's own kitchen .
Welcome to Dinner Club .
The menu this week includes Indian butter chicken , Greek salad with falafel , and fish tacos — every dish made entirely from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taught by Pascal Simon , known to her students as Chef Pascal .
The German-born chef has been teaching baking classes for kids out of her home kitchen in Austin , Texas , for a decade .
She 's had a popular following for years among foodie families and homeschoolers in the city .
Simon says that up until a few months ago her classes were mostly focused on `` cute stuff '' like cookies , Pop Tarts , and French macaroons .
A popular offering every summer was called `` Cupcake Camp @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Simon had only ever taught in person , a dozen kids packed into her kitchen .
Her classes were about hands-on proximity , tactile problem-solving , and community-building .
She says the weekend the world shut down she threw herself a pity party .
She had never once been on Zoom .
The Monday after shutdown , Simon began offering online baking classes to any kid who signed up , initially for free .
She expected classes to be lightly attended by former students , but within weeks she had up to 45 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The cooking sessions were energetic and chaotic , with Simon picking up numerous new cooking skills on the fly .
But new skills were n't enough .
Although parents appreciated the classes and frequently expressed amazement at what their stuck-at-home kids were accomplishing , these same parents also had a problem .
`` Who needs more cupcakes ? ''
Simon says , her voice rising in exasperation .
`` Who needs a weeklong of cupcakes ? ''
She pivoted and started focusing on dinners .
This meant knives , hot pans , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Chef Pascal 's students were doing something highly relevant — even necessary — for their families .
She even made the kids do their own dishes between other tasks .
`` There 's nothing better for a parent , '' Simon says , `` than when you come home , or come out of your office , and dinner 's ready and the dishes are done . ''
`` I think the dishes done is almost better than the dinner . ''
In late July , we position the laptop at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Wiley logs on to his first day of Dinner Club .
Chef Pascal greets the students individually .
Within fifteen minutes , each child on the Zoom screen has raw chicken on a cutting board and a knife in their hand .
`` If your chicken is already cut up , I 'm sorry , '' Chef Pascal says .
`` I told your parents not to do that . ''
An hour later , our kitchen smells incredible .
The butter chicken that night is perfectly tender after simmering in cream @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and other spices .
My wife and I look at each other across the table .
`` Wiley , '' she says .
`` This is really good . ''
On the following night , the legume also known as garbanzo makes a star appearance .
The falafels are crispy on the outside , silky within .
I find myself competing for these falafel balls with Wiley 's older brother .
He 's 14 and has gone more-or-less nocturnal since the shutdown , doing little more than DMing friends while watching Breaking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scarfs the falafels right up .
On day three of Dinner Club , eight-year-old Juliet Wilson starts off with a question .
`` Chef Pascal , are we only making the chicken fajitas , the tortillas , and the guacamole and pico ? ''
There 's a pause , and then comes Simon 's deadpan response .
`` Only .
Yes , Juliet .
We 're only making the tortillas , the guacamole , the pico de gallo , and the fajitas . ''
Wiley cracks up .
Only .
The exchange sums @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about this week .
Not just Chef Pascal 's dry sense of humor and her genuine appreciation of her students , but also the sheer ambition of their collective undertaking .
Because — make no mistake — this class is exhausting .
Each night , when Wiley 's done , his feet hurt so bad he soaks them in ice , moaning and complaining .
Then he starts talking about what he 's going to cook the next day .
( For the record , although Wiley tries to keep up , my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amount of dishes this week . )
As it turns out , Wiley 's not the only cook with foot trouble !
`` I did not know that my feet could hurt so much , '' says Hazel Griffin , age 10 .
She and her twelve-year-old brother Eamon — they 're both from Austin like the chef — participated in three weeks of Dinner Club this summer .
Prior to June , they 'd hardly cooked at all .
Hazel says there 's been some stress and bickering between them .
Cooking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hard .
`` But if you have a partner and you guys get along '' — Hazel casts a sidelong gaze at her brother — `` then it can be a lot easier . ''
Eamon nods .
`` When your parents actually like the food , '' he says , `` the look on their face is enough to keep you wanting to come back .
Even if it is hard , even if it is stressful . ''
There 's an essential thing that Chef Pascal gets about teaching remotely during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who are bored or scared or distracted — kids who 've had every ritual and routine stripped from their lives — those kids do n't need excessive comforting or sympathy .
Back in our kitchen , Wiley holds a clumpy , deeply-creased ball of what 's supposed to be tortilla dough up to the screen .
He hits the space bar , unmuting himself .
`` Is this good ? ''
he asks .
`` Wiley , when you press into it , '' Chef Pascal responds in her Zoom-inflected German accent , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , `` imagine this is like a little baby bird , and you just very gently press into it .
Do n't poke it , just very gently .
Does it bounce back ?
Wiley performs the maneuver .
He says , `` Sort of . ''
`` Okay .
Sort of is not quite ready , so keep kneading it a little bit longer . ''
Then another face breaks onto the screen .
It 's Hazel Griffin .
`` Chef Pascal , '' she says , `` can you please slow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I need to go grab him . ''
Wiley presses his palms into the dough and once again cracks up .

A Cooking Camp Chef's Recipe For Remote Education: Make It Ambitious
Enlarge this image toggle caption Ben James/NPR Ben James/NPR
A lanky, long-haired kid stands in front of a stack of shelves lined with more than a dozen varieties of canned beans. He's 10, and his name is Wiley. He's got a shopping list in his hand and a mask on his face. This is the first time he's been in a grocery store in over five months. His cart is loaded with onions, limes, yogurt, bell peppers, feta cheese. Now he needs chickpeas, and although he's peering at a can with a picture of chickpeas on the label, his brow is furrowed.
"It just says garbanzo beans," he says. "What are garbanzo beans?"
He places the can in his cart, gives the cart a shove, and moves on in search of chili powder.
Wiley is my son, and one measure of how much the world has changed in the last half year is that the list of what he needs for summer camp does not include a sleeping bag, a flashlight, or even bug spray.
He needs a can of chickpeas.
That's because Wiley — who lives in western Massachusetts — is about to join 30 other kids from as far away as Vancouver, Canada, San Jose, Ca. and Washington D.C. in a radical project: they will cook dinner for their families for an entire week.
The location of summer camp 2020 is each of these kid's own kitchen.
Welcome to Dinner Club. The menu this week includes Indian butter chicken, Greek salad with falafel, and fish tacos — every dish made entirely from scratch.
Dinner Club is conceived and taught by Pascal Simon, known to her students as Chef Pascal. The German-born chef has been teaching baking classes for kids out of her home kitchen in Austin, Texas, for a decade. She's had a popular following for years among foodie families and homeschoolers in the city. Simon says that up until a few months ago her classes were mostly focused on "cute stuff" like cookies, Pop Tarts, and French macaroons. A popular offering every summer was called "Cupcake Camp."
Then came the pandemic.
Simon had only ever taught in person, a dozen kids packed into her kitchen. Her classes were about hands-on proximity, tactile problem-solving, and community-building. She says the weekend the world shut down she threw herself a pity party. She had never once been on Zoom.
The Monday after shutdown, Simon began offering online baking classes to any kid who signed up, initially for free. She expected classes to be lightly attended by former students, but within weeks she had up to 45 kids signing up from across North America. The cooking sessions were energetic and chaotic, with Simon picking up numerous new teaching skills on the fly.
But new skills weren't enough. Although parents appreciated the classes and frequently expressed amazement at what their stuck-at-home kids were accomplishing, these same parents also had a problem.
Cupcake fatigue.
"Who needs more cupcakes?" Simon says, her voice rising in exasperation. "Who needs a weeklong of cupcakes?"
Enlarge this image toggle caption Ben James/NPR Ben James/NPR
She pivoted and started focusing on dinners. This meant knives, hot pans, safe food handling. It also meant that Chef Pascal's students were doing something highly relevant — even necessary — for their families. She even made the kids do their own dishes between other tasks.
"There's nothing better for a parent," Simon says, "than when you come home, or come out of your office, and dinner's ready and the dishes are done."
She pauses a moment.
"I think the dishes done is almost better than the dinner."
In late July, we position the laptop at the far end of the kitchen counter, and Wiley logs on to his first day of Dinner Club. Chef Pascal greets the students individually. Within fifteen minutes, each child on the Zoom screen has raw chicken on a cutting board and a knife in their hand.
"If your chicken is already cut up, I'm sorry," Chef Pascal says. "I told your parents not to do that."
An hour later, our kitchen smells incredible. The butter chicken that night is perfectly tender after simmering in cream, tomatoes, cumin, garam masala, and other spices. My wife and I look at each other across the table.
"Wiley," she says. "This is really good."
On the following night, the legume also known as garbanzo makes a star appearance. The falafels are crispy on the outside, silky within. I find myself competing for these falafel balls with Wiley's older brother. He's 14 and has gone more-or-less nocturnal since the shutdown, doing little more than DMing friends while watching Breaking Bad on a continuous loop.
Dude scarfs the falafels right up.
On day three of Dinner Club, eight-year-old Juliet Wilson starts off with a question.
"Chef Pascal, are we only making the chicken fajitas, the tortillas, and the guacamole and pico?"
There's a pause, and then comes Simon's deadpan response.
"Only. Yes, Juliet. We're only making the tortillas, the guacamole, the pico de gallo, and the fajitas."
Wiley cracks up. Only. The exchange sums up just about everything that's good about this week. Not just Chef Pascal's dry sense of humor and her genuine appreciation of her students, but also the sheer ambition of their collective undertaking. Because — make no mistake — this class is exhausting. Each night, when Wiley's done, his feet hurt so bad he soaks them in ice, moaning and complaining. Then he starts talking about what he's going to cook the next day. (For the record, although Wiley tries to keep up, my wife and I will do a significant amount of dishes this week.)
As it turns out, Wiley's not the only cook with foot trouble!
"I did not know that my feet could hurt so much," says Hazel Griffin, age 10. She and her twelve-year-old brother Eamon — they're both from Austin like the chef — participated in three weeks of Dinner Club this summer. Prior to June, they'd hardly cooked at all. Hazel says there's been some stress and bickering between them. Cooking, she says, can be really hard.
"But if you have a partner and you guys get along" — Hazel casts a sidelong gaze at her brother — "then it can be a lot easier."
Eamon nods. "When your parents actually like the food," he says, "the look on their face is enough to keep you wanting to come back. Even if it is hard, even if it is stressful."
There's an essential thing that Chef Pascal gets about teaching remotely during a pandemic. It's that kids who are bored or scared or distracted — kids who've had every ritual and routine stripped from their lives — those kids don't need excessive comforting or sympathy.
Those kids need a challenge.
Back in our kitchen, Wiley holds a clumpy, deeply-creased ball of what's supposed to be tortilla dough up to the screen. He hits the space bar, unmuting himself.
"Is this good?" he asks.
"Wiley, when you press into it," Chef Pascal responds in her Zoom-inflected German accent, holding up her smooth ball of dough, "imagine this is like a little baby bird, and you just very gently press into it. Don't poke it, just very gently. Does it bounce back?
Wiley performs the maneuver. He says, "Sort of."
"Okay. Sort of is not quite ready, so keep kneading it a little bit longer."
Then another face breaks onto the screen. It's Hazel Griffin.
"Chef Pascal," she says, "can you please slow down? My cat got out and I need to go grab him."
Wiley presses his palms into the dough and once again cracks up.


npr--2020-08-07--With Focus On Redistricting, Democrats Place New Emphasis On Statehouses

With Focus On Redistricting , Democrats Place New Emphasis On Statehouses Ten years ago , Republicans flipped 20 state legislative chambers , seizing control of district mapmaking in many states after the decennial census .
That cemented GOP dominance at the state and congressional levels for most of the last decade .
This time , Democrats are making sure they 're mobilizing .
`` The Democrats have finally awoken that there is a thing called state legislatures out there in the country , '' said Austin Chambers , president of the Republican State Leadership Committee , whose REDMAP project is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the state level in 2010 .
With another round of mapmaking on the line , there are battles this year for statehouse control in places such as Wisconsin and Florida — and in surprising states like Kansas , where Democrats are trying to break a Republican supermajority in the legislature .
Texas is also a target , as Democrats hope to win a House majority .
And then there is one of the biggest prizes : North Carolina .
The state is expected to get at least one new seat in Congress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Carolina General Assembly will draw that map .
`` [ Democrats have ] also realized that 's the only way you can really have good power in Washington , '' Chambers said .
`` No one in Washington draws their own congressional map .
No one in Washington draws their own district . ''
Republicans in North Carolina seized power in the state legislature in 2010 , after Democrats had controlled both chambers for most of the last century .
The GOP then drew new gerrymandered maps , both for state legislative seats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Firmly in power , Republicans set out to move the state to the right , with laws such as 2016 's `` bathroom bill , '' which mandated that people in government buildings use the bathroom that matched the sex on their birth certificate .
They also passed a photo ID law .
( Democrats sued over both the photo ID law and North Carolina 's new maps .
Courts have halted the photo ID law and made the state redraw the maps . )
Two years ago , Democrats broke Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate by flipping seats in Charlotte and Raleigh that had been trending Democratic for a decade .
But that low-hanging fruit is gone .
Now , to claim a majority in either chamber , they must win in places where President Trump won easily four years ago .
These are suburban and rural districts that are often whiter and older .
One includes Gibsonville , a town of 7,000 people that 's 20 minutes from Greensboro , the state 's third-largest city .
Gibsonville is the kind of place that many national Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I was in the Christmas parade in [ the nearby town of ] Pleasant Garden , '' recalled Nicole Quick , a Democrat running for a state House seat there .
`` You 're riding through downtown Pleasant Garden in this parade .
There are a lot of Trump signs .
There are a lot of NRA hats , all of that . ''
She said she 's engaging with all voters and urging them to think about her issues — not her political party .
`` At the end of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a difference that I support sensible gun legislation ?
There 's some voters who are n't going to vote for me , '' she said .
`` But again , I 'm trying to appeal to those issues that matter to families . ''
One reason Quick may stand a chance here : The new court-ordered maps last year made her district more competitive .
Quick said she supports turning mapmaking over to an independent commission instead of letting the party that 's running the legislature draw the lines .
California and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commissions .
`` Democrats were guilty of [ gerrymandering ] in the past , '' she said .
`` There 's that temptation that when you are in power to try and hold onto power , and that 's why I support independent redistricting — to take that temptation away . ''
Quick 's campaign is getting a financial boost from groups like Future Now and the National Democratic Redistricting Committee , which is led by former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder .
The organizations are spending millions of dollars on races like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Future Now has spent more than $ 100,000 in North Carolina .
The NDRC has spent more than $ 420,000 so far in the state .
`` During the last round of redistricting , I think it 's fair to say that there was n't the attention paid to redistricting and gerrymandering that is paid to it now , '' said Garrett Arwa , the NDRC 's director of campaigns .
North Carolina Republicans say Democrats ' lawsuits over maps are n't about fairness — just about getting power .
GOP state Sen. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they would likely appoint most members of an independent commission .
`` I have no faith in any commission appointed by members of a partisan board that would suddenly become nonpartisan once it 's handed power , '' Hise said .
The GOP also reminds Democrats that they had almost complete legislative power for decades and that their maps were also gerrymandered .

With Focus On Redistricting, Democrats Place New Emphasis On Statehouses
Enlarge this image toggle caption Gerry Broome/AP Gerry Broome/AP
Ten years ago, Republicans flipped 20 state legislative chambers, seizing control of district mapmaking in many states after the decennial census. That cemented GOP dominance at the state and congressional levels for most of the last decade.
This time, Democrats are making sure they're mobilizing.
"The Democrats have finally awoken that there is a thing called state legislatures out there in the country," said Austin Chambers, president of the Republican State Leadership Committee, whose REDMAP project is credited with helping the Republican Party win at the state level in 2010.
With another round of mapmaking on the line, there are battles this year for statehouse control in places such as Wisconsin and Florida — and in surprising states like Kansas, where Democrats are trying to break a Republican supermajority in the legislature. Texas is also a target, as Democrats hope to win a House majority.
And then there is one of the biggest prizes: North Carolina.
The state is expected to get at least one new seat in Congress. The party that controls the North Carolina General Assembly will draw that map.
"[Democrats have] also realized that's the only way you can really have good power in Washington," Chambers said. "No one in Washington draws their own congressional map. No one in Washington draws their own district."
Republicans in North Carolina seized power in the state legislature in 2010, after Democrats had controlled both chambers for most of the last century.
The GOP then drew new gerrymandered maps, both for state legislative seats and the state's 13 congressional districts.
Firmly in power, Republicans set out to move the state to the right, with laws such as 2016's "bathroom bill," which mandated that people in government buildings use the bathroom that matched the sex on their birth certificate. They also passed a photo ID law. (Democrats sued over both the photo ID law and North Carolina's new maps. Courts have halted the photo ID law and made the state redraw the maps.)
A new map for a Democrat's district
Two years ago, Democrats broke Republican supermajorities in the North Carolina House and Senate by flipping seats in Charlotte and Raleigh that had been trending Democratic for a decade.
But that low-hanging fruit is gone.
Now, to claim a majority in either chamber, they must win in places where President Trump won easily four years ago. These are suburban and rural districts that are often whiter and older.
One includes Gibsonville, a town of 7,000 people that's 20 minutes from Greensboro, the state's third-largest city. Gibsonville is the kind of place that many national Democrats have abandoned on the campaign trail.
"I was in the Christmas parade in [the nearby town of] Pleasant Garden," recalled Nicole Quick, a Democrat running for a state House seat there. "You're riding through downtown Pleasant Garden in this parade. There are a lot of Trump signs. There are a lot of NRA hats, all of that."
She said she's engaging with all voters and urging them to think about her issues — not her political party.
"At the end of the day, is it going to make a difference that I support sensible gun legislation? There's some voters who aren't going to vote for me," she said. "But again, I'm trying to appeal to those issues that matter to families."
One reason Quick may stand a chance here: The new court-ordered maps last year made her district more competitive.
Quick said she supports turning mapmaking over to an independent commission instead of letting the party that's running the legislature draw the lines. California and a handful of other states have created such commissions.
"Democrats were guilty of [gerrymandering] in the past," she said. "There's that temptation that when you are in power to try and hold onto power, and that's why I support independent redistricting — to take that temptation away."
Quick's campaign is getting a financial boost from groups like Future Now and the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, which is led by former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder.
The organizations are spending millions of dollars on races like Quick's around the United States. Future Now has spent more than $100,000 in North Carolina. The NDRC has spent more than $420,000 so far in the state.
"During the last round of redistricting, I think it's fair to say that there wasn't the attention paid to redistricting and gerrymandering that is paid to it now," said Garrett Arwa, the NDRC's director of campaigns.
North Carolina Republicans say Democrats' lawsuits over maps aren't about fairness — just about getting power. GOP state Sen. Ralph Hise said that if Democrats win, they would likely appoint most members of an independent commission.
"I have no faith in any commission appointed by members of a partisan board that would suddenly become nonpartisan once it's handed power," Hise said.
The GOP also reminds Democrats that they had almost complete legislative power for decades and that their maps were also gerrymandered.