npr--2020-08-19--Expired Jobless Benefits Cost Economy Billions, But Some States Reject Trump's Aid

President Trump 's plan to boost unemployment benefits temporarily by $ 300 a week is getting a fairly cool reception around the country .
Since Trump made the offer earlier this month , fewer than half the states have taken him up on it .
`` We have five states that have already been approved , '' Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told CNBC on Tuesday .
`` We have another four states that have submitted and about another 10 states that are in the process . ''
Trump proposed using redirected Federal Emergency Management Agency money to replace half the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expired last month .
The lack of buy-in from the states leaves a big dent in the spending power of tens of millions of jobless workers .
South Dakota Gov .
Kristi Noem , a Republican , was one of the first to reject the president 's offer , saying in effect , thanks but no thanks .
`` My administration is very grateful for the additional flexibility that this effort would have provided , '' said Noem , a Trump ally .
`` But South Dakota is in the fortunate position of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ South Dakota has the nation 's ninth-lowest unemployment rate .
But at 7.2 % , it 's still more than double what it was a year ago .
Food pantries in Sioux Falls and Rapid City are also drawing twice as many hungry people as they used to — including many who are seeking aid for the first time .
`` People that have found themselves just in a place they 've never been before and making some pretty tough choices , '' said Jennifer Stensaas , communications coordinator for Feeding South Dakota @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They 've been furloughed from work .
They 've been laid off for a period of time .
A lot of businesses just closed . ''
With nearly 34,000 South Dakotans out of work in June , Democratic state Sen. Reynold Nesiba said he is mystified by the governor 's decision .
He said the rejected benefits would have provided $ 10 million a week that jobless residents could have used to help buy groceries or school supplies or to pay the rent .
`` This is n't just about the people that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who teaches economics at Augustana University .
`` By refusing to take this money , she is hurting South Dakota businesses and South Dakota landlords and South Dakota bankers . ''
Nesiba said he worries the economic rebound that the governor is boasting about has been bankrolled in part by some $ 3 billion in federal aid — including jobless benefits , $ 1,200 pandemic relief payments and paycheck protection loans .
Much of that federal money has now been exhausted , not only in South Dakota but around the country .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ package in Congress have stalled .
Since the supplemental $ 600 in weekly unemployment benefits expired at the end of July , government payouts have dropped by about $ 15 billion per week .
`` That 's pretty substantial , '' said Ernie Tedeschi , policy economist at Evercore ISI .
`` That 's equivalent to about 4 % of the American economy . ''
Ordinary state unemployment benefits cover 30 % to 50 % of a worker 's lost pay , on average , so jobless Americans have seen a significant drop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ woke up on Aug. 1 facing a 50 to 75 % pay cut from what they had been making the day before , '' Tedeschi said .
`` They 're going to have to make some pretty devastating cuts . ''
The $ 300 weekly replacement proposed by the president would be better than nothing .
`` But it 's a clunky , untested , logistically and legally challenging way of putting a Band-Aid on the problem , '' Tedeschi said .
Even if all states accepted the offer , the FEMA money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about five weeks of benefits .
Unless Congress agrees to a more sustainable increase in jobless benefits , Tedeschi warned that retail sales and job growth are likely to suffer .
Walmart said Tuesday that government relief payments provided a significant boost for the retail giant 's sales during the last three months .
As stimulus money dried up in late July , however , sales cooled .
`` There 's a lot of uncertainty right now and so much variance in how customers are feeling about their situation , '' CEO Doug @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` This economy and this country are driven so much by small and medium-sized businesses that we want to see something happen there that will help support those folks . ''
As policymakers in Washington argue over a new round of spending , 800 to 1,000 South Dakota families keep showing up each Tuesday and Thursday at the food pantry in Sioux Falls .
`` We 're in it for the long haul , '' Stensaas said .
`` Food is such a basic need .
No one should have to go without @ @

Expired Jobless Benefits Cost Economy Billions, But Some States Reject Trump's Aid
Enlarge this image toggle caption Drew Angerer/Getty Images Drew Angerer/Getty Images
Updated at 9:50 a.m. ET
President Trump's plan to boost unemployment benefits temporarily by $300 a week is getting a fairly cool reception around the country.
Since Trump made the offer earlier this month, fewer than half the states have taken him up on it.
"We have five states that have already been approved," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told CNBC on Tuesday. "We have another four states that have submitted and about another 10 states that are in the process."
Trump proposed using redirected Federal Emergency Management Agency money to replace half the $600 in weekly unemployment benefits that expired last month. The lack of buy-in from the states leaves a big dent in the spending power of tens of millions of jobless workers.
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a Republican, was one of the first to reject the president's offer, saying in effect, thanks but no thanks.
"My administration is very grateful for the additional flexibility that this effort would have provided," said Noem, a Trump ally. "But South Dakota is in the fortunate position of not needing to accept it."
South Dakota has the nation's ninth-lowest unemployment rate. But at 7.2%, it's still more than double what it was a year ago.
Food pantries in Sioux Falls and Rapid City are also drawing twice as many hungry people as they used to — including many who are seeking aid for the first time.
"People that have found themselves just in a place they've never been before and making some pretty tough choices," said Jennifer Stensaas, communications coordinator for Feeding South Dakota, a statewide food bank. "They've been furloughed from work. They've been laid off for a period of time. A lot of businesses just closed."
With nearly 34,000 South Dakotans out of work in June, Democratic state Sen. Reynold Nesiba said he is mystified by the governor's decision. He said the rejected benefits would have provided $10 million a week that jobless residents could have used to help buy groceries or school supplies or to pay the rent.
"This isn't just about the people that are unemployed," said Nesiba, who teaches economics at Augustana University. "By refusing to take this money, she is hurting South Dakota businesses and South Dakota landlords and South Dakota bankers."
Nesiba said he worries the economic rebound that the governor is boasting about in South Dakota has been bankrolled in part by some $3 billion in federal aid to the state — including jobless benefits, $1,200 pandemic relief payments and paycheck protection loans.
Much of that federal money has now been exhausted, not only in South Dakota but around the country. And efforts to craft a comprehensive new aid package in Congress have stalled.
Since the supplemental $600 in weekly unemployment benefits expired at the end of July, jobless payouts nationwide have dropped by about $15 billion per week.
"That's pretty substantial," said Ernie Tedeschi, policy economist at Evercore ISI. "That's equivalent to about 4% of the American economy."
Ordinary state unemployment benefits cover 30% to 50% of a worker's lost pay, on average, so jobless Americans have seen a significant drop in their spending power.
"They woke up on Aug. 1 facing a 50 to 75% pay cut from what they had been making the day before," Tedeschi said. "They're going to have to make some pretty devastating cuts."
The $300 weekly replacement proposed by the president would be better than nothing. "But it's a clunky, untested, logistically and legally challenging way of putting a Band-Aid on the problem," Tedeschi said.
Even if all states accepted the offer, the FEMA money identified by the president would cover only about five weeks of benefits.
Unless Congress agrees to a more sustainable increase in jobless benefits, Tedeschi warned that retail sales and job growth are likely to suffer.
Walmart said Tuesday that government relief payments provided a significant boost for the retail giant's sales during the last three months. As stimulus money dried up in late July, however, sales cooled.
"There's a lot of uncertainty right now and so much variance in how customers are feeling about their situation," CEO Doug McMillon said in a conference call. "This economy and this country are driven so much by small and medium-sized businesses that we want to see something happen there that will help support those folks."
As policymakers in Washington argue over a new round of spending, 800 to 1,000 South Dakota families keep showing up each Tuesday and Thursday at the food pantry in Sioux Falls.
"We're in it for the long haul," Stensaas said. "Food is such a basic need. No one should have to go without."


npr--2020-08-19--There's A Better Way To 'Dub' Movie Audio For Visually Impaired Fans

There 's A Better Way To 'Dub ' Movie Audio For Visually Impaired Fans Most people never have to explain why they enjoy going to the movies .
But , Denise Decker sometimes needs to do that .
The retired federal worker , who lives in Washington , D.C. , says some sighted people do n't understand how someone who is blind can appreciate watching film .
`` Those of us who are vision impaired enjoy going to the movies probably as much as anyone else does and we probably go as much as some sighted people do , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all types of movies , as long as it 's a `` good story . ''
But , foreign language films that are only subtitled are not an option .
`` Dubbing just tells us the dialogue , '' she explains .
`` It does n't tell us the surrounding actions and the other things that are taking place , maybe what the individuals are wearing , the expressions on their face , are they moving , what else is happening . ''
The solution , Decker says , is audio description : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and action on the screen into spoken word .
These bits of narration play during pauses in a movie 's dialogue .
Typically , one voice actor performs the description .
But , while almost all Hollywood films provide this inclusive feature , most non-English language movies produced overseas and distributed in the United States do not .
And that prevents millions of blind and visually impaired Americans from fully appreciating many foreign pictures .
Around 3.4-million Americans over the age of 40 are blind or have low vision , according to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The American Foundation for the Blind says 26.9-million people have experience difficulty seeing even with correction or are blind and legally blind .
Joel Snyder , who directs the American Council of the Blind 's audio description project suspects that this accessibility service is not included in many American releases because local distributors do n't think subtitled films are big draws at the box office .
He says adding audio description to a film that is not originally in English is `` somewhat more complicated , but not prohibitive '' to produce .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; one providing the visual explanation and another that speaks the subtitles , he explains .
Snyder says compared to closed-captioning , audio description is still not as well known by the general public , even though its been available in live theater and on some American movies ' VHS or DVD releases for decades .
And since 2017 , the Americans With Disabilities Act has required movie theaters to provide audio description services when available .
So , now in many cinemas , a visually impaired customer can request a headset and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in sync with the film .
Streaming services also provide audio description for many of the titles on their platforms .
But , Rebecca Williford , managing attorney at Disability Rights Advocates in Berkeley , Calif. , says it took lawsuits to make these companies offer this feature .
`` One with Netflix and one with Hulu , where we were able to get increased audio description content on those streaming services , '' Williford says .
`` And we were able to work out a settlement with AMC to make sure they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ checks of their equipment so things like that would n't ruin people 's evening at the movies . ''
Williford did not want to weigh in on whether the ADA , which was signed into law 30-years ago , requires the American distributors of foreign films to include audio description for their US releases .
The unavailability of this feature for non-English language films gained some attention during this year 's Oscars , when the South Korean dark comedy Parasite became the first subtitled movie to win Best Picture .
It was this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ include audio description .
Bong Joon-ho , Parasite 's director , has remarked that Americans must `` overcome the 1-inch-tall barrier of subtitles '' so they can `` be introduced to so many more amazing films . ''
He was perhaps unaware that his U.S. distributor , Neon , did not include audio description for the movie 's theatrical or home release .
For now , the only way for America 's blind and visually impaired to overcome this film 's accessibility barrier , is to get hold of Parasite 's U.K. DVD @ @ @ @ @ @ @ language descriptive track for Parasite was written and performed by Matthew Jarman of Bad Princess Productions .
`` English language is no indication of quality in film and if it 's about accessibility , why should you be only able to access films from one culture , '' says Jarman who , with a colleague , recorded the audio description at his home studio in London .
`` America do make a lot of films , the U.K , as well , but everybody is making films so we should be able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Denise Decker hopes that Parasite 's success and popularity will raise awareness about the inaccessibility of foreign language films in the US .
And she says she does what she can to inform sighted people about the importance of audio description .
`` Sometimes when I 'm at a movie with a friend who are sighted , I 've just taken one side of the headset and let them listen to a little of the audio description so they understand what I 'm hearing while they 're watching the movie .
Immediately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get it , I understand why its important to you . ''

There's A Better Way To 'Dub' Movie Audio For Visually Impaired Fans
Enlarge this image toggle caption Wilson Webb/Netflix Wilson Webb/Netflix
Most people never have to explain why they enjoy going to the movies. But, Denise Decker sometimes needs to do that.
The retired federal worker, who lives in Washington, D.C., says some sighted people don't understand how someone who is blind can appreciate watching film.
"Those of us who are vision impaired enjoy going to the movies probably as much as anyone else does and we probably go as much as some sighted people do," she says.
Decker says she enjoys all types of movies, as long as it's a "good story." But, foreign language films that are only subtitled are not an option.
And dubbing wouldn't solve the problem.
"Dubbing just tells us the dialogue," she explains. "It doesn't tell us the surrounding actions and the other things that are taking place, maybe what the individuals are wearing, the expressions on their face, are they moving, what else is happening."
The solution, Decker says, is audio description: an embedded voice that translates visual imagery and action on the screen into spoken word.
These bits of narration play during pauses in a movie's dialogue. Typically, one voice actor performs the description.
But, while almost all Hollywood films provide this inclusive feature, most non-English language movies produced overseas and distributed in the United States do not. And that prevents millions of blind and visually impaired Americans from fully appreciating many foreign pictures.
Around 3.4-million Americans over the age of 40 are blind or have low vision, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The American Foundation for the Blind says 26.9-million people have experience difficulty seeing even with correction or are blind and legally blind.
Joel Snyder, who directs the American Council of the Blind's audio description project suspects that this accessibility service is not included in many American releases because local distributors don't think subtitled films are big draws at the box office.
An Example Of Audio Description Jane Doe YouTube
He says adding audio description to a film that is not originally in English is "somewhat more complicated, but not prohibitive" to produce. It would require at least two narrators; one providing the visual explanation and another that speaks the subtitles, he explains.
Snyder says compared to closed-captioning, audio description is still not as well known by the general public, even though its been available in live theater and on some American movies' VHS or DVD releases for decades.
And since 2017, the Americans With Disabilities Act has required movie theaters to provide audio description services when available. So, now in many cinemas, a visually impaired customer can request a headset and transmitter box that plays the descriptive track in sync with the film.
Streaming services also provide audio description for many of the titles on their platforms.
But, Rebecca Williford, managing attorney at Disability Rights Advocates in Berkeley, Calif., says it took lawsuits to make these companies offer this feature.
"One with Netflix and one with Hulu, where we were able to get increased audio description content on those streaming services," Williford says. "And we were able to work out a settlement with AMC to make sure they would do things like do more frequent checks of their equipment so things like that wouldn't ruin people's evening at the movies."
Williford did not want to weigh in on whether the ADA, which was signed into law 30-years ago, requires the American distributors of foreign films to include audio description for their US releases.
The unavailability of this feature for non-English language films gained some attention during this year's Oscars, when the South Korean dark comedy Parasite became the first subtitled movie to win Best Picture. It was this category's only nominee that didn't include audio description.
Bong Joon-ho, Parasite's director, has remarked that Americans must "overcome the 1-inch-tall barrier of subtitles" so they can "be introduced to so many more amazing films." He was perhaps unaware that his U.S. distributor, Neon, did not include audio description for the movie's theatrical or home release.
Tom Quinn, Neon's co-founder, declined NPR's request for comment.
For now, the only way for America's blind and visually impaired to overcome this film's accessibility barrier, is to get hold of Parasite's U.K. DVD release.
The world's only English language descriptive track for Parasite was written and performed by Matthew Jarman of Bad Princess Productions.
"English language is no indication of quality in film and if it's about accessibility, why should you be only able to access films from one culture," says Jarman who, with a colleague, recorded the audio description at his home studio in London.
"America do make a lot of films, the U.K, as well, but everybody is making films so we should be able to enjoy them all," he adds.
Denise Decker hopes that Parasite's success and popularity will raise awareness about the inaccessibility of foreign language films in the US.
And she says she does what she can to inform sighted people about the importance of audio description.
"Sometimes when I'm at a movie with a friend who are sighted, I've just taken one side of the headset and let them listen to a little of the audio description so they understand what I'm hearing while they're watching the movie. Immediately, people say oh yeah, I get it, I understand why it's important to you."
Jason Strother is a freelance multimedia journalist based in Seoul.


npr--2020-08-19--Howard University Shaped Kamala Harris' Path To Political Heights

A couple of years before California Sen. Kamala Harris announced that she would run for president , she returned to Howard University to speak to the graduating class .
`` First , to lead and to thrive , you must reject false choices .
Howard taught me , as it has taught you , that you can do anything and you can do everything , '' Harris told the 2017 graduates .
After attending elementary school in Berkeley , Calif. , and high school in Montreal , Harris decided on Howard and was focused on becoming a lawyer .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I wanted to get off on the right foot , '' she wrote in her book , The Truths We Hold .
`` And what better place to do that , I thought , than at Thurgood Marshall 's alma mater ? ''
In choosing Howard , regarded as one of the nation 's premier historically Black educational institutions , Harris was immersing herself in Black culture and Black life .
She pledged Alpha Kappa Alpha , the nation 's oldest Black sorority , founded more than 100 years ago at Howard .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ I know the feeling that Kamala Harris felt , to say , ' I 'm choosing to go to Howard . '
And I think that choice is so important to uplift , '' said Stefanie Brown James , the co-founder of Collective PAC , which works around the U.S. to get Black candidates elected .
She graduated from Howard in 2004 .
`` It is just this mix of being able to question , being able to reveal , being able to become grounded in yourself as a Black person and then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I show up best in this world that does n't always want me to be my best self ? '
`` When Harris moved into Eton Towers in the fall of 1982 , she added herself to a long lineage of prominent Black leaders who count themselves as alumni : activist Stokely Carmichael , author Toni Morrison , Rep. Elijah Cummings and writer Zora Neale Hurston among them .
`` The thing about the early '80s is you still had a sizable number of people who we study now in civil rights who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was the center point for that , '' said Eric Easter , who graduated from Howard in 1983 , the year after Harris enrolled , though the two did cross paths .
Around the same time Harris and Easter were both at Howard , a number of descendants of civil rights icons were also on campus , like the children of Jesse Jackson and Andrew Young .
It was the center of Black intellectual life and full of possibility and empowerment .
`` Stokely Carmichael used to walk around the dorms and talk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to you , '' said Easter .
`` You took it for granted that you had access to the world 's greatest thinkers in politics and activism . ''
Harris described Howard as a `` place where you did n't have to be confined to the box of another person 's choosing '' and where students were not just told `` we had the capacity to be great ; we were challenged to live up to that potential . ''
Howard University was one of Harris ' first stops when she announced that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ faced reporters as a candidate for the first time on campus .
Standing behind a lectern before a throng of journalists and cameras , Harris called the institution `` one of the most important aspects of my life . ''
`` It is where I first ran for my first elected office , which was freshman class representative of the Liberal Arts Student Council , so this is where it all began , '' Harris said .
She took questions from reporters , including one from a reporter who interrogated her background , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black woman who is a daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants .
`` How do you describe yourself ? ''
the reporter asked her .
`` Did you read my book ?
How do I describe myself ?
I describe myself as a proud American , '' Harris said before moving on .
Throughout her primary campaign , which ended in December , Harris ' ties to Howard were readily apparent .
Soon after launching her campaign , she spoke at the annual Pink Ice Gala hosted by Alpha Kappa Alpha in South @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which Harris would find herself surrounded by sorors in trademark pink and green .
At the South Carolina Democratic Party Convention last year , Harris swayed and clapped along with a drum line , the most attention-grabbing entrance of any of the presidential candidates who participated in the campaign cattle call .
There were less scripted moments , like when Harris was touring small businesses in Columbia , S.C. , and stopped mid-speech to greet a fellow Howard Bison who dropped by a restaurant , wearing a crew-neck Howard sweatshirt .
`` We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was there before her , '' Harris said , drawing laughs from the crowd after she embraced the woman .
Harris was even photographed by her husband while wearing a Howard University sweatshirt during the Democratic National Convention roll-call vote to nominate Joe Biden on Tuesday .
Alumni say that one thing unique about the Howard experience is that you know that you 're being evaluated on your merits .
`` I tell people oftentimes , when you get a D at Howard , you do n't question whether or not that grade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ skin or where you came from .
On the same token , you also know that when you get an A+ , you also know it was because of your intellect , '' said Howard University President Wayne Frederick , who is also a three-time Howard alum .
`` The environment is about your excellence and your success , '' he added .
Erin Keith graduated from Howard in 2013 .
Like Harris , she went on to law school after graduation .
`` When you walk across a campus where so many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are proud , you kind of shed your impostor syndrome at the door , or at The Yard , for lack of a better way to put it , '' she said , referring to the main quadrangle on campus .
`` One of the things that Howard teaches us is that Blackness is not a monolith , that people of the diaspora are diverse and that it 's to be celebrated — there 's no one way to be a Black person , '' Keith added .
In that 2017 commencement speech @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own path .
`` So the notion of rejecting false choices that Howard taught us has carried me throughout my career : as the district attorney of San Francisco , as the attorney general of California and now as a United States senator , '' she said .
On Wednesday , the lessons of Howard University will help carry her to be the vice presidential nominee of the Democratic Party .

Howard University Shaped Kamala Harris' Path To Political Heights
Enlarge this image toggle caption Al Drago/Getty Images Al Drago/Getty Images
A couple of years before California Sen. Kamala Harris announced that she would run for president, she returned to Howard University to speak to the graduating class.
"First, to lead and to thrive, you must reject false choices. Howard taught me, as it has taught you, that you can do anything and you can do everything," Harris told the 2017 graduates.
After attending elementary school in Berkeley, Calif., and high school in Montreal, Harris decided on Howard and was focused on becoming a lawyer.
"So when it came to college, I wanted to get off on the right foot," she wrote in her book, The Truths We Hold. "And what better place to do that, I thought, than at Thurgood Marshall's alma mater?"
In choosing Howard, regarded as one of the nation's premier historically Black educational institutions, Harris was immersing herself in Black culture and Black life. She pledged Alpha Kappa Alpha, the nation's oldest Black sorority, founded more than 100 years ago at Howard. She attended protests against apartheid.
"I know the feeling that Kamala Harris felt, to say, 'I'm choosing to go to Howard.' And I think that choice is so important to uplift," said Stefanie Brown James, the co-founder of Collective PAC, which works around the U.S. to get Black candidates elected. She graduated from Howard in 2004.
"It is just this mix of being able to question, being able to reveal, being able to become grounded in yourself as a Black person and then figuring out, 'OK, how can I show up best in this world that doesn't always want me to be my best self?' "
When Harris moved into Eton Towers in the fall of 1982, she added herself to a long lineage of prominent Black leaders who count themselves as alumni: activist Stokely Carmichael, author Toni Morrison, Rep. Elijah Cummings and writer Zora Neale Hurston among them.
"The thing about the early '80s is you still had a sizable number of people who we study now in civil rights who were still very young ... and Howard was the center point for that," said Eric Easter, who graduated from Howard in 1983, the year after Harris enrolled, though the two did cross paths.
Around the same time Harris and Easter were both at Howard, a number of descendants of civil rights icons were also on campus, like the children of Jesse Jackson and Andrew Young. It was the center of Black intellectual life and full of possibility and empowerment.
"Stokely Carmichael used to walk around the dorms and talk to us — they were just available to you," said Easter. "You took it for granted that you had access to the world's greatest thinkers in politics and activism."
Harris described Howard as a "place where you didn't have to be confined to the box of another person's choosing" and where students were not just told "we had the capacity to be great; we were challenged to live up to that potential."
Howard University was one of Harris' first stops when she announced that she would run for president. She faced reporters as a candidate for the first time on campus.
Standing behind a lectern before a throng of journalists and cameras, Harris called the institution "one of the most important aspects of my life."
"It is where I first ran for my first elected office, which was freshman class representative of the Liberal Arts Student Council, so this is where it all began," Harris said.
She took questions from reporters, including one from a reporter who interrogated her background, asking Harris about her heritage as a Black woman who is a daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants.
"How do you describe yourself?" the reporter asked her.
"Did you read my book? How do I describe myself? I describe myself as a proud American," Harris said before moving on.
Throughout her primary campaign, which ended in December, Harris' ties to Howard were readily apparent.
Soon after launching her campaign, she spoke at the annual Pink Ice Gala hosted by Alpha Kappa Alpha in South Carolina, one of numerous occasions in which Harris would find herself surrounded by sorors in trademark pink and green.
At the South Carolina Democratic Party Convention last year, Harris swayed and clapped along with a drum line, the most attention-grabbing entrance of any of the presidential candidates who participated in the campaign cattle call.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Sean Rayford/Getty Images Sean Rayford/Getty Images
There were less scripted moments, like when Harris was touring small businesses in Columbia, S.C., and stopped mid-speech to greet a fellow Howard Bison who dropped by a restaurant, wearing a crew-neck Howard sweatshirt.
"We both went to Howard. ... I was there before her," Harris said, drawing laughs from the crowd after she embraced the woman.
Harris was even photographed by her husband while wearing a Howard University sweatshirt during the Democratic National Convention roll-call vote to nominate Joe Biden on Tuesday.
Alumni say that one thing unique about the Howard experience is that you know that you're being evaluated on your merits.
"I tell people oftentimes, when you get a D at Howard, you don't question whether or not that grade was based on the color of your skin or where you came from. On the same token, you also know that when you get an A+, you also know it was because of your intellect," said Howard University President Wayne Frederick, who is also a three-time Howard alum.
"The environment is about your excellence and your success," he added.
Erin Keith graduated from Howard in 2013. Like Harris, she went on to law school after graduation.
"When you walk across a campus where so many people look like you ... and who are proud, you kind of shed your impostor syndrome at the door, or at The Yard, for lack of a better way to put it," she said, referring to the main quadrangle on campus.
"One of the things that Howard teaches us is that Blackness is not a monolith, that people of the diaspora are diverse and that it's to be celebrated — there's no one way to be a Black person," Keith added.
In that 2017 commencement speech, Harris explained that she chose her own path.
"So the notion of rejecting false choices that Howard taught us has carried me throughout my career: as the district attorney of San Francisco, as the attorney general of California and now as a United States senator," she said.
On Wednesday, the lessons of Howard University will help carry her to be the vice presidential nominee of the Democratic Party.


npr--2020-08-19--4 Takeaways From Night 2 Of The Democratic National Convention

4 Takeaways From Night 2 Of The Democratic National Convention After former first lady Michelle Obama 's foreboding address Monday about the consequences of a second term for President Trump , and her urgent appeal that people `` vote for Joe Biden like our lives depend on it , '' the second night of the Democratic National Convention focused on building the case for how Biden would restore a country struggling in an economic and public health crisis .
The main messenger — Jill Biden — delivered an intimate speech that wove together her career as an educator with her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden began with an effort to heal a broken and grieving family .
Democrats continued to highlight their priority for quality and affordable health care with an emotional appeal from an activist stricken with Lou Gehrig 's disease .
After Democrats focused the 2018 midterms on the threat of the GOP dismantling the Affordable Care Act , the Biden campaign and congressional candidates are confident the issue is an effective one to use in suburban battlegrounds around the country this fall .
Tuesday 's lineup featured elder Democratic statesmen including two former presidents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the party has changed , and how the energy of younger stars is focused on an agenda far more progressive than these leaders envisioned when they served in office decades earlier .
And because of the coronavirus pandemic , for the first time the party nominated its candidate for president in a highly produced remote roll call vote .
Biden , in his third run for the White House , finally secured the nomination , setting up a contentious general election against Trump .
Some takeaways from the second of the four-night Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worked to put character on the ballot and offer a hopeful message Walking through an empty hallway and classroom in the Delaware school where she taught when Joe Biden served in the U.S. Senate , Jill Biden delivered a live speech that started out with a subtle critique of the Trump administration 's handling of the coronavirus pandemic by highlighting the dynamic that most teachers and parents are struggling with as the school year begins — remote learning .
`` [ T ] his quiet is heavy , '' she said , adding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that echoes down empty hallways . ''
Jill Biden was introduced by a video with family members discussing her personal strength and resiliency as a young woman who met a widower who had lost his wife and baby daughter in a car crash and was raising two young sons .
The story of Joe Biden 's family tragedy at the age of 30 just weeks after winning his Senate seat in 1972 has been a key part of his political biography .
His wife 's recounting suggested the experience will translate to her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ husband 's role as president .
`` How do you make a broken family whole ?
The same way you make a nation whole , '' she said .
`` With love and understanding and with small acts of kindness .
With bravery .
With unwavering faith . ''
Unlike former first lady Michelle Obama 's direct attack on Trump Monday night , Jill Biden did n't mention the current president 's name .
She offered a more hopeful message , recounting stories about how her husband rebounded from searing family tragedies .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ how people are picking up the pieces during a hard time .
`` Across the country , educators , parents , first responders , Americans of all walks of life are putting their shoulders back , fighting for each other , '' she said .
`` We have n't given up . ''
While enthusiasm for Joe Biden 's candidacy may not be intense in a party that had significant divisions during the primaries , the message from Jill Biden was that her husband 's character contrasts with that of the current occupant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his lifelong career of public service demonstrates he has the experience to work on issues that matter to people concerned about the future .
She set aside ideological issues and made the argument that Joe Biden 's moral compass is what the country needs .
2 .
Health care remains the central issue Democrats want to wield against the GOP , but they are still divided on what course to take One of the emotional speeches of the night came from Ady Barkan , a health care advocate stricken with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from a wheelchair via a computer-generated voice .
`` Even during this terrible crisis , Donald Trump and Republican politicians are trying to take away millions of people 's health insurance , '' Barkan said .
Barkan gained national attention for his efforts pushing `` Medicare for All . ''
He backed Elizabeth Warren 's presidential campaign as the broad field of Democratic candidates debated the merits of a massive overhaul and what it would mean to transition from private health care plans to a government system .
Biden has backed expanding the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ All , one issue that continues to frustrate those on the left of the party who remain disappointed that then-President Obama set aside his plans for a single-payer system .
But Barkan did n't press specifically for Medicare for All in his speech , or bring up the internal divide — instead he warned about the `` existential threat of another four years of this president . ''
Other speakers hit on health care , too — Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , D-N.Y. , pledged if Democrats took control of the Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for all . ''
The House Democrats ' campaign arm has also signaled that it believes health care is the single most important issue animating voters this fall — especially as more Americans see the impact of the coronavirus .
3 .
There was a focus on Democratic elders when energy in the party is coming from younger , progressive elected leaders Tuesday 's program included testimonials from former presidents who are always familiar faces at political conventions .
Former President Bill Clinton , who has had prime slots at conventions for decades @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gave a condensed address in the more subdued setting of his living room .
Like Jill Biden , he made character an issue — and attacked Donald Trump .
`` Now you have to decide whether to renew his contract or hire someone else , '' Clinton said .
`` If you want a president who defines the job as spending hours a day watching TV and zapping people on social media , he 's your man . ''
Former President Jimmy Carter , who is 95 and ailing , voiced-over a video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during his 1976 campaign .
2004 Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry spoke about his long relationship with Biden during his time in the Senate and as secretary of state during the Obama administration .
Nostalgia for former Democratic leaders is a quadrennial tradition , and this year 's remote convention observed it , too .
Caroline Kennedy , daughter of former President John F. Kennedy , and her son John Schlossberg , were given prominent roles , which they used to describe Biden 's ties to the late Sen. Ted Kennedy , arguing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the new generation of Democrats focused on climate change .
`` In this election , our future is on the ballot .
For my generation , it will define the rest of our lives , '' Schlossberg said .
But the brand of politics that many of these party elders espoused is no longer in vogue .
Clinton campaigned for president as a centrist and famously promised during a 1996 State of the Union address that `` the era of big government is over . ''
But progressive Democrats that Biden singles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the return of big government — in health care , in the energy sector , in education and the environment .
New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez , the progressive freshman , has built a national profile as `` AOC '' and pushed party leaders to embrace Medicare for All .
Despite being a social media sensation and popular draw as a surrogate for Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders ' campaign , she was given a brief and early slot on Tuesday 's program — something fellow progressives viewed as a slight after Republican John @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2016 GOP presidential candidate , got prime-time billing Monday night .
Biden has talked about being a bridge to the next generation , but so far the convention has not given much prominence to younger figures on the left — perhaps because the party is hoping to convince wavering independents and moderates that Biden needs their support to change direction in the White House .
Ocasio-Cortez , who was allotted less than two minutes , presented a long list of issues she said needed to be addressed , `` including guaranteed health care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ labor rights for all people in the United States . ''
Instead of picking one rising star to deliver the keynote speech — a convention tradition — Democrats picked 17 young elected leaders in an effort to demonstrate the party 's diversity .
Stacey Abrams , the Black former Georgia state legislator who ran a close race for governor in 2018 , was one who already had a national profile .
But others included Robert Garcia , an immigrant from Peru who was the first openly gay mayor elected in Long Beach , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American freshman representing a competitive congressional district in Texas ; and Sam Park , the first openly gay man elected to the state legislature in Georgia .
Former South Bend , Ind.
, Mayor Pete Buttigieg downplayed the prominence of older party leaders and discounted any gap between their views and those of the newer generation of elected leaders .
`` You heard from every part of our party and every part of our country , '' he told NPR after Tuesday 's program .
4 .
The remote roll call vote nominating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ floor routine With delegates unable to travel to Milwaukee , convention organizers decided to show Democrats from each state and territory via satellite link — some live and some taped — formally granting Joe Biden the title of his party 's presidential nominee .
Traditionally , the lengthy roll call vote features brief speeches from the convention floor as delegates boast about their state 's key industries or political leaders .
Instead , the screen presented an impressive television production that gave the viewer a tour of the country and featured some familiar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Casey outside Biden 's childhood home in Scranton ; and speaking from Charlottesville , Va. , Khizr Khan , the Gold Star parent who criticized Trump at the 2016 Democratic National Convention .
Rhode Island 's turn featured a state senator discussing the challenges facing restaurants during the pandemic , standing on the beach touting the `` calamari comeback . ''
Despite the novelty of the virtual roll call vote , once Biden was officially named the nominee , Democrats capped it off with `` Celebration , '' a 1980 song by Kool @ @ @ @ @ @ @ convention musical traditions never die .

4 Takeaways From Night 2 Of The Democratic National Convention
Enlarge this image toggle caption Screenshot of DNCC livestream via Getty Images Screenshot of DNCC livestream via Getty Images
After former first lady Michelle Obama's foreboding address Monday about the consequences of a second term for President Trump, and her urgent appeal that people "vote for Joe Biden like our lives depend on it," the second night of the Democratic National Convention focused on building the case for how Biden would restore a country struggling in an economic and public health crisis.
The main messenger — Jill Biden — delivered an intimate speech that wove together her career as an educator with her story about how her partnership with Joe Biden began with an effort to heal a broken and grieving family.
Democrats continued to highlight their priority for quality and affordable health care with an emotional appeal from an activist stricken with Lou Gehrig's disease. After Democrats focused the 2018 midterms on the threat of the GOP dismantling the Affordable Care Act, the Biden campaign and congressional candidates are confident the issue is an effective one to use in suburban battlegrounds around the country this fall.
Tuesday's lineup featured elder Democratic statesmen including two former presidents, but their appearances highlighted how much the party has changed, and how the energy of younger stars is focused on an agenda far more progressive than these leaders envisioned when they served in office decades earlier.
And because of the coronavirus pandemic, for the first time the party nominated its candidate for president in a highly produced remote roll call vote. Biden, in his third run for the White House, finally secured the nomination, setting up a contentious general election against Trump.
Some takeaways from the second of the four-night Democratic National Convention:
NPR YouTube
1. Jill Biden worked to put character on the ballot and offer a hopeful message
Walking through an empty hallway and classroom in the Delaware school where she taught when Joe Biden served in the U.S. Senate, Jill Biden delivered a live speech that started out with a subtle critique of the Trump administration's handling of the coronavirus pandemic by highlighting the dynamic that most teachers and parents are struggling with as the school year begins — remote learning.
"[T]his quiet is heavy," she said, adding, "you can hear the anxiety that echoes down empty hallways."
Jill Biden was introduced by a video with family members discussing her personal strength and resiliency as a young woman who met a widower who had lost his wife and baby daughter in a car crash and was raising two young sons. The story of Joe Biden's family tragedy at the age of 30 just weeks after winning his Senate seat in 1972 has been a key part of his political biography. His wife's recounting suggested the experience will translate to her role as first lady, and her husband's role as president.
"How do you make a broken family whole? The same way you make a nation whole," she said. "With love and understanding and with small acts of kindness. With bravery. With unwavering faith."
Unlike Michelle Obama's direct attack on Trump Monday night, Jill Biden didn't mention the current president's name. She offered a more hopeful message, recounting stories about how her husband rebounded from searing family tragedies. And she took a positive view about how people are picking up the pieces during a hard time.
"Across the country, educators, parents, first responders, Americans of all walks of life are putting their shoulders back, fighting for each other," she said. "We haven't given up."
While enthusiasm for Joe Biden's candidacy may not be intense in a party that had significant divisions during the primaries, the message from Jill Biden was that her husband's character contrasts with that of the current occupant of the Oval Office — and that his lifelong career of public service demonstrates he has the experience to work on issues that matter to people concerned about the future. She set aside ideological issues and made the argument that Joe Biden's moral compass is what the country needs.
2. Health care remains the central issue Democrats want to wield against the GOP, but they are still divided on what course to take
One of the emotional speeches of the night came from Ady Barkan, a health care advocate stricken with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) who delivered his remarks from a wheelchair via a computer-generated voice.
"Even during this terrible crisis, Donald Trump and Republican politicians are trying to take away millions of people's health insurance," Barkan said.
Barkan gained national attention for his efforts pushing "Medicare for All." He backed Elizabeth Warren's presidential campaign as the broad field of Democratic candidates debated the merits of a massive overhaul and what it would mean to transition from private health care plans to a government system.
Biden has backed expanding the Affordable Care Act — not Medicare for All, one issue that continues to frustrate those on the left of the party who remain disappointed that then-President Obama set aside his plans for a single-payer system. But Barkan didn't press specifically for Medicare for All in his speech, or bring up the internal divide — instead he warned about the "existential threat of another four years of this president."
Other speakers hit on health care, too — Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., pledged if Democrats took control of the Senate they would "make health care affordable for all."
The House Democrats' campaign arm has also signaled that it believes health care is the single most important issue animating voters this fall — especially as more Americans see the impact of the coronavirus.
3. There was a focus on Democratic elders when energy in the party is coming from younger, progressive elected leaders
Tuesday's program included testimonials from former presidents who are always familiar faces at political conventions. Former President Bill Clinton, who has had prime slots at conventions for decades and is famous for lengthy remarks, gave a condensed address in the more subdued setting of his living room.
Like Jill Biden, he made character an issue — and attacked Donald Trump.
"Now you have to decide whether to renew his contract or hire someone else," Clinton said. "If you want a president who defines the job as spending hours a day watching TV and zapping people on social media, he's your man."
Former President Jimmy Carter, who is 95 and ailing, voiced-over a video that featured pictures of Biden endorsing him during his 1976 campaign. 2004 Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry spoke about his long relationship with Biden during his time in the Senate and as secretary of state during the Obama administration.
Nostalgia for former Democratic leaders is a quadrennial tradition, and this year's remote convention observed it, too. Caroline Kennedy, daughter of former President John F. Kennedy, and her son John Schlossberg, were given prominent roles, which they used to describe Biden's ties to the late Sen. Ted Kennedy, arguing Biden was a bridge from the past to the new generation of Democrats focused on climate change.
"In this election, our future is on the ballot. For my generation, it will define the rest of our lives," Schlossberg said.
But the brand of politics that many of these party elders espoused is no longer in vogue. Clinton campaigned for president as a centrist and famously promised during a 1996 State of the Union address that "the era of big government is over." But progressive Democrats that Biden singles out as future leaders are pushing for the return of big government — in health care, in the energy sector, in education and the environment.
New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the progressive freshman, has built a national profile as "AOC" and pushed party leaders to embrace Medicare for All. Despite being a social media sensation and popular draw as a surrogate for Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders' campaign, she was given a brief and early slot on Tuesday's program — something fellow progressives viewed as a slight after Republican John Kasich, the former Ohio governor and 2016 GOP presidential candidate, got prime-time billing Monday night.
Biden has talked about being a bridge to the next generation, but so far the convention has not given much prominence to younger figures on the left — perhaps because the party is hoping to convince wavering independents and moderates that Biden needs their support to change direction in the White House.
Ocasio-Cortez, who was allotted less than two minutes, presented a long list of issues she said needed to be addressed, "including guaranteed health care, higher education, living wages and labor rights for all people in the United States."
Instead of picking one rising star to deliver the keynote speech — a convention tradition — Democrats picked 17 young elected leaders in an effort to demonstrate the party's diversity. Stacey Abrams, the Black former Georgia state legislator who ran a close race for governor in 2018, was one who already had a national profile. But others included Robert Garcia, an immigrant from Peru who was the first openly gay mayor elected in Long Beach, Calif.; Colin Allred, an African American freshman representing a competitive congressional district in Texas; and Sam Park, the first openly gay man elected to the state legislature in Georgia.
Former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg downplayed the prominence of older party leaders and discounted any gap between their views and those of the newer generation of elected leaders.
"You heard from every part of our party and every part of our country," he told NPR after Tuesday's program.
4. The remote roll call vote nominating Biden was better than the traditional convention floor routine
With delegates unable to travel to Milwaukee, convention organizers decided to show Democrats from each state and territory via satellite link — some live and some taped — formally granting Joe Biden the title of his party's presidential nominee.
Traditionally, the lengthy roll call vote features brief speeches from the convention floor as delegates boast about their state's key industries or political leaders. Instead, the screen presented an impressive television production that gave the viewer a tour of the country and featured some familiar faces like Buttigieg; Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey outside Biden's childhood home in Scranton; and speaking from Charlottesville, Va., Khizr Khan, the Gold Star parent who criticized Trump at the 2016 Democratic National Convention. Rhode Island's turn featured a state senator discussing the challenges facing restaurants during the pandemic, standing on the beach touting the "calamari comeback."
Despite the novelty of the virtual roll call vote, once Biden was officially named the nominee, Democrats capped it off with "Celebration," a 1980 song by Kool and the Gang — proving that some convention musical traditions never die.


npr--2020-08-18--California Picks Up Fight Over DACA Restrictions Again

California Picks Up Fight Over DACA Restrictions Again After several legal victories , California 's Attorney General Xavier Becerra says he will take the Trump Administration back to court over the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program .
In a court filing Tuesday , Becerra said his office expects to challenge the latest set of rules that the state argues have scaled back DACA against the orders of the U.S. Supreme Court and a federal lower court in Maryland .
Those decisions `` required DHS to resume accepting initial DACA applications from eligible immigrants , including those who had aged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the [ new policy ] , '' the attorney general 's office said .
A June ruling by the Supreme Court found that efforts by the Department of Homeland Security to get rid of DACA were `` arbitrary and capricious . ''
Chief Justice John Roberts , a conservative appointed by President George W. Bush , joined the court 's liberals , instructing the DHS to roll back the changes and reinstate the program as it existed in September 2017 .
In response , the Trump administration found another way to hold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , DHS implemented another set of restrictions `` while a permanent resolution is determined , '' a top DHS official , Ken Cuccinelli , told NPR .
Under the terms of the new memorandum , the department is no longer processing new DACA applications , only renewals , and reducing the renewal period for current recipients from two years to one year , which doubles the fees necessary to maintain DACA status .
`` Rather than accept the outcome of the litigation , '' wrote Becerra on Tuesday , `` [ Acting DHS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ... directing DHS to make immediate interim changes to DACA while he ostensibly evaluates the future of the program . ''
Although the Supreme Court rejected the Trump administration efforts to wind down the program last month , it did not rule on its underlying legality .

California Picks Up Fight Over DACA Restrictions Again
Enlarge this image toggle caption Alex Brandon/AP Alex Brandon/AP
After several legal victories, California's Attorney General Xavier Becerra says he will take the Trump Administration back to court over the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.
In a court filing Tuesday, Becerra said his office expects to challenge the latest set of rules that the state argues have scaled back DACA against the orders of the U.S. Supreme Court and a federal lower court in Maryland.
Those decisions "required DHS to resume accepting initial DACA applications from eligible immigrants, including those who had aged in to eligibility during the unlawful tenure of the [new policy]," the attorney general's office said.
A June ruling by the Supreme Court found that efforts by the Department of Homeland Security to get rid of DACA were "arbitrary and capricious."
Chief Justice John Roberts, a conservative appointed by President George W. Bush, joined the court's liberals, instructing the DHS to roll back the changes and reinstate the program as it existed in September 2017.
In response, the Trump administration found another way to hold off on the order. In July, DHS implemented another set of restrictions "while a permanent resolution is determined," a top DHS official, Ken Cuccinelli, told NPR.
Under the terms of the new memorandum, the department is no longer processing new DACA applications, only renewals, and reducing the renewal period for current recipients from two years to one year, which doubles the fees necessary to maintain DACA status.
"Rather than accept the outcome of the litigation," wrote Becerra on Tuesday, "[Acting DHS Secretary Chad] Wolf issued a memorandum ... directing DHS to make immediate interim changes to DACA while he ostensibly evaluates the future of the program."
Roughly 640,000 immigrants currently hold DACA status.
Although the Supreme Court rejected the Trump administration efforts to wind down the program last month, it did not rule on its underlying legality.


npr--2020-08-18--Members Of Louisville City Council Draft A Measure Calling On Mayor To Resign

Members Of Louisville City Council Draft A Measure Calling On Mayor To Resign A group of Republicans on the Louisville , Ky. , city council are calling for a vote of no-confidence in the city 's Democratic Mayor Greg Fischer , citing his `` actions and inactions '' as it relates to the city 's homicide rate and his handling of the Breonna Taylor case .
The Louisville Metro Council 's Republican Caucus unveiled a resolution on Monday , that if passed , would seek the mayor 's resignation .
It seems unlikely the legislation would pass given Democrats hold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to member station WFPL in Louisville .
The station notes not a single Democrat has signed on to the measure .
The no-confidence measure calls for systemic changes within the Louisville Metro Police Department and says the mayor has not been transparent in the shooting deaths of two Black residents , Taylor and David McAtee .
McAtee , 53 , was killed in June when Louisville police officers and National Guard troops converged on a crowd and began shooting .
Investigators have determined the lethal shot came from a national guardsman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was killed in March by Louisville police officers executing a warrant at her home .
In the months since her death , her name , as well as George Floyd , Rayshard Brooks and others , have been chanted at national protests calling for an end to systemic racism and police brutality .
`` Mayor Greg Fischer has opposed the release of information related to the death of Ms. Breonna Taylor and Mr. David McAtee until forced to release the information by actions of the Metro Council through resolutions and ordinances passed in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Republicans ' resolution says , `` The membership of the Louisville Metro Council believe new leadership in the Mayor 's Office is essential to bringing the change that is needed at [ Louisville Metro Police Department ] . ''
The three-page resolution also projects that the city will exceed the `` dubious record number of homicides set in 2016 , '' which totaled 118 .
For his part , Fischer said in a tweet it was `` sad and shameful '' the members of council were engaging in `` partisan and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that officials in the mayor 's office have , so for , declined to testify in the council 's investigations into the handling of those shootings .
For example , Robert Schroeder , the interim chief for the Louisville Metro Police department and the city 's chief of public safety Amy Hess were scheduled to testify earlier this month .
But after the hearing got underway , both reportedly walked out , on advice from their lawyers .
Their attorneys cited a federal lawsuit filed by the ACLU in July against several Louisville @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to WDRB , a Fox-affiliate in Louisville .
Separately , Breonna Taylor 's mother last week held a news conference along with family attorneys Benjamin Crump and Lonita Baker renewing calls for charges to be brought against the three officers involved in her daughter 's shooting .
It was held a day after separate private meetings with both the mayor and Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron about the investigation into Taylor 's death .
`` One hundred and fifty days , '' Tamika Palmer , Taylor 's mother , said during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hall .
`` Every day is still March the 13th , '' she said , referring to the day Taylor was killed .
To date , none of the three officers involved in Taylor 's shooting has been charged .
Officer Brett Hankison was fired from the Louisville Metro Police Department in June .
Two other officers — Jonathan Mattingly and Myles Cosgrove — are on administrative leave .

Members Of Louisville City Council Draft A Measure Calling On Mayor To Resign
Enlarge this image toggle caption Darron Cummings/AP Darron Cummings/AP
A group of Republicans on the Louisville, Ky., city council are calling for a vote of no-confidence in the city's Democratic Mayor Greg Fischer, citing his "actions and inactions" as it relates to the city's homicide rate and his handling of the Breonna Taylor case.
The Louisville Metro Council's Republican Caucus unveiled a resolution on Monday, that if passed, would seek the mayor's resignation.
It seems unlikely the legislation would pass given Democrats hold 19 of the council's 26 seats, according to member station WFPL in Louisville. The station notes not a single Democrat has signed on to the measure.
The no-confidence measure calls for systemic changes within the Louisville Metro Police Department and says the mayor has not been transparent in the shooting deaths of two Black residents, Taylor and David McAtee.
McAtee, 53, was killed in June when Louisville police officers and National Guard troops converged on a crowd and began shooting. Investigators have determined the lethal shot came from a national guardsman.
Taylor, a 26-year-old EMT, was killed in March by Louisville police officers executing a warrant at her home. In the months since her death, her name, as well as George Floyd, Rayshard Brooks and others, have been chanted at national protests calling for an end to systemic racism and police brutality.
"Mayor Greg Fischer has opposed the release of information related to the death of Ms. Breonna Taylor and Mr. David McAtee until forced to release the information by actions of the Metro Council through resolutions and ordinances passed in bi-partisan efforts;" the resolution states.
The Republicans' resolution says, "The membership of the Louisville Metro Council believe new leadership in the Mayor's Office is essential to bringing the change that is needed at [Louisville Metro Police Department]."
The three-page resolution also projects that the city will exceed the "dubious record number of homicides set in 2016," which totaled 118.
For his part, Fischer said in a tweet it was "sad and shameful" the members of council were engaging in "partisan and divisive political games."
WFPL reports that officials in the mayor's office have, so for, declined to testify in the council's investigations into the handling of those shootings.
For example, Robert Schroeder, the interim chief for the Louisville Metro Police department and the city's chief of public safety Amy Hess were scheduled to testify earlier this month.
But after the hearing got underway, both reportedly walked out, on advice from their lawyers. Their attorneys cited a federal lawsuit filed by the ACLU in July against several Louisville officials, including Schroder and Fischer, according to WDRB, a Fox-affiliate in Louisville.
Separately, Breonna Taylor's mother last week held a news conference along with family attorneys Benjamin Crump and Lonita Baker renewing calls for charges to be brought against the three officers involved in her daughter's shooting.
It was held a day after separate private meetings with both the mayor and Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron about the investigation into Taylor's death.
"One hundred and fifty days," Tamika Palmer, Taylor's mother, said during the media briefing in front of Louisville City Hall.
"Every day is still March the 13th," she said, referring to the day Taylor was killed.
To date, none of the three officers involved in Taylor's shooting has been charged.
Officer Brett Hankison was fired from the Louisville Metro Police Department in June. Two other officers — Jonathan Mattingly and Myles Cosgrove — are on administrative leave.


npr--2020-08-19--Trump, Addressing Far-Right QAnon Conspiracy, Offers Praise For Its Followers

President Trump addressed the baseless , far-right QAnon conspiracy theory directly for the first time on Wednesday , saying he did n't know much about the online community and its followers other than `` they like me very much . ''
`` I heard that these are people who love our country , '' Trump added in response to a question about the conspiracy community during a press briefing at the White House .
When a reporter partially summed up the conspiracy theory to him — that it revolves around a false narrative that Trump is leading a secret , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ satanic worshippers — Trump responded : `` Is that supposed to be a bad thing ? ''
`` If I can help save the world from problems , I 'm willing to do it , '' Trump said .
It 's the first time Trump has offered lengthy comments about the conspiracy theory , though in the past he has retweeted posts from QAnon-affiliated accounts on his Twitter account .
In the nearly three years since it first popped up on anonymous online message boards , the QAnon conspiracy has transformed from a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far-right politics and culture .
Research from the liberal watchdog group Media Matters for America counts 20 candidates for Congress who will appear on the general election ballot in November that have either identified themselves as believers in QAnon or have given credence to its dogma .
One of those candidates , Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia , is almost certainly headed for the House of Representatives .
Greene handily won the GOP primary in the state 's heavily Republican 14th Congressional District , defeating an opponent who ran as `` all of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Greene has professed her belief in the QAnon conspiracy , along with posting racist statements about Muslims , Hispanics and Black people online .
Many high-ranking Republicans in Congress distanced themselves from Greene before her primary .
A spokesman for House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy , R-Calif. , called her views and remarks `` appalling . ''
But after her victory , Trump tweeted his praise , calling her a `` future Republican star . ''
While the conspiracy community originated on online message boards , its followers and believers have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before Trump 's remarks on Wednesday , Facebook announced it had removed nearly 800 groups , 100 pages and 1,500 ads related to QAnon and imposed restrictions on hundreds more pages and thousands of accounts on Instagram .
In July , Twitter announced it had removed more than 7,000 accounts related to the conspiracy and promised a sweeping ban on content related to QAnon .
But the conspiracy theory is n't simply limited to online posting and harassment of public figures .
Followers of the conspiracy have committed acts of violence .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vehicle and carrying two firearms shut down a highway near the Hoover Dam .
And as The Daily Beast has reported , followers of QAnon have been linked to a series of kidnappings and two killings .
The connection to violence prompted the FBI in 2019 to classify QAnon as a domestic terrorism threat .
`` The FBI assesses these conspiracy theories very likely will emerge , spread , and evolve in the modern information marketplace , occasionally driving both groups and individual extremists to carry out criminal or violent acts , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yahoo !
News .
A spokesman for Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden on Wednesday blasted Trump for voicing his support for QAnon .
`` After calling neo-Nazis and white supremacists in Charlottesville 'fine people ' and tear-gassing peaceful protesters following the murder of George Floyd , Donald Trump just sought to legitimize a conspiracy theory that the FBI has identified as a domestic terrorism threat , '' spokesman Andrew Bates said .

Trump, Addressing Far-Right QAnon Conspiracy, Offers Praise For Its Followers
Enlarge this image toggle caption Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
President Trump addressed the baseless, far-right QAnon conspiracy theory directly for the first time on Wednesday, saying he didn't know much about the online community and its followers other than "they like me very much."
"I heard that these are people who love our country," Trump added in response to a question about the conspiracy community during a press briefing at the White House.
When a reporter partially summed up the conspiracy theory to him — that it revolves around a false narrative that Trump is leading a secret, government-led charge against pedophiles, cannibals and satanic worshippers — Trump responded: "Is that supposed to be a bad thing?"
"If I can help save the world from problems, I'm willing to do it," Trump said.
It's the first time Trump has offered lengthy comments about the conspiracy theory, though in the past he has retweeted posts from QAnon-affiliated accounts on his Twitter account.
In the nearly three years since it first popped up on anonymous online message boards, the QAnon conspiracy has transformed from a fringe movement to a major player in far-right politics and culture.
Research from the liberal watchdog group Media Matters for America counts 20 candidates for Congress who will appear on the general election ballot in November that have either identified themselves as believers in QAnon or have given credence to its dogma.
One of those candidates, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, is almost certainly headed for the House of Representatives. Greene handily won the GOP primary in the state's heavily Republican 14th Congressional District, defeating an opponent who ran as "all of the conservative, none of the embarrassment."
Greene has professed her belief in the QAnon conspiracy, along with posting racist statements about Muslims, Hispanics and Black people online.
Many high-ranking Republicans in Congress distanced themselves from Greene before her primary. A spokesman for House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., called her views and remarks "appalling."
But after her victory, Trump tweeted his praise, calling her a "future Republican star."
While the conspiracy community originated on online message boards, its followers and believers have migrated to more mainstream platforms.
Hours before Trump's remarks on Wednesday, Facebook announced it had removed nearly 800 groups, 100 pages and 1,500 ads related to QAnon and imposed restrictions on hundreds more pages and thousands of accounts on Instagram.
In July, Twitter announced it had removed more than 7,000 accounts related to the conspiracy and promised a sweeping ban on content related to QAnon.
But the conspiracy theory isn't simply limited to online posting and harassment of public figures. Followers of the conspiracy have committed acts of violence.
In 2017, a man driving an armored vehicle and carrying two firearms shut down a highway near the Hoover Dam. And as The Daily Beast has reported, followers of QAnon have been linked to a series of kidnappings and two killings.
The connection to violence prompted the FBI in 2019 to classify QAnon as a domestic terrorism threat.
"The FBI assesses these conspiracy theories very likely will emerge, spread, and evolve in the modern information marketplace, occasionally driving both groups and individual extremists to carry out criminal or violent acts," said an internal intelligence document obtained by Yahoo! News.
A spokesman for Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden on Wednesday blasted Trump for voicing his support for QAnon.
"After calling neo-Nazis and white supremacists in Charlottesville 'fine people' and tear-gassing peaceful protesters following the murder of George Floyd, Donald Trump just sought to legitimize a conspiracy theory that the FBI has identified as a domestic terrorism threat," spokesman Andrew Bates said.


npr--2020-08-19--Los Angeles Mayor Shuts Off Power At Hollywood Hills House That Hosted Large Parties

Los Angeles Mayor Shuts Off Power At Hollywood Hills House That Hosted Large Parties Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said on Wednesday that he had authorized the city to disconnect utility service at a Hollywood Hills house after it hosted several large parties in `` flagrant violation '' of COVID-19 public health orders .
The announcement comes two weeks after Garcetti first warned that properties hosting `` un-permitted large gatherings '' could have their water and power service shut off as a consequence .
`` With more than 2,000 Angelenos — and over 170,000 Americans — lost to COVID-19 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safeguards to stop the spread of this virus , '' Garcetti said Wednesday .
`` That includes not hosting or attending parties that put themselves , their neighbors and many others at risk . ''
Garcetti said that despite several warnings , this particular house `` has turned into a nightclub in the hills . ''
New York Times technology reporter Taylor Lorenz broke the news on Wednesday that one of the rental homes ' tenants is Bryce Hall , a TikTok personality who made headlines over the weekend when he celebrated his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a different rental property .
According to the mayor 's office , the Hollywood Hills house hosted a large gathering on Aug. 8 , three days after the threat of utility shutoffs was first announced .
The Los Angeles Police Department reportedly visited the property during the party to post warnings and provide notice that future violations could result in a referral to Garcetti 's office `` for review and issuance of a directive to disconnect utility service . ''
Despite those warnings , the house was used to host another large gathering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that the Los Angeles police visited at the time and posted a final notice about the potential utility disconnect .
After receiving authorization from Garcetti , the police disconnected service Wednesday .
The city began its crackdown on `` party houses '' this month in response to reports of massive gatherings , including a 200-person party at a Mulholland Drive mansion that ended in a fatal shooting .
The Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday that city police issued citations for `` noisy gatherings '' at 13 houses over the weekend and were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ properties at the time .
Gatherings or parties of any size are not allowed under the city 's public health orders aimed at bringing the coronavirus under control .
Garcetti said earlier this month that enforcement will focus specifically on party hosts `` determined to break the rules , '' whom he described as a threat to public health .
`` The consequences of these large parties ripple far beyond just those parties , '' Garcetti explained at the time .
`` They ripple throughout our entire community because the virus can quickly @ @ @ @ @

Los Angeles Mayor Shuts Off Power At Hollywood Hills House That Hosted Large Parties
Enlarge this image toggle caption Office of Mayor Eric Garcetti/AP Office of Mayor Eric Garcetti/AP
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said on Wednesday that he had authorized the city to disconnect utility service at a Hollywood Hills house after it hosted several large parties in "flagrant violation" of COVID-19 public health orders.
The announcement comes two weeks after Garcetti first warned that properties hosting "un-permitted large gatherings" could have their water and power service shut off as a consequence.
"With more than 2,000 Angelenos — and over 170,000 Americans — lost to COVID-19, we need every resident to undertake critical safeguards to stop the spread of this virus," Garcetti said Wednesday. "That includes not hosting or attending parties that put themselves, their neighbors and many others at risk."
Garcetti said that despite several warnings, this particular house "has turned into a nightclub in the hills."
New York Times technology reporter Taylor Lorenz broke the news on Wednesday that one of the rental homes' tenants is Bryce Hall, a TikTok personality who made headlines over the weekend when he celebrated his 21st birthday with a massive party at a different rental property.
According to the mayor's office, the Hollywood Hills house hosted a large gathering on Aug. 8, three days after the threat of utility shutoffs was first announced. The Los Angeles Police Department reportedly visited the property during the party to post warnings and provide notice that future violations could result in a referral to Garcetti's office "for review and issuance of a directive to disconnect utility service."
Despite those warnings, the house was used to host another large gathering on Friday. The mayor's office said that the Los Angeles police visited at the time and posted a final notice about the potential utility disconnect.
After receiving authorization from Garcetti, the police disconnected service Wednesday.
The city began its crackdown on "party houses" this month in response to reports of massive gatherings, including a 200-person party at a Mulholland Drive mansion that ended in a fatal shooting.
The Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday that city police issued citations for "noisy gatherings" at 13 houses over the weekend and were considering cutting utilities to at least three properties at the time.
Gatherings or parties of any size are not allowed under the city's public health orders aimed at bringing the coronavirus under control. Garcetti said earlier this month that enforcement will focus specifically on party hosts "determined to break the rules," whom he described as a threat to public health.
"The consequences of these large parties ripple far beyond just those parties," Garcetti explained at the time. "They ripple throughout our entire community because the virus can quickly and easily spread."


npr--2020-08-19--Georgia Teachers' Back-To-School Rap About Virtual Learning Goes Viral

In a back-to-school season unusually fraught with uncertainty , two high school teachers in Albany , Ga. , are going viral for their creative approach to raising students ' morale .
Callie Evans and Audri Williams , teachers and cheerleading coaches at Monroe Comprehensive High School , rapped about virtual learning and the COVID-19 pandemic in a music video that has garnered thousands of likes and comments in two days .
`` What better way to release all of the anxiety , doubts & fears of the school year than to dance & turn up , '' Williams captioned an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Williams perform their high-energy verses in the school 's empty hallways , where they are backed up by mask-wearing , move-busting cheerleaders .
The video bursts with school spirit , from the cheerleaders ' `` Golden Tornadoes '' apparel to the teachers ' upbeat messaging .
The teachers remixed the song `` What 's Poppin '' by Jack Harlow to meet the moment , with lyrics about logging on , masking up , social distancing and aiming high even in times of stress .
`` You got options , but you better @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , every day , every morning , I 'm watchin'/Yeah we virtual , and you know what 's up , so we 'bout to take it up a notch , '' Evans raps at one point .
Their school district is starting the year with remote learning as Georgia struggles to bring the coronavirus under control .
The state reported the highest rate of new cases in the country in the week ending Friday , with 216 cases per 100,000 people — about double the national average .
And several Georgia high schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to close again , leaving hundreds of students quarantining in response to possible exposure .
Evans posted her video the day before high school classes resumed Monday in the hopes of raising students ' spirits about virtual learning .
`` With all the uncertainty these past few months have brought , I want to be able to get my students excited for what 's to come , '' she wrote .
`` You all will still be great despite what we 've been through . ''
Williams told a local Fox TV affiliate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Students are so excited to log in virtually with me and Mrs. Evans , '' she said .
`` They are just so excited to learn , and they are actually engaging in class like they already know me , it 's a wonderful feeling . ''
Both say they hope their video will encourage other teachers and students to find their own ways to make remote learning exciting .
( Some have already used this technique : A high school principal in Alabama won hearts earlier with his parody of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Touch This . ''
) And video director Jamel Overstreet shared his own lighthearted message to students on Instagram : '' If Mrs. Evans or Mrs. Williams is not your teacher , please contact your advisor . ''

Georgia Teachers' Back-To-School Rap About Virtual Learning Goes Viral
In a back-to-school season unusually fraught with uncertainty, two high school teachers in Albany, Ga., are going viral for their creative approach to raising students' morale.
Callie Evans and Audri Williams, teachers and cheerleading coaches at Monroe Comprehensive High School, rapped about virtual learning and the COVID-19 pandemic in a music video that has garnered thousands of likes and comments in two days.
"What better way to release all of the anxiety, doubts & fears of the school year than to dance & turn up," Williams captioned an Instagram video of her verse.
Evans and Williams perform their high-energy verses in the school's empty hallways, where they are backed up by mask-wearing, move-busting cheerleaders. The video bursts with school spirit, from the cheerleaders' "Golden Tornadoes" apparel to the teachers' upbeat messaging.
The teachers remixed the song "What's Poppin" by Jack Harlow to meet the moment, with lyrics about logging on, masking up, social distancing and aiming high even in times of stress.
"You got options, but you better pass my class no floppin'/Gone log in, every day, every morning, I'm watchin'/Yeah we virtual, and you know what's up, so we 'bout to take it up a notch," Evans raps at one point.
Their school district is starting the year with remote learning as Georgia struggles to bring the coronavirus under control.
The state reported the highest rate of new cases in the country in the week ending Friday, with 216 cases per 100,000 people — about double the national average. And several Georgia high schools have reopened for in-person learning, only to close again, leaving hundreds of students quarantining in response to possible exposure.
Evans posted her video the day before high school classes resumed Monday in the hopes of raising students' spirits about virtual learning.
"With all the uncertainty these past few months have brought, I want to be able to get my students excited for what's to come," she wrote. "You all will still be great despite what we've been through."
Williams told a local Fox TV affiliate that the video seems to have worked.
"Students are so excited to log in virtually with me and Mrs. Evans," she said. "They are just so excited to learn, and they are actually engaging in class like they already know me, it's a wonderful feeling."
Both say they hope their video will encourage other teachers and students to find their own ways to make remote learning exciting. (Some have already used this technique: A high school principal in Alabama won hearts earlier with his parody of MC Hammer's "U Can't Touch This.")
And video director Jamel Overstreet shared his own lighthearted message to students on Instagram:
"If Mrs. Evans or Mrs. Williams is not your teacher, please contact your advisor."


npr--2020-08-19--Spain, France And Germany Report Most Coronavirus Cases Since Their Lockdowns

Spain , France And Germany Report Most Coronavirus Cases Since Their Lockdowns The graph of Spain 's daily coronavirus case count is taking on an emphatic U-shape , with 3,715 new infections in the past 24 hours – joining Germany and France on Wednesday in reporting the most cases since lockdowns helped Europe quash an initial wave of the COVID-19 pandemic months ago .
France reported 3,776 cases in the past 24 hours , its health ministry reported .
All epidemiological indicators are rising , and transmission of the virus is growing , the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added that transmission is affecting `` all age groups and more particularly young adults . ''
Even bigger growth was seen in Spain 's cumulative number of coronavirus cases — which can include test results that were not received quickly enough to be included in the daily total , along with diagnoses made from antibody tests .
With those results added , the Spanish Health Ministry reported 6,671 new cases on Wednesday .
Germany reported more than 1,500 coronavirus infections on Wednesday — a daily mark it had not hit in months , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Robert Koch Institute .
`` This trend is very concerning , '' the agency said .
It added that while outbreaks continue in nursing homes and refugee facilities , `` the average age of infection has decreased over the past few weeks . ''
The trend includes both residents as well as young people who are traveling to Germany .
Officials also said that many small outbreaks have been traced to `` larger events with family and friends . ''
Germany 's 226,914 cases are the fourth-most in Europe , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Control .
Germany , France and Spain lifted significant parts of their national lockdowns in June – the same month the European Union began to ease travel restrictions between member nations in hopes of salvaging a summer tourism season .
Despite that early optimism , Spain began imposing or renewing social restrictions in late July , reflecting officials ' alarm at a spate of new cases there .
Spain 's increasingly strict measures – which now include a ban on outdoor smoking and drinking and an expanded face mask mandate – have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conspiracy theories .
Demonstrators in Spain have invoked a number of implausible culprits to explain the new rise in cases , from the use of 5G wireless technology to the wearing of masks themselves .
`` We ca n't live like zombies with masks on in the streets , '' poet and photographer Ouka Leele told a crowd of fellow protesters over the weekend , as NPR 's Scott Neuman reported .
France 's President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday that he is not considering a new lockdown .
`` Macron told Paris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preferable to another national lockdown , '' France 24 reported , `` which he said would cause considerable 'collateral damage . '
`` In the EU , France , Spain and Germany are far from alone in seeing a late-summer rebound in cases : More than a dozen member nations have been seeing week-over-week gains , according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control .

Spain, France And Germany Report Most Coronavirus Cases Since Their Lockdowns
The graph of Spain's daily coronavirus case count is taking on an emphatic U-shape, with 3,715 new infections in the past 24 hours – joining Germany and France on Wednesday in reporting the most cases since lockdowns helped Europe quash an initial wave of the COVID-19 pandemic months ago.
France reported 3,776 cases in the past 24 hours, its health ministry reported.
All epidemiological indicators are rising, and transmission of the virus is growing, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health said in a press release. It added that transmission is affecting "all age groups and more particularly young adults."
Even bigger growth was seen in Spain's cumulative number of coronavirus cases — which can include test results that were not received quickly enough to be included in the daily total, along with diagnoses made from antibody tests. With those results added, the Spanish Health Ministry reported 6,671 new cases on Wednesday.
toggle caption European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
Germany reported more than 1,500 coronavirus infections on Wednesday — a daily mark it had not hit in months, according to Germany's infectious disease agency, the Robert Koch Institute.
"This trend is very concerning," the agency said. It added that while outbreaks continue in nursing homes and refugee facilities, "the average age of infection has decreased over the past few weeks."
The trend includes both residents as well as young people who are traveling to Germany. Officials also said that many small outbreaks have been traced to "larger events with family and friends."
Germany's 226,914 cases are the fourth-most in Europe, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.
Germany, France and Spain lifted significant parts of their national lockdowns in June – the same month the European Union began to ease travel restrictions between member nations in hopes of salvaging a summer tourism season.
Despite that early optimism, Spain began imposing or renewing social restrictions in late July, reflecting officials' alarm at a spate of new cases there.
Spain's increasingly strict measures – which now include a ban on outdoor smoking and drinking and an expanded face mask mandate – have sparked anger and protests as well as conspiracy theories.
Demonstrators in Spain have invoked a number of implausible culprits to explain the new rise in cases, from the use of 5G wireless technology to the wearing of masks themselves.
"We can't live like zombies with masks on in the streets," poet and photographer Ouka Leele told a crowd of fellow protesters over the weekend, as NPR's Scott Neuman reported.
France's President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday that he is not considering a new lockdown.
"Macron told Paris Match magazine that 'local strategies' were preferable to another national lockdown," France 24 reported, "which he said would cause considerable 'collateral damage.' "
In the EU, France, Spain and Germany are far from alone in seeing a late-summer rebound in cases: More than a dozen member nations have been seeing week-over-week gains, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.