npr--2020-02-09--Amid Lebanon's Economic Crisis, The Country's Health Care System Is Ailing

Like many Lebanese , Jesuit priest Gabriel Khairallah has been on the front lines of anti-government protests for more than three months .
`` I mean , what am I doing on the front ?
I am against corruption and seeking social justice , and the same for the doctors , '' he says .
He 's done much more than protest on the streets — in recent weeks , he also opened a low-cost medical clinic in the annex of Beirut 's St. Joseph Church .
In Khairallah 's clinic , which is run mostly by volunteers , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 5 and is waived for those who ca n't afford it .
More than 30 doctors serve on a rotating basis , providing specialized care in cardiology , pediatrics , gynecology and orthopedics .
Khairallah also corralled pharmacies to donate certain medicines .
`` We are collecting from every person of goodwill , '' says Khairallah .
`` We are not expecting a miracle .
We hope to create a place where people feel respected . ''
The need for such a clinic arose as Lebanon 's economic woes sparked spontaneous mass protests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the streets .
Initially , anger surged over a new tax on Internet voice-call services , and expanded to demand the ouster of the government .
The protests , peaceful for months , grew more violent in December , as riot police used water cannons , tear gas and rubber bullets to stop thousands from demonstrating in front of the parliament building .
Lebanon is one of the most indebted nations in the world .
For decades , the central bank serviced debt by offering high interest rates to attract capital .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ people began to realize it 's not sustainable and the government is just accumulating more debt and the banks are further away from solvency , '' says Paul Salem , president of the Middle East Institute in Washington , D.C. Over the past 18 months , with a decline in oil prices , remittances from Lebanese working in the Gulf also have shrunk .
`` It 's causing a reverse sucking motion , '' Salem says , `` with people not sending money and trying to pull their money out . ''
Lebanon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consequences for the country 's medical care .
Doctors have staged sit-ins at hospitals to warn of shortages of lifesaving medicines and supplies , which can no longer be obtained from international suppliers due to a shortage of U.S. dollars .
Patients began skipping doctor visits , vaccinations and prescriptions because they could no longer afford them , as insurance policies lapsed amid widespread unemployment .
`` More and more people are not able to pay the fees , doctor fees , '' Khairallah says .
As the protest movement gained strength in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks .
When the banks reopened , they restricted lines of credit and the central bank began to limit U.S. dollar withdrawals .
The first to suffer were businesses requiring hard currency , including medical suppliers , which could only access 50 % of the dollars needed to purchase goods .
The Lebanese government also failed to reimburse private and public hospitals for medical care to patients covered by social security and military health accounts , according to Human Rights Watch .
`` The world is collapsing on top of everyone '' Khairallah @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lifeline for patients , who crowd into a small waiting room .
`` I was in the middle class before , '' says a middle-aged woman who would not give her name , chagrined by showing up at a free clinic .
She had been forgoing medical appointments until this clinic opened .
She recently lost her job at a university .
Now she struggles .
She curses Lebanon 's political elite for `` stealing the country . ''
`` People who have money ca n't withdraw it .
The world is collapsing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says , referring to currency controls that limit Lebanese bank withdrawals .
ATMs no longer dispense dollars and depositors must wait in long lines to withdraw small sums each week .
On Jan. 25 , the 100th day of anti-government protests , Khairallah was back on the streets , weaving his way through thousands of people waving Lebanese flags and chanting slogans against the government , `` to show the power that we are here and we are not afraid . ''
He was joined by Dr. Mouin Jammal , an internal medicine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's new clinic .
`` We still have to make more pressure , that 's why we are here , '' says Jammal .
He wants the central bank to raise the dollar limits for medical supplies before hospitals run out .
`` We will not wait until it 's really empty , '' he says about the dwindling hospital stocks .
`` This is why we are making pressure , to avoid the crisis . ''
The fix for Lebanon 's health care crisis will require reforming the country 's bloated and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worked in Lebanon 's system for years .
`` The Ministry of Health is a corrupt ministry , completely , '' says Dr. Karam Karam , a clinical professor of medicine at the American University of Beirut who served as health minister in the 1990s .
While in office , Karam says he introduced a transparent bidding process to combat bribery on purchases of medicine and medical supplies from abroad .
`` We saved almost $ 50 million , '' he says , in just one year , and cut kickbacks by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anyone says thank you ? ''
Since then , corruption in the health ministry has escalated , says Dr. Ismail Sukkarieh , a gastroenterologist and member of parliament in the 1990s .
`` Everything is on the basis of financial calculations , the mentality of business , not the mentality of responsibility , '' he says .
There are already critical shortages of medicine .
Hospitals have stopped performing nonessential surgeries and closed entire wings for lack of patients .
Economist Nisreen Salti , an associate professor at the American University of Beirut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is unlikely there will be a complete breakdown in the health care system , but believes the availability of expensive and critical life-saving medicines , including cancer drugs , will decline — `` except to the privileged , a shrinking pool of people covered by what is available . ''
Lebanon was once proud of its health care sector , despite the corruption , but things are different now , she says .
`` Even if these acts of cleaning up take place , we always revert back to a state where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seem to be artificially high , '' Salti says .
She warns the Lebanese will be less healthy because of rising unemployment and diminished resources for housing and food , which are linked with health .
`` I fear that the deep erosion is one that is difficult to recover from and to correct , '' she says .
`` We can not rely on donors '' Dr. Elie Saliba , a pediatric orthopedic surgeon , also worries about long-term erosion as he gives a visitor a tour of a special center for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hospital of Bhannes Hospitality Center for Charity Sisters compound in Bikfaya , an hour 's drive from Beirut .
Saliba splits his practice .
At night , he provides free medical care for anti-government protesters injured by security police , and by day , he sees his usual patients and is on call at the children 's center .
There are 80 children in a space filled with brightly colored exercise equipment for daily therapies , and classrooms that accommodate child-sized wheelchairs .
The cost for residential care is more than $ 1,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government has paid $ 400 of that amount for each patient , he says , but no longer does , due to the economic crisis .
The rest of the the center 's budget comes from private donors , he says , `` but we can not rely on donors in this period . ''
Many of the richest Lebanese , the facility 's traditional benefactors , have left the country and no longer make charitable donations .
And those of more modest means now have even less to give .
The upshot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ close at the end of the year . ''

Amid Lebanon's Economic Crisis, The Country's Health Care System Is Ailing
Enlarge this image toggle caption Patrick Baz/AFP via Getty Images Patrick Baz/AFP via Getty Images
Like many Lebanese, Jesuit priest Gabriel Khairallah has been on the front lines of anti-government protests for more than three months.
"I mean, what am I doing on the front? I am against corruption and seeking social justice, and the same for the doctors," he says.
He's done much more than protest on the streets — in recent weeks, he also opened a low-cost medical clinic in the annex of Beirut's St. Joseph Church.
In Khairallah's clinic, which is run mostly by volunteers, the cost of a visit is about $5 and is waived for those who can't afford it. More than 30 doctors serve on a rotating basis, providing specialized care in cardiology, pediatrics, gynecology and orthopedics. Khairallah also corralled pharmacies to donate certain medicines.
"We are collecting from every person of goodwill," says Khairallah. "We are not expecting a miracle. We hope to create a place where people feel respected."
A perfect economic storm
The need for such a clinic arose as Lebanon's economic woes sparked spontaneous mass protests last October. A million people took to the streets.
Initially, anger surged over a new tax on Internet voice-call services, and expanded to demand the ouster of the government. The protests, peaceful for months, grew more violent in December, as riot police used water cannons, tear gas and rubber bullets to stop thousands from demonstrating in front of the parliament building.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Lama Al-Arian/NPR Lama Al-Arian/NPR
Lebanon is one of the most indebted nations in the world. For decades, the central bank serviced debt by offering high interest rates to attract capital.
"But it reached a point that people began to realize it's not sustainable and the government is just accumulating more debt and the banks are further away from solvency," says Paul Salem, president of the Middle East Institute in Washington, D.C.
Over the past 18 months, with a decline in oil prices, remittances from Lebanese working in the Gulf also have shrunk. "It's causing a reverse sucking motion," Salem says, "with people not sending money and trying to pull their money out."
Lebanon's worsening economic crisis has had dire consequences for the country's medical care. Doctors have staged sit-ins at hospitals to warn of shortages of lifesaving medicines and supplies, which can no longer be obtained from international suppliers due to a shortage of U.S. dollars.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Hussein Malla/AP Hussein Malla/AP
Patients began skipping doctor visits, vaccinations and prescriptions because they could no longer afford them, as insurance policies lapsed amid widespread unemployment.
"More and more people are not able to pay the fees, doctor fees," Khairallah says.
As the protest movement gained strength in October, Lebanese banks closed for two weeks. When the banks reopened, they restricted lines of credit and the central bank began to limit U.S. dollar withdrawals.
The first to suffer were businesses requiring hard currency, including medical suppliers, which could only access 50% of the dollars needed to purchase goods.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Patrick Baz/AFP via Getty Images Patrick Baz/AFP via Getty Images
The Lebanese government also failed to reimburse private and public hospitals for medical care to patients covered by social security and military health accounts, according to Human Rights Watch.
"The world is collapsing on top of everyone"
Khairallah's new clinic has quickly become a lifeline for patients, who crowd into a small waiting room.
"I was in the middle class before," says a middle-aged woman who would not give her name, chagrined by showing up at a free clinic. She had been forgoing medical appointments until this clinic opened.
She recently lost her job at a university. Now she struggles. She curses Lebanon's political elite for "stealing the country."
"People who have money can't withdraw it. The world is collapsing on top of everyone," she says, referring to currency controls that limit Lebanese bank withdrawals. ATMs no longer dispense dollars and depositors must wait in long lines to withdraw small sums each week.
On Jan. 25, the 100th day of anti-government protests, Khairallah was back on the streets, weaving his way through thousands of people waving Lebanese flags and chanting slogans against the government, "to show the power that we are here and we are not afraid."
He was joined by Dr. Mouin Jammal, an internal medicine specialist, the head doctor for Khairallah's new clinic.
"We still have to make more pressure, that's why we are here," says Jammal. He wants the central bank to raise the dollar limits for medical supplies before hospitals run out.
"We will not wait until it's really empty," he says about the dwindling hospital stocks. "This is why we are making pressure, to avoid the crisis."
Bloated bureaucracy
The fix for Lebanon's health care crisis will require reforming the country's bloated and inefficient bureaucracy, say doctors who have worked in Lebanon's system for years.
"The Ministry of Health is a corrupt ministry, completely," says Dr. Karam Karam, a clinical professor of medicine at the American University of Beirut who served as health minister in the 1990s. While in office, Karam says he introduced a transparent bidding process to combat bribery on purchases of medicine and medical supplies from abroad.
"We saved almost $50 million," he says, in just one year, and cut kickbacks by the same amount. "Do you think anyone says thank you?"
Since then, corruption in the health ministry has escalated, says Dr. Ismail Sukkarieh, a gastroenterologist and member of parliament in the 1990s.
"Everything is on the basis of financial calculations, the mentality of business, not the mentality of responsibility," he says.
There are already critical shortages of medicine. Hospitals have stopped performing nonessential surgeries and closed entire wings for lack of patients.
Economist Nisreen Salti, an associate professor at the American University of Beirut who studies the health sector, believes it is unlikely there will be a complete breakdown in the health care system, but believes the availability of expensive and critical life-saving medicines, including cancer drugs, will decline — "except to the privileged, a shrinking pool of people covered by what is available."
Lebanon was once proud of its health care sector, despite the corruption, but things are different now, she says.
"Even if these acts of cleaning up take place, we always revert back to a state where things lack transparency again and drug prices seem to be artificially high," Salti says.
She warns the Lebanese will be less healthy because of rising unemployment and diminished resources for housing and food, which are linked with health.
"I fear that the deep erosion is one that is difficult to recover from and to correct," she says.
"We cannot rely on donors"
Dr. Elie Saliba, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon, also worries about long-term erosion as he gives a visitor a tour of a special center for children with cerebral palsy in the sprawling Hospital of Bhannes Hospitality Center for Charity Sisters compound in Bikfaya, an hour's drive from Beirut.
Saliba splits his practice. At night, he provides free medical care for anti-government protesters injured by security police, and by day, he sees his usual patients and is on call at the children's center.
There are 80 children in a space filled with brightly colored exercise equipment for daily therapies, and classrooms that accommodate child-sized wheelchairs. The cost for residential care is more than $1,000 per month, he says.
The government has paid $400 of that amount for each patient, he says, but no longer does, due to the economic crisis. The rest of the the center's budget comes from private donors, he says, "but we cannot rely on donors in this period."
Many of the richest Lebanese, the facility's traditional benefactors, have left the country and no longer make charitable donations. And those of more modest means now have even less to give.
The upshot, Saliba says: "We may close at the end of the year."


npr--2020-02-09--Campaigning Takes A Negative Turn In Closing Days Of New Hampshire Race

Campaigning Takes A Negative Turn In Closing Days Of New Hampshire Race Updated at 11:42 a.m .
ET In the final sprint before Tuesday 's New Hampshire primary , Democratic presidential candidates are taking a more sharply negative tone about their rivals than they have up until now .
The top target is former South Bend , Ind.
, Mayor Pete Buttigieg .
He faced a barrage of attacks as the other Democratic candidates seek to blunt his momentum from a strong showing in Iowa .
Former Vice President Joe Biden launched the most pointed attacks .
Biden had mostly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his disappointing fourth-place finish in Iowa .
A digital ad launched by Biden Saturday juxtaposes the former vice president 's record with Buttigieg 's as mayor .
`` We 're electing a president , '' a narrator says .
`` What you 've done matters . ''
The ad touts Biden 's work on the Iran nuclear agreement , paired with Buttigieg loosening regulations on microchips for pets .
The narrator highlights Biden passing the auto bailout , and then Buttigieg 's revitalization of the sidewalks of South Bend with decorative brick .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ reporters , Biden emphasized the point .
`` I do not believe we 're a party at risk if they nominate me , and I do believe we 're a party at risk if we nominate someone who 's never held a higher office than mayor of South Bend , Indiana , '' he said .
When asked whether it was fair to compare his spat with Buttigieg with Hillary Clinton 's similar criticism of Barack Obama in 2008 , Biden said , `` Oh come on , man , this guy 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back on CNN 's State of the Union on Sunday : `` Well , he 's right , '' Buttigieg said .
`` I 'm not [ Obama ] , and neither is he .
Neither is any of us running for president .
And this is n't 2008 ; it 's 2020 .
We are in a new moment , calling for a different kind of leadership . ''
Buttigieg 's national press secretary , Chris Meagher , added in a statement : `` The Vice President 's decision to run this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stands in this race than it does about Pete 's perspective as a mayor and a veteran . ''
Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar , who 's eager to gain support from the kind of moderate voters who back Buttigieg , also piled on with criticisms of Buttigieg 's experience .
`` We have a newcomer in the White House and look where it got us , '' she said on the debate stage Friday night .
`` I think having some experience is a good thing . ''
Buttigieg did n't shy away @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , taking subtle digs at Sen. Bernie Sanders , with whom he 's locked in a virtual tie for first place in Iowa .
`` I do n't think we can take the risk of excluding anybody from this effort , of saying that if you 're not either for a revolution or a status quo , then you do n't fit .
I think we 're going to defeat this president by inviting everybody to be at our side and get this done together , '' Buttigieg said .
Sanders swiped back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Saturday .
`` Billionaires by the dozen are contributing to Pete Buttigieg 's campaign , '' Sanders said .
`` Now , I like Pete , he 's a smart guy , he 's a nice guy .
But if we are serious about political change in America , that change is not going to be coming from somebody who gets a lot of money from the CEOs of the pharmaceutical industry . ''
Buttigieg defended himself on this charge as well during the CNN interview , saying , `` I 'm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finance system , but I 'm also insistent that we 've got to go into this with all the support we can get . ''
To help make his point , Buttigieg cited how much money President Trump 's re-election campaign has raised .
Biden has also gone after Sanders , saying the Vermont senator 's self-avowed democratic socialism would make it hard to expand his base of support .
Sanders responded on Fox News Sunday , pivoting to discuss the tax breaks Trump himself got as a businessman and the corporate subsidies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ companies .
`` The difference between my socialism and Trump 's socialism , '' Sanders said , `` is I believe the government should help working families , not billionaires . ''
Sen. Elizabeth Warren is looking to improve on her third-place finish in Iowa .
But unlike some of her rivals , she 's mainly stuck with a positive message so far and stayed out of the fray , seeking to position herself as a unifying candidate .
She did respond , though , when asked on ABC 's This Week about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sanders , is not accepting big-money contributions .
`` The coalition of billionaires is not exactly what 's going to carry us over the top , '' Warren said .
The Massachusetts senator also looked ahead , past Tuesday 's contest in next-door New Hampshire , where polls show her likely to finish third again .
`` Look , the way I see this is it 's going to be a long campaign , '' she said .
`` We 've built a campaign to go the distance . ''

Campaigning Takes A Negative Turn In Closing Days Of New Hampshire Race
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mary Altaffer/AP Mary Altaffer/AP
Updated at 11:42 a.m. ET
In the final sprint before Tuesday's New Hampshire primary, Democratic presidential candidates are taking a more sharply negative tone about their rivals than they have up until now.
The top target is former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg. He faced a barrage of attacks as the other Democratic candidates seek to blunt his momentum from a strong showing in Iowa.
Former Vice President Joe Biden launched the most pointed attacks. Biden had mostly avoided criticizing his rivals by name before his disappointing fourth-place finish in Iowa.
A digital ad launched by Biden Saturday juxtaposes the former vice president's record with Buttigieg's as mayor. "We're electing a president," a narrator says. "What you've done matters."
The ad touts Biden's work on the Iran nuclear agreement, paired with Buttigieg loosening regulations on microchips for pets. The narrator highlights Biden passing the auto bailout, and then Buttigieg's revitalization of the sidewalks of South Bend with decorative brick.
Later, during a rare gaggle with reporters, Biden emphasized the point.
"I do not believe we're a party at risk if they nominate me, and I do believe we're a party at risk if we nominate someone who's never held a higher office than mayor of South Bend, Indiana," he said.
When asked whether it was fair to compare his spat with Buttigieg with Hillary Clinton's similar criticism of Barack Obama in 2008, Biden said, "Oh come on, man, this guy's not Barack Obama."
Buttigieg shot back on CNN's State of the Union on Sunday: "Well, he's right," Buttigieg said. "I'm not [Obama], and neither is he. Neither is any of us running for president. And this isn't 2008; it's 2020. We are in a new moment, calling for a different kind of leadership."
Buttigieg's national press secretary, Chris Meagher, added in a statement: "The Vice President's decision to run this ad speaks more to where he currently stands in this race than it does about Pete's perspective as a mayor and a veteran."
Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who's eager to gain support from the kind of moderate voters who back Buttigieg, also piled on with criticisms of Buttigieg's experience.
"We have a newcomer in the White House and look where it got us," she said on the debate stage Friday night. "I think having some experience is a good thing."
Buttigieg didn't shy away from his own criticisms of other candidates, taking subtle digs at Sen. Bernie Sanders, with whom he's locked in a virtual tie for first place in Iowa.
"I don't think we can take the risk of excluding anybody from this effort, of saying that if you're not either for a revolution or a status quo, then you don't fit. I think we're going to defeat this president by inviting everybody to be at our side and get this done together," Buttigieg said.
Sanders swiped back at Buttigieg during a rally in Dover on Saturday.
"Billionaires by the dozen are contributing to Pete Buttigieg's campaign," Sanders said. "Now, I like Pete, he's a smart guy, he's a nice guy. But if we are serious about political change in America, that change is not going to be coming from somebody who gets a lot of money from the CEOs of the pharmaceutical industry."
Buttigieg defended himself on this charge as well during the CNN interview, saying, "I'm not a fan of the current campaign finance system, but I'm also insistent that we've got to go into this with all the support we can get." To help make his point, Buttigieg cited how much money President Trump's re-election campaign has raised.
Biden has also gone after Sanders, saying the Vermont senator's self-avowed democratic socialism would make it hard to expand his base of support.
Sanders responded on Fox News Sunday, pivoting to discuss the tax breaks Trump himself got as a businessman and the corporate subsidies the federal government hands out to big companies.
"The difference between my socialism and Trump's socialism," Sanders said, "is I believe the government should help working families, not billionaires."
Sen. Elizabeth Warren is looking to improve on her third-place finish in Iowa.
But unlike some of her rivals, she's mainly stuck with a positive message so far and stayed out of the fray, seeking to position herself as a unifying candidate.
She did respond, though, when asked on ABC's This Week about Buttigieg's fundraising. She, like Sanders, is not accepting big-money contributions.
"The coalition of billionaires is not exactly what's going to carry us over the top," Warren said.
The Massachusetts senator also looked ahead, past Tuesday's contest in next-door New Hampshire, where polls show her likely to finish third again.
"Look, the way I see this is it's going to be a long campaign," she said. "We've built a campaign to go the distance."


npr--2020-02-09--Houses Of Worship Struggle To Balance Security And Belief In Wake Of Violence

Houses Of Worship Struggle To Balance Security And Belief In Wake Of Violence It 's hard to tell who has a gun at Fellowship of Wildwood church .
The men stand silently at the edge of the crowd , as worshippers shrug off their heavy winter coats and sip from paper coffee cups before the Sunday service .
Nicknamed the `` sheepdog ministry , '' the group of about a dozen volunteers provide armed protection for congregants at the Baptist church west of St. Louis .
Attacks on houses of worship in recent years have left congregations grappling with how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guards or trained members to carry weapons , but others have resisted the idea of allowing guns inside houses of worship .
In the past two years , gunmen have attacked worshippers in cities across the country , including Pittsburgh , where a man stormed a synagogue and killed 11 people , and Sutherland Springs , Texas , where 26 people were killed during services at a Baptist church .
`` From a theological standpoint , we 're trying to understand why these things are happening , '' said Ryan Bowman , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But on a very practical level , what would we do ?
How would we respond ?
Are we prepared and ready ? ''
Leaders at Fellowship of Wildwood would prefer not to have guns in the sanctuary , said Bowman , but they felt they had no other option .
Per Missouri law , only congregants with explicit permission from the church can carry concealed weapons .
Fellowship of Wildwood member Tara Jones said she feels safer knowing that the church has a security plan in place — and added that having @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to her .
`` God put me here to live my life abundantly , '' Jones said .
`` I 'm not going to stay home and watch TV evangelists . ''
For some faiths , preparing for the possibility of a violent attack is nothing new .
Rabbi Ze'ev Smason , who leads Nusach Hari B'nai Zion synagogue in Olivette , Mo.
, calls anti-Semitism `` one of the oldest hatreds . ''
`` We have a collective institutional memory going back 3,000 years when we have suffered terribly , '' said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tree of Life synagogue shooting in 2018 a turning point for his congregation , which dates back to the early 1900s .
Members went through active shooter training and worked with the local police department to assess their facility for possible security risks .
They also hired armed guards , which Smason compared to `` having a lock on your front door . ''
`` A gun is only as good or as evil as the person who uses it , '' he said .
`` We have a primary obligation to create @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come to our synagogue . ''
Safety is also a key concern for leaders at the Islamic Foundation of Greater St. Louis .
On a recent afternoon , security guards stood watch , as worshippers hurried into the mosque for their daily prayers .
Mufti Asif Umar said they 've strengthened their security in recent years , though he declined to give specific details , citing safety concerns .
Umar called God the `` ultimate protector , '' but said they still have to be prepared .
He compared it to a passage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prophet Muhammad sees his companion leaving a camel without tying it up .
`` The Prophet Mohammed said , tie your camel first and then trust in God , '' Umar said .
`` If you just leave it there and you go , there 's a good chance the camel can run away .
It 's like that . ''
But some faith leaders worry these extra security measures come at a spiritual cost .
Over the long term , strict security can isolate a congregation from the broader community , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Catholic Church in St. Louis .
`` We want to be a place where anybody from anywhere can come and worship with us , '' Niemann said .
`` You ca n't do that if your doors are locked , if you 've got people standing at the door checking IDs .
That does n't communicate the kind of welcome we want to be . ''
Church members have learned to be watchful and aware of their surroundings , said Niemann .
Last year , a carjacker robbed a congregant in the church @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether they should increase their security measures .
Still , the question of whether to allow guns inside St. Pius V has remained off limits .
The Archdiocese of St. Louis does not allow weapons of any kind on church property , with an exception for active and retired law enforcement .
In 2018 , an interfaith coalition of religious leaders led by St. Louis Archbishop Robert Carlson spoke out against a Missouri house bill that would have allowed people to carry concealed weapons into houses of worship without permission from clergy .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ faith leaders have increased their security and hired armed guards , he believes the church should be a place of peace .
`` To me , that 's more compatible with the message of Jesus than this protective kind of approach , this warfare kind of approach , '' he said .
`` I hope we never get to that point . ''

Houses Of Worship Struggle To Balance Security And Belief In Wake Of Violence
Enlarge this image toggle caption Shahla Farzan/KWMU Shahla Farzan/KWMU
It's hard to tell who has a gun at Fellowship of Wildwood church.
The men stand silently at the edge of the crowd, as worshippers shrug off their heavy winter coats and sip from paper coffee cups before the Sunday service.
Nicknamed the "sheepdog ministry," the group of about a dozen volunteers provide armed protection for congregants at the Baptist church west of St. Louis.
Attacks on houses of worship in recent years have left congregations grappling with how to respond. Some have hired armed guards or trained members to carry weapons, but others have resisted the idea of allowing guns inside houses of worship.
In the past two years, gunmen have attacked worshippers in cities across the country, including Pittsburgh, where a man stormed a synagogue and killed 11 people, and Sutherland Springs, Texas, where 26 people were killed during services at a Baptist church.
National Texas Community Struggles To Move Past Deadly Church Shooting Texas Community Struggles To Move Past Deadly Church Shooting Listen · 3:48 3:48
"From a theological standpoint, we're trying to understand why these things are happening," said Ryan Bowman, a pastor at Fellowship of Wildwood. "But on a very practical level, what would we do? How would we respond? Are we prepared and ready?"
Leaders at Fellowship of Wildwood would prefer not to have guns in the sanctuary, said Bowman, but they felt they had no other option. Per Missouri law, only congregants with explicit permission from the church can carry concealed weapons.
Fellowship of Wildwood member Tara Jones said she feels safer knowing that the church has a security plan in place — and added that having a physical place to worship is important to her.
"God put me here to live my life abundantly," Jones said. "I'm not going to stay home and watch TV evangelists."
Preparing congregants
For some faiths, preparing for the possibility of a violent attack is nothing new.
Rabbi Ze'ev Smason, who leads Nusach Hari B'nai Zion synagogue in Olivette, Mo., calls anti-Semitism "one of the oldest hatreds."
"We have a collective institutional memory going back 3,000 years when we have suffered terribly," said Smason.
Still, he considers the Tree of Life synagogue shooting in 2018 a turning point for his congregation, which dates back to the early 1900s.
Members went through active shooter training and worked with the local police department to assess their facility for possible security risks. They also hired armed guards, which Smason compared to "having a lock on your front door."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Shahla Farzan/KWMU Shahla Farzan/KWMU
"A gun is only as good or as evil as the person who uses it," he said. "We have a primary obligation to create a safe space for the people who come to our synagogue."
Safety is also a key concern for leaders at the Islamic Foundation of Greater St. Louis.
On a recent afternoon, security guards stood watch, as worshippers hurried into the mosque for their daily prayers. Mufti Asif Umar said they've strengthened their security in recent years, though he declined to give specific details, citing safety concerns.
Umar called God the "ultimate protector," but said they still have to be prepared. He compared it to a passage from the Koran, in which the Prophet Muhammad sees his companion leaving a camel without tying it up.
"The Prophet Mohammed said, tie your camel first and then trust in God," Umar said. "If you just leave it there and you go, there's a good chance the camel can run away. It's like that."
Rejecting a "warfare" approach
But some faith leaders worry these extra security measures come at a spiritual cost.
Over the long term, strict security can isolate a congregation from the broader community, said Father Paul Niemann of St. Pius V Catholic Church in St. Louis.
"We want to be a place where anybody from anywhere can come and worship with us," Niemann said. "You can't do that if your doors are locked, if you've got people standing at the door checking IDs. That doesn't communicate the kind of welcome we want to be."
Church members have learned to be watchful and aware of their surroundings, said Niemann. Last year, a carjacker robbed a congregant in the church parking lot, prompting a discussion about whether they should increase their security measures.
Still, the question of whether to allow guns inside St. Pius V has remained off limits.
The Archdiocese of St. Louis does not allow weapons of any kind on church property, with an exception for active and retired law enforcement.
In 2018, an interfaith coalition of religious leaders led by St. Louis Archbishop Robert Carlson spoke out against a Missouri house bill that would have allowed people to carry concealed weapons into houses of worship without permission from clergy.
Although Niemann respects the reasons why other faith leaders have increased their security and hired armed guards, he believes the church should be a place of peace.
"To me, that's more compatible with the message of Jesus than this protective kind of approach, this warfare kind of approach," he said. "I hope we never get to that point."


npr--2020-02-09--Yes, 'Parasite' Could Win Best Picture

Yes, 'Parasite' Could Win Best Picture

Yes , 'Parasite ' Could Win Best Picture This piece is adapted from a discussion in the Pop Culture Happy Hour newsletter .
For more analysis , tons of recommendations , and a weekly roundup of what came up in our What 's Making Us Happy This Week segment , subscribe to the newsletter .
The idea that Bong Joon-ho 's Parasite could win best picture is not only not original to me ; it 's been gaining ground since the cast won the Screen Actors Guild Award for best ensemble cast .
That win was notably predicted by Chris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now looks — of course — wildly prescient .
Chris also thinks it 's going to win best picture at the Oscars on Sunday .
Is that a statistical good bet , given past patterns ?
Of course not .
Could it happen ?
Sure .
One of the things that makes statistical analysis of the Oscars , and especially the best picture race , so difficult is that they completely changed the best picture field beginning with the awards handed out in 2010 , doubling the number of nominees from five to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ changed it again , so there would be between five and ten nominees , depending on nomination voting .
While the purpose of the expanded field was originally understood to be a desire to recognize high-quality `` popular '' films and maybe boost TV ratings for the ceremony ( The Dark Knight was the spurned film most often mentioned as a potential beneficiary ) , what 's happened certainly seems to be that smaller films have wiggled their way in .
( That may be why there was a recent attempt to create @ @ @ @ @ @ @ category — an idea that was quickly dumped . )
There 's no control group that can tell you which five nominees in a nine-nominee year like this one would have been nominated under the old rules , so it 's all speculation in good fun .
But consider , for instance , that only eleven foreign language films have ever been nominated in 92 rounds of nominees , and three of those ( Amour , Roma and now Parasite ) have been nominated since the field was expanded 10 years ago .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ year , given the likelihood of nominations for at least traditional Oscars-y movies like The Irishman ( mob movie with previously-winning director ) , 1917 ( war movie with previously-winning director ) , Once Upon A Time In Hollywood ( auteur violence ) , Little Women ( gorgeous and wonderful period piece by previously-nominated director ) and Marriage Story ( domestic drama with A-list actors ) ?
I think the likelihood is that until relatively recently , Parasite would n't have even been nominated , so there 's not a very big group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thus , not having won the Producers Guild Award ( often considered a very powerful precursor to the Oscars ) or not having its individual actors nominated is certainly noteworthy as to patterns , but making too much out of those things seems like a mistake .
This is going to be a weird year no matter what — 1917 is a solid pick for front-runner via conventional wisdom , but it would also be an unconventional winner , in that the two actors in its main cast had relatively low profiles previously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ SAG award nomination .
Once Upon A Time In Hollywood is on a lot of people 's prediction ballots , but it just does n't feel to me like it has momentum outside of Brad Pitt 's performance , and it feels like a weird moment in industry history to go out of your way to honor such an old-fashioned , kind of retro vision of film .
On the one hand , there 's a long tradition of Hollywood loving movies about itself ( Argo , The Artist , and so on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Oscars are how Hollywood tells itself a story about what it values , regardless of whether its collective behavior suggests it values anything of the kind .
Do people really want to declare right now that what they think is most important is this particular violent fantasy ?
The bottom line is that all of this stuff is both important and unimportant — the Oscars have tendencies , but they do n't have rules that you can rely on .
The argument for Parasite is this : It has plenty of people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ important , because to win best picture , you need enough people who have ranked your movie first — you ca n't win by being everybody 's second choice .
( How that works is explained elsewhere ; please do n't make me do it here , because it makes my head hurt . )
But if you have a good chunk of first-place votes , it 's important to have a lot of second- and third-place votes , too .
That 's why if you can combine people who love your movie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that 's a way to win .
I have always suspected this might be how Moonlight won over La La Land .
Even people who did n't love Moonlight generally really liked it , while people who did n't love La La Land might very well have ranked it low or last .
I have n't really talked to any hard-core Parasite-in-last-place people , even though I know they exist , and undoubtedly there will be those who simply wo n't vote for a foreign-language film .
Still , I do n't get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ faction dragging it down , putting it last .
I do n't think that will hold true for Joker , or Once Upon A Time In Hollywood , or even The Irishman — the latter because I suspect a chunk of voters retain a little bit of Netflix resentment .
Again , it 's all speculation .
But the Parasite theory would be that an Academy that 's ready to nominate foreign-language films two years in a row is ready to give one the win .
Bong Joon-ho seems to be hugely well-liked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and artful ) , and it just ... it feels possible .
That 's my thesis .
My thesis is that it feels possible — although Bong winning best director while something else wins best picture does , too .
( I know , I know — I 've got more hedges than the end of The Shining . )
With that said , I am a terrible prognosticator , so even though I stuck with this prediction during our Oscars preview show , if I had actual money on the line , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'll still be hoping , though .

Yes, 'Parasite' Could Win Best Picture
Enlarge this image toggle caption Neon Neon
This piece is adapted from a discussion in the Pop Culture Happy Hour newsletter. For more analysis, tons of recommendations, and a weekly roundup of what came up in our What's Making Us Happy This Week segment, subscribe to the newsletter.
The idea that Bong Joon-ho's Parasite could win best picture is not only not original to me; it's been gaining ground since the cast won the Screen Actors Guild Award for best ensemble cast. That win was notably predicted by Chris Feil in a piece at Vulture that now looks — of course — wildly prescient.
Chris also thinks it's going to win best picture at the Oscars on Sunday. Is that a statistical good bet, given past patterns? Of course not. Could it happen? Sure.
One of the things that makes statistical analysis of the Oscars, and especially the best picture race, so difficult is that they completely changed the best picture field beginning with the awards handed out in 2010, doubling the number of nominees from five to ten. Two years later, they changed it again, so there would be between five and ten nominees, depending on nomination voting. While the purpose of the expanded field was originally understood to be a desire to recognize high-quality "popular" films and maybe boost TV ratings for the ceremony (The Dark Knight was the spurned film most often mentioned as a potential beneficiary), what's happened certainly seems to be that smaller films have wiggled their way in. (That may be why there was a recent attempt to create a separate "best popular film" category — an idea that was quickly dumped.)
There's no control group that can tell you which five nominees in a nine-nominee year like this one would have been nominated under the old rules, so it's all speculation in good fun. But consider, for instance, that only eleven foreign language films have ever been nominated in 92 rounds of nominees, and three of those (Amour, Roma and now Parasite) have been nominated since the field was expanded 10 years ago. Does Parasite make it in a five-nominee year, given the likelihood of nominations for at least traditional Oscars-y movies like The Irishman (mob movie with previously-winning director), 1917 (war movie with previously-winning director), Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (auteur violence), Little Women (gorgeous and wonderful period piece by previously-nominated director) and Marriage Story (domestic drama with A-list actors)?
I think the likelihood is that until relatively recently, Parasite wouldn't have even been nominated, so there's not a very big group of wins to compare it to. Thus, not having won the Producers Guild Award (often considered a very powerful precursor to the Oscars) or not having its individual actors nominated is certainly noteworthy as to patterns, but making too much out of those things seems like a mistake.
This is going to be a weird year no matter what — 1917 is a solid pick for front-runner via conventional wisdom, but it would also be an unconventional winner, in that the two actors in its main cast had relatively low profiles previously and it didn't land a single SAG award nomination. Once Upon A Time In Hollywood is on a lot of people's prediction ballots, but it just doesn't feel to me like it has momentum outside of Brad Pitt's performance, and it feels like a weird moment in industry history to go out of your way to honor such an old-fashioned, kind of retro vision of film. On the one hand, there's a long tradition of Hollywood loving movies about itself (Argo, The Artist, and so on). But on the other, the Oscars are how Hollywood tells itself a story about what it values, regardless of whether its collective behavior suggests it values anything of the kind. Do people really want to declare right now that what they think is most important is this particular violent fantasy?
The bottom line is that all of this stuff is both important and unimportant — the Oscars have tendencies, but they don't have rules that you can rely on.
The argument for Parasite is this: It has plenty of people who absolutely adore it, which is important, because to win best picture, you need enough people who have ranked your movie first — you can't win by being everybody's second choice. (How that works is explained elsewhere; please don't make me do it here, because it makes my head hurt.) But if you have a good chunk of first-place votes, it's important to have a lot of second- and third-place votes, too. That's why if you can combine people who love your movie with people who like your movie, that's a way to win. I have always suspected this might be how Moonlight won over La La Land. Even people who didn't love Moonlight generally really liked it, while people who didn't love La La Land might very well have ranked it low or last.
I haven't really talked to any hard-core Parasite-in-last-place people, even though I know they exist, and undoubtedly there will be those who simply won't vote for a foreign-language film. Still, I don't get the sense that there's a significant faction dragging it down, putting it last. I don't think that will hold true for Joker, or Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, or even The Irishman — the latter because I suspect a chunk of voters retain a little bit of Netflix resentment. Again, it's all speculation. But the Parasite theory would be that an Academy that's ready to nominate foreign-language films two years in a row is ready to give one the win. Bong Joon-ho seems to be hugely well-liked, the movie is fantastic (entertaining and artful), and it just ... it feels possible. That's my thesis. My thesis is that it feels possible — although Bong winning best director while something else wins best picture does, too. (I know, I know — I've got more hedges than the end of The Shining.)
With that said, I am a terrible prognosticator, so even though I stuck with this prediction during our Oscars preview show, if I had actual money on the line, I might bet against myself.
I'll still be hoping, though.


npr--2020-02-08--French Skating Chief Resigns Amid Sexual Abuse Scandal

The long-serving head of France 's ice skating federation resigned Saturday in a widening scandal after multiple figure skaters accused their coaches of sexual abuse while they were underage .
Speaking to reporters after a special meeting of the federation , Didier Gailhaguet said he has `` taken the wise decision to resign from my post .
...
I have taken this decision with composure , with dignity , but without any bitterness before this injustice , '' the BBC reports .
Pressure on Gailhaguet began to mount after 10-time French skating champion Sarah Abitbol in a new book accused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her dorm room and repeatedly raping her three decades ago , beginning at age 15 .
Beyer admitted to intimate and inappropriate relations with Abitbol and apologized .
Abitbol rejected the apology and called for accountability for `` all those who covered up [ the crimes ] both in the club and the federation , '' the BBC noted .
Two other skaters have also accused Beyer of sexually abusing them and Paris prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation .
Multiple skaters have accused two other coaches , Jean-Roland Racle and Michel Lotz @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well .
Racle has denied the accusations and Lotz has not commented , according to reports .
Gailhaguet on Saturday accused France 's sports minister , Roxana Maracineanu , of making him a `` sacrificial victim , '' The Associated Press reported .
Maracineanu had earlier called for Gailhaguet to resign for allowing Beyer to continue working in the French skating federation despite earlier investigations into Beyer 's misconduct .
Gailhaguet denied knowledge of allegations against Beyer , blaming the sports ministry for allowing Beyer to keep working in skating circles .
Gailhaguet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Federation of Ice Sports for nearly 20 years over two terms , first from 1998 to 2004 , then from 2007 to the present .
Abitbol told French outlet L'Obs that Gailhaguet 's resignation was `` necessary , but this is only the first step . ''
She said it was still necessary to `` clean up '' the federation `` where he has many friends .
Those who have remained silent and supported his system are still there . ''
According to statutes , Maryvonne del Torchio , head of the federation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ become the federation 's interim president until its next election within five weeks .

French Skating Chief Resigns Amid Sexual Abuse Scandal
Enlarge this image toggle caption Francois Mori/AP Francois Mori/AP
The long-serving head of France's ice skating federation resigned Saturday in a widening scandal after multiple figure skaters accused their coaches of sexual abuse while they were underage.
Speaking to reporters after a special meeting of the federation, Didier Gailhaguet said he has "taken the wise decision to resign from my post. ... I have taken this decision with composure, with dignity, but without any bitterness before this injustice," the BBC reports.
Pressure on Gailhaguet began to mount after 10-time French skating champion Sarah Abitbol in a new book accused skating coach Gilles Beyer of coming into her dorm room and repeatedly raping her three decades ago, beginning at age 15.
Beyer admitted to intimate and inappropriate relations with Abitbol and apologized. Abitbol rejected the apology and called for accountability for "all those who covered up [the crimes] both in the club and the federation," the BBC noted.
Two other skaters have also accused Beyer of sexually abusing them and Paris prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation.
Multiple skaters have accused two other coaches, Jean-Roland Racle and Michel Lotz, of sexual abuse and harassment as well. Racle has denied the accusations and Lotz has not commented, according to reports.
Gailhaguet on Saturday accused France's sports minister, Roxana Maracineanu, of making him a "sacrificial victim," The Associated Press reported. Maracineanu had earlier called for Gailhaguet to resign for allowing Beyer to continue working in the French skating federation despite earlier investigations into Beyer's misconduct.
Gailhaguet denied knowledge of allegations against Beyer, blaming the sports ministry for allowing Beyer to keep working in skating circles.
Gailhaguet served as the president of the French Federation of Ice Sports for nearly 20 years over two terms, first from 1998 to 2004, then from 2007 to the present.
Abitbol told French outlet L'Obs that Gailhaguet's resignation was "necessary, but this is only the first step."
She said it was still necessary to "clean up" the federation "where he has many friends. Those who have remained silent and supported his system are still there."
According to statutes, Maryvonne del Torchio, head of the federation's council, would step in to become the federation's interim president until its next election within five weeks.


npr--2020-02-08--Val Demings Says House Impeachment Managers 'Made Our Case'

President Trump celebrated his acquittal this week by lashing out at political rivals and firing two officials who testified before impeachment investigators about his involvement in the Ukraine scandal .
Trump 's acquittal in the Senate on Wednesday was never truly in doubt .
And with one poll this week showing Trump with the highest approval rating of his presidency , Democrats have been left to answer whether impeachment was worth the political cost .
That includes Rep. Val Demings of Florida , one of the seven impeachment managers who argued the case against the president during his trial in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ?
Every day it has been worth it , '' she told NPR in an interview from her Capitol Hill office on Friday .
Demings called the Senate 's vote to acquit the president `` disappointing , '' but drawing an analogy from her prior career in law enforcement , she says Democrats had an obligation to pursue the case regardless of the outcome .
`` The House managers were the defenders of the Constitution , '' she says .
`` And just like when I was a law enforcement officer , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I did not stop and think about , well , my goodness , what will the judge do ?
What will the jury do down the road ?
I did my job to stop that threat and then go to court and plead my case . ''
In the end , Democrats managed to win just one Republican vote .
That came when Sen. Mitt Romney , R-Utah , announced he would defy his party and vote to convict Trump on one of the two articles of impeachment that he faced : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our case .
We made our case .
The senators chose to not hold the president accountable for whatever reason , '' says Demings .
`` Had we not proved our case , '' she adds , `` there is no way that Mitt Romney would have voted guilty against the president . ''
The question now for Democrats is what 's next .
The lead impeachment manager , Rep. Adam Schiff , D-Calif. , told NPR this week that no decisions have been made about whether House Democrats will continue to investigate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden .
One potential witness is John Bolton .
The former national security adviser had offered to testify before the Senate if subpoenaed , but Democrats were unable to garner enough votes to secure his testimony .
All but two Republicans — Romney and Susan Collins of Maine — voted against a motion to hear new witness testimony .
That vote came despite a New York Times report that in an unpublished manuscript , Bolton wrote that Trump had told him he wanted to continue withholding security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agreed to investigate Biden and his son Hunter .
When asked why House Democrats did n't subpoena Bolton themselves , Demings turned the focus back on the Senate .
`` The Senate had this opportunity that [ Bolton ] said , ' I want to come and testify before you and you only .
Call me , I 'm ready . '
And the Senate chose not to do that .
They do n't get a — there are some that might want to give them a pass , because like I said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there , but I 'm not giving them a pass . ''
`` We were right to move forward , '' she says of the House decision not to subpoena Bolton .
But Demings , who sits on both the Judiciary and Intelligence committees , says any decision about whether to subpoena Bolton in the days ahead `` will not be made at my pay grade . ''
Demings ' long career in law enforcement is evident when she speaks .
`` I have seen the effects of good government and good leaders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of bad government and bad leaders , '' she says .
Police memorabilia adorn her office , along with photos of Demings and her husband , Jerry Demings , both in uniform .
Demings worked for the Orlando Police Department for 27 years , in several departments .
She worked as an internal affairs commander , investigating police officers .
She also served as a patrol officer and detective .
In 2007 , she was appointed as Orlando 's first female chief of police .
Her work putting criminal cases together as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pelosi , D-Calif. , chose her to be the only non-lawyer on the House impeachment manager team .
`` I think those real-life experiences in what I think was a tougher arena , building criminal cases , I think the speaker wanted that and needed that as a part of the team , '' she says .
Being a part of that team may put her in the crosshairs in November .
Florida state Sen. Joe Gruters , the chairman of the Florida Republican Party , wrote this week that Floridians `` wo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unfortunate chapter of history , and America wo n't forget the Democrats ' cynical witch hunt at the ballot box in November . ''
Demings ' district , which includes parts of Orlando and surrounding areas , is considered a safe seat for Democrats .
She emphasizes that the prospect of being targeted does n't faze her .
`` I grew up poor black and female in the South and I worked as a law enforcement officer .
I mean , I 've been targeted before because we are always targeted .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ faith .
And I know that God is on my side .
And I do n't fear any man because that 's what the Scripture says .
I 'm used to being targeted .
I will continue to do the best job that I can do for the people that I represent .
And the people in my district will decide . ''
Demings also talks about the experience as bigger than just a single election .
`` Fifty years from now when , I think , all of the impeachment managers will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believe that history will look back and smile upon the defenders of the Constitution and the form of government that the framers had in mind .
And that makes me pretty proud . ''
NPR 's Janaya Williams and Tinbete Ermyas produced and edited the audio version of this story .

Val Demings Says House Impeachment Managers 'Made Our Case'
Enlarge this image toggle caption Kisha Ravi/NPR Kisha Ravi/NPR
President Trump celebrated his acquittal this week by lashing out at political rivals and firing two officials who testified before impeachment investigators about his involvement in the Ukraine scandal.
Trump's acquittal in the Senate on Wednesday was never truly in doubt. And with one poll this week showing Trump with the highest approval rating of his presidency, Democrats have been left to answer whether impeachment was worth the political cost.
That includes Rep. Val Demings of Florida, one of the seven impeachment managers who argued the case against the president during his trial in the Senate.
"Was it worth it? Every day it has been worth it," she told NPR in an interview from her Capitol Hill office on Friday.
Demings called the Senate's vote to acquit the president "disappointing," but drawing an analogy from her prior career in law enforcement, she says Democrats had an obligation to pursue the case regardless of the outcome.
"The House managers were the defenders of the Constitution," she says. "And just like when I was a law enforcement officer, when I saw someone breaking the law, I did not stop and think about, well, my goodness, what will the judge do? What will the jury do down the road? I did my job to stop that threat and then go to court and plead my case."
In the end, Democrats managed to win just one Republican vote. That came when Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, announced he would defy his party and vote to convict Trump on one of the two articles of impeachment that he faced: abuse of power.
"We presented our case. We made our case. The senators chose to not hold the president accountable for whatever reason," says Demings. "Had we not proved our case," she adds, "there is no way that Mitt Romney would have voted guilty against the president."
The path ahead for Democrats
The question now for Democrats is what's next. The lead impeachment manager, Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., told NPR this week that no decisions have been made about whether House Democrats will continue to investigate President Trump's attempts to pressure Ukraine to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden.
One potential witness is John Bolton. The former national security adviser had offered to testify before the Senate if subpoenaed, but Democrats were unable to garner enough votes to secure his testimony. All but two Republicans — Romney and Susan Collins of Maine — voted against a motion to hear new witness testimony. That vote came despite a New York Times report that in an unpublished manuscript, Bolton wrote that Trump had told him he wanted to continue withholding security aid for Ukraine until the government there agreed to investigate Biden and his son Hunter.
When asked why House Democrats didn't subpoena Bolton themselves, Demings turned the focus back on the Senate.
"The Senate had this opportunity that [Bolton] said, 'I want to come and testify before you and you only. Call me, I'm ready.' And the Senate chose not to do that. They don't get a — there are some that might want to give them a pass, because like I said, there is this double standard out there, but I'm not giving them a pass."
"We were right to move forward," she says of the House decision not to subpoena Bolton. But Demings, who sits on both the Judiciary and Intelligence committees, says any decision about whether to subpoena Bolton in the days ahead "will not be made at my pay grade."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Kisha Ravi/NPR Kisha Ravi/NPR
Enforcing the law
Demings' long career in law enforcement is evident when she speaks. "I have seen the effects of good government and good leaders, and I've seen the effects of bad government and bad leaders," she says. Police memorabilia adorn her office, along with photos of Demings and her husband, Jerry Demings, both in uniform.
Demings worked for the Orlando Police Department for 27 years, in several departments. She worked as an internal affairs commander, investigating police officers. She also served as a patrol officer and detective. In 2007, she was appointed as Orlando's first female chief of police.
Her work putting criminal cases together as a cop is why she thinks Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., chose her to be the only non-lawyer on the House impeachment manager team.
"I think those real-life experiences in what I think was a tougher arena, building criminal cases, I think the speaker wanted that and needed that as a part of the team," she says.
Being a part of that team may put her in the crosshairs in November. Florida state Sen. Joe Gruters, the chairman of the Florida Republican Party, wrote this week that Floridians "won't forget Demings' role in this unfortunate chapter of history, and America won't forget the Democrats' cynical witch hunt at the ballot box in November."
Demings' district, which includes parts of Orlando and surrounding areas, is considered a safe seat for Democrats. She emphasizes that the prospect of being targeted doesn't faze her.
"I grew up poor black and female in the South and I worked as a law enforcement officer. I mean, I've been targeted before because we are always targeted. And look, I am a woman of faith. And I know that God is on my side. And I don't fear any man because that's what the Scripture says. I'm used to being targeted. I will continue to do the best job that I can do for the people that I represent. And the people in my district will decide."
Demings also talks about the experience as bigger than just a single election.
"Fifty years from now when, I think, all of the impeachment managers will be dead and gone, I do believe that history will look back and smile upon the defenders of the Constitution and the form of government that the framers had in mind. And that makes me pretty proud."
NPR's Janaya Williams and Tinbete Ermyas produced and edited the audio version of this story.


npr--2020-02-08--China's Coronavirus Death Toll Surpasses SARS Pandemic

The coronavirus death toll has climbed to 811 in mainland China , according to Chinese health officials , a grim tally that surpasses the number of global fatalities recorded during the SARS epidemic between 2002 and 2003 .
The figures reported by China 's National Health Commission on Sunday ( local time ) exceeded the 774 deaths from SARS recorded worldwide by the World Health Organization .
More than 34,000 people in China have been confirmed as being infected with the virus , officials from the WHO said on Saturday .
A 60-year-old American , whose identity has not been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ died after testing positive for the virus in what is believed to be the first U.S. citizen fatality since the epidemic began .
Most of new cases were found in Hubei Province , where Wuhan is located , the epicenter of the outbreak .
Officials said at least 288 other cases of the virus have been reported across two dozen other countries .
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus , WHO director general , said a team of international experts has been assembled , with the goal of sending the first members of the team to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said he is hoping officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will be part of the mission .
The announcement follows weeks of requests from the WHO and CDC to travel to the country to assist in investigating the virus .
Tedros said on Saturday that the Chinese government approved the international team 's arrival in the country , but he would not comment on exactly who would be participating .
`` The team leader will be leaving either Monday or Tuesday .
That 's what we 're aiming at now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will follow after that , '' Tedros said .
Over the past four days , WHO officials have seen the number of newly confirmed cases stabilize .
`` That 's good news and may reflect the impact of the control measures that have been put in place .
But remember , there are also lots of suspected cases still to be tested , '' said Michael Ryan , the executive director of the WHO 's health emergencies program .
WHO officials also stressed that it was not clear how many of the newly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recently infected as opposed to those who have been sick for some time .
`` It 's very , very , very early to make any predictions about numbers in this outbreak .
This is still a very intense disease outbreak , '' said Ryan .
Ryan was quick to add that : `` It 's very , very , very early to make any predictions about numbers in this outbreak .
This is still a very intense disease outbreak , '' he said .
Five British citizens , including a 9-year-old child @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ski resort in the French Alps .
Officials said on Saturday that the family had been visited by someone who had previously visited Singapore , a major Southeast Asia transit hub .
The five British nationals are being held in French hospitals and continue to be monitored .
Last month , the first coronavirus case was diagnosed in the U.S .
In response , the Trump administration has imposed travel restrictions , temporarily barring most travelers from China , as well as those who have recently been in China , if they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from China are permitted to enter the United States .
But those who have been in Hubei province recently are being screened for the virus and can be quarantined for up to 14 days .
Hundreds of Americans who have been evacuated from the province have to spend two weeks at a military base or other facility being monitored for symptoms of the virus .
This is the first federally mandated quarantine in more than 50 years .
The State Department has warned Americans not to travel to China .
But officials say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. remain low .
In Hong Kong , a mandatory two-week `` self-quarantine '' has begun for anyone traveling from mainland China , an effort to calm public fears of the virus spreading in the semiautonomous territory that has reported at least 18 cases .
Hong Kong authorities are examining more than 1,800 passengers on a cruise ship under quarantine after some passengers who had boarded from China 's mainland were confirmed to have the virus .
In mainland China , meanwhile , anger continues to mount over how local officials in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week , China 's state censors have been cracking down on news items related to coronavirus , taking down local news stories about the dire circumstances to Wuhan and removing social media posts from residents who said they have fallen ill. Chinese officials removed millions of posts related to the death of a young Chinese doctor who was among the first to raise alarms about the coronavirus .
Many of the censored messages included the hashtag `` I want freedom of speech , '' a message that was trending on Weibo , one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sites .

China's Coronavirus Death Toll Surpasses SARS Pandemic
Enlarge this image toggle caption Kevin Frayer/Getty Images Kevin Frayer/Getty Images
Updated at 10:26 p.m. ET
The coronavirus death toll has climbed to 811 in mainland China, according to Chinese health officials, a grim tally that surpasses the number of global fatalities recorded during the SARS epidemic between 2002 and 2003.
The figures reported by China's National Health Commission on Sunday (local time) exceeded the 774 deaths from SARS recorded worldwide by the World Health Organization.
More than 34,000 people in China have been confirmed as being infected with the virus, officials from the WHO said on Saturday.
A 60-year-old American, whose identity has not been released, is among those who have died after testing positive for the virus in what is believed to be the first U.S. citizen fatality since the epidemic began.
Most of new cases were found in Hubei Province, where Wuhan is located, the epicenter of the outbreak.
Officials said at least 288 other cases of the virus have been reported across two dozen other countries.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director general, said a team of international experts has been assembled, with the goal of sending the first members of the team to China by early next week. He said he is hoping officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will be part of the mission.
The announcement follows weeks of requests from the WHO and CDC to travel to the country to assist in investigating the virus.
Tedros said on Saturday that the Chinese government approved the international team's arrival in the country, but he would not comment on exactly who would be participating.
"The team leader will be leaving either Monday or Tuesday. That's what we're aiming at now. And the rest of the experts will follow after that," Tedros said.
Over the past four days, WHO officials have seen the number of newly confirmed cases stabilize.
"That's good news and may reflect the impact of the control measures that have been put in place. But remember, there are also lots of suspected cases still to be tested," said Michael Ryan, the executive director of the WHO's health emergencies program.
WHO officials also stressed that it was not clear how many of the newly confirmed cases were in individuals who were recently infected as opposed to those who have been sick for some time.
"It's very, very, very early to make any predictions about numbers in this outbreak. This is still a very intense disease outbreak," said Ryan.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Kevin Frayer/Getty Images Kevin Frayer/Getty Images
Five British citizens, including a 9-year-old child, contracted the virus while at a ski resort in the French Alps. Officials said on Saturday that the family had been visited by someone who had previously visited Singapore, a major Southeast Asia transit hub. The five British nationals are being held in French hospitals and continue to be monitored.
Last month, the first coronavirus case was diagnosed in the U.S.
In response, the Trump administration has imposed travel restrictions, temporarily barring most travelers from China, as well as those who have recently been in China, if they are not American citizens. U.S. citizens traveling from China are permitted to enter the United States. But those who have been in Hubei province recently are being screened for the virus and can be quarantined for up to 14 days.
Hundreds of Americans who have been evacuated from the province have to spend two weeks at a military base or other facility being monitored for symptoms of the virus. This is the first federally mandated quarantine in more than 50 years.
The State Department has warned Americans not to travel to China. But officials say the chance of contracting the virus in the U.S. remain low.
In Hong Kong, a mandatory two-week "self-quarantine" has begun for anyone traveling from mainland China, an effort to calm public fears of the virus spreading in the semiautonomous territory that has reported at least 18 cases. Hong Kong authorities are examining more than 1,800 passengers on a cruise ship under quarantine after some passengers who had boarded from China's mainland were confirmed to have the virus.
In mainland China, meanwhile, anger continues to mount over how local officials in Wuhan initially handled the outbreak. This week, China's state censors have been cracking down on news items related to coronavirus, taking down local news stories about the dire circumstances to Wuhan and removing social media posts from residents who said they have fallen ill.
Chinese officials removed millions of posts related to the death of a young Chinese doctor who was among the first to raise alarms about the coronavirus. Many of the censored messages included the hashtag "I want freedom of speech," a message that was trending on Weibo, one of China's most popular social media sites.
NPR's Emily Feng contributed to this report.


npr--2020-02-09--Floodwaters Begin To Recede In Oregon, Washington

Clearing skies were welcome news for residents in Oregon and Washington this weekend following days of heavy flooding that has forced evacuations and untold millions in damage .
This week 's flooding followed a particularly wet month of January , even for the Pacific Northwest .
In some parts of the region , rain fell on 28 out of the 31 days in January .
Snowmelt compounded flooding , pushing several rivers in the region to crest their banks .
In northeast Oregon , water started to recede from roads on Sunday , allowing residents to return to their homes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Press reports .
Twenty-one people were evacuated by the Oregon National Guard when they were airlifted out of flooded conditions on Saturday .
At least one person , a 62-year-old woman , has been reported missing in a region hit hard by the flooding , The Oregonian reports .
Muddy floodwaterers are continuing to flow in some areas and not all the roads in the region are accessible yet .
Nearly 10 miles of Interstate 84 remain closed in Oregon .
The road could remain closed for a week before reopening , officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kate Brown declared a state of emergency in Umatilla , Union and Wallowa counties on Friday because of the severe flooding .
In northern Umatilla County , the Umatilla River crested on Thursday at more than 19 feet , according to the AP .
Umatilla county residents and the Umatilla Indian Reservation were urged to evacuate their homes .
They were warned that emergency services might not have been able to reach them if they stayed , reports the Northwest News Network .
Many families evacuated quickly , but it 's unclear when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` We got people who had to move out of their house within a few hours , '' Kat Brigham , chair of the tribes ' board of trustees , told Northwest News Network .
`` People have been able to get some of their supplies out you know that they need , and some have not been able to get anything out at all . ''
Donations of bedding , clothing , boots , food and water were organized at the Umatilla tribes ' emergency coordination center .
Brigham said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she 's proud of the way the community has come together to support each other .
In Washington , at least 48,000 residents lost power on Friday as high winds toppled trees .
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport had registered 12.4 inches of rain as of midnight Friday , according to The Seattle Times .
That 's nearly double the average of 6.5 inches typical for this time of year .

Floodwaters Begin To Recede In Oregon, Washington
Enlarge this image toggle caption Oregon State Police via AP Oregon State Police via AP
Clearing skies were welcome news for residents in Oregon and Washington this weekend following days of heavy flooding that has forced evacuations and untold millions in damage.
This week's flooding followed a particularly wet month of January, even for the Pacific Northwest. In some parts of the region, rain fell on 28 out of the 31 days in January. Snowmelt compounded flooding, pushing several rivers in the region to crest their banks.
In northeast Oregon, water started to recede from roads on Sunday, allowing residents to return to their homes and assess the damage, the Associated Press reports.
Twenty-one people were evacuated by the Oregon National Guard when they were airlifted out of flooded conditions on Saturday. At least one person, a 62-year-old woman, has been reported missing in a region hit hard by the flooding, The Oregonian reports.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Anna King/Northwest News Network Anna King/Northwest News Network
Muddy floodwaterers are continuing to flow in some areas and not all the roads in the region are accessible yet. Nearly 10 miles of Interstate 84 remain closed in Oregon. The road could remain closed for a week before reopening, officials told the AP.
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown declared a state of emergency in Umatilla, Union and Wallowa counties on Friday because of the severe flooding. In northern Umatilla County, the Umatilla River crested on Thursday at more than 19 feet, according to the AP.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Anna King/Northwest News Network Anna King/Northwest News Network
Umatilla county residents and the Umatilla Indian Reservation were urged to evacuate their homes. They were warned that emergency services might not have been able to reach them if they stayed, reports the Northwest News Network.
Many families evacuated quickly, but it's unclear when they'll be able to return home.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Anna King/Northwest News Network Anna King/Northwest News Network
"We got people who had to move out of their house within a few hours," Kat Brigham, chair of the tribes' board of trustees, told Northwest News Network. "People have been able to get some of their supplies out you know that they need, and some have not been able to get anything out at all."
Donations of bedding, clothing, boots, food and water were organized at the Umatilla tribes' emergency coordination center. Brigham said the flooding was frightening and exhausting, but she's proud of the way the community has come together to support each other.
In Washington, at least 48,000 residents lost power on Friday as high winds toppled trees. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport had registered 12.4 inches of rain as of midnight Friday, according to The Seattle Times. That's nearly double the average of 6.5 inches typical for this time of year.


npr--2020-02-10--Climate Change Complicates Counting Some Alaska Native Villages For Census

On the front lines of climate change , warming temperatures and thawing permafrost are making it harder to get an accurate count for the 2020 census in some of the most remote communities of Alaska .
Since 1960 , the Census Bureau has started the once-a-decade , constitutionally mandated head count in Alaska Native villages in January — months before the census rolls out to the rest of Alaska and other states by April — to take advantage of the frigid winter weather .
When Alaska is at its coldest , census workers are more likely to find village residents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and fish for subsistence or work , in their home communities .
Before the spring thaw , census workers have also been able to journey across miles of frozen ground and ice roads on snow machines ( known in the Lower 48 as snowmobiles ) or sometimes in dog sleds to reach villages usually accessible only by bush plane or boat in the warmer months .
But as temperatures in Alaska climb faster than in any other state and twice as fast as the global average , counting in some communities has become @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to long-standing challenges , such as language barriers and distrust of the U.S. government , that have hindered the Census Bureau 's ability to produce complete population counts of Alaska Native groups .
In 2010 , the bureau estimates that it net undercounted American Indians and Alaska Natives living on reservations by 4.9 % — the highest rate among all racial and ethnic groups .
`` We 've seen landmasses just disappear overnight , '' says Romy Cadiente , a local official for Newtok , a village in southwest Alaska where erosion has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feet a year , forcing many residents to flee for firmer ground .
In some homes , rising waters from the Ninglick River have seeped through floorboards , and black mold has festered .
`` The permafrost beneath Newtok is actually degrading much to the point where there are leaning telephone poles all over the village , '' Cadiente says .
`` Structures are beginning to fall from their foundation . ''
The 2010 census counted 354 people living in Newtok , and the community has used that number to get its share @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year in federal funding that 's guided by census data .
But in October , after decades of planning and fundraising , about a third of Newtok 's residents packed their belongings into boats and relocated to 21 new homes on higher ground across the river in Mertarvik , Alaska — a replacement village about 9 miles southeast of Newtok .
The new site is now outfitted with its own power plant , water facility and landing-strip airport , according to Cadiente , who serves as the relocation coordinator .
Do n't see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ For the 2020 count , the Census Bureau is currently planning to count the community as two villages with separate population counts .
`` We do not expect these two [ census-designated places ] to be merged for the 2020 Census , but we will not know with absolute certainty until the summer , '' the bureau said in a written statement to NPR , noting that the bureau is waiting for final input from the state of Alaska .
The bureau 's plans have raised concerns about how they could affect population-based @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on for housing and infrastructure .
Cadiente says local officials , who have been consumed with carrying out the first wave of relocation , are now left wondering how much funding the community can receive over the next decade .
`` That 's a very good question and a very scary question , '' Cadiente says .
`` There 's got to be a way for communities that experience these kinds of threats to have additional funding in the transitionary period . ''
Counting for the 2020 census officially began last month southwest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Toksook Bay , which is home to 590 residents , according to the 2010 count .
Census Bureau officials crossed the tundra by bush plane to reach the fishing village along the Bering Sea .
`` Recent global warming has a lot of effect in coastal areas , '' says Robert Pitka , Toksook Bay 's tribal administrator , who leads the Nunakauyak Traditional Council , which governs the Nunakauyarmiut Tribe .
`` It 's not just one village .
It 's in all the villages . ''
In less than a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Toksook Bay to conduct in-person interviews using paper forms and pencils .
But Pitka and other village officials wo n't see the latest census results for at least a year .
The bureau is not expected to start releasing data about local communities until early 2021 .
While he waits for the numbers , Pitka has been mulling over what he considers to be one of the biggest challenges that climate change has brought to Alaska Native villages .
`` I 'm just worried that there may be lack of funding to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many villages , '' Pitka says .
`` It 's indescribable . ''
`` Maybe they will not have winter '' For Diana Therchik , the operations manager for the Toksook Bay Sub-regional Clinic , this was partly foreseeable .
The rising temperatures remind her of what Yup'ik elders have long predicted , and she wonders if census workers may encounter a vastly different Alaska by the next U.S. census in 2030 .
`` The way things are going , maybe they wo n't have snow .
Maybe they will not have winter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's like so many years from now , and I just do n't know . ''
For now , she 's worried about the ice roads that other villages rely on to get to Toksook Bay 's health clinic .
They 're often the same ones that census workers have to use to get around during the count .
In recent winters , Therchik says , it has sometimes been too warm for patients to drive over a nearby river .
`` It has n't frozen over .
And it 's made it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , so they rely on planes more , '' Therchik says .
Snowfall can make trekking by snow machine especially dangerous during warmer winters , because travelers often ca n't spot thin , untrustworthy ice .
`` You ca n't see it when it 's warm .
The top part is white , and you fall through , '' says Noah Lincoln , a subsistence hunter and assistant coach for the local high school boys ' basketball team , the Toksook Bay Islanders , who frequently travel to away games in snow machine-pulled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see that census number drop a little bit '' Asked by NPR how it 's responding to the increased risk of travel on ice roads because of climate change , the Census Bureau said in a written statement that the safety of its workers is `` of the utmost importance . ''
`` The Census Bureau hires census takers locally who understand the terrain they are traveling and who know the challenges faced in Alaska , '' the bureau says .
To prepare for the count in remote Alaska , the bureau adds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schedule visits to villages before the spring thaw .
Last year , officials also made early visits to villages and confirmed that five villages do not need to be counted for the 2020 census because they have been abandoned .
In Newtok , Cadiente , the community 's relocation coordinator , says it 's not clear when all residents will be able to move out of the eroding village .
But many are not waiting to see what else climate change brings .
`` There are so many people that are scared about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people have been seeking shelter with their relatives all over the region , '' Cadiente says .
`` You 're going to see that census number drop a little bit . ''
Ten years from now , though , Cadiente wants to see Newtok 's community reunited on solid ground in its new village of Mertarvik — population 350 by the 2030 census , he hopes , or maybe even higher .

Climate Change Complicates Counting Some Alaska Native Villages For Census
Enlarge this image toggle caption Claire Harbage/NPR Claire Harbage/NPR
Updated Feb. 11 at 10:04 a.m. ET
On the front lines of climate change, warming temperatures and thawing permafrost are making it harder to get an accurate count for the 2020 census in some of the most remote communities of Alaska.
Since 1960, the Census Bureau has started the once-a-decade, constitutionally mandated head count in Alaska Native villages in January — months before the census rolls out to the rest of Alaska and other states by April — to take advantage of the frigid winter weather.
When Alaska is at its coldest, census workers are more likely to find village residents, some of whom migrate to hunt and fish for subsistence or work, in their home communities. Before the spring thaw, census workers have also been able to journey across miles of frozen ground and ice roads on snow machines (known in the Lower 48 as snowmobiles) or sometimes in dog sleds to reach villages usually accessible only by bush plane or boat in the warmer months.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Claire Harbage/NPR Claire Harbage/NPR
But as temperatures in Alaska climb faster than in any other state and twice as fast as the global average, counting in some communities has become more complicated — adding yet another layer to long-standing challenges, such as language barriers and distrust of the U.S. government, that have hindered the Census Bureau's ability to produce complete population counts of Alaska Native villages.
In 2010, the bureau estimates that it net undercounted American Indians and Alaska Natives living on reservations by 4.9% — the highest rate among all racial and ethnic groups. But in Alaska, where there is only one reservation, it's unclear exactly how accurate the bureau's counts are for Alaska Native villages, which have not been included in the bureau's undercount estimates.
Leaning telephone poles and falling buildings
"We've seen landmasses just disappear overnight," says Romy Cadiente, a local official for Newtok, a village in southwest Alaska where erosion has been eating away an average of 70 feet a year, forcing many residents to flee for firmer ground.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Andrew Burton/Getty Images Andrew Burton/Getty Images
In some homes, rising waters from the Ninglick River have seeped through floorboards, and black mold has festered.
"The permafrost beneath Newtok is actually degrading much to the point where there are leaning telephone poles all over the village," Cadiente says. "Structures are beginning to fall from their foundation."
The 2010 census counted 354 people living in Newtok, and the community has used that number to get its share of an estimated $1.5 trillion a year in federal funding that's guided by census data.
But in October, after decades of planning and fundraising, about a third of Newtok's residents packed their belongings into boats and relocated to 21 new homes on higher ground across the river in Mertarvik, Alaska — a replacement village about 9 miles southeast of Newtok. The new site is now outfitted with its own power plant, water facility and landing-strip airport, according to Cadiente, who serves as the relocation coordinator.
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Don't see the graphic above? Click here.
"A very scary question"
For the 2020 count, the Census Bureau is currently planning to count the community as two villages with separate population counts.
"We do not expect these two [census-designated places] to be merged for the 2020 Census, but we will not know with absolute certainty until the summer," the bureau said in a written statement to NPR, noting that the bureau is waiting for final input from the state of Alaska.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post via Getty Images Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post via Getty Images
The bureau's plans have raised concerns about how they could affect population-based federal funding that villages like Newtok count on for housing and infrastructure. Cadiente says local officials, who have been consumed with carrying out the first wave of relocation, are now left wondering how much funding the community can receive over the next decade.
"That's a very good question and a very scary question," Cadiente says. "There's got to be a way for communities that experience these kinds of threats to have additional funding in the transitionary period."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Andrew Burton/Getty Images Andrew Burton/Getty Images
The "indescribable" threat of erosion
Counting for the 2020 census officially began last month southwest of Newtok in another Alaska Native village, Toksook Bay, which is home to 590 residents, according to the 2010 count. Census Bureau officials crossed the tundra by bush plane to reach the fishing village along the Bering Sea.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Claire Harbage/NPR Claire Harbage/NPR
"Recent global warming has a lot of effect in coastal areas," says Robert Pitka, Toksook Bay's tribal administrator, who leads the Nunakauyak Traditional Council, which governs the Nunakauyarmiut Tribe. "It's not just one village. It's in all the villages."
In less than a week, census workers finished visiting homes in Toksook Bay to conduct in-person interviews using paper forms and pencils. But Pitka and other village officials won't see the latest census results for at least a year. The bureau is not expected to start releasing data about local communities until early 2021.
While he waits for the numbers, Pitka has been mulling over what he considers to be one of the biggest challenges that climate change has brought to Alaska Native villages.
"I'm just worried that there may be lack of funding to fix all kinds of erosion occurring in many villages," Pitka says. "It's indescribable."
"Maybe they will not have winter"
For Diana Therchik, the operations manager for the Toksook Bay Sub-regional Clinic, this was partly foreseeable.
The rising temperatures remind her of what Yup'ik elders have long predicted, and she wonders if census workers may encounter a vastly different Alaska by the next U.S. census in 2030.
"The way things are going, maybe they won't have snow. Maybe they will not have winter," Therchik says. "That's like so many years from now, and I just don't know."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Claire Harbage/NPR Claire Harbage/NPR
For now, she's worried about the ice roads that other villages rely on to get to Toksook Bay's health clinic. They're often the same ones that census workers have to use to get around during the count. In recent winters, Therchik says, it has sometimes been too warm for patients to drive over a nearby river.
"It hasn't frozen over. And it's made it more difficult to get seen over here, so they rely on planes more," Therchik says.
Snowfall can make trekking by snow machine especially dangerous during warmer winters, because travelers often can't spot thin, untrustworthy ice.
"You can't see it when it's warm. The top part is white, and you fall through," says Noah Lincoln, a subsistence hunter and assistant coach for the local high school boys' basketball team, the Toksook Bay Islanders, who frequently travel to away games in snow machine-pulled sleds.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Claire Harbage/NPR Claire Harbage/NPR
"You're going to see that census number drop a little bit"
Asked by NPR how it's responding to the increased risk of travel on ice roads because of climate change, the Census Bureau said in a written statement that the safety of its workers is "of the utmost importance."
"The Census Bureau hires census takers locally who understand the terrain they are traveling and who know the challenges faced in Alaska," the bureau says.
To prepare for the count in remote Alaska, the bureau adds that it analyzed past climate data to schedule visits to villages before the spring thaw. Last year, officials also made early visits to villages and confirmed that five villages do not need to be counted for the 2020 census because they have been abandoned.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Claire Harbage/NPR Claire Harbage/NPR
In Newtok, Cadiente, the community's relocation coordinator, says it's not clear when all residents will be able to move out of the eroding village. But many are not waiting to see what else climate change brings.
"There are so many people that are scared about the weather, so a lot of people have been seeking shelter with their relatives all over the region," Cadiente says. "You're going to see that census number drop a little bit."
Ten years from now, though, Cadiente wants to see Newtok's community reunited on solid ground in its new village of Mertarvik — population 350 by the 2030 census, he hopes, or maybe even higher.