npr--2020-05-30--SpaceX And NASA Try Once More To Launch Astronauts

SpaceX And NASA Try Once More To Launch Astronauts Elon Musk can not control the weather .
Yet .
After storms and a tornado warning upended a launch attempt on Wednesday , the billionaire 's commercial spaceflight company , SpaceX , is once again braving Florida 's wild weather to launch astronauts into orbit .
Such a launch , if successful , would mark the first time NASA has sent astronauts into space from U.S. soil since the end of the shuttle program in 2011 .
It would also be a first for SpaceX , which has ambitions of someday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken are scheduled to lift off from pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center at 3:22 p.m .
ET .
They will travel to the International Space Station aboard SpaceX 's Dragon capsule .
The bell-shaped capsule resembles the spacecraft of the Apollo-era , but its sleek interior sports oversized touchscreen controls .
The capsule will be carried to orbit atop the company 's Falcon 9 rocket , which has been used successfully dozens of times to put satellites and space-station cargo into orbit .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has depended on Russian Soyuz rockets to get its astronauts into space for nearly a decade .
The success of a SpaceX flight would return astronaut launches to American soil , while ostensibly freeing up the agency 's own resources to conduct exploration beyond Earth 's orbit .
The rocket and astronauts appear to be ready , so the limiting factor is likely to be the fickle weather off Florida 's Atlantic coast .
The latest weather update from the U.S. Space Force put the chances of favorable conditions at the launch site @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lightening at the pad could make launching dangerous and rough waves could hamper rescue efforts or even endanger the crew .
The rocket 's entire trajectory must be free of storms in case the astronauts need to abort the launch and land in the ocean .
In case this latest attempt is scrubbed again , the astronauts are expected to try again on Sunday .

NASA And SpaceX Launch 1st Astronauts To Orbit From U.S. Since 2011
Enlarge this image toggle caption David J. Phillip/AP David J. Phillip/AP
Updated at 6:55 p.m. ET
NASA astronauts are heading to space from U.S. soil for the first time in nine years, aboard SpaceX's Dragon capsule, the maiden crewed flight of the innovative spacecraft.
The mission, which is sending Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken to the International Space Station, is a bold new venture for the space agency's plan to allow commercial companies to take its astronauts into low-Earth orbit.
YouTube
"Let's light this candle," Hurley said moments before ignition, borrowing words uttered by America's first astronaut, Alan Shepard, in 1961.
The duo left a fiery plume behind at Kennedy Space Center's Pad 39A at 3:22 p.m. ET as they rode SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket toward a rendezvous with the station, which will take about 19 hours. On Wednesday, storms and a tornado warning upended a launch attempt, with the veteran space shuttle astronauts suited up and strapped into the Dragon before the mission was scrubbed.
Similar weather concerns dogged Saturday's launch and nearly forced a second delay, but NASA and SpaceX decided early Saturday that conditions were trending in the right direction. As the countdown narrowed, the weather continued to improve.
Crew Dragon has separated from Falcon 9’s second stage and is on its way to the International Space Station with @Astro_Behnken and @AstroDoug! Autonomous docking at the @Space_Station will occur at ~10:30 a.m. EDT tomorrow, May 31 pic.twitter.com/bSZ6yZP2bD — SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 30, 2020
The Falcon 9 booster separated and guided itself to a successful landing on a drone ship stationed in the Atlantic. Crew Dragon separated from the rocket at 3:35 p.m. ET and entered orbit.
"It was incredible. Appreciate the great ride to space," Hurley told flight controllers as the spacecraft reached orbit.
We have liftoff. History is made as @NASA_Astronauts launch from @NASAKennedy for the first time in nine years on the @SpaceX Crew Dragon: pic.twitter.com/alX1t1JBAt — NASA (@NASA) May 30, 2020
The mission marks the first time NASA has sent astronauts into space from U.S. soil since the end of the shuttle program in 2011. For nearly a decade, it has been relying on Russian Soyuz rockets to get them there. It is also a first for SpaceX, which has ambitions of someday taking paying customers zooming around the Earth.
"It's incredible, the power, the technology," said President Trump, who was at Kennedy Space Center in Florida for the launch.
"That was a beautiful sight to see and I hope you all enjoyed it," the president said.
Speaking at a post-launch news conference on Saturday, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said: "What a great day for NASA. What a great day for SpaceX. What a great day for the United States."
"I'm really quite overcome with emotion on this day, so it's kind of hard to talk, frankly," he said.
Elon Musk, the billionaire founder and CEO of SpaceX, called it "a day that I think everyone can be proud of."
"This event is something that all of humanity can get excited about," he said.
Hurley, 53, and Behnken, 49, will put the bell-shaped Dragon through its paces on the way to the station. Dragon, which on the surface resembles an updated Apollo-era command module, sports a sleek interior and oversized touchscreen controls. Its SpaceX Falcon 9 booster has been used successfully dozens of times to put satellites and space-station cargo into orbit.
The Dragon-Falcon 9 configuration is a far cry from the winged space shuttle, but the SpaceX capsule has considerable safety advantages. Unlike the shuttle, it sits on top of the rocket, therefore avoiding debris that can fall off during launch and potentially damage the spacecraft — a problem that doomed the space shuttle Columbia in 2003. The position also makes it easy to eject the capsule if the rocket itself runs into trouble.
That's not to say that SpaceX hasn't had safety issues over the years. In 2015, one of its uncrewed rockets exploded on the way to the space station. But overall, SpaceX has enjoyed a good track record in its eight years of flying cargo to the space station.


npr--2020-05-30--Coronavirus FAQs: Is It Safer To Fly Or Drive? Is Air Conditioning A Threat?

Coronavirus FAQs : Is It Safer To Fly Or Drive ?
Is Air Conditioning A Threat ?
I need to take a trip that would be either a few hours flying or multiple days driving .
Which is safer ?
As lockdown orders are relaxed to some capacity in countries around the world , travel is starting to see an uptick for the first time since mid-March .
But when it comes to taking a longer trip , is it better to travel by car or by plane ?
Dr. Henry Wu , a professor of infectious disease medicine at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Center , says there is no definite answer — but it all comes down to planning ahead .
Regardless of whether you fly or drive , Wu says that the first thing to keep in mind is that until a vaccine is developed and proven effective , it 's impossible to fully mitigate all the coronavirus risks , including those associated with traveling .
That means that in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 's guidance , travel should still be limited to circumstances in which it 's absolutely necessary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or at high risk of developing severe illnesses , it should be avoided as much as possible .
If you feel you need to take a trip , one main benefit of driving is that it gives you a greater sense of control over your surroundings — although that does n't mean it 's necessarily safer than flying .
Lawrence Gostin , director of the O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown University , says the key to staying safe is taking measures like wearing a mask and carrying hand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worries , from a behavioral point of view , that people are less likely to follow hygiene protocols over the course of several stops on a long drive .
Here are some essential steps Wu and Gostin suggest to prepare for a road trip : • Pack as much food and water as you can to minimize stops .
• Whenever you do stop for food and gas , practice good hand hygiene by sanitizing often and choosing takeout/drive-through options .
• When possible , take meal breaks outside in areas without crowds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both Wu and Gostin point out that there are certain unavoidable risks that come with driving — like the chances of getting in an accident or having car trouble .
And you should always consider your own comfort level with long road trips and unknown highways .
If I decide to take an overnight road trip , how should I choose my lodging ?
Gostin says the safest option would be camping — sleeping in your car or on camping grounds with your own tent and supplies .
That eliminates the risks of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could come into contact with others .
If camping is n't an option , there are other steps to lower the risks of an overnight stay .
Wu and Gostin recommend choosing a hotel or motel option without elevators or other confined spaces — like a crowded breakfast buffet — that could force you to come in close contact with employees and other guests .
`` The more people , the smaller the space , the less [ air ] circulation and the longer you 're there , your risk goes up , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time that the hotel or Airbnb is using EPA-approved disinfectants to clean all surfaces in the room between guests , and , if possible , try to request rooms that have been unoccupied for several days — although there 's no way to know for sure that you 're getting an honest answer .
`` We know that COVID-19 virus viability on environmental surfaces is limited , and it really depends on the type of surface , the temperature and the humidity .
But in most situations , [ the virus ] is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says Wu .
`` So if you have a room that 's been empty for four or five days or even more , [ that 's ] better . ''
It 's also a good idea to bring your own alcohol wipes for the road and , once inside the room , to wipe down areas that could have been touched by prior occupants : door knobs , tabletops and the TV remote .
Or just avoid touching these whenever you can .
Gostin also suggests staying in your room as much as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with windows that can open , wipe them down before opening them to let in fresh air .
What if I 'd rather travel by plane ?
If driving for several days seems daunting , taking a flight might be preferable .
`` Air circulation systems on planes are quite good .
They have high-efficiency particulate air ( HEPA ) filters and high rates of air exchange , '' says Wu .
`` But that still does n't protect you from what is happening immediately around you . ''
One of the biggest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hard to predict how full a flight might be or how much you 'll be able to socially distance from other passengers and employees , even as airlines make efforts to minimize close contact .
Read more about the risks of flying — and safety precautions you can take — here .
Could I take a bus or train instead ?
Like airplanes , buses and trains both mean traveling in an enclosed environment .
One of Wu 's main concerns is the type of air filters used , which may vary from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be possible to find out what type of filter is used in the particular bus or train you are riding or whether it 's effectively circulating the air .
Additionally , not all bus and train companies might be able to exert as much environmental controls as airlines in terms of requiring empty seats between passengers and notifying you if your vehicle is expected to be at full capacity .
Greyhound currently requires all passengers and employees — except children under two and people with breathing difficulties — to wear masks on buses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Amtrak is limiting seat capacity to 50 % on each train .
All café seating is closed .
The same prevention tactics apply to train or bus travel as flying — wash hands often , wipe down surfaces before you touch them and avoid removing your mask .
And when deciding between a train or plane ride , keep in mind the matter of time spent in potentially crowded travel situations matters .
I live in an apartment building .
Could I get the coronavirus through the air conditioning system ?
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through respiratory droplets — if an infected person coughs , sneezes or talks near other people , they expel droplets that could get someone else sick .
Could the droplets travel through the air-handling system in an apartment or condo building and into another unit , potentially infecting the neighbors ?
There is still no definite answer .
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention says that `` the contribution of small respirable particles , sometimes called aerosols or droplet nuclei , to close proximity transmission is currently uncertain .
However , airborne @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unlikely . ''
That 's not to dismiss the risks of aerosol transmission .
One study focused on a case in Guangzhou , China , in which three families contracted COVID-19 from eating in the same restaurant .
This infection has been primarily attributed to poor ventilation within that particular restaurant .
But Dr. Abraar Karan , physician at Harvard Medical School , says the chances of getting sick from particles being spread from one room to another through the air conditioning system seems unlikely .
William Bahnfleth , engineering professor at Penn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Task Force for American Society of Heating , Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers , says it does not seem likely that you could get sick from the AC in your building .
`` If they 're small enough , [ viral particles ] can move through the air .
They can move from place to place in a building , either through the air conditioning system or just on air currents under the influence of pressure differences in the building , '' he says .
`` But the real important question is , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anyone gets an infection from that ?
And so far , there does n't seem to be evidence that that has happened . ''
Dr. Emily Landon , hospital epidemiologist and infectious diseases specialist at University of Chicago Medicine , agrees .
She points to places like Hong Kong , Singapore and South Korea , where many people live in high-rises , and there have been no documented reports of infection due to air conditioning between apartments .
What 's more , if you live in a building with what 's called `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the air comes in from the outside , is cooled or heated — and does not `` intentionally circulate air between units , '' Bahnfleth says .
If you 're still concerned about airflow in your apartment , Bahnfleth suggests opening your windows if possible to bring in fresh air , although this might not be the best option in a high-rise .
And although an air purifier or cleaner can not fully protect you from COVID-19 , the Environmental Protection Agency says having one in your home can be a part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ along with other best practices recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , operating an air cleaner can be part of a plan to protect yourself and your family , '' the agency said in a statement .
As we learn more about the virus , it 's possible that the guidance related to air conditioning systems will change .
But for now , Landon says it 's not a primary concern for the spread of COVID-19 .
`` The preponderance of the evidence suggests that [ getting infected through air @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problem , but it 's a new virus , '' says Landon .
`` We do n't know everything that there is to know . ''

Coronavirus FAQs: Is It Safer To Fly Or Drive? Is Air Conditioning A Threat?
Enlarge this image Malaka Gharib/ NPR Malaka Gharib/ NPR
I need to take a trip that would be either a few hours flying or multiple days driving. Which is safer?
As lockdown orders are relaxed to some capacity in countries around the world, travel is starting to see an uptick for the first time since mid-March. But when it comes to taking a longer trip, is it better to travel by car or by plane?
Dr. Henry Wu, a professor of infectious disease medicine at Emory University and director of its TravelWell Center, says there is no definite answer — but it all comes down to planning ahead.
Regardless of whether you fly or drive, Wu says that the first thing to keep in mind is that until a vaccine is developed and proven effective, it's impossible to fully mitigate all the coronavirus risks, including those associated with traveling.
That means that in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's guidance, travel should still be limited to circumstances in which it's absolutely necessary. And for people who are immunocompromised or at high risk of developing severe illnesses, it should be avoided as much as possible.
If you feel you need to take a trip, one main benefit of driving is that it gives you a greater sense of control over your surroundings — although that doesn't mean it's necessarily safer than flying.
Lawrence Gostin, director of the O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown University, says the key to staying safe is taking measures like wearing a mask and carrying hand sanitizer when in public spaces. He worries, from a behavioral point of view, that people are less likely to follow hygiene protocols over the course of several stops on a long drive.
Here are some essential steps Wu and Gostin suggest to prepare for a road trip:
Pack as much food and water as you can to minimize stops.
Whenever you do stop for food and gas, practice good hand hygiene by sanitizing often and choosing takeout/drive-through options.
When possible, take meal breaks outside in areas without crowds or in your car.
However, both Wu and Gostin point out that there are certain unavoidable risks that come with driving — like the chances of getting in an accident or having car trouble. And you should always consider your own comfort level with long road trips and unknown highways.
If I decide to take an overnight road trip, how should I choose my lodging?
Gostin says the safest option would be camping — sleeping in your car or on camping grounds with your own tent and supplies. That eliminates the risks of staying in an indoor space where you could come into contact with others. If camping isn't an option, there are other steps to lower the risks of an overnight stay.
Wu and Gostin recommend choosing a hotel or motel option without elevators or other confined spaces — like a crowded breakfast buffet — that could force you to come in close contact with employees and other guests.
"The more people, the smaller the space, the less [air] circulation and the longer you're there, your risk goes up," says Gostin.
Ask ahead of time that the hotel or Airbnb is using EPA-approved disinfectants to clean all surfaces in the room between guests, and, if possible, try to request rooms that have been unoccupied for several days — although there's no way to know for sure that you're getting an honest answer.
"We know that COVID-19 virus viability on environmental surfaces is limited, and it really depends on the type of surface, the temperature and the humidity. But in most situations, [the virus] is not viable after several days," says Wu. "So if you have a room that's been empty for four or five days or even more, [that's] better."
It's also a good idea to bring your own alcohol wipes for the road and, once inside the room, to wipe down areas that could have been touched by prior occupants: door knobs, tabletops and the TV remote. Or just avoid touching these whenever you can.
Gostin also suggests staying in your room as much as possible. If you have a room with windows that can open, wipe them down before opening them to let in fresh air.
What if I'd rather travel by plane?
If driving for several days seems daunting, taking a flight might be preferable.
"Air circulation systems on planes are quite good. They have high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters and high rates of air exchange," says Wu. "But that still doesn't protect you from what is happening immediately around you."
One of the biggest risks of flying is that it's hard to predict how full a flight might be or how much you'll be able to socially distance from other passengers and employees, even as airlines make efforts to minimize close contact.
Read more about the risks of flying — and safety precautions you can take — here.
Could I take a bus or train instead?
Like airplanes, buses and trains both mean traveling in an enclosed environment. One of Wu's main concerns is the type of air filters used, which may vary from vehicle to vehicle. It might not be possible to find out what type of filter is used in the particular bus or train you are riding or whether it's effectively circulating the air.
Additionally, not all bus and train companies might be able to exert as much environmental controls as airlines in terms of requiring empty seats between passengers and notifying you if your vehicle is expected to be at full capacity.
Greyhound currently requires all passengers and employees — except children under two and people with breathing difficulties — to wear masks on buses. In addition to requiring face covering, Amtrak is limiting seat capacity to 50% on each train. All café seating is closed.
The same prevention tactics apply to train or bus travel as flying — wash hands often, wipe down surfaces before you touch them and avoid removing your mask.
And when deciding between a train or plane ride, keep in mind the matter of time spent in potentially crowded travel situations matters.
"I would pick whatever's shortest," says Wu.
I live in an apartment building. Could I get the coronavirus through the air conditioning system?
We know that the coronavirus is primarily transmitted through respiratory droplets — if an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks near other people, they expel droplets that could get someone else sick.
Could the droplets travel through the air-handling system in an apartment or condo building and into another unit, potentially infecting the neighbors?
There is still no definite answer. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention says that "the contribution of small respirable particles, sometimes called aerosols or droplet nuclei, to close proximity transmission is currently uncertain. However, airborne transmission from person-to-person over long distances is unlikely."
That's not to dismiss the risks of aerosol transmission. One study focused on a case in Guangzhou, China, in which three families contracted COVID-19 from eating in the same restaurant. This infection has been primarily attributed to poor ventilation within that particular restaurant.
But Dr. Abraar Karan, physician at Harvard Medical School, says the chances of getting sick from particles being spread from one room to another through the air conditioning system seems unlikely.
William Bahnfleth, engineering professor at Penn State University and chair of the Epidemic Task Force for American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers, says it does not seem likely that you could get sick from the AC in your building.
"If they're small enough, [viral particles] can move through the air. They can move from place to place in a building, either through the air conditioning system or just on air currents under the influence of pressure differences in the building," he says. "But the real important question is, is there enough of that happening that anyone gets an infection from that? And so far, there doesn't seem to be evidence that that has happened."
Dr. Emily Landon, hospital epidemiologist and infectious diseases specialist at University of Chicago Medicine, agrees. She points to places like Hong Kong, Singapore and South Korea, where many people live in high-rises, and there have been no documented reports of infection due to air conditioning between apartments.
What's more, if you live in a building with what's called "once-through ventilation air supply," then the air comes in from the outside, is cooled or heated — and does not "intentionally circulate air between units," Bahnfleth says.
If you're still concerned about airflow in your apartment, Bahnfleth suggests opening your windows if possible to bring in fresh air, although this might not be the best option in a high-rise. And although an air purifier or cleaner cannot fully protect you from COVID-19, the Environmental Protection Agency says having one in your home can be a part of your prevention strategy.
"When used along with other best practices recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, operating an air cleaner can be part of a plan to protect yourself and your family," the agency said in a statement.
As we learn more about the virus, it's possible that the guidance related to air conditioning systems will change. But for now, Landon says it's not a primary concern for the spread of COVID-19.
"The preponderance of the evidence suggests that [getting infected through air conditioning systems] should not be a problem, but it's a new virus," says Landon. "We don't know everything that there is to know."


npr--2020-05-30--As More Americans Prepare To Vote By Mail, Postal Service Faces Big Challenges

As More Americans Prepare To Vote By Mail , Postal Service Faces Big Challenges Eight states and the District of Columbia are holding primary elections next week amid the coronavirus pandemic , and voters are expected to cast their ballots by mail in record numbers .
It is likely to be a preview of what 's to come in the fall , and some worry whether the U.S .
Postal Service is up to the challenge .
A lot of people like the Postal Service ; according to a recent Pew poll , 91 % of Americans had a positive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of government .
But it 's an agency with some big problems .
To start , President Trump has called it a joke , demanded it raise its rates and and made unfounded claims that mailed ballots will be `` substantially fraudulent '' and that mail boxes will be robbed .
That 's a false assertion , says Tammy Patrick , a senior adviser to the Democracy Fund .
She tells NPR that voters need options like voting by mail during this pandemic .
`` For many , many people this year , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their ballot delivered to them by the United States Postal Service .
Now , calling that into question , saying that people will be taking mail out of mailboxes — that 's just not going to happen . ''
The Postal Service has had some issues with mail-in voting lately .
In Wisconsin last month , three tubs of ballots were discovered , never having reached voters .
Earlier this month in in Ohio , hundreds of ballots that were postmarked on time were delivered too late to be counted .
But Patrick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the Postal Service .
She notes that in Ohio , `` you could request a ballot to be mailed to you on Saturday , up until noon , for Tuesday 's election .
Now , the mail delivery is two to five business days .
So the some of the policies , some of the practices that we have in place , '' she says , `` are really not voter-centric .
They 're not setting up the voters to succeed , but rather to fail . ''
Amber McReynolds , CEO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , says election officials should follow best practices that have been developed in some Western states , where voting by mail is a common if not the standard practice .
`` There are models that exist and there 's things that have been really successful , '' she says .
McReynolds says she 's not concerned about the prospect for an increased volume of mail if more people send in their ballots .
`` When you look at the overall numbers , '' she says , `` in what the post office processes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by mail is just a very small fraction of the volume that they normally deal with . ''
The Postal Service released a letter on Friday it sent to state and local election officials , reminding them of the need to account for delivery times and suggesting they use bar codes to identify their mail-in ballots .
The Postal Service 's financial woes pose another concern .
The agency ran an $ 8.8 billion deficit last fiscal year .
Mark Dimondstein , president of the American Postal Workers Union , says the Postal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early fall without an infusion of funding from Congress — which the Trump administration opposes .
`` If the post office is allowed to run out of money without relief then all postal operations become in jeopardy — and that would include the tremendous access to the ballot box and not just the ballot box , but voter information , '' Dimondstein says .
New faces at the top Against this backdrop , the Postal Service is coming under new management .
Trump appointed Louis DeJoy , a businessman and high-dollar donor to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serve as the new postmaster general .
He takes office next month .
The deputy postmaster , Ronald Stroman , the agency 's highest ranking African American is also leaving next month .
Kristen Clarke , president of the Lawyers Committee on Civil Rights Under Law , says she is concerned about the leadership turnover at a time when she says the postal service is playing such an important role for the nation .
`` We 're in a crisis moment in the country right now that really demands that we respond , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we do all that we can to ensure that no voter is locked out of the ballot box because of the pandemic . ''
Trump 's opposition to voting by mail , and the possibility of disruptions in the Postal Service raise questions about how well voting by mail will function this year .
Clarke says she believes the nation needs a functional postal service to insure all Americans have access to ballots .

As More Americans Prepare To Vote By Mail, Postal Service Faces Big Challenges
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mark Lennihan/AP Mark Lennihan/AP
Eight states and the District of Columbia are holding primary elections next week amid the coronavirus pandemic, and voters are expected to cast their ballots by mail in record numbers.
It is likely to be a preview of what's to come in the fall, and some worry whether the U.S. Postal Service is up to the challenge.
A lot of people like the Postal Service; according to a recent Pew poll, 91% of Americans had a positive view, higher than any other branch of government. But it's an agency with some big problems.
To start, President Trump has called it a joke, demanded it raise its rates, and and made unfounded claims that mailed ballots will be "substantially fraudulent" and that mail boxes will be robbed.
Elections The Legal Fight Over Mail-In And Absentee Voting Intensifies During The Pandemic The Legal Fight Over Mail-In And Absentee Voting Intensifies During The Pandemic Listen · 4:16 4:16
That's a false assertion, says Tammy Patrick, a senior adviser to the Democracy Fund. She tells NPR that voters need options like voting by mail during this pandemic.
"For many, many people this year, it's going to be to get their ballot delivered to them by the United States Postal Service," she says. "Now, calling that into question, saying that people will be taking mail out of mailboxes — that's just not going to happen."
Uncounted ballots
The Postal Service has had some issues with mail-in voting lately.
In Wisconsin last month, three tubs of ballots were discovered, never having reached voters. Earlier this month in in Ohio, hundreds of ballots that were postmarked on time were delivered too late to be counted.
But Patrick says not all the blame should fall on the Postal Service.
She notes that in Ohio, "you could request a ballot to be mailed to you on Saturday, up until noon, for Tuesday's election. Now, the mail delivery is two to five business days. So the some of the policies, some of the practices that we have in place," she says, "are really not voter-centric. They're not setting up the voters to succeed, but rather to fail."
Amber McReynolds, CEO of the National Vote At Home Institute, says election officials should follow best practices that have been developed in some Western states, where voting by mail is a common if not the standard practice.
"There are models that exist and there's things that have been really successful," she says.
McReynolds says she's not concerned about the prospect for an increased volume of mail if more people send in their ballots.
"When you look at the overall numbers in what the post office processes on a yearly basis," she says, "adding vote by mail is just a very small fraction of the volume that they normally deal with."
The Postal Service released a letter on Friday it sent to state and local election officials, reminding them of the need to account for delivery times and suggesting they use bar codes to identify their mail-in ballots.
Red ink
The Postal Service's financial woes pose another concern. The agency ran an $8.8 billion deficit last fiscal year.
Mark Dimondstein, president of the American Postal Workers Union, says the Postal Service may run out of cash by early fall without an infusion of funding from Congress — which the Trump administration opposes.
"If the post office is allowed to run out of money without relief then all postal operations become in jeopardy — and that would include the tremendous access to the ballot box and not just the ballot box, but voter information," Dimondstein says.
New faces at the top
Against this backdrop, the Postal Service is coming under new management.
Louis DeJoy, a businessman and high-dollar donor to Republicans — including the president — was named the new postmaster general. He takes office next month.
The deputy postmaster, Ronald Stroman, the agency's highest ranking African American, is also leaving next month.
Kristen Clarke, president of the Lawyers Committee on Civil Rights Under Law, says she is concerned about the leadership turnover at a time when she says the Postal Service is playing such an important role for the nation.
"We're in a crisis moment in the country right now that really demands that we respond," she says, "and that we do all that we can to ensure that no voter is locked out of the ballot box because of the pandemic."
Trump's opposition to voting by mail, and the possibility of disruptions in the Postal Service raise questions about how well voting by mail will function this year.
Clarke says she believes the nation needs a functional Postal Service to ensure all Americans have access to ballots.


npr--2020-05-30--GOP Fears Loss Of Reliable Senate Seat Amid Fractious Kansas Primary

With control of the U.S. Senate up for grabs in November , Republicans may have fights on their hands in states they have long taken for granted : Kansas , for example .
The GOP has had a lock on both of the state 's Senate seats since the Great Depression .
However , as they approach a Monday , June 1 , filing deadline , party leaders are not confident that any of the candidates now in the field are a lock to hold onto retiring Sen. Pat Roberts ' seat .
Democrats hope that a victory in Kansas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ majority in the U.S. Senate , which , if they win the White House as well , will provide a major boost to the party 's legislative priorities .
Those concerns prompted Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to intensify his efforts to convince U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to run .
The former GOP congressman from Kansas has rejected those overtures , but rumors of a last-minute entry persist .
Referencing the upcoming filing deadline in a recent interview on Fox News , McConnell said , `` I guess the suspense wo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kuckelman , chair of the Kansas Republican Party , said he has not `` heard anything '' from Pompeo to indicate that the secretary of state has changed his mind .
`` I think he 's been pretty clear that he 's not going to '' run , Kuckelman said .
Even so , Kansas Senate President Susan Wagle 's abrupt decision Thursday to drop out of the race signaled that party leaders were working behind the scenes to thin the field in an effort to avoid a bruising primary .
In a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she had spoken with state and national party leaders and did not want to participate in `` a primary fight that will divide our party . ''
The announcement came only days after an interview in which Wagle vowed to stay in the race unless Pompeo got in .
`` I 've talked to Mike , '' Wagle said .
`` I 've told him if he wants to get in , I 'm out . ''
However , based on her conversations with Pompeo , Wagle said , `` I believe he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's more important . ''
Several weeks ago , Kuckelman called on Wagle and Dave Lindstrom , a former player for the Kansas City Chiefs , to exit the race .
Both angrily declined .
Wagle 's change of heart came on the heels of Kansans for Life , the state 's leading anti-abortion organization , endorsing 1st District Congressman Roger Marshall for the Republican nomination .
While many of the candidates in field had strong anti-abortion credentials , the organization said in its endorsement that Marshall , a retired obstetrician from western @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chance of defeating abortion fanatic Barbara Bollier . ''
Bollier , a state senator and retired physician from the Kansas City suburb of Mission Hills , is the presumptive Democratic nominee .
A former Republican , she switched parties in 2018 , after concluding she was an outlier on issues ranging from abortion to Medicaid expansion .
`` The party 's value system just did n't match mine , '' Bollier said during a recent tele-town hall with voters , part of what she 's calling her `` virtual bus tour . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ flooding in from across the country , is out fundraising everyone in the Republican field .
She raised more than $ 1 million her first month in the race and followed that up by taking in another $ 2.4 million in the first three months of this year .
Former Kansas Democratic Gov .
Kathleen Sebelius said Bollier is the `` right candidate at the right time . ''
`` A doctor , a no-nonsense legislator , she 's got the whole package , '' said Sebelius , a former secretary of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the Obama administration .
`` At a time when people are looking for compassionate , competent government , I think she 's got a real shot , '' Sebelius said .
That is what worries Republicans , particularly if former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach captures their nomination .
Kobach is a polarizing figure .
His populist rhetoric and reputation as an anti-immigration hardliner make him a favorite of Trump voters but alienate GOP moderates and independents .
In announcing his candidacy last July , Kobach said he was not running @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' sought by McConnell .
`` The Washington establishment is not going to get what they want if I 'm elected , '' he said to cheers at his announcement rally .
With backing from Trump , Kobach narrowly won the Republican nomination for governor in 2018 but lost the general election to Democrat Laura Kelly .
That loss worries many Republicans , including Marshall , Kobach 's chief rival for the Senate nomination , who asks , `` Here we are in a state that President Trump won by over 20 points @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a governor 's race ? ''
Several establishment Republicans who share those concerns have endorsed Marshall .
They include Bob Dole , the former U.S. senator and presidential candidate , and former Gov .
Jeff Colyer .
`` You are starting to see a consolidation of people behind Roger Marshall , '' Colyer said , `` he is a candidate who can win . ''
A recent poll conducted by the National Republican Senatorial Committee , confirms the fears of some party leaders .
It shows Kobach would be a dead heat at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ head-to-head matchup against Bollier with 12 percent of voters undecided , the Kansas City Star reported .
The same poll showed Marshall leading Bollier 46 % to 35 % with 18 % undecided .
Initial polls showed Kobach leading in the race for the GOP nomination .
However , the most recent survey showed Marshall with a seven-point lead .

GOP Fears Loss Of Reliable Senate Seat Amid Fractious Kansas Primary
Enlarge this image toggle caption Nicholas Kamm/AP Nicholas Kamm/AP
With control of the U.S. Senate up for grabs in November, Republicans may have fights on their hands in states they have long taken for granted: Kansas, for example.
The GOP has held both of the state's Senate seats since the Great Depression. However, as they approach a Monday, June 1, filing deadline, party leaders are not confident that any of the candidates now in the field are a lock to hold onto retiring Sen. Pat Roberts's seat.
Democrats hope that a victory in Kansas in November can help deliver them a majority in the U.S. Senate, which, if they win the White House as well, will provide a major boost to the party's legislative priorities.
Those concerns prompted Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to intensify his efforts to convince U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to run. The former GOP congressman from Kansas has rejected those overtures, but rumors of a last-minute entry persist.
Referencing the upcoming filing deadline in a recent interview on Fox News, McConnell said, "I guess the suspense won't last much longer."
Mike Kuckelman, chair of the Kansas Republican Party, said he has not "heard anything" from Pompeo to indicate that the secretary of state has changed his mind.
"I think he's been pretty clear that he's not going to" run, Kuckelman said.
Even so, Kansas Senate President Susan Wagle's abrupt decision Thursday to drop out of the race signaled that party leaders were working behind the scenes to thin the field in an effort to avoid a bruising primary.
In a statement announcing her decision, Wagle said she had spoken with state and national party leaders and did not want to participate in "a primary fight that will divide our party."
The announcement came only days after an interview in which Wagle vowed to stay in the race unless Pompeo got in.
"I've talked to Mike," Wagle said. "I've told him if he wants to get in, I'm out."
However, based on her conversations with Pompeo, Wagle said, "I believe he'll stay secretary of state; that's more important."
Several weeks ago, Kuckelman called on Wagle and Dave Lindstrom, a former player for the Kansas City Chiefs, to exit the race. Both angrily declined.
Wagle's change of heart came on the heels of Kansans for Life, the state's leading anti-abortion organization, endorsing 1st District Congressman Roger Marshall for the Republican nomination.
While many of the candidates in field had strong anti-abortion credentials, the organization said in its endorsement that Marshall, a retired obstetrician from western Kansas, "gives pro-lifers the best chance of defeating abortion fanatic Barbara Bollier."
Bollier, a state senator and retired physician from the Kansas City suburb of Mission Hills, is the presumptive Democratic nominee. A former Republican, she switched parties in 2018, after concluding she was an outlier on issues ranging from abortion to Medicaid expansion.
"The party's value system just didn't match mine," Bollier said during a recent tele-town hall with voters, part of what she's calling her "virtual bus tour."
Bollier, thanks in part to contributions flooding in from across the country, is out-fundraising everyone in the Republican field. She raised more than $1 million her first month in the race and followed that up by taking in another $2.4 million in the first three months of this year.
Former Kansas Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius said Bollier is the "right candidate at the right time."
"A doctor, a no-nonsense legislator, she's got the whole package," said Sebelius, a former secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services during the Obama administration.
"At a time when people are looking for compassionate, competent government, I think she's got a real shot," Sebelius said.
That is what worries Republicans, particularly if former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach captures their nomination.
Kobach is a polarizing figure. His populist rhetoric and reputation as an anti-immigration hardliner make him a favorite of Trump voters but alienate GOP moderates and independents.
In announcing his candidacy last July, Kobach said he was not running to be the "quiet useful tool" sought by McConnell.
"The Washington establishment is not going to get what they want if I'm elected," he said to cheers at his announcement rally.
With backing from Trump, Kobach narrowly won the Republican nomination for governor in 2018 but lost the general election to Democrat Laura Kelly.
That loss worries many Republicans, including Marshall, Kobach's chief rival for the Senate nomination, who asks, "Here we are in a state that President Trump won by over 20 points, how does a Kansas Republican lose a governor's race?"
Several establishment Republicans who share those concerns have endorsed Marshall. They include Bob Dole, the former U.S. senator and presidential candidate, and former Gov. Jeff Colyer.
"You are starting to see a consolidation of people behind Roger Marshall," Colyer said. "He is a candidate who can win."
A recent poll conducted by the National Republican Senatorial Committee confirms the fears of some party leaders. It shows Kobach would be a dead heat at 44% to 43% in a head-to-head match-up against Bollier, with 12% of voters undecided, the Kansas City Star reported.
The same poll showed Marshall leading Bollier 46% to 35% with 18% undecided.
Initial polls showed Kobach leading in the race for the GOP nomination, but the most recent survey showed Marshall with a 7-point lead.
The primary is Aug. 4.


npr--2020-05-30--'I Find Myself Very Seriously Feeling Hollow': Documenting A Pandemic Experience

' I Find Myself Very Seriously Feeling Hollow ' : Documenting A Pandemic Experience At 85 , Margaret Sullivan felt that she had a comfortable life and was being well taken care of in a retirement home in Northern Virginia .
`` Living in a bubble , '' she said .
But then she shared a piece of sad news : `` My brother died about two weeks ago of the virus . ''
He lived a few states away .
`` I 'm the oldest and he 's the youngest , '' she explained .
`` And that 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ For many , the pandemic has been long days of juggling kids and work .
Worrying about money .
Trying to schedule grocery deliveries .
But for Sullivan , the virus brings with it thoughts of mortality .
The octogenerian lives at Goodwin House in Bailey 's Crossroads , Va. , and has been documenting all the ways the coronavirus pandemic has shut down life around her .
The first glimpse of things to come was on Feb. 28 .
`` Overnight , the Purell bottles stationed everywhere grew signs , 'Do n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everyone , ' '' she recalled .
A few days later , salt and pepper shakers disappeared from dining rooms , `` in an abundance of caution . ''
On March 12 , the `` lockdown '' as she calls it , began .
Residents were not to leave , and no outsiders could come in — which meant , no more visits from her daughter , who lives five miles away .
`` We are being extraordinarily well taken care of , but we are also being carefully harbored , '' Sullivan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2 .
As many as 1 in 4 people age 85 and older who are infected with the virus die , according to early research .
`` We are vulnerable , '' Sullivan said in April .
`` I think the youngest of us is in their late 60s .
And the oldest of us — there are 500 or so of us — is 100 and something . ''
She and her husband had recently updated their will , fixing married names of their children .
`` You need to be sure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need to have are in order , '' she said , a few minutes before ending the call .
`` And so we 're going downstairs to find the notary . ''
`` This is something I 've seen '' Sullivan describes herself as a rolling stone .
She was born in China , and her father was a doctor of public health in parasitology .
When the rumblings of World War II began , 6-year-old Sullivan moved back to the U.S. with her family .
Later , when she was in high @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( now Myanmar ) , then India , where she graduated from high school .
She ended up in Washington , D.C. , for college .
And then she got married .
`` 'We joined the Foreign Service — he was the only one who got paid , '' she said with a laugh .
`` So we 've lived around the equator and raised kids around the equator . ''
Sullivan says this life , hopping from country-to-country in Asia and Africa with four kids in tow , put her in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In the 1970s , the family was living in Sierra Leone while the Lassa Fever was raging there .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sent a team to collect blood samples of sick people — and those infected samples were stored in Sullivan 's refrigerator .
`` Until the next plane came through and they went back to Atlanta , '' she said .
Then there was the time they were living in Nigeria : `` All three of the kids got mumps the day I was supposed to host a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has these stories . ''
A long life , much of it lived abroad , gives Sullivan perspective on the current pandemic , of both perspective of time , and geography .
`` There is a sense in which this is new and startling and different , and much more concerning .
But there 's another sense in which this is something I 've seen in a different way .
I do n't know whether it makes me more comfortable or less comfortable . ''
Sullivan is a writer , and has written @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , she 's writing about — and recording — her life under lockdown .
`` Life sort of turned on its head here late Wednesday afternoon , '' begins a recording from April 11 .
A letter had arrived , outlining new social distancing restrictions .
Weeks earlier , the dining rooms at Goodwin House had converted to takeaway service only , with residents waiting 6 feet apart to pick up food .
Now , the letter said , meals would be delivered and left outside each resident 's door .
In the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` And there comes my lunch .
Just a minute , '' Sullivan said , putting down the recorder with a clunk .
She catches up with the staff member who delivered the meal .
`` Well , it 's more fun when we can go downstairs and pick it up and chat with you . ''
In another recording , she 's interrupted by her husband , Dan .
`` You came back to get your mask ?
OK .
Here it is , '' she said , as he puttered in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needs to go over your nose . ''
The Sullivans have been married for 65 years .
He 's 91 , and has mid-stage Alzheimer 's .
As the patterns of daily life change during the pandemic , Dan 's confusion increases .
There are many more conversations about where everyday objects are than there were just a few weeks ago .
`` He 's good about picking up and taking things to the sink , '' Sullivan said .
`` I may have to remind him that the sink is where the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bog and I 'm caught in it '' Sullivan jokes about the situation , and she keeps busy — scheduling Zoom calls with her kids and grandkids .
But lately , there 's a sense of gravity settling in .
`` I find myself very seriously feeling hollow .
It just sort of — there 's a bog and I 'm caught in it , '' she says in a recording from April 18 .
There 's also the day — April 8 — when Sullivan ends her recording this way : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and he is n't here for me to call .
And so my heart breaks a bit on that , too . ''
She reads the news each morning — the papers are being delivered by a cadre of volunteers in the building — and struggles to find the right word , as nursing homes around the country are overtaken by deaths from COVID-19 .
`` I wo n't say that life is terrifying , '' she said .
`` I have n't quite found the right word for what it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Now that she and Dan have updated their will , they 're working on a living will .
`` I had never thought that I would want to write down 'Do not ventilate , ' '' Sullivan said .
`` There are other people who need them more , and I have had a good life .
And so I think that 's what we 'll do . ''
In late April , the retirement home where Sullivan lives had its first confirmed case of the coronavirus .
All the residents had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goes up your nose .
It does n't hurt very much , '' Sullivan said .
`` Everybody sort of held their breath a bit 'til you get the results . ''
Sullivan says nine people tested positive , and two of them died .
It made her very aware , she said , of the world of risk she lives in .
Then , last weekend , the Sunday New York Times came — the edition marking 100,000 deaths in the United States .
The front page is nothing but names of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ print .
`` We brought it in and as we always do , there was coffee and the paper , '' she said .
`` I knew he had to be there . ''
She found her brother 's name halfway down the first column .
Like each name , it was followed by a tiny obituary — a whole life condensed into four words .
`` For Ted , they said that he 'could make anything grow . '
And he could , '' Sullivan said .
She was n't able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and has no idea if or when the family will be able to get together to cry , and tell stories about him .
Instead it 's all online .
Sullivan folded the newspaper , circled Ted 's name in red ink , took a photo , and posted it on Facebook .

'I Find Myself Very Seriously Feeling Hollow': Documenting A Pandemic Experience
Enlarge this image toggle caption Tyrone Turner/WAMU Tyrone Turner/WAMU
At 85, Margaret Sullivan felt that she had a comfortable life and was being well taken care of in a retirement home in Northern Virginia.
"Living in a bubble," she said.
But then she shared a piece of sad news: "My brother died about two weeks ago of the virus."
He lived a few states away.
"I'm the oldest and he's the youngest," she explained. "And that's outside the order of things."
For many, the pandemic has been long days of juggling kids and work. Worrying about money. Trying to schedule grocery deliveries.
Health Coronavirus Pandemic Exposes Cracks In Nursing Home System Coronavirus Pandemic Exposes Cracks In Nursing Home System Listen · 5:12 5:12
But for Sullivan, the virus brings with it thoughts of mortality.
The octogenerian lives at Goodwin House in Bailey's Crossroads, Va., and has been documenting all the ways the coronavirus pandemic has shut down life around her.
The first glimpse of things to come was on Feb. 28.
"Overnight, the Purell bottles stationed everywhere grew signs, 'Don't take me home. I'm for everyone,'" she recalled.
toggle caption Margaret Sullivan
A few days later, salt and pepper shakers disappeared from dining rooms, "in an abundance of caution."
On March 12, the "lockdown" as she calls it, began.
Health What It's Like To Work In A Nursing Home During The Coronavirus What It's Like To Work In A Nursing Home During The Coronavirus Listen · 1:29 1:29
Residents were not to leave, and no outsiders could come in — which meant, no more visits from her daughter, who lives five miles away.
"We are being extraordinarily well taken care of, but we are also being carefully harbored," Sullivan said during a phone call on April 2.
As many as 1 in 4 people age 85 and older who are infected with the virus die, according to early research.
"We are vulnerable," Sullivan said in April. "I think the youngest of us is in their late 60s. And the oldest of us — there are 500 or so of us — is 100 and something."
She and her husband had recently updated their will, fixing married names of their children.
"You need to be sure that the documents that the kids would need to have are in order," she said, a few minutes before ending the call. "And so we're going downstairs to find the notary."
"This is something I've seen"
Sullivan describes herself as a rolling stone. She was born in China, and her father was a doctor of public health in parasitology. When the rumblings of World War II began, 6-year-old Sullivan moved back to the U.S. with her family. Later, when she was in high school, the family moved to Burma (now Myanmar), then India, where she graduated from high school. She ended up in Washington, D.C., for college. And then she got married.
"'We joined the Foreign Service — he was the only one who got paid," she said with a laugh. "So we've lived around the equator and raised kids around the equator."
Sullivan says this life, hopping from country-to-country in Asia and Africa with four kids in tow, put her in the path of a number of epidemics. In the 1970s, the family was living in Sierra Leone while the Lassa Fever was raging there. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sent a team to collect blood samples of sick people — and those infected samples were stored in Sullivan's refrigerator.
"Until the next plane came through and they went back to Atlanta," she said.
Then there was the time they were living in Nigeria: "All three of the kids got mumps the day I was supposed to host a big party. I mean, everybody has these stories."
A long life, much of it lived abroad, gives Sullivan perspective on the current pandemic, of both perspective of time, and geography.
"There is a sense in which this is new and startling and different, and much more concerning. But there's another sense in which this is something I've seen in a different way. I don't know whether it makes me more comfortable or less comfortable."
"Life turned on its head"
Sullivan is a writer, and has written books about her globetrotting life. Now, she's writing about — and recording — her life under lockdown.
"Life sort of turned on its head here late Wednesday afternoon," begins a recording from April 11. A letter had arrived, outlining new social distancing restrictions.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Margaret Sullivan Margaret Sullivan
Weeks earlier, the dining rooms at Goodwin House had converted to takeaway service only, with residents waiting 6 feet apart to pick up food. Now, the letter said, meals would be delivered and left outside each resident's door.
In the recording, there's a knock.
"And there comes my lunch. Just a minute," Sullivan said, putting down the recorder with a clunk. She catches up with the staff member who delivered the meal. "Well, it's more fun when we can go downstairs and pick it up and chat with you."
In another recording, she's interrupted by her husband, Dan.
"You came back to get your mask? OK. Here it is," she said, as he puttered in the background. "Dan, it needs to go over your nose."
The Sullivans have been married for 65 years. He's 91, and has mid-stage Alzheimer's. As the patterns of daily life change during the pandemic, Dan's confusion increases. There are many more conversations about where everyday objects are than there were just a few weeks ago.
"He's good about picking up and taking things to the sink," Sullivan said. "I may have to remind him that the sink is where the sink is."
"There's a bog and I'm caught in it"
Sullivan jokes about the situation, and she keeps busy — scheduling Zoom calls with her kids and grandkids. But lately, there's a sense of gravity settling in.
"I find myself very seriously feeling hollow. It just sort of — there's a bog and I'm caught in it," she says in a recording from April 18.
There's also the day — April 8 — when Sullivan ends her recording this way: "Today's my brother's birthday, and he isn't here for me to call. And so my heart breaks a bit on that, too."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Margaret Sullivan Margaret Sullivan
She reads the news each morning — the papers are being delivered by a cadre of volunteers in the building — and struggles to find the right word, as nursing homes around the country are overtaken by deaths from COVID-19.
"I won't say that life is terrifying," she said. "I haven't quite found the right word for what it is. But it certainly is concerning."
Now that she and Dan have updated their will, they're working on a living will.
"I had never thought that I would want to write down 'Do not ventilate,'" Sullivan said. "There are other people who need them more, and I have had a good life. And so I think that's what we'll do."
One of 100,000
In late April, the retirement home where Sullivan lives had its first confirmed case of the coronavirus. All the residents had to get tested.
"The swab goes up your nose. It doesn't hurt very much," Sullivan said. "Everybody sort of held their breath a bit 'til you get the results."
Sullivan says nine people tested positive, and two of them died. It made her very aware, she said, of the world of risk she lives in.
Then, last weekend, the Sunday New York Times came — the edition marking 100,000 deaths in the United States. The front page is nothing but names of the dead — six columns in small print.
"We brought it in and as we always do, there was coffee and the paper," she said. "I knew he had to be there."
She found her brother's name halfway down the first column. Like each name, it was followed by a tiny obituary — a whole life condensed into four words.
"For Ted, they said that he 'could make anything grow.' And he could," Sullivan said.
She wasn't able to be with her brother when he died and has no idea if or when the family will be able to get together to cry, and tell stories about him. Instead it's all online. Sullivan folded the newspaper, circled Ted's name in red ink, took a photo, and posted it on Facebook.


npr--2020-05-30--What Do Coronavirus Racial Disparities Look Like State By State?

What Do Coronavirus Racial Disparities Look Like State By State ?
In April , New Orleans health officials realized their drive-through testing strategy for the coronavirus was n't working .
The reason ?
Census tract data revealed hot spots for the virus were located in predominantly low-income African-American neighborhoods where many residents lacked cars .
In response , officials have changed their strategy , sending mobile testing vans to some of those areas , says Thomas LaVeist , dean of Tulane University 's School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine and co-chair of Louisiana 's COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that we can see the virus , '' LaVeist says .
`` We only have indicators .
We ca n't actually look at a person and tell who 's been infected .
So what we have is data right now . ''
Until a few weeks ago , racial data for COVID-19 was sparse .
It 's still incomplete , but now 48 states plus Washington D.C. , report at least some data ; in total , race or ethnicity is known for around half of all cases and 90 % of deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pattern is clear : Communities of color are being hit disproportionately hard by COVID-19 .
Public health experts say focusing on these disparities is crucial for helping communities respond to the virus effectively — so everyone is safer .
`` I think it 's incumbent on all of us to realize that the health of all of us depends on the health of each of us , '' says Dr. Alicia Fernandez , a professor of medicine at the University of California San Francisco , whose research focuses on health care disparities .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the COVID Racial Tracker , a joint project of the Antiracist Research & Policy Center and the COVID Tracking Project .
This analysis compares each racial or ethnic group 's share of infections or deaths — where race and ethnicity is known — with their share of population .
Here 's what it shows : • Nationally , African-American deaths from COVID-19 are nearly two times greater than would be expected based on their share of the population .
In four states , the rate is three or more times greater .
• @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hispanics/Latinos make up a greater share of confirmed cases than their share of the population .
In eight states , it 's more than four times greater .
• White deaths from COVID-19 are lower than their share of the population in 37 states and the District of Columbia .
Major holes in the data remain : 48 % of cases and 9 % of deaths still have no race tied to them .
And that can hamper response to the crisis across the U.S. , now and in the future , says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ researcher at the University of Pittsburgh who has studied COVID-19 racial and ethnic disparities .
`` If we do n't know who is sick , we 're not going to know in six months , 12 months , 18 , however long it takes , who should be getting the vaccination .
We 're not going to know where we should be directing our personal protective equipment to make sure that health care workers are protected , '' he says .
NPR 's analysis finds that in 32 states plus Washington D.C. , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their proportion of the population .
In 21 states , it 's substantially higher , more than 50 % above what would be expected .
For example , in Wisconsin , at least 141 African Americans have died , representing 27 % of all deaths in a state where just 6 % of the state 's population is black .
`` I 've been at health equity research for a couple of decades now .
Those of us in the field , sadly , expected this , '' says Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Center at Yale School of Medicine .
`` We know that these racial ethnic disparities in COVID-19 are the result of pre-pandemic realities .
It 's a legacy of structural discrimination that has limited access to health and wealth for people of color , '' she says .
African-Americans have higher rates of underlying conditions , including diabetes , heart disease , and lung disease , that are linked to more severe cases of COVID-19 , Nunez-Smith notes .
They also often have less access to quality health care , and are disproportionately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't be done from home , increasing their exposure to the virus .
Data from a recently published paper in the Annals of Epidemiology reinforces the finding that African-Americans are harder hit in this pandemic .
The study from researchers at amfAR , the Foundation for AIDS Research , looks at county-level health outcomes , comparing counties with disproportionately black populations to all other counties .
Their analysis shows that while disproportionately black counties account for only 30 % of the U.S. population , they were the location of 56 % of COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with above-average wealth and health care coverage bore an unequal share of deaths .
`` There 's a structural issue that 's taking place here , it 's not a genetic issue for all non-white individuals in the U.S. , '' says Greg Millett , director of public policy at amfAR and lead researcher on the paper .
Latinos and Hispanics test positive for the coronavirus at rates higher than would be expected for their share of the population in all but one of the 44 jurisdictions that report Hispanic ethnicity data ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The rates are two times higher in 30 states , and over four times higher in eight states .
For example , in Virginia more than 12,000 cases — 49 % of all cases with known ethnicity — come from the Hispanic and Latino community , which makes up only 10 % of the population .
Fernandez has seen these disparities first-hand as an internist at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital .
While Latinos made up about 35 % of patients there before the pandemic , she says they now make up over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospital .
`` In the early stages , when we were noticing increased Latino hospitalization at our own hospital and we felt that no one was paying attention and that people were just happy that San Francisco was crushing the curve , '' she says .
`` It felt horrendous .
It felt as if people were dismissing those lives .
...
It took people longer to realize what was going on . ''
Like African-Americans , Latinos are over-represented in essential jobs that increase their exposure to the virus , says Fernandez @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rates of poverty and low wages mean that many Latinos feel compelled to leave home to seek work .
Dense , multi-generational housing conditions make it easier for the virus to spread , she says .
The disproportionate share of deaths is n't as stark for Latinos as it is for African-Americans .
Fernandez says that 's likely because the U.S. Latino population overall is younger — nearly three-quarters are millennials or younger , according to data from the Pew Research Center .
But in California , `` when you look at it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Latinos are just as likely to die as African-Americans , '' she says .
While data for smaller minority populations is harder to come by , where it exists , it also shows glaring disparities .
In New Mexico , Native American communities have accounted for 60 % of cases but only 9 % of the population .
Similarly , in Arizona , at least 136 Native American have died from COVID-19 , a striking 21 % of deaths in a state where just 4 % of the population are Native American .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a disproportionate share of cases .
In South Dakota , for example , they account for only 2 % of the population but 12 % of cases .
But beyond these places , data can be spotty .
In Iowa , Maine , Michigan , Oklahoma and Wisconsin , Asian Americans and Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders are counted together , making comparison to census data difficult .
Fernandez points out that if COVID-19 demographic reporting included language , public health officials might see differences among different Asian groups , such as Vietnamese or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's going to allow public health officials to really target different communities , '' she says .
`` We need that kind of information . ''
Months into the pandemic , painting a national picture of how minorities are being affected remains a fraught proposition , because in many states , large gaps remain in the data .
For instance , in New York state — until recently the epicenter of the the U.S outbreak — race and ethnicity data are available for deaths but not for cases .
In Texas , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sizable outbreak , less than 25 % of cases and deaths have race or ethnicity data associated with them .
There are also still concerns about how some states are collecting data , says Christopher Petrella , director of engagement for the Antiracist Research and Policy Center at American University .
For example , he says West Virginia , which claims to have race data for 100 % of positive cases and 82 % of deaths only reports three categories : white , black and `` other . ''
Also some states appear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ category , says Samantha Artiga , director of the Disparities Policy Project at Kaiser Family Foundation , '' There 's a lot of variation across states in terms of how they report the data that makes comparing the data across states hard , as well as getting a full national picture , '' Artiga says .
But experts fear that the available data actually undercounts the disparity observed in communities of color .
`` I think we have the undercount anyway , because we know that minority communities are less likely to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
NPR 's own analysis found that in four out of six cities in Texas , testing sites were disproportionately located in whiter communities .
Millet points to a recent study , released pre-peer review , that found that when testing levels went up in disadvantaged neighborhoods in Philadelphia , Chicago and New York City , so too did the evidence of the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on these communities .
Lawmakers have raised concern about the way the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports racial and ethnic data ; the agency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the crisis , and even now it updates it weekly but with a one- to two-week lag .
Democratic senators Patty Murray of Washington and Democratic Rep. Frank Pallone , Jr. , of New Jersey called a recent report on demographics the CDC submitted to Congress `` woefully inadequate . ''
`` The U.S. response to COVID-19 has been plagued by insufficient data on the impact of the virus , as well as the federal government 's response to it , '' Murray and Pallone wrote in a letter sent May 22 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Azar .
They called on the Trump administration to provide more comprehensive demographic data .
Essien says he 's heard concerns from colleagues that by focusing on race and ethnicity in the disease , `` some of the empathy for managing and treating is going to go away . ''
`` If people feel like , 'Well , this is a them problem and not a me problem ... then that may potentially affect the way that people think about the opening up of the country , '' he says .
But unless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to communities that need them most , the pandemic will go on for everyone , says Nunez-Smith .
`` This is important for everyone 's health and safety , '' she says .
Nunez-Smith says race and ethnicity data is necessary for officials to craft tailored public health responses .
For many people , physical distancing is a privilege , '' she says .
`` If you live in a crowded neighborhood or you share a household with many other people , we need to give messaging specific to those conditions .
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or leave home for work every day , if you need to take public transportation to get to an essential front line job , how can you keep safe ? ''
A tailored public health response is already happening in Louisiana , where LaVeist says his task force has recently recruited celebrities like Big Freedia , a pioneer of the New Orleans hip-hop subgenre called bounce , to counter misinformation and spread public health messages about COVID-19 to the African-American community .
Given the pandemic 's disparate toll on communities of color , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nunez-Smith say the public health response should include helping to meet basic needs like providing food , wage supports and even temporary housing for people who get sick or exposed to the virus .
`` We have to guarantee that if we recommend to someone that they should be in quarantine or they should be in isolation , that they can do so safely and effectively , '' Nunez-Smith says .
Nunez-Smith says if you do n't direct resources now to minority communities that need them most , there 's a danger they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ buy into public health messaging needed to stem the pandemic .
Already , polls show widespread distrust of President Trump among African-Americans , and that a majority of them believe the Trump administration 's push to reopen states came only after it became clear that people of color were bearing the brunt of the pandemic .
Fernandez notes that among Latinos , distrust could also hamper efforts to conduct effective contact tracing , because people who are undocumented or in mixed-status families may be reluctant to disclose who they 've been in contact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time for all of us who do health equity work , '' says Fernandez , `` partly because this is so predictable and partly because we 're standing here waving our arms saying , 'Wait , wait .
We need help . '
`` Connie Hanzhang Jin , Alice Goldfarb and Selena Simmons-Duffin contributed to this report .

What Do Coronavirus Racial Disparities Look Like State By State?
Enlarge this image toggle caption Drew Angerer/Getty Images Drew Angerer/Getty Images
Note: This page is not being updated. Find a more up-to-date version of this data here.
In April, New Orleans health officials realized their drive-through testing strategy for the coronavirus wasn't working. The reason? Census tract data revealed hot spots for the virus were located in predominantly low-income African-American neighborhoods where many residents lacked cars.
In response, officials have changed their strategy, sending mobile testing vans to some of those areas, says Thomas LaVeist, dean of Tulane University's School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine and co-chair of Louisiana's COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force.
"Data is the only way that we can see the virus," LaVeist says. "We only have indicators. We can't actually look at a person and tell who's been infected. So what we have is data right now."
Until a few weeks ago, racial data for COVID-19 was sparse. It's still incomplete, but now 48 states plus Washington D.C., report at least some data; in total, race or ethnicity is known for around half of all cases and 90% of deaths. And though gaps remain, the pattern is clear: Communities of color are being hit disproportionately hard by COVID-19.
Public health experts say focusing on these disparities is crucial for helping communities respond to the virus effectively — so everyone is safer.
"I think it's incumbent on all of us to realize that the health of all of us depends on the health of each of us," says Dr. Alicia Fernandez, a professor of medicine at the University of California San Francisco, whose research focuses on health care disparities.
NPR analyzed COVID-19 demographic data collected by the COVID Racial Tracker, a joint project of the Antiracist Research & Policy Center and the COVID Tracking Project. This analysis compares each racial or ethnic group's share of infections or deaths — where race and ethnicity is known — with their share of population. Here's what it shows:
Nationally, African-American deaths from COVID-19 are nearly two times greater than would be expected based on their share of the population. In four states, the rate is three or more times greater.
In 42 states plus Washington D.C., Hispanics/Latinos make up a greater share of confirmed cases than their share of the population. In eight states, it's more than four times greater.
White deaths from COVID-19 are lower than their share of the population in 37 states and the District of Columbia.
Major holes in the data remain: 48% of cases and 9% of deaths still have no race tied to them. And that can hamper response to the crisis across the U.S., now and in the future, says Dr. Utibe Essien, a health equity researcher at the University of Pittsburgh who has studied COVID-19 racial and ethnic disparities.
"If we don't know who is sick, we're not going to know in six months, 12 months, 18, however long it takes, who should be getting the vaccination. We're not going to know where we should be directing our personal protective equipment to make sure that health care workers are protected," he says.
A heavy toll of African-American deaths
NPR's analysis finds that in 32 states plus Washington D.C., African Americans are dying at rates higher than their proportion of the population. In 21 states, it's substantially higher, more than 50% above what would be expected. For example, in Wisconsin, at least 141 African Americans have died, representing 27% of all deaths in a state where just 6% of the state's population is black.
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"I've been at health equity research for a couple of decades now. Those of us in the field, sadly, expected this," says Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith, director of the Equity Research and Innovation Center at Yale School of Medicine.
"We know that these racial ethnic disparities in COVID-19 are the result of pre-pandemic realities. It's a legacy of structural discrimination that has limited access to health and wealth for people of color," she says.
African-Americans have higher rates of underlying conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, and lung disease, that are linked to more severe cases of COVID-19, Nunez-Smith notes. They also often have less access to quality health care, and are disproportionately represented in essential frontline jobs that can't be done from home, increasing their exposure to the virus.
Data from a recently published paper in the Annals of Epidemiology reinforces the finding that African-Americans are harder hit in this pandemic. The study from researchers at amfAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research, looks at county-level health outcomes, comparing counties with disproportionately black populations to all other counties.
Their analysis shows that while disproportionately black counties account for only 30% of the U.S. population, they were the location of 56% of COVID-19 deaths. And even disproportionately black counties with above-average wealth and health care coverage bore an unequal share of deaths.
"There's a structural issue that's taking place here, it's not a genetic issue for all non-white individuals in the U.S.," says Greg Millett, director of public policy at amfAR and lead researcher on the paper.
Hispanics bear a disproportionate share of infections
Latinos and Hispanics test positive for the coronavirus at rates higher than would be expected for their share of the population in all but one of the 44 jurisdictions that report Hispanic ethnicity data (42 states plus Washington D.C.). The rates are two times higher in 30 states, and over four times higher in eight states. For example, in Virginia more than 12,000 cases — 49% of all cases with known ethnicity — come from the Hispanic and Latino community, which makes up only 10% of the population.
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Fernandez has seen these disparities first-hand as an internist at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital. While Latinos made up about 35% of patients there before the pandemic, she says they now make up over 80% of COVID-19 cases at the hospital.
"In the early stages, when we were noticing increased Latino hospitalization at our own hospital and we felt that no one was paying attention and that people were just happy that San Francisco was crushing the curve, it felt horrendous," she says. "It felt as if people were dismissing those lives. ... It took people longer to realize what was going on."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images
Like African-Americans, Latinos are over-represented in essential jobs that increase their exposure to the virus, says Fernandez. Regardless of their occupation, high rates of poverty and low wages mean that many Latinos feel compelled to leave home to seek work. Dense, multi-generational housing conditions make it easier for the virus to spread, she says.
The disproportionate share of deaths isn't as stark for Latinos as it is for African-Americans. Fernandez says that's likely because the U.S. Latino population overall is younger — nearly three-quarters are millennials or younger, according to data from the Pew Research Center. But in California, "when you look at it by age groups, [older] Latinos are just as likely to die as African-Americans," she says.
Other racial groups
While data for smaller minority populations is harder to come by, where it exists, it also shows glaring disparities. In New Mexico, Native American communities have accounted for 60% of cases but only 9% of the population. Similarly, in Arizona, at least 136 Native American have died from COVID-19, a striking 21% of deaths in a state where just 4% of the population are Native American.
In several states Asian Americans have seen a disproportionate share of cases. In South Dakota, for example, they account for only 2% of the population but 12% of cases. But beyond these places, data can be spotty. In Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Oklahoma and Wisconsin, Asian Americans and Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders are counted together, making comparison to census data difficult.
Fernandez points out that if COVID-19 demographic reporting included language, public health officials might see differences among different Asian groups, such as Vietnamese or Filipino Americans. "That's what's going to allow public health officials to really target different communities," she says. "We need that kind of information."
Understanding the unknowns
Months into the pandemic, painting a national picture of how minorities are being affected remains a fraught proposition, because in many states, large gaps remain in the data.
For instance, in New York state — until recently the epicenter of the the U.S outbreak — race and ethnicity data are available for deaths but not for cases. In Texas, which has a large minority population and a sizable outbreak, less than 25% of cases and deaths have race or ethnicity data associated with them.
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There are also still concerns about how some states are collecting data, says Christopher Petrella, director of engagement for the Antiracist Research and Policy Center at American University. For example, he says West Virginia — which claims to have race data for 100% of positive cases and 82% of deaths — only reports three categories: white, black and "other."
Also, some states appear to be listing Hispanics under the white category, says Samantha Artiga, director of the Disparities Policy Project at Kaiser Family Foundation.
"There's a lot of variation across states in terms of how they report the data that makes comparing the data across states hard, as well as getting a full national picture," Artiga says.
But experts fear that the available data actually undercounts the disparity observed in communities of color.
"I think we have the undercount anyway, because we know that minority communities are less likely to be tested for COVID-19," says Millett. NPR's own analysis found that in four out of six cities in Texas, testing sites were disproportionately located in whiter communities. Millet points to a recent study, released pre-peer review, that found that when testing levels went up in disadvantaged neighborhoods in Philadelphia, Chicago and New York City, so too did the evidence of the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on these communities.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images
Lawmakers have raised concern about the way the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports racial and ethnic data; the agency didn't report on demographics early on in the crisis, and even now it updates it weekly but with a one- to two-week lag. Democratic senators Patty Murray of Washington and Democratic Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr., of New Jersey called a recent report on demographics the CDC submitted to Congress "woefully inadequate."
"The U.S. response to COVID-19 has been plagued by insufficient data on the impact of the virus, as well as the federal government's response to it," Murray and Pallone wrote in a letter sent May 22 to Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar. They called on the Trump administration to provide more comprehensive demographic data.
A tailored public health response
Essien says he's heard concerns from colleagues that by focusing on race and ethnicity in the disease, "some of the empathy for managing and treating is going to go away."
"If people feel like, 'Well, this is a them problem and not a me problem ... then that may potentially affect the way that people think about the opening up of the country," he says.
But unless testing and other resources are directed now to communities that need them most, the pandemic will go on for everyone, says Nunez-Smith.
"This is important for everyone's health and safety," she says.
Nunez-Smith says race and ethnicity data is necessary for officials to craft tailored public health responses.
"For many people, physical distancing is a privilege," she says. "If you live in a crowded neighborhood or you share a household with many other people, we need to give messaging specific to those conditions. If you need to leave home for work every day, if you need to take public transportation to get to an essential frontline job, how can you keep safe?"
A tailored public health response is already happening in Louisiana, where LaVeist says his task force has recently recruited celebrities like Big Freedia, a pioneer of the New Orleans hip-hop subgenre called bounce, to counter misinformation and spread public health messages about COVID-19 to the African-American community.
Given the pandemic's disparate toll on communities of color, in particular low-income ones, Fernandez and Nunez-Smith say the public health response should include helping to meet basic needs like providing food, wage supports and even temporary housing for people who get sick or exposed to the virus.
"We have to guarantee that if we recommend to someone that they should be in quarantine or they should be in isolation, that they can do so safely and effectively," Nunez-Smith says.
Nunez-Smith says if you don't direct resources now to minority communities that need them most, there's a danger they might be less likely to trust and buy into public health messaging needed to stem the pandemic. Already, polls show widespread distrust of President Trump among African-Americans, and that a majority of them believe the Trump administration's push to reopen states came only after it became clear that people of color were bearing the brunt of the pandemic.
Fernandez notes that among Latinos, distrust could also hamper efforts to conduct effective contact tracing, because people who are undocumented or in mixed-status families may be reluctant to disclose who they've been in contact with.
"This is a terrible time for all of us who do health equity work," says Fernandez, "partly because this is so predictable and partly because we're standing here waving our arms saying, 'Wait, wait. We need help.' "
Connie Hanzhang Jin, Alice Goldfarb and Selena Simmons-Duffin contributed to this report.