npr--2020-01-29--Impeachment Trial Recap: Hours Of Q&A But Still No Clarity On New Witnesses

Impeachment Trial Recap : Hours Of Q & A But Still No Clarity On New Witnesses Senators fought a genteel melee over new witnesses in the impeachment trial on Wednesday but even hours ' worth of questions , answers , and litigation on other issues did n't reveal an obvious path forward .
Members used dozens of written submissions over several hours to argue for and against the case for witnesses , the strength of the impeachment case and , in some cases , to actually ask questions .
But as the Q & A session rolled on Wednesday ahead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the way ahead still was not clear as to whether John Bolton or other witnesses might appear .
`` At this point it 's obvious — we do n't have the votes yet , '' said Sen. Tim Scott , R-S.C. , talking to reporters during a break .
The issue about Bolton 's testimony is n't only important to the substance of the evidence in the case , but how much longer the trial goes .
If the Senate were to reject the admission of Bolton or other witnesses in a vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down the proceedings comparatively quickly — quickly in Senate terms at least .
If the chamber admits Bolton , that could add days , weeks or more .
Although Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , is understood to have told senators that he ca n't marshal enough support to block witnesses and simply end the trial , it also is n't clear whether , if senators voted to admit new witnesses , they could then agree on which ones or the rules under which they could testify .
The White House has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attempt to call former national security adviser John Bolton or other administration officials and that could result in months of legal gridlock that would idle the Senate .
`` We 're going to be here for a very , very long time and that 's not good for the United States , '' warned lawyer Jay Sekulow .
President Trump 's attorneys also argue that the Senate should n't be a fact-finding body in the impeachment process and that it must deal with the evidence only developed so far by the House .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawyer Patrick Philbin argued on Wednesday , because his role might be protected most strongly by the doctrine of executive privilege , which permits an administration to shield some of its workings from the public .
`` National security and foreign affairs are the crown jewels of executive privilege , '' Philbin said .
`` To suggest of the national security adviser , 'Oh , we 'll just subpoena him , he 'll come in , it 'll be easy ' — that 's not the way it would work . ''
Philbin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ notified Bolton that the manuscript he has submitted for pre-publication review contains what it considers top secret information and accordingly ca n't be published until it 's been cleared .
That raises the stakes for Bolton to appear himself , or for senators to get access to the manuscript — if they can reach some kind of accommodation among themselves .
House impeachment manager Rep. Adam Schiff , D-Calif. , warned Senators that he believed the White House is trying to stonewall them the way he argues it already has the House .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ unduly long , he said , among other reasons because senators already have U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts presiding over the proceedings .
Schiff said he trusts Roberts to adjudicate questions of witnesses and process — and quickly .
The bottom line , Schiff said , is to bring all relevant evidence into the process to make it legitimate .
`` You ca n't have a fair trial without witnesses , '' he said .
Questions to the desk Senators wrote questions on specially printed cards that were then carried to Roberts , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats or Trump 's lawyers .
Senators used their questions to set up partisan allies to deliver talking points , ask questions of opponents that might embarrass them , and , occasionally , to try to elicit new information .
Ears across Washington perked up each time Republicans Susan Collins of Maine , Lisa Murkowski of Alaska or Mitt Romney of Utah were associated with a query ; they 're among the small group of potential rebels who might join with Democrats to vote to add witnesses .
Four such Republicans would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's remarks to senators this week suggested he may have a sense about which ones have reached that decision , their identities were n't certain .
One thing that was resolved by events on Wednesday was that Colorado Sen. Cory Gardner would not vote for new witnesses , his office said .
Arizona Sen. Martha McSally later joined him with a statement on Twitter .
Otherwise much of the discussion in the Senate chamber involved lobbing parliamentary brickbats , with the odd philosophical digression about the nature of presidential power .
Another of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for example , argued that because a president always believes his own election and administration are in the public interest , it 's virtually impossible for him to act officially without also acting for his own personal benefit — except in cases when he might profit financially .
And that means he ca n't be impeached on the basis of motives that no outside person could parse , he argued .
`` It can not be a corrupt motive if you have a mixed motive that partially involves the national interest , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ notion in questions that set the stage for Schiff to repeat his criticisms of Trump 's broad claims of power under the Constitution .
`` What you see is a president who identifies the state as being himself , '' Schiff said .
Another Democratic manager rejected the idea , raised in a question , that Trump circumvented any wrongdoing because the military assistance he froze for Ukraine last year ultimately was released and allowed to flow as Congress intended .
No , said Rep. Zoe Lofgren , D-Calif. — first because the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ freeze broke the law but also because , under Democrats ' `` attempted extortion '' metaphor , Trump still had abused his power .
`` Getting caught does n't mitigate the wrongdoing , '' Lofgren said .
Other questions focused on the Constitutional standards for impeachable conduct , the president 's power to conduct foreign policy and what standard of evidence should apply in the trial .
Many of Democrats ' questions emphasized witnesses and actions by Trump .
Meanwhile , many Republicans ' questions underscored what they called the weakness of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the role of Vice President Joe Biden in the Ukraine saga .
Trump sought investigations by Ukraine 's president including one into Biden and his son Hunter , who was paid by a Ukrainian gas company at the same time Biden was leading Ukraine policy for the administration of President Obama .
Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi , who gave a presentation about the Bidens earlier in the trial , reprised what she called the troubling story and used , as Trump 's camp had promised before , the impeachment of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Other subsequent questions afforded openings later in the evening for Trump 's team to revive the subject of Biden and what his attorneys suggested might be wrongdoing during the Obama era .
No official inquiry has `` cleared '' the Bidens or `` debunked '' the allegations they might have acted improperly , argued Trump attorney Eric Herschmann .
House manager Rep. Val Demings , D-Fla. , urged senators to confine their discussion in the chamber to what she called the heart of the matter .
`` As we go through this very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to impeach and remove the president of the United States I 'd ask that we stay focused , '' she said .
`` The last few days we 've seen many distractions , many things have been said to take our minds off the truth of why we 're really here . ''

Impeachment Trial Recap: Hours Of Q&A But Still No Clarity On New Witnesses
Enlarge this image toggle caption J. Scott Applewhite/AP J. Scott Applewhite/AP
Updated at 10:08 p.m. ET
Senators fought a genteel melee over new witnesses in the impeachment trial on Wednesday but even hours' worth of questions, answers, and litigation on other issues didn't reveal an obvious path forward.
Members used dozens of written submissions over several hours to argue for and against the case for witnesses, the strength of the impeachment case and, in some cases, to actually ask questions.
But as the Q&A session rolled on Wednesday ahead of another session scheduled for Thursday, the way ahead still was not clear as to whether John Bolton or other witnesses might appear.
"At this point it's obvious — we don't have the votes yet," said Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., talking to reporters during a break.
The issue about Bolton's testimony isn't only important to the substance of the evidence in the case, but how much longer the trial goes.
If the Senate were to reject the admission of Bolton or other witnesses in a vote expected on Friday, it could close down the proceedings comparatively quickly — quickly in Senate terms at least.
If the chamber admits Bolton, that could add days, weeks or more.
Ambassador Bolton
Although Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is understood to have told senators that he can't marshal enough support to block witnesses and simply end the trial, it also isn't clear whether, if senators voted to admit new witnesses, they could then agree on which ones or the rules under which they could testify.
The White House has warned senators that it might resist an attempt to call former national security adviser John Bolton or other administration officials and that could result in months of legal gridlock that would idle the Senate.
"We're going to be here for a very, very long time and that's not good for the United States," warned lawyer Jay Sekulow.
President Trump's attorneys also argue that the Senate shouldn't be a fact-finding body in the impeachment process and that it must deal with the evidence only developed so far by the House.
Bolton himself also presents special issues, lawyer Patrick Philbin argued on Wednesday, because his role might be protected most strongly by the doctrine of executive privilege, which permits an administration to shield some of its workings from the public.
"National security and foreign affairs are the crown jewels of executive privilege," Philbin said. "To suggest of the national security adviser, 'Oh, we'll just subpoena him, he'll come in, it'll be easy' — that's not the way it would work."
Philbin also confirmed that the White House has notified Bolton that the manuscript he has submitted for pre-publication review contains what it considers top secret information and accordingly can't be published until it's been cleared.
That raises the stakes for Bolton to appear himself, or for senators to get access to the manuscript — if they can reach some kind of accommodation among themselves.
House impeachment manager Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., warned Senators that he believed the White House is trying to stonewall them the way he argues it already has the House.
Resolving issues over witnesses needn't take unduly long, he said, among other reasons because senators already have U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts presiding over the proceedings. Schiff said he trusts Roberts to adjudicate questions of witnesses and process — and quickly.
The bottom line, Schiff said, is to bring all relevant evidence into the process to make it legitimate.
"You can't have a fair trial without witnesses," he said.
Questions to the desk
Senators wrote questions on specially printed cards that were then carried to Roberts, who read them either for the House Democrats or Trump's lawyers.
Senators used their questions to set up partisan allies to deliver talking points, ask questions of opponents that might embarrass them, and, occasionally, to try to elicit new information.
Ears across Washington perked up each time Republicans Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska or Mitt Romney of Utah were associated with a query; they're among the small group of potential rebels who might join with Democrats to vote to add witnesses.
Four such Republicans would be required. Although the descriptions about McConnell's remarks to senators this week suggested he may have a sense about which ones have reached that decision, their identities weren't certain.
One thing that was resolved by events on Wednesday was that Colorado Sen. Cory Gardner would not vote for new witnesses, his office said. Arizona Sen. Martha McSally later joined him with a statement on Twitter.
Otherwise much of the discussion in the Senate chamber involved lobbing parliamentary brickbats, with the odd philosophical digression about the nature of presidential power.
The professor
Another of Trump's attorneys, Alan Dershowitz, for example, argued that because a president always believes his own election and administration are in the public interest, it's virtually impossible for him to act officially without also acting for his own personal benefit — except in cases when he might profit financially.
And that means he can't be impeached on the basis of motives that no outside person could parse, he argued.
"It cannot be a corrupt motive if you have a mixed motive that partially involves the national interest," Dershowitz said.
Democratic senators rejected that notion in questions that set the stage for Schiff to repeat his criticisms of Trump's broad claims of power under the Constitution.
"What you see is a president who identifies the state as being himself," Schiff said.
Another Democratic manager rejected the idea, raised in a question, that Trump circumvented any wrongdoing because the military assistance he froze for Ukraine last year ultimately was released and allowed to flow as Congress intended.
No, said Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif. — first because the Government Accountability Office has since concluded that freeze broke the law but also because, under Democrats' "attempted extortion" metaphor, Trump still had abused his power.
"Getting caught doesn't mitigate the wrongdoing," Lofgren said.
The Biden impeachment
Other questions focused on the Constitutional standards for impeachable conduct, the president's power to conduct foreign policy and what standard of evidence should apply in the trial.
Many of Democrats' questions emphasized witnesses and actions by Trump.
Meanwhile, many Republicans' questions underscored what they called the weakness of the process so far and also included reminders about the role of Vice President Joe Biden in the Ukraine saga.
Trump sought investigations by Ukraine's president including one into Biden and his son Hunter, who was paid by a Ukrainian gas company at the same time Biden was leading Ukraine policy for the administration of President Obama.
Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, who gave a presentation about the Bidens earlier in the trial, reprised what she called the troubling story and used, as Trump's camp had promised before, the impeachment of Trump as an impeachment of Biden.
Other subsequent questions afforded openings later in the evening for Trump's team to revive the subject of Biden and what his attorneys suggested might be wrongdoing during the Obama era.
No official inquiry has "cleared" the Bidens or "debunked" the allegations they might have acted improperly, argued Trump attorney Eric Herschmann.
House manager Rep. Val Demings, D-Fla., urged senators to confine their discussion in the chamber to what she called the heart of the matter.
"As we go through this very tough, very difficult debate over whether to impeach and remove the president of the United States I'd ask that we stay focused," she said. "The last few days we've seen many distractions, many things have been said to take our minds off the truth of why we're really here."


npr--2020-01-29--'American Dirt' Publisher Cancels Author Tour After Threats

Flatiron Books , publisher of the controversial new novel American Dirt , has cancelled the remainder of author Jeanine Cummins ' book tour after what it called `` specific threats to booksellers and the author . ''
This follows several individual event cancellations .
Cummins received a hefty advance and a big promotional push for American Dirt , which follows a Mexican mother and son fleeing drug cartel violence .
Oprah Winfrey picked it for her book club , and prominent authors showered it with praise .
But critics have called the book inaccurate and full of harmful stereotypes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ person to tell that story .
( Despite the controversy — or because of it — the book is selling well ; it 's currently # 1 on Amazon 's charts . )
In a statement , Bob Miller , the president of Flatiron Books , said the publisher is proud to have published American Dirt , and was `` therefore surprised by the anger that has emerged from members of the Latinx and publishing communities . ''
But , he added , `` the fact that we were surprised is indicative of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positioning this novel , we failed to acknowledge our own limits .
The discussion around this book has exposed deep inadequacies in how we at Flatiron Books address issues of representation , both in the books we publish and in the teams that work on them . ''
Miller also addressed specific concerns around the promotion of American Dirt , saying `` we made serious mistakes in the way we rolled out this book .
We should never have claimed that it was a novel that defined the migrant experience ; we should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was an undocumented immigrant while not specifying that he was from Ireland ; we should not have had a centerpiece at our bookseller dinner last May that replicated the book jacket so tastelessly .
We can now see how insensitive those and other decisions were , and we regret them . ''
Miller said `` we wish to listen , learn and do better , '' but called for `` a two-way dialogue characterized by respect , '' saying that `` while there are valid criticisms around our promotion of this book that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in some cases there have been threats of physical violence .
We join with those in the Latinx community and others who have spoken out against such violence . ''
Flatiron will replace the remainder of the book tour with a series of town halls where Cummins will meet with critics of the book .

'American Dirt' Publisher Cancels Author Tour After Threats
Enlarge this image Petra Mayer/NPR Petra Mayer/NPR
Flatiron Books, publisher of the controversial new novel American Dirt, has cancelled the remainder of author Jeanine Cummins' book tour after what it called "specific threats to booksellers and the author." This follows several individual event cancellations. [Disclosure: Flatiron Books, publisher of American Dirt, is among NPR's financial supporters]
Cummins received a hefty advance and a big promotional push for American Dirt, which follows a Mexican mother and son fleeing drug cartel violence. Oprah Winfrey picked it for her book club, and prominent authors showered it with praise. But critics have called the book inaccurate and full of harmful stereotypes, and questioned whether Cummins was the right person to tell that story. (Despite the controversy — or because of it — the book is selling well; it's currently #1 on Amazon's charts.)
In a statement, Bob Miller, the president of Flatiron Books, said the publisher is proud to have published American Dirt, and was "therefore surprised by the anger that has emerged from members of the Latinx and publishing communities."
1A What The Controversy Over 'American Dirt' Tells Us About Publishing And Authorship What The Controversy Over 'American Dirt' Tells Us About Publishing And Authorship Listen · 47:30 47:30
But, he added, "the fact that we were surprised is indicative of a problem, which is that in positioning this novel, we failed to acknowledge our own limits. The discussion around this book has exposed deep inadequacies in how we at Flatiron Books address issues of representation, both in the books we publish and in the teams that work on them."
Miller also addressed specific concerns around the promotion of American Dirt, saying "we made serious mistakes in the way we rolled out this book. We should never have claimed that it was a novel that defined the migrant experience; we should not have said that Jeanine's husband was an undocumented immigrant while not specifying that he was from Ireland; we should not have had a centerpiece at our bookseller dinner last May that replicated the book jacket so tastelessly. We can now see how insensitive those and other decisions were, and we regret them."
Miller said "we wish to listen, learn and do better," but called for "a two-way dialogue characterized by respect," saying that "while there are valid criticisms around our promotion of this book that is no excuse for the fact that in some cases there have been threats of physical violence. We join with those in the Latinx community and others who have spoken out against such violence."
Flatiron will replace the remainder of the book tour with a series of town halls where Cummins will meet with critics of the book.


npr--2020-01-29--Alabama To Move Most Inmates From Notoriously Crowded, Violent Holman Prison

Alabama To Move Most Inmates From Notoriously Crowded , Violent Holman Prison Alabama 's prison system is so notorious that it has inspired a raft of ominous descriptors , each one more dreadful than the last .
In one document alone — a Justice Department probe published last year — a casual reader will find the state 's correctional facilities described as `` cruel , '' `` objectively unsafe , '' and characterized by `` deplorable conditions '' that encourage deadly violence and rape .
Now , one of the oldest and most notorious of these prisons , the William @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be largely decommissioned .
Officials plan to transfer more than 600 inmates from the facility 's general population and restrictive housing units to other facilities across the state .
About 150 `` low-risk '' prisoners and scores of death row inmates are expected to remain at the 51-year-old prison in Atmore , Ala. , which houses the state 's only execution chamber .
`` Since my arrival at the ADOC almost five years ago , this Department has been vocal about the pervasive and extreme dilapidation crippling facilities throughout the correctional system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exception , '' the department 's commissioner , Jeff Dunn , said in a statement released Wednesday .
`` This is a real and serious issue that can not be understated and , after learning the extent of the risks associated with continued maintenance attempts at Holman Correctional Facility , moving quickly on our plans to decommission was the right and only decision . ''
The Justice Department , which issued its scathing report last April , expressed frustration at the decision — not so much for the fact that it was made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's corrections officials failed to notify the department about it .
Jay E. Town , the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Alabama , and other federal law enforcement officials have been in talks with the state seeking improvements to its prison system since the release of the report .
Last month Town told local media that observers should expect an update on the negotiations ' progress , though it was clear that he did not expect Wednesday 's announcement .
`` I am disappointed that we were not privy to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such a decision was being considered , '' he said in a statement issued Wednesday .
`` We will continue to forge ahead in our good faith negotiations . ''
The state 's system has suffered for many years from chronic understaffing and overcrowding .
At Holman , in particular , the Justice Department found that the prison 's staff of authorized correctional officers was less than a fifth of what it should be .
However , Holman is not alone .
Across the state , the staffing at correctional facilities was found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its authorized level — which raises concerns that , as bad as conditions were at Holman , its inmates are unlikely to fare much better at their new destinations .
`` The movement of people at Holman to other facilities will only exacerbate the already deadly levels of overcrowding and the understaffing of correctional officers and mental health professionals at those facilities , '' said C.J .
Sandley , a senior staff attorney at the Southern Poverty Law Center , which is part of a lawsuit against the state 's Department of Corrections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Alabama 's Department of Corrections and Governor [ Kay ] Ivey must focus their efforts on addressing overcrowding and understaffing , '' Sandley said .
Dunn , the ADOC commissioner , echoed this point in his announcement , acknowledging that the state 's `` prison infrastructure is failing . ''
`` We are now projecting upwards of $ 800 million in deferred maintenance costs alone , '' Dunn said Wednesday .
`` This unavoidable issue reinforces the critical importance of Governor Ivey 's transformative and necessary plan to build three new correctional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hodgin of Birmingham member station WBHM , Ivey is waiting on developers ' proposals for a trio of new regional prisons , which are expected `` to replace more than a dozen facilities that house male inmates . ''
Alabama is not alone in its corrections issues .
Earlier this week , Tate Reeves , governor of neighboring Mississippi , made the state 's prison system — and the closure of its own notorious facility — a central focus of his first State of the State address .
`` I have instructed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ necessary work to start closing Parchman 's most notorious unit — Unit 29 , '' he announced , referring to the Mississippi State Penitentiary there .
Like Holman , the prison in Parchman , Miss.
, also houses the state 's execution chamber .
At least three inmates at the penitentiary have died of violent causes in the past week and a half — one of whom apparently took his life in a one-man cell Sunday , in the very unit the governor promised to begin closing .
`` There are many logistical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — we 're working through that right now , '' Reeves added .
`` But I have seen enough .
We have to turn the page .
This is the first step , and I have asked the Department to begin the preparations to make it happen safely , justly , and quickly . ''

Alabama To Move Most Inmates From Notoriously Crowded, Violent Holman Prison
Enlarge this image toggle caption Kim Chandler/AP Kim Chandler/AP
Alabama's prison system is so notorious that it has inspired a raft of ominous descriptors, each one more dreadful than the last. In one document alone — a Justice Department probe published last year — a casual reader will find the state's correctional facilities described as "cruel," "objectively unsafe," and characterized by "deplorable conditions" that encourage deadly violence and rape.
Now, one of the oldest and most notorious of these prisons, the William C. Holman Correctional Facility, is set to be largely decommissioned.
Officials plan to transfer more than 600 inmates from the facility's general population and restrictive housing units to other facilities across the state. About 150 "low-risk" prisoners and scores of death row inmates are expected to remain at the 51-year-old prison in Atmore, Ala., which houses the state's only execution chamber.
"Since my arrival at the ADOC almost five years ago, this Department has been vocal about the pervasive and extreme dilapidation crippling facilities throughout the correctional system — and Holman Correctional Facility is no exception," the department's commissioner, Jeff Dunn, said in a statement released Wednesday.
"This is a real and serious issue that cannot be understated and, after learning the extent of the risks associated with continued maintenance attempts at Holman Correctional Facility, moving quickly on our plans to decommission was the right and only decision."
The Justice Department, which issued its scathing report last April, expressed frustration at the decision — not so much for the fact that it was made, as for the fact that Alabama's corrections officials failed to notify the department about it. Jay E. Town, the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Alabama, and other federal law enforcement officials have been in talks with the state seeking improvements to its prison system since the release of the report.
Last month Town told local media that observers should expect an update on the negotiations' progress, though it was clear that he did not expect Wednesday's announcement.
"I am disappointed that we were not privy to the decision to close Holman at the time such a decision was being considered," he said in a statement issued Wednesday. "We will continue to forge ahead in our good faith negotiations."
The state's system has suffered for many years from chronic understaffing and overcrowding. At Holman, in particular, the Justice Department found that the prison's staff of authorized correctional officers was less than a fifth of what it should be.
However, Holman is not alone. Across the state, the staffing at correctional facilities was found to hover at just a third of its authorized level — which raises concerns that, as bad as conditions were at Holman, its inmates are unlikely to fare much better at their new destinations.
"The movement of people at Holman to other facilities will only exacerbate the already deadly levels of overcrowding and the understaffing of correctional officers and mental health professionals at those facilities," said C.J. Sandley, a senior staff attorney at the Southern Poverty Law Center, which is part of a lawsuit against the state's Department of Corrections.
"Rather than pursuing band-aid solutions, Alabama's Department of Corrections and Governor [Kay] Ivey must focus their efforts on addressing overcrowding and understaffing," Sandley said.
Dunn, the ADOC commissioner, echoed this point in his announcement, acknowledging that the state's "prison infrastructure is failing."
"We are now projecting upwards of $800 million in deferred maintenance costs alone," Dunn said Wednesday. "This unavoidable issue reinforces the critical importance of Governor Ivey's transformative and necessary plan to build three new correctional facilities."
According to Mary Scott Hodgin of Birmingham member station WBHM, Ivey is waiting on developers' proposals for a trio of new regional prisons, which are expected "to replace more than a dozen facilities that house male inmates."
Alabama is not alone in its corrections issues. Earlier this week, Tate Reeves, governor of neighboring Mississippi, made the state's prison system — and the closure of its own notorious facility — a central focus of his first State of the State address.
"I have instructed the Mississippi Department of Corrections to begin the necessary work to start closing Parchman's most notorious unit — Unit 29," he announced, referring to the Mississippi State Penitentiary there. Like Holman, the prison in Parchman, Miss., also houses the state's execution chamber.
At least three inmates at the penitentiary have died of violent causes in the past week and a half — one of whom apparently took his life in a one-man cell Sunday, in the very unit the governor promised to begin closing.
"There are many logistical questions that will need to be answered — we're working through that right now," Reeves added. "But I have seen enough. We have to turn the page. This is the first step, and I have asked the Department to begin the preparations to make it happen safely, justly, and quickly."


npr--2020-01-30--White House Moves To Formally Decriminalize Accidentally Killing Birds

The Trump administration is proposing a regulatory change to ensure that companies that accidentally kill migratory birds during the course of their operations will no longer face the possibility of criminal prosecution .
Wildlife protection groups are decrying the proposal as an attempt to rip the teeth out of a century-old law that protects migratory birds , while industry groups say they have long been hamstrung by the threat of legal action .
`` It is important to bring regulatory certainty to the public by clarifying that the criminal scope of the [ Migratory Bird Treaty Act ] only reaches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks Rob Wallace said in a statement .
He added that the administration will work `` to ensure that best practices are followed to minimize unintended harm to birds and their habitats . ''
The proposed rule , which is expected to be published in the Federal Register on Monday , would formalize the administration 's existing interpretation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act .
If finalized , it would make it more difficult for future administrations to reverse the policy shift .
In its final @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a legal opinion stating that the law does include the incidental killing of birds , '' as NPR 's Laurel Wamsley noted .
But in February 2017 , the Trump administration suspended that opinion pending review , and later that year released a legal memo saying it would not criminally prosecute such killings .
The administration described the previous penalties for accidentally killing birds — which it said threatened jail time of up to six months and penalties of up to $ 15,000 per bird killed or injured — as a `` sword @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawful and productive actions . ''
Prosecutions for accidentally killing migratory birds are rare , but there have been several noteworthy cases .
In 2013 , Duke Energy Renewables pleaded guilty over the deaths of 14 golden eagles and 149 other migratory birds .
And the law was `` partial grounds for a $ 100 million settlement with BP for birds killed during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill '' from 2010 , Earthfix 's Jes Burns reported for NPR .
Wildlife protection advocates are speaking out against this change .
`` The rule @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — signal to industry that common-sense measures to protect birds like the snowy egret , wood duck and greater sandhill crane are no longer needed , '' Collin O'Mara , president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation , said in a statement .
`` This radical interpretation of the law has already allowed oil companies to kill birds without repercussions , '' Center for Western Priorities executive director Jennifer Rokala said in a statement .
`` Now , the Trump administration wants to make sure extractive industries can continue to kill birds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Senator Chris Van Hollen , D-Md.
, expressed concern that the proposed rule could `` allow large companies to get off scot-free when oil spills and other commercial disasters cause the massive loss of bird life . ''
However , industry advocates such as the National Mining Association are applauding the move .
`` The protection of migratory birds is important , and the statute should be applied as intended : to protect against intentional killing of birds , not to criminalize a broad range of commercial activities causing a significant chilling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including mining , '' its CEO Rich Nolan said in a statement .
The Fish and Wildlife Service , which is part of the Department of the Interior , estimates that in the U.S. more than 700 million migratory birds die every year due to hazards caused by industry .
The vast majority of those are collisions with building glass .
A comparatively larger hazard to birds is domestic cats – according to Fish and Wildlife , more than 2 billion birds annually are killed by them .
Once posted , the public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the proposal .

White House Moves To Formally Decriminalize Accidentally Killing Birds
Enlarge this image toggle caption Gerald Herbert/AP Gerald Herbert/AP
The Trump administration is proposing a regulatory change to ensure that companies that accidentally kill migratory birds during the course of their operations will no longer face the possibility of criminal prosecution.
Wildlife protection groups are decrying the proposal as an attempt to rip the teeth out of a century-old law that protects migratory birds, while industry groups say they have long been hamstrung by the threat of legal action.
"It is important to bring regulatory certainty to the public by clarifying that the criminal scope of the [Migratory Bird Treaty Act] only reaches to conduct intentionally injuring birds,"Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks Rob Wallace said in a statement. He added that the administration will work "to ensure that best practices are followed to minimize unintended harm to birds and their habitats."
The proposed rule, which is expected to be published in the Federal Register on Monday, would formalize the administration's existing interpretation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. If finalized, it would make it more difficult for future administrations to reverse the policy shift.
In its final weeks, the Obama administration "issued a legal opinion stating that the law does include the incidental killing of birds," as NPR's Laurel Wamsley noted.
But in February 2017, the Trump administration suspended that opinion pending review, and later that year released a legal memo saying it would not criminally prosecute such killings.
The administration described the previous penalties for accidentally killing birds — which it said threatened jail time of up to six months and penalties of up to $15,000 per bird killed or injured — as a "sword of Damocles over a host of otherwise lawful and productive actions."
Prosecutions for accidentally killing migratory birds are rare, but there have been several noteworthy cases. In 2013, Duke Energy Renewables pleaded guilty over the deaths of 14 golden eagles and 149 other migratory birds.
And the law was "partial grounds for a $100 million settlement with BP for birds killed during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill" from 2010, Earthfix's Jes Burns reported for NPR.
Wildlife protection advocates are speaking out against this change. "The rule sends an irresponsible — and legally incorrect — signal to industry that common-sense measures to protect birds like the snowy egret, wood duck and greater sandhill crane are no longer needed," Collin O'Mara, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation, said in a statement.
"This radical interpretation of the law has already allowed oil companies to kill birds without repercussions," Center for Western Priorities executive director Jennifer Rokala said in a statement. "Now, the Trump administration wants to make sure extractive industries can continue to kill birds after they leave office."
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., expressed concern that the proposed rule could "allow large companies to get off scot-free when oil spills and other commercial disasters cause the massive loss of bird life."
However, industry advocates such as the National Mining Association are applauding the move. "The protection of migratory birds is important, and the statute should be applied as intended: to protect against intentional killing of birds, not to criminalize a broad range of commercial activities causing a significant chilling effect on industry and commerce nationwide, including mining," its CEO Rich Nolan said in a statement.
The Fish and Wildlife Service, which is part of the Department of the Interior, estimates that in the U.S. more than 700 million migratory birds die every year due to hazards caused by industry. The vast majority of those are collisions with building glass.
A comparatively larger hazard to birds is domestic cats – according to Fish and Wildlife, more than 2 billion birds annually are killed by them.
Once posted, the public will have 45 days to comment on the proposal.


npr--2020-01-30--Photographing A Musical Exchange Between New Orleans And Havana

Photographing A Musical Exchange Between New Orleans And Havana Last week , the New Orleans bands Tank and the Bangas and The Soul Rebels traveled to Havana to participate in a cultural exchange ; it was meant to acknowledge the past by celebrating the present .
New Orleans and Havana are connected through history .
Spain ruled both during a four-decade period in the late 1700s , and the two port cities traded more than commerce on the maritime route .
An indomitable musical culture survived the tragedy of the international slave trade , as enslaved people clung to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unspeakable violence .
Those traditions influenced the music in both cities and made a lasting connection .
At the invitation of the Cuban artist Cimafunk , musicians from two seemingly different cultures , many of whom were previously unaware of this connection , did a deep dive into these musical bonds .
And it was physically impossible to not be picturesque .
Havana recently celebrated its 500-year anniversary , so this cultural exchange took place amid the same grand buildings and narrow streets that once accommodated horses and carriages .
It was also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one Cuban musical revolution .
The centerpiece of the events was a massive New Orleans second line parade through the streets of Havana Vieja , the oldest part of this historic city .
Cubans jammed the doorways and balconies along the route to take in the visual spectacle ; many others joined the celebration while adapting Cuban dance steps to fit the second line shuffle .
Music in these two cities serves the dual function of celebration and spiritual connector , giving the people a way to embrace life and the search for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ photo essay were taken by Eliana Aponte and edited by Laura Beltrán Villamizar to capture the magic that was a week in Havana .

Photographing A Musical Exchange Between New Orleans And Havana
Enlarge this image toggle caption Eliana Aponte for NPR Eliana Aponte for NPR
Last week, the New Orleans bands Tank and the Bangas and The Soul Rebels traveled to Havana to participate in a cultural exchange; it was meant to acknowledge the past by celebrating the present.
New Orleans and Havana are connected through history. Spain ruled both during a four-decade period in the late 1700s, and the two port cities traded more than commerce on the maritime route.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Eliana Aponte for NPR Eliana Aponte for NPR
Enlarge this image toggle caption Eliana Aponte for NPR Eliana Aponte for NPR
An indomitable musical culture survived the tragedy of the international slave trade, as enslaved people clung to the familiar in the face of immorality and unspeakable violence. Those traditions influenced the music in both cities and made a lasting connection.
At the invitation of the Cuban artist Cimafunk, musicians from two seemingly different cultures, many of whom were previously unaware of this connection, did a deep dive into these musical bonds.
And it was physically impossible to not be picturesque.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Eliana Aponte for NPR Eliana Aponte for NPR
Enlarge this image toggle caption Eliana Aponte for NPR Eliana Aponte for NPR
Enlarge this image toggle caption Eliana Aponte for NPR Eliana Aponte for NPR
Havana recently celebrated its 500-year anniversary, so this cultural exchange took place amid the same grand buildings and narrow streets that once accommodated horses and carriages. It was also celebrated on stages that birthed more than one Cuban musical revolution.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Eliana Aponte for NPR Eliana Aponte for NPR
Enlarge this image toggle caption Eliana Aponte for NPR Eliana Aponte for NPR
The centerpiece of the events was a massive New Orleans second line parade through the streets of Havana Vieja, the oldest part of this historic city. Cubans jammed the doorways and balconies along the route to take in the visual spectacle; many others joined the celebration while adapting Cuban dance steps to fit the second line shuffle.
Music in these two cities serves the dual function of celebration and spiritual connector, giving the people a way to embrace life and the search for the divine.
The faces in this photo essay were taken by Eliana Aponte and edited by Laura Beltrán Villamizar to capture the magic that was a week in Havana.


npr--2020-01-30--Senators To CFPB: Why Are You Still Failing To Protect Student Loan Borrowers?

Senators To CFPB : Why Are You Still Failing To Protect Student Loan Borrowers ?
It has been more than two years since the nation 's most powerful financial watchdog examined the companies that manage about $ 1.5 trillion of federal student loans owed by 43 million borrowers .
On Thursday , two members of the Senate Banking Committee said they 're exasperated with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau 's continuing failure to pursue mounting problems with the way student loans are handled .
`` You and your staff have provided a variety of excuses and shifting explanations for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oversight role , '' Democratic Sens .
Sherrod Brown and Robert Menendez wrote in a letter , obtained by NPR , to CFPB Director Kathleen Kraninger .
Brown is the committee 's top Democrat .
Last fall , sources told NPR that a turf war between the Department of Education and the CFPB was effectively blocking the bureau from sending examiners into loan servicing companies to look for problems — in particular with a troubled loan forgiveness program for public service workers .
The program has been rejecting 99 % of people who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In a subsequent hearing , senators cited NPR 's reporting and told director Kraninger that her agency had broad powers to conduct such oversight and could go to court to force the issue .
Under Education Secretary Betsy DeVos , the Education Department has told loan servicers not to cooperate with the CFPB where federal student loans are concerned .
`` You do n't have to follow her lead , '' Menendez , a Democrat from New Jersey , told Kraninger , who , like DeVos , was named by President Trump .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ would rather not have an adversarial relationship with the Department of Education .
`` I have met with Secretary DeVos , '' she said , `` and we are already discussing how to move forward in an effective way to make sure that we 're overseeing servicers . ''
But now , several months after that hearing and two years since the CFPB tried to send examiners into loan servicing companies to perform oversight and was rebuffed , there is no sign of any progress on resolving the turf war .
`` We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transparency with Congress , '' the senators wrote in their letter Thursday , which cited NPR 's reporting .
`` But we are even more disturbed by the way you have stood by — and continue to do so — as Secretary DeVos and the Department have obstructed the Bureau from examining federal student loan servicers . ''
In a statement to NPR last year , Education Department press secretary Angela Morabito said the CFPB 's job was to perform `` oversight of the private student loan industry . ''
But the vast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal government — roughly $ 1.5 trillion worth .
`` The Department of Education is charged with overseeing the federal [ student loans ] , '' Morabito said .
The senators in their letter urged Kraninger to seek a court order to compel the department to give the bureau access to information it needs to perform proper oversight .
And the senators cited several areas of major concern that they say the CFPB should be looking into , including loan servicers `` unfairly steering borrowers into forbearance or deferment plans — which are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for servicers — instead of income-based repayment plans . ''
Brown and Menendez also said that tens of thousands of teachers , nurses , service members and other public servants have been denied loan forgiveness .
`` Yet — even after multiple scathing reports by the Government Accountability Office and the Department of Education 's Inspector General — the Bureau is not examining the student loan servicer responsible for administering the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program . ''
The senators also raised concerns about practices that may be violating civil rights laws .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ NPR in the past that servicers have an inherently difficult job working with millions of borrowers and navigating very complex loan programs .
`` It 's really complicated , '' Scott Buchanan , the executive director of group , told NPR last year .
`` And so I have no doubt that servicers from time to time do make some mistakes and when those get identified that we work to fix them . ''
The CFPB did not immediately respond to a request for comment .

Senators To CFPB: Why Are You Still Failing To Protect Student Loan Borrowers?
Enlarge this image toggle caption Alex Wroblewski/Reuters Alex Wroblewski/Reuters
It has been more than two years since the nation's most powerful financial watchdog examined the companies that manage about $1.5 trillion of federal student loans owed by 43 million borrowers.
On Thursday, two members of the Senate Banking Committee said they're exasperated with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's continuing failure to pursue mounting problems with the way student loans are handled.
"You and your staff have provided a variety of excuses and shifting explanations for the Bureau's failure to fulfill this critical oversight role," Democratic Sens. Sherrod Brown and Robert Menendez wrote in a letter, obtained by NPR, to CFPB Director Kathleen Kraninger. Brown is the committee's top Democrat.
Last fall, sources told NPR that a turf war between the Department of Education and the CFPB was effectively blocking the bureau from sending examiners into loan servicing companies to look for problems — in particular with a troubled loan forgiveness program for public service workers. The program has been rejecting 99% of people who think they have met the requirements.
In a subsequent hearing, senators cited NPR's reporting and told director Kraninger that her agency had broad powers to conduct such oversight and could go to court to force the issue. Under Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, the Education Department has told loan servicers not to cooperate with the CFPB where federal student loans are concerned.
"You don't have to follow her lead," Menendez, a Democrat from New Jersey, told Kraninger, who, like DeVos, was named by President Trump.
Kraninger responded at the hearing that she would rather not have an adversarial relationship with the Department of Education. "I have met with Secretary DeVos," she said, "and we are already discussing how to move forward in an effective way to make sure that we're overseeing servicers."
But now, several months after that hearing and two years since the CFPB tried to send examiners into loan servicing companies to perform oversight and was rebuffed, there is no sign of any progress on resolving the turf war.
"We are deeply disturbed by your lack of transparency with Congress," the senators wrote in their letter Thursday, which cited NPR's reporting. "But we are even more disturbed by the way you have stood by — and continue to do so — as Secretary DeVos and the Department have obstructed the Bureau from examining federal student loan servicers."
In a statement to NPR last year, Education Department press secretary Angela Morabito said the CFPB's job was to perform "oversight of the private student loan industry." But the vast majority of student loans come from the federal government — roughly $1.5 trillion worth. "The Department of Education is charged with overseeing the federal [student loans]," Morabito said.
The senators in their letter urged Kraninger to seek a court order to compel the department to give the bureau access to information it needs to perform proper oversight. And the senators cited several areas of major concern that they say the CFPB should be looking into, including loan servicers "unfairly steering borrowers into forbearance or deferment plans — which are more costly for borrowers but more profitable for servicers — instead of income-based repayment plans."
Brown and Menendez also said that tens of thousands of teachers, nurses, service members and other public servants have been denied loan forgiveness. "Yet — even after multiple scathing reports by the Government Accountability Office and the Department of Education's Inspector General — the Bureau is not examining the student loan servicer responsible for administering the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program."
The senators also raised concerns about practices that may be violating civil rights laws.
The Student Loan Servicing Alliance has told NPR in the past that servicers have an inherently difficult job working with millions of borrowers and navigating very complex loan programs. "It's really complicated," Scott Buchanan, the executive director of group, told NPR last year. "And so I have no doubt that servicers from time to time do make some mistakes and when those get identified that we work to fix them."
The CFPB did not immediately respond to a request for comment.


npr--2020-01-30--A New Form Of Northern Lights Discovered In Finland – By Amateur Sky Watchers

A New Form Of Northern Lights Discovered In Finland – By Amateur Sky Watchers People in northern climes have long gazed at the wonder that is the aurora borealis : the northern lights .
Those celestial streaks of light and color are often seen on clear nights in Finland , where they 're so admired that a Finnish-language Facebook group dedicated to finding and photographing them has more than 11,000 members .
There aurora aficionados gather to discuss subjects like space weather forecasts and the best equipment to capture the northern lights .
Among its members is Minna Palmroth .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the University of Helsinki , where she leads a research group that studies the space weather that causes auroral emissions .
When members of the group posted photos of the auroras they 'd seen and wanting to learn more , Palmroth would often reply with the aurora 's type and the scientific explanation for its form .
The discussions led Palmroth and two collaborators to publish a field guide to the northern lights .
But even after the book came out , some questions remained unanswered .
A few of the citizens ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did n't fit into any of the known categories .
It had green , horizontal waves running in parallel .
Its undulations reminding some observers of sand formations , and it was christened `` the dunes . ''
The group was discussing the phenomenon in the days after Palmroth 's book was published , when one member pointed out that the mysterious phenomenon was happening at that very moment , outside their windows .
So Palmroth suggested a way that the members might be able to help scientists investigate the phenomenon : by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around Finland , at the exact same time .
Two of the group 's photographers managed to capture pictures of the aurora at the exact same second , from locations 120 kilometers ( 75 miles ) apart .
That gave researchers in Palmroth 's group at the University of Helsinki what they needed to measure the aurora and locate it in near-Earth space .
Maxime Grandin is one of the physicists on Palmroth 's team .
He was able to analyze the photographs using free software called Stellarium to pinpoint the tips of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calculate their azimuth and elevation , based on the location of the star located behind it .
`` With a single picture , you can not get any information , '' he tells NPR .
`` You need two pictures to retrieve the location of a given feature in space . ''
The angular information from the pictures allowed Grandin to triangulate the altitude of each finger .
He found that the whole structure was at an altitude of 100 kilometers ( about 60 miles ) .
He projected the structures onto a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ above Sweden .
It turns out the amateur sky watchers had not only identified a new type of aurora – they had helped scientists illuminate a part of the Earth 's atmosphere that is n't well known .
Grandin says the part of the atmosphere where the dunes are found — the ionosphere — has been studied less than other areas because it 's hard to take measurements in this zone .
`` Satellites can not fly at such low altitude , balloons can not reach that high altitude , even radars generally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those altitudes . ''
He says the region `` is called very often 'the ignorosphere ' because we basically ignore almost everything about it . ''
But the dunes discovery is already shedding new light on the ionosphere .
Palmroth , Grandin and other authors of a study published in the journal AGU Advances suggest that a possible cause for the dunes could be a mesospheric bore : a rare phenomenon that to their knowledge had never been observed at the auroral zone or investigated using auroral emissions .
So the finding is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Grandin says that the role of citizens was crucial .
`` Without them asking questions , without them even taking the pictures in the first place , we would probably have never heard of the dunes and never investigated them , '' he says .
`` The dunes certainly have been existing for centuries or millennia .
But it was about noticing them and bringing them to the attention of scientists and asking questions . ''
He says citizens are passionate about their observations — which leads to their asking lots of questions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extremely good questions , actually , and we do n't know [ the answers ] , so we need to investigate that .
And then that 's how you come up with a new topic of a really great study , and it 's a really nice adventure . ''
He points to the website Taivaanvahti , where amateur photographers can upload their photos , pinpointing where in Finland they observed a given phenomenon and the precise time .
The result is a rich database of observed aurora and other phenomena .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chasers played in identifying the atmospheric phenomenon called STEVE .
Citizens ' getting involved in such scientific efforts can have a larger impact on society , he says .
`` We are at a time where some people doubt the validity of science , '' he says .
`` And if people feel that they are part of this great adventure that is science , I think they 're more inclined to trust it .
And that 's really great . ''

A New Form Of Northern Lights Discovered In Finland – By Amateur Sky Watchers
AGU YouTube
Updated at 8:30 a.m. ET on Jan. 31
People in northern climes have long gazed at the wonder that is the aurora borealis: the northern lights.
Those celestial streaks of light and color are often seen on clear nights in Finland, where they're so admired that a Finnish-language Facebook group dedicated to finding and photographing them has more than 11,000 members.
There aurora aficionados gather to discuss subjects like space weather forecasts and the best equipment to capture the northern lights.
Among its members is Minna Palmroth. She's a physicist and professor at the University of Helsinki, where she leads a research group that studies the space weather that causes auroral emissions.
When members of the group posted photos of the auroras they'd seen and wanting to learn more, Palmroth would often reply with the aurora's type and the scientific explanation for its form. The discussions led Palmroth and two collaborators to publish a field guide to the northern lights.
But even after the book came out, some questions remained unanswered. A few of the citizens' photos showed a form of aurora that didn't fit into any of the known categories. It had green, horizontal waves running in parallel. Its undulations reminding some observers of sand formations, and it was christened "the dunes."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Kari Saari/University of Helsinki Kari Saari/University of Helsinki
The group was discussing the phenomenon in the days after Palmroth's book was published, when one member pointed out that the mysterious phenomenon was happening at that very moment, outside their windows.
So Palmroth suggested a way that the members might be able to help scientists investigate the phenomenon: by taking photographs of it from different locations around Finland, at the exact same time.
Two of the group's photographers managed to capture pictures of the aurora at the exact same second, from locations 120 kilometers (75 miles) apart. That gave researchers in Palmroth's group at the University of Helsinki what they needed to measure the aurora and locate it in near-Earth space.
Maxime Grandin is one of the physicists on Palmroth's team. He was able to analyze the photographs using free software called Stellarium to pinpoint the tips of the dunes' "fingers" and calculate their azimuth and elevation, based on the location of the star located behind it.
"With a single picture, you cannot get any information on the altitude of the dunes," he tells NPR. "You need two pictures to retrieve the location of a given feature in space."
The angular information from the pictures allowed Grandin to triangulate the altitude of each finger. He found that the whole structure was at an altitude of 100 kilometers (about 60 miles). He projected the structures onto a map, locating them in the atmosphere above Sweden.
Turns out the amateur sky watchers had not only identified a new type of aurora – they helped scientists illuminate a part of the Earth's atmosphere that isn't well known.
It's in the ionosphere, a region of the upper atmosphere containing charged particles. Grandin says the part of the ionosphere where the dunes are found has been studied less than other areas because it's hard to take measurements in this zone.
"Satellites cannot fly at such low altitude, balloons cannot reach that high altitude, even radars generally do not really resolve the measurements at those altitudes." He says the region "is called very often 'the ignorosphere' because we basically ignore almost everything about it."
But the dunes discovery is already shedding new light on the ignorosphere.
Palmroth, Grandin and other authors of a study published in the journal AGU Advances suggest that a possible cause for the dunes could be a mesospheric bore: a rare phenomenon that to their knowledge had never been observed at the auroral zone or investigated using auroral emissions.
So the finding is an important one for science — and Grandin says the role of citizens was crucial.
"Without them asking questions, without them even taking the pictures in the first place, we would probably have never heard of the dunes and never investigated them," he says. "The dunes certainly have been existing for centuries or millennia. But it was about noticing them and bringing them to the attention of scientists and asking questions."
He says citizens are passionate about their observations — which leads to their asking lots of questions. "Sometimes we realize these are extremely good questions, actually, and we don't know [the answers], so we need to investigate that. And then that's how you come up with a new topic of a really great study, and it's a really nice adventure."
He points to the website Taivaanvahti, where amateur photographers can upload their photos, pinpointing where in Finland they observed a given phenomenon and the precise time. The result is a rich database of observed aurora and other phenomena.
He also notes the role that Canadian aurora chasers played in identifying the atmospheric phenomenon called STEVE.
Citizens' getting involved in such scientific efforts can have a larger impact on society, he says.
"We are at a time where some people doubt the validity of science," he says. "And if people feel that they are part of this great adventure that is science, I think they're more inclined to trust it. And that's really great."


npr--2020-01-30--Academy of American Poets Receives $4.5 Million Grant

`` Money is a kind of poetry , '' the poet Wallace Stevens once wrote .
That might be so , but poems rarely pay the poet 's bills .
Still , poetry reading in the U.S. has skyrocketed in recent years , according to the National Endowment for the Arts ' Survey of Public Participation in the Arts .
The Academy of American Poets announced Thursday that it has received a $ 4.5 million grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation for the Poets Laureate Fellowship program — believed to be the largest-ever from a philanthropic institution for poetry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ program for the next three years .
Poetry is like `` the little engine that could ... with its outsized power , with its tremendous potency , '' Elizabeth Alexander , who is the president of the Mellon Foundation , tells NPR .
As a poet , she believes the grant will help that engine `` move a little faster . ''
Through fellowships to individual poets laureate , `` we 're able to create the conditions and open up the creativity of poets , not only to make their own poems , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use poems ?
How can we let poetry be a way that we can explore what it means to be American in all these different places in real time ?
, ' '' Alexander says .
( The Mellon Foundation is among NPR 's recent financial supporters . )
`` It 's a game-changer , '' says poet and former NEA Chair Dana Gioia .
He says that while multimillion-dollar grants to performing arts institutions is commonplace , the poetry world has made do on tiny grants from small funders .
`` Usually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supposed to be grateful . ''
The Poets Laureate project began last year and provides grants from $ 50,000 to $ 100,000 to 13 poets around the country .
Molly Fisk , the poet laureate of California 's Nevada County , spearheaded workshops that encouraged more than 800 schoolchildren to write poems responding to devastating wildfires in the state .
Ed Madden , poet laureate of Columbia , S.C. , tells NPR he believes in `` poetry as public art , '' including poetry readings on city buses .
For his fellowship , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and interactive map called `` Telling the Stories of the City . ''
Claudia Castro Luna , Washington state 's poet laureate , held workshops at eight stops along the Columbia River — `` places where cultural programming of the kind I am providing is rare , '' she tells NPR .
Luna says the yearlong project One River , Many Voices `` brought an injection of joy and beauty , an enthusiasm for words . ''
Academy of American Poets Chairman Michael Jacobs says in a statement that the organization is `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mellon Foundation will help us continue to fulfill our mission and enable us to meaningfully fund poets who are involved in the civic life of their communities . ''
The $ 4.5 million grant is not the largest philanthropic gift to poetry .
That distinction goes to Ruth Lilly who pledged an unrestricted $ 200 million to Chicago 's Poetry Foundation in 2002 .
But it is believed to be the largest grant ever made by a philanthropic institution to support poets .
Gioia says having a large foundation like Mellon put real @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both visionary and practical , '' and a reflection of poetry 's growing popularity among all age levels and backgrounds .
`` Thirty years ago , I was seen as an eccentric for loving poetry .
Now I 'm just stating the obvious , '' he says .
As Gioia 's own poem Money puts it : It greases the palm , feathers a nest , holds heads above water , makes both ends meet .
Guidelines for the 2020 round of fellowships are posted on the Academy of American Poets ' website @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , city , county , U.S. territory , or Tribal nation after having been formally appointed '' are eligible .

Academy of American Poets Receives $4.5 Million Grant
Money talks ... in verse.
"Money is a kind of poetry," the poet Wallace Stevens once wrote. That might be so, but poems rarely pay the poet's bills. Still, poetry reading in the U.S. has skyrocketed in recent years, according to the National Endowment for the Arts' Survey of Public Participation in the Arts.
The Academy of American Poets announced Thursday that it has received a $4.5 million grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation for the Poets Laureate Fellowship program — believed to be the largest-ever from a philanthropic institution for poetry. That's enough to fund the program for the next three years.
Poetry is like "the little engine that could ... with its outsized power, with its tremendous potency," Elizabeth Alexander, who is the president of the Mellon Foundation, tells NPR. As a poet, she believes the grant will help that engine "move a little faster."
Through fellowships to individual poets laureate, "we're able to create the conditions and open up the creativity of poets, not only to make their own poems, but also to think 'how can communities use poems? How can we let poetry be a way that we can explore what it means to be American in all these different places in real time?,'" Alexander says. (The Mellon Foundation is among NPR's recent financial supporters.)
"It's a game-changer," says poet and former NEA Chair Dana Gioia. He says that while multimillion-dollar grants to performing arts institutions is commonplace, the poetry world has made do on tiny grants from small funders. "Usually it's $25,000 and you're supposed to be grateful."
The Poets Laureate project began last year and provides grants from $50,000 to $100,000 to 13 poets around the country. Molly Fisk, the poet laureate of California's Nevada County, spearheaded workshops that encouraged more than 800 schoolchildren to write poems responding to devastating wildfires in the state. Ed Madden, poet laureate of Columbia, S.C., tells NPR he believes in "poetry as public art," including poetry readings on city buses. For his fellowship, he launched a youth and community workshop and interactive map called "Telling the Stories of the City."
Claudia Castro Luna, Washington state's poet laureate, held workshops at eight stops along the Columbia River — "places where cultural programming of the kind I am providing is rare," she tells NPR. Luna says the yearlong project One River, Many Voices "brought an injection of joy and beauty, an enthusiasm for words."
Academy of American Poets Chairman Michael Jacobs says in a statement that the organization is "thrilled that this extraordinary grant from the Mellon Foundation will help us continue to fulfill our mission and enable us to meaningfully fund poets who are involved in the civic life of their communities."
The $4.5 million grant is not the largest philanthropic gift to poetry. That distinction goes to Ruth Lilly who pledged an unrestricted $200 million to Chicago's Poetry Foundation in 2002. But it is believed to be the largest grant ever made by a philanthropic institution to support poets.
Gioia says having a large foundation like Mellon put real money toward the art form "is both visionary and practical," and a reflection of poetry's growing popularity among all age levels and backgrounds.
"Thirty years ago, I was seen as an eccentric for loving poetry. Now I'm just stating the obvious," he says. As Gioia's own poem Money puts it:
It greases the palm, feathers a nest, holds heads above water, makes both ends meet.
Guidelines for the 2020 round of fellowships are posted on the Academy of American Poets' website. Poets laureate "of a state, city, county, U.S. territory, or Tribal nation after having been formally appointed" are eligible.


npr--2020-01-30--House Votes 'No War Against Iran,' In Rebuke To Trump

House Votes 'No War Against Iran , ' In Rebuke To Trump The House has approved two measures seeking to limit the president 's ability to take military action without congressional approval .
The first piece of legislation , known as the No War Against Iran Act , would block funding for military force in or against Iran unless Congress has signed off .
The measure , introduced by Rep. Ro Khanna of California , passed by a vote of 228-175 .
The second , introduced by fellow California Democratic Rep. Barbara Lee , would repeal the 2002 authorization for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ushered in the war against Saddam Hussein 's regime in Iraq .
It passed 236-166 , with the support of 11 Republicans .
But the votes might be largely symbolic .
The Republican-led Senate is n't expected to take up the measures , and the White House has signaled that President Trump would veto them .
They are a rebuke of Trump 's recent military actions in Iraq against Iran and Iran-linked targets , which were carried out without congressional authorization .
`` Our soldiers deserve the dignity of a debate when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee , D-Texas , told lawmakers ahead of the votes .
The voting took place on the same day that Iraq said it would resume military cooperation with the U.S.-led coalition against ISIS .
Earlier this year , the Iraqi government suspended the joint actions , and its parliament voted to demand that U.S. troops withdraw after the U.S. drone strike that killed Iranian military leader Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad .
In a tweet Wednesday , President Trump encouraged House members to `` vote their HEART '' on the legislation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had a somewhat different message .
`` With Votes in the House tomorrow , Democrats want to make it harder for Presidents to defend America , and stand up to , as an example , Iran .
Protect our GREAT COUNTRY ! ''
he tweeted .
`` America will not be safer , we will be weaker , '' Rep. Kevin McCarthy , R-Calif. , told reporters .
The 2002 AUMF gave the president the authority to `` defend the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been used to justify other U.S. military actions , including the strike against Soleimani .
`` Saddam Hussein is dead .
His government and regime are long gone , '' Rep. Eliot Engel , D-N.Y. , told House lawmakers on Thursday .
`` This war authorization has no relevance to present-day Iraq .
It should be repealed , not used to launch more military action . ''
Congress was n't officially notified before the strike against Soleimani , which rankled some members and ushered in this legislation .
The U.S. has relied on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2001 and authorized the president to use force against those responsible for the Sept. 11 attacks — to legally justify its military actions against the Islamic State in multiple countries and against the Assad government in Syria .
In a statement signaling that it would veto this particular measure , the White House said , `` The 2002 AUMF has long been understood to authorize the use of force for , among other purposes , addressing threats emanating from Iraq , including threats such as ISIS ... as well as threats directed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawmakers from both parties have occasionally expressed unease that the White House continues to use laws passed nearly two decades ago as a justification for continued military action .
As NPR has reported , legal experts have noted that presidential war powers have dramatically expanded in the years since the Sept. 11 attacks , with little outcry from lawmakers .

House Votes 'No War Against Iran,' In Rebuke To Trump
Enlarge this image toggle caption J. Scott Applewhite/AP J. Scott Applewhite/AP
The House has approved two measures seeking to limit the president's ability to take military action without congressional approval.
The first piece of legislation, known as the No War Against Iran Act, would block funding for military force in or against Iran unless Congress has signed off. The measure, introduced by Rep. Ro Khanna of California, passed by a vote of 228-175.
The second, introduced by fellow California Democratic Rep. Barbara Lee, would repeal the 2002 authorization for use of military force (AUMF) that ushered in the war against Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq. It passed 236-166, with the support of 11 Republicans.
But the votes might be largely symbolic. The Republican-led Senate isn't expected to take up the measures, and the White House has signaled that President Trump would veto them. They are a rebuke of Trump's recent military actions in Iraq against Iran and Iran-linked targets, which were carried out without congressional authorization.
"Our soldiers deserve the dignity of a debate when they should go to war," Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, told lawmakers ahead of the votes.
The voting took place on the same day that Iraq said it would resume military cooperation with the U.S.-led coalition against ISIS. Earlier this year, the Iraqi government suspended the joint actions, and its parliament voted to demand that U.S. troops withdraw after the U.S. drone strike that killed Iranian military leader Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad.
In a tweet Wednesday, President Trump encouraged House members to "vote their HEART" on the legislation. Later in the day, he had a somewhat different message. "With Votes in the House tomorrow, Democrats want to make it harder for Presidents to defend America, and stand up to, as an example, Iran. Protect our GREAT COUNTRY!" he tweeted.
"America will not be safer, we will be weaker," Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., told reporters.
The 2002 AUMF gave the president the authority to "defend the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq." Since then, it has been used to justify other U.S. military actions, including the strike against Soleimani.
"Saddam Hussein is dead. His government and regime are long gone," Rep. Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., told House lawmakers on Thursday. "This war authorization has no relevance to present-day Iraq. It should be repealed, not used to launch more military action."
Congress wasn't officially notified before the strike against Soleimani, which rankled some members and ushered in this legislation.
The U.S. has relied on another AUMF — which was passed in 2001 and authorized the president to use force against those responsible for the Sept. 11 attacks — to legally justify its military actions against the Islamic State in multiple countries and against the Assad government in Syria.
In a statement signaling that it would veto this particular measure, the White House said, "The 2002 AUMF has long been understood to authorize the use of force for, among other purposes, addressing threats emanating from Iraq, including threats such as ISIS ... as well as threats directed by Iran."
In recent years, lawmakers from both parties have occasionally expressed unease that the White House continues to use laws passed nearly two decades ago as a justification for continued military action. As NPR has reported, legal experts have noted that presidential war powers have dramatically expanded in the years since the Sept. 11 attacks, with little outcry from lawmakers.


npr--2020-01-30--FICO Is About To Change Credit Scores. Here's Why It Matters

FICO Is About To Change Credit Scores .
Here 's Why It Matters Your credit score can determine whether you can buy a car , get certain jobs or rent an apartment .
It 's a big deal .
And so is this : Credit scores for many Americans are about to change — even if they do n't do anything .
The changes will be extensive .
About 40 million Americans are likely to see their credit scores drop by 20 points or more , and an equal number should go up by as much , according to Joanne @ @ @ @ @ @ @ analytics at FICO , the company at the heart of the credit scoring system .
Every five years or so , FICO updates the way it determines credit scores .
This time , the biggest change is in how it treats personal loans , Gaskin says .
Personal loans are growing faster than any other consumer debt category ; Americans owe more than $ 300 billion on them .
There are all kinds of personal loan offers in the mail , online and on TV .
Many promise to lower your interest rate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ single loan .
For the first time , Gaskin says , FICO is breaking out personal loans as a distinct category to determine whether borrowers use them responsibly .
Why does that matter ?
Let 's let 's say you pay off all your credit cards with a personal loan .
Under the old system , your credit score might go up .
But under the new approach , FICO will look back over a period of time — as far as two years — to see whether you 've used the loan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or whether you 're using plastic as much as before , running up new revolving balances and falling deeper into debt .
`` What we find is that potentially that consumer 's credit file carries more risk than what was apparent , '' Gaskin says .
If your finances are in good shape and you already have a good credit score , you 're likely to see your score improve , she says .
But Gaskin says those whose scores will decline are typically people in the lower FICO score range , about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ range from 300 to 850 . )
That 's not good news for people who are struggling financially , says Marisabel Torres with the Center for Responsible Lending .
`` It sounds like we 're penalizing people for getting into a bad situation . ''
Torres says people who already have low scores are most likely to see their scores go even lower — and that will worsen inequities in the credit system .
With personal loans , people with good credit can qualify for good terms .
But Torres says predatory lenders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interest rates .
`` A lot of the predatory products concentrate these offers in lower-income neighborhoods , targeting communities of color especially who tend to have the more limited options for financing and for credit , '' Torres says .
`` They end up getting ensnared and into this cyclical debt . ''
She says it does n't seem fair that now , on top of that , many will be getting hit with a lower credit score than they would have before .
With some loans , especially home mortgages , lenders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FICO score , so the new version wo n't have an impact on all types of lending .
Gaskin says the goal with FICO 's newest score is to give lenders better information so they can extend credit to more borrowers at better rates .
While you ca n't control the way the scoring system works , there are steps you can take to improve your creditworthiness .
`` Do n't make late payments on a regular basis , '' says Sara Rathner of the personal finance site NerdWallet .
`` Pay all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month .
That 's huge . ''
Rathner says one thing a lot of people do n't realize is that it 's often unwise to close older credit card accounts .
`` So many people think about 'cleaning up their credit ' as as like Marie Kondo-ing their wallet , '' she says .
But Rathner notes that when it comes to credit cards , it can help to hold on to older accounts for a long time .
Doing that gives consumers a more established credit history .
If an older card @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rathner says , you can often get the issuer to switch to a card with no fee , while still keeping the extended credit history intact .
She offers another tip : Do n't use more than a third of your available credit on all your credit cards .
If you exceed that threshold , it can hurt your credit score .

FICO Is About To Change Credit Scores. Here's Why It Matters
Enlarge this image toggle caption courtneyk/Getty Images courtneyk/Getty Images
Your credit score can determine whether you can buy a car, get certain jobs or rent an apartment. It's a big deal. And so is this: Credit scores for many Americans are about to change — even if they don't do anything.
The changes will be extensive. About 40 million Americans are likely to see their credit scores drop by 20 points or more, and an equal number should go up by as much, according to Joanne Gaskin, vice president of scores and analytics at FICO, the company at the heart of the credit scoring system.
Every five years or so, FICO updates the way it determines credit scores. This time, the biggest change is in how it treats personal loans, Gaskin says.
Personal loans are growing faster than any other consumer debt category; Americans owe more than $300 billion on them. There are all kinds of personal loan offers in the mail, online and on TV. Many promise to lower your interest rate by consolidating credit card debt into a single loan.
For the first time, Gaskin says, FICO is breaking out personal loans as a distinct category to determine whether borrowers use them responsibly.
Why does that matter?
Let's say you pay off all your credit cards with a personal loan. Under the old system, your credit score might go up. But under the new approach, FICO will look back over a period of time — as far as two years — to see whether you've used the loan to reduce your high-interest credit card debt or whether you're using plastic as much as before, running up new revolving balances and falling deeper into debt.
"What we find is that potentially that consumer's credit file carries more risk than what was apparent," Gaskin says.
If your finances are in good shape and you already have a good credit score, you're likely to see your score improve, she says. But Gaskin says those whose scores will decline are typically people in the lower FICO score range, about 580 and below. (FICO scores range from 300 to 850.)
That's not good news for people who are struggling financially, says Marisabel Torres with the Center for Responsible Lending. "It sounds like we're penalizing people for getting into a bad situation."
Torres says people who already have low scores are most likely to see their scores go even lower — and that will worsen inequities in the credit system. With personal loans, people with good credit can qualify for good terms. But Torres says predatory lenders charge people with lower incomes very high interest rates.
"A lot of the predatory products concentrate these offers in lower-income neighborhoods, targeting communities of color especially who tend to have the more limited options for financing and for credit," Torres says. "They end up getting ensnared and into this cyclical debt."
She says it doesn't seem fair that now, on top of that, many will be getting hit with a lower credit score than they would have before.
With some loans, especially home mortgages, lenders tend to use older versions of the FICO score, so the new version won't have an impact on all types of lending.
Gaskin says the goal with FICO's newest score is to give lenders better information so they can extend credit to more borrowers at better rates.
While you can't control the way the scoring system works, there are steps you can take to improve your creditworthiness. "Don't make late payments on a regular basis," says Sara Rathner of the personal finance site NerdWallet. "Pay all of your debt obligations on time every month. That's huge."
Rathner says one thing a lot of people don't realize is that it's often unwise to close older credit card accounts. "So many people think about 'cleaning up their credit' as as like Marie Kondo-ing their wallet," she says.
But Rathner notes that when it comes to credit cards, it can help to hold on to older accounts for a long time. Doing that gives consumers a more established credit history.
If an older card is charging you an annual fee, Rathner says, you can often get the issuer to switch to a card with no fee, while still keeping the extended credit history intact.
She offers another tip: Don't use more than a third of your available credit on all your credit cards. If you exceed that threshold, it can hurt your credit score.