npr--2020-06-09--Led By Tim Scott, Senate Republicans Begin Drafting Their Own Police Reform Plan

Led By Tim Scott , Senate Republicans Begin Drafting Their Own Police Reform Plan Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell tapped Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina , the chamber 's lone black Republican , to put together a legislative package addressing the country 's policing system .
The plan would respond to the `` obvious racial discrimination that we 've seen on full display on our television screens over the last two weeks , '' McConnell told reporters following a GOP luncheon Tuesday to discuss the issue .
The plan comes a day after Democrats – with the support of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their plan to overhaul law enforcement departments across the country .
Scott told reporters he hopes Republicans can get a bill on the Senate floor before their July Fourth break .
Scott said Republicans are considering a proposal to increase training to focus on de-escalation tactics that would lessen the potential for chokeholds and other dangerous forms of police restraints .
But Scott was clear his GOP colleagues are n't fans of the major items in the Democratic legislation , which includes bans on chokeholds and no-knock warrants in drug-related cases .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doctrine for police known as qualified immunity — a key provision in the bill Democrats unveiled Monday .
The South Carolina Republican said there 's also talk about bringing more police departments under reporting requirements to the FBI and Justice Department .
Today , only 40 % are under such reporting requirements , and that needs to change , Scott said .
`` We 'd like to see all the agencies report , so we 're going to provide either resources for it or perhaps reduce grants if they do n't , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discussing setting up a commission to get a handle on concerns facing policing today , Scott added .
The plan would trigger `` the establishment of a 'National Police Commission ' study , so that we can figure out best practices that can used across all departments that we would at least direct funding and resources toward in that direction , '' he said .
Scott also noted it 's time to increase funding for police body cameras , which stands at less than $ 20 million today .
`` I 'd like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' he said .
Scott said he 'll be developing the legislation as part of a working group that includes Republican Sens .
Lindsey Graham of South Carolina , Ben Sasse of Nebraska , James Lankford of Oklahoma , John Cornyn of Texas and Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia .
Scott said he 's in talks with the White House and he 's hopeful the plan could win President Trump 's support .
`` We are on a separate track from the White House , '' Scott said .
`` I have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House about the track that they 're on as well .
I think there is some synergy between all three tracks . ''
Later Tuesday , Scott received a visit from White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows , White House adviser and Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner and Ja'Ron Smith , deputy director of the White House Office of American Innovation .
Meadows later told some Capitol Hill reporters that the group had a `` real good conversation '' and is hopeful for a plan sooner rather than later .
`` We 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a real way , '' Meadows said but declined to say whether the White House could be supportive of Scott 's plan so far .
`` It 's a work in progress . ''
Scott said Republicans would also be working the phones Tuesday to see if any Democrats would join in the legislative effort .
However , he was clear that Republicans are n't on board with the Democratic proposal and would n't be moving forward with it .
`` I basically shy away from telling local law enforcement : You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't do this , '' Scott said , referring to bans on no-knock warrants in drug-related cases and chokeholds .
`` I think their bill has a tendency to be seen as perhaps a nationalization of some of the underlying issues or techniques . ''
Sen. Rand Paul , R-Ky. , said competing party-driven plans could make it difficult for Congress to approve a reform bill .
`` I think there 's going to be a Republican proposal and a Democrat proposal .
The only thing that bothers me about that , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican proposal and a Democrat proposal ? ''
Paul asked .
`` An impasse and nothing . ''
But McConnell said he remained hopeful of a plan moving forward .
He noted 50 years after major civil rights legislation `` we are still wrestling with America 's original 's sin , '' adding , `` It 's perfectly clear we are a long way from the finish line . ''
The majority leader said it was important `` to listen to one of our own '' – Scott – who , McConnell noted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that have continued since he began his Senate career .
Separately , Sen. Tom Cotton , R-Ark.
, introduced a resolution that called for justice for Floyd but also expressed opposition to calls from some advocates to `` defund the police . ''
Cotton 's office indicated he would ask for unanimous consent to approve the resolution on Wednesday .
Scott was not listed as a co-sponsor .

Led By Tim Scott, Senate Republicans Begin Drafting Their Own Police Reform Plan
Enlarge this image toggle caption J. Scott Applewhite/AP J. Scott Applewhite/AP
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell tapped Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, the chamber's lone black Republican, to put together a legislative package addressing the country's policing system.
The plan would respond to the "obvious racial discrimination that we've seen on full display on our television screens over the last two weeks," McConnell told reporters following a GOP luncheon Tuesday to discuss the issue.
The plan comes a day after Democrats – with the support of more than 200 co-sponsors – rolled out their plan to overhaul law enforcement departments across the country. Scott told reporters he hopes Republicans can get a bill on the Senate floor before their July Fourth break.
Scott said Republicans are considering a proposal to increase training to focus on de-escalation tactics that would lessen the potential for chokeholds and other dangerous forms of police restraints. But Scott was clear his GOP colleagues aren't fans of the major items in the Democratic legislation, which includes bans on chokeholds and no-knock warrants in drug-related cases. He also ruled out reform of the legal doctrine for police known as qualified immunity — a key provision in the bill Democrats unveiled Monday.
The South Carolina Republican said there's also talk about bringing more police departments under reporting requirements to the FBI and Justice Department. Today, only 40% are under such reporting requirements, and that needs to change, Scott said.
"We'd like to see all the agencies report, so we're going to provide either resources for it or perhaps reduce grants if they don't," Scott said.
The GOP is also discussing setting up a commission to get a handle on concerns facing policing today, Scott added.
The plan would trigger "the establishment of a 'National Police Commission' study, so that we can figure out best practices that can used across all departments that we would at least direct funding and resources toward in that direction," he said.
Scott also noted it's time to increase funding for police body cameras, which stands at less than $20 million today.
"I'd like to see that number grow significantly," he said.
Scott said he'll be developing the legislation as part of a working group that includes Republican Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Ben Sasse of Nebraska, James Lankford of Oklahoma, John Cornyn of Texas and Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia.
Scott said he's in talks with the White House and he's hopeful the plan could win President Trump's support.
"We are on a separate track from the White House," Scott said. "I have been talking with folks in the White House about the track that they're on as well. I think there is some synergy between all three tracks."
Later Tuesday, Scott received a visit from White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, White House adviser and Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner and Ja'Ron Smith, deputy director of the White House Office of American Innovation.
"We're making progress," Scott said.
Meadows later told some Capitol Hill reporters that the group had a "real good conversation" and is hopeful for a plan sooner rather than later.
"We're hopeful that we can address the issue in a real way," Meadows said but declined to say whether the White House could be supportive of Scott's plan so far. "It's a work in progress."
Scott said Republicans would also be working the phones Tuesday to see if any Democrats would join in the legislative effort. However, he was clear that Republicans aren't on board with the Democratic proposal and wouldn't be moving forward with it.
"I basically shy away from telling local law enforcement: You shouldn't do that or you can't do this," Scott said, referring to bans on no-knock warrants in drug-related cases and chokeholds. "I think their bill has a tendency to be seen as perhaps a nationalization of some of the underlying issues or techniques."
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said competing party-driven plans could make it difficult for Congress to approve a reform bill.
"I think there's going to be a Republican proposal and a Democrat proposal. The only thing that bothers me about that, is what usually happens when there's a Republican proposal and a Democrat proposal?" Paul asked. "An impasse and nothing."
But McConnell said he remained hopeful of a plan moving forward. He noted 50 years after major civil rights legislation "we are still wrestling with America's original's sin," adding, "It's perfectly clear we are a long way from the finish line."
The majority leader said it was important "to listen to one of our own" – Scott – who, McConnell noted, has personal experiences with racial discrimination that have continued since he began his Senate career.
Separately, Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., introduced a resolution that called for justice for Floyd but also expressed opposition to calls from some advocates to "defund the police." Cotton's office indicated he would ask for unanimous consent to approve the resolution on Wednesday. Scott was not listed as a co-sponsor.
NPR's Tamara Keith contributed to this report


npr--2020-06-09--Tracking The Pandemic: Are Coronavirus Cases Rising Or Falling In Your State?

Tracking The Pandemic : Are Coronavirus Cases Rising Or Falling In Your State ?
Nearly 2 million people in the U.S. have tested positive for the coronavirus and more than 110,000 have died .
The growth in new cases and deaths overall has at least temporarily slowed , but that pattern has n't been consistent across the country .
New hot spots are emerging as others subside .
Many states began relaxing some social distancing measures in May , and health leaders are watching for signs that the virus is starting to spread more aggressively .
In the graphics below @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in your state to see whether cases are rising , falling or staying level .
To jump to a map of total cases and deaths by state , click here .
The following chart displays states ' trends in new daily case counts , total cases , and per capita totals .
To compare state outbreaks , the trend lines for average new daily cases are graphed against each state 's total case count to date .
This highlights a state 's daily growth relative to the overall size of its outbreak .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ grow quickly , the curve bends upward .
As cases slow , the curve levels or bends down .
In New York , site of the country 's largest outbreak , the state 's curve rose sharply before reaching over 170,000 total cases in April .
Since then , new cases have fallen from about 10,000 per day in mid-April to 1,000 per day in early June .
Some states , such as Hawaii , have declined to just a handful of new cases per day , while others are growing .
Arizona @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 15,000 total cases in May , saw a sudden increase in new cases in June .
The coronavirus has hit some states much harder than others .
For much of the pandemic , a large share of U.S. cases have been centered around New York City .
As of early June , New York state , Connecticut and New Jersey accounted for about 30 % of total cases in the nation and 42 % of deaths , although new cases have been dropping in these three states .
Across the country , other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Illinois and Texas have high totals as well .
Some smaller states have had a heavy burden of disease relative to their population size , such as Nebraska and Iowa , which have high case counts per capita , and Louisiana and Michigan which have a high death count per capita .
Explore the map below to see totals and per capita figures around the country .
Click here to see a global map of confirmed cases and deaths .
For more detail on your state , the table below shows the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in each state , week over week .
States marked in shades of red are showing growth , those in shades of green , are showing declines .
The data used here are compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University from several sources , including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ; the World Health Organization ; national , state and local government health departments ; 1point3acres ; and local media reports .
The JHU team automates its data uploads and regularly checks them for anomalies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this time .
There may be discrepancies between what you see here and what you see on your local health department 's website .
Figures shown do not include cases on cruise ships .
This story was originally published on March 16 , 2020 .
Elena Renken was a co-author on that version .
Sean McMinn contributed to and Carmel Wroth edited this story .

Tracking the coronavirus around the U.S.: See how your state is doing
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Note: This page was last updated on Feb. 1, 2023. It will no longer be updated. For current data on COVID cases and deaths, demographics, and hospitalizations, consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As of Feb. 1, there have been more than 101 million confirmed coronavirus infections in the U.S. and more than 1 million people have died of COVID-19. In the graphics below, explore the trends in your state.
Loading...
The above charts show average new cases per 100,000 people for each state over the last 12 months.
Note: Actual cases may be substantially higher, since many who test positive with at-home tests don't report their cases.
For additional data about COVID-19 in the U.S, including cases and deaths, demographics, and hospitalizations, consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
To show trends, the table below shows the change in average new cases per day in each state, week over week for the last 28 days. States marked in shades of red have growing outbreaks; those in shades of green, are declining.
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Methodology
The graphics on this page pull from data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University from several sources, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; the World Health Organization; national, state and local government health departments; 1point3acres; and local media reports.
The JHU team automates its data uploads and regularly checks them for anomalies. This may result in occasional data discrepancies on this page as the JHU team resolves anomalies and updates its feeds. There may be discrepancies between what you see here and what you see on your local health department's website. Figures shown do not include cases on cruise ships.
Fluctuations in the numbers may happen as health authorities review old cases, process testing backlogs or update their methodologies. The JHU team maintains a list of such changes.
This story was originally published on March 16, 2020. Elena Renken was a co-author on that version. Sean McMinn and Audrey Carlsen contributed to this story. Carmel Wroth edited this story.


npr--2020-06-09--WHO Creates 'Confusion' About Asymptomatic Spread. Here's What We Know

WHO Creates 'Confusion ' About Asymptomatic Spread .
Here 's What We Know This week , the matter of asymptomatic transmission of COVID-19 has caused much confusion — and sparked a lively debate on Twitter .
It started on Monday when the World Health Organization discussed the current understanding of asymptomatic transmission at a press conference .
`` From the data we have it still seems to be rare that an asymptomatic actually transmits onward to a secondary individual , '' said Maria Van Kerkhove , technical lead for WHO 's health emergencies program .
In other words , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus but do n't develop symptoms are spreading the virus to others .
The statement was reported by various news outlets and led to concern among researchers that WHO was confusing the public .
`` The @ WHO has engendered considerable confusion today ( WITHOUT DATA ) about people without symptoms not transmitting # SARSCoV2 , '' tweeted Dr. Eric Topol , a scientist at Scripps Research — a view representative of the research community Monday .
On Tuesday , WHO held a social media Q+A to clarify their comments .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the press conference .
I was n't stating a policy of WHO or anything like that , '' Van Kerkhove said .
`` I think that 's a misunderstanding to state that asymptomatic transmission globally is very rare . ''
According to Van Kerkhove , what she meant to convey is that she has not seen evidence indicating that transmission from asymptomatic individuals is widespread .
`` What we need to better understand is , how many of the people in the population do n't have symptoms ?
And separately , how many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to others ? ''
Here 's what we currently know and do not know about asymptomatic transmission : 1 .
How many people who get infected with the virus never develop symptoms ?
Nobody is certain .
`` Estimates suggest that anywhere between 6 % and 41 % of the population may be infected but not have symptoms , '' said Van Kerkhove on Tuesday .
Some research , such as a May write-up in the journal BMJ Thorax of an Antarctic cruise on which 81 % of people who tested positive showed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , suggests the prevalence could be even higher .
Asymptomatic cases seem to be more common among young people and those without health conditions that could make them more vulnerable to the virus , such as diabetes or severe asthma .
The existing data is spotty because the so-called `` silent spreaders '' are a difficult population to find and study — people usually do n't get tested unless they think they may have it .
Asymptomatic cases of COVID-19 were first discovered by testing family members who lived with known patients , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' she said , `` asymptomatic individuals are being found in outbreaks '' in closed communities such as prisons , meat packing plants , nursing homes and cruise ships with active infections .
At such locations , health authorities have conducted mass testing to understand the extent to which the virus has spread and to help bring it under control .
One issue with pinpointing asymptomatic individuals is that the category relies on self-reporting , says Tara Smith , an epidemiologist at Kent State University .
`` You 're relying on people to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that they would know if it felt any different , '' she says .
Having no symptoms can be in the eye of the beholder .
Someone without a fever or cough might still feel tired — and may not consider 'feeling tired ' to be a reportable symptom .
Or they might not be aware that food is tasting different or that smells have diminished .
Van Kerkhove said that , on follow up , some reportedly asymptomatic patients describe feeling `` a little bit unwell , a little bit under the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they actually have mild disease .
And in some cases , people who report feeling fine and being asymptomatic show signs of lung damage on x-rays .
Identifying asymptomatic people also requires follow-up , says Smith .
People testing positive without symptoms could be `` presymptomatic , '' meaning they will develop symptoms in coming days .
Research shows that presymptomatic individuals can test positive for the virus 2-3 days before they realize they 're sick .
2 ) To what degree do people who never develop symptoms contribute to transmission ?
Documented @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never develop symptoms are `` rare , '' Van Kerkhove said .
Still , it does happen , and the research community is divided on whether the few published cases of an asymptomatic individual infecting others represent anomalies or serve as signs of a more common occurrence .
A review paper from Scripps Research that was published in Annals of Internal Medicine suggests that asymptomatic cases may be responsible for 30-45 % of coronavirus transmission , based on studies in Iceland , Italy and Indiana .
Then there 's the question of how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Viral particles are exhaled when an infected person coughs or sneezes — but if you 're asymptomatic , you 're not showing these symptoms .
Yet some studies show that people who are infected but feel fine can have the same amount of virus in their throats as people who are feeling unwell .
For an asymptomatic person , `` the question is how does the virus get from being inside your nose or inside your [ throat ] to being on somebody else ? ''
said Michael Ryan , director of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the absence of sneezing or coughing , Ryan said , spreading the coronavirus seems to require situations where people are in close proximity and projecting their voice and breath at others , such as singing in a choir , panting from exertion at the gym , shouting to be heard in a nightclub — activities that have all been implicated in COVID-19 transmission based on reports .
As WHO wrote in guidance issued Friday on mask use : The degree of spread depends on `` the amount of viable virus being shed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are coughing and expelling more droplets , the type of contact they have with others , and what [ infection prevention and control ] measures are in place . ''
3 ) What are the implications of asymptomatic transmission ?
People who are asymptomatic fit into the larger category of undetected cases that are potentially infectious .
The `` undetected '' category also includes people who are presymptomatic and will go on to develop symptoms , and those that are mildly ill but do n't realize it .
The fact that many people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they 're infected is a key difference between COVID-19 and other diseases , such as SARS , a disease caused by a coronavirus that swept through Asia in 2003 , public health experts say .
With SARS , `` people did n't tend to be infectious as early in the course of disease because the virus was in their lower respiratory airway , '' Ryan said , so it took actions like coughing and sneezing to expel the virus .
The new coronavirus infects both the lower and upper airways , which makes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like shouting and singing .
`` It makes [ the new coronavirus ] much harder to contain , '' says Malik Peiris , a virologist at Hong Kong University , `` You can not wait for people to develop symptoms and isolate them .
By the time a person is symptomatic or sick or knows she or he is not well , they [ may ] have already transmitted to many , many people . ''
Individual behaviors are key to protecting yourself and others , says Shweta Bansal , an infectious disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actually have some pretty decent tools that are at our disposal , '' she says , including hand-washing , mask-wearing and keeping a distance from others .
`` Those tools do actually work , regardless of whether you 're thinking about asymptomatic or symptomatic transmission . ''

WHO Creates 'Confusion' About Asymptomatic Spread. Here's What We Know
Updated on June 10 at 1:36 p.m.
This week, the matter of asymptomatic transmission of the novel coronavirus has caused much confusion — and sparked a lively debate on Twitter.
It started Monday when the World Health Organization discussed the current understanding of asymptomatic transmission at a press conference.
("Asymptomatic" refers to people who are infected by the virus but never develop any symptoms.)
"From the data we have it still seems to be rare that an asymptomatic actually transmits onward to a secondary individual," said Maria Van Kerkhove, technical lead for WHO's health emergencies program. In other words, it seems unlikely that people who are infected by the virus but don't develop symptoms are spreading the virus to others.
The statement was reported by news outlets and led to concern among researchers that WHO was confusing the public.
"The @WHO has engendered considerable confusion today (WITHOUT DATA) about people without symptoms not transmitting #SARSCoV2," tweeted Dr. Eric Topol, a scientist at Scripps Research — a view representative of the research community Monday.
Harvard global health professor Dr. Ashish Jha echoed the sentiment.
"To make a statement, to say that [asymptomatic transmission is] a rare event was not correct," said Dr. Anthony Fauci, a key member of the White House's coronavirus task force, said in an interview with Good Morning America, "And that's the reason why the WHO walked that back."
On Tuesday, WHO held a social media Q+A to clarify the comments. "I was responding to a question at the press conference. I wasn't stating a policy of WHO or anything like that," Van Kerkhove said. "I think that's a misunderstanding to state that asymptomatic transmission globally is very rare."
According to Van Kerkhove, what she meant to convey is that she has not seen evidence indicating that transmission from asymptomatic individuals is widespread. "What we need to better understand is, how many of the people in the population don't have symptoms? And separately, how many of those individuals go on to transmit to others?"
Here's what we currently know and do not know about asymptomatic transmission:
1) How many people who get infected with the virus never develop symptoms?
Nobody is certain. "Estimates suggest that anywhere between 6% and 41% of the population may be infected but not have symptoms," Van Kerkhove said Tuesday.
A review paper from Scripps Research that was published in Annals of Internal Medicine suggests that 30% to 45% of coronavirus cases may be fully asymptomatic, based on studies in Iceland, Italy and Indiana.
Some research, such as a May write-up in the journal BMJ Thorax of an Antarctic cruise on which 81% of people who tested positive showed no symptoms for the journey's 21-day duration, suggests the prevalence could be even higher.
Asymptomatic cases seem to be more common among young people and those without health conditions that could make them more vulnerable to the virus, such as diabetes or severe asthma.
The existing data are spotty because the so-called silent spreaders are a difficult population to find and study — people usually don't get tested unless they think they may have it.
Asymptomatic cases of COVID-19 were first discovered by testing family members who lived with known patients, Van Kerkhove said.
"Now," she said, "asymptomatic individuals are being found in outbreaks" in closed communities such as prisons, meatpacking plants, nursing homes and cruise ships with active infections. At such locations, health authorities have conducted mass testing to understand the extent to which the virus has spread and to help bring it under control.
One issue with pinpointing asymptomatic individuals is that the category relies on self-reporting, said Tara Smith, an epidemiologist at Kent State University. "You're relying on people to be in tune enough with their bodies that they would know if it felt any different," she said. Having no symptoms can be in the eye of the beholder. Someone without a fever or cough might still feel tired — and may not consider "feeling tired" to be a reportable symptom.
Or they might not be aware that food is tasting different or that smells have diminished.
Van Kerkhove said that, on follow-up, some reportedly asymptomatic patients describe feeling "a little bit unwell, a little bit under the weather," which would indicate that they have mild disease. And in some cases, people who report feeling fine and being asymptomatic show signs of lung damage on X-rays.
Identifying asymptomatic people also requires follow-up, Smith said. People testing positive without symptoms could be "presymptomatic," meaning they will develop symptoms in coming days. Research shows that presymptomatic individuals can test positive for the virus two to three days before they realize they're sick.
2) To what degree do people who never develop symptoms contribute to transmission?
Documented cases of onward transmission from patients who never develop symptoms are "rare," Van Kerkhove said. Still, it does happen, and the research community is divided on whether the few published cases of an asymptomatic individual infecting others represent anomalies or serve as signs of a more common occurrence. Van Kerkhove said some models estimate that around 40% of transmission comes from asymptomatic cases.
Then there's the question of how an asymptomatic case could spread the virus.
Viral particles are exhaled when an infected person coughs or sneezes — but if you're asymptomatic, you're not showing these symptoms.
Yet some studies show that people who are infected but feel fine can have the same amount of virus in their throats as people who are feeling unwell.
For an asymptomatic person, "the question is how does the virus get from being inside your nose or inside your [throat] to being on somebody else?" asked Michael Ryan, director of WHO's health emergencies program.
In the absence of sneezing or coughing, Ryan said, spreading the coronavirus seems to require situations where people are in close proximity and projecting their voice and breath at others, such as singing in a choir, panting from exertion at the gym, shouting to be heard in a nightclub — activities that have all been implicated in COVID-19 transmission based on reports.
As WHO wrote in guidance issued Friday on mask use: The degree of spread depends on "the amount of viable virus being shed by a person, whether or not they are coughing and expelling more droplets, the type of contact they have with others, and what [infection prevention and control] measures are in place."
3) What are the implications of asymptomatic transmission?
People who are asymptomatic fit into the larger category of undetected cases that are potentially infectious. The "undetected" category also includes people who are presymptomatic and will go on to develop symptoms, and those that are mildly ill but don't realize it.
The fact that many people can spread the new coronavirus without knowing they're infected is a key difference between COVID-19 and other diseases, such as SARS, a disease caused by a coronavirus that swept through Asia in 2003, public health experts said.
With SARS, "people didn't tend to be infectious as early in the course of disease because the virus was in their lower respiratory airway," Ryan said, so it took actions such as coughing and sneezing to expel the virus. The new coronavirus infects both the lower and upper airways, which makes it much easier to spread through activities such as shouting and singing.
"It makes [the new coronavirus] much harder to contain," said Malik Peiris, a virologist at Hong Kong University, "You cannot wait for people to develop symptoms and isolate them. By the time a person is symptomatic or sick or knows she or he is not well, they [may] have already transmitted to many, many people."
Individual behaviors are key to protecting yourself and others, said Shweta Bansal, an infectious disease modeler at Georgetown University. "We actually have some pretty decent tools that are at our disposal," she said, including hand-washing, mask-wearing and keeping a distance from others. "Those tools do actually work, regardless of whether you're thinking about asymptomatic or symptomatic transmission."


npr--2020-06-09--North Korea Says It Will Sever Contact With South Korea And Will Treat It As 'Enemy'

North Korea Says It Will Sever Contact With South Korea And Will Treat It As 'Enemy' North Korea said on Tuesday that it plans to cut off all communications with South Korea and would treat South Korea as an `` enemy , '' according to North Korea 's state news service , Korea Central News Agency .
According to a Tuesday report from KCNA , the move comes in response to `` defectors from the north '' scattering leaflets `` smearing '' North Korea .
`` They dared to hurt the dignity of our supreme leadership and mock the sacred @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' KCNA said .
`` This was an expression of hostility to all our people . ''
North Korean officials did not answer calls from the South on Tuesday , according to news reports .
South Korea and North Korea are technically still at war with each other , as the Korean War of the early 1950s ended with an armistice instead of a peace treaty .
The move to cut communications comes just a month after the countries traded fire at their heavily patrolled border .
`` We will never barter the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but defend it at the cost of our lives , '' KCNA said .
`` We have come to a conclusion that there is no need to sit face to face with the South Korean authorities and there is no issue to discuss with them , as they have only aroused our disillusion . ''

North Korea Says It Will Sever Contact With South Korea And Will Treat It As 'Enemy'
Enlarge this image toggle caption Wong Maye-E/AP Wong Maye-E/AP
North Korea said on Tuesday that it plans to cut off all communications with South Korea and treat South Korea as an "enemy," according to North Korea's state news service, Korea Central News Agency.
According to a Tuesday report from KCNA, the move comes in response to "defectors from the North" scattering leaflets "smearing" North Korea.
"They dared to hurt the dignity of our supreme leadership and mock the sacred nerve center of all our people," KCNA said. "This was an expression of hostility to all our people."
North Korean officials did not answer calls from the South on Tuesday, according to news reports.
South Korea and North Korea are technically still at war with each other, as the Korean War of the early 1950s ended with an armistice instead of a peace treaty. The move to cut communications comes just a month after the countries traded fire at their heavily patrolled border.
"We will never barter the dignity of our supreme leadership for anything, but defend it at the cost of our lives," KCNA said. "We have come to a conclusion that there is no need to sit face to face with the South Korean authorities and there is no issue to discuss with them, as they have only aroused our disillusion."


npr--2020-06-09--U.N. Chief: Security Council Gridlock Blocks Effective Coronavirus Response

The coronavirus pandemic set a new record this weekend : More than 136,000 new cases around the world were reported on Sunday , the highest number in a single day .
The statistic comes from the United Nations , the global body the world often turns to in a crisis .
`` If the pandemic represents something , it is a demonstration of our fragility .
Something that you can only see in a microscope has put us on our knees , '' U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said during an interview with All Things Considered .
`` And that humility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Instead , he says , there was no unity in the strategy to fight the pandemic .
`` Each country went its own way , with the epicenter moving from country to country . ''
The U.N. can distribute aid and help governments shape their coronavirus responses .
But it has limited tools to force a country to , say , follow guidelines from the World Health Organization , a U.N. agency .
And gridlock in the U.N. Security Council — which can pass enforceable resolutions — has stalled any real @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very dysfunctional relationship that exists today between the United States-China , United States-Russia , makes it practically impossible for the Security Council to take any meaningful decision that would be fundamental '' to fight COVID-19 effectively , he said .
Here are excerpts from the interview .
You say there 's an absence of a coordinated international response .
Do you think that shows the system is too broken to be useful ?
The point is that we have multilateralism , but the multilateralism we have has no teeth .
We need mechanisms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that simply do not exist .
And even where we have in the multilateral system some teeth , as is the case of Security Council , it has shown very little appetite to bite .
So I do believe that when we look into the future — and we are in the 75th anniversary of the United Nations , time to think about the future — we need to strengthen multilateral institutions and to give them the instruments in order to make sure that an effective global governance is able to work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are having in front of us .
President Trump has announced that the U.S. will pull out of the World Health Organization .
Do you believe the U.S. is relinquishing its leadership role on the world stage by pulling inward ?
What I believe is that the role of the U.S. in the international community is essential .
I believe that the world needs an engaged United States , that United States leadership is absolutely fundamental to having a world order in which democratic values can prevail , in which human rights can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can get guaranteed by international cooperation .
On questions of moral authority , the U.S. has represented itself as a force for democracy and free expression around the world .
How you view the president 's reactions to protests against police brutality ?
First of all , we need to be very firm in the absolute condemnation of racism in all its expressions .
It 's an abhorrent thing .
It 's totally against the values of our common humanity .
Second , it is clear that we have grievances related to racism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those grievances lead populations to demonstrate , that those demonstrations are legitimate , they should be peaceful .
But it is also very important that the authorities show restraint and do not become themselves a source of violence in relation to the way those demonstrations are handled .
Listen to the full interview at the audio link above .

U.N. Chief: Security Council Gridlock Blocks Effective Coronavirus Response
Enlarge this image toggle caption Ludovic Marin/AFP via Getty Images Ludovic Marin/AFP via Getty Images
The coronavirus pandemic set a new record this weekend: More than 136,000 new cases around the world were reported on Sunday, the highest number in a single day.
The statistic comes from the United Nations, the global body the world often turns to in a crisis.
"If the pandemic represents something, it is a demonstration of our fragility. Something that you can only see in a microscope has put us on our knees," U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said during an interview with All Things Considered. "And that humility should lead us to solidarity and unity."
Instead, he says, there was no unity in the strategy to fight the pandemic. "Each country went its own way, with the epicenter moving from country to country."
The U.N. can distribute aid and help governments shape their coronavirus responses. But it has limited tools to force a country to, say, follow guidelines from the World Health Organization, a U.N. agency.
And gridlock in the U.N. Security Council — which can pass enforceable resolutions — has stalled any real action.
That frustrates Guterres.
"We see that the very dysfunctional relationship that exists today between the United States-China, United States-Russia, makes it practically impossible for the Security Council to take any meaningful decision that would be fundamental" to fight COVID-19 effectively, he said.
Here are excerpts from the interview.
You say there's an absence of a coordinated international response. Do you think that shows the system is too broken to be useful?
The point is that we have multilateralism, but the multilateralism we have has no teeth. We need mechanisms of cooperation, with mechanisms of governance, that simply do not exist. And even where we have in the multilateral system some teeth, as is the case of Security Council, it has shown very little appetite to bite.
So I do believe that when we look into the future — and we are in the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, time to think about the future — we need to strengthen multilateral institutions and to give them the instruments in order to make sure that an effective global governance is able to work and to face the dramatic challenges we are having in front of us.
President Trump has announced that the U.S. will pull out of the World Health Organization. Do you believe the U.S. is relinquishing its leadership role on the world stage by pulling inward?
What I believe is that the role of the U.S. in the international community is essential. I believe that the world needs an engaged United States, that United States leadership is absolutely fundamental to having a world order in which democratic values can prevail, in which human rights can prevail and in which peace and security can get guaranteed by international cooperation.
On questions of moral authority, the U.S. has represented itself as a force for democracy and free expression around the world. How you view the president's reactions to protests against police brutality?
First of all, we need to be very firm in the absolute condemnation of racism in all its expressions. It's an abhorrent thing. It's totally against the values of our common humanity. Second, it is clear that we have grievances related to racism, grievances related to inequalities, that those grievances lead populations to demonstrate, that those demonstrations are legitimate, they should be peaceful.
But it is also very important that the authorities show restraint and do not become themselves a source of violence in relation to the way those demonstrations are handled.
Listen to the full interview at the audio link above.


npr--2020-06-09--First U.S. Woman To Walk In Space Dives To Deepest Point In The Ocean

First U.S. Woman To Walk In Space Dives To Deepest Point In The Ocean Kathy Sullivan has seen her share of highs and lows .
Sullivan , the first U.S. woman to walk in space , a veteran of three shuttle missions and an enshrined member of the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame , took a perilous journey downward this week .
She became the first woman to reach Challenger Deep , the deepest known point on Earth , in the South Pacific .
On Monday , shortly after completing the expedition in their submersible , Sullivan and her fellow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of of just a handful of people in the world to reach Challenger Deep — coordinated a call with the International Space Station .
`` As a hybrid oceanographer and astronaut this was an extraordinary day , a once in a lifetime day , '' she said in a statement released by EYOS Expeditions , which supported the expedition .
You may remember the name of the site — which rests nearly seven miles beneath the water 's surface , in the Mariana Trench near Guam — from director James Cameron 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time , Cameron 's was the first manned expedition to the area in more than half a century .
Since then , Vescovo has piloted several different missions to the depths of the Challenger Deep .
All told , EYOS Expeditions said that just seven people had reached the point before Sullivan , all of whom were men .
Sullivan , who became an astronaut in 1979 , made history in 1984 as the first woman to walk in space .
She logged more than 532 hours in space before leaving NASA for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where she ultimately served as the administrator .

1st U.S. Woman To Walk In Space Dives To Deepest Point In The Ocean
Enlarge this image toggle caption Courtesy of Enrique Alvarez Courtesy of Enrique Alvarez
Kathy Sullivan has seen her share of highs and lows.
Sullivan, the first U.S. woman to walk in space, a veteran of three shuttle missions and an enshrined member of the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame, took a perilous journey downward this week.
She became the first woman to reach Challenger Deep, the deepest known point on Earth, in the Pacific.
On Monday, shortly after completing the expedition in their submersible, Sullivan and her fellow diver Victor Vescovo — who was already one of just a handful of people in the world to reach Challenger Deep — coordinated a call with the International Space Station.
"As a hybrid oceanographer and astronaut this was an extraordinary day, a once in a lifetime day," she said in a statement released by EYOS Expeditions, which supported the expedition.
You may remember the name of the site — which rests nearly 7 miles beneath the water's surface, in the Mariana Trench near Guam — from director James Cameron's solo dive in 2012. At the time, Cameron's was the first manned expedition to the area in more than half a century.
Since then, Vescovo has piloted several different missions to the depths of Challenger Deep. All told, EYOS Expeditions said that just seven people had reached the point before Sullivan, all of whom were men.
Sullivan, who became an astronaut in 1979, made history in 1984 as the first U.S. woman to walk in space. (Soviet cosmonaut Svetlana Savitskaya was the first in the world to perform a spacewalk, several months earlier.) Sullivan logged more than 532 hours in space before leaving NASA for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, where she ultimately served as the administrator.


npr--2020-06-09--No Sign Of Antifa So Far In Justice Department Cases Brought Over Unrest

No Sign Of Antifa So Far In Justice Department Cases Brought Over Unrest U.S. Attorney General William Barr has repeatedly blamed anti-fascist activists for the violence that has erupted during demonstrations over George Floyd 's death , but federal court records show no sign of so-called antifa links so far in cases brought by the Justice Department .
NPR has reviewed court documents of 51 individuals facing federal charges in connection with the unrest .
As of Tuesday morning , none is alleged to have links to the antifa movement .
Of the cases brought so far , 20 involve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the illegal possession of a firearm , more often than not by a felon ; another eight people face charges related to inciting a riot or civil disorder .
The single instance in which an extremist group is mentioned in court documents is a case against three Nevada men .
Federal prosecutors allege the trio belong to the right-wing Boogaloo movement that wants to bring about a civil war .
The men have been charged with plotting violence during Las Vegas protests .
In an interview Monday with Fox News , Barr said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ activists so far does not mean they have n't been involved in the violence .
`` We have some investigations underway , very focused investigations on certain individuals that relate to antifa , '' Barr told Fox News host Bret Baier .
`` But in the initial phase of identifying people and arresting them , they were arrested for crimes that do n't require us to identify a particular group or do n't necessitate that . ''
Former federal prosecutors said if the government had indications that an individual had ties to or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they would likely include it in charging documents to cite it during a bail hearing .
That does not rule out the possibility , of course , that investigators could discover such links in the course of their investigation .
In his Fox interview , Barr repeated his assertion that an array of extremist groups has been instigating the violence , although he did — as he has repeatedly since the unrest over Floyd 's death began — single out antifa as the primary culprit .
The attorney general is n't the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , has pointed the finger at antifa .
He went so far as to threaten to designate it a terrorist organization — despite lacking the legal authority to do so .
On top of that , experts said antifa is n't even a group ; it 's more of a diffuse movement of leftists who share a similar ideology in opposition to fascism .
Barr described antifa as a `` very loosely organized group '' with a `` sort of unique or unusual system of communication and organization . ''
On the question @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there are people who could be characterized as leaders in any given situation . ''
FBI Director Christopher Wray , in sworn testimony before congressional lawmakers , has said the bureau considers antifa `` more of an ideology than an organization . ''
He has repeatedly said the FBI does n't investigate ideology ; it investigates violence .
On that note , Wray told lawmakers in 2017 that the FBI was investigating `` anarchist-extremist '' elements where individuals appear motivated to commit acts of violence `` on kind of an antifa ideology .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ there `` appear to be sources of funding '' for antifa , and that the Justice Department is looking into it .
`` There is clearly a high degree or organization involved in some of these events and coordinated tactics that we 're seeing , and we 're looking into that as well , '' he said .
`` Some of it relates to antifa ; some of it relates to groups that act very much like antifa .
As I said , there 's a witches brew of extremist groups that are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sides . ''
The cases the Justice Department has charged so far are spread across 18 states , including Illinois , Wisconsin , Utah , Tennessee , New York , Nevada and Ohio .
Charges related to arson are the most common at this point .
In many instances , the defendants are alleged to have been involved in fires that either damaged or destroyed government property such as a police car or government building .
In addition to eight people who have been charged in allegedly inciting riots or civil disorder , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — three are accused of robbing a CVS drugstore during rioting in Louisville , Ky .

No Sign Of Antifa So Far In Justice Department Cases Brought Over Unrest
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mark J. Terrill/AP Mark J. Terrill/AP
U.S. Attorney General William Barr has repeatedly blamed anti-fascist activists for the violence that has erupted during demonstrations over George Floyd's death, but federal court records show no sign of so-called antifa links so far in cases brought by the Justice Department.
NPR has reviewed court documents of 51 individuals facing federal charges in connection with the unrest. As of Tuesday morning, none is alleged to have links to the antifa movement.
Of the cases brought so far, 20 involve allegations related to arson; 16 involve the illegal possession of a firearm, more often than not by a felon; another eight people face charges related to inciting a riot or civil disorder.
The single instance in which an extremist group is mentioned in court documents is a case against three Nevada men. Federal prosecutors allege the trio belong to the right-wing Boogaloo movement that wants to bring about a civil war. The men have been charged with plotting violence during Las Vegas protests.
In an interview Monday with Fox News, Barr said the lack of cases against alleged antifa activists so far does not mean they haven't been involved in the violence.
"We have some investigations underway, very focused investigations on certain individuals that relate to antifa," Barr told Fox News host Bret Baier. "But in the initial phase of identifying people and arresting them, they were arrested for crimes that don't require us to identify a particular group or don't necessitate that."
Former federal prosecutors said if the government had indications that an individual had ties to or documented interest in a particular extremist movement, they would likely include it in charging documents to cite it during a bail hearing.
That does not rule out the possibility, of course, that investigators could discover such links in the course of their investigation.
In his Fox interview, Barr repeated his assertion that an array of extremist groups has been instigating the violence, although he did — as he has repeatedly since the unrest over Floyd's death began — single out antifa as the primary culprit.
The attorney general isn't the only one.
President Trump, too, has pointed the finger at antifa. He went so far as to threaten to designate it a terrorist organization — despite lacking the legal authority to do so.
On top of that, experts said antifa isn't even a group; it's more of a diffuse movement of leftists who share a similar ideology in opposition to fascism.
Barr described antifa as a "very loosely organized group" with a "sort of unique or unusual system of communication and organization." On the question of hierarchy, he said that "there are people who could be characterized as leaders in any given situation."
FBI Director Christopher Wray, in sworn testimony before congressional lawmakers, has said the bureau considers antifa "more of an ideology than an organization." He has repeatedly said the FBI doesn't investigate ideology; it investigates violence.
On that note, Wray told lawmakers in 2017 that the FBI was investigating "anarchist-extremist" elements where individuals appear motivated to commit acts of violence "on kind of an antifa ideology."
Barr also told Fox News that there "appear to be sources of funding" for antifa, and that the Justice Department is looking into it.
"There is clearly a high degree or organization involved in some of these events and coordinated tactics that we're seeing, and we're looking into that as well," he said. "Some of it relates to antifa; some of it relates to groups that act very much like antifa. As I said, there's a witches brew of extremist groups that are trying to exploit this situation on all sides."
The cases the Justice Department has charged so far are spread across 18 states, including Illinois, Wisconsin, Utah, Tennessee, New York, Nevada and Ohio.
Charges related to arson are the most common at this point. In many instances, the defendants are alleged to have been involved in fires that either damaged or destroyed government property such as a police car or government building.
In addition to eight people who have been charged in allegedly inciting riots or civil disorder, another four face charges related to looting — three are accused of robbing a CVS drugstore during rioting in Louisville, Ky.


npr--2020-06-09--Brazil Must Be Open With Its Coronavirus Data, Supreme Court Justice Rules

Brazil Must Be Open With Its Coronavirus Data , Supreme Court Justice Rules A justice on Brazil 's top court has ordered the president 's administration to make its coronavirus data publicly available .
Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes said in an order dated Monday that Brazil 's Health Ministry must resume publishing the running totals for confirmed deaths and infections — a practice the department recently halted to widespread criticism .
Brazil 's government , caught in the throes of South America 's worst coronavirus outbreak , abruptly ended public access to much of its past data earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of new confirmed cases each day .
But de Moraes said that concealing such information may hobble efforts to understand the virus , interfere with the public interest and , in general , have `` disastrous consequences '' for the country 's response to the pandemic .
Plus , it violates the government 's `` constitutional duty '' to seek to protect `` the life and health of all Brazilians . ''
So he is telling the Health Ministry to resume its coronavirus updates — as they were delivered until last Thursday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ available again .
The legal drama is unfolding against a backdrop of increasing urgency in Brazil , which has suffered the world 's third-highest confirmed COVID-19 death toll , behind the United States and United Kingdom .
Its more than 700,000 confirmed cases are surpassed only by the U.S. , and none of its neighbors in South America has suffered devastation from the disease on the scale that Brazil has .
With rampant deficiencies in testing and questions about the country 's overall response , Brazil 's toll also is likely far higher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recent spikes — including a record number of new daily cases shortly before the public data was pulled — President Jair Bolsonaro , a close political ally of U.S. President Trump , has continued to push local leaders to ease their coronavirus restrictions and reopen their economies .
He has encouraged large rallies of his supporters and repeatedly questioned the measures implemented across the country .
In the midst of this controversy , the Health Ministry 's decision to remove older numbers from its publicly available data was met over the weekend with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experts who called the decision dangerous .
Others , including another Supreme Court justice , Gilmar Mendes , likened it to authoritarianism .
`` Manipulation of statistics , '' he tweeted , `` is a maneuver of totalitarian regimes . ''
In a statement posted last weekend to Bolsonaro 's Facebook account explaining the Health Ministry 's decision to yank archival data from its official website , the president said the older information was simply `` not representative '' of the situation in the country .
`` The dissemination of 24-hour data , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you to monitor the reality of the country at this time and determine appropriate strategies for public service . ''
The Health Ministry appeared partly to walk back its decision by Sunday , publishing cumulative tallies again , albeit with a different presentation .
The main dashboard still presents only new confirmed cases , new deaths and new recovered cases .
In his court order , de Moraes gave the ministry 48 hours to resume providing public access to its data on the coronavirus as it had before .

Brazil Must Be Open With Its Coronavirus Data, Supreme Court Justice Rules
Enlarge this image toggle caption Evaristo Sa/AFP via Getty Images Evaristo Sa/AFP via Getty Images
A justice on Brazil's top court has ordered the president's administration to make its coronavirus data publicly available.
Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes said in an order dated Monday that Brazil's Health Ministry must resume publishing the running totals for confirmed deaths and infections — a practice the department recently halted to widespread criticism.
Brazil's government, caught in the throes of South America's worst coronavirus outbreak, abruptly ended public access to much of its past data earlier this month, instead sharing only the number of new confirmed cases each day.
But de Moraes said that concealing such information may hobble efforts to understand the virus, interfere with the public interest and, in general, have "disastrous consequences" for the country's response to the pandemic. Plus, it violates the government's "constitutional duty" to seek to protect "the life and health of all Brazilians."
So he is telling the Health Ministry to resume its coronavirus updates — as they were delivered until last Thursday with regularity — and make past data available again.
The legal drama is unfolding against a backdrop of increasing urgency in Brazil, which has suffered the world's third-highest confirmed COVID-19 death toll, behind the United States and United Kingdom.
Its more than 700,000 confirmed cases are surpassed only by the U.S., and none of its neighbors in South America has suffered devastation from the disease on the scale that Brazil has.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Michael Dantas/AFP via Getty Images Michael Dantas/AFP via Getty Images
With rampant deficiencies in testing and questions about the country's overall response, Brazil's toll also is likely far higher than the official numbers reflect.
Despite recent spikes — including a record number of new daily cases shortly before the public data was pulled — President Jair Bolsonaro, a close political ally of U.S. President Trump, has continued to push local leaders to ease their coronavirus restrictions and reopen their economies. He has encouraged large rallies of his supporters and repeatedly questioned the measures implemented across the country.
In the midst of this controversy, the Health Ministry's decision to remove older numbers from its publicly available data was met over the weekend with protests from demonstrators and condemnations from medical experts who called the decision dangerous.
Others, including another Supreme Court justice, Gilmar Mendes, likened it to authoritarianism. "Manipulation of statistics," he tweeted, "is a maneuver of totalitarian regimes."
In a statement posted last weekend to Bolsonaro's Facebook account explaining the Health Ministry's decision to yank archival data from its official website, the president said the older information was simply "not representative" of the situation in the country.
"The dissemination of 24-hour data," the statement explained, "allows you to monitor the reality of the country at this time and determine appropriate strategies for public service."
The Health Ministry appeared partly to walk back its decision by Sunday, publishing cumulative tallies again, albeit with a different presentation. The main dashboard still presents only new confirmed cases, new deaths and new recovered cases.
In his court order, de Moraes gave the ministry 48 hours to resume providing public access to its data on the coronavirus as it had before.
NPR's Philip Reeves contributed to this report.


npr--2020-06-09--Police Officers Slashed Car Tires During Minneapolis Protests, Police Agencies Say

Minnesota State Patrol troopers and other law enforcement officers slashed the tires of dozens of vehicles in Minneapolis during large protests over the killing of George Floyd , two police agencies say .
`` State Patrol troopers strategically deflated tires to keep vehicles from being used in attacks , and so we could tow the vehicles later for collection of evidence if necessary , '' Minnesota Department of Public Safety spokesman Bruce Gordon said in a statement to NPR .
The Star Tribune first reported the agency 's confirmation , following up on widely seen videos that showed uniformed officers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occurred on May 30 and 31 — the first weekend in which outrage over Floyd 's killing while in police custody sparked large protests in Minneapolis and other U.S. cities .
Dozens of cars were hobbled in the Kmart lot .
Video producer Andrew Kimmel said he returned to his rental car in the middle of the night and found the tires slashed .
Sharing a video of the scene on Twitter , Kimmel said police had cut every tire on his car `` as well as every tire of every car in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ took over this entire area shortly after the protests began and have n't left until just now , '' Kimmel said in a tweet after being asked how he knew the police had cut the tires .
He added , `` Protesters would not be able to get back into this lot .
National Guard stopped me , but let me back in after showing my press badge . ''
Gordon said police disabled the cars and trucks to prevent vehicles from `` driving dangerously and at high speeds in and around protesters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not a typical tactic , vehicles were being used as dangerous weapons and inhibited our ability to clear areas and keep areas safe where violent protests were occurring , '' he said .
Gordon also said some vehicles `` contained items used to cause harm during violent protests ( rocks , concrete , sticks , etc. )
. ''
Videos of the police actions have gone viral online .
They were recently compiled by Mother Jones , which noted that the incidents happened in at least two spots : a Kmart parking lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ areas briefly turned into police staging grounds near protest hot spots , '' the magazine reported .
Gordon told the Star Tribune that `` there will be a review about how these decisions were made . ''
While protesters had initially planned to use the area as a makeshift medical center , many of the disabled cars belonged to journalists .
A car of a Star Tribune reporter was among those targeted .
The lot also held at least four CNN vehicles , Kimmel said , citing a tow truck driver with whom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Radio Canada and The New Yorker also found their tires had been cut .
In addition to the Minnesota State Patrol , the Anoka County Sheriff 's Office said its officers deflated tires , citing orders from a state command center that is coordinating more than a dozen police agencies in Minneapolis .
But in a statement to NPR , the sheriff 's office said its personnel were n't involved in the activity at the Kmart .
The office said its employees were involved in disabling two vehicles on May 31 that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a bridge passing over Interstate 35 west .
`` This procedure was done in order to preserve order , life , and safety of both the [ protesters ] and law enforcement , '' the sheriff 's office said .
In its initial report about the May 30 incident at the Kmart , the Minnesota Multi-Agency Command Center said thousands of state and local police officers as well as the state National Guard had `` changed tactics and strategies to take a different approach '' to keeping the peace during the unrest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how police forces were prepositioned near likely trouble spots .
It did not mention the tactic of disabling vehicles .

Police Officers Slashed Car Tires During Minneapolis Protests, Police Agencies Say
Enlarge this image toggle caption Julio Cortez/AP Julio Cortez/AP
Minnesota State Patrol troopers and other law enforcement officers slashed the tires of dozens of vehicles in Minneapolis during large protests over the killing of George Floyd, two police agencies say.
"State Patrol troopers strategically deflated tires to keep vehicles from being used in attacks, and so we could tow the vehicles later for collection of evidence if necessary," Minnesota Department of Public Safety spokesman Bruce Gordon said in a statement to NPR.
The Star Tribune first reported the agency's confirmation, following up on widely seen videos that showed uniformed officers jabbing knives into tires.
The incidents occurred on May 30 and 31 — the first weekend in which outrage over Floyd's killing while in police custody sparked large protests in Minneapolis and other U.S. cities.
Dozens of cars were hobbled in the Kmart lot. Video producer Andrew Kimmel said he returned to his rental car in the middle of the night and found the tires slashed.
Sharing a video of the scene on Twitter, Kimmel said police had cut every tire on his car "as well as every tire of every car in this parking lot."
"Police took over this entire area shortly after the protests began and haven't left until just now," Kimmel said in a tweet after being asked how he knew the police had cut the tires. He added, "Protesters would not be able to get back into this lot. National Guard stopped me, but let me back in after showing my press badge."
Gordon said police disabled the cars and trucks to prevent vehicles from "driving dangerously and at high speeds in and around protesters and law enforcement."
"While not a typical tactic, vehicles were being used as dangerous weapons and inhibited our ability to clear areas and keep areas safe where violent protests were occurring," he said.
Gordon also said some vehicles "contained items used to cause harm during violent protests (rocks, concrete, sticks, etc.)."
YouTube
Videos of the police actions have gone viral online. They were recently compiled by Mother Jones, which noted that the incidents happened in at least two spots: a Kmart parking lot and a highway overpass.
"Both areas briefly turned into police staging grounds near protest hot spots," the magazine reported.
Gordon told the Star Tribune that "there will be a review about how these decisions were made."
While protesters had initially planned to use the area as a makeshift medical center, many of the disabled cars belonged to journalists. A car of a Star Tribune reporter was among those targeted. The lot also held at least four CNN vehicles, Kimmel said, citing a tow truck driver with whom he spoke the next day.
Staff from Radio Canada and The New Yorker also found their tires had been cut.
In addition to the Minnesota State Patrol, the Anoka County Sheriff's Office said its officers deflated tires, citing orders from a state command center that is coordinating more than a dozen police agencies in Minneapolis.
But in a statement to NPR, the sheriff's office said its personnel weren't involved in the activity at the Kmart. The office said its employees were involved in disabling two vehicles on May 31 that it said were "illegally abandoned" on a bridge passing over Interstate 35 west.
"This procedure was done in order to preserve order, life, and safety of both the [protesters] and law enforcement," the sheriff's office said.
In its initial report about the May 30 incident at the Kmart, the Minnesota Multi-Agency Command Center said thousands of state and local police officers as well as the state National Guard had "changed tactics and strategies to take a different approach" to keeping the peace during the unrest.
The command center's report described how police forces were prepositioned near likely trouble spots. It did not mention the tactic of disabling vehicles.


npr--2020-06-09--CrossFit CEO Steps Down After His Racial Remarks Led Reebok, Others To Cut Ties

CrossFit CEO Steps Down After His Racial Remarks Led Reebok , Others To Cut Ties Greg Glassman , the outspoken founder and CEO of CrossFit , resigned Tuesday , days after he made inflammatory remarks about the nationwide protests in support of Black Lives Matter .
Athletes , gyms , Reebok and other athletic companies have been distancing themselves from the CrossFit brand over the controversy .
`` I 'm stepping down as CEO of CrossFit , Inc. , and I have decided to retire , '' Glassman said in a statement .
`` On Saturday I created a rift @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many of its members . ''
Dave Castro , head of the CrossFit Games , is taking over as CEO .
In a separate statement , the company said : `` Change is needed .
We all need healing .
Exhaustion and a long history of silent grievances have been laid bare on social media .
We can not change what has happened , but we ask for forgiveness while we thoroughly examine ourselves . ''
CrossFit is a global fitness company based on a fitness methodology that combines high-intensity interval training with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ makes money from certificate courses and competitions as well as from affiliate fees paid by gyms around the world to use the CrossFit name .
The company is fully owned by Glassman , a self-described `` rabid libertarian '' who has flouted controversy in the past , including by waging a war on Big Sugar .
In 2015 , Forbes estimated the brand generates about $ 4 billion in annual revenue .
Members of the CrossFit community pressured Glassman and the company to issue anti-racist statements in support of Black Lives Matter .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ affiliate gym owner `` delusional '' in an email for her suggestion .
Then , when the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation tweeted that racism is a `` public health issue , '' Glassman replied , `` It 's Floyd-19 , '' apparently comparing the death of George Floyd to the coronavirus .
Armen Hammer , a popular CrossFit commentator , says the tweet was `` incredibly inflammatory , insensitive and thoughtless . ''
Fallout from the tweet and widely circulated email was swift .
More than 1,000 gyms have pledged to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sport 's top athletes have said they are boycotting the CrossFit Games and companies such as Reebok and Rogue Fitness have decided to stop doing business with the company .
Hammer estimates the controversy could cost CrossFit hundreds of millions of dollars in lost revenue .
Former professional CrossFit athlete Elisabeth Akinwale says she was saddened by the controversy , but not surprised .
`` This is just the culmination of a lot of things that have happened over a long period of time , '' Akinwale says .
`` A lot of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their experiences as people of color in CrossFit spaces and how they have n't been responded to by upper levels of the organization . ''
Akinwale cites examples of black CrossFitters asking majority-white gyms not to play music with the N-word , and Latinx athletes being asked not to speak in Spanish while they work out .
Glassman and CrossFit issued an apology on Twitter , saying his comments were `` a mistake , not racist but a mistake . ''
But that has n't stopped the cascade of gyms disaffiliating from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be reached for comment .
CrossFit without the name Hammer says one of the biggest things CrossFit has going for it is the strength of the brand .
`` One of the reasons why they have to spend so much time and effort protecting the brand is because how good of a name it is , '' he says .
So what will CrossFit be called if athletes and gyms distance themselves from the brand ?
`` I 'm seeing a lot of the affiliates taking on their own names like such and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Akinwale says .
Akinwale says this moment of reckoning in CrossFit is a microcosm of the societal change happening in America right now .
Three years ago , she posted a video about racism in the CrossFit community on Instagram that largely went unnoticed .
When she reposted the same video last week , it made a much bigger splash .
`` Just like when you 're competing in athletics , when you see an opening , you strike ; that 's exactly what 's happening right now , '' Akinwale @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where people 's minds are being open to different things , and this is the moment we need to take advantage of . ''
In 2020 , CrossFit might be an example of what happens when a brand does n't live up to its customers ' expectations .

CrossFit CEO Steps Down After His Racial Remarks Led Reebok, Others To Cut Ties
Enlarge this image toggle caption Linda Davidson/The Washington Post via Getty Images Linda Davidson/The Washington Post via Getty Images
Updated at 8:26 p.m. ET
Greg Glassman, the outspoken founder and CEO of CrossFit, resigned Tuesday, days after he made inflammatory remarks about the nationwide protests in support of Black Lives Matter. Athletes, gyms, Reebok and other athletic companies have been distancing themselves from the CrossFit brand over the controversy.
"I'm stepping down as CEO of CrossFit, Inc., and I have decided to retire," Glassman said in a statement. "On Saturday I created a rift in the CrossFit community and unintentionally hurt many of its members."
Dave Castro, head of the CrossFit Games, is taking over as CEO.
In a separate statement, the company said: "Change is needed. We all need healing. Exhaustion and a long history of silent grievances have been laid bare on social media. We cannot change what has happened, but we ask for forgiveness while we thoroughly examine ourselves."
The business of CrossFit
CrossFit is a global fitness company based on a fitness methodology that combines high-intensity interval training with Olympic weightlifting and gymnastics. The company makes money from certificate courses and competitions as well as from affiliate fees paid by gyms around the world to use the CrossFit name. The company is fully owned by Glassman, a self-described "rabid libertarian" who has flouted controversy in the past, including by waging a war on Big Sugar. In 2015, Forbes estimated the brand generates about $4 billion in annual revenue.
The controversy
Members of the CrossFit community pressured Glassman and the company to issue anti-racist statements in support of Black Lives Matter. Glassman resisted the pressure, calling an affiliate gym owner "delusional" in an email for her suggestion. Then, when the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation tweeted that racism is a "public health issue," Glassman replied, "It's Floyd-19," apparently comparing the death of George Floyd to the coronavirus. Armen Hammer, a popular CrossFit commentator, said the tweet was "incredibly inflammatory, insensitive and thoughtless."
The fallout
Fallout from the tweet and widely circulated email was swift. More than 1,000 gyms have pledged to stop using the CrossFit name, the sport's top athletes have said they are boycotting the CrossFit Games and companies such as Reebok and Rogue Fitness have decided to stop doing business with the company. Hammer estimated the controversy could cost CrossFit hundreds of millions of dollars in lost revenue.
A reckoning
Former professional CrossFit athlete Elisabeth Akinwale said she was saddened by the controversy, but not surprised. "This is just the culmination of a lot of things that have happened over a long period of time," Akinwale said. "A lot of folks have been coming to me with their experiences as people of color in CrossFit spaces and how they haven't been responded to by upper levels of the organization."
Akinwale cited examples of black CrossFitters asking majority-white gyms not to play music with the N-word, and Latinx athletes being asked not to speak in Spanish while they work out.
Glassman and CrossFit issued an apology on Twitter, saying his comments were "a mistake, not racist but a mistake." But that hasn't stopped the cascade of gyms disaffiliating from the brand.
CrossFit without the name
Hammer said one of the biggest things CrossFit has going for it is the strength of the brand. "One of the reasons why they have to spend so much time and effort protecting the brand is because how good of a name it is," he said.
So what will CrossFit be called if athletes and gyms distance themselves from the brand? "I'm seeing a lot of the affiliates taking on their own names like such and such community fitness, as one example," Akinwale said.
An opportunity for change
Akinwale said this moment of reckoning in CrossFit is a microcosm of the societal change happening in America right now. Three years ago, she posted a video about racism in the CrossFit community on Instagram that largely went unnoticed. When she reposted the same video last week, it made a much bigger splash.
"Just like when you're competing in athletics, when you see an opening, you strike; that's exactly what's happening right now," Akinwale said. "There's a moment where people's minds are being open to different things, and this is the moment we need to take advantage of."
In 2020, CrossFit might be an example of what happens when a brand doesn't live up to its customers' expectations.