npr--2020-01-18--After A Fall At Baylor, Ken Starr Became A Fox Regular, And Then, A Trump Defender

After A Fall At Baylor , Ken Starr Became A Fox Regular , And Then , A Trump Defender Updated at 2:46 a.m .
ET Sunday On Friday , President Trump added former independent counsel Ken Starr to the legal team that will defend him in the Senate impeachment trial .
Starr is best known for leading an investigation into President Bill Clinton 's affair with a White House intern during the 1990s .
The investigation was aggressive , lengthy , and offered a window into Starr 's approach to holding the powerful to account .
But in the years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ different type of scandal provided another picture of Starr 's approach .
In 2016 , almost two decades after Starr investigated the Clinton scandal , Starr was fired from his job as president of Baylor University , accused of ignoring sexual assault issues on campus .
`` It seems very clear that he governed over a policy that was , at best , indifferent to what was happening to Baylor women , '' Jim Dunnam , a lawyer representing 15 women in an ongoing case against the university , told NPR .
When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University in 2010 , he appeared to have quickly grasped the importance of athletics at the Division I school .
As president , he oversaw the opening of the university 's $ 250 million football stadium .
Before some games , he even ran onto the football field and cheered alongside students .
However , shortly after Starr 's arrival on campus , Baylor athletics became marred by sexual assault allegations and convictions .
According to a 2016 report from The Wall Street Journal , the sexual assault scandal that plagued Baylor during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women who had reported sexual or domestic assault involving 19 football players since 2011 .
The reports included four instances of alleged gang rapes , according to the Journal .
Convictions soon followed .
In 2014 , former Baylor football player Tevin Elliott was convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison on two counts of sexually assaulting a former Baylor student in 2012 .
When another football player was convicted of sexual assault the following year , Starr called for an internal inquiry into how the university handled the case .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the university hire outside counsel to look into the school 's response .
The results of the inquiry were damning .
According to a summary of the findings of the law firm Pepper Hamilton released by the university in 2016 , the investigators discovered a `` fundamental failure '' by Baylor to implement Title IX , the federal law that polices sexual violence on campus , as well as the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act .
The report expanded on several ways the university fell short , finding : The summary of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's top administrators by name , but stated that `` senior leadership '' had failed to support and engage with the school 's Title IX functions , and that institutional failures `` at every level of Baylor 's administration '' had impacted response to individual cases of alleged assault .
Starr declined NPR 's request to comment on this story , writing in an email that , for now , he 's `` remaining silently on the media sidelines . ''
But in a 2018 interview with NPR , Starr said this about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and this is going to sound like an apologia , but it is the absolute truth — never was it brought to my attention that there were these issues .
And I focused on student safety from day one . ''
Soon after the report was released , the school 's athletics director resigned after being sanctioned and put on probation , and the head football coach was fired , along with other members of the athletics program .
Starr was stripped of the presidency , and subsequently resigned from his faculty position @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was filed against Baylor alleging violations of Title IX and a `` deliberately indifferent response '' to student-on-student sexual assault .
According to an early complaint filed in the case , reports of sexual assault to `` high-level , policy-setting employees '' at Baylor failed to result in change at the university .
`` Starr was at the helm the entire period of time , '' said Dunnam , one of the plaintiff lawyers in the case , which remains ongoing .
When asked how much he thinks Starr knew of the school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a lesser-known 2014 report by the consulting firm Margolis Healy & Associates that was also commissioned by the university and obtained by the Waco Tribune-Herald in 2018 .
The report outlined how administrators , including athletic department staff , had received little to no training regarding Title IX , and had failed to adequately communicate with and support students .
One person the firm interviewed said , `` We have to stop being stupid . ''
The Margolis Healy report was delivered to Baylor almost two years before Starr was ousted in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evidence of the university 's commitment to addressing student safety .
Still , the specifics of how Starr handled the scandal remain unknown .
The 2016 Pepper Hamilton report was never released in full .
But that could change .
Last March , a federal judge in Texas ordered the law firm to turn over records connected to its 2016 inquiry into Baylor requested by the plaintiffs .
According to the firm 's initial summary , it reviewed emails , cellphone data and documents from current and former Baylor employees , as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including witnesses in the president 's office as part of its investigation .
For now , says Dunnam , the case is still in discovery .
After Baylor , Starr joined the Lanier Law Firm in 2018 , and became a frequent commentator and defender of the president on Fox News .
Those appearances have helped return Starr to the center of yet another presidential impeachment .

After A Fall At Baylor, Ken Starr Became A Fox Regular, And Then, A Trump Defender
Enlarge this image toggle caption Cooper Neill/Getty Images Cooper Neill/Getty Images
Updated at 2:46 a.m. ET Sunday
On Friday, President Trump added former independent counsel Ken Starr to the legal team that will defend him in the Senate impeachment trial.
Starr is best known for leading an investigation into President Bill Clinton's affair with a White House intern during the 1990s.
The investigation was aggressive, lengthy, and offered a window into Starr's approach to holding the powerful to account. But in the years that followed the Clinton impeachment, a different type of scandal provided another picture of Starr's approach.
In 2016, almost two decades after Starr investigated the Clinton scandal, Starr was fired from his job as president of Baylor University, accused of ignoring sexual assault issues on campus.
"It seems very clear that he governed over a policy that was, at best, indifferent to what was happening to Baylor women," Jim Dunnam, a lawyer representing 15 women in an ongoing case against the university, told NPR.
When Starr took over the presidency at Baylor University in 2010, he appeared to have quickly grasped the importance of athletics at the Division I school. As president, he oversaw the opening of the university's $250 million football stadium. Before some games, he even ran onto the football field and cheered alongside students.
However, shortly after Starr's arrival on campus, Baylor athletics became marred by sexual assault allegations and convictions.
According to a 2016 report from The Wall Street Journal, the sexual assault scandal that plagued Baylor during Starr's tenure included at least 17 women who had reported sexual or domestic assault involving 19 football players since 2011. The reports included four instances of alleged gang rapes, according to the Journal.
Convictions soon followed. In 2014, former Baylor football player Tevin Elliott was convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison on two counts of sexually assaulting a former Baylor student in 2012.
When another football player was convicted of sexual assault the following year, Starr called for an internal inquiry into how the university handled the case. The internal inquiry led Starr to recommend that the university hire outside counsel to look into the school's response.
A "fundamental failure"
The results of the inquiry were damning. According to a summary of the findings of the law firm Pepper Hamilton released by the university in 2016, the investigators discovered a "fundamental failure" by Baylor to implement Title IX, the federal law that polices sexual violence on campus, as well as the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act.
The report expanded on several ways the university fell short, finding:
"Baylor failed to take appropriate action to respond to reports of sexual assault and dating violence reportedly committed by football players. The choices made by football staff and athletics leadership, in some instances, posed a risk to campus safety and the integrity of the University. In certain instances, including reports of a sexual assault by multiple football players, athletics and football personnel affirmatively chose not to report sexual violence and dating violence to an appropriate administrator outside of athletics."
The summary of the report didn't identify any of Baylor's top administrators by name, but stated that "senior leadership" had failed to support and engage with the school's Title IX functions, and that institutional failures "at every level of Baylor's administration" had impacted response to individual cases of alleged assault.
Starr declined NPR's request to comment on this story, writing in an email that, for now, he's "remaining silently on the media sidelines."
But in a 2018 interview with NPR, Starr said this about the Baylor scandal: "Unfortunately — and this is going to sound like an apologia, but it is the absolute truth — never was it brought to my attention that there were these issues. And I focused on student safety from day one."
Soon after the report was released, the school's athletics director resigned after being sanctioned and put on probation, and the head football coach was fired, along with other members of the athletics program. Starr was stripped of the presidency, and subsequently resigned from his faculty position.
The same year, a case was filed against Baylor alleging violations of Title IX and a "deliberately indifferent response" to student-on-student sexual assault. According to an early complaint filed in the case, reports of sexual assault to "high-level, policy-setting employees" at Baylor failed to result in change at the university.
"Starr was at the helm the entire period of time," said Dunnam, one of the plaintiff lawyers in the case, which remains ongoing.
When asked how much he thinks Starr knew of the school's sexual assault problem, Dunnam pointed to a lesser-known 2014 report by the consulting firm Margolis Healy & Associates that was also commissioned by the university and obtained by the Waco Tribune-Herald in 2018.
The report outlined how administrators, including athletic department staff, had received little to no training regarding Title IX, and had failed to adequately communicate with and support students. One person the firm interviewed said, "We have to stop being stupid." The Margolis Healy report was delivered to Baylor almost two years before Starr was ousted in 2016. Starr has claimed it as evidence of the university's commitment to addressing student safety.
Still, the specifics of how Starr handled the scandal remain unknown. The 2016 Pepper Hamilton report was never released in full.
But that could change. Last March, a federal judge in Texas ordered the law firm to turn over records connected to its 2016 inquiry into Baylor requested by the plaintiffs.
According to the firm's initial summary, it reviewed emails, cellphone data and documents from current and former Baylor employees, as well as interviews with more than 65 people, including witnesses in the president's office as part of its investigation. For now, says Dunnam, the case is still in discovery.
After Baylor, Starr joined the Lanier Law Firm in 2018, and became a frequent commentator and defender of the president on Fox News. Those appearances have helped return Starr to the center of yet another presidential impeachment.


npr--2020-01-18--Women's March Draws A Smaller, But Passionate Crowd

The fourth annual Women 's March descended on the streets of Washington on Saturday .
But unlike the first demonstration that brought hundreds of thousands to the capital the day after President Trump 's inauguration , the march drew just a fraction of the original turnout as the movement has struggled with changes in leadership and questions about inclusivity .
The demonstration in Washington was the main march , but sister marches were also held in more than 200 cities around the world , including Los Angeles , Chicago and Brussels .
As snowflakes began to fall in Washington , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several members of the Women 's March board speak before taking off on the designated route around the White House .
This year , the march focused on three main issues : climate change , reproductive rights and immigration .
Nadrat Amos , 18 , participated for the first time along with several classmates from Howard University .
She said she 'd stayed away from previous marches because she felt like the organization primarily championed white , middle-class women .
But going into this year 's election , she said , it became @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on behalf of all people of color and black women , specifically .
`` The Women 's March has had a history of marginalizing certain people .
They want their version of smashing patriarchy to look a certain way , '' she said .
`` I 'm black , I 'm proud .
This is my march as much as it is any other person 's march . ''
Amos ' criticisms come at a time of transition for the organization .
After claims of anti-Semitism pushed three founding members of the Women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ roles last year , a bigger and more diverse board took their place .
This year 's anti-Trump demonstration drew a significantly smaller crowd than in 2017 when crowds overwhelmed parts of downtown Washington and high-profile activists like Madonna and Gloria Steinem addressed the marchers .
The permit filed with the National Park Service for this year 's march , by comparison , allowed up for up to 10,000 people .
Protesters like Becky Halbe , who used to work at the U.S .
Fish and Wildlife Service , said she did n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` The energy is still there .
We ca n't give up — this is important to show that we do care , '' she said .
Unlike in previous years , Saturday 's march in Washington did not feature a stage for performances and speeches from celebrities .
Instead , in an effort to reconnect with supporters , organizers marched alongside everybody else .
Upon reaching the White House , Chilean collective LasTesis led the crowd through a rendition of their viral protest anthem `` Un Violador En Tu Camino '' ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) .
A different group of protesters also stopped in front of the White House to chant the words of Article 2 , Section 4 of the Constitution in reference to President Trump 's impeachment .
Quoting the Constitution , they chanted : `` The President , Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States , shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for , and Conviction of , Treason , Bribery , or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors . ''
For Connor Czora , who carried a sign with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Saturday 's march represented an important moment in the fight against the people they described as most targeted by the Trump administration .
`` I 'm here in support of women protesting against Trump 's actions , against his divisive rhetoric , against his attacks on women and trans people , '' Czora said .
`` Trans women are especially under attack . ''

Women's March Draws A Smaller, But Passionate Crowd
Enlarge this image toggle caption Isabella Gomez Sarmiento/NPR Isabella Gomez Sarmiento/NPR
The fourth annual Women's March descended on the streets of Washington on Saturday. But unlike the first demonstration that brought hundreds of thousands to the capital the day after President Trump's inauguration, the march drew just a fraction of the original turnout as the movement has struggled with changes in leadership and questions about inclusivity.
The demonstration in Washington was the main march, but sister marches were also held in more than 200 cities around the world, including Los Angeles, Chicago and Brussels.
As snowflakes began to fall in Washington, protesters gathered at Freedom Plaza to hear several members of the Women's March board speak before taking off on the designated route around the White House. This year, the march focused on three main issues: climate change, reproductive rights and immigration.
Nadrat Amos, 18, participated for the first time along with several classmates from Howard University. She said she'd stayed away from previous marches because she felt like the organization primarily championed white, middle-class women. But going into this year's election, she said, it became increasingly important to her to show up on behalf of all people of color and black women, specifically.
"The Women's March has had a history of marginalizing certain people. They want their version of smashing patriarchy to look a certain way," she said. "I'm black, I'm proud. This is my march as much as it is any other person's march."
Amos' criticisms come at a time of transition for the organization. After claims of anti-Semitism pushed three founding members of the Women's March to step down from their roles last year, a bigger and more diverse board took their place.
This year's anti-Trump demonstration drew a significantly smaller crowd than in 2017 when crowds overwhelmed parts of downtown Washington and high-profile activists like Madonna and Gloria Steinem addressed the marchers.
The permit filed with the National Park Service for this year's march, by comparison, allowed up for up to 10,000 people.
Protesters like Becky Halbe, who used to work at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, said she didn't feel phased by the lower turnout.
"The energy is still there. We can't give up — this is important to show that we do care," she said.
Unlike in previous years, Saturday's march in Washington did not feature a stage for performances and speeches from celebrities. Instead, in an effort to reconnect with supporters, organizers marched alongside everybody else.
Upon reaching the White House, Chilean collective LasTesis led the crowd through a rendition of their viral protest anthem "Un Violador En Tu Camino" ("A Rapist in Your Path").
A different group of protesters also stopped in front of the White House to chant the words of Article 2, Section 4 of the Constitution in reference to President Trump's impeachment. Quoting the Constitution, they chanted: "The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors."
For Connor Czora, who carried a sign with the colors of the transgender flag in Washington, Saturday's march represented an important moment in the fight against the people they described as most targeted by the Trump administration.
"I'm here in support of women protesting against Trump's actions, against his divisive rhetoric, against his attacks on women and trans people," Czora said. "Trans women are especially under attack."


npr--2020-01-18--From Obscurity To Impeachment Figure: Who Is Robert Hyde?

From Obscurity To Impeachment Figure : Who Is Robert Hyde ?
A quiet New England community west of Hartford , Conn. , has found itself roped into the impeachment saga with the emergence of an improbable character in the ongoing Ukraine scandal : Robert Hyde .
Hyde is a 40-year-old congressional candidate and former landscaper in Simsbury , Conn. , who is known for being brash , foul-mouthed and for hitching his candidacy on his fervent support for President Trump .
He is also someone who has paved inroads with a cast of characters involved in the pressure campaign against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impeachment trial in the Senate on allegations that he abused his power and obstructed Congress .
Hyde rose from obscurity and grabbed the impeachment limelight following the release of a new tranche of documents by House Democrats this past week in which WhatsApp messages between him and an associate of Rudy Giuliani , the president 's personal attorney , show Hyde appearing to brag about spying on the former ambassador to Ukraine , Marie Yovanovitch .
The messages were sent in the weeks before the Trump administration recalled Yovanovitch from her posting in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the Giuliani associate , Lev Parnas , is one message from Hyde that reads : `` Her phone is off .
Computer is off .
She 's next to the embassy .
Not in the embassy .
Private security .
Been there since Thursday . ''
`` They know she 's a political puppet .
They will let me know when she 's on the move , '' Hyde says .
The documents released by House Democrats also revealed an unnamed Belgian phone number sharing information about Yovanovitch 's whereabouts with Hyde @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Now , the State Department and Ukraine 's interior ministry have launched investigations into reports of the surveillance against Yovanovitch .
The FBI has separately searched Hyde 's properties .
`` We will do everything we need to do to evaluate whether there was something that took place there .
I suspect that much of what 's been reported will ultimately prove wrong , '' Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Sinclair Broadcast Group on Friday .
Hyde had established several dozen Facebook pages that were publishing coordinated posts defending himself in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to The Wall Street Journal .
Facebook has removed the pages , explaining that the pages mislead people by concealing who controls them .
`` WTF Facebook ?
!
Please make this right and return our pages .
I and other editors put a lot of time and money into these pages , '' Hyde said in a response on Twitter .
In the Simsbury area , locals have been watching with a mix of bafflement and shock as their central Connecticut community captures worldwide attention over Hyde 's purported claims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Hyde declined an interview request , but since the release of the House documents he has posted voluminously to his Twitter account about the allegation that he was surreptitiously tracking Yovanovitch 's movements .
`` Are you kidding ?
Like I have anybody over in the Ukraine — are you serious ?
I 'm a landscaper from Simsbury , Connecticut that 's trying to get into the government relations , public relations world — lobbying world , whatever you want to call it , '' Hyde said in a Twitter video .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which posted interview snippets on Twitter , Hyde said the spate of texts at the center of the controversy were fired off in jest .
`` So when they 're sending me these texts , and I 'm like , 'whatever , dude yeah , under surveillance , just joking , '' Hyde said .
`` I 'm not a gangster .
I do n't know these people .
I do n't have anything to do with them .
I 'm just a landscaper .
I 'm not in the business of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' he told the paper .
Hyde says he served in the Marines from 1999 to 2005 , having done tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan .
His LinkedIn profile says he operated a company called RF Landscaping and Construction for 16 years .
The profile also describes him as a self-employed `` change agent '' since January 2014 .
Records show Hyde piled up debt at the Trump National Doral Miami resort .
He 's posted selfies on social media with Trump and other Republican officials .
Reports chronicling a history @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long after his name surfaced in the Ukraine story .
The Republican Party in Connecticut has asked Hyde to drop his congressional bid , but Hyde says he `` loves what Trump stands for '' and is keeping his candidacy alive .
If his long-shot candidacy does gain momentum , his recent past could make him vulnerable .
In May , Hyde was removed from the Doral golf resort after telling police he was paranoid `` someone was out to get him , '' including his belief that the Secret Service was hacking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Doral Police Department report reviewed by NPR .
In Massachusetts , a prosecutor is moving to have Hyde jailed , asking a judge to revoke his bail in a protective order that was filed against him by a political consultant who claimed Hyde stalked and harassed her .
Hyde did not respond to a request for comment about the claim .
According to the Simsbury Police Department , Hyde had turned over six weapons — including a flare launcher and more than 800 rounds of ammunition — to authorities in accordance with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , local construction worker Michael Garrard , who says he follows local politics , said : `` I 've never heard his name mentioned , honestly .
And I 've been in this town my entire life , 48 years . ''
Another local , Ellen Retelle , said of Hyde , `` He 's done a lot of , from my perspective , strange things in his capacity as a landscaper . ''
Hyde , she said , will not be getting her vote .
`` He 's seems unstable and unreliable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ characters who are involved in this Ukrainian scandal on the peripheral edges who are doing some really odd things , '' she said .
Across town , Brad Karsky , who runs an Italian restaurant , said Hyde used to be a regular .
`` He was a bigger than life kind of guy .
Pretty boisterous .
Outgoing kind of gentleman , '' said Karsky .
`` He liked to be seen , and he 'd sit at the bar , and he was very vocal .
When he was in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
Because of profane language and aggressive behavior , Karsky said that on numerous occasions he had to ask Hyde to leave the bar .
`` Not true , '' Hyde texted to NPR in response .

From Obscurity To Impeachment Figure: Who Is Robert Hyde?
toggle caption hydeforcongress.com
Updated 3:30 p.m. Sunday
A quiet New England community west of Hartford, Conn., has found itself roped into the impeachment saga with the emergence of an improbable character in the ongoing Ukraine scandal: Robert Hyde.
Hyde is a 40-year-old congressional candidate and former landscaper in Simsbury, Conn., who is known for being brash, foul-mouthed and for hitching his candidacy on his fervent support for President Trump.
He is also someone who has paved inroads with a cast of characters involved in the pressure campaign against Ukraine that has Trump facing an impeachment trial in the Senate on allegations that he abused his power and obstructed Congress.
Hyde rose from obscurity and grabbed the impeachment limelight following the release of a new tranche of documents by House Democrats this past week in which WhatsApp messages between him and an associate of Rudy Giuliani, the president's personal attorney, show Hyde appearing to brag about spying on the former ambassador to Ukraine, Marie Yovanovitch. The messages were sent in the weeks before the Trump administration recalled Yovanovitch from her posting in Kyiv.
Among the exchanges between Hyde and the Giuliani associate, Lev Parnas, is one message from Hyde that reads: "Her phone is off. Computer is off. She's next to the embassy. Not in the embassy. Private security. Been there since Thursday."
"They know she's a political puppet. They will let me know when she's on the move," Hyde says.
Responding, Parnas wrote: "Perfect."
The documents released by House Democrats also revealed an unnamed Belgian phone number sharing information about Yovanovitch's whereabouts with Hyde, who then shared it with Parnas.
Now, the State Department and Ukraine's interior ministry have launched investigations into reports of the surveillance against Yovanovitch. The FBI has separately visited Hyde's home and business.
"We will do everything we need to do to evaluate whether there was something that took place there. I suspect that much of what's been reported will ultimately prove wrong," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Sinclair Broadcast Group on Friday.
Hyde had established several dozen Facebook pages that were publishing coordinated posts defending himself in the face of his links to Parnas, according to The Wall Street Journal. Facebook has removed the pages, explaining that the pages mislead people by concealing who controls them.
"WTF Facebook?! Please make this right and return our pages. I and other editors put a lot of time and money into these pages," Hyde said in a response on Twitter.
In the Simsbury area, locals have been watching with a mix of bafflement and shock as their central Connecticut community captures worldwide attention over Hyde's purported claims to be tracking a former U.S. ambassador.
Hyde declined an interview request, but did send a number of responses to questions through text messages.
"A few nasty people in the swamp want to discredit me and paint me as this bad person. I'm an honorable Marine that got involved in the swamp," Hyde said.
Since the release of the House documents he has also posted voluminously to his Twitter account about the allegation that he was surreptitiously tracking Yovanovitch's movements.
"Are you kidding? Like I have anybody over in the Ukraine — are you serious? I'm a landscaper from Simsbury, Connecticut that's trying to get into the government relations, public relations world — lobbying world, whatever you want to call it," Hyde said in a Twitter video.
In an interview with the Hartford Courant, which posted interview snippets on Twitter, Hyde said the spate of texts at the center of the controversy were fired off in jest.
"So when they're sending me these texts, and I'm like, 'whatever, dude yeah, under surveillance, just joking," Hyde said. "I'm not a gangster. I don't know these people. I don't have anything to do with them. I'm just a landscaper. I'm not in the business of hurting people — I never have been," he told the paper.
Hyde says he served in the Marines from 1999 to 2005, having done tours in Iraq. His LinkedIn profile says he operated a company called RF Landscaping and Construction for 16 years. The profile also describes him as a self-employed "change agent" since January 2014.
Records show Hyde piled up debt at the Trump National Doral Miami resort. He's posted selfies on social media with Trump and other Republican officials. Reports chronicling a history of financial and legal troubles came not long after his name surfaced in the Ukraine story.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Bobby Allyn/NPR Bobby Allyn/NPR
The Republican Party in Connecticut has asked Hyde to drop his congressional bid, but Hyde says he "loves what Trump stands for" and is keeping his candidacy alive.
If his long-shot candidacy does gain momentum, his recent past could make him vulnerable.
In May, Hyde was removed from the Doral golf resort after telling police he was paranoid "someone was out to get him," including his belief that the Secret Service was hacking into his computer, according to a Doral Police Department report reviewed by NPR.
In Massachusetts, a prosecutor is moving to have Hyde jailed, asking a judge to revoke his bail in a protective order that was filed against him by a political consultant who claimed Hyde stalked and harassed her. Hyde did not respond to a request for comment about the claim.
According to the Simsbury Police Department, Hyde had turned over six weapons — including a flare launcher and more than 800 rounds of ammunition — to authorities in accordance with a separate protective order.
"I'm not at liberty to talk about some court cases. But when they're over you'll see the truth. I'm forty years old and have never been a criminal or insane. Never have done drugs and haven't drank more then a dozen beers since May 2019. The truth shall prevail," Hyde told NPR by text message.
Residents in the Simsbury area this weekend had many questions about Hyde.
Before this week, local construction worker Michael Garrard, who says he follows local politics, said: "I've never heard his name mentioned, honestly. And I've been in this town my entire life, 48 years."
Another local, Ellen Retelle, said of Hyde, "He's done a lot of, from my perspective, strange things in his capacity as a landscaper."
Hyde, she said, will not be getting her vote.
"He seems unstable and unreliable and similar to a lot of the characters who are involved in this Ukrainian scandal on the peripheral edges who are doing some really odd things," she said.
Across town, Brad Karsky, who runs an Italian restaurant, said Hyde used to be a regular.
"He was a bigger than life kind of guy. Pretty boisterous. Outgoing kind of gentleman," said Karsky. "He liked to be seen, and he'd sit at the bar, and he was very vocal. When he was in the restaurant, everybody knew it."
Because of profane language and aggressive behavior, Karsky said that on numerous occasions he had to ask Hyde to leave the bar.
"Not true," Hyde texted to NPR in response.


npr--2020-01-19--U.S. Navy To Name Aircraft Carrier After WWII Hero Doris Miller

U.S. Navy To Name Aircraft Carrier After WWII Hero Doris Miller The U.S. Navy says it will name an aircraft carrier after Doris `` Dorie '' Miller , the African American mess attendant who heroically leapt into combat during the bombing of Pearl Harbor .
It marks the first time that an aircraft carrier has been named for an African American , and the first time a sailor has been so honored for actions taken as an enlisted man .
In 1941 , Miller was a 22-year-old mess attendant on the USS West Virginia .
At the time , black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ messman branch — work that entailed swabbing decks , cooking and shining officers ' shoes .
He had awoken at 6 a.m. and was collecting laundry when the Japanese attack began and an alarm sounded on the ship , according to the Navy .
Miller headed to the antiaircraft battery magazine , but it had already been destroyed by torpedo damage .
He proceeded to the deck , where he was assigned to carry his wounded comrades , including the ship 's captain .
Miller was strong : a former high school football @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was the ship 's heavyweight boxing champion .
`` Miller went topside , carried wounded on his shoulders , made several trips up and down , wading through waist-deep water , oil-slicked decks , struggling uphill on slick decks , '' Navy Rear Adm. John Fuller said in 2016 .
The young sailor then took over a .50-caliber anti-aircraft machine gun and fired it until the ammunition ran out .
No matter that he 'd never been trained on the weapon .
`` It was n't hard , '' he remembered , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just pulled the trigger and she worked fine .
I had watched the others with these guns .
I guess I fired her for about 15 minutes .
I think I got one of those [ Japanese ] planes .
They were diving pretty close to us . ''
The ship 's communications officer , Lt. Cmdr .
Doir C. Johnson , said that Miller was `` blazing away as though he had fired one all his life , '' according to the Navy Times .
The West Virginia was heavily damaged in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ armored bombs and launched multiple torpedoes on the vessel .
The ship slowly sank , and more than 100 of the men aboard the ship died that day .
For his bravery , Miller was presented with the Navy Cross in May 1942 .
He was the first black sailor to be awarded the medal , one of the Navy 's highest honors .
`` This marks the first time in this conflict that such high tribute has been made in the Pacific Fleet to a member of his race and I 'm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ similarly honored for brave acts , '' Adm. Chester Nimitz , the commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet , said at the time .
Miller had won renown , and he was brought home in November 1942 for a two-month tour to promote war bonds .
His image was used on a Navy recruiting poster .
He did not survive the war .
Miller was aboard the USS Liscome Bay when it was struck by a Japanese torpedo in the Pacific in 1943 .
Nearly 650 of the more than 900 sailors on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Miller 's body was never recovered .
He was posthumously awarded a Purple Heart , among other honors .
Shortly after Miller 's death , the Navy began a small officer-training program for black sailors .
In March 1944 , the Navy commissioned its first black officers , known as the Golden Thirteen .
By naming the aircraft carrier for Miller , says Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas B. Modly , `` we honor the contributions of all our enlisted ranks , past and present , men and women , of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dr. Martin Luther King , Jr. observed , 'Everybody can be great — because anybody can serve ' .
No one understands the importance and true meaning of service than those who have volunteered to put the needs of others above themselves . ''
`` Doris Miller stood for everything that is good about our nation , '' said Modly , `` and his story deserves to be remembered and repeated wherever our people continue the watch today . ''

U.S. Navy To Name Aircraft Carrier After WWII Hero Doris Miller
Enlarge this image toggle caption U.S. Navy U.S. Navy
The U.S. Navy says it will name an aircraft carrier after Doris "Dorie" Miller, the African American mess attendant who heroically leapt into combat during the bombing of Pearl Harbor. It marks the first time that an aircraft carrier has been named for an African American, and the first time a sailor has been so honored for actions taken as an enlisted man.
In 1941, Miller was a 22-year-old mess attendant on the USS West Virginia. At the time, black sailors were consigned to roles in the messman branch — work that entailed swabbing decks, cooking and shining officers' shoes.
He had awoken at 6 a.m. and was collecting laundry when the Japanese attack began and an alarm sounded on the ship, according to the Navy. Miller headed to the antiaircraft battery magazine, but it had already been destroyed by torpedo damage. He proceeded to the deck, where he was assigned to carry his wounded comrades, including the ship's captain. Miller was strong: a former high school football player in Waco, Texas, he was the ship's heavyweight boxing champion.
"Miller went topside, carried wounded on his shoulders, made several trips up and down, wading through waist-deep water, oil-slicked decks, struggling uphill on slick decks," Navy Rear Adm. John Fuller said in 2016.
The young sailor then took over a .50-caliber anti-aircraft machine gun and fired it until the ammunition ran out. No matter that he'd never been trained on the weapon.
"It wasn't hard," he remembered, according to a Navy history. "I just pulled the trigger and she worked fine. I had watched the others with these guns. I guess I fired her for about 15 minutes. I think I got one of those [Japanese] planes. They were diving pretty close to us."
The ship's communications officer, Lt. Cmdr. Doir C. Johnson, said that Miller was "blazing away as though he had fired one all his life," according to the Navy Times.
The West Virginia was heavily damaged in the attack. Japanese planes had dropped armored bombs and launched multiple torpedoes on the vessel. The ship slowly sank, and more than 100 of the men aboard the ship died that day.
toggle caption Library of Congress
For his bravery, Miller was presented with the Navy Cross in May 1942. He was the first black sailor to be awarded the medal, one of the Navy's highest honors.
"This marks the first time in this conflict that such high tribute has been made in the Pacific Fleet to a member of his race and I'm sure that the future will see others similarly honored for brave acts," Adm. Chester Nimitz, the commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, said at the time.
Miller had won renown, and he was brought home in November 1942 for a two-month tour to promote war bonds. His image was used on a Navy recruiting poster.
He did not survive the war. Miller was aboard the USS Liscome Bay when it was struck by a Japanese torpedo in the Pacific in 1943. Nearly 650 of the more than 900 sailors on board died when the ship sank, and Miller's body was never recovered.
He was posthumously awarded a Purple Heart, among other honors.
Shortly after Miller's death, the Navy began a small officer-training program for black sailors. In March 1944, the Navy commissioned its first black officers, known as the Golden Thirteen.
toggle caption David Stone Martin/Libary of Congress
By naming the aircraft carrier for Miller, says Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas B. Modly, "we honor the contributions of all our enlisted ranks, past and present, men and women, of every race, religion and background. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. observed, 'Everybody can be great — because anybody can serve'. No one understands the importance and true meaning of service than those who have volunteered to put the needs of others above themselves."
"Doris Miller stood for everything that is good about our nation," said Modly, "and his story deserves to be remembered and repeated wherever our people continue the watch today."


npr--2020-01-19--SpaceX Celebrates Test Of Crew Dragon Capsule That Will Carry NASA Astronauts

SpaceX Celebrates Test Of Crew Dragon Capsule That Will Carry NASA Astronauts From a launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center on Sunday , Elon Musk 's SpaceX launched its latest rocket test into the Florida sky .
Less than two minutes later , it exploded — just like the company hoped it would .
The explosion itself was n't so much the success as was what came just before it .
That 's when the Crew Dragon , a capsule meant to carry astronauts into space , separated from the rocket .
That separation was the goal of Sunday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ designed to bring astronauts to the International Space Station for NASA .
But before putting humans on board , SpaceX needed to prove the capsule 's escape system would work in the event that a failure occurred during launch .
With Sunday 's successful test , Musk , the CEO of SpaceX , said it is now `` probable '' that the first mission with astronauts on board could happen as early as the second quarter of 2020 .
He told reporters the test `` went as well as one could possibly expect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up , '' said Musk .
`` This is great .
This is really great . ''
The whole test only took about nine minutes from launch to when the Crew Dragon capsule splashed down in the Atlantic ocean .
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine called the test a success and congratulated both the NASA and SpaceX teams after the event .
`` This critical test puts us on the cusp of once again launching American astronauts on American rockets from American soil , '' Bridenstine said in a tweet .
Following the Dragon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 9 rocket , the `` trunk , '' or lower half of the spacecraft , dropped off .
The spacecraft then reoriented in preparation of reentering the Earth 's atmosphere .
Two sets of parachutes were deployed ahead of splashdown to control the descent .
Though there were no humans on-board for the flight , test dummies were placed in the capsule to help measure the forces a crew might experience during as escape .
Both Bridenstine and Musk said they are looking forward to next steps , which includes additional parachute tests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Crew Dragon capsule .
SpaceX is not alone in working with NASA to build crew capsules .
Boeing was also hired by the space agency and has developed its own spacecraft known as the Starliner .
During a December test , the Starliner was forced to abort its mission to dock at the International Space Station .
The Starliner went into the wrong orbit due to an problem with the capsule 's internal clock .
There was no crew on board for the test .
NASA hired the two companies to build crew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's space shuttles were retired in 2011 .
Since then , astronauts have had to rely on Russia 's Soyuz rockets to get to space .
Bridenstine said NASA will buy another seat from Russia to make sure there continues to be an American presence on the space station .

SpaceX Celebrates Test Of Crew Dragon Capsule That Will Carry NASA Astronauts
Enlarge this image toggle caption John Raoux/AP John Raoux/AP
From a launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center on Sunday, Elon Musk's SpaceX launched its latest rocket test into the Florida sky. Less than two minutes later, it exploded — just like the company hoped it would.
The explosion itself wasn't so much the success as was what came just before it. That's when the Crew Dragon, a capsule meant to carry astronauts into space, separated from the rocket. That separation was the goal of Sunday's test.
The Crew Dragon is designed to bring astronauts to the International Space Station for NASA. But before putting humans on board, SpaceX needed to prove the capsule's escape system would work in the event that a failure occurred during launch.
With Sunday's successful test, Musk, the CEO of SpaceX, said it is now "probable" that the first mission with astronauts on board could happen as early as the second quarter of 2020. He told reporters the test "went as well as one could possibly expect."
"I'm super fired up," said Musk. "This is great. This is really great."
The whole test only took about nine minutes from launch to when the Crew Dragon capsule splashed down in the Atlantic ocean.
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine called the test a success and congratulated both the NASA and SpaceX teams after the event.
"This critical test puts us on the cusp of once again launching American astronauts on American rockets from American soil," Bridenstine said in a tweet.
Following the Dragon capsule's separation from SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket, the "trunk," or lower half of the spacecraft, dropped off. The spacecraft then reoriented in preparation of reentering the Earth's atmosphere. Two sets of parachutes were deployed ahead of splashdown to control the descent.
Though there were no humans on-board for the flight, test dummies were placed in the capsule to help measure the forces a crew might experience during as escape.
Both Bridenstine and Musk said they are looking forward to next steps, which includes additional parachute tests and analyzing the data collected from the Crew Dragon capsule.
SpaceX is not alone in working with NASA to build crew capsules. Boeing was also hired by the space agency and has developed its own spacecraft known as the Starliner.
During a December test, the Starliner was forced to abort its mission to dock at the International Space Station. The Starliner went into the wrong orbit due to an problem with the capsule's internal clock. There was no crew on board for the test.
NASA hired the two companies to build crew capsules for astronaut missions. The agency's space shuttles were retired in 2011.
Since then, astronauts have had to rely on Russia's Soyuz rockets to get to space. Bridenstine said NASA will buy another seat from Russia to make sure there continues to be an American presence on the space station.


npr--2020-01-19--Jazz Saxophone Legend Jimmy Heath Has Died

Jimmy Heath , a prolific saxophonist , composer and bandleader who played alongside some of the biggest names of jazz , including Miles Davis and John Coltrane , has died .
Heath died Sunday morning in Loganville , Georgia of natural causes , his grandson told NPR .
He was 93 years old .
His family was at his side , including his wife of 60 years , Mona Heath , his children Mtume and Rozie , his grandchildren and great-grandchildren , and his brother , drummer Albert `` Tootie '' Heath .
In a career that spanned seven decades @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to big bands — and into the 21st century .
Heath is best known as a saxophonist , but he wrote and arranged music throughout his life .
In 2013 , when he was 87 years old , he told NPR it was important to be a complete musician .
`` Not just to stand up and improvise , '' he stressed .
`` You know , you got to compose .
I want to be a person who can compose , and leave something here for posterity . ''
Heath left hundreds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own bands , and others .
Phil Schaap is a curator of Jazz at Lincoln Center .
He says that one of Jimmy Heath 's most important contributions was bringing the bebop revolution of the 1940s to succeeding generations .
`` Moses is dead .
The tablets are still here , '' Schaap declares .
`` Well , Jimmy Heath read the commandments of jazz , and he got the tablets from the great prophets .
And he used it his way to great benefit , and he even fed it back towards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Davis used his stuff .
Charlie Parker used his stuff .
And John Coltrane was nurtured by Jimmy Heath . ''
James Edward Heath was born October 25 , 1926 , in Philadelphia .
His sister Elizabeth played piano ; his older brother Percy played violin and bass ; and his younger brother Tootie played the drums .
`` My father played the clarinet , '' recalled Jimmy Heath .
`` He was an auto mechanic for a living , but he played the clarinet on the weekends .
He 'd get it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a marching band in Philadelphia .
But my mother sang in a church choir .
But we were privy to have all these great recordings in our home at that time .
We heard all the bands .
The big bands were prominent at that time . ''
Jimmy Heath developed a big sound on his saxophone .
But he was a little man — 5 ' 3 '' .
For most of his life , his colleagues on the bandstand called him `` Shorty '' and `` Little Bird '' ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who was nicknamed `` Bird '' ) .
`` My father told me about that .
He was a small guy , '' Heath said .
`` He says , 'Jimmy , you just got to work harder as a little person .
Because the big guys get all of the girls , and all of the gigs .
They get everything .
But if you pursue your profession , and music , like I do , every day , just like before you came in here , I was practicing .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these myths . '
'' Jimmy Heath had to overcome more than myths .
He beat a very real heroin habit , and went on to perform and record for more than half a century .
He also taught for 20 years at Queens College in New York .
Heath said the reason he was able to do all that was simple .
`` I 'm going to do this until I leave .
This is all I love .
It 's a matter of love .
If you love what you do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at it , What 's better ? ''
And Jimmy Heath was one of the best .

Jazz Saxophone Legend Jimmy Heath Has Died
Enlarge this image toggle caption Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images for Jazz At Lincoln Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images for Jazz At Lincoln
Jimmy Heath, a prolific saxophonist, composer and bandleader who played alongside some of the biggest names of jazz, including Miles Davis and John Coltrane, has died.
Heath died Sunday morning in Loganville, Georgia of natural causes, his grandson told NPR. He was 93 years old. His family was at his side, including his wife of 60 years, Mona Heath, his children Mtume and Rozie, his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and his brother, drummer Albert "Tootie" Heath.
In a career that spanned seven decades, Heath brought the bebop he loved to big bands — and into the 21st century.
Heath is best known as a saxophonist, but he wrote and arranged music throughout his life. In 2013, when he was 87 years old, he told NPR it was important to be a complete musician. "Not just to stand up and improvise," he stressed. "You know, you got to compose. I want to be a person who can compose, and leave something here for posterity."
Heath left hundreds of compositions that were performed by his own bands, and others.
Phil Schaap is a curator of Jazz at Lincoln Center. He says that one of Jimmy Heath's most important contributions was bringing the bebop revolution of the 1940s to succeeding generations.
Jazz Legacy Films YouTube
"Moses is dead. The tablets are still here," Schaap declares. "Well, Jimmy Heath read the commandments of jazz, and he got the tablets from the great prophets. And he used it his way to great benefit, and he even fed it back towards the prophets. You know, Miles Davis used his stuff. Charlie Parker used his stuff. And John Coltrane was nurtured by Jimmy Heath."
James Edward Heath was born October 25, 1926, in Philadelphia. His sister Elizabeth played piano; his older brother Percy played violin and bass; and his younger brother Tootie played the drums.
"My father played the clarinet," recalled Jimmy Heath. "He was an auto mechanic for a living, but he played the clarinet on the weekends. He'd get it out of the pawn shop and play in a marching band in Philadelphia. But my mother sang in a church choir. But we were privy to have all these great recordings in our home at that time. We heard all the bands. The big bands were prominent at that time."
YouTube
Jimmy Heath developed a big sound on his saxophone. But he was a little man — 5'3". For most of his life, his colleagues on the bandstand called him "Shorty" and "Little Bird" (a reference to saxophonist Charlie Parker, who was nicknamed "Bird").
"My father told me about that. He was a small guy," Heath said. "He says, 'Jimmy, you just got to work harder as a little person. Because the big guys get all of the girls, and all of the gigs. They get everything. But if you pursue your profession, and music, like I do, every day, just like before you came in here, I was practicing. And things like that, you can overcome these myths.'"
Jimmy Heath had to overcome more than myths. He beat a very real heroin habit, and went on to perform and record for more than half a century. He also taught for 20 years at Queens College in New York. Heath said the reason he was able to do all that was simple.
"I'm going to do this until I leave. This is all I love. It's a matter of love. If you love what you do, and you can make a living at it, What's better?"
And Jimmy Heath was one of the best.


npr--2020-01-19--$11 Billion And Counting: Trump's Border Wall Would Be The World's Most Costly

$ 11 Billion And Counting : Trump 's Border Wall Would Be The World 's Most Costly The pricetag for President Trump 's border wall has topped $ 11 billion — or nearly $ 20 million a mile — to become the most expensive wall of its kind anywhere in the world .
In a status report last week , U.S. Customs and Border Protection , which is overseeing wall construction , reported that $ 11 billion has been identified since Trump took office to construct 576 miles of a new `` border wall system . ''
And the Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to build even more .
The Department of Homeland Security has asked the Defense Department to come up with money for 270 additional miles of border wall that DHS says is needed to block drug smuggling routes on federal land .
The Pentagon is studying the request , which did not come with a dollar figure .
If the Trump administration completes all of the wall projects it has set in motion , three-quarters of the U.S. southern border would be walled off from Mexico .
The government inherited about 650 miles of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bush and Barack Obama .
`` You 're going to have a wall like no other .
It 's going to be a powerful , terrific wall , '' President Trump said at a rally in Milwaukee last week .
`` A very big and very powerful border wall is going up at a record speed , and we are fully financed now , is n't that nice ? ''
To get an idea why the government is spending so much on Trump 's border wall , look no further than the construction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Texas .
On one side of a caliche road , you can see the pedestrian fence that was erected more than a decade ago .
At 18 feet , it looks downright puny .
On the other side of the road are massive steel bollards topped with an `` anti-climbing plate '' that rise 30 feet above the cotton fields , surrounded by men in hardhats and heavy equipment .
Bush 's fence averaged $ 4 million a mile ; Trump 's wall costs five times that— $ 20 million a mile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billion is approaching the price of a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier .
Customs and Border Protection spokesman Christian Alvarez points out there 's a lot more to Trump 's barrier .
`` The border wall system will include a 150-foot enforcement zone , lighting , cameras , other technology , and most importantly an all-weather access road making it easier to respond to ( undocumented immigrant ) traffic , '' Alvarez said .
`` So it 's not just gon na be the barrier itself . ''
There 's more steel — an expensive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Also , there are powerful floodlights , and every mile will have conduit for electric power and fiber optics that connect the surveillance cameras .
Electronic gates that allow passage through the wall cost up to $ 1 million a piece .
And there 's a graded , graveled enforcement zone as wide as a six-lane highway .
Trump 's border wall is now the tallest and most expensive in the world , said Reece Jones , a geographer at the University of Hawaii who studies border walls .
`` The cost of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is four times as much as the most expensive other walls being built , '' Jones said .
Border walls are much in vogue in the post-Cold War era , he said , and there are now at least 60 around the world .
Israel 's wall on the West Bank ranks as the second most expensive — at a paltry $ 1 million to $ 5 million a mile .
Congress appropriated funds to build the wall in the Rio Grande Valley , but the government now says it needs more .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Treasury Forfeiture Fund , which holds money seized in criminal investigations .
Some of the extra money will be used to build the wall higher and 10 miles longer .
There have also been `` increased project costs due to unforeseen site conditions '' — to wit , serious seepage problems where the levee wall crosses a canal that empties into the Rio Grande .
These extra costs came to light in a recent deposition made by Loren Flossman , CBP 's wall chief .
He also said the agency needs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of acquiring the strips of private property under the wall .
Taking private land through eminent domain involves multiple agencies , including the Department of Justice , and can lead to lawsuits .
The process `` significantly increases the hurdles that the government has to face , '' said Scott Nicol , a longtime wall opponent with the Sierra Club in the Rio Grande Valley .
`` Where you have private property and the government has to go through the courts to get that property , it takes a lot longer and it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to pay for that land , '' Nicol said .
`` You have to send DOJ lawyers in to get that land . ''
By mid-January , the government had constructed 101 miles of border wall .
A hundred miles of this is replacement or secondary wall ; only one mile has been built where no barriers previously existed .
Contrary to President Trump 's claims , the wall is not `` going up at a record speed . ''
In fact , construction has fallen months behind schedule because of the complexities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Texas .
The massive wall projects that are currently underway are fully financed , primarily because of the president 's willingness to sidestep a defiant Congress .
Over the last two budget cycles , a Democrat-controlled House authorized $ 2.75 billion for the wall — much less than Trump asked for .
So Trump shut down the government , declared a state of emergency and diverted billions more from the Defense Department to pay for his wall .
Pro-immigrant groups promptly sued , and initially succeeded in getting federal injunctions to block military @ @ @ @ @ @ @ majorities on both the U.S. Supreme Court and the federal appeals court in New Orleans stayed the injunctions and let the administration proceed with construction .
`` I mean , with all due respect to the president , he 's obsessed with this wall , '' said Rep. Henry Cuellar , a Democrat from Laredo , Texas , who sits on the House Appropriations Committee .
`` It 's a campaign promise , and what happened to that Mexico was going to pay for this ? ''
Democrats say they do want border @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is with manpower and technology , not steel and concrete .
`` I live on the border .
I do n't want to see chaos .
I want to see law and order at the border , '' Cuellar continued .
`` But I do n't want to just be spending billions of dollars to those federal contractors . ''
The federal contractors are mostly giant construction companies with experience handling complex federal projects .
Then there 's Fisher Sand & Gravel .
The North Dakota company snagged a $ 400 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Fox News — a channel Trump frequently watches — to boast how he could build the wall faster and cheaper out on the California border .
`` So that current fence they 're building right now in Calexico , the government has been given basically 300 days to build two miles .
With one crew , we can build 15 miles in one year , '' Fisher told a Fox interviewer .
Now , the Pentagon inspector general is reviewing the contract .
Auditors want to know if the White House steered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bid was the best .

$11 Billion And Counting: Trump's Border Wall Would Be The World's Most Costly
Enlarge this image toggle caption Verónica G. Cárdenas for NPR Verónica G. Cárdenas for NPR
The pricetag for President Trump's border wall has topped $11 billion — or nearly $20 million a mile — to become the most expensive wall of its kind anywhere in the world.
In a status report last week, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which is overseeing wall construction, reported that $11 billion has been identified since Trump took office to construct 576 miles of a new "border wall system."
And the Trump administration is on the hunt for funding to build even more. The Department of Homeland Security has asked the Defense Department to come up with money for 270 additional miles of border wall that DHS says is needed to block drug smuggling routes on federal land. The Pentagon is studying the request, which did not come with a dollar figure.
If the Trump administration completes all of the wall projects it has set in motion, three-quarters of the U.S. southern border would be walled off from Mexico. The government inherited about 650 miles of border structures erected under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama.
"You're going to have a wall like no other. It's going to be a powerful, terrific wall," President Trump said at a rally in Milwaukee last week. "A very big and very powerful border wall is going up at a record speed, and we are fully financed now, isn't that nice?"
To get an idea why the government is spending so much on Trump's border wall, look no further than the construction sites down in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas.
On one side of a caliche road, you can see the pedestrian fence that was erected more than a decade ago. At 18 feet, it looks downright puny. On the other side of the road are massive steel bollards topped with an "anti-climbing plate" that rise 30 feet above the cotton fields, surrounded by men in hardhats and heavy equipment.
Bush's fence averaged $4 million a mile; Trump's wall costs five times that—$20 million a mile. The overall cost of $11 billion is approaching the price of a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.
Loading...
Customs and Border Protection spokesman Christian Alvarez points out there's a lot more to Trump's barrier.
"The border wall system will include a 150-foot enforcement zone, lighting, cameras, other technology, and most importantly an all-weather access road making it easier to respond to (undocumented immigrant) traffic," Alvarez said. "So it's not just gonna be the barrier itself."
There's more steel — an expensive commodity — in a 30-foot structure. Also, there are powerful floodlights, and every mile will have conduit for electric power and fiber optics that connect the surveillance cameras. Electronic gates that allow passage through the wall cost up to $1 million a piece. And there's a graded, graveled enforcement zone as wide as a six-lane highway.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Verónica G. Cárdenas for NPR Verónica G. Cárdenas for NPR
Trump's border wall is now the tallest and most expensive in the world, said Reece Jones, a geographer at the University of Hawaii who studies border walls.
"The cost of almost $20 million per mile cost is four times as much as the most expensive other walls being built," Jones said.
Border walls are much in vogue in the post-Cold War era, he said, and there are now at least 60 around the world. Israel's wall on the West Bank ranks as the second most expensive — at a paltry $1 million to $5 million a mile.
Congress appropriated funds to build the wall in the Rio Grande Valley, but the government now says it needs more. CBP is dipping into $600 million of the Treasury Forfeiture Fund, which holds money seized in criminal investigations.
Some of the extra money will be used to build the wall higher and 10 miles longer. There have also been "increased project costs due to unforeseen site conditions" — to wit, serious seepage problems where the levee wall crosses a canal that empties into the Rio Grande.
These extra costs came to light in a recent deposition made by Loren Flossman, CBP's wall chief. He also said the agency needs more money to cover the ballooning expense of acquiring the strips of private property under the wall.
Loading...
Taking private land through eminent domain involves multiple agencies, including the Department of Justice, and can lead to lawsuits. The process "significantly increases the hurdles that the government has to face," said Scott Nicol, a longtime wall opponent with the Sierra Club in the Rio Grande Valley.
"Where you have private property and the government has to go through the courts to get that property, it takes a lot longer and it drives the cost up because you have to pay for that land," Nicol said. "You have to send DOJ lawyers in to get that land."
By mid-January, the government had constructed 101 miles of border wall. A hundred miles of this is replacement or secondary wall; only one mile has been built where no barriers previously existed.
Contrary to President Trump's claims, the wall is not "going up at a record speed." In fact, construction has fallen months behind schedule because of the complexities of acquiring private land in the South Texas.
The massive wall projects that are currently underway are fully financed, primarily because of the president's willingness to sidestep a defiant Congress.
Over the last two budget cycles, a Democrat-controlled House authorized $2.75 billion for the wall — much less than Trump asked for. So Trump shut down the government, declared a state of emergency and diverted billions more from the Defense Department to pay for his wall.
Pro-immigrant groups promptly sued, and initially succeeded in getting federal injunctions to block military funding for the wall. But conservative majorities on both the U.S. Supreme Court and the federal appeals court in New Orleans stayed the injunctions and let the administration proceed with construction.
"I mean, with all due respect to the president, he's obsessed with this wall," said Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Democrat from Laredo, Texas, who sits on the House Appropriations Committee. "It's a campaign promise, and what happened to that Mexico was going to pay for this?"
Democrats say they do want border security, but the way to do it is with manpower and technology, not steel and concrete.
"I live on the border. I don't want to see chaos. I want to see law and order at the border," Cuellar continued. "But I don't want to just be spending billions of dollars to those federal contractors."
The federal contractors are mostly giant construction companies with experience handling complex federal projects.
Then there's Fisher Sand & Gravel. The North Dakota company snagged a $400 million wall contract after CEO Tommy Fisher went on Fox News — a channel Trump frequently watches — to boast how he could build the wall faster and cheaper out on the California border.
"So that current fence they're building right now in Calexico, the government has been given basically 300 days to build two miles. With one crew, we can build 15 miles in one year," Fisher told a Fox interviewer.
Now, the Pentagon inspector general is reviewing the contract. Auditors want to know if the White House steered it to Fisher, who maintains his bid was the best.


npr--2020-01-18--White House Calls Impeachment Process 'Highly Partisan And Reckless'

Updated Sunday at 11:34 a.m .
ET The White House 's legal team has called the House impeachment process `` highly partisan and reckless '' in a forceful response to the summons issued last week by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ahead of President Trump 's Senate impeachment trial , which begins Tuesday .
`` The articles of impeachment submitted by House Democrats are a dangerous attack on the right of the American people to freely choose their President , '' private attorney Jay Sekulow and White House counsel Pat Cipollone , who are members of Trump 's legal team , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is a brazen and unlawful attempt to overturn the results of the 2016 election and interfere with the 2020 election . ''
Also Saturday : The seven House impeachment managers laid out the case that they will present to the Senate in the trial .
`` President Trump abused the powers of his office to invite foreign interference in an election for his own personal political gain and to the detriment of American national security interests , '' the managers wrote in their brief .
`` He abandoned his oath to faithfully @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trust .
President Trump 's misconduct presents a danger to our democratic processes , our national security , and our commitment to the rule of law .
He must be removed from office . ''
The White House response and House managers ' brief are formal procedures of the impeachment trial .
Sources close to the president 's legal team said the White House will also file a brief on Monday .
The actions come a month after the House approved two articles of impeachment against the president , charging him with abusing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to pressure the government of Ukraine to investigate potential political opponent Joe Biden and his son 's activities there , and with obstructing Congress by refusing to cooperate in its investigation .
Last week , the House of Representatives delivered the articles of impeachment against Trump to the Senate after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi named seven Democratic members of Congress as the managers who will argue the case for impeachment .
They are Reps. Adam Schiff , Jerry Nadler , Zoe Lofgren , Val Demings , Hakeem Jeffries , Sylvia Garcia and Jason @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lead .
`` The only remaining question is whether the members of the Senate will accept and carry out the responsibility placed on them by the Framers of our Constitution and their constitutional Oaths , '' the House managers wrote in the brief .
Trump denies any wrongdoing and has excoriated the process .
Robert Ray , another member of the president 's defense team , told NPR 's Lulu Garcia-Navarro on Sunday that the charges against Trump are not impeachable crimes .
`` It 's not , importantly , treason , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ misdemeanor , '' Ray said .
`` It 's not bribery .
It 's not extortion .
It 's not an illegal campaign contribution .
It 's not any of those things .
And because it is not any of those things , that is why it is not impeachable . ''
On Thursday , a nonpartisan federal watchdog concluded that Trump broke the law when he froze assistance funds for Ukraine .
The White House has said that it believed Trump was acting within his legal authority .
The rules that will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it will last , how many hours a day it will go on for and other details — will be made public Tuesday when the Senate votes on a rules resolution that will formally kick off the process .
Twenty Republican senators would need to break with the president and join with all Democrats to remove Trump from office .
There is little to no indication at this point that this is likely to happen — or come close .

White House Calls Impeachment Process 'Highly Partisan And Reckless'
Enlarge this image J. Scott Applewhite/AP J. Scott Applewhite/AP
Updated Sunday at 11:34 a.m. ET
The White House's legal team has called the House impeachment process "highly partisan and reckless" in a forceful response to the summons issued last week by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ahead of President Trump's Senate impeachment trial, which begins Tuesday.
"The articles of impeachment submitted by House Democrats are a dangerous attack on the right of the American people to freely choose their President," private attorney Jay Sekulow and White House counsel Pat Cipollone, who are members of Trump's legal team, wrote in a response Saturday. "This is a brazen and unlawful attempt to overturn the results of the 2016 election and interfere with the 2020 election."
Also Saturday: The seven House impeachment managers laid out the case that they will present to the Senate in the trial.
"President Trump abused the powers of his office to invite foreign interference in an election for his own personal political gain and to the detriment of American national security interests," the managers wrote in their brief. "He abandoned his oath to faithfully execute the laws and betrayed his public trust. President Trump's misconduct presents a danger to our democratic processes, our national security, and our commitment to the rule of law. He must be removed from office."
The White House response and House managers' brief are formal procedures of the impeachment trial. Sources close to the president's legal team said the White House will also file a brief on Monday.
The actions come a month after the House approved two articles of impeachment against the president, charging him with abusing the powers of his office by attempting to pressure the government of Ukraine to investigate potential political opponent Joe Biden and his son's activities there, and with obstructing Congress by refusing to cooperate in its investigation.
Last week, the House of Representatives delivered the articles of impeachment against Trump to the Senate after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi named seven Democratic members of Congress as the managers who will argue the case for impeachment. They are Reps. Adam Schiff, Jerry Nadler, Zoe Lofgren, Val Demings, Hakeem Jeffries, Sylvia Garcia and Jason Crow. Pelosi said Schiff will take the lead.
"The only remaining question is whether the members of the Senate will accept and carry out the responsibility placed on them by the Framers of our Constitution and their constitutional Oaths," the House managers wrote in the brief.
Trump denies any wrongdoing and has excoriated the process.
Robert Ray, another member of the president's defense team, told NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro on Sunday that the charges against Trump are not impeachable crimes.
"It's not, importantly, treason, bribery or any other high crime or misdemeanor," Ray said. "It's not bribery. It's not extortion. It's not an illegal campaign contribution. It's not any of those things. And because it is not any of those things, that is why it is not impeachable."
On Thursday, a nonpartisan federal watchdog concluded that Trump broke the law when he froze assistance funds for Ukraine. The White House has said that it believed Trump was acting within his legal authority.
The rules that will govern the Senate trial — how long it will last, how many hours a day it will go on for and other details — will be made public Tuesday when the Senate votes on a rules resolution that will formally kick off the process.
Twenty Republican senators would need to break with the president and join with all Democrats to remove Trump from office. There is little to no indication at this point that this is likely to happen — or come close.


npr--2020-01-20--Youth Teaching Tech To Seniors Fosters Generational Connections

The United States now has 46 million people age 65 or older .
That 's a record number , according to a study by the Pew Research Center .
More of these senior citizens are adopting technology , but most also say they need help using new electronic devices such as smart phones .
Falling behind on technology puts seniors at risk for social isolation , which makes them vulnerable to poor health and earlier death .
It 's also expensive .
A study by AARP found isolation is associated with nearly $ 7 billion in additional annual spending by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has made matching tech-savvy young people with seniors its mission .
Teeniors coaches them on using smartphones , computers and tablets .
Founder Trish Lopez pitched the idea at a startup weekend for women entrepreneurs in 2015 after realizing that her mother needed help .
`` She 'd lose a password , she 'd lose a document and then she did n't know some simple commands like Control Z that could undo everything she had just done , '' Lopez said .
`` And so she would start all over again . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with work , Lopez said she wanted to be able send someone to help her mother .
`` But also , I wished I had the patience to help her in the way I wanted to , '' she said .
Patience and listening are some of the fundamental skills young people learn as Teeniors , and the program has served more than 3,000 seniors in New Mexico .
It added a nonprofit arm in 2018 and has landed grants from Comcast and Facebook to serve those who ca n't afford to pay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is to empower senior citizens .
`` I think that 's why we 've been so successful , '' she said .
`` The intergenerational learning experience is really remarkable and that 's why I always say the main service we provide is not tech support .
It is human connection . ''
Lopez has seen many Teeniors flourish through those connections .
She has also seen many seniors break down when a Teenior helps them understand technology that seemed beyond their comprehension .
That was certainly true for Camilla Dorcey , 76 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recently in her home in northeast Albuquerque about a new car she was getting that day .
But not long ago , that routine task was beyond her , said Dorcey who at one time struggled using her smartphone .
`` People would be ringing me and I did n't know how to answer it , '' Dorcey said .
`` I 'd be crying and frustrated and feeling totally useless and old . ''
The Pew study found that 4 in 10 seniors own smartphones , but they often lack confidence in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a retired teacher from Lesotho , Africa , who lived all over the world before moving to Albuquerque with her second husband .
When he died suddenly , she was left alone and isolated , too ashamed to admit she did n't know how to answer her new phone .
She tried to get help at stores , but clerks were mystified why she was confused .
`` They said 'Oh a child ' — I hate that phrase — ' a child could do this , '' Dorcey said .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . '
Dorcey found a Teenior instead , who helped her download WhatsApp .
Now she talks to family and friends regularly in Africa and Europe for free .
On the last day of 2019 , she greeted friends in England enthusiastically over the app , wishing them a happy new year .
`` Oh it 's amazing , '' Dorcey said .
`` I can see them .
I can talk to them .
It 's really been great .
I feel free again . ''
Tess Reynolds , 17 , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said she can relate to seniors who may need more time to learn because she has a learning disability and people used to push her to finish her schoolwork more quickly .
`` So I know how it feels to be rushed , '' Reynolds said .
`` I want to make sure that does n't happen . ''
The experience of working for Teeniors has also convinced Reynolds that she wants to become a senior home health aide .
`` And this is such a great help to really become what you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
At a Teeniors event in December at a senior center about 40 minutes south of Albuquerque , 21-year-old Kendra Gonzales was helping Linda Haverty add a photo of a friend to her contacts list .
`` I went from a flip top to this .
It was like going from a tank to a Ferrari , '' said Haverty , who is 81 .
`` And the next time it was Facebook .
I 'm still struggling with social media .
And Kendra 's wonderful . ''
Haverty 's family is scattered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up on technology is vital to staying connected to them .
`` Yesterday I was going through Facebook and found out I have a great-grandson that was born on my birthday ... and I did n't know about it , '' she said .
Gonzales has been with Teeniors for four years .
It helped her land jobs and decide on a career in public service .
She 's working toward a criminal justice degree , and through Teeniors she learned skills such as public speaking and coaching .
`` [ I learned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the school system helped me with , '' Gonzales said .
`` This has helped me more , in a great way . ''
Trish Lopez never anticipated how Teeniors would affect the young people she employs .
It 's not just teaching them tech skills , but also soft skills employers need such as emotional intelligence , problem-solving and communication .
Their feedback has surprised her .
`` Some of them believe it 's helped them overcome their depression and anxiety and struggles in their personal relationships , '' she said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Teenior , for the small amount of hours they do it every month , has made an enormous impact on their lives . ''
Yannick Hutchinson , 24 , just graduated with an architecture degree and said being part of Teeniors will help him learn to communicate better with clients .
It also helped when he was struggling with depression .
`` It was definitely something that pulled me back from that dark , dark area , '' he said .
`` It was nice , it was a breath of fresh air @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the coaching pool after he was late several times and that 's when Hutchinson opened up about his struggles .
`` We definitely worked it out and I definitely feel I 'm more of an asset to this organization now , '' he said .
`` I need to understand I 'm being counted on by people and I need to be responsible for that . ''
Variations of the Teeniors model exist around the country , according to Generations United , based in Washington , D.C. Executive Director Donna Butts said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to segregate people by age .
`` We really are much stronger when we 're together and value the wisdom of older adults and the energy and new experience of young people , '' she said .
Butts adds that since America 's older generation is disproportionately white compared to the younger population , there are real risks to such segregation .
`` And that can be really , really harmful when we have generations that do n't look like each other , they do n't know each other and they do n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each other , '' she said .
She said intergenerational programs can overcome those barriers .
That was certainly true for Camilla Dorcey .
`` I think Teeniors are maybe seeing old people as not totally ready to be put in the grave , '' she said .
`` For me , it 's making me think teenagers should not all be in jail .
We 're beginning to see a connection between humans of a different age . ''

Youth Teaching Tech To Seniors Fosters Generational Connections
Enlarge this image toggle caption Megan Kamerick/KUNM Megan Kamerick/KUNM
The United States now has 46 million people age 65 or older. That's a record number, according to a study by the Pew Research Center.
More of these senior citizens are adopting technology, but most also say they need help using new electronic devices such as smart phones. Falling behind on technology puts seniors at risk for social isolation, which makes them vulnerable to poor health and earlier death. It's also expensive. A study by AARP found isolation is associated with nearly $7 billion in additional annual spending by Medicare.
A startup company in Albuquerque has made matching tech-savvy young people with seniors its mission. Teeniors coaches them on using smartphones, computers and tablets.
Founder Trish Lopez pitched the idea at a startup weekend for women entrepreneurs in 2015 after realizing that her mother needed help.
"She'd lose a password, she'd lose a document and then she didn't know some simple commands like Control Z that could undo everything she had just done," Lopez said. "And so she would start all over again."
As a new mom herself and busy with work, Lopez said she wanted to be able send someone to help her mother.
"But also, I wished I had the patience to help her in the way I wanted to," she said.
Patience and listening are some of the fundamental skills young people learn as Teeniors, and the program has served more than 3,000 seniors in New Mexico. It added a nonprofit arm in 2018 and has landed grants from Comcast and Facebook to serve those who can't afford to pay. The mission, Lopez said, is to empower senior citizens.
"I think that's why we've been so successful," she said. "The intergenerational learning experience is really remarkable and that's why I always say the main service we provide is not tech support. It is human connection."
Lopez has seen many Teeniors flourish through those connections. She has also seen many seniors break down when a Teenior helps them understand technology that seemed beyond their comprehension.
That was certainly true for Camilla Dorcey, 76. She was talking to a friend recently in her home in northeast Albuquerque about a new car she was getting that day. But not long ago, that routine task was beyond her, said Dorcey who at one time struggled using her smartphone.
"People would be ringing me and I didn't know how to answer it," Dorcey said. "I'd be crying and frustrated and feeling totally useless and old."
The Pew study found that 4 in 10 seniors own smartphones, but they often lack confidence in learning and using these devices. Dorcey is a retired teacher from Lesotho, Africa, who lived all over the world before moving to Albuquerque with her second husband. When he died suddenly, she was left alone and isolated, too ashamed to admit she didn't know how to answer her new phone. She tried to get help at stores, but clerks were mystified why she was confused.
"They said 'Oh a child' — I hate that phrase — 'a child could do this," Dorcey said. "But they never gave me a child.'
Dorcey found a Teenior instead, who helped her download WhatsApp. Now she talks to family and friends regularly in Africa and Europe for free. On the last day of 2019, she greeted friends in England enthusiastically over the app, wishing them a happy new year.
"Oh it's amazing," Dorcey said. "I can see them. I can talk to them. It's really been great. I feel free again."
Tess Reynolds, 17, is the Teenior who helped Dorcey. Reynolds said she can relate to seniors who may need more time to learn because she has a learning disability and people used to push her to finish her schoolwork more quickly.
"So I know how it feels to be rushed," Reynolds said. "I want to make sure that doesn't happen."
The experience of working for Teeniors has also convinced Reynolds that she wants to become a senior home health aide.
"And this is such a great help to really become what you want to be," she said.
At a Teeniors event in December at a senior center about 40 minutes south of Albuquerque, 21-year-old Kendra Gonzales was helping Linda Haverty add a photo of a friend to her contacts list.
"I went from a flip top to this. It was like going from a tank to a Ferrari," said Haverty, who is 81. "And the next time it was Facebook. I'm still struggling with social media. And Kendra's wonderful."
Haverty's family is scattered around the Midwest and she said keeping up on technology is vital to staying connected to them.
"Yesterday I was going through Facebook and found out I have a great-grandson that was born on my birthday...and I didn't know about it," she said.
Gonzales has been with Teeniors for four years. It helped her land jobs and decide on a career in public service. She's working toward a criminal justice degree, and through Teeniors she learned skills such as public speaking and coaching.
"[I learned] things that I don't think the school system helped me with," Gonzales said. "This has helped me more, in a great way."
Trish Lopez never anticipated how Teeniors would affect the young people she employs. It's not just teaching them tech skills, but also soft skills employers need such as emotional intelligence, problem-solving and communication. Their feedback has surprised her.
"Some of them believe it's helped them overcome their depression and anxiety and struggles in their personal relationships," she said. "Just the work of being a Teenior, for the small amount of hours they do it every month, has made an enormous impact on their lives."
Yannick Hutchinson, 24, just graduated with an architecture degree and said being part of Teeniors will help him learn to communicate better with clients. It also helped when he was struggling with depression.
"It was definitely something that pulled me back from that dark, dark area," he said. "It was nice, it was a breath of fresh air."
Lopez had considered dropping him from the coaching pool after he was late several times and that's when Hutchinson opened up about his struggles.
"We definitely worked it out and I definitely feel I'm more of an asset to this organization now," he said. "I need to understand I'm being counted on by people and I need to be responsible for that."
Variations of the Teeniors model exist around the country, according to Generations United, based in Washington, D.C. Executive Director Donna Butts said intergenerational programs offer alternatives to our tendency to segregate people by age.
"We really are much stronger when we're together and value the wisdom of older adults and the energy and new experience of young people," she said.
Butts adds that since America's older generation is disproportionately white compared to the younger population, there are real risks to such segregation.
"And that can be really, really harmful when we have generations that don't look like each other, they don't know each other and they don't understand why they need to invest in each other," she said.
She said intergenerational programs can overcome those barriers. That was certainly true for Camilla Dorcey.
"I think Teeniors are maybe seeing old people as not totally ready to be put in the grave," she said. "For me, it's making me think teenagers should not all be in jail. We're beginning to see a connection between humans of a different age."