npr--2020-10-05--Rochester Mayor Pleads Not Guilty To Campaign Finance Charges

Rochester Mayor Pleads Not Guilty To Campaign Finance Charges The mayor of Rochester , N.Y. , Lovely Warren entered a not guilty plea Monday afternoon to campaign finance fraud charges .
If convicted , she could be removed from office and be disbarred .
The mayor was released under her own recognizance .
The court appearance comes three days after the second-term mayor and two political associates were indicted on charges they knowingly committed finance violations stemming from the 2017 reelection campaign .
Separately , Warren is facing mounting criticism for her administration 's handling of the death of Daniel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of asphyxiation in March following an encounter with Rochester police .
Protests erupted in the city when details of his death became public months later .
Albert Jones Jr. , Warren 's campaign treasurer , and Rosalind Brooks-Harris , who was the treasurer of a political action committee for Warren and now serves as Rochester 's finance director , also entered not guilty pleas .
As with Warren , prosecutors made no bail request for them .
All three are scheduled to have their next court appearance Jan. 12 .
Sandra Doorley , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday that a grand jury handed up indictments , which include a first-degree charge of scheme to defraud and campaign finance violations `` for the purpose of evading the contribution limits set by law . ''
`` I do n't believe this affects her ability to serve as the mayor , '' Doorley said of the indictment .
`` Lovely Warren is still the mayor of the city of Rochester .
Mayoral business needs to continue .
I do n't want to disrupt that and I want us to continue in our community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not disclose the specific amount of the alleged violation , but they suggested it could be several hundred thousand dollars .
Officials noted the donation limits for the 2017 mayoral campaign cycle was capped at $ 8,557 dollars .
Both charges are nonviolent Class E felonies , which if convicted , carry a range of sentences from no jail time to four years in prison , according to Rochester-based NPR member station WXXI .
Warren could also lose her law license if found guilty .
According to state law , a felony conviction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office .
The mayor has not commented publicly since the indictment was announced .
However , an attorney for Warren told WXXI that she is innocent of the charges .
`` Her position has not changed one bit and that is she 's innocent and that she maintains that she did not intend to violate the law , '' said Warren 's attorney Joseph Damelio .
`` She did not knowingly violate the law and she 's anxious to get this process started and she 's ready to go to trial . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the mayor .
While Warren has resisted calls thus far to resign , the charges will surely be damaging to her reelection prospects .
She plans to seek another term when the current one expires at the end of next year , according to the Democrat and Chronicle newspaper .
Warren 's office has previously said she was not informed of the full details of Prude 's death until August , roughly five months after he died following an encounter with police .
Critics have called that timeline into question .
Justin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who was among the officials she suspended last month , tweeted that he was not aware of what happened to Prude before Aug. 4 .
Attorneys for the Prude family released police video of the encounter to the public weeks later .
Prude had suffered from mental health issues , when was fatally restrained by police in Rochester .
Prude 's brother called 911 to report Prude was missing and suffering from a mental health crisis .
When police encountered Prude , he was naked and there are reports that he said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and placed a mesh covering over his head , known as a `` spit hood , '' to prevent him from spitting and biting .
Officers then held his head to the ground .
Prude died several days later .
Last month , Warren fired then-police chief La'Ron Singletary , two weeks before he planned to step down from the post .
Warren has also requested federal investigations and citywide reforms since Prude 's death became widely known following the release of police footage last month .
The footage sparked protests and accusations @ @ @ @ @

Rochester Mayor Pleads Not Guilty To Campaign Finance Charges
Enlarge this image toggle caption Adrian Kraus/AP Adrian Kraus/AP
Updated 6:24 p.m. ET
The mayor of Rochester, N.Y., Lovely Warren entered a not guilty plea Monday afternoon to campaign finance fraud charges. If convicted, she could be removed from office and be disbarred.
The mayor was released under her own recognizance.
The court appearance comes three days after the second-term mayor and two political associates were indicted on charges they knowingly committed finance violations stemming from the 2017 reelection campaign.
Separately, Warren is facing mounting criticism for her administration's handling of the death of Daniel Prude, a Black man who died of asphyxiation in March following an encounter with Rochester police. Protests erupted in the city when details of his death became public months later.
Albert Jones Jr., Warren's campaign treasurer, and Rosalind Brooks-Harris, who was the treasurer of a political action committee for Warren and now serves as Rochester's finance director, also entered not guilty pleas.
As with Warren, prosecutors made no bail request for them.
All three are scheduled to have their next court appearance Jan. 12.
Sandra Doorley, the Monroe County District Attorney, announced Friday that a grand jury handed up indictments, which include a first-degree charge of scheme to defraud and campaign finance violations "for the purpose of evading the contribution limits set by law."
"I don't believe this affects her ability to serve as the mayor," Doorley said of the indictment.
"Lovely Warren is still the mayor of the city of Rochester. Mayoral business needs to continue. I don't want to disrupt that and I want us to continue in our community," she added.
Prosecutors would not disclose the specific amount of the alleged violation, but they suggested it could be several hundred thousand dollars. Officials noted the donation limits for the 2017 mayoral campaign cycle was capped at $8,557 dollars.
Both charges are nonviolent Class E felonies, which if convicted, carry a range of sentences from no jail time to four years in prison, according to Rochester-based NPR member station WXXI. Warren could also lose her law license if found guilty.
According to state law, a felony conviction would also be grounds for removal from office.
The mayor has not commented publicly since the indictment was announced. However, an attorney for Warren told WXXI that she is innocent of the charges.
"Her position has not changed one bit and that is she's innocent and that she maintains that she did not intend to violate the law," said Warren's attorney Joseph Damelio. "She did not knowingly violate the law and she's anxious to get this process started and she's ready to go to trial."
The timing of the charges are problematic for the mayor.
While Warren has resisted calls thus far to resign, the charges will surely be damaging to her reelection prospects. She plans to seek another term when the current one expires at the end of next year, according to the Democrat and Chronicle newspaper.
Warren's office has previously said she was not informed of the full details of Prude's death until August, roughly five months after he died following an encounter with police. Critics have called that timeline into question.
Justin Roj, communications director for the mayor who was among the officials she suspended last month, tweeted that he was not aware of what happened to Prude before Aug. 4.
Attorneys for the Prude family released police video of the encounter to the public weeks later.
Prude had suffered from mental health issues, when was fatally restrained by police in Rochester. Prude's brother called 911 to report Prude was missing and suffering from a mental health crisis.
When police encountered Prude, he was naked and there are reports that he said he had the coronavirus. Police handcuffed Prude and placed a mesh covering over his head, known as a "spit hood," to prevent him from spitting and biting.
Officers then held his head to the ground. Prude died several days later.
Last month, Warren fired then-police chief La'Ron Singletary, two weeks before he planned to step down from the post.
Warren has also requested federal investigations and citywide reforms since Prude's death became widely known following the release of police footage last month. The footage sparked protests and accusations of a police cover-up.


npr--2020-10-05--New U.N. Tracker Looks At How Countries' COVID-19 Responses Are Helping Women

New U.N. Tracker Looks At How Countries ' COVID-19 Responses Are Helping Women By now , it 's become clear that the coronavirus pandemic is not gender neutral .
While men are more likely to die from the virus itself , `` in terms of the economic and social fallout , it 's really women that are particularly affected , '' says Silke Staab , a research specialist with U.N. Women .
Around the world , reports of domestic violence have surged dramatically , as women find themselves trapped at home with their abusers .
Women also face a massive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ research suggests women are also bearing the heaviest economic fallout because they 're more likely to work in jobs that lack social protections like unemployment benefits .
`` What we really wanted to see is how our governments respond to these challenges , '' says Staab .
To find out , Staab and her colleagues at U.N. Women , together with the U.N. Development Programme , compiled the COVID-19 Global Gender Response Tracker , released on Monday .
The database analyzes more than 2,500 responses to the pandemic in 206 countries and territories @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether those measures address violence against women and girls , women 's economic security and support for unpaid caregiving .
The bad news : Just 12 % of countries had measures that addressed all three areas , and 1 in 5 countries had n't tackled any of them .
But the findings also point to bright spots in the global response .
`` What the tracker shows is that countries are taking action and that we can learn from what they 're doing .
And I hope some of the examples can also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' she says .
We spoke with Staab about what countries are getting right when it comes to addressing the special challenges facing women in three key areas .
`` One of the really positive things that the tracker highlights is that many countries – 135 in total – have taken some sort of measures to respond to the surge in violence against women , '' Staab says , adding that there 's real recognition that the situation is critical for women across the world .
`` We need to see those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
She says Canada is an exemplar in this area : It has channeled up to $ 22.5 million toward shelters and sexual assault centers , with an additional $ 7.5 million in funding for a network of shelters that specifically supports indigenous women and children fleeing violence .
Sweden 's response also gets high marks from Staab : The country has provided about $ 10.5 million in funding directly to shelters and hotlines that combat violence against women , children and LGBT people .
That financial commitment is worth highlighting , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ countries , these [ groups ] are the first responders . ''
Overall , the global response was weakest here : Just 10 % of measures explicitly aimed to support women 's financial security , Staab says .
That 's despite the fact that other surveys have found women are more likely than men to report a loss of income during the pandemic .
Around the world , domestic workers – 80 % of whom are women , according to the International Labour Organization — have been particularly hard hit .
Many have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by employers who are now working from home or perhaps are facing their own financial insecurity , she says .
In Latin America , several countries have stepped up with noteworthy responses : Peru and Ecuador have launched public information campaigns to draw attention to the rights of domestic workers .
Argentina extended paid leave to this group as well as an emergency relief payment of $ 155 every 2 months ( although the government is now evaluating whether to continue these payments ) .
`` We 've also seen , particularly in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support women businesses and women entrepreneurs , '' says Staab .
For instance , Egypt , Morocco and Togo are giving cash or subsidized credit to women who work as market vendors or traders in the informal economy as well as to women-led cooperatives .
Togo 's program is a standout , Staab notes , because it uses a cellphone app to transfer cash , eliminating the need to wait in lines .
All three countries are also training and providing other support to women so they can sell their wares , mostly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Morocco has also set up a certification system for women-led cooperatives to make 30,000 reusable masks per day , according to the tracker .
Whether it 's caring for kids at home who would otherwise have been in school or daycare , or ministering to a sick loved one , women around the world are shouldering a surge in unpaid caretaking duties .
The overall global response in this area `` is really in no way commensurate to the crisis , '' says Staab .
Only a third of countries – largely in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , New Zealand and parts of Latin America — have adopted any measures that tackle the burden of unpaid care in any way .
`` That 's really just not enough , '' Staab says .
Most of the measures related to paid family and sick leave during the pandemic .
Some countries , like Poland , South Korea , Italy and the Cook Islands , are offering cash allowances or stipends to parents caring for children at home because of school and daycare closures .
Spain has encouraged telework and allowed workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as necessary to care for dependents .
Austria is partly subsidizing up to three weeks of care leave at full pay for employees with kids .
Staab also points to Australia 's innovative move at the start of the pandemic to keep afloat childcare centers – many of which are small , independent businesses predominantly staffed by women .
In exchange for government-relief funds , child care facilities had to stay open and provide free , government-subsidized care to all parents , with priority given to children of essential workers .
While Australia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Staab says governments `` really need to think about '' offering more affordable , subsidized child care options longer term as they work to rebuild their economies .
`` We know from previous crises that not only does women 's employment suffer a great deal , but it often recovers at a much slower rate than men 's when economic growth resumes , '' she says .
`` And a lot of that has to do with care responsibilities .
And so affordable child care is a key component of any economic @ @ @ @

New U.N. Tracker Looks At How Countries' COVID-19 Responses Are Helping Women
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jyoti Kapoor/The India Today Group via Getty Jyoti Kapoor/The India Today Group via Getty
By now, it's become clear that the coronavirus pandemic is not gender neutral. While men are more likely to die from the virus itself, "in terms of the economic and social fallout, it's really women that are particularly affected," says Silke Staab, a research specialist with U.N. Women.
Around the world, reports of domestic violence have surged dramatically, as women find themselves trapped at home with their abusers. Women also face a massive increase in unpaid caregiving. Meanwhile, research suggests women are also bearing the heaviest economic fallout because they're more likely to work in jobs that lack social protections like unemployment benefits.
"What we really wanted to see is how our governments respond to these challenges," says Staab.
To find out, Staab and her colleagues at U.N. Women, together with the U.N. Development Programme, compiled the COVID-19 Global Gender Response Tracker, released on Monday. The database analyzes more than 2,500 responses to the pandemic in 206 countries and territories from March to August — and assesses whether those measures address violence against women and girls, women's economic security and support for unpaid caregiving.
The bad news: Just 12% of countries had measures that addressed all three areas, and 1 in 5 countries hadn't tackled any of them.
But the findings also point to bright spots in the global response. "What the tracker shows is that countries are taking action and that we can learn from what they're doing. And I hope some of the examples can also serve as an inspiration on that front," she says.
We spoke with Staab about what countries are getting right when it comes to addressing the special challenges facing women in three key areas.
Violence against women and children
"One of the really positive things that the tracker highlights is that many countries – 135 in total – have taken some sort of measures to respond to the surge in violence against women," Staab says, adding that there's real recognition that the situation is critical for women across the world. "We need to see those recognitions be backed up with more funding."
She says Canada is an exemplar in this area: It has channeled up to $22.5 million toward shelters and sexual assault centers, with an additional $7.5 million in funding for a network of shelters that specifically supports indigenous women and children fleeing violence.
Sweden's response also gets high marks from Staab: The country has provided about $10.5 million in funding directly to shelters and hotlines that combat violence against women, children and LGBT people. That financial commitment is worth highlighting, she says, "because in many countries, these [groups] are the first responders."
Economic security
Overall, the global response was weakest here: Just 10% of measures explicitly aimed to support women's financial security, Staab says. That's despite the fact that other surveys have found women are more likely than men to report a loss of income during the pandemic.
Around the world, domestic workers – 80% of whom are women, according to the International Labour Organization — have been particularly hard hit. Many have found themselves dismissed or suspended without pay by employers who are now working from home or perhaps are facing their own financial insecurity, she says. In Latin America, several countries have stepped up with noteworthy responses: Peru and Ecuador have launched public information campaigns to draw attention to the rights of domestic workers. Argentina extended paid leave to this group as well as an emergency relief payment of $155 every 2 months (although the government is now evaluating whether to continue these payments).
"We've also seen, particularly in some African countries, interesting measures to support women businesses and women entrepreneurs," says Staab.
For instance, Egypt, Morocco and Togo are giving cash or subsidized credit to women who work as market vendors or traders in the informal economy as well as to women-led cooperatives. Togo's program is a standout, Staab notes, because it uses a cellphone app to transfer cash, eliminating the need to wait in lines. All three countries are also training and providing other support to women so they can sell their wares, mostly agricultural products, online.
Meanwhile, Morocco has also set up a certification system for women-led cooperatives to make 30,000 reusable masks per day, according to the tracker.
Support for unpaid care
Whether it's caring for kids at home who would otherwise have been in school or daycare, or ministering to a sick loved one, women around the world are shouldering a surge in unpaid caretaking duties. The overall global response in this area "is really in no way commensurate to the crisis," says Staab. Only a third of countries – largely in Europe and North America, plus Australia, New Zealand and parts of Latin America — have adopted any measures that tackle the burden of unpaid care in any way. "That's really just not enough," Staab says.
Most of the measures related to paid family and sick leave during the pandemic.
Some countries, like Poland, South Korea, Italy and the Cook Islands, are offering cash allowances or stipends to parents caring for children at home because of school and daycare closures. Spain has encouraged telework and allowed workers to adapt and reduce their work hours as necessary to care for dependents. Austria is partly subsidizing up to three weeks of care leave at full pay for employees with kids.
Staab also points to Australia's innovative move at the start of the pandemic to keep afloat childcare centers – many of which are small, independent businesses predominantly staffed by women. In exchange for government-relief funds, child care facilities had to stay open and provide free, government-subsidized care to all parents, with priority given to children of essential workers. While Australia has since significantly scaled back these measures, Staab says governments "really need to think about" offering more affordable, subsidized child care options longer term as they work to rebuild their economies.
"We know from previous crises that not only does women's employment suffer a great deal, but it often recovers at a much slower rate than men's when economic growth resumes," she says. "And a lot of that has to do with care responsibilities. And so affordable child care is a key component of any economic recovery strategy."


npr--2020-10-05--Mellon Foundation Pledges $250 Million To Rethink Nation's Monuments

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation says the nation 's current monuments offer an `` incomplete and even inaccurate '' picture of the nation 's diversity and complicated history .
So it 's pledging $ 250 million over five years to change that .
`` Statues are not just bodies in bronze , and monuments are not just stone pillars , '' the foundation 's announcement says .
`` They instruct .
They lift up the stories of those who are seen , dominate the stories of those who are unseen , and too often propagate menacingly incomplete accounts of our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is among the largest funders of arts and humanities in the United States .
The new initiative is the largest in its 51-year history , and it will allocate funds to relocate or contextualize monuments and memorials , as well as create new ones .
The initiative comes at a time of racial reckoning for the U.S. , spurred by the death of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement .
The long-running debate on whether to remove or keep prominent symbols of the confederacy has reached a new level of urgency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statues , their removal has also met intense opposition .
Some statues have been toppled .
Others remain fiercely guarded .
The nonprofit wo n't itself recommend monuments for removal or rethinking , foundation president Elizabeth Alexander told The New York Times .
Instead , it will fund projects that are brought to it .
`` The beauty of monuments as a rubric is , it 's really a way of asking , 'How do we say who we are ?
How do we teach our history in public places ? '
'' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Times .
The project 's first grant will provide funding to an independent public art and research studio called Monument Lab .
The Philadelphia-based studio will use the grant to conduct `` a definitive audit '' the country 's existing monuments .
The Mellon Foundation 's monuments project follows an announcement in June that it was revising its mission to put a focus on social justice .
The organization has distributed over $ 7 billion in grants since its founding in 1969 .
`` The project seeks to ensure that future generations inherit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the vast , rich complexity of the American experience , '' the foundation said in a statement , `` and tells a fuller , more inclusive story of our history . ''

Mellon Foundation Pledges $250 Million To Rethink Nation's Monuments
Enlarge this image toggle caption Eze Amos/Getty Images Eze Amos/Getty Images
The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation says the nation's current monuments offer an "incomplete and even inaccurate" picture of the nation's diversity and complicated history.
So it's pledging $250 million over five years to change that.
"Statues are not just bodies in bronze, and monuments are not just stone pillars," the foundation's announcement says. "They instruct. They lift up the stories of those who are seen, dominate the stories of those who are unseen, and too often propagate menacingly incomplete accounts of our country's past."
The foundation is among the largest funders of arts and humanities in the United States. The new initiative is the largest in its 51-year history, and it will allocate funds to relocate or contextualize monuments and memorials, as well as create new ones.
The initiative comes at a time of racial reckoning for the U.S., spurred by the death of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement. The long-running debate on whether to remove or keep prominent symbols of the confederacy has reached a new level of urgency.
While many cities have removed confederate statues, their removal has also met intense opposition.
Some statues have been toppled. Others remain fiercely guarded.
The nonprofit won't itself recommend monuments for removal or rethinking, foundation president Elizabeth Alexander told The New York Times. Instead, it will fund projects that are brought to it.
"The beauty of monuments as a rubric is, it's really a way of asking, 'How do we say who we are? How do we teach our history in public places?'" Alexander said in an interview with the Times.
The project's first grant will provide funding to an independent public art and research studio called Monument Lab. The Philadelphia-based studio will use the grant to conduct "a definitive audit" the country's existing monuments.
The Mellon Foundation's monuments project follows an announcement in June that it was revising its mission to put a focus on social justice. The organization has distributed over $7 billion in grants since its founding in 1969.
"The project seeks to ensure that future generations inherit a memorial landscape that venerates and reflects the vast, rich complexity of the American experience," the foundation said in a statement, "and tells a fuller, more inclusive story of our history."
Reese Oxner is an intern on NPR's News Desk.


npr--2020-10-05--Regal Movie Chain Will Close All 536 U.S. Theaters On Thursday

Regal Movie Chain Will Close All 536 U.S .
Theaters On Thursday More than 7,000 movie screens will be dark in the U.S. this weekend as the Regal theater chain said it will shut down all 536 locations on Thursday .
The closure reflects `` an increasingly challenging theatrical landscape '' due to the COVID-19 pandemic and is temporary , the chain said .
Regal is shutting down theaters again less than two months after it started to reopen U.S. locations in late August .
The decision was announced after the James Bond franchise 's No Time to Die was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a release that had already been delayed .
Regal is the second-largest film exhibitor in the U.S. , after AMC Theatres .
It is a subsidiary of Cineworld Group , which is based in the U.K. – where the corporation is also closing more than 100 theaters .
Roughly 40,000 Regal employees across the U.S. now face a work furlough , the company told NPR .
More than 5,000 employees in the U.K. will also be affected , the BBC reported .
`` This is not a decision we made lightly , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support a safe and sustainable reopening in the U.S. , '' said Mooky Greidinger , CEO of Cineworld , noting the chain 's safety precautions for staff and moviegoers .
In a statement , Greidinger emphasized that `` there has been no evidence to date linking any COVID cases with cinemas . ''
He also aired frustration that Regal ca n't yet operate in New York state , a key U.S. market , although some indoor venues such as bowling alleys and casinos have been allowed to resume business .
Movie studios have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past six months as cinemas sat empty or showed films only to limited audiences .
The postponed titles include likely blockbusters such the superhero movies Wonder Woman 1984 and Black Widow along with A Quiet Place Part II and Candyman .
In addition , Disney shifted several high-profile releases to online-only , including Mulan .
`` The prolonged closures have had a detrimental impact on the release slate for the rest of the year , and , in turn , our ability to supply our customers with the lineup of blockbusters they 've @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Greidinger said .
`` As such , it is simply impossible to continue operations in our primary markets . ''
While the company calls the closures temporary , it did not name a date for a possible resumption of business , saying it will `` continue to monitor the situation closely . ''
The coronavirus has hammered Cineworld 's stock price , which commanded around $ 275 one year ago .
On Friday , the share price was hovering just below 40 British pounds ( about $ 52 ) – but with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pounds ( about $ 22 ) on Monday before recovering some of those losses .

Regal Movie Chain Will Close All 536 U.S. Theaters On Thursday
Enlarge this image toggle caption Alex Scott/Bloomberg via Getty Images Alex Scott/Bloomberg via Getty Images
More than 7,000 movie screens will be dark in the U.S. this weekend as the Regal theater chain said it will shut down all 536 locations on Thursday. The closure reflects "an increasingly challenging theatrical landscape" due to the COVID-19 pandemic and is temporary, the chain said.
Regal is shutting down theaters again less than two months after it started to reopen U.S. locations in late August. The decision was announced after the James Bond franchise's No Time to Die was shelved until 2021, further pushing back a release that had already been delayed.
Regal is the second-largest film exhibitor in the U.S., after AMC Theatres. It is a subsidiary of Cineworld Group, which is based in the U.K. – where the corporation is also closing more than 100 theaters.
Roughly 40,000 Regal employees across the U.S. now face a work furlough, the company told NPR. More than 5,000 employees in the U.K. will also be affected, the BBC reported.
"This is not a decision we made lightly, and we did everything in our power to support a safe and sustainable reopening in the U.S.," said Mooky Greidinger, CEO of Cineworld, noting the chain's safety precautions for staff and moviegoers.
In a statement, Greidinger emphasized that "there has been no evidence to date linking any COVID cases with cinemas." He also aired frustration that Regal can't yet operate in New York state, a key U.S. market, although some indoor venues such as bowling alleys and casinos have been allowed to resume business.
Movie studios have delayed dozens of big releases over the past six months as cinemas sat empty or showed films only to limited audiences.
The postponed titles include likely blockbusters such as the superhero movies Wonder Woman 1984 and Black Widow along with A Quiet Place Part II and Candyman. In addition, Disney shifted several high-profile releases to online-only, including Mulan.
"The prolonged closures have had a detrimental impact on the release slate for the rest of the year, and, in turn, our ability to supply our customers with the lineup of blockbusters they've come to expect from us," Greidinger said. "As such, it is simply impossible to continue operations in our primary markets."
While the company calls the closures temporary, it did not name a date for a possible resumption of business, saying it will "continue to monitor the situation closely."
The coronavirus has hammered Cineworld's stock price, which commanded around $275 one year ago. On Friday, the share price was hovering just below 40 British pounds (about $52) – but with the new closures, it plummeted below 17 pounds (about $22) on Monday before recovering some of those losses.


npr--2020-10-05--Ethan Hawke On Playing John Brown, Early Fame, And Making A Friend Of Fear

Ethan Hawke On Playing John Brown , Early Fame , And Making A Friend Of Fear In October 1859 , a white abolitionist named John Brown led a three-day siege on the U.S. arsenal at Harpers Ferry , Va. , hoping to spark a rebellion of enslaved people in the Southern states .
Ultimately , the abolitionists were defeated by a company of U.S. Marines , and Brown was charged with treason and hanged .
But the consequences of the raid were lasting .
`` Harpers Ferry , to my mind and a lot of people 's mind , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' actor Ethan Hawke says .
Hawke plays the abolitionist in the seven-part Showtime series , The Good Lord Bird , which Hawke also co-created .
The series , which is based on James McBride 's novel , tells Brown 's story from the perspective of a 14-year-old boy who Brown freed from slavery .
With the ongoing Black Lives Matter protests and widespread conversations about racism in America , Hawke says The Good Lord Bird speaks to this moment .
Revisiting Brown 's story means looking `` deep into the ugliest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ America , '' he says .
`` Throughout this pandemic , we 've all heard the word 'systemic racism , ' `` Hawke says .
`` To really understand that expression , one has to look at slavery .
And there 's really no better place to put your microscope than John Brown . ''
On why he wanted to adapt The Good Lord Bird The magic trick that [ author James ] McBride does by telling the story through [ 14-year-old ] Onion 's point of view is he lets you laugh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the humanness into it , as opposed to kind of a political angle .
It 's not self-serious , and yet it 's full of tremendous heart .
... McBride finds a way to make it a healing experience to look at [ systematic racism ] , the wit of his writing is so compelling .
And so when I finished it , I just felt hellbent on a mission that getting this story into our culture so that it 's easier to talk about some of these things .
I put a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drove up to Lake Placid , N.Y. , where he 's buried , seemed like the right place to start .
And I went to pick up the scent , as it were .
I went to his house and I walked those woods .
... McBride says he talked like `` a high pine . ''
And so I was really working on a kind of high , screechy voice .
And I realized that ... sounds good when you write it down and you 're reading a book , but I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to that for seven hours .
I called James and I said , `` I ca n't figure out how this guy talks . ''
And he said , `` I 'm so glad you called .
I 've been thinking about that .
I think I wrote that wrong . ''
And he said some other things that he 'd come across in his research like one time that somebody describes meeting John Brown and it said , `` It seemed like he was chewing his mouth out from the inside when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our culture so much that when people said things that he did n't want to hear , it was almost like he was eating his own mouth .
And I thought that was something to build on .
On becoming famous at a young age I ca n't imagine that it 's actually a good thing for anybody , particularly a young person .
I think that it can bring a lot of gifts , celebrity , the power to do what you want to do and open doors .
But if you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really know how to use it in a way that is beneficial to yourself and others .
And so it can be really confusing .
A lot of young people struggle with not thinking they 're good enough , not thinking they 're smart enough .
And if you throw oil onto that fire , which is by telling a young kid that `` You 're amazing !
You 're great , '' and inside your own chest , you do n't believe it .
You start drifting off , because it balloons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you know you have n't earned your place at the table .
On the beginning of his collaboration with filmmaker Richard Linklater ( who directed Hawke in Before Sunrise , Before Sunset , Before Midnight and Boyhood ) It was pretty thrilling to meet another young person that had given themself permission not to imitate the generation before them , and was setting about to define who he wanted to be and where and was really looking at the context of the time period we were living in .
It might not sound @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we were all like , `` Oh , I want to be like X , and I want to be like Y , '' or `` I want to be like Jack Nicholson , '' or `` I want to be like August Wilson , '' or ... whoever it is .
And this was a young person who was saying , ... `` I do n't want to be like anybody .
I want to speak to this moment the way that our heroes spoke to their moments . ''
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yourself permission to not imitate .
And he challenged me and we became friends .
On a period in the late '90s where he had to audition for roles again , after being successful earlier in his career Life is humbling all the time , and whenever you act like you 're too good or deserve better , you 're pretty much announcing yourself as an idiot .
The life of an actor is constantly up and down .
I mean , it 's one thing people have this notion that you cross @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or something .
No sooner do people write nice things about you , than it becomes unfashionable to write nice things about you and they have to come up with a negative angle about you .
And they 're probably both true .
To be frank , I enjoyed it .
I hated how easy success came to me .
I was embarrassed by it .
And I know too many artists that work too hard , too many musicians and people who are brilliant , who ca n't sell a record , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bought .
The commercial art world is an extremely unreliable critic .
Mediocrity is celebrated constantly , through the history of mankind , not just in our culture .
So I tried to not take any of the ups too seriously or any of the downs too seriously and try to orient myself more on , like , what my goals were rather than whether my goals were succeeding .
On how the 2001 film Training Day changed him as an actor and restarted his career There 's been , like , three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life — by `` times '' I mean year spans .
Reality Bites had opened and I was supposed to be the poster boy for Gen X .
But then all of a sudden that became unfashionable .
I was only 29 , 30 years old and people thought , `` I know him and I do n't like him , '' kind of thing .
I went out and auditioned , but largely I was really lucky [ with Training Day . ]
Antoine Fuqua , the director of Training Day , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ Washington ] really believed in me .
...
I was fortunate that they saw something in me and it turned into a really unbelievable experience in my life .
... To see up close how a great artist works , it changes you .
You ca n't unsee it .
...
I think I had grown up waiting for directors to give me permission .
Like , if only I could work with Scorsese , then I would be as good as DeNiro .
And that 's a really boring way of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I just try to be as good as DeNiro without waiting for somebody to give me permission ?
But Antoine created an environment to really give Denzel the freedom to play and create the character the way that he wanted .
And Antoine showed me the same respect .
He treated me like a partner and in that partnership gave me confidence .
On getting terrible stage fright later in his career and how it made him a better actor I was an extremely confident young man — and then sometime in my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you 're supposed to be a grown up , when you just have to stop being promising and start delivering , I started getting incredibly nervous and had a genuine war with anxiety .
...
The way it manifests me is that I think I 'm going to die , literally die ... and that 's much more scary than [ forgetting ] your lines .
Lines are really just preparation .
I guess it has to do with self-esteem and my only source of self-esteem through much of my life has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I did n't succeed at that , then I had no self-esteem , which means I hated myself , which means I may as well not be alive .
And so I think in some way that 's the circle of negative thinking that can get you going .
...
I had an incredible drive to excel at my chosen field .
And as I got more educated about what excelling means , it became more difficult to get to the level that I wanted to be at .
But that anxiety kept @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helped me be better .
The trick is to figure out how to make a friend of your fear , and to realize that this fear is helping you rehearse longer , work longer about movement , work longer on voice , work deeper into your inner life .
The difference between good and great is this fraction that is everything .
Lauren Krenzel and Thea Chaloner produced and edited this interview for broadcast .
Bridget Bentz , Molly Seavy-Nesper and Beth Novey adapted it for the Web .

Ethan Hawke On Playing John Brown, Early Fame, And Making A Friend Of Fear
Enlarge this image toggle caption Showtime Showtime
In October 1859, a white abolitionist named John Brown led a three-day siege on the U.S. arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Va., hoping to spark a rebellion of enslaved people in the Southern states. Ultimately, the abolitionists were defeated by a company of U.S. Marines, and Brown was charged with treason and hanged. But the consequences of the raid were lasting.
"Harpers Ferry, to my mind and a lot of people's mind, is the first battle of the Civil War," actor Ethan Hawke says.
Hawke plays the abolitionist in the seven-part Showtime series, The Good Lord Bird, which Hawke also co-created. The series, which is based on James McBride's novel, tells Brown's story from the perspective of a 14-year-old boy who Brown freed from slavery.
With the ongoing Black Lives Matter protests and widespread conversations about racism in America, Hawke says The Good Lord Bird speaks to this moment. Revisiting Brown's story means looking "deep into the ugliest part of America, the foundation of America," he says.
"Throughout this pandemic, we've all heard the word 'systemic racism,' " Hawke says. "To really understand that expression, one has to look at slavery. And there's really no better place to put your microscope than John Brown."
Interview Highlights
On why he wanted to adapt The Good Lord Bird
The magic trick that [author James] McBride does by telling the story through [14-year-old] Onion's point of view is he lets you laugh about it. He [writes] the humanness into it, as opposed to kind of a political angle. It's not self-serious, and yet it's full of tremendous heart. ... McBride finds a way to make it a healing experience to look at [systematic racism], the wit of his writing is so compelling. And so when I finished it, I just felt hellbent on a mission that getting this story into our culture so that it's easier to talk about some of these things.
On finding John Brown's voice
I put a lot of thought into that. I drove up to Lake Placid, N.Y., where he's buried, seemed like the right place to start. And I went to pick up the scent, as it were. I went to his house and I walked those woods. ... McBride says he talked like "a high pine." And so I was really working on a kind of high, screechy voice. And I realized that ... sounds good when you write it down and you're reading a book, but I'm not sure anybody wants to listen to that for seven hours.
I called James and I said, "I can't figure out how this guy talks." And he said, "I'm so glad you called. I've been thinking about that. I think I wrote that wrong." And he said some other things that he'd come across in his research like one time that somebody describes meeting John Brown and it said, "It seemed like he was chewing his mouth out from the inside when he talked." ... He hated our culture so much that when people said things that he didn't want to hear, it was almost like he was eating his own mouth. And I thought that was something to build on.
On becoming famous at a young age
I can't imagine that it's actually a good thing for anybody, particularly a young person. I think that it can bring a lot of gifts, celebrity, the power to do what you want to do and open doors. But if you're too young, you don't really know how to use it in a way that is beneficial to yourself and others. And so it can be really confusing. A lot of young people struggle with not thinking they're good enough, not thinking they're smart enough. And if you throw oil onto that fire, which is by telling a young kid that "You're amazing! You're great," and inside your own chest, you don't believe it. You start drifting off, because it balloons the feeling of being a fraud if you know you haven't earned your place at the table.
On the beginning of his collaboration with filmmaker Richard Linklater (who directed Hawke in Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, Before Midnight and Boyhood)
It was pretty thrilling to meet another young person that had given themself permission not to imitate the generation before them, and was setting about to define who he wanted to be and where and was really looking at the context of the time period we were living in. It might not sound important, but everybody I had met, we were all like, "Oh, I want to be like X, and I want to be like Y," or "I want to be like Jack Nicholson," or "I want to be like August Wilson," or ... whoever it is. And this was a young person who was saying, ... "I don't want to be like anybody. I want to speak to this moment the way that our heroes spoke to their moments." And it was kind of revelatory to give yourself permission to not imitate. And he challenged me and we became friends.
On a period in the late '90s where he had to audition for roles again, after being successful earlier in his career
Life is humbling all the time, and whenever you act like you're too good or deserve better, you're pretty much announcing yourself as an idiot. The life of an actor is constantly up and down. I mean, it's one thing people have this notion that you cross some threshold and you've made it or something. No sooner do people write nice things about you, than it becomes unfashionable to write nice things about you and they have to come up with a negative angle about you. And they're probably both true.
I hated how easy success came to me. I was embarrassed by it.
To be frank, I enjoyed it. I hated how easy success came to me. I was embarrassed by it. And I know too many artists that work too hard, too many musicians and people who are brilliant, who can't sell a record, or painters who can't get anything bought. The commercial art world is an extremely unreliable critic. Mediocrity is celebrated constantly, through the history of mankind, not just in our culture. So I tried to not take any of the ups too seriously or any of the downs too seriously and try to orient myself more on, like, what my goals were rather than whether my goals were succeeding.
On how the 2001 film Training Day changed him as an actor and restarted his career
There's been, like, three times I felt washed up in my life — by "times" I mean year spans. Reality Bites had opened and I was supposed to be the poster boy for Gen X. But then all of a sudden that became unfashionable. I was only 29, 30 years old and people thought, "I know him and I don't like him," kind of thing. I went out and auditioned, but largely I was really lucky [with Training Day.] Antoine Fuqua, the director of Training Day, really believed in me, and Denzel [Washington] really believed in me. ... I was fortunate that they saw something in me and it turned into a really unbelievable experience in my life. ...
To see up close how a great artist works, it changes you. You can't unsee it. ... I think I had grown up waiting for directors to give me permission. Like, if only I could work with Scorsese, then I would be as good as DeNiro. And that's a really boring way of looking at life. Why can't I just try to be as good as DeNiro without waiting for somebody to give me permission? But Antoine created an environment to really give Denzel the freedom to play and create the character the way that he wanted. And Antoine showed me the same respect. He treated me like a partner and in that partnership gave me confidence.
On getting terrible stage fright later in his career and how it made him a better actor
I was an extremely confident young man — and then sometime in my late 30s and 40s, right when you're supposed to be a grown up, when you just have to stop being promising and start delivering, I started getting incredibly nervous and had a genuine war with anxiety. ...
The trick is to figure out how to make a friend of your fear, and to realize that this fear is helping you rehearse longer, work longer about movement, work longer on voice, work deeper into your inner life.
The way it manifests me is that I think I'm going to die, literally die ... and that's much more scary than [forgetting] your lines. Lines are really just preparation. I guess it has to do with self-esteem and my only source of self-esteem through much of my life has been through what I do, and if I didn't succeed at that, then I had no self-esteem, which means I hated myself, which means I may as well not be alive. And so I think in some way that's the circle of negative thinking that can get you going. ...
I had an incredible drive to excel at my chosen field. And as I got more educated about what excelling means, it became more difficult to get to the level that I wanted to be at. But that anxiety kept me up all night working and that helped me be better. The trick is to figure out how to make a friend of your fear, and to realize that this fear is helping you rehearse longer, work longer about movement, work longer on voice, work deeper into your inner life. The difference between good and great is this fraction that is everything.
Lauren Krenzel and Thea Chaloner produced and edited this interview for broadcast. Bridget Bentz, Molly Seavy-Nesper and Beth Novey adapted it for the Web.


npr--2020-10-06--Secret Service Agents Frustrated With Trump's Unnecessary Coronavirus Risks

Secret Service agents generally do n't talk publicly about their work , for obvious reasons .
But privately , they 've been grumbling .
`` I think there is a lot of frustration , '' says J.J. Hensley , a novelist who used to work for the Secret Service .
He 's still in touch with colleagues , and says it 's been a tough campaign season for them .
`` Agents are already worrying about guns and knives and bombs , '' Hensley says .
`` Now they have to worry about COVID-19 . ''
He says most of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of events involving President Trump , such as rallies where people often ignore local mask rules .
But he says the moment of outrage for him came on Sunday , when Trump took a drive outside the hospital to wave to his supporters .
`` I was just shocked , thinking , 'Why ? '
`` Hensley says .
`` It 's an unnecessary move , it 's preventable . ''
Trump was accompanied inside the sealed SUV by at least two agents .
He was wearing a mask , and they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In a call to Fox News the next day , White House chief of staff Mark Meadows defended the outing .
`` A number of folks are just trying to make a big deal out of that , '' Meadows said .
He pointed out that it was n't the first time the president 's lead agent shared close quarters with Trump .
`` How do we think that he got [ to the hospital ] ? ''
Meadows asked .
`` The Secret Service agent that is with him has been with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cars , and yet we took additional precautions with PPE 's . ''
Typically , the leader of the protective services detail has a close relationship with a president , and will weigh in on the advisability of a trip , says a retired Secret Service supervisor who spoke to NPR on the condition of not being identified , to avoid retribution .
`` I am sure that agent was asked his comfort level , before a decision was made , '' the retired supervisor said .
But lower-ranking members of the protection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would have less say .
That 's also true for agents based in field offices around the country , who are called upon to help with security at rallies and other events attended by the president .
`` Those agents in the field have been complaining , '' says the retired supervisor .
`` I 've gotten that from multiple friends that are on the job , that they 're not happy in the ranks , that they 're having to work at these rallies where people are coming in without wearing masks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that OK. '' In a written statement the Secret Service says , `` We follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention protocols to include testing , conducting contact tracing related to confirmed and suspected exposure , and immediate isolation of any employee who tests positive for COVID-19 . ''
There have been reports of agents testing positive for the coronavirus , in one case forcing Vice President Pence to alter travel plans .
Last week The New York Times reported that in August , there was a coronavirus outbreak at the Maryland facility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Service wo n't talk about how many agents have tested positive , citing `` privacy and operational security reasons . ''
Online , Trump 's supporters have pushed back against the suggestion that the coronavirus represents an unacceptable risk to agents trained to `` take a bullet '' for the president , and Trump himself tweeted yesterday about the criticisms of his trip in the SUV .
But to former agent J.J. Hensley , the president comes off as hypocritical , given his statements in support of law enforcement .
`` The Blue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now , '' Hensley says .
`` Do they matter , or do they not ? ''

Secret Service Agents Frustrated With Trump's Unnecessary Coronavirus Risks
Enlarge this image toggle caption Alex Edelman/AFP via Getty Images Alex Edelman/AFP via Getty Images
Secret Service agents generally don't talk publicly about their work, for obvious reasons. But privately, they've been grumbling.
"I think there is a lot of frustration," says J.J. Hensley, a novelist who used to work for the Secret Service. He's still in touch with colleagues, and says it's been a tough campaign season for them.
"Agents are already worrying about guns and knives and bombs," Hensley says. "Now they have to worry about COVID-19."
He says most of the complaints he's heard have come out of events involving President Trump, such as rallies where people often ignore local mask rules. But he says the moment of outrage for him came on Sunday, when Trump took a drive outside the hospital to wave to his supporters.
"I was just shocked, thinking, 'Why?' " Hensley says. "It's an unnecessary move, it's preventable."
Trump was accompanied inside the sealed SUV by at least two agents. He was wearing a mask, and they were wearing masks and protective smocks. In a call to Fox News the next day, White House chief of staff Mark Meadows defended the outing.
"A number of folks are just trying to make a big deal out of that," Meadows said. He pointed out that it wasn't the first time the president's lead agent shared close quarters with Trump.
"How do we think that he got [to the hospital]?" Meadows asked. "The Secret Service agent that is with him has been with him, has been with him in cars, and yet we took additional precautions with PPE's."
Typically, the leader of the protective services detail has a close relationship with a president, and will weigh in on the advisability of a trip, says a retired Secret Service supervisor who spoke to NPR on the condition of not being identified, to avoid retribution.
"I am sure that agent was asked his comfort level, before a decision was made," the retired supervisor said. But lower-ranking members of the protection team, such as the driver, would have less say. That's also true for agents based in field offices around the country, who are called upon to help with security at rallies and other events attended by the president.
"Those agents in the field have been complaining," says the retired supervisor. "I've gotten that from multiple friends that are on the job, that they're not happy in the ranks, that they're having to work at these rallies where people are coming in without wearing masks and that the Trump campaign has made that OK."
In a written statement the Secret Service says, "We follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention protocols to include testing, conducting contact tracing related to confirmed and suspected exposure, and immediate isolation of any employee who tests positive for COVID-19."
There have been reports of agents testing positive for the coronavirus, in one case forcing Vice President Pence to alter travel plans. Last week The New York Times reported that in August, there was a coronavirus outbreak at the Maryland facility where agents are trained.
The Secret Service won't talk about how many agents have tested positive, citing "privacy and operational security reasons."
Online, Trump's supporters have pushed back against the suggestion that the coronavirus represents an unacceptable risk to agents trained to "take a bullet" for the president, and Trump himself tweeted yesterday about the criticisms of his trip in the SUV.
But to former agent J.J. Hensley, the president comes off as hypocritical, given his statements in support of law enforcement.
"The Blue Lives Matter crowd is really confused right now," Hensley says. "Do they matter, or do they not?"


npr--2020-10-06--Cutting-Edge COVID-19 Care For Trump, Not Available For Regular Folks

Cutting-Edge COVID-19 Care For Trump , Not Available For Regular Folks Like hundreds of thousands of Americans who have been hospitalized with the coronavirus , President Trump is recovering at home after being discharged .
Unlike most Americans , his home is equipped with a medical unit , where he will receive around-the-clock medical care from a team of physicians and nurses .
And the differences between his treatment and many people 's do n't stop there .
The President has received cutting-edge care and VIP treatment since his diagnosis with COVID-19 last week , including a combination of treatments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most Americans early in the progression of the illness .
`` The President received experimental therapies that no one has access to , '' says Leana Wen , an emergency physician and public health professor at George Washington University .
`` As far as we know , the President is the only person in the world to have received this combination of treatments , '' she says .
Since his diagnosis , Trump has received these key interventions : supplemental oxygen , steroids , an experimental antibody cocktail , and the antiviral medication @ @ @ @ @ @ @ standard , says Dr. William Schaffner , a professor of infectious diseases at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville , Tennessee .
`` I think most good hospitals would provide the basic structure of that sort of treatment to their patients across the country . ''
But , he adds , treatment with the antibody cocktail made by Regeneron is the one exception — that 's still in clinical trials and has not been granted emergency use authorization by the federal government .
`` Those monoclonal antibodies ... would not have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Fewer than ten people have received this intervention outside of clinical trials , Alexandra Bowie , a spokesperson for Regeneron wrote to NPR in an email .
`` The only way to access the drug at this point is through a Compassionate Use request or clinical trial participation , '' she adds , and compassionate use requests are only approved in rare and exceptional circumstances .
`` And we still do not know if they are effective , '' notes Schaffner , as the drug is still being studied in a clinical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a chance they took . ''
The President and his physicians have maintained that his symptoms were mild and he was generally healthy during his hospital stay .
But both remdesivir and dexamethasone are usually only given to patients who are severely ill with COVID-19 and often later in the course of their illness .
`` We 're in a bit of uncharted territory when it comes to a patient that received the therapies he has so early in the course , '' Dr. Sean Conley , the White House physician said at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health experts believe that the fact that Trump 's oxygen levels dipped below 94 % at times and that he received these treatments is evidence that he was sicker than reported .
Now that the President is home , he continues to get exceptional medical care .
`` Going home to the White House and the medical staff there is not exactly like going home if you are anybody else , '' notes Wen .
The White House contains a medical unit staffed by a large team of highly qualified health care professionals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family and everyone else at the White House , says Dr. William Lang , who served as a member of that unit between 1996 and 2007 — under Presidents Clinton and Bush — and was the director of the team between 2006-07 .
`` These are physicians , nurses and mid-level professionals who have been vetted at the highest level to ensure that they have the experience , training and academic background that is of the highest caliber possible , '' adds Lang .
The unit usually has between five and eight physicians @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care ) , and other medical staff , he says .
The in-house doctors serve as the `` hands and eyes '' on the ground , and they discuss the case with specialists '' at Walter Reed Military Medical Center .
And they often collaborate with experts at the National Institute of Health , as well , he adds .
And while he does n't know the details about Trump 's ongoing care , Lang says , `` I would be willing to bet that the specialists are coming down anyway and meeting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clinic is also equipped with the monitoring equipment one would find at a hospital ICU , he adds .
`` The White House is not your typical home , '' Lang says .
`` There are a lot of capabilities that you and I are not going to have at home . ''
Returning home from the hospital looks very different for many of the Americans hardest hit by COVID-19 , notes Dr. Chris Pernell , a public health physician and the chief strategic integration and health equity officer at University Hospital , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ father to Covid-19 in April .
The pandemic continues to take a disproportionate toll on marginalized communities of color , she says .
Most people would not have access to continuous monitoring and at-home medical care , and many would return to a `` crowded apartment '' where their `` family would be at increased risk because of crowded living conditions . ''
Many people hospitalized with COVID-19 have low paying jobs with no savings , and so often struggle to get by as they recover at home , she adds .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a long time to recover .
Pernell 's sister was diagnosed in April , after her father died .
And she has n't been well enough to return to work since .
Trump said Tuesday on Twitter that he would soon resume campaigning and plans to attend next week 's presidential debate .

Cutting-Edge COVID-19 Care For Trump, Not Available For Regular Folks
Enlarge this image toggle caption Brendan Smialowski /AFP via Getty Images Brendan Smialowski /AFP via Getty Images
Like hundreds of thousands of Americans who have been hospitalized with the coronavirus, President Trump is recovering at home after being discharged. Unlike most Americans, his home is equipped with a medical unit, where he will receive around-the-clock medical care from a team of physicians and nurses.
And the differences between his treatment and many people's don't stop there. The President has received cutting-edge care and VIP treatment since his diagnosis with COVID-19 last week, including a combination of treatments that would not have been available to most Americans early in the progression of the illness.
"The President received experimental therapies that no one has access to," says Leana Wen, an emergency physician and public health professor at George Washington University. "As far as we know, the President is the only person in the world to have received this combination of treatments," she says.
Since his diagnosis, Trump has received these key interventions: supplemental oxygen, steroids, an experimental antibody cocktail, and the antiviral medication remdesivir.
Part of the treatment was standard, says Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of infectious diseases at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. "I think most good hospitals would provide the basic structure of that sort of treatment to their patients across the country."
But, he adds, treatment with the antibody cocktail made by Regeneron is the one exception — that's still in clinical trials and has not been granted emergency use authorization by the federal government.
"Those monoclonal antibodies... would not have been available to others," Schaffner says.
Fewer than ten people have received this intervention outside of clinical trials, Alexandra Bowie, a spokesperson for Regeneron wrote to NPR in an email. "The only way to access the drug at this point is through a Compassionate Use request or clinical trial participation," she adds, and compassionate use requests are only approved in rare and exceptional circumstances.
"And we still do not know if they are effective," notes Schaffner, as the drug is still being studied in a clinical trial. "That was kind of a chance they took."
The President and his physicians have maintained that his symptoms were mild and he was generally healthy during his hospital stay. But both remdesivir and dexamethasone are usually only given to patients who are severely ill with COVID-19 and often later in the course of their illness.
"We're in a bit of uncharted territory when it comes to a patient that received the therapies he has so early in the course," Dr. Sean Conley, the White House physician said at a press briefing Monday.
Some public health experts believe that the fact that Trump's oxygen levels dipped below 94% at times and that he received these treatments is evidence that he was sicker than reported.
Now that the President is home, he continues to get exceptional medical care.
"Going home to the White House and the medical staff there is not exactly like going home if you are anybody else," notes Wen.
The White House contains a medical unit staffed by a large team of highly qualified health care professionals providing care to the President, his family and everyone else at the White House, says Dr. William Lang, who served as a member of that unit between 1996 and 2007 — under Presidents Clinton and Bush — and was the director of the team between 2006-07.
"These are physicians, nurses and mid-level professionals who have been vetted at the highest level to ensure that they have the experience, training and academic background that is of the highest caliber possible," adds Lang.
The unit usually has between five and eight physicians, six nurses (typically all critical care), and other medical staff, he says.
The in-house doctors serve as the "hands and eyes" on the ground, and they discuss the case with specialists" at Walter Reed Military Medical Center. And they often collaborate with experts at the National Institute of Health, as well, he adds.
And while he doesn't know the details about Trump's ongoing care, Lang says, "I would be willing to bet that the specialists are coming down anyway and meeting down there."
The White House clinic is also equipped with the monitoring equipment one would find at a hospital ICU, he adds.
"The White House is not your typical home," Lang says. "There are a lot of capabilities that you and I are not going to have at home."
Returning home from the hospital looks very different for many of the Americans hardest hit by COVID-19, notes Dr. Chris Pernell, a public health physician and the chief strategic integration and health equity officer at University Hospital, in Newark, N.J. Pernell lost her father to Covid-19 in April.
The pandemic continues to take a disproportionate toll on marginalized communities of color, she says. Most people would not have access to continuous monitoring and at-home medical care, and many would return to a "crowded apartment" where their "family would be at increased risk because of crowded living conditions."
Many people hospitalized with COVID-19 have low paying jobs with no savings, and so often struggle to get by as they recover at home, she adds.
And many people who have been sick take a long time to recover. Pernell's sister was diagnosed in April, after her father died. And she hasn't been well enough to return to work since.
Trump said Tuesday on Twitter that he would soon resume campaigning and plans to attend next week's presidential debate.
NPR's Richard Harris contributed to this report.


npr--2020-10-06--White Gun-Wielding St. Louis Couple Reportedly Indicted By Grand Jury

Mark and Patricia McCloskey , the white St. Louis couple charged in July with brandishing weapons at protesters who marched through their gated community , have been indicted by a grand jury , the Associated Press has reported .
Their lawyer , Joel Schwartz , told NPR he learned of the indictment from a variety of reports but has not yet been contacted by the prosecutor in the case , nor have the legal documents been filed in the court database .
`` I do n't have independent confirmation , but I 've been told they 've been charged with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Schwartz said .
He could not expound on the charges of tampering with evidence , saying , `` I can only assume they 're alleging that they tampered with the firearm . ''
Circuit Attorney Kimberly Gardner 's office did not immediately respond to NPR 's requests for comment .
The charges stem from a confrontation between the McCloskeys , a white couple who are both personal injury attorneys and have a history of litigation with their neighbors , and a group of mostly Black protesters on June 28 .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the home of St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson , who lives nearby .
But before they reached their destination , the nonviolent group was met by the McCloskeys who stood outside their mansion waving firearms and menacing the group .
Mark McCloskey carried an AR-15 while Patricia McCloskey , stood hand-on-hip , brandishing a semi-automatic handgun .
The incident was captured on video and has drawn ire from Black Lives Matter supporters and praise from Second Amendment activists .
It has also stoked the heated debate over the rights and protections of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against the pair for unlawful use of a weapon — a class E felony — in July .
But Tuesday 's grand jury indictment reportedly adds a new charge of tampering with evidence against both of the McCloskeys .
Nine protesters — out of an estimated 300 who participated in the demonstration — were issued trespassing summonses for marching onto a private property last month .
But the City Counselor 's office decided not to pursue the charges against the alleged trespassers .
On Tuesday Schwartz said he is baffled by the additional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they are protected under Missouri law as well as the Second Amendment .
The McCloskeyS , who have gained national attention from the standoff , have maintained they feared for their lives and acted to protect their property .
They also said the protesters illegally entered the private community by tearing down a gate and ignoring `` No Trespassing '' signs .
The couple were in court early Tuesday for a status hearing before the grand jury rendered the decision .
The hearing was postponed until next week , at which time , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a not-guilty plea .
Standing outside the courthouse , Mark McCloskey denounced the grand jury indictment and accused the government of persecution .
`` What you are witnessing here is just an opportunity for the government , the leftist , democrat government of the City of St. Louis to persecute us for doing no more than exercising our Second Amendment rights , '' McCloskey said after learning of the charges against him and his wife , local news station KMOV4 reported .
He continued : `` They broke down our gate , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ single one of those people are now charged with anything .
... We 're charged with felonies that could cost us four years of our lives and our law license . ''

White Gun-Wielding St. Louis Couple Reportedly Indicted By Grand Jury
Enlarge this image toggle caption Laurie Skrivan/St. Louis Post-Dispatch/TNS via Getty Images Laurie Skrivan/St. Louis Post-Dispatch/TNS via Getty Images
Mark and Patricia McCloskey, the white St. Louis couple charged in July with brandishing weapons at protesters who marched through their gated community, have been indicted by a grand jury, the Associated Press has reported.
Their lawyer, Joel Schwartz, told NPR he learned of the indictment from a variety of reports but has not yet been contacted by the prosecutor in the case, nor have the legal documents been filed in the court database.
"I don't have independent confirmation, but I've been told they've been charged with exhibiting a firearm and tampering with evidence," Schwartz said.
He could not expound on the charges of tampering with evidence, saying, "I can only assume they're alleging that they tampered with the firearm."
Circuit Attorney Kimberly Gardner's office did not immediately respond to NPR's requests for comment.
The charges stem from a confrontation between the McCloskeys, a white couple who are both personal injury attorneys and have a history of litigation with their neighbors, and a group of mostly Black protesters on June 28. The demonstrators entered the wealthy enclave en route to the home of St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson, who lives nearby.
But before they reached their destination, the nonviolent group was met by the McCloskeys who stood outside their mansion waving firearms and menacing the group. Mark McCloskey carried an AR-15 while Patricia McCloskey, stood hand-on-hip, brandishing a semi-automatic handgun.
The incident was captured on video and has drawn ire from Black Lives Matter supporters and praise from Second Amendment activists. It has also stoked the heated debate over the rights and protections of protesters.
Circuit Attorney Gardner filed charges against the pair for unlawful use of a weapon — a class E felony — in July. But Tuesday's grand jury indictment reportedly adds a new charge of tampering with evidence against both of the McCloskeys.
Nine protesters — out of an estimated 300 who participated in the demonstration — were issued trespassing summonses for marching onto a private property last month. But the City Counselor's office decided not to pursue the charges against the alleged trespassers.
On Tuesday Schwartz said he is baffled by the additional felony charges against his clients and contends they are protected under Missouri law as well as the Second Amendment.
The McCloskeyS, who have gained national attention from the standoff, have maintained they feared for their lives and acted to protect their property. They also said the protesters illegally entered the private community by tearing down a gate and ignoring "No Trespassing" signs.
The couple were in court early Tuesday for a status hearing before the grand jury rendered the decision. The hearing was postponed until next week, at which time, Schwartz said, the McCloskeys will enter a not-guilty plea.
Standing outside the courthouse, Mark McCloskey denounced the grand jury indictment and accused the government of persecution.
"What you are witnessing here is just an opportunity for the government, the leftist, democrat government of the City of St. Louis to persecute us for doing no more than exercising our Second Amendment rights," McCloskey said after learning of the charges against him and his wife, local news station KMOV4 reported.
He continued: "They broke down our gate, they trespassed on our property. Not a single one of those people are now charged with anything. ... We're charged with felonies that could cost us four years of our lives and our law license."


npr--2020-10-06--FDA Releases Long-Awaited COVID-19 Vaccine Guidance

The Food and Drug Administration published guidance Tuesday detailing what 's required for the emergency authorization of a coronavirus vaccine after the advice to pharmaceutical companies was delayed by White House review .
Drugmakers must provide data showing they followed clinical trial participants for a median of two months after their final vaccine injection , according to guidelines posted on the FDA 's website .
The agency also wants companies to submit vaccines for authorization only after at least five severe cases of COVID-19 have been seen in volunteers who got the placebo , according to the guidance .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ why it 's unlikely a vaccine could clear the agency before Election Day .
Two administration officials who were not authorized to speak publicly about the issue said the guidance had not been blocked but had gone through the review process and was now released .
The idea behind the extended follow-up is to gather more real-world experience to assess adverse reactions that may occur weeks after the vaccine is administered .
By publishing the expectations , rather than just communicating directly to the companies , the agency is seeking to build trust @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may be cleared for widespread use .
`` Being open and clear about the circumstances under which the issuance of an emergency use authorization for a COVID-19 vaccine would be appropriate is critical to building public confidence and ensuring the use of COVID-19 vaccines once available , '' said a statement from Dr. Peter Marks , who directs the FDA 's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research .
Last month , the administration pushed back shortly after The New York Times reported such guidance was coming .
`` That has to be approved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or may not approve it .
That sounds like a political move , '' President Trump said during a Sept. 23 press briefing at the White House .
A few days later , chief of staff Mark Meadows challenged the FDA to justify such guidance on CBS ' Face the Nation .
`` We 're trying to make sure that the guidance we give is not a [ n ] inhibitor to getting things out fast , but it also does n't detract from it , '' Meadows said on the Sept. 27 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a surprise to see the bulk of the guidance included as an appendix in the FDA briefing document published ahead of the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee meeting scheduled for Oct. 22 .
Typically , these briefing documents are released a couple of days in advance of the meetings .
But this time , it was more than two weeks .
Pharmaceutical companies have asserted their independence from political pressure to have a vaccine ready by Election Day .
In September , executives with nine of them cosigned a letter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the FDA 's emergency authorization or formal approval until proven safe and effective .
Following the FDA 's publication of the appendix , the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America , a trade group , released a statement supporting the agency 's efforts to provide guidance and transparency to the vaccine approval process .

FDA Releases Long-Awaited COVID-19 Vaccine Guidance
Enlarge this image toggle caption Eva Marie Uzcategui/Bloomberg via Getty Images Eva Marie Uzcategui/Bloomberg via Getty Images
The Food and Drug Administration published guidance Tuesday detailing what's required for the emergency authorization of a coronavirus vaccine after the advice to pharmaceutical companies was delayed by White House review.
Drugmakers must provide data showing they followed clinical trial participants for a median of two months after their final vaccine injection, according to guidelines posted on the FDA's website. The agency also wants companies to submit vaccines for authorization only after at least five severe cases of COVID-19 have been seen in volunteers who got the placebo, according to the guidance.
The requirements laid out in the guidance underscore why it's unlikely a vaccine could clear the agency before Election Day.
Two administration officials who were not authorized to speak publicly about the issue said the guidance had not been blocked but had gone through the review process and was now released.
The idea behind the extended follow-up is to gather more real-world experience to assess adverse reactions that may occur weeks after the vaccine is administered. By publishing the expectations, rather than just communicating directly to the companies, the agency is seeking to build trust in the process and the vaccines that may be cleared for widespread use.
"Being open and clear about the circumstances under which the issuance of an emergency use authorization for a COVID-19 vaccine would be appropriate is critical to building public confidence and ensuring the use of COVID-19 vaccines once available," said a statement from Dr. Peter Marks, who directs the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research.
Last month, the administration pushed back shortly after The New York Times reported such guidance was coming.
"That has to be approved by the White House. We may or may not approve it. That sounds like a political move," President Trump said during a Sept. 23 press briefing at the White House.
A few days later, chief of staff Mark Meadows challenged the FDA to justify such guidance on CBS' Face the Nation. "We're trying to make sure that the guidance we give is not a[n] inhibitor to getting things out fast, but it also doesn't detract from it," Meadows said on the Sept. 27 show.
So on Tuesday, it was a surprise to see the bulk of the guidance included as an appendix in the FDA briefing document published ahead of the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee meeting scheduled for Oct. 22. Typically, these briefing documents are released a couple of days in advance of the meetings. But this time, it was more than two weeks.
Pharmaceutical companies have asserted their independence from political pressure to have a vaccine ready by Election Day. In September, executives with nine of them cosigned a letter pledging not to submit their vaccines for the FDA's emergency authorization or formal approval until proven safe and effective.
Following the FDA's publication of the appendix, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, a trade group, released a statement supporting the agency's efforts to provide guidance and transparency to the vaccine approval process.


npr--2020-10-06--To Tackle Racial Disparities In COVID-19, California Enacts New Metric For Reopening

To Tackle Racial Disparities In COVID-19 , California Enacts New Metric For Reopening There are many things still unknown about the coronavirus .
But one thing is certain : the disproportionate harm COVID-19 has caused in communities of color .
To address the issue , California has implemented a new health equity requirement on the state 's 35 largest counties — those with a population of more than 106,000 .
It 's believed to be the first such measure in the U.S .
In order to advance to the next phase of economic reopening , counties like Los Angeles will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus in their most vulnerable communities — by meeting certain test-positivity goals as well as showing targeted investments in resources such as more increased testing , contact tracing and education .
The goal is n't simply to reduce the number of cases , but to bring the numbers in a county 's most disadvantaged neighborhoods more in line with the county 's overall level .
`` We want to make sure that our focus on COVID has a look at every community , regardless of skin color or wealth , and that we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mark Ghaly , California 's health secretary , tells All Things Considered .
`` That means a disproportionate investment in populations and groups that have a disproportionate impact . ''
Latinos make up about 40 % of the state 's population , but account for 61 % of coronavirus cases and nearly 50 % of the deaths .
The Black community is 6 % of the population , but accounts for about 4 % of cases and more than 7 % of deaths .
Compare that to the white population — which is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but 17 % of cases and just about 30 % of deaths .
Here are excerpts from the interview .
On business owners who might chafe at the health equity metric For a county to be able to move forward with confidence and success , bringing all of their communities along with reduced transmission , flooding the communities that need testing with that , making sure that we have enough disease investigators and supporting isolation , really allow the county as a whole to move forward , even sooner and with greater confidence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ within a single county can really lead to problems for the entire county , as the level of mixing , while we reopen more of our business sectors , occurs .
... We know that so many of the communities that have the disproportionate impact are , in fact , the essential workers and the people who travel on public transportation and move into all parts of the community .
So really , this is not just a focus on the race and ethnic impacts of COVID , but really a strategy to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wise and thoughtful way across our state .
On whether the new measure tackles underlying issues — lack of health care and economic opportunity , mistrust of government — that make Black , Latino , Native communities vulnerable We believe that it certainly gives us a greater path to addressing some of it .
In the short run , we focus on creating access to testing .
We create better , stronger lines of communication between public health officials and those communities , causing us to hire and bring on more bilingual staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ target population .
So we believe it both focuses on COVID , but also gives us a pathway to continue to increase our connection and deepened impact with communities that , on so many health measures , have faced a disproportionate impact of disease and other bad outcomes .
Jonaki Mehta and Christopher Intagliata produced and edited the audio interview .

To Tackle Racial Disparities In COVID-19, California Enacts New Metric For Reopening
Enlarge this image toggle caption Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images
There are many things still unknown about the coronavirus. But one thing is certain: the disproportionate harm COVID-19 has caused in communities of color.
To address the issue, California has implemented a new health equity requirement on the state's 35 largest counties — those with a population of more than 106,000. It's believed to be the first such measure in the U.S.
In order to advance to the next phase of economic reopening, counties like Los Angeles will need to reduce the levels of the virus in their most vulnerable communities — by meeting certain test-positivity goals as well as showing targeted investments in resources such as more increased testing, contact tracing and education.
The goal isn't simply to reduce the number of cases, but to bring the numbers in a county's most disadvantaged neighborhoods more in line with the county's overall level.
"We want to make sure that our focus on COVID has a look at every community, regardless of skin color or wealth, and that we are concerned about equity," Dr. Mark Ghaly, California's health secretary, tells All Things Considered. "That means a disproportionate investment in populations and groups that have a disproportionate impact."
Latinos make up about 40% of the state's population, but account for 61% of coronavirus cases and nearly 50% of the deaths. The Black community is 6% of the population, but accounts for about 4% of cases and more than 7% of deaths.
Compare that to the white population — which is about 37% of the population, but 17% of cases and just about 30% of deaths.
Here are excerpts from the interview.
On business owners who might chafe at the health equity metric
For a county to be able to move forward with confidence and success, bringing all of their communities along with reduced transmission, flooding the communities that need testing with that, making sure that we have enough disease investigators and supporting isolation, really allow the county as a whole to move forward, even sooner and with greater confidence, because the disparate levels of transmission within a single county can really lead to problems for the entire county, as the level of mixing, while we reopen more of our business sectors, occurs. ...
We know that so many of the communities that have the disproportionate impact are, in fact, the essential workers and the people who travel on public transportation and move into all parts of the community. So really, this is not just a focus on the race and ethnic impacts of COVID, but really a strategy to make sure we address transmission in a wise and thoughtful way across our state.
On whether the new measure tackles underlying issues — lack of health care and economic opportunity, mistrust of government — that make Black, Latino, Native communities vulnerable
We believe that it certainly gives us a greater path to addressing some of it. In the short run, we focus on creating access to testing. We create better, stronger lines of communication between public health officials and those communities, causing us to hire and bring on more bilingual staff that can relate and connect with the target population. So we believe it both focuses on COVID, but also gives us a pathway to continue to increase our connection and deepened impact with communities that, on so many health measures, have faced a disproportionate impact of disease and other bad outcomes.
Jonaki Mehta and Christopher Intagliata produced and edited the audio interview.