npr--2020-02-07--It Was 65 Degrees In Antarctica This Week

It Was 65 Degrees In Antarctica This Week At least , that 's what scientists reported at Argentina 's Esperanza research station , on the very northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula .
The finding , announced Thursday by Argentina 's national meteorological service , placed the temperature at 18.3 degrees Celsius — or just about 65 degrees Fahrenheit .
`` That would make it the hottest temperature that we have seen over the length of record that we have for Antarctica , '' says Randall Cerveny , the World Meteorological Organization 's rapporteur of weather and climate extremes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ finding yet .
That will require a panel of atmospheric science experts from around the world to parse and discuss the station 's data for as long as nine months , before submitting their recommendation to Cerveny .
But at the moment , there 's little reason to doubt the preliminary findings .
`` This is unfortunately a continuing trend , '' Cerveny tells NPR .
`` This station just set the existing record only just a few years ago in 2015 .
So we are seeing these high temperature records — not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entire world — fall , whereas we just do n't see cold temperature records anymore . ''
It 's important to note that Thursday 's finding is just one data point , the result of particular weather conditions that day on the northern Antarctic Peninsula .
But as Cerveny and others note , the positively balmy weather this week does match up with broader changes to the climate over time , both on the peninsula and globally .
Last year was the world 's second hottest year on record , and it just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Even seen in this context , the Antarctic Peninsula is `` one of the fastest warming areas on the planet , '' according to Alexandra Isern , head of Antarctic sciences at the National Science Foundation .
That can mean simple , logistical concerns that may not immediately come to mind — such as different gear for researchers , who have to deal with the wetter weather the warming brings .
`` We 've definitely had to have to kind of rethink a bit what we provide people with , '' Isern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down for 10 years , and even I have seen the changes , '' she adds .
`` I bring different clothes . ''
Isern also points out that there are other , bigger consequences of the changing climate .
Namely , there 's a vicious cycle at work : Warmer weather in Antarctica contributes to warmer seawater in general , which contributes to melting glaciers and rising sea levels worldwide — which , in turn , leads to further warming .
This also means more extreme weather events for Cerveny and his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ started this project all the way back in 2007 , I thought we would have maybe an evaluation once every few years , and now we 're having MULTIPLE observations of extreme climate every year , '' the WMO rapporteur says .
`` The climate is changing , and this is something that we have to be aware of . ''

It Was 65 Degrees In Antarctica This Week
Enlarge this image toggle caption Natacha Pisarenko/AP Natacha Pisarenko/AP
Antarctica experienced its hottest day on record Thursday.
At least, that's what scientists reported at Argentina's Esperanza research station, on the very northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula. The finding, announced Thursday by Argentina's national meteorological service, placed the temperature at 18.3 degrees Celsius — or just about 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
"That would make it the hottest temperature that we have seen over the length of record that we have for Antarctica," says Randall Cerveny, the World Meteorological Organization's rapporteur of weather and climate extremes.
The WMO has not officially verified the finding yet. That will require a panel of atmospheric science experts from around the world to parse and discuss the station's data for as long as nine months, before submitting their recommendation to Cerveny.
But at the moment, there's little reason to doubt the preliminary findings.
"This is unfortunately a continuing trend," Cerveny tells NPR. "This station just set the existing record only just a few years ago in 2015. So we are seeing these high temperature records — not only in Antarctica, but across the entire world — fall, whereas we just don't see cold temperature records anymore."
It's important to note that Thursday's finding is just one data point, the result of particular weather conditions that day on the northern Antarctic Peninsula.
But as Cerveny and others note, the positively balmy weather this week does match up with broader changes to the climate over time, both on the peninsula and globally. Last year was the world's second hottest year on record, and it just capped Earth's hottest decade ever recorded.
Even seen in this context, the Antarctic Peninsula is "one of the fastest warming areas on the planet," according to Alexandra Isern, head of Antarctic sciences at the National Science Foundation.
That can mean simple, logistical concerns that may not immediately come to mind — such as different gear for researchers, who have to deal with the wetter weather the warming brings. "We've definitely had to have to kind of rethink a bit what we provide people with," Isern observes.
"I've been going down for 10 years, and even I have seen the changes," she adds. "I bring different clothes."
Isern also points out that there are other, bigger consequences of the changing climate. Namely, there's a vicious cycle at work: Warmer weather in Antarctica contributes to warmer seawater in general, which contributes to melting glaciers and rising sea levels worldwide — which, in turn, leads to further warming.
This also means more extreme weather events for Cerveny and his team to verify.
"When I started this project all the way back in 2007, I thought we would have maybe an evaluation once every few years, and now we're having MULTIPLE observations of extreme climate every year," the WMO rapporteur says.
"The climate is changing, and this is something that we have to be aware of."


npr--2020-02-07--After Iowa Debacle, Nevada Democrats Will Not Use An App For Their Caucuses

After Iowa Debacle , Nevada Democrats Will Not Use An App For Their Caucuses Nevada Democrats are trying to figure out how to avoid the confusion and embarrassment that their fellow Democrats experienced in this week 's Iowa caucuses .
Right after a new smartphone app failed miserably to transmit the Iowa results on Monday night , Nevada state Democratic Party Chair William McCurdy II issued a statement saying `` confidently '' that what happened in Iowa would not happen in Nevada on Feb. 22 , the date of its party caucuses .
`` We will not be employing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iowa caucus , '' he said , even though the party had been working with the company behind the Iowa app for months to develop a system for collecting and reporting caucus votes .
In fact , the Nevada state party had already paid the developer , Shadow Inc. , more than $ 50,000 .
It 's unclear what Nevada Democrats will use instead , but a party spokeswoman confirmed to NPR that they will not be using any apps , a decision first reported in The Nevada Independent .
Earlier , party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ different from the one developed by Shadow was a possibility .
The party says it 's still `` evaluating the best path forward , '' and notes that it had developed some backup plans in the event that its initial app failed .
Those backups involved having caucusgoers use paper ballots to record their votes and reporting results over a hotline .
In Iowa , however , a backup hotline that precinct chairs tried to use on caucus night was quickly overwhelmed after the app failed .
Coming up with an alternative plan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's Democratic caucuses are complicated because they involve four days of early voting at dozens of sites around the state .
The initial plan was to have early caucusgoers use electronic tablets to record their votes , which would eventually be transmitted to individual precinct chairs on caucus day using a different app .
Those chairs were supposed to use that app to conduct the caucuses and then submit the final results to the party .
Now , that complicated coordination between early votes and hundreds of precincts on caucus day will have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , possibly with just paper and manual counts .
`` Those are two really big pieces , with lots of logistics involved , and it 's important that people understand what they 'll be doing , '' says David Levine , a former Idaho county election official who is now with the advocacy group Alliance for Securing Democracy .
Whatever process the party chooses , Levine says it 's crucial that officials and caucus volunteers get to practice in advance so any problems and vulnerabilities can be identified and fixed before the actual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much time left .
Early voting is set to begin on Feb. 15 .

After Iowa Debacle, Nevada Democrats Will Not Use An App For Their Caucuses
Enlarge this image toggle caption Alex Wong/Getty Images Alex Wong/Getty Images
Nevada Democrats are trying to figure out how to avoid the confusion and embarrassment that their fellow Democrats experienced in this week's Iowa caucuses.
Right after a new smartphone app failed miserably to transmit the Iowa results on Monday night, Nevada state Democratic Party Chair William McCurdy II issued a statement saying "confidently" that what happened in Iowa would not happen in Nevada on Feb. 22, the date of its party caucuses.
"We will not be employing the same app or vendor used in the Iowa caucus," he said, even though the party had been working with the company behind the Iowa app for months to develop a system for collecting and reporting caucus votes. In fact, the Nevada state party had already paid the developer, Shadow Inc., more than $50,000.
It's unclear what Nevada Democrats will use instead, but a party spokeswoman confirmed to NPR that they will not be using any apps, a decision first reported in The Nevada Independent. Earlier, party officials had said that using an app different from the one developed by Shadow was a possibility.
The party says it's still "evaluating the best path forward," and notes that it had developed some backup plans in the event that its initial app failed. Those backups involved having caucusgoers use paper ballots to record their votes and reporting results over a hotline. In Iowa, however, a backup hotline that precinct chairs tried to use on caucus night was quickly overwhelmed after the app failed.
Coming up with an alternative plan in Nevada is challenging. The state's Democratic caucuses are complicated because they involve four days of early voting at dozens of sites around the state. The initial plan was to have early caucusgoers use electronic tablets to record their votes, which would eventually be transmitted to individual precinct chairs on caucus day using a different app. Those chairs were supposed to use that app to conduct the caucuses and then submit the final results to the party.
Now, that complicated coordination between early votes and hundreds of precincts on caucus day will have to be done without any mobile apps, possibly with just paper and manual counts.
"Those are two really big pieces, with lots of logistics involved, and it's important that people understand what they'll be doing," says David Levine, a former Idaho county election official who is now with the advocacy group Alliance for Securing Democracy.
Whatever process the party chooses, Levine says it's crucial that officials and caucus volunteers get to practice in advance so any problems and vulnerabilities can be identified and fixed before the actual voting begins.
But there's not much time left. Early voting is set to begin on Feb. 15.


npr--2020-02-07--Polar Express: New Spacecraft Will Explore Elusive Parts Of The Sun

Polar Express : New Spacecraft Will Explore Elusive Parts Of The Sun Until now , all the pictures of the sun have been straight-on head shots .
Soon , scientists will be getting a profile .
NASA and the European Space Agency are set to launch a joint mission on Sunday to provide the first-ever look at the sun 's poles .
Previous images have all been taken from approximately the same angle , roughly in line with the star 's equator .
Scientists are hesitant to guess what the elusive poles of the star might look like .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Holly Gilbert , the NASA project scientist for the mission .
`` We 're constantly taken by these discoveries where we thought we knew what something would be before we measured it for the first time , '' says David McComas , an astrophysics professor at Princeton University .
`` And then we go like , 'Oh , geez , that 's really different than we expected . '
So , I think we want to keep an open mind about that . ''
After the NASA/ESA probe called Solar Orbiter takes off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'll use Venus and Earth 's gravity to propel itself outside that equatorial plane where all the planets in our solar system orbit the sun .
Orbiter eventually will be able to look down onto the poles of the sun .
There are many reasons why scientists want to know more about the sun 's poles .
They think the poles might be driving some important aspects of space weather throughout the solar system , which can impact spacecraft and even humans on Earth .
`` It has real world effects on our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grid and things like that , '' McComas says .
`` As we get more and more technologically advanced , the more susceptible we are to space weather and the more important it becomes to be able to forecast and hopefully ultimately predict , '' Gilbert says .
The data that Orbiter collects could eventually help build models forecasting space weather .
The mission will map the sun 's magnetic fields from the poles .
Scientists think these fields have a complicated relationship with what 's happening inside the sun .
Since the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sun goes through cycles between points of relative calm and high activity .
The active times are associated with `` a lot of sunspots , a lot of flares , and solar storms , '' Gilbert says .
These cycles happen roughly every 11 years .
Scientists do n't fully understand what causes these cycles .
But they 've noticed that they line up with major changes in the sun 's magnetic field .
One pole is positive and one is negative — and every 11 years , the poles swap and have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ changing polarity is likely because of activity inside the sun .
`` It 's a very complicated , rotating ball of gas and that causes the magnetic fields to get all tangled up . ''
The fields store magnetic energy , which can escape in the form of solar storms when the fields get snarled .
It 's a chaotic process that can result in the poles switching polarity .
It would be useful for scientists to better understand when the biggest flares are going to happen , in order to protect satellites @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have ideas about how many sunspots and how many storms and how often they might occur , we ca n't really predict how strong they 're going to be , '' Gilbert says .
The Solar Orbiter will also be able to collaborate with another probe circling the sun .
NASA 's Parker Solar Probe launched in 2018 and will eventually come within 4 million miles of the sun 's surface — far closer than this new mission .
It will move through the sun 's corona , a super-hot aura of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ data on its magnetic fields and energetic particles , as NPR 's Nell Greenfieldboyce has reported .
At certain points , the Solar Orbiter will be positioned along the same magnetic field line as the Parker probe .
Gilbert says this means they 'll be able to measure particles at two different times — once at Parker and then once again when they reach the Solar Orbiter .
`` We 're going to have a nice picture of evolution of some of these particles and how that flow is changing as it 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she says .
McComas , who is involved in the Parker mission , says he 's excited to be able to look at the solar wind from two different latitudes at that same time .
That solar wind blasts the sun 's magnetic field in all directions , which can create the space weather bursts that interfere with satellites and GPS .
`` We almost always measure it from this one perspective in the equatorial plane , '' he says .
Having these measurements from two perspectives will allow them to determine whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is representative – or as he explains , maybe they 'll say , `` Gee , it 's really different when you get to be , you know , 30 degrees higher . ''
It 's worth noting that scientists are also getting unique views of the sun from the National Science Foundation 's Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope .
Last month , the foundation released unprecedented , mesmerizing photos of the sun 's surface .

Polar Express: New Spacecraft Will Explore Elusive Parts Of The Sun
Enlarge this image toggle caption ESA/ATG medialab ESA/ATG medialab
Until now, all the pictures of the sun have been straight-on head shots. Soon, scientists will be getting a profile.
NASA and the European Space Agency are set to launch a joint mission on Sunday to provide the first-ever look at the sun's poles. Previous images have all been taken from approximately the same angle, roughly in line with the star's equator.
Scientists are hesitant to guess what the elusive poles of the star might look like. "I hate to speculate," says Holly Gilbert, the NASA project scientist for the mission.
"We're constantly taken by these discoveries where we thought we knew what something would be before we measured it for the first time," says David McComas, an astrophysics professor at Princeton University. "And then we go like, 'Oh, geez, that's really different than we expected.' So, I think we want to keep an open mind about that."
After the NASA/ESA probe called Solar Orbiter takes off from Florida's Cape Canaveral, it'll use Venus and Earth's gravity to propel itself outside that equatorial plane where all the planets in our solar system orbit the sun. Orbiter eventually will be able to look down onto the poles of the sun.
There are many reasons why scientists want to know more about the sun's poles. They think the poles might be driving some important aspects of space weather throughout the solar system, which can impact spacecraft and even humans on Earth. "It has real world effects on our satellites, our GPS, our power grid and things like that," McComas says.
"As we get more and more technologically advanced, the more susceptible we are to space weather and the more important it becomes to be able to forecast and hopefully ultimately predict," Gilbert says. The data that Orbiter collects could eventually help build models forecasting space weather.
The mission will map the sun's magnetic fields from the poles. Scientists think these fields have a complicated relationship with what's happening inside the sun.
NASA Goddard YouTube
Since the 1800s, scientists have noticed that the sun goes through cycles between points of relative calm and high activity. The active times are associated with "a lot of sunspots, a lot of flares, and solar storms," Gilbert says. These cycles happen roughly every 11 years.
Scientists don't fully understand what causes these cycles. But they've noticed that they line up with major changes in the sun's magnetic field. One pole is positive and one is negative — and every 11 years, the poles swap and have the opposite charge.
Gilbert says the changing polarity is likely because of activity inside the sun. "It's a very complicated, rotating ball of gas and that causes the magnetic fields to get all tangled up." The fields store magnetic energy, which can escape in the form of solar storms when the fields get snarled. It's a chaotic process that can result in the poles switching polarity.
It would be useful for scientists to better understand when the biggest flares are going to happen, in order to protect satellites and other spacecraft. "Even though we have ideas about how many sunspots and how many storms and how often they might occur, we can't really predict how strong they're going to be," Gilbert says.
The Solar Orbiter will also be able to collaborate with another probe circling the sun. NASA's Parker Solar Probe launched in 2018 and will eventually come within 4 million miles of the sun's surface — far closer than this new mission. It will move through the sun's corona, a super-hot aura of gases around the star, and gather data on its magnetic fields and energetic particles, as NPR's Nell Greenfieldboyce has reported.
At certain points, the Solar Orbiter will be positioned along the same magnetic field line as the Parker probe. Gilbert says this means they'll be able to measure particles at two different times — once at Parker and then once again when they reach the Solar Orbiter. "We're going to have a nice picture of evolution of some of these particles and how that flow is changing as it's moving away from the sun," she says.
McComas, who is involved in the Parker mission, says he's excited to be able to look at the solar wind from two different latitudes at that same time. That solar wind blasts the sun's magnetic field in all directions, which can create the space weather bursts that interfere with satellites and GPS.
"We almost always measure it from this one perspective in the equatorial plane," he says. Having these measurements from two perspectives will allow them to determine whether the perspective that we've always known is representative – or as he explains, maybe they'll say, "Gee, it's really different when you get to be, you know, 30 degrees higher."
It's worth noting that scientists are also getting unique views of the sun from the National Science Foundation's Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope. Last month, the foundation released unprecedented, mesmerizing photos of the sun's surface.


npr--2020-02-07--NTSB: Kobe Bryant Helicopter Engine Did Not Fail Before Crash

NTSB : Kobe Bryant Helicopter Engine Did Not Fail Before Crash Federal investigators say the helicopter that crashed in Southern California last month killing NBA basketball star Kobe Bryant , his daughter and seven other people did not have an engine failure .
The investigative update from the National Transportation Safety Board has not determined the cause of the crash .
But it did give several new details .
The key finding of the preliminary report is the Sikorsky S-76 's rotors were both powered and turning at impact in the hilly terrain near Calabasas , Calif. `` Viewable sections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an uncontained or catastrophic internal failure . ''
According to the NTSB , the helicopter took off from John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana , Calif. , on Jan. 26 and proceeded north .
The eight passengers were heading to a youth basketball tournament near Camarillo .
The weather that day began to worsen not long after departure .
As he approached Burbank , pilot Ara Zobayan asked flight controllers for a `` special VFR clearance '' which would allow him to continue flying despite the lowering clouds and fog .
Investigators highlighted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 11-page report .
They included pictures from witnesses and images from surveillance cameras near the crash site and along the flight path .
The pictures show very foggy conditions and at one point the helicopter appears to be entering the clouds .
The report highlights a descending , left turn at high speed before impact which caused a two-foot crater .
The findings in the report continue to be consistent with a leading theory – that the pilot flew into the clouds and lost control of the aircraft .
The NTSB also confirmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Island Express Helicopters , was only permitted to fly under visual flight rules , known as VFR .
The highly experienced instructor pilot was allowed to fly in the clouds using instrument guidance but was prevented from doing so because of his company 's limitation .
The update also found the pilot 's most recent flight review in May included proficiency training in inadvertent entry into instrument conditions and recovery from unusual attitude .
The report said he `` received satisfactory grades for these maneuvers . ''
The final investigative findings are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

NTSB: Kobe Bryant Helicopter Engine Did Not Fail Before Crash
Enlarge this image toggle caption James Anderson/AP James Anderson/AP
Federal investigators say the helicopter that crashed in Southern California last month killing NBA basketball star Kobe Bryant, his daughter and seven other people did not have an engine failure. The investigative update from the National Transportation Safety Board has not determined the cause of the crash. But it did give several new details.
The key finding of the preliminary report is the Sikorsky S-76's rotors were both powered and turning at impact in the hilly terrain near Calabasas, Calif. "Viewable sections of the engines showed no evidence of an uncontained or catastrophic internal failure."
According to the NTSB, the helicopter took off from John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, Calif., on Jan. 26 and proceeded north. The eight passengers were heading to a youth basketball tournament near Camarillo. The weather that day began to worsen not long after departure. As he approached Burbank, pilot Ara Zobayan asked flight controllers for a "special VFR clearance" which would allow him to continue flying despite the lowering clouds and fog.
Investigators highlighted the deteriorating weather several times in the 11-page report. They included pictures from witnesses and images from surveillance cameras near the crash site and along the flight path. The pictures show very foggy conditions and at one point the helicopter appears to be entering the clouds.
The report highlights a descending, left turn at high speed before impact which caused a two-foot crater. The findings in the report continue to be consistent with a leading theory – that the pilot flew into the clouds and lost control of the aircraft.
The NTSB also confirmed for the first time the helicopter company, Island Express Helicopters, was only permitted to fly under visual flight rules, known as VFR. The highly experienced instructor pilot was allowed to fly in the clouds using instrument guidance but was prevented from doing so because of his company's limitation.
The update also found the pilot's most recent flight review in May included proficiency training in inadvertent entry into instrument conditions and recovery from unusual attitude. The report said he "received satisfactory grades for these maneuvers."
The final investigative findings are not expected for at least a year.


npr--2020-02-07--New York State To Sue Trump Administration Over Trusted Traveler Restrictions

New York State To Sue Trump Administration Over Trusted Traveler Restrictions The Trump administration 's attempt to block New Yorkers from enrolling in trusted traveler programs is heading for court .
On Friday , Gov .
Andrew Cuomo and the New York Civil Liberties Union announced their intention to file lawsuits against the Department of Homeland Security .
DHS said this week that it will no longer allow New York state residents to sign up for popular programs intended to speed up international travel because of a state law that blocks immigration authorities from accessing motor vehicle records .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's an abuse of power .
It is extortion , '' Cuomo said at a press conference announcing the lawsuit .
New York 's `` Green Light '' law allows immigrants in the country illegally to apply for driver 's licenses .
More than a dozen other states do the same .
But New York 's law goes further : it prohibits the state 's DMV from sharing information with immigration authorities , unless a judge orders them to .
Acting deputy DHS secretary Ken Cuccinelli said that prevents them from properly vetting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Entry and NEXUS .
`` Here we have a state that was one of the targets on [ Sept. 11 ] walking backwards to bar the sharing of law enforcement relevant information , '' Cuccinelli said Thursday on a call with reporters , `` and crucially , criminal records , which are kept up to date in DMV databases . ''
But New York 's governor argues that the move is political retribution for the state 's decision to block information-sharing with Immigration and Customs Enforcement .
`` I do n't want ICE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , `` because ICE will use those records as a means to do deportations .
The way ICE does a deportation has wreaked havoc all over this state . ''
DHS says roughly 175,000 New Yorkers will lose their trusted traveler status by the end of the year as their credentials expire , and they wo n't be allowed to renew .
And another 50,000 who had been tentatively approved will now be rejected .
They can still travel , but not in the fast lane .
`` I 'm definitely frustrated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who lives in New York City .
She does n't have a driver 's license , but was still tentatively approved for Global Entry in time for her trips to Japan and Europe later this year .
She says the DHS decision to block New Yorkers from the program over access to DMV records does n't make sense .
`` So it 's additionally frustrating because it would not matter in my particular case , '' Barnett said .
A driver 's license is not required to sign up for Global Entry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Friday it intends to file a class-action lawsuit of its own on behalf of the hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers who are shut out of the programs .
`` Tampering with New Yorkers ' access to travel is reckless but it 's not surprising , '' said Donna Lieberman , executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union .
`` It 's exactly what we should expect from a president who will do anything to punish people who stand in the way of his cruel agenda . ''
The Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a request for comment on the lawsuits .

New York State To Sue Trump Administration Over Trusted Traveler Restrictions
Enlarge this image toggle caption Paul J. Richards /AFP via Getty Images Paul J. Richards /AFP via Getty Images
The Trump administration's attempt to block New Yorkers from enrolling in trusted traveler programs is heading for court.
On Friday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the New York Civil Liberties Union announced their intention to file lawsuits against the Department of Homeland Security. DHS said this week that it will no longer allow New York state residents to sign up for popular programs intended to speed up international travel because of a state law that blocks immigration authorities from accessing motor vehicle records.
"You can't do that. It's an abuse of power. It is extortion," Cuomo said at a press conference announcing the lawsuit.
New York's "Green Light" law allows immigrants in the country illegally to apply for driver's licenses. More than a dozen other states do the same. But New York's law goes further: it prohibits the state's DMV from sharing information with immigration authorities, unless a judge orders them to.
Acting deputy DHS secretary Ken Cuccinelli said that prevents them from properly vetting applicants for trusted traveler programs including Global Entry and NEXUS.
"Here we have a state that was one of the targets on [Sept. 11] walking backwards to bar the sharing of law enforcement relevant information," Cuccinelli said Thursday on a call with reporters, "and crucially, criminal records, which are kept up to date in DMV databases."
But New York's governor argues that the move is political retribution for the state's decision to block information-sharing with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
"I don't want ICE to have those records," Cuomo said, "because ICE will use those records as a means to do deportations. The way ICE does a deportation has wreaked havoc all over this state."
DHS says roughly 175,000 New Yorkers will lose their trusted traveler status by the end of the year as their credentials expire, and they won't be allowed to renew. And another 50,000 who had been tentatively approved will now be rejected.
They can still travel, but not in the fast lane.
"I'm definitely frustrated by it," said Roberta Barnett, who lives in New York City. She doesn't have a driver's license, but was still tentatively approved for Global Entry in time for her trips to Japan and Europe later this year.
She says the DHS decision to block New Yorkers from the program over access to DMV records doesn't make sense.
"So it's additionally frustrating because it would not matter in my particular case," Barnett said.
A driver's license is not required to sign up for Global Entry.
The New York Civil Liberties Union said Friday it intends to file a class-action lawsuit of its own on behalf of the hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers who are shut out of the programs.
"Tampering with New Yorkers' access to travel is reckless but it's not surprising," said Donna Lieberman, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union. "It's exactly what we should expect from a president who will do anything to punish people who stand in the way of his cruel agenda."
The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the lawsuits.


npr--2020-02-07--2 Key Impeachment Witnesses, Vindman And Sondland, Recalled By Trump

Two key impeachment witnesses — Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman and Ambassador Gordon Sondland — were recalled by President Trump Friday afternoon .
Vindman , the Ukraine expert at the National Security Council who became a star witness in the House impeachment hearings on President Trump 's dealings with Ukraine , was `` escorted '' out of the White House on Friday , his lawyer said , adding Trump had `` decided to exact revenge . ''
Sondland , who has served as United States ambassador to the European Union , said in a statement Friday that he was `` advised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me effective immediately as United States ambassador to the European Union . ''
`` I am grateful to President Trump for having given me the opportunity to serve , to Secretary Pompeo for his consistent support , and to the exceptional and dedicated professionals at the U.S. Mission to the European Union , '' Sondland wrote .
`` I am proud of our accomplishments .
Our work here has been the highlight of my career . ''
David Pressman of Boies Schiller Flexner LLP , Vindman 's lawyer , said in a statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the mind of any American why this man 's job is over , why this country now has one less soldier serving it at the White House .
LTC Vindman was asked to leave for telling the truth , '' Pressman said Vindman 's twin brother , Lt. Col. Yevgeny Vindman was also fired from the National Security Council on Friday .
Both have been reassigned to the Department of Army , a department spokesperson confirmed .
The department would not provide further information .
In a searing statement , Alexander Vindman 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` cost LTC Alexander Vindman his job , his career , and his privacy .
He did what any member of our military is charged with doing every day : he followed orders , he obeyed his oath , and he served his country , even when doing so was fraught with danger and personal peril .
And for that , the most powerful man in the world - buoyed by the silent , the pliable , and the complicit - has decided to exact revenge . ''
The White House and National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comment .
Earlier on Friday , Trump was asked by a reporter whether Vindman would be leaving .
`` I 'm not happy with him .
You think I 'm supposed to be happy with him ?
I 'm not .
They 'll make that decision .
You 'll be hearing , '' Trump said .
Today , Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman was escorted out of the White House where he has dutifully served his country and his President .
He does so having spoken publicly once , and only pursuant to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There is no question in the mind of any American why this man 's job is over , why this country now has one less soldier serving it at the White House .
LTC Vindman was asked to leave for telling the truth .
His honor , his commitment to right , frightened the powerful .
During his decades of service to this country , LTC Alexander Vindman has served quietly but dutifully , and he has served with honor .
He came into the public eye only when subpoenaed to testify before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law demanded.In recent months , many entrusted with power in our political system have cowered out of fear .
And , yet , a handful of men and women , not endowed with prestige or power , but equipped only with a sense of right borne out of years of quiet service to their country made different choices .
They courageously chose to honor their duty with integrity , to trust the truth , and to put their faith in country ahead of fear .
And they have paid a price.The truth has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his career , and his privacy .
He did what any member of our military is charged with doing every day : he followed orders , he obeyed his oath , and he served his country , even when doing so was fraught with danger and personal peril .
And for that , the most powerful man in the world - buoyed by the silent , the pliable , and the complicit - has decided to exact revenge .
LTC Alexander Vindman leaves the White House today .
But we must not accept @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and loyalty that he represents .
In this country right matters , and so does truth .
Truth is not partisan .
If we allow truthful voices to be silenced , if we ignore their warnings , eventually there will be no one left to warn us .

Vindman, Sondland Removed As Trump Purges Impeachment Witnesses
Enlarge this image toggle caption Drew Angerer and Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images Drew Angerer and Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images
Updated at 3:31 p.m. ET Saturday
President Trump, who has expressed anger about officials who testified in his impeachment inquiry, fired two of them on Friday.
Trump recalled European Union Ambassador Gordon Sondland and ended the White House National Security Council assignment of Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman.
In tweets Saturday, Trump addressed Vindman's firing, saying, "I don't know him, never spoke to him, or met him (I don't believe!) but, he was very insubordinate, reported contents of my 'perfect' calls incorrectly ... was given a horrendous report by his superior, the man he reported to, who publicly stated that Vindman had problems with judgement, adhering to the chain of command and leaking information. In other words, 'OUT'."
Vindman's attorney, David Pressman, called Trump's claims about Vindman "obviously false," adding that "they conflict with the clear personnel record and the entirety of the impeachment record of which the President is well aware. While the most powerful man in the world continues his campaign of intimidation, while too many entrusted with political office continue to remain silent, Lieutenant Colonel Vindman continues his service to our country as a decorated, active duty member of our military."
The swift actions Friday — coming only two days after Trump's acquittal — incensed his critics. "President Trump is exacting his retribution, removing those who complied with subpoenas, came forward, and testified about his misconduct," Rep. Adam Schiff, who led the House impeachment inquiry, said on Twitter Friday night.
"This is as clear a case of retribution as I've seen during my 27 years in the Senate," Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the ranking member on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said in a statement.
Vindman, the Ukraine expert at the National Security Council who became a star witness in the House impeachment hearings on President Trump's dealings with the country, was "escorted" out of the White House on Friday, his lawyer said, adding Trump had "decided to exact revenge."
Sondland, a Trump campaign donor who has served as United States ambassador to the European Union, said in a statement Friday that he was "advised today that the President intends to recall me effective immediately as United States ambassador to the European Union."
"I am grateful to President Trump for having given me the opportunity to serve, to Secretary Pompeo for his consistent support, and to the exceptional and dedicated professionals at the U.S. Mission to the European Union," Sondland wrote. "I am proud of our accomplishments. Our work here has been the highlight of my career."
Vindman's twin brother, Lt. Col. Yevgeny Vindman, was also fired from the National Security Council on Friday, Pressman said.
The Vindman brothers have been reassigned to the Department of the Army, a department spokesperson confirmed. The department would not provide further information.
The National Security Council declined comment on Vindman's departure.
Earlier Friday, Trump was asked by a reporter whether Vindman would be leaving. "I'm not happy with him. You think I'm supposed to be happy with him? I'm not. They'll make that decision. You'll be hearing," Trump said.
Vindman, who immigrated from Ukraine as a child and is a decorated Iraq war veteran, was part of a group of officials who listened as Trump make his July 25 phone call to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. He reported the call to NSC lawyers and said he was concerned that Trump had pressed Zelenskiy to investigate a political rival.
"Frankly, I couldn't believe what I was hearing. It was probably an element of shock that maybe in certain regards my worst fear about how Ukrainian policy could play out, was playing out and how this was likely to have significant implications for U.S. national security," Vindman testified.
Vindman had testified that his assignment at the White House was scheduled end in July and that he would return to the Army afterward.
Sondland had worked on Ukraine policy with Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani. He dealt directly with Zelenskiy and said Trump was looking for an investigation in exchange for an Oval Office meeting. Sondland testified that "everyone was in the loop" about what was going on.
But he also said Trump told him: "I want nothing. I want no quid pro quo. I just want Zelenskiy to do the right thing" — words that Trump and his allies used to try to deflate Democrats' impeachment arguments.
Sondland and Vindman join a long list of other witnesses in the Trump impeachment investigation who have moved on from their jobs. Former Ukraine Ambassador Marie Yovanovich has retired from the foreign service. William Taylor, who had replaced Yovanovich in Ukraine after Trump recalled her, left in early January. Kurt Volker, the special envoy to Ukraine, resigned as the impeachment process was unfolding. Jennifer Williams, a career foreign service officer who was assigned to Vice President Mike Pence's office, recently left for a new position. And Tim Morrison, Vindman's boss at the NSC, left after he testified.
Here's the full statement from Alexander Vindman's lawyer David Pressman Friday:
Today, Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman was escorted out of the White House where he has dutifully served his country and his President. He does so having spoken publicly once, and only pursuant to a subpoena from the United States Congress. There is no question in the mind of any American why this man's job is over, why this country now has one less soldier serving it at the White House. LTC Vindman was asked to leave for telling the truth. His honor, his commitment to right, frightened the powerful. During his decades of service to this country, LTC Alexander Vindman has served quietly but dutifully, and he has served with honor. He came into the public eye only when subpoenaed to testify before Congress, and he did what the law demanded. In recent months, many entrusted with power in our political system have cowered out of fear. And, yet, a handful of men and women, not endowed with prestige or power, but equipped only with a sense of right borne out of years of quiet service to their country made different choices. They courageously chose to honor their duty with integrity, to trust the truth, and to put their faith in country ahead of fear. And they have paid a price. The truth has cost LTC Alexander Vindman his job, his career, and his privacy. He did what any member of our military is charged with doing every day: he followed orders, he obeyed his oath, and he served his country, even when doing so was fraught with danger and personal peril. And for that, the most powerful man in the world — buoyed by the silent, the pliable, and the complicit — has decided to exact revenge. LTC Alexander Vindman leaves the White House today. But we must not accept the departure of truth, duty, and loyalty that he represents. In this country right matters, and so does truth. Truth is not partisan. If we allow truthful voices to be silenced, if we ignore their warnings, eventually there will be no one left to warn us.
NPR's Tom Bowman, Michele Keleman, Claudia Grisales and James Doubek contributed to this report.


npr--2020-02-07--On Cruise Ship Quarantined In Japan, Any New Cases Would Reset The Isolation Clock

On Cruise Ship Quarantined In Japan , Any New Cases Would Reset The Isolation Clock People who are quarantined aboard the Diamond Princess in Japan have been wondering how long their isolation would last .
On Friday , a health official gave an answer they might not like : the quarantine will be extended every time a new case of the Wuhan coronavirus is confirmed on the ship .
The coronavirus quarantine that has kept some 3,700 people aboard the cruise ship is currently set to expire on Feb. 19 – but that date would be reset if any new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positive for the virus , Dr. Michael Ryan , executive director of WHO 's Health Emergencies Program , said Friday .
An additional 41 cases were confirmed early Friday , bringing the total among passengers and crew to 61 .
Those samples were part of the initial screening — meaning those confirmations do n't require a new 14-day quarantine to begin .
`` The Japanese Ministry of Health has confirmed this is the last batch to be tested and the quarantine end date will be February 19 , unless there are any other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But that also means if anyone else on the ship becomes ill with the respiratory virus dubbed 2019-nCoV , passengers would face an even longer period of isolation .
Another reason for uncertainty is the size of the group that was tested : Japan 's health ministry took samples from just 273 people who were deemed to be in an at-risk group , based on their recent travels .
`` I 've been very relaxed , '' Philip Courter of Florida said of the quarantine 's early days , in an phone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But he added that he 's now starting to get nervous : `` If more and more and more people are getting sick on this ship , what are we doing here ?
This is crazy . ''
If the cruise ship were a country , it could already claim the second-highest number of coronavirus cases outside of mainland China .
Now passengers are hoping no new cases emerge .
`` It is difficult for people who get caught up in that situation , because they are confined , '' the WHO 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
While the quarantined passengers ' physical health is at risk , he said their mental health should also be supported .
`` It 's quite scary — very , very scary — to be in that situation , '' Ryan said .
The WHO is now working with Japanese officials to devise a way to organize the passengers into cohorts , Ryan said .
The idea is in smaller groups , fewer people would be affected when a new patient is identified .
`` Because at the moment , every time there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extends 14 days '' for everyone on the ship , Ryan said .
`` So we need to find a way to break that vicious cycle '' and get people off the ship as quickly as possible after they 're cleared by health screenings .
But he cautioned , `` There 's a lot to work out . ''
The WHO position adds new clarity to circumstances aboard the cruise ship , which is docked at Japan 's Yokohama port .
On the ship , passengers — including some who had already spent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quarantine doubled their stay — are told not to leave their rooms .
They visit the deck in shifts , for a rare breath of fresh air .
`` My concerns are what happens next , '' passenger Aun Na Tan of Australia , told NPR 's Rebecca Davis via text message .
`` We do n't have a clear plan of what is going to happen , '' she added , citing the risk of new cases .
Tan , who has been posting messages to social media about her experience on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trip along with her husband , daughter and one of her two sons when their vacation was unexpectedly extended by the quarantine .
Despite her worries about how long her family will have to wait before they can leave the ship and resume their normal lives in Melbourne , Tan said she does n't have any complaints about the way they 're being treated during the quarantine .
`` I 'm not worried about our quarantine on board , '' she wrote , adding that with care of the crew , `` we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Still , Tan and other passengers hinted at some frustration about the lingering chance that the quarantine could be extended .
At least 10 Americans are among the people who have tested positive for the coronavirus , which is now blamed for more than 630 deaths in China .
The patients have been taken to local hospitals .
Most of them are from Japan , but some are from Canada , Australia and other countries .
To detect any new cases aboard the ship , the crew has distributed thermometers to passengers so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the strain of prolonged isolation , Princess Cruises says it has been providing complimentary Internet and phone service , to let passengers stay in touch with loved ones .
It has also expanded its TV and movie options — and it says the ship 's activities staff is bringing games , puzzles and other distractions to passengers ' rooms .
Tan and her family were able to get some fresh air on Friday afternoon , after spending all of Wednesday and Thursday in their room .
Because they 're in an inner room @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visit the outdoors before their fellow passengers whose outer rooms have windows looking out onto the sea .
`` This is the first time we have been out since quarantine started on Tuesday night , '' she said .
Tan 's family joined about 50 other people — all of them passengers in odd-numbered rooms in the inner tier on her floor .
`` It was kinda strange being outside , '' she said .
And definitely was great enjoying the fresh air .
Being inside without windows , you lose track of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ follow several rules when they visit the deck , Tan said .
`` We were asked to wear masks and gloves , not to come closer than 1m ( about 3 feet ) to anyone else .
To wash our hands with soap and water when we return to our room . ''
Each group gets 90 minutes outside , and there 's a 30-minute gap between them .
The last passengers come in at 7:30 p.m. , she said .
Because of the large number of people and the need for them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some of her fellow passengers still had n't visited the outdoors by late Friday , Tan said .
As for how her family is coping with being confined to a windowless room for days on end , Tan said they 're `` pretty close '' and can share space .
Plus , she said , `` My kids are happy to just put on headphones to zone us out lol . ''
NPR 's Rebecca Davis and Jane Greenhalgh contributed to this report .

On Cruise Ship Quarantined In Japan, New Cases Could Reset The Isolation Clock
Enlarge this image toggle caption Kim Kyung Hoon/Reuters Kim Kyung Hoon/Reuters
Updated Sunday at 5:17 p.m. ET
People who are quarantined aboard the Diamond Princess in Japan have been wondering how long their situation would last. On Sunday, the World Health Organization offered clarity on that question.
The coronavirus quarantine that has kept some 3,700 people aboard the cruise ship is set to end on Feb. 19. However, for "close contacts" of infected passengers, the quarantine will be extended 14 days from the last contact with a confirmed case, according to the WHO.
An additional 41 cases were confirmed on board early Friday, bringing the total among passengers and crew to 61. Those samples were part of the initial screening — meaning those confirmations didn't require a new 14-day quarantine to begin.
Then on Saturday, officials announced they had confirmed three more cases, for a total of 64.
Princess Cruises had announced that the previous group would end their quarantine on Feb. 19. Among those people, Japan's health ministry had taken samples from just 273 individuals who were deemed to be in an at-risk group, based on their recent travels.
Before the latest announcement, some of the passengers spoke with NPR.
"I've been very relaxed," Philip Courter of Florida said of the quarantine's early days, in an phone interview with NPR's Rebecca Davis. But he added that he is starting to get nervous: "If more and more and more people are getting sick on this ship, what are we doing here? This is crazy."
If the cruise ship were a country, it could already claim the second-highest number of coronavirus cases outside of mainland China. Now passengers are hoping no new cases emerge.
"It is difficult for people who get caught up in that situation, because they are confined," Dr. Michael Ryan, executive director of the World Health Organization's emergencies program, said at a Friday news conference. While the quarantined passengers' physical health is at risk, he said their mental health should also be supported.
"It's quite scary — very, very scary — to be in that situation," Ryan said.
The WHO has been working with Japanese officials to devise a way to organize the passengers into cohorts, Ryan said. The idea is that in smaller groups, fewer people would be affected when a new patient is identified.
The WHO position adds clarity to circumstances aboard the cruise ship, which is docked at Japan's Yokohama port.
On the ship, passengers — including some who had already spent two weeks aboard the vessel before the quarantine doubled their stay — are told not to leave their rooms. They visit the deck in shifts, for a rare breath of fresh air.
"My concerns are what happens next," passenger Aun Na Tan of Australia, told NPR's Rebecca Davis via text message. "We don't have a clear plan of what is going to happen," she added, citing the risk of new cases.
Tan, who has been posting messages to social media about her experience on the cruise ship, was on a trip along with her husband, daughter and one of her two sons when their vacation was unexpectedly extended by the quarantine.
Despite her worries about how long her family will have to wait before they can leave the ship and resume their normal lives in Melbourne, Tan said she doesn't have any complaints about the way they're being treated during the quarantine.
"I'm not worried about our quarantine on board," she wrote, adding that with care of the crew, "we are in good hands here."
Still, Tan and other passengers hinted at some frustration about being in quarantine.
At least 10 Americans are among the people who have tested positive for the coronavirus. The patients have been taken to local hospitals. Most of them are from Japan, but some are from Canada, Australia and other countries.
The coronavirus is now blamed for more than 811 deaths in mainland China, surpassing the number of global fatalities recorded during the SARS epidemic between 2002 and 2003.
To detect any new cases aboard the ship, the crew has distributed thermometers to passengers so they can monitor themselves. To ease the strain of prolonged isolation, Princess Cruises says it has been providing complimentary Internet and phone service to let passengers stay in touch with loved ones. It has also expanded its TV and movie options — and it says the ship's activities staff is bringing games, puzzles and other distractions to passengers' rooms.
Tan and her family were able to get some fresh air on Friday afternoon, after spending all of Wednesday and Thursday in their room. Because they're in an inner room, she said, they got to visit the outdoors before passengers in outer rooms who have windows looking out onto the sea.
"This is the first time we have been out since quarantine started on Tuesday night," she said.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Sawyer Smith/via Reuters Sawyer Smith/via Reuters
Tan's family joined about 50 other people — all of them passengers in odd-numbered rooms in the inner tier on her floor.
"It was kinda strange being outside," she said. And definitely was great enjoying the fresh air. Being inside without windows, you lose track of time."
Passengers are asked to follow several rules when they visit the deck, Tan said.
"We were asked to wear masks and gloves, not to come closer than 1m (about 3 feet) to anyone else. To wash our hands with soap and water when we return to our room."
Each group gets 90 minutes outside, and there's a 30-minute gap between them. The last passengers come in at 7:30 p.m., she said.
Because of the large number of people and the need for them to visit the deck in shifts, some of her fellow passengers still hadn't visited the outdoors by late Friday, Tan said.
As for how her family is coping with being confined to a windowless room for days on end, Tan said they're "pretty close" and can share space. Plus, she said, "My kids are happy to just put on headphones to zone us out lol."
NPR's Rebecca Davis and Jane Greenhalgh contributed to this report.


npr--2020-02-07--U.S. Women's Soccer Team On The Cusp Of Olympic Berth. Mexico Stands In The Way

U.S. Women 's Soccer Team On The Cusp Of Olympic Berth .
Mexico Stands In The Way The U.S. Women 's National Soccer Team could punch a ticket to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics on Friday night with a win over Mexico .
Their CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying semifinal match in Carson , Calif. , begins at 10 p.m .
ET and will be broadcast on FS1 .
The U.S. is heavily favored .
The Americans are unbeaten on home soil over the past 43 matches and have a 36-1-1 record in the all-time series against Mexico .
A win would mean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — and a shot at redemption after finishing fifth at the 2016 Games , their poorest showing .
A loss would keep the squad home for the first time since women 's soccer was added to the Olympics in 1996 .
So far this year , Brazil , Great Britain , Japan , the Netherlands , New Zealand and Sweden have already qualified for the 12-team Olympic tournament set to begin on July 22 .
The U.S. traditionally has been an Olympic powerhouse , winning four gold medals ( in 1996 , 2004 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ silver in 2000 .
Mexico has qualified only once , in 2004 , and placed eighth .
The top two CONCACAF finishers will qualify for the Olympics .
Canada and Costa Rica are vying for the other spot .
The U.S. women have dominated the Olympic qualifying tournament , which features eight teams from North America , Central America and the Caribbean .
They defeated Haiti 4-0 , Panama 8-0 and Costa Rica 6-0 .
For this tournament , the U.S. returns 18 of 20 players from the squad that came away victorious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cup .
Midfielder Lindsey Horan has led the team in scoring so far , with five goals .
Forward Christen Press has four , and Jessica McDonald , Tobin Heath and Samantha Mewis have all scored two .
Alex Morgan , who tied for most goals scored at last summer 's FIFA Women 's World Cup , has n't been playing .
She is seven-months pregnant with her first child , but has said she 'll fight for an Olympic roster spot should the U.S. qualify .

U.S. Women's Soccer Team Punches Ticket To Tokyo For Summer Olympics
Enlarge this image toggle caption Chris Carlson/AP Chris Carlson/AP
Updated at 1:39 p.m. ET on Feb. 10.
The U.S. Women's National Soccer Team is heading to the 2020 Olympics this summer with a chance to make history.
They'll try to become the first women's team to follow a World Cup victory with an Olympic gold medal. The Tokyo Games will mark the Americans' seventh-straight appearance at the Olympics.
The players punched their ticket with a 4-0 win over Mexico on Friday at the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying tournament. Two days later, they added an exclamation point with a 3-0 win over Canada in the final game — a stalemate until Lynn Williams scored in the 61st minute, followed by goals from Lindsey Horan in the 71st and Megan Rapinoe in the 87th.
"Proud of this group," squad veteran Carli Lloyd tweeted. "First box (checked), but all eyes on #Tokyo2020. That's the ultimate goal!"
The 12-team Olympic tournament begins July 22. So far, Brazil, Great Britain, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, Canada and the U.S. have qualified.
The U.S. has been an Olympic powerhouse, racking up four gold medals (in 1996, 2004, 2008, 2012) and a silver (in 2000). Four years ago, however, the team finished fifth — its worst result in any Summer Games.
The team appears poised for redemption, having won 28 straight matches and dominating the CONCACAF tournament. The squad scored 25 goals and didn't allow a single opposing goal.
Forward Christen Press won the Golden Ball trophy for best performance during the tournament. Midfielder Lindsey Horan led the U.S. team in scoring, with six goals.
The U.S. returned 18 of 20 players from the team that came away victorious at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in France.
Olympic rosters are capped at 18 players, and Lloyd, who has been with the team since 2005, recently told The New York Times that competition for a spot would be cutthroat.
Alex Morgan, who tied for most goals scored at last summer's World Cup, didn't play in the CONCACAF tournament. She is seven-months pregnant with her first child, and says she wants to play in the Olympics.
The USWNT next take the pitch for the SheBelieves Cup, when England, Spain and Japan visit three U.S. cities for matches starting March 5.


npr--2020-02-07--Lessons From Leprosy For Coronavirus: Quarantine And Isolation Can Backfire

Lessons From Leprosy For Coronavirus : Quarantine And Isolation Can Backfire Hundreds of people returning to the U.S. from Wuhan , China face mandatory two-week quarantines .
And in China , the government is rounding up those who show signs of the deadly coronavirus , to be confined in massive quarantine centers .
Protecting public health is a delicate balance between the rights and freedom of individuals and the safety of society .
But past efforts to isolate disease show that such moves — as well-intentioned as they might be — do n't always go as planned .
And perhaps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ husband 's grandfather was diagnosed with leprosy in Connecticut in 1922 , the first thing he did was run away .
He packed his things that night and left his family and business behind to move to New York .
It was the only state at the time that did not require those with this much-feared infectious disease to be sent to a remote hospital in Carville , La.
, and confined .
By hiding from authorities , he could keep his freedom and presumably go on with his life .
He was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way .
When the U.S. government decided to establish a national leprosarium in 1917 , it determined that the best way to contain the bacteria that caused leprosy was to segregate those infected .
Since there was no cure at the time , that usually meant confinement for life .
Patients were torn from their families and friends .
They lost their freedom , as well as their livelihoods , civil rights and the respect of their fellow man .
Women who gave birth at the hospital had their babies taken away .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or knew , they had leprosy to conceal it from authorities .
They avoided seeking medical assistance and failed to take steps to protect the people they loved from the remote possibility that they too might contract what we now know is a barely contagious disease .
When the federal government sought to identify all the leprosy cases in the country in the early 1900s , it found only 278 .
But public health investigators told Congress there likely were many more in hiding out of fear .
The same year that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York , the assistant surgeon general announced that there were `` 1,200 lepers at large '' in the country .
He wanted Congress to give him the authority to round them up .
It turns out that the government 's solution was counterproductive .
Instead of containing the disease , it only perpetuated it by discouraging treatment and the search for a cure .
In the process , thousands of lives were disrupted and destroyed .
The current effort to contain the coronavirus differs in many ways from what happened to leprosy patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might have been exposed to the virus in China will be quarantined for 14 days , not condemned to a lifetime of isolation .
Medical treatment is much improved , and the chance for recovery is good .
Still , coronavirus is much more contagious than leprosy , from which 95 % of humans are naturally immune .
Precautions certainly make sense .
But this latest outbreak raises similar questions to those health authorities grappled with decades ago .
Are quarantines and isolation the most effective way to contain a disease ?
Do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ themselves as potential victims ?
`` It backfires because people head for the hills , '' Wendy Parmet , a professor of health law policy at Northeastern University told NPR 's Rob Stein .
`` People do n't call and seek health care ... And health care providers become fearful of treating patients because they do n't want to get caught up in the quarantine . ''
There are other questions too .
Will the U.S. decision to shut its borders to foreigners who have recently visited China do more harm than good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ travel bans might and has warned against any moves that instill panic and fear .
Perhaps more important , how will those believed to be potential carriers of the virus be treated by those around them ?
NPR 's Maria Godoy reports that some Asian Americans are already feeling some blowback .
One student said she was told to leave a coffee shop and `` take the coronavirus with her . ''
When Americans feared a potential leprosy pandemic in the late 1800s , people of Asian descent were also unjustly stigmatized .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ falsely — that Chinese laundrymen were spreading the `` loathsome '' disease by spitting on their customer 's laundry before it was ironed .
A racist labor leader , Denis Kearney , paraded a Chinese man with leprosy through the streets of San Francisco to make his case that `` moon-eyed lepers '' were a threat to the nation .
Throughout history , those believed to have leprosy , now called Hansen 's disease , were among the most reviled members of society , outcasts sometimes believed to be sinners who brought the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the threat of leprosy is used to demonize immigrants and people living in homeless encampments as potential carriers of the disease — although there 's no evidence that 's true .
About 200,000 people around the world are diagnosed each year with Hansen 's disease .
Many of them still prefer not to make their diagnosis public for fear of how they 'll be treated by the rest of society .
Many delay seeking treatment even though the disease can be quickly cured with antibiotics .
Those delays can lead to serious , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ limbs .
It turns out that the stigma is still much more dangerous than the disease .
My husband 's grandfather was soon joined in New York City by his wife and children .
He lived there for thirteen years before he got so sick that he was taken to the Carville leprosy hospital , the only place in the country that treated the disease .
He died there three years later , in 1938 .
But it was decades before the truth came out .
His wife and children were so afraid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people would react , they kept his illness a secret for more than 60 years .
Pam Fessler is author of the book Carville 's Cure : Leprosy , Stigma , and the Fight for Justice , to be released this summer .

Lessons From Leprosy For Coronavirus: Quarantine And Isolation Can Backfire
Enlarge this image toggle caption Richard Tolbert/AP Richard Tolbert/AP
Hundreds of people returning to the U.S. from Wuhan, China face mandatory two-week quarantines. And in China, the government is rounding up those who show signs of the deadly coronavirus, to be confined in massive quarantine centers.
Protecting public health is a delicate balance between the rights and freedom of individuals and the safety of society. But past efforts to isolate disease show that such moves — as well-intentioned as they might be — don't always go as planned. And perhaps offer a cautionary lesson.
When my husband's grandfather was diagnosed with leprosy in Connecticut in 1922, the first thing he did was run away. He packed his things that night and left his family and business behind to move to New York. It was the only state at the time that did not require those with this much-feared infectious disease to be sent to a remote hospital in Carville, La., and confined. By hiding from authorities, he could keep his freedom and presumably go on with his life.
He was not the only one to respond this way. When the U.S. government decided to establish a national leprosarium in 1917, it determined that the best way to contain the bacteria that caused leprosy was to segregate those infected. Since there was no cure at the time, that usually meant confinement for life. Patients were torn from their families and friends. They lost their freedom, as well as their livelihoods, civil rights and the respect of their fellow man. Women who gave birth at the hospital had their babies taken away.
Such dire consequences drove many who suspected, or knew, they had leprosy to conceal it from authorities. They avoided seeking medical assistance and failed to take steps to protect the people they loved from the remote possibility that they too might contract what we now know is a barely contagious disease.
When the federal government sought to identify all the leprosy cases in the country in the early 1900s, it found only 278. But public health investigators told Congress there likely were many more in hiding out of fear. The same year that my husband's grandfather fled to New York, the assistant surgeon general announced that there were "1,200 lepers at large" in the country. He wanted Congress to give him the authority to round them up.
It turns out that the government's solution was counterproductive. Instead of containing the disease, it only perpetuated it by discouraging treatment and the search for a cure. In the process, thousands of lives were disrupted and destroyed.
The current effort to contain the coronavirus differs in many ways from what happened to leprosy patients in the last century. Americans who might have been exposed to the virus in China will be quarantined for 14 days, not condemned to a lifetime of isolation. Medical treatment is much improved, and the chance for recovery is good. Still, coronavirus is much more contagious than leprosy, from which 95% of humans are naturally immune. Precautions certainly make sense.
But this latest outbreak raises similar questions to those health authorities grappled with decades ago. Are quarantines and isolation the most effective way to contain a disease? Do they make people more reluctant to identify themselves as potential victims?
"It backfires because people head for the hills," Wendy Parmet, a professor of health law policy at Northeastern University told NPR's Rob Stein. "People don't call and seek health care... And health care providers become fearful of treating patients because they don't want to get caught up in the quarantine."
There are other questions too.
Will the U.S. decision to shut its borders to foreigners who have recently visited China do more harm than good? The World Health Organization thinks such travel bans might and has warned against any moves that instill panic and fear.
Perhaps more important, how will those believed to be potential carriers of the virus be treated by those around them? NPR's Maria Godoy reports that some Asian Americans are already feeling some blowback. One student said she was told to leave a coffee shop and "take the coronavirus with her."
When Americans feared a potential leprosy pandemic in the late 1800s, people of Asian descent were also unjustly stigmatized. A top Louisiana health official warned — falsely — that Chinese laundrymen were spreading the "loathsome" disease by spitting on their customer's laundry before it was ironed. A racist labor leader, Denis Kearney, paraded a Chinese man with leprosy through the streets of San Francisco to make his case that "moon-eyed lepers" were a threat to the nation.
Throughout history, those believed to have leprosy, now called Hansen's disease, were among the most reviled members of society, outcasts sometimes believed to be sinners who brought the illness upon themselves. Even today, the threat of leprosy is used to demonize immigrants and people living in homeless encampments as potential carriers of the disease — although there's no evidence that's true.
About 200,000 people around the world are diagnosed each year with Hansen's disease. Many of them still prefer not to make their diagnosis public for fear of how they'll be treated by the rest of society. Many delay seeking treatment even though the disease can be quickly cured with antibiotics. Those delays can lead to serious, lifelong disabilities, including the loss of limbs. It turns out that the stigma is still much more dangerous than the disease.
My husband's grandfather was soon joined in New York City by his wife and children. He lived there for thirteen years before he got so sick that he was taken to the Carville leprosy hospital, the only place in the country that treated the disease. He died there three years later, in 1938. But it was decades before the truth came out. His wife and children were so afraid of the stigma of leprosy and how people would react, they kept his illness a secret for more than 60 years.
Pam Fessler is author of the book Carville's Cure: Leprosy, Stigma, and the Fight for Justice, to be released this summer.


npr--2020-02-07--Pope Francis Turned A Vatican Palazzo Into 'Palace Of The Poor' For Homeless People

Pope Francis Turned A Vatican Palazzo Into 'Palace Of The Poor ' For Homeless People As the bells of St. Peter 's Basilica ring out from the Vatican on a chilly January evening , a few people huddled in shabby clothes stand a few yards from the colonnade encircling St. Peter 's Square .
They are waiting to enter the Palazzo Migliori , a 19th century palace just behind the square .
One of them is Livia , an Italian woman in her 60s .
After having slept on Rome 's streets for months , she has been spending nights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ known as the `` Palace of the Poor . ''
`` I come here in the evening , '' she says .
`` Dinner is served from 7 to 9 p.m. And breakfast is from 7 to 8 in the morning .
Then I 'm out during the day . ''
She wo n't give many details of her past , and like most palazzo guests , is unwilling to share her full name .
But she says her life has radically changed since she found this home .
`` During the day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' says Livia .
`` I 've visited lots of churches — especially during Christmas , when they display Nativity scenes .
And then I go to the library , because I love to read . ''
Volunteers from the Community of Sant'Egidio , an Italian lay Roman Catholic association that carries out charitable projects , run the new , Vatican-owned palazzo turned homeless sanctuary .
The building was named after the noble family that donated it to the Vatican in 1930 .
For 70 years , an order of nuns ran it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ After the nuns relocated , some Vatican officials proposed to turn this prime real estate into a luxury hotel .
Instead , Pope Francis ordered it to be transformed into a home — or rather , says director Carlo Santoro , a palace — for `` nobles of the streets , '' those who `` Francis says society treats as rejects , victims of today 's throwaway culture . ''
Rome 's municipal- and church-run shelters for the city 's thousands of homeless people tend to be Spartan .
But this three-story building @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and tiled floors are evidence of its aristocratic origins .
It can accommodate up to 50 men and women , housed in 16 rooms with two or three beds each .
There are 13 new bathrooms , each equipped with a shower .
Hot meals are served twice a day .
The shelter also provides medical assistance and psychological counseling for alcoholism .
Guests are not given a deadline to leave .
Many will not reveal their last names and are reticent to explain why they ended up homeless .
Fragments of conversations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lost jobs , marriage break-ups or mental health issues .
What they all now share is relief from anxiety and some hope for the future .
Silvano , a Romanian , has lived in Italy for 15 years — the last eight as a homeless person .
He often spent damp , cold nights sleeping under the colonnade designed by 17th century artist and architect Gian Lorenzo Bernini , which he can now gaze at from his warm and cozy bedroom in the palazzo .
`` If you sleep on the ground covered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at 5 a.m. before the police come to shove you away , '' he says , `` and then you find a place like this , where you have breakfast , showers , a bed and dinner , what more do you want ?
In November , the pope came to inaugurate the `` Palace of the Poor , '' sharing a meal , talking and joking with guests .
Santoro remembers what Francis said as he admired the palazzo 's interior : `` 'Beauty heals . '
That is to say that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ useful for them just to recuperate .
So that 's our first aim , just to help them . ''
Since the Palace of the Poor opened in November , Santoro says several guests have found regular jobs and two have rejoined their families in northern Italy .
Santoro says those who remain can count on the palazzo as a haven .
`` Because every person , every human being has the right to be respected , '' he says .
`` The right to have a good life , good health , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the family around .
So in many cases , we feel like the family they have , they 've been missing for a long time . ''

Pope Francis Turned A Vatican Palazzo Into 'Palace Of The Poor' For Homeless People
Enlarge this image toggle caption Community of Sant'Egidio Community of Sant'Egidio
As the bells of St. Peter's Basilica ring out from the Vatican on a chilly January evening, a few people huddled in shabby clothes stand a few yards from the colonnade encircling St. Peter's Square.
They are waiting to enter the Palazzo Migliori, a 19th century palace just behind the square.
One of them is Livia, an Italian woman in her 60s. After having slept on Rome's streets for months, she has been spending nights since early December in what has become known as the "Palace of the Poor."
"I come here in the evening," she says. "Dinner is served from 7 to 9 p.m. And breakfast is from 7 to 8 in the morning. Then I'm out during the day."
She won't give many details of her past, and like most palazzo guests, is unwilling to share her full name. But she says her life has radically changed since she found this home.
"During the day, I take some wonderful walks," says Livia. "I've visited lots of churches — especially during Christmas, when they display Nativity scenes. And then I go to the library, because I love to read."
Volunteers from the Community of Sant'Egidio, an Italian lay Roman Catholic association that carries out charitable projects, run the new, Vatican-owned palazzo turned homeless sanctuary.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Sylvia Poggioli/NPR Sylvia Poggioli/NPR
The building was named after the noble family that donated it to the Vatican in 1930. For 70 years, an order of nuns ran it as a home for single mothers. After the nuns relocated, some Vatican officials proposed to turn this prime real estate into a luxury hotel.
Instead, Pope Francis ordered it to be transformed into a home — or rather, says director Carlo Santoro, a palace — for "nobles of the streets," those who "Francis says society treats as rejects, victims of today's throwaway culture."
Rome's municipal- and church-run shelters for the city's thousands of homeless people tend to be Spartan. But this three-story building's carved wooden ceilings, frescoed walls and tiled floors are evidence of its aristocratic origins.
It can accommodate up to 50 men and women, housed in 16 rooms with two or three beds each. There are 13 new bathrooms, each equipped with a shower. Hot meals are served twice a day. The shelter also provides medical assistance and psychological counseling for alcoholism. Guests are not given a deadline to leave.
Many will not reveal their last names and are reticent to explain why they ended up homeless. Fragments of conversations provide glimpses of pain and grief — lost jobs, marriage break-ups or mental health issues.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Comunità di Sant'Egidio Comunità di Sant'Egidio
What they all now share is relief from anxiety and some hope for the future.
Silvano, a Romanian, has lived in Italy for 15 years — the last eight as a homeless person. He often spent damp, cold nights sleeping under the colonnade designed by 17th century artist and architect Gian Lorenzo Bernini, which he can now gaze at from his warm and cozy bedroom in the palazzo.
"If you sleep on the ground covered in cardboard and have to wake up at 5 a.m. before the police come to shove you away," he says, "and then you find a place like this, where you have breakfast, showers, a bed and dinner, what more do you want?
In November, the pope came to inaugurate the "Palace of the Poor," sharing a meal, talking and joking with guests.
Santoro remembers what Francis said as he admired the palazzo's interior: "'Beauty heals.' That is to say that the beauty of this house is very useful for them just to recuperate. So that's our first aim, just to help them."
Since the Palace of the Poor opened in November, Santoro says several guests have found regular jobs and two have rejoined their families in northern Italy. Santoro says those who remain can count on the palazzo as a haven.
"Because every person, every human being has the right to be respected," he says. "The right to have a good life, good health, and the house, too, and the family around. So in many cases, we feel like the family they have, they've been missing for a long time."


npr--2020-02-07--Australia's East Gets Drenched By Rain, And Flood Warnings Replace Fire Alerts

Australia 's East Gets Drenched By Rain , And Flood Warnings Replace Fire Alerts A month ago , Australians were praying for rain to put out horrific wildfires and save forests , animals and homes .
A deluge is now falling on Australia 's east coast — and while it 's quashing stubborn fires , the water is also causing flash floods and other hazards .
The Bureau of Meteorology in New South Wales , the country 's most populous state , warns of `` very dangerous conditions '' ranging from heavy rain to damaging winds .
One of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bay , where 11 inches of rain fell in less than 24 hours , flooding neighborhoods and stores and triggering at least one mudslide .
Forecasters predict the rain will only intensify and spread over the weekend , with rainfall totals expected to be `` well in excess '' of 4 inches in many places along Australia 's southeast coast .
`` For our fire grounds where the landscape is so vulnerable right now , this means the risk of falling trees and landslides , and large volumes of runoff containing debris , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rocks , '' BOM meteorologist Adam Morgan said in a video update around midday local time on Friday .
It 's not yet certain how much the rain will do to ease the severe drought that has gripped much of southeastern Australia .
But Morgan said , `` It 's hard to imagine fires still burning along the south coast following the expected rain . ''
Fire officials in New South Wales had announced they were `` over the moon '' when sustained rains started falling , saying more than 40 fires were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that were n't yet contained .
As of Thursday , more than 1,000 firefighters were still battling bushfires in the state .
But on Friday , the NSW Rural Fire Service announced `` a significant shift in focus today from fires to floods , '' saying the torrential rains had forced it to abruptly reconfigure its operations center to cope with the rush of flood-related emergencies , including swift water rescues .
Around 2,500 calls for help came in during 24 hours , said Deputy Commissioner Daniel Austin of the State Emergency Service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calls came from the Sydney area .
Those calls ranged from drivers who tried to drive through high waters and got trapped to people whose homes had been flooded .
The heavy rains also could raise the risk of contaminated drinking water , as the runoff will sweep ash from the watershed into an important reservoir created by the Warragamba Dam in New South Wales , which supplies much of the water to Sydney .
The CEO of the state 's water agency , David Harris , says teams are using booms and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amount of sediment that reaches the reservoir .
Harris also said the rain will bring `` a really welcome improvement '' to the dam 's water level , raising it from 43 % to at least 47 % , according to predictions .
The southeast is n't the only part of Australia that 's currently under a weather warning : In Western Australia , Tropical Cyclone Damien , a Category 3 storm , was expected to strengthen further before making landfall late Friday or early Saturday local time .
When it hits the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very destructive '' wind gusts of more than 140 mph to areas such as Port Hedland and Karratha , the BOM warns .

Australia's East Gets Drenched By Rain, And Flood Warnings Replace Fire Alerts
Enlarge this image toggle caption Brendon Thorne/Getty Images Brendon Thorne/Getty Images
A month ago, Australians were praying for rain to put out horrific wildfires and save forests, animals and homes. A deluge is now falling on Australia's east coast — and while it's quashing stubborn fires, the water is also causing flash floods and other hazards.
The Bureau of Meteorology in New South Wales, the country's most populous state, warns of "very dangerous conditions" ranging from heavy rain to damaging winds.
One of the highest rain totals was reported in Byron Bay, where 11 inches of rain fell in less than 24 hours, flooding neighborhoods and stores and triggering at least one mudslide.
Forecasters predict the rain will only intensify and spread over the weekend, with rainfall totals expected to be "well in excess" of 4 inches in many places along Australia's southeast coast.
"For our fire grounds where the landscape is so vulnerable right now, this means the risk of falling trees and landslides, and large volumes of runoff containing debris, including ash, soil, trees and rocks," BOM meteorologist Adam Morgan said in a video update around midday local time on Friday.
It's not yet certain how much the rain will do to ease the severe drought that has gripped much of southeastern Australia. But Morgan said, "It's hard to imagine fires still burning along the south coast following the expected rain."
Fire officials in New South Wales had announced they were "over the moon" when sustained rains started falling, saying more than 40 fires were still burning, including at least 17 that weren't yet contained. As of Thursday, more than 1,000 firefighters were still battling bushfires in the state.
But on Friday, the NSW Rural Fire Service announced "a significant shift in focus today from fires to floods," saying the torrential rains had forced it to abruptly reconfigure its operations center to cope with the rush of flood-related emergencies, including swift water rescues.
Around 2,500 calls for help came in during 24 hours, said Deputy Commissioner Daniel Austin of the State Emergency Service, noting that about 500 of the calls came from the Sydney area. Those calls ranged from drivers who tried to drive through high waters and got trapped to people whose homes had been flooded.
The heavy rains also could raise the risk of contaminated drinking water, as the runoff will sweep ash from the watershed into an important reservoir created by the Warragamba Dam in New South Wales, which supplies much of the water to Sydney. The CEO of the state's water agency, David Harris, says teams are using booms and other methods to try to reduce the amount of sediment that reaches the reservoir.
Harris also said the rain will bring "a really welcome improvement" to the dam's water level, raising it from 43% to at least 47%, according to predictions.
The southeast isn't the only part of Australia that's currently under a weather warning: In Western Australia, Tropical Cyclone Damien, a Category 3 storm, was expected to strengthen further before making landfall late Friday or early Saturday local time.
When it hits the Pilbara coast, Damien could bring "very destructive" wind gusts of more than 140 mph to areas such as Port Hedland and Karratha, the BOM warns.


npr--2020-02-07--From Delivery Trucks To Scooter-Moving Vans, Fleets Are Going Electric

From Delivery Trucks To Scooter-Moving Vans , Fleets Are Going Electric As electric cars grow in popularity and visibility , experts say a revolution is coming in a place most people overlook : corporate and municipal fleets .
The scooter company Lime is the latest firm to announce that it plans to completely remove gas- and diesel-powered vehicles from its fleet and power its new electric work vehicles with renewable energy .
Lime is famous , of course , for electric vehicles — the small battery-powered scooters that have popped up on sidewalks across the United States .
And as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it promotes itself as an eco-friendly alternative to driving .
But so far , some gas-guzzling is still involved behind the scenes .
`` All of our scooters and e-bikes are already electric , already powered by renewables , '' says Andrew Savage , the head of sustainability at Lime .
`` We 're going to take the vans and the vehicles used to manage those programs and transition those to zero emissions as well . ''
Lime 's fleet is n't large — a few hundred vehicles for now .
But the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ switch .
Lime , along with companies like Ikea and Unilever , is joining the EV100 initiative to commit to an all-electric fleet .
Other large companies , such as DHL , Amazon and AT & T , have committed to `` accelerating '' the transition to electric fleet vehicles .
Millions of fleet vehicles are on the road — everything from delivery trucks and maintenance vans to police cars and school buses .
Right now , less than 1 % of those vehicles are electric , according to the research firm Guidehouse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But in a decade , the group predicts that 12 % of fleet vehicles will be plug-ins .
That will mean a rise from about 2 million electric fleet vehicles now to more than 70 million in 2030 .
`` Given the life span of vehicles ... 12 % [ of the ] population will require a significant portion of new vehicles sold being plug-in electric vehicles , '' says Guidehouse 's Ted Walker .
Interest in sustainability will drive some of that growth .
Companies like Lime that market themselves as climate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investors and partners need to reduce the emissions from their fleets in order to restrain emissions .
And around the world — particularly in Europe and China — government pressure is spurring investment in electric vehicles of all types .
But there are other factors too .
In some ways , selling electric vehicles to companies is easier than selling one to an individual car owner .
Consider the price .
`` Electric vehicles are going to have a higher purchase price , but there 's a lower maintenance , lower fuel cost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ individual might focus on the sticker shock , a company is more likely to consider the lifetime cost of the vehicle .
Then there 's range anxiety .
It takes longer to charge a battery than to fill up a gas tank , and some people ( particularly those who have never owned or leased an electric vehicle ) worry that they 'll go on a long trip and run out of juice .
The concern is common even for drivers who very rarely drive long distances .
Fleet operators think differently ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a day , says Steve Burns , the CEO of Lordstown Motors .
The Ohio startup is making a pickup truck specifically to sell to fleets .
`` We are catering mostly to people that stay local — whether that 's a florist , a landscaper , a police officer , '' Burns says .
`` [ Our truck ] can go 250 miles on a charge .
Most of these type of folks go 60 or 70 miles a day . ''
There are some logistical challenges — fleet operators have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ garages or parking lots , for instance .
But there 's another obstacle .
Lordstown Motors ' truck , the Endurance , is n't available yet .
No mass-production electric pickup has yet arrived on the U.S. market .
And in America , options for vans and other work vehicles are similarly slim .
`` It 's only a small handful , and the supply is actually quite constrained , '' says Savage , of Lime .
So companies are expressing their interest in electric fleets partly as a signal to automakers — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demand .

From Delivery Trucks To Scooter-Moving Vans, Fleets Are Going Electric
Enlarge this image toggle caption Yann Schreiber/AFP via Getty Images Yann Schreiber/AFP via Getty Images
As electric cars grow in popularity and visibility, experts say a revolution is coming in a place most people overlook: corporate and municipal fleets.
The scooter company Lime is the latest firm to announce that it plans to completely remove gas- and diesel-powered vehicles from its fleet and power its new electric work vehicles with renewable energy.
Lime is famous, of course, for electric vehicles — the small battery-powered scooters that have popped up on sidewalks across the United States. And as the world's largest scooter company, it promotes itself as an eco-friendly alternative to driving. But so far, some gas-guzzling is still involved behind the scenes.
"All of our scooters and e-bikes are already electric, already powered by renewables," says Andrew Savage, the head of sustainability at Lime. "We're going to take the vans and the vehicles used to manage those programs and transition those to zero emissions as well."
Lime's fleet isn't large — a few hundred vehicles for now. But the company is not alone in plotting the switch.
Lime, along with companies like Ikea and Unilever, is joining the EV100 initiative to commit to an all-electric fleet. Other large companies, such as DHL, Amazon and AT&T, have committed to "accelerating" the transition to electric fleet vehicles.
Millions of fleet vehicles are on the road — everything from delivery trucks and maintenance vans to police cars and school buses. Right now, less than 1% of those vehicles are electric, according to the consulting firm Guidehouse (formerly known as Navigant).
But in a decade, the group predicts that 12% of fleet vehicles will be plug-ins. That will mean a rise from about 2 million electric fleet vehicles now to more than 70 million in 2030.
"Given the life span of vehicles ... 12% [of the] population will require a significant portion of new vehicles sold being plug-in electric vehicles," says Guidehouse's Ted Walker.
Interest in sustainability will drive some of that growth. Companies like Lime that market themselves as climate friendly or have made climate pledges to investors and partners need to reduce the emissions from their fleets in order to restrain emissions. And around the world — particularly in Europe and China — government pressure is spurring investment in electric vehicles of all types.
But there are other factors too. In some ways, selling electric vehicles to companies is easier than selling one to an individual car owner.
Consider the price. "Electric vehicles are going to have a higher purchase price, but there's a lower maintenance, lower fuel cost," Walker says. Where an individual might focus on the sticker shock, a company is more likely to consider the lifetime cost of the vehicle.
Then there's range anxiety. It takes longer to charge a battery than to fill up a gas tank, and some people (particularly those who have never owned or leased an electric vehicle) worry that they'll go on a long trip and run out of juice. The concern is common even for drivers who very rarely drive long distances.
Fleet operators think differently; they know how far their cars go in a day, says Steve Burns, the CEO of Lordstown Motors. The Ohio startup is making a pickup truck specifically to sell to fleets.
"We are catering mostly to people that stay local — whether that's a florist, a landscaper, a police officer," Burns says. "[Our truck] can go 250 miles on a charge. Most of these type of folks go 60 or 70 miles a day."
There are some logistical challenges — fleet operators have to set up charging infrastructure in their garages or parking lots, for instance.
But there's another obstacle. Lordstown Motors' truck, the Endurance, isn't available yet. No mass-production electric pickup has yet arrived on the U.S. market. And in America, options for vans and other work vehicles are similarly slim.
"It's only a small handful, and the supply is actually quite constrained," says Savage, of Lime.
So companies are expressing their interest in electric fleets partly as a signal to automakers — that they need to catch up with demand.