npr--2020-10-30--Internal Documents Reveal COVID-19 Hospitalization Data The Government Keeps Hidden

As coronavirus cases rise swiftly around the country , surpassing both the spring and summer surges , health officials brace for a coming wave of hospitalization and deaths .
Knowing which hospitals in which communities are reaching capacity could be key to an effective response to the growing crisis .
That information is gathered by the federal government — but not shared openly with the public .
NPR has obtained documents that give a snapshot of data the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services collects and analyzes daily .
The documents — reports sent to agency staffers — highlight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ full hospital capacity and facilities under stress .
They paint a granular picture of the strain on hospitals across the country that could help local citizens decide when to take extra precautions against COVID-19 .
Withholding this information from the public and the research community is a missed opportunity to help prevent outbreaks and even save lives , say public health and data experts who reviewed the documents for NPR .
`` At this point , I think it 's reckless .
It 's endangering people , '' says Ryan Panchadsaram , co-founder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a former data official in the Obama administration .
`` We 're now in the third wave , and I think our only way out is really open , transparent and actionable information . ''
The documents show that detailed information hospitals report to HHS every day is reviewed and analyzed — but circulation seems to be limited to a few dozen government staffers from HHS and its agencies , including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Institutes of Health , according to distribution lists reviewed by NPR .
Only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Task Force , Admiral Brett Giroir , appears to receive the documents directly .
`` Our goal is to be as transparent as possible , while still protecting privacy , '' an HHS spokesperson wrote in an email to NPR .
`` HHS and the White House Coronavirus Task Force utilize hospital capacity data to gain greater insights into how COVID-19 is spreading and impacting the population , and to better inform response efforts like staff deployments and supply shipments . ''
What data is being collected and shared internally ?
The daily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ details , as well as national analyses that HHS does not post online .
For instance , the most recent report obtained by NPR , dated Oct 27 , lists cities where hospitals are filling up , including the metro areas of Atlanta , Minneapolis and Baltimore , where in-patient hospital beds are over 80 % full .
It also lists specific hospitals reaching max capacity , including facilities in Tampa , Birmingham and New York that are at over 95 % ICU capacity and at risk of running out of intensive care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by NPR , Panchadsaram says the local and hospital-level data HHS is collecting would be very useful to researchers and health leaders .
`` That stuff is n't easy to find at a national level , '' he says , `` There 's no one place [ publicly ] you can go to get all that data . ''
Hospitalization data is invaluable in looking ahead to see where and when outbreaks are getting worse , says Dr. Christopher Murray , director of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as we head into the fall and winter surge , we 're trying to put more emphasis on predicting where systems will be overwhelmed . ''
But what 's missing for this kind of planning , he says , is `` exactly the information '' that appears in the internal report .
NPR has reviewed several of these reports generated in the past month .
They present trends in hospital utilization , including increases in ventilator usage , along with a growing number of inpatient and ICU beds being occupied by COVID-19 patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all three measures have increased by 14 % -16 % in the past month .
Around 24 % of U.S. hospitals are using more than 80 % of their ICU capacity , based on reporting from nearly 5,000 `` priority facilities , '' and more hospitals have joined their ranks in recent weeks .
Researchers say observing these trend lines can help the nation know how to prepare for surge and be ready to intervene before systems become overwhelmed .
Daily hospitalization numbers in particular are key measures for tracking pandemic hotspots , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of severe COVID-19 cases in a community .
`` The best possible measure of where we are in the pandemic , and the one we would want to anchor modeling to , is daily hospitalizations , '' he says , which give an early warning of deaths that will likely follow .
Panchadasaram 's data-tracking site COVID Exit Strategy pulls state-level hospital capacity estimates from HHS when they 're updated , which generally happens once a week .
In reviewing the reports obtained by NPR , Panchadsaram says it 's clear vital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` But sharing with the public seems to be an afterthought , '' he says .
Gaps in transparency for state and local leaders HHS tells NPR that more than 800 state-level employees have access to the daily hospitalization data it gathers , but only for their own state , unless another state grants them permission to view its data .
Without a larger view into national or regional data some states , like Tennessee , which has eight bordering states , are missing out on valuable regional data , says Melissa McPheeters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Public 's Health through Informatics at Vanderbilt University .
`` Hospitals in Tennessee serve patients who are from Arkansas and Mississippi and Kentucky and Georgia and vice versa , and so we 're a little bit blind to what 's going on there , '' she says .
`` When we see hospitals that are particularly near those state borders having increases , one of the things we ca n't tell is : Is that because hospitals in an adjacent state are full ?
What 's going on there ?
And that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the picture . ''
Lisa M. Lee , former chief science officer for public health surveillance at CDC , now at Virginia Tech , says the federal government could help states work together across borders .
`` It 's very challenging for states to get the multi-state view of things , '' she says .
`` It 's just a lot easier when there 's a knowledgeable third-party who can pull the data together , make them consistent across states and actually tell the story of what the information shows . ''
Typically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be fulfilled by the CDC , but the agency was stripped of its role in collecting COVID-19 hospital data in July .
This kind of visibility into data could help policymakers decide how best to curb the spread of the virus .
McPheeters and colleagues at Vanderbilt put out a report this week that found that Tennessee counties without mask mandates had more rapid increases in hospitalizations .
That kind of analysis and insight would be possible at a much larger scale if HHS shared more granular hospitalization data , she says .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , says Lee .
`` The neighborhood data , the county data and metro-area data can be really helpful for people to say , 'Whoa , they 're not kidding , this is right here , ' '' she says .
`` It can help public health prevention folks get their messages across and get people to change their behavior . ''
Experts who reviewed the internal documents for NPR say that even for the limited group of federal employees who get them , the daily reports are not as useful as they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ focused on counting things but not contextualizing them , '' explains McPheeters .
A community hospital might become overwhelmed at a different point than a big academic hospital , and without that context , she says , it 's impossible to tell : `` Is 75 % [ full ] a good thing or is 75 % a bad thing ? ''
Health data experts NPR consulted had ideas on how to improve the analysis .
For instance , Panchadsaram suggested that some of the county-level charts , currently presented as raw numbers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per capita .
`` You really need to adjust it to the number of people [ in an area ] to get a sense of where things are being overwhelmed , '' he says .
And the quality of the underlying data is a concern .
Health experts say the data quality was compromised by a controversial shift in data collection from CDC to HHS in July , and that the issues with data quality have not been fully resolved .
Hospitals have had to adjust to onerous new reporting requirements , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and analyzed by seasoned epidemiologists and other experts at CDC .
The daily trend documents circulated at HHS include this disclaimer : `` This analysis depends on the data reported by hospitals .
To the extent that the data is missing or inaccurate , this analysis will also reflect those issues . ''
According to HHS data posted on Monday , just 62 % of the nation 's hospitals reported all the required information last week .
But greater transparency , even of incomplete data , can be invaluable in a crisis , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since it took over collecting hospital capacity data , it has `` consistently displayed state-level hospitalization data to help inform the public about COVID-19 prevalence in their communities . ''
But public health experts say the state level data is n't detailed enough — and since the government is putting the effort into generating more granular daily analyses , it should share them .
`` Even though they 're collecting all these things and putting so much effort behind it , it gets blocked when it tries to get out of the door @ @ @ @ @

Internal Documents Reveal COVID-19 Hospitalization Data The Government Keeps Hidden
Enlarge this image toggle caption Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post via Getty Images Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post via Getty Images
As coronavirus cases rise swiftly around the country, surpassing both the spring and summer surges, health officials brace for a coming wave of hospitalizations and deaths. Knowing which hospitals in which communities are reaching capacity could be key to an effective response to the growing crisis. That information is gathered by the federal government — but not shared openly with the public.
NPR has obtained documents that give a snapshot of data the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services collects and analyzes daily. The documents — reports sent to agency staffers — highlight trends in hospitalizations and pinpoint cities nearing full hospital capacity and facilities under stress. They paint a granular picture of the strain on hospitals across the country that could help local citizens decide when to take extra precautions against COVID-19.
Withholding this information from the public and the research community is a missed opportunity to help prevent outbreaks and even save lives, say public health and data experts who reviewed the documents for NPR.
"At this point, I think it's reckless. It's endangering people," says Ryan Panchadsaram, co-founder of the website COVID Exit Strategy and a former data official in the Obama administration. "We're now in the third wave, and I think our only way out is really open, transparent and actionable information."
The documents show that detailed information hospitals report to HHS every day is reviewed and analyzed — but circulation seems to be limited to a few dozen government staffers from HHS and its agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Institutes of Health, according to distribution lists reviewed by NPR. Only one member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, Adm. Brett Giroir, appears to receive the documents directly.
"Our goal is to be as transparent as possible, while still protecting privacy," an HHS spokesperson wrote in an email to NPR. "HHS and the White House Coronavirus Task Force utilize hospital capacity data to gain greater insights into how COVID-19 is spreading and impacting the population, and to better inform response efforts like staff deployments and supply shipments."
What data is being collected and shared internally?
The daily reports show county, city and hospital-level details, as well as national analyses that HHS does not post online.
toggle caption HHS
For instance, the most recent report obtained by NPR, dated Oct 27, lists cities where hospitals are filling up, including the metro areas of Atlanta, Minneapolis and Baltimore, where in-patient hospital beds are over 80% full. It also lists specific hospitals reaching max capacity, including facilities in Tampa, Birmingham and New York that are at over 95% ICU capacity and at risk of running out of intensive care beds.
In reviewing the analysis obtained by NPR, Panchadsaram says the local and hospital-level data HHS is collecting would be very useful to researchers and health leaders. "That stuff isn't easy to find at a national level," he says. "There's no one place [publicly] you can go to get all that data."
Hospitalization data is invaluable in looking ahead to see where and when outbreaks are getting worse, says Dr. Christopher Murray, director of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington. "Right now, as we head into the fall and winter surge," Murray says, "we're trying to put more emphasis on predicting where systems will be overwhelmed."
But what's missing for this kind of planning, he says, is "exactly the information" that appears in the internal report.
NPR has reviewed several of these reports generated in the past month. They present trends in hospital use, including increases in ventilator usage, along with a growing number of inpatient and ICU beds being occupied by COVID-19 patients. The Oct. 27 report showed that all three measures have increased by 14%-16% in the past month.
About 24% of U.S. hospitals are using more than 80% of their ICU capacity, based on reporting from nearly 5,000 "priority facilities," and more hospitals have joined their ranks in recent weeks.
Enlarge this image toggle caption HHS HHS
Researchers say observing these trend lines can help the nation know how to prepare for surge and be ready to intervene before systems become overwhelmed.
Daily hospitalization numbers in particular are key measures for tracking pandemic hotspots, Murray says, because they reflect the number of severe COVID-19 cases in a community.
"The best possible measure of where we are in the pandemic, and the one we would want to anchor modeling to, is daily hospitalizations," he says, which give an early warning of deaths that will likely follow.
Panchadsaram's data-tracking site COVID Exit Strategy pulls state-level hospital capacity estimates from HHS when they're updated, which generally happens once a week. In reviewing the reports obtained by NPR, Panchadsaram says it's clear that vital data is flowing into HHS daily. "But sharing with the public seems to be an afterthought," he says.
Gaps in transparency for state and local leaders
HHS tells NPR that more than 800 state-level employees have access to the daily hospitalization data it gathers, but only for their own state, unless another state grants them permission to view its data.
Without a larger view into national or regional data, some states — like Tennessee, which has eight bordering states — are missing out on valuable regional data, says Melissa McPheeters, who directs the Center for Improving the Public's Health through Informatics at Vanderbilt University.
"Hospitals in Tennessee serve patients who are from Arkansas and Mississippi and Kentucky and Georgia and vice versa, and so we're a little bit blind to what's going on there," she says. "When we see hospitals that are particularly near those state borders having increases, one of the things we can't tell is: Is that because hospitals in an adjacent state are full? What's going on there? And that could be a really important piece of the picture."
Lisa M. Lee, former chief science officer for public health surveillance at the CDC, now at Virginia Tech, says the federal government could help states work together across borders.
"It's very challenging for states to get the multistate view of things," she says. "It's just a lot easier when there's a knowledgeable third-party who can pull the data together, make them consistent across states and actually tell the story of what the information shows." Typically, she says, this role would be fulfilled by the CDC, but the agency was stripped of its role in collecting COVID-19 hospital data in July.
This kind of visibility into data could help policymakers decide how best to curb the spread of the virus. McPheeters and colleagues at Vanderbilt put out a report this week that found that Tennessee counties without mask mandates had more rapid increases in hospitalizations. That kind of analysis and insight would be possible at a much larger scale if HHS shared more granular hospitalization data, she says.
It could influence behavior among the public, says Lee. "The neighborhood data, the county data and metro-area data can be really helpful for people to say, 'Whoa, they're not kidding, this is right here,'" she says. "It can help public health prevention folks get their messages across and get people to change their behavior."
Enlarge this image toggle caption HHS HHS
A controversial data switch
Experts who reviewed the internal documents for NPR say that even for the limited group of federal employees who get them, the daily reports are not as useful as they could be.
"We're so focused on counting things but not contextualizing them," explains McPheeters. A community hospital might become overwhelmed at a different point than a big academic hospital, and without that context, she says, it's impossible to tell: "Is 75% [full] a good thing or is 75% a bad thing?"
Health data experts NPR consulted had ideas on how to improve the analysis. For instance, Panchadsaram suggested that some of the county-level charts, currently presented as raw numbers, would be more useful if analyzed per capita. "You really need to adjust it to the number of people [in an area] to get a sense of where things are being overwhelmed," he says.
And the quality of the underlying data is a concern. Health experts say the data quality was compromised by a controversial shift in data collection from the CDC to HHS in July, and that the issues with data quality have not been fully resolved.
Hospitals have had to adjust to onerous new reporting requirements, and the hospital data is no longer checked and analyzed by seasoned epidemiologists and other experts at CDC.
The daily trend documents circulated at HHS include this disclaimer: "This analysis depends on the data reported by hospitals. To the extent that the data is missing or inaccurate, this analysis will also reflect those issues."
According to HHS data posted on Monday, just 62% of the nation's hospitals reported all the required information last week.
But greater transparency, even of incomplete data, can be invaluable in a crisis, experts say.
HHS told NPR that since it took over collecting hospital capacity data, it has "consistently displayed state-level hospitalization data to help inform the public about COVID-19 prevalence in their communities."
But public health experts say the state level data isn't detailed enough — and since the government is putting the effort into generating more granular daily analyses, it should share them.
"Even though they're collecting all these things and putting so much effort behind it, it gets blocked when it tries to get out of the door," Panchadsaram says.


npr--2020-10-30--Agencies, Contractors Suspend Diversity Training To Avoid Violating Trump Order

Three civil rights groups filed a federal class-action lawsuit Thursday challenging the Trump administration 's recent crackdown on diversity training .
The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund , National Urban League and National Fair Housing Alliance call President Trump 's Sept. 22 executive order `` chillingly punitive '' censorship that violates guarantees of free speech , equal protection and due process .
Trump 's executive order prohibits certain diversity training that the administration says amounts to `` divisive , anti-American propaganda . ''
In the five weeks since the order was signed , critics say it has had a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the military , government contractors and grant recipients scramble to figure out how to comply .
The order targets diversity training grounded in what the administration terms a `` malign ideology '' that `` threatens to infect core institutions of our country . ''
Such an ideology , the order says , `` is rooted in the pernicious and false belief that America is an irredeemably racist and sexist country . ''
The order applies broadly to federal agencies and the military as well as government contractors and recipients of federal grants , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of State , Justice and Veterans Affairs are among those that have suspended all diversity and inclusion training programs while they review their content .
Many companies and universities have done the same .
The executive order also directs the Department of Labor to establish a government hotline encouraging `` employees and other concerned members of the public '' to ask questions or complain about diversity training they find offensive or potentially unlawful , for possible investigation .
The hotline has received more than 140 responses in the five weeks since it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lawsuit this week say that hotline carries with it `` alarming ... echoes of McCarthyism . ''
A White House memorandum warns that contractors found in violation could have their contracts suspended or canceled .
Noncompliance by federal employees , the memo says , `` will result in consequences , which may include adverse action . ''
Asked to explain the reasoning behind the order at the Sept. 29 presidential debate , Trump said , `` They were teaching people that our country is a horrible place .
It 's a racist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to hate our country .
And I 'm not going to allow that to happen . ''
`` A really scary place to be '' When Michelle Kim first heard about Trump 's executive order , which is titled `` Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping , '' she says , `` My first immediate thought was , here we go . ''
Kim is co-founder and CEO of the company Awaken , based in Oakland , Calif. , which provides workshops on diversity , equity and inclusion to businesses .
Her apprehension proved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the order was issued that she heard from a concerned corporate client , asking Kim to review her materials to ensure they did not include any of the prohibited concepts .
Terms the Trump administration has singled out as potentially problematic include `` white privilege , '' `` systemic racism , '' `` unconscious bias , '' `` intersectionality , '' `` racial humility '' and `` critical race theory . ''
Kim told her client that while she could theoretically avoid use of the term `` white privilege '' in her talk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I would be agreeing with the spirit of the ask , which is problematic on its own . ''
She offered to nullify her speaking agreement , but in the end , she was able to assuage her client 's concerns .
Her talk on power and privilege in the workplace went forward .
Still , Kim says , damage has been done : `` Instead of us being focused on actually fighting racism and being anti-racist , now we are scrambling to figure out the legal ramifications of it .
I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ succeeded in creating that distraction . ''
The Trump administration 's order , Kim believes , is founded on a gross misunderstanding of diversity training : the mistaken belief that it 's all about blaming and vilifying white people .
( The word `` scapegoating '' appears seven times in the executive order . )
That misconception is not just wrong , Kim says , but it 's also dangerous .
`` Somehow we 've gotten to a place where we believe fighting against racism is anti-patriotic , '' she says .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ society .
And that 's a really scary place to be . ''
Joelle Emerson , co-founder and CEO of the diversity , equity and inclusion strategy firm Paradigm , admits to being `` extremely naive '' when she first read the executive order .
`` I did n't believe that any of our clients would be fazed by this , '' Emerson says .
`` I was like , 'This is clearly propaganda .
It 's fascist propaganda .
It 's a dog whistle to Trump 's base , and organizations that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are going to be just as offended by this order as we are . '
And I was wrong . ''
As a result of the order , Emerson lost a client , a government contractor that decided to put all of its diversity training on hold .
The president 's crackdown on diversity training is part of a broader culture war , Emerson says , a battle that plays on people 's fears about what diversity represents .
That fear , she says , is that `` diversity is not for you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you feel guilty about who you are , depriving you of your rights . ''
`` Of course , '' she says , `` none of that is accurate , but that 's a fear that many white people have about diversity efforts .
And this seems to be speaking directly to that fear , and trying very hard to tap into that fear , and sow division and discord . ''
At the employment law firm Littler Mendelson , Chris Gokturk has been fielding a flood of calls from companies that have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a rough few weeks ! ''
Gokturk says .
`` There 's not enough hours in the day . ''
Gokturk helps businesses with their affirmative action and diversity programs , and since the order came out , her clients have had a lot of questions .
`` The most common thing is , should we stop all of our diversity training ?
Should we just stop ? ''
she says .
`` And , at first I said , 'No .
You 've vetted your training , you always review it and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then the hotline went up . ''
That email and telephone government hotline encourages people to submit information confidentially on training programs that involve `` prohibited race or sex stereotyping or scapegoating . ''
`` This is asking Americans to be surveilling other Americans , and this is — y'know , it 's chilling .
It 's absolutely chilling , '' Stanford University sociology professor Shelley Correll says .
She studies gender and organizational diversity , and conducts unconscious bias training .
Correll fears the chilling effect could extend beyond what 's specified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speech in academia .
It 's a concern she 's heard from fellow faculty across the country .
`` There 's a lot of worry that this is just step one , and that this is going to lead to restrictions in terms of what we teach in the classroom , '' Correll says .
`` It may take universities really pushing back as we go forward . ''
The executive order specifies that `` divisive concepts '' can be discussed in an academic setting if they 're done `` in an objective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president 's action is both `` stunningly off-base '' and ill-timed , Correll says : `` It 's an executive order that has come out at a time when interest in diversity training is higher than it 's ever been , at a time when for the first time in polling history , the majority of Americans think that racism in our country is a serious problem .
So people are paying attention .
And at this moment , the executive order comes out .
I do n't think that 's coincidental .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ nominee Joe Biden were to take office in January , he could undo the order with the stroke of a pen .
The Biden campaign declined to say whether he would rescind the order but told NPR , `` Vice President Biden stands firmly against discrimination of all kinds and his administration will tackle systemic racism and other forms of discrimination across all of our laws , policies , and institutions . ''

Agencies, Contractors Suspend Diversity Training To Avoid Violating Trump Order
Enlarge this image toggle caption Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images
Three civil rights groups filed a federal class-action lawsuit Thursday challenging the Trump administration's recent crackdown on diversity training.
The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, National Urban League and National Fair Housing Alliance call President Trump's Sept. 22 executive order "chillingly punitive" censorship that violates guarantees of free speech, equal protection and due process.
Trump's executive order prohibits certain diversity training that the administration says amounts to "divisive, anti-American propaganda."
In the five weeks since the order was signed, critics say it has had a widespread chilling effect as federal agencies, the military, government contractors and grant recipients scramble to figure out how to comply.
The order targets diversity training grounded in what the administration terms a "malign ideology" that "threatens to infect core institutions of our country."
Such an ideology, the order says, "is rooted in the pernicious and false belief that America is an irredeemably racist and sexist country."
The order applies broadly to federal agencies and the military as well as government contractors and recipients of federal grants, including universities and nonprofits.
The departments of State, Justice and Veterans Affairs are among those that have suspended all diversity and inclusion training programs while they review their content. Many companies and universities have done the same.
The executive order also directs the Department of Labor to establish a government hotline encouraging "employees and other concerned members of the public" to ask questions or complain about diversity training they find offensive or potentially unlawful, for possible investigation. The hotline has received more than 140 responses in the five weeks since it was set up.
The plaintiffs who filed the lawsuit this week say that hotline carries with it "alarming ... echoes of McCarthyism."
A White House memorandum warns that contractors found in violation could have their contracts suspended or canceled. Noncompliance by federal employees, the memo says, "will result in consequences, which may include adverse action."
Asked to explain the reasoning behind the order at the Sept. 29 presidential debate, Trump said, "They were teaching people that our country is a horrible place. It's a racist place. And they were teaching people to hate our country. And I'm not going to allow that to happen."
Factbase Videos YouTube
"A really scary place to be"
When Michelle Kim first heard about Trump's executive order, which is titled "Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping," she says, "My first immediate thought was, here we go."
Kim is co-founder and CEO of the company Awaken, based in Oakland, Calif., which provides workshops on diversity, equity and inclusion to businesses.
Her apprehension proved justified. It wasn't long after the order was issued that she heard from a concerned corporate client, asking Kim to review her materials to ensure they did not include any of the prohibited concepts.
Terms the Trump administration has singled out as potentially problematic include "white privilege," "systemic racism," "unconscious bias," "intersectionality," "racial humility" and "critical race theory."
Kim told her client that while she could theoretically avoid use of the term "white privilege" in her talk, if she did so, "I would be agreeing with the spirit of the ask, which is problematic on its own."
She offered to nullify her speaking agreement, but in the end, she was able to assuage her client's concerns. Her talk on power and privilege in the workplace went forward.
Still, Kim says, damage has been done: "Instead of us being focused on actually fighting racism and being anti-racist, now we are scrambling to figure out the legal ramifications of it. I think in many ways the executive order has succeeded in creating that distraction."
The Trump administration's order, Kim believes, is founded on a gross misunderstanding of diversity training: the mistaken belief that it's all about blaming and vilifying white people. (The word "scapegoating" appears seven times in the executive order.)
That misconception is not just wrong, Kim says, but it's also dangerous. "Somehow we've gotten to a place where we believe fighting against racism is anti-patriotic," she says. "That's where we are as a society. And that's a really scary place to be."
"It's a dog whistle"
Joelle Emerson, co-founder and CEO of the diversity, equity and inclusion strategy firm Paradigm, admits to being "extremely naive" when she first read the executive order.
"I didn't believe that any of our clients would be fazed by this," Emerson says. "I was like, 'This is clearly propaganda. It's fascist propaganda. It's a dog whistle to Trump's base, and organizations that care about diversity, equity and inclusion are going to be just as offended by this order as we are.' And I was wrong."
As a result of the order, Emerson lost a client, a government contractor that decided to put all of its diversity training on hold.
The president's crackdown on diversity training is part of a broader culture war, Emerson says, a battle that plays on people's fears about what diversity represents. That fear, she says, is that "diversity is not for you. Diversity training is all about making you feel guilty about who you are, depriving you of your rights."
"Of course," she says, "none of that is accurate, but that's a fear that many white people have about diversity efforts. And this seems to be speaking directly to that fear, and trying very hard to tap into that fear, and sow division and discord."
At the employment law firm Littler Mendelson, Chris Gokturk has been fielding a flood of calls from companies that have government contracts.
"It's been a rough few weeks!" Gokturk says. "There's not enough hours in the day."
Gokturk helps businesses with their affirmative action and diversity programs, and since the order came out, her clients have had a lot of questions.
"The most common thing is, should we stop all of our diversity training? Should we just stop?" she says. "And, at first I said, 'No. You've vetted your training, you always review it and everything else.' "
Gokturk pauses.
"And then the hotline went up."
That email and telephone government hotline encourages people to submit information confidentially on training programs that involve "prohibited race or sex stereotyping or scapegoating."
"This is asking Americans to be surveilling other Americans, and this is — y'know, it's chilling. It's absolutely chilling," Stanford University sociology professor Shelley Correll says.
She studies gender and organizational diversity, and conducts unconscious bias training.
Correll fears the chilling effect could extend beyond what's specified in the executive order and threaten free speech in academia. It's a concern she's heard from fellow faculty across the country.
"There's a lot of worry that this is just step one, and that this is going to lead to restrictions in terms of what we teach in the classroom," Correll says. "It may take universities really pushing back as we go forward."
The executive order specifies that "divisive concepts" can be discussed in an academic setting if they're done "in an objective manner and without endorsement."
The president's action is both "stunningly off-base" and ill-timed, Correll says: "It's an executive order that has come out at a time when interest in diversity training is higher than it's ever been, at a time when for the first time in polling history, the majority of Americans think that racism in our country is a serious problem. So people are paying attention. And at this moment, the executive order comes out. I don't think that's coincidental."
Of course, if Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden were to take office in January, he could undo the order with the stroke of a pen.
The Biden campaign declined to say whether he would rescind the order but told NPR, "Vice President Biden stands firmly against discrimination of all kinds and his administration will tackle systemic racism and other forms of discrimination across all of our laws, policies, and institutions."


npr--2020-10-30--Final NPR Electoral Map: Biden Has The Edge, But Trump Retains Narrow Path

Final NPR Electoral Map : Biden Has The Edge , But Trump Retains Narrow Path The final NPR Electoral College map analysis shows Democrat Joe Biden going into Election Day with the clear edge , while President Trump has a narrow but not impossible path through the states key to winning the presidency .
Among states leaning or likely to go in a particular candidate 's direction , Biden leads by 279 electoral votes to Trump 's 125 .
A candidate needs 270 electoral votes to win a majority of the votes available — and the presidency .
That means @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the toss-up states , he 'd still come up 11 electoral votes short and would need to win over at least one state currently leaning in Biden 's direction .
The Trump campaign has its eyes on Pennsylvania .
This month , we moved Arizona from Lean Democratic to Toss-Up ; Texas — after much hesitation — from Lean Republican to Toss-Up ; Montana from Likely Republican to Lean Republican ; and New Hampshire from Lean Democratic to Likely Democratic .
Trump faced a similar predicament in 2016 , though if he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would indicate an even greater polling error than was seen in key states four years ago .
The math is daunting but does not rule Trump out entirely .
He is within the margin of error in all seven of the toss-up states and the one toss-up congressional district in Maine .
( Unlike every other state , Nebraska and Maine are not winner-take-all .
They apportion their electoral votes through a combination of statewide vote and congressional district vote . )
In Texas and Ohio , Trump currently leads narrowly in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Georgia , Iowa , Florida , North Carolina , Arizona and Maine 's 2nd congressional district — Biden leads by about 3 percentage points or less on average .
If all of those go Trump 's way , and if all the states leaning toward Biden except Pennsylvania stick with the former vice president , suddenly it would be a 259-to-259 map .
That would make Pennsylvania the decider and it 's a state that could take longer to count its vote this year , because it 's not used to processing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ receiving this year .
That could result in a scenario with an election hanging in the balance well past election night .
Peeling off Michigan by itself would also give Trump enough electoral votes in this scenario , as would winning a combination of Wisconsin and the one electoral vote in Nebraska .
So in short , there 's a lot of uncertainty heading into Tuesday .
Yes , Biden has been consistently ahead nationally and holds small but consistent leads in the competitive states .
But for lots of Democrats , well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ When all the votes are counted , it 's very possible we could see a Biden blowout — or a Trump squeaker .
What we changed and why Arizona ( Lean D to Toss-Up ) : All Toss-Ups are n't created equal .
This one is a tip of the scale toward Biden .
He has held a narrow but consistent lead in Arizona , not trailing since early March .
This month , Biden expanded his lead to about 4 points on average .
Even then , that was right on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a state that has n't gone Democratic in a presidential election since 1996 , which was a three-person race .
If Biden maintains his edge with suburban white voters and there 's strong Latino turnout , this one is ripe for the flipping .
Texas ( Lean R to Toss-Up ) : Insert folksy metaphor here for `` I 'll believe it when I see it , '' because this ai n't our first rodeo .
But early voting is through the roof , and it includes lots of young people and Latinos @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lead in polling , the race is still stubbornly close , and extrapolating out what the high turnout means is an unknown variable .
Montana ( Likely R to Lean R ) : Montana , you ask ?
That 's right .
Now , is Biden going to win Montana ?
Probably not .
But this is a state that Trump won by 20 points in 2016 , and he 's up , if you can believe it , just 6 in the latest polls .
This is also good news for Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bid , as Democrats seek to take back that chamber .
So Montana joins Missouri , Nebraska , Kansas , Alaska and South Carolina , as well Georgia , Texas and Arizona , as traditionally Republican states where Trump is underperforming .
What accounts for this is Biden 's support among white voters and Trump 's unpopularity .
Even in Montana , Trump 's approval rating is only 49 % approve , 49 % disapprove .
Especially because of Biden 's likely uptick in Texas , it means he could be on track @ @ @ @ @ @ @ national popular vote than Hillary Clinton did in 2016 .
Imagine a scenario in which Biden loses narrowly in the states key to the Electoral College while winning a 5 million to 7 million popular vote margin .
It 's possible .
New Hampshire ( Lean D to Likely D ) : Biden 's lead has grown here to double digits .
The state has a high percentage of whites without college degrees and went for Clinton in 2016 by only about 2,700 votes , but Trump 's approval rating here is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( Toss-Up ) : Trump is trending upward in the polls and has taken a lead here .
His campaign is also confident it will win here .
It 's still close and in the Toss-Up range , but this one is a tip of the scale to Trump .
Iowa ( Toss-Up ) : It should be Lean Republican , given Trump 's big win here in 2016 , but it continues to be polling as a Toss-Up .
It 's not inconceivable that Biden could win here .
He 's polling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and Barack Obama won Iowa twice .
Pennsylvania ( Lean D ) : It remains Lean Democratic , but the race has tightened slightly from earlier this month .
Biden held a comfortable 7-point lead three weeks ago ; he 's now up 5 on average .
The Biden campaign has expected that tightening , as wavering Trump 2016 voters make up their minds .
And this is one of the most hotly contested states in the United States .
But Biden continues to be at or above the 50 % mark @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over not only late-breaking undecided voters but also people who are saying they 're voting for Biden .
Kansas and Indiana ( Likely R ) : Just noting that both of these states are just about at or within 10-point margins .
Trump won Kansas by 21 points in 2016 and Indiana by 19 .
Trump will likely win them again , but a tighter margin is going to pile onto Biden 's potential popular vote lead .
And more Biden voters in Kansas means more voters for Democrat Barbara Bollier in the @ @ @ @ @

Final NPR Electoral Map: Biden Has The Edge, But Trump Retains Narrow Path
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The final NPR Electoral College map analysis shows Democrat Joe Biden going into Election Day with the clear edge, while President Trump has a narrow but not impossible path through the states key to winning the presidency.
Among states leaning or likely to go in a particular candidate's direction, Biden leads by 279 electoral votes to Trump's 125. A candidate needs 270 electoral votes to win a majority of the votes available — and the presidency.
That means even if Trump were to win all of the toss-up states, he'd still come up 11 electoral votes short and would need to win over at least one state currently leaning in Biden's direction. The Trump campaign has its eyes on Pennsylvania.
This month, we moved Arizona from Lean Democratic to Toss-Up; Texas — after much hesitation — from Lean Republican to Toss-Up; Montana from Likely Republican to Lean Republican; and New Hampshire from Lean Democratic to Likely Democratic.
Trump faced a similar predicament in 2016, though if he were to win this time, it would indicate an even greater polling error than was seen in key states four years ago.
The math is daunting but does not rule Trump out entirely. He is within the margin of error in all seven of the toss-up states and the one toss-up congressional district in Maine. (Unlike every other state, Nebraska and Maine are not winner-take-all. They apportion their electoral votes through a combination of statewide vote and congressional district vote.)
In Texas and Ohio, Trump currently leads narrowly in the polling averages. In the others — Georgia, Iowa, Florida, North Carolina, Arizona and Maine's 2nd congressional district — Biden leads by about 3 percentage points or less on average.
If all of those go Trump's way, and if all the states leaning toward Biden except Pennsylvania stick with the former vice president, suddenly it would be a 259-to-259 map.
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That would make Pennsylvania the decider and it's a state that could take longer to count its vote this year, because it's not used to processing the high amount of mail-in ballots it is receiving this year. That could result in a scenario with an election hanging in the balance well past election night.
Peeling off Michigan by itself would also give Trump enough electoral votes in this scenario, as would winning a combination of Wisconsin and the one electoral vote in Nebraska.
So in short, there's a lot of uncertainty heading into Tuesday. Yes, Biden has been consistently ahead nationally and holds small but consistent leads in the competitive states. But for lots of Democrats, well, they've heard that before.
When all the votes are counted, it's very possible we could see a Biden blowout — or a Trump squeaker.
What we changed and why
Arizona (Lean D to Toss-Up): All Toss-Ups aren't created equal. This one is a tip of the scale toward Biden. He has held a narrow but consistent lead in Arizona, not trailing since early March. This month, Biden expanded his lead to about 4 points on average. Even then, that was right on the threshold of a move, especially for a state that hasn't gone Democratic in a presidential election since 1996, which was a three-person race. If Biden maintains his edge with suburban white voters and there's strong Latino turnout, this one is ripe for the flipping.
Texas (Lean R to Toss-Up): Insert folksy metaphor here for "I'll believe it when I see it," because this ain't our first rodeo. But early voting is through the roof, and it includes lots of young people and Latinos. While Trump has taken a small lead in polling, the race is still stubbornly close, and extrapolating out what the high turnout means is an unknown variable.
Montana (Likely R to Lean R): Montana, you ask? That's right. Now, is Biden going to win Montana? Probably not. But this is a state that Trump won by 20 points in 2016, and he's up, if you can believe it, just 6 in the latest polls. This is also good news for Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock in his Senate bid, as Democrats seek to take back that chamber. So Montana joins Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, Alaska and South Carolina, as well Georgia, Texas and Arizona, as traditionally Republican states where Trump is underperforming.
What accounts for this is Biden's support among white voters and Trump's unpopularity. Even in Montana, Trump's approval rating is only 49% approve, 49% disapprove. Especially because of Biden's likely uptick in Texas, it means he could be on track to win a larger margin in the national popular vote than Hillary Clinton did in 2016. Imagine a scenario in which Biden loses narrowly in the states key to the Electoral College while winning a 5 million to 7 million popular vote margin. It's possible.
New Hampshire (Lean D to Likely D): Biden's lead has grown here to double digits. The state has a high percentage of whites without college degrees and went for Clinton in 2016 by only about 2,700 votes, but Trump's approval rating here is the worst of the competitive states.
What we didn't change
Ohio (Toss-Up): Trump is trending upward in the polls and has taken a lead here. His campaign is also confident it will win here. It's still close and in the Toss-Up range, but this one is a tip of the scale to Trump.
Iowa (Toss-Up): It should be Lean Republican, given Trump's big win here in 2016, but it continues to be polling as a Toss-Up. It's not inconceivable that Biden could win here. He's polling well with white voters for a Democrat, and Barack Obama won Iowa twice.
Pennsylvania (Lean D): It remains Lean Democratic, but the race has tightened slightly from earlier this month. Biden held a comfortable 7-point lead three weeks ago; he's now up 5 on average. The Biden campaign has expected that tightening, as wavering Trump 2016 voters make up their minds. And this is one of the most hotly contested states in the United States. But Biden continues to be at or above the 50% mark, which means Trump has to win over not only late-breaking undecided voters but also people who are saying they're voting for Biden.
Kansas and Indiana (Likely R): Just noting that both of these states are just about at or within 10-point margins. Trump won Kansas by 21 points in 2016 and Indiana by 19. Trump will likely win them again, but a tighter margin is going to pile onto Biden's potential popular vote lead. And more Biden voters in Kansas means more voters for Democrat Barbara Bollier in the competitive Senate race there.


npr--2020-10-29--Walter Wallace Jr.'s Family Does Not Want Police Officers To Face Murder Charges

Walter Wallace Jr. 's Family Does Not Want Police Officers To Face Murder Charges Walter Wallace Jr. 's family is seeking justice but they are not advocating for the officers who killed the 27-year-old Black man to be charged with murder .
The family , including Wallace 's mother and wife who were at the scene of the killing , privately reviewed the police body camera footage of the fatal shooting early Thursday morning .
According to their attorney , Shaka Johnson , the brief 30 to 40 second video put on display the systematic failings of the Philadelphia Police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a tool by which to assassinate '' instead of a less lethal device such as a Taser .
When asked why the family , who has yet to bury Wallace , would not want to pursue murder charges against the two officers who fired seven rounds each into him on Monday , Johnson replied , `` Here 's why : they were improperly trained and did not have the proper equipment by which to effectuate their job . ''
Johnson , however , noted the onus is not on the family to pursue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Attorney Larry Krasner .
The family does intend to file a wrongful death suit .
The attorney described the final moments of Wallace 's life as they were captured in the body cam footage , saying the officers made no attempt to diffuse the chaotic situation upon their arrival .
On the contrary , he said , it was clear the officers intended to kill the mentally unstable man .
According to the family , they called 911 to summon an ambulance that would help them calm Wallace who was experiencing a psychological @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trained to handle such situations it was the two officers who showed up .
By then , Wallace was weaving through traffic holding a knife .
Johnson said he looked like a person in `` obvious mental health crisis . ''
`` You will see a person walking around not even speaking , '' said Johnson , remarking that it looked as if Wallace was `` in a cloud . ''
The family has said Wallace had been taking lithium , a mood stabilizer used to treat bipolar disorder .
The video captures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to `` shoot him '' before both opened fire , Johnson said .
At the time , he added , Wallace was approximately a car and a half-length away .
Johnson also claims the video shows Wallace was incapacitated after the first shot .
`` I understand he had a knife ... and I think that does not give you carte blanche to execute a man , '' he said .
The officers involved in the shooting claim Wallace advanced toward them with the knife but the family disputes that account .
Several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one officer shouted for Wallace to put down the weapon .
But Johnson said , proper deescalation involves more than yelling , `` drop the knife , drop the knife . ''
The officers ' names have not been released .
Both have been suspended from active patrol and remain on desk duty .
Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw has pledged to release the video and audio tapes .
Mayor Jim Kenney and District Attorney Larry Krasner released a joint statement Thursday night saying the footage and 911 audio files will be released by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Administration and the District Attorney expect BWC footage and 911 audio files to be released by the end of next week after certain matters are resolved in close consultation with Mr. Wallace 's family and their legal counsel , '' the statement read .

Walter Wallace Jr.'s Family Does Not Want Police Officers To Face Murder Charges
Enlarge this image toggle caption Matt Slocum/AP Matt Slocum/AP
Walter Wallace Jr.'s family is seeking justice but they are not advocating for the officers who killed the 27-year-old Black man to be charged with murder.
The family, including Wallace's mother and wife who were at the scene of the killing, privately reviewed the police body camera footage of the fatal shooting early Thursday morning.
According to their attorney, Shaka Johnson, the brief 30 to 40 second video put on display the systematic failings of the Philadelphia Police Department who armed the officers with "a tool by which to assassinate" instead of a less lethal device such as a Taser.
When asked why the family, who has yet to bury Wallace, would not want to pursue murder charges against the two officers who fired seven rounds each into him on Monday, Johnson replied, "Here's why: they were improperly trained and did not have the proper equipment by which to effectuate their job."
Johnson, however, noted the onus is not on the family to pursue charges. It is up to District Attorney Larry Krasner. The family does intend to file a wrongful death suit.
The attorney described the final moments of Wallace's life as they were captured in the body cam footage, saying the officers made no attempt to diffuse the chaotic situation upon their arrival. On the contrary, he said, it was clear the officers intended to kill the mentally unstable man.
According to the family, they called 911 to summon an ambulance that would help them calm Wallace who was experiencing a psychological episode. But instead of healthcare professionals trained to handle such situations it was the two officers who showed up. By then, Wallace was weaving through traffic holding a knife.
Johnson said he looked like a person in "obvious mental health crisis."
"You will see a person walking around not even speaking," said Johnson, remarking that it looked as if Wallace was "in a cloud."
The family has said Wallace had been taking lithium, a mood stabilizer used to treat bipolar disorder.
The video captures audio of one officer telling the other to "shoot him" before both opened fire, Johnson said. At the time, he added, Wallace was approximately a car and a half-length away.
Johnson also claims the video shows Wallace was incapacitated after the first shot.
"I understand he had a knife ... and I think that does not give you carte blanche to execute a man," he said.
The officers involved in the shooting claim Wallace advanced toward them with the knife but the family disputes that account. Several videos recorded by bystanders show at least one officer shouted for Wallace to put down the weapon.
But Johnson said, proper deescalation involves more than yelling, "drop the knife, drop the knife."
The officers' names have not been released. Both have been suspended from active patrol and remain on desk duty.
Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw has pledged to release the video and audio tapes.
Mayor Jim Kenney and District Attorney Larry Krasner released a joint statement Thursday night saying the footage and 911 audio files will be released by the end of next week.
"The Administration and the District Attorney expect BWC footage and 911 audio files to be released by the end of next week after certain matters are resolved in close consultation with Mr. Wallace's family and their legal counsel," the statement read.


npr--2020-10-29--Walmart Yanks Guns Off Shelves Citing Rising Tensions

Walmart pulled guns and ammunition from its store shelves as a precautionary measure , following the unrest in Philadelphia this week after police fatally shot a Black man more than a dozen times on Monday .
Both weapons and bullets are still available for purchase in the stores that carry them , but customers will have to specifically request the items as opposed to grabbing them from display shelves .
`` It 's important to note that we only sell firearms in approximately half of our stores , primarily where there are large concentrations of hunters , sportsmen , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a statement Thursday .
The retail giant operates 4,700 stores in the U.S. '' We have seen some isolated civil unrest and as we have done on several occasions over the last few years , we have moved our firearms and ammunition off the sales floor as a precaution for the safety of our associates and customers , '' the company added .
The killing of Walter Wallace Jr. , whose family says they called 911 to summon an ambulance for help as he wandered in and out of traffic carrying a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' was captured in multiple graphic cellphone videos .
They went viral almost immediately , prompting further national outrage over excessive use of force by police , especially when dealing with Black Americans .
In Philadelphia , that outrage spilled into the streets as people railed against the police department in protest .
But what started off as peaceful demonstrations quickly turned violent on Monday night .
That led to two days of clashes between law enforcement in helmets and shields and protesters , some of them hurling objects at police .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been hurt and 81 people were arrested , including 53 for burglary .
The Wall Street Journal , which first reported the story , said Walmart had decided to remove firearms and ammunition `` aiming to head off any potential theft of firearms if stores are broken into amid social unrest . ''
Walmart has taken similar actions in the past , including earlier this year after George Floyd , another Black man , was killed by police in Minneapolis .
Several Walmart stores were damaged during the spate of protests that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after a shooter in El Paso killed 23 people in a Walmart , the retail giant moved to stop selling ammunition that can be used in semi-automatic rifles and handguns .
For the most part , stores in the U.S. stopped selling handguns in the early 1990s .
They 're only available for sale in Alaska .
In 2015 , Walmart discontinued sales of modern sporting rifles , and in 2018 , it raised the gun-buying age to 21 .
Over the past year , which has been defined by panic over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unrest , the appetite for weapons has reached unprecedented demand , that , in many places , ca n't keep up with supply .
Gunmakers have seen their stock prices trade higher and gun sales have skyrocketed .
Research from the Brookings Institution found that President Trump 's proclamation declaring a national emergency concerning the COVID-19 outbreak on March 13 , kicked off a 12-day surge in sales .
Average daily sales of firearms jumped from 92,000 in January and February to over 120,000 per day following the coronavirus proclamation .
The National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ background checks associated with sale of a firearm based on the FBI 's background check system , reported that a record 12.1 million people went through the system between January and July .
That is up nearly 72 % for the same period in 2019 .
Additionally , NSSF found nearly 5 million Americans purchased a firearm for the very first time in 2020 .
Fifty-eight percent of those buyers are African-American men and women .

Walmart Yanks Guns Off Shelves Citing Rising Tensions
Enlarge this image toggle caption Alan Diaz/AP Alan Diaz/AP
Walmart pulled guns and ammunition from its store shelves as a precautionary measure, following the unrest in Philadelphia this week after police fatally shot a Black man more than a dozen times on Monday.
Both weapons and bullets are still available for purchase in the stores that carry them, but customers will have to specifically request the items as opposed to grabbing them from display shelves.
"It's important to note that we only sell firearms in approximately half of our stores, primarily where there are large concentrations of hunters, sportsmen, and sportswomen," a Walmart spokesperson said in a statement Thursday.
The retail giant operates 4,700 stores in the U.S.
"We have seen some isolated civil unrest and as we have done on several occasions over the last few years, we have moved our firearms and ammunition off the sales floor as a precaution for the safety of our associates and customers," the company added.
The killing of Walter Wallace Jr., whose family says they called 911 to summon an ambulance for help as he wandered in and out of traffic carrying a knife during a "psychological episode," was captured in multiple graphic cellphone videos. They went viral almost immediately, prompting further national outrage over excessive use of force by police, especially when dealing with Black Americans.
In Philadelphia, that outrage spilled into the streets as people railed against the police department in protest. But what started off as peaceful demonstrations quickly turned violent on Monday night.
That led to two days of clashes between law enforcement in helmets and shields and protesters, some of them hurling objects at police. As of Wednesday morning police said 30 officers had been hurt and 81 people were arrested, including 53 for burglary.
The Wall Street Journal, which first reported the story, said Walmart had decided to remove firearms and ammunition "aiming to head off any potential theft of firearms if stores are broken into amid social unrest."
Walmart has taken similar actions in the past, including earlier this year after George Floyd, another Black man, was killed by police in Minneapolis. Several Walmart stores were damaged during the spate of protests that broke out in that city. And after a shooter in El Paso killed 23 people in a Walmart, the retail giant moved to stop selling ammunition that can be used in semi-automatic rifles and handguns.
For the most part, stores in the U.S. stopped selling handguns in the early 1990s. They're only available for sale in Alaska. In 2015, Walmart discontinued sales of modern sporting rifles, and in 2018, it raised the gun-buying age to 21.
Over the past year, which has been defined by panic over the spread of COVID-19 and waves of social unrest, the appetite for weapons has reached unprecedented demand, that, in many places, can't keep up with supply. Gunmakers have seen their stock prices trade higher and gun sales have skyrocketed.
Research from the Brookings Institution found that President Trump's proclamation declaring a national emergency concerning the COVID-19 outbreak on March 13, kicked off a 12-day surge in sales. Average daily sales of firearms jumped from 92,000 in January and February to over 120,000 per day following the coronavirus proclamation.
The National Shooting Sport Foundation, which tracks the background checks associated with sale of a firearm based on the FBI's background check system, reported that a record 12.1 million people went through the system between January and July. That is up nearly 72% for the same period in 2019. Additionally, NSSF found nearly 5 million Americans purchased a firearm for the very first time in 2020. Fifty-eight percent of those buyers are African-American men and women.


npr--2020-10-30--New Zealand Supports The Right To Die, But Rejects The Right To Get High

New Zealand Supports The Right To Die , But Rejects The Right To Get High New Zealanders have voted to allow assisted dying for the terminally ill but voted down legalizing marijuana .
The questions were put to the country in separate referendums held on Oct. 17 in conjunction with the general election that handed Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern a landslide victory for another term .
The preliminary results from the referendums on two major social questions reflect a potential significant shift in social attitudes in New Zealand .
With most votes counted , New Zealanders emphatically endorsed voluntary euthanasia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the proposition on the right to die , putting the country on track to become one of the few that permits assisted suicide .
The Netherlands , Belgium , Luxembourg , Colombia , parts of Australia and several states in the U.S. are among those that have legalized euthanasia .
Approval of the `` End of Life Choice Bill '' was the result of an emotional , years-long campaign that featured ardently-held views on both sides .
And it had been anticipated .
Public opinion surveys in the run-up to the balloting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expected to come into effect November 2021 , and would allow terminally ill adults with less than six months to live the opportunity to choose assisted dying , if approved by two doctors .
`` Thousands of New Zealanders who might have suffered excruciating deaths will have choice , dignity , control , and autonomy over their own bodies , protected by the rule of law , '' said lawmaker David Seymour of the libertarian ACT Party .
Matt Vickers , who carried on his late wife Lecretia Seales ' fight to legalize @ @ @ @ @ @ @ result `` a victory for compassion and kindness . ''
Seale was a lawyer diagnosed with a brain tumour and launched a legal challenge to end her life .
But the case , documented in the Vickers ' book Lecretia 's Choice : A story of Love , Death , and the Law , was unsuccessful , and she died of her illness .
Vickers told the BBC , `` She did n't want to die .
No one does .
That 's a popular misconception .
The problem was the choice to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said . ''
Seales ' story had been catalyst for the movement in New Zealand for the right to assisted suicide .
Among opponents , Dr. John Kleinsman , an ethicist for the New Zealand Catholic Bishops , said the vote endangered those who are vulnerable , and that the existence of such a right-to-die option presented additional pressure on families , and health care workers .
Others expressed concerns about people with chronic illnesses feeling resort to euthanasia to avoid being a burden on their families .
The results announced Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many overseas ballots , and the final outcome will not be confirmed until Nov. 6 .
But with such strong support , the tabulation favoring assisted suicide is not expected to change .
The proposal to legalize recreational marijuana was much closer .
New Zealanders narrowly rejected it by a margin of 53 % to 46 % .
Conservative lawmaker Nick Smith called it , `` a victory for common sense . ''
But because overseas voters have tended to track more liberal , supporters of the legalization of cannabis say there is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the measure could be approved .
Proponents of legalizing marijuana were frustrated that Prime Minister Ardern would n't reveal how she intended to vote ahead of the October ballot .
Many thought her endorsement would lift the fortunes of recreational drug use .
Ardern waited until Friday to disclose that she had voted `` yes '' to both propositions .

New Zealand Supports The Right To Die, But Rejects The Right To Get High
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mark Baker/AP Mark Baker/AP
Updated at 9:57 a.m. ET
New Zealanders have voted to allow assisted dying for the terminally ill, but voted down legalizing marijuana. The questions were put to the country in separate referendums held on October 17th in conjunction with the general election that elected Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern for another term.
The preliminary results from the referendums on two major social questions reflect a potential significant shift in social attitudes in New Zealand.
With most votes counted, New Zealanders emphatically endorsed the right to assisted dying, with 65% saying "Yes."
Assisted dying can encompass what's been called "physician-assisted death," wherein a doctor provides the lethal means for a patient to end their own life, and "voluntary euthanasia" wherein a physician performs an intervention to carry out the patient's request to end their life. It's usually through drugs or an injection and is meant to bring a peaceful end to the dying process.
The End of Life Choice Act approved by the country's parliament in 2019 mandated that a referendum be held on the legislation before it could become law.
The act allows terminally ill adults with less than six months to live and enduring "unbearable suffering" the opportunity to choose assisted dying if approved by two doctors.
The passage of the proposition puts New Zealand on track to become one of the few countries that makes euthanasia legal.
The Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and Colombia are among those that have legalized voluntary euthanasia. Several U.S. states have enacted "death with dignity" laws that allow a physician to prescribe a lethal medication which the patient administers him or herself.
The measure approved by New Zealanders was the result of an emotional, years-long campaign that featured ardently-held views on both sides. But the "yes" result had been anticipated. Public opinion surveys in the run-up to the vote showed wide support.
"Thousands of New Zealanders who might have suffered excruciating deaths will have choice, dignity, control and autonomy over their own bodies, protected by the rule of law," said lawmaker David Seymour of the libertarian ACT Party.
The measure is expected to come into effect November 2021.
Matt Vickers, who carried on his late wife Lecretia Seales' fight to legalize the right to die, called the result "a victory for compassion and kindness." Seale was a lawyer diagnosed with a brain tumour and asked New Zealand's high court to rule that her doctor would not be committing a crime if he assisted her in dying. The court denied the petition, and she died of her illness. Vickers chronicled his wife's case in the book, "Lecretia's Choice: A Story of Love, Death, and the Law."
Vickers told the BBC, "She didn't want to die. No one does. That's a popular misconception. The problem was the choice to live had been taken away," he said." Seales' story had been catalyst for the movement in New Zealand for the right to assisted death.
But Dr. John Kleinsman, an ethicist for the New Zealand Catholic Bishops, said the vote endangered those who are vulnerable, and that the existence of such a right-to-die option presented additional pressure on families, and health care workers. Others expressed concerns about people with chronic illnesses feeling obligated to resort to euthanasia to avoid being a burden on their families.
The results announced Friday do not include some 480,000 votes, many overseas ballots, and the final outcome will not be confirmed until November 6th. But with such strong support, the decision in favor of assisted death is not expected to change.
The proposal to legalize recreational marijuana was a much closer vote. New Zealanders narrowly rejected it by a margin of 53% to 46%.
Conservative lawmaker Nick Smith called it "a victory for common sense." But because overseas voters have tended to track more liberal, supporters of the legalization of cannabis say there is still hope after their votes are counted that the measure could be approved.
Proponents of legalizing marijuana were frustrated that Prime Minister Ardern wouldn't reveal how she intended to vote ahead of the October ballot. Many thought her endorsement would lift the fortunes of recreational drug use.
Ardern waited until Friday to disclose that she had voted "yes" to both propositions.


npr--2020-10-30--Trump's Ban On TikTok Suffers Another Legal Setback

A federal judge in Pennsylvania has blocked the Trump administration from outlawing U.S. transactions with TikTok , which was set to take effect Nov. 12 , the latest setback in the administration 's push to ban the Chinese-owned hit video app .
Another aspect of the same order that sought to ban new downloads of the app had already been halted by a judge in Washington , D.C. , but Friday 's order puts Trump 's entire Aug. 6 executive order aimed at TikTok on hold until the legal battles conclude .
U.S. District Judge Wendy Beetlestone ruled that President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emergency economic powers to impose sanctions against TikTok , citing a threat to U.S. security .
`` The Government 's own descriptions of the national security threat posed by the TikTok app are phrased in the hypothetical , '' Beetlestone wrote .
`` The Court can not say the risk presented by the Government outweighs the public interest in enjoining '' the executive order for having gone beyond the bounds of what the president has the power to do under his emergency economic powers , the judge said .
The threat to TikTok @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vanished , however .
A separate order signed by Trump forcing TikTok to divest fully from its Beijing-based parent company , ByteDance , also is scheduled to take effect on Nov. 12 .
Beetlestone 's ruling Friday does not affect this order .
Talks between TikTok and a potential U.S. buyer are ongoing , and the company is hopeful a deal will emerge before that deadline next month .
The divestment was the recommendation of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. , led by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin .
The committee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months before Trump launched a public war against the app .
Legal experts have said disputing the divestment order in court would be an uphill battle for TikTok since the committee 's recommendations tend to survive legal challenges .
But an earlier executive order targeting TikTok had drawn legal skeptics from the moment the president signed it , and it has suffered several defeats in federal court .
The judge 's order on Friday was the result of a lawsuit brought by three TikTok influencers , Cosette Rinab , Douglas Marland and Alec @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the app and make substantial money through short-form videos .
Rinab , according to the lawsuit , makes up to $ 10,000 per video .
`` We are deeply moved by the outpouring of support from our creators , who have worked to protect their rights to expression , their careers , and to helping small businesses , particularly during the pandemic , '' a TikTok spokesperson said in a statement .
`` We stand behind our community as they share their voices , and we are committed to continuing to provide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Trump had indicated that software company Oracle , teaming up with Walmart , had proposed to take an ownership stake in TikTok that would satisfy the White House 's national security concerns , but the deal was never finalized and remains stalled .
Any agreement would require the blessing of both Washington and Beijing , which has grown increasingly hostile to the prospect of a U.S. company taking over the first app to come out of China to gain a global foothold .
Trump administration officials fear TikTok 's parent company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ data , which could be shared by the Chinese Communist Party , which tends to have unfettered access to private companies in China .
However , White House officials have never offered evidence to demonstrate conclusively that Chinese authorities would seek to obtain TikTok user data .
Attorneys for TikTok have maintained that it is caught in the crosshairs of Trump 's trade war with China and that the president is using the popular app to score political points in an election year .
Since pressure has mounted on TikTok , the app @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ensure that Americans ' data are walled off from ByteDance employees in Beijing .
TikTok even asserted in one legal filing that some user data are stored on servers in a locked cage in a Northern Virginia facility , accessible only to personnel who are granted a one-time badge to enter .

Trump's Ban On TikTok Suffers Another Legal Setback
Enlarge this image toggle caption Kiichiro Sato/AP Kiichiro Sato/AP
A federal judge in Pennsylvania has blocked the Trump administration from outlawing U.S. transactions with TikTok, which was set to take effect Nov. 12, the latest setback in the administration's push to ban the Chinese-owned hit video app.
Another aspect of the same order that sought to ban new downloads of the app had already been halted by a judge in Washington, D.C., but Friday's order puts Trump's entire Aug. 6 executive order aimed at TikTok on hold until the legal battles conclude.
U.S. District Judge Wendy Beetlestone ruled that President Trump exceeded his authority by invoking his emergency economic powers to impose sanctions against TikTok, citing a threat to U.S. security.
"The Government's own descriptions of the national security threat posed by the TikTok app are phrased in the hypothetical," Beetlestone wrote.
"The Court cannot say the risk presented by the Government outweighs the public interest in enjoining" the executive order for having gone beyond the bounds of what the president has the power to do under his emergency economic powers, the judge said.
The threat to TikTok's existence in the U.S. has not vanished, however.
A separate order signed by Trump forcing TikTok to divest fully from its Beijing-based parent company, ByteDance, also is scheduled to take effect on Nov. 12. Beetlestone's ruling Friday does not affect this order.
Talks between TikTok and a potential U.S. buyer are ongoing, and the company is hopeful a deal will emerge before that deadline next month.
The divestment was the recommendation of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S., led by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. The committee's probe of TikTok had been underway months before Trump launched a public war against the app.
Legal experts have said disputing the divestment order in court would be an uphill battle for TikTok since the committee's recommendations tend to survive legal challenges.
But an earlier executive order targeting TikTok had drawn legal skeptics from the moment the president signed it, and it has suffered several defeats in federal court.
The judge's order on Friday was the result of a lawsuit brought by three TikTok influencers, Cosette Rinab, Douglas Marland and Alec Chambers, who have millions of followers on the app and make substantial money through short-form videos. Rinab, according to the lawsuit, makes up to $10,000 per video.
"We are deeply moved by the outpouring of support from our creators, who have worked to protect their rights to expression, their careers, and to helping small businesses, particularly during the pandemic," a TikTok spokesperson said in a statement. "We stand behind our community as they share their voices, and we are committed to continuing to provide a home for them to do so."
Trump had indicated that software company Oracle, teaming up with Walmart, had proposed to take an ownership stake in TikTok that would satisfy the White House's national security concerns, but the deal was never finalized and remains stalled.
Any agreement would require the blessing of both Washington and Beijing, which has grown increasingly hostile to the prospect of a U.S. company taking over the first app to come out of China to gain a global foothold.
Trump administration officials fear TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, can access U.S. user data, which could be shared by the Chinese Communist Party, which tends to have unfettered access to private companies in China. However, White House officials have never offered evidence to demonstrate conclusively that Chinese authorities would seek to obtain TikTok user data.
Attorneys for TikTok have maintained that it is caught in the crosshairs of Trump's trade war with China and that the president is using the popular app to score political points in an election year.
Since pressure has mounted on TikTok, the app said it has taken additional measures to ensure that Americans' data are walled off from ByteDance employees in Beijing.
TikTok even asserted in one legal filing that some user data are stored on servers in a locked cage in a Northern Virginia facility, accessible only to personnel who are granted a one-time badge to enter.


npr--2020-10-30--Advisers To CDC Debate How COVID-19 Vaccine Should Be Rolled Out

Advisers To CDC Debate How COVID-19 Vaccine Should Be Rolled Out States should be working toward being ready to give out COVID-19 vaccines by Nov. 15 , according to a target date made public by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday .
That 's an aspirational date so far — there is still no vaccine approved for use , and there may not be one until later this year or beyond .
But , in preparation for that day , the CDC 's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices , a group composed mainly of doctors and public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virtually Friday and debated how best to distribute such a vaccine when it becomes available , weighing who would be in line to get it first .
Once a COVID-19 vaccine is authorized by the Food and Drug Administration , ACIP will make recommendations on how the vaccine should be used .
Its guidelines will trigger the start of the vaccine distribution process , according to Paul Mango , a leading official at the Department of Health and Human Services .
`` [ The government ] has plans to distribute vaccines within 24 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approval , '' Mango told reporters in a press call on Oct. 23 .
At ACIP 's meeting Friday , members reviewed what 's known about the candidate vaccines now in clinical trials , and laid groundwork so they can make rapid decisions once a vaccine is authorized .
In a presentation to the committee , Dr. Mary Chamberland , representing the CDC , said ACIP has agreed to follow the principles of maximizing benefits and minimizing harms , promoting justice and mitigating health inequities in determining early allocation groups .
ACIP discussed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk of getting COVID-19 that might be prioritized in getting the vaccine .
The schedule of which groups get the vaccine when will depend on characteristics of the vaccine and quantities available , the advisers said .
Still , a consensus has formed that health care personnel should be first in line to get the vaccine , given their high risk of exposure .
Health care workers are defined by ACIP as `` paid and unpaid persons serving in health care settings who have the potential for direct or indirect exposure to patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is estimated at 21 million .
A second group outlined by ACIP would be much larger — 87 million .
This would include workers in other essential areas , defined as persons who `` conduct operations vital for continuing critical infrastructure , such as food , agriculture , transportation , education and law enforcement . ''
A third group , of around 100 million people , would be those who have health conditions that put people at higher risk of serious COVID-19 disease .
These are adults who have one or more high-risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diabetes , and cardiovascular disease .
A fourth group that would be considered for priority vaccination are adults 65 years and older ( 53 million people ) who have no other health conditions , but who are at risk for serious disease based on their age .
This includes adults living at home and adults living in long-term care facilities ( 3 million ) , the CDC says .
ACIP 's goals are to use a vaccine to reduce transmission , illness and deaths from COVID-19 , and there are different strategies that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ To that end , a modeling study presented by CDC epidemiologist Matthew Biggerstaff showed that vaccinating all adults 65 years and older first ( after health care workers ) might have the greatest effect on reducing the overall number of deaths in the U.S. Biggerstaff 's presentation also suggested that vaccinating high risk adults of any age who have underlying medical conditions — such as lung disease , heart disease , diabetes , kidney disease or obesity — might have the greatest effect on reducing the number of infections , and thus limit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cautioned that these are theoretical scenarios and that the actual outcomes may differ , depending on the characteristics of whichever vaccines become available .
CDC medical officer Dr. Janell Routh told the committee that states and territories are working toward a `` readiness date '' of Nov. 15 for vaccine distribution .
`` We want to ensure before product is rolled out that everything is in place to accept and administer vaccine , '' she said .
There are 64 jurisdictions , including states , territories and some large cities , that have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distributing the vaccines .
The CDC provided feedback on the plans this week , and expects states to be enrolling providers , setting up data systems to track who 's getting vaccines , and working with community leaders , so states are ready to give out vaccines as soon as one is authorized by the FDA .
Plans are also being made to augment state capacity to distribute vaccine in long-term care facilities `` through federal pharmacy partnerships , '' according to Routh .
A revised `` playbook '' for states to use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ notes these partners might include national chains , large regional chains or networks of independent pharmacies .
Routh said that 55 % of eligible U.S. pharmacies have already signed up to give out COVID-19 shots .
Once a vaccine is approved , the CDC is planning a national `` Vaccinate With Confidence '' campaign with extensive outreach to health care providers and various communities to encourage people to get it .
Dr. Amanda Cohn , the CDC 's acting chief medical officer of vaccine policy , said the public health campaign will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ messages that enable an individual to make the decision to vaccinate . ''
The panel also heard data from two manufacturers of candidate vaccines , Novavax and Janssen , about progress with their studies , which are still enrolling volunteers .
It 's not certain if these two vaccines would be among the first to be released .
It 's up to the FDA to approve or give emergency authorization to any vaccine .
There are currently four candidate vaccines in the final phase of clinical study in the U.S. None of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or approval from the FDA .

Advisers To CDC Debate How COVID-19 Vaccine Should Be Rolled Out
Enlarge this image toggle caption NurPhoto via Getty Images NurPhoto via Getty Images
States should be working toward being ready to give out COVID-19 vaccines by Nov. 15, according to a target date made public by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday.
That's an aspirational date so far — there is still no vaccine approved for use, and there may not be one until later this year or beyond. But, in preparation for that day, the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, a group composed mainly of doctors and public health experts outside of CDC, met virtually Friday and debated how best to distribute such a vaccine when it becomes available, weighing who would be in line to get it first.
Once a COVID-19 vaccine is authorized by the Food and Drug Administration, ACIP will make recommendations on how the vaccine should be used. Its guidelines will trigger the start of the vaccine distribution process, according to Paul Mango, a leading official at the Department of Health and Human Services.
"[The government] has plans to distribute vaccines within 24 hours after the ACIP gives its final approval," Mango told reporters in a press call on Oct. 23.
At ACIP's meeting Friday, members reviewed what's known about the candidate vaccines now in clinical trials, and laid groundwork so they can make rapid decisions once a vaccine is authorized.
In a presentation to the committee, Dr. Mary Chamberland, representing the CDC, said ACIP has agreed to follow the principles of maximizing benefits and minimizing harms, promoting justice and mitigating health inequities in determining early allocation groups.
ACIP discussed four overlapping groups who are at high risk of getting COVID-19 that might be prioritized in getting the vaccine. The schedule of which groups get the vaccine when will depend on characteristics of the vaccine and quantities available, the advisers said.
Still, a consensus has formed that health care personnel should be first in line to get the vaccine, given their high risk of exposure. Health care workers are defined by ACIP as "paid and unpaid persons serving in health care settings who have the potential for direct or indirect exposure to patients or infectious materials." This population is estimated at 21 million.
A second group outlined by ACIP would be much larger — 87 million. This would include workers in other essential areas, defined as persons who "conduct operations vital for continuing critical infrastructure, such as food, agriculture, transportation, education and law enforcement."
A third group, of around 100 million people, would be those who have health conditions that put people at higher risk of serious COVID-19 disease. These are adults who have one or more high-risk medical conditions, such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
A fourth group that would be considered for priority vaccination are adults 65 years and older (53 million people) who have no other health conditions, but who are at risk for serious disease based on their age. This includes adults living at home and adults living in long-term care facilities (3 million), the CDC says.
ACIP's goals are to use a vaccine to reduce transmission, illness and deaths from COVID-19, and there are different strategies that are being considered to achieve that.
To that end, a modeling study presented by CDC epidemiologist Matthew Biggerstaff showed that vaccinating all adults 65 years and older first (after health care workers) might have the greatest effect on reducing the overall number of deaths in the U.S.
Biggerstaff's presentation also suggested that vaccinating high risk adults of any age who have underlying medical conditions — such as lung disease, heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease or obesity — might have the greatest effect on reducing the number of infections, and thus limit the spread of the coronavirus.
Biggerstaff cautioned that these are theoretical scenarios and that the actual outcomes may differ, depending on the characteristics of whichever vaccines become available.
CDC medical officer Dr. Janell Routh told the committee that states and territories are working toward a "readiness date" of Nov. 15 for vaccine distribution. "We want to ensure before product is rolled out that everything is in place to accept and administer vaccine," she said.
There are 64 jurisdictions, including states, territories and some large cities, that have submitted preliminary plans to the CDC for distributing the vaccines. The CDC provided feedback on the plans this week, and expects states to be enrolling providers, setting up data systems to track who's getting vaccines, and working with community leaders, so states are ready to give out vaccines as soon as one is authorized by the FDA.
Plans are also being made to augment state capacity to distribute vaccine in long-term care facilities "through federal pharmacy partnerships," according to Routh. A revised "playbook" for states to use in developing plans was released Friday and notes these partners might include national chains, large regional chains or networks of independent pharmacies. Routh said that 55% of eligible U.S. pharmacies have already signed up to give out COVID-19 shots.
Once a vaccine is approved, the CDC is planning a national "Vaccinate With Confidence" campaign with extensive outreach to health care providers and various communities to encourage people to get it. Dr. Amanda Cohn, the CDC's acting chief medical officer of vaccine policy, said the public health campaign will be based on "evidence-based content to amplify messages that enable an individual to make the decision to vaccinate."
The panel also heard data from two manufacturers of candidate vaccines, Novavax and Janssen, about progress with their studies, which are still enrolling volunteers. It's not certain if these two vaccines would be among the first to be released.
It's up to the FDA to approve or give emergency authorization to any vaccine. There are currently four candidate vaccines in the final phase of clinical study in the U.S. None of the companies so far has applied for authorization or approval from the FDA.


npr--2020-10-30--Now That More Americans Can Work From Anywhere, Many Are Planning To Move Away

Now That More Americans Can Work From Anywhere , Many Are Planning To Move Away As coronavirus cases continue to spike and working from home seems permanent , many Americans are planning to set off to live in new places .
An astonishing 14 million to 23 million Americans intend to relocate to a different city or region as a result of telework , according to a new study released by Upwork , a freelancing platform .
The survey was conducted Oct. 1-15 among 20,490 Americans 18 and over .
The large migration is motivated by people no longer confined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ located .
The pandemic has shifted many companies ' view on working from home .
Facebook announced plans for half of its employees to work from home permanently .
The company even hired a director of remote work in September to ease the transition .
`` As our survey shows , many people see remote work as an opportunity to relocate to where they want and where they can afford to live , '' says Adam Ozimek , chief economist at Upwork .
`` This is an early indicator of the much larger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increasing economic efficiency and spreading opportunity . ''
Big cities will see the largest out-migration , according to the survey .
About 20 % of respondents planning to move live in a major city .
Since many expect remote work to be more long term , more than half aim to relocate over two hours away or even farther from their current home .
Another study conducted by United Van Lines , a major household moving company , found that people wanted to relocate out of New York state at a higher rate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the beginning of September , the requests to leave San Francisco had grown to more than double the U.S. average .
The survey was conducted between March and August .
Nationally , there is a 32 % increase in moving interest compared to this time last year , the United Van Lines survey found .
The most common reasons associated with pandemic-influenced moves were : concerns for personal and family health and wellbeing , desires to be closer to family , changes in employment status or work arrangement ( including the ability @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lifestyle change or improvement of quality of life .
Customers told the moving company that the pandemic made them re-evaluate what was important to their family , which meant being closer to extended family and friends .
Other customers said they had to widen their job search out of state .
Adedayo Akala is an intern on the NPR Business Desk .

Now That More Americans Can Work From Anywhere, Many Are Planning To Move Away
Enlarge this image toggle caption Ken Wramton/Getty Images Ken Wramton/Getty Images
As coronavirus cases continue to spike and working from home seems permanent, many Americans are planning to set off to live in new places.
An astonishing 14 million to 23 million Americans intend to relocate to a different city or region as a result of telework, according to a new study released by Upwork, a freelancing platform. The survey was conducted Oct. 1 to 15 among 20,490 Americans 18 and over,
The large migration is motivated by people no longer confined to the city where their job is located. The pandemic has shifted many companies' view on working from home. Facebook announced plans for half of its employees to work from home permanently. The company even hired a director of remote work in September to ease the transition.
"As our survey shows, many people see remote work as an opportunity to relocate to where they want and where they can afford to live," says Adam Ozimek, chief economist at Upwork. "This is an early indicator of the much larger impacts that remote work could have in increasing economic efficiency and spreading opportunity."
Big cities will see the largest outmigration, according to the survey. About 20% of respondents planning to move live in a major city. Because many expect remote work to continue long term, more than half aim to relocate over two hours away or even farther from their current home.
Another study conducted by United Van Lines, a major household moving company, found that people wanted to relocate out of New York state at a higher rate than the national average. And, by the beginning of September, the requests to leave San Francisco had grown to more than double the U.S. average. The survey was conducted between March and August.
Nationally, there is a 32% increase in moving interest compared with this time last year, the United Van Lines survey found. The most common reasons associated with pandemic-influenced moves were: concerns for personal and family health and well-being, desires to be closer to family, changes in employment status or work arrangement (including the ability to work remotely), and desires for lifestyle change or improvement of quality of life.
Customers told the moving company that the pandemic made them reevaluate what was important to their family, which meant being closer to extended family and friends. Other customers said they had to widen their job search to out of state.
Adedayo Akala is an intern on the NPR Business Desk.