npr--2020-07-16--Federal Government Executes 2nd Man After Supreme Court Denies Appeals

Updated at 10:15 a.m .
ET The United States has executed Wesley Purkey in its second federal execution this week after a 17-year hiatus .
Purkey , 68 , was executed via lethal injection on Thursday morning in Terre Haute , Ind .
The Supreme Court early Thursday denied appeals to stay Purkey 's execution , clearing the way for it to proceed .
Purkey , who was on death row at the U.S. Penitentiary in Terre Haute , was convicted of the 1998 kidnapping and killing of 16-year-old Jennifer Long .
`` I deeply regret the pain and suffering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Purkey said before he was put to death , according to a pool report from The Associated Press .
`` I am deeply sorry .
I deeply regret the pain I caused to my daughter , who I love so very much .
This sanitized murder really does not serve no purpose whatsoever . ''
Jennifer 's father , William Long , said that Purkey 's death had been `` a long time coming . ''
`` He needed to take his last breath — he took my daughter 's last breath @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There is no closure and there never will be because I wo n't get my daughter back , '' Long told the pool reporter .
Purkey 's attorneys argued that he suffered from advanced Alzheimer 's disease and did not understand why he was facing the death penalty .
Purkey 's religious adviser had also appealed to the high court , arguing that his religious obligation to be present for the execution put him at risk of exposure to COVID-19 .
The appeals were rejected in two 5-4 rulings early Thursday , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sotomayor wrote that `` proceeding with Purkey 's execution now , despite the grave questions and factual findings regarding his mental competency , casts a shroud of constitutional doubt over the most irrevocable of injuries . ''
She was joined by Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg , Stephen Breyer and Elena Kagan .
`` Purkey is mentally incompetent to be executed and , at minimum , is entitled to an evidentiary hearing to evaluate his mental competence before the Government proceeds with his execution , '' Sotomayor wrote .
The high court 's decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chutkan of the District of Columbia imposed two injunctions against Purkey 's execution , citing arguments that he is not competent to be executed .
An appeals court late Wednesday upheld one of the injunctions , which was then appealed to the Supreme Court .
Chutkan is the same judge who sought to block Tuesday 's execution of 47-year-old Daniel Lee , who became the first federal prisoner to be put to death since 2003 .
Lee was convicted in the 1996 murders of a married couple and their 8-year-old daughter .
Another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shot and killed five people , is scheduled to be executed on Friday .
Keith Dwayne Nelson , who kidnapped , raped and strangled a 10-year-old girl , is set to be executed Aug. 28 .
President Barack Obama ordered a review of federal executions in 2014 after an execution carried out by the state of Oklahoma resulted in one prisoner taking more than an hour to die .
In July 2019 , the Trump administration announced that the review was complete , and executions could resume , but a series of court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department said Thursday that `` after many years of litigation following the death of his victims , in which he lived and was afforded every due process of law under our Constitution , Purkey has finally faced justice . ''

Federal Government Executes 2nd Man After Supreme Court Denies Appeals
Enlarge this image toggle caption Michael Conroy/AP Michael Conroy/AP
Updated at 10:15 a.m. ET
The United States has executed Wesley Purkey in its second federal execution this week after a 17-year hiatus. Purkey, 68, was executed via lethal injection on Thursday morning in Terre Haute, Ind.
The Supreme Court early Thursday denied appeals to stay Purkey's execution, clearing the way for it to proceed.
Purkey, who was on death row at the U.S. Penitentiary in Terre Haute, was convicted of the 1998 kidnapping and killing of 16-year-old Jennifer Long.
"I deeply regret the pain and suffering I caused to Jennifer's family," Purkey said before he was put to death, according to a pool report from The Associated Press. "I am deeply sorry. I deeply regret the pain I caused to my daughter, who I love so very much. This sanitized murder really does not serve no purpose whatsoever."
Jennifer's father, William Long, said that Purkey's death had been "a long time coming."
"He needed to take his last breath — he took my daughter's last breath. And there's some resolve. There is no closure and there never will be because I won't get my daughter back," Long told the pool reporter.
Purkey's attorneys argued that he suffered from advanced Alzheimer's disease and did not understand why he was facing the death penalty. Purkey's religious adviser had also appealed to the high court, arguing that his religious obligation to be present for the execution put him at risk of exposure to COVID-19.
The appeals were rejected in two 5-4 rulings early Thursday, with the liberal justices dissenting.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote that "proceeding with Purkey's execution now, despite the grave questions and factual findings regarding his mental competency, casts a shroud of constitutional doubt over the most irrevocable of injuries." She was joined by Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer and Elena Kagan.
"Purkey is mentally incompetent to be executed and, at minimum, is entitled to an evidentiary hearing to evaluate his mental competence before the Government proceeds with his execution," Sotomayor wrote.
The high court's decision came after U.S. District Judge Tanya S. Chutkan of the District of Columbia imposed two injunctions against Purkey's execution, citing arguments that he is not competent to be executed.
An appeals court late Wednesday upheld one of the injunctions, which was then appealed to the Supreme Court.
Chutkan is the same judge who sought to block Tuesday's execution of 47-year-old Daniel Lee, who became the first federal prisoner to be put to death since 2003.
Lee was convicted in the 1996 murders of a married couple and their 8-year-old daughter.
Lee's final words were: "You're killing an innocent man."
Another inmate, Dustin Lee Honken, who shot and killed five people, is scheduled to be executed on Friday. Keith Dwayne Nelson, who kidnapped, raped and strangled a 10-year-old girl, is set to be executed Aug. 28.
President Barack Obama ordered a review of federal executions in 2014 after an execution carried out by the state of Oklahoma resulted in one prisoner taking more than an hour to die.
In July 2019, the Trump administration announced that the review was complete, and executions could resume, but a series of court challenges delayed their resumption.
The Justice Department said Thursday that "after many years of litigation following the death of his victims, in which he lived and was afforded every due process of law under our Constitution, Purkey has finally faced justice."


npr--2020-07-16--100-Year-Old Tom Moore, Who Raised Millions By Walking Laps, To Be Knighted Friday

100-Year-Old Tom Moore , Who Raised Millions By Walking Laps , To Be Knighted Friday This spring , 100-year-old Capt .
Tom Moore became a national hero in Britain when he raised more than $ 40 million for health care workers by walking laps in his garden .
On Friday , he will become Capt .
Sir Tom Moore when he is knighted by Queen Elizabeth II .
Buckingham Palace said a private ceremony with Moore and members of his family will take place at Windsor Castle , where the monarch has been sheltering with her husband Prince Philip .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus pandemic .
`` I could never have imagined this would happen to me , '' Moore said .
`` It is such a huge honour and I am very much looking forward to meeting Her Majesty The Queen .
It is going to be the most special of days for me . ''
When the pandemic struck , Moore set a goal of raising £1,000 for National Health Service workers , to whom he said he was `` eternally grateful '' after having received treatment for a cancer scare and hip @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set out to do 100 laps around an 82-foot loop in his garden , `` at 50 meters a time , '' before his birthday in late April .
He reached his donation target in 24 hours .
Support continued to pour in , with more than 1.5 million people ultimately contributing .
Dressed sharply and wearing his military medals , the World War II veteran won hearts as he pushed his walker around the garden .
He also inspired a number of copycat fundraisers , ranging in age from five years old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recognized Moore as a `` Point of Light '' on his hundredth birthday , and praised his positive example in a letter .
`` You have touched our hearts , lifted our spirits and enabled millions to show their support for the wonderful men and women of our unique NHS , '' Johnson wrote .
`` Because of their extraordinary courage and dedication our country will get through this difficult time and , in doing so , fulfil your optimism that tomorrow will indeed be a better day . ''
Johnson recommended Moore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` synonymous with the spirit of the current collective national effort . ''
A steady stream of accolades have followed .
Among them , Moore was made an honorary colonel and an honorary member of the England cricket team .
Moore now holds two Guinness World Records : one for raising the most money as an individual through a charity walk , and one for being the oldest person to reach number one on the UK charts after he joined singer Michael Ball and an NHS Voices of Care choir to record a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alone '' for charity .
He has also created his own charity , the Captain Tom Foundation , which aims to combat loneliness , support hospices and help individuals facing bereavement .
According to his website , Moore has supporters around the world , but is especially touched by the thanks he has received from NHS workers , whom he considers to be the heroes .
It adds : '' He has become a national treasure and a national hero , but sees himself as anything but . ''

100-Year-Old Tom Moore, Who Raised Millions By Walking Laps, Has Been Knighted
Enlarge this image toggle caption Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images
This spring, 100-year-old Capt. Tom Moore became a national hero in Britain when he raised more than $40 million for health care workers by walking laps in his garden.
On Friday, he became Capt. Sir Tom Moore when he is knighted by Queen Elizabeth II.
Moore received the honor in a private ceremony at Windsor Castle, where the monarch has been sheltering with her husband Prince Philip. Standing upright with his walker, Moore received his title at a time when other investitures have been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Buckingham Palace believes it's the first such ceremony to hew to social distancing, the BBC reported.
According to The Telegraph, the Queen and Moore had a roughly five-minute conversation. She was reportedly overheard asking the veteran if he had been "self-isolating" and told him, "one hundred is a great age."
Ahead of the ceremony, Moore joked to reporters, "If I kneel down I'll never get up again" and spoke eagerly of the honor about to be bestowed upon him.
He added that he was "absolutely overwhelmed" to meet the queen, according to the Telegraph.
When the pandemic struck, Moore set a goal of raising £1,000 for National Health Service workers, to whom he said he was "eternally grateful" after having received treatment for a cancer scare and hip fracture in the past.
Moore originally set out to do 100 laps around an 82-foot loop in his garden, "at 50 meters a time," before his birthday in late April. He reached his donation target in 24 hours. Support continued to pour in, with more than 1.5 million people ultimately contributing.
Dressed sharply and wearing his military medals, the World War II veteran won hearts as he pushed his walker around the garden. He also inspired a number of copycat fundraisers, ranging in age from five years old to 103.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson recognized Moore as a "Point of Light" on his hundredth birthday, and praised his positive example in a letter.
"You have touched our hearts, lifted our spirits and enabled millions to show their support for the wonderful men and women of our unique NHS," Johnson wrote. "Because of their extraordinary courage and dedication our country will get through this difficult time and, in doing so, fulfil your optimism that tomorrow will indeed be a better day."
Johnson recommended Moore for knighthood in May, calling him "synonymous with the spirit of the current collective national effort."
A steady stream of accolades have followed. Among them, Moore was made an honorary colonel and an honorary member of the England cricket team.
Moore now holds two Guinness World Records: one for raising the most money as an individual through a charity walk, and one for being the oldest person to reach number one on the UK charts after he joined singer Michael Ball and an NHS Voices of Care choir to record a version of "You'll Never Walk Alone" for charity.
He has also created his own charity, the Captain Tom Foundation, which aims to combat loneliness, support hospices and help individuals facing bereavement.
According to his website, Moore has supporters around the world, but is especially touched by the thanks he has received from NHS workers, whom he considers to be the heroes. It adds:
"He has become a national treasure and a national hero, but sees himself as anything but."
NPR's Jason Slotkin contributed to this report.


npr--2020-07-16--Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp Sues Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms Over Face Mask Order

Georgia Gov .
Brian Kemp is suing the Atlanta City Council and Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms following her efforts to require face masks in public places as the number of COVID-19 cases continues to skyrocket across the nation .
The lawsuit , filed Thursday , asserts that Kemp alone `` leads the State of Georgia in its fight against the worldwide novel coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic '' and adds he has the power `` to suspend municipal orders that are contradictory to any state law or to his executive orders . ''
`` As the Mayor of the City of Atlanta , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authority to modify , change or ignore Governor Kemp 's executive orders , '' the document says .
The suit follows an order this week in which Kemp forbade municipal officials from setting mandatory face-covering policies .
`` This lawsuit is on behalf of the Atlanta business owners and their hardworking employees who are struggling to survive during these difficult times , '' Kemp tweeted .
The lengthy thread went on to link the wearing of face coverings to loss of income .
`` These men and women are doing their very best @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their families while local elected officials shutter businesses and undermine economic growth , '' Kemp wrote .
Bottoms also took to Twitter to address the governor 's legal challenge , citing statistics related to the coronavirus in Georgia .
`` 3104 Georgians have died and I and my family are amongst the 106k who have tested positive for COVID-19 , '' she wrote , adding that `` a better use of tax payer money would be to expand testing and contact tracing . ''
During a news conference earlier Thursday , Bottoms defended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In addition to requiring face coverings , it also prohibits the gathering of more than 10 people in public spaces .
Bottoms disputed Kemp 's assertion that the mandate is `` unenforceable . ''
`` Our policies are enforceable and they stand , '' she said .
Other Georgia cities have passed similar measures in recent weeks , including Savannah .
Savannah Mayor Van Johnson said he was alarmed by the rising case numbers in his city and by the governor 's actions .
`` It is officially official .
Governor Kemp @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Johnson said on Twitter on Wednesday night .
`` Every man and woman for himself/herself .
Ignore the science and survive the best you can . ''
On Thursday , Bottoms noted that the nation 's leading health experts recommend wearing masks to curb the spread of the highly contagious virus .
`` Public health experts overwhelmingly agree that wearing a face covering helps slow the spread of this sometimes deadly virus , '' she said , adding , `` It 's a simple thing to do . ''

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp Sues Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms Over Face Mask Order
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mike Stewart/AP Mike Stewart/AP
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp is suing the Atlanta City Council and Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms following her efforts to require face masks in public places as the number of COVID-19 cases continues to skyrocket across the nation.
The lawsuit, filed Thursday, asserts that Kemp alone "leads the State of Georgia in its fight against the worldwide novel coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic" and adds he has the power "to suspend municipal orders that are contradictory to any state law or to his executive orders."
"As the Mayor of the City of Atlanta, Mayor Bottoms does not have the legal authority to modify, change or ignore Governor Kemp's executive orders," the document says.
The suit follows an order this week in which Kemp forbade municipal officials from setting mandatory face-covering policies.
"This lawsuit is on behalf of the Atlanta business owners and their hardworking employees who are struggling to survive during these difficult times," Kemp tweeted.
The lengthy thread went on to link the wearing of face coverings to loss of income.
"These men and women are doing their very best to put food on the table for their families while local elected officials shutter businesses and undermine economic growth," Kemp wrote.
Bottoms also took to Twitter to address the governor's legal challenge, citing statistics related to the coronavirus in Georgia.
"3104 Georgians have died and I and my family are amongst the 106k who have tested positive for COVID-19," she wrote, adding that "a better use of tax payer money would be to expand testing and contact tracing."
During a news conference earlier Thursday, Bottoms defended her executive order issued on July 8. In addition to requiring face coverings, it also prohibits the gathering of more than 10 people in public spaces.
Bottoms disputed Kemp's assertion that the mandate is "unenforceable."
"Our policies are enforceable and they stand," she said.
Other Georgia cities have passed similar measures in recent weeks, including Savannah. Savannah Mayor Van Johnson said he was alarmed by the rising case numbers in his city and by the governor's actions.
"It is officially official. Governor Kemp does not give a damn about us," Johnson said on Twitter on Wednesday night. "Every man and woman for himself/herself. Ignore the science and survive the best you can."
On Thursday, Bottoms noted that the nation's leading health experts recommend wearing masks to curb the spread of the highly contagious virus.
"Public health experts overwhelmingly agree that wearing a face covering helps slow the spread of this sometimes deadly virus," she said, adding, "It's a simple thing to do."


npr--2020-07-16--Exact Change Please: Walmart, Kroger, CVS Are Feeling The Coin Shortage

Exact Change Please : Walmart , Kroger , CVS Are Feeling The Coin Shortage Stores around the U.S. are struggling with an unexpected shortage .
( No , not toilet paper — sorry , we 've already made that joke . )
They 're running low on coins .
Supermarkets and gas stations across the U.S. are asking shoppers to pay with a card or produce exact change when possible .
Walmart has converted some of its self-checkout registers to accept only plastic .
Kroger is offering to load change that would normally involve coins onto loyalty cards .
Some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in exchange for bills .
The trouble began weeks ago , when the coronavirus pandemic delivered a bizarre double blow to the U.S. supply of quarters , dimes , nickels and even pennies .
Social distancing and other safety measures slowed production of coins at the U.S. Mint .
But also fewer coins made their way from customers to banks , coin-sorting kiosks and stores ' cash registers as people holed up at home .
`` The flow of coins through the economy ... kind of stopped , '' Federal Reserve Chair Jerome @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month , the Fed began rationing coins .
Soon after , business groups — representing grocers , convenience stores , retailers , gas station operators and others — wrote to Powell and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin that the situation was an emergency .
`` We were alarmed to hear that the system for distributing coins throughout the country is at the breaking point , '' they wrote on June 23 , offering a series of suggestions for how to fix it .
A week later , the Fed announced it would convene a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the matter .
`` Like most retailers , we 're experiencing the [ effects ] of the nationwide coin shortage , '' a Walmart spokesperson wrote to NPR on Thursday .
`` We 're asking customers to pay with card or use correct change when possible if they need to pay with cash .
Cash is welcome at all of our stores . ''
A CVS representative said the company is `` encouraging customers , if possible , to pay for their purchases using exact cash , credit/debit card or check '' and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impact to our customers . ''
`` Like many retailers and businesses , we are adjusting to the temporary shortage in several ways while still accepting cash , '' a Kroger spokesperson said in a statement , outlining various options customers are now offered instead of coin change .
One of those options — at both Kroger and Wawa — is to round up shoppers ' amounts to donate to charity .

Exact Change Please: Walmart, Kroger, CVS Are Feeling The Coin Shortage
Enlarge this image toggle caption Image Source/Getty Images Image Source/Getty Images
Stores around the U.S. are struggling with an unexpected shortage. (No, not toilet paper — sorry, we've already made that joke.) They're running low on coins.
Supermarkets and gas stations across the U.S. are asking shoppers to pay with a card or produce exact change when possible. Walmart has converted some of its self-checkout registers to accept only plastic. Kroger is offering to load change that would normally involve coins onto loyalty cards. Some Wawa gas stations are accepting coin rolls in exchange for bills.
The trouble began weeks ago, when the coronavirus pandemic delivered a bizarre double blow to the U.S. supply of quarters, dimes, nickels and even pennies. Social distancing and other safety measures slowed production of coins at the U.S. Mint. But also fewer coins made their way from customers to banks, coin-sorting kiosks and stores' cash registers as people holed up at home.
"The flow of coins through the economy ... kind of stopped," Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell told lawmakers in June.
That month, the Fed began rationing coins. Soon after, business groups — representing grocers, convenience stores, retailers, gas station operators and others — wrote to Powell and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin that the situation was an emergency.
"We were alarmed to hear that the system for distributing coins throughout the country is at the breaking point," they wrote on June 23, offering a series of suggestions for how to fix it. A week later, the Fed announced it would convene a U.S. Coin Task Force to address the matter.
"Like most retailers, we're experiencing the [effects] of the nationwide coin shortage," a Walmart spokesperson wrote to NPR on Thursday. "We're asking customers to pay with card or use correct change when possible if they need to pay with cash. Cash is welcome at all of our stores."
A CVS representative said the company is "encouraging customers, if possible, to pay for their purchases using exact cash, credit/debit card or check" and is working with banks to "minimize impact to our customers."
"Like many retailers and businesses, we are adjusting to the temporary shortage in several ways while still accepting cash," a Kroger spokesperson said in a statement, outlining various options customers are now offered instead of coin change.
One of those options — at both Kroger and Wawa — is to round up shoppers' amounts to donate to charity.


npr--2020-07-16--Solar Orbiter Probe Snaps Closest Photos Ever Taken Of The Sun, Revealing Tiny Flares

Solar Orbiter Probe Snaps Closest Photos Ever Taken Of The Sun , Revealing Tiny Flares A joint mission between NASA and the European Space Agency has yielded the closest photos of the sun ever taken .
And with their release on Thursday , these swirly snapshots are newly available to the public .
The Solar Orbiter probe launched in early February , and completed its first close pass of the sun — within 48 million miles — in mid-June .
Other spacecraft have gotten closer , but did not carry sun-facing imagers .
`` These unprecedented pictures of the Sun @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' said Holly Gilbert , NASA project scientist for the mission at the Goddard Space Flight Center .
`` These amazing images will help scientists piece together the Sun 's atmospheric layers , which is important for understanding how it drives space weather near the Earth and throughout the solar system . ''
Scientists involved in the mission said that while the first images from a spacecraft typically only serve to confirm that its instruments are working , these photographs reveal an unprecedented level of detail .
`` We did n't expect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Daniel Müller , ESA 's Solar Orbiter project scientist .
`` These images show that Solar Orbiter is off to an excellent start . ''
The spacecraft carries six imaging instruments that each study a different aspect of the sun .
One of them , the Extreme Ultraviolet Imager , captured tiny bright spots among the swirls of yellow and gray .
Principal investigator David Berghmans , an astrophysicist at the Royal Observatory of Belgium in Brussels , called those spots `` campfires . ''
`` The campfires we are talking about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flares , at least a million , perhaps a billion times smaller , '' he said .
`` When looking at the new high resolution EUI images , they are literally everywhere we look . ''
To know for certain what these campfires are and what they mean , scientists will need to use a different instrument on the spacecraft to take a more precise temperature measurement .
The discovery comes at the very beginning of a years-long mission , which aims to provide the first-ever look at the sun 's poles .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to gradually shift the spacecraft 's orbit out of the plane in which planets in the Solar System orbit the sun , giving Solar Orbiter an unprecedented view of the sun 's poles .
Scientists are keen to study activity there in order to better understand the behavior of the sun 's magnetic field , which helps create the solar wind that impacts the environment of the entire solar system .
Space weather can affect spacecraft and even humans on Earth because of potential impacts on satellites , GPS and the power grid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a so-called cruise phase until November 2021 , after which it will begin the primary phase of its mission .
NASA said the spacecraft 's first close pass by the sun in 2022 will be at `` about a third the distance '' from the sun to Earth .
Gilbert said at a Wednesday press briefing that the initial batch of images is an encouraging sign .
`` I think most importantly it demonstrates that we are going to be able to accomplish our solar objectives of Solar Orbiter , '' she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that everything is working , and it also confirms the importance of looking at different physical scales .
If we 've already made some discoveries in just the first sight images , just imagine what we 're going to find when we get closer to the sun and when we get out of the ecliptic [ plane ] . ''

Solar Orbiter Probe Snaps Closest Photos Ever Taken Of The Sun, Revealing Tiny Flares
Enlarge this image toggle caption Solar Orbiter/EUI Team/ESA & NASA; CSL, IAS, MPS, PMOD/WRC, ROB, UCL/MSSL Solar Orbiter/EUI Team/ESA & NASA; CSL, IAS, MPS, PMOD/WRC, ROB, UCL/MSSL
A joint mission between NASA and the European Space Agency has yielded the closest photos of the sun ever taken. And with their release on Thursday, these swirly snapshots are newly available to the public.
The Solar Orbiter probe launched in early February, and completed its first close pass of the sun — within 48 million miles — in mid-June.
Other spacecraft have gotten closer, but did not carry sun-facing imagers.
"These unprecedented pictures of the Sun are the closest we have ever obtained," said Holly Gilbert, NASA project scientist for the mission at the Goddard Space Flight Center. "These amazing images will help scientists piece together the Sun's atmospheric layers, which is important for understanding how it drives space weather near the Earth and throughout the solar system."
Scientists involved in the mission said that while the first images from a spacecraft typically only serve to confirm that its instruments are working, these photographs reveal an unprecedented level of detail.
"We didn't expect such great results so early," said Daniel Müller, ESA's Solar Orbiter project scientist. "These images show that Solar Orbiter is off to an excellent start."
The spacecraft carries six imaging instruments that each study a different aspect of the sun. One of them, the Extreme Ultraviolet Imager, captured tiny bright spots among the swirls of yellow and gray.
Principal investigator David Berghmans, an astrophysicist at the Royal Observatory of Belgium in Brussels, called those spots "campfires."
"The campfires we are talking about here are the little nephews of solar flares, at least a million, perhaps a billion times smaller," he said. "When looking at the new high resolution EUI images, they are literally everywhere we look."
To know for certain what these campfires are and what they mean, scientists will need to use a different instrument on the spacecraft to take a more precise temperature measurement.
The discovery comes at the very beginning of a years-long mission, which aims to provide the first-ever look at the sun's poles.
Operators will use the gravity of Venus to gradually shift the spacecraft's orbit out of the plane in which planets in the Solar System orbit the sun, giving Solar Orbiter an unprecedented view of the sun's poles. Scientists are keen to study activity there in order to better understand the behavior of the sun's magnetic field, which helps create the solar wind that impacts the environment of the entire solar system.
Space weather can affect spacecraft and even humans on Earth because of potential impacts on satellites, GPS and the power grid.
Solar Orbiter is expected to be in a so-called cruise phase until November 2021, after which it will begin the primary phase of its mission. NASA said the spacecraft's first close pass by the sun in 2022 will be at "about a third the distance" from the sun to Earth.
Gilbert said at a Wednesday press briefing that the initial batch of images is an encouraging sign.
"I think most importantly it demonstrates that we are going to be able to accomplish our solar objectives of Solar Orbiter," she said. "We are very excited that everything is working, and it also confirms the importance of looking at different physical scales. If we've already made some discoveries in just the first sight images, just imagine what we're going to find when we get closer to the sun and when we get out of the ecliptic [plane]."


npr--2020-07-16--What To Do About Part-Time School? NYC Announces Free Child Care For 100,000 Students

What To Do About Part-Time School ?
NYC Announces Free Child Care For 100,000 Students New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Thursday that the city will provide free child care to 100,000 students when schools reopen in September .
Last week the city released its plan for children to return to public school classrooms one to three days a week , depending on each school 's capacity for social distancing amid the coronavirus pandemic .
Students will take classes remotely on the other days .
`` This pandemic has been hugely disruptive in the lives of our kids @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to provide as much in person learning as possible .
Working families are being pulled in many directions trying to make a plan for the fall , and we are going to help them every step of the way by providing free childcare options , '' de Blasio said in a statement .
The city aims to provide relief for working parents who either ca n't afford to stay home or ca n't find child care for the days that students are n't in school for in-person learning .
The program will serve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There will be 50,000 available seats each day , with the idea that those seats will serve 100,000 students because of alternating in-person days at school .
Where will this child care be ?
The city says it is working to identify space in schools , community centers , libraries and elsewhere .
The goal is to have as many seats as possible available when the school year begins and to add more spaces over time , according to the city .
A survey by the city 's Department of Education of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % want to send their kids back to school in the fall .
In addition to part-time in-school schedules , families also have an all-remote option .
Demand for child care will likely outstrip supply .
New York City is the largest school district in the U.S. , with more than 1.1 million students .
De Blasio called reopening the schools `` the single biggest piece '' of the city 's recovery from the pandemic .

What To Do About Part-Time School? NYC Announces Free Child Care For 100,000 Students
Enlarge this image toggle caption Frank Franklin II/AP Frank Franklin II/AP
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Thursday that the city will provide free child care to 100,000 students when schools reopen in September.
Last week the city released its plan for children to return to public school classrooms one to three days a week, depending on each school's capacity for social distancing amid the coronavirus pandemic. Students will take classes remotely on the other days.
"This pandemic has been hugely disruptive in the lives of our kids, which is why we are working to provide as much in person learning as possible. Working families are being pulled in many directions trying to make a plan for the fall, and we are going to help them every step of the way by providing free childcare options," de Blasio said in a statement.
The city aims to provide relief for working parents who either can't afford to stay home or can't find child care for the days that students aren't in school for in-person learning. The program will serve students from age 3 through eighth grade. There will be 50,000 available seats each day, with the idea that those seats will serve 100,000 students because of alternating in-person days at school.
Where will this child care be? The city says it is working to identify space in schools, community centers, libraries and elsewhere. The goal is to have as many seats as possible available when the school year begins and to add more spaces over time, according to the city.
A survey by the city's Department of Education of about 400,000 parents found that roughly 75% want to send their kids back to school in the fall. In addition to part-time in-school schedules, families also have an all-remote option.
Demand for child care will likely outstrip supply. New York City is the largest school district in the U.S., with more than 1.1 million students.
De Blasio called reopening the schools "the single biggest piece" of the city's recovery from the pandemic.


npr--2020-07-16--As Authorities Probe Twitter Hack, Ex-FBI Officials Warns: 'Get Ready For Copycats'

As Authorities Probe Twitter Hack , Ex-FBI Officials Warns : 'Get Ready For Copycats' Twitter is now under scrutiny from the FBI , Congress and state authorities in New York .
Officials are demanding details about a breach that targeted some of the social network 's most high-profile users .
The FBI said on Thursday that it had opened an investigation into the hack of Twitter accounts , including those of former President Barack Obama , presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden , Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos , Tesla CEO Elon Musk and rapper Kanye West .
Hackers took over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Wednesday afternoon and posted messages asking followers to send Bitcoin to a specific , untraceable address .
`` At this time , the accounts appear to have been compromised in order to perpetuate cryptocurrency fraud , '' the bureau 's San Francisco division said in a statement .
`` We advise the public not to fall victim to this scam by sending cryptocurrency or money in relation to this incident . ''
The attack , which appears to be the largest and most coordinated in Twitter 's history , is raising questions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serves as a major communications channel for companies , news outlets and politicians — including President Trump , who frequently uses Twitter to announce public policy .
`` This type of hack by con artists for financial gain can also be a tool of foreign actors and others to spread disinformation and — as we 've witnessed — disrupt our elections , '' said New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo in a statement announcing he had ordered an investigation by the state 's Department of Financial Services .
Republican Sen. Roger Wicker of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Committee , raised similar concerns in a letter to Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey on Thursday , asking the company to brief the committee staff on the breach by July 23 .
`` It is not difficult to imagine future attacks being used to spread disinformation or otherwise sow discord through high-profile accounts , particularly through those of world leaders , '' he wrote .
Leaders of the Senate Intelligence Committee and the House Oversight Committee are also pushing Twitter for an explanation .
`` The ability of bad actors to take over prominent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worrisome vulnerability in this media environment – exploitable not just for scams , but for more impactful efforts to cause confusion , havoc , and political mischief , '' said Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia , the top Democrat on the intelligence committee .
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Thursday also announced her office had launched a probe into the hack .
`` Last night 's attack on Twitter raises serious concerns about data security and how platforms like Twitter could be used to harm public debate , '' James said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ secretary Kayleigh McEnany told reporters on Thursday that Trump 's Twitter account had not been affected by the hack and said he will continue tweeting .
Who is behind the hack and how did it happen ?
Twitter locked down many user accounts in response to the breach .
On Thursday afternoon , it said it was still working with users to restore access .
It said it believes `` only a small subset of these locked accounts were compromised '' but is still probing .
State and federal investigators , data security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two key questions : How did this happen and who was the culprit ?
Twitter says it was the victim of a `` coordinated social engineering attack '' that targeted employees with access to sensitive internal systems .
On Thursday , it said that it had `` no evidence that attackers accessed passwords '' and that users do not have to change their passwords .
In cybercrime parlance , `` social engineering '' refers to a malicious actor who gains an insider 's trust so that they can get the access they need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or commit other crimes .
The term is `` used to describe someone 's ability to figure out who you are and what you care about , '' said Jay Tabb , a former top official in the FBI 's National Security Branch who helped lead the prosecution of two former Twitter employees charged with spying on Saudi dissidents on behalf of the Kingdom .
But the exact involvement of Twitter employees remains murky .
And speculation is swirling that a rogue staffer could have knowingly assisted the hackers , while others say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unwittingly duped by hackers , as the company is suggesting .
`` Nowadays , people have such a significant digital footprint .
People can find you and try to gain access to you by pretending to be your friend and then send you a friend request , or email and convince you to click on a link that could launch some kind of malware , '' Tabb said .
After a number of high-profile data breaches at Twitter , including the Saudi spying incident , CEO Jack Dorsey 's being hacked in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Trump 's account , the company restricted the number of people with administrative access to accounts , according to former Twitter employee Nu Wexler , who was on the communications staff during the Saudi spying episode .
`` Every move that is done in the system is tied to your login credentials and is logged , '' Wexler said .
`` So if someone inside Twitter was involved , they knew they would be caught . ''
Based on his past FBI work investigating major tech firms like Twitter , Tabb is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get ahead of potential bad actors within their own ranks .
`` That has not been a universally accepted or embraced notion in Silicon Valley , where the idea is almost taboo , '' Tabb said .
`` Companies have been slow to develop insider-threat and insider-risk programs . ''
Incidents involving rogue employees highlight how humans remain the biggest security threat , said Zeynep Tufekci , a sociologist at the University of North Carolina who studies technology and social media .
`` We keep telling people , 'Use this kind of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ' `` she told NPR .
But , she said , social media users can not protect themselves against people with bad intentions within the company .
`` There 's no protection against somebody inside the company that a person individually can take .
It 's the company that has to do that , '' she said .
Tabb said as Twitter looks for lessons in Wednesday 's hack , he has a message for CEO Dorsey .
`` I would tell him to get ready for copycats , '' Tabb said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attempt to make the same type of breach .
Same thing goes for other Silicon Valley companies and 100 % of all social media companies .
If this can happen to Twitter , it can happen to you . ''

As Authorities Probe Twitter Hack, Ex-FBI Officials Warns: 'Get Ready For Copycats'
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jeff Chiu/AP Jeff Chiu/AP
Updated 6:51 p.m. ET
Twitter is now under scrutiny from the FBI, Congress and state authorities in New York. Officials are demanding details about a breach that targeted some of the social network's most high-profile users.
The FBI said on Thursday that it had opened an investigation into the hack of Twitter accounts, including those of former President Barack Obama, presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, Tesla CEO Elon Musk and rapper Kanye West. Hackers took over those accounts in a matter of minutes on Wednesday afternoon and posted messages asking followers to send Bitcoin to a specific, untraceable address.
"At this time, the accounts appear to have been compromised in order to perpetuate cryptocurrency fraud," the bureau's San Francisco division said in a statement. "We advise the public not to fall victim to this scam by sending cryptocurrency or money in relation to this incident."
The attack, which appears to be the largest and most coordinated in Twitter's history, is raising questions about the vulnerability of a platform that serves as a major communications channel for companies, news outlets and politicians — including President Trump, who frequently uses Twitter to announce public policy.
"This type of hack by con artists for financial gain can also be a tool of foreign actors and others to spread disinformation and — as we've witnessed — disrupt our elections," said New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in a statement announcing he had ordered an investigation by the state's Department of Financial Services.
Republican Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi, chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, raised similar concerns in a letter to Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey on Thursday, asking the company to brief the committee staff on the breach by July 23.
"It is not difficult to imagine future attacks being used to spread disinformation or otherwise sow discord through high-profile accounts, particularly through those of world leaders," he wrote.
Leaders of the Senate Intelligence Committee and the House Oversight Committee are also pushing Twitter for an explanation.
"The ability of bad actors to take over prominent accounts, even fleetingly, signals a worrisome vulnerability in this media environment – exploitable not just for scams, but for more impactful efforts to cause confusion, havoc, and political mischief," said Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, the top Democrat on the intelligence committee.
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Thursday also announced her office had launched a probe into the hack.
"Last night's attack on Twitter raises serious concerns about data security and how platforms like Twitter could be used to harm public debate," James said in a statement.
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany told reporters on Thursday that Trump's Twitter account had not been affected by the hack and said he will continue tweeting.
Who is behind the hack and how did it happen?
Twitter locked down many user accounts in response to the breach. On Thursday afternoon, it said it was still working with users to restore access. It said it believes "only a small subset of these locked accounts were compromised" but is still probing.
State and federal investigators, data security experts and others are training attention on two key questions: How did this happen and who was the culprit?
Twitter says it was the victim of a "coordinated social engineering attack" that targeted employees with access to sensitive internal systems. On Thursday, it said that it had "no evidence that attackers accessed passwords" and that users do not have to change their passwords.
In cybercrime parlance, "social engineering" refers to a malicious actor who gains an insider's trust so that they can get the access they need to hack into accounts, snatch data or commit other crimes.
The term is "used to describe someone's ability to figure out who you are and what you care about,"said Jay Tabb, a former top official in the FBI's National Security Branch who helped lead the prosecution of two former Twitter employees charged with spying on Saudi dissidents on behalf of the Kingdom.
But the exact involvement of Twitter employees remains murky. And speculation is swirling that a rogue staffer could have knowingly assisted the hackers, while others say it is possible that Twitter employees were unwittingly duped by hackers, as the company is suggesting.
"Nowadays, people have such a significant digital footprint. People can find you and try to gain access to you by pretending to be your friend and then send you a friend request, or email and convince you to click on a link that could launch some kind of malware," Tabb said.
After a number of high-profile data breaches at Twitter, including the Saudi spying incident, CEO Jack Dorsey's being hacked in a SIM-swapping maneuver and a departing employee deleting President Trump's account, the company restricted the number of people with administrative access to accounts, according to former Twitter employee Nu Wexler, who was on the communications staff during the Saudi spying episode.
"Every move that is done in the system is tied to your login credentials and is logged," Wexler said. "So if someone inside Twitter was involved, they knew they would be caught."
Based on his past FBI work investigating major tech firms like Twitter, Tabb is skeptical that tech companies have done enough to get ahead of potential bad actors within their own ranks.
"That has not been a universally accepted or embraced notion in Silicon Valley, where the idea is almost taboo," Tabb said. "Companies have been slow to develop insider-threat and insider-risk programs."
Incidents involving rogue employees highlight how humans remain the biggest security threat, said Zeynep Tufekci, a sociologist at the University of North Carolina who studies technology and social media.
"We keep telling people, 'Use this kind of password, don't fall for phishing,' " she told NPR. But, she said, social media users cannot protect themselves against people with bad intentions within the company.
"There's no protection against somebody inside the company that a person individually can take. It's the company that has to do that," she said.
Tabb said as Twitter looks for lessons in Wednesday's hack, he has a message for CEO Dorsey.
"I would tell him to get ready for copycats," Tabb said. "Get ready for someone to attempt to make the same type of breach. Same thing goes for other Silicon Valley companies and 100% of all social media companies. If this can happen to Twitter, it can happen to you."
NPR's Ryan Lucas contributed to this report.


npr--2020-07-16--Georgia Hospital Worker Sounds Alarm: 'I Have Never Ever Seen Anything Like This'

Georgia Hospital Worker Sounds Alarm : ' I Have Never Ever Seen Anything Like This' The emergency room overflowed with patients .
Then , the next wave arrived .
This time on stretchers .
`` They were lined up along the walls in the ER , '' a health care worker inside a Navicent Health-owned hospital in middle Georgia told GPB News .
`` We never have had an influx like that .
Since the Fourth of July , it has just exploded . ''
Staff members did what they always do .
They tended to patients as best they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff searched for available beds in nearby hospitals .
In previous weeks , the health care worker said , COVID-19 patients typically got transported to medical centers about 70 miles north to Atlanta or 160 miles east to Savannah .
This week , there was no room .
Desperate , the health care worker said , administrators began checking available hospitals in Kentucky , Tennessee , Alabama , North Carolina , South Carolina and Florida .
The distance stretched more than 850 miles north to south , from Louisville , Ky. , down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to start shipping patients out of state , it 's bad , '' the worker said .
`` When the hospitals are full , that 's when it becomes really dangerous for everybody . ''
The Navicent employee approached GPB News late Wednesday , saying hospital systems are not providing an accurate reflection of what staffers are seeing inside the walls of medical centers overrun with patients .
The employee spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of getting fired , and NPR is not identifying the Navicent hospital where the employee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` People will never understand if we do not tell the truth about how bad it really is , '' the employee said .
`` That 's what makes us so angry . ''
Tired of being stuck at home , Georgians headed to beaches and bars , to hair salons and restaurants .
Many flaunted not wearing masks as if the virus were gone .
For some , it was their own personal way of telling the government to shove its restrictive policies .
Public health officials warned of opening too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ca n't wish a virus away .
Georgia has seen coronavirus cases skyrocket as residents have gone about business as usual in recent weeks .
Cases have topped 127,000 , and more than 3,000 lives have been taken .
Just three weeks ago , the overall cases stood at 69,000 .
Even with cases spiking , Gov .
Brian Kemp on Wednesday overruled local governments ' decisions to issue mask mandates .
Atlanta , Athens , Savannah and several other municipalities recently enacted measures for residents to wear masks in public in an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus .
Savannah Mayor Van Johnson shot back : `` It is officially official .
Governor Kemp does not give a damn about us . ''
The recent surge has strained hospitals , and many are running out of intensive care beds , said state Sen. Chuck Hufstetler , the Republican lawmaker whose full-time job is as a doctor in Rome .
In a video session about health policy on Wednesday , he said his hospital this week took in a patient from 150 miles away in Macon .
`` We were the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` Macon is a long way from Rome , so there 's a lot of ICUs filled up right now . ''
That trend , he said , is not a good one .
`` Some people do n't want to take it very seriously , and that 's been real disappointing to me , '' Hufstetler said .
`` I 'm fighting it every day here . ''
The Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency reported nearly 2,800 hospitalizations , with 84 % of critical care beds occupied .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the agency said .
Navicent Health is the largest health care system in middle Georgia , with more than 50 facilities across the region , including its flagship hospital , the Medical Center , Navicent Health in Macon , a city of 150,000 about 70 miles south of Atlanta .
Navicent has come under fire for not being more transparent about the number of coronavirus patients within its care and how many ICU beds are available .
`` I can tell you that it 's still very busy , '' Dr. John Wood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the Medical Center , Navicent Health , told WMAZ .
`` I know we have a lot of patients . ''
He urged people to wear masks , social distance and avoid crowds .
The hospital group issued a separate written statement acknowledging its 637-bed trauma center in Macon is `` currently at capacity , but we want to assure our community that this is not due to COVID patient care . ''
`` We have a plan in place when we reach capacity , and we do not want anyone to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The health care worker who spoke to GPB News scoffed at such a statement .
`` You 're kidding me , right , '' the employee said .
`` We 're not supposed to be alarmed ? ''
From parties to surgeries , `` it 's hitting everywhere '' The employee has worked for decades on the front lines of health care , beginning when HIV was the most frightening virus to treat .
`` It was nothing like this , '' the employee said .
`` I have never ever seen anything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ close . ''
Most alarming , the health care worker said , the hospital no longer sees elderly patients in droves like it did in the spring .
The patients of late have tended to be in the prime of their lives ; one was under the age of 10 , the health care worker said .
Compared with the earlier peak in the spring , the employee said , this `` is 10 times worse . ''
Some patients recently underwent operations at other hospitals , only to fall sick with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ employee said .
Others vacationed only to bring the virus back home ; some threw graduation parties leading to outbreaks , the medical worker said .
`` The general public is being given the idea that this not a problem , '' the worker said .
`` But it 's hitting everywhere . ''
The front-line worker wishes more hospital staff would speak up – that the public health emergency demands it of them .
`` You 're looking at compassion burnout among employees who are struggling to try to keep these patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` It 's exhausting . ''
This story was originally published by GPB .

Georgia Hospital Worker Sounds Alarm: 'I Have Never Ever Seen Anything Like This'
Enlarge this image toggle caption Grant Blankenship/GPB News Grant Blankenship/GPB News
The emergency room overflowed with patients. Then, the next wave arrived. This time on stretchers.
"They were lined up along the walls in the ER," a health care worker inside a Navicent Health-owned hospital in middle Georgia told GPB News. "We never have had an influx like that. Since the Fourth of July, it has just exploded."
Staff members did what they always do. They tended to patients as best they could. For the sickest patients, staff searched for available beds in nearby hospitals. In previous weeks, the health care worker said, COVID-19 patients typically got transported to medical centers about 70 miles north to Atlanta or 160 miles east to Savannah.
This week, there was no room. Desperate, the health care worker said, administrators began checking available hospitals in Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida.
The distance stretched more than 850 miles north to south, from Louisville, Ky., down to Orlando, Fla.
"When you have to start shipping patients out of state, it's bad," the worker said. "When the hospitals are full, that's when it becomes really dangerous for everybody."
The Navicent employee approached GPB News late Wednesday, saying hospital systems are not providing an accurate reflection of what staffers are seeing inside the walls of medical centers overrun with patients. The employee spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of getting fired, and NPR is not identifying the Navicent hospital where the employee works to maintain that person's anonymity.
"People will never understand if we do not tell the truth about how bad it really is," the employee said. "That's what makes us so angry."
"I'm fighting it every day'
Tired of being stuck at home, Georgians headed to beaches and bars, to hair salons and restaurants. Many flaunted not wearing masks as if the virus were gone. For some, it was their own personal way of telling the government to shove its restrictive policies.
Public health officials warned of opening too fast, too soon – that you can't wish a virus away.
Georgia has seen coronavirus cases skyrocket as residents have gone about business as usual in recent weeks. Cases have topped 127,000, and more than 3,000 lives have been taken. Just three weeks ago, the overall cases stood at 69,000.
Even with cases spiking, Gov. Brian Kemp on Wednesday overruled local governments' decisions to issue mask mandates. Atlanta, Athens, Savannah and several other municipalities recently enacted measures for residents to wear masks in public in an attempt to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Savannah Mayor Van Johnson shot back: "It is officially official. Governor Kemp does not give a damn about us."
The recent surge has strained hospitals, and many are running out of intensive care beds, said state Sen. Chuck Hufstetler, the Republican lawmaker whose full-time job is as an anesthetist in Rome.
In a video session about health policy on Wednesday, he said his hospital this week took in a patient from 150 miles away in Macon. "We were the closest ICU bed open," Hufstetler said. "Macon is a long way from Rome, so there's a lot of ICUs filled up right now."
That trend, he said, is not a good one.
"Some people don't want to take it very seriously, and that's been real disappointing to me," Hufstetler said. "I'm fighting it every day here."
The Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency reported nearly 2,800 hospitalizations, with 84% of critical care beds occupied. Nearly 1,100 patients were on ventilators, the agency said.
Navicent Health is the largest health care system in middle Georgia, with more than 50 facilities across the region, including its flagship hospital, the Medical Center, Navicent Health in Macon, a city of 150,000 about 70 miles south of Atlanta.
Navicent has come under fire for not being more transparent about the number of coronavirus patients within its care and how many ICU beds are available.
"I can tell you that it's still very busy," Dr. John Wood, medical director for the emergency department at the Medical Center, Navicent Health, told WMAZ. "I know we have a lot of patients."
He urged people to wear masks, social distance and avoid crowds.
The hospital group issued a separate written statement acknowledging its 637-bed trauma center in Macon is "currently at capacity, but we want to assure our community that this is not due to COVID patient care."
"We have a plan in place when we reach capacity, and we do not want anyone to be alarmed," Navicent said.
The health care worker who spoke to GPB News scoffed at such a statement.
"You're kidding me, right," the employee said. "We're not supposed to be alarmed?"
From parties to surgeries, "it's hitting everywhere"
The employee has worked for decades on the front lines of health care, beginning when HIV was the most frightening virus to treat.
"It was nothing like this," the employee said. "I have never ever seen anything like this. Ever! Not anything close."
Most alarming, the health care worker said, the hospital no longer sees elderly patients in droves like it did in the spring. The patients of late have tended to be in the prime of their lives; one was under the age of 10, the health care worker said.
Compared with the earlier peak in the spring, the employee said, this "is 10 times worse."
Some patients recently underwent operations at other hospitals, only to fall sick with the coronavirus a couple days later, the employee said. Others vacationed only to bring the virus back home; some threw graduation parties leading to outbreaks, the medical worker said.
"The general public is being given the idea that this not a problem," the worker said. "But it's hitting everywhere."
The front-line worker wishes more hospital staff would speak up – that the public health emergency demands it of them.
"You're looking at compassion burnout among employees who are struggling to try to keep these patients alive," the employee said. "It's exhausting."
This story was originally published by GPB.


npr--2020-07-16--New Vatican Guidance Urges Clergy To Report Cases Of Sexual Abuse

New Vatican Guidance Urges Clergy To Report Cases Of Sexual Abuse The Vatican on Wednesday published a handbook for clergy and church lawyers that lays out the steps to follow when investigating and reporting alleged cases of sexual abuse of minors and others by priests , deacons and prelates .
A Vatican official described the `` vademecum , '' as the document is titled in Latin , as simply a `` tool '' for correctly conducting probes into such allegations .
`` No new law is being promulgated , nor are new norms being issued , '' Cardinal Louis Ladaria @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Doctrine of the Faith , writes in the in-house outlet Vatican News .
`` It is , instead , an 'instruction manual ' that intends to help whoever has to deal with concrete cases from the beginning to the end . ''
But the handbook does go further than the instructions Pope Francis issued in a May 2019 apostolic letter titled `` You Are the Light of the World . ''
In that missive , the pontiff instructed church authorities to report suspected cases of sexual abuse to civil authorities when required to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new document does not condition such reporting on whether it is legally required .
`` Even in cases where there is no explicit legal obligation to do so , the ecclesiastical authorities should make a report to the competent civil authorities , '' the 16-page manual states , `` if this is considered necessary to protect the person involved or other minors from the danger of further criminal acts . ''
The Vatican 's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith , an entity founded as part of the 15th-century Roman Inquisition to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , issued the set of new guidelines to be followed in cases of clergy accused of sexual abuse .
Obeying civil obligations Complying with subpoenas related to such cases is not presented in the handbook as being optional .
`` Whenever civil judicial authorities issue a legitimate executive order requiring the surrender of documents regarding cases , or order the judicial seizure of such documents , '' the guidelines state , `` the Ordinary or Hierarch must cooperate with the civil authorities . ''
Those investigating reports of sexual abuse are also urged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by simply sending the alleged perpetrators elsewhere .
`` A decision to be avoided is that of simply transferring the accused cleric from his office , region or religious house , '' the handbook advises , `` with the idea that distancing him from the place of the alleged crime or alleged victims constitutes a sufficient solution of the case . ''
But the Vatican document also notes that a cleric is under no obligation to report the sexual abuse of a minor or of a mentally or physically infirm adult if he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confession .
`` It must be pointed out that a report of a delictum gravius [ grave crime ] received in confession is under ... the strictest bond of the sacramental seal , '' the manual stipulates .
`` A confessor who learns of a delictum gravius during the celebration of the sacrament should seek to convince the penitent to make that information known by other means , in order to enable the appropriate authorities to take action . ''
Some victims ' advocates dissatisfied The frequent use of such words as `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the guidance prompted a British group advocating mandatory reporting of sex abuse cases to deride the new handbook 's instructions .
`` Oh dear , this announcement will thrill the easily pleased , '' wrote the advocacy group Mandate Now on Twitter .
`` The *guidance* delivers all the assurance of a bottomless bucket .
Reporting to statutory agencies remains *discretionary* . ''
The co-director of an abuse tracking website also decried the lack of mandatory language in the new Vatican handbook .
`` Pope Francis should order every church official to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Anne Barrett Doyle of BishopAccountability.org told The National Catholic Reporter , noting that church authorities frequently point to the perils of such reporting in certain nations .
`` The Vatican could specify those unsafe countries , and exempt bishops who work there from the civil reporting obligation . ''
Assessing accusations More possible cases of abuse may be investigated under guidance that urges clerics not to dismiss reports coming from anonymous sources .
`` The anonymity of the source should not automatically lead to considering the report as false , '' the handbook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of sexual abuse `` comes from sources whose credibility might appear at first doubtful , it is not advisable to dismiss the matter a priori . ''
`` This is a delicate question , '' says Archbishop Giacomo Morandi , who is secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith , in a Vatican News interview .
`` It has become clear that a peremptory attitude in one sense or another is not conducive to the search for truth and justice . ''
Morandi acknowledges the Catholic Church faces a backlog @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sexual abuse by its ordained members .
`` The phenomenon is present on all continents , and we are still witnessing reports emerge of old cases , sometimes many years later , '' he tells Vatican News .
`` But when this phase of past cases emerging comes to an end , I am convinced ( and we all hope so ) that the phenomenon we are witnessing today can recede . ''

New Vatican Guidance Urges Clergy To Report Cases Of Sexual Abuse
Enlarge this image toggle caption Andrew Medichini/AP Andrew Medichini/AP
The Vatican on Wednesday published a handbook for clergy and church lawyers that lays out the steps to follow when investigating and reporting alleged cases of sexual abuse of minors and others by priests, deacons and prelates.
A Vatican official described the "vademecum," as the document is titled in Latin, as simply a "tool" for correctly conducting probes into such allegations.
"No new law is being promulgated, nor are new norms being issued," Cardinal Louis Ladaria, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, writes in the in-house outlet Vatican News. "It is, instead, an 'instruction manual' that intends to help whoever has to deal with concrete cases from the beginning to the end."
But the handbook does go further than the instructions Pope Francis issued in a May 2019 apostolic letter titled "You Are the Light of the World." In that missive, the pontiff instructed church authorities to report suspected cases of sexual abuse to civil authorities when required to do so by local laws.
The new document does not condition such reporting on whether it is legally required.
"Even in cases where there is no explicit legal obligation to do so, the ecclesiastical authorities should make a report to the competent civil authorities," the 16-page manual states, "if this is considered necessary to protect the person involved or other minors from the danger of further criminal acts."
The Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, an entity founded as part of the 15th-century Roman Inquisition to suppress heresy which now defends church doctrine, issued the set of new guidelines to be followed in cases of clergy accused of sexual abuse.
Obeying civil obligations
Complying with subpoenas related to such cases is not presented in the handbook as being optional.
"Whenever civil judicial authorities issue a legitimate executive order requiring the surrender of documents regarding cases, or order the judicial seizure of such documents," the guidelines state, "the Ordinary or Hierarch must cooperate with the civil authorities."
Those investigating reports of sexual abuse are also urged not to try to settle such cases by simply sending the alleged perpetrators elsewhere.
"A decision to be avoided is that of simply transferring the accused cleric from his office, region or religious house," the handbook advises, "with the idea that distancing him from the place of the alleged crime or alleged victims constitutes a sufficient solution of the case."
But the Vatican document also notes that a cleric is under no obligation to report the sexual abuse of a minor or of a mentally or physically infirm adult if he learns of it through a perpetrator's confession.
"It must be pointed out that a report of a delictum gravius [grave crime] received in confession is under ... the strictest bond of the sacramental seal," the manual stipulates. "A confessor who learns of a delictum gravius during the celebration of the sacrament should seek to convince the penitent to make that information known by other means, in order to enable the appropriate authorities to take action."
Some victims' advocates dissatisfied
The frequent use of such words as "should" rather than "must" in the guidance prompted a British group advocating mandatory reporting of sex abuse cases to deride the new handbook's instructions.
"Oh dear, this announcement will thrill the easily pleased," wrote the advocacy group Mandate Now on Twitter. "The *guidance* delivers all the assurance of a bottomless bucket. Reporting to statutory agencies remains *discretionary*."
The co-director of an abuse tracking website also decried the lack of mandatory language in the new Vatican handbook.
"Pope Francis should order every church official to report allegations to civil authorities," Anne Barrett Doyle of BishopAccountability.org told The National Catholic Reporter, noting that church authorities frequently point to the perils of such reporting in certain nations. "The Vatican could specify those unsafe countries, and exempt bishops who work there from the civil reporting obligation."
Assessing accusations
More possible cases of abuse may be investigated under guidance that urges clerics not to dismiss reports coming from anonymous sources.
"The anonymity of the source should not automatically lead to considering the report as false," the handbook advises, adding that when an allegation of sexual abuse "comes from sources whose credibility might appear at first doubtful, it is not advisable to dismiss the matter a priori."
"This is a delicate question," says Archbishop Giacomo Morandi, who is secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, in a Vatican News interview. "It has become clear that a peremptory attitude in one sense or another is not conducive to the search for truth and justice."
Morandi acknowledges the Catholic Church faces a backlog of unresolved and often unreported cases of sexual abuse by its ordained members.
"The phenomenon is present on all continents, and we are still witnessing reports emerge of old cases, sometimes many years later," he tells Vatican News. "But when this phase of past cases emerging comes to an end, I am convinced (and we all hope so) that the phenomenon we are witnessing today can recede."


npr--2020-07-16--Early Census Door Knocking To Expand To Hawaii, Puerto Rico And Other Areas

Early Census Door Knocking To Expand To Hawaii , Puerto Rico And Other Areas If someone in your household has not filled out a 2020 census form yet , you may find a masked worker from the U.S. Census Bureau outside your front door soon .
That could be as soon as July 30 for people living in Hawaii , North Dakota , Puerto Rico and certain other areas of the country , the bureau announced Wednesday .
With outbreaks of the coronavirus continuing to ravage many parts of the U.S. , the bureau has taken on a phased approach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operation for the constitutionally mandated head count of every person living in the U.S. As of Wednesday , roughly four out of 10 homes nationwide have not yet participated in the count either online , over the phone or through the mail .
Some parts of the country are getting early in-person visits before the nationwide rollout of door knocking set for Aug. 11 .
Other locations that are set to join the bureau 's third phase of door knocking on July 30 include parts of : While this once-a-decade government exercise is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the public , the results of the census are expected to have an outsized impact on daily life in the U.S. for the next decade .
A state 's population count , as determined through the census , is used to apportion its share of seats in Congress , votes in the Electoral College and an estimated $ 1.5 trillion a year in federal tax dollars that pay for Medicare , Medicaid and other public services .
After the pandemic forced the bureau to push back the start of in-person interviews with unresponsive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out door knockers Thursday for the first phase of the operation , which covers Idaho , Maine and West Virginia , as well as parts of southeastern Louisiana , northern Missouri and northwestern Oklahoma .
On July 23 , door knocking is set to start in parts of eastern Connecticut , southern Indiana , most of Kansas , central Pennsylvania and northern Virginia around Crystal City , plus in Tacoma , Wash. , and surrounding areas .
The bureau 's officials say all of these locations were selected based mainly on logistics , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers to try to conduct socially distanced interviews outside people 's homes and if the bureau could supply enough face masks , hand sanitizer and gloves to its local field staff .
The bureau plans to keep collecting responses through the end of October .
But it remains unclear exactly when it will deliver the results of the count .
Under current federal law , the latest state population numbers are due to the president by Dec. 31 .
Because of the pandemic , the bureau 's officials have asked Congress to pass @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so far only Democrats in the House and Senate have introduced bills to extend deadlines , the bureau 's top official for the count remains optimistic that lawmakers on both sides of the aisle understand the need for more time to process the new census data .
`` It 's not as though some portion of one party is adamantly against that , '' Al Fontenot , associate director for the 2020 census , said earlier this month during an online panel organized by the Population Association of America .
`` It seems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the right bill with the right constraints attached to it and get it passed . ''

Early Census Door Knocking To Expand To Hawaii, Puerto Rico And Other Areas
Enlarge this image toggle caption Matt Rourke/AP Matt Rourke/AP
If someone in your household has not filled out a 2020 census form yet, you may find a masked worker from the U.S. Census Bureau outside your front door soon.
That could be as soon as July 30 for people living in Hawaii, North Dakota, Puerto Rico and certain other areas of the country, the bureau announced Wednesday.
With outbreaks of the coronavirus continuing to ravage many parts of the U.S., the bureau has taken on a phased approach to its largest and most expensive field operation for the constitutionally mandated head count of every person living in the U.S.
As of Wednesday, roughly four out of 10 homes nationwide have not yet participated in the count either online, over the phone or through the mail.
Some parts of the country are getting early in-person visits before the nationwide rollout of door knocking set for Aug. 11.
Other locations that are set to join the bureau's third phase of door knocking on July 30 include parts of:
central Colorado
western Connecticut
northern Illinois
northwestern Indiana
the Indianapolis metro area
most of Massachusetts
most of Maryland
central New Jersey
the Buffalo, N.Y. metro area
northeastern Ohio
western Pennsylvania
the Harrisburg, Pa. metro area
western Washington
eastern Wisconsin
While this once-a-decade government exercise is largely off the radar of many in the public, the results of the census are expected to have an outsized impact on daily life in the U.S. for the next decade. A state's population count, as determined through the census, is used to apportion its share of seats in Congress, votes in the Electoral College and an estimated $1.5 trillion a year in federal tax dollars that pay for Medicare, Medicaid and other public services.
After the pandemic forced the bureau to push back the start of in-person interviews with unresponsive households from May, it began sending out door knockers Thursday for the first phase of the operation, which covers Idaho, Maine and West Virginia, as well as parts of southeastern Louisiana, northern Missouri and northwestern Oklahoma.
On July 23, door knocking is set to start in parts of eastern Connecticut, southern Indiana, most of Kansas, central Pennsylvania and northern Virginia around Crystal City, plus in Tacoma, Wash., and surrounding areas.
The bureau's officials say all of these locations were selected based mainly on logistics, including whether it's safe enough for workers to try to conduct socially distanced interviews outside people's homes and if the bureau could supply enough face masks, hand sanitizer and gloves to its local field staff.
The bureau plans to keep collecting responses through the end of October.
But it remains unclear exactly when it will deliver the results of the count.
Under current federal law, the latest state population numbers are due to the president by Dec. 31. Because of the pandemic, the bureau's officials have asked Congress to pass four-month extensions to their deadlines.
Although so far only Democrats in the House and Senate have introduced bills to extend deadlines, the bureau's top official for the count remains optimistic that lawmakers on both sides of the aisle understand the need for more time to process the new census data.
"It's not as though some portion of one party is adamantly against that," Al Fontenot, associate director for the 2020 census, said earlier this month during an online panel organized by the Population Association of America. "It seems they just have to get it in the right bill with the right constraints attached to it and get it passed."


npr--2020-07-16--Europe's Top Court Strikes Down Key Rules Of U.S.-EU Data Transfer

Europe 's highest court has struck down a key agreement between the U.S. and the European Union concerning data privacy .
In a ruling Thursday , the European Court of Justice found that the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield fails to protect Europeans ' rights to data privacy when companies are transferring those data to the U.S .
The decision promises to have major repercussions for the more than 5,300 companies covered by the framework , ranging from banks to social media giants such as Facebook and Twitter .
Under the Privacy Shield , implemented in 2016 , self-certified companies that comply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have met the EU 's higher standard for data privacy .
The ECJ disagreed with that conclusion , however .
In its ruling , the court found that surveillance laws in the U.S. `` are not circumscribed in a way that satisfies requirements that are essentially equivalent to those required '' under EU law .
In other words , the deal 's principal flaws rest not so much with its member companies ' practices , as with the U.S. government itself .
Justices found that federal laws such as the Foreign Intelligence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as limited to what is strictly necessary '' and fail to meet `` minimum safeguards '' guaranteed by the EU .
`` The requirements of US national security , public interest and law enforcement have primacy , thus condoning interference with the fundamental rights of persons whose data are transferred , '' the court wrote in a press release explaining the decision .
That potentially leaves lots of companies in a tough spot , as Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross argued in a statement released Thursday .
He said his department is `` deeply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have `` negative consequences to the $ 7.1 trillion transatlantic economic relationship that is so vital to our respective citizens , companies , and governments . ''
`` Data flows are essential not just to tech companies , but to businesses of all sizes in every sector , '' Ross added .
It is unclear exactly what comes next for the companies covered under the deal .
Ross said the Department of Commerce is `` studying the decision '' now , and in the meantime the department vowed to continue the program despite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ companies — for now , at least — may be found in the ruling itself .
Even as the court struck down the Privacy Shield , it upheld the legality of standard contractual clauses , or SCCs , which were composed by the European Commission .
These provisions , which also lay out the responsibilities concerning data transfers , were acceptable to the court because they allow EU regulators to intervene in individual instances where they suspect the destination country wo n't adequately protect Europeans ' data .
In statements released after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Microsoft said they also use SCCs for data transfer .
`` The Court explicitly highlighted that the invalidation of the Privacy Shield will not create a 'legal vacuum ' as crucially necessary data flows can be still undertaken , '' said Max Schrems , the Austrian attorney and privacy activist who brought the case .
`` The US is now simply put back to an average country with no special access to EU data . ''
For Schrems , the issue has become something of a crusade .
It was his case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Privacy Shield 's predecessor , Safe Harbor , in 2015 .
That framework was also struck down by the European Court of Justice because it failed to protect Europeans ' data privacy .
The attorney celebrated his second major victory in court as a vindication and an unmistakable sign that change is needed in the U.S. '' It is clear , '' he said in a statement Thursday , `` that the US will have to seriously change their surveillance laws , if US companies want to continue to play a major @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Europe's Top Court Strikes Down Key Rules Of U.S.-EU Data Transfer
Enlarge this image toggle caption Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP via Getty Images Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP via Getty Images
Europe's highest court has struck down a key agreement between the U.S. and the European Union concerning data privacy. In a ruling Thursday, the European Court of Justice found that the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield fails to protect Europeans' rights to data privacy when companies are transferring those data to the U.S.
The decision promises to have major repercussions for the more than 5,300 companies covered by the framework, ranging from banks to social media giants such as Facebook and Twitter. Under the Privacy Shield, implemented in 2016, self-certified companies that comply with the agreement's requirements are considered to have met the EU's higher standard for data privacy.
The ECJ disagreed with that conclusion, however. In its ruling, the court found that surveillance laws in the U.S. "are not circumscribed in a way that satisfies requirements that are essentially equivalent to those required" under EU law.
In other words, the deal's principal flaws rest not so much with its member companies' practices, as with the U.S. government itself. Justices found that federal laws such as the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act "cannot be regarded as limited to what is strictly necessary" and fail to meet "minimum safeguards" guaranteed by the EU.
"The requirements of US national security, public interest and law enforcement have primacy, thus condoning interference with the fundamental rights of persons whose data are transferred," the court wrote in a press release explaining the decision.
That potentially leaves lots of companies in a tough spot, as Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross argued in a statement released Thursday. He said his department is "deeply disappointed" in a ruling that may have "negative consequences to the $7.1 trillion transatlantic economic relationship that is so vital to our respective citizens, companies, and governments."
"Data flows are essential not just to tech companies, but to businesses of all sizes in every sector," Ross added.
It is unclear exactly what comes next for the companies covered under the deal. Ross said the Department of Commerce is "studying the decision" now, and in the meantime the department vowed to continue the program despite the ruling.
Law Activist Took On Facebook And Won, Long Before Cambridge Analytica Activist Took On Facebook And Won, Long Before Cambridge Analytica Listen · 5:03 5:03
One alternative for these companies — for now, at least — may be found in the ruling itself. Even as the court struck down the Privacy Shield, it upheld the legality of standard contractual clauses, or SCCs, which were composed by the European Commission.
These provisions, which also lay out the responsibilities concerning data transfers, were acceptable to the court because they allow EU regulators to intervene in individual instances where they suspect the destination country won't adequately protect Europeans' data. In statements released after the ruling, tech giants such as Facebook and Microsoft said they also use SCCs for data transfer.
"The Court explicitly highlighted that the invalidation of the Privacy Shield will not create a 'legal vacuum' as crucially necessary data flows can be still undertaken," said Max Schrems, the Austrian attorney and privacy activist who brought the case. "The US is now simply put back to an average country with no special access to EU data."
For Schrems, the issue has become something of a crusade. It was his case that effectively led to the end of the Privacy Shield's predecessor, Safe Harbor, in 2015. That framework was also struck down by the European Court of Justice because it failed to protect Europeans' data privacy.
The attorney celebrated his second major victory in court as a vindication and an unmistakable sign that change is needed in the U.S.
"It is clear," he said in a statement Thursday, "that the US will have to seriously change their surveillance laws, if US companies want to continue to play a major role on the EU market."