npr--2020-08-17--Back To Life: COVID Lung Transplant Survivor Tells Her Story

During six weeks on life support at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago , Ramirez said , she had terrifying nightmares that she could n't distinguish from reality .
`` Most of them involve me drowning , '' she said .
`` I attribute that to me not being able to breathe , and struggling to breathe . ''
On June 5 , Ramirez , 28 , became the first known COVID-19 patient in the U.S. to undergo a double lung transplant .
She is strong enough now to begin sharing the story of her ordeal .
Before the pandemic , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immigration law firm in Chicago .
She enjoyed walking her dogs and running 5K races .
Ramirez had been working from home since mid-March , hardly leaving the house , so she has no idea how she contracted the coronavirus .
In late April , she started experiencing chronic spasms , diarrhea , loss of taste and smell , and a slight fever .
`` I felt very fatigued , '' Ramirez said .
`` I was n't able to walk long distances without falling over .
And that 's when I decided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' From the ER to a ventilator The staff at Northwestern checked her vitals and found her oxygen levels were extremely low .
She was given 10 minutes to explain her situation over the phone to her mother in North Carolina and appoint her to make medical decisions on her behalf .
Ramirez knew she was about to be placed on a ventilator , but she did n't understand exactly what that meant .
`` In Spanish , the word 'ventilator ' — ventilador — is 'fan , ' so I thought , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blow some air into me and I 'll be OK. Maybe have a three-day stay , and then I 'll be right out . '
So I was n't very worried , '' Ramirez said .
In fact , she would spend the next six weeks heavily sedated on that ventilator and another machine — known as ECMO , or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation — pumping and oxygenating her blood outside of her body .
One theory about why Ramirez became so sick is that she has a neurological condition that is treated with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immune system .
By early June , Ramirez was at risk of further decline .
She began showing signs that her kidneys and liver were starting to fail , with no improvement in her lung function .
Her family was told she might not make it through the night , so her mother and sisters caught the first flight from North Carolina to Chicago to say goodbye .
When they arrived , the doctors told Ramirez 's mother , Nohemi Romero , that there was one last thing they could try .
Ramirez @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transplant , they said , although the procedure had never been done on a COVID patient in the U.S .
Her mother agreed , and within 48 hours of being listed for transplant , a donor was found and the successful procedure was performed on June 5 .
At a recent news conference held by Northwestern Memorial , Romero shared in Spanish that there were no words to describe the pain of not being by her daughter 's side as she struggled for her life .
She thanked God all went well , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make it through .
`` Most patients are quite sick going into [ a ] lung transplant , '' Bharat said in an interview in June .
`` But she was so sick .
In fact , I can say without hesitation , the sickest patient I ever transplanted . ''
Bharat said most COVID-19 patients will not be candidates for transplants because of their age and other health conditions that decrease the likelihood of success .
And early research shows that up to half of COVID patients on ventilators survive the illness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own .
But for some , like Ramirez , Bharat said , a transplant can be a lifesaving option of last resort .
When Ramirez woke up after the operation , she was disoriented , could barely move her body and could n't speak .
`` I just felt like a vegetable .
It was frustrating , but at the time I did n't have the cognitive ability to process what was going on , '' Ramirez said .
She recalled being sad that her mother was n't with her in the hospital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allowed because of the pandemic .
Her family had sent photos to post by her hospital bed , and Ramirez said she could n't recognize anyone in the pictures .
`` I was actually sort of upset about it , [ thinking , ] 'Who are these strangers and why are their pictures in my room ? '
'' Ramirez said .
`` It was weeks later , actually , that I took a second look and realized , 'Hey , that 's my grandmother .
That 's my mom and my siblings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ After a few weeks , Ramirez said , she finally understood what happened to her .
When COVID-19 restrictions loosened at the hospital in mid-June , her mother was finally able to visit .
`` The first thing I did was just tear up , '' Ramirez said .
`` I was overjoyed to see her . ''
After weeks of inpatient rehabilitation , Ramirez was discharged home .
She 's now receiving in-home nursing assistance as well as physical and occupational therapy , and she 's working on finding a psychologist .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to spend more time with her family , her boyfriend and her dogs and serving the immigrant community through her legal work .
But for now , her days are consumed by rehab .
Her doctors say it will be at least a year before she can function independently and be as active as before .
Ramirez is slowly regaining strength and learning how to breathe with her new lungs .
She takes 17 prescription medicines , some of them several times a day , including medicines to prevent her body from rejecting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anxiety meds and antidepressants to help her cope with daily nightmares and panic attacks .
The long-term physical and mental health tolls on Ramirez and other COVID-19 survivors remain largely unknown , since the virus is so new .
While most people who contract the virus are left seemingly unscathed , for some patients , like Ramirez , the road to recovery is full of uncertainty , said Dr. Mady Hornig , a physician-scientist at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health .
Some patients can experience post-intensive care syndrome , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , memory issues and other cognitive and mental health problems , Hornig said .
Under normal circumstances , ICU visits from loved ones are encouraged , she said , because the human interaction can be protective .
`` That type of contact would normally keep people oriented ... so that it does n't become as traumatic , '' Hornig said .
COVID-19 has disproportionately harmed Latino communities , as Latinos are overrepresented in jobs that expose them to the virus and have lower rates of health insurance and other social protections .
Ramirez @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't spared her from tens and thousands of dollars ' worth of medical bills .
And even though she still ended up getting COVID-19 , she counts herself lucky for having a job that allowed her to work from home when the pandemic struck .
Many Latino workers do n't have that luxury , she said , so they 're forced to risk their lives doing low-wage jobs deemed essential at this time .
Ramirez 's mother is a breast cancer survivor , making her particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 .
She had been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Carolina , for a company that Ramirez said has had hundreds of COVID-19 cases among employees .
So Ramirez is relieved to have her mom in Chicago , helping take care of her .
`` I 'm glad this is taking her away from her position , '' Ramirez said .
Friends and family in North Carolina have been fundraising to help pay her medical bills , selling raffle tickets and setting up a GoFundMe page on her behalf .
Ramirez is also applying for financial assistance from the hospital .
Her experience @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is as a person , she said , and she looks forward to living her life to the fullest .
If she ever gets the chance to speak with the family of the person whose lungs she now has , she said , she will thank them `` for raising such a healthy child and a caring person [ who ] was kind enough to become an organ donor . ''
Her life may never be the same , but that does n't mean she wo n't try .
She laughs as she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take her skydiving someday .
`` Dr. Bharat actually used to work at a skydiving company when he was younger , '' Ramirez said .
`` And so he promised me that , hopefully within a year , he could get me there . ''
And she has every intention of holding him to that promise .
This story is part of a reporting partnership that includes Illinois Public Media , Side Effects Public Media , NPR and KHN .

'She Was So Sick': From COVID-19 Diagnosis To A Double Lung Transplant
Enlarge this image toggle caption Northwestern Medicine Northwestern Medicine
Mayra Ramirez remembers the nightmares.
During six weeks on life support at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, Ramirez said, she had terrifying nightmares that she couldn't distinguish from reality.
"Most of them involve me drowning," she said. "I attribute that to me not being able to breathe, and struggling to breathe."
On June 5, Ramirez, 28, became the first known COVID-19 patient in the U.S. to undergo a double lung transplant. She is strong enough now to begin sharing the story of her ordeal.
Mysterious exposure
Before the pandemic, Ramirez worked as a paralegal for an immigration law firm in Chicago. She enjoyed walking her dogs and running 5K races.
Ramirez had been working from home since mid-March, hardly leaving the house, so she has no idea how she contracted the coronavirus. In late April, she started experiencing chronic spasms, diarrhea, loss of taste and smell, and a slight fever.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Northwestern Medicine Northwestern Medicine
"I felt very fatigued," Ramirez said. "I wasn't able to walk long distances without falling over. And that's when I decided to go into the emergency room."
From the ER to a ventilator
The staff at Northwestern checked her vitals and found her oxygen levels were extremely low. She was given 10 minutes to explain her situation over the phone to her mother in North Carolina and appoint her to make medical decisions on her behalf.
Ramirez knew she was about to be placed on a ventilator, but she didn't understand exactly what that meant.
"In Spanish, the word 'ventilator' — ventilador — is 'fan,' so I thought, 'Oh, they're just gonna blow some air into me and I'll be OK. Maybe have a three-day stay, and then I'll be right out.' So I wasn't very worried," Ramirez said.
In fact, she would spend the next six weeks heavily sedated on that ventilator and another machine — known as ECMO, or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation — pumping and oxygenating her blood outside of her body.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Northwestern Medicine Northwestern Medicine
One theory about why Ramirez became so sick is that she has a neurological condition that is treated with steroids, drugs that can suppress the immune system.
By early June, Ramirez was at risk of further decline. She began showing signs that her kidneys and liver were starting to fail, with no improvement in her lung function. Her family was told she might not make it through the night, so her mother and sisters caught the first flight from North Carolina to Chicago to say goodbye.
When they arrived, the doctors told Ramirez's mother, Nohemi Romero, that there was one last thing they could try.
Ramirez was a candidate for a double lung transplant, they said, although the procedure had never been done on a COVID-19 patient in the U.S. Her mother agreed, and within 48 hours of being listed for transplant, a donor was found and the successful procedure was performed on June 5.
At a recent news conference held by Northwestern Memorial, Romero shared in Spanish that there were no words to describe the pain of not being by her daughter's side as she struggled for her life.
She thanked God all went well, and for giving her the strength to make it through.
'I just felt like a vegetable'
Dr. Ankit Bharat, Northwestern Medicine's chief of thoracic surgery, performed the 10-hour procedure.
"Most patients are quite sick going into [a] lung transplant," Bharat said in an interview in June. "But she was so sick. In fact, I can say without hesitation, the sickest patient I ever transplanted."
Bharat said most COVID-19 patients will not be candidates for transplants because of their age and other health conditions that decrease the likelihood of success. And early research shows that up to half of COVID-19 patients on ventilators survive the illness and are likely to recover on their own.
But for some, like Ramirez, Bharat said, a transplant can be a lifesaving option of last resort.
When Ramirez woke up after the operation, she was disoriented, could barely move her body and couldn't speak.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Northwestern Medicine Northwestern Medicine
"I just felt like a vegetable. It was frustrating, but at the time I didn't have the cognitive ability to process what was going on," Ramirez said.
She recalled being sad that her mother wasn't with her in the hospital, not understanding that visitors weren't allowed because of the pandemic.
Her family had sent photos to post by her hospital bed, and Ramirez said she couldn't recognize anyone in the pictures.
"I was actually sort of upset about it, [thinking,] 'Who are these strangers and why are their pictures in my room?'" Ramirez said. "It was weeks later, actually, that I took a second look and realized, 'Hey, that's my grandmother. That's my mom and my siblings. And that's me."
After a few weeks, Ramirez said, she finally understood what happened to her. When COVID-19 restrictions loosened at the hospital in mid-June, her mother was finally able to visit.
"The first thing I did was just tear up," Ramirez said. "I was overjoyed to see her."
The long road to recovery
After weeks of inpatient rehabilitation, Ramirez was discharged home. She's now receiving in-home nursing assistance as well as physical and occupational therapy, and she's working on finding a psychologist.
Ramirez eagerly looks forward to being able to spend more time with her family, her boyfriend and her dogs, and serving the immigrant community through her legal work.
But for now, her days are consumed by rehab. Her doctors say it will be at least a year before she can function independently and be as active as before.
Ramirez is slowly regaining strength and learning how to breathe with her new lungs.
She takes 17 prescription medicines, some of them several times a day, including medicines to prevent her body from rejecting the new lungs. She also takes anxiety meds and antidepressants to help her cope with daily nightmares and panic attacks.
The long-term physical and mental health tolls on Ramirez and other COVID-19 survivors remain largely unknown, since the virus is so new.
While most people who contract the virus are left seemingly unscathed, for some patients, like Ramirez, the road to recovery is full of uncertainty, said Dr. Mady Hornig, a physician-scientist at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.
Some patients can experience post-intensive care syndrome, or PICS, which can consist of depression, memory issues and other cognitive and mental health problems, Hornig said. Under normal circumstances, ICU visits from loved ones are encouraged, she said, because the human interaction can be protective.
"That type of contact would normally keep people oriented ... so that it doesn't become as traumatic," Hornig said.
Hopes for the future
COVID-19 has disproportionately harmed Latino communities, as Latinos are overrepresented in jobs that expose them to the virus and have lower rates of health insurance and other social protections.
Ramirez has health insurance, although that hasn't spared her from tens of thousands of dollars' worth of medical bills.
And even though she still ended up getting COVID-19, she counts herself lucky for having a job that allowed her to work from home when the pandemic struck. Many Latino workers don't have that luxury, she said, so they're forced to risk their lives doing low-wage jobs deemed essential at this time.
Ramirez's mother is a breast cancer survivor, making her particularly vulnerable to COVID-19. She had been working at a meatpacking plant in North Carolina, for a company that Ramirez said has had hundreds of COVID-19 cases among employees.
So Ramirez is relieved to have her mom in Chicago, helping take care of her.
"I'm glad this is taking her away from her position," Ramirez said.
Friends and family in North Carolina have been fundraising to help pay her medical bills, selling raffle tickets and setting up a GoFundMe page on her behalf. Ramirez is also applying for financial assistance from the hospital.
Her experience with COVID-19 has not changed who she is as a person, she said, and she looks forward to living her life to the fullest.
If she ever gets the chance to speak with the family of the person whose lungs she now has, she said, she will thank them "for raising such a healthy child and a caring person [who] was kind enough to become an organ donor."
Her life may never be the same, but that doesn't mean she won't try. She laughs as she explains how she asked her surgeon to take her skydiving someday.
"Dr. Bharat actually used to work at a skydiving company when he was younger," Ramirez said. "And so he promised me that, hopefully within a year, he could get me there."
And she has every intention of holding him to that promise.
This story is part of a reporting partnership that includes Illinois Public Media, Side Effects Public Media, NPR and KHN.


npr--2020-08-17--How It Feels To Be A Delegate To A Virtual Convention: 'Like Canceling Christmas'

How It Feels To Be A Delegate To A Virtual Convention : 'Like Canceling Christmas' After losing Wisconsin to Donald Trump in 2016 , Democrats vowed not to take the state for granted — taking steps like picking Milwaukee to host the 2020 Democratic National Convention .
For months , Milwaukee was preparing for an influx of 50,000 people .
Organizers were preparing to wine and dine visitors with local favorites such as cheese curds and cream puffs .
But now , with the convention mostly taking place online because of the coronavirus pandemic , there will be no delegates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Milwaukee River cruise or partying on the waterfront .
So , what does it mean to be a delegate to a virtual convention ?
First of all , if you 're from Milwaukee , it generally means plenty of disappointment , says Deiadra Queary , a first-time Joe Biden delegate .
She grew up watching DNCs at home and could n't wait to participate in what she calls `` a grown-up pep rally '' in her hometown .
`` I just think , you know , it 's just like being a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ somebody canceling Christmas , '' she says .
`` You know , you 've been good all year , you wrote your letter , and then somebody cancels Christmas .
That 's a lot to deal with , you know . ''
Standing outside the Wisconsin Center in the city 's downtown , where Democrats had planned to hold the scaled-down convention until earlier in the month , Queary says the party 's decision was the right thing to do .
Instead of being there in person , she 's working hard to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` My focus is young people and , in particular , young Black males , '' she says .
`` So I will talk to young men I see in the store .
I talk to them in the restaurants because I want to know what 's on their minds , and I want to know what their hiccups are . ''
In addition to rallying the party around its nominee , convention delegates usually do a lot of schmoozing .
For Wisconsin state Rep. LaKeshia Myers , her time as a delegate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ getting a chance to meet Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders , have her picture taken with New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker and mingle at National Black Caucus meetings .
This year , Myers will be casting her delegate vote for Biden from her computer , which means missing out on longtime convention traditions .
`` Button trading is very , very popular , '' she says .
`` When you go to Democratic conventions , there are people who have buttons from the '68 convention , the '72 convention .
I actually was able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Not everyone is as disappointed by the change in the convention 's format .
Biden delegate Vik Verma is the vice chair of the Lincoln County Democrats , in a swing county in northern Wisconsin .
He says the switch to virtual events has allowed him to pay close attention to Biden 's campaign around Wisconsin .
`` By watching these events and seeing the vice president with no applause , there 's just a focus on what he 's talking about .
I can only speak for myself — I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that way , '' he says .
While they wo n't be showing up in person , many delegates are putting their energy into political activism this summer .
State Rep. Myers , whose district is in Milwaukee County , is holding virtual focus groups for women of color , to make sure their voices are heard , and is also registering voters .
About 3 1/2 hours northwest of Milwaukee , in Eau Claire , Bobbi Green is stapling together `` Biden for Wisconsin '' yard signs in her pickup truck and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ district that swung from Barack Obama to Trump in 2016 .
As she delivers a sign , a neighbor asks where she got it .
Green eagerly asks if he wants one too and grabs one for him when he says yes .
In one way , Green says , she 's dreading the convention .
`` I 've got a little bit of Zoom fatigue to be honest with you , '' she explains , referring to videoconferencing apps .
`` Just because that 's how all of our meetings for everything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same time , she 's optimistic her efforts may pay off with a victory for Democrats this fall .
`` I think that [ Biden 's ] going to use this convention as kind of a way to assure us that we can straighten this ship out . ''

How It Feels To Be A Delegate To A Virtual Convention: 'Like Canceling Christmas'
Enlarge this image toggle caption Courtesy of Bobbi Green Courtesy of Bobbi Green
Follow live coverage of the Democratic National Convention.
After losing Wisconsin to Donald Trump in 2016, Democrats vowed not to take the state for granted — taking steps like picking Milwaukee to host the 2020 Democratic National Convention.
For months, Milwaukee was preparing for an influx of 50,000 people. Organizers were preparing to wine and dine visitors with local favorites such as cheese curds and cream puffs. But now, with the convention mostly taking place online because of the coronavirus pandemic, there will be no delegates networking, beer in hand, on a Milwaukee River cruise or partying on the waterfront.
So, what does it mean to be a delegate to a virtual convention? First of all, if you're from Milwaukee, it generally means plenty of disappointment, says Deiadra Queary, a first-time Joe Biden delegate.
She grew up watching DNCs at home and couldn't wait to participate in what she calls "a grown-up pep rally" in her hometown.
"I just think, you know, it's just like being a kid on Christmas. It's like somebody canceling Christmas," she says. "You know, you've been good all year, you wrote your letter, and then somebody cancels Christmas. That's a lot to deal with, you know."
Standing outside the Wisconsin Center in the city's downtown, where Democrats had planned to hold the scaled-down convention until earlier in the month, Queary says the party's decision was the right thing to do. Instead of being there in person, she's working hard to encourage people to vote for Biden.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Maayan Silver/WUWM Maayan Silver/WUWM
"My focus is young people and, in particular, young Black males," she says. "So I will talk to young men I see in the store. I talk to them in the restaurants because I want to know what's on their minds, and I want to know what their hiccups are."
In addition to rallying the party around its nominee, convention delegates usually do a lot of schmoozing. For Wisconsin state Rep. LaKeshia Myers, her time as a delegate to the 2016 DNC in Philadelphia meant getting a chance to meet Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, have her picture taken with New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker and mingle at National Black Caucus meetings.
This year, Myers will be casting her delegate vote for Biden from her computer, which means missing out on longtime convention traditions.
"Button trading is very, very popular," she says. "When you go to Democratic conventions, there are people who have buttons from the '68 convention, the '72 convention. I actually was able to trade for an original ERA button."
Not everyone is as disappointed by the change in the convention's format. Biden delegate Vik Verma is the vice chair of the Lincoln County Democrats, in a swing county in northern Wisconsin. He says the switch to virtual events has allowed him to pay close attention to Biden's campaign around Wisconsin.
"By watching these events and seeing the vice president with no applause, there's just a focus on what he's talking about. I can only speak for myself — I have very much enjoyed watching it in that way," he says.
While they won't be showing up in person, many delegates are putting their energy into political activism this summer. State Rep. Myers, whose district is in Milwaukee County, is holding virtual focus groups for women of color, to make sure their voices are heard, and is also registering voters.
About 3 1/2 hours northwest of Milwaukee, in Eau Claire, Bobbi Green is stapling together "Biden for Wisconsin" yard signs in her pickup truck and taking them to houses in a congressional district that swung from Barack Obama to Trump in 2016.
As she delivers a sign, a neighbor asks where she got it. Green eagerly asks if he wants one too and grabs one for him when he says yes. In one way, Green says, she's dreading the convention.
"I've got a little bit of Zoom fatigue to be honest with you," she explains, referring to videoconferencing apps. "Just because that's how all of our meetings for everything have been lately."
But at the same time, she's optimistic her efforts may pay off with a victory for Democrats this fall. "I think that [Biden's] going to use this convention as kind of a way to assure us that we can straighten this ship out."


npr--2020-08-17--Rural Schools Struggle With Road Ahead In Era Of Coronavirus

Rural Schools Struggle With Road Ahead In Era Of Coronavirus At the Bruneau-Grandview School District in rural southern Idaho , a couple dozen teachers are crowded into the small library .
They 're doing a refresher training for online teaching .
In person-classes are scheduled to begin Monday , but with coronavirus cases continuing to rise in Idaho and other states , it 's an open question for how long .
Superintendent Ryan Cantrell , who 's helping lead the Google Classroom training , is advising his staff that last-minute decisions will be the unfortunate normal this upcoming school year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their kids to school this week , or staying fully online or some combination of both .
A recent survey indicated that about three-quarters of the district 's families were comfortable sending their kids back to school this fall .
When the district abruptly went to online-only last Spring , Cantrell says some students dropped off the map , learning suffered , especially in outlying areas where there 's little or no Internet .
`` There 's a general consensus of let 's get moving , '' Cantrell says .
`` Let 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that we can find out where they 're at , how we can help them . ''
Those kids who do return can expect some changes .
Desks will be spaced apart in classrooms and classes are being staggered to minimize the number of students in the hall at one time .
The school day will also be shortened to allow for more online teaching .
In a small rural school like this , teachers like Maya Davis will be expected to work in both worlds .
`` That will be a little @ @ @ @ @ @ @ itself was a full-time job , and obviously teaching in a classroom is a full-time job , '' Davis said .
`` But we 're just making it work . ''
Schools around the country have been grappling with how or even whether to reopen .
In the two isolated farming towns of Grandview and Bruneau , which form the joint school district , there are fewer than a dozen known COVID-19 cases .
But in nearby more urban counties , where some of the staff here commute from , infection rates continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Idaho , public health experts have warned that schools that are reopening may just have to close down again because it 's not safe .
At the training , Davis , who teaches third grade , was one of only a handful of teachers wearing a mask .
Masks wo n't be required this semester , except on school buses .
She and a few other staffers commute one hour each way from the Boise area .
`` I wear a mask just to protect my community , '' Davis says .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one coming from Boise bringing COVID into the community . ''
Masks just are n't that common in this mostly isolated , rural community along the Snake River , where social distancing is generally a fact of life .
And in small towns like this , the school is often a reflection of a community 's values , says Superintendent Cantrell .
Yet , it feels almost inevitable to him that there will be COVID-19 cases soon after in-person classes resume .
`` I think it 's only a matter of time before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Cantrell says .
He 'll work closely with the local public health district to do contact tracing .
`` I expect almost immediately to have to start making decisions about who comes to school , who 's quarantined , do we need to shut school down for two weeks , '' Cantrell says .
This is widely seen as an uncomfortable reality in Idaho , where generally most state leaders have been pushing for businesses and schools to reopen .
This is one of the most politically red corners of the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a big red mark next to it as having one of the nation 's fastest growing rates of coronavirus infections .
Some larger school districts in the state are beginning the school year all online .
And public health experts have warned schools that are reopening that they may just have to close down again because it 's not safe .
`` Listening to experts to set policy is an elitist approach , '' said State .
Sen. Steven Thayn .
At a recent legislative hearing , Thayn , vice chair of an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would take authority away from Idaho 's local health districts so they ca n't enforce school closures or mandatory mask orders .
Many Republicans argued that local school boards should have the final say , not public health experts .
That bill and another that would limit a school 's liability when it comes to coronavirus lawsuits is likely to be debated in a special session of the legislature later this month .
`` There are a lot of people that are willing to go back to school , willing to go back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a few fearful people , control the lives of those of us that are not fearful , '' Thayn said at the hearing .
In the Bruneau-Grandview district anyway , there is certainly some fear about the virus .
But school leaders are also worried about students not learning .
The district had long been labeled as poor-performing and things had started to turn around until the virus .
This is just another pressure point for schools across the country and there 's no clear blueprint on how to go forward .
For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's just hoping to keep herself safe and her classroom clean : `` And teach my kids as much as I possibly can . ''
One of her first lesson plans for Monday will be a Zoom session with a friend who 's a doctor who 's treated coronavirus patients .
They 'll discuss with the third-graders the severity of the virus , and how they can protect themselves and their families .

Rural Schools Struggle With Road Ahead In Era Of Coronavirus
Enlarge this image toggle caption Kirk Siegler/NPR Kirk Siegler/NPR
At the Bruneau-Grandview School District in rural southern Idaho, a couple of dozen teachers are crowded into the small library.
They're doing a refresher training for online teaching. In person-classes are scheduled to begin Monday, but with coronavirus cases continuing to rise in Idaho and other states, it's an open question for how long.
Superintendent Ryan Cantrell, who's helping lead the Google Classroom training, is advising his staff that last-minute decisions will be the unfortunate normal this upcoming school year. Parents have the option of sending their kids to school this week, or staying fully online or some combination of both.
A recent survey indicated that about three-quarters of the district's families were comfortable sending their kids back to school this fall.
When the district abruptly went to online-only last spring, Cantrell says some students dropped off the map and learning suffered, especially in outlying areas where there's little or no Internet.
"There's a general consensus of let's get moving," Cantrell says. "Let's get the kids back in here so that we can find out where they're at, how we can help them."
Those kids who do return can expect some changes. Desks will be spaced apart in classrooms and classes are being staggered to minimize the number of students in the hall at one time. The school day will also be shortened to allow for more online teaching.
In a small rural school like this, teachers like Maya Davis will be expected to work in both worlds.
"That will be a little bit challenging to navigate because teaching online itself was a full-time job, and obviously teaching in a classroom is a full-time job," Davis said. "But we're just making it work."
Schools around the country have been grappling with how or even whether to reopen. In the two isolated farming towns of Grandview and Bruneau, which form the joint school district, there are fewer than a dozen known COVID-19 cases. But in nearby more-urban counties, where some of the staff here commute from, infection rates continue to climb out of control.
In Idaho, public health experts have warned that schools that are reopening may just have to close down again because it's not safe.
At the training, Davis, who teaches third grade, was one of only a handful of teachers wearing a mask. Masks won't be required this semester, except on school buses. She and a few other staffers commute one hour each way from the Boise area.
"I wear a mask just to protect my community," Davis says."I don't want to be the one coming from Boise bringing COVID into the community."
Masks just aren't that common in this mostly isolated, rural community along the Snake River, where social distancing is generally a fact of life. And in small towns like this, the school is often a reflection of a community's values, says superintendent Cantrell. Yet it feels almost inevitable to him that there will be coronavirus cases soon after in-person classes resume.
"I think it's only a matter of time before we're back to all virtual," Cantrell says.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Kirk Siegler/NPR Kirk Siegler/NPR
He'll work closely with the local public health district to do contact tracing.
"I expect almost immediately to have to start making decisions about who comes to school, who's quarantined, do we need to shut school down for two weeks," Cantrell says.
This is widely seen as an uncomfortable reality in Idaho, where generally most state leaders have been pushing for businesses and schools to reopen. This is one of the most politically red corners of the country, yet the state also now has a big red mark next to it as having one of the nation's fastest growing rates of coronavirus infections.
Some larger school districts in the state are beginning the school year all online. And public health experts have warned schools that are reopening that they may just have to close down again because it's not safe.
"Listening to experts to set policy is an elitist approach," said state. Sen. Steven Thayn.
At a recent legislative hearing, Thayn, vice chair of an education committee, pushed a bill that would take authority away from Idaho's local health districts so they can't enforce school closures or mandatory mask orders. Many Republicans argued that local school boards should have the final say, not public health experts.
That bill and another that would limit a school's liability when it comes to coronavirus lawsuits is likely to be debated in a special session of the Legislature later this month.
"There are a lot of people that are willing to go back to school, willing to go back to work and yet we're letting a few fearful people control the lives of those of us that are not fearful," Thayn said at the hearing.
In the Bruneau-Grandview district anyway, there is certainly some fear about the virus. But school leaders are also worried about students not learning. The district had long been labeled as poor-performing and things had started to turn around until the virus.
This is just another pressure point for schools across the country, and there's no clear blueprint on how to go forward.
For now, Davis says she's just hoping to keep herself safe and her classroom clean "and teach my kids as much as I possibly can."
One of her first lesson plans for Monday will be a Zoom session with a friend who's a doctor who has treated coronavirus patients. They'll discuss with the third-graders the severity of the virus and how they can protect themselves and their families.


npr--2020-08-17--5 Questions Ahead Of The Democratic National Convention

The Democratic National Convention kicks off Monday night and will take place from 9 to 11 p.m .
ET each evening through Thursday , when it will end with the official selection of former Vice President Joe Biden to be the Democratic nominee .
This convention will look and feel different from past years because of the coronavirus pandemic .
The Democratic event was supposed to take place in person in Milwaukee before the coronavirus hit , but now it 's going to take place all virtually and be a big TV production with speakers and guests located across the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a convention done all virtually , and there are political goals the Biden campaign is looking to achieve that are complicated by the format .
There are a host of questions about how the week will go .
Here are five : 1 .
Do the Democrats pull off the high-wire TV production act ?
Democrats have had a head start on planning for a virtual convention , and they are confident that gives them an advantage on the quality of a program they will put out , compared with the Republicans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need to , since they are trying to highlight a difference in competence between Biden and President Trump as it especially relates to the coronavirus .
Remember that Trump made fun of Democrats , who began shifting toward a virtual event as the coronavirus started to become widespread .
Trump , upset with North Carolina for not being able to guarantee allowing an in-person convention by the end of August , defected to Jacksonville , Fla .
But then when cases spiked in Florida , Trump did an about-face and called it off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That said , Trump is a former reality TV star and the GOP and Trump campaign have built-in non-mainstream TV production operations they use and could stand up .
The Biden campaign says speeches are going to be shorter , and there will be fewer speakers than in past years .
A campaign official said it looked at the few major TV events that have taken place since the coronavirus swept the country , including LeBron James ' Graduate Together event , Global Citizen 's One World : Together at Home show done @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and the NFL Draft .
Some of those shows featured segments that were all pretaped , some were live , and some a mix .
This Democratic convention is going to be a `` hybrid , '' the official said , with people all across the country .
`` You do n't need a floor pass to come into this year 's convention , '' the official said .
We 'll see if they can pull it off .
2 .
Will there be a convention bump ?
Presuming they pull off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the candidates , too .
One of those goals is to come out ahead after both conventions are done .
A convention , after all , is one of the only opportunities for a candidate to speak directly to a broad audience of Americans — along with the debates .
And conventions are the only time candidates get this much time to speak to Americans in a scripted and controlled way to lay out their vision for the country .
`` Bumps '' in presidential polling sometimes recede and sometimes stick , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home over the next month .
In recent cycles , given hyper-partisanship in the country , those bumps have gotten smaller .
For Biden , he 's ahead in the polls .
And Democratic strategists think that with polarization being what it is that Biden might be at or near a ceiling .
He has , after all , been polling consistently at 50 % or more over the last several months .
So for Biden , the goal at the end of the convention is to lock in the people who currently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to appeal to new ones who might not have been as fired up for Biden but who the campaign feels should be their voters .
The 2016 convention in Philadelphia was not a strong show of unity from Democrats .
Progressives , upset that Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders had lost the nomination and who felt Hillary Clinton was too much of a centrist , disrupted the proceedings and voiced their irritation with the process and the nominee .
( Remember `` No TPP '' ? )
But 2020 is a different year .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ relationship than Sanders and Clinton ; Biden has worked with Sanders on process and policy , forming task forces together ; and most importantly , Trump has been president for the last three-and-a-half years .
Progressives see Trump as far more of a clear and present danger now than they did in 2016 .
At the same time , Democrats do have some hurdles to overcome on the progressive-moderate unity front .
There is some irritation among activists that as of Sunday afternoon there were no Muslim speakers featured and relatively few Latinos @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign is featuring a Republican on Monday , John Kasich , the former governor of Ohio .
Sanders will be speaking Monday night as well , and when he was asked on CNN Sunday about sharing the stage with Kasich , Sanders said that the most important thing was defeating Trump , and then after Biden is elected to try and push as much of a progressive agenda as possible .
4 .
Do Democrats close the ticket enthusiasm gap with Trump ?
Another big goal for the Biden-Harris ticket is to try @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on whether people are fired up to vote for this ticket , rather than simply voting against Trump .
Now , voting against Trump certainly may be enough — those who oppose Trump are highly motivated , and they are a sizable share of the electorate .
But to go into the final stretch of the campaign firing on all cylinders , the Biden campaign would certainly prefer to raise that enthusiasm level for their candidate .
That 's why you can expect a healthy dose of Biden 's biography to be featured @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and dealing with tragedy , introducing him to voters , some of whom , particularly young ones , might not be fully aware .
And , of course , there 's Biden 's running mate , California Sen. Kamala Harris .
The Biden campaign said the day she was announced as his vice presidential choice , it saw its single-biggest one-day fundraising of the campaign .
Certainly , the Biden camp hopes to come out with an enthusiasm bump , if nothing else , out of the next four days .
5 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ framed ?
For as many advantages as Biden currently has , including sizable margins on who 's best to handle the pandemic and race relations , Trump continues to have an advantage on the economy .
The latest NBC/WSJ poll , out Sunday , gave Trump a 10-point advantage on the question .
The latest NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll gave him 2-point margin .
Either way , it 's Trump 's one advantage .
So it will be interesting to see how Democrats decide to frame the argument on the economy for a large @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she was announced as Biden 's running mate , Harris may have been test-driving some of the potential messaging .
`` He inherited the longest economic expansion in history from Barack Obama and Joe Biden , '' Harris said of Trump .
`` And then , like everything else he inherited , he ran it straight into the ground .
Because of Trump 's failures of leadership , our economy has taken one of the biggest hits out of all the major industrialized nations with an unemployment rate that has tripled as of @ @ @

5 Questions Ahead Of The Democratic National Convention
Enlarge this image toggle caption Drew Angerer/Getty Images Drew Angerer/Getty Images
The Democratic National Convention kicks off Monday night and will take place from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET each evening through Thursday, when it will end with the official selection of former Vice President Joe Biden to be the Democratic nominee.
This convention will look and feel different from past years because of the coronavirus pandemic. The Democratic event was supposed to take place in person in Milwaukee before the coronavirus hit, but now it's going to take place all virtually and be a big TV production with speakers and guests located across the country.
It's a first to have a convention done all virtually, and there are political goals the Biden campaign is looking to achieve that are complicated by the format.
There are a host of questions about how the week will go. Here are five:
1. Do the Democrats pull off the high-wire TV production act?
The NPR Politics Podcast What To Know About The Democratic National Convention What To Know About The Democratic National Convention Listen · 15:16 15:16
Democrats have had a head start on planning for a virtual convention, and they are confident that gives them an advantage on the quality of the program they will put out, compared with the Republicans the following week. And Democrats probably need it, since they are trying to highlight a difference in competence between Biden and President Trump, especially as it relates to the coronavirus.
Remember that Trump made fun of Democrats, who began shifting toward a virtual event as the coronavirus started to become widespread. Trump, upset with North Carolina for not being able to guarantee allowing an in-person convention by the end of August, defected to Jacksonville, Fla. But then when cases spiked in Florida, Trump did an about-face and called it off. That left the Republicans scrambling. That said, Trump is a former reality TV star and the GOP and Trump campaign have built-in non-mainstream TV production operations they use and could stand up.
The Biden campaign says speeches are going to be shorter, and there will be fewer speakers than in past years. A campaign official said it looked at the few major TV events that have taken place since the coronavirus swept the country, including LeBron James' Graduate Together event, Global Citizen's One World: Together at Home show done in coordination with the World Health Organization, and the NFL Draft. Some of those shows featured segments that were all pretaped, some were live, and some a mix. This Democratic convention is going to be a "hybrid," the official said, with people all across the country.
"You don't need a floor pass to come into this year's convention," the official said.
We'll see if they can pull it off.
2. Will there be a convention bump?
Presuming they pull off the atmospherics, there are political goals for the candidates, too. One of those goals is to come out ahead after both conventions are done. A convention, after all, is one of the only opportunities for a candidate to speak directly to a broad audience of Americans — along with the debates. And conventions are the only time candidates get this much time to speak to Americans in a scripted and controlled way to lay out their vision for the country.
"Bumps" in presidential polling sometimes recede and sometimes stick, depending on how the message is driven home over the next month. In recent cycles, given hyperpartisanship in the country, those bumps have gotten smaller.
For Biden, he's ahead in the polls. And Democratic strategists think that with polarization being what it is that Biden might be at or near a ceiling. He has, after all, been polling consistently at 50% or more over the past several months.
So for Biden, the goal at the end of the convention is to lock in the people who currently say they're behind him and to appeal to new ones who might not have been as fired up for Biden but who the campaign feels should be their voters.
3. Do Democrats maintain unity?
The 2016 convention in Philadelphia was not a strong show of unity from Democrats. Progressives, upset that Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders had lost the nomination and who felt Hillary Clinton was too much of a centrist, disrupted the proceedings and voiced their irritation with the process and the nominee. (Remember "No TPP"?)
But 2020 is a different year. Biden and Sanders clearly have a warmer relationship than Sanders and Clinton; Biden has worked with Sanders on process and policy, forming task forces together; and most importantly, Trump has been president for the last 3 1/2 years. Progressives see Trump as far more of a clear and present danger now than they did in 2016.
At the same time, Democrats do have some hurdles to overcome on the progressive-moderate unity front. There is some irritation among activists that as of Sunday afternoon there were no Muslim speakers featured and relatively few Latinos. What's more, the Biden campaign is featuring a Republican on Monday, John Kasich, the former governor of Ohio.
Sanders will be speaking Monday night as well, and when he was asked on CNN Sunday about sharing the stage with Kasich, Sanders said that the most important thing was defeating Trump, and then after Biden is elected to try and push as much of a progressive agenda as possible.
4. Do Democrats close the ticket enthusiasm gap with Trump?
Another big goal for the Biden-Harris ticket is to try and close the enthusiasm gap with Trump on whether people are fired up to vote for this ticket, rather than simply voting against Trump. Now, voting against Trump certainly may be enough — those who oppose Trump are highly motivated, and they are a sizable share of the electorate.
But to go into the final stretch of the campaign firing on all cylinders, the Biden campaign would certainly prefer to raise that enthusiasm level for their candidate. That's why you can expect a healthy dose of Biden's biography to be featured, including the roots of his empathy and dealing with tragedy, introducing him to voters, some of whom, particularly young ones, might not be fully aware.
And, of course, there's Biden's running mate, California Sen. Kamala Harris. The Biden campaign said the day she was announced as his vice presidential choice, it saw its single-biggest one-day fundraising of the campaign. Certainly, the Biden camp hopes to come out with an enthusiasm bump, if nothing else, out of the next four days.
5. How is the argument about the economy framed?
For as many advantages as Biden currently has, including sizable margins on who's best to handle the pandemic and race relations, Trump continues to have an advantage on the economy.
The latest NBC/WSJ poll, out Sunday, gave Trump a 10-point advantage on the question. The latest NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll gave him 2-point margin. Either way, it's Trump's one advantage.
So it will be interesting to see how Democrats decide to frame the argument on the economy for a large viewing audience. Last week, after she was announced as Biden's running mate, Harris may have been test-driving some of the potential messaging.
"He inherited the longest economic expansion in history from Barack Obama and Joe Biden," Harris said of Trump. "And then, like everything else he inherited, he ran it straight into the ground. Because of Trump's failures of leadership, our economy has taken one of the biggest hits out of all the major industrialized nations with an unemployment rate that has tripled as of today."


npr--2020-08-16--Puerto Rico's Governor Loses Primary Bid For Full Term

Puerto Rico Gov .
Wanda Vázquez acknowledged defeat in a primary election Sunday to former Puerto Rico congressional representative Pedro Pierluisi .
Though votes were still being tabulated Sunday night , results showed Pierluisi with a commanding lead in polls .
It was the second day of voting in what had turned out to be a chaotic primary election in Puerto Rico .
Voting last Sunday was suspended after election officials failed to deliver ballots to polling places across the island .
Pierluisi will now stand as the candidate of the New Progressive Party in November 's general election .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ territory .
Gov .
Vázquez — who had previously served as the island 's attorney general — assumed the governorship last summer following the resignation of then-governor Ricardo Rosselló amid massive protests .
Though she 'd initially said she intended only to serve the remainder of Rosselló 's term , she soon changed her mind , mounting an aggressive campaign for a full term in her own right .
Pierluisi is the island 's former representative in Congress and had briefly assumed the governorship following Rosselló 's resignation last summer .
Rosselló had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaving office , but that decision was invalidated by the island 's Supreme Court , which ruled that as attorney general , Vázquez was next in the line of succession .
Vázquez 's year in office has been marked by controversy and scandal .
Earlier this summer , Puerto Rico 's special independent prosecutor 's office announced a criminal probe into her handling of emergency supplies after a series of earthquakes devastated parts of Puerto Rico 's southern coast in January .
The governor has also been criticized for Puerto Rico 's uncoordinated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic .
Addressing supporters on Sunday , Vázquez struck a defiant tone .
While recognizing Pierluisi 's apparent victory , she did not formally endorse or congratulate her opponent , instead issuing a challenge .
`` I say to Pedro Pierluisi , that it is the thousands and thousands of people who supported me , and gave me their vote ... it is those people whose endorsement he should be seeking , '' Vázquez said .
By contrast , Pierluisi called for party unity and told supporters he would support Vázquez 's efforts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in office .
He said achieving statehood would be his top priority if he wins in November 's general election , as would be the island 's recovery from this year 's earthquakes , recent hurricanes , and its ongoing economic crisis .
The general election will pit Pierluisi against Carlos Delgado , who won Sunday 's gubernatorial primary for the island 's other main political party , the Popular Democratic Party , which rejects statehood in favor of Puerto Rico 's existing commonwealth status .
Delgado — the mayor of a town @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beat two better-known opponents : Sen. Eduardo Bhatia and San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz , who earned international recognition for her criticism of the federal government 's response to Hurricane Maria in 2017 and her public feuds with President Trump in the months following the storm .
Also on the ballot in November 's gubernatorial election will be Alexandra Lúgaro of the Citizens ' Victory Movement , a new political party promoting anti-colonialism and a constitutional assembly to make a final decision on Puerto Rico 's political relationship with the United States @

Puerto Rico's Governor Loses Primary Bid For Full Term
Enlarge this image toggle caption Ricardo Arduengo/AFP via Getty Images Ricardo Arduengo/AFP via Getty Images
Puerto Rico Gov. Wanda Vázquez acknowledged defeat in a primary election Sunday to former Puerto Rico congressional representative Pedro Pierluisi.
Though votes were still being tabulated Sunday night, results showed Pierluisi with a commanding lead in polls. It was the second day of voting in what had turned out to be a chaotic primary election in Puerto Rico. Voting last Sunday was suspended after election officials failed to deliver ballots to polling places across the island.
Pierluisi will now stand as the candidate of the New Progressive Party in November's general election. The party supports statehood for the U.S. territory.
Gov. Vázquez — who had previously served as the island's attorney general — assumed the governorship last summer following the resignation of then-governor Ricardo Rosselló amid massive protests. Though she'd initially said she intended only to serve the remainder of Rosselló's term, she soon changed her mind, mounting an aggressive campaign for a full term in her own right.
Pierluisi is the island's former representative in Congress and had briefly assumed the governorship following Rosselló's resignation last summer. Rosselló had hand-picked him as his successor shortly before leaving office, but that decision was invalidated by the island's Supreme Court, which ruled that as attorney general, Vázquez was next in the line of succession.
Vázquez's year in office has been marked by controversy and scandal. Earlier this summer, Puerto Rico's special independent prosecutor's office announced a criminal probe into her handling of emergency supplies after a series of earthquakes devastated parts of Puerto Rico's southern coast in January. The governor has also been criticized for Puerto Rico's uncoordinated and often jumbled response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Addressing supporters on Sunday, Vázquez struck a defiant tone. While recognizing Pierluisi's apparent victory, she did not formally endorse or congratulate her opponent, instead issuing a challenge.
"I say to Pedro Pierluisi, that it is the thousands and thousands of people who supported me, and gave me their vote ... it is those people whose endorsement he should be seeking," Vázquez said.
By contrast, Pierluisi called for party unity and told supporters he would support Vázquez's efforts to govern for her five months left in office. He said achieving statehood would be his top priority if he wins in November's general election, as would be the island's recovery from this year's earthquakes, recent hurricanes, and its ongoing economic crisis.
The general election will pit Pierluisi against Carlos Delgado, who won Sunday's gubernatorial primary for the island's other main political party, the Popular Democratic Party, which rejects statehood in favor of Puerto Rico's existing commonwealth status. Delgado — the mayor of a town on the island's northwest coast — beat two better-known opponents: Sen. Eduardo Bhatia and San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz, who earned international recognition for her criticism of the federal government's response to Hurricane Maria in 2017 and her public feuds with President Trump in the months following the storm.
Also on the ballot in November's gubernatorial election will be Alexandra Lúgaro of the Citizens' Victory Movement, a new political party promoting anti-colonialism and a constitutional assembly to make a final decision on Puerto Rico's political relationship with the United States.


npr--2020-08-16--Less Than A Week After Starting Classes, UNC-Chapel Hill Reports 4 COVID-19 Clusters

Less Than A Week After Starting Classes , UNC-Chapel Hill Reports 4 COVID-19 Clusters The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill announced on Sunday that it identified another cluster of coronavirus cases on campus , the fourth reported in three days .
State health officials define `` clusters '' as five or more cases in a single residential hall or dwelling .
The latest cluster is located at Hinton James Residence Hall , the university said in an alert .
According to the university 's website , the living space typically houses over 900 students , many of whom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ individuals in the cluster are isolating and receiving medical monitoring , the university said , and all dormitory residents have been given `` additional information about this cluster and next steps . ''
Contact tracing is underway , the university said .
According to a COVID-19 dashboard last updated Friday , a total of 149 students and 40 employees have tested positive for the coronavirus at UNC-Chapel Hill since February .
Ten students and one staff member tested positive the week ending Aug. 9 .
Reports of clusters have streamed in since fall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Aug. 14 , the university announced it had identified two separate sets of clusters : one at a residence hall heavily populated by first year students , and one at a privately-managed apartment complex that houses UNC students .
The following day , it announced an additional cluster at an off-campus fraternity house .
UNC-Chapel Hill kicked off the school year with about 5,800 students in dorms , which accounted for more than half of the available beds , The Washington Post reported .
Other students are living nearby off-campus .
Classes are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including face-to-face , remote only and a mix of both .
The university said that it had been preparing for five months to identify , trace and isolate potential positive cases on and off campus as part of its fall reopening plan .
The plan included guidelines for face coverings , physical distancing and on-campus gatherings , which are limited to 25 people both indoors and outdoors .
( State public health orders limit gatherings to a maximum of 10 people indoors and 25 outdoors . )
The Daily Tar Heel reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will ramp up patrols downtown and in student neighborhoods after receiving reports of people violating social distancing guidelines .
As of Friday , 1,049 North Carolinians were hospitalized with the virus .
Institutions of higher education across the country are starting their fall semesters as the global pandemic stretches on .
Some have already grappled with a jump in infections , particularly in fraternity houses : earlier this summer , both the University of Washington and the University of Mississippi dealt with outbreaks linked to Greek life .
The New York Times reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 6,600 cases had been linked to about 270 colleges since the start of the pandemic .

UNC-Chapel Hill Classes To Move Online After 130 Students Test Positive In First Week
Enlarge this image toggle caption Gerry Broome/AP Gerry Broome/AP
Updated at 7:01 p.m. ET Monday
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is shifting undergraduate instruction entirely online after 130 students tested positive for the coronavirus during its first week of classes.
Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz and Provost Robert Blouin announced the reversal Monday, one week after classes started and two weeks after residence halls opened at limited capacity. They noted that less than 30% of "total classroom seats" were being taught in person.
Even with guidelines and precautions in place, case counts soared in a matter of days.
According to a campus dashboard, 130 students and five employees tested positive last week.
Officials wrote that between Aug. 10 and Aug. 16, the positivity rate on campus rose from 2.8% to 13.6%.
As of Monday morning, they said 177 students are in isolation, and 349 are in quarantine, and most have demonstrated only "mild symptoms."
"As much as we believe we have worked diligently to help create a healthy and safe campus living and learning environment, the current data presents an untenable situation," officials wrote.
Starting Wednesday, all undergraduate in-person instruction will be remote.
Officials acknowledged that this change, and the "reduction of campus activities," means the majority of current undergraduate students living on campus will change their plans for the fall.
"We are working with the UNC System office to identify the most effective way to further achieve de-densification of our residential halls and our campus facilities," Guskiewicz and Blouin wrote.
They added that residents who "have hardships" such as lacking Internet access as well as international students and student athletes can choose to remain on campus.
According to UNC System President Peter Hans, there are no current plans to modify operations at any of its other universities.
Calls to reconsider in-person learning intensified over the weekend as the school reported four clusters of coronavirus cases in three days.
On Saturday, Faculty Chair Mimi Chapman sent a letter to the UNC System board of governors advocating for more campus-based authority to respond to the pandemic.
"We knew there would be positive cases on our campus," she wrote. "But clusters, five or more people that are connected in one place, are a different story. The presence of clusters should be triggering reconsideration of residential, in-person learning."
Barbara Rimer, dean of the Gillings School of Global Public Health at UNC, called for taking an "off-ramp" in a blog post Monday in which she wrote that "we have tried to make this work but it is not working."
Rimer said it seemed that students on campus were practicing social distancing and wearing masks, but "reports of off-campus behavior showed a different pattern."
She tweeted later Monday that she was pleased with the administration's decision to move undergraduate classes online and accept residence hall cancellation requests with no penalty, calling it "the right path forward."
The decision comes one day after the school announced it had identified its fourth cluster, which health officials define as five or more cases in a single residential hall or dwelling.
The latest cluster is at Hinton James Residence Hall, the university said in an alert. According to the university's website, the living space typically houses more than 900 students, many of whom are in their first year.
The individuals in the cluster are isolating and receiving medical monitoring, the university said, and all dormitory residents have been given "additional information about this cluster and next steps."
Contact tracing is underway, the university said.
Reports of clusters have streamed in since fall classes started on Aug. 10.
On Friday, the university announced it had identified two separate sets of clusters: one at a residence hall heavily populated by first-year students and one at a privately managed apartment complex that houses UNC students. The following day, it announced an additional cluster at an off-campus fraternity house.
UNC-Chapel Hill kicked off the school year with about 5,800 students in dorms, which accounted for more than half of the available beds, The Washington Post reported. Other students are living nearby off-campus.
Classes have been offered through a handful of models, including face-to-face, remote only and a mix of both.
The university said that it had been preparing for five months to identify, trace and isolate potential positive cases on and off-campus as part of its fall reopening plan.
The plan included guidelines for face coverings, physical distancing and on-campus gatherings, which are limited to 25 people both indoors and outdoors. (State public health orders limit gatherings to a maximum of 10 people indoors and 25 outdoors.)
The Daily Tar Heel reported on Thursday that police in Chapel Hill will ramp up patrols downtown and in student neighborhoods after receiving reports of people violating social distancing guidelines.
As of Friday, 1,049 North Carolinians were hospitalized with the virus.
Institutions of higher education across the country are starting their fall semesters as the global pandemic stretches on. Some have already grappled with a jump in infections, particularly in fraternity houses: Earlier this summer, both the University of Washington and the University of Mississippi dealt with outbreaks linked to Greek life.
The New York Times reported at the end of July that more than 6,600 cases had been linked to about 270 colleges since the start of the pandemic.


npr--2020-08-17--Washington Makes NFL History, Hires First Black Team President Jason Wright

Jason Wright knows he 's expected to be an outsider as he becomes the NFL 's first Black — and youngest — team president .
The 38-year-old former running back is making history for the league with its record of white-only team leaders .
Wright is also expected to help turn things around for the Washington Football Team as it attempts to claw out of a series of dire crises , including breaking a long losing streak , overcoming scathing allegations of sexual harassment , and an overall perception of a toxic atmosphere .
`` Hopefully , having not grown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office allows me to bring some catalytic thinking , '' Wright told The Washington Post , whose predecessor was Bruce Allen who held the position for 10 years .
Allen 's father coached the Washington team among several others .
Wright added : `` It 's the same reason organizations bring in people externally — to push the thinking , to have new , creative ways of thinking about things [ and ] maybe be a bit disruptive . ''
Despite Wright 's years of experience on the field — he spent seven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Atlanta Falcons , Cleveland Browns and Arizona Cardinals — Washington Football Team owner Dan Snyder wants him to apply his expertise on the business side .
Wright will be `` responsible for leading the organization 's business divisions , including operations , finance , sales , and marketing , '' according to a statement from the team .
Following his NFL career , Wright earned an MBA from the University of Chicago and spent the last seven years at the consulting firm McKinsey & Company .
`` It 's a huge moment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' he told ESPN .
`` What other job would they come together at such a unique time for an organization at the point our team is ?
I 'm just happy I landed in this role at that time .
There are other reasons it 's historic , but that 's a byproduct of me being the right and qualified candidate at this time .
All of that is just icing on the cake . ''
Wright 's appointment is just the latest in a series of moves to transform the troubled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the team will get a new name after decades of controversy over the franchise 's racist name which ultimately led advertisers to pull their support .
That was followed by a devastating report in The Washington Post , including allegations from 15 women who said they were sexually harassed by team staff .
Other significant diversity changes include the hiring of Ron Rivera as head coach , making him the first Latino to hold the position with the team .
And Washington also hired a woman to lead its communications division .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ highest-ranking female executive as well as the first woman to be part of an NFL team 's radio broadcast .
`` It 's a pivot from what 's been around in the past to a culture that 's being inclusive , that 's transparent , where people are able to thrive on and off the field , '' Wright told ESPN , adding that it 's a `` very exciting thing . ''

Washington Makes NFL History, Hires First Black Team President Jason Wright
Enlarge this image toggle caption NFL Photos/NFL NFL Photos/NFL
Jason Wright knows he's expected to be an outsider as he becomes the NFL's first Black — and youngest — team president.
The 38-year-old former running back is making history for the league with its record of white-only team leaders. Wright is also expected to help turn things around for the Washington Football Team as it attempts to claw out of a series of dire crises, including breaking a long losing streak, overcoming scathing allegations of sexual harassment, and an overall perception of a toxic atmosphere.
"Hopefully, having not grown up in [Washington's] front office allows me to bring some catalytic thinking," Wright told The Washington Post, whose predecessor was Bruce Allen who held the position for 10 years.
Allen's father coached the Washington team among several others.
Wright added: "It's the same reason organizations bring in people externally — to push the thinking, to have new, creative ways of thinking about things [and] maybe be a bit disruptive."
Despite Wright's years of experience on the field — he spent seven years split among the San Francisco 49ers, Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns and Arizona Cardinals — Washington Football Team owner Dan Snyder wants him to apply his expertise on the business side.
Wright will be "responsible for leading the organization's business divisions, including operations, finance, sales, and marketing," according to a statement from the team.
Following his NFL career, Wright earned an MBA from the University of Chicago and spent the last seven years at the consulting firm McKinsey & Company.
"It's a huge moment to bring those two worlds together," he told ESPN.
"What other job would they come together at such a unique time for an organization at the point our team is? I'm just happy I landed in this role at that time. There are other reasons it's historic, but that's a byproduct of me being the right and qualified candidate at this time. All of that is just icing on the cake."
Wright's appointment is just the latest in a series of moves to transform the troubled team.
Last month, Snyder announced that the team will get a new name after decades of controversy over the franchise's racist name which ultimately led advertisers to pull their support. That was followed by a devastating report in The Washington Post, including allegations from 15 women who said they were sexually harassed by team staff.
Other significant diversity changes include the hiring of Ron Rivera as head coach, making him the first Latino to hold the position with the team. And Washington also hired a woman to lead its communications division. Julie Davidson is now the team's highest-ranking female executive as well as the first woman to be part of an NFL team's radio broadcast.
"It's a pivot from what's been around in the past to a culture that's being inclusive, that's transparent, where people are able to thrive on and off the field," Wright told ESPN, adding that it's a "very exciting thing."


npr--2020-08-17--2 Men Charged In Long-Unsolved Killing of Run-DMC's Jam Master Jay

Federal prosecutors announced charges Monday against two men accused of killing Jason Mizell , better known as Jam Master Jay — the DJ for the seminal rap group Run-DMC .
Mizell was shot inside a recording studio in New York City in 2002 .
At a press conference , Seth DuCharme , the acting U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York , said Karl Jordan Jr. and Ronald Washington had been charged with murder in Mizell 's death .
DuCharme did n't go into details about what led to the charges but said `` today we begin to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mizell and why . ''
According to newly filed court documents , the killing was allegedly over a drug deal .
Prosecutors said that Mizell was involved in trafficking cocaine across state lines , and that he had 10 kilograms of cocaine that Washington was supposed to sell in Maryland .
Mizell then told Washington that he was being cut from the deal , which led to Washington and Jordan allegedly conspiring to kill him as retaliation , according to a release from the U.S. Attorney 's Office .
The two then allegedly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killing and `` ultimately executed Mizell , '' according to court documents .
As Jam Master Jay , Mizell was known as the backbone of Run-DMC , a group instrumental in bringing rap and hip-hop into mainstream culture .
The group 's third album , Raising Hell ( which featured hits such `` It 's Tricky , '' `` My Adidas , '' and `` Walk This Way '' ) , was the first rap album to go platinum , eventually reaching triple-platinum status .
Mizell also founded his own record label — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ artists as Onyx and 50 Cent .
Mizell 's killing received off-and-on attention from authorities as well as the media over the years .
The case was the center of a 2018 episode of the Netflix documentary series ReMastered that looked not just at the loose threads in the case but the lack of urgency from law enforcement in solving the killing .
If charged , both Jordan and Washington face at least a 20-year prison sentence .
Washington is currently serving time for robbery .

2 Men Charged In Long-Unsolved Killing Of Run-DMC's Jam Master Jay
Enlarge this image toggle caption Vince Bucci/Getty Images Vince Bucci/Getty Images
Federal prosecutors announced charges Monday against two men accused of killing Jason Mizell, better known as Jam Master Jay — the DJ for the seminal rap group Run-DMC. Mizell was shot inside a recording studio in New York City in 2002.
At a press conference, Seth DuCharme, the acting U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York, said Karl Jordan Jr. and Ronald Washington had been charged with murder in Mizell's death. DuCharme didn't go into details about what led to the charges but said "today we begin to answer that question, who killed Jason Mizell and why."
According to newly filed court documents, the killing was allegedly over a drug deal. Prosecutors said that Mizell was involved in trafficking cocaine across state lines, and that he had 10 kilograms of cocaine that Washington was supposed to sell in Maryland. Mizell then told Washington that he was being cut from the deal, which led to Washington and Jordan allegedly conspiring to kill him as retaliation, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney's Office. The two then entered the studio the night of the killing and "ultimately executed Mizell," according to court documents.
As Jam Master Jay, Mizell was known as the backbone of Run-DMC, a group instrumental in bringing rap and hip-hop into mainstream culture. The group's third album, Raising Hell (which featured hits such "It's Tricky," "My Adidas," and "Walk This Way"), was the first rap album to go platinum, eventually reaching triple-platinum status. Mizell also founded his own record label — JMJ Records — known for discovering such artists as Onyx and 50 Cent.
Mizell's killing received off-and-on attention from authorities as well as the media over the years. The case was the center of a 2018 episode of the Netflix documentary series ReMastered that looked not just at the loose threads in the killing but the lack of urgency from law enforcement in solving it.
If charged, both Jordan and Washington face at least a 20-year prison sentence. Washington is currently serving time for robbery.


npr--2020-08-17--CDC Study Finds Hispanics Hit Disproportionately Hard By Workplace Outbreaks

A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study published on Monday is the latest to confirm that the coronavirus disproportionately impacts communities of color in the U.S .
The study looked at COVID-19 cases associated with workplace outbreaks in certain industries in Utah between March and June .
It found that Hispanic and nonwhite workers made up 73 % of those cases — despite representing just 24 % of the workforce in sectors where outbreaks occurred .
`` Systemic social inequities have resulted in the overrepresentation of Hispanic and nonwhite workers in frontline occupations where exposure to SARS-CoV-2 ... might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adding that `` extra vigilance '' is needed to combat the spread of the coronavirus among the populations over-represented in these sectors .
Health officials defined workplace outbreaks as two or more lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases occurring within the same two-week period among coworkers in a shared space .
Of the 277 outbreaks in Utah reported during these months , 76 % were in workplaces .
Between March 5 and June 6 , workplace outbreaks occurred in 15 industry sectors in Utah , from agriculture to educational services to transportation .
A majority of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in three sectors : manufacturing , wholesale trade and construction .
In those 15 sectors , people who identify as Latino or a race other than white comprise just under one quarter of the workforce .
But they accounted for nearly three quarters of the COVID-19 cases associated with workplace outbreaks .
NPR and other news outlets have reported that Hispanics make up a greater share of confirmed coronavirus cases than their share of the population in much of the country .
That is the case in Utah , where health department data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state 's population and more than 37 % of its COVID-19 cases .
Researchers involved in the study say racial and ethnic disparities in workplace outbreaks are likely driven by long-standing health and social inequities .
Those inequities manifest in several ways , according to researchers .
For one , they result in the over-representation of Hispanic and nonwhite workers in front-line occupations that carry more risk of COVID-19 exposure .
Hispanic and nonwhite workers also have less flexible work schedules and fewer options to telework compared with white workers , researchers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ especially when combined with `` unpaid or punitive '' sick leave policies , can prevent workers from staying home when ill , which in turn can lead to more workplace exposures and worse health outcomes .
In fact , even before the pandemic hit , Hispanics were more likely to face health and safety risks at work .
According to Econofact , Hispanic low-wage workers are both less likely to be in consumer-facing sectors and less likely to benefit from Occupational Safety and Health Act regulations .
And a report from the National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ noted that white people were nearly 50 % more likely to be able to work from home as their Latino counterparts , and 35 % more likely than Blacks .
So what should health officials armed with this new data do about it ?
Researchers say knowing how workplace outbreaks are distributed across industries can help health departments target those where additional mitigation efforts are needed .
And they say such interventions should be tailored to the demographics of workers who are over-represented in those industries .
`` Care must be taken to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ applied equitably and effectively using culturally and linguistically responsive materials , media , and messages to workers of racial and ethnic minority groups disproportionately affected by COVID-19 , '' they wrote .

CDC Study Finds Hispanics Hit Disproportionately Hard By Workplace Outbreaks
Enlarge this image toggle caption Rick Bowmer/AP Rick Bowmer/AP
Updated Tuesday at 4:11 p.m. ET
A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study published on Monday is the latest to confirm that the coronavirus disproportionately impacts communities of color in the U.S.
The study looked at COVID-19 cases associated with workplace outbreaks in certain industries in Utah between March and June. It found that Hispanic and nonwhite workers made up 73% of those cases — despite representing just 24% of the workforce in sectors where outbreaks occurred.
"Systemic social inequities have resulted in the overrepresentation of Hispanic and nonwhite workers in frontline occupations where exposure to SARS-CoV-2 ... might be higher," researchers wrote, adding that "extra vigilance" is needed to combat the spread of the coronavirus among the populations over-represented in these sectors.
Health officials defined workplace outbreaks as two or more lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases occurring within the same two-week period among coworkers in a shared space. Of the 277 outbreaks in Utah reported during these months, 76% were in workplaces.
Between March 5 and June 6, workplace outbreaks occurred in 15 industry sectors in Utah, from agriculture to educational services to transportation. A majority of those outbreaks — 58% — were in three sectors: manufacturing, wholesale trade and construction.
In those 15 sectors, people who identify as Latino or a race other than white comprise just under one quarter of the workforce. But they accounted for nearly three quarters of the COVID-19 cases associated with workplace outbreaks.
NPR and other news outlets have reported that Hispanics make up a greater share of confirmed coronavirus cases than their share of the population in much of the country.
That is the case in Utah, where health department data shows that they comprise 14.2% of the state's population and more than 37% of its COVID-19 cases.
Researchers involved in the study say racial and ethnic disparities in workplace outbreaks are likely driven by long-standing health and social inequities.
Those inequities manifest in several ways, according to researchers. For one, they result in the over-representation of Hispanic and nonwhite workers in front-line occupations that carry more risk of COVID-19 exposure.
Hispanic and nonwhite workers also have less flexible work schedules and fewer options to telework compared with white workers, researchers added.
That lack of flexibility, especially when combined with "unpaid or punitive" sick leave policies, can prevent workers from staying home when ill, which in turn can lead to more workplace exposures and worse health outcomes.
In fact, even before the pandemic hit, Hispanics were more likely to face health and safety risks at work.
According to Econofact, Hispanic low-wage workers are both less likely to be in consumer-facing sectors and less likely to benefit from Occupational Safety and Health Act regulations.
And a report from the National Urban League, released last week, noted that white people were nearly 50% more likely to be able to work from home as their Latino counterparts, and 35% more likely than Blacks.
Larry Levitt, the executive vice president for health policy at the Kaiser Family Foundation, noted the discrepancy in work flexibility and added that when Black and Hispanic people do get infected, they are more likely to get severely ill because of pre-existing conditions.
"At every turn, this virus has exposed racial and ethnic inequities, from housing to health to the workplace," Levitt told NPR over email. He characterized the Utah findings as interesting and important.
So what should health officials armed with this new data do about it?
The CDC study's researchers say knowing how workplace outbreaks are distributed across industries can help health departments target those where additional mitigation efforts are needed.
And they say such interventions should be tailored to the demographics of workers who are over-represented in those industries.
"Care must be taken to ensure that prevention and mitigation strategies are applied equitably and effectively using culturally and linguistically responsive materials, media, and messages to workers of racial and ethnic minority groups disproportionately affected by COVID-19," they wrote.


npr--2020-08-17--'We Can't Live Like Zombies': Protesters In Spain Decry COVID-19 Mask Mandate

'We Ca n't Live Like Zombies ' : Protesters In Spain Decry COVID-19 Mask Mandate Crowds gathered in the Spanish capital over the weekend to protest an expanded requirement for them to wear protective masks in public as the government tries to combat a sudden resurgence of coronavirus infections .
Defying the law by going without masks , people gathered Sunday in Madrid 's Plaza de Colón .
Police said they would normally fine the maskless protesters , but were overwhelmed by their sheer numbers , according to El País .
In a country that has witnessed more than 28,600 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , some carried signs reading `` The virus does not exist '' and `` Masks kill . ''
Among the speakers at the rally was anti-vaccination activist Josep Pàmies , who told people to spread the word in their towns and neighborhoods that the coronavirus is not dangerous .
Others chanted , `` What kills is 5G , '' a reference to a conspiracy theory linking the coronavirus to the latest cellphone technology .
Poet and photographer Ouka Leele told demonstrators : `` We ca n't live like zombies with masks on in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — originally introduced in May for people using public transport — has since expanded to other activities .
Last week , the government instituted a number of new measures aimed at halting the spread of the coronavirus – including a ban on outside drinking and smoking in areas where social distancing can not easily be maintained .
Spain suffered one of the worst coronavirus outbreaks in Europe until the number of cases began to tail off in the spring .
Since early July , however , there 's been a resurgence .
Some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since Friday .

'We Can't Live Like Zombies': Protesters In Spain Decry COVID-19 Mask Mandate
Enlarge this image toggle caption Marcos del Mazo/LightRocket via Getty Images Marcos del Mazo/LightRocket via Getty Images
Crowds gathered in the Spanish capital over the weekend to protest an expanded requirement for them to wear protective masks in public as the government tries to combat a sudden resurgence of coronavirus infections.
Defying the law by going without masks, people gathered Sunday in Madrid's Plaza de Colón. Police said they would normally fine the maskless protesters, but were overwhelmed by their sheer numbers, according to El País.
In a country that has witnessed more than 28,600 deaths since the start of the pandemic, some carried signs reading "The virus does not exist" and "Masks kill."
Among the speakers at the rally was anti-vaccination activist Josep Pàmies, who told people to spread the word in their towns and neighborhoods that the coronavirus is not dangerous.
Others chanted, "What kills is 5G," a reference to a conspiracy theory linking the coronavirus to the latest cellphone technology.
Poet and photographer Ouka Leele told demonstrators: "We can't live like zombies with masks on in the streets."
Mandatory mask use — originally introduced in May for people using public transport — has since expanded to other activities. Last week, the government instituted a number of new measures aimed at halting the spread of the coronavirus – including a ban on outside drinking and smoking in areas where social distancing cannot easily be maintained.
Spain suffered one of the worst coronavirus outbreaks in Europe until the number of cases began to tail off in the spring. Since early July, however, there's been a resurgence. Some 16,000 new confirmed cases have been recorded since Friday.