npr--2020-09-28--Uber Can Keep Operating In London, Magistrate Rules

Uber Can Keep Operating In London , Magistrate Rules After nearly a year of uncertainty , a Westminster magistrate court said Monday that the ride-sharing service Uber can keep operating in London .
The decision comes after Uber 's U.K. division appealed a 2019 ruling by government regulators , who refused to renew its license after it found that some Uber drivers were operating illegally — some without insurance , and some even without a valid drivers license .
Transport for London ( TfL ) , which regulates the city 's roads and rail lines , had said that Uber @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to upload their photos to other Uber driver accounts . ''
Two dozen unauthorized drivers had logged into the app using other people 's credentials — uploaded their own photos — and then made more than 14,000 trips , putting passengers at risk , according to the ruling .
But since then , the company said it has tightened its policies to address the fraud .
In Monday 's ruling , the magistrate judge agreed that Uber has fixed its processes .
The ride-sharing company `` does not have a perfect record but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Deputy Chief Magistrate Tan Ikram wrote .
`` I am satisfied that they are doing what a reasonable business in their sector could be expected to do , perhaps even more . ''
It 's a big win for Uber in one of its largest markets , and it means that the company 's 45,000 London-based drivers can continue to rely on Uber as a source of income .
The Licensed Taxi Drivers ' Association ( LTDA ) , which represents the city 's cabbies , argued that Uber had concealed its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the magistrate said he found no evidence of Uber attempting to cover up `` the driver photo fraud issue . ''
Uber executives had also improved their communication with government regulators , he said .
`` Despite their historical failings , I find them , now , to be a fit and proper person to hold a London [ Private Hire Vehicle ] operator 's licence , '' Ikram concluded , applying the relevant legal standard .
With the ruling , Uber now has a license to operate in London for the next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regulators .
The decision , which comes after a four-day hearing earlier this month , `` is a recognition of Uber 's commitment to safety and we will continue to work constructively with TfL , '' Uber 's regional general manager for northern and eastern Europe , Jamie Heywood , said .
Barristers for the LTDA criticized government regulators for not taking a more aggressive position against Uber during the case .
`` Mending what has been broken , apologising and undertaking not to do the same again , has proved a winning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gouriet and Charles Holland , who represented the LTDA .
`` There can not be many licensees whose repeated breaches of conditions and regulations are of so little consequence . ''
But London Mayor Sadiq Khan , who commended regulators for refusing to renew Uber 's license last year , promised to keep the company on a tight leash .
`` I am pleased that Uber have admitted that their response to very real concerns about passenger safety was inadequate , and since then Uber has made improvements , '' Khan said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ will continue to closely monitor Uber and will not hesitate to take swift action should they fail to meet the strict standards required to protect passengers . ''

Uber Can Keep Operating In London, Magistrate Rules
Enlarge this image toggle caption Chris J. Ratcliffe/Getty Images Chris J. Ratcliffe/Getty Images
After nearly a year of uncertainty, a Westminster magistrate court said Monday that the ride-sharing service Uber can keep operating in London.
The decision comes after Uber's U.K. division appealed a 2019 ruling by government regulators, who refused to renew its license after it found that some Uber drivers were operating illegally — some without insurance, and some even without a valid drivers license.
Transport for London (TfL), which regulates the city's roads and rail lines, had said that Uber's computer systems "allowed unauthorized drivers to upload their photos to other Uber driver accounts."
Two dozen unauthorized drivers had logged into the app using other people's credentials — uploaded their own photos — and then made more than 14,000 trips, putting passengers at risk, according to the ruling.
But since then, the company said it has tightened its policies to address the fraud. In Monday's ruling, the magistrate judge agreed that Uber has fixed its processes.
The ride-sharing company "does not have a perfect record but it has been an improving picture," Deputy Chief Magistrate Tan Ikram wrote. "I am satisfied that they are doing what a reasonable business in their sector could be expected to do, perhaps even more."
It's a big win for Uber in one of its largest markets, and it means that the company's 45,000 London-based drivers can continue to rely on Uber as a source of income.
The Licensed Taxi Drivers' Association (LTDA), which represents the city's cabbies, argued that Uber had concealed its knowledge of the photo fraud. But the magistrate said he found no evidence of Uber attempting to cover up "the driver photo fraud issue." Uber executives had also improved their communication with government regulators, he said.
"Despite their historical failings, I find them, now, to be a fit and proper person to hold a London [Private Hire Vehicle] operator's licence," Ikram concluded, applying the relevant legal standard. With the ruling, Uber now has a license to operate in London for the next 18 months, under strict supervision by regulators.
The decision, which comes after a four-day hearing earlier this month, "is a recognition of Uber's commitment to safety and we will continue to work constructively with TfL," Uber's regional general manager for northern and eastern Europe, Jamie Heywood, said.
Barristers for the LTDA criticized government regulators for not taking a more aggressive position against Uber during the case.
"Mending what has been broken, apologising and undertaking not to do the same again, has proved a winning formula for Uber," wrote Gerald Gouriet and Charles Holland, who represented the LTDA. "There cannot be many licensees whose repeated breaches of conditions and regulations are of so little consequence."
But London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who commended regulators for refusing to renew Uber's license last year, promised to keep the company on a tight leash.
"I am pleased that Uber have admitted that their response to very real concerns about passenger safety was inadequate, and since then Uber has made improvements," Khan said. "I can assure Londoners that TfL will continue to closely monitor Uber and will not hesitate to take swift action should they fail to meet the strict standards required to protect passengers."


npr--2020-09-28--A Look At Amy Coney Barrett's Record On Abortion Rights

A Look At Amy Coney Barrett 's Record On Abortion Rights President Trump has made no secret of his intentions regarding the U.S. Supreme Court and abortion rights .
During a presidential debate in 2016 , Trump vowed to appoint justices who 'd vote to overturn the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion nationwide .
`` That will happen automatically , in my opinion , because I am putting pro-life justices on the court , '' Trump said .
`` I will say this : It will go back to the states , and the states will then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ followed through on naming conservative judges to the federal courts .
But nominees for judicial appointments – including his latest , Judge Amy Coney Barrett – tend to be a bit more reserved when speaking about their views on reproductive rights .
During her Senate confirmation hearings for her seat on the 7th U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals in 2017 , Barrett — who has spoken openly about her Catholic faith — was asked about her personal views on Roe v. Wade .
She gave a version of what 's become a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in her position , saying , `` All nominees are united in their belief that what they think about a precedent should not bear on how they decide cases . ''
Barrett , 48 , has written and spoken about the issue before , including during an appearance at Jacksonville University in Florida shortly before the 2016 election , while a law professor at the University of Notre Dame .
Barrett was asked about ways a hypothetical future Supreme Court might allow states to pass more restrictions on abortion .
`` I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Roe 's core holding that , you know , women have a right to an abortion – I do n't think that would change .
But I think the question of whether people can get very late-term abortions , how many restrictions can be put on clinics – I think that would change , '' Barrett said at the time .
Her record as a federal appeals court judge offers some potential clues to her views .
In two cases where a lower court ruled to block Indiana laws imposing limits on abortion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could have potentially overruled the lower court .
But in a third case , involving buffer zones designed to protect abortion patients from protesters outside clinics , Barrett voted to uphold precedent allowing for those zones .
Barrett 's colleague , Notre Dame law professor Carter Snead , said it 's difficult to predict exactly how she would rule on abortion-related cases on the Supreme Court .
Snead described Barrett as `` someone who understands the complexity of the question that 's gon na come before the court , and who understands the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very thoughtful about how she proceeds . ''
To Katie Watson , an attorney and bioethicist at Northwestern University 's Feinberg School of Medicine , Barrett 's record seems pretty straightforward .
`` I 'd expect her to overrule Roe , and she appears to have four other sitting justices who are willing to join her , '' Watson said .
While there is only so much you can read into Barrett 's past judicial record , Watson said you do n't really have to .
`` I think the best evidence of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that President Trump has said he will only appoint justices who are committed to reversing Roe , and there 's no reason not to believe him , '' she said .
On that question , activists on both sides of the abortion debate also seem to believe Trump .
Barrett is receiving widespread praise from anti-abortion-rights groups , and opposition from reproductive rights advocates , such as Fatima Goss Graves , president of the National Women 's Law Center .
`` When you pair her record with the context that this issue is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ picture that even though we 're in a situation where the vast majority of people in this country support access to abortion , that we are gon na have something pushed through where the Supreme Court may leave us without that right , '' she said .
While a majority of Americans favor some limitations on abortion , most also support Roe v. Wade .
If Barrett is confirmed and the court indeed overturns that precedent , the issue would be left to the states – setting up intense fights in legislatures , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an even more patchwork system , where abortion rights hinge almost entirely on where a person lives .

A Look At Amy Coney Barrett's Record On Abortion Rights
Enlarge this image toggle caption Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images
President Trump has made no secret of his intentions regarding the U.S. Supreme Court and abortion rights. During a presidential debate in 2016, Trump vowed to appoint justices who'd vote to overturn the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion nationwide.
"That will happen automatically, in my opinion, because I am putting pro-life justices on the court," Trump said. "I will say this: It will go back to the states, and the states will then make a determination."
Trump has followed through on naming conservative judges to the federal courts. But nominees for judicial appointments – including his latest, Judge Amy Coney Barrett – tend to be a bit more reserved when speaking about their views on reproductive rights.
During her Senate confirmation hearings for her seat on the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in 2017, Barrett — who has spoken openly about her Catholic faith — was asked about her personal views on Roe v. Wade. She gave a version of what's become a standard answer to that question for people in her position, saying, "All nominees are united in their belief that what they think about a precedent should not bear on how they decide cases."
Barrett, 48, has written and spoken about the issue before, including during an appearance at Jacksonville University in Florida shortly before the 2016 election, while a law professor at the University of Notre Dame. Barrett was asked about ways a hypothetical future Supreme Court might allow states to pass more restrictions on abortion.
"I think don't think the core case – Roe's core holding that, you know, women have a right to an abortion – I don't think that would change. But I think the question of whether people can get very late-term abortions, how many restrictions can be put on clinics – I think that would change," Barrett said at the time.
YouTube
Her record as a federal appeals court judge offers some potential clues to her views. In two cases where a lower court ruled to block Indiana laws imposing limits on abortion, Barrett voted to hear arguments that could have potentially overruled the lower court.
But in a third case, involving buffer zones designed to protect abortion patients from protesters outside clinics, Barrett voted to uphold precedent allowing for those zones.
Barrett's colleague, Notre Dame law professor Carter Snead, said it's difficult to predict exactly how she would rule on abortion-related cases on the Supreme Court. Snead described Barrett as "someone who understands the complexity of the question that's gonna come before the court, and who understands the stakes ... and is going to be very thoughtful about how she proceeds."
To Katie Watson, an attorney and bioethicist at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, Barrett's record seems pretty straightforward.
"I'd expect her to overrule Roe, and she appears to have four other sitting justices who are willing to join her," Watson said.
While there is only so much you can read into Barrett's past judicial record, Watson said you don't really have to.
"I think the best evidence of her position on Roe v. Wade is that President Trump has said he will only appoint justices who are committed to reversing Roe, and there's no reason not to believe him," she said.
On that question, activists on both sides of the abortion debate also seem to believe Trump. Barrett is receiving widespread praise from anti-abortion-rights groups, and opposition from reproductive rights advocates, such as Fatima Goss Graves, president of the National Women's Law Center.
"When you pair her record with the context that this issue is coming in, it paints this extraordinary picture that even though we're in a situation where the vast majority of people in this country support access to abortion, that we are gonna have something pushed through where the Supreme Court may leave us without that right," she said.
While a majority of Americans favor some limitations on abortion, most also support Roe v. Wade. If Barrett is confirmed and the court indeed overturns that precedent, the issue would be left to the states – setting up intense fights in legislatures, and legal observers said, leading to an even more patchwork system, where abortion rights hinge almost entirely on where a person lives.


npr--2020-09-28--Don't Deduct That Haircut Just Yet: Tax Court Has Rejected Such Claims

Do n't Deduct That Haircut Just Yet : Tax Court Has Rejected Such Claims Hair .
It 's long been a priority for Donald Trump .
Tax documents obtained by The New York Times show that during the making of The Apprentice , he deducted $ 70,000 for the cost of his haircuts and hairstyling .
Trump 's businesses also wrote off `` at least $ 95,464 paid to a favorite hair and makeup artist of Ivanka Trump , '' the Times reported .
The news about Trump 's deductions clearly drew interest online : Web searches for `` hair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spiked on Monday , according to data from Google .
Now , you may be wondering , can I deduct my next visit to a salon or a barbershop ?
The U.S. Tax Court has repeatedly ruled that the costs of maintaining an appealing appearance are not deductible , even for public personalities .
In a 2011 case , the court ruled against a television news anchor who wanted to claim deductions for the costs of maintaining her personal appearance .
Expenses `` for manicures , grooming , teeth whitening , and skin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the court ruled in that case , which involved a journalist in Ohio named Anietra Hamper .
The opinion states , `` Although these expenses may be related to her job , expenses that are inherently personal are nondeductible personal expenses . ''
That ruling also cited an earlier opinion , Hynes v. Commissioner .
In a summary of that case , the U.S. Tax Court said an on-air personality 's contract with her TV station that requires a neat appearance `` does not elevate these personal expenses to a deductible business expense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of those cases was very small compared with the figures cited by the Times from the Trump tax documents .
In the Hamper case , for instance , the disputed amounts in the anchor 's tax returns totaled less than $ 5,000 each year — and that figure includes other expenses , such as clothing .
Anyone who hopes to deduct the costs of looking good should be very careful , according to the online accounting service Bench , which works with entrepreneurs and small businesses .
In an article titled `` How @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the company says that the Internal Revenue Service 's rules for deducting the costs of makeup and hair care are very strict .
That article , which is from 2018 , discusses costs that are very similar to the ones found in the Trump documents , according to the Times .
`` You can write off makeup used for stage or photo shoots , but not if you wear the same makeup outside of work , '' Bench 's guidance says .
While some hair care costs could be deductible if the expenses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Bench warns , `` a haircut would n't be deductible because you 'll take the new 'do with you outside of work . ''
In a broader sense , the IRS also prohibits claiming costs related to appearing in the media .
`` You ca n't deduct expenses of radio and TV appearances to increase your personal prestige or establish your professional reputation , '' the IRS says .
In addition to hair and makeup expenses , Trump has `` written off costs related to residences and aircraft that many would consider @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But the idea of claiming thousands of dollars on your federal taxes for common expenses such as makeup and hair care has resonated with many people .
While the deductions are small compared with some of the other findings in the Trump tax documents , they 're also instructive , says Avi Asher-Schapiro of Thomson Reuters Foundation News .
`` It really illustrates how easy it is for rich people to manipulate their tax burden , & pay less than us , '' Asher-Schapiro said via Twitter .
`` Trump 's haircuts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my entire rent when I work from home . ''

Don't Deduct That Haircut Just Yet: Tax Court Has Rejected Such Claims
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images
Hair. It's long been a priority for Donald Trump.
Tax documents obtained by The New York Times show that during the making of The Apprentice, he deducted $70,000 for the cost of his haircuts and hairstyling. Trump's businesses also wrote off "at least $95,464 paid to a favorite hair and makeup artist of Ivanka Trump," the Times reported.
The news about Trump's deductions clearly drew interest online: Web searches for "hair cut" and "write off" spiked on Monday, according to data from Google.
Now, you may be wondering, can I deduct my next visit to a salon or a barbershop?
The U.S. Tax Court has repeatedly ruled that the costs of maintaining an appealing appearance are not deductible, even for public personalities. In a 2011 case, the court ruled against a television news anchor who wanted to claim deductions for the costs of maintaining her personal appearance.
Expenses "for manicures, grooming, teeth whitening, and skin care are inherently personal expenditures," the court ruled in that case, which involved a journalist in Ohio named Anietra Hamper.
The opinion states, "Although these expenses may be related to her job, expenses that are inherently personal are nondeductible personal expenses."
That ruling also cited an earlier opinion, Hynes v. Commissioner. In a summary of that case, the U.S. Tax Court said an on-air personality's contract with her TV station that requires a neat appearance "does not elevate these personal expenses to a deductible business expense."
The money involved in each of those cases was very small compared with the figures cited by the Times from the Trump tax documents. In the Hamper case, for instance, the disputed amounts in the anchor's tax returns totaled less than $5,000 each year — and that figure includes other expenses, such as clothing.
Anyone who hopes to deduct the costs of looking good should be very careful, according to the online accounting service Bench, which works with entrepreneurs and small businesses.
In an article titled "How to Deduct Personal Appearance Expenses," the company says that the Internal Revenue Service's rules for deducting the costs of makeup and hair care are very strict. That article, which is from 2018, discusses costs that are very similar to the ones found in the Trump documents, according to the Times.
"You can write off makeup used for stage or photo shoots, but not if you wear the same makeup outside of work," Bench's guidance says.
While some hair care costs could be deductible if the expenses in question are specifically related to work, Bench warns, "a haircut wouldn't be deductible because you'll take the new 'do with you outside of work."
In a broader sense, the IRS also prohibits claiming costs related to appearing in the media.
"You can't deduct expenses of radio and TV appearances to increase your personal prestige or establish your professional reputation," the IRS says.
In addition to hair and makeup expenses, Trump has "written off costs related to residences and aircraft that many would consider personal expenses," as NPR reported.
But the idea of claiming thousands of dollars on your federal taxes for common expenses such as makeup and hair care has resonated with many people. While the deductions are small compared with some of the other findings in the Trump tax documents, they're also instructive, says Avi Asher-Schapiro of Thomson Reuters Foundation News.
"It really illustrates how easy it is for rich people to manipulate their tax burden, & pay less than us," Asher-Schapiro said via Twitter. "Trump's haircuts are a business expense ... but not my entire rent when I work from home."


npr--2020-09-28--Portrait Of A Parent With Alzheimer's

Portrait Of A Parent With Alzheimer's

My 87-year-old mom has Alzheimer 's disease in the midst of COVID-19 .
Right now , that means I can only see her when her Bronx nursing home connects us on Skype .
Our Internet connection is sound , but mentally , she is in the grips of this disease .
All she can do is just look at me for a few minutes at a time , as I try to get her to remember me .
`` Mommy , it 's me , your daughter , tu hija , '' I say .
`` Mommy , Mommy ... @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , she will giggle or speak in gibberish .
But lately , there 's mostly nothing .
She has no idea who I am , what day it is , where she is or who she is .
She ca n't speak or walk or feed herself .
She spends her days in bed or in a wheelchair , sitting in the hallway across from other residents .
The music group , art classes , bingo and most of the other activities that she once loved have been canceled due to COVID-19 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ months .
I have no idea if or when I will see her again .
There are still cases of COVID-19 in her nursing home , and Gov .
Andrew Cuomo wo n't allow visits until a nursing facility is coronavirus-free for 14 days .
I love my mom , and I miss who she was .
She was a beautiful Dominican immigrant who loved to dance in the kitchen .
She loved Tito Puente , Celia Cruz and the merengues of Johnny Pacheco .
She had a beautiful , broad smile behind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ perfume , and sometimes in my mind I can still hear the jingle-jangle of her bracelets when she tucked me into bed at night .
Her smell , and that sound , made me feel so safe when I was kid .
I miss the sound of her Spanish-accented voice ; her English vocabulary was a hybrid of the two languages .
I could always translate her hybrid English .
I always understood her , until now .
I feel so alone in this disease , but I know I am not .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ me , holding on to and loving someone with this wicked form of dementia .
I am Afro-Latina , and this disease is rampant in my community .
In general , Latinos are 1.5 times more likely than non-Latino Whites to develop Alzheimer 's disease .
( My chances of getting the disease are also slightly elevated because my mother has it . )
The health issues that plague our community—high blood pressure , heart disease , diabetes and stroke—make us more vulnerable .
The statistics for the African American community are even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ times more likely to get the disease than white folks .
But this disease is not who my mother is , even though it has taken control of her .
My mom 's name is Ramona Mota Latty .
She was born in Santo Domingo , a city on the coast of the Dominican Republic .
She grew up poor .
In the eighth grade , she had to drop out of school to take care of her brother , so that her mother could work .
My mom was a big dreamer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Santo Domingo , where she worried she 'd live a life with no work , no money and no hope .
So when she was 19 , in 1950 , my mom immigrated to New York .
Coming to America was her dream come true .
She worked in factories and went to beauty school .
She met my dad , Albert , a child of Jamaican parents , at a beauty parlor in Spanish Harlem where she worked .
They were married nine months later and had two daughters : me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grew up on 15 West 108th street , in a big tenement apartment with a green fire escape .
I would sit there and look at all the drama unfold below me : the fights and drug sales , the drug addicts nodding off and number runners at work .
The landlord abandoned our building , so the city took it over .
Most winters , we barely had heat or hot water .
Sometimes it would get so cold that we all had to sleep in the living room with a space @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was the happiest time of her life , because we were all together .
But I struggled with it , and we butted heads .
Like my mom when she was young , I wanted so much more out of life .
I dreamed of escaping .
But when my sister Margie — 27 at the time — was killed in a car accident , our entire relationship changed .
My mom cried every day , she spent a lot of time at the cemetery putting flowers on Margie 's grave and she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seemed so broken and it made one thing very clear to me : I really loved my mom , and I was broken too , not only because I lost Margie , but because of watching her suffer .
So a few months later , on a whim , I booked us round-trip tickets to Paris , with a stop in Rome .
We drank too much , ate too much and carved Margie 's name everywhere we could .
Our bond grew deeper ; I saw how much she wanted out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that too —for both of us .
A lot changed in the years that followed : My father passed away , I moved to Philadelphia , and my mom became a grandmother to my daughters , Nola and Margo .
My daughters loved visiting their abuelita , and I loved visiting , too .
Those visits centered me , grounded me , made me feel connected to who I was and who I am , despite all the change .
For her 80th birthday , I decided we should take another big trip @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to show my daughters where my mom came from .
But from the start , it was clear that something was terribly wrong with her .
When we exited the plane she got confused .
`` She had some kind of idea that we had to go down some secret corner that was not where anybody else was going , '' my daughter Nola recalls .
When we got to the hotel , things got even more confusing .
`` We were just kind of expecting that Abuelita would be our resident @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Like , we 'd tell her what to say in English and she 'd say it in Spanish .
It was her primary language .
But for some reason , she turned to us like stone , and she was like , ' I do not speak Spanish .
My husband is American .
I do not speak Spanish . '
'' My father had been dead for 15 years .
And she had spoken Spanish her entire life .
When we returned home to New York , my mother 's behavior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She began to hallucinate a boy who lived on top of her refrigerator .
I discovered she gave all of her money away to mail-order psychics , who promised her riches .
So I started visiting her more often .
We spoke everyday , sometimes multiple times a day .
I found myself thinking about her all the time , worried .
So we turned to her doctor , who suspected dementia and referred us to a neurologist .
I remember the day we went to his office in the Bronx , where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ room .
After a series of tests , the neurologist told us dryly that she had Alzheimer 's disease .
He gave me some URLs , told me to Google it , and sent us on our way in less than 10 minutes .
It was clear he had no time for us ; he barely looked at my mom .
I went home and cried .
But I was ready to fight this disease .
I switched neurologists , and the new one referred her for a clinical trial to help with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ roughly 17 % of the U.S. population , they make up less than 1 % of participants in Alzheimer 's clinical trials .
( In general , Latinos make up just 7.5 % of research participants funded by the National Institute of Health . )
I was thrilled that she was going to be a part of one , and hopeful that it could help her .
But it was grueling .
She lived in the Bronx , and I had to get her to NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital in Washington Heights every week for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a series of doctors and have a psychological exam before the medicine was disbursed .
She had to take the medicine at a certain time , but she could n't take it on her own ; Plus , she only had a part-time aide , and so I had to scramble for more help .
It was exhausting—and in the end , she got the placebo version of the trial drug .
After all that , the treatment had n't done anything .
Things continued to get worse .
Soon , the boy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new hallucination : ICE .
I would get frantic late-night calls that a black ICE van was circling the block around her apartment , and she would beg me to help her .
They were coming to deport her , she said .
I tried to tell her that they could n't take her away ; she was a naturalized citizen .
Finally , her aide found her wandering in the street one morning .
She was no longer safe .
She needed 24-hour care , and I had to place her in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hardest thing I ever had to do in my life .
My strong , beautiful mother was gone and it broke my heart .
And the heartache continues as I see her on my computer screen , unable to speak , fading away from me .
My last call a few days ago went like this : '' Mommy , it 's me your daughter , Yvonne , '' I say over and over again .
But there is no response .
My mom may have not contracted COVID-19 , but the disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even further than she was before .
She has n't been able to see me or her family in person since March .
She has spent way too many days alone in her room .
She can not even socialize with her friends in the nursing home , because of coronavirus restrictions .
What was left of her memory is deteriorating quickly .
But I do have one thing this disease can not take from us : our memories .
They will live with me , even when she is gone , until @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The audio version of this story was edited by Luis Trelles and Miguel Macias .
You can listen to the original version of this piece , produced in collaboration with Black Public Media , on the Latino USA podcast .

Portrait Of A Parent With Alzheimer's
Enlarge this image Alexander Charner/Latino USA Alexander Charner/Latino USA
My 87-year-old mom has Alzheimer's disease in the midst of COVID-19. Right now, that means I can only see her when her Bronx nursing home connects us on Skype. Our Internet connection is sound, but mentally, she is in the grips of this disease. All she can do is just look at me for a few minutes at a time, as I try to get her to remember me.
toggle caption Courtesy of Yvonne Latty
"Mommy, it's me, your daughter, tu hija," I say. "Mommy, Mommy ... Mommy."
If I am lucky, she will giggle or speak in gibberish. But lately, there's mostly nothing. She has no idea who I am, what day it is, where she is or who she is. She can't speak or walk or feed herself. She spends her days in bed or in a wheelchair, sitting in the hallway across from other residents. The music group, art classes, bingo and most of the other activities that she once loved have been canceled due to COVID-19.
I have not seen her in six months. I have no idea if or when I will see her again. There are still cases of COVID-19 in her nursing home, and Gov. Andrew Cuomo won't allow visits until a nursing facility is coronavirus-free for 14 days.
And so I wait.
I love my mom, and I miss who she was. She was a beautiful Dominican immigrant who loved to dance in the kitchen. She loved Tito Puente, Celia Cruz and the merengues of Johnny Pacheco. She had a beautiful, broad smile behind always-painted lips. She smelled of sweet perfume, and sometimes in my mind I can still hear the jingle-jangle of her bracelets when she tucked me into bed at night. Her smell, and that sound, made me feel so safe when I was kid.
I miss the sound of her Spanish-accented voice; her English vocabulary was a hybrid of the two languages. I could always translate her hybrid English. I always understood her, until now.
I feel so alone in this disease, but I know I am not. There are millions of people just like me, holding on to and loving someone with this wicked form of dementia.
I am Afro-Latina, and this disease is rampant in my community. In general, Latinos are 1.5 times more likely than non-Latino Whites to develop Alzheimer's disease. (My chances of getting the disease are also slightly elevated because my mother has it.) The health issues that plague our community—high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and stroke—make us more vulnerable. The statistics for the African American community are even worse; they are two to three times more likely to get the disease than white folks.
toggle caption Courtesy of Yvonne Latty
But this disease is not who my mother is, even though it has taken control of her. My mom's name is Ramona Mota Latty. She was born in Santo Domingo, a city on the coast of the Dominican Republic. She grew up poor. In the eighth grade, she had to drop out of school to take care of her brother, so that her mother could work. My mom was a big dreamer who wanted more: She wanted out of Santo Domingo, where she worried she'd live a life with no work, no money and no hope.
So when she was 19, in 1950, my mom immigrated to New York. Coming to America was her dream come true. She worked in factories and went to beauty school. She met my dad, Albert, a child of Jamaican parents, at a beauty parlor in Spanish Harlem where she worked. They were married nine months later and had two daughters: me and my big sister Margie.
toggle caption Courtesy of Yvonne Latty
We grew up on 15 West 108th street, in a big tenement apartment with a green fire escape. I would sit there and look at all the drama unfold below me: the fights and drug sales, the drug addicts nodding off and number runners at work. The landlord abandoned our building, so the city took it over. Most winters, we barely had heat or hot water. Sometimes it would get so cold that we all had to sleep in the living room with a space heater.
My mom always said this was the happiest time of her life, because we were all together. But I struggled with it, and we butted heads. Like my mom when she was young, I wanted so much more out of life. I dreamed of escaping.
But when my sister Margie — 27 at the time — was killed in a car accident, our entire relationship changed.
My mom cried every day, she spent a lot of time at the cemetery putting flowers on Margie's grave and she prayed for her every day. She seemed so broken and it made one thing very clear to me: I really loved my mom, and I was broken too, not only because I lost Margie, but because of watching her suffer. So a few months later, on a whim, I booked us round-trip tickets to Paris, with a stop in Rome. We drank too much, ate too much and carved Margie's name everywhere we could. Our bond grew deeper; I saw how much she wanted out of life, and I so badly wanted that too —for both of us.
A lot changed in the years that followed: My father passed away, I moved to Philadelphia, and my mom became a grandmother to my daughters, Nola and Margo. My daughters loved visiting their abuelita, and I loved visiting, too. Those visits centered me, grounded me, made me feel connected to who I was and who I am, despite all the change.
For her 80th birthday, I decided we should take another big trip together —this time to the Dominican Republic, to show my daughters where my mom came from. But from the start, it was clear that something was terribly wrong with her.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Courtesy of Yvonne Latty Courtesy of Yvonne Latty
When we exited the plane she got confused."She had some kind of idea that we had to go down some secret corner that was not where anybody else was going," my daughter Nola recalls.
When we got to the hotel, things got even more confusing. "We were just kind of expecting that Abuelita would be our resident Spanish speaker," Nola says. "Like, we'd tell her what to say in English and she'd say it in Spanish. It was her primary language. But for some reason, she turned to us like stone, and she was like, 'I do not speak Spanish. My husband is American. I do not speak Spanish.'"
My father had been dead for 15 years. And she had spoken Spanish her entire life.
When we returned home to New York, my mother's behavior continued to get even more bizarre. She began to hallucinate a boy who lived on top of her refrigerator. I discovered she gave all of her money away to mail-order psychics, who promised her riches. So I started visiting her more often. We spoke everyday, sometimes multiple times a day. I found myself thinking about her all the time, worried.
So we turned to her doctor, who suspected dementia and referred us to a neurologist. I remember the day we went to his office in the Bronx, where Black and Brown people packed the waiting room. After a series of tests, the neurologist told us dryly that she had Alzheimer's disease. He gave me some URLs, told me to Google it, and sent us on our way in less than 10 minutes. It was clear he had no time for us; he barely looked at my mom. I went home and cried.
But I was ready to fight this disease. I switched neurologists, and the new one referred her for a clinical trial to help with the hallucinations. While Latinos make up roughly 17% of the U.S. population, they make up less than 1% of participants in Alzheimer's clinical trials. (In general, Latinos make up just 7.5% of research participants funded by the National Institute of Health.) I was thrilled that she was going to be a part of one, and hopeful that it could help her.
But it was grueling. She lived in the Bronx, and I had to get her to NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital in Washington Heights every week for six weeks. She had to visit a series of doctors and have a psychological exam before the medicine was disbursed. She had to take the medicine at a certain time, but she couldn't take it on her own; Plus, she only had a part-time aide, and so I had to scramble for more help. It was exhausting—and in the end, she got the placebo version of the trial drug. After all that, the treatment hadn't done anything.
toggle caption Courtesy of Yvonne Latty
Things continued to get worse. Soon, the boy above the fridge was joined by a new hallucination: ICE. I would get frantic late-night calls that a black ICE van was circling the block around her apartment, and she would beg me to help her. They were coming to deport her, she said. I tried to tell her that they couldn't take her away; she was a naturalized citizen. Finally, her aide found her wandering in the street one morning. She was no longer safe. She needed 24-hour care, and I had to place her in a nursing home.
It was the hardest thing I ever had to do in my life. My strong, beautiful mother was gone and it broke my heart.
And the heartache continues as I see her on my computer screen, unable to speak, fading away from me. My last call a few days ago went like this:
"Mommy, it's me your daughter, Yvonne," I say over and over again.
But there is no response.
My mom may have not contracted COVID-19, but the disease has taken her away from me, even further than she was before. She hasn't been able to see me or her family in person since March. She has spent way too many days alone in her room. She cannot even socialize with her friends in the nursing home, because of coronavirus restrictions. What was left of her memory is deteriorating quickly.
But I do have one thing this disease cannot take from us: our memories. They will live with me, even when she is gone, until I too am just a memory.
The audio version of this story was edited by Luis Trelles and Miguel Macias. You can listen to the original version of this piece, produced in collaboration with Black Public Media, on the Latino USA podcast.


npr--2020-09-28--Fighting Between Armenia And Azerbaijan Threatens To Spiral Into Full-Blown War

Fighting Between Armenia And Azerbaijan Threatens To Spiral Into Full-Blown War A simmering conflict on Russia 's volatile southern border is threatening to escalate into an all-out war , with the potential of drawing in NATO ally Turkey .
Fighting continued for a second day in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region , claimed by Armenians as well as by Azerbaijanis .
Dozens of service members on both sides have been reported killed in a flare-up of violence that began Sunday morning .
The ethnic Armenian majority in the region fought a bloody war of secession from Azerbaijan as the Soviet Union @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tense cease-fire — but no lasting peace — has since kept tensions high in the Caucasus , an area where Russia , Turkey and Iran have historically competed .
`` The attack was coming .
There were numerous signals , all saw them and did nothing for weeks , '' Olesya Vartanyan , a senior analyst for the International Crisis Group , tweeted .
`` There was a need for a pro-active international mediation .
Many found reasons to OK this attack .
If they stay silent now , expect a real war @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hands of a group co-chaired by France , Russia and the United States .
Russia , the dominant power in the region for 200 years , carries the most clout .
It has a defense pact with Armenia and a military base in the landlocked country , but the Kremlin also maintains good relations with Azerbaijan .
Turkey 's relations with Armenia are clouded by the Ottoman Empire 's 1915 mass killing of Armenians , which many historians have described as genocide .
Turks and Azeris share ethnic kinship , and ties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict .
`` Turkey continues to stand with the friendly and brotherly Azerbaijan with all its facilities and heart , '' Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Monday , blaming Armenia for the renewed fighting .
The Armenian Foreign Affairs Ministry claims Azerbaijan is receiving `` large-scale military-political support from Turkey '' in the form of advisers and weapons , including drones .
The ministry says the people of Nagorno-Karabakh , known as Artsakh in Armenian , are fighting a `` Turkish-Azerbaijani alliance . ''
Azerbaijan , rich in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past two decades building up its military .
`` The settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue is our historical mission , '' Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev told his security council on Sunday .
`` We must resolve this so that historical justice can be restored .
We must do so to restore the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan . ''
The declaration of independence by the ethnic Armenian majority of Nagorno-Karabakh , a region inside Azerbaijan , set off a war with tens of thousands of casualties that ended in an uneasy 1994 cease-fire .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ has recognized Nagorno-Karabakh as an independent country .
The danger now is if the regular Armenian army gets drawn into the fighting with Azerbaijan , Vadim Mukhanov , a Caucasus expert at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations , told the Meduza news site .
`` What we 're seeing after the first day of escalation is that armor , aviation , heavy artillery and drones are being used , which suggests that this was n't spontaneous but a well-planned operation , '' Mukhanov said .
`` If this conflict is n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ war will come , which would be a catastrophe .
It would send ripples through the entire North Caucasus region and affect all major players , including Russia and Turkey . ''
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov phoned his Turkish counterpart , Mevlut Cavusoglu , on Sunday .
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Erdogan have had an uneasy partnership , and their interests have often clashed in Syria and Libya .
In Nagorno-Karabakh , Russia is calling for an end to hostilities and `` maximum restraint '' by all sides .
Putin has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and the Kremlin said the Russian president will also talk with Aliyev `` if necessary . ''
`` Right now , the most important thing is to cease hostilities and not try to figure out who 's right and who 's wrong , '' Putin 's spokesman , Dmitry Peskov , told reporters .
He said Russia would use its traditionally good relations with Armenia and Azerbaijan to resolve the conflict .
The United States also enjoys friendly ties to both countries .
`` We have a lot of good relationships in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sunday regarding the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict .
`` We 'll see if we can stop it . ''

Fighting Between Armenia And Azerbaijan Threatens To Spiral Into Full-Blown War
Enlarge this image toggle caption Azerbaijan's Ministry of Defense/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images Azerbaijan's Ministry of Defense/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
A simmering conflict on Russia's volatile southern border is threatening to escalate into an all-out war, with the potential of drawing in NATO ally Turkey.
Fighting continued for a second day in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, claimed by Armenians as well as by Azerbaijanis. Dozens of service members on both sides have been reported killed in a flare-up of violence that began Sunday morning.
The ethnic Armenian majority in the region fought a bloody war of secession from Azerbaijan as the Soviet Union fell apart three decades ago. A tense cease-fire — but no lasting peace — has since kept tensions high in the Caucasus, an area where Russia, Turkey and Iran have historically competed.
"The attack was coming. There were numerous signals, all saw them and did nothing for weeks," Olesya Vartanyan, a senior analyst for the International Crisis Group, tweeted. "There was a need for a pro-active international mediation. Many found reasons to OK this attack. If they stay silent now, expect a real war."
International mediation is formally in the hands of a group co-chaired by France, Russia and the United States. Russia, the dominant power in the region for 200 years, carries the most clout. It has a defense pact with Armenia and a military base in the landlocked country, but the Kremlin also maintains good relations with Azerbaijan.
Turkey's relations with Armenia are clouded by the Ottoman Empire's 1915 mass killing of Armenians, which many historians have described as genocide. Turks and Azeris share ethnic and linguistic kinship, and ties between neighbors Turkey and Armenia have been frozen because of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
"Turkey continues to stand with the friendly and brotherly Azerbaijan with all its facilities and heart," Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Monday, blaming Armenia for the renewed fighting.
The Armenian Foreign Affairs Ministry claims Azerbaijan is receiving "large-scale military-political support from Turkey" in the form of advisers and weapons, including drones. The ministry says the people of Nagorno-Karabakh, known as Artsakh in Armenian, are fighting a "Turkish-Azerbaijani alliance."
Azerbaijan, rich in oil and gas, has spent the past two decades building up its military.
"The settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue is our historical mission," Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev told his security council on Sunday. "We must resolve this so that historical justice can be restored. We must do so to restore the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan."
The declaration of independence by the ethnic Armenian majority of Nagorno-Karabakh, a region inside Azerbaijan, set off a war with tens of thousands of casualties that ended in an uneasy 1994 cease-fire. No country, not even Armenia, has recognized Nagorno-Karabakh as independent of Azerbaijan.
The danger now is if the regular Armenian army gets drawn into the fighting with Azerbaijan, Vadim Mukhanov, a Caucasus expert at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, told the Meduza news site.
"What we're seeing after the first day of escalation is that armor, aviation, heavy artillery and drones are being used, which suggests that this wasn't spontaneous but a well-planned operation," Mukhanov said. "If this conflict isn't stopped through serious outside pressure, then war will come, which would be a catastrophe. It would send ripples through the entire North Caucasus region and affect all major players, including Russia and Turkey."
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov phoned his Turkish counterpart, Mevlut Cavusoglu, on Sunday. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Erdogan have had an uneasy partnership, and their interests have often clashed in Syria and Libya.
In Nagorno-Karabakh, Russia is calling for an end to hostilities and "maximum restraint" by all sides. Putin has spoken with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, and the Kremlin said the Russian president will also talk with Aliyev "if necessary."
"Right now, the most important thing is to cease hostilities and not try to figure out who's right and who's wrong," Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, told reporters. He said Russia would use its traditionally good relations with Armenia and Azerbaijan to resolve the conflict.
The United States also enjoys friendly ties with both countries. "We have a lot of good relationships in that area," President Trump said Sunday regarding the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. "We'll see if we can stop it."