npr--2020-01-22--Got Impeachment Trial Milk? These Senators Do

Got Impeachment Trial Milk ?
These Senators Do On Jan. 24 , 1966 , Sen. Everett Dirksen of Illinois was thirsty on the Senate floor .
And so , for a moment , he put aside debate on labor law and asked the presiding officer of the chamber a question , his signature brawny bass voice amplifying its importance : Could he have a Senate page fetch him a generous helping of milk ?
`` Is it in violation of the Senate rules if the senator for Illinois asks one of the page boys to go to the restaurant and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Dirksen asked .
`` There is nothing in the rules to prohibit the Senator from requesting a glass of milk , '' replied the presiding officer .
A relieved Dirksen was appreciative , as `` water becomes pretty thin after a period of time .
My lunch today will be a tall glass of milk , '' Dirksen said .
Thus enshrined the Senate rule : `` Milk while speaking , '' permitting the imbibing of the white stuff on the Senate floor .
As Democrats and Republicans bitterly fought over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of President Trump , word escaped that just two beverages would be allowed during the marathon chamber sessions : water and milk .
The nourishing revelation harked back to Dirksen 's historical milk moment , but also sent reporters ' social media accounts abuzz with eyewitness accounts of U.S. senators digesting gulps of milk while considering the merit of high crimes and misdemeanors against the president of the United States .
The first sighting came when Tom Cotton of Arkansas was spied drinking a glass of milk .
Then he was seen consuming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speculation over the contents of his glass poured on , Cotton himself confirmed the reports , using the sudden milk spotlight to take a jab at lead impeachment manager Rep. Adam Schiff , D-Calif. '' It 's true , I had some milk with my chocolate , '' Cotton tweeted .
`` I guess I could 've added vodka & had a White Russian ( minus the Kahlua ) .
But @ RepAdamSchiff probably would 've accused me of collusion . ''
Sen. Richard Burr reportedly followed suit .
As did Sen. Ted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ freebie .
Apparently , if senators want to indulge , they must provide it themselves .
The Senate cloakroom provides only one beverage allowed on the Senate floor : water .
`` In today 's Senate , the Democratic and Republican cloakrooms provide water to senators when requested , and senators can choose between still or sparkling water , '' Senate Assistant Historian Daniel Holt told NPR .
Another idiosyncratic Senate custom that the impeachment trial has brought back into the public 's consciousness is the designated candy drawer .
`` I 'm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ always been my favorite , '' former Sen. Rick Santorum told NPR .
He ran the candy drawer during then-President Bill Clinton 's impeachment in 1999 .
`` It 's actually a very important part of keeping senators awake during these long hours of testimony .
Having a little energy boost as you 're sitting there at the desk is sometimes a good thing , '' Santorum said .
While a spokeswoman for Cotton confirmed to NPR that the senator 's milk chugs were a smooth and refreshing way to wash down the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any milk drinking spectacles during Trump 's impeachment trial may never reach dramatic heights achieved by Wisconsin Sen. Robert La Follette in 1908 .
Around 1 a.m. , La Follette knocked back a glass of eggnog , which tasted off to him , so he set it aside .
Iron-willed , if a bit perturbed by the foul taste , La Follette pushed through an 18 hour and 23 minute filibuster , a single-speech duration record that took half a century to topple .
When La Follette 's eggnog was examined by investigators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mixture contained enough toxic bacteria to be lethal .
`` Who had a motive to poison the senator ?
Perhaps the kitchen staff — or , at least half the Senate , '' jokes the U.S. Senate 's Historical Office , noting that the chamber 's interior could reach temperatures around 90 degrees back then .
`` Most likely , however , the culprit was the searing heat that , until the 1950s , usually guaranteed senators the summer away from Washington . ''
The deadly souring of milk should be averted by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's chief of staff confirms , keeps impeachment milk nice and cool .

Got Impeachment Trial Milk? These Senators Do
Enlarge this image toggle caption Toby Talbot/AP Toby Talbot/AP
On Jan. 24, 1966, Sen. Everett Dirksen of Illinois was thirsty on the Senate floor.
And so, for a moment, he put aside debate on labor law and asked the presiding officer of the chamber a question, his signature brawny bass voice amplifying its importance: Could he have a Senate page fetch him a generous helping of milk?
"Is it in violation of the Senate rules if the senator for Illinois asks one of the page boys to go to the restaurant and bring him a glass of milk?" Dirksen asked.
"There is nothing in the rules to prohibit the Senator from requesting a glass of milk," replied the presiding officer.
A relieved Dirksen was appreciative, as "water becomes pretty thin after a period of time. My lunch today will be a tall glass of milk," Dirksen said.
Thus enshrined the Senate rule: "Milk while speaking," permitting the imbibing of the white stuff on the Senate floor.
As Democrats and Republicans bitterly fought over the rules that would govern the impeachment trial of President Trump, word escaped that just two beverages would be allowed during the marathon chamber sessions: water and milk.
The nourishing revelation harked back to Dirksen's historical milk moment, but also sent reporters' social media accounts abuzz with eyewitness accounts of U.S. senators digesting gulps of milk while considering the merit of high crimes and misdemeanors against the president of the United States.
The first sighting came when Tom Cotton of Arkansas was spied drinking a glass of milk. Then he was seen consuming a second glass of milk. As speculation over the contents of his glass poured on, Cotton himself confirmed the reports, using the sudden milk spotlight to take a jab at lead impeachment manager Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif.
"It's true, I had some milk with my chocolate," Cotton tweeted. "I guess I could've added vodka & had a White Russian (minus the Kahlua). But @RepAdamSchiff probably would've accused me of collusion."
Sen. Richard Burr reportedly followed suit. As did Sen. Ted Cruz.
Senatorial milk is not a freebie. Apparently, if senators want to indulge, they must provide it themselves. The Senate cloakroom provides only one beverage allowed on the Senate floor: water.
"In today's Senate, the Democratic and Republican cloakrooms provide water to senators when requested, and senators can choose between still or sparkling water," Senate Assistant Historian Daniel Holt told NPR.
Another idiosyncratic Senate custom that the impeachment trial has brought back into the public's consciousness is the designated candy drawer.
"I'm York Peppermint Patty guy. That's always been my favorite," former Sen. Rick Santorum told NPR. He ran the candy drawer during then-President Bill Clinton's impeachment in 1999.
"It's actually a very important part of keeping senators awake during these long hours of testimony. Having a little energy boost as you're sitting there at the desk is sometimes a good thing," Santorum said.
While a spokeswoman for Cotton confirmed to NPR that the senator's milk chugs were a smooth and refreshing way to wash down the candy drawer's plentiful chocolate treats, any milk drinking spectacles during Trump's impeachment trial may never reach dramatic heights achieved by Wisconsin Sen. Robert La Follette in 1908.
Around 1 a.m., La Follette knocked back a glass of eggnog, which tasted off to him, so he set it aside.
Iron-willed, if a bit perturbed by the foul taste, La Follette pushed through an 18 hour and 23 minute filibuster, a single-speech duration record that took half a century to topple.
When La Follette's eggnog was examined by investigators, it was revealed that the mysterious mixture contained enough toxic bacteria to be lethal.
"Who had a motive to poison the senator? Perhaps the kitchen staff — or, at least half the Senate," jokes the U.S. Senate's Historical Office, noting that the chamber's interior could reach temperatures around 90 degrees back then.
"Most likely, however, the culprit was the searing heat that, until the 1950s, usually guaranteed senators the summer away from Washington."
The deadly souring of milk should be averted by the cloakroom refrigerator, which, Cruz's chief of staff confirms, keeps impeachment milk nice and cool.
NPR's Sam Gringlas contributed to this report.


npr--2020-01-22--New Jersey Mandates Severance Pay For Workers Facing Mass Layoffs

New Jersey became the first state in the country to enact a law that guarantees severance pay for mass layoffs , according to the bill 's sponsors this week .
The legislation , signed by Gov .
Phil Murphy on Tuesday , ensures that businesses with 100 or more full-time employees pay their workers one week of severance pay for every year of service whenever widespread downsizing or plant closures affecting 50 or more employees is on the horizon .
The law also requires employers to give workers at least 90 days notice when such changes are imminent .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ companies fail to comply they will be required to add an extra four-week payout to an employee 's severance package .
`` When these corporate takeover artists plunge the companies into bankruptcy they walk away with windfall profits and pay top executives huge bonuses , but the little guys get screwed , '' Sen. Joe Cryan , a co-sponsor of the bill , wrote in a Facebook post .
The landmark legislation — S3170 — was prompted by the recent closure of several big name retail companies throughout the state over the last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The company declared bankruptcy in 2017 after a private equity buyout left the company billions of dollars in debt .
More than 30,000 workers were laid off nationwide — 2,000 of them in New Jersey , NJ.com reported .
Initially , workers were told they would not be receiving any form of severance , but the toy store 's former employees organized with the help of United for Respect to demand some compensation .
Meanwhile , as NPR 's Amy Held reported , a bankruptcy judge granted the struggling retailer `` permission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to executives after the company argued it was necessary to motivate its top brass during the critical holiday shopping season . ''
Eventually , the private equity firms , KKR and Bain Capital , capitulated to public pressure .
The companies established a $ 20 million financial assistance fund for workers .
While it was a victory for some New Jersey workers in financial straits , United for Respect noted its effects were limited to a small subset of unemployed residents .
But with the new law , Cryan remarked all employees working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ companies will have added protections .
`` The law better protects the rights of the employees , '' Cryan said .
`` Workers ' performance and workers ' dedication to the company were secondary .
Now , they 'll be moved more to the forefront . ''
Critics argue the new measures will deter companies from expanding or moving to New Jersey .
The law goes into effect in July .

New Jersey Mandates Severance Pay For Workers Facing Mass Layoffs
Enlarge this image toggle caption Julio Cortez/AP Julio Cortez/AP
New Jersey became the first state in the country to enact a law that guarantees severance pay for mass layoffs, according to the bill's sponsors this week.
The legislation, signed by Gov. Phil Murphy on Tuesday, ensures that businesses with 100 or more full-time employees pay their workers one week of severance pay for every year of service whenever widespread downsizing or plant closures affecting 50 or more employees is on the horizon. The law also requires employers to give workers at least 90 days notice when such changes are imminent. That's up from 60 days.
If companies fail to comply they will be required to add an extra four-week payout to an employee's severance package.
"When these corporate takeover artists plunge the companies into bankruptcy they walk away with windfall profits and pay top executives huge bonuses, but the little guys get screwed," Sen. Joe Cryan, a co-sponsor of the bill, wrote in a Facebook post.
The landmark legislation — S3170 — was prompted by the recent closure of several big name retail companies throughout the state over the last two years, including Toys R Us.
The company declared bankruptcy in 2017 after a private equity buyout left the company billions of dollars in debt. More than 30,000 workers were laid off nationwide — 2,000 of them in New Jersey, NJ.com reported. Initially, workers were told they would not be receiving any form of severance, but the toy store's former employees organized with the help of United for Respect to demand some compensation.
Meanwhile, as NPR's Amy Held reported, a bankruptcy judge granted the struggling retailer "permission to pay millions of dollars in bonuses to executives after the company argued it was necessary to motivate its top brass during the critical holiday shopping season."
Eventually, the private equity firms, KKR and Bain Capital, capitulated to public pressure. The companies established a $20 million financial assistance fund for workers.
Business Toys R Us Reopens 2 Stores Under New Ownership After Painful Bankruptcy Toys R Us Reopens 2 Stores Under New Ownership After Painful Bankruptcy Listen · 3:03 3:03
While it was a victory for some New Jersey workers in financial straits, United for Respect noted its effects were limited to a small subset of unemployed residents.
But with the new law, Cryan remarked all employees working for some of the state's largest companies will have added protections.
"The law better protects the rights of the employees," Cryan said. "Workers' performance and workers' dedication to the company were secondary. Now, they'll be moved more to the forefront."
Critics argue the new measures will deter companies from expanding or moving to New Jersey.
The law goes into effect in July.


npr--2020-01-22--Impeachment Trial Recap: Senators Implored To Consider Magnitude Of The Moment

Impeachment Trial Recap : Senators Implored To Consider Magnitude Of The Moment The matter before the Senate is n't just President Trump 's conduct , but no less than the fate of the Constitution and America 's role in the world , House managers said on Wednesday .
With the ground rules having been settled in the early hours after sometimes bitter litigation between the House delegation and Trump 's legal team , senators returned Wednesday to hear the formal opening of the case .
Democrats are going first with 24 hours over three days to present their arguments for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Schiff , D-Calif. , outlined the now-familiar Ukraine affair , returning to his earlier themes about the need for new witnesses and evidence — but also exhorting senators in sometimes apocalyptic terms about the magnitude of this moment for the life of the Republic .
`` If we do n't stand up to this peril today , we will write the history of our decline with our hand , '' he said .
`` We have for generations been the shining city upon a hill that President Reagan described .
America is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But what worth is that idea if , when tried , we do not affirm the values that underpin it ? ''
Senators must bear in mind that in the Trump case , impeachment itself is on trial , Schiff said .
Article II of the impeachment addresses what Democrats call Trump 's obstruction of Congress .
Schiff said if Trump is permitted to keep his office — even after barring witnesses from talking to Congress and withholding documents — the Senate will have given away its power to hold presidents accountable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no guarantee that this democracy that has served us so well will continue to prosper , '' he said .
Trump 's attorneys will have time later in the trial to offer a rebuttal .
In the meanwhile , lawyer Jay Sekulow repeated some of the White House 's complaints about Schiff and Democrats to reporters during breaks in the trial .
At the beginning of hours ' worth of presentations , Schiff also warned that an acquittal would serve as a signal to nations overseas , too .
Authoritarian regimes such as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of power in the presidency and its concomitant loss by Congress , he said .
Then there are the more immediate geopolitics .
The strategy pursued by the United States to help Ukraine against Russian and Russian-backed forces is the correct one , Schiff said , and Trump 's freeze last year cast that into doubt .
Further doubt about American commitments will result if Trump keeps his office , he argued .
`` This is n't charity .
It 's about our defense as much as Ukraine , '' he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for having imperiled that commitment , Schiff said , Moscow would reap a geopolitical victory in Europe through the loss of faith in American support for its allies .
No thaw over witnesses or evidence Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , D-N.Y. , told reporters during a break that he thought Schiff 's remarks were a `` tour de force '' and that he hoped the congressman 's eloquence would break the logjam with Republicans over admitting new witnesses and evidence into the Senate trial .
Schiff and his compatriots did allude to evidence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since the House voted to impeach Trump last month , including a trove of material connected to an aide of Trump 's lawyer , Rudy Giuliani .
But there was no sign that Tuesday 's marathon series of motions by Schumer to admit witnesses and evidence , as Democrats wish , had made any dent in the resolve of Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. or the majority .
McConnell has given ground slightly on admitting the House 's evidentiary record and has held open the possibility on witnesses and documents later on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans had been further swayed by the presentation on Wednesday .
`` I did n't hear anything new , at all , '' said Sen. John Barrasso , R-Wy .
`` This was was an effort ... in a partisan way , to bring a case against President Trump because they were n't happy with the results of the 2016 election . ''
South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott , another Republican , told reporters he blamed the impeachment on a political gambit by Democrats not to try to remove Trump , but put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Colorado and Maine , in a jam .
`` What we 've seen is just a rehashing of yesterday 's charges , '' Scott said .
`` The goal of this entire process is ... to create an opportunity for them to try to overtake the Senate . ''
For now , as the hours unreeled on Wednesday and the main action of the trial got underway , it began to feel like the old-fashioned editions of `` Sports Center '' — similar stories told and retold , often with the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a day or night 's worth of programming .
Schiff and his colleagues — including Reps. Jerry Nadler , Jason Crow , Sylvia Garcia , Val Demings , Hakeem Jeffries and Zoe Lofgren — each elaborated in ways of their own on the basic themes of the Ukraine affair .
Demings alluded once more to her tenure as the chief of police in Orlando .
Crow , for his part , told senators about taking fire in Afghanistan when he was deployed there with a special operations unit — and about the importance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American troops about incoming artillery .
Congress also furnished those kinds of systems to Ukraine , Crow said , and so he could appreciate how much the Ukrainians might have been upset when they worried about the hold in assistance last year .
`` This is not a theoretical exercise ... and the Ukrainians know it , '' Crow said .
Before adjourning just before 10 p.m. , the Democrats often quoted from the same documents and referred to the same TV clips , including of Trump at the White House or in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were repeated more than once by different presenters .
The Senate , all the while , continued to settle in for the unusual tableau of a chamber in which all members are present , seated at their desks — and silent .
A protester interrupted the proceedings not long after 6 p.m. as Jeffries was speaking but was ejected by Capitol Police .
Some senators appeared to take intense notes .
At least one — Kentucky Republican Rand Paul — appeared to at least one observer to be solving a crossword puzzle .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ hour of presentations by invoking one of the few privileges that remain available to them under the rules in force for the trial : a glass of milk .
Only milk and water are permitted .
Sen. Richard Burr , R-N.C. , was observed drinking a glass of milk , as was Arkansas Republican Sen. Tom Cotton , who cracked wise about it on Twitter during a break — senators may not use their phones during the trial , but they may get treats from the Senate 's `` candy desk , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change in the tenor of the Senate was represented in Burr 's ankles — which were not visible .
Burr , who typically does not wear socks irrespective of the weather on Capitol Hill , chose instead to wear them for the session on Wednesday .

Impeachment Trial Recap: Senators Implored To Consider Magnitude Of The Moment
Enlarge this image toggle caption Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Updated at 9:49 p.m. ET
The matter before the Senate isn't just President Trump's conduct; it is no less than the fate of the Constitution and America's role in the world, House managers said on Wednesday.
With the ground rules having been settled in the early hours after sometimes-bitter litigation between the House delegation and Trump's legal team, senators returned Wednesday afternoon to hear the formal opening of the case.
Democrats are going first with 24 hours over three days to present their arguments for removing Trump from office.
Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., outlined the now-familiar Ukraine affair, in which the president is accused of holding up military aid in an attempt to get a political rival investigated. He returned to his earlier themes about the need for new witnesses and evidence — and exhorted senators in sometimes apocalyptic terms about the magnitude of this moment for the life of the Republic.
"If we don't stand up to this peril today, we will write the history of our decline with our hand," he said. "We have for generations been the shining city upon a hill that President Reagan described. America is not just a country but also an idea. But what worth is that idea if, when tried, we do not affirm the values that underpin it?"
Senators must bear in mind that in the Trump case, impeachment itself is on trial, Schiff said.
Article 2 of the impeachment addresses what Democrats call Trump's obstruction of Congress. Schiff said if Trump is permitted to keep his office — even after barring witnesses from talking to Congress and withholding documents — the Senate will have given away its power to hold presidents accountable.
"There's no guarantee that this democracy that has served us so well will continue to prosper," he said.
Trump's attorneys will have time later in the trial to offer a rebuttal. In the meanwhile, lawyer Jay Sekulow repeated some of the White House's complaints about Schiff and Democrats to reporters during breaks in the trial.
Foreign implications
At the beginning of hours' worth of presentations, Schiff also warned that an acquittal would serve as a signal to nations abroad, too. Authoritarian regimes such as Russia would take comfort in the accumulation of power in the presidency and its concomitant loss by Congress, he said.
Then there are the more immediate geopolitics.
The strategy pursued by the United States to help Ukraine against Russia and Russian-backed forces is the correct one, Schiff said, and Trump's freeze last year cast that into doubt. Further doubt about American commitments will result if Trump keeps his office, he argued.
"This isn't charity. It's about our defense as much as Ukraine," he said.
If the Senate doesn't remove Trump for having imperiled that commitment, Schiff said, Moscow would reap a geopolitical victory in Europe through the loss of faith in American support for its allies.
No thaw over witnesses or evidence
Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., told reporters during a break that he thought Schiff's remarks were a "tour de force" and that he hoped the congressman's eloquence would break the logjam with Republicans over admitting new witnesses and evidence into the Senate trial.
Schiff and his compatriots did allude to evidence about the Ukraine affair that has surfaced since the House voted to impeach Trump last month, including a trove of material connected to an aide of Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani.
But there was no sign that Tuesday's marathon series of motions by Schumer to admit witnesses and evidence, as Democrats wish, had made any dent in the resolve of Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., or the majority.
McConnell has given ground slightly on admitting the House's evidentiary record and has held open the possibility of allowing witnesses and documents later on. But it seemed unlikely that any Republicans had been further swayed by the presentation on Wednesday.
"I didn't hear anything new, at all," said Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wy. "This was an effort ... in a partisan way, to bring a case against President Trump because they weren't happy with the results of the 2016 election."
South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, another Republican, told reporters he blamed the impeachment on a political gambit by Democrats not to try to remove Trump but to put Republican senators in potentially competitive states such as Colorado and Maine, in a jam.
"What we've seen is just a rehashing of yesterday's charges," Scott said. "The goal of this entire process is ... to create an opportunity for them to try to overtake the Senate."
Free-flowing river
For now, as the hours unreeled on Wednesday and the main action of the trial got underway, it began to feel like the old-fashioned editions of Sports Center — similar stories told and retold, often with the same highlights, in slightly different ways over a day or night's worth of programming.
Schiff and his colleagues — Reps. Jerry Nadler, Jason Crow, Sylvia Garcia, Val Demings, Hakeem Jeffries and Zoe Lofgren — each elaborated in ways of their own on the basic themes of the Ukraine affair.
Demings alluded once more to her tenure as the chief of police in Orlando. Crow told senators about taking fire in Afghanistan when he was deployed there with a special operations unit — and about the importance of the counterbattery radars that alerted the American troops about incoming artillery.
Congress also furnished those kinds of systems to Ukraine, Crow said, and so he could appreciate how much the Ukrainians might have been upset when they worried about the hold in assistance last year.
"This is not a theoretical exercise ... and the Ukrainians know it," Crow said.
The milk matter
Before adjourning just before 10 p.m., the Democrats often quoted from the same documents and referred to the same TV clips, including of Trump at the White House or in interviews. Anecdotes from the House investigation were repeated more than once by different presenters.
The Senate, all the while, continued to settle in for the unusual tableau of a chamber in which all members are present, seated at their desks — and silent. A protester interrupted the proceedings not long after 6 p.m. as Jeffries was speaking but was ejected by Capitol Police.
Some senators appeared to take intense notes. At least one — Kentucky Republican Rand Paul — appeared to at least one observer to be solving a crossword puzzle.
Other senators coped with the hour upon hour of presentations by invoking one of the few privileges that remain available to them under the rules in force for the trial: a glass of milk. Only milk and water are permitted.
Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., was observed drinking a glass of milk, as was Arkansas Republican Sen. Tom Cotton, who cracked wise about it on Twitter during a break — senators may not use their phones during the trial — but they may get treats from the Senate's "candy desk," as Cotton evidently did.
Another big change in the tenor of the Senate was represented in Burr's ankles — which were not visible.
Burr, who typically does not wear socks irrespective of the weather on Capitol Hill, chose instead to wear them for the session on Wednesday.
NPR congressional reporter Claudia Grisales contributed to this report.


npr--2020-01-22--Amtrak Reverses Course On $25,000 Bill

Amtrak Reverses Course On $25,000 Bill

Amtrak will dump a policy that led to two people who use wheelchairs being told they 'd have to pay $ 25,000 for a train ticket that usually costs just $ 16 , the rail service announced Wednesday .
`` After further review , Amtrak has determined to suspend the policy in question , '' said Amtrak spokesperson Marc Magliari .
`` It was never meant to be applied to this situation .
And we apologize for the mistake . ''
He spoke shortly after a group of people with disabilities demonstrated outside an Amtrak station in Illinois , chanting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Adam Ballard was one of them .
He was also one of the two wheelchair users who faced that $ 25,000 bill .
Ballard is the transportation policy analyst for a disability service and advocacy group , Access Living , based in Chicago .
Five people in wheelchairs from the group , including Ballard , took the two-hour ride on Wednesday morning from Chicago to the Bloomington-Normal station , to attend a statewide conference of disability organizations .
Ballard said everything went fine when they boarded the train in the dark in Chicago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really great .
We were treated like kings and queens , '' he says .
There was extra staff to help with bags and work the wheelchair lifts .
`` And they had extra staff on the train to attend to our every need .
So it was not the typical Amtrak ride , '' he added .
And the cost : the regular $ 16 fare .
But when the group first booked their tickets , Amtrak said it had room for only three wheelchair users on that train , not five @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take a car out of service and pull up seats to make more room .
But that was expensive , and under an Amtrak policy for reconfiguring rail cars , the two riders would have to pay $ 25,000 .
Amtrak makes one space available on each rail car , to meet its obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act .
That law , which turns 30 this year , prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in jobs , schools , public accommodations and transportation .
A business is required to remove barriers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A business is exempted from making such accommodations when doing so creates an `` undue hardship . ''
That 's defined as a significant difficulty or expense .
The rule of thumb is that a business should expect to make back the cost of an accommodation in added business , like a restaurant that adds a ramp at the front door .
As a result , businesses do n't charge people with disabilities more than anyone else .
There have been rare exceptions .
Amtrak faced a similar case in 2005 , when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Pennsylvania to Washington , D.C. Amtrak said it would need to remove six seats from the train to accommodate the 12 passengers in wheelchairs .
It added a $ 200 surcharge for each seat it needed to remove .
The group , Disabled in Action of Pennsylvania , sued and a court ruled in favor of Amtrak .
NPR first reported the story of the $ 25,000 ticket charge on Friday .
That led to criticism , including from U.S .
Senator Tammy Duckworth .
The lllinois Democrat is the ranking member @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Safety , which has jurisdiction over interstate transportation .
Duckworth , an Army veteran , uses a wheelchair because of injuries from the downing of a Blackhawk helicopter she was co-piloting in Iraq .
On Sunday , Duckworth called Amtrak 's charge `` outrageous '' and asked for a meeting with Amtrak 's CEO , Richard Anderson .
On Monday , Amtrak said it would waive the $ 25,000 fee and find room for the added wheelchair users on the train .
Then this afternoon , Amtrak said it would end the policy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first place .

Amtrak Reverses Course On $25,000 Bill
Enlarge this image toggle caption Courtesy of Bridget Hayman Courtesy of Bridget Hayman
Amtrak will dump a policy that led to two people who use wheelchairs being told they'd have to pay $25,000 for a train ticket that usually costs just $16, the rail service announced Wednesday.
"After further review, Amtrak has determined to suspend the policy in question," said Amtrak spokesperson Marc Magliari. "It was never meant to be applied to this situation. And we apologize for the mistake."
He spoke shortly after a group of people with disabilities demonstrated outside an Amtrak station in Illinois, chanting: "We will ride."
Adam Ballard was one of them. He was also one of the two wheelchair users who faced that $25,000 bill.
Ballard is the transportation policy analyst for a disability service and advocacy group, Access Living, based in Chicago. Five people in wheelchairs from the group, including Ballard, took the two-hour ride on Wednesday morning from Chicago to the Bloomington-Normal station, to attend a statewide conference of disability organizations.
Ballard said everything went fine when they boarded the train in the dark in Chicago. "Everyone got on the train really great. We were treated like kings and queens," he says. There was extra staff to help with bags and work the wheelchair lifts. "And they had extra staff on the train to attend to our every need. So it was not the typical Amtrak ride," he added.
And the cost: the regular $16 fare.
But when the group first booked their tickets, Amtrak said it had room for only three wheelchair users on that train, not five, and that it would need to take a car out of service and pull up seats to make more room. But that was expensive, and under an Amtrak policy for reconfiguring rail cars, the two riders would have to pay $25,000.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Courtesy of Bridget Hayman Courtesy of Bridget Hayman
Amtrak makes one space available on each rail car, to meet its obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act. That law, which turns 30 this year, prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in jobs, schools, public accommodations and transportation. A business is required to remove barriers when it is easy to do. A business is exempted from making such accommodations when doing so creates an "undue hardship." That's defined as a significant difficulty or expense. The rule of thumb is that a business should expect to make back the cost of an accommodation in added business, like a restaurant that adds a ramp at the front door. As a result, businesses don't charge people with disabilities more than anyone else.
There have been rare exceptions. Amtrak faced a similar case in 2005, when another disability advocacy group booked a train from Pennsylvania to Washington, D.C. Amtrak said it would need to remove six seats from the train to accommodate the 12 passengers in wheelchairs. It added a $200 surcharge for each seat it needed to remove. The group, Disabled in Action of Pennsylvania, sued and a court ruled in favor of Amtrak.
NPR first reported the story of the $25,000 ticket charge on Friday. That led to criticism, including from U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth. The lllinois Democrat is the ranking member of the Senate Subcommittee on Transportation and Safety, which has jurisdiction over interstate transportation. Duckworth, an Army veteran, uses a wheelchair because of injuries from the downing of a Blackhawk helicopter she was co-piloting in Iraq.
On Sunday, Duckworth called Amtrak's charge "outrageous" and asked for a meeting with Amtrak's CEO, Richard Anderson.
On Monday, Amtrak said it would waive the $25,000 fee and find room for the added wheelchair users on the train. Then this afternoon, Amtrak said it would end the policy that led to the big bill in the first place.


npr--2020-01-22--How The Senate Impeachment Trial Works

How The Senate Impeachment Trial Works

President Trump 's fate is now in the hands of the Senate .
The House of Representatives has impeached the president , and it is up to senators to determine whether he will be removed from office .
Senators passed a resolution on the ground rules for the trial after a marathon 13 hours of debate that included multiple failed attempts by Democrats to get a commitment on witnesses and documents .
Read the resolution introduced by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky .
It has been more than a month since the House voted to impeach Trump , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ obstructing Congress .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , had been holding off on transmitting the articles to the Senate , essentially delaying the trial , because she wanted details on how the trial would work .
She ultimately relented without any further information from McConnell , and the House voted to send the articles to the Senate on Jan. 15 .
The next day , Chief Justice John Roberts was sworn in to preside over the trial .
He then administered the oath to senators , who swore to render `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is more about the various roles and how the trial will play out .
The details of a Senate impeachment trial are generally up for negotiation , but that negotiation essentially ended when McConnell announced he had the votes to move ahead with a resolution outlining the process without Democrats .
Republicans did pass the resolution , with some last-minute , hand-written changes , but not before Democrats offered multiple amendments , triggering hours of debate .
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , D-N.Y. , had been pushing for a deal up front @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including Trump administration officials .
The resolution that passed delays debate on witnesses and new evidence until after days of opening statements and questioning from senators .
During the trial , there are clear rules for each of the key players .
U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts presides .
Senators do not do the talking ; they can only submit written questions .
The rules for this trial give senators a 16-hour period of questioning after both parties give opening arguments .
Impeachment managers from the House represent the Democrats ' argument .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ House counsel , outside attorneys and a number of Republican members of the House .
Opening arguments began Wednesday at 1 p.m. Each side gets up to 24 hours over three days to make their case ( the original resolution from McConnell only afforded two days to each side ) .
The Democratic managers go first , then the defense team makes its case .
It will be the first time in the inquiry that the White House is fully participating .
The White House declined to participate in the Democratic-led House proceedings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
After opening arguments , senators will have 16 hours to ask questions in the chamber , followed by two hours of arguments each by the House impeachment managers and the president 's lawyers .
Then comes the debate on whether to subpoena witnesses or introduce new documents .
This is where moderate Republicans could throw wrenches into the leadership 's plans , if enough of them decide they want to hear additional testimony .
Once again , these procedural votes require only a majority .
A 50-50 tie is considered a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can not cast the deciding vote as he would ( and has ) in other cases .
The chief justice is unlikely to want to cast a deciding vote as he presides over the trial , seeking to maintain impartiality .
The rules also note that any witness must be deposed before testifying .
After the trial , the Senate votes on whether to convict or acquit the president on each article of impeachment .
Convicting Trump and therefore removing him from office requires 67 votes .
That would mean 20 Republicans would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — a highly unlikely prospect .
Acquitting Trump of the charges or dismissing the charges , however , takes only 51 votes .
Ca n't see the graphics in this story ?
Click here .
Photos : Win McNamee/Getty Images ( Mitch McConnell ) ; Paul Morigi/Getty Images ( Susan Collins ) ; Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images ( Lisa Murkowski and John Roberts ) ; Mark Wilson/Getty Images ( Cory Gardner , Joe Manchin , Martha McSally and Chuck Schumer ) ; Alex Wong/Getty Images ( Doug Jones and Mitt Romney ) NPR 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Walsh contributed to this report .

How The Senate Impeachment Trial Works
The Senate is scheduled to vote on President Trump's fate on Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET after about two weeks of his impeachment trial.
The House of Representatives impeached the president in December, charging him with abusing his power and obstructing Congress for efforts to get Ukraine to investigate Trump's political rivals.
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The Senate trial has included opening and closing arguments from the Democratic House impeachment managers and Trump's defense team, as well as a 16-hour period of questioning by senators.
Outside of the official trial, senators have time Monday through Wednesday to speak on the floor about impeachment.
The trial itself had a raucous start. Senators passed a resolution on the ground rules for the trial on Jan. 21 after a marathon 13 hours of debate that included multiple failed attempts by Democrats to get a commitment on witnesses and documents.
The issue of whether to allow witnesses has been a central controversy in the proceedings, with senators ultimately voting not to call any at all.
toggle caption Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images
Here is more about how the trial has played out.
Setting The Ground Rules
Timing: Senate passed organizing resolution on Jan. 21
The details of a Senate impeachment trial are generally up for negotiation, but that negotiation essentially ended when Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., announced he had the votes to move ahead with a resolution outlining the process without Democrats.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., delayed transmitting the articles to the Senate for nearly a month, hoping to get details on how the trial would work. McConnell didn't budge, though.
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Republicans passed McConnell's resolution on Jan. 21, with some last-minute, hand-written changes, but not before Democrats offered multiple amendments, triggering hours of debate.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., had been pushing for a deal up front that would include testimony from witnesses, including Trump administration officials. The resolution that passed delayed debate on witnesses and new evidence until after days of opening statements and questioning from senators.
The Trial
Timing: Opening arguments began on Jan. 22
During the trial, there are clear rules for each of the key players. U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts presides. Senators do not do the talking; they can only submit written questions. Senators did have a 16-hour period of questioning after both parties gave opening arguments, where senators submitted written questions that Roberts then read allowed to the prosecution and defense teams.
Impeachment managers from the House represent the Democrats' argument. The president's defense includes White House counsel, outside attorneys and a number of Republican members of the House.
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Opening arguments began Jan. 22. Each side had up to 24 hours over three days to make their case (the original resolution from McConnell only afforded two days to each side).
The Democratic managers went first, then the defense team made its case. It was the first time in the inquiry that the White House has fully participated. The White House declined to participate in the Democratic-led House proceedings, which Trump considered a "sham."
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After opening arguments, senators had 16 hours to ask questions in the chamber, followed by two hours of arguments each by the House impeachment managers and the president's lawyers.
Then came the debate on whether to subpoena witnesses or introduce new documents.
This is where moderate Republicans became crucial to each side. Four Republicans would have had to join the Democratic caucus to get witnesses, but Democrats only convinced two to join them, Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Mitt Romney of Utah.
Swing votes Lamar Alexander of Tennessee and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska announced before the vote that they opposed witnesses.
The Final Vote
Timing: Feb. 5 at 4 p.m. ET
After the trial, the Senate votes on whether to convict or acquit the president on each article of impeachment. Convicting Trump and therefore removing him from office requires 67 votes. That would mean 20 Republicans would have to join Democrats in the effort — a highly unlikely prospect.
Acquitting Trump of the charges or dismissing the charges, however, takes only 51 votes. This is the most likely outcome in the Republican-controlled Senate.
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Can't see the graphics in this story? Click here.
Photos: Win McNamee/Getty Images (Mitch McConnell); Paul Morigi/Getty Images (Susan Collins); Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images (Lisa Murkowski and John Roberts); Mark Wilson/Getty Images (Cory Gardner, Joe Manchin, Martha McSally and Chuck Schumer); Alex Wong/Getty Images (Doug Jones and Mitt Romney)
This story originally published on Dec. 31, 2019.
NPR's Susan Davis, Claudia Grisales and Deirdre Walsh contributed to this report.


npr--2020-01-22--Utah Becomes Latest State To Ban Discredited LGBTQ 'Conversion Therapy'

Utah has become the 19th — and most conservative — state in the U.S. to ban `` conversion therapy '' for minors .
The widely discredited practice , aimed at changing a patient 's sexual orientation or gender identity , is now formally barred in the state after the new rule took effect late Tuesday .
A spokesperson for Republican Gov .
Gary Herbert , who directed licensing regulators to make the change , confirmed the move to NPR on Wednesday .
`` We want to thank Governor Herbert and his administration for not allowing this issue to be politicized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ director of Equality Utah , said at a Wednesday news conference celebrating the news .
`` He saw how polarizing this was becoming , and he made the decision to allow science to prevail over politics .
He kept his word to the LGBTQ community , and we are deeply grateful to him . ''
There are some key exceptions : The ban does n't apply to clergy , religious counselors , parents or grandparents , so long as they 're not acting as psychologists .
Still , the rule exists — a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time , was far from ensured .
An attempt to get a ban passed in the state legislature collapsed last year , after conservative lawmakers amended the bill so extensively that by the time it received committee approval , even its sponsor , Rep. Craig Hall , had effectively disowned it .
The measure stalled in the state House of Representatives .
So Herbert requested that state regulators review and propose new rules concerning the practice .
`` I certainly have concerns about some of the abuse that I 've heard talked about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Herbert said during a news conference last June , when he announced his request .
`` This is not my background .
I 'm going to rely upon the experts to tell us what should be done , or not be done , or how it should be done . ''
A host of medical professionals — including the American Psychiatric Association , the American Psychological Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics — has outright rejected conversion therapy as `` futile and destructive . ''
LGBTQ young people are already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their heterosexual peers .
But according to researchers at San Francisco State University , rates of attempted suicide among LGBTQ youth more than double when parents try to change their sexual orientation .
And those rates triple when parents and therapists and religious leaders try to do so .
`` It was a lot of messaging of like , 'The way you are right now is problematic , and people will not like you or accept you the way you are ' — which , as a 16-year-old , that 's the last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Nathan Dalley , a student at the University of Utah and an outspoken conversion therapy survivor , told Nicole Nixon of member station KUER on Wednesday .
`` I 'm really happy to hear that youth are protected from this practice and that families in the future will not have to deal with the effects of conversion therapy , '' Dalley added .
`` It 's hard to deal with .
It 's hard to address .
It 's hard to talk about , and it 's hard to heal from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that lawmakers will push back on the move , which largely implements changes that conservative legislators sought to stifle .
`` I 'm sure something will be done , '' Gayle Ruzicka , president of the conservative Utah Eagle Forum , told The Salt Lake Tribune .
For now , at least , the new rule vaults Utah into some unlikely company .
Currently , 18 other states and the District of Columbia ban conversion therapy for minors — and the lawmaking bodies of all but a few have Democratic majorities .
Utah @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ban where Republicans control the governor 's mansion and both houses of the state legislature .

Utah Becomes Latest State To Ban Discredited LGBTQ 'Conversion Therapy'
Enlarge this image toggle caption Rick Bowmer/AP Rick Bowmer/AP
Utah has become the 19th — and most conservative — state in the U.S. to ban "conversion therapy" for minors. The widely discredited practice, aimed at changing a patient's sexual orientation or gender identity, is now formally barred in the state after the new rule took effect late Tuesday.
A spokesperson for Republican Gov. Gary Herbert, who directed licensing regulators to make the change, confirmed the move to NPR on Wednesday.
"We want to thank Governor Herbert and his administration for not allowing this issue to be politicized," Troy Williams, the executive director of Equality Utah, said at a Wednesday news conference celebrating the news. "He saw how polarizing this was becoming, and he made the decision to allow science to prevail over politics. He kept his word to the LGBTQ community, and we are deeply grateful to him."
There are some key exceptions: The ban doesn't apply to clergy, religious counselors, parents or grandparents, so long as they're not acting as psychologists.
Still, the rule exists — a simple fact that, for a long time, was far from ensured.
An attempt to get a ban passed in the state legislature collapsed last year, after conservative lawmakers amended the bill so extensively that by the time it received committee approval, even its sponsor, Rep. Craig Hall, had effectively disowned it. The measure stalled in the state House of Representatives.
So Herbert requested that state regulators review and propose new rules concerning the practice.
"I certainly have concerns about some of the abuse that I've heard talked about, but I'm not a psychologist," Herbert said during a news conference last June, when he announced his request. "This is not my background. I'm going to rely upon the experts to tell us what should be done, or not be done, or how it should be done."
YouTube
A host of medical professionals — including the American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics — has outright rejected conversion therapy as "futile and destructive."
LGBTQ young people are already significantly more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers. But according to researchers at San Francisco State University, rates of attempted suicide among LGBTQ youth more than double when parents try to change their sexual orientation. And those rates triple when parents and therapists and religious leaders try to do so.
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"It was a lot of messaging of like, 'The way you are right now is problematic, and people will not like you or accept you the way you are' — which, as a 16-year-old, that's the last thing you need to hear from adults," Nathan Dalley, a student at the University of Utah and an outspoken conversion therapy survivor, told Nicole Nixon of member station KUER on Wednesday.
"I'm really happy to hear that youth are protected from this practice and that families in the future will not have to deal with the effects of conversion therapy," Dalley added. "It's hard to deal with. It's hard to address. It's hard to talk about, and it's hard to heal from."
Still, critics feel confident that lawmakers will push back on the move, which largely implements changes that conservative legislators sought to stifle.
"I'm sure something will be done," Gayle Ruzicka, president of the conservative Utah Eagle Forum, told The Salt Lake Tribune.
For now, at least, the new rule vaults Utah into some unlikely company. Currently, 18 other states and the District of Columbia ban conversion therapy for minors — and the lawmaking bodies of all but a few have Democratic majorities. Utah is the only state with such a ban where Republicans control the governor's mansion and both houses of the state legislature.


npr--2020-01-23--Actress Annabella Sciorra Testifies That Harvey Weinstein Raped Her

Actress Annabella Sciorra took the stand Thursday in the criminal sex crimes trial of movie producer Harvey Weinstein .
She is the first of six women expected to testify that Weinstein raped or sexually assaulted them .
Weinstein is charged with five counts of rape and assault against two women in New York City .
Weinstein maintains all of the sexual contact was consensual .
Sciorra spent several emotional hours on the witness stand , testifying that Weinstein raped her in the winter of 1993-94 .
Though sometimes tearful testimony , she explained to the jury how she came to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the actress , the two first met at a party in Los Angeles sometime in early 1990s , after which he gave her a ride home .
As NPR 's Rose Friedman reported , Sciorra eventually set up a table read of a script for Weinstein .
At the time , she said she did not want to act in the project but he insisted .
`` He sent her gifts , '' Friedman said , including `` some penis-shaped chocolates and a bottle of valium . ''
When she declined , Weinstein @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was n't until another encounter in New York that Weinstein assaulted her , Sciorra told the court .
After a dinner with other film industry people , Sciorra said she accepted a ride home from Weinstein .
`` She says he dropped her off at her apartment building , she went upstairs , got ready for bed . ''
A few minutes later , however , Weinstein was back , according to Scoirra .
She said he pushed his way into her apartment and began looking to see if she was alone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she added .
Throughout her testimony , Sciorra attempted to preempt questions about whether or not she had misled Weinstein , saying that she never gave any indication that she was interested in a sexual relationship with him .
She recounted that he asked him to leave , and that when he put his hands on her she yelled and fought .
`` `` I said , 'No , no , ' but there was not much I could do at that point , '' Sciorra said before describing the rape in detail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It was just so disgusting that my body started to shake in a way that was unusual .
I did n't really even know what was happening .
It was like a seizure , '' she said At one point she demonstrated how she says Weinstein , who towered over her my nearly a foot , held her down on the bed , standing up and crossing her wrists high above her head .
She told the courtroom she tried to confront Weinstein about what she says he 'd done , telling him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` That 's what all the nice Catholic girls say , '' Weinstein allegedly responded .
Weinstein 's legal team has maintained that each of the incidents in the charges against him were consensual .
During cross examination , his attorney Donna Rotunno zeroed in with logistical questions about how Weinstein supposedly made his way into Sciorra 's apartment building , past the doorman and other security measures .
Rotunno asked how Weinstein knew the actress 's apartment number .
She asked about the layout and whether Sciorra 's neighbors who would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her on why she was unable to get away and why Sciorra did n't report the alleged assault to the police .
`` I would say I felt at the time that rape was something that happened in a back alley ... by someone you did n't know , '' Sciorra replied .

Actress Annabella Sciorra Testifies That Harvey Weinstein Raped Her
Enlarge this image toggle caption Richard Drew/AP Richard Drew/AP
Actress Annabella Sciorra took the stand Thursday in the criminal sex crimes trial of movie producer Harvey Weinstein.
She is the first of six women expected to testify that they were raped or sexually assaulted by Weinstein.
Weinstein is charged with five counts of rape and assault against two women in New York City. Weinstein maintains all of the sexual contact was consensual.
Sciorra spent several emotional hours on the witness stand, testifying that Weinstein raped her in the winter of 1993-94. Through sometimes tearful testimony, she explained to the jury how she came to know the movie mogul.
According to the actress, the two first met at a party in Los Angeles sometime in 1990, after which he gave her a ride home.
As NPR's Rose Friedman reported, Sciorra eventually set up a table read of a script for Weinstein. At the time, she said she did not want to act in the project but he insisted.
"He sent her gifts," Friedman said, including "some penis-shaped chocolates and a bottle of valium."
When she declined, Weinstein allegedly threatened to sue her.
But it wasn't until another encounter in New York that Weinstein assaulted her, Sciorra told the court.
After a dinner with other film industry people, Sciorra said she accepted a ride home from Weinstein. "She says he dropped her off at her apartment building, she went upstairs, got ready for bed."
A few minutes later, however, Weinstein was back, according to Scoirra.
She said he pushed his way into her apartment and began looking to see if she was alone. All while unbuttoning his shirt, she added.
Throughout her testimony, Sciorra attempted to preempt questions about whether or not she had misled Weinstein, saying that she never gave any indication that she was interested in a sexual relationship with him.
She recounted that he asked him to leave, and that when he put his hands on her she yelled and fought.
""I said, 'No, no,' but there was not much I could do at that point," Sciorra said before describing the rape in detail.
"My body shut down. It was just so disgusting that my body started to shake in a way that was unusual. I didn't really even know what was happening. It was like a seizure," she said
At one point she demonstrated how she says Weinstein, who towered over her by nearly a foot, held her down on the bed, standing up and crossing her wrists high above her head.
At times Sciorra cried telling the story.
She told the courtroom she tried to confront Weinstein about what she says he'd done, telling him she thought she had blacked out afterwards.
"That's what all the nice Catholic girls say," Weinstein allegedly responded.
Weinstein's legal team has maintained that each of the incidents in the charges against him were consensual.
During cross examination, his attorney Donna Rotunno zeroed in with logistical questions about how Weinstein supposedly made his way into Sciorra's apartment building, past the doorman and other security measures.
Rotunno asked how Weinstein knew the actress's apartment number. She asked about the layout and whether Sciorra's neighbors who would have heard her. She also quizzed her on why she was unable to get away and why Sciorra didn't report the alleged assault to the police.
"I would say I felt at the time that rape was something that happened in a back alley ... by someone you didn't know," Sciorra replied.


npr--2020-01-23--The End May Be Nearer: Doomsday Clock Moves Within 100 Seconds Of Midnight

The End May Be Nearer : Doomsday Clock Moves Within 100 Seconds Of Midnight Two years after moving the metaphorical minute hand of its Doomsday Clock to within two minutes to midnight — a figurative two-minute warning for all humanity — the science and security board of the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists revealed Thursday that it has moved that minute hand another 20 seconds closer to the midnight hour .
`` It is 100 seconds to midnight , '' declared the Bulletin 's president and CEO , Rachel Bronson , at a Washington , D.C. , news conference as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clock .
Never since the clock 's 1947 Cold War debut has it come so close to the putative doomsday annihilation represented by the 12 a.m. hour .
`` The Doomsday Clock is a globally recognized indicator of the vulnerability of our existence , '' said former Irish president Mary Robinson at the annual clock-unveiling ceremony .
`` It 's a striking metaphor for the precarious state of the world , but most frighteningly , it 's a metaphor backed by rigorous scientific scrutiny . ''
With 13 Nobel laureates on its board @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the atomic bomb-building Manhattan Project during World War II , the University of Chicago-based Bulletin of Atomic Scientists has used its Doomsday Clock to register existential threat levels and raise awareness of them .
In 1953 , months after the U.S. tested its first hydrogen bomb and as the Soviet Union was about to do the same , the Doomsday Clock was also set within two minutes of midnight .
The minute hand was moved back gradually as nuclear arms control agreements reduced the threat of global catastrophe .
By the time the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ended in 1991 , the clock was set at an unprecedented 17 minutes to midnight .
It 's moved closer ever since .
`` What you 're hearing , '' said former California Democratic governor Jerry Brown , who appeared at the event as the Bulletin 's new executive chairman , `` is really the voices of the prophets of doom .
Speaking of danger and destruction is never very easy — if you speak the truth , people will not want to listen , because it 's too awful , and it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' The clock 's minute hand was moved forward after the August 2019 collapse of the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Agreement between the U.S. and Russia .
The demise of the pact frees both nations to deploy land-based missiles over ranges that leave little time for a response .
There were also growing signs in 2019 that the Trump administration was aiming to withdraw from the Open Skies Treaty that allows the U.S. and Russia to observe one another 's military installations through closely monitored overflights .
And Iran increased its stockpile of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ centrifuges last year in the aftermath of the U.S. withdrawing from a multi-nation nuclear pact with Iran forged during the Obama administration .
`` I have to admit [ that ] we set the clock in November , '' said George Washington University research professor Sharon Squassoni .
`` This was before recent military actions by the U.S. and Iran , Iran 's statement or threat that it might leave the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty , and North Korea 's abandonment of talks with the United States . ''
A growing number of disasters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the continued consumption of fossil fuels was another factor cited for moving the clock even closer to midnight .
`` We 're in it , it 's dire , but we 're not there yet , '' said Brown .
`` We can still pull back from the brink , but we have to do what we 're not doing .
Whatever we 've done to date , it is totally inadequate . ''
Brown , who served four terms as California 's top executive , noted that he 'd spent his life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he described as `` totally ignorant , blind and deaf to our predicament . ''
`` So the task is wake up , '' the 81-year-old former governor concluded .
`` Wake up America , wake up the world , it is 100 minutes before doomsday ! ''
Former Irish President Robinson leaned over to softly correct Brown .
`` One hundred seconds before doomsday , '' she murmured , amid laughter .
`` Seconds ? ''
replied Brown .
`` Well , it just shows you , we do n't even know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ !
There 's exhibit A of why we 've got a problem !
It is definitely more serious than minutes , it 's seconds . ''

The End May Be Nearer: Doomsday Clock Moves Within 100 Seconds Of Midnight
Enlarge this image toggle caption Eva Hambach/AFP via Getty Images Eva Hambach/AFP via Getty Images
Two years after moving the metaphorical minute hand of its Doomsday Clock to within two minutes of midnight — a figurative two-minute warning for all humanity — the science and security board of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists revealed Thursday that it has moved that minute hand another 20 seconds closer to the midnight hour.
National Security How Trump Has Tried To Scale Back Nuclear Programs In North Korea And Iran How Trump Has Tried To Scale Back Nuclear Programs In North Korea And Iran Listen · 4:23 4:23
"It is 100 seconds to midnight," declared the Bulletin's president and CEO, Rachel Bronson, at a Washington, D.C., news conference as a black cloth was lifted to reveal the clock.
Never since the clock's 1947 Cold War debut has it come so close to the putative doomsday annihilation represented by the 12 a.m. hour.
"The Doomsday Clock is a globally recognized indicator of the vulnerability of our existence," said former Irish President Mary Robinson at the annual clock-unveiling ceremony. "It's a striking metaphor for the precarious state of the world, but most frighteningly, it's a metaphor backed by rigorous scientific scrutiny."
With 13 Nobel laureates on its board and founded by scientists who worked on the atomic bomb-building Manhattan Project during World War II, the University of Chicago-based Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists has used its Doomsday Clock to register existential threat levels and raise awareness of them.
In 1953, months after the U.S. tested its first hydrogen bomb and as the Soviet Union was about to do the same, the Doomsday Clock was also set within two minutes of midnight. The minute hand was moved back gradually as nuclear arms control agreements reduced the threat of global catastrophe.
By the time the Soviet Union collapsed and the Cold War ended in 1991, the clock was set at an unprecedented 17 minutes to midnight. It has moved closer ever since.
"What you're hearing," said former California Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown, who appeared at the event as the Bulletin's new executive chairman, "is really the voices of the prophets of doom. Speaking of danger and destruction is never very easy — if you speak the truth, people will not want to listen, because it's too awful and it makes you sound like a crackpot."
The clock's minute hand was moved forward after the August 2019 collapse of the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty between the U.S. and Russia. The demise of the pact frees both nations to deploy land-based missiles over ranges that leave little time for a response.
There were also growing signs in 2019 that the Trump administration was aiming to withdraw from the Open Skies Treaty, which allows the U.S. and Russia to observe one another's military installations through closely monitored overflights.
And Iran increased its stockpile of low-enriched uranium and added new and improved centrifuges last year in the aftermath of the U.S. withdrawing from a multination nuclear pact with Iran that was forged during the Obama administration.
"I have to admit [that] we set the clock in November," said George Washington University research professor Sharon Squassoni. "This was before recent military actions by the U.S. and Iran, Iran's statement or threat that it might leave the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and North Korea's abandonment of talks with the United States."
A growing number of disasters linked to global climate change resulting from the continued consumption of fossil fuels was another factor cited for moving the clock even closer to midnight.
"We're in it, it's dire, but we're not there yet," said Brown. "We can still pull back from the brink, but we have to do what we're not doing. Whatever we've done to date, it is totally inadequate."
Brown, who served four terms as California's top executive, noted that he'd spent his life seeking the favor of powerful people whom he described as "totally ignorant, blind and deaf to our predicament."
"So the task is wake up," the 81-year-old former governor concluded. "Wake up America, wake up the world — it is 100 minutes before doomsday!"
Robinson, the former Irish president, leaned over to softly correct Brown.
"One hundred seconds before doomsday," she murmured, amid laughter.
"Seconds?" replied Brown. "Well, it just shows you, we don't even know what the hell we're talking about! There's Exhibit A of why we've got a problem! It is definitely more serious than minutes — it's seconds."


npr--2020-01-23--'Like A Prisoner Being Let Free': Israel-Hamas Truce Lends Hope To Gaza's Jobless

'Like A Prisoner Being Let Free ' : Israel-Hamas Truce Lends Hope To Gaza 's Jobless The White House has invited Israeli leaders to visit next week to discuss the administration 's long-awaited Middle East peace plan .
Meanwhile , on their own , Israelis and Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have brokered something that 's already having a modest impact .
Strawberries and snacks from Gaza may now be sold abroad .
Gazan fishermen can venture farther into the Mediterranean for a better catch .
Thousands of unemployed Palestinians are suddenly allowed to leave the territory to work in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ These changes are part of an unwritten deal between Israel and Gaza 's Hamas leaders that has been in the works for months .
It is so sensitive that the sides wo n't call it a truce or a cease-fire , but rather `` The Understandings . ''
Israel is easing some of its tough restrictions on trade and travel out of Gaza .
That 's on the condition that Hamas — an Islamist militant organization that Israel and the U.S. consider a terrorist group — halts rocket fire into Israel and violent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's unclear how the arrangement could be affected by the possibly imminent release of the Trump administration 's peace plan .
But The Understandings are offering a small window of hope for residents of the impoverished , blockaded territory , which has been the scene of some of the worst fighting in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in recent years .
Mahmoud Ghaben , a Gazan resident , secured a coveted permit last August to work plastering buildings in Israel .
`` It 's like finding treasure , '' says Ghaben , who now wakes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crossing through the fortified border checkpoint .
`` Like a prisoner being let free . ''
He threw a party with a live band when his work permit came through .
His cousin took a joy ride through Gaza , stereo blaring , when he got his .
For about two years , Palestinians held weekly protests at the border , some demonstrating nonviolently and others launching grenades or fire-blazing kites and balloons into Israel and trying to breach the border fence .
Israeli forces called them rioters and fired live ammunition at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wounding thousands .
Now Palestinian border demonstrations are on hold , as are Israeli troops firing in response .
`` Let 's remember what was the situation in Gaza before The Understandings .
It was about to explode , '' says Hamas spokesman Abdel-Latif Qanou .
`` Gaza was on the edge of collapsing .
Now we have a lot of improvement that everybody can see . ''
After Hamas took over Gaza in 2007 , Israel and Egypt imposed a blockade on the territory , preventing most travel and exports out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three Hamas-Israel wars and recent sanctions from the Palestinian Authority have exacerbated Gaza 's economic crisis .
The territory has endured daily power cuts , a lack of clean water , poor medical services and a collapsed economy .
The statistics are bleak : 53 % of Gaza 's nearly 2 million people live in poverty and around 50 % of its workers are unemployed , according to a recent United Nations report .
But in May 2018 , Egypt opened its border for travel out of Gaza .
Qatar is currently pumping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and fuel .
Israel is also boosting electricity in the territory to reduce daily power cuts .
A U.S. Christian group , Friend Ships , is pitching tents on the Gaza side of the Israeli border wall for a field hospital .
Israel gave Gazan strawberry farmers permission to export abroad to the United Kingdom and Gulf Arab countries last month , but not yet to Israel .
The Sarayo Alwadiya snack factory was granted Israeli permission to export overseas also in December .
Its beloved Shatawi , chocolate covered cream puffs made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Crembo , is now sold in Saudi Arabia .
With growing access to markets , owner Wael Wadiya is expanding the brand 's offerings to include hazelnut , Oreo-style , coconut and dried fruit toppings .
`` Necessity is the mother of invention .
When the gate to export was opened , I thought , what can we do new ? ''
he says .
The most dramatic change can be seen before dawn on Sundays at the fortified Israeli border , as Palestinian workers stream out of a hulking steel terminal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few years , Israel has gradually issued more work permits to Gazans , now reaching a record high of about 5,500 Palestinian workers , Palestinian officials say .
The usually quiet parking lot on the Israeli side of the border is now outfitted with a bathroom outhouse and teeming with minibus drivers calling out `` Tel Aviv ! ''
`` Ramle ! ''
and `` Lod ! ''
— cities in Israel to which they will shuttle Palestinian workers .
Most of the laborers sleep in the West Bank on weeknights and return @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they can make about 10 times as much money in Israel as they can in Gaza .
The Israeli Defense Ministry agency that administers the employment licenses told NPR that only business people and traders — not day laborers — now receive Israeli work permits .
It would not comment further on the policy change .
But Gazans say they 've gotten around that rule .
Men gathered recently at the border parking lot said they were , in fact , day laborers at Israeli construction sites .
They had to fork out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apparently faked invoices and paperwork — to officials in Gaza , to register as merchants with business to attend to in Israel or the Israeli-occupied West Bank , according to the Gaza City Chamber of Commerce .
This arrangement is an open secret , likely known to all officials involved .
It 's unclear whether it 's designed to avoid a backlash from the Israeli public about a deluge of Palestinian laborers in Israel , says Tania Hary , the executive director of Gisha , an Israeli legal group promoting freedom of movement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 13 years , residents of Gaza have been under a chokehold that 's tightened or loosened depending on political circumstances , '' Hary says .
`` When Israeli officials sense that things are getting too unstable , they release pressure by allowing slightly more movement and access , but there 's never been a decision to fundamentally transform the situation in a way that would actually allow people to thrive . ''
Last year , Gaza residents protested over their poor living conditions and blamed Hamas , which drew a heavy crackdown from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ease restrictions on Gaza could give Hamas a lifeline .
`` It will be good for Hamas that the daily life conditions will improve , '' says Mkhaimar Abusada , who teaches political science at Gaza 's al-Azhar University .
`` That will ease the internal pressure against Hamas . ''
But Israeli or Hamas leaders could renege on their side of the informal agreement in an instant if heavy violence resumes .
Even now , many Gazans say they do n't feel the benefits of the new gestures .
Hisham Abu Ghaben @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Israel before the border was sealed , but now has no job and no money to pay for the paperwork to apply for an Israeli work permit .
( He is unrelated to Mahmoud Ghaben . )
His 18-year-old son , Mohammed , is one of more than 100 Young Palestinians who had a leg amputated after being shot by Israeli troops at Gaza border protests .
`` There were lots of sacrifices .
What did we get in return ?
Why did the protests stop ?
I want to understand why .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Abu Ghaben says .
The Understandings are criticized in Israel , too .
Centrist politician Gantz , running against Prime Minister Netanyahu in March elections , says Netanyahu is appeasing terrorists .
Some in Israel say the concessions to Hamas could convince Palestinians that violence pays off .
Others say Hamas should first return two Israeli captives and the bodies of two killed Israeli soldiers .
`` This is a clear-eyed policy to allow us to calm things down and bring quiet .
This is not a wide arrangement .
When we get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like a prisoner swap , '' Israeli Cabinet minister Yoav Gallant said on local TV .
The indirect agreement is very different from Israel 's longtime policy to isolate Hamas and break its hold on Gaza .
Instead , Hamas and average Gazans are getting some relief .

'Like A Prisoner Being Let Free': Israel-Hamas Truce Lends Hope To Gaza's Jobless
Enlarge this image toggle caption Loay Ayyoub for NPR Loay Ayyoub for NPR
The White House has invited Israeli leaders to visit next week to discuss the administration's long-awaited Middle East peace plan. Meanwhile, Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have already brokered their own unofficial deal with Israel — and it's beginning to have an impact.
Strawberries and snacks from Gaza may now be sold abroad. Gazan fishermen can venture farther into the Mediterranean for a better catch. Thousands of unemployed Palestinians are suddenly allowed to leave the territory to work in Israel after more than a decade.
These changes are part of an unwritten deal between Israel and Gaza's Hamas leaders that has been in the works for months. It is so sensitive that the sides won't call it a truce or a cease-fire, but rather "The Understandings."
Israel is easing some of its tough restrictions on trade and travel out of Gaza. That's on the condition that Hamas — an Islamist militant organization that Israel and the U.S. consider a terrorist group — halts rocket fire into Israel and violent confrontations at the Israeli border.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mohammed Abed/AFP via Getty Images Mohammed Abed/AFP via Getty Images
It's unclear how the arrangement could be affected by the U.S. peace plan for the region. President Trump said he will probably release the proposal sometime before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and rival Israeli politician Benny Gantz make a planned visit to Washington on Tuesday.
But The Understandings could offer a small window of hope for residents of the impoverished, blockaded territory, which has been the scene of some of the worst fighting in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in recent years.
Mahmoud Ghaben, a Gazan resident, secured a coveted permit last August to work plastering buildings in Israel. "It's like finding treasure," says Ghaben, who now wakes up before dawn to join the crowds crossing through the fortified border checkpoint. "Like a prisoner being let free."
He threw a party with a live band when his work permit came through. His cousin took a joy ride through Gaza, stereo blaring, when he got his.
Border protests on hold
For about two years, Palestinians held weekly protests at the border, some demonstrating nonviolently and others launching grenades or fire-blazing kites and balloons into Israel and trying to breach the border fence. Israeli forces called them rioters and fired live ammunition at them, killing several hundred Palestinians and wounding thousands.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mahmud Hams/AFP via Getty Images Mahmud Hams/AFP via Getty Images
Now Palestinian border demonstrations are on hold, as are Israeli troops firing in response.
"Let's remember what was the situation in Gaza before The Understandings. It was about to explode," says Hamas spokesman Abdel-Latif Qanou. "Gaza was on the edge of collapsing. Now we have a lot of improvement that everybody can see."
After Hamas took over Gaza in 2007, Israel and Egypt imposed a blockade on the territory, preventing most travel and exports out of Gaza. On top of that, three Hamas-Israel wars and recent sanctions from the Palestinian Authority have exacerbated Gaza's economic crisis. The territory has endured daily power cuts, a lack of clean water, poor medical services and a collapsed economy. The statistics are bleak: 53% of Gaza's nearly 2 million people live in poverty and around 50% of its workers are unemployed, according to a recent United Nations report.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Loay Ayyoub for NPR Loay Ayyoub for NPR
Partial easing of blockade
But in May 2018, Egypt opened its border for travel out of Gaza. Qatar is currently pumping into Gaza millions of dollars in aid and fuel. Israel is also boosting electricity in the territory to reduce daily power cuts. A U.S. Christian group, Friend Ships, is pitching tents on the Gaza side of the Israeli border wall for a field hospital.
Israel gave Gazan strawberry farmers permission to export abroad to the United Kingdom and Gulf Arab countries last month, but not yet to Israel. The Sarayo Alwadiya snack factory was granted Israeli permission to export overseas also in December. Its beloved Shatawi, chocolate covered cream puffs made in the winter and known in Israel as Crembo, is now sold in Saudi Arabia. With growing access to markets, owner Wael Wadiya is expanding the brand's offerings to include hazelnut, Oreo-style, coconut and dried fruit toppings.
"Necessity is the mother of invention. When the gate to export was opened, I thought, what can we do new?" he says.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Loay Ayyoub for NPR Loay Ayyoub for NPR
The most dramatic change can be seen before dawn on Sundays at the fortified Israeli border, as Palestinian workers stream out of a hulking steel terminal into southern Israel.
Over the last few years, Israel has gradually issued more work permits to Gazans, now reaching a record high of about 5,500 Palestinian workers, Palestinian officials say.
The usually quiet parking lot on the Israeli side of the border is now outfitted with a bathroom outhouse and teeming with minibus drivers calling out "Tel Aviv!" "Ramle!" and "Lod!" — cities in Israel to which they will shuttle Palestinian workers. Most of the laborers sleep in the West Bank on weeknights and return to Gaza on weekends. Laborers say they can make about 10 times as much money in Israel as they can in Gaza.
"A chokehold that's tightened or loosened"
The Israeli Defense Ministry agency that administers the employment licenses told NPR that only business people and traders — not day laborers — now receive Israeli work permits. It would not comment further on the policy change.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Loay Ayyoub for NPR Loay Ayyoub for NPR
But Gazans say they've gotten around that rule. Men gathered recently at the border parking lot said they were, in fact, day laborers at Israeli construction sites. They had to fork out a few hundred dollars — plus show apparently faked invoices and paperwork — to officials in Gaza, to register as merchants with business to attend to in Israel or the Israeli-occupied West Bank, according to the Gaza City Chamber of Commerce.
This arrangement is an open secret, likely known to all officials involved. It's unclear whether it's designed to avoid a backlash from the Israeli public about a deluge of Palestinian laborers in Israel, says Tania Hary, the executive director of Gisha, an Israeli legal group promoting freedom of movement for Gazans.
"For more than 13 years, residents of Gaza have been under a chokehold that's tightened or loosened depending on political circumstances," Hary says. "When Israeli officials sense that things are getting too unstable, they release pressure by allowing slightly more movement and access, but there's never been a decision to fundamentally transform the situation in a way that would actually allow people to thrive."
"Lots of sacrifices"
Last year, Gaza residents protested over their poor living conditions and blamed Hamas, which drew a heavy crackdown from Gaza's rulers.
A deal to ease restrictions on Gaza could give Hamas a lifeline. "It will be good for Hamas that the daily life conditions will improve," says Mkhaimar Abusada, who teaches political science at Gaza's al-Azhar University. "That will ease the internal pressure against Hamas."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Loay Ayyoub for NPR Loay Ayyoub for NPR
But Israeli or Hamas leaders could renege on their side of the informal agreement in an instant if heavy violence resumes. Even now, many Gazans say they don't feel the benefits of the new gestures.
Hisham Abu Ghaben used to work at a restaurant in Israel before the border was sealed, but now has no job and no money to pay for the paperwork to apply for an Israeli work permit. (He is unrelated to Mahmoud Ghaben.)
He called The Understandings a Bollywood film.
His 18-year-old son, Mohammed, is one of more than 100 young Palestinians who had a leg amputated after being shot by Israeli troops at Gaza border protests.
"There were lots of sacrifices. What did we get in return? Why did the protests stop? I want to understand why. What solution did it bring?" Abu Ghaben says.
The Understandings are criticized in Israel, too. Centrist politician Gantz, running against Prime Minister Netanyahu in March elections, says Netanyahu is appeasing terrorists. Some in Israel say the concessions to Hamas could convince Palestinians that violence pays off. Others say Hamas should first return two Israeli captives and the bodies of two killed Israeli soldiers.
"This is a clear-eyed policy to allow us to calm things down and bring quiet. This is not a wide arrangement. When we get there, we will have demands, like a prisoner swap," Israeli Cabinet minister Yoav Gallant said on local TV.
The indirect agreement is very different from Israel's longtime policy to isolate Hamas and break its hold on Gaza.
Instead, Hamas and average Gazans are getting some relief.


npr--2020-01-23--Pharmaceutical Executive John Kapoor Sentenced To 66 Months In Prison In Opioid Trial

Pharmaceutical Executive John Kapoor Sentenced To 66 Months In Prison In Opioid Trial Former billionaire and pharmaceutical executive John Kapoor has been sentenced to five years and six months in prison .
His sentencing is the culmination of a months-long criminal trial in Boston 's Moakley U.S .
Courthouse that resulted in the first successful prosecution of pharmaceutical executives tied to the opioid epidemic .
The 76-year-old is the founder of Insys Therapeutics , which made and aggressively marketed the potent opioid painkiller Subsys .
Kapoor 's 66-month prison term is substantially less than the 15-year sentence recommended by federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the one year requested by Kapoor 's defense attorneys , who maintained the executive 's innocence and stressed his old age as reason for a short prison sentence .
U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs explained that she reached the lesser sentence after considering Kapoor 's advanced age and philanthropy , as well as `` his central role in the crime , '' The Associated Press reported .
Kapoor and four other executives were found guilty last year of orchestrating a criminal conspiracy to bribe doctors to prescribe the company 's medication , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They then lied to insurance companies to make sure the costly oral fentanyl spray was covered .
The painkiller , which was intended for cancer patients , could cost as much as $ 19,000 a month .
Two other executives pleaded guilty and became cooperating witnesses .
The other executives received between one year and 33 months , significantly less than many of the prison terms recommended by the federal prosecutors .
Earlier on Thursday , Insys sales chief Alec Burlakoff was sentenced to 26 months in prison for his role in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This was an offense of greed , '' Burroughs said before sentencing Burlakoff .
The sales executive hired a stripper as a Subsys sales representative to help persuade doctors to boost prescriptions .
The woman , named Sunrise Lee , eventually was promoted to oversee a third of the company 's sales force .
`` I did n't think of who we were at Insys and how unethical what we were doing was , '' he told the judge on Thursday , according to Bloomberg .
`` The only thing I could think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fast and furious pace necessary to get ahead . ''
For the federal government , this was a landmark trial in which corporate executives were charged under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act , or RICO , a charge often reserved for mob bosses and drug lords .
Experts saw the trial as sending a message to drug companies that they will be held criminally accountable for their alleged role in fueling the opioid crisis .
`` I think this is just the tip of the iceberg , '' said Brad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ current defense attorney who has been following the Insys trial closely .
`` It 's a template that prosecutors will continue to use . ''
While these seven Insys executives have been in court and awaiting sentencing , the company entered into an agreement with the government to settle criminal and civil investigations .
Insys agreed to pay $ 225 million and admitted to the kickback scheme .
Shortly after the agreement was announced , the company filed for bankruptcy .
Bailey said that between the prison sentences and the company 's financial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that this was a cautionary tale to all executives . ''
Ameet Sarpatwari , a physician and the assistant director of Harvard University 's Program on Regulation , Therapeutics , and Law , thinks this trial will have a chilling effect on the pharmaceutical industry .
`` It 's an important warning to other pharmaceutical manufacturers and executives who may be considering pushing their products through aggressive , and possibly legally dubious , marketing schemes , '' said Sarpatwari .
`` The consequences for such actions may not simply be fines — which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doing business — but possibly jail time . ''
However , he said , this successful prosecution does not mean the practices that contributed to overprescribing and addiction to opioids will go away .
`` A lot of the activities that you see within the industry that are effective are technically legal .
And so , if that 's the case , is this going to curb those aggressive tactics ?
No , but it will give second thought to pushing the boundaries , '' said Sarpatwari .
`` I think that is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the case . ''

Pharmaceutical Executive John Kapoor Sentenced To 66 Months In Prison In Opioid Trial
Enlarge this image toggle caption Charles Krupa/AP Charles Krupa/AP
Updated at 5:30 p.m. ET
Former billionaire and pharmaceutical executive John Kapoor has been sentenced to five years and six months in prison. His sentencing is the culmination of a months-long criminal trial in Boston's Moakley U.S. Courthouse that resulted in the first successful prosecution of pharmaceutical executives tied to the opioid epidemic.
The 76-year-old is the founder of Insys Therapeutics, which made and aggressively marketed the potent opioid painkiller Subsys.
Kapoor's 66-month prison term is substantially less than the 15-year sentence recommended by federal prosecutors, but it is more than the one year requested by Kapoor's defense attorneys, who maintained the executive's innocence and stressed his old age as reason for a short prison sentence.
U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs explained that she reached the lesser sentence after considering Kapoor's advanced age and philanthropy, as well as "his central role in the crime," The Associated Press reported.
Kapoor and four other executives were found guilty last year of orchestrating a criminal conspiracy to bribe doctors to prescribe the company's medication, including to patients who didn't need it. They then lied to insurance companies to make sure the costly oral fentanyl spray was covered.
The painkiller, which was intended for cancer patients, could cost as much as $19,000 a month.
Two other executives pleaded guilty and became cooperating witnesses.
The other executives received between one year and 33 months, significantly less than many of the prison terms recommended by the federal prosecutors.
Earlier on Thursday, Insys sales chief Alec Burlakoff was sentenced to 26 months in prison for his role in the bribery and fraud scheme.
"This was an offense of greed," Burroughs said before sentencing Burlakoff.
The sales executive hired a stripper as a Subsys sales representative to help persuade doctors to boost prescriptions. The woman, named Sunrise Lee, eventually was promoted to oversee a third of the company's sales force.
"I didn't think of who we were at Insys and how unethical what we were doing was," he told the judge on Thursday, according to Bloomberg. "The only thing I could think was how could I keep up with the fast and furious pace necessary to get ahead."
For the federal government, this was a landmark trial in which corporate executives were charged under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO, a charge often reserved for mob bosses and drug lords. Experts saw the trial as sending a message to drug companies that they will be held criminally accountable for their alleged role in fueling the opioid crisis.
"I think this is just the tip of the iceberg," said Brad Bailey, a former federal prosecutor and current defense attorney who has been following the Insys trial closely. "It's a template that prosecutors will continue to use."
While these seven Insys executives have been in court and awaiting sentencing, the company entered into an agreement with the government to settle criminal and civil investigations. Insys agreed to pay $225 million and admitted to the kickback scheme. Shortly after the agreement was announced, the company filed for bankruptcy.
Bailey said that between the prison sentences and the company's financial woes, "there's no question that this was a cautionary tale to all executives."
Ameet Sarpatwari, a physician and the assistant director of Harvard University's Program on Regulation, Therapeutics, and Law, thinks this trial will have a chilling effect on the pharmaceutical industry.
"It's an important warning to other pharmaceutical manufacturers and executives who may be considering pushing their products through aggressive, and possibly legally dubious, marketing schemes," said Sarpatwari. "The consequences for such actions may not simply be fines — which has historically simply been the cost of doing business — but possibly jail time."
However, he said, this successful prosecution does not mean the practices that contributed to overprescribing and addiction to opioids will go away.
"A lot of the activities that you see within the industry that are effective are technically legal. And so, if that's the case, is this going to curb those aggressive tactics? No, but it will give second thought to pushing the boundaries," said Sarpatwari. "I think that is going to be the hopefully helpful fallout of the case."


npr--2020-01-23--MAP: Confirmed Cases Of Wuhan Coronavirus

Since the Wuhan coronavirus was first reported in December , the bulk of the confirmed cases have been in China , but there have been cases also reported in nearby countries like Japan and Singapore as well as in the U.S .
Such cases are typically in an individual who had recently been in Wuhan , where the virus was first identified .
Do n't see the graphic above ?
Click here .
Home to 11 million people , the central Chinese city is a major rail and road hub .
Its international airport has direct flights to airports in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in New York and the San Francisco airport .
Wuhan also has the country 's largest inland port on the Yangtze River .
The virus is marked by symptoms such as fever and pneumonia .
There are now more than 600 confirmed cases and at least 17 deaths as of Jan. 23 , according to the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health of Hong Kong .
On Thursday , Chinese officials announced the suspension of public transportation within and departing from Wuhan .
According to Chinese state media , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city , a traveler would have to present what authorities are characterizing as `` special reason . ''

Coronavirus world map: We've now passed the 600 million mark for infections
Editor's note: This page is no longer being updated. The last update was Sept. 5, 2022. For current data about COVID-19 cases and deaths around the world, Johns Hopkins University and Our World in Data are useful resources.
In late January 2020 only a few dozen COVID-19 infections had been identified outside of China. A year later, the world tallied its first 100 million cases. It took the globe just 7 more months to pass the 200 million mark— then another 5 months to hit 300 million, according to researchers at Johns Hopkins University. Now the virus has spread to every corner of the globe and has been blamed for more than 6 million deaths.
The United States, India and Brazil in that order have had the most COVID cases and the three nations collectively account for almost half of all recorded infections so far in the pandemic.
Explore the chart below to find a country-by-country breakdown of new and total cases since January 2020.
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Explore how the number of coronavirus cases have shifted in different parts of the world over time. The first chart compares each continent to each other, while the next charts highlight the number of cases in select countries by region.
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This story was originally published on March 30, 2020.