npr--2020-12-27--Tony Rice, A Giant Of The Acoustic Guitar, Dead At 69

Tony Rice , A Giant Of The Acoustic Guitar , Dead At 69 Tony Rice could seemingly do it all : sing , compose , play spot-on rhythm .
But it was his guitar solos that just astounded audiences and fellow musicians alike .
He was idolized by bluegrass and acoustic music fans in large part because he was determined never to let them down .
Rice died on Christmas morning at the age of 69 .
His death was first announced by the International Bluegrass Music Association .
David Anthony Rice was born in Danville , Va. , on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a welder and the family moved to Los Angeles , where the youngster got into bluegrass .
His first big influence was guitarist Clarence White and the Kentucky Colonels .
At the age of 19 , Rice moved back East to play professionally , eventually joining banjo player J.D .
Crowe 's band , the New South .
In 1975 , they released the landmark album , J.D .
Crowe and the New South .
Its progressive sounds marked a dramatic shift in bluegrass and the album became so iconic among fans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ record label catalogue number : Rounder 0044 .
It was during this period that Rice first heard the music of mandolinist David Grisman , who was pushing boundaries even further .
So Rice moved back to California to join Grisman 's Quintet in San Francisco .
This is when the guitarist truly stepped out as a leading voice in new acoustic music .
The musicians studied improvisation and chord theory with jazz guitarist John Carlini and Rice grew exponentially .
( In 1995 , the two released one of the most beautiful guitar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Two Guitars . )
He eventually left Grisman to form the Tony Rice Unit , which played everything from jazz to bluegrass .
Rice also recorded duet albums with Grisman , multi-instrumentalist Ricky Skaggs and fellow guitarist Norman Blake .
He collaborated with banjo player Bela Fleck and co-led the Bluegrass Album Band .
But the road took a toll on Rice .
He had to stop singing in the mid-1990s because of a condition called muscle tension dysphonia , which constricted the muscles around his voice box .
And by 2013 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to lateral epicondylitis ( commonly called tennis elbow ) and he played his beloved Martin D-28 ( which once belonged to Clarence White ) for the last time in public at his induction to the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame .

Tony Rice, A Giant Of The Acoustic Guitar, Dead At 69
Enlarge this image toggle caption Stephen A. Ide/Getty Images Stephen A. Ide/Getty Images
Tony Rice could seemingly do it all: sing, compose, play spot-on rhythm. But it was his guitar solos that just astounded audiences and fellow musicians alike. He was idolized by bluegrass and acoustic music fans in large part because he was determined never to let them down.
Rice died on Christmas morning at the age of 69. His death was first announced by the International Bluegrass Music Association.
David Anthony Rice was born in Danville, Va., on June 8, 1951. His father was a welder and the family moved to Los Angeles, where the youngster got into bluegrass. His first big influence was guitarist Clarence White and the Kentucky Colonels.
At the age of 19, Rice moved back East to play professionally, eventually joining banjo player J.D. Crowe's band, the New South. In 1975, they released the landmark album, J.D. Crowe and the New South. Its progressive sounds marked a dramatic shift in bluegrass and the album became so iconic among fans that it was known simply by its record label catalogue number: Rounder 0044.
J.D. Crowe and the New South - "Summer Wages" Universal Music Group YouTube
It was during this period that Rice first heard the music of mandolinist David Grisman, who was pushing boundaries even further. So Rice moved back to California to join Grisman's Quintet in San Francisco. This is when the guitarist truly stepped out as a leading voice in new acoustic music. The musicians studied improvisation and chord theory with jazz guitarist John Carlini and Rice grew exponentially. (In 1995, the two released one of the most beautiful guitar duo albums ever recorded, River Suite for Two Guitars.)
Tony Rice and John Carlini "Banister River" Universal Music Group YouTube
He eventually left Grisman to form the Tony Rice Unit, which played everything from jazz to bluegrass.
Rice also recorded duet albums with Grisman, multi-instrumentalist Ricky Skaggs and fellow guitarist Norman Blake. He collaborated with banjo player Bela Fleck and co-led the Bluegrass Album Band.
Tony Rice Unit "Gasology" Universal Music Group YouTube
But the road took a toll on Rice. He had to stop singing in the mid-1990s because of a condition called muscle tension dysphonia, which constricted the muscles around his voice box. And by 2013, Rice's fierce guitar playing led to lateral epicondylitis (commonly called tennis elbow) and he played his beloved Martin D-28 (which once belonged to Clarence White) for the last time in public at his induction to the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame.


npr--2020-12-28--Columbus, Ohio, Officer Who Shot And Killed Andre Hill Is Fired

Columbus , Ohio , Officer Who Shot And Killed Andre Hill Is Fired Columbus , Ohio , Officer Adam Coy , who fatally shot Andre Hill , a Black man during an early morning nonemergency call last week , was fired Monday .
Police Chief Tom Quinlan , as well as the city 's mayor and other leaders , have called for Coy 's dismissal since the shooting on Dec. 22 .
Following a disciplinary hearing Monday , Public Safety Director Ned Pettus agreed .
`` When I became chief , I changed our core values to include accountability , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement Monday , NPR member station WOSU reported .
`` This is what accountability looks like .
The evidence provided solid rationale for termination .
Mr. Coy will now have to answer to the state investigators for the death of Andre Hill . ''
Pettus , who is the only official with the authority to fire police officers , said Coy had violated the department 's use-of-force policy , failed to follow protocol by delaying the activation of his body camera , and failed to render aid to the dying man .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ live up to the oath of a Columbus Police officer , or the standards we , and the community , demand of our officers , '' Pettus wrote in a statement .
`` The shooting of Andre Hill is a tragedy for all who loved him , in addition to the community and our Division of Police . ''
Coy and another officer responded to a call about a suspicious vehicle at about 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday .
Upon their arrival , they found Hill sitting in a vehicle inside an opened-door garage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shining flashlights .
Hill walked toward the pair , holding up a cell phone .
About five seconds later Coy shot Hill .
The incident was only partially captured by the officer 's body camera .
The devices within the department are set up so that they are always running and overwriting unwanted footage .
However , once they are switched to record , the camera automatically keeps the previous 60 seconds of footage minus the accompanying audio .
That is why aspects of the lead up to Hill 's killing remain a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own camera only after he 'd already shot at the man who lay on the ground dying .
As the officers waited for medical help to arrive , neither offered Hill any assistance for approximately five minutes .
They did not try to stop the man 's bleeding .
Instead , as Hill lays on the floor , Coy , a white , 19-year veteran officer commands , `` Do n't move dude . ''
A preliminary report from the Franklin County Coroner 's Office released Monday , ruled Hill 's death a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of death was multiple gunshot wounds with a full report expected in 12 to 14 weeks .
Coy did not attend the disciplinary hearing but members of the Fraternal Order of the Police attended on his behalf .
FOP officials did not immediately respond to NPR 's questions about Coy 's termination .
Despite the officer 's dismissal , it is possible Coy could rejoin the force .
As WOSU reported : Hill 's friends and family have described him as being passionate about the Black Lives Matter movement .
The Columbus Dispatch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ BLM shirt early Tuesday morning when he was confronted by Coy and the female officer . ''
Coy remains under criminal investigation in the shooting with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation leading the inquiry .
Additionally , U.S. Attorney David DeVillers said his office will review whether any federal civil rights laws were violated .
Hill 's killing was the second officer-involved shooting in Columbus in a span of three weeks , setting off a new round of protests against local law enforcement and accusations of excessive use of force .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Deputy Jason Meade , who is white , killed Casey Goodson Jr .
In that instance , Meade confronted Goodson while conducting a search for a suspect in a case .
However , Goodson was not the suspect and was on his way home , taking lunch to his family .
The encounter escalated quickly and Meade fatally shot Goodson .
A preliminary report from the county coroner said the man likely died from multiple gunshot wounds to the torso .

Columbus, Ohio, Officer Who Shot And Killed Andre Hill Is Fired
Enlarge this image toggle caption SOPA Images/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Gett SOPA Images/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Gett
Columbus, Ohio, Officer Adam Coy, who fatally shot Andre Hill, a Black man during an early morning nonemergency call last week, was fired Monday.
Police Chief Tom Quinlan, as well as the city's mayor and other leaders, have called for Coy's dismissal since the shooting on Dec. 22. Following a disciplinary hearing Monday, Public Safety Director Ned Pettus agreed.
"When I became chief, I changed our core values to include accountability," the police chief said in a statement Monday, NPR member station WOSU reported.
"This is what accountability looks like. The evidence provided solid rationale for termination. Mr. Coy will now have to answer to the state investigators for the death of Andre Hill."
Pettus, who is the only official with the authority to fire police officers, said Coy had violated the department's use-of-force policy, failed to follow protocol by delaying the activation of his body camera, and failed to render aid to the dying man.
"The actions of Adam Coy do not live up to the oath of a Columbus Police officer, or the standards we, and the community, demand of our officers," Pettus wrote in a statement. "The shooting of Andre Hill is a tragedy for all who loved him, in addition to the community and our Division of Police."
Coy and another officer responded to a call about a suspicious vehicle at about 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday. Upon their arrival, they found Hill sitting in a vehicle inside an opened-door garage. The officers approached the 47-year-old with shining flashlights. Hill walked toward the pair, holding up a cell phone. About five seconds later Coy shot Hill.
The incident was only partially captured by the officer's body camera. The devices within the department are set up so that they are always running and overwriting unwanted footage. However, once they are switched to record, the camera automatically keeps the previous 60 seconds of footage minus the accompanying audio. That is why aspects of the lead up to Hill's killing remain a mystery. Officer Coy turned on his own camera only after he'd already shot at the man who lay on the ground dying.
As the officers waited for medical help to arrive, neither offered Hill any assistance for approximately five minutes. They did not try to stop the man's bleeding. Instead, as Hill lays on the floor, Coy, a white, 19-year veteran officer commands, "Don't move dude."
Hill was pronounced dead at OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital.
A preliminary report from the Franklin County Coroner's Office released Monday, ruled Hill's death a homicide. It said the preliminary cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds with a full report expected in 12 to 14 weeks.
Coy did not attend the disciplinary hearing but members of the Fraternal Order of the Police attended on his behalf.
FOP officials did not immediately respond to NPR's questions about Coy's termination.
Despite the officer's dismissal, it is possible Coy could rejoin the force. As WOSU reported:
"Even if an officer is fired, it is still possible that they could be reinstated through union arbitration. Columbus' police union contract gives officers the right to appeal any disciplinary decision. A 2017 investigation by WOSU found that, in the previous decade, Columbus Police fired 14 officers and rehired three of those officers after appeals from the FOP."
Hill's friends and family have described him as being passionate about the Black Lives Matter movement. The Columbus Dispatch reported, "Hill was wearing a BLM shirt early Tuesday morning when he was confronted by Coy and the female officer."
Coy remains under criminal investigation in the shooting with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation leading the inquiry. Additionally, U.S. Attorney David DeVillers said his office will review whether any federal civil rights laws were violated.
Hill's killing was the second officer-involved shooting in Columbus in a span of three weeks, setting off a new round of protests against local law enforcement and accusations of excessive use of force.
On Dec. 4, Franklin County Sheriff's Deputy Jason Meade, who is white, killed Casey Goodson Jr.
In that instance, Meade confronted Goodson while conducting a search for a suspect in a case. However, Goodson was not the suspect and was on his way home, taking lunch to his family. The encounter escalated quickly and Meade fatally shot Goodson.
A preliminary report from the county coroner said the man likely died from multiple gunshot wounds to the torso.


npr--2020-12-28--House Rejects Trump's Defense Bill Veto In Highly Unusual Vote

The House voted on Monday to overturn President Trump 's veto of the gargantuan annual defense authorization bill .
The vote , 322-87 , was a highly unusual response to a highly unusual move by a president in rejecting the legislation , which sets policies and establishes other priorities every year for the military services .
The Senate 's next moves on the matter are still uncertain , but senators were set to return to Washington on Tuesday .
The political popularity of the military typically means the National Defense Authorization Act has a high likelihood of passage and becomes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year for compromise and enactment .
Trump , however , opposes aspects of the bill that would rename military bases named for Confederate figures , and he also was angry that Democrats in Congress did n't agree to a bargain in which they 'd lift some legal protections for tech companies .
Trump says U.S. military facilities should continue to carry the names of men such as Confederate Gens .
Robert E. Lee and Braxton Bragg .
Separately , the president and some supporters claim Big Tech platforms such as Facebook and Twitter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans in Congress have joined with Trump , but many leaders said they intended to support the override of his veto .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , meanwhile , had called Trump 's veto `` an act of staggering recklessness . ''
House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith , D-Wash. , called on his colleagues to vote in favor of the legislation again in debate Monday afternoon .
`` It is enormously important we pass this bill .
We did it once .
Let 's just do it one more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go home for the year , '' he said .
Smith concluded his remarks by noting that the Armed Services Committee `` is the most bipartisan committee in Congress . ''
`` That 's not an easy thing to achieve .
We have a lot of things we passionately disagree about in this body , and we should .
But on the armed services bill , we manage to come together .
It 's not always easy , but we get it done .
I think it is enormously important we let the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ died . ''

House Rejects Trump's Defense Bill Veto In Highly Unusual Vote
Enlarge this image toggle caption Drew Angerer/Getty Images Drew Angerer/Getty Images
The House voted on Monday to overturn President Trump's veto of the gargantuan annual defense authorization bill.
The vote, 322-87, was a highly unusual response to a highly unusual move by a president in rejecting the legislation, which sets policies and establishes other priorities every year for the military services.
The Senate's next moves on the matter are still uncertain, but senators were set to return to Washington on Tuesday.
The political popularity of the military typically means the National Defense Authorization Act has a high likelihood of passage and becomes one of the last vehicles of the year for compromise and enactment.
Trump, however, opposes aspects of the bill that would rename military bases named for Confederate figures, and he also was angry that Democrats in Congress didn't agree to a bargain in which they'd lift some legal protections for tech companies.
Trump says U.S. military facilities should continue to carry the names of men such as Confederate Gens. Robert E. Lee and Braxton Bragg. Separately, the president and some supporters claim Big Tech platforms such as Facebook and Twitter are biased against conservatives.
A few Republicans in Congress have joined with Trump, but many leaders said they intended to support the override of his veto. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., meanwhile, had called Trump's veto "an act of staggering recklessness."
House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith, D-Wash., called on his colleagues to vote in favor of the legislation again in debate Monday afternoon.
"It is enormously important we pass this bill. We did it once. Let's just do it one more time, and then we can all go home for the year," he said.
Smith concluded his remarks by noting that the Armed Services Committee "is the most bipartisan committee in Congress."
"That's not an easy thing to achieve. We have a lot of things we passionately disagree about in this body, and we should. But on the armed services bill, we manage to come together. It's not always easy, but we get it done. I think it is enormously important we let the country know that that process hasn't died."


npr--2020-12-28--House Endorses Trump-Backed $2,000 Payments Amid Feud Within GOP

The House voted to increase coronavirus disaster relief payments for Americans to $ 2,000 per person on Monday in a bid by Democrats to capitalize on political divisions among Republicans .
The vote passed with the needed two-thirds majority to advance and was intended to make a point following President Trump 's complaints the relief legislation he signed on Sunday did n't pay enough in individual disbursements .
Many members were physically absent from Washington at the time of the vote and relied on proxy voting , a practice whereby a House colleague can vote on behalf of an absent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the House passed historic new rules in May allowing proxy voting .
Months of bitter negotiations within the Capitol and up and down Pennsylvania Avenue resulted in a bill that authorizes $ 600 payments for qualified individuals .
Democrats wanted more , but that was as much as Republicans , who control the Senate , agreed to authorize .
Trump complained about the bill , then echoed Democrats ' position — undercutting the work of his own deputies and allies — and then ultimately signed the relief bill Sunday .
House Speaker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump 's criticism of the relief bill with a statement on Sunday reiterating Democrats ' support for higher direct payments .
The legislation the House passed on Monday would supplement the relief legislation already in the law following Trump 's signature .
`` Now , the president must immediately call on congressional Republicans to end their obstruction and to join him and Democrats , '' Pelosi said .
`` Every Republican vote against this bill is a vote to deny the financial hardship that families face and to deny the American people the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appears unlikely to advance in the Senate within the current Congress , but Pelosi has hailed commitments by President-elect Joe Biden to seek more relief when the new administration and new Congress are sworn in next month .
That could include more relief checks .
Biden spoke to reporters briefly Monday in Wilmington , Del.
, about other matters , but he was asked as he left the lectern about whether he supported $ 2,000 direct payments .
`` Yes , '' he said .

House Endorses Trump-Backed $2,000 Payments Amid Feud Within GOP
Enlarge this image toggle caption Drew Angerer/Getty Images Drew Angerer/Getty Images
Updated at 10 p.m. ET
The House voted to increase coronavirus disaster relief payments for Americans to $2,000 per person on Monday in a bid by Democrats to capitalize on political divisions among Republicans.
The vote, 275-134, passed with the needed two-thirds majority to advance and was intended to make a point following President Trump's complaints the relief legislation he signed on Sunday didn't pay enough in individual disbursements.
Many members were physically absent from Washington at the time of the vote and relied on proxy voting, a practice whereby a House colleague can vote on behalf of an absent member. Spurred by the coronavirus pandemic, the House passed historic new rules in May allowing proxy voting.
Months of bitter negotiations within the Capitol and up and down Pennsylvania Avenue resulted in a bill that authorizes $600 payments for qualified individuals. Democrats wanted more, but that was as much as Republicans, who control the Senate, agreed to authorize.
Trump complained about the bill, then echoed Democrats' position — undercutting the work of his own deputies and allies — and then ultimately signed the relief bill Sunday.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., responded to Trump's criticism of the relief bill with a statement on Sunday reiterating Democrats' support for higher direct payments. The legislation the House passed on Monday would supplement the relief legislation already in the law following Trump's signature.
"Now, the president must immediately call on congressional Republicans to end their obstruction and to join him and Democrats," Pelosi said. "Every Republican vote against this bill is a vote to deny the financial hardship that families face and to deny the American people the relief they need."
The legislation appears unlikely to advance in the Senate within the current Congress, but Pelosi has hailed commitments by President-elect Joe Biden to seek more relief when the new administration and new Congress are sworn in next month. That could include more relief checks.
Biden spoke to reporters briefly Monday in Wilmington, Del., about other matters, but he was asked as he left the lectern about whether he supported $2,000 direct payments. "Yes," he said.
On the Senate side, Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont pushed for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., to take up the measure.
"If McConnell doesn't agree to an up or down vote to provide the working people of our country a $2,000 direct payment, Congress will not be going home for New Year's Eve. Let's do our job," he tweeted after the House vote Monday night.
The Senate is scheduled to reconvene at noon on Tuesday.


npr--2020-12-28--Schools Face A Massive Challenge To Make Up For Learning Lost During The Pandemic

Schools Face A Massive Challenge To Make Up For Learning Lost During The Pandemic With millions of kids still learning remotely , the learning losses are piling up .
Some school districts are reporting a higher level of failing grades this fall .
A report from the consultant McKinsey & Company estimated that students were three months behind in math when they started the school year .
And another study said learning losses were minimal , but left out many students from the analysis .
The pandemic is causing Black and Hispanic students in particular to fall further behind their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Former Education Secretary John King Jr. thinks a national tutoring corps is one way to help make up for lost time .
Older students and graduates could receive credit or be paid to tutor younger students .
`` We have decades of research showing that high intensity tutoring can help students make up lost ground academically very quickly , '' King tells Mary Louise Kelly on All Things Considered .
King now heads the nonprofit The Education Trust , which works to close opportunity gaps in education .
He talked about the challenges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Here are excerpts of the interview : What about changing the curriculum to make up for this year and acknowledge just that they have n't covered the ground they would normally cover in an academic year ?
That 's going to be a huge challenge .
It 's always true that when a teacher walks into the classroom , kids are entering with a range of skill levels and backgrounds .
But now , those gaps , student to student , will be even wider .
Some students will have had their parents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through their learning while schools were virtual or hybrid .
Other kids will have parents who were essential workers .
And maybe it was just an older sibling who was at home with them .
And so you 're going to see big gaps in the classroom .
Teachers are really going to have to individualize kids ' academic experience .
They 're going to need to respond to exactly where kids are .
They going to need to diagnose what they 've missed , what they need , and then address any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is it when you have 20 students , 30 students , maybe more , in a room ?
What would that even look like ?
It 's really challenging .
It means you 've got to define different tasks for individual students .
You 've got to have time to meet with students in small groups .
Ideally , you 'd be doing that in partnership with this national tutoring corps that I described so you 'd have some help .
But tailoring the instruction to students ' individual needs is incredibly challenging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may be multiple grade levels apart in their academic skills .
There are , I think , ways that professional development can help .
There are some technology tools that could be helpful , but that also requires resources .
And one of the big worries is that if Congress does n't act , if states end up making 5 , 10 , 15 % cuts to education , the districts that will be hit the hardest will be those districts that have the most students with tremendous need .
And so you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unacceptably large gaps in performance .
Is there any upside , any opportunity here if we 're reinventing school and rethinking how schools should work ?
A couple hopeful things .
One is , we 've long had a challenge with inequitable access to advanced coursework .
So some kids in high needs districts or rural communities do n't get the same access to Advanced Placement classes to take college courses .
What this experience has done is shown us that really should n't be a barrier .
We should never again have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't take AP Spanish because we do n't offer that in this building .
We 've seen that virtual blended learning is possible at scale .
I think about Northern Virginia Community College that last summer offered free college courses to any junior or senior in their region online .
They knew they 're offering the courses anyway for their students , so they open them up to high school students .
So hopefully we 'll see a lot more of that expanded access to opportunity .
The other thing that I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around is developing student agency .
In a virtual or hybrid learning environment , students have to set goals for themselves .
They have to manage their work , they have to ask questions when they need help , they have to collaborate independently with peers .
Those skills are things that will serve students well in college and in careers .
And hopefully we 've learned some things about how to cultivate student agency that will carry over to teaching and learning practices .
But let 's be clear , even with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an equity disaster for education and we have a lot of work to do .
Andrea Hsu and Courtney Dorning produced and edited the audio interview .
James Doubek produced for the Web .

Schools Face A Massive Challenge To Make Up For Learning Lost During The Pandemic
Enlarge this image toggle caption Michael Loccisano/Getty Images Michael Loccisano/Getty Images
With millions of kids still learning remotely, the learning losses are piling up.
Some school districts are reporting a higher level of failing grades this fall. A report from the consultant McKinsey & Company estimated that students were three months behind in math when they started the school year. And another study said learning losses were minimal, but left out many students from the analysis.
The pandemic is causing Black and Hispanic students in particular to fall further behind their white peers, according to McKinsey.
Former Education Secretary John King Jr. thinks a national tutoring corps is one way to help make up for lost time. Older students and graduates could receive credit or be paid to tutor younger students.
"We have decades of research showing that high intensity tutoring can help students make up lost ground academically very quickly," King tells Mary Louise Kelly on All Things Considered.
King now heads the nonprofit The Education Trust, which works to close opportunity gaps in education. He talked about the challenges facing schools when they fully reopen. Here are excerpts of the interview:
What about changing the curriculum to make up for this year and acknowledge just that they haven't covered the ground they would normally cover in an academic year?
That's going to be a huge challenge. It's always true that when a teacher walks into the classroom, kids are entering with a range of skill levels and backgrounds. But now, those gaps, student to student, will be even wider. Some students will have had their parents sitting next to them, supporting them through their learning while schools were virtual or hybrid. Other kids will have parents who were essential workers. And maybe it was just an older sibling who was at home with them. And so you're going to see big gaps in the classroom.
Teachers are really going to have to individualize kids' academic experience. They're going to need to respond to exactly where kids are. They going to need to diagnose what they've missed, what they need, and then address any gaps that students have.
How hard is it when you have 20 students, 30 students, maybe more, in a room? What would that even look like?
It's really challenging. It means you've got to define different tasks for individual students. You've got to have time to meet with students in small groups. Ideally, you'd be doing that in partnership with this national tutoring corps that I described so you'd have some help. But tailoring the instruction to students' individual needs is incredibly challenging, especially when you have students who may be multiple grade levels apart in their academic skills.
There are, I think, ways that professional development can help. There are some technology tools that could be helpful, but that also requires resources. And one of the big worries is that if Congress doesn't act, if states end up making 5, 10, 15% cuts to education, the districts that will be hit the hardest will be those districts that have the most students with tremendous need. And so you'll see a widening of our already unacceptably large gaps in performance.
Is there any upside, any opportunity here if we're reinventing school and rethinking how schools should work?
A couple hopeful things. One is, we've long had a challenge with inequitable access to advanced coursework. So some kids in high needs districts or rural communities don't get the same access to Advanced Placement classes to take college courses.
What this experience has done is shown us that really shouldn't be a barrier. We should never again have a kid who's told you can't take AP Spanish because we don't offer that in this building. We've seen that virtual blended learning is possible at scale.
I think about Northern Virginia Community College that last summer offered free college courses to any junior or senior in their region online. They knew they're offering the courses anyway for their students, so they open them up to high school students. So hopefully we'll see a lot more of that expanded access to opportunity.
The other thing that I think this period has challenged all of us around is developing student agency. In a virtual or hybrid learning environment, students have to set goals for themselves. They have to manage their work, they have to ask questions when they need help, they have to collaborate independently with peers. Those skills are things that will serve students well in college and in careers. And hopefully we've learned some things about how to cultivate student agency that will carry over to teaching and learning practices.
But let's be clear, even with those hopeful opportunities, COVID has been an equity disaster for education and we have a lot of work to do.
Andrea Hsu and Courtney Dorning produced and edited the audio interview. James Doubek produced for the Web.


npr--2020-12-28--'Toxic Individualism': Pandemic Politics Driving Health Care Workers From Small Towns

The virus infecting thousands of Americans a day is also attacking the country 's social fabric .
The coronavirus has exposed a weakness in many rural communities , where divisive pandemic politics are alienating some of their most critical residents — health care workers .
A wave of departing medical professionals would leave gaping holes in the rural health care system , and small-town economies , triggering a death spiral in some of these areas that may be hard to stop .
Ten years ago , Dr. Kristina Darnauer and her husband , Jeff , moved to tiny Sterling , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in small-town values .
`` The values of hard work , the value of community , taking care of your neighbor , that 's what small towns shout from the rooftops , this is what we 're good at .
We are salt of the earth people who care about each other , '' Darnauer says .
`` And here I am saying , then wear a mask because that protects your precious neighbor . ''
But Darnauer 's medical advice and moral admonition were met with contempt from some of her friends @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had routinely buttonholed her for quick medical advice at church and kids ' ballgames were suddenly treating her as the enemy and regarding her professional opinion as suspect and offensive .
COVID-19 cases in the county started to climb .
Meanwhile , other small Kansas towns flared into some of the pandemic 's hottest hot spots .
`` It 's heartbreaking , '' Darnauer says .
`` Because we say , this is what we value .
And then when we actually had the chance to walk it out , we did it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ too much .
Darnauer resigned her position as Rice County medical director in July .
Some friends reached out to support her , and her bonds with other local health care professionals strengthened , but she felt disrespected and betrayed by the ascendant anti-mask portion of the community .
Darnauer says the pandemic has exposed a rift that wo n't be forgotten .
`` Hard things should bring us together , '' Darnauer says .
`` And instead , this hard thing has driven a wedge between us . ''
That wedge is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that desperately need them .
More than a quarter of all the public health administrators in Kansas quit , retired or got fired this year , according to Vicki Collie-Akers , an associate professor of population health at the University of Kansas .
Some of them got death threats .
Some had to hire armed guards .
`` These are leaders in their community , '' Collie-Akers says .
`` And they are leaving broken . ''
Collie-Akers notes these professionals also leaving at a terrible time .
The pandemic is still raging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cities to small towns and into people 's arms ; public health officers are as important as ever .
And who , she asks , is going to take the jobs health care directors are leaving ?
`` It 's not a secret that the position is open because of extreme tension between the health department director and the city commissioner , county commission , or because the person has required a guard , '' Collie-Akers says .
And it 's not just Kansas .
Alan Morgan , CEO of the National Rural @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across a lot of rural America .
`` It 's been a terrible , an absolute terrible , no good year for rural health , '' Morgan says .
Morgan worries that the loss of county health directors in the middle of a pandemic will lead to sicker rural populations and still more pressure on rural hospitals .
Rural hospitals were in deep trouble before the pandemic .
Morgan says 132 of them have closed since 2010 .
COVID-19 made matters worse .
The surge of desperately sick and highly contagious patients stopped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ procedures that keep them in business .
Their small staffs have been run ragged .
And the pandemic has filled the air with vitriol against medical expertise .
Rural health care jobs can be hard to fill in the best of times ; now , Morgan says many rural hospitals he represents are growing desperate .
`` In community after community , after community , all I hear about is workforce , workforce , workforce losing clinical staff , trying to attract clinical staff into these communities .
It is taking up the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Morgan says .
Closing rural hospitals , Morgan says , cuts health care to places where residents tend to be older , sicker and poorer than average .
It also undermines the rural economy .
Hospitals are often the biggest employers in small towns , according to Chris Merrett , director of the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs .
And Merrett says health care workers are absolutely vital .
`` They are really the lifeblood of any community and a rural community in particular , '' Merrett says .
`` These @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who are buying cars , buying homes , and really part of that economic anchor of your community . ''
Merrett says towns that let pandemic politics drive medical professionals away are choosing what he calls `` toxic individualism '' over the common good .
There are signs that months of pushback against rural health care providers may be starting to slack .
Morgan says mask compliance has soared in small towns with major COVID-19 outbreaks .
And though Darnauer has stepped away from the county health department , and thought long and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ summer , she 's decided to stay and practice medicine there , at least for now .
`` There were enough people that sort of reached out to give me hope that some of the values and of this small town were still there , '' Darnauer says .
`` And that 's what 's keeping me going . ''

'Toxic Individualism': Pandemic Politics Driving Health Care Workers From Small Towns
Enlarge this image toggle caption Charlie Riedel/AP Charlie Riedel/AP
The virus infecting thousands of Americans a day is also attacking the country's social fabric. The coronavirus has exposed a weakness in many rural communities, where divisive pandemic politics are alienating some of their most critical residents — health care workers.
A wave of departing medical professionals would leave gaping holes in the rural health care system, and small-town economies, triggering a death spiral in some of these areas that may be hard to stop.
Ten years ago, Dr. Kristina Darnauer and her husband, Jeff, moved to tiny Sterling, Kan., to raise their kids steeped in small-town values.
"The values of hard work, the value of community, taking care of your neighbor, that's what small towns shout from the rooftops, this is what we're good at. We are salt of the earth people who care about each other," Darnauer says. "And here I am saying, then wear a mask because that protects your precious neighbor."
But Darnauer's medical advice and moral admonition were met with contempt from some of her friends, neighbors and patients. People who had routinely buttonholed her for quick medical advice at church and kids' ballgames were suddenly treating her as the enemy and regarding her professional opinion as suspect and offensive.
"Heartbreaking"
COVID-19 cases in the county started to climb. Meanwhile, other small Kansas towns flared into some of the pandemic's hottest hot spots.
"It's heartbreaking," Darnauer says. "Because we say, this is what we value. And then when we actually had the chance to walk it out, we did it really poorly."
The pushback was too much. Darnauer resigned her position as Rice County medical director in July. Some friends reached out to support her, and her bonds with other local health care professionals strengthened, but she felt disrespected and betrayed by the ascendant anti-mask portion of the community. Darnauer says the pandemic has exposed a rift that won't be forgotten.
"Hard things should bring us together," Darnauer says. "And instead, this hard thing has driven a wedge between us."
That wedge is splitting off health care workers from communities that desperately need them.
More than a quarter of all the public health administrators in Kansas quit, retired or got fired this year, according to Vicki Collie-Akers, an associate professor of population health at the University of Kansas. Some of them got death threats. Some had to hire armed guards.
"These are leaders in their community," Collie-Akers says. "And they are leaving broken." Collie-Akers notes these professionals also leaving at a terrible time. The pandemic is still raging. Vaccines still need to get from cities to small towns and into people's arms; public health officers are as important as ever.
And who, she asks, is going to take the jobs health care directors are leaving?
"It's not a secret that the position is open because of extreme tension between the health department director and the city commissioner, county commission, or because the person has required a guard," Collie-Akers says.
"No good year for rural health"
And it's not just Kansas. Alan Morgan, CEO of the National Rural Health Association, says this is happening across a lot of rural America.
"It's been a terrible, an absolute terrible, no good year for rural health," Morgan says.
Morgan worries that the loss of county health directors in the middle of a pandemic will lead to sicker rural populations and still more pressure on rural hospitals.
Rural hospitals were in deep trouble before the pandemic. Morgan says 132 of them have closed since 2010. COVID-19 made matters worse. The surge of desperately sick and highly contagious patients stopped hospitals from doing the lucrative elective outpatient procedures that keep them in business. Their small staffs have been run ragged. And the pandemic has filled the air with vitriol against medical expertise.
Rural health care jobs can be hard to fill in the best of times; now, Morgan says many rural hospitals he represents are growing desperate.
"In community after community, after community, all I hear about is workforce, workforce, workforce losing clinical staff, trying to attract clinical staff into these communities. It is taking up the full time of our members right now," Morgan says.
Closing rural hospitals, Morgan says, cuts health care to places where residents tend to be older, sicker and poorer than average.
Lifeblood of community
It also undermines the rural economy. Hospitals are often the biggest employers in small towns, according to Chris Merrett, director of the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs. And Merrett says health care workers are absolutely vital.
"They are really the lifeblood of any community and a rural community in particular," Merrett says. "These are well-paid individuals who are the ones who are buying cars, buying homes, and really part of that economic anchor of your community."
Merrett says towns that let pandemic politics drive medical professionals away are choosing what he calls "toxic individualism" over the common good.
There are signs that months of pushback against rural health care providers may be starting to slack. Morgan says mask compliance has soared in small towns with major COVID-19 outbreaks.
And though Darnauer has stepped away from the county health department, and thought long and hard about moving out of Sterling this summer, she's decided to stay and practice medicine there, at least for now.
"There were enough people that sort of reached out to give me hope that some of the values and of this small town were still there," Darnauer says. "And that's what's keeping me going."


npr--2020-12-28--Biden Faults 'Roadblocks' As His Team Manages Transition From Trump

Biden Faults 'Roadblocks ' As His Team Manages Transition From Trump President-elect Joe Biden is complaining that the outgoing Trump administration has thrown up some `` roadblocks '' as he and advisers prepare to take the White House .
In prepared remarks Monday in Wilmington , Del.
, Biden said that he and his team have been frustrated by what he called a lack of cooperation , especially at the Defense Department and with the Office of Management and Budget .
`` All of it makes it harder for our government to protect the American people , '' Biden said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from political leaders at the agencies `` nothing short of irresponsibility . ''
Biden 's comments followed an earlier flap about meetings between current Pentagon leaders and those in the incoming camp ; current Defense Department officials had downplayed accounts about delays or cancellations , but Biden made it clear on Monday he remains unhappy about the state of that relationship .
Biden said he and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris need a complete picture of the workings of government because of the magnitude of the challenges they 'll confront on taking office next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sure nothing is lost in the handoff between administrations , '' he said .
`` We need full visibility . ''
In a statement , acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller said his department has conducted 164 interviews and provided over 5,000 pages of documents — `` far more than initially requested by Biden 's transition team . ''
`` Our DoD political and career officials have been working with the utmost professionalism to support transition activities in a compressed time schedule and they will continue to do so in a transparent and collegial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Department , '' Miller said .
The president-elect said not all agencies have been problematic and some of the interactions his team is having are `` exemplary . ''
Broadly , however , he described a national security and foreign policy institution in Washington that includes many entities Biden said were `` hollowed out , '' short on `` personnel , capacity and morale '' and in which `` policy processes have atrophied or been sidelined . ''
President Trump dismissed his most recent Senate-confirmed defense secretary , Mark Esper , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House also replaced a number of other Pentagon leaders with interim replacements for the final weeks until Inauguration Day .

Biden Faults 'Roadblocks' As His Team Manages Transition From Trump
Enlarge this image toggle caption Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images
Updated at 7:04 p.m. ET
President-elect Joe Biden is complaining that the outgoing Trump administration has thrown up some "roadblocks" as he and advisers prepare to take the White House.
In prepared remarks Monday in Wilmington, Del., Biden said that he and his team have been frustrated by what he called a lack of cooperation, especially at the Defense Department and with the Office of Management and Budget.
"All of it makes it harder for our government to protect the American people," Biden said, calling the alleged failures of cooperation from political leaders at the agencies "nothing short of irresponsibility."
Biden's comments followed an earlier flap about meetings between current Pentagon leaders and those in the incoming camp; current Defense Department officials had downplayed accounts about delays or cancellations, but Biden made it clear on Monday he remains unhappy about the state of that relationship.
Biden said he and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris need a complete picture of the workings of government because of the magnitude of the challenges they'll confront on taking office next month.
"We need to make sure nothing is lost in the handoff between administrations," he said. "We need full visibility."
In a statement, acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller said his department has conducted 164 interviews and provided over 5,000 pages of documents — "far more than initially requested by Biden's transition team."
"Our DoD political and career officials have been working with the utmost professionalism to support transition activities in a compressed time schedule and they will continue to do so in a transparent and collegial manner that upholds the finest traditions of the Department," Miller said.
The president-elect said not all agencies have been problematic and some of the interactions his team is having are "exemplary." Broadly, however, he described a national security and foreign policy institution in Washington that includes many entities Biden said were "hollowed out," short on "personnel, capacity and morale" and in which "policy processes have atrophied or been sidelined."
President Trump dismissed his most recent Senate-confirmed defense secretary, Mark Esper, and replaced him with Miller. The White House also replaced a number of other Pentagon leaders with interim replacements for the final weeks until Inauguration Day.


npr--2020-12-28--U.S. Implementing 1st-Ever Airplane Emission Rules; Critics Say They're Ineffective

The U.S. is regulating greenhouse gas emissions from commercial aircraft for the first time .
But critics are saying the rules will be ineffective .
The Environmental Protection Agency said Monday the rules are being finalized after first being made public in July .
The rules — modeled after international standards — require aircraft manufacturers to use fuel-efficient engines that release less heat-trapping carbon dioxide .
They require all new aircraft sold to commercial airlines to meet the requirements by 2028 .
The EPA acknowledges many already do .
EPA is not projecting emissions reductions as a result of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agency also does not believe the rules `` will cause manufacturers to make technical improvements to their airplanes that would not have occurred '' already .
The rules , when proposed , helped the U.S. avoid a lawsuit that would have compelled the government to regulate aircraft emissions anyway , according to the New York Times .
Commercial aircraft make up about 3 % of the country 's overall greenhouse gas emissions , and before the reduction in travel caused by the pandemic their share was growing .
Unlike other industries , aircraft @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Airlines for America , an industry advocacy group , applauded the new standards in July when they were first proposed .
Nancy Young , environmental affairs vice president , said in a statement the rules are `` good for our industry , for our country and for the world . ''
Boeing , one of the world 's largest manufacturers of commercial aircraft , said the rules would be a `` major step forward for protecting the environment and supporting sustainable growth of commercial aviation and the United States economy . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ status quo — doing nothing in the fight against climate change .
And 11 U.S. states agreed .
They urged the Environmental Protection Agency in October to strengthen the emissions standards , saying they would do little — if anything — to reduce overall emissions .
`` This rule is especially infuriating because there are effective ways for the aviation industry to modernize and decarbonize , '' said Liz Jones , an attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity 's Climate Law Institute , in a statement Monday .
`` What we desperately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ industry on track . ''
Jones called for President-elect Joe Biden to implement stricter environmental aviation regulations when his administration takes office .
`` This is another industry handout , '' Jones said , `` from an administration that 's hell-bent on hamstringing efforts to tackle the climate crisis and maintain a livable planet . ''

U.S. Implementing 1st-Ever Airplane Emission Rules; Critics Say They're Ineffective
Enlarge this image toggle caption Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images
The U.S. is regulating greenhouse gas emissions from commercial aircraft for the first time. But critics are saying the rules will be ineffective.
The Environmental Protection Agency said Monday the rules are being finalized after first being made public in July.
The rules — modeled after international standards — require aircraft manufacturers to use fuel-efficient engines that release less heat-trapping carbon dioxide.
They require all new aircraft sold to commercial airlines to meet the requirements by 2028. The EPA acknowledges many already do.
EPA is not projecting emissions reductions as a result of the rules, according to Reuters. The agency also does not believe the rules "will cause manufacturers to make technical improvements to their airplanes that would not have occurred" already.
The rules, when proposed, helped the U.S. avoid a lawsuit that would have compelled the government to regulate aircraft emissions anyway, according to the New York Times.
Commercial aircraft make up about 3% of the country's overall greenhouse gas emissions, and before the reduction in travel caused by the pandemic their share was growing. Unlike other industries, aircraft emissions have not been regulated until now.
Airlines for America, an industry advocacy group, applauded the new standards in July when they were first proposed. Nancy Young, environmental affairs vice president, said in a statement the rules are "good for our industry, for our country and for the world."
Boeing, one of the world's largest manufacturers of commercial aircraft, said the rules would be a "major step forward for protecting the environment and supporting sustainable growth of commercial aviation and the United States economy."
Environmentalists say the move largely maintains the status quo — doing nothing in the fight against climate change.
And 11 U.S. states agreed. They urged the Environmental Protection Agency in October to strengthen the emissions standards, saying they would do little — if anything — to reduce overall emissions.
Environmental Defense Fund international counsel Annie Petsonk called it a "do-nothing rule."
"This rule is especially infuriating because there are effective ways for the aviation industry to modernize and decarbonize," said Liz Jones, an attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity's Climate Law Institute, in a statement Monday. "What we desperately need are technology-forcing standards to get the industry on track."
Jones called for President-elect Joe Biden to implement stricter environmental aviation regulations when his administration takes office.
"This is another industry handout," Jones said, "from an administration that's hell-bent on hamstringing efforts to tackle the climate crisis and maintain a livable planet."


npr--2020-12-28--Here Is What's In The COVID-19 Relief Package

Here Is What 's In The COVID-19 Relief Package Updated on Dec. 28 at 2:36 p.m .
ET President Trump has signed a major legislative package that includes coronavirus relief and government spending for the next fiscal year .
Just after Congress passed the bill last week — and shortly before Christmas — the president called the measure a `` disgrace , '' in part for not having high enough direct payments to Americans , a move his own party had been against .
Nevertheless , Trump signed the package on Sunday , urging Congress to do more separately .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in COVID-19 relief package that is now law , including $ 600 relief checks for many Americans , an assortment of aid for small businesses and money to purchase and distribute vaccines : • $ 600 direct payment checks for every adult and child earning up to $ 75,000 .
Individuals earning between $ 75,000 and $ 99,000 would get smaller checks , and the benefit cuts out entirely for individuals earning over $ 99,000 .
• Unemployment benefits : Lawmakers agreed to extend enhanced unemployment benefits for jobless workers , who will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through mid-March .
Self-employed people and gig workers will also receive extended assistance .
• Rental assistance : The measure includes $ 25 billion to help families pay their rent , and it extends the eviction moratorium now in effect until Jan. 31 .
• SNAP assistance : The measure includes an additional $ 13 billion for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program .
• PPP loans : The agreement includes some $ 284 billion for Paycheck Protection Program loans .
Democrats say they expanded eligibility for the loans to include nonprofits and local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stations .
Also , $ 15 billion would be reserved for live venues , independent movie theaters and cultural institutions , which have been struggling due to pandemic-forced closures .
• Child care centers : The measure includes $ 10 billion for child care centers to help providers safely reopen .
• The agreement includes some $ 68 billion to purchase and distribute COVID-19 vaccines and help states conduct testing — $ 20 billion of that funding will make the vaccine available at no cost for anybody needing it .
• The measure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to broadband Internet , including a new Emergency Broadband Benefit that Democrats say will help millions of students ' families and unemployed workers afford the broadband they need during the pandemic .
Lawmakers also agreed to provide $ 45 billion in transportation-related assistance , including : • $ 16 billion for airlines to pay the salaries of workers and contractors .
• The measure contains $ 82 billion in funding for schools and universities to assist with reopening , including , $ 2.75 billion for private K-12 education .
• There is some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ farmers and agriculture , including money under the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program for growers and livestock , dairy and poultry producers .
• The measure also includes a provision ending surprise medical billing .
Republicans say patients would be required to receive a `` true and honest cost estimate '' three days before any scheduled procedure and that billing disputes would be subject to arbitration .
• Lawmakers also included a provision sought by Trump , making the cost of meals a deductible business expense .
This story was originally published on Dec. @ @

Here Is What's In The COVID-19 Relief Package
Enlarge this image toggle caption Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images
Updated on Dec. 30 at 11:15 a.m. ET
President Trump has signed a major legislative package that includes coronavirus relief and government spending for the next fiscal year.
Just after Congress passed the bill last week — and shortly before Christmas — the president called the measure a "disgrace," in part for not having high enough direct payments to Americans, a move his own party had been against.
Nevertheless, Trump signed the package on Sunday, urging Congress to do more separately.
Here are the highlights of what is in COVID-19 relief package that is now law, including $600 relief checks for many Americans, an assortment of aid for small businesses and money to purchase and distribute vaccines:
Individual benefits
$600 direct payment checks for every adult and child earning up to $75,000. Individuals earning between $75,000 and $87,000 would get smaller checks, and the benefit cuts out entirely for individuals earning over $87,000.
Unemployment benefits: Lawmakers agreed to extend enhanced unemployment benefits for jobless workers, who will receive up to $300 per week through mid-March. Self-employed people and gig workers will also receive extended assistance.
Rental assistance: The measure includes $25 billion to help families pay their rent, and it extends the eviction moratorium now in effect until Jan. 31.
SNAP assistance: The measure includes an additional $13 billion for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Small-business help
PPP loans: The agreement includes some $284 billion for Paycheck Protection Program loans. Democrats say they expanded eligibility for the loans to include nonprofits and local newspapers, along with TV and radio stations. Also, $15 billion would be reserved for live venues, independent movie theaters and cultural institutions, which have been struggling due to pandemic-forced closures.
Child care centers: The measure includes $10 billion for child care centers to help providers safely reopen.
Vaccines
The agreement includes some $68 billion to purchase and distribute COVID-19 vaccines and help states conduct testing — $20 billion of that funding will make the vaccine available at no cost for anybody needing it.
Broadband access
The measure contains $7 billion to increase access to broadband Internet, including a new Emergency Broadband Benefit that Democrats say will help millions of students' families and unemployed workers afford the broadband they need during the pandemic.
Transportation aid
Lawmakers also agreed to provide $45 billion in transportation-related assistance, including:
$16 billion for airlines to pay the salaries of workers and contractors.
$14 billion for mass transit agencies.
$10 billion for highways.
$1 billion for Amtrak.
Education
The measure contains $82 billion in funding for schools and universities to assist with reopening, including, $2.75 billion for private K-12 education.
Agriculture
There is some $13 billion in the measure for farmers and agriculture, including money under the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program for growers and livestock, dairy and poultry producers.
Medical bills
The measure also includes a provision ending surprise medical billing. Republicans say patients would be required to receive a "true and honest cost estimate" three days before any scheduled procedure and that billing disputes would be subject to arbitration.
Tax-deductible meals
Lawmakers also included a provision sought by Trump, making the cost of meals a deductible business expense.
Read the bill in full.
This story was originally published on Dec. 21.


npr--2020-12-28--A Poet Reflects On How We Reckon — Or Fail To Reckon — With The Legacy Of Slavery

A Poet Reflects On How We Reckon — Or Fail To Reckon — With The Legacy Of Slavery This is FRESH AIR .
As 2020 comes to an end , we ask Clint Smith what he 's thinking about as he looks back at this year .
He 's a staff writer at The Atlantic .
His book of poems `` Counting Descent '' won the 2017 literary award for Best Poetry Book from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association .
His forthcoming book `` How The Word Is Passed '' explores how different sites across the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their relationship to the history of slavery .
Here 's Clint .
CLINT SMITH : Obviously , a lot has happened this year .
But what 's top of mind for me as we end 2020 is the sort of racial reckoning that this country has experienced over the last several months and really over the last several years , both since George Floyd was killed and since Black Lives Matter has begun .
And within that is this interrogation of Confederate monuments and memorials and statues .
And should they be taken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And in 2017 in my hometown in New Orleans , we removed several statues and memorials of Confederates , including Robert E. Lee , Jefferson Davis , P.G.T .
Beauregard .
And those statues were taken down .
And I began thinking about , what does it mean that I grew up in this city , you know , where there are names of hundreds of people who were Confederates or owned enslaved people that sort of ornament the iconography of the place I grew up , in this majority Black city ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a city that , in many ways , honored and memorialized enslavers more than it did the enslaved ?
So I began thinking of that and thinking about how different places across the country , including my own hometown - to what extent are these places being honest about their relationship to this history , and to what extent are they hiding from it ?
And this ultimately became the book that I 've written that comes out next year , which is a narrative nonfiction book .
But with me , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , you know , that 's how I was trained as a writer .
And so while the book is a narrative nonfiction project , the poems are the things that help me ask the questions .
And so I wanted to share a poem that I wrote .
And I 've been writing , in many ways , for the last few years that served as a sort of entry point to this interrogation because we can take down these monuments , but if we do n't address what led the monuments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place , then we 're not actually solving the issue .
( Reading ) Growing up , the iconography of the Confederacy was an ever-present fixture of my daily life .
Every day on the way to school , I passed a statue of P.G.T .
Beauregard riding on horseback , his Confederate uniform slung over his shoulder and his military cap pulled far down over his eyes .
As a child , I did not know who P.G.T .
Beauregard was .
I did not know he was the man who ordered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ War .
I did not know he was one of the architects who designed the Confederate national flag .
I did not know he led an army predicated on maintaining the institution of slavery .
What I knew is that he looked like so many of the other statues that ornamented the edges of this city , these copper garlands of a past that saw truth as something that should be buried underground and silenced by the soil .
After the war , the sons and daughters of the Confederacy reshaped the contours @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as honorable .
They called it the Lost Cause , and it crept its way into textbooks that attempted to cover up a crime that was still unfolding .
They told us that Robert E. Lee was an honest man , guilty of nothing but fighting for the state and the people that he loved , that the Southern flag was about heritage and remembering those slain fighting to preserve their way of life .
But , see ; the thing about the Lost Cause is that it 's only lost if you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about heritage is that it 's a word that also means I 'm ignoring what we did to you .
I was taught the Civil War was n't about slavery , but I was never taught how the declarations of Confederate secession had the promise of human bondage carved into its stone .
I was taught that the war was about economics , but I was never taught that in 1860 , the 4 million enslaved Black people were worth more than every bank , factory and railroad combined .
I was taught @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' rights , but I was never taught how the Fugitive Slave Act could care less about a border and spell Georgia and Massachusetts the exact same way .
It 's easy to look at a flag and call it heritage when you do n't see the Black bodies buried behind it .
It 's easy to look at a statue and call it history when you ignore the laws written in its wake .
I come from a city abounding with statues of white men on pedestals and Black children playing beneath @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trombones to drown out the Dixie song that still whistled in the wind .
In New Orleans , there are over a hundred schools , roads and buildings named for Confederates and slaveholders .
Every day Black children walk into buildings named after people who never wanted them to be there .
Every time I return home , I drive on streets named for those who would have wanted me in chains .
Go straight for two miles on Robert E. Lee .
Take a left on Jefferson Davis .
Make the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ straight for two miles on the general who slaughtered hundreds of Black soldiers who were trying to surrender .
Take a left on the President of the Confederacy who made the torture of Black bodies the cornerstone of his new nation .
Make the first right on the man who permitted the heads of rebelling slaves to be put on stakes and spread across the city in order to prevent the others from getting any ideas .
What name is there for this sort of violence ?
What do you call it when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for those who imagined you under a noose ?
What do you call it when the roof over your head is named after people who would have wanted the bricks to crush you ?
GROSS : Clint Smith is a staff writer at The Atlantic .
He 's the author of the poetry collection `` Counting Descent '' and the forthcoming narrative nonfiction book `` How The Word Is Passed : A Reckoning With The History Of Slavery Across America . ''
It 's scheduled for publication next June .
Tomorrow on FRESH @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Stephen King about writing his horror story `` The Stand '' about a pandemic and now living through a pandemic .
And we 'll hear from Patrick Stewart .
After playing Captain Jean-Luc Picard on `` Star Trek : The Next Generation '' and in four movies , this year he starred in the series `` Star Trek : Picard . ''
I hope you 'll join us .
FRESH AIR 's executive producer is Danny Miller .
Our technical director is Audrey Bentham .
Our engineers today are Audrey and Adam @ @ @ @ @ @ @ produced and edited by Amy Salit , Phyllis Myers , Sam Briger , Lauren Krenzel , Heidi Saman , Therese Madden , Ann Marie Baldonado , Thea Chaloner , Seth Kelley and Kayla Lattimore .
Our associate producer of digital media is Molly Seavy-Nesper .
Roberta Shorrock directs the show .
I 'm Terry Gross .

A Poet Reflects On How We Reckon — Or Fail To Reckon — With The Legacy Of Slavery
TERRY GROSS, HOST:
This is FRESH AIR. As 2020 comes to an end, we ask Clint Smith what he's thinking about as he looks back at this year. He's a staff writer at The Atlantic. His book of poems "Counting Descent" won the 2017 literary award for Best Poetry Book from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association. His forthcoming book "How The Word Is Passed" explores how different sites across the country reckon with or fail to reckon with their relationship to the history of slavery. Here's Clint.
CLINT SMITH: Obviously, a lot has happened this year. But what's top of mind for me as we end 2020 is the sort of racial reckoning that this country has experienced over the last several months and really over the last several years, both since George Floyd was killed and since Black Lives Matter has begun. And within that is this interrogation of Confederate monuments and memorials and statues. And should they be taken down? Should they stay up?
And in 2017 in my hometown in New Orleans, we removed several statues and memorials of Confederates, including Robert E. Lee, Jefferson Davis, P.G.T. Beauregard. And those statues were taken down. And I began thinking about, what does it mean that I grew up in this city, you know, where there are names of hundreds of people who were Confederates or owned enslaved people that sort of ornament the iconography of the place I grew up, in this majority Black city? And what does it mean that we have a city that, in many ways, honored and memorialized enslavers more than it did the enslaved?
So I began thinking of that and thinking about how different places across the country, including my own hometown - to what extent are these places being honest about their relationship to this history, and to what extent are they hiding from it? And this ultimately became the book that I've written that comes out next year, which is a narrative nonfiction book. But with me, all things begin in poetry. And, you know, that's how I was trained as a writer. And so while the book is a narrative nonfiction project, the poems are the things that help me ask the questions. And so I wanted to share a poem that I wrote. And I've been writing, in many ways, for the last few years that served as a sort of entry point to this interrogation because we can take down these monuments, but if we don't address what led the monuments to be put up in the first place, then we're not actually solving the issue.
(Reading) Growing up, the iconography of the Confederacy was an ever-present fixture of my daily life. Every day on the way to school, I passed a statue of P.G.T. Beauregard riding on horseback, his Confederate uniform slung over his shoulder and his military cap pulled far down over his eyes. As a child, I did not know who P.G.T. Beauregard was. I did not know he was the man who ordered the first attack that opened the Civil War. I did not know he was one of the architects who designed the Confederate national flag. I did not know he led an army predicated on maintaining the institution of slavery. What I knew is that he looked like so many of the other statues that ornamented the edges of this city, these copper garlands of a past that saw truth as something that should be buried underground and silenced by the soil.
After the war, the sons and daughters of the Confederacy reshaped the contours of treason into something they could name as honorable. They called it the Lost Cause, and it crept its way into textbooks that attempted to cover up a crime that was still unfolding. They told us that Robert E. Lee was an honest man, guilty of nothing but fighting for the state and the people that he loved, that the Southern flag was about heritage and remembering those slain fighting to preserve their way of life. But, see; the thing about the Lost Cause is that it's only lost if you're not actually looking. The thing about heritage is that it's a word that also means I'm ignoring what we did to you.
I was taught the Civil War wasn't about slavery, but I was never taught how the declarations of Confederate secession had the promise of human bondage carved into its stone. I was taught that the war was about economics, but I was never taught that in 1860, the 4 million enslaved Black people were worth more than every bank, factory and railroad combined. I was taught that the Civil War was about states' rights, but I was never taught how the Fugitive Slave Act could care less about a border and spell Georgia and Massachusetts the exact same way. It's easy to look at a flag and call it heritage when you don't see the Black bodies buried behind it. It's easy to look at a statue and call it history when you ignore the laws written in its wake.
I come from a city abounding with statues of white men on pedestals and Black children playing beneath them, where we played trumpets and trombones to drown out the Dixie song that still whistled in the wind. In New Orleans, there are over a hundred schools, roads and buildings named for Confederates and slaveholders. Every day Black children walk into buildings named after people who never wanted them to be there.
Every time I return home, I drive on streets named for those who would have wanted me in chains. Go straight for two miles on Robert E. Lee. Take a left on Jefferson Davis. Make the first right on Claiborne. Translation - go straight for two miles on the general who slaughtered hundreds of Black soldiers who were trying to surrender. Take a left on the President of the Confederacy who made the torture of Black bodies the cornerstone of his new nation. Make the first right on the man who permitted the heads of rebelling slaves to be put on stakes and spread across the city in order to prevent the others from getting any ideas.
What name is there for this sort of violence? What do you call it when the road you walk on is named for those who imagined you under a noose? What do you call it when the roof over your head is named after people who would have wanted the bricks to crush you?
GROSS: Clint Smith is a staff writer at The Atlantic. He's the author of the poetry collection "Counting Descent" and the forthcoming narrative nonfiction book "How The Word Is Passed: A Reckoning With The History Of Slavery Across America." It's scheduled for publication next June.
Tomorrow on FRESH AIR, we'll feature our interview with Stephen King about writing his horror story "The Stand" about a pandemic and now living through a pandemic. And we'll hear from Patrick Stewart. After playing Captain Jean-Luc Picard on "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and in four movies, this year he starred in the series "Star Trek: Picard." I hope you'll join us.
FRESH AIR's executive producer is Danny Miller. Our technical director is Audrey Bentham. Our engineers today are Audrey and Adam Staniszewski. Our interviews and reviews are produced and edited by Amy Salit, Phyllis Myers, Sam Briger, Lauren Krenzel, Heidi Saman, Therese Madden, Ann Marie Baldonado, Thea Chaloner, Seth Kelley and Kayla Lattimore. Our associate producer of digital media is Molly Seavy-Nesper. Roberta Shorrock directs the show. I'm Terry Gross.
(SOUNDBITE OF DOMINIC MILLER'S "CHAOS THEORY")
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npr--2020-12-28--'I Regret Nothing': Doctor Who Criticized Trump Parade Works Last Day At Walter Reed

' I Regret Nothing ' : Doctor Who Criticized Trump Parade Works Last Day At Walter Reed Dr. James Phillips , the Walter Reed physician who criticized President Trump 's decision to greet supporters outside the facility where he was being treated for COVID-19 , has worked his last shift at the hospital .
`` I stand by my words , and I regret nothing , '' Phillips wrote on Twitter .
The doctor 's pending removal from the work schedule at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center was reported in early December – two months after Phillips slammed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ His announcement that he has now stopped working at the medical compound brought a new round of praise for Phillips , both for his work as a doctor and for speaking out .
Phillips , who is also the chief of disaster medicine at George Washington University , said in October that Trump 's insistence on riding in a motorcade past supporters gathered across the street from Walter Reed exposed his security detail and others to a high risk of infection by the deadly coronavirus .
`` The irresponsibility is astounding .
My @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to play , '' the physician wrote in a tweet later deleted .
He also dismissed Trump 's outing — which came one month before the national election — as `` political theater '' that forced other people into quarantine and put them at unnecessary risk .
When NPR contacted Walter Reed about Phillips ' status on Monday , a representative stated that the doctor worked there as a contract employee .
The medical center `` provides requirements for contract employees to the contract agency , '' the representative said .
`` The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ employees to determine individual schedules .
There was no decision made by anyone at [ Walter Reed National Military Medical Center ] to remove Dr. Phillips from the schedule . ''
Representatives from the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences were unavailable for comment Monday .
The school said earlier this month that while it could confirm Phillips remains an employee , it was not able to comment on assignments such as his contract work at Walter Reed .
Late Sunday , Phillips said he had no regrets about his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worked my final shift at Walter Reed ER , '' Phillips tweeted .
`` I will miss the patients and my military and civilian coworkers — they have been overwhelmingly supportive .
I 'm honored to have worked there and I look forward to new opportunities . ''
Phillips also thanked a George Washington University colleague who defended him after Dr. Jonathan Reiner said , `` Dr. Phillips spoke the truth , and the truth was uncomfortable for some people .
He did nothing wrong .
People who claim to be patriots should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they defend the 2nd . ''
Phillips was one of many voices critical of Trump 's outing .
The president said his foray was meant to thank his supporters .
After the event , White House spokesman Judd Deere said that a medical team had cleared Trump 's plan for a brief motorcade tour and that those involved took safety precautions .
During the ride , Trump was seen wearing a mask – as were Secret Service personnel who were in the vehicle with him .

'I Regret Nothing': Doctor Who Criticized Trump Parade Works Last Day At Walter Reed
Enlarge this image toggle caption Alex Edelman/AFP via Getty Images Alex Edelman/AFP via Getty Images
Dr. James Phillips, the Walter Reed physician who criticized President Trump's decision to greet supporters outside the facility where he was being treated for COVID-19, has worked his last shift at the hospital. "I stand by my words, and I regret nothing," Phillips wrote on Twitter.
The doctor's pending removal from the work schedule at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center was reported in early December – two months after Phillips slammed the president's refusal to isolate himself. His announcement that he has now stopped working at the medical compound brought a new round of praise for Phillips, both for his work as a doctor and for speaking out.
Phillips, who is also the chief of disaster medicine at George Washington University, said in October that Trump's insistence on riding in a motorcade past supporters gathered across the street from Walter Reed exposed his security detail and others to a high risk of infection by the deadly coronavirus.
"The irresponsibility is astounding. My thoughts are with the Secret Service forced to play," the physician wrote in a tweet later deleted. He also dismissed Trump's outing — which came one month before the national election — as "political theater" that forced other people into quarantine and put them at unnecessary risk.
When NPR contacted Walter Reed about Phillips' status on Monday, a representative stated that the doctor worked there as a contract employee.
The medical center "provides requirements for contract employees to the contract agency," the representative said. "The contract agency then works together with contract employees to determine individual schedules. There was no decision made by anyone at [Walter Reed National Military Medical Center] to remove Dr. Phillips from the schedule."
Representatives from the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences were unavailable for comment Monday. The school said earlier this month that while it could confirm Phillips remains an employee, it was not able to comment on assignments such as his contract work at Walter Reed.
Late Sunday, Phillips said he had no regrets about his public stance.
"Today, I worked my final shift at Walter Reed ER," Phillips tweeted. "I will miss the patients and my military and civilian coworkers — they have been overwhelmingly supportive. I'm honored to have worked there and I look forward to new opportunities."
Phillips also thanked a George Washington University colleague who defended him after Dr. Jonathan Reiner said, "Dr. Phillips spoke the truth, and the truth was uncomfortable for some people. He did nothing wrong. People who claim to be patriots should defend the 1st Amendment as vigorously as they defend the 2nd."
Phillips was one of many voices critical of Trump's outing. The president said his foray was meant to thank his supporters. After the event, White House spokesman Judd Deere said that a medical team had cleared Trump's plan for a brief motorcade tour and that those involved took safety precautions.
During the ride, Trump was seen wearing a mask – as were Secret Service personnel who were in the vehicle with him.


npr--2020-12-28--As Hospitals Roll Out COVID-19 Vaccines, Health Care Workers Describe Chaos And Anger

As Hospitals Roll Out COVID-19 Vaccines , Health Care Workers Describe Chaos And Anger Health care workers across the country have started receiving COVID-19 vaccines , but doctors and nurses at some of the nation 's top hospitals are raising the alarm , charging that vaccine distribution has been unfair and a chaotic `` free-for-all . ''
At hospitals in Massachusetts , New York , Arizona , California and elsewhere , medical professionals say that those with the most exposure to COVID-19 patients are not always the first to get vaccinated .
And others who have little or no contact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` It definitely feels a little bit like a slap in the face , '' said Jennifer DeVincent , who has been a neonatal intensive care unit nurse in the prestigious Mass General Brigham hospital system for 16 years and attends deliveries with coronavirus-positive mothers .
At Mass General Brigham , the plan was for hospital staff to use an app to sign up for vaccinations .
Everyone is sorted into different `` waves '' meant to prioritize those most at risk .
However , the plan relies on the honor code , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ employees to `` self-police . ''
There were problems from the beginning .
The app crashed when too many people tried to sign up at once .
Then , when it was up and running again , all the appointments were snapped up within minutes .
DeVincent was taking care of a patient the entire time appointments were available .
Some night shift workers at Mass General Brigham woke up to learn they had slept through the announcement of the new system and the sign-up windows .
`` It turned into somewhat of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Those that work the most have had the hardest time getting an appointment because you ca n't always log on at that exact moment . ''
DeVincent said her frustration turned to anger when she realized exactly who was getting the shots : Some of the first to be vaccinated were managers , coordinators and others who do not do hands-on patient care .
`` It makes me feel awful that anyone feels anything less than fully valued , '' said Paul Biddinger , medical director for emergency preparedness at Mass General @ @ @ @ @ @ @ miscommunications , saying they should have managed expectations better given the limited number of doses available .
However , he said , the honor code is necessary for an organization with a staff of more than 80,000 .
`` It 's actually relatively complex to figure out who is working where , '' he said .
`` We have staff who move among our hospitals and work in different roles in different hospitals . ''
Biddinger has been going through the data and said it 's relatively rare for people to jump the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said they 're working on making the guidelines clearer and fixing issues in the app .
While vaccine rollout has gone smoothly at many hospitals , similar challenges have arisen at places such as New York-Presbyterian and Stanford Medicine .
In Arizona 's Maricopa County , the county government is responsible for distribution .
While the county tried to survey health care workers and prioritize them based on various risk factors , many have scrambled to find workarounds .
Rumor proliferated about a link that was supposed to be private but let anyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ phone number .
One doctor , who requested anonymity for fear of retribution , called the Maricopa County rollout `` a bit disorganized and ripe for exploitation . ''
In New York , a doctor affiliated with Northwell Health conducts 10 or more COVID-19 tests a day on patients but has not been able to get a vaccine appointment .
`` It 's really very upsetting , '' said the doctor , who also requested anonymity for fear her residency privileges would be taken away .
`` Throughout this whole pandemic , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do right now . ''
The doctor said Northwell – a network with 23 hospitals and 74,000 employees – has not been sharing much information .
The main communication , the doctor said , is : `` 'Wait your turn , and you 'll get invited when you get invited . '
`` While waiting , the doctor saw colleagues , such as radiologists , posting vaccine selfies on social media .
`` Many of these physicians are people who either work remotely or work in fields where they are not treating COVID @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` There really seems to be no rhyme or reason to who is getting vaccinated . ''
But Mark Jarrett pushed back , insisting there 's a detailed rollout plan .
As the chief quality officer and deputy chief medical officer at Northwell , he said , `` This is a monumental task that we 've never had to do before . ''
He said they are taking into account not just who has the most exposure to COVID-19 patients , but a lot of other factors as well .
For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may have only two interventional radiologists .
Not wanting them both to fall sick , they may get moved up in the line .
Or , since the vaccine can have side effects that might make someone miss work the next day , Northwell is making sure not to vaccinate a whole unit at one time .
Its system is also taking into account how bad the outbreak is in a hospital 's particular area .
Jarrett acknowledged the system has n't been perfect .
And , he said , they are trying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issues .
But the doctor affiliated with Northwell said each day treating COVID-19 patients is stressful – and knowing there 's a vaccine available , but not being able to access it , just adds to the challenges facing front-line workers .

As Hospitals Roll Out COVID-19 Vaccines, Health Care Workers Describe Chaos And Anger
Enlarge this image toggle caption Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Pool/AFP via Getty Images Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Pool/AFP via Getty Images
Health care workers across the country have started receiving COVID-19 vaccines, but doctors and nurses at some of the nation's top hospitals are raising the alarm, charging that vaccine distribution has been unfair and a chaotic "free-for-all."
At hospitals in Massachusetts, New York, Arizona, California and elsewhere, medical professionals say that those with the most exposure to COVID-19 patients are not always the first to get vaccinated. And others who have little or no contact with COVID-19 patients have received vaccinations.
"It definitely feels a little bit like a slap in the face," said Jennifer DeVincent, who has been a neonatal intensive care unit nurse in the prestigious Mass General Brigham hospital system for 16 years and attends deliveries with coronavirus-positive mothers.
At Mass General Brigham, the plan was for hospital staff to use an app to sign up for vaccinations. Everyone is sorted into different "waves" meant to prioritize those most at risk. However, the plan relies on the honor code, and internal emails obtained by NPR instruct employees to "self-police."
There were problems from the beginning. The app crashed when too many people tried to sign up at once. Then, when it was up and running again, all the appointments were snapped up within minutes. DeVincent was taking care of a patient the entire time appointments were available. Some night shift workers at Mass General Brigham woke up to learn they had slept through the announcement of the new system and the sign-up windows.
"It turned into somewhat of a free-for-all," DeVincent said. "Those that work the most have had the hardest time getting an appointment because you can't always log on at that exact moment."
DeVincent said her frustration turned to anger when she realized exactly who was getting the shots: Some of the first to be vaccinated were managers, coordinators and others who do not do hands-on patient care.
"It makes me feel awful that anyone feels anything less than fully valued," said Paul Biddinger, medical director for emergency preparedness at Mass General Brigham. He acknowledged the challenges and miscommunications, saying they should have managed expectations better given the limited number of doses available. However, he said, the honor code is necessary for an organization with a staff of more than 80,000.
Medical Treatments How COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution And Immunization Are Going In States How COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution And Immunization Are Going In States Listen · 5:00 5:00
"It's actually relatively complex to figure out who is working where," he said. "We have staff who move among our hospitals and work in different roles in different hospitals."
Biddinger has been going through the data and said it's relatively rare for people to jump the line and usually a misunderstanding. He said they're working on making the guidelines clearer and fixing issues in the app.
While vaccine rollout has gone smoothly at many hospitals, similar challenges have arisen at places such as New York-Presbyterian and Stanford Medicine.
In Arizona's Maricopa County, the county government is responsible for distribution. While the county tried to survey health care workers and prioritize them based on various risk factors, many have scrambled to find workarounds. Rumor proliferated about a link that was supposed to be private but let anyone get an appointment. Same with a phone number. One doctor, who requested anonymity for fear of retribution, called the Maricopa County rollout "a bit disorganized and ripe for exploitation."
National Does U.S. Have Enough Dry Ice For COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution? Does U.S. Have Enough Dry Ice For COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution? Listen · 3:37 3:37
In New York, a doctor affiliated with Northwell Health conducts 10 or more COVID-19 tests a day on patients but has not been able to get a vaccine appointment.
"It's really very upsetting," said the doctor, who also requested anonymity for fear her residency privileges would be taken away. "Throughout this whole pandemic, I've never felt so dejected as I do right now."
The doctor said Northwell – a network with 23 hospitals and 74,000 employees – has not been sharing much information. The main communication, the doctor said, is: " 'Wait your turn, and you'll get invited when you get invited.' "
While waiting, the doctor saw colleagues, such as radiologists, posting vaccine selfies on social media. "Many of these physicians are people who either work remotely or work in fields where they are not treating COVID patients every day," the doctor said. "There really seems to be no rhyme or reason to who is getting vaccinated."
But Mark Jarrett pushed back, insisting there's a detailed rollout plan. As the chief quality officer and deputy chief medical officer at Northwell, he said, "This is a monumental task that we've never had to do before."
He said they are taking into account not just who has the most exposure to COVID-19 patients, but a lot of other factors as well. For example, he said, a hospital may have only two interventional radiologists. Not wanting them both to fall sick, they may get moved up in the line. Or, since the vaccine can have side effects that might make someone miss work the next day, Northwell is making sure not to vaccinate a whole unit at one time. Its system is also taking into account how bad the outbreak is in a hospital's particular area.
Jarrett acknowledged the system hasn't been perfect. And, he said, they are trying to adjust as they learn about the issues. But the doctor affiliated with Northwell said each day treating COVID-19 patients is stressful – and knowing there's a vaccine available, but not being able to access it, just adds to the challenges facing front-line workers.