npr--2020-05-01--'This Never Happened,' Biden Says Of 1990s Sexual Assault Allegation

'This Never Happened , ' Biden Says Of 1990s Sexual Assault Allegation Updated at 7:55 a.m .
ET Editor 's note : This story contains graphic descriptions of an alleged sexual assault .
More than a month after being publicly accused of sexual assault by a former Senate staffer in the 1990s , former Vice President Joe Biden says the allegations `` are n't true .
This never happened . ''
Biden 's campaign released a statement Friday morning from the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee shortly before a live television interview with MSNBC .
The statement and interview are the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allegations by former Biden Senate staff assistant Tara Reade .
In the statement , Biden seeks to walk the line between respecting and listening to sexual assault allegations — a hallmark of most Democrats ' response to the # MeToo movement — and defending himself .
`` While the details of these allegations of sexual harassment and sexual assault are complicated , two things are not complicated , '' Biden said in the statement .
`` One is that women deserve to be treated with dignity and respect , and when they step @ @ @ @ @ @ @ silenced .
The second is that their stories should be subject to appropriate inquiry and scrutiny .
Responsible news organizations should examine and evaluate the full and growing record of inconsistencies in her story , which has changed repeatedly in both small and big ways . ''
Reade claims that Biden assaulted her in the spring of 1993 , when she worked as a staff assistant in his Senate office .
Reade could not remember the exact location or date of the alleged assault , but said it happened when a supervisor asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden on Capitol Hill .
When she met up with the then-senator in a hallway , Reade told NPR , he pinned her up against a wall and penetrated her vagina with his fingers .
`` His hands went underneath my clothing and he was touching me in my private areas and without my consent , '' Reade said .
Reade first made the accusation on a podcast in March , and it has since been reported by several other news outlets , including NPR .
At the time , Reade says she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a friend .
Reade 's friend told NPR that she heard the same specific details of the alleged assault at the time , but declined to be identified .
Her brother , Collin Moulton , told NPR that Reade had said Biden put his hands `` under her clothes . ''
Earlier this week , a former neighbor of Reade named Lynda LaCasse told NPR that Reade told her about the alleged assault approximately 25 years ago .
`` I do remember her telling me that Joe Biden had put her up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hands up her skirt and had put his fingers inside her , '' LaCasse told NPR , recalling a conversation she says took place two to three years after the alleged incident .
Reade says she never told anyone in Biden 's office about the assault , though she says she did complain about harassment .
Multiple people who worked in Biden 's office at the time told NPR they did not remember those complaints and denied Reade 's recollections about a hostile office environment .
Reade claims she also filed a formal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ personnel office but did not receive any follow-up .
She did not have a copy of the complaint and said she could not recall the name of the office where she had filed paperwork .
In his statement , Biden says any record of that complaint would be housed in the National Archives .
`` I am requesting that the Secretary of the Senate ask the Archives to identify any record of the complaint she alleges she filed and make available to the press any such document .
If there was ever any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there , '' said Biden .
Reade 's story has also evolved from last year , when she came forward to accuse Biden of inappropriate touching , joining other women coming forward with such complaints as Biden prepared to launch his campaign .
Several of them , though , said the behavior was not sexual in nature .
Reade 's allegation is the first public allegation of sexual assault made against Biden .
While the Biden campaign had unequivocally denied Reade 's allegation through a statement from deputy campaign manager Kate Bedingfield , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now , more than a month after Reade first made the allegation in a public forum .
`` As a Presidential candidate , I 'm accountable to the American people .
We have lived long enough with a President who does n't think he is accountable to anyone , and takes responsibility for nothing .
That 's not me .
I believe being accountable means having the difficult conversations , even when they are uncomfortable .
People need to hear the truth , '' Biden said in his statement .
In the weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several prominent Democrats had to walk a fine line of defending Biden , while also addressing the rallying cry of the # MeToo Movement to `` believe women '' who come forward with serious allegations against prominent men .
`` Here 's the thing : I have complete respect for the whole # MeToo Movement .
I have four daughters , one son , and there is a lot of excitement around the idea that women will be heard and be listened to , '' House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` There is also due process .
And the fact that Joe Biden is Joe Biden – there have been statements from his campaign , or not his campaign but his former employees who ran his offices and the rest , that there was never any record of this .
There was never any record and that nobody ever came forward , or that nobody ever came forward to say something about it apart from the principal involved . ''
President Trump , who has been accused by numerous women of various instances @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in on the allegation for the first time on Thursday .
`` I think he should respond .
It could be false accusations .
I know all about false accusations , I 've been falsely charged numerous times , '' Trump told reporters at the White House .

'This Never Happened,' Biden Says Of 1990s Sexual Assault Allegation
Enlarge this image toggle caption Matt Rourke/AP Matt Rourke/AP
Updated at 5:59 p.m. ET
Editor's note: This story contains graphic descriptions of an alleged sexual assault.
More than a month after being publicly accused of sexual assault by a former Senate staffer in the 1990s, former Vice President Joe Biden says the allegations "aren't true. This never happened."
The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee has also called on Senate records to be released of a sexual harassment complaint former Senate staffer Tara Reade says she filed, though she says it did not detail an assault and does not have a copy herself. Biden said he wouldn't call on the University of Delaware to search for Reade's alleged complaint in his official senatorial records, kept at the university under seal, saying those files do not contain personnel records.
Biden released a statement Friday morning shortly before a live television interview with MSNBC. The statement and interview were the candidate's first direct response to the allegations by Reade.
In the statement, Biden seeks to walk the line between respecting and listening to the sexual assault allegations — a hallmark of most Democrats' response to the #MeToo movement — and defending himself.
"While the details of these allegations of sexual harassment and sexual assault are complicated, two things are not complicated," Biden said in the statement. "One is that women deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, and when they step forward they should be heard, not silenced. The second is that their stories should be subject to appropriate inquiry and scrutiny. Responsible news organizations should examine and evaluate the full and growing record of inconsistencies in her story, which has changed repeatedly in both small and big ways."
"I'm not going to question her motive," Biden said in the interview with MSNBC's Mika Brzezinski. "I'm not going to do that at all. I don't know why she's saying this. I don't know why after 27 years this gets raised."
MSNBC via YouTube
The alleged assault
Reade says that Biden assaulted her in the spring of 1993, when she worked as a staff assistant in his Senate office. Reade could not remember the exact location or date of the alleged assault but said it happened when a supervisor asked her to deliver a duffel bag to Biden on Capitol Hill.
When she met up with the then-senator in a hallway, Reade told NPR, he pinned her up against a wall and penetrated her vagina with his fingers. "His hands went underneath my clothing and he was touching me in my private areas and without my consent," Reade said.
Reade first made the accusation on a podcast in March, and it has since been reported by several other news outlets, including NPR.
At the time, Reade says she told her brother, her late mother and a friend. Reade's friend told NPR that she heard the same specific details of the alleged assault at the time, but declined to be identified. Her brother, Collin Moulton, told NPR that Reade had said Biden put his hands "under her clothes."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Courtesy of Tara Reade Courtesy of Tara Reade
Earlier this week, a former neighbor of Reade named Lynda LaCasse told NPR that Reade told her about the alleged assault approximately 25 years ago. "I do remember her telling me that Joe Biden had put her up against a wall and had put his hands up her skirt and had put his fingers inside her," LaCasse told NPR, recalling a conversation she says took place two to three years after the alleged incident.
Reade says she never told anyone in Biden's office about the assault, though she says she did complain about harassment. Multiple people who worked in Biden's office at the time told NPR that they did not remember those complaints and denied Reade's recollections about a hostile office environment.
Records searches
Reade says she also filed a formal written complaint about harassment to a Senate personnel office but did not receive any follow-up. She did not have a copy of the complaint and said she could not recall the name of the office where she had filed paperwork.
In his statement Friday morning, Biden says any record of that complaint would be housed in the National Archives.
"I am requesting that the Secretary of the Senate ask the Archives to identify any record of the complaint she alleges she filed and make available to the press any such document. If there was ever any such complaint, the record will be there," Biden said.
Asked on MSNBC whether Biden would also be willing to ask the Archives to release any complaint about harassment from Reade or any other Senate staffer, Biden indicated he would. "To the best of my knowledge, there have been no complaints against me," Biden said. "There's nothing for me to hide. Nothing at all."
But on Friday, the National Archives said in a statement to NPR, "Any records of Senate personnel complaints from 1993 would have remained under the control of the Senate. Accordingly, inquiries related to these records should be directed to the Senate."
Later on Friday, Biden released a letter to Secretary of the Senate Julie Adams, asking her office to take "whatever steps are necessary to establish the location of the records," adding, "I would ask that the public release include not only a complaint if one exists, but any and all other documents in the records that relate to the allegation."
But pressed repeatedly by host Brzezinski on whether he would also authorize the University of Delaware to search its extensive archives of Biden's Senate papers for any mention of Reade, Biden declined, saying the school's collection does not include personnel files.
"They're not there," Biden said, saying the papers should be kept private until after he's no longer seeking or in public office, as they could reveal "confidential conversations," including with heads of state.
The agreement with the university has been that the records would be made public two years after Biden retires from office. That sort of delayed release is standard protocol for records of public officeholders.
"I'm accountable to the American people"
Reade's story has evolved from last year, when she came forward to accuse Biden of inappropriate touching, joining other women coming forward with such complaints as Biden prepared to launch his campaign. Several of them, though, said the behavior was not sexual in nature. Reade's allegation is the first public allegation of sexual assault made against Biden.
While the Biden campaign had unequivocally denied Reade's allegation through a statement from deputy campaign manager Kate Bedingfield, Biden himself had not addressed it until now, more than a month after Reade first made the allegation in a public forum.
"As a Presidential candidate, I'm accountable to the American people. We have lived long enough with a President who doesn't think he is accountable to anyone, and takes responsibility for nothing. That's not me. I believe being accountable means having the difficult conversations, even when they are uncomfortable. People need to hear the truth," Biden said in his statement.
In the weeks before he addressed the charge himself, several prominent Democrats had to walk a fine line of defending Biden, while also addressing the rallying cry of the #MeToo Movement to "believe women" who come forward with serious allegations against prominent men.
"Here's the thing: I have complete respect for the whole #MeToo Movement. I have four daughters, one son, and there is a lot of excitement around the idea that women will be heard and be listened to," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Thursday when asked about the allegation. "There is also due process. And the fact that Joe Biden is Joe Biden – there have been statements from his campaign, or not his campaign but his former employees who ran his offices and the rest, that there was never any record of this. There was never any record and that nobody ever came forward, or that nobody ever came forward to say something about it apart from the principal involved."
President Trump, who has been accused by numerous women of various instances of sexual assault and harassment, weighed in on the allegation for the first time on Thursday. "I think he should respond. It could be false accusations. I know all about false accusations, I've been falsely charged numerous times," Trump told reporters at the White House.


npr--2020-05-01--NASA Names Firms In Competition To Build Next-Gen Lunar Lander

NASA has selected three companies to develop the first vehicle in more than 50 years to put humans on the moon , with space firms run by billionaires Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos among the competitors .
Musk 's SpaceX , Bezos ' Blue Origin and a third company , Dynetics , a Huntsville , Ala. , subsidiary of Leidos , will share $ 967 million in development money from NASA to flesh out concepts for the landing component of the Artemis program , which the space agency hopes will get it back to the moon by 2024 .
Two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Boeing and Vivace , were edged out .
`` This is the first time since the Apollo era that NASA has direct funding for a human landing system , and now we have companies on contract to do the work for the Artemis program , '' NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstone said , calling the lander the `` last piece that we need in order to get to the moon '' by 2024 .
The last American astronaut to walk on the moon was Apollo 17 's Eugene Cernan , who left the last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 1972 , two-and-a-half years after Neil Armstrong 's famous `` first step . ''
With Artemis , NASA has promised that the first woman will step foot on the lunar surface and there 's already speculation on which of the space agency 's veteran female astronauts might be the one .
Over the next 10 months , each of the three companies announced on Thursday will refine their concept and NASA will choose the most promising .
The competing concepts could n't be more different .
SpaceX 's is based on its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some of the pre-Apollo ideas about how astronauts would land on the moon , with one large rocket landing vertically on the surface .
According to concept drawings , Blue Origin 's lander would use the same basic idea as the old Apollo Lunar Module — a two-part vehicle that lands and then lifts off from the surface using the bottom portion as an expendable launch pad .
Both of those concepts , however , would require astronauts to descend from their spacecraft a fairly long way to the surface .
Starship 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in fact , that astronauts might be required to use an elevator to reach the moon .
By contrast , the Dynetics lander is low and it would require astronauts to take only a few steps to reach the surface .
Blue Origin is reportedly getting more than half the development pie , $ 579 million , with Dynetics at $ 253 million and SpaceX trailing with $ 135 million .
NASA 's planned Lunar Gateway , a vehicle in orbit around the moon with living quarters for astronauts , a science lab @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wo n't be ready for the first landings , but will be used later to achieve `` a regular cadence of missions using commercial services contracts later in the decade , '' NASA says .
In a teleconference with journalists , Musk enthused about the `` potential for an incredibly exciting future in space with a base on the moon and ultimately sending people and having a self-sustaining city on Mars . ''
Dynetics ' vice president of space systems , Kim Doering , said the company is excited about the first mission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ longer-term development of the moon as a commercial venture .
Bob Smit , the CEO of Blue Origin , called it a historic day , saying that `` going to the moon is the reason why we got into this business . ''
Later this month , NASA plans to launch two astronauts from Cape Canaveral , Fla. , for the first time since the end of the Space Shuttle program in 2011 left the U.S. without its own human space-launch capability .
On May 27 , SpaceX 's Crew Dragon , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to and from the International Space Station , is scheduled to blast off from the Cape with astronauts Bob Behknen and Doug Hurley aboard .

NASA Names Firms In Competition To Build Next-Gen Lunar Lander
Enlarge this image toggle caption NASA via AP NASA via AP
NASA has selected three companies to develop the first vehicle in more than 50 years to put humans on the moon, with space firms run by billionaires Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos among the competitors.
Musk's SpaceX, Bezos' Blue Origin and a third company, Dynetics, a Huntsville, Ala., subsidiary of Leidos, will share $967 million in development money from NASA to flesh out concepts for the landing component of the Artemis program, which the space agency hopes will get it back to the moon by 2024.
Two other companies that put in bids, Boeing and Vivace, were edged out.
"This is the first time since the Apollo era that NASA has direct funding for a human landing system, and now we have companies on contract to do the work for the Artemis program," NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said, calling the lander the "last piece that we need in order to get to the moon" by 2024.
YouTube
The last American astronaut to walk on the moon was Apollo 17's Eugene Cernan, who left the last human bootprint there on Dec. 14, 1972, 2 1/2 years after Neil Armstrong's famous "one small step."
With Artemis, NASA has promised that the first woman will step foot on the lunar surface and there's already speculation on which of the space agency's veteran female astronauts might be the one.
Over the next 10 months, each of the three companies announced on Thursday will refine their concept and NASA will choose the most promising.
SpaceX has been selected to develop a lunar optimized Starship to transport crew between lunar orbit and the surface of the Moon as part of @NASA’s Artemis program! https://t.co/FRmwWisKfH pic.twitter.com/z1bkUrQMK8 — SpaceX (@SpaceX) April 30, 2020
The competing concepts couldn't be more different. SpaceX's is based on its Starship rocket currently under development and resembles some of the pre-Apollo ideas about how astronauts would land on the moon, with one large rocket landing vertically on the surface.
The NASA news release does not specify award amounts, but here they are:
• $579 million to the Blue Origin team
• $253 million to the Dynetics-led team
• $135 million to SpaceX
NASA chief says awards to not reflect ranking or preference.https://t.co/XwrB4Xo5F2 — Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace) April 30, 2020
According to concept drawings, Blue Origin's lander would use the same basic idea as the old Apollo lunar module — a two-part vehicle that lands and then lifts off from the surface using the bottom portion as an expendable launch pad.
.@Dynetics is working with a robust team of more than 25 subcontractors. Their two-stage lander concept includes a single element with ascent / descent capabilities and a unique crew cabin that sits low to the Moon’s surface. pic.twitter.com/S6M8FDWWQb — Jim Bridenstine (@JimBridenstine) April 30, 2020
Both of those concepts, however, would require astronauts to descend from their spacecraft a fairly long way to the surface. Starship's crew compartment would be so high, in fact, that astronauts might be required to use an elevator to reach the moon.
By contrast, the Dynetics lander is low and would require astronauts to take only a few steps to reach the surface.
Blue Origin is reportedly getting more than half the development pie, $579 million, with Dynetics at $253 million and SpaceX trailing with $135 million.
NASA's planned Lunar Gateway, a vehicle in orbit around the moon with living quarters for astronauts, a science lab and docking ports for visiting spacecraft, won't be ready for the first landings but will be used later to achieve "a regular cadence of missions using commercial services contracts later in the decade," NASA says.
In a teleconference with journalists, Musk enthused about the "potential for an incredibly exciting future in space with a base on the moon and ultimately sending people and having a self-sustaining city on Mars."
Dynetics' vice president of space systems, Kim Doering, said the company is excited about the first mission in 2024 but also about the longer-term development of the moon as a commercial venture.
Bob Smith, the CEO of Blue Origin, called it a historic day, saying that "going to the moon is the reason why we got into this business."
Later this month, NASA plans to launch two astronauts from Cape Canaveral, Fla., for the first time since the end of the space shuttle program in 2011 left the U.S. without its own human space-launch capability.
On May 27, SpaceX's Crew Dragon, a newly developed vehicle designed to ferry astronauts to and from the International Space Station, is scheduled to blast off from the Cape with astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley aboard.


npr--2020-05-01--2 Orange County Cities To Challenge Calif. Gov. Newsom's Order Closing Beaches

The city councils of both Huntington Beach and Dana Point voted tonight to pursue legal action against the state of California to block Gov .
Gavin Newsom 's beach-closure order .
Newsom ordered all beaches and state parks in Orange County to temporarily close on Thursday .
The governor was angered by people crowding the beaches during last weekend 's summer-like weather .
`` Specific issues on some of those beaches raised alarm bells , '' Newsom said in a press conference Thursday .
`` We 're gon na do a hard close in that part of the state , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We 're working with the county . ''
It was n't immediately clear if these impending legal battles would also challenge the closure of state parks that are n't on the coast .
In an emergency meeting , the City Council of Dana Point voted to seek a temporary restraining order blocking the beach shut-down order .
Dana Point Councilman Joseph Muller criticized the Newsom administration for providing inconsistent information on a conference call with city council members and elected officials at the same time Newsom held his press briefing Thursday .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that this was a statewide closure during the conference call at the exact same time [ Newsom ] was holding his press conference live and singled out Orange County , '' Muller said over the phone during a livestreamed emergency city council meeting .
`` That 's very disturbing to me that they would play a game like that , so giving us info in a meeting while he 's out publicly saying something very different . ''
Dana Point Mayor Richard Viczorek backed up Muller 's account of that conference call .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a conference call scheduled with elected officials from Orange County , '' Viczorek said during the city council meeting .
`` We had all I think read the news or were aware of the fact the governor was intending to close the beaches throughout California but obviously at some point that changed ... and his decision was only to close the beaches in Orange County . ''
The governor 's office did not immediately respond to NPR 's request for comment .
Dana Point city attorney Partick Muñoz said in the council @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order will be filed Friday .
Huntington Beach council members voted 5-2 to `` direct the City Attorney to pursue any and all legal actions necessary to challenge the state 's beach closure directive , '' the city 's press release states .
`` Our experience locally had been that most people [ at the beaches ] were being responsible and complying with social distancing requirements , '' according to the press release .
Since Newsom warned Californians that crowding beaches could make coronavirus cases spike , local officials throughout Orange County have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ following distancing rules , and that press photographs did not accurately reflect the situation on the beaches .
`` Governor Newsom 's mandate to close all beaches in Orange County today was a jarring decision that significantly impacts us here in Huntington Beach , '' said Mayor Lyn Semeta in a press release .
`` Given that Orange County has among the lowest per-capita COVID-19 death rates in California , the action by the State prioritizes politics over data , in direct contradiction of the Governor 's stated goal to allow science and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ horrible global pandemic . ''
According to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University , there have been about 2,250 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Orange County .
New cases of COVID-19 have surged in recent days , according to the Orange County Public Health department website .
On April 30 , the county saw a record-high 145 new cases , up from 32 new cases on April 28 , according to that public health database .

2 Orange County Cities To Challenge Calif. Gov. Newsom's Order Closing Beaches
Enlarge this image toggle caption Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP
The city councils of both Huntington Beach and Dana Point voted tonight to pursue legal action against the state of California to block Gov. Gavin Newsom's beach-closure order.
Newsom ordered all beaches and state parks in Orange County to temporarily close on Thursday. The governor was angered by people crowding the beaches during last weekend's summerlike weather.
"Specific issues on some of those beaches raised alarm bells," Newsom said in a press conference Thursday. "We're gonna do a hard close in that part of the state, just in the Orange County area. We're working with the county."
It wasn't immediately clear if these impending legal battles would also challenge the closure of state parks that aren't on the coast.
In an emergency meeting, the City Council of Dana Point voted to seek a temporary restraining order blocking the beach shutdown order.
Dana Point Councilman Joseph Muller criticized the Newsom administration for providing inconsistent information on a conference call with city council members and elected officials at the same time Newsom held his press briefing Thursday.
"[H]is representative was stating that this was a statewide closure during the conference call at the exact same time [Newsom] was holding his press conference live and singled out Orange County," Muller said over the phone during a livestreamed emergency city council meeting. "That's very disturbing to me that they would play a game like that, so giving us info in a meeting while he's out publicly saying something very different."
Dana Point Mayor Richard Viczorek backed up Muller's account of that conference call.
"As the governor was speaking there was a conference call scheduled with elected officials from Orange County," Viczorek said during the city council meeting. "We had all I think read the news or were aware of the fact the governor was intending to close the beaches throughout California, but obviously at some point that changed ... and his decision was only to close the beaches in Orange County."
The governor's office did not immediately respond to NPR's request for comment.
Dana Point City Attorney Patrick Muñoz said in the council meeting that the motion for a restraining order will be filed Friday.
Huntington Beach council members voted 5-2 to "direct the City Attorney to pursue any and all legal actions necessary to challenge the state's beach closure directive," the city's press release states.
"Our experience locally had been that most people [at the beaches] were being responsible and complying with social distancing requirements," according to the press release.
Since Newsom warned Californians that crowding beaches could make coronavirus cases spike, local officials throughout Orange County have argued that the majority of beachgoers were following distancing rules, and that press photographs did not accurately reflect the situation on the beaches.
"Governor Newsom's mandate to close all beaches in Orange County today was a jarring decision that significantly impacts us here in Huntington Beach," said Mayor Lyn Semeta in a press release. "Given that Orange County has among the lowest per-capita COVID-19 death rates in California, the action by the State prioritizes politics over data, in direct contradiction of the Governor's stated goal to allow science and facts to guide our response to this horrible global pandemic."
According to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University, there have been about 2,250 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Orange County.
New cases of COVID-19 have surged in recent days, according to the Orange County Public Health department website. On April 30, the county saw a record-high 145 new cases, up from 32 new cases on April 28, according to that public health database.


npr--2020-05-01--Russia's Prime Minister Says He Has Coronavirus, As Country Tops 100,000 Cases

Russia 's Prime Minister Says He Has Coronavirus , As Country Tops 100,000 Cases Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin says he 's infected with the novel coronavirus , joining nearly 106,500 others in the country who have been similarly diagnosed .
Speaking during a video conference with President Vladimir Putin that was broadcast Thursday on state-run Rossiya 24 television , Mishustin — who took over as prime minister from Dmitry Medvedev in January — told Putin that he had tested positive for the virus .
`` It has just now became known that the coronavirus test I gave came back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I have to observe self-isolation and follow orders of doctors , '' he said .
`` This is necessary to protect my colleagues . ''
Mishustin , whose role as head of government is considerably less powerful than Putin 's , nominated his deputy , Andrey Belousov , to take over as acting prime minister , a recommendation that Putin approved by decree .
The 54-year-old Mishustin , who has been a lead figure in handling Russia 's response to COVID-19 , said he would `` maintain active contact '' with Putin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ main issues '' during his self-quarantine , according to The Moscow Times .
Putin thanked the prime minister and acknowledged that becoming infected could happen to anyone .
Interviewed later by the business daily Kommersant , Mishustin said he was experiencing a high fever .
Russia has been hard-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic , with infections topping 100,000 on Thursday after a record single-day increase of 7,099 newly confirmed cases .
More than 1,000 have died from the disease , according to official data .
The latest figures appear to run counter to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Russia was `` slowing the spread '' of the virus .

Russia's Prime Minister Says He Has Coronavirus, As Country Tops 100,000 Cases
Enlarge this image toggle caption Kremlin/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images Kremlin/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin says he's infected with the coronavirus, joining nearly 106,500 others in the country who have been similarly diagnosed.
Speaking during a videoconference with President Vladimir Putin that was broadcast Thursday on state-run Rossiya 24 television, Mishustin — who took over as prime minister from Dmitry Medvedev in January — told Putin that he had tested positive for the virus.
"It has just now became known that the coronavirus test I gave came back positive," Mishustin told Putin.
"I have to observe self-isolation and follow orders of doctors," he said. "This is necessary to protect my colleagues."
Mishustin, whose role as head of government is considerably less powerful than Putin's, nominated his deputy, Andrey Belousov, to take over as acting prime minister, a recommendation that Putin approved by decree.
The 54-year-old Mishustin, who has been a lead figure in handling Russia's response to COVID-19, said he would "maintain active contact" with Putin and other leaders "on all the main issues" during his self-quarantine, according to The Moscow Times.
Putin thanked the prime minister and acknowledged that becoming infected could happen to anyone.
Interviewed later by the business daily Kommersant, Mishustin said he was experiencing a high fever.
Russia has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, with infections topping 100,000 on Thursday after a record single-day increase of 7,099 newly confirmed cases. More than 1,000 have died from the disease, according to official data.
The latest figures appear to run counter to pronouncements made by Putin in recent weeks that Russia was "slowing its spread" of the virus.


npr--2020-04-30--Tony Allen, Afrobeat's Foundational Drummer, Has Died At Age 79

Drummer Tony Allen has died at age 79 .
He is widely hailed as one of the founders of Afrobeat alongside his longtime musical partner Fela Kuti , with whom he played for 15 years .
Allen died Wednesday evening in Paris of a heart attack , his manager , Eric Trosset , told NPR .
Trosset told Agence France-Presse that Allen took ill in the afternoon and was taken to the Hôpital européen Georges-Pompidou , where he died .
Behind the kit , Allen used his whole body — laying out intricate polyrhythms with all four limbs .
( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seemed like he had more than four . )
`` Without Tony Allen , '' Kuti famously remarked , `` there would be no Afrobeat . ''
Allen was born Tony Oladipo Allen in Lagos , Nigeria in 1940 .
He did n't begin playing the drums until age 18 — but once he began , that was it .
Just months later , while he was working as an electrical technician for a radio station in his native Lagos , he announced to his disappointed parents that he intended to become a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early 1960s , when both were gigging around Lagos .
By 1964 , they were playing together : first American-style jazz , and then , for about five years , a more African-inflected , highlife jazz .
In 1969 , they formed the legendary band Africa 70 .
Allen came of age idolizing such American jazz drummers as Gene Krupa , Art Blakey and Max Roach .
As he told NPR 's Weekend Edition in 2010 , `` Fela wrote like a singer ; I write like a drummer . ''
That highly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Afrobeat : thickly layered horns and soaring vocals with wry lyrics , laid over an unforgettably mighty , driving groove .
It was a sweaty , exuberant amalgamation of African styles like highlife and juju , American jazz , and something entirely new and thoroughly self-confident .
In a blazing run , Allen recorded more than 30 albums with Kuti and Africa 70 — including the classics Shakara , Expensive Shit , Sorrow Tears and Blood and Zombie .
The two also recorded three albums under Allen 's name : 1975 's Jealousy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ No Accommodation For Lagos .
But eventually they split apart , sparring over money , credits and royalties — not to mention Allen 's distaste for what he called Kuti 's `` militarism '' and the constant entourage around Kuti , which Allen found parasitic .
Allen left Africa 70 in 1979 .
He went first to London , and then settled in Paris .
Later in his career , Allen ranged broadly in terms of his musical tastes — exploring everything from Afrofunk and American jazz to rap and electronica .
His @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Blur and Gorillaz , the Clash 's Paul Simonon , and guitarist Simon Tong of the Verve who together recorded as The Good , the Bad & the Queen .
Allen released another album , Rejoice , just last month ; it was a collaboration with the late South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela , who died in 2018 .
The two artists recorded together in 2010 , but the album was not finished until the summer of 2019 .

Tony Allen, Afrobeat's Foundational Drummer, Has Died At Age 79
Enlarge this image toggle caption Leon Neal/AFP via Getty Images Leon Neal/AFP via Getty Images
Drummer Tony Allen has died at age 79. He is widely hailed as one of the founders of Afrobeat alongside his longtime musical partner Fela Kuti, with whom he played for 15 years.
Allen died Wednesday evening in Paris of a heart attack, his manager, Eric Trosset, told NPR. Trosset told Agence France-Presse that Allen took ill in the afternoon and was taken to the Hôpital européen Georges-Pompidou, where he died.
Behind the kit, Allen used his whole body — laying out intricate polyrhythms with all four limbs. (He was so dexterous, it often seemed like he had more than four.) "Without Tony Allen," Kuti famously remarked, "there would be no Afrobeat."
Allen was born Tony Oladipo Allen in Lagos, Nigeria in 1940. He didn't begin playing the drums until age 18 — but once he began, that was it. Just months later, while he was working as an electrical technician for a radio station in his native Lagos, he announced to his disappointed parents that he intended to become a musician.
Allen met Kuti in the early 1960s, when both were gigging around Lagos. By 1964, they were playing together: first American-style jazz, and then, for about five years, a more African-inflected, highlife jazz. In 1969, they formed the legendary band Africa 70.
Allen came of age idolizing such American jazz drummers as Gene Krupa, Art Blakey and Max Roach. As he told NPR's Weekend Edition in 2010, "Fela wrote like a singer; I write like a drummer."
That highly combustible mix was exactly the magic of Afrobeat: thickly layered horns and soaring vocals with wry lyrics, laid over an unforgettably mighty, driving groove. It was a sweaty, exuberant amalgamation of African styles like highlife and juju, American jazz, and something entirely new and thoroughly self-confident. More than being just Africa 70's drummer, Allen was its musical director.
YouTube
In a blazing run, Allen recorded more than 30 albums with Kuti and Africa 70 — including the classics Shakara, Expensive Shit, Sorrow Tears and Blood and Zombie. The two also recorded three albums under Allen's name: 1975's Jealousy, 1977's Progress and 1979's No Accommodation For Lagos.
But eventually they split apart, sparring over money, credits and royalties — not to mention Allen's distaste for what he called Kuti's "militarism" and the constant entourage around Kuti, which Allen found parasitic. Allen left Africa 70 in 1979. He went first to London, and then settled in Paris.
Later in his career, Allen ranged broadly in terms of his musical tastes — exploring everything from Afrofunk and American jazz to rap and electronica. His later collaborators included singer Damon Albarn of Blur and Gorillaz, the Clash's Paul Simonon, and guitarist Simon Tong of the Verve who together recorded as The Good, the Bad & the Queen.
Allen released another album, Rejoice, just last month; it was a collaboration with the late South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela, who died in 2018. The two artists recorded together in 2010, but the album was not finished until the summer of 2019.


npr--2020-04-30--Trump Announces Panel To Look At Nursing Home Responses To Coronavirus Outbreak

Trump Announces Panel To Look At Nursing Home Responses To Coronavirus Outbreak President Trump Thursday announced the formation of an independent commission to look at the response of nursing homes to the coronavirus .
The move comes after nursing home operators have been clamoring for more equipment and testing .
In comments at a White House event , Trump acknowledged that nursing homes were `` a spot that we have to take care of .
I guess you could call it a little bit of a weak spot , because things are happening at the nursing homes that we 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be known officially as the Coronavirus Commission for Safety and Quality in Nursing Homes .
It will look at how nursing homes have responded to the pandemic and recommend improvements .
Members will include nursing home operators , resident advocates and public officials .
The Federal Emergency Management Agency also announced it will send two shipments of personal protective gear to every nursing home , each shipment containing a one-week supply , by July 4 .
The American Health Care Association , which represents most nursing homes , applauded the announcement .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mark Parkinson said , `` We appreciate the commission and the plan of action announced today by the Trump administration as an important step forward to ensure long term care facilities receive the vital support needed during this unprecedented public health crisis . ''
But the praise from the nursing home industry was not universal .
LeadingAge , which represents nonprofit senior services including nursing homes , blasted the administration for leaving testing out of its plan .
President and CEO Katie Smith Sloan said in a statement , `` Today 's announcements @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to protect the most vulnerable Americans from the coronavirus . ''

Trump Announces Panel To Look At Nursing Home Responses To Coronavirus Outbreak
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images
President Trump Thursday announced the formation of an independent commission to look at the response of nursing homes to the coronavirus. The move comes as nursing home operators clamor for more equipment and testing.
In comments at a White House event, Trump acknowledged that nursing homes were "a spot that we have to take care of. I guess you could call it a little bit of a weak spot, because things are happening at the nursing homes that we're not happy about."
The panel will be known officially as the Coronavirus Commission for Safety and Quality in Nursing Homes. It will look at how nursing homes have responded to the pandemic and recommend improvements. Members will include nursing home operators, resident advocates and public officials.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency also announced it will send two shipments of personal protective gear to every nursing home, each shipment containing a one-week supply, by July 4.
The American Health Care Association, which represents most nursing homes, applauded the announcement. In a statement, president and CEO Mark Parkinson said, "We appreciate the commission and the plan of action announced today by the Trump administration as an important step forward to ensure long term care facilities receive the vital support needed during this unprecedented public health crisis."
But the praise from the nursing home industry was not universal. LeadingAge, which represents nonprofit senior services including nursing homes, blasted the administration for leaving testing out of its plan. President and CEO Katie Smith Sloan said in a statement, "Today's announcements fell far short of what's needed to protect the most vulnerable Americans from the coronavirus."


npr--2020-05-01--Answering Your Coronavirus Questions: Essential Workers, Treatment And Graduations

On this broadcast of The National Conversation , we hear from three essential workers about their experiences working through the @ @ @ @ @ how graduations and college decisions are being affected .
And we 'll answer your questions @ @ @ @ @ .

Answering Your Coronavirus Questions: Essential Workers, Treatment And Graduations
Enlarge this image toggle caption Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images
On this broadcast of The National Conversation, we hear from three essential workers about their experiences working through the pandemic. We'll discuss how graduations and college decisions are being affected. And we'll answer your questions about new drugs and treatments.


npr--2020-05-01--ACLU Calls For Release Of Pregnant Inmates During the Coronavirus Pandemic

ACLU Calls For Release Of Pregnant Inmates During the Coronavirus Pandemic The American Civil Liberties Union is asking federal and state corrections officials to free pregnant inmates in response to the coronavirus pandemic .
The request comes after a South Dakota woman died of the virus in federal custody in Texas on Tuesday , just weeks after giving birth .
The pandemic has prompted corrections officials in many jurisdictions around the country to release some inmates out of concerns about overcrowded conditions and exposure to the virus behind bars .
Now , the ACLU is asking governors and President Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than a year left on their sentences .
Advocates point to the case of Andrea Circle Bear , 30 , of South Dakota , who died of COVID-19 on Tuesday in federal custody .
Circle Bear was serving a 26-month sentence in Fort Worth , Texas , for a drug conviction .
She 'd delivered a baby by Cesarean section a few weeks ago , according to reports .
In a statement , the ACLU 's Cynthia Roseberry called Circle Bear 's death `` a startling wakeup call that shows the true cost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the COVID-19 pandemic . ''
The ACLU estimates that some 200,000 prisoners nationwide could die of the new coronavirus unless inmate releases are escalated .
Also this week , New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo ordered the release of pregnant inmates with nonviolent convictions and less than six months left to serve .
The federal Bureau of Prisons has said it is carefully monitoring the situation and has taken steps intended to improve safety , including suspending visits to federal prisons and screening inmates for symptoms .

ACLU Calls For Release Of Pregnant Inmates During The Coronavirus Pandemic
The American Civil Liberties Union is asking federal and state corrections officials to free pregnant inmates in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The request comes after a South Dakota woman died of the virus in federal custody in Texas on Tuesday, just weeks after giving birth.
The pandemic has prompted corrections officials in many jurisdictions around the country to release some inmates out of concerns about overcrowded conditions and exposure to the virus behind bars.
Now, the ACLU is asking governors and President Trump to free all pregnant inmates with less than a year left on their sentences.
Advocates point to the case of Andrea Circle Bear, 30, of South Dakota, who died of COVID-19 on Tuesday in federal custody. Circle Bear was serving a 26-month sentence in Fort Worth, Texas, for a drug conviction. She'd delivered a baby by cesarean section a few weeks ago, according to reports.
In a statement, the ACLU's Cynthia Roseberry called Circle Bear's death "a startling wakeup call that shows the true cost of the U.S. obsession with mass incarceration during the COVID-19 pandemic."
The ACLU estimates that some 200,000 prisoners nationwide could die of the new coronavirus unless inmate releases are escalated.
Also this week, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo ordered the release of pregnant inmates with nonviolent convictions and less than six months left to serve.
The federal Bureau of Prisons has said it is carefully monitoring the situation and has taken steps intended to improve safety, including suspending visits to federal prisons and screening inmates for symptoms.


npr--2020-05-01--Clinical Study Considers The Power Of Prayer To Combat COVID-19

Clinical Study Considers The Power Of Prayer To Combat COVID-19 No vaccine or effective treatment has yet been found for people suffering from COVID-19 .
Under the circumstances , a physician in Kansas City wonders whether prayer might make a difference , and he has launched a scientific study to find out .
`` It has to be a true supernatural intervention , '' says Dr. Dhanunjaya Lakkireddy .
A cardiologist at the Kansas City Heart Rhythm Institute , Lakkireddy is the principal investigator in a clinical trial involving 1000 patients with COVID-19 infections severe enough that they require intensive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on May 1 , will investigate `` the role of remote intercessory multi-denominational prayer on clinical outcomes in COVID-19 patients , '' according to a description provided to the National Institutes of Health .
Half of the patients , randomly chosen , will receive a `` universal '' prayer offered in five denominational forms , via Christianity , Hinduism , Islam , Judaism , and Buddhism .
The other 500 patients will constitute the control group .
All the patients will receive the standard of care prescribed by their medical providers .
Lakkireddy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ professionals to oversee the study .
`` We all believe in science , and we also believe in faith , '' Lakkireddy says .
`` If there is a supernatural power , which a lot of us believe , would that power of prayer and divine intervention change the outcomes in a concerted fashion ?
That was our question . ''
The investigators will assess how long the patients remain on ventilators , how many suffer from organ failure , how quickly they are released from intensive care and how many die .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hinduism , '' but he says he attended a Catholic school and has spent time in synagogues , Buddhist monasteries , and mosques .
`` I believe in the power of all religions , '' he says .
`` I think if we believe in the wonders of God and the universal good of any religion , then we 've got to combine hands and join the forces of each of these faiths together for the single cause of saving humanity from this pandemic . ''
Scientific studies of the power of prayer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ description of his study lists six previous clinical trials involving religious intervention .
Some showed slight improvement for patients receiving prayer .
Other studies have found no significant prayer effect .
Lakkireddy says he can not explain how people praying remotely for someone they do n't know ( or a group of people , ) could actually make a difference in their health outcomes , and he acknowledges that some of his medical colleagues have had `` a mixed reaction '' to his study proposal .
`` Even from my wife , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says .
`` She was skeptical .
She was , like , 'OK , what is it that you 're looking at ? ''
Lakkireddy says he has no idea what he will find .
`` But it 's not like we 're putting anyone at risk , '' he says .
`` A miracle could happen .
There 's always hope , right ? ''

Clinical Study Considers The Power Of Prayer To Combat COVID-19
No vaccine or effective treatment has yet been found for people suffering from COVID-19. Under the circumstances, a physician in Kansas City wonders whether prayer might make a difference, and he has launched a scientific study to find out.
"It has to be a true supernatural intervention," says Dr. Dhanunjaya Lakkireddy.
A cardiologist at the Kansas City Heart Rhythm Institute, Lakkireddy is the principal investigator in a clinical trial involving 1000 patients with COVID-19 infections severe enough that they require intensive care.
The four-month study, launched on May 1, will investigate "the role of remote intercessory multi-denominational prayer on clinical outcomes in COVID-19 patients," according to a description provided to the National Institutes of Health. Half of the patients, randomly chosen, will receive a "universal" prayer offered in five denominational forms, via Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and Buddhism. The other 500 patients will constitute the control group. All the patients will receive the standard of care prescribed by their medical providers. Lakkireddy has assembled a steering committee of medical professionals to oversee the study.
"We all believe in science, and we also believe in faith," Lakkireddy says. "If there is a supernatural power, which a lot of us believe, would that power of prayer and divine intervention change the outcomes in a concerted fashion? That was our question."
The investigators will assess how long the patients remain on ventilators, how many suffer from organ failure, how quickly they are released from intensive care and how many die.
Lakkireddy describes himself as "born into Hinduism," but he says he attended a Catholic school and has spent time in synagogues, Buddhist monasteries, and mosques.
"I believe in the power of all religions," he says. "I think if we believe in the wonders of God and the universal good of any religion, then we've got to combine hands and join the forces of each of these faiths together for the single cause of saving humanity from this pandemic."
Scientific studies of the power of prayer have been attempted before. Lakkireddy's description of his study lists six previous clinical trials involving religious intervention. Some showed slight improvement for patients receiving prayer. Other studies have found no significant prayer effect.
Lakkireddy says he can not explain how people praying remotely for someone they don't know (or a group of people,) could actually make a difference in their health outcomes, and he acknowledges that some of his medical colleagues have had "a mixed reaction" to his study proposal.
"Even from my wife, who's a physician herself," he says. "She was skeptical. She was, like, 'OK, what is it that you're looking at?"
Lakkireddy says he has no idea what he will find. "But it's not like we're putting anyone at risk," he says. "A miracle could happen. There's always hope, right?"


npr--2020-05-01--Mobile Phone Data Show More Americans Are Leaving Their Homes, Despite Orders

Mobile Phone Data Show More Americans Are Leaving Their Homes , Despite Orders State leaders are considering reopening economies and allowing people to leave their homes , but more and more Americans appear to be doing so on their own .
Emerging data suggests that though people dramatically altered their habits around staying at home during the first month of America 's response to the pandemic , that cooperation has since leveled off and — eventually — decreased .
This could point to long-term challenges for state governments asking citizens to cooperate with extended stay-at-home policies .
The data , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ location data company called SafeGraph , is based on the locations of approximately 18 million mobile phones across the country .
NPR 's analysis determined the percentage of cellphones that did not leave their `` home '' location daily in every U.S. county .
About 50 % of those mobile phones that SafeGraph had data on stayed home on April 12 , which was Easter — the highest point in the data .
That number has n't since come anywhere close , showing a steady decline with the most recent numbers showing less @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 27 .
The trend , SafeGraph says , is consistent across the entire country , though the degree to which movement is increasing is different .
Some counties showed extreme dropoffs in social distancing , while some showed more mild curves .
`` Regardless of what the orders say or the governors say , we 're seeing the whole country softening up , '' says Nick Singh , a marketing lead at SafeGraph .
The data provided was anonymized , meaning the locations of exact devices were hidden , with only general trends @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been criticized over privacy concerns , though several have provided their data to researchers during the coronavirus crisis .
The data from SafeGraph , which says it tracks only users who have `` opted-in '' via mobile apps , was cited by the CDC in an April report on COVID-19 .
What these metrics do n't account for is how people practice social distancing when they leave their homes .
A picnic in an empty park , for example , would be counted the same as a trip to a crowded grocery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University of Maryland in cooperation with the U.S. Transportation Department found similar trends .
UMD said the change was mostly driven by people going on non-work trips — not from more people going to work .
Sepehr Ghader , the senior researcher on the UMD project , says it 's too soon to know exactly why people are leaving their homes in larger numbers — though he calls the trend `` social distancing fatigue . ''
`` It might be due to people getting tired of staying at home or it could be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that states are being reopened , '' Ghader says .
`` We ca n't really say why this trend is happening ... but we can certainly see the trend in decrease of social distancing metrics . ''
On April 20 in Arlington County , Va , nearly half of cellphones that SafeGraph provided data for were staying at home .
Over the next couple days in that suburb of Washington , D.C. , the number declined to one-third — as low as it was during the middle of March .
It has since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its peak .
Jim Schwartz , the deputy manager for Arlington County , said the county will have to continue its messaging efforts to keep people at home .
`` Enforcement for that is difficult .
We 're not in a police state , '' he said .
`` We are trying to encourage people to follow the guidance of our public health officials ...
I would think that people may be experiencing — in a colloquial term — cabin fever . ''
Several of the other counties that had stay-at-home numbers fall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cameron , Comal and Hidalgo Counties all saw declines starting around April 6 .
These counties have not seen especially high death tolls from the disease , indicating there may be some optimism among residents that they can leave their homes with fewer risks .
Texas on Friday allowed some businesses to open at reduced capacity .
Esmeralda Guajardo , the health administrator for Cameron County , says news and announcements from the state 's governor and President Trump have sent mixed messages , giving people the impression that it may be OK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Anytime there 's some confusion , people are going to take advantage of it . ''
Guajardo says .
`` I completely understand the anxiety that people have about staying home .
But coming from a public heath perspective , it 's a necessity . ''
Meanwhile , the New York City borough of Queens — which has had the highest number of confirmed coronavirus deaths in the city , according to the city 's health department — is one of the places where social distancing appears to have continued .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ SafeGraph sample there stayed at home every day during the month of April , with only a slight decrease near the end of the month .
As dozens of states plan to partially reopen , the number of people staying at home will likely decrease further .
State governors who have chosen not to reopen have faced opposition from both residents and their own state leaders .
In Michigan , armed protestors entered the state capitol Thursday demanding an end to Democratic Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer 's statewide emergency .
In Southern California @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to court to stop Gov .
Gavin Newsom , also a Democrat , from closing beaches .
The White House 's own strict social distancing guidelines expired Thursday .
Trump is now advising states to develop strategies to reopen , which would include social distancing measures .

Mobile Phone Data Show More Americans Are Leaving Their Homes, Despite Orders
State leaders are considering reopening economies and allowing people to leave their homes, but more and more Americans appear to be doing so on their own.
Emerging data suggest that though people dramatically altered their habits to stay at home during the first month of America's response to the pandemic, that cooperation has since leveled off and — eventually — decreased. This could point to long-term challenges for state governments asking citizens to cooperate with extended stay-at-home policies.
The data, provided to NPR by a mobile phone location data company called SafeGraph, is based on the locations of about 18 million mobile phones across the country. NPR's analysis determined the percentage of cellphones that did not leave their "home" location daily in every U.S. county.
Loading...
About 50% of those mobile phones that SafeGraph had data on stayed home on April 12, which was Easter — the highest point in the data. That number hasn't since come anywhere close, showing a steady decline with the most recent numbers showing that less than 40% stayed home on April 27.
The trend, SafeGraph says, is consistent across the entire country, though the degree to which movement is increasing is different. Some counties showed extreme drop-offs in social distancing, while some showed more mild curves.
"Regardless of what the orders say or the governors say, we're seeing the whole country softening up," says Nick Singh, a marketing lead at SafeGraph.
The data provided was anonymized, meaning the locations of exact devices were hidden, with only general trends shown. Companies collecting mobile phone locations have been criticized over privacy concerns, though several have provided their data to researchers during the coronavirus crisis. The data from SafeGraph, which says it tracks only users who have "opted in" via mobile apps, was cited by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in an April report on COVID-19.
What these metrics don't account for is how people practice social distancing when they leave their homes. A picnic in an empty park, for example, would be counted the same as a trip to a crowded grocery store.
A tracker developed by the University of Maryland in cooperation with the U.S. Transportation Department found similar trends. UMD said the change was mostly driven by people going on nonwork trips — not from more people going to work.
Sepehr Ghader, the senior researcher on the UMD project, says it's too soon to know exactly why people are leaving their homes in larger numbers — though he calls the trend "social distancing fatigue."
"It might be due to people getting tired of staying at home or it could be due to people reacting to the news that states are being reopened," Ghader says. "We can't really say why this trend is happening ... but we can certainly see the trend in decrease of social distancing metrics."
Sharp drop-offs
On April 20 in Arlington County, Va., nearly half of cellphones that SafeGraph provided data for were staying at home. Over the next couple days in that suburb of Washington, D.C., the number declined to one-third — as low as it was during the middle of March. It has since increased but is still down from its peak.
Loading...
Jim Schwartz, the deputy manager for Arlington County, said the county will have to continue its messaging efforts to keep people at home.
"Enforcement for that is difficult. We're not in a police state," he said. "We are trying to encourage people to follow the guidance of our public health officials ... I would think that people may be experiencing — in a colloquial term — cabin fever."
Several of the other counties that had stay-at-home numbers fall off the most are in Texas. Cameron, Comal and Hidalgo counties all saw declines starting around April 6. These counties have not seen especially high death tolls from the disease, indicating there may be some optimism among residents that they can leave their homes with fewer risks. Texas on Friday allowed some businesses to open at reduced capacity.
Loading...
Esmeralda Guajardo, the health administrator for Cameron County, says news and announcements from the state's governor and President Trump have sent mixed messages, giving people the impression that it may be OK to not adhere to the shelter-in-place order.
"Anytime there's some confusion, people are going to take advantage of it." Guajardo says. "I completely understand the anxiety that people have about staying home. But coming from a public heath perspective, it's a necessity."
Meanwhile, the New York City borough of Queens — which has had the highest number of confirmed coronavirus deaths in the city, according to the city's health department — is one of the places where social distancing appears to have continued. Roughly 60% of people in the SafeGraph sample there stayed at home every day during the month of April, with only a slight decrease near the end of the month.
Loading...
The path forward
As dozens of states plan to partially reopen, the number of people staying at home will likely decrease further.
Governors who have chosen not to reopen have faced opposition from both residents and leaders in their states. In Michigan, armed protestors entered the state Capitol Thursday demanding an end to Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's statewide emergency. In Southern California, two cities said they would go to court to stop Gov. Gavin Newsom, also a Democrat, from closing beaches.
The White House's own strict social distancing guidelines expired Thursday. Trump is advising states to develop strategies to reopen that would include social distancing measures.
Jason Slotkin contributed to this report.


npr--2020-05-01--North Korea's Kim Reportedly Reappears In Public After Speculation About His Health

North Korea 's Kim Reportedly Reappears In Public After Speculation About His Health North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has made his first public appearance in nearly three weeks , ending rampant speculation that he was dead or incapacitated , South Korea 's Yonhap News Agency reported .
Kim attended a ceremony marking the completion of a fertilizer plant in Sunchon , a town about 45 km ( 28 miles ) north of the capital , Pyongyang , Yonhap said , citing North Korean media .
People at the factory `` broke into thunderous cheers of hurrah '' when he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which cited North Korea 's Korea Central News Agency .
Kim was last reported in public on April 11 at a politburo meeting of the ruling Workers Party , Yonhap said .
Rumors about the portly leader 's health spread quickly after he failed to appear four days later at celebrations of the birthday of his late grandfather , North Korea 's first leader Kim Il Sung .
Dubbed `` The Day of the Sun , '' April 15 is the biggest date on the political calendar in North Korea .
Some observers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ avoid crowds amid the COVID-19 pandemic .
A South Korean website that relies on a network of undercover journalists in North Korea reported that he had had heart surgery .
There were rumors later that the surgery went wrong and he was incapacitated , or dead .
North Korea has not made public who would succeed Kim if that became necessary .

North Korea's Kim Reappears In Public After Speculation About His Health
Updated at 9:17 p.m. ET
Enlarge this image toggle caption KCNA via Reuters KCNA via Reuters
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has made his first public appearance in nearly three weeks, ending rampant speculation that he was dead or incapacitated, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported.
Kim attended a ceremony marking the completion of a fertilizer plant in Sunchon, a town about 45 km (28 miles) north of the capital, Pyongyang, Yonhap said, citing North Korean media.
People at the factory "broke into thunderous cheers of hurrah" when he appeared, according to the BBC, which cited North Korea's Korea Central News Agency.
Kim was last reported in public on April 11 at a politburo meeting of the ruling Workers Party, Yonhap said.
Rumors about the portly leader's health spread quickly after he failed to appear four days later at celebrations of the birthday of his late grandfather, North Korea's first leader Kim Il Sung. Dubbed "The Day of the Sun," April 15 is the biggest date on the political calendar in North Korea.
Some observers speculated that Kim might be trying to avoid crowds amid the COVID-19 pandemic. A South Korean website that relies on a network of undercover journalists in North Korea reported that he had had heart surgery. There were rumors later that the surgery went wrong and he was incapacitated, or dead.
North Korea has not made public who would succeed Kim if that became necessary.


npr--2020-05-01--White House Denies Congressional Request For Dr. Anthony Fauci's Testimony

The White House will not allow the leading immunologist on the coronavirus task force to testify to Congress next week , calling the request `` counter-productive '' to the administration 's efforts to contain the virus .
Dr. Anthony Fauci 's testimony had been requested by the House Appropriations Committee , as part of an investigation into the White House response to the COVID-19 pandemic .
A committee spokesman on Friday said the White House had blocked the doctor from appearing before the panel .
`` The Appropriations Committee sought Dr. Anthony Fauci as a witness at next week 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We have been informed by an administration official that the White House has blocked Dr. Fauci from testifying , '' spokesman Evan Hollander said in a statement .
Fauci has become one of the most well recognized experts in the administration 's coronavirus response team , often speaking publicly during task force briefings , and at times , seeming to contradict statements made by President Trump .
`` While the Trump Administration continues its whole-of-government response to COVID-19 , including safely opening up America again and expediting vaccine development , it is counter-productive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those efforts appearing at Congressional hearings .
We are committed to working with Congress to offer testimony at the appropriate time , '' White House spokesman Judd Deere said in a statement .

White House Denies Congressional Request For Dr. Anthony Fauci's Testimony
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images
Updated at 12:21 p.m. on May 2
The White House will not allow the leading immunologist on the coronavirus task force to testify to Congress next week, calling the request "counter-productive" to the administration's efforts to contain the virus.
Dr. Anthony Fauci's testimony had been requested by the House Appropriations Committee, as part of an investigation into the White House response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A committee spokesman on Friday said the White House had blocked the doctor from appearing before the panel.
"The Appropriations Committee sought Dr. Anthony Fauci as a witness at next week's Labor-HHS-Education Subcommittee hearing on COVID-19 response. We have been informed by an administration official that the White House has blocked Dr. Fauci from testifying," spokesman Evan Hollander said in a statement.
Fauci has become one of the most well recognized experts in the administration's coronavirus response team, often speaking publicly during task force briefings, and at times, seeming to contradict statements made by President Trump.
A White House official said: "We expressed openness from the White House to having him testify but requested we be given the parameters of what the hearing would entail so we could determine if he was the best guess or if it was someone else's jurisdiction."
The official said the chair didn't follow up, adding: "If this was truly a serious effort to have someone testify on the appropriations need around coronavirus, they certainly didn't handle it like it was."
On Friday, White House spokesman Judd Deere said in a statement that the administration was "committed to working with Congress to offer testimony at the appropriate time."


npr--2020-05-01--'It's Infuriating': Critics Say Border Wall Still Going Up When They Can't Protest

'It 's Infuriating ' : Critics Say Border Wall Still Going Up When They Ca n't Protest Nayda Alvarez and her family were hunkered down in their South Texas home a couple weeks ago when her dad saw a caravan of vehicles coming their way .
Alvarez suspected they were government workers but did n't want to get close enough to find out , so she took a photo and sent it to her attorneys .
Turns out , they were government surveyors collecting data for upcoming border wall construction .
`` They were in there with several big trucks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alvarez said .
`` I felt insecure knowing that there were people next to us .
I do n't know who these people are , where they 've been or what they have . ''
While much of the country has been on lockdown because of the coronavirus , construction of President Trump 's border wall has continued .
Democrats on Capitol Hill have called for a full-stop on construction .
But the administration has accelerated some efforts to build the wall , and Trump is using the pandemic to justify his push @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the U.S. , federal officials have moved to speed up construction of 200 miles of border wall by waiving federal regulations .
And they are still filing lawsuits in south Texas to seize private land for the wall .
Customs and Border Protection said in a statement that the pandemic shows it 's important to , `` have full awareness of who and what is coming across our borders . ''
And the Army Corps of Engineers said construction workers are told to comply with guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local authorities .
But Laiken Jordahl , with the Center for Biological Diversity , is documenting the wall 's impact on border communities and says residents are worried about a `` massive influx '' of workers that have come from across the country .
`` They 're crowding into hotels and grocery stores , exposing residents to increase risk of infection , '' he said .
Jordahl does n't think it 's a coincidence that residents say they are seeing more border wall activity going on now — at a time when they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's infuriating to see wall construction ramp up , actually be accelerated , when the people who are fighting wall construction are now required to do that from the confines of their living rooms , '' Jordahl said .
Ricky Garza is with the Texas Civil Rights Project , which represents landowners , like Alvarez , who are fighting in court to stop the federal government from taking their land .
The Alvarez family has owned eight acres along the Rio Grande for generations .
Garza said the coronavirus pandemic has made it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that 's why the government has filed more cases lately .
`` We saw 13 new cases filed in March , which was a record and which was the most we had ever seen , '' said Garza , adding that eight more cases have been filed since then .
`` I was pretty shocked when I first saw the curve of cases , it looks like the coronavirus infection chart . ''
CBP said the process has n't changed because of COVID-19 .
If there is any increase in activity , officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has progressed .

'It's Infuriating': Critics Say Border Wall Still Going Up When They Can't Protest
Enlarge this image toggle caption Veronica G. Cardenas/Texas Public Radio Veronica G. Cardenas/Texas Public Radio
Nayda Alvarez and her family were hunkered down in their South Texas home a couple weeks ago when her dad saw a caravan of vehicles coming their way.
Alvarez suspected they were government workers but didn't want to get close enough to find out, so she took a photo and sent it to her attorneys. Turns out, they were government surveyors collecting data for upcoming border wall construction.
"They were in there with several big trucks, some sort of machinery," Alvarez said. "I felt insecure knowing that there were people next to us. I don't know who these people are, where they've been or what they have."
While much of the country has been on lockdown because of the coronavirus, construction of President Trump's border wall has continued.
Democrats on Capitol Hill have called for a full-stop on construction. But the administration has accelerated some efforts to build the wall, and Trump is using the pandemic to justify his push for it.
Since the pandemic began in the U.S., federal officials have moved to speed up construction of 200 miles of border wall by waiving federal regulations. And they are still filing lawsuits in south Texas to seize private land for the wall.
Customs and Border Protection said in a statement that the pandemic shows it's important to, "have full awareness of who and what is coming across our borders."
And the Army Corps of Engineers said construction workers are told to comply with guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as state and local authorities.
But Laiken Jordahl, with the Center for Biological Diversity, is documenting the wall's impact on border communities and says residents are worried about a "massive influx" of workers that have come from across the country.
"They're crowding into hotels and grocery stores, exposing residents to increase risk of infection," he said.
Jordahl doesn't think it's a coincidence that residents say they are seeing more border wall activity going on now — at a time when they can't stage protests.
"It's infuriating to see wall construction ramp up, actually be accelerated, when the people who are fighting wall construction are now required to do that from the confines of their living rooms," Jordahl said.
Ricky Garza is with the Texas Civil Rights Project, which represents landowners, like Alvarez, who are fighting in court to stop the federal government from taking their land. The Alvarez family has owned eight acres along the Rio Grande for generations.
Garza said the coronavirus pandemic has made it hard to meet with clients and thinks that's why the government has filed more cases lately.
"We saw 13 new cases filed in March, which was a record and which was the most we had ever seen," said Garza, adding that eight more cases have been filed since then. "I was pretty shocked when I first saw the curve of cases, it looks like the coronavirus infection chart."
CBP said the process hasn't changed because of COVID-19. If there is any increase in activity, officials say, that's because project planning has progressed.


npr--2020-05-01--U.S. Workplace Safety Rules Missing In The Pandemic

U.S .
Workplace Safety Rules Missing In The Pandemic As more businesses start to reopen and people go back to work , some companies are looking for advice on how to keep employees safe from the coronavirus .
So far , the federal government has n't been much help .
`` It 's the Wild West out there , '' said Geoff Freeman , president of the Consumer Brands Association , which represents grocery manufacturers .
`` The federal government , particularly CDC and OSHA , is failing to provide the clear and specific guidance necessary to encourage relatively consistent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complains the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration — the federal workplace safety agency — offered little direction about protective gear or what to do when a worker tests positive for COVID-19 .
That left essential businesses that kept operating during the pandemic to figure it out for themselves .
`` Industry has provided that direction , '' Freeman said .
`` But it remains disappointing to us that we 're not seeing that same level of clarity and direction across the board from government .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a letter this week to President Trump and state and local leaders around the country urging them to harmonize workplace safety standards so employers do n't have to deal with a patchwork of different measures .
At the same time , the chamber argued safety standards should be advisory and not mandatory .
`` Businesses want to do this right , '' said Neil Bradley , the chamber 's chief policy officer .
`` They absolutely want to figure out how they can bring their employees back safely .
But a regulatory approach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just wo n't allow them to do that . ''
The CDC has offered general guidelines for workplace safety — encouraging workers to stay six feet away from each other , for example , and to wash their hands frequently .
But the Trump administration , which is typically allergic to regulation , has resisted writing rules to make those recommendations enforceable .
Rep. Bobby Scott , D-Va. , who chairs the House Committee on Education and Labor , has introduced legislation that would require OSHA to mandate what the CDC suggests .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ as to what they need or businesses themselves guessing .
You need the expertise of OSHA to tell them what to do to protect the workers .
And it 's not taking place , '' Scott said .
Last weekend , the CDC and OSHA did issue more detailed guidelines for meatpacking plants , which typically employ hundreds of workers in close quarters and which have proven to be a breeding ground for coronavirus infections .
The guidelines echoed advice the CDC gave to Smithfield Foods after touring the company 's hog-processing plant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers tested positive for COVID-19 .
The government recommended Smithfield space workers out , install more portable bathrooms , and structure bonuses in a way that would n't discourage employees from calling in sick .
The CDC stressed , however , this advice came with no regulatory hammer to back it up .
`` The recommendations in this memorandum are steps that Smithfield Foods may want to consider , '' the agency wrote in a memo .
`` These recommendations are discretionary and not required or mandated by CDC . ''
Deborah Berkowitz @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the National Employment Law Project , says employees deserve stronger protection .
`` I was at OSHA for six years , '' Berkowitz said .
`` Some companies do it right .
But many companies need to know that if they do n't do something right , there may be a penalty or there may be a citation .
And that is the incentive that they need . ''
In a pandemic , she stressed , the lack of regulation has consequences beyond the workplace .
`` In this situation , protecting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ individual worker , '' Berkowitz said .
`` It 's protecting the public . ''
More than a dozen meatpacking plants were shut down after coronavirus outbreaks .
But this week , under pressure from the packing companies , the president ordered plants to stay open — to avoid disrupting the nation 's food supply .
`` They 're putting in laws to protect the employer .
They 're not enacting laws to protect the worker , '' said Kim Cordova , president of United Food and Commercial Workers union Local 7 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ plant where six people died .
`` These workers only signed up to process meat , '' Cordova said .
`` They did n't sign up to lose their life over this job . ''

U.S. Workplace Safety Rules Missing In The Pandemic
Enlarge this image toggle caption Shannon Stapleton/Reuters Shannon Stapleton/Reuters
As more businesses start to reopen and people go back to work, some companies are looking for advice on how to keep employees safe from the coronavirus.
So far, the federal government hasn't been much help.
"It's the Wild West out there," said Geoff Freeman, president of the Consumer Brands Association, which represents grocery manufacturers. "The federal government, particularly CDC and OSHA, is failing to provide the clear and specific guidance necessary to encourage relatively consistent adoption across the country."
Freeman complains the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration — the federal workplace safety agency — offered little direction about protective gear or what to do when a worker tests positive for COVID-19. That left essential businesses that kept operating during the pandemic to figure it out for themselves.
"Industry has provided that direction," Freeman said. "But it remains disappointing to us that we're not seeing that same level of clarity and direction across the board from government."
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce sent a letter this week to President Trump and state and local leaders around the country urging them to harmonize workplace safety standards so employers don't have to deal with a patchwork of different measures. At the same time, the chamber argued safety standards should be advisory and not mandatory.
"Businesses want to do this right," said Neil Bradley, the chamber's chief policy officer. "They absolutely want to figure out how they can bring their employees back safely. But a regulatory approach that is more rules-based and less flexible just won't allow them to do that."
The CDC has offered general guidelines for workplace safety — encouraging workers to stay six feet away from each other, for example, and to wash their hands frequently.
But the Trump administration, which is typically allergic to regulation, has resisted writing rules to make those recommendations enforceable.
Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Va., who chairs the House Committee on Education and Labor, has introduced legislation that would require OSHA to mandate what the CDC suggests.
"You don't need politicians guessing as to what they need or businesses themselves guessing. You need the expertise of OSHA to tell them what to do to protect the workers. And it's not taking place," Scott said.
Last weekend, the CDC and OSHA did issue more detailed guidelines for meatpacking plants, which typically employ hundreds of workers in close quarters and which have proven to be a breeding ground for coronavirus infections. The guidelines echoed advice the CDC gave to Smithfield Foods after touring the company's hog-processing plant in South Dakota, where hundreds of workers tested positive for COVID-19.
The government recommended Smithfield space workers out, install more portable bathrooms, and structure bonuses in a way that wouldn't discourage employees from calling in sick. The CDC stressed, however, this advice came with no regulatory hammer to back it up.
"The recommendations in this memorandum are steps that Smithfield Foods may want to consider," the agency wrote in a memo. "These recommendations are discretionary and not required or mandated by CDC."
Deborah Berkowitz, who directs the worker safety program at the National Employment Law Project, says employees deserve stronger protection.
"I was at OSHA for six years," Berkowitz said. "Some companies do it right. But many companies need to know that if they don't do something right, there may be a penalty or there may be a citation. And that is the incentive that they need."
In a pandemic, she stressed, the lack of regulation has consequences beyond the workplace.
"In this situation, protecting workers is more than just protecting an individual worker," Berkowitz said. "It's protecting the public."
More than a dozen meatpacking plants were shut down after coronavirus outbreaks. But this week, under pressure from the packing companies, the president ordered plants to stay open — to avoid disrupting the nation's food supply.
"They're putting in laws to protect the employer. They're not enacting laws to protect the worker," said Kim Cordova, president of United Food and Commercial Workers union Local 7. She represents workers at a Colorado meatpacking plant where six people died.
"These workers only signed up to process meat," Cordova said. "They didn't sign up to lose their life over this job."


npr--2020-05-01--Carnival Cruise Line Subject Of Congressional Investigation

Congress is investigating Carnival Cruise Line for its response to the coronavirus pandemic .
A House committee wants to know why Carnival did n't act sooner to protect the health of passengers and staff .
The chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure , Peter DeFazio , sent a letter to Carnival CEO Arnold Donald asking for all documents relating to the cruise line 's response to the pandemic .
DeFazio ( D-Oregon ) cites concerns raised by the outbreak on the Diamond Princess in March , in which more than 800 people were infected and 10 people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ships led the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) and the World Health Organization ( WHO ) to issue warnings to the industry long before emergence of the coronavirus .
`` Based on the Carnival Corporation 's response to the current coronavirus crisis , '' DeFazio wrote , `` it appears that sort of advice was not heeded . ''
Citing a Bloomberg report , he notes at least nine of Carnival 's ships had coronavirus outbreaks with at least 39 deaths and more than 1,500 confirmed infections .
Currently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The CDC has issued a no-sail order banning cruises until at least July 24 .
When travel restrictions eventually are lifted , DeFazio said Congress and the public needs assurances that Carnival and the cruise line industry `` are instituting necessary measures to ensure that the safety of the traveling public and crew members . ''
The House committee is asking for Carnival 's Outbreak Prevention and Response Plans , plus all correspondence related to the pandemic .
Carnival said it will cooperate with the investigation .
In a statement , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same as the committee 's goal : to protect the health , safety and well-being of our guests and crew , along with compliance and environmental protection . ''

Carnival Cruise Line Subject Of Congressional Investigation
Enlarge this image toggle caption Bloomberg/Bloomberg via Getty Images Bloomberg/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Congress is investigating Carnival Cruise Line for its response to the coronavirus pandemic. A House committee wants to know why Carnival didn't act sooner to protect the health of passengers and staff.
The chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Peter DeFazio, sent a letter to Carnival CEO Arnold Donald asking for all documents relating to the cruise line's response to the pandemic. DeFazio (D-Oregon) cites concerns raised by the outbreak on the Diamond Princess in March, in which more than 800 people were infected and 10 people died.
Outbreaks of norovirus aboard cruise ships led the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to issue warnings to the industry long before emergence of the coronavirus. "Based on the Carnival Corporation's response to the current coronavirus crisis," DeFazio wrote, "it appears that sort of advice was not heeded." Citing a Bloomberg report, he notes at least nine of Carnival's ships had coronavirus outbreaks with at least 39 deaths and more than 1,500 confirmed infections.
Currently, the cruise industry is on hold. The CDC has issued a no-sail order banning cruises until at least July 24. When travel restrictions eventually are lifted, DeFazio said Congress and the public needs assurances that Carnival and the cruise line industry "are instituting necessary measures to ensure that the safety of the traveling public and crew members."
The House committee is asking for Carnival's Outbreak Prevention and Response Plans, plus all correspondence related to the pandemic. Carnival said it will cooperate with the investigation. In a statement, the company said, "Our goal is the same as the committee's goal: to protect the health, safety and well-being of our guests and crew, along with compliance and environmental protection."


npr--2020-05-01--Canadian PM Trudeau Bans All Assault-Style Firearms

The ban includes `` 1,500 models and variants , '' including the popular AR-15 rifle .
It will prohibit those firearms , as well as some components , from being used , sold or imported .
According to a release from the Canadian government , the ban will not take full effect for another two years in order `` to protect owners of newly prohibited firearms from criminal liability while they take steps to comply with these new rules . ''
There are also exceptions until April 30 , 2022 , for people in indigenous communities and for those who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But ultimately all items on the list will be banned .
Trudeau 's order comes just two weeks after the mass shooting in which a gunman killed 22 people in Nova Scotia .
`` Because of gun violence , people are dying , families are grieving , and communities are suffering , '' Trudeau said .
`` It must end .
Assault-style firearms designed for military use have no place in Canada .
By removing them from our streets , we will limit the devastating effects of gun-related violence and help make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government stated in the release that it plans to implement a buy-back plan for the weapons listed as soon as possible .

Canadian PM Trudeau Bans All Assault-Style Firearms
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a ban on all assault-style firearms Friday.
The ban includes "1,500 models and variants," including the popular AR-15 rifle. It will prohibit those firearms, as well as some components, from being used, sold or imported.
According to a release from the Canadian government, the ban will not take full effect for another two years in order "to protect owners of newly prohibited firearms from criminal liability while they take steps to comply with these new rules." There are also exceptions until April 30, 2022, for people in indigenous communities and for those who hunt to sustain themselves or their families. But ultimately all items on the list will be banned.
Trudeau's order comes just two weeks after the mass shooting in which a gunman killed 22 people in Nova Scotia.
"Because of gun violence, people are dying, families are grieving, and communities are suffering," Trudeau said. "It must end. Assault-style firearms designed for military use have no place in Canada. By removing them from our streets, we will limit the devastating effects of gun-related violence and help make our country safer."
The Canadian government stated in the release that it plans to implement a buy-back plan for the weapons listed as soon as possible.