npr--2020-06-23--A Year In, 1st Patient To Get Gene Editing For Sickle Cell Disease Is Thriving

A Year In , 1st Patient To Get Gene Editing For Sickle Cell Disease Is Thriving Like millions of other Americans , Victoria Gray has been sheltering at home with her children as the U.S. struggles through a deadly pandemic , and as protests over police violence have erupted across the country .
But Gray is not like any other American .
She 's the first person with a genetic disorder to get treated in the United States with the revolutionary gene-editing technique called CRISPR .
And as the one-year anniversary of her landmark treatment approaches , Gray has just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ genetically modified cells doctors infused into her body clearly appear to be alleviating virtually all the complications of her disorder , sickle cell disease .
`` It 's wonderful .
It 's the change I 've been waiting on my whole life , '' Gray told NPR , which has had exclusive access to chronicle her experience over the past year .
Sickle cell disease , a rare blood disorder that disproportionately affects African Americans in the U.S. , can be difficult to treat effectively .
The last time NPR spoke with Gray @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just gotten the first hints the treatment might be working .
Now , after nine months of careful testing , the treatment shows no signs of waning , making her doctors more confident than ever the experiment has been a success .
`` It 's hard to put into words the joy that I feel — being grateful for a change this big .
It 's been amazing , '' said Gray , 34 , who lives in Forest , Miss .
In many ways , it 's a change that came just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fall , the National Guard deployed her husband to Washington .
And then , the coronavirus pandemic triggered a national lockdown .
Gray was suddenly home alone with three of her kids .
Her great-aunt as well as the pastor of her childhood church died of COVID-19 .
Friends at her current church have been getting sick .
And then George Floyd was killed by police in Minnesota .
`` I feel like everything happened so fast , '' she said .
`` It has n't been easy . ''
If she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said she does n't know how she 'd be coping .
She would have been too weak to care for her children and probably would have been hospitalized at a time when hospitals feel especially unsafe .
`` Since my treatment I 've been able to do everything for myself , everything for my kids .
And so it 's been joy not only for me but for the people around me that 's in my life , '' she said .
The researchers conducting the study Gray started caution that it 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the long-term safety and effectiveness of the approach .
Gray is just one patient who has been followed for what is still a relatively short period of time , they noted .
But Gray 's experience so far , along with two other patients who received the same treatment for a similar disorder , indicate the therapy has been effective for her and may work for other patients as well , they said .
`` To have it work in this way is extremely thrilling to see and extremely exciting , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cannon Research Institute in Nashville , Tenn. , who is treating Gray .
At a meeting of the European Hematology Association on June 12 , Frangoul and other researchers presented the latest results of their latest testing of Gray as well as two study subjects with a related condition , beta thalassemia .
The latter also appear to be benefiting .
`` It 's very exciting , '' said Dr. David Altshuler , chief scientific officer at Vertex Pharmaceuticals in Boston , which is developing the treatment with CRISPR Therapeutics in Cambridge , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been waiting a very long time for a highly effective therapy . ''
The companies also revealed that a second sickle cell patient had been treated as part of their research program along with three other beta thalassemia patients .
The promising results are also encouraging other doctors and researchers , who hope CRISPR may also lead to new treatments for many diseases .
Studies have already tested CRISPR to treat cancer and a rare genetic condition that causes blindness .
CRISPR enables scientists to make changes in DNA much more easily than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a huge leap for the medical field , '' Frangoul told NPR in an interview .
Sickle cell disease is caused by a genetic mutation that produces a defective form of hemoglobin , a protein needed by red blood cells to nourish the body with oxygen .
The defective hemoglobin turns red blood cells into deformed , sickle-shaped cells that get jammed inside blood vessels , causing excruciating attacks of pain , organ damage and often premature death .
`` Before the treatment , it would be so bad it would be crippling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crises .
For the experimental treatment , scientists remove cells from patients ' bone marrow and use CRISPR to edit a gene , which enables the cells to produce a protein known as fetal hemoglobin .
Fetal hemoglobin is made by fetuses in the womb to get oxygen from their mothers ' blood but usually stops being produced shortly after birth .
The hope was that restoring production of fetal hemoglobin would compensate for the defective hemoglobin produced by sickle cell patients .
Beta thalassemia patients do n't have enough hemoglobin .
Scientists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which Gray received July 2 , 2019 , at least 20 % of the hemoglobin in her system would be fetal hemoglobin .
Blood tests so far have shown the levels far exceeded that .
About 46 % of the hemoglobin in Gray 's system continues to be fetal hemoglobin , the researchers reported .
In addition , fetal hemoglobin has remained present in 99.7 % of her red blood cells , they reported .
Another promising finding is that a biopsy of Gray 's bone marrow cells found more than 81 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change needed to produce fetal hemoglobin , indicating the edited cells were continuing to survive and function in her body for a sustained period .
The researchers also reported that the first patient to receive the same treatment for beta thalassemia in Germany has now been able to live without blood transfusions for 15 months .
Previously , the researchers had reported data for that patient for nine months .
In addition , four other beta thalassemia patients have been treated , including one who has been transfusion-free for five months , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beta thalassemia patients experienced some health complications following their procedures , none appears to have been due to the gene-edited cells and all recovered , according to the researchers .
Perhaps most importantly , the changes appear to have translated into significant health benefits for Gray .
She has n't had any severe pain attacks since the treatment and has n't required any emergency room treatments , hospitalizations or blood transfusions .
In each of the previous two years , Gray had required an average of seven hospitalizations and emergency room visits due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ requiring regular blood transfusions .
She has also been able to reduce significantly her need for powerful narcotics to alleviate her pain .
`` It 's a very big deal for me , '' Gray said .
`` It 's a huge change . ''
Having her strength back has allowed her to parent through the several tumultuous months of lockdowns and more recently weeks of anti-racism protests .
This includes trying to help her children understand everything happening in the world around them , especially the reports of police violence .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ things for me .
It 's heartbreaking for me , '' she said .
But thanks to her treatment , she said she 's hopeful for things she thought she 'd never get to see as a parent .
`` High school graduations , college graduations , weddings , grandkids — I thought I would n't see none of that , '' Gray said .
`` Now I 'll be there to help my daughters pick out their wedding dresses .
And we 'll be able to take family vacations , '' she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their mom every step of the way . ''
And Gray said she hopes her story will give other people hope , too .
`` We need this right now more than ever , you know ?
It 's a blessing , '' she said .
`` It gave me hope when I was losing it .
So I feel joy , you know , knowing that there is hope . ''

A Year In, 1st Patient To Get Gene Editing For Sickle Cell Disease Is Thriving
Enlarge this image toggle caption Victoria Gray Victoria Gray
Like millions of other Americans, Victoria Gray has been sheltering at home with her children as the U.S. struggles through a deadly pandemic, and as protests over police violence have erupted across the country.
But Gray is not like any other American. She's the first person with a genetic disorder to get treated in the United States with the revolutionary gene-editing technique called CRISPR.
And as the one-year anniversary of her landmark treatment approaches, Gray has just received good news: The billions of genetically modified cells doctors infused into her body clearly appear to be alleviating virtually all the complications of her disorder, sickle cell disease.
"It's wonderful. It's the change I've been waiting on my whole life," Gray told NPR, which has had exclusive access to chronicle her experience over the past year.
Sickle cell disease, a rare blood disorder that disproportionately affects African Americans in the U.S., can be difficult to treat effectively.
The last time NPR spoke with Gray — in November — her doctors had just gotten the first hints the treatment might be working. Now, after nine months of careful testing, the treatment shows no signs of waning, making her doctors more confident than ever the experiment has been a success.
"It's hard to put into words the joy that I feel — being grateful for a change this big. It's been amazing," said Gray, 34, who lives in Forest, Miss.
In many ways, it's a change that came just in time, Gray said. In the fall, the National Guard deployed her husband to Washington. And then, the coronavirus pandemic triggered a national lockdown. Gray was suddenly home alone with three of her kids.
Her great-aunt as well as the pastor of her childhood church died of COVID-19. Friends at her current church have been getting sick.
And then George Floyd was killed by police in Minnesota.
"I feel like everything happened so fast," she said. "It hasn't been easy."
If she hadn't had the treatment, Gray said she doesn't know how she'd be coping. She would have been too weak to care for her children and probably would have been hospitalized at a time when hospitals feel especially unsafe.
"Since my treatment I've been able to do everything for myself, everything for my kids. And so it's been joy not only for me but for the people around me that's in my life," she said.
The promise of a cure
The researchers conducting the study Gray started caution that it's too soon to reach any firm conclusions about the long-term safety and effectiveness of the approach. Gray is just one patient who has been followed for what is still a relatively short period of time, they noted.
But Gray's experience so far, along with two other patients who received the same treatment for a similar disorder, indicate the therapy has been effective for her and may work for other patients as well, they said.
"To have it work in this way is extremely thrilling to see and extremely exciting," said Dr. Haydar Frangoul of the Sarah Cannon Research Institute in Nashville, Tenn., who is treating Gray.
At a meeting of the European Hematology Association on June 12, Frangoul and other researchers presented the latest results of their latest testing of Gray as well as two study subjects with a related condition, beta thalassemia. The latter also appear to be benefiting.
"It's very exciting," said Dr. David Altshuler, chief scientific officer at Vertex Pharmaceuticals in Boston, which is developing the treatment with CRISPR Therapeutics in Cambridge, Mass. "Patients and families have been waiting a very long time for a highly effective therapy."
The companies also revealed that a second sickle cell patient had been treated as part of their research program along with three other beta thalassemia patients.
The promising results are also encouraging other doctors and researchers, who hope CRISPR may also lead to new treatments for many diseases. Studies have already tested CRISPR to treat cancer and a rare genetic condition that causes blindness. CRISPR enables scientists to make changes in DNA much more easily than before.
"I think this is a huge leap for the medical field," Frangoul told NPR in an interview.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Amanda Stults/Sarah Cannon/TriStar Centennial Amanda Stults/Sarah Cannon/TriStar Centennial
How the treatment works
Sickle cell disease is caused by a genetic mutation that produces a defective form of hemoglobin, a protein needed by red blood cells to nourish the body with oxygen. The defective hemoglobin turns red blood cells into deformed, sickle-shaped cells that get jammed inside blood vessels, causing excruciating attacks of pain, organ damage and often premature death.
"Before the treatment, it would be so bad it would be crippling," Gray said of her pain crises.
For the experimental treatment, scientists remove cells from patients' bone marrow and use CRISPR to edit a gene, which enables the cells to produce a protein known as fetal hemoglobin. Fetal hemoglobin is made by fetuses in the womb to get oxygen from their mothers' blood but usually stops being produced shortly after birth.
The hope was that restoring production of fetal hemoglobin would compensate for the defective hemoglobin produced by sickle cell patients. Beta thalassemia patients don't have enough hemoglobin.
Scientists had hoped that after the treatment, which Gray received July 2, 2019, at least 20% of the hemoglobin in her system would be fetal hemoglobin.
Blood tests so far have shown the levels far exceeded that. About 46% of the hemoglobin in Gray's system continues to be fetal hemoglobin, the researchers reported. In addition, fetal hemoglobin has remained present in 99.7% of her red blood cells, they reported.
Another promising finding is that a biopsy of Gray's bone marrow cells found more than 81% of the cells contained the intended genetic change needed to produce fetal hemoglobin, indicating the edited cells were continuing to survive and function in her body for a sustained period.
The researchers also reported that the first patient to receive the same treatment for beta thalassemia in Germany has now been able to live without blood transfusions for 15 months. Previously, the researchers had reported data for that patient for nine months. In addition, four other beta thalassemia patients have been treated, including one who has been transfusion-free for five months, the researchers reported.
While Gray and the beta thalassemia patients experienced some health complications following their procedures, none appears to have been due to the gene-edited cells and all recovered, according to the researchers.
"A huge change"
Perhaps most importantly, the changes appear to have translated into significant health benefits for Gray. She hasn't had any severe pain attacks since the treatment and hasn't required any emergency room treatments, hospitalizations or blood transfusions.
In each of the previous two years, Gray had required an average of seven hospitalizations and emergency room visits due to severe pain episodes as well as requiring regular blood transfusions. She has also been able to reduce significantly her need for powerful narcotics to alleviate her pain.
"It's a very big deal for me," Gray said. "It's a huge change."
Having her strength back has allowed her to parent through the several tumultuous months of lockdowns and more recently weeks of anti-racism protests. This includes trying to help her children understand everything happening in the world around them, especially the reports of police violence.
"That's been one of the hardest things for me. It's heartbreaking for me," she said.
But thanks to her treatment, she said she's hopeful for things she thought she'd never get to see as a parent.
"High school graduations, college graduations, weddings, grandkids — I thought I wouldn't see none of that," Gray said.
"Now I'll be there to help my daughters pick out their wedding dresses. And we'll be able to take family vacations," she says. "And they'll have their mom every step of the way."
And Gray said she hopes her story will give other people hope, too.
"We need this right now more than ever, you know? It's a blessing," she said. "It gave me hope when I was losing it. So I feel joy, you know, knowing that there is hope."


npr--2020-06-23--After Disappointing Tulsa Rally, Trump Campaign Moves To Arizona

After Disappointing Tulsa Rally , Trump Campaign Moves To Arizona Updated at 11:05 a.m .
ET Fresh off a rally in Tulsa , Okla. , in which nearly two-thirds of the arena was empty , President Trump heads to Arizona for a series of smaller events centered on a key element of his reelection pitch : border security .
The president is scheduled to survey part of the border fence with Mexico in Yuma , Ariz. , on Tuesday .
`` The president will then participate in a roundtable discussion with local community and elected leaders on border security , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` After the roundtable , the President will tour the wall and thank Border Patrol and law enforcement for their tireless efforts . ''
Trump will be joined by Chad Wolf , acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security ; Ken Cuccinelli , the acting deputy DHS secretary ; and Mark Morgan , acting commissioner of Customs and Border Protection .
Trump will then travel to Phoenix to deliver remarks at a Students for Trump rally at Dream City Church , hosted through Turning Point Action , a pro-Trump group .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3,000 people , released a statement saying it only found out that Trump would be speaking at the event after it agreed to rent its facilities .
`` Dream City 's facility rental does not constitute endorsement of the opinions of its renters , '' the statement said .
Arizona has seen a spike in cases of the coronavirus recently , and Phoenix has joined several cities across the state in requiring residents to wear masks in public spaces .
Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego said she 's concerned about the president 's trip @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fastest rate of growth among our young people in the community , and here it is , a rally specifically focused on that demographic , '' she told CNN .
`` Public health professionals in Phoenix are trying to tell young people to take this seriously . ''
Students for Trump includes a waiver similar to the one the Trump campaign gave to attendees of the Tulsa rally , acknowledging the health risks .
`` By attending this convention , you and any guest voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Action , their affiliates , Dream City Church , employees , agents , contractors , or volunteers liable for any illness or injury , '' it reads .
Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden called the president 's trip `` reckless and irresponsible '' that is a `` distraction from Donald Trump 's failed response to combat the spread of COVID-19 . ''
Tuesday marks Trump 's third trip this year to this once-red , now purple state .
He hosted a rally in Phoenix in February and visited a mask-making facility in May @ @ @ @ @ @ @ points in 2016 , a far cry from Mitt Romney 's 10-point victory over President Barack Obama in 2012 .
Democrats regard it as a critical 2020 battleground state and are closely watching its Senate race between Republican incumbent Martha McSally and Democrat Mark Kelly , a former astronaut and husband of former Rep. Gabby Giffords .
Kelly has been leading in the polls , but the race is still considered a toss-up .
Gov .
Doug Ducey appointed McSally to her seat following her loss during the Senate campaign to then-Democratic Rep. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the electorate in Arizona do n't belong to either major political party , but Democrats are hopeful that a growing Latino population will translate to a shift in November .

Trump Addresses Tightly Packed Arizona Crowd Amid State's Growing Coronavirus Crisis
Enlarge this image toggle caption Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images
Updated at 9 p.m. ET
Fresh off a rally in Tulsa, Okla., in which nearly two-thirds of the arena was empty, President Trump on Tuesday addressed a crowd of student supporters at a tightly packed megachurch in Phoenix, amid the state's growing number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus.
The Arizona rally was part of a series of smaller events in the state centered on his reelection pitch, focusing heavily on border security, preserving monuments of Confederate soldiers and the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, which the president has controversially described using the racist phrase "kung flu."
"The radical left — they hate our history, they hate our values, and they hate everything we prize as Americans. Because our country didn't grow great with them. It grew great with you and your thought processes and your ideology," Trump told the group of young supporters, a majority of whom did not appear to be wearing masks.
Enlarge this image Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images
The state on Tuesday reported 3,591 new cases of COVID-19. More than 1,380 Arizonans have died of the disease thus far.
As Trump was delivering his remarks, protesters outside were declared unlawful, and police reportedly fired tear gas and deployed flash bangs to force their dispersal, according to KJZZ's Jimmy Jenkins.
"Our people are stronger. And our people are smarter. And we are the elite. We are the elite," Trump said during the event.
Earlier in the day, the president participated in a roundtable discussion in Yuma with border and law enforcement officials to commemorate the upgrading of 200 miles of wall along the southern border.
Trump called the barrier "just about unclimbable" and trumpeted what he called lower border crossings and drug seizures.
Trump was joined by Chad Wolf, acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security; Ken Cuccinelli, the acting deputy DHS secretary; and Mark Morgan, acting commissioner of Customs and Border Protection.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images
Trump also spoke about the tearing down of statues in recent weeks and his desire to enforce a 2003 law that gives fines or jail time to those who attempt to destroy federal property such as monuments.
After surveying the wall, Trump delivered remarks at a Students for Trump rally at Dream City Church in Phoenix, hosted by Turning Point Action, a pro-Trump group.
The church, which can hold about 3,000 people, released a statement saying it only found out that Trump would be speaking at the event after it agreed to rent its facilities.
"Dream City's facility rental does not constitute endorsement of the opinions of its renters," the statement said.
Coronavirus concerns
Arizona has seen a spike in cases of the coronavirus recently, and Phoenix has joined several cities across the state in requiring residents to wear masks in public spaces.
Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego had said she was concerned about the president's trip.
"We are actually seeing the fastest rate of growth among our young people in the community, and here it is, a rally specifically focused on that demographic," she told CNN. "Public health professionals in Phoenix are trying to tell young people to take this seriously."
Students for Trump included a waiver similar to the one the Trump campaign gave to attendees of the Tulsa rally, acknowledging the health risks.
"By attending this convention, you and any guest voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19 and agree not to hold Turning Point Action, their affiliates, Dream City Church, employees, agents, contractors, or volunteers liable for any illness or injury," it read.
Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden called the president's trip "reckless and irresponsible" and said it is a "distraction from Donald Trump's failed response to combat the spread of COVID-19."
A changing state
Tuesday marked Trump's third trip this year to this once-red, now purple state. He hosted a rally in Phoenix in February and visited a mask-making facility in May.
Trump won Arizona by 3.5 percentage points in 2016, a far cry from Mitt Romney's 10-point victory over President Barack Obama in 2012.
Democrats regard Arizona as a critical 2020 battleground state and are closely watching its Senate race between Republican incumbent Martha McSally and Democrat Mark Kelly, a former astronaut and husband of former Rep. Gabby Giffords. Kelly has been leading in the polls, but the race is still considered a toss-up.
Gov. Doug Ducey appointed McSally to her seat following her loss during the Senate campaign to then-Democratic Rep. Kyrsten Sinema.
Nearly a third of the electorate in Arizona doesn't belong to either major political party, but Democrats are hopeful that a growing Latino population will translate to a shift in November.


npr--2020-06-23--NASCAR's Bubba Wallace Was Not The Target Of A Hate Crime, FBI Says

NASCAR 's Bubba Wallace Was Not The Target Of A Hate Crime , FBI Says NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace was not the target of a hate crime , according to the FBI .
A day-long investigation by 15 special agents into the discovery of a noose in Wallace 's garage at the Talledega Superspeedway revealed that the rope had been in the stall since at least October .
`` After a thorough review of the facts and evidence surrounding this event , we have concluded that no federal crime was committed , '' FBI Special Agent Jonnie Sharp said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jay Town .
`` The FBI learned that garage number 4 , where the noose was found , was assigned to Bubba Wallace last week .
...
Although the noose is now known to have been in garage number 4 in 2019 , nobody could have known Mr. Wallace would be assigned to garage number 4 last week , '' the statement continued .
In a separate statement , NASCAR explained that the noose was actually just a pull rope that had been tied together .
Wallace is the only Black driver in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ While the FBI investigation has concluded , NASCAR President Steve Phelps said the association 's inquiry is ongoing .
`` We 're continuing our portion of the investigation to figure out why there was a rope fashioned as a noose , '' Phelps told reporters in a Tuesday evening press conference .
He also called the federal findings `` the best result we could hope for . ''
`` It was disturbing to think that one of our own could have committed this heinous act . ''
Phelps explained the the rope was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members .
`` He saw the noose , brought it to the attention of his crew chief , who then went to the NASCAR '' officials .
Over the last month , Wallace has been at the center of several controversies connected to his efforts to make racing `` more welcoming for everybody '' following ongoing national protests against racism .
He successfully led the effort to get NASCAR to ban the Confederate battle flag at its racing events and facilities earlier this month .
The move drew heated criticism against the stock @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fans who declared they 'd no longer support the sport .
Since then , Wallace has driven a Black Lives Matter-themed car in a race .
Before the race in Florida on Sunday , dozens of drivers helped Wallace push his car — # 43 — to the front of the field in an act of solidarity following the incident .

NASCAR's Bubba Wallace Was Not The Target Of A Hate Crime, FBI Says
Enlarge this image toggle caption John Bazemore/AP John Bazemore/AP
NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace was not the target of a hate crime, according to the FBI.
A day-long investigation by 15 special agents into the discovery of a noose in Wallace's garage at the Talledega Superspeedway revealed that the rope had been in the stall since at least October.
"After a thorough review of the facts and evidence surrounding this event, we have concluded that no federal crime was committed," FBI Special Agent Jonnie Sharp said in a joint statement with Birmingham U.S. Attorney Jay Town.
"The FBI learned that garage number 4, where the noose was found, was assigned to Bubba Wallace last week. ... Although the noose is now known to have been in garage number 4 in 2019, nobody could have known Mr. Wallace would be assigned to garage number 4 last week," the statement continued.
In a separate statement, NASCAR explained that the noose was actually just a pull rope that had been tied together.
Wallace is the only Black driver in stock car racing's top circuit.
While the FBI investigation has concluded, NASCAR President Steve Phelps said the association's inquiry is ongoing.
"We're continuing our portion of the investigation to figure out why there was a rope fashioned as a noose," Phelps told reporters in a Tuesday evening press conference.
He also called the federal findings "the best result we could hope for."
"It was disturbing to think that one of our own could have committed this heinous act."
Phelps explained the the rope was found by one of Wallace's crew members. "He saw the noose, brought it to the attention of his crew chief, who then went to the NASCAR" officials.
Over the last month, Wallace has been at the center of several controversies connected to his efforts to make racing "more welcoming for everybody" following ongoing national protests against racism.
He successfully led the effort to get NASCAR to ban the Confederate battle flag at its racing events and facilities earlier this month.
The move drew heated criticism against the stock car racing association and Wallace from racing fans who declared they'd no longer support the sport.
Since then, Wallace has driven a Black Lives Matter-themed car in a race.
YouTube
Before the race in Alabama on Sunday, dozens of drivers helped Wallace push his car — #43 — to the front of the field in an act of solidarity following the incident.
The gesture brought Wallace to tears.


npr--2020-06-23--Bleak UNICEF Report On Kids And COVID-19 ... But There Is Hope

Bleak UNICEF Report On Kids And COVID-19 ...
But There Is Hope A pandemic is hard on everyone .
And even though older people face greater risks from the novel coronavirus , a UNICEF report released on Tuesday points to another particularly vulnerable population : youth .
The report is titled Lives Upended : How COVID-19 threatens the futures of 600 million South Asian children .
According to the report , the pandemic is `` unraveling decades of health , education and other advances for children across South Asia . ''
Because of the lockdowns , children are out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toilets and water they may have there but not at home ) .
They 're at risk of hunger when family incomes shrink — and of domestic abuse as well in close quarters .
They 're isolated from friends .
Especially concerning , say UNICEF and regional mental health experts , are anecdotal and statistical reports that show suicides and suicidal thoughts are going up , in particular among adolescents .
Statistics reported by Bharat Gautam , clinical psychologist for the Transcultural Psychosocial Organization Nepal , document 134 reports of suicide among adolescents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 127 the prior month .
The UNICEF report notes that , since the pandemic 's start , a Bangladesh hotline for children `` intervened in six cases of potential suicide '' in a single week and that two adolescent suicide cases in Bhutan were linked to `` family tension and domestic violence . ''
Simon Ingram , the report 's author and previously a UNICEF field officer in the region , says that `` suicide [ is ] often hidden [ and ] experts estimate the numbers [ during the lockdown ] @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We were monitoring the situation , because obviously we were expecting psychological and mental health impacts given the uncertainty and isolation in a country where a lot of the social services are community-based and where normal service disruption mechanisms are disrupted by the lockdown , '' says Inah Fatoumata Kaloga , UNICEF 's chief of child protection in Nepal .
But Kaloga said she and her staff `` were taken aback by the [ suicide reports ] and the speed with which [ they were ] reported . ''
And , adds Kaloga @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may think that was the only way they could cope with the situation . ''
Gautam , who is an operator on a suicide hotline for teenagers that his organization runs , says callers these days say `` their main concerns have been sadness over not seeing their friends , not going to school , being stuck at home , nagging by parents .
And they do n't seem to know what to do to relieve how they feel . ''
Gautam says callers tell him they feel too sad to even listen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` And they talk about their anxiety and their fear and that they do n't know what will happen . ''
Hotline operators , says Gautum , offer various kinds of support , telling the callers that they 're not the only ones who feel this way .
`` After validating their emotions , '' he says , for some callers , depending on what they 're expressing , `` we help them with breathing exercises to help them feel calm and relax . ''
If concerns remain staff operators refer callers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ platform on how to deal with feeling sad , for example .
If they fear callers might try to kill themselves , the hotline staffer will connect the callers to mental health providers .
UNICEF 's response , says Kagola , has been `` to scale up our engagement to help young people seek help and engage with psycho-social support and mental health service providers .
We have also reached out and increased our engagement with front-line service providers , including nurses , doctors , police , volunteers , community health workers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community . ''
More recently , says Kagola , Nepal 's mental health providers have added online platforms with relevant information for youth expressing suicidal thoughts , offered remote one-on-one counseling and deployed trained staff , in personal protective equipment , to visit isolated youth in quarantine and detention centers , in hospitals where a young patient can not even be visited by parents , and in youth detention centers .
Laura Murray , a senior scientist and clinical psychologist at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health who researches suicide and violence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community health workers has been an effective strategy .
She is the lead author of a study that used trusted and trained individuals in the community to help reduce suicide and to help individuals deal with substance abuse and domestic violence ; the results were so compelling the review board stopped the trial a year early to put the concepts into practice .
Since the COVID-19 outbreak , says Murray , some funders have been `` nimble enough '' to allow researchers to focus more on domestic violence and suicide .
Kaloga is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when it comes to funding requests to meet the needs of children that are outlined in the UNICEF report .
The requests include : • Low-tech home education solutions for children with no access to internet and with disabilities .
• Working with religious leaders and other partners to address the myths and hate-speech that the pandemic has given rise to , fueling rumors that certain groups , often vulnerable ones , have caused the outbreak .
Kaloga is optimistic .
`` I have to be or there is no point in continuing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to be optimistic that COVID-19 has also highlighted the multiple challenges people go through .
I hope this will be a good wake-up call for all of us and will make [ donors ] understand our need for more resources . ''
Fran Kritz is a health policy reporter based in Washington , D.C .
Her work has appeared in The Washington Post and Kaiser Health News .
Find her on Twitter : @ fkritz .

Bleak UNICEF Report On Kids And COVID-19 ... But There Is Hope
Enlarge this image toggle caption Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters
A pandemic is hard on everyone. And even though older people face greater risks from the novel coronavirus, a UNICEF report released on Tuesday points to another particularly vulnerable population: youth. The report is titled Lives Upended: How COVID-19 threatens the futures of 600 million South Asian children.
According to the report, the pandemic is "unraveling decades of health, education and other advances for children across South Asia." Because of the lockdowns, children are out of school (and cut off from the toilets and water they may have there but not at home). They're at risk of hunger when family incomes shrink — and of domestic abuse as well in close quarters. They're isolated from friends.
Especially concerning, say UNICEF and regional mental health experts, are anecdotal and statistical reports that show suicides and suicidal thoughts are going up, in particular among adolescents.
Statistics reported by Bharat Gautam, clinical psychologist for the Transcultural Psychosocial Organization Nepal, document 134 reports of suicide among adolescents from March 24 to April 23 — and 127 the prior month.
The UNICEF report notes that, since the pandemic's start, a Bangladesh hotline for children "intervened in six cases of potential suicide" in a single week and that two adolescent suicide cases in Bhutan were linked to "family tension and domestic violence."
GETTING HELP If someone you know exhibits warning signs for suicide: Do not leave the person alone.
Remove any firearms, alcohol, drugs or sharp objects that could be used in a suicide attempt.
In the United States, call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
Take the person to an emergency room or seek help from a medical or mental health professional.
Simon Ingram, the report's author and previously a UNICEF field officer in the region, says that "suicide [is] often hidden [and] experts estimate the numbers [during the lockdown] could be even higher."
"We were monitoring the situation, because obviously we were expecting psychological and mental health impacts given the uncertainty and isolation in a country where a lot of the social services are community-based and where normal service disruption mechanisms are disrupted by the lockdown," says Inah Fatoumata Kaloga, UNICEF's chief of child protection in Nepal.
But Kaloga said she and her staff "were taken aback by the [suicide reports] and the speed with which [they were] reported." And, adds Kaloga, "by the fact that youth may think that was the only way they could cope with the situation."
Gautam, who is an operator on a suicide hotline for teenagers that his organization runs, says callers these days say "their main concerns have been sadness over not seeing their friends, not going to school, being stuck at home, nagging by parents. And they don't seem to know what to do to relieve how they feel."
Gautam says callers tell him they feel too sad to even listen to music, talk or watch movies. "And they talk about their anxiety and their fear and that they don't know what will happen."
Hotline operators, says Gautum, offer various kinds of support, telling the callers that they're not the only ones who feel this way. "After validating their emotions," he says, for some callers, depending on what they're expressing, "we help them with breathing exercises to help them feel calm and relax." If concerns remain staff operators refer callers to online mental health resources – a platform on how to deal with feeling sad, for example. If they fear callers might try to kill themselves, the hotline staffer will connect the callers to mental health providers.
UNICEF's response, says Kagola, has been "to scale up our engagement to help young people seek help and engage with psycho-social support and mental health service providers. We have also reached out and increased our engagement with front-line service providers, including nurses, doctors, police, volunteers, community health workers, because they are the lifeline of the community."
More recently, says Kagola, Nepal's mental health providers have added online platforms with relevant information for youth expressing suicidal thoughts, offered remote one-on-one counseling and deployed trained staff, in personal protective equipment, to visit isolated youth in quarantine and detention centers, in hospitals where a young patient cannot even be visited by parents, and in youth detention centers.
Laura Murray, a senior scientist and clinical psychologist at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health who researches suicide and violence in the developing world, says involving community health workers has been an effective strategy. She is the lead author of a study that used trusted and trained individuals in the community to help reduce suicide and to help individuals deal with substance abuse and domestic violence; the results were so compelling the review board stopped the trial a year early to put the concepts into practice.
Since the COVID-19 outbreak, says Murray, some funders have been "nimble enough" to allow researchers to focus more on domestic violence and suicide.
Kaloga is hoping donor countries will be equally nimble when it comes to funding requests to meet the needs of children that are outlined in the UNICEF report. The requests include:
Personal protective equipment for community health workers.
Low-tech home education solutions for children with no access to internet and with disabilities.
Working with religious leaders and other partners to address the myths and hate-speech that the pandemic has given rise to, fueling rumors that certain groups, often vulnerable ones, have caused the outbreak.
Kaloga is optimistic. "I have to be or there is no point in continuing," she says. "We have to be optimistic that COVID-19 has also highlighted the multiple challenges people go through. I hope this will be a good wake-up call for all of us and will make [donors] understand our need for more resources."
Fran Kritz is a health policy reporter based in Washington, D.C. Her work has appeared in The Washington Post and Kaiser Health News. Find her on Twitter: @fkritz.


npr--2020-06-23--'This Is Serious Business,' Obama Urges Democrats On Virtual Biden Fundraiser

'This Is Serious Business , ' Obama Urges Democrats On Virtual Biden Fundraiser Former President Barack Obama joined his former vice president , Joe Biden , on a virtual fundraiser on Tuesday evening as top-level Democrats seek to consolidate voters around the party 's 2020 presumptive nominee .
`` I am here to say the help is on the way if we do the work , because there 's nobody I trust more to be able to heal this country and get back on track than my dear friend Joe Biden , '' Obama told supporters on the video conference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the situation Biden would inherit — with the coronavirus pandemic , a recession and racial unrest — is tougher than the one that greeted him when he came into office in early 2009 , but he said that he is inspired by a `` great awakening '' going on among young people .
`` I appreciate you all being on this call , but man , this is serious business .
Whatever you 've done so far is not enough .
And I hold myself and Michelle and my kids to the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 175,000 people donated to the Tuesday event , according to the Biden campaign , which billed it as a grassroots fundraiser , though press access was limited , and no video stream was made public .
The event raised $ 7.6 million , the campaign said .
The fundraiser is the latest in a series of virtual events with big-name Democrats that have brought in significant fundraising hauls for Biden , helping him and Democrats bring in more money than President Trump 's campaign and Republicans in May .
A recent virtual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Massachusetts , who refused to hold high-dollar fundraisers during her own primary campaign , raised $ 6 million .
Sen. Kamala Harris of California recently helped Biden raise $ 3.5 million .
And two other onetime presidential candidates — former South Bend , Ind.
, Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota — each raised more than $ 1 million in their own events .
These events have helped Biden turn around a reputation as a lackluster fundraiser .
Throughout 2019 and early 2020 , he regularly brought in less money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sanders of Vermont despite the fact that neither Sanders nor Warren participated in high-dollar fundraising events .
But in the past two months , Biden 's campaign and the Democratic National Committee have raised more than $ 140 million .
Biden was dead even with Trump 's fundraising numbers in April and outraised him in May .
It 's highly unusual for a challenger to raise more money than an incumbent president .
Trump entered the 2020 race with a significant cash-on-hand advantage , and on Tuesday evening , his campaign said it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Friday to Sunday around Trump 's in-person rally in Tulsa , Okla. Former Pennsylvania Gov .
Ed Rendell , a Biden backer , recently told NPR he 's been raising money for political candidates for four decades and said he 's never seen this much of a sudden uptick in fundraising enthusiasm .
He said the shift has as much to do with how Trump has handled the coronavirus and recent protests over racial injustice as with Biden himself .
Biden 's campaign has put the money to use .
Last week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign across six key swing states Trump won in 2016 : Pennsylvania , Michigan , Wisconsin , Arizona , North Carolina and Florida .

'This Is Serious Business,' Obama Urges Democrats On Virtual Biden Fundraiser
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images
Former President Barack Obama joined his former vice president, Joe Biden, on a virtual fundraiser on Tuesday evening as top-level Democrats seek to consolidate voters around the party's 2020 presumptive nominee.
"I am here to say the help is on the way if we do the work, because there's nobody I trust more to be able to heal this country and get back on track than my dear friend Joe Biden," Obama told supporters on the video conference.
The former president said he believes the situation Biden would inherit — with the coronavirus pandemic, a recession and racial unrest — is tougher than the one that greeted him when he came into office in early 2009, but he said that he is inspired by a "great awakening" going on among young people.
"I appreciate you all being on this call, but man, this is serious business. Whatever you've done so far is not enough. And I hold myself and Michelle and my kids to the same standard," Obama said.
More than 175,000 people donated to the Tuesday event, according to the Biden campaign, which billed it as a grassroots fundraiser, though press access was limited, and no video stream was made public.
The event raised $7.6 million, the campaign said.
The fundraiser is the latest in a series of virtual events with big-name Democrats that have brought in significant fundraising hauls for Biden, helping him and Democrats bring in more money than President Trump's campaign and Republicans in May.
A recent virtual event headlined by Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, who refused to hold high-dollar fundraisers during her own primary campaign, raised $6 million. Sen. Kamala Harris of California recently helped Biden raise $3.5 million. And two other onetime presidential candidates — former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota — each raised more than $1 million in their own events.
These events have helped Biden turn around a reputation as a lackluster fundraiser. Throughout 2019 and early 2020, he regularly brought in less money than Warren, Buttigieg and Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont despite the fact that neither Sanders nor Warren participated in high-dollar fundraising events.
But in the past two months, Biden's campaign and the Democratic National Committee have raised more than $140 million. Biden was dead even with Trump's fundraising numbers in April and outraised him in May. It's highly unusual for a challenger to raise more money than an incumbent president.
Trump entered the 2020 race with a significant cash-on-hand advantage, and on Tuesday evening, his campaign said it had raised more than $10 million from Friday to Sunday around Trump's in-person rally in Tulsa, Okla.
Former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, a Biden backer, recently told NPR he's been raising money for political candidates for four decades and said he's never seen this much of a sudden uptick in fundraising enthusiasm. He said the shift has as much to do with how Trump has handled the coronavirus and recent protests over racial injustice as with Biden himself.
Biden's campaign has put the money to use. Last week it announced a $15 million advertising campaign across six key swing states Trump won in 2016: Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona, North Carolina and Florida.
NPR's Scott Detrow contributed to this report.


npr--2020-06-23--After Nearly Two Bumpy Decades, The Original Segway Will Be Retired In July

After Nearly Two Bumpy Decades , The Original Segway Will Be Retired In July Segway 's iconic personal transporter is nearing the end of its ride , company officials announced on Tuesday .
President Judy Cai said in a statement that production of the Segway PT will stop on July 15 , less than two decades after the scooter was first unveiled .
She described the two-wheeled , self-balancing vehicle as a `` staple '' in security and law enforcement , and noted its popularity among travelers worldwide .
`` This decision was not made lightly , and while the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ production , it was not a deciding factor in our decision , '' Cai said .
While the vehicle became a fixture in law enforcement and tourism , it did not gain widespread traction among the wider public .
The Segway accounted for less than 1.5 % of the company 's revenue last year , the Associated Press reported .
This is in contrast to the initial hype surrounding the product , which inventor and company founder Dean Kamen believed would revolutionize transportation .
Apple co-founder Steve Jobs predicted it would become as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ founder Jeff Bezos called it `` one of the most famous and anticipated product introductions of all time '' before the product first went on sale to the public — through Amazon.com .
`` I believe the Segway HT will do for walking what the calculator did for pad and pencil , '' Kamen said in 2001 , the year he unveiled it on Good Morning America .
About 6,000 Segway Human Transporters — now called Personal Transporters — were voluntarily recalled in 2003 after a number of riders were injured in falls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ batteries running low .
Since then , the vehicle has been at the center of several high-profile incidents .
President George W. Bush was famously photographed tumbling off a Segway in Maine in 2003 .
In 2015 , a Segway-riding cameraman accidentally knocked over Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt during his victory lap on the World Athletics Championships track .
And ten months after buying the company in 2009 , British millionaire Jim Heselden died after driving a Segway off a cliff .
Segway , Inc. was acquired by Chinese company Ninebot in 2015 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ products over the years , including electric scooters in 2017 .
The company 's statement said 21 employees will be laid off , 12 will stay on for two months to a year and five will remain at its manufacturing facility in Bedford , N.H .

After Nearly Two Bumpy Decades, The Original Segway Will Be Retired In July
Enlarge this image toggle caption Elise Amendola/AP Elise Amendola/AP
Segway's iconic personal transporter is nearing the end of its ride, company officials announced on Tuesday.
President Judy Cai said in a statement that production of the Segway PT will stop on July 15, less than two decades after the scooter was first unveiled. She described the two-wheeled, self-balancing vehicle as a "staple" in security and law enforcement, and noted its popularity among travelers worldwide.
"This decision was not made lightly, and while the current global pandemic did impact sales and production, it was not a deciding factor in our decision," Cai said.
Technology Segway To End The Production Of Its Iconic Personal Transportation Segway To End The Production Of Its Iconic Personal Transportation Listen · 2:37 2:37
While the vehicle became a fixture in law enforcement and tourism, it did not gain widespread traction among the wider public. The Segway accounted for less than 1.5% of the company's revenue last year, the Associated Press reported.
This is in contrast to the initial hype surrounding the product, which inventor and company founder Dean Kamen believed would revolutionize transportation. Apple co-founder Steve Jobs predicted it would become as big as the PC. And Amazon founder Jeff Bezos called it "one of the most famous and anticipated product introductions of all time" before the product first went on sale to the public — through Amazon.com.
"I believe the Segway HT will do for walking what the calculator did for pad and pencil," Kamen said in 2001, the year he unveiled it on Good Morning America.
About 6,000 Segway Human Transporters — now called Personal Transporters — were voluntarily recalled in 2003 after a number of riders were injured in falls as a result of the scooters' batteries running low.
Since then, the vehicle has been at the center of several high-profile incidents. President George W. Bush was famously photographed tumbling off a Segway in Maine in 2003. In 2015, a Segway-riding cameraman accidentally knocked over Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt during his victory lap on the World Athletics Championships track.
And ten months after buying the company in 2009, British millionaire Jim Heselden died after driving a Segway off a cliff.
Segway, Inc. was acquired by Chinese company Ninebot in 2015. It has launched other models and products over the years, including electric scooters in 2017.
The company's statement said 21 employees will be laid off, 12 will stay on for two months to a year and five will remain at its manufacturing facility in Bedford, N.H.


npr--2020-06-23--At Jerusalem's Request, U.S. Embassy Briefly Takes Down Its LGBTQ Pride Banner

At Jerusalem 's Request , U.S. Embassy Briefly Takes Down Its LGBTQ Pride Banner A banner promoting LGBTQ pride was temporarily taken down from the U.S. Embassy on Tuesday after the city 's deputy mayor complained about it , claiming it was offensive to residents .
The banner was rehung Tuesday night following media coverage and discussions between the embassy and city officials .
The banner reads `` PRIDE : The U.S. Embassy Jerusalem proudly supports tolerance and diversity . ''
It hangs on a perimeter wall of a building belonging to the U.S. Embassy to Israel , a historic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the U.S. mission to the Palestinians .
Embassy officials hung it up before a rally across the street celebrating LGBTQ Pride Month next week .
Jerusalem 's far-right deputy mayor , Aryeh King , said he asked city officials to have the banner removed Tuesday morning , after receiving complaints from residents .
The Jerusalem municipality said in a statement that the embassy had not requested a permit to hang the sign and that the embassy agreed to have the banner folded up until a permit was arranged .
`` I am @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to break the law , but also to put up a sign that the majority of residents oppose .
Why take sides on a controversial issue and put up a sign on our street ? ''
King told NPR .
`` Most of the Jews , Christians and Muslims in the city oppose it . ''
The banner faces a downtown street and park where Jerusalem 's lesbian , gay , bisexual , transgender and queer organization will hold an annual rally next week .
U.S. officials also posted the banner there in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pride events .
The U.S. Embassy said in a statement that the banner was `` temporarily taken down ... pending a discussion with the City of Jerusalem municipal government . ''
The banner was flipped upside-down and , in the evening , removed completely .
Jerusalem resident Natan Odenheimer said police officers confronted him as he photographed the banner being removed .
At night , it was rehung in the same location .
`` This month we celebrate the LGBTI community and affirm that all human beings deserve to be treated with dignity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to lesbian , gay , bisexual , trans and intersex people .
LGBTQ events in Jerusalem frequently draw protest from conservative religious groups .
At Jerusalem 's pride march in 2015 , an ultra-Orthodox Jewish man fatally stabbed an Israeli teenager .
In the past as a city council member , King publicly opposed LGBTQ events in Jerusalem .
`` No one will stop pride ! ''
the Jerusalem Open House , the city 's LGBTQ organization , said in a Facebook post .
`` It is sad that instead of acting on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ King is trying again to exclude the gay community and erase our presence .
This attempt is destined for failure . ''
NBC News reported the Trump administration rejected requests this year from U.S. Embassies in Israel , Germany , Brazil , Latvia and other countries to fly the LGBTQ pride flag on embassy flagpoles this month .
Last year , Secretary of State Mike Pompeo asked embassies not to use the official flagpole to fly LGBTQ pride flags , but allowed them to hang pride banners elsewhere on their premises .
Last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , South Korea , removed an LGBTQ pride flag for unknown reasons , at the same time that it removed a Black Lives Matter banner following a request from the State Department .
NPR 's Michele Kelemen contributed to this story from Washington , D.C .

At Jerusalem's Request, U.S. Embassy Briefly Takes Down Its LGBTQ Pride Banner
Enlarge this image toggle caption Daniel Estrin/NPR Daniel Estrin/NPR
A banner promoting LGBTQ pride was temporarily taken down from the U.S. Embassy on Tuesday after the city's deputy mayor complained about it, claiming it was offensive to residents.
The banner was rehung Tuesday night following media coverage and discussions between the embassy and city officials.
The banner reads "PRIDE: The U.S. Embassy Jerusalem proudly supports tolerance and diversity." It hangs on a perimeter wall of a building belonging to the U.S. Embassy to Israel, a historic stone property that until last year served as the U.S. mission to the Palestinians. Embassy officials hung it up before a rally across the street celebrating LGBTQ Pride Month next week.
Jerusalem's far-right deputy mayor, Aryeh King, said he asked city officials to have the banner removed Tuesday morning, after receiving complaints from residents. The Jerusalem municipality said in a statement that the embassy had not requested a permit to hang the sign and that the embassy agreed to have the banner folded up until a permit was arranged.
"I am surprised that the embassy decided not only to break the law, but also to put up a sign that the majority of residents oppose. Why take sides on a controversial issue and put up a sign on our street?" King told NPR. "Most of the Jews, Christians and Muslims in the city oppose it."
The banner faces a downtown street and park where Jerusalem's lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer organization will hold an annual rally next week. U.S. officials also posted the banner there in recent years during the city's LGBTQ pride events.
The U.S. Embassy said in a statement that the banner was "temporarily taken down ... pending a discussion with the City of Jerusalem municipal government."
The banner was flipped upside-down and, in the evening, removed completely.
Jerusalem resident Natan Odenheimer said police officers confronted him as he photographed the banner being removed.
At night, it was rehung in the same location.
"This month we celebrate the LGBTI community and affirm that all human beings deserve to be treated with dignity," the embassy said, referring to lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex people.
LGBTQ events in Jerusalem frequently draw protest from conservative religious groups. At Jerusalem's pride march in 2015, an ultra-Orthodox Jewish man fatally stabbed an Israeli teenager. In the past as a city council member, King publicly opposed LGBTQ events in Jerusalem.
"No one will stop pride!" the Jerusalem Open House, the city's LGBTQ organization, said in a Facebook post. "It is sad that instead of acting on behalf of all Jerusalemites, Deputy Mayor King is trying again to exclude the gay community and erase our presence. This attempt is destined for failure."
NBC News reported the Trump administration rejected requests this year from U.S. Embassies in Israel, Germany, Brazil, Latvia and other countries to fly the LGBTQ pride flag on embassy flagpoles this month. Last year, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo asked embassies not to use the official flagpole to fly LGBTQ pride flags, but allowed them to hang pride banners elsewhere on their premises.
Last week, the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, South Korea, removed an LGBTQ pride flag for unknown reasons, at the same time that it removed a Black Lives Matter banner following a request from the State Department.
NPR's Michele Kelemen contributed to this story from Washington, D.C.


npr--2020-06-23--5,489 New COVID-19 Cases: Texas Reports All-Time Daily High

Update at 6:02 p.m .
ET '' Today , Texas will report an all-time high in the number of cases of people testing positive '' for the coronavirus , Gov .
Greg Abbott said Tuesday , adding that for the first time , his state would surpass 5,000 new cases in a single day .
Hours later , the Texas Department of State Health Services reported 5,489 new cases .
Abbott initially revealed the daunting new record during an interview with TV station KBTX in which he urged people to take the deadly disease seriously , telling them to wear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when possible and take other precautions .
`` The hospitalization rate is at an all-time high , '' he said .
`` The coronavirus is serious .
It 's spreading in Brazos County , across the entire state of Texas . ''
Texas is seeing a sharp rise in cases ; it was just days ago that the state crossed the 4,000-case mark for the first time in its daily tally .
New cases have hit the Houston area so hard that the Texas Children 's Hospital is now admitting adult patients .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Houston is home to the massive Texas Medical Center — deemed the largest medical center in the world .
`` Texas Children 's is committed to providing additional capacity through ICU and acute care beds across our hospital campuses to take on both pediatric and adult patients , '' the hospital said in a statement to NPR .
The adult patients include people have COVID-19 and other cases .
Those diagnosed with the coronavirus are being cared for in an expanded special isolation unit , according to Texas Children 's Hospital .
Texas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 , but experts said that 's not enough to explain the flood of new cases .
`` Probably the greater factor that 's pushing our numbers up is that the positivity rate is now gone from around 3 % to around 9 % — that 's a threefold increase , '' said Dr. David Persse , public health authority for the Houston Health Department , according to Houston Public Media .
Texas is facing `` a steep terrifying rise '' in COVID-19 hospitalizations and intensive care unit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Dr. Peter Hotez , dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine , in a tweet about the current situation .
The dramatic new numbers do not represent a second wave in Texas , which was among the first states to start the reopening process .
The state health department 's graph of daily new cases shows a steady rise since the COVID-19 pandemic began to take hold in March .
The curve began to arc even higher earlier this month , continuing with Tuesday 's spike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social and physical restrictions to curb the coronavirus .
He recently called the idea of shutting down the Texas economy again `` the last option '' to fight COVID-19 .
But on Tuesday , he also said agencies will clamp down on bars that have allowed overcrowding since restrictions began to lift .
And the governor hinted at the possibility of new limits , referring to `` additional announcements that may be coming later today '' or sometime this week .
`` COVID-19 is now spreading at an unacceptable rate in the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ corralled , '' Abbott said Monday .
Calling on people to follow safety rules about washing their hands , social distancing and wearing face coverings , he added , `` Texans have shown that we do n't have to choose between jobs and health — we can have both .
We can protect lives while also restoring livelihoods . ''
Texas now has 120,370 cases , trailing New York , California , New Jersey and Illinois .

5,489 New COVID-19 Cases: Texas Reports All-Time Daily High
Enlarge this image toggle caption Eric Gay/AP Eric Gay/AP
Update at 6:02 p.m. ET
"Today, Texas will report an all-time high in the number of cases of people testing positive" for the coronavirus, Gov. Greg Abbott said Tuesday, adding that for the first time, his state would surpass 5,000 new cases in a single day.
Hours later, the Texas Department of State Health Services reported 5,489 new cases.
Abbott initially revealed the daunting new record during an interview with TV station KBTX in which he urged people to take the deadly disease seriously, telling them to wear a mask in public, stay home when possible and take other precautions.
"The hospitalization rate is at an all-time high," he said. "The coronavirus is serious. It's spreading in Brazos County, across the entire state of Texas."
Texas is seeing a sharp rise in cases; it was just days ago that the state crossed the 4,000-case mark for the first time in its daily tally.
New cases have hit the Houston area so hard that the Texas Children's Hospital is now admitting adult patients. The move comes despite the fact that Houston is home to the massive Texas Medical Center — deemed the largest medical center in the world.
"Texas Children's is committed to providing additional capacity through ICU and acute care beds across our hospital campuses to take on both pediatric and adult patients," the hospital said in a statement to NPR.
The adult patients include people have COVID-19 and other cases. Those diagnosed with the coronavirus are being cared for in an expanded special isolation unit, according to Texas Children's Hospital.
Texas has steadily boosted its capacity to test for the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, but experts said that's not enough to explain the flood of new cases.
"Probably the greater factor that's pushing our numbers up is that the positivity rate is now gone from around 3% to around 9% — that's a threefold increase," said Dr. David Persse, public health authority for the Houston Health Department, according to Houston Public Media.
Texas is facing "a steep terrifying rise" in COVID-19 hospitalizations and intensive care unit admissions at the Texas Medical Center, said Dr. Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, in a tweet about the current situation.
"We now face a public health crisis," Hotez added.
The dramatic new numbers do not represent a second wave in Texas, which was among the first states to start the reopening process. The state health department's graph of daily new cases shows a steady rise since the COVID-19 pandemic began to take hold in March. The curve began to arc even higher earlier this month, continuing with Tuesday's spike.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Texas Department of State Health Services/Screenshot by NPR Texas Department of State Health Services/Screenshot by NPR
Abbott has urged people to observe social and physical restrictions to curb the coronavirus. He recently called the idea of shutting down the Texas economy again "the last option" to fight COVID-19. But on Tuesday, he also said agencies will clamp down on bars that have allowed overcrowding since restrictions began to lift.
And the governor hinted at the possibility of new limits, referring to "additional announcements that may be coming later today" or sometime this week.
"COVID-19 is now spreading at an unacceptable rate in the state of Texas, and it must be corralled," Abbott said Monday.
Calling on people to follow safety rules about washing their hands, social distancing and wearing face coverings, he added, "Texans have shown that we don't have to choose between jobs and health — we can have both. We can protect lives while also restoring livelihoods."
Texas now has 120,370 cases, trailing New York, California, New Jersey and Illinois.


npr--2020-06-23--For Portland, Ore., Woman, Home These Days Is Where She Parks Her Minivan

For Portland , Ore. , Woman , Home These Days Is Where She Parks Her Minivan The coronavirus pandemic has left tens of millions of people without a safety net .
Naida Lavon is one of them .
Lavon is 67 years old , a retired school bus driver , and she was recently furloughed from her part-time job at Avis Rent-a-Car .
In March , she also found herself without a home so she started living in her minivan on the streets of Portland , Ore. For the past few months , Lavon has been keeping an audio diary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Her first night living in her car , Lavon did n't know where to park and feel safe .
She drove around and found a road in an industrial area on the west side of Portland 's airport .
The road is lined on both sides with people living in their cars , RVs and trailers .
Many look as if they have been parked there a long time : They have awnings and furniture set up .
Lavon parks alongside them each night , and although she does n't interact with her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there 's safety in numbers .
For privacy , Lavon has blacked out most of the minivan 's windows with insulating material .
Her bed takes up half the back of her car .
Her mattress is made out of seat cushions , camping pads and a duvet cover .
She has an old sleeping bag for warmth .
She stores her belongings in plastic drawers and a rooftop carrier .
One of the biggest hurdles for Lavon is staying clean .
Because of the pandemic , many public restrooms are closed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the day to use the bathroom and wash up .
Occasionally , she stops by a friend 's apartment to take a shower .
Lavon says she tries not to panic about the possibility of getting the virus but takes as many precautions as she can .
Lavon considers herself fortunate compared with others living on the streets .
She has a nice car , which runs well .
She 's usually clean and well-dressed .
She has Social Security and a small pension , even if it 's not enough to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ audio diary , Lavon records a conversation with her daughter , Laura Jones , 43 , as they sit in a Starbucks parking lot .
Jones lives about two hours away in Tacoma , Wash. , with her husband and two kids .
Jones wants to know how long her mother thinks she can live out of her minivan — until September , Lavon replies .
`` I would like for you to stay with us , '' her daughter says .
But there 's no spare room , and Lavon would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I 'm not comfortable with that , '' Lavon tells her daughter .
`` I hate to feel like a burden . ''
Lavon also worries that her presence would add tension to Jones ' relationship with her husband .
For Jones , the hardest part has been seeing her mom 's bed in the car .
`` That 's when it hit me , '' she tells her mother .
`` What kind of daughter am I if I 'm letting you live in your car ? ''
Lavon has struggled with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She grew up with a single mom who worked multiple jobs , and they moved around a lot .
`` I 'm just one of those people that 's always on the move , not always willingly , '' Lavon says .
`` That 's just how my life has gone . ''
This story was produced by Nellie Gilles of Radio Diaries , with help from Sarah Kate Kramer and Joe Richman .
It was edited by Deborah George and Ben Shapiro .
We also had help from Jessica Deahl .

For Portland, Ore., Woman, Home These Days Is Where She Parks Her Minivan
Enlarge this image toggle caption Naida Lavon Naida Lavon
The coronavirus pandemic has left tens of millions of people without a safety net. Naida Lavon is one of them.
Lavon is 67 years old, a retired school bus driver, and she was recently furloughed from her part-time job at Avis Rent-a-Car. In March, she also found herself without a home so she started living in her minivan on the streets of Portland, Ore. For the past few months, Lavon has been keeping an audio diary of her experience being newly homeless.
Her first night living in her car, Lavon didn't know where to park and feel safe. She drove around and found a road in an industrial area on the west side of Portland's airport. The road is lined on both sides with people living in their cars, RVs and trailers. Many look as if they have been parked there a long time: They have awnings and furniture set up. Lavon parks alongside them each night, and although she doesn't interact with her neighbors much, she says she feels there's safety in numbers.
For privacy, Lavon has blacked out most of the minivan's windows with insulating material. Her bed takes up half the back of her car. Her mattress is made out of seat cushions, camping pads and a duvet cover. She has an old sleeping bag for warmth. She stores her belongings in plastic drawers and a rooftop carrier.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Laura Jones Laura Jones
One of the biggest hurdles for Lavon is staying clean. Because of the pandemic, many public restrooms are closed. She often goes to the grocery store during the day to use the bathroom and wash up. Occasionally, she stops by a friend's apartment to take a shower. Lavon says she tries not to panic about the possibility of getting the virus but takes as many precautions as she can.
Lavon considers herself fortunate compared with others living on the streets. She has a nice car, which runs well. She's usually clean and well-dressed. She has Social Security and a small pension, even if it's not enough to afford housing in Portland.
Hunker Down Diaries Hunker Down Diaries is a new series from Radio Diaries, sharing short diaries and conversations between people thrown together by the pandemic. Stories about ordinary life in extraordinary times. To hear more stories from the Hunker Down Diaries series, subscribe to the Radio Diaries Podcast.
In her audio diary, Lavon records a conversation with her daughter, Laura Jones, 43, as they sit in a Starbucks parking lot. Jones lives about two hours away in Tacoma, Wash., with her husband and two kids.
Jones wants to know how long her mother thinks she can live out of her minivan — until September, Lavon replies.
"I would like for you to stay with us," her daughter says.
But there's no spare room, and Lavon would be sleeping in the kitchen nook.
"I'm not comfortable with that," Lavon tells her daughter. "I hate to feel like a burden."
Lavon also worries that her presence would add tension to Jones' relationship with her husband.
For Jones, the hardest part has been seeing her mom's bed in the car.
"That's when it hit me," she tells her mother. "What kind of daughter am I if I'm letting you live in your car?"
Lavon has struggled with housing instability since she was a kid. She grew up with a single mom who worked multiple jobs, and they moved around a lot.
"I'm just one of those people that's always on the move, not always willingly," Lavon says. "That's just how my life has gone."
This story was produced by Nellie Gilles of Radio Diaries, with help from Sarah Kate Kramer and Joe Richman. It was edited by Deborah George and Ben Shapiro. We also had help from Jessica Deahl.


npr--2020-06-23--What Is No Longer In A Name: Rhode Island Official Docs Shed Racially Loaded Moniker

What Is No Longer In A Name : Rhode Island Official Docs Shed Racially Loaded Moniker The official name of the smallest U.S. state is Rhode Island and Providence Plantations .
Some of its residents have been trying for the past three decades to drop the phrase `` and Providence Plantations , '' which they consider an offensive reminder of the state 's once-dominant role in the trade of enslaved Africans .
That name-changing drive got a boost on Monday .
Spurred by weeks of local protests over the death of George Floyd , the Black Minnesotan who perished after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for nearly nine minutes , Rhode Island Gov .
Gina Raimondo announced that the offensive phrase would no longer appear on official state documents .
`` This morning I signed an executive order removing the phrase Providence Plantations from gubernatorial orders and citations , all executive branch agency websites , all official correspondence , and state employee pay stubs and paychecks , '' said Raimondo , a second-term moderate Democrat who is the state 's first female governor .
`` We ca n't ignore the image conjured by the word 'plantation , ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a news conference held at a Providence public park .
`` We ca n't ignore how painful that is for Black Rhode Islanders to see that and have to see that as part of their state 's name . ''
`` It 's demoralizing ! ''
shouted a man in the audience .
`` It 's demoralizing , '' Raimondo agreed .
`` It 's a slap in the face , it 's painful . ''
At the event , the governor won praise for ordering the change from one of the young @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` This is what we wanted .
This is what gives me hope to continue , '' said 16-year-old Faith Quinnea .
`` Knowing our voices were heard and respected is a different kind of joy .
I 'm proud to stand here and say I participated in the difference . ''
It was the theologian Roger Williams — an advocate of religious tolerance and the abolition of slavery — who , as the founder of the Rhode Island colony in the 17th century , is believed to have included the Providence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was then a newly established British colony .
By the mid-18th century , Rhode Island not only dominated slave trade in North America , but it also had a higher proportion of slaves in its population than any other Northern colony .
Many worked on farms in what at the time was known as Narragansett County .
`` Eventually , these farms grew to be plantations comparable to those in America 's southern colonies , '' writes Salve Regina University adjunct professor Fred Zilian , `` and with these plantations a class of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Island 's Democratic-led Senate has already passed a resolution that would put the permanent removal of the `` and Providence Plantations '' phrase on the ballot in November , and its Democratic-led House is expected to follow suit .
In a joint statement , President of the Rhode Island Senate Dominick Ruggiero and Speaker of the House Nicholas Mattielo on Monday endorsed the name change .
`` We both support placing on the ballot this November the decision whether to remove the word 'and Providence Plantations ' from the state 's name , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In the meantime , we know this is an important issue to a lot of people , so the General Assembly will be removing the reference to 'Plantations ' from Assembly documents . ''
But Jorge Elorza , the mayor of Providence , cautioned that the name change effort could once again be stymied at the ballot box , as it was in 2010 .
`` We know that 10 years ago when this was put to the voters , it failed pretty bad , '' Elorza told the crowd gathered at Billy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statewide , it is an unpopular thing to do , but it is the right thing to do and because of that , I give you all the credit , Governor . ''
For protest organizer Quinnea , the governor 's removal of the offensive phrase from official documents is not enough .
`` This is just a small taste of what victory looks like , '' she told Raimondo .
`` So please join me in my next project , to get Rhode Island to add Black history into the educational curriculum @ @

What Is No Longer In A Name: Rhode Island Official Docs Shed Racially Loaded Moniker
Enlarge this image toggle caption David Goldman/AP David Goldman/AP
The official name of the smallest U.S. state is Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. Some of its residents have been trying for the past three decades to drop the phrase "and Providence Plantations," which they consider an offensive reminder of the state's once-dominant role in the trade of enslaved Africans.
That name-changing drive got a boost on Monday. Spurred by weeks of local protests over the death of George Floyd, the Black Minnesotan who perished after a white policeman knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes, Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo announced that the offensive phrase would no longer appear on official state documents.
"This morning I signed an executive order removing the phrase Providence Plantations from gubernatorial orders and citations, all executive branch agency websites, all official correspondence, and state employee pay stubs and paychecks," said Raimondo, a second-term moderate Democrat who is the state's first female governor.
"We can't ignore the image conjured by the word 'plantation,' " she told a cheering crowd at a news conference held at a Providence public park. "We can't ignore how painful that is for Black Rhode Islanders to see that and have to see that as part of their state's name."
"It's demoralizing!" shouted a man in the audience.
"It's demoralizing," Raimondo agreed. "It's a slap in the face, it's painful."
At the event, the governor won praise for ordering the change from one of the young Black organizers of the recent street protests.
"This is what we wanted. This is what gives me hope to continue," said 16-year-old Faith Quinnea. "Knowing our voices were heard and respected is a different kind of joy. I'm proud to stand here and say I participated in the difference."
It was the theologian Roger Williams — an advocate of religious tolerance and the abolition of slavery — who, as the founder of the Rhode Island colony in the 17th century, is believed to have included the Providence Plantations phrase in the name of what was then a newly established British colony. At the time, the word "plantation" referred to a new settlement and didn't connote an agricultural estate cultivated by slaves.
By the mid-18th century, Rhode Island not only dominated slave trade in North America, but it also had a higher proportion of slaves in its population than any other Northern colony.
Many worked on farms in what at the time was known as Narragansett County. "Eventually, these farms grew to be plantations comparable to those in America's southern colonies," writes Salve Regina University adjunct professor Fred Zilian, "and with these plantations a class of 'Narragansett planters' emerged."
Rhode Island's Democratic-led Senate has already passed a resolution that would put the permanent removal of the "and Providence Plantations" phrase on the ballot in November, and its Democratic-led House is expected to follow suit.
In a joint statement, President of the Rhode Island Senate Dominick Ruggiero and Speaker of the House Nicholas Mattielo on Monday endorsed the name change.
"We both support placing on the ballot this November the decision whether to remove the word 'and Providence Plantations' from the state's name," the legislative leaders wrote. "In the meantime, we know this is an important issue to a lot of people, so the General Assembly will be removing the reference to 'Plantations' from Assembly documents."
But Jorge Elorza, the mayor of Providence, cautioned that the name change effort could once again be stymied at the ballot box, as it was in 2010.
"We know that 10 years ago when this was put to the voters, it failed pretty bad," Elorza told the crowd gathered at Billy Taylor Park. "That means that statewide, it is an unpopular thing to do, but it is the right thing to do and because of that, I give you all the credit, Governor."
For protest organizer Quinnea, the governor's removal of the offensive phrase from official documents is not enough.
"This is just a small taste of what victory looks like," she told Raimondo. "So please join me in my next project, to get Rhode Island to add Black history into the educational curriculum."


npr--2020-06-23--Schott-Free: University Of Cincinnati Trustees Vote To Take Name Off Ballpark

Schott-Free : University Of Cincinnati Trustees Vote To Take Name Off Ballpark In the current climate , a lot .
And enough to force change when that name offends .
On Tuesday , the University of Cincinnati board of trustees voted unanimously to take down the name of Marge Schott from the school 's baseball stadium , effective immediately .
The board cited Schott 's `` record of racism and bigotry '' in making its decision .
Schott , who died in 2004 , was the wildly controversial owner of Major League Baseball 's Cincinnati Reds from 1984 to 1999 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ African American , Jewish and Japanese people prompted a one-year ban from baseball in 1993 .
After praising Adolf Hitler in a 1996 ESPN interview , Schott was forced to give up day-to-day control of the Reds until 1998 .
She was also a philanthropist in her hometown of Cincinnati .
She gave money , through her foundation , to the city zoo , hospitals and the university .
Her $ 2 million gift to the school 's athletic programs led to the 2006 naming of Marge Schott Stadium .
But now , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have superseded her giving .
In a resolution , the board says it 's accepting the recommendation of University President Neville Pinto to remove Schott 's name from the baseball stadium as well as a space in the school 's archives library .
`` The recommendation is grounded in the firm belief that speaking out against exclusion is as essential as speaking up for inclusion , '' Pinto said in a statement .
`` I hope this action serves as an enduring reminder that we can not remain silent or indifferent when it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
This month , in the wake of nationwide protests sparked by the killing of George Floyd while in Minneapolis police custody , former UC baseball player Jordan Ramey started a petition drive to change the stadium 's name .
`` Black kids should not be made to play and represent a name such as hers and white kids should not be celebrating her legacy subconsciously , '' the petition read .
`` As a community of former and current players , staff , students , alums , and Cincinnatians alike , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or her legacy any longer . ''
This week , the petition had about 10,000 signatures .
Nathan Moore , who plays on the university 's baseball team and has been an outspoken supporter of the petition drive , praised the board 's action .
`` It 's fantastic to see the change [ we ] brought about , '' Moore said Tuesday , adding that he learned about the decision in a phone call from Pinto .
`` It shows that standing up for something you believe in is important .
When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the right way , it can lead to change . ''
This month , in response to the petition drive , the Schott Foundation released the following statement .
`` The Schott Foundation continues on its mission to support and find qualified charitable programs and organizations for the betterment of the greater Cincinnati community .
The foundation will support its community partners in any decisions that will progress unity of purpose and stand against prejudice in any manner . ''

Schott-Free: University Of Cincinnati Trustees Vote To Take Name Off Ballpark
Enlarge this image toggle caption Google Street View/Screenshot by NPR Google Street View/Screenshot by NPR
What's in a name?
In the current climate, a lot. And enough to force change when that name offends.
On Tuesday, the University of Cincinnati board of trustees voted unanimously to take down the name of Marge Schott from the school's baseball stadium, effective immediately.
The board cited Schott's "record of racism and bigotry" in making its decision.
Schott, who died in 2004, was the wildly controversial owner of Major League Baseball's Cincinnati Reds from 1984 to 1999. Her racial and ethnic slurs against African American, Jewish and Japanese people prompted a one-year ban from baseball in 1993. After praising Adolf Hitler in a 1996 ESPN interview, Schott was forced to give up day-to-day control of the Reds until 1998.
She was also a philanthropist in her hometown of Cincinnati. She gave money, through her foundation, to the city zoo, hospitals and the university. Her $2 million gift to the school's athletic programs led to the 2006 naming of Marge Schott Stadium.
But now, 14 years later, Schott's controversies have superseded her giving.
In a resolution, the board says it's accepting the recommendation of University President Neville Pinto to remove Schott's name from the baseball stadium as well as a space in the school's archives library.
"The recommendation is grounded in the firm belief that speaking out against exclusion is as essential as speaking up for inclusion," Pinto said in a statement. "I hope this action serves as an enduring reminder that we cannot remain silent or indifferent when it comes to prejudice, hate or inequity."
This month, in the wake of nationwide protests sparked by the killing of George Floyd while in Minneapolis police custody, former UC baseball player Jordan Ramey started a petition drive to change the stadium's name.
"Black kids should not be made to play and represent a name such as hers and white kids should not be celebrating her legacy subconsciously," the petition read. "As a community of former and current players, staff, students, alums, and Cincinnatians alike, we will not be promoting her, or her legacy any longer."
This week, the petition had about 10,000 signatures.
Nathan Moore, who plays on the university's baseball team and has been an outspoken supporter of the petition drive, praised the board's action.
"It's fantastic to see the change [we] brought about," Moore said Tuesday, adding that he learned about the decision in a phone call from Pinto. "It shows that standing up for something you believe in is important. When student athletes choose to raise their voices in the right way, it can lead to change."
This month, in response to the petition drive, the Schott Foundation released the following statement.
"The Schott Foundation continues on its mission to support and find qualified charitable programs and organizations for the betterment of the greater Cincinnati community. The foundation will support its community partners in any decisions that will progress unity of purpose and stand against prejudice in any manner."


npr--2020-06-23--Tennis Star Novak Djokovic Tests Positive For Coronavirus

Novak Djokovic , the world 's No .
1-ranked men 's tennis player , has tested positive for the coronavirus .
The Serbian tennis star released a statement on his diagnosis , saying that he and his wife have both contracted the virus after he organized a series of exhibition matches in southeastern Europe .
The events , called the Adria Tour , have been widely criticized for not maintaining significant social distancing protocols .
The stands were packed with fans , as The Associated Press noted .
Tennis.com reported that players were seen mingling without proper social distancing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and visiting a nightclub .
Djokovic was photographed in close contact with tennis player Grigor Dimitrov , who has also tested positive for the virus .
`` We organized the tournament at the moment when the virus has weakened , believing that the conditions for hosting the Tour had been met , '' Djokovic said in his statement .
`` Unfortunately , the virus is still present , and it is a new reality that we are still learning to cope and live with . ''
Djokovic , 33 , who has won @ @ @ @ @ @ @ male tennis player , has previously voiced concerns about the possibility of restrictions at future tennis events due to the coronavirus .
Earlier this month , he said that some players were `` quite negative '' about the U.S. Open being held on its originally planned date without fans , as the AP reported .
He also said in April that another roadblock to him participating in future events could be that he is personally `` opposed to vaccination , '' as Sky News reported at the time .
Djokovic recently held events @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen more than 13,000 confirmed cases and more than 260 deaths due to the coronavirus , while Croatia has seen more than 2,000 confirmed cases and just over 100 deaths , according to Johns Hopkins University .
`` I am extremely sorry for each individual case of infection , '' Djokovic said .
`` I hope that it will not complicate anyone 's heath situation and that everyone will be fine . ''
He added that he is not currently showing any symptoms .

Tennis Star Novak Djokovic Tests Positive For Coronavirus
Enlarge this image toggle caption Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images
Novak Djokovic, the world's No. 1-ranked men's tennis player, has tested positive for the coronavirus.
The Serbian tennis star released a statement on his diagnosis, saying that he and his wife have both contracted the virus after he organized a series of exhibition matches in southeastern Europe.
The events, called the Adria Tour, have been widely criticized for not maintaining significant social distancing protocols.
The stands were packed with fans, as The Associated Press noted. Tennis.com reported that players were seen mingling without proper social distancing, playing in basketball and soccer games, and visiting a nightclub.
Djokovic was photographed in close contact with tennis player Grigor Dimitrov, who has also tested positive for the virus.
"We organized the tournament at the moment when the virus has weakened, believing that the conditions for hosting the Tour had been met," Djokovic said in his statement. "Unfortunately, the virus is still present, and it is a new reality that we are still learning to cope and live with."
Djokovic, 33, who has won the third-most Grand Slam titles of any male tennis player, has previously voiced concerns about the possibility of restrictions at future tennis events due to the coronavirus.
Earlier this month, he said that some players were "quite negative" about the U.S. Open being held on its originally planned date without fans, as the AP reported.
He also said in April that another roadblock to him participating in future events could be that he is personally "opposed to vaccination," as Sky News reported at the time.
Djokovic recently held events in Serbia and Croatia. Serbia has seen more than 13,000 confirmed cases and more than 260 deaths due to the coronavirus, while Croatia has seen more than 2,000 confirmed cases and just over 100 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.
"I am extremely sorry for each individual case of infection," Djokovic said. "I hope that it will not complicate anyone's heath situation and that everyone will be fine."
He added that he is not currently showing any symptoms.