npr--2020-09-03--42 Crew, Nearly 6,000 Cows Missing After Ship Sinks In Storm-Tossed Seas Off Japan

42 Crew , Nearly 6,000 Cows Missing After Ship Sinks In Storm-Tossed Seas Off Japan A ship carrying more than 40 crew members and some 6,000 head of cattle has disappeared off the coast of Japan after capsizing in typhoon-lashed seas , according to a crew member who so far is the only known survivor .
The Gulf Livestock 1 , en route from New Zealand to China , issued a distress call early Wednesday from a position west of Japan 's Amami Oshima island .
The mayday call , to which the Japanese coast guard responded , was sent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ region as a powerful Category 4 storm .
Maysak has since passed the area where the ship went missing , and the weather for the ongoing search is fine , Japanese coast guard regional spokesman Yuichiro Higashi said , according to The Associated Press .
The 450-foot livestock carrier , built in 2002 , had a crew of 43 , of which 39 are from the Philippines , two from New Zealand and two from Australia , the Japanese coast guard said .
The Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported that a Queensland veterinarian , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Photographs of the vessel taken before the accident show its deck stacked high with open livestock containers .
The lone crew member recovered so far , 45-year-old chief officer Sareno Edvarodo from the Philippines , was plucked from the water Wednesday night after being spotted by a Japanese navy P-3C surveillance aircraft .
No wreckage from the ship has been found , the coast guard said .
Edvarodo told rescuers that the vessel lost an engine and then capsized when it was hit broadside by a wave .
The crew was then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said he abandoned ship but did not see any other crew members in the water after the ship sank .
Gulf Livestock 1 was carrying 5,867 head of cattle from Napier , New Zealand , to Jingtang in Tangshan , China , according to New Zealand 's foreign ministry , Reuters reported .
Following the accident , New Zealand 's Ministry for Primary Industries said it was temporarily suspending new cattle livestock export applications pending an investigation .
The ministry `` wants to understand what happened on the sailing of the Gulf Livestock @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as saying by the New Zealand Herald .
Splash247.com , a website that follows the shipping industry , noted numerous accidents involving livestock carriers over the years in which tens of thousands of animals were lost .
In November , the Queen Hind , a livestock carrier loaded with more than 14,000 sheep , experienced `` maneuvering issues '' and capsized not far from a wharf .
Only a few hundred animals were rescued , according to The Maritime Executive .
In 2016 , 3,000 sheep died aboard a vessel that caught fire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In another similar disaster nearly a quarter-century ago , some 67,000 sheep died aboard a vessel after it caught fire and was abandoned by its crew east of the Seychelles .
All but one of the crew survived .

42 Crew, Nearly 6,000 Cows Missing After Ship Sinks In Storm-Tossed Seas Off Japan
Enlarge this image toggle caption Graham Flett/AP Graham Flett/AP
A ship carrying more than 40 crew members and some 6,000 head of cattle has disappeared off the coast of Japan after capsizing in typhoon-lashed seas, according to a crew member who so far is the only known survivor.
The Gulf Livestock 1, en route from New Zealand to China, issued a distress call early Wednesday from a position west of Japan's Amami Oshima island.
The mayday call, to which the Japanese coast guard responded, was sent as Typhoon Maysak was tracking through the region as a powerful Category 4 storm.
Livestock carrier goes missing in the East China Sea
The GULF LIVESTOCK 1 has disappeared, probably hit by high waves & strong winds caused by typhoon #MAYSAK, our data shows. The search for the livestock carrier in load began as concern for the safety of 43 crew onboard rises pic.twitter.com/6H3yGOkUqr — MarineTraffic (@MarineTraffic) September 2, 2020
Maysak has since passed the area where the ship went missing, and the weather for the ongoing search is fine, Japanese coast guard regional spokesman Yuichiro Higashi said, according to The Associated Press.
The 450-foot livestock carrier, built in 2002, had a crew of 43, of which 39 are from the Philippines, two from New Zealand and two from Australia, the Japanese coast guard said.
The Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported that a Queensland veterinarian, Lukas Orda, was among those aboard.
Photographs of the vessel taken before the accident show its deck stacked high with open livestock containers.
The lone crew member recovered so far, 45-year-old chief officer Sareno Edvarodo from the Philippines, was plucked from the water Wednesday night after being spotted by a Japanese navy P-3C surveillance aircraft. No wreckage from the ship has been found, the coast guard said.
Edvarodo told rescuers that the vessel lost an engine and then capsized when it was hit broadside by a wave. The crew was then ordered to don life jackets. Edvarodo said he abandoned ship but did not see any other crew members in the water after the ship sank.
Gulf Livestock 1 was carrying 5,867 head of cattle from Napier, New Zealand, to Jingtang in Tangshan, China, according to New Zealand's foreign ministry, Reuters reported.
Following the accident, New Zealand's Ministry for Primary Industries said it was temporarily suspending new cattle livestock export applications pending an investigation.
The ministry "wants to understand what happened on the sailing of the Gulf Livestock 1," a spokesperson was quoted as saying by the New Zealand Herald.
Splash247.com, a website that follows the shipping industry, noted numerous accidents involving livestock carriers over the years in which tens of thousands of animals were lost.
In November, the Queen Hind, a livestock carrier loaded with more than 14,000 sheep, experienced "maneuvering issues" and capsized not far from a wharf. Only a few hundred animals were rescued, according to The Maritime Executive. In 2016, 3,000 sheep died aboard a vessel that caught fire and sank in rough weather off Somalia.
In another similar disaster nearly a quarter-century ago, some 67,000 sheep died aboard a vessel after it caught fire and was abandoned by its crew east of the Seychelles. All but one of the crew survived.


npr--2020-09-03--Despite Mass Testing, University Of Illinois Sees Coronavirus Cases Rise

A university that many researchers have touted as a potential model for reopening campuses to in-person classes is hitting some bumps in the road .
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign had implemented a mass coronavirus testing program for staff and students in an effort to keep virus spread on campus under control .
But on Wednesday , the university reported rising numbers of positive coronavirus cases and announced a two-week lockdown for undergraduates .
Students were asked to avoid travel and limit in-person interactions , with exceptions for a handful of `` essential activities , '' including mandated twice-weekly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shopping .
The University of Illinois has one of the largest mass testing programs of any American institution .
The school is conducting , on average , between 10,000 and 15,000 saliva-based tests for COVID-19 daily , at times accounting for more than 2 % of all testing done in the U.S .
The decision to clamp down on students ' movements calls into question whether any amount of resources and safety precautions makes it safe to reopen college campuses .
`` We can not test our way out of this pandemic , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ professor of epidemiology and a member of the team behind the university 's mass testing plan wrote on Twitter .
The two-week lockdown does n't mean the testing program failed , she wrote in another tweet : `` We found a problem early , we had the data to identify the cause , and we have a chance to turn this around . ''
In an email to students on Wednesday , college administrators blamed the high case count on student behavior .
`` The irresponsible actions of a small number of students @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ending an in-person semester for all of us , '' the email said .
`` We stay together .
Or we go home .
It comes down to these next two weeks .
It is up to you . ''
Emily Garti , a junior studying nutrition , says , `` I was expecting an email like this to come eventually . ''
She works for the university promoting mask wearing and social distancing on campus .
`` It was just kind of a little disappointing as to how soon into our school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's thinking of the next two weeks as a challenge .
She says , U of I students are pretty competitive , so she 's hopeful .
`` We 've got two weeks to kind of prove ourselves ... two weeks to show that we are able to stay here . ''
In just under two weeks of classes , there have been more than 700 positive COVID-19 cases on campus , according to the university .
The school 's researchers had anticipated about 700 positive cases for the entire fall semester , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school of about 50,000 students could see as many as 8,000 positive cases by the end of the term , according to a statement from the university .
At a press conference held over Zoom , Nigel Goldenfeld , a physics professor who contributed to the school 's reopening plan , said the campus 's models had already anticipated parties and people not wearing masks — but they did not take into account that students would fail to isolate , that they would not respond to local health officials ' attempts to contact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positive would nonetheless attend and host parties .
Wednesday 's letter to students called out specific cases in which students had failed to work with local health officials on contact tracing , and one instance where a student posted a video to social media attempting to show how to manipulate the campus app that tracks testing results .
About 100 students and organizations are facing discipline — including suspension — for behavior over this past weekend , including for hosting parties and for breaking quarantine , according to the note sent to students @ @ @ @ @ @ @ freshman Noelle Johnson , while sitting on the campus ' main quad .
She 's not looking forward to being stuck in her dorm without air conditioning .
`` But I 'd rather struggle for two weeks than the rest of my college years . ''
She 's worried that if the campus ca n't get the virus under control , it may be years before things go back to normal .
Johnson says she was aware that the University of Illinois was known as a party school before she enrolled , so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ large gatherings .
`` I knew that just because we were gon na be testing a lot , did n't mean that [ students ] were gon na stop partying , '' she says .
And she also is n't surprised that the university is cracking down now .
`` The system ca n't work if the people are n't working with it . ''

Despite Mass Testing, University Of Illinois Sees Coronavirus Cases Rise
Enlarge this image toggle caption Elissa Nadworny/NPR Elissa Nadworny/NPR
A university that many researchers have touted as a potential model for reopening campuses to in-person classes is hitting some bumps in the road. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign had implemented a mass coronavirus testing program for staff and students in an effort to keep virus spread on campus under control. But on Wednesday, the university reported rising numbers of positive coronavirus cases and announced a two-week lockdown for undergraduates.
Students were asked to avoid travel and limit in-person interactions, with exceptions for a handful of "essential activities," including mandated twice-weekly COVID-19 testing, in-person classes and grocery shopping.
The University of Illinois has one of the largest mass testing programs of any American institution. The school is conducting, on average, between 10,000 and 15,000 saliva-based tests for COVID-19 daily, at times accounting for more than 2% of all testing done in the U.S. The decision to clamp down on students' movements calls into question whether any amount of resources and safety precautions makes it safe to reopen college campuses.
"We cannot test our way out of this pandemic," Rebecca Lee Smith, an associate professor of epidemiology and a member of the team behind the university's mass testing plan wrote on Twitter. The two-week lockdown doesn't mean the testing program failed, she wrote in another tweet: "We found a problem early, we had the data to identify the cause, and we have a chance to turn this around."
In an email to students on Wednesday, college administrators blamed the high case count on student behavior. "The irresponsible actions of a small number of students have created the very real possibility of ending an in-person semester for all of us," the email said.
"We stay together. Or we go home. It comes down to these next two weeks. It is up to you."
Emily Garti, a junior studying nutrition, says, "I was expecting an email like this to come eventually." She works for the university promoting mask wearing and social distancing on campus.
"It was just kind of a little disappointing as to how soon into our school year it did happen."
She's thinking of the next two weeks as a challenge. She says, U of I students are pretty competitive, so she's hopeful. "We've got two weeks to kind of prove ourselves ... two weeks to show that we are able to stay here."
In just under two weeks of classes, there have been more than 700 positive COVID-19 cases on campus, according to the university. The school's researchers had anticipated about 700 positive cases for the entire fall semester, but if current rates continue, the school of about 50,000 students could see as many as 8,000 positive cases by the end of the term, according to a statement from the university.
At a press conference held over Zoom, Nigel Goldenfeld, a physics professor who contributed to the school's reopening plan, said the campus's models had already anticipated parties and people not wearing masks — but they did not take into account that students would fail to isolate, that they would not respond to local health officials' attempts to contact them or that students who had tested positive would nonetheless attend and host parties.
Wednesday's letter to students called out specific cases in which students had failed to work with local health officials on contact tracing, and one instance where a student posted a video to social media attempting to show how to manipulate the campus app that tracks testing results. About 100 students and organizations are facing discipline — including suspension — for behavior over this past weekend, including for hosting parties and for breaking quarantine, according to the note sent to students.
"It sucks," says freshman Noelle Johnson, while sitting on the campus' main quad. She's not looking forward to being stuck in her dorm without air conditioning. "But I'd rather struggle for two weeks than the rest of my college years."
She's worried that if the campus can't get the virus under control, it may be years before things go back to normal. Johnson says she was aware that the University of Illinois was known as a party school before she enrolled, so she isn't surprised there have been large gatherings.
"I knew that just because we were gonna be testing a lot, didn't mean that [students] were gonna stop partying," she says. And she also isn't surprised that the university is cracking down now.
"The system can't work if the people aren't working with it."
Lauren Migaki contributed to this report.


npr--2020-09-03--Trump Urges Supporters To Go To Polls Even After Voting By Mail

Trump Urges Supporters To Go To Polls Even After Voting By Mail President Trump , who has frequently criticized mail-in voting , on Wednesday took his attacks on the process a step further , telling supporters in North Carolina they should go to polls even after voting by mail to `` make sure it counted . ''
Voting twice would be a felony under North Carolina law — as is inducing someone to vote twice — warned Karen Brinson Bell , executive director of the North Carolina State Board of Elections , who issued a statement Thursday morning .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team that investigates allegations of double voting , which are referred to prosecutors when warranted , '' said Bell .
The warning came after Trump told a group of supporters at the Wilmington , N.C. , airport : `` If you get the unsolicited ballots , send it in and then go — make sure it counted .
And if it does n't tabulate , you vote .
You just vote .
And then if they tabulate it very late , which they should n't be doing , they 'll see you voted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
So , send it in early , and then go and vote .
And if it 's not tabulated — you vote .
And the vote is going to count , '' Trump said .
On Thursday afternoon , Twitter flagged Trump 's morning tweets reiterating his comments , saying they `` violated the Twitter Rules about civic and election integrity . ''
Facebook took similar action , attaching a statement to Trump 's post on the platform that said , `` Voting by mail has a long history of trustworthiness in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this year . ''
( Read more about voting by mail here ; the FBI says it has no evidence of coordinated widespread voter fraud , despite Trump 's claims . )
A spokesman said Facebook would also not allow people to share the video of Trump because it `` violates our policies prohibiting voter fraud . ''
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany insisted that the president `` does not condone unlawful voting '' in Thursday 's press briefing .
Earlier , White House spokesman Judd Deere denied that Trump was urging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news media was taking his remarks out of context .
`` No one has fought harder for an election system that is fair and free from fraud and abuse than President Trump .
This idea that he is encouraging people to vote twice is yet another example of the media taking him out of context , '' Deere said in a statement .
While nine states and the District of Columbia are proactively sending ballots to all registered voters , North Carolina is not , and neither is the state sending out absentee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ additional nine states are .
In an interview with WCET Television , Trump was asked about his confidence in the state 's absentee voting system .
`` They 'll go out and they 'll vote and they 're going to have to go and check their vote by going to the poll and voting that way because if it tabulates then they wo n't be able to do that , '' he said .
`` So , let them send it in and let them go vote , and if their system 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , then obviously they wo n't be able to vote .
If it is n't tabulated , they 'll be able to vote , so that 's the way it is . ''
Amber McReynolds , who heads the National Vote At Home Institute and was a director of elections in Denver , said there are safeguards in place in most states to prevent the kind of action Trump was advocating .
When voters sign the envelope containing their ballot , `` it 's very much the same as you checking in to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' she says .
`` You 're essentially checking yourself off the list by turning that envelope in . ''
McReynolds says if voters `` show up in person and you 've requested a mail ballot , you 're going to be given a provisional ballot because they need to confirm that your mail ballot has not been received , '' she says .
Trump has frequently criticized mail-in voting , alleging without evidence that it is rife with fraud .
A record number of voters are expected to cast their ballots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because of concerns relating to the coronavirus pandemic .
But Bell , of the North Carolina State Board of Elections , said voters should not go to polling places to check if their ballot has been counted .
`` The State Board office strongly discourages people from showing up at the polls on Election Day to check whether their absentee ballot was counted , '' she said .
`` That is not necessary , and it would lead to longer lines and the possibility of spreading COVID-19 . ''

Trump Urges Supporters To Go To Polls Even After Voting By Mail
Enlarge this image toggle caption Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images
Updated at 3:08 p.m. ET
President Trump, who has frequently criticized mail-in voting, on Wednesday took his attacks on the process a step further, telling supporters in North Carolina they should go to polls even after voting by mail to "make sure it counted."
Voting twice would be a felony under North Carolina law — as is inducing someone to vote twice — warned Karen Brinson Bell, executive director of the North Carolina State Board of Elections, who issued a statement Thursday morning.
"The State Board has a dedicated investigations team that investigates allegations of double voting, which are referred to prosecutors when warranted," said Bell.
The warning came after Trump told a group of supporters at the Wilmington, N.C., airport: "If you get the unsolicited ballots, send it in and then go — make sure it counted. And if it doesn't tabulate, you vote. You just vote. And then if they tabulate it very late, which they shouldn't be doing, they'll see you voted, and so it won't count. So, send it in early, and then go and vote. And if it's not tabulated — you vote. And the vote is going to count," Trump said.
On Thursday afternoon, Twitter flagged Trump's morning tweets reiterating his comments, saying they "violated the Twitter Rules about civic and election integrity."
Facebook took similar action, attaching a statement to Trump's post on the platform that said, "Voting by mail has a long history of trustworthiness in the US and the same is predicted this year." (Read more about voting by mail here; the FBI says it has no evidence of coordinated widespread voter fraud, despite Trump's claims.)
A spokesman said Facebook would also not allow people to share the video of Trump because it "violates our policies prohibiting voter fraud."
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany insisted that the president "does not condone unlawful voting" in Thursday's press briefing.
Earlier, White House spokesman Judd Deere denied that Trump was urging people to vote twice and said the news media was taking his remarks out of context.
"No one has fought harder for an election system that is fair and free from fraud and abuse than President Trump. This idea that he is encouraging people to vote twice is yet another example of the media taking him out of context," Deere said in a statement.
While nine states and the District of Columbia are proactively sending ballots to all registered voters, North Carolina is not, and neither is the state sending out absentee ballot applications to voters, as an additional nine states are.
In an interview with WCET Television, Trump was asked about his confidence in the state's absentee voting system.
"They'll go out and they'll vote and they're going to have to go and check their vote by going to the poll and voting that way because if it tabulates then they won't be able to do that," he said. "So, let them send it in and let them go vote, and if their system's as good as they say it is, then obviously they won't be able to vote. If it isn't tabulated, they'll be able to vote, so that's the way it is."
Amber McReynolds, who heads the National Vote At Home Institute and was a director of elections in Denver, said there are safeguards in place in most states to prevent the kind of action Trump was advocating.
When voters sign the envelope containing their ballot, "it's very much the same as you checking in to a polling place on a poll book," she says. "You're essentially checking yourself off the list by turning that envelope in."
McReynolds says if voters "show up in person and you've requested a mail ballot, you're going to be given a provisional ballot because they need to confirm that your mail ballot has not been received," she says.
Trump has frequently criticized mail-in voting, alleging without evidence that it is rife with fraud. A record number of voters are expected to cast their ballots by mail in the coming presidential election because of concerns relating to the coronavirus pandemic.
But Bell, of the North Carolina State Board of Elections, said voters should not go to polling places to check if their ballot has been counted.
"The State Board office strongly discourages people from showing up at the polls on Election Day to check whether their absentee ballot was counted," she said. "That is not necessary, and it would lead to longer lines and the possibility of spreading COVID-19."
NPR tech correspondent Shannon Bond contributed to this story.


npr--2020-09-03--How Trump's Food Box Initiative Overpaid And Underdelivered

The Trump administration has been celebrating an initiative that buys food from farmers and distributes it through charitable organizations such as food banks .
`` I 'm proud to announce that we will provide an additional $ 1 billion to fund the Farmers to Families Food Box program .
It 's worked out so well , '' President Trump told a cheering crowd on Aug. 24 in North Carolina .
Yet food banks , which play a key role in the program , are ambivalent about it .
On the one hand , they 're grateful for the food .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of these food boxes is blessed and nourished , and I think it 's a good thing , '' said Eric Cooper , president and CEO of the San Antonio Food Bank .
But Cooper and other food bank managers also said that the money for the program could have been spent more effectively and delivered two or three times more food to people who need it .
The food box program was launched in the spring when restaurants , schools and company cafeterias shut down and farmers who supplied them suddenly had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Some farmers ended up destroying perfectly good food .
Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue told the crowd at last week 's event in North Carolina that he got a call from the White House .
`` The president said , 'What 's all this food being destroyed ?
Milk being dumped ?
Vegetables being plowed under ? '
`` It was especially disturbing because at that same time , food banks were overwhelmed by a surge of people who had lost their jobs and needed help getting enough food to eat .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ launched its $ 3 billion ( now $ 4 billion ) food box initiative .
Notably , it is run by the department 's Agricultural Marketing Service , which helps farmers sell their products , rather than the USDA 's Food and Nutrition Service , which administers food aid programs .
The USDA awarded contracts to dozens of companies that promised to buy fresh vegetables , milk and meat , package the food , and get it to people who need it by delivering it through nonprofit organizations , mainly food banks .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ have delivered 75 million boxes so far .
According to Brian Rose , CEO of Flavor 1st Growers and Packers , the vegetable cooperative that hosted the president 's visit last week , `` This has been a huge help to our family farms , and has allowed them to operate through this pandemic .
Most importantly , this program has provided fresh , healthy food to Americans in this time of need . ''
Yet the program , according to several people involved in it , was not designed to deliver food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
First of all , the government paid high prices for the food .
`` Across the board , I think there were premium prices paid for all of those boxes , '' the San Antonio Food Bank 's Cooper said .
`` Some of these food boxes , they were $ 40 , $ 50 , $ 60 for what you 'd get at a grocery store for about $ 20 . ''
The USDA paid generously , in part , because it wanted those companies to take on the job of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plan was called `` truck-to-trunk . ''
The companies were supposed to take their food boxes directly to local food bank distribution points and drop the boxes into the trunks of waiting cars .
During the pandemic , many food banks have been running short of volunteers to do this job .
But many food banks , including Cooper 's , said that food box contractors refused to do it .
Some of them did n't even have the refrigerated truck required to do the job .
`` The contractors that bid on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did n't know what they were getting into or never intended to fully execute that vision , '' Cooper said .
He said his food box contractor and others were only willing to drop off truckloads of boxes at food bank warehouses .
Cooper said he tried to negotiate with the companies , to get them to pay some distribution costs , but was unsuccessful .
`` The contractors just said , 'Do you want the food or not ? '
and we desperately needed the food , '' he said .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cover the expenses . '
`` He did n't have much leverage , because the USDA 's contractors can send their food almost anywhere in the region , not necessarily to places that need it most .
`` If [ they ] could find a willing nonprofit to take it , then the contractors were paid , '' Cooper said .
As a result , he said , some parts of the country got a lot of food , while others got very little .
The USDA is now making some changes in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rules intended to ensure that contractors help cover the cost of distributing the food .
The supply chain crisis of last spring has now passed .
Farmers are n't dumping loads of milk or destroying harvest-ready fields anymore .
Some have found new buyers such as grocery stores .
Others have reduced production .
Many still want the USDA to continue to step in and buy some of their crops .
But some Democratic members of Congress have turned against food boxes altogether .
Rep. James Clyburn , D-S.C. , recently announced that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will investigate mismanagement in the program .
At a hearing on food boxes in July , Rep. Marcia Fudge , D-Ohio , complained that the USDA could n't answer basic questions about it .
`` Who 's getting the food ?
Are they giving [ recipients ] rotten food , which is what I 'm hearing in some of these instances .
We have none of these answers , '' Fudge said .
`` This is fraught with waste , fraud and abuse . ''
There 's a better way to do this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — which delivers benefits electronically and allows people to buy the food they need at grocery stores .
Most independent observers agree that this is a much more efficient mechanism for delivering food aid .

How Trump's Food Box Initiative Overpaid And Underdelivered
Enlarge this image toggle caption Evan Vucci/AP Evan Vucci/AP
The Trump administration has been celebrating an initiative that buys food from farmers and distributes it through charitable organizations such as food banks. "I'm proud to announce that we will provide an additional $1 billion to fund the Farmers to Families Food Box program. It's worked out so well," President Trump told a cheering crowd on Aug. 24 in North Carolina.
Yet food banks, which play a key role in the program, are ambivalent about it. On the one hand, they're grateful for the food. "Any family that's receiving one of these food boxes is blessed and nourished, and I think it's a good thing," said Eric Cooper, president and CEO of the San Antonio Food Bank.
But Cooper and other food bank managers also said that the money for the program could have been spent more effectively and delivered two or three times more food to people who need it.
The food box program was launched in the spring when restaurants, schools and company cafeterias shut down and farmers who supplied them suddenly had no place to sell their crops. Some farmers ended up destroying perfectly good food.
Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue told the crowd at last week's event in North Carolina that he got a call from the White House. "The president said, 'What's all this food being destroyed? Milk being dumped? Vegetables being plowed under?' "
It was especially disturbing because at that same time, food banks were overwhelmed by a surge of people who had lost their jobs and needed help getting enough food to eat.
In response, the U.S. Department of Agriculture launched its $3 billion (now $4 billion) food box initiative. Notably, it is run by the department's Agricultural Marketing Service, which helps farmers sell their products, rather than the USDA's Food and Nutrition Service, which administers food aid programs.
The USDA awarded contracts to dozens of companies that promised to buy fresh vegetables, milk and meat, package the food, and get it to people who need it by delivering it through nonprofit organizations, mainly food banks. The USDA announced on Friday that contractors have delivered 75 million boxes so far.
According to Brian Rose, CEO of Flavor 1st Growers and Packers, the vegetable cooperative that hosted the president's visit last week, "This has been a huge help to our family farms, and has allowed them to operate through this pandemic. Most importantly, this program has provided fresh, healthy food to Americans in this time of need."
Yet the program, according to several people involved in it, was not designed to deliver food efficiently to people who need it most.
First of all, the government paid high prices for the food. "Across the board, I think there were premium prices paid for all of those boxes," the San Antonio Food Bank's Cooper said. "Some of these food boxes, they were $40, $50, $60 for what you'd get at a grocery store for about $20."
The USDA paid generously, in part, because it wanted those companies to take on the job of distributing the boxes as well. The plan was called "truck-to-trunk." The companies were supposed to take their food boxes directly to local food bank distribution points and drop the boxes into the trunks of waiting cars. During the pandemic, many food banks have been running short of volunteers to do this job.
But many food banks, including Cooper's, said that food box contractors refused to do it. Some of them didn't even have the refrigerated truck required to do the job.
"The contractors that bid on [the food box contracts] either didn't know what they were getting into or never intended to fully execute that vision," Cooper said. He said his food box contractor and others were only willing to drop off truckloads of boxes at food bank warehouses. Cooper said he tried to negotiate with the companies, to get them to pay some distribution costs, but was unsuccessful. "The contractors just said, 'Do you want the food or not?' and we desperately needed the food," he said. "So we just said, 'We'll cover the expenses.' "
He didn't have much leverage, because the USDA's contractors can send their food almost anywhere in the region, not necessarily to places that need it most. "If [they] could find a willing nonprofit to take it, then the contractors were paid," Cooper said.
As a result, he said, some parts of the country got a lot of food, while others got very little.
The USDA is now making some changes in the food box program, laying out rules intended to ensure that contractors help cover the cost of distributing the food.
The supply chain crisis of last spring has now passed. Farmers aren't dumping loads of milk or destroying harvest-ready fields anymore. Some have found new buyers such as grocery stores. Others have reduced production. Many still want the USDA to continue to step in and buy some of their crops.
But some Democratic members of Congress have turned against food boxes altogether. Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., recently announced that the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis will investigate mismanagement in the program. At a hearing on food boxes in July, Rep. Marcia Fudge, D-Ohio, complained that the USDA couldn't answer basic questions about it.
"Who's getting the food? Are they giving [recipients] rotten food, which is what I'm hearing in some of these instances. We have none of these answers," Fudge said. "This is fraught with waste, fraud and abuse."
There's a better way to do this, she said: Expand SNAP — the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — which delivers benefits electronically and allows people to buy the food they need at grocery stores. Most independent observers agree that this is a much more efficient mechanism for delivering food aid.


npr--2020-09-03--VIDEO: How To Protect Yourself From Coronavirus That Can Linger In The Air

VIDEO : How To Protect Yourself From Coronavirus That Can Linger In The Air We all know that if someone with the coronavirus coughs or sneezes on you , you 're at risk of catching it .
But even when we speak or laugh or breathe , particles come out of our noses and mouths .
Big bits of spittle can fly out when you 're shouting and singing , along with respiratory droplets and tiny aerosolized particles that come out in clouds that may linger in the air .
And if we 're infected with the coronavirus — even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — those excretions could contain live , contagious SARS-COV-2 that can make others sick .
In some settings — especially poorly ventilated indoor rooms where many people are gathering — researchers increasingly believe that clouds of the virus expelled when someone speaks are able to stay aloft in the air and potentially infect people farther away than the recommended 6 feet of social distance .
In these settings , an infectious person shouting or laughing or coughing can release clouds containing the virus that can build up , linger and waft in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passersby and settle in their lungs .
What 's the evidence , you ask ?
There was that time in late January , when 10 people were infected in a windowless restaurant in Guangzhou , China .
More than 80 people had shared the dining room during the lunch period — but the 10 who got sick were all sitting in the path of one air conditioning vent that may have sucked in viral particles from someone in the room who was later confirmed to have COVID-19 .
Another classic example scientists bring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in March in Washington state .
Fifty-three out of 61 people who attended came down with COVID-19 .
The act of singing , where you 're breathing deeply and projecting your voice , can spews tiny virus particles from deep inside the lungs that can then stay aloft in the air .
Researchers think those clouds of airborne coronavirus exhaled by infectious people may be a key factor in superspreading events — one gathering that results in a number of new cases .
Clusters of infections have also emerged among students returning to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and revelers in a nightclub district in Hong Kong , guests at a wedding reception in rural Maine , residents in a nursing home in The Netherlands , worshippers at a church in South Korea , staff and inmates at a prison in Ohio .
`` We see this over and over and over again , '' said Maria Van Kerkhove , technical lead for the World Health Organization 's emergencies program , on Aug. 21 , `` This virus is being driven by outbreaks in clusters . ''
What 's still unclear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the air , how far it travels through a room , how much you need to breathe in to get infected and how commonly it spreads this way .
But scientists say it 's become increasingly clear that airborne virus particles help the coronavirus superspread .
So if a friend invites you over for drinks and you want to say yes , what can you do to protect yourself ?
Make the indoors more like the outdoors That 's what researchers recommend , because it seems that airflow is a factor in transmission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increasing ventilation and increasing air circulation , '' says Seema Lakdawala , a flu researcher at University of Pittsburgh , which means opening the windows that surround you and putting fans in them , facing inward , to draw outside air in .
That fresh air will scatter any clouds of virus that might exist .
That way , you 're less likely to breathe in a big infectious dose .
When you can , move your get-together outside to a location where fresh air is all around you — a backyard , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happy hours , `` where everybody brings a lawn chair and we sit on someone 's lawn .
Everyone is spatially distanced and brings their own drink . ''
Researchers recommend that you consider an air purifier if you periodically have guests over or if some members of your household work outside the home .
`` You would n't drink water downstream from another town without treating it .
But we breathe air from other people without treating it , '' says Donald Milton , an infectious disease aerobiologist at the University of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 100- $ 600 , depending on technology , energy efficiency and the recommended room size , according to an analysis by Wirecutter .
And keep your distance Much of this is common knowledge by now , but make sure you wear your mask correctly — making sure that it fits snugly over your nose and mouth while not obstructing your ability to breathe — and that you keep a personal space bubble of at least 6 feet between you and other people .
The mask will catch a lot of the droplets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ laugh or cough — and also block some of other people 's droplets from getting into your nose and mouth .
Greet your friend with a wave or an air hug from 6 feet away .
That personal space bubble — between you and others — means there 's more air passing between you to dilute any virus clouds that might be expelled .
Ultimately , health officials say , there is no such thing as zero risk .
But by keeping the air around you moving — you 'll minimize your chances @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of virus .

VIDEO: How To Protect Yourself From Coronavirus That Can Linger In The Air
Researchers say airborne transmission is possible, especially in cramped indoor settings, but it's unclear how much it contributes to the spread. Here's how to lower your risks, just in case. Video by Maxwell Posner and Ben de la Cruz/NPR; Animation by Shanti Hands for NPR. YouTube
We all know that if someone with the coronavirus coughs or sneezes on you, you're at risk of catching it.
But even when we speak or laugh or breathe, particles come out of our noses and mouths. Big bits of spittle can fly out when you're shouting and singing, along with respiratory droplets and tiny aerosolized particles that come out in clouds that may linger in the air. And if we're infected with the coronavirus — even if we don't have any symptoms — those excretions could contain live, contagious SARS-COV-2 that can make others sick.
In some settings — especially poorly ventilated indoor rooms where many people are gathering — researchers increasingly believe that clouds of the virus expelled when someone speaks are able to stay aloft in the air and potentially infect people farther away than the recommended 6 feet of social distance.
In these settings, an infectious person shouting or laughing or coughing can release clouds containing the virus that can build up, linger and waft in the air — and then be inhaled by passersby and settle in their lungs.
What's the evidence, you ask?
There was that time in late January, when 10 people were infected in a windowless restaurant in Guangzhou, China. More than 80 people had shared the dining room during the lunch period — but the 10 who got sick were all sitting in the path of one air conditioning vent that may have sucked in viral particles from someone in the room who was later confirmed to have COVID-19.
Another classic example scientists bring up is a choir practice, back in March in Washington state. Fifty-three out of 61 people who attended came down with COVID-19. The act of singing, where you're breathing deeply and projecting your voice, can spews tiny virus particles from deep inside the lungs that can then stay aloft in the air.
Researchers think those clouds of airborne coronavirus exhaled by infectious people may be a key factor in superspreading events — one gathering that results in a number of new cases.
Clusters of infections have also emerged among students returning to college dormitories in North Carolina, musicians and revelers in a nightclub district in Hong Kong, guests at a wedding reception in rural Maine, residents in a nursing home in The Netherlands, worshippers at a church in South Korea, staff and inmates at a prison in Ohio.
"We see this over and over and over again," said Maria Van Kerkhove, technical lead for the World Health Organization's emergencies program, on Aug. 21, "This virus is being driven by outbreaks in clusters."
What's still unclear is how long the virus lingers in the air, how far it travels through a room, how much you need to breathe in to get infected and how commonly it spreads this way.
But scientists say it's become increasingly clear that airborne virus particles help the coronavirus superspread.
So if a friend invites you over for drinks and you want to say yes, what can you do to protect yourself?
Make the indoors more like the outdoors
That's what researchers recommend, because it seems that airflow is a factor in transmission. "You limit aerosol transmission by increasing ventilation and increasing air circulation," says Seema Lakdawala, a flu researcher at University of Pittsburgh, which means opening the windows that surround you and putting fans in them. Ventilation experts generally suggest that the fans should face outward to pull air from the room. That would help remove any clouds of virus that might exist. But some say an inward-facing fan, to draw outside air in, will also be effective in diluting the indoor air.
When you can, move your get-together outside to a location where fresh air is all around you — a backyard, for example. Lakdawala's neighborhood hosts happy hours, "where everybody brings a lawn chair and we sit on someone's lawn. Everyone is spatially distanced and brings their own drink."
Clean the air
Researchers recommend that you consider an air purifier if you periodically have guests over or if some members of your household work outside the home. "You wouldn't drink water downstream from another town without treating it. But we breathe air from other people without treating it," says Donald Milton, an infectious disease aerobiologist at the University of Maryland.
Effective air purifiers range from $100-$600, depending on technology, energy efficiency and the recommended room size, according to an analysis by Wirecutter.
And keep your distance
Much of this is common knowledge by now, but make sure you wear your mask correctly — making sure that it fits snugly over your nose and mouth while not obstructing your ability to breathe — and that you keep a personal space bubble of at least 6 feet between you and other people.
The mask will catch a lot of the droplets that come out when you speak or laugh or cough — and also block some of other people's droplets from getting into your nose and mouth.
Greet your friend with a wave or an air hug from 6 feet away. That personal space bubble — between you and others — means there's more air passing between you to dilute any virus clouds that might be expelled.
Ultimately, health officials say, there is no such thing as zero risk. But by keeping the air around you moving — you'll minimize your chances of inhaling a big, infectious whiff of virus.


npr--2020-09-03--Facebook Clamps Down On Posts, Ads That Could Undermine U.S. Presidential Election

Facebook Clamps Down On Posts , Ads That Could Undermine U.S. Presidential Election Updated at 10:55 a.m .
ET Facebook said it wo n't accept any new political ads in the week leading up to the presidential election , one of several policies that CEO Mark Zuckerberg said will help ensure a fair election in November .
One such measure involves deleting posts that claim people will get COVID-19 if they vote .
`` This election is not going to be business as usual , '' Zuckerberg said Thursday about the vote that is now two months away .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our democracy . ''
The new policies are also Facebook 's latest attempt to respond to long-held criticisms over its handling of political content .
Critics say the company allows a free hand to those who use the platform to mislead voters .
And they accuse Facebook of applying inconsistent standards for members of the public , political figures and advertisers .
Facebook is already working to help people register to vote and to clarify how the election will work during a pandemic , Zuckerberg said .
And in light of the intense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added that the social media company will act `` to reduce the chances of violence and unrest . ''
The company recently joined Twitter in removing accounts that spread `` false stories about racial justice , the Democratic presidential campaign of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris and President Trump 's policies , '' as NPR 's Bobby Allyn reported .
Those removed accounts were linked to Russian state actors , suggesting Russia is once again seeking to influence U.S. elections with misinformation and by amplifying the differences among Americans .
But there is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote , Zuckerberg said .
He noted that while Facebook has removed dozens of international networks that spread bogus stories , `` we 're increasingly seeing attempts to undermine the legitimacy of our elections from within our own borders . ''
To address those concerns , the company and its CEO outlined several changes Thursday in how Facebook handles ads , posts and other content .
If a post aims to undermine the legitimacy of the election – for instance , by `` claiming that lawful methods of voting will lead to fraud @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will attach an informational label .
A similar approach will cover any content whose goal is to delegitimize the election 's outcome .
Other posts would be removed outright , if they `` claim that people will get COVID-19 if they take part in voting , '' the company said .
If a post does n't go quite that far – but still seeks to use COVID-19 to suppress voter participation — Facebook will attach a link to verified information about the coronavirus .
Facebook would still allow advertisers to `` adjust the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before it institutes the one-week quiet period in late October .
The policy restricting new political or issue ads in the final week of the campaign season does not mean Facebook users wo n't see any political ads in that time .
Instead , advertisers can continue running ads that have already been published and scrutinized .
`` It 's important that campaigns can run get out the vote campaigns , and I generally believe the best antidote to bad speech is more speech , '' Zuckerberg said , `` but in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not be enough time to contest new claims . ''
The company 's plan also includes potential measures that could be taken to rein in candidates or campaign accounts on Facebook that claim victory before final election results are in .
In those cases , Facebook said , it will tack on a label that sends readers to authoritative election results , from either Reuters or the National Election Pool .
The company will also limit the ability to forward content on its Messenger platform in hopes of `` reducing the risk of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Zuckerberg said .
`` We 've already implemented this in WhatsApp during sensitive periods and have found it to be an effective method of preventing misinformation from spreading in many countries , '' he added .
Facebook has faced intense scrutiny over how it approaches political content and ads .
Most notably , Russian operatives used the platform to spread disinformation ahead of the 2016 U.S. presidential election .
New criticisms emerged early this year , and on many fronts .
When Facebook said in January that it would continue to allow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Election Commissioner Ellen Weintraub responded by saying that Facebook 's `` weak plan suggests the company has no idea how seriously it is hurting democracy . ''
Critics also said the company fell short in its response to an inflammatory post by Trump in late May in which the president revived the phrase `` when the looting starts , the shooting starts . ''
Twitter hid its version of Trump 's post behind a warning label , but Facebook declined to take such action .
In the weeks that followed , members of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the company 's handling of racist and hateful rhetoric , leading a number of large corporations to pause their advertising on the social media platform .
By late June , as NPR 's Shannon Bond reported , Facebook had reversed its position somewhat , saying it would `` put warning labels on posts that break its rules but are considered newsworthy . ''
Editor 's note : Facebook is among NPR 's financial supporters .

Facebook Clamps Down On Posts, Ads That Could Undermine U.S. Presidential Election
Enlarge this image toggle caption Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Updated at 10:55 a.m. ET
Facebook said it won't accept any new political ads in the week leading up to the presidential election, one of several policies that CEO Mark Zuckerberg said will help ensure a fair election in November. One such measure involves deleting posts that claim people will get COVID-19 if they vote.
"This election is not going to be business as usual," Zuckerberg said Thursday about the vote that is now two months away. "We all have a responsibility to protect our democracy."
The new policies are also Facebook's latest attempt to respond to long-held criticisms over its handling of political content. Critics say the company allows a free hand to those who use the platform to mislead voters. And they accuse Facebook of applying inconsistent standards for members of the public, political figures and advertisers.
Facebook is already working to help people register to vote and to clarify how the election will work during a pandemic, Zuckerberg said. And in light of the intense political antagonism in the U.S., he added that the social media company will act "to reduce the chances of violence and unrest."
The company recently joined Twitter in removing accounts that spread "false stories about racial justice, the Democratic presidential campaign of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris and President Trump's policies," as NPR's Bobby Allyn reported.
Those removed accounts were linked to Russian state actors, suggesting Russia is once again seeking to influence U.S. elections with misinformation and by amplifying the differences among Americans.
But there is a new wrinkle for the Nov. 3 vote, Zuckerberg said. He noted that while Facebook has removed dozens of international networks that spread bogus stories, "we're increasingly seeing attempts to undermine the legitimacy of our elections from within our own borders."
To address those concerns, the company and its CEO outlined several changes Thursday in how Facebook handles ads, posts and other content.
If a post aims to undermine the legitimacy of the election – for instance, by "claiming that lawful methods of voting will lead to fraud," Facebook said – the company will attach an informational label. A similar approach will cover any content whose goal is to delegitimize the election's outcome.
Other posts would be removed outright, if they "claim that people will get COVID-19 if they take part in voting," the company said. If a post doesn't go quite that far – but still seeks to use COVID-19 to suppress voter participation — Facebook will attach a link to verified information about the coronavirus.
Facebook would still allow advertisers to "adjust the targeting" for ads that were accepted before it institutes the one-week quiet period in late October.
The policy restricting new political or issue ads in the final week of the campaign season does not mean Facebook users won't see any political ads in that time. Instead, advertisers can continue running ads that have already been published and scrutinized.
"It's important that campaigns can run get out the vote campaigns, and I generally believe the best antidote to bad speech is more speech," Zuckerberg said, "but in the final days of an election there may not be enough time to contest new claims."
The company's plan also includes potential measures that could be taken to rein in candidates or campaign accounts on Facebook that claim victory before final election results are in. In those cases, Facebook said, it will tack on a label that sends readers to authoritative election results, from either Reuters or the National Election Pool.
The company will also limit the ability to forward content on its Messenger platform in hopes of "reducing the risk of misinformation and harmful content going viral," Zuckerberg said.
"We've already implemented this in WhatsApp during sensitive periods and have found it to be an effective method of preventing misinformation from spreading in many countries," he added.
Facebook has faced intense scrutiny over how it approaches political content and ads. Most notably, Russian operatives used the platform to spread disinformation ahead of the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
New criticisms emerged early this year, and on many fronts. When Facebook said in January that it would continue to allow political advertisers to target users, Federal Election Commissioner Ellen Weintraub responded by saying that Facebook's "weak plan suggests the company has no idea how seriously it is hurting democracy."
Critics also said the company fell short in its response to an inflammatory post by Trump in late May in which the president revived the phrase "when the looting starts, the shooting starts."
Twitter hid its version of Trump's post behind a warning label, but Facebook declined to take such action. In the weeks that followed, members of the public and Facebook employees complained about the company's handling of racist and hateful rhetoric, leading a number of large corporations to pause their advertising on the social media platform.
By late June, as NPR's Shannon Bond reported, Facebook had reversed its position somewhat, saying it would "put warning labels on posts that break its rules but are considered newsworthy."
Editor's note: Facebook is among NPR's financial supporters.


npr--2020-09-03--Whatever Happened To ... V Unbeatable, Mumbai Dancers Who Won 'America's Got Talent'

Whatever Happened To ... V Unbeatable , Mumbai Dancers Who Won 'America 's Got Talent' V Unbeatable is a Mumbai-based acrobatic dance troupe whose members range in age from 12 to 28 and come from the city 's slums .
NPR wrote about them after they won America 's Got Talent : The Champions this February .
They 'd hoped the win would help improve the financial situation of their families and open doors to new opportunities .
But the pandemic was declared just weeks after their triumphant return home .
So what are they doing now ?
The dancers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spectacular victory when India went under a strict coronavirus lockdown in late March .
Daily rehearsals — where all two dozen would gather to practice acrobatic moves together — were suspended .
The shows where they were scheduled to perform were canceled , so their source of income dried up .
They could n't even celebrate properly , says the group 's 28-year-old choreographer Swapnil Bhoir .
`` What was supposed to be the best time of our lives became the toughest time of our lives , '' says Bhoir .
India is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — the highest single-day tally in the world .
Its total caseload of about 4 million cases is the third highest in the world behind the U.S. and Brazil .
Mumbai , India 's financial capital and the dancers ' hometown , has been hit particularly hard .
The virus spread quickly through the city 's slums , where physical distancing is next to impossible and sanitation is scarce .
Mumbai has reported nearly 150,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases and more than 7000 deaths as of 2 September .
Most of the dancers and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cramped , mostly one-room homes in the slums of northern Mumbai .
No one from the team has tested positive yet , says Bhoir .
The nationwide lockdown has now been partially eased but large gatherings are still banned and the dancers are not able to practice the human pyramids and group gymnastics that had wowed fans around the world .
Suburban trains in Mumbai are also only running for essential workers so the dancers ca n't travel for rehearsals .
Bhoir has spent the last few months fielding anxious calls from his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me , when will things go back to normal ?
When can we start dancing again ? ''
says Bhoir .
To keep them engaged , Bhoir and other senior members of the team have been giving the dancers weekly quizzes about the history of hip-hop .
Some of them have been making and uploading short dance videos on social media .
It keeps them busy , says Bhoir , and hopefully away from negative thoughts .
Meanwhile , there 's plenty of reason for the dancers to worry .
When India went @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , tens of millions of people lost their jobs .
Poor day laborers — including many of the dancers ' parents — were hit the hardest .
`` My father is a tailor and my mother sells snacks outside the railway station but because of the lockdown both of them have lost their jobs , '' 17-year-old dancer Nikhil Patlekar says in a video posted by the group in May .
`` My family 's situation is very bad . ''
`` My nights are sleepless , I cry .
I 'm scared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years might go down the drain , '' the group 's 28-year-old co-founder Om Prakash Chauhan says in the video .
One of the dancers , 18-year-old Suraj Soni , is selling vegetables on the streets of Mumbai to make ends meet .
Others have moved back to their villages with their families .
`` Even after becoming an international artist , there 's been no progress .
It 's back to square one , '' laments Bhoir .
V Unbeatable is no stranger to adversity .
In 2015 , one of their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fatal accident while practicing a stunt .
The dancers were devastated but refused to give up .
They pay homage to Gupta whenever they perform .
Their costumes have `` Vikas '' written on the back .
The group bounced back after that tragedy , and Bhoir is confident they 'll bounce back after this one too .
`` You may win or achieve something great but that does n't mean your life is set , '' says Bhoir .
`` Sometimes you have to start from zero again , and we 're @ @ @ @ @ @

Whatever Happened To ... V Unbeatable, Mumbai Dancers Who Won 'America's Got Talent'
Enlarge this image toggle caption Trae Patton/NBC Trae Patton/NBC
V Unbeatable is a Mumbai-based acrobatic dance troupe whose members range in age from 12 to 28 and come from the city's slums. NPR wrote about them after they won America's Got Talent: The Champions this February. They'd hoped the win would help improve the financial situation of their families and open doors to new opportunities. But the pandemic was declared just weeks after their triumphant return home. So what are they doing now?
YouTube
The dancers were basking in the glory of their spectacular victory when India went under a strict coronavirus lockdown in late March. Daily rehearsals — where all two dozen would gather to practice acrobatic moves together — were suspended. The shows where they were scheduled to perform were canceled, so their source of income dried up. They couldn't even celebrate properly, says the group's 28-year-old choreographer Swapnil Bhoir.
About This Series Goats are curious animals and "Goats and Soda" is a curious blog. Over the next week, we'll be looking back at some of our favorite stories to see "whatever happened to ..."
"What was supposed to be the best time of our lives became the toughest time of our lives," says Bhoir.
India is recording around 80,000 fresh COVID-19 infections daily — the highest single-day tally in the world. Its total caseload of about 4 million cases is the third highest in the world behind the U.S. and Brazil.
Mumbai, India's financial capital and the dancers' hometown, has been hit particularly hard. The virus spread quickly through the city's slums, where physical distancing is next to impossible and sanitation is scarce. Mumbai has reported nearly 150,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases and more than 7000 deaths as of 2 September.
Most of the dancers and their families have been confined to their cramped, mostly one-room homes in the slums of northern Mumbai. No one from the team has tested positive yet, says Bhoir.
The nationwide lockdown has now been partially eased but large gatherings are still banned and the dancers are not able to practice the human pyramids and group gymnastics that had wowed fans around the world. Suburban trains in Mumbai are also only running for essential workers so the dancers can't travel for rehearsals.
Bhoir has spent the last few months fielding anxious calls from his younger teammates. "They keep asking me, when will things go back to normal? When can we start dancing again?" says Bhoir.
To keep them engaged, Bhoir and other senior members of the team have been giving the dancers weekly quizzes about the history of hip-hop. Some of them have been making and uploading short dance videos on social media. It keeps them busy, says Bhoir, and hopefully away from negative thoughts.
Meanwhile, there's plenty of reason for the dancers to worry. When India went under lockdown and shut down its economy, tens of millions of people lost their jobs. Poor day laborers — including many of the dancers' parents — were hit the hardest.
"My father is a tailor and my mother sells snacks outside the railway station but because of the lockdown both of them have lost their jobs," 17-year-old dancer Nikhil Patlekar says in a video posted by the group in May. "My family's situation is very bad."
"My nights are sleepless, I cry. I'm scared that all our hard work over the years might go down the drain," the group's 28-year-old co-founder Om Prakash Chauhan says in the video.
One of the dancers, 18-year-old Suraj Soni, is selling vegetables on the streets of Mumbai to make ends meet. Others have moved back to their villages with their families.
"Even after becoming an international artist, there's been no progress. It's back to square one," laments Bhoir.
V Unbeatable is no stranger to adversity. In 2015, one of their co-founders, Vikas Gupta, suffered a fatal accident while practicing a stunt. The dancers were devastated but refused to give up. They pay homage to Gupta whenever they perform. Their costumes have "Vikas" written on the back.
The group bounced back after that tragedy, and Bhoir is confident they'll bounce back after this one too.
"You may win or achieve something great but that doesn't mean your life is set," says Bhoir. "Sometimes you have to start from zero again, and we're prepared to do that."


npr--2020-09-03--New Jobless Claims Drop Below 1 Million, But There's A Caveat

New Jobless Claims Drop Below 1 Million , But There 's A Caveat Another 881,000 people applied for state unemployment benefits last week , the Labor Department says .
That 's 130,000 fewer than the previous week .
But the report comes with an asterisk .
The department just changed the way it adjusts claims data to account for seasonal variation .
That should make the reports more accurate in the weeks to come .
But it also means the reported change from the previous week is not an apples-to-apples comparison .
Without the seasonal adjustment , state unemployment claims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ addition to the state unemployment claims , 759,000 people applied for benefits under a special federal program for gig workers and the self-employed , who are ordinarily not eligible for unemployment .
Those claims also increased from the previous week .
Unemployment has declined since April when much of the U.S. economy was shut down in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus .
But it remains very high by historical standards .
As of Aug. 15 , more than 29 million Americans were collecting some form of unemployment insurance .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ million from the previous week .
The seasonal adjustment in state claims is made to cancel out predictable ups and downs in the job market — such as teachers leaving work in the summer or retail clerks being laid off after Christmas — and provide a more accurate picture of broader trends in the economy .
During the pandemic , however , wild swings in employment have thrown the adjustment off , resulting in a sometimes-distorted snapshot .
Heidi Shierholz , who was chief economist at the Labor Department in the Obama administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should fix that distortion , though she would have preferred that government statisticians also went back and recalculated past reports .
`` It is great they 're making improvements in the seasonal adjustment , '' Shierholz said .
`` But the big thing they did n't do that I wished they had done is fix the earlier numbers . ''
Claims under the special federal program have never been seasonally adjusted .
That program was created during the pandemic and expires at year 's end , so there 's little basis for seasonal @ @

New Jobless Claims Drop Below 1 Million, But There's A Caveat
Enlarge this image toggle caption Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images
Another 881,000 people applied for state unemployment benefits last week, the Labor Department says. That's 130,000 fewer than the previous week. But the report comes with an asterisk.
The department just changed the way it adjusts claims data to account for seasonal variation. That should make the reports more accurate in the weeks to come. But it also means the reported change from the previous week is not an apples-to-apples comparison.
Without the seasonal adjustment, state unemployment claims rose by more than 7,500.
In addition to the state unemployment claims, 759,000 people applied for benefits under a special federal program for gig workers and the self-employed, who are ordinarily not eligible for unemployment. Those claims also increased from the previous week.
Unemployment has declined since April when much of the U.S. economy was shut down in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus. But it remains very high by historical standards. As of Aug. 15, more than 29 million Americans were collecting some form of unemployment insurance. That figure was up more than 2 million from the previous week.
The seasonal adjustment in state claims is made to cancel out predictable ups and downs in the job market — such as teachers leaving work in the summer or retail clerks being laid off after Christmas — and provide a more accurate picture of broader trends in the economy. During the pandemic, however, wild swings in employment have thrown the adjustment off, resulting in a sometimes-distorted snapshot.
Heidi Shierholz, who was chief economist at the Labor Department in the Obama administration, says the new seasonal adjustment formula should fix that distortion, though she would have preferred that government statisticians also went back and recalculated past reports.
"It is great they're making improvements in the seasonal adjustment," Shierholz said. "But the big thing they didn't do that I wished they had done is fix the earlier numbers."
Claims under the special federal program have never been seasonally adjusted. That program was created during the pandemic and expires at year's end, so there's little basis for seasonal corrections.


npr--2020-09-03--Rochester, N.Y., Mayor Suspends Officers Over Asphyxiation Death Of Daniel Prude

Updated at 7:11 p.m .
ET The mayor of Rochester , N.Y. , has ordered the immediate suspension of seven police officers over the death of Daniel Prude , a Black man who died of asphyxiation after being restrained during his arrest in March .
Police body camera footage of the encounter was released Wednesday , prompting protests and calls for transparency and justice .
In a press conference Thursday afternoon , Mayor Lovely Warren announced she is suspending the officers in question with pay .
She said she did so `` against the advice of counsel , '' noting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the city .
Warren said Prude had been failed `` by our police department , our mental health care system , our society ... and by me . ''
She also said institutional and structural racism had led to Prude 's death .
`` I believe that if Daniel Prude was white all of those systems would not have failed him , '' Warren said .
`` It is time that we stopped trying to not acknowledge this and call it for was it is .
It 's racism . ''
Rochester police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March 23 after his brother , concerned about his sibling 's safety , had called 911 .
Prude , 41 , had left his brother 's house in below-freezing temperatures wearing long johns and a tank top .
He had been released from Rochester 's Strong Memorial Hospital earlier that night after expressing suicidal thoughts .
When Rochester police officers came upon Prude , he was naked and in distress .
Prude had allegedly just gone on a destructive tear , according to police reports , smashing out the windows of storefronts and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passing tow truck driver who called 911 described Prude as being covered in blood .
The police bodycam footage shows officers , with Tasers drawn , confronting Prude and ordering him to lie down on the road , which was slick from a light snowfall .
Prude complied , lying facedown on his stomach , and officers cuffed his hands behind his back .
But in time , the 5-foot-10-inch , 230-pound man grew agitated .
He began yelling vulgarities , spitting at officers and tried , unsuccessfully , to stand up .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the prone position before placing a white hood over Prude 's head , known as a `` spit hood '' and intended to protect others from possible infection .
Officers restrained Prude by holding him down by his feet and his head , and applying pressure to his back with a knee .
Prude eventually fell unconscious and stopped breathing , according to police reports .
He died a week later .
The Monroe County Medical Examiner 's Office ruled the cause of death as `` complications of asphyxia in the setting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ due to acute phencyclidine intoxication . ''
Family says police are responsible for Prude 's death Prude 's family obtained the footage through a public records request .
Attorneys representing the family released it to the public .
The family intends to file a wrongful death suit , claiming the actions police used to restrain Prude caused his death .
`` I placed the phone call for my brother to get help , not for my brother to get lynched , '' said Joe Prude at a press conference Wednesday on the steps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaders charged that police and the mayor have attempted to sweep Prude 's death under the rug .
At a second press conference at Rochester 's Public Safety Building where police headquarters is located , Warren said an ongoing investigation by the New York attorney general 's office took the matter out of the city 's hands .
`` This is not something in our wheelhouse , in our control at this moment in time , '' Warren said .
`` Had it been , this is something we would have talked about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that this is a cover-up , this is not , '' said Rochester Police Chief La'Ron Singletary .
`` You know we do n't have a problem holding anyone accountable , but the investigation has to take its course . ''
A protest Wednesday began small at the Monroe County Public Safety Building but gained momentum throughout the day .
By midafternoon , police fired pepper spray and tear gas into a small crowd outside police headquarters .
The protest later moved to where Prude was arrested , and a large block party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to occupy the space until the officers involved in Prude 's arrest are fired and the city bars police from responding to mental health calls , among other demands .
`` We want the larger community to know this is not something that happens in other cities , in other states , it happens right here in Rochester , '' said Ashley Gantt , an organizer with the local Black Lives Matter group Free the People Roc .
At the Thursday afternoon press conference , Warren said she was told that Prude had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not see video of the encounter until Aug. 4 .
She said she has since ordered Singletary to provide her with video from any in-custody death or use of force incident within 24 hours .
Warren also said she will work to increase funding for mental health programs for 911 calls and called for charges filed against protesters on Wednesday to be dropped .
Those were among the demands in a letter sent to Warren by the Rochester City Council earlier Thursday , calling for stronger actions in response to Prude 's death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community join forces with the advocates , with the people who are protesting in our streets , and the government , to stand up for what is right , '' Warren said .
`` What is right [ is ] that there will not be and ca n't be a justice system for Black people and a justice system for white people . ''

Rochester, N.Y., Mayor Suspends Officers Over Asphyxiation Death Of Daniel Prude
Enlarge this image toggle caption Max Schulte/WXXI News Max Schulte/WXXI News
Updated at 11:42 p.m. ET
The mayor of Rochester, N.Y., has ordered the immediate suspension of seven police officers over the death of Daniel Prude, a Black man who died of asphyxiation after being restrained during his arrest in March.
Police body camera footage of the encounter was released Wednesday, prompting protests and calls for transparency and justice.
In a press conference Thursday afternoon, Mayor Lovely Warren announced she is suspending the officers in question with pay. She said she did so "against the advice of counsel," noting the police union could respond by suing the city.
Warren said Prude had been failed "by our police department, our mental health care system, our society ... and by me."
She also said institutional and structural racism had led to Prude's death.
"I believe that if Daniel Prude was white all of those systems would not have failed him," Warren said. "It is time that we stopped trying to not acknowledge this and call it for was it is. It's racism."
Rochester police arrested Prude in the early hours of March 23 after his brother, concerned about his sibling's safety, had called 911. Prude, 41, had left his brother's house in below-freezing temperatures wearing long johns and a tank top. He had been released from Rochester's Strong Memorial Hospital earlier that night after expressing suicidal thoughts.
When Rochester police officers came upon Prude, he was naked and in distress. Prude had allegedly just gone on a destructive tear, according to police reports, smashing out the windows of storefronts and ranting about having the coronavirus. A passing tow truck driver who called 911 described Prude as being covered in blood.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Adrian Kraus/AP Adrian Kraus/AP
The police bodycam footage shows officers, with Tasers drawn, confronting Prude and ordering him to lie down on the road, which was slick from a light snowfall. Prude complied, lying facedown on his stomach, and officers cuffed his hands behind his back.
But in time, the 5-foot-10-inch, 230-pound man grew agitated. He began yelling vulgarities, spitting at officers and tried, unsuccessfully, to stand up. Officers ordered him several times to return to the prone position before placing a white hood over Prude's head, known as a "spit hood" and intended to protect others from possible infection.
Officers restrained Prude by holding him down by his feet and his head, and applying pressure to his back with a knee. Prude eventually fell unconscious and stopped breathing, according to police reports. He died a week later.
The Monroe County Medical Examiner's Office ruled the cause of death as "complications of asphyxia in the setting of physical restraint due to excited delirium due to acute phencyclidine intoxication." And the "manner of death" was ruled as "homocide."
Max Schulte/WXXI News YouTube
Family says police are responsible for Prude's death
Prude's family obtained the footage through a public records request. Attorneys representing the family released it to the public. The family intends to file a wrongful death suit, claiming the actions police used to restrain Prude caused his death.
toggle caption Max Schulte/WXXI News
"I placed the phone call for my brother to get help, not for my brother to get lynched," said Joe Prude at a press conference Wednesday on the steps of City Hall.
Protesters and community leaders charged that police and the mayor have attempted to sweep Prude's death under the rug.
At a second press conference at Rochester's Public Safety Building where police headquarters is located, Warren said an ongoing investigation by the New York attorney general's office took the matter out of the city's hands.
"This is not something in our wheelhouse, in our control at this moment in time," Warren said. "Had it been, this is something we would have talked about months ago."
"The rhetoric that this is a cover-up, this is not," said Rochester Police Chief La'Ron Singletary. "You know we don't have a problem holding anyone accountable, but the investigation has to take its course."
A protest Wednesday began small at the Monroe County Public Safety Building but gained momentum throughout the day. By midafternoon, police fired pepper spray and tear gas into a small crowd outside police headquarters.
The protest later moved to where Prude was arrested, and a large block party gradually formed. Organizers said they plan to occupy the space until the officers involved in Prude's arrest are fired and the city bars police from responding to mental health calls, among other demands.
"We want the larger community to know this is not something that happens in other cities, in other states, it happens right here in Rochester," said Ashley Gantt, an organizer with the local Black Lives Matter group Free the People Roc.
At the Thursday afternoon press conference, Warren said she was told that Prude had overdosed in police custody, and did not see video of the encounter until Aug. 4.
She said she has since ordered Singletary to provide her with video from any in-custody death or use of force incident within 24 hours.
Warren also said she will work to increase funding for mental health programs for 911 calls and called for charges filed against protesters on Wednesday to be dropped.
Those were among the demands in a letter sent to Warren by the Rochester City Council earlier Thursday, calling for stronger actions in response to Prude's death.
"It is time that our community join forces with the advocates, with the people who are protesting in our streets, and the government, to stand up for what is right," Warren said. "What is right [is] that there will not be and can't be a justice system for Black people and a justice system for white people."


npr--2020-09-04--Biden Calls School Reopening A 'National Emergency'

There 's a LOT of education news these days .
Here 's an overview of the stories from this week that you might have missed , plus some valuable links we 've gleaned from around the web .
First let 's turn to the world of higher education .
As we reported last week , college towns are driving coronavirus outbreaks nationwide .
There were over 50,000 reported cases on campuses as of Friday morning , a figure that had doubled from the day before , according to The New York Times .
Iowa State University canceled its first football @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on campus ; the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign told students to stop all non-essential in-person contact after a spike — this despite their much-touted , twice-weekly testing plan .
Meanwhile , campus Greek organizations are grappling with how to adapt to COVID-19 policies .
For some , it 's an existential threat .
And we talked with public health experts who said shaming and blaming students for socializing is unlikely to be effective .
Meanwhile , in K-12 education , Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden focused on the issue of school reopening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ events and a speech in which he called the failure to open schools `` a national emergency . ''
Families are `` worried like the devil , '' he said.
`` 'What does it mean for my kids ?
Is this setting my child 's education back beyond just a semester ?
What impact will it have ?
How 's my child going to catch up ?
What if I 'm not doing enough to help my child succeed ? '
`` Just over half of districts are starting the year either all-remote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ millions of families , especially in big cities , needing child care and help with remote learning .
After a lot of pushback , including the threat of a strike , New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced an agreement with the city 's teacher union this week to push back the start of school by 11 days , to Sept. 21 .
The delay gives a little more time to put a coronavirus testing plan in place and work out issues with ventilation , hygiene and staffing of both in-person and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ district is an outlier here with its hybrid plan ; most big cities are trending towards remote learning , at least for the start of the year .
Some of these cities , from New Orleans to La Crosse , Wis. , are setting up learning `` hubs '' as a free or affordable option for students , but , as we reported , the demand is outstripping the supply .
These hubs can be a more equitable alternative to what 's been dubbed `` pandemic pods , '' or the practice of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of students in homes .
A recent Education Week poll found that only 1 percent of parents were personally involved in such pods , while a whopping 72 % had heard about them only from the media or even from that very pollster .

Biden Calls School Reopening A 'National Emergency'
Enlarge this image toggle caption Alex Wong/Getty Images Alex Wong/Getty Images
There's a LOT of education news these days. Here's an overview of the stories from this week that you might have missed, plus some valuable links we've gleaned from around the web.
First let's turn to the world of higher education.
As we reported last week, college towns are driving coronavirus outbreaks nationwide. There were over 50,000 reported cases on campuses as of Friday morning, a figure that had doubled from the day before, according to The New York Times.
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign told students to stop all non-essential in-person contact after a spike — this despite their much-touted, twice-weekly testing plan.
Meanwhile, campus Greek organizations are grappling with how to adapt to COVID-19 policies. For some, it's an existential threat.
And we talked with public health experts who said shaming and blaming students for socializing is unlikely to be effective.
Meanwhile, in K-12 education, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden focused on the issue of school reopening with a series of briefings, campaign events and a speech in which he called the failure to open schools "a national emergency." Families are "worried like the devil," he said. " 'What does it mean for my kids? Is this setting my child's education back beyond just a semester? What impact will it have? How's my child going to catch up? What if I'm not doing enough to help my child succeed?' "
Just over half of districts are starting the year either all-remote or with hybrid schedules. That leaves millions of families, especially in big cities, needing child care and help with remote learning.
After a lot of pushback, including the threat of a strike, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced an agreement with the city's teacher union this week to push back the start of school by 11 days, to Sept. 21. The delay gives a little more time to put a coronavirus testing plan in place and work out issues with ventilation, hygiene and staffing of both in-person and online teaching. The nation's largest district is an outlier here with its hybrid plan; most big cities are trending towards remote learning, at least for the start of the year.
Some of these cities, from New Orleans to La Crosse, Wis., are setting up learning "hubs" as a free or affordable option for students, but, as we reported, the demand is outstripping the supply. These hubs can be a more equitable alternative to what's been dubbed "pandemic pods," or the practice of hiring private teachers to teach small groups of students in homes. A recent Education Week poll found that only 1 percent of parents were personally involved in such pods, while a whopping 72% had heard about them only from the media or even from that very pollster.


npr--2020-09-04--Another Holiday Weekend, Another Coronavirus Surge? Keep An Eye On Tourist Hot Spots

Another Holiday Weekend , Another Coronavirus Surge ?
Keep An Eye On Tourist Hot Spots Hopefully , summer wo n't end the way it began .
Memorial Day celebrations helped set off a wave of coronavirus infections across much of the South and West .
Gatherings around the Fourth of July seemed to keep those hot spots aflame .
And now Labor Day arrives as those regions are cooling off from COVID-19 , and public health experts are calling on Americans to stay vigilant while celebrating the holiday weekend .
`` Wear a mask , keep social distancing , avoid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of surges , '' said Dr. Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , during a Today show interview on Wednesday .
`` You do n't want to be someone who 's propagating the outbreak .
You want to be part of the solution , not part of the problem . ''
But travelers are also weary of staying home — and tourist destinations are starved for cash .
`` Just getting away for an hour up the street and staying at a hotel is like a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kimberly Michaels , who works for NASA in Huntsville , Ala. , and traveled to Nashville , Tenn. , with her boyfriend to celebrate his birthday last weekend .
Local restrictions are lifted just as summer ends In time for the tail end of summer , many local governments are lifting restrictions to resuscitate tourism activity and rescue small businesses .
Nashville , for instance , gave the green light to pedal taverns this week , allowing the human-powered bars-on-wheels to take to the streets again .
`` They 're not Nashville 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ requires this protocol change to take place , '' Mayor John Cooper said , noting the city 's dramatic reduction in new cases .
This week , the city also raised the attendance cap on weddings , funerals and other ceremonies .
Elsewhere , Virginia Beach tried to get some leniency for its struggling restaurants over the holiday weekend .
But Virginia Gov .
Ralph Northam , encouraged by Fauci , rejected pleas from the mayor .
Fauci has encouraged governors to keep restrictions in place to avoid another holiday-related surge .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restrictions , the impression that people get is 'Oh , that must mean it 's safe , ' '' says epidemiologist Melissa McPheeters of Vanderbilt University .
`` We want to make sure we do n't give that impression , because this disease has not gone anywhere . ''
Some communities have gone the other direction and reimposed restrictions , especially for the three-day weekend .
Santa Barbara , Calif. , has banned sunbathing to avoid another surge in cases .
With school back in session , it 's harder to avoid exposure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ summer 's last holiday weekend .
In many states , schools have resumed in-person classes .
So families and friends meeting up now are more likely to expose each other to the virus , even if they tried to keep to a tightly closed circle over the summer .
`` If those bubbles now have kids that went back to school and are interacting with others or they 've gone back to sports and the bubble has since expanded , that ability to be safely together in a gathering is probably less likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the University of Alabama-Birmingham .
And yet , getting together safely — preferably outdoors — is still worth a try , Hidalgo says .
She says people 's mental health needs a boost to get through the next few months .
`` If you can do the safe things now before winter hits and that cold weather hits , then you 'll be more resilient to get through any bad times that may come , '' she says .
In travel destinations like Nashville that have welcomed visitors throughout the pandemic , tourism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on some weekend nights , the neon-bright tourist district can draw a crowd .
This week , Vaj Vemulapalli and his girlfriend , of Dallas , turned back to their hotel after feeling uncomfortable with how tightly people were packed together .
`` We crave the social interaction , the going out to bars and everything , '' he says .
`` But at the end of the day , our general stance is it 's not worth getting [ COVID-19 ] just to get a drink . ''
Those crowds do face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Michaels and birthday boy Marcus Robinson discovered .
They arrived in Nashville fashionably late , masked up and ready to responsibly party .
But after they checked into their hotel , they discovered that everything has to shut down by 10:30 .
`` It 's crazy .
It was like the twilight zone , '' Robinson says .
`` We went in [ to the hotel ] and the streets were full .
Got dressed , came downstairs .
Like , where did everybody go ?
Like , did something happen ?
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 're not from here . ''
Still , as time goes by , some travelers are willing to take more risks to get back to activities that feel normal .
Suzette Ourso lives outside New Orleans and flew to Nashville for her first out-of-town trip since the pandemic hit .
She says she 's cautious , wearing her mask whenever near anyone else .
`` I keep hand sanitizer in my purse now .
That 's something I 've never really done before , '' she says .
`` But you can die @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you ca n't live your life in fear , either . ''
Ourso has a trip to the beach planned for later in the month .
This story comes from NPR 's partnership with Nashville Public Radio and Kaiser Health News .

Another Holiday Weekend, Another Coronavirus Surge? Keep An Eye On Tourist Hot Spots
Enlarge this image toggle caption Gabby Jones/Bloomberg via Getty Images Gabby Jones/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Hopefully, summer won't end the way it began. Memorial Day celebrations helped set off a wave of coronavirus infections across much of the South and West. Gatherings around the Fourth of July seemed to keep those hot spots aflame.
Now Labor Day arrives as those regions are cooling off from COVID-19, and public health experts are calling on Americans to stay vigilant while celebrating the holiday weekend.
"Wear a mask, keep social distancing, avoid crowds. You can avoid those kinds of surges," said Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, during a Today show interview on Wednesday. "You don't want to be someone who's propagating the outbreak. You want to be part of the solution, not part of the problem."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Blake Farmer / WPLN Blake Farmer / WPLN
But travelers are also weary of staying home, and tourist destinations are starved for cash.
"Just getting away for an hour up the street and staying at a hotel is like a vacation, for real," says Kimberly Michaels, who works for NASA in Huntsville, Ala., and traveled to Nashville, Tenn., with her boyfriend to celebrate his birthday last weekend.
Local restrictions are lifted just as summer ends
In time for the tail end of summer, many local governments are lifting restrictions to resuscitate tourism activity and rescue small businesses.
Nashville, for instance, gave the green light to pedal taverns this week, allowing the human-powered bars-on-wheels to take to the streets again. "They're not Nashville's favorite group, frankly. But fairness requires this protocol change to take place," Mayor John Cooper said, noting the city's dramatic reduction in new cases. This week, the city also raised the attendance cap on weddings, funerals and other ceremonies.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mark Humphrey/AP Mark Humphrey/AP
Elsewhere, Virginia Beach tried to get some leniency for its struggling restaurants over the holiday weekend. But Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, encouraged by Fauci, rejected pleas from the mayor. Fauci has encouraged governors to keep restrictions in place to avoid another holiday-related surge.
"Sometimes, as we start to lift restrictions, the impression that people get is 'Oh, that must mean it's safe,'" says epidemiologist Melissa McPheeters of Vanderbilt University. "We want to make sure we don't give that impression because this disease has not gone anywhere."
Some communities have gone the other direction and reimposed restrictions, especially for the three-day weekend. Santa Barbara, Calif., has banned sunbathing to avoid another surge in cases.
With school back in session, it's harder to avoid exposure
There's also a new X-factor with summer's last holiday weekend. In many states, schools have resumed in-person classes. So families and friends meeting up now are more likely to expose each other to the virus, even if they tried to keep to a tightly closed circle over the summer.
"If those bubbles now have kids that went back to school and are interacting with others or they've gone back to sports and the bubble has since expanded, that ability to be safely together in a gathering is probably less likely," says epidemiologist Bertha Hidalgo of the University of Alabama-Birmingham.
And yet, getting together safely — preferably outdoors — is still worth a try, Hidalgo says. She says people's mental health needs a boost to get through the next few months.
"If you can do the safe things now before winter hits and that cold weather hits, then you'll be more resilient to get through any bad times that may come," she says.
In travel destinations like Nashville that have welcomed visitors throughout the pandemic, tourism has not bounced back entirely. But on some weekend nights, the neon-bright tourist district can draw a crowd.
This week, Vaj Vemulapalli and his girlfriend, of Dallas, turned back to their hotel after feeling uncomfortable with how tightly people were packed together.
"We crave the social interaction, the going out to bars and everything," he says. "But at the end of the day, our general stance is it's not worth getting [COVID-19] just to get a drink."
Those crowds do face some restrictions, though, as Kimberly Michaels and birthday boy Marcus Robinson discovered. They arrived in Nashville fashionably late, masked up and ready to responsibly party. But after they checked into their hotel, they discovered that everything has to shut down by 10:30.
"It's crazy. It was like the twilight zone," Robinson says. "We went in [to the hotel] and the streets were full. Got dressed, came downstairs. Like, where did everybody go? Like, did something happen? But we didn't know, because we're not from here."
toggle caption Blake Farmer/ WPLN
Still, as time goes by, some travelers are willing to take more risks to get back to activities that feel normal.
Suzette Ourso lives outside New Orleans and flew to Nashville for her first out-of-town trip since the pandemic hit. She says she's cautious, wearing her mask whenever near anyone else.
"I keep hand sanitizer in my purse now. That's something I've never really done before," she says. "But you can die tomorrow riding in your vehicle. So you can't live your life in fear, either."
Ourso has a trip to the beach planned for later in the month.
This story comes from NPR's partnership with Nashville Public Radio and Kaiser Health News.