npr--2020-06-25--Kentucky Derby Rescheduled For September, Will Take Place With Fans

Kentucky Derby Rescheduled For September , Will Take Place With Fans The Kentucky Derby will take place in the fall with spectators , racing venue Churchill Downs announced on Thursday .
The most famous horse racing event in the world , usually held in May , will now take place from Sept. 1 to Sept. 5 .
The Kentucky Derby will be on Sep. 5 , and the Kentucky Oaks — a race for 3-year-old fillies — will run a day earlier .
Churchill Downs said it worked with state and local health officials to develop a plan that would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerns over the coronavirus pandemic .
The precautions include limited capacity at the historic outdoor venue , no barn access to anyone other than personnel , and an updated code of conduct that says attendees will be `` frequently encouraged '' to wear masks and to practice social distancing .
`` Our team is deeply committed to holding the very best Kentucky Derby ever , and we will take all necessary steps to protect the health and safety of all who attend and participate in the Derby , '' Churchill Downs Racetrack President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the COVID-19 pandemic , we have established a comprehensive set of operating procedures , which include a multitude of precautionary measures to be followed while fans are in attendance at our facility , '' Flanery said .
He added that Kentucky Gov .
Andy Beshear consulted with the racetrack about the new guidelines .
Kentucky has n't seen a major spike in new coronavirus cases like some states across the country , though new cases have plateaued .
The Belmont Stakes ran last week in New York with no spectators and drew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Tiz the Law , who was favored to win at 4-5 odds , took first there .
The Preakness Stakes , the third and final race of the Triple Crown , is scheduled for Oct. 3 .

Kentucky Derby Rescheduled For September, Will Take Place With Fans
Enlarge this image toggle caption Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Kentucky Derby will take place in the fall with spectators, racing venue Churchill Downs announced on Thursday.
The most famous horse racing event in the world, usually held in May, will now take place from Sept. 1 to Sept. 5. The Kentucky Derby will be on Sep. 5, and the Kentucky Oaks — a race for 3-year-old fillies — will run a day earlier.
Churchill Downs said it worked with state and local health officials to develop a plan that would allow the race to take place amid concerns over the coronavirus pandemic.
The precautions include limited capacity at the historic outdoor venue, no barn access to anyone other than personnel, and an updated code of conduct that says attendees will be "frequently encouraged" to wear masks and to practice social distancing.
"Our team is deeply committed to holding the very best Kentucky Derby ever, and we will take all necessary steps to protect the health and safety of all who attend and participate in the Derby," Churchill Downs Racetrack President Kevin Flanery said.
"In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have established a comprehensive set of operating procedures, which include a multitude of precautionary measures to be followed while fans are in attendance at our facility," Flanery said.
He added that Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear consulted with the racetrack about the new guidelines.
Kentucky hasn't seen a major spike in new coronavirus cases like some states across the country, though new cases have plateaued.
The Belmont Stakes ran last week in New York with no spectators and drew an estimated 4 million viewers on television. Tiz the Law, who was favored to win at 4-5 odds, took first there. The Preakness Stakes, the third and final race of the Triple Crown, is scheduled for Oct. 3.


npr--2020-06-25--'Fair & Lovely' Skin Lightening Brand, Popular In South Asia, To Change Name

'Fair & Lovely ' Skin Lightening Brand , Popular In South Asia , To Change Name Generations of South Asians have grown up with grocery aisles full of Fair & Lovely skin-lightening products .
The brand 's TV commercials feature Bollywood stars and equate pale , fair skin with beauty and success .
Those are racial stereotypes many find to be the opposite of fair .
As the Black Lives Matter movement prompts reckonings about race and skin color around the world , India 's most popular skin-whitening cream is changing its name .
Its manufacturer , Unilever , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` fair '' from the Fair & Lovely brand name – and also eliminating any references to the cream 's whitening or lightening affects .
`` We recognise that the use of the words 'fair , ' 'white ' and 'light ' suggest a singular ideal of beauty that we do n't think is right , '' Sunny Jain , president of the company 's beauty & personal care division , said in a statement .
The company plans to instead emphasize the product 's aim of creating `` glow , even tone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it said .
No word on what the new name will be .
The company says the change will happen `` in the next few months , '' and will affect Fair & Lovely products sold across Asia .
With up to 70 % market share , Fair & Lovely has dominated the skin-lightening industry in India .
Unilever 's name change follows a similar announcement last week by Johnson & Johnson that it 's discontinuing two of its skin-lightening product lines .
On social media , some are cheering the name change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ companies make a change in aspects that bring negative connotations to darker skin tones !
, '' one person wrote on Twitter .
`` Really nice seeing the company wanting to change the 'fair ' part to include everybody . ''
But others say it 's not the Fair & Lovely name that needed to be scrapped , but the product itself .
`` Is it really enough ? ''
another Twitter user asked .
`` Using the words 'glow ' and 'brighten ' does n't really change what the product was built @ @ @ @ @ @ @ signed online petitions in recent weeks , accusing Unilever of promoting `` anti-blackness '' and calling on the company to halt production and marketing of its Fair & Lovely brand .
In its statement , Unilever said the brand `` has never been , and is not , a skin bleaching product . ''
But it acknowledged that last year , it removed `` shade guides '' from its packaging in India .
These were color charts – like paint swatches – that allowed customers to chart the lightening of their skin .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ – called Fair & Handsome – is made by a different company , Emami , and no name change has been announced there .

'Fair & Lovely' Skin Lightening Brand, Popular In South Asia, To Change Name
Enlarge this image toggle caption Kuni Takahashi/Bloomberg via Getty Images Kuni Takahashi/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Generations of South Asians have grown up with grocery aisles full of Fair & Lovely skin-lightening products. The brand's TV commercials feature Bollywood stars and equate pale, fair skin with beauty and success.
Those are racial stereotypes many find to be the opposite of fair.
As the Black Lives Matter movement prompts reckonings about race and skin color around the world, India's most popular skin-whitening cream is changing its name. Its manufacturer, Unilever, said Thursday that it's dropping the word "fair" from the Fair & Lovely brand name – and also eliminating any references to the cream's whitening or lightening affects.
"We recognise that the use of the words 'fair,' 'white' and 'light' suggest a singular ideal of beauty that we don't think is right," Sunny Jain, president of the company's beauty & personal care division, said in a statement.
The company plans to instead emphasize the product's aim of creating "glow, even tone, skin clarity and radiance," it said.
No word on what the new name will be. The company says the change will happen "in the next few months," and will affect Fair & Lovely products sold across Asia.
With up to 70% market share, Fair & Lovely has dominated the skin-lightening industry in India. Unilever's name change follows a similar announcement last week by Johnson & Johnson that it's discontinuing two of its skin-lightening product lines.
On social media, some are cheering the name change.
"So happy to see Indian companies make a change in aspects that bring negative connotations to darker skin tones!," one person wrote on Twitter. "Really nice seeing the company wanting to change the 'fair' part to include everybody."
But others say it's not the Fair & Lovely name that needed to be scrapped, but the product itself.
"Is it really enough?" another Twitter user asked. "Using the words 'glow' and 'brighten' doesn't really change what the product was built for."
Thousands of people had signed online petitions in recent weeks, accusing Unilever of promoting "anti-blackness" and calling on the company to halt production and marketing of its Fair & Lovely brand.
In its statement, Unilever said the brand "has never been, and is not, a skin bleaching product." But it acknowledged that last year, it removed "shade guides" from its packaging in India. These were color charts – like paint swatches – that allowed customers to chart the lightening of their skin.
Another skin-lightening brand marketed toward Indian men – called Fair & Handsome – is made by a different company, Emami, and no name change has been announced there.


npr--2020-06-26--Coronavirus World Map: Tracking The Spread Of The Outbreak

Coronavirus World Map : Tracking The Spread Of The Outbreak Since the new coronavirus was first reported in Wuhan , China , in December , the infectious respiratory disease COVID-19 has spread rapidly within China and to neighboring countries and beyond .
The first confirmed coronavirus cases outside China occurred on Jan. 20 , in Japan , Thailand and South Korea .
On Jan. 21 , the first case in the U.S. was identified in Washington state .
On Jan. 24 , the first two European cases were confirmed in France .
By Feb. 1 , eight European nations had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month later that count had risen to 24 countries with at least 2,200 cases , most of them in Italy .
On March 11 , Italy eclipsed 10,000 cases and the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a pandemic — the first since H1N1 in 2009 .
That 's also when China , the original epicenter , began seeing drops in daily counts of new cases .
March also saw exponential spread of the virus throughout the U.S. , with all 50 states reporting cases by March 17 .
This particular virus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the third strain of coronavirus known to frequently cause severe symptoms in humans .
The other two strains cause Middle East respiratory syndrome and severe acute respiratory syndrome .
Click here to see the state-by-state breakdown of cases in the United States .
This story was originally published on March 30 , 2020 .

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


npr--2020-06-26--House Vote Friday Would Make D.C. The 51st State. Trump And The Senate Say No

House Vote Friday Would Make D.C .
The 51st State .
Trump And The Senate Say No House Democrats say they want to make a point on Friday by voting to make Washington , D.C. , the 51st state even though the legislation is doomed .
For decades , Washington , D.C. , license plates have bemoaned the District of Columbia 's lack of statehood , reminding viewers in bold blue letters of its `` taxation without representation . ''
Despite having a population larger than that of Vermont or Wyoming , the District 's 700,000 residents do n't have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ floor of the House or the Senate .
The bill scheduled for action on Friday , sponsored by the District 's nonvoting delegate , Eleanor Holmes Norton , has over 220 co-sponsors and is expected to sail through the House .
The vote was announced last week by House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer , D-Md .
Norton says her bill holds personal , as well as political , meaning .
`` My great-grandfather , who walked away from slavery in Virginia , got as far as the District of Columbia — got to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' she tells All Things Considered 's Ari Shapiro .
`` And so what I think of this bill , at least for my family : I dedicate it to my great-grandfather , Richard Holmes . ''
Friday marks the first time since 1993 that Congress has voted on D.C. statehood , an issue that has been debated for decades .
Norton remembered serving in Congress during that vote .
`` We got more votes , by the way , than we thought we would , '' she told Shapiro .
Continued Norton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House was dominated by Southern Democrats who tended to be conservative on many issues .
We were pleased to have them as Democrats , but we could not pass that bill .
...
So times change , and they have changed remarkably , and they are ready now , it seems certainly in the House , to make the District the 51st state . ''
Today 's Democrats have tried to play up what they call their emphasis on voting , representation and racial justice , all of which underpin the political strategy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Republican-controlled Senate is another story .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , told TV host Laura Ingraham last year that any Democratic push for D.C. statehood is `` full-bore socialism on the march in the House '' and that `` as long as I 'm the majority leader of the Senate , none of that stuff is going anywhere . ''
President Trump has also scoffed at statehood efforts , telling The New York Post in May : `` Why ?
So we can have two more Democratic — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ No , thank you .
That 'll never happen . ''
On Wednesday , the Trump administration issued a statement formally opposing Norton 's bill and vowing that if the bill ever reached the president 's desk , he would veto it .
Robert C. White Jr. , who serves as one of the District 's at-large councilmembers , says the disenfranchisement of the District 's residents should supersede partisan politics .
`` We pay taxes like every other American state .
We fight and die in wars like residents of every state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have a voice in how our nation is governed , '' White tells NPR .
White says that even if statehood does n't get a vote in the Senate this year , he believes the bill 's passage in the House would represent a significant step forward .
`` The D.C. statehood bill passing the House will elevate the profile of this issue , and as more Americans realize how uniquely disenfranchised D.C. is , I think it will increase the calls for D.C. statehood across the country , '' White says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long road ahead in shifting national opinions on D.C. statehood : 64 % of Americans surveyed said they thought the District should n't be a state .
Want to know more about the District of Columbia 's history and how its self-governance changed over time ?
WAMU has you covered .

In Historic Vote, House Backs Statehood For D.C.; Trump And The Senate Say No
Enlarge this image toggle caption Tyrone Turner/WAMU Tyrone Turner/WAMU
Updated at 2:59 p.m. ET
House Democrats approved a bill Friday afternoon to make the District of Columbia the nation's 51st state.
The vote was 232-180 largely along party and the legislation is expected to go no further in the face of opposition by Republicans in the Senate.
For decades, Washington, D.C., license plates have bemoaned the District of Columbia's lack of statehood, reminding viewers in bold blue letters of its "taxation without representation."
Despite having a population larger than that of Vermont or Wyoming, the District's 700,000 residents don't have anyone voting for their interests on the floor of the House or the Senate.
The bill was sponsored by the District's nonvoting delegate, Eleanor Holmes Norton, and the vote on it was announced last week by House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md.
Norton says her bill holds personal, as well as political, meaning.
"My great-grandfather, who walked away from slavery in Virginia, got as far as the District of Columbia — got to freedom, but not to equality," she tells All Things Considered's Ari Shapiro. "And so what I think of this bill, at least for my family: I dedicate it to my great-grandfather, Richard Holmes."
Longtime debate
Friday marked the first time since 1993 that Congress voted on D.C. statehood, an issue that has been debated for decades.
Norton remembered serving in Congress during that vote.
"We got more votes, by the way, than we thought we would," she told Shapiro.
Continued Norton: "It failed then because the House was dominated by Southern Democrats who tended to be conservative on many issues. We were pleased to have them as Democrats, but we could not pass that bill. ... So times change, and they have changed remarkably, and they are ready now, it seems certainly in the House, to make the District the 51st state."
Today's Democrats have tried to play up what they call their emphasis on voting, representation and racial justice, all of which underpin the political strategy on the D.C. statehood vote.
Passage in the Republican-controlled Senate is another story.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., told TV host Laura Ingraham last year that any Democratic push for D.C. statehood is "full-bore socialism on the march in the House" and that "as long as I'm the majority leader of the Senate, none of that stuff is going anywhere."
President Trump has also scoffed at statehood efforts, telling The New York Post in May: "Why? So we can have two more Democratic — Democrat senators and five more congressmen? No, thank you. That'll never happen."
On Wednesday, the Trump administration issued a statement formally opposing Norton's bill and vowing that if the bill ever reached the president's desk, he would veto it.
And on Thursday, Republican Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas spoke on the Senate floor for 18 minutes to express his outrage over statehood efforts, calling it a power grab by Democrats.
"If Washington deserves to be a state, at 700,000 residents, how much more does New York City deserve to be its own state at 8 million residents?" he asked.
New York City residents already are represented in Congress via their state delegations to the House and the Senate.
Cotton also argued that Wyoming, while smaller than Washington in population, is a "well-rounded working class state."
"What vital industries would the new state of Washington represent? Lobbying? Bureaucracy?" he asked. "Give me a break. By far, the largest group of workers in the city are bureaucrats and other white collar professionals."
Senate Democrats, including Hawaii's Brian Schatz, faulted what they called the unfair standard Cotton was applying.
Robert C. White Jr., who serves as one of the District's at-large councilmembers, says the disenfranchisement of the District's residents should supersede partisan politics.
"We pay taxes like every other American state. We fight and die in wars like residents of every state. And we deserve the same opportunity to have a voice in how our nation is governed," White tells NPR.
White says that even if statehood doesn't get a vote in the Senate this year, he believes the bill's passage in the House would represent a significant step forward.
"The D.C. statehood bill passing the House will elevate the profile of this issue, and as more Americans realize how uniquely disenfranchised D.C. is, I think it will increase the calls for D.C. statehood across the country," White says.
A 2019 Gallup poll indicates a long road ahead in shifting national opinions on D.C. statehood: 64% of Americans surveyed said they thought the District shouldn't be a state.
Want to know more about the District of Columbia's history and how its self-governance changed over time? WAMU has you covered.


npr--2020-06-26--This Coronavirus Doesn't Change Quickly, And That's Good News For Vaccine Makers

This Coronavirus Does n't Change Quickly , And That 's Good News For Vaccine Makers Scientists are monitoring the virus that causes COVID-19 for genetic changes that could make a vaccine ineffective .
But so far , they 're not seeing any .
`` There 's nothing alarming about the way the coronavirus is mutating or the speed at which it 's mutating , '' says Emma Hodcroft , a molecular epidemiologist at the University of Basel in Switzerland .
`` We do n't think this will be a problem [ for vaccines ] in the short term . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ very few mutations observed , '' says Peter Thielen , a senior scientist at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory .
`` And any mutations that we do see are likely not having an effect on the function of the virus itself . ''
That 's good news for scientists working to produce an effective vaccine by the end of the year .
And it reflects the enormous quantity of genetic information on SARS-CoV-2 , the virus that causes COVID-19 , that researchers have amassed since the virus appeared in China late last year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to just one whole genome sequence of the virus .
`` Today we have over 47,000 coronavirus genomes that have been submitted to international databases , '' Thielen says .
New genomes are added every day by teams of scientists from around the world .
And each time a new one arrives , it gets a close examination , Thielen says .
`` What we 're looking for in the data is similarity between the virus that first emerged and the genome that had been deposited and any changes that have occurred in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And overall , the viruses circulating today look remarkably similar to the ones first identified in China .
There had been concern about mutations because SARS-CoV-2 is a type of virus capable of quickly changing its genes .
But unlike many similar viruses , the coronavirus uses a proofreading system to catch any errors in the genetic code when it begins generating copies of itself .
`` So if there 's a change , it will actually make a correction at a specific location , '' Thielen says .
Vaccine developers have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ something called a spike protein .
It 's a structure on the surface of the coronavirus that allows it to invade cells .
Spike proteins also give the virus its distinctive appearance and account for its name .
Scientists who first viewed a coronavirus through an electron microscope were reminded of the solar corona .
The candidates for a coronavirus vaccine now under development are all designed to teach the immune system to recognize these spike proteins .
So far , Thielen says , that 's looking like a good strategy .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same as we would have designed them in January , '' he says .
Some other well-known viruses have proved less amenable to the strategy of using the same vaccine from year to year .
Influenza , for example , is constantly altering its surface proteins in ways that require annual vaccine updates for each strain that 's making the rounds that year .
`` Flu just really loves to change these parts , '' Hodcroft says .
`` And that 's why we can end up with such different flus from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a virus at the other extreme – its genome has stayed fairly consistent over the years , at least in the ways that trigger immunity in people after infection .
That means children today still get a measles vaccine that was developed in the 1960s , and it provides immunity for a lifetime .
Hodcroft says she thinks SARS-CoV-2 is likely to fall somewhere between the flu and measles when it comes to making a vaccine .
`` I think in the short term we 'll find something , '' she says .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is something we 'll be able to vaccinate once and then you never have to get it again , or will it be something you 'll have to get every couple of years to keep your immunity up to date . ''
Scientists are uncertain because the coronavirus is still so new , Hodcroft says .
`` We have n't really seen the full diversity of how the virus can mutate , '' she says .
`` It gathers mutations over time .
We ca n't speed up time , so we just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At the moment , though , vaccine developers have more pressing concerns than mutations .
First , they 'll have to demonstrate that they can produce vaccines that are both safe and effective .
Then they 'll have to make huge quantities .
`` It 's not a small feat to manufacture a vaccine for billions of people and then to get it to all of those people , '' Hodcroft says .
That will take months , she says , in addition to the months required to develop a vaccine in the @ @ @

This Coronavirus Doesn't Change Quickly, And That's Good News For Vaccine Makers
Enlarge this image toggle caption National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases/National Institutes of Health National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases/National Institutes of Health
Scientists are monitoring the virus that causes COVID-19 for genetic changes that could make a vaccine ineffective. But so far, they're not seeing any.
"There's nothing alarming about the way the coronavirus is mutating or the speed at which it's mutating," says Emma Hodcroft, a molecular epidemiologist at the University of Basel in Switzerland. "We don't think this will be a problem [for vaccines] in the short term."
"To date, there have been very few mutations observed," says Peter Thielen, a senior scientist at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory. "And any mutations that we do see are likely not having an effect on the function of the virus itself."
That's good news for scientists working to produce an effective vaccine by the end of the year. And it reflects the enormous quantity of genetic information on SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, that researchers have amassed since the virus appeared in China late last year.
In January, scientists were limited to just one whole genome sequence of the virus. "Today we have over 47,000 coronavirus genomes that have been submitted to international databases," Thielen says.
New genomes are added every day by teams of scientists from around the world. And each time a new one arrives, it gets a close examination, Thielen says.
"What we're looking for in the data is similarity between the virus that first emerged and the genome that had been deposited and any changes that have occurred in the virus," he says. And overall, the viruses circulating today look remarkably similar to the ones first identified in China.
There had been concern about mutations because SARS-CoV-2 is a type of virus capable of quickly changing its genes. But unlike many similar viruses, the coronavirus uses a proofreading system to catch any errors in the genetic code when it begins generating copies of itself.
"The targets for vaccine design today remain the same as we would have designed them in January."
"So if there's a change, it will actually make a correction at a specific location," Thielen says.
Vaccine developers have been especially concerned about genetic locations that affect something called a spike protein. It's a structure on the surface of the coronavirus that allows it to invade cells.
Spike proteins also give the virus its distinctive appearance and account for its name. Scientists who first viewed a coronavirus through an electron microscope were reminded of the solar corona.
The candidates for a coronavirus vaccine now under development are all designed to teach the immune system to recognize these spike proteins. So far, Thielen says, that's looking like a good strategy.
"The targets for vaccine design today remain the same as we would have designed them in January," he says.
Some other well-known viruses have proved less amenable to the strategy of using the same vaccine from year to year. Influenza, for example, is constantly altering its surface proteins in ways that require annual vaccine updates for each strain that's making the rounds that year.
"Flu just really loves to change these parts," Hodcroft says. "And that's why we can end up with such different flus from season to season."
Measles represents a virus at the other extreme – its genome has stayed fairly consistent over the years, at least in the ways that trigger immunity in people after infection. That means children today still get a measles vaccine that was developed in the 1960s, and it provides immunity for a lifetime.
Hodcroft says she thinks SARS-CoV-2 is likely to fall somewhere between the flu and measles when it comes to making a vaccine.
"I think in the short term we'll find something," she says. "The big question is whether this is something we'll be able to vaccinate once and then you never have to get it again, or will it be something you'll have to get every couple of years to keep your immunity up to date."
Scientists are uncertain because the coronavirus is still so new, Hodcroft says.
"We haven't really seen the full diversity of how the virus can mutate," she says. "It gathers mutations over time. We can't speed up time, so we just have to wait and see."
At the moment, though, vaccine developers have more pressing concerns than mutations. First, they'll have to demonstrate that they can produce vaccines that are both safe and effective. Then they'll have to make huge quantities.
"It's not a small feat to manufacture a vaccine for billions of people and then to get it to all of those people," Hodcroft says.
That will take months, she says, in addition to the months required to develop a vaccine in the first place.


npr--2020-06-26--Obamacare Must 'Fall,' Trump Administration Tells Supreme Court

In a filing with the Supreme Court , the Trump administration has reaffirmed its position that the Affordable Care Act in its entirety is illegal because Congress eliminated the individual tax penalty for failing to purchase medical insurance .
Solicitor General Noel Francisco , the government 's chief advocate before the Supreme Court , said in a brief that the other provisions of Obamacare are impossible to separate from the individual mandate and that `` it necessarily follows that the rest of the ACA must also fall . ''
Shortly after the brief appeared on the court 's docket late @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a statement : `` President Trump and the Republicans ' campaign to rip away the protections and benefits of the Affordable Care Act in the middle of the coronavirus crisis is an act of unfathomable cruelty . ''
The case before the high court began with a lawsuit brought by 20 states , led by Texas , calling for the elimination of the ACA .
It has been consolidated for argument with another case brought by 17 states , led by California , seeking to preserve the law .
The court is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fall .
The lawsuit was first heard in Texas in 2018 by U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor , who struck down the entire ACA as unconstitutional .
At the time the Trump administration had not taken that all-or-nothing position but since then has come to support the lawsuit .
Eliminating the ACA would end medical insurance for more than 20 million Americans .
It would also end widely popular provisions of the law , such as extending parents ' coverage to children up to the age of 26 , and prohibiting insurance companies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Trump and congressional Republicans have long said they want to `` repeal and replace '' Obamacare , but have yet to offer legislation addressing what would take its place .
The cases before the Supreme Court are State of California , et al.
, v. State of Texas , et al .
( 19-840 ) and State of Texas , et al.
, v. State of California , et al .
( 19-1019 ) .

Obamacare Must 'Fall,' Trump Administration Tells Supreme Court
Enlarge this image toggle caption Susan Walsh/AP Susan Walsh/AP
Updated at 11:43 a.m. ET
In a filing with the U.S. Supreme Court, the Trump administration has reaffirmed its position that the Affordable Care Act in its entirety is illegal because Congress eliminated the individual tax penalty for failing to purchase medical insurance.
Solicitor General Noel Francisco, the government's chief advocate before the Supreme Court, said in a brief that the other provisions of Obamacare are impossible to separate from the individual mandate and that "it necessarily follows that the rest of the ACA must also fall."
Shortly after the brief appeared on the court's docket late Thursday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a statement: "President Trump and the Republicans' campaign to rip away the protections and benefits of the Affordable Care Act in the middle of the coronavirus crisis is an act of unfathomable cruelty."
In a speech on the lawsuit Thursday, former Vice President Joe Biden said he was proud of the ACA and denounced the administration's position. "It's cruel, it's heartless, and it's callous," he said.
The case before the high court began with a lawsuit brought by 20 states, led by Texas, calling for the elimination of the ACA. It has been consolidated for argument with another case brought by 17 states, led by California, seeking to preserve the law. The court is likely to hear the case in the fall.
"President Trump, in this cruel lawsuit, has shown us who he really is," California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said in a statement. He added that they intend to prevail "with the facts, the law and the American people on our side."
The lawsuit was first heard in Texas in 2018 by U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor, who struck down the entire ACA as unconstitutional. At the time, the Trump administration had not taken that all-or-nothing position but since then has come to support the lawsuit.
Eliminating the ACA would end medical insurance for more than 20 million Americans. It would also end widely popular provisions of the law, such as extending parents' coverage to children up to the age of 26 and prohibiting insurance companies from denying coverage based on preexisting conditions.
Trump and congressional Republicans have long said they want to "repeal and replace" Obamacare but have yet to offer legislation addressing what would take its place.
The cases before the Supreme Court are State of California, et al., v. State of Texas, et al. (19-840) and State of Texas, et al., v. State of California, et al. (19-1019).


npr--2020-06-26--U.S. Sets Daily Record For New COVID-19 Cases

U.S. Sets Daily Record For New COVID-19 Cases With numbers spiking across southern states , the U.S. set a daily record for new COVID-19 cases Thursday in a return to figures not seen since late April .
According to data collected by Johns Hopkins University & Medicine Coronavirus Resource Center , 40,401 new cases were recorded June 25 , surpassing the previous record set April 24 , which saw 36,291 new cases .
The U.S. continues to lead the world in both reported cases and deaths from the coronavirus .
As of early June 26 , the U.S. has recorded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , the case numbers are almost certainly vastly understated .
`` Our best estimate right now is that for every case that was reported , there actually were 10 other infections , '' Dr. Robert Redfield , the director of the CDC , said during a call with reporters Thursday .
At least two states which had resisted stringent measures to control the spread of the virus are adjusting public health policies to address their surging numbers .
Texas Gov .
Greg Abbott announced Thursday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reopening of its economy because of what he called a `` massive outbreak '' of the coronavirus .
And Arizona Gov .
Doug Ducey pleaded with citizens to stay home if at all possible , but he again refused to impose statewide restrictions .
Arizona public health officials say the state 's ICU beds are nearly full .
Arizona has reported more than than 60,000 cases since the start of the pandemic .
Whether the increase in reported cases will be matched by a surge in deaths will depend on a number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , such as the age of those infected , individual risk factors and the availability of medical care .
Deaths per day are averaging about 600 , compared with a high of about 2,200 per day in April .
One explanation for the drop offered by public health experts is that many of those recently infected are young .
Much depends on how the government continues to respond to the pandemic .
`` It is possible , if we play our cards badly and make a lot of mistakes , to get back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But if we are smart , there 's no reason to get to 2,200 deaths a day , '' Dr. Ashish Jha , director of Harvard 's Global Health Institute , told The Associated Press .

U.S. Sets Daily Record For New Coronavirus Cases
Enlarge this image toggle caption Eric Gay/AP Eric Gay/AP
Updated at 10:45 a.m. ET
With numbers spiking across Southern states, the United States set a daily record for new COVID-19 cases Thursday.
According to data collected by Johns Hopkins University & Medicine Coronavirus Resource Center, 39,972 new cases were recorded June 25, surpassing the previous record set April 24, which saw 36,291 new cases.
The U.S. continues to lead the world in both reported cases and deaths from the coronavirus. As of early June 26, the U.S. has recorded 2,422,310 cases and 124,416 deaths.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the case numbers are almost certainly vastly understated.
"Our best estimate right now is that for every case that was reported, there actually were 10 other infections," Dr. Robert Redfield, the director of the CDC, said during a call with reporters Thursday.
At least two states that had resisted stringent measures to control the spread of the virus are adjusting public health policies to address their surging numbers.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced Thursday the state will "pause" further reopening of its economy because of what he called a "massive outbreak" of the coronavirus.
And Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey pleaded with citizens to stay home if at all possible, but he again refused to impose statewide restrictions. Arizona public health officials say the state's ICU beds are nearly full. Arizona has reported more than than 60,000 cases since the start of the pandemic.
Whether the increase in reported cases will be matched by a surge in deaths will depend on a number of factors, according to public health experts, such as the age of those infected, individual risk factors and the availability of medical care.
Deaths per day are averaging about 600, compared with a high of about 2,200 per day in April. One explanation for the drop offered by public health experts is that many of those recently infected are young.
Much depends on how the government continues to respond to the pandemic.
"It is possible, if we play our cards badly and make a lot of mistakes, to get back to that [April] level. But if we are smart, there's no reason to get to 2,200 deaths a day," Dr. Ashish Jha, director of Harvard's Global Health Institute, told The Associated Press.


npr--2020-06-25--Colorado Gov. Appoints Special Prosecutor To Reopen Probe Of Elijah McClain Death

What does it take to reopen an investigation into a police-involved death of a young Black man after the district attorney refuses to press criminal charges and the officers have been cleared of any wrongdoing ?
In Aurora , Colo. , the answer is millions of people signing an online petition , thousands of calls to local and state elected officials and intense social media pressure compounded by national media coverage .
All as the nation erupts in grassroots protests against police brutality and systemic racism .
On Thursday , nearly a year after the death of Elijah McClain who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Jared Polis appointed a special prosecutor to `` determine whether the facts justify criminal charges against members of law enforcement '' involved in the arrest .
`` Elijah McClain should be alive today , and we owe it to his family to take this step and elevate the pursuit of justice in his name to a statewide concern , '' Polis said in a statement .
`` Now more than ever , we must do something within our power to foster public trust and confidence in law enforcement and the criminal justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acknowledged it is an `` exceptional '' step to disregard a district attorney decision not to pursue criminal charges .
But the governor explained previous investigations omitted pertinent details about the incident .
`` The State rarely steps in to investigate , and potentially prosecute , an incident over the individual decisions of district attorneys .
This , however , is the truly exceptional case where widely reported facts are not addressed in any current investigation , '' Polis wrote .
`` These omissions merit a supplemental evaluation of the case by an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Order . ''
'He Looks Sketchy .
He Might Be A Good Person Or A Bad Person' On Aug. 24 , 2019 , McClain was walking home from a local convenience carrying a bottle of iced tea .
He was wearing a ski mask and listening to music on the kind of headphones that fit snugly inside the ear .
McClain , who was anemic , often wore a ski mask when he felt cold , his family has said .
His waving arms caught the attention of a man named Juan who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he called 911 .
`` He looks sketchy .
He might be a good person or a bad person , '' Juan told the operator .
That was enough to put out a call for officers to respond to the scene .
From what little is available of the body cam video footage , officers did n't waste much time confronting McClain .
At least four officers showed up , getting out of their respective squad cars calling for the 23-year-old to stop walking .
It 's unclear if McClain could hear them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exchanges , he stopped walking .
He appears taken aback by the officer 's sudden appearance .
The officers ca n't be heard offering an explanation for the stop , although they can be seen surrounding the man .
Blocking his path .
When a few hands reached out to grab at him , McClain recoiled , saying , `` I am an introvert .
Please respect the boundaries that I am speaking . ''
From there , the camera footage becomes a jumble .
However , even without the visuals the at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the scene .
McClain is pinned down for several minutes in a carotid hold .
He can be heard moaning , sobbing , repeating that `` it hurts '' and pleading with the officers to stop .
`` I was just going home .
I do n't have a gun .
I do n't do that stuff .
I do n't even kill flies .
I do n't even eat meat . ''
`` I 'm just different , '' he whimpers .
Throughout McClain 's anguished monologue , the officers can be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the initial 911 call and saying that McClain showed `` incredible strength . ''
They seem to ignore McClain entirely .
Minutes later , one officer says to another , `` Move your camera , dude . ''
Then one can be heard claiming that McClain tried to go for his colleague 's gun .
That leads to more grunts and sounds of a scuffle .
`` We have his arm , '' one officers says .
Another calls back , `` I have his other arm .
Someone picks up a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lying on his side with both hands restrained behind his back , and one officer jamming his knee on the man 's torso .
When McClain attempts to roll over to vomit , they shout at him to `` stop fighting us . ''
`` If you keep messing around , I 'm going to bring my dog out here and he 's going to bite you , '' says an officer standing over McClain .
`` I ca n't fix myself , '' he says weakly .
McClain 's body goes limp @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officer asks , `` Are you OK ? ''
But he 's not asking McClain .
He 's speaking to the officer on top of him .
`` Yeah , I 'm good , '' the officer says shifting his weight .
When the members of Aurora Fire Rescue later arrived on the scene , a fire medic injected McClain with ketamine to calm him .
Officers tell the medic they believe McClain is on drugs .
`` Whatever he 's on , he has incredible strength , '' one officer says .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ marijuana his system . )
More than 20 minutes after the confrontation began , McClain was placed into an ambulance where he stopped breathing .
He suffered cardiac arrest on the way to the hospital and on August 30 he was removed from life support .
`` I was moved by speaking with Elijah 's mother and her description of her son as a responsible and curious child who became a vegetarian to be healthier , and who could inspire the darkest soul , '' Polis said Thursday .
He continued : `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is incredibly important now more than ever , '' Polis said .
`` A fair and objective process free from real or perceived bias for investigating officer-involved killings is critical . ''
Earlier this month , attorney Eric Daigle , an independent investigator who was looking into the case , was removed over concerns that he may be biased .
Members of the public pressed local officials for his removal after learning Daigle was previously a police officer in Connecticut and has subsequently defended law enforcement agencies in other legal cases .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nathan Woodyard , Jason Rosenblatt , and Randy Roedema — were placed on administrative leave for about three months following McClain 's death .
All three were cleared of wrongdoing by the Aurora Police Department in February .
Police department officials determined that everyone involved had used an appropriate level of force throughout the confrontation and that it was consistent with training .
The Adams County Coroner 's Office concluded that he died from `` undetermined causes . ''
But it left open the possibility that the police carotid hold and ketamine injection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Based on my review of the EMS reports , hospital records , bodycam footage from the restraining officers , and the autopsy findings , I can not determine which manner of death is most likely , '' the coroner report said , according to 9 News .
Ultimately , Adams County District Attorney Dave Young declined to file criminal charges .
And as recently as Wednesday , Young told the news station he had no grounds to reopen the investigation .
`` I 'm not trying to justify the officers ' actions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not prove a crime beyond a reasonable doubt , '' Young added .
`` They murdered him .
They are bullies with badges , '' McClain 's mother , Sheneen McClain , told CBS News on Thursday .
Mari Newman , a lawyer for McClain 's family , told NBC News that the family is dismayed it has taken a national outcry to prompt officials to reinvestigate .
`` It 's unfortunate that it takes international media pressure and petitions signed by two million people before the elected officials would do their jobs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the DA and the mayor , '' Newman said .

Colorado Gov. Appoints Special Prosecutor To Reopen Probe Of Elijah McClain Death
Enlarge this image toggle caption Andy Cross/DP Andy Cross/DP
What does it take to reopen an investigation into a police-involved death of a young Black man after the district attorney refuses to press criminal charges and the officers have been cleared of any wrongdoing?
In Aurora, Colo., the answer is millions of people signing an online petition, thousands of calls to local and state elected officials and intense social media pressure compounded by national media coverage. All as the nation erupts in grassroots protests against police brutality and systemic racism.
On Thursday, nearly a year after the death of Elijah McClain who died in police custody, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis appointed a special prosecutor to "determine whether the facts justify criminal charges against members of law enforcement" involved in the arrest.
"Elijah McClain should be alive today, and we owe it to his family to take this step and elevate the pursuit of justice in his name to a statewide concern," Polis said in a statement.
"Now more than ever, we must do something within our power to foster public trust and confidence in law enforcement and the criminal justice system," he added.
New Investigation Is A Rare Step
Polis acknowledged it is an "exceptional" step to disregard a district attorney decision not to pursue criminal charges. But the governor explained previous investigations omitted pertinent details about the incident.
"The State rarely steps in to investigate, and potentially prosecute, an incident over the individual decisions of district attorneys. This, however, is the truly exceptional case where widely reported facts are not addressed in any current investigation," Polis wrote.
"These omissions merit a supplemental evaluation of the case by an independent prosecutor and thus warrant this Executive Order."
'He Looks Sketchy. He Might Be A Good Person Or A Bad Person'
On Aug. 24 McClain was walking home from a local convenience store carrying a bottle of iced tea.
He was wearing a ski mask and listening to music on the kind of headphones that fit snugly inside the ear.
McClain often wore a ski mask when he felt cold because of his anemia, his family has said.
His waving arms caught the attention of a man named Juan who was driving down the same street, and he called 911.
"He looks sketchy. He might be a good person or a bad person," Juan told the operator.
That was enough to put out a call for officers to respond to the scene.
From what little is available of the body cam video footage, officers didn't waste much time confronting McClain. At least four officers showed up, getting out of their respective squad cars calling for the 23-year-old to stop walking.
It's unclear if McClain could hear them or not, but after some confused exchanges, he stopped walking. He appears taken aback by their sudden appearance.
The officers can't be heard offering an explanation for the stop, although they can be seen surrounding the man. Blocking his path.
When a few hands reached out to grab at McClain, he recoiled, saying, "I am an introvert. Please respect the boundaries that I am speaking."
Officers repeatedly ordered McClain to "stop tensing up."
From there, the camera footage becomes a jumble. However, even without the visuals at least two body cameras capture audio of the scene.
McClain is pinned down for several minutes in a carotid hold. He can be heard moaning, sobbing, repeating that "it hurts" and pleading with the officers to stop.
"I was just going home. I don't have a gun. I don't do that stuff. I don't even kill flies. I don't even eat meat."
"I'm just different," he whimpers.
Throughout McClain's anguished monologue, the officers can be heard talking to each other. Going over the initial 911 call and saying that McClain showed "incredible strength."
They seem to ignore McClain entirely.
Minutes later, one officer says to another, "Move your camera, dude."
Then one can be heard claiming that McClain tried to go for his colleague's gun.
That leads to more grunts and sounds of a scuffle.
"We have his arm," one officers says. Another calls back, "I have his other arm.
Someone picks up a body camera and McClain can be seen lying on his side with both hands restrained behind his back. An officer can be seen jamming his knee on the man's torso.
When McClain attempts to roll over to vomit, they shout at him to "stop fighting us."
"If you keep messing around, I'm going to bring my dog out here and he's going to bite you," says an officer standing over McClain.
McClain proceeds to vomit.
"I can't fix myself," he says weakly.
McClain's body goes limp and he passes out.
Eventually one officer asks, "Are you OK?"
But he's not asking McClain. He's speaking to the officer on top of him.
"Yeah, I'm good," the officer says shifting his weight.
When the members of Aurora Fire Rescue later arrived on the scene, a fire medic injected McClain with ketamine to calm him.
Officers tell the medic they believe McClain is on drugs.
"Whatever he's on, he has incredible strength," one officer says. (McClain's autopsy revealed he had marijuana his system.)
More than 20 minutes after the confrontation began, McClain was placed into an ambulance where he stopped breathing. He suffered cardiac arrest on the way to the hospital and on August 30 he was removed from life support.
Public Confidence In Law Enforcement Is Low
"I was moved by speaking with Elijah's mother and her description of her son as a responsible and curious child who became a vegetarian to be healthier, and who could inspire the darkest soul," Polis said Thursday.
He continued: "Public confidence in our law enforcement process is incredibly important now more than ever," Polis said. "A fair and objective process free from real or perceived bias for investigating officer-involved killings is critical."
Earlier this month, attorney Eric Daigle, an independent investigator who was looking into the case, was removed over concerns that he may be biased. Members of the public pressed local officials for his removal after learning Daigle was previously a police officer in Connecticut and has subsequently defended law enforcement agencies in other legal cases.
The officers involved in the fatal altercation — Nathan Woodyard, Jason Rosenblatt, and Randy Roedema — were placed on administrative leave for about three months following McClain's death.
All three were cleared of wrongdoing by the Aurora Police Department in February. Police department officials determined that everyone involved had used an appropriate level of force throughout the confrontation and that it was consistent with training.
The Adams County Coroner's Office concluded that he died from "undetermined causes." But it left open the possibility that the police carotid hold and ketamine injection may have contributed to his death.
"Based on my review of the EMS reports, hospital records, bodycam footage from the restraining officers, and the autopsy findings, I cannot determine which manner of death is most likely," the coroner report said, according to 9 News.
Ultimately, Adams County District Attorney Dave Young declined to file criminal charges. And as recently as Wednesday, Young told the news station he had no grounds to reopen the investigation.
"I'm not trying to justify the officers' actions. I'm only saying I cannot prove a crime beyond a reasonable doubt," Young added.
McClain Family Seeks Justice
"They murdered him. They are bullies with badges," McClain's mother, Sheneen McClain, told CBS News on Thursday.
Mari Newman, a lawyer for McClain's family, told NBC News that the family is dismayed it has taken a national outcry to prompt officials to reinvestigate.
"It's unfortunate that it takes international media pressure and petitions signed by two million people before the elected officials would do their jobs, and by elected officials I mean the DA and the mayor," Newman said.


npr--2020-06-25--Illinois Cautiously Reopens Zoos, Fitness Centers And Movie Theaters Friday

Illinois moves into the next phase of its reopening plan on Friday .
The guidelines allow movie theaters , zoos , museums and health and fitness centers to reopen with limited capacity .
Restaurants will be able to offer in-door dining and gatherings of 50 people or fewer will be permitted .
Schools and child care programs with social distancing policies in place can also reopen .
Illinois Gov .
J.B. Pritzker said hundreds of thousands of Illinoisans can return to work .
`` The battle is not over , '' said Pritzker , `` but so much progress has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ follow the path the doctors recommend we can continue our march towards more normalcy . ''
Pritzker said because residents followed guidelines—wearing face masks , frequently washing their hands , staying home and practicing social distancing—there 's been more than a 60 percent decline in the number of coronavirus deaths per day in Illinois from a peak six weeks ago .
There also has been a deeper drop in the percentage of new cases .
Any pride in success , he added , must be tempered by grief .
Thursday , the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the overall total to 139,434 .
The state reported 41 new fatalities ; the number of Illinois residents who 've lost their lives to the pandemic is 6,810 .
At the same time , Illinois set a single day testing record , conducting more than 31,000 for the first time .
Illinois expands its reopening just as coronavirus surges worsened in several other states .
Arizona , California and Texas are among those that saw drastic increases in recent days , with some governors saying they might have to slow reopenings to try @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pritzker said he expects there will be some difficulty in Illinois , too , as the state reopens and warns he wo n't hesitate to impose restrictions if there 's a rise in cases .
However , Illinois Public Health Director Ngozi Ezike said for now , Illinois residents deserve praise .
`` You did it !
, '' she said at a Thursday press conference .
`` Illinois is being touted across the country of getting it right . ''
Even so , Ezike said the virus persists and people are still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the refusal by some to wear facemasks to playing a game of Russian Roulette .
`` The stakes are high , '' she said .
`` Let 's not gamble with coronavirus .
We do n't even know the long-term effects of COVID-19 , what might happen to our lungs five years from now after being infected . ''
Dr. Emily Landon , the executive medical director for infection prevention at the University of Chicago , worries that some consider wearing a mask a political statement .
She said they are n't , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on them . ''
She calls facemasks `` a piece of fabric that covers a part of your body that needs to be protected like gloves in the winter , '' adding that , Illinois residents should be able to get used to them , just like she did when she first became a physician .
In Illinois and elsewhere , COVID-19 has hit areas with large Black and Latinx residents disproportionately hard .
Carlos Nelson is a community leader in Chicago 's Auburn-Gresham neighborhood .
He urged everyone to take the next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for community leaders to set an example .
`` We must do our part to maintain a level of awareness that the coronavirus is still real without a vaccine , '' he said .

Illinois Cautiously Reopens Zoos, Fitness Centers And Movie Theaters Friday
Updated at 11:09 p.m. ET
Illinois moves into the next phase of its reopening plan on Friday.
The guidelines allow movie theaters, zoos, museums and health and fitness centers to reopen with limited capacity. Restaurants will be able to offer in-door dining and gatherings of 50 people or fewer will be permitted.
Schools and child care programs with social distancing policies in place can also reopen. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said hundreds of thousands of Illinoisans can return to work.
"The battle is not over," said Pritzker, "but so much progress has been made. If we continue to follow the path the doctors recommend we can continue our march towards more normalcy."
Pritzker said because residents followed guidelines—wearing face masks, frequently washing their hands, staying home and practicing social distancing—there's been more than a 60 percent decline in the number of coronavirus deaths per day in Illinois from a peak six weeks ago. There also has been a deeper drop in the percentage of new cases.
Any pride in success, he added, must be tempered by grief.
Thursday, the state reported 894 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the overall total to 139,434. The state reported 41 new fatalities; the number of Illinois residents who've lost their lives to the pandemic is 6,810. At the same time, Illinois set a single day testing record, conducting more than 31,000 for the first time.
Illinois expands its reopening just as coronavirus surges worsened in several other states. Arizona, California and Texas are among those that saw drastic increases in recent days, with some governors saying they might have to slow reopenings to try to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Pritzker said he expects there will be some difficulty in Illinois, too, as the state reopens and warns he won't hesitate to impose restrictions if there's a rise in cases.
However, Illinois Public Health Director Ngozi Ezike said for now, Illinois residents deserve praise.
"You did it!," she said at a Thursday press conference. "Illinois is being touted across the country of getting it right."
Even so, Ezike said the virus persists and people are still being infected and dying. She likened the refusal by some to wear facemasks to playing a game of Russian Roulette.
"The stakes are high," she said. "Let's not gamble with coronavirus. We don't even know the long-term effects of COVID-19, what might happen to our lungs five years from now after being infected."
Dr. Emily Landon, the executive medical director for infection prevention at the University of Chicago, worries that some consider wearing a mask a political statement. She said they aren't, "unless there's a political statement on them."
She calls facemasks "a piece of fabric that covers a part of your body that needs to be protected like gloves in the winter," adding that, Illinois residents should be able to get used to them, just like she did when she first became a physician.
In Illinois and elsewhere, COVID-19 has hit areas with large Black and Latinx residents disproportionately hard. Carlos Nelson is a community leader in Chicago's Auburn-Gresham neighborhood. He urged everyone to take the next phase of the Illinois reopening seriously and for community leaders to set an example.
"We must do our part to maintain a level of awareness that the coronavirus is still real without a vaccine," he said.


npr--2020-06-25--NASA Names Headquarters After Mary Jackson, Its First Black Female Engineer

NASA Names Headquarters After Mary Jackson , Its First Black Female Engineer NASA 's Washington , D.C. , headquarters will soon bear the name of Mary Jackson , the agency 's first African American female engineer and a driving force behind getting U.S. astronauts into space .
`` Mary never accepted the status quo , she helped break barriers and open opportunities for African Americans and women in the field of engineering and technology , '' he said .
While Jackson 's career spanned more than three decades , her contributions were largely overlooked until long after her death in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three trailblazing `` human computers '' portrayed in the 2016 film Hidden Figures , which tells the story of Black women 's work in the space race .
The portion of E Street SW in front of NASA Headquarters was renamed Hidden Figures Way in 2019 .
Bridenstine called the names a `` reminder that Mary is one of many incredible and talented professionals in NASA 's history who contributed to this agency 's success . ''
`` Hidden no more , we will continue to recognize the contributions of women , African @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who have made NASA 's successful history of exploration possible , '' he said .
Jackson was recruited in 1951 by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics , the agency succeeded by NASA in 1958 .
She started out as a research mathematician , working in the segregated West Area Computing Unit of the agency 's Langley Research Center in Hampton , Va. Jackson eventually enrolled in a training program that would allow her to be promoted to engineer , obtaining special permission to attend classes since they were held at a then-segregated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first Black female engineer in 1958 .
According to the agency , Jackson worked in aeronautics research as well as the personnel field , and went on to lead programs addressing the hiring and promotion of the next generation of female mathematicians , scientists and engineers before her retirement in 1985 .
She was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 2019 .
Bridenstine acknowledged the naming decision comes at a time in which the country `` is beginning to awaken to the greater need to honor the full diversity of people who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We are honored that NASA continues to celebrate the legacy of our mother and grandmother Mary W. Jackson , '' Carolyn Lewis , Mary 's daughter , said in the agency 's press release .
`` She was a scientist , humanitarian , wife , mother , and trailblazer who paved the way for thousands of others to succeed , not only at NASA , but throughout this nation . ''

NASA Names Headquarters After Mary Jackson, Its First Black Female Engineer
Enlarge this image toggle caption Robert Nye/NASA via AP Robert Nye/NASA via AP
NASA's Washington, D.C., headquarters will soon bear the name of Mary Jackson, the agency's first African American female engineer and a driving force behind getting U.S. astronauts into space.
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine announced the move in a statement released Wednesday.
"Mary never accepted the status quo, she helped break barriers and open opportunities for African Americans and women in the field of engineering and technology," he said.
While Jackson's career spanned more than three decades, her contributions were largely overlooked until long after her death in 2005. She was one of the three trailblazing "human computers" portrayed in the 2016 film Hidden Figures, which tells the story of Black women's work in the space race.
The portion of E Street SW in front of NASA Headquarters was renamed Hidden Figures Way in 2019. Bridenstine called the names a "reminder that Mary is one of many incredible and talented professionals in NASA's history who contributed to this agency's success."
"Hidden no more, we will continue to recognize the contributions of women, African Americans, and people of all backgrounds who have made NASA's successful history of exploration possible," he said.
Jackson was recruited in 1951 by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, the agency succeeded by NASA in 1958. She started out as a research mathematician, working in the segregated West Area Computing Unit of the agency's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va.
Jackson eventually enrolled in a training program that would allow her to be promoted to engineer, obtaining special permission to attend classes since they were held at a then-segregated high school. She became NASA's first Black female engineer in 1958.
According to the agency, Jackson worked in aeronautics research as well as the personnel field, and went on to lead programs addressing the hiring and promotion of the next generation of female mathematicians, scientists and engineers before her retirement in 1985.
She was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 2019.
Bridenstine acknowledged the naming decision comes at a time in which the country "is beginning to awaken to the greater need to honor the full diversity of people who helped pioneer our great nation."
"We are honored that NASA continues to celebrate the legacy of our mother and grandmother Mary W. Jackson," Carolyn Lewis, Mary's daughter, said in the agency's press release. "She was a scientist, humanitarian, wife, mother, and trailblazer who paved the way for thousands of others to succeed, not only at NASA, but throughout this nation."


npr--2020-06-26--Minneapolis Council Moves To Defund Police, Establish 'Holistic' Public Safety Force

The Minneapolis City Council on Friday unanimously approved a proposal to eliminate the city 's police department , marking the first step toward establishing a new `` holistic '' approach to public safety .
The move follows more than a month of national outrage and protests against police brutality in the wake of the killing of George Floyd , a Black man who died after an officer pressed his knee into his neck for more than eight minutes .
The police department , which is largely white and has long struggled to adequately reflect the racial makeup of the city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as public cries to defund the department have gained traction among elected officials .
`` Young Black and brown people in the streets made this happen .
Black organizers demanding abolition for generations made this happen , '' said Miski Noor of Black Visions Collective in a statement .
`` Now , on this new terrain , Minneapolis can start practicing a new vision of safety that defends Black lives , '' Noor said .
While she was critical of the shortcomings of the amendment passed Friday , Noor added , `` we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and anywhere else in the country , to a safe , thriving city without police . ''
Under the proposed plan , the city would eliminate the existing police department and replace it with `` a department of community safety and violence prevention , which will have responsibility for public safety services prioritizing a holistic , public health-oriented approach . ''
The department would be overseen by a director , nominated by the mayor and approved by the city council .
Only individuals with `` non-law enforcement experience in community safety services @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health and/or restorative justice approaches , '' will be eligible to hold the post , according to the amendment .
Additionally , the city could keep a much smaller division of law enforcement in effect under the supervision of the department of community safety and violence prevention .
`` We are going straight into the architecture of how safety is provided for in our community and we 're going straight into the heart of the foundations of that work , '' council member Alondra Cano said .
She added that `` the Council @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for accountability , systems change , and community-led safety . ''
Despite unanimous support Friday , the amendment faces a number of bureaucratic obstacles before voters can vote on it in November .

Minneapolis Council Moves To Defund Police, Establish 'Holistic' Public Safety Force
Enlarge this image toggle caption Kerem Yucel/AFP via Getty Images Kerem Yucel/AFP via Getty Images
The Minneapolis City Council on Friday unanimously approved a proposal to eliminate the city's police department, marking the first step toward establishing a new "holistic" approach to public safety.
The move follows more than a month of national outrage and protests against police brutality in the wake of the killing of George Floyd, a Black man who died after an officer pressed his knee into his neck for more than eight minutes.
The police force, which is largely white and has long struggled to reflect the racial makeup of the city, has come under even greater scrutiny as public cries to defund the department have gained traction among elected officials.
"Young Black and brown people in the streets made this happen. Black organizers demanding abolition for generations made this happen," Miski Noor of Black Visions Collective said in a statement.
"Now, on this new terrain, Minneapolis can start practicing a new vision of safety that defends Black lives."
While Noor was critical of the shortcomings of the amendment passed Friday, she added, "We are closer than any time in history, and anywhere else in the country, to a safe, thriving city without police."
Under the proposed plan, the city would eliminate the existing police department and replace it with "a department of community safety and violence prevention, which will have responsibility for public safety services prioritizing a holistic, public health-oriented approach."
The department would be overseen by a director, nominated by the mayor and approved by the City Council. Only individuals with "non-law enforcement experience in community safety services, including but not limited to public health and/or restorative justice approaches," will be eligible to hold the post, according to the amendment.
Additionally, the city could keep a much smaller division of law enforcement in effect under the supervision of the department of community safety and violence prevention.
"We are going straight into the architecture of how safety is provided for in our community, and we're going straight into the heart of the foundations of that work," council member Alondra Cano said.
She added that "the council has been fielding ongoing calls from residents for accountability, systems change and community-led safety."
Despite unanimous support Friday, the amendment faces a number of bureaucratic obstacles before voters can vote on it in November.


npr--2020-06-26--Coronavirus FAQs: Is There A Polite Way To Remind Someone To Follow Pandemic Rules?

Coronavirus FAQs : Is There A Polite Way To Remind Someone To Follow Pandemic Rules ?
Each week , we answer `` frequently asked questions '' about life during the coronavirus crisis .
If you have a question you 'd like us to consider for a future post , email us at goatsandsoda @ npr.org with the subject line : `` Weekly Coronavirus Questions . ''
At the farmer 's market I saw a woman break the `` do not touch what you 're not buying '' guideline CLEARLY PRINTED ON A BIG SIGN and pick up and inspect a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there a way to politely tell someone to follow the rules ?
Fingering various food items — whether bagged or unbagged — is n't the only way people break the rules of preventing viral spread during a pandemic .
Maybe they 're failing to maintain distance from other customers or letting their mask slip .
Yikes !
There are so many new no-no 's in the age of COVID-19 .
So do you say anything — and if so , what ?
Health experts agree that the etiquette of epidemics can be super @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you care about safety and believe others ought to stick to certain rules for the well-being of the general public .
On the other hand , it can be awkward to encourage others to follow health guidelines .
You do n't want to come across as rude .
But sometimes it really , really does feel as if the world is at stake .
It is a worldwide pandemic , after all !
The key , says Dr. Paul Sax , clinical director of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Brigham and Women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` sweet spot '' — to strike a balance between politeness and public health .
Sax says it 's a good idea to channel your focus on the highest risk situations — instances where you think an individual actually poses danger to others and where you think your intervention will help .
Mostly , this will apply to indoor spaces with large crowds , like markets or other public gatherings , he says .
In this light , it 's probably smart to not waste energy by acting on lower-risk examples : maybe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a mask , an unmasked family having a picnic , etc . ''
For public settings you 've identified as potentially high-risk ( say , our peach-touching friend at the market ) , think wisely about how you can convey the message in the most `` non-threatening way . ''
`` Shaming never works — it did n't work in past epidemics and it wo n't work in this one , '' says Harvard Medical School physician Dr. Abraar Karan .
`` The key here is to be kind and communicate your concerns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feel like they are at fault .
Personally , I would say : 'Hey there — here 's some hand sanitizer .
Please use it . '
`` A gentle nudge , like `` Wearing a mask protects you and others , '' can go a long way , says Sax .
Furthermore , because these encounters will be in public , it 's important to not get too technical , he says .
Strangers do n't want to hear you expound on epidemiological studies , and public places are n't the correct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exchanges . ''
Sometimes , trying to correct the behaviors of strangers can feel awkward or pointless — in many cases , Karan says , people 's decision to not adhere to health requirements can come down to differences in beliefs and values rather than apathy or simply forgetting .
`` People may not believe the data on masks and are further skeptical because of the CDC 's position change on masks , '' he says .
`` For others , it may be a matter of 'personal rights . '
'' Exercise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In some cases , it 's also OK to simply make sure your mask is properly donned and try to keep your distance from the person in question — a strategy Karan says is akin to `` defensive driving . ''
Most of all , Sax says , serving as a role model works — think of it as `` peer pressure . ''
The person you have the most control over is yourself .
So wear a mask and follow other protocols in public to help establish those actions as social norms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behaviors too .
So the next time you 're at the market ?
Set the example you want to see .
And give that peach-toucher a gentle reminder , if you feel inclined .
People who are headed back to the office are asking : Is it OK to pop off your mask for a casual conversation with a coworker ?
What about in conference rooms ?
Health experts say the COVID-19 pandemic has opened a Pandora 's box of new considerations for proper etiquette and agreeable behavior in public settings .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , there are some overarching precautions to keep in mind when going back to a physical workplace to ensure you 're as safe as possible .
In general , Dr. Abraar Karan says it 's a good idea to wear your mask as much as possible — especially if you 're indoors and close to colleagues .
Scientists suspect that in indoor settings COVID-19 can be transmitted even when people are six feet apart , Karan says , depending on the room 's ventilation and how long droplet clouds containing viral particles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — unless you are going to be in your own office completely alone , I would wear your mask . ''
Dr. Paul Sax says it might be OK to remove your mask if you 're in an exceptionally well-ventilated conference room and are maintaining over 6 feet in distance from colleagues — but even that might not be enough to prevent contact with viral particles .
He says it 's hard to guarantee that people wo n't move around .
So as a rule , it 's better to keep the mask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vulnerable time can be meal breaks , a time when people must take off their masks and may be eating in close quarters like a cafeteria .
He recommends taking advantage of the outdoors during the summer , where the risk of transmission has shown to be less severe than it is indoors , and sitting at least six feet apart : `` There 's barely any transmission outside , '' Sax says .
`` The virus is so diluted . ''
Beyond that , try not to sweat the small stuff .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ too worried about briefly passing something who is n't wearing a mask , '' says Sax .
`` Those extremely casual passes in the hallway or especially outside are not dangerous situations at all . ''
And there are always general guidelines you can follow to make sure you 're minimizing your risks — like washing your hands with soap often and using hand sanitizer .
Pranav Baskar is a freelance journalist and U.S. national born in Mumbai .

Coronavirus FAQs: Is There A Polite Way To Remind Someone To Follow Pandemic Rules?
Each week, we answer "frequently asked questions" about life during the coronavirus crisis. If you have a question you'd like us to consider for a future post, email us at goatsandsoda@npr.org with the subject line: "Weekly Coronavirus Questions."
Enlarge this image Malaka Gharib/ NPR Malaka Gharib/ NPR
At the farmer's market I saw a woman break the "do not touch what you're not buying" guideline clearly printed on a big sign and pick up and inspect a dozen plastic bags of peaches. Is there a way to politely tell someone to follow the rules?
Fingering various food items — whether bagged or unbagged — isn't the only way people break the rules of preventing viral spread during a pandemic. Maybe they're failing to maintain distance from other customers or letting their mask slip. Yikes! There are so many new no-no's in the age of COVID-19.
So do you say anything — and if so, what?
Health experts agree that the etiquette of epidemics can be super thorny.
On the one hand, you care about safety and believe others ought to stick to certain rules for the well-being of the general public. On the other hand, it can be awkward to encourage others to follow health guidelines. You don't want to come across as rude. But sometimes it really, really does feel as if the world is at stake. It is a worldwide pandemic, after all!
The key, says Dr. Paul Sax, clinical director of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Brigham and Women's Hospital, is to find the "sweet spot" — to strike a balance between politeness and public health.
Start by choosing your battles.
Sax says it's a good idea to channel your focus on the highest risk situations — instances where you think an individual actually poses danger to others and where you think your intervention will help. Mostly, this will apply to indoor spaces with large crowds, like markets or other public gatherings, he says. In this light, it's probably smart to not waste energy by acting on lower-risk examples: maybe disregard "the jogger going by without a mask, an unmasked family having a picnic, etc."
For public settings you've identified as potentially high-risk (say, our peach-touching friend at the market), think wisely about how you can convey the message in the most "non-threatening way."
"Shaming never works — it didn't work in past epidemics and it won't work in this one," says Harvard Medical School physician Dr. Abraar Karan. "The key here is to be kind and communicate your concerns clearly without stigmatizing others or making them feel like they are at fault. Personally, I would say: 'Hey there — here's some hand sanitizer. Please use it.' "
A gentle nudge, like "Wearing a mask protects you and others," can go a long way, says Sax.
Furthermore, because these encounters will be in public, it's important to not get too technical, he says. Strangers don't want to hear you expound on epidemiological studies, and public places aren't the correct settings for these sorts of "didactic exchanges."
Sometimes, trying to correct the behaviors of strangers can feel awkward or pointless — in many cases, Karan says, people's decision to not adhere to health requirements can come down to differences in beliefs and values rather than apathy or simply forgetting.
"People may not believe the data on masks and are further skeptical because of the CDC's position change on masks," he says. "For others, it may be a matter of 'personal rights.'"
Exercise good judgement, our sources stress. In some cases, it's also OK to simply make sure your mask is properly donned and try to keep your distance from the person in question — a strategy Karan says is akin to "defensive driving."
Most of all, Sax says, serving as a role model works — think of it as "peer pressure." The person you have the most control over is yourself. So wear a mask and follow other protocols in public to help establish those actions as social norms, pushing other people to adopt those behaviors too.
So the next time you're at the market? Set the example you want to see. And give that peach-toucher a gentle reminder, if you feel inclined.
People who are headed back to the office are asking: Is it OK to pop off your mask for a casual conversation with a coworker? What about in conference rooms?
Health experts say the COVID-19 pandemic has opened a Pandora's box of new considerations for proper etiquette and agreeable behavior in public settings. And the workplace is no exception.
That said, there are some overarching precautions to keep in mind when going back to a physical workplace to ensure you're as safe as possible.
In general, Dr. Abraar Karan says it's a good idea to wear your mask as much as possible — especially if you're indoors and close to colleagues.
Scientists suspect that in indoor settings COVID-19 can be transmitted even when people are six feet apart, Karan says, depending on the room's ventilation and how long droplet clouds containing viral particles linger in the air. "So — unless you are going to be in your own office completely alone, I would wear your mask."
Dr. Paul Sax says it might be OK to remove your mask if you're in an exceptionally well-ventilated conference room and are maintaining over 6 feet in distance from colleagues — but even that might not be enough to prevent contact with viral particles. He says it's hard to guarantee that people won't move around. So as a rule, it's better to keep the mask on.
Sax adds that an especially vulnerable time can be meal breaks, a time when people must take off their masks and may be eating in close quarters like a cafeteria. He recommends taking advantage of the outdoors during the summer, where the risk of transmission has shown to be less severe than it is indoors, and sitting at least six feet apart: "There's barely any transmission outside," Sax says. "The virus is so diluted."
Beyond that, try not to sweat the small stuff.
"People [should] not be too worried about briefly passing something who isn't wearing a mask," says Sax. "Those extremely casual passes in the hallway or especially outside are not dangerous situations at all."
And there are always general guidelines you can follow to make sure you're minimizing your risks — like washing your hands with soap often and using hand sanitizer.
Pranav Baskar is a freelance journalist and U.S. national born in Mumbai.