npr--2020-07-07--The Fire, The Virus, The Violence: Australia And The Lessons Of Natural Disasters

The Fire , The Virus , The Violence : Australia And The Lessons Of Natural Disasters Local officials and public health experts warn that domestic violence is spiking in Australia as the country deals with the aftermath of catastrophic fires paired with the global pandemic .
The fires killed at least 35 people and destroyed nearly 2,000 houses in the southeastern part of the country in 2019 and early 2020 , leaving thousands of Australians jobless and still in temporary housing as the coronavirus pandemic swept through with its widespread lockdowns , illness and economic pain .
`` People are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of accommodation relationship breakdown because of the strain of what 's going on — potentially exposure to violence , '' warned Lisa Gibbs , a public health researcher who leads community resilience research at the Centre for Disaster Management and Public Safety at the University of Melbourne , during recent testimony before Australia 's Royal Commission hearings about the fires .
`` All of these factors undermine people 's capacity to deal with what 's happening . ''
Australia 's concerns about the rise in family violence after a natural disaster stretch back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Australia 's deadliest fire event : the 2009 Black Saturday blazes .
Studies found the blazes were associated with an increase in family violence in the worst-affected communities .
In one report , the percentage of women in badly burned areas who said they experienced physical violence was seven times that of women in areas that had been only moderately or minimally affected by the fires .
Research in the U.S. has found a similar connection between hurricanes and interpersonal violence .
In the aftermath of both sorts of disasters , loss of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increase in violence .
That 's a particular concern now , as the COVID-19 pandemic strains societal and household resources , and forces families to stay indoors together more than they usually would .
Authorities in the state of New South Wales say domestic violence reports have increased 30 % or more in some parts of Sydney during the coronavirus crisis .
In the U.S. , reports of domestic violence have also shot up in many places .
`` This data is alarming , but not unexpected , '' said Delia Donovan , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Violence NSW , in a statement about the Australian data earlier this month .
`` It is widely understood from global research that major events such as health pandemics , natural disasters and recessions tragically result in increased domestic and family violence . ''
Yet , in both the U.S. and Australia , it is still difficult for many people to talk publicly about violence at home , especially during and after a disaster .
`` Talking about family violence after disaster is not a welcome thing , '' says Debra Parkinson , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University in Melbourne who studied family violence in towns that were severely burned in 2009 .
`` We had a lot of pushback from even trauma counselors and from community members saying 'Who are you to come into this traumatized community and talk about family violence ?
You are adding to the pressures . '
`` Parkinson says such concerns are misplaced .
`` My argument is , when you ignore [ family violence after disasters ] it 's not good for anyone , '' she says .
`` It 's not good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And it 's certainly not good for the men either . ''
In interviews with NPR conducted earlier this year , survivors of Australia 's 2009 fires echo that sentiment .
More than a decade later , they 're still feeling the effects and warn that communities that avoid talking about post-disaster family violence do so at their own peril .
Jodie Thorneycroft woke up on Feb. 7 , 2009 with a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach .
Thorneycroft had lived in the fire-prone foothills and mountains north of Melbourne @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fire weather felt like — hot , hazy , windy .
By midday , it was already over 100 degrees F , with gusty winds .
`` I just knew something was wrong that day , '' she says .
`` You could just feel it . ''
So , when she heard that a fire had broken out near her town of Kinglake , she drove home from work to tell her husband she wanted to evacuate .
`` I said , ' I 'm out .
I 'm leaving the mountain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' `` she recalls .
`` And he just looked at me and said , 'Oh , do n't worry about it .
If there 's a fire I 'll save the house . '
`` She left .
He stayed .
The fire moved closer .
A few hours later he called her , frantic .
`` He was screaming and yelling , saying , ' I 'm on the roof .
I 'm stuck .
I ca n't get down .
I ca n't see .
I 'm gon na die @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's raining fire . '
`` '' So yeah , '' Thorneycroft says .
`` It was a pretty horrendous night . ''
Thorneycroft 's husband survived , as did their home .
But all of their neighbors lost their houses , and some of them died in the flames .
`` We kept being told how lucky we were that we still had homes , '' she says .
`` And I 'm going 'Yeah , I 'm really so grateful for that .
But all of a sudden everything 's gone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's businesses were destroyed .
Schools were closed .
The rhythms of everyday life were totally disrupted in town .
`` It was eerie , '' Thorneycroft says .
And the lack of normalcy affected everyone — even those who had not lost homes or loved ones in the fires .
`` It 's difficult to put into words unless you 've lived through it .
Your home is your family .
Your community is your extended family , and that 's your safe place .
And then all of a sudden it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ground yourself again . ''
In the weeks and months after the fire , Thorneycroft and others in the area that had burned started to see and hear about alarming behavior in their community .
`` There was a lot of concern about men not expressing how they were feeling and how they were dealing with the recovery , '' she says .
`` A lot of people took on drugs [ or ] alcohol .
Risk-taking taking behavior . ''
Many studies have documented how alcohol and drug abuse are associated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and loss of employment are also linked to family violence , both of which are more likely after a major fire or during an economic meltdown .
`` It became , I 'm going to say , 'normal , ' `` to hear about domestic violence in the months after the 2009 blaze says Thorneycroft .
`` You know what I mean ?
It was just ... normal . ''
Others who survived the fires say they noticed a similar trend .
Another longtime resident of the town of Kinglake , Daryl Taylor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ common after the 2009 fires that virtually everyone knew someone who was affected .
`` I noticed more violence after the fires , '' says Andrew Wilson-Annan , a volunteer firefighter who was deployed to help fight the fires and also to help one of the most damaged towns , Marysville , with its recovery plan .
`` It makes sense .
People are in these traumatic situations , these pressurized situations , and I think it exacerbated many behaviors that were , maybe , already there .
I saw a lot of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lyn Gunter , who represented the worst-affected area , was on the regional political council at the time , and says she was concerned about the emotional outbursts she saw from men in public .
`` [ Emotions ] got bottled up and then anger burst out .
Real anger , '' she remembers .
In fact , Gunter says , men in her own family struggled with substance abuse and uncontrolled anger after the fires .
One man in her family agreed to see a mental health professional after multiple outbursts that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gunter concerned for her safety .
She insisted he seek help .
Another man in her family failed to control his behavior , she says , and ended up getting divorced after the fires .
`` There were a lot of separations , '' Gunter says .
`` A lot of separations . ''
He was in his 'tough-man role' Even today , it 's hard to know how widespread family violence was after the 2009 fires , because the government in the state of Victoria did not begin collecting and reporting police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But research conducted after the fires confirmed that both women and men noticed an uptick in such violence for years after the blazes were over .
The more severely a community was burned , the data suggest , the greater the subsequent incidence of in domestic violence .
As for why the spike in family violence occurred , Parkinson 's research — which was based on interviews with nearly 50 women and 40 men who survived the fires — offers the most detailed look at what factors may have contributed to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ described how their husbands failed to cope with feelings of powerlessness , loss of purpose , responsibility and frustration .
The subsequent studies published anonymized excerpts of the interviews .
`` What 's happened since the fires is , there seems to be no control on his emotions , '' one woman said .
`` Where once he was able to moderate , or at least there was some kind of understanding to his rage and anger — there was some context — now there 's no context to his rage .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ My husband says , ' I nearly died , so I should be able to do whatever I want . '
Which I can understand , '' another woman said .
`` But it took me months and months to work out that I nearly died too .
...
He really embraced the whole ' I can be an absolute prick to everybody and I can get away with it because I can say I 've been through the fires and I 'm traumatized . ''
`` I could n't get through to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another woman .
`` He was in his tough-man role .
[ It ] took me a year to get through . ''
Men described feeling overwhelmed by their responsibilities .
`` I could n't go out without people asking me 'Why have n't you got it together ?
Why have n't you got your garden fixed ?
Why have n't you got your house done yet ?
What are you doing with your life ?
Why have n't you gone back to work ?
Why have n't you ? '
`` one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ depressed or anxious , but also worried that if they expressed their feelings to friends or co-workers they would be seen as weak or unstable .
So they kept their feelings to themselves , with disastrous consequences .
`` He was a fragile character before , but he was a whole egg , '' one woman said of her partner .
`` Whatever happened to him through the fires smashed him .
Whereas a stronger shell might have held , he was smashed , and his moral compass was decimated . ''
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said another .
`` It 's like I 'm a widow but the corpse is still here to beat me up . ''
`` How can you read these and not think this is a problem ? ''
Parkinson says .
There is some evidence that the link between family violence and bushfires is entering the public consciousness in Australia .
While the fires were still burning in December 2019 , comments about the issue by a women 's health activist sparked a mild media frenzy .
In the last two months , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ requests from the Red Cross , counselors , local officials and firefighters who want to know more about how they can help identify and prevent family violence .
She and her colleagues have also designed postcard-sized cheat sheets for social workers , fire fighters , police , chaplains and others who are involved in helping communities recover after bushfires .
The cards say at the top `` DISASTER IS NO EXCUSE FOR FAMILY VIOLENCE '' and a script for how to ask and respond if someone is in danger , including `` Are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` What you 've described to me is violence , and it 's a crime . ''
The contact information for domestic violence hotlines and other resources are printed next to the script .
`` It 's not all that hard to make it clear that ' [ Violence ] is likely to happen .
It 's been documented that it 's going to happen for some families , and here 's what you do , ' `` says Parkinson .
`` There 's a constructive way to handle it . ''
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been distributed across the Australian state of Victoria .
Parkinson is cautiously optimistic that increasing awareness of family violence will help limit its damage this time around .
`` Maybe it will be better , '' she says .
`` I hope so .
Changing gender stereotypes and our expectations for men and women is difficult .
But yes , I am hopeful .
Because there is no excuse for violence . ''

The Fire, The Virus, The Violence: Australia And The Lessons Of Natural Disasters
Enlarge this image toggle caption Meredith Rizzo/NPR Meredith Rizzo/NPR
Local officials and public health experts warn that domestic violence is spiking in Australia as the country deals with the aftermath of catastrophic fires paired with the global pandemic.
The fires killed at least 35 people and destroyed nearly 2,000 houses in the southeastern part of the country in 2019 and early 2020, leaving thousands of Australians jobless and still in temporary housing as the coronavirus pandemic swept through with its widespread lockdowns, illness and economic pain.
"People are dealing with change of income, change of accommodation relationship breakdown because of the strain of what's going on — potentially exposure to violence," warned Lisa Gibbs, a public health researcher who leads community resilience research at the Centre for Disaster Management and Public Safety at the University of Melbourne, during recent testimony before Australia's Royal Commission hearings about the fires. "All of these factors undermine people's capacity to deal with what's happening."
Australia's concerns about the rise in family violence after a natural disaster stretch back to research conducted in the wake of Australia's deadliest fire event: the 2009 Black Saturday blazes.
Studies found the blazes were associated with an increase in family violence in the worst-affected communities. In one report, the percentage of women in badly burned areas who said they experienced physical violence was seven times that of women in areas that had been only moderately or minimally affected by the fires. Research in the U.S. has found a similar connection between hurricanes and interpersonal violence. In the aftermath of both sorts of disasters, loss of income was one factor associated with an increase in violence.
Loading...
That's a particular concern now, as the COVID-19 pandemic strains societal and household resources, and forces families to stay indoors together more than they usually would.
Authorities in the state of New South Wales say domestic violence reports have increased 30% or more in some parts of Sydney during the coronavirus crisis. In the U.S., reports of domestic violence have also shot up in many places.
"This data is alarming, but not unexpected," said Delia Donovan, the interim leader of the organization Domestic Violence NSW, in a statement about the Australian data earlier this month. "It is widely understood from global research that major events such as health pandemics, natural disasters and recessions tragically result in increased domestic and family violence."
Yet, in both the U.S. and Australia, it is still difficult for many people to talk publicly about violence at home, especially during and after a disaster.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Meredith Rizzo/NPR Meredith Rizzo/NPR
"Talking about family violence after disaster is not a welcome thing," says Debra Parkinson, a women's health researcher at Monash University in Melbourne who studied family violence in towns that were severely burned in 2009. "We had a lot of pushback from even trauma counselors and from community members saying 'Who are you to come into this traumatized community and talk about family violence? You are adding to the pressures.' "
Parkinson says such concerns are misplaced. "My argument is, when you ignore [family violence after disasters] it's not good for anyone," she says. "It's not good for the women and the children. And it's certainly not good for the men either."
In interviews with NPR conducted earlier this year, survivors of Australia's 2009 fires echo that sentiment. More than a decade later, they're still feeling the effects and warn that communities that avoid talking about post-disaster family violence do so at their own peril.
A 'pretty horrendous night'
Jodie Thorneycroft woke up on Feb. 7, 2009 with a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach. Thorneycroft had lived in the fire-prone foothills and mountains north of Melbourne her entire life. She knew what fire weather felt like — hot, hazy, windy. By midday, it was already over 100 degrees F, with gusty winds.
"I just knew something was wrong that day," she says. "You could just feel it."
He was a fragile character before, but he was a whole egg. Whatever happened to him through the fires smashed him. ... And his moral compass was decimated.
So, when she heard that a fire had broken out near her town of Kinglake, she drove home from work to tell her husband she wanted to evacuate. "I said, 'I'm out. I'm leaving the mountain. I don't feel right.' " she recalls. "And he just looked at me and said, 'Oh, don't worry about it. If there's a fire I'll save the house.' "
She left. He stayed. The fire moved closer.
A few hours later he called her, frantic. "He was screaming and yelling, saying, 'I'm on the roof. I'm stuck. I can't get down. I can't see. I'm gonna die. Everything's on fire. It's raining fire.' "
"So yeah," Thorneycroft says. "It was a pretty horrendous night."
Thorneycroft's husband survived, as did their home. But all of their neighbors lost their houses, and some of them died in the flames.
"We kept being told how lucky we were that we still had homes," she says. "And I'm going 'Yeah, I'm really so grateful for that. But all of a sudden everything's gone.' " Most of the town's businesses were destroyed. Schools were closed. The rhythms of everyday life were totally disrupted in town.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Meredith Rizzo/NPR Meredith Rizzo/NPR
"It was eerie," Thorneycroft says. And the lack of normalcy affected everyone — even those who had not lost homes or loved ones in the fires. "It's difficult to put into words unless you've lived through it. Your home is your family. Your community is your extended family, and that's your safe place. And then all of a sudden it's gone. It's really hard to ground yourself again."
Anger 'burst out'
In the weeks and months after the fire, Thorneycroft and others in the area that had burned started to see and hear about alarming behavior in their community. "There was a lot of concern about men not expressing how they were feeling and how they were dealing with the recovery," she says. "A lot of people took on drugs [or] alcohol. Risk-taking taking behavior."
Many studies have documented how alcohol and drug abuse are associated with intimate partner violence. Financial hardship and loss of employment are also linked to family violence, both of which are more likely after a major fire or during an economic meltdown.
"It became, I'm going to say, 'normal,' " to hear about domestic violence in the months after the 2009 blaze says Thorneycroft. "You know what I mean? It was just ... normal."
Others who survived the fires say they noticed a similar trend.
Another longtime resident of the town of Kinglake, Daryl Taylor, recalls that family violence was so common after the 2009 fires that virtually everyone knew someone who was affected.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Meredith Rizzo/NPR Meredith Rizzo/NPR
"I noticed more violence after the fires," says Andrew Wilson-Annan, a volunteer firefighter who was deployed to help fight the fires and also to help one of the most damaged towns, Marysville, with its recovery plan. "It makes sense. People are in these traumatic situations, these pressurized situations, and I think it exacerbated many behaviors that were, maybe, already there. I saw a lot of people struggling with their emotions."
Lyn Gunter, who represented the worst-affected area, was on the regional political council at the time, and says she was concerned about the emotional outbursts she saw from men in public. "[Emotions] got bottled up and then anger burst out. Real anger," she remembers.
I couldn't go out without people asking me 'Why haven't you got it together? Why haven't you got your garden fixed? Why haven't you got your house done yet? What are you doing with your life?
In fact, Gunter says, men in her own family struggled with substance abuse and uncontrolled anger after the fires. One man in her family agreed to see a mental health professional after multiple outbursts that stopped short of physical violence but left Gunter concerned for her safety. She insisted he seek help. Another man in her family failed to control his behavior, she says, and ended up getting divorced after the fires.
"There were a lot of separations," Gunter says. "A lot of separations."
He was in his 'tough-man role'
Even today, it's hard to know how widespread family violence was after the 2009 fires, because the government in the state of Victoria did not begin collecting and reporting police data on alleged domestic violence until 2010.
But research conducted after the fires confirmed that both women and men noticed an uptick in such violence for years after the blazes were over. The more severely a community was burned, the data suggest, the greater the subsequent incidence of in domestic violence.
As for why the spike in family violence occurred, Parkinson's research — which was based on interviews with nearly 50 women and 40 men who survived the fires — offers the most detailed look at what factors may have contributed to the aggression.
In the interviews, women described how their husbands failed to cope with feelings of powerlessness, loss of purpose, responsibility and frustration. The subsequent studies published anonymized excerpts of the interviews.
"What's happened since the fires is, there seems to be no control on his emotions," one woman said. "Where once he was able to moderate, or at least there was some kind of understanding to his rage and anger — there was some context — now there's no context to his rage. It's just completely random."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Meredith Rizzo/NPR Meredith Rizzo/NPR
It's like he died. It's like I'm a widow but the corpse is still here to beat me up.
"My husband says, 'I nearly died, so I should be able to do whatever I want.' Which I can understand," another woman said. "But it took me months and months to work out that I nearly died too. ... He really embraced the whole 'I can be an absolute prick to everybody and I can get away with it because I can say I've been through the fires and I'm traumatized."
"I couldn't get through to [my partner]," said another woman. "He was in his tough-man role. [It] took me a year to get through."
Men described feeling overwhelmed by their responsibilities. "I couldn't go out without people asking me 'Why haven't you got it together? Why haven't you got your garden fixed? Why haven't you got your house done yet? What are you doing with your life? Why haven't you gone back to work? Why haven't you?' " one man told researchers.
Others described feeling depressed or anxious, but also worried that if they expressed their feelings to friends or co-workers they would be seen as weak or unstable. So they kept their feelings to themselves, with disastrous consequences.
"He was a fragile character before, but he was a whole egg," one woman said of her partner. "Whatever happened to him through the fires smashed him. Whereas a stronger shell might have held, he was smashed, and his moral compass was decimated."
"It's like he died," said another. "It's like I'm a widow but the corpse is still here to beat me up."
"How can you read these and not think this is a problem?" Parkinson says.
Disaster is no excuse
There is some evidence that the link between family violence and bushfires is entering the public consciousness in Australia. While the fires were still burning in December 2019, comments about the issue by a women's health activist sparked a mild media frenzy.
In the last two months, Debra Parkinson has accepted dozens of training requests from the Red Cross, counselors, local officials and firefighters who want to know more about how they can help identify and prevent family violence.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Meredith Rizzo/NPR Meredith Rizzo/NPR
She and her colleagues have also designed postcard-sized cheat sheets for social workers, fire fighters, police, chaplains and others who are involved in helping communities recover after bushfires. The cards say at the top "DISASTER IS NO EXCUSE FOR FAMILY VIOLENCE" and a script for how to ask and respond if someone is in danger, including "Are you safe at home?" and "What you've described to me is violence, and it's a crime." The contact information for domestic violence hotlines and other resources are printed next to the script.
"It's not all that hard to make it clear that '[Violence] is likely to happen. It's been documented that it's going to happen for some families, and here's what you do,' " says Parkinson. "There's a constructive way to handle it."
As of last year, 30,000 cards had been distributed across the Australian state of Victoria.
Parkinson is cautiously optimistic that increasing awareness of family violence will help limit its damage this time around. "Maybe it will be better," she says. "I hope so. Changing gender stereotypes and our expectations for men and women is difficult. But yes, I am hopeful. Because there is no excuse for violence."


npr--2020-07-07--Melbourne Resumes Lockdown As COVID-19 Cases Surge

In a dramatic reimposition of public health emergency measures , the premier of Victoria state , Australia 's second-most populous , announced the establishment of a `` hard boundary '' around Melbourne , a six-week lockdown in the city and the closure of Victoria 's border with New South Wales state in an attempt to halt further spread of the coronavirus .
Premier Daniel Andrews said the lockdown takes effect at 11:59 p.m. Wednesday ( 9:59 a.m .
ET ) .
Andrews said he was acting on the advice of public health officials , who reported 191 new COVID-19 infections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ highest toll since the pandemic began .
`` If we were to fail to take those steps , then it wo n't be a couple of hundred cases per day it will be many more than that and it will quickly spiral well and truly out of control , '' Andrews said .
The lockdown applies to Melbourne , its suburbs and another nearby region , Mitchell Shire , which have all seen a spike in cases .
Residents will be permitted to leave their homes only to shop for essentials ; medical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impossible to do from home ; and exercise .
Visitors are not permitted in homes .
Victoria Police will maintain roadblocks between metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria .
The lockdown affects almost 5 million people , according to the Melbourne Herald Sun .
The border closure between Victoria and New South Wales is the first since the Spanish flu pandemic a century ago .
The closure begins at midnight Tuesday ( 10 a.m .
ET ) and will be enforced by police and military personnel .
Violators are subject to a fine of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and up to six months incarceration .
Elsewhere in Australia coronavirus cases have all but disappeared .
The country of 25.4 million has had notable success containing the virus , reporting only 8,755 cases and 106 deaths , according to the Johns Hopkins University & Medicine Coronavirus Resource Center .
A judicial investigation is underway to determine the cause of Melbourne 's outbreak .
Attention has been largely focused on lax security at Melbourne hotels which housed people arriving from abroad , who were required to quarantine for 14 days .
Andrews acknowledged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and have a large negative impact on the state 's economy .
But he said there was simply no alternative .
`` We have to be realistic about the circumstances that we confront , '' Andrews said .
`` We have to be clear with each other , that this is not over .
And pretending that it is because we all wanted to be over , is not the answer . ''

Melbourne Resumes Lockdown As Coronavirus Cases Surge
Enlarge this image toggle caption Andy Brownbill/AP Andy Brownbill/AP
In a dramatic reimposition of public health emergency measures, the premier of Victoria state, Australia's second-most populous, announced the establishment of a "hard boundary" around Melbourne, a six-week lockdown in the city and the closure of Victoria's border with New South Wales state in an attempt to halt further spread of the coronavirus.
Premier Daniel Andrews said the lockdown takes effect at 11:59 p.m. Wednesday (9:59 a.m. ET).
Enlarge this image toggle caption Andy Brownbill/AP Andy Brownbill/AP
Andrews said he was acting on the advice of public health officials, who reported 191 new infections in the past 24 hours, the highest toll since the coronavirus pandemic began.
"If we were to fail to take those steps, then it won't be a couple of hundred cases per day it will be many more than that and it will quickly spiral well and truly out of control," Andrews said.
The lockdown applies to Melbourne, its suburbs and another nearby region, Mitchell Shire, which have all seen a spike in cases. Residents will be permitted to leave their homes only to shop for essentials; medical care and caregiving; work and study impossible to do from home; and exercise. Visitors are not permitted in homes.
Victoria police will maintain roadblocks between metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria. The lockdown affects almost 5 million people, according to the Melbourne Herald Sun.
The border closure between Victoria and New South Wales is the first since the Spanish flu pandemic a century ago. The closure begins at midnight Tuesday (10 a.m. ET) and will be enforced by police and military personnel. Violators are subject to a fine of 11,000 Australian dollars ($7,630) and up to six months incarceration.
Elsewhere in Australia coronavirus cases have all but disappeared. The country of 25.4 million has had notable success containing the virus, reporting only 8,755 cases and 106 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins University & Medicine Coronavirus Resource Center.
A judicial investigation is underway to determine the cause of Melbourne's outbreak. Attention has been largely focused on lax security at Melbourne hotels that housed people arriving from abroad who were required to quarantine for 14 days.
Andrews acknowledged that the return to lockdown will be onerous and have a large negative impact on the state's economy. But he said there was simply no alternative.
"We have to be realistic about the circumstances that we confront," Andrews said. "We have to be clear with each other, that this is not over. And pretending that it is because we all wanted to be over, is not the answer."


npr--2020-07-06--U.N. Predicts Rise In Diseases That Jump From Animals To Humans Due To Habitat Loss

U.N .
Predicts Rise In Diseases That Jump From Animals To Humans Due To Habitat Loss A new United Nations report warns that more diseases that pass from animals to humans , such as COVID-19 , are likely to emerge as habitats are ravaged by wildlife exploitation , unsustainable farming practices and climate change .
These pathogens , known as zoonotic diseases , also include Ebola , MERS , HIV/AIDS and West Nile virus .
They have increasingly emerged because of stresses humans have placed on animal habitats , according to the U.N .
Environment Program report Preventing the Next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ break the chain of transmission , released on Monday .
`` We have intensified agriculture , expanded infrastructure and extracted resources at the expense of our wild spaces , '' UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen said .
`` The science is clear that if we keep exploiting wildlife and destroying our ecosystems , then we can expect to see a steady stream of these diseases jumping from animals to humans in the years ahead . ''
Andersen said that investing in research of zoonotic diseases would allow the world to get `` ahead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of global shutdown we 've seen . ''
The new report recommends that governments adopt a coordinated `` One Health '' approach pulling together public health , veterinary and environmental experts to combat these outbreaks of zoonotic diseases .
`` People look back to the influenza pandemic of 1918–1919 and think that such disease outbreaks only happen once in a century , '' said Maarten Kappelle , the head of scientific assessments at UNEP .
`` But that 's no longer true .
If we do n't restore the balance between the natural @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outbreaks will become increasingly prevalent . ''
Global demand for animal meat has increased 260 % in the past half century , exacerbating the problem , Andersen said .
Some animals , such as rodents , bats , carnivores and nonhuman primates , are most likely to harbor zoonotic diseases , with livestock acting as a bridge for transmission between the animal hosts and humans , according to the report .
Meanwhile , in some of the world 's poorest regions , endemic zoonotic diseases associated with livestock cause more than 2 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says .
However , Africa , which has successfully responded to a number of zoonotic epidemics , such as Ebola , could be a place to turn for solutions to controlling outbreaks of human-to-animal diseases in the future , it says .
`` To prevent future outbreaks , countries need to conserve wild habitats , promote sustainable agriculture , strengthen food safety standards , monitor and regulate food markets , invest in technology to identify risks , and curb the illegal trade in wildlife , '' U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said .

U.N. Predicts Rise In Diseases That Jump From Animals To Humans Due To Habitat Loss
Enlarge this image toggle caption Leo Correa/AP Leo Correa/AP
A new United Nations report warns that more diseases that pass from animals to humans, such as COVID-19, are likely to emerge as habitats are ravaged by wildlife exploitation, unsustainable farming practices and climate change.
These pathogens, known as zoonotic diseases, also include Ebola, MERS, HIV/AIDS and West Nile virus. They have increasingly emerged because of stresses humans have placed on animal habitats, according to the U.N. Environment Program report Preventing the Next Pandemic: Zoonotic diseases and how to break the chain of transmission, released on Monday.
"We have intensified agriculture, expanded infrastructure and extracted resources at the expense of our wild spaces," UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen said. "The science is clear that if we keep exploiting wildlife and destroying our ecosystems, then we can expect to see a steady stream of these diseases jumping from animals to humans in the years ahead."
Andersen said that investing in research of zoonotic diseases would allow the world to get "ahead of the game ... preventing the type of global shutdown we've seen."
The new report recommends that governments adopt a coordinated "One Health" approach pulling together public health, veterinary and environmental experts to combat these outbreaks of zoonotic diseases.
"People look back to the influenza pandemic of 1918–1919 and think that such disease outbreaks only happen once in a century," said Maarten Kappelle, the head of scientific assessments at UNEP. "But that's no longer true. If we don't restore the balance between the natural world and the human one, these outbreaks will become increasingly prevalent."
Global demand for animal meat has increased 260% in the past half century, exacerbating the problem, Andersen said.
Some animals, such as rodents, bats, carnivores and nonhuman primates, are most likely to harbor zoonotic diseases, with livestock acting as a bridge for transmission between the animal hosts and humans, according to the report.
Meanwhile, in some of the world's poorest regions, endemic zoonotic diseases associated with livestock cause more than 2 million human deaths a year, the report says. However, Africa, which has successfully responded to a number of zoonotic epidemics, such as Ebola, could be a place to turn for solutions to controlling outbreaks of human-to-animal diseases in the future, it says.
"To prevent future outbreaks, countries need to conserve wild habitats, promote sustainable agriculture, strengthen food safety standards, monitor and regulate food markets, invest in technology to identify risks, and curb the illegal trade in wildlife," U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said.


npr--2020-07-06--Senator Waiting For White House Promise Not To Block Promotion Of Impeachment Witness

Senator Waiting For White House Promise Not To Block Promotion Of Impeachment Witness Sen. Tammy Duckworth tells NPR she still has n't been assured by the secretary of defense that the administration wo n't block the routine promotion of impeachment witness Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman .
Duckworth said last week that she would hold up the promotions of more than 1,100 senior Army officers unless Secretary of Defense Mark Esper guaranteed in writing that if Vindman is on a Pentagon promotions list , as expected , the White House wo n't interfere with his advancement to full colonel .
Any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place an informal hold on a matter to prevent a motion from reaching the floor .
Such an action can signal a possible filibuster .
Speaking with All Things Considered host Mary Louise Kelly , Duckworth , a military helicopter pilot who lost both legs after being shot down over Iraq , decried White House meddling `` in what should be routine military affairs . ''
The Senate reviews the annual promotions list and the White House must also sign off on it .
Specifically referring to Vindman , Duckworth said if he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Three ] higher ranking officers had to agree that he should be promoted . ''
`` And if he 's on the list , he deserves to go forward in a routine way , as everyone else , '' she said .
In February , Vindman , an immigrant from Ukraine , was fired from his position as a National Security Council staffer and escorted out of the White House , according to his lawyer .
His twin brother , Yevgeny , who did not testify at the impeachment hearings , was fired @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an ethics lawyer at the NSC .
In a tweet afterwards , the president said Alexander Vindman was `` very insubordinate , reported contents of my 'perfect calls ' incorrectly , '' adding , `` In other words , 'OUT ' . ''
Duckworth said she has n't heard from any service members whose promotions are at stake who disagree with Vindman 's promotion – in fact , several have called to express support , she said .
The Illinois Democrat also condemned what she called the president 's use of the military @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ W ] hether it 's trying to use them as props with a military parade like he did last year , or whether it is to use them to silence peaceful protesting like they did this year , '' she said .
`` The military does not like that .
And that 's not the role of our military .
That 's why it 's one of the few institutions left in this country that is really respected by Americans , '' Duckworth said , adding , `` And we dishonor the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them . ''
On another military development , a day after remains were identified as Army Spc .
Vanessa Guillen , who was reportedly bludgeoned to death after being sexually harassed , Duckworth said : `` In this particular case , I am very concerned that she did not feel that the system that 's in place was going to be responsive to her . ''
She said she had asked the Government Accountability Office to investigate whether Department of Defense programs for reporting of sexual harassment and sexual assault `` are actually @ @ @ @ @

Senator Waiting For White House Promise Not To Block Promotion Of Impeachment Witness
Enlarge this image toggle caption Susan Walsh/AP Susan Walsh/AP
Sen. Tammy Duckworth tells NPR she still hasn't been assured by the secretary of defense that the administration won't block the routine promotion of impeachment witness Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman.
Duckworth said last week that she would hold up the promotions of more than 1,100 senior Army officers unless Secretary of Defense Mark Esper guaranteed in writing that if Vindman is on a Pentagon promotions list, as expected, the White House won't interfere with his advancement to full colonel.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Speaking with All Things Considered host Mary Louise Kelly, Duckworth, a military helicopter pilot who lost both legs after being shot down over Iraq, decried White House meddling "in what should be routine military affairs."
Politics Interview With Sen. Tammy Duckworth on 'All Things Considered' Sen. Duckworth To Hold Up Military Promotions Unless Vindman Is Treated Fairly Listen · 7:59 7:59
The Senate reviews the annual promotions list and the White House must also sign off on it. Specifically referring to Vindman, Duckworth said if he is on the list, "[Three] higher ranking officers had to agree that he should be promoted."
"And if he's on the list, he deserves to go forward in a routine way, as everyone else," she said.
In February, Vindman, an immigrant from Ukraine, was fired from his position as a National Security Council staffer and escorted out of the White House, according to his lawyer. His twin brother, Yevgeny, who did not testify at the impeachment hearings, was fired the same day from his job as an ethics lawyer at the NSC.
In a tweet afterwards, the president said Alexander Vindman was "very insubordinate, reported contents of my 'perfect calls' incorrectly," adding, "In other words, 'OUT'."
Fake News @CNN & MSDNC keep talking about “Lt. Col.” Vindman as though I should think only how wonderful he was. Actually, I don’t know him, never spoke to him, or met him (I don’t believe!) but, he was very insubordinate, reported contents of my “perfect” calls incorrectly, &... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 8, 2020
Duckworth said she hasn't heard from any service members whose promotions are at stake who disagree with Vindman's promotion – in fact, several have called to express support, she said.
The Illinois Democrat also condemned what she called the president's use of the military "for political gain."
"[W]hether it's trying to use them as props with a military parade like he did last year, or whether it is to use them to silence peaceful protesting like they did this year," she said.
"The military does not like that. And that's not the role of our military. That's why it's one of the few institutions left in this country that is really respected by Americans," Duckworth said, adding, "And we dishonor the sacrifice of our troops when we politicize them."
On another military development, a day after remains were identified as Army Spc. Vanessa Guillen, who was reportedly bludgeoned to death after being sexually harassed, Duckworth said: "In this particular case, I am very concerned that she did not feel that the system that's in place was going to be responsive to her."
She said she had asked the Government Accountability Office to investigate whether Department of Defense programs for reporting of sexual harassment and sexual assault "are actually working or not."


npr--2020-07-07--States Sue Education Department Over Allocation Of Pandemic Funds To Schools

States Sue Education Department Over Allocation Of Pandemic Funds To Schools Several Democratic-led states and the District of Columbia have joined in a lawsuit against Education Secretary Betsy DeVos , accusing the Trump administration of trying to unlawfully divert pandemic relief funds from public schools to private schools .
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced the lawsuit , filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California .
Michigan , Maine , New Mexico and Wisconsin have also joined .
Last month , the Education Department put out a rule saying that private schools should benefit from a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 13 billion in the Coronavirus Aid , Relief and Economic Security ( CARES ) Act earmarked for public schools .
Becerra contends that is an unlawful interpretation of the CARES act , which allows private schools to get a disproportionate amount of Title I funds — traditionally reserved for low-income students .
Although a portion of those funds are allocated to private schools to provide `` equitable services '' to students , the department 's interpretation allows it to count all students for purposes of the funding formula instead of just those who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the lawsuit .
`` Today 's announcement is about stopping the Trump administration 's latest effort to steal from working families to give it to the very privileged , '' Becerra said , adding the rule could put $ 1.6 billion in aid allocated to his state 's public schools in jeopardy .
In Michigan , officials said it could cost their public schools $ 16 million .
Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul said it would divert nearly $ 4.2 million `` away from taxpayer-funded public schools in our poorest school districts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the requirements established by Congress , the Administrative Procedure Act , and the U.S .
Constitution . ''
`` Instead of ignoring congressional intent and diverting funds away from public schools , Secretary DeVos should follow the law , '' he said .
In a statement in June , DeVos said the CARES act was meant to aid `` all American students , teachers , and families impacted '' by COVID-19 .
`` There is nothing in the law Congress passed that would allow districts to discriminate against children and teachers based on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she said .
The suit comes after DeVos first suggested the change in May .
That attracted concern in Congress from members of both parties and from public school officials .
In a call with Vice President Pence , DeVos on Monday said governors had left $ 195 million unspent from the funds for schools allocated under CARES .

States Sue Education Department Over Allocation Of Pandemic Funds To Schools
Enlarge this image toggle caption Alex Brandon/AP Alex Brandon/AP
Several Democratic-led states and the District of Columbia have joined in a lawsuit against Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, accusing the Trump administration of trying to unlawfully divert pandemic relief funds from public schools to private schools.
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced the lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Michigan, Maine, New Mexico and Wisconsin have also joined.
Last month, the Education Department put out a rule saying that private schools should benefit from a representative share of the more than $13 billion in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act earmarked for public schools.
Becerra contends that is an unlawful interpretation of the CARES act, which allows private schools to get a disproportionate amount of Title I funds — traditionally reserved for low-income students.
Although a portion of those funds are allocated to private schools to provide "equitable services" to students, the department's interpretation allows it to count all students for purposes of the funding formula instead of just those who qualify for Title I assistance, according to the lawsuit.
"Today's announcement is about stopping the Trump administration's latest effort to steal from working families to give it to the very privileged," Becerra said, adding the rule could put $1.6 billion in aid allocated to his state's public schools in jeopardy.
In Michigan, officials said it could cost their public schools $16 million.
Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul said it would divert nearly $4.2 million "away from taxpayer-funded public schools in our poorest school districts to private institutions — in violation of the requirements established by Congress, the Administrative Procedure Act, and the U.S. Constitution."
"Instead of ignoring congressional intent and diverting funds away from public schools, Secretary DeVos should follow the law," he said.
In a statement in June, DeVos said the CARES act was meant to aid "all American students, teachers, and families impacted" by COVID-19.
"There is nothing in the law Congress passed that would allow districts to discriminate against children and teachers based on private school attendance and employment," she said.
The suit comes after DeVos first suggested the change in May. That attracted concern in Congress from members of both parties and from public school officials.
In a call with Vice President Pence, DeVos on Monday said governors had left $195 million unspent from the funds for schools allocated under CARES.


npr--2020-07-07--Movie Theaters Sue New Jersey For Right To Reopen

Movie Theaters Sue New Jersey For Right To Reopen Cinema chains , including AMC Entertainment , Cinemark and Regal Cinemas , have filed suit against New Jersey 's governor for refusing to allow them to reopen amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic .
In the lawsuit led by the National Association of Theatre Owners of New Jersey , naming Gov .
Philip Murphy and New Jersey 's health commissioner , Judith Persichilli , the plaintiffs argue that because churches and retailers have been allowed to open in the state , the movie theaters should be permitted to reopen as well .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. District Court in Trenton , the cinema chains acknowledge the danger posed by COVID-19 .
`` Plaintiffs support fair and reasonable actions by the government to address that risk .
However , the government-mandated total closure of movie theatres is neither fair nor reasonable , and is instead a violation of Plaintiffs ' First Amendment rights of freedom of speech and freedom of expression , Equal Protection of the laws , Due Process under the law , and is a Taking of property without just compensation , '' the lawsuit says .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` unconstitutional and unlawful distinctions in allowing certain places of public assembly to reopen , while requiring movie theatres to remain closed . ''
The plaintiffs are seeking an injunction to stop New Jersey from enforcing orders that prevent movie houses from opening `` simultaneously '' with other , comparable venues .
Murphy unveiled a phased reopening of the state in May .
Bow Tie Cinemas , BJK Entertainment , and Community Theaters are also plaintiffs in the suit .

Movie Theaters Sue New Jersey For Right To Reopen
Enlarge this image toggle caption Ted Shaffrey/AP Ted Shaffrey/AP
Cinema chains, including AMC Entertainment, Cinemark and Regal Cinemas, have filed suit against New Jersey's governor for refusing to allow them to reopen amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
In the lawsuit led by the National Association of Theatre Owners of New Jersey, naming Gov. Philip Murphy and New Jersey's health commissioner, Judith Persichilli, the plaintiffs argue that because churches and retailers have been allowed to open in the state, the movie theaters should be permitted to reopen as well.
In the suit filed on Monday in U.S. District Court in Trenton, the cinema chains acknowledge the danger posed by COVID-19.
"Plaintiffs support fair and reasonable actions by the government to address that risk. However, the government-mandated total closure of movie theatres is neither fair nor reasonable, and is instead a violation of Plaintiffs' First Amendment rights of freedom of speech and freedom of expression, Equal Protection of the laws, Due Process under the law, and is a Taking of property without just compensation," the lawsuit says.
They say Murphy and Persichilli have made "unconstitutional and unlawful distinctions in allowing certain places of public assembly to reopen, while requiring movie theatres to remain closed."
The plaintiffs are seeking an injunction to stop New Jersey from enforcing orders that prevent movie houses from opening "simultaneously" with other, comparable venues.
Murphy unveiled a phased reopening of the state in May.
Bow Tie Cinemas, BJK Entertainment, and Community Theaters are also plaintiffs in the suit.


npr--2020-07-07--Texas Sets State Record With More Than 10,000 New Coronavirus Cases Reported Tuesday

Texas Sets State Record With More Than 10,000 New Coronavirus Cases Reported Tuesday Texas reported more than 10,000 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday , smashing its previous record for single-day increases and becoming latest state to reach this grim milestone .
Florida did so earlier in this month and New York in April .
Tuesday 's 10,028 confirmed cases eclipse Texas ' previous record of 8,258 , which it set on Saturday .
Hospitalizations are also reaching record highs , with the state surpassing 8,000 hospitalizations for the first time over the weekend .
According to the nonprofit COVID Tracking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospitalized patients as of Tuesday .
At least two South Texas counties — Hidalgo and Starr — announced over the weekend that their hospitals had reached full capacity .
The mayors of Houston , Austin and San Antonio have also warned in recent days that hospitals in their cities are at risk of reaching their limits in the coming weeks .
`` People should take this extraordinarily seriously , '' Dr. Marc Boom , president and CEO of the Houston Methodist hospital system , told NPR on Sunday .
`` And what we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think we 've been seeing over the last number of days - is people to really change their behaviors dramatically . ''
Texas has taken some measures to reserve hospital capacity and resources .
In late June , Gov .
Greg Abbott ordered hospitals in eight counties to suspend elective surgeries and procedures .
Aid is also coming from outside the state : About fifty soldiers from Fort Carson Army Base in Colorado are heading to the San Antonio area , where they will begin working in civilian hospitals later this week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the alarm when cases began to spike in mid-June , but has since issued statewide orders designed to slow the spread of the virus .
By the end of June , he had rolled back some of the state 's reopening plan by closing bars and tightening restrictions on certain businesses .
He also reversed course on the subject of face coverings , and issued a mask mandate that took effect in much of the state on Friday .
The state reported 60 new deaths on Tuesday , bringing its cumulative total to @ @

Texas Sets State Record With More Than 10,000 New Coronavirus Cases Reported Tuesday
Enlarge this image toggle caption Eric Gay/AP Eric Gay/AP
Texas reported more than 10,000 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, smashing its previous record for single-day increases and becoming latest state to reach this grim milestone.
Florida did so earlier in this month and New York in April.
Tuesday's 10,028 confirmed cases eclipse Texas' previous record of 8,258, which it set on Saturday.
Hospitalizations are also reaching record highs, with the state surpassing 8,000 hospitalizations for the first time over the weekend. According to the nonprofit COVID Tracking Project, Texas has more than 9,200 hospitalized patients as of Tuesday.
At least two South Texas counties — Hidalgo and Starr — announced over the weekend that their hospitals had reached full capacity.
The mayors of Houston, Austin and San Antonio have also warned in recent days that hospitals in their cities are at risk of reaching their limits in the coming weeks.
"People should take this extraordinarily seriously," Dr. Marc Boom, president and CEO of the Houston Methodist hospital system, told NPR on Sunday. "And what we need right now in Houston - and I think we've been seeing over the last number of days - is people to really change their behaviors dramatically."
Texas has taken some measures to reserve hospital capacity and resources. In late June, Gov. Greg Abbott ordered hospitals in eight counties to suspend elective surgeries and procedures.
Aid is also coming from outside the state: About fifty soldiers from Fort Carson Army Base in Colorado are heading to the San Antonio area, where they will begin working in civilian hospitals later this week.
Abbott was initially reluctant to sound the alarm when cases began to spike in mid-June, but has since issued statewide orders designed to slow the spread of the virus.
By the end of June, he had rolled back some of the state's reopening plan by closing bars and tightening restrictions on certain businesses. He also reversed course on the subject of face coverings, and issued a mask mandate that took effect in much of the state on Friday.
The state reported 60 new deaths on Tuesday, bringing its cumulative total to 2,715.


npr--2020-07-07--Say Her Name: How The Fight For Racial Justice Can Be More Inclusive Of Black Women

Say Her Name : How The Fight For Racial Justice Can Be More Inclusive Of Black Women Philando Castile , Eric Garner and George Floyd .
The deaths of these Black men at the hands of police have fueled outrage over police brutality and systemic racism .
Men make up the vast majority of people shot and killed by police .
But the names of Black women who were also killed are generally missing from Americans ' collective memories , says Kimberlé Crenshaw , co-founder and executive director of the African American Policy Forum .
The Say Her Name campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2014 , is meant to include women in the national conversation about race and policing .
A few women 's names and stories , such as Breonna Taylor , who was shot and killed by Louisville , Ky. , police executing a no-knock search warrant in March , have been part of the Black Lives Matter movement .
But others have not — women such as Michelle Cusseaux and Kayla Moore .
In 2014 , Cusseaux was shot by police in her Phoenix home while they were attempting to take her to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police were called because Moore was having a mental health crisis in her Berkeley , Calif. , home , but she stopped breathing after being restrained .
`` Black women have been killed in many of the same circumstances as their brothers , fathers and sons .
They 've been killed driving while Black , being in their homes while Black , having mental crises while Black and their losses just have n't registered in the same way , '' Crenshaw told NPR .
`` So Say Her Name is trying to raise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ names because if we can say their names we can know more about their stories . ''
Here are excerpts from the All Things Considered conversation : How has the Say Her Name movement been moving forward in a moment when another movement — Black Lives Matter — has been so very front and center ?
Say Her Name sees itself as part of the Black Lives Matter movement .
What we 're very much hoping Say Her Name does is to broaden the conceptualization of what vulnerability to anti-Black police violence looks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ things that people think happen , are conflicts largely between men .
So it 's a typical kind of Black men walking down the street , he looks suspicious even though he is n't and the police encounter him .
That 's what we 're learning to see .
That 's what George Floyd 's case generates for people .
What we want to do is say : That 's a risk factor , but also when a Black woman is driving a car and a police officer does n't like her response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and that escalates into that person being dead .
These are also moments of anti-Black police violence , but they happen in different spaces than we imagine , they happen to different bodies than we can see , and so we want to insert awareness of these other moments so that the movement and the reforms can actually be more inclusive and we hope more productive .
In this moment where there 's been so much focus on racial justice do you feel hopeful ?
I always feel hopeful .
As long as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the bodies of others around us to raise awareness and to express our refusal to accept either the terms of life in the society that we live in or the terms of the movements against those discriminations .
So I am both hopeful because there 's a refusal at this point to accept the status quo .
I am vigilant in this point because I know not always does that refusal include all of us who are subject to many of the crises that we are articulating demands against .
NPR 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ edited this story for broadcast .

Say Her Name: How The Fight For Racial Justice Can Be More Inclusive Of Black Women
Enlarge this image toggle caption Christian K. Lee/AP Christian K. Lee/AP
Philando Castile, Eric Garner and George Floyd. The deaths of these Black men at the hands of police have fueled outrage over police brutality and systemic racism.
Men make up the vast majority of people shot and killed by police.
But the names of Black women who were also killed are generally missing from Americans' collective memories, says Kimberlé Crenshaw, co-founder and executive director of the African American Policy Forum. The Say Her Name campaign, created by Crenshaw's group in 2014, is meant to include women in the national conversation about race and policing. A few women's names and stories, such as Breonna Taylor, who was shot and killed by Louisville, Ky., police executing a no-knock search warrant in March, have been part of the Black Lives Matter movement. But others have not — women such as Michelle Cusseaux and Kayla Moore.
In 2014, Cusseaux was shot by police in her Phoenix home while they were attempting to take her to a mental health facility. In 2013, police were called because Moore was having a mental health crisis in her Berkeley, Calif., home, but she stopped breathing after being restrained.
"Black women have been killed in many of the same circumstances as their brothers, fathers and sons. They've been killed driving while Black, being in their homes while Black, having mental crises while Black and their losses just haven't registered in the same way," Crenshaw told NPR. "So Say Her Name is trying to raise awareness by insisting that we say their names because if we can say their names we can know more about their stories."
Here are excerpts from the All Things Considered conversation:
How has the Say Her Name movement been moving forward in a moment when another movement — Black Lives Matter — has been so very front and center?
Say Her Name sees itself as part of the Black Lives Matter movement. What we're very much hoping Say Her Name does is to broaden the conceptualization of what vulnerability to anti-Black police violence looks like: the typical stories, the things that people think happen, are conflicts largely between men. So it's a typical kind of Black men walking down the street, he looks suspicious even though he isn't and the police encounter him. That's what we're learning to see. That's what George Floyd's case generates for people.
What we want to do is say: That's a risk factor, but also when a Black woman is driving a car and a police officer doesn't like her response and so he threatens to taser her and that escalates into that person being dead. These are also moments of anti-Black police violence, but they happen in different spaces than we imagine, they happen to different bodies than we can see, and so we want to insert awareness of these other moments so that the movement and the reforms can actually be more inclusive and we hope more productive.
In this moment where there's been so much focus on racial justice do you feel hopeful?
I always feel hopeful. As long as there's breath in my body and in the bodies of others around us to raise awareness and to express our refusal to accept either the terms of life in the society that we live in or the terms of the movements against those discriminations. So I am both hopeful because there's a refusal at this point to accept the status quo. I am vigilant in this point because I know not always does that refusal include all of us who are subject to many of the crises that we are articulating demands against.
NPR's Jonaki Mehta and Dave Blanchard produced and edited this story for broadcast.


npr--2020-07-07--Why U.S. Schools Are Still Segregated — And One Idea To Help Change That

Why U.S. Schools Are Still Segregated — And One Idea To Help Change That In 1954 , the Supreme Court ruled in Brown v. Board of Education that racial segregation in schools was unconstitutional .
The decision is often framed as a landmark decision that transformed education for Black students , allowing them equal access to integrated classrooms .
But more than six decades later , segregation in American schools is still very much a reality , says Rebecca Sibilia , founder of EdBuild , a nonprofit that investigated school funding inequities in America .
Her team found that predominantly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billion more per year than predominantly nonwhite school districts .
That 's because of another important , but less-studied Supreme Court case : Milliken v. Bradley in 1974 .
In Milliken , the Supreme Court ruled that if a school district line is drawn anywhere for almost any reason , Sibilia says , desegregation does n't have to cross that border .
`` It ultimately had the effect of , in essence , reversing a lot of the impact of Brown , '' Sibilia says , and `` entrenched the power of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' This created a system of fractured communities — and a fractured system of education funding — that means even today , only about half of America 's 50 million public school students attend integrated schools , Sibilia says .
`` The other half are enrolled in predominantly white or predominantly nonwhite school districts , '' she says .
`` And when you get to 75 , 85 % white or nonwhite , really , desegregation ca n't be meaningfully achieved . ''
Here are excerpts from her interview on All Things Considered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of how resources also do n't get distributed equally among school districts .
Can you explain the basics of how we fund our public schools ?
Property taxes and locally raised taxes make up about half of all education funding .
And the state then tries to make up the difference between what local communities can raise .
... What we find is that even though the states make valiant efforts to do so , they consistently fall short .
What alternative funding models would be more equitable than funneling local taxes into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taxes is not a bad thing .
It 's actually a very good thing .
Property taxes tend to be the most stable of all of our revenue sources , and that 's certainly going to show itself over the next few years where state economies are going to be really hurt by this pandemic .
So fixing the problem means allowing property taxes to escape the border , in essence .
So these borders that have become unmalleable because of that Milliken v. Bradley decision do n't necessarily need to define where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this idea of local funding and local control of schools .
But what we need to do is start to separate those concepts .
Just because you 're running your own schools and governing your own schools does n't necessarily mean that you get to keep all of your money .
What we 've put forward in one of our final EdBuild [ reports ] is the idea that maybe we can actually be busing dollars across a school district border even if we ca n't bus kids across it .
...
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discrepancies that we see coming from very fractured property tax bases and allow for a much more even start to our school funding system .

Why U.S. Schools Are Still Segregated — And One Idea To Help Change That
Enlarge this image Yasmine Gateau for NPR Yasmine Gateau for NPR
In 1954, the Supreme Court ruled in Brown v. Board of Education that racial segregation in schools was unconstitutional. The decision is often framed as a landmark decision that transformed education for Black students, allowing them equal access to integrated classrooms.
But more than six decades later, segregation in American schools is still very much a reality, says Rebecca Sibilia, founder of EdBuild, a nonprofit that investigated school funding inequities in America.
Her team found that predominantly white school districts get collectively $23 billion more per year than predominantly nonwhite school districts.
That's because of another important, but less-studied Supreme Court case: Milliken v. Bradley in 1974.
In Milliken, the Supreme Court ruled that if a school district line is drawn anywhere for almost any reason, Sibilia says, desegregation doesn't have to cross that border.
"It ultimately had the effect of, in essence, reversing a lot of the impact of Brown," Sibilia says, and "entrenched the power of the school district border in desegregation efforts."
This created a system of fractured communities — and a fractured system of education funding — that means even today, only about half of America's 50 million public school students attend integrated schools, Sibilia says.
"The other half are enrolled in predominantly white or predominantly nonwhite school districts," she says. "And when you get to 75, 85% white or nonwhite, really, desegregation can't be meaningfully achieved."
Here are excerpts from her interview on All Things Considered.
Let's talk about the mechanics of how resources also don't get distributed equally among school districts. Can you explain the basics of how we fund our public schools?
Property taxes and locally raised taxes make up about half of all education funding. And the state then tries to make up the difference between what local communities can raise. ... What we find is that even though the states make valiant efforts to do so, they consistently fall short.
What alternative funding models would be more equitable than funneling local taxes into school districts?
Funding education through property taxes is not a bad thing. It's actually a very good thing. Property taxes tend to be the most stable of all of our revenue sources, and that's certainly going to show itself over the next few years where state economies are going to be really hurt by this pandemic.
So fixing the problem means allowing property taxes to escape the border, in essence. So these borders that have become unmalleable because of that Milliken v. Bradley decision don't necessarily need to define where property taxes stay.
We've conflated this idea of local funding and local control of schools. But what we need to do is start to separate those concepts. Just because you're running your own schools and governing your own schools doesn't necessarily mean that you get to keep all of your money.
What we've put forward in one of our final EdBuild [reports] is the idea that maybe we can actually be busing dollars across a school district border even if we can't bus kids across it. ... It would serve to smooth out these wealth discrepancies that we see coming from very fractured property tax bases and allow for a much more even start to our school funding system.


npr--2020-07-07--Trump Sets Date To End WHO Membership Over Its Handling Of Virus

Trump Sets Date To End WHO Membership Over Its Handling Of Virus The U.S. has sent a letter officially notifying the United Nations that it is leaving the World Health Organization , starting the formal process of withdrawal that President Trump first threatened in April when he halted funding to WHO .
In an email to reporters , a U.N. spokesman confirmed that it received the notification : `` On 6 July 2020 , the United States of America notified the Secretary-General ... of its withdrawal from the World Health Organization , effective on 6 July 2021 , '' wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Secretary-General António Guterres , adding that the U.N. is checking with WHO to see if all the conditions for withdrawal have been met .
To leave the organization , the U.S. is supposed to give a one-year notice and pay outstanding dues , according to language that the U.S. added to the WHO constitution when it joined the treaty in 1948 .
As of June 30 , the U.S. owed $ 198 million in unpaid membership dues .
Trump has repeatedly criticized WHO for being slow to respond to the pandemic and for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ May 29 , he announced his decision to leave the organization , claiming that it caved to pressure from China `` to mislead the world when the virus was first discovered by Chinese authorities '' and that it 's under the `` total control '' of China .
Many legal scholars have questioned whether the president has the authority to withdraw the United States from WHO without congressional approval .
According to a tweet from Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey , the ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee , Congress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : `` To call Trump 's response to COVID chaotic & incoherent does n't do it justice .
This wo n't protect American lives or interests — it leaves Americans sick & America alone , '' he wrote .
Menendez 's concerns have been echoed widely by doctors , diplomats and the global health community .
`` The World Health Organization will not disappear , '' said Jimmy Kolker , a former ambassador who was the chief health diplomat for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in the Obama administration .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ happen instead is that the U.S. role will be diminished and that we wo n't be able to bring our best experts into the room when discussions are taking place . ''
In a statement , the American Medical Association said , `` The Trump administration 's official withdrawal from the World Health Organization ( WHO ) puts the health of our country at grave risk .
`` ... [ W ] e join in strong opposition to this decision , which is a major setback to science , public health , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Trump has said the money the U.S. would have contributed to WHO will go to various global health initiatives .
But in a letter to Congress dated June 30 , 750 experts in global health and international law said that `` withdrawal will likely cost lives , American and foreign '' to COVID-19 by cutting crucial funds to WHO 's health emergencies program for testing , contact tracing and vaccine development , and prolonging the pandemic .
Besides warning about the impact on efforts to control the pandemic , the letter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back years of progress combating diseases such as polio and HIV/AIDS .
The withdrawal may also jeopardize U.S. access to lifesaving COVID-19 vaccines , said Lindsay Wiley , a law professor at American University .
`` Given that our vaccine manufacturing capabilities within the U.S. are limited , to withdraw from the organization at this stage in the crisis , when we 're on the cusp of developing a safe and effective vaccine and thinking about how to distribute it , would be a dire mistake , '' she said .
Leaving the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to China , '' said Larry Gostin , director of the O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown University , noting a potentially ironic turn of events as a result of the withdrawal .
By exiting WHO , the U.S. creates a leadership vacuum that China will be more than happy to fill .
`` The United States can cease all communications , can seek to throw up a wall between the United States and the rest of the world , and yet we 've seen time and again that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' said Benjamin Mason Meier , associate professor of global health policy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , `` And our efforts to pretend otherwise are crippling the United States in this pandemic , and leading the United States to suffer unprecedented mortality far above any faced by high-income countries . ''

Trump Sets Date To End WHO Membership Over Its Handling Of Virus
Enlarge this image toggle caption Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images
The U.S. has sent a letter officially notifying the United Nations that it is leaving the World Health Organization, starting the formal process of withdrawal that President Trump first threatened in April when he halted funding to WHO.
In an email to reporters, a U.N. spokesman confirmed that it received the notification: "On 6 July 2020, the United States of America notified the Secretary-General ... of its withdrawal from the World Health Organization, effective on 6 July 2021," wrote Stéphane Dujarric, a spokesman for U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, adding that the U.N. is checking with WHO to see if all the conditions for withdrawal have been met.
To leave the organization, the U.S. is supposed to give a one-year notice and pay outstanding dues, according to language that the U.S. added to the WHO constitution when it joined the treaty in 1948. As of June 30, the U.S. owed $198 million in unpaid membership dues.
Trump has repeatedly criticized WHO for being slow to respond to the pandemic and for being too "China-centric." On May 29, he announced his decision to leave the organization, claiming that it caved to pressure from China "to mislead the world when the virus was first discovered by Chinese authorities" and that it's under the "total control" of China.
Many legal scholars have questioned whether the president has the authority to withdraw the United States from WHO without congressional approval.
According to a tweet from Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Congress learned about the termination notification on Tuesday: "To call Trump's response to COVID chaotic & incoherent doesn't do it justice. This won't protect American lives or interests — it leaves Americans sick & America alone," he wrote.
Menendez's concerns have been echoed widely by doctors, diplomats and the global health community.
"The World Health Organization will not disappear," said Jimmy Kolker, a former ambassador who was the chief health diplomat for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in the Obama administration. He told NPR: "What will happen instead is that the U.S. role will be diminished and that we won't be able to bring our best experts into the room when discussions are taking place."
In a statement, the American Medical Association said, "The Trump administration's official withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO) puts the health of our country at grave risk.
"... [W]e join in strong opposition to this decision, which is a major setback to science, public health, and global coordination efforts needed to defeat COVID-19."
Trump has said the money the U.S. would have contributed to WHO will go to various global health initiatives.
But in a letter to Congress dated June 30, 750 experts in global health and international law said that "withdrawal will likely cost lives, American and foreign" to COVID-19 by cutting crucial funds to WHO's health emergencies program for testing, contact tracing and vaccine development, and prolonging the pandemic.
Besides warning about the impact on efforts to control the pandemic, the letter predicted that a U.S. withdrawal could roll back years of progress combating diseases such as polio and HIV/AIDS.
The withdrawal may also jeopardize U.S. access to lifesaving COVID-19 vaccines, said Lindsay Wiley, a law professor at American University. "Given that our vaccine manufacturing capabilities within the U.S. are limited, to withdraw from the organization at this stage in the crisis, when we're on the cusp of developing a safe and effective vaccine and thinking about how to distribute it, would be a dire mistake," she said.
Leaving the organization "is actually a political gift to China," said Larry Gostin, director of the O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown University, noting a potentially ironic turn of events as a result of the withdrawal. By exiting WHO, the U.S. creates a leadership vacuum that China will be more than happy to fill.
"The United States can cease all communications, can seek to throw up a wall between the United States and the rest of the world, and yet we've seen time and again that walls do not hold back diseases," said Benjamin Mason Meier, associate professor of global health policy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, "And our efforts to pretend otherwise are crippling the United States in this pandemic, and leading the United States to suffer unprecedented mortality far above any faced by high-income countries."


npr--2020-07-07--Regardless Of What You Think, 'Irregardless' Is A Word

Regardless Of What You Think , 'Irregardless ' Is A Word Merriam-Webster raised the hackles of stodgy grammarians last week when it affirmed the lexical veracity of `` irregardless . ''
The word 's definition , when reading it , would seem to be : without without regard .
`` Irregardless is included in our dictionary because it has been in widespread and near-constant use since 1795 , '' the dictionary 's staff wrote in a `` Words of the Week '' roundup on Friday .
`` We do not make the English language , we merely record it .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' but meaning the same as `` regardless . ''
`` Many people find irregardless to be a nonsensical word , as the ir- prefix usually functions to indicates negation ; however , in this case it appears to function as an intensifier , '' the dictionary writes .
`` It 's not a real word .
I do n't care what the dictionary says , '' responds author Michelle Ray , who teaches English in Silver Spring , Md .
`` You say 'regardless . '
Regardless of the fact , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Irregardless means not regardless .
And that 's not what you 're trying to say at all .
So why , in what context , would irregardless make sense ?
I ca n't understand it . ''
The brouhaha regarding the word seems to have started last week when a popular Twitter user took umbrage at Merriam-Webster 's listing , decrying the death of the English language .
But irregardless was first included in Merriam-Webster 's Unabridged edition in 1934 , a spokesperson tells NPR .
Other dictionaries , including Webster 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Heritage Dictionary of the English Language and the Cambridge Dictionary all recognize irregardless as a word .
It 's not new .
The Charleston City Gazette of Charleston , Ga. , used it as early as 1795 , according to Merriam-Webster : `` But death , irregardless of tenderest ties , Resolv 'd the good Betty , at length , to bereave . ''
In 1859 , The Baltimore Sun wrote that a man `` had endeavored to discharge his duty fearlessly in this case , irregardless of those who may consider this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` The Baltimore Sun once again published the word in editor John McIntyre 's commentary on Saturday : `` 'Irregardless ' is too a word ; you just do n't understand dictionaries . ''
`` People get upset about the dictionary because they think it is some sort of official document , '' he tells NPR .
`` And it 's not .
It 's just lexicographers identifying words that people use and trying to find out , well , how are they spelled ?
How are they pronounced ?
What meanings do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from ? ''
The dictionary 's recognition `` does n't enroll a word as correct in the English language , '' McIntyre says .
`` It just says this is a word that a lot of people use in English .
And here 's what we know about it . ''
So it 's a word , but its use is still discouraged in formal writing .
In 2016 , NPR 's standards and practices editor at the time told staff to `` just say 'regardless . '
`` The AP Stylebook calls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Heritage dictionary notes that a panel of experts `` has roundly disapproved of its use . ''
And Ray says she 's still planning to mark `` irregardless '' as incorrect on her students ' work .
Still , there 's no need to send angry letters and tweets to the folks at Merriam-Webster and other dictionaries .
McIntyre 's solution : `` You do n't like it ?
Do n't use it . ''
NPR 's Milton Guevara and Steve Mullis produced and edited the audio version of this story .

Regardless Of What You Think, 'Irregardless' Is A Word
Merriam-Webster raised the hackles of stodgy grammarians last week when it affirmed the lexical veracity of "irregardless."
The word's definition, when reading it, would seem to be: without without regard.
"Irregardless is included in our dictionary because it has been in widespread and near-constant use since 1795," the dictionary's staff wrote in a "Words of the Week" roundup on Friday. "We do not make the English language, we merely record it."
Merriam-Webster defines irregardless as "nonstandard" but meaning the same as "regardless." "Many people find irregardless to be a nonsensical word, as the ir- prefix usually functions to indicates negation; however, in this case it appears to function as an intensifier," the dictionary writes.
"It's not a real word. I don't care what the dictionary says," responds author Michelle Ray, who teaches English in Silver Spring, Md.
"You say 'regardless.' Regardless of the fact," she tells NPR's Morning Edition. "Irregardless means not regardless. And that's not what you're trying to say at all. So why, in what context, would irregardless make sense? I can't understand it."
The brouhaha regarding the word seems to have started last week when a popular Twitter user took umbrage at Merriam-Webster's listing, decrying the death of the English language.
But irregardless was first included in Merriam-Webster's Unabridged edition in 1934, a spokesperson tells NPR. Other dictionaries, including Webster's New World College Dictionary, The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language and the Cambridge Dictionary all recognize irregardless as a word.
It's not new.
The Charleston City Gazette of Charleston, Ga., used it as early as 1795, according to Merriam-Webster: "But death, irregardless of tenderest ties, Resolv'd the good Betty, at length, to bereave."
Fresh Air How Words Get Added To The Dictionary How Words Get Added To The Dictionary Listen · 47:16 47:16
In 1859, The Baltimore Sun wrote that a man "had endeavored to discharge his duty fearlessly in this case, irregardless of those who may consider this discourse discourteous to the 'Plugs.' "
The Baltimore Sun once again published the word in editor John McIntyre's commentary on Saturday: " 'Irregardless' is too a word; you just don't understand dictionaries."
"People get upset about the dictionary because they think it is some sort of official document," he tells NPR. "And it's not. It's just lexicographers identifying words that people use and trying to find out, well, how are they spelled? How are they pronounced? What meanings do they have? Where did they come from?"
The dictionary's recognition "doesn't enroll a word as correct in the English language," McIntyre says. "It just says this is a word that a lot of people use in English. And here's what we know about it."
So it's a word, but its use is still discouraged in formal writing. In 2016, NPR's standards and practices editor at the time told staff to "just say 'regardless.' " The AP Stylebook calls it a double negative. The American Heritage dictionary notes that a panel of experts "has roundly disapproved of its use."
And Ray says she's still planning to mark "irregardless" as incorrect on her students' work.
Still, there's no need to send angry letters and tweets to the folks at Merriam-Webster and other dictionaries.
McIntyre's solution: "You don't like it? Don't use it."
NPR's Milton Guevara and Steve Mullis produced and edited the audio version of this story.


npr--2020-07-07--Trudeau Won't Visit Trump. Most Canadians Don't Want To Cross The Border Either

Trudeau Wo n't Visit Trump .
Most Canadians Do n't Want To Cross The Border Either When Prime Minister Justin Trudeau turned down an invitation to the White House this week , it sent a message in line with the current mood in Canada : This is not a good time to travel between Canada and the United States — with the coronavirus still surging in parts of America — to meet with President Trump .
The White House had floated the possibility of an event with Trudeau and Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador on Wednesday to mark this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deal , the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement .
Mexico 's leader is already on his way .
On Monday , Trudeau 's spokesperson , Chantal Gagnon , said in a statement that the prime minister would remain in Ottawa this week `` for scheduled Cabinet meetings and the long-planned sitting of Parliament . ''
Trudeau said last week that Canada was discussing with the United States whether a summit `` makes sense . ''
His administration was troubled by the threat of new U.S. tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum , he said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the health situation and the coronavirus reality that is still hitting all three of our countries . ''
Canada has reported more than 107,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and more than 8,700 related deaths as of Tuesday , according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University .
However , new daily numbers have fallen to levels seen in March , while new cases in the United States are surging above the country 's April peak .
On Tuesday , Canada counted 399 new cases , compared with nearly 50,000 in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Data , a research project at the University of Oxford .
The U.S. and Canada have partially closed their shared border since March to prevent the spread of the virus .
The rules do allow for diplomatic trips and other travel deemed essential .
A large majority of Canadians , across a wide cross section of society , think the travel restrictions should stay in effect `` for the foreseeable future , '' according to Nik Nanos of Nanos Research , a public opinion firm .
Its new poll shows 81 % of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closure .
`` Canadians looking south see chaos , '' said Chris Sands , director of the Center for Canadian Studies at Johns Hopkins University , including confusion around the state-by-state reopening and rising case numbers .
`` They 're just nervous . ''
That Trudeau 's not looking to travel to the United States `` should n't be a surprise , '' Nanos said .
`` The prime minister has put a very high premium on leading by example , everything from wearing a face mask at press conferences through to social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is looking `` to avoid engaging in any activities which would be inconsistent with what he 's asking average Canadians to do . ''
For example , most travelers arriving in Canada must self-quarantine for 14 days , and police have conducted spot checks to ensure compliance .
The border restrictions , extended until at least July 21 , have also separated some families .
On Monday , members of Congress from northern U.S. border states called for easing travel for people with relatives or property on the opposite side of the border @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from a White House visit now , said Nelson Wiseman , political science professor emeritus at the University of Toronto .
`` Trudeau loses in Canadian public opinion to be seen chumming around with a very unpopular Trump , '' he said .
If Trump loses November 's election , Wiseman predicted , `` I do n't expect they will ever meet again . ''

Trudeau Won't Visit Trump. Most Canadians Don't Want To Cross The Border Either
Enlarge this image toggle caption David Kawai/Bloomberg via Getty Images David Kawai/Bloomberg via Getty Images
When Prime Minister Justin Trudeau turned down an invitation to the White House this week, it sent a message in line with the current mood in Canada: This is not a good time to travel between Canada and the United States — with the coronavirus still surging in parts of America — to meet with President Trump.
The White House had floated the possibility of an event with Trudeau and Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador on Wednesday to mark this month's start of a new trade deal, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Mexico's leader is already on his way.
On Monday, Trudeau's spokesperson, Chantal Gagnon, said in a statement that the prime minister would remain in Ottawa this week "for scheduled Cabinet meetings and the long-planned sitting of Parliament."
Trudeau said last week that Canada was discussing with the United States whether a summit "makes sense." His administration was troubled by the threat of new U.S. tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum, he said, adding that "we're also concerned about the health situation and the coronavirus reality that is still hitting all three of our countries."
Canada has reported more than 107,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and more than 8,700 related deaths as of Tuesday, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. However, new daily numbers have fallen to levels seen in March, while new cases in the United States are surging above the country's April peak. On Tuesday, Canada counted 399 new cases, compared with nearly 50,000 in the U.S., according to Our World in Data, a research project at the University of Oxford.
The U.S. and Canada have partially closed their shared border since March to prevent the spread of the virus. The rules do allow for diplomatic trips and other travel deemed essential.
A large majority of Canadians, across a wide cross section of society, think the travel restrictions should stay in effect "for the foreseeable future," according to Nik Nanos of Nanos Research, a public opinion firm. Its new poll shows 81% of Canadians want to maintain the partial border closure.
"Canadians looking south see chaos," said Chris Sands, director of the Center for Canadian Studies at Johns Hopkins University, including confusion around the state-by-state reopening and rising case numbers. "They're just nervous."
That Trudeau's not looking to travel to the United States "shouldn't be a surprise," Nanos said.
"The prime minister has put a very high premium on leading by example, everything from wearing a face mask at press conferences through to social distancing," he said. Trudeau is looking "to avoid engaging in any activities which would be inconsistent with what he's asking average Canadians to do."
For example, most travelers arriving in Canada must self-quarantine for 14 days, and police have conducted spot checks to ensure compliance.
The border restrictions, extended until at least July 21, have also separated some families. On Monday, members of Congress from northern U.S. border states called for easing travel for people with relatives or property on the opposite side of the border.
Trudeau also has nothing to gain from a White House visit now, said Nelson Wiseman, political science professor emeritus at the University of Toronto.
"Trudeau loses in Canadian public opinion to be seen chumming around with a very unpopular Trump," he said.
If Trump loses November's election, Wiseman predicted, "I don't expect they will ever meet again."


npr--2020-07-07--CFPB Strips Some Consumer Protections For Payday Loans

Federal regulators have finalized a new rule for payday lenders that strips out a key provision crafted during the Obama administration .
Under the revised rule , lenders will no longer have to check that borrowers can repay their loan when it comes due .
Consumer advocates say that without that protection , borrowers often get trapped having to borrow again and again , at interest rates of up to 400 % .
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — a watchdog agency set up in the wake of the 2008-09 financial crisis — tried to curb the practices of payday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finalized in 2017 .
The Trump administration has been working to water down the rule since taking control of the consumer bureau late that year .
`` The CFPB 's action will ensure that essential credit continues to flow to communities and consumers across the country , which is especially important in these unprecedented times , '' said D. Lynn DeVault , chairman of the Community Financial Services Association of America , an industry trade group .
Consumer groups blasted the content of the new rule and its timing during a pandemic that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of work .
`` There is never a good time to enable predatory loans carrying 400 % interest rates , but this is the worst possible time , '' said Mike Calhoun , president of the Center for Responsible Lending .
`` The pain caused by the CFPB gutting the payday rule will be felt most by those who can least afford it , including communities of color who are disproportionately targeted by payday lenders . ''
The revised rule leaves in place another Obama-era provision that 's designed to limit the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attempts to collect from borrowers ' bank accounts .
That measure — which is currently on hold under a court order — may help to avoid costly overdraft fees .

CFPB Strips Some Consumer Protections For Payday Loans
Enlarge this image toggle caption Sid Hastings/AP Sid Hastings/AP
Federal regulators have finalized a new rule for payday lenders that strips out a key provision crafted during the Obama administration. Under the revised rule, lenders will no longer have to check that borrowers can repay their loan when it comes due.
Consumer advocates say that without that protection, borrowers often get trapped having to borrow again and again, at interest rates of up to 400%.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — a watchdog agency set up in the wake of the 2008-09 financial crisis — tried to curb the practices of payday lenders, drafting a rule that was finalized in 2017. The Trump administration has been working to water down the rule since taking control of the consumer bureau late that year.
The payday loan industry welcomed the revision.
"The CFPB's action will ensure that essential credit continues to flow to communities and consumers across the country, which is especially important in these unprecedented times," said D. Lynn DeVault, chairman of the Community Financial Services Association of America, an industry trade group.
Consumer groups blasted the content of the new rule and its timing during a pandemic that has put tens of millions of people out of work.
"There is never a good time to enable predatory loans carrying 400% interest rates, but this is the worst possible time," said Mike Calhoun, president of the Center for Responsible Lending. "The pain caused by the CFPB gutting the payday rule will be felt most by those who can least afford it, including communities of color who are disproportionately targeted by payday lenders."
The revised rule leaves in place another Obama-era provision that's designed to limit the ability of payday lenders to make repeated attempts to collect from borrowers' bank accounts. That measure — which is currently on hold under a court order — may help to avoid costly overdraft fees.