npr--2020-02-11--Proposals To Ban Fracking Could Hurt Democrats In Key States

Proposals To Ban Fracking Could Hurt Democrats In Key States Climate change is a top issue in the Democratic presidential primaries and some candidates have taken relatively aggressive policy stands , including vows to ban hydraulic fracturing .
But some Democrats worry that could push moderate voters in key swing states to reelect President Trump next November .
Fracking is a controversial drilling technology that , along with horizontal drilling , has created a major oil and gas boom .
President Trump often brags about this on the campaign trail , though the boom started well before he became president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effects of climate change , Democrats have made addressing the issue a key element of their energy and environment platforms .
Last September , Elizabeth Warren tweeted she would , `` ban fracking—everywhere . ''
Bernie Sanders talked about banning fracking during his 2016 run for president .
For both , fracking is one element of their support for a sweeping `` Green New Deal . ''
Sanders ' environmental platform is one reason volunteers with the New Hampshire Youth Movement have deployed across six campuses asking students to vote for the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is affiliated with the youth climate group Sunrise Movement , which has endorsed Sanders .
Twenty-year-old volunteer Olivia Freiwald of Wynnewood , Pa. , clipboard in hand , says she 's taken a year off from studying at Tufts University to campaign full time .
At the University of New Hampshire recently , she dismissed concerns that Sanders ' environmental policies might alienate moderate voters and help reelect Trump in swing states .
`` I get this question , literally , all the time , especially from people in my parent 's generation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those who ask are `` hyper-obsessed '' with finding a candidate who can beat Trump , but she thinks there are larger issues to consider , such as climate change .
`` I just hear them being scared , and I hear them not knowing the full scale of the crisis we are facing . ''
Scientists warn that carbon emissions must be reduced dramatically , and quickly , to avoid the worst effects of climate change .
For Freiwald and her fellow activists , the solution is a complete transition from fossil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ notice .
Ads from the American Petroleum Institute tout the environmental benefits of expanding natural gas for electricity generation , since it emits about half the carbon emissions as coal .
Other ads explicitly call on voters to oppose fracking bans .
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce commissioned a study that predicts job losses that would come with a fracking ban .
`` The first five years or so , you 're going to lose 19 million jobs around the country , '' says Marty Durbin , president of the Chamber 's Global @ @ @ @ @ @ @ losses well beyond oil and gas .
Fracking ban supporters , though , imagine a much different future , with a big increase in renewable energy jobs .
Durbin and others in the oil industry are n't trying to change activists ' minds .
Instead they 're focused on moderate and swing voters who could decide the next election in a closely divided country .
`` The middle of the electorate understands our need for energy itself , for it to be affordable , for it to be reliable , and for it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In a swing state like Pennsylvania , a major gas producer , fracking and energy are key issues .
Even a small segment of voters swayed one way or another could change the election .
`` Pennsylvania 's 20 electoral votes in 2016 were decided by about 44,000 votes , or less than 1 % of the electorate in that race , '' says Chris Borick , Professor of Political Science and Director of the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion .
He thinks the effect of a candidate 's relatively aggressive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But for all focus on climate change among the most engaged Democrats — it was the number two issue for caucus goers in Iowa — moderate and swing voters are not paying as much attention .
`` Energy and climate issues are not among the top tier of issues that voters identify as their top priority , '' Borick says .
In suburban Philadelphia , Meeta Patel is a good example of that .
She voted for Trump in 2016 and Barack Obama before that .
So far this election year she 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sure , '' says Patel , `` who is the other candidate that I 'm comparing Trump against . ''
Asked how a candidate 's views on fracking will affect her choice , Patel says for now she 's thinking more about the cost of health insurance and her son 's college education .

Proposals To Ban Fracking Could Hurt Democrats In Key States
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jeff Brady/NPR Jeff Brady/NPR
Updated at 10:20 a.m.
Climate change is a top issue in the Democratic presidential primaries and some candidates have taken relatively aggressive policy stands, including vows to ban hydraulic fracturing. But some Democrats worry that could push moderate voters in key swing states to reelect President Trump next November.
Fracking is a controversial drilling technology that, along with horizontal drilling, has created a major oil and gas boom. President Trump often brags about this on the campaign trail, though the boom started well before he became president.
While the president largely dismisses the effects of climate change, Democrats have made addressing the issue a key element of their energy and environment platforms.
Last September, Elizabeth Warren tweeted she would, "ban fracking—everywhere." Bernie Sanders talked about banning fracking during his 2016 run for president. For both, fracking is one element of their support for a sweeping "Green New Deal."
Sanders' environmental platform is one reason volunteers with the New Hampshire Youth Movement have deployed across six campuses asking students to vote for the U.S. senator from neighboring Vermont. The organization is affiliated with the youth climate group Sunrise Movement, which has endorsed Sanders.
Twenty-year-old volunteer Olivia Freiwald of Wynnewood, Pa., clipboard in hand, says she's taken a year off from studying at Tufts University to campaign full time. At the University of New Hampshire recently, she dismissed concerns that Sanders' environmental policies might alienate moderate voters and help reelect Trump in swing states.
"I get this question, literally, all the time, especially from people in my parent's generation," she says. Freiwald says those who ask are "hyper-obsessed" with finding a candidate who can beat Trump, but she thinks there are larger issues to consider, such as climate change.
"I just hear them being scared, and I hear them not knowing the full scale of the crisis we are facing."
Scientists warn that carbon emissions must be reduced dramatically, and quickly, to avoid the worst effects of climate change. For Freiwald and her fellow activists, the solution is a complete transition from fossil fuels.
There are some actions a president could take to limit fracking, especially on federal land and in federal waters. But a complete ban likely would require congressional action, and that would be difficult, especially if Republicans control one or both houses of congress.
Still, the oil industry has taken notice of the Democrats' proposals. Ads from the American Petroleum Institute tout the environmental benefits of expanding natural gas for electricity generation, since it emits about half the carbon emissions as coal. Those ads ignore concerns about methane, a more potent greenhouse gas, emitted during gas production. Other ads explicitly call on voters to oppose fracking bans.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce commissioned a study that predicts job losses that would come with a fracking ban. "The first five years or so, you're going to lose 19 million jobs around the country," says Marty Durbin, president of the Chamber's Global Energy Institute.
The study predicts job losses well beyond oil and gas. Fracking ban supporters, though, imagine a much different future, with a big increase in renewable energy jobs.
Durbin and others in the oil industry aren't trying to change activists' minds. Instead they're focused on moderate and swing voters who could decide the next election in a closely divided country.
"The middle of the electorate understands our need for energy itself, for it to be affordable, for it to be reliable, and for it to be clean," says Durbin.
In a swing state like Pennsylvania, a major gas producer, fracking and energy are key issues. Even a small segment of voters swayed one way or another could change the election.
"Pennsylvania's 20 electoral votes in 2016 were decided by about 44,000 votes, or less than 1% of the electorate in that race," says Chris Borick, Professor of Political Science and Director of the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion.
He thinks the effect of a candidate's relatively aggressive environmental policies shouldn't be underestimated.
But for all focus on climate change among the most engaged Democrats — it was the number two issue for caucus goers in Iowa — moderate and swing voters are not paying as much attention.
"Energy and climate issues are not among the top tier of issues that voters identify as their top priority," Borick says.
In suburban Philadelphia, Meeta Patel is a good example of that. She voted for Trump in 2016 and Barack Obama before that. So far this election year she's undecided.
"I want to make sure," says Patel, "who is the other candidate that I'm comparing Trump against."
Asked how a candidate's views on fracking will affect her choice, Patel says for now she's thinking more about the cost of health insurance and her son's college education.


npr--2020-02-11--Philippines Says It Will End U.S. Security Agreement

Philippines Says It Will End U.S. Security Agreement Updated at 6 a.m .
ET The government of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte , who has been highly critical of his country 's military alliance with the United States , announced Tuesday that it would scrap a security pact that allows American forces to train there .
In a move that could have consequences for a counter-insurgency against Islamist extremists in the country 's south , Duterte 's foreign secretary , Teodoro Locson Jr. , tweeted Tuesday that the Visiting Forces Agreement ( VFA ) with the U.S. would be unilaterally terminated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rely on ourselves , we will strengthen our own defenses and not rely on any other country , '' Philippine presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said at a regular press briefing , quoting Duterte .
He said Manila would be open to similar agreements with other countries .
`` As long as it is favorable to us and there is a mutual benefit to both countries , we are open , '' he said .
The 1999 VFA pact exempts U.S. military personnel from passport and visa regulations when they come and go for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Philippines .
The decision follows anger over Washington 's reported decision last month to cancel the U.S. visa of Philippines Sen. Ronald dela Rosa , a chief architect of Duterte 's brutal war on drugs , which has killed thousands and been widely condemned by international human rights watchdogs .
Duterte demanded that the U.S. restore the visa and began publicly suggesting he would terminate the VFA if it failed to do so .
The U.S. Embassy in Manila issued a statement on Tuesday calling Duterte 's move `` a serious step @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
`` We will carefully consider how best to move forward to advance our shared interests , '' the statement said .
The U.S. , which provided some $ 550 million in military assistance to the Philippines from 2016 to 2019 , conducts joint military exercises , such as the annual Balikatan , or `` shoulder-to-shoulder , '' in Tagalog , with Filipino troops .
Balikatan , which sometimes also includes Australian forces , is seen as a show of force against possible military adventures by China .
The U.S. also has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ troops on the Philippine island of Mindanao on a rotating basis to help in Manila 's fight against terrorist group Abu Sayyaf and other militants linked to the Islamic State .
U.S. troops were on the ground in 2017 aiding the Philippine military during a siege of militants in the southern city of Marawi .
The U.S. Navy is also seen as a bulwark against China 's territorial ambitions in the South China Sea .
The Philippines , a former U.S. territory that gained independence in 1946 , has long viewed Washington as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it also has a Mutual Defense Treaty with the U.S. that dates back to the 1950s .
That pact , along with the Obama administration 's Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement , remains intact .
However , Duterte came to office three years ago with strong words for Washington .
Among other things , he has said the U.S. treats the Philippines as `` like a dog on a leash , '' and has accused U.S. forces of clandestine activities in the country .
He came into office executing a dramatic pivot away @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an increasingly strong regional player .
The U.S. has 180 days to respond to the notice of the VFA 's termination .
Duterte has said that President Trump wants to save the deal .
However , The Philippines Star quotes presidential spokesman Panelo as saying Duterte `` will not entertain '' entreaties from the U.S. nor will he accept an invitation to visit the White House .
But in one tweet , Locson , the foreign secretary , seemed to suggest that the cancellation of the pact was mostly a bargaining tactic aimed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And last week , in a televised Senate hearing , Locsin listed the crucial security , trade and economic benefits the accord provides , according to The Associated Press .
`` While the Philippines has the prerogative to terminate the VFA anytime , the continuance of the agreement is deemed to be more beneficial to the Philippines compared to any predicates were it to be terminated , '' he said .

Philippines Says It Will End U.S. Security Agreement
Enlarge this image toggle caption Bullit Marquez/AP Bullit Marquez/AP
Updated at 9:30 a.m. ET
At the direction of President Rodrigo Duterte, a fierce critic of the United States, the Philippines announced Tuesday that it would scrap a security pact that allows American forces to train there.
Duterte's foreign secretary, Teodoro Locsin Jr., tweeted Tuesday that the Visiting Forces Agreement with the U.S. would be terminated — a move that could have consequences for a counterinsurgency against Islamist extremists in the country's south.
@DFAPHL The Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of the United States has received the notice of termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement. As a diplomatic courtesy there will be no further factual announcements following this self-explanatory development. https://t.co/qQhywEpcea — Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) February 11, 2020
"It's about time we rely on ourselves. We will strengthen our own defenses and not rely on any other country," Philippine presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said at a regular press briefing, quoting Duterte.
He said Manila would be open to similar agreements with other countries. "As long as it is favorable to us and there is a mutual benefit to both countries, we are open," he said.
The 1999 Visiting Forces Agreement exempts U.S. military personnel from passport and visa regulations when they come and go for joint exercises and training of troops in the Philippines.
The move to end the pact follows anger over Washington's reported decision last month to cancel the U.S. visa of Philippine Sen. Ronald dela Rosa. The former chief of National Police, dela Rosa, enforced Duterte's brutal war on drugs, which has killed thousands and has been widely condemned by international human rights watchdogs.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Toto Lozano/Malacanang Presidential Photographers Division via AP Toto Lozano/Malacanang Presidential Photographers Division via AP
Duterte then demanded that the U.S. restore the visa and began publicly suggesting he would terminate the VFA if it failed to do so.
The U.S. Embassy in Manila issued a brief statement on Tuesday calling Duterte's move "a serious step with significant implications for the U.S.-Philippine alliance."
"We will carefully consider how best to move forward to advance our shared interests," the statement read.
JUST IN: The United States Embassy in the Philippines’ statement on the Visiting Forces Agreement @ABSCBNNews pic.twitter.com/M1NMXj7ew3 — Chiara Zambrano (@chiarazambrano) February 11, 2020
The U.S., which provided some $550 million in military assistance to the Philippines from 2016 to 2019, conducts joint military exercises, such as the annual joint exercise dubbed Balikatan, or "shoulder-to-shoulder," in Tagalog, with Filipino troops. Balikatan, which sometimes also includes Australian and Japanese forces, is seen as a show of force against possible military adventures by China.
The U.S. also has kept as many as 100 special forces troops on the Philippine island of Mindanao on a rotating basis to help in Manila's fight against terrorist group Abu Sayyaf and other militants linked to the Islamic State.
U.S. troops were on the ground in 2017 aiding the Philippine military during a siege of militants in the southern city of Marawi. The U.S. Navy is also seen as a bulwark against China's territorial ambitions in the South China Sea. About a third of global shipping passes through its sea lanes, and the U.S. conducts Freedom of Navigation Operations in those waters in a bid to keep them open, to China's displeasure. Such FONOPs could become increasingly dangerous as the two powers find themselves in close proximity.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Ella Mage/NPR Ella Mage/NPR
The Philippines, a former U.S. territory that gained independence in 1946, has long viewed Washington as its strongest ally. Besides the VFA, it also has a Mutual Defense Treaty with the U.S. that dates back to the 1950s. But some analysts say that pact, along with the Obama administration's Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, could be in jeopardy if the agreement governing visiting U.S. forces is scrapped.
Duterte came to office three years ago with strong words for Washington. Among other things, he has said the U.S. treats the Philippines as "like a dog on a leash" and has accused U.S. forces of clandestine activities in the country. After assuming power in 2016, Duterte executed a dramatic pivot away from the U.S. and toward China, increasingly the dominant regional power. Renato de Castro, professor of international studies at De La Salle University in Manila, told NPR that the decision to jettison the Visiting Forces Agreement is part of "Duterte's desire to do away with the U.S., so there is no obstacle in his pivot to China." He says the cancellation of dela Rosa's visa "is merely an excuse."
The U.S. has 180 days to respond to the notice of the VFA's termination.
Duterte has said that President Trump wants to save the deal. However, The Philippines Star quotes presidential spokesman Panelo as saying Duterte "will not entertain" entreaties from the U.S. nor will he accept an invitation to visit the White House.
But in one tweet, Foreign Affairs Secretary Locsin seemed to suggest the cancellation of the pact was mostly a bargaining tactic aimed at getting some unspecified concessions from Washington.
You're the only one who got that. Other reactions have been idiotic. https://t.co/lRgNVOBztN — Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) February 11, 2020
And last week, in a televised Senate hearing, Locsin noted the crucial security, trade and economic benefits that the accord provides.
"Terminating the VFA will negatively impact the Philippine security and defense arrangements, as well as the overall bilateral relations of the Philippines with the U.S., and perhaps even on the sub-regional level," he said, adding, "Our contribution to regional defense is anchored on our military alliance with the world's last superpower."


npr--2020-02-11--2 Big Teachers Unions Call For Rethinking Student Involvement In Lockdown Drills

Ryan Pascal , a 17-year-old student at Palos Verdes High School near Los Angeles , says when her school holds active shooter drills , it 's `` chaos . ''
The first time it happened , not long after the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland , Fla. , in 2018 , rumors started flying over Snapchat and text that the school was really under attack .
`` We had some students trying to stack up desks to blockade the door .
We had some students sort of joking around because they were n't sure how to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who are very , very afraid . ''
On top of all the other stresses of high school , she says , some students are now on constant alert : `` When the little bell before an announcement happens , or when the fire alarm goes off , you can see this fear in students ' faces as they wonder , is this going to be a lockdown ?
Is this a drill ?
What 's happening ?
There 's so much anxiety just by a little trigger like that . ''
Ninety-five @ @ @ @ @ @ @ form of regular active shooter safety drill — sometimes called a lockdown or active threat drill — according to the National Center for Education Statistics .
But concerns are growing that these drills have not been proven effective in preventing violence and that they may even traumatize some students .
Now the advocacy group Everytown For Gun Safety is joining with the American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association — the nation 's largest education unions , with several million members — in calling for schools to reassess the use of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out Tuesday , the groups say they do not recommend active shooter training for students .
And if schools do choose to do these drills with students , they should n't be unnecessarily realistic and schools should give plenty of warning .
Plus , they should be done with age-appropriateness and sensitivity towards children with special needs or those who have experienced trauma .
The group Moms Demand Action for Gun Safety in America , part of Everytown , focuses on raising awareness about gun violence .
But founder Shannon Watts said she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were terrified by active shooter drills .
So , she started to look at emerging evidence that `` these drills cause trauma , whether it 's anxiety or depression , sleeplessness , worsening school performance in kids . ''
There are reports , Watts says , of drills getting `` over the top '' with things like teachers being shot with pellet guns .
`` When we have a fire drill in a school , we do n't set a fire in the hallway . ''
Randi Weingarten , the president of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schools `` safe and welcoming '' is her membership 's `` number one priority . ''
`` Those terrifying and traumatizing drills — they have no basis in fact and they harm more than they have ever helped . ''
In a 2019 research paper , James H. Price and Jagdish Khubchandani found a lack of empirical evidence in favor of active shooter drills and other `` hardening '' measures used in schools .
Partly this is because gun violence in school remains very rare .
And yet , the school security industry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Guy Grace with the Partner Alliance for Safer Schools , an educator and industry partnership , insists that twice-a-year active shooter drills for students are an important piece of violence prevention .
`` It 's not about scaring kids or scaring staff .
It 's about empowering staff and being able to respond to a multitude of situations . ''
But he agrees that drills should not simulate violence — and that they should never be unannounced .
`` You should not do drills without a warning .
It should n't be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says there are steps that schools can take to prevent gun violence , and they do n't necessarily start with active shooter drills .
Her organization wants schools to focus instead on prevention through threat assessment and expanded mental health services , as recommended by the U.S. Secret Service , as well as by spreading the word about secure gun storage at home .
`` Schools are a very important place to talk about gun violence prevention , '' Watts tells NPR , `` because about 4.6 million children in this country have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ secure , meaning they 're loaded , they 're unlocked , they 're easily accessible . ''
Guns at home should be the focus , Watts says , because studies show most school shooters accessed firearms from the home of family , friends or relatives .
And conversely , schools remain some of the very safest places for kids , who are most likely to encounter gun violence — though still rarely — in domestic situations .
Moms Demand Action worked with teachers ' unions on the passage of a resolution that requires @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second-largest in the country , to send home a letter for parents to read and sign about their responsibilities on gun storage .
Abbey Clements was a second-grade teacher at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012 when a shooter killed 26 people , including 20 students .
She is an AFT member and an activist with Everytown .
She says her district in Newtown , Conn. , where she still teaches , does n't use lockdown drills as part of their security measures today .
Instead , her district focuses on training staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she says , `` If that is good enough for Newtown , should n't that be good enough for all districts across the country ? ''

2 Big Teachers Unions Call For Rethinking Student Involvement In Lockdown Drills
Enlarge this image Dion MBD for NPR Dion MBD for NPR
Ryan Pascal, a 17-year-old student at Palos Verdes High School near Los Angeles, says when her school holds active shooter drills, it's "chaos." The first time it happened, not long after the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., in 2018, rumors started flying over Snapchat and text that the school was really under attack.
"We had some students trying to stack up desks to blockade the door. We had some students sort of joking around because they weren't sure how to handle this. There are other students who are very, very afraid."
On top of all the other stresses of high school, she says, some students are now on constant alert: "When the little bell before an announcement happens, or when the fire alarm goes off, you can see this fear in students' faces as they wonder, is this going to be a lockdown? Is this a drill? What's happening? There's so much anxiety just by a little trigger like that."
About 95% of American public schools conduct some form of regular active shooter safety drill — sometimes called a lockdown or active threat drill — according to the National Center for Education Statistics. But concerns are growing that these drills have not been proven effective in preventing violence and that they may even traumatize some students.
Now the advocacy group Everytown For Gun Safety is joining with the American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association — the nation's largest education unions, with several million members — in calling for schools to reassess the use of lockdown drills.
In a white paper out Tuesday, the groups say they do not recommend active shooter training for students. And if schools do choose to do these drills with students, they shouldn't be unnecessarily realistic and schools should give plenty of warning. Plus, they should be done with age-appropriateness and sensitivity toward children with special needs or those who have experienced trauma.
The group Moms Demand Action for Gun Safety in America, part of Everytown, focuses on raising awareness about gun violence. But founder Shannon Watts said she was increasingly hearing from parents whose children were terrified by active shooter drills. So, she started to look at emerging evidence that "these drills cause trauma, whether it's anxiety or depression, sleeplessness, worsening school performance in kids." There are reports, Watts says, of drills getting "over the top" with things like teachers being shot with pellet guns. "When we have a fire drill in a school, we don't set a fire in the hallway."
Randi Weingarten, the president of the American Federation of Teachers, says making schools "safe and welcoming" is her membership's "No. 1 priority."
"Those terrifying and traumatizing drills — they have no basis in fact and they harm more than they have ever helped."
In a 2019 research paper, James H. Price and Jagdish Khubchandani found a lack of empirical evidence in favor of active shooter drills and other "hardening" measures used in schools. Partly this is because gun violence in school remains very rare.
And yet, the school security industry is worth a reported $3 billion. Guy Grace with the Partner Alliance for Safer Schools, an educator and industry partnership, insists that twice a year active shooter drills for students are an important piece of violence prevention.
"It's not about scaring kids or scaring staff. It's about empowering staff and being able to respond to a multitude of situations."
But he agrees that drills should not simulate violence — and that they should never be unannounced.
"You should not do drills without a warning. It shouldn't be all pure chaos."
Shannon Watts says there are steps that schools can take to prevent gun violence, and they don't necessarily start with active shooter drills. Her organization wants schools to focus instead on prevention through threat assessment and expanded mental health services, as recommended by the U.S. Secret Service, as well as by spreading the word about secure gun storage at home.
"Schools are a very important place to talk about gun violence prevention," Watts tells NPR, "because about 4.6 million children in this country have easy access to guns that are not secure, meaning they're loaded, they're unlocked, they're easily accessible."
Guns at home should be the focus, Watts says, because studies show most school shooters accessed firearms from the home of family, friends or relatives. And conversely, schools remain some of the very safest places for kids, who are most likely to encounter gun violence — though still rarely — in domestic situations.
Moms Demand Action worked with teachers unions on the passage of a resolution that requires Los Angeles Unified School District, the second-largest in the country, to send home a letter for parents to read and sign about their responsibilities on gun storage.
Abbey Clements was a second-grade teacher at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012 when a shooter killed 26 people, including 20 students. She is an AFT member and an activist with Everytown. She says her district in Newtown, Conn., where she still teaches, doesn't use lockdown drills as part of their security measures today.
Instead, her district focuses on training staff to keep kids safe. And, she says, "If that is good enough for Newtown, shouldn't that be good enough for all districts across the country?"


npr--2020-02-11--Howard University's Largest Donation Ever Raises Questions About Who Gets Donor Coins

Howard University 's Largest Donation Ever Raises Questions About Who Gets Donor Coins Students in Howard University 's Karsh STEM Scholars Program say they tend to feel the lack of diversity in their fields most when they go on their summer internships .
`` A lot of times ... we 're one of something , '' says Adjoa Osei-Ntsansah , a junior from Laurel , Md.
, studying biology , chemistry and community health .
One of the only women .
Or one of the only black students .
`` Now we get to see that there 's a real @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fuels us to want to do more and be more . ''
Now , after a $ 10 million gift from the Karsh Family Foundation last month , the STEM scholars at Howard will be able to support more students .
( The program was previously called the Bison STEM Scholars Program ; It has since been renamed . )
According to David Bennett , Howard University 's vice president of development , it is the largest gift given by a living individual in the institution 's history .
It came about a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previously tied for the largest individual gift : $ 4 million from the Hopper-Dean Foundation , also given to the STEM program .
Courting gifts like this represents a change in strategy , Bennett said .
And the university is launching `` big and bold programs , '' believing that they 'll attract `` big and bold investments . ''
The gifts are also opening up larger conversations about which institutions tend to get private donor money , and why .
`` If you go back , say , five or six years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million a year , from all sources for all programs , '' Bennett said .
`` So the idea that our work and our students are now attracting individual gifts of $ 10 million is a profound change in philanthropy for the university . ''
But individual gifts of $ 4 million and $ 10 million are small when you compare Howard to non-HBCU.s nearby .
The University of Maryland at College Park received a private gift of $ 219 million in 2017 ; In 2013 , Georgetown University received a gift of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ great programs , '' said Bennett .
`` The idea that we should just replicate what they 're doing and have the same results ... would be nice , but it does n't understand the HBCU context . ''
About half of Howard University 's students receive federal grants to help pay for college — and the university is doing better than many others at graduating those students on time .
Bennett is confident that a segment of the donor market wants to support that work .
`` I think we have opportunities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University of Virginia ] do n't have , because of the impact we 're making in the world , because of our connection to key social issues of the day , '' Bennett said .
`` We look at that as a positive , not a negative . ''
While Howard University has had some high-profile fundraising wins , Krystal Williams , a professor at the University of Alabama whose research focuses on the experiences of minority students in education , says that HBCUs as a sector are `` not given equal consideration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Williams wants to reframe the narrative around HBCUs , which she says are `` often defined by their challenges '' without a proper accounting of their context .
It is true that a number of HBCUs have had to close in recent years — and even Howard , perhaps the most prominent among them , has had its share of financial trouble .
`` The HBCU cultural mission — enrolling and attempting to uplift students of color , including those of limited resources — is a noble but difficult business model , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Hechinger Report , wrote in a New York Times op-ed in October .
The endowments of historically black colleges and universities tend to be smaller not only because of a lack of foundation funding , but also because a lack of generational wealth shrinks the pool for alumni donations .
Just a few HBCUs such as Spelman College in Atlanta and Claflin University in Atlanta have been notably successful in attracting alumni support .
Black college graduates owe about twice as much as white college graduates four years after graduation , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Institution .
And as NPR 's Chris Arnold recently reported , financial firms may be charging higher interest rates on loans for students at HBCUs .
But HBCUs also succeed where other institutions do not .
They make up just 3 % of colleges and universities , but produce nearly 30 % of African-American students with bachelor 's degrees in STEM fields .
Not to mention about 80 % of the country 's black judges , and half of the country 's black lawyers .
Williams , at the University of Alabama , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as sources of information about best practices in areas such as STEM .
`` That would ... help foundations to really see how their money could be a good investment in these institutions , '' Williams said .
Ron Smith , the director of the STEM scholars program at Howard , says his program is successful because he provides his students not only with strong academic programming , but also with mentorship and peer support .
`` We talk very early about interdependence , and how important it is for them to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Smith said .
And Smith wants his students to maintain that connection , even as some of them leave Howard 's campus and go on to graduate programs on other campuses .
`` That kind of nurturing ... is as important as the academic pieces , '' said Smith .
He knows that some of his students may face discimination and have their abilities questioned .
`` We probably have more confidence about their ability to tackle [ academics ] than we do in their ability to overcome those objections and challenges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intellectual capacity , '' he said .
Osei-Ntsansah and her classmates are already thinking about how they can support the next cohort of students , and start to create a legacy .
`` We have a heightened sense that there are problems that specifically affect our community , '' Osei-Ntsansah said .
And as she and her classmates move forward in their careers in the sciences , their goal will be to reach their hands back — and `` help people who look like us be able to occupy the same positions that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get a Ph.D. in pharmaceutical sciences , and she wants to help make sure black communities are n't overlooked when new drugs and therapies are developed .

Howard University's Largest Donation Ever Raises Questions About Who Gets Donor Coins
Enlarge this image toggle caption Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP
Updated at 8:10 p.m. ET
Students in Howard University's Karsh STEM Scholars Program say they tend to feel the lack of diversity in their fields most when they go on their summer internships.
"A lot of times ... we're one of something," says Adjoa Osei-Ntsansah, a junior from Laurel, Md., studying biology, chemistry and community health. One of the only women. Or one of the only black students. "Now we get to see that there's a real need for us ... so that just fuels us to want to do more and be more."
Now, after a $10 million gift from the Karsh Family Foundation last month, the STEM scholars at Howard will be able to support more students. (The program was previously called the Bison STEM Scholars Program; It has since been renamed.) According to David Bennett, Howard University's vice president of development, it is the largest gift given by a living individual in the institution's history.
It came about a month after the university announced what was previously tied for the largest individual gift: $4 million from the Hopper-Dean Foundation, also given to the STEM program.
Courting gifts like this represents a change in strategy, Bennett said. And the university is launching "big and bold programs," believing that they'll attract "big and bold investments."
The gifts are also opening up larger conversations about which institutions tend to get private donor money, and why.
"If you go back, say, five or six years ago, Howard was raising $10 million a year, from all sources for all programs," Bennett said. "So the idea that our work and our students are now attracting individual gifts of $10 million is a profound change in philanthropy for the university."
But individual gifts of $4 million and $10 million are small when you compare Howard to non-HBCU.s nearby. The University of Maryland at College Park received a private gift of $219 million in 2017; In 2013, Georgetown University received a gift of $100 million.
"They have great programs," said Bennett. "The idea that we should just replicate what they're doing and have the same results ... would be nice, but it doesn't understand the HBCU context."
Education Howard University Receives Donation From NBA Star To Start Golf Team Howard University Receives Donation From NBA Star To Start Golf Team Listen · 1:41 1:41
About half of Howard University's students receive federal grants to help pay for college — and the university is doing better than many others at graduating those students on time. Bennett is confident that a segment of the donor market wants to support that work.
"I think we have opportunities that Georgetown and Maryland and [the University of Virginia] don't have, because of the impact we're making in the world, because of our connection to key social issues of the day," Bennett said. "We look at that as a positive, not a negative."
While Howard University has had some high-profile fundraising wins, Krystal Williams, a professor at the University of Alabama whose research focuses on the experiences of minority students in education, says that HBCUs as a sector are "not given equal consideration for funding by foundations and corporations."
Williams wants to reframe the narrative around HBCUs, which she says are "often defined by their challenges" without a proper accounting of their context.
It is true that a number of HBCUs have had to close in recent years — and even Howard, perhaps the most prominent among them, has had its share of financial trouble.
"The HBCU cultural mission — enrolling and attempting to uplift students of color, including those of limited resources — is a noble but difficult business model," Delece Smith-Barrow, senior editor at The Hechinger Report, wrote in a New York Times op-ed in October.
The endowments of historically black colleges and universities tend to be smaller not only because of a lack of foundation funding, but also because a lack of generational wealth shrinks the pool for alumni donations. Just a few HBCUs such as Spelman College in Atlanta and Claflin University in Orangeburg, S.C., have been notably successful in attracting alumni support.
Black college graduates owe about twice as much as white college graduates four years after graduation, according to a 2016 study from the Brookings Institution. And as NPR's Chris Arnold recently reported, financial firms may be charging higher interest rates on loans for students at HBCUs.
But HBCUs also succeed where other institutions do not. They make up just 3% of colleges and universities, but produce nearly 30% of African-American students with bachelor's degrees in STEM fields. Not to mention about 80% of the country's black judges, and half of the country's black lawyers.
Williams, at the University of Alabama, argues that HBCUs need to be repositioned as sources of information about best practices in areas such as STEM. "That would ... help foundations to really see how their money could be a good investment in these institutions," Williams said.
Ron Smith, the director of the STEM scholars program at Howard, says his program is successful because he provides his students not only with strong academic programming, but also with mentorship and peer support.
"We talk very early about interdependence, and how important it is for them to be able to depend on each other," Smith said.
And Smith wants his students to maintain that connection, even as some of them leave Howard's campus and go on to graduate programs on other campuses.
"That kind of nurturing ... is as important as the academic pieces," said Smith.
He knows that some of his students may face discimination and have their abilities questioned. "We probably have more confidence about their ability to tackle [academics] than we do in their ability to overcome those objections and challenges ... having nothing to do with their intellectual capacity," he said.
Osei-Ntsansah and her classmates are already thinking about how they can support the next cohort of students, and start to create a legacy.
"We have a heightened sense that there are problems that specifically affect our community," Osei-Ntsansah said. And as she and her classmates move forward in their careers in the sciences, their goal will be to reach their hands back — and "help people who look like us be able to occupy the same positions that we do."
Osei-Ntansah wants to get a Ph.D. in pharmaceutical sciences, and she wants to help make sure black communities aren't overlooked when new drugs and therapies are developed.


npr--2020-02-11--Everything You Need To Know About The New Hampshire Primary

Everything You Need To Know About The New Hampshire Primary Democrats are going to try again .
After the Iowa results meltdown , New Hampshire takes center stage Tuesday night .
This election is run by the secretary of state 's office and not the state party .
It 's also a more-straightforward primary ( with a couple kinks we explain below ) rather than a complicated , math-heavy caucus .
There is lots at stake , as New Hampshire has served to reinforce or reset the Democratic primary race over the last five decades .
As always , be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the years , a third to half of voters have made up their minds in the last week .
Here are some key questions , things to watch and the stakes for the candidates : First , let 's set the table .
Yes , in a general election , New Hampshire is very competitive .
It went Democratic in the 2016 election , but it was the closest of all states ( by raw vote ) — just 2,700 votes separated Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump , and Trump 's team is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Why is New Hampshire first ?
This question comes up repeatedly , because , like Iowa , New Hampshire is not a diverse state .
It , too , is more than 90 % white .
In 2016 , 93 % of New Hampshire Democratic primary voters were white .
It has been first for a very long time — 100 years this year actually .
Then , about 50 years ago , New Hampshire passed a law requiring it be first and gave sole power to the secretary of state to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is that secretary of state .
He has been in the job about as long as the law has been on the books and has fought against efforts — Democratic and Republican — to move it .
When is the New Hampshire primary ?
Polls open at 8 a.m .
ET and close , in most places , at 7 p.m .
ET .
But there are 221 towns in New Hampshire , and they all set their own times .
Some scarcely populated towns famously begin voting at midnight to gain attention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by 8 p.m .
ET .
When will we see results ?
We will start seeing results after 7 p.m .
ET for most places , but there will be no calls from the news networks or the Associated Press ( which NPR relies on for calls ) until at least 8 p.m .
ET .
At that point , expect the Republican primary ( yes , there is one ) to be called for President Trump .
When will we know who wins ?
This is always tricky , because , um @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might know around 9:30 p.m .
ET , but stay loose on that one .
Check NPR 's New Hampshire liveblog throughout the day for updates live results .
Also , since this is a delegate race , check out our new delegate tracker to see how many delegates are allocated to each candidate and where the race stands now .
Speaking of delegates , how many are at stake ?
Twenty-four pledged delegates .
There are nine more automatic delegates , which used to be superdelegates , but they matter less this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first ballot at the Democratic National Convention unless there 's an overwhelming majority for one candidate .
Sixteen of the delegates are allocated proportionally by congressional district .
( There are two of them ) .
Another eight are allocated by statewide vote ( 5 at large , 3 pledged leaders and elected officials .
Those odd numbers will be important going forward in states to come because the overall winner essentially gets the extra delegate . )
That represents just 1 % of the total number of delegates available ; after New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be allocated ( including Iowa ) .
A candidate needs 1,991 delegates to win the nomination , so there 's a long way to go .
Are there thresholds for getting delegates like there were in Iowa ?
Yes .
Like Iowa , there 's a 15 % to win any delegates .
That 's true in every Democratic primary and caucus .
The difference in New Hampshire is there is no resorting in a second round .
You vote , it 's done .
You get 15 % , you get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , you do n't .
How many people actually vote ?
The record for turnout in the Democratic presidential primary in New Hampshire is about 288,000 .
That was set in 2008 in the race between Barack Obama and Clinton .
The second-highest turnout was in 2016 between Clinton and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders about 251,000 .
New Hampshire is known for high voter participation .
In the 2016 general election , it was actually the second-highest turnout state behind Minnesota .
It 's a primary , so voters head to the polls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It 's `` semi-open , '' meaning independents can participate .
About 40 % of the state are independents , and given that there is no competitive GOP primary happening , one might expect to see a higher percentage of independents turn out on the Democratic side than in 2016 .
In 2016 , independents made up 40 % of the electorate , according to the exit polls , but there were competitive primaries on both sides .
In 2008 , it was 44 % , but in 2004 — the last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with an incumbent Republican president up for reelection — 48 % of the electorate was independents .
Do n't confuse independents with moderates , though .
Sanders , who won the 2016 primary by more than 20 points , won three-quarters of independents .
He won a slightly lower percentage of self-described moderates , 59 % .
Aside from independents , which other voters are important to watch ?
The shape of the electorate is very important , and will get more important as the race winnows and support solidifies .
The more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is for Sanders .
And the Democratic electorate in New Hampshire has grown increasingly liberal .
In 2004 , just 48 % who turned out identified as liberal ; in 2008 , that jumped to 56 % , as Obama turned out lots of young and new voters .
But in 2016 , more than two-thirds ( 68 % ) of the New Hampshire Democratic electorate was liberal .
If that trend holds , that 's good for Sanders .
Young voters , under 30 , made up about a fifth in 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The percentage of young voters in 2016 ( 19 % ) was actually higher than in 2008 ( 18 % ) when Obama ran .
Sanders needs that trend to continue , as he wins big margins with young voters .
The more white and and more people there are with college degrees voting , the better for former South Bend , Ind.
, Mayor Pete Buttigieg .
He finished with the delegate lead over Sanders in Iowa , and he hopes to do well again in New Hampshire .
With it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 60 % with college degrees that lines up for Buttigieg .
Older voters were roughly a fifth .
That number probably needs to be higher to help former Vice President Biden , who is declining in the state .
And there 's no guarantee he even wins them now .
He won the highest percentage of voters 65 and older in Iowa , but Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Buttigieg won significant shares , too .
There have been four different poll leaders in New Hampshire during this race .
But Sanders is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 7 points in an average of the polls over Buttigieg , who has surged since Iowa .
But this is New Hampshire , where things can change quickly and a third or more tend to say they made up their mind in the last week .
Remember , Obama had an 8-point lead in the polls over Clinton in 2008 and lost the primary by less than 3 points , so be prepared for anything to happen .
What 's at stake for the candidates ?
Everything .
Here are some things in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expand his base ?
Sanders was promising high turnout in Iowa , but it did n't happen .
Turnout was more on pace with 2016 than 2008 .
That 's not exactly a groundswell of support and an overwhelming movement .
But New Hampshire is take two for Sanders and the rest .
Can they show they have fired up Democrats enough to take on Trump this year ?
Sanders did well in urban areas and college towns .
He needs to show he can reach beyond that .
The Democratic Party does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Still , a win would be a win , and Sanders would be in the pole position for the nomination if he does , especially considering that moderates and establishment Democrats do n't appear to be coalescing around anyone any time soon .
For Buttigieg , New Hampshire is nice , but ... : Again , New Hampshire is a very white state , and Buttigieg has struggled in polling with voters of color .
He needs to perform well in New Hampshire , but then the real test comes when the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , two states with much more diverse electorates .
Who finishes third ?
This might be the biggest and most important question of the night .
Biden is fading fast .
He 's been hoping that South Carolina and his support with African American voters would be his firewall , but South Carolina is weeks away , and there may be evidence he 's already declining with African Americans .
A Quinnipiac poll out Monday showed former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg , who has now spent more than $ 350 million on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with black voters .
Can Biden really survive a fifth-place showing in New Hampshire ?
Meanwhile , Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren , who finished third in Iowa , needs to be able show she can beat Sanders and Buttigieg , the two candidates most eating into her support .
She polls second with progressives to Sanders and second with college-educated whites to Buttigieg .
New Hampshire is an opportunity for her to show she 's right in the mix with them and deserves another shot when the electorate gets more diverse .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
?
How far can Klobuchar go ?
She 's seen a sharp spike since coming close to Biden in Iowa and after her strong debate performance in New Hampshire Friday .
She 's actually now polling third , slightly ahead of Warren and Biden .
If she were to take third , wow .
Moderates not thrilled how Biden has held up and think Buttigieg is too young and inexperienced are looking around .
And Klobuchar has a good case to make .
She 's 59 , been a productive senator and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Midwestern state Trump came close in .
But is it too little , too late ?
She needs the donations to pour in if she 's going to have a shot , and that starts with a surprising finish in New Hampshire — ahead of some of the field 's heavyweights .
How long do lower-performing candidates continue on ?
Wealthy venture capitalist Tom Steyer has the personal resources to go as long as he wants , but he 's seen little payoff in the results .
He 's making a serious push @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so far indicates he can win the state .
That effort might wind up wounding Biden more than any other candidate , as he 's making inroads with black leaders and voters .
Andrew Yang has a deep well of support , but it 's not very wide .
He wound up with fewer than 2,000 votes in Iowa out of 170,000 .
Yang is a serious person with a serious message , but if he finishes in single digits again in New Hampshire , he and his supporters have to ask themselves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make a point or is it to win ?
And if it 's to make a point , for how long and will his supporters wholeheartedly get behind whoever winds up becoming the Democratic nominee ?

Everything You Need To Know About The New Hampshire Primary
Enlarge this image toggle caption Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images
Updated at 12:49 p.m. ET
Democrats are going to try again.
After the Iowa results meltdown, New Hampshire takes center stage Tuesday night. This election is run by the secretary of state's office and not the state party. It's also a more-straightforward primary (with a couple kinks we explain below) rather than a complicated, math-heavy caucus.
There is lots at stake, as New Hampshire has served to reinforce or reset the Democratic primary race over the past five decades. As always, be ready for surprises, especially because through the years, a third to half of voters have made up their minds in the last week.
Here are some key questions, things to watch and the stakes for the candidates:
Is New Hampshire a swing state?
First, let's set the table. Yes, in a general election, New Hampshire is very competitive. It went Democratic in the 2016 election, but it was the closest of all states (by raw vote) — just 2,700 votes separated Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, and Trump's team is closely watching and targeting it in 2020.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Joe Raedle/Getty Images Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Why is New Hampshire first?
This question comes up repeatedly, because, like Iowa, New Hampshire is not a diverse state. It, too, is more than 90% white. In 2016, 93% of New Hampshire Democratic primary voters were white. It has been first for a very long time — 100 years this year actually.
Then, about 50 years ago, New Hampshire passed a law requiring it be first and gave sole power to the secretary of state to set the primary date. Bill Gardner is that secretary of state. He has been in the job about as long as the law has been on the books and has fought against efforts — Democratic and Republican — to move it.
When is the New Hampshire primary?
Polls open at 8 a.m. ET and close, in most places, at 7 p.m. ET. But there are 221 towns in New Hampshire, and they all set their own times. Some scarcely populated towns famously begin voting at midnight to gain attention.
But all polls will be closed by 8 p.m. ET.
When will we see results?
We will start seeing results after 7 p.m. ET for most places, but there will be no calls from the news networks or The Associated Press (which NPR relies on for calls) until at least 8 p.m. ET. At that point, expect the Republican primary (yes, there is one) to be called for President Trump.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Scott Olson/Getty Images Scott Olson/Getty Images
When will we know who wins?
This is always tricky, because, um, Iowa. The state predicts we might know around 9:30 p.m. ET, but stay loose on that one. Check NPR's New Hampshire live blog throughout the day for updated live results. Also, because this is a delegate race, check out our new delegate tracker to see how many delegates are allocated to each candidate and where the race stands now.
Speaking of delegates, how many are at stake?
Twenty-four pledged delegates. There are nine more automatic delegates, which used to be superdelegates, but they matter less this year because they can't vote on first ballot at the Democratic National Convention unless there's an overwhelming majority for one candidate.
Sixteen of the delegates are allocated proportionally by congressional district. (There are two of them.) Another eight are allocated by statewide vote (five at large, three pledged leaders and elected officials). Those odd numbers will be important going forward in states to come because the overall winner essentially gets the extra delegate.
That represents just 1% of the total number of delegates available; after New Hampshire, just 2% of total delegates will be allocated (including Iowa). A candidate needs 1,991 delegates to win the nomination, so there's a long way to go.
Are there thresholds for getting delegates like there were in Iowa?
Yes. Like Iowa, there's a 15% to win any delegates. That's true in every Democratic primary and caucus. The difference in New Hampshire is there is no re-sorting in a second round. You vote, it's done. You get 15%, you get delegates. You don't, well, you don't.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images
How many people actually vote?
The record for turnout in the Democratic presidential primary in New Hampshire is about 288,000. That was set in 2008 in the race between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. The second-highest turnout was in 2016 between Clinton and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders about 251,000.
New Hampshire is known for high voter participation. In the 2016 general election, it was actually the third-highest turnout state behind Minnesota and Maine.
How does voting work?
It's a primary, so voters head to the polls like they would in a general election. It's "semi-open," meaning independents can participate. About 40% of the state are independents, and given that there is no competitive GOP primary happening, one might expect to see a higher percentage of independents turn out on the Democratic side than in 2016.
In 2016, independents made up 40% of the electorate, according to the exit polls, but there were competitive primaries on both sides. In 2008, it was 44%, but in 2004 — the last time there was a competitive Democratic primary with an incumbent Republican president up for reelection — 48% of the electorate was independents.
Don't confuse independents with moderates, though. Sanders, who won the 2016 primary by more than 20 points, won three-quarters of independents. He won a slightly lower percentage of self-described moderates, 59%.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP
Aside from independents, which other voters are important to watch?
The shape of the electorate is very important and will get more important as the race winnows and support solidifies. The more liberal the electorate, the better it is for Sanders. And the Democratic electorate in New Hampshire has grown increasingly liberal.
In 2004, just 46% who turned out identified as liberal; in 2008, that jumped to 56%, as Obama turned out lots of young and new voters. But in 2016, more than two-thirds (68%) of the New Hampshire Democratic electorate was liberal. If that trend holds, that's good for Sanders.
Young voters, under 30, made up about a fifth in 2016, and they broke overwhelmingly for Sanders. The percentage of young voters in 2016 (19%) was actually higher than in 2008 (18%) when Obama ran. Sanders needs that trend to continue, as he wins big margins with young voters.
The more white and the more people there are with college degrees voting, the better for former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg. He finished with the delegate lead over Sanders in Iowa, and he hopes to do well again in New Hampshire. With it being 93% white in 2016 and 60% with college degrees, that lines up for Buttigieg.
Older voters were roughly a fifth. That number probably needs to be higher to help former Vice President Joe Biden, whose support is declining in the state. And there's no guarantee he even wins them now. He won the highest percentage of voters 65 and older in Iowa, but Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Buttigieg won significant shares, too.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Win McNamee/Getty Images Win McNamee/Getty Images
Who's ahead in the polls?
There have been four poll leaders in New Hampshire during this race. But Sanders is now the favorite. He leads by 7 points in an average of the polls over Buttigieg, who has surged since Iowa.
But this is New Hampshire, where things can change quickly and a third or more tend to say they made up their mind in the last week. Remember, Obama had an 8-point lead in the polls over Clinton in 2008 and lost the primary by less than 3 points, so be prepared for anything to happen.
What's at stake for the candidates?
Everything. Here are some things in particular to look for:
1. Can Sanders expand his base? Sanders was promising high turnout in Iowa, but it didn't happen. Turnout was more on pace with 2016 than 2008. That's not exactly a groundswell of support and an overwhelming movement. But New Hampshire is Take 2 for Sanders and the rest. Can they show they have fired up Democrats enough to take on Trump this year?
Sanders did well in urban areas and college towns. He needs to show he can reach beyond that. The Democratic Party doesn't need help winning in those places. Still, a win would be a win, and Sanders would be in the pole position for the nomination if he takes the state, especially considering that moderates and establishment Democrats don't appear to be coalescing around anyone any time soon.
2. For Buttigieg, New Hampshire is nice, but ... Again, New Hampshire is a very white state, and Buttigieg has struggled in polling with voters of color. He needs to perform well in New Hampshire, but then the real test comes when the race moves to Nevada and South Carolina, which have much more diverse electorates.
3. Who finishes third? This might be the biggest and most important question of the night. Biden is fading fast. He has been hoping that South Carolina and his support with African American voters would be his firewall. (In fact, he's heading to South Carolina Tuesday night, instead of staying in New Hampshire.) But South Carolina is weeks away, and there may be evidence he's already declining with African Americans. A Quinnipiac poll out Monday showed former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who has now spent more than $350 million on ads, eating into Biden's support with black voters. Can Biden really survive a fifth-place showing in New Hampshire?
Meanwhile, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who finished third in Iowa, needs to be able show she can beat Sanders and Buttigieg, the two candidates most eating into her support. She polls second with progressives to Sanders and second with college-educated whites to Buttigieg. New Hampshire is an opportunity for her to show she's right in the mix with them and deserves another shot when the electorate gets more diverse. But if she doesn't perform well .... ?
4. How far can Klobuchar go? She has seen a sharp spike since coming close to Biden in Iowa and after her strong debate performance in New Hampshire Friday. She's actually now polling third, slightly ahead of Warren and Biden. If she were to take third, wow. Moderates not thrilled how Biden has held up and think Buttigieg is too young and inexperienced are looking around.
And Klobuchar has a good case to make. She's 59, been a productive senator, and won reelection by a lot in a Midwestern state Trump came close in. But is it too little, too late? She needs the donations to pour in if she's going to have a shot, and that starts with a surprising finish in New Hampshire — ahead of some of the field's heavyweights.
5. How long do lower-performing candidates continue on? Wealthy venture capitalist Tom Steyer has the personal resources to go as long as he wants, but he has seen little payoff in the results. He's making a serious push in South Carolina, but no polling so far indicates he can win the state. That effort might wind up wounding Biden more than any other candidate, as he's making inroads with black leaders and voters.
Andrew Yang has a deep well of support, but it's not very wide. He wound up with fewer than 2,000 votes in Iowa out of 170,000. Yang is a serious person with a serious message, but if he finishes in single digits again in New Hampshire, he and his supporters have to ask themselves why he's running — is it to make a point or is it to win? And if it's to make a point, for how long, and will his supporters wholeheartedly get behind whoever winds up becoming the Democratic nominee?


npr--2020-02-11--Colorado Voters Are Set To Decide If Wolves Should Be Reintroduced To The State

Colorado Voters Are Set To Decide If Wolves Should Be Reintroduced To The State For wolf advocate Larry Wiess , the battle to bring wolves back to Colorado is n't just about ecology .
It 's about challenging more than a century of U.S. wildlife management .
Last summer , the retired animal rights lawyer spent days gathering signatures for an initiative set to appear on Colorado 's November ballot .
If successful , it could force the state to capture and release wolves in Western Colorado by 2024 .
According to the coalition backing the plan , it 'd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — in any state — would decide whether to reintroduce an endangered species .
Weiss is well aware of the historic nature of the initiative .
For him , it 's a chance to question the authority of government biologists to make big decisions about wildlife .
`` That definitely should be decided by the people and not by the scientists , '' he said in his home in Denver .
`` Then we take it to the scientists to implement what the people feel about this major division of opinions . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the approach : `` ballot box biology . ''
Sportsmen 's groups and wildlife managers see the plan an assault on a tradition of North American conservation , which has long let bureaucrats manage wild animals based on science and public input .
Proponents believe that the same model ca n't be trusted to help predators like wolves , which are often seen as a threat to hunters .
Weiss suspects that 's why federal and state officials have refused to return wolves to Colorado for decades .
He said going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their control .
`` It 's difficult to make any headway because the hunters and ranchers have such a powerful lobby on all the commissions in the states , '' he said .
Mark Holyoak , a spokesman for the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation , said the current wildlife management practices are based on the idea that wildlife belongs to the public .
The principle dates back to early conservationists like Teddy Roosevelt and Aldo Leopold , who shaped a system that relies on experts to preserve game species .
`` People in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the process , '' Holyoak said .
To ensure populations remain viable , state wildlife agencies manage wildlife and sell hunting and fishing licenses , which in turn fund science-based conservation work .
The federal Pittman-Robertson Act provides additional funding to state agencies from a tax on firearm sales .
Federal plans to delist gray wolves as an endangered species have added an urgency for initiative backers .
The Trump administration proposed the rule change last March .
If it goes forward , states would make their own decisions about how to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already been delisted in the Northern Rocky Mountain states .
Supporters of the ballot plan hope to get ahead of a wider federal decision .
By forcing wolves back to Colorado , the Rocky Mountain Wolf Project and the Rocky Mountain Wolf Action Fund — the partner groups behind the effort — hope to create a corridor linking existing populations from earlier federal reintroduction efforts .
Wolf packs currently roam the Northern Rockies from Washington to Wyoming .
A separate population of Mexican gray wolves lives in Arizona and New Mexico .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ connect the Northern Populations and the Southern populations , then we have balance from Mexico to Canada , '' Weiss said .
Recent news has complicated the push for reintroduction , though .
Earlier this year , Colorado Parks and Wildlife confirmed a wolf pack was living in the Northwest corner of the state .
While lone wolves have migrated to the state before , the announcement marked the first evidence of a pack living in Colorado in decades .
Biologists believe hunters removed the last of the predators from the state in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ single pack is far cry from a self-sustaining population in Colorado .
Republican state Rep. Perry Will , a former state wildlife officer who represents northwest Colorado , said the news of a pack in the state lends support to Colorado 's earlier position on wolves .
While the Colorado wildlife commission has repeatedly opposed reintroduction , the state is open to wolves migrating to Colorado on their own .
`` We have a wildlife agency in this state .
Let 's listen to them , '' Will said .
`` Why would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here ? ''
Will also fears the initiative lets urban areas make a decision that 'd largely affect rural Colorado .
`` They 're not introducing them in open spaces along the Front Range .
You 're putting it on the back of sportsmen and ranchers and farmers .
They 're the ones that have real skin in the game , '' he said .
One of those people who would be affected is Jay Fetcher , who raises cattle in a valley outside Steamboat Springs , Colo. , far from the population @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He does n't support the ballot initiative even though it includes plans to pay for any livestock lost to the wolves .
`` I 've got 60 years of breeding into this herd , so it 's more than the market value of that animal , '' Fetcher said .
According to an estimate by state wildlife officials , the reintroduction and compensation programs could cost about $ 5.7 million over eight years .
It 's not clear where the state would get the money .
But Fetcher has already resigned himself to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opposed to the ballot measure have formed the Stop The Wolf Coalition , which has pushed dozens of rural county commissions to declare their opposition .
But so far , they have n't drawn any donations into their political action committee .
Another group opposing the initiative has raised just over $ 10,000 .
Meanwhile , supporters with the Rocky Mountain Wolf Project have raised more than $ 1.2 million thanks to considerable help from national progressive groups like the Tides Foundation .
A recent online survey from Colorado State University showed 84 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
If it goes ahead , Fetcher worries other ranchers might adopt their own policy to deal with the predators .
`` Shoot , shovel and shut up , '' he said .
`` It 's just somebody seeing one — shoot it , bury it and do n't say a word . ''
In Fetcher 's mind , there 's nothing democratic about that .

Colorado Voters Are Set To Decide If Wolves Should Be Reintroduced To The State
Enlarge this image toggle caption Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife via AP Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife via AP
For wolf advocate Larry Wiess, the battle to bring wolves back to Colorado isn't just about ecology. It's about challenging more than a century of U.S. wildlife management.
Last summer, the retired animal rights lawyer spent days gathering signatures for an initiative set to appear on Colorado's November ballot. If successful, it could force the state to capture and release wolves in Western Colorado by 2024.
According to the coalition backing the plan, it'd also be the first time that voters — in any state — would decide whether to reintroduce an endangered species. Weiss is well aware of the historic nature of the initiative. For him, it's a chance to question the authority of government biologists to make big decisions about wildlife.
Environment Critics Say Trump Administration Is Weakening Endangered Species Act Critics Say Trump Administration Is Weakening Endangered Species Act Listen · 3:53 3:53
"That definitely should be decided by the people and not by the scientists," he said in his home in Denver. "Then we take it to the scientists to implement what the people feel about this major division of opinions."
Critics of the initiative have a name for the approach: "ballot box biology."
Sportsmen's groups and wildlife managers see the plan an assault on a tradition of North American conservation, which has long let bureaucrats manage wild animals based on science and public input. Proponents believe that the same model can't be trusted to help predators like wolves, which are often seen as a threat to hunters.
Weiss suspects that's why federal and state officials have refused to return wolves to Colorado for decades. He said going to the ballot was a way to sidestep their control.
"It's difficult to make any headway because the hunters and ranchers have such a powerful lobby on all the commissions in the states," he said.
Mark Holyoak, a spokesman for the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, said the current wildlife management practices are based on the idea that wildlife belongs to the public. The principle dates back to early conservationists like Teddy Roosevelt and Aldo Leopold, who shaped a system that relies on experts to preserve game species.
"People in the know are being intentionally left out of the process," Holyoak said.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Sam Brasch/Colorado Public Radio Sam Brasch/Colorado Public Radio
To ensure populations remain viable, state wildlife agencies manage wildlife and sell hunting and fishing licenses, which in turn fund science-based conservation work. The federal Pittman-Robertson Act provides additional funding to state agencies from a tax on firearm sales.
Federal plans to delist gray wolves as an endangered species have added an urgency for initiative backers. The Trump administration proposed the rule change last March. If it goes forward, states would make their own decisions about how to manage the predators. Gray wolves have already been delisted in the Northern Rocky Mountain states.
Supporters of the ballot plan hope to get ahead of a wider federal decision. By forcing wolves back to Colorado, the Rocky Mountain Wolf Project and the Rocky Mountain Wolf Action Fund — the partner groups behind the effort — hope to create a corridor linking existing populations from earlier federal reintroduction efforts.
Wolf packs currently roam the Northern Rockies from Washington to Wyoming. A separate population of Mexican gray wolves lives in Arizona and New Mexico.
"If we can provide this corridor to connect the Northern Populations and the Southern populations, then we have balance from Mexico to Canada," Weiss said.
Recent news has complicated the push for reintroduction, though. Earlier this year, Colorado Parks and Wildlife confirmed a wolf pack was living in the Northwest corner of the state. While lone wolves have migrated to the state before, the announcement marked the first evidence of a pack living in Colorado in decades. Biologists believe hunters removed the last of the predators from the state in the 1940s.
Reintroduction supporters say a single pack is far cry from a self-sustaining population in Colorado.
Republican state Rep. Perry Will, a former state wildlife officer who represents northwest Colorado, said the news of a pack in the state lends support to Colorado's earlier position on wolves. While the Colorado wildlife commission has repeatedly opposed reintroduction, the state is open to wolves migrating to Colorado on their own.
"We have a wildlife agency in this state. Let's listen to them," Will said. "Why would we reintroduce them if they're already here?"
Will also fears the initiative lets urban areas make a decision that'd largely affect rural Colorado.
"They're not introducing them in open spaces along the Front Range. You're putting it on the back of sportsmen and ranchers and farmers. They're the ones that have real skin in the game," he said.
One of those people who would be affected is Jay Fetcher, who raises cattle in a valley outside Steamboat Springs, Colo., far from the population centers in Denver and its suburbs. He doesn't support the ballot initiative even though it includes plans to pay for any livestock lost to the wolves.
"I've got 60 years of breeding into this herd, so it's more than the market value of that animal," Fetcher said.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Hart Van Denburg/Colorado Public Radio Hart Van Denburg/Colorado Public Radio
According to an estimate by state wildlife officials, the reintroduction and compensation programs could cost about $5.7 million over eight years. It's not clear where the state would get the money.
But Fetcher has already resigned himself to the initiative passing. Ranchers and hunters opposed to the ballot measure have formed the Stop The Wolf Coalition, which has pushed dozens of rural county commissions to declare their opposition. But so far, they haven't drawn any donations into their political action committee. Another group opposing the initiative has raised just over $10,000.
Meanwhile, supporters with the Rocky Mountain Wolf Project have raised more than $1.2 million thanks to considerable help from national progressive groups like the Tides Foundation.
A recent online survey from Colorado State University showed 84 percent of Coloradans support the reintroduction effort. If it goes ahead, Fetcher worries other ranchers might adopt their own policy to deal with the predators.
"Shoot, shovel and shut up," he said. "It's just somebody seeing one — shoot it, bury it and don't say a word."
In Fetcher's mind, there's nothing democratic about that.


npr--2020-02-11--Beijing Takes Direct Control Over Coronavirus Response In Hubei Province

China 's government on Tuesday fired two senior health officials in Hubei province , the epicenter of the coronavirus epidemic , placing Beijing in direct control of efforts there to contain its spread .
The move came on the same day the country reported 108 new deaths from the virus , the highest single-day number to date , representing about 10 % of all fatalities since the outbreak began .
Zhang Jin , the Communist Party secretary in charge of the Hubei Health Commission , and Liu Yingzi , head of the provincial Health Commission , have been dismissed , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that Wang Hesheng , the deputy director of the central government 's National Health Commission , would assume both roles .
At latest count in China , there were 42,638 confirmed cases of 2019-nCoV , as the virus is officially known , with 1,017 deaths in China , including Hong Kong .
Health officials said there were 108 new fatalities since the previous day 's report of 97 .
Of the latest deaths , 103 occurred in Hubei province , whose largest city , Wuhan , is where the outbreak was first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health Organization team of experts arrived in China to help with containing the epidemic following earlier reports that Beijing was uninterested in help from the outside .
The team 's arrival was announced at a daily briefing at WHO headquarters in Geneva .
The organization 's director-general , Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus , tweeted Monday that WHO would be working with its Chinese counterparts `` to make sure we have the right expertise to answer the right questions . ''
Also on Monday , China 's President Xi Jinping , wearing a face mask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ district center for disease control in the capital .
According to Global Times , a newspaper affiliated with China 's Communist Party , Xi said `` the situation at the moment remains very serious but [ he ] expressed confidence that China can certainly obtain full victory in the fight against the epidemic . ''
The same newspaper , however , kept up attacks on `` the West , '' which it said `` has shown its ugliest face to the world '' in its portrayal of the outbreak .
`` China has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prevent the further spreading of the virus and safeguard the world from the contagion , '' an opinion piece read .
`` China 's comprehensive and rigorous prevention and control measures have helped the world make necessary preparations to prevent and control the spread of the epidemic . ''
Meanwhile , the first confirmed case of the virus has emerged from a group of hundreds of Americans evacuated from China to military bases around the U.S. in the wake of the outbreak .
The case was of an individual under quarantine in San @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , had previously tested negative for the disease .
However , on Monday , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told county health officials that `` further testing revealed that one of the four patients tested positive , '' according to a statement from UC San Diego Health .
Also on Monday , Thailand became the latest country to deny entry to Holland America 's cruise ship MS Westerdam , which has been turned away from various ports in recent days over fears that passengers could be carrying the coronavirus .
Although @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infections aboard , the Westerdam in recent days has also been denied entry in Japan , Taiwan , the Philippines and the U.S. territory of Guam .
The news comes after the cruise line announced previously that `` all guests will be disembarking in Bangkok for their forward flights home . ''
Another cruise ship , the Diamond Princess , has been under quarantine in the Japanese port of Yokohama since last week .
Japan 's health ministry said Monday that there were 65 new cases of the coronavirus identified on the ship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 135 .
The new cases included 45 Japanese nationals and 11 Americans , as well as passengers or crew from several other countries , officials said .

Beijing Takes Direct Control Over Coronavirus Response In Hubei Province
Enlarge this image toggle caption AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images
China's government on Tuesday fired two senior health officials in Hubei province, the epicenter of the coronavirus epidemic, placing Beijing in direct control of efforts there to contain its spread.
The move came on the same day the country reported 108 new deaths from the virus, the highest single-day number to date, representing about 10% of all fatalities since the outbreak began.
Zhang Jin, the Communist Party secretary in charge of the Hubei Health Commission, and Liu Yingzi, head of the provincial Health Commission, have been dismissed, according to state broadcaster CCTV. It said that Wang Hesheng, the deputy director of the central government's National Health Commission, would assume both roles.
At latest count in China, there were 42,638 confirmed cases of 2019-nCoV, as the virus is officially known, with 1,017 deaths in China, including Hong Kong. Health officials said there were 108 new fatalities since the previous day's report of 97. Of the latest deaths, 103 occurred in Hubei province, whose largest city, Wuhan, is where the outbreak was first identified.
An advance team of @WHO experts has just arrived in #China, led by Dr Bruce Aylward, to lay the groundwork for the larger international team.
The team will be working with their Chinese counterparts to make sure we have the right expertise to answer the right questions. — Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) February 10, 2020
On Monday, a World Health Organization team of experts arrived in China to help with containing the epidemic following earlier reports that Beijing was uninterested in help from the outside.
The team's arrival was announced at a daily briefing at WHO headquarters in Geneva. The organization's director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, tweeted Monday that WHO would be working with its Chinese counterparts "to make sure we have the right expertise to answer the right questions."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Pang Xinglei/Xinhua via AP Pang Xinglei/Xinhua via AP
Also on Monday, China's President Xi Jinping, wearing a face mask, toured Beijing Ditan Hospital and a district center for disease control in the capital. According to Global Times, a newspaper affiliated with China's Communist Party, Xi said "the situation at the moment remains very serious but [he] expressed confidence that China can certainly obtain full victory in the fight against the epidemic."
The same newspaper, however, kept up attacks on "the West," which it said "has shown its ugliest face to the world" in its portrayal of the outbreak.
"China has stopped at nothing in its attempt to prevent the further spreading of the virus and safeguard the world from the contagion," an opinion piece read. "China's comprehensive and rigorous prevention and control measures have helped the world make necessary preparations to prevent and control the spread of the epidemic."
Meanwhile, the first confirmed case of the virus has emerged from a group of hundreds of Americans evacuated from China to military bases around the U.S. in the wake of the outbreak.
The case was of an individual under quarantine in San Diego who, along with three others, had previously tested negative for the disease. However, on Monday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told county health officials that "further testing revealed that one of the four patients tested positive," according to a statement from UC San Diego Health.
Also on Monday, Thailand became the latest country to deny entry to Holland America's cruise ship MS Westerdam, which has been turned away from various ports in recent days over fears that passengers could be carrying the coronavirus. Although there's been no indication of any infections aboard, the Westerdam in recent days has also been denied entry in Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines and the U.S. territory of Guam.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jae C. Hong/AP Jae C. Hong/AP
The news comes after the cruise line announced previously that "all guests will be disembarking in Bangkok for their forward flights home."
Another cruise ship, the Diamond Princess, has been under quarantine in the Japanese port of Yokohama since last week. Japan's health ministry said Monday that there were 65 new cases of the coronavirus identified on the ship. That brings the total aboard to 135. The new cases included 45 Japanese nationals and 11 Americans, as well as passengers or crew from several other countries, officials said.


npr--2020-02-11--Virginia Legislature Votes To Allow Cities To Remove Confederate Statues

Virginia Legislature Votes To Allow Cities To Remove Confederate Statues Localities in Virginia are closer to having the power to remove some 220 Confederate statues and monuments in public spaces .
Democrats , who took control of the House and Senate in November , passed two similar bills on near party-line votes on Tuesday .
The bills generally allow cities to `` remove , relocate , contextualize , cover or alter '' monuments in public spaces .
The House version says localities must offer the monument to museums , historical societies , governments or military battlefields for 30 days before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same , but also has stricter provisions : a historic review , a public comment period and a requirement that the locality 's governing body must have at least a two-thirds vote to authorize the change .
The differences between the two will still need to be worked out .
But Democratic Gov .
Ralph Northam , said earlier this year that he supports the idea .
He says the monuments `` tell a particular version of history that does n't include everyone '' and `` that version of history has been given @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
State law has banned any modifications to the monuments .
But cities including Charlottesville , Alexandria , Portsmouth and Norfolk have all indicated they want to remove statues , according to The Associated Press .
Jay Jones , a black Democratic delegate from Norfolk , said in a speech Monday that his district overwhelmingly wants a `` Johnny Reb '' statue removed from a downtown square .
`` Every time I drive past it — which is every day to get to my law office — my heart breaks a little @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawmakers have rejected calls to allow the controversial statues to come down .
They say that erases history and the fervor could spread to other controversial conflicts , like the Vietnam War .
On the House floor Tuesday , Democratic Del .
Sally Hudson of Charlottesville said her city has been accused of erasing history .
`` We 're trying to finally tell it , '' she said , noting that the Robert E. Lee statue was dedicated in 1924 , amid Jim Crow sentiment .
`` It honors no battle or moment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` ( It sent ) a clear message to our black residents who had the audacity to organize for equality , '' Hudson said .
`` I do not believe this will end well , '' said Republican Del .
Charles Poindexter .
Poindexter , of Franklin County , Va. , said it should come to a vote of the people in the city , not the representative bodies .
The Charlottesville statue was at the center of a violent 2017 white supremacist rally , protesting the city 's attempt to remove it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ descended into chaos and a white supremacist plowed his car into a crowd , killing a woman and injuring dozens more .
Charlottesville has been fighting the removal in court .
A judge prevented the city from even covering the Lee statue with tarps during the litigation .
Charlottesville city spokesman Brian Wheeler told the AP in an email , that Charlottesville will start the process for removal if Northam signs the bill .

Virginia Legislature Votes To Allow Cities To Remove Confederate Statues
Enlarge this image toggle caption Steve Helber/AP Steve Helber/AP
Localities in Virginia are closer to having the power to remove some 220 Confederate statues and monuments in public spaces.
Democrats, who took control of the House and Senate in November, passed two similar bills on near party-line votes on Tuesday. The bills generally allow cities to "remove, relocate, contextualize, cover or alter" monuments in public spaces.
The House version says localities must offer the monument to museums, historical societies, governments or military battlefields for 30 days before removal.
The Senate version does the same, but also has stricter provisions: a historic review, a public comment period and a requirement that the locality's governing body must have at least a two-thirds vote to authorize the change.
The differences between the two will still need to be worked out.
But Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam, said earlier this year that he supports the idea. He says the monuments "tell a particular version of history that doesn't include everyone" and "that version of history has been given prominence and authority for far too long."
State law has banned any modifications to the monuments. But cities including Charlottesville, Alexandria, Portsmouth and Norfolk have all indicated they want to remove statues, according to The Associated Press.
Jay Jones, a black Democratic delegate from Norfolk, said in a speech Monday that his district overwhelmingly wants a "Johnny Reb" statue removed from a downtown square.
"Every time I drive past it — which is every day to get to my law office — my heart breaks a little bit," he said.
Republican lawmakers have rejected calls to allow the controversial statues to come down. They say that erases history and the fervor could spread to other controversial conflicts, like the Vietnam War.
On the House floor Tuesday, Democratic Del. Sally Hudson of Charlottesville said her city has been accused of erasing history.
"We're trying to finally tell it," she said, noting that the Robert E. Lee statue was dedicated in 1924, amid Jim Crow sentiment. "It honors no battle or moment that took place where we live.
"(It sent) a clear message to our black residents who had the audacity to organize for equality," Hudson said.
"I do not believe this will end well," said Republican Del. Charles Poindexter.
Poindexter, of Franklin County, Va., said it should come to a vote of the people in the city, not the representative bodies.
The Charlottesville statue was at the center of a violent 2017 white supremacist rally, protesting the city's attempt to remove it from a downtown park.
The event descended into chaos and a white supremacist plowed his car into a crowd, killing a woman and injuring dozens more.
Charlottesville has been fighting the removal in court. A judge prevented the city from even covering the Lee statue with tarps during the litigation.
Charlottesville city spokesman Brian Wheeler told the AP in an email, that Charlottesville will start the process for removal if Northam signs the bill.


npr--2020-02-11--Jussie Smollett, Former 'Empire' Actor, Has Been Indicted Again In Illinois

Jussie Smollett , Former 'Empire ' Actor , Has Been Indicted Again In Illinois A case that caused consternation and controversy in Chicago last year is entering a fresh chapter .
On Tuesday afternoon , Jussie Smollett , a now-former actor on the show Empire , was again indicted by a grand jury in Cook County , Ill. , for filing false police reports that he had been the victim of a hate crime near his home in January 2019 .
This is the second time Smollett has been indicted for filing a false police report .
Last March 7 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ indictment .
But less than a month later , the Cook County State 's Attorney Office dropped all charges against Smollett , a decision that ignited heated disagreement in Chicago and beyond .
A press release issued Tuesday by the special prosecutor , Dan Webb , said that he had concluded that `` further prosecution of Jussie Smollett is 'in the interest of justice . '
'' The grand jury returned indictments on six charges of disorderly conduct connected to the alleged false reports .
Webb was appointed late last summer to review @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how the Cook County State 's Attorney , Kim Foxx , and her office handled the case initially .
The new charges involve Smollett having allegedly made four separate false reports to the police , in which the actor claimed that he had been jumped by two white men who yelled racist and homophobic slurs at him as they punched him and put a noose around his neck .
Detectives later determined that Smollett had paid two men he knew — his personal trainers , who had also appeared as extras on `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Smollett is scheduled to be arraigned on Feb. 24 .

Jussie Smollett, Former 'Empire' Actor, Has Been Indicted Again In Illinois
Enlarge this image toggle caption Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images
A case that caused consternation and controversy in Chicago last year is entering a fresh chapter. On Tuesday afternoon, Jussie Smollett, a now-former actor on the show Empire, was again indicted by a grand jury in Cook County, Ill., for filing false police reports that he had been the victim of a hate crime near his home in January 2019.
This is the second time Smollett has been indicted for filing a false police report. Last March 7, a grand jury returned a 16-count indictment. But less than a month later, the Cook County State's Attorney Office dropped all charges against Smollett, a decision that ignited heated disagreement in Chicago and beyond.
A press release issued Tuesday by the special prosecutor, Dan Webb, said that he had concluded that "further prosecution of Jussie Smollett is 'in the interest of justice.'"
The grand jury returned indictments on six charges of disorderly conduct connected to the alleged false reports. Webb was appointed late last summer to review the evidence against Smollett and to investigate how the Cook County State's Attorney, Kim Foxx, and her office handled the case initially.
The new charges involve Smollett having allegedly made four separate false reports to the police, in which the actor claimed that he had been jumped by two white men who yelled racist and homophobic slurs at him as they punched him and put a noose around his neck.
Detectives later determined that Smollett had paid two men he knew — his personal trainers, who had also appeared as extras on "Empire" — to attack him.
Smollett is scheduled to be arraigned on Feb. 24.