npr--2020-09-01--'Charlie Hebdo' To Reprint Muhammad Cartoons As Trial Linked To 2015 Attack Begins

'Charlie Hebdo ' To Reprint Muhammad Cartoons As Trial Linked To 2015 Attack Begins Five and a half years after Islamist extremists gunned down a dozen people in an attack on the offices of the French weekly Charlie Hebdo , the satirical newspaper announced Tuesday that it will reprint cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed that apparently sparked the attack .
An editorial to accompany the cartoons , set to come out Wednesday to coincide with the start of a trial related to the attack , said the paper 's staff `` will never lie down . ''
`` We will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Laurent `` Riss '' Sourisseau , who was wounded in the attack , wrote .
`` The hatred that struck us is still there and , since 2015 , it has taken the time to mutate , to change its appearance , to go unnoticed and to quietly continue its ruthless crusade . ''
`` The only reasons '' not to reprint the cartoons , he said , `` stem from political or journalistic cowardice . ''
Some of the cartoons , one of which depicts Muhammad wearing a bomb-shaped turban , were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ newspaper and then reprinted by Charlie Hebdo the following year .
The cartoons sparked anger among many Muslims , not only for their unflattering portrayal of Muhammad but because many believe that visual depictions of him amount to blasphemy .
They also accused the newspaper of branding all Muslims as terrorists .
On Tuesday , the French Council of the Muslim Faith tweeted : `` The freedom to caricature and the freedom to dislike them are enshrined and nothing justifies violence . ''
In the attack on Jan. 7 , 2015 , brothers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assault rifles , submachine guns , grenades and pistols — stormed the Charlie Hebdo offices in Paris , killing 12 people , including cartoonists and other editorial staff .
Nearly a dozen others were wounded .
As the attackers left the scene , they reportedly shouted that they had `` avenged the Prophet . ''
Yemen-based Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula claimed responsibility for the attack .
Years before , in 2011 , the paper 's Paris offices had been firebombed .
Days after the 2015 attack , a third gunman , claiming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Jewish market in Paris , killing several people and taking numerous hostages .
The Kouachi brothers and the kosher grocery gunman were subsequently killed in police raids .
The trial that begins on Wednesday involves 14 people who are alleged to have given logistically and material support to the attackers .
They face between 10 years and life in prison if convicted .

'Charlie Hebdo' To Reprint Muhammad Cartoons As Trial Linked To 2015 Attack Begins
Enlarge this image toggle caption Francois Guillot/AFP via Getty Images Francois Guillot/AFP via Getty Images
Five and a half years after Islamist extremists gunned down a dozen people in an attack on the offices of the French weekly Charlie Hebdo, the satirical newspaper announced Tuesday that it will reprint cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed that apparently sparked the attack.
An editorial to accompany the cartoons, set to come out Wednesday to coincide with the start of a trial related to the attack, said the paper's staff "will never lie down."
"We will never give up," publishing director Laurent "Riss" Sourisseau, who was wounded in the attack, wrote. "The hatred that struck us is still there and, since 2015, it has taken the time to mutate, to change its appearance, to go unnoticed and to quietly continue its ruthless crusade."
"The only reasons" not to reprint the cartoons, he said, "stem from political or journalistic cowardice."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Francois Nascimbeni/AFP via Getty Images Francois Nascimbeni/AFP via Getty Images
Some of the cartoons, one of which depicts Muhammad wearing a bomb-shaped turban, were first published in 2005 by a Danish newspaper and then reprinted by Charlie Hebdo the following year.
The cartoons sparked anger among many Muslims, not only for their unflattering portrayal of Muhammad but because many believe that visual depictions of him amount to blasphemy. They also accused the newspaper of branding all Muslims as terrorists.
On Tuesday, the French Council of the Muslim Faith tweeted: "The freedom to caricature and the freedom to dislike them are enshrined and nothing justifies violence."
In the attack on Jan. 7, 2015, brothers Chérif and Said Kouachi — armed with assault rifles, submachine guns, grenades and pistols — stormed the Charlie Hebdo offices in Paris, killing 12 people, including cartoonists and other editorial staff. Nearly a dozen others were wounded. As the attackers left the scene, they reportedly shouted that they had "avenged the Prophet." Yemen-based Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula claimed responsibility for the attack.
Years before, in 2011, the paper's Paris offices had been firebombed.
Days after the 2015 attack, a third gunman, claiming allegiance to the Islamic State, attacked a Jewish market in Paris, killing several people and taking numerous hostages.
The Kouachi brothers and the kosher grocery gunman were subsequently killed in police raids.
The trial that begins on Wednesday involves 14 people who are alleged to have given logistically and material support to the attackers. They face between 10 years and life in prison if convicted.


npr--2020-09-01--Amid National Crises, Louisiana Mayor Fears His Decimated City Will Be Forgotten

Amid National Crises , Louisiana Mayor Fears His Decimated City Will Be Forgotten In front of City Hall , a crew shovels through debris , clearing a path to the front door .
Bricks and broken glass from office buildings litter downtown .
Gas station awnings have been flipped on their sides .
The best news in Lake Charles , La.
, in recent days : an announcement that 95 % of the streets here are just now navigable , nearly a week after Hurricane Laura tore through the region .
`` We absolutely need our American brothers and sisters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had a major blow , '' Mayor Nic Hunter says .
`` I am begging , I am pleading for Americans not to forget about Lake Charles . ''
At the beginning of hurricane season , and in the middle of an election year , a global coronavirus pandemic , protests over police violence , and raging wildfires , Hunter fears his decimated city of 80,000 will be left to recover on its own with the nation already overwhelmed .
It could cost as much as $ 12 billion to repair damage from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local utility company says tens of thousands of people will be without electricity for weeks – the city hums with the sound of generators , a crucial lifeline in the blazing summer heat .
Hunter stayed home as Hurricane Laura , the most powerful storm to hit Louisiana since 1856 , spun through the town with its 150-mph winds .
Now he spends his days driving around his damaged city , checking in with residents such as Winston Andrews , who also did n't evacuate .
`` This is bad , terrible right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to see what 's going on right now , '' Andrews says .
`` Lake Charles will never be the same again . ''
He tells the mayor his neighbors say that evacuating now could make things worse – fears of coronavirus surges meant officials have limited the number of shelters available so people are driving hundreds of miles in hopes of finding a rare open hotel room .
`` They get to New Orleans , they got nothing for them , '' Andrews says .
The mayor shakes his head .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ all he can really do is make sure Andrews has a generator ( he does ) and that it 's working safely .
At least half of the 19 deaths from the storm are believed to be from carbon monoxide poisoning .
Hunter steps over a tangle of downed power lines to check on Andrews ' neighbor in this underserved neighborhood north of Interstate 10 .
`` There 's going to be a lot of people without insurance in these areas , and that 's where we 're hoping a lot of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Hunter says .
According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency , more than 50,000 claims have already been filed in the region , but this is just one of many expensive disasters straining federal coffers .
Down the street , Gwendolyn Smith is headed out to try and find a tarp to fix the holes in her roof .
With many buildings in the city damaged , plastic sheeting is scarce .
Two big trees fell over onto the house she lives in with her 15-year-old grandson , Qwentin Smith .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California will fix the damage soon .
`` When it rains , it just pours down like a faucet , '' Gwendolyn Smith says .
Her car has a faulty transmission , so they stayed put during the storm .
Now , Smith , who is a security guard at a city park , is struggling to afford gas for a generator .
She 's spent $ 110 in just the past three days .
The house has no power and just a trickle of water in the kitchen and bathroom .
Smith @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but without an Internet connection she is unable to finish her application for aid .
`` They ai n't doing nothing to help us , '' Qwentin says .
His ninth-grade classes were canceled ahead of the storm .
Now he is helping neighbors clean up debris .
`` We 're just surviving . ''
The Smiths are desperate for information — about when the power might come back on , when they 'll be able to return to work and school , and where they can shelter in the meantime .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ get on top of the car or on top of the house to get service at night , when it 's not that hot , '' Qwentin says .
It 's risky with the roof , but every night he climbs up , holds his cell phone to the sky and tries to get some word about what might be next for his family , and for Lake Charles .

Amid National Crises, Louisiana Mayor Fears His Decimated City Will Be Forgotten
Enlarge this image toggle caption Bryan Tarnowski/Bloomberg via Getty Images Bryan Tarnowski/Bloomberg via Getty Images
In front of City Hall, a crew shovels through debris, clearing a path to the front door. Bricks and broken glass from office buildings litter downtown. Gas station awnings have been flipped on their sides.
The best news in Lake Charles, La., in recent days: an announcement that 95% of the streets here are just now navigable, nearly a week after Hurricane Laura tore through the region.
"We absolutely need our American brothers and sisters to realize that a great American city had a major blow," Mayor Nic Hunter says. "I am begging, I am pleading for Americans not to forget about Lake Charles."
At the beginning of hurricane season, and in the middle of an election year, a global coronavirus pandemic, protests over police violence, and raging wildfires, Hunter fears his decimated city of 80,000 will be left to recover on its own with the nation already overwhelmed.
It could cost as much as $12 billion to repair damage from the storm in Louisiana, and the local utility company says tens of thousands of people will be without electricity for weeks – the city hums with the sound of generators, a crucial lifeline in the blazing summer heat.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Kirk Siegler/NPR Kirk Siegler/NPR
Hunter stayed home as Hurricane Laura, the most powerful storm to hit Louisiana since 1856, spun through the town with its 150-mph winds. Now he spends his days driving around his damaged city, checking in with residents such as Winston Andrews, who also didn't evacuate.
"This is bad, terrible right here. Anyone that left don't want to see what's going on right now," Andrews says. "Lake Charles will never be the same again."
He tells the mayor his neighbors say that evacuating now could make things worse – fears of coronavirus surges meant officials have limited the number of shelters available so people are driving hundreds of miles in hopes of finding a rare open hotel room.
"They get to New Orleans, they got nothing for them," Andrews says. The mayor shakes his head. With so many people in need, all he can really do is make sure Andrews has a generator (he does) and that it's working safely. At least half of the 19 deaths from the storm are believed to be from carbon monoxide poisoning.
Hunter steps over a tangle of downed power lines to check on Andrews' neighbor in this underserved neighborhood north of Interstate 10.
"There's going to be a lot of people without insurance in these areas, and that's where we're hoping a lot of the nonprofits and FEMA will come through," Hunter says. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, more than 50,000 claims have already been filed in the region, but this is just one of many expensive disasters straining federal coffers.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Ian Stewart/NPR Ian Stewart/NPR
Down the street, Gwendolyn Smith is headed out to try and find a tarp to fix the holes in her roof. With many buildings in the city damaged, plastic sheeting is scarce. Two big trees fell over onto the house she lives in with her 15-year-old grandson, Qwentin Smith. They're hoping her landlord who lives in California will fix the damage soon.
"When it rains, it just pours down like a faucet," Gwendolyn Smith says. Her car has a faulty transmission, so they stayed put during the storm. Now, Smith, who is a security guard at a city park, is struggling to afford gas for a generator. She's spent $110 in just the past three days.
The house has no power and just a trickle of water in the kitchen and bathroom. Smith says she tried to register with FEMA, but without an Internet connection she is unable to finish her application for aid.
"They ain't doing nothing to help us," Qwentin says. His ninth-grade classes were canceled ahead of the storm. Now he is helping neighbors clean up debris. "We're just surviving."
The Smiths are desperate for information — about when the power might come back on, when they'll be able to return to work and school, and where they can shelter in the meantime.
"The best we can do is get on top of the car or on top of the house to get service at night, when it's not that hot," Qwentin says.
It's risky with the roof, but every night he climbs up, holds his cell phone to the sky and tries to get some word about what might be next for his family, and for Lake Charles.


npr--2020-09-01--California Poised To Strengthen Mental Health Insurance Laws

There are already federal and state laws on the books requiring insurance companies to cover mental health treatments , just as it does medical treatments and procedures such as chemotherapy or a cesarean section .
But many patient advocates say those laws have n't gone far enough because they permit insurance companies to pay for care only after the mental illness has reached a late-stage crisis , or let companies deny coverage outright .
So states , including New York and Illinois , have been strengthening their regulation and enforcement .
This week , California 's legislature passed one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bills .
It aims to increase mental health insurance coverage to include far more conditions — including , notably , addiction — as well as redefining the criteria for insurance denials .
Monica Vera-Schubert says such rules would have saved her a lot of anguish a decade ago , when a painkiller prescription for her son Bobby 's knee injury quickly turned into a full-blown addiction to opiates .
`` All of a sudden , his behavior started changing to the point that he was no longer a friendly , happy-go-lucky kid , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pharmacist , but it still took her awhile to recognize what was happening .
He raided his grandparents ' medicine cabinet and his mother 's jewelry box to feed his growing addiction .
His drug dealer went to his high school .
Where Vera-Schubert lives , in Burbank , Calif. , state laws as well as federal already require insurance companies to cover mental health as they do medical care .
Even so , she encountered multiple hurdles to get coverage for her son 's visits to rehab or for medication .
Often @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time between her son agreeing to go to treatment , and getting him checked in , she says .
Once , her insurance pre-authorized her son for inpatient rehabilitation treatment , but when he showed up , the paperwork had not been filed .
He waited several hours in the lobby .
Then left .
`` My son walked , '' says Vera-Schubert , who was then tormented by fear she might lose him before he got treatment .
`` He walked home to his grandparents house and he goes , ' I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' `` She says her private insurance put up other roadblocks as well : long waiting periods ; requirements that could n't get help unless he tested positive for drugs .
Paying for the inpatient rehab out of pocket would have cost her nearly $ 50,000 for a 28-day stay .
`` It felt terrible and overwhelming , '' she says , sobbing .
`` So overwhelming how many times I had to fight for my son . ''
Bobby Schubert , now 25 , eventually received treatment and entered recovery just over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advice to get off his mother 's private insurance plan and get on Medi-Cal , California 's public Medicaid program .
Scott Weiner , the California senator who introduced the bill , says it 's critical to focus on preventative care .
`` We need to beyond giving insurance coverage only when someone is in crisis and going to the psych emergency room , '' he says .
`` We need to get people mental health and addiction help early , when we can nip it in the bud , before they lose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ housing , before they lose their family .
And we need to get people the care they need . ''
Meanwhile , the insurance industry says the bill California 's legislature passed Sunday is a misguided effort to fix the wrong problem .
In a statement , the California Association of Health Plans says that arguments that mental health treatment is n't already on par with medical care in terms of insurance reimbursement `` could n't be further from the truth '' and that language in the bill could end up limiting treatment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for care will require an investment in a bigger mental health workforce , among other things , which the bill does not address .
America 's Health Insurance Plans , national association , also has argued that the bill the legislature has proposed is unnecessary and would add to administrative costs .
It says the industry is already in compliance with the law .
Patrick Kennedy , a former U.S. congressman from Rhode Island , turned mental health advocate , co-authored the landmark 2008 federal law and disagrees with that argument from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that they are not covering it , '' Kennedy says , `` and it 's discriminatory to people who are suffering from mental illness and addiction — especially at a time when our country is crying out '' via an epidemic of overdoses and suicides .
Kennedy says the California bill — if signed into law — could become a model for other states , and prompt insurance companies to change policies nationally .
Disputes over mental health parity are also playing out in court .
Last year , United Behavioral Health lost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the insurance giant improperly denied coverage .
`` The biggest tool insurers have to deny claims is to say treatment is not 'medically necessary , ' `` says Meiram Bendat , who is both the plaintiff 's co-counsel on that case and a Los Angeles-based psychotherapist .
Bendat says the new California proposal would address one gaping problem : It would no longer allow insurers to write their own rules about what to cover .
It would also create incentives for insurers to expand the network of therapists , counselors and psychiatrists that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the patients he represented were denied inpatient addiction treatment .
`` They could n't afford the care ; they did n't get the care ; they overdosed and died .
And there is absolutely no ability to get punitive damages , '' he says , because that was not a remedy under federal law .
Without that , says Bendat , insurers had little incentive to change their practices .
The bill passed by the legislature is now on California Gov .
Gavin Newsom 's desk , and he has 30 days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to comment to NPR about whether or when he intends to sign it into law .

California Poised To Strengthen Mental Health Insurance Laws
Enlarge this image toggle caption Damian Dovarganes/AP Damian Dovarganes/AP
There are already federal and state laws on the books requiring insurance companies to cover mental health treatments, just as it does medical treatments and procedures such as chemotherapy or a cesarean section. But many patient advocates say those laws haven't gone far enough because they permit insurance companies to pay for care only after the mental illness has reached a late-stage crisis, or let companies deny coverage outright. So states, including New York and Illinois, have been strengthening their regulation and enforcement.
This week, California's legislature passed one of the nation's strictest mental health parity bills. It aims to increase mental health insurance coverage to include far more conditions — including, notably, addiction — as well as redefining the criteria for insurance denials.
Monica Vera-Schubert says such rules would have saved her a lot of anguish a decade ago, when a painkiller prescription for her son Bobby's knee injury quickly turned into a full-blown addiction to opiates.
"All of a sudden, his behavior started changing to the point that he was no longer a friendly, happy-go-lucky kid," says Vera-Schubert. She's a pharmacist, but it still took her awhile to recognize what was happening. He raided his grandparents' medicine cabinet and his mother's jewelry box to feed his growing addiction. His drug dealer went to his high school.
Where Vera-Schubert lives, in Burbank, Calif., state laws as well as federal already require insurance companies to cover mental health as they do medical care. Even so, she encountered multiple hurdles to get coverage for her son's visits to rehab or for medication. Often, she had very narrow windows of time between her son agreeing to go to treatment, and getting him checked in, she says. Once, her insurance pre-authorized her son for inpatient rehabilitation treatment, but when he showed up, the paperwork had not been filed. He waited several hours in the lobby. Then left.
"My son walked," says Vera-Schubert, who was then tormented by fear she might lose him before he got treatment. "He walked home to his grandparents house and he goes, 'I'm never going back there again.' "
She says her private insurance put up other roadblocks as well: long waiting periods; requirements that couldn't get help unless he tested positive for drugs. Paying for the inpatient rehab out of pocket would have cost her nearly $50,000 for a 28-day stay.
"It felt terrible and overwhelming," she says, sobbing. "So overwhelming how many times I had to fight for my son."
Bobby Schubert, now 25, eventually received treatment and entered recovery just over a year ago but only after receiving advice to get off his mother's private insurance plan and get on Medi-Cal, California's public Medicaid program.
Scott Weiner, the California senator who introduced the bill, says it's critical to focus on preventative care.
"We need to beyond giving insurance coverage only when someone is in crisis and going to the psych emergency room," he says. "We need to get people mental health and addiction help early, when we can nip it in the bud, before they lose their job, before they lose their housing, before they lose their family. And we need to get people the care they need."
Meanwhile, the insurance industry says the bill California's legislature passed Sunday is a misguided effort to fix the wrong problem.
In a statement, the California Association of Health Plans says that arguments that mental health treatment isn't already on par with medical care in terms of insurance reimbursement "couldn't be further from the truth" and that language in the bill could end up limiting treatment options. It says meeting growing demand for care will require an investment in a bigger mental health workforce, among other things, which the bill does not address.
America's Health Insurance Plans, national association, also has argued that the bill the legislature has proposed is unnecessary and would add to administrative costs. It says the industry is already in compliance with the law.
Patrick Kennedy, a former U.S. congressman from Rhode Island, turned mental health advocate, co-authored the landmark 2008 federal law and disagrees with that argument from the insurance industry.
"The fact is that they are not covering it," Kennedy says, "and it's discriminatory to people who are suffering from mental illness and addiction — especially at a time when our country is crying out" via an epidemic of overdoses and suicides.
Kennedy says the California bill — if signed into law — could become a model for other states, and prompt insurance companies to change policies nationally.
Disputes over mental health parity are also playing out in court.
Last year, United Behavioral Health lost a class-action suit brought by patients arguing the insurance giant improperly denied coverage.
"The biggest tool insurers have to deny claims is to say treatment is not 'medically necessary,' " says Meiram Bendat, who is both the plaintiff's co-counsel on that case and a Los Angeles-based psychotherapist.
Bendat says the new California proposal would address one gaping problem: It would no longer allow insurers to write their own rules about what to cover. It would also create incentives for insurers to expand the network of therapists, counselors and psychiatrists that take their insurance.
He says many of the patients he represented were denied inpatient addiction treatment. "They couldn't afford the care; they didn't get the care; they overdosed and died. And there is absolutely no ability to get punitive damages," he says, because that was not a remedy under federal law. Without that, says Bendat, insurers had little incentive to change their practices.
The bill passed by the legislature is now on California Gov. Gavin Newsom's desk, and he has 30 days to sign it. His office declined to comment to NPR about whether or when he intends to sign it into law.